CENSORSHIP BE DAMNED!
While I hate to say this, but I have been forced to UN-PUBLISH my BDSM novel, “Burning Willow.” This work was in the form of an e-book, and I had a convenient link to the book available on this blog. You may be aware that PayPal has instigated a war on erotic literature, including all ebooks containing themes of rape and incest AND BDSM.
Without any notice, PayPal reserves the right to close any accounts that violate their acceptable use policy … In other words, the companies and sites that host our e-books – and have the right to confiscate any funds in their accounts. Let’s just say, they won’t process the readers’ credit cards if they wish to exercise their right to read whatever the hell they want. As authors, we have been asked by our various host companies (Smashwords.com, in my case) to remove our work immediately.
Here’s the interesting part. I have a new computer – Well, less than a year old. My old hard drive crashed, and I was only able to save part of it; NOT the part that contained my original manuscript for Burning Willow (there never was a hard, printed copy) … So, if you were fortunate enough (and I appreciate it if you have) to buy a copy from me, consider it now rare. Rather than fight the system or try to fly under the radar, I complied, like a good little girl, and unpublished Burning Willow.
Thank you all for your continued support and friendship. I will be back here within the next few days.
If you’d like further information on the new war against erotic literature, please check out this link:
http://selenakitt.com/blog/index.php/2012/02/19/slippery-slope-erotica-censorship/
February 25, 2012 at 12:13 am
Reblogged this on Black Door Press and commented:
This is becoming a witch hunt. They are starting with questionably legal areas, but it’s only a matter of time before they are telling us what we can and can’t write/read period!
February 25, 2012 at 11:44 am
Exactly, Gillian. I do not, by any means consider myself an expert in the area of bdsm, or even spanking. I actually penned my book many years ago just for fun and personal use, but was encouraged to publish it last year. It was received well. I did, btw, find a way to download my final manuscript from Smashwords back onto my hard drive, and I have not decided what to do with it. It’s a 200 page book, and I thought about just including it here on this blog – for free — but, who knows? Like you said, sooner or later, they may not even let us blog our rights to freedom of speech or the press. The fact that PayPal has gotten involved — a Bank, no less — is what erks me. Makes me think they are acting in response to something that’s in their best interest, i.e., payoffs, kickbacks, etc. It’s all political.
I first ran into this kind of problem on blogspot with my original blog. Blogspot has “some issues” with adult content, even though they allow you to place a warning to readers that the gives them the alternative to not read any further … But it was AdSense that first pulled the plug on my – they won’t place ads (of any kind) on adult content blogs or sites, thereby eliminating my ability to earn a few cents (literally) on my work.
PayPal is/was a convenient method for readers to pay for their work. Because I use them on my other (vanilla) sites for my cookbooks, etc., as well as my crafts and ebay items I sell, I don’t want to make waves with them and red flag any of my accounts. Otherwise, I’d boycott the shit out of them!
February 25, 2012 at 4:05 pm
What makes this worse is that Paypal is NOT a bank. They are a private company. They are tremendously convenient and that is where their power lies. I want to close my account, but then I don’t get paid by Smashwords or All Romance. We need an alternative, as long as there isn’t one, Paypal holds the pass and we all must pass under their guns.
Don’t allow your voice to be silenced. In today’s landscape, you may have a hard time selling it, but put it out there for free! You have a right to be heard.
February 25, 2012 at 8:33 am
It’s a slippery slope, that’s for sure. There are so many things I want to say, but I’ll start ranting. I’ll simply just say “F You Paypal!” I think I may go close my account…
March 6, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Well said! LOL
February 26, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Hi, Rusty. I followed Gillian here, shame on me for not making a more frequent appearence.
As I see the problem there needs to be a middleman to handle the transaction. When you go to the fair you buy tickets and pay per ride. 1 ticket 2 tickets whatever. You chose the ride no risk to the carny or the rider. No refunds once you leave the que. Everyone knows the risk pay the tillerman.
I am sure someone will see the almighty dollar to be made here. I am leary that it may just be a ruse to jack the rates and create a new business or even worst a ploy to stifle our right to express ourselves or chose what we read.
Cruel
February 27, 2012 at 8:30 pm
You’re right, Gillian; they are NOT a bank – my mistake. But, yes — being a private company does make it worse. Smashwords is in negotiations with them to try and figure something out. I just don’t trust them. Some companies have talked about using Chase or a few other alternatives, but I understand they are horribly expensive for the vendor. So, we’ll see. Put it out there for free? Damn Good Idea! Look for it (very) soon right here!
Thanks, Cruel – Good to hear from you again.
February 26, 2012 at 9:06 pm
[...] L. A. Witt) Paypal Moves Against Smashwords, Mark Coker Responds (MERGED THREAD) (KindleBoards) *** CENSORSHIP BE DAMNED! (Rusty Nale) In Defense of Erotica (Violet Williams) Smashwords Falls Victim to PayPal (Marlene [...]
February 28, 2012 at 8:18 pm
[...] L. A. Witt) Paypal Moves Against Smashwords, Mark Coker Responds (MERGED THREAD) (KindleBoards) *** CENSORSHIP BE DAMNED! (Rusty Nale) In Defense of Erotica (Violet Williams) Smashwords Falls Victim to PayPal (Marlene [...]
February 28, 2012 at 8:39 pm
I am sorry.
(
March 6, 2012 at 10:54 am
Damn I hate censorship. My own blogspot blog went the same way as yours. They keep telling you that adsense is the way to earn a few kopeks from your blog, so I did that. I was then warned that my blog was too adult and ordered to remove the ads. I complied and was shut down shortly thereafter.
One of the authors I read The Flogmaster publishes through Lulu and if you have sales they will pay by check.
Emanuele
March 6, 2012 at 2:13 pm
I have some affiliations with Lulu (my some of my vanilla work); was not sure if they were publishing ebooks or not. I had chosen to publish the book as an ebook because some people are simply more comfortable with their erotica being electronic rather than in print. I will look into that. Thank you.
March 6, 2012 at 2:10 pm
I’m sorry too. But, my mind is spinning and hopefully I can come up with a solution soon. Thank you all for your support and friendship.