However, the rise in the popularity of e-books combined with the power of social networking and the possibility that in a recession, cheap, escapist books hold even more appeal, appears to have created a perfect storm of sales.
“I remember going into book stores wanting something a little racy but not being brave enough to buy what was on the shelf because the covers were so hideous,” says KD Grace, the author of The Initiation Of Ms Holly, which re-entered Amazon’s romantic fiction charts following the popularity of the 50 Shades series.
“I thought, ‘What are people going to think if they see me reading this?’ ” she adds. “So to be able to read anything you want at any time is just phenomenal. I also think more and more men are reading erotic fiction now, because a man’s just not going to want to carry around a book with a bodice ripper cover. For the first time people are able to read whatever they want.”
Emily Bendell, CEO of lingerie and lovestuff retailer BlueBella.com believes the secret behind its success is because it’s a sexy book written by a woman – for women.
“Over the past few years, as the genre has become increasingly popular, authors such as KD Grace have ensured there is something on offer for everyone, and with books such as Fifty Shades of Grey accelerating the trend, the genre can only continue to grow in popularity,” she told Huffpost Lifestyle
It seemed like a small thing, something I wouldn’t have even noticed if the eagle-eyed Lucy Felthouse hadn’t brought it to my attention. I’m talking about an article in the online Fe-Mail segment of the Daily Mail. It was entitled:
The Initiation of Ms Holly was on Ms Cox’s list with a 9 out of 10 rating! Needless to say I was over the moon. I passed on the link to everyone then happily went on about my business until my wonderfully supportive Other Half, who is much more a checker of charts and ratings than I am, since I’m always afraid if I look I’ll jinx it, called to let me know that Holly had suddenly gone to number twelve in the Amazon UK erotica charts! By bedtime last night, The Initiation of Ms Holly was number one on the Amazon UK erotic fiction charts and had made substantial leaps over all in the UK and the US, and suddenly replacing Holly in the middle of the top 100, where it had been hovering for quite some time, was The Pet Shop! Needless to say, It’s been a wild twelve hours! By the time I got up this morning, Holly was number two, just below The Story of O.
The Initiation of Ms Holly bed time Wednesday night.
It’s such an exciting time for erotic fiction right now. I’ve always believed that erotica and erotic romance would eventually dovetail with romance. Clearly we’re seeing that happen. But I could have never foreseen such an open-armed embrace of erotica in general. Ebooks, the internet, and the changing landscape of publishing have opened doors I don’t think any of us could have imagined five years ago.
Who’d have ever thought that my getting stuck in a train in the Eurostar tunnel several years ago would end up with Holly on topJ? And to celebrate Holly’s success, I’m including an excerpt from one my most often requested segments when I do a reading from The Initiation of Ms Holly. Enjoy!
Blurb:
Journalist, Rita Holly, never dreamed sex with the mysterious Edward in the dark of a malfunctioning train would lead to a blindfolded, champagne-drenched tango, a spanking by a butch waitress, and an offer of initiation into the exclusive mysteries of The Mount. Desperate to save her threatened job, she agrees, scheming secretly to write an inside exposé on the club that will make her career. But as she delves deeper into the intrigue of The Mount and the lives of its members, she soon discovers that her heart may have other plans.
Excerpt:
Morgan walked around behind Rita to take in the over-all effect. ‘Ever ridden a Harley?’
‘Motorcycle? No.’
‘Don’t look so frightened, sweetness. I’ve been riding since I was a pup.’ His lips curled into an edible smile. ‘I promise I’ll make it good for you.’
He knelt and helped her into the boots, lingering to suckle her toes and kiss her insteps before guiding her feet into the soft insides then slowly zipping them up and up and up. At last he stood and held the bomber jacket for her. ‘Our steed awaits.’
Outside a few neighbourhood teenagers had gathered around to admire the biggest, sleekest vintage Hog Rita had ever seen, complete with silver wings painted stylistically across the petrol tank along with the words, Pegasus III. It took her a few seconds to realize that the boys’ attention had shifted away from the Harley. ‘Could we please go,’ she whispered, feeling like she did in her dreams when she found herself suddenly naked at the office or in the queue at Sainsbury’s.
But Morgan took his time buckling her into the helmet, making sure it wasn’t too tight, making certain she wasn’t claustrophobic. When she started to get on behind him, he shook his head, scooted back slightly and patted the leather seat in front of him.
She balked. ‘Isn’t that illegal?’
‘Not if we don’t get caught.’ He patted the spot in front of him again and chuckled. ‘Trust me. It’s the best seat in the house.’
Trying to ignore the mutterings and the stares of the teenagers, she climbed on the Harley in front of him, a little less gracefully than she had planned. Fortunately the resulting blush was contained within the helmet.
Morgan knew only one speed and that was suicidal. The g-force of acceleration strong-armed her back against his chest with a yelp that was thankfully drowned out by the roar of the Hog. It seemed to her that Morgan was taking the fastest way out of town, weaving in and out of traffic with such terrifying maneuvers that she feared heart failure was imminent. They had only gone a few blocks when she gave up shouting at him to stop. He either couldn’t hear, or was ignoring her.
As the traffic lessened, and he headed out the A3, she realized he was controlling the Hog with one hand. The other arm was wrapped low around her waist. There was an electronic crackle next to her ear, and his voice filled the inside of her helmet. They had contact. ‘Just relax, sweetness. This is gonna be so good.’
His hand slid lower on her belly until it rested against her pubic bone where it began to fumble until she felt a tug and a zip, and suddenly cool air bathed a horizontal swath of flesh exposed to the night. ‘I love zippers. Don’t you?’ His voice was like a kiss against her earlobe.
There was more tugging and zipping until she felt the pressure of the cat suit lessen against her crotch, as though she had just split her trousers. She caught her breath.
‘Mmm, there. Oh that’s nice.’ His voice was inside her helmet again just before his fingers slid down between her folds and pressed up into her in such a way that the vibration of the big bike beneath them seemed amplified as though it were a giant vibrator. She was suddenly in danger of forgetting that she was in danger of losing life and limb. My God, the bloke’s fingers were expressive as he slipped the middle one deep into her cunt while his thumb raked her pebble-hard clit.
He swerved to pass a lorry. ‘We’re gonna die!’ she yelped inside her helmet. Then she bore down against his hand and the vibration of the Hog, hoping he could keep from crashing until after she came.
She didn’t know if he had heard her yelp, but she wondered if he’d heard her thoughts. ‘Lift your bottom,’ his velvety voice filled her helmet again.
‘Are you crazy?’ She gasped.
‘Trust me. Lift your bottom. Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe. I promised Edward, didn’t I?’
She held her breath, cursing between her teeth, and struggled to do as he said. She grabbed on to the petrol tank until she was sure her fingernails would dig holes in the paint. Then she squealed as another zipping loosened the hug of the cat suit even further until she was certain the whole crotch of the garment had been zipped away. As if to confirm her suspicions, Morgan’s large hand now stroked her from behind, spreading her lips.
‘Sweet Jesus, you’re slippery, kitten. I believe you really like riding a Hog.’ Then she felt him inch forward on the seat.
He wouldn’t… Surely he couldn’t… ‘Oh my God,’ she gasped. What was crowding against her bottom and nestling up to her pout was too thick and too stiff to be his finger.
‘That’s my girl,’ came the voice in her helmet. ‘Lift your bottom for me. Just a tiny bit more now. Almost there. I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall.’ He tightened his arm around her and maneuvered his hips. ‘That’s it, oh yes that’s the place I want to be. Jesus, Rita Holly that’s some hot pussy you got there.’ Then all she could hear was accelerated breathing followed by a hard thrust that nearly sent her over the handle bars but for the strong arm wrapped around her. And he was in. Her pussy felt like it would split in two from the sudden, unexpected fullness.
‘That’s my girl. Now lean forward. All the way forward and let the Hog do the work. She felt him down shift and the beast rumbled beneath them. With the substantial length of him so far up inside her, she felt physically compelled to lean forward over the petrol tank until she could feel the cool chains of the cat suit pressing into her bare flesh, until her erect nipples felt like they’d drill clear through the tank.
Then with a hard thrust, Morgan scooted forward again, and she heard him sigh. After that the thrusting and maneuvering became much more subtle using the power of the Harley roaring beneath them as the driving force. He had positioned himself perfectly so that each undulation of his hips drove her distended clit against the vibrating leather of the seat. My God, she thought, it was a brilliant way to die.
His breath was soft little grunts inside her helmet coming faster and faster until she thought he must have stopped breathing altogether. The movement of his groin against her became less and less, all the while building in intensity until each minuscule shifting penetrated up her spine clear into the crown of her head, until she was certain the imminent orgasm would surely explode her brain.
When his ejaculation erupted inside her, she felt as though his cock had suddenly expanded to fill the entire space within her pelvic girdle, and her own orgasm tightened and gripped on him until he cried out.
She would have surely catapulted off the Hog with the double explosion in her pussy had Morgan not held her tightly with his free arm, as they sped down the A3 toward the Guildford exit.
I’d like to welcome back to A Hopeful Romantic the fabulous Elizabeth Black , who’s here to talk about why we all love nasty fairy tales so much, and then give us a yummy taste of her latest. Welcome, Elizabeth!
Happily Ever After – The Allure Of Erotic Fairy Tales
By Elizabeth Black
Fairy tales have quickly become a very popular form of storytelling. Witness the popularity of American television shows such as Grimm and Once Upon A Time. Erotic fairy tales have always been popular but I believe they are experiencing a resurgence in popularity right at this moment. I’ve even seen submission calls for horror retellings of fairy tales. Imagine Snow White running into seven zombies or Rapunzel being one of Lovecraft’s Elder Beings locked in the tower to keep her away from the townspeople.
I’ve loved fairy tales for a very long time, and I’d wanted to write some erotic versions of them. My first was published by Scarlet Magazine about five years ago. It was entitled Happily Ever After, and it was about poor Cinderella’s dull marriage to her handsome prince. Her sex life sucked! Her fairy godmother was a man who looked like something off an erotic romance novel cover. Long blonde hair, physique as firm as a mountain, and cheeky to boot. He taught Cinderella a lesson she’d never forget.
It took a few years for me to pen another erotic fairy tale. That story is Purr, my short erotic version of Puss In Boots, one of my favorite fairy tales. This story is only a portion of the Puss In Boots tale. Below is information about it. You may find an excerpt on my web site’s Purr category (also listed below).
Name: Elizabeth Black
Title: Purr (Based on “Puss In Boots”)
Publisher: New Dawning Bookfair
Genre: Twisted Fairy Tale
Size: Short Story
ASIN: B005407APY
Cost: $2.99
Blurb:
The alluring puss in boots Muca aspired for her master to become the richest and most respected man in the land, but her job was cut out for her. Could she convince the local farmers to trust in her against the vicious ogre who ruled the region?
I’ve decided for the first time to self-publish. This summer, I will release two more erotic fairy tales. Climbing Her Tower is my smutty retelling of Rapunzel. Trouble In Thigh High Boots is my long smutty retelling of Puss In Boots. Both of these novellas are quite kinky. I introduce two very erotic fetishes in them. I won’t say which fetishes. You’ll have to read the books to find out!
And now, a treat! Here is an advance excerpt from my soon-to-be-released erotic fairy tale Trouble In Thigh High Boots. This scene is when Puss (she is a cat/human shapeshifter named Tita) shifts from cat to human form in front of her master for the first time. She helps him to dress her in her leather garments and signature thigh high boots. After all, she is Puss In Boots. This novella is my longer erotic version of that fairy tale. It covers the entire fairy tale, not only a segment like Purr.
Unsnapping the corset in the back, she wrapped it around her torso, fastening the snaps until it held her in a tight embrace. The underwire demi-bra lifted her full breasts, leaving them exposed for his pleasure. Twin globes begged for his touch. Nipples erect and rosy red, the more she admired his aroused state, the darker the warmth grew that spread from her cheeks to her sternum.
Not content to leave things as they be, saunter over to him, and stretch across his lap, she wanted to take her seduction one step further. She reached into the bag and pulled out a pair of elbow-length black suede gloves so slowly she felt as if she did a striptease for him but in reverse. Do you like my little dance, my pet? How often does a woman seduce a man by putting on her clothes rather than taking them off? The gloves slid onto her arms like a second skin. Soft and luxurious, she relished the feel of the treated leather against her sensitive skin. Without her fur and skin exposed to the elements, her body felt every breath of cool breeze that flowed around the cottage. Goosebumps rose as she pulled the gloves onto her bare arms, and her body shivered with delight. She felt every touch of soft fabric and brush of air on her sensitive skin for several hours after shifting into human form since her body was unprotected by her thick layer of tawny fur when she inhabited the body of a cat.
Once the gloves were in place, she pulled out of the knapsack a leather collar adorned with brass studs. The ruby crystal hanging from the center ring caught the light of the room, bending it in refracted beams all colors of the rainbow. She snapped it open, and held it out as if questioning whether to place it around Dylan’s neck or hers. As Dylan reached for it, she pulled her arm back.
“This one’s for me.” She cocked her head in his direction while a cheeky smile spread across her face. “Would you like to put it on me?” She teetered in her stiletto heels, swinging her hips as she took a few steps towards him. Without warning, he reached for her waist and pulled her into his lap. His erection poked at her thigh, and she knew he couldn’t get much bigger without bursting. She placed her collar in his hands, and guided him by the wrists to place the device around her long neck. Warmth emanated from his body and from the hearth, but the warmth from his body felt sharp and thrilling. Amid his sweat and the odor of freshly mown grass on his clothing, she inhaled deeply to take in his masculine scent. As she pressed her face into his unkempt brown hair to take in his full flavor, her breasts brushed against his cheek. Fingers gripped each breast like a vice, twisting them out of the demi-bra with such force that a mewl of agonized pleasure rose from her solar plexus. When his mouth found her right nipple, she arched her back to accommodate his desire as much as her own. When was the last time a virile man had taken her so forcefully?
Keep an eye on my Facebook wall and my Twitter page for updates regarding when Trouble In Thigh High Boots will come out. I’m releasing it during the summer. If you like hot and smutty fairy tales, this one is for you! And don’t forget Climbing Her Tower, which will be released at the same time. Rapunzel wants out of that tower very badly. By the way, that horrific Lovecraftian Rapunzel I described earlier in this article? I’m writing that one for a horror call. Here are my Facebook and Twitter links to keep track of my progress and release dates:
Sex with a mysterious stranger on a train initiates the innocent Rita Holly into the secretive and sexy world of the Mount Club where deviant rituals await. Author K D Grace describes herself as ‘passionate about nature, writing and sex – but not necessarily in that order’, and enjoys Chinese martial arts. Readers have been badgering her for a sequel since its publication.
Fairy tales have quickly become a very popular form of storytelling. Witness the popularity of American television shows such as Grimm and Once Upon A Time. Erotic fairy tales have always been popular but I believe they are experiencing a resurgence in popularity right at this moment. I’ve even seen submission calls for horror retellings of fairy tales. Imagine Snow White running into seven zombies or Rapunzel being one of Lovecraft’s Elder Beings locked in the tower to keep her away from the townspeople.
The Initiation of Ms Holly by K D Grace