I usually write mystery, paranormal romance and paranormal mystery. But no editor or agent was biting on any of my usual genres. So, when I saw a contest from a famous electronic and print publisher for erotic “cougar” submissions (older woman/younger man), I thought it would be the best way for me to stretch my “writing muscles”.
I’d read erotica and erotic romance but my only attempt at writing it had been a short story years before, a story involving a maiden and a dragon.
And I’d had only one encounter with a younger man. As a young 50, I’d once dated a 44 year old – not that much difference. I’m normally attracted to men older than I am.
So I had to do a lot of imagining…or fantasizing. I found it fun and very interesting to pretend to be the opposite of what I was – to “live” vicariously through my heroine, also a writer.
The first publisher passed on my manuscript. But at New Jersey Romance Writers I pitched it to an editor from The Wild Rose Press. She wanted to read it and a few months later they sent me a contract.
I imagined it. I fantasized it. I dreamed it. And then I wrote it.
