Comments on: And Here’s Jess Michaels!

By: Jenna Petersen

Jenna Petersen — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:48:06 +0000

One pen name is a combo of my first name and my husband’s first name. The other is my real last name and a first name I just liked. We went through a LOT of pen names on a list. LOL

By: Seduction and Relationships » Blog Archive » And Here’s Jess Michaels!

Seduction and Relationships » Blog Archive » And Here’s Jess Michaels! — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:28:35 +0000

[...] You can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...]

By: SweetNSourGirl

SweetNSourGirl — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 21:26:43 +0000

Hi! I happen to agree with your definitions, I think a lot of people can’t tell them apart, hence the quote “I know it when I see it!” heehee.

Question: how’d you come up with your pen name? Did you use a formula (maternal grandmother’s maiden name + name you almost were) or did it just come to you?

By: Jenna Petersen

Jenna Petersen — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:14:06 +0000

That’s what I’ve loved about my Avon Red covers, lisabea! I think the one for EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN, especially, is very sexy without being wanky. LOL

By: lisabea

lisabea — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:11:11 +0000

” I’ve recently read a couple of phenomenal erotica books which put most of the more mainstream books I’ve read recently to shame in terms of tight plotting, character development and beautiful prose.”

I have as well. I find myself buying more erotic romance now than ever before based on better quality and availability. My one complaint:the cover art deters me from purchasing many books in print. Just too wanky to carry around in my car pool bag.

By: Jenna Petersen

Jenna Petersen — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:58:03 +0000

Thanks so much Rae! I hope you enjoy the new books!

By: Rae

Rae — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:14:45 +0000

Oh thank you! It’s nearly impossible to describe well to people what distinguishes erotic-romance from “regular” romance or sensual-romance (hey! new term!). I would like to write both (I had no idea until recently that you wrote under two names, although I’ve read pieces by…um, both of you), and I agree with Tumperkin, it’s hard to write good sex scenes–I decided to try my hand at erotic romance first so I got used to writing sex scenes, which has helped tremendously.

Such a great entry, thank you so much for your descriptions! I’ll make sure and put your new books on my TBR List!

By: Jenna Petersen

Jenna Petersen — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:42:05 +0000

Thanks Tumperkin! I hope you enjoy my work if you pick it up!

By: Tumperkin

Tumperkin — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:52:40 +0000

Good post, Jenna. I’m with you 100% on your definitions. Funnily enough I never used to read erotica cos I had this prejudiced idea it was just porn but I’ve recently read a couple of phenomenal erotica books which put most of the more mainstream books I’ve read recently to shame in terms of tight plotting, character development and beautiful prose. I don’t mind the absence of an HEA – in either erotica or romance (although I know I’m in a minority there). I read erotica, erotic romance and sensual romance and I don’t see them as inhabiting a ‘spectrum of sexiness’. Sometimes less is more. Takes real skill to write good sex.

BTW, I live in the UK and the bookstores here don’t stock much in the way of Avon – I didn’t even know they had an erotic romance line – so I’ll be checking you out on Amazon

By: Jenna Petersen

Jenna Petersen — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:06:39 +0000

fiveandfour, I guess that depends on the story. It used to be those wouldn’t be published as romance, but now, with erotic romance expanding, you’re seeing them more and more. Romance requires a ‘satisfying emotional conclusion’. So I guess if a threesome (or moresome LOL) story ended with that satisfying ending where the three leads were in a romantic, long term relationship, it would be erotic romance. It’s actually been very interesting to see the industry slowly (s-l-o-w-l-y) expand to include varying kinds of stories into what it markets as romance.

As for my characters, I don’t close the door. I just don’t. But yes, sometimes my romance characters want to get a little freakier than I expected. And I let them if it works for the story. So far no one has asked me to tone it down.