Somewhere, in a parallel universe, there's a version of Alex who quit his day job and just pounds out 2-4 stories of Very Horny Gay Erotica a month, and while I don't necessarily want to be him, I do want to see his royalty statements.

Today, in thinking-out-loud-on-the-timeline, should I self-pub the "probably too steamy to bother querying" queer age-gap romance that has been sitting on my drive for a few years, now, or is that route just appealing because it doesn't involve the inevitable rejection from agents 🤔

Books books books, and these shorts and novellas are only 99p each! Romance! Smut! Horror! Fantasy! Queer characters, trans characters, neurodiverse and disabled characters! Available wherever you buy your eBooks, Amazon, Itch, B&N, and also on my website at www.johannestevans.co.uk/shop!

Reminder! Writers, last chance to submit links for this week's issue of the Wanton Weekly! If it's erotic and it's for reading on the web (not on Kindle), list it here!

Starting to suspect that trying to write a story with a structure I'm unfamiliar with and lack confidence in, in a style I'm not sure my existing readers will like, in an attempt to push through writer's block and general "the world feels unsexy and overwhelming now" wasn't my greatest idea ever.

The answer to why people think sex scenes in pop culture are unnecessary is that we as a society scorn people who practice the craft of making them good, and also scorn the very concept that it is a craft to begin with. It is, very frankly, a skill issue.

Happy Bi-Visibility Day! 💖💜💙 David, the 🇲🇽 MMC from my novel Specimen, is bi from page one, no awakenings, tho does share 1 early bi confirmation: *that* Bond scene between Daniel Craig + Javier Bardem. "OH Mr Bond!" David in Tijuana artist 🎨 @kholbatar.bsky.social

I heard it was #BiVisibilityDay so here's a link to my books, all of which have visible bisexuals! They come in various genders and relationship configurations, as bisexuals do

Queer pining! "But I thought you already knew?!" bisexuals! Office lust! Don't-try-this-at-home blindfolded driving! 🥵 (aka the story that started from Alex thinking "what about car-head, but somehow sexier/riskier?" 😂) Available on Amazon/Kobo/itch/B&N/more... 🌈📚💙

Sexy. Fun. Emotional. Honest. Pure @alexp336.bsky.social 🌶️🥵 #booksky 📚 #queersky 🌈

Marketing sucks. I hate how necessary it is. But writing still has to come first. I think that's getting lost in the industry's current climate—and up-and-coming writers, the artists they commission, and the readers they court often pay the price. romancing-the-stoned.beehiiv.com/p/putting-th...

I keep reminding myself that there are lots of reasons why my brain might not be in the best place to write fun, sexy romances right now, and not to beat myself up over it. I can't imagine I'm alone in this. If there's a creator whose work you enjoy, maybe tell them? I bet they'll appreciate it.

Not only are @safety.bsky.app's new rules gross censorship, they're also painfully lazy. Myopic regulations aren't going to help you with your (already broken) moderation processes, they'll just chase everyone - creatives and their readers/viewers - away from your platform.

"i want immoderate, slatternly sentences, which flaunt themselves, rather than striving at all times toward modest invisibility." *inserts "Yes... ha ha ha... YES" sickos meme* Excellent thoughts on why dense, delicious writing can be just the ticket, by @alixeharrow.bsky.social

I was watching BL through a South Korean VPN last night, and kept getting ads for "DP World" which is apparently a logistics company and NOT what you might automatically think if you're a frequent reader of smut.

@leemandelo.bsky.social Finished part 7 of The Boy Next World last night and now we have THREE Cirs?! AND an amnesia-after-car-crash plot line? Amazing, no notes. (Okay, one note; I'm loving mind-reading guy and Wim, too)

This was a really interesting read, and something I hadn't considered before. My characters do a lot of flirting-through-eye-contact, in part because I think for queer people there's an "are they one of us?" element of unspoken communication as we make connections in heteronormative spaces.

Almost 16k words in, and MC2 is still called "XXXX" Maybe I could just not give him a name Readers don't care about characters' names, right?

I'd love to start like, "Way Behind Pod" or something and record interviews with writers about their backlist. Largely because who couldn't use more backlist press, but also because I'm always way behind with my reading and never get stuff when it's released 😅

Reposting for teh bi vibes, it's the month for it. #mmromance

Welcome to the Incorporated States, where a trans woman who crashes her bike gets sent to Recovery for 7 years. Soleil's a peppy bitch, though. With the help of her lucky ladybug & her girlfriends, she just might make it through. danifinn.itch.io/may-you-wear... Coming to other outlets soon!

Started watching "The Boy Next World" last night, after @leemandelo.bsky.social's recommendation...

Yes, sitting down and outlining each new story would probably be more practical and make me a faster writer, but I love pantsing my way through the first draft. Figuring out what happens as I go along; letting the characters take shape organically. Knowing I can go back and fill in the gaps later.

If feels pretty weird to self-promote in times like these, but if you need a distraction and enjoy MM romances about... 🏈 Clueless but lovable jocks 👓 Acerbic geeks with secrets 📹 Homemade sex-tapes 🥵 High heat bi-awakenings ...then I have just such a book! You might like it! 🌶️🌈📚💙

This experience is both fascinating and infuriating. I can definitely appreciate why readers like seeing how each character is experiencing the story, but at the same time, I do miss that sense of the LI being somewhat unreadable. That feels so much more like real life, to me.

My latest roundup of intriguing new queer romances is here! Polyam, ownvoice M/M, disabled & BIPOC authors, trans & nb romances, & more! Subscribers, please click through from your inbox. 🙏 If you're not signed up, check it out here: skyewritesromance.com/new-queer-ro... 🌈📚 🌈💜 #Romancelandia

"Don’t be a dick. Help out where you can." Perennial good advice.

I wish retailers made it easy to A/B test ebook covers. Same story, different cover style. Obviously making it very clear to readers that they shouldn't buy a book they've already purchased.

You don't need to like all the books Other people will like books you don't like, and that's okay too It's okay to only talk about the books you like, and have no opinion on the books you don't like Just read 🙂

Hey! If you enjoy... 🥵 Forbidden lusting over your brother's best friend 🤫 Secret hookups right under everyone's nose 🤦‍♂️ "Shut up, I haven't caught feelings" self-deception ... then have I got the MM book for you! High heat, naturally 😇 alexpendragon.com/you-can-look/ 🌈📚💙

The impossible has happened. My brain has, of its own accord, led me into writing a dual-POV romance 😮

The last few episodes of "Revenged Love" got kinda weird and far-fetched, which I guess I could've predicted would happen, but I'd rather they'd focused on the dynamics of the two couples. Still, silly and fun and sexy (though not for snake-dislikers) overall. Not sure what BL to watch next 🤔

I only have a few episodes of "Revenged Love" left to watch, and it has definitely been one of the more chaotic (but fun!) BL dramas in recent memory. It makes me want to crank up the "Batshit Crazy Boys Fucking And Fighting" dial on my writing, tbh.

Small town romance where the town just keeps getting smaller and smaller until it becomes a "there's only one bed" because that's all the space that's left.

LOVED this video review of "A Neighborly Seduction" by @margaretadelle.bsky.social - I don't think my erotica has ever been called "wholesome" before! 🤣 alexpendragon.com/a-neighborly...

This whole essay is great, & worth reading. but this particular part leapt out at me so strongly: "When you claim to be an ally to those different from yourself, do you accept (both intellectually and emotionally) that they have certain issues which you cannot comprehend but should believe?"

There is something particularly rewarding when you see a sale for the second book in a series, because you know it means the reader was invested in the first enough to want to continue. Even if they don't leave a review or rating, it's a good feeling! 💙📚

I have a couple of queries that are (well) beyond the "you could nudge, if you want" point, but I can't bring myself to do it. Everything seems so hectic and overwhelming for everybody, right now, I can't really blame agents for falling behind on their slush piles.

One of the best boy-smut writers does it again…and again…and again Aside from all the 🤤🤤🤤, @alexp336.bsky.social also shows us a world that, to use Chance’s word, is more “honest,” where folx make room to explore feelings and physicality and intimacy and fun Stay hydrated for this one #queersky 🌈

Bluesky's mod team simping for JK Rowling after all the harm she's not only done, but *reveled* in doing, is so pathetic I don't even know where to start. "How dare you say something mildly mean about the person funding your complete persecution."

So, hey my new book is out. If anyone feels like reading a sweet & cute #mmromance #book about uni students falling in love this is your chance. If anyone feels like sharing the news, you are so very welcome :) www.amazon.com/Punk-Amadeus...

🎤 Take one secretly-bisexual pop star, trapped by his image 😒 Add a wry, gay assistant who hates pop music and can't trust his heart 👿 The Type A manager 💿 A risky new album 🥵 And feelings too dangerous for love songs ⭐️ Because once the spotlight has you, there's no going back. #QueerPit #A #R #MM

I don't want to click the QueerPit hashtag because I know I'll only want to read a large % of the unreleased books. (I should also do my own pitches, but the thought of it scares me)

Review: French Letters trilogy by Felicia Davin These books are awesome and queer as hell. I loved them, especially The Anonymous Letters of C Forestier.

Out of the ashes of itchio, I have built my own independent shop for direct sales of my books! riengray.shop is now live, and all titles are 50% off, so get a stack of lesbian and trans romances with blood and heat to spare while you can 🔥🩸💘 #BookSky #Lesbian #Romancelandia

"You shouldn’t be putting your soul on discount or asking people to review your heart. It should not be such an indelible part of who you are as a person that you can’t handle critiques against it. Because loving a thing does not keep it from being terrible quality." 🔥🔥🔥

Took about 17 days "in review" but itchio did process my last payout. As far as I can tell, all my books are still delisted from search.

You might think, based on the taglines, that Alex's books are just total sexy rompfests, but the ones we've read have also had great emotional depth. Definitely worth checking out -->