Guest Blogger: Author Phyllis Marie Campbell

Ms. Goodie Two-Shoes / Mr. Hot Pants

Heart thumping, palms moist, she settles her shaky fingers on the keyboard. Millions of thoughts run through her mind, those that aren't very good...at least that's what her momma had told her as a young girl. Squeezing her eyes closed, pictures of half-dressed men float through her mind and her mouth turns dry. SEX! No, it couldn't be time to write the sex scene, could it? Her religious leader would certainly kick her out of church for fear of a bolt of lighting spearing down from heaven. What about her parents? Would her own husband disown her? Her poor children would have to walk down the streets with their head ducked from now on. But she's a romance writer. It needs to be written! She swallows the lump of fear lodged in her throat and takes a deep breath. Once her eyes are open, she focuses on her story. Reminding herself it's a natural thing, she proceeds, her fingers fly across the keyboard as if they had a mind of their own. His masculine scent of leather and spice fills the air, consuming every breath she takes. In her head, the scene unfolds, the hero sweeps the heroine off into another world where seduction and passion rule. Seeking fingers, curious kisses... The more she writes, the wider her grin spreads. Her heart now beats a different rhythm. Her palms are moist for entirely different reasons this time. And in her chest...love grows. This excitement is the thrill she needs -the energy that gives her the courage to continue and not be afraid.

I don't know about most writers, but I've certainly experienced this a time or two (or three or four) since I first started writing. Those who don't read romance stories label us as 'smut' writers. All we think about is sex - twenty-four hours a day. My husband tells me this numerous times...and it isn't for flattery. But there's a bigger picture. The overall picture that nobody sees but romance writers. We aren't writing about sex - we're writing about love.

HOWEVER...this doesn't mean I'm not going to have sexual tension in my stories. In fact, I live for sexual tension. In one of my critique groups, I've been labeled Queen of Sex Scenes. I've even been called LoverLips. My reviewers have labeled me Queen Of Sexual Tension. Should I be offended? Heck no! I'm thrilled!! Don't tell my husband. He'll just roll his eyes again.

I write Sensual...don't you just love that word? It rolls across your tongue like a lover's passionate kiss. Makes you want to deepen your voice in a sexy tone, lower your lids half-mast and part your mouth. Maybe even swipe your tongue across your dry lips...

Okay, I'm getting carried away again. I need to get back to the point here. You can still be a Goodie-Two-Shoes and write about Mr. Hot Pants. The characters you write about are real to you and especially to your readers. Write about your characters' feelings, about their hearts pounding like a tom-tom against their ribs. Write about sweaty palms, shaky limbs, and out of control breathing. Write about shivers of delight that cascade over your characters bodies, passionate tremors that seem to have a mind of their own. And write about the glorious moment when your characters come together. If you feel like religion should be added, then have one of your characters praise God at that point. But the fact is, these feelings are real! This is real life! You're not writing porn just because you're writing a sex scene. You're writing about love.

And think of the alternative: you could be writing about murder, killing, and torturing other humans. Nah, not for me! I'll stick to romance thank you very much!

I have a list of books on my website that are full of sexual tension. Even my covers are yummy. I just adore my covers, but so far my favorite is from my romantic suspense, DANGER IN HER ARMS.



Taylor Marshal and her daughter need protecting, yet the bodyguard assigned is the one man she fears the most.

Three years earlier, Taylor gave her heart and body to stranger. After a whirlwind affair of unbridled passion, her hopes were crushed when she finds out her lover, Cory Ross, is a hit man. When she witnesses him take another man's life then watches her new found love fall from a cliff after being shot, her heart shatters. The only thing left to soothe Taylor's broken soul is the little life growing inside her. The last thing she expects to find is Cory Ross alive - and back in her life as her own personal bodyguard.

Cory thought his luck had changed after his near death experience in the Bahamas. But when he looks into the eyes of the woman who he suspected had something to do with his accident, he realizes his new assignment to protect Taylor and her young daughter will be pure hell. But to fall in love all over again with Taylor Marshall will be sheer torture.

Also, check out the awesome book trailer.

~Phyllis~
www.phyllismariecampbell.com

(Note: Guest blog posts reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of RT Book Reviews.)