Someone mentioned muses to me in conversation this week, and I thought of this article I wrote a few months ago. I thought I’d repost it here:

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REPOST OF “Keeping the Muse Happy“ from the Erotic Muses blog:

Posted by Marianne LaCroix

I don’t know about anyone else, but my muse is male. He sometimes changes in appearance, but he is essentially the same man–sexy, loving, dangerous, adventurous, naughty, creative, commanding, tender…and drool worthy on many levels.

He sits at my side and whispers into my ear more tortures to throw at my heroine. He teases me with his plots of seduction and makes me laugh with his jokes. I am totally in love with my muse. He is my dream man, my hero, my ultimate lover.

Trouble with a male muse is keeping him happy. Sounds silly, but it is true, especially for the erotic fiction writer who must think of new ways to tease and thrill the reading audience. In other words, creating a hero to seduce the heroine into red hot passionate situations and tempt her into giving up her heart for love.

So, how do you keep the muse happy? Listen to him. Pay attention to when he speaks. Surrender to his seductions and write them down. If you listen, you will discover inspiration.

A muse’s main job is to inspire the artist….be it a painter, sculptor or writer.  Mine happens to be male because sexy men inspire me. Come on, you see a man that revs your engines, and tell me you don’t immediately wonder what would happen if you went up and planted a kiss right on him. Don’t lie. You can lie to me, but never lie to the muse. Admit your attraction and excitement, and go with it.

Feed the muse by answering his one desire…to inspire. Ignore him, and you risk him leaving you. This is a terrible thing for the artist. Nothing is more painful than the want to write but having no inspiration to actually sit down and start typing. Beware, his vacation can take anywhere from days to years.

The muse can hit you at any time. Mine decided to come back several months ago after a long vacation. He is different in appearance, but I know him. He makes me take out my notebook and jot down ideas in a storm. He kisses my neck as I write, breathing his words into my ear. He is seduction. He is temptation. He is my wish.

Then once the book is done, he pleas to remain and be written in a new story.

Keep him happy. Listen to him. And get writing.

But most importantly, show your muse you love him with pages written from the heart. Nothing makes a muse happier than seeing the fruits of his magical inspiration.

I wanted to go ahead and sent out major kudos to pal Scott Tepperman of ALPHA Ghost Team from Tallahassee, Florida, for joining the cast of Ghost Hunters International.

The press release from SyFy Channel:

Ghost Hunters Academy evolves into a competition series where each week, a different ghost hunting hopeful is voted off by one of the ultimate judges of paranormal investigating, Jason Hawes. Ghost Hunters International will add a new cast member (Scott Tepperman). Both shows are spin-offs of Ghost Hunters, television’s #1 paranormal investigative franchise.

Yeah, I knew a few weeks before the official release. When he called me, I was absolutely giddy for him. (He’s looking pretty hot there in that promo pic.)

FYI – ALPHA G.T. is on Facebook

I had a ball writing this pirate adventure. I would listen to the soundtracks to all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as I imagined Captain Jason Flint strutting the deck of his pirate vessel, The Sea Hawk. In the scene below is a duel on the beach between Jason and Captain Lorenzo Mendoza, Spanish pirate who took Jason’s mistress, Shelley, in payment for stolen goods–namely The Sea Hawk.

I remember when I got the cover for Sea Hawk’s Mistress. I did a happy dance. Jason is exactly how I pictured in my head. This is still my favorite cover.

See more about Sea Hawk’s Mistress (included in the trade paperback Pirate’s Mistress)

EXCERPT from Sea Hawk’s Mistress

Out of the green foliage walked a group of men—led by Jason!

His face was hard, his mouth drawn in a grim line. His eyes were like stone and he walked past her without a glimmer of recognition.

“Mendoza, I believe you have something of mine,” Jason said commandingly.

Lorenzo laughed and waved Jason to come and sit outside his tent, where there sat a few chairs and a small table set for morning refreshments.

“I do not recall having anything belonging to you, Capitán,” Lorenzo said as he sat. “You had stolen my ship and I collected on that debt. We are even.”

Errol Flynn in "The Sea Hawk"

Jason refused to sit and stood glaring at the Spaniard. “We are not even.”

Lorenzo thought for a moment. “Yes, perhaps it was not an even trade. She is worth much more to me than any ship.”

“The girl is mine. I’m here to take her back.”

Lorenzo clucked his tongue. “No, Capitán, she is mine. You have a fine ship and I have a beautiful woman. My hunt for revenge is over. Now leave this island before I grow angry and teach you another lesson.”

Shelley stood stunned, watching the exchange. Jason acted as though she was invisible, yet he demanded her return. A shiver of anticipation skittered down her spine at the thought of his naked body sliding along hers. She almost moaned at the mental image of being tied to his bed, ass in the air, ripe for a paddling. Cream gathered between her legs and her cunt clenched in want for his touch.

Her reaction to Jason was so much deeper than that to Mendoza. She was attracted to Lorenzo, but she was in love with Jason. Her pirate lover awakened the woman inside who yearned to emerge and experience sexual pleasure—and love.

“Careful, Captain, I am not feeling forgiving this morning.”

Lorenzo leaned forward in his chair. “Don’t threaten me, Capitán. The senorita remains as my lovely hostage.”

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Carribean

Jason laid a hand upon the hilt of his sword. “She comes with me. The woman is my slave, and as such, she is my property.” He drew his sword and pointed the tip at Lorenzo. Jason’s command faltered for a split second before he fought down the outward sign of weakness.

Shelley took note of the painful wince upon Jason’s face. She wanted to go to his side and help him. But his countenance was firm—his heart was ice. He wouldn’t even spare a glance in her direction.

“I fear you take your life into your own hands. You are not well enough to face my blade.”

“Afraid to find out, Mendoza?”

Lorenzo’s face turned angry. “You are a fool, Capitán.” He stood and pulled his blade from the sheath at his side. “You see her as only a slave. I see her as my future wife. I will fight for what I claim as mine.”

Wife? Shelley glanced from Lorenzo to Jason as they stripped away their side arms and began to circle each other on the beach.

Lorenzo wanted to marry her. Jason wanted to possess her. What did she want?

Read the rest of this entry »

I wanted to pop in and say hello and make an announcement. I’ve signed on to be Senior Editor at the upcoming imprint, Passion In Print Press, from MLR Press. PIPP will publish mainstream and erotic romance. (M/M stories will still be handled by MLR Press.) Right now I’m going over submission guidelines and will be posting those soon on my editor blog. This is just another adventure in my life. A day job reading romance!! Perfect.