Today we welcome erotic romance author Katie Porter! Who is Katie Porter, you ask? From Katie's website: Katie Porter is the co-writing team of Lorelie Brown and Carrie Lofty, friends and critique partners of six years. Both are multi-published in several romance genres. Carrie has an MA in history, while Lorelie is a US Army veteran. Generally a high-strung masochist, Carrie loves weight training and has no fear of gross things like dissecting formaldehyde sharks. Her two girls are not appreciative. Lorelie, a laid-back sadist, would rather grin maniacally when Carrie works out. Her three boys love how she screams like a little girl around spiders. To learn more about the authors who make up Katie, like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter: @carrielofty, @LorelieBrown, and @MsKatiePorter. Welcome, Katie!
What’s in a Name?
By Katie Porter
Consider how many names you respond to. Mommy. Sis. Grandma.
Your given name and goofy names and nicknames. Names have power. They help us
denote personal relationships and where we fit within society. So I wanted to
look at the names in HOLD ’EM. One hero. One heroine. Easy, right? Not so much…
Leah: Her given name,
used by her friends and by Mike when they’re just hanging out.
Mike: Shortened for of
his give name, used by all his friends, family, and even Leah when she’s
exasperated or sharing a joke.
Capt. Girardi: Duh. Leah’s in
the Air Force.
Capt. Templeton: Sometimes just “Templeton,”
it’s a military thing.
“Princess”: Her fighter pilot
call sign—as in Princess Leah. She hates it, which means her colleagues use it constantly.
Mike gets the serious cold shoulder when he tries.
“Strap Happy”: Occasionally
shortened to “Strap,” Mike’s call sign is used exclusively by his male
colleagues. It has something to do with his kink, but we won’t spoil that.
Michael: No one uses his
given name but Leah. It’s endearing, possessive, and she can use in plain
company—a hint of sexy things to come.
Ma’am: Mike’s name for
Leah during their BDSM play. He would never call her this in mixed company. Ever.
Pet: Leah’s name for
Mike when he becomes her own personal playground. He’s the biggest, baddest guy
she’s ever known…and he gives himself to her.
Here are two brief exchanges to demonstrate how important their
names are in the progression of their love affair. These moments reveal everything.
“You’re looking at me like I’m
your buffet. Turns me on, Princess.”
She tweaked his nipples so hard
that he flinched. “No. No ‘Princess’. Not here.”
His laugh felt good, just a small
release to the pressure. “Noted.” He caught her gaze again then ducked his
eyes. “It turns me on, Leah.”
“But you don’t look at me.
Why not?” She smiled and licked up from his navel—all wet and ticklish and sexy
as hell. “Wait, don’t tell me. Permission again?”
He nodded.
“Well, here’s the deal, Michael.”
A shudder worked down his spine. Leah tipped her head. “What…? Michael?”
Rolling his eyes to the ceiling,
he fought for calm. Fought to breathe.
“That’s it, isn’t it? You like
your full name.” She grinned against his stomach then bared her teeth. At that
sweet scrape, testing such sensitive skin, Mike made fists. She tugged the
waistband of his jeans.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And that’s what you’ll call me.”
***
She stopped with her hand on the
doorknob. Her mouth worked over so much she’d like to say. At the chapel, she’d
been sure he would take her hand if she offered it. The ice in his eyes said
that chance was long gone.
“Michael…”
“Mike.” He punched the
TV’s off button with one finger. “Call me Mike. Or Templeton. Or asshat. I
don’t give a shit. I better not hear Michael come out of your mouth
again. I can’t be held responsible for what I’d say in return.”
She shriveled up and died inside.
Flat out. Nothing left. “Just…take care of yourself.”
A sarcastic twist folded his
mouth and angled his eyebrows. “Oh, don’t you worry about me, Princess.
I’m going to be just fine.”
So what’s in a name? In romance, names denote intimacy—the many
levels of intimacy a couple can experience during the mating dance. They can be
bestowed, and they can be taken away. Both indicate serious events. As for
these two lovebirds, I’ll give you a hint…she calls him Michael again by the
time they reach their happily ever after. Of course she does!
***
Up next for Katie Porter, the co-writing team of Carrie Lofty
and Lorelie Brown:
Now that the first three of the RT BookReviews 4½ Star Top Pick
“Vegas Top Guns” series
have been released, readers can anticipate the final two installments, HARD WAY and BARE KNUCKLE,
in 2013.
November brings the
m/m Christmas-themed CAME UPON AMIDNIGHT CLEAR,
described as “masterful” by Publishers Weekly. In January, LEAD AND FOLLOW will launch the five-part “Club Devant” series of erotic multi-partner romances
set in a hot New York City burlesque club.
Where to find us:
Twitter: @MsKatiePorter
Or individually: @carrielofty and @LorelieBrown
We'd like to give away a copy of DOUBLE DOWN, INSIDE BET or HOLD
’EM (winner's choice) in any format. Just answer the question: Do you have a
pet name for your significant other, one your significant other has for you, or
an embarrassing name your parents STILL use after decades of adulthood?
Hi Katie! (and Carrie and Lorelei!)
ReplyDeleteAndrea and I are both working today but we'll be here later this afternoon to play.
The late dh and I never had pet names for one another. I do get called a variety of names by other people though (all g-rated, thankfully - lol). My four brothers each call me by a different name and many of my relatives still use the family nickname that I kicked to the curb around 7th grade. ;-)
Nope... My husband and I aren't that romantic! I do have nicknames for my daughter though... I call her sweetie pie, bum-bum...etc.
ReplyDeleteHow cute! I call my daughter Goose, which is short for Silly Goose. She's so funny!
DeleteHello "everyone"!
ReplyDeletePet name? Hmmm. I call him Hon; he calls me Sweetheart.
My mom called me Toad for years (never explaining why). I got sick of it/hated it (and told her so repeatedly, but she never let up), so I finally responded by calling her Frog. That's when she quit calling me Toad. (I was almost an adult when I figured that one out.)
In high school, my older brother's dear friends (sarcasm there) used to call me Prairie Provinces because I was so flat. (I'm in Canada.) Nice friends. NOT!
I have two friends who have called me Laney since the mid nineties; everyone else calls me by my given name. (I didn't want my "real" name out there on the Internet when I first began blogging, so that's why I'm Laney4 - 4 is because it was the uniform number of my favourite hockey player of all time, Bobby Orr.)
Laney, when I was little, my mom called me Boat Feet because my feet were so big and wide she had a hard time finding shoes that fit! Lol
DeleteI'm popping in real quick from work to say hello and welcome, Katie...aka Carrie and Lorelie!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I call each other "babe" most of the time. We've done that for so long that if one of us calls the other by our real name, we know that something is wrong or it's serious! lol
Bum-bum? That's awesome...as long as you don't use it around her friends ;)
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I call each other Sweetie. Like Andrea, it is so natural and common, if we substitute anything else we get a look. LOL
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about nicknames, though. When I was a kid I so wanted my name to be Stephanie just because I thought the nickname Steph was so cool!
I love the way authors use nicknames all the time to show intimacy and the progress in a relationship. Especially in historicals when you weren't allowed to use one's given name unless granted permission. The name thing is an awesome tool for writers, IMHO.
Irisheyes, I know "the look" you're talking about. Haha!
DeleteBook sounds fantastic, congrats to you both! My hubs calls me kid sometimes. As in 'Here's looking at you, kid.' lol!
ReplyDeleteThat's sweet, Karyn!
DeleteHi Katie - aka Carrie and Lorelei! My husband and I call each other numerous names: Honey, Sweetheart, Love, and Chipmunk Cheeks. We used to have a Golden Retriever that was named Honey and everytime we would say that to each other, she would come. Lol!
ReplyDeleteI love it, Cathy! Especially Chipmunk Cheeks. ;-)
Deletethanks for a great post and congrats on the newest release! ummm... my mom and grandmother still call me "Erbear" even though I'm in my 30's! Siigh :)
ReplyDeleteWe don't have funny names for each other. We are just not that creative.
ReplyDeleteWe call each other's private parts Virginia and Homer (bluxhing) I call my son Den-o (used to call him Denny Dupa when he was little) and kids would call my daughter Angelique leaky mobile which she hated...
ReplyDeleteDonna
Sounds good congrats on te great reviews , the call me shorty
ReplyDeleteKimh
We usually call each other by our first names.
ReplyDeleteMy children's names: Lara- Larakie, Luke-Luker,
Eric-Erikie, Jason-Jase or JC
Best wishes to your continued success with your collaboration.
OKay I will tell you what I call my hubby.... But you must swear to never tell him he will kill me if he finds out I shared his nickname. I call him Boopie!! LOL we grew up together and as kids I gave him the nick name and it just sort of stuck. I also call my oldest son Binky he is only 4 though so that nickname is still okay :)
ReplyDeleteI am originally from Italy, so I keep using my native language for endearments. I call my hubby 'amore', which is the Italian for 'love/sweetheart'. He is American but he likes playing with my language, so he calls me 'bambolina' which means 'babydoll'.
ReplyDeleteminadecaro@hotmail.com
I'm "Little Girl."
ReplyDeleteHe's "Bear."
We've been together almost 40 years, married for 34 of them. The magic is still there, 'Nuff said!
My given name does not lend itself to a nickname but for years my mother called me Shell when she wanted something from me like a child knows there is trouble coming when a parent uses your entire given name.
ReplyDeletebeachhouse dot writer at gmail dot com