Meet My New Cats Chloe and Breena

Elizabeth Black writes in a wide variety of genres including erotica, erotic romance, and dark fiction. She lives on the Massachusetts coast with her husband, son, and three cats (including two new ones!). Visit her web site, her Facebook page, and her Amazon Author Page.

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Meet Breena. She's the big-eyed cat in the picture below. She's one of two new additions to our household. We adopted Breena and Chloe on Saturday, and our 12 year old cat Lucky isn't sure what to think. Cats inspire me in my writing, so I had to surround me with more of them. Besides, Lucky's two sisters Domino and Scully died about a month ago one right after the other. He is grieving and he's lonely. He needs new friends.

Now if only he'd stop hissing at them. LOL Give him time. He'll like them soon enough.

Meet Chloe. She's in the picture below. She's a carpet whale. At about 12 pounds, she's bigger than Lucky and more than half his age. Breena is 3 and Chloe is 4. Lucky has been hissing at Chloe, most likely establishing that even though she's bigger than he is, he's Top Cat in this house. I don't know who's winning that battle.

I've included my cats in my stories before. I'm sure Breena and Chloe will eventually be immortalized in print. We adopted them from a local shelter. Breena and Chloe are special needs cats. Chloe has a heart murmur and Breena is blind. They're doing very well so far. Breena gets around so well you'd never know she's blind. Lucky also can't get into territorial staring contests with her because she can't see him, although she can see shadows. So trying to bully her that way won't work. Now if only Lucky would come back in the bedroom at night and in the afternoon for his nap. The bedroom is his favorite room, but he's been hiding in the back storage room under a table. He refuses to come into the bedroom, which is too bad because I miss petting him at night. All three of these guys are petting hounds. I hope they adjust soon - the new additions to their new home and Lucky to his new friends. This was our Christmas gift to ourselves and to the kitties. We have new friends, Lucky has some buddies, and Breena and Chloe have a new forever home. Merry Christmas!

An update and a heartfelt thank you!

So Persephone has been out for almost 2 weeks. What's happened in that time? Well, before it went live on All Romance eBooks, it smashed into the Sci-Fi and Fantasy category, earning its Bestseller Silver Star, and has managed to stay high in that category. I'm truly blown away. It makes me so thankful for all the hard work that our very own Mistress, Gina Kincade does behind the scenes, hard work we don't even see until we get the amazing results, such as the Silver Star.

What else... Oh, I've entered the book into the Paranormal/Sci-Fi category for the Easychair Bookstore 2016 Awards. I'm going to see if I can't just take out the Best Paranormal 2 years in a row ;)

And possibly one of the most exciting things, for me, is that there are a few truly amazing reviews that have been posted. I'm thrilled that people are enjoying Persephone's story so much. I've read reviews of people crying and cringing and laughing in all the right spots, people truly getting the story, and not wanting the story to end.

Those words have my evil muse pondering over the possibility of a sequel. Yet another possible story to add to the 17+ stories already vying for the "Next" top spot in my routine. The joys of being an author, right? Having to battle such a mischievous muse is a daily challenge. But one I honestly could not imagine going back to not fighting this battle every day.

Writing has become a real escape, a method of catharsis for me in difficult times. I really could not go back to not having this creative outlet. And so I have to thank, yet again, every single person who has supported me in one way or another. While the writing itself I do for me, it is such a pleasure that I'm able to put my stories out there for others to enjoy, and that they genuinely do enjoy them. While I know that I won't be able to please everyone, I'm thankful to have really only had negative reviews with constructive criticism, including comments that I am willing to consider and take on board. So genuinely, truly, I want to thank everyone who have read my books and said anything helpful and supportive. That is all us authors want in a review. So please, leave a review as often as you can! Even just a short comment, it truly means a lot to us!

Biography

Phoenix Johnson has always been intrigued by the written word. Even when she was a young girl, she usually had her nose stuck in at least one book, and her need to read would drive her to peruse the back of the same cereal box each morning at breakfast. Paranormal and fantasy captured her heart, with tales about dragons, magic, and fanciful creatures sweeping her away to a wonderful new world where she felt she truly belonged. While she dabbled in writing while in primary school, it wasn't until high school that she decided she should try her hand at writing her own book, and even gave poetry a try.

She wandered away from writing for a few years, but was soon encouraged to return and, within months of picking up the proverbial pen, Phoenix' first story, The Wolf In The Neighborhood, was accepted for publication by Naughty Nights Press. While working on the rest of the Wolf Smitten Trilogy, Phoenix decided to take on a university degree, and is now in the final stretch of her Bachelor of Art's degree in Professional Writing and Publishing, with plans to continue on to her Master's degree.
In early 2015, Phoenix was thrilled to discover she'd made two Top 5 lists with three entries in the Easychair Bookstore Awards. In June, it was announced she had placed first in Best Paranormal with Once Bitten Twice Shy, the second installment in her Wolf Smitten Trilogy, while The Wolf In The Neighborhood and Wolf Smitten placed third in their respective categories of Best Paranormal and Best Series.
With her inclusion in the Alphas on the Prowl Box Set in 2015, Phoenix hit the top 100 bestsellers lists across numerous distributors, number 1 bestseller on several Amazon lists, and this was quickly followed by the announcement of her achievement of number 1 bestseller for her publisher, Naughty Nights Press, for the full second quarter of 2015. The awards and achievements have only served to strengthen her ambitions, and she is now aiming at reaching the bestseller lists for USA Today and New York Times. 
Phoenix has been working hard to make 2015 her year, and has been busy organizing paranormal anthology Twisted Tales with seven other authors. Its release at the end of June was greatly anticipated, and she is extremely excited to see where her writing career takes her next. 
To follow other projects by Phoenix Johnson, please visit http://deaalmon87.wix.com/phoenixjohnsonauthor. She can also be found on Facebook, where you can sign up to her newsletter, The Nest. She is also on Twitter.

Phoenix Johnson has always been intrigued by the written word. Even when she was a young girl, she usually had her nose stuck in at least one book, and her need to read would drive her to peruse the back of the same cereal box each morning at breakfast. Paranormal and fantasy captured her heart, with tales about dragons, magic, and fanciful creatures sweeping her away to a wonderful new world where she felt she truly belonged. While she dabbled in writing while in primary school, it wasn't until high school that she decided she should try her hand at writing her own book, and even gave poetry a tryShe wandered away from writing for a few years, but was soon encouraged to return and, within months of picking up the proverbial pen, Phoenix' first story, The Wolf In The Neighborhood, was accepted for publication by Naughty Nights Press. While working on the rest of the Wolf Smitten Trilogy, Phoenix decided to take on a university degree, and is now in the final stretch of her Bachelor of Art's degree in Professional Writing and Publishing, with plans to continue on to her Master's degree.
In early 2015, Phoenix was thrilled to discover she'd made two Top 5 lists with three entries in the Easychair Bookstore Awards. In June, it was announced she had placed first in Best Paranormal with Once Bitten Twice Shy, the second installment in her Wolf Smitten Trilogy, while The Wolf In The Neighborhood and Wolf Smitten placed third in their respective categories of Best Paranormal and Best Series.
With her inclusion in the Alphas on the Prowl Box Set in 2015, Phoenix hit the top 100 bestsellers lists across numerous distributors, number 1 bestseller on several Amazon lists, and this was quickly followed by the announcement of her achievement of number 1 bestseller for her publisher, Naughty Nights Press, for the full second quarter of 2015. The awards and achievements have only served to strengthen her ambitions, and she is now aiming at reaching the bestseller lists for USA Today and New York Times. 
Phoenix has been working hard to make 2015 her year, and has been busy organizing paranormal anthology Twisted Tales with seven other authors. Its release at the end of June was greatly anticipated, and she is extremely excited to see where her writing career takes her next. 
To follow other projects by Phoenix Johnson, please visit http://deaalmon87.wix.com/phoenixjohnsonauthor. She can also be found on Facebook, where you can sign up to her newsletter, The Nest. She is also on Twitter, and you can follow her on Amazon, as well.

The Truth Behind The Cat As Muse

Elizabeth Black writes erotica, erotic romance, dark fiction, and horror. She is the author of the Night Owl Top Pick erotic romance novel "Don't Call Me Baby", published by Naughty Nights Press. You may find her on Facebook (elizabethablack) and at her web site. She lives on the Massachusetts coast with her husband, son, and four cats. She visits the ocean every morning, and it starts her day off just right.

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This is my cat, Lucky. He's my muse. Whether I like it or not.

Do you have pets that keep you entertained while you write? Many people believe that cats are the perfect muse. They sit by your side, purring contentedly as you create new worlds. They crawl into your lap and bask in your presence, all the time looking at you with love and inspiration in their eyes. Many famous writers have written about cats and how adorable, inspiring, and quixotic they are. 

They lie.

This has been my typical day lately. This is the exciting life of a writer. Trying to write with cats in the house is an exercise in patience.

I awaken not long after dawn. Most often it's because the rising sun wakes me up. The other reason is that one of my cats - Beowulf - begins meowing at the crack of dawn demanding his breakfast. He, Scully, and Domino get moist food every morning, and Beowulf is the breakfast bell that makes sure they get fed. Like they're going to starve. LOL Lucky, the fourth cat, doesn't like canned food so he doesn't get any.

I first make coffee. Then I set their food bowls out. They eat and it is quiet for about 15 minutes. It's the most peaceful moment of the day. Then I take about 20 minutes to water my plants. I grow my own herbs and peppers, and they need water every morning, especially in this summer heat.

I return to the kitchen to move Beowulf out of Scully's bowl and plop him back down in front of his own. I turn on the tap for Domino to drink water. There is a cat water fountain on the floor for all of them to use. She refuses to use it. She wants her water fresh and cold out of the kitchen or sink tap. Spoiled little lap fungus.

In the meantime, Beowulf has finished his food and has gone back to Scully's bowl. I move Scully's bowl to the window. Plop her in front of it.  She eats most of it and leaves. Beowulf then jumps onto the window sill and finishes her food. Domino in the meantime has finished her food and water. I turn off the tap, put the empty cat food bowls in the sink, and head for the living room. Although Lucky doesn't like canned food, he does like tuna so he'll help himself to Beowulf's food. I can't give him his own bowl of tuna because he won't eat it. It has to be his idea. Doofus.

I turn on my computer. Lucky immediately jumps on my table and sits in front of the computer screen. I have to place my keyboard on the floor every night because he sits on it, knocks it over, plays "hide the mouse", etc., etc., ad nauseum. I move Lucky onto his own table, one right behind mine. There's even a dish towel with cats on it on top of that table, just for him.

I go get coffee. Come back to my computer to find Lucky in front of it again. I sit down, blow on the cat to get him off my table, pick up my keyboard, put it on my table, and proceed to check my mail and Facebook.

Lucky jumps up again. I blow him off. Three times is the charm.

I answer my mail and update and read Facebook. By now it's about 8 am. Once I finish mail and Facebook, I head for the beach for my morning beach walk with my cup of coffee. I often forget to put my keyboard back on the floor.

An hour later I come home to sometimes find my keyboard upside-down on the floor on one side of the table and the mouse upside down on the floor on the other side. I put everything back in place, check to make sure Lucky didn't delete anything - so far he never has - and then I begin writing.

If I'm fortunate, Lucky is asleep with my son. If not, he's sometimes bored and wants attention, which means he crawls all over me and my keyboard again. I put a stop to that very quickly. I play string with him, and then I occasionally sprinkle catnip on his towel on his table. That keeps him occupied for an hour or two so I can get my work done.

I write. The cat is relaxed and happy. The other cats are napping after their fill of breakfast. If I'm lucky, I'm uninterrupted until about noon, when I quit writing for the day. I spend afternoons reading, researching, and doing promo. If the cats get underfoot during those times, it's not so bad.

So there you have it. Trying to work with cats in the house can be challenging. Such is the exciting and fun-filled life of a writer. I wonder if Hemingway ever had these kinds of problems with his polydactyl cats?

Just think... if they had thumbs, the trouble they'd get into. :)

Writing Taboos

 Greetings folks! Another hot and smexy post from the wicked gal BLMorticia, talking about taboos. Well, first what does the word taboo mean? The dictionary says, something proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable. Heh, well that’s all the more reason to go for it right because as we all know society in general has a problem with anything that might seem improper and unacceptable. I don’t know about you but I enjoy pissing people off who think they’ve got the right to judge others but that’s a subject for another day.

Okay, now that we know what the word means, what are some taboos? Hmm, well many still think same sex is taboo, especially gay males. What about sex between family members, ménages, any kinds of kink like BDSM, watersports, gun play, forced sexual situations, voyeurism, sex in public… the list goes on and on as to what the general population considers taboo but for an author who likes to push the envelope, this is part of writing erotica and erotica romance.

Sooo, what about you as a reader? Do you like when your favorite authors take chances? I do and what’s even more fun is when the author knows what they’re talking about. Do lots of research, actually spend time trying to find out the major details and then write about it. I know with this takes a lot of time and effort, but in order to make an accurate portrayal, you need to do the work. Okay, when you’re a woman and writing male/male not much you can do than read, maybe ask gay men, and watch porn. *laughs* However, to me, that’s no real taboo is it? Two people falling in love regardless of gender isn’t taboo.

So you say, well BLMorticia, what’s your point here? I’m getting there. Taboos. Do you as an author write them? My resounding answer is yes and so is Michael Mandrake’s… *surprised face* Michael? Gasp! You didn’t know my tightly wound brother muse writes the taboo? Well, yeah. He’s got a pretty hot series in N’awlins Exotica with vampire twins in love. Their names are Ryland and Ryder. Never would I have expected him to go there but a reader asked him to. And as you may know, he did gun play in the story, Under the Gun which is now being handed over to me to tweak and hopefully publish under my name. He did some research on sites about gun play. Not much to be found but he did take the time to read some info and find out how it’s done. I’ll delve a little further into it because I like pushing the envelope. Yeah that might bother some people but it’s up to you if you want to read it.

The thing is, as an author you’re supposed to entertain people. Not all will be willing to read it if it’s not they’re thing but writing erotica in some circles is considered taboo in itself. Just look at how many people have been outed and their lives turned upside down because of it. Me and Michael? We’re just muses but Shar isn’t afraid to tap into those smexy things that might piss some people off. Thank goodness too because otherwise, not having authors who like to tap in to the so called darker side would make the publishing world a pretty bland place!

BLMorticia is currently a published writer with Naughty Nights Press and Rebel Ink Press. She entertains her readers with hot and smexy sex, humor, and lots of swear words. She attempts to incorporate metal music or the military in most of her works. Nothin’ sexier than metalheads or military servicemen and women! She also writes a biweekly column on Blak Rayne Books and blogs on the First Thursday of the month at NNP Blog. For more info, please visit, Erotica With Snark

What Do You Do To Restart Your Muse?

Elizabeth Black writes erotica, erotic romance, dark fiction, thrillers, and horror. She lives on the Massachusetts coast with her husband, son, and four cats.

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Until last week, I haven't felt much inspiration to write. This had been going on for months. I can edit and read, but writing was like pulling teeth. Very little of what I wrote pleased me. My muse was too afraid to give me a swift kick in the shorts because she feared I'd just crawl into bed and never get out again. I wasn't depressed as much as I was disillusioned. It wasn't writer's block either. It was worse. I can't write when I feel like I'm wasting my time.

I had to do something. Anything. Just to get out of this funk.

Dwelling on my writing drought only made things worse for me. So I forced myself to get out of my own skin. This worked for me but it may not work for you. 

I ignored the computer as often as I could. I gardened. Baked. Enjoyed bad movies and good food. And then I did two things that helped jump-start me.

I spent every morning at the beach, and I went to a science fiction and fantasy convention. 

Getting out of the apartment and being around other writers and fans helped immensely. Being alone at the beach to clear my head also helped. I began to feel the stirrings of the urge to write. I received word from a very good magazine that it was considering one of my horror stories. That alone lifted my spirits. I wrote a flash fiction fantasy story and submitted to a pro market. 

The convention - Readercon - lifted my spirits in ways being alone couldn't. I met some writer friends in person (one in particular was a delight to hang out with), and made some new ones. I did a book reading, which brought me out of my shell. Since I was there as a fan and not a guest speaker, I could relax and just enjoy myself. And I did. I felt energized in ways I hadn't felt in months.

I also joined a local writer's networking group. My first meeting with this group is in early August. I'm looking forward to meeting like-minded writers. Granted, my erotic and horror fiction may set me apart from the poets and literary writers, but I like a challenge. :)

Now that the convention is over, I'm back to spending my mornings at the beach. That picture above and the one below is of Cape Hedge Beach in Rockport, Massachusetts. That's my beach, LOL. I drink my first cup of coffee here most mornings, and I contemplate my work for the day. It's a great way to begin my day. I clear my head by walking in the waves and feeling the sand between my toes. It helps a great deal. 

This song has been keeping me up as well. It's appropriately entitled "On The Beach", and it's trance music. You won't be able to sit still listening to this song. And it will get you in the mood for the beach.

So what works for you when you're in a creative blue funk? What do you do to get out of it?

If you like New Adult books, you will like my Night Owl Top Pick novel "Don't Call Me Baby", published by Naughty Nights Press. This book is about a young, college-aged woman exploring her sexuality. She's trying to discover what she wants out of life. Catherine Stone is a force to be reckoned with, and she meets her match. Who is the man who can calm her storm? Read the book and find out!

BUY LINKS
Naughty Nights Press
http://tinyurl.com/dont-call-me-baby-nnp

AllRomanceeBooks
http://tinyurl.com/dont-call-me-baby-are

Amazon Kindle - US
http://tinyurl.com/dont-call-me-baby-kindle

Amazon Kindle - UK
http://tinyurl.com/dont-call-me-baby-kindle-uk

Smashwords
http://tinyurl.com/dont-call-me-baby-smashwords

TOP PICK - NIGHT OWL REVIEWS
Hitherandthee at Night Owl Reviews:
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Reviews/Hitherandthee-reviews-Don-t-Call-Me-Baby-by-Elizabeth-Black

Don’t Call Me Baby is a fast paced, very adventurous romantic novel that will take readers on a roller coaster ride of scorching romantic fun. The main character, Catherine, is a woman after my own heart. She is young and fiercely independent, and beyond gorgeous. She is not wealthy, but she wants to live the good life and is not afraid to go get it. She is also ery sexually liberated, and in the 1980’s this was sometimes a good thing, and sometimes a not so good thing. The story is so blisteringly hot and steamy; it’s difficult to put down. It took me back to a better time, and a time I enjoyed much more. It is a novel I truly enjoyed reading, and will definitely be reading time and time again. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s also not to be missed.

So many men, so little time. Catherine has a long list of men that she sees on a regular basis, and at the top of the list (for the moment, anyway) is Brian. He’s one of her professors at Quincy, and a married man, but that’s never been a problem. But he’s so demanding! So maybe some time apart will be just the trick. A summer theater camp at another local college for local teens should make him realize that Catherine is not his possession, right? That is, until she gets to the camp and meets the other counselors. Ryan is gorgeous, and the rest? Well, what’s a girl on her own to do? Why, enjoy as many as she can! In the meantime, Catherine will come to grips with her mind and her heart, and will figure out what she really wants in life.

My Issues With Porn

Greetings friends! This is resident bad girl, BLMorticia with another smexy post. This week, I’m stating my issues with gay porn or make that, the industry in general. Now, as we all know, the sex art industry makes money by the tons. Doesn’t matter if it’s gay, straight, bi, transsexual, or even the “other” stuff that’s kinda gross, someone’s out there watching it. Seemingly porn will never have the problems other industries have faced and now with the new technology, porn is at an all-time high.

In a matter of minutes you can have all the wank off art you want on your phones, tablets, computers, and laptops. Some for a small fee or even free. That’s the best kind. *giggles* This leads to one problem I’m sure has been discussed: Quality.

“BL, what difference does it make? Why should I care about the quality of porn? I only wanna get my rocks off! I don’t give a rat’s ass about quality.” Well damn, I do especially when I’m wasting valuable time watching instead of writing or better yet, gettin’ my rocks off without the help of technology. *winks*

So, you ask, what are the issues? Hmm, let me think.

1.      Little plot – Oh boy. I know I’ll be crucified for this one. I’m not sayin’ you have to put together an academy award winning script but I wish some people would put some effort into it. Make an attempt to entertain me and get me off. There are a couple of flicks I can think of that have successfully achieved this. One, a gay porn movie titled Focus/Refocus with my fave former porn star David Taylor. The Acting? Not all that great but hey, they attempted to make a real story. A noir too that was dirty and freakin’ hot.

2.      Acting – Oh I know. They’re only porn actors so they only need to be well hung or big chested. No skills required. Ah this is even true in Hollywood. How many of so called “actors and actresses” are pullin’ in the big bucks and aren’t very good at this? That’s a topic for another day. Still, I’d like a little effort put into this as well. Perhaps a drama class or two when you put together this, erm, script.

3.      Settings/Background – *laughs* This is funny. I’ve seen some porn done in beautiful houses or paradisaical backdrops. This means the porn directors spent a little cash. I’ve also seen the ugly side. Someone’s basement or worse yet, some seedy bar on the wrong side of town. *laughs* Oh this means I’m a regular watcher right? Yeah I confess. *shrugs* How else am I gonna be able to write gay sex scenes? Can’t do the shit myself. Well, I could if get two guys drunk and… nevermind. Back to the point. I love a beautiful backdrop. Some of them are pretty simple too. Just clean couches or beds some art on the walls, a place that looks like home, not the local crack house!

4.      Dialogue – “Ohh baby, right there… yea…” The hetero version. “Fuck yeah, oh fuck, in my ass, ohh oh…” The gay version. Good fuckin’ grief. I dunno, does everyone say the same thing when they fuck? No, so why so porn movies have actors say the same shit through EVERY movie? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, fuck yeah in a gay porn. It IRKS me. Shar asked people in the gay writer’s group do they really say that. LOL is it a gay thing? Hmm… If so let me know. How about, oh yeah, right there, just like that. Heard that then the fuck yeah. Fuck yeah? *rolls eyes* Just a little variety would be good. Which brings me to my next point.

5.      Music/Breathing or voices that don’t belong to the actors – Otherwise known as vocal tracks. Why the hell do I need to hear someone else’s voices or breathing when watching two men? I mean, you can’t put a mic by them or somethin’? They can’t breathe or talk on their own? And the music. Oh God, even in Focus, the music was like erm, awful. Yes I know you can’t play sexy music from real musicians in porn soundtracks, I get it but uh, the music created by keyboard or computers, fuckin’ annoying!

Oh that’s just the tip of the iceberg but I don’t want to bore you. Don’t get me wrong, I love some porn, I really do, but it’s a turn off when the above things are shown in videos. I also know you get what you pay for. So if you pay nothing, you won’t get much. Unless you go to places like Redtube or Pornhub. Yepper, there are some good ones there and there are some horrible ones too. Recently, I saw one that made me take notice immediately and spurred on a story. *winks* It even got me to write this blog. *laughs* So it’s not all bad, especially when it titillates and inspires.

And I’m sure you’re asking did any of the above happen in that video? Yeah, just one. The “Fuck yeah” but there was some good to come out of that even though the one guy said he was a masseuse and walked into the other man’s apartment, kissing him like he knew him real well. *laughs* I digress.

Regardless, I do enjoy “adult art” and will continue to watch it even with all its flaws. Hopefully someone will read my post and ask me to direct one someday.

Ah a girl can dream can’t she?

This has been another no holds barred post by wicked gal, BLMorticia. 

BLMorticia is currently a published writer with Naughty Nights Press and Rebel Ink Press. She entertains her readers with hot and smexy sex, humor, and lots of swear words. She attempts to incorporate metal music or the military in most of her works. Nothin’ sexier than metalheads or military servicemen and women! She also writes a biweekly column on Blak Rayne Books and blogs on the First Thursday of the month at NNP Blog. For more info, please visit, Erotica With Snark