There’s a recent article in the LA
Times,
Self-published e-books rife with illicit erotica survey finds by
Hector Tobar, which claims “
erotica
is 25 times more prevalent in self-publishing than in traditional publishing”.
Apparently this statistic is causing the larger online retail book outlets to
reconsider the inclusion of these books on their sites. The article also cites
a lack of content oversight of self-pubbed books and low (zero?) reviews and ratings as a
reason for booksellers to be wary.
I am not an erotic author, but I
sure do enjoy a good HOT sex scene and have even employed several in my own
novels. I write about Passion and Suspense, my novels are published through a traditional small
press publisher (a fantastic one by the way, Vanilla Heart Publishing), as an Indie
author, my books have been consistently lumped in with self-published books. My personal
opinion, this is NOT a bad comparison.
For years authors (and publishers)
of self-published, small press and e-books have had to fight the stigma that
our books are not quality, not entertaining, not worthy of big name publishers.
Brick and mortar bookstores have rarely, if at all, dedicated shelf space to us;
online retailers, IF they carry our books, don’t make it easy for readers to
find our books while browsing; and several influential book critics refuse to
include our books in their set of reviews. Yet, we’ve still managed to infiltrate
the marketplace without conventional
means of support. We are here and strong.
Another article, less recent,
Sticks& Stones: The Changing Politics of the Self-Publishing Stigma by
Terri Giuliano Long seems to be as much in support of self-pubbed and Indie
authors as Tobar’s is in questioning our true value. Long’s article says, “Naomi Blackburn,
founder of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Book, a 400-member Goodreads book
club, believes self-publishing has opened the door for new voices and given
readers a far greater selection.” Long suggests that there are those in conglomerate(a.k.a.
Big Six) publishing who are trying to cast blame on Indie/self-published competition
for ups and downs in the industry.
There are several well-known,
successful authors who have self-published at some point including: T.S.
Elliot, Ernest Hemingway, Upton Sinclair, Henry David Thoreau, Edgar Allen Poe,
Stephen King, Anais Nin, George Bernard Shaw, Margaret Atwood, and many more. A few of the now very
successful and respected books that were not originally deemed suitable for
publication by major press were Carrie by Stephen King, Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and A Time to
Kill by John Grisham. Amazing industry hype brought enormous success to Fifty
Shades of Grey by E.L. James. And well known Jackie Collins re-released an
updated version of The Bitch AND self-published it as well, the book received
amazing reviews and references such as “Another Trashy Novel by the Queen of
Trash”.
While there are of course a FEW
authors who do not thoroughly edit their work before publication, and erotic
authors are trying to break into a (formerly) prudish conventional industry,
these excuses for the lack of support for the talent of Indie authors seem to
be a cover-up. Perhaps to minimize the competition?
Indie authors need to support each
other to help pave way to a greater acceptance, better sales, and pride. If a
book is entertaining and reasonably priced, most e-books certainly are, then it
will be bought by readers IF IT IS KNOWN. Just like our readers and fans, not
everyone is going to enjoy every genre, but if we read a good book, hear good
reviews by others, and know of a new author’s sincerity and talent, then we owe
it to ourselves and our own success to help promote our fellow Indie authors by
word of mouth, social networking, guest blogs, and posting our own good reviews.
Let’s create our own hype, raise
our voices and begin our own Indie Authors Movement.
(If you agree, please
share this article and start the noise)
He
trailed kisses down her neck while he let his hands explore the recesses of her
body. Davie
shuddered when he found the warmth between her thighs with his fingers.
"Am
I hurting you?" He was concerned. Even though he had made it a habit not
to get involved with any of his partners, she had made him pause. There was
something special about this girl; there was something about her that had
stayed in his mind ever since their first meeting.
"No…oh,
Adam, that feels so good." Davie
kissed him back as she felt her response spiraling toward the unknown.
"Adam…Adam…" Her breath caught.
"What
Sweetheart?" It was easy to see how excited she had become and it felt
good to know that he had that effect on her.
"Adam…"
She felt very timid. "I've never felt like this before."
"I'm
glad." He thought of how good it was going to feel when he entered her.
"I'm so very glad."
"Adam…teach
me…"
He
mated their lips and wrestled his tongue with hers. "What do you want me
to teach you?" He smiled against her neck.
"Teach
me how to…ooh…" She arched her back and pressed herself into his palm.
"How to make it good for you."
Oh
lord, so sweet, he thought as he took a delicate nub into his mouth. "How
could it not be good for me? You are so beautiful…"
Davie
felt another shudder run through her. "But, I don't know…Adam, I,"
She inhaled sharply as she felt his fingers probing inside her. "Adam…I've
never…"
For
the first time, Adam remained motionless. "Never…what?"
"I've…never
been with a man before." She sensed his withdrawal before he actually
pulled away.
Adam's
brow was furrowed, "What are you saying, Davie?"
The
icy chill that Davie
felt left her feeling embarrassed to be lying naked in bed with this man. She
pulled the bedsheet over her exposed breasts. "I've never been with a
man…before"
He
sat upright in bed seemingly unaware that he was just as naked as she was.
"Are you telling me that you're a virgin?"
Davie
sat up clutching the bed linens tightly to her body. "Yes."
"Damnation!"
Adam got up from the bed angrily. "You couldn't have told me that
before?"
Her
eyes welled with tears. "I didn't know we were going to wind up in your
bed…"
They
had gone out to dinner, again, and a walk in the park. His kisses turned into
an invitation back to his apartment. She wasn't naïve, she knew that they
might…get closer, but she was so spellbound by him…
"Dammit
Davie! I have
never taken a virgin before and I certainly don't intend to start with
you!"
She
watched incredulously as he pulled a pair of jeans on. "I'm sorry…I…"
Suddenly Davie felt angry. " If you thought that I thought it was going to be some kind
of commitment, you don't need to worry. I got carried away…don't worry, it
won't happen again." She stood taking the bed-sheet with her to cover
herself. "If you don't mind giving me some privacy, I'll get dressed."
Her
anger made him feel contrite and he responded in much gentler tones. "I'll
take you home as soon as you're ready."
"Don't
bother! I'll manage on my own." She stared at the bedroom door pointedly,
but he didn't budge. "Fine!" Davie
dropped the linen to the floor and picked up her clothing.
Earlier,
Adam's body had felt as cold as if he had been blasted with icy water, but as
he got another glimpse of her astonishingly beautiful naked body again, he was
happy he had donned his pants to hide his reaction.
"I…I'm
sorry", he turned his back to her. "I…I just can't be…the
first…"
"What?!"
"I'm sorry…" He left the room.
