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Post by veryblessedmom on May 10, 2012 14:40:06 GMT -5
I finally get published in the genre I love, Paranormal Romance and it seems it's gotten so dark that my work isn't selling.
My reviews for my book are really good but no one is buying it. I can only think it has to do with the shift in what housewives are reading now.
Women are reading 50 Shades of Gray and books like that now.
I had to google BDSM to find out what that meant. My tastes are not in style and I'm fine with that.
My publisher is starting an erotica imprint and several of the authors are going to write for it too. I will not and have not been willing to promote it.
I'm so not used to the environment of my publisher. Most the women authors on there like to invite other women into their marriage. We really are living in Sodom and Gomorrah.
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Post by Kessie on May 10, 2012 17:53:11 GMT -5
Well, yeah, porn sells. Always has, always will. Doesn't mean you have to write it. Why do you hang out with those people, anyway? Just because they're your publisher doesn't mean the whole gaggle of authors are now your BFF. :-p
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Post by veryblessedmom on May 10, 2012 18:33:23 GMT -5
Well, yeah, porn sells. Always has, always will. Doesn't mean you have to write it. Why do you hang out with those people, anyway? Just because they're your publisher doesn't mean the whole gaggle of authors are now your BFF. :-p Actually we are kind of supposed to hang out and support each other. We are with a brand new indie publisher and we are contracted on a book-by-book basis. How well we promote the other authors' books will make a difference in future contracts. She's put a small group of us together in a fb group and she included me. Not all the other authors were. So I've asked God why? One of the guys there, a Satanist felt led to help me. He's lost as all get out but very talented and has been very kind to me. He told me he has another friend who was a going to school to be a minister who talked him out of suicide. I think I'm to shine a light in that dark group. The example of Christ was to go out among the sinners and come back to his group. I do that. I soak myself in Scripture, Christian music that ministers to my heart after being around them. And yes, porn will always sell but now it's become mainstream. Not the stuff you have to seek out in the corner. I do not plan to write it if it means I never sell. Sinners were born that way the same as a cripple. I keep praying for God to open a door for me to speak truth in love. When I was younger I was a Christian jerk. I wanted to prove I was right. Love had little to do with it. Now I pray the Holy Spirit goes before me and will give me words to speak. The Holy Spirit draws people to Him. What if I'm the only Christian that ever comes in contact with them? The only person on this planet praying for them by name? |
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Post by Bainespal on May 10, 2012 18:41:28 GMT -5
Is it that paranormal romance is no longer popular, or is it that paranormal romance has shifted to become darker and full of erotica? I'm sure there's still a market out there for your genre, Mrs. Turner. I've read your book, and it's deeply relevant (and I'm sure inspirational as well) to an older teen, female audience. I hope they find your book, because it deserves to be read. I'll probably buy one for my sister when her birthday comes around in a couple months. It's only been a week-and-a-half or so, after all.  It may be true that paranormal romance has lost the throne of cultural popularity, since Twilight is old news now. That doesn't mean there will no longer be readers who long to read new takes on the genre. (And I think that The Earth Painter is a new take.) My favorite genre is immersive high fantasy, which of all genres has the strongest reputation for being stale and old. And yet, I'm always hoping to find a new good fantasy world to inhabit. I'm certain there must be many paranormal romance fans who want to read stories that get to the heart of what the genre can achieve. |
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Post by veryblessedmom on May 10, 2012 19:11:28 GMT -5
Thanks Bainespal. You are very sweet to encourage me. The trend in para rom is now to be dark erotica. Vampires much different from those in Twilight. 50 Shades of Gray was originally a Twilight Fan Fiction. And BDSM in general is now the fave of the housewives and they are the big book buyers.  I hope you find great books you enjoy. |
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Post by veryblessedmom on May 10, 2012 19:22:22 GMT -5
Just saw a group of women from church--Christian Women--who were discussing on FB what to read next. They were reading or suggesting 50 Shades of Gray.
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Post by Kessie on May 10, 2012 19:25:27 GMT -5
VBM: Is this YA or adult lit? I wouldn't touch adult with a ten foot pole, but I've seen signs that YA is headed that way.
If you can witness to that crowd, you're far stronger than I am. There's a reason Jesus sent them out two by two. The Bible also says that bad company corrupts good morals. Maybe you can find other Christians who've published with them, and encourage each other?
You can also unsubscribe from the really gross people on FB. You know, hide their messages.
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Post by Kessie on May 10, 2012 19:47:50 GMT -5
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Post by veryblessedmom on May 10, 2012 19:52:53 GMT -5
There is one other Christian in the group. Her books are not selling either. She and I do pray for the group.
I've always had a heart for the lost. They are not my best friends but I try to be theirs.
I have unsubscribed to several of them so I don't see their posts. And when they get all nasty on the group I check out.
I would rather be comfortable with my circle of Christians morning, noon and night but God opened the door with this publisher. I wanted a Christian publisher. And I try to surround myself with Christians who will point out big chunks of world I come back with as I go out into the world.
I don't judge lost people for acting lost. That would be like going to China and getting upset at them for acting Chinese. I have no patients for Christians who act like that. WE have a higher standard and know better. I think they are icky but so was I before Christ. So am I now if I do anything apart from Him.
He didn't come for the well but for the sick. If I just judge and run, I will have to answer for why I didn't go and tell people who make me uncomfortable.
C.S. Lewis started and atheist and dabbled in the occult before becoming a Theist and then a Christian. We can't assume someone is too lost so not bother with them.
My publisher does older crossover YA. She wants dark, older stuff to appeal to the moms who read YA. 50 Shades of Gray is not YA but started as a fanfic for Twilight. But yes, I'm seeing YA that is getting nasty and dark paranormal erotica is the trend and bondage.
I just can't even talk about it anymore. Going to go pray for God to open hearts and minds to His truth. Laws in Washington won't change the problem in the hearts of the people who want sin to abound. God changes hearts. Prayer is powerful. I've got to go spend time with Him before I feel overwhelmed and powerless.
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Post by Kessie on May 11, 2012 9:19:05 GMT -5
I'm almost done reading Earth Painter. I think you must be a very nice person, because it's such a nice story. I did have a question, and I wonder if I can ask it without leaving spoilers ...
Let's see. All the other characters being "ology", does that go for Theo, too?
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Post by veryblessedmom on May 11, 2012 10:54:31 GMT -5
I'm almost done reading Earth Painter. I think you must be a very nice person, because it's such a nice story. I did have a question, and I wonder if I can ask it without leaving spoilers ... Let's see. All the other characters being "ology", does that go for Theo, too? I'm nice when God is in control. I'm so not when I'm not letting His Spirit rule me. I wish it came naturally for me but It's Him. He gets the credit for any good I do. I've not thougth about that? Maybe. My stories show up and I write them. I'm sure on some level it is related. Hope you are enjoying it. The reviews so far have repeatedly said "This book got me thinking." C.S. Lewis said he wrote The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe not to be an allegory to the gospel but to plant ideas in the hearts of children so that someday, when the gospel was presented, it would help them recognize the truth of it. I hope my books soften hearts towards God's love. His plans for the readers and He will send a more direct presentation of The Truth when a reader is ready for it. |
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Post by Kristen on May 11, 2012 16:41:17 GMT -5
Melissa, keep in mind that it's not just you. Chrstian spec fic is a micro niche. From what I here at writers' conferences, few books in the genre sell really well. I was surprised when I checked out your publisher to see that they publish both your work and erotica. I pray you will be able to spbe salt and light there. And you know you can come here to get refreshed.  |
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Post by newburydave on May 11, 2012 18:50:26 GMT -5
VeryBlessed;
How nailed in at that publisher do you feel (in the Lord I mean)?
I did a stint over at Baen where atheism and materialistic evolution are the enforced norms for new writers. I posted a lot of Christian themed stuff in their writers slush pile (peer to peer review, not their submission slush) and many of the other newbie writers read and commented.
I moved on when I found the Anomaly and started the Sandbox, I hardly ever go to Baen's site anymore, but while I was there I tried to be a light in a dark place, some noticed and approved of the Christian world view; they'd never heard of the like before.
If you want your books to sell have you considered becoming a true Indie publisher yourself. Amazon has a very supportive Self publishing side, I think Barnes and Noble does too, and there is always Smashwords and a few other established epub sites.
Maybe you could send some of your work out into the larger marketplace while keeping a presence with this publisher for a witness.
Just a thought; pray about it and do what He says.
Write on Sis
SGD
dave
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Post by veryblessedmom on May 11, 2012 19:04:11 GMT -5
Melissa, keep in mind that it's not just you. Chrstian spec fic is a micro niche. From what I here at writers' conferences, few books in the genre sell really well. I was surprised when I checked out your publisher to see that they publish both your work and erotica. I pray you will be able to spbe salt and light there. And you know you can come here to get refreshed. I'm not with a Christian publisher. I'm a Christian writing mainstream from a Christian world view. |
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Post by veryblessedmom on May 11, 2012 19:05:28 GMT -5
VeryBlessed; How nailed in at that publisher do you feel (in the Lord I mean)? dave I'm contracted for it to be theirs for 3 years unless they let me go or go under. If I sell, she won't care what I write. |
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