Passion

On Saturday, October 15^th, my husband and I attended a memorial service for a dear friend. We met Boots Martin in 1973 through Stagedoor Comedy Playhouse, where I had the joy of working with her in many plays and replacing her in several others when she was busy doing other shows.

Everyone who spoke about Boots talked about her passion for theater. It didn’t matter how small or how large the role, Boots always brought her considerable arsenal of talent—her passion—with her.

Which made me think about why we writers keep writing—despite rejections, poor or nonexistent reviews and even when confronted by the terror of writer’s block. It’s our passion for the written word; the passion that demands we tell the story; the passion for the characters who compel us to tell about their successes and failures, their goodness and flaws, their hates and—above all—their loves. About their abiding passion for life and for each other.

Many years before I sold my first novel, Boots suffered through editing handwritten manuscripts, her edits also handwritten. Looking back, I wonder who had the harder time deciphering those scribblings. Boots kept reading and acting. I kept writing—all because we shared a passion for what we do, for what makes us who we are.

I miss you, Bootsie, more than words can say.

Love,

Dee

Passion

On Saturday, October 15^th, my husband and I attended a memorial service for a dear friend. We met Boots Martin in 1973 through Stagedoor Comedy Playhouse, where I had the joy of working with her in many plays and replacing her in several others when she was busy doing other shows.

Everyone who spoke about Boots talked about her passion for theater. It didn’t matter how small or how large the role, Boots always brought her considerable arsenal of talent—her passion—with her.

Which made me think about why we writers keep writing—despite rejections, poor or nonexistent reviews and even when confronted by the terror of writer’s block. It’s our passion for the written word; the passion that demands we tell the story; the passion for the characters who compel us to tell about their successes and failures, their goodness and flaws, their hates and—above all—their loves. About their abiding passion for life and for each other.

Many years before I sold my first novel, Boots suffered through editing handwritten manuscripts, her edits also handwritten. Looking back, I wonder who had the harder time deciphering those scribblings. Boots kept reading and acting. I kept writing—all because we shared a passion for what we do, for what makes us who we are.

I miss you, Bootsie, more than words can say.

Love,

Dee

Sex

Sex is serious business. It’s enthralling, enthusiastic, invigorating and enervating. In addition to being fun, it’s funny. Which is what makes my erotic romances different from others’. Humor—even in my darkest erotic romance—is my “brand.” My author’s voice.

Some people upon meeting me express surprise that I write erotic romance. My response to that observation is this: I’m not so old I’ve forgotten the joys of making love. Nor am I so young that I’m embarrassed writing about those joys. In very explicit terms!

I’ve written short contemporary, romantic suspense, Regency and Victorian historicals. I never sold. Now I write erotic romances. My sixteenth book—Her Virtual Ecstasy—will release October 1, 2011. I think you can see why I write what I write. I have two more books—It Takes a Thief and Temptress of Time that are contracted, but don’t have release dates yet.

Why do I write what I write?

·      Freedom of language: To ensure I avoid redundancy, I have an American Dictionary of Slang where I find lots of synonyms for sex parts. I also have a Dictionary of Euphemisms, which I don’t use much if at all.

·      Freedom to fantasize: I remember being really angry at Erica Jung for revealing so many female fantasies in her novel Fear of Flying. Now I appreciate the freedom to imagine anything—and to write about it.

·      Luck: In 2005 I ran in to Lynn LaFleur at the RWA conference in Reno, NV. She suggested I attend the “spotlight” on Ellora’s Cave Publishing. I won an anthology, loved every story in it, and wondered if I could write a story as funny and HOT as Charlotte Boyett Compo’s The Windsday Club. Inspired as I hadn’t been in a long time, I came home and wrote Passion’s Four Towers, which became my first sale ever.

·      Freedom to explore new (for me) subgenres: I write Historical Fantasy because I can play fast and loose with historical details—except for certain words and making sure they were in use at the time. I really admire all you wonderful authors who write historically accurate and creative stories as well. I do try to stay accurate with clothes and weaponry, but the rest is out of my own imagination. I started writing Futuristic Fantasy because I needed something to occupy my time while I waited to hear about my historical fantasy. Both genres are a lot of fun to write. I probably will never write a paranormal, even though I read them a lot.

Since I first wrote this, I have written and sold a paranormal: Chosen. It’s available from eXtasy Books.

·      Challenges: I love compound/complex sentences. Most e-publishers do not. Even commas are frowned on.

·      Naming Creativity: I live with my Character Naming Sourcebook from The Writer’s Digest. I don’t even start writing until I’ve named all my major and most of my secondary characters. Naming is fun. For example, Passion’s Four Towers three brothers’ names are variations on the word “spear.”

Sex is serious business. It’s enthralling, enthusiastic, invigorating and enervating. In addition to being fun, it’s funny. Which is what makes my erotic romances different from others’. Humor—even in my darkest erotic romance—is my “brand.” My author’s voice.

Some people upon meeting me express surprise that I write erotic romance. My response to that observation is this: I’m not so old I’ve forgotten the joys of making love. Nor am I so young that I’m embarrassed writing about those joys. In very explicit terms!

I’ve written short contemporary, romantic suspense, Regency and Victorian historicals. I never sold. Now I write erotic romances. My sixteenth book—Her Virtual Ecstasy—will release October 1, 2011. I think you can see why I write what I write. I have two more books—It Takes a Thief and Temptress of Time that are contracted, but don’t have release dates yet.

Why do I write what I write?

·      Freedom of language: To ensure I avoid redundancy, I have an American Dictionary of Slang where I find lots of synonyms for sex parts. I also have a Dictionary of Euphemisms, which I don’t use much if at all.

·      Freedom to fantasize: I remember being really angry at Erica Jung for revealing so many female fantasies in her novel Fear of Flying. Now I appreciate the freedom to imagine anything—and to write about it.

·      Luck: In 2005 I ran in to Lynn LaFleur at the RWA conference in Reno, NV. She suggested I attend the “spotlight” on Ellora’s Cave Publishing. I won an anthology, loved every story in it, and wondered if I could write a story as funny and HOT as Charlotte Boyett Compo’s The Windsday Club. Inspired as I hadn’t been in a long time, I came home and wrote Passion’s Four Towers, which became my first sale ever.

·      Freedom to explore new (for me) subgenres: I write Historical Fantasy because I can play fast and loose with historical details—except for certain words and making sure they were in use at the time. I really admire all you wonderful authors who write historically accurate and creative stories as well. I do try to stay accurate with clothes and weaponry, but the rest is out of my own imagination. I started writing Futuristic Fantasy because I needed something to occupy my time while I waited to hear about my historical fantasy. Both genres are a lot of fun to write. I probably will never write a paranormal, even though I read them a lot.

Since I first wrote this, I have written and sold a paranormal: Chosen. It’s available from eXtasy Books.

·      Challenges: I love compound/complex sentences. Most e-publishers do not. Even commas are frowned on.

·      Naming Creativity: I live with my Character Naming Sourcebook from The Writer’s Digest. I don’t even start writing until I’ve named all my major and most of my secondary characters. Naming is fun. For example, Passion’s Four Towers three brothers’ names are variations on the word “spear.”

Romance Trading Cards

Hi There,
I just posted all my trading cards. If you want any or all, please send a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) to:
Dee Brice
Post-It
7511 Watt Avenue, Suite 102
Box S121
North Highlands, CA 95660

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Kerrie's Quest

How This Book Came About

Kerrie’s Quest for Passion

I admit it. When I wrote Passion’s Four Towers I set myself up to write a sequel. But I couldn’t coax Gerard and Edgar to come out and play. Their encounters with Yvonne apparently wore them out.

Kerrie, dead at the time I wrote about her daughters, was more than willing to let me tell her story. In fact, she shrieked like a banshee, wailed like Marley’s ghost complete with rattling chains. In short she acted like the bitch her daughters thought she was.

Being a pantser—someone who doesn’t plot beyond a very basic story idea—I had so much fun learning about what drove this woman to marry three times and have children with each of her husbands. Having written Passion’s Four Towers, I knew the names of Kerrie’s husbands and that led to how I organized Kerrie’s book—one for each husband with entr’acts that were solely about this remarkable woman.

Remarkable? After I’d written her as a sex-starved woman who might have murdered her husbands once they’d provided an heir? Well, yes. Because, in Kerrie’s world protecting her children and Marchonland meant everything. And she learned a valuable lesson. In the end, love is all that matters.

Dee Brice

Erotic Fantasies Where Nothing is Forbidden

Wheels

If you haven’t seen True Lies or In the Line of Fire or visited the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles, CA, you may be unaware that the entire hotel is round. Which means you can’t get from one side of the lobby to the other without going around the bar area or through the elevator access to the guest towers. If you’re directionally challenged like I am, you may spend a lot of time going in circles. I did and have the blisters on my toes to prove it!

The other quirky thing about the hotel is the elevators only stop on lower floors 1, 3 and 5. To reach 2, 4 and 6 you take the escalator up or down. And if you’re looking for a specific place to eat—like Subway on level 6—you have to know to turn right when you step off the escalator. If you turn left—like I did twice—you take a grand tour of all the shops and eateries on the entire floor as you circle around and end up pretty much where you started.

Aside from that, signage on these “common” levels isn’t terrific. Finding some of the workshop rooms require advance planning or meeting someone who’s looking for the same place you are.

On the plus, plus side—there are plenty of places to sit and visit—something I found lacking in Columbus, OH (RT last year). Food and drink in the hotel were both expensive, but there were plenty of on- and off-site places that were lots less expensive. Starbucks and McDonald’s were across the street.

I had the privilege of sharing in Desiree Holt’s celebration of her one-hundredth release (Downstroke) with several other friends (Allie, Samantha, Cheryl and Laura). This charming, go-get-‘em lady (Desiree) introduced me to more e-publishers than I knew existed. Her kindness allowed me to pitch in the organized chaos that is Club RT. I have to say that’s the strangest place I’ve ever pitched, but I was asked to submit—my manuscript, Sam and Lex and all you other BDSM/GL authors—so it worked out really well.

Spent a little time catching up with sister Siren Caitlyn Willows and met Siren Treva Harte. Treva was in her Loose Id persona and I was pitching so our time together was very businesslike. I think the networking/catching up opportunities at RT are worth the costs of going.

Two new things at the signings this year. Graphic Arts/Novels and Teen Day. Authors/Contributors were in a separate area of the ballrooms. Reaction from other authors regarding this division was mixed, but I kind of liked it. I didn’t have to hide my more risqué covers from the under 18ers.

Did I mention it was cold and windy? So windy that getting on and off the glass elevators became a leap of faith—for me, at least. The wind blew straight up the elevator shafts (up pants legs and skirts, too). I couldn’t see the elevator sway, but I sure could imagine it! I’m rather proud of myself for even riding in a glass elevator. As long as I could hold on to the railing I did fine. And it sure beat climbing up and down twenty-four flights of stairs!

Would I go back to the Bonaventure? You bet! But I’m already planning for RT in Chicago next year and sending my thanks that it isn’t in July!

How This Book Came About

Last week I promised myself and you that I'd write about how my various books came into being. Here's the first installment. I'd love to hear from you.

Passion’s Four Towers

 

The year: 2005 The location: Reno, NV The event: RWA National Convention

The inciting incident: Spotlight on Ellora’s Cave

I ran into sister writer and former RWA chapter mate Lynn LaFleur at this convention. She urged me to attend the spotlight on Ellora’s Cave. I did and won an anthology. Now, ordinarily I don’t like anthologies—the stories are too short. But I enjoyed every one of the stories—especially The Windsday Club by Charlotte Boyett-Campos. I wondered if I could write something equally funny and HOT!

At home, I began writing like a mad woman. I wrote scenes without thought of how they all would fit together. But at last, it was done and I sent my darling baby out into the cold reaches of cyberspace.

And received an acknowledgement that she’d arrived safely! Whew!

A couple of months later, I got a notice that things were a little backed up, but I should hear shortly about my baby’s fate. She survived her initial reading and had gone on to an acquiring editor. In late September 2006 I received a lovely rejection letter, saying too many of my sex scenes occurred “off stage” but if I wanted to revise and resubmit, I was welcome to do so.

Well, I guess you know what I did. I revised and resubmitted. “The Call” came in the form of an email that my DH woke me up at 0400 hours to read. His comment was, “I think you’ll want to see this.” And I did the Snoopy dance right in the middle of my husband’s office and sent an email back, saying, “Yes! I want the contract. And thanks!”

Passion’s Four Towers released in March 2007 and is still my best seller.

Why is this book so important to me? Aside from it being my first sale, I’d been trying to become a published author for fifteen years! I’d pretty much given up and decided if I didn’t sell I’d have to find another something to keep my mind occupied. But, thankfully, I did sell—in a genre I never expected to write. Erotic romance.

I now have sold thirteen stories from novellas to super novels (word counts from small to near 100,000). I even have a story that’s up for Book of the Month at Sizzling Hot Books Reviews: http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/

Voting starts on March 30, 2011 and goes for 48 hours. I hope, if you read this in time, you’ll take the time to vote for Their Consummate Courtesan from eXtasy Books.

In the meantime, hold on to your dreams and keep on writing. You never know when good things might happen and open a whole new world.

Dee Brice

March 27, 2011

Why Dee's Dites

Several months ago I succumbed to the need to have my own blog. I chose to call it Dee’s Dites (deesdites.blogspot.com). The other day DH asked me why that particular name.

Aside from the alliteration, “dites” is French for “tell.” Who can forget—assuming, of course, you’re old enough to remember—the song Ditez Moi from South Pacific?

Anyway, I have a French maiden name and thought deesdites appropriate. In addition, in spite of warnings to show not tell, writers do tell. We tell stories. We tell about people who meet and fall in love. And, hopefully, readers remember what we’ve told them.

Over the next several weeks, I’m going to tell readers how each of my books came about. Check me out at: deesdites.blogspot.com.

Oh! Also check out Book 4 in my Sensuous Seasonings series. It’s called Model Misbehavior and will release April 1, 2011—and no, that’s no April Fools’ Day joke—from eXtasy Books.

Dee Brice

Erotic Fantasies Where Nothing is Forbidden

Good Morning

Hi There,

This is my very first post on my very own blog site. Hope you'll stop by often and leave a message.