Stylo Fantome's Blog - Posts Tagged "jameson-kane"
IT'S LIVE!!
It is LIVE on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Degradation-Sty...
Well, months and months of typing, doubting myself, doubting the words, doubting Jameson ..., months of editing, eye strain, and carpal tunnel ..., months of learning how the indie world works, the blog world, and the publishing world ..., all down to this day.
I kinda feel like I just got done with a big homework project and now it's time to veg out and like have a slumber party, root beer floats, nachos, all that good stuff.
Thank you to EVERYONE who read it - I will most likely be harassing you for days to come to review on the websites it's posted to.
Thank you for you kind words and awesome reviews, thank you for pushing me and helping me as an author, thank you for making me feel like I'm not so alone.
Cause strangely, sometimes writing erotica, it does feel that way.
So, THANK YOU.
http://www.amazon.com/Degradation-Sty...
Well, months and months of typing, doubting myself, doubting the words, doubting Jameson ..., months of editing, eye strain, and carpal tunnel ..., months of learning how the indie world works, the blog world, and the publishing world ..., all down to this day.
I kinda feel like I just got done with a big homework project and now it's time to veg out and like have a slumber party, root beer floats, nachos, all that good stuff.
Thank you to EVERYONE who read it - I will most likely be harassing you for days to come to review on the websites it's posted to.
Thank you for you kind words and awesome reviews, thank you for pushing me and helping me as an author, thank you for making me feel like I'm not so alone.
Cause strangely, sometimes writing erotica, it does feel that way.
So, THANK YOU.
S&M - "Now the pain is my pleasure, Cause nothing could measure"
I am writing this blog as an "instruction" manual of sorts for my book, ha ha, as I have seen people show confusion over it. Is it dark? Is it erotica? Is it abuse? Why does Jameson say such mean things? And why does Tate tolerate it? Shock that he says those kinds of things period, and shock that a woman would like it.
The dictionary defines sadomasochism as:
Noun.
1. interaction, especially sexual activity, in which one person enjoys inflicting physical or mental suffering on another person, who derives pleasure from experiencing pain.
I'm sorry, Rihanna, but whips and chains aren't the only way to play at S&M. Jameson Kane prefers to use his mouth - specifically his words. Tatum happens to like it.
My book showcases a consensual sadomasochistic relationship. Not BDSM. Sadomasochism. There is a difference, and people seem to be confused by this - they see sadomasochism, their brain thinks S&M, and then immediately bondage and riding crops pop in to their heads. But S&M - even BDSM - covers a HUGE group and genre. It can be lots of different things! That's why I love authors like SD Hildreth and CJ Roberts and Olivia Cunning, who are willing to explore any and ALL avenues of sexual wants and desires.
My book is kinky. I think it is fetish. I think it is unusual. I think it is crazy. I think it is dirty-talk on a whole new level. And I think it is DEFINITELY taboo.
Jameson is not a hero, nor does he want to be one.
Tate is not a heroine, she is just a girl living life her way.
And if there is any lingering confusion as to what this story is about, the title of the book is not on accident.
Degradation: noun
1. The act of degrading
Degrading: verb
1. to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt
2. to lower in character or quality; debase.
The dictionary defines sadomasochism as:
Noun.
1. interaction, especially sexual activity, in which one person enjoys inflicting physical or mental suffering on another person, who derives pleasure from experiencing pain.
I'm sorry, Rihanna, but whips and chains aren't the only way to play at S&M. Jameson Kane prefers to use his mouth - specifically his words. Tatum happens to like it.
My book showcases a consensual sadomasochistic relationship. Not BDSM. Sadomasochism. There is a difference, and people seem to be confused by this - they see sadomasochism, their brain thinks S&M, and then immediately bondage and riding crops pop in to their heads. But S&M - even BDSM - covers a HUGE group and genre. It can be lots of different things! That's why I love authors like SD Hildreth and CJ Roberts and Olivia Cunning, who are willing to explore any and ALL avenues of sexual wants and desires.
My book is kinky. I think it is fetish. I think it is unusual. I think it is crazy. I think it is dirty-talk on a whole new level. And I think it is DEFINITELY taboo.
Jameson is not a hero, nor does he want to be one.
Tate is not a heroine, she is just a girl living life her way.
And if there is any lingering confusion as to what this story is about, the title of the book is not on accident.
Degradation: noun
1. The act of degrading
Degrading: verb
1. to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt
2. to lower in character or quality; debase.
Who Wants to Meet Sanders!? Cause I Have Him Right Here ...
Okay, so I only post blogs on Monday - but I have this ..., contest? Competition? THINGY going on my Facebook page, and I realized some of you who follow me and/or read this might be interested to!
Who wants an excerpt!? At 50 Amazon.com reviews, I will post an excerpt with Sanders' back story! Sanders tends to be EVERYONE'S favorite character - as he should be; he's my favorite character that I've ever written - and I know a lot of people are very curious about him. Rest assured, there is a lot more of him in the next book.
Goodreads reviews are AWESOME, I never want to discourage someone from leaving a review on Goodreads - I am shocked and proud and weepy and girly and stupid over the reviews and ratings I have received on Goodreads, thank you all!
Amazon ratings and reviews are very important, too, however. The way I buy books is usually I see one recommended on a blog, I look it up on Amazon, and then I read the reviews posted there, and after I buy it, I add it to Goodreads. So without those Amazon reviews, I wouldn't buy that book.
SO! I am at 23 reviews on Amazon, currently, and 54 ratings on Goodreads! Let's see if we can get those numbers to match a little more closely! If you have read the book and liked it, if it isn't too much trouble, please take a moment to leave a couple lines on Amazon.com! Thanks!
And when we hit that magic number, I will post Sanders' story here in this blog
;D
Who wants an excerpt!? At 50 Amazon.com reviews, I will post an excerpt with Sanders' back story! Sanders tends to be EVERYONE'S favorite character - as he should be; he's my favorite character that I've ever written - and I know a lot of people are very curious about him. Rest assured, there is a lot more of him in the next book.
Goodreads reviews are AWESOME, I never want to discourage someone from leaving a review on Goodreads - I am shocked and proud and weepy and girly and stupid over the reviews and ratings I have received on Goodreads, thank you all!
Amazon ratings and reviews are very important, too, however. The way I buy books is usually I see one recommended on a blog, I look it up on Amazon, and then I read the reviews posted there, and after I buy it, I add it to Goodreads. So without those Amazon reviews, I wouldn't buy that book.
SO! I am at 23 reviews on Amazon, currently, and 54 ratings on Goodreads! Let's see if we can get those numbers to match a little more closely! If you have read the book and liked it, if it isn't too much trouble, please take a moment to leave a couple lines on Amazon.com! Thanks!
And when we hit that magic number, I will post Sanders' story here in this blog
;D
Aaaand ... what now?
The last couple weeks, I have had blogs prepared and ready to go, come Monday morning!
Uh ... not this week, apparently!
I have been busy editing (read: trying to edit) part 2 to Degradation!
If you're reading this, I'm going to assume you've looked at my book and looked at it's reviews, so it should be no surprise that there is a sequel to this novel.
But what you may not know is that it's written and is due to be published on 09/22! So I gotta get cracking!
I am scared of this book - part 1 was ready to go, waiting in my head. Part 2 did not come so easily, there were a lot of starts and stops, a lot of pages in the garbage.
I've talked about this before - I didn't find Degradation dark. A lot of people have, which is fine. But it makes me a little nervous because part 2 most definitely isn't dark. It'll be interesting to see peoples reactions to it, and to Jameson and his evolution.
If you have read Degradation, and are interested in reading and reviewing Part 2: Separation, I have a sign-up form for ARCs!
You must have read part 1, which is only $1.99 on Amazon and Nook. Preference is given to people who have written reviews for the first book, obviously, and signing up doesn't necessarily guarantee a copy - I would love all the reviews I can get, but can't afford to give away 200 copies, or anything like that ;D
Signing up early does increase your chances of getting one, though!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wjpL...
Uh ... not this week, apparently!
I have been busy editing (read: trying to edit) part 2 to Degradation!
If you're reading this, I'm going to assume you've looked at my book and looked at it's reviews, so it should be no surprise that there is a sequel to this novel.
But what you may not know is that it's written and is due to be published on 09/22! So I gotta get cracking!
I am scared of this book - part 1 was ready to go, waiting in my head. Part 2 did not come so easily, there were a lot of starts and stops, a lot of pages in the garbage.
I've talked about this before - I didn't find Degradation dark. A lot of people have, which is fine. But it makes me a little nervous because part 2 most definitely isn't dark. It'll be interesting to see peoples reactions to it, and to Jameson and his evolution.
If you have read Degradation, and are interested in reading and reviewing Part 2: Separation, I have a sign-up form for ARCs!
You must have read part 1, which is only $1.99 on Amazon and Nook. Preference is given to people who have written reviews for the first book, obviously, and signing up doesn't necessarily guarantee a copy - I would love all the reviews I can get, but can't afford to give away 200 copies, or anything like that ;D
Signing up early does increase your chances of getting one, though!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wjpL...
What Happens on Tour, Stays on Tour ...
So, I am having my FIRST EVER Blog Tour!!! ...
I'm still not entirely sure what that means, but it sounds fun, doesn't it!? I imagine like a huge tour bus, all hot pink and black, filled with Cheetos and vodkas and stripper poles and David Gandys ... erm ... am I talking out loud?
Sometimes I still second guess myself. Should I be talking more about my book in my blog posts? Just posting links? Same thing with Facebook - I rarely promote the book itself, haven't shared the link in a day or two. Is that wrong? Lots of other author pages seem to only share their links and teasers and promos and all that jazz ... should I be doing that? Am I "too involved" in my street team? I'm very vocal in the group, love to post stuff and have fun - I've never been in a street team, should the author not be involved?
WHERE ARE THE RULES!?!?
But then I think ... everything I've been doing, has been working for me. I mean, yeah, I'm not a #1 Bestselling author *yet! ;)*, but my book is still moving, still selling. I'm still getting reviews. And I see a lot of interaction and engagement on my Facebook page, whereas I see a lot other pages just sit there, with no likes, no comments. So something is working!
I second guessed myself a lot while writing Degradation, at first. "Is this too much? Should he not say this? Is that too bad? Too taboo?" But eventually, I would almost always say to myself "screw it, do it how you want, do it how it feels most natural for you." And I did. And it seemed to work, at least for the 74 people who have given it 5-stars and the 23 4-stars on this website.
So I'm gonna keep doin' how I do, just being me, and see where this crazy train leads all of us! Thanks for riding along!
You might want to think about following along on my Facebook page, cause I'm having a HUGE giveaway! Paperbacks, t-shirts, and swag, OH MY! Also, at the end of the week, I am going to be accepting new members into my street team! We laugh a lot, we drink a lot, we look at a lot of naughty pictures of hot guys. It is vair fun.
http://facebook.com/stylofantomeauthor
Also, though Degradation 2: Separation is due out 09/22, I will release Sanders' back story when I hit 50 amazon.com reviews, OR 1,500 Facebook likes, whichever comes first! Sanders is my favorite character, and he tends to be everyone else's, too.
Liking my author page on amazon.com helps get Degradation recommended on the website, which equals more exposure, which equals me being able to keep writing, so if you get a sec or think of it, here is that link:
http://www.amazon.com/author/stylofan...
And stay tuned for more fun, cause on Saturday, I will be uploading Separation's page to Goodreads, so you can add it to your TBR! And next week I will post the links to sign up for the tour and events for Separation!
EEEKK!!
I'm still not entirely sure what that means, but it sounds fun, doesn't it!? I imagine like a huge tour bus, all hot pink and black, filled with Cheetos and vodkas and stripper poles and David Gandys ... erm ... am I talking out loud?
Sometimes I still second guess myself. Should I be talking more about my book in my blog posts? Just posting links? Same thing with Facebook - I rarely promote the book itself, haven't shared the link in a day or two. Is that wrong? Lots of other author pages seem to only share their links and teasers and promos and all that jazz ... should I be doing that? Am I "too involved" in my street team? I'm very vocal in the group, love to post stuff and have fun - I've never been in a street team, should the author not be involved?
WHERE ARE THE RULES!?!?
But then I think ... everything I've been doing, has been working for me. I mean, yeah, I'm not a #1 Bestselling author *yet! ;)*, but my book is still moving, still selling. I'm still getting reviews. And I see a lot of interaction and engagement on my Facebook page, whereas I see a lot other pages just sit there, with no likes, no comments. So something is working!
I second guessed myself a lot while writing Degradation, at first. "Is this too much? Should he not say this? Is that too bad? Too taboo?" But eventually, I would almost always say to myself "screw it, do it how you want, do it how it feels most natural for you." And I did. And it seemed to work, at least for the 74 people who have given it 5-stars and the 23 4-stars on this website.
So I'm gonna keep doin' how I do, just being me, and see where this crazy train leads all of us! Thanks for riding along!
You might want to think about following along on my Facebook page, cause I'm having a HUGE giveaway! Paperbacks, t-shirts, and swag, OH MY! Also, at the end of the week, I am going to be accepting new members into my street team! We laugh a lot, we drink a lot, we look at a lot of naughty pictures of hot guys. It is vair fun.
http://facebook.com/stylofantomeauthor
Also, though Degradation 2: Separation is due out 09/22, I will release Sanders' back story when I hit 50 amazon.com reviews, OR 1,500 Facebook likes, whichever comes first! Sanders is my favorite character, and he tends to be everyone else's, too.
Liking my author page on amazon.com helps get Degradation recommended on the website, which equals more exposure, which equals me being able to keep writing, so if you get a sec or think of it, here is that link:
http://www.amazon.com/author/stylofan...
And stay tuned for more fun, cause on Saturday, I will be uploading Separation's page to Goodreads, so you can add it to your TBR! And next week I will post the links to sign up for the tour and events for Separation!
EEEKK!!
Paranormal Activity ...
So, maybe I should address something.
This book IS NOT paranormal. Jameson Kane is not REALLY Satan, he just acts like the devil most of the time, so that's what Tate calls him in her head. It's what Ang calls him all the time, period.
When we were first designing my cover, I really wanted his hands around her neck, and we thought of making them red, but I was worried it would come off too BDSM-y and too paranormal-y, so we scrapped that idea.
Well, it's still coming off as paranormal, I guess, HAHA. But I just can't help it, that's his nickname in my head. And strangely, not because of his dirty talk or sexual proclivities - but because of his spoiled brat attitude and selfishness.
But there is no real devil in this book, no angels or demons, or battle of good vs. evil. At least, not in a literal sense.
At least the paranormal vibe around the book will be less with Book 2, which is going to be published in a little over a month, YAY!
Degradation part 2: Separation, was actually a lot harder for me to write, and a lot scarier in ways. Degradation sat at as a fully formed novel in my head. Separation was a struggle.
How do you make the "devil" likable? Is that even possible? Jameson Kane was barely tolerable in the first book - now he has to not only be likable, but forgivable ...
How many -ables can I fit in to this post ...
We'll see if I can do it. Book 2 ARCs are off with a handful of reviewers, so as the reviews start trickling in, we'll see what they think!
I hope you like it, and I hope you enjoy the evolution of Jameson Kane. I know I did.
This book IS NOT paranormal. Jameson Kane is not REALLY Satan, he just acts like the devil most of the time, so that's what Tate calls him in her head. It's what Ang calls him all the time, period.
When we were first designing my cover, I really wanted his hands around her neck, and we thought of making them red, but I was worried it would come off too BDSM-y and too paranormal-y, so we scrapped that idea.
Well, it's still coming off as paranormal, I guess, HAHA. But I just can't help it, that's his nickname in my head. And strangely, not because of his dirty talk or sexual proclivities - but because of his spoiled brat attitude and selfishness.
But there is no real devil in this book, no angels or demons, or battle of good vs. evil. At least, not in a literal sense.
At least the paranormal vibe around the book will be less with Book 2, which is going to be published in a little over a month, YAY!
Degradation part 2: Separation, was actually a lot harder for me to write, and a lot scarier in ways. Degradation sat at as a fully formed novel in my head. Separation was a struggle.
How do you make the "devil" likable? Is that even possible? Jameson Kane was barely tolerable in the first book - now he has to not only be likable, but forgivable ...
How many -ables can I fit in to this post ...
We'll see if I can do it. Book 2 ARCs are off with a handful of reviewers, so as the reviews start trickling in, we'll see what they think!
I hope you like it, and I hope you enjoy the evolution of Jameson Kane. I know I did.
Morning Cup-o-Kink, with a Dash of News, and a Hint-o-Bragging
So for the Hint-o-Bragging:
Oh my giddy-god's pajamas, Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews has picked Degradation as one of their six HOTTEST READS OF THE SUMMER. Died a little. It is in a giveaway that Sinfully does with FOUR other blogs that you just might have heard of, who all also included their top hottest reads - so THIRTY signed paperback books are up for grabs in an AMAZING giveaway, that you can find here:
http://bit.ly/1s2g8lv
Or at any of these blogs:
Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
The Rock Stars of Romance
Schmexy Girl Book Blog
True Story Book Blog
The SubClub Books
And in the News Department:
Separation releases in ONE WEEK! AHHHHH! Excited and nervous and scared and elated and .... maybe want to throw up a little ...
Since I'm SO EXCITED for the continuation of Jameson's story, I am putting Degradation on sale for that weekend, the 20th, 21st, and 22nd! Only .99¢! So if you've been hesitating over buying it, here is your chance! Get it on sale and then Separation will be available on Monday for a back-to-back read!
Cup-o-Kink:
I have always ALWAYS written some kind of romance, I can recognize that now. It is a theme in every story I've ever done. But erotica!? Hell yeah, I like to read it, but write it!? I can't even get through Pretty Woman without putting a pillow over my face!
So last year, around March, I set out to write a contemporary romance novel, complete with sex scenes. You guys, if you could read it now ... it's embarrassing how bland and boring it is. So I decided to try again - and this time, I wanted to write an Alpha. So I wrote ANOTHER story, so big I had to break it into two parts. Stronger, more descriptive sex scenes, but still very safely in the contemporary department.
And then along came Jameson. "Hallloooo, leave your inhibitions at the door, bitch, cause it's about to become a bumpy fuckin' ride." I had NEVER written full-on erotica, until Jameson's story. That BJ scene in the library? Yup, first time writing one of those! And now it's somewhat of a favorite.
"Hmmm, maybe I actually CAN do this ..."
But "problem" arose - Degradation is considered by a lot to be a "dark" read. How did that happen? I don't write dark. Do I? I wasn't trying to write dark. What would happen if I actually REALLY tried to write dark?
So I tried it. And you know what happened? NADA. Nothing. Kept stalling. Didn't flow AT ALL. Dropped stories and switched pages and booooorrrriiiinnnggg.
So I started again. A lot of time, when I'm going to bed, I try to clear my mind and think very clearly to myself "what do YOU want to see?" and then thoughts and images kinda float through my brain.
I kept picturing James Spader, and thinking a lot about a lot of his movies. A story line started to develop. But I was kind of scared of it, scared that it would stall like the rest, so I waited almost a week before opening that new page.
BOOM. 30,000 words and still going - I had to force myself to stop so I could finish editing Separation. And I think I kinda sorta (not really) figured something out.
I don't write dark - I write SEX. THAT is my genre. Is that a genre? Well, it is now. It just seems to come easily to me (not saying that it's technically good, just saying it's what flows the most naturally).
Kinky sex. Taboo sex. Fetish sex. Things that make you go "this is wrong, but I can't stop reading about it". I love it, I love writing about it, I love exploring it. I'm not very kinky or taboo or fetish-y in real life, but I think that might be part of it - a curiosity about those things, maybe, that drives me to write stories about them.
"Well, I don't like being choked out or slapped around or called names - but I do kinda wonder what it's like to live that lifestyle, or why those people like it. Maybe if I try to write a story about it, I can get in that mind set a little ..."
I have seen people complain about some other book/s being "all about sex"! Well, why not?, I say. Why can't sex be THE plot? A large chunk of most peoples' adult lives revolves a little bit around sex. Losing your virginity, trying to find someone to have sex with, trying to make it good, trying to have babies, whatever - why can't a book be about that? Because it's sex? Sex isn't worthy of its own plotline?
Apparently in my world it is.
I hope you read and liked Degradation. I hope you read and like Separation - it is a very different book, a departure. I hope you read and like Reparation, when it comes out in December.
And I hope you like them enough to stick around and see what else I've got up my sleeves, because I'm thinking there just might maybe some more stuff up there ... some kinky and syrupy sweet and bad for you and so so good for you ... and maybe just a hint-o-dark ...
Psychology (or why my brain don't work no good)
So a question I have asked myself a couple times over the years, and CONSTANTLY since July 21st - why is it always easier to believe bad over good?
Ten people tell you that your outfit is cute. One douchebag says your ass looks fat. Night. OVER.
It's the same way with reviews. One negative review easily discredits all positive.
Why? This is not logical. This doesn't make sense. From a clinical, objective stand point, I can step aside and say "not everyone will like everything, and just because someone doesn't like it, doesn't mean it's 'bad', it's just a difference of opinion. A difference of taste. And one versus many obviously shows which one you should take seriously."
But from a normal, every day person stand point, it's more like "GOD WHY!? WHY!? WHY DID I DO THIS!? Maybe I can delete the book and no one will ever know I hit publish!"
Which is STUPID. I KNOW this is STUPID. I would think someone else was STUPID for reacting this way. So why do some many of us authors feel this way?
I had an "ah ha!" moment today, after I received a less than stellar review. I had read the review and kept thinking "yup, exactly. That's what I was worried about - that the story read like that, came off like that. Horrible. I knew it."
And that's when it dawned on me - confirmation.
Someone gives a positive review. Lots of people give positive reviews. HUNDREDS of people give positive reviews. I'm shocked. I'm surprised. I'm astounded.
But ONE person gives a negative review, and it feels like a confirmation. All the others are just nice surprises - the negative is confirming the thought that is already in my brain, thus my brain takes it to be the real truth.
How horrible we are, as human beings, that most of us are hard-wired to think this way, feel this way. We're never quite good enough, skinny enough, pretty enough, talented enough. We're always thinking we fall just a little short, so every agreement with that sentiment, is like someone speaking the truth.
It's all a very STUPID way to think.
I'm glad I had that moment, it made me feel better about some things. Sure, negative comments are always gonna make a person feel a little down, but realizing that really it's me feeling that way, and not the person saying those things, makes it easier to deal with and move on.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Separation went LIVE today! As of a few moments ago, it was #671 in Kindle Paid! Dayuuuuuum - that's 671 out of 1.3 MILLION Kindle books! I'll take that! I am also ranked at #217 for Contemporary Romance in ALL books, and #1,171 for ALL books, PERIOD.
Feel very ..., elated. Amazed. Wonderfied. Is that a word? It is now.
Thanks everyone.
Ten people tell you that your outfit is cute. One douchebag says your ass looks fat. Night. OVER.
It's the same way with reviews. One negative review easily discredits all positive.
Why? This is not logical. This doesn't make sense. From a clinical, objective stand point, I can step aside and say "not everyone will like everything, and just because someone doesn't like it, doesn't mean it's 'bad', it's just a difference of opinion. A difference of taste. And one versus many obviously shows which one you should take seriously."
But from a normal, every day person stand point, it's more like "GOD WHY!? WHY!? WHY DID I DO THIS!? Maybe I can delete the book and no one will ever know I hit publish!"
Which is STUPID. I KNOW this is STUPID. I would think someone else was STUPID for reacting this way. So why do some many of us authors feel this way?
I had an "ah ha!" moment today, after I received a less than stellar review. I had read the review and kept thinking "yup, exactly. That's what I was worried about - that the story read like that, came off like that. Horrible. I knew it."
And that's when it dawned on me - confirmation.
Someone gives a positive review. Lots of people give positive reviews. HUNDREDS of people give positive reviews. I'm shocked. I'm surprised. I'm astounded.
But ONE person gives a negative review, and it feels like a confirmation. All the others are just nice surprises - the negative is confirming the thought that is already in my brain, thus my brain takes it to be the real truth.
How horrible we are, as human beings, that most of us are hard-wired to think this way, feel this way. We're never quite good enough, skinny enough, pretty enough, talented enough. We're always thinking we fall just a little short, so every agreement with that sentiment, is like someone speaking the truth.
It's all a very STUPID way to think.
I'm glad I had that moment, it made me feel better about some things. Sure, negative comments are always gonna make a person feel a little down, but realizing that really it's me feeling that way, and not the person saying those things, makes it easier to deal with and move on.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Separation went LIVE today! As of a few moments ago, it was #671 in Kindle Paid! Dayuuuuuum - that's 671 out of 1.3 MILLION Kindle books! I'll take that! I am also ranked at #217 for Contemporary Romance in ALL books, and #1,171 for ALL books, PERIOD.
Feel very ..., elated. Amazed. Wonderfied. Is that a word? It is now.
Thanks everyone.
Condom Conundrum
So.
This is something I have seen complained about, on several occasions. With my books, and with other books.
Condoms.
Why are book boyfriends such filthy whores that they never use condoms!?
Gross.
Honestly? I couldn't care two ways if a guy in a book uses a condom - these are just MY personal thoughts on the issue. You never once read about Jameson using a condom because - to be quite honest - I didn't think about it. I write sex scenes in a very similar fashion to how they happen in real life - quickly, without thinking too much about it, just trying to get to that explosive ending.
If an author wants to write condom use in to their story, bravo, good for them. But if they don't, I don't hold it against them, either.
In my opinion, we're reading FICTION, and since it's FICTION, then maybe this book takes place in a land where STDs don't exist and you only get pregnant when you decide you want to get pregnant.
Or maybe, since it's FICTION, the author is just glossing over it, and in the push and pull of the moment, the condom wrapping did happen, we just weren't privy to it. Most authors don't write in every time their characters pee and poop, but I'm gonna go ahead and assume those things happen, too (notice no one complains about that? Gotcha!).
Harry Potter is also FICTION, and I didn't need a disclaimer every time Harry whipped out his wand *nyuck nyuck* explaining to me that magic is not, in fact, real (LIES!!!!). I know magic isn't real. I know that I can't fly, or cast spells, or disappear - but I love to read about it, so I go with it. I don't need someone to remind me that it isn't real.
I know that under no circumstances, should a person EVER have sex for the first time with someone else WITHOUT using a condom. The only thing that's 100% safe is abstinence - if you don't want a fetching case of the Herpes, or a baby, wrap it up!
But I know that I am writing AND reading something that is entirely FICTION. And people will continue arguing this point, and maybe feel it's an author's duty to set a good example, or what have you.
But no one should use Jameson as a leading example for ANYTHING, least of all safe sex. He is a very, very bad boy.
Did you read the part where he likes to pay for sex!?
Gross.
(I'd still totally jump on that)
This is something I have seen complained about, on several occasions. With my books, and with other books.
Condoms.
Why are book boyfriends such filthy whores that they never use condoms!?
Gross.
Honestly? I couldn't care two ways if a guy in a book uses a condom - these are just MY personal thoughts on the issue. You never once read about Jameson using a condom because - to be quite honest - I didn't think about it. I write sex scenes in a very similar fashion to how they happen in real life - quickly, without thinking too much about it, just trying to get to that explosive ending.
If an author wants to write condom use in to their story, bravo, good for them. But if they don't, I don't hold it against them, either.
In my opinion, we're reading FICTION, and since it's FICTION, then maybe this book takes place in a land where STDs don't exist and you only get pregnant when you decide you want to get pregnant.
Or maybe, since it's FICTION, the author is just glossing over it, and in the push and pull of the moment, the condom wrapping did happen, we just weren't privy to it. Most authors don't write in every time their characters pee and poop, but I'm gonna go ahead and assume those things happen, too (notice no one complains about that? Gotcha!).
Harry Potter is also FICTION, and I didn't need a disclaimer every time Harry whipped out his wand *nyuck nyuck* explaining to me that magic is not, in fact, real (LIES!!!!). I know magic isn't real. I know that I can't fly, or cast spells, or disappear - but I love to read about it, so I go with it. I don't need someone to remind me that it isn't real.
I know that under no circumstances, should a person EVER have sex for the first time with someone else WITHOUT using a condom. The only thing that's 100% safe is abstinence - if you don't want a fetching case of the Herpes, or a baby, wrap it up!
But I know that I am writing AND reading something that is entirely FICTION. And people will continue arguing this point, and maybe feel it's an author's duty to set a good example, or what have you.
But no one should use Jameson as a leading example for ANYTHING, least of all safe sex. He is a very, very bad boy.
Did you read the part where he likes to pay for sex!?
Gross.
(I'd still totally jump on that)
I Wish I Could Say I Did It All for You ...
So Reparation is on its way. It has been sent to beta-readers, and has gotten good feedback. It is with an editor right now, as well. One more set of rewrites and edits, and ARCs will be ready to go out.
Do to my amazing stalking abilities, I have seen people comment with things like "well, potential release date", or wondering if Sanders' prologue was just written because of "fan" interest in him from the first book.
I can tell you, Reparation will 110% be published on time. How do I know that? Because it's written. It's finished. Keeping a promise is important to me, and giving a release date is making a promise, in my opinion. I wouldn't have set that date if I didn't think I could make it, and I was able to set that date because why? The story was written.
Same with the Sanders prologue. I loved Sanders by the middle of writing Degradation. I already knew his backstory by the end of it - it demanded to be told, hence why it was the prologue to part two. I also knew he would be playing a much bigger part, so I wanted to get his story out there to explain some more about him and his ways.
I had no idea people would respond to him the way they have - I am beyond delighted and pleased. I get more comments about Sanders than I do about Tate, Jameson, and Ang combined. People just love him, and I'm so proud of him and the character he became. I'm very glad people love him as much as I do - but his story existed and was written long before I hit publish.
I wrote Degradation in early February of this year, 2014. I took the entire month of March off from life, didn't type or read a word, as I was dealing with a family emergency.
I picked the story line back up in mid-March. Sanders' prologue was the very first thing I thought of, very first thing I wrote. When I re-read, I actually usually skip it because I've read it SO MANY TIMES now. Separation had three separate starts - over 100 pages went in the trash - but Sanders' prologue always remained.
I think Reparation got started some time in April. The entire storyline was completely finished by the end of May. Did some rewrites and edits on Degradation, and then I started sending out ARCs between June 15th-20th - the same time I set up this account and my Facebook account.
So The Kane Trilogy was a trilogy long before I ever hit publish - my mission statement is no joke, I would never EVER publish an unfinished storyline.
Separation was such a bitch to write, caused me so many problems, took a massive amount more time to write than either Degradation or Reparation. Imagine if I had published Degradation without writing Separation? I would probably still be working on it right now. And I - personally - don't think that's okay or fair to do, with a cliffhanger ending. Why should readers suffer because I have writer's block and poor planning abilities? I can just hold my horses and NOT hit publish - people can't get antsy about a book they don't know exists.
So there you have it. I would like to say I included things just for the readers and fans - but alas, I did not. I couldn't, because everything you read existed long before any of you even knew who I was.
So if you have any input on my next stories, now is the time to put in your two cents to tell me what you want to see and read! Cause by the time I hit publish, everything will already long since be done.
Do to my amazing stalking abilities, I have seen people comment with things like "well, potential release date", or wondering if Sanders' prologue was just written because of "fan" interest in him from the first book.
I can tell you, Reparation will 110% be published on time. How do I know that? Because it's written. It's finished. Keeping a promise is important to me, and giving a release date is making a promise, in my opinion. I wouldn't have set that date if I didn't think I could make it, and I was able to set that date because why? The story was written.
Same with the Sanders prologue. I loved Sanders by the middle of writing Degradation. I already knew his backstory by the end of it - it demanded to be told, hence why it was the prologue to part two. I also knew he would be playing a much bigger part, so I wanted to get his story out there to explain some more about him and his ways.
I had no idea people would respond to him the way they have - I am beyond delighted and pleased. I get more comments about Sanders than I do about Tate, Jameson, and Ang combined. People just love him, and I'm so proud of him and the character he became. I'm very glad people love him as much as I do - but his story existed and was written long before I hit publish.
I wrote Degradation in early February of this year, 2014. I took the entire month of March off from life, didn't type or read a word, as I was dealing with a family emergency.
I picked the story line back up in mid-March. Sanders' prologue was the very first thing I thought of, very first thing I wrote. When I re-read, I actually usually skip it because I've read it SO MANY TIMES now. Separation had three separate starts - over 100 pages went in the trash - but Sanders' prologue always remained.
I think Reparation got started some time in April. The entire storyline was completely finished by the end of May. Did some rewrites and edits on Degradation, and then I started sending out ARCs between June 15th-20th - the same time I set up this account and my Facebook account.
So The Kane Trilogy was a trilogy long before I ever hit publish - my mission statement is no joke, I would never EVER publish an unfinished storyline.
Separation was such a bitch to write, caused me so many problems, took a massive amount more time to write than either Degradation or Reparation. Imagine if I had published Degradation without writing Separation? I would probably still be working on it right now. And I - personally - don't think that's okay or fair to do, with a cliffhanger ending. Why should readers suffer because I have writer's block and poor planning abilities? I can just hold my horses and NOT hit publish - people can't get antsy about a book they don't know exists.
So there you have it. I would like to say I included things just for the readers and fans - but alas, I did not. I couldn't, because everything you read existed long before any of you even knew who I was.
So if you have any input on my next stories, now is the time to put in your two cents to tell me what you want to see and read! Cause by the time I hit publish, everything will already long since be done.
