Sexy Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras!

For Adults Only, here's a steamy excerpt from my erotic romance

Storyville: A Time Travel Erotic Romance

that takes place in New Orleans

A week passed, and I still hadn’t seen Jan Baptiste.  I was beginning to think I’d imagined him, due to all the moonlight-and-magnolias’ scenarios that had been clouding my mind. It didn’t make any sense.  What was he doing in the cemetery?  Was he a ghost?  How weird is that?!  On Saturday night, I heard ragtime music again.  I wasn’t sure if it was coming from the cemetery or not.  I put my robe on and ran across the street to look through the fence to see if Jan was there.  As I was looking, I felt a cold presence behind me.  I quickly turned around, and there was my Jan.  I threw my arms around his neck and showered him with kisses.

He pulled away and said, “Come with me.  I want to show you something.”  I followed him around the fence and we came to a place that was opened enough for both of us to get through.  “Are you frightened?” he asked.

“Not when I’m with you.”

He took my hand and led me to a burial vault.  He pointed to one of the names on the family plot.

I asked, “That’s you?!  So, you are a ghost?”

“I’m afraid so.”

I tried wrapping my mind around what he’d just said.  It was hard to believe.  I didn’t know if ghosts really existed.

He showed me some stairs leading down to the vault.  “Follow me.”

“Have I died, too?” I asked him.

“No.  You’re very much among the living.”  He pointed to a door.

“Where are we going?” I asked as he led me towards it. 

“We’re going to Storyville.  That’s where I live.”

“Storyville?  You mean the famous red-light district?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve read about it.  Storyville doesn’t exist anymore.  Are we going back in time?”

“Yes.  Back to 1899.”

Wow!  This is weird, but exciting, too.  I couldn’t believe it.  “Wow!” I said again.

“I hope you like it.”

“What do you do there in Storyville?”

“I play piano in some of the brothels.”

“Wow!  That’s where Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton got their start!”

“You know about them?”

“Yeah.  My grandfather likes jazz.”

“If you like jazz, you’ve come to the right place.”

I could hear music playing in the distance.  Before he opened the door, he said, “Are you ready to go back to 1899 with me?”

“Sure.  I’d follow you anywhere.”

He opened the door and I beheld a barely-recognizable Basin Street.  Back then, it had railroad tracks running down the middle of the street.  People were scurrying about wearing Victorian-era clothing.  There were two-storied stately mansions, some adorned with turrets and cupolas, lining the street.  Some of the houses had naked women hanging out of the upper floor windows trying to tempt the men on the street to come inside and join them.  There were saloons and gambling parlors.

He said, “We’re going to the Mahogany House.”

“Okay,” I answered, ready for anything.

“Have you ever heard of Lulu White?”

“No.  Who is she?”

“She runs this place,” he said as we walked up to the door of a large mansion.  “It’s a lot nicer than some of the brothels down here.  It even has a marble staircase and two parlors.”

He opened a door and I saw half-dressed women sitting in a parlor talking to men.  A pianist in the corner was playing ragtime music.

Jan led me up the marble staircase and we came to a room.  I didn’t know what surprises he had in store for me next.  It was all so thrilling!

We entered a very plush bedroom filled with antiques.  It had a large crystal chandelier in the middle of the ceiling.  At first, I didn’t notice her: I was too busy looking at Jan and the dazzling interior. Then, I saw her—a red-headed young woman sitting up in a four-poster bed.  She was wearing a dressing gown that barely covered her large breasts.  I looked at Jan with fire in my eyes and said, “What’s this all about?!  Why are we here?”

He told me, “I wanted you to meet Lily, my wife.”

“Your wife!” I shouted.  “You never told me you were married!”  I was about ready to murder him.

Defensively, he answered, “I do have a past, you know.  I’ve known Lily since I was a child.  We grew up together.”

“Is she a prostitute?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re never jealous about her having sex with other men?”

“It’s all we’ve ever known.  We have an understanding.”

With building anger, I shoved his chest and yelled, “I want to go home.  I don’t like you anymore.”

He gripped my hands, trying to get me to stay.  I was surprised when he said, “Don’t be jealous.  I’m not going to be having sex with her.”

I didn’t understand what he was talking about.

He said to Lily, “She feels funny about being in bed with you.  Come to her and help her feel more comfortable.”

Lily stood up and I saw that her dressing gown had come undone, and one of her very large tits was halfway out.  She did look good; I had to admit. She approached me and put her arms around my neck and then kissed me deeply.  Against my expectations, I liked the way she tasted: it was fresh and clean, like the cucumber-infused water served at my favorite spa.  She started unbuttoning my blouse.  I felt like backing away, but then I looked over at Jan sitting on a chair in the corner.  He winked at me.  I told myself, now I get it.  He wants to watch.  Well, I’ll put on quite a show, if that’s what he desires.  I opened Lily’s dressing gown, and caressed one of her luscious breasts, then buried my face between them.  I looked over at Jan and he was taking off his pants.

###

 Here's what readers are saying about 

Storyville: A Time Travel Erotic Romance:

Only 99 cents.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2h44HHO

Apple: http://apple.co/2xKgz95

BN: http://bit.ly/2wGbGRL

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2cQy4wA

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Kobo: http://bit.ly/2wL5NTy 

Featured Author Shani Richards

Thank you, Shani, for joining us today on my blog. Here are a few questions for you:

Why did you want to write Ava In Chains?

I decided to write Ava In Chains because I was often given the advice, write the story you want to read. As a young black girl, I never read books about girls like me. I loved romance novels, but there was always this disappointment that came with realizing that the heroine wasn’t like me, and I felt that was wrong. Everyone should be able to see themselves in a story. I wanted Ava to be desirable, smart, pretty and talented. But I also wanted her to have self-doubt despite how hard she works at succeeding. I wanted her to be realistic. Most of all I wanted Ava to be relatable. And have agency. I was tired of reading books where things happened to or for the character for no reason related to who they were. I wanted to read a book where the character had a goal and worked to achieve it and by the end of the story, have that goal still matter. In Ava’s case, she wants to be a ballerina and choreographer. At the end of the story, she still is the same person, falling in love doesn’t change that.

Current Works in Progress?

I have several books that I’ve been working on but four that are close to being finished.

The Exploits of Isabella and Lone Wolfe is one of my darker works. It’s about a seemingly non-consensual relationship that takes place over 18 months. It was hard to write, because it came from a real encounter that ended differently, but shaped my feelings and understanding of con non-con situations.

Callie’s Strength (sequel to Sebastian’s Weakness) This is my baby project. I wrote Sebastian’s Weakness pretty quickly and forced myself to quickly publish it. I’ve taken more time with Callie’s part of the story, working on explaining why Sebastian’s actions were a huge part of her life. I also wanted to tell more about the relationship she has with other people. There are aspects of BDSM and D/s in both stories, but

Callie’s Strength focuses more on that.

This is how I disappear is more of a fantasy story. I really liked the idea of mythology, but hated that it never seemed to go beyond a few stories in each culture. So I explored the stories of Norwegian and Japanese legends and made those a part of who these modern characters. My mains, Katja “Kai” Cutter and Jace Cutter are mythical beings and they realize that just because they’re destined to be together doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.

Saving Ivy is a spy story. I’d been working on this one for years, and the original version included some heavy themes, but no one really liked it (or I should say, certain aspects of it). So I took the parts of the story that everyone loved and wrote a new story from there. It still needs some retooling, but I think the concept works a lot better.

What influenced your writing style?

Reading influenced my writing style a lot actually. In so far as I fell in love with Shakespearean plays before I was old enough to even understand them. There was this idea that you could meet and fall in love with someone before you ever knew them and it was okay (mostly). That influenced me a lot. I wanted to write about an instant attraction, but then once the pixie dust wore off, I wanted to examine what was left.

In the case of Ava, a part of that Shakespearean influence is that she isn’t perfect, no matter how much Milo builds her up to be. And Milo thinks she’s perfect within seconds of seeing her, much like a love-struck Romeo. There’s a nod to this in the fact that the first time they meet, she’s performing as Juliet in a ballet. When we meet Ava, she’s practicing, because even though she’s the lead, she can always be better.  I wanted her to have self-doubt, even while succeeding in most things, I wanted her to question herself and her relationships and her place in it. My goal was to write Ava as realistically as possible. She’s a ballerina, but that doesn’t mean she won’t slip and fall or trip over her feet. I wanted the audience to get inside of her head and see that she’s dedicated and strong and appears fearless even when she’s terrified. I wanted the reader to see that she struggles and doesn’t have the world handed to her, that she works for her progress. I wanted Ava to be relatable to anyone.

I love erotica, but one of my ‘complaints’ is that sometimes it seems like the story is sacrificed for the sex. I wanted to change that. I really wanted to write a story, that just so happened to be erotic at the same time. That’s how most of my stories go if they have a sex scene on page 3 or page 100 that’s the progression of the story.

Why did you start writing Erotica?

I started writing it for two reasons. One, I really wanted to branch out and write something crazy that I could never say aloud. Writing was easy, it was safe and getting those words typed out was a release for me. And two, I was tired of reading all the same types of stories. I wanted something more than just a sex story. I wanted intrigue and thoughtfulness and lust that was built on love, not the other way around. I wanted characters that were developed and that you would miss and think about long after the story finished. I wanted my readers to go “oh, that was a great book and freaking hot!”

Have you ever dealt with a stalker because of your work?

No, I haven’t. However, funny story, for some of the details in The Lone Wolfe and Belle I sort of stalked a minor internet celebrity to figure out his story. I felt bad about it afterward, but at that time, I really wanted to figure him out. He was a fun mystery, and once I solved it, I was done with him.

How did you pick your pen name?

I published because I promised my mom I would. So I choose my pen name to honor her in a way. It’s my initials S.L. backward and her last name. That became Ellis Lightfoot. After I picked it and published my first book the first copy was bought by a woman who shared my mother’s first name. It was the best sign that I was doing the right thing.

Do you have any final thoughts?

I’m so happy to be able to say I published my second book. I’m not a bestseller by any means, but I did something I only dreamt about for years. I’m hoping that someday I’ll be more widely read, but even if it never happens, I’ll probably never stop writing.

Amazon Link to Ava in Chains

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0845R7QGP

Shani Richard's Facebook Page
https://bit.ly/2TdgYwG

High School Reunion

People often ask me where I get the ideas for the male characters in the erotic romances that I write.  Do I write from experience? Do I know these sexy men?  Well...the short answer is, "Kinda".

The story that most represents my life and experience is High School Reunion. This romance is loosely based on my courtship with my husband.  I knew him in high school, but I was too immature to pick up on the signals he was sending at the time when he gave me a romantic poem that he'd written about me on the last day of school. I was an idiot and put him off for a while but am so glad that he gave me a second chance later. The male protagonist in my story Highschool Reunion is a musician and writer, like my husband.  He's a Ginger with freckles and long legs that seem to go on forever.  The mystery in my erotic romance is whether he will show up at their reunion ten years after they graduated.  Is it too late for them?  Or will they get a second chance at love?

Here are some 5 Star Reviews for this Erotic Romance:

Five Stars: “I enjoyed reading High School Reunion. It’s that second chance you might have dreamed about. It’s about giving romance the chance that should have happened a long time ago. It’s about going out on a limb to try to get what you want, now that you have experience being an adult. Give this one a read if you've ever wondered, "What if?"

Five Stars: “There's always that one from your last that you wonder what if...

That basically is this story. Danielle has been wondering and attending her high school reunion for years with the hope of seeing Randy, The one that loved her but she let get away.

"The heat that comes from the short story was unexpected and hot.”

Only 99 cents.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2i7kKar

iTunes: http://apple.co/2h702G6

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2hErNqb

Google Play Books: http://bit.ly/2ibYJ6n

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2hQh6yR

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2gYPfdG

Author Spotlight Mystqx Skye

Thanks for joining us on my blog today, Mystqx! 

Here are some questions for you:

As a writer/lover of words, would you be able to describe yourself in just 2 words and why the chosen word.

Answer: Free Spirit. I love freedom in all its sense. The freedom to feel, act, write, do whatever my heart desires, free from the influence and negativity of other people - it is a wish I desire to fulfill everyday, to live and not just be alive.

This is your first published poetry book and I heard that there are some secrets in the pages. What does the title actually mean? How do you select the title of the poems?

Answer: Bared – Beneath a Myriad of Skies implies baring one’s soul. The cover image tells a lot about it too. It’s a woman consoling herself as she tries to bare her soul. The mandala tattooed on her skin is a reflection of her memories, hopes, dreams, passion, rage, frustration, longing, healing – her depths. The subtitle “Beneath A Myriad of Skies” denotes the different times and places that has witnessed my confessions. Some writings in my poetry book are writings I wrote 20 years ago and somewhen during that time, the skies are bluer than blue, or shadier than shades of gray. The images that goes with the writings are special places where I have been and where I have written some of the prose or poetry. The titles of my poems are either the essence of the poem or the message hidden in the writings.

So after finding out that there are actually secret messages written in between words and pages, why did you write it? Are you ready to tell us some of the secrets? 

Answer: Some of the writings you will read in the book are from memories. I am looking for the “half-owner” of those memories – in the hopes that I will be found and in this lifetime.

What is your writing process like?

Answer: A word. I need a word to start with anything and then my writings flow from there. Usually I write things first on paper as I love the feel of paper and pen. Then a phrase composed with that word builds up the direction of where and how I will write. Music and food sets my mood before I start caressing my notes and pressing those letters on my keyboard.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Answer: Dipping your pen in so many inks. It can be overwhelming to write about so many things. You accumulate drafts after drafts and by the time you know it you are caught in a web of chaos.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Answer: When I can’t find it in myself to connect with what I want to write – then I feel empty. Imagination works fine – I can write what I can imagine but it would be just descriptive and it takes too much energy to make it sound real and relatable. Words after words are written but the emotions doesn’t flow in it.

What is the hardest thing for you to write?

Answer: Digging deep into the recesses of one’s heart and mind may be sad, scary and at times emotionally draining but to write about is rewarding because somehow I could find a relief of heart.  I can write the story in shades or color coat it however I want, but the hardest thing to write is the naked truth of a certain matter because there is no absolute truth.

I know this is a question usually asked to writers, but in any case I am curious to know – how do you fight writers block?

Answer: I don’t fight it but I go with the flow. There is really no proper cure for this. but I find emptying your mind works like rebooting. Take a walk outside, go to a cafe, hang around and do nothing, take a long warm bath, activities that don't require serious thinking helps like magic. I really stop doing anything that has to do with writing and take a break to refresh my mind.

What kind of writer are you? 

Answer: Free rein. Although I have a central plot, I write in the direction of where the flow of ideas take me.

What is the most important thing about a book in your opinion? 

Answer: The choice of words that connects the book with the target reader. It should be able to capture the senses of the readers.

Where do you get your inspiration to write?

Answer:  Feeling, seeing, reading, hearing emotions in its purest state – raw emotion - inspires me to write, so I look for those in nature, in strangers, real life situations like watching kids. You can find the most honest reactions most of the time in kid’s faces.

Any projects in line? 

Answer: Currently I am working on finishing 2 books. A non-fiction book about the negative stereotypes in society and the other one is a mystery romance novel.

Author BIO: Mystqx Skye
Born in the spirit of “The Archer”, a life traveller and truth seeker –  she loves to write about life in all its hues, in the hopes that one could find inspiration and courage through her writings. Mystqx Skye is a  Zurich-based writer and a hobby photographer who authored the most intriguing poetry book: Bared – Beneath a Myriad of Skies. Her flavourful writing style was cultivated during her globe-trotting years as a Marketing Communication Strategist.  Discover more of her writings on life’s beautiful contradictions, rebellious hearts and steamy affairs at www.mystqx.com.

Bared – Beneath a Myriad of Skies 

Book Description: Bared – Beneath a Myriad of Skies
Bared – Beneath a Myriad of Skies is a one of a kind poetry book. Revel in the exquisite art of prose and poetry composed of intense imageries and intriguing visuals. Every page evokes a different emotion. Every leaf leads to a different discovery.

This unique 117 page poetry book inspires and encourages love for self and others, inner self-discovery, understanding relationships and appreciating the beauty of life. The visuals in the book (mandala art coloring pages, essence of a woman, beauty of nature) awaken a sense of creativity and healing. The hardcover copy of the book includes blank stationery pages which you can use as a journal to express yourself.

Get your hands on it, turn the pages and experience sensations bared under a myriad of skies.

*Note: Ebook version does not include blank stationery pages.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NRQPZ8L
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/943734

Here are Mystqx Skye's links:

www.mystqx.com

instagram.com/mystqx

goodreads.com/mystqx

facebook.com/mystqxwritings