the perils of the steamy scene

the perils of the steamy scene

At a book club once, I was asked why I wrote steamy sex scenes in Tequila Midnight. Sometimes, I write "closed door" novels, where the intimate details aren't on the page. Other times, as in Tequila Midnight, I believe these details are important to the character's development. I don't really choose which way to write the scene so much as I subconsciously write it the way I think the scene should go.
 
That doesn't mean that I don't cringe when other people read the sex scenes I write. I purposely didn’t send my mom an early copy of Tequila Midnight when I finished it because of the sex scenes. 

Many months later, Mom asked me to send her something to read. Immersed in writing a different novel, I forgot how spicy Tequila Midnight was, so I put a copy in the mail to her.

Soon after, I proofread it before publishing. Whew! My ears burned thinking about my poor mother reading those scenes. I decided to never bring it up with her, but I wasn't so lucky. She brought it up. I immediately apologized for all the cussing and sex in the book. 
 
Luckily, she liked the book. Then, she dropped the bomb. "Oh, Dad read it too." 😐 
 
I thought I'd die of embarrassment. But in the end, we write what we write. My next book has a very spicy scene that's integral to the main character's development. I've probably set myself up for more book club questions and lots of parental avoidance.

upcoming book travel

A novel I'm working on now is full of travel and adventure. 
These are just three of the places my characters visit.

a favorite book

Do you ever get asked what your favorite book is? It's hard to pick one. Fiction or nonfiction? Uplifting or something that makes you think? There are so many books that have left their mark on me.
 
But I usually answer with a book I've loved since my freshman honors English class at Tulane University. I read so many great authors in that class, including the incredible Gabriel Garcia Marquez. 
 
But my favorite novel became The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles. I reread it every once in a while to see if stands the test of time. I'm not sure it does, but each time I read it, I feel like he's writing something that was already inside me. 
 
Do you have a favorite novel? I'd love for you to share it with me.

Happy Travels: Costa Rica

Haven't received your copy of the novella La Paloma, Tequila Midnight's prequel? Download it by clicking here.