Amazon

Reviews For Pleasure House

May 30, 2014 by scarletdarkwood

Reviews, Reviews, Reviews! What had originally been the brain child of eCommerce sites as a way to leave feedback on items has, unfortunately, often turned into soapbox platforms, a place for people to air spite and defamatory comments. Take the Lynn Shepherd fiasco that occurred from an article she wrote about J.K. Rowing. I don’t have to elaborate, everyone reading this post can go look it up, if they’re interested in re-visiting it. But that’s the thing I find disappointing most of all, is that people have abused the system, one designed for a different purpose.

At any rate, I admit to reading reviews of books just like anyone else, but it’s becoming more difficult to cull through the mush in trying to find what’s applicable and what’s just pure dripping venom that has nothing to do with the product I’m trying to buy. Also, I really haven’t posted much on reviews because first, I rarely leave reviews on anything, and second: NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR REVIEWS! On Facebook, you won’t see me leave “Whoot, whoots” about “Hey, I just got another 5-star review!” I’m not really sure I’d be posting that, even if I got tons of 5-star reviews, even though it’s a great feeling. Why? Because my Facebook friends couldn’t care less, honestly. And customers are beginning to say that they don’t concentrate on the 5-stars because they think they’re fake, bought, or written by family and friends. Alas, what’s one to believe, anymore?

Truthfully, I’d rather people just buy my books, and if they like them, recommend them to others who turn around and buy them. I’ve seen that happen when one reader recommended my books to her friends. Really nice feeling *big smile*. But some of you who’ve been supportive and purchased my books may be wondering what some people do say about them, so I’ve rustled up a couple of comments here:

From a recent reader: “. . . I very much enjoyed it! I cried, I was startled, nervous, ecstatic. There was something new waiting on every page and it was very well written. I absolutely fell in love with the characters (and after a while even Joe :P) and was very pleased with the way it ended!”

From An Amazon Customer: “This is a fun book and a fast read. It’s a little thrilling at times, and certainly not for the squeamish. A fascinating jaunt and I can honestly say I didn’t know what the next sexual act would contain. I think Scarlett takes you through everything. The characters were all so different and fun; I enjoyed the twist that came with the main character’s interactions with one of them.

It was really educational too. Knowing how much research the author put into writing this book made it all the more fascinating to read!

I was very pleased at the ending and I will not hesitate to pick up the next Scarlett Darkwood piece.”

From a Private Reviewer: First of all, after much reflection, good job. From the beginning, your writing is very descriptive, and you write with great imagination. The scenes were detailed oriented, settings easy to imagine, and word choice was said scenes was very good. You are a writer with talent, and purpose. I loved your prose and found many descriptions beautiful. The cave and cottage were especially prominent in detail, and there were lovely to imagine.

As to descriptions, your sexual scenes left little to the imagination. You moved the reader’s mind right along with the action, filling each scene with a large douse of eroticism. The scenes were explicit and exciting, some romantic and others just plain kinky. Given the wide array of sexual scenes, your book will have no problem reaching out to readers’ sexual preferences.

The most powerful aspect of your book is the character progression you present. When Rose arrives, she is a young and sexually innocent girl. By the time she leaves, she is a sexually mature woman. You take Rose (and the reader) through the various stages of the House’s course of study, showing how she grows from the shy little girl to a take-charge woman. She has only one real adversary in the book: Joe, whom she flees from in the beginning. Joe is representative of the villain, thought not an antagonist himself. He is the form of villain, some obstacle Rose must overcome. First, Rose does not like Joe. Second, she is attacked by him in the forest. Third, however, she overcomes him in the basement and “‘man-handles” Joe, showing him his place in her life. That is a classic writing arc; she has an issue, then she overcomes it. With the training from Thomas, she is given sexual power and energy enough to meet her enemy head on in open battle. The placement of this scene was also brilliant; it is nearly at the end, and works as a great climax (pardon the pun). Rose develops into an awesome character throughout the book. (To be fair: this is an excerpt from a much longer review. He also had some thoughts on the other characters and what he would have liked to have seen different or more of in the story. This person made some valid points, and I couldn’t disagree totally!)

If you’ve purchased any of my books, what do you think about what you’ve read? Did you like it? Was there something you thought was missing? Do you think something should have been better? Do you like The House collection and the stories presented? I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment and let’s get a dialogue going. (And once again, to all of you who have purchased my books, thank you so much. It really means a lot!)

The Dark Night Of The Soul

January 24, 2014 by scarletdarkwood

The dark night of the soul. They say we’ll all go through one at some point in our evolution, but as for me, that’s one part of my spiritual development I’d love to avoid. But the whole purpose is to rely on spiritual help (and earthly help when it’s available or given), and to learn that the cosmic power and intelligence will help see you through. It’s almost like a forced surrender, falling off that high beam backward, rope around your waist, and expecting the one waiting below to come through and provide the balance you need so you don’t come crashing down to the ground and end up badly hurt.

Takes a lot of faith and trust to do that, doesn’t it. I really doubt my ability to pull through hard times too gracefully. But I’m creating this post in honor of a wonderful person I know, whom I’m hoping others of you, my dear subscribers and others who find this blog, can help her in a desperate time of need. Nymph Du Pave has been a writing companion of mine ever since I published my first novel, Pleasure House. She beta reads for me, gives me advice, and answers all my crazy questions when things come up. She’s truly been a blessing for me, and I’d be lost without her support.

Just a few days ago, her spouse had a horrible motorcycle accident, making her acutely aware that life can change in the flash of an instant. She’s undergoing her own personal trauma as she helps her spouse on the long road to recovery. The whole nasty affair has left her feeling like one in a dream. Also, she’s dealing with the physical aspects of trauma: nausea, poor appetite, decreased energy (which I’m sure flairs up when the adrenalin kicks in). However, as a result of the accident, her spouse is unable to help bring in income. As a result, my friend is trying to sell her writing and jewelry so she can support the two of them. Her jewelry is fun and bohemian, and if you’re looking for some fun gifts for yourself or someone else, supporting her Etsy shop would be a great way to help. She’s also a writer, and her works can be found on Amazon under her name, Nymph Du Pave. I’m including links below so you can see what she’s all about. Not only would she appreciate it, I would too. I appreciate all you readers who have purchased my books, and as a fellow writer, she’ll deeply appreciate your support as well. I want to say thank you in advance if any one of you choose to help. My hope is that you’ll be doubly rewarded!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/freehippie?ref=si_shop

freehippie

www.etsy.com Quality Hippie Bohemian Jewelry and Accessories.

Nymph Du Pave On Amazon

Go To The Kindle Store, Go Directly To The Kindle Store!

May 16, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

Do not pass Go, and do not collect two hundred dollars . . . Apparently the filtering of erotica by Amazon is still in full swing and hasn’t stopped; and many erotica writers are feeling the effects. To all you Joe Schmo’s out there, please stop looking for all the naughty stuff in all the wrong places. Make it simple for yourself and find the erotica stories you want. Instead of landing on the Amazon homepage and typing away in that big, long box, just click the down arrow where it says “All” and scroll on down to “Kindle Store.” From that point on, you can find your titles or pull up more comprehensive searches.

If you’re feeling funky and brave, you can always search “Books” then “Literature and Fiction” and then “Erotica.” That will work too, as does “Books” then “Romance” then “Erotica,” but it’s more involved. Amazon likes the money it makes from adult literature, but apparently some bee in their bonnet has instigated their desire to “hide” the titles.

Now, I must say this: SELLING ON AMAZON IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT.

Yes, you saw that correctly. Amazon owes me nothing, even though the naughty category makes them a ton of money. It’s a privilege to sell on the sight, especially when I see boutique book sites mentioned in Mercy Faulk’s book that do not accept erotica if it contains certain elements, like “golden showers” or bestiality–not that I care about farm boy doing unsuspecting sheep or goat; but if someone wants to write about that, then have at it. Other sites are the author showcasing their own works or that of their friends.

But what about the small indie authors who are starting out? They don’t have their books reviewed, and let’s face it, most review sites I see pretty much guarantee your work won’t get read, anyway. So a writer is out of luck there too. There are some authors whose works are not accepted by mainstream publishers, so they have to self-publish instead. At least on Amazon, the reader gets an opportunity to taste this style of writing, with unique elements and story lines that are barred from other so-called erotica and romance sites.

I loathe the idea of trying to cloak my work by putting it in the “Romance” category. Why not call a spade a spade and just let the chips fall where they may?

So how do you search for your naughty materials? Do you do an “All” departments search on Amazon? Or do you go to the specific category and start there? Do you agree with filtering adult titles, or do you think there should be more parental supervision? OR, are people too prudish and puritanical for their own good and just like something to fuss about?? Feel free to share your ideas. I’d love to hear from you.

Lady On The Outside, Sensual Slut On The Inside: Amazon Censoring Erotica

May 1, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

They, say men want a woman who acts like a lady on the outside, but can be a slut in bed . . . or something to that effect. Apparently, that’s appearing to be a sentiment by Amazon and their latest trek on filtering erotica authors and their works from showing up in the “General Search” function (or “All Departments”) on their site.

According to the media and Selena Kitt, an award-winning erotica author, Amazon is now censoring adult books so that the titles do not show up in the general search, or “All Departments” section on their site. So what does that mean to authors? It means their livelihood is decreased because fans cannot find their books as easily. What does it mean to you as a reader? You are not able to find the titles or reading material you’re looking for because the titles/products are hidden. Let’s face it, this sucks for both parties.

However, according to Selena Kitt, the filter seems right now to target covers with nudity and certain keywords and titles, which means that if an author can mask the slutty/porn/erotic lingo within the book with a “respectable” cover and title and keywords to match, then the content can be as smutty and steamy as it wants to be on the inside. Again, lady on the outside, slut in bed.

Curious, I went to Amazon and did a general search for Pleasure House and Dance Of Desire

Last week, when I first heard of this censorship, I was able to find my books by title under the “All Departments” section. However, on the date of this post, Pleasure House comes up, but Dance of Desire does not. When I check out my rankings on Sales Rank Express, I don’t see the red “Adult” filter noted beside the books. I do know one thing that was different, I did not get any sales from the UK (United Kingdom) for the month of April, and I always have sales from my British friends.

Hm-m-m, I’m not sure what’s going on. If you type in Scarlet Darkwood under “All Departments” both books come up. But it’s interesting that people don’t go straight to the category where their item might be found, just to narrow the results. When I search for MP3 music, I go to the MP3 category and start my search there. When I’m looking for a book, I go to the Kindle Store, because I have no interest in buying a print version of the book.

Nevertheless, here’s the nasty truth: Erotica writers are having their incomes threatened by censorship, and you as the reader are also affected by not being able to find the books you want to read. What can you do to help? If you do a search on Amazon and you don’t have the author’s name or title of one of their books, go straight to “Kindle Store” or directly to the “Erotica” category under the “Books” listings. You’ll find Erotica under the “Literature and Fiction” category, and from there, type in your search, whether it be author, title or keywords. Please help erotica authors continue to produce fun, sensual material you enjoy reading.

As for me, if you’ve bought Pleasure House and like it, please try Dance of Desire. It’s a fun story, and I personally like it a lot. If you’ve bought Dance of Desire, get Pleasure House to add to your collection. I know I’ve been grateful for all your purchases and support, and I hope you’ll continue to enjoy what I write.

What are your thoughts on censorship? How do you search for erotic literature? What entices you to buy a title? What turns you off?

Is Bigger Better?

November 4, 2012 by scarletdarkwood

I’m now writing the companion novel to Pleasure House, but a dear acquaintance of mine, Nymph Du Pave, suggested that I write some short stories featuring the characters in my novel that I’ve just released. Now I must admit, writing shorts is something I hadn’t really thought much about, considering I don’t read lots of shorts myself. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the ones I’ve read, but I just don’t read lots of them on a regular basis.

But I’m surprised at the number of authors who do engage in writing shorter pieces of work. They all seem to have their different reasons, most indicating they feel overwhelmed in having to write tons of words to make up a full-length novel. Others feel more immediate gratification in being able to complete something in a shorter length of time.

There’s only one big problem I have with short stories: the reader’s complaint that it’s too short! When I scour reviews on Amazon, I’m surprised by complaints that the story was good, but rather short. Well, come on, folks, it’s a short story. Why on earth would you expect it to be longer? Even when authors note in the title and product description that the work is not a novel, the readers still complain about the length of the work–or lack thereof.

So now’s my big question: What about novellas? If a sellable length novel is anywhere from 92K words and higher, a novella is 20K-50K words (about 50-100 pages or so). Would readers feel they got more for their money and enjoyment reading something shorter than a novel and longer than a short story? As an author, you would have at least a little more play room for character and plot development, and you’d still get the immediate gratification of finishing up a piece of work quicker. As the reader, you’d have a little more time to get pulled into a new world and connect with the characters.

Now I’m in a quandary. Continue working on my companion novel to the one I just published, or take a quick side trip and complete a novella? Of course I could come up with fun tidbits that wouldn’t quite fit into the novel I’m working on while titillating the senses of readers who want to sample my work, but on a smaller scale to see if they even like it.

I would like to hear from readers or prospective readers out there. What do you want? Do you prefer something longer than a short, but not quite novel-length either? Do novellas satisfy the “it’s awfully short” problem? Let me know what you all think about this!