SimplySxy

Author: Kristin Aragon

  • An Interview with Lee Rene by Kristin Aragon

    An Interview with Lee Rene by Kristin Aragon

    I recently connected with writer Lee Rene.  Lee Rene is the nom de plume of a Los Angeles-based author of erotic romances and New Adult novels.  Although Lee has attempted writing romances in the past, she finally found her voice in the world of erotic literature.  Lee has authored the new erotic romance – The New Orleans Hothouse, and was quite enthused to talk about her maiden voyage into erotic romance, a journey that took years.

    Kristin: Hi Lee, it’s great of you to find a moment to chat about your upcoming novel, The New Orleans Hothouse. Tell us a bit about yourself?

    Lee: I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I had a poem published in an anthology at fourteen, but though I had the knack, I didn’t have the discipline or the will it takes to become an author. Not only must a writer learn the rules of his or her craft, but writers also have to be selfish with their time. I just couldn’t do it. The muse tapped me on my shoulder in New Orleans, and I began writing in earnest, first working for a lifestyle magazine, then writing movie reviews. Fiction remained difficult and although I always wanted to write romances, they eluded me until I entered the world of erotic romance, then everything came together.

    Kristin: Romance versus erotic romance? Would you mind explaining a little about the differences?

    Lee: Erotic romance versus standard romances allows a writer to explore all elements of a romance including the carnal. I could let me hair down without censoring myself, use stories my friends had told me about their relationships and their erotic lives. Since my protagonist, Danny Rothstein, was a young guy, it allowed me to examine how men view sex as opposed to women.

    Kristin: As a person who has gotten to know you over time, I’ve learned you love to stage your novels in the 1950s. Is there a particular reasoning behind the period?

    Lee: The fifties was a turbulent time regarding sex. Feminism had emerged, women were working outside of the home, and sexual attitudes were changing. Still, the concept of sexual harassment was an alien one and girls who loved sex were still considered whores. I love New Orleans and had read a great deal about New Orleans in the 1950s when the New Orleans went through a growth spurt, and exotic dancers were the queens of the city. I threw in a bit of Mad Men and The New Orleans Hothouse was born. I have another manuscript set in the 50s New Orleans that involves gangsters and police corruption; afterward, I want to switch focus to contemporary romance.

    Kristin: You made your protagonist a young man and rather sexist from contemporary views. Tell me a little about that?

    Lee: I loved writing in the male voice. I found it freeing. Not only did it allow for variety, but I could also make the language a bit cruder than it would be from a young woman of the same period. I found it liberating to get into a man’s head, be as raunchy as I liked yet show the humanity underneath. Danny is at heart a terrific guy, but he’s been spoiled by women and never heard the word “no.”  He meets a girl who uses him for her own pleasure in the same way the way men often use women and it shocks him. Danny isn’t ready for a truly liberated woman, it is the 1950s after all, and immediately labels her a slut. Later he realizes what a fabulous girl she is and his arc as a human begins.

    Writing as a male allowed me to explore the double standard that was so prevalent during that period. I didn’t make Danny wrong for some of his views, i.e., nice girls don’t do “that”, just misguided. It was also important for me not to “slut shame” Yvette, my female character, or any of the other female characters either. I wanted them to embrace their sexuality and not be totally dependent on a man for their sexual pleasure. It’s a theme I hope to explore more fully in the future.

    Kristin: How would you compare this with other popular erotic romances?

    Lee: I really got into “pillow talk” and tried to make it as explicit as possible. Perhaps it’s been my own experience that dirty talk turns people on when they are making love. I remember a friend saying she had to have a man who “talked that talk.” Look at the success of that song, Talk Dirty to Me. People, male and female, love it.

    Kristin: I, personally, cannot think of a better place for an erotic romp, but why did you choose New Orleans?

    Lee: New Orleans is so sexy— the music, the mystery, the history. I remember staying in the Quarter one year and not being able to sleep from all the sexual activity around me. It truly is Erotic City, a dark, dangerous, and romantic place.

    Thank you, Lee, for answering some of our questions. You have given us some insight into your experience writing your novel, which is much appreciated. Good luck with sales, and I hope to hear more from you soon. The New Orleans Hothouse goes on sale December 30, 2014. ONLINE ONLY! Get your copy HERE.

    Stay tuned for an exclusive excerpt from The New Orleans Hothouse tomorrow!

    Image courtesy of Loose Id
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  • Hold That Thought… For a Minute

    Hold That Thought… For a Minute

    The night starts out harmless enough.  Your new hottie is chilling on the sofa, drinking wine and watching the hottest new action film out on DVD.  You’re snuggled into his side, his arm wrapped around your back, comfortable and secure.  A light squeeze from him and you look up to find him staring down at you, a hint of desire blossoms, and bam!  His lips meet yours, tongues collide and dance together, spurring the relaxing night in an entirely new direction.

    By the time you rip your lips away from his for a breather, you’re straddling him, buttons are being popped open and hands are wandering.  Hearts pump faster, rushing the blood to the best parts of your body.  You’re lightheaded, heated, and ready to get naked.

    We’ve all been there and there’s no shame in embracing your sexuality.  And while the safest and most responsible answer would be to not have sex until you’re better acquainted, we live in the real world where our whacked-out emotions often overrule the “sensible” thing.  However, slowing things down for a few minutes to think about protecting yourself and your partner is important.

    When was the last time you were screened for sexually transmitted infections?  How well do you know your partner, and when was the last time he’s had a health screening?  Are you on birth control?  Until all these questions are addressed, safety is an absolute must.  There’s just no way around it.

    The very first thing I want to stress is the need to be open and honest with your physician.  In order to properly screen you for the correct diseases, they need to understand your sexual history, and I can almost promise you there’s nothing they haven’t heard before.  I’ve worked with these men and women, I even did a stint at a health clinic for a bit, and things happen to people in all facets of life.  In fact, sitting here thinking, I can’t imagine one thing a person could say to shock me.

    Different STIs (previously called STD’s) are identified through various methods: blood tests, urinalyses, physical exams, and fluid or tissue samples.  None of these are what I’d call exciting, but when compared to the symptoms of many STIs, a needle prick or pelvic exam seem downright enjoyable.

    Until both you and your partner have been screened and agree to a monogamous, committed relationship, protection should be a regular part of your sexual repartee.  Alone, birth control has a high efficiency rate of preventing pregnancy, but no matter what form: the pill, a shot, NuvaRing, IUDs, etc., will not protect you from STIs.  Condoms are the way to go.

    They make condoms for both men and women, though studies have shown men’s condoms to be the best choice for preventing diseases.  And hey, why not make using them half the fun?  Be creative.  Watch him roll it on, letting the anticipation build and excite you.  Or, slide it on yourself while giving your man a hand job, or get super creative and learn to apply it with your mouth?  After all, why would they make them flavoured if you weren’t supposed to give them a lick or two?  Just be careful of those teeth!

    Female condoms will provide a barrier of protection and help prevent diseases also, they just haven’t proven to be as effective as men’s condoms.  And dental dams can be used for oral sex to keep fluids and bacteria from being transferred between partners.  Different textures can be fun to experiment with… being safe doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

    We’ve all heard the “But it feels better without a condom” line.  Maybe it’s true, I’m not a guy and I’ve been married for 19 years, so I can’t honestly recall what having sex with a condom feels like, but I do remember enjoying sex before my husband, and I relished in the fact I could go into marriage disease free.

    And people, condoms need to be worn for every sexual act: oral, vaginal, and anal.  They need to be discarded after each sexual act, and another applied before going another round or switching from oral to vaginal, vaginal to anal, or any other of combinations you desire.

    So, now he’s wrapped, or you’ve secured a feminine condom in place; here’s your time to lose yourself in each other, experiment, and just have some all-out fun. After all, a few orgasms are good for one’s body and mood!