Sasha White's Blog, page 12
January 2, 2014
Why I like reviews
Like many people I’ve been reviewing what I did in 2013, and one of those things was give away a lot of books. I mean, a lot. As in, when I count digital downloads, almost 1,000. I’m not talking about when Amazon makes a book free either. I’m talking about giving them away via parties, events, review sites, street team, friends and simple random giveaways like on Facebook or Twitter. The hope is, that some of those giveaways will result in hooking readers, getting reviews, getting readers talking about your work.
We need readers to talk about our work. Even if you don’t like it, talking about it keeps it out there, and we need that. We need it for more than one reason.
Sales. Yes, we need the sales. I know this is something many authors don’t like to talk about because we’re afraid of offending readers or reviewers, or being seen as whiny or ungrateful for those that do buy our books, but it’s a fact of life. Sales = income and income means we can keep doing what we love to do. We love what we do, and we want to keep doing it. Most of us would keep doing it even if we don’t make an income, but how much time we spend on writing is dependant on how much income the writing generates.
Support. For me, the reviews are support. I see them as a thank you letter. Yes, even the bad reviews. LOL You see, if someone took the time to write a review, be it a two line one, a glowing one or a one that says it sucked < i see that as an acknowledgement of my work. Of course I want everyone to love it, but I know that won't happen. I also admit that while I don't mind reviews that say “It wasn’t for me.” or “It was boring.” but reviews that say “It sucked. Don’t waste your money.” hurts.
When I find myself struggling to force myself to stay in the chair, or wanting to procrastinate, I often surf for reviews of my work as a way to motivate myself. I look to see if readers might be anxious for more. I also look to learn what they didn’t like and what I could do better. In fact, I recently approached a reader whose posted reviews of all my Dungeon books on Goodreads over the years to become a beta reader for me because I learned something about my stories from her reviews. Something I want to improve on, so I asked her to read for me in hopes that I can fix that quirk.
This morning, after doing the numbers of all the books I gave away in 2013, and noticing that less than 10% of them have generated a review of any sort that I could find, I made a comment on Facebook. It was very discouraging to me, and I was feeling like I should just give up this writing gig and find a new dream to chase, and I snarked out a bit. Now, I know my numbers aren’t exact, but when I have less than 5 reviews each of several titles on Amazon, B&N and Goodreads I think my numbers can’t be massively far off.
Now, some readers email me instead of posting reviews, and that’s just as special. Even more so. So please do not think it’s all about reviews. Personal connections are even more so, and I keep a file of all my reader emails to re-read on days like today.
Basically, I don’t think readers understand the power they have. Not just in helping authors get sales, but in keeping us (or me anyway) motivated and sticking with it.
PS: Because of my comment, a new event is happening on Facebook that is gonna rock for everyone! Be sure to check out Sasha and Stella’s Sexy Review Party! for a chance to win REGISTRATION TO 2014’s AUTHORS AFTER DARK CHARLOTTE— a 260$ Value!
December 12, 2013
Gypsy Heart and more
Some of you who have been with me for a while are familiar with Gypsy Heart. It was my very first attempt at writing a novel. Back in 2003, when I was writing it, it was aimed at the Harlequin Blaze line, and after submitting the partial (First three chapters) it was rejected due to my “writing style”. At the time, I wash;t sure what to think of this. After all, I was writing hot when erotica was not popular, and Elloras Cave was first coming about. I still remember when I got the rejection letter and I was hanging out not he HQN message boards I mentioned it, unsure of what they meant by Writing Style. Alison Kent, and Julie Leto were quick to tell me it meant voice and style just not suited for Harlequin…and not to give up. I’ll never forget that-two of my favourite authors telling me to keep going. So I kept going. I finished Gypsy Heart (though it’s only 55k and not the minimum 60 k for a novel ) and discovered ePublishers. I sub be fit to both EC and LSB. LSB was quick to get back with an offer, but EC was slow, so I went with LSB. (WOnder how things would’ve been different if I’d waited). I wash;t happy with LSB, so when Samhain opened I took my stuff there. Gypsy Heart has been with them for just over 7 years, and Now I’ve got the rights back.
NOW I’m going to re-release it. Self publish it, and the sequel, Rogue Heart. A big part of me really wanted to keep them with Samhain, I do love the publisher, however, Samhain is only willing to contract for stories that are already fully written. This might be more information than you’re interested in as readers, but I wanted to share why Rogue Heart has been so long coming. It’s been on my Coming Soon page for – uhmmm, a while. *blush* The story’s been half written for over 2 years, and a couple years ago my editor at Samhain did see what I have, and say she wanted it, but they wouldn’t contract without it being done…and, well, I’ve learned that without that contract deadline, that pressure, I’m not as regular of a writer as I’d like. With self publishing, I know if I put it out there, and spend the money myself on an editor, and cover(Yes new covers….I love new covers…LOL ) , and promote it…that will keep me on track. That and readers.
I’ve gone through a bit of a time in the past few years, and the only reason I’m writing again is because you readers have not given up on me. Thank you. I promise you will be seeing much more of my work out there in 2014. Starting with Gypsy Heart re-release, and then Rogue Heart to follow quickly after.
Oh, and I am working on my Overwatch stories too…I’m very excited about them and if you want to know more about them be sure to visit me often!
November 21, 2013
Re-Enter The Dungeon
I’ve finally gotten the many story ideas running rampant in my head somewhat organized. I have a plan, and contingencies for whichever ways the first stages of the plans go. So, I thought it was time to share some of them.
First off. Yes, I will be writing more Dungeon stories. I have no idea if my editor at Berkley will make an offer on them, but I will be sending them to her as Plan 1. I have three stories in mind for them, all characters that you might remember form small roles they had in other Dungeon stories. Mason,(the owner of the Dungeon) Jan (one of Karl’s previous casual subs) and Brett. (Samair’s brother). All are characters we met in the club, and their stories will take us deeper into the club, and the going on there.
I’ve started a couple of Pinterst pages for those of you who like visuals to follow.
The Dungeon (will have all things that inspire me and that I think will be there, including the people) and Chrysalis, the working title for Mason’s the story…also know as Mason & The Mechanic.
Other plans include a new BDSM series OVERWATCH. The first two stories, and the characters are set in my mind, I’m just not sharing yet because before I can focus on them I have to get the proposal for Chrysalis and the other Dungeon stories out to my old Berkley editor. I’m working on that now and should have it off to her by the end of the month at the latest.
I know I’ve been inconsistent on here-to say the least- but I’m serious now. It’s time to get my White Hot brain flexing again. For the past couple months I’ve been playing on Twitter and FB and Pinterest and tumbler. Okay, so pinterest and Tumbler are mainly images…uhmmm visit my Tumbler page for the more ADULT ones. *wink* Anyway….some of that is gonna have to slow down if I’m to be on here more regularly. So you tell me. How do you prefer to keep up to date on what I’m doing?
Right Here on the blog.
Facebook
Twitter
Tumbler
Pinterest
I’ll still play on all of them, but in your opinion, which one should be my first priority if I want to keep connecting with y’all? Let me know in the comments. :)
October 11, 2013
They hit the nail on the head
I read my horoscopes. I don’t count on them, or live by them or anything, but yeah, I find them fun, and sometimes even a helping guide. This was my horoscope today….and boy did they nail it.
You haven’t been in too much of a hurry to reach your goals lately, because your ambition has been taking a nap. That’s perfectly fine, but today you are going to start to feel like stirring things up and putting a few more challenges in your path. You are getting antsy! Luckily, you should get a tiny taste of power. It will be so delicious that you’ll want to know where you can get some more! Ask around to see if anyone needs helps on an impossible task. You’re up for it!
So…last day of my “holiday” before I head back to the fulltime day-job, and yes, I’m getting my ass in gear with writing. LOL
October 2, 2013
Gotta Smile
Thanks to Laurie Kapkowski for linking to this on FaceBook. Loved it. Make me smile and sing-along. I just had to share with everyone.
Watch it, sing along, then pass the smile along, people!
September 15, 2013
Fall Down ….don’t stay down.
So I was watching last night’s episode of The X Factor, and there was a fifteen year old girl who started her song, then promptly forgot the lyrics. It was hard to watch. Your heart went out to her as she paced the stage and the music played. Then she started singing again, and damn was she good. She kicked ass, and all I could think was, it’s so damn true that when you fall, you have to get back up. It doesn’t matter what you do, be it sing, dance, write or do people’s taxa. What matters in life is that when you fall down, or get tripped, kicked or pushed down, you get back up again.
The key to success and happiness in career and life are the same…never quit going after what you want/need.
Thats my PSA for the week. ;)
September 9, 2013
How it works…for me.
I just had a conversation with a lady I work with at the day job. A couple of weeks ago she asked about my books, and I gave her two. When I asked her what sort of story she’d like, contemporary, paranormal, kinky, romantic, she said it didn’t matter she just wanted to see how my mind worked.
Ack! really???
So I gave her one copy of Primal Male, and one of WICKED. Seemed like a good way to go to show some of the variety I offer as an author. She couldn’t get into Primal Male,but she said she really enjoyed Wicked. Yay! That was the end of our conversation about my writing until today. She called yesterday and I didn’t answer my phone or return her call until today, and she says…I figured you were off having some fantasy and writing about it.
I was like yup.
Now, this is someone who sees me, and works pretty closely with me, 5 days a week, and I have to say her next comment surprised me. This isn;t word for word, but it went something like this…”…when I was reading Wicked, I was thinking no, this isn’t Sasha, this is from her imagination, this isn’t from her experience.” Then she continues. “I know you, and I just couldn’t imagine you having these experiences.”
So we started talking about writing, and I said for me it’s like reading. I don’t plot or plan much, I just start with a character or an idea, and then start writing. And it’s really hard to get me started but once I’ve started and I get into it, and into the characters heads, the world around me recedes and I don’t want to stop. There’s many times when I’ll read what I wrote the day before (Because I tend to edit as I go) and I’ll be like…“I didn’t write that…When did that happen?” because whenI can really get into it, it becomes almost like I’m channelling the character, and I really do not think at all.
Yes, I know it sounds bad to admit it, but I know I’m doing a job writing when i’m not thinking. :D However, it still surprised me to hear that someone who spends so much time with me, in a day to day environment, read Wicked and thought it so very different from me personally when others I know totally see me in it. I decided it’s because where I work, when I’m at work, I’m a manager and I have responsibilities, and while I laugh and have fun, I do take them seriously.
Am I me when I’m at work? Hell, yeah! Am I also me when I write? Hell,yeah! Do I put some of myself into every story? Fuck, yeah!
This is what makes people, and creating characters and sharing their stories so freaking awesome. People are multidimensional…and characters must be as well.
Get it?
August 20, 2013
Authors After Dark recap
Last week I headed down to Savannah, Georgia for the Authors After Dark conference, and it has been confirmed. This is now my favorite conference. It’s big enough that’s there’s plenty to do, and small enough that you can actually connect and get to know many new people each and every day.
For me the week started off with Erotic Trivia Hour with Joey and Sasha. This was an event the lovely Joey W Hill and I put together, and the cross between Jeopardy and Family Feud turned out fabulously. In fact, we’ll be making it an annual event!
Amongst some great panels and lunches with cool readers and drinks with other authors, I also got to take part in the BDSM Bingo event that Ann Mayburn organized. It was super fun, and I was honored to be among some of the most fabulous authors I’ve ever met, and read.
Yvette Hine, Joey W Hill, me, Cherise Sinclair, Annabel Joseph
Eliza Gayle, Ann Mayburn, Kallypso Masters.
Below is the crowd we got for the bingo, and let me say it was educational, fun, and very naughty!
All in all I gave a lot of books away, sold a bunch, and handed out swag everywhere I went. I had laughs, made new friends and reconnected with old. It was inspiring, and energizing, and there is a fire under my ass to get writing. I love it.
If you want to see more pictures form Authors AFter Dark in Savannah, friend me on Facebook and check out the album!
August 13, 2013
Watch Me release
My marriage-in-trouble story is now out…again. :)
By again I mean, Watch Me was previously published by Berkley in the KINK anthology. Now it’s available on it’s own-both in print and digital!
Not only is it available, but the Kindle edition is on sale for 99 cents until Friday!
I was right. Grant worked late that night.
It was after nine o’clock and I was ensconced on the sofa, feeding my secret addiction by watching season two of Angel on DVD again, when Grant entered the house.
“What a day!” He dropped onto the couch next to me.
“Bad?” I asked.
“Nah, not bad, just hectic. I know taking this promotion was the right thing to do for us, and our future, and I know I can do the job. It’s just taking more time getting settled in than I expected.” He gave me a tired smile. “I’m beat, babe.”
Heart swelling with love for him, I cupped his jaw and pulled his head down and pressed my lips to his. The rasp of his stubble tickled the palm of my hand and I lazily stroked his tongue with mine. Before I could deepen the kiss he pulled back.
“I need a shower, then I’m crawling into bed. Will you be long?”
When I shook my head no, he turned and headed up the stairs. I toyed with the idea of joining him in the shower, but he’d seemed distracted and doubt that I’d be welcome niggled at me.
My chest tightened and I tried to refocus on the show, but couldn’t quite manage. The cynical side of my brain was prompting me to wonder if Grant was having an affair. I mean, our sex life hadn’t exactly been rockin’ lately, and that would seem to be a reasonable assumption. Except, I knew he wouldn’t do that.
With midnight black hair and piercing green eyes, Grant had the look and the attitude of a bad boy, which he had blatantly been when I’d first met him. But like all those rakes and playboys I’d read about in romance novels, when he gave his love, he was fierce and loyal, giving his whole heart.
And he loved me.
He wasn’t cheating on me. He was just preoccupied. His recent promotion from ad designer to account executive at one of Vancouver’s top advertising firms had him working almost nonstop. We’d talked about it before he accepted the promotion, and we knew it would be hard. I just don’t think either of us knew how hard.
The shower turned off with a protesting squeal from the pipes and I tracked his footsteps above me to the bedroom. Before I could think twice, I switched off the TV and dashed up the stairs. When I walked into the bedroom, Grant was stretched out naked on the bed, one arm bent, hand tucked behind his head, eyes closed.
“Yum,” I whispered as I climbed onto the bed and slowly straddled his body. “Look what I found sleeping in my bed.”
He didn’t move, but for a small twitch of his lips. Leaning forward, I tasted that half smile briefly before nibbling my way over to his ear. I nuzzled the soft spot behind his ear and spoke softly. “Such delicious flavor you have.”
His chest brushed against mine as it shook with silent laughter. Sitting up, I quickly pulled off the baggy T-shirt I’d donned when I got home from work earlier, leaving me in nothing but my cotton bikini panties. I wiggled myself down his body, letting the tips of my nipples scrap along his torso. After nudging his legs apart a bit I lay down, my body snug on top of his, his stiffening cock nestled nicely between my breasts as I scraped my nails across one male nipple and my teeth across the other.
His fingers weaved into my hair, cupping the back of my head. He didn’t try to direct me, or take control, he just let me enjoy myself. I ran my fingers through the crisp curls that covered his muscles, loving the way my fingertips tingled as they followed the trail to his belly button. I slid a bit lower, rimming the hole with the tip of my tongue as his cock bobbed, looking for the warm home of my breasts that had disappeared.
Warmth flowed through me at the feel of my husband’s body beneath me, the ripple of his muscles under my fingertips as I skimmed over his torso. It was a rare treat for him to let me have all the control so I made sure to enjoy every second of it, drawing it out as one hand dipped down to travel up the inside of his thigh and my mouth skimmed over his hip bone. His lower belly tightened, and his breathing grew ragged as I let my hot breath tease over his hardness.
This was my passion. The rightness that I felt in my soul every time I touched him, every time I gave him pleasure. This is where I belonged.
His fingers tightened in my hair and his hips lifted slightly off the bed. I circled the base of his shaft with my fingers and took him in my mouth. A low moan echoed in the room as my tongue swirled and my lips tightened. I sucked gently, raising and lowering my head taking him in, and out. He heated up, his cock swelling and hardening in my mouth until I could feel him hit the back of my throat.
I kept working him for a couple more minutes, my free hands sneaking between my own legs. My clit was hard and my entrance slick. He hadn’t touched me, but he didn’t need to. Just knowing I was pleasing him was a turn-on for me.
After rubbing my clit for a couple more seconds I’d had enough. Pleasing Grant was a turn-on, but I wanted more. I wanted him deep inside me.
Pulling away, I got rid of my panties and straddled him once more. This time his eyes were open, watching me as I got into position. Gripping him with one hand, I rubbed the head of his cock up and down my slit, and then impaled myself on him.
A gasp escaped my lips and I wiggled, loving the fullness of Grant buried deep inside me. His free hand rested on my thigh as I started rocking. It wasn’t long before his fingers tightened on my leg, and my insides clenched in response. Our eyes were locked together even though he remained still with one hand behind his head. His lips parted as his breath came faster, his brow puckered and his cock throbbed hotly as I rotated and thrust my hips. I was almost there, the heat from within spreading to all my nerve endings. I caught his gaze, and ran my hands over my torso, up over my ribs and to cup my own breasts.
It was then that his hand came out from under his head and he gripped both my hips. He grunted as he thrust fast and hard into me and I pinched my nipples, watching heat flare deep in his eyes and feeling sharp pleasure shoot from the hard tips straight to my core. With one last growl, Grant held me tight to him, his cock twitching and jerking inside me as he came. Without thinking, I reached down and tweaked my clit, sending pleasure sweeping throughout my body to every nerve.
I collapsed on top of him, and he rolled to his side. Warm lips pressed against my forehead as he cuddled me close. “That was hot, babe. Just what I needed,” he whispered drowsily. “Thanks.”
Then he was asleep.
I lay there for a few minutes, wishing he hadn’t fallen right to sleep. Then I got up and turned out the bedroom lights before crawling back into bed. I pulled a blanket from the foot of the bed to cover us and snuggled up close to my husband, trying not to remember how we used to be able to go all night.
How he never used to get enough of me.
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August 12, 2013
To Make you smile….
To make you smile on a Monday Morning. Not sure it’s safe for work, so watch the volume.
