Nenia Campbell's Blog, page 9
March 31, 2023
Do you want a reverse age-gap stepbrother romance with a villainous hero?
My book, QUID PRO QUO, recently hit 500 ratings on Goodreads!
I'm really proud of this book because this was THE book that helped keep me sane during quarantine. When my anxiety was at an all-time high and I was worried about my job and the election and my health and the health of my loved ones, this was the book I turned to, and it ended up being my escape whenever things were hard.
It's got a whole bunch of interesting tropes:
-reverse age gap
-younger man Daddy kink
-stepbrother
-"I've loved you for years"
-villain romance
-family saga
-big grovel
-sweet and nerdy heroine
-SO MUCH DRAMA
I'd be honored if you checked it out: https://www.amazon.com/Quid-Pro-Quo-s...
Most of my works feature dub-con and fairly villainous heroes, so if SA is a trigger for you, I suggest you avoid my work. (This one, included.)
Also, special thanks to my friend, Heather Crews, who was my beta-reader and also the person who made the cover. She's an author too and you should check her out and stuff. :)
Anyway, thanks for reading QPQ and being interested in my books, period. It really means a lot!
I'm really proud of this book because this was THE book that helped keep me sane during quarantine. When my anxiety was at an all-time high and I was worried about my job and the election and my health and the health of my loved ones, this was the book I turned to, and it ended up being my escape whenever things were hard.
It's got a whole bunch of interesting tropes:
-reverse age gap
-younger man Daddy kink
-stepbrother
-"I've loved you for years"
-villain romance
-family saga
-big grovel
-sweet and nerdy heroine
-SO MUCH DRAMA
I'd be honored if you checked it out: https://www.amazon.com/Quid-Pro-Quo-s...
Most of my works feature dub-con and fairly villainous heroes, so if SA is a trigger for you, I suggest you avoid my work. (This one, included.)
Also, special thanks to my friend, Heather Crews, who was my beta-reader and also the person who made the cover. She's an author too and you should check her out and stuff. :)
Anyway, thanks for reading QPQ and being interested in my books, period. It really means a lot!
March 26, 2023
RENT GIRL Is FREE for a limited time! (3/26)
Hi all! My dark mafia romance is FREE for a limited time!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...
The romance is dual timeline and has triggers for graphic violence, dub-con, and drug use. They meet at a video store in 2003 when she's working for him and then he forces her to become his mistress while performing at his club.
I'd love it if you grabbed a copy and told a friend!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...
The romance is dual timeline and has triggers for graphic violence, dub-con, and drug use. They meet at a video store in 2003 when she's working for him and then he forces her to become his mistress while performing at his club.
I'd love it if you grabbed a copy and told a friend!
February 19, 2023
A note on how I review books
Periodically, I like to put out these little reminders about how my review system works and why I still write critical reviews as a published author. I think transparency in product reviews is important and it's helpful to see someone's personal rubric when looking at what they review and why.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- If I give a book five stars, it's because I genuinely loved it. This is a book I'd recommend to a stranger. It might not be perfect, but it basically is to me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Four stars means a book was really good but fell short in some significant way of being a book I'd return to again and again. I liked this book a lot and am really happy I read it, but it's probably not a keeper.
⭐️⭐️⭐️- Three stars means I liked it but the book probably also annoyed me or was hard to get through in sections. Usually this is because the idea was fun but the execution was stupid or unfulfilled. Or it might be pure trash but I just happened to be in the mood for trash. Probably wouldn't recommend this but YOLO.
⭐️⭐️- Meh. I hate writing two star reviews. They are the worst because the book was uninteresting to me enough that I probably didn't finish it but not so boring that it filled me with anger. With a lot of these, I just couldn't get into it.
⭐️- Really didn't like whatever this was. It probably mad me mad.
I don't rate books I didn't read and won't review authors I can't read impartially. I used to get into book drama but I'm not about that life anymore. I feel like the public cancellations that some authors get just result in free publicity for the "cancelled" author in question, which kind of defeats the purpose in the first place. It also bothers me that authors who maybe make one social misstep on Twitter ONE time, or who perhaps make a controversial writing choice, automatically get lumped with authors who are, perhaps, making more habitually problematic choices that are causing genuine harm on the reg. If I see an author being a dick to me or to other people, I won't read their work, because at that point, I don't think I can read their books impartially, but I'm not a fan of taking public rides on the cancel train.
I rate my DNFs because if I think a book is so bad that it is unfinishable, that's worth a rating and a comment. I'm honest about where I stopped in my reviews and why. This seems to really infuriate some people for some reason but honestly? Life is short. If I have to read 600 pages of an 800 book to wait for it to get good, that's not going to happen. I could read two amazing three hundred paged books in that time period. I think I'd rather do that.
As an author, I try to conduct myself with the same behavior that I expect from other people: I don't revenge-rate and I don't attack, block, or unfriend people who dislike my work.
There's a lot of joy in reading and reviewing and I think sharing books with people you like is what this community is all about. That's something I think about also when writing my reviews: how much I love reading and how grateful I am to have a place at this virtual table, to talk about what I love with people I really like.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- If I give a book five stars, it's because I genuinely loved it. This is a book I'd recommend to a stranger. It might not be perfect, but it basically is to me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Four stars means a book was really good but fell short in some significant way of being a book I'd return to again and again. I liked this book a lot and am really happy I read it, but it's probably not a keeper.
⭐️⭐️⭐️- Three stars means I liked it but the book probably also annoyed me or was hard to get through in sections. Usually this is because the idea was fun but the execution was stupid or unfulfilled. Or it might be pure trash but I just happened to be in the mood for trash. Probably wouldn't recommend this but YOLO.
⭐️⭐️- Meh. I hate writing two star reviews. They are the worst because the book was uninteresting to me enough that I probably didn't finish it but not so boring that it filled me with anger. With a lot of these, I just couldn't get into it.
⭐️- Really didn't like whatever this was. It probably mad me mad.
I don't rate books I didn't read and won't review authors I can't read impartially. I used to get into book drama but I'm not about that life anymore. I feel like the public cancellations that some authors get just result in free publicity for the "cancelled" author in question, which kind of defeats the purpose in the first place. It also bothers me that authors who maybe make one social misstep on Twitter ONE time, or who perhaps make a controversial writing choice, automatically get lumped with authors who are, perhaps, making more habitually problematic choices that are causing genuine harm on the reg. If I see an author being a dick to me or to other people, I won't read their work, because at that point, I don't think I can read their books impartially, but I'm not a fan of taking public rides on the cancel train.
I rate my DNFs because if I think a book is so bad that it is unfinishable, that's worth a rating and a comment. I'm honest about where I stopped in my reviews and why. This seems to really infuriate some people for some reason but honestly? Life is short. If I have to read 600 pages of an 800 book to wait for it to get good, that's not going to happen. I could read two amazing three hundred paged books in that time period. I think I'd rather do that.
As an author, I try to conduct myself with the same behavior that I expect from other people: I don't revenge-rate and I don't attack, block, or unfriend people who dislike my work.
There's a lot of joy in reading and reviewing and I think sharing books with people you like is what this community is all about. That's something I think about also when writing my reviews: how much I love reading and how grateful I am to have a place at this virtual table, to talk about what I love with people I really like.
February 14, 2023
LITTLE DEATHS Is FREE Today (2/14)
Hey all! LITTLE DEATHS is free for a limited time on Amazon! It's a slasher-inspired love story with a reverse age gap and taboo romance (the heroine is the hero's stepmother). HEA included, with plenty of whodunnitry and REVENGE.
Check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNXZ1XQ9
Check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNXZ1XQ9
February 10, 2023
Q&A with Nenia Campbell
You asked me questions and I'm answering them here!
Q: I've always been curious as to how self-published books are made. What's your writing and editing process like, and what happens after?
A: I have a day job, so I do all my writing around that. Typically, I'll jot down a few ideas in the morning before I go to work and I do my writing and editing after work. I can write a book in 4-6 months if things are going well, but if I'm struggling, it can take more than a year. I also tend to write based off of inspiration, so there are some projects that get tabled since I don't like to force things. Editing takes another couple months because I'll read through the document multiple times, tweaking sentences and editing mistakes. I have some friends who beta but apart from that much appreciated help, I do all my own editing and formatting.
Q: How do you deal with negativity on goodreads, both as a writer and as a blogger?
A: I used to be way more reactive when I was younger, but that was a mistake. Now, I just tend to disengage or block. I'm really not interested in arguing with people or participating in drama. Some people don't get that and feel like they're entitled to post their opinion in your space, even if it's not wanted. But part of growing up is realizing that you don't owe people your time, and your emotional well-being goes up when you devote your headspace to people who are actually interested in talking to you person to person, on a civil, humanistic level, regardless of whether they agree with you or just want to have you be accountable for your actions.
Regarding reviews of my own work, I'm mostly just grateful people took the time. It sounds hokey, but it's true. Sometimes, I might not agree with what someone says but it's their right as a reviewer to state their honest opinion and I have no right to tell them otherwise. (It would be pretty hypocritical of me, actually, since I started out as a blogger.) I don't block people or unfriend people over negative reviews and I don't pressure readers or ARC reviewers to write good reviews. I want people to be honest. I don't want to be part of a community where people are punished for their honesty. And I especially don't want people I'm friendly with to feel like their friendship with me is contingent on them telling me what I want to hear. It's hard to grow as a creator if you don't take in at least some critical feedback, even-- especially-- if it's painful to hear.
Q: Favourite book at the start of the 21st Century and favourite book now?
A: At the beginning of the 21st century, I was still a kid, so my tastes have changed a lot. I used to read mostly lit-fic and YA. Now, I mostly read romance and thrillers. Part of this is because, when I was younger, I used to self-validate by reading "smart" books. I didn't feel like I was allowed to enjoy books that were purely self-indulgent. Now I feel differently, and I tend to consume self-indulgent books almost exclusively, reviewing them critically but enjoying them unapologetically.
Q: What do you like more: reading or writing?
A: Writing is more satisfying but reading is more relaxing. I enjoy both, and tend to write the sorts of stories I enjoy reading (which is a good thing, because when I start editing, I end up reading them literally hundreds of times hahaha *cries*)
Q: Anything fun planned to come out this year?
I'm working on another dark stepbrother romance called Adeane and Ravina. The story starts when the characters are 10 and 13, and follows them up to adulthood, like Quid Pro Quo. I also have an erotic thriller I want to write called Raise the Blood, which will be written more in the vein of my Horrorscape series.
Q: Are any of your books inspired by real life?
A: Short answer: EEK, NO. Long answer: bits and pieces, yes. There's a scene in Batter My Heart where the heroine is mistreated by a snooty hotel manager because of the way she looks, and that's loosely based off a really terrible experience my mother and I had at a boutique cafe in the big city. Several of my heroines worked jobs that I used to work. And most of my books are set in California because that's where I live, and it's easy to write about places I've been.
Q: What are your favorite so bad they’re good books?
A: I love old school bodice-rippers. Some of them are objectively badly written and offensive, but that's what makes them so amusing. It's fun to talk about how the romance genre developed and see little glimpses into how people probably talked about and learned about history based on the way that history is represented in these old historicals. I also really enjoy trashy contemporary dark romance novels and sci-fi romance with aliens and space travel. I have a very sarcastic and dry sense of humor and tend to make fun of what I read, even if I enjoy it. There's a sweet spot between books that are good and bad, and a lot of my favorite books definitely fit into that niche.
Q: Got any fun stories about your cat?
A: Every time she "kills" one of her toys, she picks up in her teeth and parades it around the house while yowling. You have to follow the yowls, where she will be waiting, with the toy. Then she'll either drop it at your feet so you can throw it for her to chase, or lift up her butt so you can scratch her ass for a job well done. Either way, exuberant praise is expected and appreciated.
Q: I've always been curious as to how self-published books are made. What's your writing and editing process like, and what happens after?
A: I have a day job, so I do all my writing around that. Typically, I'll jot down a few ideas in the morning before I go to work and I do my writing and editing after work. I can write a book in 4-6 months if things are going well, but if I'm struggling, it can take more than a year. I also tend to write based off of inspiration, so there are some projects that get tabled since I don't like to force things. Editing takes another couple months because I'll read through the document multiple times, tweaking sentences and editing mistakes. I have some friends who beta but apart from that much appreciated help, I do all my own editing and formatting.
Q: How do you deal with negativity on goodreads, both as a writer and as a blogger?
A: I used to be way more reactive when I was younger, but that was a mistake. Now, I just tend to disengage or block. I'm really not interested in arguing with people or participating in drama. Some people don't get that and feel like they're entitled to post their opinion in your space, even if it's not wanted. But part of growing up is realizing that you don't owe people your time, and your emotional well-being goes up when you devote your headspace to people who are actually interested in talking to you person to person, on a civil, humanistic level, regardless of whether they agree with you or just want to have you be accountable for your actions.
Regarding reviews of my own work, I'm mostly just grateful people took the time. It sounds hokey, but it's true. Sometimes, I might not agree with what someone says but it's their right as a reviewer to state their honest opinion and I have no right to tell them otherwise. (It would be pretty hypocritical of me, actually, since I started out as a blogger.) I don't block people or unfriend people over negative reviews and I don't pressure readers or ARC reviewers to write good reviews. I want people to be honest. I don't want to be part of a community where people are punished for their honesty. And I especially don't want people I'm friendly with to feel like their friendship with me is contingent on them telling me what I want to hear. It's hard to grow as a creator if you don't take in at least some critical feedback, even-- especially-- if it's painful to hear.
Q: Favourite book at the start of the 21st Century and favourite book now?
A: At the beginning of the 21st century, I was still a kid, so my tastes have changed a lot. I used to read mostly lit-fic and YA. Now, I mostly read romance and thrillers. Part of this is because, when I was younger, I used to self-validate by reading "smart" books. I didn't feel like I was allowed to enjoy books that were purely self-indulgent. Now I feel differently, and I tend to consume self-indulgent books almost exclusively, reviewing them critically but enjoying them unapologetically.
Q: What do you like more: reading or writing?
A: Writing is more satisfying but reading is more relaxing. I enjoy both, and tend to write the sorts of stories I enjoy reading (which is a good thing, because when I start editing, I end up reading them literally hundreds of times hahaha *cries*)
Q: Anything fun planned to come out this year?
I'm working on another dark stepbrother romance called Adeane and Ravina. The story starts when the characters are 10 and 13, and follows them up to adulthood, like Quid Pro Quo. I also have an erotic thriller I want to write called Raise the Blood, which will be written more in the vein of my Horrorscape series.
Q: Are any of your books inspired by real life?
A: Short answer: EEK, NO. Long answer: bits and pieces, yes. There's a scene in Batter My Heart where the heroine is mistreated by a snooty hotel manager because of the way she looks, and that's loosely based off a really terrible experience my mother and I had at a boutique cafe in the big city. Several of my heroines worked jobs that I used to work. And most of my books are set in California because that's where I live, and it's easy to write about places I've been.
Q: What are your favorite so bad they’re good books?
A: I love old school bodice-rippers. Some of them are objectively badly written and offensive, but that's what makes them so amusing. It's fun to talk about how the romance genre developed and see little glimpses into how people probably talked about and learned about history based on the way that history is represented in these old historicals. I also really enjoy trashy contemporary dark romance novels and sci-fi romance with aliens and space travel. I have a very sarcastic and dry sense of humor and tend to make fun of what I read, even if I enjoy it. There's a sweet spot between books that are good and bad, and a lot of my favorite books definitely fit into that niche.
Q: Got any fun stories about your cat?
A: Every time she "kills" one of her toys, she picks up in her teeth and parades it around the house while yowling. You have to follow the yowls, where she will be waiting, with the toy. Then she'll either drop it at your feet so you can throw it for her to chase, or lift up her butt so you can scratch her ass for a job well done. Either way, exuberant praise is expected and appreciated.
February 9, 2023
RENT GIRL is FREE for a limited time!
Hi all! My very dark mafia romance, RENT GIRL, is free for a limited time! Make sure you grab a copy-- and I'd absolutely love it if you left a review! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...
February 8, 2023
Got questions for me? Ask me anything!
It's been like six months since I did my last AMA. Last time, I got a lot of interesting questions from all of you guys, which I answered in a post. If you would like to ask me questions about my blogging, my books, or anything else, please feel free to do so here! I'll collect the lot and do a follow-up in a couple days.
January 8, 2023
I hit the friend cap :(
So after 10+ years on this site, I hit the friend cap on Goodreads which means no more new friends (Alexa, play Air Supply's "All Out of Love"). Which is a weird feeling to say the least. I was an awkward quiet kid who loved reading, especially because it made me feel connected at a time where I was painfully lonely, and I feel so happy for other awkward, quiet kids who have this site to engage with others and make friends because I would have traded half my books for a piece of this action at fourteen.
I'm really honored that so many people want to get to know me/connect with me now, although on the other side of that same token, I also feel a lot of responsibility because of that following, which can also make me feel anxious. Especially when reviewing books of a sensitive nature. I want to share my opinion while also being socially responsible and giving authors a fair shot. It's hard writing honest reviews because negative criticism is never easy to hear, even though I think it can-- and should-- be shared responsibly. Life is short, you know? You shouldn't have to feel guilty about not wanting to spend time on something you didn't enjoy and I think people should be able to express that. Especially when you can use that precious time to read something that you love and want to share with the world.
Anyway, if you missed out on friending me on here, you can find me on Twitter, Reddit, and Hive Social @NeniaCampbell, or on Instagram @alwaysbeebooked (where I showcase books from my FABULOUS retro romance collection!). I also have a Facebook fanpage, which is a really surreal thing to say in a non-ironic way, but if you're into my books, that's the best place to get news about my published work. (Link in bio.)
If you want to check out my work, you can buy my ebooks on Amazon or find some of them for free on Kindle Unlimited. We can still be friends even if you hate them. Also, you can just follow me on here, too. My reviews are friends-only to comment but you can say hello on my status updates.
I can't wait to share (more) bookpinions with y'all and maybe connect with you elsewhere, too. Thanks for following my weird ass and validating my book snobbery.
Vive la trash and yeet all the books. xox
I'm really honored that so many people want to get to know me/connect with me now, although on the other side of that same token, I also feel a lot of responsibility because of that following, which can also make me feel anxious. Especially when reviewing books of a sensitive nature. I want to share my opinion while also being socially responsible and giving authors a fair shot. It's hard writing honest reviews because negative criticism is never easy to hear, even though I think it can-- and should-- be shared responsibly. Life is short, you know? You shouldn't have to feel guilty about not wanting to spend time on something you didn't enjoy and I think people should be able to express that. Especially when you can use that precious time to read something that you love and want to share with the world.
Anyway, if you missed out on friending me on here, you can find me on Twitter, Reddit, and Hive Social @NeniaCampbell, or on Instagram @alwaysbeebooked (where I showcase books from my FABULOUS retro romance collection!). I also have a Facebook fanpage, which is a really surreal thing to say in a non-ironic way, but if you're into my books, that's the best place to get news about my published work. (Link in bio.)
If you want to check out my work, you can buy my ebooks on Amazon or find some of them for free on Kindle Unlimited. We can still be friends even if you hate them. Also, you can just follow me on here, too. My reviews are friends-only to comment but you can say hello on my status updates.
I can't wait to share (more) bookpinions with y'all and maybe connect with you elsewhere, too. Thanks for following my weird ass and validating my book snobbery.
Vive la trash and yeet all the books. xox
December 30, 2022
Year in review + what's next!
2022 was such a big year for me as an author because I managed to publish FOUR books (Rent Girl, Little Deaths, Batter My Heart, and The Other Woman) while working a full-time job and one of my books (Little Deaths) ended up as a #2 "best-seller" in the Kindle store when I put it up for free!
I have so many stories I'm excited to write next. I have a fantasy romance planned, another family gothic in the vein of Quid Pro Quo and Little Deaths, and a spin-off book to the Horrorscape series about Gavin's younger brother, Luca, called Wildscape.
Historically, I've not had the healthiest relationship to my writing. I've always said I'm my own worst critic and this remains true. I'm also a workaholic and push myself way too hard, sometimes at the cost of my mental and physical well being. My goal going forward is to be kinder to myself while still writing the stories I want to write, and to give myself breaks if I need/want them.
As a reviewer, I also want to try to focus more on indie works this year because I want to support other authors the way people support me. Being an indie is hard and the little things that can be easy to take for granted-- a Facebook recommendation, a quick review-- matter so much more. I've already found several new authors whose works have blown me away. I can't wait to find more.
Anyway, here's to the new year. I know I'm very lucky to have the platform and the audience that I have, and I feel grateful for it every day. Let's make the next year an even better one than this. I hope all your resolutions and wishes will be coming true.
Cheers, everyone. <3
I have so many stories I'm excited to write next. I have a fantasy romance planned, another family gothic in the vein of Quid Pro Quo and Little Deaths, and a spin-off book to the Horrorscape series about Gavin's younger brother, Luca, called Wildscape.
Historically, I've not had the healthiest relationship to my writing. I've always said I'm my own worst critic and this remains true. I'm also a workaholic and push myself way too hard, sometimes at the cost of my mental and physical well being. My goal going forward is to be kinder to myself while still writing the stories I want to write, and to give myself breaks if I need/want them.
As a reviewer, I also want to try to focus more on indie works this year because I want to support other authors the way people support me. Being an indie is hard and the little things that can be easy to take for granted-- a Facebook recommendation, a quick review-- matter so much more. I've already found several new authors whose works have blown me away. I can't wait to find more.
Anyway, here's to the new year. I know I'm very lucky to have the platform and the audience that I have, and I feel grateful for it every day. Let's make the next year an even better one than this. I hope all your resolutions and wishes will be coming true.
Cheers, everyone. <3
December 24, 2022
LITTLE DEATHS Is FREE Today (12/24)
Happy holidays and merry Christmas eve to those who celebrate. Today's freebie is my new release, LITTLE DEATHS. It's an interracial reverse age gap romance with a virgin hero and a retired film actress heroine. It's also sort of slasher-movie inspired and takes place during Halloween.
Grab it HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNXZ1XQ9
Grab it HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNXZ1XQ9
