Sirens… finned or feathered?

Most people picture a mermaid when they hear the word ‘siren’. In recent art and literature sirens have been largely depicted as beautiful women or men with scales and a tail.

Mention of finned sirens can be found through the centuries on every continent from Japan to Nova Scotia. They are seductive, sensual creatures, luring admirers – and in some cases lovers – with their enchanting song.

Starbucks even adopted a mermaid with a split or dual tails for their logo, an image centuries old, fashioned on an old Norse woodcut.

Originally, in Greek Mythology, sirens were depicted with the lower body of a bird, and artists through the centuries have explored different variations of air and water borne creatures.

J W Waterhouse – Odysseus and the Sirens

Regardless, sirens tend to represent a sensuality laced with danger many associate with a beautiful woman.

You may deduct from this post that I am still working on my ‘tale’ of historical erotic fantasy featuring an unknowing siren who goes on a metaphorical and physical journey of discovery with the delectable adventurer who becomes her husband.

Yes, I was sucked in by the exotic locations, the history and the steamy sex scenes (in ships, on window ledges, on work benches, on beaches, in pools…) The story has grown much larger than the novella I had originally planned. At this stage there are also two short stories, and another two books (at least) in the series. That’s how excited I am about the fantasy dimension behind the ‘real’ historical world that I’ve created.

So, look out for the ‘Nymphs of London’. The first novel ‘Siren Song’ will be calling out to you by the end of 2021…

Sources:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-siren-on-your-starbucks-cup-was-born-in-7thcentury-italy

https://www.audubon.org/news/sirens-greek-myth-were-bird-women-not-mermaids

Sexy times with food…

Food, sex and wine – my three favorite sensual pleasures. I’m thinking… why not combine them?

The obvious way to indulge would be a dinner date, or you could try ‘foodplay’ (think grapes, popsicles, whipped cream, phallic shaped vegetables 😉 within the bounds of healthy, safe sex of course.)

Photo by Womanizer WOW Tech on Unsplash

You might wonder what got me started thinking about combining food and sex. Well, the idea came from my creative friends in one of my stories-in-progress… Sweet Caroline, a ffm menage erotic romance. So far there’s ice-cream and champagne, as well a delicious but inedible sex toy. If you’d like to sample a bit of sweetness, check out the excerpt at the end of this post…

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pleasure in the past

In the story I’m madly working on at the moment, Siren, Elisabeth Tanner is a passionate, virginal bride-to-be, set in the British Virgin Islands in the early 19th century. Having grown up in a marginally less rigid society, with a companion/maid who would these days be considered a couples sex therapist (her reason for being employed in Elizabeth’s parents house provides an interesting secondary story) Beth is determined to enjoy the marriage bed.

The day of her engagement to scientist explorer William Swan – the day before he is to leave on a 6 week voyage – Beth gives her betrothed a notebook and asks him to write her a journal of pleasure while he’s away, to enlighten her in the joys of sex.

He goes one better and also has the sail-maker craft a sex-toy to practice with, and to give herself pleasure. Something like this, and 18th century dildo found in Poland, eight inches long and made of high quality leather with a carved wooden tip.

As usual, I did some digging on-line (hence the photo, above) and found some fascinating information on the history of sex aids.

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carried away… underground

I’ve been bitten by the historical bug… actually, I think I was bitten at birth, and this is in fact a serious relapse! I’ve always been a huge fan of historical fiction – and non-fiction – now I’m being sucked down into a glorious eddy of Victorian hedonism, vice and hidden, ancient sites in the name of research 😉

I can’t wait to share my discoveries as I explore the underground pleasures and taboos of historic London. Watch this space…

But now I have the cover, I better not get distracted by all those wicked temptations… I must write!

Pre-order now

Getting hot and sweaty in the Australian outback…

in this sizzling small town romance

I’ve been reading (and dreaming) my way through the newly released, multi-genre romance anthology Revealed, and have just finished Sara Hartland’s Ryan’s Return, one of six sexy novellas. I loved it so much I thought I’d share a few of my favorite parts…

…she could no more resist than the tide could resist the moon.

She suddenly didn’t care that she was playing with fire.... when he tugged her hand, she spun and circled into his arms, then whirled out again, in time with the music, joy in her limbs and laughter on her lips. They circled the dance floor in game of catch and release, light touches and finger-tips curling, her breath quickening, giggles escaping as her spirits soared with the music.

He looked like he wanted to devour her. She felt like she wanted to let him.

There is so much more gorgeousness in this story that will make your toes curl!

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6 hot romances for one amazing price…

I am so excited to join forces with a team of fabulous writers to offer a banquet of tasty stories in the anthology Revealed

And to celebrate the release, we’ve reduced the price from $9.99 to just 99 cents until September 8, or free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers (click on the image to read)

Satisfy your craving for all things romance when you indulge in these six enticing novellas…

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bare… and Revealed

While researching my latest novella (which will released very soon, check out the cover – just finished this morning – at the bottom of this post), I read some of Walt Whitman’s work. His views on the human body, soul and nakedness are perfectly attuned to the ethos of my main character, who is a naturist and artist who connects with her muse through her connection with nature… and nakedness.

Never before did I get so close to Nature; never before did she come so close to me … Nature was naked, and I was also … Sweet, sane, still Nakedness in Nature!

A Sun-bathed Nakedness, Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman is often called the father of free verse. His work was controversial during his lifetime, and was described as obscene for its overt sensuality.

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Want to see more?

Apologies for the late post. Mr August was a little hesitant at first, especially when he learnt of your response to Mr July… Overwhelmingly, you want to see more of my monthly featured playboy.

This month I’m featuring Ethan Cox (from my enemies-to-lovers celebrity novella Little Blonde Lies), the star actor of the streaming TV show Kingmaker. He was a little shy to begin with, but once he got into the swing, things got very hot… and wet. Take a look…

Mr August – Ethan Cox, actor
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