Part Deux of the Million Dollar Duet Has Arrived

IT'S HERE!!!

I know it's been a while since I've done a blog post - shame on me - but surely you're following my website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts and are aware that the release of A MILLION GUILTY PLEASURES is right around the corner. February 4th, to be exact. Naturally, we have to have a blowout to celebrate the conclusion to the Million Dollar Duet.

Diamonds, pearls, and Kindle Fire HDs, oh my! Just three of the very awesome gifts I will be giving away at the A MILLION GUILTY PLEASURES release day party! 

That Kindle Fire will be loaded down with ALL FIVE of my books and I'll even autograph the casing! And the diamond necklace and pearls will be accompanied by a FLYAS T-shirt. 

Come on, you know you want them! All you have to do is be present on February 4th from 9 AM - 11 PM, EST. 

PLUS . . . Many other VERY generous prizes have been donated from some amazing people, including . . .

A dozen or so of your favorite authors: Darynda Jones, Dakota Cassidy, Shay Savage, Ruth Cardello, J.m. Madden, Robyn Peterman Zahn, Donna Jane McDonald, Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie, Jeffe Kennedy, Amanda Baker Usen, Julie Anne Lindsey, Lydia Michaels Author, and Aedan Byrnes.

TWO psychic readings from very well-known experts in their field: Tina Michelle and Kimberly Rackley.

And even a sexy gift to go along with your sexy read from Pure Romance consultant, Andrea Thompson.

Ya gotta be present to win, so make sure you're tuned in all day!!! https://www.facebook.com/events/524802504293577/

Embracing Erotica Without Shame

When I first started writing the Million Dollar Duet, it was actually an outlet for all the juicy erotic goodness that the highly inappropriate part of my brain kept replaying while I was working on my first project, the Supernova Saga. It was the scene at the end of A MILLION DIRTY SECRETS’s chapter 14 and into chapter 15 that started it all. Those highly inappropriate, albeit emotionally charged, scenes simply wouldn’t fit the Saga’s storyline. Plus I could just see my mother shaking her head with that look on her face – the one that says without words how embarrassed she is that her darling baby girl (also the mother of two, not by immaculate conception) has even had sex, and how appalled she would be that I advertised my sexuality to the rest of the world under the “guise” of two fictional characters.

I am not Lanie Talbot nor have I ever had the extreme pleasure of finding myself in precarious positions with Noah Crawford, but I’m keeping hope alive.

I’d like to think there’s a little of Lanie in me, though. Particularly, that quirky inner voice that makes me giggle to myself over something silly. Like Lanie, I also tend to make the best of a serious situation through the magic of laughter. After all, it’s hard to cry when you’re laughing. Not impossible, but hard.

As for Noah, well, there’s none of Noah in me, but I wish there was. Cue wicked grin.

Writing erotica in this day and age really isn’t that big of a deal. Neither is reading it, though some still prefer to keep their interests discreet. People are more open to exploring their sexuality and are always looking for inventive ideas to put the waning spark back into their relationship. Let’s face it; sex is one of the basic needs, ranked right up there with food, water, oxygen, and basic survival. The continuation of the human race requires it even. So why should it be a taboo subject? And why should it have to be a boring one at that? It doesn’t. That’s why I wrote a smoking hot erotica in which two individuals actually have a reason to have tons of sex and just so happen to find an answer to their separate needs through a beautiful love story that blooms in spite of the chaos surrounding them with a twist of humor on the side.

I’ve been told A MILLION DIRTY SECRETS sets the tone for a modern day version of Pretty Woman, which is a huge compliment. I suppose now that we’ve let our hair down and embraced that which makes us feel good, it’s really quite easy to agree with that statement. I, for one, always wanted a front row seat to the real action inside Edward Lewis’s penthouse suite. So here’s to yet another epic love affair. May Lanie and Noah lead the way into an age of unbridled passion minus the morning after shame.

The Mechanics of Super Cooch

Ah, Double Agent Coochie . . . that shameless hussy. While some may find her silly, immature, and unnecessary, she does serve a purpose to the story dynamic. Multiple purposes, in fact.

First, she’s the comic relief, and without a comic relief, the story could get pretty heavy. A virgin auctions her body off to the highest bidder in an effort to save her dying mother’s life. Heavy stuff, right? Personally, I like a little hehe-haha with my lip biting and growlies and teary eyes and sniffles and “ah-come-on!”s.

Second, and probably most important, she makes what Lanie does, how easily she slips into her role, more believable. We all read stories where the formula is that of a reluctant heroin placed in a situation where she must be submissive, but finds she likes it. Right? Well, I never buy into it. Doesn’t matter how hot the sex is. I need the story to be realistic. The dilemma I was then faced with was how to make Lanie’s submission and eagerness seem realistic.

Enter the Cooch.

Cooch is sort of like an alter ego, if you will. Lanie’s scapegoat. A coping mechanism to help her mentally and emotionally deal with the situation she’s found herself in.

Double Agent Coochie makes it possible for Lanie to secretly like the things Noah is doing to her body without carrying so much of the shame along with it. Because let’s face it, Lanie SHOULDN’T like what this total stranger is doing to her. She SHOULD feel shame because proper morals and values dictate as much in our society. It wasn’t enough that she was under contract to satisfy Noah’s every need. She’d voluntarily signed that contract; ergo, not a good excuse. No, she needed something involuntary to excuse her wanton reactions to Noah’s manipulations. It wasn’t Lanie; it was the Cooch. Hence, the Double Agent Coochie and Benedict Arnold references. She has a mind of her own, and Lanie can only barely keep her under control. It’s quite the chore, and thus we should admire Lanie for her persistence and at least try to empathize with her predicament. Can’t be easy to be Lanie Talbot, after all. Where’s the entertainment in that?

*sidenote* I’d like to see any one of you claim to not enjoy what Noah Crawford can do with his various body parts.

Plus, Super Cooch looks damn good in a cape and leotard. And she’s partial to those hooker heels. One more point that I find necessary to make: the love triangle with the Wonder Peen and Ridonkabutt would just seem silly without the Cooch. Pfft . . . a little bit of competition is a healthy thing.

And there you have it . . . The Cooch isn’t really all that silly, after all. She’s quite the complex character, as are most when you stop to look a little deeper. We used to do that a long time ago, we readers. We used to look for the hidden nuances in an author’s tale. That’s where the real magic was found.

Until next time . . .

Pinch Me, I'm Dreaming

So I'm a little late on this, but I still had to share. Look at whose mainstream debut made RT Magazine's September 2013 issue with the TOP PICK! for Erotic Romance!!!!!

Seriously, when I first saw it via a post to my street team, Parker Pimpin' Posse, by Chelle Olson, I was like . . .  

*Pay no attention to all themz chinz ;)*

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE . . .

Publisher's Weekly . . . THE Publisher's Weekly . . . had this to say about A MILLION DIRTY SECRETS:

“Smoldering sex scenes and a cliffhanger ending will have erotica fans panting for more.”—Publishers Weekly

Y'all really want to read it now, right? Please, oh please, oh please read it!!! And you can even get it a day before everyone else!!! True story.

For those of you who may not be aware, Random House (I still get a little giddy whenever I use their name because they're MY publishing house, what-what?!) is allowing Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, KY to do a book launch on 8/26/2013 at 7:00 PM EST, which is actually the day BEFORE the official release. I will be there to say a few words and try to make y'all want m'body . . . erm, that is to say my body of work. And I'll even sign it. P.S. I'll also be signing boobs, but cleavage only.

If you can't be there - or if you're a stalker (okay by me) - I'll also be making an appearance at Books-A-Million in Louisville, KY on 8/31/2013 at 3:00 PM EST.

And if that still isn't enough CLP for ya, you can catch me at ScareFest in Lexington, KY 9/13-15th. I'm not the only attraction there. Seriously, it's one of the nation's largest horror and paranormal conventions. I'm looking forward to the stargazing, myself.

But iffin' you can't make it to any of these places, no worries. You can pick up A MILLION DIRTY SECRETS from your neighborhood bookstore (and if they don't have it, you should totally demand they carry it), or you can order it online. In fact, you can pre-order both A MILLION DIRTY SECRETS and A MILLION GUILTY PLEASURES now!!! Just go to my website and scroll to the bottom for handy-dandy links to all your favorite retailers.

Stay tuned to this bat channel for more promotional goodness, headed your way. And as always, THANK YOU for your continued support! You have no idea how very much it means.

Show Me Yours And I'll Show You Mine

*covers eyes* No, no, no . . . I was just trying to get your attention. I swear it!!!

*peeps through fingers, relieved to see everyone still has their clothes on*

Okay, then. Long time, no blog. Yes? The good news: I've been super busy in an attempt to get my latest bit of sexiness out on the shelves for ya. The even BETTER news: I have another release date, title, blurb, and cover reveal!!!

*the crowd goes wild, confetti falls from the ceiling, some gets in my mouth and I look like an idiot trying to spit it out, someone's thong lands on the stage, and a random crowd surfer takes a leap* Seriously? Simmer down, sirs and misses. *picks up the thong and stuffs it in her pocket*

Book #2 in the Million Dollar Duet, A MILLION GUILTY PLEASURES, will be released February 11, 2014, just in time for Valentine's Day! 

"But, C, we don't even know what it's about," you say. "How's about a little blurb for it?" 

By golly, that's a stupendous idea! *infomercial smile*

Two million dollars secured Noah Crawford the most enticing woman he has ever known. Initiating Delaine Talbot into a sensuous world of pleasure took them both to the bring--again and again. But when Noah discovers why the beautiful innocent sold her body to the highest bidder, he's faced with the hardest thing he ever had to do: Set her free.

Lanie can't believe Noah would let her go. Doesn't he know they share a bond deeper than sex--a connection too powerful to sever? Not even a treacherous enemy out to destroy Noah or the dark secret haunting the multimillionaire can keep them apart. But first Lanie has to show him that he belongs to her, even if it means risking everything for a love that can never be bought or sold.

You should DEFINITELY read the Million Dollar Duet in order. No harm in pre-ordering/picking up your copies as soon as they drop, though. Paperbacks and/or ebooks will be available from these major retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, iBookstore, Kindle, Nook, and Books-A-Million (to name only a few) ... OR ... you can order direct from RandomHouse. A MILLION GUILTY PLEASURES is not yet available for pre-order, but stay tuned to this channel, folks ;)

And now for the cover reveal. Isn't it sexy?

~Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend,

but pearls are so much more fun~

Just a bit of housecleaning . . . I will need to start directing traffic on my Facebook account to my C. L. Parker author page, and I'm hoping you might help me out by making sure you're a follower there. Also, I wouldn't mind if you knew a friend or two who might be interested in doing the same. I'll be posting all my book related updates there, and will likely be more present on that page than my personal page from here on out. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

FLYAS!

~C~