Using Real Life in Your Story

I’m thrilled to welcome Amber Skyze to my blog today. Grab your favorite beverage, pull up a chair and settle back to hear about Amber and her latest release. Isn’t the cover gorgeous? Over to Amber…

I’m often asked if I use any real life events in my writing. The answer: sometimes.

I’ve been writing for almost twenty years and of course something from life has to creep into my writing. Back when I started writing everything from my life or the lives of family and friends went into stories. I wrote for Modern Romance and True Confessions, they wanted real life. Now don’t get me wrong I know not everything is “real”. After ten years of writing for them, I’d ran out of true stories and began making them up.

Once I wrote a story about a woman who was in love with a drug addict. She wanted out of the relationship, but he was so controlling he’d rather kill her than let her leave. He handcuffed her to a radiator and started a chair on fire. My editors loved this story. Sadly, it was a true story that happened to a very good friend of mine. With her permission I wrote and published the story.

Not all true events will pass though. Years ago I read a “too crazy to be true” article about a woman who grew tired of her husband’s nagging and shot him. The bullet lodged in his false teeth and he lived. I wrote a short story about it and my editor said, “This isn’t true. No one will believe this.” LOL Really?

When I published my first erotica book, Unwrapped (formerly Mistletoe Studs), I made the mistake of giving my heroine’s best friend the same name as a good friend. It really wasn’t supposed to stay Lisa. It was more of a place holder, but somehow I went through edits and forgot to change it. What a mistake that was.

After Lisa read the story she whined and asked why her character didn’t get to have sex.

Hmmm, it wasn’t about her!

This taught me a valuable lesson – leave out friends names and stop using real life events. Besides, when you escape into a book you want a fantasy, right?

My newest release is about Avery and the loss of her father. In her grief she pushes her husband away and even suspects infidelity. Cole fights to save his ten year marriage. This too happened to me when my husband and I lost our newborn son. Grief and depression can mess with the mind. Thankfully, we’ve gotten over the hurdle, but not in the same way as Avery and Cole. ;)

I hope you enjoy my newest ménage a trios.

Bio:

From a very young age, Amber began making up stories – the only child syndrome. She grew up reading sick and twisted murder mysteries. Romance was for little kids and their fairy tales. One day her grandmother died and she inherited a boat load of romances and she found a new genre to love. Then she discovered erotic romance and found her calling.

When not creating sexy, seductive stories Amber can be found at the ocean or floating around in her pool, with music blasting in the background. Her love of music inspires many of her stories.

www.amberskyze.com

http://amberskyze.blogspot.com

Blurb:

After a tremulous six months of clawing their way back to happiness, Avery is ready to seek the help she needs to fix the marriage her husband has fought so hard to save.

Avery and Cole are on the verge of their tenth anniversary. Cole is planning a surprise gift aboard a boat. Bathing suits are optional – preferably left behind. The only other thing they need to make this weekend perfect? Owen their next door neighbor.

Out on the open sea, Avery will find herself tied to the rails being tortured in the sweetest ways imaginable. The men take her to delicious heights, only to leave her hanging – if only momentarily. When she demands an orgasm she oversteps the boundaries Cole and Owen have to put her in place. The two men spank her back into submission. There’s nothing like red cheeks to ignite the flames of desire in Cole.

Will a weekend of hot, sweaty sex be enough to rescue them?

Excerpt:

“Smells good.”

“Thanks, Owen.” Cole flipped the steaks as the flame on the grill flared, threatening to char the meat.

The heat from the grill, coupled with the mid-August humidity, caused sweat to form on his brow. A droplet fell into his eye. Cole placed the fork on the side shelf and wiped it away with his apron.

Avery walked out of the house in her hot-pink bikini. Her blonde hair was pulled back, the way she wore it whenever she went down on him. He admired her beautiful face. Cole’s dick instantly stiffened. His wife knew he loved when she wore her hair away from her face. It carried a hot echo of their dating days when Avery would surprise him after work and tease him until he was painfully hard. And that bathing suit. Sweet Jesus. He liked seeing all her beauty displayed for his hungry eyes and the neighbors. Avery was a prize, and he loved having others look.

She strutted across the patio in her high-heeled sandals and rubbed against him. She placed a kiss on Cole’s lips. The sweat didn’t faze her.

“Can’t wait for one of your juicy steaks,” she said.

Cole stepped back and gave his wife’s body the once-over.

“Damn, you’re sexy.” He wanted to bend her over the picnic table and fuck that gorgeous ass. He reached around, pulled her closer again, and copped a feel.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” Avery said.

Cole noticed the twinkle in her blue eyes and knew she was baiting him. She wanted him to bail on the steaks and ravish her inside the house. Tension ticked in his chest, and he wished he had an excuse to send everyone home.

“Get a room, guys.”

Owen’s comment pulled the lovers apart.

“Oh, Owen, someday you’ll find your own woman, and when you do, you’ll be just as in love as Cole and I.” Avery turned to Owen and patted his chest in the affectionate way one shared condolences.

“Thanks, Avery. You always know how to make me feel better.”

Cole knew his neighbor was being sarcastic, but playfully.

Do you have any questions for Amber?