Tuesday, May 15, 2018

The Anatomy of a Kiss

 

The Anatomy of a Kiss


HELLO SEEKERVILLE! It is sooo fun to back here with you and my Seeker buds!

To those of you who’ve read my books, it’s no surprise I LOVE writing kissing scenes, so I put my heart, soul, and lips (test runs with hubby) into every kiss I write. Some readers have told me they actually use my novels as a handbook for writing love scenes and others have dubbed me, “The Kissing Queen.” Although I have no idea if that’s true, I do guarantee you’ll find more kisses in my books than most CBA romance novels!  

Why? Well, I explain it all HERE in a Seekerville blog entitled “Life on the Edge,” but suffice it to say that in a world where the likes of Fifty Shades of Gray is a runaway bestseller, it’s pretty clear that the majority of romance readers are looking for a little more POW in their WOW!

Which isn’t all that easy to do in the Christian market. Because let’s face it, anybody can warm up the pages with blatant bedroom scenes, but it takes skill to heighten the romantic tension in a book with only a look . . . a kiss . . . or even the absence of a kiss.

For me, the real secret to a great kiss and great romantic tension are the emotions surging around it like a romantic riptide that rolls in and out. However, building a scene like that takes time, so for the sake of brevity (which I know nothing about!), check out my examples on my FAVE KISSES tab of my website.

In the meantime, how do you elicit the most sighs with the least amount of body parts and graphic action? Well, I attempted to do so in each of the kissing scenes in this blog by making the most of non-graphic tools and tricks of the trade such as:

-- Incorporation of less graphic parts of the body other than lips (i.e. collarbone, earlobe, nape, etc.)
--    Trigger words/phrases (i.e. eyes sheathing closed, nuzzle, explore, throb, etc.)
--     Trigger scenarios (i.e. accidental closeness, unsuspecting attraction, etc.)
--     Emotional triggers (anger, repentance, challenge, etc.)

So, let’s look at the scenes below, and I’ll tell you how I heightened romantic tension in each one.

NON-GRAPHIC WAYS TO ADD ROMANTIC TENSION
(OR “POW” TO YOUR “WOW, WHAT A KISS!”)

THE KID-FACTOR KISS: Let’s face it—kids are cute and innocent, so when you plop them into the middle of a love scene, their “sweet” can highlight the romantic tension of a kiss in a big way.

In the following scene from A Love Surrendered, where the hero takes the heroine, Annie (whom he’s trying to avoid romantically) and her little sister, Glory, home, I tried to juxtaposition “sweet” (blue-highlighted words like “innocence, little girl, little troublemaker, angel OR actions like kissing on the tip of the nose, peck on the cheek, etc.) against the swoon and sensations of a romance (red-highlighted words like trip of the pulse, eyes sheathing closed, soft, supple, etc.) to create a kissing scene that is hopefully both sweet and salty with romantic tension.

“Wait! Aren’t you going to kiss her too?” Glory spun around, eyes wide with the innocence of a little girl who had no earthly idea what she was asking him to do.
Steven blinked, heat skimming his collar.
“Glory, no—” Annie whispered, turning ten kinds of pale.
“Please?” The little troublemaker stared at him with those wide eyes of an angel.
Heart thudding, he did the only thing he knew to do—he kissed Annie right on the tip of her nose. Clearing his throat, he stepped back. “Well, good-night, ladies.”
“No, silly,” Glory said, “like this . . .” She demonstrated with a sweet little peck on her sister’s lips as if he were too stupid to understand, then tilted her head. “See? It’s easy.”
Too easy, he thought with a trip of his pulse. Way, way too easy . . .
“Stop it, Glory, Steven doesn’t want to—”
“Sure I do,” he whispered, his words shocking him as much as Annie. Gaze holding hers, he slowly leaned in, close enough to see the long sweep of her lashes, the pale gold in eyes so green, he felt like he was in Oz, about to be granted a wish. He heard the soft hitch of her breath when she stopped breathing because it coincided with the halt of air in his own lungs. Cupping her face in his hand, his eyelids sheathed closed at the touch of her lips—soft, supple and just a hint of peppermint from the candy she’d offered him in the car. It was meant to be no more than a peck like Glory had given him, but somehow his mouth wanted to linger and explore . . . He stepped in close, body grazing hers and Glory’s till they were one. A little-girl giggle broke the trance, and Annie’s lips curved beneath his.
His whiskers are itchy, aren’t they, Annie?” Glory asked, patting his face once again. “Kinda makes you wiggly all over, doesn’t it?”
Annie’s eyes glowed as she caressed her own cheek. “Very wiggly,” she whispered.

THE PET-FACTOR KISS: Like the kid factor above, a pet can also heighten romantic tension as in this scene from A Heart Revealed, where the focus and attention given to the pet suddenly switches to that between the hero and heroine. Again, notice the romantic language/movements (red-highlighted words such as snuggle time, shuttered gaze, tripping of the pulse, etc.) that set the scene for the kiss that correlates with the innocence of pet interaction (blue-highlighted words such as kneading paw, soft scrub of fur, etc.).

Kicking off her shoes, Emma spanned across the covers on her tummy, kneading Lancelot’s paw while she stroked Guinevere’s head, her mind straying to how much her life had changed since Sean had made her his wife.
The bed vibrated with the purrs of her former bedmates, bringing a giggle to her lips. “So, how was your evening, your highness and your majesty?” she said with a soft scrub of their fur. “I know you’re not pleased my husband steals your snuggle time, but remember, once he closes his eyes, he’s gone for the night, so just bide your time . . .”
“Are you conspiring with those cats again, Emma O’Connor?” Sean assessed her with a shuttered gaze, arms folded and hip cocked in the doorway. Sculpted chest bare, he ambled into the room in boxers and blond hair damp from his shower. A slow grin of warning stretched across wide lips as he eased onto the bed to lie beside her. Elbow cocked and head in hand, he massaged Guinevere’s ribcage, warming Emma with a dangerous smile. Leaning close, he grazed her lips, then pulled away, the blue eyes tripping her pulse. “You’re next,” he whispered.

THE ACCIDENTAL KISS: The accidental kiss is a major opportunity for romantic tension when the attraction is there, but the intent isn’t. Until, that is, something as innocent as a kiss on the cheek sets passion ablaze.

In this second-tier love story from Love at Any Cost, an innocent thank-you kiss on the cheek “accidentally” turns into more between the widowed matriarch and her rogue brother-in-law, the ex-fiancé who cheated on her before she married his brother.

Notice the romantic tension in the hero via phrases like heart seized, pulse thudded slow and hard, shallow breathing, etc. And then the acquiescence of the heroine conveyed through actions/phrases like the drop of a blanket, melding into his arms, etc. Also note that romantic tension is always heightened by romantic trigger words like bewitched, spell, explored, nuzzle, throb, etc.

His heart seized when she pressed a kiss to his cheek, and almost by accident, he turned into her silky caress, their lips so close he could smell the hint of hot chocolate they’d enjoyed around the fire. They froze in the same split second of time, and his pulse thudded slow and hard as he waited for her to pull away. Only she didn’t, and heat scorched his body when her shallow breathing warmed his skin. 
“Cait,” he whispered, barely believing her lips nearly grazed his. All he could hear was the roar of blood in his ears as he waited, not willing to push for fear she would retreat, but when her eyelids flickered closed, his fate was sealed. “So help me, Cait, I love you,” he rasped, nuzzling her lips before she could retreat. The moment his mouth took hers, he was a man hopelessly lost, bewitched by her spell.
He felt it the moment the winds shifted, pulse skyrocketing when her blanket dropped to the ground and she melded into his arms. His mouth explored with a vengeance, the frenzied beat of her heart throbbing beneath his lips as he grazed the hollow of her throat. He skimmed up to suckle the lobe of her ear, and his heart swelled with joy when a soft moan escaped her lips. Blood pounding in his veins, he wove fingers into her hair to cradle her face. “Marry me, Cait, please . . .”

THE PROGRESSIVE KISS: Okay, I’m sorry, but the progressive kiss is one of my faves because it’s a slow buildup of romantic tension that can culminate in a killer kissing scene. In A Heart Revealed, the hero comforts his best friend after she’s beat up by a thug, unaware of his attraction to her until his comfort escalates into passion neither of them knew they had.

Note the escalation from friendship (cupping her face, his gaze a tender caress, kiss on the forehead, etc.) to outright passion.

“Shh . . . shh . . . it’s okay, Emma . . .” He fanned his fingers through her hair, then cupped her face in his palms, his gaze a tender caress. “I’m here now,” he whispered, kissing her forehead, her temple, her cheek . . .
Her pulse quickened while her weeping stilled to soft, little heaves, and as her eyelids drifted closed, her heart stuttered when he brushed them with his lips.
“I’ll keep you safe, I promise,” he whispered, and a silent moan faded in her throat as his mouth trailed to her temple. “I swear no one will ever hurt you again . . .”
Heat throbbed within as she lost herself in the caress of his hand, her mind dazed while his mouth explored. The soft flesh of her ear, the curve of her throat, her body humming with need as never before. She felt his shallow breaths, warm against her skin, and with a low groan, he cradled her neck to capture her mouth with his own. “Oh, Emma,” he whispered, his voice hoarse against her lips, “I want to be there always, to protect you, cherish you . . .” He deepened his kiss, and she tasted the salt of her tears.

THE STOLEN KISS: Call me old-fashioned, but I love those stolen kisses from wonderful old movies like McLintock or Gone with the Wind, when John Wayne lays one on Maureen O’Hara or Rhett drags Scarlett from the wagon. I do realize kisses like those are not always politically correct in today’s world, where sexual abuse is a sad reality. Please note—in no way do I condone this type of behavior nor are my scenes meant to be perceived as such. They are written in the old-fashioned “Calgon, take me away” style of romance prevalent in the old Hollywood movies and in absolutely every case in my books, the dominant hero is called to task for his behavior and eventually learns from it.

In this scene from my historical Western, For Love of Liberty, the frustrated hero teaches the bossy heroine a lesson she won’t soon forget in classic McLintock style!

He blasted out a sigh and dropped his head, hands perched low on his hips. “Okay, lady, I’m going to ask you one more time, real nice and civil-like …” He peered up beneath hooded eyes, a near smile on his face. “Will you please move out of my way?”
“Nope.” She smiled and shook her head, as if quite confident he was on the thaw. She clutched her hands behind her back like a little girl about to misbehave, green eyes issuing a dare. “And you can’t make me.”
He sighed. Poor, misguided, little rich girl. “Yeah?” He pushed the brim of his hat up. “Watch me.” Hurling his satchel to the floor, he heard the catch of her breath when he struck like lightning with an arm to her waist. Jerking her close, he kissed the daylights out of her while her boots dangled in the air. Unfortunately, the moment he tasted those soft lips parted in surprise, he was struck by a little lightning of her own, electrifying every nerve in his body while his blood simmered to a dangerous boil.
When a telltale mew escaped her throat, he was helpless to contain the low moan that rose deep in his belly. Butting her to the door, he cradled her face in his hands, longing pumping through his veins as he claimed the sweetest lips he’d ever known—and he’d known plenty—completely disarmed by the scent of her skin, the soft flesh of her ear. Sure, he’d dreamed of kissing Liberty O’Shea for as long as he could remember, but he never expected this—a kiss that could surely tame his taste for all other women.
The very thought bucked like a thorn-saddled bull, and with a rush of icy mountain water surging through his veins, he dropped her to the floor like he’d been bit by a rattler. She teetered precariously—along with his heart—eyes glazed and mouth still open in shock. Mustering all the calm he owned—which was a mite low at the moment—he yanked his hat down low and reached for the knob. She bolted away like he was a grizzly fresh up from a nap, and Finn had to stifle a chuckle, tossing her a wink as he opened the door. “Told you.”

THE COAXING KISS: In this scene from A Hope Undaunted, the hero, Luke McGee, is hoping to coax the heroine, Katie O’Connor, into dating him, unaware she has just accepted an engagement ring from her boyfriend Jack. For me, the key to this romantically tense scene is the hero’s slow and confident approach, disarming the heroine with gentle, yet dominant, action.

Glass in hand, she paused at the sink. “Do you want ice?”
His approach was achingly slow as he strolled toward her. With a casual air, he took the glass from her hand and set it on the counter while his warm gaze welded to hers. He moved in close, wedging her against the sink by just the mere threat of his presence. She swallowed hard and craned her neck up, wishing her voice hadn’t fused to her throat.
Massive palms slowly grazed the side of her arms, as if he thought she might be chilled, but the heat they generated made her feel anything but. In fluid motion, they moved to her waist, the gentle caress of his thumbs all but stealing her air. His blue eyes deepened in intensity as he leaned in, and his husky voice made her mouth go dry. “Let’s face it, Katie Rose,” he whispered, “I don’t want ice, I don’t want water, and I definitely don’t want chocolate.”
She caught her breath when his words melted warm in her ear.
“I want you . . .”
And before the air could return to her lungs, his mouth dominated hers with such gentle force, it coaxed a breathless moan from her lips, heating the blood in her veins by several degrees. “Say it, Katie Rose . . . say that you want me as much as I want you.”
She could barely speak for the racing of her pulse, and her breathing was as rapid as his. Powerful arms refused to relent, drawing her close as his lips trailed her throat with an urgency that made her dizzy. “Say it,” he whispered again, “tell me you care for me too.”

THE KISS-AND-MAKE-UP KISS: There is almost nothing I would rather write than a kiss-and-make-up scene following a horrendous fight. There’s just something about those rollercoaster emotions—from anger, to apology, to love—that makes me want to swoon. A good example is this scene from A Hope Undaunted, where we have the subordinate hero Patrick O’Connor attempting to comfort his wife Marcy after a volatile argument.

He lifted her chin with his finger. “We have to present a united front, my love, and you need to learn to say ‘no.’ Or I’m afraid with Gabe, there will be a heavy price to pay.”
She nodded and sniffed again.
With a tight squeeze, he buried his head in her neck before pulling away with a lift of his brow. He stared at her new satin gown, then slowly fanned his hands down the sides of her waist. “And speaking of a price to pay—so you’ve taken to wearing perfume to bed, have you, Mrs. O’Connor?” He bent to caress the curve of her throat while his fingers grazed the strap of her gown. “And a new satin gown, surely not just for sleep.” With a slow sweep of his thumb, the strap slithered from her shoulder. “Oh, I’m afraid this is going to cost you, darlin’.”
He kissed her full on the mouth, and heat shivered through her. “I suppose this isn’t one of those times when I need to say no,” she whispered, her breathing ragged against his jaw.
“No, darlin’, it’s not.” And clutching her close, he fisted the satin gown and moved in to deepen the kiss, his husky words melting into her mouth. “For all the good it would do.”

THE MENTAL KISS: One of the most effective ways to add romantic tension is by an innocent scene that escalates into a moment of attraction so strong, the mental desire for a kiss sparks without one person’s lips ever touching the other’s. In my next book, Love’s Silver Lining, due out May 19th, the hero and heroine teeter on the threshold of a kiss when the hero threatens to toss the heroine in a lake after she pushes him in during a bet gone awry between two friends.

“All right, Nurse Mullaney.” He relaxed his hold, and she waited for him to put her down. “Two bags of peppermint candy, then.”
Her breath silently seeped out. “You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Donovan, but mercy comes at a high price, I suppose.” She wriggled to get free, and he finally let her, his hands slowly guiding her down.
Too slowly.
Her heart drummed a traitorous beat as she slid to the ground, their bodies bonded all the way down. The dampness of his clothes bled warm into hers despite the cool of the night, kindling renegade thoughts as shallow and fast as her air. “We need to get back,” she rasped, voice breathless as she tried to step away, wondering where in the devil the boys were.
“Maggie ...” The husky sound of her name on his tongue weakened the tendons at the back of her knees, and she tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go. “The peppermint candy be dashed,” he whispered, his voice suddenly as ragged as hers. He leaned so close, she could smell mint on his breath, warm against her lips as his mouth hovered over hers. “One kiss is all the payment I need.”

GIVEAWAY: That’s it, so leave a comment, and you’ll be in the draw for your choice of a paperback copy of my writer’s workbook, Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets OR your choice of any of my indie e-books, including my upcoming release, Love’s Silver Lining.

ABOUT JULIE LESSMAN:
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion with a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, and Isle of Hope series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 18 Romance Writers of America and other awards.

Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com



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65 comments:

  1. Sa-woon! Instead of bringing hot coffee for Seeker-villagers, I think I should bring some ice water and some fans! Whoo-ee, girl! You write the best kissing scenes ever!

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    1. LOL ... you bet, Erica, and I am prepared because I already have a big glass of ice water as well as coffee! ;)

      Thank you for your sweet comment, my friend!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  2. JULIE!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for coming to visit, girl! We miss you!
    Great post as always!

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    1. MARY!!!! Thank you SOOOO much for hosting me, my sweet friend -- I'm SO looking forward to reconnecting with Seeker friends I haven't talked to for a while, so BRING-IT-ON!!

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  3. Oh My Julie, it's a little past six in the morning and I have work to do! This is a great post as always! Blessings to you.

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    1. LOL ... yeah, I have "work" to do, too, Barbara, but I find kisses are like the cream in my coffee, so I drink up!

      Thank you for the blessings -- I'll take all I can get and pray twice as many back on you!

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  4. GOOD MORNING, SEEKERVILLE!! It's SO fun being back here on this side of the blog, so a BIG HUG to Mary for hosting me!

    There's nothing I'd rather write than a kissing scene, but When I was a Seekerville blogger, I had to spread the subjects around because you can't write about kissing in every single blog, right??? (Somehow I hear a big "sure you can!" from Carrie Schmidt!!) ;)

    So for my first guest post back, I took full advantage, and I hope you don't mind because along with coffee or tea, kisses are a great way to get the ol' engine (I'm talkin' me, not you!) revved and running!

    So, Vroooom-vroooom, let's get started!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  5. Julie, as soon as I saw the title of this post I knew it had to be you. We don't call you the kissing queen for nothing. Man, I just got in from the gym and I thought it was hot there? Girl, I think my computer just overheated.

    You always pack these posts full of great ideas. Thank you. Now I must go shower.

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    1. LOL ... yeah, I'm pretty predictable that way, Mindy, which hopefully is a good thing for my readership! ;) And I am TOTALLY impressed you've been to the gym already -- WOW!! I haven't been on my treadmill yet, but it's coming soon!!

      Have a great day, my friend!

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  6. Wow, Julie, one thing I've learned today ... With Julie Lessman, a kiss isn't just a kiss! :) Welcome back to Seekerville, Jules! We've missed you!

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    1. Aw, thank you, Pammy -- I've missed you all too! And, no, "a kiss is definitely not just a kiss" for me, that's for darn sure!

      HUGS!!
      Julie
      Julie

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  8. *Raises hand* I'm one of those new writers who gleaned from your kissing-crafting expertise! Thank you for showing us how to create clean -yet passionate- scenes between our heroes and heroines! Do YOU have a favorite kiss from either one of your books or another's?

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    1. Aw, thanks, Rach -- I really appreciate your kind comment! And ... funny you should ask! ;) I actually DO have two favorite kisses that I absolutely love and I explain why as well as post the scenes on this blog:

      JULIE’S TWO FAVORITE KISSES & WHY

      Thanks again, Rachel -- appreciate your support! ❤️

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  9. I loved those examples of stories from your "Boston" series, as I called all 6 books, of which I own several..... and they are definite re-reads!

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    1. Thanks, CC -- I have to admit, the Boston series is my fave type of writing -- deep and passionate (both romantically and spiritually) family sagas! And, by the why, I'm planning on writing trilogies for each of the O'Connor cousins during WWII soon, so more O'Connors to come ... :)

      Hugs!
      Julie

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  10. Julie, welcome back! So good to see you!!! And you sure did pack a lot into this post. Go you!

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    1. Thanks, Ruthy -- it is SO nice to be back on Seekerville again. Really miss you guys!!

      HUGS!!

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  12. Welcome back Julie. I do love to read your books. I'd love to have a print copy of your romanceology book. I have it in Kindle but would love a print copy as it would be easier to access. I hope you are doing well.

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    1. Hey, Wilani, SO good to touch base with you again, my friend, and THANK YOU for your kind comment about my books. I am doing well -- busy, but well -- and I'm hoping I get to send you a winning copy of Romance-ology 101, my friend, so GOOD LUCK!

      HUGS!
      Julie

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  13. Amazing, Julie. Always. Your kissing scenes are truly that. I'm swooning in front of my computer! Right now!

    Love those kisses...

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    1. LOL, Deb ... swooning is just the best, isn't it? The only thing that puts it to shame for me is a deeply spiritual scene, which always rips my heart out. But I have to limit myself on those because I'm such a weepy gal as it is! So, kisses are fairly safe ... ;)

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  14. Julie, it is great to hear from you. Wow, what a lot to think about. I never thought about classifying kisses that way, but I will from now on. And will look more closely at the ones I write.
    Kathy Bailey

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    1. Hey, Kathy, I classify kisses all the time because I try to come up with fresh and new ways to feature a kiss, which is sooooooo fun!!

      Hugs and Good Luck!

      Julie

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  15. Who knew there were so many different kinds of kisses??? Well, obviously, the one and only Julie Lessman does! Whenever I need inspiration to writing a kissing scene, I know where to look. 😉

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    1. LOL ... and this is just the tip of the iceberg, my friend. Didn't want to go toooo long on a guest blog, despite my reputation for it! ;)

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  16. Julie! It's so good to see you here!

    Like Myra, I had no idea there were so many kinds of kisses. But there is nothing like a kiss to ramp up the romantic tension!

    In my Amish stories, kisses are few and far between. But I hope I have my readers anticipating the moment by the time my characters get there!

    I'll have to print out this post for reference...

    Thanks!

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    1. LOL, Jan, I GUARANTEE that Amish readers experience more "anticipating the moment" than my readers do, which obviously is a good thing! ;) Problem is, I just can't wait for that kiss like most Amish readers can, although I have to admit -- I thoroughly enjoyed your latest, my friend!

      Hugs and more hugs!
      Julie

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  17. Wow, I didn't know that there were that many kinds of kisses you could put in your stories. Since I write YA, generally, I spend most of my time leading up to the first kiss. Sometimes my characters have to wait several books to kiss. Which means lots of near kisses and interruptions.

    I actually moved a kiss to earlier in the story I'm working on, so I'm going to need to write that soon. It's one of those accidental ones ;P ;P

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    1. Nicki, those are my favorites kisses--the ones we have to wait for! :)

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    2. Oh, Nicki, there are WAY more than what I listed here, but I didn't want Seekerville to use the cane to hook me off the stage because I took too much time! ;) In fact, I list more in my Romance-ology 101 book, so hopefully you will win that!

      Gotta love those "accidental ones," so you go, girl!

      HUGS and GOOD LUCK!
      Julie

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    3. Missy -- they are fun, aren't they, though? ;)

      Hugs!!
      Julie

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  18. Skimmed this blog post. Going to have to print off and spend more time with it. Nice to hear from you, Julie!! Can't wait to read your next book! God bless!

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    1. Hey, Kelly, SO good to see you, too, my friend, and I hope you enjoy Love's Silver Lining. I will say this -- it sure was fun to write, so Mary Connealy is definitely onto something! ;)

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  19. Julie! So good to see you today! I'm glad we have the Queen of Kissing today. Lots of great examples!

    My favorite book kiss would have to be the almost kiss. I love those diverted kisses. The payoff is big when they finally get together later!

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    1. Oh, YES, ma'am, it is, and let's face it -- that's why we all read romance in the first place -- for the payoff! ;)

      SO good to be here with you and the other Seekers today, my friend -- miss you guys!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  20. Whoa! Julie! I’m bookmarking this post - in fact, I may have to print it off! Now that I’ve sold I can definitely see my two kissing scenes need to be ratcheted up before copy edits are done next month so god is perfect timing 😍😇. Thank you for showing all these different types of kisses because my editor said I could add more emotion and I honestly didn’t know how to do it. You are definitely the Queen of Kissing! Thanks so much and I’m glad I finally got over here after a long day. 😉

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    1. LAURIE!! SUPER CONGRATS, girlfriend, on the sale -- WHOO-HOO!!! And your editor said you can show "more emotion"??? Oh, honey, go for it!! I would soooo love my editor to say that because "emotion" is king in romance, as far as I'm concerned, and I'm always ready to do more!

      God bless you on your edits AND your sales!!

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  21. Love this post, Julie! I so appreciate the way you show the heat without the reader getting burned :) As an author trying to keep things ‘Regency appropriate’ I’m definitely going to need to check out your Romance-ology 101 book! Saving this post to add to my collection of Seekerville inspiration.

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    1. "Heat without the reader getting burned." LOL, I love that, Carolyn!! Although some readers obviously DO get burned, based on some one-star reviews. BUT ... it's paid off well for me to list my indie books with the following disclaimer: "(NOTE!! THIS BOOK IS A SWEET INSPIRATIONAL WITH A BIT HIGHER LEVEL OF ROMANTIC PASSION.)

      I hope I get to send you a winning copy of Romance-ology 101, so GOOD LUCK!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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    2. Julie, that's a great idea to have that warning. I imagine it also helps sell books. :)

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  22. Your kissing scenes are legendary, Julie!

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    1. LOL, MJSH ... you just made my day! "Legendary" ... from your lips to God's ear, my friend, so THANK YOU!!

      HUGS and GOOD LUCK!!

      Julie

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  23. Wow!! Loved this post and all of the different types of kisses you've written Julie! In fact this shows why you're the Kissing Queen of Romantic Christian Fiction with your amazing ability to write kissing scenes ranging from sweet to hot and everything in between. Plus with that Julie Lessman touch of being passionate without being sleazy. Thank you so much for your stories of spiritual and romantic passion,please keep them coming!! Can't wait for the upcoming Love's Silver Lining!! :)

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    1. LYNNE!!! Gosh, it's been WAY too long since we've talked on a blog, my sweet friend, so THANK YOU for coming by! I will be sending you a mobi copy of LSL SOON!!

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  24. Awesome post. Julie! Love your kissing scenes!

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    1. Aw, Sally, thank you SO much, my sweet friend -- SO appreciate your support!

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  25. Julie, I love your kissing scenes and all the romance inbetween too! Reading your fiction stories helps me to turn up the romance in my own marriage too, so that is always a fun bonus! �� Thanks for always writing what is on your heart, giving us spiritual golden nuggets as well as scenes that get out hearts racing but keeping the romance pure. Looking forward to Love's Silver Lining!!!

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    1. Oh, Mary, thank you SO much, my friend, for your kind comment. I have to admit that it always tickles me when someone tells me it helps turn up the romance in their own marriage because that's exactly what A Passion Most Pure did for me, and it's been going strong ever since! ;) And would you believe that I actually had an editor from another publisher thank me for turning the romance up in her marriage?? That made me smile for sure!

      Thanks again, Mary, and GOOD LUCK!

      HUGS,
      Julie

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    2. Wow, Julie! That's quite a compliment!

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  26. I started reading this post and thought it sounded like a Julie Lessman post! I was delighted to find it was, but I had to turn the fans up and get my fainting couch out before I could finish reading it! :-D Fun post, Julie!

    Your upcoming release sounds wonderful, Julie! It must go on my wish list!

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    1. WINNIE, THANK YOU!! And, yeah, my posts are easy to spot -- it's usually about kisses! ;) Sorry about the fan and fainting couch, my sweet friend! ;)

      HUGS and GOOD LUCK!
      Julie

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  27. Gotta say your kissing scenes are amazing girl!! I think my two favorites are Luke and Katie's then Finn and Liberty's first kiss. Always love the interesting techniques you use and lists you use to write your stories because they are absolutely swoon worthy. So ready for your next one this week!!

    Amanda Dunseith

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    Replies
    1. AMANDA!! Girl, I just LOVE your addy -- SO cute!! And thank you for your support, my friend, because you are a true blessing to me as both an author and a friend. Only 2 days and counting ... ;)

      HUGS!
      Julie

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  28. Hi Julie,

    You always make me smile. I have Romanceology and I'm copying this post. Thanks for always being gracious to share.

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    1. JACKIE!! You make me smile, too, my sweet friend! Glad to share and thank you for buying Romance-ology 101 -- hope it was helpful!

      HUGS!!
      Julie

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  29. Great post Julie! Who knew there are so many reasons and so many emotions to prompt kissing?
    Blessings!
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks, Connie! Who knew, indeed! I sure didn't till I started writing! ;)

      HUGS!!
      JULIE

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