Sable Jordan's Blog, page 2

Miss Cleo I Ain't...

*shout out to Blogger for running that blank post skit. Good job -_- *

Hey Peeps,

I figured I better get this over with now. Much as I hate to say it, Sake Bomb won't be out before the end of the year. Not without me suffering a serious breakdown. What can I say other than life (the "real job") got in the way.  Thought I'd have it together by now, but it just didn't happen, though not for lack of trying.

Someone's going to read the above and think I'm saying it won't be coming out ever. That's not the case. Not if, just when.  After you've typed 150,000 words of a book, you better believe you're gonna release it! And THERE'S A BOOK 4 coming! (so I HAVE to release Sake Bomb) 

While I'm at it, let me address something else that seems to keep cropping up, be it via e-mail or FB message or carrier pigeon. People want to know how many books there will be. It's hard to say, but I never once said this would be a trilogy (I read that somewhere and thought, hm, that's interesting).  How's this: when I come to the end, I'll stop.

2013 is going to be different. I usually don't do resolutions, but I AM going to say what I won't do in the new year is predict a release date. LOL! Clairvoyance is not my strong suit...so maybe I'm more like Miss Cleo than I think ;) I also won't be pulling all nighters because I graduated college (a looooong time ago) expressly so I'd never have to do that crap again.

Anyhow, apologies for the delay (again). Thanks everyone for the support—and for those of you who know what I'm going through, for the encouragement. It kept me sane.

It's after midnight, I'm going to go eat for the first time today (yesterday? whatever...), and then drink a large vat of red. 

See you on the other side of the new year, and everyone be blessed and safe.

Hugs all around,
SJ

Got a Kindle? Lick FREE INK!

Hey, peeps!
Just wanted to let you know some of my books are now FREE through Amazon for Prime users, and there's something for everyone!
Looking for a scorching hot read?  This is the novella for you:
The Doxy's Daybook: A Friday in two Acts

Call her Roz.  All of her fans do...
Follow along with Rosalyn Patrice Hayes, a professional doxy.  She's more than an actress, she's "a permanent affair." Every day, this southern-born beauty stars in a play she's also written and produced for an audience that doubles as co-star.  It's a performance showing on a stage way off Broadway, the grandest stage of all—the hustle and bustle of life in New York.  Told in 1st person, from the time the curtains go up until  they go down you'll find yourself mesmerized by each deliciously naughty act.  



Short on time and want your steam with a dash of funny? This quick read is right up your alley!
If it isn't Love...?
College students Zaria and Derek are in love. Well, Zaria's in love; Derek's in "ditto". And when he says as much in the middle of things getting hot and heavy, an upset Zaria sends her clueless boyfriend on a store run for the one thing a guy would rather die before buying—pads. The thought alone mortifies Derek, but he'll do anything for his girl.  Will a chance encounter with a stranger make Derek realize his mistake? And can Zaria figure out a suitable reward for a lesson learned? It's episode number 1 of the College Experience; Class is in session.



Maybe you want a dose of the gods behaving badly.  You'll definitely enjoy this fresh new myth:
Eros Fell

Eros, god of love, has always been depicted as pure; the innocent, chubby-faced cherub slapped on today's Valentine's Day cards.  Ever wonder how he got that way? Well, I'll tell you—he fell.
And he wasn't alone.
It's a secret they don't want you to know about, because if you did, you'd never look at Love the same again.  You want to know?  Promise not to tell?  Okay, I'll whisper it to you.  See, it was Eros who bit the apple....


 * * * * BONUS * * * *
Want a taste of the high life?  Pick up this AMAZON EXCLUSIVE, also Free through the  Prime program.  
The Price of Perfection
Vanessa Dupree has everything everyone thinks she could want—the man, the Maybach, the millions. Happiness? Well.... Now, she's found herself in a hotel lounge in Miami, celebrating at her pre-divorce party—alone. By the look of the hot young bartender, she won't stay that way for long. As the saying goes, “There’s always something you got to give up, to get everything you want.”  But what exactly is the price of perfection?




All four of these great stories are Fire!  But they won't be FREE forever! Go get your copy now and don't forget to tell a friend to tell a friend to tell a friend :)
Thanks for Licking,
SJ

Hardest Thing I've Had To Do,

...apparently, has been writing this blog post. *insert ominous music*. I've started it about 6 different times, sheesh! This really is difficult. But I'll spare you the dramatics and come out and say what I need to say now.  Sake Bomb is being pushed back.

EEP!  Reading that makes it real, and that's a little scary for me.  We'll discuss my neuroses later (we won't), but here're the deets.

I'd originally planned a release date for July of this year, the 23rd to be exact, although only a handful of people were privy to that knowledge prior to this moment.  (Those people—a good friend who doubles as editor, and two other friends who do some beta-ing for me—don't know I'm writing this post, either.  Trust me if they knew there'd be a looooong discussion, and I'm not up for it right now.  I'll get it when this goes live tomorrow.)  So, anyhow, the reason behind the postponement is simple: It's not ready.

Don't confuse that with "It's not done".  It's been done.  Was done back in February and I was tempted to let it fly in March.  The problem, you ask? I'm not satisfied.  You don't want to see me unsatisfied...you won't like me when I'm unsatisified!

There's a feeling you get when you know it's right, other authors feel free to chime in here.  I like Sake Bomb,  believe me.  Like the characters, like the plot.  The words are there and saying what I want to be said.  Just something's not...right.  I could put it out now and be okay with it, but I want more than okay.  I want satisfied.  Toe-curling, limb-quivering, sticky wet mess satisfied. :)

These characters live in my head every day, rouse me from sleep, interrupt phone calls.  Hell, I think about them in the middle of work, and being that I work as a massage therapist it's awkward having to explain to your client why you've been working on the same shoulder for the past 10 minutes and mumbling to yourself.  (That really happened. And I said "Oh, there's a knot here".  There was no knot...*shrugs*)  I want to do right by them in this book, so that in the next—yes, for those of you wondering if this ends the "series" or "serial" or whatever else you want to call it, there is a next book—everybody understands where things are going and why.  I'm growing along with Kizzie, and we're both trying to figure out Xander, and we all know Doms can be asses sometimes. LOL! So, yeah, I want this to be done right.

"Pushed back to when, then?" July 24th? August?  Dunno.  All I can tell you is it'll be out when it's right. Might lose a few readers, might piss people off, but that's the chance I'll take.  For those sticking around, I thank you sooooo much for your support (and e-mails and encouraging words).  They're actually what has convinced me to pause, step away from the story a bit, and then put it out when it's where it needs to be.  That's why I've been absent from this blog, and Facebook and Twitter.  You want a great story, and I want to give it to you. You've stuck in through the cliffhangers even if you hated them.  You deserve my best and that's what you'll get.

Soon as I'm satisfied.


Sable J

Back in the hot seat: Michele Hope!

 As stars glitter above the Ozarks and a grand old hotel, opportunities can avail in the least expected of places.  Yet for the skilled and gifted, so much can be made from a graceful bend at the waist, a suggestive touch or an alluring smile.  The ghost of Al Capone haunts floors of grandeur and our handsome escapees from a tropical storm ply their skills to an unsuspecting young lifeguard.  And does he ever . . . become the fortunate beneficiary of lace, rum and a midnight dip...

* * * *
Can't you just see it? Sounds downright intriguing, huh? Well, ladies and gents, that is the setup for Michele Hope's latest release, Vantage Points!  And the stunning, multitalented Michele has been kind enough to come and grace the Parlor with her presence again today. (If you missed her last visit, go here!)  All right—*fire's up the tattoo machine*—let's drop some INK!

Sable: Hey, Michele! Welcome back to the Parlor. Okay, Al Capone's ghost, an old hotel, and a young lifeguard?  *lifts brow* Tell us about your hot new book, Vantage Points.
Michele: Well, whatever made you ask me about THAT?  Just a naughty little southern tale (or is that tail?) set at a grand hotel.
Sable: Definitely "tail", and definitely naughty *grins*.  So, what's the inspiration behind this tale?
Michele: Michael and I love staying at old hotels. The Eola in Natchez, the Place d'Armes in New Orleans, The Battle House in Mobile is to die for!  The Arlington in Hot Springs is a place where gangsters used to hang out (or hide).  Not too much law & order back then.  We go every summer.  I do love the rack of lamb at the Fountain Room!  They also have a split-level pool built into the mountainside.  If you use your imagination, lose yourself and the vacationers, it just seemed a natural setting for a dangerously handsome couple to live out some dangerously sexy moments.  I AM and imaginative girl Sable!
Sable: That you are, my dear, and with the background on some of those places, well, if only the walls could talk....  What's your favorite line or scene from VP ?
Michele: Hmm . . . lemme think.  Oh jeez, now I'm gonna have to read it again.  I'll be right back.  Okay, I'm back.  Quick read if you were there.  I mean, uh . . . if you wrote it!  HAAA!!!  Whew!  I think I'm glowing.  I suppose it would be, and since I'm all about the seduction, the opening scene at the pool where my pretty belle plies her charm to an unsuspecting lifeguard.  And with such conspiratorial innocence too.  They're all making waves soon enough.
Sable: Last time you stopped by, we were talking about your other book, Service Rendered.  Do you think your writing has changed in any way since then?
Michele: Oh, I don't know, likely not.  With Service Rendered, I wrote in 1st person and that was new.  I like that it's more introspective and easier to avoid those wore out pronouns.  You know, "He . . . ." and "she . . . ." then some more "he and she" until some of the stuff just bores me.  It seems to be just bad writing, poor sentence structure. Don't forget, Michael is an integral part of all this.  He's very accomplished at description and setting.  And pretty damn handy to have around *looks up and winks at Sable*  He's real good with chainsaw and baitin' a hook!
Sable: Y'know what they say: Behind every good woman is a man with a chainsaw :) Now I know ya'll like to take it nice and easy on that pretty bayou of yours, but what's next on your To-Be-Written list and when can we expect it? (I'm a city girl, and therefore an impatient li'l cuss, or so my Nana says.)
Michele: I have another book to be released early in May, "Unselfishly Surrendered."  More way down South setting but with witches and absinthe!  I guess it might cross-over into paranormal but sometimes 'paranormal' seems fairly normal around here.  We have an old witch living down the bayou, I've only seen her once and she didn't wave back.  Michael has cautioned me about going and looking for that sort of thing.  He said, "If you go lookin' for the Devil, chere, well, he'll find you first!  So just let it alone."  I have seen, how should I say, some unexplainable things here in this mystical place.  Voodoo!  But I can't imagine writing or living anywhere else.  Oh . . . did I say anything about the SEX?  Evidently, witches have it too!
Sable:  "...lookin' for the Devil..."—That's why Michael's go that chainsaw! LOL! Now, most of us in the writing clan have multiple business endeavors and I know you're no different, Michele.  Tell us about your (and Michael's *rawr*) other creative inventions.   
Michele: I have to tell you about these amazing and beautiful handmade leather journals we're putting together.  Hand stitched, heavy printing papers, original artwork. Very cool stuff if I say so myself.  Okay, okay, actually Michael makes them but I HELP!  We'll be going public with them soon so be lookin' for 'em.  New South Books.  You always get a heads-up on what we're doing.  No writer should be without one.  What was the question?  I forgot.  Oh yeah, business. Business?  Sable, I'm busy fishin'!  In closing, my southern manners would fail me if I didn't invite you to join us here sur le bayou.  Sweet tea darlin?  Pimms Cup?  I happen to know a very good server.  HA!  BienvenueSable, à tout moment .

Sable: Those are absolutely gorgeous.  Nothing like a handmade journal to hold all your little secrets.... Merci, Michele, and a Pimm's Cup from that server, please! And now, un petit lécher (a little lick) from Vantage Points...

As we stand waist deep in the pool's middle, a relaxed demeanor among us permits easy bantering.  The clouds  race above in an uncontested advance from the Gulf.  In their hurry, they remain ambivalent to the hands placed on my hips, a proffered kiss to the back my shoulder.  Experience tells me my man's eyes are cut to Eric, who stands directly in front of us, merely feet away.  I feel those strong hands then the unmistakable caress I'm so familiar with.   One hand traces slowly to my waist, the other gathering my hair from my shoulders.  More kisses follow, delicacies to my nape.  In accord, another hand moves from my waist to just beneath my breast, cupping me softly.  Now, both palms are moving uniformly around the volume of my curves, lingering moments in full but soft clutch.  My nipples tauten, the aching ever so pleasant.  I feel them strain against the bikini's light fabric.  Before closing my eyes, I see my lifeguard watching the unlikely stagecraft playing out in his presence.              Bliss is unaccounted for in time.  Realizing I've lost myself for a moment, my eyes open and I look directly into Eric's.   Unlike the clouds, he is observant and very still, mesmerized by this improbable, slow-motion scene.   My husband's hands move with practiced expertise to the straps, slowly releasing them from my shoulders.  I feel them surrender, falling to my arms.  The down on neck rises as the little fastener in back is freed and my top tumbles gently away, fully revealing nipples that point skyward, stiffened and drawing even tighter.  Oh the agony!  Full of drama, I feel the weight of my breasts settle and at the same instant, I feel the compelling and defining bulge of my husband from behind.              I look at Eric, incredulous and indulge the moment, allowing for his full consumption before taking a deep breath to hold.  I glide straight downward into the shallows depths, the fleeting touch of my husband's fingertips following on the backs of my arms.  I imagine the bikini top floating on the surface in a vortex of tangled hair.   With smooth precision and elegance of movement, I extend my hand backward in the submersion,  finding the considerable authority beneath my husband's Bahaman shorts.              Springing from the concrete bottom, I jettison across the pool, never surfacing until I reach the side.  Then rising above the water's level, I discover no indication of a wake, my getaway so flawless.   I bring my hands up and push water from my face, clearing my eyes.  My breasts are buoyant just above the water line, floating, freed of restraint and gravity.  From across the pool, I become witness to my admirers, one possessed of extreme confidence, the other, stunned like a goat!  I hear but one voice, influence in its strength as it is calming in its certainty.  "Perfect isn't she?" * * * *
Sable:  WHOA!  I love the spicy licks :) I want to thank Michele for dropping in today, and you readers for swinging by.  Make sure you leave her some love down there in the comments and then go out there and grab your copy of Vantage Points for just $2.99 NOW! 
AmazonBNAllRomanceBookStrand

Ain't No Rest for the Wicked...

Well, folks, time to relace the Timbs, pull on your hoodie and get back in the trenches. 



According to a recent article by Selena Kitt on TheSelfPublishingRevolution, the week-old PayPal reversal hasn't quite trickled down to the company's Customer Service reps.  So, while in digital ink PayPal has said it's okay for us wicked erotica writers to continue providing the obscene material guaranteed to hold our reservations in hell, they haven't actually allowed for payment processing of those "icky"titles that depict rape, bestiality and incest (pseudo, psycho, or psotherwise).  In fact, these things are still "Banned". *Dun, dun, DUUUUUUNNNN*
And it's not just PayPal.  Visa and MasterCard came out in what appeared to be the defense of the legally erotic, stating they were not responsible for PayPal's original shenanigans, but they, too, have yet to allow payment processing for the aforementioned ickyness.  Add to that Amazon's filtering of erotic titles out of the main search pages, and where does that leave us? Back at square one. (Selena does a fantastic job with the details, so hop on over to her article and give it a read.)
Now, I'm hoping Selena is right in that this is simply a matter of these companies (PayPal, MasterCard, and Visa) being so large the memo that reads KEEP PROCESSING "ICK" just hasn't made its rounds.  But my e-mail seems to work pretty damn fast, and I use yahoo, soooo.... *shrugs*
This is all so very exhausting, isn't it? Over a bunch of cleverly strung together words?  Valery was right: Books have the same enemies as people: fire, humidity, animals, weather, and their own content.  I'm not sure what the agenda is here, but there is clearly an agenda. And if you think otherwise, you should probably know you can get 15% off your auto insurance by switching to Geico.  Bottom line: we might very well be back to the letter writing and bra burning.
It's not fair.  We should be pursuing more creative endeavors and instead have to fight the stupids.  I swear I'm gonna buy stock in stupid.  It's the only thing guaranteed to increase exponentially every year.  *sigh* But fight we must.  So if that's the case and the smell of burned elastic is in the air, there's something I want all of you writers and readers to think about.  Not the "C" word, because last time that got everyone way off topic and into a battle of definition that detracted from the issue.  Rather, think about what the moves by these corporations managed to do the first time. Truth is, they caused a rift in the writing community, made us turn on ourselves.  
Many a writer chimed in with whether or not they agreed with what PayPal was doing when it decided to enforce its ban on certain "extreme" and "obscene" erotica.  And instead of us reasonably sane people (in spite of talking to the voices in our heads) looking at the issue objectively—Corporations are making it damn-near impossible for a certain type of fiction to earn income.  They're also, in effect, dictating what I can and can't do with my money—we allowed our opinions to cloud the facts—Well, I don't write that crap, and I don't read that crap, and anyone who does should burn in hell!!! (Purple curtains in my suite, thanks...)   We started deciding who the moral were among us, and anyone not INKing things socially acceptable was shoved under the bus.  We made the jobs of those trying to shut us up much easier.  Divide and conquer.
I'm by no means saying you shouldn't have an opinion.  What I'm asking is that you don't succumb to the knee-jerk reaction of "This doesn't apply to me so I don't care what PayPal or Amazon or whoever does".  Or, the bullshit reaction of "X is a company and has a right to do whatever yadda, yadda, yadda". These corporations, the same ones that are willing to hang on to the money you've earned conducting a legal transaction, must be held accountable.  Because whether I write rape, bestiality, or incest-themed books is completely irrelevant.  
I write. 
Fiction. 
Period. 
Once I decide it's okay for corporations to treat a certain group of fiction writers in an altogether unfair manner, I leave myself open to the same type of isolation. In fact, I invite it, because if they can infringe on one, they'll infringe on us all.  Inches and miles.  And no, I'm not screaming the sky is falling, I'm merely pointing out the ground and clouds seem to be getting closer together...
Chances are good I'm going to write something that offends someone's delicate sensibilities at one time or another.  Lord knows I say enough things to warrant an ungodly amount of soap in my mouth.  And sometimes things other people write irk me.  Case in point, I just finished reading a book (a really good book) that had the copious use of a racial slur I don't particularly care for.  if I were thinner skinned it might have offended me, but did I think the writer absolutely needed to include it? No. Did it add to the value of the book? Let's see...contemporary adventure mystery with a romantic bent...In my opinion, no.  But do I think she had the right to use it? Damn straight.  She was building a character.  She felt this was something that character would say, just as there were things she felt that character would do that I wouldn't necessarily agree with. But it's fiction.
In the same respect, the rape of a character (whether it "titillates" or not) is not the same as someone committing such a heinous act in the realm of reality.  I'm not a werewolf (in case you're not paying attention), but werewolves get it on, right? 'Cause really, no storks are delivering werewolf cubs to a clan of full-grown man-dogs.  Who am I to say they must fornicate while in human form so as not to be deemed "obscene"?  Never mind the fact that humans are in the animal kingdom (we sure as shit ain't plants) with an allegedly higher degree of encephalization, so, really, any form of human-on-human sex is technically bestiality. Nah, we won't get into that.  That might make your head explode. And, while this is a repeat, humans used to believe the purer the blood the better, so incest wasn't always so taboo. What society frowns upon today was at one time the norm.  
I just want you to think about these thing. Objectively.  Treat it like Twilight and suspend your belief long enough to not cringe at the glittering vampire with the diamond skin standing in the sunlight and not burning to a crisp, and look at these "fringe" books for what they really are: a temporary escape from reality.  They're not real. They don't hurt anybody.  But what they do is provide creatively inclined people just like you to earn a living and support themselves and their families in a legal and safe manner.  Now, lace up your Timbs, strap on your riot gear, and prepare to fight with those of us on the dark side. 
"'Cause there ain't no rest for the wicked. ...Until we close our eyes for good."

But, PayPal, I thought we were friends…

I mean, seriously, it's right there in your name!  For those of you who haven't thefoggiest what I'm talking about, I'll streamline it for you as only Sable J can.*wink*
PayPal recently dusted off its TOS (or inked in a new line,you be the judge) and said, "Holy strawberries, Batman! Are we ever in a jam!We've been accepting and processing payments for people that sell *gasp* erotica?  For *gulp* years?This simply won't do! We must rectifythis posthaste!"
So, out went the PayPalettes, zipping off form letter after form letter toindie ebook distributors, like BookStrand and ARE, and to indie publishers whosell directly from their sites, like the super awesome excessica.com *insert stadium applause*.  And what was in that letter? It wasn'tan, "Our bad, we didn't know we were processing payments for your filthy-mindedwriters". Nooo, it was much more robotic: "Boop—Thisis the PayPal-o-matic 9500. You are not in compliance with rule 5,760a thatwe've never enforced before.  Inorder to get in compliance with rule 5,760a, you must immediately remove alltitles containing themes that discuss or hint at rape, bestiality, incest andpseudo-incest.  You have 30 days tofix this situation or we close your account and keep your money.  End transmission…boop."  Mind you, thisincludes BDSM, which is a specific brand of mind-fuck that could totallyinclude all of the above at once if the author's crafty enough.
Well, the saying "shit rolls downhill" ain't a saying fornothin'! Soon after, BookStrand and ARE scrambled to comply; the former terminating the accounts of a number of indieauthors and threatening to terminate the accounts of indie publishers as wellif those disgusting books weren't removed, the latter asking authors to filtertheir works into newly defined categories of Erotica and Erotic Romance.(It should be noted ARE claims they were never contacted by PayPal, but ifeveryone else has been, I'd think they were too). That last bit about thecategories doesn't seem so bad, now does it?  However, if you consider the ARE policy change just so happened to coincide with thePayPal crackdown, one could conclude they're gonna end up pushing those eroticatitles off a cliff.  Inshort—Serial Eroticide.
This is the abbreviated version of events to date, if youwant the full scoop, (without my brand of sarcasm) you can read it herealong with the snappy e-mail from BookStrandto Dear Author in which BS (after asking Dear Author to "Kindly get yourfacts straight") stated its publishing division, Siren, " NEVER has and NEVER will publish books with the disgusting themesof incest, pseudo incest, rape for sexual titillation, or bestiality withnaturally occurring animals."   As you can imagine that line iscomplete and utter, er, BS.
You all caught up? Perfect. Either which way, the point isPayPal is not the friend of the erotica writer.  The speculative blame is being placed on chargebacks commonin high-risk industries like porn and gambling—you know, after you've read yourbook and got your jollies, you call the credit card company and say you did not mean to make that purchase.  BTW, if you do that, may the fleas of athousand camels rise up and infest your armpits.  Anyhow, I don't think chargebacks are at the heart of thismatter, but it's a nice scapegoat...
Now, many authors are asking what's next?  We're all screaming about 1st Amendmentrights and burning our bras! (not really, bras are expensive nowadays) #OccupyPayPalis trending on twitter! (it's sooo not trending on twitter, but if it does, youknow where it started).  Censorship Killed the Erotica Writertee-shirts are flying out of stores everywhere! It's Bedlam, I tell ya!Beeeeeddddllaaaammm!!
Like everyone else, I don't know what's next.  In fact, this post isn't really supposeto be about any of that, but I had to give you some background or you'd think Iwas crazy(-er?) just jumping head first into what follows.
BDSM, rape, bestiality, incest, and pseudo-incest, definedas sex between non-biologically related people, e.g., step-dad andstep-daughter.  Some of your eyeshave glazed over and you're thinking, YUCK!GROSS! I would never read anythinglike that.  Icky, icky, icky! Towhich I cough, bullshit.  Whetheryou've read it in an erotica title like me (I'm a grown ass woman, I do what Iwant) or in a mainstream (i.e., socially acceptable) piece of work, chances areyou've read it.  The list would beexhaustive for books, but The Bluest Eyesprings to mind for the rape theme (as does the Bible, but unknot your panties,I'm not going there) and there are a lot more.  Perhaps you're a watcher.  Ever seen American Me?Platoon? Deliverance? I could go on. Or maybe you think those are depictions of rape, and not meant totitillate (which seems to be the word du jour). How about Righteous Kill—a break-in andrape scene, meant to, ahem, titillate. 
Let's move on to incest.  Scarface.  BAM! That. Just. Happened.  Yes, there's an incest theme very prevalent in this hardcore, badassgangsta flick.  Tony is secretlypining for his little sister.  Andright before she's killed, she tells her brother to fuck her.  "Come on, fuck me, Tony." (Could beparaphrased).  Not meant totitillate, but there.  "Say good'nito da bad guy…"  But WAIT! The badguy does it again in The Devil's Advocate!  There's a scene where Al's screwingCharlize (his daughter) and offers her to Keanu (his son) who, in the movie's"real life", are married. If that ain't confusing…
Okay, I'm not going into pseudo-incest, because while it mayick some people out, it ain't illegal. You're not blood related. (FYI, if not fornegative recessive gene traits presenting, and the sometimes horriblemutations, society would once again say inbreeding was quite allright. Remember, being pureblood used to be a good thing. Hello—Gladiator? "Am I not merciful!?")  And I'm not going into BDSM, becausethe range on that is huge! Really, tying a partner to a bed is bondage, andmany of you do it, so you're into BDSM, and therefore cannot use PayPal… Comply,dammit!
Bestiality was a hard one for me, and I actually had to turnto the web to find something (scary, I knew the others off the top of my head.Hm…) And after sifting through the infamous "farm-girl screws horse" videos, Icame upon Sleeping Dogs Lie. I'venever seen the film, you'll have to investigate further, this is merely a pointof illustration. 
See, as a society we've been quite all right with slippingthese "disgusting" themes into our movies and calling it art.  We've watched a guy stick his dick intoapple pie and laughed, for the love of all things yellow! And PayPal has no problemprocessing an eBay purchase for the sale of any of the aforementioned movietitles, or video games for that matter. Why is erotica different? Well-written erotica is not, I repeat, NOT porn.  Don't believe me, read my older post.  Yes, there are authors out therepushing the limit when it comes to sex, but since when did we lose our abilityto choose? You don't have to buy or read things you don't want to, same way youdon't have to watch movies you don't like, or smoke a joint, or drink, or dance,or…or…or. I'm a big wuss when itcomes to horror.  Wouldn't I be anidiot to go watch Paranormal Activity,scare myself witless, and then demandthat everyone else be prevented from watching it too?  Not choosing to read an erotica title with a theme you'renot okay with does not make you a prude, it makes you a friggin' adult! 
But that's what this PayPal shakedown feels like—a handfulof people decided they didn't like what was being sold on Amazon (or BN, orwherever).  Having already tried tobring down the naughty list on Amazon and only getting marginal results withthe whole censorship business, they went for the pockets. How are these small companies (authors) being paid? PayPal.  Well, let's take it straight to PayPal.  And PayPal, not bothering to do itshomework, decided it needed to cover its ass by hacking off its nose, making analready hideous face even more so. Spite away, PP.
Now, back to what this means for you, Average Natasha,writing edgy romantic suspense that does not talk directly about all the funbits of the human body but does involve hot kisses, heavy petting, and alludesto more horizontal levels of intimacy? It means you're next.  But..but, why? My characters have thedecency to do it off-screen! My books aren't nasty!  Says who?  PayPal? Isn't that an adult theme?  What if one of your characters being raped is integral tothe plot of the story? In most novels, the sex and sexual tension between twocharacters pushes a story along. Do you take out the scene so you are incompliance with the PayPal or BS or ARE TOS?  Aren't you then censoring yourself?
And, you, Average Dominic, writing fast-paced conspiracieswith lots of murder and government cover-ups.  Get in line, because once they figure out how to stop uspervy erotica writers from writing altogether, and convince Natasha to not haveher hero and heroine kiss or touch and walk around in hermetically sealed bagsto prevent the transfer of bodily fluids including-but-not-limited-to semen,saliva, and sweat, you can bet your ass your days of killing characters bymeans of gun, knife, hardback book, credit card, or any other object that couldpossibly cause harm are good and over. 
You're laughing. You think I'm just rambling and that thisis all a tad over-exaggerated. It's not.  Remember earlierI said shit rolls downhill?  Well,we're in the same cart, and eventually it'll get on us all.  Whether you're an indie author writingabout your character's struggle with life on the streets, or your charactersare doing things frowned upon in a made-up world in a time and place we can'teven fathom seeing—we are none of us immune.
What to do about it?
First, let me reiterate, we are in this together.   That means staying informed on this issue and discussing thematter will be key.  You can followTheSelfPublishingRevolution.blogspot.comfor more detailed info. 
Next, there's a petitioncirculating to stop internet censorship. If you agree with it, signit.  And tell a friend to sign it, too.   
Some are calling for a boycott of these big corporationslike Amazon, BN, PayPal. People tend to understand things when they get hit inthe wallet. This might be an option, and may include figuring out where torelocate your titles or how else to get paid for your work.  Again, all of that is still up in theair at the moment.  But do NOT letthis issue die.  Share it with yourfriends on Facebook or Twitter or pick up a phone and call! Send snail mail ifyou must, but let's continue to get the word out that these unfair practicesagainst all creatively inclinedpeople will not be tolerated.
That's my dollar's worth. Go spend it.

Eros Fell...

Hiya, folks!

It's been a minute, I know. Life seems to keep getting in the way, and I'd rather be writing. But I'm back—at least for now— and thought I'd let ya all know about the newest little morsel, Eros Fell.

Want some background? Well, whether you do or not, you're here so I'm gonna tell you. (OMG, seriously, it's like 2am as I'm prepping this and my dog's going batshit! What the...? Sorry, tangent...)

Background about this story—I had no intention of writing this, but as always seems to be the case, I was working on another Valentine's Day story (Saint Heartbreak, coming soon) and it sooo needed this background info and I decided, this story had to be in a book by its onesies. So, there, that's how Eros Fell came about.

Now, the deets you're really interested in, and a little lick.  Read on!

Title: Eros Fell
Publisher: Fresh Whet INK
Word Count: 13205 (this is a short, and if I read a review about how you didn't know the length, there will be pudding! *snerk*)
Price: $1.99 (Makes a great V-day gift! Better than a stuffed teddy bear, IMO)

Blurb:   Eros, god of love, has always been depicted as pure; the innocent, chubby-faced cherub slapped on today's Valentine's Day cards.  Ever wonder how he got that way? Well,I'll tell you—he fell.

And he wasn't alone.
It's a secret they don't want you to know about, because if you did,you'd never look at Love the same again. You want to know?  Promisenot to tell?  Okay, I'll whisper itto you.  See, it was Eros who bitthe apple....

Warning: 18+ Only! This story is anuntold myth you never heard in high school, and includes graphic language, sex,and all that fun stuff between two Immortals. 


Excerpt: Eros soared over the treetops, seeking out that flash of sanguine cloth,when he set eyes on the woman donning it. The drape of her hair could never be forgotten, nor could the dark colorof her skin.  He remembered thelast time their lips met and, spurred on by their softness, he increased hispace.  The heavy gown bustled inher hands made escape on foot more difficult, and he landed before hereasily.  She paused in her retreat,a small smile playing on full lips."Aneris?" The delight in his velvety voice was mired with confused.  "Why do you flee?"A delirious laugh escaped herthroat."Are we playing a game?" he asked ina curious tone.  He couldn'tbelieve she was here, but now that he'd seen her, he was glad she was.  "Come, my sweet.  Let me hold you."He folded her in his arms, butimmediately noticed something had changed.  She was cool, no, cold,as though no heart beat in her breast. And she did not smell as he remembered, though the scent wasintoxicating all the same.  Desirestirred in his groin and, as never before, he was overcome with a primal urgeto lay with the goddess of harmony.She pushed from his hold and eyedhim seductively.  The woman lookedlike Aneris, true enough, with the same heart-shaped face and obsidian eyes,but they trembled almost imperceptibly, an erratic little shiver. Her plumpmouth, ripe and red as pomegranate seeds, parted to allow a slip of pink tongueto drag slowly across her upper lip, wetting it deliciously.He took a step back to loose himselfof her mesmeric gaze, for Harmony this was not.  "Who are you?""I'm your sweet, aren't I, Eros?" she said in a lyrical voice.  "Your beloved Aneris, returned to youat last."He shook his head.  "Anerisis with Kadmos in Elysium.  I sawthem on the Isle of the Blest with my own eyes many centuries ago.  Are you sent by Dolus?  This is a low trick, to be sure, evenfor him."  Convinced she was a merevision, he reached out and touched her hair as though he had not just held herclose or heard her speak. She felt solid enough."Poor Love.  Gullible asever," she said, exasperated.  "Iam no trick of Dolus, no shifted shape. I appear before you as I truly am.""But you wear the face of another. How is this so?"She made a tut-tut sound.  "If I told you now there'd be no funhad.  And there is plenty of fun to be had, fair Eros."He narrowed his eyes, determined tofind out who this goddess was that had aroused such desires in him.  "Tell me why you disrupt the humanswith your mischief."She shrugged her shoulders, the move pressing the rounded tops of herbreasts together in the scandalously low cut of the corset of her dress.  She did not continued until he liftedhis gaze from the sight.  "It is mynature, Eros.  As it is yours to goabout binding them with your,"—dark eyes rolled with disgust—"love.  Sticky sweet like nectar of the trees on the Mount."The ache in his groin had notyielded; her scent making his heart race. "Tell me your name, goddess, or you will have the wrath of Zeus to face,and Aphrodite, besides.""Threats of Zeus?" she gasped and pressed her hand to her breast, "Ishudder.  I'll make you a deal,Eros.  A game, if you will."Curious, he nodded for her tocontinue."You wish me to cease my meddling with these useless peasants, yes?" Shedidn't wait for his response.  "Iam perfectly willing to do so, will surrender my powers to the great and mighty Zeus himself so that I may never make mischief for youagain, permitted you excel in my challenge.  And as a bonus, I will gift you my name."He eyed her suspiciously, crossed his arms over his chest.  "What are the conditions?"A corner of her mouth ticked up. "For one-twelfth's time of Apollo's travels with the Sun, you mustprevent my apples from hitting their marks."  She held out her dainty palm, and a golden orb materializedthere.  She handed the solid fruit toEros, who studied it a moment before she plucked it back.  She tossed it in the air, caught it inher hand.  "You already know how todefeat them. Pierce them with your arrows and no catastrophe will befall asingle mortal.  Ha!" she laughed,"I even tell you how to ensure your victory.  An easy enough task, yes?"Easy? Of course it would be easy. He was Eros, god of love, gifted with both speed and accuracy whenstringing his darts and connecting with his targets.  He would effortlessly shoot her every sphere from the skyfor one human hour."And when I win," he clarified, voice deep and earnest, "I earn both yourname and your promise to never cause the mortals ill again?"She nodded, a sibylline grin on her mouth."And your oath is binding?""Binding.  Yes.""And what would you require should you win?"A shoulder lifted nonchalantly. "A simple thing, really. Nothing you will miss.""Out with it, goddess.""A kiss.  One little kiss,Eros."He eyed her warily.  "Andthat's all?""From the god of love? Morethan enough. Just remember, no other soul but me may touch the apples.  Have we a deal? "A warning blared in his head liketrumpets heralding the arrival of Dawn, yet he could not resist the tempt ofher lure.  Love would overcome thischallenge as he conquered all else, and have her name when he was through.The length of a human heartbeat passed and he'd changed from the mortalgarb into lighter attire, white wings spread wide against red robes.  "When do we begin?"The goddess morphed before him, no longer donning the heavy brocade andpetticoats of the era but instead the shimmering silk gowns denoting her aneternal being.  Her wings expanded;two raven-black appendages with a span not quite as broad as his unfurled fromher back.  Her hair twisted into along, thick braid and then looped itself around her head like a crown. Eyesturned skyward, she marked the time. "Now."* * * *
So there you have it. Eros Fell!  Get your copy NOW! And don't forget to tell a friend. Happy Valentine's Day, peeps! And thanks for #LickingMyINK
AMAZONALLROMANCEBNSMASHWORDS

What's the Price of Perfection?

About a buck.             *badum bum*
Hiya, folks and Happy Sunday!
Big things are coming down the pike this year—Kizzie and Xander are still up to no good, I'm working on a sequel to Different Shades of Gray, and my alter id, Isadora, is queing up for her first release hopefully by the end of the year. Not to mention I have 4 or 5 other titles I want to get out of my head. (All those characters + multiple plots + the general nonsense in my brain = Bedlam.) SO, I thought I'd get things started with my latest short, The Price of Perfection .
Before I get into that, I know some of you are saying, "Sable, when's Sake Bomb coming out?" (I keep getting this e-mail, along with "What happens next? You're killing me!") So I'll give you what I know—SOON. I promise.  LOL! Thanks everyone for your support of the series. I plan to do a post about some of the other questions (and anger) I've been getting with regard to the books, so check the blog again.
Okay, back to my first point, The Price of Perfection is out today *insert stadium cheering*.  It's a really quick read, but what I think is an interesting one. Available EXCLUSIVELY ON AMAZON! And if you're a Kindle Prime member, you can borrow it for FREE! K, I'll stop yammering. Here're the deets:
Title: The Price of Perfection
Publisher: eXcessica
Release date: 1/13/2012
Price: 99¢
Word Count: ~5750

Blurb : Vanessa Dupree has everything everyone thinks she could want—the man, the Maybach, the millions. Happiness? Well.... Now, she's found herself in a hotel lounge in Miami, celebrating at her pre-divorce party—alone. By the look of the hot young bartender, she won't stay that way for long. As the saying goes, "There's always something you got to give up, to get everything you want."  But what exactly is the price of perfection?
WARNING: ADULTS ONLY. Graphic language, anal sex, yadda yadda :)
Excerpt:  "Hold it, please!"someone called. He slapped thebutton to close the doors.Vanessa's giggledied in her throat when firm lips slanted insistently over hers.  She returned the unfamiliar kiss,timidly at first, relaxing into it when he pressed the length of his body tohers, trapping her against the bamboo paneling of the elevator wall.  His hands skimmed down her sides to thefitted skirt, eager fingers inching the fabric up her thighs while stillworking his tongue inside her mouth. With a bent knee he spread her legs as much as the tight material wouldallow.The warm bodymolded to hers sent shivers rushing through her.  She savored the sweet flavor of brandy on his lips, wrappedher arms around his neck to finger the silky hair at his nape.  The soft, repeated dinging in thebackground made her vaguely aware they were still in the elevator."We'll getcaught," she breathed, eyes closed as he pushed aside her moist panties. Thekisses moved to her neck, nibbling and sucking all over, their panting breathsheavy and loud in the small space. His fingers spread her labia, lazily circledher wet lips.  He grazed her clitand she moaned, bucked when his thick digits pushed into her.            "Wemight."* * * *

Yes, that was just a little lick to get the taste buds salivating. But it's just a buck—cheaper than Taco Bell without the side effects. So, ya hungry? Go forth and MASTICATE!! Hahaha.

BUT WAIT!
The Price of Perfection also appears in the Excessica Heartache anthology, which features the erotic writing of some of the finest in the genre, including the one and only Selena Kitt, Elliott Mabeuse,  D.B. Story, J.E. Taylor, Bekki Lynn, Giselle Renarde, Erin O'Riordan, G.R. Richards, J.L. Dillard, T. Harrison and Willsin Rowe.  The stories are absolutely amazing (in fact, I'm honored to have been included among them, they are soooo good), and at $4.99, it's a steal!   The product description says it all:

Erotic, romantic, poignant and wistful, this anthology collection from Excessica authors will thrill you, touch you, and stay with you. These stories dare to explore the pleasure and pain of a lover gone, the one that got away, the forbidden affair, a true love existing on borrowed time. These are tales of passionate affairs that cannot last, but they are exquisite gems while they do, and like the star that burns brightest, these stories burn fast, dazzle and smolder in the memory. 

You really don't want to miss these, and the anthology is available in multiple formats, so go grab your copy now!!
I'm off to INK, but as always, thanks for licking!
Toodles,Sable J

Welcome to my Parlor: Jessa Callaver

Hi peeps!  Hope your New Year's celebrations were a blast! I'm still a little tipsy from the wine, but it's time to get this gravy train a movin'! Let's kick off the New Year with a new author! *insert auditorium screaming* 
The first installment of the 2012 Welcome to My Parlor series features an author who, if you haven't heard of her, you need to.  Allow me to introduce you to the super talented, super sweet Jessa Callaver!!  Jessa's all set to Drip her INK so let's get this party started, K? 
* * * *
Sable: Hi Jessa! Thanks for swinging by the Parlor today. Can you tell the people a bit about yourself?
Jessa: I honestly don't know what tosay about myself. I'm Jessa Callaver, 'of age,' and have been penning shortstory fiction for about 9 months now - published my first story in April 2011.Entirely self-trained, for better or worse lol.

Sable: "Of age". *giggles* For those paying attention, that's shorthand for "Never ask a woman her age". I've used it a time or two. Ha! Let us in on the piece you've brought, Jessa.  What was the inspiration? 

The Very Thought of Him
Just 99¢!
Buy NOWJessa: Well, my latest short storyis entitled The Very Thought of Him. It's my third self-published work.Dara, the main character, is an intelligent, head-strong, single 'modern woman.'She has a career, friends, and a stable day-to-day life that just seems to bemissing something. And, like so many single women, she chooses to go onlineseeking what she's missing…seeking something more, something different thanwhat she's used to. Companionship, a connection, adventure…she doesn't reallyknow. While cruising an online tryst site, she stumbles across the profile of aguy named Kelly (I know, odd name choice), and begins to fantasize about him,but is unsure whether to pursue it. He's younger, he's a virtual stranger, andit is, of course, the Internet. The short story gives the reader a window intoDara's 'what if' scenario.
At times, I have no ideawhere the inspiration for a certain storyline comes from. I do draw things frommy own long list of 'what if' fantasies - and being the in-her-head, incurablyshy dater that I am, the list is ample. But there are definite overlaps, I'mnow seeing, between the protagonists in my stories. To begin, they're allfemale - not by accident - and that they're all on the cusp of a new experienceabout which they're curious yet unsure. It's that curiosity that inspires me,and I usually build my story around it. Around the curious yet optimisticallyadventurous and unsure female, and what, based on my own curiosities, I'd liketo see them explore or delve into in their lives. Dara was no different.
I'd wanted to write a storyabout virtual reality sexuality for a while. I know even citing the paradox ofour being a society so connected yet simultaneously disconnected is a bit clichébut…in my opinion, true all the same. And, more than just being people seekinga cheap thrill or tawdry hookup, though that's there as well, I think peopleare desperate for that connection - however they can get it. Online dating andhook-up sites are pervasive, and there are of course your more 'sanctioned'sites and then those that lie on the cusp, if not tread in the trenches, of 'impropriety.'In certain pockets of America e-dating is viewed as something for desperate orGod forbid 'unattractive' women and men to find companionship or relationships.And so with all that floating around in my mind, I was inspired to createDara - to explore the depths of this 21st century existentialterrain. From the get go, I couldn't see someone as skeptical as her at adating site. They didn't have the requisite adventure and excitement for her.So, I decided to put her somewhere a bit out of her element. Somewhere shecould be comfortably uncomfortable, apprehensive yet restless and inquiringenough to do it anyway. I honestly can't say for certain whether she goesthrough with it or not. Might sound odd, being the author of this creation lol…butit's true.
Sable: Story of my life.  I know I did it, just not sure how it ended. LOL! So what got you started as a writer?
Jessa:  I started penning fictionwhile I was dating this guy (he shall go deservedly nameless lol). It was along distance thing and I'd, while messaging him one night, brought up the ideaof us sending each other mini-stories - smut tales I think we called them -whenever the inspiration hit. After a while, I was the one doing most of thewriting I realized, and was moreover liking the freedom I felt in it. It wasduring this time that the idea for Family Care just came to me, and Ibegan taking notes and developing the story - what lonely nights will produce.I finished it while he and I were still together, yet, as it would turn out,that piece was probably the most valuable thing that came out of thatrelationship lol For the mere fact that I'd finally fleshed out a story that Iliked, from start to finish, I was elated, and somewhat impetuously felt theneed to share with the class. I'd had several false starts in the past onnon-fictional projects that which, for whatever reason, I just couldn't 'guide'towards maturation. The desire was there, but the inspiration would wane as I'dstruggle with what to do with the idea - what my approach should be, where togo with it, how to write it, what to focus on, what I wanted tosay in writing it. Fantasy fiction surprisingly cleared out all of thosequestion marks and just allowed to me write what flowed…and boy did it lol.
Sable: One of the things I find hardest in this writing business is knowing when the story ends.  How do youknow when you're done and the story on the page is the one you want released?
Jessa: That's a tough question. Theway I write varies depending on the story. I often write in a sort of linearstream of consciousness when first starting the project. But, after I've comeback to it a couple of times, I find that I'll want to see a certain event unfolda certain way in the story or an idea for how to fill in a scene or chapterwill emerge, and I'll just work on massaging it into the story. Sometimes itwill just be a passage, a sentence or a word that I feel would fit into thestory and I plop it in there and write around it. It's the same with myendings; they emerge pretty organically. I can't say there's one way that Iknow a story I've written is done, but often enough it's simply when I can lookat what there and know that I just can't do anymore.
With the most recentpublished story, The Very Thought of Him, I have to say that it wasfeedback from other writers that helped in my editing process, and inspired meto end the story as I did. Initially, I didn't get very good input and reallydidn't know how to improve on the story without sucking the essence from it.Seeing it through others' eyes really opened me up, and from there I was ableto reshape my story into something better.

Sable: The benefits of having beta readers and crit groups, for all the newbies tuning in.  Jessa, do you writein other genres?  Which is your favorite?
Jessa: Atpresent fiction is my primary focus, but I do write in other genres. I'mworking on a memoir and a contemporary romance book at the moment. Mywriting was in essence developed by way of academia - years and years ofwriting essays, term papers and theses - yet always had this somewhatanachronistic bent towards prose. (I remember submitting a formal proposal fora research project on HIV and AIDS, and having one of my advisors tell me thatit was a workable proposal, and quite 'literary' to boot. And, on an unrelatednote, I reconnected with a childhood friend several years back and when wefinally met up, she alluded to finding my e-mails 'poetic.') So, my non-fictionwriting I think is more keyed into that familiar style, and also led meto fiction writing; while actually writing fiction, I find, keeps meloose and helps me mold a story. And both help me develop my writing, so, whileone writes in a style to which I'm more accustomed, there really is nofavorite. Writing romance feels very much like a natural evolution from what I'vebeen writing. Now I can keep those long passages and sentences that I'dnormally delete in a short story lol

Sable: Being an author is a lot like being a juggler. We've always got more than one thing we're INKing at any given time.  What are some of the projects you have up in the air?
Jessa: I'mworking on a couple of projects at the moment. One is a romance novel - myfirst e-novel tentatively titled Maid to Service- that I've been writing for some time; the otheris a short story, Working it Out (again, the working title), that I hope to have released by early next year.


I'm extremelyexcited about the novel. I foresee it being a bit over 300 pages as things nowstand, perhaps longer. Kind of scary lol I honestly don't know how I was ableto arrive at the 168 pages of it that I have right now. The short story is oneI was working in tandem with The Very Thought of Him, and am stillreworking. The main character is someone who, even in her rough portrayal inthe draft that I have now, has deeply resonated with a lot of the female betareaders who have been kind enough to help crit my work; something completelyunexpected and not at all what I'd intended when I began writing the story.Initially, this was again, just an idea that I wanted to see on paper, and wascurious as to where it might go. It was the unexpectedly strong emotionalresponses to the female protagonist and her predicament that inspired me totake a step back, and not just view this story as I would my others - to viewit as more than just as personal creative exposition.  
Sable: Let's talk sex. LOL! Sex scenes, to be more specific.  Do they come easy for you? 
Jessa: No way lol It'sas intricate as writing out a fight scene or a tense conversation between ahandful of characters. Sex has to flow and have pace, has to feel real(not just for the author who has the privilege of knowing what they want tosee/create while the reader does not) and original, and has to progress withoutthe author forgetting whose hand is on whose bum or whose sitting, leaning,humping where lol. Aside from imagination, the context and the characters guidemy sex scenes. I have to admit that I do enter a story with a scene or twoalready floating around in my head, but asthe pieces collide, they usually change; mold with what the story becomes as Iwrite.
Sable:  Very true. Nothing worse than when you've got one hand too many on the wrong backside. That can really balls up a story :) And with readers being so keen on particulars such as that, are you very in depth with the research you do for your stories?
Jessa: It depends on thebook (texture, length etc). But I always find myself researching somefacet or element of the story, some detail. With the romance novel I'm workingon, the research has been non-stop - everything from flora and faunacommon to the location of the story to geographical layouts of certain statesto modes of transportation to entertainment, the list goes on and on. And thisis perhaps another thing that people, both readers and non-readers of eroticaand romance books alike tend to prejudge or overlook. They often assumethat the work involved in penning a novel, novella or short story of this genreisn't as varied, as intensive, as time-consuming, as profound or comprehensiveas that required of written work of other genres. Could not be more wrong - andI have the log in hours and eyestrain to prove it.

Sable: Again, truer words... Double time on the eyestrain! So now I get to play evil Sable (well, eviler Sable). It takes thousands of words to get your point across, but now can you sum up your bookin one sentence? *insert maniacal*
Jessa: In one sentence. Umm…maybe: small town girl seeks online tryst. 
Sable: I know, that was evil. But you passed with flying colors!  Being a fresh new voice on the literary scene, any advice for newbies?
Jessa: Definitely findbeta readers and writing circles of fellow writers to look over your work beforeyou publish, but don't wait until your 'perfect work' to publish.Sometimes you can't see or sense what is missing from your work the way otherscan. And though too many chefs can spoil the soup, be open to others'impressions of your writing, other writers, avid readers and authors inparticular.
Know that, as awriter you're going to continue to grow and develop (if that is your goal) andthat which you view as your pinnacle at one stage, you may end up looking backon with contempt. As your writing acumen improves you'll be able to createthings you were before unable to, or never even thought of adding to yourpieces. To those looking to go the indie self-publishing route, self-publishingand self-promotion themselves are skills to be acquired. 

Sable: Couldn't have said it better myself. Speaking of which, what is your strength and weakness as awriter and how do you hope to improve?
Jessa: I think, from what I've beentold anyway, my strengths lie in dialogue (making it sound or flow naturally)and in internal monologue (in describing a character's motivations for doingsomething). Or in what I call yapping and mental yapping, lol. I often findmyself hacking away at pages of internal monologue and description that delvesinto the characters' minds, and have to force myself to get back to telling theactual story. I suppose this stems from own desire to understand andexplore why people do what they do, which is great for aspiring psychologists,a little stymieing for aspiring authors lol.
I try and read everything Ican; to keep abreast of what's out there, and because I've become a fan of somany writers, new and established, as I've delved deeper into my own writing.There's always room for improvement as I see it. Though, I'd love to write asseamlessly as other authors I've read; to have so many layers to a story yet,still have it flow and draw in the reader as effortlessly as good books do. Atbase, I want to grow as a 'weaver of tales,' however corny that sounds. To beable to integrate the touch, taste, sound, sight, smell elements into a storyand just make it vividly come alive as the books I've read do. That's all. lol!

Sable: Well, Jessa, I think you're well on your way to doing just that! Thanks so much for taking the time to hang out with us in the Parlor. Readers, please leave any questions or comments for Jessa below.  Or you can contact her directly at:
jessa_callaver (at) AOL dot com  <<<--- You know how spammers are. 
And don't forget to pick up a copy of her books, THE VERY THOUGHT OF HIM, THE GOAT AND THE HEATHEN, and FAMILY CARE, all available now!!

slip a SABLE under the tree....

(You knew it was coming...don't act surprised. Besides, I've been waiting to use that allllll year. LOL!)



So, I was going to use this post to remind you of all the great titles I have available for your favorite ereader, but y'know, I think I'd rather take the time to say a quick thank you in between eating a bowl of gumbo and scarfing homemade fudge and caramel. (Mmmmmmm....fuuuuuudge. *nom, nom, nom*)
This year has been pretty awesome for me—hell, I made it through so it can't have been too bad, right?  I've learned a lot about myself as a writer and have a more solid understanding of my voice. All in all it's been fun—even when I wanted to throw my laptop against the wall or had to stop myself from killing a character in a contemporary romance just because they were irking me; and especially when the Smashwords meatgrinder decided I needed to reformat my entire book because there were issues. Yes, even then, it was fun.  I've met some really amazing people who make what could be a solitary existence spent pecking away at my keyboard and screaming at the voices in my head a lot more enjoyable.  I've received a lot of e-mail from readers saying they dig my style and that's been so rewarding for me, especially since this is my rookie year in the writing game and sometimes it's hard to know what's a hit and what's a miss. For all of that I say THANK YOU for licking my INK!
Now, I'm not gonna get all preachy and go on about the Christmas spirit, or tell you to be naughty, er, I mean nice, (hard to keep those two straight sometimes) but I do hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas season.  
With lots of hugs and a mouthful of fudge I'm gonna have to think really hard about running off in the morning,
Sable J.