The new SilkWords Shared World B’s Book
Labyrinth (and its first story Sweet Trouble) is my first foray into
contemporary erotic romance. Previously I’ve written sci-fi romance for Tor
Books and Wattpad, and fantasy erotica that I’ve indie published via my
literary agency.
I found the idea of writing contemporary
romance pretty daunting, I must say. What kind of conflict do normal couples
experience? It was tempting to throw in some aliens or zombies just to keep
things interesting, and I confess to slipping in a ghost, but it does fit the
setting of the book (a bookstore in a funky old turn-of-the-century mansion).
With all that said, I really enjoyed the
opportunity to flex some new writing muscles. And I have to admit the couple in
Sweet Trouble — a young bookstore proprietress and a rock band frontman
— are not exactly your everyday sort of couple. I’m going to tempt you to find
out for yourself by offering a few tantalizing details about Brody, the story’s
hero …
1. He’s my first rockstar lover.
At least the first one I’ve written about. Who hasn’t, at some point,
fantasized about rockstars? In my pre-teen years, I fell hard for Shaun Cassidy
and Rick Springfield (showing my age, I know). As a young adult I wanted to
have Chris Cornell’s babies (frontman for grunge band Soundgarden). And more
recently than I care to admit I had a thing for Swell Season and Frames
singer/songwriter Glen Hansard. Brody was inspired by the ubersexy Lenny
Kravitz.
2. He’s my first hero of African
American descent. There’s been much talk of late about creating more
diverse characters in the romance genre, and I’ve thought about the topic a
lot. I think it can be very intimidating writing a character whose ethnicity
doesn’t match your own — the last thing you want to do is offend someone
through unconscious insensitivity. But on some recent blog post on the topic I
read the comment (paraphrased) “So you can write about aliens but not about
someone of a different race?” Since I’m a sci-fi author who has written an
alien heroine and heroes who were (1) genetically engineered, (2) created in a
test-tube from ancient DNA, (3) a faun, and (4) half crow, this comment hit
pretty close to home.
3. He has a band called Iron
Clementine. Their music is moody and gritty, with an alt country twang. The
story’s title (Sweet Trouble) came from the lyrics of a song in this
style by Duke Garwood (Disco Lights, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0MqEtqSoH4).
Here are some observations from the
story’s heroine as she watches Iron Clementine play for the first time:
Brody exchanged a glance with his bass
player, and a rich, layered sound expanded from the stage, filling the crowded
room. He bent his mouth to the microphone and words began to tumble out, low
and velvety.
Let me just start by saying I knew what I
was getting into. There’s a reason rock stars can date women far younger and
prettier than they are. I’m not exactly sure what that reason is, but I think
it has a lot to do with the fact that there is something very raw and sexual
about fingering a guitar while singing into a microphone like it’s a woman you
want to go home with. And the energy it takes to front a rock band ... well,
it’s hard not to envision other ways that kind of energy could be put to use.
Take all that and add it to the fact that
Brody was more than easy on the eyes, and it was no wonder the inside of the
Tractor looked like it had been overrun by a bunch of horny forest nymphs — gyrating
to the music, hands in the air, beaming trance-like at the stage.
So spill! Who was your first rockstar
fantasy lover?
B’s Book Labyrinth Series
Sharon Lynn Fisher
Genre: Contemporary erotic romance
Publisher: SilkWords
Date of Publication: April 2
Cover Artist: Indie Designz
Book Description:
Welcome to B’s Book Labyrinth and Bistro! The first novelette in this SilkWords Shared World Series, Sweet Trouble is the story of smart and feisty bookstore owner Bronte and sexy Seattle-area rock musician Brody.
Brody appears at the store’s grand opening to pick up a book recommended by an ex-girlfriend — and to meet the woman responsible for him losing his apartment.
The awkward first meeting does nothing to dampen the instant chemistry, but with Bronte wrangling menus, book buyers, and the resident ghost, and Brody’s rockstar-complicated past, can either of them afford even the sweetest kind of trouble?
Available at Silkwords.com
About the Author:
An RWA RITA Award finalist and a three-time RWA Golden Heart Award finalist, Sharon Lynn Fisher writes stories for the geeky at heart — meaty mash-ups of sci-fi, suspense, and romance, with no apology for the latter. She lives where it rains nine months of the year. And she has a strange obsession with gingers (down to her freaky orange cat). In addition to her SilkWords stories, she’s authored three science fiction romance novels for Tor Books: Ghost Planet (2012), The Ophelia Prophecy (2014), and Echo 8 (2015). She’s also the editorial director for (and a partner in) SilkWords! Visit her at www.sharonlynnfisher.com.
SilkWords is the go-to source for interactive romance and erotic fiction.
With gorgeous custom covers and a clean, sophisticated design, the SilkWords site offers a secure, upscale reading environment. In addition to content on their web site, they offer stories for purchase in the standard e-book formats.
SilkWords is owned and operated by a full-time mom with a background in genetics and an RWA RITA-nominated, multi-published sci-fi romance author.
Their technology guy and site designer was the founder of Microsoft Xbox Live.
SilkWords features two formats that allow readers to choose how the stories will proceed.
Pick Your Path:
Will she or won't she? With which man (or woman) in which location? With Pick Your Path romance, you decide. Romance and branched fiction are made for each other, like picking your favorite flavor of ice cream...positions, partners, and paraphernalia, oh my!
Reader Vote:
Readers vote at choice points and decide how the story will continue. These stories are a great way for readers and authors to connect. It’s exciting to be part of a developing story!
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4 comments:
I think my first Rock Star crush was Jon Bon Jovi...
Oh, I had a season hung up on him too!
I also neglected to mention a big one ... Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails. Which in hindsight was just weird. What can I say, I like 'em moody!
I'm totally going to date myself here, too, but I was pretty infatuated with John Denver. (Probably no surprise, since my debut novelette has the same title as one of his songs.) There have been others, but he was the one who's career I followed closely through the years.
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