From The Backlist: "Sex As A Life Force" by Cindy Pon

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We love our Supernatural Underground backlist, exactly because of posts like this one by Cindy Pon, on Sex as a Life Force.

Definitely worth a reread, we feel, so without further ado...

Sex As A Life Force

by Cindy Pon

...

this past weekend, a fellow writer who had just read my debut interviewed me on her blog. she asked a very interesting question about my use of sex in the novel as a life force, a source of power. i was taken aback, as i had never thought of it that way.

in contemporary young adult books, there is discussion about teen sex and consequences, or the lack thereof. in Silver Phoenix (which is inspired by the myth, folkore and culture of ancient china), i tried to stay true to the thinking of the time. a girl's place in society is to stay within the inner quarters of her home and, if she is a good daughter and wife, to make babies. preferably sons. this is the "young adult" life at the time teen sex isn't about decisions, labels, finding yourself or consequences. much less about love and pleasure.

it's about duty, filial piety, and obligation.

it's something that my heroine, ai ling, has to come to terms with. and ultimately uses to her advantage to defeat her enemy. although sex is often addressed in less explicit terms in young adult novels, i don't feel the scope of it is any less wide-ranging than in their adult counterparts. i actually think that it's in those crucial teen years, when feelings of sex, desire and longing may resonate the most--a time for firsts. and is there anything more powerful or unforgettable?

To read the full post, click here

To catch up with Cindy, go here

Astrology, Sex and Character Savvy (From The Backlist)

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Here at Supernatural Underground we love the new — but sometimes we love looking back through our backlist as well, including this fabulous post from Kim Falconer (who some of you will also know as AK Wilder of Crown of Bones fame.)

Astrology, Sex, and Character Savvy

We all want characters that are vital and authentic. Believable. People we can fall in love with, cheer for, or shrink back from in fear. They must be ‘real’ enough to grow, change, love, shock, express ideas and have minds of their own. When all those ingredients come together, magic happens but how to get there? What makes a character come to life?

There are different ways to approach character development but my go to technique is astrology! In my novels, I’ve give my characters actual horoscopes. If I’m ever uncertain of how they might behave, I check their chart. Moon in Pisces? Disappear! Sun in Aries? Advance with sword swinging! Mercury in Libra? Discuss it with everyone for quite some time before deciding what to do. Astrology is a wonderful way to get inside a character’s head.

The horoscope tells me what makes them tick—their limiting beliefs, past patterns, core values, darkest fears and authentic goals. It answers questions about how they dress, their likes and dislikes, how they act under pressure. It can even give me hints for physical traits if I’m at a loss. Aries sun? Red hair, scar on the face. Sagittarius Moon? An old hip injury but great legs. Gemini Mercury? A stutter that only shows up under extreme duress. The horoscope can also help me see where my people, and creatures, will grow through the choices they make and the challenges they face. It also has a lot to say about their love life!

Take the ascendant, or rising sign, for example. It’s the sign that was on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth. It has long been associated with how we take action and initiate anything from journeys, fights, ideas to sex! When it comes to romance and intimacy, the rising sign gives great inspiration. Consider how each sign on the ascendant would 'make a move':

Aries — Pounce! Usually little or no warning.

Taurus — Surprisingly sensual, though ardent. They selectively fail to hear the word ‘no.’

Gemini — Much talk before action. They seduce with words—sometimes quite eloquently.

Cancer — They retreat, you follow. Not opposed to emotional manipulation and/or allure.

Leo — Beware of public places, unless you like such things! Boldness, flash and glam!

Virgo — Seduces with atmosphere, candles, music, tantric manuals. Everything just so.

Libra — Wine, dine, listen and engage until there is nothing left between you but the erotic.

Scorpio — Seduces with their eyes. Always, the eyed! Thirty seconds or less and you’re a goner.

Sagittarius — They promise the world, and usually deliver, metaphorically at least.

Capricorn — They buy you things. Excellent taste. Always first cabin.

Aquarius — They use the element of surprise—often surprisingly well. Much dialog.

Pisces — Enchantment. Their very being is an aphrodisiac. Poetry optional.

Astrology helps me write characters that ring true and that’s the sweet spot, the place where I close my eyes, watch the scenes unfold and type as fast as I can.

~ Kim Falconer

*~*

Sounds great, doesn't it? We sure hope Kim keeps 'em coming! 

 *~*

About The Author:

Kim Falconer, currently writing as A K Wilder, has recently released Crown of Bones, a YA Epic Fantasy with Curse of Shadows coming out in 2022.

Kim can be found on AKWilder Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Throw the bones, read your horoscopes or Raise Your Phantom on the AKWilder.com site

Venus in Taurus Guide to Abundance

La Naissance de Venus by Eugene Duval

Venus glides into Taurus, one of the two signs she rules, and all is right in the world . . . as long as we honor this transit. That means, show some reverence. Respect. When we do, our hearts light up and relationships go smoother, finances become more abundant and creativity pours forth in passionate waves of originality.

All we need do is place a bouquet of appreciation on her alter, metaphorically, or literally. Tangible displays count double. We want to make this real!

Taurus is an earthy, fixed and sensual sign, ultra potent when it comes to the physical and sensual responses to our emotions and feelings. When we become aware of our 'affections' (know what we love, be it food, art, relationships, pets, the environment, health and fitness, creative goals or intellectual abstractions) and demonstrate them in some way, the goddess of love smiles - meaning, we touch a core value, express it and feel more whole, more complete, in the process.

Taurus wants to brings things 'down to earth' so this is our chance to:

1) identify our desires
2) appreciate them
3) live them out

It doesn't have to be a huge production, this 'living them out.' Baby steps work fine. For example, if you're really into health and fitness, and want to work toward a renewed goal, doing one fresh thing in the name of your core value can start the snowball rolling. You might adjust your eating habits, or renew a commitment to the exercise that you love, appreciating your body as it is, in this red hot moment. If you have a core value around gardening and want to live in the midst of a botanical paradise, pot a fern, start a herb garden, plant one tree. If one of your core values is creativity but you 'don't have the time' you can honor Venus in Taurus by making Fridays (the day of Venus) your 'creation day'. Even if it's just for an hour, you commit to getting out the clay, sketch pad, guitar or word processor and let your artistry come alive.

Maybe relationship is the area of life that feels neglected. Venus is here to support your authentic goals in tangible ways, so if you want more from a partner (or more free time away from them, or maybe an actual partner to start with) get clear on what you want, relax and follow Venus's lead because the goddess of love knows just how to make your life more sumptuous when it comes to love, and of course, sex.  

Taurus is the #1 sign of love making. Keep that in mind :)

You might find that treating yourself the way you want 'them' to treat you is your most powerful tool. So have a candle bath, enjoy fine foods, settle in with a favorite film, novel or audio book. Treat yourself like gold! It's the fast track to improving all your relationships!

If you aren't sure how you want to leverage this energy to make your life more enriched, go to where Taurus is in your chart and track Venus's transits there. What area of life is activated? That's your playground. Go mix it up! (see a key word list for the houses below) If you need help, see 'creating your chart online' or ask for support in the comments!

From Swiss Ephemeris - The positions of Venus for the next 25 days
  Date          |    Venus    |
----------------------------
15 Apr 2013  | 29 ar 37   

The Venus by Michael Parkes

16 Apr 2013  |  0 ta 51   
17 Apr 2013  |  2 ta  5   
18 Apr 2013  |  3 ta 19   
19 Apr 2013  |  4 ta 33   
20 Apr 2013  |  5 ta 48   
21 Apr 2013  |  7 ta  2   
22 Apr 2013  |  8 ta 16   
23 Apr 2013  |  9 ta 30   
24 Apr 2013  | 10 ta 44   
25 Apr 2013  | 11 ta 58   
26 Apr 2013  | 13 ta 12   
27 Apr 2013  | 14 ta 26  
28 Apr 2013  | 15 ta 40   
29 Apr 2013  | 16 ta 54   
30 Apr 2013  | 18 ta  8   
01 May 2013  | 19 ta 22   
02 May 2013  | 20 ta 36   
03 May 2013  | 21 ta 50   
04 May 2013  | 23 ta  4  
05 May 2013  | 24 ta 18   
06 May 2013  | 25 ta 32   
07 May 2013  | 26 ta 46   
08 May 2013  | 27 ta 59   
09 May 2013  | 29 ta 13   
10 May 2013  |  0 ge 27   


Venus in Taurus is also our connection to Mother Earth. It's a time when we can take a moment an show reverence our for all life. There is so much to appreciate on this beautiful planet Earth. Pour forth some love, and respect, out into the world, and all living things.

Have a wonderful transit of Venus through Taurus,  Everyone!

* Reference for the houses*

The meanings of the houses are deep and rich with metaphorical and literal content but here is a quick list to get you started.

1st house – Appearance, personality traits, outlook on life
2nd house - $$$, resources, talents, peace of mind
3rd house – Teaching, learning, writing, talking, connecting
4th house – Home, family, ancestors, emotional ground
5th house – Creative expression, offspring (books/kids etc), romance
6th house – Health, pets, daily routine, employment, magic
7th house – Socially significant relationships, contracts
8th house – Sex, death, taxes, shared resources, trust
9th house – New horizons, travel, beliefs, WWW
10th house – Career, mission, profession, public relations
11th house – Friends, goals for the future, groups
12th house – Unconscious, dreams, giving and receiving, meditative states

Remember, if you need help, see 'creating your chart online' and go to where Taurus is in your chart, or just ask for help in the comments! Easy done!


Kim Falconer is a Supernatural Underground author writing paranormal romance, urban fantasy, YA and epic science fantasy novels. She also co-directs Good Vibe Astrology, an astrology and law of attraction school.

You can find out more about Kim at kimfalconer.com or on the 11th House Blog. She posts here at the Supernatural Underground on the 16th of every month. Her latest release is Supernatural Underground: Vampires Gone Wild.

let's talk about sex... and giveaway! =)

*a portrait of Silver Phoenix and Zhong Ye
from Fury of the Phoenix.

yes.

i've had sex on my mind a lot
lately, as i'm rough drafting my third
novel. it wasn't until i actually finished
writing Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix
that i realized how much sex played as a theme
in my series. in the Kingdom of Xia that i created,
girls, once they were of age (when their monthly
letting began), were immediately shown The Book
of Making by their mothers, an illustrated tome
educating the girls on how to pleasure their future
husbands, and how best to get with child.

because this was their place in the world, to stay
within the inner quarters and make babies.

it's not much of a leap. this type of thinking
is part of many cultural histories, part of, perhaps
some cultures and thinking to this day.

so much of my stories are about how the girls
navigate this culture and these expectations of
them:

ai ling, my heroine, who runs away from home to
avoid a betrothal to a vile merchant in his fifties
looking for a third wife. she's terrified by the very
idea of being sequestered in the inner quarters for
the rest of her life, embroidering and minding children.
and throughout the two novels, sex is expected of
her, forced upon her, and used by her as a weapon.

silver phoenix, a handmaid to mei gui in the imperial
palace, given away at twelve years as a song girl
(prostitute) because she was a third daughter. she
yearns for children, and a family of her own.

mei gui, an imperial concubine, one of thousands
in the imperial palace. most never cross paths with
the emperor their entire lives, much less make it to
his bedchamber. her best hope of rising in status is
to bed the emperor, and bear a son for him.

each of them feel very differently about sex,
and each are strong and heroic in her own
ways in dealing with sexual expectations.

sex as a theme rose subconsciously for me in
these two novels. but i shouldn't be surprised,
as i've always been intrigued by the notion of
sex as something a woman can give or withhold.
be forced upon as a duty. to use (or not use)
to her advantage.

which is also why strong female leaders in history
fascinate me, such as Elizabeth I and Cleopatra,
how these women were portrayed and how they
portrayed themselves. and how sex always tied in.
Elizabeth I, refusing to take a husband to become
The Virgin Queen. Cleopatra, famous for her affairs
with both Julius Caesar then Mark Antony.

now, as i'm drafting my third novel, the theme of
sex crops up again in a very different way. my
heroine is a shape shifting serpent demon,
very well known in chinese folklore, similar to a
succubus. and i'm faced with an entirely new
set of rules and issues here. haha!

it's going to be interesting. 8)

giveaway:

if you want to read about the serpent demon
who makes an appearance in my debut, Silver
Phoenix, simply comment to enter. i'll give away
a paperback copy for every 38 individual entries.
contest is open to US mailing addresses only. i'll
announce winners in my september post. good luck!

cindypon.com
follow me on twitter!

sex as a life force

congrats to melissa (@booksthings)
who won a signed copy of Silver Phoenix
and two brush art cards of her choice.
thanks everyone!!

hello everyone! cindy pon here! =)
i'm just going to jump right in
and leave introductions for later. it's such a
thrill to be part of this wonderful group of authors!

i wanted to piggyback on melissa's fantasic post
about sex in young adult books. i'll be attending my
very first local RWA panel, and it's about young adult
literature and how it differs from adult novels. i think
out of all the genres, young adult is evolving the most.
the lines are blurring (especially, i find, in fantasy) and
it's pushing all sorts of boundaries and taking risks.
i had originally written Silver Phoenix as an adult fantasy,
but it sold as young adult.

there are violent aspects (demons, corpse
monsters, shapeshifters, oh my!) in my novel
as well as sexual elements that are pretty
fundamental to the theme of the story. but it seemed
it was always the sex parts that got mentioned
in industry reviews.

this past weekend, a fellow writer who had just
read my debut interviewed me on her blog. she asked
a very interesting question about my use of sex in the
novel as a life force, a source of power. i was taken
aback, as i had never thought of it that way.

in contemporary young adult books, there is
discussion about teen sex and consequences,
or the lack thereof. in Silver Phoenix (which is
inspired by the myth, folkore and culture of ancient china),
i tried to stay true to the thinking of the time.
a girl's place in society is to stay within the
inner quarters of her home and, if she is
a good daughter and wife, to make babies.
preferably sons. this is the "young adult" life
at the time. teen sex isn't about decisions, labels,
finding yourself or consequences. much less
about love and pleasure.

it's about duty, filial piety, and obligation.

it's something that my heroine, ai ling, has
to come to terms with. and ultimately uses
to her advantage to defeat her enemy.

although sex is often addressed in less explicit
terms in young adult novels, i don't feel the
scope of it is any less wide-ranging than in their
adult counterparts. i actually think that it's in
those crucial teen years, when feelings
of sex, desire and longing may resonate the
most--a time for firsts. and is there anything
more powerful or unforgettable?

...

i'm an author and artist who stays at home
with my two bubs, munchkin (5) and sweet pea (6).
i write, daydream, surf and procrastinate when they
are in school. i have slept with the sheets pulled up
to my neck for probably 25 years now (since age 12)
to avoid vampire bites. tho i know it'd be a futile
deterrent, it still makes me feel better.
Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom
of Xia was the first novel i wrote, after a more than
decade long hiatus from creative writing. (i'd like to
say that my children drove me to write. =)

although it may read like a historical fantasy,
there is no lack of the supernatural or the
paranormal! my sequel, Fury
of the Phoenix will be released in april 2011.

i've also been a student of chinese brush painting
for almost a decade (not long compared to my
classmates!) and am working with my editor on a
children's picture book featuring my brush art.

today, i'm happy to give away :

1. a signed copy of Silver Phoenix.

2. two greeting cards featuring my original
brush paintings. these were chosen because they
are being shown at the county fair art exhibit this
summer. or the winner can go to my etsy site and
choose her/his own two favorites!

*Blobby Cat!


*Lily Nestled in Rock.

this contest is open INTERNATIONALLY.
to enter (up to +4 entries!) :

+1 if you tweet, facebook status or
blog about this contest and link directly to this
post.

+1 by following supernatural underground
on twitter.

+1 by following this blog.

+1 by "liking" our facebook page.

please be sure to tally your
entries in the comment section here!
i will choose a winner randomly some time next
tuesday, june 15, and announce on the top of this
blog post. =D

thank you and good luck!!

cindypon.com
@cindypon on twitter