Scarlet Darkwood Author

  • HOME
  • Blogger Reviews
  • Scarlet’s Book Reviews
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Videos
  • Manage Subscriptions

We’ll Have The Usual, Thank You!

April 17, 2016 by scarletdarkwood

cherry-1044166_1280small

Yes, you will. There’s no doubt about it. You’ll have the usual and nothing but the usual, forever and ever, amen. Most of you may not know this, but in my retail store I try to carry unusual items, unique and not the run-of-the-mill merchandise that other stores carry. I mean, I want to be different so people will have a reason to come in and shop with me. I want to be competitive. Guess what sells? Go on. Don’t be shy. *Jeopardy music playing* The usual!! Ta-da! And there you have it. The usual.

Seriously. We sell more of the usual than anything else. We sell what you can buy in other stores and can get in other places and on line. When we buy, my spouse makes sure we ask our vendors, “What’s the top 100 items you sell?” We want those things. Like it or not, there’s something to be said for that. That’s why it’s called the top 100 sellers. They don’t call it that for giggles and grins.

What on earth does this have to do with books? C’mon, Scarlet. You write books. What’s your point? Guess what? “The usual” sells well for books too. Yes, they do. The Billionaire-Biker-Alpha-Male tropes. There a zillions of them, and more coming, mind you. They’re being cranked out as we speak. Oh, look. I see one now …

When I published my first book four years ago (OMG, it’s been FOUR years ago? It seems like last year!), I really didn’t know much about the erotica genre. I don’t practice the things I included in my books (Oh, yeah, I wrote a collection), so I had to do research so I could minimize sounding like an “idjut.”

When I started my first book (uh, oh—that’s actually the one I’m trying to finish now. Don’t ask), the one I published first, I had a dream. I had a dream to create something wild, unusual, extremely different and not the run-of-the-mill tropes you find out there today. I wanted to write a book with a different twist and one that contained at least the elements of a theme that would really turn readers on. Did I succeed?

Meh, some like it. Some don’t. What’s the surprise, then? Of course there will be those who enjoy what you write, and then there are those who simply don’t cop to it. True, dat. And for those of you who don’t like my approach to kink or my erotica collection, I don’t hate you for it, either. Am I disappointed? Aw, yes. Of course I am. It means I fell short of my goal.

It’s been four long years, and though I created a Facebook author page, created the blog, and a year ago created a Google+ account (I just started participating more in Twitter a few months ago), I didn’t do much more marketing. I surely didn’t put my books in a Blog Tour or pay for advertising. It was when Booktrope picked up the collection that I did more, and also started lightly asking for reviews—mainly picking one or two bloggers at a time. I still have a list I haven’t gone through.

The four years have given me some time to possibly grow a thicker skin, but I still get bummed when someone doesn’t like the work. I still shake my head when someone doesn’t cop to what I write. One author told me that he wished there were more readers who liked works that deviate from the cookie-cutter romance novels, but the market is what it is.

True, dat—again, dammit! I like writing for the joy of it most times, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to make a little money at it, or have some validation that what I produce is good. The real truth: I simply do not like writing tropes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure I’ll write one someday. Maybe I just released one. Heck, I don’t know. But cookie-cutter is simply not for me. If you find my work something you just can’t get into, then too bad. For both of us, really. You didn’t find a new author you like, and I didn’t find a reader who’s a fan.

Does it shake things up for me? It does a little at times, and here’s why. It’s just another teaching lesson that the erotic genre is so diverse, it’s difficult for me to keep up with it. I’ve also learned from Goodreads that “Dark Erotica” doesn’t mean my work fits beautifully into that category. I thought it would have been a match made in heaven, but I clearly missed the mark on that notion. Try some different groups? Yeah, I guess I could do that. Throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks.

Here’s the real truth about my Pleasure House Tales: there are three more books I’d planned on writing for that collection, and now I’m questioning if it would even be worth it. Why write them if people already have issues with the ones currently out there? And the issues being the fact that these books are not the tropes currently available and not an approach to subject matter that’s popular. I’d thought about trying to join book signing events for this collection, but now I’m seriously reconsidering it. I just don’t think this collection fits in.

Admittedly, there are times I wish I’d just written Pleasure House and stopped and moved on to other books. I learned something else: I somehow created a world that people who do enjoy the books made clear: they love The House, and they want the stories to take place there. Some even mentioned they’d like more books with other characters and ones focusing on some of the original characters.

The thing potential readers need to know about the Pleasure House Tales is that they are erotica novels. Though these books have romance elements, they’re not sweet, soulful reads, usually. Pleasure House honestly has a more “Victorian” feel to it, and the purpose of that book was to introduce a reader to the world of The House and to accompany the main character on a journey of sexual awakening. The other books have not only some of the original characters, but new ones as well. This collection tells the different stories of the patients (admits) of The House, what they experienced there. There are different kink elements, and medical play is a big part of that too. Some scenes hit you from out of the blue unexpectedly. For some it will be seen as abuse, others will see it as a score, that you surprised them when nothing much usually surprises them (in a good way).

Maybe I’ll write those three remaining books someday; maybe I won’t. I’m just not sure. Maybe I’m just a little tired right now and need to take writing a little bit slower to re-group. Finish up the current book (the original first novel) I’m working on. The bottom line: The Pleasure House Tales are not your normal read, and the scenes will surprise you. If you’re wanting to deviate from the norm, take a break from the popular market reads and try on something different for size, these books might work for you. For those who are wanting the usual reads, please move on. There’s nothing to see here.

Filed Under: General Writing Tagged With: collection, erotica, Pleasure House Tales, romance, writing

Pleasure House Tales On Sale Through Month Of January!

January 7, 2016 by scarletdarkwood

Girl On Bar

In 2015 I re-release all my novels, and included a new one, Taming Bad. That’s quite an accomplishment since being invited into a publishing house. And I’m soon to re-release another book. As a celebration, I’ve decided to offer my books for 99 cents and my full-length novel for $1.99. This is the first time I’ve ever run a sale.

These books aren’t your average read, and though there’s kink, it may or may not be your kind of kink, something that pulls your trigger. But there’s one thing I’ll say: the kink and scenes are tastefully written, their to-the-point, and the whole reason for them is for the character to build trust with her partner and to explore sexuality and all the facets of sex, even the most unusual. Sex is the driving force for self-exploration and the means for healing. The interesting theme in all these books is the world I’ve created, the world of The House.

Throughout time asylums have carried a certain mystique, a horror validated throughout history as the most terrifying places on earth, where nothing is the same but sameness, and the inmate never quite knowing if they’ll survive another day–or maybe fearing they will. The asylums broke your spirit, robbed you of your soul. You entered and never left. If you did, you were forever haunted by what went on. Staff were sadistic, un-caring, and almost reveled in their vile behavior, unchecked by superiors and lacking a moral compass.

Yes, there’s that side of The House, too, but I don’t really talk about that side. It’s dirty, unwholesome, and definitely not sexy. Nothing on that side stirs the lust and kicks in the libido. The staff there are ordinary, average, prudish. Any inkling of sex plays out in darkness, when others may not be looking, or merely turn a blind eye. Sex is forced upon the weak, the defenseless, the feeble-minded who don’t possess the ability to fight back.

On the other side of The House the opposite is embodied with beautiful people, skilled in sex, knowledgeable, and harboring a desire to help and heal those admitted to their care. And let’s face it, most of the inmates (called ‘admits’) are just as beautiful, carrying with them a need to be healed. What a better way than starting at the bottom and working up, embracing the most basic pleasure so the rest of the spirit grows up and out.

That’s the philosophy of the attendants on the other side. Their charges will leave, integrate back into the community, and take their skills with them, using them to their advantage to attract the right people. As they continue throughout life, they will carry that special knowing deep inside them. They will awaken others as they, too, have been awakened. And so the knowledge and enjoyment of sex slowly grows.

In this world nobody is harmed, but activities push the envelope regarding the wild, kinky, bizarre, and devilishly insane. No holds barred, and every opportunity that presents itself is just another opportunity for engaging in intercourse with another person with a different perspective.

Instead of being a series featuring one character on a journey with a goal to reach at the end, my tales are truly a collection, with each character wanting to share their journey and what The House did for them. They entered shy and meek, forlorn and in despair, but they leave changed forever. Each book takes the reader on that journey, allowing them to see fully the relationships and treatment as it unfolds, unabashed, unashamed.

Take advantage of the price of these books and immerse yourself into a dark world that has a light somewhere deep inside it. Let me know what your ideas are after reading the stories. I’d love to hear from you.

 

 

Filed Under: My Worlds Tagged With: asylum, Pleasure House Tales, sale, Scarlet Darkwood, The House

Anything Goes With Bennet Pomerantz

May 30, 2015 by scarletdarkwood

I love doing radio shows. I’ve been familiar with Blog Talk Radio for a number of years, when I hosted radio shows for a shop I own. It was a great way to get information in front of customers, while giving a taste of what the guest was like, how their voice sounded, how they reacted to questions.

One day a fellow author, Cassandra Dayne, offered the opportunity for two guests to join her on Anything Goes, hosted by Bennet Pomerantz, writer and columnist. Of course, I jumped at the chance. Though I love writing, it’s nice to take a quick break and chat with fellow authors who also write in your genre. Joining me was my buddy S. E. Rise.

For thirty minutes, we talked about inspiration that fueled our stories, our current works in progress, and last of all, writing advice we’d give writers. I talked about the Pleasure House Tales, and how Pleasure House got started. Readers, if you want to know more about Cassandra Dayne, S. E. Rise, and myself, getting all the goods straight from the proverbial horse’s mouth, then take a quick break and listen to the show.

You’ll learn more about why we write what we do, the catalyst behind our works, and how our twisted minds work! Any comments welcome!

Authors With Cassandra Dayne

Filed Under: General Writing Tagged With: Anything Goes, Bennet Pomerantz, Blog Talk Radio, Cassandra Dayne, Pleasure House, Pleasure House Tales, S. E. Rise

my read shelf:
Scarlet Darkwood's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
Follow @ScarletDarkwood
Scarlet Darkwood Author

Copyright © 2021 · Author Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in