Book Review "Shinobi, Book One ..Concealed In Shadows" by Sessha Batto

Book Review:

“Shinobi, Book One…Concealed in Shadows” By Sessha Batto

This is a book for readers over the age of 18.

For those of us considered adults this book is a journey that will at times push your comfort zones, it is violent, gut wrenching and perhaps one of the most tender love stories I have read in recent years.

Homoerotica is not a genre I have read prior to Shinobi, and because of that I was unsure of exactly what to expect. What I found between the pages of Shinobi is the warmth, love, fear and utter loyalty expected and demanded in a modern day story of Ninja.

Torture and abuse are portrayed brilliantly by author Sessha Batto, you are witness to the scenes of what happens when political manipulation reaches the zenith of its struggle for power.

The characters become real. At times almost more real than you can take, you suffer with Yoshi..you feel his mental anguish, his determination to obey, his absolute immovable loyalty, and you share in his pain and the longings of his damaged soul.

Sasaki Makoto is the inflicter of much pain, yet he himself is a soul in search of the tenderness he has long been denied. Both these characterizations are beautifully drawn, the author gives you an insight into their psyche and their motivations that generates the way you the reader feel, despite the violence, despite the emotional turmoil they undergo the author draws you in: you can’t help but care deeply for them both.

Their love … and make no mistake for love is precisely what they feel; is erotic, sensual and tender, the sexual scenes are penned with a passionate and unapologetic hand as they should be.

Author Sessha Batto has not written this book merely to arouse the sexual desire of her readers, she has crafted characters rich in detail and painted for them a tapestry of colour and vibrance.

The darkest side of the human spirit is explored in this book. The violent underbelly of political intrigue is exposed. You will find the tenderness of the healing scenes between Yoshi and Sasaki moving.

For readers who are unafraid to explore erotica, and in particular Male on male erotica I urge you to read this book. It is an unforgettable journey.

BUY "SHINOBI" ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054M51TE/ref=sc_vs__shinobi_2520by_2520sessh

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Shinobi-Book-One/Sessha-Batto/e/2940011321122/

Book Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9yK9Yk8HBE&feature=player_profilepage

Topic: "The Relevance of Sex in Literature in 2011." My guest today author L. M Stull.

Please welcome my guest today: Author L. M. Stull

LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX, BABY

By L.M. Stull

In an ever-changing world, where seemingly anything goes, you must ask yourself...

Is the same true for books? Should anything and everything be exposed?

Unless you have been trapped in a time warp, I am sure you aware it is the year 2011. We no longer live in a world of homemade cookies, aprons and stay-at-home moms. In a world where our darkest, exotic, and often taboo wants and desires live only in our minds, hidden from the world to see. More and more people are openly embracing their sexuality.

Sex is changing. Life is changing. So, shouldn't books?

It has often been a topic of debate amongst many in the literary world. Many will argue that erotica and the like is “smut” and shouldn't be considered literature. But is literature not an expression of the most tender, raw inner emotions living within each of us? And is sex not a tender, raw act that we all experience?

You don't have to look around much to realize that sex is no longer hidden. On the television, in magazines, and especially in books. Everywhere you look sex is there. With self-publishing on the rise, we are seeing more and more adventurous stories, containing more and more adventurous sex. Authors are baring all to the readers, exposing a world of hidden fantasies, where anything and everything goes.

In my opinion, there are two very distinct categories in the world of erotic literature:

Traditional Erotica, which focuses solely on the heat and passion of the act itself, omitting the emotion, the psychology, the back story.

Literary Erotica, where authors (like Eden Baylee, to name one) delve deeper, exploring the thought process behind these hidden desires, sharing with us so much more than pure ecstasy.

So, does the world need this much sex?

Personally, I like to heat up the evenings with a little erotica and find nothing wrong with the fact that sex is so openly discussed in literature. In fact, I find it most refreshing to read and meet authors who share this intimate side of their psyche. Censorship should exist, obviously, as there are stories that need not grace anyone’s shelves (those not comprised of two consenting adults), but beyond that aren't we just limiting our imaginations?

Readers no longer want the same stories that have been generated year after year. They want spice. They want fantasy made into a realty. They want more sex. And artists are stepping up the plate to give them just that. After all, is it not our duty as authors to keep the reader happy? Take them to a world they may not be able to visit on their own. A world where they can experience anything they ever wanted and then some.

Sex is a part of everyone's, well, just about everyone's life, should we not embrace it?

I obviously don't hold the magic answer, only my own personal beliefs. So, I now turn to you and say, let's talk about sexy, baby.

~~

Originally a Washington, DC native, L.M. Stull now resides in Southern Virginia. She has always been a creative person and studied classical piano and dance from a young age.

During the day you will find her chained to a desk at a law firm. Yes, she works for lawyers. Now you understand why she writes about creatures . . . Boom! At night she channels her inner creative monster and writes (sorry, she doesn't turn into a werewolf or anything).

Her debut paranormal romance novel, Memoirs of a Monkey, coming Summer 2011, will be published by Black Kettle Publishing.

When she's not writing or feverishly taking orders from attorneys, she laces up and runs (and sometimes drinks wine...yeah, okay maybe more than sometimes).

There are several ways you can go about stalking her on the web if your little heart so desires: Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads (Hint: she'll totally think you're awesome if you add her upcoming books to your to-read pile) and of course her really cool Website. She also runs the Fellow Writer's group on Facebook.

L.M. is the founder of Between the Lines, a book club who is proud to feature the writings of independent and small press authors. For information on membership and how to become a contributing author, visit their website. You can also connect with them on Twitter and Facebook.

And finally, L.M. is also the co-founder of Deepwood Inc, a social media marketing firm devoted to assisting authors, both new and accomplished, find their way online.

Join in the discussion, in the comments section below.

Topic: The Relevance of Sex In Literature in 2011" My Guest today is author Maxwell Cynn

Topic: "The Relevance of Sex In Literature in 2011."

Please welcome my Guest Today...

Maxwell Cynn

MaxwellCynn.com

Follow me on Twitter @maxwellcynn

Should Books Have Parental Warning Labels?

Thank you, Soooz for letting me come on your blog and rant a bit.

Censorship is ever a contentious issue in art. We bring it on ourselves: pushing the limits, trying to be hip, begging attention by being controversial. "It's art!" is the general cry--when someone pisses in a glass or takes a picture of something in their arse. When Hemingway, and those of his generation, fought with publishers it was about the odd curse word. Hemingway wanted his dialog and prose to be real--the way people actually speak. When romance writers battled against the censors they wanted to show the sensual side of romance. But those battles were over long ago.

Today I can drop the f-bomb in a book or on my blog without anyone batting an eye. I can describe scenes that would make a nun wet or a hooker blush without fear of being arrested. But still some people push the limits. When I first started writing romance my wife accused me of writing porn. But current YA romance makes what I write seem quaint and almost prudish, and teenagers are reading it without blushing. So writers and artists go to unbelievable extremes to be controversial, and then people scream for censorship.

There will always be those who wish to draw a line and keep everyone behind it. The line itself is arbitrary and changes with generations. And there will always be those who seem compelled to step over that line if only because it is there. But there is a difference between being true to our art and being controversial simply for the sake of controversy. Hemingway wanted characters to speak as men speak (he actually had a battle over the word "swell" because it was slang--not proper English) and romantics wanted to portray love as couples truly loved, without resorting to euphemism and purple prose.

The only good censorship is that which we impose on ourselves, for the truth of our art, not that which we impose on others. I often write fairly provocative erotic romance. In the context of those stories I feel it is beautiful and expressive. I enjoy fine erotic art for the same reasons. But I also write hard science fiction, fantasy, and romance, among other things. There is a different standard, a different feel in mainstream fiction.

In a recent manuscript set in the 1920s the dialog I wrote contained virtually no cursing. That fit the sensibilities of the period, the characters, and the setting. I threw the f-bomb into a scene that was very intense and violent. It fit, and added powerful emotion to the scene. The hero and heroine never kiss, until the scene where he proposes to her, and not even the professional girls venture beyond a 'PG' rating in their flirtatious behavior. Yet the story is at times highly romantic, the heroine is extremely sensual, and the villains are harsh and violent. It is an adult novel.

When we use sex, language, or violence simply to shock and stir controversy it lessens our art. It also lessens the impact of our words. When a villain in the above novel says, "I'm gonna stomp your ass and fuck your girlfriend," it's a shock to the reader. When the hero drops the f-bomb in the midst of an intense and violent scene the reader feels that intensity along with the hero's fear and frustration. The words have power because they are rare and unexpected.

In the same way, less is more when it comes to sex in literature. If the romantic lead goes down on the heroine in the first few pages what is left for the remainder? Sexual tension is best achieved by no sex at all--the desire, the need, the longing, restricted and contained at every turn. Anticipation builds to a long awaited and often denied climax, yet if that climax becomes common place, mundane, there is no anticipation, but only rote predictable outcomes. His tongue slips over her clit yet again, yada, yada, yawn--let's move on with the story.

And so we are left with only the most graphic, deviant, kinky scenes with which to titillate our readers, and the would-be censors scream foul. Sex has lost its power and our words are left limp and impotent. Sex in literature is like anything else we write--too much lessens the value of all. The same happens with violence, blood, and gore. Readers become desensitized, writers ramp it up to new levels, and censors try to establish new lines of defense.

I never want to see Parental Advisory labels slapped on the cover of books, nor publishers attempt to censor Free Speech, but writers do bear responsibility for their words whether they wish to admit it or not. With YA, and even Middle Grade fiction taking on ever more mature tone, Adult and Erotic fiction push the extremes to compensate. Writers are why the sensibilities of censors are inflamed. When teen heroes are slinging f-bombs and teen heroines are playing the slut it's hard to blame parents for being upset with contemporary fiction.

Writers need to understand that by flooding literature with more sex, more graphic language, more violence, and more controversy we dilute the power of our own words. We must censor ourselves or be censored by others. Throwing our characters in bed is cheap and easy, while not letting them quite get that far may be more difficult it is far more powerful and often more erotic. Mama used to say that people curse because they have a weak vocabulary. I implore my fellow writers to use your words. Set limits on your characters and make them strain against the bonds.

I'm interested in what you think, dear reader. Is there too much sex in literature? Should books be rated and labeled? Post a comment.

Disclaimer: Of course none of this has anything to do with Literary Erotica, which is all about the sex. The above diatribe concerns mainstream fiction. Erotica is by definition pure eroticism--the triple X of the literary world. I write that too, and enjoy reading it as well. But as purely adult entertainment, different standards apply. Erotica is already branded as Adult Only and often resigned to a child proof section in book stores. Should all books with sexual content be likewise branded?

Topic: "The Relevance of Sex In Literature in 2011" my guest, author Eden Baylee.

Topic: "The Relevance of Sex In Literature in 2011"

Please welcome my guest today: Author of "Fall Into Winter"

Eden Baylee.

Is sexual content relevant in literature in 2011?

As sex exists today as it has since the beginning of time, I’d say it’s absolutely relevant in literature. If I didn’t think it was, I wouldn’t be writing contemporary erotica.

We all know that sex sells, but even in the genre I write, more sex does not necessarily make the story better. Given this, I’d like to approach the question a bit differently and ask “To what extent should sexual content be included in literature?”

What guides me in answering this question is simple. Does sex contribute to the story? If it’s included to develop the characters, then it’s relevant. If it’s a gratuitous scene that adds nothing to advance the plot, then it should be edited out. Sex without context is meaningless. Not only does it detract from the story, but it could also turn the reader off. Why? Readers are not fools, and they don’t like to be treated as such.

I’ll illustrate this point by using the medium of film.

Let’s start with car chases as representative of sex in literature.

Everyone loves a good car chase scene. It’s exciting, gets your heart racing, and should move the plot forward (even if only metaphorically). Some of the best car chases I’ve seen are from movies such as: Ronin; The Bourne Identity; The French Connection; and the classic—Bullitt.

Why did I like these films? Because they had a plot and characters I cared about. There was an intricate storyline that involved more than just a speeding car, but when the car chase did happen, it was integral to the plot. I didn’t feel as if the director added it as an afterthought or filler to make the movie more “saleable.”

That’s exactly how I view sex in literature. Page after page of sex is like watching a two-hour car chase on the big screen. Though it may be exciting for a little while, it quickly becomes tedious if you can’t answer some basic questions: Who are these people? What have they done? Why are they being chased?

In a well-made film, the requirement for car chases is balanced with the need to advance the story. This is the same balance needed for sex within literature. If you can’t answer the questions: Who are these people? Why are they having sex? Why are they having this type of sex? Then my prediction is you really won’t give a damn why they’re having sex at all.

The second point is realism. Any work of fiction is only successful to the extent that the audience can willfully suspend their disbelief. When the filmmaker pushes too far, the work fails—the same goes for authors, especially when it comes to writing sex. Most adults have experienced sex. For this reason alone, it’s essential to keep it real. The challenge is to write it in a way that is creative and yet sensual. Maintaining believability means characters are not engaging in acrobatic moves that even a contortionist could not muster. It’s sex, not gymnastics! Unless your writing involves the paranormal or shape-shifters, characters should not possess superhuman powers when having sex. That includes the frequency, type, and amount of sex they have.

The third comparison to film is genre. If you watch a comedy, you expect to laugh. If you watch a horror movie, you expect to be scared. The same expectations are inherent in literature. No matter what genre you write in, there is opportunity to include sex in your story—if it’s appropriate. Expanding on the car chase analogy, inclusion of one in a “heist” film would be expected, but not so for a mystery or science fiction film unless it makes sense to the story.

Erotica is a genre that obviously contains sexual content. Often misunderstood, some equate it to pornography, thereby discrediting it as nothing more than “just” sex. Because of this negative association, some writers of erotica have taken to calling themselves romance or erotica/romance authors—myself included. It’s not that I think romance is more credible or respected as a genre, but it does give me a wider audience. Some readers want more sex than is provided in the “happily ever after” romance novels. Good erotica delivers more sex—along with a strong storyline, riveting plot, and interesting characters.

It’s important to know what you’re getting when you buy something, and perhaps that’s the main reason to define the genres. At the heart of it though, does it matter if you call yourself a romance author, erotica author, or author of fiction who writes with strong erotic elements? I think not. Call yourself what you like, but if you are writing sex in literature today—do it for the right reasons: To draw your readers into the plot of the story; to arouse them to connect to your characters; and finally, to have them fully commit to your book, awaiting the next one with bated breath.

Eden Bio:

Eden Baylee remembers hiding under the blankets with a flashlight and reading an erotic novel. It was past her bedtime; she was eleven.

Since then, she has continued to read and write erotica. Equipped with an active imagination, few inhibitions, and a passion for words, she is fortunate to have experienced much of what she writes about, and she integrates many of her favorite things into her stories.

Fall into Winter is Eden's first book and is now available as listed here.

Connect with Eden on her Website, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

Please join in the discussion in the comments section below.