Post Season Wrap-Up

You blink and an entire season is gone. I barely recall the weekends and the vacation seems like it happened to someone else. I was blessed to get away so I won't complain. But seriously, next time, I'm going to need to buy sand in a bottle or at least embed sand in the sole of my sandals to remind me that I was actually at the beach.

This summer, I got closer to nature...and bugs. I don't besmirch certain multiple-legged beings their right to roam or jump in my garden but a little chipping in on the monthly expenses would be nice. If you're going to claim my home as yours...I'm just sayin'....

I wear gloves but yet, seeing something crawl along the back of my hand sends me into near-convulsions to the delight of Oscar (that's what I named my neighbor's Retriever + (plus, because he's mixed with something but nobody knows what). I don't know why "Oscar" popped into my head. That's not even the dog's real name but his bark sounds like an "Oscar." 

On the writing front, I am nearing the end of several projects along with the reworking of a story previously published by a now-defunct publisher. I'm happy about my progress.

Fall is here and with it, the beginning of the holiday season and the never-ending quest to not eat too much. My decision to divulge to the family that I was not making two pans of mac and cheese was met with silence and disgust. Whatever. I'm the one cooking it so what I say goes unless someone else wants to take the reins in the kitchen. Any takers?  Silence...to my eternal disgust.

If It's Not Clean, Is It Dirty?

Sweet romance vs. Dirty romance?

I've noticed a disturbing trend. Well, disturbing to me anyway. Why are we categorizing or labeling sweet romances as "clean?" I'm not talking inspirational romances either. No, the "clean" romances I've read were not tagged as inspirational. What resulted in the "clean" designation was that there were no described loves scenes.

By calling sweet romances "clean," aren't we somehow implying that sensual or erotic romances (the hotter, steamier counterparts of sweet) are somehow dirty? Yes, I'm well aware what is meant when people say they like to read "books with the dirty parts." We're calling sex dirty. I get that. I don't totally understand it but I get it (Got it?).

What's Clean about Sweet?

Sweet romances are considered "clean" because the hero and heroine only kiss and the author:

1. doesn't describe any further intimacies between the H/H; or, 
2. the H/H do NOT engage in further intimacy

 Isn't this still misleading? To be honest, what's clean about kissing? It's an exchange of bodily fluids (And sometimes germs--mono, anyone?).

Even if the author divulges that the H/H made love, the author still leaves the reader facing a closed bedroom door, impatiently waiting while the deed is done. What's clean about the act of lovemaking? Are there not say...towels or other items to clean up certain stickiness? Even if you engage in a little lovemaking in the shower, there is still a certain amount of cleaning up one has to do. You know what I mean.

Hotter Romances Deserve a Break

Sensual and/or erotic romances invite the reader to keep right on reading and enjoying the H/H relationship without ever closing the door. Heck, maybe there isn't even a door to close!

Seriously though, who hasn't read a few love scenes and wondered, "Hmm. I'll have to try that."  Does that automatically make the story "dirty?"
 

My Ending Thought

I enjoy plenty of sweet romances and steamy ones too. I just wish we didn't promote one as clean while subconsciously implying all other romances are...well, dirty.