m/f, f/f, m/m, m/f/f/f/f

Readers of eXtasy Books are able to tell a lot about a book before they open its cover. eXtasy uses genre descriptions, flame ratings, and m/f gender specifications to let buyers know what kind of erotic situations the story contains. This week, I've spent time applying these guideposts to my stories that eXtasy has published or is planning to publish.

The genre definitions run the gamut from Action to Western.  Here are some samples:

·       Erotic and Beyond – expect the unexpected, vivid sexual practices, adultery, dubious consent, heavy BDSM without love, personal sexual journeys with multiple partners and no commitment.

·       Romance – must have happily ever after (HEA) or happily for now (HFN) ending without exception

·       Love Story – it could have been a romance if the ending weren’t tragic. (e.g., Romeo and Juliet)

·       Paranormal – anything not explainable and not fantasy (e.g., were, vamp, shapeshifter, angel, demon, deity, witch, ghost, legend, the unexplained)

The flame ratings go from one flame to six flames.  For example:

     ·       Flame 2—Books containing sensuality, HEA/HFN endings, exclusive couples, moderate 

            language and/or violence.

     ·       Flame 5—Strong content of all kind. Extreme love scenes. May contain subject matter

            objectionable to some readers. Menage a quarte, group sex.

             You can see why someone in the mood for a Flame 2 might be a bit unsettled by a Flame 5.  If more detail is wanted, the book buyer can look as the gender specifications. The specification m/f means male-female. From there, it's easy to figure out.

            Here's how my eXtasy stories fit the ratings:

         ·       Mandi--contemporary romance, erotic and beyond, BDSM/bondage, ménage, m/f, f/f,  

                  m/f/f, five flames.

·       Clytie-- contemporary romance, action, ménage, m/f, f/f, m/f/f, five flames.

·       Scheduled for publication May 15, 2012:  Minotaur, Book 1 of the Fair Warrior Chronicles--contemporary romance, adventure, paranormal, interracial, m/f, m/f/f, series

·       Scheduled for publication June 15, 2012:  Huntress, Book 2 of the Fair Warrior Chronicles—contemporary romance, paranormal adventure, ménage, violence, m/f, f/f, m/f/f/, m/f/f/f/f, series.

·       Scheduled for publication July 15, 2012:  Midas, Book 3 of the Fair Warrior Chronicles—contemporary romance,  paranormal adventure, ménage, violence, m/f, f/f, m/f/f/, m/f/f/f/f, series.

 The editors will assign flame ratings when each book is published. I think Minotaur, Huntress, and Midas will merit five flames.

 Take your pick!