observations

A Few Observations on My Authorversary

/ Jaye Elise / 13 Comments

CoverI always like to start my blog posts off by coming up with the title, but I had trouble coming up with something suitable for today’s post and that, in and of itself, is disconcerting. In other words, sorry for the lame title. 😉

So, where should I start?

Well, today is my authorversary. On April 29 of last year, I published my first novel, Doctor’s Orders, and Jaye Elise was born. At that point, I still hadn’t told my husband that I was a published author and I already had another book in the pipeline. All in all, it’s been an exciting year! Three solo novels published, three more with my amazing co-author, Jack Crosby, and a short story in a Christmas anthology…not too shabby. And this doesn’t even include the Wicked Daddy-inspired stories I’ve been posting! 😉

I’ve made some amazing friends over the past year as well, including you, dear readers! A few who readily come to mind are the aforementioned Jack (bacon lover and cheerleader extraordinaire!), Katie Douglas, Wicked Daddy, Gracie Malling, Marlee Wray, Philip Mitchell Stein, Ruth Storm, J.B. Crown, Seanna Cullen…and the list could keep growing! What a pleasure it is to learn, grow, and share ideas with you all!

It’s a bittersweet day, though, and there’s really no hiding that fact. Without overdramatizing my situation, I wouldn’t call what I’m going through right now “writer’s block”…it’s more like “writer’s paralysis”. I’ve bought loads of my friends’ publications and have them ready to go on my iPad…but I can’t bear to read them. I’ve got four or five novels in various stages of development…but I can’t even open the documents to see what a shambles they are. I’ve got suggestions, support, and recommendations about moving forward coming in from all across my network (thank you, by the way)…but it’s falling on deaf ears.

I haven’t written—really written—in months.

I’ll be the first one to tell you I’m not a creative type. I don’t obsess about my “craft” because I don’t have a craft to obsess about. It’s simple. I like smut. And I like writing quality smut that resonates with people. I’m pretty sure I’ve done that.

At some point, I’m sure I’ll do it again.

Now is not that point.

Broken Woman

Sometimes It’s Nice…

/ Jaye Elise / 2 Comments

Sensual Embrace

Sometimes it’s nice not to write anything.

To focus on a meaningful moment, let it happen, and savor it for what it is.

Sometimes it’s nice not to write anything.

To enjoy the stillness in your mind, appreciate what you have and all you’ve accomplished, and celebrate your successes.

Sometimes it’s nice not to write anything.

To channel your energy inward, calm the instinct to transcribe the moment, and let things be as they were meant to be.

Sometimes it’s nice…

Wisconsin: Cheese. Snow. Football. Beer. Erotica?

/ Jaye Elise / 2 Comments

Funny Wisconsin MapSince kickstarting my social media efforts earlier this year after the publication of my first novel, I’ve had the honor of engaging with dozens of romance and erotica authors – some newer, some well established, and all fascinating in their own right. I’ve also had the pleasure of hosting a number of authors for my Triple Play Q&A series.

But over the past couple months, a certain factor has jumped out as a common denominator among a solid cross-section of authors whom I follow: Wisconsin. While I don’t live there now, I spent many happy years of my life in the Badger State (a.k.a. America’s Dairyland), and I’ve come to notice that a good number of my authors-in-arms are either from Wisconsin, live there currently, or have spent time there.

Madison w. Capitol

I don’t have any explanation for this phenomenon (if indeed it is one), but I find it delightfully endearing that this stalwart of America’s heartland happens to churn out (did you catch the dairy reference there?? 😉 ) some fantastic writers of erotic fiction! Maybe it’s the beer (see map above for reference). Or perhaps it’s the seemingly interminable winters. Or it might just be the copious number of gorgeous bottoms in need of spanking! Well, whatever it is – and please feel free to leave a comment with any ideas you might have – I’m delighted to be part of it!

On Wisconsin!