I was over on the Erotic Romance blog this morning and decided to check out the Friends Page there. Scroll through, reading some posts and then I come to my latest. No post, just a warning that you’re about to read something of an adult nature.

I just have to ask… why is it that you can kill people in movies, show blood, guts, and pretty much everything else – including messages of hate – but if you show a single breast your rating goes up? Why is it that we can watch a riot on TV, see a guy getting beat to death yet Janet Jackson’s boob peaks out in the SuperBowl and the powers that be go ape sh!t?

Anyone else noticed that we’re all born NAKED? So nudity really shouldn’t be a problem for anyone!

That said, what’s so scary about sexuality? Is it because you can’t control it? Your desire is so overwhelming that you’re scared of it? Why is it that sex between two people, two consenting adults, is frowned up and hidden behind little “adult content” messages? If you’re adult enough to read my messages and understand them you’re old enough to understand sex, that that’s how you were created. That sex is nothing to be scared of, ashamed of or hidden. It’s not dirty. It’s not wrong. Enough said.

I’ve always looked forward to writing the fourth book in the Stormy Weather series. The hero is Andre. You’ve met him in the other books. But I know him as a dark, slightly dangerous, brooding, quiet Alpha male. The Alpha of the Alphas in fact.

I’ve known for a while now that he needs his own pack. And he would never challenge his brother, Sebastian, to become leader of their pack.

So as I set about writing Andre’s book I wrote several outlines and scrapped them all. There was just too much plot there. Too much stuff happening. And Andre’s book…well, it’s really all about him and his heroine Juliette. Having too much other stuff going on was just detracting from their relationship and all the hundreds of years worth of issues they need to work out.

Less plot may sound strange to some people. In fact, I worried about it a lot. But then I realized there’s plenty of conflict and this is a romance novel after all. It’s about the central couple. It’s about learning to communicate, learning what makes your partner happy and falling in love. It’s about exploring your passion and fulfilling your desires. It’s about teaming up to overcome whatever obstacles stand in your way.

And in this novella, that’s really all I have room for I think.

Fellow blogger Debbie has a great post about your expectations and how to be careful to not let yourself feel down when those expectations are not met. She’s specifically talking about a writers conference and pitching to agents. But I think her advice applies to thousands of situations… don’t get so lost in your expectations that you miss out on the good things in life. While you’re looking for one thing you may miss out on something fabulous over there.

I think the reverse is true as well. You can expect nothing and gain everything. It’s sort of like going shopping…knowing you’ll see those gorgeous shoes you’re totally in love with. Even though you can’t afford them, you go anyway. You have no expectation of owning them. But this time when you go they’re on a super sale, and you walk out the door with them on your feet. Now that rocks.

These types of expectations…or lack there of I think is part of the reason romance novels are so popular. Think about it. You’re an average girl, with average hair, a normal nine to five job, a few close friends and a cat who keeps your lap warm at night. You have an eye out for Mr. Right. But you have a long history of dating, boyfriends, the Almost One. Perhaps the one who got away. You’re scraping pennies for your first place or perhaps you’re trying to put your life back together after a divorce. Sound familiar? Your expectations are somewhere along the lines of a heartrate monitor on a guy who just died…flat.

And then bam…

You meet this man (or for the guys out there… a woman) and he/she’s everything you thought you would never find. Perhaps he even annoys you at first. Maybe he swoops in and steals your promotion. Or maybe he’s just some guy you see at the local coffee shop. But as you get to know the person you realize that they compliment you. They’re strong where you’re weak. They’re supportive and exciting. You start to dream big. You start to think that being alone is no fun. Being single is no fun. You’d rather spend time with that special someone who makes a mean omelet. Your expectations start to rise.

And before you know it you’ve been married to this person for five years and you have very great expectations for the future.

Just be sure to follow Debbie’s advice and smell the roses along the way to your 50 year anniversary.