Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Colette Gales Boards the Ship!!!
Welcome, Colette Gale aboard the RWR. She is joining us today, on the day of her new release Master, to tell us about the ins and out of writing erotica. Please give a hearty welcome to Colette! *yelling and screaming*What I love most about her books is that she writes from characters we know and love--and gives them the happy endings we wished for them. (Anyone as unhappy as I was about Phantom of the Opera? She fixed it! And she did it with lots of hot, spicy scenes. Good thing my sheets are flame-retardant. Had to get those after Jack arrived....)
The first time I watched Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, I was entranced. I loved it! I cried at the end, though, when Christine chose to go with Raoul instead of the Phantom. After all, it was obvious to me that they belonged together.
I saw the play over and over through the years, and its soundtrack became one of my favorites. When the movie version, starring Gerard Butler, came out, I hoped....hoped!...that Webber would give me that happy ending.
Alas, he did not.
So I set out to write my own happy ending...and that was my first foray into writing erotica.
I've always been a fan of erotic novels--I count among some of my favorite reads The Story of O, Ann Rice's Sleeping Beauty series, and Bertrice Small's ground-breakiing Skye O'Malley saga (ground-breaking because it was erotica, but marketed and sold as part of the romance genre).
All of these books influenced my writing when I sat down to work on what later came to be officially titled Unmasqued: An Erotic Novel of the Phantom of the Opera....but at the time was, really, just an experiment for me. Could I write erotica?
Well, apparently, I can, since my second erotic novel, Master: An Erotic Novel of the Count of Monte Cristo is released today!
So how and where do I get these ideas? Do my husband and I have a harp in our bedroom? Have we done all these things?
Er. Without divulging too much information...no. Sorry.
Just as writers of psychological thrillers, who often get inside the heads of their murderers--and victims--couldn't possibly have done those things, so can I say that, no. Only in my fantasies.
Here's the important thing about erotica: it is fantasy. Remembering that is key. Just because I (or you) fantasize about something doesn't mean we really would want it to happen. Just because we have fantasies about forced seduction, bondage, menage a trois, etc., doesn't mean that we would really indulge in those activities...although there are certainly people who do put their fantasies into play.
But my erotic novels are also romances at the very heart. There is one man and one woman who ride off into their Happily Ever After at the end of the book. That's part of the story--that's why I wrote Unmasqued and Master.
And even though there is a lot of sex (a lot of sex) in the books, every single sex scene has a purpose. It moves the plot and it demonstrates the relationship between the two main characters. Or, in the subplots that happen around the hero and heroine. In fact, my rule of thumb is: at least one orgasm per chapter. Someone gets the happy at least once in each chapter--and it's not always the hero or heroine.
In fact, in my books, the hero and heroine can and do interact with other characters...but...and here's the very subtle place where I draw the line: they never have intercourse with anyone but each other.
A very subtle split of hairs, I know, but that's where the line is drawn.
So. I'm very excited to announce the release of my second erotic novel, Master, based on Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo. It is a revenge love story and I absolutely loved writing it. I think it's my favorite book, even moreso than the Phantom book because this one has three love stories entwined in it.
I'm late getting this blog post to the ship, so in apology, I'd like to offer a copy of Unmasqued and also a copy of Master as prizes today...along with my heartfelt apology for my tardiness, my thanks to the Yoho Ladies for having me, and my promise to stick around an answer ANY questions you might have!
Thanks so much for having me!
Colette
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58 comments:
Welcome Colette!
I am very excited about the concept of your books. Phantom is not one of my all time favorite books or musicals, though Gerald Butler does have the power to bring a saint to sin. However, 'The Count of Monte Cristo' is my favorite book of all time and one I re-read every year. Your book could not have come at a better time. I've just ventured into the world of Jane Austen spin-offs, if you will, and 'Master' fits in perfectly in my latest sub-genre ventures.
So, thanks for adding to my percariously perched TBR pile!
Santa, thanks for letting me know. I hope you enjoyed it. I hadn't actually read the entire, unabridged book until I was contracted to write this version--although I had seen the movie (with Jim Cava...whatever).
The book is just so much better than the movie, and I followed the storyline in the book much more closely than I did with my Phantom story.
I always thought Mercedes and Dantes should have been together...and so I fixed it. ;-)
I'll really be looking forward to hear what you think about my seduced version, and what happened with the characters from my pov. Do email me and let me know when/if you do read it.
But be warned...there is a LOTLOTLOT of sex. :-)
Welcome Colette!!
These books sound so exciting! I loved Phantom, it was dark but also sweet and I think that's such a fine line to walk.
Do you find writing a novel based in part off another novel restricting?
I love Colette's version of Phantom of the Opera--in fact, it was what made me write a "thank you, thank you" email and beg her to blog with us. (I hadn't realized there was an orgasm per chapter. Lord, no wonder I couldn't put the book down.) HOT stuff, and sexy as hell.
When I realized she was writing a book about The Count of Monte Cristo!--ah, I love that movie. (Yes, I've only watched the movie. I'm a bad pirate. But come on, it's Jim Caviezel.) I can't wait to read it. (Amazon is shipping soon.)
Hi Colette....
I ALWAYS wanted Christine to end up with the phantom, alas it never happened, and when I watched the Gerard Butler one, I was so sad they didn't' end up together. Talk about star crossed lovers...
I have unmasqued sitting on my tbr... must get to it soon. And the new Cristo looks really awesome.
I read Unmasked two weekends ago. I have never seen Phantom (stop the groaning now, Pirates)but enjoyed it nonetheless. How do you decide which hat you'll be wearing when you write---Colleen Gleason or Colette Gale? Do you switch off by a schedule or can you do both at once? What made you decide to use two names?
I have a funny feeling things are going to heat up in here today. These books sound so good. And I think I must be the only one who didn't want Christine to end up with the Phantom. *ducks flying lemons*
I love love love The Count of Monte Cristo. Though I admit I'm as bad as the Captain and have only seen the movie. Oh, he looked so good. And Guy Peirce played the evil part superbly. AND, it has Napoleon who is one of my favorite historical figures. Yes, I'm weird. See above.
So, have you faced any grumblings about reworking the classics? Anyone throw a fit that these shouldn't be messed with? Ever think about what the original authors would think of your versions?
Colette, your books are on my "need to buy for sultry summer reading" list :). I work in the schools and the summer countdown has begun--only three more weeks!--and then I'll be reading like crazy! I love your Spiced Tea Party group blog and learn a lot from the posts there.
Oh, and congratulations on the absolutely gorgeous covers!
I haven't read the count of monte cristo either. Only seen the fabulous movie.
*waving* Hi Colette! Welcome to the ship!
You've worked over two of my favorite stories. The Count of Monte Cristo has always been a favorite of mine. And Phantom *sighing* I've yet to see on stage (my best girlfriend has been twice) but my DH went out on release day and bought me the DVD as a surprise. And then suffered through me sniffling and singing the whole way through.
Oh how I love the soundtrack.
I've been wanting Unmasqued. And I have Master on my TBB list. And after hearing there is an orgasm in each chapter, it really sounds like my type of book.
Hi Collette! I met you in Dallas at the Literacy Book Signing and I'm a huge Phantom fan (smacking Maggie on the hand for never having seen Gerry in his ultimate role) :-) You told me you'd be writing The Count of Monte Cristo next, and I was thrilled. I love that story!
Hey vixens, if you haven't read Phantom yet, you won't be able to forget the harp Collette mentioned in her post. :-)
What kind of research do you do when writing your books?
I agree Gillian! Gorgeous covers!
Hey Colette! Welcome.
I can’t tell you how many times I have read a book and wished that it had ended differently.
I hate a Not Quite a HEA. Or worse… the Wrong HEA! So I am pretty excited to hear that someone is finally fixing those unsatisfying endings.
My question is: what story are you going to “fix” next, Colette?
Hi, Colette!
I hadn't heard of these before today, but I will be looking for them on my next trip to the bookstore.
Di
Hey Colette! Great blog. You've picked such interesting books to retell - some of my favorites! I'm definitely looking forward to checking these out.
So what classic tales are up next for your erotic treatment? Or what other tales do you think are ripe for a retelling that you hope to get around to someday?
Oh Colette, I can't wait for this book! I read Unmasqued and it was FABULOUS! Thanks for visiting!
Hi Collette! Welcome.
I love that you're making these books have happy endings. I can't stand non-HEA books.
How do you decide which books you're going to change?
Sheesh...a gal goes out for a massage and comes back to this! Sorry ladies, I didn't mean to drop off the face of the earth.
Let me see if I can get to your questions...but first, first...THANK YOU to everyone who's read and/or bought the book(s). I really appreciate it! I do hope you enjoy them if you get to read them.
Now...on to the questions.
Marnee Jo...great question about writing a book based on another novel.
It's actually a lot of fun, because...the challenge is to write about what's happening behind the scenes of what people already "know" from reading the books.
(And of course spicing it up a bit.) (Or a lot.)
So, for example, taking what happened during what I think of as the Music of the Night Scene and writing what really happened in the Phantom's lair...and how Joseph Buquet really died...and why Christine really did leave with Raoul instead of staying with Erik.
It's fun to write a scene from a different point of view and give a totally different take on it--for example, in the Count of Monte Cristo, when Mercedes is introduced to Monte Cristo for the first time, we get it from her point of view instead of his (as is in the book).
And the dinner party that Mercedes gives, where Monte Cristo comes and doesn't eat anything. She offers him grapes...well, that's what happened in the book, so I took that scene and gave it my own ...shall we say...twist.
The other nice thing about twisting a story that's already been written is that I don't have to figure out what happens next...just WHY it happened. ANd what went on behind the scenes. Make sense?
I love that twist, of figuring out WHY something happened. That sounds so much fun! And I'm with the others: what's up next?
(Speaking of stories that didn't end correctly: Sommersby was a HORRIBLE movie! *LOL* Okay, it was good, but the ending was HORRIBLE! Was Sommersby a book first??)
That does make sense. I was thinking that in some ways it would be comforting to not have to decide what happens next. :) Though, the WHY is definitely harder to write. So, maybe it wouldn't be as comforting.... LOL!!
Terrio, I've definitely heard LOTS of grumbling about messing with the Phantom.
Just go look at the Amazon.com reviews. :-) Master hasn't been out long enough yet, but I'm sure there will be people who don't like what I did with Monte Cristo.
However, not only does that not surprise me at all, it doesn't upset or offend me either. After all, I have certain authors/books that I would hate for someone to mess with.
As for what the original authors might think...well, I'm not sure. I think they were somewhat restricted in what they could write--ie, how erotic or explicit--they could be for mainstream publication at the time they wrote.
But at least for Monte Cristo, Dumas definitely hints at eroticism (in Aladdin's Cave). If he could have written about Dantes' revenge on Mercedes, perhaps he would have.
I think both of these books lend themselves particularly well to erotic settings, by virtue of what's left unsaid.
Gillian and Sin, and everyone else gushing over the covers...thank you!
I can't take any credit for them whatsoever, so I feel that it's perfectly appropriate for me to say that I love them too, and that I think MASTER in particular is the most gorgeous book I've ever seen.
I mean, in real life...wow. It's just beautiful. And one lucky winner will get a signed one for free! Yay!
Anyway, thanks much for the compliments. I do love the covers...they're so much more subtle than some of the other erotic novels out there, and I like that.
Colette,
Welcome to the ship!
Any book that promises an orgasm in every chapter is on my TBR list:)
What do you find the most difficult about writing sex scenes?
Hi Kathy!
Great to see you again. Thanks for the plug. Yes, people do always remember that harp scene. I wonder why? ;-)
Research...well, I definitely do research about the clothing (because they're always taking it off) for my books, and also the setting.
Believe it or not, despite the one-orgasm-per-chapter minimum, there is a real story in each book. :-) So I do try and make the setting realistic.
When I wrote UNMASQUED, I learned that during the time of that book, the Eiffel Tower was just being built in Paris. So that became part of a carriage ride scene with Christine and Raoul.
I also made sure I understood what it was like to be in the entertainment business then...there are many Phantom of the Opera (POTO) fans who were upset that I made Christine be more...shall we say...experienced than they thought she was portrayed in the Leroux novel, but that was realistic for the time period. A young beautiful woman who lived at the Opera House would not have been an innocent.
I didn't make her a slut, either, but she wasn't innocent.
By virtue of the fact that the stories are erotica, none of my heroines could be innocent. I didn't want to have to deal with that.
As for MASTER, I did lots of research about the politics of the times, as that plays so strongly in the story. Even though it's not front and center, they affect what happens behind the scenes.
What am I going to do next? I am SO glad you asked!
I am going to do Robin Hood--or, to be more precise, An Erotic Novel of The Sheriff of Nottingham.
In my version, the Sheriff is actually the hero who's madly in love with Marian.
Think of the Richard Armitage/Guy of Gisborne character in the new Robin Hood series, but as the Sheriff instead.
What do you think? It took me a year to convince my editor that it would work....Any thoughts?
I LOVE Robin Hood. And if he looks like Richard Armitage, I'm totally on board.
Lisa wants to know what I found most difficult about writing the sex scenes.
Well, I'd say it was trying to describe an orgasm in different ways each time. I mean, literally.
Think about it--at least one orgasm per chapter, twenty+ chapters in each book...that's a LOT o' little deaths!
And frankly, when I write erotica, I write it not only for the story/romance, but also for the titillation factor. So it has to work, and the words have to make you FEEL.
Does that make sense?
Each of the scenes is so very different--different settings BUT ALSO different things going on between the characters, between the lines, if you will. So it's not the scenes themselves that are difficult, but the actual words used to describe a kiss or an orgasm.
I try not to use the same sort of phrasing more than once in a book to describe those sorts of things.
Marnee Jo...hope you like this version, where the Sheriff is the tortured hero (looks like Richard A) and Robin doesn't get the girl.
Well, he'll get his girl...but not Marian. :-)
And oh yes...Sommersby was a terrible HEA! Not even an HEA.
What about GONE WITH THE WIND? Did you think Scarlett got Rhett back or not? Did she deserve to?
Colette Gale said: "I am going to do Robin Hood–or, to be more precise, An Erotic Novel of The Sheriff of Nottingham...In my version, the Sheriff is actually the hero who’s madly in love with Marian."
This sounds like a great idea, you could really do a lot with it and I'm surprised it was hard to convince your editor. This, along with your others, really go above and beyond a re-telling of a classic story, or even a "modernization" as some would have chosen to do. I love it. It seems to me that if you're going to write these kinds of books and really stand out from the crowd, you have to twist the story around, make it surprising and different because you know everyone already knows what happens.
I am SO on board with a Richard Armitage/Sheriff of Nottingham set book. *does a happy jig* I would love to see that!!
Shut up! We get to not only read an erotic retelling of Robin Hood but picture Richard A in erotic situation? Shut up!!!
K, I'm better now. Can you tell I'm all for this idea? LOL!
And Scarlett never deserved Rhett. I like to think she never got him. Silly girl. Fiddle-de-dee my tookus.
Hmmm, I love Rhett, but you'd have your work cut out making Scarlett deserve him again. (The sequel to Scarlett was good, though it certainly tangented off to another country...) I'm trying to imagine it as an erotica and I can't quite wrap my mind around it. Maybe because it's not dark in the same way as your other stories you're basing your books out of. I think that's what I like best about your books--how dark and tortured they are and also hot...and uh, tortured.
But if you can see it, don't let me nay-say it. I do love Rhett.
Colette - would you ever consider doing a twist on one of Shakespeare's works? An erotic Romeo & Juliet with a HEA would be pretty dang cool.
Or is Will off limits do you think?
Romeo & Juliet were like 13. Doesn't that skeeve you out at all? I think all characters in erotica have to be at least 18. But I think everyone in As You Like It were legal. I'd love to see some erotic stuff between Beatrice and Benedick.
Othello would be a dark one to do. (Has that one been done already?)
Colette,
I know exactly what you mean about description when writing sex. It makes all the difference in the world to get the emotional as well as the physical aspects right. You make a very good point- to use sex to drive the story further along instead of pausing the action to introduce a sex scene. It is so important to the overall flow of the story.
Thank you for the insight:)
If she can make Christine more experienced, then surely she can age R&J. Picky, picky, picky...
Sorry, I was having 9th grade flashbacks. Not my favorite Shakespeare play.
I think the reason my editor was worried about Robin Hood was because she was thinking of it as more of a kids' story--you know, the DIsney version with the foxes.
I reminded her about Alan Rickman in RH Prince of Thieves (Kevin Costner WHO?) and also about the new BBC RH. That, along with the fact that apparently Russell Crowe is doing a revisionist RH where he stars as Nottingham as a good guy...well, I think that convinced her.
As for Will Shakespeare....I thought about both Othello and The Taming of the Shrew...heh heh heh.
Who knows what will be next? I also like The Scarlet Pimpernel--anyone remember that movie with Anthony Andrews and the woman whose name I can never remember (maybe because she's on my dh's Freebie Five list). Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.
Oh, and as for GWTW...I'd never try my hand at that. First of all, it's still under copyright, and I don't think the Mitchell estate would go for my kind of version. LOL.
And secondly...I just don't know if I wanted to mess with perfection. See? There's one of my boundaries.
Jane Seymour! I love the Scarlet Pimpernel! That'd be another great one!
I'm not surprise Russell Crowe made the deal. He's very persuasive!
Yes! Jane Seymour.
Does anyone remember that movie--came out in the early 80s I think.
That scene where he comes up behind her and she doesn't know it's him....*pitter patter* That scene alone makes me want to write that story.
Side note: I rented the movie when I was thinking about doing that book, and my kids absolutely LOVED it. (Ages 11, 9, and 6. Just fyi.)
Lisa, thanks.
And not to get on a stump here, but that's one thing that makes erotic romance different, in my opinion, than straight erotica--or p*rn.
What I mean is: every single sex scene has to promote the plot and/or character development/their relationships somehow. But in an erotic romance, the plot REVOLVES around sex.
Sex is how the relationship plays out...sex is where we see how the h/h feel toward each other, and how those feelings develop.
In an erotica or straight p*rn, the plot may be thinner and/or non-existent.
Make sense?
I can do examples if you want me to get specific.
I'm totally with you on that difference, Colette. Only right now I'm having trouble breathing. Did you say Russell....I mean he's....
I need a paper bag. I'll be back.
Terrio...you can picture Russell as the Sheriff in my book if you want. Or, for that matter, as Dantés (although I think of Dantés as being more aristocratically handsome rather than rugged.)
I know other people don't get it but he's my favorite. Above all others. And I think picturing him in one of your books might kill me. LOL!
It's because he has no neck.
HE HAS A NECK!
Sheesh. You just don't like him because he doesn't look like he'd blow away in a light breeze. I can't help I like my men sturdy. Yes, sturdy. That's the perfect description. LOL!
Sturdy means they have lots of stamina, right?
Oh, I'd love to read a treatment of Othello with a vindicated, living Desdemona and a defeated Iago. And a Taming of the Shrew with Petruchio's arrogance diluted and Kate's dreadful monologue at the end consigned to hell would be even better.
Chubby chaser.
*grins* I'm sure he does have lots of stamina. *LOL* I'm a fan of Gladiator.
Oh, and sturdy means I won't break him.
I knew you were going to sink to the CC thing. You're so predictable.
Colette - stamina never hurts. LOL! Well, only in a good way...
YES! YES! YES! to Armitage as Nottingham and getting Marion. Or maybe Marion goes for both of them! Hmmm....or Crowe for that matter. Yes, I like a man of substance, too.
And Scarlet always got on my last nerve. There I said it.
And I have to agree with Janga's treatment of Shakespeare's Othello and Taming of the Shrew. And what of A Midsummer's Night's Dream with the Queen staying with Button and thumbing her nose at the good King. Even if the king is Rubert Everett, there's just something about Kevin Kline....
Oh, and I love Russell Crowe too!
Oh!! Just checking in. Goody. Goody. Goody, Colette. I LOVE the Scarlet Pimpernel!!! Robin Hood too. The Taming of the Shrew would be way cool. The well of classics is very deep, indeed. Ever thought about redoing Wuthering Heights? :-)
Wuthering Heights would be a good one. That was a horrible ending! Why must they always kill people in those classics?!
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