Reflections

Anyone asking me why I write might as well ask why I breathe.
Why erotica? That’s a little harder to answer. Actually, I write mainly Science Fiction, with erotic contents.
A friend of mine, after reading my book ‘Daughter of the Dark’, kept snickering about the sex-scenes. I was happy he liked them but I hope my readers see more in my books and stories than the erotic scenes.
Writing can be used as a vehicle for many things. It can be entertaining, arousing, thought provoking, teaching. Not only for the reader but also for the writer. To write a convincing story, a writer has to do research, has to be familiar with the topic he/she writes about.
I like writing Science Fiction because that’s a milieu I’m comfortable with. I’ve been reading Science Fiction novels ever since I discovered SF as a teenager. I don’t remember the first book or story, but the great SF authors Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Philip José Farmer, Poul Anderson, Leigh Brackett, Andre Norton, A. E. van Vogt, Jack Williamson, they all created worlds and stories of such wonder I could never get enough of them. After awhile just reading wasn’t enough, so I started to create my own worlds and peopled them with my own characters.
There are other writers who definitely influenced my writing, like Larry Niven, Roger Zelazny, Jack L. Chalker, Piers Anthony, and even Non-Science Fiction writers, like Mickey Spillane and Norman Mailer.
One of my favorite writers was E. C. Tubb, who created the character Earl Dumarest of Terra, a man from a far future Earth, lost among the stars, searching for his home planet Terra, considered a myth. After over twenty novels, he still hadn’t found his home world. I don’t know if he ever did.
I didn’t read only Sci-Fi. There was a time when I read nothing but Sword-and-Sorcery. Authors like Robert E. Howard (Conan), Karl Edward Wagner (Kane), Lin Carter, and Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan, Carson of Venus, John Carter of Mars) were among my favorites.
In the late 1960s, Berkley Publishing printed a number of books by Ted Mark (a pseudonym for Ted Gottfried). The first of many titles was ‘The man from O.R.G.Y.’, definitely erotica, but not as explicit as the stuff one can download these days from e-publishers. I read most of them and enjoyed them. Some of the material probably stayed in my head and might influence my writing today, who knows. Everything one reads will leave some residue behind.
I don’t write anymore for just my own entertainment. Now I’d like to share my imaginary worlds with others. I hope that I can bring to my readers at least some of the sense of wonder and excitement I found when I read the stories from my favorite authors. If I can do that I have achieved my goal and my dream.

News flash

I'm all excited. I checked out Fictionwise and found that my book 'Mother of Light' has moved from number 7 to spot number 3 and 'Daughter of the Dark' is at number 11. Still selling. I'm hoping to make Number One again with 'Mother of Light'.
The digest 'Summer Heat 3' from Midnightshowcase, which contains my story 'Gin and Tonic', has reached the number one spot.
Another bit of news. I finished editing Book Three of 'The Xandra, Goddess of Life' and sent it back to Midnight Showcase. The book is scheculed for release in October.
I also finished my story 'The Stardogs', a 119,000+ erotic SciFi novel. I'm not quiete sure what to do with it. Should I send it in as one book or should I make two books out of it?
You can buy my books at http://www.midnightshowcase.com/
or at http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/MidnightShowcaseeBooks.htm
or at http://www.dppstore.com/ go to Author, find my name on the list and click on it.
Happy hunting.

The Xandra books at Fictionwise

I just checked the site Fictionwise and I saw that Book Two, Mother of Light, is at spot number 7 and Book One, Daughter of the Dark, has fallen from number 11 to number 15, but still good.
Summer Heat 3, which contains my story 'Gin and Tonic' is at spot number 3.
Actually, I'm a little disappointed with the sales of Book Two. But it is just beginning. Hopefully it will do as well as Book One. I think 'Mother of Light' turned out better than 'Daughter of the Dark'. But that is just my opinion. It would be nice to get some feedback from readers.
Go, check it out at http://www.midnightshowcase.com/ or go to Fictionwise.

The Xandra, Book Two, Mother of Light

Book Two of 'The Xandra', Mother of Light' is available now from Midnight Showcase
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/

I'm just so happy with the cover. The artist Jinger Heaston did such a marvelous job, even better than the first one 'Daughter of the Dark'. That book is still available from Midnight Showcase.
Book Two is a continuation of Book One, except the events take place a thousand years in the future of Book One. There is no need to read Book One, but it makes it easier to understand Book Two.


 

Gin and Tonic, an excerpt

Here is a little appetizer for you from my story 'Gin and Tonic'

The sun burned hot on her skin; even the strong wind that blew in from the ocean didn’t cool it down. It was a perfect day for windsurfing. She watched the many multicolored sails skimming the high waves, like giant butterfly wings.
Only a few people braved the surf, but they seemed to have a great time as they let themselves be carried back to shore when a wave lifted them up.
It looked like fun and Ginger decided to join them.
She had bought herself a new bikini. Maybe it was s little skimpy, but she didn’t care. It felt strange to wear only a thong; she’d never been this bold.
The water was warm. The first wave was stronger than she had anticipated and it slammed her face down into the rough sand and beneath the water. Rolling, she tried to get up and almost managed, then a second wave bowled her over.
She felt strong hands grabbing her, pulling her to her feet.
“Hang on!” a man’s voice said, “here comes another one.” He held her when she almost lost her balance again. “Too dangerous to be in the water right now,” he said. “Didn’t you see the red flag?” He walked with her back to shore, still holding on to her.
“Thank you,” she said. “I feel real stupid.” She looked at him, recognizing him. “It’s Donald, right?”
“I’m flattered. You remembered my name.” He flashed her a smile.
He looked good in his small trunks. Like one of those cover-models from a men’s magazine. Narrow hips, broad shoulders, marvelous looking chest and great biceps.
“I’ve possibly saved your life,” he said and grinned. “Now I’m responsible for you. You owe me your company at dinner tonight.”
She laughed, still embarrassed. “Alright.”
“Come, I’ll buy you a drink,” he said.
She didn’t bother covering herself up, and neither did he. When they slowly walked to the beach bar, they drew stares from men and women, alike. He must have noticed it, also, because he chuckled. “I think we make a good-looking couple,” he said and looked at her. “You have a nice ass.” He grinned.
She felt heat rise to her cheeks and thought My God, I’m actually blushing. I can’t remember when that happened to me the last time. “Was that a compliment?” she asked

read the whole story in 'Summer Heat 3' from Midnight Showcase at http://www.midnightshowcase.com/

Summer Heat 3

It's been a hot summer and it is getting hotter. Summer Heat 3 is coming out this month. You'll find my story 'Gin and Tonic' in this digest, along with seven other hot stories. Check it out at
http://www.midnightshowcase.com/
I'll let you know when it is ready to be downloaded