In The Headlines: Redefining the Genre with "Maggie's Song"?

I think every author would love to hear their work described as "redefining the genre". Last week, Lee Bailey's Electronic Urban Report published an article on Marcia Ware's book, Maggie's Song, claiming exactly that.

According to this article, Maggie's Song relates the tale of a curvy, "plus-size" African American woman, working hard to become a country music star and navigating the waters of an industry telling her she must be skinnier, sexier, and more conforming to societal standards of beauty, in order to succeed. Along the way she meets a man with whom she falls head-over-heels in love, but the man she adores turns out to be only interested in her for her success.

I have to say, based on the synopsis presented in this article, I have mixed feelings about this story. First off, I'm excited for a romance title with an African-American lead, and excited to see a plus-size woman taking not just a romantic part, but a motivated career story-line against an industry well-known for it's aggressive pursuit of unrealistic body standards.

However, I can't say the synopsis or romantic plot involving Richard, the opportunistic love interest, seems all that original. Is this really redefining the genre?

One quote in the article claims the story "cuts to the heart of women's insecurities". Perhaps this is the keystone idea to the book becoming a genre-smashing juggernaut?  Personally, I think a lot of romance features plot points of women (sometimes needlessly) struggling with insecurity. The idea of a romance centering on a woman's struggle with her own self-esteem (directly as a result of a man in her life) is even a bit insulting, to my mind, perhaps because it's so prevalent, even in story-lines which don't seem intended to focus on it. Romance, I think, is far more "genre-redefining" when it doesn't highlight a female feeling bad about herself in relation to how a man views her. 

Have you read Maggie's Song? What do you think about the article's claim that it "redefines" the romance genre? What sort of elements do you believe are truly necessary to redefine romance?

Just Sayin'.

Commentary: Join The Party

Today's new story, Join the Party, is a story I have mentally labeled "Pure Porn".

One of the reasons I like writing erotica is that I find it to be a really, really good staging ground to explore all sorts of characters, their personal developments, their psychologies, reactions, and opportunities in a variety of complicated and interesting situations.  When I started writing shorts for Foreplay and Fangs, I was interested in exploring a number of sexual behaviors, communities and identities.  That's why this blog has stories ranging from gay and lesbian tender romances, to supernatural horror, stories looking into flirty monogamous kink, wives getting banged while hubby watches, exhibitionism, and rough bdsm, and stories exploring the sexual side of creatures like dragons and werewolf fanatics.  One of the reasons I wrote Rhythm and Blues, a story I readily admit to be disturbing and uncomfortable, was to explore a little bit into the darkness of a damaged person's heart, and see where such a path would take me.  I might not have posted that story except that I felt the results, while potentially controversial or offensive, were solid, and they pleased me as a writer.  When it comes to such things as writing controversial subjects such as rape, rape fantasy, tentacle porn and sexual encounters before the age of 18, I tend to agree completely with this podcast by Remittance Girl, so if anyone wants to ask me why I write about women entangled with half-beast lycanthropes or why the desperation of a sexually abused girl, you can give that a listen.

But Join the Party is something I wrote for one very simple reason: it's porn.  Pure down-and-dirty get-your-rocks-off porn.  I felt like writing something naughty and purely for the sybaritic indulgence.  It's quite possibly over-the-top and probably not as in-depth as some of my other stuff, but that's not the point.

So usually I write things with a deeper idea of where certain questions will take me and what certain situations will say about a character and their inner workings.  I know lots of people will think it's ridiculous to say such a thing when writing porn, but I stand by it.  If you ever want to know what the "non-porn" motivation behind any given story is, feel free to drop me a comment.  But every now and then, something like this will make its way in here, and when you see them, I only wrote them because I had an itch to scratch, and I sincerely hope its the sort of thing that will make you squirm in your seat and perhaps try to sneak in a little "sessitimes" of your own, solo or with a partner.  Or with many partners.  I'm cool with that.

Enjoy Join the Party!  If you do like it so much you find yourself looking for a few sneaky moments with your vibrator or a bottle of lotion, well, do me a favor and give it a +1 or a retweet, would you? 

Tracks In The Snow (Final)

Final Copy.

Giving credit where credit is due, here is the original photo I used as reference.

Come to Bed, My Darling

Come to bed, my darling.

There’s room right here in my arms.

Come lay yourself down right beside me,

This place, always safe from all harm.

Whatever is happening elsewhere,

Whatever may weigh on our hearts,

In this room, in this bed, we are sheltered,

Comfort and passion are ours.

Come to bed, my darling,

This place we surrender so much.

Here you have seen every harsh truth in me,

And calmed every fear with your trust.

You’ve known all there is to be known here,

You’ve opened yourself here, in faith.

I’ve cried here, I’ve died here, you’ve loved here and tried here,

Together, serenity’s made.

Come to bed, my darling,

My favorite place in our home.

A place where we’re nothing but lovers,

A place where we’re never alone.

Come lay down here beside me,

Hold me in patient embrace.

Let the world move along then, without us,

I’m happy, content here.  In case

There ever is hardship between us,

I know that we’re safe in our bed.

With your arms around me, your breath at my ear,

There’s no place I’d long for instead.

Come to bed, my darling,

Come love me, and let’s apprehend

Each moment of bliss that is shared here,

My partner, my mate, my lover and friend.