Every Kiss Does Not Begin With Kay

I found myself suddenly nauseous on the treadmill the other day. Was I pushing too hard? When had I last eaten? No, the culprit was none of these. I found myself having a physical reaction to the Kay Jewelers commercial on the screen in front of me.

Okay, so this woman looks like she just needs to take a good poo, but you get my point. And I never wear my hair down or lip gloss or earrings on a treadmill. Fine, the picture was a bad idea.

But ALSO a bad idea would be buying your new stepdaughter a diamond in the hopes of creating the basis for a loving blended family. Have you seen the commercial? Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Sure, some ladies like their bling. If you want to buy your sweetie some sparkle, knock yourself out. But mommy's new beau giving a diamond pendant to the kid is creepy and sets a dangerous precedent. After that, her teenage years are sure to put you in the poorhouse.

What really bothers me, though, is the notion that if you give a woman a diamond, she will love you. Or that she needs a diamond to know she's loved. And I don't think many people actually feel this way, but Kay Jewelers sure as hell wants us to. Screw that. Every kiss does NOT begin with Kay.

Just keep smiling. Even if it's another necklace. Please be Game of Thrones. Please be Game of Thrones. Is there a swan on my head?

10 Surprising Facts About Orgasms by Sarah Jio

I love this article by Sarah Jio in Woman's Day. It's titled 10 Surprising Facts About Orgasms. My favorite is #9, in which she discussed a woman who had an orgasm every time she used the treadmill. That would take my love of running to a whole new level.

Though now I'm always going to wonder about the women next to me on the treadmills at the gym. Does she just really enjoy working out or did she just...

EROTICA INTERVIEW: Elaine Ambrose

I recently conducted an interview with Elaine Ambrose, author and contributor to the poetry collection DAILY EROTICA. In addition to writing erotic poetry, she is one of the funniest and most entertaining people I've met. Enjoy!

Gianna Day: When did you start writing erotic poetry?

Elaine Ambrose: I started writing erotic poetry because it was more fun than writing corporate annual reports. Instead of "maximizing shareholder value to achieve our strategized objectives" now I can write, "She gasped as he slowly moved the ice cube across her navel." 

GD: Do you write more for "you" or for "him"?

EA: I write from my perspective and the results usually please both of us. I know what I like and he loves to find out. 

GD: Do you find men and women respond to different content, do women like romance and men like it dirty, or is that just a stereotype?

EA: I think it's a stereotype to say men only respond to dirty trash. Unfortunately, that's all that many men have ever seen. It's amusing when 13-year-old boys sneak peeks at girly magazines but it becomes pathetic when grown men rely only on pornography to feel sexual. Men can be romantic with the proper stimulation and encouragement. 

GD: In addition to Daily Erotica, you wrote Menopause Sucks. Does age have an impact on the erotic side of life? For better or worse?

 

EA: Age can impact how women feel about their bodies and that can make them feel less sexy so they are hesitant to get intimate. No one really wants to discuss vaginal dryness, sagging skin, loss of libido, and weight gain. Fortunately, there are medications that can help with dryness and libido. As for skin and weight, it's good to exercise regularly to get in shape to have the strength and stamina to make love for hours. And, don't forget soft candlelight, mood music, and a few glasses of wine. After all that, both of you will be irresistible. Remember that the partner is aging too, and passion isn't limited to the young. Age brings a certain confidence because there are no more games to play. And, most important, I guarantee that multiple orgasms are better at midlife than they are in your twenties. Trust me!

GD: What turns you on?

EA: I get turned on several ways: different positions, no pajamas, looking eye-to-eye during playtime, and knowing we both equally enjoy passion. As for fun and creative ideas, I wrote a poem in Daily Erotica titled "The Reverse Plank." It's definitely not about the missionary position. 

GD: What turns you off?

EA: Not much turns me off. I'm ready to go with a few creative touches, much like a clown in a jack-in-the-box. Of course, that's only with my partner.

Hey Jack, what's in the box?

GD: What are you working on now?

EA: I am writing a non-fiction book titled Midlife Cabernet that contains essays about life, love, and laughter at midlife. Full-bodied, bold, and sophisticated isn't referring only to good wine!

GD: Do you blog? Where can people find you?

EA: Find my blog "Midlife Cabernet" at my web site www.ElaineAmbrose.com. The blog also is published on BlogHer.com, ProjectEve.com, and Jennings Wire. I'm active on Facebook, Linked In, and my Twitter handle is @AmbroseElaine. My publishing web site is www.MillParkPublishing.com. I honestly say that my love life gets better every day - and night...

If you write erotica and would like to do a guest blog interview, email Gianna Day at giannadaybooks@gmail.com. 

10 Things You Didn't Know About D.H. Lawrence

If you hear the name D.H. Lawrence, you probably think of Sons and Lovers, Lady Chatterley's Lover, and censorship. Here are 10 other facts about him you might not know.

• He was arrested in Germany and accused of being a British spy.
• He allowed his mentor Edward Garnett to cut about a hundred pages from Sons and Lovers before it was published.
• The first manuscript of Women in Love was rejected by every publisher who saw it. Only after a major revision and much time would it be accepted. 

• When times were tough, he wrote a schools' history book for money. 
• The final version of Lady Chatterley's Lover was written in just five weeks and was considered the last great creative burst of energy in his life. 
• He distrusted any place where he had been seriously ill.
• His wife left her previous husband and three young children to be with Lawrence. 

• He died in 1930 at the age of 44.
• Fame came after his death. In the 60's he was regarded as a great literary writer, though his reputation declined in the 90's and he was branded a sexist and a fascist. 
• As a child he was frail and bullied in the mining town of Eastwood, near Nottingham.

For more on D.H. Lawrence, visit the University of Nottingham's page here or his Wikipedia page here.

The Argument for Erotica

I think that if a person wants to read a story that has sex in it, they should be permitted to do so. (I'm not going to weigh in on the porn industry because I don't work in film, I work in words). But there are those who have suggested that this is bad, implies a flaw of character or lack of moral integrity. I'm completely at a loss when confronted with this mentality.

Sex is a healthy normal part of being human. So are fantasy and imagination. I'm an adult writing for other adults. My job does not expose me to diseases or drugs. I do not force my work on other people and if they seek it out and don't like it, they are free to post an unfavorable review with an expression of their opinion.

So what's the big deal?

It's been suggested in the argument against porn, that porn creates an unrealistic and unattainable image of what sex really is or should be (again, just stating how some feel, not offering my own opinion). This thinking has been transferred to erotica, with the implication that reading erotic stories creates in women the same false image. If that's true, why stop there? Let's ban all romance writing and certainly in film we must do away with romantic comedies. We don't want people pining for the storybook ending that will never happen. We might as well take away anything that glorifies anything. The underdog team that wins the championship, the lone crusader for justice who defeats the bad guys.

This thinking becomes so muddled and illogical that I get to a point where I can't even take the naysayers seriously. I might be able to understand an argument against words on a page if those words promote hatred or bigotry. But when it comes to erotica, the goal is pleasure. A healthy and happy person can also be a sexual and imaginative one. There's nothing wrong with that.

Don't take away Grandma's erotica, it helps her sleep. 

Life Is More Important Than A Sequel

Paul Walker died two days ago. Two days. But the media are already running headlines about what will happen with the Fast and Furious movies. Who cares???

It's times like this when we have to remind ourselves that the media are neither human nor humane. The media are a machine.

Instead of speculation about the fate of another Hollywood movie, what if we instead look at a few other facts about this person's life (not his death):

• he loved marine biology
• he was a dad and apparently a nice guy
• he helped victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake 
• he helped victims of the Haiyan typhoon

Worry over what happens to a movie franchise is disgusting. Instead, we should all still be worrying about the victims of Haiyan. If Paul Walker were here, I think he'd agree.

Bookshelf Porn - I'm in Love

Okay, have you seen Bookshelf Porn? If not, you need to.

It's a visual tribute to the love of books and reading. 

Here's an image you might see on Bookshelf Porn:

Is that not awesome???

This is my new favorite site. It includes pictures of impressive libraries around the world, unique bookshelves, books as art, people kissing in between stacks of books, and a million other cool images you have to see. 

Here is the About page and how to connect on various social media. Here is the full photoblog. Because we can all use a little Bookshelf Porn in our lives. 

Reviews Rule the World

It’s true. And I think it’s for the better. Because that’s the culture of commerce we now live in, it can be hard to get a new product or voice off the ground. So, I’m asking for help. I would love to provide free content of my work to ten people who agree to give it an honest review. If you can carve out a few minutes of your day, please, help a girl out.

I’ll send you a pdf of Sylvie and the Spark. Take a look (it's short, a novella around 27K) and review it on Amazon. I’m only asking for honest, genuine feedback. Here’s the catch, Sylvie is an erotic comedy, so you have to be okay with a few graphic scenes and four-letter words. If that sounds like your kind of pleasure reading, please email me at giannadaybooks@gmail.com. If you write something along similar lines, I’d be happy to provide an honest review of your work, as well. 

Universal Technical Institute or Urinary Tract Infection?

Cold weather forced me to the treadmill. I'd rather run outside, but winter is just so... cold! The treadmill at the gym is one of the few places where I see commercials. One came on for Universal Technical Institute. Obviously, whoever came up with this name never had a Urinary Tract Infection, because if they had, they surely wouldn't have named their place of education after this unfortunate ailment. The man on the commercial spent thirty seconds singing the praises of UTI; all I could do was crave cranberry juice.

I don't think saying the full name of the institution is doing it any favors, either. Universal Technical Institute. Universal, really? Wow, that's pretty far reaching. I get that they needed something that sounded impressive, with a little kick to it, because Technical Institute is, well, a little technical. What's more impressive than Universal? And if you really want something with a kick, a Urinary Tract Infection might just do the trick. 

This is a good example of why you should test the title of ANYTHING out on a few people before you go to market. Otherwise, your message may not come across well when you assert, "UTI is right for you!"

Celebrating the Sexy Redhead

There's just something about redheads. I'm not sure if it's the hair or how we've come to associate it with a wild and fiery nature. Maybe we all feel we have a little of that nature inside, whether we show the world or not, and therein lies the attraction. In any case, I'm a big fan. I created a board on Pinterest with some of my favorite redheads. These include unnamed models with kick-ass hair, as well as actresses I admire like Julianne Moore and Renee Russo, both of whom I think are incredibly sexy, but also carry with them the touch of class that makes them even more so. If you appreciate redheads like I do, here's some eye candy: http://www.pinterest.com/giannaday/sexy-redheads/. None of the pictures are pornographic, though some are risque.

If your delicate sensibilities aren't offended, you might also want to check out Boudoir & Burlesque.

Hot Yoga Man

I think this guy is hot. And it has nothing to do with his age, race, or muscles. It has everything to do with humor and health.

Laughter is sexy. Laughter brings balance into the otherwise serious and often heartbreaking world. I love a man who can laugh at himself and bring joy to those around him. It implies a self-assurance and innate peace that attracts one human to another.

The physicality is equally sexy, but it's not about the muscles. Sure, muscles can be a turn on, but hotter than chiseled abs is a man who works hard to take care of his body. Who invests in feeling good through movement and hard work. I find the same qualities sexy in women. It's not about the dress size, it's about honoring the amazing human form and treating it right.

There's something about this picture and the elements it combines that I find undeniably pleasing. I look at his face and wonder what he's thinking, whether it's Hurry up and take the picture or Hey, look, I'm doing it! So many yoga photos show people practicing with serious faces, because the face is supposed to be relaxed. Maybe that's why this one caught my eye. It's almost as if instead of smiling for the camera, he couldn't help but smile, even though he wasn't supposed to. Dear yoga man: in the spirit of joy and health, I salute you.

Also, here's a picture of me writing today's blog:

Just kidding. I'm not quite there. Yet. 

Sylvie and the Spark - Sneak Peek

SYLVIE

and the

SPARK

Book one in the Sylvie Series

Gianna Day

Chapter 1

“You’re just so…” Dave looks into my eyes and runs his finger down my cheek.

Please don’t say pretty. Anything but pretty.

“You’re so…”

If you call me pretty for the thousandth time I’m going to try to gnaw my own face off just to ensure that I am no longer pretty.

“You’re so… pretty.”

“I am not pretty, Dave.” My voice is loud and edgy as I jump from the couch.

“But Sylvie, you’re so pretty.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, pacing back and forth in front of him. “I mean, thank you. Thank you for thinking I’m pretty. And I know this is our foreplay, that you tell me I’m pretty and touch my face, which truthfully has always struck me as just a little bit creepy. I mean, it’s almost a tickle, like you’re tickling my cheek and I think that’s weird. Is that weird? Is this just me?” I stop pacing and look at him for an answer.

“I could touch your arm first, would that be better?”

Resume pacing.

“No, Dave. Look, I have to be honest. We need to try something different.”

“Gosh, Sylvie. What if I called you beautiful?”

Don’t pull your hair out in front of him, he’ll be scarred for life.

“Dave.” I sit back down on the couch and hold his hands.

“Yes, Sylvie?” He looks like a second grader hoping someone will pick him for their kickball team.

“Could you just try to be less of a puppy?”

“Less of a puppy?”

He flashes his puppy dog eyes.

“Yes.”

“You want me to be a kitty?”

“No, Dave. I don’t want you to be a kitty. I want you to be a tiger, Dave.”

“A tiger?”

“A tiger!” I stand back up. “I want you to be my big strong tiger and I want you to roar for me.”

“You want me to roar?”

I take off my shirt and bra, unbutton my jeans, stand before him, and cup my breasts.

“Show me what a tiger you can be, Dave.”

He stands up from the couch and speaks in a tone I’ve never heard before. It is deep and guttural and almost a growl. “I’ll show you what a tiger I can be.” He pulls my hips roughly into his. Then he slides one hand into my jeans and a finger inside me. With the other hand he cups my neck and puts his lips to my ear. And he whispers: “Roar.”

I actually whimper in response. He takes off my jeans and panties and then quickly removes his own clothes. This tiger thing is actually working, and if need be I will role play through an entire zoo of wild animals if that’s what it takes to get us out of our rut and into some hard core rutting.

“I’m going to fuck you like a tiger,” he says, and literally throws me down on the couch. I ignore the pain of what will later be a nasty bruise on my shin, because I don’t want to break what we have going.

“That’s right, Dave,” I whisper. “Give it to me.” I’m more excited than I’ve been in a long time. He comes to me on the couch, hovering over me as I wrap my legs around him. He leans down until his cock barely grazes me, but then pulls back. I’m aching and arching up for him. He does this again and I claw at his back.

I’m both fearful and hopeful that he’s going to keep up the tease. He leans his head down next to mine, whispers, “I’m a tiger,” and enters me with startling force.

I’m ready to settle in for a good long screw, but Dave has new life in him, which is a good thing for his sake. He uses one arm to brace himself against the couch and the other to scoop me up from under my waist. He’s still inside me as he pivots until he’s sitting upright on the couch and I’m straddled on top of him. With my hands on his shoulders I push myself slightly up and then sit down hard on his cock, grinding in with all I have. He moans, kneading my buttocks. I come down on him again and he leans forward to suck on my right nipple, before moving to the left, so as not to play favorites. My hips slow but move with the same force; I’m savoring every second of riding him. I should have asked him to be a tiger years ago.

He spreads his fingers wide and puts his hands on my sides, high at my ribcage. He uses his hands to guide me up and down and we begin to move faster. And for the love of all things naughty, I detect an orgasm in my future, that long departed but fondly remembered friend who lessened in frequency the longer Dave and I kept up this boyfriend-girlfriend thing. But I’m not dwelling on the past now. I’m rising up and coming down hard on Dave, who still has his I’m-a-tiger face firmly in place. When I come down on him I linger for a second and press hard before rising up again. I throw my head back and he reaches up, trailing his fingers along my neck and down my chest. I place my hands on his forearms; they are muscled and taut and suddenly sexy.

“Fuck me,” he says. And I do.

“Fuck me,” I say. And he does.

I ride him for only another minute before I feel a lightness in my toes. It rises up through my ankles and calves and knees and thighs. Sensation explodes through my cunt as Dave grits his teeth, moans and bucks up into me. He pulses inside me. We rock for a few more seconds before coming to rest. I want us to be here forever. I’m about to tell him that we should do this again, that I can’t believe we’ve broken new ground, that I want to laugh with him and love him and screw until we’re too sore to keep going. And then he looks up at me and raises his arm.

Don’t do it.

His finger trails my cheek.

Stay with me, Tiger. Come on, don’t turn puppy on me now!

“You’re so… pretty.”

Selena Kitt on the Pornocalypse

I've long been a fan of Selena Kitt. I've enjoyed some of her erotica, but also her voice on the industry in general. She went up an added notch in my book for her recent blog post on erotica and the treatment of erotica writers. Specifically, how writers of erotic fiction are often kicked to the curb by Amazon, despite the fact that their work might make Amazon a chunk of change.

Read her full article here: Survival Tips for the Pornocalypse

Kudos to Ms. Kitt. Long may she write.

10 Habits of Happy Couples

I love this list of 10 habits of happy couples and felt compelled to share it. Courtesy of Psychology Today, this list includes some things that we already know, but sometimes need to be reminded of. Personally, I love the one about doing a "weather check".

Read the full article here and remember to put more love in your life.

Do Good/Feel Better

I think it's absolutely true that doing good things for others makes you feel better. Not just that you deserve a pat on the back, but helping others has an actual positive impact on your physical health. I'm all about feeling good in every possible way, so today I'm posting this article from Yahoo on the benefits of volunteering.

And now I'm going to search for my next 5K. I'll get in a good run, combat the effects of the holidays, and my race fees will benefit charity. Just thinking about running makes me feel like eating chocolate. I think I'll do that, too.

Book Trailer for The Sylvie Series

It's 28 seconds, so go ahead and hit play. Check it out this short book trailer for The Sylvie Series, now available at Amazon.

Here's the description of Book 1, Sylvie and the Spark: One night of phenomenal sex isn’t enough to convince Sylvie that she should stay with Dave, her long-time boyfriend who borders on dull when not in the bedroom. When a set of twins moves in across the hall, Sylvie’s horizons broaden, though this pair might not turn out to be exactly what they seem. With a backdrop of inappropriate coworkers, a humping-addicted mutt, and a set of sexy suitors, SYLVIE AND THE SPARK is sure to please, in more ways than one.

There's Room for Laughter in the Bedroom

I'm happy to say that the first two books of The Sylvie Series are now live on Amazon. The genre of this series is erotic comedy. When I mentioned to friends, a hetero couple, a few months back that this was what I was working on, they looked perplexed. Erotic comedy? That's a strange mix.

I didn't think so. I see erotic comedy as the evolution of romantic comedy. It also speaks to a group of consumers who enjoy erotica, but can't stand the melodramatic. Sexy doesn't always have to be serious.

I found my friends' reactions interesting and we talked about it a little more, eventually agreeing that women are perhaps more open to laughter in the bedroom than men. Of course, that's a sweeping generalization, but take it with a grain of salt.

Men just want it dirty, my male friend said. We don't want to laugh about it.

Sometimes women do, I countered. Sometimes the idea, the topic, and the act of sex all feel so serious that we just want to lighten things up. The female half of the couple agreed.

Laughter, like sex, can be a release. And many women instinctively gravitate to anything that relieves the pressure of a thousand different commands that bounce around in our brains, including: be sexy, look pretty, lose weight. These are unfortunate and unrealistic voices that we hear, and we often relate them to sex. I don't think it has to be that way. I vote to turn off those voices and permit ourselves to giggle.

Covers for The Sylvie Series... Coming Soon

In Awe of Diana Nyad

Diana Nyad is, to me, one of the most amazing women on the planet. She's been in the media lately talking about her recent successful swim from Cuba to Florida. What many don't realize is that this was her 5th attempt. Talk about perseverance.

If you ever need a little inspiration in your life, check out Diana Nyad's website. Here's a link to a blog entry with pictures from her journey and her own reflections on it.

You can also learn more about Nyad and her life at her Wikipedia page here. When I feel tired or down, I think about people like Nyad, I pick myself up, and I move on. Someday, I hope to shake her hand.

Men Who Do Yoga Are Sexy

And here's proof:

Read this article from Victory Fitness on why you should do yoga. You'll be in good company.

Coming soon... (that's what she said)

I'm REALLY excited about starting the blog and about revealing the book cover for the first book of The Sylvie Series. Drum roll, please....

This novella will be up on Amazon soon. It's sexy, funny, ie- written to please in more ways than one.