Writing Erotic Romance

That old saying is true, Love makes the world go round. No matter what part of the world we live in, love is something that we can all relate to. Have you ever noticed that romance is in just about every movie we watch? Whether it’s a thriller, horror, comedy or an action adventure movie, there’s usually a romance subplot somewhere in there. Along with the resolution of the movies’ main storyline, we find ourselves cheering for the boy to get the girl by the end of the show. I think it all boils down to the emotion and the intensity of that moment in time when the hero or heroine finally realizes he or she can’t live without that other person. From sexy love scenes like the memorable one in Top Gun with Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis to the heartwrenching “love declaration” porch scene between Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix) and Ivy Walker (Bryce Dallas Howard) in the M. Night Shyamalan movie The Village…each of these scenes evoked strong emotions. Whereas one scene was more physical and the other purely emotional in nature, I found them both romantic. Why? Because romance and love are both physical and emotional.

In several author interviews I’ve been asked the question, “What made you decide to write erotic romance?” My response: “I never set out to write erotic romance. I just write romance and everything that romance entails.”

As a reader I’ve always preferred reading romances that also included descriptive love scenes, so it made sense that my own novels would follow that same pattern. My books are always about the characters and their story, but I want my readers to enjoy the full spectrum of emotions that my hero and heroine go through from their anger in fight scenes to their despair in breakup scenes to the excitement and anticipation build-up in sexual tension scenes to the full-fledged passion in love scenes. If I hold back, then I feel I’m cheating the reader out of the highlight he or she has spent hours reading toward…to “experience” that no-holds-barred expression of trust and love the hero and heroine go through in the most intimate way they could possibly share.

So, I guess you could say I write heartfelt romance…with the heat turned up.

As a point of reference in my entry above and so you can enjoy this very romantic moment (I’ll leave the “rewatching” of the Top Gun love scene to your own leisure *g*) …here’s the porch scene I mentioned. In this scene, Ivy is very forthcoming with Lucius, trying to get him to tell her how he feels about her. Marriage has never been discussed or mentioned. Lucius’ character is a very quiet, still-waters-run-deep type of character and that’s why this scene really grabs you!

Quotes below are credited to The Village by M. Night Shyamalan…

Ivy Walker: When we are married, will you dance with me? I find dancing very agreeable. Why can you not say what is in your head?

Lucius Hunt: Why can you not stop saying what is in yours? Why must you lead, when I want to lead? If I want to dance I will ask you to dance. If I want to speak I will open my mouth and speak. Everyone is forever plaguing me to speak further. Why? What good is it to tell you you are in my every thought from the time I wake? What good can come from my saying that I sometimes cannot think clearly or do my work properly? What gain can rise of my telling you the only time I feel fear as others do is when I think of you in harm? That is why I am on this porch, Ivy Walker. I fear for your safety before all others. And yes, I will dance with you on our wedding night.