Tongue Tied by Leslie Lee Sanders (Explicit) Excerpt

Tongue Tied -excerpt-

M/M, MMF, Interracial, Erotica

by Leslie Lee Sanders

Available Spring 2012!

Buy Links: ARe | Kindle | Nook

After a sensual night of "double dating" with his friend Dorian, Ryan's interest in sharing beautiful women suddenly dwindles when he develops an urge to share a sexual romp with Dorian and his tongue instead.

EXCERPT:

"Man, Katelyn was so sexy last night. When I was inside her, I came almost instantly." Dorian's chuckle was short. "I felt bad that I didn't make her come before I did."

"It happens to the best of us."

"Never happened before." Dorian poked Ryan's chest, grinning. "We usually make the ladies come at least twice before we do. I like them to leave completely satisfied."

"Yeah, she really had me going." Ryan poured another shot. "That body. That ass!"

"Right." Dorian's eye cut to Ryan's crotch again. "You were definitely into it." The grin on Dorian's face made Ryan wonder. Could he tell that Ryan was hard ... for him? "Are you gonna offer me a shot or what?" Dorian hopped down from where he sat on the counter. "Sure looks good."

The flirtatious way those last words slipped from Dorian's lips made Ryan look up just in time to witness Dorian slowly slide his tongue from one corner of his mouth to the other. Ryan gulped, swallowing hard enough for anyone standing as close as Dorian was to hear it. "Yeah, sure." He cleared his throat. "You want lime with that?" he asked as he offered the glass.

“Yep. No salt though." Dorian picked up the wedge of lime from the counter and took the shot glass from Ryan. "Here we go," he said playfully and winked. He drank the warm liquor and quickly followed it with a bite into the flesh of the lime. He swallowed then laughed as a mixture of lime juice and tequila dripped down his smooth-looking, shaven chin.

How weird would it be to pull Dorian against him and lick the stray juice from his skin? How would Dorian react to that kind of blatant gesture? The way Dorian had looked at his crotch a beat too long, followed it with a "Sure looks good," and a lick of his lips gave Ryan confidence. Suddenly licking the stray juice from his friend's lips and chin might not be so weird after all.

“What?" Dorian asked through his laughter while he wiped the stray juice with the back of his hand. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

“Like what?" Ryan looked away sheepishly. Any confidence vanished. He quickly glanced at his friend's full lips just to look away again. Damn, now he was acting prude.

“What’s wrong?" Dorian placed a hand gingerly on Ryan’s shoulder, concern riding on his words. "You're acting . . . different."

Did Dorian not know what he'd just done to him? He turned Ryan into a horny but shy school girl with a lick of his lips. “Nothing’s wrong." Ryan placed the liquor bottle back on the counter. "Just been thinking . . ." Maybe he shouldn’t mention last night.

“What about?"

Their eyes met each other's. "Nothing." Ryan shook his head. "It's nothing."

“Oh, come on." Dorian grinned and hoisted himself back up on the counter and sat directly in front of Ryan. "Suddenly something has you acting all shy and stuff. Spill it already.  Is it Katelyn? God, she was hot. I hope you're not getting tired of our double dates. That it?"

How could he be tired of pleasuring sexy women and fulfilling their fantasies with his best friend? The women got double the fun but he and Dorian got something out of it too, pleasure, closeness, and some fun, satisfying, much needed release. What a question. He and Dorian have been double dating since freshmen year in college with no issue, no jealousy and no complaints. Unless Ryan counted not being able to pleasure his friend the way he pleasured so many women.

Paypal Prohibits "Obscene" Content

No, I don't write erotica with themes of incest, pseudo-incest, rape for titillation, underage sex or bestiality. However, even though erotic fiction with those themes does not appeal to me, there is a market for it. A huge market for it. And just like other readers, if the content of the story does not amuse me, I don't read it. Simple as that.

But now, PayPal is cracking down on publishers and websites that publishes and sales said books. Paypal warns if publisher continue to sale those books with "obscene content," Paypal will deactivate publisher's account. You may wonder why a company would threaten to deactivate so many publisher accounts like Smashwords.

"Paypal doesn’t want to have to pay Visa and MC for carrying “high risk” accounts on their books." Erotica writer Selena Kitt writes on her blog. And what's considered high risk for Paypal? Erotic books that contain the themes listed above. "Sites that carry high-risk material have to pay the high-risk costs of doing business. If you’re going through Paypal, you don’t have to pay that. Until Paypal catches you. And then they insist you take down your high-risk content or lose your account."

So it's the major credit card companies behind it all.

As a writer of erotica and erotic romance what I take form this is the major credit card companies saying… "We're not supporting your icky imagination and if you force me to associate my name with your obscene fiction, then we can't be friends anymore." … That's how I read it If it's really about the money or not.

No matter my personal views on erotic books with those "questionable" themes (incest, pseudo-incest, rape for titillation, underage sex or bestiality), they're still legal to write about. I am not a person to condone the suppression of published material. We're adults. We should be able to write, read, and buy the kind of fiction we desire without someone or some group making it difficult due to their tastes.

Mark Coker, founder and CEO of Smashwords, had this to say about Paypal's crackdown. "PayPal is asking us to censor legal fiction. Regardless of how one views topics of rape, bestiality and incest, these topics are pervasive in mainstream fiction. We believe this crackdown is really targeting erotica writers. This is unfair, and it marks a slippery slope. We don't want credit card companies or financial institutions telling our authors what they can write and what readers can read. Fiction is fantasy. It's not real. It's legal."

It concerns me. What will they target next in erotica?

Gay sex? Threesomes? Sex out of wedlock? Erotica in general?

What do you think about the crackdown?

Questions I've Been Asked Pertaining to Writing & the Candid Answers: Part 1

I've been asked a variety of questions over the years. Some questions been asked multiple times, some are a little odd, some are simple and only people not involved in the publishing business would seek the answer.  So below are some of those questions with simple, detailed and honest answers.

Why don't you write a book about your family or how you grew up?

I get this question mostly from my family or those I grew up with.

Simple answer: 

No one cares about anyone else's lives unless they're celebrities or had a truly unique upbringing.

Detailed answer:

Frankly, I like writing plots from my imagination more. Although I believe my life story may have been a bit dysfunctional and entertaining to some (who doesn't think they're upbringing was dysfunctional?), I also believe some stories are best told to a therapist and not the public. Besides, who are we that anyone would care anyway?

I could write it for the family instead of publishing it for the public. Still a possibility is that the people included in the story won't appreciate how I represent them? This is the sole reason I don't create characters from true life friends and relatives.

Which brings me to …

Why don't you write a book about my life?

Simple answer:

We all have problems, secrets, and crazy things happen to us in our lives. Why are you so special?

Detailed answer:

See detailed answer above.

Why do you write about threesomes and sex?

Simple answer:

I enjoy writing about unconventional sexual relationships.  Also, what adult doesn't enjoy sex, even in fiction?

Detailed answer:  

Threesomes are a hot theme (hot as in spicy and popular) in erotica and erotic romances. There is a huge market for it which means there are lots and lots of people who enjoy reading ménages. It's sexy, fun and a great way to engage in your fantasies without consequences. I can say the same about fictional sex in general. It doesn't matter if I'm writing or reading about it, I'm entertained either way.

Why do you write about Caucasian characters?

I think this question is one that comes from ignorance. Or a person assuming you're supposed to stick to your own kind even creatively.

Simple answer:

My stories are primarily about people, and if those people happen to be diverse so be it. It not required that I write for a specific community even if I'm placed in that group. I write for the communities I choose to write for. And I enjoy being unique, unpredictable and eccentric.

Detailed answer:

The heroes in my stories usually take on physical traits and other characteristics that I'm attracted to. And who they're attracted to works well for that character, even if they're attracted to Caucasians, African Americans, other men, none or all the above.  It's part of why writing what you love works so well for me.

Why do you write about homosexual characters?

See answers to question above.

Later I will post part 2 which delves more into questions I receive about publishing. Are there questions that are not listed above that you would like the candid answer to?

Read More to Write Better

Sure we read fiction to escape reality or to be entertained. We read nonfiction to learn or to be inspired. We read for various reasons. However, did you know to be a better writer you have to read? Not just read, but read analytically.

Reading often and with an analytical eye will help you do the following:

Understand the three-act structure of storytelling

This one's fairly easy and something that does not necessarily have to be taught to you if you read fiction regularly.  The more you read the more you absorb the three-act structure of storytelling. I wouldn't be surprised to know a four year old could tell an adequate story in less than five sentences just by having someone read him a bedtime story every night.

The dinosaur lost his blanket. He travels the land for days in search of the blanket and spots it near the top of a volcano. He climbs up the mountainside, fighting lava monsters until he finally makes it to the blanket and takes it back. He safely returns to his mommy and daddy, and lives happily ever after.

As dull as that story is, it's still a complete story that contains the three act structure with Setup, Confrontation and Resolution. We understand this structure early and easily in stories just by reading and reading often.

Helps to study the market

Compare your books to other books by reading similar books in your genre with similar themes. It allows you to see how popular or appealing that genre and theme is, how your story compares to it in terms of uniqueness, and helps you discover overdone plots and overused characters and other clichés.

With that information you can write a book that stands out from the competition and produces buzz. You can also see the commonalities of your genre and understand why readers gravitate (or not) to those types of books so you can better provide reader satisfaction.

Helps to find your voice

When reading stories with similar themes as your own you  can analyze how other authors tell their stories and why you think their voice worked or didn't work for that book. Is it too dark? Fast paced with choppy sentences? Does it lack tone or emotion?

Finding out how the narrative voice fits with the book or not will help you see which style is best for your own story.

Helps to broaden your vocabulary and improve your grammar

We read many words while reading some of our favorite books and some are words we're not familiar with. We learn and memorize those words and add them to our vocabulary. With every story we read our vocabulary grows. The more words you know, the easier it is to write and be more descriptive.

We can be our own teachers at times and improve our grammar just by reading regularly. Seeing a word spelled a certain way, or with an apostrophe here or there becomes second nature to mimic that in our own writing.

Plus, more people should easily understand the difference between the words then and than if they read those words in a few sentences often. (A tiny peeve of mine).

Bad excuses NOT to read as a writer

• Afraid of stealing ideas from another book or author.

This is a poor excuse, in my opinion. True, there are few original ideas left (if any) but there are limitless ways of telling a story. You have a unique voice, style and creativity that it's nearly impossible for two people with the same idea to tell the exact same story.

• It takes away writing time.

If you're on a deadline, sure writing time is few.  However, plenty writers benefit when they read almost as much (if not more) than they write, for reasons stated above. 

So continue to write but remember to read and read often for entertainment, inspiration or whatever the reason, but especially if you want to improve as a writer.

Do you agree with my points? Do you have something to add that I may have missed?

Embracing Rejection Instead of Fearing It

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

Here's how:

Don't let it hinder you

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

Fear keeps you from trying because you're uncertain of the results. And the ultimate fear for writers is … what if they don't like my writing. And instead of finishing the novel, you put it on the backburner because 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 of submitting it because you're writing sucks compared to other writers.  What if publishers think you have no business writing, even grocery lists?

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

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

Learn from it

A (sort of) nice thing to take away from being rejected by a publisher, editor or agent is that sometimes you get a valued piece of written inscription known as a personalized rejection letter. Sometimes the editor will explain why the manuscript was rejected 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 to another publisher without making any changes at all. Whichever you choose, the point is … you're moving on (or revising and resubmitting) and trying again.

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

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

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

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

• Be professional. No emoticons, text-like abbreviations or usage of 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't spend too much time rewriting and submitting the same manuscript. Move on to your next novel which should be written better your last. You should keep learning your craft and improving.

Know it's not the end

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

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

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

Reasons Writing What You Love Works

As I write this, I have about a dozen books with my name on them and I love them all. I love some more than others. The titles I like most are the ones with subjects I enjoy writing about. 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 write what I love. Below are some reasons why writing what you love can create better, more fulfilling writing.

1. It's easier to write what you're passionate about.

If you're passionate about marriage equality, if you have something to say about single parenting, or perhaps you'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 passion into your story are:

• Through conflict: Making your passion a critical part of the story (major conflict), a character's decision or battle (inner conflict), a character's past (backstory), etc.
• Dialogue: Several characters can debate about the subject.
• A character's belief on the subject: The subject is a major part of the character's upbringing or backstory that he's forced to explore and by the end has transformed.  

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

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

3. You put more effort into your project.

I find when I believe in the overall 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. You put your heart into creating the absolute best. You agonize over every minute detail.  You have to get it right.

4. You convey your passion and/or message to readers better.

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

As a writer, are there other reasons you think writing what you love works? As a reader, do you think a writer's passion for a specific content, subject, or theme makes for better reading?

The Complicated Story Ending

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

Sound familiar?

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

Why Endings are Important.

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

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

Makings of a Great Story 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 WIP and hope it all falls into place. Knowing how to write the perfect ending to your story doesn't make it any less complicated, in my opinion. However, my motto is: If it's too easy, you ain't doing it right.

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



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

I've had some epiphanies during the course of writing my post-apocalyptic novel (Before the Darkness) that I would like to share. These are things that I already 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 really understand 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!

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 most intriguing 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 between husband and wife, the sex is sizzling, and the truth will give you a new perspective on life, then Benefits of Sharing by Leslie Lee Sanders is definitely the book to read. It’ll put a smile on your face while making you hot and bothered in all of the right places." ~ Black Raven, full review here.

Then it progressed with

• a great revelation about the direction of my writing career and where I need to focus. It was a huge confidence boost and I can't wait to apply what I've learned.

On it went when I received

• a response to the email I sent to my newest favorite author of the successful sci-fi Wool series, Hugh Howey. Where after writing to tell him my emotional experience with his book Wool, he begins his response hinting how my letter needs to be framed. Nice! Made my day.

The Progress …

I then found the time and motivation to

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

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

All About a Kiss an ARe Bestseller!

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.