on Apr 25th, 2012 So excited to introduce our guest today. Not only is Elle an amazing author but she’s also an old friend of mine! Plus, she’s talking about one of our favorite topics: smutty, dirty words. *winks* Take it away, Elle!
Keeping Track of the Smut
First off, I wanted to thank the Smutketeers for letting me stop by today! Karen and I used to be on another group blog before life got in the way (as it always does), so it feels fantastic to reunite with her once again via the blogsphere.
Now, today’s topic: dirty words. I think one of the biggest challenges of writing for more than one publisher is remembering which dirty words can go into which books. I know, that sounds totally bizarre, right? But it’s a problem I’ve been having this entire week, as I attempt to write 3 different stories in 3 different genres for 3 different publishers.
I still remember the first time I used the p-word in a sex scene (hint: I’m not talking about penis here—think the lady equivalent LOL). I was blushing like crazy and giggling like a preteen. Now, I’m dropping p-bombs all over the place, along with all kinds of other bombs. In erotic contemporary, this is perfectly acceptable. In category romantic suspense? No way.
My brain knows which books get to have f-words galore, and which ones need “craps” and “darns”. The p-word in some stories, “aching core” in others. Anything-goes-sex in some, don’t-even-think-of-bringing-a-third party-into-this-sex-scene in others. But see, sometimes I forget—which is why I spent almost three hours yesterday cutting f-words out of one book and sticking them all in the other.
What I learned from this experience? Writing erotic romance is way more fun! Romantic suspense and sexy contemporaries are my genres—they’re what I love to write, and I do enjoy them both. But sometimes it’s nice to let the p- and f-words fly and not worry about the consequences!
So…Born to Be Wild. P-words? Check. F-words? Check. This is my latest red-hot contemporary from Samhain Publishing. It’s the 3rd book in my Welcome to Paradise mini-series, but it can be read as a stand-alone, and it features a bad boy hero who comes home to seduce his former high school fling.
You can find it at Samhain or Amazon.
And…Midnight Rescue. Dark suspense? Check. Kickass heroine? Check. This is the first book in my new Killer Instincts series with Signet Eclipse, which features a team of sexy male mercenaries and some kickass heroines. The series launches on May 1.
Preorder Midnight Rescue at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Contest time!! I’m giving away one copy of each book – one winner gets BTBW, the other gets MR, and all I want to know is: how dirty do you like your books? Are you all about f-bombs and p-words, or do you prefer more conservative language?
(Karen: Ha! You’re with the Smutketeers – we like ALL the dirty words!)
Comments close at the end of the day on Thursday, April 26th and will be announced here. Good luck!
Also, if you want to know more about either of these books, stop by my website (www.ellekennedy.com) to check out some blurbs and excerpts.
Elle
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I like me dirty dirty dirty. Lol.
they are more fun that way. Lol
KittyKelly
by KittyKelly April 25th, 2012 at 5:08 amI have a pretty filthy mouth so reading books with strong language isn’t an issue for me. I think they make the stories more realistic.
by StacieD April 25th, 2012 at 7:26 amI like dirty!!!!!If given a choice I choose dirty every time!!!!
by LEISA PRATER April 25th, 2012 at 8:27 am
Let the f and p bombs fly! I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a dirty girl.
by Nadine Winningham April 25th, 2012 at 8:29 amI like the dirty words, because you get the dirty actions to go along with them!!!
proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com
by Sue Sattler April 25th, 2012 at 8:30 amI knew our regular crowd would heartily approve of the dirty words.
So glad you’re with us today, Elle! Both books sounds FAB!
by Karen Erickson April 25th, 2012 at 8:32 amWell for me it depends on what I’m reading and what I’m in the mood for.
I’m no stranger to steamy erotica but every once in a while I still do a little literary halt when I catch the p-word or the f-bomb in a book, I’m learning not to mind those words I’m not sure that I want to see them in every paragraph but I don’t mind them too much.
Sometimes those words bring stronger feelings to steamy books and they make the books better. So I’m cool when it comes to words like that at least in the literary sense!
kakuchouakisame_19@yahoo.com
by Gabrielle J. April 25th, 2012 at 8:36 amThe p-words and f-bombs don’t bother me much-unless they are just there for shock value. I love my erotic romance, and can’t see a hot scene happening without some of the dirty words-the more the better! BTW Elle, thanks so much for BTBW, looks to be one hot read, and I will be starting it soon, I promise!
by Nancy G April 25th, 2012 at 8:53 amI usually don’t mind dirty words – especially if the only other option are ridiculous cutesy euphemisms – that’s just ridiculous! LOL
I’d love to read Born to Be Wild!
by Shannon April 25th, 2012 at 8:55 ambas1chsemail at gmail dot com
Dirty words don’t bother me at all…I’m a dirty girl. Every thing can be fixed with a piece of Orbit gum…Dirty mouth? Clean it up!!! Lol
andieleah78@gmail.com
by Andie Wardlow April 25th, 2012 at 8:59 amHey everyone! So it sounds like everyone is on Team Dirty so far
Though I agree with Gabrielle–sometimes I get jolted out of a scene too, especially if the book has been fairly tame so far and then all of a sudden there’s a p-word thrown in there.
And Karen–thanks for having me! I knew the Smutketeer fans would be pro-dirty!
by Elle Kennedy April 25th, 2012 at 9:19 amLike Karen said, this is the Smutketeers – we love the smut.
I definitely enjoy dirty words and dirty talk, I think it really spices up the story. My caveat is that it needs to be context appropriate – if it’s a historical, call it by the right term, otherwise you’ll pull me right out of the story. And make it appropriate for the character – if the heroine has led a sheltered life, she might not know all those words.
by Katherine April 25th, 2012 at 10:18 amI love dirty books and I love more conservative language. It all depends on my mood as to which book I want to read at any given time.
by Stephanie Staton April 25th, 2012 at 10:55 amI love the dirty words but only when they aren’t overused. I don’t like to read dirty words in every paragraph of a story….maybe every other paragraph lol
by Brandi Slater April 25th, 2012 at 11:20 amI am never easily offended and I don’t i have EVER said “this book had too many f words in it” LOL
by Annie April 25th, 2012 at 11:51 amKatherine, I echo the context appropriate comment! It drives me nuts when I read a historical that’s dropping modern lingo in there when it’s a time period that totally didn’t use those words. Not just dirty ones too. any words that don’t belong jolt me out of the story.
by Elle Kennedy April 25th, 2012 at 12:05 pmDirty is a major turn-on.
by Kathleen Charles April 25th, 2012 at 12:20 pmWell, I love the dirty words, but for me it’s about what’s organic to that character.
by edenbradley April 25th, 2012 at 1:17 pmI totally know what you mean about remembering which publisher you’re writing for and which words you can use!
Anything goes, so I’m okay with dirty language.
by Jane April 25th, 2012 at 2:03 pmOf course I like the dirty words, I’m a Smutkedette!! :)
by Susan R April 25th, 2012 at 2:06 pmI love dirty words of course. I agree with everyone else. They can’t be over used and need to be used in the right moment. And I like variety too…don’t use the same one over and over again.
Dana
by Dana April 25th, 2012 at 6:52 pmDirty words make everything better!! Saying the right things at the right time can really help things along! I like to add a little variety as well.
by Mel B April 25th, 2012 at 6:55 pmMel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
I don’t even know why I posed this question. Seems like DIRTY is the consensus, which isn’t really a surprise, right, SMUTketeers?
So question–does anyone have any words that are a turn-OFF? Like, you see this word and cringe? the female C-word perhaps? I know that one bugs a lot of readers…
by Elle Kennedy April 25th, 2012 at 6:59 pmLOL yeah Elle you are with the Smutketeers so Dirty is the middle name here :)
by Dawn April 26th, 2012 at 1:27 amnow as far as any words for me.. No I haven’t found many limits to my reading but my friend can’t stand the “C” word – so to help her get over it (hehe) I had her read Crystal’s Treasured – LMAO anyone who has read it knows that is used A LOT. Congrats on the new releases and I love your stuff!!
I love Sue’s answer (#5). As long as it fits the book and characters, I can go with either. I don’t see the average nun dropping an F bomb, but a tough guy in a brutal fighting scene against a bad guy, heck yeah!
Just like heat levels, I need variety in my reading otherwise I get numb to the effect the scenes or words should have.
I can accept the c word except in British or faux British books where it’s a derogatory word to describe anyone, male or female. Like Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series, Jack, the rather unlikeable and terribly flawed main character, calls lots of people “c”s. As a body part in an erotic novel it’s usually ok.
by Anne April 26th, 2012 at 6:34 amI like my books realistic. Not every other word a cuss word but the wording to go with the situation.
by Jennifer Crump April 26th, 2012 at 6:39 amI don’t mind the crude language if it fits the story. On the other hand, a guy calling a girl something like the c*** word is not nice and I automatically imagine the guy is the bad buy in the story. So, the language also has to fit the character. So go ahead, drop a couple f-bombs. I can handle it! jepebATverizonDOTnet
by Jen B. April 26th, 2012 at 7:59 amI love the dirty words – the don’t offend me, especially since I cuss like a sailor. But it is all in the context and if it fits the character. I agree with what others have posted I can’t see a nun dropping f-bombs but just finished reading a book where the h repeatedly called the H a tw** which cracked me up.
by Melissa P. April 26th, 2012 at 12:05 pmTen years ago, I would’ve have cringed at the mention of even c*ck and p*ssy. Would’ve been mortally offended at the hint of c**t.
But between:
1) seeing The Vagina Monologues
2) working in a male-dominated environment (I’m one of two female engineers out of hundreds of engineers and
3) reading all kinds of romance/erotica,
I’ve gotten used to pretty much everything. And learned to embrace and be empowered by these words.
by Katherine April 26th, 2012 at 2:35 pmI tend not to use certain words orally but somehow have gotten quite used to reading them in the stories…they don’t bother me unless there isn’t much substance in between them, lol.
by ELF April 26th, 2012 at 9:19 pmI like the dirty words.
Some stories, the language is mild and its fine, but for the most part, i like the words really dirty! ;)
by Shadow April 26th, 2012 at 11:04 pmHey everyone!
The contest has come to a close and I’ve drawn two winners.
Midnight Rescue goes to Jennifer Crump (comment #26)
Born to be Wild goes to Leisa Prater (comment #3)
Winners, check your email :)
And big thanks to everyone else who came by and commented, and the Smutketeers for hosting me!
by Elle Kennedy April 27th, 2012 at 10:59 am