Welcome lurkers, to the Antoniou/Marketplace world
(Reposted as a new posting thread!)
Welcome to those who have been peeking here to see what I have to say. This marks the arrival of the e-book and print editions of The Marketplace with Circlet Press, something I am *thrilled* about. For the first time in over a year, you can at last buy a copy of The Marketplace at a standard cover price, and with a fabulous cover at that!
The Marketplace is a series as well as an individual title, and even when I am not writing a new book - which I am - I am constantly thinking about stories set in this world of mine.
Combining the new way of getting my books to readers and my endless musing over "what would happen if...?" and my knowledge of plot developments that happen "off screen" led me to offer a bonus short story with the e-book editions of the series as it is re-released. Yes - that means people who get the e-books get a short story not in print *anywhere* - they get to read it first, they get to use it for sexual blackmail. ("Be good and I'll read it to you!") It's just one of the few services I offer to the community.
There will be a theme to the bonus stories - "Life Is A Party." Each story will take place during the overall timeline of the book it's appended to, involve at least one or two of the characters, and take place at a party. The first bonus story is titled "For Want of a Nail" and appears in the e-book edition of The Marketplace.
"For Want of a Nail" is a first for me with Marketplace writing - it is an unabashed comedy. Those of you who have met me or know my teaching and public speaking style might know that from time to time, I can be counted on for a little snickering. Life is funny; sex is funny, SM is especially funny. I have previously used humor as an accent, and I have used it in short stories outside of the MP series, but this is my first madcap, slamming door, "OMG, what next??" farce. And so far, the response to my public readings and from individual readers has been great.
But I can hear those unfamiliar with humor getting mixed with their overwrought, dramatic, filled-with-angst passion plays of BDSM flavored smut - you're panicking. I can feel it. All I can ask is that you cast your memories back to one moment in time when the august sincerity of the moment was broken by - the cat leaping on the bed. Or the untimely loss of a handcuff key. Or the arrival of the In-Laws. Or a broken prop, a sudden black-out/minor earthquake/upset stomach. When all your best laid plans to get laid...fell apart.
Let's face it, that's some funny shit.
And the higher the stakes? Sometimes, the funnier it gets. Carol Burnett once famously quipped that comedy is tragedy, plus time. In the moment, we can be as dramatic, solemn, earnest, and romantic as we dare, and when our plans go wrong, the first flush reaction is disappointment, anger, embarrassment, frustration. But later on, the passing of time will act as a soothing balm and we can look at the scene objectively, and note why yes - it would have looked ridiculous to an outsider. Or, "Oh, my starts and garters, what WAS I thinking?" Or, as Chris puts it in the new short story, perhaps it was not the best time for a dinner party.
Want to know what goes wrong at the party? Get the e-book. Want to get the e-book? Tell me about a funny moment you experienced during sex or play. You can hide identities, you can be coy about details, but it has to be funny. One of you with a good sense of humor can get your very own e-book version of The Marketplace.
Laura
Welcome to those who have been peeking here to see what I have to say. This marks the arrival of the e-book and print editions of The Marketplace with Circlet Press, something I am *thrilled* about. For the first time in over a year, you can at last buy a copy of The Marketplace at a standard cover price, and with a fabulous cover at that!
The Marketplace is a series as well as an individual title, and even when I am not writing a new book - which I am - I am constantly thinking about stories set in this world of mine.
Combining the new way of getting my books to readers and my endless musing over "what would happen if...?" and my knowledge of plot developments that happen "off screen" led me to offer a bonus short story with the e-book editions of the series as it is re-released. Yes - that means people who get the e-books get a short story not in print *anywhere* - they get to read it first, they get to use it for sexual blackmail. ("Be good and I'll read it to you!") It's just one of the few services I offer to the community.
There will be a theme to the bonus stories - "Life Is A Party." Each story will take place during the overall timeline of the book it's appended to, involve at least one or two of the characters, and take place at a party. The first bonus story is titled "For Want of a Nail" and appears in the e-book edition of The Marketplace.
"For Want of a Nail" is a first for me with Marketplace writing - it is an unabashed comedy. Those of you who have met me or know my teaching and public speaking style might know that from time to time, I can be counted on for a little snickering. Life is funny; sex is funny, SM is especially funny. I have previously used humor as an accent, and I have used it in short stories outside of the MP series, but this is my first madcap, slamming door, "OMG, what next??" farce. And so far, the response to my public readings and from individual readers has been great.
But I can hear those unfamiliar with humor getting mixed with their overwrought, dramatic, filled-with-angst passion plays of BDSM flavored smut - you're panicking. I can feel it. All I can ask is that you cast your memories back to one moment in time when the august sincerity of the moment was broken by - the cat leaping on the bed. Or the untimely loss of a handcuff key. Or the arrival of the In-Laws. Or a broken prop, a sudden black-out/minor earthquake/upset stomach. When all your best laid plans to get laid...fell apart.
Let's face it, that's some funny shit.
And the higher the stakes? Sometimes, the funnier it gets. Carol Burnett once famously quipped that comedy is tragedy, plus time. In the moment, we can be as dramatic, solemn, earnest, and romantic as we dare, and when our plans go wrong, the first flush reaction is disappointment, anger, embarrassment, frustration. But later on, the passing of time will act as a soothing balm and we can look at the scene objectively, and note why yes - it would have looked ridiculous to an outsider. Or, "Oh, my starts and garters, what WAS I thinking?" Or, as Chris puts it in the new short story, perhaps it was not the best time for a dinner party.
Want to know what goes wrong at the party? Get the e-book. Want to get the e-book? Tell me about a funny moment you experienced during sex or play. You can hide identities, you can be coy about details, but it has to be funny. One of you with a good sense of humor can get your very own e-book version of The Marketplace.
Laura