I Am What I Am. Uh-oh…!
I had a fab conference call with my agent and Alex on Friday afternoon. Then my agent called that night to discuss a contract he’s working on for me.
In the course of the conversation he says: “When I tell people about you, I always say you’re the most honest person I know.”
I laugh and thank him for the compliment. “Well,” I reply. “I am what I am. What you see is what you get with me. I’m the same in person as I am on the web.”
“I know,” he agrees. “I admire that about you because it’s so unusual.”
It may be unusual, but to me it’s a no-brainer. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, I realized right quick (as we say in the Deep South *LOL) how important it is to build a nourishing life that lets you be who you are.
Unfortunately, I think there’s too much pressure on women to be something we’re not. We’re supposed to be thinner. We’re supposed to look younger. We’re supposed to be prettier. We’re supposed to be richer. We’re NOT supposed allow our lusty inner slut have a voice. We’re NOT supposed to be kinky and love it. And so on…
I’m not saying you shouldn’t live a healthy lifestyle and tone your bod with regular exercise. You know I’m totally into that. But what I am saying is you do the best you can with what you’ve got, and that’s good enough!
I’ve always been a firm believer in pursuing my dreams as well. I mean, why shouldn’t I? Why shouldn’t anyone? If my career gets to the point where it no longer excites me, I tweak it until I love it again. Who cares if it means I take a pay cut for a while? I’ll be making good money soon enough, doing what I love. Hey, it’s more important to me to pursue my dreams, have fun every day, and work a job I enjoy. Who wants to go to a job that feels like drudgery? Horrors! Life is too short for that kind of torture, ya know?
That also means I have to take giant leaps of faith on a regular basis that scare the shit outta me. But those kinds of calculated risks are par for the course if you make it your life’s work to pursue your dreams.
Then my agent and I discussed Twitter. Alex set up that account for me in October. But I’ve been too slammed with the new website, new publisher, book biz, and working on the vamp novel to spend any time at Twitter until a few weeks ago.
“You know what really pisses me off?” I ask.
He laughs. “I know of a few things.”
“It’s those book biz experts on Twitter who think I’m a brainless twit because I write erotica and I’ve chosen to remain in the small press for my entire 22 year career.”
They have no idea how financially successful you can be in the small press if you’re an author who knows how to market and sell. Seriously, they don’t have a clue.
“Fuck ‘em,” he replies. “And not in a good way.”
“That’s exactly what I said!” I exclaim.
And it’s true. I am what I am. Twitter isn’t Facebook. I can be my sexy, slutty self on FB, and my fans love it.
But Twitter is a whole new ballgame. You’ve got a bunch of stuffy book biz people tweeting among themselves. Don’t get me wrong. What they say is fascinating if you love the book biz and bookselling as much as I do. But few of them will give the time of day to an erotica novelist.
And then the whole erotica scene over there is different. It takes a while to find erotica fans and bloggers who won’t freak over sexy talk about hunky guys and the lusty novels we read. For lack of a better word Twitter is kinda neutered and prudish when it comes to erotica.
Horrors!
“Plus,” I continue. “I’ve only been there two weeks. I’m still learning Twitter. But I found out today I’ve already been blocked.”
“Oh, no,” my agent groans. “By Twitter?” Okay, I have a history of online censoring. But I’m getting better at staying one step ahead of the web censors. Really, I am. LOL
“Nah,” I reply. “She’s one of those snotty book biz experts.”
“Fuck her,” he replies. “You can’t please everyone. You’re different than most erotica novelists. You have to be who you are. That’s always been your strategy, and it’s a good one for Twitter as well.”
“That’s exactly what I said after I realized what she’d done,” I reply. No wonder I love this guy so much!!
Who knows why she blocked me? Could be because she doesn’t like sex or erotica or Witches. Maybe she thinks all erotica novelists are brainless twits.
Who cares? Not me.
I am what I am, and I’m having a blast at Twitter now cause I finally found a bunch of readers/fans/bloggers who love erotica and sex as much as I do. They’re cool and don’t freak over the lusty way I talk about hunky guys, jogging while wearing my nipple jewelry, sexy books, etc.
You gotta be who you are, right? So if talking to a slutty, un-neutered erotica novelist sounds good to you, follow me on Twitter. I’m having a naughty party over there every day. Yes, I am. *kinky grin*
BTW, I’m SexWitch at Twitter (http://twitter.com/sexwitch). Gee, what a surprise! LMAO
xoxo
Laura Stamps ©
The Magickal Sex Goddess
Author of Paranormal Erotica & Romance Novels
(Witches, Shapeshifters, Vampires)
laura@laurastamps.com
To read excerpts from my novels:
http://www.LauraStamps.blogspot.com
Check out my verrrrry naughty blog:
http://www.LauraStamps.com
My “Laura Stamps” Fan Page at Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/sexwitch
Follow me on Twitter at:
http://twitter.com/sexwitch
Entries (RSS)
February 8th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
I think they're just jealous. Obviously they feel the need to make themselves feel more important by being self righteous prudes! I really don't think you're that bad. LOL. Maybe they just need a good orgasm or two to loosen up their tight ass's! I find it refreshing to have met and to keep up w/ someone like you, so open and comfortable w/ your opinions and beliefs. You say it like it is! You have no idea how much I enjoy reading your blog posts 3x's a week! Just keep on doing your thing and don't worry what others think? You weren't placed on this earth to please them anyways!
February 8th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Well Laura I Like YOU just the way you are!!! I would not ask you to change a thing i enjoy talking to you and reading all you stuff! If we lived close to each other i could see us hanging out. I am thankful for you everday!!
O and i like how your agent takes care of you. Seems like a keeper!
February 8th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Thanks, Cynthia! I'm so glad you enjoy my blog posts and novels and my wild outlook on life!! Yeah, prudes are a snooze for sure.
Speaking of that, you'll get a kick out of this. I just got a spam email from a "guy" who says someone has lifted all my naughty pics and is sending them around to my friends. I'm supposed to be outraged and click on his link. Which probably has some kind of nude women pics on it or porn thing.
Knowing me, you know what I thought about all my naughty pics being sent to my friends, right? I thought COOL! Sounds good to me. lmao! That guy has no idea who he just sent that spammy thing to. I have waaaaay too much fun. I know.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Thanks, Beach!! Yeah, my agent is a sweetheart. I absolutely ADORE him!!
February 8th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Yeah it sounds like he was trying to get you to click on his link for whatever reason. LOL. Some poor people are just clueless.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
And how many people actually don't mind if their naughty pics are all over the web? In my case, it's like alrightyyyyyy! Duh. lmao
February 8th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
The way I feel about people who slam you or block you or anyone for that matter is that I think they are scared of what they dont know, dont understand ,cant admit to secretly liking and wanting and dont have the nerve to 'come out' so to speak. I've been slammed by people when they find out I just like reading erotica just for the fun of reading it for crying out loud,I go with the 'I am what I am and if people dont like it they can go someplace else and play.' I am not forcing them to read erotica but I tell them they dont have a clue what they are missing.And I firmly believe that those who complain the most secretly go online,read,order and drool over erotica and nekkid pics.And I agree I love you the way you are…..hugs…..
February 8th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Thanks, Carol! Yeah, the prejudice against erotica is crazy. It isn't helped by agents and publishers who neuter their top erotica novelists online, so all they talk about is writing, editing, baking cookies, eating cupcakes, and taking the kids to school. No talk about sex or hunky guys, even though that's what they write every day. The book biz pros need to wake up and realize women in 2010 LIKE SEX, and we aren't afraid to read erotic books. In the meantime, those who do the prude thing are missing out. But that's cool. I'll just continue to do my thing and have waaaaaay too much fun doing it. lmao!
February 9th, 2010 at 12:49 am
Screw them all (and your agent is right, not in a good way!!) if they can appreciate what a breath of fresh air you are!! You are exactly right, it took me awhile to learn that people are gonna judge no matter what, I am me and that is an awesome thing!! Just like you are you and perfect just the way you are. Those of us that matter love ya!! Keep at it girlfriend!
February 9th, 2010 at 1:14 am
You crack me up, girlfriend!!! Thanks for the vote of confidence & thanks for getting back to me on Twitter. I'm looking forward to getting that one too!
February 9th, 2010 at 2:42 am
Well I guess i need to start a twitter account. I so did not want to be a twitter person. But for you i would, just so those prudes can see we all know how wonderful you are. I guess the dont that to piss a southern girl off is a very crazy thing to do!!
Yes screw them!!
February 9th, 2010 at 3:00 am
So true. You just don't wanna piss one of those sweet Southern Belles off. It can get nasty! lmao!!! Yeah, I would love to chat with you on Twitter. But I'll tell you what I told Holly. Twitter cam be verrrrrrry addictive. It really is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it and follow lots of chatty romance and erotica addicts. See ya on Twit, Mel!!
February 9th, 2010 at 3:05 am
Well the strong woman that you are, you will find a way to show them that they are missing out on a great world. Erotic writing can come in so many styles, and you are just a writer that puts her heart and life style in her books. If they feel that your are not good enough then I want to see the rule book!! Because the last i heard writing is a form to express yourself. If you have a group of people that follow your art and writings then that makes you sucessful, in many ways. Can they say the same, and if they can then they just need to follow their own path and stay off yours. So keep up the GREAT work Ms Sex Witch!!
February 9th, 2010 at 3:22 am
Thanks, BeachLove! I'm so glad you are enjoying my writing. Your comments make my day!!