Retiring

For self-preservation purposes, I have decided to retire. My books are still available on Amazon.

Where has Christina been?

I wanted to write an open letter to all my fans and followers. I think I owe many of you an apology for I have been slow in responding to your messages and slow with posting my reviews.

To be quite honest, I've been feeling extremely overwhelmed with everything: This Blog, Social Media, Writing, Personal Life, Professional Life, Home Remodeling, Traveling, Graduate School, Legal Issues, Medical Issues. And Life.

It's to the point where I retired from writing as a guest blogger for Romance at Random and even considered retiring Christina Harding all together.

I was not encouraged when I posted this tweet, pinned it to my page for a few days, and (as you can see) received no tangible responses:

Despite thousands of followers and thousands of page views on my blog every day, it seemed like my question was answered.

But, BECAUSE I've put so much time and energy into this, I wasn't quite ready to throw in the towel. I decided to just plug along and respond to messages and post reviews as I get to them. As already established, I didn't think anyone would notice my slowed activity. 

As it turns out, some of my friends here in the erotica world did notice. And, I've unintentionally upset some people. For this, I am terribly sorry... and I hope you all can accept my apology.

At this point in my life... either I'm going to work on this blog at my own pace, or I'll have to quit all together. Since I don't think any of us are ready for me to quit, I just want to ask this from you... please have patience with me, and please trust I will get to you when I can. 

If you have questions, please view my policies page to see what I'm up to and where you fall on my to-do list.

It's My Birthday!

It has been a year since I unveiled my pseudonym, Christina Harding via this blog and twitter. And, it has been an amazing year!! This blog has had 350,000+ views, I've gained 15,500 followers on twitter, posted to  this blog 147 times, joined Romance at Random as a guest blogger, appeared on many other blogs, accumulated a waiting list for reviews which is months long, and released three of my own erotic stories. I've met a slew of wonderful authors and readers, hosted many of them on this blog, reviewed many more, and I can't wait to see what this next year has to offer!

Romance at Random

Regarding that "big announcement" I alluded to in my last post....

I am very pleased to announce that I have been invited to appear as a monthly guest blogger on Romance at Random, of Random House!!

When will be my first post (you may ask)? You can read it now!! My first guest post appeared today, and you can read it here. 

I'll update this blog post with links each time I make a new appearance on Romance at Random:
September 19, 2014
October 30, 2014
November 20, 2014
December 26, 2014
December 31, 2014
January 31, 2015
February 13, 2015
April 2, 2015
May 8, 2015

I want to thank Romance at Random for this amazing opportunity, for I am incredibly excited about this next step in my venture as a reviewer of erotica!

You can also see a comprehensive list of all my guest posts here.

Morsel Monday: Blog Appearances

On occasion I've strolled from my blog and had the honor of appearing on other blogs. For this first Morsel Monday, I'd like to take the opportunity to recognize all the blogs which have so generously hosted me. I will be tagging this blog under "about me" and I will be updating each time I make a new appearance. 






06/12/14 The Happy Spinster: How Erotica Saved My Marriage!
08/03/14 The Nomad Scrolls: A Debut Novel by Author Christina Harding! **COVER REVEAL**
08/04/14 Billierosie: UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE; CHRISTINA HARDING
08/13/14 Storm Chase Novels: Underneath the Gargoyle: A Debut Erotica by Christina Harding!
08/16/14 Fang-tastic Books: Gargoyle Erotica with Christina Harding
08/22/14 Billierosie: UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE; Christina Harding
09/19/14 Romance at Random: Some Like It Hot: Erotica Picks
09/20/14 Chacebook: Underneath the Gargoyle by Christina Harding
09/23/14 Jeanie Grey: How erotica saved my marriage
10/18/14 Corrigan's Cave: Hot Tub Interview!
10/22/14 Naughty Lady Publications: Review and Guest Post
10/30/14 Romance at Random: Some Like it Hot: Erotica Picks
11/20/14 Romance at Random: Some Like it Hot: Erotica Picks
11/22/14 Roxy Hart Erotica: How Erotica Saved My Marriage
12/09/14 Little Shop of O's: How Erotica Saved My Marriage
12/22/14 Storm Chase Novels: Christmas Gift - Christina Harding's Underneath the Gargoyle
12/26/14 Romance at Random: Best of the Year 2014
12/31/14 Romance at Random: Some Like It Hot: Erotica Roundup
01/02/15 Billierosie: Writing BDSM as a Feminist
01/06/15 Little Shop of O's: Underneath the Gargoyle: A Prologue
01/14/15 Simply Sxy: Sexy Reads - Underneath the Gargoyle
01/27/15 Naughty Lady Publications: COVER REVEAL: UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE PART TWO BY CHRISTINA HARDING
01/28/15 Goodreads Thomas Ullman: Underneath The Gargoyle. Part 2. By Christina Harding
01/30/15 Billierosie: UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE (part 2) CHRISTINA HARDING
01/31/15 Moctezuma Johnson: New Release by Christina Harding: Underneath the Gargoyle – Part Two
01/31/15 Storm Chase Novels: Underneath the Gargoyle II by Christina Harding
01/31/15 Romance at Random: UNDERNEATH THE GARGOYLE: New Release
01/31/15 Little Shop of O's: Underneath the Gargoyle Part 2 Christina Harding
02/13/15 Romance at Random: Some Like it Hot: Erotic Picks
04/02/15 Romance at Random: Some Like it Hot: Erotic Picks
05/08/15 Romance at Random: Some Like it Hot: Erotic Picks
06/09/15 Jeanie Grey: Guest post: Christina Harding on dubious consent

Upcoming Blog Appearances:
Date TBD: Author Interview hosted by @CeliaDunroy

If you would like to invite me to appear on your blog or request a review copy of Underneath the Gargoyle, please see my Contact Page or comment on this blog post.

Introduction

I would like to use this first blog post as an opportunity to introduce myself.

For the past several years I have struggled greatly with a reduced sex drive. There was one period where I went three months without having sex and felt horrified at the thought of having sex again. My poor husband was going bonkers! For those who don't know there are many factors that go into a loss of sex drive. In my case, it had little to do with anything my husband did. I was simply not interested, couldn't get in the mood, and generally bored by sex. I felt like it was a huge time commitment when I had a lot of other things going on. Basically, my loss of sex drive was due to stress and anxiety.

But, I was not happy about this. I greatly missed the days when I saw sex as a stress reliever as opposed to a stressor. I missed wanting sex. I also felt a ton of guilt because my husband felt really bad about it, and was internalizing my lack of sex drive as an indicator that I didn't find him attractive. I felt like finding a way to break out of this rut was important for my marriage. 

Then, I started reading erotica. Somehow, my sex drive light was lit, and I was craving the attentions of my husband again. And so, I've made it part of my routine to start reading erotica regularly. With this being said, I've decided to start writing a blog reviewing this erotica. From what I can see, many blogs do not review erotica, and many erotica writers are independently published. I want to use this blog as an opportunity to shed some light upon, and also to promote, these works of writing. 

A healthy sex life can do nothing but add to a healthy marriage. For this reason, I think erotica is an important body of writing.

I will be reviewing everything erotica related including erotic writing and other erotic products. 

I do have other things going on in my life. I have another successful book reviewing blog that I run as well as my full time job. And so, my plan will be to post one new entry to this blog every Friday morning - a little bit of food for thought for your weekend ;)

Also, I am writing this blog under a pseudonym to maintain my anonymity. 

See you again on Friday!