It was also my first collaboration with writer Jake Horton of New Jersey; it took 4 years to write and was worth all our fights some of which are often played out in the dialogue of the two lead male characters. Being a collaboration and given 4 main characters Jake took on the mantle of Drew Coltrane horn section backing band leader and female character Crystal Lake. I took Stone Redman the 2nd sax player and Serene Dubois the lead singer and Matriarch of band entourage and show; later when the tour hits London I introduced Danny Bannion the London underworld crime Lord.
Where did the idea of the story come from?
Jake and I met at an erotic website which we both wrote for; it also had a chat room for the authors, editors and publishers etc involved at the site. We all got along great and had a lot of fun for a couple of years. Jake and I became notorious for our occasional sarcastic outbursts at each other although mostly “tongue in cheek” we did occasionally clash big time and profanity was not unknown! We did however have respect for each other’s writing abilities.
The editor of the site on seeing the volatile energy and potential in our relationship challenged us to collaborate on a story. We immediately took up the gauntlet and so the story was born.
We based Serena Dubois on the chief editor, as she is the leader of the band as editors tend to be. Crystal Lake the keyboard player was based on her assistant editor. Jake took on the role of Drew Coltrane, I Stone Redman. All the other characters in the tale were based the other writers etc that we communicated with in the chat room. Also some plots were very loosely based on things we had shared and the names were ones that everybody could recognise as their characters .
17 or so chapters were serialised on the website for everyone’s amusement; unfortunately the site closed soon after that. By now Jake and I realised we had a monster of a gem on our hands and were hooked on it.
We decided to carry on, upgrade the plots big time; change all the names to what you see now. Add another 15 chapters and change the title to ‘MinX’. I was also lucky enough to get my friend and mentor Jude Mason the Canadian author to edit the first 4 chapters. She gave us great advice to carry and set the standard and pace with which we rolled on.
How did your characters come to life?
Well in the beginning they were all loosely based on real people, so for Jake and I Drew Coltrane and Stone Redman never changed much they were always just exaggerations of ourselves and incidents in our lives; plus a shit load of imagination and artistic predilection.
Stone Redman’s character is loosely based on my alter ego and some dramatised experiences in my life. Danny Bannion much the same but over exaggerated and thrown in are some essence of people I have known. He is also a character from other stories of mine and came to life in “And then we Danced the Tango” which is incidentally one of the tales in my latest release ‘Dark Arenas’. Serena is based on my impression of some successful black female singers. I have the ability to get inside my characters and they take me over whilst I am writing them.
The cover design/concept for Minx was mine and I was very ably assisted by creative Texan photographer Karen Tawater. Here is a link to a promotional video I created with Jon Benjamin for the story) http://youtu.be/FFPeoia2NUY
Blurb
‘MinX’
The truth the whole truth and nothing like the…
Singer Serena Dubois and co-founder keyboardist Crystal Lake form the groundbreaking multi-ethnic all-female rock band MinX with gorgeous world-class musicians Inez, Kat, Jennifer and Keisha, along with backing duo Suzette and Nicole Before starting their ‘Think MinX’ world tour, veteran sax men Drew Coltrane and Stone Redman are recruited to form an equally talented brass section to supplement MinX distinctive sound. They in turn recruit session men Blair, Amin, Scott or Space as he’s known as well as Charlie ‘T bone’ Sinclair a last minute much regretted decision. Meanwhile, hot & cold running romances develop between Serena and Stone, as well as Crystal and Drew to form a continuing subplot throughout the story. As well does the humorous Cockney/Yank banter between the two male main protagonists and the rest of the band. The band starts the tour playing all the major market venues in the USA in more ways than one. Their adventures and misadventures include memorable episodes involving all facets of their mantra of Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n Roll. Not forgetting much menace, love, violence and drama. Romance and tragedy are also components of the plot, not least the ousting of ‘T’ Bone after a tragic incident involving three MinX girls in Atlanta…The tour then crosses the pond to Europe and the action and the plot both grow even more passionate, powerful and intense. Drew is arrested and imprisoned upon their arrival in London. Suddenly Danny Bannion, a powerful London underworld figure appears on the scene as an old mentor of Stone’s. Crystal is smitten with Danny’s charm and bad boy charisma. She is then seriously injured in a life, threatening life changing suspicious car crash in Bannions car. The reconfigured MinX continues to conquer Europe and Japan involving many more outlandish adventures and disasters before bringing their spectacular odyssey to a triumphant close in Australia.
The story and the band come full circle in a massive dramatic surprise ending and MinX becomes a legend, both in the story, rock and roll history and the readers’ hearts and minds.
‘MinX’ will be re launched at CLP in November.
**********************************
Ring Master
Where did the idea for the story come from?
It came from my skull cinema where movies of my mind just project themselves; I just scribble them down as fast as I can then spend ages refining them. This tale is where the sinister undertones begin to show. Dhanta is the Ring Master of the “Circus of the Sexual Underworld” this story may capture your soul if you stare into it long enough!
This is the first story in the trio and where Sirocco from CLP started to edit. As we went along she realised something unusual and dark was on occurring and linking the stories; a certain, intriguing and mysterious undercurrent. Also something clicked between us and we found ourselves definitely on the same page! Sirocco really got into the mood of things and offered a lot more into the stories than just a basic edit; I was more than happy to take her ideas on board.
How do these characters come to life?
Dhanta comes to life in his menacing presence, strong appearance and dark seductive voice.
Lawrence comes to life as the knight in shining armour.
Stephanie as the willing slave enchantress.
Blurb
The “Underworld” had taken the lovers of all of his knights and mesmerised them into a sensual web of debauchery. Willingly they went, led by their own deep-seated lust and desires, depravities amplified by the sexual demons Dhanta, Patrice and Nina and other souls sucked under their fiendish spell. The Tantric Knights, both male and female, had vowed to reclaim their lovers from these lust sucking demons and to destroy the timeless sexual Hell that was trying to make the Earth its own sensual pleasure park. Lawrence knew that as evil as these things were, there was an even stronger, darker, force afoot here. He had felt it once, albeit for only a fleeting second, when Stephanie was torn from his loving arms. That pain had lived with him for the last three years, the pain that became a burning obsession.
The flickering flames from the torches around the perimeter of the huge black marquee seemed to be trying to bewitch Lawrence with the offer of a sinister, sensuous invitation; but his inner being took control and brought him back to his senses. Quickly he regained his composure as his breath deepened, and a strange fear he hadn’t anticipated gripped his stomach. His mind began to spin with a mix of anger, jealousy and apprehension. A strong, erotic sexuality pulled on his soul, but his soul was strong and resolute and prepared for the temptations to come. Lawrence’s spirit was determined that nothing was going to stop him achieving the terrifying task ahead. The thought of the reward within it was all consuming.
Distant rolls of thunder seemed eerily to announce the sign that hung over the entrance canopy pronouncing proudly in red & silver letters,
For Tonight and Tonight and only
Dhanta presents
‘The Circus of the Sexual Underworld!’
GladiatriX
Where did the idea of this story come from?
It was inspired by my wife and muse after watching the movie Gladiator. She has all the courage that is extolled it this epic tale and more. She certainly has those bewitching green eyes and all the other virtues of Octavia and I like Atticuss would die for her...
How did my characters come to life?
Octavia is a slave Gladiatrix at the top of her game and loved by all of Rome.
Atticus is the ultimate elite warrior with a surprising tender heart; he is a paradox of virtues.
They are already alive this is the story of the age old ‘Battle of the Sexes’ my muse and I.
Blurb
Atticuss stood his ground as Octavia’s vision from Hell thundered upon him. At the last moment he leapt aside as it crashed by. Whips lashed his arms and legs. A lash caught its target and wrapped around his throat, pulling him off balance. It dragged him to the ground and pulled him behind the chariot for a few yards before he could free his sword and cut himself loose.
Although disoriented, he quickly sprang to his feet, only to see that Octavia was no longer aboard the chariot as it thundered back towards him. There were only the two other demons with it now.
Atticus dived out of the way to avoid being trampled by the wheels and hooves of the charging beasts. The whips cracked again. The lashes drew blood this time as they wrapped around his legs pulling him off balance, dragging him across the sand. Again he managed to cut himself loose. As he rose to his feet a red cape landed over him, and he heard her death defying screech. With lightening speed he slashed the cape into pieces.
Octavia appeared behind him, and came at him like a spinning, screaming cyclone. She knew that she would have to get him as quickly as she could. He spun around in the direction of her sound. Her sword missed his eyes by a hair’s breadth. He instinctively swung his sword straight for her throat. Her shield deflected his blow.
*********from a different chapter*******
Octavia rose and strode toward him, her confidence showing in the arrogant swing of her hips. Then she smiled at him; a smile that was at once vampish and ominous. He noticed that she was dragging a long, thin, elegant silver chain leash.
When she reached him she ran her hands over his chest, shoulders, and stomach.
“You are a truly magnificent Gladiator, my slave. Your body is very beautiful, and most desirable!”
She then ran her fingers over his scars.
“I am sorry I had to damage it so much.”
As she spoke she pushed her finger hard against the dressed wound in his right arm, his eyes hardened as he gritted his teeth at the pain. A trickle of blood ran down his bicep and she cleared it with a wipe of her finger, then put it to her lips and sucked it dry, rolling her eyes as she smiled vampishly at him.
Now she was running her fingernails lightly all over his upper torso, leaning forward to press her lips against his cheek. He could feel her teeth biting him, a teasing bite as she fastened the leash around his neck.
And then we Danced the Tango
Where did the Idea of this story come from ?
It was inspired by the Tango sequence in the movie Moulin Rouge; it just fitted the ambience of Danny’s club the La Vie en Rose
A dirty dance, a sleazy club and my favourite character appears for the first time. Danny Bannion, his second appearance is in MinX and lasts 3 or 4 chapters and the ladies seem to love this villain with a heart of gold...Sex, drugs, martial arts, and blood on the dance floor. But just who shot who? Now editor Sirocco picked up the threads and we began again to “dance with the devil” and this story then expanded into its true form as did the others...
How do these characters come to life?
Here are a couple of snippets that should bring the characters to life, Nina:
SHE SHIFTED AROUND ON his extended tongue, bringing herself closer, ever closer. Oh! Oh! So close until the feelings of orgasm shot through her as she shivered and shook. She gripped the edges of the table screaming out in her ecstasy; beat the table uncontrollably in time with the tribal drums that now filled the air. It was as if everybody in the club now had their eyes on her.
She just kept on going to Jean Paul’s mounting oral pace, until she could stand it no longer. Her shrieks filled the room as she came in ecstatic floods of juice, as orgasms swept her away into ecstatic oblivion.
A massive cheer rang out around the club and the diners rose to give Nina a standing ovation. She was unaware what was going on, she was so delirious in her orgasmic afterglow. Her wetness intoxicated him as it ran into his mouth, down his face as she came in floods. Finally she collapsed into the chair, the perspiration running down her face and body.
Jean Paul:
“I CAN ONLY STAY a few moments Jean Paul,” she conceded.
With that she waved her hand and a pretty waitress appeared by her side.
“Bring us champagne. Quickly Nicole, I don’t have much time”
She sat across the table from him looking deep into his eyes. She liked very much what she saw. He was a good-looking man around 5’9” tall, well built, dark tanned skin, wavy full flowing shoulder length black hair. He had the deepest, sexiest brown eyes that she had ever seen, close trimmed black beard that ran to his sideburns, and a moustache.
She admired the way his black silk shirt fitted, hinting at his gorgeous hard body. He was slim, his muscles well defined;, he looked strong, defiant and self assured. His black trousers were tight around the hips and groin and slightly flared from the knee down. His boots were Cuban heeled like those worn by Spanish Flamenco dancers and the new breed of animal known as rock star. There was a black leather coat draped across his shoulders; he exuded confidence and had natural charm.
She was intrigued by the two black leather wrist straps he wore. He was a devilishly attractive man with a lustful, erotic white smile, a menacing combination of virtues; in fact a very dashing, dangerous and enigmatic man.
Her desire and fascination was such that she would give anything to stay with him and leave her pressing prior engagement,
Danny Bannion:
It was a cry that stopped the music, filling the air with a deep menacing silence.
Jean Paul couldn’t believe his ears. Another fucking lyric from that crazy song; but now it was no longer in his mind or coming from the sound system. It was coming from reality; it was coming from the mouth of the guy in the tuxedo right in front of him. That man was Danny Bannion and he had a gun pointed right at him.
Then, as the Latino held Roxanne, a deafening crack smashed the ghostly silence.
Roxanne:
Roxanne danced slowly and erotically towards him, strutting, her legs that were exposed in the beautiful red tango dress she now wore as she waved it about high and low in a flamenco style. She was now transformed into some erotic vision as she sensually danced, hands behind her hair lifting it upwards, moving towards her Latin infatuation and clapping her hands loudly in time with the beat.
Her eyes stared deep into his, holding her head high and arrogant as she moved closer to the man she found irresistible. She stamped her feet to the beat, her arms moving snakelike around her body as she drew close up to him. He was helpless to resist; and, like a poor sheep to the slaughter, took her bait. Immediately he put both his hands on her hips and spun her around, grabbing her on the turn, bending her back across his arm, his hand high in the air holding hers in a graceful erotic movement, his grip vicelike and meaningful.
The crowd was now spellbound into deep silence. Why had she chosen to act like this? What had possessed her when she knew the consequences would be dire?
I am indebted to Sirocco for the great editing job and understanding of the concept and character development etc. So much so was our simpatico that we are now 9 chapters into a total collaboration called “Dark Mirrors” a story that expands on the concepts and characters of Dark Arenas and really bringing things to an almighty conclusion.
Hey, I noticed art as one of your interests, I started a new art blog maybe u'll like it! Thanks and keep up great work.
ReplyDeleteHey thanks for stopping by Makavetis.
ReplyDeleteHow did you know I was into art? I will come check out your stuff...
thanks for your comments on my ebooks...
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