Pink Cupcakes

Classy Sexiness

 
 

When I was writing 'A Love That Makes Life Drunk' I became fascinated with a certain little lady - the Playboy Bunny.

Finding out about these beautiful ladies was quite difficult though because everytime I attempted to Google, alot of unsavoury pictures popped up or were consequently blocked - and then I stumbled across the wonderful ex-Playboy Bunnies.

 

This site does as it says - it is a webpage for former Bunnies.  

Whilst researching the character of "Lily" I used this site alot for it's beautiful photographs and biographies of women who had once slipped on those uber fitted satin costumes and floppy bunny ears.  At this time I had no idea there were so many different designs of the Bunny Girl outfit.  Pictures I'd seen through the years always featured the classic black satin Bunny, so I was captivated as I flicked through the pages of former Bunnies to see the costume they were wearing, and the further I read, the more I had to incorporate this iconic figure into my work.  

 

It was during research for the novel I began reading Kathryn Leigh Scott's 'The Bunny Years' - a fascinating account of the women who worked as Bunnies and what they are doing today.  I mean, how many of us know Bunnies had to be padded out with dry cleaning bags because their breasts had to protrude a certain way in the outfit? Or having to stand in a precise pose (the Bunny Dip) when serving drinks even if it did almost break your back?  Or that a Bunny should never "mingle" with a patron? These facts, along with many others were part of the 'Playboy Club Bunny Manual' and had to be adhered to at all times whilst on duty - they were very strict guidelines.

 

One other piece of information I discovered is the concept of the 'Playmate'.  See, occasionally a Bunny Girl would be asked to pose for the Playboy magazine - the famous 'Centrefold' - she then became a 'Playmate.' As regular readers to this blog will be aware, my adoration for Miss May 1972 - Deanna Baker was founded at this time - a seriously beautiful Playmate whom captured my imagination and lead to the precise creation of 'Lily'.

 

By the time I had finished reading 'The Bunny Years', I knew Bunnies were not just sexy girls dressed in satin costumes with rabbit ears, they were infact intelligent, ambitious, and beautiful women breaking new ground.

 

I wanted to be one.

 

I don't think I'm giving too much away by saying  'Bunny Lily Ellen' wears green satin - often the Bunnies were given a certain colour/design based on her hair colour, naturally a beautiful redhead wears green - why would I want to change it?

 

I actually own an original copy of Playboy May1972 - I won it at auction on eBay a few years back.  It is a treasured possession; and as I read about Deanna Baker's black belt in Karate and her ambitions of owning her own beauty business I realise there are so many feminist issues surrounding the Bunny, none of which I wish to go into in this post - but I want to conclude with a couple of wonderful quotes, the first from Kathryn Leigh Scott from the final chapter of her book,

"We were young women on the move, out there pushing a new frontier.  We were like sisters learning together how to take charge of our own lives.  We protected each other.  We were a rare bouquet." - The Bunny Years (1998)

 

The second, a quote from 'A Love That Makes Life Drunk'  during a casual converastion between Lily and Jefferson-

'Bunny Girls,' she said over dinner, 'don't you think they're the epitome of Classy Sexiness?'

She makes me smile,

'Classy sexiness?' I said picking up my wine, 'is that a word?'

'No,' she smiled, 'I just made it up.' She started laughing, 'anyway J, the 1960's and 70's American and British Bunnies were as gorgeous as Hell.'

I think you know my standing on this one now.

K x
 
 
 

Karen in the 21st Century

 

I've finally done it - created a webpage.

It's something I've shied away from for a while now, but with the release of the 2nd novel next year it's become a necessity.

It's a simple creation to promote Karen Roderick - the author, and has a link to my Pink Cupcakes blog as well as ways to purchase my debut novel 'A Love That Makes Life Drunk'.  It contains information about the forthcoming novel 'Hope & Jump' and news on book signings, release dates and interviews.  I'm also working on 'Visual Karen Roderick', where there will eventually be video recordings of book readings available to watch and listen.

Karen Roderick is finally entering the 21st Century...

www.karenroderick.moonfruit.com

X

It Hurts...editing

 

In my early days of writing, I was so precious about my first draft I didn't want to change anything, afraid if I took something out, corrected, or added something, it wouldn't be the story I wanted to tell. I became very attached and very sentimental about my words and characters, but as I grew and developed, I realised the enormity of my imagination and steadily realised editing or rewriting is absolutely everything.

It took me almost 12 months to rewrite A Love That Makes Life Drunk, a 120,000 word manuscript I basically tore apart, and put back together; At the time I was anxious and unsure, wondering if I'd done the right thing, had I ruined what I originally set out to do.

In 'Rewriting', Kaplan (1998), describes this first draft as a "warm promise of glory", he also goes onto explain that after basking in finishing the first draft, often rewriting is the last thing a writer may be thinking about, that a "few brush ups...punctuation, typos and spelling..." is enough - it's not.

I can't emphasis enough that rewriting is everything. It turns "a promising piece of work, into a sharp, precise manuscript that hopefully won't end up on a slush pile". Kaplan (1998) says one of the essential attributes to being a good writer is "ten per cent inspiration and ninety per cent perspiration", yet still there is a reluctance to rewrite in full, that means, as again, Kaplan (1998) suggests, "maybe we're just too easily satisfied, too much in love with our own words, or too 'frozen' by them."

I was one of those "reluctants" and had been for years, until I became very serious about my work being published. People were actually going to read MY words, and therefore, I can only be judged by what's in print, and since I've spent years trying to master this incredibly difficult thing called "writing", I put in that ninety per cent perspiration Kaplan talked about with a lot of sacrifices along the way.

So, what about finding the time, because there's work, kids, family, the house etc, and your "hobby" can no way been seen to be coming first (!) I was on maternity leave with Little Fella when I wrote the first draft of my published novel. It took about 6 weeks. I'd grab an hour or so during his naps, forgoing the chance to kip myself because "Jefferson Howie" was pestering me more than sleep, and pretty soon it became obvious to me this manuscript was something special.

With negotiations, sacrifices and fantastic support from Big Fella and the Parents, I stole 3 days a week to start editing. From my hubby's point of view (because he isn't really interested in writing), I could be onto something lucrative, so supporting me emotionally and financially to do this most amazing thing, could benefit us in the long term. From my Parents' view, they got to have Little Fella every week to give loads of love and fuss.

I set up my writer's space and started my new "job". It wasn't easy. I was often very tired, a bit grumpy, frustrated at reading over the same damned sentence fifty times and still not knowing why is sounded clumsy. I missed out on Little Fella's bathtime, evening drinks in the garden with Big Fella and totally neglected my appearance.

Then a bombshell struck. Money was tight. I had to go back to work.

This complicated things, but not one to be defeated, I came to a compromise with Big Fella, and I worked on the book 3 evenings a week instead - which was even harder. I look back now and wonder how I did it, how I survived, or how the book flowed and read as easily as it does, but I know one thing, those long and sometimes excruciating hours of editing had a hell of a lot to do with it, and those 10 drafts I spent 12 months working on, is now a published novel.

I have to say, revising the Opening was the most frustrating part because it determines whether a reader will continue reading your story, short or novel, and now when I read over those old drafts, it's not the same chapter, I tore it apart numerous times, talked myself out of sentimentality and went for it, without regret, because I know it was the right thing to do.

OK, so I could go on for hours about this revision stuff, but instead I'm recommending you read  "Rewriting - A creative approach to writing fiction" by David Michael Kaplan. It is essential reading for anyone serious about sending off a manuscript in the hope of being published. It addresses issues such as: Why revise?, First Revisions and Openings, Cutting out what's not essential, Adding what's essential, rearranging the plot and endings, and plenty more to give you that really special manuscript.

I hope I haven't put you off, because I actually found revising totally inspiring. I fell in love with my characters again, and got to go back and add things, refuelling my love for London and Paris. It opened doors to new inspirations and characters that have subsequently developed into new stories and interests, and even people and friends, and you do not have to be the most academic person to do this job, or have (or had) a trade in Publising or Journalism, because it wasn't really until my mid to late twenties that these things clicked in to place for me either. Self belief and constructive criticism is what you need, there is no room in this competitive career for sensitive souls, numerous rejections will put pay to that, be strong, pick yourself up, and start again. You are a writer remember, so write.

Have a good Tuesday 

K xx

Kooky, but Cool

  

When I first started this blog affectionately known as "Pink Cupcakes", it was to market my debut novel "A Love That Makes Life Drunk".  I'd been writing for many years, with 15 written novels to my name, but this was my first published novel and as an unknown writer I knew I had a long and difficult road ahead of me - I still do.

My first attempt to promote and sell myself was a clumsy and amateurish postcard featuring a rather dodgy print of the book's sleeve - it was bloody dreadful. They looked unprofessional and the font was wrong, but since I naively had 1000 printed I was stuck with them - until I came across this brilliant little company via a Woman and Business article in Country Living Magazine called Moo.

Moo allowed me to upload my favourite Facebook photos and create them into postcards (pictured above), as well as business cards and my favourite device (and my boys'), stickers.

 

This photo I used for one of 2 business cards,

 

This being the other.

 

This became a sticker,

 

So did this,

 

and this.

This time I was a little more savvy and ordered a much smaller quantit, no, I'm not being pessimistic, just a realist, but when they arrived I was so thrilled I just knew they'd be another order sometime in the future, and so I continue happily to slot the postcards and business cards inside every book purchased through Amazon, Pink Cupcakes and in the near future books sold through YPD-books.com

Kooky it may be, but this cool marketing and publicity tool, is something personal and unique to Pink Cupcakes and Karen Roderick, a small touch, that keeps in tone with Karen Roderick - the writer and "A Love That Makes Life Drunk". A long way from the clumsy tatty postcards from the early days.

  Moo is the future.

Karen xx

Naive Irony

Me being me, I have kind of put my foot in it again.

OK, straight to the point, it appears the cute cover of my book A Love That Makes Life Drunk is causing a wee bit of controversy.

See, when I decided this was the only cover in the world for my book, I guess I thought everyone would see the irony in it.  Anyway, yes, it is unassuming, and people have felt a little mislead, so, for the record, it is not chick lit and DOES contain strong adult content.  The babble on the back of the novel also indicates there is likely to be some detailed sexual scenes, but I have also added a warning on the front icon page to make readers aware - it's only right so no one gets red faced and upset.

Right done!

Be good,

K xx

Dazed and Confused

 

It appears someone is offended by me.

To be more specific, my choice of conversation on this blog and the Pink Cupcakes fan page on Facebook.

I'm not really sure who or why, but I'm assuming it's the post about Miss May 1972.  I can only hope who (not sure how many reported it "abusive") actually read the content.  Yes, the pictures may be a little provocative, but it's the words that bring the post together and explain the reasons for showing you Deanna Baker.  I can absolutely assume the Facebook users who reported Pink Cupcakes as "abusive" have not read A Love That Makes Life Drunk and know nothing about me as a writer.

I'm sad about this for only one reason; I am now blocked from telling anyone about my Pink Cupcakes Fan Page on Facebook, and so to avoid any further "offence", I have removed the "abusive" pictures of Miss May 1972.

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil...you are being watched...

Sadly

Karen x

In store today we have the Author, Karen Roderick...

 

When Borders suggested I do a book signing at their Coventry store I was petrified.

Big Fella convinced me it would be a great idea, a way of getting myself out there, and although I knew all of this, it still kinda felt like I was waiting to go to the dentist.  I was as organised as I could be, Big fella hand picked 10 pink roses from a florist near to where he works, and had 12 black and pink helium filled balloons at the ready.  Everything was cool and we were ready to go...

 

Despite a typical Roderick start (droopy pink roses when I got up this morning, and 12 deflated balloons in the car), we managed to recover well.  The kids were picked up by granddad, I finally got dressed, picked up some more roses and ordered more balloons, we were not going to be defeated.

It was freezing, but in true Karen Roderick stylie I wore flip flops, which were commented on, after my silver polished toe nails had been admired (wink).   We met Francis, the incredibly helpful and accommodating store manager, who kindly showed us where I'd be sitting for my signing.  It all got a bit real, and I wondered whether I was going to get through it.  Big Fella made jokes of me and him sitting alone at the table like a National Lampoon's Christmas party with him half heartedly blowing a balloon and me sipping my sherry, hum, didn't do much for my waining confidence, but it did make me laugh.

 

By the time the lovely staff arrived with our tea, and I'd set up my table for the next 2 hours, I was starting to feel a little better, and actually quite excited.  For the first time in 20 plus years of writing, my work was actually out there for people to read and hopefully enjoy, as well as see the woman who wrote it, which I found out absolutely makes a difference.

I was surprised how quickly people started coming over to "browse", and at 11.30 on the dot, I had my first lovely customer (!)

 

It felt kinda weird to be signing MY book.  It's always been my world; my secret place with my secret friends, and now, hooray. they're out there for everyone to enjoy and love, and the more I signed, the more I really started to think I could do this thing and be a "proper" author.  The staff at Borders were lovely, really friendly and helpful, and one lovely lady from one of the other departments drifted by on a number of occasions before finally being able to come over for a signed copy as she was supposed to be working, bless.

 

I had a surreal moment when Big Fella went off for the coffee's and an American guy came over and asked "Are you Karen Roderick?", obviously I said yes.  He said I was the first kinda celebrity he'd met and wanted to come over and say hi.  I shook his hand and he wondered off.  I watched with a pleased grin reeling back in the Diva, wondering if he'd had thought me a "celebrity" had he seen me screaming at the kids in my PJ's this morning.

 

It was dead nice anyway, and I won't complain, and now that I've done the book signing, I wonder why I was so worried.  Francis says I can come back again when I want, which I thought was so lovely, and I have every intention of doing so, see, I'm kinda on a roll now, like my first gig is over, and I'm looking for super stardom (sort of), but it was so great to meet the readers and just say hi, and see their reaction when I signed my name in their book.  Some amazing people even bought the book without even knowing what it was about, who says you can't judge a book by it's cover (or author) - hope the gamble pays off for them.

The 2 hours flew by, and in all honesty, I could have stayed another 2, I was just getting my act together when it was time to close shop, but I have plans for the New Year...

Anyway, I could not sit in the Cookery section for 2 hours and not leave with a little something...

 

Oh thank Christmas it's Nigella X

BIG BIG thank you to my lovely husband, Big Fella, for whom really and honestly, as cliche as this sounds, I could not have done this without him XXX

Karen XX

Book Signing

 

I'm really excited about Sunday.

Now that local High Street bookshops have started selling my book " A Love That Makes Life Drunk", it's presented me with the brilliant opportunity to do a book signing.

 

I know it's a few days off yet, but I really wanted to show off my book boards and posters kindly designed by my friend Joe.

 

And this uber cute hand wrapped gift edition of the book only available at the book signing.  Think Christmas...think Pink Cupcakes and "A Love That Makes Life Drunk" by Karen Roderick.

Book Signing @ Borders, Coventry on 30th November at 11.30 - 1.30 pm

Hugs K xxx

 

"Lily's Happy Ever After"

Once upon a time there was a girl.  A girl who didn't really know what she wanted to do with her life.  A girl who had unreachable dreams. But one thing was for sure, she couldn't stay where she was.

For the past couple of weeks I've been re-reading A Love That Makes Life Drunk, and after a conversation with a friend, I realise there is alot more of me in that book than I first thought.  Infact, so much, it's a little, well, frightening.

I've never been one to expose myself too much.  I loathe being centre of attention, and even find compliments hard to accept, so I am shocked at how much I am in the characters of Lily AND Jefferson.

I suppose people who know me will find it easy to identify me with Lily, and why wouldn't they, we are, in some parts, strikingly similar.  I identify with her for a number of reasons of which now is not the time to go into detail, but there's a passage that begins on page 172, that really strikes a chord, and that's "Lily's happy ever after", so, I want to take the time out put these words right here for you to read, from one Lily to another.

This passage comes from an intimate letter Lily writes to Jefferson.  Both are in turmoil over their feelings for each other, and have to make an important decision.  So when Jefferson asks her "what would Lily like?", this is what she comes up with.

"...Of a house in a field.  A house made of reclaimed brick. A house with a farmhouse door and fireplace to accommodate a huge roaring fire for cosy autumn/winter days and nights.  A home brimming with our books; shelves filled with our work, of muddy shoes by the back door after a walk in the hills, of seeing our breath in the air as we return on a frosty day.  Of seeing you wrapped up, of feeling your hand in mine.

J, I dream of a home.  Our home, where I can look out of the windows and see trees and sky; breathe in fresh air, feel alive, run free!  A place where I can write beside you, or be near you.  Where we can hide away in our "High Place".  I dream of a boudoir bedroom brimming with texture: fur, cashmere, velvet, cotton, and chiffon.  I dream of that way you look at me everytime you see me.

Oh J, I dream of sex.  Of brutality. Of exploration, of experimenting further with you; breaking new ground, pushing the boundaries, just you and me.

I want a garden. A field. I want trees and flowers; I want good wine and fine foods.  I want to cook, I want to sit down with you and clink glasses, smiling as you open another bottle because we haven't finished talking.  Of you laying me out on a fur rug infront of a blazing fire and making love to me.  Of candles in the bath, of baking bread and scrambled egg in the kitchen, of cooking on an Aga, of feeling autumn leaves billowing carefree around my face as I collect eggs for us.  Of washing your hair in the bath, of watching you sleep by my side, of making you happy.

I see myself with you at prestigious Awards, dinner parties, pretentious Mayfair parties, on breaks in London Hotels, decadent weekends in Paris dressed elegantly by Chanel, Prada and Valentino.  Of having friends to stay with us.  Of birthdays, of Christmas'. I dream of a real Christmas tree with twinkling lights and silver stars and us opening presents before breakfast.

Oh J, I dream of a life with you, so ask me that question again, "what does Lily want?", well Lily dreams of all the above, but would feel just as rewarded to have you, just you, just us, for a very long time."

Once upon a time there was a woman.  A woman who knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. A woman who realised she had reachable dreams, and one thing was for sure, this was right where she wanted to be.

X

Delta of Venus

Take a look at this photograph.

Now, depending how you feel when you looked at the picture, will almost certainly determine what camp you're in when it comes to sex scenes in a book.

I've read so many books in my 34 years, most of them by female authors, and yet there remain so few who choose to write a passionate love scene, despite the story being heavily laced in innuendo, well, do you know what, sometimes it leaves me damned disappointed and somehow cheated. 

Anyway, I stumbled upon a group via Facebook yesterday and punched the air with joy.  Thank goodness! I thought, that I am not the only person, especially female, who enjoys not only writing detailed and somewhat passionate sex scenes, but also reading them.  This particular group entitled "Erotica Fans", gave way to a website (www.sarawinters.blogspot.com) that fuelled my desire (for writing!) even more.  The author seemed to sum up all my anxieties and frustrations about the romance erotica genre in a post she wrote last year called "Erotica vs. Pornography: Is there a Difference?"

The reason I found this so fascinating is her perception as a writer of erotica (and I'm not talking Black Lace here), she finds people disregard her and consequently don't perceive her as a "real" writer, well I know just know what she means, and moreso how she feels when she expresses her frustration at this, because I have, until the publication of my book, hidden the content of my work, sometimes, even been embarrassed, but now it's out there, do I can't duck and dive anymore - it's in black and white.

In the blog, she details the difference between Erotica and Pornography is such an astute and mature manner, I kinda hoped someone from the Romantic Novelist Association was reading (!). Get it into your head...writing a love scene, however passionate is NOT a disgrace, it does NOT make me a porn writer and it most certainly does NOT make me any less of a writer than someone who chooses not to write it.  What use is a love scene if it stays in the authors head?

I guess I vented my anger about this snobbery a little in A Love That Makes Life Drunk. Lily is a struggling writer of erotic romance, but is also the writer of a sexually explicit Journal.  Both she and Jefferson are aware what she is up against when it comes to being published, even though Jefferson (himself a published author) considers her "innovative" and "leading the way".

Lily has become so used to her work being seen as an embarrassment, she's even coy when she talks to Jefferson about it, and he is not a man afraid of sex,

'What sort of books do you write...' I leaned casually against my desk...

'Dirty stuff.' Luke grinned; I turned back to Lily, she didn't look impressed.

'It's not like that,' her frown faded as she turned back to me, 'I call it contemporary women's fiction, with a lot of, well, you know...'

'Sex?' I stepped in to help since she obviously had a problem with the word.

See, since I've become a little addicted to Facebook, I've joined a fair few of these kinds of groups, so I absolutely know there is a strong market for Erotic Romance, and it's growing, and yet still, we are bombarded with the same subjective agendas of mainsteam publishers.

The other thing I find quite interesting, is how I'm being perceived as a woman writing erotica. I kinda wonder if we've conditioned ourselves to accept men are sex mad (Ha!) and so it's OK for them to dabble, but a woman, well, that very different.  Sometimes I feel I should just write a slushy romance and be done with it, but aren't there enough out there already! Please, stop bloody churning them out, half of them are crap ( I mean this in the nicest way.) and I'm not saying mine is a masterpiece, but at least it's original. I remain amazed at how long the blueprint for Bridget Jones can last.

Sorry, am I getting personal? Right, lets get back on track.   Not everyone can write a detailed sex scene; not everyone is cut out for it. A clumsy sex scene is as bad and cringe worthy as not having one at all when it's needed. Not every book is justified, and I totally appreciate this, but I DO choose to write about sex between the lines of what I consider a romance, so for that I'm left out in the cold, having to find alternative ways to get my work out there -just like Sara Winters and just like the perosnwho e-mailed me this morning asking how the hell I managed to get published.

'I love how we delve into literature and analyse our beloved writers,' Jefferson writes about his relationship with Lily, 'and how easily I forget Lily is just 25 because she's so rousing when she converses.'

I may "dare" to write about sex, but I am also an intelligent worthwhile human being, so why as a Society haven't we moved on from Henry Miller and Anais Nin self publsihing in Paris to print Henry's work because no one would touch it because of it's explicit content?  I guess, until publishers become less afraid of Erotica, and realise it's potential as intelligent writing and that there is a lucrative market, writers like myself will be forced to take the initiative (which will risk us being isolated and frowned upon for self publishing).  Ironically I don't even fit the criteria for publishers of Erotic Fiction either! I don't write about whips and chains, but I'm not offended by them either, I simply have no desire to write about it.

The other thing I find interesting, is going into a bookshop and searching for Nin and Miller. More so Miller, because most of his work is of the explicit nature; but you won't find them on the top shelf, or hidden in their own seedy corner, no, because they are stand alone pieces of work, critically acclaimed whether you love or hate him.  So, back to Jefferson to clear a few things up,

'In her journal, Lily brilliantly describes the complexity of her feelings and the conflict going on in her mind, of falling in love with me whilst being with my brother, [Jefferson tells his agent Henry over dinner] it portrays her as a strong and sensual woman, it's something to be proud of, not ashamed of, this is something only a woman could write, we should celebrate it.'

And so I took advice from my own leading man. I wasn't going to be afraid of what my brain produced, I've been doing it for too long now, it is my style, even though I have attempted to change it, so celebrate indeed, and even though sometimes I wonder whether I should have published a slightly less explicit novel for my debut, I remain very proud of what I've achieved and of my work; I guess, as Big Fella always tells me when I feel a bit deflated by it all, it's my legacy.

Anyway, I'm going to leave you with a couple of extracts from the book, where Lily and Jefferson are discussing her writing style, because I think it pretty much sums up where I'm coming from,

'...intense love stories need a certain amount of detail...sex scenes need to be lovingly brutal in order to make the characters passion believable, because isn't that what people do when they're in love; that insatiable and animalistic urge that comes when you're deeply into someone...' [Jefferson to Lily]

[Lily] '...when I think about some of the things I've written, the sex, I can't ever imagine getting published, let alone getting an agent.'

And finally...

'Everyone has sex Henry, well, almost everyone,' I grinned, 'it's just some of us choose to write about it as well; some of us are incredibly inspired by what we do away from prying eyes.' I knocked back my wine, 'we're steadily breaking through the taboo.'

I hope.

xxxxxxxxx