Good Porn?

Hey, I know it's been a while since I've blogged, lots going on, plus I've been wanting to reorient my focus from promotion to a more content-rich blog which explores erotic themes.  For example, I've been reading an interesting book on the portrayal of sex in films from porn to mainstream to arty and wanted to discuss some interesting ideas presented in that book.  I'm still mulling over those ideas, and what should I come across in the blog-scape than a post by Erobintica which deals with many of the same issues that fascinate me--the portrayal of sex and eros in the media, female shame and empowerment, the importance of articulating our desire.  Erobintica presents an intriguing review of Good Porn: A Woman's Guide topped by a wonderful interview with the author of the book, Erika Lust.  In particular I agree with Erika's observation that we tend to lump all explicit sexual material into one big trash pile called "porn," which is not unlike using the male experience as the norm--it erases a great deal of nuance and variety in the human condition.  No doubt I'll have more to say after I read the book, but thanks to Robin for the pointer and the thought-provoking post!

Surrender to Pleasure

 Is that one gorgeous book cover or what?  I'm delighted to announce the release of an amazing "best of" anthology erotic tales Surrender: Erotic Tales of Female Pleasure and Submission, edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel.  My story "Dear Professor Pervert" leads an amazing line-up of stories ranging from Emerald's breathtaking "Power over Power" to Shanna Germain's stunning classic "The Sun is an Ordinary Star."  If you want one beautiful volume of the creme de la creme for your library, this is it!

Humphrey Bogart, Honeymoons, Naughty Interviews

The gala celebration of the release of Nice Girls, Naughty Sex: 20 Erotic Tales continues over at Oysters & Chocolate with a series of interviews with the very naughty-but-nice authors.  This week is my turn, and you'll find out about my inspiration for the story, my Hollywood erotic fantasy, and whether my story in the anthology, "Honeymoon Suite," is suitable to show your mother.  I had lots of fun doing the interview and hope you'll enjoy reading it.

Oh, and I get to show off my corset again.  Yessss!

Nice Girls, Naughty Sex

No, that's not my new personal motto (although it could be), it's the title of a fantastic new anthology that has just been released, Nice Girls, Naughty Sex: 20 Erotic Tales, edited by erotica mavens Jordan LaRousse and Samantha Sade of the delicious website Oysters & Chocolate.

The list of authors is truly stellar and I cannot wait to get my contributor's copy to dig into the feast of scrumptious stories. My story, "Honeymoon Suite," is on a theme very dear to my imagination, the power of erotic photography. In a different life, this would definitely be my job and my passion!

Here's an small taste of this tale, which includes many flavors of sensual love.

From "Honeymoon Suite":

I was still packing up my equipment, when the groom slipped out of the bedroom. He positioned himself strategically between me and the main entrance to the suite and gave me a sheepish grin.

I was pretty sure what was coming next.

"Hey, Melody, uh, Kristina and I wanted to thank you again for the session. It was amazing."

I smiled back, secretly admiring his smooth, muscular chest peeping through the hotel's fluffy white robe. Such a perfect torso for photographs. "It was my pleasure, Jake. Give me a call when you two get back from Italy, and we'll set up an appointment for the next step."

Jake ran his hand through his tousled hair. "About that next step. Listen, I've never seen Kristina so seriously turned on. I heard you had a magic touch with the ladies, but that was incredible."

I definitely knew what was coming next.

"so Kristina was wondering--and I was, too--if you'd be interested in hanging out with us for a little while longer. You could help us finish that bottle of champagne."

I glanced over at the half-open door to the bedroom. The bride was watching us from the bed, the sheet clutched over her naked breasts, which, under the circumstances, struck me as unnecessary modesty.

"I never drink on the job," I replied.

"We don't have to drink," Jake said. "And actually we were thinking this would be pleasure. For all of us this time."

I tilted my head as if I didn't quite get what he was proposing.

I should have known a savvy young attorney like Jake wouldn't buy it. "Come on, I saw that look in your eyes when you pointed your big, long camera lens at my naked wife." His own eyes took on a predatory gleam.

Fortunately, I had my canned speech ready. "Well, Jake, it is true that I appreciate female beauty, but my interest is purely artistic. My only desire is to create a momento of the pleasure two lovers share. Nothing more."

He raised his eyebrows. "If your limit is two, I'm fine it's just you and Kristina--although I hope you'll let me watch."

I laughed. I really didn't hold it against my clients when they propositioned me. Planning a wedding involves months, even years of stress. The big day itself is exhausting. Follow that with kissing, fondling and making love to your brand-new spouse in front of a stranger with a camera for a few hours, and the boundaries were sure to blur.

"It's very tempting," I lied, "but I'm afraid I have to decline the invitation. When I started this business, my partner made me promise her that I'd keep things professional. but I promise you I'm going to make the two of you some beautiful images to commemorate your wedding night."

Jake admitted defeat with a shrug. "Well, we wouldn't want to get you in trouble with your old lady. But hey, it was fun while it lasted."

I nodded, holding back a smile. Little did he know that for me, the fun was just beginning....

A Peep into Male Psychology

My column "Cooking Up a Storey" is going to every other month this year so I can spend more time on my novel, but I do have a book review up in February for Have Him at Hello: Confessions from 1000 Guys About What Makes Them Fall in Love…Or Never Call Back by Rachel Greenwald. You'll find the review in the nonfiction section--but why, you ask, is a fiction writer reviewing a dating guide?

Well, because I found this book a fascinating source of information about how both men and women behave when they're looking for a temporary or permanent mate, what they think they want and maybe some hints about what they really want. While those on the dating scene might seek to learn from mistakes, a writer can also use them as inspiration for characters, both lucky in love and not so fortunate. Next month I'll review a pick-up guide for men. I've learned so much from both guides, which both seek to give their readers the analytical upper hand in a game where it's easy to feel powerless. Which I suppose is what fiction writers do with life itself!

Writers are not Things

Loved this post by Sarah Ockler: "You're Not a Thing: 10 Anti-Insanity Tips for Writers." Every phase of the writing life has its challenges and when you first start out, you think being published will make all your dreams come true. But it just creates a whole new set of desires. As the Buddha said: "Life is dissatisfaction." If we take a step back and remember why we write, though, the satisfactions can outweigh the thing-ness.

What do you think?

The Gotta Have It Book Trailer is Extraordinary

The Gotta Have It book trailer is out today, and what a wonderful way to cap off two great book readings this past week! There is something so very sexy and tantalizing about hearing (and seeing) the authors read their own work. Each provocative snippet makes you want to read more, more, more. Check out the book trailer on blip.tv to enjoy offerings by editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, Helia Brookes, Jeremy Edwards, Emerald and Shanna Germain among other great erotica writers. And you'll also learn why I chose this photograph by Laura Boyd for this post. You definitely gotta have Gotta Have It--it makes the perfect Valentine's Day gift, too.

Magical Evenings

Writing is a solitary endeavor, and most of the time I like it that way. Well, actually I'm not alone when I write, I'm fighting or flirting with or rolling around in bed with my characters, who always seem to know the right, or deliciously wrong, thing to do and say. Occasionally, though, I have a chance to step out of my small, cluttered office and share my stories with an audience. Such was the case last night and on Thursday, when Rachel Kramer Bussel was on the Bay Area stop of her West Coast book tour.

Rachel is not only a gifted editor and writer, she knows how to throw a great reading, and both evenings were amazing--audiences generous in both size and response, delicious little cupcakes (which disappeared in the blink of an eye), and a cast of wonderful readers who each brought their stories to life in a magical way. The energy was so inspiring, and I felt incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to be part of this, people coming together to honor erotic writing.

The event at Good Vibrations on Thursday, January 27, had a homey feel--and why not, it's just a short drive from my home! Rachel, Denise Hoffner and I read our short-short stories from Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex. They were the perfect length for a reading and the audience of about 30 seemed to think so, too. Then we had a Q&A about erotica writing, which was very educational for all. Herr Doktor enjoyed his peppermint patty mini-cupcake, and I was tempted to try the bacon-chocolate, but worried I might get chocolate on my corset!

January 28th's reading at the venerable Booksmith in the Haight had a festive Friday night feel. We had a standing-room-only crowd of 75 and a delightfully varied cast of readers. Susie Hara read her amusing story from Orgasmic, which featured a married couple who still have spark and humor. I went next with an excerpt from "The Big O" in the same book. Violet Blue read a hilarious story by Thomas Roche about a Stanford grad student who finds her way to a lucrative second career. Rachel's story, "Espionage," from Best Women's Erotica 2011 (in which I also have a story), mesmerized everyone with its emotional intensity and heart-breaking truth. Dusty Horn finished off with another Orgasmic bang. If you weren't one of the fortunate 75, you can see part of my reading right here. (The other people in the photo are the charming Kat from Cleis Press and the staff of the Booksmith who were such gracious hosts.)

Finally, I wanted to thank my friend, Lucy, for designing and crafting the skirt that completes my corset ensemble. I can't fully express my appreciation for the gift of her time and skill--from helping me decide the style, to shopping for lace at Lacis, a local lace specialty shop, to putting the whole thing together in a perfect dream of a petticoat. But I'm planning to wear this outfit as often as I possibly can and will always think of her generosity and creative artistry!

Come Together for Owen's Next Concert

Owen's band "In the Moment" will be playing in their second concert at Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley at 4:30 pm on Sunday, January 23. Owen will be singing vocals for the Beatles' "Come Together" and Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Around the World" as well as for the group's original composition "Parallel Universe." And he'll be playing a mean bass line for the other fine songs as well. You don't just have to be a proud parent to enjoy the bands and the $5 cover won't lighten your wallet much at all. These kids are talented and fun, and I'm grateful to innovative schools like BandWorks and Owen's super cool music teachers for helping these kids groove and blossom. Come together with us if you're free on Sunday afternoon!

Free Erotica Class with RKB at Good Vibrations on 1/27

Writing is a solitary endeavor, but sometimes it's helpful to get advice from seasoned experts to help us map our course. That's why we pay big bucks to go to writers' conferences and take classes with established professionals. But what if you could get some distilled words of wisdom and experience for FREE, along with some delicious cupcakes? If you're interested in writing erotica, or if you like free sweets, hell, if you've ever had a sexual thought or feeling in your life, you won't want to miss the reading and erotica writing mini-class led by award-winning erotica editor Rachel Kramer Bussel (and assisted by yours truly) at Good Vibrations' Berkeley store at 2504 San Pablo Avenue on Thursday, January 27. Official event time is 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, but given that it's a work night, we probably won't start giving out the really useful tips until 7 pm, so don't worry if you have to be a little late. And you won't have to write or read your own erotica, just take notes for later and ask any question your heart desires!

Seriously folks, you're basically getting a chance to get the inside scoop from Rachel, THE leading erotica editor today. I'm getting a sweet little shiver just thinking about this opportunity. Hope to see you there!

Two Weeks From Tonight (1/28)--Please Come!

Yes, it's only two short weeks until a very exciting, I might even say orgasmic, erotica event at the venerable Booksmith at 1644 Haight Street, San Francisco's coolest 'hood. That's Friday, January 28 at 7:30 pm, and I'll be there in my corset (pictured above--and don't I look satisfied?) reading an excerpt from my story, "The Big O," in Rachel Kramer Bussel's very steamy anthology, Orgasmic. However, I'll keep the lacing loose so I can sample the cupcakes afterwards (talk about getting all your juices flowing). If you're in the Bay Area, or have a Star Trek transporter in your basement, beam on over because this is going to be yummmmy, as well as thought-provoking and instructive!

Here's the official teaser:

January 28, 2011 at 7:30 pm

RACHEL KRAMER BUSSEL and VIOLET BLUE/ Orgasmic

With Susie Hara, Dusty Horn, and Donna George Storey

Award-winning local writer and sexpert Violet Blue (Best Women’s Erotica 2011, Seal It With a Kiss) and New York-based erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel (Orgasmic, Fast Girls) join forces to bring you an evening of sexy smut! Featuring local Orgasmic contributors Susie Hara, Dusty Horn, and Donna George Storey, plus free cupcakes, this promises to be a steamy night of sensuous stories.

What gets you off? How do you like to come? Let Orgasmic count the ways…with 25 stories centered around female orgasm, there’s something here for every reader. The women in Orgasmic climax from Tantric sex, role-playing, piercing, G-spot play, sex toys, horseback riding, BDSM, a belt and even chemistry–the scientific kind. They delight in food, God and handymen. They create their own objects of pleasure; they spy, tease, obey, command, argue, submit. Some are shy about their orgasms and some are bold as can be. They come, and come and come again, and they do it in some of the hottest, most creative ways you can think of. Featuring red-hot erotica by some of today’s hottest writers, these stories will make you want to stop everything and have an orgasm immediately…once you’ve turned the last succulent page.

Listen to Gotham Sex at Audible.com!

My all-knowing, all-seeing erotica writing buddy, Jeremy Edwards, just alerted me to the fact that my story "Gotham Sex," published in Maxim Jakubowski's Sex in the City: New York, is the sample story at Audible.com. I have to say I really, really like the way Jenna Wilding reads the story. She definitely captures the spirit I was hoping to evoke. And since the book is full of excellent stories from some of my very favorite erotica writers, I think this might make a good Valentine's Day gift for your favorite auditeur (who might just be yourself)! But even if you're not up for shopping until later, stop by and give a listen to my more-than-a-memoir of adventure in the great city in the 1970s and 1980s.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Happy New Year to you, my dear blog readers! I hope you had a lovely year-end holiday. I really enjoyed my "time-out-of-time" to hang out with my family, watch a lot of movies, eat a lot of cookies and celebrate my forty-ninth birthday. In our house, the birthday girl or boy gets to rule big time, and I took full advantage of my privileges to force my family to go to brunch at Ella's in San Francisco where we breakfasted on orange-brandy French toast, fried cornmeal with onions and jalapenos, fluffy pancakes and waffles and a luscious fresh fruit plate. Then I decreed we go to the Museum of Modern Art to see several cool exhibits on wine and style, voyeurism, and Henri Cartier-Bresson's photographs. I do love art museums and always feel my consciousness is broadened by appreciating the works of artists in other media. After we got back home from our aesthetic enrichment, I made my famous rum mousse rice pudding as a stand-in for birthday cake. Dinner was deep-dish pizza from a new kid on the block, Little Star Pizza, which makes what I can only describe as an elegant pizza. The corn meal crust was delish, too. Then we broke open the Veuve Clicquot and watched The Godfather with an eye to all the continuity and historical errors as well as fascinating facts I learned from the annotated screenplay. The day was a pleasure from start to finish and even lingered on into sometime after midnight in the first hour of 2011.

The New Year encourages us to look back as well as forward, and one of the sparkling highlights of 2010 for me was my boudoir session with Laura Boyd. Laura blogged about my session yesterday, and I'm planning to give you more on my experience in the month ahead. I don't have any strict New Year's resolutions this year, but I do want to try to be in the moment, keep my mind and heart open, and write what I love in the year ahead. If you have some good resolutions to share, let me know and I might even steal them! Wishing you a New Year of peace, discovery and pleasure!

"Fresh Canvas" in Best Women's Erotica 2011

The end of the year brings many treats, not the least of which is the release of the latest volume in the Best Women's Erotica series, edited by sexpert superstar Violet Blue. This anthology is guaranteed to warm you up on a chilly night--the stories are without exception brilliantly written and fearlessly sexy. I'm honored to have a story included in Best Women's Erotica 2011, and in fact, this story is a particular favorite of mine, definitely in my top five. It's called "Fresh Canvas," and I season my erotic mystery story with a little Japanese kink, references to great European painters to give it class, and lots of libidinous desire. This isn't a story for nice girls or boys, but Best Women's Erotica 2011 will make the perfect holiday gift anyway. (Be sure to tuck it under your sweetie's pillow instead of the tree!)

To whet your appetite while we all wait for the Christmas cookies to come out of the oven, here's an excerpt from "Fresh Canvas." Oh, and the thematically fitting image of the woman swooning in ecstasy was of course taken by the boudoir photographer extraordinaire, Laura Boyd.

From "Fresh Canvas":

Miranda pushed open the guest room door. "Sam?"

"Be right there," he called from the kitchen. She thought she caught the clink of ice in a tumbler. She suspected they all enjoyed a cocktail or two to loosen up beforehand. She, on the other hand, liked to stay sharp so she could drink in every last sensation.

She sat on the bed, the scarf in her lap. Sam walked in purposefully and sat down next to her. Sliding the silk from her hands, he tied it around her eyes with expert skill.

Everything was blank now. The way she liked it.

Sam lingered at her side. She could smell the whisky on his breath.

"Any special requests tonight?" he asked.

"I'm quite satisfied with the usual."

"I noticed." He leaned in closer. "You know, Miranda, you've always been lovely, but since you started coming here for your... treatments... you've positively blossomed."

Miranda stiffened. Not that she didn't love hearing men's compliments, their intimate confessions of desire. It was one of the reasons she was here tonight. But this was too early, too sweet.

"I've learned a few things since college," he continued, resting a warm hand on her shoulder. "Can you stay tonight?"

She swallowed, fighting the urge to shrug him away. Yet deep in her belly her secret muscles contracted almost painfully, hungry for a taste of him and his new tricks.

She hadn't expected the evening to get so sticky this soon.

At that moment the doorbell rang. They both jumped guiltily. Which amused Miranda, because Sam's proposition was doubtless the most respectable interaction she'd have with a man tonight.

"I guess they couldn't wait to see you." Sam pulled his hand away. But he seemed to be waiting for her reply.

"Don't be rude to our guests," she murmured.

The bed creaked in disappointment as he rose. "It's a standing offer," he added and pulled the door closed behind him.

She was alone again, relieved but oddly restless. Yet before long she'd have plenty of company....

Spark Your Moment with Jeremy Edwards!

With the nights growing chillier, and the soccer season over, I suddenly find myself with a lot more time to write--and read--the kind of books they never (unfortunately) assigned in any of my classes. You know what I’m talking about: red-hot erotica, of course! I don’t have to look far for this week’s indulgence as I sit by the fire and watch the logs crackle. My friend Jeremy Edwards, author of Rock My Socks Off, a madcap erotic novel set in my very own Bay Area, has recently published his first short story collection with Xcite, Spark My Moment.

I’ve long been a fan of Jeremy’s humor and effervescent prose. His upbeat stories should be required reading for a sex-positive approach to the sensual life. Curious about the experience of publishing a collection of short stories, Jeremy has agreed to stop by to chat about writing, story collections, and other sparkly things over cinnamon tea and Parmesan crackers with homemade chipotle salsa dip.

So welcome, Jeremy, and congratulations on publishing your first story collection!

JE: Thanks, Donna! [Pauses to indulge in another mouthful of deliciously savory and spicy crackers with salsa.] You sure know how to host.

You begin the collection with “Mom-and-Pop Enterprise,” the story of two magazine store owners who take the ideal of doing what you love in your work to a new level. Any particular reason why you chose this story to start things off?

JE: I thought the pace of this story made it a good candidate for the opener. Some of my pieces begin quietly, drawing the reader in gently with reflection or introspection, whereas this one feels more “high energy” from the outset—even though there’s a chunk of backstory to set the scene. And because the protagonists are an established couple, they can hit the ground running. All of my stories are upbeat, in one way or another; but this is one of the especially bouncy ones, and I thought it would kick things off with good momentum.

The reader will soon notice that interspersed among your longer stories are “moments” of flash fiction. These short pieces provide an intense dose of spice like the relishes and chutneys on a delicious buffet table. Tell us more about these amuse-bouches.

JE: I love writing flash pieces, but there’s not always a lot of opportunity to do much with them, publicationwise. So I welcomed the possibility of including some of these in this collection, and I was very gratified to find not only that they could fit in here, but that they might augment the structure and rhythm of the book as a whole. And sometimes I was able to specifically match certain flash pieces with the longer pieces that immediately followed them, in terms of tone or (loosely speaking) subject matter.

I was struck by the arrangement of the stories, which to me have a musical flow. Did your background as a musician influence the “composition.” Or indeed your writing in general?

JE: I do think similar concerns with structure, rhythm, pacing, and dynamics come into play in my various artistic pursuits—from composing a song to writing an erotic story to scripting a stage comedy. Most specifically here, I remember noticing while doing it that arranging the Spark My Moment stories was very similar to “programming” an album (the music-world term for deciding the song order), or the song-ordering stage of finalizing a set list for a live performance. For instance, what I was saying above about opening with a high-energy story is analogous to how I would usually begin an album or a live set with a high-energy number.

As the author of dozens of erotic stories, did assembling a collection like this give you a new perspective on your voice, your characters, the type of conflicts that intrigue you?

JE: It was indeed interesting to observe the similarities and the differences that occur across my own work, reading so many of my pieces back to back. And I think the collection represents me quite effectively, in that it offers a pretty full range of the types of pieces I write, while also allowing the constants and recurring elements that define my voice to assert themselves. I think the last line of the summary I wrote for the book largely came out of those observations about what makes me me, as a writer (if you’ll pardon my quoting myself): “These stories are united by the author’s emphasis on joyful sensuality, libidinous urgency, offbeat romanticism, and the pleasures of language and laughter.”

Would you share a favorite passage from the book and tell us why it sparks your moment? (Warning: Sparks ahead!)

Pink smiled at me after the bartender had slammed my $2 club soda down and skulked away. ‘He really wasn’t into getting you that club soda,’ she said sympathetically. Her voice was higher than I’d expected, more sweet than sultry.

‘I don’t even like club soda,’ I said peevishly. Then I laughed idiotically and explained: ‘It was the first beverage that came to mind.’

‘You’re a goofball,’ she pronounced, making it sound like it was half compliment. ‘Do you like G&Ts?’

‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘I do.’

‘Here.’ She brought it to my lips. She must have put fragrance on her wrists, because I smelled a luscious mixture of skin and design. Taking a sip of her drink was the sexiest thing that had happened to me in a long time.

I got a lot of lime juice in the gulp I took, and my mouth tingled. I passed the drink back to her, and she took a substantially bigger gulp than I had, seriously depleting the ice-heavy glass. She looked blissfully refreshed – her cheeks, for some reason, became rosier as she cooled down after her dancing. Her breasts, though they weren’t large ones, were tight against the opaque top. The snap of her jeans was seductive as it flirted with her belly button; I wanted to thrust one hand into the waistband, rub the other over her nipples, and make her come in her panties.

Gin and lime juice reverberated in the back of my throat.

JE: This bit of “Being Myself” represents a type of situation that scores very highly on my personal scale of what’s erotic: to wit, a brief but critical interaction that expresses sexual attraction; mutual recognition, appreciation, and understanding; interpersonal chemistry; compassionate teasing; and incipient intimacy.

Any new projects or readings ahead?

I’ll be appearing in another batch of anthologies in the new year, including M. Christian’s Sex in San Francisco, Rachel Kramer Bussel’s Gotta Have It, an Xcite anthology called Sex at Work, and the Oysters & Chocolate collection Nice Girls, Naughty Sex.

Thank you again, Donna! Conversing with you is always a delight. (And I’m not just saying that because we’ve been talking about me!)

Thank you for stopping by Jeremy. And now in celebration of all solstice holidays and your many spark-ling publications this year, I thought we could open a bottle of bubbly (some Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc, a local Napa favorite). Or would you prefer gin and lime? Salut!

The Erotic Feast Begins

Tonight brings us Hanukkah's first candle plus here at the Storey household, we'll open the first door of the Advent calendar (actually we're doing seven Advent calendars this year as I want to use my extensive collection of German beauties before the boys get too jaded).

It's also, of course, the day that the new columns go up at the Erotica Readers and Writers Association and my offering, "Seeds of a Story: Recipes for Creative Erotic Feast from Inspiration to Publication," marks another change of direction in my scribblings as the naughty Martha Stewart. This month is actually a double issue, and I've decided to ease away from my focus on my slowly-progressing second novel and switch to a topic of more universal appeal to writers: the secrets of the creative process. I'll also be cutting back to every other month in the hope that I really will finish the novel in 2011. In fact, let's make my New Year's Resolution official--my goal for the Year of the Rabbit is to complete a readable draft of novel number two. If I don't do this by next December, you are hereby allowed, nay encouraged, to point your fingers at me and laugh, okay?

Anyway, I had quite a fine time musing over the first course of my feast on the care and feeding of story ideas. If you have any tips to share on the topic, please comment. I also talk about how to lay out a tasty, but very easy appetizer spread, which may come in handy for holiday open houses! Oh, and I'll use this post as an excuse to post another of my boudoir pictures taken by the talented Laura Boyd. I'm going to use this as the cover for my first romance novel....

Choose My New Author Photo?

As a 13-year veteran of the writing life, I've long since accepted the fact that half the fun in life is getting there and most of the other half of the fun involves writing about the trip afterward. So, I'm back from New York and my boudoir photo shoot with the very talented Laura Boyd, and now it's time to tell you all about it! Today I'd like to begin by asking for your help.

Like most writers, I have a Web site and a profile picture. I've long felt a bit, well, guilty, in using a photo from my first boudoir session from seventeen years ago. Okay, not that guilty because I never really looked like that photo even when I was thirty-one and besides I'm an erotica writer and my readers surely shouldn't object to a little blurring of reality. However, since my motto is "smart is sexy" and I firmly believe I'm smarter and much sexier now than I was back then, I knew I'd feel much better if I had a current sexy picture to post far and wide. That is one of the many reasons I jumped at the chance to have Laura take my picture.

Of course, as the shoot drew closer, I suffered from the same doubts I did the first time around. Would the camera's eye find any beauty in me, even with Laura's magic and expertise on my side? Is society right that women are over-the-hill and invisible after thirty or thirty-five or forty or whatever the current cut-off is for female desirability? Which might mean, that like a vampire, when Laura snapped my picture, there'd be nothing there?


I have to say, in spite of my pre-shoot jitters, I am so, so pleased with the results. So pleased, in fact, I'm going to become an honest woman and use one of her portraits as my public face from now on. Now comes that favor I wanted to ask of you. Will you help me choose which of these two rather intimate "thanks for the great sex, honey" pics posted here that I should use? Choice A in the black slip and bling or Choice B in my birthday suit? Polls close December 6, so leave a comment or send me an email with your vote!

The Gift of Sensual Pleasure

The year's end is a time for reflection, thanksgiving and expressing appreciation to our loved ones in many ways, including gifts. What better gift that keeps on giving than a delicious book, in particular an erotica anthology, that is like a box of fine chocolates for the imagination? I say this not only because I'm an author. I've always loved giving books and loved receiving them as gifts. I also love discounts and good deals and it just so happens Cleis Press, the publisher of many of the anthologies in which my stories appear, is having a very sweet sale until the end of the year--20% off all books purchased through their website. This has been a very fruitful year of anthologies for me, and I'll be giving some of these goodies to lucky friends and relatives:

Best of Best Women's Erotica 2 (editor Violet Blue picks her favorite stories from the past five years and they are sizzling hot).

Please, Sir (delicious tales of women who find their power from submission).

Orgasmic (celebrates "The Big O" from the woman's perspective, and that means no refractory period to the endless pleasure)

Smooth (this book has one of my favorite stories of the past year, "Ivy League Associates," and plenty of other fleshly delights)

Passion (a book of erotic romance that will move your heart and leave you panting--great stuff!)

And last, but definitely not least, Best Women's Erotica 2011 (as always the year's hottest, boldest stories are collected by Violet Blue and my story "Fresh Canvas" is another all-time favorite)

All of these books make great stocking stuffers for your loved one--definitely a gift that will keep on giving for many chilly winter nights to come! Oh, and this lovely photograph comes from my fantastic photo shoot with boudoir photographer Laura Boyd. More on that adventure soon!

Celebrating "Spring" in November

A lot's been happening this month, and you'll hear all about it once I've unpacked my suitcase and settled back into my writing, but I just wanted to announce that my story "Spring Pictures" is up at Clean Sheets this week. Set in Japan, this story celebrates my fascination with erotic woodblock prints and illicit getaways to elegant Japanese inns. The print you see here, by Suzuki Harunobu, was another inspiration for the piece. So, if you're in the mood for a little time-travel combined with art appreciation, grab a cup of green tea and get between the Sheets!

Sexy, Secret Gardens

You all remember those sizzling Nancy Friday "studies" of female sexual fantasies back in the 1970's that blew the cover off of the Victorian myth that women were sexless creatures who only engaged in the marital act out of their innate maternal instinct? They certainly inspired me to get wilder in my daydreams and ultimately to write my own fantasies out for publication throughout the Anglophone world.

Thank you, Nancy!

Today at The Erotic Woman, a totally awesome erotica website, you can read my tribute to Nancy Friday fantasies which I've entitled "Secret Gardens." Some of it may be familiar from an earlier blog post on Nancy and her revolutionary books (plus the lie behind them, but all's fair in love and war!) But there's a second part to Pittsburgh housewife Jessica's fantasies that's much hotter, so click on over and vote and comment--if you can type with one hand ;-). What better way to start the weekend than with a reminder our minds our always free to weave a beautiful tapestry of desire?