Stephanie Julian is the author of the Magical Seduction series, beginning with SEDUCED BY MAGIC and continuing with SEDUCED BY TWO from Ellora’s Cave. She’s a writer with a reading problem, though some days, it’s the other way around. Her series has gotten great reviews, which you can see on her website at www.stephaniejulian.com and her blog at On a Moonlit Night.
5. I love reading it. Reading is a necessity for me, rather than a luxury. I began reading romance as a preteen. Harlequins, of course. But I very quickly graduated to Kathleen Woodiwiss and Bertrice Small and fell in love with the fascinating world of sex in romance. No more closed doors for me. I loved the fact that these writers weren’t afraid to show their love scenes. The heroes were dark and tortured and the heroines were young and flighty. But the power of sex is a great leveler. It makes grown men beg and young women powerful. What’s not to like about that?
4. Writing it. I love the freedom inherent in erotic romance. By its very nature, erotic romance is all about being able to enjoy yourself, giving yourself permission to enjoy something out of your reality comfort zone.
3. Heroines who know what they want from life and how to get it. Romances didn’t always have strong women but in erotic romance, sex is the part of the journey. Sexual freedom gives the heroine strength through the sheer nature of empowerment.
2. Alpha heroes. Come on, who doesn’t love an Alpha? Strong, quiet, dark, tortured, willing to do anything for his heroine. He’s bad and he knows it. He’s willing to use his fists on the bad guys but more than gentle with his woman, even if he’s tying her to the bed.
1. It’s the Ultimate Fantasy. Those sexual scenarios that tie your brain in knots when presented with reality are the perfect way to spend a few hours wrapped in a book. And a ménage is one of those ultimate fantasies.
When I conceived of my Magical Seduction series, I wanted to explore as many erotic situations as possible. My first six stories are straight male/female, the bread and butter of romance.
But for the seventh, I wanted that ultimate sexual fantasy. A ménage. I love the fantasy presented by ménage. Two (or more) hot guys dedicated to the pleasure of one woman, how could that be bad?
In SEDUCED BY TWO, Nica Donato meets Tanner and Jensen Miller and, though she doesn’t realize at first what’s in store for her, she embraces the adventure. And the brothers.
As a strega, an Etruscan witch, Nica is a descendent of the once-mighty Etruscan magical civilization. She controls a powerful magic that must be kept hidden from the non-magical world. She’s also about to take her mother’s place in their boschetta (coven) and give up all notion of a normal life.
When she walks into that bar, she’s looking for a release, an escape. And finds the ultimate pleasure and the ultimate romance with two men. That meant two hot heroes for me to create. Two strong men with very different personalities, both of whom need compelling reasons to share the same woman.
For me, a ménage is like a teeter-totter, with a man on either side and a woman balancing in the middle. It’s quite a ride when you get all the logistics worked out. And an ultimate fantasy.
So tell me why you read erotic romance?
Stephanie Julian is offering a copy of SHADOW MAGIC, in paperback, which includes the first two stories in the Magical Seduction series – Seduced by Magic and Seduced in Shadow.
To enter, just leave a comment! The contest will be open through Thursday, August 20th until midnight and is open to everyone. I will announce the winner on Friday!!
Hi Stephanie,
I very much enjoyed your guest post and I was just wondering…again : )Is it hard to make the romance work in a ménage? I love to read them, the chemistry is so very different than M/M or M/F erotic romance.
I read erotic romance because besides emotional development between a couple, or more, there is equal time devoted to the explicit sensual side. How eroticism can provide struggles and growth and connect the characters on a different level.
And yes, there are also situations I find intriguing but would (currently) never do so in real life that draws me to the erotic romance.
I read it because it lets me escape from my every day life. I am a stay at home mom, and I work from home. My daughter is sick so we don't get out too much, so reading these stories lets my mind wander and take a break when I really need it :)
And it gives me a sense of adventure, reading about all of the possibilities in relationships :)
Thanks so much!
Amy M
atc218 at aol dot com
Leontine,
It's sometimes hard to work out the logistics of a threesome because you would think someone is always going to be left out. But if you make each man a separate entity, it's much easier to see how a woman would be in love with each of them.
Does that make sense?
Amy,
I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter. I'm glad you find that
escape you need in romance.
That's exactly what drew me to writing erotic romance, the escape from the normal boring everyday life of being mom and wife and employee and friend.
Sounds like a great book.
Hi Stephanie – this looks like a great series. I've only read one other erotica and I enjoyed it. I like seeing the characters grow, and the sensuality is part of that growth, in my eyes.
AND, as Leontine said, I like to read/imagine experiences that most likely won't happen in real life.
Confident heroines and Alpha heroes. SOLD!
I read erotic romance because sometimes you want something besides the sweet and nice romance! You want to be taken to the edge. And off course for the reasons above. I do demand that the erotic romance that I read has an emotional angle too. Don't want to read a string of sex scenes with no emotional bagage in between…
Commenting on the brother thing from the previous post (great review by the way Mandi!!): If done right it IS hawt.
A Lora Leigh (Bound Hearts series) book comes to mind about twins who form a permanent threesome (Can't remember the title just now) and that was my first brother/female/brother story and loved it!
I agree with what Pearl said.
I am likely to pick up an erotic romance when I'm really feeling like a stereotypical suburban dweller… like my life is nothing more than meatloaf, station wagons, and grading papers. Escaping into an erotic romance helps remind me that I'm more than a pair of dorky sneakers!
Hi Stephanie,
Nice interview :)
Why I read, well I am new to this, not many books in my library. And then I found the internet, what a lovely place and how easy to order books ;)
it's a nice escape, interesting scenarios, and a lovely way to let the mind drift away
Thanks for stopping by, ObsidianMorte.
Patti, I love to write series because it allows you to tell a new romance every time but revisit past characters, see what they're doing, have them help out.
In Seduced by Two, one of my favorite characters from series has a role. I love Cam.
Pearl, I'm a huge Leigh fan. I'm constantly in awe of her ability to produce so much work and still make it good!
And I'm with you, hot sex alone doesn't do it for me, there has to be a strong emotional core to the story.
That's part of the brother angle in this story, they have this strong connection because of a shared childhood trauma. I think it adds another edge to the story.
Kate, I'm right there with you in meatloaf land though I'm not giving up my Chucks for anyone!
Sometimes when my teenage sons make me feel particularly heinous, a good story is all I need to feel remind myself that I do have my own life and my own imagination. Make sense?
Blodeuedd,
I hope you continue to find those stories that let you drift away. They're the best.
Hi :)
Thank you for a great blog post.
Erotic romances are great fantasy novels. The sex itself helps reveal the characters (hah). Like all good books they are a break from the mundane.
:)
Love and hugs,
twitter: @RKCharron
xoxo
Hi Ladies!
Stephanie, I really enjoyed your post. I really got the sense that you not only love romance but you love writing it. I've never read your books before and now I'm scratching me head why.
I love erotic romance. I turned to it when I started craving more edge in the romance sex scenes that I was reading. The author that really introduced me to erotic romance was Joey W. Hill and I've remained a dedicated fan of hers for years. I'm really, REALLY lovin' the HQN Spice line. WOW! What a bunch of talanted erotic authors. Megan Hart and Charlotte Featherstone are my faves there.
I'd love a chance to give your work a try. Count me in for the giveaway!
;) VFG
Hi Stephanie. Great post.Your series sounds good. I read erotic romance because you get to read about couples who are strong, confident characters that are not afraid of exploring their sensual side.
Hi Stephanie and Mandi,
Great post! I read erotic romance because sex is such a major part of our lives. Whether we are open to others about it or are more closed up, we all think about it. We all do it. We all want to do it. It is more than just fantasy, it's something we all can relate with, even if sometimes the themes are over the top–like menages :D! It's part of who we are as people! So why not read about it. You never know what you might find interesting to suggest to the other person in your life. I suppose it's also therapeutic in a relationship as well. My honey never complains ;).
I'm new to reading erotic romance, but have enjoyed it so far. I think there is nothing more frustrating than getting totally involved in the characters' stories only to have the bedroom door shut in your face when things heat up. So much can be revealed emotionally in those sensual moments.
Good points! I'm a stay at home mom too..so why not add some spice into my daily reading:) Like Amy said, sex is part of life, so why not read about it…plus you can read and live out fantasies throughout these books.
When I read erotic, I tend to lean toward m/m…not sure why:) But I really enjoyed this m/f/m. I never once questioned their love for each other, the three of them just seemed to fit together, which is a sign of a well written menage.
RKCharron,
Yes, sex tends to expose a lot about a person. It's a great way to get into a character's head.
VampFanGirl,
I find that when I read a straightforward romance now, more often than not I feel like I'm missing part of the story if the sex scenes aren't fully realized.
Joey is a fellow EC author and yes, her books are wonderful.
Don't know if you've heard about EC's Romanticon in October but it's an event for EC authors and readers to get together. I'm hoping to be able to go but I know Joey is going to be there. She and I and several other paranormal romance authors will be at the Authors After Dark Paranormal Weekend in October too.
CrystalGB,
I think being able to express their sexuality gives characters a lot of strength and confidence. And who doesn't love a confident man!
Amy C,
YES! That's a great response.
FictionGroupie,
I think so too. When I was a teen, I discovered Kathleen Woodiwiss and Bertrice Small, my first introduction to the open bedroom romance scene, and though they're a little too close to rape fantasy now, which I don't read or write, I've been a fan of the genre ever since.
Mandi
Thank you again for having me. As you can probably tell, I love to talk romance and writing.
I don't read a lot of m/m but I do love Samantha Kane's m/m/f Brothers In Arms series. If you haven't checked it out, they're very good.
I have the first in that series in my tbr :)
Stephanie,
I'm the same exact way. I think that's why my preferences lean heavily toward paranormal or urban fantasy romance because the sex scens are usually very erotic. I do still enjoy my historicals, but again most of which that I gravitate towards have highly charged sexual tension and love scenes.
I have heard about EC's Romanticon although this year it's not close by. I've always been peeved that RWA doesn't acknowledge Ellora's Cave authors. You ladies are awesome and you deserve to be recognized. S'all I'm sayin'.
(((hugs))) VFG
Thanks VampFanGirl, I appreciate the support, and I think we have a damn fine publisher.
Hi Stephanie,
I enjoy reading erotics, but I would never do it myself. It's a bit risque for me.
Please count me in.
cindyc725 at gmail dot com
Hi Cindy, thanks for stopping by.
They are fantasies. Things I do not necessarily want to do myself (like flying a plane) but I enjoy reading about it.
And fantasies are wonderful, Sewicked. I love to fantasize about parachuting but I don't think that's every going to happen, especially since I'm afraid of heights.
Sounds great! count me in please
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Thanks for stopping by, throuthehaze.
Count me in, please!! :)
I read erotic romances for many of the same reasons I read paranormal or historical. To escape and experience things I wouldn't in real life. I love reading menages, light BDSM, and such. I'm not into that in real life but love reading it.
Reading all the comments, I have to agree with most. I read erotic romance for escape, fantasy, I'm intrigued by the sensuality between people, heck, I even learn a few things.(clearing throat) But what makes an erotic romance enjoyable is the character development, the chemistry and emotional connection the h/h have between them. It has to be a believable relationship.
I read about anything I can get my hands on! I read it because it is something different from my everyday life.
Kytaira, reading is all about escape, isn't it?
Armenia,
you're right, character is everything in a romance. If you don't fall for them, the story won't work.
Colleen, I know what you mean about being a voracious reader. In addition to reading romance, of course, I love nonfiction, especially speculative nonfiction. I'm reading David Hatcher Childress' Lost Cities of Atlantis at the moment.
Great post! And Great question, but I think for me I need to escape reality and I find erotic romance the best. Sometimes I can go for a little Chiclit, but I tend to lean on the juicier side of things!