Sex in Novels

Well, sex is something we can not overlook. Basically it's in our face wherever you go. Straight women apparently enjoy watching man on man action just like straight men drool over a woman going down on another woman.

Gay novels are read more by women than men and are written more by women and have to say that their descriptive words do leave an erotic image in your mind. (and who said women don't know what men like?) They sure know what men like when you read their books. Now, I am not saying gay men do not read gay romance novels or gay porn for that matter but it is surprising how many women enjoy a hot romantic M&M novel.

So, what makes a novel interesting to read? The plot (if there is one) unless you just want to write pornography then there is no sense in thinking of a plot. There are numerous writers who have created some wonderful work blending man to man action with a plot, though simple, but enough to keep the reader interested until the last page. 

Taste is what it's all about and I have spoken to many people about what they find interesting in a novel which contains hard core sex. Here are some comments made of what readers like to see in a novel

JENNA: A vampire story be it gay or straight is expected to have sex scenes, romantic and slow seduction to lure the victim. I like the author to give me explicit details but not make it too lengthy, just enough to picture the image and then move on. I love vampire stories, especially gay vampires, it's sexy, erotic and does tend to excite me a little.

PABLO: I have to say that I am not a fan of erotica, only difference you read are the characters but everything else is the same. I prefer the author to give subtle hints on the activity between the characters having sex and that's all. 

RENE: I am not much of a reader but occasionally do read a story about lesbianism on the net. It's quite a turn on and watching two women together is even better but the wife doesn't seem to like it. I wont go any further on the subject!

MONTSE: Love watching women having sex but when it comes to novels I prefer reading about straight couples or gay men. It's more exciting.

ANDREA: What I like most about gay erotica is the variety of sex scenes you get with the characters. I'm not talking about positions but the fantasy in the story; gay shape shifters, angels, then you get the leather and so on. There is not much in the hetro section with such a variety of sexual fantasies. I even enjoy stories with threesomes - 2 men and a woman is fantastic.

I have interviewed so many people about this and it seems that women win over the subject of gay erotica. But I do have to say that there were a few who looked at me as if I just rose up out of the pits of hell. The mention of gay erotica was definitely not to their liking. Each to their own I say.

My say on the subject? My genre  is horror (reading and writing) I do pick up a gay romance novel every now and then as something different to read. I have to admit that I get tired of the stereo types - the smooth young lean male body, blonde hair and the blue eyes, not a single blemish can be traced in this young man's body or face. I seem to have read more novels with this type of characters. Is the lean, smooth body, boy look more attractive than the rugged and hairy, sexy and masculine man? What do you think?

Out of all the people that I interviewed, the following are the stats: (approx)

65% Women like M&M erotica                         25% Men like M&M erotica
30% Woman prefer Hetro                                  55% Men prefer Hetro
05% Women like Lesbian erotica                       20% Men like lesbian erotica
                               

REMEMBER, there weren't many gay men (maybe the occasional one) interviewed and I am sure the stats on the male side would be much higher


Keep in mind that the stats are only calculated on the people interviewed in  Barcelona.

Kudos to all authors who are entertaining readers with their style.




Have any thoughts on the subject? What do you like reading? What fantasy excites you the most?

Don't be shy. 

Short Story Submission

Teaching English to foreign students is not easy and there aren't many English books where students could pick up and read without having to look at a dictionary to find out what the author is actually talking about. Many English novels are translated into Spanish and only the most popular of authors are recognised here in Spain.

I am organising an Anthology of short stories - different genres for students to read and hopefully expand their knowledge of the English language. This will be for students studying in the Advanced Level and any other person interested in reading the book. I have been told by a number of people that it is very difficult for them to understand books written in English. It is why I am looking at doing this project.

We are also thinking at opening a shop to enable books to be sold here as the variety of English books is quite limited. Unless you are Stephen King, Dan Brown, J R Rowling, Charlaine Harris etc, your book will not be found on the shelves.

Indie books, books written by Independent authors will be the focus. Also a web site will be designed in Spanish to sell these books to anyone interested in buying them within Spain and of course other countries but  the sales will mostly be focused in Spain.

If you want to take part, email me at carlojvella@yahoo.com

Below are the submission guidelines . DO NOT SUBMIT ANY WORK FOR THE MOMENT

What we are looking for:

*  4 Authors to submit 2 short stories each - (myself and 3 other authors)

*  Short stories must NOT be too difficult - remember you will be writing for foreign students/readers

*  Between 5,000 to 10,000 words.

*  Looking for Crime, Horror and Paranormal (vampires, witches, ghosts etc)

*  Stories will NOT contain any type of explicit sexual content or indecent language.
*  All submissions must have their work edited

This is a good opportunity for Independent authors to show their work in another country.

Deadline 31 August 2011

Anyone interested please Email me with any question - carlojvella@yahoo.com (DO NOT SUBMIT ANY WORK FOR THE MOMENT)

Carole Sutton - Interview

Author of crime fiction novels - The Ferryman, Blood Opal and the Devil laughed, Carole Suttons talks to me about her passion as an author, all the way from Perth Australia.


A writer of crime stories. Where do you get your ideas from?

CS: I have a very fertile imagination. My ideas come best when I am bored and staring out of the window with nothing particular on my mind. That's the most likely time for the muse to kick in.  I'm a great fan of British crime TV series. In particular those that feature Cornwall as a location.  I lived in Cornwall for 20 years with my husband, raising our family of three children, before coming to Australia in 1981.  Writing crime has a certain discipline that I enjoy. For instance, to make your scenes realistic, you must observe the correct police procedure. For that reason my years of watching crime on TV,  whether it be The Bill, or Wire In The Blood, or others of similar caliber has paid off. I also did an eight week course at the local University called  Crime Scene Investigation for Writers, which I found most enlightening.

What inspires you to write? 
CS: I've always been a writer of sorts, whether it was writing diaries, short stories, or articles  to sell to magazines, I have enjoyed the process. It's also a way of emptying the mind - controlling my sometimes riotous imagination. Odd things will trigger an idea - for instance in my second book, And the Devil Laughed - the trigger was a name. I heard the name Hannah mentioned somewhere, and my immediate reaction was to think,  'Hannah, that's who I'm going to write about.' Then, once started, the questions filled my mind, who was Hannah, where did she come from, what did she do, what happened to her and so on and I was up and running with Hannah guiding me all the way. I love it when that happens.

It's not easy for one to get their books published and as Independent authors, one must be their own agent and do their own marketing etc.. What are your thoughts on this?

CS: I've had my share of rejections from traditional publishers and was becoming quite disheartened at my lack of progress. Then in 2008 YouWriteOn declared they would publish their members books for free. I had been working with them for a couple of years or so. Both my novels had at some point been their 'Number One.' on their Top Five List. I gained sufficient kudos on both books to receive professional critiques on them. After numerous editing I thought my first one, Ferryman, was ready to be given the chance. One more edit using that very helpful critique and I offered it to YWO for publishing. I was in my seventies at the time and decided I didn't want to wait around many more years for traditional publishing.But, I agree with you, doing your own marketing is a nightmare. Book shops here in Australia tend not to like the Independents. The attitude I've experienced with some bookshop owners is that if it is POD it must be inferior, or heaven forbid - vanity press. Yet another bookshop owner welcomed my set of three books just recently and billed them proudly as 'Local writer.' 

What makes an author? Can anybody become a writer?

CS: Anyone can become a writer, but whether or not they make a good author is a different question. What makes an author? I think it's something in-built. A good author has to have a story, or a subject worth telling, and must have the ability to put the right words on paper in an interesting manner, well enough to hold a reader's attention.  When people say of my books, 'I couldn't put it down,' I am very happy, they have paid this writer a great compliment. I am definitely not a sales-person, but find when I do sell one of my  books to a friend or acquaintance, they invariably come back for another one.

What guidance can you give to people wanting to start a career in writing?

CS: Are we talking about newspaper reporters' career or something more at home like poetry, yal, romance, short stories or novels maybe? If the latter, then get to know your genre. Get to know the rules of that genre, as each one appears to have its own set requirements or limitations. Go to a face-to-face writing workshop, get to know the rules of writing in general. Join Internet writing workshops and be an active member. You can learn a great deal by critiquing other people's work, and their comments on your baby can be  invaluable. Develop a tough hide - you'll need it. Here is a wonderful site that helped me get where I am today, that and the YWO program, excellent help for all grades of writer.

Here are a couple of websites to assist writers of all levels. 

www.internetwritingworkshop.org/

www.youwriteon.com/info/youwriteon-top-questions.aspx

I have read the Ferryman and have to say It was a joy to read. It is a shame that Independent authors can not get the recognition they deserve. There is wonderful talent out there. Keep up the good work.

Wicca -What is it?

Ok, I have been asked by a number of people what is Wicca?

Wicca is a nature based lifestyle and forms part of Paganism - Neo-pagan religion though there are people who would say that it is not a religion. The word WICCA means wise and it is actually the old word for witch. Hollywood created the witch to be a"hag" - old, ugly and evil. This is not so. Wicca (witches) were known to be wise in the crafting of herbs and other natural grown plants collected from the land.

The name Witches was given due to the number of females who used the craft in order to experiment what nature has grown for them. Unfortunately, man didn't like the fact that women were dabbling in something they had no idea of.


A witch riding the broom stick. The story behind the tale.



The story of a witch flying was said to be told by a drunkard in a field during the witchcraft trials, He told the court that he saw a group of women naked dancing around a fire and in the middle of the fire floated the "horned one". He was taken aback by this image, stumbled and fell as he watched them take their brooms, sit on them and then off they flew. He woke up hours later to find they had all disappeared. Apparently the man was drunk and the stories of witches had been something during those days that frightened allot of people.

Yes, there were ointments made and brews that were drunk to cause hallucinations though the origin of the broom riding witch came from a man, drunk, scared and apparently dreamt the whole thing. It is said that the courts wiped the man's statement from the records and were too embarrassed to admit the story was a fragment of the man's imagination that they let the people believe the whole tale was in fact the truth.

From there we have the story of witches flying on broom sticks.


Diseased food

Women were the ones who made and prepared food and anything that looked out of the ordinary was questioned by the husband and the male authorities.

At one time the wheat that was collected to make bread was diseased though nobody knew of this when the women were making the bread. It caused epileptic fits, vomiting and other illness. Of course this was blamed on the women and accused of poisoning the men and were accused as witches.

The story is said that the women were gathering together to form a group (a coven) to rid of all men and as they were a danger to their society. There were women who also gotten sick but this was a punishment to them because of their involvement with the devil. (silly isn't it?)

I am a practising Wiccan - a male witch - or a Witch. It is both masculine and feminine. Wiccans are open to other religions and do not preach about who they are or what they are. Wiccans use the earth, nature, the elements as their guide in life and we do not practice the black arts, call upon Satan or involve ourselves in horrific rituals.

Wiccans are at peace with themselves - nature and soul as one.

The five pointed star - the pentagram represents the 4 elements Earth, Air, Fir, Water and the fifth being the Spirit.

This is a brief explanation as to What IS WICCA and some historical information on how witches came about. 

If you would like to add anything to this topic, please do so. Would like to hear your comments.

Paganism vs Catholicism - The Book of Secrets

History The Book of Secrets

The history of the Book of Secrets


I started writing the novel 6 years ago, all the while researching the information and writing anything that I found suitable for the book on scraps of paper, note pads and anything I could find to write on.


You hear many stories regarding the apocalypse or religious figures appearing before mankind and other tales (if that is what they are) which people truly believe in. The Book of Secrets is just that! A tale to believe or to enjoy as a fictitious novel.


The war in Heaven, I remember as a child was told to me at Sunday school and have to admit how scared I was. We were even told that the fallen ones (angels) did not go to hell but were sent here on earth.


I think of these stories and how frightened I became and growing up, my thoughts turned to how the catholic church frightened people to make us believe. I was a confused child not knowing which was the truth and whether the truth was being told by someone who honestly believed in what they were telling us.


The Book of Secrets takes you through a journey back in time when the book was found and how the Knights Templars found the tome and tried to keep it away from prying eyes.


As you read, you are taken to an historical period when suddenly, you are back into the 21st century and slowly find that history is repeating itself.


Told in first and third person narrative, I want the reader to understand and feel the pain and joy of the main character and also hear the other side of how the tale took place.


The book does have a gay feel to it but the story is not intended to be about homosexuality. I wrote it in this way to show that gay people are as human as any other. Yes, there are some scenes in the book which people may find distasteful and I am not talking about explicit sex but discussions of homosexuality within religious orders.


Paganism vs Catholicism ... a touchy subject for some and the book does seem to offer an argument between both beliefs but the reader must understand that this is a "Story" to be read with an open mind. I am a Pagan though I respect other religions and in no way do I falsify anyone's belief. If anyone has read the book and feel a little distressed, the intention was not deliberate.


To close - the book is based on some facts though I have classed it as fiction, a supernatural tale of the occult, a story of ones self being to find the right path and to believe that there are unseen forces that walk amongst us.