Jen: This week we welcome Darren Michael to the blog. Darren, will you please share a short bio with us?
Darren: I would love to. My name is Darren and I write erotic encounter fiction from both a male and a female perspective which means that I am in fact in touch with my feminine side.
Jen: Tell us about Flipside Erotica and where it's available.
Darren: Flipside Erotica presents: Both Sides of the Story Vol. 1 is a collection of 12 stories of erotic encounters, written from both the male and female points of view and perspectives. One half of the story is written from the male side and one from the female.
Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Darren: I started writing to impress my girlfriend at the time 10 years ago, and Then the stories grew from there. I published my first book a year ago, and it has been amazing.
Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Darren: Steamy, Sexy and Honest
Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
Darren: I take some things from my life ,and some from fantasies, and others lives and put it all down on paper as it comes to me then I edit from there.
Jen: What is it about the erotica genre that appeals to you?
Darren: Its sexy and honest and every story is entirely possible yet amazingly unattainable.
Jen: What kind of research did you do for this book?
Darren: Oh I did all sorts of research, especially the good kind.
Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write? Is there a genre you’ll probably stay away from and why?
Darren: I stay away from longer fiction, I find I am not patient enough for it. I would love to write real stories, real erotic encounters from the person telling the stories POV.
Jen: Who has inspired you as an author?
Darren: I don’t read other erotic authors, I want my work to be authentic and honest, and not to be changed by someone else.
Jen: Do you do anything special to celebrate a sale, new contract, or release?
Darren: Volume 2 should be coming out soon, in May so that’s a highlight.
Jen: What has been your highlight of your career to this point?
Darren: The feedback I am getting from readers, it has been amazingly positive.
Jen: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Darren: "OMG I made my husband read it and then it was like BOOM!"
Jen: What's next for you?
Darren: More research for volume 2 hopefully.
Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Darren: www.flipside-erotica.com and www.heetr.com
Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Darren: What is your favorite erotic encounter and fantasy?
April 05, 2010
"Top Ten Lists" by Darren Michaels
I hope you enjoy my Top Ten Lists, and take them for what they are worth…mainly entertainment. But like the old saying goes, sometimes there is nothing funnier than the truth.
I am often asked how I came up with the idea for telling both sides of the same erotic story. I think it really ties in with the lists I wrote out. The reality is that when it comes to having sex, most of the time I have no idea what I do right and what I do wrong in the “preliminaries” to end up there. Actually, I shouldn’t say no idea, but I certainly have come to terms with the fact that most of the time I have no idea what women are thinking. So to rectify this, I started asking questions.
When I would write a story, and then “translate it” into the women’s point of view, I would show it to the woman who was involved in that encounter. I had the luxury of having good relationships with these women and was able to gain a lot of insight into the female mind. I did things “right” more often than I thought, and also gave myself credit where I was way off base, too. Yes, ladies…go ahead and laugh. But I learned a lot about the process as a whole. I used to think getting someone there was always a little like a hostage negotiation, but I have learned that sex is something women want just as much.
Now I can freely jump back and forth between perspectives, and even write stories in the women’s point of view first. I sit around and laugh when listening to my male friends reciting stories from the bars on Friday night; things they said or did that I just laugh at knowing it didn’t have the affect they were hoping for. It is highly entertaining. And I can also sit with a group of women and hold my own in your conversations about the same thing. I am eerily in touch with my feminine side, and toe the line on Metrosexual at times a little more than I am comfortable with.
So what this really means is that it is still amazing to me that men and women get together at all; the agendas are so different, and the criteria vastly different. Thank God for alcohol. Hope you enjoy my book, and the unique perspective I try to bring by showing both sides of the stories. Half of them are real and half are made up…can you tell which is which???
www.flipside-erotica.com check it out!
Darren Michaels
Top Ten List of what men think women think about during sex
1. Am I sexy?
2. Do I look okay???
3. Am I doing it right?
4. Does he really like me?
5. Will he call me again?
6. Focus so I can finish.
7. Ugh I wish it was bigger
8. Is he going to stay afterwards?
9. Am I gonna regret this???
10. Love me love me love me marry me have kids, I wonder how many and what their names should be……
Top ten list of what women really think about during sex.
1. Relax!!! BREATHE BREATHE
2. Focus, focus, focus….
3. Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing.
4. Brad Pitt in… well anything.
5. Gerard Butler , 300 nuff said.
6. Oh God, I am so close!
7. A little farther left! A little farther left!!!
8. I really need to touch up this ceiling paint…..
9. Is he done already???
10. Why isn’t he done yet????/
Top Ten List of women think men think about during sex
1. Pornstars
2. Strippers
3. Ex Girlfriends
4. What do I have to say to have her let me………
5. Is she really enjoying it?
6. Oh my God I am having sex!!!
7. Dead puppies, Baseball, my grandmother…ok I can come now.
8. Where are my pants?
9. nearest exit is where again?
10. I am a rock star.
Top Ten list: what men really think about during sex (once we’ve got the okay to finish)
1. Pornstars
2. Strippers
3. Ex girlfriends
4. The girl at the office.
5. The girl at the grocery store.
6. The girl at the coffee shop.
7. The girl at the mall.
8. The girl at the gym.
9. Your girlfriend’s best friend.
10. Hot female celebrities
Top ten list of what men think about during sex (trying to last past five minutes)
1. SportsCenter
2. The starting line up for the 2001 New York Yankees.
3. Margaret Thatcher on a cold day
4. Algebra equations.
5. Who is playing in the Monday Night Football game?
6. I need to trade one of my running backs and get a better wide receiver for my Fantasy
football team.
7. Work
8. SportsCenter
9. Music lyrics
10. The Ultimate Fighting Championships Greatest Knockouts Volume 4
I am often asked how I came up with the idea for telling both sides of the same erotic story. I think it really ties in with the lists I wrote out. The reality is that when it comes to having sex, most of the time I have no idea what I do right and what I do wrong in the “preliminaries” to end up there. Actually, I shouldn’t say no idea, but I certainly have come to terms with the fact that most of the time I have no idea what women are thinking. So to rectify this, I started asking questions.
When I would write a story, and then “translate it” into the women’s point of view, I would show it to the woman who was involved in that encounter. I had the luxury of having good relationships with these women and was able to gain a lot of insight into the female mind. I did things “right” more often than I thought, and also gave myself credit where I was way off base, too. Yes, ladies…go ahead and laugh. But I learned a lot about the process as a whole. I used to think getting someone there was always a little like a hostage negotiation, but I have learned that sex is something women want just as much.
Now I can freely jump back and forth between perspectives, and even write stories in the women’s point of view first. I sit around and laugh when listening to my male friends reciting stories from the bars on Friday night; things they said or did that I just laugh at knowing it didn’t have the affect they were hoping for. It is highly entertaining. And I can also sit with a group of women and hold my own in your conversations about the same thing. I am eerily in touch with my feminine side, and toe the line on Metrosexual at times a little more than I am comfortable with.
So what this really means is that it is still amazing to me that men and women get together at all; the agendas are so different, and the criteria vastly different. Thank God for alcohol. Hope you enjoy my book, and the unique perspective I try to bring by showing both sides of the stories. Half of them are real and half are made up…can you tell which is which???
www.flipside-erotica.com check it out!
Darren Michaels
Top Ten List of what men think women think about during sex
1. Am I sexy?
2. Do I look okay???
3. Am I doing it right?
4. Does he really like me?
5. Will he call me again?
6. Focus so I can finish.
7. Ugh I wish it was bigger
8. Is he going to stay afterwards?
9. Am I gonna regret this???
10. Love me love me love me marry me have kids, I wonder how many and what their names should be……
Top ten list of what women really think about during sex.
1. Relax!!! BREATHE BREATHE
2. Focus, focus, focus….
3. Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing.
4. Brad Pitt in… well anything.
5. Gerard Butler , 300 nuff said.
6. Oh God, I am so close!
7. A little farther left! A little farther left!!!
8. I really need to touch up this ceiling paint…..
9. Is he done already???
10. Why isn’t he done yet????/
Top Ten List of women think men think about during sex
1. Pornstars
2. Strippers
3. Ex Girlfriends
4. What do I have to say to have her let me………
5. Is she really enjoying it?
6. Oh my God I am having sex!!!
7. Dead puppies, Baseball, my grandmother…ok I can come now.
8. Where are my pants?
9. nearest exit is where again?
10. I am a rock star.
Top Ten list: what men really think about during sex (once we’ve got the okay to finish)
1. Pornstars
2. Strippers
3. Ex girlfriends
4. The girl at the office.
5. The girl at the grocery store.
6. The girl at the coffee shop.
7. The girl at the mall.
8. The girl at the gym.
9. Your girlfriend’s best friend.
10. Hot female celebrities
Top ten list of what men think about during sex (trying to last past five minutes)
1. SportsCenter
2. The starting line up for the 2001 New York Yankees.
3. Margaret Thatcher on a cold day
4. Algebra equations.
5. Who is playing in the Monday Night Football game?
6. I need to trade one of my running backs and get a better wide receiver for my Fantasy
football team.
7. Work
8. SportsCenter
9. Music lyrics
10. The Ultimate Fighting Championships Greatest Knockouts Volume 4
April 04, 2010
Author contest
To celebrate Paula Quinn's May release RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER, she is giving away a signed ARC of RAVISHED as well as signed copies of all her previous books (except for Lord Of Desire) to one lucky reader. To enter, just head over to her website (http://www.paulaquinn.com/Contest.html) and fill out the contest form. The contest ends on May 1.
April 02, 2010
Interview with Author Assistant Yvonne Wu
Jen: Please help me welcome Yvonne Wu to the blog this week. Will you please share a short bio with our readers?Yvonne: I have more than ten years corporate experience, including such positions as marketing assistant, executive assistant, web technician, scheduler and call center technical support. I have received a diploma in Marketing and Business Administration. Have obtained the Entrepreneur edge certificate. I have successfully completed the Author Assistant Certificate Program created by Jan King Author and Publisher. I have previously worked for a Religious Organization in which the owner was also an Author/Speaker. This person inspired me.
Jen: Please tell us a little more about your job as an author’s assistant and The YP Publishing.
Yvonne: I assist with manuscript preparation, publishing and promoting your book before and after its publication date.
Jen: How did you get into this job?
Yvonne: I was working as a Virtual Assistant; I decided to specialize so I enrolled in the Author Assistant Certificate Program with Jan King.
Jen: What other experience do you have within publishing?
Yvonne: My previous employed experience is working for an Author/Speaker as a web technician in which I maintained his online book store. I am also currently working with several authors.
Jen: What services does your company offer authors?
Yvonne: Such services as Manuscript Preparation, Printing Coordination & Distribution, Public Relations and Marketing their book.
Jen: Do you have any advice for authors, published or aspiring?
Yvonne: Hold firm onto your dream and do not let anyone stand in the way of your dream.
Jen: How is an Author’s Assistant different than a Publicist?
Yvonne: An Author’s Assistant can coordinate parts of the publishing process itself, and coordinate and assist in the marketing of the book once it is published. When an Author’s Assistant is promoting your book, they can take maximum advantage of their technical know-how.
The Virtual Author’s Assistant has technical skills and can offer services in which they provide the implementation themselves – such as web maintenance, blog setup and podcasting.
Publicist may direct Authors to outside professionals for these services.
Jen: Do you have any advice to people looking to get into this job?
Yvonne: The Author Assistant program teaches all the steps on how to setup a virtual book tour, components of a media kit, components of a book proposal, and so much more. Yet you need to invest in courses as well that teach you technical skills. You also may need to outsource such specialized services as editorial support.
Jen: Who are some of your favorite authors?
Yvonne: Margaret Atwood, DiDi LeMay, Stephen King and so many more.
Jen: Is there some dream you have for your job or company?
Yvonne: I myself have an art background so I would like to continue to work with creative individuals. To continue to assist with all aspects of book preparation from start to finish.
Jen: Where are you found on the web?
Yvonne:
Website: http://theyppublishing.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/theyppublishing
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Niagara-Falls-ON/The-YP-Publishing/28348901211
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/TheYPPublishing
View my podcast: The Cappuccino Breeze:Monthly Tips itunes Video Podcast
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=309214867
Jen: Do you have any questions for our readers?
Yvonne: For the Authors out there, what type of services do you look for in an Author Assistant? What part of the publishing and book promotion process do you need the most assistance with?
Jen: Yvonne is giving away two $25 Amazon gift cards to commenters this week, which will be sent to them via email. To enter the contest, you need to first leave a question or comment for Yvonne. Then to finish your entry, you need to either leave your email address in our comment or send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com. The winners will be announced on Thursday, April 8.
Yvonne is also giving away a 20 percent off her services to the first 5 individuals who email her at info@theyppublishing.com and mention that you came from Romancing the Book.
April 01, 2010
April news
First, I want to start with an apology. April is going to be a month of rest for me, so posts are going to be rather sporadic. I originally was going to use this month to highlight the publishing world, but time got away from me and I never finalized many of our guests. So, I'll have a few interviews/guest blogs and contests during the month, but not more than likely not weekly ones. I am hoping that I will be able to fit those guests that I didn't get to this month on to my schedule for later in the year.
And secondly, I have been asked by Red Sage to review a bunch of their new ebook releases. I'm not able to keep up with all the requests. So, I'm looking for a person or two who would be willing to help out with these reviews. Books are only available in electronic format and are all erotic romances. I would like at least one review a month. If you're interested in helping me out, send a message to admin.bookblog@gmail.com. I can't pay you, but you do get free ebooks for your time.
And secondly, I have been asked by Red Sage to review a bunch of their new ebook releases. I'm not able to keep up with all the requests. So, I'm looking for a person or two who would be willing to help out with these reviews. Books are only available in electronic format and are all erotic romances. I would like at least one review a month. If you're interested in helping me out, send a message to admin.bookblog@gmail.com. I can't pay you, but you do get free ebooks for your time.
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