PayPal Becomes the Big Brother of Erotica

I rarely stamp my feet and shout from a soapbox. I prefer to share my opinions with those closest to me, and to use writing as a way to escape from the nonsense that permeates this planet at times. But this is too disturbing to ignore. By now, many of you in the erotic romance field - whether writer, publisher, editor or reader - are aware of the new declaration by PayPal that it will stop doing business with major book sites - Smashwords, All Romance and Bookstrand - if certain categories of erotica are not removed.

There are a couple different takes on why PayPal has decided this, one being that it is really a chargeback concern because erotica and porn carry a high risk of that.( http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/paypal-cracks-down-on-erotica-e-book-sales/ ) Maybe. But since erotica is one of the biggest content movers in the ebook universe, according to many sources, then wouldn't the cost of doing business in that genre be off-set?

What is more concerning to me, and many of my friends, is the slippery slope of censorship this presents. I guess it's time to pull out my "I read banned books" tote bag. Even Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords that capitulated to PayPal, seems disturbed by this. He wrote a lengthy response that defended writer's and reader's right to this content, but gave the reasons why he folded anyway. (See second half of this post: http://dearauthor.com/features/industry-news/saturday-news-no-deals-just-stupidity-and-smashwords-concedes-to-paypal-terms )

Besides this decision affecting my ability and my friend's ability to generate an income, it screams of arbitrary censorship. According to PayPal, they are only banning what most people - and every erotica publisher I have ever seen - would deem offensive, if not illegal. Things such as incest, bestiality, necrophilia, pedophilia and rape. There is a lot of talk about not condoning any violence towards another person for sexual titillation. Agreed - I do not write, nor do I read those types of books. But I do write BDSM. Not everyone "gets" BDSM. There is an aspect of violence and seeming non-consent - spankings, whips, tying someone down - that truly dedicated partners find fulfilling. There is the physical, but even more significantly, the psychological aspects of BDSM that those that are into it find appealing. It would be easy for the thought police to rule that BDSM is inappropriate and should be removed, as seems to be the case for several authors I know of already.

So not everyone "Gets" BDSM. Hmmmm. Not everyone "gets" homosexuality either. Is that the next thing to be banned? At what point are we then banning anything that isn't the missionary position between two married people, one male and one female? It starts to get scary.

Then there's the raging hypocrisy aspect. Ever see a film that has a rape scene in it? I don't mean porn. I mean a mainstream Hollywood film? Let's see - Straw Dogs is one example of many that comes to mind. If rape is part of the story, but not used to titillate, will that book be banned as well? What about a mainstream novel - such as any of Thomas Harris's popular books; Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, etc. Should his books be banned? These are but two of thousands upon thousands of examples.

My main concern here is that we are again taking a step backwards when it comes to our freedoms. What the hell? Because the decision makers of a corporation that reeks of a monopoly (the main reason these book distributors are hog-tied - uh-oh - BDSM elements!) decide that something is offensive, they have now made our decisions for us. That is the most offensive thing I can see in any of this.

For further reading on this subject, follow the links below. Then write PayPal and tell them exactly how you feel. I shall be doing the same - right after I cancel my account with them. Not interested in supporting The Beast.

http://trashystreasures.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/dont-tell-me-what-i-cant-do/

http://dave94-notes.blogspot.com/2012/02/should-erotica-be-censored.html?zx=a2d8ec2a40e3840d

http://gbisset.blogspot.com/2012/02/erotic-romance-vs-erotica-redux.html?zx=4e3b34da73c9daed

http://selenakitt.com/blog/index.php/2012/02/19/slippery-slope-erotica-censorship/

http://ebookreader-ben.com/blog/paypal-as-moral-police-forces-e-book-sellers-to-remove-certain-erotica-content/

Imaginary World vs. Real World With Hot Bods XXX

Tonight I feel like giving you a sneak peek into my little world. This is only because I have a lot on my mind from my real down and dirty day-to-day obligations. I wish they were the down and dirty types of things I write about - but alas - not so! Yes, by day I am a retail slave. It can be lots of fun when I get the chance to try on hot new outfits, and tell my customers what to wear (I know - I'm a switch!), but I'm also in management, so the extra responsibilities are there as well.

Tomorrow is on track to be the type of day that make managers shudder in fear. I sense a change on the horizon. It might actually be the exact thing I've been hoping for. Or not. Because I also spend a lot of my spare time making up stories, what works as a positive in that instance, can be a curse in reality. The stories I have made up in my head about what might be happening tomorrow range from the mundane to the absurd. I also have the interminable wait between now and then before I know what might be going on.

So I decided I should just put all of that out of my head and work on my ghost hunter menage story. I got about a thousand words in and found my mind wandering away from the cool, imaginary world I've been building these last few weeks, to the real world waiting to potentially bite me in the ass tomorrow. Ugh. I can't even feel sexy right now, so I'm just calling a halt to the proceedings for the night. I really, truly like this story and the three characters. I'm enjoying their nuances, and the challenge of making the one cranky brother into something that is not only likable, but lovable. His brother is just so easy to fall for, it's almost not fair. The subject matter is also something I'm excited about as well.

With that in mind, this story deserves my full attention. I need to be one hundred percent lost in it to bring out the best it has to offer. So for tonight, the only suitable distraction I can think of are some hot bods. When all else fails...

Six Sentence Sunday - Hot Menage WIP

Mmmm...I do love me some good menage action. This week's snippet is taken from a WIP that is just about ready to be submitted to a new publisher. I'm still toying with a few different titles, so I don't want to commit just yet. However, it revolves around the story of Carolyn who is running from an unfulfilling life on the East Coast. She has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a paranormal investigative team in the Pacific Northwest that consists of two very deliciously choice brothers, Kyle and Drew. Carolyn not only learns a lot about new ghost hunting equipment when she joins the team, but she gets to learn a lot about the brother's equipment as well.

Here's an excerpt from one of the naughty parts:

Drew's hands slipped away from her face, and travelled down to the top of her chest. He let them rest there, gathering heat between their flesh, and then slid them a little farther down so that he could caress her breasts through her clothes. Her body responded instantly to the thumbs that circled her nipples, and they peaked under his commanding touch. Everything in her brain was screaming for her to stop this immediately, but the rest of her was begging for more. The sensation of having four male hands squeezing her bottom and tits at the same time was beyond anything she had ever felt, or hoped to feel. What would it feel like if there were two mouths and two big hard...

Well there you go! I hope to be able to announce that this one is available soon. Stay tuned kiddies...and have a fabulous weekend. ;-)

Who's the Red-Hottest of Them All? The Results Are In!

Yes - we have the winner of the Red Hot Valentine's Day Blog Hop. The lucky commenter that will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card and their choice of any one of my available titles is:

DARCY!

Congratulations Darcy, and I will be contacting you in a separate email to find out your book choice.

I would also like to thank everyone who commented and stopped by to visit - I really appreciate hearing from all of you. Keep posted - I will be involved in more blog hops in the future, and hosting other special giveaways, free reads and more.

Until later, I leave you with more photos from my collection of hot guy underwear models:

There's Still Time to Get Some!

Yes - lots of hot Valentine's Day action is waiting for you. Just read and comment on the post below (or go to the Home page and scroll down from there), and many magical and wonderful things will happen. First, you'll learn about a fantastic Blog Hop going on as you are reading this, and find a link that takes you to the main page where you can win any number of juicy prizes; from gift cards to free sexy reads and more! But don't click until you've read the scorchingly dirty excerpt from my new release: Dirty Discoveries, and comment so that you have a chance to win here! One lucky winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and your choice of one of any one of my available titles. All the info on how to enter are in the post below.

Before you scroll down, I'll leave you with some random hot B&W photos to get you ready for all of this out of control action:

Red-Hot Valentine's Day BlogHop - Sizzling Stuff for You!

Yes my pretties, it is finally here! The Red-Hot Valentine's Day Blog Hop has arrived, and will be running between now and February 14th. During that time, make sure you visit all of the sizzling blogs to read some extra-hot excerpts, and to get your chance at winning some fabulous prizes. The Blog Hop is hosted by the lovely author Ranae Rose, and information on how to win the Grand Prize ($60 gift card to ARe) will be provided there, along with links to all of the other exciting blogs participating:

http://ranaerose.blogspot.com/p/red-hot-v-day-blog-hop-sign-up.html

Right here, you have a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card, and your choice of any one of my available titles. Ooh-la-la! To enter to win, all you need to do is comment on the following excerpt from my latest release in the Bound by Pleasure series, Dirty Discoveries. You can either comment on the excerpt itself, name which title you would pick if you win (see titles page, Dirty Discoveries is also included), or tell me what your favorite genre is in erotica - the choice is yours. Don't forget to leave your email - or I won't be able to contact you to tell you that you've won!

Bound by Pleasure: Dirty Discoveries: Jeffrey is about to make some very dirty discoveries about Mia, his previously faithful and innocent girlfriend. But even more startlingly, he will make some discoveries about himself. Will he win Mia back, or decide that maybe he should explore some of his other, more pressing urges? This story contains strong BDSM scenes, anal play, sex toys, M/M/F, M/F/M/F and more!

Excerpt

 The door scraped open in its particularly ominous way, and she saw Donovan, decked out in his Dom gear. All leather, chains and studs. The moisture immediately pooled between her legs, and she imagined this would be her first punishment; getting her panties soaking wet. As she suspected, Donovan was not alone. It seemed everyone was joining in on the fun. She wished Kim, her partner in the stage show were here, but she had decided to stay in L.A. until their next performance in a few days.

"My Slave is patiently waiting I see. Slave Shannon and Katarina, get all of her clothes off – now!"


The women obliged immediately, and Mia began shaking as she always did before a session. She wasn't scared, not like before, but she just couldn't handle the anticipation, the not knowing. As soon as Mia stood before the five participants completely naked, Donovan walked over to her and grabbed the back of her head, a fistful of hair in his hand.


"Are you ready for whatever I ask of you tonight?"


"Yes Master," Mia said, barely above a whisper.


"Are you sure?" Donovan's voice rose in intensity.


"Yes Master!"


He let go of her hair and openly looked at every part of her body, lingering long enough so that she was acutely aware of everyone's eyes on her naked flesh.


"Give me her clothes for inspection."


Uh-oh.


Shannon handed the tell-tale panties to Donovan, and she knew this would be it. "You little slut. I can't believe what a dirty little girl you are. So filthy. You know your punishment must be harsh, right?"


"Yes Master."


"You realize that it is your own doing, that I have no choice but to be very severe with you tonight."


"Please Master, I've been very bad, please punish me, I deserve it."


It was so natural, felt so right to her now. Thank God Jeffrey would never ever have to know about this part of her, he would never be able to understand.


Donovan slowly surveyed the room around him, the others patiently still, waiting to find out what type of devices and sex acts Mia would be commanded to participate in. He was relaxed, ever the intimidating dark stranger towering over her, leaving her to stand in her nakedness and fear of the unknown.


"I think the punishment pole is in order for tonight."


Shannon gasped, and Katarina got a slight smirk on her face. Mia knew better than to ask questions or register any worry on her face. She must be perfectly composed, and obey every one of Master Donovan's orders. Yet, it sounded foreboding. Was he going to whack her with some pole? That didn't sound pleasant. Although she had both surprised and initially disgusted herself with her easy and eager acceptance of all types of punishment – punishment that always managed to place her in a high state of lust – she had no idea this soon in the game where her personal boundaries really were.


"Masters Greg and Justin, lead Mia to the sawhorse and bend her over, so that I may prepare her for her insertion on the pole."
 
So comment away - don't forget to leave your email - and then hop on over to the other blogs by clicking the link above for more red-hot excerpts and chances to win more prizes!

Dirty Discoveries Now Available & Exclusive Excerpt!

Part 4 of the BDSM themed Bound by Pleasure Series is finally available at Amazon - Dirty Discoveries . It took me awhile to get this one completed, because I really wanted to tell Jeffrey's story, and somehow, my mood was never right. I was still so focused on Mia's point of view. Ahh the elusive muse. But some things are worth waiting for, and I believe that is the case here. Like the other titles in the Bound by Pleasure Series, there are strong BDSM elements, and additional ones such as anal play, sex toys and pegging. There is also some M/M/F interaction. Following a story blurb, I am including an excerpt that you can only find here at my blog! Also - check out the upcoming Blog Hop Prize Giveaway announcement after the excerpt.

Young Jeffrey has been forcing himself to lead a very restrained and proper life. The only child of very conservative parents, he has been with the sweet, innocent Mia for almost three years, and it is pretty much a given that their families believe the nineteen-year-olds will be married as soon as they finish school. But while Jeffrey is away on a summer family trip for two weeks, it appears that something drastic happened to Mia - she is completely different and wants to break the whole thing off when he returns.

Jeffrey is distraught, and becomes determined to find out exactly what is going on with Mia. There are several dirty discoveries to be made, not the least of which is what Jeffrey has been hiding from himself. Will Jeffrey be able to convince Mia to come back to him? Or is he more likely to find comfort in someone else's arms, maybe even one of the dungeon participants?

Excerpt from Dirty Discoveries By Morticia Knight, All Rights Reserved

Now Mia completely understood what the term "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" meant. That was exactly how she felt. Jumpy and edgy and about to come out of her skin. Donovan had wanted to come with her to the apartment for the upcoming confrontation, but that was so unfair to Jeffrey. And she was already being so unfair to him as it was. A short two weeks ago, he left to go visit family in Idaho during their summer college break, believing his faithful and innocent girlfriend of over two years would be waiting anxiously for his return. She was anxious alright, but not in the way he would expect.



She tried to remember Donovan's reassuring words to her. It wasn't her fault, she hadn't planned for this to happen. There was no point in trying to pretend she was something she wasn't with Jeffrey anymore. It would be wrong to lead him on. She ran the words over and over in her head trying to convince herself. The logical part of her had already come to these same conclusions on her own, but that didn't change the fact that her emotions wouldn't listen to logic.


She hadn't even really heard of anything such as a BDSM lifestyle before two weeks ago, having been brought up in such a conservative family. The fact that she had been dating, and being intimate, with an extremely repressed and conservative guy hadn't helped. The whole thing still seemed like some weird Alice in Wonderland dream to her. How would she ever be able to adequately explain this to clueless Jeffrey?


The answer was, she couldn't. So she had come up with a white-washed reason why she was calling it off with him. She was going to claim that she had decided to focus on her studies in art school, and felt that she had her whole life ahead of her, and therefore, they just shouldn't see each other anymore. Thankfully, that wasn't entirely untrue. Donovan had whole-heartedly supported her artistic aspirations. He was somewhat of an art connoisieur himself. Would Jeffrey buy it though? Would he try the old "can't we be friends" routine?


"Oh God," she sighed out loud.


Looking around her old apartment that she was using as a cover for her new lifestyle, she double-checked that there was nothing that would indicate she had suddenly allowed herself to be publicly disgraced in a downtown Seattle bookstore one day. That the dark stranger, Donovan, hadn't seeped into her soul with his demands that she perform all sorts of sex acts that Jeffrey had probably never even heard of on several strangers. That she hadn't been whipped on stage by a beautiful Asian girl at Donovan's L.A dungeon, hadn't allowed herself to be strapped to that fucking machine...


I have to stop these thoughts. He'll be here any minute.


That was when she heard steps coming up to her second floor apartment. She took another quick look around, and smoothed the light sundress she had on. It had been warmer than usual, especially for a summer in the Pacific Northwest.


Jeffrey's distinctive knock echoed off her front door.


He has no idea what's about to happen.


She took a deep breath, and went to the door. As soon as she opened it, she looked in dismay at the gorgeous pink roses Jeffrey held out to her. She felt like the lowest piece of slime on earth.
 
There you have it! I hope you enjoy this one - I really had a blast writing it.
As a reminder: mark your calendar for the Red Hot Valentine's Day Blog Hop hosted by Ranae Rose beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 7th - 14th. The grand prize is a $60 All Romance Gift Card, and there will be several other fantastic prize giveaways at several other blogs, including here, which will be a $10 Amazon Gift Card and your choice of any one of my available titles. So treat youself to some hot romance and your chance at Valentine's Day goodies between Feb. 7th - 14th. See you then!