A Good Reason to Start Blogging

Why am I starting my own blog? Well, it just so happens I have a story coming out in Best American Erotica 2006 and the editor, sexpert and expert on many other publishing-related things, Susie Bright, suggested we contributors do some blogging to help promote the book and our own writing in general. It seemed like a good idea for the likes of me (John Updike and Steve Almond hardly need more publicity) although I did wonder if I had anything all that interesting to say on a regular basis. Then again, does anyone? But then I realized there are a few topics that get me going any time or place, hence the title of my blog: sex, food, and writing. Each of my posts will have something to do with one or more of the three. I write fiction whenever I can carve the time out of my busy mom schedule—not often enough, alas--and many of my stories have to do with sexual relationships, even if they’re not erotica by the strictest definition (although the majority of my published work is). And food, well, just put me in front of Gourmet or Bon Appetit or any of Ruth Reichl’s memoirs, and the juices are definitely flowing. One of my favorite parts of “Ukiyo,” the story that appears in BAE 2006, is the opening description of the kaiseki meal at the fancy restaurant overlooking Kyoto’s Kamo River—based on an actual, and equally magical, meal I enjoyed at a place called Chimoto back in 1984. Over the months to come, I’ll be posting some favorite recipes, as well as luscious, semi-pornographic descriptions of my favorite meals and treats. I’ll also be sharing my ideas about the creative process and the publishing business and all the sweet and painful lessons I’ve learned in the past eight years since I started writing seriously. My hope is to encourage other writers, especially beginners, because I know how daunting it is to squeak out your first words and send them off to be tossed in the circular file by heartless editors. (Although, eventually some of them turned out to be quite nice). I’ll talk about sex, too. Stick around long enough and I always do. Til later then!