The wonderful and wickedly sassy Jax Cassidy is with us today, and we’re so excited to have her back! Jax is a dear friend, an awesome author, and a creative evil genius. Accomplished not only as a writer, but as a graphic designer, and one of the two great minds behind Romance Divas, an award-winning writer’s resource website and discussion forum with over 3,700 members, Jax never stops! Today’s interview theme is ‘Stayin’ Alive’, so let’s have a chat with this powerhouse to see how she’s surviving the challenges of today’s publishing industry!
Smutketeers: Jax, the Smutketeers tend to be nosy (one of our more charming features), so tell us something people might be surprised to know about you. And make it scandalous!
Jax: Scandalous, huh? I normally don’t kiss and tell but I’ve been known to strip down to my au naturale state in the name of comic book modeling. Let’s just say it was a very titillating experience. …
Smutketeers: You’ve been doing some interesting things with Smashwords. Tell us about this new publishing phenomenon, and about your Smashwords books.
Jax: About a year ago, my good friend Eva Gale had her rights reverted back for a series of short stories from her ePub. She had mentioned a desire to expand her readership and shared information about Smashwords. Her friends had experimented with this online platform and had successful results so she tried it out. In retrospect, I wish I had taken more of an initiative because, after a year since she put up her free reads, her stories are one of the most downloaded stories on their website–ever! Even their formatting guidebook uses one of her short stories as an example. Then and there, I decided I needed to get my stories up ASAP. I figured that as an author I promote on as many online venues as possible so this is no different than a type of online marketing campaign. Based on Smashwords professionalism and business structure, it was a win-win.
What I love most about Smashwords is that I get to control whether I want to sell my own stories or offer them for free for readers. Why hide those old manuscripts under the bed when you can just edit, format, and upload to get people familiar with your writing style. I haven’t put up any of my paranormal stories but from the results of my own experimentation…after the first 3-4 weeks of having my free reads available, I had around 2,000 downloads and counting. The responses were amazing and so I decided to put up a short story, DEVIL’S HEART to sell. I love this story! It’s set in Ireland and involves a hunky bar owner and a sexy indie singer. It’s a contemporary erotic that has a splash of fairytale and I even designed the cover.
What I took away from this experiment is that free reads will get you maximum exposure and heavy downloads but don’t expect to have high sales. The stories I’ve noticed that has grabbed lots of interest are ones that reach both the male and female audiences. As I mentioned, this release was a promotional experiment for me. It certainly helped bring in additional visibility but my money’s still on pursuing the traditional NY publishing route.
Smutketeers: The publishing industry is changing, and small press and e-books are becoming more familiar to the reading public. How do you think this will affect authors? Readers?
Jax: Any kind of publishing exposure is good exposure…more people are willing to try out eBook authors because it’s much cheaper and they won’t feel bad if they don’t like what they’ve bought. A lot of instant bestsellers have emerged from ePubs and small press and the numbers of them doing very well owe it all to ePublishing. I think there’s a wider demographic that ePubs and small press are able to tap into. They’re also more willing to take chances and publish stories that traditional publishers won’t.
In any industry, there are reputable and scandalous ePublishers out there but an authors job is to do the research before submitting. Don’t be eager to sign. Read the fine print on the contracts. Plan your future and see which ePub will help you get to where you need to go. There are so many online resources and so many ePub authors out there who will share information.
I’m thankful to have my start in both ePub and small press. It’s given me a chance to learn about the submission process, edits, deadlines, and proposals. The experience will help you out immensely when you get those big contracts. By that time, I’ll be prepared and at my best professionally!
Smutketeers: We know you now have an agent-the same agent who represents all of the Smutketeers, the amazing Roberta Brown of the Brown Literary Agency! Tell us a little about your writing history and the trials and joys you’ve been through. How have your writing goals and your career changed over time?
Jax: I can’t praise Roberta enough! She is the most amazing individual and has a gentle soul. She has a way of making you feel like the most special person in the world and her support has given me a huge boost during this economy. Getting signed by her was a total accident. She had rejected three of my proposals in a three-year period and I decided I’d wait to send her something fabulous when the time was right. Well, a few weeks before Thanksgiving a year and a half ago, I had written a short story I wanted to submit to Spice Briefs. I begged her to read over it and give me her thoughts on my story because I knew she had sold plenty of Briefs to Harlequin. A few days after I sent her the email, she wrote back and asked me to set up a time to speak with her. Let’s just say for Thanksgiving I had signed with my first choice agent… Still can’t believe it!
Everything is supposed to be great when you have one of the best agents in the biz, right?
In my case, I can say that it was the happiest and toughest time for me. Unfortunately the economy was swirling down the crapper the week I signed and publishers weren’t buying because they were undergoing re-organization and downsizing. Lucky me. I was no longer in the slush pile but on a whole other stack of slush pile for new authors with agents. Yep, there is a hierarchy to everything. My waits were shorter with an agent but unless you wrote what fit their bill, the days of trying to sell the book of your heart is virtually on hold. I still didn’t allow all this frustration and negativity to bring me down, so I kept writing and staying busy.
Although I had a full plate with my boutique design company and Romance Divas, I managed to submit two short stories and four proposals. I am currently trying to finish two manuscripts and 3 more proposals. The deadlines never cease even when you’re awaiting your fate. I truly learned so much about resilience, spirituality, internal strength, and staying positive because those things will keep that fire lit within you. I’m a firm believer that hard work and a strong work ethic will get me that big freakin’ contract. Just wait and see…
Smutketeers: What are you currently working on?
Jax: I am finishing up a paranormal romance that involves the world of Death. It’s not a fallen angel story but it’s the coolest world I’ve ever built in my head and I hope I’ll be able to share it with everyone someday real soon…
I’m also going to pick back up on an Italian contemporary I started eons ago but never had a chance to finish. I’m only one chapter away from being able to polish and send to my agent. In addition, I’ll be able to work on a very cool young adult series wrapped around Asian mythology and the elements. I can’t wait to try my hand at reaching the younger audience…of course, under a different pen name.
Smutketeers: What are your favorite genres to read? To write?
Jax: I LOVE contemporaries but I don’t limit myself to just that genre. I enjoy historical, some paranormal and erotica books. Sad to say I don’t have many opportunities to read but when I do, I can go through a stack of books in a day or two.
I never say ‘never’. I think anyone who writes historicals are brilliant. I have entertained the thought but my first love is contemporaries. Paranormals are fun to delve into when I’m in that dark headspace and need the release. Perhaps someday I’ll write a historical set in Vietnam. I think most people might not find it the most romantic or exotic country because predominantly Chinese and Japanese stories have always been at the forefront..but I’m proud of my heritage and I hope someday I can talk about all those amazing figures in history that I learned about and bring them to life!
Smutketeers: Do you believe in love at first sight, or do you think it’s lust at first sight that can turn into something more?
Jax: I’m a firm believer in soul mates and destiny. I have totally fallen in love at first sight (even had lust at first sight) but it’s even more amazing when the emotional, physical, and mental is solidified through a strong relationship. That’s when the passion never wavers and the other person is the very air you need to breathe and keep you alive. I’ve found my Mr. Right so I can tell you I have firsthand experience on this topic.
Smutketeers: What else do you want to tell our Smutkedettes and others reading the blog today?
Jax: I live by the philosophy of helping others, staying true to yourself, and indulging in whatever it is that will make you feel alive. I wish I had more free time to focus on charities, fighting against human trafficking, feeding and helping the less fortunate…but every chance I get, I try to do one act of kindness. I think that in this time and age, a lot of people have forgotten about just being nice. It doesn’t take a lot of effort. Open doors, smile, help someone whose hands are full, thank someone…I guarantee you’ll feel good about yourself if you try it.
I always sign my books with “Live with Purpose, Love with Passion” and it’s something I feel strongly about. Writing has helped me through so many personal hurdles, health issues, and so much more that’s happened in my life. It’s given me an outlet and it’s a gift that I never take it for granted. I hope that when someone reads one of my stories, they’re able to escape, laugh, cry, or feel anything at all…in knowing that, I have done my job as a writer. Thanks for inviting me into your livingroom!
* * *
We always have to end with our classic Smutketeer rapid-fire questions-so here goes! ~Love or lust? Love ~Big wedding or awesome honeymoon? Awesome honeymoon ~Daniel Craig or David Beckham? Daniel Craig (Hubba hubba) ~Rock star or Regency rake? Rock star ~Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate ~Mini skirt or cute jeans? Cute jeans (Of course! I’m a jeans addict) ~Tropical beach or mountain ski lodge? Tropical beach (where I can run around naked) ~Raspberry mojito or mango margarita? Raspberry mojito (I love those girly drinks with a bit of color)
Smutketeers: Where can we find you on the web? Do you have any appearances coming up so readers can see your fabulousness in person?
July 10, 2010
CFRWA Meeting: Group panel on preparing for RWA Conference
Downtown Orlando
Public Library
Orlando, FL
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
July 10, 2010
Borders
880 W State Road 436
Altamonte Springs, FL
Time: 2:00-4:00 PM
July 26 – August 1, 2010
RWA National Conference
Orlando, FL
November 6, 2010
CFRWA Multi-author Holiday Book Signing
Barnes and Noble
Altamonte Springs, FL
Time: TBA
Smutketeers: Thanks for coming to visit us today, Jax-you’ve worn us out, and that’s no easy task-whew! But you know you’re always welcome here-we luvs ya, Jax!
Jax: Thanks for the love. I may not be as kinky as you Smutketeers but I won’t divulge all my little secrets or show you the skeletons in my closet. Some things are better left behind closed doors.
Love you all and thanks for giving me the opportunity to ramble!!!!
CONTEST: To show our appreciation for our blog readers, we’re running a contest! Just post here with the names of any two of Jax’s heroes (you’ll have to visit her website to find out!) and we’ll give one lucky winner a copy of Eden’s kinky e-book BREAKING SKYE, and another winner a copy of one of R.G.’s e-books-anything from her backlist-go to her website to see what she’s got available!
******** BTW, Smutkedettes, Eden is blogging today with the Lolitas over at the Steamed blog about the making of her Eve Berlin costume for the Smutketeers’ recent photo shoot-and we promise those pics will be revealed here soon! Come on by and say hello! http://ageofsteam.wordpress.com/
If you like to read some sizzlin’ hot bi-menage (and you probably do if you’re hanging with the Smutketeers) then you must check out Elise Logan’s brand new release, TWICE AS HIGH! It’s available today from Liquid Silver books! Here’s a li’l peek:
Madeline Crane’s life just got interesting. Within the span of a month, she turned her bosses in for money laundering and won the lottery. Now she’s having strange erotic dreams about sexy men with wings. But it’s just a dream, right?
Wrong. When Julian and Kyle show up, they send Maddy into a tailspin. Suddenly, she’s having psychic episodes that afford her glimpses of Julian and Kyle in situations much too personal for comfort. Then the pair reveal they are actually aliens banished from a distant planet, and Maddy has to wonder if she’s losing her grip on reality. To make matters worse, someone has put a hit out on her.
Now Maddy has to stay safe, stay sane, and try to figure out where she fits between these two winged warriors.
You’ll find an excerpt on th Liquid Silver site, or you an just buy it now!
Well, for her book, WASTELAND: THE PRIESTESS, Book Four in the Smutketeers Wasteland series, over on Whipped Cream Reviews! It’s up for Book of the Week-so if you loved this book, go and vote! Woohoo-go R.G.!
Hey there, Smutkedettes-today I’m blogging over at Melissa Schroeder’s Random Thoughts blog with an excerpt from my recent release, THE BREEDER, Book Three in the Smutketeers Wasteland series. I’m running a contest, so come on by and comment to win!
The Smutketeers have some awesome new book covers, and I thought I’d unveil them today! I’m a bit frustrated because I have two more that I can’t show quite yet, which kills me-apparently I’m lousy at keeping a secret-lol! But here are two that we can show-some hot and smutty stuff coming from the Smutketeers!
First is R.G.’s upcoming Samhain book, TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS, out in July! Stay tuned for her release celebration here, the blurb, excerpts, and other scrumptious stuff!
This is about as much hot man candy as you can fit on one cover-nice!
The cover for my first Harlequin Spice novel is sexy, too, but in a slightly different way, as you can probably tell…:) This book will be out in January, 2011.
Just a little tease today while we toil away at our deadlines. We promise-I swear!-to have the pics from our latest Steampunk photo shoot up soon! Plus, new contests, book releases, guest bloggers and more! All for Smut and Smut for All!
Crystal Jordan’s In the Heat of the Night series from Samhain has been combined into a single print volume and releases today!
When wildness rules the night, giving in is the only choice.
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Werewolf law demands that once mated, werewolves know no other lover. Then Lena walks into Rachel’s world, turning it inside out. Her mate may not like it, but once scented, nothing will stop Rachel from claiming what’s hers…
Big Girls Don’t Die
Six months ago, Andre turned Cynthiana into a vampire, insisting it was meant to be. Cyn doesn’t call this a healthy relationship. When she ends up stranded on Valentine’s Day, he grabs his chance to convince her they can live happily ever and forever after.
It’s Raining Men
Candy has always known Michael is her mate. The catch? He’s gay. When she meets his lover, she’s sure her werewolf instincts are faulty. Mates with not one, but two gay men? She must have a screw loose. Little does she know both men are about to rock her world.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Anyone who tries to get in Pixie’s way gets the business end of her Fae magic, especially pushy werewolf males. Luckily, Malcon likes her that way. Their uncomplicated fling, for him, is anything but—she’s his mate. He just has to convince her that love won’t clip her wings.
Warning: Naughty love in every imaginable flavor: boy on boy, girl on girl, boy on girl, boy on girl on boy, girl on boy on girl. Werewolves, vampires, sirens, and Fae doing all the dirty deeds from spanking to anal to public masturbation. Options are limitless, so pick your poison wisely!
I’m here to announce the winners of my Dark or Dirty contest! I have to say, I was so proud of the way you all came clean about your…proclivities…*G*
So-the Dark winner is…………
Courtney!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the Dirty winner is………..
Dana M!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just contact me at: eden_bradley@yahoo.com and I’ll email your prizes. Dana M gets a copy of my dirty BDSM book, BREAKING SKYE, (and I’ll let you in on a little secret-this one is based on a true story…)-just put Breaking Skye winner in the subject line. Courtney gets a copy of my dark vampire futuristic menage story, THE SEEKING KISS, Book One in the Midnight Playground series! Just put The Seeking Kiss Winner in the subject line.
Congrats to you both!
Meanwhile, the month long celebration of our Wasteland series continues! The first three books, Crystal Jordan’s THE WANDERER, Lilli Feisty’s THE WHORE, and my book, THE BREEDER, are all available now at Samhain and through Amazon, as well as other online outlets, and R.G. Alexander’s book, THE PRIESTESS, the one that ties it all up (so this one is a MUST read if you’ve read anything else in the series!), will be out next Tuesday, May 25th!
Have you downloaded our wallpaper tapestry of all our covers in one connected image?
Have you joined our Smutketeers Yahoo group? Have you watched our book trailer? So much to do, so little time…
My story in the Smutketeers’ Wasteland anthology, Book Three: THE BREEDER, was supposed to release tomorrow, but it’s out now! Buy it now at MBAM or on Amazon! To celebrate, I’m posting an excerpt and having a contest because Yay! for free stuff! Here we go…
In 2012, the world came to a grinding halt as radiation hit from a massive solar storm. Crops died, animals perished, cities fell and humans became little more than beasts themselves. Under the threat of starvation, civility was reduced to mere memory. Only the strongest men survived, and physically weaker women and children wasted to nothingness.
More than a century later, humanity struggles in the desert Wasteland that was left. The solar radiation rendered most women infertile, and the population dwindles more with each year that passes. Scattered up and down coasts, isolated cities eke out an existence from fishing, foraging and hunting for what little game remains. Outside the city walls, men face the threat of pirates and raiders.
Few women remain, divided into four classes—Wanderers, Whores, Breeders and Priestesses. They are as reviled as they are worshiped, a commodity any man must pay to touch.
There is only one rule in the Wasteland—survive.
Book One: THE WANDERER — Crystal Jordan, May 4, 2010
Book Two: THE WHORE — Lilli Feisty, May 11, 2010
Book Three: THE BREEDER — Eden Bradley, May 18, 2010
Book Four: THE PRIESTESS — R.G. Alexander, May 25, 2010
THE BREEDER, Book Three in the Wasteland Series
Destined to serve the desires of an entire city, all she wants is one man. Or maybe two…
Wasteland, Book 3
Born to the Temple, Nitara knows the Great Goddess’s plan for her: to bring life into what is left of an arid and wasted Earth. Since puberty she has been trained to arouse and titillate, to ensure the continuation of the human race.
As is the custom, the man captured for her is strong of blood, though considered little more than a wild animal. Yet when she looks into his eyes, she sees no primitive creature, but the man whose face and hands haunt her sensual dreams.
For Akaash, a hunter and warrior, it’s his shame that he will be sacrificed to a goddess he doesn’t believe in, for a people who are not his own, leaving behind his Wanderer clan—and his bonded lover, Dhatri. Locked in the bowels of the Temple, he has a month to ponder his fate, all while falling helplessly under the spell of the virgin temptress who will soon take his life.
With each tortuously erotic encounter, however, Akaash realizes that Nitara is as much a prisoner as he. If he can just get a message out to Dhatri, there may be a slim chance both of them can escape… Warning: Sexual acts in a prison cell, by the sea, in the desert, on an altar, with every possible combination of dirty deeds between two men and one very lucky woman, and all of it hot enough to melt sand! And her panties. If she were wearing any.
* * * !!!!!!!WARNING! X-Rated Excerpt Ahead!!!!!!!
“Do something for me now, Nitara.”
“I will do whatever you ask.”
“Give me your pleasure.”
She smiled, light filling her heart. He wanted from her the one thing she was able to give.
She stripped her robe off and stood close to the iron bars. His gaze was hungry as she stroked her palms over her belly, her thighs, her breasts.
“Yes, draw out your nipples as I would with my tongue, could I reach you. Ah, beautiful. I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful, Nitara.”
She shivered, holding the hardening flesh of her nipples between her fingers, stroking, pulling on them. Pleasure suffused her. Her clitoris grew hard, needy. The anticipation of awaiting his instruction was strange and thrilling.
“Tell me what you want, Akaash.”
“Part your thighs for me so that I can see your lovely cunt. So pink…I can see how wet you are. I need to taste you again, Nitara.”
She slipped her fingers into her slick juices. She was shaking with need as she held a trembling hand between the bars that separated them, held her damp fingers to his lips, as she had done before. He leaned forward, took her fingers between his lush lips, and sucked.
“Ah, Akaash…”
Pleasure was like the sun, burning into her skin, arcing through her body.
He let her fingers go, but she couldn’t pull away. Instead, she explored the contours of his face, tracing over his mouth, his beard-stubbled chin, finding a long scar on his cheek. It only made him more beautiful, somehow, that he had survived hardship.
He turned his face and kissed her fingers as he had done before, lingering kisses, his lips soft on her skin. She turned her hand over, and he pressed his mouth to her palm. Her heart fluttered in her chest.
She felt stunned by his touch. Immobilized.
“Nitara,” he whispered, his breath warm on her palm. “Come for me.”
* * * And now for my Dark or Dirty contest!
This week I’ll give away two prizes, but you have to tell me if you’re Dark or Dirty. If you’re Dark, you could win a copy of my vampire story, THE SEEKING KISS, Book One in my Midnight Playground Series (Book Two, BLOODSONG, is coming soon!). If you’re Dirty, you could win a copy of my BDSM novella, BREAKING SKYE. You can read about both books on my website. Just post here on the Smutketeers blog this week. I’ll choose and announce the winners next Sunday night (May 23rd).
Speaking of my website, I just it redesigned to match the site for my new persona, Eve Berlin! My first Eve book, PLEASURE’S EDGE, a BDSM novel for Berkley Heat, will be out in October! Eve will be here to blog about it in the fall, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, take a peek at my new website!
You can browse all of my books, see what’s coming up next, and hop over to my Eve Berlin site to see what’s new with my evil twin.
Be sure to check back here for the contest winners, and for the release of the last book in the series, R.G.’s THE PRIESTESS, next week! You can find the entire Wasteland series at Samhain, and you can buy THE BREEDER there, or on Amazon!
The Smutketeers continues with our Wasteland continuity series with the release of Lilli Feisty’s THE WHORE, Book Two in our series, out from Samhain Publishing today!
Wasteland: The Whoreby Lilli Feisty
Her quest for freedom plunges her into dangerous waters…of desire.
Book One, Crystal Jordan’s THE WANDERER, is still available, Eden Bradley’s story, Book Three, THE BREEDER, and R.G. Alexander’s story, Book Four, THE PRIESTESS, will be out in the coming weeks, so be sure to read the whole series!
A Wasteland story.
Bryn is a “Rose”, but her life is no garden. A stolen child, prostitution is the only life she’s ever known—except on the nights she sneaks out in stolen men’s clothing to explore the city. A tiny taste of freedom that makes her long for a life outside sexual servitude, at the mercy of any man who can pay.
Xander remembers no other home except his pirate ship, smuggling weapons or anything else for a fee. He’s been happy with his life and his lover, Hawke…until he rescues who he thinks is a young man from robbers.
Figuring she can blend in with the crew, Bryn jumps at the chance to escape the Brothel. Then she discovers Xander and Hawke have a taste for pretty boys—and that she has a taste for them. In their arms, she embraces their incredible gift: control of her own sexuality.
Though women are considered bad luck at sea, Xander isn’t of a mind to give her up. Yet the time is drawing near when the ship must return to Wasteland to resupply. And what awaits them there is a danger that could tear them apart.
Warning: Contains hot pirates, bad boys, pretty boys, lots of three-way pirate sex, a woman spanking a pirate with a rare-wood paddle, a glass dildo used on a pirate—have we mentioned the pirates?
To celebrate the release of my Wasteland book I’m giving away a FREE copy of THE WHORE! That’s right, a free WHORE for one lucky winner! Just post here with the names of the heroines in each of the four Wasteland books-you can find the info by going to the Samhain site, or by checking out each of our websites. I’ll announce the winner here on Friday.
**Eden dropping by to tell you all about Crystal’s RT Reviews blog interview, up today (Wednesday the 11th), talking about her book in the Wasteland series-see it here! Feisty’s will be up on Friday! And they also have a video interview with the Smutketeers from the recent RT Convention, talking about our series. Check it out!
More blog posts coming from myself and R.G. on the RT Reviews blog next week, plus reviews of all our books-Crystal’s THE WANDERER got a 4 star review!
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