doing the lord's work (writing smut)

writer and enjoyer of all things vampire, queer, weird, and unapologetically horny (minors dni)

[clemensmfingbailey]

Against Better Judgement FAQ

What's this novel you're always yapping about?

Against Better Judgement is my upcoming debut novel, set to release late 2026. It's a gay vampire romance.

What's it about?

Here's the blurb: In this steamy gay romance, a ruthless vampiric politician and a gruff police man fall into a clandestine affair that can only end in marriage, blood, or both. This might not be the worst idea either of them has ever had… But it's up there. Count Andrey Ambrose has been a thorn in Eric Roth's side since the vampire took power in the city of Renait fifteen years ago. Everyone knows nothing happens in Renait unless it pleases his Lordship and, as Commissioner of Police, Roth very rarely pleases his Lordship. Especially now that Roth has punched his defacto boss in the face over one budget cut too many. But instead of locked up in the dungeons under historic Castle Renait or — arguably worse — fired, Roth finds himself in the aloof Count's bed. Turns out Ambrose might have had a thing for his grumpy Commissioner for a while now and, even if he's loath to admit it, Roth is starting to feel the same. Their political differences and social standing, Roth's failing health, and what he did or didn't do the night Ambrose seized power… everything is telling Roth to stay away. Unfortunately for everyone involved, he's never been very good at listening. Featuring: mildly-toxic middle-aged men in love, political intrigue, vampire shenanigans and an assassination attempt or two.

Is this book spicy?

Someone's on their knees just over 5k into the book. So yes, I would call it spicy. Carolina Reaper levels of spicy.

How do I stay up to date with this project?

By following this account, the 'against better judgement novel' tag and/or signing up to my newsletter. (You also get a free short story if you sign up.)

Did you use gen AI to write this or make the coverart?

No and no. I wrote this myself and I'm paying an artist for their work. Fuck AI.

Do you have any samples I could read?

You can request a sample or sign up for an ARC by sending an email to [email protected].

Can I preorder this book?

I'm currently not planning on doing a preorder. If I do one and get little to no sales, the algorithm gods will be displeased with me and reach down from the heavens to smite me/rank ABJ lower when it actually launches. If there's lots of interest in ABJ, there will be a preorder.

Do you have content warnings available?

Yes, right here, beware spoilers: bdsm, graphic descriptions of terminal illness (lung cancer), murder (off screen), anaphylactic shock, suicidal ideation, vampire-typical blood play, smoking, alcoholism, implied sexual trauma This list is non-exhaustive. If you need more details or want to check for something specific, send me a dm or an email to [email protected].

[clemensmfingbailey]

Almost done with my novel. Some yapping, a little filler and violent bloody vampire turning sex...

[caintooth]

you have to love trans women more than you hate transmisogyny, you have to love jews more than you hate antisemitism, you have to love Black people more than you hate white supremacy, you have to love Indigenous people more than you hate colonialism, you have to love the disabled and mentally ill more than you hate ableism, you have to love. you have to love.

[technofinch]

I have GOT to stop spending $30

[technofinch]

Whatever.

[clemensmfingbailey]

GUESS I'LL COMM MORE ART FOR MY BOOK THEN JESUS CHRIST

[clemensmfingbailey]

Now that there's an end in sight with writing this fucker, I'm only slightly losing my mind at having to market it.

[bebx]

Me when I write Inhun smut with bottom In-ho

[clemensmfingbailey]

Me writing my novel #mynovel

[partywithponies]

I love vague labels that make people go "but that's confusing" or "but that could mean anything" Good. Keep guessing lol

[partywithponies]

"Queer doesn't actually tell me anything" who says I wanted to tell you anything. Who even are you.

[livethrushit]

[vamplire]

all vampires know is fangs in neck and lie

[datsderbunnyblog]

This comment was left on a post about making the most of the Libby app. "Excessive use of generous lending policies" is the most absurd phrase I've ever seen anyone use to discuss libraries.

[zeldahime]

(US public libraries context)

It incidentally also betrays a lack of understanding of how licenses and (hopefully) how her own royalties contracts work. The library has to pay an exorbitant fee for the license to allow the patron to borrow things, and for most items on Libby, it’s not unlimited. Last I was involved, most licenses were good for about 7 borrows or a specific length of time like 6 months or 2 years, and then the library would have to purchase a new license. Unless her contract was written to exclude royalties from licensing purchases, in which case she got a raw deal from her publisher but is not the library’s fault, some percentage from those licensing purchases DOES go towards her royalties checks.

Which means that, if her book is popular enough for licenses to get renewed, she effectively is being paid per borrow.

[clemensmfingbailey]

ADD TO THAT

If you're struggling that bad as an author THE BEST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU IS EYES ON YOUR BOOKS!!

People talk! People have friends that read the same genre! People recommend things to book clubs! Librarians notice when books are popular and recommend them!

Giving your books away for free is such a valuable marketing tool that people sign up to kindle unlimited as authors partially because that allows you to set it to free on kindle for a couple days every three months! AND THAT'S NOT EVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE! SHE'S GETTING PAID!

Guys, im sorry for the excessive capslock, but this is astonishingly stupid. And now she's alienating her audience. I'm at a loss for words.

[quill20]

I feel like there's a lot of potential for vampires in kink that kinda goes overlooked. Like, aside from the biting and immortality and all the romanticised ideas about the vampire way of life, which are obviously hot to begin with, there's a lot of details that I don't think get enough attention.

For example, I believe I've already briefly alluded to the potential for some pretty sick unconventional play with mirrors. The idea of one participant being able to look at themselves, and the effect their partner had on them without seeing their body? You could probably do a LOT with that idea alone.

There's also a lot of potential for new flavours of existing kink too. I mean, there's a lot of ways to fuck with a masochist vampire; I'm thinking garlic, holy water, sunlight, etc. That could add some unique elements to otherwise fairly standard scenes, no?

And then there's hunger play. Lot to be said for this one. I mean, I'll preface this by saying it has to be done delicately since you're playing with the idea of like. Starving someone. That's still pretty dangerous, even if you're a vampire, I imagine. But done correctly, that's like, edging plus. Teasing a vampire sub until they're all weak and desperate? Pushing your starving vampire until they can't resist their urges anymore, and snap, letting out all their frustrations of you as they drink? Hell, letting another vampire drink from you in front of them, as they whine and plea for you to just let them have a drop? Yes, please.

And then just some of the lesser explored powers they have. Give me vampire hypno! I mean, I've seen a bit, but it feels like it should be a lot more well explored. Is there vampire telekinesis play? They can sometimes do that, right? Idk. Maybe I just want more vampire content in kink just in general, or maybe it's out there and I just haven't searched properly. Either way, EVERYONE FUCK MORE VAMPIRES RIGHT NOW!!!

[clemensmfingbailey]

*frantically taking notes*

[drchucktingle]

when i think about artists ruining their own name and falling for ai i am reminded of one of my favorite lyrics. it is from the bright eyes song 'road to joy'. 'i could have been a famous singer if i had someone elses voice, but failures always sounded better, lets fuck it up boys make some noise'

[stealthwitch]

Diary of a Redwall Mouse

July 22nd: breakfasted on a lovely array of fresh strawberries and goat’s cheese with honey, oat cakes and barley porridge. For luncheon we feasted on a catch of smoked trout, vegetable stew, and of course a couple of flagons of October Ale

July 23rd: countless deaths

[clemensmfingbailey]

So, is Amazon gonna put me in jail if the second word of my novel is motherfucker orrrrrrr?

[clemensmfingbailey]

It's not my fault that my main character swears like a sailor!

[clemensmfingbailey]

I mean it is but

[clemensmfingbailey]

So, is Amazon gonna put me in jail if the second word of my novel is motherfucker orrrrrrr?

[clemensmfingbailey]

It's not my fault that my main character swears like a sailor!

[clemensmfingbailey]

So, is Amazon gonna put me in jail if the second word of my novel is motherfucker orrrrrrr?

[thebibliosphere]

Every so often I catch a glimpse of the book drama going on over on the Insta/Threads sphere of the Internet, and it makes me so glad I’m considered too Tumblrina to sit at their tables.

What do you mean an author is railing against people using libraries/the Libby app because it’s “free” (it’s not. you as the author get money from the library purchasing the digital lending license) and meanwhile their book is on Amazon for free to try and get readers??? Hello????

[thebibliosphere]

“But if people read it for free they might like it want to buy the rest of my work!”

You mean like how people read books at libraries, and end up buying them if they like them?

“That’s not the same 😡”

Correct! Because again, libraries pay us. You putting your books up on Amazon for free means you get nothing.

[vamplire]

do you think a vampire and a human could fall in love

[vamplire]

someone should write a book about this fr

[drowsy-fantasy]

@clemensmfingbailey

[clemensmfingbailey]

ON IT