B.G. Harlen's Blog

As we move into a new year with who-knows-what ahead of us, I'd like to pause and offer a sincere thank-you to everybody who gave BREAK HER a try and then shared their reactions in reviews or blog posts, on Amazon or GoodReads! For good or ill, thumbs up or thumbs down, I'm grateful you took the time to share your reactions. Funnily enough, I'm not good at writing reviews at all, but reading yours, I was frequently rewarded with insights into aspects of the book I wasn't even aware of (consciously, at least), along with some hilarious GIFs and comments. So I thank all of you, ALL of you. Well, except for that one....

Happy New Year!

Yeah, it was down/off Amazon for a few awful days. Let's call it a glitch and leave it at that. But it's BACK now, although who can say for how long? Get it while the gettin's good, folks. Cause man o' man, you just never know. I hope everything's cool now. I thank all of you for your interest, whether you liked the book or not. I appreciate your giving it a chance.
Best,
B.G. Harlen

Melissa *Pervy Kitten*?

I know it's none of my business, but that was such a fun review. Always cheered me up.

One year ago, I screwed my courage to the sticking place, AKA, said WTF, and self-published BREAK HER. I wish I could remember exactly what I was thinking. But I did know what I was not expecting at the time: several brave, wonderful book bloggers happening upon it -- and I don't know how -- reading it, being moved by it, or thrilled, or appalled, or some combination of these and other dark sensations. And then telling the world about it -- before I even got the chance to try to do that. Readers now have the power and it's an amazing thing.
Thank you, everyone who took a chance and, with an open heart and an open mind, let me fuck with both, as you read my little story.
I really can't thank you enough.
Yes, I hope you will read what comes next when it's ready for you.
But whether you do or not, thank you for an incredible year. No middleman -- just you and me, and two characters in search of an exit.
You're the best!

A strange feeling to see what I wrote echoed in the words of a real-life survivor. She was brave to tell this story; someday it won't require bravery because, while rape probably won't stop, shame will.

"We are all different; still, every woman I know, from the moment she’s learned such a thing can happen, dreads being raped. Most of us walk through a dark house, building, parking lot, or down a deserted street, afraid of the shadows, of the strange sadistic man, lurking, stalking, plotting to pleasure himself by the rush of power he will get from our humiliation and the subjugation of our will to his. And then when it does happen—whether it’s a stranger or, even more likely, a person you know—which it will to an estimated one-quarter of the women in the world; when you are physically appropriated for someone else’s pleasure; when you smell him; when his hands and fists and weapons touch your body; when this man, whose intention is to take whatever he wants from you no matter how you feel about it, mimics postures and actions that have been shared before only in intimate consensual moments, a response to this sick perversion of intimacy does happen, even if it’s nonphysical and nonverbal: It’s a plea in your heart, Don’t hurt me; a begging, Please go away. Rape victims do not exactly remain silent during the rape. They’re screaming inaudibly through the whole thing."

Heartbreaking and true.

http://www.slate.com/articles/double_...

I'm getting some sharp, cool ideas. Childhood? Revenge? Mr. Badass Right? Making me think. And I'd love to hear more...on these ideas or additional ones. Don't. Stop. Please.
If you could commission a sequel or prequel to BREAK HER, what would you want to be in it? What burning questions answered (not that I necessarily will!), what new (or old) challenges faced?
Keep it coming...
Thanks.

Several of you have suggested that a sequel to BREAK HER is in order. I don't know yet. But what would help me decide would be any ideas you could offer. What, exactly, would you like to know more about/see happen in a sequel or prequel?
The sky's the limit.