Something you can do

My short story, Bound to Love went out of print for a while. It'll be back in print electronically on August 13th as part of a charity anthology. Coming Together: For the Cure is a collection of erotica/erotic romance, and all proceeds will benefit to the Susan G. Komen Fund.

I hope you'll support this wonderful anthology by purchasing it from the Phaze website. I've had a number of family friends affected by breast cancer, and cancer in general. It truly was an honor to be selected. Here's a short excerpt from Bound to Love.

Excerpt:

I saw her for the first time tonight. In person. I’ve seen her in my dreams through the years. I feel like I’ve always known her.

She was the star attraction at Madame LaFleur’s. Her name, Daniela.

Daniela wrinkled her brow and then shrugged her shoulders. Weird coincidence. Squishing down into her pillows, she continued reading.

I don’t know what drew me to LaFleur’s tonight. I was supposed to visit Estella at the house I’ve rented for her. Lord Begley promised this was a not to be missed event, however. I’ve counted on his support for the latest bill, and needs must indulge him in his little entertainments.

I was interested, too, in seeing what a young lady fresh from the country looked like, as I have not seen one in an age. The young women of Society are forever at turns calculating seductresses or missish little fussbudgets too intent on what they’ve spent at the milliners.

We went to LaFleur’s and I suffered the usual round of birds singing and displaying their fancy feathers to my fellow compatriots. Soon though, LaFleur brought out Daniela.

I admit, I’ve been to auctions before, though I had never thought much of the fate of the women, gels really, who were the subjects of such intent interest. Virgins are too much trouble.

Daniela, though, took my breath away. I couldn’t let any other have her. She was mine the moment LaFleur opened the curtains to where she was sitting.

I know she had been forced into that pose, but my prick ballooned to the point where I had to cross my legs to keep some semblance of restraint. Others were not so prudent. I knew who were to be my most ardent opponents in the bidding.

Daniela thought of what it would be like to be on display for a roomful of men. Heat flashed through her. All eyes were on her, ready to bid for their chance to have her. She squirmed on the bed. The thought of exhibitionism had never before turned her on so thoroughly and so quickly. Her nipples ached, and she wondered how on earth to get out the stain she was surely leaving on the knickers. She turned the page.

Her chest was pushed out so that it appeared her lovely breasts were ready to burst out of the chemise. Her legs were spread open. I could see her quim through the lace of her knickers. The dark hair sprouted out along the edges, and through the holes. It was too dim to see her treasures further, but I had no doubt that the rest of her would be just as beautiful.

The bidding was fierce and began immediately. I bided my time waiting until Lord Featherington had beaten out everyone else. I met her eyes, and could see the fear in them. They were about to close the bidding when I placed mine.

The old gent’s eyes damn near bulged out of his head at the figure I stated. I’m sure he hadn’t seen me earlier, but if he had, he’d probably thought that I’d ignore the proceedings as I have previously.

I was not about to have that old lecher have her, and if I had to dissolve all of my holdings to beat him at the game, I would. Luckily, there are few peers who match my fortune.

Excerpt - CLAIMING HANNAH by Sherrill Quinn

Mix a zealous animal rights activist with two horny space cowboys and you get more trouble than you can handle...

Jax Marjani was imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, all because the corrupt government of his homeworld wanted his sister's lover, the exiled prince of the planet Nosfer. Now that Jax has been released, thanks to his sister and the vampire prince, he's settled on the barbarian planet of O'Kar 6, content to raise cattle and complete legitimate shipping runs between O'Kar 6 and Nosfer with the help of his best friend, Ian Hunter.

But when feisty Hannah Trueblood helps steal his cattle, Jax finds he's as much of a barbarian as the natives on this backwards world—and stakes his claim on her.

Submission never felt so good...



“Hannah?” His raspy voice skittered along her nerve endings like a match to flint and, in spite of getting caught—or perhaps because of it—the gruff sound enflamed her to instant arousal.

Hannah opened her mouth and then closed it. She couldn’t think of a thing to say. She, who was usually the articulate one of the bunch, was speechless.

Keeping hold of one of her wrists, he dragged her around the corner and up onto the porch. Once in the light, he took hold of her other wrist and stared down at her. He brought his free hand up and cupped her chin. His gaze skated over her face. Blue eyes glittered with lust. “Looks like you tangled with a cactus and lost,” he mused and leaned down to press a light kiss on a scratch on her cheek. “What’re you doing here?”

When she remained silent, gentle affection turned to hard suspicion. “What’re you doing here?” he repeated. He shoved her hands behind her back, wrapping one big hand around her wrists. The position made her body arch. His gaze went to her breasts, and the heated passion in their depths flared.

Her womb clenched at his show of dominance. She gave her head a mental shake. She wasn’t here for this. And, seeing how he waited patiently for her answer—not patient as in a teacher with a student, but patient like a predator stalking its prey—she inwardly cursed. No one had prepared her for this type of situation. What could she say? I was out for an evening stroll—in the middle of nowhere—and got lost?

Nope. That wouldn’t work.

My ship crashed?

Nope.

I stole your cattle?

Hell, no.

His hands tightened on her wrists.

“I…ah, I—”

“You’re one of them, aren’t you? That’s why you’re here. You’re one of the rustlers.” He bent her back slightly, his face coming within inches of hers. “You shot Ian.”

Her eyes widened. “No!” Okay, that was a lie, but no way was she going to admit she’d injured his friend.

“I think you did.” Without warning, he stooped and folded her over his broad shoulder like a she weighed no more than a bedroll. As he straightened, she tried not to notice the smooth, supple skin of his back or the flex of the muscular ass covered in jeans, but it wasn’t easy to ignore so much sexy maleness within pinching distance.

Struggle, you nitwit. Hannah bucked against his shoulder. A big hand smacked her butt, startling a shriek from her. Her body liked that big hand on her ass, because her pussy slicked with cream.

He strode to the door and opened it, carrying her inside. “Ian!” he called out. “Look what I’ve got.”

Jax set her on her feet. From behind her, he immediately clamped that broad hand around her wrists, holding them once more behind her back. Ian came out of the other room, a towel draped around his lean waist and another one hanging over one tanned shoulder. His dark brown hair was damp and tousled, his skin still moist from his recent shower.

Green eyes narrowed on her face before his gaze swept up and down her body, taking in her black clothing and boots. “Well, well.” He looked at Jax. “Seems to me you said something about someone’s ass being yours?”

“Mmm. You’re right. I have been talking about discharging my weapon to get him—or, rather her—to talk, haven’t I?”

“Listen, guys, you have the wrong idea…” Hannah trailed off as Ian came closer. His stride was loose-hipped. God, he was sex-on-a-stick, a stick that tented the towel he wore.

He brought his face close and whispered, “I don’t think we do, little thief.”

“You tell me where my cows are off to, and it’ll go easier with you with the authorities.” Jax spun her around to face him.

Ian grasped her wrists, keeping them captive behind her back. He moved in, the heat from his body covering her like a living blanket.

Hannah couldn’t tell. It’d be handing a death sentence to the defenseless bovina, not to mention jail time for her friends. Clamping her lips together, she shook her head.

She felt a momentary unease. But in their encounter a year ago, Jax had been dominant but gentle, so she had no fear he would hurt her. Ian was a wild card, but she couldn’t believe Jax would let him hurt her, either. Deep in her gut she knew she was safe.

By the lust in their hard faces, not out of danger completely, though. She fought back a shiver as her arousal ratcheted up another notch...

Copyright 2007 Sherrill Quinn. All Rights Reserved.


CLAIMING HANNAH - available now at Amber Heat!

Mmm, mmm, blood

I looove vampires. I always have. Ever since I was a kid and saw Love at First Bite. I though George Hamilton was so, so cool in that--I already had a bit of a crush on him from Zorro the Gay Blade--and the idea of living forever and getting to stay up all night was unbelievably appealing.

And still is, frankly. Plus I think blood is sexy. I think biting is sexy. I thank power is sexy. Vampires--at least in fiction--tend to hit all three of those buttons.

Like Anna, I thought writing some funny vampires might be really cool and different a few years back, because I'd never realized some of that was out there already either. And honetly, while I love my own funny vampires, I think they're funny because they have good senses of humor, not because anything about them is particularly funny. I'm not a fan of spoofs, although I have written one.

But the vampire still does it for me. He's big, he's dark, he's strong, and he can grant me eternal life. What's not to love?

(I admit, shifters and weres don't do it for me at all. I just don't get it, unfortunately--it is a shame because I know how popular they are, but they leave me cold.)

Dark Attractions....

It's the strength. The power. The hint of brimstone. It's being swept off your feet by something so overpowering there's no way to say no -- and who'd want to, anyway? It's that touch of the fantastical -- a love that's both impossible and absolutely meant to be:

The man shifted, rolling to his feet, and Jenna scrambled back, bracing herself against the wall of the cave. But he merely moved to the fire, crouched down by it, and added another chunk of wood to the flames.

As he studied the fire, she studied him -- the long, silver-black hair, the rippling torso, the broad shoulders with their hard planes of muscle… Everything about him was lean, corded, powerful. She found her gaze dwelling on the firm curves of his ass, and quickly averted her eyes.

He hunkered on his haunches easily, as if he’d never even seen a chair. His arm was still clenched against his side -- but when he shifted, reaching for her parka, she gasped at the sight of the gash that curved down his abdomen.

It wasn’t possible. It wasn’t…

Jenna moved slightly, and the man glanced over at her, pulling her coat closer around his shaking shoulders. His face was pale, angular, the well-molded jaw leading up to broad, prominent cheekbones. His lashes, so thick and black they looked almost kohled, curved against his ivory skin. Behind his thick, shaggy hair, his yellow eyes gleamed, feral and intent.

There was such force to his features, such a wildness…

-- Wolf Bound by Sierra Dafoe

No, he's hardly the sort of man you want to take to an afternoon tea party -- or home to meet your mother. Among other things, dear old Mom might start palpitating at his closeness, too...

We hate to admit it in the broad light of day, but the animal still fascinates us -- and gets our juices flowing! Feral, dominant, weres and vamps are the ultimate Bad Boys, waiting to seize us when we least expect it and have their way with us:

That low, rumbling voice spoke again. “Turn around.”

Unable to resist, she did, and found herself staring into eyes that were as black and endless as a midnight sky. A dark fire flickered far down within them, a raw, ceaseless energy that held her mesmerized. He smiled, a small quirk of his lips that drew her attention to his face, to the strong line of his jaw, the coal-black brows, the stern forehead half-hidden by the ebon fall of his thick, shaggy hair.

It brushed his shoulders -- broad, powerful shoulders, encased in soft white silk. His clothing was simple, if elegant; the silk shirt, gaping open slightly to show a heavily muscled chest dusted with fine black hairs, and black leather pants. They clung to his thighs, revealing taut muscles beneath -- as well as a distinct and mouthwatering bulge at his groin.

He wasn’t the tallest of the men in the room -- the one with brown hair was taller -- but still he towered over her even though she was wearing three-inch heels.

In a certain way, he wasn’t as handsome as the other men, either. They were all stunning to look at, but Fyodor was darker, sterner, his features both blunt and chiseled as if carved from raw granite. There was something almost elemental about him, something with the natural force of a hurricane or a tsunami. She stood spellbound, her gaze fixed on those harsh, craggy features despite the more conventional appeal of the others. He exuded a ferocious vitality, dominating the room merely by walking into it.

-- All Wrapped Up: Absolute Power by Sierra Dafoe

Did I mention powerful? He's the ultimate protector, too -- once he decides you're his woman. And there's nothing that can withstand him; not ordinary mortals, not the beasts of the forest. And most definitely not you.

But like I said before, who'd want to? :-)

-- Sierra

http://www.sierradafoe.com

Releasing today! All Wrapped Up: Absolute Power from Changeling Press!

Bloodsuckas and sexy shifters

Angel...yum! He graduated from the same acting school I did...though many years earlier so I never got to drool over him in person. And um...

Okay, I have a confession to make. I never watched Buffy or Angel. I didn't even know this guy was Angel until December pointed it out on my blog the other day. I just thought he was a hottie. I missed the whole Buffy phenomenon and all of the early romance/vampire books. Christine Feehan who? Sherrilyn Kenyon what? I was reading historical fiction or plays or memorizing scripts. I picked up my first Feehan at a garage sale on a lark and only got through about 1/3 of it. I mean...all the drama, the bloodsucking I just...didn't get it.

What I did get is that I thought it was material RIPE for spoofage, however. So I wrote a kind of funny vamp romance novel, thinking I was SO very clever. Yeah, I was an idiot who'd never heard of Mary Janice Davidson either. Duh....

Fastforward three years and I've found myself writing quite a few vampire stories, though mostly unintentionally. I never set out to create a brooding dark hero, but I do enjoy a powerful alpha male, and ADORE a character who's had the time to mature and use their heart and mind to become a better, stronger person. The expanded lifetime of a vampire or shapeshifter certainly allows for that.

As for the shifters well...I guess the whole animalistic thing does it for me, lol.

I still haven't read any Feehan or Kenyon (though I'm dying to read her stuff because she seems like such a sweetie in person), but I enjoy some MJD from time to time, as well as the sexy paranormal stories penned by several of the other DNWs.

Hugs!

Anna J. Evans

Vampires, Werewolves, Aliens, Oh My!

What is the allure about the fantastical? Is it the oddity? The unknown?

When I first thought about potentially becoming a writer, I decided I wanted to write fantasy romance so I could truly make up everything on my own. Oh, how naive I was. Especially as I've spent time in the contemporary and historical trenches. As a writer who has a series percolating that stars vampires, werewolves and witches, I may be able to make up a lot, but I have to intimately understand the mythology of all three magical beings because my readers have basic expectations of all three. Good thing I'm a librarian by day and have learned how to effectively research ;)

The next question is why are fantastical characters so prevalent within the erotic romance genre? My personal theory is because what makes something erotic to a reader is the ability to tap into that reader's fantasy life. If we're tapping into their fantasy life, why not make it a full-blown fantasy? As a writer, I've hopefully already done my job of getting the reader to suspend disbelief. It's less than a hop, skip and a jump to go the extra bit...if I like writing that anyway. I also think it's a two-way street. Fantasy readers are probably more open to erotic writing because they routinely read about worlds which have little similarity to the real world, at first glance.

As for why vampires, at least, are so prevalent within erotic romance...well, they've got a long history of being there. The concept of sharing blood is visceral in much the same way sex is. Vampire lore is very much one of seduction of the mind. Another element that makes an erotic story a success.

*Sigh* I feel like I'm rambling because it's so late at night for me, and there are just so many different points to which my mind keeps flitting. Save me from this insanity: tell me what you think of the connection between what is erotic and what is fantastical?

Sexy Thang

There are vampires:




And then there are vampires:



Vampires of legend are horrible creatures who rise from their graves every night to feed upon the living--usually family members. Their breath is fetid, their skin pale except when they've gorged themselves on blood.

Not so sexy.

With the advent of Hollywood, vampires became something much more...sensual. Sexy, even. The tall, dark and handsome aristocrat who is dangerously compelling.

But why? Why is he so sexy? What is so compelling about a man who can literally love you to death?

That's just it, I think. The idea that by baring her neck a woman can risk her soul.

I mean, wouldn't you think about tilting your head to one side for this guy?




I mean, really.

Don't hate me

but I have a confession to make.


I hate summer.


I hate the heat. I hate the bugs (especially bees and wasps, to which I am allergic.) I hate the constant sunshine. I hate the pressure to be cheerful, to go outside and sweat, to have barbeques and wear swimsuits and eat fruit.

I just plain hate summer.

My birthday is in the summer. So when I was a kid, I never got to bring cupcakes to school and have everyone sing. I was always lumped in with the other "summer birthday" kids on the next-to-last or last day of school. My parties were always remarkable for the need to stay indoors lest we die of heatstroke, or the need to have that torturous amusement known as a pool party, during which you get water splashed in your face until your skin prunes and then have to eat food with your damp, chlorine-smelling fingers. Pool parties are especially fun when you're nearsighted and can't wear your glasses in the pool.

My skin turns bright red in the heat and humidity makes my hair frizz, so birthday photos of me generally resemble a sort of tomato with blonde fuzz around it.

People look at you funny if you wear long sleeves in the summer.

I get heatsick easily, too.

I like fall, when the air smells fresh and a little smoky and the sun goes away for a little bit...

Summer always feels like punishment. I don't even get to sleep late anymore like when I was a kid, because now I have kids who insist on rising at 7 am.

Bleh.

Is it October yet?

On the Road #2 -- Vampire gang-bang, anybody??

Yep, I'm still on vacation. What a lazy-butt I am, LOL! Actually, I've got my laptop with me so it's kind of a working vacation. But I do have a sneak peek for you at next Thursday's release -- All Wrapped up 2: Absolute Power!

I even made a cool little banner for it!





All Wrapped Up 2: Absolute Power
by Sierra Dafoe
coming July 26th!
http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=651

She was staring up at him, her body quivering with fear, indignation… and something more. Her pupils were huge, dilated fully as if she were terrified, or extremely aroused. Or both.

But she hadn’t bolted for the door, Fyodor noted. Not that it would have done her any good in any case -- the Wardens would only let her out on his command, and he had no intention whatsoever of letting her go yet.

“What do you want, then?” she demanded, both terrified and angry. “I’m willing to let you drink my fucking blood, for Christ’s sake! Isn’t that enough? Isn’t that what you want?”

Her breasts, cupped firmly by the leather of her halter-top, heaved with each breath. Fyodor let his gaze linger on them a moment, and on the smooth, creamy skin of her bare shoulders, remembering the feel of it. Nice. Every inch of her, he was certain, would be just as smooth, just as soft. She wasn’t made for hardness, this one -- and her body knew it as thoroughly as his did. He could smell the warm, enticing scent of her, could almost taste the excitement that sent her blood racing, pulsing in her throat, her belly, her crotch…

Yes. He’d been right about her, right about the rigid mask she put on like a shield. It was too hard, too inflexible -- it was an overcompensation. And exactly the opposite of what lay beneath.

Her flesh knew the truth. It quivered, practically begging for his touch every time he drew near her. It was her mind and her heart that were terrified of her natural desires, desires that had obviously been used against her by someone. Some nameless bastard who’d thought it would be fun -- he practically spat the word in his mind -- to break her.

The fury welling through him surprised Fyodor. It had been centuries since he’d bothered to feel angry about anything. In fact, Fyodor realized, it had been centuries since he’d bothered to feel.

Slowly, consciously, he relaxed his hands, which had knotted themselves without his being aware of it into fists. He gazed down at her, almost wonderingly. What was she, this Mia, that she could make him feel such things?

It wasn’t only compassion he was feeling, either. His cock was straining against the tight leather of his pants, trapped at an angle that was growing more uncomfortable by the second. And when he thought of what he’d have to do to free her from her fear…

Fyodor shut that line of thinking down before his growing erection got any more painful. Besides, it was time -- more than time, actually -- to answer her question.

“No, that’s not what I want. That’s what you want. And I’m willing to give you that. But to earn it, Mistress Mia, for this one night you are going to service me… and every single member of my clave. You are going to obey my orders, fulfill my every whim. You are going to do every and anything I tell you --”

Her head jerked up, her eyes widening in outraged denial. “You bastard! You goddamned --”

Fyodor cut her off coldly. “Call me whatever you like. I don’t care. You want the absolute power I can give you? Then for one night you will give me absolute submission.”

http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=651

Can you tell I had fun writing this one? :p

http://www.sierradafoe.com -- Erotic Adventures for Adventurous Women!

Summer time...and the livin' is...

Things to love about summer...hmm...well we have 2 kids with birthdays in the summer so there are lots of balloons, cakes, and goodies around the Evans household from May-July. And cake and balloons and parties with bbq and backyard play are fun.


Days at the lake are also fun. I mean...what's not to like about kids and water and pink floaty noodles and beer cold from the cooler?

I love summer, I really do, but...the writer in me is ready for it to be over. I need time to work and that just doesn't happen with three kids out of school constantly wanting food or snacks or entertainment. I'm ready for August 20th for the older ones and September for Mom's day out. And the hubs is having a hard time convincing me to go for number four this summer. I was all gung-ho about adding to the family before...before...summer...*shudder*....lol

Anna J. Evans

Summer fun

Things I love about summer:
1. Summer vacations
2. My birthday
3. Fourth of July - fireworks!
4. I can wear shorts
5. This summer, my nephews were born
6. Baseball games
7. Summer movies

Things I hate about summer:
1. Sweating by just walking out the door
2. Gas price hikes
3. Mosquitoes
4. High humidity levels
5. I have to work through the summer since I'm not in school anymore

As you can see there's a lot of things I love about summer, and things I hate. I'm not much of an extreme person, which means, weather-wise, I'm more of a Spring/Fall girl. *But* I love having four seasons, so I can't complain too much ;) This summer I'm especially busy with conferences, vacations and family commitments. Travel plans have been interesting, but ultimately fun as I'm listening to audiobooks, old favorites and new ones. How have your summers been so far?

Summer in the Old Pueblo

Tucson in the summer can be...unbearable. Better than, say, Phoenix, Yuma or Lake Havasu City where temps are usually 10 degrees hotter than where I am, but it's still freakin' HOT. And once the monsoon season rolls in and the humidity climbs, it gets sticky. Of course, all y'all in the East and Midwest and South know what I'm talking about. 95 degrees with 90 percent humidity in Ohio is no picnic, either.

So, that's my not so great thing about summer here. Triple digit temps with humidity somewhere 55-60%.

But those high temps and high humidity is what gives us what I love about summer here--the monsoons. The storms are awesome--huge deluges, sometimes with microbursts that snap telephone poles like they were toothpicks. The storms generally roll in by late afternoon/early evening, sometimes last into the early morning hours, but by the time the sun comes up the next morning, we're getting up to beautiful blue skies. Then we repeat the process all over again. Not always every day, but a few times a week.

With the wide expanse, you can look east, for example, and see a rain shaft 10-15 miles away, and you're sitting in complete sunshine. And when the rains hit the mountains, with the clouds tucked into the canyons... It's gorgeous.

So, do you love or hate summer? Why?

Worst Vacation?

I honestly can't remember.

I haven't taken many vacations, for one. I've never really been able to afford it. And when I do take trips, they usually work out well.

The worst one, probably, was a short trip to Pensacola, Florida back in '94 or '95, I can't recall exactly. Pensacola didn't particularly like me and my boyfriend and our friends. They didn't like blue- and pink-haired people wearing leather spikes. They refused to let us buy beer (yes, we were legal, they just wouldn't serve the likes of us.) They gave us the finger. They cancelled my boyfriend's band's show and left us with nowhere to go.

But even that was fun. I mean, it wasn't, but we all managed to have a good tme anyway, despite being a little frightened of getting attacked.

When I was a kid we traveled a lot because my Dad was a salesman. We used to stay at a Holiday Inn just down the road from Graceland, and there was a bird right outside who used to dive-bomb me and steal my hair for its nest. Not good.

Oh! Wait! The hubs and I went to Key West one year for a long weekend, before we were married. It was AWFUL. The hotel where we stayed (it was a hellhole called The Chelsea House, which MAY have switched management since we were there in '99(?) but if not, don't ever go there) promised us, first of all, a room with a bathtub and loft with additional beds. We got a grimy shower and a dingy, hot attic, where the beds were not only not made, they still bore the body imprints of the last people who slept in them. The snotty manager told us they didn't bother to make those beds unless it was requested--funny, since they allowed us to pay for the room with the additional beds.

Our TV remote was broken. Our promised balcony was in fact a narrow ledge holding a broken small refridgerator. There was no parking.

They promised Concierge service to (among other things) take care of food delivery for us, but when we tried to use it told us they were closed. They gave us a list of restaurants we could order from and have delivered ourselves but none of them delivered.

In addition, Key West itself was dingy and seedy, with terrible service. When we finally went out to eat at a restaurant across the street after the Delivery Debacle, our waitress actually smiled and said hello, and we were so grateful we tipped her $40.


On leaving the Chelsea House, we tried to complain to the manager, a snippy little blond guy. He interrupted us with "I'll just give you your money back" and ran our card through to refund.

The refund never came through.

Thurs. July 12 -- On the Road #1

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Worst Holiday EVAH!!

Awww...Hawaii! One of the most beautiful places on earth. The ocean is the perfect temperature and the waves in April are big enough for fun, but small enough that you needn't fear being crushed upon the rocks.



The sunsets are gorgeous, the temperature warm and balmy without being sweltering.


The flowers and gardens are unrivaled. They are everywhere, even in your salads, even sitting on top of your omelet when it comes in the morning.


Some very fine snorkeling, easy to get to if you rent a car (which was surprisingly affordable.)


I went there on my first honeymoon. (No that's not me, just generic wedding people). And I had a good time, in spite of the fact that I had a sick feeling in my stomach the entire vacation. Something was wrong. Me and the new hubs were fighting way too much for newlyweds. Gone was the man who had cried when I'd tried to give back his ring, and had somehow convinced me to elope to Vegas rather than call off our wedding entirely. Back was the man who would fight me on the smallest issue, and who made even a trip to paradise, at times, a total pain in the ass. It was during this vacation, my first honeymoon, that I began to suspect I'd made the biggest mistake of my life...



Next time I'm going to bring my second hubs, my best friend and the best man ever. And we're going to have a much less volatile, more lovable trip. I just know it. Because what's not to love about Hawaii, and we are nothing if not easily entertained when in each other's company :).

Anna J. Evans

Bad vaca!

I've spent the morning trying to think of some bad memories to share. I've done a lot of travelling over the years. Growing up, my family usually took one big vacation a year, and usually drove. As an adult, travel is one of my favorite pastimes. You'd think with the frequency of my travel, there'd be some good fodder for this post. Especially as I'm the oldest of five kids! But, noooooo...

The problem is, with my family, if something bad happens, when we look back on it, we find the humor in the situation. In Ireland last year, one of our rental cars attracted dents like nobody's business. Thing is, after the first one, on the back right corner, we had to laugh at the others. Reason: my dad caused the second dent, on the back left corner, and the third dent was on the front right corner. Only one corner returned undented :D

Probably the closest thing to a bad memory is the road trip out to Colorado from Chicago when I was five. I acted like a typical five year old, my mom was recovering from giving birth to my middle brother two and a half weeks earlier, and it was freaking hot!

So, are my family members and I nutters, or do you have a vacation that had bad things happen, but now you can only remember it with humor?

Holiday Memories

We're supposed to be talking here about our worst holiday memories, and I wish I had some bad memories, because that would mean I've taken memorable vacations. LOL Unfortunately, I haven't.

When I was a kid, our family "vacations" consisted of 2 weeks at the first part of August spent with family in West Virginia for our family reunion. Lots of happy memories there. When I was in college, my "vacations" were going home to eat Mom's cooking. Happy memories there. Once I was out of college, for many years I made about $5.50 an hour, so... no money for vacations. When I took time off work, it was to rest and relax at home. My sister won a free trip for 2 to the Bahamas through Mary Kay once--that was fun, too. A free vacation that put me in the hole--back then, I couldn't even afford free. *G*

Before I moved to Arizona, we started coming out here to spend time with my brother and his family. Did the touristy thing, and nothing really awful happened. I *was* a bit disappointed with my one and only visit to a ghost town. We drove through Dos Cabezos and my brother pointed to a pile of mud adobe and said, "There it is." (I was expecting something more... more.) So, that was disappointing, but not horrible.

My problem is, I've never been anywhere. My vacation time this year was spent... hmm, going home to eat Mom's cooking. LOL I have one more week coming, and the plan is that she and my sister are coming out here to, er, eat my cooking.

I'm thinking my friend S and I need to get back up to Sedona one of these days. We'll probably call it a "working vacation" and plot a book or two, but it's mostly spent staring at the red rock and wishing we could afford to live up there. (Because then, at least, that would mean I could afford to really vacation somewhere...)

One day I hope to take several weeks to visit the UK (England, Scotland and Ireland, specifically), and maybe the Isles of Scilly, since I have a (hope-to-be-published) book set there. I'd also like to go to Australia. I have a friend who lived there up until about a year ago (she grew up in England and moved to Oz when she was 13), so if I drag her along I'll have a built-in tour guide.

Anyone have any suggestions on where I could vacation? Or, at least, steer me away from places where you haven't had the best of times?

The v-neck

Wow, everyone's picked so many of my top picks already (especially Kelly and those suits. I LOVE men in suits. I think half the reason my heroes tend to be businessmen rather than manual workers is because I love, love, love to put them in suits with crisp white shirts underneath. Especially slightly undone suits--loose ties, top couple of buttons undone...rowr! Although I do enjoy firemen and mechanics as much as the next girl, too.)

But for casual wear? I love those v-necks. Especially v-neck sweaters, the thin, expensive ones. I love when a white t-shirt peeks out the top and I love them plain. Something about the way they emphasize the breadth of shoulders makes me all limp inside. Even the thinnest man looks manlier in a v-neck sweater (not t-shirts, though, I'm not crazy about v-neck t-shirts.)

I like when they wear chunky boots or shoes that make their jeans bag at the ankles. It makes them look solid, sturdy.

Thin, faded t-shirts are nice, the way they cling to chests and shoulders. Jeans that aren't too baggy but aren't too tight. I like black jeans--well, black anything, really. Black is a serious color, it's not frivolous, and a man shouldn't be frivolous either.

I've also developed a fondness for those mock-turtleneck sweaters that zip up the front, if the zipper runs all the way down. Unzipped or zipped, I like them.

Men should wear subdued colors--black, gray (I love gray), burgundy, heathery or navy blue, hunter green, tan or brown or taupe. Men should not wear pastels or bright colors (see exceptions below), except red on occasion if they're Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit. He could pull it off. Not all men can. And even that was a dark red. So I guess it stands. The only other way I'll accept bright colors on men are if they wear bowling or tiki shirts, which I like for casual wear provided the wearer has a sense of humor about them.

Men should not wear sandals. Men should never wear white shoes that aren't tennis shoes. No black socks with shorts--in fact, no shorts. I don't think anyone should wear shorts over the age of about 23. Women can wear skirts and men can wear big-boy pants. A man can take the heat.

Men should not wear brown after dark. As Frank Sinatra said, "a man should blend in with the night sky."

Some jewelry is okay. I like neck chains, but the only charms permitted are shark's teeth (on some men) or dog tags (on any man), and no gold chains at all. I like chunky silver rings (and have recently discovered an odd fondness for pinky rings, of all things, must be all the mob movies I'm watching lately) and watches. Some men can pull of bracelets, but most can't. Spiked leather bands are of course sexy, as long as the attitude behind it is real, and believe me I can tell. Same with spiked belts. If you bought it at Hot Topic, you probably aren't wearing it right.

I agree with Sherrill and Sierra that hats are lovely, simple lovely, and we lost something huge when they fell out of fashion. I am fond of suspenders like Anna (although I confess the overalls threw me. They just don't appeal to me.)

A few years ago we bought my husband a completely new wardrobe. Guess what he wears these days?

What are your rules for what men shouldn't wear?

You can leave your hat on...

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Fashion Fetishes

Suspenders...omg, I just love suspenders. I think I've managed to convince just about every man I've ever really been gone on to strap himself in to a pair. (The hubs looked especially yummy in his tuxedo pants and suspenders after we were married. Sigh :))

These are a little....um...you know, not quite manly enough for me, but still, just about any suspender will get me going, assuming the wearer likes females. (This guy obviously doesn't and that's cool, but that prevents me from getting all ga ga over his suspenders. It's like...a self-protection mechanism.)



Overalls, especially Carhartt. I used to date an amazing guy in college who wore these. Every time I saw him all buckled up in those tan overalls, his hands all dirty from whatever hippy craft thing he was working on....drool...I just wanted to climb him like a spider monkey and drag him off to my lair. LOVE overalls. Love, love love them! (Note to self, get pair for hubs.)

Also love business clothes and all black or black and white suits. But...these guys are obviously having issues keeping their clothes on. Grown men, geez, you'd think they would have learned to pull up their pants after going to the bathroom. Even my three year old is learning that. Duh. Lazy parenting man...

And this....god this is so hot!! I just want to peel back those crossed suspendery bits and...OMG! Of COURSE I'm not serious! Ew. This is obviously the comic relief people. You need to lay off the Miller Light if you thought otherwise.

Which reminds me! Everyone celebrate safely in the U.S. for the 4th of July. Don't drink and drive and all that.

Happy Holiday Hump Day!

Anna J. Evans

http://annajevans.com

Mmmm...suits

Is there nothing more luscious than a well dressed man? Don't you just want to peel off that thin layer of civilization and see what is hidden beneath it? A well-tailored suit will accent the best features on a man, whether it's his broad shoulders, a narrow waist, or one finely sculpted ass. Check these photos out:
and my fave celeb-in-a-suit photo:

Alan Tudyk (IMDb won't let me pull the picture into the post)

Sexy Men, Sexy Clothes

Well, our topic for this week is "Clothes that men look sexy in." And I'll admit, I have a hard time with this one, because some guys can look sexy in just about anything. But, here goes...

First off, living in Arizona I get to see a lot of guys wearing jeans and cowboy hats and, I'll confess, cowboy butts drive me nuts:


And just home from the office, starting to get comfortable...


And seeing a guy in just his skivvies makes me shiver...


But I think I like my men when they're just wearing sheets...


So, I guess I really didn't answer this, did I? What can I say? I like men. *G*