The New #Erotic Romance Beyond #Grey - Fifty Shades of Red


Trouble in the Tropics: My latest upcoming release takes you on a spring break to the one of the world's top beaches. It also will fill that sexual curiosity you have about erotic romance under dire circumstances.
When I became involved with erotic romance, everyone wanted to know why. After thinking about it, I found I liked writing the details because, for years, I hated those closed door sex scenes in romance novels. If I get to describe the dress my heroine is wearing and the color of her hair, I'm going to give you the rest of the sensual details as well. Here's another thing I'm not fond of: sexual tension. You won't find it in my erotic books. I want my sex early and often in an erotic story. The conflict can be about something else. (GRIN) 

There was a time, I couldn't talk about my books above a soft whisper in polite company. After Fifty Shades, everyone wants to talk about them and is anxious to hear my opinion. They can't wait until my next book comes out. So I'm not siding with the literary group when it came to the uproar over Publishers Weekly naming E.L. James 2012 Publishing Person of the Year. Frankly, the controversy baffled me, and their snobbery made me see fifty shades of red. 

What was her actual affect on the industry? After I read the details about how Ms. James got started, and the history of the Fifty Shades books, I agreed with Publishers Weekly--her success had a major influence on the erotic genre and about how books, not only get contracted, but how they go viral. What an innovative beginning! 

Times are changing and publishing is changing with a rate of speed no one person can anticipate. How "Fifty Shades of Grey" went from an auspicious start as "Twilight" fan fiction, to a record breaking best-seller and an anticipated movie, is a fascinating story. It proves there's no right or wrong way to do anything anymore. Several years ago, Amanda Hocking proved serializing books on her blog and sharing them could lead to success down one road; E.L. James set about sharing her stories another way by building a readership in fan fiction. When her story proved too racy for the "Twilight" group, she moved it to her own website and built a following of readers and fans. What had been called "Master of the Universe," back then, later developed into the Fifty Shades trilogy. James has been criticized for her lack of literary expertise, and her books for their topic and simplicity. But what I see is an author who wrote characters readers became committed to and a growth arc in their relationship that took a taboo subject, such as BDSM, and drove it (if not the practice, at least the ability to discuss it) into the mainstream market place. 

How? James made it believable. She created a psychological erotic romance with sympathetic characters and enabled the average person to empathize with their circumstances. For more information about the article, click here Publishers Weekly Link 

Dual Bondage
For more information about my erotic books, check them out at the top of this page. If you are curious about BDSM, so is my heroine in Dual Bondage: Roped and Tied.

      

Comments

  1. I really like the way you can appreciate someone else's success. Fifty Shades opened eyes of readers who never read erotica and doors for authors of the genre. Everyone wins in this situation. Great blog.

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    1. The article in PW told the whole story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Gutsy move on PW's part. :D

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  2. A rising tide raises all ships. Well said, Eliza.

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  3. I'm glad you enjoyed this post. I've been mulling it over for several days. I just couldn't get this out of my head. Why can't we just enjoy someone else's success? I know when I see someone win an award, I can't wipe the silly smile off my face. It doesn't take anything away from you. Besides, in this you have to analyze what was done differently--what was done right. I think we can move forward when we can see the road ahead more clearly--what's working and what's not.

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