Amazon Censoring Erotica? My Controversial Thoughts

Recently in the U.K. there was controversy surrounding Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and other ebook retailers selling what was deemed “rape and incest” porn. You can read an article here on the subject.

As a response, Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble have begun removing self-published titles from their inventory, performing a censorship to free speech that have many indie authors screaming foul.

So what are my thoughts on this matter? Well, it’s kind of complicated.

I guess the bottom line is this: As writers, we are obliged to NOT write shitty books with the sole purpose of milking a reader for their cash. Quite frankly I can’t see a title such as: “Naughty Daughter Abducted And Pounded By Daddy’s Cock: Anal Sex And BDSM With My Step Father (taboo daddy daughter erotica)” as having much thought put into their prose as say a book written by the wildly talented Anais Nin, and yes she does write a book with the word “Incest” in the title.

Sex is and always will be a huge part of our lives and sometimes there’s a darker side to sex that takes the human psyche into a taboo and fragile place. Freud and Jung made it a career analyzing the entire concept of the Oedipus complex. There’s a lot of stories that can be told related to the entire concept of incest that can be both controversial but though-provoking at the same time, such as V.C. Andrew’s Flower in the Attic or Push by Sapphire. Once again, I just can’t see “Naughty Daughter Abducted And Pounded By Daddy’s Cock: Anal Sex And BDSM With My Step Father (taboo daddy daughter erotica)” contributing much to the literary world in terms of thought provoking analysis on the entire daughter/step-father emotional relationship.

And P.S., I really hate writing up that title on my blog…not because it’s long winded but also because it’s literally filled with “google optimized” words guaranteed to attract the wrong type of readers to my blog. Just last week, some deranged pervert searched for “Little Boy Naked Ass Stories” and wound up on one of my more comedic posts.

So am I crying foul that Amazon and the other online book sellers are removing inappropriate books? Only if they’re censoring the well written ones. I know some readers think that all indie authors are shit, but I’ll have to object to that.

Hugh Howey, whose roots started out with indie publishing, is the author of the popular Wool , and has a real knack for creating authentic scenes with his words. You can also throw in Elliot Kay, author of Good Intentions (a hilarious and smexy book) onto the list of well read and brilliant indie authors. Don’t forget Roberto Bidnotto if you’re into edge of your seat thrillers, or Michael J. Sullivan if you love sword and sorcery, and there’s probably of hundreds of other “indie” authors I’m leaving out that are simply fantastic. I strive to be included in this list, giving my readers a sexy and thrilling book that’s well written, well thought out, and worth the time and money they invested into it.

If I can’t do that, then I mind as well give up now and go find that kite that everyone keeps telling me to fly.

So in conclusion, the entire issue of censorship could be solved if authors took the time to develop well thought out books and learned their craft to the best of their ability. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with writing and publishing erotica, however it’s the responsibility of the author to write it well and I just can’t see any author who respects their craft to create a title such as “Daddy’s Invisible Condom (Dumb Daughter Novelette).”

What are your thoughts on the book sellers censoring self-published smut books? Let’s hear it!