Friday, May 30, 2014

Multi-Author Boxed Sets- What Makes Them HOT, or Not #SpiceBox



USA Today HEA blog posted an article today about the hot trend in multi-author boxed sets.
What has made this trend so popular? Is it here to stay or will it be replaced by the next new trend in self-publishing?

Check out SPICE BOX AVAILABLE NOW FOR PRE-ORDER FOR $. 99!  I interviewed four authors who had participated in boxed sets and asked them several questions on the benefits and problems involved.

Some of the obvious benefits are combining the fan bases of several authors draws huge sales numbers to these collection of books. The bargain prices is another thing that catches the interest of many readers. Who wouldn't want a box full of eBooks for a dollar? Readers can't seem to get enough. Many of these collections are selling so well, the authors are hitting major bestsellers lists. The authors are gaining a new reader/fan base and growing their careers. And making a decent amount of money in the process. Authors have the combined efforts of many talented authors for successful promotional campaigns. Seems like a win-win for both author and readers.

There are some downsides too. Coordinating a project of this size can be daunting. Formatting is a nightmare. Authors may have a different vision for promotion, book covers, etc. And accounting for the royalties to be distributed is confusing too. It's great if you have one person who does the main organizing. Arrange for an accountant or lawyer to handle the finances. The authors will each have to sign the proper tax forms well ahead of time. And one author Amazon/retailer account will need to be used to set up the boxed set.


In our boxed set collection for SPICE BOX , one of the authors, Raine Miller, used her Amazon representative to help us with setting up our pre-order and listing. A.C. James worked with Mark Coker at Smashwords to organize the pre-orders at the other various retailers. The trend doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.



SPICE BOX is available for pre-order here:
Amazon | BN  | Smashwords | AppleiBooks  |  Kobo 

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Dark Odyssey Research: When Does Swinging Become Cheating?


While doing research for the next two books in my Dark Odyssey series at Ellora’s Cave, (current books: Spring Break and Summer Sins), a topic came up that sparked my interest: When does swinging cross the line into cheating for swingers?

I was interviewing a couple and singles involved in the BDSM and swinging lifestyle, asking a variety of questions and this topic came up by accident. One couple commented that another couple they knew, who were swingers, had recently divorced because the husband was cheating.

I was confused. After all, isn’t that what swinging is all about? Being open to experiencing sexual interaction with other people, while maintaining a loving relationship as a couple? Swingers are free-spirited when it comes to exploring their sensuality. Many couples I interviewed have been married or in relationships many years, and have been swingers or into BDSM the entire time. I’ve notice a strong connection and attentiveness between the partners. They claim to have a sincere desire to understand and meet each other’s physical, emotional and sexual needs. They try to look their best and enjoy having fun as a couple as well with their interactions with other people—and it’s not always about sex, it’s social too. I had to ask how and when the line was crossed from swinging into cheating in this particular relationship.

They didn’t mind me asking. Was the husband cheating because the wife didn’t know about the woman, I asked? No, she knew, the situation was the problem. The wife had a job which required her to travel out of town. During the days that the wife was away, the girlfriend moved into the house and lived there. She was acting like a replacement, not a play partner. The wife would’ve been okay with a play partner, where her husband occasionally saw her. She wouldn’t have minded the woman participating in a threesome, but the other woman refused to come around or meet the wife. When the wife objected, claiming her husband was crossing a line, the husband disagreed. This woman wasn’t respecting their limits as a couple and he wasn’t respecting their limits in their marriage. He refused to stop seeing her. It no longer became a social interaction, it became an intimate and emotional relationship that invaded the wife’s space and undermined their marriage. Line crossed. Marriage ended, sadly.

At Romanticon October 9-12 in Canton, Ohio I’ll be doing a workshop Researching Erotic Novels With or Without the Flogging with authors Cindy Jacks and Wendi Zwaduk


  

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The Nightlife San Antonio -In Need of an Exhilarating Sexy #Vampire Story?

I'm happy to have Travis Luedke on The Lusty View blog sharing a sneak peak into his new book in this hot vampire series: The Nightlife Series. I'm a long-time vampire fan and this isn't your everyday vampire story. Yay! Love the premise of these stories. Definitely worth checking out. Love, love his covers too!!

Title: The Nightlife San Antonio
Author: Travis Luedke
Series: The Nightlife Series
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance/Vampires
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 9th 2014
Edition: eBook with Print Coming Soon
Blurb/Synopsis:

Vampires, Mafia & Mayhem:
The Nightlife San Antonio is violent, sexy, and occasionally violently sexy.
All she wanted was to escape the police. All he wanted was to get laid. They both got more than they bargained for.

EMT on call, Adrian Faulkner resuscitates a beautiful woman after a Mexican mafia shootout. He can't explain why he picks her up in the hospital parking lot three days later and then ducks the San Antonio police and the Feds. Well, the hot sex might have something to do with it.

She needed to hide. With no memory of even her name, she didn't know from who. She only knew she wasn't safe.

Adrian soon learns she is much more than a damsel in distress, and he’s stuck with her. It isn't long before the past she cannot remember begins to catch up with them both…

THE NIGHTLIFE SAN ANTONIO is a non-stop thrill ride through the shadowy borderworld of mafia politics and vampires – and sex.

Grab your copy of this urban fantasy romance today!

The Nightlife Series novels are Adult Paranormal Romance ~ Urban Fantasy Thriller:

#1 THE NIGHTLIFE NEW YORK
#2 THE NIGHTLIFE LAS VEGAS
#3 THE NIGHTLIFE PARIS
#4 BLOOD SLAVE
#5 THE NIGHTLIFE LONDON
#6 THE NIGHTLIFE SERIES OMNIBUS (Books 1-4)
#7 THE NIGHTLIFE SAN ANTONIO

Book Links

(More links pending--June 9th will go live on Amazon)

Author Information

Travis Luedke is a husband, father, and author of Urban Fantasy Thriller, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction, and Sci-fi. He is currently catching a 3rd degree sunburn in San Antonio, Texas, and loving every minute of it.
As the author of the Nightlife Series novels, Travis lives very vicariously through his writings. He invites you to enjoy his macabre flights of fancy, but be warned: The Nightlife Series is violent, sexy, and occasionally violently sexy.

Author Links

Blog ~ Personal
Blog ~ The Nightlife Series
Email ~ twluedke@gmail.com
Facebook Page ~The Nightlife Series
Facebook Page ~ Author

     Excerpt :  The Bargain  (Steamy)

He wanted to throw her on the bed and bury his cock between her toned thighs. He wanted to see her eyes roll back in her head as he burned off all the insane need she inspired. His dick was so hard that it was slipping out the front of his boxer shorts all on its own, a heat-seeking missile intent on its new target.
But he didn’t want her like this, under these conditions. “You think I’m so hard up for sex that you can sell yourself to me for a place to crash?”
She stepped closer to him, holding his gaze with her freakish unblinking stare. “Don’t you want what I have to offer?” A slight smile quirked her lips, exposing those weird teeth.
His cock jerked free to stand at full attention, listening to her every word. His cock knew she would be warm, ready, probably a tight squeeze, and wanted to take full advantage of her offer.
He took in all of her. Dark tight nipples on small, perky breasts – barely a handful. Slim, tight belly, but just enough curve of hip and thigh to let you know she was indeed a woman. A fitness instructor’s physique. The damn bandages were ruining the whole effect.
She stepped in closer, within reach, and he could not control himself any more. His fingertips traced the milky white curve of her right breast, brushing lightly across her nipple, and up to the tape and bandage.
He grinned. She grinned back with too many teeth. He ripped the bandage off in one smooth pull.
“Pinche cabron!” She flinched, bearing her too long canine teeth in a small growl.
He noted her smooth, native Spanish, and thought to ask her about it later. For the immediate moment, Adrian saw what he expected to see, but it was still very hard to believe. Beneath the flecks of dried, old blood was a fully healed wound, not even a scar. He rubbed his fingers over the flesh, in awe. A bullet had torn a jagged crimson hole in that porcelain flesh three nights ago. Smooth, ivory skin filled his vision, now.
“Goddamn, you’re a fucking vampire.”
She eyed him suspiciously, her hands in the air, as if she would cover herself. Then that fiery spark came into her eyes, and she dropped her hands and lifted her chin in challenge.
He ripped off each of her bandages, none too gently. She gave no more than a slight hiss of noise in protest. Each of her wounds proved the same. Clean away the little crusty specks, and the woman was in top condition.
Adrian knelt, his face inches from her naked pussy, and jerked off the last bandage from her left thigh. It was difficult to keep his attention on her wound, when his cock kept telling him to check out the other parts, but he confirmed that her thigh was the same, fully healed like the rest of her.
He stood and towered over her. Her dark eyes tilted up to search his face for an answer. None of this made any sense whatsoever. He didn’t care. He wanted this crazy woman. Now. He couldn’t even wait for her to shower with antibiotic soap first.
“So this is the deal? I help you hide out from the law, and in exchange, I get …”
Without blinking, without pause, she spoke over the top of him. “Me. All of me. Whatever you want of me.”
Girl drove a hard bargain. But not as hard as his cock.
A sly smile curved his lips and he looked down the smooth, pale curves of her body. “Are you sure you’re up to it? I can be … demanding.”
She licked her lips and reached for his cock, protruding from the front of his boxer shorts. She enveloped him in a solid grip. “I can handle you.”

 ##




Thursday, May 15, 2014

What's Your Spice? #Spice Box - 16 Steamy Stories of #Erotic #Romance




16 Erotic Romance Novels for .99 Cents???

One thing I love about Boxed Sets is that I have a chance to check out new authors and a variety of stories and styles. Sometimes we get in a rut and read only a handful of authors we love, or a particular genre. Once in a while, I pick up someone I've never read before and I'm hooked on someone new, or a new genre.

With a boxed set, it's easy. I get to check out a number of authors and the price is cheap.

That's what's so special about this collection. All the stories aren't of one genre. They all aren't paranormal, or BDSM, or romantic suspense, or hunky (fill-in-the-blank) alpha heroes. Nothing wrong with those collection, because I do have a few of those on my NOOK too!!!

CONTEST NEWS AT THE END OF THIS POST!!!

Spice Box authors:

Raine Miller, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.
Cherry Girl
She will forever be his Cherry Girl...
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Cathryn Fox, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.
Torn Between Two Brothers
She’s breaking all the rules…

K.M. Scott writing as Gabrielle Bisset, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.
Blood Avenged
I am everything you desire. I am vampire.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Janelle Denison writing as Erika Wilde, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.
The Invitation
An invitation that will take them beyond their wildest, most erotic fantasies.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Nina Lane, USA Today Bestselling Author.
Arouse
"Come here, beauty," he says. "You need to be kissed."
with...

A.C. James
Eternal Ever After
A Gothic Cinderella re-telling with vampires and bondage…oh, my!

Kathy Kulig 
Red Tape
Sparks fly between two ex-CIA agents when a White House sex scandal spins out of control and turns deadly.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Christina Thacher
The Bequest: A BDSM Romance
CFO by day, sexual submissive at night. When her Master dies suddenly, Sara discovers his will leaves her to his nephew...
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Stephanie Julian
His to Keep
He has her right where he wants her...

Geri Foster
Wrong Room
Short, Cute, Sexy!
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Lisa Adler
The Demon's Deception
Certainly a Demon strong enough to survive being chained for a millennium beneath the Earth's crust can resist one virginal princess when she demands his help.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Jan Springer
Sex With The Ex
Sky undertakes a dangerous mission to the dark sensual world of sex slave training…

Sarah Mäkelä
The Witch Who Cried Wolf
When her magic gets mixed up, supernatural forces are unleashed and suddenly she’s being pursued by werewolves that she didn’t even realize existed…
Maureen O. Betita
The Kraken's Mirror
Where anything can happen. And usually does.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Riley J. Ford
Fifty Shades of Fifty Shades of Grey
Unable to withstand the pent-up ache radiating from his tender blue testicles, Ben decides to take Grey's methods to a whole new level in order to relieve the pressure on his . . . er, marriage.
Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Books

Travis Luedke
Blood Slave
From the ghettos of Spanish Harlem to a Manhattan penthouse, follow Hope's shocking tale of life as a bloodslave to master vampire Enrique.

What's your spice?

Whether it's contemporary romance or romantic suspense, alpha vampires, shifter stories, or BDSM romance--Spice Box offers sixteen erotic romance books with something for everyone. For a limited time this is your chance to enjoy books from today's New York TimesUSA Today, Amazon bestselling authors and many more. The e-books cost over $50 when purchased separately. Professionally formatted and no cliffhangers.


$0.99 for a limited time. On June 29th the price goes up to $2.99
Order from: Barnes & NobleAmazon | AppleibooksKobo  

CONTESTS?  PRIZES, PRIZES, PRIZES Yep, the authors will be having lots of giveaways over the next couple of months--gift cards and books. If you'd like to keep up-to-date on what's happening, FB Party news, etc. Follow our Spice Box FB page or Friend my FB author page
If you'd like to keep

Monday, May 12, 2014

How to Create a Self-Publishing Name/Imprint

     

Or how NOT to create a name for your self-publishing company. I’ll share the mistakes I made, so hopefully these tips will help those who are considering this step in self-publishing.

The question on whether or not to create a publisher name/imprint for yourself will probably come up, especially if you’re new to self-publishing. When I decided to self-publish, I started searching on Amazon/BN and other retailers and noticed that some self-published authors either used a specific imprint, their author name or no name at all. After some research, I found an author does not need a company name to self-publish. Readers probably won’t notice or care. They search books by their favorite authors or by genre, not by a publisher name. It’s personal choice. On Amazon, for example, if you don’t select a publisher name, Amazon will show: “Amazon digital services” in that information listing. I decided to create a name for a few reasons:

·         I felt it looked more professional.
·         I decided to get an EIN# (Employee Identification Number) from the IRS for accounting purposes, and wanted to use a specific name. More on this later.
·         I wanted to have a DBA (Doing Business As) name for my separate bank account. Again for accounting purposes.
·         My own mindset to remind me I was starting a business and to treat it as such. I wrote up a five page Business Plan and also a Marketing Plan.


 

What Went Wrong When I Created My First Imprint

I came up with a list of possible names I thought I could use, personal choices and those I thought somewhat fit with my brand as an erotic romance author. I then started searching those names on Google, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. I thought I came up with a good name. I then went to http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Apply-for-an-Employer-Identification-Number-(EIN)-Online. I was filing for an EIN# as the sole proprietorship (only employee) for my small business. It’s free to do this. The online website gives lots of information.

Some authors prefer to file as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Every state has its own rules and fees. Some are pretty steep. It’s best to check with your accountant to see the best plan for you present situation, tax savings and future plans. S Corporation, or Sub Chapter S is another entity for small businesses. Again it's best to contact an accountant in your state. Every state has their own laws and forms to file.

I also found this out when I tried opening a business bank account at my bank. In addition to the EIN paperwork I received from the IRS, I need to register for a Fictitious Business Name Form 


https://www.corporations.state.pa.us/corp/soskb/entityinfoedit.asp?dtm=24400462962963

Of course the state has to get their $70 application fee. They want their cut too. 

The next step, I registered with all the retailers: Amazon, B&N, Apple, Kobo, ARe, Smashwords.

As an afterthought, I decided to register the domain for my new publishing name. Not because I planned to create a website or sell books myself, but because I wanted to have the URL and planned to link it to my website. Someone might search it someday. This is where I found my error.
That domain .com was already taken! It had been registered during the week I came up with the name. The company had been in business for years but just recently decided to create a publishing company. Not only that, they created an LLC and trademarked the exact name that I had selected. I couldn’t use the name. Now, I had to create a new name, change the name with the IRS (EIN#) and change it at all the retailers. Ugh!

The Right Way to Create a Publishing Name/Imprint

I started over and came up with a number of names, some obscure. I did a few quick searches on Google, Amazon and B&N. But then I searched the US Trademarks site. http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp Click on Search Trademarks (also TESS under tools) Then Click Basic Word Search. And click for Live search. Type in your imprint name. Make sure there are no listings there.

Then I went to NameCheap.com and searched the domain. It was available. I registered the .com (www.BurntStilettosPress.com). The next step was to call the IRS and explain that I needed to change the DBA for my EIN# because I discovered the current name was recently trademarked. The guy at the IRS was very helpful and the change was easy. I got my updated letter in the mail a couple weeks later. He even asked me questions about self-publishing because he said he did some writing on the side.

The decision to self-publish my first book came about when I was invited into a boxed set with 15 other authors. My novel Red Tape, a sexy romantic suspense with BDSM will be my first self-publishing venture and will be included in that set. Red Tape will be released later this summer.


Wednesday, May 7, 2014

TRYST ISLAND SERIES FROM SABRINA YORK



I’m thrilled to have the lovely Sabrina York as a guest again to share the news about her latest book in the Tryst Island series: PARKER’S PASSION

Fall in Love on Tryst Island
Each book in the series is a stand-alone story.

When a group of friends share a vacation house, wild hijinks, unexpected hook-ups and steamy sex ensue. And true love. Did I mention they all find true love?

 
If you’re new to the series, check out the Tryst Island Trailer: http://youtu.be/uJ1rhyeLkAM
or download Sabrina’s free teaser book at http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/
to read blurbs and excerpts for this popular series. 



BookChick has done a lovely trailer for the series 



Parker’s Passion – Excerpt

Oh, she knew the reason. She was drawn to him. In a way she’d never experienced before. Like filings to a magnet. And she wanted, ached, to be with him again.
He turned as she approached, and then did a double take.
“Oh. Hi, Kaitlin,” he said.
“Good morning, Parker.” She tipped up her head. “What’s up there?”
He frowned. “Some idiot flew a kite and the strings got tangled in the limbs. And they left it there.” He peered up into the rustling branches. “Something’s caught. I think it’s an eagle.”
Kaitlin’s heart lurched. She reached out and felt the energy. Fear. Pain. Panic. And yes. It was an eagle. “We must free it.”
He nodded. “That’s what I was thinking. I have a Swiss army knife,” he pulled it out of his pocket and cradled it in his palm. “But if I climb up there to cut it loose, I’m afraid I might hurt it more as it tries to escape.”
She took off her jacket. “Wrap it in this and be sure to cover its eyes. It may not work, but birds usually calm when they cannot see. Then cut the main lines holding it and carry it down. We can remove all the string and hopefully, it’s not too injured to fly.”
He met her gaze. “Good idea. Is there a Waystation around here, in case it’s hurt?”
Kaitlin shook her head. “There’s one on the mainland.”
“Well, fingers crossed then.” He took her jacket and slung it over his shoulder then opened the knife and gripped it with his teeth.
Kaitlin watched, her pulse thudding in her throat as he climbed high into the branches. As he neared, the eagle began to thrash. Kaitlin tried to send it calming waves.
Several grunts and curses wafted through the boughs, and then snaps and cracks as Parker made his way down the tree. “I got him,” he called as he reached the bottom with the eagle swathed in her jacket.

He shouldn’t have called.

View on Goodreads – 


Giveaways
Both reader and host giveaways begin at 0100 EST on 7 May and end at 23.59 EST on 11 May… (that is -5 hours GMT for those who need to calculate)

CONTEST!!! For Readers:

WIN your Choice of $10 Gift Card to Amazon or Barnes,
2 eBook copies of Tryst Island titles books 1 – 4   OR
Tryst Island t-Shirt 

Check the other tour stops for other excerpts:
Tour Link  The Link to follow the tour can be found at 





Links to find Sabrina:

Website: 
http://sabrinayork.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaYorkBooks
Twitter:  @sabrina_york