Friday, July 08, 2011

How Did I End Up in Erotica? Guest Blog, Giveaway and Tour Kickoff with Tanith Davenport

To see a list of all the tour stops visit Bewitching Book Tours

How did I end up here?

It all started three years ago when I decided to stop talking about writing a book and just write the damn thing. I had the idea that women's fiction would be a good genre to aim for, since that gave me freedom of plot choice while still allowing me to add the romance that I loved writing.

And then a plot suggested itself. A group of characters, all with confusion over their sexuality, and a sorority house, and a threesome.

Hmm. Sounding like erotica yet?



Well, it didn't to me.

I was part of the Romantic Novelists' Association New Writers' Scheme at the time and sent it off for critique under the heading of "contemporary". It came back with the advice to either heat it up or tone it down, as it wasn't clear if I wanted to write full erotica or just a sexy romance.

I didn't want to tone it down, so I heated it up. After all, it was a novel about sexuality, right? With ménage sex and a pegging scene? I didn't want to give those up.

Yet, for some reason, I still was pitching it as women's fiction.

I have Debi Alper, my Book Doctor, to thank for the decision to change my pitch. Through her, I finally realised that erotica doesn't have to be porn without plot. And through Total-e-Bound, who gave me my first chance, I've become part of a community with a wide vista of genres, all under the heading of erotic romance and yet all giving the freedom to stretch as we write.

And now I can finally release The Hand He Dealt to a world of erotica and erotic romance readers, and I hope it's as entertaining to read as it was to write!

The Hand He Dealt

by Tanith Davenport

ISBN: 978-0-85715-570-2

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Publisher: Total-e-Bound

Book Description:

Astra Scott likes to live life to the full. A sorority girl and Gaming Management student, she spends her days studying and practicing guitar, and her nights partying or working at the Fountain Casino, where she has an internship as part of her final semester. The only blot on her landscape is Ash Drake, her best friend Sasha’s boyfriend. Arrogant, physical and blond, Ash has never forgiven Astra for her rejection months earlier and enjoys annoying her at every turn.

But when Astra’s boyfriend Harry reveals a shocking secret, Astra responds in the only way she can think of: by finding a way to take on a more attractive, masculine role in the relationship. Her experimentation with sex toys finds a surprising outlet in Sasha, but when Ash discovers their secret and wants to get involved, Astra finds herself torn between dislike and desire… and as their undercover relationship grows, Astra finds herself falling in love, a path she feels can only end in heartbreak.

For Ash may be the only man whose own fantasies are a match for hers, but can she knowingly steal his affections from her best friend?

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1244

EXCERPT:

Two hours later, and Astra stood in front of her bedroom mirror, holding in one hand the toy she had bought from Amy’s Delights.

Rubber underwear was laced through her fingers, a small plastic remote control dangling below on the end of a long cord. And attached to the front—

Well.

It was a strap-on.

It was a strap-on dildo.

And it was purple.

A purple length of shiny plastic. A perfect simulacrum of a veined, circumcised penis, five inches long and of a thickness Astra considered average, just the right width to wrap a hand around.

She stared at her reflection for a long time, contemplating the dildo, before slowly drawing it back towards her body, holding it against her stomach.

No.

One foot through the straps, two feet…rubber caught against denim-clad legs, but after a moment’s struggle the strap-on dildo was in place, and Astra’s image stood in front of her, the purple dick jutting out in front like the hilt of a sword.

Slowly she rotated her hips, watching the dildo glide from side to side, before stopping abruptly with a giggle.

Shit. It looks like a fucking light sabre.

Watching herself in the mirror, she closed one hand around its length, giving it a tentative stroke.

Nothing. Unsurprisingly.

She tried it again, this time holding the remote control and flicking the switch. A sudden buzzing, accompanied by a muted vibration through her jeans, made her jolt sharply.

Interesting.

Flipping the switch again, she rocked her hips slowly, her eyes glazing. In her mind formed a picture of Harry’s smooth back and bare buttocks, thighs parting to receive her, Harry’s voice gasping, begging for more, more, please, more…

Oh.

The switch snapped off.

Astra eyed herself coolly, squaring her shoulders, her legs automatically widening into a masculine stance.



Would you like to win an ecopy of The Hand He Dealt?

One copy is being given away tour wide.

To enter just leave a comment at one or all of the stops along the tour

10 comments:

Rebecca Leith said...

Made my day - I've never had an 'adult content' warning when clicking on the link to a blog!
Good luck with the virtual tour.
Rebecca

Kate Thorn said...

Love the excerpt--kate thorn and good luck with the virtual tour!

Estella said...

Good luck with the virtual tour!
The Hand He Dealt sounds interesting.

June M. said...

That sounds great. Best of luck. It is now on my TBR list!

GFC follower: June M.
manning_J2004 at yahoo dot com

Jen B. said...

So, now you are in the world of erotica. Welcome to the club. The book sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.
jepebATverizonDOTnet

Maggie Nash said...

Hey Tanith!

You know I don't think we choose to write erotic romance, I think it chooses us! When it feels right, it feels right :-)

Congratulations on your release and the blog tour!

This book has such an interesting plot! I'm really looking forward to reading it.

Tanith Davenport said...

Thanks everyone - I hope you all enjoy it!

Bookwyrm369 said...

Congrats on your debut novel! Sounds like a great read :-)

smaccall AT comcast.net

latishajean said...

What a great giveaway Thank you so much!sounds very good Thanks for sharing! Im a GFC follower/latishajean
tishajean@ charter.net

Anonymous said...

It sounds really good. I would love to read it!
Good luck with the virtual tour!

ruby95660@yahoo.com