Some of my favorite man-pics...

When I need something to stir my libido...

and get my muse to perk up...

 I run through my "hot guy" files...

 And I wear my drool bib...

 Then I check out my Facebook page for more hot guys...

And then I check out my Caveman photos...

  I can usually get some great ideas for heroes by doing that...but the big problem is...I sometimes just keep staring and forget to write. Sigh.

Multicultural and interracial romances...

I never really thought about it when I was writing these stories, but each one of these has a non-white hero. A hero of "color". To me, the heroes are simply heroes...sexy men with enough alpha appeal to wipe out any woman's resistance. In Never Tempt Fate, the hero is Hispanic (or as many reviewers say, "Latin/Latino). Tonio is one of my special men...hot and sexy and vulnerable. But his vulnerability makes him stronger.

My identical twins in Double Your Pleasure are Native American. Hot, delicious, and total opposites in personality, if not in looks. Hard-headed but soft hearted. They share cars, clothes, an apartment, and sometimes, women. Jonathan and Jason are modern big city guys. But they never forget their roots.

In Nothing but Sex, the hero, Mike Running Elk is a down-to-earth Native American. Strong and loving, and in love with an older woman who was once married to a man with looks and charisma...something Mike doesn't believe he has. But those who have read this book know that this man has more than enough of both to sink a battle cruiser.

The hero of My Sexy Sensei is Korean-American.  A man with a mission. And that mission is to overcome the resistance of one hot female black belt who thinks that work and sex don't go hand-in-hand. But James Rhee can't afford to let her off the hook, because she's the first woman in a very long time who has exactly the combination of attributes he wants...

Azrael Thunder Horse is one hard-headed, powerful man who firmly believes that Native Americans should stick with Native Americans. In Woman on Fire, our hot, sexy hero tries his damnedest to fire the new teacher he just hired...because she isn't a "real" Indian. But he can't seem to get the sexy red-head out of his thoughts...and he sure as hell can't keep himself out of her bed.

Each one of my "men of color" has very real issues...issues that helped make him what he is.  But I didn't write my stories with the color of his skin in mind...rather his cultural difference that builds conflict and tension in the story. But I am learning that there are many readers and reviewers out there who buy these books because they love romances between interracial or intercultural couples.

Never thought about that until my books began to show up on review sites that specifically review such books. I am learning as much from my readers as they are learning from me. And I love it!

My latest wip is about a Native American hero who is also a shapeshifter...now there's a combination of cultural conflicts if ever there was one. Again, I never thought about that while writing. But if my editor likes it enough to contract it, that will bring my special heroes to a total of seven. And it will be my first Native American heroine...

What do you think about interracial/intercultural stories? Any thoughts?

Fran Lee

I'm never sure when I post to this blog if anyone will read it...

I don't always go to the loops and ask for folks to come and read...

And when I do, I still only get a few folks who drop over and read.  So I blog mainly for myself...talking about how I feel and what is bugging me. I have a couple of good pals who drop over and comment, and I count myself lucky to have them.  To those of you who drop in every now and then, my deepest thanks.

 It's wonderful that you are kind enough to encourage this old broad. LOL!

Some of us have been friends since I first started writing, back in 2008-2009...and it thrills me to see you writing and getting your work published.  I know what a challenge it is to keep fighting to get your muse to work, and to get your work accepted.  Some of you have gone to mostly self-publishing.  Others have branched out to other smaller publishers.  It amazes me how proud I am to know each of you...for many of us began writing and getting published around the same time.

Thanks so much for your courtesy and concern.  And thanks for being there for me.

Hugs,

Fran Lee

WIP subbed...looking for inspiration...

There are things that inspire us...

and there are things that get our libidos up and running...

And I love to combine those things when I write...

Have you ever walked down the street, or strolled through the mall, and had that OMG! gut clenching, heart-shaking feeling just at the sight of a person who catches your eye?  We all have certain physical preferences in mind...but there is always that one image that jumps out at us and just screams "Come and get me!"

Ever been introduced to someone at a party or an event, and couldn't quite make your mouth work to get out a simple "Hi, there...how ya doing"? because your pussy clenches and your heart races and your thoughts get totally scrambled?  What makes that happen?  Do you think that pheromones can affect us that way?  Or is it our inner voice that tells us we are about to embark on the hottest ride we could ever imagine?

I can be driving along the street and some dude saunters along the sidewalk...and it takes iron nerves to keep driving without doing the rubber-neck thingy.  And oddly enough, that same dude probably doesn't even look hot to hundreds of other females driving along...so why did he effect me so much?  What inner ideal or feeling made me want to flip a U-turn and drag that guy into the nearest bush and have my lascivious way with him?

What flips your switches when someone simply captures your imagination and takes it on a roller coaster ride?  I think that my muse (as lazy and recalcitrant as she's been lately) is trying to inspire me to write something.  And it sometimes works.
 

It makes you kinda wonder.  Has that ever happened to you?

Fran Lee

A small smidgeon of my latest wip...what do YOU think?

Copyright 2013 by Fran Lee

Shutting off the faltering motor, she tossed her designer sunglasses onto the passenger seat and slid out of the car to stare in dismay at the scary sight of a delapidated cabin standing before her.

What have I done?

Had she truly thought this would be a restful, wonderful rustic vacation in the Desert? Her eyes slid over the old fashioned hand-pump that stood in front of the cabin next to an ancient bathtub with claw feet. At least in New York she’d had running water. And a toilet. The outhouse she could just see to the left of the area was the last frigging straw. Oh, no no no. With a fastidious shudder, she decided that she would much rather turn right around and drive back to town. They’d had decent motels, at least. With indoor toilets.

 

The door opened without being obstinate. No rusty hinges there. The expected smells of disuse were absent. She stepped inside the surprisingly tidy cabin and crossed the bare wood floor. Glancing around, she moved across to a covered window and tugged aside the sun-faded curtain. The window glass was clean. In fact, everything seemed to be clean. The open door and the window gave the only illumination to the interior of the utilitarian single room. She checked at the inside edge of the door for a light switch. Nope. Great. Her gaze slid to the vintage sconces on two of the rough log walls. Oil lamps? You have got to be shitting me!

But then, there were no electrical wires or poles anywhere along the rutted road she’d been following. Obtuse. Any sane woman would have noticed this fact. But then, shouldn’t there be a generator, at least?

She bit her lower lip and turned full circle to survey the cabin she had rented. The floors were swept and canned goods were on the open-front shelves along the wall. Another pair of free-standing hurricane lanterns stood on one of the shelves. No fridge. Good thing she hadn’t brought perishables.

Well…she had wanted rustic.

And I got ancient.

Chellie moved methodically around the small space. Oh shit! No way. The stove was cold, but a half-full coffee pot sat on the stovetop extension that was supported by a metal leg of sorts. It looked as if someone had very recently been in the cabin.

Or is living here.

Was there another cabin out here besides the one she’d rented? Obviously this one was already occupied.

Her heart tripped nervously. She swallowed the tightness in her throat as she moved across the room to the old chest of drawers that stood against the far wall. Tugging open one of the drawers, she issued an aggravated sound at the sight of men’s jeans, a couple of T-shirts, socks and odds and ends of underwear. She lifted a pair of soft, well-worn cotton boxer briefs between thumb and finger, and groaned. The place most definitely was occupied. “I fucking don’t believe this! What more can possibly go wrong today?” she said to no one in particular. A soft coughing sound behind her made her stiffen.

“Usually people don’t just walk in and start checking out my skivvies…but you, I don’t mind.” The rough, deep voice came from the direction of the open door behind her and she jerked around with a cry of shock to face the intruder. Intruder?

Oh, hell…looks like I’m the intruder…

The words, tall, dark and incredibly rugged flashed through her mind as she nearly tripped backwards onto the narrow bed and barely saved herself from further humiliation by staggering sideways before regaining her balance.

No part of the above excerpt may be used in any manner without express permission of the copyright holder Fran Lee.

 This is just a nibble...let me know if you like it so far?

Hugs!

Fran Lee

Whoopie! The big reunion is over and out of my hair...

And here I am, scratching my head...and starting on my wip...again.

Normally I would never show my face without the artifice of Photoshop...but this is about how I feel right now...worn out and trying to get myself back in balance after months of planning and working out the details of a big 50th high school reunion (and that in no way implies that I am that old)!  

I am writing every day for a bit, trying to get back into gear.  Without the stress of the reunion bogging me down, I find it much easier to do.  

My new wip is about another hot NA hero...but this time, he gets a NA heroine.  I hope I can do them both justice.  It's been over a year since I subbed anything to my editor, and she's getting more authors, and is very busy.  I hope I can get this one in to her by the middle of July.  With luck, it may be out before Christmas.

So I won't waste more time blogging when I have writing to do...see ya next month.

Fran Lee 

I've been living in the past...

 

For the last eight months, I have been living in the past...

And I have been sitting back collecting dust along with my older books. I think I have read every single book on my shelves, avoiding writing. But my last royalty check galvanized me into action. I can no longer sit back and not do what it takes to continue to write.

I have picked up and dusted off one of my wips and have begun in earnest to finish it. Wish me luck. I think I can do this, and will be as diligent as possible.

Hugs!

Fran