Review: Protocols – Handbook For the Female Slave

I’ve reviewed protocol based books here before but this one is far more unique than those read previously. Protocols isn’t just a book about protocols, it’s a handbook written from one Dominant to his slave. These are the actual orders and behaviors he expects out of his slave. While it reads like a handbook you can glean lots of wonderful information about leather lifestyle and his higher protocol experience.

Protocols is written by Robert J Rubel. He has written several good resources for the BDSM library such as Master/slave relations, Protocols for the Leather Slave and several others. This one is no different. The depth of the details and information brings you so intensely into his life and the life of leather that I ended the book wanting more.

The first part of the book is an introduction into leather lifestyles, various forms of D/s relationships and how the lifestyle has developed to what it is for him. If you aren’t familiar with the Leather Lifestyle this book is an eye-opener.

In the second part of the book he details proper dress, attitude and behavior of his slave. He shares a centering ritual that I find to be quite beautiful in its simplicity. There are several chapters about protocol dinner parties and how to serve at the table. If you have been looking for something to reference in relation to this, I highly recommend this book.

While this book can be read by a novice submissive I feel that it can overwhelm the inexperienced rather quickly. Everything detailed here does not happen in every relationship. My Master and I have different protocol ideas but the ones in this book are a beautiful dance between the two involved.

Product Details

• lunaKM’s rating: 9/10
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: The Nazca Plains Corporation; 2nd edition (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887895124
• ISBN-13: 978-1887895125
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Buy Protocols: Handbook for the female slave

Review: The Bride Wore Black Leather

This month’s review is an etiquette book like no other. When I bought this book I wasn’t sure it would have any more information that Miss Manners or Emily Post but I was wrong, so very wrong. The Bride Wore Black Leather…And He Looked Fabulous!: An Etiquette Guide for the Rest of Us by Drew Campbell is well worth the read!

First, let me say that this book is an etiquette book. It’s not a book you sit down and read cover to cover but more of a resource when you need information about social situations that may come up. The fantastic thing about this book is that it’s written with alternative lifestyles in mind. You’ll find circumstances dealing with the gay community, alternate religions, leather lifestyles, polyamorous families and so much more. I am quite impressed.

Some of the questions asked are, “How do I introduce multiple partners at a social gathering?’ and “If someone calls himself Master X but he’s not my Master, how do I address him?” Gosh there are so many more that you really do have to get this book. Some of the answers are sassy but he also rounds them out with a tasteful answer. It certainly makes it a humorous read as well if you are looking to spend some time reading the sections.

It deals with several topics related to introductions, addressing people and definitions or labels. It gives you a guide on how to handle different social situations when traditional etiquette fails to cover the ‘new alternative’ lives we lead.

Honestly, if there was one book that everyone who entered into a chat room, online discussion list, much or large gathering had read first it would be this book. I think there would be far more understanding and ability to use appropriate behavior in certain situations.

Go out and get yourself a copy and buy one for a friend while you’re at it!

Product Details

• luna’s Rating: 10/10 !!!
• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Greenery Press (CA) (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890159174
• ISBN-13: 978-1890159177

Buy The Book The Bride Wore Black Leather…And He Looked Fabulous!: An Etiquette Guide for the Rest of Us from Amazon.com Today!

Review: The Kinky Girl’s Guide to Dating

Adventures in the dating sphere should come with a manual; especially if you are kinky. The Kinky Girl’s Guide to Dating by Luna Grey is a perfect compliment to the novice submissive trying to find their way through dating and first experiences in BDSM. The usual dating rules don’t apply to kinky situations and this resource faces those pitfalls with humor and heart.

This book provides a refreshing look into the single dating life of a kinky girl. Written in a very conversational tone with lots of anecdotes the reader is shown what can and has happened when dating kinky people. Luna Grey gives you an open dialog with what she has learned from dating through the years and also a couple character’s first hand accounts as they fumble their way through first scenes, self-discovery and personal mistakes.

Organized as a set of stories, letters and tips is a fabulous way, in my opinion, to reach the female gender. I love the humorous tales and the quick tips that dot the pages with things you’d never really think about. We get to know about maddie, a novice submissive just venturing out into the wide world of kink, suki, a novice Dominant and Luna’s wonderful tricks and tips she has learned through the years.

It was really an easy read, unlike a lot of resource books of the BDSM persuasion. If I were single I’d consider this book a perfect bedside companion and guide for my own search. I definitely could have used this book when I was first starting out and perhaps I would have made a few less mistakes that I regret.

Product Details

• luna’s Rating: 9/10
• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Greenery Press (CA) (June 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890159603
• ISBN-13: 978-1890159603
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches

Buy The Kinky Girl’s Guide to Dating Now!

Review: The Marketplace

My first fiction review on Submissive Guide is the first book in a wonderful series that I’d highly recommend for any submissive desiring entertainment. Laura Antoniou gives us The Marketplace series and the premier book is titled, surprise surprise, The Marketplace (The Marketplace Series, 1). If you are a newcomer to BDSM or have been in it your entire adult life, these books still bring desire and passion to the slave’s life.

In this book we are introduced not only to how the Marketplace works for slavery but the training aspects as well. We meet the lead character, Chris Parker, an enigmatic fellow and majordomo at a training house in upstate New York. Laura takes us through the training of four applicants; Claudia who is there for retraining, Robert, a confused sissy maid, Brian a leather contest winner and Sharon a complete novice sex slave with an attitude. They struggle to overcome their pride, selfishness, immaturity and perfectionism.

There is a lot of wonderful character development and the mysterious Chris Parker remains mysterious all  throughout. Definitely a character you want to keep following (and thankfully you do in future books). Each of the applicants has different struggles and training courses that I found myself many times feeling compassionate for one character and then another.

If there really was a real slave market, this is exactly how I would like to envision it. It’s a very well organized, thought out world where the magic of slavery and the ‘reality’ of it all play together; but not always nicely.  Laura doesn’t forget the ‘soft’ world of BDSM groups, leather clubs and regional events, but it is considered well below the class and seriousness the people of the Marketplace take their trade.

My favorite part is the slave auction where once trained the four applicants kneel on pedestals awaiting their purchase. It’s tense and exciting, and so full of happiness when owners come in and claim their property. Just lovely.

An interesting development is that I had this urge to improve my own submission as I read about their struggles, even though I know this is complete fiction. I’m sure I’m not the only one, as all over the internet people are ‘developing’ training programs based on the books. Which I’m not sure I like, but whatever floats your boat, right?

If you are a fan of The Marketplace series you can talk with Laura and get updates for future books in the series (The Inheritor is being written now) in her FetLife Group.

Product Details

• luna’s Rating: 10!!!
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Mystic Rose Books; 2nd edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964596040
• ISBN-13: 978-0964596047
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches

Currently unavailable (out of print) at Amazon.com, may I suggest the following resources:

www.abebooks.com www.alibris.com www.bookfinder.com www.half.com www.circlet.com

Review: The Submissive Activity Book

In January I had a poll in the sidebar asking readers like you what books you’d like to see me review for Submissive Guide. The overwhelming response was that you wanted me to review The Submissive Activity Book: Building Blocks To Better Service by Shannon Reilly. I received the 184 page book without expectations of what I would find within its pages. No one has yet reviewed it on Amazon.

Flipping quickly through it’s pages it is first and foremost a workbook. There are pages and pages of forms for you to fill out to improve and learn the skills she puts forth in the book. According to Shannon the book was written for submissives not currently engaged in a D/s relationship that are looking to establish a structure in their lives that a Dominant normally would do. It is built to help the submissive learn and improve skills that a potential Dominant might desire.

The book is broken up into sections with activities towards different goals. From establishing a personal protocol with rewards and punishments, goal-setting, schedule making and planning, learning new skills and furthering education as well as budgeting and learning personal finance. The book’s second half has helpers for the submissive in understanding their wants and needs, how to negotiate and establishing limits.

Before each activity form there is a summary of what the activity is supposed to do for you and how it might help you grow. They are well thought out, but leave a lot to self exploration. The number of copies of each workbook activity are sometimes excessive in my opinion and the author encourages the purchase of her companion book to get more blank copies of the forms. In today’s technology age, I would have rather had one copy of each activity page; I can always make copies if necessary. I don’t think the companion book is really needed at all.

My favorite activity section is the personal protocol. Shannon describes this section as a way to feel accountable for your actions even if you aren’t in a relationship. She walks you through behaviors you would want to encourage and discourage as well as a punishment and reward system that you manage yourself to keep your new behaviors in check.  For those submissives with a real desire to control and change their lives this is a valuable section.

I dislike the wasted pages that are used for a calendar. While I can understand that the section is about planning and scheduling, I would rather encourage the submissive to get a schedule book that is small enough to carry around with them in their handbag or shoulder bag.  This way the activity wouldn’t involve either carrying the book everywhere or tearing out the pages. Again this would be a good place to encourage them to make copies of the pages they desire to use instead of giving them an entire year’s worth of calendar pages.

Honestly though, this book is very much in keeping with the purpose of this website and I’d recommend it for those of you who want to experience structure and start working towards your perfect self without a Dominant. You will then be able to enter into a relationship with more preparedness and your personal value may be higher.

Go get this book today!

Product Details

• luna’s Rating: 8/10
• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (February 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440470499
• ISBN-13: 978-1440470493
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.6 inches

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Review: How to Be Kinky

Looking for a fun and interesting introduction to BDSM? Try How to Be Kinky by Morpheous. This one is better than others I’ve read in the simple fact that it doesn’t overwhelm you with facts and details that just aren’t important when you are take your first timid steps into the kinky world.

Morpheous writes in a conversational manner as if you are having a cup of coffee with the author. It’s well organized and broken up into 9 chapters, from your first look, exploring play with your partner, entering the community and even the shift from online to real time.  Instead of focusing a clinical approach this is a practical introduction into the world of kink.

This book is filled with beautiful, tasteful images to help you visually see what your mind has been fantasizing. Some give step by step on basic forms of play, others are there to tantalize and invite thoughts.

I love that every bit of real estate in the book is used with purpose. The body is filled with guest commentary and photos, the sidebars are lined with glossary terms and quick tips. It really is a wonderful resource. I like that each topic is readable on it’s own and you can go through the book in any order, skipping from topic to topic or reading it straight through. I spent the first 30 mins just looking at all the photos.

One flaw that isn’t really a flaw is that the book waffles back and forth between pronouns. I’m certain it is to express a non-gender specific relationship, but to shift he and she in a single paragraph is confusing at times. Perhaps it’s my own sensitivities.

I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone who has already experienced some BDSM. This book is specifically geared towards people who haven’t done anything to explore and are wanting to branch out into spicer sex practices. I could also see this book used to introduce a curious partner to kinky sex. It would be perfect for that.

If you are just learning of your desires, this is an excellent first step.

Product Details

• luna’s rating: 8/10
• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Green Candy Press (August 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931160635
• ISBN-13: 978-1931160636
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches

Buy How to Be Kinky from Amazon today!

Review: The Surrendered Wife

This month I dived into a book full of controversy with its approach to living intimately with your husband (or partner). I read The Surrendered Wife by Laura Doyle. I didn’t read it to find the reason for the argument between feminists and the author of the book’s ideas. I read it to see what a submissive could gain from its pages.

In this quest I found a part of me that was glaringly obvious as a poor trait in submissives in general and one that I’d have to let go of it I wanted to try anything that was suggested in the best-selling self help book for women seeking intimacy and peace with a man. Master says that I started acting weird when I was reading the book so either he was sensing my shift or I just wasn’t doing it right. Most likely because I was trying to overthink the suggestions in the book.

This book is written, of course, with husband and wife being key, but I think it would work for any gender mix as long as there is a relationship established and the person reading it is ready to make changes.  Reading some of the mixed reviews I can see that a majority of the reviews I read feel that the book solidifies women into very feminine and vulnerable roles that the feminist movement was trying to break the molds of. Unlike other books emphasizing the 1950′s traditions of a man centered household, this book defines the genders and not the tasks they are ‘supposed’ to be performing.

In context to submission, I think that this would be a good starter book for anyone who is coming out of a vanilla relationship or preparing to enter a D/s one when they haven’t been in one before. The Surrendered Wife will help you recognize and correct habits that may have been comfortable in your previous relationships but won’t work for a D/s style one.

The book is great in it’s ability to recognize inappropriate control situations and the ideas of how to release that control are spot on. The steps to surrendering that she explains are being respectful, receiving graciously, relinquishing control, being open for sex, expressing gratitude and practicing good self-care. I especially like how she recommends we say, “ouch’ when your partner says something to hurt you instead of taking the bait and biting them back.

Not all of the suggestions would work towards a D/s relationship, but as with everything you read it’s best to take what you can and leave the rest. A book can only be as good as what you get out of it, so for that reason I’d have to give it a relatively low rating in comparison to D/s oriented books as far as helpfulness is concerned.

However, if you are like me, and had a vanilla relationship (in my case a 5 year marriage) it might help to reaffirm your femininity and find that surrendered self that very well could be the key to opening your heart to the submission you wish to give to someone else.

Product Details

• luna’s Rating: 6/10
• Paperback: 285 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (January 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743204441
• ISBN-13: 978-0743204446

Interested in seeing for yourself? Buy The Surrendered Wife from Amazon.com for under $11! (Price at time of post)

Write For SubGuide

Have you got a post that would work well on Submissive Guide?

If so – Submissive Guide is currently looking for guest authors whether they be one off or regular contributors.

Please include in your submission the title of the post you’d like to write and a brief (2-3 sentences) description of what it would be about. I won’t hold you to the title but this will help me get an idea of what direction you’d take the post.

I’m particularly looking for posts about relationships, dynamics and novice tutorials from the submissive point of view.  Submissive Guide does not accept posts from Dominants at this time.

I am always looking for guest posts on a numerous variety of topics.. I’m grateful to those that have donated time and writing for this site so far and look forward to working with many more of you in the future.

Here’s some of what I’m looking for:

• How to reprogram yourself to come once the Come on Command relationship is over.
• When you owner controls all of the money, how to adjust, adapt and live that way.
• BDSM with kids around. Anything and everything to do with this topic.
• Sexual submissive topics (great sex tips for example)
• Exerpertise in BDSM activities from the bottom point of view, select one activity per post.
• BDSM fiction and non-fiction book reviews
• Posts from the male submissive point of view; any topics welcome
• Anything else?

Paid Posts

I offer paid posts from people that have qualification and certification in the field they wish to write about. These posts range from $10-50 depending on the helpfulness, depth and other factors to be discussed.

I’m currently looking for:

• Certified and licensed massage therapist to write a series of posts about various massage techniques.
• General Practice Doctor to write about health and medical related issues where BDSM is concerned.
• Established BDSM speakers and presenters to write about various topics. (You must have a website that identifies you as a regional or national BDSM presenter.)
• Ordained pastor or minister to discuss religion, spirituality and it’s connection with submission in all forms.

Please  note that I also only publish new and original content – not articles that have been previously published elsewhere. Content posted on Submissive Guide may not be republished on another site in full. The only exception to this is if I receive articles you write on your personal blog, I will consider these if they fit the quality of writing I am looking for for Submissive Guide. If your submitted post is from your blog, please include a link to that post.

Requirements:

1. At least 500 words
2. Be from the submissive point of view
3. Use proper grammar and spelling.
4. Supply a short 3-5 sentence bio with ways that readers can connect to you online (twitter, blog, website, profile) and an optional photo.

Contact

You can send your guest post submission to my email address subguide@gmail.com. I will review them as time allows and let you know what I think. Please give me a week before contacting me to see where I am in your evaluation. Thank you!

Review: Protocols: a Variety of Views

If you are looking for a varied account of protocol then this book is perfect! Part of Power Exchange Books’ Resource Series Protocols: a Variety of Views is a collection of essays written by people living a life with protocol in place. You will get every opinion represented here as well as a few book reviews at the end of other protocol related books you might be interested in.

Compiled of 13 well thought out essays from every role imaginable and some well known voices in the alternative community leadership, this book has what it needs and then some. You will learn what people consider protocol, what the difference is between that and ritual as well as ceremony. There are some lovely examples of personal protocols lived out in their relationships and opinions that may align with yours.

I like that the book is short essays, as I admit my attention span is relatively short. I can read one essay at a time and then give it some time to digest before moving on to another. In fact, that’s how I recommend you read this book. I tried reading one essay immediately following another and the differing viewpoints clashed in my brain and I had to reread them.

My favorite essay has to be by slave elizabeth titled, “Development of Protocols in the Order of Discipline and Service.” She shares with us her ‘unusual’ protocols that her Dominant has for the house and to be honest hers is the first I’ve read or heard about to hold these protocols. She and the other slaves that serve have uniforms much like a job would for about any occasion, they wear chains at all times, even while out and I love the idea of having personal cells for time away from serving. I was so interested in it I read the essay twice just to take care of my fascination.

If you are curious about protocol I’d recommend this compilation. It has everything you’d want to know and maybe some you wouldn’t think to learn.

Product Details

• luna’s Rating: 7/10
• Published on: 2008-10-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 106 pages

Buy Protocols: A Variety of Views: Power Exchange Books’ Resource Series By Robert Rubel PhD

Review: How To Get the Spanking You Want

My first ebook up for review is “How To Get The Spanking You Want: The Complete Guide to Asking For it, Getting it, and Making it Better” by Vivian of The Disciplined Feminist. I have an excerpt on this site if you’d like to read it.

The author has over 23 years of spanking experience and over a decade of scholarly and academic research on the subject. She is even well published.

The book is broken up into 4 chapters with a pretty good flow and cohesive train of thought.It’s developed for the person that would like to enter a spanking relationship with their partner but don’t know how to go about doing it.  Written in a conversational tone will really help you explore the topic in your head as you read along. The author stays pretty general about what kind of spanking relationship, but does mention domestic discipline and play spanking so I think it could help you no matter what type of spanking your are looking for. It’s an excellent first step for the hesitant and hopeful spankee.

The first chapter will help you figure out what type of spanking you are looking for, and analyze your fantasies to understand what you expect from a spanking, but she also explains that your real life spankings probably won’t look anything like your fantasies. After all, you control the fantasy and the spanker always knows exactly what to do, right?

The second chapter is set up to help you ask your partner to spank you.  While I do have some issues with the way the author says you should go about asking, there is some sound advice on your partners response; whatever that may be. Vivian says that you should use your feminine seductive arts to ply your partner into seeing you as submissive and demure; dressing and acting the part before and during the discussion where you ask your partner to be your spanking partner. In a way, it comes off as she is saying you should manipulate the situation to get what you want by using your feminine mystique and then being direct about what you want because that’s what guys like.

Now, I don’t have experience with asking a partner to spank me that wasn’t already interested, but to me this sounds a little backward. Essentially I see this as luring the man into your ‘trap’ and then confronting them with some huge secret and expecting them to respond positively about it. I don’t know about you, but if I followed her directions specifically, I’d have a confused man on my hands AND probably no hope of a spanking partner.

Really, my advice would be to definitely set a date to have this revealing conversation, but be honest and open about it when the time comes. There is no need to try to show your man that you are submissive and pliant and your ass is ripe for spanking as she suggests.  But, that’s just me.

The rest of the book helps you prepare and receive your first spanking. It does a wonderful job going through the possible reactions you can have the first spanking you get, as well as the triggers you could awaken and how to deal with them. I love how she makes sure you understand that unlike your fantasy spankings, these hurt. It’s something that a lot of people just don’t realize till it’s happening and then you react poorly.

I’d highly recommend this book just for the last 2 chapters alone. You can definitely get something out of this book even if you are already in a spanking relationship. She also has a chapter on how to get more from your spanking experience and is worth reading even if you’ve been exploring spanking for years. I loved it.

Overall, I think it’s a decent book for someone who needs a way to share their spanking secret with their partner in hopes of finding a spanking partner in them. If you would like help talking to your partner about your spanking interests, get this book.

Interested?

Product Details

• luna’s Rating: 8/10
• PDF Format: 177 pages
• Publisher: Variant Books
• Language: English

Buy “How To Get The Spanking You Want: The Complete Guide to Asking For it, Getting it, and Making it Better“

Review: The New Bottoming Book

This month’s book review is of one of the books I gave away in the July Book Contest. The New Bottoming Book by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy (formerly Lady Green) is a great beginner’s guide to bottoming. According to the authors, this “new version” contains much of the original advice, like “connecting” and negotiation, but also has new and much-needed information.

The book is divided into two sections. The first one is about skills. These chapters help novices make decisions about who they are as a bottom, what checklists are, how to make one, including the way I recommended here not long ago, bridging the gap between fantasy and reality and finding a Top that will give you what you need and want. There is a big section on meeting someone online via chat rooms, mailing lists and/or Internet newsgroups and how to convert from “cyber” to “real-time,” and dealing with the fact that their “reality” may not match yours.

The second section starts describing different “scenes”, their ‘rewards’ and also tips on beginning and ending them Also included are sections on role play, with short subsections about bondage and submission. It has small sections on dressing, public play, sensation play and other thoughts when it comes to actual scenes. I feel these chapters are nice for a very fresh novice, but not necessary when someone has already been exploring somewhat.

All in all I find the book very basic in it’s explaining what bottoming is and how to start on that path. Certainly recommended for the novice this book can help shed the nervousness and dispel the fantasy of play.

Product Details

• luna’s Rating: 6 out of 10
• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Greenery Press (CA); 2nd edition (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890159352
• ISBN-13: 978-1890159351

Buy The New Bottoming Book

Submissive Guide Town Hall Meeting

Submissive Guide is just over 7 months old now and with a decent number of well received posts I’d like to get your feedback as to where Submissive Guide is going. Let me go through what I’ve seen happen on the site and what I’m working on for the future. I want your input too, so please leave me a comment or drop me an email with your thoughts. I’d love to hear them, good or bad.

Growth

Since Submissive Guide began on the 2nd of January this year I have had over 100,000 visits. This is mostly all organic growth. That means you are finding me through search engines the most. I have a lot of blogs linking to me as well and I’m so grateful for your faith in my writing. I don’t pay for advertising anywhere else right now and don’t see a need to do that for future growth. Just spread the word when you can and I will be happy.

As far as the advertising on this site, all of the current banner ads are affiliates. This means that I get a small kickback when you purchase items from them. I have one paying ad as a text link in the right sidebar. If you are interested in purchasing some ad space I’d be happy to talk to you. You can stop by my advertising page and contact me from there.  I have made a small amount of money from Amazon Affiliates and all the income from there has gone to purchasing the books that I do reviews on the site with. I plan to continue doing this with Amazon income for the foreseeable future.

Submissive Guide is an income venture and I do hope to make money from this site at some point. My hope is to provide you with e-books and workbooks to help you improve your submission in some way. These would be economically priced and I will make sure that they are worth the cost to you. My first workbook currently in the works is an expanded version of the Submissive Positions series I posted at the end of April and into May. I’m working with a Yoga instructor to provide you with stretching exercises and alterations to the positions so that you can work into them and improve your flexibility and stamina. There will also be lovely pictures of the positions! Stay tuned as I work on this throughout the summer.

Coaching in the Works

I am also developing a submissive life coach business to co-live with Submissive Guide, the site. I will be personally coaching you to reach your goals through email, chat sessions and phone conferencing. This could also lead to training courses and group classes to help reach your goals and discover the stumbling blocks keeping you from reaching your goals. This is still quite a ways away, as there is a lot of business red tape and personal planning I have to get through to make sure I do things right. I am very excited about being able to get to know you better though coaching!

Features on this Site

I have a few reoccurring features on this site that I’d like to draw your attention to. Every month I have a Roundtable discussion that is meant as a way to teach me about a topic I don’t know a lot about. The past few have been about polyamory and open relationships, and shaving. I love the information we have collected on these topics and am happy with the participation I get. Do you like the Roundtable Discussions? Let me know!

Every month I also have a book review of a book about submission or BDSM. I try to give an honest review of the book as well as referencing it to submission and what may help you improve and empower yourself. What books would you like to see reviewed? Do you like these? Would you like to see more?

The resources area has a lot of wonderful things to explore. I have a BDSM bookshelf, a link to the Submissive Journal Prompts site, links area, submissive groups around the web and the Simply Service newsletter archive. If you have a resource you think should be included I want to know about it!

The frequency of posts may decline as the demand for my time spreads out to other areas. I do intend to not go below 3 times a week and will post more frenquently if I have guest posts to share with you. I never imagined this site would do so well in such a short amount of time, but I’m finding that to be fulfilling as well.

Share Your Experiences

I am always looking for guest posts on a numerous variety of topics. I’d welcome anyone’s essays to share here on Submissive Guide. I have a page that details what I expect from the essay which you can find here. I’m grateful to those that have donated time and writing for this site so far and look forward to working with many more of you in the future.

Here’s some of what I’m looking for:

• How to reprogram yourself to come once the Come on Command relationship is over.
• When you owner controls all of the money, how to adjust, adapt and live that way.
• BDSM with kids around. Anything and everything to do with this topic.
• Sexual submissive topics (great sex tips for example)
• Exerpertise in BDSM activities from the bottom point of view, select one activity per post.
• BDSM fiction and non-fiction book reviews
• Posts from the male submissive point of view; any topics welcome
• Anything else?

Paid Posts

I offer paid posts from people that have qualification and certification in the field they wish to write about. These posts range from $10-50 depending on the helpfulness, depth and other factors to be discussed.

I’m currently looking for:

• Certified and licensed massage therapist to write a series of posts about various massage techniques.
• General Practice Doctor to write about health and medical related issues where BDSM is concerned.
• Established BDSM speakers and presenters to write about various topics. (You must have a website that identifies you as a regional or national BDSM presenter.)
• Ordained pastor or minister to discuss religion, spirituality and it’s connection with submission in all forms.

If you are interested, please contact me.

How to Get Updates

Now, I’m sure many of you get Submissive Guide sent to your email or favorite RSS reader but are you aware there are other ways you can get updates? Submissive Guide has a twitter acount that I post new posts as well as recommended reading, quotes, questions and tips that I’ve collected. If you are on twitter, please follow subguide! If you are on Youtube you can get notices about the video posts one day before they are released here on the blog. I’ve also created a group on FetLife for Submissive Guide so that you can continue the conversation there if you are already active on Fetlife. Lastly, if you have a Kindle you can now get Submissive Guide sent to you that way for only $0.99 a month. I didn’t set the price, Amazon did. If I could, it would be free too. I get a tiny amount of the monthly fee you pay and that will go towards server upkeep.

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

I want you to voice your thoughts on Submissive Guide. What do you like? What don’t you like? Where can I improve? What topics are lacking? Express it all.

photo by rick

Donate Your Old BDSM Books to Submissive Guide

This week’s video post is a plea for your assistance with books for the review section of this site.

I’m working on bringing you more book reviews more often. In order to do this I would love to have some help from all of you. There are different levels of help and please hear me out before you dismiss this as just a ploy to get materials or money from you.

The book reviews on this site benefit novice and experienced submissives alike. I do them because I know that the wide expanse of information available can be scary. Hopefully with my reviews, submissives (and maybe a few Dominants) can find books that will help them on their journey.

I don’t personally have a lot of books to review. I am able to buy maybe one every few months with the income I get from this website so far. So I’m looking to you for help.

1. Go through your BDSM library and pull out any books you don’t want anymore or never got around to reading. I’d love to have them for the Submissive Guide library here to review. Just contact me via subguide@gmail.com and I will get you my mailing address. If you need postage paid, I will do that as well.(paid through PayPal)
2. Go through your BDSM library and pull out any books you wouldn’t mind lending to me. In this case I would push your book to the top of the reading list and once complete I would mail it back to you. You could be Submissive Guide’s personal librarian. If you need postage paid, I will do that also. (paid through PayPal)
3. Go to Amazon.com and view my wishlist. You could buy any of the books there for me to review. All of the ones listed are ones I’d like to have a review on Submissive Guide for. You can help me that way and decide the amount you want to spend.
4. Go to Amazon.com and give me a gift certificate. You can use the same email address: subguide@gmail.com and send it to me. This way you can help me with some funds to buy books for the reviews. Any gift certificates I receive this way would be used for review books only, you have my  promise.
5. If you can’t help any other way, please just let me know what books you’d like to see reviewed here in the future. I will add them to my wishlist and purchase them when I can. Your help is much appreciated.

Thank you!

–luna

Review: SlaveCraft

Traveling further into your submission is something that most of us strive for. We want to seek the inner wisdom that will make us the best submissives or slaves we can be. Well I think I’ve found a book that will move your surrender further and deeper than it has before. SlaveCraft: Roadmaps for Erotic Servitude, principles, skills and tools by a grateful slave is a treasure of a read for those a bit further down the path of service than a complete novice.

Written in the form of a series of essays, this book let’s you take of little bits of infomation and digests them in a way that makes them feel personal and inspiring. The way the slave uses metaphors to describe his principles are beyond amazing. I walked away from every essay with new and exciting ideas (some of which have become posts on this blog).

Don’t get me wrong, SlaveCraft is a great book, but not for the novice. The author writes for the submissive or slave who may already have experience and thus understand the skills and tools that will help deepen their surrender. His four principles that he describes in detail are Identity, Obedience, Tranparency and Humility. Each one is artfully discussed so that while you may be walking in his world of surrender you can apply them to your own service quite easily.

If you are a novice you might like the next book that I’m going to review, but for now remember, one day you will be able to touch the deepest surrender with this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Daedalus Publishing Company (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881943143
• luna’s Rating: 9/10

Buy SlaveCraft: Roadmaps for Erotic Servitude–Principles, Skills and Tools

10 Helpful Websites for the Busy Submissive

Sometimes you just need that extra bit of help out of your day or want to have all the tips and tricks on a certain activity. Well I have pulled together some of the best websites out there that will help you get though your difficult day in a breeze.

1. TipNut.com – This site has all the household tips, craft projects, recipes, kitchen & cooking tips and other neat-o hints that you could ever want when it comes to organizing your home. I’ve just recently come to find this site, and have fallen in love.

2. Lifehacker.com – Full of downloads and tips that you can use to make your life easier. I’ve found a lot of one-click applications that speed up my website work and browsing.

3. The Fresh Loaf – This site contains featured recipes, lessons, book reviews, a community forum and recipe exchange, and baker blogs. So please take some time to look around. It’s made with the amateur in mind.

4. Chore Buster – Organize your chores and household plans and have the calendar emailed to you (or each person gets their own list emailed) weekly or monthly as reminder on what to do. You can split the chores among family members and set the difficulty of chores so that your 6 year old doesn’t get something they aren’t capable of doing!

5. The Dollar Stretcher – Learning how to be frugal and save money in this tight economy! Excellent tips and ideas to keep your money where it belongs. In your pocket.

6. FlyLady.net – This is the first stop for any submissive wanting to organize your life. She’s an online coach to a tidy home and trust me, it works! I made my household binder based on her ideas and I enjoy adding to it every week.

7. Recipezaar – A recipe index with thousands of recipes, the ability to save recipes in your own cookbook for bookmarking purposes and submit your own recipes. I love the quantity adjustment feature so that I can increase and decrease the number or servings without calculation errors!

8. Moms Buzz – Mom’s Buzz keeps you in the loop with useful beauty tips, fun and easy recipes, awesome activities for kids (even the grownup ones) – and a hefty dose of humor to make you smile!

9. To Done! – A regularly updated collection of thoughts, writings, tips, tricks and information on personal productivity, work/life balance and getting things done.

10. Google Calendar – Google’s calendar allows you to make your schedule, receive reminders and alerts, share calendars with other Google users and view it from anywhere with an internet connection. You can even send out invites for parties and other things. It’s great for bills, birthdays and other special events as well as everyday tasks and chores.

Well, that’s a starting list, but I know you all have excellent websites you love to use and would recommend to anyone struggling to find time in their day for everything. What websites do you like?