My Kinda Guy
I write a genre that is now referred to as hot New Adult
Romance, what I lovingly call Forbidden Playgrounds.
The heroines sometimes know something about their cravings,
but sometimes they know much less than the men, yet still must be clever in
warding those feisty guys off.
I write mostly paranormal but read mostly historical
romance. Historical has been around longer and has gotten most of the kinks out
of the story-telling techniques. Many
historicals feed into new adult because Regency heroines are, for the most part,
virgins. My heroines are bright and psychically powerful. They enjoy exploring
sexual play in their minds before taking it on physically.
Now for my dilemma: I’m not a guy. So how do I write the
half of my novel that’s from a male’s point of view?
Men are brought up in a much different world, sadly, with
different expectations than are women. But more and more they’re raised by
women in single-family households. And unless they put on an act, the strictly
alpha male persona may be forever out of their reach.
As an engineer working in a man’s world, I’ve spoken to many
men who say they feel more like their mothers, more emotional on the inside
than maybe guys growing up with self-assured, well-adjusted fathers or loads of
brothers and male relatives.
Welcome, the Beta Hero.
Who can watch one of those Law and Order type shows with all
those forensics geniuses without wanting to put a romantic dent in their
obsessive analytical natures?
My heroes are intelligent and sensitive, but because they’re
the new alpha, they need to learn a little humility. Just think about how
unbelievable it would be to read other’s minds, to take girlfriends on dates to
anywhere in the universe. Great, except that when love arises, they are, as are
we all, completely vulnerable and clueless.
They’re good people, and we know they’re capable of true
love, giving their heroines the kind of deep acceptance they need, while
deriving their own.
And sex is an undeniable part of the equation.
I cannot read or watch stories where all sensations are
shown in great detail then in the most intimate of moments it’s lights out.
But I’m a girl and my hero’s a guy. So how do I know how he
feels in the most intimate of moments, when he’s where he wants to be forever,
and hopes she’ll accept him there forever, what’s it like to be inside the warmth
of another accepting person?
Well, you might laugh, but you know those fingernail polish
jars with sponges, where you put your painted nail in and swish it around to
get the polish off? And putting our fingers into the sponge is pretty much an
unemotional experience. Just imagine what it would be like if you and the
sponge were mutually intimate with each another, the emotions of each of you, engaged
and responsive.
Just sayin’!!
Now, I don’t want anyone to get back to me saying—hey,
sloshing your fingers around in a nail-polish-remover-sponge thingie bares no
resemblance to … well, you know, IT.
But I bet each of you authors and readers out there has
her/his own opinion on how to make the writing of love scenes less offensive
and more real.
My trick is to focus on the emotional element. That needs to
be there first and in proper and building sequence.
What other things must be in these “Forbidden Playgrounds”
to send you off the planet?
Note: Forbidden Playground, the
first novel in the Legends of the Goldens Series will be at a reduced rate of $.99
during my blog tour.
Forbidden Playground
Legends of the Goldens
Book 1
S.B.K. Burns
Genre: sci-fi paranormal romance
Publisher: Soul Mate
ASIN: B00H8ESSRI
Number of pages: 380
Word Count: 95,000
Series Description:
The Legends of The Goldens Series is a collection of quirky urban-fantasy romances, about vampire good guys—psychic orbweavers who create, or weave together, real universes. They can shapeshift, telepath, teleport, heal—and make love, not war, with their fangs. Instinctively they rescue both humans and vampires, even when neither is too keen on being saved.
Book Description:
Part human. Part alien. Being superhuman doesn’t make them immune to love. Or to heartbreak.
Akeelah never asks to be different. She sure doesn't ask to be a hybrid. She doesn't want to be a psychic orbweaver like her people—able to create new worlds with only a thought.
She. Just. Wants. To. Be. A. Girl. More precisely, Saffron’s girl.
Saffron's her best friend, a hybrid like her—and hot. Being superhuman doesn’t make him immune to love. Or heartbreak. His one focus—Akeelah.
Coming into their powers and against the wishes of their android guardians, together Akeelah and Saffron practice their psychic skills.
Because of the dangers of orbweaving, the guardians they trust take Akeelah away, zap her memory.
Saffron can't live without Akeelah. All he wants is her memory restored, so she knows she's in love with him.
But trust is rare in a world full of deception, androids, and aliens—even when two people love each other.
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Dancing Dragons
Legends of the Goldens
Book 2
S.B.K. Burns
Genre: sci-fi paranormal romance
Publisher: Soul Mate
Number of pages: 240
Word Count: 60,000
Book Description:
Eco warrior, Maggie Maclaurin, can somehow see through Andrew’s conjured fraternity disguise: he’s a psychic cousin to the vampires, and with those flying dragon tattoos undulating suggestively across his naked chest, positively an endangered species, definitely in need of saving.
But when real vampires make a pact with the corrupt government to bring a little more nasty onto campus, Maggie’s chaotic human vibes keep Andrew from protecting her, make him sick, each time he comes in for a nibble from the neck of this attractive, yet headstrong young woman.
Can Andrew forget about his self-centeredness long enough to gain Maggie’s trust, so he can save her from the vampire’s fangs, and, if he does, who will save her from his own?
Purchase at: Susan Burns Author Soul Mate Publishing
About the Author :
Before dedicating herself to full-time writing, Susan earned two advanced engineering degrees and worked in the fields of biology, oceanography, biomedical, and aerospace engineering. That knowledge, and the experience of working with a smorgasbord of mostly men, continues to populate her science fictions, urban fantasies, steampunks, and other paranormal romances.
@snrubnasus
www.unionofopposites.com
March 10 Guest blog
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March 11 Interview
Shut Up & Read
March 12 Spotlight
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March 24 review
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March 27 Interview
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March 28 Guest Post
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$25 gift certificate to Amazon out of ten posts,
If less than ten 10 people leave a comment,
SBK will pick one of them at random to receive a $25 Amazon gift certificate
$50 gift certificate to Amazon out of more than 10 posts.
if more than 10 leave a comment,
SBK will pick one of them at random to receive a $50 Amazon gift certificate
Free Series (first two novels plus comic) for exceptional posts.
For those who SBK decides have given exceptional or well thought out comments she'll send them the entire series (Legends of the Goldens Series: Forbidden Playground and Dancing Dragons) along with the Forbidden Playground comic--all ebooks
Posts
11 comments:
Thank you for being a guest today.
Interesting books, I might have to give them a try.
Thanks
Thank you, Roxanne.
And thanks, Winona, for your interest in my books.
Susan (S.B.K. Burns)
Wow, sorry about the misspelling of your name, Wenona.
Even if you could read an excerpt from "Forbidden Playground" on Amazon and give me a brief review on my author voice, that would be great, too.
Susan (S.B. K. Burns)
Just a reminder of the question I posed for responses:
But I bet each of you authors and readers out there has her/his own opinion on how to make the writing of love scenes less offensive and more real.
My trick is to focus on the emotional element. That needs to be there first and in proper and building sequence.
What other things must be in these “Forbidden Playgrounds” to send you off the planet?
Interesting post; sometimes the male point of view sounds like a female's point of view in books and it doesn't read well as a reader
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
So true, bn100.
Maybe that's what romance is all about, having someone see and understand the world as we see and understand it.
Thanks for posting.
You know? I've always asked myself that question, how do female authors write intimate scenes from a male perspective? But I really never thought a polish remover sponge jar would be a point of inspiration haha =D
Also, I love Alpha heroes in my books but in reality I don't think I could give them my heart and soul. They are too possessive. And Beta Heroes tend to be more endearing, soul tender, approachable, etc, etc. The thing is nowadays, each person has their own opinion on what's offensive. Could I be offended when reading a book when it's not my point of view but the authors? I don't think so.
MsAwesome,
Thanks for your awesome response.
Susan (S.B.K. Burns)
Love the sound of these books. The covers are great as well.Best of luck with sales.
Thank for your comment about the cover, Maggie.
Fiona at Soul Mate did the covers. Isn't she awesome?
Susan
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