Guest Blogger Cari Quinn- Finding Your Flavor Of Sexy

Thanks so much to the Nine Naughty Novelists for having me here today! I love the work of so many of the NNN authors and frequently fangirl squee over Kelly, Juniper and Erin. Right now, I’m knee deep in reading Just My Type by Erin Nicholas, who’s rapidly becoming one of my favorite writers. But Erin, can you please, please put a warning on your books not to start them late at night? This is the second book of hers I haven’t been able to put down until the wee hours!

An an erotic romance writer, I’m in the sexy business. Every time I sit down at the keyboard, I have to consider my own personal comfort zone and what the characters I’ve created demand. Some of them turn out to be kinkier than I planned (okay, most of them) and I can either fight them or let them have their own way. Over the years, I’ve learned fighting them is usually a losing proposition and often, for me, results in a story I’m not happy with. If my characters aren’t driving the bus, more often that not the story comes to a dead end.

Even though I try to let my characters do their own thing, sometimes they want to do things I’m not comfortable with as a writer. (And yes, non-writers would ask how can that be, since I’ve created them, but that’s a subject for a whole other post.) For example, I have a vampire duology of books I need to get back to. The first book’s been done for almost two years, but needs some polishing before it gets sent out. Originally I balked at writing the second book, because where the characters were clearly heading—a m/m/f/f foursome and the intermingling contained therein—was beyond my comfort zone at that time. I couldn’t reason my way out of it, because hell, they’re vampires. They don’t live within society’s constraints and they didn’t give a fig if I wasn’t ready to write a foursome. Luckily that particular development doesn’t take place until the second book...and also luckily, I’m no longer vexed by writing foursome action. I’ve written things in the past two years I never thought I would. If someone had said to me back then that one day I’d be writing a series about a voyeurism club, I would’ve said no freaking way. But I do, and I’m enjoying the heck out of writing it.

Now I’m trying something that’s even scarier to me as a writer. For the past couple years, I’ve been building my brand as an erotic romance author...and now, finally, I’m trying to write a hot contemporary that will be still sexy, but a lot softer. I’m freaking nervous! I’m the kind of girl who tends to write harder-edged stuff. Though my work’s definitely romantic, I’m wondering how I’ll fill pages without hardcore sex. But the time’s come for me to find out. I’m still working on numerous erotic projects, but my muse was getting angsty about trying something new. So here I am.

One of the erotic projects I’m still working on is Unveiled, my series at Ellora’s Cave that centers around a voyeurism club called Kink. So far there are six books planned, and I’m currently writing book three. Some of the residents in Ely, Maryland love getting down and dirty in public. Some like to watch. And some discover they prefer closed doors, thank you very much. One of the fun things about this series is realizing that the people who are into it often aren’t who you’d expect. And sometimes the ones who seem tailor made to enjoy Kink just...don’t.

Book 2, Provoke Me, is out now. Here’s the blurb and buy link if you’re interested in checking out more:

Sometimes extreme provocation can lead to exactly what you need...

Attracted. Kelly's focus is the bookstore she manages. Sex is relegated to a list of candidates on her PDA. Only one man pushes all her buttons—her boss.

Fascinated. Spencer is determined to fight his desire for Kelly. For years they've bumped heads over the store they both love. But there's more than one reason their getting together is complicated.

Provoked. When Kelly and Spencer unexpectedly meet up at a sex club, all the rules go out the window. Suddenly there's only way this match of wills can end —naked, preferably all night long. In this battle for sexual supremacy, there are two winners—and two losers when their stubbornness leads to the very thing each dreads most.

Reader's Advisory: In a couple of scenes, Kelly and Spencer test "the more the merrier" theory.

Find the buy link and an excerpt here: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9417-provoke-me.aspx

So now it’s your turn. What flavor of sexy works for you? Do you like all out hardcore action or do you prefer more be left to the imagination? I’d love to hear what presses your particular buttons, kinky or otherwise!

Visit Cari at www.cariquinn.com

Bio:

Multi-published author Cari Quinn wrote her first story—a bible parable—in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. She attempted her first romance in junior high, long before she’d ever read one. Writing what she knew always took a backseat to what she wanted to know, and that still holds true today. Cari’s genres of choice include contemporary, romantic comedy and paranormal. Recently she discovered erotic romance. Oh, how far she’s come.