Thursday, November 4, 2010

Ooh I Say!


I’ve a short story in this week’s Woman’s Weekly called Private Dancer which is, ahem, a little … saucier than my usual fare. I’m not talking full on raunch, because as I’ve mentioned on here before I’m absolutely no good at s-e-x scenes – plus I wouldn’t want the readers to choking on their coffee and going all unnecessary.

I’d challenged myself to rustle up a story that was, shall we say, hot-blooded but subtle, as I’d never tried it before, and I must have done something right as the editor said she liked it - a lot.

It was fun actually, and it felt good to write something outside my comfort zone. I won’t be taking it any further than that though – my blood pressure couldn’t cope.

My daughter steeled herself to read it, saying she hoped it wasn’t ‘pornographic’. I reassured her that I'd never had an impure thought in my life, but even so she could barely look me in the eye afterwards. “It’s good Mum, but it’s weird that you wrote it,” she said sidling past, and went to wash her hands.

I considered taking offence, then imagined how I would have felt if MY mum had written it.*

Eewwwww!!

*Don’t get your hopes up if you’re tempted to read it. I’m not talking Jackie Collins here, and this IS Woman’s Weekly remember.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Woweee! That is fantastic. Good for you, I shall hurry off and get a copy. :O)

Faye said...

Good for you,Karen! A little tasteful bodice ripping is all right. I'm currently relishing Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" novels--didn't read them for a long time because I thought there would be too much s-e-x. Not so.

Sherri said...

I've read that story and it certainly got my blood racing - though not in any pornographic way of course.

Glad you've got some good story things to keep you going through the kitchen/unmentionable waiting times.

Anonymous said...

Had a hot flush just looking at that picture!

Congratulations. Good to step out of the comfort zone sometimes.

Dumdad said...

It'll be all downhill from here on in. First a saucy tale in Women's Weekly, next Penthouse .....

DAB said...

Alas Clarkey, I won't be able to read your X rated short story, for I fear it may corrupt my virginal thinking - pure and simple! ;-) Tommox (

Nicole said...

*giggle* well done!!

www.damselinadirtydress.com

Anonymous said...

Brilliant post Karen - I'm off to the newsagents quick smart :)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Ooh, I say! I've just made a note to buy my copy tomorrow.

Talli Roland said...

Congrats - that's fantastic!

I'm dreading my parents reading my novel - the swear words and such!

Jan Jones said...

Well done, Karen!

Talli - tell your mum the editor made you put all the swearing in. It worked for me.

Lane Mathias said...

Right, that's on my shopping list for tomorrow!

The mother/daughter thing about s-e-x is weird isn't it. At least it is in my lineage. Possibly not for Jackie Collins:-)

Lydia said...

Eeeeeew is totally right! But then your daughter wouldn't normally be reading WW would she? Looking forward to reading my copy tomorrow. Well done, you! x

Denise Covey said...

Ha, ha, know how you feel. Some things are a little embarrassing to write, especially if you have to run it by your family, hmm. But congrats and I'll look out for it..:)

Amanda said...

Ooh, you devil! :-) Shall pick my copy up pronto-like!

Anna Scott Graham said...

A little movement out of the comfort zone is always a good thing. Stretching and such, then nice to return to the usual fare.

You're lucky; my kids won't ready anything I write... :)))

Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

Wow! Great!

Hee hee, nothing wrong with hot-flushing, racing pulse and sensual feelings! I cut my writing teeth with erotic novels (published)and with historicals boundaries can be strectched that are taboo in contemporary novels.

My girls read the erotic novels and loved them, though their boyfriends at the time cast the odd look my way from time to time. :o

Love the pic - I have another version of same image. ;)

best
F

broken biro said...

Yay! Well done, you! I shall pick one up this weekend - I'll need a plain brown cover will I?

I hereby declare 'Woman's Weekly' a euphemism for a good bodice-ripping with extra smoulder once a week (I should be so lucky!)

Alis said...

'It's good, Mum, but weird that you wrote it...' Isn't that our children's reaction to all our work, if they're honest?!

Teresa Ashby said...

I can see why the editor liked it a lot - it's a brilliant story, Karen!

Fran Hill said...

Woman's Weekly has DEFINITELY changed since I used to read it!

Colette McCormick said...

Great story - well done you.

Anonymous said...

LOL! Karen, yes you are right about the Magazine i submitted to. Thank you soooo much. I read your story in Woman's Weekly yesterday and I have to say it was absolutely SUPERB! :O)

Kat W said...

Oooh I must get myself a copy! Your account of freaking out your daughter was hilarious. Your novel better become a bestseller because you may need the money to pay for the poor girls therapy. LOL.

Kat :-)

Karen said...

madeleine - Why thank you :o)

faye - Yes I definitely prefer the tasteful stuff. Haven't tried Diana Gabaldon before.

bernadette - Oh yes, I remember you saying :o) I definitely need something to stop me thinking about the effing kitchen!

christine - That's not quite how I pictured them when I wrote the story, but it'll do!

dumdad - I might work on trying to get a saucy story in People's Friend first :o)

tommo - I wouldn't want to corrupt you in any way, so stay away from the Woman's Weekly!

nicole - Thank you, and Hi!

kerry's window - Ooh thank you :o)

debs - Don't feel you have to (I'm feeling a bit guilty now!)

talli roland - I know what you mean! My mum said she liked it anyway :o)

jan jones - That's a good idea, I'll remember that!

lane - They probably talk about it all the time in the Collins' household!

lydia - That's true, she wouldn't. Although I did kind of make her read it!

l'aussie - Thank you! Hopefully it didn't cause too many blushes.

amanda - Aw thanks chuck :o)

anna - Thank you! Mine don't normally, but I made my daughter read it to prove it wasn't too rude!

francine - It is a great pic :o) I suppose my daughter might have felt more comfortable if it hadn't been written by me!

brokenbiro - That's a very good euphemism, and I think a nice M&S carrier bag will do :o)

alis - That's very true actually - we're there to be embarrassing!

teresa - Thank you so much - that means a lot coming from you :o)

fran - It's changed a lot - no more boy meets girl stuff. Well, not unless there's a twist!

colette - Thank you, I appreciate that :o)

madeleine - You're too kind! Thank you :o)

katw - That's a good point. I didn't think about the long-term effect!