Happy Holidays

Take-Some-Peace-On-This-Day-

I love this time of year because it gives us great reasons to reflect. 2013 brought many exciting events for which I’m thankful. My first novel, My Body-His came out in November of 2012, so I started off 2013 being a newly published author with Fanny Press. I experienced book signings for the first time and I must say, that was definitely a highlight. My Body-His (Marcello) came out in March 2013 and My Body-Mine was released in July 2013.

In addition, my husband, Dana Bennett, and I self-published The Demarcation of Jack. There was a stiff learning curve getting all the formatting just so, but with the help of a great editor and cover artist, we are thrilled with the outcome. Continue reading

Blakely’s interview with Jane from the My Body Trilogy

MyBodyTrilogyThis week I’m sharing a blog post from my previous blog tour.  It’s one of my favorites. Check out my interview with Jane.

Blakely: I’m very excited to interview you, Jane. It’s like a wonderful visit with an old friend.

Jane: Yes, we have been joined at the hip for quite a while now. 😉

Blakely: Without giving too much away (we wouldn’t want to spoil it for our readers) how are you doing these days?

Jane: Life is truly wonderful. I no longer look upon my past with shame and regret. I thankfully survived it all and came out stronger, happier and healthier on the other side. Nothing can compete with good love.

Blakely: Are you ready to dive into the interview?

Jane: Sure.

Blakely: Many of our readers and fans have a hard time understanding why you stayed so long with Luke. Can you explain it to them?

Jane: Luke provided an intense passion and connection that I never experienced before and when he was “good Luke” nothing in the world could touch the elation I felt from his touch and attention. Just his mere kiss caused me to melt. Unfortunately, there were two definite sides to him and he could be very cold and cruel. Like many woman who stay in unhealthy relationships, I thought if I could just do things “right”, I would live in bliss with him. Eventually my whole world was wrapped around Luke , his life; and it seemed like dying to be apart from him. We ultimately weren’t good for each other and I can see the part I played in our crazy dance. Looking back, I believe my poor relationships with my parents might have driven my desperation to make it work. I have wondered that if my father had been there for me the day that I called, would I have gone back to Luke? There’s no way to know now but it surely didn’t help my state of mind at the time.

Blakely: With the benefit of hindsight now, do you think your relationship with Luke was abusive as opposed to an alternative lifestyle? If so, at what point was that line crossed for you?

Jane: I think there were abusive moments through the course of the relationship but there were also large segments of time where his harsher tendencies took a back seat. This is a tricky question for me. I don’t have a vast amount of experience in the lifestyle but Marcello was pretty clear that Luke screwed things up in regards to me and my first forays into a Dom/sub relationship. The crossing the line bit is even harder to answer because that invisible line kept being pushed further and farther away from who I knew myself to be. The hardest crossing was when Luke sent me to Marcello’s which I adamantly fought against.

Blakely: Do you think Luke did the BDSM relationship the right way? Many of our readers were upset about how he used the so-called “safe words”.

Jane: I am positive that there are many different ways to have a Dom/sub relationship. Just through my talks with Janice and her experience, all of her BDSM relationships were different. I don’t think there is only one right way to go about it. However, the safe words with Luke were nothing of the kind and he should have called them something else.

Blakely: Do you feel that you really are a submissive or just masqueraded as one to please Luke?

Jane: This question made me laugh! My body unquestionably loves the submission. I wouldn’t say I was masquerading to please Luke but I did lose myself along the way trying to please him. I’m definitely NOT a natural submissive but sexually, it surely causes the most intense orgasms. 😉

Blakely: Do you think monogamy or children will be important to you at some point?

Jane: Absolutely to both.

Blakely: Do you foresee a positive relationship with either of your parents or has that ship sailed as far as you’re concerned?

Jane: My mother goes through a metamorphosis in My Body-Mine so read to find out about that.

Blakely: How did you feel being the object of desire for two men and a woman?

Jane: It completely changed the concept I held of myself. When you have two parents who don’t seem to like you very much, it definitely shapes your outlook on yourself. They (Luke, Janice, and Marcello) helped me to feel more desirable and Marcello encouraged me to feel more deserving of love.

Blakely: Who has been your most incredible lover?

Jane: Blakely, don’t you think that’s giving a bit too much away? They still need to read My Body-Mine!

Blakely: Yes, I guess you’re right. One last question then?

Jane: Yes, because you-know-who is waiting for me. 😉

Blakely: I’ll be quick. Do you think you will share your story with our readers about you-know-who and your future?

Jane: The trilogy is complete but I’ve heard rumors that you might right a prequel, Blakely, about Janice and Luke.

Blakely: Anything is possible but we shall see. Thank you, Jane, for your honest and open answers. I’m sure our readers appreciated your time.

The Best Advice I Never Took … Until Now

image.axdIf you’re like me, you’ve probably read books on writing and listened to the advice from long time authors. If so, then you also know that the prevailing wisdom is to let your baby go and write another book. Even after finishing the last book in the My Body Trilogy, My Body-Mine, I couldn’t let my three book baby go.

To really release your baby, you must start another project and I recently have. It has worked wonders for my psyche. Since starting my latest story, I no longer worry about the reviews for the trilogy or stress over the sales (all which have been going remarkable well). As soon as I adopted my new baby called Stuck In-Between, the first novel in the Bound by Your Love Series, I have a new love … a new obsession. Damn is it freeing!

Juggling the promoting of the trilogy blog tour, writing for my blog, editing, hosting author interviews (please email me if you’re interested) and keeping up with the demands of social media, I became a marketeer and lost touch with the joyful parts of being an author. For me that’s getting lost in a new story that literally flows through me to the computer page.

I had an epiphany that if I’m not creating, or balancing all that needs to be done with the parts of being a writer that I love, then I could be back in corporate American because the stress was feeling eerily familiar.

So now I bow to the wisdom of the sages in our industry and make sure to be working my art at least as much as promoting.

There is still so much knowledge to be absorbed, like the most effective way to use twitter and other social media outlets. I want the time spent to really count, but that means making time to read and investigate. Fortunately, my husband has been reading through the Naked Truth (about self-publishing) and reading lots of it out loud to me, which is expanding my thinking about how to approach being in business for myself.

Other advice I have read is that an author must also be an avid reader. You hone your craft by being inspired by other great writers. I’ve been making more time to read as well as write. I’m still old school and love to hold the book in my hands. Maybe someday I will graduate to the eBook world of reading but so far, let me hear the rustling of the pages.

It’s not quite ten months since I’ve been able to call myself a published author. It’s been a whirlwind when I look back on it. My Body-His came out November 15, 2012, My Body-His (Marcello) came out March 15, 2013 and My Body-Mine, July 15, 2013. Every day the dream comes more into focus and I’m learning so much in the process.

I was chatting with a new friend on Facebook and I shared my own sage advice. You are never too old to chase your dream. I’m sure glad I never gave up on mine.

Have you moved on? Are you working your new project right now? Share your realizations with us. That’s the support and the wisdom all writers cherish.

Warm hugs,

Blakely

Please feel free to friend me on Facebook.
And like the My Body Trilogy Facebook page.
Find me Twitter & Pinterest.

Email Me

2000 Likes Giveaway

raflPlease join me in celebrating the approaching 2000 likes on the My Body Trilogy page on Facebook. There are many free books for giveaway and you can also join the event page for 2000 Likes Giveaway where I will be updating the prize pool.

Thanks so much for all your support!

Warm hugs,

Blakely

Please feel free to friend me on Facebook.
And like the My Body Trilogy Facebook page.
Find me Twitter & Pinterest.

Email Me

My Body Trilogy Virtual Book Tour Continues

My Body Trilogy Button 300 x 225

I’m reposting the list of stops on the virtual book tour and will blog again once the tour has ended.

Warm hugs,

Blakely

July 29 Interview
Tanya’s Book Nook

July 30 Interview
Vision + Verse

July 31 Reviews
Compare our Men. book whores

August 1 Review
Romance Addict Book Blog

August 2 Interview
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom

August 3 Spotlight
Momma’s Secret Book Obsession

August 5 Guest blog
Roxanne’s Realm

August 7 Guest blog and Review
Erzabet Bishop

August 8 Spotlight and Reviews
Faerie Tale Books

August 8 Guest blog
Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust

August 8 Guest blog
Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews

August 9 Character Interview and Review
Nightstand Novels

August 12 Guest blog
The Official Blog of A.C. James

August 12 Spotlight and Review
My Daily Romance

August 12 Guest blog
Smoldering Heat

August 12 Interview
Malfunction Erotica

My Body Trilogy Virtual Book Tour


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I’m very excited to share that my virtual book tour is starting today. There will be an ebook giveaway at each site so make sure to comment!

Below are all the links for the coming days. You can also hit the tour button on the right sidebar on the home page which will take you to the most current site. You can also join the My Body Trilogy Virtual Book Tour event on Facebook where I will be posting updates each day.

If you come across a blog you would like to comment on or have other questions for me after reading one of the interviews, feel free to post your questions here or on Facebook.

I’m excited about the guest blogs, interviews and reviews. Let me know what you think!

Warm hugs,

Blakely

July 29 Interview
Tanya’s Book Nook

July 30 Interview
Vision + Verse

July 31 Reviews
Compare our Men. book whores

August 1 Review
Romance Addict Book Blog

August 2 Interview
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom

August 3 Spotlight
Momma’s Secret Book Obsession

August 5 Guest blog
Roxanne’s Realm

August 7 Guest blog and Review
Erzabet Bishop

August 8 Spotlight and Reviews
Faerie Tale Books

August 8 Guest blog
Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust

August 8 Guest blog
Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews

August 9 Character Interview and Review
Nightstand Novels

August 12 Guest blog
The Official Blog of A.C. James

August 12 Spotlight and Review
My Daily Romance

August 12 Guest blog
Smoldering Heat

August 12 Interview
Malfunction Erotica

Mourning the end of the My Body Trilogy

Sad-Love-Quotes-Desktop-WallpaperToday is the official release day of My Body-Mine, the last book of the My Body-Trilogy. I have completed novels and projects before, but this is the first time I have experienced a kind of sadness at the end. I’m pretty sure that the feeling stems from saying goodbye to Jane, my protagonist but maybe a little bit for Marcello as well.

I didn’t quite understand the phenomenon until I heard an interview with Daniel Day-Lewis. He spoke of his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln and how he missed seeing the world through his eyes.

I have been viewing the world through Jane’s eyes for a good bit of time now, three novels worth, and I will miss her, am missing her.

Some readers struggled with the fact that Jane stayed so long with Luke and yelled in their heads that she should get out, should run in the opposite direction, but Jane, like many women, chose to stay in a sometimes abusive relationship with the hopes that she would eventually get the love she truly needed. I love the story she set before me of struggle, self-reflection, perseverance and ultimate empowerment. Many of my readers have identified with her story and will be cheering her on in the end.

Some of my fans are hoping I write more of her journey in the future, however, Jane and I have parted company because I feel her story is complete, hence the mourning. On the bright side, if the trilogy does really well, I do have plans to write a prequel about Luke and Janice’s relationship prior to Jane. I personally would love to be in Luke’s mind and get to know more about him and his motivations.

I know as a reader, I have encountered this emotion before … of not wanting a book or a series to end. It’s rather more personal and intense on the writing side of things for me. There have been books, though, that I love so much, I had to read them again and still wish they wouldn’t come to an end. The Time Traveler’s Wife, Siddhartha and Replay come to mind.

Colin Firth put it so brilliantly: “When I’m really in to a novel, I’m seeing the world differently during that time – not just for the hour or so in the day when I get to read, I’m actually walking around in a bit of a haze, spellbound by the book and looking at everything through a different prism.”

Have you, as a writer or reader had the experience of mourning the end? Please share with us.

Warm hugs,

Blakely

Please feel free to friend me on Facebook.
And like the My Body Trilogy Facebook page.
Find me Twitter & Pinterest.

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MY BODY-MINE Press Release

Fannypress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Catherine Treadgold
Publisher
Fanny Press
PO Box 70515
Seattle, WA 98127
206-414-7673
catherine@fannypress.com
www.fannypress.com

Fanny Press announces the July Release of MY BODY-MINE: A Story of Lust, Love, and Liberation

Seattle, WA—On July 15, 2013, Fanny Press will release MY BODY-MINE ($15.95, 324 pages, ISBN: 978-1-60381-534-5), by Blakely Bennett, the final episode in the MY BODY erotic suspense trilogy. In Books 1 and 2 Jane abandons her mundane existence as a successful businesswoman and willingly becomes the financially-dependent sexual plaything of two charismatic men, only to discover that their exhilarating game poses unforeseen dangers to both her body and her mind. In Book 3 she discovers what she truly desires from life and love.

“The story is exciting and enthralling and deserves to be a formidable success.”
—Ashley Lister, Erotica-Readers.com.

“Dark erotica at its best.”
—Bookie Nookie Reviews.

“Hot, scorching and delicious!”
—Erzabet’s Enchantments

Jane has accepted that her relationship with her husband Luke, who drew her in to the dark side of BDSM, is over. She has taken refuge at the home of Luke’s powerful friend Marcello and his submissive, Janice. With Marcello’s patience exhausted, Jane must either submit to his demands or move on from his household and his support. Ultimately, she signs a six month contract of sexual servitude but, as Marcello and Jane grow closer, Janice feels neglected and jealous, creating tension in their normally easy daily rhythm.

In an effort to help Jane, her best friend Parker introduces her to Chase, a confident and flirtatious man who lacks the arrogance of either Luke or Marcello. Jane’s rapport with Chase is lighthearted and subtle, allowing her to gain a new perspective on men. She is intensely attracted to Chase but does not feel free to consider him as more than a friend.

Once Jane gets a real picture of Marcello’s extremes, she knows what she must do. Her feelings about Luke and Marcello and her own sexuality must be resolved before she can find true love with a man who appreciates everything she has to offer. Can she possibly find the kink she has come to desire without the full-time submission?

“I experienced a mix of emotions upon completing My Body-Mine,” says Blakely. “I accomplished my goal, which was in itself gratifying. I also felt sad to say goodbye to Jane, my protagonist. The most interest part of the journey to becoming an author has been meeting people who think my novels are true and my characters are real. I’m flattered that they feel the stories so deeply that they believe the My Body Trilogy is based on actual events.”

Blakely Bennett has been residing in the great Northwest for over seven years. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a degree in psychology, which accounts for her interest in crafting the personalities, struggles, and motivations of her characters. You can find Blakely on the Web at: BlakelyBennett.fannypress.com.

MY BODY-MINE is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com. After July 15, it will also be available in eBook and 5×8 trade paperback editions on BN.com, the European Amazons and Amazon Japan. Bookstores will be able to order through Ingram, Baker & Taylor or by contacting info@fannypress.com. Other electronic versions will be for sale on Smashwords and from most major online eBook retailers.

About Fanny Press—Based in Seattle, Washington, Fanny Press is a new publisher of quality erotica—fiction, adult comic books, memoirs and nonfiction—the coolest books on the market.

-END-

The Nu Project and the Female Body

My husband turned me onto The Nu Project website where women from all over North and South American have submitted their nude photos in support of the endeavor to show what real women look like.  That’s not to say models are not real women, however they are so far in the minority that to base our societies standards on their physiques is to set up a culture where the majority of women feel dissatisfied with their bodies.  This project celebrates all types of women’s shapes and curves. I, for one, think it’s fabulous.

As someone who has often compared herself to women twenty years younger than I, I love to see all shapes and size represented.  In the My Body Trilogy, my characters are fit and lean mostly because that’s what I find appealing although I plan to write other novels with all types of characters represented.  Lauren Dane, in one of her Chase Brothers series novels, has a full-figured main female character which I very much enjoyed.

I’m considered an average size woman now but in my early adulthood I was definitely full-figured and struggled with my own self-image.  As a practicing nudist, one of the most liberating aspects is to see all shapes and sizes of men and women and their comfort level with their own bodies.  Each and every body is unique and loving my own body, makes me even more inclined to take great care of it.

My husband and I just watched Monique Marvez: Not Skinny Not Blonde comedy show on Showtime.  I highly recommend that you check it out.  We laughed our asses off but it also enlightened me to a very important fact of life.  Something I probably unconsciously knew but never spent much time thinking about.  She said that how women see themselves, us being our own worst critics, is very different than how men see us, most especially the men who love us.  I believe this to be true so from now on I plan to see myself through my husband’s eyes instead of my own because he has such a positive attitude toward how I look.  🙂

I’m excited to share The Nu Project with you and help promote any endeavor that shines a positive light on a culture based on reality instead of an ideal.  Hopefully the project will expand to include men as well.

Check it out and let me know what you think.  As always, I love to read your comments.

I hope everyone had a wonderful week.  The blog tour is going well and the official release of My Body-His (Marcello) happened on Friday which is very exciting.  Looking forward to reading your reviews.

Warm hugs,

Blakely

Please feel free to friend me on Facebook by clicking here.
And follow the My Body Trilogy Facebook page by clicking here.
Find My Body-His (book one) for sale on Amazon here.
Find My Body-His Marcello (book two) on Amazon here.