Today I am pleased to welcome cozy mystery author, Ellery Adams, to My Friends Call Me Kate where she'll enchant us with her knowledge about sex... or something like that.
Why don’t I write steamy lovemaking scenes?Because I’m no good at s-e-x.
When I began writing mysteries, I focused on the puzzle first. I’ve always been a bit of a jigsaw puzzle geek and now I even do cryptograms when I’m waiting a long time (at the doctor’s office, for example. Why do we make appointments just to sit for thirty-forty minutes anyway? They should just hand out numbers like they do at the deli counter).
Next up, I turned my attention to the characters. From that point, the setting came into play. I steered away from romantic entanglements because I could never write them as well as the other stuff.
Now, with my Books By the Bay mysteries, I start with the characters and they drag me by the hair, this way and that, in true caveman style until the book unfolds like a rose. Thus far, none of them have shown an interest in getting naked. Great. I get down to the other elements and don’t have any R-rated sex scenes to worry about.
My heroine, Olivia Limoges, is a haunted, cynical, independent heiress who refuses to be swept off her feet by anyone. What a relief! Still, I can’t leave her on the shelf forever. I mean, the woman’s got needs. I can do a closed-door fling with the charismatic bookstore owner for now, but eventually, the man the readers sense Olivia belongs with is going to do something so heroic that she’ll have to defrost long enough to well, disrobe.
But not yet. I can hold off for another book. Because when that scene happens, it has to be right. It’s Olivia’s first time, after all. At least, it’s her first time being put on display by me.
This moment has to be as deftly executed as the clues woven into the plot. She has to be ready. I have to be ready. How much do you want to see in your mystery? Tell the truth now. Do you want your couples to go inside and shut the door? Or do you want to peek through the keyhole?
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Ellery Adams grew up on a beach near the Long Island Sound. Having spent her adult life in a series of landlocked towns, she cherishes her memories of open water, violent storms, and the smell of the sea. Ms. Adams has held many jobs including caterer, retail clerk, car salesperson, teacher, tutor, and tech writer, all the while penning poems, children’s books, and novels. She now writes full-time from her home in Virginia.
You can learn more about Ellery Adams on her website http://www.elleryadamsmysteries.com/.
6 comments:
Not much sex goes on in the type of books I read (very noir, hardboiled for the most part), but I most definitely prefer behind closed doors. If I want romance, I'll read romance. When I'm reading crime fiction/mystery I prefer the book to stay focused on that unless a relationship is key to the plot, not just an excuse to have a couple of characters get it on. :-P
Thanks for letting me visit here today, my friend. You are an amazing supporter of books and authors. Sending a big cyber hug!
I have to say that I used to think all the romance in the Reacher novels was fun, but then I grew tired of it. Probably out of jealousy. It's hard to read about the guy you're in "love" with getting it on with a new girl every year. If it is essential to the story, then it's great. If it isn't then... unless it's a paranormal romance novel it isn't necessary.
Thanks for visiting the blog today, Ellery. I still remember the day we met. I couldn't have picked a better "first ever" book signing to attend. I hope you can come back to Salt Lake to visit. There are many other woman that would welcome the opportunity to meet you.
Hello Ellery and Sabrina/Kate. I agree with Elizabeth in her description of novel reading. If I want a romance I will make sure it is a darn good one, but mysteries are my first choice. You can introduce a couple to "do their thing" if you wish, but behind closed doors where it should be kept. Ellery, you couldn't have a better person than Sabrina/Kate to support you in exposing your books to the front of the line. Sounds like you both are doing wonders and congratulations on your seaside adventures. It's nostalgia for me. I can smell the ocean now. Thank you. I will purchase your books.
Mysteries seem to be my first choice a lot. I really like getting into the stories of their lives and really getting to know each character and how they feel. To tell you the truth, I skim/skip over the steamy romance parts in any book. When the characters start talking is when I start reading again. I just don't care about those parts and I actually appreciate it when they're not a huge part of the book, since that's not what I'm looking for.
Great blog. I am definitely going to have to check out Ellery's book.
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