NOTE: Don’t let the title confuse you. This is a new call for submissions. The previous “Sex Objects” has been renamed “High Octane Heroes.”

Sex Objects: An Anthology of Erotic Romance Stories
Editor: Delilah Devlin
Publisher: Cleis Press in Spring 2014
Deadline: July 1, 2013 July 15, 2013 (although sooner is better!)

Sex Objects: An Anthology of Erotic Romance Stories is open to all authors.

Editor Delilah Devlin is looking for hetero stories for a romantic erotica anthology tentatively entitled Sex Objects: An Anthology of Erotic Romance Stories.

High powered, high ranking…and in high heels.

The term “Sex Object” brings to mind a curvaceous starlet on a casting couch or an iconic, bee-stung-lipped beauty being pursued by a powerful, capable man. Turn that concept upside down by allowing the woman to objectify a handsome, sensual man, using the concepts of role reversal and power play but from a female perspective, and you have the makings of something evocative and fun for the feminine, romance reading audience.

Imagine powerful women unafraid of going after the men they want…
* A beautiful divorcee stepping out for the first time as a single woman with a paid male escort.
* The movie producer using the casting couch to lure the latest movie heart throb into a torrid affair.
* A university professor calling a male grad student into conference to discuss his “thesis.”
* A worldly corporate boss asking for “dictation” from her personal assistant.

These women will be masters of their own domain, in charge and proud…capable of using sex for pleasure’s sake…but ultimately succumbing to the pull of desire created by the “objects” of their desire.

Sex Objects will seek contemporary stories, although the editor is open to a futuristic or historical. Exotic, international settings will be considered. Traditional themes/tropes can be used, but writers are encouraged to create tales that surprise. Delilah seeks unique stories from authors with strong voices, and above all, she’s looking to be seduced by tales filled with vivid imagery and passion.

Published authors with an established world may use that setting for their original short story.

Keeping in mind that this volume is targeted at women, the editor seeks mainly hetero stories, but will consider bisexual or lesbian encounters and polyamorous relationships. This is erotic romance, so don’t hold back on the heat. Stories can be vanilla or filled with kink, but a deep sensuality should linger in every word—and don’t miss describing the connection between strong-willed individuals learning to trust and love one another. Keep in mind there must be a romantic element with a happy-for-now or happy-ever-after ending. Strong plots, engaging characters, and unique twists are the ultimate goal. Please no reprints. These must be original stories.

How to submit: Prepare your 1,500 to 4,500 words story in a double-spaced, Arial, 12 point, black font document with pages numbered (.doc, NOT.docx) OR rich text format. Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch and double space (regular double spacing, do not add extra lines between paragraphs or do any other irregular spacing). US grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.) is required.

In your document at the top left of the page, include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address, and 50 words or less bio in the third person to realsexobjects@gmail.com. If you are using a pseudonym, please provide your real name and pseudonym and make it clear which one you’d like to be credited as. Authors may submit up to 2 stories. Delilah will respond in December 2013. The publisher has final approval over the stories included in the manuscript.

Payment will be $50.00 USD and two copies of the published book upon publication.

About the editor: Ms. Devlin has published over a hundred and twenty stories in multiple sub-genres and lengths with Atria/Strebor, Avon, Berkley, Black Lace, Cleis Press, Ellora’s Cave, Kensington, Kindle, Montlake Romance, Running Press, and Samhain Publishing. In Fall 2011, she debuted her first anthology with Cleis Press, GIRLS WHO BITE. Since then, she has published SHE SHIFTERS and COWBOY LUST. SMOKIN’ HOT FIREFIGHTERS and HIGH OCTANE HEROES  release in summer 2013.

Direct any questions you have regarding your story or the submission process to Delilah at realsexobjects@gmail.com.

I was supposed to have a guest here today, and she still might send me something to post, but since I had the blog free this morning, I thought I’d tell you about things I have coming soon!

04/?/12 – STROKES, VOL. 2 (Kindle/Smashwords) — This is a second self-published volume of short stories to follow the first Strokes. Seven naughty nibblets you should enjoy! I have to get busy putting it together. I already have a gorgeous cover for it, which you can see on my Coming Soon page.

05/??/13 – TWICE THE BANG (Samhain) — This is the fourth Delta Heat book! It’s the silent, enigmatic Beau McIntyre’s story, and it’s hawt—just as you’d expect, with plenty of play with his closest friends. This one’s written and turned in. I’ll be sure to update the exact date of release when I have it!

06/04/13 – LOST SOULS (Montlake Romance) — If you haven’t read the prequel, Shattered Souls, be sure to do it before the next full-length installment of Caitlyn O’Connell’s spooky adventures. It’s already available for pre-order, and I’ve included an excerpt below for your reading enjoyment!

06/25/13 –THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF QUICK AND DIRTY EROTICA (Running Press) —I have two hot short stories, “Quick Draw” and “All About Me,” appearing in this volume.

07/16/13 – SMOKIN’ HOT FIREMEN (Cleis Press) — My next collection for Cleis, for which I got to select the stories and do the initial edit, includes my homage to Magic Mike, “Johnny Blaze.” You won’t want to miss this anthology!

07/??/13 – A LONG, HOT SUMMER (Samhain) — This isn’t written yet. I actually start it this week. But it’s the last of the Triple Horn Brand books (yesterday’s release, In Too Deep, was book #2) and features a May-December romance. Brother Tommy is the younger partner here. 🙂

08/13/13 – HIGH OCTANE HEROES (Cleis Press) — HOH has gone through many names, “Super Alpha Heroes,” “Sex Objects,” but now it’s finally got a name that fits this collection of hard-charging stories about men who know how to fight and how to handle a woman. When I have the final cover, I’ll be sure to share that too!

And that’s all that’s pretty much set in stone for now. In the meantime, enjoy an excerpt from my June release, Lost Souls! It’s an unedited snippet, so forgive any typos. Don’t you love the cover?!

Fan favorite Delilah Devlin delivers her second paranormal romantic thriller featuring unforgettable heroine, Caitlyn O’Connell. This time, the psychic PI joins her police detective ex-husband to find a demon pulling women into the past to commit their murders in a seedy Memphis hotel.

Private Investigator Caitlyn O’Connell is tapped by Memphis PD to discover who has been using a Memphis hotel as his killing ground. Women are going missing, and their bodies are found inside the walls of the hotel. But the bodies themselves? They appear to have been murdered in the distant past. With ghosthunters and cops crawling all over the crime scene, Cait and her detective ex-husband Sam Pierce race to find the demon responsible before he kills again.

Darkness sank as murky as the sultry summer air, as heavy as a blanket pulled over a child’s head to hide the monsters lurking in a shadowy closet. Street lamps popped and sizzled, darkening then lightening, but failing to flare bright enough or long enough to chase away deep pockets of inky black. Cait was creeped out, since all she had were glimpses of silvery light from a full moon rimming buildings and casting deeper shadows to cloak alleyways and doorway stoops.

Another full moon. An event she was acutely aware encouraged monsters, both human and supernatural, to come out and play. Edgy and beyond bored, she almost wished for something out of the ordinary to happen, but then quickly changed her mind. The last time her job had given her a real challenge she’d battled a demon in an attic while a wraith latched its freezing fingertips around the man sitting beside her, slapping him around like a rag doll.

For just a second, she relished that last memory. At least Jason had been awake.

For the umpteen thousandth time that night, Caitlyn O’Connell sighed. This time exaggerating the sound. Loudly. Actually, more of a groan than a sigh. A sound that invited Jason Crawford, lying back in the seat beside hers, to wake up and keep her company. She was bored as freaking shit. Surveillance was the one part of her job she truly hated. In fact, she thought she might like having her ingrown toenails cut better than sitting in a dark alley waiting for something to happen. Read the rest of this entry »