Leslie Lee Sanders

Embracing Rejection Instead of Fearing It

2012-02-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

All writers experience publisher/editor/agent rejection at one point in their writing careers, but serious writers learn toembrace that rejection and use it to improve their writing.

Here's how:

Don't let it hinderyou

Just like that cutie in high school who never knew youexisted. If only you could've built the courage to plop your food tray down onhis table, slide in beside him and say, "Hi," things might've beendifferent. Instead, fear held you down at the table in the corner with the restof the unpopulars as you watched big busted Kyla sit down beside him and startup a giggle-laden conversation. What, just me?

Fear keeps you from trying because you're uncertain of theresults. And the ultimate fear for writers is … what if they don't like mywriting. And instead of finishing the novel, you put it on the backburnerbecause if you finish it then you'll want to share it. And what if they think it sucks?

You want to get it published, but you're afraid ofsubmitting it because you're writing sucks compared to other writers. What ifpublishers think you have no business writing, even grocery lists?

They accepted and published your novel, but you're afraid tomarket it because reviewers and readers could be harsher than any editor. What if they hate your book so bad the onlysales you get are from readers who buy your book for the satisfaction of watchingthe book burn ritualistic style and in your backyard, nonetheless?

Own up to the fact that you will be rejected one way oranother, sooner or later, and make sure every time you ...

Learn from it

A (sort of) nice thing to take away from being rejected by apublisher, editor or agent is that sometimes you get a valued piece of writteninscription known as a personalized rejection letter. Sometimes the editor willexplain why the manuscript wasrejected and sometimes will even give you pointers on how to improve it.Leaving you with the decision to fix it and move on (or resubmit) or move on toanother publisher without making any changes at all. Whichever you choose, thepoint is … you're moving on (or revising and resubmitting) and trying again.

You may get rejection after rejection and no explanation forit. Which isn't unusual but if your work is continually getting rejected it'stime to change your tactics.

Rewrite the query letter. Sometimes tweaking the query letteris all it takes. Since the query is the first hint of your writing skills theeditor encounters, it's important that it's just as polished as yourmanuscript.

Have someone else look over the query letter and manuscript.Sometimes it's difficult for you to see your own mistakes and typos, or ifsomething needs clarification.

Double check and followthe submission guidelines. Make sure the publisher publishes similar books inyour genre, are open for submissions, accepts from author or agent, etc.

Be professional. No emoticons, text-like abbreviations or usageof slang in your query letter or any written correspondence between you and publisher/editor/agent.

If all else fails … focus on writing your next novel. Don'tspend too much time rewriting and submitting the same manuscript. Move on to yournext novel which should be written better your last. You should keep learningyour craft and improving.

Know it's not the end

Serious writers understand it's not the end of your writingcareer or the end of rejection. There will be more rejection letters just aslong as you keep writing and submitting manuscripts. Rejection is a huge partof being a serious writer.

Imagine plopping your food tray down next to that cutie inhigh school and he turns to you with a look of disgust on his face. Your worstfear, right? Hey, you knew it could happen, at least you can say you tried andthat you learned to never go that route again. (Next time you'll catch him at hislocker after school.)

So embrace rejection instead of fearing it and use it to improveyour writing.

Reasons Writing What You Love Works

2012-02-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

As I write this, I have about adozen books with my name on them and I love them all. I love some more thanothers. The titles I like most are the ones with subjects I enjoy writingabout. The stories with an underlying theme or issue that's close to my heart.And I found I get thoughtful, more positive responses from readers when I writewhat I love. Below are some reasons why writing what you love can createbetter, more fulfilling writing.

1. It's easier to write what you'repassionate about.

If you're passionate aboutmarriage equality, if you have something to say about single parenting, or perhapsyou're an animal activist and enjoy writing stories about similar characters,chances are you'll be able to easily get your story onto paper or screen.

Ways to incorporate your passioninto your story are:

Through conflict: Making yourpassion a critical part of the story (major conflict), a character's decisionor battle (inner conflict), a character's past (backstory), etc.
Dialogue: Several characters candebate about the subject.
A character's belief on thesubject: The subject is a major part of the character's upbringing or backstorythat he's forced to explore and by the end has transformed.

2. You're knowledgeable about thesubject or are more willing to learn about the subject.

When you write what you love, youtend to know plenty about the subject and therefore are a sort of expert inthat regard. Your knowledge will come in handy for crafting a true to lifestory and believable characters. If you aren't an expert on the subject, yourlove for that subject will persuade you to learn more about it. Or at leastmake research fun instead of daunting!

3. You put more effort into yourproject.

I find when I believe in theoverall message of my story I spend an insane amount of time perfecting it.Enough is never enough when it comes to a project you really care about. Youput your heart into creating the absolute best. You agonize over every minutedetail. You have to get it right.

4. You convey your passion and/ormessage to readers better.

You immerse yourself in yourpassion, it seems fitting to eagerly share what you've learned, and your desireshines through effortlessly. Almost like telling someone about the first timeyou rode a roller coaster or witnessed something truly amazing, you're delivery is engaging. When you writewhat you love, what you're passionate about, the reader could tell too. Youhelp them understand why the subject is important to the writer, thecharacters, the plot, etc. Plus, you have fun writing it!

As a writer, are there otherreasons you think writing what you love works? As a reader, do you think awriter's passion for a specific content, subject, or theme makes for betterreading?

The Complicated Story Ending

2012-02-14T16:17:00.000-07:00

The ending of your story should be just as engaging as thebeginning hook. It should be emotionally satisfying, and tie up most if not allloose ends. If the book is part of a series, it still needs to stand on itsown, and answer all major story questions.

Sound familiar?

These are the (unofficial) rules about story endings that allwriters know or should know. We follow these rules to ensure a great ending toour story in the hopes that readers will stick around for the next book in theseries, come back to read our next standalone title, or even pick up one of ourbacklisted ones.

Why Endings are Important.

The end of any book is important. The end is the lastimpression the reader has of our stories. It's the part of the story that isthe freshest in their mind and which they rate and judge the book as a whole. Agreat ending is hard to write but necessary to attempt.

Although I know what makes a great ending I still struggleto execute it at times. I obsess over it, trying to perfect it.

Makings of a GreatStory Ending:

Twists and surprise endings: Surprising the reader with a revelation that was foreshadowed throughout the story. i.e. It was right under their noses the whole time.

Theme: Tying in the overall theme or message of the book into the ending to add extra significance.

Answer the major story question: Will they fall in love? Will they find the murderer? Will they ever learn to trust one another?

Character change and growth: The main characters must begin the story a certain person and by the end of the story the character is a changed man or woman. The events in the story, the obstacles, the triumphs and failures all mold the character into a different person by the end.

End at the end: Once the major story questions are answered and the character achieves the story goal then the story is over. Ending the story before questions are answered and characters change or long after can disappoint the reader.

Currently I attempt to rewrite the ending of my latest WIPand hope it all falls into place. Knowing how to write the perfect ending toyour story doesn't make it any less complicated, in my opinion. However, mymotto is: If it's too easy, you ain'tdoing it right.

What I've Learned that May Help You and Your Writing

2012-02-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

No, this is not me taking notes.

Over the past few months I've been soaking in a lot ofcreative writing information as part of building and improving my writing skills. I recentlychallenged myself to write the best book I've ever written, and to attempt thatpersonal feat required many hours of reading, analyzing, researching and (ofcourse) writing.

I've had some epiphanies during the course of writing my post-apocalypticnovel (Before the Darkness) that I would like to share. These are things that Ialready knew about creative writing (I'm an author. Of course, I knew :/) but only really understood when reading these books or blogs.

What I've learned

Source

Metaphors and allegories can help strengthen a story and provide an engaging writing/reading experience. Major plot twists or twist ending should tie into the overall mood and/or theme of the story for a greater emotional impact.	The sci-fi novella Wool by Hugh Howey
Incorporating universal human emotion into every facet of your writing builds strong characterization and helps the reader relate to the characters, conflicts and particular circumstances.	The erotic romance novel Destiny for Three by Lilly Hale
All reviews, be they positive or negative, ranting or raving, short or long, are still beneficial to the author. A reader may show interest in the very thing another reader finds unappealing in a book. It's all subjective. At least the book provoked some kind of emotional response to push readers into discussing it.	Readers' comments about Ranting authors over negative reviews from book reviewers
To easily find areas in your book that are telling instead of showing search for the word WAS. Using was in a sentence usually indicates the lack of effectively describing something or someone in your writing.	Noble Romance Blog
Write what you love and the rest will come to you. Instead of focusing on getting to the end of your story, make small goals and complete those first. It's never too early to start talking about your work.	From various creative writing books, blogs and magazines:

These are just of few of the things I've grown to reallyunderstand over the past few months just by reading books, blogs, readers'comments on blogs and magazine. Have you had an epiphany lately?

A Great Week for Progress!

2012-01-17T18:59:00.000-07:00

The Great …

The great part of the week began with

Black Raven's (from Black Raven Reviews) 4 star review of my erotic romance Benefits of Sharing.

"... While the message is strong, the journey is the mostintriguing part in Benefits of Sharing. If you’re looking for a well-written,fast-paced, sexy romp, where the lust is intense, the love is endearing betweenhusband and wife, the sex is sizzling, and the truth will give you a newperspective on life, then Benefits of Sharing by Leslie Lee Sanders isdefinitely the book to read. It’ll put a smile on your face while making youhot and bothered in all of the right places." ~ Black Raven, full review here.

Then it progressed with

a great revelation about thedirection of my writing career and where I need to focus. It was a hugeconfidence boost and I can't wait to apply what I've learned.

On it went when I received

a response to the email Isent to my newest favorite author of the successful sci-fi Wool series, Hugh Howey. Where after writing to tell him my emotional experiencewith his book Wool, he begins his response hinting how my letter needs to beframed. Nice! Made my day.

The Progress …

I then found the time and motivation to

finish the firstdraft of Before the Darkness! Yeah, I smacked "The End" on that baby. I still have to do the rewrite and also dosome polishing on my next erotic romance Tongue Tied which will be availablesometime this spring.

The week's not over but already I've completed a lot andhave so much more to look forward to. And I can't wait! J

All About a Kiss an ARe Bestseller!

2012-01-02T09:34:00.001-07:00

My erotic holiday short ALL ABOUT A KISS is a bestseller on All Romance eBooks in all THREE of its categories (erotica, interracial & short stories) earning an ARe Best Seller badge!!! Wow!

Thanks, readers!!

ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-allaboutakiss-557280-144.html

Blurb: Jasmine’s been working for the law firm of Stephens and Steven’s for a little over eight months and tonight she can’t wait to attend the Happy Holiday festival the office has been raving about. To her disappointment, the party is a dud. To her surprise, she overhears a group of people planning to crash an underground party where the lights are shut off and the people must walk the darkened room until they bump into a stranger worth kissing. This is definitely Jasmine’s idea of fun, especially the part where once you kiss your anonymous stranger you must spend the rest of the night with that person.

Jasmine’s a little surprised when the lights come on and the person she’s making out with happens to be—the opposite of what she usually dates—an attractive white boy who calls himself The Wrangler. In just a matter of minutes she learns exactly why he prefers that nickname.

Can she summon the courage to let a gorgeous stranger show her the meaning of pure pleasure on this Christmas Eve?

Includes a cameo from Kyla and Mike (Three-way Kisses) and Alex (Kiss and a Handshake)from the other two Happy Holiday shorts.

30k Words and Counting

2011-12-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

I'm making progress! Making progress is something to be excited about,coming from a woman who wears many hats and have the tendency to procrastinate.

I've hit 30k words in my latest WIP Beforethe Darkness. I have a goal of hitting 50k (and therefore completing thenovel) by February 1^st 2012. I will do it, no doubt.

Also my new short Tongue Tied willprobably be released sometime in February too. Hopefully around Valentine's Daywhich would be awesome. Now I say probably because with so much writing andrevising I have to do, the date of release for Tongue Tied is still uncertain. Tongue Tied is an M/M erotic romance with a few MFM and Interracial scenes (all pivotal to the plot).

Speaking of Tongue Tied, I've seen my first proof of the cover. It isawesome but needs a little tweaking. I can't wait to share the cover with theworld. Cover art is amazing! I think all writers love cover art.

Now, enough writing about writing. It's time to actually get some writingdone. I got a lot planned for 2012. Time to get on it, huh? J

Before the Darkness: Book Progress

2011-11-08T14:58:00.000-07:00

So I took a break from writing my post-apocalyptic, MM, Erotic romance novel Before the Darkness to spend time taking care of other responsiblities. But now I'm am ready to continue writing the novel!

I feel like I am at the halfway mark in the novel, (about 23K words) there's still so much that needs to be written. However, I am glad to (slowly) get my ideas out of me.

My characters have veered off course a little and did some things that I didn't expect them to do. Especially in one scene where one character's injury prompts them to make a detour. This detour was nowhere in the original outline but I'm not gonna fight with what the characters think needs to be done.

I surprised myself but I like the story even more now due to the little detour. I can't wait to get back to writing it!

A Little Past Midnight

2011-10-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

Halloween is here and in celebration I'll share a shortscary story I wrote for my scary story book I've written under L.L. Sanders The Stage of Horror: Volume One.

A Little PastMidnight

By Leslie Lee Sanders

Story cover images byStephen R. Lobsinger

Blurb: Clara’ssister is awakened every night by a mysterious scratching sound at her window.She swears something is lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.

Clara Smith had a strange feeling while walking home fromwork. Lately while waitressing, she has been worried about her sister Tamiand wondered why Tami was feeling so anxious.

Her sister was due to graduate from Wakefield High in a fewmonths and had recently moved into the apartment across the hall from her.Clara assumed most of her anxiety came from those stresses.

It was a little pastmidnight. Tami had to be in her apartment sleeping but just in case Clarawanted to check on her to make sure everything was fine. She entered her apartmentbuilding and went straight toward the elevators. After getting off on the tenthfloor she walked down the long, quiet hall to Tami’s apartment door.

She had her own key that Tami had given her for emergencies.But before unlocking the door and entering, she decided to listen for a signthat Tami was awake. She stood near Tami’s apartment door and listened.

Nothing.

She stood there for a moment with her hand on the doorknoband the key millimeters from the lock, debating whether or not to intrude onher sister’s privacy. Maybe she was sleeping. Everything had to be okay.

Clara decided to just go to bed herself. She had a long,stressful day and couldn’t wait to relax. Inside her own apartment she gotherself a cup of milk and was just about to get in bed when there was a loudand urgent knock on her door. Clara looked at the clock. It read twelveforty-five. Who could be at the door and what was so important? She immediatelythought of Tami and rushed to the door.

Tami stood there shaking in her skin. She rung her handstogether and stared straight ahead with eyes as wide as an owl’s.

Clara placed her hand on Tami’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?What happened?”

Tami looked passed her, staring at the wall directed behindClara across the room. “There’s something in my room. I have no idea what it isor what it wants.”

Clara quickly pulled Tami inside and shut the door behindher. Tami slowly walked to the sofa. She sat and hugged herself as if she werestanding in the middle of a blizzard. She was wearing her night-clothes andlooked like she had been awakened from sleep.

Clara narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure you weren’t justdreaming?”

Tami shook her head and continued to hug herself but thistime she rocked slightly.

Clara looked over Tami. The way she rocked and stared aheadfrightened her. It was nearly summer and too warm for her to be freezing. “Tellme what happened.”

Tami shook her head and closed her eyes.

Clara folded her arms across her chest. “You have to tell mewhat happened if you want me to help you.”

“I was getting ready for bed, just like I do every night,”Tami said. “I put on my pajamas and I got under my blankets. I had left thelight on in the hall, but I it flickered off. My room was completely darkexcept for the moon shining through my window. That’s when I heard a noise.”

“What kind of noise?”

“It was a scratchingsound that came from outside of my bedroom window.” Tami looked at Clara and huggedherself tighter. “I know we’re on the tenth floor, so it couldn’t be a cattrying to get in or something. I was really scared. That’s when I decided toget up and see what was making the scratching sound. But when I tried to throwthe blankets aside, I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed!”

“So what did you do?” Clara asked.

“I tried to scream but nothing came out,” Tami said. “Ipanicked. The scratching sound got louder and I grew more frightened. Finally,I was able to break out of it. I jumped out of bed and ran over here to you.”

Clara didn’t know what to think. It was possible that Tamijust had a nightmare, but Tami looked terrified. “What do you think happened?”Clara asked.

Tami shrugged. “I don’t know but I was scared motionless.”

“You think you were just having a terrible nightmare?” Claraasked. “Sometimes I dream of trying to run but I can’t move. It’s like I’mrunning in wet cement that’s starting to harden around my legs.”

“I wasn’t dreaming, Clara.” Tami wiped away a tear thatsettled on her cheek. “This was too real.”

Clara nodded. “How about this, I walk you home and we’llcheck it out together?”

Tami nodded and they both walked over to the apartment.Clara looked around the room to make sure everything was okay. The window wasclosed there was nothing on the window to indicate something was ever there.The light in the hall didn’t work, but maybe the bulb was blown.

Tami looked around the room with her eyes. “So? What do youthink?”

Clara sighed. “I think you were just dreaming.” She rubbed Tami’sshoulder to try to comfort her. “Just relax. Go back to bed and I will see youin the morning.”

Tami nodded and Clara saw herself out.

The next day was like every other day. Tami went off toschool while Clara went to work. As soon as work was over, Clara was on her wayhome. She walked along the dark secluded road when she got a strange feeling.Immediately she worried about Tami. All day during work she was thinking of herand what had happened the other night. It was a little past midnight and Clarahad an urge to check on Tami. She needed to make sure she was alright in orderto calm her nerves.

She entered the building and went straight toward theelevators. After getting off on the tenth floor she walked down the long, quiethall to Tami’s apartment door.

She put her ear to the door and listened for and sign thatTami was awake. She didn’t hear a thing. Instantly, she felt better and decidedto go to bed herself. She entered her apartment and sat on her bed. When shewas just about to slip under her covers there was a loud knock on her door.Clara glanced at the clock and got out of bed. It read twelve-fifteen.

She ran to the door to find Tami standing on the other sidesweating bullets. “What’s wrong? What happened?” she asked.

“There’s something in my room,” Tami said.

“Come inside,” Clara said and made room for Tami to enter.“What’s in your room?”

Tami shrugged. “I was getting ready for bed, just like thenight before. I put on my night clothes and I got under the blankets. It wasdark and only the light of the moon shone through my window. That’s when Iheard a noise.”

“What noise?” Clara asked.

“It was that scratching noise but this time it wasn’t comingfrom outside the window. It was coming from under my bed! I was scared, reallyscared. I wanted to get up and investigate the sound. But, when I tried to getout of bed I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed!”

“And then?” Clara nodded, fixing her big brown eyes onTami’s.

“I tried to scream but nothing came out. I panicked. Thescratching sound got louder and I grew more frightened. Finally, I was able tobreak out of it. So, I jumped out of bed and ran over here to you.”

Clara’s eyebrows came together. “Maybe you were justdreaming again. Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

When Clara walked Tami back to her apartment, she went andsearched the room for the cause of the scratching sound. After fifteen minutesof searching and finding nothing, Clara sat on the corner of the bed andwatched her sister fall asleep. Clara kissed her forehead, turned the light onthat hung over her bed and went home to go to sleep herself.

The next day everything was normal. Tami went off to schoolwhile Clara went to work. After work, Clara was walking home when she got thatstrange feeling again. She was even more worried about Tami and it made hershiver with anxiety. Clara needed to check on Tami to calm her nerves.

After getting off the elevators, she walked down the long,quiet hall to Tami’s apartment door. She put her ear to the door to listen andheard nothing.

She decided to go to bed and let Tami sleep. She would checkon her in the morning. But as soon as she entered her apartment and sat on herbed there was a loud and urgent knock on her door. Clara looked at the clock.It was just a little past midnight.

She ran to the door and when she opened it this time, Tamistood there covered in blood. Small cuts were visible on her face and arms.

“Oh, my god! What happened?” Clara rested her hand on Tami’sshoulder. “Come inside,” she said and walked her into her apartment.

Tami shook herhead and let tears fall from her eyes. “I was in bed and I heard the samescratching noise. This time it wasn’t coming from outside of my window or fromunder the bed. It was coming from my closet. I tried to run over here but Icouldn’t move. I was paralyzed!”

“But what happened to you? Why are you bleeding?” Clarashook her head, confused,

“The scratching sound got louder and the light over my bedgot brighter. Before I knew it, the light shattered and pieces of the glasswent flying everywhere. Finally, I was able to move. I jumped out of bed andran over here to you.”

Clara looked at Tami’s wounds, thinking. “Maybe it’ssomething electrical that’s making the sound and caused your light to do that.Come on, let’s go check it out.”

Clara and Tami both searched the room fully. They even wentthrough the closet. When they didn’t find the cause of the sound, they replacedthe light bulb and cleaned up the glass. Clara stayed with Tami until themorning.

Tami decided to stay home from school while Clara went towork. After work, Clara was walking home when she got that same strangefeeling. She had been so worried about Tami all day she couldn’t even do herjob properly.

She quickly entered the building and went straight towardthe elevators. After getting off on the tenth floor she walked down the long,quiet hall to Tami’s apartment door.

She put her ear to the door and heard nothing. She turnedthe doorknob and to her surprise the door was unlocked. Clara slowly walkedinside. She didn’t want to wake her up. The apartment was pitch-dark. Therewasn’t a light on anywhere in the place. She began to worry.

“Tami?” Clara called out as she flipped the light switcheson the way to Tami’s bedroom. Tami didn’t respond. She made it to her bedroomwhich was completely dark. The only light was the light of the moon that shonethrough the window. She could barely see that Tami was snuggled in bed with theblankets over her head.

“Tami?” Clara whispered. “It’s me, Clara. I came over tocheck on you.”

There was still no answer. So Clara decided to just wake herup. She went to the bed and pulled the covers aside. Shock and horror filledher veins when she saw that her beloved sister’s body lay in a bed of blood andwas missing the head.

Later, while police was busy trying to find the personresponsible, Clara quit her job. All she could do was stay at home and cry.Thoughts crossed her mind and questions were left unanswered like, “Who woulddo that to Tami and why?”

Clara got into bed to dream away her worries, but as soon asshe closed her eyes a noise coming from her front door awakened her. Claralooked at the clock. It was just a little past midnight. She lay in bed andtried to figure out what might be causing the deep scratching sound she heard.It almost sounded like a big cat with huge claws scratching the wall to get tothe juicy mouse that hid on the other side.

When it hit her that the sound might be the same sound Tamihad been hearing before her death, Clara became frightened. She tried to get upout of bed but she couldn’t move. She was paralyzed.

Suddenly through the wall appeared a shadowy figure thatresembled her dead sister except it had long, stringy hair and blood red eyes.Clara closed her eyes willing it to go away. Maybe she was dreaming. Maybe thestress was getting to her. Maybe she was going insane. When she opened her eyesthe figure was there, but this time it hovered over her head with its mouthgaping, showing several rows of sharp, jagged teeth. She tried to scream as itsmouth clamped over her head.

Available Now on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00466H76Y

Are you afraid of thethings that go bump in the night? It didn’t even cross Clara’s mind that it mayhave been a supernatural being stalking her sister every night with thedetermination of a cat chasing its prey. If you hear weird noises in the night,sleeping with a light on or hiding under the covers may not protect you . . .

Upcoming Virtual Book Tour

2011-10-07T08:32:00.001-07:00

Oct 10: Harlie's Books (Guest Post/Excerpt)
Oct 11: Reading Romances (Review/Giveaway)
Oct 12: Fantasy Unbound (Guest Post/Excerpt)
Oct 13: Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess (Guest Post/Excerpt)
Oct 14: Lindsay's Scribblings (Review/Guest Post)
Oct 15: Reviews By Molly (Excerpt/Giveaway)
Oct 16: Close Encounters with the Night Kind (Guest Post/Interview)

Before the Darkness Progress

2011-09-16T15:24:00.003-07:00

I am officially at 21,233 words written in my upcoming MM, post-apocalyptic erotic romance story, Before the Darkness. This story revolves around two survivors of an asteroid impact who are forced to confront their pasts in order to appreciate their second chance at life and possibly make for a better future.

Currently, I'm at a critical point in the story, (or the most critical) the climax. Which is good! That means I'm almost to the end.

The problem?

Well, I'm not quite sure where I want this story to end. The initial ending I had planned for it might end at 30k words. However, another possible ending wouldn't be met until about 50k words.

If I go with the initial ending, readers might want an extension. Which will result in a series that I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to. There's other stories I want to complete too.

If I go with the other ending, it may take longer than I want it to, it would require tons to rewrite and edit, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that either. Not to mention the climax I'm about to write will probably be just one of the big incidences that move the story forward to the "real" climax.

When I outlined and started writing Before the Darkness, I had it all set in my head; the beginning, middle and end. Now, the story's kinda taking on a life of its own (including the characters) and I'm a bit afraid of where it might lead me.

I'm not good with unpredictable. I like to have a plan and stick to it. Anyway, we shall see where this takes me. Who knows, maybe it will turn out to be better than I imagined if I just tell the story that wants to be told, instead of limiting the story by keeping it confined to my outline.

Leslie Lee Sanders

Before the Darkness Progress

2011-08-31T09:43:00.001-07:00

Currently, I am at 12,500 words in my latest WIP, Before the Darkness. The way the story is going I expect to finish it somewhere around 20k-30k words, although it can be longer. I can't seem to find the time to work on it as much as I want to. I hope this weekend I can write a big chunk of it because I want to finish it before the end of the year.

The elevator pitch:

After an asteroid strikes Earth, sending a wall of ash and other debris into the atmosphere, Elliot meets fellow survivor Adam and together they take advantage of the next few hours, learning to appreciate their second chance at life and live it to the fullest.

The problem:

The research. Asteroids are tricky to write about, especially an asteroid impact with Earth. Even though the story focuses more on the inner conflict of the main characters, the impact is what sets the story in motion and contributes to the story's tension, adding suspense, raising the stakes and providing exterior conflict. Therefore, it's very important that the impact and the effects of impact are realistic.

I hope to finish the first draft before the end of the year. Hell, some writers can do it in thirty days. That would be nice!

Benefits of Sharing now on All Romance eBooks!

2011-08-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

Order my latest erotic romance, Benefits of Sharing, on ARe!

Benefits of Sharing

By: Leslie Lee Sanders | Other books by Leslie Lee Sanders
Published By: Breathless Press
Published: Aug 12, 2011
ISBN # 9781771010030

Word Count: 6,783
Heat Index: 5 flames

Price: ~~$1.99~~ $1.49Available in: Adobe Acrobat, Palm DOC/iSolo, Microsoft Reader, Mobipocket (.prc), Rocket, Epub, Mobipocket (.mobi)

BUY NOW

Multiple partners, menage, mmf, gay, threesome, contemporary.

Blurb:

Cara is unenthusiastic about her upcoming thirtieth birthday. Maybe her husband's eighteen-year-old coworker Isaac could add some excitement.

Cara Matthews is about to turn thirty, and for her, it’s the death of her youth and the beginning of the dull years. Her husband, James, is aware of her sudden grief and surprises her with something that should take her mind off of aging: young Isaac.

Maybe Isaac can help Cara create her very own wild and crazy experience to share—in more ways than one—and help her transition smoothly from her twenties to her thirties.

Cara is all too eager to finally experience the excitement she's been desperately craving, but she's also a little skeptical. Exactly who is Isaac, and why is he so eager to please?

Excerpt:

"Hi," she greeted the delivery guy.

"Hello," he said with such a deep voice, she did a double take just to be sure the sound came from the tall young man standing before her. He smiled. "Cara Matthews? These are for you."

"Thank you." Her husband was definitely the best. Already his gift had cheered her up.

The delivery guy handed her the dark purple irises in their clear glass vase. They were her favorite color and flower. "There's a note in the middle for you." He beamed.

"Oh, I already know who they're from." She smiled again, said "thank you," closed the door, and turned to go back inside. Once in the kitchen, she set the flowers down on the center of the table and smelled a few of them. A fresh, sweet floral scent filled her nostrils. Perfect. She grabbed her cocoa and quickly drank the rest of it before washing the mug and putting it back in the cabinet. Then she sat down at the kitchen table before her leather-bound diary. She glanced at the flowers and the little white note that stuck up from the purple petals. She carefully plucked it out and read it.

We talked about the benefits of "sharing," and I think it's the perfect time to do just that. You deserve a special gift for a special day, and he's outside waiting for you. Now invite Isaac in, and be sure to thoroughly thank him. Happy birthday!

Love, James.

Cara read and reread James's message. Was she reading it clearly? They had talked about what fun it would be to invite someone into their bed for a threesome. They even laughed at how it could further strengthen their marriage, but she had thought the entire conversation was just a joke, a way of entertaining themselves. She turned the card over, expecting to read, Gotcha! I cheered you up, didn't I? But no such words were there. It was blank.

Isaac?

Was James serious?

Cara immediately went back to the front door and looked through the peephole again. There he was, the delivery guy, pacing back and forth on the porch.

"This must be a joke," she mumbled and cracked the door opened. She peeked through the slit. "Isaac?"

He grinned and stared at her with light brown eyes. "You gonna invite me in?"

"Who are you?" she asked, frowning, unsure.

"I'm Isaac. James sent me."

"For what?" Cara glared, waiting for him to confirm what was written on the note.

He laughed uneasily and whispered, "To help you feel better," then winked.

Although she was a bit hesitant, Isaac looked harmless and even a little tense. She opened the door wider to get a better look at the guy.

Pre-order Benefits of Sharing Today!

2011-08-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

My latest erotic romance, Benedits of Sharing, is now available for pre-order from Breathless press!
Blurb:

Cara Matthews is about to turn thirty, and for her, it’s the death of her youth and the beginning of the dull years. Her husband, James, is aware of her sudden grief and surprises her with something that should take her mind off of aging: young Isaac.

Maybe Isaac can help Cara create her very own wild and crazy experience to share—in more ways than one—and help her transition smoothly from her twenties to her thirties.

Cara is all too eager to finally experience the excitement she’s been desperately craving, but she’s also a little skeptical. Exactly who is Isaac, and why is he so eager to please?

Excerpt:

Promo designed by Leslie Lee Sanders | Cover art by BP

"Hi," she greeted the delivery guy.

"Hello," he said with such a deep voice, she did a double take just to be sure the sound came from the tall young man standing before her. He smiled. "Cara Matthews? These are for you."

"Thank you." Her husband was definitely the best. Already his gift had cheered her up.

The delivery guy handed her the dark purple irises in their clear glass vase. They were her favorite color and flower. "There's a note in the middle for you." He beamed.

"Oh, I already know who they're from." She smiled again, said "thank you," closed the door, and turned to go back inside. Once in the kitchen, she set the flowers down on the center of the table and smelled a few of them. A fresh, sweet floral scent filled her nostrils. Perfect. She grabbed her cocoa and quickly drank the rest of it before washing the mug and putting it back in the cabinet. Then she sat down at the kitchen table before her leather-bound diary. She glanced at the flowers and the little white note that stuck up from the purple petals. She carefully plucked it out and read it.

We talked about the benefits of "sharing," and I think it's the perfect time to do just that. You deserve a special gift for a special day, and he's outside waiting for you. Now invite Isaac in, and be sure to thoroughly thank him. Happy birthday!

Love, James.

Cara read and reread James's message. Was she reading it clearly? They had talked about what fun it would be to invite someone into their bed for a threesome. They even laughed at how it could further strengthen their marriage, but she had thought the entire conversation was just a joke, a way of entertaining themselves. She turned the card over, expecting to read, Gotcha! I cheered you up, didn't I? But no such words were there. It was blank.

Isaac?

Was James serious?

Cara immediately went back to the front door and looked through the peephole again. There he was, the delivery guy, pacing back and forth on the porch.

"This must be a joke," she mumbled and cracked the door opened. She peeked through the slit. "Isaac?"

He grinned and stared at her with light brown eyes. "You gonna invite me in?"

"Who are you?" she asked, frowning, unsure.

"I'm Isaac. James sent me."

"For what?" Cara glared, waiting for him to confirm what was written on the note.

He laughed uneasily and whispered, "To help you feel better," then winked.

Although she was a bit hesitant, Isaac looked harmless and even a little tense. She opened the door wider to get a better look at the guy.

New Cover Art: Benefits of Sharing

2011-07-10T09:03:00.000-07:00

I just received the cover art to my erotic romance, Benefits of Sharing, due August 12th from Breathless Press! I'm so excited!

Here's the blurb:

Cara Matthews is about to turn thirty and for her it’s the death of her youth and the beginning of the dull years. Her husband James is aware of her sudden grief and surprises her with something that should take her mind off of aging…young Isaac.

Maybe Isaac could help Cara create her very own wild and crazy experience to share…in more ways than one. And therefore help her transition smoothly from her twenties to her thirties.

Cara is all too eager to finally experience the excitement she's been desperately craving but she's also a little skeptical. Exactly who is Isaac and why is he so eager to please?

Impersonating Sam 1 of 12 Terrific Indie Titles for under $1 at ARe!

2011-07-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

You don't get much for $1 anymore, but you do at All Romance eBooks! ARe highlighted my book IMPERSONATING SAM as 1 of 12 Terrific Indie Titles for under $1! Follow the link and download it now to read it instantly.

Impersonating Sam

Series: Seven Sins Series , Book 1
By: Leslie Lee Sanders | Other books by Leslie Lee Sanders
Published: Jun 02, 2011
ISBN # LLSBKS000004

Word Count: 16,000

Heat Index: 4 flames

Blurb: Sunni Mitchell is angry and rightfully so. Her boyfriend abruptly decided to leave her… for another man. While trying to overcome her pain and anger, she struggles to understand her best friend Joseph’s sexual relationship with his lover Ben.

Knowing her romantic feelings for Joseph, he and Ben suggest they all share a passionate night of lovemaking to help heal Sunni’s broken heart. She is hesitant for many reasons but thoughts of being enveloped in Joseph’s arms mercilessly nags at her.

Then she stumbles upon Joseph’s erotic novel and it helps her realize the opportunity she could miss. With help from the novel’s sexy vixen Samantha aka “Sam,” Sunni soon realizes that being someone else might give her the emotional strength she’s been lacking. By taking on another’s persona, could she finally get over her losses, diminish her anger and have her very own happily ever after in love?

Connecting the Shorts

2011-06-09T15:16:00.002-07:00

I wanted to talk a little about my popular Happy Holiday shorts. Since their release, they have been selling very well and I want to take this moment to thank my readers for their support. (As you already know, I wrote the shorts for you guys to show reader appreciation over the holidays.)

There are a total of three short stories in the series that can be read and enjoyed on their own but are much more fun when you read them all. Yes, you can read the stories in any order. Although I did write Three-way Kisses first, Kiss and a Handshake second and All About a Kiss third.

What makes these stories fun to read together is that they are connected. What connects them?

They take place on the same night, Christmas Eve.

They take place at the same party, the Happy Holiday festival held by the law firm Stephens and Steven's.

Each main character of each individual story hears the same conversation that presents the opportunity to crash the infamous kissing party where the first person you kiss, or who kisses you, is the person you must spend the rest of the night with.

In each story you get a different character's point of view of both parties and you even get brief cameos of the characters in the other two stories. Otherwise the stories are totally different.

Three-way Kisses focuses on Kyla and Mike as they are introduced to Bret at the kissing party. It is an MMF ménage erotic romance with a nice little surprise embedded in there. It's more of a romance than the other two since Kyla and Mike have an established, loving relationship.

The others have little twists in them too.

Kiss and a Handshake focuses on Alex as he can't seem to get Zak off of his mind. It is an M/M themed erotic short with a rather fun and witty vibe to the storytelling. Even the title has a "funny" explanation.

All about a kiss is more of an M/F erotic story with themes consisting of interracial, public sex and light bondage. It focuses on Jasmine and her kiss with the Wrangler.

I had a fun experience writing these stories. I hope you have just as much fun reading them. Read one or read them all. There's enough variety for everyone.

Get them all today at All Romance eBooks, Barnes and Noble and Amazon for $0.99!

Leslie Lee Sanders

Breathless Press Offers Contract!

2011-05-27T07:55:00.001-07:00

After an R&R, nonstop days of revising and what felt like a serious attempt to prove myself, (and turning into somewhat of a perfectionist during the process) Breathless Press has accepted my erotic romance, Benefits of Sharing!

Benefits of Sharing is a short erotic romance with an MMF menage theme. The story focuses on Cara who is having a difficult time turning thirty because of her sense of lost youth. Her husband attempts to cheer her up and restore her lost youth by introducing her to young Isaac.

I am so excited to become a part of the Breathless Press family and I look forward to working with my editor to further polish my story.

This is great news!

Leslie Lee Sanders

Judy Mays: Erotic Romance Writer Outed

2011-05-06T16:01:00.001-07:00

(Excerpt from Barbara Vey -- May 5th, 2011 link below)

Last week the earth shattering news hit that high school teacher Judy Buranich writes erotica as Judy Mays. Horrors!! An English teacher who writes. It’s almost embarrassing to read the news accounts of the outing. A parent came forward because she felt erotica “is unethical, totally unacceptable. Period. It just sort of sickens and saddens me to know everybody’s sort of looking at this like, hey, this is OK.” I hate to break it to you parent, but erotic is ok. It’s not illegal. Lots of people obviously like it because there’s definitely a market for it. We even do book blurbs on them here. So I contacted author Judy Mays and asked for her side of the story.

Read the rest HERE!

Dreams and Storytelling

2011-04-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

I have many story ideas and as crazy as it may sound, most of the ideas come to me in dreams. Recently, I had a crazy dream about traveling back in time and falling in love with a high school friend. The dream involved a train as transportation from present to past. Just add a few what-ifs to that scenario and we have ourselves a story. (Or a weird depiction of Back to the Future part three).

Before that dream, I had a dream about being held in some kind of controlled and dangerous community against my will and desperately trying to help my lover escape to find help. In the dream I wore a mood ring that doubled as a looking glass that either showed me the present or predicted the future regarding my lover. Through the ring, I watched him find another community and instead of getting help, he forgot about me and fell in love with a woman from that community.

Now tell me I don’t have a vivid imagination even while sleeping.

Some of my best ideas come from my dreams. And a little FYI, my dreams are very vivid and detailed. Ask my husband, he gets new, exciting stories every morning thanks to my dreams. I’m so in tuned with my dreams, long ago I created a technique to remember every dream I have. I can even wake myself from a deep sleep during a nightmare. Occasionally, I can change the outcome of a dream or mold it to my liking with what’s called lucid dreaming.

I enjoy dreaming. It’s beneficial to me. It takes me to new worlds, allows me to experience new things, and it serves as an outlet or release for my pent-up emotion . . . kind of like creative writing.

I’ve been intrigued by dreams since I was a teenager. I’ve read handfuls of books on dreaming and interpreting dream symbols. My favorite was a dream dictionary. I don’t remember a thing I read but it was fun.

It can sound a little crazy but even Stephanie Myers admits that the idea for her bestseller Twilight came to her in a dream.

Interesting.

(Edited to delete nutty rambling.)

Every night I look forward to what the dream world has for me. I wonder what crazy ideas will come to me in the form of dreams so I can incorporate those ideas into interesting stories to share. Next time you’re looking for ideas for your next novel or short story try turning to your dreams for assistance.

Leslie Lee Sanders

Behind the Story: Three-way Kisses by Leslie Lee Sanders

2011-03-25T16:44:00.003-07:00

The idea to write Three-way Kisses came to me during the holidays. I wanted a sweet ménage for my readers, something to say thank you for your interest in my writing. I wanted the character to be relatable and the situation or issue to be believable. Therefore the premise of girl desires sexy fun and boyfriend vowing to stop at nothing to allow her that sexy fun came to life.

Available as a Kindle & Nook read

We all have or wish to have that one person in our lives that would do anything to make us and keep us happy. Mike is that person for Kyla.

The story, characters and hot sex must work for the reader because Three-way Kisses has sold hundreds of copies since its debut in November 2010 to this date. It is my top selling read since its release.

I kept my readers in mind while writing Three-way Kisses and I dedicate the complete 3 book Happy Holiday Series to them. Knowing that there are readers out there who appreciate my voice, my writing and my hard work is what keeps me writing.

Favorite character?

My favorite character from Three-way Kisses has got to be the mysterious Bret. I think he’s super sexy enough for both men and women to give in to his advances. He’s so good that he can plant a sexy idea in your head and make you think it was your desire speaking to you.

Favorite quote?

“Don’t ever think you’ve broken us. There’s nothing you can do to keep me from loving you, remember that.” He planted a kiss on the corner of her lips and smiled.

Leslie Lee Sanders

Why Books Aren't Free & Writing is Hard Work

2011-03-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

An imaginative, inventive person like me has an urge to see their imagination come to life. We spend many hours in solitude—total isolation—creating and birthing our ideas. The message behind our work is what motivates us. We’re eager to expose our creation to the world and to relay our messages through our art. This is what we live for.

And if we simply give away that which we put so much of our time and effort into ... we wouldn’t be financially able to support ourselves. Writing is work, hard work. And just like your job, you want compensation for your time and effort.

Writing is work but it’s also my art. It’s my imagination come to life. Without it I wouldn’t be able to express my views, my opinions, my likes and dislikes—myself. Writing is how I connect to the world and how I declare myself an individual. I feel what my characters feel—happiness, heartbreak, embarrassment, betrayal—and I get butterflies knowing that readers feel those same emotions when connecting with my characters. Along with my characters, I fall in love, I’m heated with hate, and I feel the thrill of doing something forbidden and so much more.

My writing helps me feel alive. More than alive.

But writing would be impossible to accomplish without the support of my readers. And as much as I enjoy sharing my creations with others, I equally understand that writing is a business. This is why books, even digital books, aren’t free. It’s hard work. Not many people understand this, IT’S HARD WORK. Writing as a profession is more difficult than the average hobbyist or dabbler would ever know.

What makes writing so hard?

You must be enthusiastic to start a writing project.

You must be driven to write every single day for hours at a time.

You must be determined to actually finish your writing.

You must plan, outline, and take notes. You must figure out what questions to ask, ask the questions, and then research the answers.

You must set a goal and push yourself to accomplish that goal.

You must read every day. Only great readers become great writers.

You must challenge yourself. Push yourself beyond your comfort zone.

You must hone your skills and develop your craft. You can never stop learning.

You cannot be afraid to fail. You will be rejected, you will get negative feedback but you must have the confidence to learn from it, keep writing and keep moving forward.

You have to have the strength to ignore self-doubts about yourself and your work.

You must plot, plan, rewrite, and edit. Check spelling, grammar, characterization, plot, point of view, tenses, transitions, believability, dialogue, description, etc. You must write the blurb, write the full synopsis, write the query to send to the editor and plot, plan, rewrite and edit those as well.

You must learn the skills to present your writing professionally and sell it along with your voice to editors and agents. Know your competition and your target audience, etc.

You must market and promote, manage websites and social networking sites, blog and article write, leave comments and respond to comments, design (or get designed) promotional material; banners, bookmarks, website ads and book covers and book trailers. You must request reviews, interviews and guest blogs. And sooo much more.

So knowing this, I hope you understand why books aren’t free and why authors appreciate their readers’ support.

Appreciate the books you own and the writers who write them. Never share or upload digital books online. And out of courtesy, never ask an author for a free copy. If you do get a free copy cherish it because a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into making that book available to you.

Leslie Lee Sanders

Latest Releases

2011-03-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of my latest releases from Xcite Books!

Threesome: When One Lover is Not Enough.

Twenty short stories by various authors with the theme of menage. Featuring the story The Favour by Leslie Lee Sanders.

Pre-order the paperback on Amazon here.

Kindle edition here.

The Favour edited by Miranda Forbes. Featuring the story The Favour by Leslie Lee Sanders.

A collection of 5 mixed erotic stories with a central themes of threesomes.
The Favour blurb:

Jenna Madison is determined to keep her marriage full of spice. Convinced her husband is unhappy with their sex life, she searches for her husband’s high school buddy with hopes of restoring a little more than their friendship. Maybe the amazing Brandon Stone would do her a favour and provide the couple with the perfect amount of spice needed to save their marriage.

Kindle edition here.