I'm all for monogamy, and in spite of being one of those wild 'n' crazy erotic romance authors, have never cheated on a spouse (not even the one who cheated on me, LOL). My characters definitely lean to the monogamous lifestyle. However, you'll notice I write anthologies, so I have amassed quite a lot of hot protagonists, over two dozen in fact. This is no accident. As much as my real life is monogamous, my secret life is one big teaming harem of attractive people, and I'm here to suggest yours be the same.

My younger daughter is currently crushing on four men simultaneously, and they are an eclectic bunch: Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show," actor Aaron Eckhart, Elliott Yamin of "American Idol" and Bruce Willis. Together, they make up a fine mulligatawny stew of comedic wit, good looks, musical talent, and classic male bravado. You will not find such a blend in any one real man, and it's really too much to expect from anybody. When it comes to keeping my daughter's spirits up (she has been spending the last year trying and failing to convince someone they should hire a U. of Wis.--Madison honors grad for their admin job), she can use the variety. Jon makes her laugh, Bruce keeps her brave, Elliott offers a day-brightening song or two, and Aaron looks damn good doing anything.

Don't let anyone suggest to you that your eagerness to devour a new erotic romance every week (or couple of days!) indicates you have peculiar appetites. A colorful fantasy life brings all manner of benefits into real life. Just ask my husband if I'm more "lively" when I'm working on a new story. If I happen to have a current infatuation, or even better, two, I generally have more zip and more positive energy to share with those around me.

Now I also happen to know people who develop a fascination so powerful for one celebrity or character that they only have eyes for that guy/girl. I've done it myself, although my limit for sustaining something that intense is only a couple years. It's only possible when the archetype that person represents to you is really powerful. For example, I had a long-lived thing for Sting in the early 90s, but he had a persona going that was what I really needed in my life at that time (see first sentence of this essay). This fantasy monogamy isn't necessarily a bad thing either, and can serve a perfectly useful purpose.

But more common is the Fantasy Harem, probably because we are complex creatures and our interests, concerns, and needs vary from day to day, week to week. I typically have an athlete in the mix to represent masculine physical prowess (most recently my brief thing for Pete Fenson, skip of the U.S. Olympic Curling Team), a singer for the romantic minstrel type thing or the bad boy rock star (e.g. Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater), someone funny, cute or charming (John Krasinski from "The Office"), and someone intelligent/capable (for the fascinating tale of me and Cody Willard, visit my blog). These are all pretty common archetypes for women. Me, I have a uniquely personal penchant for a couple others, the puer ("eternal boy") and the shaman (wise, mysterious teacher, possibly with magical powers). Right now I've got a guy who combines the two and consequently is currently head of the Harem: James McAvoy as Leto Atriedes II in "Children of Dune."

Ye gods, what a motley and oddball bunch I just described! Well, a Fantasy Harem is as unique as you are.

The loopy but sincere beliefs I have on this subject also explain why I decided to create Diana's Deck, the set of fortune telling/trading cards I based on my characters. (Product placement, I admit it: for more info visit www.dianalaurence.com/dianasdeck.html.) I am quite enamored of my male characters and they really are sort of a great big harem of guys I love. The ladies are pretty special to me too, of course. So I did portraits of them all and created these cards just to celebrate that variety that is the spice of erotic life.

So, I guess my point is, feel no shame over that collection of treasured characters that you keep in your Fantasy Harem. They serve all kinds of useful purposes, from helping you keep a positive outlook, to enhancing your sex life. Your interactions with your flesh-and-blood mate and the others in your life can only benefit from the presences of that secret trove of lovers.

And the great thing about my job is, I get to keep making more.

Diana Laurence is the author of the Soulful Sex anthologies published by Living Beyond Reality Press (www.livingbeyondreality.com). Visit her at www.dianalaurence.com, and read her blog at www.eroticawithsoul.blogspot.com. Download her free fiction from the LBR Press READ FREE Project at www.livingbeyondreality.com/readfree.html.