Tracy St. John's Blog, page 239
December 4, 2011
Six Sentence Sunday - Unholy Union
Nominated for Best Paranormal Erotica 2011 by The Romance Reviews
Elaine yelped, jumping in her chair. She swung around to see Father Thomas standing there, wearing a sweat suit that clung tightly to his muscled body.
"You startled me!" she said, the flash of anger tempered by a wave of lust. For the first time that day, her fantasies didn't star Ash Moday. The priest in front of her, clad in gray gym wear, was too yummy to be discounted. The old infatuation swept over her again.
Available from New Concepts Publishing, Amazon for Kindle, Barnes & Noble for Nook, Fictionwise, Smashwords, and All Romance E-books.
December 3, 2011
Positions, Please 3
Reverse Cowgirl
If your partner loves butts, he'll go wild for this position. Reverse Cowgirl … or woman on top facing his feet … is a show stealer for men. Watching your rear in motion as you take him this way will definitely score you high marks.
It's much the same as forward facing Cowgirl . You control the depth of penetration and the speed of intercourse. You can reach down and stroke his testicles. His hands are free to stimulate your breasts, clitoris, and buttocks. He can also give you a back rub or help your balance by gripping your hips or buttocks.
One fun thing to do during Reverse Cowgirl is to lie back on his chest, which will change the angle to better find your G-spot. Sliding up and down his body this way is a novel sensation. Along the same lines is leaning back in the crabwalk position so that your feet and hands are supporting your weight. Move your hips up and down, using your leg strength to help you thrust. Get him to support your buttocks to help with your balance. If your hair is long, feeling it drift over his chest will be a definite turn on for him.
As always, I must point out that I am not a licensed sex therapist, and you attempt these positions at your own risk. Be careful and have fun.
December 2, 2011
First Four Friday - Alien Conquest (Clans of Kalquor 3)
Chapter 14The moment Cassidy boarded the shuttle taking them from the crippled spy ship to the Earther transport, she stopped short. Her grandfather sat at the back of the passenger cabin, naked and strapped to a seat. Two Nobeks sat on either side of him, holding stun prods.
The intoxicant from Lidon's bite had long faded, and she trembled with rage at the sight of the general.
Available at New Concepts Publishing, Amazon for Kindle, Barnes & Noble for Nook, Fictionwise, Smashwords and All Romance Ebooks
December 1, 2011
Update on Tracy's Books and WIPs
Alien Salvation (Clans of Kalquor 4): Still the number one bestseller on my publisher's list! Thanks everyone. It should be available for Kindle and Nook around the middle of January.
Netherworld: Drop Dead Sexy: The first of this new series is scheduled for January release.
Alien Slave (Clans of Kalquor 5): Under contract, not scheduled for release yet.
The Phucket List: Still working on the first draft.
Netherworld II: Blood Potion No. 9: Well into the second draft. I'm thinking it will be off to the proofreader in January.
Alien Interludes (Clans of Kalquor anthology): First drafts of four finished. Originally planned six stories, now it's up to seven.
The Font: Working on first draft.
Netherworld III: Once Bitten Twice Dead: Being outlined.
Alien Redemption (Clans of Kalquor 6): Creating characters with all of you! We're halfway finished with Imdiko Conyod.
Netherworld: Drop Dead Sexy: The first of this new series is scheduled for January release.
Alien Slave (Clans of Kalquor 5): Under contract, not scheduled for release yet.
The Phucket List: Still working on the first draft.
Netherworld II: Blood Potion No. 9: Well into the second draft. I'm thinking it will be off to the proofreader in January.
Alien Interludes (Clans of Kalquor anthology): First drafts of four finished. Originally planned six stories, now it's up to seven.
The Font: Working on first draft.
Netherworld III: Once Bitten Twice Dead: Being outlined.
Alien Redemption (Clans of Kalquor 6): Creating characters with all of you! We're halfway finished with Imdiko Conyod.
November 30, 2011
WIP Wednesday - Alien Slave, Clans of Kalquor 5
When your heart has been broken because someone pushed you aside for another, it's going to rattle your self-esteem for a period of time. Some of us take such knocks a little harder than others.
Alien Slave features a Kalquorian who is still suffering the sting of rejection after many years. Yes, one of those accomplished aliens has trust issues. In his youth, Krijero was unceremoniously dumped for another Imdiko by the Dramok he had every indication would clan him. His current clanmates are still dealing with the fallout:
Gelan exchanged a look with Wynhod. The Nobek put his handheld down and wrapped himself around Krijero once more. His fierce nature was masked as he stroked the Imdiko's tousled hair like a mother calming a nightmare-inflicted child.
Gelan also pulled closer to his clanmate. "She'll be an interesting challenge for your skills," he encouraged.
Krijero refused to look at him. "I'm a criminal psychologist. I analyze law breakers. I don't fix traumatized Mataras."
Of course Wynhod cut right to the chase. "And you're afraid of getting your heart broken again. Admit that's your biggest objection." Despite his harsh words, his tone remained gentle, his touch soothing.
Krijero cringed anyway and didn't answer. Gelan's rage for the pain his Imdiko continued to feel over the past … over the way his trust had been trampled on … woke anew.
The Dramok growled, "I swear if I ever meet that man, I'll pound him senseless for clanning another Imdiko. He was a fool to give you up."
Krijero sighed. "It doesn't matter now."
"It shouldn't, but you're still hurting after all this time. There's no reason to think you're unworthy, Krijero. We didn't reject you, did we?"
Wynhod snorted laughter. "Reject him? We were the ones chasing him for years."
Krijero finally found a smile. "Yes, you did."
"You made us work for it too, damn reluctant Imdiko." Wynhod hugged him close, and Krijero eased up.
Alien Slave features a Kalquorian who is still suffering the sting of rejection after many years. Yes, one of those accomplished aliens has trust issues. In his youth, Krijero was unceremoniously dumped for another Imdiko by the Dramok he had every indication would clan him. His current clanmates are still dealing with the fallout:
Gelan exchanged a look with Wynhod. The Nobek put his handheld down and wrapped himself around Krijero once more. His fierce nature was masked as he stroked the Imdiko's tousled hair like a mother calming a nightmare-inflicted child.
Gelan also pulled closer to his clanmate. "She'll be an interesting challenge for your skills," he encouraged.
Krijero refused to look at him. "I'm a criminal psychologist. I analyze law breakers. I don't fix traumatized Mataras."
Of course Wynhod cut right to the chase. "And you're afraid of getting your heart broken again. Admit that's your biggest objection." Despite his harsh words, his tone remained gentle, his touch soothing.
Krijero cringed anyway and didn't answer. Gelan's rage for the pain his Imdiko continued to feel over the past … over the way his trust had been trampled on … woke anew.
The Dramok growled, "I swear if I ever meet that man, I'll pound him senseless for clanning another Imdiko. He was a fool to give you up."
Krijero sighed. "It doesn't matter now."
"It shouldn't, but you're still hurting after all this time. There's no reason to think you're unworthy, Krijero. We didn't reject you, did we?"
Wynhod snorted laughter. "Reject him? We were the ones chasing him for years."
Krijero finally found a smile. "Yes, you did."
"You made us work for it too, damn reluctant Imdiko." Wynhod hugged him close, and Krijero eased up.
Last Day to Vote for TRR's Best Erotica
Alien Conquest and Unholy Union are up for The Romance Reviews 2011's Best Erotica in two categories, along with many other terrific books. This is your last chance to give some hardworking authors bragging rights! http://www.theromancereviews.com/bookvote.php
November 29, 2011
Tutorial Tuesday - To the Market: Your Audience
Okay, either your book has been snapped up by a publisher, or you're self-publishing. Or perhaps you still haven't landed that contract. No matter where you are as far as the public offering of your work, it's never too early to think about promoting and marketing.
And guess who just happens to have worked in professional advertising and marketing for several years? That's right, yours truly. Granted, I don't have all the answers, but I have a few ideas. And they don't all cost an arm and a leg. Some are free. Some are definitely off the beaten path. We'll start with the basic questions to start you on your way.
1. Identify your audience.
Who are you writing for? You need to have as clear a picture of your readers as possible. Start with the broadest picture. Early on I identified my erotic readership as mostly straight women, aged 18 and up, married and single. They would be into science fiction and supernatural books and movies. They would be open minded in their religious views and possess a great sense of humor. Their tastes, or at least fantasies, in sex would range from experimental to downright kinky.
You will probably be surprised to find exactly who comprises your audience as your readership grows. I wasn't terribly startled to gain a substantial gay male following. After all, the Clans of Kalquor series features multiple men who are bisexual. Though because of my publisher's dictates my books don't delve too far into M/M encounters, there's enough there to titillate. The shock came from discovering how many straight men were reading my books. It's not a huge number, but it's enough for me to take notice. While my efforts at marketing remain geared towards women for the most part, I do keep the rest of my audience in mind.
2. Identify where your audience is
You need to go where your potential readers are. Sure, it's great to join an authors group or friend a bunch of fellow writers on Facebook, but these aren't the bulk of your customers. These are more peers than audience.
As an example on where to find your readers, look at the characteristics I identified for mine. I would probably be looking to connect with women who are into everything from Star Trek to Anne Rice to the Trueblood series to Fetlife, along with fans of novels similar to mine. Be open to joining fanclubs where your bookworms would congregate so you can mingle and make connections.
One of the off-the-wall places I found potential readers was in a game. At one time, I was a Vampire Wars addict, the Zynga game you can play via Facebook and Myspace. For those of you who haven't been sucked into the black hole that is this online time eater, let me bring you up to speed. Vampire Wars involves leveling up via accomplishing missions and beating up other vampires. To play effectively, you need to have at least 501 fellow players in your 'clan'. And it also features a live chat board, where you can talk to other players. The people who play VW and engage on the board tend to be flirtatious and don't mind crude jokes. When I signed Alien Embrace, I found it was an instant venue for discussing my work. Now please note I was careful not to make VW my personal advertising forum, simply telling known friends online the high points of the process as Alien Embrace traveled the path to publication. If the others among my clan saw my posts, so much the better. When I found my fellow players were visiting my FB page to keep up on how everything was going in my literary pursuits, I cut down on the VW platform even more, finally phasing it out altogether. I thus managed to not cross the line from promotion into haranguing, which would have resulted in a backlash.
It seems that for every subject one might write about, there's a forum out there. Spend some time examining all outlets that your writing might appeal to. While it may seem a bit calculating to join groups simply because you want to get the word out about your book, remember that after publication, your writing moves from pure art to product that needs to be moved. You are now all about business if you wish to score sales.
3. Be a Guest
Just because hobnobbing with other authors doesn't necessarily yield high sales doesn't mean you should ignore them. No, absolutely cultivate those relationships, especially those who write works similar to yours. Whether they germinate into genuine friendships or not, you need other authors. Why? Because their readers can become your readers as well.
I love it when I'm invited to guest blog or interview with another author. This is free exposure to readers who aren't familiar with my work, especially if my host allows me to post an excerpt of my latest book. And this isn't a one-way street. My readers go over to the other author's site to see what I might be saying, giving that fellow writer exposure and perhaps allowing them to snag some of my readers. When I'm invited to guest on another's site or blog, I always reciprocate, giving them another chance to invite my readers to check out their work (and drawing their readers to my blog). It's a win-win situation for all concerned.
I'll discuss marketing via blogs in more depth on a future tutorial.
4. Paying for Promotion
There is of course paid advertising, which is a valid way of marketing your work. However I have yet to do it myself for my writing, which proves you don't have to pay to be a bestseller. Still, you may elect to give this a shot.
If you're going to take out an ad, make sure you're doing it right. This means going back to points one and two above: know who your audience is and where they are. A great deal on an ad in a magazine or on a site that doesn't attract people who would enjoy your writing is lost money. For erotica, you're better off spending extra bucks at a site with a lot of erotica reader traffic. All Romance E-books comes to mind, as does Romantic Times Magazine. Research on your own what they have and see what fits your budget. Look at how the ads they post look like and which ones get your attention. Tailor yours to match. Once the ad comes out, see if your sales seem to be affected. If not, that doesn't necessarily mean buying ad space was a bad idea; it may simply have to do with the content, look, and placement. And remember, the nicest thing about paid ads is the tax write-off, so make sure you keep track of that.
This is only the tip of the marketing and promotional iceberg. I'll be touching on this subject again (and again), because the opportunities to get your work in the public eye are so vast. Until then, get your name out there and start making those connections.
And guess who just happens to have worked in professional advertising and marketing for several years? That's right, yours truly. Granted, I don't have all the answers, but I have a few ideas. And they don't all cost an arm and a leg. Some are free. Some are definitely off the beaten path. We'll start with the basic questions to start you on your way.
1. Identify your audience.
Who are you writing for? You need to have as clear a picture of your readers as possible. Start with the broadest picture. Early on I identified my erotic readership as mostly straight women, aged 18 and up, married and single. They would be into science fiction and supernatural books and movies. They would be open minded in their religious views and possess a great sense of humor. Their tastes, or at least fantasies, in sex would range from experimental to downright kinky.
You will probably be surprised to find exactly who comprises your audience as your readership grows. I wasn't terribly startled to gain a substantial gay male following. After all, the Clans of Kalquor series features multiple men who are bisexual. Though because of my publisher's dictates my books don't delve too far into M/M encounters, there's enough there to titillate. The shock came from discovering how many straight men were reading my books. It's not a huge number, but it's enough for me to take notice. While my efforts at marketing remain geared towards women for the most part, I do keep the rest of my audience in mind.
2. Identify where your audience is
You need to go where your potential readers are. Sure, it's great to join an authors group or friend a bunch of fellow writers on Facebook, but these aren't the bulk of your customers. These are more peers than audience.
As an example on where to find your readers, look at the characteristics I identified for mine. I would probably be looking to connect with women who are into everything from Star Trek to Anne Rice to the Trueblood series to Fetlife, along with fans of novels similar to mine. Be open to joining fanclubs where your bookworms would congregate so you can mingle and make connections.
One of the off-the-wall places I found potential readers was in a game. At one time, I was a Vampire Wars addict, the Zynga game you can play via Facebook and Myspace. For those of you who haven't been sucked into the black hole that is this online time eater, let me bring you up to speed. Vampire Wars involves leveling up via accomplishing missions and beating up other vampires. To play effectively, you need to have at least 501 fellow players in your 'clan'. And it also features a live chat board, where you can talk to other players. The people who play VW and engage on the board tend to be flirtatious and don't mind crude jokes. When I signed Alien Embrace, I found it was an instant venue for discussing my work. Now please note I was careful not to make VW my personal advertising forum, simply telling known friends online the high points of the process as Alien Embrace traveled the path to publication. If the others among my clan saw my posts, so much the better. When I found my fellow players were visiting my FB page to keep up on how everything was going in my literary pursuits, I cut down on the VW platform even more, finally phasing it out altogether. I thus managed to not cross the line from promotion into haranguing, which would have resulted in a backlash.
It seems that for every subject one might write about, there's a forum out there. Spend some time examining all outlets that your writing might appeal to. While it may seem a bit calculating to join groups simply because you want to get the word out about your book, remember that after publication, your writing moves from pure art to product that needs to be moved. You are now all about business if you wish to score sales.
3. Be a Guest
Just because hobnobbing with other authors doesn't necessarily yield high sales doesn't mean you should ignore them. No, absolutely cultivate those relationships, especially those who write works similar to yours. Whether they germinate into genuine friendships or not, you need other authors. Why? Because their readers can become your readers as well.
I love it when I'm invited to guest blog or interview with another author. This is free exposure to readers who aren't familiar with my work, especially if my host allows me to post an excerpt of my latest book. And this isn't a one-way street. My readers go over to the other author's site to see what I might be saying, giving that fellow writer exposure and perhaps allowing them to snag some of my readers. When I'm invited to guest on another's site or blog, I always reciprocate, giving them another chance to invite my readers to check out their work (and drawing their readers to my blog). It's a win-win situation for all concerned.
I'll discuss marketing via blogs in more depth on a future tutorial.
4. Paying for Promotion
There is of course paid advertising, which is a valid way of marketing your work. However I have yet to do it myself for my writing, which proves you don't have to pay to be a bestseller. Still, you may elect to give this a shot.
If you're going to take out an ad, make sure you're doing it right. This means going back to points one and two above: know who your audience is and where they are. A great deal on an ad in a magazine or on a site that doesn't attract people who would enjoy your writing is lost money. For erotica, you're better off spending extra bucks at a site with a lot of erotica reader traffic. All Romance E-books comes to mind, as does Romantic Times Magazine. Research on your own what they have and see what fits your budget. Look at how the ads they post look like and which ones get your attention. Tailor yours to match. Once the ad comes out, see if your sales seem to be affected. If not, that doesn't necessarily mean buying ad space was a bad idea; it may simply have to do with the content, look, and placement. And remember, the nicest thing about paid ads is the tax write-off, so make sure you keep track of that.
This is only the tip of the marketing and promotional iceberg. I'll be touching on this subject again (and again), because the opportunities to get your work in the public eye are so vast. Until then, get your name out there and start making those connections.
November 28, 2011
Monday Man Time
Not awake. Afraid I don't have anything to say. I'll let the boys do all the talking.
Have a great day everyone!
Have a great day everyone!
November 27, 2011
Six Sentence Sunday - Alien Conquest (Clans of Kalquor 3)
Nominated for Best Paranormal Erotica 2011 by The Romance Reviews! Click here to vote.
Cassidy suddenly realized that barring a miracle rescue, it was inevitable she would surrender to his clan. She would be theirs for the rest of her life, their mate, their childbearer, their Matara. She couldn't continue to hold out, not when returning to Earth meant execution, a fate she could not simply resign herself to. And especially not when her body thrilled at the clan's every touch. Not when her heart lifted at the men's every gentle word.
I don't really want to be saved anymore.
Available from New Concepts Publishing, Amazon for Kindle, Barnes & Noble for Nook, Smashwords, and All Romance E-books
November 26, 2011
Create a Kalquorian - New Poll is Up
So here's how our hunky Imdiko is shaping up: Nicely muscled, about 6 1/2 feet tall; long, wavy black hair falling to midback length, rugged manly good looks, and clean shaven. I'll take two, please.
Now we have to put together his personality. What is it about Conyod that makes him just a little less than perfect? You have four choices; pick your poison. Which of these would make you roll your eyes as he does it for the millionth time? (You know you'll forgive him...after all he's got so many good points going for him.)
Now we have to put together his personality. What is it about Conyod that makes him just a little less than perfect? You have four choices; pick your poison. Which of these would make you roll your eyes as he does it for the millionth time? (You know you'll forgive him...after all he's got so many good points going for him.)
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