Synopsis:

Imagine being able to do whatever you want whenever you want. Imagine living by your own rules, never feeling guilty and never apologizing for what you do. Imagine being so charming and smooth you effortlessly move in and out of your lovers' lives and bank accounts, giving them the illusion of love and stability. Can you imagine, being cunning and charismatic yet cold and calculating?

Meet Kenya, Clarke's firecracker character from Intimate Chaos and the lead in Illusions of Love: Two Erotic Vignettes. In addition to feverish passages of lesbian sex and seduction, we get to know Kenya for the chilling individual she really is: an emotional parasite with a stunning lack of conscience and voracious appetite for women.

Relax, read and revel in this bold new collection of stories from novelist, Cheril N. Clarke.

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"Illusions of Love" is now available for Amazon Kindle, iPhones and Blackberries (via free Kindle app), PCs (via Kindle for PC) and Sony ereader, etc. for $1.99. Visit: www.amazon.com or www.smashwords.com where you can download up to 20% of the content for free before purchase.

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Excerpt:

CRUISING

I couldn’t sleep. Though the blinds in our cabin were drawn, I could feel the pulsating energy of a new day developing as I lay next to Angela. It had been a while since I’d been to Florida but my return couldn’t have been under lovelier circumstances, five days at a private villa on Marco Island before being chauffeured to Miami to board a luxurious ship. For the last week, we’d had a leisurely cruise of the western Caribbean. Mingling with an exclusive crowd, 24-hour service, waking up in a foreign land every morning and all the fine food I could eat, now this was living! It was too bad things were beginning to wind down; I could live like this forever.

I eased out of bed carefully, not wanting to awaken Angela. Early morning is my favorite time of the day and I liked to enjoy it alone. I really wanted to smoke a cigarette on the balcony but there was no way I could open the sliding doors quietly, so I just tiptoed across the crème colored floors to the bathroom, settling for solitude and the beauty of myself. As I leaned forward against the marble sink to take a look in the mirror, I couldn’t help but smile. I’d been on three cruises already this year, perhaps over twenty in my life, but this is the first time I’d been on one this grand. Angela Gottlieb was a hell of a catch!

She was loaded, yes she was. In her mid-fifties, Angela was an esteemed professor at an Ivy League university, author and public speaker. Between her tenure, book deals and $10,000-per-event speaking fees, Angela had almost everything she wanted. Her problem was that she craved what money couldn’t buy: love. Despite her outward image of success, she was divorced, lonely and unhappy. Typical. But that’s where I come in.

“Kenya?” Angela spoke softly from the other side of the door.

“Yeah, babe?” I sighed. There goes my privacy.

“I’m sorry, but would you mind if I slipped in there for a minute?”

“No problem. Just give me a few seconds to wrap up.” I took a moment to stretch and take a deep breath, not wanting to get too worked up over anything. Today was going to be a great day because I’d already made up my mind to make it one. “Good morning, sweetheart,” I said as I opened the door.

She smiled and winked at me. “Hey, you.”

“It’s all yours. Hurry back to bed when you’re finished.” I ran my hand up the length of her arm as I stepped out of the way.

“I will,” she said and blew me a kiss.

Angela wasn’t bad looking either. Half black and German, she bore a lovely blend of her mixed heritage. Her skin was rich almond and her eyes were dark chocolate. I loved running my fingers through her silky auburn hair and tasting the sweet vulnerability that shimmered against her body. It was as if her yearning to be loved was a sweet glaze on the surface of her most delicate parts and I couldn’t get enough. For the last three months, being with her had made me feel like the most powerful woman on the planet. I glanced in the walk-in closet at all of the shopping bags I’d amassed at our stops in Key West, Mexico and Belize. Shoes, dresses, bikinis—you name it, she bought it. She loved spoiling me.

“Come lay next to me,” I whispered when she emerged from the bathroom. She’d slipped into enchanting lingerie. “Come,” I beckoned, becoming aroused by the sight of her in violet and black lace.

Though Angela was middle-aged, she was no stranger to plastic surgery. Her breasts were ample and firm and her stomach looked more defined than I knew it should have been. She actually looked a decade younger than she was, thanks to her slender frame and cosmetic enhancements.

She smiled broadly as she made her way to the queen-sized bed. “Do you like what you see?”

“Of course.” A genuine smirk spread across my face. “How could I not?” I pulled the covers back to reveal my nudity. “Do you?” I gazed at her seductively as I lay against the Egyptian cotton white sheets.

“Yes.” Angela grinned and walked toward me while I got on all fours and crawled in her direction.

We met at the edge of the bed, my lips to hers as she stood above me, on the verge of ecstasy. I was hungry for her, eager to delight the core of her womanhood with a lambent and expert tongue, but not yet. I wanted Angela to ache for me before I gave in. That kind of dominance gave me a rush that was almost better than the sex itself. I reveled in it and planned my escapades so that they could satisfy my desire for power.

-End of excerpt, read more on your Kindle or through the Smashwords link above!-

Hey Everyone,

This is just a quick note to show you the cover art for a new collection of erotic lesbian stories that will be released next week for Kindle (iPhone for Kindle, Kindle for PC), Sony ereader and other electronic reading devices. Stay tuned for a free excerpt!

These stories feature Kenya, who was first introduced in my novel, Intimate Chaos.

Cover art by N'Digo Design

"Want hundreds of tips to kick start, rekindle or preserve your relationship? Then get your hands on LOVE AND MARRIAGE: THE GAY AND LESBIAN GUIDE TO DATING AND ROMANCE by beloved novelist Cheril N. Clarke." – Sistahs on the Shelf

This title is $4.99 and available for Amazon Kindle, which can be viewed on the Kindle, iPhone (using the free Kindle app), your PC (using Kindle for PC) and other e-readers such as Sony via www.smashwords.com.

(Review continued)…Not only is Clarke the author of lesbian contemporary romance novels, she’s also a happily wedded woman of three years. That helps when perusing these helpful suggestions that list everything from scrapbooking to playing hide-and-go-seek to lap-dancing – all in an effort to keep the romance brewing.

The e-book is broken up conveniently into three sections: Getting to Know Each Other, Commitment and Marriage. Each pointer is marked with a symbol indicating the cost and activity type. As a word of advice, she states that you should make this book your own and not try to do everything at once.

If you’re on a first date or starting a new relationship, Clarke offers out-of-the-box plans for first dates. Things like taking a hot air balloon, having dinner in a castle, or walking under the stars on moonlight night will surely set a very good first impression.

For those in monogamous relationships, she doesn’t forget about you. To strengthen your bond, why don’t you take your girlfriend to a bed and breakfast or write her an old fashioned love letter?

And to cherish your union and combat the long-term itch of marriage, among Clarke’s hints are commissioning an artist to paint a couple’s portrait, having personalized china made, and attending a hedonism retreat.

By reading Love and Marriage, all couples should find something to fit their fancy – from the simplest declaration to the most elaborate arrangement. Clarke has your relationship in mind.

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My new ebook, "Love and Marriage: The Gay and Lesbian Guide to Dating and Romance," is now available in multiple ebook formats for $4.99!

For Amazon Kindle, please click here.

For all other formats, please visit my page on Smashwords.com.

In case you missed the show today, here's a link to my interview with Marcel: Cheril N. Clarke interview with The Marcel Show!

I'll be on the Marcel Show today around noon! Hot 96.3, listen live online here: http://wmarfm.com

We'll be talking about my latest book, Losing Control, and my stage play, Intimate Chaos…will it come to Atlanta next?

***UPDATE***

In case you missed the interview, here's the link: Cheril N. Clarke on the Marcel Show!

First and foremost, my heart and thoughts go out to all of the victims and their families abroad who may be worried and without contact to their loved ones.

This is an incredible day, the day after. Today will begin to reveal the first real glimpses of the damage Haiti suffered at the hands of a 7.0 earthquake. Now, it’s time for everyone to stand up and help. If you have time and/or money, now is the time to give it. It has been reported that three million people may be affected by the earthquake. An event of this magnitude means the damage will extend way beyond the images we’re seeing today.

(Image obtained via Twitter from Lisandro Suero)

This loss stability will last for years, especially for a country that has needed real help for a very long time. The thought of how many people may have died is devastating.

Let’s not just watch it on the news and say it’s a shame without offering help. Let’s not just believe that someone else will help them. Let’s not forget them. Let’s not ignore them. Let us not allow our Haitian brothers and sisters to just be the news of the week. Let’s help them. Black people, these are our people. Stand up. Caribbean, stand up. WORLD, stand up. They are going to need food, shelter and clothing. Some of these people have lost all of their possessions, some, their loved ones and others may have lost both. CNN has reported that much of Port-au-Prince has been destroyed. A hospital and homes have been destroyed. Will you do something to help? Can you spare a few dollars to help speed the recovery process? If you are unable to assist monetarily, would you spread the word to others who might be in a position to do so?

Every dollar helps. Every instance of word-of-mouth helps.

How you can help:

• Yéle Haiti – Donate as much as you want online or $5 by texting “Yele” to 501501
• Doctors Without Borders
• International Medical Corps
• Americares
• Direct Relief International
• World Vision
• International Relief Teams
• American Red Cross
• Operation USA
• CARE
• Catholic Relief Services
• World Food Programme
• World Concern
• Save the Children
• UNICEF USA
• Mercy Corps
• Operation Blessing International
• Shelterbox
• Operation USA
• Medical Teams International
• The International Committee of the Red Cross

This is a quick post to let you know that Intimate Chaos the play is coming back to the stage this May in Plainfield, NJ! Check out the new website: www.intimatechaostheplay.com

Quite a bit of my blog posts got lost during my move to a new host so for the next week or so I will be uploading archived posts before posting anything new.

Please revisit soon!

They’re not in the clubs. Are they quietly integrated in mainstream society? Do they exist? Where do you find the lesbian version of Taraji P.Henson?

Let’s see. I have been asked where these lesbians are on quite a few occasions and I suppose the answer really depends on how one interprets upscale. For one person, it may be a club that doesn’t allow hats, boots or sneakers, and for another person it might be an event at which there is no need to print the words “classy” or “upscale” on the invitation because the stipulations (black-tie, formal, $$$ admission, etc.) and attention to detail automatically exude class (except for the $ part as having money doesn’t always equal having class). Where can you find these women? Well, before I can even get to that I think I should share with you the lens through which I look.

To me, an upscale woman is one whose conversation, diction, and intellectual level are superb. She pays attention to detail in her dress, smell, make-up, jewelry and hair—she looks polished. This woman is cultured, well-read, has depth of character, a personal value system by which she lives and has a disarming aura of grace about her when she enters a room. She turns heads but it isn’t just because of her physical beauty! She is also emotionally mature, which is a big deal for me because a woman who is emotionally mature is at a point in her life where she can do as she pleases when she pleases and never feels the need to put others down because they behave or look different from her. In other words, she isn’t stuck up! And though she won’t party with certain people, she doesn’t belittle them either. It can be hard to find all of the above in one woman but I believe this type of woman exists. Now where to find her is another story.

Personally, I am a homebody. I put spending time with my family above all else. I don’t like bars or clubs. This is why I am usually unable to answer this question for people when they ask. When I do go out on the town, I will admit that it’s usually to a mainstream party like the NYE party at the Crystal Tea Room or if it is LGBT oriented, it’s usually a fund raiser.

See, I don’t want to hear a bunch of ‘yo son’ or ‘that b*tch is trippin’ when I’m out. I generally don’t want to be in a place where the only staff is bartenders and bouncers. I want a good time and I don’t want to feel stressed out while doing so. I want service. Above all, I like privacy and intimacy which is why I usually just hang out with my wife and maybe a few close friends.

Anyway, for those of you who view upscale as I do here are a few ideas that might lead you in the right direction. If you still can’t find who you’re looking for…well…let’s just hope this gets your imagination going!

-Look into charity functions by hosted by organizations Garden State Equality, National Black Justice Coalition. These organizations often have fund raising galas, dinners, picnics, etc. where you might meet other women (single or coupled) for friendship.

-Go to upscale establishments. Try trendy, boutique, and posh restaurants with famed chefs instead of the chains and run of the mill bars. If you’re in a small town where there is only one gay bar/club/safe space then this may be a challenge.

-If there is such a thing as a gay-friendly membership only/country club near you, join it. If there isn’t and you have the resources to create one then by all means, start your own group.
Frequent art exhibits and galleries by LGBTQ artists.

-Join an upscale dating site. There’s got to be a gay friendly, upscale dating site out there that allows you to be very selective about the type of mate you’d like to meet.

-Go on a women only cruise to somewhere other than the Caribbean.

-Be the woman you want to meet. You might need to upgrade your wardrobe, conversation and overall presentation.

All right. I hope that helps.

Follow me on Twitter @Cherilnc