Shira Anthony's Blog - Posts Tagged "shifters"

At long last, Chapter Four of my free novella, "Stealing the Wind." MM romance, slightly smutty (consider yourself forewarned!), pirate, paranormal shifter story (that's a mouthful!). 18+ only, please. To read, click the link or the picture!

“Stealing the Wind” is the story of Taren of Laxley, an indentured servant who is kidnapped and taken aboard the pirate ship, Sea Witch. Life is far better for Taren aboard the Witch, and he quickly becomes the pirate captain’s favorite slave and a valued member of the Witch’s crew. But will Taren’s fortunes change for the worse when Taren is captured by the mysterious Eoin Dunaidh and his crew? Contains scenes of dubious consent, threesomes, and other content not appropriate for children.

Enjoyed the story so far? Leave me a comment and let me know! As always, I'll be updating again as my editing/writing schedule permits. -Shira

For links to my published stories, click here. You can get more information, including excerpts and buy links by clicking on the "More" to the right of each title.

Another Free Fiction Friday! Chapter Five of "Stealing the Wind," my slightly smutty (okay, very smutty) pirate shifter novella. That stunning photo is of Mikael Kenta, an amazingly beautiful male model and my inspiration for Captain Eoin Dunaidh. Special thanks to Sharita Lira for figuring out who he is and sharing this gorgeous photo!

So without further babbling (I'm a writer - I'm prone to that), I give you Chapter Five. 18+ only, please! Enjoy. -Shira

PS: I have a giveaway up on Goodreads for a paperback copy (autographed if you wish) of "The Melody Thief." Be sure to enter - contest ends right after GayRomLit, on October 19th. Just click here and scroll down the page for contest info and signup!

My first published MM novella, "The Dream of a Thousand Nights," has a forced cheating scenario in it. The Jinn Tamir, under a powerful spell, is forced to submit to his former master, the Jinn Amir. For someone who loves dubcon as much as I do, it just seemed a natural outgrowth of the story. Under normal circumstances, Tamir would never have betrayed the one true love of his life, his beloved Prince Neriah. In fact, Tamir begs Amir not to force him to betray Neriah. And of course, there's a sweet HEA at the end of the story (not a spoiler, since all my stories have HEAs).

So when I got some of the first reader reviews of "Dream," I was totally surprised to see how strongly some readers reacted to what they considered cheating. I was naive. Which got me thinking about cheaters, and whether it's ever acceptable to have a cheating scenario in a romance novel. I don't really think there is an answer.

Readers are all different. They come to a book with their different life experiences, perceptions, needs, and expectations. For me, I think cheating is a very human thing to do. Is it wrong? Damn straight! I've had my own experiences with cheaters and believe me, I was not very forgiving. But do I think cheaters can redeem themselves? Yes. But only through personal growth. Without growth, people don't really change. Without change, cheaters tend to repeat their cheating behavior.

In my upcoming release, "Aria" (Blue Notes Series Book #3, 12/3/12 release), one of the main characters, Aiden Lind, has his heart broken by a cheating boyfriend, Cameron. That experience shapes Aiden's view of relationships and wounds him deeply. It influences his newly-minted relationship with the other main character, Sam Ryan. Does Aiden get back together with his ex? No. But there is redemption to be found for Cam much later (and Cam will, eventually, get his own story and his own HEA).

My good friend and fellow Dreamspinner Press author, E.m. Lynley, has a lively discussion of cheaters on her blog this week. She's also got a few polls to see what people think about cheaters in romance, and what is and is not acceptable behavior in a romance. The answers to the poll questions are fascinating. I highly recommend stopping by and taking a look. Some of the comments from writers and readers are also very interesting.

Have a thought about cheaters? Want to win a copy of "The Dream of a Thousand Nights" and see for yourself how I approached the issue? Leave a comment on my blog and you'll be entered to win an ebook copy of the novella. I look forward to hearing what you all have to say about it! -Shira

Welcome to the Next Big Thing Blog Hop! What a wonderful way to learn about what writers are up to. Please be sure to check out my fellow Next Big Thing bloggers: Rhys Ford, Anne Barwell, E.M. Lynley, Elizabeth Noble, Thea Nishimori, Michael Rupured, Lou Sylvre, Rowena Sudbury, Ana Bosch, Grace Duncan, and Tinnean.

As always, I have multiple WIPs (works in progress) I'm juggling. I thought I'd tell you all about one of my favorite projects, and a bit of a change of genre for me. Stealing the Wind is a gay romance, but instead of my usual contemporary, it's a fantasy/paranormal novel, the first of at least two in a series of stories about pirate shifters. So, here goes with the Q&A:


























What else about your book might interest the reader?

Stealing the Wind is a bit sexier (smuttier?) than my other books. It starts out with a menage, although the HEA/main pairing is strictly a couple. Taren is kidnapped from the tavern where he works as an indentured servant (a slave, really) and taken aboard a pirate ship (these pirates are human). The captain gives him his freedom in return for three years of "servitude" that includes sharing the bed of the captain and first mate. Taren is fascinated and attracted to both men, and some very hot sex ensues! Taren grows to love both Rider and Bastian, not only as lovers, but as men. But when Taren meets Eoin several years later, it's clear that there is something very powerful between them. I won't tell you any more, since that would spoil it, but suffice it to say Taren and Eoin's relationship is written in the stars.

Want to read an excerpt from Stealing the Wind? Click here!

I'm putting the finishing touches on the first draft of "Stealing the Wind" and getting ready to send it on to my wonderful beta readers. I'm already working on the sequel. There's just something about mermen I find particularly appealing (sexy as hell!). That, and Taren and Eoin's story isn't easily told in just one book.

The mermen in "Stealing the Wind" are shape shifters. They exist in two forms: human and merfolk. They can survive indefinitely on land or in the water, but they cannot survive away from water for long periods of time. If merfolk can live indefinitely under the water, then it stands to reason that they can also mate in their merfolk forms. Which led me to the question (because I love sexy stories): how would merman have sex? To answer that question, I had to ask myself a few others.

Question #1: What do mermen look like and how are their bodies (and parts of their bodies) put together? I loved this question, because the answer was that I could do whatever I liked. It's my imagination, right? Of course, I wanted to base my mermen on merfolk lore, and I needed them to have certain "human"...er...attributes. So I started by looking at marine animals, and especially at marine mammals. Whales are a bit too big, so I naturally chose dolphin as my "template" for the beast half of my mermen.

In "Stealing the Wind," Taren of Laxley has known nothing but slavery all his life. He doesn't remember his parents--all he knows is that he was sold as a baby. Boy is he in for a surprise when he learns that when his owners called him "special," they weren't talking about his brain! Taren discovers his dual nature after he's taken prisoner aboard the merfolk ship, Phantom, and her captain (Eoin Dunaidh) shows him what his body has hidden. Suddenly, he is half-man, half-beast, with a powerful tail, a dorsal fin between his shoulders, webbed fingers, and has fins with sharp tines on his hands and wrists. Then he realizes that his plumbing appears to be internal.

Dolphin sex organs are internal (makes sense - don't want them getting all shriveled in the water). They have "folds" - two each. The male penis is hidden inside, so the fold acts as a sheath (similar to dogs). Which led me to question #2.

Question #2: How do mermen have sex? I had no doubt that I wanted the mermen in the story to have sex in their merfolk form, so I needed to figure out what kind of sex organs they have when they transform. "Thank the goddess," as Eoin would say, for the internet. Did you know there are tons of dolphin sex vids? No joke. Apparently dolphin are very sexual (not monogamous) and tend to "perform" at aquariums (to the delight of children and the mortification of their parents!).

I watched several videos to get a sense of how dolphin sex works. They're very playful, nipping and rubbing against each other. And yes, dolphins get erections, exposing the hidden penis for sex. Only problem I saw: dolphin penises are pretty small. Smaller than human penises. Enter my imagination. How about dolphin anatomy, but a human sized penis? No need for foreskins, either, in this form. And what if certain other orifices are a bit more sensitive even, than in humans? (I think I had much too much fun figuring this all out!)

One other logistical question I had to deal with: how do merfolk communicate under the water? The answer? Telepathy or thought-reading. As you'll see, they do make some sounds, but their speech becomes thought when they are in their merfolk form.

Want to see how all this works out on paper? Read down for an excerpt from the mermen sex scene about halfway through the book (not the entire scene, but enough that you'll get the general idea). "Stealing the Wind" is set for tentative publication this summer. I'll be posting sneak peeks at the story from time to time, so stay tuned for more! I welcome your comments and ideas, of course! How did I do? -Shira

PS: Love the amazing art? That's by http://chrisgiz12.deviantart.com/ from DeviantArt!

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Summary: Taren has never known anything but life as a slave, but when he’s kidnapped by the captain of a pirate ship, his lifelong dream of going to sea is realized. The pirate captain offers Taren his freedom in exchange for three years of his life and sexual servitude. Not a bad trade, Taren decides, given that the pleasures he finds in the captain’s bed far surpass his greatest fantasies.

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Want to read the excerpt? Click here: http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/3...

It's a rainy Monday morning here in North Carolina, so I'm imagining a bright sunny day at the coast aboard our catamaran sailboat, Land's Zen. I'm sure it's no surprise that my family's love of sailing has inspired me to write about sailing on several occasions, the most recent of which is Stealing the Wind , the first book in the Mermen of Ea Series to be published by Dreamspinner Press in August or September.

Stealing the Wind and the Mermen of Ea Series are romantic, erotic romances with a touch of mystery and a large helping of adventure. Set in an Earth-like world in the Age of Sail, the books (three planned in the series) follow the story of Taren Laxley, a slave whose dream of going to sea is realized when he's abducted by pirates. And although the series features a powerful and strictly monogamous MM pairing between Taren and Ian Dunaidh, captain of the mermfolk ship, Phantom, there's a bit of an MMM relationship at the beginning when Taren is willingly initiated into a sensual and sexual relationship with his captors.

The series consists of sequels, and should be read in order (unlike my Blue Notes Series). And although the stories are more plot driven than my contemporary romances, the focus on romance and characterization is still there. Oh, and of course there's a HEA for the two men at the end of the first book, although their adventures continue throughout the series. There will be a second MM pairing in the second and third book of the series.

I'll leave you with a never before seen excerpt from the book. The book is being edited as I write this, and any typos are entirely my own and not my amazing Dreamspinner editors'. Happy Monday! -Shira

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Excerpt from Chapter Five:

The setup: Ian's crew have pulled Taren out of the water, far from any land. Taren remembers nothing about how he came to be floating near the Phantom except that he was lost at sea trying to save a crewmember aboard the pirate ship that had been his home for two years. Now Taren is Ian's captive and both men fight their attraction to each other.

Taren looked to the door as Ian entered the cabin. His long, wavy hair was windblown, his face ruddy from the breeze. He smelled of the ocean, tangy and sweet. The thought of the open air made Taren long to climb the ropes once more, and his heart ached anew for Rider and Bastian the crew of the Witch.

“Did you eat?”

“Yes.” Taren met Ian’s eyes without fear.

“Good.” Ian unbuttoned his jacket and tossed it on one of the nearby chairs, then untied the high collar of his shirt. Taren couldn’t help but notice the smooth skin of Ian’s chest where the fabric parted. Other than his own body, Taren had never seen a man of Ian’s obvious strength without a dusting of hair on his skin. Even now, Taren couldn’t help but admire that powerful body.

There was a knock on the door and the cabin boy entered with a tray of food and several plates. Salt fish and potatoes. A goblet of wine. Taren’s stomach rumbled its approval, despite having eaten only a few hours before.

“May I get you anything else, sir?” the boy asked.

“You may retire for the evening, Aine.”

“Aye, sir.”

Alone once more, Ian studied Taren with apparent interest. “There’s plenty enough for two,” he said. “Have a seat.” He motioned to the table, then sat down and picked up the wine.

Taren considered the offer, then decided there was no harm in it.

“Take what you like.”

“It would be easier to eat if I could use my hands.” Taren guessed it was Ian who had ordered the ropes that bound Taren’s wrists to be replaced by the metal cuffs. At least the metal was lined in fabric and didn’t cut into his skin the way the rope had.

Ian said nothing filled Taren’s plate, then pulled his chair next to his. “Open your mouth.”

“You can’t mean to feed me like some swaddling babe!”

Ian held out a piece of fish between two large fingers. Tarin’s mouth watered with the smell of the food as his stomach growled its response, but he said only, “I’d rather starve.” He wished his hands were free so he could wipe the self-satisfied look off Ian’s face. How dare he? And with his fingers, no less!

“Suit yourself.” Ian picked up his knife and fork and proceeded to make quick work of the food on his own plate, pausing from time to time—intentionally, no doubt—to comment on how tasty it was. Taren thought he saw the hint of a smile on Ian’s lips.

Infuriating bastard.

“Sure you won’t have some?”

Taren was half-tempted to lean over the plate and eat like a dog, but he wouldn’t give Ian the satisfaction. Before, he’d almost believed Bastian had been mistaken about Ian, that there was kindness in him. Now, he felt his gut clench with anger. He would not give Ian the satisfaction of reveling in his humiliation.

“What is your specialty?” Ian asked a few minutes later.

Taren met Ian’s gaze but did not reply. Ian merely laughed.

“If you do as you’re told and work hard—” Ian speared another piece of the fish. “—I may decide to let you go.”

This time it was Taren who laughed. “I may be young, Captain, but I’m hardly naïve. What reason would you have to trust me?”

Ian raised an eyebrow. “You tell me.”

“I’ve told you the truth.”

“Part of the truth, yes.” Taren thought he saw the corner of Ian’s mouth move upward with this acknowledgment. Was it possible the man believed him? Fine. He would throw the man a bone.

“Rigger.” Taren watched for Ian’s reaction. Perhaps if Ian let him up on deck, he might find a way to escape.

“Indeed. Borstan the rigger gave you his name, then?”

“Aye. And a roof over my head.”

“I’m surprised he let you go.” Taren thought he saw amusement flash through Ian’s eyes. “Gambling debts?” Taren nodded. “Stupid fool. But the bastard’s one of the best.” Ian chortled, then added, “Rigger, that is. As a gambler, he leaves much to be desired.”

Taren remained silent.

“Were you born on the mainland?”

Taren saw little harm in sharing what little he knew of his origins. “Aye. At least that’s what I was told. I came to live with Borstan when I was a baby. Sold to him.”

“And your parents?” Ian spoke the question as if it mattered little, although Taren guessed it was quite the opposite. Certainly a man like Ian would not have forgotten he’d asked the question before.

“Why do you care to hear the answer?”

Ian scowled and speared another piece of fish. “I am merely curious.”

Taren just shrugged. He’d not press the issue now. Perhaps later. “I remember nothing of my parents. I doubt they cared much what happened to me after they sold me. I’m told they died not long after that.” Ian appeared to consider this, then shrugged.

The rest of the meal passed in silence, Ian apparently uninterested in learning more about his guest. Ian stood and walked to his bed after he’d finished. When Taren made no move to follow, Ian turned around and pointed to the bedroll. “Make yourself comfortable. Should you have thoughts about wandering the ship, think no further than the guard outside the door.”

Taren thought of how easily he might cut Ian’s throat with one of the knives on the table, even with his hands bound, and of how unconcerned Ian seemed to be for his own safety. Then again, even if he could overpower Ian, what then? A ship this size would have at least three dozen men aboard the ship. He was wily, but not so wily that he could hope to defeat an entire crew by himself. No, the best hope for escape was when they pulled into port. He would bide his time and wait for the right moment to flee.

Ian dimmed the lamps in the cabin and pulled off his shirt before tossing tossed it on a chair. The sinews of Ian’s back caught the light from the moon outside and seemed to ripple as he moved. Taren couldn’t look away. His cock, too, seemed unconcerned that the object of its attention was an enemy and captor. Gooseflesh rose on the back of Taren’s neck as he contemplated the captain’s powerful build. Even his rumbling belly was forgotten.

Taren forced himself to turn his attention to the bedroll and set it out on the ground by the door, using his feet to position it. The breeze was stronger here so he would sleep more soundly. The location also afforded him a clear view of the large four-poster.

When Taren looked up again, Ian was completely and comfortably naked, or so he appeared to be, judging by the slow pace of his ablutions. How long did it take to wash one’s face in a bowl of cold water? The ache in Taren’s groin became an uncomfortable pain. He began to wonder if, after their brief kiss hours before, Ian had shed his clothing in an effort to achieve just such a response. But when the captain made no move to approach him or even speak, Taren decided that Ian was simply unconcerned by his nakedness. Next thing he knew, Ian had climbed into his bed and pulled the blankets over himself.

 

Ian lay in his bed, unable to sleep. Perhaps he should wear a nightshirt as long as the prisoner slept nearby. He couldn’t help but wonder why he’d undressed in front of Taren if knowing that the boy’s eyes were upon him aroused him so. The feel of the sheets against his naked skin had never caused his body to respond in such a way before. He considered visiting Barra’s cabin to find his release—Barra had never complained. Quite the contrary, he’d always welcomed Eoin to his bed.

Tonight, however, the thought of bedding Barra did nothing for Ian. Tonight Ian’s more animal nature craved the coupling and sought a mate. The need to dominate was as ancient as his people, yet Ian despised it. From the moment he’d seen Taren, he’d wanted to possess him and make him his own. Tame him to his hand, even feed him like a pet just to relish that feeling of control. And then that kiss... When he’d kissed Taren, he’d sensed Taren’s need to submit. What was it about Taren that had awakened the beast with such intensity?

Enough of this. It’s none of your concern. Your duty is clear. He must face the Council.

Minutes passed, then hours. He slept fitfully, only to awaken to the call of the sea. He would transform. Better that than give in to his physical need. He would not take his prisoner by force, even if it was his right.

No. Tonight, he would embrace the water and his baser nature. He would release his less human self, but he would do so where he would not risk harming the boy.

He slipped out of the bed and walked through the cabin to the large aft windows, where he climbed up onto the sill, shivering as the cool night air caressed his naked skin. He breathed deeply of the ocean, filling his lungs, the tang of salt on his lips. With one graceful movement, he leaned over and plunged into the waves.

 

Taren shifted in his sleep, eyes opening just a bit, still heavy with dreams. He gazed up at the man teetering at the window with his bare skin reflecting the starlight. A moment later, the man seemed to soar into the air. Then he was gone.

Taren smiled as his eyes closed again. It only took a moment before he was asleep. He dreamed of the ocean and Ian, of their bodies tangled beneath the surface, and of finding Ian’s mouth with his own.

“Come,” Ian called silently as he swam away, his voice an echo in Taren’s mind. “Follow me. Your life awaits.”

Taren watched as Ian’s lean body cut through the water faster than any sea creature Taren had ever seen. He marveled at the way Ian moved, at the sinews that rippled with each thrust of his arms, at the powerful tail where his legs used to be. Taren knew he should be surprised to see Ian’s transformation, but he was not. It seemed as natural as breathing in air or feeling the warmth of the sunlight on his skin.

Please. I want to follow, but I don’t know how.

Welcome everyone to the When Sparks Fly Fourth of July Blog Hop! I'm one of a whole slew of romance writers participating in the hop that begins July 4th and ends on Monday, July 8th. You can find a listing of all the participants by clicking here or on the hop graphic to the left. Everyone has giveaways going for the hop, so be sure to comment on my blog and on the other blogs to be entered to win!

For my part, I'm offering up winner's choice of an ebook of one of my Dreamspinner Press releases or some Blue Notes Series swag (a collection of a Blue Notes t-shirt with the cover of your choice, pens, a mousepad, and some other Blue Notes goodies). All you need to do to enter is to comment on this post! I'll draw a winner after midnight on July 8th!

Of course, if you're talking romance, "sparks" usually take the form of sexual tension or just sex. Fireworks of a different variety than those you might watch with the 1812 Overture playing in the background. Much as I love fireworks, I prefer the sexual kind. So I'm sharing a bit of fireworks from my upcoming Dreamspinner Press release, Stealing the Wind . And believe me, this one's a scorcher--a long excerpt of an MMM threesome from the beginning of the story (although the story itself is an MM pairing).

Stealing the Wind is an adventure on the high seas with of pirates and merman shifters, as is the first in a series of mermen shifter novels (Mermen of Ea Series). This scene takes place after Taren, a young slave, is kidnapped by pirates and finds himself aboard the Sea Witch. The captain offers Taren his freedom in exchange for three years aboard the ship and in the captain and his first mate's bed. Taren, who is powerfully attracted to the captain, quickly agrees.

You can read the excerpt here. Keep an eye out for the book, which will be released on August 12th by Dreamspinner Press. Happy Fourth of July! Don't forget to comment to be entered into the drawing! -Shira

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Blurb: Taren Laxley has never known anything but life as a slave. When a lusty pirate kidnaps him and holds him prisoner on his ship, Taren embraces the chance to realize his dream of a seagoing life. Not only does the pirate captain offer him freedom in exchange for three years of labor and sexual servitude, but the pleasures Taren finds when he joins the captain and first mate in bed far surpass his greatest fantasies.

Then, during a storm, Taren dives overboard to save another sailor and is lost at sea. He’s rescued by Ian Dunaidh, the enigmatic and seemingly ageless captain of a rival ship, the Phantom, and Taren feels an overwhelming attraction to Ian that Ian appears to share. Soon Taren learns a secret that will change his life forever: Ian and his people are Ea, shape-shifting merfolk… and Taren is one of them too. Bound to each other by a fierce passion neither can explain or deny, Taren and Ian are soon embroiled in a war and forced to fight for a future—not only for themselves but for all their kind.

Just got the amazing cover artwork from Anne Cain for Stealing the Wind , the first book in the Mermen of Ea Series! I absolutely love what she's done with it, too. Sexy, slightly edgy, these aren't your average mermen. Ea are physically powerful beings who share a more reasoned, human side with a more primal nature. Innately sexual, sensual beings, these mermen shape-shifters can possess magical "gifts" and are very wary of the human world outside their enclave.

The Ea have a long and turbulent history with humans, and they are at war internally over whether to remain on their secluded island stronghold or reclaim their place in the human world. Ea share far more in common with dolphins than with fish. And if you're curious about how Ea mate, you'll find out in the first book!

Enter Taren Laxley, a slave who used to work rigging the great ships that put into Raice Harbor in the Derryith Kingdom. Through a series of adventures, Taren finds himself aboard the Phantom, captained by the seemingly ageless Ian Dunaidh. What Taren soon realizes is that the Phantom and her captain are not human, and neither is he.

Stealing the Wind is the first book in the Mermen of Ea Series. Look for Into the Wind (Book Two) in early 2014. Stealing the Wind will be released on August 12th! You can read a very steamy excerpt from the beginning of the book here (scroll down to the end of the blog post). There's another excerpt, the opening chapter of the novel, here.

Hope you enjoy the excerpts and the book! -Shira

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Blurb: Taren Laxley has never known anything but life as a slave. When a lusty pirate kidnaps him and holds him prisoner on his ship, Taren embraces the chance to realize his dream of a seagoing life. Not only does the pirate captain offer him freedom in exchange for three years of labor and sexual servitude, but the pleasures Taren finds when he joins the captain and first mate in bed far surpass his greatest fantasies.

Then, during a storm, Taren dives overboard to save another sailor and is lost at sea. He’s rescued by Ian Dunaidh, the enigmatic and seemingly ageless captain of a rival ship, the Phantom, and Taren feels an overwhelming attraction to Ian that Ian appears to share. Soon Taren learns a secret that will change his life forever: Ian and his people are Ea, shape-shifting merfolk… and Taren is one of them too. Bound to each other by a fierce passion neither can explain or deny, Taren and Ian are soon embroiled in a war and forced to fight for a future—not only for themselves but for all their kind.

I started my last "Guilty Pleasures" post by saying I'd grown up reading Harlequin romances as a kid and talking about some of the romance tropes you find in those books: "friends to lovers," "enemies to lovers," "the misunderstanding," and others. Today, just a little over three weeks out from the release of the first book in my fantasy Mermen of Ea series, I thought I'd talk about romance tropes in the fantasy genre. Don't forget that I'm running a giveaway, so be sure to comment on this post (or the earlier post) to win! Multiple entries are fine. Contest ends Friday August 2nd.

Those of you who know a little about me know that in addition to the traditional contemporary romances I loved to read when I was little, I was also a huge sci fi geek and Trek fan. In addition to Asimov, Heinlein, and the great sci fi writers of the 20th Century, I also loved to read one particular fantasy author: Marion Zimmer Bradley. Zimmer Bradley's best known series was "The Mists of Avalon." I have to admit I never read those books. The series I still love (and re-read) to this day is Zimmer Bradley's "Darkover." An amazing combination of sci fi and fantasy that I keep on my Kindle (I have paperback copies, too!) for those times when I need inspiration.

Set on an Earth-like planet (albeit a lot colder than Earth), the Darkovans are descendents of Earth settlers, some of whom interbred with a native race of powerful beings with psi powers (telepathy, ability to manipulate weather, communicate with animals, etc.). Offhand, it doesn't sound very romantic. But what I particularly loved about these stories was that each one chronicled relationships between men and women (and one notable MM relationship--back to that in a minute) in a very romantic way. Endings were usually happy, courtships were long and very "real," and Zimmer Bradley's descriptions of people and places were at least as romantic as the relationships themselves. When I think "sweeping romance," I think of these books, rather than "Gone with the Wind," or "The Thorn Birds."

In particular, one relationship stayed with me long after I'd devoured the entire series and this one, surprise, surprise, was between two men: Regis Hastur, the ruler of the Darkovan people, and his paxman, Danilo Syrtis. It was a subtle gay relationship, mostly written between the lines, but one of the most enduring of the part of the series set in the "modern" day of the planet's history.

What, do you ask, does that have to do with mermen? Short answer: a ton! When I was writing Stealing the Wind and planning out the series, Marion Zimmer Bradley's books were never far from my mind. Although the main trope of the first mermen book is one I don't remember reading in the Darkover books (souls bound together that survive through time to find each other once again), the heart of Darkover is there. I'm talking about where romance and adventure meet to create a larger story. Taren and Ian's story is very romantic, no doubt. There are captor/captive and "enemies to lovers" tropes to be found in Stealing the Wind, but what makes their story so much like the Darkover books I grew up reading is the way their relationship and their love grows and deepens through their shared adventures. There's a happily-ever-after for Taren and Ian at the end of the first book in the sense that they are together forever, come what may. But the adventure part of their story is far from told when the first book ends.

Which leads me to perhaps my favorite trope, or variation on a trope: lovers, secure in their relationship, who continue to grow through adventure, difficulties, and challenges. They change together, support each other, and in the end achieve something greater than just the two of them. Don't worry! There is an ultimate HEA at the end of the Mermen of Ea books (actually, there are at least 2 of them)! But along the way, I want to take you on a wild ride and have you rooting for Ian and Taren and the other characters in the series, and maybe sitting on the edge of your seat, too!

Your turn now! Tell me what your favorite romantic trope is and you could win your choice of one of my current Dreamspinner Press releases in ebook format or a swag bag (including a t-shirt of a Blue Notes Series cover or the fabulous new cover for Stealing the Wind ). Contest ends on Friday, August 2nd. Guilty pleasures welcome. And if you're interested in checking out the Darkover books, I recommend starting with Heritage and Exile (actually 2 books in one, both tied my favorite, and the part of the series that features a MM romance). -Shira

PS: Want to read more about Stealing the Wind ? You can read a very steamy excerpt from the beginning of the book here (scroll down to the end of the blog post). There’s another excerpt, the opening chapter of the novel, here.

I had to laugh when I saw a post the other day on a blog site with the cover of Stealing the Wind , a snarky comment about a "boob grab" (and what's wrong with that, may I ask?) and the author was wondering how mermen have sex (she didn't quite put it that bluntly, but hey, it's a valid question, right?). Which, of course, inspired me to write about it. Because if you want to know how I see mermen having sex, you'll find out in Stealing the Wind. But I'll give you a little taste of it first.

The mermen in "Stealing the Wind" are shape shifters. They exist in two forms: human and merfolk. They can survive indefinitely on land or in the water, but they cannot survive away from water for long periods of time. If merfolk can live indefinitely under the water, then it stands to reason that they can also mate in their merfolk form. Which led me to the question (because I love sexy stories): how would merman have sex? To answer that question, I had to ask myself a few other quesitons.

Question #1: What do mermen look like and how are their bodies (and parts of their bodies) put together? I loved this question, because the answer was that I could do whatever I liked. It's my imagination, right? Of course, I wanted to base my mermen on merfolk lore, and I needed them to have certain "human"...er...attributes. So I started by looking at marine animals, and especially at marine mammals. Whales are a bit too big, so I naturally chose dolphins as my "template" for the beast half of my mermen.

In "Stealing the Wind," Taren Laxley has known nothing but slavery all his life. He doesn't remember his parents--all he knows is that he was sold as a baby. Taren discovers his dual nature after he's taken prisoner aboard the merfolk ship, Phantom, and her captain (Ian Dunaidh) shows him what his body has hidden. Suddenly, he is half-man, half-beast, with a powerful tail, a dorsal fin between his shoulders, webbed fingers, and has fins with sharp tines on his hands and wrists. Then he realizes that his "manly" plumbing is internal.

Dolphin sex organs are internal (makes sense - don't want them getting all shriveled in the water). They have "folds" - two each. The male penis is hidden inside, so the fold acts as a sheath (similar to dogs). Which led me to question #2.

Question #2: How do mermen have sex? I had no doubt that I wanted the mermen in the story to have sex in their merfolk form, so I needed to figure out what kind of sex organs they have when they transform. "Thank the goddess," as Ian would say, for the internet. Did you know there are tons of dolphin sex vids? No joke. Apparently dolphin are very sexual (not particularly monogamous, unlike my two mermen) and tend to "perform" at aquariums (to the delight of children and the mortification of their parents!). Here's a link to one of the vids I watched. You'll see some of the behavior reproduced in the excerpt.

I watched several videos to get a sense of how dolphin sex works. They're very playful, nipping and rubbing against each other. And yes, dolphins get erections, exposing the hidden penis for sex. Only problem I saw: dolphin penises are pretty small. Smaller than human penises. Enter my imagination. How about dolphin anatomy, but a human sized penis? No need for foreskins, either, in this form. And what if certain other orifices are a bit more sensitive even, than in humans? (I think I had way too much fun figuring this all out!)

One other logistical question I had to deal with: how do merfolk communicate under the water? The answer? Telepathy or thought-reading. As you'll see, they do make some sounds, but their speech becomes thought when they are in their merfolk form.

So what follows is an excerpt from Stealing the Wind. Definitely NSFW, 18+. Enjoy! And if you haven't heard already, Stealing the Wind is up on the Dreamspinner Press website for preorder! -Shira

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Burb:

Mermen of Ea: Book One

Taren Laxley has never known anything but life as a slave. When a lusty pirate kidnaps him and holds him prisoner on his ship, Taren embraces the chance to realize his dream of a seagoing life. Not only does the pirate captain offer him freedom in exchange for three years of labor and sexual servitude, but the pleasures Taren finds when he joins the captain and first mate in bed far surpass his greatest fantasies.

Then, during a storm, Taren dives overboard to save another sailor and is lost at sea. He’s rescued by Ian Dunaidh, the enigmatic and seemingly ageless captain of a rival ship, the Phantom, and Taren feels an overwhelming attraction to Ian that Ian appears to share. Soon Taren learns a secret that will change his life forever: Ian and his people are Ea, shape-shifting merfolk… and Taren is one of them too. Bound to each other by a fierce passion neither can explain or deny, Taren and Ian are soon embroiled in a war and forced to fight for a future—not only for themselves but for all their kind.

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Excerpt from Chapter 16

WARNING: NSFW, 18+ only please!

Here's the link: Mermen sex excerpt