It’s All About Fantasy by Adele Dubois

My road to writing girl on girl stories started in 2006 with my first erotic romance novel. Though my story hero and heroine were monogamous and straight, the secondary female characters were bi-sexual and experimental. I took a walk on the wild side with those characters and included some fun, highly graphic, female/female sex scenes. The scenes made sense, since they fit nicely with the plot and the character profiles.

They also got me an automatic rejection from my favorite publisher.

The rules for submission excluded girl on girl sex. Male/male was acceptable, but female/female wouldn’t fly with the largely female, hetero audience, they said. I was astounded by this double standard, but had to live with it if I wanted to get ahead in the mainstream marketplace.

Fortunately, my debut novel sold to my other favorite publishing house. The story received outstanding four and 4.5 star reviews and sales were brisk. No one said they had a problem with the bi-sexual characters or lesbian sex scenes.

By the time the contract on that book expired, I had broken into my first choice of publishing houses with other stories. However, I still hadn’t learned my lesson. Since I saw nothing wrong with a little girl on girl action, my second book contained a brief scene involving light female touching. There was no kissing or sex involved. One secondary character merely touched another in a suggestive way.

My publisher let that small rule infraction go. However, an advisory was posted to the published story, warning readers about the female/female interaction. Though reviewers loved the book, it didn’t sell. I’m convinced the advisory killed sales.

If I wanted to survive in the mainstream erotic romance industry, I learned I had to toe the line. My third book contained strictly heterosexual sex scenes and remains one of my top sellers.  I also revised my first novel, for which I’d gotten the rights back, and resubmitted it to my publisher under a new title, without the female/female sex.

The book sold just as well as it had the first time, though the reviews were better. The reissued story garnered Top Pick and five stars with the strictly hetero cast of characters. Same book minus F/F sex. The message was clear.

Time has relaxed the taboo against female/female stories in the mainstream small press, but only a little. As a heterosexual woman, married and monogamous for twenty-five years, I hope reader resistance fades. Fiction has many more places to explore.

My newest release, REV ME TWICE, includes a female/female sex scene and a group sex scene with so many permutations, I felt sure I’d get into trouble. Surprisingly, I didn’t. Instead of an advisory about the F/F sex, on the sales page my publisher called my bi-sexual heroine, “…the adventurous sort of modern woman who explores her sexuality.” Maybe readers and my publisher have gotten used to my fondness for mixing things up. They say they love the book. I’m told, “It’s different.” Considering the saturation of the erotic romance marketplace, that’s quite a compliment.

When the opportunity to submit to GIRLS WHO BITE came around, I felt more comfortable writing about duel heroines than I did vampires. After all, I’d been stubbornly including bi-sexual and lesbian characters in my books for five years. I can say with all honesty that writing “The Crystal Altar” was the most fun I’ve ever had creating a short story. Fantasy makes anything possible.

GIRLS WHO BITE is a groundbreaking anthology. Its authors hope that all women will love the variety of stories. Gay or straight, we have our strength, courage, and indomitable spirits in common.

 *****

THE CRYSTAL ALTAR by Adele Dubois

An ancient crystalline cavern becomes the setting for a most unusual birthday party…

Excerpt:

Morgan wrapped her arms around Rosa’s waist and deepened the kiss. She touched her tongue to Rosa’s, and then slid hers inside her lover’s mouth.

Rosa sucked it in greedy little pulls. Then she licked and nipped Morgan’s bottom lip before pressing her mouth again to hers.

It was the ultimate turn-on to be wanted.

She lowered her mouth to the pulse beating against Rosa’s neck and sucked the spot with deep, hard tugs. Her teeth grazed the delicate skin and nipped until bruises formed.  She swirled her tongue over the dappled plum marks and savored the taste of Rosa’s sweet flesh as blood pooled just below the surface.

Rosa leaned away and touched her neck. Tiny lines formed between her eyebrows as her eyes flashed with uncertainty. “Why did you do that?”

Morgan cradled Rosa’s breasts and lifted them higher, watching her hands squeeze and release. “I was marking you. I want to make sure the freaks at the party know you’re taken.”

Rosa laughed. “You’re jealous? I worried you’d gone Goth on me, like your whacko cousin. She probably drinks blood for sport.”

Morgan rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t surprise me. She likes to pretend she’s a vampire. She and her entourage go to dungeon clubs in the city.” Morgan inspected the love bite on Rosa’s neck. “That looks kind of cool, though. I like it.”

***** 

BUY Link:  GIRLS WHO BITE!

http://www.amazon.com/Girls-Who-Bite-Lesbian-Vampire/dp/1573447153/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297992341&sr=1-3

BUY Link:  REV ME TWICE  http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8865-rev-me-twice.aspx

Adele Dubois Website: www.adeledubois.com/

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