Reading

Fill This Hole

May 6, 2013 by Leta

I was thinking about this thing with Amazon and their attempt to de-smut their company. Is there any independent site out there set up for people to sell their smutty books without hoops to jump through? I know that Smashwords allows the sale of all kinds of smutty smut, even the stuff Amazon won’t allow, but the buyer has to opt into the Adult Filter in order to see said books. I’m curious if there is a site out there similar to Smashwords or Bandcamp for independent music where the author/publisher can upload their trashy smut and not have to worry about censorship of searches? And if not, then that seems a niche that needs filled, guys.

Someone please provide me a link to such a resource? Or someone please go make this store a reality? I think you’ll make some money for sure. Oh, indeed.

ETA: Apparently, rumor has it, one very excellent and well-known erotica writer is going to make this a reality! Whoot!

Erotic Writing under Attack by Amazon?

May 1, 2013 by Leta

pinterestremoved — Pinterest is also in the morality game. They removed this pin from my account on the basis of “nudity”. I suppose it is the fringe of pubes and the side view of half a buttocks that flagged their inappropriate-o-meter? Because a man who looks as though he’s dancing, seems hardly inappropriate in a world that isn’t terrified of nudity. I wonder, if it was a painting, would it have received the same treatment?

Selena Kitts, a well-known writer of raunchy “pornography”, has written an interesting post called Survival Tips for the Pornocolypse (Erotica Writers Get Armed and Ready). It was of interest to me for two reasons. One, I write romantica under the pen name Leta Blake. You can find links to my books anywhere on this page, but to make it easy for you, here. Two, I write some really raunchy erotica under another Super Top Secret Pen Name. I do it mainly for fun and to blow off steam, and to feel like I’m giving the finger to some of the issues I have with traditional and e-publishing, but I wouldn’t say I’m doing it to make a ton of money. However, I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to make some money from the endeavor. Otherwise I’m just throwing away time and money on covers, etc.

There were many things I found interesting about Selena Kitt’s post. I almost don’t know where to start. I suppose I could break this down into a few posts to make it more digestible. Perhaps I will. Let me start at the beginning of her post and respond as I go.

First, off, kudos, Selena, on having such an attractive site for your porn. I know this sounds like I’m being facetious, but I’m serious. It’s very nice and it would definitely encourage me to click on something and possibly buy it. One day, when I’ve got more to offer, I want to have a site like yours!

The Pornocalypse has begun. Amazon continues filtering erotica out of their All Department Search in large numbers. Don’t stick your head in the sand and think it’s going to all go away. By then, it may be too late.

I’ve noticed the books I’ve published under Super Top Secret Pen Name do not show up under the All Department Search. I’ve never entirely decided how I feel about that. I suspect some of the roads my brain has taken on this issue are similar to the roads taken by Amazon itself while other thoughts diverge. I usually start out frustrated because if someone is searching for erotica books featuring a cheerleader losing her virginity to her step-brother (as a completely made up example, I didn’t write a book like that–yet), then they should be able to find one without having to jump through extra hoops. Right now, if I go to the Amazon home page and type “Cheerleader loses virginity to step-brother”, I get a result back that says, “No products match your search.” I know damn well that’s not true, but only because I know that damn well. If I was your Average Joe Internet User, I might think, “Oh, well, I guess there are no books for me to buy like that.” But, if I go to the Kindle Book Department and type in the same search, I end up with this small, but existing, selection of titles. No perfect match, but there are some dirty books there all the same. Hooray for dirty books!

I suspect that the next thought many of you are going to have is similar to mine and probably the main motivating thought of Amazon and those who encourage its policies. Won’t someone think of the children!?!?! In the days of books and mortar stores, the dirty books would be housed either in a separate room, away from children’s eyes, in a separate store altogether, or covered in dark plastic to keep them from looking. Amazon is likely trying to do the same thing. But even in the days of books and mortar stores, I always took the position that it is the parents’ job to police what their kids are reading, not the stores’ job to police what they kids have access to within the store. Does the internet make that a ton harder to accomplish? Hell yes, but it doesn’t shift the onus onto the stores necessarily.

I do recall not too long ago, I was looking up a children’s book recommended to me by a friend. My search on Amazon brought up two results. One was the book I wanted and the other was titled something very similar and looked like a possible sequel. I opened it up to read about the book, and it was, to my surprise and amusement, an utterly filthy rape erotica story and not a sequel at all. In that moment, I though, “Oh, there are going to be Christian crazies all over this shit before long.” I have no doubt that kind of thing played a role in what is happening at Amazon.

[ETA: Interestingly enough, if I search Amazon’s main search page for various raunchy dirty books while I am not logged in to my account, I find a much wider selection of offerings. And I find that curious under the Won’t Someone Think of the Children argument, since kids are much less likely to have their own accounts than bonafide grown-ups. So, why would the search be more liberal for people without accounts than those with accounts? Curious.]

Still, my next thought is, okay, fine, thinking of the children and all, what’s the harm in moving these books out of the line of sight? They’re still there and a user who really wants to read about cheerleaders sleeping with their step-brothers can still find those books if they work hard enough. It’s only two extra clicks to be able to find the books you want!

And yet it does seem to make a difference in sales. Is that a good thing? Or a bad thing? Are we reducing the number of sales to 14 year olds whose Mommy and Daddy don’t do spot checks of their e-book readers? Or are we reducing the number of sales to full-fledged adults who don’t know they have to make these two extra clicks to get what they want? I suspect it’s a bit of both, but more of the second. There’s no where on the Amazon site where they say, “Oh, psst, you can still find your dirty books! You just need to work harder at it!”

Uh, back to Selena’s post. I’m rambling and possibly getting ahead of myself here.

The fact remains—the dirty secret that drives technology? It’s “porn.” Erotica, as a genre, has been Amazon’s dirty little secret from the beginning, driving sales of the Kindle to astronomical numbers. Does Amazon really believe that it was all the free copies of “Huckleberry Finn” and “Moby Dick” (Moby Duck on Apple?) that drove readers to buy Kindle devices? Nope, sorry. It was erotica. It was “porn.”

Jeff Bezos may have put out the product, but I made the Kindle into what it is today. Me, and legions of other erotica writers who were already writing it, and those who came later, who saw how much readers were clamoring for it. Readers could suddenly read erotica without anyone seeing the cover. The Kindle device made that possible, Amazon made the Kindle available… but I provided the content readers were surreptitiously reading under their desks at work and on the subway home.

Erotica writers made the Kindle what it is today. Not mystery writers, not horror writers, not even romance writers. Certainly not big publishing, who have been brought kicking and screaming into the ebook world. It was erotica writers who provided readers with the titillating books that made this new device so convenient and advantageous. So you could carry 500 books at a time… big deal, who’s going to read 500 books while you’re at the doctor’s office? But women everywhere realized they could read sexual fantasies, stories about BDSM, about dubious consent, about sex toys and infidelity, all those fantasies that we know women have been having since Nancy Friday wrote Secret Garden, and they could do it without anyone knowing, at the doctor’s office or in line at the supermarket.

THAT is what sold Kindles. Porn. Face it, Jeff Bezos. You owe the success of Kindle to me, and to every erotica writer out there making a living writing “porn.”

And what thanks do we get? None. Other writers (ala Konrath and Crouch and Bella Andre—the latter whose books are just as “dirty” or “porny” as some that have been relegated to the ghetto behind the ADULT filter) get special treatment from Amazon. They get spotlights and highlights. They get mentioned in Amazon newsletters.

Erotica writers get stepped on. We get shoved into a corner, we get relegated to back rooms and top shelves. We get “filtered.” Now, before you say, “But come ON! This is ADULT material, shouldn’t it be targeted just to ADULTS?”—my answer to that is “yes!” I don’t expect Amazon to highlight erotica writers in mainstream newsletters or even to highlight us at all (although if they were smart, they would… we make them a lot of money. A LOT of money. They should target us to readers they know read us… it only makes sense!) but I DO expect them to treat us with transparency and good business ethics.

She’s right, you realize. I mean, to a degree, she’s right. My mother has purchased thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of Kindle books. What are most of them? Erotica and romantica. She’s admitted that she loves the dirtiest stuff she can find on Kindle because no one ever has to know she’s read it. My mother is sixty-six years old. Who is Amazon to try to make it harder for her to read her books? And did the two additional clicks make a difference to her? You bet it did. She didn’t even know she had to make some additional clicks. She’d stopped buying from Amazon and switched to Smashwords and other online sources because Amazon had stopped carrying her dirty books. Or so she thought. How many other perfectly legal grown-ups also faced this?

And Selena Kitts makes a really good point. If Amazon actually marketed filth to those who like to read filth, they could make good money doing so. Why is it their business model to fail to do so? I assume we could say that it’s stand-up morality. But I’m pretty sure it’s stand-up stupidity. Or possibly fear. What, I wonder, are they afraid of? (Hell, probably. Oh, hell, you shiny, dark stinkhole of fear.)

The filtering tool that Amazon previously only used to exclude nudity on covers is now being applied to books arbitrarily, but in very, very large numbers. We haven’t seen a purge this big on Amazon since they banned incest and bestiality in erotic work.

First of all, Amazon has now separated Erotica and Romance. I don’t know if erotic romance writers know this or have realized it yet, but Amazon has recently changed their policy (not that they’ve told anyone about it or anything!) and you can no longer put your book in BOTH Erotica and Romance categories. You have to choose one or the other. “Erotic Romance” as a category will now classify your book as “erotica.”

And be careful, because once you have labeled your book as “erotic,” they will not allow you to reclassify it as NOT erotic. The only exception to this rule I have seen so far is for traditionally published books (ala Fifty Shades). Self-published books don’t get this treatment.

Now this? This is problematic. And revealing. There is money here, more money than they care to lose. Because Fifty Shades, while terribly written in many ways (sorry!), is just as porny as a ton of the stuff they’ve filtered. Maybe more so.

How do you avoid being filtered?

Keep nudity off your cover. Also keep it out of the inside of your book.
Keep your titles and keywords free of the “Amazon Bad Words List” below. Amazon’s current policy could be summed up in this way—if you dress up pretty on the outside, you can be as much of a whore on the inside as you like.
The “Amazon Bad Word List”

(who else is thinking about George Carlin right now?)

(And if you know of more words or things that are being banned, please go ahead and add to the list in the comments, or better yet, post it over on Banned Erotic Books on Facebook!)

Nudity on covers (this rule changes a lot – thongs are ok so far. “Hand bras” are not ok, i.e. a nude woman with her or someone else’s hands covering her breasts).
Incest is banned altogether. But pseudo-incest will get you filtered. Anything with obvious titles, especially “Daddy” and “Mommy,” but also sister, brother, siblings, uncle, family, etc.
Gangbang, rape, reluctant, reluctance, nonconsent, dubious consent (dubcon), forced, or “rough” sex, strap-on – careful BDSM folks, keep an eye out, because they may come after that next.
Breeding, bred or impregnation stories
Any profanity or obscene language: pussy, cock, cum, tits, fuck, sex, clit, etc. (Now I really feel like George Carlin…)
Lactation, breastfeeding, lactating, milky
Tentacles and other mythological creatures (minotaurs, centaurs, bigfoot, etc.)

I’m not at all sure what Selena is suggesting here. Is she suggesting that these changes only be made to the cover, title, blurb, etc? Or is she suggesting that these changes be made to books themselves. I’m going too assume she means the former and not the later because otherwise the books would be censored.

I am not sure, though, I think doing as she suggests is a good idea? If authors of the raunchy erotica/porn follow these suggestions, then how will their books ever be found? Porn readers want to know what they’re buying before they buy it. In fact, up until now, the suggested way of doing the entire raunchy porn book thing was the exact opposite of these suggestions. The advice my Super Top Secret Pen Name received when she began was:

a) make the title very obvious so people can find what they are looking for. If it is about having sex with an alien from another world, then title it something like, “Alien Tentacle Sex” or “Bred by Aliens” or whatever.

b) make the cover very sexy/obvious so people know, yes, this is the porn I seek.

c) use tag words when uploading that make it easy for the person to find the porn they want to read.

d) use the blurb area to be descriptive of the contents so people are very aware of what they are buying. Describe the sex acts within and mark it as 18+.

Now, Selena is advising that we not do these things, and I understand why she’s saying that. At the same time, readers like to know what they are getting and I don’t think people who can’t figure out that they can find what they are looking for by clicking two more times into the Kindle store are going to be able to figure out that a book called “Professor’s New Suit”, in which the blurb reads, “In a dressing room of a high end department store, meeting with a tailor who happens to be a former student, the professor’s full measure is taken and he gets something unexpected in return” is, in fact, all about dirty gay sex in a dressing room between a professor and his former student. Well, maybe they would. Who knows? But it seems more likely that “Banging My Professor” will be what someone looking for erotica about Professor/Student is going to search for. Covering it up in order to avoid Amazon’s filter doesn’t seem any more likely to bring sales than just letting it sit with its original filthy name under the Adult filter. Thoughts on that?

I suppose what most bothers me about this entire situation is the fact that Amazon made/makes a ton of money from these kinds of stories, and clearly capitulates to the likes of 50 Shades of Grey, and yet screws over the little guy making a buck. I suppose my main question is why?

Weirdly enough, because I know that the majority of people buying these books are women, I feel the reins of misogyny pulling at me when I hear about this kind of thing. Women are reading things that men don’t want them reading, that society doesn’t want them reading, and as their minds are getting free, along comes a big company, run by a man, who wants to put the brakes on it at the very least, and maybe introduce the idea of some non-sexy shackles. Gotta control access to the vagina, y’all. Gotta keep the women from getting ideas about their vag and what they might do with it! It’s for their own good, of course.

Additional reading:

1. “As fellow author, Will Belegon, noted, if Amazon is going to start pulling books with incest in them: “I just re-read Genesis 19: 30-38 and realized that Lot’s daughters got him drunk, had sex with him and bore sons. I demand you follow your clear precedent and remove The Bible from Kindle.”

Or perhaps Amazon should create a new television ad after they follow their clear precedent and ban the book the woman is reading in the advertisement on her Kindle (“Sleepwalking” by Amy Bloom) which tells the story of a 19-year-old boy who has a sexual encounter with his stepmother, which, in some states, is legally incest.”

2. The Dirty Secret that Drives Technology

3. Kindlerotica: The strange but inevitable rise of e-reader pornography. — Proving Selena right that the Kindle was driven by written pornography sales.

4. Salacious Content Driving E-book Sales

Writer Wednesday: Casey Cox & Finding King

April 17, 2013 by Leta

What are your names? And tell us a little about yourselves?

Merrick: My name is Ged Merrick. I’m Captain of the Breaker-one-Niner. It’s a military class ship designed for deep space missions. And she’s fast, she is mighty fast when we need her to be.
Jessie: And sometimes we need her to be.
Merrick: Yeah, we don’t always work within the law.
Jessie: You can’t say it, can you? We’re pirates. We never work within the law.
Merrick: It’s a small crew, usually just ten men. It fluctuates. We work mostly in the Zeta Quadrant, but have been known to drift closer to the homelands from time to time. More lately, I guess, in the search for Jessie.
Jessie: You went back into homeland territory for me?
Merrick: Of course we did. I thought he might have been sold back to Rexalon for reconditioning. Oh, that’s our home planet. Where we were trained. Farmed really. They pay big money for runaways.
Jessie: I’m King Jesson. I used to be second in command on the Breaker but for the last six years—
Merrick: You don’t have to tell them about that Jessie.
Jessie: Sure I do. For the last six years I’ve been working as an erotic dancer all over Zeta and the surrounding quadrants. There was a … we got caught up in … some bad stuff and I was uh … captured. And sold. But that’s old news. Now I’m back with the Breaker.
What do you believe is your worst or most frustrating quality? What about his/hers?
Jessie: He’s stubborn, boneheaded and never thinks of himself.
Merrick: Uh, I was going to say the same about him.

What is your best quality? What about his/hers?

Jessie: He’s stubborn, boneheaded and never thinks of himself?
Merrick: Oi, cut it out. I said he was very bendy, didn’t I?

If you could have one wish come true, what would it be and why?

Merrick: I only had one wish, and that came true.
Jessie: He’s playing you. He wants a Helden 54 fighter platform with duel relay.
Merrick: You’re right I do. It’s the latest in military tech. Full cloaking, quantum generators and she can be remote piloted from five hundred clicks.
Jessie: I knew it. You bastard. I’ve only ever wanted Merrick.
Merrick: Except when you didn’t.
Jessie: Yeah, well. I was lying.

How did you meet? Was it love at first sight?

Jessie: It was for me. Merrick didn’t know I existed for a long while.
Merrick: I did. I just didn’t want you to know I had a thing.
Jessie: You had a thing for me? That’s too sweet for you Merrick, you didn’t have a thing.
Merrick: I was a kid, of course I was sweet. And who didn’t have a thing for that stupidly bendy body of yours?
Jessie: And I thought it was my eyes, and my charm that got you. We met in training. On Rexalon. Pair of kids being forced to make hard decisions. He blew my world. All that anger and compassion bleeding through his skin. Hot as hell. And I should know—I’ve been there. It was a precise military operation to get his attention.
Merrick: Don’t be daft.
Jessie: Took a lot of effort to hook him, but once I did—
Merrick: I basically didn’t stand a chance.

BUY FINDING KING

***

Casey, tell us a bit about yourself! From your back catalog, do you have a secret favorite? If so which book and why?

Ooh, that’s a difficult one. It’s got to be The Rise of Alec Caldwell series. I’m addicted to the characters’ lives and Alec never shuts up, he’s always up to something in my head and the muse is crazy about him. I can’t ever imagine a time when I won’t be writing about Alec and his adventures, even though the published version will end with Volume Four.

What is the most rewarding aspect of writing and/or publishing? The most terrifying/frustrating?

The best part is when a reader really gets the characters. I’m amazed at some of the reviews and emails I’ve had. It feels good to share a little bit of love and inspiration and to brighten someone’s world for just one day.
The most terrifying is the same with any creative venture, sharing a story is like sharing a little piece of yourself. That and the fact you always think people are going to hate it, and of course, sometimes they do.

What’s next for you?

Finding King is the first in a trilogy, so the next installment is on the drawing board. I have Alec Volume Four in progress and a couple of new WIP’s, a novel length paranormal fantasy, a psychological thriller and a couple of contemporary novella’s. I am also working on a sequel for Be My Boy.

Writer Wednesday: Rebound with Sabrina York

April 10, 2013 by Leta

Welcome Kristi and Cam. Can you tell us a little about yourselves?

KRISTI: I’m Kristi Cross and this is Cam Jackson.

CAM: I’m a computer programmer—

K: A computer genius.

C: You just say that because you have yet to figure out how to work Facebook.

K: Shut up.

C: Seriously. I have to stop by her store once a week or so just to unscramble everything she’s enabled on her phone.

K: I’m technologically challenged. So sue me.

What kind of store do you have?

K: A book and coffee.

C: She loves books.

K: And coffee.

C: And the coffee grinder is the old fashioned kind.

K: Because, did I mention? Technologically challenged?

C: Best coffee in Seattle, though. And that’s saying a lot.

Seattle? Have you always lived there?

C: Oh yeah. We both went to the University of Washington.

K: Loved it.

Was that how you met?

C: Yep. There was a group of us living on the 7^th floor of McCarty Hall.

K: Called ourselves the “Dawgs.”

C: We’re still friends with our dorm-mates. We all share a vacation house on Tryst Island.

THEY SHARE A STEAMY GLANCE.

Tryst Island? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it.

C: It’s our nickname for it.

K: Short for Trystacomseh Island. It’s in the San Juans.

Oh, it’s beautiful there.

C: It is.

THE GLANCE HEATS UP EVEN MORE.

Ahem. So. Was it love at first sight?

KRISTI LAUGHS. Probably.

CAM QUIRKS A BROW. Only probably?

K: We met during the playoffs…I doubt he even noticed I was a female.

CAM, UNDER HIS BREATH: Oh, I noticed.

The…playoffs?

C: Our group gathered every weekend in the Fall in the lounge on our floor to watch football.

K: Mostly yell at the screen.

C: Only when the Dawgs were losing. Anyway, one Saturday, I turned around and there she was. HE CHUCKLES. Wearing her pajamas.

KRISTI WRINKLES HER NOSE. It was a nightshirt. The only thing I had with a Husky logo.

C: She was adorable.

KRISTI SMACKS HIM ON THE SHOULDER. Why didn’t you make a move then?

C: Hello. You had a boyfriend.

KRISTI GLOWERS AT THE INTERVIEWER. We wasted so much time. We both had crushes on each other.

C: And you had a boyfriend.

SHE SNORTS. You had a girlfriend. Always. Anyway, we both had these ridiculous crushes.

C: And both pretended we were just friends.

What changed?

K: We played a game of Hearts.

A game of Hearts?

CAM GRINS. Tell her what we played for.

KRISTI BLUSHES. You tell her. It was your idea.

C: A kiss. It was genius on my part, really. See, if she lost, she had to kiss me. If I lost, I had to kiss her.

K: He lost.

CAM WAGGLES A BROW. Either way, I won. Like I said. Genius.

KRISTI NODS. I did mention he was a genius.

C: An evil genius. And you liked the kiss.

SHE BLUSHES. I did.

SO Kristi, what is your worst quality?

KRISTI MAKES A FACE: I wish I was skinnier.

C: What? Are you crazy? You’re perfect. HE TUGS HER CLOSER AND NIBBLES ON HER NECK.

K: I should lose weight. Maybe I should go on a diet.

CAM’S EXPRESSION DARKENS. Don’t even joke about it. I love everything about you. Just as you are.

A MISCHEVIOUS EXPRESSION FLITS OVER KRISTI’S FACE. Everything?

C: Everything.

K: Even my…frisky side?

C: Especially that.

K: Then when are you going to let me try that…thing Holt mentioned?

A TELLING FLUSH CREEPS UP CAM’S NECK. I have no idea what you’re talking about.

K: Don’t you? SHE LEANS OVER AND WHISPERS SOMETHING IN HIS EAR. HIS FACE GOES BEET RED.

CAM, TO THE INTERVIEWER: Can we change the subject?

This seems interesting…

CAM: Please?

HE IS JUST TOO ADORABLE WHEN HE BEGS, SO THE INTERVIEWER RELENTS. Alright. Kristi, what is Cam’s worst quality?

KRISTI LAUGHS. Other than the fact that he cheats at Hearts?

CAM PUTS OUT A LIP. Only to lose. Only for a kiss.

KRISTI CUPS HIS CHEEK. I was kidding, darling. I love that you tricked me into kissing you. And I loved everything that happened after that. Mostly, I love that we found each other.

HE GAZES INTO HER EYES. Me too.

So, if you could have one wish come true, what would it be and why?

KRISTI (STILL MOONING AT CAM): It already has.

C: Undoubtedly.

KRISTI SIGHS. But honestly? If I could have one other wish come true, I would wish my sister Bella could find what we’ve found.

CAM WRAPS HIS ARM AROUND HER SHOULDER. She will. When the time is right. You’ll see.

K: I hope so. She deserves…this.

CAM KISSES KRISTI. FOR A LONG TIME. WHEN HE FINALLY PULLS AWAY, HE MURMURS SOFTLY, Everyone deserves this. Everyone.

***

Welcome Sabrina! Tell us a little about yourself!
I am excited to announce that I am celebrating my one year anniversary as a published author. In this year I’ve sold more than fifteen titles and garnered some pretty awesome reviews. It’s been an exciting journey.

I wanted to do something special to celebrate, and I decided a self published series was a great way to do that. I wrote Rebound, the first book in my new Tryst Island Series, and enrolled it in Amazon’s Kindle Prime program, because I wanted to be able to give it away for free once in a while. My next free days will be sometime the first week in May to celebrate my first visit to the RT convention!

What makes your current offering a different and compelling read?
The cool thing about the Tryst Island Series is that it’s about a group of friends. So you meet the same characters over and over again. I worked very hard to make these characters people you would want to hang out with. They’re funny and smart and sexy—and undyingly loyal to each other.

It must have worked. People are already clamoring for Bella’s story. I’ve been scolded for not writing faster.

What keeps you inspired?

For this series? Yeah. Just look at the photo.

What is the most rewarding aspect of writing and/or publishing? The most terrifying/frustrating?

The most rewarding aspect is hearing from readers who love my books. Oh, that never gets old. And the authors I have met? What a wonderful group of ladies. It’s pretty amazing when someone you worship loves your books too! Best selling erotic author Desiree Holt had this to say about Rebound: “You can’t go wrong with a Sabrina York story. You’ll want to take the hero home with you and keep him forever. And the sex? More than you ever dreamed. Get this book today.”

I know! Right?

*Fans self*

Self publishing was pretty terrifying. Because I had to edit the book, format it and upload it. Fortunately I had a great team to support me.

And wouldn’t you know? Now that I have it all figured out, it’s not scary at all!

What’s next for you?
Dragonfly Kisses (Cassie and Dylan’s Story) is Book 2, and Bella and Holt’s story is the third. And did I mention, there are ten stories in the series? Strap in. It’s gunna be a wild ride.

Rebound by Sabrina York

A Tryst Island Erotic Romance

Kristi Cross has had the hots for her friend, Cameron Jackson as long as she can remember, but she knows she’s not his type. She’s nothing like the women he dates. So when he suggests they play for a kiss over a game of Hearts, Kristi can’t resist. Even if she loses, she wins. Because she’s finally going to taste him.

Of course, one kiss can quickly become something altogether steamier, especially when both parties are on the rebound…

Fall in Love on Tryst Island

When a group of friends share a vacation house, wild hijinks, unexpected hook-ups and steamy sex ensue. And true love. Did I mention they all find true love? Visit www.sabrinayork.com for more details.

***

About Sabrina York

Sabrina is an award winning author of erotic romance with nearly a dozen titles available, ranging from sweet & sexy erotic romance to BDSM to erotic horror. Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york or Facebook.

Check out Sabrina’s books and read an excerpt on er webpage (www.sabrinayork.com) or explore on Amazon or at Ellora’s Cave.

***

Other Books by Sabrina York

Adam’s Obsession (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)

Dark Fancy (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave)

Extreme Couponing (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)

Five Alarm Fire (Erotic Contemporary for the High Octane Heroes Anthology, Cleis Press)—coming soon

Folly (Erotic Regency, Ellora’s Cave)

Lust Eternal (Erotic Fantasy, Ellora’s Cave) —coming soon

Pushing Her Buttons (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)

Making Over Maris (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave) —coming soon

Man Hungry (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)

Rebound: A Tryst Island Erotic Romance (Erotic Contemporary, Available on Amazon)

Rising Green (Erotic Horror, Ellora’s Cave)

Saving Charlotte (Erotic Contemporary for the Smokin’ Hot Firemen Anthology, Cleis Press)

Training Tess (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)

Trickery (Erotic Contemporary with Magical Elements, Ellora’s Cave Hex Line)

Tristan’s Temptation (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)

Three Things I Don’t Get

April 1, 2013 by Leta

I generally try not to be too controversial or make statements here that might alienate readers or publishers or other writers. I’m not saying today’s post is going to be wildly contentious, because most of the things I don’t get are purely a matter of “to each his own” and “your mileage may vary”. But this is just a heads up that this post might push a few buttons.

1. Ménage books

There are so many things I don’t get about Ménage books. Let me count them:

a) I don’t get why they are called Ménage instead of Ménage à trois, given that the word ménage means “household”. People are always saying, “I wrote a ménage for my next novel”. I think they really mean they wrote a ménage à trois, because otherwise they’re saying they wrote a household for their next novel. I could almost get this if it was a four or more person arrangement, but almost all so called “Ménage” novels are actually just ménage à trois.

b) I know that poly situations exist in all permutations. Based on research I’ve done into it and the examples I’ve seen, it does appear that the most successful often are the V-shape relationship. Two guys, one girl, where the guys don’t hook up sexually but are good friends and not jealous of each other. Or two girls, one guy, same set up. Or three guys or three girls, but the same deal–two of the people aren’t fucking each other and aren’t jealous of the ones who do fuck.

Obviously, there are successful examples of poly arrangements in this world where this is not the case. So, please don’t feel the need to reply by saying I’m minimizing the options here. I’m not. I recognize that there are many, many ways this kind of thing can play out. I just…don’t get it. Deep down in my monogamous little heart, I’m boggled by even the V-shape arrangement, and have a hard time processing the plethora of stories out there which seem to focus on two guys fighting over a girl until they decide to ‘share’, or continued jealousy, or arrangements where everyone is fucking everyone else. I also kind of don’t get the appeal, but that’s the next one.

c) I just don’t get it. I’ll admit it. I have a tendency to develop an OTP (one true pairing) about characters. I tried reading a poly story once a long time ago written by a pretty well-known author who happens to be a friend of mine, and I was sick with jealousy on behalf of one of the characters, even though that character was not jealous himself. I could not even finish the entire story because it made my heart hurt so deeply to read it. But, obviously, I’m in a minority here because so called ménage books are everywhere these days. When I asked authors to do Writer Wednesdays again with me, about half the books that came back seemed to be Ménage à trois.

So, what is it that appeals to you, ladies (and gentlemen)? I know, I know, it’s as simple as two guys and their accompanying bits seem pretty hot as a fantasy. And, yes, in 99% of books written by women it is two guys and a one woman. And, sure, you know, if I’m reading straight up porn (also known as PWP), I’m totally down with threesomes and moresomes and all the holes being filled at once. But once love and romance is introduced? I guess I’m just way too monogamous to truly understand the appeal.

[BTW, because it needs to be said, I respect everyone’s right to live their life as they see fit and to have any arrangement, with any number of people, so long as it works for them, and so long as everyone is consenting to said arrangement, and adult.]

I know, I know, I just don’t get it. See the title of this post. It seems like I’m massively in the minority in terms of not really enjoying a romance book featuring more than two main lovers.

Basically, I look at this trend as a boon to those in successful and happy poly relationships, or who wish to be. They certainly have a new avalanche of books aimed at issues they might enjoy. I’d be curious how people in actual poly relationships feel about the way the situations are represented in these books.

Anyway, all y’all that love it, please go on loving it! I just don’t get it.

2. Sushi.

It’s cold. It’s spicy. It’s got a strange texture. I don’t get it.

3. Sports that involve balls and points.

I do get how they can be fun, but I don’t get the massive amount of excitement put into them, the devotion, the heart-stopping love for a team and its wins. It isn’t like a character from a tv show or a book. I can’t sink my teeth into the points earned and take my imagination on a day long ride. And I have no control over it! If they win or lose is completely out of my hands. And it’s often loud. And there are a lot of people there. And, yeah, I just don’t get it.

So, this has been my three things I don’t get. I hope you enjoyed my little revelations of odd-ballness.

FANWORK FRIDAY: THE HAWKEYE INITIATIVE (& Hayley!)

March 22, 2013 by Leta

One of the things I love about Fanwork Friday is showing off how smart fans can be as well as talented. My pal Hayley is here today to talk about an awesome fan initiative to expose misogyny and misrepresentation in comics

***

“How to fix every Strong Female Character pose in superhero comics: replace the character with Hawkeye doing the same thing.” Gingerhaze

I love comics. Marvel’s my main bag, but my affection for the medium stretches from The Avengers and Batman to Scott Pilgrim by way of Adventure Time and Hark! A Vagrant! I tend to eschew the major titles for the most part, preferring X-Factor to X-Men (I’m sorry, but a mutant-run film noir detective agency > Wolverine’s numerous dead ex-girlfriends.) Likewise, my favourite Avenger is not Iron Man or Thor, but dear old Hawkeye.

But I’m also a woman, and as a comic-reading woman, it’s pretty hard to ignore the blatant misogyny inherent in the depiction of women in superhero comic art. I’m not the only one. A group of tumblr artists have decided to illustrate this issue in the most hilariously excellent way possible: with the Hawkeye Initiative.

Started up by a bunch of amazing tumblr artists, all of whom you can find out about on the Initiative’s Origins page, the purpose of the Initiative is a simple one: “A blog with Clint “Hawkeye” Barton being placed in the same provocative, female poses that are featured in superhero comics.” As a Hawkeye fan, it’s hilarious, but as a woman and a feminist, it’s also pretty horrifying to see. What is wrong with these women’s spines? I have a curved spine and some days it hurts just to get out of bed, never mind fight crime provocatively in a thong.

One of the major targets for ridicule is Rob Liefeld, whose art is so horrendous that there have been entire articles dedicated to how awful he is. (It also makes me sad that he invented my favourite superhero after Hawkeye, Shatterstar, now one of the highlights of Peter David’s X-Factor but once the height of 90s ridiculousness.)

Check out this contribution to the Initiative. What are those legs I can’t even.

Sometimes artists make the misogyny extra-obvious by drawing the Black Widow in the “masculine” pose. This one made me choke with laughter.

(The other Avengers get involved too. Any appearances by the Hulk or Captain America are highlights.)

You could spend hours laughing at the fantastic contributions, but good art can change the world and the Initiative started making waves within hours of its inception. Here’s hoping that this and projects like it will eventually stamp out these sexist images, or at least lead to male superheroes fighting crime in just their y-fronts too. It would make The Avengers 2 very interesting indeed.

While I’m on the subject of Hawkeye, a recommendation: Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye series, which began in 2012, is one of the best comic books you will ever read. It’s hilarious, with awesome art, great dialogue, and the female Hawkeye, Kate Bishop, presented as an actual person! Clint also owns a dog who eats pizza, leading to this final, disturbing contribution from the Initiative.

Hayley works in children’s literature by day, and is a freelance writer and photographer by night. When she’s not reading comics. You can find her at hazzachaz.wordpress.com.

***

Speaking of being smart, apparently I’m not because the coding on this just about did my head in. I’m sorry, Hayley, that it looks such a wreck!

Writer Wednesday: Kate Davies and Most Likely To Succeed

March 20, 2013 by Leta

What are your names? And tell us a little about yourselves?

Kelsey: My name’s Kelsey Moore, and I’m…kind of floundering right now, to be honest. Back in high school I was really driven – they even voted me Most Likely To Succeed. But when my dad bailed on the family and our flower shop was about to go under, I turned down my scholarship and stayed to help out. Ten years later, and I’m still there, no college, no job mobility, and certainly no success. Is it any wonder I want to avoid the reunion if at all possible?

Nathan: I’m Nathan Barrow, and I haven’t been back in my hometown since graduation. I’ve been working all over the world as a water systems designer for an international relief organization. My ten year high school reunion seemed like a good opportunity to get back in touch with the people I knew back then, especially my lab partner, Kelsey. I’ve always wondered what happened to her, and can’t wait to catch up.

How did you meet? Was it love at first sight?

Kelsey: I’ve had a crush on Nathan since, oh, forever. But nothing ever came of it, mostly because he was just so focused on his studies. I was, too, of course, but that didn’t keep me from checking him out.

Nathan: Love at first sight? Um, no. We were just buddies, lab partners. Kelsey was my closest friend. It wasn’t until I saw her at the reunion that my feeling started to change.

What do you believe is your worst or most frustrating quality? What about his/hers?

Kelsey: I’m kind of an Eeyore, always focusing on the negative side of things. I should be more positive. As for Nathan, he has this irritating habit of trying to fix things.

Nathan: I’m not the most observant person, at least when it comes to interpersonal skills. I get caught up in whatever I’m working on and tend to miss the nuances. Kelsey is way too hard on herself. She doesn’t see how amazing she is.

What is your best quality? What about his/hers?

Kelsey: I’m fiercely loyal. Nathan is smart, driven, and an all around good guy. I mean, really? He could be making tons of money in the private sector, but he’s working for a relief organization instead.

Nathan: I’m pretty supportive of people. Whatever makes them happy and fulfilled, I’m in favor of it. And Kelsey? She’s one of the brightest, most fascinating people I’ve ever met. I love watching her mind work.

If you could have one wish come true, what would it be and why?

Kelsey: I’d love to be the person that Nathan sees me as.

Nathan: I wish Kelsey and I could find a way to work together again, both personally and professionally. We worked as lab partners – I know we could work as partners in every sense of the world.

***

What makes your current offering a different and compelling read?

To me, what sets The Girls Most Likely To… apart from everything else I’ve written is the way they intertwine. Most trilogies follow one after the other, where the second book picks up sometime after the first book ends. In this series, all three novellas are set over the same weekend, so the three couples interact throughout all three books. (So a couple interacting at the bar in one book will be observed by another couple in the second book, and the third couple will hear about it later!) It was challenging to find ways to intertwine the storylines without being repetitious – and all the books had to stand on their own, as well. But I love the way they turned out!

How do you juggle writing and working outside the home? Or how do you juggle writing and your family life? Or writing, working, and family life?

Ummm…lack of sleep? 🙂 It’s definitely a challenge. I’ve got a very active family, a full time job, and the writing. I find that I work better when I have deadlines, because otherwise, it’s too easy for writing time to fall to the wayside. I’ve also gotten very adept at writing in the car, whether as a passenger or while waiting in the parking lot for practice to be over.

What’s next for you?

Well, books two and three are coming out in April and May, so readers can find out what happens to Bree and Marc, and Tess and Nathan. After that, I’m finishing up a rodeo novella for submission, and deciding which of my other projects I want to tackle next.

Lastly, provide me with covers, blurbs, buy links, and where you can be found on the web! 🙂

Buy Links:

Amazon Preorder

Barnes and Noble Preorder

Carina Coming Soon Page

Find Me:

www.kate-davies.com (currently being revamped)

www.kate-davies.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/KateDaviesRomance

Twitter: @kate_davies
Group Blog: www.ninenaughtynovelists.blogspot.com

Blurb:

Book one in The Girls Most Likely to…

Ten years after being voted Most Likely to Succeed, Kelsey Moore is still living in her hometown, still working in her family’s flower shop, and too embarrassed to attend her high school reunion. Only the chance to reconnect with her study buddy—and secret crush—Nathan Barrow tempts her to go.

Nathan isn’t sure why he came back for the reunion after spending the past decade working abroad. But when he runs into his former lab partner, Kelsey, he’s sure glad he did. The chemistry between them is as potent as ever, and when she offers him a weekend of wild, no-strings-attached sex, Nathan knows he’d be a fool to say no.

Nathan can’t be tied to one place for long. But the more time they spend together—in and out of bed—the more Kelsey wonders if their reunion could become something more permanent. That is, if Nathan is still interested when he finds out she’s been less than honest with him about her life since graduation…

Fanworks Friday: Podfic (What is it? Why listen? And more!)

March 15, 2013 by Leta

Favim.com-4147 — Electronic Love by Thaneda Siridhab

One of my favorite things about Fanwork Friday is highlighting all the many super cool things that fans do. I usually focus on visual things like vids or fanart because they’re easy to digest. I haven’t really gone into fanfiction too much, but I plan to do that more. In the meantime, though, I wanted to talk about Podfic.

According to Urban Dictionary: FanFiction that is read aloud and then made available for download. Sometimes the author reads, other times friends or fans of the fic. Great while driving or in meetings! Often popular whilst tread-milling, jogging, etc. Lose pounds to podfic!

A friend of mine, superstitiousme, has always urged me to try podfic but, quite frankly, I’ve never really understood the appeal. At my request, however, she’s generously agreed to educate me and you on the awesomeness of Podfic.

So, take it away, my friend!

***

Leta asked me to write about podfic and why I listen. For those unfamiliar with the term, podfic is an audio recording of a fanfic, also known to some as audiofic. A fan written story that is read aloud by another fan (or by the author themselves) and recorded for other fans to enjoy. podfic has become a major part of fandom for me over the last 5 years. In fact, podfic is my fandom in a lot of ways.

A podfic performer shares their relationship with a fanfic with other fans. Their unique perspective and their passion comes through in the performance and it creates something that I personally find very compelling.

There you are, listening to the story and you can hear the sound of rain, gently falling outside. The performer begins to describe your favorite scene from the story–Merlin and Arthur are having a lie-in on a rainy Sunday morning. Suddenly you hear a text alert, but no it’s not your IPhone; it’s Arthur’s! The lie-in has been interrupted and the performer’s Arthur is pissed but you are smiling like a loon because this performer is ‘nailing it’ on the dialogue and you can really hear him! When this happens to me, it can be a sunny, 120 degrees outside but I’m totally in a London flat with rain-splattered window glass and snuggled boys in bed. Glorious! And all this while I’m doing the dishes!

For me as a listener, podfic can provide me with a totally new perspective on a scene I’ve read silently before, which just adds to my enjoyment of the fic. I read really fast and as a result I tend to sometimes miss a lot of the little details in fanfic, so when a performance brings out some little nuance I’d previously missed when reading, it’s such a wonderful new depth to the story for me!

Podfic also allows me to keep up with my fanfic obsession when I’m on the go, performers sharing completely new stories with me that I probably wouldn’t have had time to experience without podfic. It makes traffic jams and housework seem like the best parts of my day at times!

So where do you find podfic? The Audiofic Archive contains the most comprehensive archive of podfic online, across all fandoms. In journaling fandom the archive is represented by Amplificaton (or at LiveJournal). All stories cross-posted to the journal community on LJ or DW are automatically saved to the Audiofic Archive. Amplificathon is also the main hub of the Podfic Fandom in journaling fandom and runs three podfic challenges annually.

Here are just a few of the things happening in Podfic Fandom that excite me:

Amplificathon 2013 – A points-based podfic-creating challenge. So much podfic will be posted for the next six weeks!

Theatripod – Theatripod is a challenge to create multivoice podfics in the style of theatre productions, with a director, auditions, rehearsals, and a final recorded performance with minimal editing. Posting begins April 1, 2013.

Pod_Together (or at Dreamwidth) – An annual collaborative project challenge where authors, readers and artists work in partnership to create fanworks. This challenge has produced some truly amazing fanworks. It also provides fen a place to explore different ways in which writing, performance, sound effects, music and art can be used in storytelling.

PodficBigBang – An annual challenge aiming to increase the number of long podfics available to the fannish community. Posting begins on August 12, 2013.

Pod_Aware – An annual one-week challenge to help fans that have never heard of podfic before find out what it’s all about.

The Podfic Fandom has grown a lot in the last 5 years since I first discovered it, but it’s still one of the most inclusive and just plain fun fandoms I’ve ever had the pleasure to be a part of. Even if all you want to do is listen and maybe give the occasional feedback, you are such a valued part of this fandom! If you can’t find much podfic in your fandom or pairing, even better; JOIN US!! Become a performer and share your favorite pairings with us! I promise we do not bite and we’ll LOVE having you here!

Writer Wednesday: Misa Buckley On a Thursday

March 14, 2013 by Leta

We had a bit of a mix up, so here is Writer Wednesday on a Thursday, featuring Misa Buckley’s new book, Tin Cat! Let’s interview her main characters and see what this book’s about.

What are your names? And tell us a little about yourselves?

A: Amber Gerald, comic store owner. A year ago I was hit by a taxi cab and broke my back. Now I’m in a wheelchair, but that hasn’t changed who I am.

H: Hunter Gray, though Amber calls me Gray.

How did you meet? Was it love at first sight?

H: I was in pursuit of a dangerous criminal, part of paying a debt to society. My investigations led me to Amber’s shop and yes, it was.

A: What Gray said, though I think it was more lust at first sight than love.

H: I beg to differ.

A: You would. I think what changed for me was realising that Gray really cared for me. A lot of guys don’t look past the chair, but he did.

What do you believe is your worst or most frustrating quality? What about his/hers?

H: I don’t have any bad qualities.

A: *giggles* Yeah, right! He’s stubborn, irretractable, impossible – I swear, the list doesn’t end.

H: While she is overly talkative and terrible with secrets, obviously.

What is your best quality? What about his/hers?

A: Being talkative *laughs* Hey, it’s true enough for someone running any kind of store and I’ve always loved chatting to people, especially when we’re chatting about anything sci fi.

H: She is very good with people. Mine is not giving up at winning her over.

If you could have one wish come true, what would it be and why?

H: There are days I wish Amber could walk, not because she’s incapable, but I hate that an idiot stole that part of her life. I don’t think she’s wish that for herself, though.

A: Any more than you’d wish your past changed. There’s nothing more I want than Gray, and I have him. *looks a little smug*

***

Tell us a little about yourself!

I grew up watching Doctor Who and Star Trek, and reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, so it’s probably not that surprising that when I started writing NaNoWriMo in 2007, it was sci fi that I chose to write. I find writing a much-needed haven from the crazy of raising five children and a Land Rover-obsessed husband.

I can be found on Twitter (@MisaBuckley) or at her website (www.misabuckley.com)

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

I had to do a lot of research into spinal injuries and the results, as well as listening to many people living with a similar level of disability to Amber’s. There’s still a lot of misunderstanding and even discrimination suffered by disabled people, and that was hard to stomach. However, it made me more determined to present TIN CAT as a story about a woman who just happens to be in a wheelchair, rather than one centred on that disability.

What’s next for you?

BAYNE releases May 6^th.

Malia dreams of a life less ordinary but when her planet is visited by the Bayne, Destroyer of Worlds, she surrenders herself to him in order to give her people time to collect the tribute that the Overlord demands.

Despite Bayne being as much machine as man and having a violent temper, he rescues her from the unwanted attentions of his second-in-command and gives Malia a glimpse at the battered heart lying beneath the steel and scars.

As they start their relationship over, Malia discovers a man very different to the reputation that precedes him and probes deeper. However, her investigation uncovers a dark truth: a truth that someone wants to remain hidden no matter what the cost.

***

TIN CAT ~ A year after the accident that put her in a wheelchair, Amber Gerald has more or less gotten used to living with her impairment. It doesn’t make a difference to running a comic book store anyway, and the customers have been the best support group she could have wished for.

When she rescues an abandoned cat, Amber has no idea that she’s interfering in the mad scheme of a time travelling bank robber. Or that the man that walks into her store dressed like Blade is about to become her bodyguard.

Between being an unwitting owner of an android cat and falling for a cybernetic bounty hunter, Amber finds her life a whole new level of weird as science fiction becomes a very real factual threat.

BUY LINKS:

Writer Wednesday: Anya Richards

February 20, 2013 by Leta

What are your names? And tell us a little about yourselves?

J: I am Jakuta Dagbo, once a storm god in the West African pantheon known as the Orixás, now a tattoo artist at the Midnight Café. After what happened when I was on the human side of the Veil, I’m happy not to have the kind of responsibility I had back then, even if I can’t always let go of my protective nature.

G: My name is Gràinne Bairdie, and I’m a banshee, although now I’m wondering if that’s all I really am. It’s all I could remember—a cold, emotionless life—until recently. I want to feel, want to know if I could be more, even if it kills me to find out.

How did you meet? Was it love at first sight?

J: I could tell a storm was coming, even before Gràinne walked in through the door looking for a tat. I just didn’t know the feeling had nothing to do with the weather.

G: Jakuta was just another piece in my puzzle of self-discovery, until he touched me…
If it wasn’t love at first sight, what changed?

J: You can’t go through what we did together without learning the heart of a person, and what I learned about her just made me want her more, and for forever.

G: I knew what I felt, what I wanted from Jakuta, but how was I to know whether it was real or not? Everything was so new to me.

What do you believe is your worst or most frustrating quality? What about his/hers?

J: Ha! Where do I start? Lack of anger management is obviously my worst flaw, closely followed by impatience and a lack of empathy. Can I stop now? It’s getting a little depressing. As for Gràinne, her lack of trust in me—in what we have together—that’s frustrating as hell.
What is your best quality? What about his/hers?

G: I have no memory of my past, so it’s hard to tell what my best quality is. If I can get my memory back, maybe I can tell you later. But Jakuta, oh, that’s easy. He’s protective, caring, ready to take on any- and everything for me.
If you could have one wish come true, what would it be and why?
J: I think we’d have the same wish—or similar anyway—that Gràinne get her memory and emotions back. Of course, I want her to stay with me too, let me help her through whatever that will bring, but I don’t think that will happen.

***

Tell us a little about yourself!

I write erotic romance and erotica under the names Anya Richards and Anya Delvay and offer editing services through my website Grammar Goggles. While those things keep me busy, I also have a part-time job as a law clerk too. As a transplant to the Frozen North, winter, more particularly the ice it brings on the ground, is my least favorite time of the year. Ice should be in a glass, with a nice shot of Appleton rum on it, not under my feet!

I have a wonderful husband, three children (who pretend I write religious tracts) a cat, Moe, and a dog, Sable, whose street name is Beansie, which suits her down to the ground. What little spare time I have is taken up with cooking, crafting, reading and, occasionally, sewing, although I don’t do as much of the latter now as I did when I was younger and wanted the latest fashions but didn’t want to spend the money to get them.

From your back catalogue, do you have a secret favorite? If so which book and why?

I have to confess that, while I love Fleeing Fate, which is the first book in the Unveiled Seductions series, I really, really love the second book, Stone-Hard Passion. It was the first time I’d written a hero like Vidar or, for that matter, a heroine like Jasmina. As the book unfolded I just became more and more invested in them and their happiness, wanting, so very badly, to make it come out right for them in the end, despite all the obstacles. The reality is, if I can’t feel my characters as I write, if I don’t like them, that book doesn’t get finished, so being invested in the people I create isn’t new. What was new with these two was just how real they became to me, and how much I craved their HEA.

What’s next for you?

Well, I just got an acceptance for the third book in the Unveiled Seductions series, Dragon’s Claim, and I’m working on the fourth book, which has the working title Jaguar in the Sun. I’m also very excited to be a part of a humorous erotic anthology, Fondled and Gobbled. The first book, Someone Had To Do It, was released on February 6^th, and the second, Going Back for Seconds, will be out on February 22^nd. The Cabal of Hotness, as we call ourselves (*grin*) are also under contract for another round of anthologies, so it’s all very exciting. To get an idea of how all the craziness came to be, you can check out the “primer” here, and please stop by and visit our group page.

Fleeing Fate

Jakuta Dagbo knows bad weather’s approaching, even though the sky above the faie world is clear. And when Gràinne Bairdie walks into The Midnight Café wanting an arcane tattoo, he realizes the tempest raging into his life has nothing to do with wind and rain. Just one look at her brings his storm god libido, and the protective instincts he no longer trusts, to thundering life.

Gràinne is a banshee on the run, desperate to claim the emotions she’s sure are rightfully hers and has no time to explore the sparks of need flying between herself and Jakuta. What she’s trying to do will bring the wrath of the Banshee Council down on her head, and she knows they’ll do anything to stop her.

Yet, as Gràinne and Jakuta peel back the layers of their lives, searching for the answers she needs, they can’t ignore the lightning-hot passion searing their blood. And when desire reaches its apex, demanding complete surrender to the cyclone of desire, neither can resist. Even if it means Gràinne’s banshee wail of release will be her last.

Anya Richards

Journeys Through Seduction

Visit my website

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Writer Wednesday: Cris Anson

February 13, 2013 by Leta

After taking a break from Writer Wednesday for several months, I’m rebooting it with a new format. From now on, we’ll interview the main characters of the book and then follow up with a few questions for the author. I saw this done elsewhere recently and it really helped me know right away if I’d be interested in the book or not–much more so than a traditional author interview. Hopefully, you guys will also enjoy this change up!

Today I’ll be interviewing the main characters from Cris Anson’s book Mercy and Redemption.

What are your names? And tell us a little about yourselves?

Thanks for asking us here today, Leta. My name is Mercy Howe and I’m a Boston TV chef specializing in colonial cooking. It helps that I live in a mashup of a 1735 kitchen and an 1800s carriage house, because I test my recipes in my walk-in fireplace. I was trekking through an old cemetery in central Massachusetts looking for interesting gravestones to illustrate a book when I heard these two guys raising a ruckus around a gravesite. Turns out they found a common ancestor, so we started a conversation about the past.

Hey there, I’m Adam Connolly, a locally famous sculptor. In a recent issue, Improper New England Magazine named me Most Eligible Bachelor. When I saw Mercy, I wanted to have a horizontal conversation right away, know what I mean? There we were, Seth and me, high-fiving that we found the actual grave of a great-great-great whoever back in the 1700s and this blonde angel comes down the hill and says Hi, guys, what are you doing? And I wanted to, you know, get to know her.

Yeah, we got that. Hi, Leta. Thanks for the warm welcome. Adam and I met at an online genealogical research site. I’m his long-lost cousin, Seth Maddox, an architect near Philadelphia specializing in historic restorations. I’m not as in-your-face as he is. I believe it’s slow and steady that wins the race, if you’ve ever heard of Aesop’s Fables. Which Adam probably hasn’t, he’s so busy bedding every woman within reach. I believe in quality, not quantity.

How did you meet? Was it love at first sight?

It’s Mercy again, and I’ll be answering the rest of your questions, because these guys would just bicker all day long. No, not at first sight, but I was certainly intrigued. I mean, hunks with a capital H, both of them. And such different personalities. Can you keep a secret? The day we met, Adam and I shared more than just a kiss *blushing*. Then the next day Seth researched where I live and visited me, and darned if we didn’t share an itch-scratching as well. So yes, I guess it was love (or at least lust) at first sight—with both of them, except I couldn’t choose between them.

If it wasn’t love at first sight, what changed?

I kept getting flashbacks of a previous life, and I realized that I had known both of them back in the 1690s. That’s right, more than 300 years ago. I was intrigued by the possibility of reincarnation so I kept pushing them both, recreating scenes from my past that I remembered, hoping they’d remember it as well. And yes, that included bedroom scenes *big grin*.

What do you believe is your worst or most frustrating quality? What about his/hers?

*laughs* The guys would probably say my most frustrating quality is my inability to choose between them. Although when I approached them with the idea of a ménage, they both agreed it was a capital idea.

Let’s see, Adam’s worst quality…do you have any idea how frustrating it is to be his date at a black-tie event and see all the groupies swarming around him without even acknowledging that I’m there? And he just stands there and absorbs it without pushing them away. Seth, well, Seth needs a more-than-gentle push. He’s a quiet kind of guy and sometimes a girl just needs to take things into her own hands.

What is your best quality? What about his/hers?

Since my TV cooking show is filmed before a live audience, I have to say it’s my ability to roll with the punches. If I make a blooper, I kind of joke my way out of it. It helps in my personal life, too, such as when I shift between one man and the other and still keep my head. Never once did I mix up their names, even when I was almost out of my mind with—um, never mind. *blushes*

Seth’s best quality is his ability to have fun and find the bright side no matter the situation. Adam’s is the overwhelming force of his personality; you can’t help but be intrigued by him.

If you could have one wish come true, what would it be and why?

Other than world peace? I wish people would have more of an appreciation of the past. We have so much to learn from what our forefathers and foremothers went through, how they struggled, what they fought for. What would that forefather that Adam and Seth found think of flush toilets? Jet planes? Cell phones? So many things we take for granted, like freedom and automatic washing machines and the simple act of reading a book. Do you know there are folks in America who think hamburger comes from a machine? Who have never seen a tomato ripening on a vine? There’s a saying that those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Wouldn’t it be awful if we had to go back to living like it was 1694?

If, after reading this character interview, you’re interested in Mercy & Redemption, you can pick it up here!

***

Now tell us a little about you, the writer!

I’m an old broad with a young (dirty) mind. Married twice, loved them both, buried them both, wouldn’t mind someone else to love but he’d better be young enough to keep up with me. I dance like no one is watching because it’s a lifetime habit with me. I remember dancing the polka with my Dad at weddings way back when I was a kid. In fact, he and I won a polka contest at a country club one Octoberfest when it was open to guests. I met my first husband at a singles’ dance during the mini-skirt era. My second husband used to take me dancing to Big Band music with a live 12-piece band. I still jiggle everything at the writers’ conferences I attend, most notably Romanticon. Except now I have to sit down after every two or three songs to catch my breath.

It took me over a dozen years from the time I started writing in earnest to being published. Mercy and Redemption is my 12th release with Ellora’s Cave and I hope to continue writing erotic romance for many years to come. And it would be nice to have some up close and personal inspiration for those love scenes instead of just memories.

From your back catalogue, do you have a secret favorite? If so which book and why?

Of course it would be Dance of the Seven Veils. Not because it was my first Ellora’s Cave book, which by the way just celebrated its eighth anniversary of publication. Not even because it sparked a four-book series. But because it was the coming-of-age story of a 39-year-old woman, a journey to the discovery of her own sensuality. In many ways it’s my story. Because now I’m immersing myself in the BDSM lifestyle so as to write more authoritatively about it. I’m meeting so many interesting people and learning so many things about myself.

Gotta put in a plug here for my blog, Cris Anson’s Passions (http://crisansonspassions.blogspot.com/), where you can read my four-part series on the BDSM for Writers weekend I participated in, including two visits to Paddles, the longest-running BDSM club in New York, and what I experienced there.

What’s next for you?

I don’t want to give away any secrets to those who haven’t yet read Mercy and Redemption, but some of the characters from that book are being featured in the third book of that series. Tentatively entitled Redemption and Glory, it’s a doozy! As a matter of fact, the first scene takes place in a BDSM dungeon, as will a number of subsequent scenes. The characters are exploring their own heretofore dormant tendencies—which one will be the Dominant? the submissive? Or will one or both be a switch? How can they let go of all their conditioned responses and be themselves? It’s fascinating to me as I go along for the ride to uncover their true natures. And honestly? I have no clue how it’s going to turn out. That’s part of the fun.

Lastly, provide me with covers, blurbs, buy links, and where you can be found on the web! 🙂

Here’s the blurb for Mercy and Redemption:

While searching an old cemetery for likely gravestones to illustrate her colonial cookbook, Mercy Howe meets two hunks who are tracing their ancestry, and sparks fly. Literally.

When Mercy casually touches Seth and Adam, her vividly erotic vision involving all three of them feels like a memory, not a dream, and awakens long-dormant sexual urges. Their kisses are achingly familiar, and she welcomes each in turn into her body. Then she spends a no-holds-barred weekend with both men in her bed and discovers an intimacy—and a past—that blows her mind.

As memories resurface from three hundred years ago, Mercy will have to choose whether to relive the experiences from their joint past or forge a new bond with either Seth or Adam. Or both.

Inside Scoop: Contains m/m/f ménage and one doubly satisfied heroine!

Mercy and Redemption and all my books are available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other digital venues. You can also learn more about me at my website (http://www.crisanson.com/), my blog, and my Facebook page.

Thank you for inviting me here, Leta. It was fun chatting with you!

Thanks for being here, Cris!

Demons Do It Better: Jocelyn Dex

January 26, 2013 by Leta

Thanks for having me here today, Leta.

I’m Jocelyn Dex. Araya’s Addiction, an erotic paranormal romance, is my debut short novel. It features “Sempires”, a species of female demon that require semen to survive.

I’m here to share five fantastic things with you. It’s really difficult for me to pick only five but I’ll give it a shot.

Five Fantastic Things

Fantastic Lazy Activity: Cuddling with my puppies. If you have cuddle puppies, you understand. If you don’t, you’re missing out. Yes, I’m always covered in fur but it’s worth it.
Fantastic Food: This is a tough choice but I’ll go with spinach enchiladas. When done right, they are the yummiest things ever. I could probably eat them every day and not get sick of them.
Fantastic Place: Holbox, Mexico – I am a huge lover of tropical vacation spots. Especially spots off the beaten path that aren’t swarming with tourists. Holbox is laid back. You either walk everywhere or drive a golf cart or best of all, chill in a hammock under a palm tree.
Fantastic Relaxation Activity: Drinking beer! Kidding. Yoga. It’s amazing and I highly recommend it. I need to get off my butt soon and do some.
Fantastic Thing to Think About: My stories. I love the time before I drift off to sleep, when the characters from my stories take over my mind and show me what else they want to do.

What things do you find fantastic?

I’m offering a $5 Amazon gift card to one person (U.S. & Canada).

Araya’s Addiction Blurb

When Kean wakes up naked, collared and locked in a cell, he knows thinking with his dick has finally gotten him into trouble. Kean, part Incubus, enjoys scorching and frequent sex. One night, he finds himself a prisoner forced to help a Sempire rescue her daughter from certain death.

To gain his freedom, Kean must provide Araya with his semen to save her life, but she refuses it, even though the lust between them is undeniable. Determined to escape and to help Araya, Kean ups the stakes and forces Araya into a situation that makes it impossible for her to continue refusing him. Feeling betrayed, Araya enacts a scheme to get Kean out of her life. Her best laid plans may awaken emotions that will bind them to each other forever.

Here’s where you can find me on the web. I’d love it if you’d like me, fan me, follow me, etc. Ha. Being a new author, I could use the love.

Website: www.jocelyndex.com

Blog: http://jocelyndex.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jocelyn-Dex-Author/380700161994310

Twitter: @jocelyndex

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Jocelyn_Dex

Buy Link: http://www.ellorascave.com/araya-s-addiction.html

To Reply Or Not To Reply, That Is the Question

January 22, 2013 by Leta

So, readers (and writers, for that matter), let’s talk about Goodreads. When you leave a review of a book, especially a good review, do you want the author to acknowledge it in some way? I had been told early on that I should not acknowledge any reviews at all by readers on various sites, but now I’m seeing some authors click the ‘like’ button on certain reviews, and other authors thanking the reviewer for saying nice things about their book. This, obviously, has me wondering–what do readers really want?

Now, writers, I know many of you will say, “You shouldn’t read reviews at all ever!” But I have found, so far anyway, that reading reviews is not too emotionally damaging to me. Though, admittedly, the few negative reviews the books have garnered have stuck in my mind in a much more aggressive manner than the more abundant positive reviews. Obviously, my inner fraud terror is looking for ways to beat myself up, but I also think that learning to box that stuff up is a healthy skill. Or so I tell myself! Perhaps I’ll change my mind when I inevitably get more virulent negative reviews in the future.

Regardless–to reply or not to reply? Tell me, oh readers, what do you want most? To be ignored and left alone in your reviews? Or to have an author click ‘like’? Or to have them reply with a gleeful thanks?

For the record, I’m 100% all about ignoring any negative comments, even if they are false and even if they imply the person didn’t even read the book.

Round Up!

January 17, 2013 by Leta

1. Today is the last day for people to comment for a chance to win a free copy of Ascending Hearts at Stumbling Over Chaos! Contest closes at 7pm tonight!

2. Over at Cup o’ Porn, Keira and I talk about Five Fairy Tale Hunks we wouldn’t mind finding at the top of our beanstalks. Our post is pretty SFW, but the Cup o’ Porn site itself might be a wee bit riksy! It’s not called Cup o’ Porn for nothing!

3. Over at Sidney Bristol’s blog, I’m going on about the rabbit hole of writing research and the gift of the internet.

4. I was on Amelia Gormley’s blog discussing the inspiration behind Ascending Hearts, complete with some pictures!

5. Ascending Hearts is now available in the Kobo store and the Barnes & Noble Nook Book store.

In other news, I got mind-jacked by a new novel two days ago. It’s not good timing, but the entire thing showed up–characters, plot, settings, motivations, dialogue–absolutely everything. This never happens and so I feel like I’d be an idiot not to follow through. If I’m diligent and lucky I might be able to have a first draft done within two months and then get back on track with my plan for the year.

Release Day Is Here! Ascending Hearts Available!

January 2, 2013 by Leta

Photobucket — Available now through Ellora’s Cave!

Today’s the day! Book Two in Keira’s and my Tempting Tales series is available at Ellora’s Cave! You can buy it HERE and it will be available shortly at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks, Sony and more! I’ll keep you in the loop as to availability at third-party retailers.

Based on Jack & the Beanstalk, Ascending Hearts is at turns angsty, romantic, sexy and hopeful.

Rumors of treasure have long sent fortune hunters clambering up a magic beanstalk to a mysterious castle in the clouds. Survivors told of an evil giant who guards the gold with savage strength. No sane man would dare risk the climb—but Jack has nothing left to lose. Shunned for his evil red hair and abandoned by his cruel lover, he’s desperate to escape his life.

Rion isn’t a giant, only a man bearing the burden of protecting his family’s legacy. It’s a lonely existence, but he’s duty bound. Then Jack appears, and Rion’s world changes. After a blazing confrontation, undeniable lust sparks. Isolated in the clouds, Jack and Rion give in to their desire and growing connection. Soon they must protect the treasure—and each other—from a new threat. And they have everything to lose.

You can buy Book One in the series, Earthly Desires, an erotic m/m fairy tale based on The Light Princess, at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Sony, All Romance eBooks, and more!

And, again, you can buy Book Two, Ascending Hearts at Ellora’s Cave starting today! What a great way to kick off the New Year!

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