Review: How to Really Self-Publish Erotica: The Truth About Kinks, Covers, Advertising and More! by Dalia Daudelin

Here's a new little thing that I thought I'd try, while cooling my heels between bouts of my own writing. Dalia Daudelin has the fortune (or not) of being the first authoress that I'm reviewing. Here, I'm looking at her recent release, How to Really Self-Publish Erotica: The Truth About Kinks, Covers, Advertising and More!, published earlier this week. I should note that this post was not paid for, nor did I serve as a beta reader for Ms. Daudelin - I merely happened to be at the right place, at the right time.

 

Within the pages of her latest effort, accomplished authoress of all things smutty Dalia Daudelin has given us a wonderful guide to the shifting and often uncertain world of erotic self-publishing. Dalia extensively examines that process of writing, sales, advertisement, and design, in addition to an extended discussion of some of the more risqué, yet financially rewarding stories that readership crave.

And after all, that’s why we’re all here, isn’t it? While most of us, barring the greenest newcomer, are entirely aware that the days of the ebook “gold rush” are long past, leaving us only their fond, painful memories, we at least put pen to paper in an effort to aid in the day to day of our lives, financially, emotionally, romantically, and otherwise. Too, the book doesn’t pull any punches about the bittersweet realities of living the often thankless life of a self-published writer, the long hours, the sometimes heartless critics, and the uncomfortable smiles when we’re invariably asked “what exactly it is that you write about?”

She ably covers the ins and outs of writing (good writing, mind you) in a way that’s accessible and fair, but veteran hands may find themselves bored in these discussions. But to be fair, Dalia did set out to write a comprehensive guide to self-publishing erotica, so perhaps I’m just being picky in assuming that it’s primarily meant for a semi-vet like me. This is well balanced by the fact that a great deal of the book has some helpful hints and clues that will appeal to seasoned hands. There is something for everyone within this book, and newcomers would be hard-pressed to gain the knowledge that Dalia has painstakingly amassed in her own experiences.

My only concerns, barring my own personal issues with the scope and aim of her content, are that some of the formatting came through on my PC-based kindle app as a little weird, but then again, I run a cinematic widescreen, so your mileage may vary.

Haleigh Cookson Clark gives this effort a 4.5 of out 5. Those so interested may find Ms. Daudelin at her site, here.