MuseTracks Guest – MK Chester – Surrender to the Roman

Whoo boy, do I love a good Roman romance. Lucky that I happen to know an another author who does, too–MK Chester. MK is our special guest today and she has brought with her a tantalizing excerpt.

Take it away, MK!

I’ve got a thing for Rome!

I do.  Might as well just admit it.  I have a thing for a lot of historical eras, but Rome?  That’s one of a kind.  Let me be clear.  I don’t mean modern-day Rome, or Vatican-centered Rome.  I mean the Rome of Caesars, generals, gladiators, and…did I say gladiators?  Oh, well, hot men in leather underpants (with miraculously little chaffing).  Who can look away?

I can’t.  In my latest historical romance, published by Caria Press, we take the might of Rome in the form of one of her most esteemed (fictional) generals, Marcus Decimas Cordovis.  He’s fresh off a victory in the Dacian Wars and returns home only to find his household in an uproar.  The cause?  A new Dacian slave, Ademeni, the daughter of the slain king who has sworn to avenge her losses.  Take a peek:

As she came into full view, Marcus struggled to hold on to his thoughts. Ademeni’s red dress and headscarf made her ivory skin glow, her midnight hair more lustrous. When his fingers itched to touch those long strands, he curled his hands into fists instead.

“You wished to see me, dominus?”

Marcus narrowed his gaze. Though her tone attempted to appease, her strict posture said otherwise. She wanted a fight, but only on her terms.

“Are you well?”

She offered a faint smile. “I am well.”

He circled her. “What do you teach my daughter?”

Looking straight ahead, she said, “I teach her Latin.”

“Perhaps you should help me become friends with her again.” He stopped behind Ademeni, admiring the curve of her neck. When he drew closer, she shivered.

“And you were last home…how many years ago?”

Her soft-spoken question speared his heart, and his defenses fell into place. “That matters little.”

“Such things always matter to a child.”

Marcus faced her again, scrutinizing her, hoping to find some flaw in her argument. In her skin. She held his gaze as if she knew of what she spoke. “That may be. It would not be wise to come between us.”

“Or what will happen?” She lifted her chin. “You’ll leave her again?”

“I did not ask for you.” His words slipped out before he weighed their force. She pulled her brows together, as if taken aback by the news.

She did not need long to recover. “So you would leave me in the care of your brute, Tertullian, to whatever end he chose?”

No. “He swore he harmed none on the road.”

She shook her head. “He is a liar. And what of those in his own house?” Her body tensed, ready to pounce.

She knew Tertullian had claimed her sister. A spark of danger lit the room. Marcus took a step backward. “I have no control of his house. I have control of my house.”

“It does not seem you have control of either, dominus.”

He paused. The gods mocked him. “I did not ask for you.”

“Yet here I am.”

He cut to the heart of the matter. “And you wish to kill me, to take your vengeance on my family?”

“You are my enemy.” Her bold gaze slid down his body, then upward again, where she met his eyes. She did not hide her disdain. “My father and brothers are dead, my family has been destroyed and my country is in your hands. Should I not wish to kill you?”

“Such are the fortunes of war.”

“So they are,” she agreed, crossing her arms over her chest. “For everyone.”

 

I want to thank the MuseTracks authors for hosting me today, and I hope to see you all in the sands of the arena J

 

You can find me on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.MK.Chester
Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_K_Chester
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/mkchester
Website: www.mkchester.com

You can find Surrender to the Roman on:

Carina Press: www.carinapress.com
Amazon: http://ow.ly/9UC8m
Barnes & Noble: http://ow.ly/9UCiJ

Take some responsibility! by Candi Wall

So I hit the purchase button the other night SEVEN times. Yeah, you heard me right. Seven times. For a grand total of $21. and some change.

I don’t part easily with my money, except when it comes to books. I could spend THOUSANDS. (Checking to make sure hubby didn’t read that.) Below is what my house will probably look like some day.

I usually don’t complain. But here’s the thing. I read the first book – LOVED IT – and went on to the next. It was a .99 cent purchase from an author I didn’t know, self-pubbed and I liked the premise. Hey I’ll give anyone a chance. ONCE.

I hadn’t reached the end of the first chapter when I realized I’d given my money away for nothing. I groaned, archived the sucker and went on to the next one. The next wasn’t as bad, but there was a plot hole the size of Jupiter about midway through and by this point I was losing interest in the hero. Too bad, because it started off as a good read. Darn.

I’ve twittered several times about this as well, venting my frustration for the self-pubbed authors who are making other self-pubbed author look bad. Every reader who has a bad experience with a self-pubbed book makes it harder for other authors to sell! Argh, the frustration! And I’m not even self-pubbed.

At this point, hubby was starting to get sick of my ‘waspish’ attitude. After three more days, my results were:

Seven purchases

1- Loved

2- Liked

4- Couldn’t finish

I know – it’s a crap shoot right?!?

NO! It isn’t.

And here’s where dear hubby had all he was going to take.

In his words…

“What did you expect, hon?” Raising a quizzical brow. “If you go to Wal-Mart and buy a vacuum for twenty bucks, you get what you pay for. It’s like buying toilet paper at the dollar store. It ain’t gonna hold up.” (Yep, I’m married to a thinner version of Larry the Cable Guy.)

Well how dare he. I have friends who self publish. That’s not fair! (Insert indignant foot-stomping) “There are tons of authors out there with brilliant books!”

“Really?” says hubby. “Then you would think you’d do your homework before you buy.”

GADS! He’s SO right. And I’m so not going to tell him that. Sheesh.

What was I thinking?!?

We’ve been spoiled peeps. Let’s face it. The publishers we’ve come to trust have given us so many great books, we may have forgotten how to check the products first. Don’t get me wrong, one person’s crap is another’s gold. I hate what you love at times and visa-versa. But we came to rely on what they put out there.

Now if we, the consumer, are going to gripe about prices and go elsewhere to read at super cheap prices, we’ll have to start doing our own research. We’re spoiled again however, because there is this ingenious little thing called the World Wide Web. Search engines abound, and at any time, we can sluice through the crap to ferret out the truth, or at least get a sense of what we’re getting into.

Here’s my new list of things I check BEFORE I purchase:

• Google the author
• Do they have blogs?
• Reviews? (Other than where I’m purchasing from and checking the author’s responses to reviews)
• Any other books out?
• Website?
• And of course – I ask my writing/reading pals

Seems like a lot of work, but hey, there are some amazing authors out there getting lost in the shuffle of self-pubbing. I want to find, support and enjoy them. If that means I have to do a few minutes of research, so be it. I’m a big girl, I can handle the responsibility of checking out my purchase’s history beforehand. After all, who wants a $20 vacuum that doesn’t work, when you can get the fantastic $5 super sweeper that might just be the next big thing?

So take some responsibility as readers! Check it out first.

Hump Day Kick Start

Song of the Day:  Tonight, Tonight by Hot Chelle Rae

Photo by Vlsncdiana

Well now, this should be a fun prompt.

Who is this couple? Playboy playmate and her body guard? Co-stars? Reality TV participants? Country boy who just married a Vegas showgirl he’d hardly met?

Look at how they gaze at each other. What do you suppose is going on? Are they plotting a bank heist? Is she seducing him into killing her  husband? Is he a cop playing along to get the information he needs to bust up an underground bleaching hair products ring?

Have fun with this one. Let me hear from you.

Guest Blogger Mary Martinez on how to start a book!

Hi everyone,

Today, we host Mary Martinez, author of the newly released Classic murder: Mr. Romance wjo will share her thoughts on writing and how to get started. Plus she has a great contest that will tell us about!

Welcome Mary

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Marie-Claude, for hosting the fifth day of my blog tour. Anyone who would like to know the schedule can check it out here. http://www.marymartinez.com/news.html#events  Each blog a different question from the host. Sort of like a continuing interview.  I will also have two giveaways at the end of the blog tour. At the bottom, I’ll tell you how you can participate.

 Marie-Claude: What advice would you tell a newbie writer? Something that you wish someone would have told you.

 Mary: Do have a few hours to spare? Because if I told a new writer everything I’d wished I’d known before I embarked on this crazy publishing career it would fill a book. Where do I start? There are so many things.

 First and foremost, if you’re going to write a book, do your research first. Just because it’s fiction doesn’t mean you can make up facts as you go.

 Second, if you haven’t been in school for while, take a refresher course on your grammar and punctuation. True many things encompassed under the term, grammar, are subjective, but the basics are not.

 While you’re writing your book, research. No I don’t mean for facts, I mean do your research on writing groups and organizations in your area. Once you’ve found them, join one.

Do your research, getting a pattern here?  Find some critique partners. Until you find a writing group you probably have no idea what a crit partner is. I didn’t.  But they are invaluable. And I don’t mean your mother, brother, sister or husband. None of them will give you the advice and feedback you need.

 More research because writing the book is only the surface.

 I wanted to write a book, I thought, hey I can do that. And I did, but that the easy part. Getting it right and polished isn’t even the hardest part. Not to mention I had no idea what to do once I thought it was done. And no it wasn’t, far from it.

If you cannot find a writing group, do your research on line. And oh how I wished I’d known what Predators and Editors were back then. I literally Googled ‘agents’ and then started at ‘A’ and sent a query. Did I know what a query was? No but on one of the web sites there was a lose description. I cringe to think about it. I don’t even think I knew what ‘genre’ meant.

Yes talk about green, and I don’t mean as in green environment. I mean green as in ‘know nothing’. That was me, so if you’re new if nothing else research your facts, grammar resources, writing groups, writing partners and industry agents.

 Thank you again Marie-Claude, talk about making me think.    

 Here is a blurb for my new release Classic Murder: Mr. Romance

 Adam enjoys a lifestyle most men only dream of. Then one day he wakes up to find the morning headlines blaring, “Another victim falls prey to Mr. Romance. Who is next?” He suddenly realizes his way of life is not only frivolous, but deadly.

 Dubbed Mr. Romance by New York society for his romantic adventures, Adam Fernando Russo loves women. But lately he realizes how lonely it is coming home to an empty house. Can he settle for only one woman? After he makes a list of qualities worthy enough to merit giving up his desirable existence, suddenly recipients of his coveted attention mysteriously fall prey to a murderer. The murders seem unrelated with one exception–all the victims have recently returned from a fabulous weekend rendezvous with Mr. Romance.

 Adam’s assistant, Katie Sinclair, knows Adam is innocent with airtight alibis. The police are at a loss so Adam and Katie work together to discover the link between the murders. As luck would have it, their plan to prove the murderer is copying classic Cary Grant movies goes astray just as Adam realizes his perfect woman has been by his side all along.

 Available from BookStrand Publishing (Electronic Format, Print coming in spring 2011) http://www.bookstrand.com/classic-murder-mr-romance

 For an excerpt and to see the trailer visit my web site: http://www.marymartinez.com/mrromance.html

Now to the giveaways, everyone one who participates by commenting on each day of the tour will have their name placed in a drawing for a Photo Album and a signed copy of Watching Jenny.

Everyone who participates and comments on half of the days will have their name in a drawing for a download of Classic Murder: Mr. Romance (or they can wait until it’s in print for a signed copy)

What is your writing process?

by Marie-Claude Bourque

A little while ago I answered the following questions on my writing process for a writer’s blog and I thought I’d share it with you, so that you could in turn share yours with us!

Please describe your current writing process from story idea to final draft in as much detail as possible.

BRAINSTORMING:

I usually start with my hero and heroine and try to find a couple that would be a good match in terms of both conflict and attraction.

I try to be as clear as I can on both characters goals, motivations and conflicts (external and internal). My style of writing focuses more on the characters internal conflicts due their background and how they come together to resolve the external conflict which comes in the form of a threat to their world, usually a villain.  My general writing theme is that unity conquers.

I try to lay out the main story in a classical 3 acts set-up.

Once I have the core of the story, I daydream scenes that fit my writing style: gritty, sensual and mystical and that arise from the conflicts between all the characters.  I use music a lot to brainstorm.I also like to fill up Donald Maass workbook to think up more intense scenes.

FIRST DRAFT:

Once I have a good list of scenes (maybe 20), I write them one at a time longhand in first person for each POV character. Meanwhile I list all the plots and plot layers to make sure I advance at least one or more plot in each scene. I come up with new scenes as I write for a total of around 75.

Typing all the scenes in the appropriate third person gives me my first draft. I don’t pause to edit during that phase but write real fast and fill the blanks later.

Yes, I'm a dying breed, I write longhand!

SECOND DRAFT:

The second stage is when I do the deep editing. I use my own version of Margie Lawson’s method to add the missing bits such as settings and emotions and research accuracy and I also look at a balance in my scenes between emotions, inner thoughts, dialog, action and setting. I add about 20% more material at this stage. Sometimes, I see that I need to add or cut scenes.

This draft goes to my writing partners (i.e. Mustrackers John, Candi and Jenn)

If I can, I leave this draft aside for a while and later do a one sitting read as a reader to see what is missing.

THIRD DRAFT:

In the third draft, I start by fixing my own comment and my writing partners comments. I may again add or cut scenes then do a style edit, scene by scene, which is a 10-15 checklist I use to look at such as word overuse, tension on every page, using 5 senses, varying length sentences, using active strong verbs, hooks, ect. I also like to read each scenes 3 times with different fonts. Then I cut into chapters where natural breaks occur.

What do you feel are the pros & cons of your current writing process?

The only problem I can see with my writing process is that it takes time to type my work. Almost the same time to type as it take to write. I wish I was faster, but I need the deep connection I feel by writing longhand. Somehow, I can’t do it straight to the computer.

 

Find out about Stephen King's writing process in ON WRITING, his excellent book for writers!

What details can you share about the process of writing your very first published work? How has it changed from then to now?

The process I described was for my first published work which was my first manuscript (ANCIENT WHISPERS) and I still use this now that I am writing my fifth. I tried before to fill characters charts and index cards but I found it was pretty useless.

What advice would you give newly aspiring authors on finding their process?

Just try to find your own process by listening to what works for you but do learn different technique. I am a very obsessive plotter but I have been trying to learn how pansters do it. Never feel like you are stuck into one way of doing thing and try to work extra hard on your weaknesses.

It’s your turn now! If you have a minute, please share your process with us. I love learning new tricks from others!

8 Tricks to Writing Productivity

by Marie-Claude Bourque

How do you keep track of your word counts and keep yourself motivated.

A writer friend on Facebook asked me this question this week so I though it’d be best to write a blog post on the topic. I have a few trick to get me going. In fact, I used the following since Oct 5 and wrote a total of 63,000 words so far. I am a slow writer, so this is a huge word count for me. But hey, it adds up. I could make it to around 250,000 words in one year if I keep this pace!

(1) I write longhand. So I calculated that I write about 200 words for each page of my notebook. This is actually a bit of an underestimate so in fact my 63,ooo words is probably closer to 70,000 words. I tally my word count for every session I write by counting how many pages  I fill in my spiral notebook.

(2) I use a calendar. I got this trick from Liza Palmer at a writer’s conference. I have a large calendar posted on the wall (I use the awesome calendar put out by artist Tony Mauro who designs Yasmine Galenorn book covers. I write a scene a day, first thing in the morning, anywhere between 500 to 1500 words a day. I just write down the number for the day on the calendar. It sounds simple but it is a powerful tool. If I miss one day, I have to stare at an empy space for a whole month, so this really motivate me to get that day done.

(3) I got my second trick from Megan Crane at a writer’s conference. I started a page for my novel in progress where for each session I write the date, the scene number, the word count and a word count tally.

 

Like this:

• 10/19  — 1  — 900 — 900
• 10/20  — 2 – 1500 — 2400
• 10/21  — 3 — 700 — 3100
• etc…

(4) I also record my word count in a app I have for my iPhone called WriMoDemon which tally my word counts for the month. I usually make my target 20,000 words for the month so this app tells me what I need to do to stay on track. I write my total word counts for the month on my big wall calendar at the end of the month.

(5) I also record my word in another app called WriteChain from the How Not to Write website. It’s based on the idea that you need to write everyday and never “break the chain” to stay motivated. (see how Jerry Seinfeld use a similar idea) I keep my minimun goal at 500 words a day.

(6) I also have a group of romance writer friends from the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America. We started as a motivational group last year where we report our word counts each day and the leader post a spreadsheet with everyone’s progress once a week or so.

(7) I am also part of the “Write the Damn Book Challenge” group run by author Cherry Adair for people attending the ECWC writer conference. We report our word counts every week.

(8) and I am a member of WritingGIAM  (I’m in GIAM group 3) which was created by author Amy Atwell for romance writer just for the purpose of making and keeping writing goals.

(9) I also post my word counts of the day on my Facebook and Twitter status. A little for fun and a little for keeping me accountable. So all of 9 tricks that keeps me in check. It sounds like a lot but really it takes me about 5 minutes a day and an extra 5-10 minutes on Sunday. Little steps get you there!

Happy Writing

My Favorite Writing Motivational Tools

by Marie-Claude Bourque

My Favorite Writing Motivational Tools.

Last summer, I got into a pretty serious writing block. No matter what I tried I just couldn’t write. So I ended up buying Margie Lawson’s Defeat your Self-Defeating Behaviors class notes. Like everything Margie, the notes were fantastic and helped me a lot. I still read them when I need an extra push.

Sometimes you need a little dangling carrot to get things done and Margie suggests small treats for when you finish things you plan to do. I wrote an entire manuscript by treating myself after each small victory. I would download a song from iTunes for each scene I wrote. I can write one or two a day, so that was one or two songs a day. It kept me going. If I wrote 5 times a week, I would treat myself to an ebook. Those are cheap and were instant gratification straight to my iPhone.

Since I’ve been writing, I always treated myself to a pair of Doc Martens for each book I finish. Not sold, just finished. Because that way, I know that no matter what, I can reach my goal and get those shoes.

My biggest motivational tool is an Italian charm bracelet that I wear every day. I got the idea from author Gina Robinson. Hers is made of dangling charms, but mine is flat so that I can wear it constantly.

Before I sold, I would buy a charm for each story I wrote. I told myself that when the whole bracelet was filled, I would finally sell. Now I’m thinking that I’ll breakthrough when I write all those stories. So far I have 4 charms: a fleur-de-lis for ANCIENT WHISPERS, a French flag for a yet-to-be published paranormal set in Paris and called GOTHIC KNIGHT, an anchor for a to-be-submitted shifter novella about a heroine who works on a fishing boat and a ruby-like gem for heroine’s name in the sequel to ANCIENT WHISPERS.

When I get discouraged, I looked at this bracelet and its 12 empty spots and I vow to fill them, knowing that with each one I’m becoming a better writer.

What do you do to stay motivated?

(this post was originally posted during my May 2010 blog tour)

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas – A Writer’s Poem

Song of the Day: Christmas / Sarajevo 12/24 by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

‘Twas the night before Christmas,
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even my computer mouse;

The pc screen glowed blank
With all creativity ka-put,
My Muse took a holiday
From inspiring my book;

The NaNo craze had ended
I’m in edits knee deep,
While visions of ‘the end’
Dance out of reach;

Exhausted from writer’s block,
And with my sleep mask,
I had just curled in bed
For a short cat nap;

When out on the street
There arose such a thunder,
I sprang from my bed
To see what was the rumble.

Away to the window
In bunny slippers I sprang,
I stumbled and tripped
And drew back the drape.

The vapor lamps casting pools
Of pale light on the street
Gave the luster of mystery
To objects beneath,

When, what to my wondering eyes
Caught my sight,
But a red ragtop muscle car,
And eight Harley bikes,

With a super hot driver
His disheveled hair swept
I knew in a moment
It must be Johnny Depp.

More handsome in person
His buds they came,
And I whistled and squealed
As he called them by name.

“Now Brad! Now Gerard!
Now, Huge and Leonardo!
On Ryan! On Bradley!
On Robert and Antonio!

To the edge of the curb!
To the end of the way!
Now pull over! Pull over!
Pull over here, I say!”

As the growl of engines
Revved and roared,
Testosterone oozed
From their very cores;

So up to my house
The hotties they drove,
With Johnny in the lead
Of this dreamy treasure trove.

And then in an instant,
I heard them out front,
The back-slapping and laughing
Of each manly hunk.

As I wiped the drool
And raced to the den,
In sauntered Johnny
A perfect Ten.

He was dressed all in leather
From his head to his boots
Just like Jack Sparrow
He was lip-smacking good.

A bundle of goodies
He had flung on his back,
And his t-shirt strained
Against a nice six-pack.

His eyes – how they seared!
His lips, how inviting!
His jaw line so strong,
His smirk too enticing!

His russet goatee
Was trimmed just right
And his dark tousled hair
Gilded in the firelight;

The butt of a cigarette
He held tight in his teeth,
And he took off his jacket
And rolled up his sleeves;

Leather wristbands and tattoos,
And flawless firm rear,
Completing the package
All but brought me to tears.

He was lean and fit,
A right sexy heartbreaker,
And I fanned my face,
As ideas struck this story maker.

A wink of his eye
And I nearly swooned,
Naughty or nice?
My thoughts lampooned;

He spoke not a word
But went straight to his work,
And left festive presents
As I giggled and lurked,

And smiling to me
My Muse had more than awaken,
And giving a nod,
Johnny left me a-quaking.

He hopped in his convertible,
Gave a whistle to his team,
And away they all drove,
Leaving me to scheme.

But I heard him exclaim
Ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas Writing to all.
And to all a good night.”

Craft Talk: “C-words or the Language of Love Scenes.

by Marie-Claude Bourque

This was originally posted at Emily Bryan’s blog (now w/a Mia Marlowe)

Writing love scenes is not easy at first. As a writer, there is always a certain level of embarrassment in the beginning. You are not quite sure on how to start and of course there is the big topic of the level of language. One question is how explicit should you be, but also what words will you be using? Flowery, vague or plain crude.

Now I know Emily [Bryan]  writes very hot romantic scenes but as far as know, she doesn’t use what I call the “C-words” (and since this is a PG blog, I won’t be writing them here either).  And I do enjoy the love scenes in her books very much. Yet, I read other authors with employ plenty of “C-words” such as those published with Kensington and Ellora’s Cave, and enjoy them as well.

Some might argue that “C-words” have no place in historical romance, but I have found some instance where they fitted quite well. It is all in the execution, really!

Yet if, as a reader, I am quite happy with “C-words” in my romance, why is it that I can’t include them in my stories. I am not a flowery or purple writer. And I am on the sizzling side of sensual, yet no “C-words”! I just can’t write them. And it is quite funny to me, because one of my writing partners writes erotic romance and I have a wonderful time discussing the many ways of placing the “C-words” for maximum effect.

But when it comes to me, my pen and the blank page, nope, it just doesn’t come natural to me. Now, if the market requires it, I will happily add them where needed and I may grow as a writer where it seems right to me.

But I am curious, as a reader, what do you like? “C-words? Yes, no, it depends? And as a writer, where is your level of comfort? Have you try to push yourself outside that familiar boundary?

Craft Talk: On Purple Prose

By Marie-Claude Bourque

My writing partners and I (here at Musetracks) have lots of fun discussions on love scenes. And because we have a guy with us, it gets quite interesting. The ladies in the group, Candi, Jenn and I write pretty hot scenes, although it’s mostly Candi who writes the real erotic romance stuff (and quite well I dare say).

Regardless, we always try to find ways of describing intimate body parts that fit in the mainstream genre and don’t get too silly, read: purple prose. I once used the words “his hardness” in a story and was told by our male Musetracker John  that it sounded like a royal address. Okay, that was funny. So now I stay clear from “hardness”. I tend to use the word “erection” or just plain he and her, himself, herself, (as in “he was inside her”) hence avoiding the whole issue entirely since I haven’t made the jump to “c-words” yet. Yes, I know I am not very brave.

It is quite funny to Google “purple prose” which Wikipedia defines as:

a term of literary criticism used to describe passages, or sometimes entire literary works, written in prose so overly extravagant, ornate, or flowery as to break the flow and draw attention to itself. Purple prose is sensually evocative beyond the requirements of its context.

(as romance writers/readers we don’t need that definition, do we? We recognize purple prose easily)

Online, you’ll find a call to get creative with it by entering the Purple prose parody contest at the All About Romance blog. You can learn all about it and how to avoid it at the well known article The Purple Prose Eater by Deb Stover .

Some argue that some passages of Twilight read almost as purple prose. Sparkling vampires anyone? For a writer of dark paranormal writer like I am, the sparkling vampire is just well… a little too purple.

The funniest purple prose expression I ever heard is “purple-helmeted soldier of love”. I never knew people wrote like that. When I was reading those romance novels from the “purple prose” era, they were all translated in French and somehow the flowery language had been pared down in the process.

What do you think when I list:

bayonet, behemoth, broad sword, cannon, cutlass, cyclops, firearm, fullness, grandness, harpoon, hotness, hugeness, jutting manhood, lance of love, love muscle, love stick, magnificence, maleness, manfulness, manhead, manhood, massiveness, mightiness, needfulness, pillar of steel, pistol,  potency, power drill, power tool, pride of the morning, proud evidence of his desire, pulsing hardness, rigidness, saber, searing loins, spear of love, swollenness, symbol of manhood, thickness, throbbing thrill hammer, totem pole, tumescence, timidity, turgescence, turgidness, urgency, wand, weapon, vastness, Yule log(!). (reference: Taylor Manning)

So many euphemisms to describe that hero! Have you ever written those? Read them somewhere?

(originally posted by M-C at The Romance Roundtable blog)