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Publisher of the Month

Interview with

APHRODITE'S APPLES PRESS

Aphrodite's Apples Press

AWA: When did Aphrodite’s Apples Open?

AA: We opened in July of 2006.

AWA: How was the name Aphrodite’s Apples thought up?

AA: Aphrodite's been good to me. The actual term "Aphrodite's Apples" refers to the Judgment of Paris that led to the Trojan War. The gods on Olympus were celebrating the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, and they left Eris, the goddess of discord off the guest list, so she rolled a golden apple into their midst with the word, "kallisti" on it. Kallisti means "for the fairest" and since Aphrodite, Hera and Athena all claimed to be the fairest, Paris was made to decide whom the apple was really for. He picked Aphrodite, and to show her appreciation, she gave him Helen of Troy as a reward.

So our stories are the apples of our fairest Aphrodite.

AWA: When considering a ms for publication what does AA look for?

AA: Great characters, first and foremost—there's no good story without them. Plot's a must too—we don't do PWP, porn without plot, for the uninitiated. I'll add that I'm a sucker for darker work, and twisted happily ever afters. Kayleigh Jamison, our editor-in-chief is fond of the term "happy for now."

AWA: Since there is more to BDSM than just sex would AA be open to publishing extreme or not so extreme novels that did not end every scene with sex?

AA: ABSOLUTELY! In fact, the D/S dynamic and its complexities should be part of any good story you send to us. I'll take a moment to pick on Katrina Strauss' work—read Secrets Revealed or Fates Fulfilled if you want to get an idea of what we're looking for. I don't want to read a trite story that treats BDSM as a gimmick.

AWA: Speaking of extreme, how extreme would AA be willing to accept?

AA: We don't take noncon, or things that degrade women/minorities or other ethnic groups.

AWA: What is your publisher/author split?

AA: Contracts are confidentially negotiated, but generally we offer 40% retail on eBooks and 10% for print.

AWA: Are readers able to purchase a hard copy of the books on the site?

AA: We are developing our print line at the moment—we have a couple titles slated to come out later this year.

AWA: Any advice to an author that wants to write BDSM Erotica?

AA: Remember that your story is always about characters, and not about sex. Do right by your characters, and the rest will follow.

AWA: I see so much out there that is either BDSM erotica or porn, do you believe that there would be a place for BDSM Romance? Material written to show the softer side of the lifestyle?

AA: Absolutely! The notion that love and trust are not part of the lifestyle is ridiculous. Again, if you are true to the characters, I think it is natural to view them in a more holistic manner.

AWA: As an editor what is your biggest pet peeve?

AA: Hmm. I don't edit, so you'd have to ask Kayleigh Jamison. I do help her pick titles for the site, and I can tell you that in queries I am peeved when I see writing that treats a heavy topic too lightly, and I don't mean in a humorous manner. Don't send me a BDSM title if you're not familiar with the scene and you're just looking to be titillating. Don't send me a historical title if you haven't done your research.

AWA: Right now, what is Aphrodite’s Apples looking to publish?

AA: Well-written fiction with strong characters, with or without sexual content. Most of our romance/erotica is het, and while we have some m/m and f/f within the context of a greater story, we haven't developed a full GLB line and we don't have a poly line. A couple of our stories have some poly elements, but we aren't searching for titles with that as its primary focus.

AWA: How long does it take a title to be released?

AA: About six months, give or take.

AWA: What sort of editor assistance does a writer receive from Aphrodite’s Apples?

AA: Our editors are very thorough, and while we usually take titles that we feel don't need heavy re-writes, we do have one editor, Helgaleena, who is superb at taking someone with a lot of raw talent and really getting them to shine.

AWA: Any last minute tips to authors looking to be published?

AA: Focus on your writing. Ultimately your writing is what's going to sell your book.

AWA: How does Aphrodite’s Apples assist authors in promotion?

AA: Katrina Strauss is our Media Contact and she helps authors by scheduling chats and other promotional activities.

AWA: Where else are Aphrodite’s Apples stories?

AA: At the moment our books are available at http://www.aphroditesapples.com/

AWA: Would each of the staff members like to write a short bio of themselves to include with this interview?

AA: HS Kinn is an author and co-founder of Aphrodite's Apples Press. You can find her debut novel, Immortal Reveries there. It combines her love of English history, ancient Gaelic culture and mythos, and the South. She's currently working on its follow up, Strange Days. Once upon a time she was a schoolteacher, a speech-language pathologist and a lay advocate for children with disabilities. Currently she is devoted to running Aphrodite's Apples Press and her family. Visit her at http://www.myspace.com/hskinn for more information.

Katrina Strauss is both a writer and Media Contact for Aphrodite's Apples. When she's not working on her own titles, she assists the other Aphrodite's authors in scheduling chats, arranging reviews, and advising them of promotional opportunities appropriate for their work. Viewing Aphrodite's Apples as a team effort, Katrina continually seeks ways that she and her fellow authors can represent themselves not only as individual writers but as a cohesive, creative whole. Visit her at http://www.katrinastrauss.com/ for more on Katrina!

Kayleigh Jamison is the Editor-in-Chief of Aphrodite's Apples Press. A writer and musician at an early age, she wrote her first novella at the age of seven, and first picked up a violin at eight. By eighteen, she had won several state and regional awards for the performance arts, recognizing her accomplishments in violin, viola, and oboe.

With a Bachelors degree in English and Philosophy and a Certification in Legal Studies, Ms. Jamison spends her days attending law school and her nights immersed in the rich fantasy worlds of her imagination.

Editor at large, Helgaleena is an unreformed pornographer and slasher of Star Wars characters, who therefore chooses to remain anonymous. However, she loves to polish the fruits of others' imaginations. She herself is entering the cider stage, is married with children, and resides in the great state of Wisconsin.