Lesbians and Zombies, Oh My!

A comfort zone is a safe and beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.

As ERAuthor members know, this is my sig line on the boards. One of the reasons this particular phrase popped into my head today is because lesbians and zombies have taken over the critique boards at ERAuthors.

In a good way. There are several members who are aiming to submit to a possible anthology where the theme is lesbians versus zombies. A good handful, including myself, have taken up the challenge of writing something different than they usually write.

In practical terms, this means chapters full of lesbians and zombies have been showing up routinely in critique folders. The level of heat tends to be on the more intense side, given the criteria the publisher has set.

I’ve never critted a f/f sex scene before.

I have now.

I’ve never written a f/f sex scene before.

I have now.

These pieces have led me, in a good way, to move outside my comfort zone of writing mild heat level m/f stories. Personally I found writing the f/f sex scenes both difficult on one hand and easy on the other.

Difficult because, for me, writing f/f sex is far more introspective than m/f sex.

The easier part was, well, I am a woman and I’d like to think I have some clue of what women like. As KevaD said in his interview on It’s Raining Men blog on October 18, when asked what’s a het male doing writing MM romance and gay fiction (I admit I only pasted his juicy response regarding the sex scenes, you should be sure to read the entire interview):

Well, why not? I certainly know how a man's heart beats when the object of his affection comes near, as well as how his groin stirs under sheer passion and physical desire. And I definitely know how it feels from the male perspective to explore a body, and be explored.

To restate from my perspective: I certainly know how a woman’s body reacts when she’s around the object of her desire, as well the acts and actions which will heighten her passion. And, like KevaD with his own gender, I definitely know how it feels from a female’s perspective to explore a body and be explored.

Writing these scenes is one of the great things about ERAuthors: being in the group definitely makes me walk outside my comfort zone, heck I've taken leaps a bounds outside of it.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Love you guys!


:-)


For those curious, here is a snippet of the piece (still in draft stage!)


*****

“I won’t kill any more zombies which haven’t fully turned,” Camille said. 

Killing everyone with the virus was an early and unsuccessful response to the first wave.  As skanky girl proved, if you took the proper precautions, and received monitored medical care, you could stave off the final effects of zombie virus almost indefinitely. Almost.

In the meantime hundreds of people were killed simply for having the virus.

“No longer the plan,” Deidra informed her truthfully, followed by another lie. Goddess grant that they not turn to truth. “Right now our problem is someone is starting to control the major accesses into the city. All retired operatives in the area are being primed to help take back the transportation systems.”

Nodding Camille shrugged on her back pack. “When do you want me?”

Now, tonight, tomorrow, next Tuesday. Forever. “It’ll take me a week to get the team in place. I’ll text you the time and location.” Deidra gave Camille a long, hard look. “Don’t do anything foolish this weekend, we need you.”

Camille raised her eyebrows. “Do I do foolish things?”

“All the damn time,” Deidra said with an exasperated sigh. She lifted her wrist to her face, still keeping an eye on Camille. Pressing a button on her large wristband, all entirely for show, the Weres could hear every word, she enunciated the order to leave. “Amazon Two: we’re out of here.”

“Congrats on the group,” Camille said, surprising her. Oh, wait, she didn’t know exactly what kind of group Deidra was running, just that she was the lead.

“Thank you,” Deidra said, and then, because she couldn’t help it. “This group’s okay, but I’ve had better.”

The surprise in Camille’s eyes was offset by the snort of a Were behind her. Good thing Camille couldn’t hear the muffled laugh. Time to go. Stepping back Deidra quickly ducked behind the nearest set of shelves then hurried to the rear stairs. On the way she pulled out her phone and texted Camille. She added the program, a virus really, which would send back to her phone all of Camille’s recent messages.

‘You’re looking great.’ Which was most definitely the truth, the two years of grad school were good to Camille. She was no longer on the thin side of lean and her glorious brown hair was now down past her shoulders.  Camille looked content where she was. Unfortunately Deidra couldn’t keep her safe any more, so it was time for her break to end.

Not to mention being without her mate was leading Deidra to make poor decisions. Not safe for herself, much less the men she now commanded.

“So that’s her,” Huey said.

“Yep, hands off,” Deidra said as the humming from the music resumed, “The tall, leggy one she’s all yours.”

The group made various retching sounds.  Right, they probably smelled the zombie virus too.

Laughing she shushed them, not wanting their group to draw attention in the frozen tundra of the parking lot.

“Next time, boss, remember we like them still breathing,” one of the Weres joked once they were in the van and warming up again.

“And stacked.”

“Nah, more than a handful is a waste. Me, I like a nice round ass.”

As they drove across town, Deidra listened to their increasingly ribald qualifications, wondering if she’d become one of the boys, or if they were simply testing her limits.