Today I am so pleased to welcome Lisa Henry & J.A. Rock to Joyfully Jay. Lisa & J.A. have come to talk to us about their latest release, Brandon Mills versus the V-Card. They have also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving them a big welcome!
Amazon, Stop Taking Our Virginity!
You might have heard us gripe before about Amazon and the title of BRANDON MILLS VERSUS THE V-CARD. We’re good gripers. But if you don’t know the whole sordid tale, it goes something like this:
Amazon wouldn’t let us call the book BRANDON MILLS VERSUS VIRGINITY. Because apparently it’s no longer okay to have the word “virgin” in a book title. And since Amazon owns our minds and souls and credit card information and sells incredibly effective steam-release microwave plate covers for unbeatable prices–we changed the title.
This happened around the same time an unconfirmed story surfaced about Amazon’s rules for cover art, which apparently include, among other things, no women kneeling in front of men, no sideboob on female models, and no “lower hair patch” on male or female models. We’re not saying there shouldn’t be any rules governing sexual content on book covers (we’re as scandalized as anyone by the thought of a visible lower hair patch, that notorious tempter of souls). But virgins? Come on. The word “virgin” is a romance title staple.
Cue Oscar tribute montage to romance novels about virgins.
Who could forget this steamy classic? She was on her way up in the world, but he just wanted to go down. Amazon, are you going to take this away from us?
The title says it all. Literally.
This one narrowly misses being a double offender due to the cover image, but it’s bottomboob and not sideboob, so it’s fine. But “virgin”–uh-uh. Let’s try something a little less racy, like The Reasonably Sexually Experienced but by No Means Promiscuous Woman Who Had Nonprovocative Conventional Physical Relations…and Who Cried Wolf.
Flimsy, strategically draped cloth, a voyeur in the study, and a daring flirtation with sideboob…what wasn’t to love about this 1949 opus from the author of BEDTIME BLONDE? It will be missed.
Okay, so we ended up with the title BRANDON MILLS VERSUS THE V-CARD (thanks to a suggestion by Jay, our lovely host!), and we’re happy with it. But we do think there’s something troubling about censorship that targets concepts rather than specific content. Every industry has content guidelines; we’re not faulting Amazon for having rules. But if you’re going to cull based on keywords instead of on what’s actually in the book and how it’s presented, you’re going to throw a whole bunch of babies out with the bathwater.
There’s got to be a better way.
Blurb
Smart, shy Prescott sophomore Brandon Mills is working hard to overcome his troubled past and be normal. With the help of his friends Mark and Deacon, and his brothers at Phi Sigma Kappa, he’s slowly coming out of his shell. But when he accidentally drenches a freshman in orange soda, he faces something he’s not ready for: a boy crushing on him.
Alex Kekoa pledges Phi Sig because it has everything he wants: a house full of nerds who won’t tease him for being smart, a dog, and Brandon Mills. Brandon is just the type of guy Alex needs to help fulfill his college ambition: losing his virginity. Except Alex doesn’t know that Brandon can’t stand to touch or be touched.
When Alex and Brandon are drafted onto the Phi Sig Academic Challenge team, their mutual attraction grows. If there’s anyone who can help Brandon discover it feels good to touch and kiss, maybe it’s klutzy Alex with his cute glasses and his dinosaur obsession. But as the competition–and their relationship–heats up, Alex’s determination not to die a virgin clashes with Brandon’s vow of lifelong celibacy, forcing them to examine what’s truly important to each of them about love.
Bio
Lisa Henry likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.
Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn’t know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she’s too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.
She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied history and English, neither of them very thoroughly.
She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.
- Website: www.lisahenryonline.com
- Blog: http://lisahenryonline.blogspot.com.au
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaHenryOnline
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.henry.1441
J.A. Rock has worked as a dog groomer, knife seller, haunted house zombie, standardized patient, census taker, state fair quilt hanger, and, for one less-than-magical evening, a server—and would much rather be writing about those jobs than doing them. J.A. lives in Chicago but still sees West Virginia behind Illinois’s back.
- Website: www.jarockauthor.com
- Blog: http://jarockauthor.blogspot.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jarockauthor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ja.rock.39
Giveaway
Lisa and J.A. have brought a give away for one lucky reader. Choose either one of their backlist titles or a copy of Brandon Mills Versus the V-Card. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Thursday, November 6th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Amazon’s stance makes me want to chant Vir-gin, Vir-gin, Vir-gin! Thanks for this chance. I’m excited about Brandon Mills and would love to win.
Lol! I will chant with you, Peaches. Thanks for entering!
i’ve been waiting for this one for a while!! i’d love to win a copy
Thanks for entering, Kira!
That is so weird what is wrong with the word “Virgin” in a book title? Amazon must have so much time on their hands to make up such strange rules.
Yes, I’m surprised they don’t have more important things to worry about. Thanks for stopping by!
Just finished reading this one last night – FANTASTIC! What a great post too!! Thank you for sharing and for an opportunity to win!!
Thanks, Beth! Glad you enjoyed it.
I am in the process of reading this story and totally loving it. When I first saw the title I wasn’t completely sure what a V-Card was supposed to be until I read the blurb. Not being aware of Amazon’s ridiculous rule, I thought, why didn’t they just use the word Virgin in the title? It would have made more sense and been a better title too. Unbelievable!
Haha! Yes, we would have if we could have. Thanks for entering, Susan!
That is very strange. Thanks for the interesting post and the giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by, Antonia!
Thanks for the interesting post and giveaway.
Thanks for participating!
Thanks for the chance at a giveaway.
Thanks for stopping by, Alexandra!
Sounds like a fantastic book. Thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks for participating, H.B.!
It’s fine to have rules, but come on! I think having virgin in the title is pretty tame after seeing some of the books listed on Amazon and their content. Guess they’re not worried about that. Let readers decide what they want to purchase and read. Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
Right, Lisa? There’s a lot of way crazier stuff on Amazon than virgins. Thanks for stopping by!
Gorgeous cover! Cann0t wait to read this second book in the series.
Thanks, Serena! We’re very grateful to Dar Albert for the adorable dinosaur on the cover. 🙂
I read and loved Marc Cooper versus America. I’d love to get a copy of this one to read. Please count me in.
Thanks, Bill! Glad you stopped by.
I’m looking forward to reading this as I love both of these authors.
Thanks, Dianna! Hope you enjoy this one.
I’m not sure who determined that “virgin” is a “bad word”, but that’s rather silly. However, the book sounds very interesting and I’d love a chance to win it. Thanks! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Barbra! We’re not sure what’s wrong with virgins either…
Thanks for the funny post. Count me in for the giveaway.
Thanks, Kim!
I really hate censorship. I find the thought of considering some words not politically correct completely absurd. There is nothing wrong with words, it is what we do with them what can be wrong.
Anyway, the book sounds great. Thanks for the chance of reading it.
Well said, Susana! Thanks for stopping by.
I have to wonder about those authors who are siding with Amazon in its power struggle with the publishing house, Hachette. Some of them spout on self-righteous about how great Amazon has been for them personally and how evil Hachette is. Now that might be true, I don’t know much about Hachette, but I do know that with great market share comes the chance to force rules down people’s throat. This is just another example of what scares me most about having all eggs in the Amazon basket. Sorry you had to change the title. It’s still catchy and cool, but I can understand why you wanted it the way you wanted it.
-AQG
I’m also curious. It seems like Amazon does a lot of things that hurt authors. Amazon is very convenient, but they also have waaayy too much power. Thanks for commenting!
Fortunately the title is still awesome. 🙂 But Amazon, amongst others, does tick me off with needless and all-encompassing solutions to society’s “sensibilities” (or whatever’s left of ’em).
Agreed, Ashley! Thanks for entering.
Thanks fro the great post. Amazon has too much power.
They do look a bit poised for world domination, don’t they? Thanks for stopping by, Debra!
I do have to admit I have read quite a few Harlequin books with Virgin in the title… quite a few. Seriously did none of those virgins learn about condoms? Not a single one?
Lol! There must be quite a few scandalous love children running around… Thanks for commenting, Juliana!
I would love to enter! Want Brandon’s story now!!
Thanks for participating, Aine! Hope you enjoy Brandon’s story.
I don’t get why Amazon’s policy is so strange and arbitrary…wonder if books about the Virgin Mary get the same treatment. Anyway, I loved the annotated cover list, and can’t wait to read this story!
That is the weird thing–how random it seems. And how Amazon never actually puts out a clear list of rules. Thanks for stopping by, Trix! Hope you enjoy the story.
Please count me in. Thanks
Thanks, Karl!
Can’t wait to read about this VIRGIN! Thanks for the giveaway
Hope you enjoy all the *gasp* VIRGINITY, Jill! Thanks for stopping by.
OMG, what a stupid rule! I’m happy you guys are back with a new joint project!
blackasphodel(at)yahoo(dot)com
Donna Martin Virgin-ates! Donna Martin……wait…what? *sigh* So much for chanting that at Amazon!
Loved Mark Cooper Versus America! Can’t wait to read this one!
calila1988 @ yahoo dot com
HA! Love it!
Sorry Amazon is being a pain! I have to say that I was so excited to see Brandon Mills on Amazon that I immediately bought it! Loved it! Thanks for the chance at the giveaway too!
I had no idea the word virgin wasn’t allowed in titles! Seems a silly rule, but if you want to sell in their site, I suppose you have to obey their rules. Sounds an interesting read anyway 🙂
I am not a fan of censorship either. You would miss out on a lot of great reads. This is going on at the local library where I live (in a small town) now. Great blurb!
juliesmall2016(at)gmail(dot)com
All I can say is that Amazon would have been OK with it probably if it was about a female losing her virginity. It still feels like m/m get harsher rules/regulations than other genres. I don’t understand why as a virgin is a virgin is a virgin. It shouldn’t make a difference what genre it is. Also, virgin is not a “dirty” word for heaven’s sake. I know I have read books with the word in the title. Kim Dare’s Virgin Territory comes to mind. Did they just make this rule up for your book!
Can’t wait to read Brandon’s story – this book is getting some great reviews. Thanks for a shot at winning a copy.l
This post about Virgin titles made me laugh, partly as I wonder if they will get all the pre-existing titles changed that include this word, for instance I can think of a few titles Virgin Soldiers by Leslie Thomas, Virgin by James Patterson for instance and just out of interest I have checked and there are many recently published titles using it still, very strange as most of them are not LGBTQ titles?
Thank you for a chance to win an ecopy of this book 🙂
Thanks for this chance! I’m not a huge fan of amazon but I like the new title!