Vintage Sexy

As a writer of erotica, both straight and paranormal, I always find myself reading and researching about what is sexy to the readers of 2011.  It’s an interesting topic, though I often get strange looks from the patrons of the local Starbucks.  The fact is, the things that we find sexy in today’s modern world have changed drastically in the last thirty years.  The Sexual Revolution of the 1960s made us more open, maybe even too open.  Previous to this, housewives were hiding their bodice rippers in the nightstand and denying any involvement in masturbation or fantasy lives.  Then suddenly the market realized that women wanted more explicit sex, hotter men and stronger heroines. And then the 1980s brought us AIDS, an increase in teenage pregnancy and an emphasis on sexual responsibility. Nowadays, innovations like the Internet, social networking and eBook readers have made the world much smaller and if possible, more open.  Specifically, more open to sex.  With all of these societal changes, the modern romance author has had to become vigilant in keeping up with what makes the modern reader hot, while also maintaining that theme of sexual responsibility. 

One of the coolest things that I’ve noticed over the last several years is the return to all things vintage.  As many of you who read my blog and indeed, my writing, I closely identify myself with the Goth culture.  One of the things that the Goth scene has done for sexuality is to bring back the Burlesque aesthetic.  Corsets, clothes that are sexy without being obscene and bawdy women who are purposefully comedic and sexually open are HOT.  The popularity of movies like Burlesque and Moulin Rouge and performance artists such as Dita Von Teese reflect a culture that is ready to embrace the playful side of sex.  And embrace it not as something dirty, but as something that should be enjoyed.  I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the proverbial “bodice ripper” that features some poor shrinking violet being kidnapped, raped and forced into marriage just doesn’t sell anymore.  The modern reader wants strong heroines who aren’t afraid to fight back with all the weapons in their arsenal:  intellect, beauty and general “badassery.”

Another thing that romance readers are finding exceptionally sexy right now is the Male/Male romance.  While I myself don’t write in this subgenre, I have great respect for those that do.  And I think it’s so exciting that love relationships between two men are becoming so mainstream.  No one, regardless of their sexual orientation, should have to hide who they really are from the world.  The popularity of the Male/Male romance genre indicates to me that the modern reader is accepting of the gay lifestyle.  After all, love is love.  And tolerance is, to me, HOT.

Along with the age of eReaders has come a wave of new and exciting writers in the romance genre.  No longer do writers have to drown in the slush pile of a New York publishing house for two years before being told, “It’s just not what we’re looking for right now.”  Instead of authors scrounging to be noticed by publishers, eBook publishers are pursuing unknown authors.  As one of those unknowns, I’m exceptionally pleased by this paradigm shift.  It means that thousands of creative minds are getting their words out to the readers.  How exciting to be a reader right now!  Whatever sort of kink you’re into, there’s a writer out there who caters to you.  Trust me, if you want to read a book about an alien that falls in love with a werewolf—it’s out there.  That being said, readers want more and more creativity.  Plots have to be tight and believable.  No longer will readers be content to lose themselves in a ridiculous scenario highlighted by ten pages of “He presented his throbbing member to the entrance of her moist and waiting canal.” 

Let me close by saying that no one can really answer the question, “What is sexy?”  Because the truth is, like wine, everyone has their own preferred vintage.  The good news is, with the explosion of eBooks and small presses, everyone can find something to tickle their fancy. 

And speaking of eBooks, today marks the release of my first book with Rebel Ink Press, “Masquerade.”  Check out the blurb and another hot excerpt. 

BLURB:

“What's your fantasy?”

Blythe McLachlan had the perfect life until the night he said those three little words that could make or break a relationship.  When Blythe tells her husband about her fantasy of a hot menage, he's less than pleased.  But when he drops her off at a mysterious masquerade ball, she finds that the boundaries of love can be crossed and rules are made to be broken.

EXCERPT:

  Blythe turned red from the tips of her ears to her toes. She wanted to pull one of the coverlets over her body, hiding herself from their eyes, but she didn’t move–couldn’t move. She raised her eyes to see The Raven standing by the bed. He stared down at her as he pulled at the tie around his neck. She watched as he opened the crisp dress shirt, button by button, laying it open so she could see the muscular form that lay beneath. Her mouth watered and she desperately wanted to touch him. Though Apollo’s hands were running slow and sensual over the backs of her legs, she forced herself away from the sensation and crawled across the bed to The Raven. He smirked as she approached, pulling the shirt from his shoulders and tossing it to the side. She touched him tentatively at first, just letting her fingertips slide along the hard lines of his body. His skin was a masterpiece of flesh, so smooth and pale, yet sun-kissed. She kissed the center of his chest, tasting the salty sweat that had formed in a thin sheen over his body. Moving downward slowly, she followed the line leading to his navel, lapping up the taste of him as if his body was an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. He pulled at the button on his pants, opening them fully so that they sat precariously on his pelvic bone. He would let her do the honors of unwrapping her prize. And open it she did, pushing the meddlesome wool and cotton down over his hips and gasping at seeing what lay beneath. She looked up into his masked eyes as if asking permission. He nodded and tangled his hands in her mess of black hair, running his fingers through it gently. Leaning forward, she kissed around the base of his cock, her nose tickling the soft blonde curls there. She giggled, blowing playfully at the coarse hairs.

Suddenly she had a flash of pure mischief and turned to look over her shoulder at Apollo. His dark complexion was flushed and his black hair, once so perfect, was now standing in stiff, messy spikes behind the gilded mask. His body was long and lean and he had wasted no time in disrobing. His cock stood out proudly, already erect, as if reaching for her. Blythe smiled and winked, giving a subtle nod. She wanted to be sure he was watching. An evil expression curled his lip into a cunning grin and his chocolaty eyes pointed her down to where his hand stroked his member with agonizing slowness. He was watching.

********************

RAWWRR… I love that scene.  If you want to hear more interesting details about Blythe and her men, hop on over to BN.com, AllRomance eBooks, Amazon or Bookstrand and pick up a copy of "Masquerade," available NOW from Rebel Ink Press.

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