Repost.Us
Showing posts with label erotica authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label erotica authors. Show all posts
Monday, April 1, 2013
Amazon & Goodreads: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
I have been following this issue very closely since it was first announced.
There are many stances on it from many different angles.
Lets talk about a few of them here.
The latest posting from Digital Book World brings some interesting points to light:
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/the-future-of-goodreads-under-amazon-ownership/?et_mid=610276&rid=234558344
Amazon's systems are consumer-focused. This has many potential ramifications for Goodreads. If that consumer focus bleeds over into Goodreads, how will that change the system for authors?
And a good part of Goodreads is built to cater to Authors in social media, events, group discussions, giveaways. If Amazon no longer cares to devote resources to this kind of activity, will we see the Author-centric aspects of Goodreads drop off in favor of the reader/consumer focus?
http://bestsellerlabs.com/amazon-buys-goodreads-the-impact-on-authors/
Jonathan Gunson has found something positive about this merger, Kindle libraries will find integration with Goodreads "shelves". This is wonderful for authors, because all of a sudden, a whole ton of "read" or "owned" or "want to read" shelving will register for all these books. That kind of activity is a major big deal, adds a lot of popularity to a book in Goodreads.
But there are also a great deal of concerns about privacy. Many a reader who buys on Kindle, using their real identity, yet keeping their Kindle collection private in this neat little device, is willing to write reviews on Goodreads under a pseudonym. Goodreads allows this privacy. People also discuss books in group conversations under their pseudonym.
If Kindle starts connecting the dots between the device/purchaser, and the Goodreads pseudonym, privacy is out the window. This has far reaching implications for readers of the more risque erotica material. Privacy has enabled readers to buy and enjoy these books on their kindle devices. One might say that ereader privacy has contributed to the explosion of the erotica ebook market.
If that aspect of privacy is lost due to Amazon-Goodreads integration of Kindle libraries and Goodreads "shelves", will there be a drop-off in purchases of the more risque-controversial reading material?
Not everyone wants their entire Kindle library broadcast to the world.
http://thenightlifeseries.blogspot.com/2013/03/amazon-goodreads-holy-shit.html
And finally, there is another issue for consideration, Amazon's monopolistic control of book sales, discovery, and the discussion forums for talking about books. In addition to Amazon's own Kindle forums, unbeknownst to many, Amazon is also a major shareholder/partner in Librarything, a Goodreads competitor. AND obviously, Amazon runs Shelfari, the other major Goodreads competitor.
We, the world of book readers and authors, have very little places left to go, to talk about books, where Amazon does not own/control the discussion format and have full access to all that data.
The megagiant bookseller is positioning themselves to control all the platforms where people go to find and talk about books. Control of discovery, control of word-of-mouth, control of reviews and ratings.
That's just plain creepy, and it screams of a monopoly.
Additionally, Amazon is infamous for censorship of certain kinds of novels. They will simply remove a book from their system, as if it had never existed. That removal reaches straight into Kindle libraries. Kindle ebooks you have purchased that Amazon deems unworthy will disappear without warning.
Traditionally, Goodreads is a place where everyone is free to discuss every kind of book, to rate and review those books. There are books discussed, rated, and reviewed on Goodreads, that are not sold on Amazon, have been banned by Amazon. Will Amazon bring their brand of intolerance and arbitrary book removal to Goodreads?
Comments anyone?
Labels:
Amazon,
books,
controversy,
ebook,
erotica,
erotica authors,
Goodreads,
Kindle,
librarything,
merger,
monopoly,
ratings,
reviews,
shelfari
Monday, January 7, 2013
A Spanking Good Time with Erotica Authors, PART I: Penelope Jones & Max
This is the first of a BDSM interview series for Erotica Authors. Be warned, there is very explicit content herein:
TL: “I’m here today at my home in sunny San
Antonio with a fellow author of erotic romance, Penelope Jones, a.k.a. Bad
Penny, for an interview I promised her some time ago. We’re enjoying the 70+ degree weather while
the rest of the country freezes their asses off. It’s a fine day for some cocktails and an
interview.” (BP winks and slurps her
cocktail)
“Before we get
into all the fun, tell us about your nickname on twitter, Bad Penny. I imagine there’s an interesting tale behind
that. Oh and I thought Max was joining
us?”
BP: “When I first got onto twitter I hadn’t
planned on having a nickname, but many started calling me Pen. It’s not a bad name, just not a fitting name
for me. Too plain. My buddy and yours,
Caster Rowe started called me Bad Penny and it stuck. Besides... it seems to be a fitting name. I
am a very, very Bad Penny. (BP winks)
Max is buried elbow deep in pus... I mean business. He might show up later.” (cheeky grin from BP)
TL: “You don’t mind if I call you Bad Penny as we
continue our little experiment? I
wouldn’t want to offend.”
BP: “I don’t mind at all stud.” (BP giggles)
“Say, what did you put in this drink?
It has a really … weird … after … taste…” (BP falls to the floor with her tongue
lolling sideways out her mouth)
TL: “Well, that would be the ketamine. It’s not just for horses you know.”
(A brief
interlude while TL reconfigures BP)
TL: “We are back with Bad Penny to finish our
little interview. I just need to bring
her up from la-la land first.” (TL waves
smelling salts under BP’s nose. Her eyes open then widen with alarm)
BP: “Huh?
What’s this? Why am I strapped
up? Why can’t I move my head? Where are my clothes? Max is gonna be pissed he missed this.” (BP chuckles nervously)

BP: “You didn’t think I’d be honest with you?” (She wriggles her cute little hiney, testing
her restraints)

BP: “I won’t ask any questions. Just don’t gag me! Plus... how can I scream your name if I’m
gagged?” (BP laughs nervously again. TL reaches for the ball gag. BP’s eyes widen and she wiggles her head slightly
in the restraint) “I promise! I’ll answer all your questions!”
TL: “I know you will.” (TL picks up a power tool)
BP: “What’s that?”
TL: “You are a Bad Penny aren’t you? I told you not to ask questions. This is a Milwaukee brand Sawzall, which
literally does exactly that, saws all…”
BP: “Why are you putting that dildo on the end of
it? Did you and Max cook this up?”
TL: “This interview is not working out so well
Penny.”
BP: “But you haven’t asked me any questions yet.”
TL: “I’m not going to ask. I’m going to make you tell me
everything.” (TL kicks BP’s legs apart
and fits a spreader bar between her knees)
BP: “I’ll tell you anything you want to know, I
promise. You don’t have to do this.”
TL: “I know you will.” (TL tests Sawzall and watches the dildo
bouncing vigorously on the end of the machine)
BP: “Ok.. just give me a moment to think.” (pregnant pause, then BP begins spitting facts
out quickly) “This will be my first real
publication. I’ve published a few short
stories on different pay websites such as forthegirls.com and Oysters andChocolate. I’ve finished my novel back
in September, and I’m still editing The Beautiful Catastrophe. In the spring I plan to publish my First in a
trilogy: Diary of a Broken Me. But the reason we are here today is my poetry
book I wrote with Max. It’s called
Iniquitous Solace: Rhythmic Words of Lust and Love. It’s about strangers that
cross paths, and their lives together, written in notes and letters back and
forth from --- Wait --- (BP pauses mid sentence, and begins again.) Hold up... Hey - That thing is huge… I’m not
sure I can handle that.”
TL: “Ten inches, to be precise.”
BP: “Sounds like a lovely time.” (BP visibly gulps) “But I think maybe we should finish the
interview first.”
TL: “Would you prefer we start with something
else?” (TL points to the wall of goodies
and is rewarded with a seductive gleam in BP’s eyes)
BP: “Please? … Umm... How about that riding
crop?”
TL: “This one? I suppose we could try that for
now.” (TL strokes the riding crop across
BP’s left ass cheek and again across the right until BP’s juices are trickling
down her inner thigh) “If I recall, you
do enjoy a good spanking …” (TL flicks
his wrist and lands a resounding crack on bare skin)
BP: (Shudders and gasps) “Oh.. right, my writing... You’re making it
hard to concentrate. (BP sighs heavily) My writing revolves around dominating
relationships with rather submissive women, and they have tons of spanking and
discipline sprinkled in. Our poetry book, Iniquitous Solace, is no different.”
TL: “I think you’re enjoying this too much. Those nipples look way too pert. It’s not really punishment for you is
it?” (TL gently tweaks a nipple. BP holds her breath in anticipation, she
wants more) “Answer the question,
Penny.” (TL twists harder until BP cries
out)
BP: “I … do … like it … but that really
hurts!” (TL turns his attention to her
other breast) “Oooww! Stop.
Stop.”
TL: “Then keep talking, or I start using the
sawzall.” (TL smacks both ass cheeks
with the riding crop, back and forth, before stopping to rub her reddened
cheeks.) “You’ve got five minutes before
I start again. Don’t make me punish you
for real.”
(Max shows up
late to the interview... sees Bad Penny in her usual precarious position...
compliments her only article of clothing, striped socks, and sits down well out
of riding crop reach)
BP: “Hey Max...
lovely of you to join us.” (BP Laughs) “You should like the socks, you bought them.”
Max: “I see Bad Penny is yet again to blame. She does tend to live her writings, it’s not
all fiction you know. IniquitousSolace - our co-authored novella - it’s poetry for bad girls and boys who
desperately want to be good. Or get it
good. It's all about shredding the heart
to sink your claws into your own soul. In
a sexy way of course. What else would
you like to know?”
TL: “I want to know everything. Like how much
this is turning her on.” (TL reaches
between her legs to test her wetness)
“My, my, she’s a very naughty girl, she’s soaking wet!”
Max: “This should come as no surprise. She runs her very own naughty couch. I think
she uses the poems as a lure to draw in unsuspecting cupcakes and lollipops.
'Iniquitous Solace' is a honey trap. A naughty, sensual, makes-you-feel-good-like-rope-bondage
trap...”
BP: “It’s not a trap... well it caught you.” (cue another cheeky grin first towards Max and
then TL)
TL: “Well, I’m not the one strapped down with my
legs open wide. We will see who’s
feeling caught by the time I finish with you. I’m not convinced we’ve learned everything
there is to know. And she likes this way
too much. So…” (TL picks up the Sawzall and tests it again,
but this time he rubs the bobbing dildo between BP’s legs)
BP: “Oh shit!
Wait! I already told you
everything!”
TL: “Really?”
(TL pushes the Sawzall a little harder)
BP: “YES!
YES!” (TL stops)
TL: “You like this too, don’t you?”
BP: (Breathing heavily) “Yeah … but can I get a pillow and a drink of
water?” (BP Gives Max a wink) “Yes even bound and tied I’m demanding and
needy.”
Max: "I've got a larger attachment if you
need it. Bad Penny enjoys being pushed
to her limits. That's the real challenge
with our poetry. How much can you
uncover, how naked can you be, and then how do you shape that into words and
weave it together to convey meaning.
We're all looking for that."
(Nods toward the buzzing Sawzall.)
"Well,
looking for other stuff too, but this is about two people defining their own
meaning. Or maybe more than two
people. Maybe all of us. The readers will have to let us
know." (Max shrugs and leans
back.) "Now are you putting on a
show here? Bad Penny looks ready, and
there's no sense in wasting some nice tight bondage... I hear she's a fan of
orgasm denial for starters." (Max
grins with the glitter of sadism in his eyes.)
* * * * *
Penelope Jones
can be found at all her various social media outlets:
Twitter: @Penelope_Prose
Facebook:
Penelope Jones
GooglePlus:
LittleMissNotoriety
Goodreads:
Penelope Jones
Pinterest:
PenelopeProse
Iniquitous Solace is currently under revision, COMING SOON to Amazon Kindle:
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