David Russell's, Dreamtime Sensuality, is out! He stopped by from across the pond (he is an UK author) to talk about the book.
Dreamtime Sensuality
Many a dream can be realised with a little forethought. The
characters in this quartet of stories are intelligent, sensitive and literary.
They are also supremely voyeuristic and open-minded. Their intelligence is
counterbalanced by inhibitions, which they can only lose by premeditated
seduction scenarios, which relate intimately to their professional, creative
and cultural lives. The great effort each couple puts into arranging a scenario
seems to enhance the quality of the experience. A great source of inspiration
for this and other works has been the novel The
Girl Beneath the Lion by André Pieyre de Mandiargues.
Seductive Semaphore: Fashion Designer Bethesda and journalist
Hector live opposite each other, with windows facing. They make initial contact
through visible, provocative gestures. Soon afterwards, they get direct contact
when Hector assists Bethesda with her folio. She invites him round to model for
some of her fashion creations, and proceeds to seduce him. The seduction
continues with a ritual visit to a sports centre, and then to a beach. They
leave it open as to whether their relationship could ever become long-term.
The Heroine and the Author: Dreamer Hecate discovers she has a terminal
illness. She wants to make the most of the time she has left by being
celebrated in literature as a charismatic, legendary figure. She meets
Ferdinand, a ghost writer, who is happy to undertake this massive project with
her. In the process, She gets an idea of his physique through jogging and the
fitness centre. Then there is a seduction scene inspired by the literary models
of Sappho and Donne. Being ‘open-minded’, they make a pact for each one to go
and have a sexual adventure – his hetero, hers lesbian. Their relationship is
enhanced by this extra dimension.
Dreamtime Sensuality: Romana, highly literary and highly inhibited,
goes to an exotic island location. She deeply desires a passionate encounter.
At the Pension where she stays, she meets Stefano, who fulfils her requirements
exactly. The proprietress of the Pension picks up on Romona’s shyness, and
gives her reassurance, including some practice in the art of kissing. Romona
orchestrates an elaborate beach seduction scenario, and they are both
fulfilled. They never meet again, but their exchange of emails and text
messages goes on indefinitely.
Dancing with Danger: Verona is a Scriptwriter and Gareth an
archaeologist. They both have ‘retreats’ near the coast, and discover their
common interests. Verona contrives a half-seduction on a deserted beach, wearing
18th century retro gear – related to their common interests. After
some further encounters, they give each other a ‘dare’ to go and have a really
risky encounter with someone really dodgy. Gareth finds a young woman on the
run. Verona has a rapturous encounter with someone who gets hauled in by the
police, suspected of terrorism. She uses her charm on the interrogating police
officer to extricate herself. So Verona and Gareth both meet up again, to tell
their respective tales.
Excerpt
Bethesda stepped aside from the
window, then returned carrying something—which turned out to be a pair of
binoculars. She gave him another wave, then closed the curtains. She was
obviously dropping a hint—but of what precisely. Quivering, Hector closed his
curtains again puzzled over the possibilities. Then the penny dropped, the
binoculars meant that she wanted to see him in close up. He too had a pair of
binoculars and so the observation could be two-way.
Simmering sensations made him want
to shed some clothing along with his inhibitions—a reverie of conjoint night
attire. Accordingly, he got down to singlet, boxer shorts and over them put on
his dark blue dressing gown. Then he waited in anticipation. The mystery lady
must make the next move. After a few, near-agonizing minutes, the winking
lights occurred. That was the signal.
As he drew the curtains, again he
could discern her beaming smile. Then she lifted the binoculars to her eyes and
gave him a wave. At that, Hector’s dressing gown was smoothly, swiftly off. She
gave him a wave, put down the binoculars and made a hand-clapping motion.
Hector took off his binoculars and
reciprocated her gaze. Bethesda took off her nightdress to reveal white silken
underwear—retro style with camiknickers—so repressed and so seductive. He put
down the binoculars again and off came Hector’s singlet. Bethesda’s binoculars
returned. After an elongated vigil, curtains closed again.
Hector’s fires were rising. He took
off his boxer shorts and confronted the mirror in his tight briefs. This was
beginning to feel lovely. He had had some nice telephone conversations, but
they could not compete with these visuals. He danced ecstatically, waiting for
the prompt of the next winking lights.
How
can my readers buy your book?
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A
little bit about the author
b. 1940. Resident in the UK. Writer of poetry, literary
criticism, speculative fiction and romance. Main poetry collection Prickling Counterpoints (1998); poems
published in online International Times.
Main speculative works High Wired On (2002);
Rock Bottom (2005). Translation of
Spanish epic La Araucana, Amazon
2013. Romances: Self’s Blossom; Explorations; Further Explorations; Therapy
Rapture; Darlene, An Ecstatic
Rendezvous (all pub Extasy (Devine Destinies). Singer-songwriter/guitarist.
Main CD albums Bacteria Shrapnel and Kaleidoscope Concentrate. Many tracks on
You Tube, under ‘Dave Russell’
