scandal on the pages
Here’s something you may not know: my book Make Me Blush isscandalous! Its the book series people told me not to write. Its a seriespeople told me no one would want to read.
But, here's the thing, the collection of linked stories isone of my top 5 books and has been for years. Nearing 100K reads on Radish andits been in the top five of several different top read lists on Wattpad for forabout 9 years. It sells well on Amazon, and I still get letters of appreciationfrom readers even though the book has been out for a while.
Do I think the book is scandalous? No, of course not. Its awork of fiction. I write fiction. I try to write unique stories that I thinkreaders will enjoy.
How did the series come to be? My editor wanted a new seriesconcept from me. At the time, the market was flooded with BDSM books. So, BDSMas a hook was out for me. Why do what everyone is already doing? BDSM isboundary pushing, so apparently readers were into boundary pushing reads. So Ineeded something to fit that niche. I did research on boundary pushinglifestyles. I read personal and community blog posts and scholarly(peer-reviewed) journal articles. After some time, I arrived at a concept. I didsome more research to be sure I had the elements correct and then off I went tothe keyboard. You can read my post publication thoughts here.
So, why do readers like this "unlikeable" book? Myguess is that people like to read about lives they'll never live and lives theydon't want to live but are curious about. After all, isn't experiencingsomething new and different from the safety of our favorite chair what fictionis all about?
Curious? Want to read this scandalous read? Get an ebook or paperback on Amazon.
Need a taste? Here's an excerpt:
“I’m sure we can help you, Edward. I just want to you becertain you understand the risks.”
Edward Dean, who’d been sitting casually with his legssplayed and his arms behind his head, straightened, pulling himself in andmoving his gaze across the chrome and glass of the Santa Monica bar. A nervoussheen of sweat coated his neck and back, and he reached up to shove his hairoff his forehead.
Winona, the woman seated in front of him, was completelycalm and in control. Her cool-blonde hair was wrapped into a complicatedhairstyle that Edward had seen before but never understood. Her gray silk suitwas tailored; her delicate shoes the only thing that hinted at her sexuality.But given that they had just spent the last two hours talking about nothing butsex, he was certain she knew her way around a bedroom. And many other places aswell.
She took a sip of her white wine then set the glass downgently on the crisp tablecloth before speaking again. “Do you need more time tothink things over?”
“No. That’s the problem.” Edward picked up his half-emptybourbon and spun it, watching the golden liquid swirl. “All I do is think aboutit. Over and over. Nothing changes. And then I think some more.” He took a sip,felt the liquid burn down his throat. “I tried. I can’t change anything. Ican’t do anything.”
“You are doing something. You came to me. All I’m going todo is put things in motion. The rest, what happens afterward—” She lifted herpalms. “Will be up to you.”
He nodded, but remained silent, looking beyond to watch thecars on Santa Monica Boulevard roll past. March in southern California,gorgeous as always.
“The risks, though. Those are something to consider. Once myman begins nothing can be undone.”
“But she’ll be given a safety word—violet. And she—”
“It’s isn’t the risks to your wife Kelly that I’m talkingabout now.” Winona leaned forward, her brown eyes clear and focused. “It’s therisk to you.”
Get an ebook or paperback on Amazon.
