Sharing Sexy Author Amelia James and Heat!

I’m fortunate to have the opportunity today to introduce you to one of my favorite Facebook friends and authors, Amelia James. She’s funny, smart, and an overall interesting person. She’s unapologetic in her quest to write “trashy” and she loves what she does.

I asked her why she chooses to write what she does, and here was her response:

“I enjoy writing MFM menage because I’m selfish. I spend all my time taking care of others. MFM is all about ME being the center of attention. ;)”

I love it! (And, quite frankly, I share her feelings!) Today she’s here to share her latest release, so let’s give her a warm “innerwildkat” welcome! You guys know the drill…don’t be shy. After you read, share your thoughts!

Here’s a blurb on Heat:

Dependable paralegal Claire O’Connor knows the man of her dreams is out there waiting for her, and she’s ready for him. Imagine her surprise—and delight—when she discovers not one but two men who lust for her. One adores her; the other challenges her. One makes sense; the other is a gamble.

Despite the family tragedy that shaped his past, JT Luck has only known professional success. His personal life, however, is a failure. He doesn’t want a relationship, and while his ‘let it ride’ attitude keeps most women at a distance, Claire is eager to roll with him.

But when she finds out Kurt Langston, the office’s resident computer geek, harbors a secret crush for her, she wonders if he’s the safer bet. Kurt doesn’t get close to people, and his feelings for Claire make no sense in his carefully ordered life. His unexpected bond with JT pushes him to take chances he never imagined.

Go all-in or go home? Either way, the heat could be more than they can handle.

Excerpt:

Stiletto heels clicked on the floor as she got up, trembling a bit as she took the position he’d indicated. “Would you rather have me stand over there?” She nodded toward the revealing patio doors. Light from his neighbor’s house penetrated the backyard—someone could be watching even at this hour.

“No. This time you’ll strip just for me.” He raised the glass to his lips then changed his mind at the last second. “Take your pants off.”

Shivers coursed down her spine. Just for him—a private audience. She unsnapped her jeans and lowered the zipper, peeling them down her hips to her knees. The shoes had to go, so she stepped out of them and kicked her pants across the room. Goose bumps covered her legs.

“Cold?”

Standing in the big open kitchen, exposed to him, but shielded from the world outside, rattled her. The idea of having a larger audience frightened her less than the prospect of taking her clothes off for his intense gaze alone. She shook her head.

“Good.” He swirled the untouched scotch again. “Lose the panties.”

With a tug and a wiggle, she dropped the cherry red satin to the floor, leaving her naked from the waist down. She’d expected to remove her sweater next, but the bastard exposed her most vulnerable flesh first.

He groaned and emptied half the glass in one swallow.

Thank God.

Then he picked up the bottle and refilled his drink past the point it had been before.

Claire sputtered. Half-naked, showing off the good parts and he reached for the bottle? “Are you fucking kidding me?” What does it take to light a fire under his ass?

JT grinned. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”

As she prepared to unleash another curse, she realized he’d played her, and she’d tipped her hand. She smiled and slid her bare feet across the floor, parting her thighs and exposing her ace in the hole.

But instead of folding, he stared at the counter, oddly transfixed by the inanimate object. His calculating gaze slid up and down her legs, then back to the countertop. He’s measuring. Hot dew collected between her legs as she imagined him bending her over the solid quartz.

“Put the heels back on.”

She nearly fell on her bare ass as she tripped into her shoes.

“Now go to my bedroom.”

What? “But I thought—?”

“Don’t argue.” He picked up the glass and pointed with it toward the hallway. “Upstairs, last door on the right.”

No kitchen sex. Damn it. She could’ve maneuvered him in front of the window, but maybe his bedroom provided a better view. She turned and took two trembling steps.

Suddenly, glass clacked on polished stone and wood scraped tile as JT got to his feet.

He grabbed her arm and jerked her back, jamming his straining hard-on against her naked ass. His zipper screeched open as he grabbed a fistful of her hair and slammed her body against the unforgiving island.

She gasped and slapped her palms on the stone slab, thrusting back against him as his cock invaded her from behind. What the hell happened?

Claire groped for anything she could hold onto for leverage, and sent the now empty glass skittering across the counter. Her scalp burned as he yanked her upright. “Holy fuck! Make me come!”

About Amelia James:

I got hooked on trashy romance novels in junior high, but my mom took them away from me, But she couldn’t stop me from daydreaming. After I got married, I wrote some of my naughtier daydreams down and sent them to Playgirl magazine. Two of them got published. I kept daydreaming and writing stories until my dirty stories turned into trashy books.

I live in Colorado, but I’ll always be a loyal Wisconsin Cheesehead. When I’m not lusting after my next bad boy hero, I’m looking for inspiration in sci-fi and action movies, football players, morally ambiguous lawyers, muscle cars, and kick-butt chicks.

You can find me on Facebook, and on Twitter I’m known as Trashy Writer. I call myself a trashy writer because I want my readers to know that I enjoy mindless escapism as much as they do. I’m not out to win a Pulitzer Prize. (But I’m an award-winning finalist in erotica, USA Book News 2012.) I just want to help someone relax and get away from it all for a little while. I write romance, erotica and trash for fun and pleasure.

Trashy’s Treasures Blog: http://trashystreasures.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TrashyWriter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmeliaJamesAuthor

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106317629275663311597/posts

Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/trashywriter

Tell Me a Summertime Story, Sing Me a Summertime Song

As much as I love “Hump Day,” this last one left something to be desired. My husband and I received a call that his dad (in his late 80’s) had been admitted into a Cardiac specialty unit and that his heart rate was “too low.” We heard words like angiogram, pace maker insertion, cardiac ablation, and even open heart surgery. We waited on pins and needles from thousands of miles away on Thursday as they did an angiogram to decide what they were going to do next. I’m pleased to report that the best possible outcome happened. My badass father-in-law who’s beaten cancer 3 times got a pace maker inserted and is now home recovering.

So obviously stress has been a big factor for me this last week. With my birthday fast approaching, I need to dip into some fun. Some sun! I’d like your help…

Thinking back on some of my more awesome summers I thought… we need to talk summer romance.

The first boy to steal my heart was a brown haired, brown eyed Italian who’d recently moved to a neighboring town the summer I turned 14. He was a year older than me with bronze skin and an infectious smile that told me he was as big a flirt as me. He was also in high school.

For the first time in my existence, I found myself unsure. Would he think I was pretty enough? Would he care that I was only in eighth grade? Would he like me? To me, he was beautiful. He was a football player and wrestler an could have any girl he wanted. Yeah. My insecurity was because, for once, what someone else thought mattered to me. A lot.

So the first time he pulled me away to talk during one of our youth group outings, I was a bit tongue tied. When he looked down at me, I couldn’t look away. Finally, I broke the silence in my ever so blunt way.

Me: Why are you looking at me like that?
Him: Like what?
Me: Like you like me.
Him: Because I do.
Me: ::sputtering::
Him: Wow! Speechless. I never thought I’d see the day. And you’re blushing!
Me: I’m Filipino. We don’t blush.
Him: Yes, you do. And it’s cute…

And that began my first ever summer romance. Was it hot and heavy like in Three For All? Not even close. But there’s something about a first summer romance that brings out my inner nostalgic side.

Kinda like music. There’s something about certain songs that trigger memories. So, since I’m in the mood to share joy and fun and sun, I’m sharing songs with the word “Summer” in the title.

Since I’ve headed back to my youth, why don’t we start there with our music, too.

You’ve gotta love Bryan Adams. He just brings out a natural sense of fun….kinda like Kenny Chesney.

Or we can go a little bit hot and heavy… with Calvin Harris

Or a bit silly, dancing fun with Grease….

Now it’s your turn. Share a summer romance story or a favorite song with the word “summer” in it. Let’s bring on some playfulness and/or nostalgia.

Introducing Mae Clair and the Mysterious #EclipseLake

One of the biggest pleasures I’ve enjoyed while chasing my passions as a writer have been the wonderfully creative and like minded people I’ve met on my journey. As a few of you know, a couple of years ago I had an epiphany. I realized life was too short to work an ungodly amount of hours with little to no appreciation, no work/life balance, and no time to pursue my passions. So I changed my path and set sail on one of the most exciting adventures I’ve had in a long time…

I rediscovered myself and reconnected with my inner writer. As I headed down this path I realized it was important to hone my craft through constant writing; to warm up my brain and my fingers by blogging. One of my first friends when I began this blog was a kind, generous woman named Mae Clair. She was in the midst of preparing her first book for publication, a fun fantasy/historical romance called Weathering Rock (click the link to read my unsolicited review). I loved her blog, especially her Mythical Monday posts.

Although we don’t necessarily write at the same heat level, she’s got a huge fan in me. So, of course, when I found she had a new release, I volunteered to share my blog with her so we could pimp her book. In fact, if you haven’t checked out her blog or read any of her books, I challenge you, click one of the links and check her out. I promise, you won’t regret it. And now, without further ado, without any further ado, here’s a bit about Mae’s newest release, Eclipse Lake.

BLURB

Small towns hold the darkest secrets.

Fifteen years after leaving his criminal past and estranged brother behind, widower Dane Carlisle returns to his hometown on the banks of sleepy Eclipse Lake. Now, a successful businessman, he has kept his troubled past a secret from most everyone, including his seventeen-year-old son.

But memories in small towns are bitter and long.

Ellie Sullivan, a nature photographer for a national magazine, has a habit of ping-ponging across the map. Her latest assignment leads her to Eclipse Lake where she becomes caught up in the enmity between Dane, his brother Jonah, and a vengeful town sheriff. When freshly-discovered skeletal remains are linked to an unsolved murder and Dane’s past, Ellie is left questioning her growing attraction for a man who harbors long-buried secrets.

EXCERPT Ellie stopped walking and turned to face him. “Why are you here?”

Dane picked up a flat stone. With a flick of his wrist he sent it skimming across the lake. It danced effortlessly across the surface as if he’d done the same thing a thousand times before. “You know that skeleton they found?”

She nodded.

“I’ve got more skeletons than a graveyard. I can’t pick up and go to another place…to the next photo shoot.” He turned to face her. “Half of my life is here and half’s on the west coast. I have to make them fit together.”

The revelation reminded her of the family she’d left behind in Idaho, reawakening a familiar tug of homesickness. In an effort to find more comfortable ground, she changed topics. “You told me you’re from San Diego. I did a photo op there four years ago. What do you do for a living?”

“I get by.” He took her hand and started walking again.

She sent a speculative glance in his direction, recognizing evasiveness when she heard it. He was wearing a Rolex, and though dressed casually, clearly had expensive taste. Yet he’d booked an ordinary cabin rather than one of the exclusive chalets higher up the mountain.

She liked the feel of his fingers around hers, warm and firm. The contact sent a pleasant tingle up her arm. What the hell was wrong with her, getting caught up in his touch as if it were magic? As if she’d waited her whole life for that sensation. He had skeletons in his past, a brother who couldn’t stand the sight of him and a sheriff who wanted to run him out of town. Eccentric, or just plain trouble?

ABOUT MAE CLAIR

Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back.  Her father, anartist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.

Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with mystery and romance. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.

Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at MaeClair.net

CONTACT LINKS Website and Blog

Twitter (@MaeClair1) Google+

Facebook Author Page

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads

Purchase ECLIPSE LAKE from: Amazon

Add ECLIPSE LAKE to your Goodreads List

Seduction of Summer

Not too long ago I wrote an article for Sexual Wellness News about the importance of revving up the sex life. Writing it for them, though much more technical than you guys ever see on here, reminded me of the many reasons I’ve always loved this time of year.

As many of you know, I’m not much of a snow person. In fact, I like my snow to arrive between Christmas eve and Christmas day. Period. So as entertained as I may be by posts from my friends from the great white north, it’s not something I’d want for myself. In fact, all it took was a couple of blizzards from back home in Chicago (and a 2 day power outage to go with it) to convince me it was time to search for sunnier skies.

My husband lovingly calls me a closet nudist and he’s not far from wrong. One of the great joys of summertime is the opportunity to throw off articles of clothing that you’ve deemed “necessary to keep you warm” during the less gentle seasons. Ladies, how many times have you found yourself checking out some washboard abs as a guy has decided to shuck his shirt? Gentlemen, how many of you dig seeing your girl in a sundress and flip flops or go to the beach to check out the bikinis? Yes. The ability to take it off is pretty phenomenal. (And if you haven’t tried it because you’re nervous about your body…you should. You’d be amazed at how freeing it feels. And you might also be surprised at how easy it is to accept yourself just a bit more when you’re doing it for pleasure, not analysis in the mirror trying to imagine how “everyone else” sees you.)

Enjoying my pool, libation in hand

Summertime is also a great opportunity to enjoy playful outdoor excursions. If you’re as fortunate as me, sometimes you don’t have to go past your back door. (And if you’ve got enough privacy, it can be a clothing optional event as well!) Okay, so not everyone has a pool in their back yard. What other options are there? How about picnics in the park? Visits to the beach? Outdoor concerts? Neighborhood festivals? So many fun-loving options!

Best of all are summer vacation trips. Isn’t there something very appealing about going someplace where no one knows you? Where you can let your hair down and be whomever you’d like? How would some random stranger know that going to a nude beach is something you’d never have the guts to do at home? Who cares if you and your partner decide to act out the fantasy of inviting a stranger into your bed for one night only….protected, of course. Or maybe, if that’s not your thing….you and your partner can role play. Pretend to be strangers. Let him or her pick you up in the bar and ravish you before you even make it back to your hotel room. Heck, sex on the beach is more than just a drink, you know…. (And if you have an aversion to sand, the side of a building or the back seat of a car works quite nicely, too.)

And if you don’t have a partner….it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Wild, hot, torrid connections are so much fun to explore. You’ve got a whole lot of options available to you. Just remember. Confidence is sexy. Pretty eyes and great smiles can seduce a person from half way across a room before a word is even spoken.

Yes, to me, sun and summertime is all about possibility and adventure with a ton of exploration. And vacation is the perfect time to leave reality behind and explore to your heart’s desire. We don’t have to go into these adventures blindly. Make sure to pack a bunch of condoms and a great quality lube… in fact, besides being organic, Aloe Cadabra is a great choice for so many reasons….and not just because they have a Piña Colada flavor. Yeah. I’m a HUGE fan. Can you tell?

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering…. So far this summer I’ve already enjoyed one concert. Hunter Hayes’ “We are not Invisible” tour with Danielle Bradbery and Dan + Shay. Next month I’m headed out to Chicago for a long weekend to visit my sister and see Blake Shelton, the Band Perry and Neal McCoy….and hopefully an outdoor concert at Ravinia, too.

Now it’s your turn…. What about summertime seduces you?

PS. For those of you who’ve read it, any adventurous likenesses to my book Three For All may have a LOT to do with my love of the season. 😉

Taking Courage–Hanging Out With SJ Maylee

When I think of sugar, spice, and everything nice, my friend SJ Maylee tops that list. I’ve invited her to come visit us again because she’s one of the nicest, most supportive people AND she’s got another new book release! So, without any further ado, I’m handing my blog over. Take it away, SJ!

Thank you for having me back, Kitt! On release day for TAKING COURAGE, the heroine, Janna asked me why I hadn’t let her interview me. You see, I let Lydia, the heroine from the first Love Project series interview me. I couldn’t possibly ever say no to either of these two ladies. Let the fun begin.

Hi everyone, I’m Janna, the heroine of TAKING COURAGE. Alright, SJ, first question. You gave me a taste for Simon in the first pages of our story and then you made him despise me. How could you do this to me?

Yikes, I guess you’re not going to pull any punches. Well, you weren’t ready for Simon in those first pages. You had yourself so worried you’d mess up that you forgot to be honest, not only with yourself but with Simon too. To be fair, Simon wasn’t ready for you either.

Okay, that I can understand. Next question. Did you have to make me his Project Manager on my first day at a new job? That was a risky bet, don’t you think? I could have been fired.

It was a risk I had to take. Simon needed to see all of you and not just the sub that had lied to him. I also needed for you to see another side to Simon and not just the Dom that was mad at you. Plus, you didn’t get fired, did you?

No, we got lucky. I had no idea what I was getting myself into though.

I did and I knew you were ready. I knew you had the courage to handle it all. Sometimes it’s best to just go for it. As Simon would say, “It was sink or swim time.”

So true and thank you, SJ. I’ll be forever thankful that you wrote my story. I’d ask you some more questions, but I’m late for my date. See you later, SJ. Don’t forget to write Gina’s story next. I need to know what’s really going on with her.

You’re welcome, Janna. I’ll always be here for you. Have a great time and don’t worry. I’m writing Gina’s story now. She’s full of surprises.

That was fun. Thanks for having me, Kitt!

Janna’s ready to make over her life and get out from under the controlling thumb of her father. She doesn’t want another failed arranged marriage. She’s ready to do whatever it takes for the career she wants, enter the lifestyle she craves, and to earn the trust and love of the man that has captured her heart, but heartbreak and career hiccups seem to be her destiny.
Simon’s still recovering after his last submissive lied her way into his life. He’s not ready for Janna and how she pushes against his prejudices. He needs to decide if he’s willing to lose her or if he’ll fight for her love and submission.

 

“Head up now.” Something was agitating the tender bundle in his arms. Simon wanted to help her through it. He may have taken a step back on his training responsibilities since his last experience, but Janna felt perfect under his hand. He’d have to find out if she’d be back.
“Yes, Sir.”
“What’s troubling you, pet?”
“I forgot to mention something earlier.” She tucked the blanket under her chin.
“Oh?” He rubbed in big circles around her back. “Why don’t you tell me now?”
“This was my first time, Sir.”
“Your first?” His confusion was thick. She tried to hide her eyes from him, but he saw shame. Sometimes newer submissives struggled with firsts. “Is this your first time being a guest?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Is your home club much different?” The safe rules of BDSM clubs were pretty universal, a real gift to traveling kinksters, but sometimes a scene in a different setting could be unsettling.
“I don’t have a home club, Sir. Well, not one that I physically visit.” She rubbed the edge of her blanket. “I’m an active member of their chat rooms.”
He hadn’t heard her right. No. She felt like an experienced submissive. Was she just playing the part? Anger ticked a quick pace up his spine.
“Are you telling me I just gave you your first scene?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Why did you withhold this information?” When she didn’t answer he added, “Why weren’t you honest with me?” He pushed her slightly, in part to get some distance and to keep her safe from him. “Answer me, now.”
“I forgot. It all happened so fast, and I forgot one of my lines.”
“Lines.” He finished shoving her from his lap and stood. “I hope you had fun tonight.”
“I did, Sir,” she said as she stood to join him. She tugged at the edge of the blanket that had stuck in the couch. “Please, let me thank you for tonight.”
“There is no need. You lied to me, and you had your fun.” He scratched his brow. “Go home now.” He took two storming steps away and stopped. He forced himself to return to her, disgusted by how good it felt to see her face once more. He stopped within an inch, forcing her to look up. “Do yourself a favor. Enter that club at home, get yourself in a training program, and do not ever lie to a Dom again.”
He wanted to hit something. What was it with submissives and their lies? The lie might have been smaller this time, but it was still a lie.
He thundered past the scene areas and kept walking, increasing his speed. Folks saved themselves and moved out of his way. Fury radiated down his arms curling his fingers into fists, almost there.
Some members thought Keller was crazy when he’d installed the small gym next to the club. When the roster quickly filled, it was Keller that was laughing all the way to the bank. Simon had a regular date with the bag hanging in the corner. He may no longer enter the ring, but the regimented workouts kept him strong and centered.
A couple more steps and he’d entered the gym and saw the innocent bag hanging right where he needed it to be. He slammed his fist into the bag. Pressure reverberated from his hand straight to his heart, but it didn’t release the revulsion.
“Damn her.”
He needed to get this out and get back on the floor. One of his best friends was about to collar his sub. The bag swung around. He walked around it and rolled his shoulders back. He wanted to witness the happiness a pair could have when things worked out and no one lied.
It was just a scene, something he could shake off, and she was just a guest sub. There was no possible way she could have felt as right as he thought. The anger was tricking him. She was just another lying sub. A sub to forget. A sub he would never see again.
“Damn her.”
An image of her regret filled face tugged at his resolve. His fingers flexed as he remembered her velvet channel. His cock twitched, and he hit the bag again.

Evernight Publishing: http://bit.ly/1kPrG6n
(http://www.evernightpublishing.com/taking-courage-by-s-j-maylee/)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1iqk99r
ARe: http://bit.ly/TNq5Dz

S.J. Maylee fell in love with storytelling at a young age and with it came a deep-seated desire for everyone to find their happily ever after. She’s finding the happy endings for her characters one steamy story at a time.

When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her caring for her garden, laughing with her two young sons, or dancing to her husband’s music. She’s a PMP (Project Management Professional), Nia instructor, and coffee addict.

As a writer she has a tendency to break hearts, but she always glues them back together.

Blog: http://SJMaylee.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SJMaylee
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Maylee/339463696094996
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SJMaylee
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7224328.S_J_Maylee
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sjmaylee/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Maylee/e/B00EQ51W34/

SJ’s giving away one $10 Amazon gift card and THREE swag packs.

To enter: answer the question in the comments and click away on the rafflecopter.

Simon definitely sees Janna again. Do you think she’ll get a second chance with him?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Condoms, Kinks, and Hijinks

Have you ever wondered what your friends think of you? Well, yesterday gave me a dose of hilarity while answering what my pal, Jenny Hansen (of the More Cowbell fame) thinks of me…or at least where she thinks my mind is most of the time. She tagged me on Facebook with the following image and this message:

“Kitt, I just laughed my butt off. I ran a search for you to catch up on your posts and here was the result. I about fell off my chair. LOL.”

Courtesy of Jenny Hansen

I admit it. I giggle snorted immediately…because the first thing that drew my eye was what drew hers.

What can I say? Sex comes up a lot when I’m around. But only in the best possible way. As you’ve probably noticed by the post titles, there’s also not much I won’t talk about.

Which actually leads right into the whole condoms and kinks portion.

As a few of you might remember from my piercings post, I am in a private facebook group where the members love to read and talk kink of all sorts. There are no judgments, you can ask questions, you can talk fetishes…and share the hottest, sexiest reads you’ve discovered with likeminded individuals.

My pal, Anna, from Herding Cats and Burning Soup threw out a question to the group a week or two ago surrounding fetishes. She asked the group what specific fetishes they loved to read about. Not authors. Kinks. Mine were easy…and not much of a shock to those who’ve read my books because a lot of it is also what I enjoy writing. I LOVE M/M/F ménages, especially if there’s some bisexual play between the guys. I also love D/s power exchanges (and I’m not gender specific on who wields the whip). I’m also hugely intrigued by rope bondage, specifically shibari, and think I’d like to take a class to learn how. Heck, Fet-con in Tampa is only a hop-skip-and-a-jump away. Maybe I should sign up.

Anyway, as often happens with this group, things devolve into hilarity…and this time it was all about a condom. As some of you know, bare backing can be considered a kink if/when you’re involved in what folks may consider a “risky” lifestyle. (For those of you wondering, bare backing is another word for unprotected sex.) Anna pointed out that in these books the heroes are usually quite big players at the beginnings of these books until they meet their “soul mates.” So, for her, condoms are a must. Then she went on to lament that although most of her favorite authors use condoms in their stories, she’d love a little variety…like glow in the dark. When she said that, my brain responded with “challenge accepted.”

This, of course, got me thinking. Sex and fantasies. What type of fantasies get you hot under the collar? Are you a ménage person, like me? Does the idea of exhibitionism get your furnace fired up? Or maybe it’s roleplay games. You know. The naughty college student caught cheating on the test by teacher. Or the been caught speeding one where you have to talk the big, bad officer out of writing you that ticket so your license doesn’t get suspended. Yeah… there are all sorts of options.

And as for that condom challenge? Yeah…. I’ve promised her Glow-in-the-dark in NEON GREEN, of course! But ya’ll know me. I like to push the envelope. I fully anticipate a sort of Lightsaber theme and “crossed swords.” Anyone have any color recommendations? LOL!

Also, I’ve got to send a huge THANK YOU to my incredible pal, August McLaughlin. She introduced me to the folks at Sexual Wellness News, and they’ve hired me to write the occasional article for them! My first one was just posted at the end of last month and it’s all about How to Rev Up Your Sex Life! Please go over there, check it out, along with the other awesome articles (August is one of their contributors), and share the love!

Vaginal Victories

When did the vagina become a dirty word?

Think about it. Guys don’t think twice about calling their genitals what they are. Dicks. Cocks. Penises. In fact, neither do women. But when we’re talking lady parts, suddenly we speak in euphemisms. You’ve heard them. Vajayjay, girlie bits. In fact, I’ve even heard grown women refer to it as their “pee pee.” How old are we?

And then there are the derogatory names people call one another… Like cunt and pussy. The word, when used to describe a person is considered nasty and offensive. Okay, so guys can be called a dick, but that’s considered a mild insult by pretty much every stretch of the imagination.

Truthfully, I had an entirely different blog post I’d intended to write today, but then I saw a video that blew my mind. First, because these women had never seen their own vaginas. Part of me wondered how that was possible. Then the little voice inside my head kicked in and said, “You’re not really that surprised, are you? Think about how people are about masturbation or how hard they are on themselves about their bodies as a whole. With all the negative energy surrounding sex, why should anyone be any different about their reproductive organs?”

So I watched the video. I heard their stories. Some of these women touched me with their bravery, yet reminded me again why education and a sex positive message are so important. Take a look. Tell me what you think.

Did you catch what one woman said? All it took was one extremely negative statement from her first lover to completely destroy her confidence in both her vagina and her sexuality. The other woman who touched my heart was the woman who’d been raped. I suspect that one violent act made her feel unclean. Unworthy. Particularly in the vaginal area. I wondered if subconsciously she didn’t look because she wondered if she hadn’t had one, would this horrible crime have happened. Fear is not rational. Pain is not rational. Words hurt. So do actions.

Changing attitudes takes time, but the healing process can start today. With us. It can be as simple as choosing never to use genitalia as an insult word again. Maybe it starts with your lover in the bedroom. Don’t assume they know how beautiful you find their most intimate body parts. Take time to give them an honest and loving compliment. Heck, you may find it improves your sex life!

What other ways can we help improve this message of self love and empowerment? Are you the one in need of this message? What things have been said or done to you that destroyed your sexual confidence. How did you find your way back? Did you find your way back?