Percy Jackson: The Thief of Female Power

Just saw Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I'm a little surprised there was no representation of any of the major Greek goddesses - Hera, Hestia and Demeter. I'm a little surprised that Persephone had the lightning bolt - she could have ruled the gods!- and was satisfied just to give it away and settle for her lot in (after)life.





I didn't read the book, so I don't know whether this inability to imagine female power/divinity comes from Rick Riordan or from the filmmakers. Annoying, though. Persephone was a key figure in Greek mythology, worshiped in the Elysian Mysteries for the possibility that she could bring about the reincarnation of dead souls. This film reduces her to a desperate housewife.

I can imagine Persephone, the virgin goddess of spring/Queen of the Underworld as the ruler of the gods, and thus the divinity with the most influence on the earth, as a powerful goddess. She would rule the world with mercy and kindness, the qualities for which the ancient Greeks prayed to her and the ancient Romans prayed to Proserpina, her equivalent. We wouldn't fear death, because merciful Persephone would allow us to come back in new bodies.

I feel very protective of Persephone because I identify with her as "my" goddess. I want her to be empowered. I want her pairing with Hades to be an equal and happy match. I don't believe she's a helpless being trapped in Hell. For one thing, it's a cultural mistake to equate the Greek concept of the Underworld with the Zoroastrian/Christian vision of Hell.

I did like the casting of Rosario Dawson. Even though I remember her from silly projects like Josie and the Pussycats and Men in Black II, she projects strength, even when playing a slighted damsel in distress. Dawson is beautiful enough to pass as the Goddess of Spring.

Rosario Dawson by Dysepsion, Creative Commons license

Dawson is also a Tank Top Tuesday favorite at Dorothy Surrenders.

Uma Thurman is rather over-the-top in this as Medusa. Read my updated version of the Medusa myth, minus beheading, in Like A God's Kiss: Erotic Mythological Tales.

The other goddess-figure who appears in this film is Athena. In mythology, she's a virgin goddess, so I'm somewhat perplexed that Percy befriends Annabeth, a daughter of Athena. Annabeth's a great character - she's a warrior. She's also well-versed in Greek mythology, sort of a Hermione Granger without the middle-school awkwardness. I have a hard time picturing Athena with a mortal lover - but I'll gladly permit authors and filmmakers their creative license to rewrite the classical myths. 

I just wish there wasn't such a creative blind spot when it comes to envisioning the divine feminine.

Blue Monday ~ Hot Women in Blue

These beautiful pins all have something in common: the color blue. They all come from my  Pinterest board Human Beauty:  http://pinterest.com/erinlovesbooks/human-beauty/ . It's the largest of all my boards. 

On Monday I link up with Baxtron{Life} and A Night Owl for Pinning! On Wednesday it's The Vintage Apple for Oh, How Pinteresting!!! If you're dropping by from either of these blog hops, welcome, and please leave a comment!

A lot of bloggers do Man Candy Monday, but this Blue Monday is dedicated to the lovely ladies. 

These are the prettiest blue eyelashes I've ever seen. 



Bold blue skirt:

The extremely talented, and incidentally also very beautiful, Helen Mirren.

The bathing beauty:

Highly Susceptible to Fiction - SOC Sunday

Today’s (Optional) Writing Prompt: Have you ever gotten so engrossed in a book that is seemed to spill over into your real life? Tell me about it.

Hooking up with AllThingsFadra for Stream of Consciousness (SOC) Sunday. (Fadra baked bread after listening to the Hunger Games audiobook.)

I am highly susceptible to fiction, whether I'm reading it, watching it or writing it. I did just read The Hunger Games, and I really enjoyed it, but I can't think of anything that it influenced me to do. I can tell you that when I'm writing fiction, I'll go miles out of my way to experience something firsthand.

Once I stopped into a gas station for a cup of coffee and I thought the clerk would make a really interesting character. After mulling him over for a few days, I kinda started to stalk that gas station - not a  usual stop for me - to see if he would be there again. I wanted my inspiration fix. After the story was written, I just went back to my usual coffee spot.

True Blood makes me want to drink red wine.

And yes, it's true that for weeks after I saw the Daniel Radcliffe film The Woman in Black, I was a little worried that the closet adjacent to my master bath was haunted. I got into the habit of flicking on the hallway lights to drive away the ghosts before I got to the bathroom.



There you go...exactly five minutes.

Five Foreplay Tips That Will Rock Your Girl's World! ~ Guest Post

In today’s rush-rush, deadline-oriented world, we tend to take every short cut we can or even skip steps so that we have time to check one more gadget or post one more status or check one more score.  But, when it comes to sex you definitely need to remember that how you start can be as important as how you finish.  And foreplay is the one thing women can't get enough of –okay, there are a few other things as well, but foreplay is an important one. In general terms, women are emotional creatures, and that's why they like, enjoy, and often need, foreplay.

Unlike most men, women aren't always raring to get down to it. This is because their bodies need help conjuring the lust and lubrication required for intercourse, and their emotions dictate that they feel a sense of closeness and mutual respect with their partner. All of this can be achieved through foreplay, which will also help your lady friend feel desired by you; if you simply want to jump her bones, she'll feel like a tool or a machine designed to get you off. Now, each woman is different, and some might like to get right to it without any foreplay, but the odds are that your girl will need you to grease the wheels first.

That said, here are five foreplay tips that'll help you turn everyday frolicking into something that will have any woman you seduce begging for satisfaction.

1- Talk and tease: During foreplay, the power of suggestion (especially with some dirty talk) can be as great as the sex itself for many women. If you can describe how you want to touch her, where and with which of your body parts, she'll visualize it easily and eagerly. If you know how to have sex with her brain (it is a major sexual organ), you can bet that she'll be begging you to have sex with the rest of her in due time.

If you need to touch her while you dirty talk her during foreplay, avoid touching her breasts and vagina. Instead, focus your mouth and hands on her neck, wrists, inner thighs, lower back, and ears.

2- Get started in public: Foreplay doesn't need to be restricted to the bedroom or inside four walls. If you and your girlfriend don't start crying at the thought of public displays of affection (PDA), try doing some fun things out in the open. And by fun things, I mean such things as rubbing her breasts or respectfully patting her ass in a restaurant, kissing her passionately while having drinks at a bar or dirty dancing at a nightclub, or getting hot at the gym. Make an effort to turn her on wherever you are.

If you show her that she turns you on via PDA, when you finally do find yourselves in a private situation, the good times will lead to some carnal indulgences.

3- Strip down: Strip shows aren't just for men anymore; women have gotten wise to the idea of having men perform a dance for them. While I don't suggest you dance for her as you take off your socks or install a pole in your bedroom, I do recommend that you remove your clothes slowly (especially if you're fit). Remove your socks before you do anything; they're awkward and nothing turns a woman off faster than seeing a naked man with his socks on. Now that you're set to go, start by removing your shirt (unbutton it slowly while maintaining eye contact), then your pants and finally your underwear.

At this point, undress her just as slowly. Sit her down and remove her clothing in the same order you removed yours.

4- Use your fingers and give her oral pleasure: Once again, I have to say that every woman is different and, therefore, every woman likes to be touched differently. However, the same techniques that you may have used in high school are still effective for the majority of women. Bring your hand to her vaginal area and, with the tips of your fingers, rub her outer lips (labia majora) by spreading them apart and bringing them back together. That should start the lubrication process.

When she spreads her legs a bit, that's a clear indication that she wants you to touch her a little deeper. At this point, you can start lightly rubbing her inner lips (labia minora), and then move up to her clitoris, which you should rub in a circular motion. Some women like their clitoris to be touched gently, while others prefer a more vigorous contact. Read your girlfriend's body language for a sign of what you should do.

After a few minutes, bring your mouth to the area and, while you continue to use your fingers to play around inside her, gently suck on her clitoris to give her some great oral pleasure. If a bit more lube is needed, Sliquid tastes as good as it works.

5- Watch some sex and kiss her: Porn can be a great way to get you and your girl in the mood, provided that your girlfriend is the type who enjoys adult entertainment. Put on something that both of you can enjoy (preferably other couples having sex and something tailored to women), and lie naked with each other while you watch it. Remember that an "accidental" caress here and there is perfectly acceptable, even preferable.

Every now and then, stop watching the movie and kiss her or play with her body. Make sure to pay more attention to her than you do to the movie. As well, if you see something kinky that you'd like to try, make a comment about it and gauge her response, which will give you an indication of whether or not she's game. The idea here is to get her imagination going. An S & M beginner kit is perfect for such times, as are some beginner ideas.

Foreplay Formation

And there it is. Five easy ways to drive your girl insane with foreplay. Of course, you don't have to do them all in one day. Keep things lively, fun and erotic, and she'll be incorrigible. One last time: Every woman is different and if you're attentive, you should be a success.

In today’s rush rush, deadline-oriented world, we tend to take every short cut we can or even skip steps so the we have time to check one more gadget or post one more status or check one more score.  But, when it comes to sex you definitely need to remember that how you start can be as important as how you finish.

About the author:

iOpia is a group of friends who have come together to talk about our favorite subject – sex! We also sell high-end sex toy products that you can buy and use in the privacy of your home. 

...in which the term "13-inch" is thrown about shamelessly

So mentioning Person of Interest on Facebook provoked a discussion, in which Ms. Elvira Scaff suggested I watch The Count of Monte Cristo. It's a great movie. I've never read the book by Alexandre Dumas pere, though he just might be the greatest French-Afro-Caribbean writer who ever lived. I read the summary on Wikipedia, though, and the book sounds rather convoluted.



The screenplay by Jay Wolpert, on the other hand, is fantastic. Even Tit Elingtin agreed it was a fantastic movie. The only thing it didn't have was the Harmless Chair of Relaxation.

From the special features, I learned that while filming the climactic sword fight, Jim Caviezel accidentally cut Guy Pearce, who now has a permanent scar. The party who committed the injury also mentioned that he'd been an athlete, so I had to know which sport(s). Basketball, it turns out.

This pic's from TheDorkMistress' Tumblr (http://thedorkmistress.tumblr.com/).



Speaking of injuries that sound much more sexy than they actually should, IMDB says, "While filming the whipping scene in The Passion of the Christ (2004), one of the whips missed the steel board on Jim's back and cut a 13-inch gash into his back." (Caviezel's own account here claims 14", but you know how men exaggerate.) It also says he was struck by lightning, but more importantly:

a) Getting so into a creative project that you'd literally take a whipping for it is both artistically admirable and incredibly hot, and

b)You can't use the phrase "13-inch" in a sentence about Jim Caviezel without giving me dirty thoughts. I'm an erotica writer, not a saint.

So then I watched this cheesy fan video yesterday:

So then I wrote this short bit of fiction. First draft, yo. Unedited. I will not be offended if you tell me there's a typo:

Joss Carter awoke to the sound of someone knocking on her bedroom door. Taylor, she realized as she opened her eyes. Her 17-year-old son stood in the doorway, a wise-beyond-his-years look of consternation on his face.

“Mom,” he said urgently. “Is your alarm clock broken or something? You’re going to be late for work.”

Carter looked at clock and realized he was right. If she didn’t get out of bed and pull her clothes on right now, she’d never have time to drop Taylor off at school and get herself to the precinct on time. She’d slept almost an hour later than usual, and she didn’t even remember hitting the snooze button.

She rushed to her closet and grabbed the first blouse she could find, followed by a hastily chosen jacket and slacks. “I’m coming, Taylor,” she said to the young man who still stood in the doorway, watching her. Of course he was watching her – this may have been the first time in his life he’d seen his mother so disorganized.

“Don’t worry about me,” he responded. “I fed myself, and I’m catching a ride to school with Erica and her mom.”

Carter breathed a sigh of relief that she’d raised a son responsible enough to call a friend from school for a ride. She was only slightly irritated that Taylor hadn’t woken her up sooner. “Thanks, kid,” she said. “I don’t know why I slept so late.”

She meant it. The night before had been no different from her usual routine. When her shift ended, she’d come home, made dinner for Taylor and herself and did a little laundry before bed. She couldn’t explain why the simple acts of her daily routine had left her so exhausted lately.

At the precinct, her head dipped low over her paperwork for the fourth time of the morning when Detective Fusco said something to her. “Late night, Detective Carter?”

“No,” she said. “Just a normal Tuesday night.”

“If you don’t mind me saying so, you look exhausted.”

“I must be coming down with something,” she said. “I did feel a little queasy at breakfast – maybe I’m getting the flu.”

“Flu?” She looked up to see the captain standing behind her. “Go home, Carter, before you infect half my precinct.”

“But, Captain, I’m fine,” she protested.

“I’ve been watching you yawn and nod your head all morning,” the captain said. “You’re no good to me tired. Go home and get some rest.”

She thought about protesting further, but he was right: she wasn’t at her best, and her cases were going to suffer for it. Reluctantly, Carter went home and took a nap.

When she woke up, Carter’s stomach rumbled. She went to make herself a bowl of soup, but somehow, none of the varieties of soup in the pantry looked good to her.

She opened the fridge to explore her options when her phone rang. “Playing hooky, Detective?”

Mentally, she cursed John Reese for the way her body reacted to the sound of his voice. “I have the flu.”

He said something, but Carter had stopped listening. She closed her eyes, remembering that night at the hotel. Up until this moment, she’d refused to think of what she and John had done as a mistake. Now she realized she hadn’t felt so exhausted and nauseated…since she’d been pregnant with Taylor.

“Detective Carter, are you all right?”

“I’m fine, John,” she said as she dashed to her purse to find her calendar. She looked for the last date with a red circle around it and found it – six weeks ago. She did the math quickly. “Damn it,” she said out loud, forgetting the phone she still held to her ear. “I’m too old to be peeing on a stick like some teenager.”

“Carter – what did you say?”

Damn it. What had she said to him that night- no complications? Well, this was turning into one pretty damn big complication.

“Did you say – peeing on a stick?”

“Just meet me at the coffee shop, John.” She hung up, hating him for making her feel this way. That damned stick had better not turn blue. 

Taraji P. Henson, beautiful, very talented and also principled. Now, off to watch High Crimes. 'Cause I also love Ashley Judd; she wrote this awesome feminist thing.  

P.S. High Crimes was pretty good, though it does take a very creepy turn at the end. Judd certainly plays a strong, resilient character.

Relationship Advice from the ‘Hunger Games’

Source: CupidsPulse.com

April 5, 2012 
By Amy Osmond Cook

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. Photo: Mockingjay.net

If any of you saw the Hunger Games recently, you were in for a bloodbath—a very entertaining, very well produced bloodbath.  I’m a huge fan of Suzanne Collins, and the movie was one of the best I’ve seen in a long time.  But while I cheered for Katniss, cursed the gamekeeper, and threw popcorn at President Snow, I couldn’t help but notice that some of the lessons of Hunger Games could also be applied to relationships:

Hunger Games Tip #1: Don’t Let Him (or Her) Own You

Before going into the Hunger Games arena, Peeta and Katniss spend a quiet moment looking over the city.  With a wistful glance at his would-be lover and soon-to-be fellow Gladiator, Peeta tells Katniss, “I keep wishing I could think of a way . . . to show the capitol they don’t own me.  That I’m more than a piece in their games.”  And show them he does.

Healthy relationships are built on equality.  If you feel owned or used, there’s a good chance that you are being played in someone’s game.  You may be their most important game piece.  But regardless of whether you are a queen or a pawn, if your relationship feels like a chess match, run!

Related: Can Celebrities Actually Have Enduring Healthy Relationships?

Hunger Games Tip #2: Don’t Eat the Berries

While Katniss is out hunting for food, Peeta tries to be helpful and unknowingly picks poisonous Nightlock berries to eat with the meal.  Foxface watches Peeta and picks berries of her own, thinking they are edible.  She dies instantly upon ingestion.

Affairs, abuse, and drug and alcohol addiction are common forms of relationship Nightlock.  While they are possible for some couples to overcome, they can be instant relationship killers.  So if you are tempted to stray, to use, or to be otherwise despicable, be aware that you are putting your relationship seriously at risk.

Related: You’ve Cheated, So Now What?

Hunger Games Tip #3: Just Be Yourself

When Katniss first arrives at the Capitol, she is told that she needs to make people like her.  Sponsors, Haymitch (her mentor) states, can make the difference between life and death.  Katniss fails miserably at this until Cinna, her stylist, tells her, “Don’t try to make people like you . . . Just be yourself.”  When she forgets about public opinion and is true to herself, she becomes beloved by district and Capitol people alike.

It goes without saying that it’s important to be yourself in a relationship.  There’s nothing worse than sushi and ballet when all you really want is barbeque and line dancing.  Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not, if for no other reason than it’s just plain tiring—and it’s impossible to keep up the façade forever.  When the walls come down and the real you shows through, don’t you want someone who shares your secret passion for all things Woody Allen, or at least loves you for it?

WIP Wednesday with author Oliver Frances

Oliver Frances: My book, scheduled to be published on July, is titled THROUGH EXISTENCE, and it is about a man with an exceptional gift as the one of clairvoyance. This uses it in order to possess the woman he loves or desires. So his gift leads him into the corridor of the powers of an oil exporter country -as he is close to the president of the nation he develops a programme for underdeveloped countries. Having all that he hankers for he begins to perceive his downfall along with dreams that relates his past lives as Goya, the famous Spanish painter, and member of Nazi party.

Although he doesn't believe in re-encarnation and doesn´t get the connection between his actual reality and these dreams or nightmares, they describe his relationship with his present partner through previous existences. It makes the reader understand that a cycle is being closed and, still more, when he finds out what true love is like with another woman -a journalist in the present. At a posterior present, the woman for whom he has done everyhting to have her is a black male prisioner in an US jail. And, in this way she purges all her mistakes in her past existences - being there is her karma.



Here is a piece of the book -not edited yet.

It was the same man who had gone through many existences and whose soul was now incarnated a one of youthful appearance. His mind would not be consecrated to Art neither would be to politics. But, with a wondrous gift bestowed on him, he would conduct himself through a political world to attain what he most desired.

Seated in a black-leather-upholstered club chair, Marcio lingered in the Hemingway bar. He thought retrospectively about his own device to achieve a position. In fact, he had come from shadow and had pulled the strings behind for his own benefit. He had taken advantage of the others’ indifference to him, to use it wisely to act incognito.

This man upon whom nobody laid wage dared his world and almost defeated everyone. But at the end, the last act was on him.

As Marcio watched some volumes in the long bookcase, he pondered on all the wisdom enclosed them and had also reasoned about the treasure that represented those written lines by privileged minds –from which he learnt so much.

Those ideas –sometimes poisoning ones- had been a powerful influence over him, so he had thought once more of all his stratagem to climb into a high position –from where he could exercise a quote of power.

His deeds had been the fruit of a Machiavellian mind –the end justified the means. He was determined to succeed and have the woman who obsessed him.

(Retrato de la Marquesa de Santa Cruz, de Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, 1805)

Marcio was the most benefited of the political death of the current president in the past. His own mistakes had dug his tomb (there laid the young man’s advantage). Nobody perceived Raul Menendez’s potentiality. He was aware of it, though. So, when time came for him he moulded the failed man into a presidential candidate.

Raul Menendez’s reputation was mudded since he let the government snatched away the votes of the referendum recall which conceded the victory to opposition –which he led. His countenance of defeat shown on the local television was an image seared on the electors’ mind.

His advisors were at sixes and sevens about fitting him into the political scenario again. It would be hard to take this politician out of the grave. And on top of it, he still proceeded wrongly.

So, Marcio outlined a course of action and introduced it to Nuria González –Raul Menendez’s close friend. His first and immediate step was to get rid of his circle of advisors. The old wolves had failed but he would not.

His mind absorbed recalled every detail of his deeds that brought himself to prominence. However all it was in the past. The man was completely aware of disgrace would come along. It was destined so that he had to carry out what had been written previously by the Gods. He could not avoid it.

This man’s proposal was focused on creating a new image of the once electable candidate. So, firstly Raul Menendez would turn his invalidation to the regional elections into martyrdom (such a deliberately ban by the judicial system was advantageous –not running for the elections avoided the electors considering the governor post as the only position which he was apt to). Secondly, his image had to be redefined politically (the new Raul Menendez would be a man of all people of the country. For it, he would call on every corner of the country to perceive its reality. But, above all, he would set an emotional link with all the voters of the nation –and not just with the people who elected in the state in which he had postulated in the past).

As Marcio savoured an exquisite champagne reasoned about the laborious part of the entire plan which had been remoulding the image of Raul Menendez -which was enough lousy and not presentable to the exterior; just not to mention the task of assembling and diversifying his speech -specially for the entrepreneur.

All this man had foreseen was right. The regime wiped out the nation’s old leadership, so no any remaining of the past was left. And, when this collapsed there was no one to present to the electors, neither was there anybody who assumed the direction of the country. So Raul Menendez’s time had come. His leadership was identified with the needs of the poor and his verb soothed the uneasiness of the lower stratum of the Venezuelan society –the major one. Therefore, civil society embraced the candidature of the former governor. And, this was elected president.