Romance Fiction--Where Do I Begin?

Beginnings and endings of my books are always the hardest parts for me to craft, especially the beginnings. "Fish out of water" and "reunion" stories are two of my favorites, for reading and for writing. I want to make sure to capture a reader's imagination from the start, and this can primarily be accomplished by placing the hero and heroine at the right moment in their romantic time line. Loving relationships are very precious. Just as a couple strives to sustain love and open dialogue, if a writer gets this journey out of the gate at the wrong pace, or forces a couple together before they are ready, a reader's interest will wane and the love story will become a fictional fatality.

In my erotica romantic suspense, ROUGHRIDER, Kimberly Taylor has decided to turn her relationship with Jack Dodson from platonic to passionate. She's a workaholic who rarely makes time for play until her feelings and frequent thoughts of her high-school "friend" are too difficult to deny. Jack has left the rodeo circuit and craves stability in a life he has always lived on the edge. I started this novel at the point where Kimberly finally agrees to take a short vacation and see if she can slay some of the sexual demons dogging her night and day. But once her curiosity strays from the welcoming safety of Jack's ranch, she learns the truth behind the troubled months and years that have passed during their time apart.





Wishing you all many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED (Recommended Read) -- Ellora's Cave
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave

Blinking Less, Believing More

First breath. First words and steps. First kiss. First time of losing the heart and confessing love. These are all milestones in life. Accomplishments and events all based on growth of the body, mind and emotions. Sure, we all falter and sometimes fall on our faces, literally and figuratively, while focusing on goals and filling the days, hours and minutes with precious moments. But moving forward and refusing defeat of any sort is what ultimately makes a winner--a person who's trampled past defeat and fallen into step with the promise held by the future.

While pondering my goals for 2011, I recalled the following video from Kenny Chesney for DON'T BLINK. Both moving and motivational in words and visual content, this Country hit convinced me there's no time like the present to keep my eyes open wide for opportunity and embrace every possible living moment.



Wishing you all many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED (Recommended Read) -- Ellora's Cave
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave

Sights and Sounds of the Season

Christmas comes during the most sensual of seasons. By sensual I mean a time of year that excites every sense. We savor delicious holiday recipes. Shiver as snowflakes kiss our nose and cheeks. Snuggle with someone special by the roaring fire or beneath the mistletoe.

And we’ll always remember those visions of many things other than sugarplums that dance in our heads whether we’re sleeping or awake. Whether gathered by the family piano or strolling the sidewalks and singing Christmas carols, we’re caught up in the holiday spirit.

Here are some videos guaranteed to bring back memories. Grab a mug of hot chocolate, coffee or tea and enjoy these sights and sounds of the season.


Sexy --- Santa never looked so good…



Funny --- Original Trailer for A Christmas Story…



Romantic …



Rockin’ …




Poignant…



Modern Classic…



All-time Classic…



Wishing you all many happy holiday and reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED (Recommended Read) -- Ellora's Cave
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

A Woman Never Forgets Her First

While growing up I wrote lots of stories based on bears, bunnies, puppies and many woodland creatures. Though I proved prolific during my childhood, the stories I wrote during my teen years are the ones I remember well. Lots of angst. Unrequited love. Keeping up with fashion trends. Trading tales over burgers and fries or at the high school’s cafeteria table. First dates with fellows I once thought were the sexiest in the world. These elements and more filled my creative-writing tablets and all resulted in short works of romance fiction. I’d always embraced Cinderella stories and applauded when Hollywood heroines got their dream guys. I loved filling typewritten pages with heroes and heroines fulfilling their passionate fantasies.

In the case of this blog, the first to which I'm referring has to do with romance fiction. The first tale I ever tapped out was one where a couple met over a chocolate milkshake. The heroine accepted her order at the fast-food counter, turned and promptly collided with a good-looking guy. His soft drink sloshed over the floor. To make amends for her clumsy moment, she offered to share her shake with him.

Next week I’ll divulge the story’s ending, but I’d enjoy hearing your opinions as to what happened next. Did chocolate bring these two together, or did their chance at a teenage romance fade faster than the ice cubes on the restaurant’s floor tiles?

Wishing you many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED -- Coming soon to Ellora's Cave
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

Paranormal and the Passionate Romance

One of my favorite ways of passing time as a child was writing stories and creating fictional characters, many of whom possessed otherworldly powers. As I got older, I focused more on reading women’s fiction, literary fiction and historical romances, but I never forgot the thrill of creating my own worlds and characters.

My first published paranormal erotica romance, HELLE IN HEELS, came to fictional life thanks to the family coffeemaker. One Saturday morning as I stood in the kitchen, the coffeemaker emitted these strange guttural noises. Almost as though a hellcat dwelled somewhere in the brew basket. When the sequence of sounds repeated themselves, I wished the demon back to where it belonged. No sooner did I vocalize this wish and the idea for a spitfire hero who is banished from Hell by her father, Sir Satan, sprang to mind. Once the travel mug filled with java, I grabbed it and my laptop and headed to the master bedroom for a plotting and writing session that lasted over five hours. That same weekend I finished the story’s first draft and tucked it away for proofing months later. Imagine, a writer’s creativity sparked by a coffeemaker’s satanic rumblings.

Helle Hawthorn is the heroine of HELLE IN HEELS, my first Exotika release at Ellora’s Cave. She is the daughter of the Devil and a mortal woman. She was gifted with her father’s good looks and charm, but she has her mother’s kind nature and conscience. Of course, this makes for the perfect conflict between her and her father. Women will relate to HELLE IN HEELS because this erotic tale explores the feminine tendencies of self-sacrifice and nurturing. Helle shows readers how women can dare slaying their sexual demons and finding fulfillment in more ways than one. But her bloodline doesn’t save her from being dealt the ultimate blow. She is banished from Hell and forced to leave behind her otherworldly powers and true love in order to save Earth from Satan’s destruction. She uses her intelligence and demonstrates unflagging determination when escaping a hellish situation that's getting hotter with each passing moment. Helle is quite adventurous and a sexual being, but she doesn't hesitate putting another's needs before her own when a situation warrants. Quite a candid woman, she tells one lover she's, "Your mother's worst nightmare and your daddy's wettest dream." Despite her sassiness and sex appeal, she never forgets the handsome Greek who brought her love and orgasms below ground. Menlikus, the story's hero, shows how far he will go and how much he will risk for the woman of his wildest and most romantic dreams. HELLE IN HEELS is a tale of personal loss for the gain of the masses. Taking chances to bring peace and betterment to your own life and the lives of others.

The Devil isn't above defeat. Helle and her Greek lover, Menlikus, never surrender their goals despite the fact they’re faced with a dismal situation. They might be otherworldly characters, but they are able to differentiate between love and lust and recognize which means more to them overall. Circumstances drive them apart, but one is often thinking about the other. Helle was such fun to create because I gifted her with a level of intelligence that enables her to outsmart her despot daddy. On reaching Earth, she faces the ultimate sexual obstacles and learns more than one valuable lesson in the process. When I characterized Helle, I wanted to make her multi-faced and enable her to rise above the stereotype that those who dwell in Hades are inherently evil. I also created a world where the Devil isn’t such an all-seeing, all-knowing entity. That he has his limitations and intellectual superiors. I also didn’t want Helle suffering immediate defeat at the hands of the Devil. HELLE IN HEELS keeps the hellfires burning with explicit sexual content. The paranormal is blended with an edgy, sassy tone in this Ellora's Cave Exotika tale. If you think you really know what happens in Hell, Helle Hawthorn might change your mind.

Click here for more information and an excerpt from HELLE IN HEELS

Click here to read more excerpts and reviews

Click here to watch the book video for HELLE IN HEELS


Feel the heat in erotic fiction,

Shawna Moore
HELLE IN HEELS – Ellora’s Cave
ROUGHRIDER – Ellora’s Cave
TORMENTED – Coming soon from Ellora’s Cave
Shawna’s Myspace
Helle’s Myspace