Jack Brighton's Blog, page 6

Insomnia

Five o'clock yesterday. Three-thirty today. This is not a good sign - my insomnia is clearly kicking back in.
I do suffer. Normally it's because my mind is too active, which is usually at peak times in my writing - getting to the end of the book or an important part. But the latest book is all but done, so there must be something else.
There are quite a few things that are on my mind at present, so it could be a combination. But the mind has it's way of relieving pent up stress, and it came to me in a dream the most likely cause... I'm worried about the cat!
There is no date set at present, but sometime early December, I plan to return to Brighton (where have I heard that name before?) for the winter. Normally when I'm away, the cat stays here. He 's fine for a couple of weeks with someone popping round to feed him. But three months is different. There's no way I can leave him for that sort of time. So he's got his pet passport, rabies injections etc. There is an airline that will fly him back to Gatwick as hand luggage. It sounds quite straight forward... and I'm dreading it! A trip to the vet is a trauma, and that lasts an hour at most door to door. But the best part of a day trapped in a cage! It's starting to sound cruel.
In the dream he had trapped his claw in some cloth and I tried to help. The things are retractible, but he still does this - pulls at it instead of retracting at times - dumb or what! Anyway, instead of pulling it free he kept pulling the claw out, getting longer and longer, going on and on, curling around. It ended up over a foot in length and needed to be cut off. I held him as he fought. Then my mum took some scissors to it (she's dead by the way). The cat was screaming as she cut the claw off. He was crying like a baby. It was awful. I woke up with cramp hitting both my calves. I was in quite a bit of pain. And there at my feet was the cat, curled up... sending out subliminal messages.

It's now after four. I've taken over half an hour to write this.
What is going on?
So tired.
Need some sleep.

Jack

A New Dawn

It is shortly after six in the morning and I've been up and about for almost an hour. I can hear a cockrel in the distance doing it's thing, so a new dawn will be with us soon.
Perhaps you can guess that this morning's blog hasn't come as a natural flow - I'm not sure what to write, but then it's not just with the blog that I'm asking that question. My Christmas book is finished, so what do I tackle next? I thought I was sure - there was a plan in place. But recent events have given me cause to question my priorites going forward.
First a piece of good news (beyond finishing a book which is always good). God's Mighty Spear has been restored to a certain retailer's ebookshelf. A toning down of the description appears to have
pacified. Thank you for all the messages of support, and comments regarding similar problems. It's always nice to know you are not alone with such things.
But the backdrop hasn't changed. There is still much anxiety over what might happen to my erotica catalogues, and that is one of the factors that have given me cause to reassess a strategy going forward. It should be safe enough to continue as planned. My intension was to do another Wild Side
book - 'Trouble at The Wild Side', and they tend to be quite light without obvious traps to fall foul of. I also thought about another short story collection by Tom Farrell - go into first person for something much lighter, and that would be safe as well.
Listen to the wording though... SAFE! Is it right to have to worry about safety so much? My characters in the books don't wear a condom - but am I being conditioned to put a rubber round my work so it doesn't infect the pure minds out there - people who profess that what I write is disgusting and ought to be banned - people who apparently don't want to read it yet somehow know it well? It's tricky! You see, I don't write purely for fun. This is my job as well as my passion, and my job has to pay. I've spend much of this year working on marketing so that I have a good platform to move forward, but l fear that despite all the efforts, I could loose everything at the snap of some moralistic fingers.
There is an alternative that was never in the plan until very recently. I'm J.K. as well as Jack - a little side line that I do in the field of gay romance (yes, that's right - I can actually string two paragraphs together without someone having filthy sex)... J.K. is safe. And oddly enough, the recent, and only, books that were released seem to be doing quite well.
It's Sunday - supposedly a day of rest. That's why most people are still in bed having a lie-in whilst I'm at my keyboard dumping down thoughts. So I'll take a rest and enjoy the new dawn... and then decide what to do.

Jack

Blasphemy

Stomach churning moment this morning. I got one of those dreaded e-mails. If you're not a writer in my genre then you may never have received one, so let me show you how they start:
Hello,
During our review, we found that the following book(s) is in violation of our content guidelines (see list below for details):

Thankfully the list was brief - only one book - God's Mighty Spear, with the note - 'Description, Title, Cover Image' beside it.

So what's the problem? Are all three suddenly wrong after two years on the site, or is it the combination that has tripped a wire? The book is a tongue in cheek ridiculing of the Spanish Inquisition? Should we be banning Monty Python from TV, because they did the same in their famous sketch? Or would it be better to ban a different modern day inquisition - a witch hunt wrapped up in noble minded bollocks that stinks to the high heavens?
Whatever!
I changed the description, and resubmitted. I was pleased to see that the option was there to do this, which wasn't the case in the past. I can appreciate that some of the words used might be seen as blasphemous, and hope that the revised description will do. I doubt it, but we'll see. In the meantime, if you are interested in the book, it is still available in all formats at Smashwords, and in specific formats at other vendors.

Jack

Obsession

I had cause to ponder the subject of obsession this morning. I do another blog, wearing another hat - well I'm a Gemini you see, so split-personality comes with the territory. Anyway, the topic of the blog was obsession, and I dealt with it there by referring to the character in the book I'm blogging about. Easy stuff - writing about someone else. But of course he is my character, and in a way that makes him me...
So am I obsessive? Well, I'm writing these blogs every morning, so I guess I must be. Why else would I be sitting here spilling out all this stuff?
Oh, and here's another angle... I was asked yesterday for a rough number - How many books are in the various collections. A quick tally came to over 60! More than 60 freakin' books in the space of a few years! Am I obsessive? Well Duh!
I'm going for a walk and to re-appraise my life... and then I'll be back to work on the next book. I love what I do, so I don't give a toss. If I wasn't obsessive then I wouldn't be...

Jack

The Power of FREE

I'm feeling a little smug this morning, although not getting too excited. My monthly sales report from Apple has shown a pleasing improvement over previous months, and I'm glad to say that iPad readers seem to be discovering 'The Wild Side' books at last!
I've always wondered why some of my books prove quite popular with certain retailers but not with others. The Tom Farrell collection for example does quite poorly on Amazon, where Jack Brighton does pretty well. With Apple it's been the opposite to date, even though it's the same author under different pen names, something which I make clear in the books. But September showed a big turn around, and it was mainly 'Wild Side' books that sold.
Why?
The Power of FREE!
It is a strategy I have been using to good effect this year, and I have to thank Mark Coker at Smashwords for the idea. Where there is a series, such as 'His Nemesis', I make the first book free for a period of time, and by doing so attract new readers to my work, some of whom then go on to buy the rest of the series (other sadly give me hideous reviews and want to see me burned at a stake, but you can't please everyone!). It worked very well for His Nemesis, and now I seem to be reaping rewards by making a 'Wild Side' book free - 'The Unchained Slave'. It's not quite the same. There is no first book in a series as such. 'The Wild Side' is more a collection of related tales. But 'The Unchained Slave' is a good introduction, and it kicks off the series within the collection i.e. Dylan Sinclair's story. He is introduced in 'The Unchained Slave' and then his story continues in 'Made for Auction' . After that he appears in all the other books, and will once again be a star in 'The Wild Side of Christmas' (coming soon).
I'll be keeping the offer running through to the end of the year, so if you haven't grabbed a copy of 'The Unchained Slave' then click on the link below and it will take you to the website page where you can link to your vendor of choice where it is listed free at present.

Thanks everyone for your support (especially those nice iPad users who are coming to me at last!)

Jack

http://jackbrighton.weebly.com/the-unchained-slave.html

Releasing For Christmas

So yesterday I wrote those happy words 'THE END' at the end of my Christmas book. The last two chapters still need polishing, then it will go to proof reading, but by next week it will be ready for release.
I won't release it though!
Given the current climate of censorship, it's probably not the best time to submit a BDSM book to certain retailers, even a Wild Side book, which tend to be pretty light compared to some of my other stuff. But that aside, I think it's way too early for a Christmas theme book to hit the market.
When is the best time though?
The 'think tank' that meets informally most evenings for a pre-dinner drink was of divided opinion yesterday - the beginning of November being one view, the 25th of November being the other. I tend to favour the latter, but who knows. Shops start promoting the Christmas Season earlier and earlier each year, so I'm not too sure.
All suggestions will be much appreciated.

Jack

The Storm

The storm is coming, if not already here. If you're an independent publisher in the erotica genre then you'll know what I mean. I've only had some titles removed by Kobo so far, but fear that will not be the limit.
I come originally from Ayr, home of Robert Burns. I doubt he would have been impressed by what's happening at the moment, and might well have been a victim if writing today as some of his poems are pretty racy. Can you imagine that - banning Burns. You might as well tell the Scots to stop drinking whisky... or is that the next moral crusade in store?
I won't go on. I don't have the heart to write at the moment, but by God I will keep writing. But for now I'll just quote what the Bard had to say... appropriately in his poem 'To A Mouse' which we are when pitched against the giants of commerce...
‘Still thou are blest, compared wi’ me!The present only toucheth thee:
But och! I backward cast my e’e,
On prospects drear!
An’forward, tho’ I canna see,
I guess an’fear!’
Jack

The Right Cover

I got a reminder yesterday about the importance of book covers. I've released two non-erotica books recently and they are doing morderately well for something by an unknown name. The second is a sequel, and I make the first book free, aiming to find readers who like it enough to buy the second.
Yesterday I got another flattering review, but it included a remark about the cover, saying that she was worried about downloading the book as the cover looked too raunchy for a gay romance novel.
There is a new cover in development!
I thought it was a risk going with the original, but went ahead anyway, thinking that it would make my book stand out in a genre where book covers all seem rather the same to me. But I suppose that sends out the right message to potential readers, and I was sending out a mixed signal.
I know the importance of covers, so am not surprised. Look at that one there - the very first cover for 'In The Dark'. It was accepted by all retailers, and despite the book being an early work where to be honest the writing isn't that great (I've polished it since, so don't be put off!), and also quite a short story for the minimum $2.99 Amazon force me to charge, it is my best selling book by quite some way. And years after the release it still sells well.
Why?
I reckon it's the cover. I've subsequently had to modify it - there is the 'Flaming Hot' banner which goes with all my covers now, but also a whip draped over his dick, which Smashwords actually asked for as some of the retailer are getting shy about such things. But even still, it's a powerful image. There was actually a mildly negative review which blamed the cover for enticing a purchase 'Who could possibly resist it with a cover like that!' the lady said. So take note, I tell myself, and remember the old phrase - some people might not judge a book by its cover... but the vast majority do!

Jack

The Things We Do For Our Art

Another boring Saturday night in! I really should get a life. Instead of going out clubbing - which I did regularly until quite recently, thank you very much - I spent much of the evening doing some research for my latest book.
Sad or what!
Well, not quite!
The next chapter to be tackled involves a caning scene. Growing up in Scotland where it was the tawse that was used in schools as a means of corporal punishment, I never encountered the cane - so it seemed only right to try it out. And as the scene is seen through the eyes of the caner, not the receiver of the strokes, I needed a willing helper. Thankfully my partner stepped up to the mark, dressed for the part - took the strokes, six of the best, then the dirty dog asked for more. And by God he got plenty, and not just from the cane.
The things we do for our art!
But you can't say I'm anything but thorough!

Jack

His Face

It's one of the hardest things I find to describe. The rest of the body is pretty easy - a rich mat of hair covering a muscular chest, smooth chiselled pecs crowned with generous sized nipples – that sort of thing, along with other more graphic descriptions. I suppose it’s because so many male body images we see are stereotype perfection along a particular theme, so it’s easy to conjure up the type as everybody knows what you mean. But with a face – that’s different. Each is so different, and each one can take different aspects depending on the light and expression.
I was captivated once by a face. Okay, so several times, but there was one face in particular. It wasn’t this guy, but he’s as near as I can find. I saw him in a club and thought he looked stunning, all the more so because he was so aloof, happy with the boyfriend he had in tow and shunning any attempted advance. He made such an impression that several years later I still remembered his beautiful face and wrote a story – Burning Fire – based on him. Pure fantasy of course – I doubt he was a fireman, and I sure as hell ain’t no ex-soldier who can dispassionately murder. But there was the face – that bit was true. Here’s how I open the story, using sentiment rather than description to capture his face...

It was like in that song by Roberta Flack – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – I knew straight away that I would have to have him.
His name was Farrell.
Was? That sounds like he’s no more. Dead, snuffed it, kicked the bucket – gone to a better place.
No. His name was Farrell and it still is. I didn’t kill him. I fucked with his life and I fucked with his head, I fucked with his boyfriend, and I sure as hell fucked him. I did plenty that was wrong, I’ll confess to that. This whole story is a confession of the wrong that I did. But I didn’t kill him. How could I possibly do a thing like that?
Quite easily is the answer, given the training I’ve received. Six years in the British army teaches you a few useful things – like a whole variety of ways to dispassionately murder a man. But I couldn’t put it into practice with Farrell. You see the first time ever I saw his face – how did Roberta put it? My heart trembled like a bird caught in a cage.
No! No! No!
Precision– get things right! If there was one thing that I learned in my former life it was to make sure you got things right and left nothing to chance. The lyrics were, ‘Like the trembling heart of a captive bird.’ And that happened the first time Roberta kissed her man’s mouth, it was some crap about adding stars to the dark and empty skies that his face inspired.
I really should get it straight.
Whatever!
The first time!
God forgive me for what I did... but your face... your beautiful, captivating, life confirming face. Why did you have to act the way you did? But I don’t suppose it would have made any difference. For ours was a tragedy from the moment I saw you – a burning fire that would leave a wound on us all – one of us quite literally, but we’ll come to that in due course.
Your face, your face!
Sing it to me Roberta. Let me hear that sweet tone................... ‘Your face! Your face! Your face!’

Jack