By Tara LainBlurb:
Writing the Menage: A Special Dynamic
Hi everyone! Today, I’m celebrating the re-release of my novel, Golden Dancer, which is a M/M/M ménage. And that’s what I’d like to talk about. Writing the ménage. I didn’t set out to become a ménage writer. It wouldn’t have occurred to me. My first book, Genetic Attraction, didn’t start out to be a ménage a trois. When I first conceived the plot, I expected it to be an older woman/younger man romance, but then one day I ordered a book by Jet Mykles called Heaven. It was my first male/male romance and I was hooked! I had to add another man to my book and, just that quick, it became a ménage.
Fortunately, ignorance is bliss. I didn’t know that writing a ménage is hard, so I just plunged in. Since that first book, most of my stories have only two lovers but I have written several other ménages. While I’m a very monogamous female, I somehow manage to imagine three people being totally devoted to each other. Here’s what I’ve learned in my ventures into ménage writing:
- Love between three people can be just as sweet and intense and passionate as between two – at least in romance novels! The real-life dynamics of a ménage are probably very tricky, but virtually everyone has harbored in their heart at sometime the thought that maybe, just maybe, they could love two people. Menage stories play into this fantasy.
- Menages make interesting plots. Simple, you have three people to play with, to make interact with each other, to provide richness and detail to your story. My new release, Golden Dancer, is a romantic suspense involving an investigative reporter, the billionaire art collector he is investigating, and a beautiful male ballet dancer they both want. Talk about your different points of view!!
- Pronouns can be killers! Writing male/male stories is a unique challenge since both characters are called “he”, so you have to find ways to differentiate them without using their names constantly, and without being confusing. Now, add another man to the mix as I did and it gets even more complicated. Yikes. It takes some creativity and very deep point-of-view for each character.
- Sex between three people needs careful thought. The reader needs to know where each character is and what they’re doing. No one can be left out, so we have to see reactions from each character as well as actions.
- There must be good reason why each character loves the other two. Each must have his own story, depth of character, motivations, just as if it were a love story between two people.
- But, oh, it’s soooo much fun. A ménage is fun to read and it’s fun to write. So many yummy things can be done simultaneously when you have three people. Just use your imagination. That’s what I did. : )
I hope you enjoy Golden Dancer. The next book in this series won’t be a ménage, though it will be romantic suspense, so if you like a little love in threes, give Golden Dancer a try.
Trelain snuggled tight, resting his head in the crook of Mac’s shoulder, and that was when the second lesson came up. Women did not provide a hard cock to rub against him. Holy crap, he needed to back away. But his half-hard cock poked Trelain’s flat belly, and it felt so good. Way too good.
Trelain gave a little humming sound that might have been a moan, and though he could claim they were just dancing, that cock moved with mind-searing precision, up, down, a bit to the side. Mac’s dick filled relentlessly until it hurt. Explosion imminent. Jesus, just the thought of Trelain tortured him. The reality was more than he could stand. Get the hell out of here.
He ripped himself out of the dancer’s arms. “Sorry, gotta go.” Slouching a little in hopes that the bagginess of his cargoes would cover his throbbing erection, he headed through the open doors and across the great room. There were far fewer people to observe his humiliation in here. Goal—get to the door.
“Mac, don’t go.”
He glanced over his shoulder at Trelain and almost stopped. Hell, no. Go now.
He almost made it to the front door when a big solid body stepped in front of him. “Mac, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Get out of my way, Terrebone.”
“Hell, no. Come with me.” Daniel grabbed and pulled him into the hall that led toward the back of the house. Mac started to pull back when he was spun and pushed hard against the wall.
“Daniel. What are you doing? Don’t hurt him.” Trelain’s voice sounded distraught.
Terrebone pushed his face into Mac’s. “I’m not hurting him, darling. He’s hurting himself. This man has got to realize that he wants you and you want him and, for that matter, he probably wants me.”
The bastard. Mac tried to pull away, but shit, the guy was strong. Daniel pressed his forearm harder against his neck. One hand reached down and grabbed Mac’s cock, still stiff despite the shock. “Feel this? It’s not some anomaly or weird mistake, Mac. You’re hot for Trelain. Does that make you gay? I’d say yes, but I’m not into definitions. Who the fuck cares? You just have to quit torturing yourself and everyone else. You hear me?”
Okay, calm down so you can fucking breathe. Relax. No, don’t want to hear it. Terrebone pushed a tiny bit harder. “Do…you…hear…me?”
Crap! Mac managed to nod, and Terrebone released him.
“Fuck, Terrebone, what the hell…?” He rubbed at his throat. His pride hurt more than his neck if he was honest. “I’m so out of here.” He started for the door and again got dragged back. Shit, where did this guy work out? With the Russian Mafia? Mac was a runner, but this guy must lift weights.
Daniel pounded him against the wall again, but this time no arm came up. Instead, the man pressed his mouth to Mac’s. Fuck! Mac twisted, but the soft mouth just kept moving against his while the strong hands held him still. Oh yeah, soft. Mac felt a silky, liquid tongue caress his lips, back and forth. He tried to move his head, but no use. No use…no use not just letting that pressing tongue go where it wanted. His lips opened a tiny crack, and Daniel took full advantage, pushing that wet, hot tongue farther into his mouth. Mac tried to move his tongue out of the way, but…no use. Hot and wet against his tongue. Filling his mouth with hot and wet.
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her bestselling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soulmate husband and her soulmate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!
Sounds like a really good book. Anyway, Iove Tara’s books, so every single one is a must read for me!
Thank you so much Susana! *hugs*
Congratulations on the new book
Thank you, Ami! : )
Congratulations on your new release Tara the book sounds really good and I’ve added it to my wish list.
Thank you so much, Shirley Ann. : )
Thank you Love Bytes for having me and my 3 guys on the blog! Love being here! : )
Sounds interesting and exciting – great cover. Thanks.
I love the cover too! Emmy at Pride Publishing did it! : )
love tara’s stories!!!!
Got to meet you at RT, and you were so sweet! This sounds like a very good story!
Wasn’t RT a blast! Thank you so much for coming by! *hugs* : )
I have loved every Tara Lain book I’ve read to date, and I’m sure that this one will be no exception. My mom was a ballet dancer/choreographer, so the fact that this book includes a dancer is an added bonus.
I attended the ballet with a dear friend at Covent Garden and it inspired me! I love ballet too. : )
Loved this book, and I’m psyched to see it launch a series!
Thank you, dear. I’m writing it it now and loving the suspense angle. A murder mystery this time!
Congrats on your new book. Thank you for the interesting perspective involved in writing menages.
Thank you, H.B.! So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for coming by! : )
Thank you for the post! I’m looking forward to reading. I love ballet so this sounds great.
Thank you, Toni! I’m loving writing my ballet mysteries. : )
Thanks for sharing, I’ve added to my TBR.
Thank you, Lisa. Love being on that list! : )
Congrats on your book. It combines a number of things that I love – gay mystery, dancing, an intriguing look at menage.
I’m so glad, Purple Reader.. I don’t write menage much anymore, but it was fun going back to this one. The next book in the series will be 2 lovers rather than three. : )
I love menages. I’ve just finished the Manchester Menage trilogy by Nicole Colville. You can’t get better than three. Unless it’s four. Sean Michael has proven that in the Chess series. Good luck with your latest release!
Thank you! I don’t have many menages but have enjoyed the ones i’ve written! (5) : )
I just love them both and I would really love to read this book.
Thank you Bridgett! : )
I read and loved the book when it first come out.
Thank you, Sherry! : )
I read the old edition and enjoyed it. I look forward to reading the new one.
Thank you so much, Serena!! : )