Why I Write BDSM

I find the aspect of BDSM intriguing. I enjoy reading it, so it would follow I enjoy writing it. This lifestyle and subculture has many complexities and is often criticized and misunderstood. There’s a level of intensity between characters in these stories that isn’t usually found in typical vanilla romance. When I first decided to incorporate elements of BDSM and later write a full story, I have to admit I was intimidated.

Had I read enough? Did I understand the dynamics well enough to portray the characters accurately? And couples as loving, caring people? Through recommendations from well-known authors of this subgenre like Joey W. Hill, Ann Jacobs, Maria Isabel Pita, Marilyn Jaye Lewis, the 1-800-DOM-help series authors and many others, I’ve acquired quite a library of BDSM non-fiction and fiction books.The emotional, physical and psychological areas in a BDSM relationship can create problems and conflicts such as insecurities, jealousy, dependency issues, fear of abandonment, physical injuries, etc. Some of these issues may also cause conflict in a traditional romance but not to the same degree. These difficulties provide lots of interesting ideas for stories. Imagine the level of trust involved when a character first allows a new lover to tie him up? Or uses a whip, or performs some other element of pain and/or pleasure.

In this kind of power exchange activity, communication and trust is essential. Of course you don’t have to be involved in this lifestyle to enjoy reading or writing it. I believe most of us are voyeurs at heart and curious about the dynamics of Domination and submission, Sadism and Masochism, bondage and discipline. We want to experience it, if only through our fantasies and through the eyes of the characters in the book. Even if we have no desire to ever feel the sting of a flogger.

Writing BDSM fiction has been a writer’s journey for me, talking with authors who write in the genre, reading non-fiction and fiction books. There certainly is an ‘edge’ to these stories that I like and writing them well is not easy. I’ve enjoyed reading all of the 1-800-DOM-help books. There’s a similar thread that these books share but each author has taken a very unique twist. Each one explored a different area of the lifestyle too. All of them great reads!

A well-crafted BDSM scene is an adrenaline rush, euphoric, and arousing for the reader and the writer. Author Susie Bright in her non-fiction book “How to Write a Dirty Story” says that once you’ve hit your zone and you’re writing the perfect erotic scene, it’s like, “an orgasmic cocktail.”

CONTEST: Reminder. My contest for a chance to WIN a copy of Dial B for Bondage is going on until November 15th. Check out the post on October 10th (link below) and post a comment to enter in the drawing.
http://kathykulig.blogspot.com/2011/10/contest-time-with-author-island.html#comments

New Cover & Book Trailer: Emerald Dungeon

Getting a new book cover is like opening Christmas presents. As always Ellora's Cave art department did a fabulous job on this cover. EMERALD DUNGEON is my new book that will be coming out soon and is part of the 1-800-DOM-help author themed series. This story takes place in a 500 year old Irish castle. It's a fun, sexy and mysterious story and of course there are a number of BDSM scenes in the castle's dungeon.

The mysterious 1-800-DOM-help business card appears when the relationship between the Jack and Dana gets out of hand. Other strange things are occuring in the story that add to Dana's turmoil: figures in black robes roaming around the castle, and Dana sees bizarre lights in the forest.


The business card is what links all the stories together:
The magic begins with the appearance of the business card. Sleek black print on a pristine white background—unassuming in its appearance. Those brave enough to call the number will begin a journey that will explore their greatest desires.

Once the call is made, the Operator goes to work. Somehow he knows just what every caller needs, always able to find the answer the caller seeks.

Callers may be directed to Unfettered, a new club in town, one nobody has heard of. It provides a safe haven for all who enter. Members are free to explore their every desire…even those they weren’t aware of. Little do they know Unfettered will disappear once those yearnings have eased.

Submissives who don’t know how to handle their Dominants. Masters looking for the perfect sub. People who need just a little push to admit vanilla isn’t their favorite flavor. The card finds them all.

And once you dial 1-800-DOM-help anything can happen.

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Dana gets a summer job in Ireland as a harpist in a medieval dinner show. Her life is never the same after that. Here is a sneak peek snippet. Check out the awesome book trailer that fellow EC author and 1-800-DOM-help author Delphine Dryden created at the end.

EXCERPT-(unedited)

The castle loomed in front of her. A drive into town for groceries would wait. How could she pass up exploring the grounds of a five hundred year old monument? Closed or not, she had to take a closer look. She had all afternoon to shop and unpack. Walking toward it, she admired how the dark stone structure rose well above the trees and at each corner were tower-like turrets. The view from the top must be amazing.


After working in a security company for thirteen years, force of habit had her scanning the castle walls for security cameras or spot lights. No cameras, minimal lighting, no motion sensors. She hoped the park had a better system in place inside, considering the castle was supposed to have 15th and 16th century furnishings.

Why did the castle have to be closed today? Just her luck. She walked up the drawbridge and tried the door and sure enough it was locked. Crap. Maybe it wasn’t so easy to break into a castle.

Walking around the building, she ran her hand along the rough stone. Five hundred years old. What would it have been like to live here centuries ago? What was it going to be like to entertain here? She hadn’t practiced in over two weeks since she shipped her harp. Even though the audiences for the dinner shows would be small, her stomach knotted up as if she was about to perform at a huge symphony hall.

She was three-quarters around the building when she discovered a small alcove and a wooden service door at the end of the narrow walkway. Dana tried this door and it opened. She shook her head. Very poor security. She should mention this to Jack and make some recommendations while she was here.

A narrow curved stairway led up. The castle was huge and she preferred to know the lay out of the place since the first show would be in a couple days. One flight up opened onto a great hall. A few tapestries hung on the walls between giant windows and heavy dark chairs and one table took up one wall. They’d need more tables to seat guests. There must be another room.

Dana crossed the hall to another doorway that lead to a different stairway and was about to climb, when she saw a flickering glow from the darkness below. Fire? Could the castle be on fire? Wiring or the furnishings could be. She trotted down the circular stone stairs.

Darkness crept in around her except for the golden flickering light from the basement. Walking through another doorway, she thought she heard voices but she wasn’t sure. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

As she rounded a stone partition, the room brightened. Flames flickered within a half dozen wrought iron sconces, a fire burned in a small stone fireplace. The room smelled of sweet burning wood and damp stone. At the far wall two people hovered in shadows. Dana remained in her circle of darkness at the bottom of the stairs unable to take her eyes away from the sight.

The woman was naked, her wrists and ankles bound with straps that hung from the ceiling. Her arms and legs were spread wide in a V-shape.
 

NEW Sale! Emerald Dungeon


I love making blogging posts to announce a new sale. I just signed a contract with Ellora's Cave for a new book: Emerald Dungeon. It'll be my first story in the Taboo line and it's part of the 1-800-DOM-help author series. This story started out titled Pleasure Dungeon and was changed. I love the current title much better.

Emerald Dungeon fits the story well since it takes place in Ireland in a 500 year old castle. A woman from the States gets a summer job as a harpist in a medieval dinner show. But there's more going on at this castle after hours and Dana the heroine begins a sexual journey into the lifestyle of BDSM exploring her submissive side with a hunky Irishman who's a Dom. There's a light paranormal element running through the story too. This is part of the 1-800-DOM-help author series so a mysterious business card shows up and once Dana tries calling, the Operator offers assistance. Will she find what she needs to make a major life decision? And will she discover what's going on in the forest behind her cottage?

Check back for sneak peak excerpts and news of the release date soon.

Blurb: Dana Brennan’s summer job as a musician in an Irish castle takes an adventurous turn after she witnesses a BDSM scene in the dungeon. Aroused and confused by her own sexually submissive desires, she seeks out a mentor who’ll teach her the ways of pleasure and pain.


Jack Murray is a sexy Dominant who recognizes the sub smoldering beneath the demure exterior. Under his skillful commands, he takes Dana beyond her darkest erotic fantasies.

Through bondage and submission with whips, restraints and increasing levels of pain, Dana approaches intense heightened ecstasy, but complete surrender is out of her reach. She knows she’ll return to the states soon, and resists the love building between them. Secrets and strange events around the castle only add to their troubles. The appearance of a mysterious 1-800-DOM-help business card offers to guide them. If she can accept Jack with complete trust and surrender, then ultimate pleasure and true love is possible.

Del Dryden, http://www.delphinedryden.com/ ,an EC author and one of the 1-800-DOM-help authors is making up a fabulous book trailer for me. I can't wait to show you. Once I get the book cover she should have it finished.
 
A few of my books have had some BDSM elements. This is my first complete D/s (dominant/submissive) story. While the hero and heroine are exploring this alternative lifestyle, there's a deep developing romance and a HEA ending. Have you read many BDSM stories? What do you like, don't like? What give you the squik factor in these stories?

Double HOT Friday?

    

January 28th two HOT books released in the
1-800-DOM-help author series:

The premise for the 1-800-DOM-help arose from a “what if” question and the discovery of a similar number that made Lise Fuller share it with some author friends. And they thought, “Wow, that would make for a great series concept!” So the authors took it a step further: What if a dominant or submissive needed help with their significant other? From there, they developed a “help line” for dominants and submissives to call. The help line is used if someone needs help dealing with a problem or if they want to connect with a new partner.


Fettered Love by Michelle Polaris new from Ellora's Cave.
ISBN: 9781419932854

Both are available at Ellora's Cave

Fettered Love is a book in the 1-800-DOM-help author series. If you're curious about BDSM, both of these books are highly recommended. Check out the blurb


Blurb: Kirk, Master to his long-time lover Evan, decides it’s time to place his permanent collar around Evan’s sexy cock. But when he proposes, he faces a surprise. Evan wants a child. So where will they find a kinky woman to help?

A mysterious card with the 1-800-DOM-help number advertises assistance for unusual problems in the BDSM community. When Evan calls, he recognizes the voice of Sarah—Kirk’s best friend from childhood, Evan’s Mistress of several years in college. They both loved her and suffered betrayal when she walked out of their lives.

Now she proposes to be the mother of their child. No strings, just a chance to have the men she respects and loves back in her life. Evan embraces the idea while Kirk rages with mistrust.

At Evan’s request, they share one night of passion, Kirk and Sarah working together to dominate Evan in the scene of his erotic fantasies, hoping it will be enough to rekindle trust and make all their dreams come true. To find out more about Michelle Polaris and her books check out her website: http://www.michellepolaris.com/
Or blog: http://www.michellepolarisblog.wordpress.com/ 

__________

Controlling Interest by Francesca Hawley from Ellora's Cave
ISBN: 9781419932939

Check out the hot trailer for Controlling Interest at the end.

Blurb: Mozelle “Mouse” Vincent inherits money, a club and her boss’ son as a business partner when society leader Regine Stuart dies. Torin Stuart knows what his late mother’s wishes were for his exclusive BDSM club, Erotically Bound, but he’s pissed that he’s forced to trust Mouse—especially when her inherently submissive nature arouses the sexual Dominant in him.

After baring all in a heated, intense scene, Mouse realizes they still have to work together, but now Tor challenges any business suggestion she makes. When she wants to offer education classes, Tor dares her to organize the class and participate—as a submissive.

To his chagrin, Mouse agrees, but he can’t stand the thought of any other Dom touching her. Suddenly there’s far more at stake than the controlling interest in their club…because love is the ultimate prize in their power exchange.



To find out more about Francesca Hawley and her books go to her website:
http://www.francescahawley.com/
Her blog: http://www.francescasmindstream.blogspot.com/

And to see what's happening with the authors of the 1-800-DOM-help series check out their blog:

http://1800domhelp.blogspot.com/

Something HOT for Valentine's Day Contest Reminder:
To celebrate Valentine’s Day coming up, I’ll be giving a copy of my Quickie SECRET SOIREE from Ellora’s Cave. Either email me at Kathy@kathykulig.com with “Valentine’s Day Contest” in the subject line.*Triple your chances to win: Tweet or Facebook my blog (http://www.kathykulig.blogspot.com), or “follow my blog” ( if you are following me already, tell me) and I’ll add your name in three times for the drawing of an additional erotic print book of my choice. Drawings will be on Valentine's Day. Contest ends February 13th.








Or post a comment on this blog post and leave your email.

Delight Me Wednesday

Delight me, tease me, punish me? Hmmm, Is BDSM on your list of must reads? Then Desiree Holt's new book in the 1-800-DOM-help series is sure to please. Desiree recently said about her new book, "Delight Me give me a chance to let out my inner Mistress and she's having a really good time."

Delight Me by Desiree Holt Available at Ellora's Cave Wednesday, January 26th.

ISBN: 9781419932267

This is one of the books in the hot new authors series at Ellora's Cave called 1-800-DOM-help series. Other authors in this series included: Marilu Mann, Christine d'Abo, Michelle Polaris, Samantha Cayto, Ari Thatcher, Delphine Dryden, Francesca Hawley, Delilia Devlin, Shayla Kersten and Kathy Kulig.

Keep an eye out for new books coming out soon and check out the ones recently released!!

Blurb for Delight Me:

Dani suspects her growing dissatisfaction with the lifestyle suggests she might be in need of a role reversal. When she finds a mysterious business card, she calls the number, 1-800-DOM-help, and is paired with Ethan, a sexy-as-sin sub. Dani learns the erotic effects of wielding the whip and the intense arousal that stimulating her sub with toys can bring.

As their sessions progress, Dani and Ethan explore every aspect of D/s play—from restraints to punishment to exercising control to achieve mind-blowing orgasms—and Dani comes to understand the value of receiving trust, as well as giving it. But her newfound, strong emotional feelings for Ethan scare her to death. Their current course could change her life forever—if she’s brave enough to accept what’s being offered.

To find out more about Desiree Holt and her books: http://www.desireeholt.com/  


________

The premise for the 1-800-DOM-help arose from a “what if” question and the discovery of a similar number that made Lise Fuller share it with some author friends. And they thought, “Wow, that would make for a great series concept!” So the authors took it a step further: What if a dominant or submissive needed help with their significant other? From there, they developed a “help line” for dominants and submissives to call. The help line is used if someone needs help dealing with a problem or if they want to connect with a new partner.

Check out the lastest news about the 1-800-DOM-help authors on their blog:
http://1800domhelp.blogspot.com/