Sunday, September 21, 2014

Guest blogs, giveaways & reviews, oh my!

I wanted to let you know I guest-blogged on Women and Words (the amazing multi-author lesfic blog) today, about my reasons to go hybrid. The blog comes with a giveaway-all you have to do to enter to win one of my e-books is to leave a comment on the post here:

http://womenwords.org/2014/09/21/the-hybrid-way-by-raven-j-spencer/

I also have a new review from the Naughty Lady Publications blog.

http://blog.naughtyladiespublications.com/wp/?p=383

It's really fun to have the reviews coming in and see that very different reviewers all had nice things to say about A Perfect Dream.


Thursday, September 18, 2014

Pinterest Woes and More Reviews

After my dismay over "one or more" pins being reported for explicit content, this new review by AfterDark Online really made my day. Pinterest first. Okay. Wow. I am quite proud of my collection of beautiful art and photography admiring the female form (mostly dressed, but lingerie at the very least, some nude paintings, nothing people wouldn't see if they went to the museum).
I assume that not everyone who checked my boards and liked travel destinations, cocktails and interior design has the same appreciation for lesbian kisses, weddings etc., but come on. Why can't you just move on? It's for the same reason that youtube fan videos featuring same-sex kisses get flagged. I assume. I can't say for sure, but it makes me unsure about following new people, and the overall experience a lot less fun. Addressing this in a message to the help center, I got a response with instructions for when your account gets suspended--but it's not! It was in order to avoid that fate that I contacted them in the first place. Oh well. Switching channels.

An awesome new review for A Perfect Dream went live today.

"Wow! What a beautiful story. (...) Who is this author? I want to read more, because I love reading a good f/f story. (...) I was very amazed of the heat level to the story. You’ll love the delicious scenes in the story; nonstop f/f scenes throughout the story, and I must let you know it’s not just one girl-on-girl scene, but it leads to multiple female partners in the story." (Ray Sostre, AfterDark Online).

You can read the whole review here.

Monday, September 8, 2014

I got signed...and had to get over myself.

First of all, happy news!

My dark erotica novel "Soulless" was accepted by Damnation Books, a publisher specializing in dark fiction. The "A Perfect Dream" series will continue, so I'll be officially in the hybrid category. I'm thrilled with all the future possibilities.

It was also one of those moments, when, as a writer, you just have to get over yourself.

"Soulless" is much darker than anything I've ever imagined or written before.

Robin is dealing with a difficult work situation and the end of a long-term relationship. Natalie, young, charming, and irresistible, awakens sexual needs and desires Robin didn’t know she had. She soon learns that Natalie has a dark side.

As Detective Jean Shelby tries to solve a series of puzzling murders, she is drawn into the current of a relationship defined by obsession and the struggle for control. No one can remain innocent.

As an LGBT person, you will likely come across pre-conceived notions at some point, if not in person, then in the form of articles or comments you read about on the internet. One common question/accusation: "Why is always about the sex?"

The answer: It's not. You're the one who makes it all about the sex by bringing the subject up all the time, and, oddly, seems to think about it a lot more than most LGBT people. We have everyday lives, families, jobs, just like you.

And then there are erotica writers, who, by definition, get to think about sex a lot. That much is true, but it's the same for straight and LGBT writers.

The other point is that as lesbian writers, we often feel like we face expectations from within the community to represent, but what does that mean anyway? No one story, or even a dozen, can represent the complete lesbian community. Sometimes, a story is a metaphor or an exploration of how far the mind can go, and how far readers are willing to follow.

Do the "Fifty Shades of Grey" represent all straight women and their sexual fantasies? I know many who'd not only disagree, but would point out the absurdity of the question. Do "Dexter" and "Hannibal" represent all male writers? I don't think so either.

I loved writing "A Perfect Dream", where respect and consent are the ultimate rules. With "Soulless" and the character of Natalie, I delved deep into the darkness, and yes, there are lots of erotic moments in it as well.

I had to get over myself and realize I can write this type of book, and still be a lesbian and a feminist. When you touch a boundary in writing, the answer is not "okay, this is the point where I turn around and go back into my comfort zone." It's to go further.

I invite you to accompany me.