J.O. Thomas and The matter-of-fact Male Perspective

When it comes to writing romance, it's a jungle out there! Each writer is looking to bag the biggest  literary beast of an experience for their reader, with the hopes of achieving author fandom.

Authors are navigating new territory, with sensory descriptions and imagery unique to fit every new story. Because of course you know, each story must be better than the last one!

This new territory includes mapping out the male Point of View (POV) in the middle of a steamy love scene.

Google has been my steadfast confidant for all things visual, tactful, and tame. Hello, Safe search. Fancy meeting you again!

But there comes a time when the safe search just won't traverse the kind of jungle that authors have found themselves in. Who wants a slow and even ride when it comes to the male POV in romance?

I like to write alternating chapters with male and female perspective. And while I've got a solid handle on what motivates my female characters, I find the male goal motivations and conflicts a little more difficult to negotiate in the middle of a love scene.

I've listened to conference talks for mastering the male POV. And although I highly respect and admire the authors that presented, nothing quite compares to the real thing. A real man.

In steps J.O. Thomas, with a no-nonsense perspective on the wiley and illusive male POV. I found him on twitter, a reputable marketing resource for other authors. He's quick to offer advice and support for those that seek him out.

If you're struggling with sensory and visual stimulus for a particularly spicy scene, I'd recommend picking up one of his stories! The read is quick. The delivery steadfast. And once your temperature settles back to normal, you should take away a unique perspective on the male persuasion.

Book Review: Confessions of a Closet Empath by DiAnne Berry

As a child, I was always felt ashamed at being over-sensitive. I still remember the day when, sitting at my Grandmother's Sunday dinner, I managed to spill my glass of milk.

I don't remember if it was just a slosh, or the entire glass. That should be important, but it wasn't.

I just remember being frozen where I sat. Everyone looking at me. I could feel their hostile energy just spearing me with passive aggressive judgment. Irritation.

"Don't cry over spilled milk," someone muttered. But they knew I would.
And I did. I cried...over spilled milk! Among family. Loved ones. People that I should feel most comfortable around. But I felt something else entirely that day, hitting me from every side of that table.

DiAnn Berry's book discusses what happens when a sensitive soul wanders through their daily lives with their guard down and their "gift" pulling information from every direction. The actual pain they feel when carrying around Other People's Stuff (OPS) and collecting junk that doesn't belong to them.

I love her comparison of an empath being similar to the old hag in the movie Labyrinth. The hag carries everything around on her back, refusing to put anything down, which makes even the simplest act of moving around difficult.

The book teaches how to create a mental and spiritual shield when encountering difficult situations, and how to turn down the dial to empathic energy. Mute button anyone?

I personally consider myself a closet empath. I've been locked in the tower for years, learning those cooping strategies from a very young age. So for me, I felt as though I was almost reading this book from the other side of the mirror.

It did give me some great insight though, and helped bolster my courage to venture into a few empathic connections since I finished the book. With great results!

If you can get past the grammatical errors, this book has a great message for anyone who struggles with sensitivity and wishes to understand themselves!

Book Review: Vengeance Road Christine Feehan

As the weather turns spring-like, more motorcycles will immerge from hibernation. And with them, a fierce reputation for danger and adventure.
I've never been much of a motorcycle fan myself--okay, lets admit it, I'm down-right petrified of them. But I do have a healthy appreciation for those that ride. I have a few friends in clubs, and several more that want to be, so I'm vaguely familiar with the culture.
Christine Feehan has an amazing ability to suck you into the world of biker gangs, and hold you captive.
More than just nailing the MC culture like a prospect aiming to prove himself, she offers a steamy glimpse at the love sparked between two main characters who are destined to love no other. Its a rare thing in the gang world, where badge and buckle chasers are in plentiful supply, and the drive to stay loyal to any single woman can quickly loose it's nobility.
Because, women age...They change! No one stays pretty and pristine forever, and another pretty barfly will be constantly waiting in the wings to snare herself a bad boy, even if he belongs to someone else. Feehan addresses this issue expertly, time and again through this novel, giving the imperfect hope for a man like her hero, and proving that you don't have to be perfect to be appreciated.