Define "Smut."

From 5th grade on I was famous for reading horror, fantasy, and classics. What people around me didn't know was that by age 13, I'd also gotten a taste of historical romance novels and was hooked. It wasn't until after high school that I decided to quit reading them in secret and to "come out of the closet," so to speak. But still, I used to be a little embarrassed and offended when a friend would eye one of the romance novels I was reading and say, "Oh, you're reading one of those 'smut books' again."

I threw off the shame of reading "smut" after awhile...or so I thought. I was always adamant to argue that the romance novels I read weren't smut. "Because they have a plot," was my typical argument. I had cast away the shame of reading romance novels so much that I began writing my own. Never mind that it took awhile before I would flat out say "romance" when asked what I wrote, after awhile I admitted it.

Then, a couple years back, I embraced the term "smut." I was a mechanic that also did some construction work on the side and all of my coworkers were men. When they saw me working on a manuscript during break time, they'd ask what I wrote.

"Paranormal Romance," I replied with a steely gaze, daring them to laugh.

My response was always greeted with a blank stare, and maybe a tentative, "Huh? What's that?"

Finally I grew sick of their confusion and said, "Supernatural Smut." (Catchy name, huh?)

Comprehension dawned in every man's eyes. "Oh, okay." Then either we'd all get back to work or they'd go on to ask what the story was about.

It was then that I realized a few things:

1.) Many men don't know what "Romance" is as a genre, but they all know what "smut" is.

2.) "Smut" isn't really a bad thing for most people.

3.) "Smut" is a figurative term.

Did you know that THE GREAT GATSBY was once referred to as "smut" when it was banned by a few schools a few decades back? I remember very little about that book. Schools have a way of sucking the fun out of almost any piece of reading. But if it DID have anything I would remotely consider to be "smutty" I bet I would have enjoyed it more.

So what is "smut?" Is it any romance novel? Or just romance novels with sex scenes? Is it romance novels with cheesy or non-existent storylines? Is it porn without a plot?

I would love to hear how you define "smut" and why.

Another Blog Award!

Thanks much to Jessica Rosen ( http://jessrosen.wordpress.com/ )who passed the blog award, Lesa’s Bald Faced Liar “Creative Writer” to me.
The rules of this award is that
1.)I am to thank the person who tagged me,

2.)Copy and paste the award on my blog,

3.)link to the person who nominated me,

4.)Tell up to 6 lies about myself and one truth. Jessica Rosen did not feel obligated to reveal the one truth on hers, but I'll let you all guess and eventually reveal. =)

5.)Tag at leasr 7 people for this award. I tagged 8 because the whole "7" thing was getting redundant and I despise redundancy.

6.)Post links to their blogs

7.) Comment on each of their blogs to inform them of the nomination.

So..Here I go. I really don't like lying, which is funny for a fiction writer, I suppose. I think I will do these with a theme. I've had the same best friend since I was 8, so I will tell 6 lies of things we did together and 1 truth. Happy guessing.

1.) We once stole a car.

2.) We rode Magic Mountain at Disneyland until we threw up.

3.) We terrorized a golf-course by mooning the golfers and toilet-papering the golf-course bathrooms on the inside wearing crazy disguises.

4.) We had a lesbian experience.

5.) We replaced my little brother's Cocoa Puffs with dog food.

6.) We once fought over the same guy.

7.) We were each other's dates for Prom.

Wow. It was hard to come up with stuff we haven't done together. Now to tag other awesome bloggers:

1.) Laura B. Diamond: http://lbdiamond.wordpress.com/

2.) Darryl Mims: http://writeoffusion.blogspot.com/

3.) Elizabeth Fortin: http://www.avidreaderswrite.com/

4.) LK Gardner-Griffie: http://www.griffieworld.com/

5.) Bethany Wiggins: http://www.suzettesaxton.blogspot.com/

6.) Adrian-Luc Sanders: http://kowloonbynight.com/

7.) Denise Swank: http://www.theresalwaysroomforonemore.com/

8.) Trisha Huntsman: http://anovelhistory.blogspot.com/

Honest Scrap: Blog Award

The awesome J. Koyagni just passed on this blog award to me with instruction to state 10 little-known facts about me and then pass it on to 6 other people....so here I go.

1.) I am afraid of clowns and zealots... especially zealots. People have done a lot of awful things in the name of their god. i.e Burning people at the stake, Bombing innocent people, forcing people to drink poison, Molesting children, and refusing needed medical care to children, etc.

2.) I was an automotive technician for a few years. In fact, that is the field in which I received my Associate's degree.

3.) My son was born on 9/11. My water broke the same time the first plane hit.....creepy.

4.) I LOVE B-horror movies. The Subspecies movies, Army of Darkness, and Night of The Demons are my faves. I think the old-school latex work is so much better than computer generated gore.

5.) I used to be more of an artist than a writer. I took 4 years of advanced art classes in high school and was accepted to a very prestigious art college, but I couldn't afford to go, even with financial aid. I still paint, but not as much since motherhood ensnared me.

6.) I love to sing and dance. Though I took choir in high school, I'd get booted off American Idol in a heartbeat. So I do Karaoke instead. I get the words and basic melody right and I put on a show, so drunk people think I sound awesome. I have fans.

7.) I have way more male friends than female friends. I think it is because I know more about "manly" things like hunting, fishing, and working on cars, than I do about "feminine" things like hair and brand name clothing. I'm also more direct about things than the usual woman.

8.) I hate the color yellow. I don't know why, it just offends me visually. Maybe it's genetic. My mom hated yellow too.

9.)I have lived in North Idaho all my life and have had little opportunity to travel. The few places I've visited have reinforced my love for my own town. Holy crap, the mountains in Utah are naked!

10.) I grew up in a haunted house. Even people who didn't believe in that sort of thing would unconciously hurry past a certain area. After my parents got divorced, my mom moved out of the master bedroom downstairs and moved to a tiny room upstairs. She avoided going downstairs at all costs. If she wanted something, she'd stand on the landing and yell for us.

There! Now I shall pass this award on to some fellow bloggers:

Caroline Valdez-Miller: http://carol-in-print.blogspot.com/

Allison Beightol: http://adventuresofthecautionarytale.blogspot.com/

Christine: http://christinewritesabook.blogspot.com/

Sloan Parker: http://sloan-parker.blogspot.com/

Blee Bonn: http://bleebonn.blogspot.com/

Heidi Sutherlin: http://heidisutherlin.blogspot.com/

Now you guys get to copy this award and paste it to your blog, post 10 facts about you and pass the award on to others.

Romances That Stay With You Forever.

In honor of the upcoming holiday, especially since I lost my mother that day last year, I'd like to bring a little romance back into Valentine's day for us all. The best way I can do that is to discuss those special romance novels that were more than a good read. You know the ones. By the time we finish with them, the characters are still with us, for we can't let them go. We often read them over and over again and replace them when they are in tatters. I will list some of mine. Not all are paranormal, but I feel they have a place here anyway.

These are not in order.

1.) Until You, by Judith McNaught: This book puts a whole new twist on the "governess wins the heart of an Earl." In fact, due to her having amnesia, neither of them find out she's a governess until just before the wedding...and then shit hits the fan. This tale will make you laugh and cry.

2.) Tempted, by Virginia Henley: A brazen, bad-ass Scottish lass, a sexy-as-hell Scottish Lord with an accent that'll make you quiver...what's not to love? The sparks and conflict in and out of the bedroom, set against a rich tapestry of the historical events leading up to the battle of Flodden Field will have you on the edge of your seat. As a bonus, there is also a ghostly love story in the background. I adore all of Henley's novels, but the romance in this one is by far the most powerful.

3.) Night Play, by Sherrilyn Kenyon: I love this book because the heroine is not perfectly trim and gorgeous, but a sexy werewolf loves her for it. The exciting plot developments and delightful shifts between humor and poignancy makes this book in the Dark Hunter novels one of my favorites. I love when a book gives me happy tears.

4.) Infinity, by Maggie Shayne: This is the second in her Immortal High Witches series and was my fave until I read the 3rd one. Now I can't decide. When the kick-ass Arianna recovers her beloved's heart, she wastes no time restoring him to life. Problem is, he thinks she was the one who betrayed him and cost him his life centuries ago.

5.) Almost Heaven, by Judith McNaught: When Elizabeth's asshole miser uncle makes the a ludicrous offer of her hand to men that had previously proposed to her before her reputation was ruined, a mistake sends Elizabeth to the hunting cottage of Ian Thornton, the very man who ruined her. The compounded misunderstandings and intense chemistry between the two keep the reader turning the pages.

7.) Lover Unbound, by J.R. Ward: This is my fave in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, no matter what anyone says. The chemistry between the vampire, Viscious, and the human doctor, Jane was sizzling. Also, Jane was one of the most developed heroines in this series so far. I'm not a fan of the ending, but I made peace with it.

8.) Dance With the Devil, by Sherrilyn Kenyon: The Dark Hunter Zarek is one of the grumpiest heros I've ever encountered. But he has good reason. His back story will make you cry. When Astrid, little sister of the 3 fates, is sent down incognito to decide whether he will live or die, sparks immediately fly between the two, and eventually start an inferno.

9.) Destiny, by Maggie Shayne: When ancient Immortal High Witch, Nathan discovers his former love, Nidaba in an asylum, he rescues the near-catatonic witch and nurses her back to health. Their back story in ancient Sumer is revealed as past betrayals and a rival high witch threaten the hope of their love being rekindled.

10.) The Hawk and the Dove, by Virginia Henley: When sheltered Sarah Bishop is wed by proxy to Shane Hawkhurst just for her land, she is infuriated. She hatches a plan with Shane's brother to become a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, and ultimately Shane's mistress. She takes on the name, Sabre Wilde, and intends to wrap her unsuspecting husband around her finger before revealing her identity and demanding a divorce. This book is a blast. Also HOT as hell.

What about you? What novels have you read until the pages fell out? What romances have made you sigh and daydream even on the worst days? I'm always looking for more.

Have a happy Valentine's day, all!

Addicting Chocolate Cookies

It's way past time for me to post another recipe, and with the upcoming holiday, I figured I'd do something sweet. I don't bake all that often, but these cookies...Oh...My....God. You will have to restrain yourself from eating them all in one sitting. They're also very easy to whip up, but they are NOT very healthy.

Ingredients:

1 8oz brick of cream cheese, room temp.

1 stick (real) butter at room temp.

1 Egg

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

1 18 oz box of chocolate cake mix. I prefer fudge, but some like German chocolate cake mix

Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F)

In a large bowl, mix cream cheese and butter until smooth. An electric mixer is preferred, but you'll live without it.

Beat in the egg, followed by the vanilla extract. Add cake mix and beat. Cover and refrigerate for an hour or 2 to make mixture firm and easy to roll into balls.

Roll the mixture into balls and roll them in powdered sugar. Place them on a cookie sheet (ungreased) 2 inches apart. Bake 15-20 minutes

Cookies will be gooey and awesome. Cool them completely and sprinkle with more powdered sugar if you'd like.

Okay, I'm off to the store for some cream cheese so I can make a batch! This post made me hungry.

And The Winner Is...

Moonsanity!

Just send @Eververse a DM on twitter stating your email address and she should get your prize to you!

Congrats!!

Enjoy Sugar ans Sin!

Interview With An Incubus

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing a character from the Eververse series by Stella and Audra price. Character interviews are a writer’s favorite thing to do =) Arcady Morrison is an incubus. Women call him Mr. Fantasy.

Brooklyn: Arcady, tell us a little more about yourself.

Arcady: Hey sweetheart. Thanks for having me, though you haven’t yet. We might have to change that. *wink* Well lets see… Im 28, Im from California, I like sushi, money and women, not in that order. My parents are in the porn industry and Im a hit man. All my talent love, are for hire.

Brooklyn: What exactly is an incubus?

Arcady: I could show you… *chuckles* An incubus, for all intensive purposes is an energy demon. Long ago my race could feed on all sorts of energy, but these days its strictly sexual as it’s the most pure.

Brooklyn: What are benefits of what you are?

Arcady: Screwing? Longevity? Youth? You name it. A properly fed Incubi can live indefinitely, we don’t have to collect souls like other demons and we are freaking hot…

Brooklyn: What are downsides?

Arcady: Anonymous sex about 98% of your life. You can't feed on a female more then once unless you plan on staying with them. The bond gets too strong.
Tell us about the world you live in: I live in the same world you do petal, but I just occupy the darker side of it. Most of the world lives in ignorance of what goes on out there… I don’t. *smiles*

Brooklyn: I can’t help myself: What’s your sign?

Arcady: Me? I’m a Leo, August born baby…

Brooklyn: Sweet, me too! Describe your ideal mate.

Arcady: A woman that is both stalwart and yielding. I need a contradiction. A woman that needs me to love her, but can take care of herself. A woman that isn’t afraid of life. That is the woman for me.

Brooklyn: Favorite music?

Arcady: I'm an incubus, anything that gets a chicks hips moving is good for me.

Brooklyn: Favorite movies?

Arcady: I'm a fan of the horror genre, and action flicks.

Brooklyn: Pet Peeves?

Arcady: When people leave the milk out! Damn it people, milk is supposed to stay cold so it doesn’t curdle! Ooh and I hate finding hair in the sink *shudders* Skeeves me out.

Brooklyn: Thank you so much for your time, Arcady. And a big thanks to Stella Price for bringing her character to life so I could interview him! Readers can get Arcady’s story here:

http://www.amazon.com/Silk-Steel-Stella-Price/dp/1934678155/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265341690&sr=1-4


For an added bonus: Here is a chance to win an e-book copy of SUGAR AND SIN, the first book in the Eververse Series and where Arcady Morrison makes his debut.
Here's how to get multiple entries:
+1 Comment on this post
+1 Tweet this contest or post on facebook
+1 Follow this blog
+1 Follow Stella and Audra's blog: http://www.stellaandaudra.com/
+1 Follow me on twitter (@annarkie) or you can hit my button, lol.
+1 Follow Stella on twitter (@Eververse)
Contest ends Monday. I'll do the drawing and announce the results on tuesday. =)

10 Myths About Cats

Cats have been demonized in the media more than any other domesticated animal. Remember “Cinderella?” The cat’s name was Lucifer for heaven’s sake. And don’t forget the multitudes of other movies in which cats are portrayed as the villain. Why is all this animosity directed at such tiny furry creatures? As with most cases of prejudice and misguided hatred, I believe that a lot of it comes from misunderstanding cats. On the flip side, there are people who love cats, but unfortunately do damage to their pets due to other misconceptions. Today I will explore many common myths, (one of them an allegedly scientifically proved fact,) and see if I can clear the air in regards to these enigmatical felines.

1.) Cats suck the breath out of babies or smother them. I am starting with this one because it is the most damaging and most asinine myth out there, besides the one saying cats are in league with the devil. Not only is it physically impossible for a cat to “suck” anything, it is also impossible for the cat to fit its mouth over an infant’s mouth and nose to obstruct breathing. There have been no documented cases of a cat smothering an infant, though there have been a few where parents have accidently smothered their babies in their sleep.
However, the sight of a cat curled up around a baby, and even having its face near the baby’s is not uncommon. What is the cat really doing?
A.) Cats love warmth. Babies are warm, so they make great sleeping companions.
B.) Many cats love milk, so one can assume that the smell of milk on a baby’s breath is quite pleasing to the pet.
C.) Cats consider themselves equal members of the family. They think of their humans as part of the colony. Cat colonies raise their babies together. So, your young is their young. Though some get jealous of a newborn in rare occasions, most cats are protective towards the new member of the family.

2.) Cats don’t do anything good or beneficial for humans. A cat’s purr releases endorphins in the cat as well as any other living thing it is in contact with. An extra release of endorphins will lower blood pressure in humans. A cat’s presence has also been proven to benefit Alzheimer’s patients. It is also proven that people who own dogs or cats tend to live longer and healthier.

3.) Cats are “low maintenance” or anti-social. Though it is true that cats don’t require being walked, or cleaned up after, or bathed like dogs, that doesn’t mean that you can just leave them alone or ignore them all the time. Cats need exercise and attention. Long haired cats need to be groomed. Cats are very social creatures, but most of their communication is nonverbal, and a lot of it is by scent. When your cat is sitting by you, it is communicating. When a cat deposits a corpse of a critter on your porch it is gesture of respect and goodwill. When a cat rubs on you, it is scent-marking you.

4.) Pregnant women can’t be around cats: Sometimes cats can pick up a toxin from raw meat or certain soils that can be harmful for a pregnant woman. As long as she stays away from the litter box, she will be fine.

5.) Cats can be vegetarians/ vegans. People who adopt a vegetarian/ vegan lifestyle often wish to impose such a lifestyle on every member of their family. Cats are specific carnivores, which means that they will DIE if they don’t eat meat. Though dogs are omnivores, they need meat too. Here is a cool link that shows how a cat’s nutritional requirements differ from dogs: http://www.thepetcenter.com/article.aspx?id=3405


6.) Declawing is like nail trimming and the cat will suffer no ill effects. It is illegal to declaw a cat in many countries. The US is behind. Declawing is amputating the first bone on a cat’s paws, which has all sorts of negative effects on the poor kitty. Here’s a link for more info on this inhumane practice: http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm

7.) Cats always land on their feet. They don’t and can suffer severe injuries from jackasses trying to prove this. Interesting fact: Cats falling from higher places are often less injured than cats falling from lower places. Why? Because if they fall from a higher place, they have time to relax their muscles and almost turn their bodies into parachutes. I saw it on National Geographic, it was bitchin’.

8.) Cats cannot be trained. That’s a bunch of B.S. Cats are very intelligent and can be trained to do much cooler stuff than a dog. They just have to give a damn. Behavioral psychologist, B.F. Skinner once taught a cat to play the piano. Can a dog do that? YouTube is full of videos of cats using the toilet, talking, and even scuba diving.

9.) Putting butter on a cat’s feet will prevent them from getting lost if you move. I just heard this one last night and put it in since it’s so weird. Um…no. Who the hell came up with that?

10.) Cats can’t recognize human faces. This link describes the experiment that allegedly “proves” this. http://www.journalofvision.org/5/8/49/

Okay, now it is tangent time. I disagree with this conclusion because

A.) The test was based on recognition of “handlers” that worked with the animals for 2 hours a day. Cats aren’t stupid. They know when people are just handlers and are not part of their family. That’s why shelter cats don’t suffer any separation issues from the shelter workers and is also why most are so eager for the attention of prospective owners that visit.

B.) Cats have a very intricate social hierarchy system. A handler that only works with them for 2 hours a day, and in a group scenario, no less, will not have a significant standing in their hierarchy. In layman’s terms: They don’t give a damn about pictures of a handler.

C.) It was proven in the experiment that the cats recognized the pictures of the handlers over 50% of the time. Again, I think the rest of the times they just didn’t give a damn. Unlike dogs, it takes more than bribes to earn loyalty.

D.) The cats recognized the other familiar pictures in the experiment, so why should human faces be any different? Again, they just didn’t give a damn.