Current Fiction Explores Themes of Sensuality (NAPSA)—Today’s savvy reader is looking for something more sensually adventurous and empowering than typical women’s fiction. Sensuality has become an increasingly powerful theme in fiction today and the publishing industry is taking note. Cultural Forces 4 ee plaze Driving Fiction Readers Major players in ‘\the publishing and literary sphere are .getting in on the “Y action. There is a / growing movement “in non-fiction that includes everyone from GoreVidal, who contributed the introduction to a photo essay on the intersection of sex and culture; to French art critic Catherine Millet whose memoir “The Sexual Life of Catherine M.” found surprising critical and commercial success two years ago. Popularfiction in today’s post “Sex & The City” culture has also seen an awakening to the role that sensuality plays in romance. Novelist Tom Wolfe’s big summer book, “I am Charlotte Simmons,” explores a college student’s sexuality and self-discovery. Long-time giants in the romance genre are making a big contribution to the growing trend as well. BLAZE, a newly restyled series from Harlequin, delivers a delicious alternative to classic romance with a provocative look at the intricacies and intimacies of love and sensuality. Plotlines are infused with a bit of comedy, intrigue and just the right amount of confidence and naughtiness. “Blaze is all about innovative romance. It has a new kind of energy that reflects real women today,” says Marleah Stout, Harlequin romanceexpert. Reminiscent of the real-life blackout that swept the Northeast in 2003, one of the series’ editorial themes is “24-Hour Blackout.” This mini-series explores what happens when characters are given full access to their own desires for one night only. Debut titles in this mini-series include “Why Not Tonight” by USA Today bestselling author Jacquie D’Alessandro, and “Daring in the Dark” by Jennifer LaBrecque. For additional titles, visit www.eharlequin.com or www.try blaze.com.
