C.J. Roberts's Blog, page 10
February 26, 2012
I Like My Erotica Uncensored!
Get it before it's censored.
By now, I hope you have heard about the troubles facing erotica authors due to PayPal's censorship measures. If you haven't, I strongly urge you to learn about the controversy. In a nutshell, PayPal has decided to threaten eBook retailers with financial ruin if they do not remove content from their sites that PayPal has deemed 'obscene' or 'immoral' – naturally, erotica authors and those who publish them have been the hardest hit.
Some background: It is undeniably TRUE, that PayPal has had a morality clause in their Terms of Service since its inception. However, it has hardly been enforced and PayPal has reaped many benefits from this lack of enforcement. They are a staple of the e-publishing community when it comes to how readers pay for books online and how authors are paid by e-retailers.
NOW, PayPal has decided, for several reasons (political, moral, and financial), to give e-publishers an ultimatum: remove all titles that include incest, pseudo-incest, bestiality, rape for titillation, and BDSM titles featuring dubious consent or have your accounts frozen.
While many will turn their noses up at the categories being censored, please understand that the issue is less about content and more about censorship.
America is a society simultaneously obsessed with sex and censorship. We love sex! We also love censorship.
Until the explosion in e-publishing and subsequently, indie publishers, the majority of reading content for sale in mainstream outlets was controlled by the 'Big Six' (Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Group, Random House, and Simon & Schuster). They decided what books and authors to publish. They decided what content the market could handle. They decided what, YOU, the reader could purchase.
But an interesting thing happened when Amazon, a huge online retailer, opened its arms wide and embraced indie authors: people bought books the Big Six would never touch! The biggest sellers? Anything having a title with 'Daddy Does…'
While Amazon and nearly all retailers have a strict policy against incest stories, the category of pseudo-incest, that is, stories between step-relations or non-blood related, enjoyed a huge measure of success on these sites. People were apparently eager to buy these titles and retailers made lots of coin by selling them; authors did as well. However, as with anything of a questionable nature, the censor hounds were quite aggressive in expressing their desire to do away with these titles. But isn't the fact they were featured in the top 100 a social commentary on what the public WANTS to read?
There is nothing illegal about pseudo-incest; just ask Woody Allen. Still, the subject is certainly taboo. The question is though, which do you find truly obscene: 1) Erotic FICTION available for sale and purchase, or 2) the mysterious 'third hand' deciding what's acceptable for your eyes?
On the subject of rape and BDSM with dubious consent, I will quote Remittance Girl, who wrote an impassioned open letter to Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords:
On a personal note:
As a long-time reader, I soon became tired with all of the regurgitated story lines and lack-luster plots inherent in fiction, but especially in the romance/erotica category. I was disenchanted with all the sensitive 'alpha' males, who promised to be real bad-asses, but in the end were only misunderstood by the heroin. Why couldn't I read about a 'real' bad guy? I wondered why no 'horrible people' fell in love?
Finally, I began writing the story myself. I wrote the story the Big Six wouldn't allow me to purchase and read. Captive in the Dark is many things; it's a story about vengeance, betrayal, pain, suffering, and yes…SEX. My characters are broken, they are real, and they make mistakes that force them to truly wonder about the meaning of their existence. Still, because my title features dubious consent, and worse, humanizes a monster of a human being, it is being censored. Is it being censored because my work has no literary merit? No. It's being censored because despite the fact it is being purchased, read, and ENJOYED by over three thousand readers, it deviates from the mean.
As a writer, I am affronted by PayPal's actions, but I am more upset by the retailers who have buckled under PayPal's pressure.
And as a reader I am INCENSED, that anyone would deign to regulate what I'm allowed to fantasize about when I'm alone in bed at night.
How dare you.
If you are a reader, who feels as I do, please join the conversation. Get out on Facebook, Twitter, your blogs, and any outlet available to you, and let PayPal know you do not appreciate their censorship of your available reading material.
SIGN THE PETITION
Other great articles on this issue:
Two Legs Bad: An Open Letter to Mark Coker #smashwords #censorship #erotica by Remittance Girl
Slippery Slope: Erotica Censorship by Selena Kitt
Erotic Censorship and a Home for the Homeless Books by Erica Pike
Putting the World According to PayPal in Perspective by Amber Adams
Erotica Book Banning Round-Up by Svrowle
By now, I hope you have heard about the troubles facing erotica authors due to PayPal's censorship measures. If you haven't, I strongly urge you to learn about the controversy. In a nutshell, PayPal has decided to threaten eBook retailers with financial ruin if they do not remove content from their sites that PayPal has deemed 'obscene' or 'immoral' – naturally, erotica authors and those who publish them have been the hardest hit.
Some background: It is undeniably TRUE, that PayPal has had a morality clause in their Terms of Service since its inception. However, it has hardly been enforced and PayPal has reaped many benefits from this lack of enforcement. They are a staple of the e-publishing community when it comes to how readers pay for books online and how authors are paid by e-retailers.
NOW, PayPal has decided, for several reasons (political, moral, and financial), to give e-publishers an ultimatum: remove all titles that include incest, pseudo-incest, bestiality, rape for titillation, and BDSM titles featuring dubious consent or have your accounts frozen.
While many will turn their noses up at the categories being censored, please understand that the issue is less about content and more about censorship.
America is a society simultaneously obsessed with sex and censorship. We love sex! We also love censorship.
Until the explosion in e-publishing and subsequently, indie publishers, the majority of reading content for sale in mainstream outlets was controlled by the 'Big Six' (Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Group, Random House, and Simon & Schuster). They decided what books and authors to publish. They decided what content the market could handle. They decided what, YOU, the reader could purchase.
But an interesting thing happened when Amazon, a huge online retailer, opened its arms wide and embraced indie authors: people bought books the Big Six would never touch! The biggest sellers? Anything having a title with 'Daddy Does…'
While Amazon and nearly all retailers have a strict policy against incest stories, the category of pseudo-incest, that is, stories between step-relations or non-blood related, enjoyed a huge measure of success on these sites. People were apparently eager to buy these titles and retailers made lots of coin by selling them; authors did as well. However, as with anything of a questionable nature, the censor hounds were quite aggressive in expressing their desire to do away with these titles. But isn't the fact they were featured in the top 100 a social commentary on what the public WANTS to read?
There is nothing illegal about pseudo-incest; just ask Woody Allen. Still, the subject is certainly taboo. The question is though, which do you find truly obscene: 1) Erotic FICTION available for sale and purchase, or 2) the mysterious 'third hand' deciding what's acceptable for your eyes?
On the subject of rape and BDSM with dubious consent, I will quote Remittance Girl, who wrote an impassioned open letter to Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords:
"Fictional depictions of violence do not 'advocate violence', and fictional depictions of rape do not advocate rape. If someone submits a non-fiction text for sale with you, advocating either, I will be the first person to agree that you should not sell it. However, fiction, sir, is FICTION. And although I understand how you, as a male, may be puzzled as to why eroticized fictional depictions of rape are erotic to some women, I am disappointed that you did not think a little more clearly about the matter.
40% of women have non-consensual sexual fantasies. I'm not pulling this figure out of my ass, sir. There is an excellent study (unlike some of the shoddy pseudo-scientific studies seeking to link erotica with sexual violence) by Joseph W. Critelli and Jenny M. Bivona "Women's erotic rape fantasies: an evaluation of theory and research" which estimates that in fact, the numbers are slightly higher.
There have been some intriguing attempts to answer the question of why so many women have these fantasies and a considerable number of feminist critics who have sought to humiliate the women who have them, but nonetheless, for whatever reason, we do. And I claim it as my right, as a writer and as a woman, to explore this phenomenon in my fiction."
On a personal note:
As a long-time reader, I soon became tired with all of the regurgitated story lines and lack-luster plots inherent in fiction, but especially in the romance/erotica category. I was disenchanted with all the sensitive 'alpha' males, who promised to be real bad-asses, but in the end were only misunderstood by the heroin. Why couldn't I read about a 'real' bad guy? I wondered why no 'horrible people' fell in love?
Finally, I began writing the story myself. I wrote the story the Big Six wouldn't allow me to purchase and read. Captive in the Dark is many things; it's a story about vengeance, betrayal, pain, suffering, and yes…SEX. My characters are broken, they are real, and they make mistakes that force them to truly wonder about the meaning of their existence. Still, because my title features dubious consent, and worse, humanizes a monster of a human being, it is being censored. Is it being censored because my work has no literary merit? No. It's being censored because despite the fact it is being purchased, read, and ENJOYED by over three thousand readers, it deviates from the mean.
As a writer, I am affronted by PayPal's actions, but I am more upset by the retailers who have buckled under PayPal's pressure.
And as a reader I am INCENSED, that anyone would deign to regulate what I'm allowed to fantasize about when I'm alone in bed at night.
How dare you.
If you are a reader, who feels as I do, please join the conversation. Get out on Facebook, Twitter, your blogs, and any outlet available to you, and let PayPal know you do not appreciate their censorship of your available reading material.
SIGN THE PETITION
Other great articles on this issue:
Two Legs Bad: An Open Letter to Mark Coker #smashwords #censorship #erotica by Remittance Girl
Slippery Slope: Erotica Censorship by Selena Kitt
Erotic Censorship and a Home for the Homeless Books by Erica Pike
Putting the World According to PayPal in Perspective by Amber Adams
Erotica Book Banning Round-Up by Svrowle
January 24, 2012
Tempt Me Tuesday
What could be more tempting than an excerpt from my work in progress: Seduced in the Dark (Book 2, The Dark Duet)? I'm gonna say nothing. =P
This excerpt comes from Chapter 2. It's told in Caleb's point of view and takes place the morning after their sexually charged encounter at the end of Captive in the Dark. Caleb is naturally very confused about the state of his relationship with Livvie and the impending visit from Rafiq. He decides to take a shower and clear his head...
There was a knock on the door and Caleb's head whipped toward it. Kitten had stepped inside, announcing herself with a knock, but not waiting for his answer. Shock assailed him. He couldn't keep it from his face and without thinking he scrambled to turn the cold water on. This was private!She could get out of bed on her own after all.Well, at least she didn't run. But where would she have gone like that anyway?Kitten looked at him…everywhere. Even through the intense amount of steam, he could he see her fierce blush. Blushing virgin or not, her eyes did not deviate from his person. Their eyes finally met."I…," Kitten cleared her throat and began again, "I'm sorry, it's just that I heard you in here and I –""Did you need something," Caleb snapped. His emotions were scattered by her interruption. He felt exposed somehow, vulnerable, and he didn't like it. But she was also naked, never having dressed again last night and that was confusing as well. Beneath his hands, his cock stirred and he wanted to wince at the stinging sensation of his punished flesh stretching and expanding.Kitten straightened her spine and narrowed her eyes. "Yes. I need something. Lots of something's. Where do you want me to start?"More shock! Had she really just said that? To him? He knew he should be angry, but instead he turned his head to hide a smile. He spoke to the shower wall and tried to keep the amusement from his voice, "Well, can it wait until I'm at least out of the shower?" And because he couldn't help himself, he added, "Unless you're looking to climb in here and return last night's favor?" He hazarded a glance in her direction.She blushed heatedly, but still held herself high, "Actually? Sort of. I mean…no, but…." She huffed, "I would like to take a shower too and since I'm practically crippled, I could use your fucking help. But not if you're going to be an asshole about it." She nodded, as if to say: There, I said it.
Aww, Livvie - so feisty!
For those of you who follow me on Twitter or are friends with me on Facebook, you already know that I've been diligently working on SITD. Well, I'm happy to report that I'm through Chapter 3 and today, I will be working on Chapter 4.
I'm very excited about this burst of inspiration because my writing process leaves a lot to be desired, in that I don't really have one. I write very organically, which is a very fancy way of saying, 'I write when I feel like it'. I've done some outlining, but when I sit down to write, more often than not, the characters take me where they want to go and not always where I had planned. It's nice, because I'm always along for the journey, experiencing each word as the reader might, but it also presents a host of problems.
For starters, I have a tendency to get ahead of myself. This has certainly been the case with Seduced. Between you and me, I have thousands and thousands of words written for this novel, but the horrible fact is - I probably can't use them.
Why?
Because they belong to my original manuscript. In the beginning, The Dark Duet was envisioned as a single book entitled: Dark, a Tale of Capture and Seduction. It was beyond gritty, it was obscene! Unfortunately, it was also an awful mess of disjointed chapters that didn't paint a smooth picture. Thank God, I had someone to tell me how awful it was before I put it out there. Note to you beta readers: be brutal, but constructive! Lord knows the public will be (minus the constructive bit).
Thus began the editing process, this time, with the help of two very amazing ladies I met online (yes - online).
Slowly, my characters emerged - not the story, but the people behind the story. Caleb, who wasn't originally such a key player, suddenly swept in and started running the show. He sucked me into his web of tragedy, pain, sex and revenge and I followed him eagerly. Like Livvie, I was drawn to him for reasons I didn't understand. I wanted to know everything about him. I fell in love with my villain and I became determined to make others love him too.
Caleb and Livvie's fucked up love story was born and they swept me away.
Captive in the Dark is a story about pain, longing, and denial of ones self. Caleb doesn't know who his is and neither does Livvie. This is the tie that binds them. So, toward the end, it became evident to me that this story would need a sequel, one that focuses on the rebirth of these characters. Guess what? I never wrote that story.
I'm writing it now. I've gotten ahead of myself, because these characters no longer belong to me. They belong to the readers. They belong to the fans and that's something I didn't quite plan on. It's a great responsibility to do these characters and their followers justice - I don't take it lightly.
I will do my very best to catch up to these run away characters. I'm especially looking forward to tackling Caleb's sexy ass to the ground. ;)
This excerpt comes from Chapter 2. It's told in Caleb's point of view and takes place the morning after their sexually charged encounter at the end of Captive in the Dark. Caleb is naturally very confused about the state of his relationship with Livvie and the impending visit from Rafiq. He decides to take a shower and clear his head...
There was a knock on the door and Caleb's head whipped toward it. Kitten had stepped inside, announcing herself with a knock, but not waiting for his answer. Shock assailed him. He couldn't keep it from his face and without thinking he scrambled to turn the cold water on. This was private!She could get out of bed on her own after all.Well, at least she didn't run. But where would she have gone like that anyway?Kitten looked at him…everywhere. Even through the intense amount of steam, he could he see her fierce blush. Blushing virgin or not, her eyes did not deviate from his person. Their eyes finally met."I…," Kitten cleared her throat and began again, "I'm sorry, it's just that I heard you in here and I –""Did you need something," Caleb snapped. His emotions were scattered by her interruption. He felt exposed somehow, vulnerable, and he didn't like it. But she was also naked, never having dressed again last night and that was confusing as well. Beneath his hands, his cock stirred and he wanted to wince at the stinging sensation of his punished flesh stretching and expanding.Kitten straightened her spine and narrowed her eyes. "Yes. I need something. Lots of something's. Where do you want me to start?"More shock! Had she really just said that? To him? He knew he should be angry, but instead he turned his head to hide a smile. He spoke to the shower wall and tried to keep the amusement from his voice, "Well, can it wait until I'm at least out of the shower?" And because he couldn't help himself, he added, "Unless you're looking to climb in here and return last night's favor?" He hazarded a glance in her direction.She blushed heatedly, but still held herself high, "Actually? Sort of. I mean…no, but…." She huffed, "I would like to take a shower too and since I'm practically crippled, I could use your fucking help. But not if you're going to be an asshole about it." She nodded, as if to say: There, I said it.
Aww, Livvie - so feisty!
For those of you who follow me on Twitter or are friends with me on Facebook, you already know that I've been diligently working on SITD. Well, I'm happy to report that I'm through Chapter 3 and today, I will be working on Chapter 4.
I'm very excited about this burst of inspiration because my writing process leaves a lot to be desired, in that I don't really have one. I write very organically, which is a very fancy way of saying, 'I write when I feel like it'. I've done some outlining, but when I sit down to write, more often than not, the characters take me where they want to go and not always where I had planned. It's nice, because I'm always along for the journey, experiencing each word as the reader might, but it also presents a host of problems.
For starters, I have a tendency to get ahead of myself. This has certainly been the case with Seduced. Between you and me, I have thousands and thousands of words written for this novel, but the horrible fact is - I probably can't use them.
Why?
Because they belong to my original manuscript. In the beginning, The Dark Duet was envisioned as a single book entitled: Dark, a Tale of Capture and Seduction. It was beyond gritty, it was obscene! Unfortunately, it was also an awful mess of disjointed chapters that didn't paint a smooth picture. Thank God, I had someone to tell me how awful it was before I put it out there. Note to you beta readers: be brutal, but constructive! Lord knows the public will be (minus the constructive bit).Thus began the editing process, this time, with the help of two very amazing ladies I met online (yes - online).
Slowly, my characters emerged - not the story, but the people behind the story. Caleb, who wasn't originally such a key player, suddenly swept in and started running the show. He sucked me into his web of tragedy, pain, sex and revenge and I followed him eagerly. Like Livvie, I was drawn to him for reasons I didn't understand. I wanted to know everything about him. I fell in love with my villain and I became determined to make others love him too.
Caleb and Livvie's fucked up love story was born and they swept me away.
Captive in the Dark is a story about pain, longing, and denial of ones self. Caleb doesn't know who his is and neither does Livvie. This is the tie that binds them. So, toward the end, it became evident to me that this story would need a sequel, one that focuses on the rebirth of these characters. Guess what? I never wrote that story.
I'm writing it now. I've gotten ahead of myself, because these characters no longer belong to me. They belong to the readers. They belong to the fans and that's something I didn't quite plan on. It's a great responsibility to do these characters and their followers justice - I don't take it lightly.
I will do my very best to catch up to these run away characters. I'm especially looking forward to tackling Caleb's sexy ass to the ground. ;)
January 15, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday
I'm so excited to post my first one! Yay. As most of you have probably read
Captive in the Dark by CJ Roberts
, I have decided to feature
Sin City: Six Scintillating Stories
by Jennifer Roberts (that's me), Anthony Beal, Nikki Palmer, Rushmore Judd, Daisy Dunn, and T.S. Addison.
I was so very proud to have put this anthology together and to work with these other talented writers. So often, writers don't get to sit down and enjoy someone else's writing. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read such a wide range of stories and I was absolutely shocked by a few of them. HOT! These ladies and gentlemen can tell me a bedtime story anytime! Mmmmm.
This excerpt is from my contribution to the anthology. It's called High Stakes Nikki by Jennifer Roberts.
Some background:
Nikki is tired of the same old Dick. They've been in Las Vegas for two days and the only thing her husband seems to want to do is lose money in the poker room. While she sits in the hotel bar, she is joined by a sexy married couple who can't seem to keep their hands off one another. After several drinks and many laughs, the couple invites her to join them for a little trip off the strip. Nikki isn't used to meeting new people or trying new things, but something tells her tonight is the night to shed old inhibitions.
I grab his wrists to stay his actions. I'm too wet, embarrassingly wet, and I can't stand the thought of everyone knowing. Dick doesn't seem to care though. He swats my hands away like a caveman and yanks my forty-five dollar panties down to my knees. I blush furiously when I look up to find Damon smiling at me and pushing his fingers deeper into his wife.
"I'm going to fuck you," Damon mouths the words, because he knows I can't look away from him.
Where to get it:
Amazon, Smashwords*, ARe, 1PlaceforRomance, 1EroticaEbooks, Bookstrand
*Buy it on Smashwords and get 40%off with coupon KP26M
I was so very proud to have put this anthology together and to work with these other talented writers. So often, writers don't get to sit down and enjoy someone else's writing. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read such a wide range of stories and I was absolutely shocked by a few of them. HOT! These ladies and gentlemen can tell me a bedtime story anytime! Mmmmm.
This excerpt is from my contribution to the anthology. It's called High Stakes Nikki by Jennifer Roberts.
Some background:
Nikki is tired of the same old Dick. They've been in Las Vegas for two days and the only thing her husband seems to want to do is lose money in the poker room. While she sits in the hotel bar, she is joined by a sexy married couple who can't seem to keep their hands off one another. After several drinks and many laughs, the couple invites her to join them for a little trip off the strip. Nikki isn't used to meeting new people or trying new things, but something tells her tonight is the night to shed old inhibitions.
I grab his wrists to stay his actions. I'm too wet, embarrassingly wet, and I can't stand the thought of everyone knowing. Dick doesn't seem to care though. He swats my hands away like a caveman and yanks my forty-five dollar panties down to my knees. I blush furiously when I look up to find Damon smiling at me and pushing his fingers deeper into his wife.
"I'm going to fuck you," Damon mouths the words, because he knows I can't look away from him.
Where to get it:
Amazon, Smashwords*, ARe, 1PlaceforRomance, 1EroticaEbooks, Bookstrand
*Buy it on Smashwords and get 40%off with coupon KP26M
January 6, 2012
Been a long time since I could say this, but...I've never done this before!
Hello!
Thank you for reading my first ever blog post. I think I am the last person of my generation to do this. It feels a little weird. I have the strange desire to journal and simply write about all the things swirling around in my head. I think that would make for a very strange blog indeed, since my head is really only suitable for me (and sometimes, not even me).
So why am I doing this? Well, because of Rhonda. Rhonda and her sweet, sweet blog, lol.
She's hosting something called a Blog Hop and she wants me to be a part of it. I agreed without knowing what is involved because that is what I do. I throw myself into situations and figure it out. It's responsible for most of my adventures. Whenever I am lost driving around town, I turn left. Sounds silly, but you'd be surprised how often I actually find my way to where I intended to go by doing this. The trick is not to circle the same block. Why does this matter? It doesn't. It was just in my brain and I wrote it down - suck it.
Back to the blog hop! This is the email I received:
Hi CJ,
I wanted to give you the final details about the Blog hop we are hosting. And to tell you that if you're thinking about getting into blogging, this would be a good opportunity for you to start one. The Hop doesn't actually start until March 17th, sign up starts on Monday Jan.9th. We wanted to have plenty of time to get the word out, so from Jan. 9th until March 11th is the time to sign up.
Now the great thing about this HOP, is that it is to target writers like you, Small press and independent authors. Any blog who joins is required to sponsor a giveaway of either a book by a small press of independent author, or a gift card. All the rules of the hop will be posted at sign up. So pass the word to your author friends, anyone who has a blog, author or not can join. The Hop will start on March 17th and run for 1 week. Our blog site is hoping to have a big giveaway, since we are the host, we would like to make this as big as possible.
Any help you can provide in this will be greatly appreciated.
Up to speed? Good! Explain it to me? For my part, I am prepared to give away as many books as Rhonda requires and one more, because I am a snobby overachiever.
For more information on the Blog Hop and Rhonda, visit her (much better) blog
For more information on me, CJ Roberts, please visit my website
Thank you for reading my first ever blog post. I think I am the last person of my generation to do this. It feels a little weird. I have the strange desire to journal and simply write about all the things swirling around in my head. I think that would make for a very strange blog indeed, since my head is really only suitable for me (and sometimes, not even me).
So why am I doing this? Well, because of Rhonda. Rhonda and her sweet, sweet blog, lol.
She's hosting something called a Blog Hop and she wants me to be a part of it. I agreed without knowing what is involved because that is what I do. I throw myself into situations and figure it out. It's responsible for most of my adventures. Whenever I am lost driving around town, I turn left. Sounds silly, but you'd be surprised how often I actually find my way to where I intended to go by doing this. The trick is not to circle the same block. Why does this matter? It doesn't. It was just in my brain and I wrote it down - suck it.
Back to the blog hop! This is the email I received:
Hi CJ,
I wanted to give you the final details about the Blog hop we are hosting. And to tell you that if you're thinking about getting into blogging, this would be a good opportunity for you to start one. The Hop doesn't actually start until March 17th, sign up starts on Monday Jan.9th. We wanted to have plenty of time to get the word out, so from Jan. 9th until March 11th is the time to sign up.
Now the great thing about this HOP, is that it is to target writers like you, Small press and independent authors. Any blog who joins is required to sponsor a giveaway of either a book by a small press of independent author, or a gift card. All the rules of the hop will be posted at sign up. So pass the word to your author friends, anyone who has a blog, author or not can join. The Hop will start on March 17th and run for 1 week. Our blog site is hoping to have a big giveaway, since we are the host, we would like to make this as big as possible.
Any help you can provide in this will be greatly appreciated.
Up to speed? Good! Explain it to me? For my part, I am prepared to give away as many books as Rhonda requires and one more, because I am a snobby overachiever.
For more information on the Blog Hop and Rhonda, visit her (much better) blog
For more information on me, CJ Roberts, please visit my website
