Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Introducing Cynthia Dane, My New Contemporary Romance Pen Name

Some exciting news to share today! I have been working on a special writing project recently, which includes a new pen name and a debut in the contemporary romance world. Yes, folks. M/F. I know, right? Who knew.

My pen name in that world is Cynthia Dane, and most of my releases will be in serial format. My first release, When Chemistry Wins, is the first part of The Dark Horse Trilogy, which is basically Romeo & Juliet... but with modern politics!

Check it out!

“Two households, both alike in dignity; From ancient grudge break to new mutiny.” 

STAR-CROSSED LOVERS 

The Mitchells and the Halls are embroiled in the most heated gubernatorial election the state has ever seen.. Kerri Mitchell, the governor’s debutante daughter, yearns for a life free from her family’s controlling grasp. A life where her worth isn’t based on how vapid and innocent she can appear on the evening news. 

Hunter Hall doesn’t see eye-to-eye with his father, Governor Mitchell’s nemesis. He’s tired of the campaigning, the false promises, and the dirty mudslinging that comes with modern politics. And Hunter’s tired of having no one to share his life with. 

One fateful night brings these two souls together. One fateful night that changes the course of these two families’ fates forever. 

For when it comes down to it, will Kerri and Hunter choose their families… or love?

Friday, October 31, 2014

OUT NOW! "IKIGAI." Book 7 of REN'AI RENSAI

Amazon
"IKIGAI.", the seventh and final (for a long while at least) book of the REN'AI RENSAI series is now out! It's a whopping 100k words long and I hope you enjoy every single one. :) 

I'll have a more poignant post about the journey writing all seven books in this series up sometime next week. For now, please enjoy!

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"People say that we change as we get older. My biggest fear was that I would wake up one day and no longer be in love with Reina. Instead I woke up one day with urges that took me to the very kind of people she couldn't even think about."
Aiko almost has the perfect life. A strong marriage, a fun part-time job teaching English, and a healthy social life that keeps her stimulated in more ways than one. But she's changing. For the first time in years, there is someone she is falling for... and it's not someone her spouse would approve of. 
How can she truly be happy if she's repressing a part of what makes her tick?

"I haven't changed in over twenty-five years. This includes most of my opinions. Except I don't have popular opinions about anything. Take gender for example. I know I'm messed up, but it could be worse. I could really hate my body to the point I can't live in it anymore. Not even my wife understands that. But somebody else does."
Reina has come far in her therapy, but nothing can change the fact sometimes she can't face the way the world treats her because of her body. When she searches for someone who understands her, she meets another woman dealing with gender dysphoria. A woman whose dysphoria has taken her to a place Reina is still afraid to traverse. 

It's taken twenty years for Reina and Aiko to seal their relationship. Now the years have caught up to them and they must decide what their "ikigai," or their reason for living is. Friends come and go; lovers can be finicky; family is what they make of it. 

Their final hurdle in life, love, and sexuality will determine now and forever who they will spend the rest of their lives with. And they want so badly for it to be each other.

"IKIGAI." takes place from October, 2014 - February, 2015

Amazon

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Cover And Blurb Reveal For "IKIGAI.", Our October 31st!

After a month's worth of delays, we finally have an official release date, cover, and blurb for "IKIGAI.", the final (for at least a really long time) book in the REN'AI RENSAI series.

This book is a bit of a monster in the sense that it's the longest book I have yet to release, clocking in at just a little over 100k. (For reference, most full-length RR releases are between 70-90k, standard novel lengths.) And with a long book we also get the longest blurb yet. Usually we try to keep it down to a certain amount, but for the last book we decided to just go for it.

Below is the cover and blurb for "IKIGAI.", coming out October 31st! (Spooky.)


“People say that we change as we get older. My biggest fear was that I would wake up one day and no longer be in love with Reina. Instead I woke up one day with urges that took me to the very kind of people she couldn’t even think about.”

Aiko almost has the perfect life. A strong marriage, a fun part-time job teaching English, and a healthy social life that keeps her stimulated in more ways than one. But she’s changing. For the first time in years, there is someone she is falling for… and it’s not someone her spouse would approve of. 

How can she truly be happy if she’s repressing a part of what makes her tick?

“I haven’t changed in over twenty-five years. This includes most of my opinions. Except I don’t have popular opinions about anything. Take gender for example. I know I’m messed up, but it could be worse. I could really hate my body to the point I can’t live in it anymore. Not even my wife understand thats. But somebody else does.”

Reina has come far in her therapy, but nothing can change the fact sometimes she can’t face the way the world treats her because of her body. When she searches for someone who understands her, she meets another woman dealing with gender dysphoria.  A woman whose dysphoria has taken her to a place Reina is still afraid to traverse. 

It’s taken twenty years for Reina and Aiko to seal their relationship. Now the years have caught up to them and they must decide what their “ikigai,” or their reason for living is. Friends come and go; lovers can be finicky; family is what they make of it. 

Their final hurdle in life, love, and sexuality will determine now and forever who they will spend the rest of their lives with. And they want so badly for it to be each other.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

One Year Closer To Death And More Taxes

Courtesy of SXC
Yesterday was my birthday. (Yes, it was lovely, thanks!) I turned the absolutely no1curr 27, which makes me happy because I quite like the number 27. (Plus I've been thinking I'm 27 for about six months now. Finally, I'm right!)

The reason I feel some great need to share this is NOT to get belated birthday wishes, but because I have a good feeling that this next year of my life will be pretty great. Considering some of the prizes I have to announce coming up soon (yes, soon!) I can't help but feel like some good things are going to happen!

Of course, I have a sinking feeling that certain terrible things may happen, but let's not think about that right now...

What I have been thinking about lately, however, is the image I had of my adult life as a child. What I mean is, when I was a child, I often imagined what my twenties would be like. Suffice to say, my twenties have not been anything like I imagined as a kid. Of course that's true for just about everybody, but for me in particular, it's been negatively different. For every decent thing that has happened these past seven years, three awful things have happened.

I don't say this for pity. In fact, I want the opposite, if I were to get anything. But it's weird to think of what I thought my twenties would be like and then actually experience most of them so far.

Out of the things I have accomplished so far, however, I am very proud for achieving my dream of being a full time writer and author. This is exactly what I've been wanting to do with my life. And now that I'm finally taking better control of my life, it can only get better! Or so I hope.

Naturally, though, I'm mostly glad I don't even care about my birthday anymore. Means if I have any crappy ones in the future, I won't care!

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

OUT NOW! Healing Submission: Tales of Hurt and Comfort Anthology (Only 99 Cents!)

Amazon - Apple
I'm super excited to announce that "SEIKOU." has made it into a great new anthology called HEALING SUBMISSION: Tales Of Hurt And Comfort. Published by erotic romance giant Excessica, it features ten stories about learning to love and trust through submission... oh, and getting over those pesky traumas that plague us.

"SEIKOU." has been truncated into a novella called Dysphoria. As far as I know it's the only lesbian story, but the other novels in this REALLY CHEAP (!!!) collection are definitely worth checking out!

Please take a look at the full summary below. Oh, and the Rafflecopter afterward ;)

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Safety. Security. Trust. Discipline.

How do you heal a shattered heart? With their dominants' masterful handling and unique approaches to comfort, these lovers with hurt and trauma in their pasts get another chance at finding the love they deserve.

This boxed set contains ten novels from bestselling D/s romance authors including NYT/USA Today bestsellers Anna Antonia, Adriana Hunter, Selena Kitt and Linda Barlow. Some books are from existing series, but each book stands alone - no cliffhangers!

Mastering Meg by Saskia Walker: 
When Piers finds Meg's secret stash of BDSM material he sees the way to unbuckle her and win her heart. Meg is wildly aroused, but getting her to admit that is going to be his biggest challenge!

Force Majeure by Arden Aoide: The mind of Jeff Rainier is remarkable and strange. It separates him from true intimacy. Until Evan. She revels in his obsessive nature and captivating idiosyncrasies. Can he trust her affections?

The Dangerous Hero by Linda Barlow: Stephen and Viola had amazing sex 9 years ago, and the chemistry is still sizzling when they meet again. But after an abusive marriage, can she trust a man whose home contains a dungeon?

Catching Caitlin by Amy Isan: Hugh Evans
. He's not the man I remember, but more powerful. He walked up to me in the dumpy bar. The speakers bled while he licked salt off my drink. A sly grin and twinkle in his eye.

Her Two Doms by Adriana Hunter:
 When Sebastian invites Brooke to his club and introduces her to his best friend Jax, things quickly heat up. But what happens when they find themselves wanting more than just her submission?

Trust by Anna Antonia:
 Nicola Dawson was once married but the severe emotional neglect left her feeling broken and unloved. When she meets handsome neurosurgeon Henry Kain it's her chance to learn to live and love again...

Coming Clean by Selena Kitt: When divorced Donnie hires Elena as a housekeeper, he has no idea the dark desires she will inspire in him, or the dark past he will help her overcome. (Note to readers: This is an extended version of Donnie and the Maid) 

Lost in His Woods by Penelope L'Amoreaux: 
She woke close to death in the snow. He saved her, but struggles to give her what she craves: comfort. Tolik and Clare's journey take them through dark, sensual depths, and a thrilling adventure.

Dysphoria by Hildred Billings: A woman dealing with severe gender dysphoria approaches her wife to help her become more submissive. Unlearning twenty years' worth of repression, however, does not come without its sacrifices.

Not Your Damn Dom by Amy Valenti: After a disastrous mistake, Spencer swears off BDSM forever. When he falls in love again, he battles the urge to introduce Alex to his Dom side. Can he trust himself with a submissive's safety again?

Amazon Apple


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, September 5, 2014

Update On 2014 Release Schedule

So, there's no denying that I disappeared for a little while there! Last you heard from me, I was in the midst of moving. Surprise! I'm still in the midst of moving. It's been a long, ongoing process that will hopefully come to an end soon.

Couple this with a super big project going on in the background here, and things have been a bit delayed! Therefore I am having to update the remaining release schedule for 2014 under this name.

As of right now this is how things stand:

REN'AI RENSAI BOOK 7: "IKIGAI." - Very late September/Early October (Actual release date forthcoming)

JIAI JOUWA BOOK 3: (Currently Untitled) - Late December (Which would make it almost one year to the day since Book 2!)

REN'AI RENSAI PHOTO GUIDE - Early 2015

The aforementioned standalone sweet romance "THE LONGEST RIVER" will be my first project of 2015.

The reasons for this switch-around extend to more than just my move holding things up. "IKIGAI." was mostly finished when I decided that it wasn't exactly what I wanted for the final book of RR. I ended up going back and retooling a bunch of it so it fits better with the vision I had. I am determined to put out only the best possible story to round-off the main RR series, and I'm excited to share it with you later this month! Suffice to say, cover and blurb reveal will be happening soon enough!

Thanks for your understanding as we restructure some things around here. Right now my main goal, besides what is going on with other aspects, is to finish up the RR universe this year. It's going to be both very bittersweet and a relief. I hope you'll be around for the ride!

Friday, June 27, 2014

OUT NOW: "JOSHOKU." Book 6 of Ren'Ai Rensai

Amazon - B&N
A year after "KOIBUMI.", I am now pleased to announce the return of the RR overworld series. "JOSHOKU." takes us back once again the 90s in Japan, focusing on the period of time when Reina and Aiko realize the true potential of their lives together.

Please enjoy the blurb and the excerpt below!

One year into their relationship, Reina and Aiko embark on a journey into the world of academia. For Reina it's about changing her situation in life, even it means returning to a world ran by a foreign religion and young women who claim to be both her best friends and worst enemies. For Aiko it's proving to her mother, to the world, and to herself that there is more to life than husband hunting. For them both it's late nights finding unconventional ways to study for tests as they find new reasons to love each other.

Adulthood lurks in every shadow, from coming to terms with mortality to straining against the shackles that threaten to keep their lives stagnant. Reina wants to find direction in her life; Aiko wants to control her own destiny. Together they want what will become the foundation of their relationship - love, safety, and the exploration of their burning joshoku, or the passion that leads one to women again and again. Even if one of them is an impostor herself.


Amazon - B&N

EXCERPT


            “Excuse me,” Aiko said, stopping a saleswoman and holding up a green bra. “Does this come in any other color?”
            While the saleswoman took the bra to go look in the back, Reina dangled a silky black bra and panty set in front of Aiko.
            “You should get this one,” she said, jerking the hanger back and forth. “I bet you’d look really sexy in a piece like this.”
            Aiko glanced around the shop, only temporarily relieved when she saw no one paid them any mind. The cramped store was stuffed with racks of underwear and women talking over one another as the cars on the street drowned out their voices. Nothing could drown out Reina’s voice, however. It was right in Aiko’s ear, taunting her with that seductive tone that had once awakened her inner lesbian.
            “I need something practical.” Aiko tried to be collected, but whenever her girlfriend teased her like that, she turned into jelly. She busied her hands by flipping through a rack she had already inspected twice before. “That material would scratch my skin if I wore it all day.”
            “You’re not supposed to wear it all day. This is shit you wear to make you feel sexy and to make your girlfriend want to jump your bones.”
            “Like you need help with that.”
            The saleswoman came back with a pink version of the bra Aiko liked. “Would you like me to open a changing room for you?”
            “That would be great, thanks.”
            Reina stayed out of the changing area while Aiko was shown into the one at the far end of the hall. After locking the door, she stripped off her top and the one bra she had left that Reina had yet to destroy with her pawing. One strap drooped down her arm as she admired – as in criticized – her figure in the mirror.
            Have I gained weight? Aiko turned to her side and stuck her leg up in the air behind her. It made her back suck in and flatten her stomach. Maybe not. Skin stretched across her abdomen as she twisted it around to get a better look. By the time she decided she was not obese – yet – both of her bra straps had fallen down, reminding her of what she came in there for.
            Three bras hung from the door, each one the usual style and colors Aiko liked. When a woman knows what she likes... She hopped up and grabbed the pink bra she wanted.
            Trying on clothing of any kind was a test in patience. There was getting the damn things on; making sure they fit snugly, but not too snugly; checking to see that the color matched her skin tone; looking for any spots that would itch or irritate her later; turning in every direction to catch the best angles; pretending to be a model in a sexy magazine. Aiko spun on her heels and laughed in frivolity as someone pounded on the door.
            “I’m fine!” she called, assuming it was the saleswoman. “I’ll be out in a bit.”
            Another thump. “Ai-chan!” It was Reina. “Open up! I wanna show you something.”
            “Eh?” Aiko snatched her shirt and held it up to her chest. Slowly, as if the dressing room was full of people ready to check out her nipples, Aiko eased the door open and gazed at her girlfriend through the crack.
            Reina swung the door open and marched into the changing room, arm laden with bras.
            “Are you trying something on?” Aiko dropped her shirt and bent to pick it up again. When she stood, she saw her girlfriend latching the door shut, a sinister smile on her visage. “I didn’t think you wore...”
            The sexy black bra popped into her face. “I brought some stuff for you to try on.”
            “What? Me?” Aiko backed against the mirror. “I already have things to try on.”
            The black bra did a dance in the air, and puppet master Reina continued, “Nothing sexy.”
            “I’m not buying anything sexy like that.”
            “Aw, come on, you’re not even gonna try them on? How boring.” Reina dropped the bra to her side. I’m still not used to this haircut. If it weren’t for those thin lips and the usual clothes Reina wore, Aiko would not recognize her without long hair. “Not even for me?”
            “Why would I do it for you?”
            “Harsh.”

Amazon - B&N

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Trip To The Japanese 90s Day 2: Maki Ohguro

Maki Ohguro is one of those artists that you never really hear about, and yet left a huge impact on Japanese music in the 90s. Undoubetedly you've heard one of her songs before, even if you don't really remember it. Indeed, she used to be a pretty big thing in the mid-90s with her heavy pop-rock sound. You don't find many people who declare themselves to be Maki's biggest fan, and yet if you see her giving out a free concert (because she can, that's why) you think, "Oh, cool! Free Maki concert? I'm in. Let's go!"

The best way to describe her style is "heavy and loud," and yet she's not hard rock or metal at all. She's squarely in the pop-rock category, but like most of her fellow labelmates of the 90s (which include ZARD and B'z, just to namedrop a couple superstar names) she has that edge to her music that you just can't deny. Her songs are catchy and infectious, even if you don't think about them much.

I like to think of Reina in particular being that kind of Maki fan. She would buy some of her albums and play them as background noise, but she would never fan over her. (Not that she fans over anybody, but I digress.) These days she would definitely have some classic Maki tunes on her cell phone and listen to them during her commute on the train.

Actually, I take some of that back. I could see Reina watching Maki videos on TV and thinking, "Hm, I could go for a style like that." Not that she would ever commit to it.

Below is a video of all of Maki's 90s songs, a perfect sampling for our theme this week!


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Trip To The Japanese 90s Day 1: hitomi


I consider myself somewhat of an expert on Japanese pop 'n rock (colloquially referred to over there and abroad as "J-pop") and writing an extensive series that takes place through the decades in Japan and NOT expecting me to insert Japanese pop songs into every scene is next to impossible. At the REN'AI RENSAI website I even have a list of recommended listening soundtracks for every major novel.  One of my favorite decades of J-pop has to be the 90s. It was what I got into first back in 2003, and now it remains incredibly nostalgic (or as they say in Japan, natsukashii.

This week as we lead up to the release of "JOSHOKU." on Friday, I want to stop and listen to some tracks by artists that definitely influenced the 90s culture described in the book. These are artists and songs being played in the backgrounds of scenes - the CDs constantly falling off Reina and Aiko's shelves when they need some, er, mood music. 

Our first artist of the week is hitomi, a 90s pop idol who made her debut in 1994 with the Tetsuya Komuro (he is kind of a big deal people) written and produced track "Let's Play Winter." hitomi started her career as a model before quickly hitting superstardom in the 90s with her slickly produced dance tracks and heavy mid-tempo songs. She has a very unique voice even by J-pop standards, but it's absolutely infectious, just like her songwriting abilities and her tracks as she has matured through the years. (Yup, she's celebrating her 20th anniversary in the industry this year!)

I picked hitomi first for two reasons. 1) There is a new character in "JOSHOKU." named hitomi, and that's pretty funny. 2) I could see her first album getting a lot of spins in Aiko's room. Aiko really loves flashy, pretty, and charming female pop singers, and hitomi just jumps into my head as "the it girl" that Aiko would fawn over for a good 2-3 years. 

Below is hitomi's third and arguably most popular single "CANDY GIRL." I want you to imagine Aiko humming this to herself as she washes dishes today. Yes, today. Somewhere in RR land Aiko is washing some damned dishes and she is humming and singing "CANDY GIRL" and probably driving Reina nuts. Bless them both. 


I dare you to listen to this and not get it stuck in your head for a day too!

Monday, June 23, 2014

"JOSHOKU." Cover and Blurb Reveal!

"One year into their relationship, Reina and Aiko embark on a journey into the world of academia. For Reina it’s about changing her situation in life, even it means returning to a world ran by a foreign religion and young women who claim to be both her best friends and worst enemies. For Aiko it’s proving to her mother, to the world, and to herself that there is more to life than husband hunting. For them both it’s late nights finding unconventional ways to study for tests and as they find new reasons to love each other.


Adulthood lurks in every shadow, from coming to terms with mortality and straining against the shackles that threaten to keep their lives stagnant. Reina wants to find direction in her life; Aiko wants to control her own destiny. Together they want what will become the foundation of their relationship – love, safety, and the exploration of their burning joshoku, or the passion that leads one to women again and again. Even if one of them is an imposter herself."

"JOSHOKU." takes place between March, 1994 and Summer, 1996.

The sixth installment of REN'AI RENSAI will be coming out this Friday, June 27th! To celebrate, I will be posting a video every day this week showcasing some of my favorite Japanese songs to come out between 1994-1997... undoubtedly songs that Aiko and Reina listened to extensively in their youths. (And let's face it, today as well.) Please look forward to it!

Thursday, May 29, 2014

New S&M Anthology "MASTER OF DESIRE" featuring yours truly~ (Out Now)

Exciting announcement! I am fortunate enough to be in the anthology MASTER OF DESIRE: A Domination and Submission Romance Anthology being put out by Excessica. In it I have included a special short story version of “NIGOU.” that is slightly different from the full novel version. 
The story is called “MASTER/MISTRESS” and is about what you can probably guess. ;) 
I am pretty sure that all the other stories except mine are M/f, but if you don’t care about that and just want some great S&M romance, check it out! For a limited time it’s 99 cents!
Full blurb and buy links below! (Also check out the awesome RAFFLECOPTERwhere you can win up to $50 in Amazon gift cards!)
His every touch an imprint, His every word a potent command. To become His—both body and soul—is not to be owned. It is to be truly accepted. To belong. Only a precious few know the ecstasy of giving themselves over to the ultimate Dom. 

Ten bestselling domination and submission romance authors. Nine sensual novelettes of seduction and submission in one collection. The Master of Desire awaits. 

Stealing Aubrey by Candy Quinn - He needs to have her, to possess her. Just barely into adulthood, the beautiful young woman is screaming for him to take her, utterly. With his new wealth, he plans to do just that. 

As He Bids by Olivia Rigal - Applying for a summer internship at an upscale auction house just because she has a mad crush on one of the bosses, may be Career Fail 101 for Hannah. 

 Please, Maestro by Penelope L’Amoreaux - Once a promising cellist, Avery lost her hearing and her dreams until her conductor offers to teach her to play again. Can she withstand his harsh lessons or will she be undermined by her own desires? 

Anything He Requires by Michelle Fox - She thinks it’s just another job when wealthy businessman Jacob Daniels hires her to train his willful puppy, but the way he crushes her lips when they kiss says otherwise. Daniels has set his sights on dominating her, undertaking an irresistible seduction that leaves Jessica willing to do anything he requires. 

Becoming Jane by Jordan Bell - Avery doesn’t want the life her family insists on. She wants Oliver, the mysterious Dom she’s never met but who knows her heart. He can’t give her forever, but when she asks, he gives her one night. 

Master/Mistress by Hildred Billings - Two women, one exploring her true gender in the bedroom and the other an overworked businesswoman in the need of escape, embrace a domme/sub relationship under the darkness of Tokyo’s hot nights. 

Submission Therapy by Katie Salidas and Willsin Rowe - Billionaire Natasha Blakely is a control freak, fraying at the edges. When her therapist prescribes Submission Therapy she reluctantly agrees. Will she learn the sublime ecstasy of true submission? 

 The Master’s Exploits: Night Two by Jessi Bond - Dalton Alexander: alpha male, experienced dominant, alluring Master. He wants to turn his memoirs into erotic BDSM fiction, and ghostwriter Grace Reynolds is just the woman for the job. 

Unwritten Submission by Elsa Day - Amy has managed to sneak into the most secretive club in town. The story would save her journalism job, but her plans change when she meets J. He wants to be her new Dom. But will Amy submit? 

Sunday, May 25, 2014

A Tentative Release Schedule For The Rest Of The Year

Small preview of things to come!
As we approach the halfway mark of 2014, I thought it would be beneficial to myself and to all of you if I update the projected releases for the remainder of 2014. I talked about my hopes for the year around the New Year's, but of course things change and now I have a much better idea of how things are going to go from now until Dec. 31st.


Preliminary Schedule (all dates are tentative):

Late June/Early July: REN'AI RENSAI Book 6 "JOSHOKU."

Late August/Early September: REN'AI RENSAI Book 7 (Currently Untitled)

Late October/Early November: Standalone romance novel "THE LONGEST RIVER"

Late December/ Early January 2015: JIAI JOUWA Book 3 (Currently Untitled)*

*This will most likely end the REN'AI RENSAI universe for a while, or at least full length works. What I'll do immediately after I don't know yet!

There will be a few other goodies in there, but I'll talk about those more when I get closer to releasing them. ;) Yes, this includes the world guide for RR! I'm going to release it after Book 7 since that seems most fitting.

Most of these dates, especially the summer ones, are tentative because I'll be making a rather big move in July. It's a good move, and I'm super excited about it, but at the moment I have NO idea how it's going to affect my schedule.

I hope you're as excited for the rest of 2014 as I am. It's gonna be a bit of wild ride with new things coming and old things going, but I think it's going to be very fulfilling. Hope to see you there!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Interview With "NIGOU." Editor And Cover Designer Lindsay York

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with long time REN'AI RENSAI editor and cover designer Lindsay York to talk about the latest installment, "NIGOU." As someone who has been with the series since the very beginning, Lindsay has seen it and its characters evolve in ways neither of us expected. I couldn't think of anyone better to bounce some ideas off of, which you can see below!

I hope you enjoy these insights into the development of RR and how it has come to this point. I certainly wasn't expecting some of these questions!

Was it at all challenging opening up Reina and Aiko's relationship into the world of polyamory? They've always been happy to pick up new partners and have naughty antics *together*, but things definitely seem different this time, with both setting off and doing things on their own.

For quite a while now I’ve known that this is where their relationship would end up. I think since around “Seikou.” or so they’ve been working to this point, whether they knew it or not. Really, they’ve been polyamorous for quite a while, even before they started using that word. The only thing that has changed is how serious they’ve become about it.

So to that end, I didn’t think it was challenging at all for them. The other two were a whole different can-of-worms unearthed in the apple orchard.

In dealing with polyamory, there's a lot of talk about primary and secondary relationships in the novel. Did you ever worry that the secondary relationship (Reina and Jun) was overshadowing the primary relationships?

When you’re writing about polyamory in fiction, this is probably the most challenging thing to balance. While I was writing this novel, I often worried that my longtime readers who have been with me since “Daisuki.” would feel a little betrayed after investing so much in Reina and Aiko. But this novel isn’t about them and their relationship. Nor is it about Jun and Saya’s relationship. This novel is about Reina and Jun, although their primary relationships of course are a huge part of their lives (as they should be!) I wanted to focus on them and how they grow together in their own way. Nothing has changed between Reina and Aiko. They are still in love, they are still married, and they will be ‘til death they part. So does the secondary relationship overshadow the primaries? Of course it does. It’s supposed to. The narrative was constructed to do just that, because if I focused more on the primaries, I would be writing an epic treatise instead of a novel!

Did the differences between the primary relationships -- one being a long, established marriage between two older women of the same age, and the other being a relatively new love with an age gap -- offer a challenge in setting the stage for the novel?

I think so, particularly in the latter’s case. Reina and Aiko are very settled in their relationship. They know what they want and how to build a life together. Jun and Saya, on the other hand, have only been together for a year by the end of this novel. Jun often worries that she’s selfish and a terrible person for asking this of Saya... something that probably wouldn’t happen if they had been together longer and had more time to settle. They’re still learning about one another whereas Reina and Aiko have no secrets. But I think this is part of what made it fun to write. Every story needs to challenge the author in some way. For me, it was convincing my characters, myself, and the readers that this is a situation that can be embraced by everyone involved.

From the main cast, Saya is the one who struggles with polyamory. She's also the youngest though, by a decent margin. Do you ever see her "coming around," so to speak, and entertaining casual partners or even a nigou of her own in the future? 

It’s hard to imagine that Saya is in her late 20s now, because I feel like she’s so much younger. Not naive like Aiko was at the same age, but inexperienced with relationships and still trying to decide what she really wants from her girlfriend. I’m constantly learning things about her while writing her scenes and dialogue. Jun is her first serious relationship, and she’s understandably possessive to a degree. She’s always second guessing the validity of her relationship and whether or not she and Jun are really meant to be due to their outrageous differences, but a young person’s love can be very resolute. In this novel she’s discovering things about herself as well, much like Aiko did at her age. But I think she will choose a different path since she’s such an independent thinker. Not to rule out a second partner for her down the line, but Saya has to first take some time exploring her own limits and what she wants from her love life. The good news for her is that she has ten years to catch up with everyone else.

Aiko is remarkably okay with her spouse deciding to take a nigou, given her past insecurities and jealousy when it comes to Reina's bedroom habits. What was it like taking a character full-circle in development like that?

I had planned this since the beginning of Aiko’s development from the time of “Daisuki.” Funnily enough, the first story I wrote her in takes place in 2007, and she is very cool with Reina’s bedroom habits, as it were. Cautious, but cool. The character changed for what is now RR, but I always wanted to bring her back to how I originally envisioned her – a housewife with a sexually adventurous and promiscuous partner, but a smart woman who enjoys her life to the fullest.

When I am writing Aiko’s insecurities, I always remember her from “Hatsukoi.”, when she was hilariously naive about what life with Reina would be like. Back then, she didn’t care what it entailed, as long as it was fun and they were in love. I think it’s important to note that Aiko has never really changed. She still wants to have fun and be in love. Everything that seems to have changed on the surface is because Reina brought it out of her over the years. The potential for this sort of life was always inside Aiko. She was never forced into it and had lots of opportunities to leave early on. Why did she stay with Reina those first few years? Not just because she loved her, but because Reina was the first person to resonate with Aiko’s subconscious desires.

But to make this long response even longer, it was important to me that this be the novel where Aiko sets herself free, so to speak. She has depended on Reina for emotional validations for so long, that she needed to get the hell out of the house and be crazy on her own. Some people are late bloomers like that. And I think a large part of the reason Aiko is so nonchalant throughout the plot is because Jun is someone she knows and trusts. If Rena wanted a complete stranger for a nigou, this would be a much different – and much shorter – novel.

Aiko spends a heap of the book with her neighbor, Yuri, this time. Are Aiko and Yuri a sort of mirror of Reina and Jun, or does their dynamic represent something different?

The relationship Aiko and Yuri have is much different from Reina and Jun’s. Theirs is an intimate friendship that happens to include sex. Yuri and Aiko have been sexually involved for a few years now, even independent of Reina. It’s never come up in the series, but Reina was not originally involved with them. That came later, when Yuri was more comfortable with it. So, really, Aiko was the first of the relationship to have sex outside of it on her own, a fact that Reina probably has never thought about.

Reina and Jun are different. They are not really friends outside of the bedroom, but what they fulfill inside it make their lives better. There is also gender expression to keep in mind. Aiko and Yuri can get away with holding hands in public and being intimate since they are both very feminine. Unless they start making out, no one will really pay them any mind since it’s normal for two women to be close like that in traditional Japanese society. In the early 20th century it was even encouraged for Japanese women to have those kinds of friends. But Reina and Jun are more masculine, so they stick out and confuse even each other. I think instead of holding hands they would rather eat a bucket of live scorpions.

I always think of Aiko and Yuri as having this innocent affair built on friendship, whereas Reina and Jun have a friendship that came from a passionate affair.

There's definitely more than a dash of kinky sex in the novel. What sources did you look to for inspiration when it came to writing those scenes? Were any of them particularly difficult?

I don’t know what sources I would say I had, other than my own imagination. That sounds pretty embarrassing, huh? What I guess I mean is that the characters inspired me. I know what Jun wants in bed, and I know what Reina wants in bed. When I realized a long time ago that they are a perfect sexual match, the whole concept of “Nigou.” was born.

None of the scenes were very difficult. As a rule, I won’t write a graphic love scene if I’m struggling with it at all. I’ll either come back to it later or I’ll scrap it or fade it to black. But there is one scene in this novel, and if you’ve read it, you know already which one I am talking about. It’s in the second half, where their role-play reaches a new high. They are so trusting of one another that they are able to enter a sexual relationship built on a master-servant sort of thing. Not every time they have sex, but often enough it is usual to them. For Jun especially, there are some very serious control aspects that need rearranging. I wanted to portray her willingly giving up her control to Reina while still affirming that she had her agency. I suppose it was a difficult scene because it can easily fall into “humiliation” kink, which I think is hard for many women to come to terms with in their own desires. Even I surprise myself whenever I reread that scene – it’s always crazier than I remember!

Even for all of the kinky action, it's notable that you keep *certain* kinks out of play, like any violence or particularly harsh physical treatment. Was this because of the characters' desires, or a personal desire to keep that out of the book?

In a way it’s both, since a lot of their feelings are an extension of my own. Just like I wouldn’t want very hardcore kink, they don’t either. Partly because I wouldn’t want to write about it. (For example, there are a couple of other kinky things I could see them consensually doing that I don’t have much interest in writing about.) But it’s also inherent to the characters. Reina wants to dominate, but she doesn’t want to hurt. Jun wants to submit, but she doesn’t want to have her agency stripped from her. They can both stop the action any time they want. Plus, they are not violent people, nor are they into pain for the sake of it. Any pain they feel must lead directly to pleasure  or in some way be connected to it. No whips though.  Maybe later.

Any final thoughts?

This is a story I have been wanting to write for quite a while now. Maybe not this one specifically, but this type of story. I’ve always been attracted to writing tales where multiple lovers is acceptable. Like in any other romance novel I write, I want to give a reader a good, satisfied feeling at the end, whatever that means to them. I’ve felt very privileged these past two years to write about this universe and share it with all of you. Taking the RR universe to this level was something I wanted to do from the beginning, and now to see it come to fruition... whether it becomes a fan favorite or disappears into the digital ether, I am happy to have written it. I’m even more excited to wrap up the RR series this year knowing that this is what has become of the characters so far.

Friday, May 9, 2014

OUT NOW: "NIGOU." A REN'AI RENSAI: GAIDEN release!

For two years Jun and Reina have had an agreeable arrangement: when it’s convenient, they’ll meet up and have a good time together. “Good time,” however, has changed over the past few months. Beaten with stress from her job and the dilemmas of her primary relationship, Jun has decided she wants Reina to be more than someone she meets for hours of passion between the sheets. To be more than a “nigou,” or the dirty mistress on the side.

Emotional commitment isn’t exactly something Reina can subscribe to. She’s used up her intimacy tokens with her wife Aiko, and now the idea of bringing another serious woman into her love life isn’t exactly her idea of fun! Not to mention Jun’s younger girlfriend Saya, who is less than keen on the idea of multiple partners, but willing to make it work.

As they tiptoe on the edge of polyamory, both Reina and Jun have to decide what they want from each other - and from their primary partners. What they discover is the give and take that can happen beyond the scope of a casual relationship. How two women can find the therapy missing from their lives in the arms of a nigou.

"NIGOU." takes place from May - September, 2014

I know a lot of you have been waiting for this one! Not only is it the longest RR universe novel yet, but it's very, ah, intense, if you catch my drift! 

Thursday, May 1, 2014

"NIGOU." Cover And Blurb Reveal!

After a short delay in release, "NIGOU." has been given the official release date of May 9th. Below the cover and the blurb are revealed!


For two years Jun and Reina have had an agreeable arrangement: when it’s convenient, they’ll meet up and have a good time together. “Good time,” however, has changed over the past few months. Beaten with stress from her job and the dilemmas of her primary relationship, Jun has decided she wants Reina to be more than someone she meets for hours of passion between the sheets. To be more than a “nigou,” or the dirty mistress on the side.

Emotional commitment isn’t exactly something Reina can subscribe to. She’s used up her intimacy tokens with her wife Aiko, and now the idea of bringing another serious woman into her love life isn’t exactly her idea of fun! Not to mention Jun’s younger girlfriend Saya, who is less than keen on the idea of multiple partners, but willing to make it work.

As they tiptoe on the edge of polyamory, both Reina and Jun have to decide what they want from each other – and from their primary partners.  What they discover is the give and take that can happen beyond the scope of a casual relationship. How two women can find the therapy missing from their lives in the arms of a nigou.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Sign up for the mailing list for an exclusive preview of "NIGOU." and a giveaway!

The record-length breaking novel "NIGOU." is slated to release late this month, and I want to spoil all my readers with some EXCLUSIVE previews on my mailing list!  Within the next 24 hours I'll be sending out the monthly newsletter, full of "NIGOU." exclusives including, blurb, cover, and a preview before anyone else will get to see it.

But that's not all. I'll be doing a mailing list exclusive giveaway for a FREE copy of "NIGOU." in any ebook format of your choice. How do you sign up for the giveaway? You'll have to be on the mailing list to find out!

For those of you who still don't want to sign up, don't worry, I'll be posting the above items - including a separate giveaway - in the coming weeks, just like I always do. :)

Have a great day! I'm off to pick a juicy excerpt to show off tomorrow.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Behold! I Hath Returned! Praise Technology!

When my main computing machine died at the end of February, I had no idea what a pain it would be. Most of my files were backed up (save for my VERY IMPORTANT paperback interiors, apparently!) and I had my netbook to run my business (and you know, Internetz) from, but the world decided that the netbook wouldn't be powerful enough to let me do, you know, stuff, and Lenovo, from whom I purchased my new computer, decided to sit on their asses for a month before shipping the damn thing.

WELL IT'S HERE. It's also probably a little queer, because God knows it's gonna be full of lesbians. (No not that way get your mind out of the gutter. We can't all have that.)

Behold my new Lenovo Y510p, a very nice little machine that I am so far pleased with, minus WTF USB port placements. IT GLOWS RED.

With no flash! (Yuck!)
With flash! (Also yuck!)
I have named it RANJU, to match my netbook REON. You're either going to get that or not. Hint they're named after Takarazuka actresses. My last two matching machines were named AYUMU and MEGU so this naming my computers after real people is not new, haha.

Having a new and speedy dedicated computer means I'm going to be around a lot more often now. Especially since I just finished up edits on NIGOU and thus have a lot more time again. Woo! To celebrate, I will be releasing some info the coming days, including maybe a coughcoughgiveawaycoughcough so be sure to stick around for that!

Now excuse me, I have The Sims 3 to install.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Weekly Writing Check-In: Well This Is Embarrassing

Whoa, where the heck have I been? I admit, I have been so busy with life that I have completely forgotten about blogging! On one hand I don't want this blog turning into nothing but promotions - come to think of it, I have another self-publishing tips post to make - but on the other work keeps me so busy that I often forget about this.

But that means things are chugging along! I said earlier this year that this would be a, well, big year for me. I am making plans to relocate my life elsewhere sometime this summer, which takes time to prepare for. I also have three, yes THREE writing projects going on. Sometimes four at once! It's how I like to work, but it tends to eat up all the hours in the day. By the time I go to bed, there's a bunch of stuff I still haven't done because I got sucked into something. I think most people can relate to this.

Yet I didn't want a WHOLE MONTH to go by without posting anything! Maybe I will diligently post about Camp Nano next month to keep things going. On that note, it's time for me to get back to work! This draft of Nigou isn't going to edit itself! (Man, if only...)

Friday, February 28, 2014

OUT NOW: "USOTSUKI." A Ren'Ai Rensai: Gaiden Novel

The REN’AI RENSAI: GAIDEN (Another Story) series is a companion piece to the main Ren’Ai Rensai series focusing on alternate views to stories you’ve already enjoyed and couples deviating from the series’ norms.
"USOTSUKI."
Approximately 76,000 words
Fate struck Haruka and Kaori one warm spring day not so many years ago. Without question they accepted their destiny, swearing to love each other and to forge a new life built on their unwavering devotion for what they had.

Kaori, the dutiful career woman who always has her eyes on the next stage of her life; Haruka, the easy-going musician who will do anything to support her girlfriend’s ambitions. One of them is lying. Maybe they both are. It’s these amassing lies about their families, their friends, and their jobs that will lead them to discovering who is the biggest “usotsuki,” or liar, between them.

Their relationship might just survive it

"USOTSUKI." takes place from May, 2010 - September, 2013

Amazon - B&N

EXCERPT



             The woman picked up the cup with both hands and blew the steam off the top. The way her lips made a delicate O shape, pushing that pink gloss outward, was too enticing for Haruka to stare at directly. She kept her eyes on the white saucer on the counter as the customer sipped the tea… but Haruka made the grievous mistake of looking up as the woman swallowed.
            “Oh, that is lovely,” came a satisfied voice. “How much is it?”
            Haruka told her the price, and the woman quickly made the decision to purchase a small package. She rang her up on the register, taking the woman’s money while trying to keep her hand from passing over those manicured fingers.
            “By the way,” the woman began again, taking her receipt and her bag by the handles, “is that Ephemeral’s latest CD?”
            Haruka’s jaw nearly fell off her face. “You know Ephemeral?” The rock tunes held a steady undercurrent to their conversation, the lead singer’s scratchy vocals belting out a chorus about a crimson-colored love affair.
            The woman nodded. “They’re one of my favorite bands.”
            No way. This dainty looking woman, with the pressed outfit and perfect hair and make-up? She was into rock music like Ephemeral’s? “They are my favorite band right now,” was all Haruka could say.
            “Are they?” The woman clutched her bag to her chest. Her curving chest, as Haruka couldn’t help but notice. This was the kind of day that could only get better or worse, depending on if she lived in a comedy or a tragedy.
            “Yeah… did you hear that they just transferred to a major label?”
            “Absolutely. Everyone in their fan club heard about it.”
            “You’re in their fanclub?” Not even Haruka bothered with that. Sometimes her favorite bands came and went so quickly that she learned to not join fanclubs until she was sure they would be around for a while – or that she would be interested in them. “I only heard about it online, on their website.”
            “Uh huh…” The plastic handles of the bag tumbled in the woman’s hands, stretching as her skin turned red. Is she nervous? Haruka hid her hands behind her back, so the customer couldn’t see her nervous habits, like flicking her fingernails. “Actually,” the woman then continued, with a meek voice, “I have tickets to their show this Saturday. The fanclub only live celebrating their anniversary and getting onto a major label… I have an extra ticket… but nobody to go with…”
            Haruka nodded. Then the words sank in.
            The entirety of her thoughts, feelings, and words were lodged in her throat, blocking her ability to swallow or speak. Is she asking me out? That pretty side-glance, that charismatic smile, those fluttering lashes… this felt like something straight out of a teen drama, where the (bluntly heterosexual) female lead waited for the good-looking hero to ask her out. Does that make me the good-looking hero?
            Behind her, the lyrics from Ephemeral’s song about knee-shaking love played out. “Take the one you love by the shoulders and tell them that you love them.” That was the lead singer’s way of expressing that sort of desire. Haruka, however, would not take this young woman by the shoulders and scream, “Yes!” even though she wanted to. Instead she said, “I hope you can find someone to go with.”
            A flash of disappointment covered the woman’s complexion. “Maybe…” It was replaced with deep, churning red. “Are you available Saturday night?”
            She’s asking me out! Heart pounding so hard that it almost bruised her ribs, Haruka’s mouth went dry. Say yes, idiot!
            “I’m, uh… Douyoubi kana…” Haruka scrambled to remember what she was possibly doing that Saturday. She had to work during the day, and at night her father was hosting a small party with his friends, but… Nothing important. Still, how could she blurt out yes to a complete stranger? She didn’t know this woman from the Empress. There were friends of Haruka’s who would have no problem saying yes – many of them foreign and from countries where being forward like that was permissible. But Haruka still had it pounded into her head that she should be demure, in a fashion. Like this woman before her, who managed to ask her out while looking like a sweet thing who knew not what she did. I am pretty sure she knows.
            “Oh, you must be busy. Please forget I asked.” The woman turned and took a step.
            “No, wait!” Haruka lunged across the counter, one hand extended toward the woman. “I mean… I’m not busy. If you really can’t think of anyone else to go with…”
            The woman glanced over her shoulder, relieved. I almost ruined her day. And almost ruined her own.
            A cell phone came out of the woman’s purse. “Let me get your number… Miss…”
            “Huh? Oh!” Haruka pulled out her phone. “My name is Haruka. Haruka Kitamoto.”
            The woman typed into her phone. “Nice to meet you, Haruka-san. My name is Kaori.”
            Kaori. Haruka remained in a daze as she inputted the woman’s name and number into her phone. That’s a pretty name. It evoked the word for “scent,” perfumed, laced in lavender, like the tranquil moments after a bath when everything was clean. But the wink Kaori gave her as she waved goodbye and left was anything but clean.
            “See you Saturday, Haruka-san,” she said, hand over the doorknob. The bells jingled as the door opened. “I look forward to it.”
            Haruka stood as if living in a dream. When her father returned minutes later, he asked her what was wrong, and all she could say was, “I hope you don’t need me Saturday night.”