No Apologies…Team Bronte.

Yeah, I know, it’s not an either/or proposition. A Bronte…an Austen…what’s the difference? Who cares? Well, I do.

From the moment awkward, ugly duckling, nose buried in a book, twelve year old me picked up Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, I was sucked into an orbit around the protagonist like she was black hole of delight. Jane’s character mesmerized me, so much so that I re-read the book every single year. I adore Jane because she is harsh, judgmental and unforgiving. Even as a young child, rather than accepting her piteous station with expected gratitude, she’s stubborn and self-righteous. She possesses a strong sense of justice and fair play. Jane Eyre can carry a grudge with the best of ‘em. She never forgets a wrong done her. The character rocks! She ain’t no prissy Prudence.

Of course Jane wants to be loved, don’t we all? But she has no wish to subsume her identity and moral code beneath a lord and master - although she’s in danger of losing all perspective when it comes to St. John Rivers (I hate his guts). She’s nearly carried away by his grand passion - until she remembers what it feels like to be the object of such grand passion. River’s passion is reserved for the Lord, Rochester’s passion is reserved for Jane alone.

Can’t wait to enjoy this movie!

The Elephant in the Room or Why I Agree with Laura Miller.

This is not me. Unfortunately, I have only two arms. Below is the best take on the Hocking/Eisler switch-a-rooni I’ve read.

From Salon.com

“What we stand to lose in a world where writing a great book isn’t good enough.”

I don’t often suggest you all do anything, but I do suggest you read this article. I have been going insane - desperately aware that self-promotion is essential, but struggling with the immutable fact that there are only 24 hours in a day, knowing I cannot write and promote at the same time. Let alone sleep, eat, exercise, shower, speak with anyone, cook, pee, run errands, pay bills, do my taxes, take care of my kids/pets/yard/garden…et al.

A quote from Laura’s article:

“Hocking, on the other hand, is ready to say goodbye to all that entails. In a series of impressively sensible blog posts, she explained to aspiring authors all het up about the riches awaiting them that they shouldn’t think it was easy. “This is literally years of work you’re seeing,” she advised. “And hours and hours of work each day. The amount of time and energy I put into marketing is exhausting. I am continuously overwhelmed by the amount of work I have to do that isn’t writing a book. I hardly have time to write anymore, which sucks and terrifies me.” To the New York Times, she said, “I want to be a writer. I do not want to spend 40 hours a week handling e-mails, formatting covers, finding editors, etc. Right now, being me is a full-time corporation.”

Amanda, you so nailed it.

*Also worth reading - http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/

Pampering Jessica, by Tessie Bradford

Today, while I’m at Sexy Pleasures (I’ll update when the link is live) talking about my latest release, Tessie Bradford takes over my site. Welcome, Tessie!

Thanks for having me, Julia! I’m very excited to share a bit of my new erotic romance, Pampering Jessica, available today from Resplendence Publishing. This story celebrates marriage, maturity, and true love’s longevity.

Pampering Jessica

Copyright: Tessie Bradford, 2011

www.resplendencepublishing.com

Blurb:

David has been planning Jessica’s birthday weekend for months. His wife of almost twenty five years is having issues with turning fifty and he vows to do everything in his power to remind her how incredible she is and how much he loves her.

Jessica’s birthday wish is to spend quality alone time with the man of her dreams, her husband. When David presents her with a gold gift bag full of sensual surprises, Jessica is more than eager to enjoy every one of them. What she doesn’t realize is that her husband has much more in store for her special celebration.

EXCERPT:

Jesse was in heaven as they chatted, sipped champagne, and cuddled. She was a bit surprised at how much there was to catch up on, things that were happening in their jobs, stories about friends and the kids, even current events in the news. It had obviously been much too long since they’d spent quality time simply being together.

David started telling a story about having to teach the new guy on his crew about jacking up the floor joist and installing load-bearing walls. With his deep, baritone voice, he could read the phone book and it would sound sexy. She traced lazy patterns across his chest and along his ribs. He was a big man, almost six three, and his muscular build came from years of hard, physical labor, not a gym. Jesse closed her eyes and let her mind wander.

The first time she’d seen him had been on a construction site across the parking lot of her apartment building on a steamy hot August evening. She was leaving to go out with friends, and the sound of male voices caught her attention. David was loading stuff into the back of his truck. Jesse stopped and watched as he lifted what appeared to be very heavy equipment with no difficulty. One of the other guys walked up and said something, making him laugh. In one fluid motion, he pulled his T-shirt over his head and used it to mop his brow. Jessica had lost the ability to breathe as she stood mesmerized by the play of muscles in his arms and chest. When he met and held her gaze then winked, she’d thought she might melt into a puddle on the pavement. Embarrassment at being caught gawking had her hopping into her car and practically racing away.

Over the next week, she’d made sure she had lots of reasons to come and go. She’d never run so many errands in her life! He started to nod or give a little wave when he saw her, but nothing more. Jessica didn’t have the nerve to make the first move, and by the second week, she’d resigned herself to the fact that the gorgeous construction worker would never be anything other than the star of her fantasies.

One Friday night, after a particularly shitty day at work, Jesse parked in her spot as the skies opened up in a near torrential downpour. She had a week’s worth of groceries in the trunk. She’d darted out of her car and loaded herself down with every bag so she didn’t have to make a second trip. In the mere seconds it took to get to the front door of her building, the paper sacks had gotten soaked. The bottom fell out of one of them, sending cans rolling. She’d been swearing a blue streak and fumbling to get her key in the front door when, all of a sudden, David was at her side. He looked down at her with the most beautiful grey-blue eyes, flashed a killer grin, and took the bags.

Jessica grinned at the memories. She repositioned herself to lay her cheek against David’s stomach. She gave his erection a tiny squeeze before tugging open the top button of his jeans.

“I don’t think you’re paying attention to me,” he chuckled.

“On the contrary,” she disagreed and slid down his zipper. “You’re the only thing on my mind at the moment.” She reached in and freed his penis. Jesse wrapped her fingers around the base and gave a playful lick to the swollen head.

“Hold on there, baby, it’s supposed to be all about you, remember?”

“Then let’s get these damn pants off so I can do this properly.” She sat up and grabbed the waist band. David lifted his hips, and Jessica quickly shoved his jeans down his legs. Her nipples hardened and heat rushed to her pussy at the sight of David’s fully erect cock. “God, you’re beautiful.”

She took him into her mouth. David moaned and grabbed a handful of her hair. Jesse ran her tongue along the edge of the crown and sucked gently, her reward a taste of spicy pre-cum. She rubbed her breasts against his thigh.

“Shit, yes,” David hissed. He let go of her hair and reached beneath her. The first pinch on her nipple sent electricity straight to her core. Jesse flexed her pelvis in time with the movements of her hand and mouth. She loved sucking David’s cock, having him pump into her, fill her to capacity. She palmed his heavy balls and lowered her head until he touched the back of her throat.

“Yeah, Jesse, like that, take all of me.” His fingers tightened wonderfully around her breast. She stayed still, teasing him, until she felt his legs begin to tremble. She slowly rose up, almost allowing him to spring free, then slid back down with increased pressure. Usually, she leisurely played with him until he let go of his control and came in her mouth, but it had been weeks since they’d made love.

“I’m sorry, David,” she panted, nearly bouncing up off the couch. She hiked her skirt up and peeled off her pantyhose and panties. “I’m so horny, I have to fuck you right now!”

Tessie Bradford

www.tessiebradford.com

www.sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com

Heads Up!

All I can say is…Thanks!

Some of you have emailed me to tell me how much you enjoyed, or are enjoying, Pushing Her Boundaries. You have no idea how much your words mean to me!

Hubby finished it last night. He loved it! High praise and man, it’s too bad we can’t, well, do anything. That’s the test. What test, you ask? Never mind. I still can’t raise the pressure in my eyes.

As per my usual new schedule, I’m over at Night Writers today, talking about how I’m going stir crazy from all this lack of fresh air and activity.

Oh, I can’t believe this, but my diet has been so restricted, and I’m watching so much sports…you know, March Madness and all that…that I find myself craving fast food. I’m serious. I don’t eat fast food - haven’t in years. I’m like craving Jack in the Box spicy chicken sandwich and Wendy’s new chicken thingys - don’t know what they’re called but they are sort of a wrap. I’m desperate for saturated fat and starved for calories! My mashed bananas and protein shakes just ain’t cuttin’ it!

Do you ever feel that for all the lip-service paid to ebooks

lately, you still have to beg reviewers to read your books? And they turn you down? Well…maybe you don’t. I do.

Do I have your permission to be honest? When my patients ask me, “How much time do I have?” I always reply, “How honest do you want me to be? Because if you need me to lie, I’ll lie my ass off.”

Well, I’m asking you - do I have your permission to be honest? Yes? Then here I go. I’m weary of rejection. It saps not only my emotions, but my creative juices as well. Despite the exponential growth in ebooks and the fact that more and more mainstream authors are making the leap into the world of self-publishing, few prominent reviewers are willing to take the time to review an ebook written by someone outside of their comfort zone. What do I mean by comfort zone? I mean a book written an author who doesn’t have the right amount of cachet or name-recognition or New York print books trailing in his or her wake - an author they are unfamiliar with. ***Yes, I know, comes with the territory. Dues-paying and all that. Yadda yadda yadda. Blah - blah - blah. Whine, whine, whine. Suck it up and quit yer bitchin’, ya stupid author.

Here’s a smattering of the responses my requests have garnered:

1. Resounding silence. (Seems to be the most common response.)

2. “Oh, I read whatever strikes my fancy.” (This is an answer?)

3. “Our reviewer says your science fiction work is too long and she just doesn’t have the time.” (350 pages is too long?)

4. “We’ve never heard of your publisher so therefore we won’t review your book.” (Okelie dokelie.)

Yes, there are reviewers and book bloggers who are very involved in this brave new indie world, so many amazing reviewers that I can’t possibly name them all. They are welcoming and accepting, and those who’ve read my books have given me more than a fair shake. I will continue to offer my books for review to the more independent review sites. In fact, anyone who knows me is aware that all you have to do is ask and I’ll send you a book for review. I’m easy. I’m like the girl who gives it up for a burger and fries. Throw in a chocolate shake and I’ll go ’round twice.

It’s so very simple. I write to be read. Does this post make my butt look big? (Lie your ass off!)