What's happening at the moment...

Gah, sorry for the long silence here. I'm the most hopeless blogger on the face of the earth. Even when I've got news to announce, I tend to blank on ways to convey it and blog about it. Shameful, when writing is my trade...

So what's the latest?

My most recent publication is a short story in the lovely Rachel Kramer Bussel's PASSION anthology.

This is a selection of hot but romantic stories from a variety of authors including Rachel herself, my brilliant critique partner and all round literary life support pal Saskia Walker, and other online buddies like Justine Elyot and Charlene Teglia, plus many more fabulous folk. My effort is THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT and features an unlikely hero, a hated and feared 'management consultant' who comes in to sort out the company where the heroine works. But when Susie meets Noah out of hours, in a bar, she discovers he's not quite the ogre she's made him out to be at work... in fact, he's a sexy hunk with a much more amenable side to his nature.

Here's a mini snippet of THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT, plus some links so you can buy PASSION!

In terms of what I'm writing at the moment... Well, I'm working on the early stages of a proposal for my second Spice novel. I have one or two different notions... I won't grace them with the word ideas as they're still so vague they hardly earn that title... but the strongest contender seems to be something I'm just calling Diamonds for the moment. It involves a Victorian inheritance, and a pair of distant cousins with issues - both between one another, and with other people and situations. Adela and Wilson Ruffington don't really like each other all that much, although they can't deny a mutual attraction. Both are somewhat spiky and difficult characters, and not what you'd classically call "beautiful people". I'm at the very early stages with Diamonds, though, and have only written half of a scene... and have very little plot to speak of, as yet.

Prior to working on Diamonds, I completed A Gentlewoman's Dalliance, which is #4 in my Victorian Ladies' Sewing Circle series for Harlequin Spice Briefs. In this one, naughty prime time lady, Mrs. Mary Brigstock indulges in kinky fun with her hubby... and a handsome young 'specialist'. Oooh, la, la! I'm hoping to post a teaser of that one soon on my web site, along with one from #3, A Gentlewoman's Rescue, in which lady bicyclist Lucy falls off her bike and almost straight into the arms of Ethan, a deliciously earthy hunk with a secluded country cottage.

These two stories won't be available until September 2012 and March 2013 respectively, alas. Sob, sob, sob... But in the meantime, you can still whet your appetite for my Victorian writing with my first two Ladies' Sewing Circle outings: A Gentlewoman's Predicament and A Gentlewoman's Ravishment, the risqué adventures of Circle members Sofia and Prudence respectively.

That's all for the moment, but I hope to post again tomorrow [yeah, right...] with news of what's in the pipeline for next year and beyond in terms of writing and book and story releases...

A Wonderful Review of my Ladies!

"The Ladies' Sewing Circle"

I just received the most wonderful review for my two Ladies' Sewing Circle stories, from Wendy the Superlibrarian, over at The Good, The Bad and The Unread. Wendy has always written thoughtful and positive reviews of my work, and even though she's used to me writing contemporary set stories, I seem to have hit the mark for her with my first historical offerings too. Wahey!

"I’m a fan of Portia Da Costa’s brand of erotica mostly because of her heroines. She writes really fun, strong heroines. The kind of girls I’d like to be friends with, have a drink at the local pub with, or watch chick flicks with while digging our way through a box of chocolates. I also like that she has a strong contemporary writing voice. So when I heard she was working on some Victorian-set erotic romances for Harlequin, I was immediately intrigued. Will her “voice” work as well in historical as it does in contemporary?" ~ Wendy the Superlibrarian

Why not nip on over and see what she has to say...

DDS Review: The Ladies’ Sewing Circle by Portia Da Costa

Thank you, SuperWendy! :)

Ebook fun!

I think this is so cool from my friends at Diesel Ebooks!

Earl of Diesel's Risque Parlor Bundle

Contains:

Devil's Pearl
A Gentlewoman's Predicament
A Gentlewoman's Ravishment
Her Dark Master

Sewing Circles, Sex Slaves, and Ravishment, all in a typical Regency/Victorian afternoon...

A jolly collection of saucy historical rompage, containing 2 of mine and 2 more hot stories by other authors.

Buy here from Diesel eBooks!

And here's news of another vintage Portia title now in Kindle format...

THE TUTOR

Rosalind Howard takes a job as personal librarian to the enigmatic and handsome Julian Hadey. Employed to catalogue his vast archive of erotica, she soon finds herself presented with a still more intriguing challenge.

The Tutor is one of my older titles, first published around 1995, and I'm thrilled that it's finally available again in a new format. 

Buy from Kindle Store UK

Listed at  Kindle Store US- check back for availability

Read a naughty excerpt - Julian has sexy thoughts and takes action ;)

News, reviews, links

Well, not all that much news, really. The main thing is that I've heard back from my agent about In The Flesh and she thinks it's "excellent"! She's also very pleased that I've completed it in time to submit it to the editor a full two months before my stated deadline.

I've also received a couple of lovely reviews for my Ladies' Sewing Circle titles, A Gentlewoman's Predicament and A Gentlewoman's Ravishment, both from author, editor and reviewer Lucy Felthouse. Lucy has long been a supporter of my work, and I'm delighted that she's enjoyed my latest offerings.

Here's what she has to say about A Gentlewoman's Predicament...

I’ve read lots of Portia Da Costa’s work in the past, but this is the first historical erotica of hers that I’ve read. And I have to say that although it’s a huge departure from her contemporary stuff, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s been so brilliantly written that you forget that you’re actually in modern times, as opposed to Victorian England. The tone, the language and the dialogue are perfectly crafted and it makes for a fab read!

Read the full review here!

And now, her thoughts on A Gentlewoman's Ravishment...

This is a fabulous story in this series from Portia Da Costa. I actually preferred this to the first, and based on these two, can’t wait to see what’s going to happen to the Victorian ladies next. Recommended.

Read the full review here!

I'd also like to point my visitors in the direction of a fantastic new web site set up by Lucy...

EROTICA FOR ALL

This is a fast growing hub of information for authors and readers of erotica and erotic romance, and features author bios, excerpts, and competitions and giveaways. There's also a forum where readers and authors can interact. Why not surf along there now and check it out! 

A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT - cheeky excerpt

When Prudence is 'kidnapped' by a ruthless masked stranger, she ends up sequestered in a sumptuous Arabian Nights style boudoir to await his further pleasure. However, there are 'distractions' to keep her mind off her plight... and their names are Clarence and Yuri! ;)

Click here to meet the boys who love to serve

Or if you think you're ready for the Full Monty, buy from Harlequin and read the whole story!

Belated release day for A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT

"I'd love to be abducted and ravished by some handsome brigand or pirate..."

When the women of the Ladies' Sewing Circle share their private fantasies, some are shocked by Mrs. Prudence Enderby's secret desire. But Prudence cannot imagine life without such exotic daydreams—especially since they arouse her husband, too!

Yet Prudence never imagined she would actually be whisked off the street by a mysterious masked man who has his wicked way with her in a carriage. Taking her back to a boudoir appointed for pleasure, he continues to bring every one of her fantasies to life. But nothing could be more surprising than when Prudence finally learns who is behind this gentlewoman's ravishment...

A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT was actually published on Tuesday, 1st June, but alas I've been a bit poorly with some kind of horrible stomach flu lurgy and wasn't able to announce it on time. But never mind, here it is, complete with its adorable cover, and I hope you'll all enjoy it! If you enjoyed A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT you'll be pleased to meet an old friend from that story too. 

Here's a naughty excerpt and some links to various ebook stores to buy it.

New sales!

I'm thrilled to announce that Harlequin have accepted another of my short stories for the Spice Briefs line! This one is called A VERY PERSONAL ASSISTANT and is about what happens when the relationship between a dynamic female executive and her handsome and sexy P.A. takes an unexpected turn down the path towards pervy eroticism. I'm particularly delighted that this story will see the light of publishing day, because it's my first sale inspired by my latest muse, Patrick Jane from the The Mentalist. Of course *my* Patrick isn't a police consultant with almost supernatural powers of observation... but he certainly does bear a startling resemblance to a certain Mr. Jane. In my mind at least. He might appear quite different to someone else reading the story... :)

 
But that's not the end of the good news. The editors at Harlequin not only accepted this particular story, but they asked if I would write two additional ones for the line too. These stories aren't specified or written yet, but this is the ideal opportunity to pen a couple more tales in the LADIES' SEWING CIRCLE series, and I already have several ideas that I'd like to flesh out for these commissions. So hopefully in the future, you'll be able to read about new heroines who are the friends of Sofia [A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT] and Prudence [A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT] and discover what naughty escapades they get up to!

Isn't this luscious?

Here's the sumptuous cover for my June Spice Brief, A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT.

Isn't it divine?

If you want to learn more about this naughty story from the Ladies' Sewing Circle, there's a blurb and excerpt here.

And you can also pre-order if you so wish here at eHarlequin.

For maximum enjoyment, remember to read A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT first!

Oooh, A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT goes live!

Am very excited today, as A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT has just gone live at eHarlequin for pre-order!

This is a big thrill for me, as I'm sort of officially a historical romance author now, and this is a first peek into the overall 'world' of IN THE FLESH, too, although the characters from the novel don't actually appear in this short. Sofia Harewood, the heroine of Gentlewoman, does however go on to appear not only in the sequel, A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT, but also as a supporting character - under her new married name - in IN THE FLESH.

Something fun, on the Harlequin page, that I hadn't expected, is that the two Gentlewoman books also have a series title - THE LADIES' SEWING CIRCLE! At the moment, there are only the two Briefs, and a reference to the Circle in the novel, but now I'm fancying writing some more short stories about the Ladies who gather, not so much to embroider but to sew seeds of mischief amongst one another. Maybe they could even feature in longer works, such as another novel, or novellas?

Writing more Victorians would be lots of fun for me to do, and also, more stories set in that era would justify my extravagance on books and magazines about those times! Only this morning, I received a copy of The Times from 1889... fascinating stuff!

A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT - available at eHarlequin

ps. as the Brief becomes available at other outlets, I'll post info here and on its page at my site.

Bit of a round up

Here are some bits and pieces of news and links.

First of all, I've been pottering with my web site and tidying up the links for most books. Instead of a raft of buy links on the home page, I've now put all the buying links on the excerpt pages, so that each book or story has its own area with blurb, buy links and excerpt. It's still not a work of art but it looks slightly less bitty now.

In order to shift the links to the individual pages, I've had to make individual pages for a few books that didn't have them... and add new excerpts. New naughty titbits include a snapshot of my story UNVEILING HIS MUSE, which is included in Alison's Wonderland and a smidge from my June Spice Brief, A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT. There's also a nugget from ANOTHER CHANCE, a Spice Brief out later in the year, although that's already appeared on Portia's Prose. [click the titles to savor these cheeky chunkettes!]

I'm also excited to hear from my agent that my DOROTHY STARR novels and stories are now going to become available as ebooks. DESIGNED FOR SIN is already out as a Kindle ebook, but HOTEL OF LOVE and MIDNIGHT STARR [short story collection] are also now in the pipeline.
[ps. the Dorothy Starr web site is rudimentary and not really worth looking at, but I hope to make it nicer soon. Another procrastination technique.]


I've also had some good news about an older Black Lace title of mine. IN TOO DEEP has received a lovely review from Niki at Joyfully Reviewed. Here's a bit of what she has to say...

In Too Deep is hot , hot, and even hotter. If the letters don’t get you going, the sex when they finally meet will. There’s not a single page that doesn’t ooze passionate sex. If you are looking for a hot read, you will definitely find it here.

You can read the full review here.

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Eating: Jumbo Chocolate Swiss Roll
Watching: various
Reading: Patience/Sherlock for Dummies
Writing: victorianoid
Feeling: ok

Wahey, a new sale!

Totally thrilled to announce that [subject to contract, of course] I've made a new sale to a house that's brand new to me!

FAR FROM PERFECT is a category length contemporary romance, and it's going to be published by Samhain Publishing. This is what I'd call a sensual romance, rather than erotic. It has some hot sexy love scenes, but they're not described in quite the same explicit sort of language I'd use in my erotica and erotic romance. Still pretty sizzling though, hopefully, with a delicious and rather glam Italian hero.

I don't have a publication date as yet, but I'll be posting about it here as soon as I do have one! In the meantime, here's the blurb:

FAR FROM PERFECT

Enduring passion, turbulent emotions, and an engagement of convenience…

Four years ago, Anna Felgate seduced Nick Lisitano, a family friend she'd known all her life and always had a crush on. It was only supposed to be a one night thing, and the chance to lose her virginity with an experienced older man and legendary lover… but one taste of passion with Nick branded her soul for all time.

Four years ago, Nick Lisitano had a single night of peerless lovemaking with the one beautiful young woman he'd told himself he could never, ever have. Scarred by his parents' nightmare relationship, he'd sworn off commitment forever in favour of temporary liaisons, but he knew Anna deserved deep, enduring love.

A far from perfect match, the two agree to forget their ecstatic night and manage to maintain a cordial distance for four long years. Until a family crisis brings the two of them together again and Nick makes a daring proposition… that they enter into a temporary façade of an engagement, to lift the spirits of his dangerously ill father. Against her better judgement, Anna goes along with him, even in spite of the perilous emotional turmoil that she knows being close to Nick again will bring.

But with genuine feelings for each other, and a volcanic mutual attraction that's just bursting to reignite, can Nick and Anna keep to the terms their pragmatic agreement? Or will the passion of past become a present affair… and maybe more?

----

I'm thrilled to bits to be writing for Samhain, because it's a house I've admired and aspired to being an author with for ages, both for its peerless reputation and its wonderful stable of writers.

And in other news...

Don't forget that my first historical Spice Brief - A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT - comes out on 1st May! It's the story of a frisky and inquisitive Victorian widow, and what happens when she seeks "intimate advice to the gentlewoman"... hee hee!

Here's a naughty excerpt

A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT will follow in June!

First sighting - A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT

Wahey! Here's the delicious cover for my first historical Spice Brief, a Victorian set story called A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT.

Isn't it smashing? Super sexy, but in a subtle and tasteful way. I love it that he's got his clothes *on*!

"Predicament" is due out on the 1st May '10, with it's linked story A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT to follow in June.

Here's a brief excerpt of A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT. Hope you like it!

Exciting News!!!!

I'm thrilled to announce that I've been offered a two book contract to write erotic romance novels for Harlequin Spice, the big sister of Spice Briefs, the line of short erotic fiction I've been writing for since last November.

I don't have full details of publication and delivery as yet, but the first book will be the critter I've been calling Victorianoid, which is actually an erotic romance set in the late 1880s, provisionally entitled IN THE FLESH. It's a kind of Victorian 'Indecent Proposal', with a feisty heroine, determined to make the best of a tricky situation she's got herself into, and a hot, sexually voracious, very alpha Victorian gentlemen who takes a fancy to her. I think it's going to be lots of fun!

IN THE FLESH is loosely linked to A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT and A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT which come out back to back as Spice Briefs next Spring!

Not sure yet what the second book of the deal will be... but I'll worry about that when the time comes! :)



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Eating: potato snacks
Watching: Airforce Afghanistan
Reading: various
Writing: nothing today
Feeling: excited!!!!

Bad blogger!

Ack, another blogging hiatus! I'm terrible, aren't I? I wish I could say it's because I'm pouring out thousands and thousands of shining words, but it isn't. I'm just foofing about wasting time, as usual.

I am working today though, on a short novella/long story for Spice Briefs. It's the second in my as yet unseen 'Gentlewoman' series, and it's about Mrs Prudence Enderby who gets abducted by an exotic rogue and made to perform erotic naughtiness for him in his luxurious perfumed hideaway. Hee! At the moment, she's being 'prepared' for him by his two hunky minons, Clarence and Yuri, who are very well set up lads, shall we say. Cue much perfumed massage and pampering... Frisky Prudence ought to be far more scared and ashamed than she actually is. She's a somewhat randy Victorian miss, and likes to go with the flow... LOL

Watch this space for more news of this mad but fun story!

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Eating: Tesco Value Jaffa Cakes
Watching: Snooker
Reading: Private Arrangements - Sherry Thomas
Writing: A Gentlewoman's Ravishment, 5K words so far
Feeling: nil bastardi carborundum

Credit crunch....

Times are hard, and I'm reduced to Tesco's 'value' chocolate digestives for my mid morning treat. Still yummy, though, but I yearn for the days of Hotel Chocolat and luxury muffins and whatnot... :(

Any road up, I know I've been a very poor blogger lately, so will attempt a bit of catch up here...

So, what's happening...

At the moment, I've got the contracts for my next two Spice Briefs on my desk. These are ANOTHER CHANCE & A GENTLEWOMAN'S RAVISHMENT. Another Chance is about further naughty goings on at Blaystock Manor, which is featured in CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, my first Spice Brief. This time it's Maud the archivist who's having some sexy, spanky fun with William the hunky estate steward. Hee hee! A Gentlewoman's Ravishment features Prudence Enderby, who gets a shock when her forbidden erotic fantasies about being kidnapped and ravished by a fabulously horny brigand start to come true!

Another Chance is nearly complete, but Ravishment is yet to be started. They'll both appear sometime in 2010, Ravishment in Spring, probably, the month after its sister story, A GENTLEWOMAN'S PREDICAMENT is published, and Chance, later in that year.

My next publication, due out on 1st May, is TWICE THE PLEASURE, the first in my Risque Reunions trilogy for Spice Briefs. I'm hoping that the other two stories in this trio appear in consecutive months... Twice is about Caitlyn, who, returning to her old high school college for a ten year reunion, meets up with the beau she was besotted with back in the day... and who unfortunately didn't seem to be besotted with her, because he was besotted with his best male buddy! But all is not as it seems, and the three old college mates come to an erotic and deliciously wicked understanding.

What else have I been working on recently? Well, my first ever full length historical erotic romance! This is a first for me, as I've always been shy of attempting something that needs so much research, and have also always felt that I'm a person very much rooted in the contemporary... But the idea of writing a historical was suggest to me, and really took my fancy, so I thought I'd give it a shot and have written a proposal for a hot historical set in the late Victorian period. I must stress this is only a proposal, and not a commissioned work... so it's in the lap of the gods as to whether it'll meet the approval of an editor... In these tough times, when publishing opportunities are at even more of a premium than ever, I'm going to need the crossed fingers, toes and miscellaneous other extremities of all my friends and fans if 'victorianoid' is to succeed!