Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Random Tuesdays {21} Who suffers?




Okay, for today's Random Tuesday, I'm going to do something I normally don't do. Talk writing politics on my blog. It seems over the weekend a certain cover model caused a small scandal on facebook with a post about today's obsiety trends in the United States. I'm not about to open a can of worms about fat shaming vs statistics here, but instead I want to focus on the fall out from this. Personally, I could care less how much a person weighs or don't weigh. That is a topic between them and thier doctor - not me - a single mom with three kids who likes to write naughty stories in her free time. However, I couldn't help but be aghast at all the bashers who say they are going to boycott any book with this model who shall not be named on the cover.  

Which has a lot of seasoned authors like me going: hold up.  If your goal is to punish the jerk who talked out of the side of his neck, you're going about it the wrong way.  Why?  Well, those books - many which predate this fiasco by not only months but years, he's already recieved his money from. He more than likely doesn't earn comission off the sales of the book - in fact, some struggling author or publishing company purchased his image outright to use on the cover.  The only person you're hurting by refusing to by said book is the author themselves. 

Of course, there will be naysayers that will say - then change the cover.  Well, easier said than done - particularly if you're talking about a cover owned by a publishing company. Most publishers are not going to go through the cost of replacing every cover this model happens to be on - and there are a ton of them. (Not to mention the confusion it can cause certain readers who heavily rely on the cover when they're one-clicking their favorite authors. Me included. I've purchased duplicates over the years, simply because an author redid the cover. My fault totally for not reading the blurb.)  

For those of us who choose to do the indie route, we may be able to change our covers out easier, however we're bankrolling the change - particularly when we're paying a cover artist. (Some of us do our own covers, but we still have to pay for the photos) For my Calypso's Series, I hired out a cover artist and I've already paid out over $500 for three covers, and still have three more to go.  Is Kellie Dennis from Book Covers by Design worth that - absolutely! Just realize when you tell an author to change anything about their books, you're asking an author to shell out more money to redo something she/he has already paid for once. 

And say an author does decide to change something like a cover - realize it's not just the costs of the new ebook cover, since many authors have this model on print copies of the book, swag and their websites. All of which can add up fast when you're talking about completely rebranding a book or series. 

So as a struggling author myself, I ask the readers stop a second, jump off the bandwagon and think about who they are ultimately screwing when they say I'll never buy another book with his image on it again. I assure you it isn't the model. 

Also remember us authors are a tight knit community and many won't be purchasing any more of his stock. 
©Dakota Trace All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Monday Moans {27}: A Bratty sub



This week, as I'm hip deep in a deadline, I thought I'd post a more mischeivious picture, one that made me chuckle. Her expression says it all. "I promise I'm not trying to earn a punishment, Sir.  I love the new cuffs you got for me." 

©Dakota Trace All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Wednesday Takeover {16} CJ Baty


 Happy Holidays Peeps!  It's less than two weeks 'til we celebrate the jolly old fat man who circles the globe bringing toys to all good girls and boys....(hmmm which leaves me out right?)  Just kidding. However with the holiday spirit running high, I'm giving other authors the opportunity to take over my blog and celebrate their characters, stories and maybe a few tidbits about themselves! 

With that being said, a new friend of mine (one that I shared a table with at last year's WOTR book signing) has graciously took me up on my offer. Please welcome CJ Baty.  She writes gay mystery romance!  The floor is yours sweetie! 

Dakota 






Thanks, Dakota, for inviting to be on your blog today.

A few months back, I had the brilliant idea to write a series that would mean putting out a novella sized story every month. As a writer, I wanted to prove to myself that I could stay focused and produce a good story every 30 days. As a reader, I wondered just how good the stories could be if she was rushing to write them.

Let me introduce you to the family. Xavier Knight owns the Knights Club and his employees, and their families and partners become his family. Some of them have been with him for years. Like Phillip Hapner, a young genius with number who just happens to be bi. Then there’s Calypso. He’s the good looking black man with a sassy mouth and love of sparkly everything and high heels. The higher the better. There’s Tiny the bouncer who has lots of muscle and a soft soul.

When he opened the club in Atlanta, he needed more staff. Rio Garcia tends bar and has a dislike for anyone in uniform, especially cops. There’s Robbie, Curt and Pixie who also work at the club.
Xavier thought he was too old to find love again and he was content to build a family with the people around him. Then Sebastian Brady walked in looking for a job. With him, he brought the Brady family. A dysfunctional family with a long history of working for the Atlanta PD.

Seb’s father was Captain Delmonico Brady. He the captain over the jurisdiction where the club stands. In the past, he had confrontations with the previous owner and Xavier’s mentor, Stony Whitecastle. Captain Brady was determined to wipe Atlanta clean from homosexual activity. Then there’s Seb’s brothers, Malachi and Zachary, all of them cops; and their younger sister, Katelyn.

It may sound like a cast of hundreds but from the very beginning you will find that it’s a story about family. They may not all be blood related, but their lives are intertwined. And just like a blood family, sometimes things get messy.



Starting Over (Bk 1) Is Xavier and Sebastian’s love story. Age and family can be huge obstacles to overcome to find your HEA.
 
Letting Go (Bk 2) Calypso wants his own HEA, but can he find it with former gigolo, Benedict Hart. Both men have to let go of past hurts to find true happiness.

Learning Trust (Bk 3) Rio Garcia hated cops and it didn’t matter that Steve Coulter was the hottest man he’d ever laid eyes on. Their chemistry was intense. Steve had always wanted to be a cop, but could he trust Rio to keep his secret.
***Releasing December 18***

Coming Out (Bk 4) Phillip Hapner was a numbers genius but when he gets in too deep with an illegal gambling syndicate, his days are numbered. Malachi Brady isn’t gay. But keeping Phillip Hapner alive was proving to be an issue. He was widely attracted to the blue eyed blond, he just didn’t know what the hell he was doing.
***Coming in January***

Finding Forgiveness (Bk 5) Zach Brady is back and Xavier Knight isn’t happy about it. Zach is looking for forgiveness for past sins. He’s not the only one. Xavier’s been lying to the two most important people in the world to him and Zach knows his secrets.

Happy reading everyone. Remember it’s Love that binds us all.
C.J. Baty








Monday, December 10, 2018

Monday Moans {26}: Female power


This week I thought I would go a different route for my Monday Moans post. While I love male eye candy, I still can find the beauty in the female form.  And in this case I love the fact that she's not a perfect size two.  She has lush curves like most of my heroines do.  Enjoy!


©Dakota Trace All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

Monday, December 3, 2018

Monday Moans {25}: Classy but Sexy


So I've been working on a secret project. A sexy Valentine tale of an older woman and hunky young man. Throw in a bit of d/s and you have A Hands on tale of determined dominant who is going to remind the sexy cougar in his office what it truly means to submit. 

The talented JM Walker came up with my cover and damned if it doesnt sizzle.



  
©Dakota Trace All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author. ©Dakota Trace All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.