Yesterday I took a much needed break from my deadline, not because I needed the break but because we needed food in the house! After finishing up my page count for the day, I compiled a list from all the little post it notes I had hanging all over the house to remind me to buy toilet paper, cat food, creamer for my morning coffee (okay, that’s the real reason I went to the store) and something besides the making of a salad or a can of soup for dinner. Since I’m a big believer in multi-tasking, I decided a trip to the post office might be a good idea, too. I knew I had a couple of new movies from Netflix waiting for me, and well, with the Last Comic Standing finals being last week, once I finished watching Big Brother All Stars last night, there’d be nothing on television of interest to me, so I’d at least have a new movie to watch.

Armed with my list, I ventured out of the house, and oh what a glorious afternoon! The weather was a real treat, an absolutely perfect summer day — 78 degrees, low humidity with big white puffy clouds floating across a blue sky. The last place I wanted to be was a grocery store, but I was on a mission. I needed creamer for the morning!

At the post office, as expected, my movie choices were waiting for me, along with a couple of bills (grumble) and at least a half dozen flyers announcing last minute back to school sales. Now that my children are all grown up, I don’t get as excited about back to school sales as I used to — with one exception. Shoe sales!

There’s nothing quite like a new pair of shoes. New shoes are filled with possibilities. As a kid, for me that new pair of shoes for school represented a journey of growth and the opportunities that were ahead. Shoes were always more to me than an accessory to compliment certain outfits, or a necessity to keep my feet warm and dry. For me, new shoes are like starting a new story. Where will they take me (or the story take my characters)? What will I learn about myself (or my character learn about themselves) on this new journey?

Finding the right pair of shoes can be a journey in and of itself, just like finding the right genre in which to tell that perfect story. The choices are limitless! A perfect pair of red strappy sandals. A hot and sexy novella. A sturdy pair of hiking boots. A sizzling romantic adventure. A well made pair of black pumps. A sensual contemporary with an equally sensible heroine.

See why I equate new shoes to writing?

But what do you do if you’re not sure where you want to go on your next journey? Or if you’re confused about which pair of shoes to buy — uh, I mean, what romantic subgenre your story idea fits? An author so many of us admire have enjoyed her stories for many years has taken the guess work out of it for us in her upcoming book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Erotic Romance by Alison Kent, on sale September 5, 2006.
If you’ve suffered even an ounce of confusion about the various subgenres of romance, Alison comes to the rescue and spells it all out for you in such a simple to understand manner, you’ll wonder why you were ever confused.

In the chapter I had the esteemed privilege of reading — The Romantic Genre: It’s Like a Box of Chocolates! — I’ll admit to being particularly interested in what Alison had to say about romantic suspense since this is what I write, and I have to say, I even learned a thing or two. I won’t give away any of her secrets here (you’ll have to buy this fabulous guide for yourself ), but I will say that she takes away any ounce of confusion a potential writer of romantic suspense might have about “keeping the romance in your suspense and the suspense in your romance.” She also covers the various contemporary markets, historicals along with paranormal, fantasy and futuristic in addition to Chick Lit and of course, maintaining sexual integrity within the context of your story.

If you’re considering starting a new story in a subgenre you’ve never tried before, Alison Kent provides a clear and concise guide to help you on your journey. Put The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Erotic Romance on your must buy list today!! An while you’re out there shopping for this fabulous new how-to, why not try on a new pair of shoes, too, and see where they both take you.