Guest Blog: Berengaria Brown: Plays Nicely With Others - to Produce an Anthology

Writing a book for an anthology or boxed set, is a little different from just writing a regular story. Normally an author can work on her own schedule, set her own priorities, and fit her writing on a particular book in whatever order she chooses.

But when working with other authors there are many other constraints. Since all the editing of all the stories has to be completed by a set date not everyone can turn their completed book in at the last minute. The same with every other stage of the book. Authors have to be aware of the constraints on other members of the group and readjust their schedules to cater for it.

The group I worked with for the production of “Naughty List” and then “Naughty Hearts”was extremely cooperative and all decisions were made by a poll. Fortunately everyone did play nice and there were never winners or losers, just group decisions.

Together we decided when stories had to be turned in, when edits and proofreading were to be completed, what the book title would be, and which versions of the artwork we liked.

That’s a lot of decisions, with an enormous potential for conflict and upset creative people. However the group worked really well together and the books have turned out very well. “Naughty List” has received five star reviews and “Naughty Hearts” has just released.

BLURB: From Naughty Heart

“Chocolate-Coated Reunion” by Berengaria Brown

Matt arranges to meet Jake for Christmas Eve drinks after work but after a series of disasters is very late. Jake refuses to talk to him. As Valentine’s Day approaches, Matt is determined to reconnect with Jake. But is Jake too hurt and disillusioned to forgive him?

Naughty Hearts Buy Links:

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B&N: http://indi.uno/1uNNYHa

Kobo: http://indi.uno/1LwR8cY

Google: http://indi.uno/1EWHmMP

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Naughty Literati website:

http://naughtyliterati.com/
  
Win The Naughty Literati's Contest! Visit: http://naughtyliterati.com for details!

Two lucky readers will each win a 3.00 carat garnet Naughty Heart pendant in sterling silver with 18" chain along with a print copy of Naughty List. There are 10 ways to enter and you can come back daily for the bonus entry. *Note: contest limited to U.S. residents

BIO: 

Berengaria is an award-winning, best-selling, multi-published author of erotic romance with over one hundred published digital, print and audio books.  She writes contemporary, paranormal (magic, ghosts, vampires, fairies, dragons, and werewolves), futuristic, medieval, and Regency-set historical. She loves to read all different kinds of romance so that is what she writes: MMF, MFM, FMMM, FFM, MM, FF, and MF. Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily-ever-after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.

Blog: http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/

Website: http://berengariabrown.com/

Personal Sexual Arousal Syndrome

 Imagine you’re sitting at a meeting/eating at a crowded restaurant/giving a speech…anywhere, doing anything…and you have the sudden urge to climax. This “hush-hush” syndrome sounds like ecstasy, but can be a living hell.

Just how often do women who have this have orgasms? Everyday? Ten times a day?

Would you believe there’s a woman who claims to have up to 200 orgasms a day?

The idea of being in a constant state of sexual arousal and having to experience the joy of climaxing…while in the most inappropriate places at the most inconvenient times…certainly detracts from the whole concept of relishing that lovemaking thrill.

Possible causes of PSAS:
1. Neurological hypersensitivity (some women claim the syndrome started after taking anti-depressants) or trauma to the pelvic nerves.
2. Pelvic vein congestion.
3. Over-sensitivity to Progesterone.
4. No/delayed release of hormone Prolactin.
5. Deficiency of Oxytocin from the pituitary gland, needed for calming down after sex.

Information is scarce…and treatment on a trial basis…but a good source is:
http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/persistent-sexual-arousal-syndrome.htm

Can a romance heroine experience this syndrome? And, how would the hero react? An interesting thought to ponder!

Marianne Stephens
http://www.mariannestephens.net
http://www.romancebooks4us.com
http://naughtyliterati.com - Check website for anthologies:
Naughty List - available now
Naughty Hearts - releasing in February

Photo: Flickr: Bitchbuzz’s photostream.

Prologues and Epilogues - Do You Like/Want Them?

I've often wondered if readers enjoy reading prologues and epilogues in romance books. As a reader, I like reading a prologue, especially if it sets up the story. Reading epilogues gives a future "look" into the hero and heroine's tale and takes me beyond the "Happily-Ever-After" ending so I can witness for myself just how their future unfolded.

I wrote one book using a prologue. When I first thought about writing "Streets of Dreams"(by Marianne Stephens), using a prologue popped into my head as the best way to gain reader interest right away. The prologue is in the killer's point of view, and I hoped it would capture a reader's immediate attention.



Epilogues. I've written them in my nonfiction books, but not in any romance books. Maybe I like finishing a fictional romance story so that no epilogue is needed...the reader can be fully satisfied just with my story's end?

But, I like reading both prologues and epilogues. I like that glimpse into the past and future. A prologue can eliminate some "backstory" insertions in the book so can be helpful to the writer. Epilogues can be helpful for those writing a series...an author can use this technique to hint at the next series book and inspire curiosity and interest. Or, for single titles, it can just give the reader a "little something extra" about what happens after that final chapter.

What do you prefer? Do you enjoy reading/writing Prologues? Epilogues? Both? Neither?

 


















http://www.mariannestephens.net
http://naughtyliterati.com
Information for the following books can be found on the Naughty Literati website:
Naughty List Anthology available NOW!
Naughty Hearts Anthology releasing in February.