Books I Found Thanks To Amazon's Witch Hunt

The peak of Amazon's witch hunt had every erotic author discussing which books of theirs had gotten targeted. At this point I perked up, took notes, and started downloading the most taboo of taboo in bulk.

Recently I remembered Maren Smith, author of Masters of The Castle series, saying she had written her most risque books under the pen name Darla Phelps. I of course had to look her up. Just scrolling through her first few books like Daddy's Girl, Lucy's Checkup, and Baby Sara, I almost closed the page. I'm not into the heavy age play, but then I stumbled upon a series of books that's title and author's warning made me stop in my tracks and say,

My curiosity was peeked. I immediately started looking into these books. Reviews, pricing, samples. These are hybrids books running the theme of two fetishes that aren't normally in my kink family, but with great reviews and forewarning,  I couldn't resist. Reading the sample my fascination with this new fictional world was born.

*Cue Rocky theme music* Have it in your head? You're ready.

http://amzn.com/B00CPT89UW

Pets by Darla Phelps

The first two are pet/baby play hybrids, the last mostly pet. All three are sci-fi. Do I have your attention yet? Are you freaked out and ready to bolt? Hear me out. 

I devoured these books in a can't-put-down manner. When I wasn't reading these books I was talking about them. My friend's interest was peeked, so she downloaded these books and now is as hooked as I am. Never have I ever been so in love with a series that I wasn't even slightly into the kink theme. They are simply like nothing I have ever read before. 

    http://amzn.com/B001Q3LAAE

Pets 1 Bach's Story

114 pages

The book that started it all for me. Bach's story.

Bach is from a giant (8ft tall average height) alien race that for centuries have kept humans as pets. Humans, looking so similar to them, are often used for recreation (sex), others are just cherished pets, while others are service pets for the elderly, blind, and or deaf. Some humans are brought from Earth, others are bred in captivity and know nothing outside of being a domesticated pet. The aliens see humans as substandard animals capable of mimicry and training, but lacking any sentient intelligence. 

Bach has lost his family in a horrible accident. Needing companionship Bach starts the process of adopting his very  own human. Here we are introduced to his pet Pani. Bach at first is leery of using Pani for recreation. Much of the story is him trying to figure out how to properly care for this new little creature. There is lots of naughty behavior from Pani causing her to have a sore red bottom through much of the book. 

While Bach dresses Pani like a baby doll, (a popular theme among human owners) feeds her from a bottle, and spanks her, I actually got more of a pet feel from this one. 

As soon as I was done with the very long sample of book 1, I began reading Pani's story, then switched to reading these books somewhat in tandem. I had discovered the two run parallel and I was dying to get some of Pani's POV.  

Warning: Contains graphic sex, including anal, discipline, medical play, age play (some forced) and spankings. Caution is strongly advised. 

    http://amzn.com/B003DA44KG

Pets 2 Pani's Story

180 pages

I actually read a little farther past where I left off in Bach's story before I headed back to finish it. I'm glad I read most of Bach's story first, but I'm also glad I stopped and got Pani's POV. I kept getting to places in the first story where I just needed to know what the other was thinking and feeling in that moment. 

Although their tales run parallel, and are intertwined, they read quite differently. There are some days that are major events for Pani that aren't in Bach's story, and vice versa. Pani's story opens up to Pani on Earth when she is still Judy, just a regular human living in New York. That morning she's going for a jog that is going to take her to places she's never been. 

After Pani is adopted we discover many of her naughty misdeeds in Bach's story were the misunderstandings of a human trying to get a giant alien to communicate with her. We also get to hear from the other pets she had interactions with. Many of those scenes aren't in Bach's story because they just weren't relevant to him. 

The theme of Daddy/bad baby runs heavier in this story only because of Pani's inner dialogue. There are things in both stories that are an acquired taste. That was a bit harder for me. I had to ignore the age play and embrace the pet play so I could fully enjoy the size difference sex. That of which I'm totally into. Huge guy, regular sized girl. That's a big turn on for me. 

Also, I enjoyed the sex scenes from Pani's POV more. What I found super ick in the first story is skimmed over with hands on arousal being more prominent. We get Pani's feelings of slickness between her thighs and her growing need to orgasm. Her build up of lust and longing is much stronger than what we see from Bach. 

Some of the reviewers talk about much of the world building being a cop out because it's so similar to Earth, (they serve coffee, tea and cookies, just much more nasty tasting) but I think that's what makes so much of the story carry a powerful underlining message. Intentionally or unintentionally these stories may make you reevaluate how you see things and how you treat other people as well as animals. Many times in Earth's history humans have been arrogant enough to enslave other humans they deemed lesser. Dwarfs, little people, were actually kept as pets and given as gifts in ancient Egypt. 

Anyways, I don't want to give away too much but Bach does discover Pani is a sentient being and there is a HEA that leads to twenty seven years later.

Warning: This book contains graphic sex including anal, discipline, medical play, age play (some forced) and spanking. Caution is strongly advised. 

    http://amzn.com/B004LZ552I

Pets 3 Bebe's Story

246 pages

No, Bebe is not Bach and Pani's love child. Bebe is a house pet that was bred on the planet. She knows nothing but being a pet. Early in the story her owners cruelly abandon her at an animal preserve. She has never been in the wild and nearly dies before being found by Bach's nephew Tral. He's a nerdy scientist living on the preserve, studying wild humans. 

I love Tral. His dry self deprecating humor had me chuckling out loud quite a few times during this story. Tral looks at being with humans as bestiality. He sees this as a perversion he is definitely above, and has always wondered how anyone could abuse a human animal in such a way until he comes face to face with the perky lush figure and crystal blue eyes of Bebe. Completely freaked out, Tral has a hard time coming to terms with being turned on by a human. 

The reason why communication between these two species is so hard is explained and we again get to see Bach and Pani, who have now been together twenty seven years. Tral's interactions with his stern no nonsense uncle Bach are delightful. While this story starts heartbreakingly deep, it's quickly tempered by Bebe's sweet naivete and Tral's offbeat humor. 

We meet a wild pack of humans, whose leader I want  more from. We get closure for the over all story line but it could easily continue and be a bit of a spin off. I would love, love,  to see Ben's story. I'm sure the last book wasn't as popular for the age players but as a strait up sci-fi erotica it was awesome. I think sci-fi erotic readers may be missing out on Bebe's Story because of the category it's placed in. My g/f that doesn't usually read these types of books concurs. It's definitely more general public sci-fi erotic reader friendly. 

Book three is all pet themed, and even that is much more down played by the midway point of the book. Though the longest it seemed like the quickest. Maybe because I didn't want it to end. I loved this story, maybe even more than the first two.

I know my opinion isn't the popular vote. Most people who read this series are into age play and want more from Pani and Bach. I get that, but I'm all about seeing a reformed human preserve with Ben getting a gal after his 18 years without a woman. 

Maybe a Maren Smith sci-fi spin off from her Darla Phelps persona perhaps? Humans in a giant world maybe? Just putting it out there. 

Warning: Contains graphic sex, some uncomfortable sex, rectal thermometer reading, but no anal intercourse. 

One last time:

        

    http://amzn.com/B00CPT89UW

I'll tell you now, if you get sucked into the sample you're going to want to read them all. 540 pages, $9.99 and totally worth it. 

For more on Darla Phelps, aka Maren Smith, please visit her @http://badgirlscorner.wordpress.com/

Thank You Darla Phelps!!

Hidden Passions

Gay m/m erotica is here and it's taking over women's reading lists. That's right. More women read and write m/m gay romance and erotica than men. You can look up any random m/m erotic romance on Goodreads and it will have hundreds of rating and reviews from mostly women. 80% of m/m erotica authors are women.

Is it any wonder?

The scenarios are fresh. The tension is hot, and believable angst is easy to come by. Even better, there are no annoying heroines. Women everywhere are discovering reading about two hot heroes falling in love with each other is pantie melting.

Honestly, I owe an apology to all the guys in college that could so easily be captivated by nothing more than two women making out. I get it now. On Jedi level. 

Two guys making out..

Is absolutely 

Delicious

But nowhere near the heart stopping awesomeness of reading about two guys making out and falling in love. In other words, the book is ALWAYS better than the movie. Very recently I read a book that stars two scrumptious specimen who will be in my naughty mental files for a while to come.

ARe link: Hidden Passions - All Romance Ebooks

Amazon link:http://amzn.com/B00GJ3CI7K

Hidden Passions by Emma Holly

Charismatic sexy werewolf/cop, Tony Lupone, is newly out of the closet and not sure what to do with himself. Chris Savoy is a huge beta weretiger/fireman, who is experienced with men, but has no plans on coming out as gay. Especially not to his super macho, somewhat homophobic, crew. Ever. 

Due to friends and some mysterious dragons, circumstances keep throwing these two together. Although strongly drawn to each other, Chris knows fooling around with the openly gay Tony will lead him to nothing but trouble. And, of course, the hottest sex he's ever had. But that's besides the point.

Tony desires Chris more than anyone he's ever met yet keeping him at arms length seems much safer than chancing a broken heart. 

Hidden Passions sizzles and sparks as these two men realize nothing they do could keep them from loving each other. Even if they are essentially a dog and a cat. 

Yep, that's right. They aren't only hot for each other, they're shifty shifters.

Back when my love for cock knotting was overcoming my fear of shifters, I read Emma Holly's Hidden Crimes. A m/f erotica, that is book 3 in the Hidden series, set in fictional Resurrection. A mystical pocket city for magical creatures located in New York state.

I've loved Emma Holly's books for a long while now. I began reading her historicals and moved onto her contemporaries, but can't attest to really getting into any of her paranormals, until now. 

The Hidden series as a whole is great but I've been dying for Tony and Chris's story ever since meeting the characters in Hidden Crimes. Emma Holly has written some of my all time favorite bi and gay heroes. Billionaire Bad Boy's Club anyone?

Hidden Passions did not disappoint. I was drawn in from the first page and was in love before they were. 

Tony and Chris are everything you could want in a man. Besides them being gay. That doesn't slow my wicked thoughts involving them down at all. I would love to cuddle down with those two nightly. These guys were made to be fantasized about. 

There are five Hidden stories. They can all be read out of order, mostly without spoilers, except the last two. Hidden Dragons runs parallel to Hidden Passions and has a much broader plot, chalk full of mystery and intrigue. This is all in the back ground of Hidden Passions. So if you don't like spoilers or the mystery to be ruined, make sure to read Hidden Dragons first. 

250 Pages

Warning: This story contains explicit details of the love life of two smokin hot male shifty shifters. Reader discretion is advised. 

Thank You Emma Holly!!

Naughty readers, make sure to check out the Hidden Series:

Hidden Talents bk 1 Hidden Talents - All Romance Ebooks

Hidden Depths bk 2 Hidden Depths - All Romance Ebooks

Hidden Crimes bk 3 Hidden Crimes - All Romance Ebooks

Hidden Dragons bk 4 Hidden Dragons - All Romance Ebooks

Hidden Passions bk 5 Hidden Passions - All Romance Ebooks

For more on Emma Holly and her awesome books, please visit her @ http://www.emmaholly.com/

Hiccups

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Reading is subjective. One man's treasure is another man's trash. What ruins a book for one person, will be the reason another person loves it.

Can you get into an erotic story and really enjoy it yet not really be into the sex or does that ruin it for you? I have read a few book I love and I adore the characters but the sex does nothing for me. 

There are books I may love but my girlfriends may not be able to get into at all. Then there are books that I'm not into at all other people are raving about. (That book I will not name. I just don't get it!)

Then there are the hiccups. Little minute details that make you pause while reading and can pull you out of the story.

The most common hiccup for readers is poor editing, and behind that is crazy spellings to names. These statistics come from years of reading reviews. Those are just the two most common complaints I see. There are a lot of, I loved the book but I wish there weren't so many errors, or I kept stumbling over the heroes name. How is it pronounced?

I'm currently agonizing over a Rhian. I believe it's supposed to be Ryan, but my brain is all, Ry-ann? Rain? ReeAnn? Every time he's mentioned. I settled on Ryan only for my mind to switch it over to Rain.

I once read a first person that was written like a third person. Yeah. I couldn't lose myself in what was a pretty good story because I kept mentally editing each line and paragraph. Every single review mentioned this.

There is a reason we have a first, second, and third person narrative standards. It isn't to hold writers in their creative box and not allow them to be different. The standard is how 99% of readers comfortably digest the written word without hiccups. 

That was a pretty big hiccup, everyone who read it had the same reaction, but we each have some small ones that are own personal hangups.

The following are some of the weird random things that make me hiccup while reading.


Big Meals Before A Sex Scene:

I personally have to digest for at least an hour or more before I'm able to orgasm. I can get aroused after I eat, I can not orgasm. (swimming if fine) Characters depicted eating a hearty meal or foods that would cause me indigestion  before a sex scene slows me down. I often have to walk away from the story at that point and give the female character time to digest her food and maybe use the fictional potty. Then I can pick the book back up and actually enjoy the sex scene. I know. Weird.

Specific Flavored Beverages: 

I have a strong gag reflex only made worse by a turbulent  pregnancy. I can't even think about someone drinking a strong smelling fruity sports drink or Mountain Dew without my stomach churning. No orange soda, no grape soda. No specifics.

One of my favorite authors, who is always nondescript with her sodas and sports drinks, recently made her poor characters drink Strawberry sports drinks and Mountain Dew.  Even worse the hero kept sipping at the Mountain Dew through out a scene. The whole time my tummy was roiling and churning while I was mentally screaming, WHY, WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?!?!?!



The After Intro Description: 

I've read quite a few stories lately that don't describe the characters until a scene or two after they are introduced into the story. One book didn't name any specific character traits of the main character until the third chapter. Then we got the full run down. Nothing was vague. In the third chapter.

Are you kidding me?

That's too late for me.My imagination has already decided that the heroine is a chubby redhead a chapter ago and the hero is blond. I can't come into full descriptions at the end of chapter two or three, followed by appearance details through out the book, without constantly having hiccups.

When my blond hero runs his fingers through his black hair I get thrown off for a moment. When my skinny brunette is sad about being a chubby blond I hiccup.



Mustache:

I love beards. I even enjoy a goatee, but I'm not about the lone mustache. Every time a mustache is mentioned on a hero I either have to stop reading and mentally have the character go shave or turn it into a goatee.

I recently read some books written in the eighties and nineties by an author I really enjoy. In one of these books the hero had long dark hair and a mustache. This was the eighties. The author was probably picturing more in the line of Tom Selleck with long hair. I had my hot beef cake of a hero mentally in place, but every time she mentioned the mustache all I could think of was....

Ron Jeremy

Under-prepared Assholes:

Okay, fantasy is generally fiction for a reason. Some stories sweep up the reader and are meant to be light. They eliminate the negative and extenuate the positive. Therefore proper stretching of virgin bottom holes doesn't always happen in erotica. These tantalizing reads caused me, and others like me, to make a gross error of judgement. Which is silly. It's an erotic novel. Not an instruction manual. 

I now know from experience that things need to be prepared. For a long time after this discovery I couldn't read these quick flow anal scenes without wanting a disclaimer or warning at the bottom of the page. 

Warning: Written for titillation only. Sticking a massive cock in a virgin rear hole after only minimal fingering will result in discomfort and possible injury. Please consult a A Guide To Anal Sex for real instructions. 

Now I just think, Enjoy fictional characters. Take that huge meat stick like a seasoned pro. 

Cage Time and Fisting:

..You can thank me later for choosing this pic. 

These aren't my kinks, they are both hard limits for me, but I can read something that's not my kink. As long as it goes with the flow of the book, and feels appropriate for the characters and scene, it's fine. Most of the books I've read with either of these elements have seemed forced. Like the author needed something different or wanted to make the book more edgy. I'm always left wondering what the author was thinking at this point in her writing.

If I have to reread a scene, and things that lead up to it because I can't figure out how it got placed there, it's a hiccup with a capital HIC. 

Fisting:

Fisting is actually pretty big in BDSM. I know this because Google image search has pages, and PAGES, of fisting for his and her pleasure. Ironically, the above pic, was the only one that didn't put me in the mind of barnyard animals getting examined. I grew up around a lot of farms. I can't read or see a fisting with out thinking of livestock getting checked over. 

Kink.com used to have a link to nothing but fisting videos on their Site search. They took it down a while ago for new shinny kink sites. Maybe fisting is going out of style. Either way when it's in an erotic tale I'm usually thinking, Oh no! They're not about to have a fisting scene are they? Dammit. Is the calf breached? If not get out of there!

I've only read one fisting scene that didn't pull me completely out of the book and that was Allyson Young's The Promise. I still didn't think it was hot, but it fit the characters and the scene. No other book I've read thus far can claim that.

Anything that makes me have the same visceral body reaction I had to watching a birthing video is going to draw me out of a book. 

Cage Time:

Now, here's the thing about cage time. Cage time doesn't seem nearly as popular, yet it keeps getting forced into stories it doesn't seem to fit. And I'm not talking about reasonably scary kidnapped slave books. I'm talking about consensual, fun time, BDSM type dynamic. I've yet to read a consensual cage scene in a BDSM themed book that didn't make me scratch my head. Every time it comes off as superfluous and unsuited to the tone of the book. I believe cage time scenes can not be used to enhance or make a book emotionally stronger. The book has to already have a strong emotional current to be able to carry a cage scene. 

Somethings just aren't that sexy or sensual in written out description. Many people have different ideas of what those things are. In my world fisting and cage time fit in that category. For me they are just much more enjoyable filling the back drop of a scene.

So...

Any of my hiccups strike a cord? Any weird things that make you hiccup in your reading? Please feel free to share. 

Couch Time With Tracy St. John

I'm so excited to be sitting here with my favorite erotic sci-fi author, the wonderful and talented Tracy St. John. Hello Tracy, thank you for coming for a visit. 

Tracy: I'm thrilled to be here! Thanks for the invite. I love your blog. 

Aubrey: Thank you <peaks to the side of the room> I have to say Tracy, I'm a bit distracted.  I had no idea you were going to be escorted by Kalquorians. Had I known you take your work with you when you travel I would have been begging for you to come over months ago.

Tracy: Oh, these guys follow me everywhere. I never get a break form them.... not that I'm asking for one. Except when I'm in dire need of sleep. There are way too many nights when I wake up to pee, then crawl back into bed thinking I'm going right back to dreamland, and instead some Kalquorian snuggles close and says, "Hey, I've got a new adventure for you." Which would be great if he was talking about us having sex, but no, it's always about a story. He'll keep me awake for two or three hours, yapping about a new scene or even an entire book. There's got to be a Kalquorian version of kryptonite for nights like that somewhere. Maybe I should be put a Tragoom outside my door. 

Aubrey: Did he just growl? <shiver>

Tracy: Kalquorians do that a lot, particularly the Nobeks. Especially when they hear the word 'Tragoom'. Or maybe it's you. From the way he's eyeing you, I think he finds you yummy. 

Aubrey: <blushess> Eh hem, <shakes self and refocuses> Well, it's been a huge year for you. You've released six books, the latest, Alien Caged, reached #3 in overall erotica sales on Amazon. I have to say Clan Zemos was mouth watering. I do love the silver foxes. What made you want to cover a mature clan?

Tracy: Because I'm a mature woman. Well, I'm a middle-aged woman at any rate; maturity is a different matter. I'm 46, post-menopausal (like Elisa, I went through that early), and a lot of my readers are my age or older. It was time to give us a clan of our own. I wanted to have a heroine who could articulate more of our concerns in this stage of life. Not every erotic heroine has to be a 20-something. When women hit their 40's, 50's and beyond we don't shrivel up and knit afghans until we die. We are still sensual beings, maybe even more so than when we were young chippies on the prowl in clubs. I know I'm much more comfortable in my own skin at this age, and I'm eager to explore what it is that makes me feel good. It seems like when I was in my 20's and even into my early 30's, it was all about meeting others' expectations and putting myself in last place. I think a lot of women do that because of marriages, children, and career. 

Plus I wanted to explore a relationship that wasn't focused so much on saving Kalquorian culture by procreating. I wanted it to be all about the men and woman themselves, the dynamic they shared between each other  because the relationship was completely their choice. There was no 'higher' purpose to start a relationship for Elisa and Clan Zemos. They did it because they fell in love and couldn't imagine life without each other. 

Aubrey: Alien Caged really does have a beautiful love story that can be appreciated at any age. It's nice to be reminded sex and romance isn't only for the young. Although, just for fun, I think I'll try my hand at knitting anyways. 

Great for family Christmas presents

No sitting room chair is complete without one of these

Aubrey: I know you are planning some Clan Companion books. These will be the stories for the Kalquorians who are not interested in women and decide to clan homosexual Earth males. Was I crazy or can we look forward to seeing a certain character from Alien Caged as the first Earth male getting clanned?

Tracy: Though the character you refer to will get his own story in the future, his won't be the first. I'm off with someone else instead. I realize this may not be a popular decision, but the Clan Companion series will actually start all the way back at the time when Kalquor first approached Earth about testing DNA for breeding purposes. I want to write stories in the sequence of events that go from that time up to where the regular Clans of Kalquor series ends up. Obviously, that puts the story of the character from Alien Caged some time in the future. For those eager to see how things go between that particular Earther and Nobek, it's going to be a long wait. Sorry!

Aubrey: Tracy, you're killing me over here. I'm really excited you're going to cover when Earth was just getting into space travel and being approached by Kalquor, but I'm super bummed. The chemistry and naughty factor between those two is off the charts. Way to tease! Too cruel. 

Tracy: I really want to get to their story right away too, but something keeps telling me to establish the companions issue from the beginning. I have to obey the voices in my head, or they make my life miserable. 

Aubrey: Well, who am I to argue with the voices in your head? They seem to know what they are doing. :) There was a huge plot twist in Alien Caged that affects the series. How big of a role will that be playing in future Kalquor books? Will the conclusion of that story line end the series?

Tracy: If my readers knew just how complicated things are going to get in future installments, they'd not believe it. Kalquor's enemies are growing in numbers, within and outside of the Empire. I know how the next 7(!!!) books are supposed to happen, but things can change. Book 9, Alien Indiscretions, was originally titled Alien Revolt. Then Revolt splintered into six seperate books (of which Indiscretions is the first) because the twists kept coming and the story got bigger and bigger. The revelations coming are just insane. You can't imagine. 

There is a lonely little tale not related to the Revolt sextuplets that comes after that group of books. That means the series won't end with the whole Basma/Holy Leader/Empire resolution. What happens after Book 15, I don't know. Every time I've ever thought the main series was ready to come to an end, more stories suddenly erupted. We'll just have to wait and see. 

Aubrey: I'm going to pretend I didn't hear any of that first part so I don't drive myself crazy, wondering about all those planned revelations, for the next year or so. I am however glad those stories keep erupting. I'm not ready to see the series end yet either. 

On a different note, you are looking fit and fabulous after getting ready for your 5k you recently ran. It comes as no surprised you are slowing it down for a while. You hammered out six book this year including Shalia's Diary (which I will get to before you leave). The end of the year is quickly approaching. Do you plan on releasing any more books before New Years? 

Tracy: I'm done with new books for the year. Shalia's Diary Book 2 is in final edits and hopefully will come out in book format sometime in November (I hope). In December I get the rights back for Clans of Kalquor 2: Alien Rule, and I plan to re-release it as fast as possible. The current publisher has pulled it from all distributors at this time to offer it exculsively on their site. The link for that is http://store.newconceptspublishing.com/tracy-st.-john/alien-rule-kalquor-ii/. I know a lot of new readers have been looking for Alien Rule. It's out there, but most don't know where to find it. I apologize for the inconvenience, but that situation is completely out of my hands. 

I would like to point out that the edits I'm doing to Alien Rule are mostly grammar and clarity-related. I didn't overhaul this book like I did Alien Embrace. Other than a little bit added to the story of Clajak'ss great grandmother who was not fully clanned when her parents died, nothing new has been put in Rule. I do not recommend people who have the original Alien Rule go out and by the new version. I think you'd be wasting your money. 

Aubrey:  Alien Rule is one of my all time favorite books. Your new readers are in for a treat when they finally get their hand on that book. What is your current big WIP we can expect to see out for 2014?

Tracy: My next new book to come out will be Clan Beginnings: Clan, Honor, and Empire. It will cover the formation of Clan Rajhir, the heroes from Alien Embrace. I'm about a quarter of the way through the first draft and hope to release the book in March. 

Aubrey: Well, on behalf of my fellow FoKs, I have to ask about Shalia's Diary your serial space opera. You have some fans that aren't used to serials that are going nuts. I do have to say some ladies need to wait for it to come out in book form and stop getting nasty in the comments section. Spankings and corner time may be administered by the scary Nobek that is eyeing me down right now, if the ugliness continues. Although I'm not sure how much of a deterrent that would be. I'm feeling like misbehaving myself.

Oh, yeah, that was definitely a growl. <shiver> Tracy, I think I'm having hot flashes over here. How do you work like this?

Tracy: I take a lot of recreational breaks. *naughty grin*

Aubrey: Speaking of hormonal surges, how long will you be torturing us with this pregnancy scare? 

Tracy: Who said anything about pregnancy? I never did. There are lots of assumptions going on over Shalia's Diary, some of which may or may not be correct. I rarely comment on that story for fear of giving stuff away ahead of time. Shalia's current diagnosis is one of those things I'm not quite ready to divulge.... but I will let you know it will come to light in a couple of weeks. *wink, wink, nugdge*

Aubrey: <valiantly refrains from burring  head in throw pillow to scream and weep in frustration and bang head on coffee table>

Tracy: As for torturing readers, I don't string things along in Shalia's Diary in order to be mean. That's the truth, as little as most would believe it! I simply try to keep events and realizations for Shalia in 'real time' as I imagine would actually happen. Real life goes at a snail's pace, or so it seems when you're chomping at the bit to get to the next great event. Also, when you're in the middle of the action as Shalia is, you don't always pick up on the nuances of the situation. It seemed like everyone knew early on that Matt King was a snake in the grass - everyone but Shalia. In real life, we're often willfully blind. I think Shalia wanted to believe everyone didn't think she was a traitor, so she allowed herself to be snowed by Matt. 

Aubrey: Too true. I take back mentally wanting to slap Shalia this past week. <sigh> There have been some really snide unpleasant comments about the direction you've taken Shalia's Diary. How do you feel about those making ugly remarks. 

Tracy: With a serial story, it's inevitable that people are going to get impatient. I felt that way when Stephen King published The Green Mile as a serial years ago. I couldn't wait for the next bit to come out. So I get that some readers might get frustrated from time to time with Shalia's Diary. However, I've always been up front with the fact that this is like a soap opera with no planned end in sight. I know the majority of my readers understand how an ongoing blog like Shalia's Diary works. Unless everyone wants the story to come to an end, there are going to be cliffhangers and unrequited situations that go on for some time. That's the nature of the serial beast. 

Aubrey: I know you have serious outlines for your books. How far out into Shalia's Diary have you already written and planned? 

Tracy: The third storyline, which everyone is reading right now, has been completely written. Shalia's Diary Book 3 is, for all intents and purposes, a done deal. I'm not writing it on the fly, which many seem to think I am. What everyone is reading now I wrote about 6 months ago. It has to be finished way ahead of time so that I can garantee I won't write myself into a corner with an impossible scenario. I'm already busy writing the fourth book, which has been plotted out in it's entirety.

Aubrey: With everything written in advance, do you have any plans to post more than twice a week?

Tracy: No, I can't release more than two entries a week or I'll fall behind. This pace is the only way I can continue to keep Shalia's Diary going and write the other books.... you know, the ones that pay the bills. 

Aubrey: What made you want to write a serial or Space Opera? 

Tracy: My readers. They love the Kalquor universe as much as I do and couldn't wait to continue on in some fashion between books. I owe all my success to the readers, and I wanted to give them something to show them how much they mean to me. Shalia's Diary is my gift to them, a story that goes on and on until we all get tired of it. 

Aubrey: Has the experience been more challenging or easier?

Tracy: A little of both, depending on the day and the situation. Stories 1-3 were pretty easy. I knew how they would roll almost from the moment I first thought about doing a serial story. Book 4 was a little more daunting. I sat down to plot the fourth story line without a clue as to what it would be! I had absolutely no idea what mess Shalia would get herself into next. Fortunately, an idea hit pretty quick, and I am flying on it now. It's going to be amazing if I do it right. 

Aubrey: I'm hopelessly addicted to Shalia's Diary and look forward to reading all the adventures you have in story for her and the future Clans of Kalquor. Thank you so much for being here Tracy!!

Tracy: Thanks for having me! It was fun. 

Aubrey: Please feel free to leave the fellas here, <leans close to whisper>, especially the growler. <growls erupt from side of the room> Damn Kalquorian hearing.

Tracy: He's all yours. I have enough of these big guys to keep me busy.

Well, it looks like I have a Nobek filled afternoon to look forward to. : ) If you haven't already gotten Alien Caged, what are you waiting for?! 

Smashwords link; http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/369557

Amazon link; http://amzn.com/B00G2G13FM

For more from Tracy St. John please visit her @ http://www.tracystjohn.blogspot.com/

Thank You Tracy St. John!!!