How To Be A Cougar

In honor of the Cougar Anthology releasing from Total E Bound this week, my fellow authors and I are doing a blog tour. Check out this contribution from Ashley Ladd. Be sure to visit all the author sites. You never know what you'll get...

How to be a Cougar
by Ashley Ladd

Are you tired of men your age and older who have let themselves go? Who complain about their aches and pains? Who expect to be coddled? Who are married to the TV?

Meanwhile, there’s a wealth of beautiful younger men in your orbit who are so buff they make your panties wet? They work out at the gym. They participate in fun activities. They’re on the go, living life…just like you are.

Obviously the younger, active men are much better mates than the couch potato.

1) Be confident. Confidence is the sexiest attribute a person can have. It’s the number one reason younger men like to date older women.

2) Be independent. This is the number two reason younger men like to date older women.

3) Don’t be a drama queen.

4) Be a gorgeous, sophisticated animal. Stay in shape. Go to the gym. Walk an hour a night. Eat well. Take good care of yourself.

5) Put yourself together. Men look at the total package. Wear makeup. Style your hair nicely. Dress nicely. They’re much more likely to look at the sum, not single out your beautiful eyes or nice smile if the rest is frumpy or trashy.

6) Be sexually savvy.

7) Be energetic.

8) Pounce. Be sleek, strong, sexy, and in control. Flirt. Give the younger man confidence to be with you.

9) Don’t give the younger man your daughter’s phone number. Give him yours!

10) Talk a good game. Keep the conversation happy, light, and positive. Many younger men like older women because they aren’t vapid like their younger counterparts. Older women have maturity, grace, and experience. They like themselves. They can hold an interesting conversation.

11) Be fun. If you don’t enjoy being around a couch potato, neither will your younger man. Go line dancing. Play tennis. Ride bicycles. Be active in clubs and community events. Go to the beach.

12) Have no shame. Don’t listen to naysayers. It’s survival of the fittest.

In a recent survey by the AARP, 34% of older women are dating younger men. This is women age 40 and older dating younger men, usually at least 10 years younger. Also, a recent survey by Cosmo found that 30% of men are willing to date older women.

A Bit About Singapore Sizzle

I haven't been writing romance for very long at all. It's only been
three years (April 2007) since my first erotic sf romance was
published. But I've learnt a lot in those short years. Lots about
writing, but lots about genres as well. And, in that time, I've
started to notice the emergence of romance heroes who are not your
standard, Western, pale-skinned man. Of course, Harlequin have always
had the Greek shipping magnate and the Arab prince but what I mean are
heroes from more far-flung areas, like Central Europe and Asia. And
suddenly, when the call came for contributions to a Cougars and Cubs
anthology from Total-E-Bound, the time seemed right to introduce
Adrian Pereira, a Portuguese Eurasian from Singapore, to a much wider
audience.

Eurasians in south-east Asia have a couple of things going for them.
Because they don't belong to any one major ethnic group, they're
regarded as being neutral players in south-east Asia. During colonial
times, the British often hired them as government administrators and
teachers. Also, they're usually quite attractive, due to the mix of
European and Asian genes that course through their bodies, and many
parents still like to classify their children as “Eurasian” due to the
aesthetic appeal such a label conjures up. (If all that sounds a bit
weird, remember that we're talking about a different part of the world
here. This is how it is in south-east Asia.)

So, to have a bored divorced woman looking for adventure in Singapore,
and finding it with a young, handsome Portuguese Eurasian, doesn't
require much imagination at all.

Sophie Woodward, the heroine of the story, is a smart, accomplished
woman finding her own path in Singapore after her divorced husband goes
back to the UK. Singapore is a vibrant city, but Sophie feels an
emptiness that the glitz of living in such a metropolis can't satisfy.
When a well-meaning matchmaker, George Chua, sets her up to attend a
swanky masquerade ball, Sophie decides to take her courage in her
hands and attend, with the idea of spending a no-strings-attached
night with some handsome buck. But when the man she's chosen wants
more, what is she to do?

During edits, the anthology editor, Liz Delisi, and I discussed some
of matchmaker George Chua's vocal mannerisms. I enjoyed writing George
because I know so many locals like him – cheerful, nosey, well-meaning
yet sometimes insensitive with their good intentions. I cringed along
with Sophie when she discovered she was the dinnertime topic of
conversation between George and his family, an admission George made
happily and openly! Although some of the patois is non-grammatical, I
wanted to retain it because that's the rhythm of the region and if
anyone has visited Singapore and reads the story, I hope they'll get a
smile from George Chua.

I also hope readers will like the steady humour and smooth-skinned
sexiness of Adrian Pereira. I could well imagine being tempted by
someone like him, and I hope you are too!

* If you can't think of any Eurasians off the top of your head, how
about Keanu Reeves or Dean Cain?

Singapore Sizzle by KS Augustin

Sophie Woodward is English, divorced, living in Singapore...and bored,
bored, Bored! But is she ready for handsome, exotic, young Adrian
Pereira?

Sophie Woodward moved to Singapore with her banker husband, Tim. But
that was years ago. When they got divorced, Tim moved back to the UK
and Sophie decided to craft a new life in the modern Asian metropolis.

The problem is, things haven't turned out the way she hoped. Although
she has a rewarding career, she's restless, wondering if this is as
good as life gets.

Cajoled into attending a masquerade ball for charity, Sophie meets a
charming stranger and spends the night with him in hot, steamy sex.
The problem comes when he wants to see more of her, and Sophie has to
confront her own insecurities. After all, she's almost ten years his
senior! Is there any hope for a relationship between them? Or was the
sizzle a mere flash in the pan?

KS “Kaz” Augustin is a Malaysian-born writer of romance, science-
fiction and permutations of the two. You can find her website at
www.ksaugustin.com and she blogs at blog.ksaugustin.com


I have your post, Liz! Waiting on everyone else. And no pic from me,
although you're quite welcome to fling a few my way with your posts! :)
I'll also put a link to the Buy page at the end of all the posts on my
blog and hope you do the same for yours.

It's Total E. Bound if you're wondering! :)

Kaz!

My blog post about my story in that Cougar Cub Antho awesomeness.

Okay, so I’m probably out of order or something but for those of you who know me, that’s to be expected. I think I’m supposed to tell you a little about me and then a little about my story and possibly a little about the whole “cougar/cub” thing. I can do that. Sometimes I actually stay on task so I’ll give it a go.

Howdy, I’m Mia. I usually write guy on guy erotic romances but occasionally take the dive into guy on gal or, um, gal on guy. (That would be my intro. One down, two to go) This Anthology is about the wonders of experiences women with younger men. Now, I’m not talking sluts. I’m talking about LIFE experience. ‘Cause honeys, some of these young men know what they’re doing! I’m just sayin’. You can’t tell me that if a younger man (whether a couple of years to a couple of, um, more years) hit on you and made you feel like the sexiest creature to walk the Earth, you wouldn’t at least be curious about how he intends to follow through. Nope, you can’t because I won’t believe you. Liar.

(That was part two. See? I can do this!) My story is about an older woman and a younger man. *cheesy grin* Surprised, aren’t you? I mean, such a theme in a cougar anthology has your head spinning doesn’t it?

Heh.

Oh, you want a little more insight?

She’s a woman who is very close to her best friend. Though she’s a bit younger than her friend, they have known each other for years. The catch is, her friend has this son. This HAWT son whom she’s tried to overlook, but younger son isn’t having it. He’s in his thirties so he knows what he wants and isn’t into games. An innocent hug turns into a whole lot more than she bargained for.

Anyway, the Anthology is out now at Total-E-Bound(dot)com. Here’s a week’s worth of fantastic authors bringing you hot sex. Could there be anything better than that? NO! Go buy your book. Do it now. It’s good Karma. For all I know, a cluster of hunky young men will show up at your door begging you to let them please you.

*blink* *blink*

Seriously.

Catherine Chernow

Visiting Blogger Catherine Chernow is stopping by as part of this week's blog tour to promote the Cubs and Cougars Anthology out from Total-E-Bound, this week. Stop by daily for an article by a new author everyday!

From a Cub’s Point of View...

Jake Conroy stopped by to chat recently. He’s the handsome, drop-dead sexy, hero from LUCKY IN LOVE, my story in the ‘Cougars and Cubs’ erotic romance anthology, available for sale from Totalebound Publishing beginning May 10^th.

Jake’s an alpha male, the kind of hero I adore writing about. He fits the ‘alpha male’ profile, where a guy’s got to be strong, sexy, smart, protective and focused solely on the heroine. While Jake’s all of that, he’s got a little twist to his character, because he’s younger than Maddie Summers, the heroine.

I’m not surprised Jake’s got what it takes to go after his heart’s desire, but I wanted to see things from his point of view as a younger male hero.

While we chatted together (lucky me!), Jake gave some candid answers to my very personal questions…

Q: Jake, what did you think when you first saw Maddie?

A: I felt sucker-punched, right in the gut. Maddie is different from the type of woman I’m used to.

He sits back, stretching his long legs out in front of him. On the surface, Jake is relaxed, composed, but I sense a coiled tension in him, like anticipation. Maybe its because he can’t wait to see his Madz again.

Q: In what way? I mean, what kind of woman have you been with so far?

A: A woman who is my age.

A corner of Jake’s sensual mouth lifts. He gives me one of his killer smiles. No wonder Maddie is wild about him!

Q: So, you usually date or have relationships with women your age. How old are you?

A: 35

Hmmm...

Q: And Maddie is how old?

He leans forward, resting his tanned, muscular arms on the table in front of him. Reaching for his coffee mug, he sips slowly. Watching the play of muscles in his gorgeous forearms and seeing how the corded muscles on his neck contract when he drinks that coffee, I now understand Maddie’s attraction for him.

Then, he answers…

A: Maddie is fabulously 50.

Now, it’s my turn to smile. Wow, he’s got it bad for her.

Q: Why fabulous?

A: She’s more mature than the women I’m used to…

I roll my eyes.

Q: That’s a given, considering her age.

A: I’m talking about what’s in here.

Jake lifts his large hand. Using his palm, he pats his heart.

Q: You mean something else entirely?

A: Correct. She’s got more inside her, more depth of character, simply because she’s experienced more.

Q: Like what, for instance?

A: Life’s ups and downs. She’s had to learn to roll with lots of stuff, things that make you stronger.

Q: And younger women, or women your age, don’t?

A: Maybe because the women I’ve know who are my age are totally focused on themselves and what they want.

Q: You can’t blame age for that entirely, maybe it’s the person.

He gets a thoughtful look on his face, like he’s remembering something painful, for his face is drawn in tight lines.

A: All I know is, Maddie is patient and kind – she’s forgiving, too. I’m always in a hurry, striving to get to the next goal, the next part of my life. Maddie’s there already. It’s like she balances me.

Q: That’s what you sought then, balance in your life?

Again, he appears thoughtful.

A: I can’t say it’s what I went looking for. When I moved from California to Long Island, I left behind some painful memories. I sought change.

His grin widens. He continues his answer...

...and it came in the form of Maddie.

Okay, so now I’m dying to know…

Q: So how is making love with an older woman?

His smile turns rueful.

A: I never kiss and tell.

Damn!

I pinch my thumb and index finger together, lifting them both in the air…

Q: Just a little hint, maybe? Please?

His voice drops an octave. It sounds positively sexy and wicked.

A: I can tell you that it gave me great pleasure to give Maddie everything she wants in bed, no matter how kinky.

Okay, so now my entire body is flushed…

Q: Great! Now I need a cold shower.

He chuckles. The sound is warm and rich, like smooth honey poured from a jar.

A: Ah. Yes. The shower. My favorite place to make love with my Madz.

I close my notepad because I suddenly can’t write. My fingers are shaking.

He’s grinning again. The wretch! No wonder Maddie is head over heels about Jake.

But I wonder, can they truly make it work with the difference in their ages?

Q: Do you think society accepts your relationship?

A: You’ll have to read LUCKY IN LOVE to find out.

Q: Maddie is one lucky lady.

A: I’m the lucky one.

After Jake left, I was in a great mood for the rest of the day. I hope he and Maddie can make a go of it. Read my story, LUCKY IN LOVE, to find out, and all the other super hot stories in Totalebound’s Cougar and Cub Anthology. You’ll find them all right here...

Cougars and Cubs

Anthology

Elizabeth Coldwell, guest appearance

Elizabeth Coldwell worked on Forum magazine for twenty years, and has had stories published by Black Lace, Cleis Press and Xcite Books among many others. Something Within Him in the Cougars And Cubs anthology is her second release with Total-e-bound, her first being The Christmas Box, part of the Christmas Crackers series. Her other big passion apart from writing is Rotherham United, and she lives in London with her partner and two cats, only one of whom thinks walking over her keyboard when she’s typing is a good idea...

Are You Experienced?
Waiting on a tube station platform the other evening, I saw a huge poster advertising Courteney Cox’s new TV show, Cougar Town, which has just started airing in the UK on the Living Channel. Featuring a shot of Courteney straddling a chair provocatively, it bore the slogan “No Experience Necessary”. It made me smile, because experience is one of the themes running through my story in the Cougars And Cubs anthology, Something Within Him.
I originally started writing it when another publisher was looking for cougar-themed stories. At the time, a cute young man I knew had started on a journalism course, and friends were teasing me that I should offer him work experience – even though his degree was in sports writing and I edited a magazine dealing with sex and human relationships ¬– just to have him brightening up the office! Out of the jokes came the idea for a story in which a woman whose policy was not to accept interns was forced to take one on as a favour to her best friend, only to find herself deeply attracted to him. The story ended up being sidelined because of work deadlines, but when the call for Cougars And Cubs came out, I had the time to work on it again. By the time I’d finished it, it had become one of my favourite things I’ve written.
I couldn’t resist setting some of the action in Amsterdam, a city I really love. The place has a unique mixture of the blatantly erotic (the red light area, where cougar Kate and her young lover, Stephen go shopping for adult toys) and the romantic (the canalside hotel where they finally act on the sexual attraction they feel for each other), and a beautifully relaxed vibe which actively encourages you to do nothing but take it easy and enjoy yourself. As the story unfolds, Kate has the opportunity to give Stephen the benefit of her experience, both in a work setting and in bed, but he also turns up with a few tricks of his own. Out of their everyday environment, they have the opportunity to explore the dominant and submissive sides of their personalities and play some deliciously naughty games together.
Of course, no relationship where there’s a big age gap between the two partners is ever free of conflict, and I knew I had to explore some of these in the course of the story. Kate initially worries – needlessly, as it turns out – about having to compete with younger women for Stephen’s affections. She and Stephen also have to cope with the negative reaction of Stephen’s best friend, Charlie, who thinks Stephen should really be dating someone of his own age. But love always has the possibility to conquer all, and there are enough real-life cougars in long-standing relationships with hot young cubs to prove that if you overcome those obstacles it really can be happy ever after...

Find out more about Elizabeth and her stories at http:elizabethcoldwell.wordpress.com

Hello everyone and welcome to the kick off day of the Cougar Growls Blog Tour to celebrate the release of Total E-Bound’s newest anthology Cougars and Cubs (Romance between older women and younger men).

Featuring the artistic collaboration of erotica’s hottest authors Ashley Ladd, KS Augustin, Mia Watts, Catherine Chernow, Liz Coldwell, and Imari Jade.

First up is Imari Jade, author of “Something to be Thankful For.” Please introduce yourself and tell the readers something about your story.

Hi everyone, my name is Imari Jade and I hail from Marrero, Louisiana, sister city of New Orleans where I was born and raised. I’ve been writing for a number of years but this is my first release with Total E-Bound and hopefully not my last. I’m divorced, have three sons and six grandchildren and during the day I work as a financial analyst.

I’d like to share my take on an article I just read:

“Kick Ass” Cradle Robber: 19 year old star of Kick Ass is engaged to the 43 year old director of his last film and she’s pregnant with his child.

I was sitting in the office when I seen the story on the Internet. One of my coworkers is a male in his early to mid forties and the other is a male in his late twenties. Naturally they took the side of the 19 year old actor while I gave props to the 43 year old director. So when one of them asked me if I’d date a 19 year old I answered “Hell yeah.” (Relax folks, I’m only kidding). My three fantasy dream dates are Tom Welling, Orlando Bloom and Taylor Lautner. All three are gorgeous, sexy and full of stamina. What older woman wouldn’t be tempted when given the choice of them or a man our own age that have to use the little blue pill to entertain us? If a 30 year old wanted to spend some quality time with me I’d probably jump at the chance as soon as I checked out his medical history, his earning potential and his family background. 19 year olds are a bit young and inexperienced and we cougars are looking for someone to spend time with. Hell, you can’t take a 19 year old clubbing, you can’t reference anything before the nineties, and they don’t share their video games.

Something to be Thankful for by Imari Jade - Music manager Julianne Richmond life gets turned upside down when her musical prodigy Cameron Justice announces that he is in love with her. Normally she would be flattered but she’s in her forties and he is just a babe which in her book has the making of a bad love song.

Bad boy rocker Cameron Justice has everything…money, a beautiful mansion, expensive cars, and the lead in an upcoming movie. He is admired by women from all over the world and the envy of men. Spoiled and rotten to a fault, Cameron is used to getting his way. So when he confesses his love to his manager Julianne he naturally thought she would accept. Unfortunately, Julianne turns him down like a hot potato because he is too young for her and bruises his fragile little rock star ego. On one of his wild tirades Cameron packs up his things and leaves Hollywood.

Spurred by the mass hysteria of Cameron’s fans Julianne hops in a car and drives halfway across the country to bring his psychotic butt home. But once she finds him back in the sleeping little mountain town where he was born, dressed in tight-fitting jeans and a plaid shirt she discovers maybe having a sexy young blond mountain man might not be a bad thing.

Imari Jade is multi-genre romance and horror writer, and bit of a humorist. You can contact her through her website: http://www.imarijade.com/

Or at her blogs: http://imarijade.blogspot.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/imarijade

Buy Link:

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=777

Beginnings

Here's the opening of my very unedited Melting Melinda short story for Total-E-Bound. My editor has not yet seen this, and I'm awful at self-edits. But, here's my current project: A cougar story for an anthology about older women and younger men.

Melting Melinda
Out January in an Anthology by TEB

What can I do to make you come?” Ethan asked, his voice low and teasing.

Melinda George rolled the stemmed water glass between her fingers. Moisture glistened like tempting diamonds on crystal. One clear drop slipped down and splatted on the web of skin between her finger and thumb.

She stared at it intently. So much easier than meeting Ethan’s gaze across the linen laid table. She licked her lips wishing she could twist his words into a flirtatious come-on, but she couldn’t. Not with Ethan. Not with her best friend’s son.

“Nothing,” she answered, finally. “Your mom already tried to talk me into going but I just can’t.”
“But you love the beach house.”

Melinda glanced around the restaurant, begging Karen to hurry up and get there. Waiting in the romantic setting, across from Ethan, tempted every womanly cell in her body.

Off limits, Mel. Way off limits. Hurry up, Karen, before I eat your boy alive.

She chanced a look at him and nearly groaned. “Uh, stuff. Just, you know, stuff to do and things.”

Ethan’s slow smile melted her insides. “Stuff and things? Sounds really important.”

Care to share the first few lines of your current project?