Housekeeping

Morning everyone.

For this week's blog post, I thought it would be a good idea to do some housekeeping. Sometimes I feel like I'm being pulled in a number of different directions, so I want to make sure all my followers are up to date and on the same page.

 

1)I have two blogs. This one is specifically for my Finding Anna series and BDSM related posts. My other blog http://sherri-hayes.blogspot.com/ covers all my writing, books, etc.

2) Facebook. If you are not following my author page on Facebook, you are missing a lot of information. I don't post daily on either blog, however, I do tend to post every day or every other day on my author page. I always post links there to guest blog posts I do along with updates on my writing. I also share reviews and other fun stuff when I come across it.

3) Twitter. I'm not the best twitter updater, but I do try and post important links there as well as blog updates. If you'd like to follow me on Twitter, you can do so at @sherri_hayes.

4) In case you haven't been up to date on my blog posts, facebook, and twitter messages...I've just completed my third full length novel, Behind Closed Doors. The paperback is currently available for pre-order through The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House, and the ebooks will become available on the day of release, February 9, 2012.

5) TWCS now has a Goodreads group. If you've enjoyed reading some TWCS books, chances are you may enjoy some other ones as well. This is a great way to connect with other the authors and staff of TWCS, and other readers. We have a 'if you like this book you may like that' thread, a review cafe, as well as an individual thread for each of our books divided by genre. If you'd like to join, go to http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/58876.TWCS_Authors_Readers.

6) There are only 28 more days left to order your copy of Season of Love, which contains a short Christmas story from me titled 'A Christmas Proposal'. The story is available through TWCS or Amazon.

I hope everyone is having a great new year so far. There are a lot of exciting things planned on my end including the release of book 2 in this series.

Happy New Year, and don't forget those resolutions. ;)

The Playroom - Fireplay

Today I'm welcoming our first guest blogger, La Crimson Femme. I met her over at Goodreads, and she's agreed to share with us a little about her favorite thing in BDSM: Fireplay. 

I am a deviant little girl who enjoys being taken to task and disciplined. ~ La Crimson Femme.

I LOVE FIREPLAY

Since the first time I read about fireplay in a BDSM story, I've been curious. Are you curious about fireplay? I experience fireplay at a party once and I was hooked. It was a great as I imagined. I had to learn more about it and I attended a class. For those who haven't heard of fireplay or want to learn more, here's my notes from class. I will also relay my personal experience. I hope you will relay your experience too!

Safety

Let's get this out of the way before we get to the good stuff.

Fireplay is considered edgeplay. It is best to have your safety gear all laid out and in easy reach.

1. Always have a fire extinguisher handy. Know where they are located.
2. Always have water within reach. Water in a spray bottle is recommended.
3. If the players have long hair, make sure it's out of the way.
4. Blanket on the face to protect and for the hair too. Fire fumes can burn the lungs. The blanket or towel on the face helps this out.

Now, the above safety items are dull to talk about in a fictional book, so rarely do authors mention it. These are for those who want to play. For those who skip these safety items, it doesn't mean that death or burns are imminent. All it means is that there is higher risk of injury. (Do you all wear your seat belt every time you are in a car? Do you force passengers in the back to wear their seat belts too? Do you wear seat belt when you are in a cab? I do only because I enjoy the restraint of a seat belt. ^_^ )

Back to the topic at hand.

Tools

Fire wands are 100% cotton. There should be no polyester. Polyester bad.

The only type of alcohol to use is 70% isopropyl. 90% will burn too hot. 50% doesn't have enough alcohol and won't light up as easily. Ethanol is oil based and BAD.

Some people like to use Vodka, Whiskey, Tequila, etc. Not recommended. I'm only going to provide the safe ones. If you want to experiment, go ahead. Let me know how it goes. I will not accept any medical bills.

There are multiple kinds of fireplay?

YES! There are. I've only experienced fire tickling, fire wanding and fire cupping. I would like to experience fire kissing and fire knife.

Fire wanding is the standard using a fire wand dipped in alcohol and then lit on fire. The flaming wand is rubbed across the sub's body. The flames appear on the body. Fire tickling is more like drumming on a sub's body with a flaming wand. Fire cupping doesn't actually involve fire on the sub's body. Instead, it's using the Chinese cupping technique to heat up the air in the glass cup and then sticking it on the sub's body. The hot air when cooled, will cause a suction to pull the skin into the cup. The intensity depends on the size of the cup and the heat of the air in the cup. This one will leave bruises that look similar to a huge octopus attacking with its suckers. Does it hurt? Very good. Feels soooo goood.

I'd like to thank La Crimson Femme for posting today. This is a subject on which I was absolutely clueless, and I can now say I at least know what fireplay is! :) 

I am still looking for a guest blogger for next month's 'The Playroom', so if you'd like to share you favorite BDSM toy, piece of equiptment, etc. please leave me a comment along with an e-mail address. Until then...play safe!

The Play Room - Rattan Cane

Before we get to the topic of today's blog post, I want to thank everyone who has left a review for Slave. Every review on Goodreads, Amazon, etc. helps to spread the word and let others know if the book is worth their investment. 

I have been trying to compile the reviews together until the 'Reviews' page here on the blog. If you know of one that is not listed, please let me know and I will try to get it posted. 

Also, I hope you will come join me this Friday over at Mindreaders where I will be doing a guest blog post for her August Adults Ahoy series on modern day slavery. 

Now. On with today's post. :)

In Slave, we see Stephan improvising with the materials at hand to make a make shift cane to help walk Brianna through her past.

Canes come in many different materials. This one is made of rattan, which is similar to bamboo. Because it is made of a natural product, there are often minor variations from one cane to another.

I was lucky enough to have a friend send me a video demonstration regarding the use of a cane in BDSM. It isn't a piece of equipment one wants to just pick up and start using on a whim. Using a cane in an incorrect manner can cause a lot of damage to ones partner. It is also very easy to break a cane if you are using it improperly. 


One of the things that struck me in the video is that it does not take a lot of force when using a cane to get results. Often when those outside of the lifestyle think of canning they think of someone being punished, left with huge welts on their body. Can that happen? Of course. But as with most everything, the end result depends largely on the person behind the equipment. Using a cane on a specific area will increase the sensitivity of that area, which can lead to more enjoyment for both Dominant and submissive alike.