Julia Barrett's World

This is an excellent question!

34% of her respondents claimed they do indeed skim or skip sex scenes.  If you extrapolate the percentage to the general romance reading public, this is a significant number of readers.  You can check out the post for yourself:

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/

Reasons given were:  too gross, too long, too boring, too acrobatic, too gratuitous, too unbelievable.

I have to admit I’m occasionally guilty of skimming or skipping.  I recently purchased several books – print books via Amazon – written by some of my go-to authors and I skipped the sex scenes.  Why?  Well, as I commented on Jane’s post, if I’m skimming or skipping the sex scenes, chances are I’m skimming or skipping most of the book, primarily out of boredom.  There is nothing more disappointing – reading-wise – than anticipating a new story or a new take on an old story, but instead discovering the same old same old has simply been repackaged, and that includes the same formulaic sex scenes.

Writing a sex scene is hard work.  Writing a good sex scene is even more hard work.  It’s a complex process and the way I see it, you have to be very involved in what you’re writing because context is everything.  There must be a realistic reason for the characters to do what they do, behave as they do.  And I believe that once the character commits to a man or a woman, the author must commit as well.  My goal is to write a scene or scenes that do justice to my characters and will involve, enthrall, and entertain my readers.  I think if an author just tosses in a gratuitous sex scene because they feel it’s required of them, the reader will recognize it and probably start to skip and skim.  I’m a fan of fade-to-black or behind closed door sex scenes if an author isn’t comfortable doing the down and dirty.  Really…it’s okay, just give me a good story.

So check out Jane’s post and leave me your comments.  I would love to hear your answers – do you skim?  If so, I really want to know why.

Tweet This Post

I’m not all that good at book reviews and I suck at uploading covers.

Normally, I prefer to let others express their opinion on a book.  However, author Fran Lee gifted me a copy of her book, A Brief Moment of Pleasure, to take with me on my trip and I have to say, the book is a delight.  It’s a joy to read a story about a woman who can hold her own, not in the business world for a change, but in the world of martial arts.  Fran Lee makes it clear that the world of Japanese martial arts continues, even now, to be primarily a world of men.  A woman has to work two or three times as hard as a man to be recognized and respected for her achievements and abilities.  The really cool thing about this story is I know the author, herself, is indeed a respected martial artist and she has stood in her heroine, Lisa’s shoes.  My question is…did she have a hot guy like James Rhee panting at her stiletto heels?  Hmmm?  Do tell!!!

The story is unique and the author’s sincere voice comes through.  Lisa’s relationship with James develops at a realistic pace.  The reader shares Lisa’s frustration – she wants the man in her bed with a deep passion, but he’s her boss.  First and foremost, she wants to earn his respect.  She has no intention of becoming his plaything – Lisa wants more than a brief moment of pleasure.  The story is sweet and serious at times, laugh out loud funny at others.  The bedroom scenes are smoking hot.  The book is one where you can flat out lose yourself in romance for a few days!

Unfortunately, Asian heroes are rare in our contemporary romance novels.  I hope James Rhee is the exception that proves the rule.

Buy link:  http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=186-201-101-446-3

Author’s website:  http://fran-lee-romance.angelfire.com/

Tweet This Post

Good God in heaven I’m tired!  I’ve spent the day finishing up Book Four of Daughters of Persephone - Tempus Fugit, Time Flees.  Bloody exhausting and exhilarating at the same time!  Of course, I only have the cover for Books One and Two, but it, the cover, that is, bears repeating.  Or perhaps bares repeating.  I do love that cover, so Dune-ish in a hot naked guy butt sort of way.

So…news…Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos is stumbling over Beauty and the Feast, my upcoming contemporary romance from Resplendence.

http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/

Stop over there and check things out – I’ll be giving away a free copy of this delicious, smoking hot romance.

I’m still running my recipe contest here – I’ve tried Lil’s bacon-inspired croissant sandwiches, Jen’s black pepper parmesan biscotti and Dana’s Lemon Cheesecake and so far, we’re on a big hitting streak!  Leave your recipe and you might win a copy of Beauty and the Feast.  My contest runs until April 1.

In other news, Tessie Bradford’s fabulous book, Possessing Eleanor, comes out today with Resplendence as does The Devil to Pay, by Pamela Labud – buy link:

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/

Okelie dokelie – ’nuff for tonight.

Oh gosh!  Over at Author Island in the Tiki Hut with my excerpt from Logical Lust’s The Cougar Book today.  I would love to have you drop in!  http://authorislandtikihut.blogspot.com/

Tweet This Post

You like me!  You really, really like me!

It is very nice to find this after the kinda day I had yesterday and today is shaping up to be a repeat!  Gotta go, but enjoy this review with me!

http://fallenangelreviews.com/2010/February/merrylee-captured.htm

Captured

Waking up naked in a cargo hold, caged with scores of women and guarded by two huge feline-looking men, convinced Mari Damon of one thing. She’d been kidnapped! By aliens!Ekkatt had harvested countless “Earther” females over the years. His people didn’t eat them, but that didn’t mean they weren’t above supplying them to other species who did. Since they are akin to animals, Ekkatt felt little guilt over his role in their imminent deaths. Until one uppity redhead mysteriously awoke from stasis, demanding to be heard.

Surprised by Mari’s cognitive abilities, he allowed her to remain awake, listening and watching as she set about proving herself sentient and therefore deserving of life. By the time they reached his home world, she’d begun to learn his language. But when his attempt to persuade his superior to spare Mari results in her being deemed a worthy subject for dissection and study, Ekkatt risks execution to whisk her away to his mountain cabin. There, as their love blooms amidst the wild untamed grandeur of Ekkatt’s world, they battle hardship, wild animals and the treachery of a friend. Ultimately, they realize that only one option remains open to them. Setting out across rugged restricted territory, they make for the safety of a secret compound, knowing that the grueling trek could easily cost them their lives. But at least they’d die fighting for happiness and the new life Mari carried within her womb.

This beautiful, compelling story came about through a dream. In putting it down in writing, author Julia Rachel Barrett has produced an absorbing, well-written story that had me so caught up I read every last word of it in one evening. A day later, I’m still marveling at her gift for world-building. I can still close my eyes and envision Ekkat’s majestic home world – the giant durra Mari encountered, the imposing snow-clad mountains and thickly forested valleys, the roaring rivers and emerald lakes, even the grossly disgusting sepatha that almost killed Ekkatt.

Both main characters are strong, appealing individuals who alternately tugged tears and then laughter from me. I loved Ekkatt’s yellow cat eyes and long blue-black hair, not to mention the hard muscles beneath his bronzed skin. I loved Mari’s ability to explain the human condition to Ekkatt, his fondness for potty-mouth English and her enjoyment in teaching him how to kiss. I loved the tender loving care he took of Mari, a woman so much smaller than himself that he thought of as delicate and breakable when she was far from it. Most of all, I loved Mari’s witty, wise-cracking personality, her fortitude and soft heart. Her rapport with Ekkatt is so amazingly beautiful it took my breath away.

Captured is one of the best books I’ve ever read. And with the ending leaving a couple of dangling threads, I’m hoping Ms. Barrett has sequels planned for the brothers I won’t drop any spoilers to name. Beyond that, what more can I say, other than keep dreaming, Julia! Keep dreaming…

Reviewed by: Merrylee

Tweet This Post

I’m throwing my hat in the ring and trying my hand at menage.  My philosophy is this – there can be no slut factor and no positions that necessitate unrealistic contortions.  There will be a reason for one woman and her three men…a damn good one.  This is so scary and I wouldn’t do it if I hadn’t A.  dreamed a menage and B.  hubby hadn’t given me an out of this world idea for a second book – m/f/m.  Is that how you describe it?  I actually don’t know the difference between m/m/f and m/f/m.  Anybody?

Oh yeah – I’m off to work today, but Susi over at The Geeky Bookworm is hosting me today – guest blog – how Barry White influenced my romance-suspense, My Everything!

http://thegeekybookworm.blogspot.com/

Tweet This Post

All I can say is…wow!

“One minute Mari is gathering eggs for her sister and the next minute she wakes up on a cold floor in a metal cage surrounded by other cages, all filled with unconscious women.  Mari manages to get to her feet; she is nude, cold and terrified.  But when she spies two humanoid type beings down the corridor and one approaches, she gathers her dignity like a cloak and tells him what she thinks of him.

It turns out that males from the planet Attun-Ru have been making trips to Earth for over 25 years to capture females.  The people of Attun-Ru are vegetarians, but beings on some of the other planets consider human flesh a delicacy.  Bad enough that the women are sold for sex or slavery but food?  Apparently other planets don’t consider the Earthers to be sentient, more like cattle, at best like pets.

Mari was a linguist back on Earth and slowly she’s learning some of the language of her Attun captors.  One in particular, Ekkat Vom Baerkah Elae has taken an interest in her and can’t believe that she is sentient enough to learn some of their words and their ways.

Over time, Ekkat grudgingly acknowledges, at least to himself, that Mari and therefore her people are sentient.  Can he with a clear conscience allow her to be herded with the other women to the sheds and then to auction?  For her to become a slave, a pet, or a meal once she is sold off?  For an Attun to have a relationship, especially sex with a human is a death sentence on his planet.  Whatever happens next will change everything for Ekkat and Mari.  Once the decision is made there is no going back.

Incredibly unique, Captured skillfully blends a sensuous romance with a dark sci-fi story. Captured is painfully brutal at times, but also mixes passion with heart pounding action.  Mari and Ekkat are fascinating main characters with pain and angst in their pasts, yet never willing to give up or give in.  Not only is the overall story compelling, there are little twists and turns throughout the plot which makes it really hard to put down.  Eroticism, drama, action, heart, and soul – Captured has it all!”

Thank you, Lisa!

Tweet This Post

Playing with the big cats – so much fun!

The Cougar Book has been officially released over at Logical Lust.  Yay!  I cannot say enough good things about Logical Lust’s professionalism and personal touch.  The pub has been amazing and the book is just as fine.

http://www.logical-lust.com/cougar.html

For a great read, pick up a copy.  My contribution is You Might Just Get It, featuring a forty-something nurse and a twenty-something chef.  The story is yummy!

So…one more hell day at work and then back to the usual schedule.  I do love me some cats!  Just ask Yoshi, Rico and Ichi-ban…and that cougar mama and her cub I run into at the wilderness park.  Shhhhhh – keep it to yourself, somebody will trap her…

Tweet This Post

*Enjoy Seven Days of Valentines with Siren-Bookstrand Authors*

Get all your romance over at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SirenBookstrand/

You can win ebooks and Strandbucks by reading the following post and answering one simple question…send your answer to: sandys36@yahoo.com

I’m offering a copy of Captured, my sci fi romance with Siren.

So…follow along here…Have your read or seen The Princess Bride?  The heroine and hero, Buttercup and Wesley are star-crossed lovers.  They dislike each other, fight a growing attraction,  and when they finally admit their true feelings, Wesley goes off to earn his fortune so he’ll be worthy of his true love.  Unfortunately, he vanishes and Buttercup believes him to be dead, killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts.  Apathetic, knowing she will never again experience true love, she agrees to marry the evil Prince Humerdinck.  And then Wesley returns and the passion between Wesley and Buttercup reignite.

My husband and I lived through a similar story.  We fell in love at a young age, were separated by time and distance, and had no contact whatsoever for six years.  In the meantime, I married the evil Prince Humperdinck.  The man who is my husband, the new Dread Pirate Roberts, returned and saved me.  Our true story is every bit as romantic and harrowing as The Princess Bride.  I’ll post it sometime!

For a chance to win a copy of Captured and Strandbucks, answer this question correctly – In what romance does a character say the following: “You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The first is never get involved in a land war in Asia. The second, only slightly less well known, is this: never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha –” Email your answer to Sandy, sandys36@yahoo.com

Captured:  Blurb

Mari never expects to find herself caged in a cargo hold on a spaceship. She quickly learns from her captors she’s headed to the meat market. When they try to return her to hypersleep, she resists. After allowing her to stay awake, Mari realizes her survival depends on connecting with the male in charge, Ekkatt. She must make him see her as a sentient being or she will end up as dinner.

Ekkatt has never spoken to any human. They are valued for one thing, the money they bring at auction. The Attun race are vegetarians, but other species prize human flesh and bring in good money. Then the female with red hair speaks to him and forces him to admit she has a name. Mari throws Ekkatt’s entire life into question, the biggest question…can he watch her sold to the highest bidder?

Happy Valentine’s Week!

Tweet This Post

Yee-hah!  My romance/suspense, My Everything, will be released on February 12th with Cobblestone Press.  Just got word this morning.

Never had so many releases in such a short period of time.

Check it out in the coming soon section.

My Everything, by Julia Rachel Barrett

http://www.cobblestone-press.com/

Tweet This Post

I’m the first to admit that I have a potty mouth.  Some days, well, lately, it  seems like every other word out of my mouth  is the ‘ef’ word.  It’s not my fault!  It’s the way I was raised!

No, not really.  I was raised to be quite lady-like, but that’s one thing I’m not – know how to be…can be if it’s really important…but these days the ‘ef’ word fits the bill.  I need an appropriate and very descriptive expression of my inner frustration and outer hair pulling.  And it’s use is probably good for my cardiovascular system.

My website seems to be on the mend after a three-week long ethersphere illness – not quite up to par but improving daily thanks to two hard-working professionals.

But you know, what really got to me was something so insignificant that it is  ridiculous for me to even think about it.  I entered a writing contest and received the critiques from four judges.  Fortunately for me, I guess,  the contest coordinators dropped the lowest score.  I had three fab scores and one so low as to be an ‘ef’.  If this was high school, I would have failed the class.  I read the critique from the low scoring judge, figuring I might learn a thing or two.  I learned, in reading this judge’s own words,  that he or she was offended by my use of the ‘ef’ word, so offended, in fact, that she couldn’t read the story.  Which makes me wonder why oh why did this person volunteer to read an erotic romance.  Erotica is loaded with words, that in my opinion, are waaaaay worse than the ‘ef’ word.

Besides, the ‘ef’ word is a good, solid all-purpose Anglo-Saxon word with multiple levels of meaning and many appropriate uses.  I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t resort to the ‘ef’ word under the appropriate circumstances!

Tweet This Post

Katiebabs over at Babbling About Books gave me a nice review for Captured.  Thanks, Katiebabs!  Here’s a partial quote:

Julia Rachel Barrett really takes some chances with Captured, her science fiction romance. Mainly, because Mari is thought of as food. Her eventual love interest, Ekkatt even thinks of her like that at first, as well as the belief she’s a mindless animal. This is a major hurdle, but because Mari is a strong, smart and quick thinking, she’s able to save her life and change Ekkatt’s opinion, who comes to many new conclusions because of the way Mari is able to stand up for herself.

It took me a while for Ekkatt to grow on me because he is the type who goes along with the status quo. As soon as Mari gets under his skin, that’s when he really makes an impression. He is a bit innocent in his thinking as he tries to understand Mari. He has always assumed things were one way. It takes the redheaded Mari to open his eyes. Ekkatt then must grapple with breaking the rules he lives by, as well as his growing feelings for a creature that goes against everything he’s been taught. Once he’s willing to embrace these feelings, his love for Mari is wonderful. Mari introduces him to new ways of loving such as mouth kissing and using her mouth to pleasure other body parts Ekkatt was never aware of before. These scenes smolder in their intensity.

Ekkatt and Mari’s quest for a Utopian society becomes a very important part of Captured and one that you hope they both find before a certain enemy comes upon them and destroys their new found happiness.

Captured has an almost erotic feel to it, and Ekkatt and Mari’s love for one another is very believable and emotional. Julia has written a nice sold romance.

Check it out for yourself – she also gives a nice review to Stephanie Julian and Kiss of Midnight.

http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-reviews-kiss-of-moonlight-and.html

I’m also interviewed today over at Love, Romances and More:

http://loveromancesandmore.blogspot.com/2010/01/welcome-to-julia-rachel-barretts-guest.html

Check it out – I love your comments!

Announcement:  Just received a call that Captured is a finalist in the Gotcha ! Contest.  Wow.  Check it out!

http://www.svrwa.com/gotcha

Tweet This Post

My virtual tour continues at Erotic Crush Junkies – January 15th.

http://erjunkiesreviews.blogspot.com

Leave a comment and have a chance to win a book.  I’d love to hear from you!

New Release!!!

My friend, Tina, has a new release.  Enjoy!

Buy Link:

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8080-deep-dark-delicious.aspx

A wickedly sensual feast…   Eden DeCarlo may have narrowly lost Miami’s best chef competition and the prize money she desperately needs, but she has caught the eye of dangerously virile Rafael Zayas, one of the judges and a wealthy restaurateur. Despite her vow not to let any man derail her life, Eden’s captivated by Rafe’s imposing masculinity, then challenged by the business deal he offers. He’ll invest in her new venture if, for one month, she can satisfy his culinary expectations and the sexual attraction they both feel.

Dominant and unashamed, Rafe knows what he wants when it comes to carnal pleasure and will spare no seduction to have Eden in all the ways he demands—naked, wanting, submissive.

Within thirty days, he will teach her the delights of yielding to passion, relinquishing all control to him and fulfilling her deepest, darkest and most delicious desires.

Sounds yummy!  Head over to the site to read an amazing, generous excerpt!  Good luck, Tina!

Tweet This Post

Hubby read my new book

and he said something very interesting about Captured.  He came to bed and woke me up…and ya’ll know what we do when he wakes me up…anywho – he told me that reading Captured was a weird experience because the heroine is me.

He said, “You know, there are pieces of you in every one of your heroines and I’m accustomed to that, but Mari is you.  She’s just plain you.  And it’s really weird to read about you having a relationship with this guy from another planet.  It makes me feel real weird.”

I asked if he felt like I was cheating on him and he shook his head, no.  He said it just felt weird, and then we went on to hm-hm.

The next day, I re-read the book and I realized he’s right.  Mari is me.  She’s just plain old me, potty mouth and all.  Wow.  I had no idea.  Wonder what Freud would have to say about this?

If you want a picture of an author, I guess, read Captured.

Tweet This Post

First the bad – there’s a sick stray/feral cat in my backyard and animal control was unable to catch it.  It went after my huge dog and my two kittens.  Now I have to try and trap it or shoot it and I’m not into shooting animals – but it appears to be suffering so I’ll do the best I can, besides, I don’t want my own animals injured.  God, this makes me feel awful!

The good – Captured, my first erotic work of science fiction, starring a redhead, will be released by Siren this Wednesday.  Yay!

http://www.sirenbookstrand.com/ Look for my name and you’ll find my book!

Katalina Leon will be featuring Captured and an interview with me over at the Seven Sexy Scribes site on Wednesday – please drop by and check out the inspiration for this totally fun, sexy work!

http://sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com/

I’ll be chatting, along with Siren author Karenna Colcroft, on January 7th, with Beth Wylde.  You can join the fun and win a book if you sign up – http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bethwylde/

Please come and share this exciting day with me.  Oh…and I’ll be giving you a taste with an adult excerpt on Seven Sexy Scribes on January 8th.  Don’t miss it!  http://sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com/

Okay, ya’ll, wishing you good things in this new year.  Julia

*Postscript:  Still feeling sick over the cat which seems to be fixin’ to die in my backyard.  Trying to keep my own black cats indoors and my dog from going after this poor sick thing – animal control can’t get under the deck to get it.

Steve Haber has written an amazing article about the future of the publishing industry in the Huffington Post.  You really should check this out – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-haber/the-death-of-print-doesnt_b_394476.html

Tweet This Post

“And remember my sentimental friend, a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” The Wizard of Oz to the Tin Man.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.”
– 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Albert Einstein

I hold it true, whate’er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
‘Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all. Alfred Lord Tennyson

Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings. Anais Nin

Where love rules, there is no will to power; and where power predominates, there love is lacking. The one is the shadow of the other. Carl Jung

For there is one thing I can safely say: that those bound by love must obey each other if they are to keep company long. Love will not be constrained by mastery; when mastery comes, the God of love at once beats his wings, and farewell — he is gone. Love is a thing as free as any spirit; women naturally desire liberty, and not to be constrained like slaves; and so do men, if I shall tell the truth. Geoffrey Chaucer

Free love? As if love is anything but free! Man has bought brains, but all the millions in the world have failed to buy love. Man has subdued bodies, but all the power on earth has been unable to subdue love. Man has conquered whole nations, but all his armies could not conquer love. Man has chained and fettered the spirit, but he has been utterly helpless before love. High on a throne, with all the splendor and pomp his gold can command, man is yet poor and desolate, if love passes him by. And if it stays, the poorest hovel is radiant with warmth, with life and color. Thus love has the magic power to make of a beggar a king. Yes, love is free; it can dwell in no other atmosphere. Emma Goldman

 

Tweet This Post