Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Let's talk sex!

Okay, so I didn't mean it quite the way it sounded. Let's talk sex in the literary sense. My series contains several brief yet relatively explicit sexual encounters. None last more than a couple of pages and all play integral roles in terms of plot development. Using the movie system, I would rate these scenes a soft R, but my wife blushes and says hard R. I'm not sure how others would rate them.

How do you feel about explicit sex in novels? All of us would agree that it is not appropriate for young readers. But how about college level and above? Or is college level even too young? And are there a lot of adults out there who would find descriptions of sexual encounters offensive?

-- Jim

5 comments:

chris said...

If you have such scenes in your books, then I think you are ahead of the curve. Writing SF, it never occurred to me to have some good healthy sex scenes. When I started to write urban fantasy and include female MCs, our agent, Uwe, suggested that I definitely "sex-it-up." I was a bit soft and lacked the daring. Keep in mind that (I believe) most of our readership might be women and, they've always enjoyed, if not sought out, great passion and physical interplay. With today's social mores, and paranormal romance going so strong, sex scenes and relationships have gotten almost down right kinky. Humans entwined with semi-mortals. Interspecies couplings! I say go for it. Though I have to admit that I must get past my own blush factor at times.

Chris

Jim Melvin said...

I was at a sci fi conference one time, and a similar question was brought up. Every single panel member said that they keep sex out of their writings, except for very vague references (like "the next morning, they woke up in each other's arms with smiles on their faces" kind of stuff). I was surprised! And I started wondering, "Is there something wrong with me? Am I oversexed?"

Ha!

littlemissattitude said...

It doesn't bother me, really. I mean, I won't put a book down just because it has sex scenes in it. However, I don't see the point in getting excessively graphic unless it moves the plot along in an essential manner. Maybe it is just a failure of imagination on my part, but I can't think of very many circumstances it which that would be true.

Jim Melvin said...

Ima:

I've heard many people say things that are similar to your comment, so I'm thinking your point of view is in the majority.

In my series, a wizard and sorceress are madly and magically in love. For complex reasons, they are kept from each other. When they finally come together, I describe certain specifics of their love-making -- not to tantalize but to capture the enormity of their passion.

At least that's my reasoning!

littlemissattitude said...

That makes sense to me.

Synopsis

The Death Wizard Chronicles is a sexy, action-packed six-book epic fantasy series: Book One (Forged by Death), Book Two (Chained by Fear), Book Three (Eve of War), Book Four (World on Fire), Book Five (Sun God), Book Six (Death-Know).

The DW Chronicles is not for children and teenagers -- or the faint of heart. But if you like graphic fantasy that is bursting with excitement yet still has a lot going on between the lines, I think you'll love my series.

In a groundbreaking paradox, the Death Wizard, a champion of good, derives his power from a source traditionally seen as negative -- death. His nemesis, an evil sorcerer, derives his power from the sun, the benevolent source of all life. Their struggle to control the fate of the planet Triken will take your breath away.

In an original twist never before seen in this genre, the Death Wizard is able to enter the realm of death during a "temporary suicide." Through intense concentration, he stops his heartbeat and feeds on death energy, which provides him with an array of magical powers.

The series also is a love triangle involving two desperate characters attempting to come together despite the machinations of an all-powerful psychopath with incestuous cravings.

Graphic and action-packed, spanning a millennium of turmoil, The DW Chronicles carries readers on a journey they will never forget.

Do you fear death? The Death Wizard does not. Find out why.

-- Please go to www.jim-melvin.com for more details.

About Me

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Clemson, SC, United States
I was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., but grew up in St. Petersburg, Fla. I graduated from the University of South Florida (Tampa) in 1979 with a B.A. in Journalism. I now live in South Carolina near the Blue Ridge Mountains, a pleasant setting for writing, to say the least. I was an award-winning journalist at the St. Petersburg Times for twenty-five years and I currently work at the Charlotte Observer. I am married with five daughters.

The author

The author
Jim Melvin, a veteran journalist, debuts as novelist.