Sex and the Human Being

Erotic stories certainly have sex-appeal...perhaps that's their point.
Sex in our 'modern' world comes in all shapes and sizes...quite literally.
Sex appeal, sexual preference, threesomes/menage, as well as- love-lust-wow do that again!
But that physical act of the most intimate kind, can cause the downfall of marriages, political careers, jail time, and a host of nasty bugs. Sex has become the bane and triumph of our society and the human race on the whole. Even bible wavers and right wing extremists want sex for procreation only. It seems sex is on everyone's mind and sex is a multi-million if not multi-billion dollar industry.
Erotic novels tend to draw us into a fantasy where sex is not just the point, but a means to an end. Seduction, infatuation, attraction...flirting, and then, of course comes the kiss...just the beginning of the wonderful act of coupling that bonds some people for life, or at least creates an intimacy with another person which cannot be underestimated.
Of course sex has a very dark side. Sexual deviation, sexual predators, non-consensual sex...the seamier side of humankind is not something many, if any, romance writer thinks is acceptable. There's nothing sexy about it.
But in my career as a cop, and now an erotic author, I know sex plays a huge part in our life, thoughts, dreams, and well...ask Freud. Sex is the center of our behavior even as very young adults. Our curiosity begins at a young age, and never leaves us.
I know this because of the women who buy romances about two men. About my own attraction to the sexuality of two hunks grinding. Forget men wanting to see two women together. That's an old story and not news to anyone. But how shocked people are to find out women make up a large part of my fan base. Another large part of erotica that is a good market, threesomes. Two men and one women, three men...women really enjoy this.
I can't say how happy I am to see women finally getting a voice to what turns them on. Men have had sexual outlets and porn in their favor for generations. For women, it's slim pickings. We don't have millions of strip clubs, a plethora of magazines with gorgeous young naked male bodies, and it seems lately, when man on man romance authors post handsome men on their sites, they get censored, particularly by Facebook (who allow anti-gay sites, but that's for another blog).
Don't even get me started on the inequity of naked men vs naked women in the media. It's pathetic. For a woman to enjoy male bodies we have to search gay male websites. And we do.
Men and women aren't so different. We all want the same thing. And through my experience in life, I have come to understand that men do have committed relationships with other men, and the stereotypes about men being promiscuous is just that, a stereotype. My dear readers, women cheat on their spouses and have loads of sex as well.
Sex is taboo yet everyone wants it. It's where we connect with a loved one on a level that is deep and believe me, it's what we want to read about. The genre of gay erotica has exploded. Ten years ago I couldn't find a gay romance that satisfied my craving to read it. Thankfully now there are many.
Here's the rub. In the world of novels we have come a long way.
But why have we taken backwards steps when it comes to love and marriage between same sex couples?
Sex- that three letter word that terrifies censors, far right religious leaders, and parents of teenage kids.
Perhaps we should get over it. Get over our taboo and stigma about loving, consensual sex between two adoring adults.
It occurs to me there are bigger problems to deal with in the world, spend money on, and rant and rave in political forums instead of keeping people from showing their love in marriage.

Sex.
Such a little word that causes so much controversy. I suppose in a small way, I hope to break the sexual mores we seem to constantly deal with in society.
It's just an act between two lovers. And for many, it's a world of fantasy where we can be and dream our wildest desires. The mighty fiction novel. What would the world of love and sex be without it?

Be safe out there...and believe in yourself and your rights to live the life you choose.

Heroes- Part II

Growing up in New Joisey I had my own ideas of what heroes were. Are.
I became a cop for that reason. How cool would it be to swoop in and help the helpless, save the weak, catch the bad guys. I soon learned that that was an ideal childhood version of what men (or women) in blue did. I found out we were part hero, part villain, part gun-nut, part egomaniac, part nursemaid...you get the idea. Cops are a little bit of everything. But- no matter how long I am out of uniform, I will always feel a close bond for police officers all over the world. I know the job they do. I've walked in their shoes, (or my shoes, actually) and can say -been there-done that.

As a writer I know certain jobs have major sex appeal. After all, the new hero is a cowboy. Or was that last week? Maybe it's a blood-sucking vamp or a wolf shape-shifter. Lord knows a good writer can make any creature sexy...or can we?

I've thought about every profession for my characters; doctors, lawyers, strippers, agents and their models and actor clients, rich playboys, stock brokers...well, the list goes on and on. But what attributes make an attractive hero in a novel? I don't know of anyone putting a hot dentist on their cover, or perhaps a tailor? Maybe an unemployed street person?
Yes...well, can't anyone be a hero? Sure they could.
New heroes appear in novels all the time. The soft spoken accountant, the college administrator, read my novels. There they are. Do they jump into burning buildings to rescue babies? My firemen do, but my other heroes? No. Move faster than a speeding bullet? Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound?
They don't have to.
What makes a man a hero in a GA Hauser novel?
Many things. They can be just wonderful sweet souls, honest, caring, hard workers... or maybe they have compassion for people who need support. They are the strong back for their lovers and friends when they fail.
It's the stuff men are made of inside. Any hero can be flawed. Each comic strip caped crusader has something to hide, right? Otherwise, why the mask? Hmm...hey super-hero, what's behind that tight costume and hood of yours? (In my novels you get to find out!)
Heroes in future Hauser novels can be lineman for power companies, psychiatrists who are devoted to their patients, men who work as paper pushers, computer geeks, carpenters, mechanics...
A real hero is someone who cares about others. Is kind. Loving. Empathetic to people's pain.
You don't need a cape to be a hero. You just need a heart.

Be safe out there.

CHEATING!!

Hello boys and girls.
Now that I have your attention, let me bring up a topic that instantly got me 'fan' reviews and emails. CHEATING!
First and foremost, I want to remind everyone I write fiction. Fiction: Dictionary definition being: An imaginative creation or a pretense that does not represent actuality but has been invented

That fact is constantly lost on people. Fiction. Make believe, pretending, a creation that does not represent actuality.

I think this is a hard concept for some readers to grasp. They yell at me for bad behavior that my characters have done. Well, email 'yell'. Lots of capital letters and exclamation marks. That kind of yelling.

I always test boundaries in my work. For those of you not familiar with the GA Hauser universe, beware. I push the limits at times. And I have pushed more buttons in Book 8 of the Action! Series...Something Sexy.

Oh My!! A character who is very needy, been abused, and is overwhelmed by his sudden rise to super-stardom, gets 'friendly' with a man he has always wanted, loved, and admired.
Well...this friend is part of a committed couple, in my book. In a world of fiction. And everyone knows in real life, no one cheats! Cough...cough, wink, wink...nod, you get the idea.

So that brings me back to the very concept of 'cheating'. It's almost redundant to explain the reality of wandering fingers and trouser snakes. To explain how cheating has become very popular in all walks of life; tests, resumes, casinos...
But when it comes to affairs of the heart, cheating is certainly at its worst. But OH! it makes for such wonderful drama in FICTION. Sorry, I can't help but shout that word. Can you imagine someone so sheltered they grow furious with characters from a novel? I wish I had time to stomp and ball up my fists over make believe. Alas, real life gets in the way.

If cheating on one's partner, in a novel, which is make believe, makes you upset, burn paperbacks, or delete files, then you need a hobby.

Anyone who knows my work, already prepares themselves for a dose of OMG! she didn't! Yeah, she did. I always do. I always will. If you love make believe, and characters who are badly behaved, downright dirty, you will love my work. If you can't handle the reality of cheating even in a novel form, then be forewarned.

I do adore my men...in life and in fiction. They are wonderful and horrible, and that's what makes humans so interesting and complex. They don't live perfect lives, don't have perfect families, and don't have perfect relationships. Hmm, maybe they are reality.

For the rest of you who want to see what on earth happened to Alexander Richfield in Book 8...then be my guest. Have a good look. Alex is one of my favorites. He's sweet as sugar, seriously insecure, and living his his father (Mark Richfield's) shadow. He's had fame thrust upon him at twenty-two, and is an out gay male, struggling to cope with life with his natural father. For anyone who judges him, I pity their own offspring.

That's enough said on the topic. To all of you who read the book, enjoy. And for those of you who don't understand the meaning of cheating in fiction...
Do you know where your partner is right now??
;)
Be safe...