Support Your Local “Pornographer” or Why Does Blogger Call My Blogs “Porn”?

 

Here's my upcoming book cover. Are you shocked?

You think you’re an average citizen following the rules of civilized society and then something hits you from out of the blue to convince you of your true criminal intent. Yesterday I opened an email from Blogger (Google) saying that my blog has “adult content” and that it can be taken down (or made “private” against my will) so that no one can see it but me unless "sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video" aren’t taken down by March 23, 2015.

Okay, my romantic fiction book covers feature mostly clothed individuals and any “skin” you see on my erotic-romance covers is legal at any beach or poolside in North America. My publishers make extra-sure our book covers aren’t breaking the rules of decent society so that Amazon and other online retailers won’t list our books. What’s the deal?

I went to a Blogger forum to ask for clarification. “Why were my particular blogs targeted for this treatment?” I asked, and this is the answer I received:

The policy is designed to remove porn from Blogger.  It's a fuzzy policy.

Several questions from me (and others) later, and there was no one who could tell us what “pornography” our blogs contained or what Google means by “porn that it wants removed”. Frustrated, I stated, “I think there's just blatant censorship happening here.” And the reply to my statement was:

            No, there really is a problem.  You just make sure that your blog does not contribute.

I’m not saying that there are no blogs on Blogger that contain images or text that could be considered in violation of pornography laws of local jurisdictions—because there are millions of blogs out there and I’ve seen only a handful—but I am saying that indiscriminately labeling blogs with “adult content” as “porn” is painting a picture that many bloggers are somehow social deviants and possible criminals who produce “porn” for an unsuspecting audience. Does this mean our readers are “deviants”, too?

I don’t know about you, but I despise being labeled with a word that carries so much hate and negativity such as “pornographer”. I hate not being able to defend myself and my writings against a faceless corporation who gladly takes our advertising revenue but tells us what we can or cannot post. Why am I and other bloggers being labeled “guilty until proven innocent”? Isn’t Google located in the United States of America? I thought it was “innocent until proven guilty” here. My mistake!

I take the statement, “Make sure that your blog does not contribute,” to mean that at least some of my blogs contain “porn” and, essentially, Google is prepared to censor all blogs it feels qualifies as such. So, what is exactly constitutes “porn” for Google, Inc., and how are they measuring these “adult content” blogs for “porn”? Are they using a computer algorithm or program? A human being with half a brain? A political group with an agenda?

And what exactly is “adult content”? Adults read romantic fiction, so all romance novels could be labeled “adult content” in the broadest sense, including my PG rated books, but so could true crime novels with horrifically graphic murder scenes. You wouldn’t want your children reading those sorts of stories, would you? And non-fiction about war and war crimes…ugh! That’s not G rated stuff, is it? 

Why am I hearing the Rev. Lovejoy’s wife from The Simpsons crying, “Think of the children!” over and over in my head? 

Why aren’t parents doing their jobs and keeping the kids off the computer and away from things they shouldn’t be seeing until their old enough to understand them? Why is Google so anxious to play “Net Nanny” for these lazy parents? Will they make money off of the exercise?

The more you think about it, the more abusive and potentially dangerous this new policy of Blogger sounds.

Do you believe Google, that is Blogger, has the right to censor blogs just because they (or whatever or whomever they’ve hired to screen blogs) consider them pornographic? Who gets to decide how narrow or how broad the definition of “porn” is when it comes to freedom of speech?

Please leave your comments below. And please sign up for my e-newsletter on the sidebar so we can keep in touch because you never know… This could be my last public blog post. I’m a “pornographer”, you know?

UPDATE: Blogger announced this week:

This week, we announced a change to Blogger’s porn policy. We’ve had a ton of feedback, in particular about the introduction of a retroactive change (some people have had accounts for 10+ years), but also about the negative impact on individuals who post sexually explicit content to express their identities. So rather than implement this change, we’ve decided to step up enforcement around our existing policy prohibiting commercial porn.  

Blog owners should continue to mark any blogs containing sexually explicit content as “adult” so that they can be placed behind an “adult content” warning page.

Bloggers whose content is consistent with this and other policies do not need to make any changes to their blogs.

So... I guess the majority of my blogs are "safe" from being shut down for the time being. Of course, Blogger probably still sees a blog that features erotic-romantic-fiction as being "sexually explicit" even when an individual blog post isn't necessarily "adult" in nature. This means I've placed the "adults only" warning interstitial page on this blog and my web site. I suppose it's a small price to pay to continue blogging via Blogger. What do you think?

Calling all Doctor Who fans...

The long awaited sequel to my mainstream persona's Doctor Who inspired novel, Loving Who, has finally arrived. Leaving Who picks up the story of John Smith and Cici Connors, the universe's most unlikely time-traveling duo.

Leaving Who is available at Mojocastle Press

After touring the universe with time traveler John Smith, Cici Connors wants one more thing—to go home. Will the imminent destruction of Earth throw a kink into her plans?

Read a short excerpt of it at the Confessions of a Blonde Writer blog by clicking the link or copying the URL below into your browser:
http://momsday.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-sneak-peek-at-leaving-who.html?spref=fb

Update: Due to technical factors beyond even a Time Lord's control, the release date for Leaving Who is now scheduled for April 28, 2013. My apologies for the wait. And remember, fezes are cool. ;)

Do the Blog Hop this Weekend!

I'll be doing the "Bunny Hop" or should I say "The Blog Hop" this coming weekend, April 6 - 8. You can enter a drawing for a free copy of my vampire tale BLOOD BETRAYAL starting on the sixth. Details on how to enter the drawing will be at my blog on those days. After you visit my blog, you can "hop" on over to other authors' blogs and enter to win prizes/books from them as well!

Don't forget it all starts this Friday April 6 and goes until midnight on Easter day, April 8, right here at Celine's Dreams!

Have a terrific week and see you this coming weekend!

Celine
http://www.celinechatillon.com

The Blog Hop
http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/

Let's Get into the Holiday Spirit Excerpt

Ho, ho, ho! "Black Friday" officially kicks off the holiday shopping season this week, so what better way to celebrate than with an excerpt from my holiday erotic-romance, Yes, Virginia Here Comes Santa Claus ...

Yes, Virginia Here, Comes Santa Claus
by Celine Chatillon
eXtasy Books
http://www.extasybooks.com/yes-virginia-here-comes-santa-claus-4/

When Brad "The Rude Reporter" Rudner opens a letter to the editor from a lonely lady who says she doesn't believe in Santa after her fiance dumped her, he feels it's his duty revive her faith in the jolly old elf. A red garter belt and fishnet stockings help "good girl" Ginny get on Santa's "naughty" list, and "Santa Brad" can't help but lose his heart to the dark, exotic beauty.


"Santa" reached into his bag and handed Ginny a long box.

“Thank you.” She untied the ribbon and opened the container. Her eyes flew open wide.


“Do you like it?”


“Like it?” she squeaked. “Ahem. Santa, I never knew the elves made these sort of toys up at the North Pole.”


The life-sized, penis-shaped vibrator with several attachments and rechargeable batteries totally redefined the words ‘good girl’ in her vocabulary.


He chuckled. “You could say the elves and I have been branching out in recent years. Let’s see what else we have in here for Ginny.”


He reached deep into the sack and withdrew an extra large candy cane.


“Sweets for the sweets,” he said, handing her the traditional snack of Christmas. “There’s some chocolate kisses in here, too.”


“Yummy.”


Ginny unwrapped the candy cane and began noisily sucking on the straight end. Santa’s eyes followed her every moment as she took more and more into her generous mouth and slowly moved the stick up and down in a rhythmic fashion. The smells of mint and sexual excitement hung heavy in the air between them.


“Hmm…I can’t ever get enough,” she said breathlessly.


He gasped. The bulge in Santa’s jeans rivaled the North Pole itself. Ginny smiled. So… there wasn’t ice water flowing through his veins.


“Yes… I can see that you’re a very good girl. But there are just a few more things I want to give you before I’ll let you properly ‘thank’ Santa...”



What the reviewers have to say about Yes, Virginia Here, Comes Santa Claus:

I enjoyed this story. There must be a Santa Claus and a romantic one at that, fulfilling Christmas wishes in bringing two people together that need each other, who recognize that they have the same inherent desires and goals. Ginny’s insecurities from her relationship with Bobby are easily swept away by her new lover. The two find that they have more than just the love of certain sports in common! --Four hearts from Glenda K. Bauerle, The Romance Studio


This is a totally adorable story that grabbed me from the start. But when Brad jumps off the roof while playing Santa he becomes a very romantic character. Hot sex and instant love keep this short story on a fast ride. The characters are interesting, the storyline heartwarming, and presented well. The flow is smooth and considering the short length the characters are adequately described. Ms.Chatillon has written a great short tale for the Christmas season. --Kim at MayReviews.com


Yes, Virginia Here, Comes Santa Claus
http://www.extasybooks.com/yes-virginia-here-comes-santa-claus-4/



Don't forget to catch my post "What are you thankful for?" on Thanksgiving Day (November 24) at the Essence of eXtasy blog: http://extasybooks.net/essenceofextasy/


Please share your comments either here and/or there. Thanks--and here's to a safe, happy and healthy holiday season for you and yours.

Style? That's my middle name!

I feel highly honored to be nominated for a Stylish Blogger Award--especially since my "other self" made the nomination. ;)

If you've never checked out my alter-ego's blog, Confessions of a Blonde Writer, I encourage you to do so. You'll find out more about my tamer, more "blonde" self. ;)

As part of the award, I have to tell you seven things you don't know about me. Well, when I'm Celine, I'm no longer a girl-next-door-blondie--I'm a "redhead" with a flaming libido to match! ;)


1.) I love men who are tall, dark and handsome. Tall, fair and handsome works as well in a pinch.

2.) I don't like to sleep in lingerie. It just gets in the way.

3.) I think bras were invented by a sadist. I wish I didn't have to wear one in public, but I get tired of all the stares at the "bouncing action" up top. Same for high heels--sadism by any other name. I'm not much into the BDSM thing personally. I like to be the one in charge. ;)

4.) I was once kissed by the actor who played the Master on the classic series of Doctor Who at a sci-fi con. I didn't ask him for a kiss, either, he just gave me one--tongue down the throat and everything. Nice guy!

5.) I've always wanted to play Magenta on stage. You know who I mean... from The Rocky Horror Picture Show: "I'm lucky, you're lucky, we're all lucky!!!"

6.) The most romantic movie I've ever seen is Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour. I still cry at the end.

7.) The reason I sometimes write humorous sex scenes is because sometimes sex is just plain funny! You ever watch your home bedroom videos and not laugh? ;)


Now my nomination for the Stylish Blogger Award... I nominate Brandi Whyne: Adventurous Space Pirate, a blog by a fictional heroine who just won't let me stop telling her story! ;)

The All New, All Dancing, Singing, Performing Blog

It's time to throw beads! Happy Mardi Gras! Opps, that was last month, wasn't it?

Happy April Fools’ Day! The blog title is no joke. I’m attempting a new format with my blog(s) and this seems as good a time as any to implement it.

I’ll admit it right here and now: I was born sometime B.C. (before computers). I’m not so keen on the daily blog thing. Sure, many people blog daily, but having worked as a columnist in the time B. B (before blogs), when words were actually printed on paper, monthly postings worked best for me. I’d come up with one good idea (or even one not so good), write it and post it on the blog. I’d write several hundred or a thousand words on a topic and hope to get some sort of feedback from readers. Most of the time I heard only crickets chirping in the distance.

Times change. People don’t have time to read long blog postings. Short blog postings are perceived as being more entertaining than one longer, in-depth rant. Short blogs also more conducive to promoting one’s other writings I’m told. Being unemployed, I need to promote and sell more books in order to survive, so it’s time for me to bite the bullet of blogdom and attract more readers to both my blogs and books.

On our way to Sesame Street, Mardi Gras style!

A lot of what I use to send out in my monthly e-newsletter for many years now, I’m going to post here whenever it happens. I enjoy sending out the e-newsletter, but I understand how much email you read everyday for work, play and other groups. From now on, the newsletter will be very brief and direct you to where the information can be found online. That way, you can pick and choose what interests you most and skip the rest if you’re rushed for time. If you’re not already one of my general e-newsletter members, sign up for it at http://groups.yahoo.com/cindyappelnewsletter If you just want to know what’s going on with my erotic-romance persona Celine Chatillon, you can join that newsletter at http://groups.yahoo.com/celinesdreams

Since I possess “multiple personalities” (I write in multiple genres), I host separate blogs for them. But time and health issues have kept me from making them all that different lately. That will change over the next few months. This blog will continue to feature news, excerpts and other ramblings about the erotic-romance writings of Celine Chatillon. My more mainstream (G to PG rated) book news will be found exclusively at Confessions of a Blonde Writer: http://momsday.blogspot.com . The Brandi Whyne series has a blog site of its own, too. As the series relaunches Brandi will be having more fun and games there as well: http://brandi-whyne.blogspot.com . Please become a “follower” of any and all of my blogs by clicking on the “follow this blog” button on the right hand side. Thank you.

What is it? Whatever it was--it works!

I used to share lots of fun and fascinating articles and web sites I came across on the ‘net in my e-newsletter, but in this day and age of Twitter, I tend to “tweet” them instead. If you’d like to follow my infrequent tweets, I invite you to become one of my followers. http://www.twitter.com/cynthianna3

I enjoy interacting with my readers, my friends, family members and other denizens of the electronic age at my author page at Facebook, too. You can “like” my author page at http://www.facebook.com/cynthianna.celinechatillon This past month, I sponsored a contest for new members of my Facebook page. (You can read about it there.) A free e-book prize has been awarded to Linda for joining my Facebook page and leaving a comment. I plan on doing some more giveaways and contest promos again in the future, so keep checking back here for details.

Slowly I’m becoming more in tune with the digital world around me… And I am publishing on a more regular basis again. Many of my books are now available in Kindle format (especially Celine’s titles), so if you got a Kindle for Christmas or your birthday, can I entice you to give them a try? You can find direct links to my Kindle books at my Amazon author pages:
Celine Chatillon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002CQY3BM
Cynthianna: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002CQZYGK
Book reviews and “tagging” and “liking” of my books at Amazon is appreciated.

Mardi Gras tip #6: If you're nice to the parade marshals and the cops, you get more beads!

I’m still updating my author pages at Goodreads. I should get there in the end, but if you’re tech-savvy and can walk me through it, feel free to drop me a line and share your sage advice. Thanks! So far, I think I’ve discovered Celine’s author page and updated it at http://www.goodreads.com/celinechatillon_cynthianna
If you’re a Goodreads junkie, please feel free to become my “fan” and rate/review my books.

Okay, now’s the time to actually blog a little about my upcoming releases…

Faster than a speeding tortoise… More powerful than a praying mantis… Able to leap tall buildings if such things as a gargantuan trampoline and a circus trapeze catch net were available to all… Look up at your computer monitor! It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane, it’s

Brandi Whyne and Her Incredibly Erotic Adventures!

Check out the new cover art--Brandi is hot! (And I love her boots.)

The long awaited, desperately longed for, long absent sixth chapter, Kidnapped by Time Bandits, is about to make its debut at eXtasy Books. No release date has been given yet, but let’s say I do keep reminding my editor that I literally left Brandi hanging up in the air in the fifth installment. If you want to see what I mean, check out Brandi’s blog at http://brandi-whyne.blogspot.com for a recap of the… action… and what’s coming in the next story besides Brandi and several dozen horny Time Bandits.

Brandi hopes to make her blog a place where fans of the series can hang out, find out about upcoming stories, and leave her questions in the comments section. She fancies herself as a sort of “Lonely Hearts” advice columnist I think, so ask her something and see how she responds. ;-)

Excerpts, review blurbs and more about Brandi Whyne: http://www.cynthianna.com/brandi.html

Direct links to the Brandi Whyne series available for the Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002CQY3BM

Here’s something different I’ve written lately—I’m writing sketch comedy and I’ve seen it produced onstage at a local night club. My husband, fellow erotic romance author A. J. Matthews, and I know Brendan Allen, an up and coming actor. We thought we’d like create some new material for him and his fellow cast members. Our sketch “2011: A Fridge Oddity” was performed this past week by The Non-Prophets Theater group during their “Non-Prophet Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine” sketch night at Lemmon’s in St. Louis. We really enjoyed seeing our work performed and thought the cast did a great job. They might even do another sketch we wrote next month.

So just in case you’ve always wondered where Brandi got her comedic timing… Now you know! ;-)

Both my romantic fiction persons are working together on another science fiction book series along with several other writers. We’re still in the preliminary planning stages and we don’t want to spill the beans just yet—sorry. Keep it tuned here for updates… particularly if you’re a fan of vampires, steampunk, action-adventure and romantic-suspense.

This new blog post has gone on long enough! If you want to see what my other romantic person Cynthianna is up to bookwise, head on over to her “Confessions of a Blonde Writer” blog—now. And be sure you leave a comment here about what all you'd like to see in upcoming blogs.