We can’t possibly do justice to this week’s theme without having a contest to find with the best and the worst euphemisms for “penis” that you’ve heard or read.

Purple-prose romances started the trend with quivering manhood and throbbing need and many many other forgettable phrases. Recently, gay and m/m fiction has made it okay to call a cock a cock. But there are still plenty of those ridiculous phrases kicking around–in our memories or in books that don’t take the risk of showing us what goes on behind those closed doors. Thankfully in our books, just about nothing happens behind closed doors. In fact it rarely even happens in bedrooms, and that’s exactly the way we like it!

Please leave a comment with your own entries and feel free to comment on the ones other people mention. I’ll attempt to edit this post keep up with the comments, but if we get too many it might not be possible. Later this week we’ll have a vote on the hottest and the most cringe-worthy phrases.

[WIN: Everyone who comments will be entered to win a copy of "A Heat.Seeking.Missile." by EM Lynley. Yup, I went there. ]

I’ll start off with one of my (least) favorites, baloney pony.  I hope never to see it used in a book or I’ll stop reading immediately. But on its own, it’s pretty damn funny.

My favorite word to use is “cock.” Probably no surprise given the title of this event! I’ve always liked the word–how it sounds, how it feels to say it. In fact, when I moved back to the US from London after grad school, my best friend organized my going-away party at a pub called The Cock. Now, it’s not quite as bad as it sounds…the pub across the street was called The Hen & Chicks. But I still liked the idea of how dirty the name seems on its own!

Click “MORE” to see the list!

more…

Word Counts - Today: 0 | November: 0 | 2009: 161,028

Jaxx Steele here to give you my take on older men. I wanted to take this moment to give props to sexy older men. The man that is aging like fine wine, getting sexier with age, your Sean Connerys, Mark Harmons, Samuel Jacksons and Antonio Banderas’ of the world.

I write romances and work really hard trying to bring out my characters’ inner as well as outer beauty. Most of my characters are, although it is not stated you get the impression, in their mid twenties to mid thirties. I have also written a few May-December type romances. To date my biggest seller has been a May-December romance called Papa knows Best. In this book the pros and cons of being with an older man are highlighted. As a lover of older men I want to spotlight them and all of the beauty that comes with them.

The physical beauty of a younger man is one of his assets, a prize possession, but what else does he have going for him. I am not trying to down play the younger man, but if physical beauty fades with time and that’s all you have, well…

With an older man who is healthy in mind, body and spirit there is nothing he can’t do! He has gone though most of the changes men go through to make them men. He is less likely to change on you. What you get when you got there is what you keep. LOL Father Time has been kind to him because he remains active and lives for the day. He appreciates the days he has and lives them to the fullest. He has no problem teaching you new things and welcomes the challenge of learning new things from you. They are intelligent and worldly. His graying hair looks distinguished on him and ups his sexiness tenfold. As far as physical beauty goes, he may not possess that six pack he used to at twenty five, but at forty five he is in good shape and shows appreciation for your six pack! And Lordy! Let’s not forget the few who do still have the body they had at twenty five! Who could want anything else in a man?

I would love to read more gay romance spot lighting handsome older men. I have seen some outstanding men in their forties, just reaching their prime. Do you write about them? Let me know so I can read it and if you want to read them, check out my website and pick up one of my books. Until next time… Jaxx Steele has left the building.

Jaxx Steele

Putting a little XX into Man Love!

http://www.jaxxsteele.webs.com

Word Counts - Today: 0 | October: 0 | 2009: 161,028

We all have those little secrets, the ones we hope no one finds out, right?  Whether it’s something you enjoy doing, eating or watching that you probably shouldn’t, but it’s just so much fun!  I’ll share a couple of mine with you and I’d love to know what your guilty pleasures are, too.  Whether it’scross stitch or watching cat videos on YouTube for hours… I won’t judge.

While it’s no secret I watch TV and there are even a couple of shows I will schedule my social activities around, sometimes I have been known to watch programs that I really shouldn’t.

No, I’m not talking about smut (hey, that’s part of my job!) or even “The Bachelorette.” I abhor reality shows, but there is a subset of reality-type shows that grabs my attention and I have to force myself to more…

Word Counts - Today: 2,764 | August: 7,229 | 2009: 153,999

I did a guest blog post over at Midnight Seductions on book titles.

Do they matter? Do they affect your decision to buy a book?

Please visit and let me know your opinion on the issues.

What’s in a name?

Word Counts - Today: 0 | August: 0 | 2009: 146,770