Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Reviews for an Erotica Reader/Writer

Hello Lovelies!

I decided today to talk a little bit about reviews. They really are the life-blood of Indie authors (or any author, for that matter). If you enjoy a book, be it an epic novel or a short story, the best way to give your thanks to the author is with a review. You only need to leave a sentence or two to go along with your whatever-number-of-stars-rating. Something as simple as "I really enjoyed this story. The main character was fun to follow." Tailor it to your own tastes, of course, but that shows you how simple writing a review can be.

Sure, that's great for mainstream or genre books, but, come on, if you're reading this, we're pretty much talking about erotic stories, aren't we? It's silly, as there should be nothing wrong with reading about sex, but society often frowns upon it. I hear you. This may shock you, but Clara Zaynn isn't my real name. A pseudonym? For an erotica author? Unheard of, right? (Okay, get your laughs in now. 😁) What I'm saying is that you may be unsure about leaving reviews for sexy books. I have some easy ways for you to do it, however.

(Note, these work for you non-erotic readers and writers, too, of course, if you have reasons for wanting to leave reviews under a different name.)

Let's start with Goodreads, as this is easy to get a new account with your pseudonym. All you need is a different email account from the one you used to sign up with your real name. If you're simply a reader who wants to leave reviews, you're pretty much good to go. Set it up how you like, but as long as you have an account, you can start adding books to your list and reviewing them. One thing about Goodreads, too, is you don't need to leave a written review; you can simply give a book a rating from 1 to 5 stars and be done with it. Personally, I try not to do this and give a written review to everything. If you're an author, I'd advise setting up an author account, as it's easy enough to do, but that's a topic for another time. 

Smashwords is another easy one. I personally don't use Smashwords often, but I have set up a pseudonym account, and with the same email account I set up my Goodreads, it went nice and smooth. With that account, it'll be nice and easy to leave reviews. 

Now, let's talk about the biggie in Indie Publishing: Amazon. With as easy as Amazon makes it to publish, as well as the Kindle Unlimited program, reviews are probably most important for authors on Amazon. The problem with this is that Amazon, while it makes it easy to publish under a pseudonym, it's much harder to leave a review under one. You can change the name you leave reviews under, but as far as I can tell, it changes the name for every review you've ever written. Not ideal. It's also easy to start an account, but you can't start leaving reviews right away. No, Amazon says you need to spend $50 or more before you can start leaving reviews. (I believe they had all sorts of problems when they didn't do this, so it became a necessity. That's fine, but still a pain in the butt.)

So, what can you do? Well, if you don't see yourself spending $50 with Amazon, you probably aren't interested in leaving reviews on their site anyway, so problem solved. Stick with Goodreads, Smashwords, and the other retail sites (though, to be honest, I have no idea how easy it is to set up a second account with B&N or any of the others). If you use Amazon anyway, start buying from that account. You can purchase items and then send them to your real name and address. I did this, and I also found you could gift things to your other account. $50 proved no problem, and I didn't even splurge. Depending on your spending habits, it may take a few months or longer (or a few minutes), but you'll get there. Stick to the other sites until you pass the $50 threshold. 

Why go through the pain? Because authors will love you for your Amazon reviews. Yes, a Goodreads review still makes us smile, but Amazon is the gold-standard at the moment (and for the foreseeable future).

So there you go. Tips on leaving reviews for erotic stories. Make an author happy and leave reviews. Leave a multi-paragraph recap or give your thoughts in a sentence or two. Either way, you'll make an Indie author a happy camper!

Master List of 6 Contemporary Erotic Shorts Volume 1

Click here to find the collection at Amazon

Click here to find the collection at Smashwords

Click here to find the paperback at Amazon

You can also find it at other retailers. Simply search "6 Contemporary Erotic Shorts Volume 1"







You can purchase (or read for free if you're a Kindle Unlimited member) each story separately if you'd like. They are available only at Amazon.



Click here to find Flag Football Conquest












Click here to find Almost the Three of Them












Click here to find The Open House Sextravaganza












Click here to find Movie Theater Therapy












Click here to find HORSE-ing Around












Click here to find Substitute Teacher Daydreams

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

A Collection of Contemporary Erotica

Hello Lovelies!

Sometime soon, maybe as early as tomorrow, I'll have a new collection available. I'm calling it Six Contemporary Erotic Shorts, Volume One. It's six of my previously published stories packaged together in one book. It will be available on Amazon and Smashwords (and the other retailers that Smashwords sends to - Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iBooks, etc.) for $2.99. If you've always wanted to read these stories but don't do Amazon, this is your chance! It won't be available as a free Kindle Unlimited download, but each individual story is still available to read for free if you're a member.

And speaking of the stories, which ones are included? You get (in this order):
 - Flag Football Conquest
 - Almost the Three of Them
 - Open House Sextravaganza
 - Movie Theater Therapy
 - HORSE-ing Around
 - Substitute Teacher Daydreams

Here's the cover for the collection:
I will, of course, let you know when it's available. It'll likely be ready on Amazon first, followed by Smashwords, and a few days later, your other favorite ebook retailers. I'll also have a paperback version available, much like I did with the Babysitting Fun collection. If you have any question, ask in the comments, get a hold of me on Twitter, or email through my website. Thank you! 

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Carnival of Sin: Coming Soon & Ch. 1 Preview

Hello Lovelies!

UPDATE: Carnival of Sin is now available. You can get it here!

I want to let everyone know that my newest book, Carnival of Sin, will be available Tuesday. This one is a bit of a departure for me. Yes, it's sexy and erotic, but it's also very brutal, violent, and gory. I'm labeling it as an Erotic Dark Fantasy, though I'm sure many would have no problem if I instead labeled it as Erotic Horror. I'll place the cover, description, and excerpt (Ch.1) below.

I'm marketing it a bit different than normal. My pricing platform is to charge 99¢ for my stories under 20k words, and $2.99 for works above that. This one is a novella of about 30k words, but instead of charging you $2.99 right out of the gate, I'll be pricing this at 99¢ for the first few days, maybe through the first weekend (we'll see how it goes). Of course, I'd be thrilled to get early reviews to help sell this one even further, which is one reason I'm putting it out at first at the cheaper price. It will also be available on Kindle Unlimited as a free download for those of you in that program.

So, what is the Carnival of Sin? Here are the cover and the description that will be on Amazon:


Conquering a deadly sexual gauntlet could lead Heart Masterson to a race of immortals.

Ever since her best friend disappeared, Heart has been searching. Armed only with a mysterious name, the Carnival of Sin, she scours the seediest corners of the internet and the darkest of back alleys. She must be ready to do whatever dirty deed it takes to find Bliss.

It’s only when Heart gives up all hope that the carnival reaches out, and she finally realizes what she’s been chasing. In order to find Bliss, the Carnival of Sin will challenge her in ways she never thought possible. Heart’s comfortable using both violence and sex, but she’s never experienced anything like this.

Can she survive the trials to find her best friend, Bliss? Or will the immortal Masters feast on her corpse?

If you’re a fan of BDSM and other brutal sexual acts, as well as violence and gore, this dark fantasy erotic tale is for you!


Because of strong sexual and violent depictions in this story, only those over the age of 18 should read this. You’ve been warned.

Chapter One

Heart dropped to her knees in the alleyway, well aware of the grime and slimy filth soaking into her jeans. It’s why she chose to wear an older pair. She knew going in this would be a dirty job in more ways than one.

This pig, Reynolds, had his button and fly already undone, so she reached in and pulled his cock out. If she could snag this information any other way, she’d choose to, but this was foolproof. Or as much as dealing with a guy like Reynolds could be.

“Yeah, baby, pull my balls out, too. Cradle my boys while you suck me off.”

Better believe she would. Though it’d be a lot less pleasant than he figured. She yanked his pants down hard to get more room. That earned a chuckle from him.

“Whoa there, girly. I know you’re eager, but no need to rip me out of my drawers.”

“I’m so ready for this,” she said as she fished his balls out. All in all, as she’d hoped, his cock measured average at best, and probably a little smaller. She could get his entire length in her mouth with no problem, even if she didn’t want to. He smelled like moldy cheese, and not the gourmet kind the stores charged an arm and a leg for, but this was the quickest way to get him to spill all he knew.

“Yeah, girly, go for it.”

She reached into her pocket, found the folded-up note where it should be, and then swallowed his stinky rod. He groaned, and though she wanted to go for the note right away, she needed him primed first. This was in no way as much fun as the last guy she procured info from. She’d ridden his beautifully sculpted body to multiple orgasms before forcing the answers out of him. He, Travers, had been so good she felt bad about slitting his throat after he talked. Reynolds would be lucky to go out so easy. He gave off a vibe which screamed she’d have to earn every bit of what he had to say.

“Shit, you go deep,” he hissed out. His hands went to the sides of her head, holding her in place. She relaxed and breathed through her nose. She would normally be able to go forever, as his cock wasn’t anywhere near big enough to block her windpipe, but, god damn it, he stank. This needed to end soon or she might puke. No, it wouldn’t do anything to the aesthetics of this alley, but it would ruin her mission. Reynolds would take it as a compliment if she spewed, thinking his dick had choked her, but she plain and simple wouldn’t be able to get back on him, and there was no way he’d spill any of his knowledge without prodding of some sort.

He pulled her hard off and then back onto his cock, getting it deeper in her throat. This time she held her breath until he let up. When he did, she took a couple of gulps of air through her mouth so she didn’t have to smell him before he impaled her face again.

“Fuck, girl,” he groaned. She had him.

She pulled the note out of her pants with one hand and cradled his balls with her other. The only way this could go wrong was if he couldn’t read, but she tested him before they came out there, feigning she’d forgotten her glasses and needing him to read a sign for her. He rattled off the fine print with no problem, so this plan should work.

“What’s this?” he asked as she handed him the note.

She stayed deep, her hand tightening on his balls. She felt more than heard his intake of breath. It was short but sweet, at least from her point of view.

It read: “You pull away or hit me, I clench and twist. Tell me about the Carnival of Sin.”

Though she had confidence in her ability to handle him however he chose to react, he still caught her by surprise. Instead of acting, he blubbered.

“They’ll kill me.”

She raised her eyebrows in a way she hoped portrayed, “So will I.”

He got it, and he gave her a curt nod. Then, more to himself, he muttered, “Women the weaker sex, my ass.”

Heart squeezed his balls, not hard, but enough so he knew she wasn’t being playful. She also bit down on the base of his cock, again not enough to cause any real pain, but it got his attention.

“Okay, okay. At least they won’t neuter me before they rip my throat out. I’d ask if you’re sure about getting mixed up with that bunch, but I think you deserve them. Why don’t you pull your mouth off my Johnson and tell me what you already know.

Ha! Nice try. She squeezed his scrotum, this time twisting it a little. She also rubbed her molars over the head of his cock.

“Ow, shit, stop. Okay, I’ll tell you everything I know. But, I swear, it’s not much.”

“Lie and I munch,” she said, not sure how clear it came out with her mouth full of his cock. He got the message.

“Yeah, no, I’ll tell you the truth. I’m fucked either way. It’s a place for people who want to die. To get one more, or maybe even their first, taste of the perverse. You can show up the first time and watch, but if you blab, you’re dead. Don’t ask me how. All I know is it’s the worst way to go. I’m one of their cleaners, so I’ve seen the aftermath. Those people are tortured and killed in the worst ways possible.”

Heart knew all this already. She bit down to get him to continue. The sicko was still rock hard in her mouth, and she had a feeling a few quick tugs would bring out his jism-storm. She held as still as possible.

“If you get invited back and choose to attend, you’re forced to participate. Those who want to die are given some sort of drug that dulls everything but their pleasure, even with the killing blow. That’s how it happens each time, however often they do it; I don’t know. The only time it’s any different is on Demon’s Night, which happens a few times a year. That’s when those who want to meet the masters are allowed to run the gauntlet. If they survive and finish whatever goals they’re given, without the use of the pleasure drug, they get the honor of meeting the masters. I don’t have a clue what goes on then, I swear. I assume it’s to join the group, but that’s nothing but a guess on my part.”

This tub of shit wasn’t giving her what she needed. “How do I get my invitation?” Was that understandable? Probably not, with his dick still hard in her mouth, but he picked up the gist of it.

“I can’t help you, I swear. I don’t have anything to do with the invites. I don’t even have a name for you to follow up on. I’m not bullshitting you, I promise.”

The quaking fear in his voice proved he told the truth. Though it disappointed her he couldn’t give her a free pass to the front of the line, so to speak, she could do nothing more about it tonight. All in the same motion, she reached into her boot, pulled out her trusty switchblade, and disengaged from his cock. Before he could do anything, she slit his throat deep. He gargled and fell to his knees, confusion dancing behind his eyes. Then the lights went out and he crumbled to the dirty pavement.

“You weren’t living through this, and that was a lot more humane than me biting off your cock.” She wiped her knife on his shirt, made sure no one had witnessed any of it, and headed out of the alleyway.

End of Chapter One

I hope you enjoyed the sneak peak at Carnival of Sin! Let me know what you think. I will, of course, have links on Tuesday when you can buy or download it. Until next time, be good humans!