Red Phoenix: Who Are You?

Seriously, who are you?

Who am I?

I am just your average joe-ette. I worked most of my life at silly part-time jobs and one career that I really loved. However, times change and I no longer fit in that world so I've gone back to my childhood love - writing.

I am married and have kids. My children are the greatest thing I will ever do/have a part of. What a miracle kids are, even if you want to throttle them because they frustrating the crap out of you.  (I have teenagers.) But seriously, I love my kiddos. I also love my hubby - he is often the inspiration behind my male characters.

As many of you can tell, I am not an English Major. I love writing, but always found grammar to be boring and limiting. It kicks me in the butt these days as I edit my work... Funny thing is much of what I learned in school no longer holds true. I feel so betrayed!

I am a lover of the underdog. I was bullied when I was young and it has shaped me into the person I am now. I'm lucky I survived those years, some kids don't. My heart goes out to all the people suffering the scars of such treatment. Now that I have had time to reflect, my heart goes out to the bullies, too. They must be hurting units to treat others so cruelly. I will always cheer for the underdog, because they are the true winners in life.

I am a person who has made mistakes, some of them pretty big. Yet, I can't regret them because they have led me to this point and I am grateful to be where I am. I firmly believe if we learn from our mistakes and move forward then we have nothing to regret.

I am a lover of sex. Yes, there I said it. I really do. More now than ever. Writing and reading erotica will do that to a person. ;) For me personally, it has to be in a committed relationship. I can't even kiss a guy and enjoy it unless I love him - I've always been that weird. In fact, I was afraid I was meant for nunnery early on  because I was such a cold fish. Turns out, if I am going to give myself away its ALL the way, Baby - heart, body, mind and soul.

So, who is Red Phoenix? Just a fellow woman following her heart ~ no different than you. :)

~ Red

Tidbits about Red Phoenix

Yes, I wear a mask and I wear it for a reason. As a writer of erotica, I might shock my friends and family if they knew the naughty things that go on in my head.

I am a woman, which is why I write women's erotica. However, I like to write stories from both points of view. I've known men all my life (wink) and always wondered what it would be like to be one. How would it feel to slam your rod into a moist pussy instead of having that rod slam into you? Truthfully, I think it might be quite delicious.

My stories come from past experiences and fantasies I hold dear. Have I done everything I've written about? No. However, what I haven't tried I have researched to find out why women like the particular act and what it feels like to them.  

I am married and have children. Luckily, I partnered up with my soulmate. I am as in love with him now as I was when we first met. He makes me melt when he looks at me a certain way and he never forgets to tell me he loves me. I think all women deserve that.

I have had an... interesting past. People who know me now would not suspect where I have come from. Good or bad, all my experiences have helped me to grow and I am who I am because of the successes and failures. Life is truly a journey and a gift.

Which leads me to my last little tidbit: I have experienced significant loss. It is the reason for the sadness in some of my stories. I know pain, but I also know you can survive it. Mourn yes, but keep moving forward. Don't waste the amazing gift that is you.

~Red Phoenix

April Numbers for Red Phoenix on Amazon

#6 Top Free Erotica

This has been a fun month as an indie author. I've seen one of my freebies, Deeper Baby!, make it to number 6 on the free erotica list (several others are in the Top 100). I also received a number of good reviews on Amazon this month, which is helping all of my books. 

For the Month of April 2012:

878 books purchased         

29,879 freebies downloaded

Best Sellers In the Month of April: (still asking you not to laugh at my numbers)

Paid -Boy Toys 104 with a tie for Amy's Choice 97 and Blissfully in Love 97
Freebies - Deeper Baby! 11,551, Thrilling Her 7301, Blissfully Snowbound 3131

During the month of April I added 3 new novelettes and 4 more of my books went FREE on Amazon (of the 22 titles I have on Amazon, 10 are free).

Quickly Moving Up

Quick Recap of Past Months:

March:
693 books purchased
27,571 freebies downloaded 

February:

298 books purchased         

12,386 freebies downloaded

What I am Learning:

• Keep the books coming. I have seen the numbers of my older books steadily go down. However, I believe the new ones are getting more notice because people recognize the name. (Brie Learns to Obey was recently published on Amazon and is quickly jumping up the ranks of paid novels.)
• You never know what will appeal to people. Books I thought would be a big hit fell flat, while others surprised me by their popularity.
• Listen to the readers and hone your work based on how they purchase and what they say in their reviews. HOWEVER, be true to yourself. The beauty as an indie eBook author is that you can write and publish what you want, even if it doesn't make big bucks. Someone out there will appreciate the uniqueness of your story and sometimes that is all the success you need.

* Note: Amazon allows for returns of eBooks. They are the only online bookstore I know of that does this. I noticed a big difference this month. Boy Toys which has done well previous months had 13 returns versus 4 in March. (Same book and I even had more sells last month). I will never know why they were returned - no one left reviews, but it was a significant jump. In total, 58 paid books were returned in April as opposed to 12 in March.  

I will update you next month to see how May pans out. I will say this, if your heart is to have your work published this is the perfect time for Indie Authors. It's a ton of fun!

A Love That Saves

Do You Believe in a Love That Saves?

When In 9 Days came to me, I was struck by the all-encompassing love that Tesse had for the new boy in school. A love deep enough to reach down into the pain he was carrying and free him from it.

In the story, And Then He Saved Me, the same theme appears. Lauren is suffering so deeply that she tries to kill herself. Cyril stops her from succeeding and his love has the power to transfer her pain into hope.

In both cases, I felt as if the characters were demanding I tell their story. It was an honor to write about both couples.

I suppose I am a hopeless romantic because I firmly believe true love can conquer all.

Agree or disagree?

* The Sequel to In 9 Days is now on Amazon.

9 Days and Counting

Erotica is NOT Porn

When I tell people that I write erotica most answer with a snicker, "Oh, you write porn, huh?"

I take exception to that. I write erotica, it’s a different genre. Although it may share some similarities with porn, it is literature first and foremost.

In my eyes, Erotica is:

·         Literature that includes detailed erotic scenes

·         Guaranteed to excite (see, hear, feel, taste, and “experience” the couplings)

·         Created to invoke a response - whether it be romantic or sexual in tone, you should have a physical reaction to the words on the paper

·         Respectful of the reader, giving a plausible storyline that carries you to each sexual scene

·         Geared more for women although men read and write it

I am proud to be an erotica author and stand behind the stories I create. If you were to take out the sexual details, you would still have an engaging romance. It just wouldn’t be as “exciting” to read. I like the extra details that take it from entertainment to an experience.

The End to the Other Story

I just finished another novelette titled In 9 Days. I knew generally what the ending would be, but wasn't sure about the final words. I was typing along and then I read over my last sentence and I just knew it was the end. It was kind of beautiful actually. I was like, "Wow, that it. That's the end of the story." It is a happy/sad kind of feeling. Happy because the story has told itself out, but sad because I will miss the characters.

Here is the blurb for the novelette:

Her friends call him The Freak, but Tessa has an instant crush on the new boy in school. While others turn away in disgust, she is irresistibly drawn to Kevin Reese. The boy’s face is covered in burn scars and his right hand is missing two fingers. She knows Kevin has a tragic story behind those injuries and she is desperate to find out his past. However, it is his kisses she longs for most.

This enchanting novelette is a coming of age story that centers on loving acceptance.

Tessa is instantly attracted to the new boy in school. She daydreams of becoming a couple, even though her friend Samantha and her mother are violently opposed. Tessa doesn’t realize on that first day the important role Kevin will play in her life or the fact she only has 9 days with him.