Weekend Writing Warriors #8sunday (HIS)(RO)(LGBT)

It's Sunday and time for the Weekend Writing Warriors. Participants post 8-10 sentences from a writing project, either published or unpublished. Today it's a bit from the steamy side of my imagination-- Loving Leonardo -- (Book 1 in my award-winning, Victorian polyamorous romance-- the ongoing Loving Leonardo series.)

First my 8, then details after~
There was self-critical humor in her voice when she said, “Sir

Nicolas, I’m afraid you’ll think me quite silly, but what has mathematics to do with it?”
   Brooks chuckled, and taking a drink, dipped his mustache in his water glass. He came up for air looking very much like the Emperor Tamarin Monkey I’d once seen in the London Zoo.
   I set down my fork and knife and helped myself to the heel of dry bread to calm my stomach, then explained, “Were a trained eye to look upon da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man with his arms and legs spread wide in the illusion of movement, it would see an image based on the much older writings of the Roman architect Vitruvius. Many of the sacred geometry principles of the human body as well as ancient architecture have been compiled into art by Leonardo da Vinci. His perspectives are considered perfect and balanced.”
   Mrs. Ormont, either lost or disinterested, said, “Oh.”
That was the way of it for most of my academic career. A certain curiosity went part and parcel with being an art historian, and not everyone shared it. Luca Franco however, had found one of his own.

Behind the scenes for the snippet above:After imbibing a little too much the night before, Nicolas reluctantly takes dinner among the passengers on the ocean liner bound for Venice and finds Mr. Brookes' enjoyment of his meal a little too much as well. Somewhat the distraction from the greasy sight, the conversation goes to Leonardo da Vinci and the mathematics behind the artist's perfection. The conversation bores Mrs. Ormont, but the historian Luca Franco is certainly engaged.

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"...a very sexy, smart, and scintillating read."
~Coffee Time Romance

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Save $$ -- Get books 1 & 2 in the Leonardo Chronicles!

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In honor of the first anthology by the Authors of Romance Books '4' Us, we're running an additional October contest. Prizes include a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a terrific "super power" Romance Reader or Romance Author t-shirt. If you're into romances, the t-shirt will make you smile. 
Three ways to enter!
 

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My Main Blog
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**NEW**
Sunday's Six of the Best
Madeline Archer's blog

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  Sunday's Six of the Best
Rose Anderson other blog
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The Weekend Writing Warriors

http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Sunday 7
(open promo opportunity for you!)

 http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

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Rose Anderson writes award-winning intimate love stories.
Find them all wherever books are sold.
Sample the scorchers for free!

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Subscribe to Calliope's Writing Tablet
for a wide world of interesting topics
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updates, excerpts, & more!

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Weekend Writing Warriors

It's Sunday and time for the Weekend Writing Warriors mini hop! Participants post 8 sentences from a writing project, either published or unpublished.

Today I'm offering another small sampling from Loving Leonardo - The Quest ~ part 2 in the award-winning Loving Leonardo series. This ongoing Victorian tale is a sexy, polyamorous romp with a touch of reader-interactive art history.

First my 8 lines then the rest after~

    While the play was entertaining and the theme interesting enough, with its occult undertones, the ending had left a bad taste in my mouth. After finding their treasure, Axël the hero and his heroine Sara fall in love, and then decide their dream is far too magnificent to be fulfilled in the

unimaginative reality of their lives. With no dream to live for, they killed themselves as the sun rose and the curtain fell.
    Apparently unfazed, my companions discussed the story at length as we walked back to the hotel. I couldn’t help but draw a parallel to our lives, although I was certain the dark thoughts were mine alone. It didn’t help that we passed a mortician’s window with the latest embalming on display as a macabre advertisement to the skill to be had there. Beside the door, a glass frame was filled with memento mori photographs. In general I found the practice of posing the dead in life-like attitudes a disturbing one-- especially the staring facsimile eyes painted upon closed lids. 

What just happened~
In Paris following clues in Leonardo da Vinci's book, my trio takes in the Parisian sights. At this time, Nicolas has been plagued by unsettling dreams he attributes to the terrible events at Conte Bruno's villa in Venice. Nicolas has a niggling fear the dreamlike happiness he has with Ellie and Luca will be taken away. 

 >>۞<<۞>>۞<<

"...a very sexy, smart, and scintillating read."
~Coffee Time Romance
Buy on Amazon

Save $$ with the Leonardo Chronicles ~ 2 books for less!

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*New Releases*

Heart of Stone & The Changeling, both by my alter ego ~ Madeline Archer.

Entice Me by the authors from Romance Books '4' Us, including Heart of Stone. Just 99¢

In honor of the first anthology by the Authors of Romance Books '4' Us, we're running an additional October contest. Prizes include a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a terrific "super power" Romance Reader or Romance Author t-shirt. If you're into romances, the t-shirt will make you smile. 
Three ways to enter!

  ۞>>Weekend Happenings<<۞
My Main Blog
Saturday's Ramblings & Fun Day Sunday
http://calliopeswritingtablet.com/

**NEW**
Sunday's Six of the Best
Madeline Archer's blog

http://madelinearcher.blogspot.com/

  Sunday's Six of the Best
Rose Anderson's blog
http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

My Sexy Saturday
http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

The Weekend Writing Warriors
http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Sunday Peek
(open promo opportunity for you!)
 http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

Rose Anderson writes intimate love stories.
Find them all wherever books are sold.
Sample the scorchers for free!

 >>۞<<۞>>۞<<

Subscribe to Calliope's Writing Tablet
for a Wide World of Interesting Topics
http://calliopeswritingtablet.com/

Subscribe to Madeline Archer's blog for
updates, excerpts, & more!

 http://madelinearcher.blogspot.com/ 

 

Thursday Tasters

It's time for Thursday Tasters -- a creative meme for writers who want to show short excerpts of their work. Today I'm offering a the prologue from my award-winning Victorian polyamorous bi romance written with an unusual touch of reader-interactive art history ~ Loving Leonardo
(Book one in the Loving Leonardo series)

Prologue

Carlo Posateri shrugged his cloak back on his shoulders, the thin wool gone heavy from absorbing the September fog. He peered into the night then checked his pocket watch under the misty gaslight. Few people would be out in an evening fog like this and there was a word to describe many who were — Ladro. It was a perfect night to make deals with a thief.

The acquisition ritual played in his mind. To start: a warm bath and a brandy, followed by an excursion into the most brilliant and salacious mind ever produced by the Renaissance. He envisioned the sinful eroticism the book was certain to contain; the impression settled heavy in his loins. Salivating in anticipation, he swallowed. He wasn’t a sinner. His disdain for the sodomite artists didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy their unique and compelling art. But he wasn’t one of them. He simply appreciated their artistic technique.

Born and raised in Rome, he’d planned to return after his Silvia died. But her older brother Pietro encouraged him to stay because without other family, they were all each of them had in the world. Though he liked Pietro well enough, familial ties weren’t incentive to remain. Rather, being his wealthy brother-in-law’s sole heir was. Beyond that, he had other reasons to stay in Venice. Outside Florence, old Venice drew deviants like a candle flame attracted moths. Then and now, the world had no place for such debauchery. The most depraved artworks could be found in the ports and once purchased, he’d destroyed many of them for the filth they were. A few pieces he’d keep to study.

His collection grew in the seat of Renaissance decadence; how fitting. Carlo often imagined living during that artistic age. Had he lived exactly four hundred years ago, he would have helped Girolamo Savonarola build the pyre for the Bonfire of the Vanities. Carlo licked his lips, seeing it in his mind’s eye: the pair of them feeding the flames with art and artist alike. A small lantern light maneuvered along the Grand Canal. Looking around him once more, he moved closer to the water.

Curiously, tonight’s meeting had been arranged by a different man. He’d received a note from one E. Fortuna describing several antique books in his employer’s possession, including one of homoerotic art reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s work. Quoting a price, Fortuna added he’d also contacted other potential buyers, no doubt to spur him to act quickly. But in the span of a day, a second note arrived. This one from Signore Falconetti, saying the book changed hands and was still for sale. What happened to E. Fortuna?

Carlo didn’t like dealing with Falconetti, though he had twice before. Both times he felt fortunate to leave with his life. The prospect of owning such a work, however, was too tempting to ignore. He looked around again to be sure this meeting was private, as Falconetti demanded. Falconetti had a reputation, and it wasn’t a good one. Men like this often found themselves employed by multiple clients, who would occasionally be at cross purposes with one another.

The small gondola bumped in the darkness and Carlo heard rather than saw the removal of the remo pulled from the forcola. The oar wouldn’t be in his way, for he had no intention of stepping into the man’s boat.

***

Without a doubt, Carlo Posateri knew the Heavenly Father watched over him. He ran his trembling fingers over the precious book’s leather and brass bindings. Beyond a doubt this was the pinnacle of his private collection. As soon as he had laid eyes upon Falconetti’s amazing offering, Carlo was driven to pay any price. Unfortunately the price had quadrupled, from E. Fortuna’s initial quote. He’d somehow managed to convince Falconetti to take what money he had with him by swearing he was good for the rest, and more. The dangerous man told him his life depended on that being true.

Doing the church’s work had made him as poor as a beggar in St. Peter’s Square — he simply didn’t have more money to give the man. As it was, his last maid would only be working until the end of the month. Carlo poured himself a brandy, his shaking hands sloshing the amber liquid onto his sleeve. It took both hands to hold the snifter still long enough to allow a fortifying sip. He must persuade his brother-in-law to lend him more money. He glowered into his glass. Experience told him this would prove difficult. Pietro frowned on Carlo’s sacred mission even though he knew the last Pope himself approved.

And now there’d be no time to ask him. Pietro was inopportunely traveling to London England for an appointment with an American diplomat regarding selling his raw fibers to the American textile markets. Awash in a mixture of elation and hopelessness, Carlo raked a hand over his sparse head of hair.

With no other option, he took up a pen and scribbled a quick note to his brother-in-law to say he wanted to go with him. Pietro had made the offer weeks ago; he’d no doubt be pleased. Carlo rang for the maid then wrote another note to Falconetti promising the money by mid-October at the latest. He hoped the delay wouldn’t matter, but just in case, this note would be delivered after he and Pietro sailed.

~*~

Calmer from his bath and double-shot brandy, Carlo Posateri fully appreciated his purchase. He couldn’t have imagined better; the sinful sketches in the book were enhanced by shockingly seductive prose. In full appreciation of the art, he found his release in the first four pages. Deciding he wouldn’t turn another page until his return, he sought a latch behind several leather-bound volumes on his shelf. The false front sprung open to reveal a secret recess with a stack of paintings and several old books. Compelling erotic vignettes lingering in his mind, Carlo placed da Vinci’s book with the rest.
 

Sample all of my love stories for free,
including both books in this series
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You'll LOVE Reading Rose!

Main Blog:
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Exquisite Quills:
My group blog. Several authors & their romances.
From sweet to scorching. 

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Exquisite Quills Recycled Reviews Open to all romance authors
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Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group: Open to readers and writers
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Romance Books '4' Us: I'm a featured blogger the 4th of every month
Many great topics there all month long.
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Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rose-Anderson/e/B004XDGWL6
I'll happily sign all ebooks with Authorgraph.

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Saturday's After Dark Moments

I'm participating in something new today -- Saturday's After Dark Moments. A mini hop for erotic romance. For me, this time it's a few paragraphs from my Loving Leonardo .
 
In this scene: A page turns for my trio, their lives forever changed. (condensed from a larger piece to capture the moment)

He raised his hand to the side of my face, and there his thumb traced along my bottom lip. My heart started to pound and my cock swelled. The hand slid around to the back of my skull and pulled me close for a kiss. A kiss I very much wanted.

I could taste him under the sweet tang of grapes and wine. I fed my tongue into his mouth and found his. The small whiskers trimmed so close to his upper lip and chin were sharp exclamation points along my heady exploration. I’ve no clear image of how exactly it happened, so absorbed was I in the sensorial bliss of the moment, but shirts and flies opened as magically as if Ali Baba himself called “open sesame” to the cave.

Lean-ribbed and fit, he had a raven thatching over his chest that was slightly thicker than my own, and I petted him as though he were a sleek jungle cat. We freed each other’s cocks as we kissed and caressed and I soon learned that chest hair wasn’t all that was thick on Luca. Da Vinci himself couldn’t have sketched a finer image than this bold firm cock. His kiss deepened and he stroked me slowly with an expert hand while I closed my fingers around a shaft a few inches shy of the length of my forearm. Driven to make free with all he offered, I broke from our kiss. It was then I saw her.

Assessing her attitude quickly, I detected no condemnation. The sensually-charged static in the air was palpable. No one said a word. Standing, I held a hand to our guest, wordlessly asking him to follow. Luca read the scene and relaxed. The cock I thought large a moment ago surged to its true fullness. It was just as I suspected early on. Luca was one of us.

Ellie walked to the bedroom settee and we followed. She licked her lips when her eyes met mine and I could see our carnally-charged conversations of evenings past mirrored in her lust-dilated eyes. She wanted to see firsthand what it was like when two men loved. I put my hand on Luca’s back and led him to lie upon the bed. There, I crawled over him until we lay side by side. Taking his face in my hands, I kissed him long and slow, as much for her as for him and I.

I could feel her watching us, feel her heat emanating in waves. I wanted the blast of that heat to burn me, to reduce me to ash that I might know myself. Truly know. I’d rise like a phoenix — a bird plumed and painted in fire. The art in the loving would be mine at last, the art I’d always known existed but had yet to find for myself. I wanted the both of them because this was who I really was. I wanted this rebirth. I wanted my renaissance.

See the Loving Leonardo trailers

Scroll down to see what else is happening this weekend. I'm busy!

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What's up Saturday and Sunday?

Sexy Snippets & My Sexy Saturday
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Set the Scene in Six Come leave your six on my group blog on Sunday! **promo op**
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Saturday's After Dark Moments & Sneak Peek Sunday
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Check out my main blog. You'll never know what you'll find!
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Sample all of my love stories for free, including this one.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

 ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

You'll LOVE Reading Rose!

Main Blog:
Subscribe on the Main blog for interesting posts, updates & more.
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Satellite Blogs:
http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/
http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/
http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills:
My group blog. Several authors & their romances.
From sweet to scorching. 

Discover EQ author promo opportunities
http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Recycled Reviews Open to all romance authors
http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/
Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group: Open to readers and writers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ExquisiteQuills/

Romance Books '4' Us: I'm a featured blogger the 4th of every month
Many great topics there all month long.
http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rose-Anderson/e/B004XDGWL6
I'll happily sign all ebooks with Authorgraph.

Social Media:
I'm everywhere. Come say hi. I'm busy, but I'll eventually follow back.

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/FollowTheMuse/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roseanderson_
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About.me: http://about.me/rose_anderson_author

Author Pages etc:
I have many author's pages and static pages around the web. Too many to list here! If you see me, do say hello.

Thursday Tasters

Today, I'm trying something new -- Thursday Tasters -- for writers who want to show short excerpts of their work.

I'm offering another small sampling from my unusual Victorian polyamorous romance written with a touch of reader-interactive art history: Loving Leonardo (book 1 in the series)

Setting the stage:
The story is told in Nicolas' view. Nicolas and Ellie invite Luca to discuss Leonardo da Vinci, and realize they have more than one interest in common. Here they discuss the artist's homosexuality and opinions held in the times in which he lived, specifically the return to the classical ideals of the ancients. A popular theme in Da Vinci's era regardless of the opposition of the church. 

The Taste:


Luca met her eye. “Did you know the ancient Greeks didn’t consider sexual proclivity to be a social characteristic? They didn’t distinguish a person’s sexual desire by biological sex, only by the role that he or she played in the act.”

Ellie took on her lovely blush, and for the first time I realized both desire and discomfiture lie within the hue. She asked plainly, “Do you mean to say all that mattered in ancient society was whether someone played the active penetrator or the passively penetrated?”
 
Bold-as-brass. I chuckled.

Luca’s smile widened and his shadow-blue eyes sparkled. “Yes.”

I believe we were all aware of a sexual tension growing in the intellectual-rich loam. There were little things at play now: the way Ellie moistened her lips and looked at us with eyes that lingered from one to the other. The way Luca's irises had darkened from snow shadow to moon shadow as he looked upon her. The way I'd catch myself with a reminder to breathe as my eye was drawn to these small distinctions. Like da Vinci's sfumato, our mutual attraction hung in the air, and I was struck by the notion that the smoky quality depicted in his art was desire. Desire like this.

  

Sample this and all of my love stories for free
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blog. Come meet the founding authors and our guests.
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Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Wash Line Monday ~ In 300 words, share what your characters are wearing
Tickle Us Tuesday ~ share fun and funny things from your novel in 300 words
First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.  
Set the Scene in Six ~ share your 300 word backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.  
The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel
Author Interviews ~ We're booking summer now.

Promo Op for Romance Authors!
A place for your old review stars to shine
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Love Waits in Unexpected Places

Main Blog:
Subscribe on the Main blog for interesting posts, updates & more.
http://calliopeswritingtablet.com/

Satellite Blogs:
http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/
http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/
http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/
Exquisite Quills:
Several authors & their romances.
From sweet to scorching. 

Discover our author promo opportunities
http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

• Exquisite Quills Recycled Reviews Open to all romance authors
  http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/
•  
  Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group: Open to readers and writers
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ExquisiteQuills/

Romance Books '4' Us: I'm a featured blogger the 4th of every month
Many great topics there all month long.
http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rose-Anderson/e/B004XDGWL6
I'll happily sign all ebooks with Authorgraph.

Social Media:
I'm everywhere. Come say hi. I'm busy but I'll eventually follow back.

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/FollowTheMuse/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roseanderson_
Tumblr: http://author-roseanderson.tumblr.com/
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com//MusesWritingTablet
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/117411462633912228541/posts
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rose.anderson.7524
About.me: http://about.me/rose_anderson_author

Author Pages etc:
I have many author's pages and static pages around the web. Too many to list here! If you see me, do say hello.