Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

Mr Munro helped me draw the winners in my Fancy Free contests. Congratulations to:

Donna A – wins a download of Fancy Free

Danette – wins the prize for helping me promote Fancy Free

I’ve contacted both prizewinners.
Thanks to everyone for your interest in Fancy Free. It’s out tomorrow from Ellora’s Cave.

1. Condoms have been around since the time of the Egyptians.

2. During Roman times, a magic condom became popular. This condom supposedly protected the users from pregnancy and from evil spirits. To make a magic condom the woman collected a large handful of fur from a she-mule’s mane. During the foreplay stage, the man and woman wove a condom from the fur, which was then used during lovemaking.

3. Roman legions kept herds of goats for meat and milk. Some of the soldiers used the goat bladders or intestines for penis sheaths. Small pieces of leather or string held the condom in place around the top of the penis.

4. One size does not fit all. Correct condom use is critical in preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, yet an Indiana study found many men reported problems with the fit and feel of condoms. The range of condom sizes is limited yet men come in all shapes and sizes.

21% of men in the study reported the condoms were too tight.
18% of the men in the study reported the condoms felt too short.
10% of the men in the study reported the condoms felt too loose.
7% of the men in the study reported the condoms felt too long.

5. Condoms are currently made from three materials: Latex, Polyurethane and Lamb Skins.

6. Latex condoms are produced from natural rubber latex, derived from trees in Africa and Southeast Asia. It’s a very elastic material and can stretch to fit any size. Condoms are stretched and inflated to several times their natural size and shape during the manufacture and product testing stage. During trials they are put under more stress than they receive in sexual intercourse.

7. Polyurethane is stronger and thinner and has no odor or taste. It has only recently been used in the manufacture of condoms and is recommended for latex-sensitive users.

8. Lamb Skins are made from the intestine of animals and were one of the first forms of birth control. They have a natural feeling and although effective for birth control, the bacteria and viruses which carry STDs and AIDs can pass through the porous walls of the natural membrane. Only one company continues to make Lamb Skin condoms.

9. Condoms can be weakened by exposure to heat or sunlight or by age.

10. Don’t store condoms in wallets, they could get damaged or worn out from the heat of the backside of a person or the pressure from being squished so much.

11. Always check the expiration date. Condoms should come with an expiration date.

12. Condoms are 98 percent effective in preventing pregnancy when used consistently and correctly. Using a latex condom to prevent transmission of HIV is more than 10,000 times safer than not using a condom.

13. For a humorous look at condoms check out FANCY FREE, available tomorrow from Ellora’s Cave.

Blurb:

It’s not every day a girl inherits a condom company, and to say accountant, Alice Beasley is astonished and out of her depth is putting it mildly. For an almost virgin, she needs a quick education in all things condom because her inheritance is in danger. Someone is intent on sabotage and playing nasty, trying to destroy her new company.

Alice is suddenly getting down and dirty with charismatic James, the factory manager, all in the name of business, testing new condom designs. The sex is hot. Mind-blowing. It’s a dark thrill and an erotic journey. Yeah, it’s a hard job but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s gotta do.

The testing turns personal. Alice wants James. She craves his talented touch and sultry kisses, she desires passion and physical pleasure on a permanent basis but first she must convince bad boy James to give up his fancy free ways.

Note: condoms were tested and a few harmed during the writing of this story.

I did an interview with author, Jane Beckenham and it’s currently up at her blog. You might even learn a few of my secrets.

Ideas – they come in the strangest places at the funniest times. A writer’s life is never dull that’s for sure!

Mr. Munro and I were catching an Air New Zealand flight from San Francisco to Auckland. We hadn’t been on the plane long and I was settled back with my inflight magazine. It’s always the first thing I read when I get on any plane since they have interesting travel articles. Air New Zealand have this new products section and one of the items shown was a vibrating condom.

“Oh,” I said to hubby in a loud voice. “Look!” (and I have to point out hubby is always growling at me for muttering. I don’t but that’s another story. Anyhow, I spoke rather loudly.)

“What?” he asked.

“It’s a vibrating condom. Hmmm, I wonder how they test them?”

“Shush!” he said glancing at our neighbors who WERE looking at us.

“But it’s a vibrating condom!” I said. “Let’s buy one. How do you think they test them? Do you think people test them?” I asked, full of questions. The muse was at a full gallop, considering all the possibilities.

“Shush,” hubby said again. “I’m trying to read.”

“Oh, but don’t you think it would make a great story?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“All right,” I said, a trifle grumpy now. “I’ll think to myself about how they test the vibrating condom.”

“Good idea,” hubby said.

So, I did. All the way back to New Zealand I thought about condoms and how they’d be tested. I thought about the possibilities of a girl inheriting a condom company and the rest, as they say, is history. I wrote Fancy Free, a story about a girl who inherits a condom company and is heavily involved in testing…

If you’d like to learn how my twisted mind works Fancy Free releases from Ellora’s Cave on 7 March 2008 – next Friday!! And meantime, if you’d like to read the blurb and excerpt go here.

I’m guest blogging over at Sandra Barkevich’s blog today and giving away a download from my Ellora’s Cave or Cerridwen Press backlist. I’m talking about romantic suspense and there’s mention of weeds…

I hope to see you there!

The well-known game Monopoly is going global with the World Edition launching soon. Currently there’s a worldwide online voting campaign to select which cities will fill the 20 available spots on the monopoly board. Queenstown, located in the South Island of New Zealand, is the only New Zealand city on the leaderboard and is competing with 68 other finalists for a spot.

I love Queenstown. It’s not far from where the fictional Mitchell family lives (my Middlemarch series) and my next release in this series, ASSASSIN is partially set in Queenstown. It’s a tourist mecca in both summer and winter, the town dominated by the beautiful lake Wakatipu and the majestic Remarkables mountain range. This photo was taken from the gondola on the way up to our dinner at the hilltop restaurant.

Queenstown is currently sitting in 18th place.

Vote for your favorites here.

Which cities do you think should be on the World Edition of monopoly?

I’ve just received the cover for Assassin, the next story in my Middlemarch series.

Here’s the blurb:

Middlemarch Mates, Book Four.

Feline shifter Leo Mitchell is the pretty brother who attracts women with ease, but he’s turned picky. He suspects the mystery blonde hanging around Middlemarch is the one for him. If only he could grab the elusive female and seduce her. Oh yeah. He craves some hot, sinful lovin’ with the lady in black leather.

Assassin Isabella Black has harbored a huge crush on hunky Leo for ages. Because the timing sucked she’s watched him from afar, praying another woman won’t snatch the hottie away before she’s free to stake a claim.

Finally the pair meet. Isabella offers her naked body but Leo counteracts with a cup of tea. Seems Leo likes to call the shots when it comes to sex. A day later they’re finally dancing horizontally. It’s smokin’ hot, steamy, delicious—everything she’s ever wanted. Isabella is ecstatic until another assassin threatens to ruin her happiness. It’s life or death now. One wrong move and her secrets will destroy the Mitchells along with everything that has become dear to her…including Leo.

Assassin is due for release on 6 August 2008