Yesterday was an "off" day for me, which means that Stephanie had the current Sydney Croft manuscript, which meant that I had nothing to work on. Well, not really, because I definitely have things to work on. But when she is working on the new scene, it gives me a chance to work on my own projects or a future Sydney project.

So yesterday I wrote 3 pages on my second Demon E.R. book because I need to get the proposal in soon. And I worked on Syd book 4, the proposal of which is due in December. So yeah, that one is a while out, but I had some ideas I needed to get down on paper. That book is going to be a boundary-pusher for us, something really different and a bit more psychological than what we're used to doing. Hopefully, our editor will like it, because I'm already loving it.

Speaking of loving it, I have to tell you about a book I just finished. It's Eden Bradley's The Dark Garden.

There's been a debate all over the internet and on loops and in person at RWA about starting up a category for Erotic Romance in the RITAs. I'm torn, and probably always will be. Part of the problem is that erotic romance simply hasn't been defined with hard edges. To me, it's simple.

Erotic romance contains sex that is integral to the book. Take it out, and the book falls apart. So to me, there are romances that are erotic (because the sex is either hot, frequent, or both, but can be toned down or removed without losing the story,) and there are romances that are EROTIC ROMANCES.

I love both, but Eden Bradley's book, to me, defines the latter. You cannot take the sex out without ruining the book. And not because there is a ton of sex (there is, but it isn't filler.) The sexual content is so psychological and so between-the-ears that it IS the story. The BDSM theme is strong…but she focuses on the psychology behind it, and also sticks with what I call "American-style BDSM," which seems to be much more focused on sensation and pleasure than some of the harsher stuff people often associate BDSM with.

Okay, I need to get back to Sven. Talk about harsh. He makes my old military drill instructor look like a fluffy bunny. *shudders*

Hope the writing is going well for all of you!