#WriteTip - Learn from Each Edit by @LandraGraf, spotlighting her @DecadentPub #BDSM #Romance

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Landra Graf has been a busy bee, so she has yet another BDSM romance from Decadent Publishing out this year. We'll get all the smexy details about this 1Night Stand after this short, writing tip break. (P.S. By smexy, I mean kinky--as in wax play. Feel free to skip ahead!)


Self-edits are important. Each editor, round of edits, or critique recommended edits can teach you something about writing. Learn from them and start self-editing your own work. I save old edit rounds and I go back and look at them before I read through and edit my own work on the second draft. Doing this makes you a better writer and helps you grow. ~ Landra Graf
 

What You Want

1Night Stand Series

by Landra Graf

When her sister gets sick on the night of her 1Night Stand date, Laney Malcolm is asked to fill in and pretend to be her twin. Treating it as a lark, she looks forward to an adventurous event with a free dinner and not much else. She isn’t prepared for the fierce attraction nor the urge to help the Hawaiian, tattooed submissive she’s introduced to.

Kanoa Mahelona has spent the last year trying to find himself, but he’s tired of random hook-ups and women who only want him for his bad-boy image. Madame Eve helped his boss, so he turns to her for assistance. Attractive and damn good at breaking through his barriers, the blonde Domme challenges him in a way he can’t seem to turn down.

Only she’s not who she appears to be, and, once the truth comes out, it may be too late to go back.

Excerpt (for Mature Audiences Only)

Kanoa was ready for another round of wax. Honestly, he’d been surprised by her tactic, expecting a barrage from a flogger. Instead, she’d turned to something he hadn’t expected. When she let the wax drip onto his back, he’d believed she’d never get him to react. Until his feet. Holy hell, his restraint to stay still got tested there, especially when she removed the wax.

Somehow, in blindfolding him, she created a connection between his body and hers. Her body heat radiated against him whenever she got near. When she left his proximity, his body ran cold.

He expected her to do more wax play. Instead, she moved away. Minutes ticked by. He struggled to hear the slightest shuffle or jingle, except maybe she’d slipped off her boots or stopped moving entirely. His heart thumped, blood pumping rapidly through his body and drowning out the other noises in the room he’d picked up on. The hum of the air conditioner, the ticking of a clock—all gone, leaving him with nothing but his anxious need to move. To do something. Only the fear she’d end everything if he moved kept him in place.

Finally, he couldn’t take any more. “Pretty Woman, are you still here?”

A low laugh echoed from across the room. “You don’t like being left in the dark, do you, Kanoa?”

He cursed under his breath. Everything about this room, this scene, this woman seemed to be a never-ending test. “I wanted to make sure you didn’t leave me.” Honesty helped in all situations.

“You should trust in our mutual pleasure occurring from us occupying the same room. Now, what shall your punishment be?”

“Name it and I will do it, Pretty Woman.” How he wanted it to involve worshipping her. To touch her, even. The waiting sent him to new heights of torture.

She approached him, crouching on his left side. Whispering in his ear, she said, “I want you to be silent and taste what you do to me.”

ABOUT LANDRA GRAF

Landra Graf has been crafting stories since the tender age of too-young-to-watch-rated-R. When she finally got old enough for adult material, she believed adult meant anything besides the smexy. Then she discovered erotic romance and all things kinky. Since then it’s been a journey down a rabbit hole. Landra writes BDSM erotic romance and historical erotic romance, among other less smexy offerings.

Website | Twitter |Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon Author

#WriteTip - Chapter Outlines by @LandraGraf, spotlighting her @DecadentPub #BDSM #Romance #NewRelease

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Landra Graf and I seem to have a great deal in common. 

(Not-so-)Surprisingly, we also follow the exact same chapter outlining technique. I'll take this as confirmation that great (and slightly kinky) minds think alike. Get an up close and personal look at Landra's sexy new release after this quick writing tip break! 

My outlines are typically short and sweet, touching on the major points that have to be hit in each chapter. I also specify POV and location/day. From there I leave things wide open, which allows my creative free reign. - Landra Graf

What You Crave

Desperately Seeking Submissive

Landra Graf

Sigmund Bermudez has spent the last year out of the BDSM scene, mourning his father, and rebuilding the family business. When he loses a bet to his bodyguard that Madame Eve won’t locate a woman who’s down with his type of kink, he finds himself committed to a date he’s not sure he’ll enjoy.

Lauren Elser has heard about kinky escapades from one of her more challenging patients, and never taken part in one. When offered a chance to explore this undiscovered side of herself courtesy of 1Night Stand she jumps at it.

Neither of them are prepared for the emotional roller coaster that comes with their date, and soon shibari bondage play turns into so much more. The only problem is Sig’s not ready to open up and Lauren doesn’t want to be sued again. If they work past the issues there’s a world of wonder in store. 

Excerpt (For Mature Audiences Only)

With her limbs tied, her chest wrapped in blue nylon… the sight of those ropes did something to her insides, and she bucked upward. “Yes. Now your hands.”

She wanted his tanned skin against her pale white. Those fingers and palms back on the pearls he’d complimented moments before.

Her limited verbal plea worked because his palms brushed over both peaks. A moan escaped her and she cried, “Please.”

His head came low then, the visual blocked by his hair, but she felt everything. Hot mouth replacing skin, teeth grazing. The seconds dragged on with the administered torture and pleasure to not one, but both of her nipples. Then he whispered, “Do you want me to touch other places?”

She nodded, and a feral smile replaced his neutral expression.

Hot, callused skin connected with hers, sliding down her stomach, past her waist, and heading for the juncture between her thighs. More adventures led her to waxing earlier in the day, and she had a perfect landing strip, trimmed for this occasion. Not that she’d planned on this, but she’d hoped.

“I don’t normally do this.” One hand slipped between lace and flesh.

She shivered. “Then I’m the lucky one.”

A single digit glided over her clitoris and flicked the nub. Panting became her natural state like a dog, and she didn’t dare move for fear he’d stop. Another finger joined the fray, tracing the outside of her labia minora— holy hell! She’d reverted to high school biology terms. The slow movements, the careful exploration, made her crazy. The urge to scream, to cry out for penetration sat so close to the surface and the best way to stow the impulse involved reviewing what he did to her, how he did it.

Finally, he plunged both fingers inside at once and she let out a cry, some insane mewling noise. Her orgasm grew closer. Closer than she expected, but John had been right— delayed gratification increased the satisfaction.

He moved quickly, pumping in and out while tweaking her nipples. The pressure rose, a coiling sensation in her lower back and abdomen preceding the coming eruption, like a balloon ready to explode. She tugged at her bindings, straining against them and loving the burn, the pain they left while the peak rose higher.

As she crested, she called out “John!”

“No,” he said, his voice guttural and rough. “Call me Sig.”

Before she could ask what the hell? her release rushed forth, her legs jolting against the ties and moisture coating the fingers inside her. Eyesight blurred momentarily, the force stronger than ever before but all too soon reality came seeping back in. The name in her mind, the name she’d called, wasn’t real? “Who’s Sig?”

“I am.” He stared her straight in the eyes. The words were true and she felt exposed, manipulated, and embarrassed.

“Red.”

About Landra Graf

Landra Graf has been crafting stories since the tender age of too-young-to-watch-rated-R. When she finally got old enough for adult material, she believed adult meant anything besides the smexy. Then she discovered erotic romance and all things kinky. Since then it’s been a journey down a rabbit hole. Landra writes BDSM erotic romance and historical erotic romance, among other less smexy offerings.

Website | Twitter |Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon Author


#WriteTip - Killing Puppies (methaphorically speaking) by @LandraGraf, spotlighting her @DecadentPub #Zombie #Romance

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It's a rare and heartwarming pleasure to welcome another zombie romance author to my blog. It seems an age ago that I penned my Undead Fairy Tales series (actually, it's only been a few years), and now I have the honor of hosting Landra Graf, whose newest addition to Decadent Publishing's Beyond Fairytales series is also set in a post apocalyptic world ravaged by the walking dead. Her writing tip is a bit on the dark side, but it's one I've employed myself, especially when zombies are involed. 

Killing Puppies

by Landra Graf

Note: I would never condone that actually killing of puppies.

Then let me say thank you to Tara for hosting me on her blog today, even if I plan to talk about a tough subject involving writing romance. That subject is killing characters and overcoming grief in a romance setting.

I bet most would agree that overcoming grief in a romance can be difficult. That's typically why if death occurs it happens before the story starts or if it's the bad guy biting the bullet. Any other death scenerios are difficult to pull off and not easy to navigate. So when I wanted to write a story with zombies and a romance I wasn't sure how I could make that happen without breaking the death rule a lot. We're talking zombies... and if you've ever seen The Walking Dead the death toll is not small.

My best idea? Give the characters a past, a close past. The idea of trying to create closeness between two people who just met were a hurdle I didn't want to try to get past. 

My main characters, Em and Jason, have known each other all their lives. They grew up together, went to school together, and celebrate a litany of ups and downs. It's only in the past 10 years that they've grown apart. When they are paired together for a reunion it's all above board. The zombie aspect actually brings them closer, and solidfies their relationship. This pair has to save the day and take comfort in each other.

Now dear reader/writer... have you read the infamous killing puppies? Did the scenerio work or cause more problems?

A Rose By Any Other Name

by Landra Graf

Zombies don’t belong in fairy tales….at least not those with a good chance of a happily ever after…

Jason Prince, Charming's once-upon-a-time star jock, only attends his Charming high school reunion to find his way into the heart of a certain wallflower who had no date for the prom.

Shy, geeky, chemical engineer, Emma Fay has been keeping her love for Jason a secret because she knows Jason and Rose belong together. But, when Rose Briar pricks her finger, fulfilling a prophecy about death and a plague, she throws a wrench into the class reunion that not even the best planning committee can tackle.

Can Jason and Emma stop Zombie Beauty Rose before she turns their loved ones into her undead court and sends them forth to spread the infestation to the rest of the world? Or will human flesh become the daily special at diners everywhere? And will there be enough left of Jason and Emma for romance to blossom? 

Excerpt

Her eyes darted back toward the examination room. He couldn’t hear anything that gave the impression things were worse than they’d been a few moments ago. In fact, the silence in the room made him anxious, and he started to tap his boot on the linoleum floor. The rising tension around them or the number of feelings invoked knowing someone he cared about lay suffering in the other room failed to help as well. He gave a little shiver and involuntarily gripped Emma’s hand tighter. She tried to pull away, but he wanted to hold on to her a little longer.

“All right then, let’s break up this mood. I’m going to read your palm.” He hoped the ploy would cast away her urges to break their bond.

“Palm reading?” One brown eyebrow lifted, but her frame and hand relaxed at his touch.

“Yes, I’ve studied with the finest masters fair corn dogs can buy.”

She giggled.

“I can tell you your future, Miss Emmaline Fay,” he said with a grin. She gave one back and the effect was breathtaking. She’d always possessed a beautiful smile, one known for lighting up rooms, and he enjoyed being the recipient.

“Fine, Master Prince. Tell me my future.”

Jason turned her palm over in his, trailing his fingers along the lines. Leaning in for a closer look, he picked up on the scent of vanilla, flowers, and a hint of something he couldn’t identify beyond pure Emma. The power of the smell made his groin swell again, something he didn’t need at the moment. One glance downward and she’d see the evidence of how she affected him.

So he thought about cold showers and his grandmother’s gnarly hands and focused on the soft palm covered with lines.

“Ah, your life line is extremely long. I also see a man in your love line. This is a man who has loved you for a long time and watched you from afar.”

She scoffed. “Sounds kind of creepy. I don’t know if I want a stalker in my life.”

“Not a stalker, but an admirer. He’s always appreciated your loyalty.” Jason locked eyes with her green ones. “Your kindness and bravery, too. And your ability to push ahead. Strength like that is rare.”

She leaned forward, her nose barely touching his. “How rare?”

“Uh.” His words caught in his throat. To have her so close, too close...exactly where he’d wanted her since he’d seen her sitting behind the wheel of her car. “Rare enough that I’ve only known one other person to possess it. I—”

“The fever is coming down,” Dr. Mason announced, bursting into the room, face filled with relief.

Jason silently swore as she jumped out of her chair and moved toward the entry. “Can we go in?”

“No, not yet. I want you both to stay here, though, in case you come down with the same thing due to proximity. We've taken blood, and we're doing everything we can, but I don’t know if this is contagious.” The doctor moved to a cabinet on the far wall and removed two blankets.

“You can camp out in the waiting room.”

“Completely understandable, Doc. I know we won’t leave until Rose is able to, anyway. We’ll want to be on the nurse-Rose-back-to-health team.” Jason stood to accept the blankets.

Her momentary excitement deflated, Emma shuffled back to her chair. “That’s right. I’ll be nursing our girl back to health or whatever else it takes, so I’m staying until everything is perfectly fine.”

“Good. I’ll see you both in the morning,” Dr. Mason said, leaving by way of the kitchen door. Jason could only imagine the amount of coffee the doctor planned on consuming for the night.

Emma curled up in her seat, slipping her feet out of her brown cowboy boots.

Jason sat down next to her and leaned back in his chair. “He certainly knows how to offer comfortable beds.”

“And there’s the sarcasm I know so well.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.

He tried to ignore how right it felt. “Yes, and that’s why you should just close your eyes and rest. Don’t worry. It’ll all be better in the morning.”

ABOUT LANDRA GRAF

Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.

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