Monday, August 29, 2011

How well does kink sell?

Welcome Margie Church to the blog!

Writing is Margie's passion. If she's not writing, she's thinking about writing.

Margie writes erotic romance novels with a strong suspense element, in keeping with her moniker: Romance with SASS (Suspense Angst Seductive Sizzle). Margie has a degree in writing and editing and has been a professional writer, editor, and journalist for over 25 years.

If you enjoy books that you can't put down, then read one of Margie's.

Now, without further ado, take it away Margie!!!

Thanks, Deanna!
I just finished a class on understanding the male point of view. I have to take a pot-shot at all my male friends and say I thought the class should have only lasted maybe 30 minutes…but it lasted two weeks. *face palm*

One of the subjects we covered was the gay man's emotions. You can't get through that subject without discussing sex between men. That led to a conversation among a few of us about techniques and behaviors. There were very few commenters that afternoon, mostly, I think, because those of us talking wrote gay romance, liked reading it, or were bi. Ultimately we agreed that old saying, "If it floats your boat, that's your business."

I've gone round and round with one author about using content alerts on books. He views them as warnings. I view them as sales pitches. He's driven by SEO, I'm driven by sales. Like it or not, gay romance, and anything with a ménage in it are super hot right now.

My newest book, THE 18TH FLOOR a BDSM romance and has two lines of content alerts. Is that a good thing? While I was writing the book, I knew it was taking a lot of twists, but when I paged through the finished story, I was surprised at how creative I'd been. To the point of thinking I should use a pen name. LOL While the book is laced with super hot sex in all kinds of situations, there is still a very solid plot. Alexa and Sebastian have a romance – they have an emotional relationship that grows throughout the story.

We find out that both characters appear pretty buttoned up on the outside, but inside, well, there's plenty of kink. Alexa has no idea Sebastian is a Dom. Sebi has no idea that Alexa has so many fantasies. Together they explore their desires and their hearts.

THE 18TH FLOOR
by Margie Church

Alexa Robbins is so consumed by her career, the only sex she has is listening to her nymphomaniac neighbors go at it. When Sebastian Law discovers her in the eighteenth floor conference room early one morning, the table becomes a pallet for making one of her fantasies come true. Will he enjoy her extensive repertoire?

On the outside, Sebastian appears a buttoned-up, well-dressed, techno geek. Inside, he's a Dom with a hearty appetite for all types of carnal pleasures. He risks alienating Alexa by revealing his true nature, but he won't keep the secret for long.

Together, they explore all the things that turn them on. And discover whether they're a perfect match for life beyond the 18th Floor.
Content advisories: bi-racial m/f, m/m, BDSM, ménage, spanking, flogging, oral sex, anal sex, voyeurism, exhibitionism, sex in public places, phone sex.


EXCERPT:

THE 18TH FLOOR

By Margie Church

Alexa's high heels clicking against the concrete created a sharp contrast to the muffled thump of Curt's rubber-soled shoes the next morning. As usual, the security guard escorted her into the building at six-thirty.

Alexa pressed number eighteen on the elevator pad. "See you tomorrow, Curt."

"Sure. Have a good one." Grinning, he gave her a two-finger salute.

The door slid shut and began its ascent. She sipped her vanilla latte with its extra shot of espresso, hoping the highly caffeinated brew would kick-start her brain and her ambition. Stepping into the carpeted hallway on the eighteenth floor, Alexa noticed another familiar person. Sebastian Law. She chewed on her lip, thinking about the powerfully built, mocha-skinned man who made her want to do naughty things to him whenever their paths crossed. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to pay much attention to her.

Starting up an office romance wasn't on her short list of wise career moves, but she'd spent plenty of time daydreaming about what was under the buttoned up exterior Sebastian cultivated with such care. Sebastian, or Sebi, his close friends called him, favored wearing dress slacks, long sleeved shirts, suspenders, and ties. The description was laughable until she saw how well he filled out his clothes. He walked the halls looking like a living GQ cover model five days a week. Tailored shirts clung to his broad-shouldered torso, and hinted of a well-toned body. And his ass looked so sweet. She was guilty as charged of frequently staring at his gorgeous rear as he walked down the hall. Some days it was all Alexa could do to keep from reaching out and caressing him as they passed in the hall.

Her nipples hardened thinking about the rest of his body. She guessed Sebastian was a few years older. As the company's lead technology contractor, Sebi's responsibilities matched his serious expression. But when he smiled . . . watching his lush lips part into a breathtaking grin distracted Alexa more times than she cared to admit. His mouth frequently became the object of her attention instead of the words he spoke. More than once, he'd had to repeat himself because of her lack of concentration.

Oh, I was concentrating all right—on what it would feel like to kiss you until you lost all your buttoned up control and fucked me right on the eighteenth floor conference table.

She reached the conference room at the conclusion of that thought. Her breath hitched in her throat. There won't be anyone around for another hour. She'd been coming in early long enough to know.

Alexa couldn't resist walking inside. The room temperature was much cooler than the hallway. She left the lights off and walked to the large oval table. Running her hand ran along the smooth top sent shivers up her spine.

What would mahogany feel like against my naked back?

The window blinds were wide open.

Anyone could watch us.

She closed her eyes and let the fantasy bloom in her sex-starved body until a groan left her lips and her pussy ached for relief.

"Alexa?"

The conference room light came on with an unnerving glare. Sebastian stood with his hand still poised over the switch.

Her face flamed.

"Are you okay? Why are you in here alone?"

She gulped, steadied her voice, and delivered a quick lie. "Good morning, Sebastian. I thought I saw a falling star." She covered an imaginary yawn with the back of her hand. "I guess I got distracted. The sky is so clear."

Sebastian turned off the lights and walked to her.

His masculine scent filled her nostrils. Oh shit, I so want to freaking jump him. Even her thoughts sounded like an ache. She trembled inside as he stood next to her observing the pre-dawn sky.

"It's a shame to miss so many sunrises and sunsets because of your job, isn't it?"
His mid-southern accent caressed her ear as surely as his tongue could.
Concern drew his eyebrows together. "Are you cold? You shivered."

One more remark like that and Alexa was convinced she'd be able to crawl under the carpet and disappear. This was the first time they'd ever been alone and she was acting like a lovesick dolt.

She rubbed her arms for effect. "Maybe a little."

"I don't think we'll see any more stars now. The sun has decided to make an appearance." Sebi faced her. His eyes searched her face.

She focused on his lips. "You're really handsome." Did I just blurt that out? Dust particles in space were bigger than her ego at the moment.

He cleared his throat, and raised his expressive eyebrows. "Thanks. Does stargazing always make you so horny?"

"It's not the stars. It's you." She held her breath, waiting for him to laugh or get angry at her bold declaration.

His fingers cupped her chin.

Alexa's heart hammered in her chest while her libido pleaded for him to kiss her.

She held his waist, curling her fingers in the crisp fabric above his belt.

"Did you think I hadn't noticed how sexy you are?" His voice dripped with charm.
Her mons pressed against his zipper. The thin fabric strained against his swelling cock. The heat between her thighs simmered. She was soaking wet and he hadn't even touched her yet.

She wrapped her fingers around his tie, drawing those sensual lips to hers.
Sebi kissed her possessively, not wasting precious minutes on teasing foreplay. He flexed his jaw to draw her tongue into his mouth.

Alexa was glad she'd been holding onto his shirt because her knees buckled. A moan formed deep in her throat and escaped. Her fingers dug into his ass cheeks, pressing him firmly against her as she dry fucked him like a wanton hussy.

Sebastian broke from the kiss.

Those hot lips she'd fantasized about worked their way down her neck. While he deftly unbuttoned her blouse, he kissed her nipples through her bra, biting and tugging the sensitive, lace-covered nubs.

Alexa unbuttoned his slacks and shoved them down.

His erection sprang free.

Her pussy responded by adding to the pool of wetness at the apex of her thighs.

They didn't waste time on words. Other employees would arrive soon. Alexa reached for her purse and found her cache of condoms. While Sebastian slipped one on, Alexa took off her panties and dropped them into her oversized purse.

She caressed his balls. "I'm not wearing those the entire day. Every time you see me, you'll know my pussy is bare and missing your gorgeous dick."

A salacious grin covered his lips and rose into his dark eyes. "Don’t be surprised then, if you're what I'm eating for lunch."

Hopping onto the conference table, Alexa slid her skirt up around her waist. The chilly surface raised goose bumps on her bare ass. She crooked her finger at Sebi. "I want you right now. Sink your big, black cock into my tight pussy."

A look of satisfaction came across his face as Sebi reached for her hips and moved Alexa into position. "I hope you can remember to contain your sounds." He teased her with the head of his cock. "Most women have a difficult time keeping quiet when I'm fucking them. We can't draw attention."

The first sensations of penetration released a deep moan in her throat. Her demanding career hadn't left Alexa much time to date on a regular basis. She had no idea how horny she'd become and how much she needed a good, hard fuck.



CONTEST:
How do you feel about content alerts?
Do they attract you to a book or help you steer clear?

Leave your reply and your email and you could WIN A FREE COPY of THE 18TH FLOOR

Buy THE 18TH FLOOR now at Sizzler Editions and at Amazon


Keep up with Margie:
Margie's website: Romance with SASS Margie's blog,
Twitter and Facebook

19 comments:

  1. Deanna....uummm...first...loved the excerpt!! Daaamn! Oh, back to your content alert question. I would say it would help me know what the book contained so I would have a question about what I was buying! Thanks for such a hot excerpt and hope this books does just as well as all of your other hot reads! Muah!

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  2. Oh,my! That is a great excerpt! Oh, you asked a question...I have to say that content alerts are great ways to find books. They help me find what I am interested in reading at that time. And I must say theat the content alerts and excerpt have made me want to read this book.
    June M.
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

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  3. Good morning Tonya and June! It seems you agree, they are sales pitches! I hope you'll enjoy The 18th Floor...the menage scene is gonna make you sweat. ;-)

    Thanks for hosting me, Deanna. I'll be back later today! EDJ awaits.

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  4. Warnings are definitely sales pitches. Is it Elloras cave that always does the funny warnings about content, -'keep a firehose ready for this burning male/male action'? I love that. If I'm reading warnings, hell yes I'm looking to grade the sex inside.
    LOVE the excerpt. Great way to wake up this morning, sex right off the bat. ;-)

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  5. Thanks for stopping by ladies!
    Margie, I have to say, I buy books because there are warnings. I wish blogger would change their content warning form, "Yes I wish to continue" to "Hells yeah i want to continue!"

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  6. *panting heavy* Huh? What was the question?

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  7. JM, glad to put the Rise in your Shine. ;-) I'll have to suggest the goofy content alerts...some of mine read like medication listings!

    Deanna, I wish Facebook had a Hell Ya! button. Like just doesn't do it a lot of times. LOL

    Em-Musing - need some O2, babe? Come back.

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  8. Wonderful choice as an excerpt, just have to say WOW on the story. I think I am still smoking a little from reading it.

    Can't wait for this one to find the same success as Hard as Teak and more...

    Margie 2 (MOTS)

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  9. MOTS!! That's the kinda lung cancer I can live with! ROFLMAO Thanks for your unending support and most of all your friendship. We're gonna have to meet on the Mason-Dixon some day.

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  10. Wow! I can only imagine what the rest of the book holds for us readers. Now your question. I think it does both. If you're looking at books with content warnings, I mean really. That's why you're there. You want to read that type of story. From a sales POV, It says 'naughty, naughty. You shouldn't be reading this'. So of course you're going to. But, if you're parent looking at books with your kids, then when you see a warning, just slide past them. We're adults and we know what we are looking for and looking at. It's like a 'wet paint--do not touch' sign. People will, just because someone says not to.

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  11. Cindy - so how many cement sidewalks did you scribble your name in? Ha! In all fairness, there is a person who will not pay close attention to title, cover image, blurb - all the stuff that should start to alert the reader this is what you're getting. And they buy the book. And they get pissed about it. Publishers hate unhappy customers as much as authors do, cuz you know they'll track you down. It's good business for all the reasons you stated and mine, I think. Thanks for coming by tonight! It's always a pleasure to see you.

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  12. Deanna, Margie:

    Awesome post! First off, it sounds hot, Margie. I wish you much success and many sales.

    Second, as far as alerts are concerned I can see it from both sides. Personally, content alerts/warnings would only make ME want to pick up the book. But I'm funny that way.

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  13. Thanks gals, and Johnny, for stopping by, LOL

    Good luck to all! :)

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  14. just drools i sooooooooooooo want to read this b ook I think kink sells and sells well I love me soem kink in gneral and in my books awesome post and i LOVE that cover woudl deff make agood poster right next to my wet poster lol

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  15. Johnny and SiNn, I think we are all in agreement...Kinky content alterts sell!

    SiNn...I'll be giving away those posters. Watch for them.

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  16. Very nice excerpt Margie. Well I personally don't pay a whole lot of attention to the ratings since I read just about everything and normally find out info on the book by reading the blurb or excerpts etc.. but for someone just looking to avoid or get certain elements I can see where it would be helpful for them.

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  17. Johnny!!!
    Looks like you won Margie's book! COngrats!

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  18. Hi. Content alerts both lure and push me away depending on what the alert is. I would rather know something is M/M w/BDSM and rape than buy it and find out after I spent my money on something I won't read. I am not saying that those are deterantes just used as an example.

    Brandy
    brandyzbooks(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  19. HI MARGIE! MY FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT YOUR BOOKS AND DANG DO THEY LOOK HOT! GUESS I'M TOO LATE TO WIN IT.

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