Someone quite close to me once told me they only read factual books, that they don't see the point of fiction. I know, it's tragic! 'Why do you want to read about something that's not real?' They asked. And my answer was 'That's the point - it takes you away from grim reality for a short while and you can lose yourself in someone else's make believe world.
Just think about it. What if all books were based on our hum-drum lives? How boring would that be? I don't know about you but at the end of a hectic day I like to slip into the bath with a good romance that makes me forget all my stresses and I don't think reading Diary of a Harassed Housewife would have quite the same effect!
As an author, I've been able to indulge my fantasies and I find myself drawn to historical places and times in which to set them. Take my debut novella, Pyramid of Passion, for example. I've always loved reading about the Ancient Egyptians' way of life and for some reason found it quite sexy. So, when I decided I wanted to write a fantasy it seemed the natural choice for the setting.
Rosie, my heroine, works in a museum and with the mystical powers of a gold pendant on display there, she is able to travel back and forth in time to have a steamy affair with an Egyptian soldier. The lucky girl gets to play dress up, sample the culture and have Edifu worship her body.
In my second story, 'In Her Element', which will be released in March as part of the Blood Bar Chronicles, my hero Zanaan is a Fire Elemental. I've given him powers which means he can teleport the lovely Ana to some very hot places!
My current WIP has the Titanic as the setting for my paranormal romance. Coming from the country which helped build the ship, I have a special interest in the events of 14th April 1912 and though the sinking was a tragic event, I'm sure there were hundreds of love affairs happening aboard.
Although I do research actual facts and figures for the background of my stories, these events fire my imagination enough to write my own version of what 'could' have happened. I hope in some way I can make my readers feel part of these stories, and THAT is the point of fiction!
Pyramid of Passion is available to pre-order now with Breathless Press
http://www.breathlesspress.com/pyramid-passion
Pyramid of Passion
Rosie Carter starts her night shift at the museum by finding her secret crush, security guard Nick, screwing a redhead in the office. Running from her attraction to him, she distracts herself with the newly acquired Ancient Egyptian exhibit. The Gold of Valor catches her eye--a pendant bestowed on Pharaoh's soldier, Edifu. Its mystical powers transport her into the bedroom of the man himself who thinks she's a gift from the gods and worships her with his mouth, his tongue...
She discovers the joy of sex and a new found confidence with her hunky warrior and she's caught between her fantasy life and dull reality. When Nick starts to show his true feelings towards her, Rosie has to decide what it is she really wants.
Excerpt
"Hmm. Your strange attire would indeed appear ineffective armor for the Goddess of War. If you are not the Goddess herself and she has not sent you, then perhaps Qadesh? Such a gift from the Goddess of sexual pleasure would surely increase a mortal's prowess on the battlefield tenfold." He drew a thick fingertip from the hollow of her throat to the zipper on her smock. Rosie had gone from Goddess to sex toy in one fell swoop.
That channel of need Nick's earlier performance opened up now swelled within her at another's touch. Adrenaline buzzed through her eradicating rational thought and she clung to facts where she could find them. "You're a soldier?" she asked.
"Yes. In King Rameses' Army." He rasped the zipper up and down in wonder, exposing and covering her goose-pimpled skin until she wanted to rip the damn thing off herself.
When she set aside the pleasures of her flesh for a moment, the importance of his words filtered into her brain. His obsession with the simple metal fastener of her top coupled with the exotic dreamscape forced her to ask the question, "What is your name?"
"Edifu." With one final tug, he unzipped her uniform and pushed it from her shoulders.
Okay! If, somehow this whacky set-up could possibly be real, was she really ready to leap into bed with the first Ancient Egyptian soldier to try it on with her?
Large hands cupped her breasts through the white cotton of her bra. When he bent to kiss her full on the mouth, she gave herself over to the moment. If, on the other hand, this was all fantasy, why deny herself a starring role?
"By the Gods, you are a true beauty." His husky voice on her lips commanded a rush of liquid desire to flood south.
How long since a man paid me a compliment? Kissed me with such reverence? Too long. She returned the passionate kiss with interest; let her hands explore the broad expanse of warrior chest available to her.
The humidity of the night combined with the radiating heat between their responsive bodies, soon became too much to bear. Besides, she couldn't wait until Eddie here figured out the complexities of the modern bra clasp. Under his lust-filled watch, Rosie divested from the remainder of her clothes.
He took a step closer and she shivered in his shadow. Masterful male fingers palmed her uncovered breasts, his sun-kissed skin in relief against her porcelain complexion, and stroked a thumb across her nipple. It stood to attention and he rewarded it by sealing his mouth around the pink tip. Gasps of delight seeped from her when he suckled and his tongue joined in the courtship.
Powerful arms lifted her and carried her over to the bed to lay her on the virginal white linen sheets. Totally at his mercy, she was enjoying every sinful second. For however brief a spell, she would revel in her womanhood and experience this man with pure abandon.
She reached for his granite-hard cock. He caught her searching hand and pinned it to the bed above her head. With a sensual smile he started a slow descent along her body, marking a path with a trail of wet kisses. Starting with her mouth, he moved down the center of her body, diverting only to pay homage to one unattended breast. Goddess or not, soldier boy seemed intent on worshipping her.
