Smashwords, Part One

So, my little children, I have tried to focus on getting part one of the Bound by Pleasure series uploaded to Smashwords, and it has sucked me dry. There is a 72 page guide one is highly recommended to devour first, and while I understand the need for it now that I realize what they're doing there, it is a bit daunting. I've made it through 24 pages, and am overwhelmed.

Essentially, Smashwords is converting your ebook to every different format so that it is compatible with all types of e-applications. Whether a reader has Kindle, Nook, IPad, Iphone, PDF or whatever; they will be able to purchase your book on Smashwords and use it on their preferred format. So it's a little bit more involved than it was when I did this just for the Kindle, which is done in the one Mobipocket format. They do have a list of people you can request, and just pay them to do it for you, but I think with a little time and brain cell burning on my part, I can get it. If I pay for this one low-priced book, I will never learn it myself for next time, right? Besides, I am more of a hands-on girl.

Just in case this discourages anyone considering it themselves, take heart, I will follow-up on my experience, and hopefully provide some useful tips. I should also confess to a very intimate secret about me: I'm technologically challenged. So if I could master the whole Kindle thing - and not completely fuck it up - then I think I can force this Smashwords thing into submission and make it do my bidding as well. Mmmm...it sounds sort of fun now.

Now I am off to work on the 2nd part of the Bound by Pleasure series, The Dungeon.

Bound By Pleasure, Part One, is Available!

Yes it's finally here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IDMDGS

So far, it's been live for almost 48 hours, and I've had a few intital sales. This has been an interesting and exciting process: the writing is one thing, the solo production is another.

As I had mentioned before, I am still very much a believer in traditional publishing, and there are plenty of publishers, agents, online sites, etc. that are publishing erotica. As a matter of fact, we have so many outlets now it is enough to make a girl (or guy, or girl, girl, guy or guy, guy, girl or....well you get the picture) howl with glee.

So do I have a master plan to dominate the erotic universe? Somewhat. I plan on going both ways. It is not at all a negation of traditional publishing routes, and there are several houses and sites out there that I would be so honored to be published by. To have that stamp of approval, professional editing resources, cover design, as well as marketing support would be orgasmic. But like anything else in the arts, you have to be the cream that rises to the top. I speak from my long, excruciating journey through the rock music business.

What I am doing currently with the whole kindle, smashwords self pub gig - is to gauge my sellability. Am I a writer that people will not only be intrigued enough to purchase originally - but will they come back begging for more? That's the key. I believe if I can prove that on my own - without all of the extra professional help - than an agent or publishing house might feel more confident in taking a chance on our girl Morticia.

It's not something I take lightly. I have a goal of output I want to meet, but it cannot  be met at the price of quality. So other self-pubbers take heed: don't just throw any unrevised, unedited hot encounter out there. It will be living in internet land - and that is something that can be very dangerous to your potential writing career if gazed upon by the wrong eyes. I was so wrung dry from the entire software, ebook building experience - I made a very obvious and unprofessional boo-boo that I had to go back and fix. Now that I have figured out the technical side of things, I hope I can be more alert to my inner editor.

My final comment on this entire self-pub thing - and I will keep everyone apprised to how it goes - make sure you also look at the marketing aspects. Plan out ahead of time what would be the best tags for your story, a good well-written description and excerpt. Pretend you are the buyer and think of the kinds of things that either turn you on and hit "Buy now", or the things that make you go "meh", and move onto one of the next of the thousands of choices that are out there. Link to your blog, facebook, twitter account. It's all about showing them yours, and getting them excited enough to look!

I will give an update on sales, as well as how I feel about the smashwords process once I get BBP: The Newbie, up on that site. Until then, many filthy dreams to you all.

Take a Peek

I'm pretty pumped up kiddies. I have finally tamed the kindle self-publishing dragon, and somehow managed to upload the 1st installment of my "Bound for Pleasure" series. It should be available in the kindle store by tomorrow night - I might come just thinking about it. Here is a sneak peek of the cover:

I wanted to convey the innocence of the story's young flower, Mia, as she is shy, and just learning the fine art of pleasure through submission. Mia has a lot of outrageous adventures that she engages in throughout the series, so I hope you hop on board and take the ride along with Mia!
My next quest on the self-pub erotica journey is to wrestle smashwords to the ground. I will take the time to do a review on it, as well as the kindle process, for you other prospective self-publishers out there. Today's episode took up a lot of my time, so I'm all out of juice for now.

Call For Submission: Erotic Fantasy Short Stories

So, I was trolling around the net this evening - I've just returned from a vacation, and am trying to catch up on stuff - and I came across this blogger who is putting together a cool sounding erotic anthology:

http://mitziszereto.com/blog/writers-call-for-short-story-submissions/comment-page-1/#comment-33232

If you have any ideas for an erotic short story in a "sword & sorcery" sort of style - this is for you. Plus, the submission due date is December, so you have the opportunity to rack your cute little brains and come up with a truly saucy tale.

Also, what I really appreciate is the fact that Mitzi has the same ideals that I do for erotica. Yes - I want steamy and wild and explicit; but I also want good quality writing, characters I care about, and a great story.

I'm in, how about you?   

Those Freaky Victorians

I was searching around for some potential cover art for some of my short stories/novellas that I'm looking to publish soon, and I ran across some very interesting images. It's too bad photography only goes back to the 1800's, because it made me consider the fact that human beings have been indulging in our freakiest and wildest sexual urges since - well - since forever.

Because the Victorians were supposedly very repressed and subject to the mores of society, as well as strong religious overtones, some of the more lesbian and bondage photos does make one take pause. Oh my! And here we are in the 21st century, and we still have the righteous and repressed telling us that NOW is the time of true depravity; that it's never been worse. They just don't realize that their ancestors really knew how to have a good time. Sometimes entire groups of them at the same time.


But then, don't we have our friend the Marquise de Sade to also consider? He was even earlier than the Victorians, proliferating his BDSM driven tales in the 1700's. Why, he didn't even have photography to work with, but the written word was enough to send the squeamish and overtly pious screaming in the streets.

Since it is unlikely that our dear Marquis invented free sexual expression, it would stand to reason that there has been a long standing love of all things sexual throughout the existence of the human race - and I don't mean just the urge to procreate and hormones and all that crap. But sex and pleasure as a pastime and hobby to be cultivated and explored. Think about it. It's not as if there were video games and television to keep everyone busy. People had to get creative with their love play.

 The whole idea has my interest piqued enough, that in the interest of furthering my...ahem...expertise on my written subject, I am going to delve into some of this history, and share what tidbits I find on this very blog .In the meantime kiddies, have fun, turn off your T.V.'s and video games - and just see what pops up.   

The above photo was taken from an interesting site if you would like to do your own exploring, as it were: http://www.erotica-vintage.com/