fiction

A prize for Spicy writing

~ Josie Baker ~ Leave a comment

Well, it’s that time of year again – I’m off to Sydney for the annual RWA conference, and I’m going as a prize-winner!

I recently ranked first in the Spicy Bites competition, and my story Daisy, Chained, will appear in the annual RWA Short Story Anthology Chains, which is being released on August 18 (this Saturday).

The story was a pleasure to write, the words seeming to flow through me–almost writing themselves–from my imagination onto the page. I almost felt like an imposter when I heard I’d received a score of 100% from the judges.

Spicy Bites announcement

I would love to share with you a short excerpt. But first a quick background…

Daisy, hiding the vulnerable side of her nature behind her adopted name Kalika (for the warrior goddess), is the only female member of a private martial arts club.

Hiro is a special guest, invited to demonstrate a weapon not previously used at the club – a chain whip. Sounds kinky, hey?

Continue reading →

The Little Death

~ Josie Baker ~ Leave a comment

I have a confession to make: I adore drinking wine – white or red – and have been a fan of rosé, especially the dry varieties, for many years. As a lover of most things French and sensual, on a recent mini break to Queensland’s ‘granite belt’, I couldn’t resist ordering the La Petite Mort Rosé from a restaurant wine list.

The cool, high country and decomposed granite soils of the area make for unique and excellent wines – the label got my attention, andthe wine did not disappoint!

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http://www.lapetitemort.com.au/

As I was drinking, my curiosity sparked and I did a little digging about the origins of the term ‘La Petite Mort’. The little death as a metaphor for orgasm is fairly mainstream, and has been used as a title for many things, including restaurants and a ballet, and is referenced widely in music lyrics.

The term was in use as early as the 16th century, originally referring to a fainting fit, later enlarged to include ‘nervous spasm’. More recently the term has been used to describe a sexual orgasm as a spiritual as well as physical release, an orgasm so intense it feels like an out of body experience; the feeling of having expended life force, of having died a little.

Surely, a little warm death is even better? (sung beautifully by Stringmansassy):

La petite mort is commonly used in literature, although not always in a sexual way (i.e. Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles) and literary critic Roland Barthes used the term to describe the experience of reading great literature.

I’m sure I’ll find a way to slip it into my writing…

I’ll leave you with a beautiful but sad song…

a tout a l’heure…

deleted (sex) scenes

~ Josie Baker ~ 2 Comments

In case you’ve noticed how quiet things have been around here, it isn’t because I got caught in an alternate universe… I’ve been writing women’s fiction, which doesn’t really lend itself to making discoveries suitable for sharing here.

On the up-side of my ‘vanilla’ pursuits, I’m currently editing a story that I wrote with quite a lot of spicy sexual elements, most of which are going to need to be heavily edited or removed, so the story fits in with the rest of the series.

So, as I come across those naughty little scenes, I’ll share them here 😊 I hope you enjoy them.

And in the meantime, I’ve been exploring the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of the female foot as a sexual turn-on…

Alter-egos are healthy

~ Josie Baker ~ Leave a comment

Most people have an alter-ego, an aspect of themselves they like to, or need to, keep hidden from their family, children, work colleagues.

I have an alter ego. You’ve met her – Josie Baker. Although, because this is her blog, I guess it’s her ‘regular’, ‘respectable’ self who is the alternate personality here.

It amazes me that people who are a part of my regular life see me as demure – prim even, straight laced. My clients; the staff at my local library; the girl who does my facials and waxing; my acupuncturist; osteopath; doctor; the girls in my yoga class; don’t see the sexual nature that is so much a part of ‘me’. They would never suspect that I am Josie – the girl who writes erotica, who thinks about sex and fantasises about the many different sexual scenarios which could spring from the situations happening all around her, every day.

I could count on my 2 hands the people who know both of my personas – most of my writing friends know me as Josie, but only a very few know who Josie is with her mask on in the world of legitimate identities.

It is fun being two people. I love having an alter ego, and I love having a space for her to stretch and feel free to be herself. I love having an outlet for the secret part of me. I especially love everyone who visits to check in with me, those who ‘like’ one of my posts, or who decide to ‘follow’ and keep the connection.

Josie is the person I would have been if I’d made a different life for myself. You never know, maybe one day I’ll be brave and introduce myself as Josie Baker, and everyone will know what goes on in my head 😉

I plan to share more of my erotic fantasies in 2017, right here, so please drop in and say ‘hi’ sometime.

Wishing you a new year full of love and pleasure.

Josie

Romance Writers of Australia

~ Josie Baker ~ Leave a comment

I’m very excited to be flying off to Adelaide later this week to attend the annual RWA conference. Friday is going to be a big day for me – I’ll be attending the full day workshop on Story Mastery by the legendary Michael Hauge, AND the e-book of my collection of sensual short stories and novelettes will be launched on Amazon.

LLNC cover Amazon

‘Love, Lust & Nipple Clamps’ is a compilation of the four editions of Peep Shows I’ve published plus a brand new story, ‘Penetration’, to make nine in total. When Gwen sheds her puritanical fiance, the journey to sensual liberation takes her to an illicit sex club where voyeurism is the only entry requirement; and into the office of its damaged owner, Alex, who could do with some healing of his own. Will Gwen break through the iron control he holds over his desires and find what she truly craves: acceptance and respect for her sexuality?

I think it will make a gorgeous physical book as well, so once I get the cover art finished I’ll be making it available for print on demand.

Oooh, and I’ve just found the most gorgeous corset at my new favourite store, Honey Birdette, to wear to the cabaret themed cocktail party on Friday night. I’m counting down the days  …

SEx Libris

~ Josie Baker ~ Leave a comment

What is it about erotic personalised book labels?

I recently decided to create my own Ex Libris label to use on my vast and much loved collection of books in the hopes they will return to me one day when I loan them out. So, I had a quick peek at what others were doing.

It seems the humble book label is the perfect outlet to express one’s individuality and creativity. I was not expecting the eroticism of some of the artwork I found – obviously many people express the erotic leanings of their personal library through their Ex Libris label.

Embed from Getty Images

Some of the designs are gorgeous, many are wonderfully titillating. I noticed a trend in the sensually themed labels toward the myth of Leda and the Swan. I’m not overly familiar with Greek mythology, but obviously there’s an erotic tale in there. I think I’ll have to do a bit of reading in that direction … there may even be inspiration for a modern retelling.

Some of my favourites are on my Pinterest board:

To come, or to cum…

~ Josie Baker ~ Leave a comment

While drafting a steamy short story today, I become strangely caught up and indecisive about whether I was using the slang term ‘cum’ correctly. Should I replace with ‘climax’ or ‘orgasm’ for the verb, ‘semen’ or ‘ejaculate’ for the noun?

In my search for answers, I came across this clever article, which made me smile and clarified the ‘proper’ use of ‘cum’ and ‘come’.

Come is excellent for use in ‘polite’ circumstances: journalism, novels, etc
‘For example, there you are, having sweet vanilla sex with your shy, classically handsome crush, listening to vintage Taylor Swift while the pie in the oven gets a little burnt, though it’s still definitely edible. He comes, there is come.’
and, or course, for all those delicious double entendres and sexual puns.

Cum is the more blunt, vulgar alternative (commonly used in men’s magazine articles, romance novels, etc)
‘The standoffish but mysteriously attractive guy from the party wants to have his way with you. His pillows are made of leather. Crazy. “I’m gonna cum,” he grunts.’

Quotes above by Katy Waldman

Verbally, misunderstandings can be unavoidable, but in writing the use of ‘cum’ is handy to make the sexual meaning clear if the sentence is ambiguous – and not intended to be. Continue reading →

Getting hot in the library … ‘Atonement’

~ Josie Baker ~ Leave a comment

I absolutely adored the book when I first read it many years ago, especially Ian McEwan’s descriptions of the ripeness of Robbie and Cecilia’s sensual awakening.

After knowing each other all their lives, on a sweltering day of growing agitation, Robbie concedes to the force of their unacknowledged attraction by ‘accidentally’ sending the wrong note of apology to Cecilia prior to a formal family dinner.

robbie's letter

“The anticipation and dread he felt at seeing her was also a kind of sensual pleasure, and surrounding it, like an embrace, was a general elation – it might hurt, it was horribly inconvenient, no good might come of it, but he had found out for himself what it was to be in love, and it thrilled him.”

Cecilia is shocked by his note but his words make her realise that the friction growing between them is sexual and the cause of her frustration, resulting in ‘that’ scene in the library.

“Daringly, they touched the tips of their tongues, and it was then she made the falling sighing sound which, he realised later, marked a transformation. Until that moment, there was still something ludicrous about having a familiar face so close to one’s own. They felt watched by their bemused childhood selves.” Continue reading →

editing erotic scenes

~ Josie Baker ~ Leave a comment

I have just begun the final edit on one of my novels, which began its life as an erotic romance. I am re-working it as women’s fiction with erotic elements, and some of the scenes need to be cut or heavily edited, like the one below (with an added embellishment at the end).

The novel is set in Paris. Henri is a French businessman; Lilianne is a suburban divorcée, visiting from Melbourne, Australia in search of her mother.

Embed from Getty Images

“I hope you don’t mind ma chérie, Maree is on her way up.” Disappointment at the idea of company was evident in Henri’s voice.

He’d been a perfect gentleman during dinner, charming and attentive, but the thrill when our gazes met was less than civilized.

Henri’s privileged background was so different to my own suburban upbringing, but the chemistry between us was indiscriminate. The lightest touch of his fingertips on my lower back as he pulled out my chair at the beginning of the meal had me yearning for more contact. The heated lust in his eyes whenever he found an excuse to brush my skin proved him a conspirator in our attraction.

Was I hoping this gorgeous man would seduce me? Could I protect my barely healed heart if I ended up in his bed?

It would be all too easy to follow wherever the night led: I was already in his home, an apartment that reflected the sleek, understated charm of its owner. Continue reading →

Sexy snippet – gorgeously erotic writing by Elsa Holland

~ Josie Baker ~ 6 Comments

I just have to tell you about one of the most beautifully written, erotic books I’ve had the pleasure to read (and I’ve read A LOT of books). I love to immerse myself in sensual writing AND I love historical fiction so I was thrilled to come across ‘The Veiled Heart’ by Elsa Holland.

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Set in Victorian London, Miriam is happily widowed after being damaged by marriage to a sadistic ‘gentleman’ and the failure of her peers to recognise or acknowledge his abuse. Miriam is no delicate, shrinking flower though, and is determined to use her freedom as a widow and her privileged position in society to help improve the lot of women on the street.

While purchasing sheaths in a plan to educate London’s prostitutes about sexual health, Miriam’s alter ego, Lily, crosses the path of a man who awakens her dormant sexual urges and challenges her vow to remain independent. Sparks fly as she gives in to her lust for Max – who she believes is a mechanic and safely below her station – while she struggles against becoming the possession of any man, even one who melts her with his passion.

And here’s the sexy snippet, as promised (making love in a carriage sounds like fun)… Continue reading →