Hi everyone,
Can you believe it’s been a little over a month since BDSM Writers Con 2014? What an amazing experience that was for me to share with all of you. It far exceeded my expectations of how our first year as a major conference would play out. As Rose, shared with me last week, we created magic together; all of us together. Several of you shared with me your experience. One participant shared that “after 30-years she finally found where she belonged!” Comments like those brought tears to my eyes and made my heart sing as this is why I created BDSM Writers Con; to allow authors and readers to discover the truths for themselves. Those attending now I got a little emotional myself at the opening ceremony as I looked out among the crowd of participants and saw my dream of this creating this conference come true. For those that have asked, and those that weren’t able to join us this year, I’ve attached my Speech to the bottom of this Newsletter to share my thoughts and hopes for the further.
As we move forward, I’ll keep you apprised of all the new possibilities for BDSM Writers Con 2015 and how the Conference Committee is working to create a conference to revel last year. Already we’ve had two meetings and are opening the door for new workshops for 2015 though we will keep several of the ones we’ve offered. There’s so much information in each workshop and Live Demo that once is never enough. And as requested, we will be adding a Bondage Demo to next year’s curriculum.
On October 1st, I will send out a special notice to announce our Keynote Speaker for next year. She’s an amazing BDSM erotic author and activist. While researching her and talking to readers, authors and everyone I could, I feel in “awe of her” and I’m sure you will as well. She will also conduct a workshop or two that you won’t want to miss. Okay, I have to chuckle when I say that because all the workshops we have in our curriculum are fabulous…that…well, you wouldn’t want to miss them. I know I don’t.
A few point to remember before I end this Newsletter update:
• Sign up before October 1 to receive the Conference Special Discount of $200. You can even use the easy monthly payment plan of $20 down and $20 a month. Featured Authors is only $350 or $35 down and $35 a month.
• Sign up for our Affiliate Program and earn $20 to $35 for everyone that signs up through your referral link. Just add our Flyer or Logo to your website and link your Affiliate Number. It’s that easy.
• If you wish to propose a workshop for BDSM Writers Con 2015, please feel free to do so. We are looking for new workshops on BDSM, Marketing, and self-publishing for 2015. Email me directly or info@bdsmwriterscon.com
• Book Contest – We will again host our BDSM Book Contest which is open to three categories: Dominant women/submissive men; Dominant men/submissive women; and LGBT Dominance & submission. This is a FREE contest and anyone can participate. Winners will receive a book contract from a well know publisher. Finalists will have the opportunity to submit a story for our Second Annual BDSM Writers Con Anthology. Thus, you can potentially receive two book contracts.
• We are also hosting a contest for the BEST BDSM book of the Year in both fiction and non-fiction. Fiction novels can be in any genre and published between January 2014 and June 2015 (ARC’s accepted). Non-fiction books published between the January 2012 & June 2015 will be considered. There is a $25 administration fee for this contest.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments. You can also post them below.
Live with passion,
Doctor Charley…
Dr. Charley Ferrer’s Opening Ceremony Speech for BDSM Writers Con 2014
Welcome…I’m thrilled to have you join me
Stand up — say hello to the person on either side of you.
Behind and in front
These are the people who are going to share this amazing
4-day journey with you into the world of Dominance and submission.
Before we get started on this amazing journey, I want to discuss the power of your word.
Don Miguel Ruiz, the author of the 4-agreements wrote, “Be impeccable with your word!”
He cautioned us to notice how our words affected others, how they can bring about change for better or worse. Being impeccable with your word is about being honest and having integrity and noticing the effects those words have on another.
I want to share with you how one individual’s words affected my life…and by association YOURS.
A few years ago I read a book…
…it was the first BDSM book I ever read that depicted a Dominant woman respectfully and with great empathy. This was especially important to me as I identify as a Dominant woman and it’s rare that I find a book that doesn’t portray me as a club owing ProDom servicing men.
The male submissive in this book was portrayed with such integrity and strength of character that I saw many of my own lovers—themselves submissive/slave men—in the hero.
The story was fantastic yet it was the respectful and realistic portrayal of the characters personalities that had me falling in love with them and the author.
It was the first time I felt compelled to write an author and congratulate HIM on an awesome book. And so you’ll understand my surprise when I discovered that Joey wasn’t a man at all. Let me share the first sentence of my letter, it began something like this:
Dear Joey,
“I’m really disappointment to find out you were a woman because I wanted to kidnap Jacob…” (Jacob was the hero in the story)
Yep…our very own Keynote Speaker, Joey W. Hill was the author of this book, The Vampire Queen’s Servant and a catalyst to why you’re all sitting here today.
I wanted to meet Joey and asked if I could interview her for my television show. She connected me with Stella Price who hosts Authors After Dark and Stella invited me to speak at AAD and help normalize BDSM for her participants. While there, I was asked by a publisher if I ever considered writing a book to help writers in the D/s genre.
I never thought of that. I was so busy trying to get the medical and mental health community to educate themselves about D/s so they could better serve their patients, the thought of teaching authors never occurred to me. Yet now that the seed was planted, the idea took a live of its own.
Within 6-months I had written BDSM for Writers to provide a basic and intermediate look into the psychology of why individuals participate in Dominance and submission and to give authors just starting in the genre, or perhaps already in it, a little assistance.
In my book, I provided various tidbits that authors needed to know to make their characters not only more realistic but credible as well. I even throw in information about how to train-a-slave and the various uses of humiliation and pain as well as a few exercises that would help them delve into the psychological aspects of submission and dominance. (My book, BDSM The Naked Truth was the version created for readers and the general public.)
While writing these books, it became clear to me that if I wanted change, I had to be willing to stand up and be counted, and so I came out of the Leather Closet completely. This put a strain on my romantic relationship as my partner would now be outted by association.
As for work, the college I taught at thought I might influence my students adversely and some colleagues felt I should be helping to “treat” my patients to overcome this “perversion” not encourage them to want more.
All these prejudices ONLY SERVED to encourage me to provide even more education which lead to more connections with writers and the general public. Within the year, 2011, I was conducting workshops for writers.
By 2012, I put together a 3-Day BDSM Intensive workshop for writers where we spoke about the intricacies of the power exchange, the psychological connections men and women make, and the ways writers could incorporate those truths into their stories.
In 2013, it became apparent that readers also wanted to learn about Dominance and submission and thus, we opened the doors to them as well.
This, our third year, expands the program from 3-days to four as we added a BDSM Book Fair and Between The Covers Erotica Reading Series hosted by Riverdale Avenue Books. I also persuaded a few BDSM Experts that I love and trust to provide you [participants] with even more information on this highly erotic and often misrepresented lifestyle. Plus, I invited experienced BDSM authors to also share their valuable knowledge.
Many of you have heard the adage, “there is no ONE WAY to explore BDSM.” And that is true…
HOWEVER, you will discover that there is an “individual’s way!”
Over the next 4-days, I will provide you with BDSM Experts and experienced authors who will show you “their” way of enjoying Dominance and submission. And from them, you will start to create your own way of interacting with others—creating your own way of embracing various aspects of this lifestyle.
Writers, I implore you to remember that some of your readers are discovering their desire for Dominance and submission for the very first time. Your words, finally gives voice to their yearnings. And through your words, you become the judge and jury of whether or not someone’s desires are normal or pervert. Thus, educating yourself–despite the fact that you write fiction—is imperative!
Readers—I challenge you to demand more from your favorite others and discover new ones.
A few years ago I read a book….
…four years, later BDSM Writers Con is a reality!
Today, you embark on a life changing experience. Just imagine what the world will be like next year….
All because of somebody’s words…
Thank you for being here and making my dream of bringing education to help reduce the levels of prejudices that surround BDSM and those that embrace it come true.
Live with passion,
Dr. Charley Ferrer
Host & Founder
BDSM Writers Con