“The 12 stages to intimacy can be overlaid against the story and relationship ARCs.”

There is always a hesitancy on my part when I am asked about what I write. For one thing, Comedic Women’s Fiction with Romantic Elements, is a mouthful; something I have to first prepare for by swallowing my saliva. But, for another thing, I have an idea that when I say Romance, that is what people glom onto.

It is not that I am embarrassed to write Romance. I can’t imagine trying to write anything that didn’t include a relationship.  Life is nothing if it is not about love. But, I think that what people think of when  they hear the word romance is sex. And this is the last thing I want to talk about with friends, family or even fans. (We can’t all be Delilah Marvelle… A wonderful writer in our group who writes very sexy, Historical Romance and always has a zinger at our meetings.)

But this was one of the reasons I was so interested in attending Elizabeth Boyle’s workshop on Adding Sexual Tension to our work. Note that the topic was about adding the tension, not just sex. And the very best stories
include tension of all kinds, sexual or otherwise. So I was determined to improve my craft in this important area.

One of the most important parts of her talk focused on the 12 Stages of Intimacy. Originally written about by Desmond Morris, it is a topic other presenters (especially Linda Howard) have discussed. But what I liked in particular about Elizabeth’s workshop was how she overlaid it against Story and Relationship, demonstrating when in the relationship each stage might naturally take place.

So, I came home and went through the manuscript I am working on (Molto Mayhem) to figure out how my timing was. It was interesting to see how I had subconsciously lined the moments up pretty accurately. Here’s an example-

Aiden chuckled, and Lucia felt his hand on the base of her back as he followed behind her. A tingle shot through her at the light touch and she jumped forward, like a cow shocked by an electric cattle prod.

This is the first time he has touched her that way, a stage of contact that is very intimate. It sends strong messages about desire and possession. Messages Lucia isn’t ready yet to face. Also, because Aiden skipped a couple of steps, Lucia’s assumption that he may be a player seems to be confirmed.

So, now that I’ve learned how to use the stages in my writing, I suppose it might be time to apply it to my personal life. For that, though, I think I better focus less on the tension and more on the intimacy.

Which stage of Intimacy do you think is the most sexy? (Don’t know what they are, link here to a great write-up by author Jenny Hansen) I love to hear your thoughts, and to prove it I’m giving away a copy of my book BETTING JESSICA to one lucky commenter during the
month of September.

Leave a comment for any of my blog posts and at the end of each month I will randomly select one visitor/commenter to receive a free download of my book. (Note: winner will be notified by a reply linked to their
original comment…. Check back at the end of the month for directions on how to claim your prize!)

“I was a totally different person there.”

Sometimes when we travel we end up in places that have such a strong identity they infuse us with it as well. Italy has always been one of these spots for me, and I was glad to find that Annie Seaton’s new book, ITALIAN AFFAIR, successfully captures its essence.

As you know, I don’t typically write book reviews in my blog. But in this case I was so intrigued by the setting (Italy) that I decided to join in her blog tour. I’m so glad I did! It turned out to be a fun story with a great sense of place. -

When Scottish girl Brianna finds she has inherited a property in Italy she feels she will finally be able to get a feeling for the mother she never knew. The catch? She must be married to inherit it. Lucky for her she meets a kind, if a bit uptight, Australian guy, Tom, who for his own purposes agrees to help her out.

While at times I craved a bit more character development, this may have been because I liked both Tom and Brianna and wanted to see their personalities shine through even more. The story itself has just the right pacing so that the reader can enjoy the beautiful Italian setting.

And enjoy it I did! Descriptions of the villa she has inherited which brought me into the beautiful Mediterranean sunshine; attention to the details of food and drink; the portrayal of sounds which remind the reader they are in a living place.

     A whitewashed villa sprawled down the hill at the end of the
  road. The vista of the sea formed a scenic backdrop to the waves
  breaking gently on the pebbled beach far below them.
    “Is this it?” He strode down the hill and caught up to Brianna,
  who stood at a locked wrought iron gate. Tom peered over the
  top of the intricately scrolled metal into a paved courtyard with
  a small fountain in the middle. Wind chimes tinkled and the soft
  sound of the cascading water greeted them from inside.
                                                   (excerpt from- Italian Affair)

All of this allowed me, for a brief time, to travel to Italy and watch as the two main characters became the Italian versions of themselves… still quirky and unique, but a bit softer around the edges and more passionate about their own lives.

I give ITALIAN AFFAIR,  4 * stars. Take your own trip to Italy via this fun story and you might become a different person for a while as well.

Which of your favorite books have immersed you in their setting? Do you become a whole new person (without the help of alchohol:>) when you travel? I love to hear from readers, so leave a comment and be sure to let me know what you think of my posting a review every now and then.

Here’s to your own Journey Inspired by Love -
Deanne
                                    Be to click on the 'Read More' button below right for Author Bio, Book Blurb and Tour details