bond•ed

bond•ed
adjective /ˈbändid/


My first romance novel was—after much painful deliberation over several title options—originally named MAID FOR HIM, which was a cute play on words and appropriate for the story. However, my editor wanted something stronger, more exotic… she suggested BONDED IN BRAZIL.

It isn’t uncommon for editors (or even agents) to suggest/require a title change. Matter of fact, the renaming of one’s book is so prevalent most writers come to expect it. I did, which was I settled on MAID FOR HIM (without being in love with it) and moved on.

When Editor Lady suggested the new title, I liked it right away, especially after I’d learned that debt bondage is a modern form of slavery that exists all over the globe, including in Brazil.

I was also a little peeved that I hadn’t thought of it myself. After all, I like titles that have multiple meanings, whether it’s a play on words (like Maid For Him) or a word/phrase that can be defined in numerous ways…


…like bonded.


--Emotionally or psychologically linked

--Bound by a legal agreement, in particular

--Obliged to work for a particular employer, often in a condition close to slavery (read:luxury and sexual bliss). What? It’s my damn story.

Each of the above meanings can be directly applied to my story. Bonded In Brazil is practically a synopsis for the book!

I wish I could take credit for it, haha, but I love the title, even if it wasn’t my idea. Many writers experience at least a mild form of trepidation at the idea that their precious title baby will be changed. Don’t. It’s no big. It might be better, anyway.

And now for a little something fun...and slightly relevant...but not really.

For your listening enjoyment, Pitbull performs a remix of “75, Brazil Street.” I’d post the original, but I have a thing for sexy bald guys…so Pitbull’s remix it is!

Carnival!

My virtual book tour starts tomorrow, so I've decided to kick things off with a fun post about Brazil. I have all this knowledge, after all, from massive amounts of research--some of which never made it into Eliana and Hale's story--or (surprise!) Bastian and Ainsley's story (let's hope it gets published)--so here's a little taste of the fun and exotic Brazil.

How appropriate that Bonded in Brazil released in the month of March, just a couple weeks after Brazil’s famous, annual street party, Carnival--or Carnaval in Portuguese.

Carnival is Brazil’s biggest and most celebrated holiday. There are floats, parades, music, dancing, bold costumes worn by beautiful women, and lots of beer drinking. So much beer drinking, in fact, that the eight days and nights of intense celebration accounts for more than 80% of Brazil’s yearly consumption. Now that’s a party.

The shows are bright in color, booming with regional rhythms and almost all are entirely interactive, where spectators don’t just watch a performance but become part of it. Carnival makes Mardi Gras look like a designer imposter.

No offense, New Orleans, but you can hardly compete with all that tan, bare flesh or the African-Brazilian beats to which intoxicated bodies pulsate while dressed in glittery, titillating costumes.

Carnival reminds me of the traditional weddings of India, only on a mass scale. Indian weddings are elaborate events, and the bride and groom are often strangers. Their families put on an extravagant several-day celebration with music, sensual food and costuming, parades, shows and Hindu rituals. The intoxicating atmosphere simulates feelings of falling in love for the newly-married strangers, and they’ll go on their honeymoon—pheromones triggered and hormones raging—strongly desiring their new life partner. I like to think of it as metaphorical gift basket filled with beer goggles and a bottle of personal lubrication.

Apparently the Brazilian government agrees that Carnival produces a sexually arousing atmosphere, because they pass out condoms and AIDS literature prior to the happenings—which might be a bit of a mood killer, but nothing beer, wine and a few Caipirinhas (see picture) won’t cure.

And I’ve yet to mention the exotic locale with lush yet dangerous rainforests and some of the world’s most beautiful vineyards and farmlands. Everything about Brazil screams of fertility—the people, the waxes, bikinis, land, green mountains, the Amazon rainforest—the biggest rainforest on the planet, FYI—and agriculture. As ancient art and mythology clearly tells us, fertile is sexy…Brazil is sexy.

Brazil sounds like a great place to be “bonded” in, doesn’t it? Well, not really. More on this unique form of bondage later…

Note: It’s not what you think. It’s also what makes the title of my book so brilliant—thank you very much, Catherine Treadgold, aka Editor Lady.

Take a peek at my tour schedule, and don't forget to stop by one of these fabulous blogs!