About a year ago I wrote this extra scene of Sex Love Repeat for a blog. I've had a lot of recent requests for it, so I wanted to post it on my site so I'd have a place to send readers. So.... here you go.
Tonight. 10:22pm. Torre Home.
Hubs and I, in living room. He's watching TV, I'm writing. Me: when you're kneeling, how high would you say your penis is off the ground? Him: base or tip? Me: base Him: what kind of question is that? Me: just answer it Him: I'm gonna start writing this stuff down Me: I already am. Hence the paperbacks lying around our house with my name on them.
#amwriting. Girl in 6E sequel.
The creation of a cover...
Oh. My. God.
I just got a roll of Black Lies covershoot images from my photographer, Perrywinkle Photography. Now, I can't take my eyes off the computer...
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, a teensy sneak peek at the couple from this shoot:
Needless to say I'll be spending every spare moment of the next week going through these images and pulling out the best image for the cover. I can already tell... this is going to be an incredibly difficult choice. Be sure to look for the new cover on August 7th!
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Be calm. The waiting is almost over, and I cannot WAIT for you guys to get your hands on Black Lies...
The Creation & Polish of a Novel
I get a fair number of questions from readers and aspiring authors about the path a story takes before it lands into the hands of readers. I thought I'd take a moment and walk you through my process of novel development.Note: every author is different, and many may take a different path.
Conception: My novels typically start their life as a blurb. A quick paragraph scribbled on the back of a receipt, or a spare piece of paper, or as a voice memo recorded in the middle of the night. :) However it comes, that is the beginning, and what I type out and tack to the wall above my desk. That paragraph is what will soon turn into my full-time obsession.
Next, I will write. My writing months usually require that I stop any leisure reading or television. If I behave, I can write a book in one month. If I allow distractions, it will stretch into two.
Eventually, I will type those two magical words: THE END. That is an awesome moment, one that I get to experience three to four times a year. I stretch, I beam, I make my husband obey my every command for the next 24 hours while we celebrate 'Happy Completion Day'.
At this point, the process is half over and the book is about 60 days from publication.
Development:
I take a week off. Sleep about 13 hours a day. Catch up on sex and reminding my family that I love them. Then, go back to work.
Rewriting. I start from the beginning. Read through the novel and add comments at every single place that I don't like. My first read-through normally contains over 200 comments. Then I start again, visiting every comment and making changes. Write. Delete. Write. Then my first round of rewriting is done. Repeat. Second round of rewrites done. Repeat. Third round of rewrites done.
Beta Time. I have four beta readers. I email them the manuscript and they pick it apart. Give me their initial reactions as they read through it. Give me their thoughts once they finish it. Let me ask them about a gazillion questions every few days. Positive comments are great but negative help the story grow.
Another round of rewrites. If you're bored of reading about rewrites, imagine how sick I am at this point of doing them.
Edits. I send the manuscript off to my editor for an initial read-through and her thoughts/comments/suggestions.
Cover. Around this time I design a cover. I am a control freak, so I can't physically stomach the ability to turn over a book and let a cover agency do their thing. I wish I could. It'd make my life a lot easier. But no. My evenings begin to fill with an obsessive search of every stock image website available. Some books I will do a photo shoot for. Some books I'll reach out to specific photographers or models to request exclusive pics that aren't being used. I want, whenever possible, a unique cover that no one else has. Once I find an image, and a title, I create a rough draft of the cover. Then I send it to my graphics designer and he takes my rough draft and makes it look better.
Another round of rewrites. Another round of editorial notes on content. Another round of rewrites. A final round of editorial notes on content.
The book is roughly finished at this stage. I send a final copy to her for a rigorous edit of spelling/grammar/punctuation.
Promotion:
I won't share all of my secrets of promotion, but they basically involve me prostituting myself to every blogger I have ever met. There's lots of begging involved. I plan giveaways, release day events, purchase ads on blogsites, facebook, goodreads, and anywhere else I can find. I start my social media pimpage. I design banners, posters. Tease my new baby all over the internet. Reserve dates for a blog tour. Send advance copies to my list of bloggers.
Production:
Once I get the spit-shined copy back from the editor, I send it to a formatter. He adds page numbers, table of contents, and fun page breaks. Adds copyright info, front and back information, and fixes any funky formatting. He makes it into an ebook, the final stage in my process.
Then... my baby is ready to go out into the world. My sweat and tears, my hopes and dreams. I upload it to the 5 major ebook retailers, cross my fingers and toes, send a prayer up to the big man, and hit 'PUBLISH'.
And hope like hell that you guys love it half as much as I do.
QUESTIONS? I'm here for ya. Email me anytime or follow me on social media. Want to be a BETA READER? I'm sorry. I literally have a 10 person deep waiting list. But reach out to your other favorite authors. They might have openings. Are you a NEW AUTHOR? Check out my other posts on writing here.
Bend: removal from Amazon and other sites
UPDATE: The below letter was prepared by the group of authors that I published Bend with. Please read it and let me know if you have any questions. At the end of the letter I have an additional comment. ***
Dear Readers and Fans,
Thank you so much for your support of the Bend Anthology. For those of you who may not be aware yet, Bend was removed from Amazon for content violations. They cannot confirm which story was at issue, or why. I leave it to you to deduce the story that was too scorching hot to handle. We support each other, and we will never release this anthology without each story intact, complete and as originally published. The vision of Bend will remain pure. But part of the vision was that the anthology would be temporary. We always intended to unpublished it and republish the stories individually. This was to occur after 60 days, however, in light of recent events, this will be happening earlier. Like, this weekend.
Bend, the anthology will be pulled from all venues probably by Saturday, and that those of us who wanted to individually publish our novellas will do so. As for any story too scorching for Amazon, well I am sure that all interested parties will make every effort to please their readers.
Again, your support is our gold. Please stay with us through this transition. If you still want to get it, BN/Apple/Kobo will have it for a little while. Or you can wait and individually get the books you really want.
Very best,
The Erotica Consortium
***
I have decided NOT to offer Still, my portion of the Bend anthology, for purchase. Since Still will become a full-length book, I will wait and publish it as one full-length novel - name TIGHT.
I will also offer signed paperback copies of Bend on my website.
Thank you all for your support.
What causes a book cover to be banned?
I swear, from the looks of things, you'd think that I'm a sweet girl. Non-offensive, from the start of my buttoned cardigan to the Mary-Jane's on my feet. But, apparently, I'm still ban-worthy. I've done this post before. Five months ago. When Sex Love Repeat got smitted down by the Amazon gods and hidden in the corner of their site they typically reserve for incest and beastiality. Yep, Brother Fuckers, I love Bigfoot, and little 'ol me.
I'm back in the corner. Just the Sex - my collection of sex scenes pulled from three bestselling erotica books - BANNED from general search criteria. BANNED from recommendations or 'Customers Who Bought This Also Bought' references. *cue my big dramatic sigh*
I really thought, with this one, I was behaving. The rules of Amazon covers: -no nipples: check -no butt crack: check -no penis or vaginas: check -no covering of above body parts with other body parts, such as hands: check -no overt suggestion of nudity: check
Thought I was covered. Panties on the cover. A finger slid underneath, but not too far. Way away from any exciting areas.
Eighteen hours. That's as long as this book made it before Amazon swooped down from almighty and smacked it into the corner.
I was PISSED. FURIOUS. My family ate cold food for a week while I ranted and raved. Then I had lunch with CD Reiss. Midway through my furious rant on all things unfair, she pulled out her phone. Looked up my cover. And about fell out of her chair. "Uh... no. You're wrong." she said bluntly. "That is DEFINITELY banworthy." Well...shit.
I've done the stubborn thing for two weeks. Crossed my arms, stuck out my bottom lip and said 'fuck you - I'm not changing it'. Then... I had to pay the water bill. And dog kibble. And I really really want some new stilettos...
This is a business. I can't sell what people can't find. So *dramatic sigh* I am going to change the cover. In one week. That will allow all of you who are passionate about this cover to snap up this ebook. I am also going to pub, in 2 days, a paperback with this cover on it. That will stay on Amazon for a while.
xoxo - hope you all have a kickass weekend.
big hugs,
the rejected one
FAQ about The Girl in 6E's rerelease
FAQ on The Girl in 6E:
What's different about the ebook releasing on Jan 21st? -- The new version is over 100 pages longer. It has a new ending, more development on the romance side, and new events, additional character development, and is professionally edited and formatted. I would strongly suggest, if you enjoyed 6E in its original form, to get this version. Especially if you plan on reading the sequel, which won't release until 2015.
Will my current ebook update automatically? -- No, unfortunately, you will have to purchase the new version. It will be $3.99. If you prefer print copies over ebook, you could wait -- a hardback copy will be available in bookstores in July. You can preorder it now on Amazon and save $5.00 off its price.
Will you have any giveaways to celebrate its release? -- There will be major giveaways this summer, surrounding the print release. For now, I will be giving away 2 signed paperback ARCs - look for a giveaway to be posted on Tuesday (release day).
Is it a cliffhanger? --No. It doesn't have the complete 'they sailed off into the sunset and lived happily ever' ending of the original version - but it is not a cliffhanger. You will not be kept hanging, waiting on the sequel. The sequel is about a separate chain of events that happens in Deanna's life.
Is it worth getting the new version? --YES! Honestly, you really should. This story has improved so much - yet kept the same vibe. I'm really happy about the story it grew into.
If you have any other questions, please shoot me an email at alessandratorre4@gmail.com or contact me via Facebook or Twitter.
xoxo
Alessandra
I've been a bad girl.... again.
You may not know this about me, but I'm a wild child. Alessandra Badass Torre, that's what the kids used to call me. Don't be fooled by my sweet innocence, my fresh-faced smile - I practice that beam at night, while I'm sharpening my knives and writing super-hot smut. Wait - I've gotten distracted. Oh yes, my propensity to offend. I woke up this morning to a stern warning from Amazon, an announcement that Sex Love Repeat *gasp* has been banned. Removed from general search criteria, blocked from any exposure or recommendations, stuck in the back corner of Amazon's site where all of the bad children go to starve.I am trying to behave. I really thought I was. I've been here before -- Blindfolded Innocence's first cover was banned, and that restriction plummeted it from a #18 spot in all of Kindle to a ranking somewhere in the thousands.Sex Love Repeat has held on. It is, right now, ranked #142 in Amazon, #7 in Erotica. That is thanks to you wonderful, incredible readers. You've been spreading the word like crazy, and I am eternally grateful to you for that.Now. I worked all morning, and just uploaded a new cover for Sex Love Repeat. It won't go live on Amazon for 4-6 hours, but here it is, in all its glory, for your eyes first:
xoxo,Alessandra
The Evolution of Blindfolded Innocence's cover
BI cover evolution
Blindfolded Innocence has had several different faces during its life. For early fans, you will remember the scandalous cover that Amazon banned. Then it had a short, equally racy cover that was replaced one week later with Cover #3. Today, I can reveal the final cover, one that I absolutely love and can't wait to see on book shelves in early January!
Yay! Big news for The Girl in 6E!
So... six months ago I wrote this book, this book that stole my heart and took over my mind. I shouldn't use words like stole my heart. That makes you think of sweet romances and tear-jerkers. I should say this book ripped out my heart and played voodoo doll with it. Anyway, I self-pubbed it, posting it on Kindle in April, and crossing my fingers that I wouldn't scare the hell outta my Blindfolded Innocence fans.
I didn't. Those readers were SO supportive, and spread the word, supported me online, and didn't send me off to the psych ward with duct tape over my mouth.
Now, just three months later, I have fabulous news! I just signed a deal with Redhook, an imprint of Hachette, for print, foreign, and audiobook rights.
They have huge plans for this book, including a hardcover release in July 2014. I have spent the last month expanding this book, adding almost a hundred pages of content, and I am so excited about the book it is becoming. I cannot wait to share the final product with you all.
A big thank you goes out to all of you, the readers, who read my books and help to spread the word with reviews and recommendations. You guys are amazing, and enable me to have success. Also - if this message finds its way to any bloggers...you all rock my world. Thank you for sharing this unique book with your readers!
doing a quick happy dance, and then getting back to work. hugs to you all!
xoxo AT