Halloween Thrills at Virtual Wordsmith!

Happy Halloween! This has always been my favorite holiday because like all writers I love pretending to be someone else for a brief time. This year I pulled out the hanbok I bought in Korea in 1983 and I’m going as Jang Geum, the title character from the popular Korean historical drama about the only woman to rise to the position of head physician in the Chosun court of the 16th century. I’m pretty excited about that because the dress is gorgeous, even though it makes me look fat, but everyone looks fat in hanbok. You could be eight months pregnant and no one would know.

But I’ve got even more exciting news today—a visit with Virtual Wordsmith blogger Mary Lynn Lewis. Lynn reviewed my novel Amorous Woman in her August 28 post and followed up with an interview today, Halloween 2007. Lynn and I did not know each other before I found out about her book review blog, but I liked what I saw and queried her about doing a review of my book. I was a bit nervous when she said yes. I can count on friends to be diplomatic at least, but with strangers I knew I’d be getting an honest response to my work. Imagine my delight—that’s a big, huge, happy my-heart-is-soaring grin—when Lynn posted her very positive review.

“Donna George Storey is a storyteller, as well as a writer. I had a difficult time stepping away from this book, because I felt transported while reading it. I also didn't want it to end. I wanted to know more!”

Really, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better one! To read more of the review plus an interview with me where I discuss feisty characters who rebel against my writerly plans, why erotica can justly claim to be “real” literature and not just a poor cousin, and how I get creative highs away from the keyboard, stop by Virtual Wordsmith. And check out the other book reviews as well!

Cyber Book Tour: Kay Sexton and Writing Neuroses

Okay, everybody, the book promotion fun has begun in earnest! I’ve kicked off my cyber book tour for Amorous Woman with my first stop at Kay Sexton’s UK-based blog, Writing Neuroses. This is especially appropriate not only because of the location, but because Kay’s blog is a wonderful resource for writers. Kay herself has been a generous source of information and support for me as I try to figure out how to promote my book across an ocean.

The other reason you should check out the interview is because the questions really got me thinking—and prodded me to articulate a few things I’d never really tried to put into words before. You can find out all kinds of secrets about the earliest roots of my novel, what I do and don’t know about writing sex scenes, and my fantasy life lolling away the day on a desert island while I wait for the rescue boat to arrive.

So, pop on over to Brighton and check it out!

What Turns You On?

Check out the latest entry in the Blushing Ladies Journal, a series of essays by some of my favorite erotica writers on the topic of what turns them on and what turns them off. I have an entry, too, and granted I do get pretty worked up about the allure of fresh vegetables, but there's stuff about people, too!

I found it an interesting exercise to put my turn on's into words. Usually a turn on is a visceral, sensual experience, something you don't have to or even want to verbalize. I also found it interesting that for most authors, they seek something beyond what our society deems sexy. That is, a turn on as rebellion, liberation, discovery. That's very cool in my book.

But back to vegetables. Look at that beautiful Listada eggplant in the photograph! The creamy skin marbled with streaks of marroon. The plump fullness of it that makes you yearn to cup it in your hand. I've never eaten a Listada eggplant, only admired them from afar, but I'm trying to get up the nerve to buy one and...go all the way. Grilled with a sprinkling of basil? Or chopped up for ratatouille? It seems a sin to peel that lovely thing.

Til later, then, I'm off to Monterey Market!

Method Writing?

Check out the latest hilarious entry (October 20, 2007) in Sage Vivant's Amalgamated Erotica Corp blog, which chronicles the ongoing saga of the wild shenanigans that go on at Custom Erotica Source. As a proud staff member, I can tell you that it does get wild! And Sage has spilled my biggest secret: I need a healthy dose of real-life material to create my stories. This is absolutely true! But she forgot to mention that sometimes when I'm doing the housewife thing, I don't wear panties at all....

Talking Dirty on a Sunday Afternoon

Last Sunday, October 14, I was invited to read my story “Suit and Tie” from She’s On Top along with erotica icon Thomas S. Roche and the wonderful editor and writer Rachel Kramer Bussel at Good Vibrations on Valencia Street in San Francisco. Here we are, with a backdrop of dildo harnesses, although we actually did the reading in front of a wall of dildos, varied in color, but uniform in their state of perpetual arousal. There was even refreshments—grapes, strawberries, cheese, sparkling water—my fanciest reading yet!

Rachel read first—a story she wrote under a pseudonym, so I’m not sure if I’m supposed to give it away. But it was very juicy—trust me. Thomas went next with his story from He’s On Top, “Schoolgirl and Angel.” It’s a fun story, but even funnier when read by Thomas himself. He’s a very charismatic reader and had us all laughing about apple fritters among other things.

I went last, so it could be girl-boy-girl and I was sort of terrified, but my friends in the audience claimed it didn’t show! Perhaps those dildos calmed me down, like soldiers in rank behind me. It was actually fun to read the story in the voice that filled my head as I wrote it—slightly bratty and sarcastic with touches of dreamy lust. Truth is, I do fantasize about defiling men in suits….

Rachel mentioned there will probably be a San Francisco party for the release of Dirty Girls: Erotica for Women, which has my story “To Dance at the Fair.” I hope the dildos will still be there to offer their unflagging support.