It's cute. I chuckled when I read it. Then I thought about how people treat me when they find out I write erotic romance. Suddenly, I've become Dr. Ruth. I have to know everything about sex since I write about it. Surely I couldn't write about something if I've never experienced it.
Yes, I can.
It's called research. Imagination. Reading what interests me. Learning from some of my favorite authors. I haven't called two male friends and taken them to bed so I could describe a menage correctly. (Although that might be fun...)
Most of the erotic romance authors I know are in a committed relationship with their own personal hero. They've been married for years. A menage is in their minds, not their beds.
I'm amazed at how many people believe we writers actually DO all the stuff we write about. Thriller and mystery writers don't find dead bodies buried in their backyards. Horror writers don't slash people's throats or stab them twenty-seven times. Paranormal writers don't hang around with vampires and werewolves.
We lose ourselves in our stories the same way you do. We create characters we hope you'll love as much as we do. Most of our adventures are created in front of our computers, not in the bedroom.
If I ever do find those two male friends to help with my research, I'll let you know...
Lynn
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15 comments:
The comment I receive the most when people meet me in person? But you're a GRANDMOTHER! Yes? And?
Imagination is a great thing, isn't it?
Sure, to an extent! :) But about things like firing a weapon, hand-to-hand combat, mountain climbing, living in many of the areas I write about--those are all real experiences. :)
Living amongst werewolves...hmm, well I've known some people like that..... :) In fact a friend is dating a guy we call wolf man.... :)
Hmmm....haven't had sex with a shapeshifter in wolf form lately. Better add that to my "to do" list! (snort) Lynn, I've been married to the same man for 36 years and we ARE not into group sex, so no, can't say I've ever experienced most of what I write about! However, my stock answer, when asked about my 'research,' is, "Well, I WAS a child of the sixties in that halcyon era after birth control and before AIDS and herpes..." And then I leave it to THEIR imaginations!
And Anny, you get the same looks I do, I bet! I'm a grandmother of four with #5 on the way--when people look at me and say, "You don't LOOK like you write those books," I usually answer that no, I look like a 58 year old grandmother, which is exactly what I am. A grandmother with a WICKED good imagination!
And my standard response is usually, "Do you think I could do some of the stuff I write about and still walk upright? I'm over 40 and most of my heroes/heroines AREN'T!Still - I have a VERY vivid imagination and that's one of my strongest allies in my writing." ;)
I just with my husband would get the idea that I don't DO what I write about. After seeing the cover for Restraint, he tried to tie me up!!! That didn't go over so well. But he does brag that a lot of research and development goes on over at our house.
Great topic!
Well, see the tying up part is possible... but the dragon? Well, the dragon and the tiger and the faery are still on my to-do list.
I'm a grandmother too, and it's my kids and grandkids who get asked how they can deal with their romance-writing granny. Nobody asks me much any more. But my favorite? "Hey, I had a life once!" They usually look at me like that can't be possible.
My vampire series is based on a bit of biotechnology. I actually do work with biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturers everyday, so I took some of that knowledge, added a bit of probability in regard to gene therapy and created my Vampire Council of Ethics series, which has been a great hit. Funny that when RT reviewed, the reviewer said the science was unbelievable... maybe she should get out more! ;D
TJ
www.tjmichaels.com
When I get asked, I usually say "I have a great fantasy life" and let it go at that. What I find interesting is people/reviewers never comment on the sex part of my stories but I've received comments about the rest of my stories needing more "realism". So, you can handle the part about dragon sex but find the heroine not speaking in "old English" unbelievable?? Hmm. Well, back to my fairy tales.
ROFL!
It would be great to travel to an alternate universe and be greeted by two handsome warriors who both want to claim me and will do anything in their power to make it happen.
Hasn't happened yet. *g*
I'm content to crawl into bed each night alongside my hubby.
Ain't imagination a wonderful thing. :-)
Actually, I try not to write about what I know . . . which, granted, is very little! :-) I fear it would bore me.
I absolutely love doing research and learning new things. In fact, when I was writing Plagued, I became so fascinated by medieval life, particularly during the Black Plague outbreak of the mid-fourteenth century, that it was difficult to stop reading and start writing!
And the rest? Let imagination fill in the blanks. Like Anny said, it's a great thing.
My response? I'm writing fiction, not a biography. LOL
Though sometimes it would be way cool to have nanotechnologically enhanced body parts. And, as for the 6'3" hunky green alien...:)
www.robiemadison.com
Not sure why, but I think men are the only ones who've ever asked me this question. I usually respond with a laughing retort of, "Sure, just like I murder people, and visit other planets, and perform magic." *eg* Great topic, Lynn!
Titania
Yes I do. In my head...
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