YAY another guest interview with my dear friend Penelope Jones, aka Bad Penny, aka Sweet P. You can find her blog here: The very Bad Penny I invited her here to talk a bit about her new shorts The Babysitter Extraordinaire and The Exception, as well as the REBIRTH of the fabulous Iniquitous Solace: The Aftermath, the sequel to Iniquitous Solace, a book she co-wrote with Max but is sadly out of print.
Gen: Hi Penny! Thank you for taking the time to tell us about what’s new in your corner of the famous (or should I say infamous) #Naughtycouch!
Bad Penny: Hi ya, gorgeous friend of mine. I’m thrilled to have our sections of the #naughtycouch catch up! *giggles*
Gen: Me too! We seem to be knee-deep in book writing! All work and no play makes for a cranky Cupcake. *wink*
SO, let’s start with this poetry book of yours, Iniquitous Solace: The Aftermath, can you tell us a little bit about the premise?
Penny: I never expected actually to write “The Aftermath”, however, with everything in life, things change, and “Iniquitous Solace: The Aftermath” was born. The premise? Well… I think I want any girl or boy, man or woman who reads my poetry to feel like they’re watching a romantic story unfold, and although it didn’t end the way many hoped it would; that maybe one day happily ever after is around the corner for us all.
Gen: I am, as you know, hopelessly addicted to the Happy Ever After (…after some suffering)
*Penny chuckles*
Gen: You know I always ask you to rate for my blog followers, on a scale of naughty to cupcake how would you rate it?
Penny: Honestly after evaluating the book, the parts that are naughty are very naughty, but they are probably only 25% of the book, so I would say that it’s cupcake with a super-size of naughty. *winks*
Gen: What made you decide to write it?
Penny: Oh, Genevieve Dewey— If I knew your middle name I’d call you by it right now. *cringes* That’s a very hard question to answer and continue my high road of excellence, *giggles* but I’ll try!
Gen: It’s not a visit to Cupcake’s corner of the couch without me surprising you with an awkward and painful question… you know you like it. *giggle*
Penny: *Giving Gen the side-eye* My original Iniquitous Solace poetry book was unpublished by my co-author. It was my idea, my creation, my creative juices that were poured into that book. So, while I was very sad my book was unpublished and very angry with the way things went down… I can’t say that it wasn’t for the best, for all involved!
Iniquitous Solace: The Aftermath is for all those that believe in love, know that it isn’t perfect, and still want to champion for it.
Gen: You have a promotion for your brand new short story, the Babysitter Extraordinaire, that just started yesterday, how long will it be free and where can we get a copy?
Penny: Oh… I’m glad you finally asked. I’ve been bursting at the seams over here. *giggles* Pink was about to explode onto the #Naughtycouch!
*Gen snorts*
Penny: The Babysitter Extraordinaire is a brand new short BDSM fantasy that I’ve decided to share with the world for free until May 28th, 2013. Anywhere #Amazon is available is where you can find it, but for easy access, here is the US, UK, and Canada links. *grins*
Gen: Ahem, and the rating?
Penny: I give it a full Naughty rating with only a little cupcake! Also you can find a sneak peek at my novel, “The Beautiful Catastrophe”! What more could you ask for when it’s free? *laughs*
Gen: Ooohhh! That alone would be worth it at full price. Of course, you know I already downloaded it. I love your stories! Speaking of short stories, recently you released one called The Exception, can you tell us a little about it?
Penny: Funny you ask, I find that the first thing I blurt out when asked about it is … “Oh, that’s my vampire smut.” But really it’s more than that. I do not like to brag, but recently someone told me that I had a knack for building an entire story, complete with emotions, and throw in some amazing sex. I write to grab your heart, and hope your down yonder parts appreciate me too. *giggles*
Doyle tells Allyce he’s a vampire and is now faced with hunting her down, and delivering “The Exception: an eternal kiss” in Amazon stores nearest you or Smashwords!
Gen: On a scale of naughty to cupcake how would you rate it?
Penny: I would say it’s not super naughty… it’s romantic, and most of my readers are true hardcore erotica fans, and they mentioned it was quite smushy romantic. *laughs*
Gen: Ok, about your novel (The Beautiful Catastrophe) in the works, can you tell us a bit about the premise?
Penny: Well… most of it’s in the free promotion I’m giving away this weekend, but here’s a short version! *winks*
Catastrophe had never given into her attraction to men; actually, she never even thought of them that way, until Slade E. Masters bumped into her life, literally. In fact, she spent her entire adolescent years and adult life buried in learning how to take over her father’s business, Morgan Inc., Limo Service to the rich and famous. Her father, Oscar Morgan, had spent his entire life trying to make sure she stayed grounded, and knew nothing was handed to her on a silver platter… and men were always after something.
Mr. Masters hired Morgan Inc. to drive him around on business but that wasn’t the only driving force between the couple. Strophe’s life was turned upside down the moment she met Mr. E, and then tragedy struck in the same place twice, and no one was sure where to turn next…
Look for it this fall! *crossing fingers and toes*
Gen: Ugh! I seriously cannot wait! I super love when you get all smushy and you’ve told me there’s smushy in this one. But, of course, the naughty scale?
Penny: I’m going to give this a number… the sweet, smushy, romance totally outweighs the naughty factor, so I’d say it’s a 7!
Gen: Ok, a few fun questions, just because. If you could pick a flower to represent you what would it be?
Penny: The Gerbera Daisy! It’s my favorite flower, and it comes in so many different shades of colors. There are many layers of petals before you arrive at the center of the flower… just like me! *grins and winks*
Gen: If you could have a dream date, what would it entail?
Penny: Something completely from my date’s imagination! I’m really NOT high maintenance, but I think imagination and originality count for everything. So if he or she is imaginative and original, I’m betting that would be my next favorite dream date!
Gen: What is your favorite adjective/adverb, and the one you hate most?
Penny: My favorite adverb/adjective is Poppycock! I’ve found over the years that word has saved many people from getting “the beat down”!
*grins*
My least favorite would be the words gay or retarded. Words that were meant to classify certain types of people have been turned into dirty words. Something isn’t retarded nor can something be gay. Nor should it be considered derogatory to be referenced as either term. People, wise up… it’s horrible to use those terms in a derogatory fashion… Shame on you! Stop it!
Gen: *whispers, I love it when you get feisty* Ahem, What is one of your fondest hopes for the remainder of the year?
Penny: I can’t wait to see my novel come to life on page and kindle… and who knows— maybe happily ever after is just around the corner!
Gen: Ya never know!
Penny: Thanks, Gen, for having me. *snuggles Gen tight* Oh… I heard from a little birdie that the next 7 days your book babies will be visiting my blog! I can’t wait. I lovers you long time!!!
Gen: I know! I’m so excited and it means the world to me that you’re participating in the Blog Tour for my Downey babies. Thank you, Sweet P, for coming and visiting me! I always love having you! *hugs*
That’s it for today folks!
Please check out Penny’s links:
Penelope Jones’ BIO:
Penelope Jones, the Iniquitous Bad Penny, is a saucy little minx who will drive you insane with her naughtiness and cheek! A writer of super sexy poetry and erotic romance – prepare to love both the woman and her works. Whether you seek a ‘happy-ever-after,’ or a ‘randy-romp for a night,’ Penelope’s the girl for you. She’s the sauce behind ‘Naughtyville’ and ‘Little Miss Notoriety,’ so come check out her blog for other writing projects, and what’s next for her at Bad Penny’s Always to Blame! It’s a visit you’ll never forget!
Social Networking:
Email: LittleMissNotoriety@Gmail.com
Blog: http://thepenelopejones.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Penelope_Prose https://twitter.com/Penelope_Prose
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/ThePenelopeJones
Facebook personal: https://www.facebook.com/penelope.jones.564
Fetlife: TheVeryBadPenny https://fetlife.com/users/2142473
Goodreads: PenelopeJones http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6915959.Penelope_Jones
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Penelope-Jones/e/B00B9MVJJO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
US Buy links for Penny’s books-
http://bit.ly/BE-PJ The Babysitter Extraordinaire (Free May 26-28th)
http://bit.ly/IS_TA Iniquitous Solace: The Aftermath
http://bit.ly/TE-Am The Exception: an eternal kiss
Some of you may have heard, I made a YouTube Page where I can log the songs that I’ve enjoyed listening to while I write or that remind me of certain characters. If I get a book trailer made it will be there too. 🙂 Here are the Playlists so far:
My First, I Love You Playlist:
My Second of All Playlist:
My Third Time’s The Charm Playlist (so far…):
I apologize for the serious and random nature of this post—no wait, I totally don’t. #RandomGen has fused with #RantyGen today with just a titch of #BitchyGen for extra “sprinkles” on my cupcake as my dear friend Penny always says. Feel free to back out of the post if you don’t want to hear it and/or are easily offended.
The number one definition of Vanilla (adj) in the Urban Dictionary is: Unexciting, normal, conventional, boring.
In Websters: (adj) lacking distinction, plain, ordinary, conventional
And for the Brits in the room, the Oxford definition: (adj) having no special or extra features; ordinary or standard.
I was thinking the other day, and not for the first time, why the use of the word vanilla as an adjective rubs me the wrong way. Think: nails on a chalkboard, Styrofoam squeaking, “Are we there yet?”… sort of irritation. It’s not like I haven’t used the word myself on occasion, or have friends who use the word and I think nothing of it when they do. It’s true. But I came to the conclusion it’s because amongst these few individuals and I, (and you know who you are) we know what we mean by that adjective and it is NONE of those definitions. It simply means “not living a Dominant/submissive relationship or regularly practicing the BDSM lifestyle”. No value-judgment, just a simple manner of categorization so as to know to what particular activities we might be referring in a conversation/book recommendation. So, yeah, “vanilla” is easier to say than all that in a conversation with each other. We understand each other just fine.
But when others use it… man.
I tell you what, nothing irks me more than individuals who want to be understood and accepted for their own choices and yet they, in turn, feel they have a right to judge the value of others’ lifestyles. By its very definition above (and by that I mean Urban Dictionary, Websters, Oxford, common parlance, the manner in which it is used on blog, and in writing) it places an inherent value, or more correctly, de-value on something.
The very definition is judgmental.
Ordinary… BORING… lacking distinction… unexciting.
My dear blog followers, I count myself blessed and lucky to have friends from all walks of life, cultures, and lifestyles, from the ultra-conservative to the ultra-liberal, from countries near and far. So, I can’t fathom what on EARTH entitles a person in any culture/subculture to make a judgment about the sexual satisfaction a perfect stranger receives no matter HOW they like to get jiggy wid it. What makes certain folk think because some people DON’T engage in a D/s relationship or practice all the elements of BDSM on the regular that their sexual life is “vanilla” ie, as we’ve defined above, BORING, LACKING DISTINCTION, UNEXCITING?
Geeeeeeee, ok. /Sarcasmfont
For YOU, you meant to say, right? RIGHT?
‘Cause I’m down with that. We are beautiful, amazingly diverse creatures, us human beings. We are all different and we all like different things even within a sub-culture. For ME, receiving a spanking would be BORING, UNEXCITING, ORD—well, not ordinary—but HAVING NO SPECIAL FEATURES. Just like for one who craves, with their mind, emotions, physical being, a good ass-paddling NOT getting that would be—I’m extrapolating from the ubiquitous use of the term above—quite mundane in nature and lacking in appropriate stimulation (physically or psychologically). I don’t know for sure though, I’m just guessing. Because you see, otherwise, I don’t understand the use of the word vanilla AT ALL. Surely you don’t mean that because I don’t lead a D/s sexual life that my sexual life is somehow unfulfilling or boring or ordinary or lacking excitement or having no special features. And yet… there. it. is. Inherent in the use of the word itself, which you just used to describe me.
So I say with kindness in my heart (believe it or not) check your prose the next time you speak, just like I make sure and never use value-laden words such a “freaky” “perversion” “abnormal”… Hell, I even stop and cringe before I use the word “alternative” which I know many of my friends engaged in so-called “alternative” lifestyles have no problem with me using. I dithered, I kid you not, for HOURS before I used the word “naughty” on my “Cupcake’s Naughty Corner”, because that word also carries connotations that sex is somehow “not good”. I don’t like using words that place judgment on such a natural human act. After all, I would never want to assume I have the arrogant right to deem another’s sexual life to be “lacking”, “unexciting”, or “boring” because they don’t have heterosexual, monogamous, spank-free sex like I do.
A wise man once said:
Different Strokes for different folks…
And a wise woman once said:
“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it’s all that matters.”
PS–Join me on Monday when I interview Bad Penny on What’s What with the What’s New in her BDSM/Erotica writing universe. YAY! Fun on Cupcake’s Corner of the #NaughtyCouch!
You can enter the Goodreads giveaway of First, I Love You until MAY 30th for a chance to win one of two copies along with a magnet, post card, and bookmark!
You can enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here or on Facebook until JUNE 3rd to win a paperback of Second of All (4 runners up get an eBook of Second of All).
SUPER excited for this Blog Tour coming up hosted by Literati Literature Lovers! I might be even more excited about that than I am the NEW cover for Second of All coming May 30th!
A thoughtful post by Bad Penny on Living Wills and other such morbid, but necessary responsibilities we have to our loved ones.
It’s all fun and games until someone dies! #ASMSG #socialmedia.
I was thinking about tropes and themes this morning. I just finished re-reading The Great Gatsby, which I am sure quite a number of you might have done as well… No? Just saw the movie? Oh well, doesn’t matter…
It was a pretty good book, not as great as I had remembered it, but it had my mind pleasantly engaged thinking about themes and language and stylistic maneuvers that might not be tolerated in today’s publishing world (he doesn’t even reveal Nick’s name until about 15 pages in! Modern editors just urped a little reading that…) But all of that was good because it allowed me to like it a lot more than I might have. I’ve recently come to terms with the fact I rarely like books written from the 1st person perspective. It make me feel like I’m getting gossip instead of a good yarn. The one notable case in which this sensation works to advantage is in the Stephanie Plum series. Love those… or at least the first dozen or so, I mean after a while I was all, “Piss or get off the pot”– Tommy Gates.
Speaking of which, one of the reasons I really enjoyed writing Second of All was because you don’t often see a woman pursuing a man romantically. On the rare occasions I see it on TV or literature it is in an entirely different manner: she’s a stalker, criminal, whore (always written in a pathetic/broken fashion), out for revenge (usually encompasses the three previous elements) and she rarely ‘gets her man’. Almost punished in a way for making the first move, or the second. and the third.
I like how Ginny never gave up on Tommy, but other than maybe the *ehem* handcuff thing, for me, her persistence and patience was as romantic as a man pursuing a woman. Maybe it’s that romance, even as a multi-faceted genre, caters heavily towards women. And I supposed a lot of women like the trope of being swept off their feet. Maybe sweeping a man off his feet seems like…work. But I see it more from a Pretty Woman sort of aspect:
“And she rescues him right back…”
What do you think?
The last Giveaway celebrating the new cover for First, I Love You was such a big success and I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart! Your enthusiasm and support is fantastic and I’m certain you are the best fans in the entire universe! If you didn’t win a paperback of First, I Love You there is still a chance! You can enter the Goodreads giveaway until May 30th for a chance to win one of two copies along with a magnet, post card, and bookmark!
Now, on with the reason for this particular blog post: In honor of the new cover for Second of All (due out at the end of the month), AND the super awesome Blog Tour that Literati Literature Lovers is hosting for the Downey Series starting June 3rd, I’m having another Rafflecopter Drawing!!!!
It’s the same format as the last one, so if you are already a Facebook fan or Twitter follower, etc, it is SUPER simple to enter. Just click on that option and boom you are entered!
What are the prizes?
Sounds good? Then spread the word, birds! *wink*
Here’s how it will work:
Click on the Rafflecopter giveaway here or on Facebook (5/14-6/3) and choose an entry option:
a) Follow this blog by email
b) Like my Facebook Page (Already have? Just choose that option and you will automatically be entered)
c) Follow me on Twitter (Already have? Just choose that option and you will automatically be entered)
d) Tweet About this Giveaway
e) Post “Genevieve Dewey sends her love” on Literati Literature Lovers Facebook Page
(https://www.facebook.com/LiteratiLiteratureLovers)
The winners will be chosen Monday (6/3) at 11pm CST by their random generator (hint: if you do more than one it weights the ranking).
I’M SO EXCITED!!!!! (Are you?)
Oh my goodness! What a wonderful surprise today to see this review by Rosette of Literati Literature Lovers! Completely made my day!!!!
Genevieve Dewey 