Portia Da Costa's Blog, page 30

In the last couple of days, I've been thinking about and writing about the baddie in my WIP. Now this is tough for me, because I'm a sucker for sympathetic characters, even when they're sexy, somewhat domineering alpha heroes... but the dastardly Eustace Lloyd's actions have a pivotal effect on the plot of IN THE FLESH, so I don't think it'll work to have him simply referred to, rather than put in an actual appearance. In fact, come to think of it, a dirty trick that Eustace plays on my heroine, Beatrice Weatherly, initiates the entire plot of the book. Not that there's a *huge* amount of plottiness. I'd be the first to admit that my stories depend mainly on characters, erotic interplay and emotions, rather than a lot of racing around doing things.

Because I mostly like 'nice' characters, I don't write many nasty ones. I think the last proper villain I wrote ie. one without much in the way of redeeming features, was Isidora, the wicked sorceress in my GOTHIC duo, Gothic Blue and Gothic Heat. Now she was a very bad girl, and totally ruthless, and didn't care what she did to people as long as she got what she wanted. Readers seemed to like her, and I must admit, she was fun to write, so maybe I can channel some of that irredeemable mojo into Eustace... although I'm already looking for reasons for him being the way he is. Not that I'll have much time to go into his back story. I've nearly got three quarters of my wordcount done, and I'm only half way through the plot!

Looks like this book is due some stringent and carefully considered cutting and compressing in the editing... or it's going to be a helluva sight longer than the projected 95K words!

Now then... shall I do a bit more Eustaceness? Or return to Beatrice and Mr. Ritchie and their delicious bedroom games? Hee hee!

In the last couple of days, I've been thinking about and writing about the baddie in my WIP. Now this is tough for me, because I'm a sucker for sympathetic characters, even when they're sexy, somewhat domineering alpha heroes... but the dastardly Eustace Lloyd's actions have a pivotal effect on the plot of IN THE FLESH, so I don't think it'll work to have him simply referred to, rather than put in an actual appearance. In fact, come to think of it, a dirty trick that Eustace plays on my heroi...

Totally thrilled to announce that [subject to contract, of course:] I've made a new sale to a house that's brand new to me!
FAR FROM PERFECT is a category length contemporary romance, and it's going to be published by Samhain Publishing. This is what I'd call a sensual romance, rather than erotic. It has some hot sexy love scenes, but they're not described in quite the same explicit sort of language I'd use in my erotica and erotic romance. Still pretty sizzling though, hopefully, with a...

Today is a red letter day! My writing buddy Saskia Walker has a wonderful new book published by Harlequin Spice, a sexy, spooky paranormal erotic novel called RAMPANT. It's a contemporary, but it also has a mysterious historical twist too.
Saskia is celebrating over at her blog today, so why not nip across, say hello, and learn more about RAMPANT?
http://saskiawalker.blogspot.com/2010/04/its-official-publication-day-for.html

Here's my big tortie girl, ALICE, who's crammed her large furry personage into the modest sized box in which my 1889 & 1890 Punch Almanacks arrived.

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Eating: lots of biscuits
Watching: Sherlock Holmes, The Buccaneers
Reading: Beyond Seduction, Emma Holly
Writing: Victorianoid
Feeling: so so

Am sorry I've been a bad blogger... hope to have some interesting things to post soon. Even if it's just a progress report on my WIP.
Delightful image from Cheezburger

Wahey! Here's the delicious cover for my first historical Spice Brief, a Victorian set story called A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT.

Isn't it smashing? Super sexy, but in a subtle and tasteful way. I love it that he's got his clothes *on*!

"Predicament" is due out on the 1st May '10, with it's linked story A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT to follow in June.

Here's a brief excerpt of A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT. Hope you like it!

Isn't this fabulous? It's the stunning cover for ALISON'S WONDERLAND, a forthcoming anthology edited by the spectacular Alison Tyler. It's themed around erotic fairy tales and sexy magical happenings, and contains my offering UNVEILING HIS MUSE - the story of a love lorn artist obsessed with one of his own creations.

The anthology is out in July and here are the Amazon links:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Look at this beauty!

And I don't mean me looking an idiot in my dressing gown either... LOL

Although at the moment, I have no novels slated for publication in 2010, I am in a couple of print anthologies this year. One is NAUGHTY BITS 2, which contains my Spice Brief story CHANCE OF A LIFETIME... and the other is this beauty, that's just appeared on Amazon.com!

Alison's Wonderland

It's a paranormal erotic/romantic anthology edited by the fabulous Alison Tyler, with a general theme of fairy tales and fairy tale like stories. Mine's called UNVEILING HIS MUSE, and it's about a graphic art...