Tuesday, February 14, 2012

First Kiss and Giveaway with author Stephen Prosapio


LOL!!  Happy Valentines Day Everyone!!  I have with me today, for your amusement and viewing pleasure author Stephen Prosapio.  He has agreed to share with us an excerpt from his newest work, along with giving away a copy of his book Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum!! Take it away Steve!!


Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

While much of the world focuses on new romance, I certainly think there’s a lot to be said for keeping older relationships spicy. As a writer we’re often challenged to write love/sex scenes, and they’re difficult enough when new lovers meet. What about writing those scenes where characters are involved in existing relationships? How do you/they keep things exciting?

So, in celebration of Valentine’s Day and those who keep romance in their everyday relationships, below is the rough draft of a scene I came up with for my cozy paranormal mystery novel in progress. Suggestions are welcome, but I’d really rather have a discussion on the words used/over used//rarely used/never used in various formats of fiction. For example, how exactly is a sex scene in a mystery suspense novel different from one in a romance novel? How does erotica take it to the next level?

Scene below Diego (female) has just come home from a difficult day of disappointments. Her live in boyfriend Corey is already home.


“You want to talk about it?” he asked gently.
She shook her head. “No. Not right now anyway.”
“Thank God!” He lifted his eyes to the ceiling and raised his hands in homage to an invisible deity.
“You’re. An. Asshole.” She tried desperately to say it without slanting her lips into anything that could be taken for a smile. She stared at him with mock ire, and then gave up and grinned. “Asshole,” she repeated.
“Aww, baby.” Corey made his way from the kitchen with his arms outstretched.
“No. Stay away from me.” But she made no attempt to escape the hug. She made him work for it though—a little anyway—by not hugging back.
“C’mon babe,” he said. She let herself go a little bit limp within his enveloping arms. “If you don’t want to talk about your bad day, then there’s only one way I know to relieve your stress…”
He had a point.

Their kissing started softly but matured into hot and heavy even before they reached the bedroom door. Diego let him lead her all the way to the bed. Then she turned the tables.
She slipped around him never leaving his torso. As he turned toward her, she reached and dug her fingers into the upper part of his chest, then she shoved him backwards onto the bed. She’d pushed with all her might and loved that his broad frame could take any frustration she could dish out on it.
He was already scooting upwards toward the pillows and sliding out of his jeans when she pounced on him.
“Ugh. Geez, babe.”
Diego growled and then lowered her mouth to his, pressing down hard. She could taste the salty remnants of his after-work beer. His lips enveloped and caressed hers as her tongue smothered his. The insides of her thighs gripped his hips, and she rhythmically worked him into position. He swelled to greet her. Corey broke their kiss and exhaled heated breath into and around her mouth. She needed his flesh.
Diego pulled away and lifted his shirt exposing his lean taut abs and muscular chest. Pulling it up over his face, she stopped and let it pin his arms over his head. He started to struggle it off, and that’s when she pressed herself over the tip of him. Rubbing gently and then, shoving herself around him—around it—pressing her herself down down down until he was all the way up inside her.
His eyelids fluttered; Diego felt a gush of his hot breath in her face. She began grinding herself onto him. There was no pleasant—no nice girl—word for it. Grinding. She let all her pent up frustrations from the day eke out her very pores.
Diego caught glimpse of Corey looking up at her. His eyes wide in excitement and wonder. He’d seen her aggressive before but maybe never like this. It was then that she realized she was still holding his arms to the bed in the tangled shirt.
She loved Corey. Loved what a man he was. Strong and confident but there were times where she not only needed to take him, but needed to overtake him.
Her insides were electric and treacherous; they felt like a live wire in search of a spark. She got closer and closer but wasn’t going to climax without him. She clenched herself around him and pumped in rapid purposeful succession.
“Christ!” he moaned. And she felt him give way.
She let herself go, and a wave of wet electricity spilled from her. The live wire inside zapping everything within its reach. She convulsed in excruciating pleasure and then collapsed on his sweaty flesh. Diego even allowed herself a girly coo of satisfaction. She was spent.
Outside the window, a motorcycle roared down the street. Farther off, a train rambled by. For a moment, it seemed absurd that life was continuing on as usual, as though nothing orgasmic had just taken place. Their breathing slowed to normal.
“Feeling better?” Cory asked, his voice both deep and content.
Diego sighed. “No,” she said. “Now I want to talk about it.”

Thanks for sharing that with us Stephen!!  So to enter in the giveaway, just fill out the rafflecopter.  Be sure to answer Stephen's question!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway




45 comments:

Jenn said...

Thanks for the host girlie!

Chrisbails said...

I think you can use just about any words you want in erotica. I love hearing new words used for body parts. I love Throbbing organ. I love to read all styles of books. I don't think throbbing organ should be used in general romance.
Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win.
christinebails@yahoo.com

Joanne said...

I don't think there are any words that can't be used. There are some that should be put away for a while: manhood, pussy juice. Now, of course, I can't think of any more. Thanks for the giveaway.

e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

No Bull Steve said...

Thanks Christine and Joanne. Wait a sec. 22 entries and only 3 comments? C'mon lurkers. Please comment!

vadeluna07 said...

I have to agree with everyone so far. When it comes to erotica, I really think there are no words you can't use. Everyone knows erotica is supposed to be racey, so people shouldn't be offended if there are words they don't like in an erotic story. Erotica is meant to push those boundaries and I for one, look forward to reading words that are usually taboo in a regular romance novel.

Elise Marion said...

To me, erotica means anything goes. You can pretty much say what you want. I think romance means it needs to be a bit more floral in the descriptive terms. My pet peeve is the word 'cock' in romance. If its used once or twice i'm okay but if every time they describe his man parts and say cock, it just drives me nuts.

mimirose41209 said...

I like all kinds of descriptions but please do not use only 50cent words. Sometimes the more basic the description the hotter it can be. When a writer is going to the thesaurus to look up new words for 'throbbing' then maybe 'throbbing' is the word you are looking for. I don't want to have to have a dictionary by my kindle just because the author is using rarely heard of/read words.

Wolfswan1 said...

I really dont like when I read romance or erotica when the author use the words C*ck or p*ssy. In most cases it will cause me to not read that author again.

Shadow said...

Hmm. I dont know that there are any words. I cant really think of any. If there are some that bug me in a book, i just substitute them with a word i like. lol ;) Thanks!

No Bull Steve said...

So wow. A couple conflicting thoughts already on the word c*ck. Hey wait. There was a disclaimer coming to this blog. If I wanna say "cock" I can just say it.

COCK. COCK. COCK!

Sorry. Had to get that out of my system. So Elise says it's okay for erotica but not romance and Wolfswan not for cock in either. My thoughts have always been that pretty much NEVER on the other C-word (and no I'll not chant that one) but cock is okay for erotica...that pretty much anything goes.

No Bull Steve said...

Mimi - I vociferously concur. What's that great expression? Never use a big word when a miniscule one will suffice? LOL

Shadow - great philosophy!

Andrea said...

I like cock.

I'm not sure where the line between erotica and romance is anymore. I've read a lot lately that could go either way. I say anything goes. I don't like it when words are used which make me pause while reading a sex scene, it should all flow and work within that scene. There are times when some words aren't appropriate and most authors seem to understand that. It really detracts from the story when I'm reading a hot sex scene and all of a sudden find myself stopping and thinking, "Manroot! Why the hell did the author use that word!"

Hillary said...

Pretty much anything goes if you ask me, but I do have to admit that I hate the C word (rhymes with aunt). Though I have read and enjoyed stories with the word used quite a bit, it does make me stutter in the sentence instead of allowing a smooth flow.

Just my two cents.

Hillary
hillacurr@gmail.com

IdentitySeeker said...

I don't think the words cum, cock and pussy should be used in romance or general fiction. I suppose they'd fit well within erotic writing.

I love the excerpt, by the way. Very interesting couple!:)

I look forward to reading this book.

Best wishes with your future writing!:)

Sarah Bibi Setar

sarah DOT setar AT gmail DOT com

Rhonda D said...

You're book sounds like a definite winner. I think in erotica anything goes. There should be no bad words :)

Victoria said...

I'm not a fan of cunt. It's just too harsh a word.

vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'm not very good with words or writing. I sucked at all the creative writing assignments in college. As far as I'm concerned, it's the author's decision as to what's appropriate in romance vs. erotica.

MaDonna Lemmen said...

Words I dislike in either is cunt, flower, petals, blossomed...just doesn't do it for me lol.

MaDonna
derna4u@yahoo.com

Lexi said...

I also don't appreciate the vulgar words. Erotica and romance can have the same vocabulary, it's all in how it is presented and the descriptions. Describing how the characters feel is sexier than hearing their bodies described.
Thought provoking post!

Savannah said...

Nothing really bothers me :) Word wise say w/e you want ;)
Only thing I hate when reading is when characters feel to forced like they say over the top things.... I hope that makes sense but besides that with me anything goes!

brandon_savannah@yahoo.com

Mary Preston said...

The C word makes me cringe. It's not sexy at all.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

No Bull Steve said...

Manroot. Classic!!!

@Hillary - you hate the work Can't??? heh heh heh. I couldn't resist.

Thanks Sarah and Rhonda!

No Bull Steve said...

Lexi et al.
Romance and Erotica may use the same words and the lines recently may have blurred over the years, but remember that the PURPOSE of the book is important in determining genre. It's one of the problems I have with my "ghost" novels being classified as horror just because there are spirits in them. Their intent/their core is suspense. With a Romance story (in addition to having very specific requirements) the intent is to write about the relationship. The matching up of man and woman.

With erotica, the intent is specifically to titilate. Thus I feel that depending on the type of sexual relationships being described, their should either be no restriction (imagine BDSM erotica only mentioning "penis" and "vagina") or the restrictions should come from the characters/situations themselves. Does that make sense?

No Bull Steve said...

Thanks everyone for such great comments!!!

menina.iscrazy said...

I think it's more of a matter of how much do they use it. There's only so many times I can read a word before I get a little upset by it. I find myself enjoying it more when there is some variety to it. Undeniably there are only so many words for certain acts and body parts but, I'm always of the opinion that variety is the spice of life. ;) Descriptive or not. Filthy of not. It's all good.

Pam said...

With regards to erotica, I think pretty much any word is fair game. That's not to say I like reading all words. I don't particularly like the c word. More so if it's excessively used. And I'll admit, I was very naive about a lot of things until I started reading erotic stories so before then I didn't like the word cock or pussy either. In fact, I still HATE the word pussy when it comes out of my oldest sister's mouth. She refers to my cats as that and well, it ticks me off. She'll be like "Are the pussies hungry?" when she sees them sitting near their food bowls. I think she just says it for shock value or something because she's a drama queen. LOL

Anyway, the other day when I was reading an erotic story, the word dick was used and I actually thought to myself that I wished they'd have used cock instead. That may sound odd but, I don't know, dick almost sounded childish to me at that particular moment in that particular story. Normally I have no problem with it but in that one instance it just didn't sound right.

With romance I can see the word cock and pussy being used as long as it's not used often. Kind of cheapens the romance of the story, so to speak, in my opinion. But the c word is too strong of a word for romance.

As for general fiction, I don't know that those sort of words should be used in them at all. Surely less derogatory words can be used.

But really, what do I know? LOL

Pam

Cayce said...

I don't like the word 'cum'...
And I don't like the sex scene when it's repetitive, always using the same wording. That's not sexy, just boring.

June M. said...

I don't really think of any words that are big no-no's for me. I don't really care for the word c*nt but as long as it is not chanted over and over, I can deal with it. I don't really draw lines as to what words should be used in romance vs erotica, etc either. I think as long as the word flows into the story and fits the character, authors should use whatever words they want to. This may be because I read such a variety of books, from mainstream, lighter romance to erotica (even some darker erotica). The one thing I don't like though is a lot of purple prose, etc. That just makes me snicker and lose interest.

C.S. Maxwell said...

This is such an interesting question, because my girlfriend and I were just discussing it.
I hate the cunt and penis in Erotic.
But I also hate it when an author overuses the same word over and over again, too.

searching4princecharming said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I think descriptive words are great, but I hate when the author uses words like "cunt." There is something just derogatory about that word!

searching4princecharming(at)gmail(dot)com

Rachel V said...

I think in Erotia anything goes. In genre fiction I think is kind of the middle ground and romance is the more conservative of them. I dont like them using cunt in the books but I think alot of it is the context it is used in also.

Ashley Applebee said...

I think pretty much anything goes in erotica...in romance, I think words like pussy and cock shouldn't be used.
Ashley A
ash_app@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

for the blog post comment on "Answer Steve's question by commenting on his postIn your opinion, what words should/shouldn't be used in erotica vs romance vs genre fiction? When describing sexual acts and body parts :) Is there a preference to leave out or one you would like to keep" my answer would be that erotica has no holds barred. Romance should be VERY VAGUE and genre fiction should be even more vague. Erotica people expect a hard core, in your face picture. Romance is expected to build and build and build but in a sensual way into bliss. Genre fiction should stay clear of it unless it is critical to that part of the story.

Mindy fangedmom
boo(2)bosh(at)gmail(dot)com
February 17, 2012 8:19 PM

Christy said...

I don't think penis and vagina should be used. Big turnoff! christina_92 at yahoo.com

No Bull Steve said...

Thank you everyone for your great comments. I agree that authors using the same words over and over is especially annoying in sex scenes.

Unknown said...

I can only think of a few words that authors have used to decibe body parts that either turned me off or just made me laugh.
1. "He touched her flesh colored orbs pushing out of her corset." UGH!
2. Used to describe a man's penis..plum colored pole..I nearly fell out of bed laughing!!!

so yeah...That killed the mood.

Good question!!
Mel
bournmelissa@hotmail.com

Mary @SweepingMe said...

I would say the penis being described as a stick and cunt are words I NEVER want to hear being described in a book any type. Other then that I am open.

Mary
mary_reiss @ hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Well, I really like any words in erotica or romance either.

But... Something reminded me of a new word that should replace two old words, "Cock" and "Dick", it's called "mushroom". I can't remember which book I had read.

Anyway, thanks for the giveaway!

Joyce(at)romance-book-club(dot)com

VampedChik said...

The only word that I dont like would have to be cunt. It's just a derogatory term but otherwise anything pretty much goes. :)
-Amber
goodblinknpark @ yahoo.com

kel_p said...

The Excerpt sounds awesome - have to hunt it down now!
I think with Erotica then for sure anything goes - although i really HATE when they use 'cunt' - it's just awful, not a very sexy word at all.
I haven't read a whole lot of books that have used it but it kinda sounds wrong when it's used!
I think it also depends on the characters too - whether or not it is something you feel that character would actually say :)
Saying all that - it's not that they cant use certain words just that sometimes i think something different might have sounded better!
Kel xx

lillie.rose.owen.jesse (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Unknown said...

Great excerpt!

Now for the answer to your question (in my opinion). I feel you can use ABSOLUTLY anything in erotica. There are no limits to the use of any of those naughty, dirty, (at times) invigorating words! Cum, cock, dick, cunnie, pussy, etc, any description all around is acceptable in erotica. Hence why it's called erotica :)

Now with romance words should not (and cannot) be as "cruel". They should be "softer" and a bit more sensual as it is what the reader craves when indulging in a romance. It would be described more like "his soft tongue explored my womanly parts with such devotion...) Yea, sounds about right to me ;)

I enjoy all just as they are written and if I did not I would choose another genre all together!

Thank you for the chance to win!

Have a great one!

~Ava~

SiNn said...

honestly it all depends really on the fele of the book someb ooks i wouldnt want graficnes sin other books if ele its lackinga nd should have more personally i dont like when writers stem their creative flow because it may or may not offend one person or the next but thats just me

No Bull Steve said...

I think I'm right there with you, Rene.

Thank you all for such thoughtful comments. Nice discussion. And because Nikki has been so amazing, I'm announcing this on the web for the first time right here. You're all winners! My publisher has decided to run a FREE Promo for the Kindle edition of Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum from March 2nd through March 4th! No codes necessary and you don't even need to own a Kindle (you can download Kindle for PC or Kindle for Mac or upload a Kindle app on your smart phone for free).

So there it is! I really hope you all get a chance to get the book. The higher I can climb on the FREE download chart, the more attention my book will get.

Lastly, please let me know if anyone minds my adding their email to my monthly newsletter list. It's a fun little thing with Top 10 Lists and cute articles. You can opt out at any time with no hurt feelings. I just don't want to be reported for spam!

Unknown said...

I would love to be on your monthly newsletter list!!
This is great that we all won! Very exciting and so glad I found out about this hop. Found so many new and great authors through here :)
I look forward to getting my hands on it and reading away!

Thank you!

~Ava~

Dragonlady029@aol.com

Victoria said...

Thank you for the great news. You must be pleased :).
I'd be happy to be on your newsletter list.

vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

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