I’ve been watching a recent conversation between authors
regarding erotic versus sanitized. In short, there are some authors who are
taking their erotic or explicitly sexual books and removing the sex altogether,
then releasing those books as a cleaner, second alternative to those readers who don’t
want to read the harder version.Some authors who do this say they are making good sales on both versions of their books, but I’m wondering how you readers feel about this practice?
A few years ago there was a company that made news when it was revealed that they were taking R-rated movies and “sanitizing” them into G-rated versions for family viewing. Even then they claimed there was a market for “sexless” movies, although the violence and most of the language remained intact.
How do you feel about two versions of a book being released? Is this something you would be interested in? Or should the author keep their explicit books intact, and simply write another, different book specifically targeting readers who want “cleaner” stories?
* * *
Ever read about an alligator shifter?
New!
MONSTER
OF THE GLADES
Subwoofers, Book 3
Contemporary Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 36.3K
$2.99 e
Subwoofers, Book 3
Contemporary Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 36.3K
$2.99 e
Alligator,
Bear, Cougar, Deer, Eagle
They found each other by accident. They became a team for life.
They found each other by accident. They became a team for life.
When Clint Abrams
of Bag It and Tag It Excursions is approached by representatives of JayMax
Productions to film scenes in the swamp for a horror movie, he is intrigued.
Both by the movie, whose subject hits a little too close to home, and by the
tall, freckled redhead, Charlie Dupine.
Clint can’t hide
his feelings for Charlie, and the more time he spends with her, the more he
knows she is his destiny. His life mate. His everything.
There is something
about Clint that Charlie can’t quite explain, and she can’t get him off her
mind. She’s not big on relationships but if nothing else, a one-night stand
with the guy can’t hurt while she’s at the lodge. He’s causing feelings in her
that she’s not sure about.
But when danger
rears its head, it’s not all because of the wildlife. Clint will do whatever it
takes to save her, but that may mean exposing his secret. Will she run when she
learns the truth? Or can she love him just the same? That choice may be taken
away when lives are threatened and the FBI becomes involved.
Warning!
Contains swampy bogs, a snare pole necklace, alligator soup, were-gators, an
explosive pineapple, and one insane act that could cost a man his life, as well
as the woman he loves.
Excerpt
and buy links: http://lindamooney.com/Subwoofers.htm
Kudos on your new release, Linda! Got my copy on my Kindle.
ReplyDeleteThe question about re-releasing books sans their original sex scenes is a good one. My hubs has been urging me to do this with some of my backlist because he feels the stories would resonate with YA. I didn't really feel comfortable with the idea --- what about my fans who loved those books just the way they were? But I didn't think of making TWO versions of the book available. I assume the titles would be the same --- but how would you label them? And how do readers react? I'll be watching for further comments on this topic. :)
You raise some very good questions. How WOULD you title them, so that readers know which version is which? I'm going to poll my readers for their opinons.
DeleteAnd thank you for purchasing my new release! :D
DeleteIf authors want to go to the trouble to make two versions of the same book, and if it's actually productive for them to do so (i.e., it gets them sales), well, more power to them.
ReplyDeleteWith my own reader hat on (vs. my writer hat), I'm one of the weirdos who actually tends to get pretty damn bored with sex scenes. I know a lot of readers of romances identify directly with the heroine, so they get personally engaged in a sex scene. I'm not one of those readers, though. Unless a sex scene has specific character or plot development in it that requires that sex be happening, I almost always am thinking "okay yeah sure they get it on, can we get back to the plot now?"
So honestly, if a story by an author I was interested in happened to have a version with on-camera sex and a version with fade-to-blacks, I might actually look at the fade-to-blacks version.
You make a very good point, Angela. In the end, it all boils down to whether or not the book is basically plot-driven with a love scene, or a book of just random sex.
Delete