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Post by sadie on Apr 17, 2012 21:44:43 GMT -5
April 17th, 2012 'Fifty Shades of Grey' author: Books were my 'midlife crisis' Breakout author E.L. James - the woman behind that deliciously racy novel “Fifty Shades of Grey” - admits that the motivation behind her steamy storylines was actually her own “midlife crisis.” "It's all my fantasies in one thing," the British writer said of her publishing hit and its two sequels in a recent interview with ABC’s “20/20." “It's a contemporary, romantic fiction, with quite a lot of sex in it," James, who is married with two teenage sons, said of the trilogy's popularity. "I think it's the love story... I hope it's because of the love story." "Fifty Shades of Grey,” as well as "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades of Freedom," tells the story of Christian Grey, a charming billionaire/S&M fetishist. 'Fifty Shades of Grey' shines light on erotic fan fiction So far fans have bought into Grey's highly sexualized lifestyle in a very big way: within a year of the books' independent release online, more than a quarter of a million of them have been sold. Their runaway popularity led to James – who uses a pen name but whose real name is Erika - scoring a book deal with Vintage and a movie deal with Universal reportedly worth $5 million. Ironically, James' initial marketing plan didn't cost anywhere near that: the first-time author and former television executive says she started by posting her writing - which would later become the "Grey" series - on a fan site for the "Twilight" books. marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/17/fifty-shades-of-grey-author-books-were-my-midlife-crisis/
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Post by beth on Apr 17, 2012 22:02:36 GMT -5
The incredible part is that it's proof positive on-line, self-published work can turn into a windfall.
It would probably be wise to take a look at these books for info about what CAN sell before jumping in unprepared, though.
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Post by sadie on Apr 18, 2012 6:15:14 GMT -5
jbtw.......this is what the book is about.....
When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms. Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.
Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.
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Jessiealan
xr
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Post by Jessiealan on Apr 18, 2012 15:35:51 GMT -5
It sounds to me like Harlequin Romances with more pizzazz. I would be shocked if it's more than junk. Some writers are good at erotic literature but they are few and far between.
Too bad the only way to find out is to read one - or at least part of one.
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Post by sadie on Apr 18, 2012 15:39:19 GMT -5
I can't remember which woman it was on the Today Show that said it was too raunchy for her.........so I'm guessing there is some pretty steamy stuff!!!
Bet her son's are having a heart attack over it..........that would make me want to write one too!!! It's good to rattle the kids every so often!!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2012 18:23:28 GMT -5
I can't remember which woman it was on the Today Show that said it was too raunchy for her.........so I'm guessing there is some pretty steamy stuff!!! Bet her son's are having a heart attack over it..........that would make me want to write one too!!! It's good to rattle the kids every so often!!! Writing erotica is easy. Women have an easier time getting it published, though.
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Post by beth on Apr 20, 2012 11:37:34 GMT -5
Where do you draw the line between erotica and plain ol' 'dirty books'?
Examples?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2012 14:50:47 GMT -5
Where do you draw the line between erotica and plain ol' 'dirty books'? It's erotica if written by a female.
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Post by beth on Apr 20, 2012 23:15:33 GMT -5
I'm going to assume that's from your POV, Joseph. I mean you don't have a source for that do you? (You aren't serious ... are you?)
From my opinion, it almost entirely depends on how well it's written.
For example
The White Hotel by D. M. Thomas is erotica as are Lady Chatterley's Lover and Forever Amber (just slightly on that last one) and the writings of Anais Nin.
Laurell K. Hamilton's series novels are erotica if you are interested enough to plow through the Vampires and Werewolves.
Kyle Onstott's Mandingo and others of that ilk are dirty books.
Sex directed fan fic is pretty consistantly trash from people, (some very young) who don't seem to know a lot about sex ... just what to talk about it.
jmo
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Post by sadie on Apr 21, 2012 21:47:43 GMT -5
The Evolution of Porn and Erotica For the past 10 years, Violet Blue, sex columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle and author of The Smart Girl's Guide to Porn, has reviewed thousands of adult films and websites for her readers. Violet says women who are looking to spice things up need to know the difference between porn and erotica. "Porn is something that is a graphic sexual image that conjures up an animalistic reaction in you. You like it or you don't," she says. "Erotica also is graphic sexual imagery, but it has an extra component or several extra components that resonate with the viewer—be it artistic, be it passionate, be it something that emotionally engages you, be it something that parlays into a fantasy that you have about sexuality or the way that you relate to the people on screen." for more: Read more: www.oprah.com/relationships/Lisa-Ling-Reports-on-Adult-Films-Porn-and-Erotica/4#ixzz1sjXte6JT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2012 10:22:14 GMT -5
I'm going to assume that's from your POV, Joseph. I mean you don't have a source for that do you? (You aren't serious ... are you?) I used to work in the adult entertainment business, Beth. The prevailing view is that women write erotica (written for female readers) and men write smut (for male readers). From my opinion, it almost entirely depends on how well it's written. It depends entirely on the target market. The White Hotel by D. M. Thomas is erotica as are Lady Chatterley's Lover and Forever Amber (just slightly on that last one) and the writings of Anais Nin. Lady Chatterly's Lover bored me to tears. Anaïs Nin's works have their moments. Laurell K. Hamilton's series novels are erotica if you are interested enough to plow through the Vampires and Werewolves. Read Nicholson Barker's House of Holes and tell me what you think. Kyle Onstott's Mandingo and others of that ilk are dirty books. Why? Sex directed fan fic is pretty consistantly trash from people, (some very young) who don't seem to know a lot about sex ... just what to talk about it. Does anyone?
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Post by beth on Apr 23, 2012 14:28:43 GMT -5
JDP - "I used to work in the adult entertainment business, Beth. The prevailing view is that women write erotica (written for female readers) and men write smut (for male readers)." Beth - I know you did, Joseph. I keep forgetting to factor that in because it doesn't seem all that important to me except from a marketing perspective. This is because, equal though we may me, men and women don't think alike. That affects the way we write, our vocabulary, the way we perceive each other, etc.. Women make love, men have a good f__k. In fact, the emotions ( or lack of same) are often exactly the same ... just expressed differently. I know you know all this. Just telling you the way 8it seems to me and that's where marketing comes in when it comes to books, movies, etc.. Still, to me, the quality of writing means as much as vocabulary when it comes to erotica or gratuitous smut. JDP - Lady Chatterley's Lover bored me to tears. Anaïs Nin's works have their moments. Those erotic historical fics aka soft porn, are girly books, Joseph. You know that. There's real value in those books, though. Frills and thrills. Nin once said everything she knew about sex she learned from French novels. Not to say she didn't have a bounty of lovers, just meant she was a quick study and applied what she learned. JDP - Read Nicholson Barker's House of Holes and tell me what you think. Beth - Awww .. probably not. If I remember, I'll read the review, though. Seriously, I've read a little erotica/porn I liked and a little I didn't, but I'm very fond of nelson DeMille, Ayn Rand and Pat Conroy when it comes to fiction so shall probably stay in my current spot for the moment ... not very sexy but good reads. JDP - Why? (in re. Mandingo, etc.) Beth - Because they are gratuitous porn .. all decked out with stereotypes (master, slave stuff) I hated it but read the first one and part of the second anyway. Silly Beth. JDP - Does anyone? Oh, probably. It's all we've got that brings together body, mind and spirit (emotions) for a great experience. I think mama nature planned it that way.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2012 18:59:00 GMT -5
Because they are gratuitous porn .. all decked out with stereotypes (master, slave stuff) I hated it but read the first one and part of the second anyway. Silly Beth. What distinguishes Mandingo from any of Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty novels? The latter are replete with BDSM/underage girl themes and is regarded as erotica, not as smut.
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Post by beth on Apr 23, 2012 21:26:16 GMT -5
Because they are gratuitous porn .. all decked out with stereotypes (master, slave stuff) I hated it but read the first one and part of the second anyway. Silly Beth. What distinguishes Mandingo from any of Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty novels? The latter are replete with BDSM/underage girl themes and is regarded as erotica, not as smut. I think Anne Rice is a dreadful writer. She created a good solid character, the vampire Lestat, but everything else of hers I've tried to read has been a struggle. Sleeping Beauty novels ? Bad erotica.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2012 10:31:22 GMT -5
Sleeping Beauty novels ? Bad erotica. But still erotica. That's my point. Had a man wrote them, they'd be regarded as mere porn.
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