Spicy Sunday

Why I write those spicy scenes

If you clicked on this thinking you were going to get a bonus spicy scene or something, I’m very sorry. That is not happening today. BUT, I hope you stick around for some off-the-cuff musings about spice and why I think it’s important in my books. I wasn’t planning on sending out a newsletter this week because I am deep in final edits for The Write Choice, but I had capital-T Thoughts this morning. So pour yourself a cup of something warm, and let’s talk about spice.

What are you drinking this morning? I have *gasp* outgrown the pumpkin spice this season. I feel like there comes a time every fall when I’m just… over it. Ready for the next thing. And I already have some holiday flavor syrups in my cart, ready to go as a little reward for finishing edits on The Write Choice. This year, I’m going gingerbread all the way. What can I say? I LIKE SPICE. (Which is an excellent transition. Almost as if I planned it that way.)

There’s a shame-y post going around on Threads about spicy scenes not glorifying God or something like that. So I figured what better way to spend my Sunday than talking a little about why I write spicy scenes. 

If you’ve read my books, you know the spice level isn’t off the charts. 1-3 scenes at most, depending on the characters. They’re open door, but it’s not what the books are about. No shade to those who write allllll the spice. I thank you for your service. That’s just not me. And no shade to those who don’t write any spice. But that’s not me, either. I’m sitting at a solid 1-2 peppers on an open-door rating scale, and that’s probably where I’ll always be.

But when I say it’s not what my books are about, what I mean is the spice is just an extension of the characters. It’s another facet of their relationship among many others. An important part, but just a part. I write these scenes to show who my characters are when they’re being intimate. When they’re at their most vulnerable. When they’re searching for and finding a deeper connection to the person they love. Sex, for them, is more than just sex. Usually. (Never say never; my fourth book starts with a one-night stand. Because everyone’s journey is different!)

What you’ll find in my scenes is a little banter, lots of exploration, and a healthy dose of consent. 

Because who a person is in these moments speaks volumes about them. How they respond to their partner’s needs and wants; how they take care of them before, during, and after; how they check in and communicate both verbally and non-verbally; how they express the physical side of their love. 

In short, it’s about sex, and it’s not about sex. How a character acts in the bedroom (or hotel room, or kitchen, or shower, or art studio… yes, I’m dropping hints) says a lot about them. How partners act together in those spaces says a lot about the couple, in fiction and in real life. 

But, also, I write them because they’re fun. And if you’re not having fun, what are you even doing?

So enjoy these little snippets from my spicy Leade Park men. I take a lot of pride in how my men show up in these spaces. Maybe I’m MAN-ifesting partners who act like this during these moments. (Leave it to me to take a heartfelt post off the rails with a bad pun.) Maybe I’m just sending examples for healthy relationships out into the world. Maybe I’m working to dismantle the purity culture invented by the patriarchy to take joy away from women and make them feel like they need to get all shame-y on Threads about spice in romance novels.

And if that’s not doing the Lord’s work, I don’t know what is. 

The Leade Park men being spicy. Click each image to enlarge.

I do have some updates! I am ALMOST done with edits on The Write Choice. After that, it’s ARC formatting and then off to my Street Team. There will be another newsletter on Tuesday with the cover reveal and ARC sign-up information, so make sure you check that out. I’ll be doing a couple rounds of ARCs, but I anticipate a lot of sign-ups, so I probably won’t be able to give one to everybody. If you’re thinking, Shoot, I would really love to read an ARC of this one, but I only read holiday books from November through December, then I got you. I am happy to report that there is a Christmas scene in this book, even though it is not a holiday novel. But if Die Hard counts, surely this one does, too.

For those of you curious about the ARC rounds, my Street Team will get theirs ASAP so they can start creating content. The next round is my Permanent ARC team, who will get theirs on December 5(ish). Then a randomized selection from sign-ups closer to January 1. Release date is January 16. AHH, I’m so excited!

I’m skipping Reads & Reviews today because, let’s face it, the only thing I’ve been reading for a month now is The Write Choice, but I’m looking forward to getting back to reading very soon! That said, TWC is easily a 5-star read for me, so I definitely recommend it.

See y’all again TUESDAY for a cover reveal!