Like a fine wine...

I’m a big fan of vintage. I love the sound of the word – it has connotations of luxury, class, elegance, expensiveness. You can apply it to clothes, shoes, wine, cars, jewellery – some of my most favourite things. I am kind of glad that you can’t get vintage chocolate, but everything else is better when it’s aged a little – lovers included!

Unique

Someone asked me recently what it was that I thought made me unique. I couldn't give them an answer then and, a couple of days later, I'm still struggling to think of something.
Now don't get me wrong, this isn't because I don't think I'm unique or can;t think of anything, quite the opposite in fact. It's because every single thing about me is unique and how on earth can I delineate that?

I hate the current trend of pigeon-holing people. Oh she's blonde, he's gay, they're Christians, she's vegetarian -- how are those valid ways of describing people? Just going by one belief or apparently defining feature? I know it's in our nature, to some extent, to put people into boxes so we can help to define what box we ourselves belong in, but the truth of the matter is that each of us is different and individual. I grew out of trying to pigeon-hole myself a few years ago, when I exited my 'teens. It seems a very insecure, juvenile thing to do. There are many different people and groups I identify with, why limit myself?

I am unique because I am, because I'm me. I realise that may sound arrogant, but it isn't. I'm just as eager for acceptance as anyone else. I just don't want to be defined through one particular feature, whether it's the colour of my hair, my job, my sexuality, what I like or dislike - I'm unique because I am the only one who looks like me, thinks like me, talks like me and does what I do.

Blush

You know, it’s pretty hard to make me blush. A long hard gaze into my eyes might do it. A truly genuine compliment might do it. Reading something that makes my pulse race might do it. A deep, lingering kiss might do it. Watching two people share a deep, lingering kiss might do it. As for anything else, well, can you do it?

When I grow up

When I was a little girl I wanted to be a traffic warden, because I thought they got to keep all the money people put into the machines. There are all sorts of jobs that people want to do when they grow up, just off the top of my head I can think of-
-ballerina
-president of the world
-fireman
-astronaut
-owner of a sweet shop
-Willy Wonker himself
-train driver

OK, I'm all out now, but I think you'll find that nowhere on that list is 'Erotic Author' likely to appear, and yet it turns out it's a job I really love doing as an adult. I suppose, if pressed, I might admit that, just as I thought a traffic warden got to keep all the money, perhaps a teeny part of me had assumed that an erotic author got all the sex -- no -- all the interesting sex.

Whilst this has not necessarily turned out to be so as a general rule, things seem to be looking up. Bring it on, says I, cos I like my job!

Web-tastic!

Hurrah hurrah - development of the official Emelia Bell website is well under way. Whilst I fully realise that this may not be exactly exciting for you, it is, nevertheless, immensely exciting for me. You'll like me when I'm excited
I can't wait to tell you more about the website when it's done!

For now I'm looking forwards to a lazy weekend, seeing friends, making cake and - hopefully - a nice long lie-in tomorrow. I need a great deal of lying in to make me habitable :-D

Thank you

Over the years I have had a number of online friends. People who I connect with over some site or another, then start e-mailing, move onto a chat programme like MSN and sometimes it even progresses to phone calls and webcam.

These friends have been both men and women, some of them come and go, some of them stay in my life, to all of them I wish to offer a great big thank you. You buoy me up when I am down, trust me with your own problems, ask me bizarre questions that make me think, offer me compliments and flirt with me. My confidence has grown because of your friendships and flirting. Many of my stories have been inspired by the conversations we have had, either directly or simply from the rush of feel-good you caused.
To all of you, past, present and future…
Thank you
x
Me

November really is a dreary month. The weather is grey, getting colder and the clocks go back so what little daylight we have is foreshortened by an hour. Summer is a long time behind you, the joys of wearing your winter wardrobe have worn thin and Christmas is still a long time coming, even though it seems to be on every TV and shop-front you go near.

Where I currently live there's no fireplace, nor am I allowed to have pets so that's two of my favourite ways to stay warm and pass a November evening gone - no fire, not cat to pet. Only one option left - snuggling up under a feather duvet or three with a good book and a special someone... and the good book isn't essential ;-)

If you're feeling as glum as I was yesterday and the constant grey gloominess is getting you down, then take a leaf out of my book and go to bed early - it's good for your health, believe me!