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Monday, 27 December 2010
Sunday, 19 December 2010
You don't ACT like someone who writes erotica
Closely linked to the discussion of what erotica writers look like is the discussion of what erotica writers act like. Most of us don’t mind so much when people say we don’t look like erotica writers. What really bothers us is when people just assumed that we have DONE all the things we write about.
No one assumes Thomas Harris is a cannibalistic serial killer. No one assumes Anne Rice drinks blood and sleeps in a coffin. No one assumes Tom Clancy spent time being a terrorist. And yet, there are those who assume erotica writers have done everything we write about. For people who make that assumption, I have just one question; what part of the concept of FICTION don’t they get?
Fiction writers don’t have to experience what they write in order to write about it. In fact, that’s why it’s fiction. IT DIDN’T HAPPEN! At least not anywhere outside the fertile mind of the writer. Erotic fiction is no different.
Fiction allows the reader and the writer to experience safely situations and worlds that in reality would not be safe or even possible. In a world where safe sex has become a battle cry, even its own form of bondage, this is especially true with erotica. The erotica writer allows the reader to participate safely in a world that can be both very wonderful and very dangerous. It is no more necessary for erotica writers to have an orgy so they can write about one than it was for Thomas Harris to kill and eat a few folk before he could create Hannibal Lector.
Imagining an erotica writer who must experience firsthand her orgy, bondage, or sex in a bus before she writes about it adds another layer to the psycho-sexual fantasy. The fantasy may be very sexy indeed. But in reality, IT’S FICTION!
No one assumes Thomas Harris is a cannibalistic serial killer. No one assumes Anne Rice drinks blood and sleeps in a coffin. No one assumes Tom Clancy spent time being a terrorist. And yet, there are those who assume erotica writers have done everything we write about. For people who make that assumption, I have just one question; what part of the concept of FICTION don’t they get?
Fiction writers don’t have to experience what they write in order to write about it. In fact, that’s why it’s fiction. IT DIDN’T HAPPEN! At least not anywhere outside the fertile mind of the writer. Erotic fiction is no different.
Fiction allows the reader and the writer to experience safely situations and worlds that in reality would not be safe or even possible. In a world where safe sex has become a battle cry, even its own form of bondage, this is especially true with erotica. The erotica writer allows the reader to participate safely in a world that can be both very wonderful and very dangerous. It is no more necessary for erotica writers to have an orgy so they can write about one than it was for Thomas Harris to kill and eat a few folk before he could create Hannibal Lector.
Imagining an erotica writer who must experience firsthand her orgy, bondage, or sex in a bus before she writes about it adds another layer to the psycho-sexual fantasy. The fantasy may be very sexy indeed. But in reality, IT’S FICTION!
Sunday, 12 December 2010
Lily Harlem's Scorching Hot Novella, 'The Mother of All Hen Nights'- What happened just before Happy Ever After
After the glass slipper and before happily ever after, ever wonder what Cinderella and her girl friends got up to on her hen night? Well, Lily Harlem did, and her resulting novella, The Mother of All Hen Nights, is a kick-arse, fast paced, hotter than fire night out at the Turret Club with Belle, Rapunzel and Tinkerbell all out to show innocent little Cinders a good time and hopefully teach her a thing or two about men before the big fairy tale wedding to Prince Charming and the mother of all surprises on the wedding night.
While Cinders gets educated in ways to handle a lusty prince, Rapunzel gets tied up in the basement where she brings out the animal in The Beast. The tongue in cheek fun never ends and the temperature never drops below the lusty boiling point. Lily Harlem’s fun feisty fairy tale Mother of All Hen Nights is a must read.
While Cinders gets educated in ways to handle a lusty prince, Rapunzel gets tied up in the basement where she brings out the animal in The Beast. The tongue in cheek fun never ends and the temperature never drops below the lusty boiling point. Lily Harlem’s fun feisty fairy tale Mother of All Hen Nights is a must read.
Kinky Christmas Reading Worth the Wait
The Kinky Christmas Read at Sh! Women’s Erotic Emporium, Hoxton, may have been postponed for a week due to snow, but, wow! When it happened, what a party it turned out to be!
The lovely Ladiez at Sh! went all out to decorate the shop for Christmas, and in addition to Christmas bobbles and fairy lights, the walls were adorned with the kinky, sexy works of artist, Compulsive Behaviour. Add to it all the comings and goings of Christmas shoppers picking out just that right sexy gift for someone special, and the stage was set for a fabulous evening.
The lovely Ladiez at Sh! went all out to decorate the shop for Christmas, and in addition to Christmas bobbles and fairy lights, the walls were adorned with the kinky, sexy works of artist, Compulsive Behaviour. Add to it all the comings and goings of Christmas shoppers picking out just that right sexy gift for someone special, and the stage was set for a fabulous evening.
Kristina Lloyd, Scarlett French and I read kinky stories to a full house of happy, pink-fizzing drinking partakers of kink – every erotica writer’s dream audience.
I kick-started the evening with hot sex on a Harley from the pages of my novel, The Initiation of Ms Holly.
Scarlett French, looking rather cow-girlish for the evening, read her very hot story of two girls and a purple strap-on in ‘Dinner at Crompton’s from Sacchi Green’s fabulous anthology, Girl Crazy.
Finally the elegantly sexy Kristina Lloyd ended the evening with a dark and twisted tale of jealousy, ‘Such a Special Couple,’ from Alison Tyler’s hot anthololgy, J is for Jealousy.
While we readers read, the lovely Sh! Ladiez made sure all glasses were well-topped with fizz and no one went away cupcake-less. The atmosphere was festive, relaxed, and fun. But if my experience was any indication, I’d have to say we readers had the best time of all. It was a great beginning to the Christmas season.
I kick-started the evening with hot sex on a Harley from the pages of my novel, The Initiation of Ms Holly.
Scarlett French, looking rather cow-girlish for the evening, read her very hot story of two girls and a purple strap-on in ‘Dinner at Crompton’s from Sacchi Green’s fabulous anthology, Girl Crazy.
Finally the elegantly sexy Kristina Lloyd ended the evening with a dark and twisted tale of jealousy, ‘Such a Special Couple,’ from Alison Tyler’s hot anthololgy, J is for Jealousy.
While we readers read, the lovely Sh! Ladiez made sure all glasses were well-topped with fizz and no one went away cupcake-less. The atmosphere was festive, relaxed, and fun. But if my experience was any indication, I’d have to say we readers had the best time of all. It was a great beginning to the Christmas season.
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
You don't LOOK like someone who writes erotica...
'You don’t look like someone who writes erotica.'
I get that all the time, and I have to smile. It’s a bit like being told, ‘you don’t look like you’re not wearing any knickers. You don’t look like you just had extra cream in your coffee. You don’t look like you’ve been reading Cosmo in the ladies room.’
Contrary to popular belief, most erotica writers actually do look exactly like erotica writers. In fact I look exactly like an erotica writer. Problem is most people don’t know what erotica writers look like. And, fair enough, I have to admit we’re a very difficult lot to recognize, so I’m going to give a very short crash course in how to spot an erotica writer. Not that it’ll help much. We’re masters of disguise. But perhaps it will give some idea of what you're actually up against so you won’t feel so bad next time you discover that the woman checking you out at the pharmacy, or the bloke tapping away on his laptop at Starbucks, or the chick picking up her kids after school is an erotica writer.
First, you need to know what NOT to look for in an erotica writer. Unless said writer is doing a reading from her erotic writings and is trying to look like people expect an erotica writer to look, the person least likely to be an erotica writer is the one dressed in fishnet stockings and nose-bleed stilettos. Likewise don’t expect her to be the one with peek-a-boo cleavage and a leather mini, or the one with Dita Von Teese make-up.
In fact, the most outstanding thing about an erotica writer is that she doesn’t stand out. In fact it's to her benefit not to stand out. She’ll be the one in the coffee shop in the corner in the back. She’ll be wearing jeans and a jumper because minis and tiny tops are just too damn cold and uncomfortable to sit around and write in, and erotica writers are endlessly practical. She probably won’t be wearing any make-up because the time it takes to put on a face is time that could be spent getting down the fab hot story idea that came to her while she was cleaning her teeth this morning.
Yep, chances are very good you won’t notice her at all, but she’ll notice you. She’ll notice everyone and everything around her, and she’ll filter it all through the mind set of possibilities, sexy possibilities, stories to be woven, and heat to be generated on the written page. She’ll have her head down, writing like a mad woman. And if she has a quirky little smile half plastered across her face, you’ll know she’s found the hot idea she’s been looking for.
Some erotica writers don’t stand out because they didn’t even make it to the coffee shop. They’re still curled up at home in their pajamas with a cuppa writing a story sparked off by a dream they had. They may be in their most comfy track suit, hair pulled back in a ponytail, feet snuggled in fuzzy slippers while they tap away on the laptop at the kitchen table. They may be scribbling away in a little purple notebook during their lunch break at the office.
It’s hard to say where they’ll turn up, or how they’ll disguise themselves, or what occupation they might take up to fit in to every-day, non-erotica-writing society. But it’s a pretty good bet that when they do decide to reveal themselves, you’ll still be picking your jaw up off the floor saying, ‘Wow, you sure don’t LOOK like someone who writes erotica.’
I get that all the time, and I have to smile. It’s a bit like being told, ‘you don’t look like you’re not wearing any knickers. You don’t look like you just had extra cream in your coffee. You don’t look like you’ve been reading Cosmo in the ladies room.’
Contrary to popular belief, most erotica writers actually do look exactly like erotica writers. In fact I look exactly like an erotica writer. Problem is most people don’t know what erotica writers look like. And, fair enough, I have to admit we’re a very difficult lot to recognize, so I’m going to give a very short crash course in how to spot an erotica writer. Not that it’ll help much. We’re masters of disguise. But perhaps it will give some idea of what you're actually up against so you won’t feel so bad next time you discover that the woman checking you out at the pharmacy, or the bloke tapping away on his laptop at Starbucks, or the chick picking up her kids after school is an erotica writer.
First, you need to know what NOT to look for in an erotica writer. Unless said writer is doing a reading from her erotic writings and is trying to look like people expect an erotica writer to look, the person least likely to be an erotica writer is the one dressed in fishnet stockings and nose-bleed stilettos. Likewise don’t expect her to be the one with peek-a-boo cleavage and a leather mini, or the one with Dita Von Teese make-up.
In fact, the most outstanding thing about an erotica writer is that she doesn’t stand out. In fact it's to her benefit not to stand out. She’ll be the one in the coffee shop in the corner in the back. She’ll be wearing jeans and a jumper because minis and tiny tops are just too damn cold and uncomfortable to sit around and write in, and erotica writers are endlessly practical. She probably won’t be wearing any make-up because the time it takes to put on a face is time that could be spent getting down the fab hot story idea that came to her while she was cleaning her teeth this morning.
Yep, chances are very good you won’t notice her at all, but she’ll notice you. She’ll notice everyone and everything around her, and she’ll filter it all through the mind set of possibilities, sexy possibilities, stories to be woven, and heat to be generated on the written page. She’ll have her head down, writing like a mad woman. And if she has a quirky little smile half plastered across her face, you’ll know she’s found the hot idea she’s been looking for.
Some erotica writers don’t stand out because they didn’t even make it to the coffee shop. They’re still curled up at home in their pajamas with a cuppa writing a story sparked off by a dream they had. They may be in their most comfy track suit, hair pulled back in a ponytail, feet snuggled in fuzzy slippers while they tap away on the laptop at the kitchen table. They may be scribbling away in a little purple notebook during their lunch break at the office.
It’s hard to say where they’ll turn up, or how they’ll disguise themselves, or what occupation they might take up to fit in to every-day, non-erotica-writing society. But it’s a pretty good bet that when they do decide to reveal themselves, you’ll still be picking your jaw up off the floor saying, ‘Wow, you sure don’t LOOK like someone who writes erotica.’
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Snow Daze! Kinky Christmas Rescheduled
The Kinky Christmas Reading has been rescheduled for next Friday, 10th December at Sh! Hoxton, 7:00-8:30 due to the fact that all the readers are snowbound! And I'm sure a good few of the listeners are too.
Same time, same place next week. The Sh! Ladiez will provide the pink fizz and plenty of Christmas cheer. And Kristina Lloyd, Scarlett French and I will don our reading voices and break out our best kink for the occasion. Hope to see you there!
Monday, 29 November 2010
Charlotte Stein's hot new novel, 'Control,' A Must Read!
Be warned. 'Control’ is one of those novels. Once you’ve settled in to read Charlotte Stein’s delicious erotic romance, you won’t want to put it down until you’ve properly finished and relished every last word.
Madison Morris’s naughty bookstore, Wicked Words, seems a strange place for repressed Gabriel Kaufman to take up employment, especially when Madison’s training techniques evolve to a kinky threesome with aggressive Andy Yarrow. But Gabriel is up for the training, and they all get a lot more than they bargained for.
‘Control’ is a novel full of kinky, naughty heat with a plot that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go until the very last satisfying sentence. ‘Control’ is sexy, funny, romantic, poignant, and always compelling. But it is the magnificent chemistry between her characters and the delicious interplay amongst them that makes Charlotte Stein’s novel truly unstoppable. Absolutely a must read.
Madison Morris’s naughty bookstore, Wicked Words, seems a strange place for repressed Gabriel Kaufman to take up employment, especially when Madison’s training techniques evolve to a kinky threesome with aggressive Andy Yarrow. But Gabriel is up for the training, and they all get a lot more than they bargained for.
‘Control’ is a novel full of kinky, naughty heat with a plot that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go until the very last satisfying sentence. ‘Control’ is sexy, funny, romantic, poignant, and always compelling. But it is the magnificent chemistry between her characters and the delicious interplay amongst them that makes Charlotte Stein’s novel truly unstoppable. Absolutely a must read.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Fannying Around Equals Woman Power
I had the pleasure of attending the first meeting of the share and self-help group, Fannying Around at Sh! Portobello Thursday night. Fannying Around is the brain child of the indomitable Sarah Berry, editor of Foreplay Magazine, and all around fabulous chick. There were a dozen of us in attendance, all from varying walks of life, all bringing our various issues and personal relationships with our own fannies to the group.
It didn’t take much wine, or much prodding from Sarah before one thing became obvious; we women want to talk about our fannies and our sexuality. As we all laughed and shared, it also became obvious that we all remembered times in our lives when we felt alone, when we felt it wasn’t safe to share, when we kept our feelings,our questions and our thoughts about our sexuality to ourselves.
I found myself thinking about the ancient tale that rears its head in multiple forms, but the two most memorable are The Wife of Bath’s Tale in The Canterbury Tales, and The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell. In both stories a knight is forced to marry a hideous hag. On their wedding night, the hag offers her bridegroom the choice to have her lovely in the marriage bed for his eyes only and hideous during the day, or to have her lovely during the daytime for the eyes of the world while reverting to a hag at night. In both tales the knight leaves the choice to his bride. Because he gives her the choice, she rewards him by always being beautiful. When I first read these stories, I remember thinking how interesting it was that the true beauty of a woman comes through when she has a voice, when she gets to choose. There’s nothing beautiful about victim-hood nor about being powerless. And when our voices are not heard, we are powerless.
Thursday night, the basement of Sh! was electric when female power, with female voices sharing and being heard and affirmed by each other. And the beauty was as evident as the power. Afterward, a good group of us took all that beauty and all that power right on over to the local pub and continued on.
The Fannying Around group will meet once a month starting in January. I plan to be a regular. I love being around powerful, vocal, beautiful women.
It didn’t take much wine, or much prodding from Sarah before one thing became obvious; we women want to talk about our fannies and our sexuality. As we all laughed and shared, it also became obvious that we all remembered times in our lives when we felt alone, when we felt it wasn’t safe to share, when we kept our feelings,our questions and our thoughts about our sexuality to ourselves.
I found myself thinking about the ancient tale that rears its head in multiple forms, but the two most memorable are The Wife of Bath’s Tale in The Canterbury Tales, and The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell. In both stories a knight is forced to marry a hideous hag. On their wedding night, the hag offers her bridegroom the choice to have her lovely in the marriage bed for his eyes only and hideous during the day, or to have her lovely during the daytime for the eyes of the world while reverting to a hag at night. In both tales the knight leaves the choice to his bride. Because he gives her the choice, she rewards him by always being beautiful. When I first read these stories, I remember thinking how interesting it was that the true beauty of a woman comes through when she has a voice, when she gets to choose. There’s nothing beautiful about victim-hood nor about being powerless. And when our voices are not heard, we are powerless.
Thursday night, the basement of Sh! was electric when female power, with female voices sharing and being heard and affirmed by each other. And the beauty was as evident as the power. Afterward, a good group of us took all that beauty and all that power right on over to the local pub and continued on.
The Fannying Around group will meet once a month starting in January. I plan to be a regular. I love being around powerful, vocal, beautiful women.
Rude Read Heats Up Deep Freeze
Yesterday evening Raymond and I bundled up against the sub-zero weather and headed for London and Sh! Portobello for the Rude Read, which was very rude, indeed. I think it's safe to say that, for a couple of hours, the Sh! Shop was the steamiest place on Portobello Road.The best thing about reading at the Sh! shops is all the fabulous new people I meet, and last night was no exception. There were people who had found out about the Rude Read from 'what's happening in London' websites, people who simply love Sh! as much as Raymond and I do, other erotica writers, and even mystery people who sipped fizz, listened, asked questions, and slipped back into the deep freeze that was London before I got the chance to meet them properly. I think it is safe to say that a good time was had by all. I know I certainly had fun, but then I always do when I'm reading from The Initiation of Ms Holly. Add to that signing books, meeting people, and fondling some of the wonderful Sh! toys and goodies. What more could an erotica-writing chick ask?
If you missed the fun, not to worry, the Kinky Christmas read at the Hoxton Sh! is next Friday. As well as reading, I'll get to listen while two of my erotica-writing heroines, Kristina Lloyd and Scarlett French read hot kink guaranteed to warm more than your heart. I, for one, can't wait!
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Kinky Christmas Read Friday 3 December at Sh! Hoxton!
Feeling a bit bah humbug this Christmas season? A little pink fizz and smut will get you right in the spirit, and I know just the place.
Join Kristina Lloyd, Scarlett French, yours truly and the Sh! Ladiez at Sh!, Hoxton for a little Christmas Kink. Be sure to put Friday, 3rd December on your calendar and stop in 7:00- 8:30 pm for a glass of fizz and a free Christmas treat while Kristina, Scarlett and I read kinky stories guaranteed to take away the winter chill.
We've all been looking through our stories for just the perfect kink to usher in the holiday season. We promise everything from hot, dark and twisted to randy tongue-in-cheek romance(not saying whose tongue or whose cheek:) There'll be steel dildos, Christmas crackers, leather, and lots more. Come join the fun!
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Erotica 2010 and Flying Xcite Books
I’m just back from Erotica 2010 with my book-signing hand well-exercised and my throat still raw from talking writing and books and kink. This was my first Erotica, and I don’t intend to make it my last.
I hooked up with the fabulous Kay Jaybee (who came from faraway places to join the party) at Earl’s Court tube station after we’d both run the gauntlet from flat tyres to delays on trains to tube closures due to weekend engineering works. We dropped our things at our hotel, had lunch then headed over to Olympia and the main event.
We just had time for a quick look around before the book signing. A quick look around was no easy task in such a large venue with such a variety of exhibits. Our recci took in everything from latex to corsets to photography, from art to jewelry to sex toys, from whips to dungeon kit to full body painting. After writing The Initiation of Ms Holly’s hot biker bloke, Morgan, I was especially keen on watching an artist clothing her lovely colleague in a freshly painted coat of leopard spots. There was something for everyone. If the booths and displays weren’t enough, there were on-going live performances headlined by Dita VonTeese.
The Xcite Books Booth was near one of the main corridors between exhibits, the perfect place to view the parade of people in latex and corsets, collars and leather, leashes and shoes! Wow, the shoes! There were stilettos and platforms and bum-high boots and biker boots in every colour and style imaginable.
I hooked up with the fabulous Kay Jaybee (who came from faraway places to join the party) at Earl’s Court tube station after we’d both run the gauntlet from flat tyres to delays on trains to tube closures due to weekend engineering works. We dropped our things at our hotel, had lunch then headed over to Olympia and the main event.
We just had time for a quick look around before the book signing. A quick look around was no easy task in such a large venue with such a variety of exhibits. Our recci took in everything from latex to corsets to photography, from art to jewelry to sex toys, from whips to dungeon kit to full body painting. After writing The Initiation of Ms Holly’s hot biker bloke, Morgan, I was especially keen on watching an artist clothing her lovely colleague in a freshly painted coat of leopard spots. There was something for everyone. If the booths and displays weren’t enough, there were on-going live performances headlined by Dita VonTeese.
The Xcite Books Booth was near one of the main corridors between exhibits, the perfect place to view the parade of people in latex and corsets, collars and leather, leashes and shoes! Wow, the shoes! There were stilettos and platforms and bum-high boots and biker boots in every colour and style imaginable.
The Xcite booth was well-personed with its fearless leader, Hazel Cushion at the helm. Miranda Forbes was there, as always, doing the work of two or three people. Two lovely young women handed out flyers for free audio downloads, or as Hazel calls them, eargasms. And the book racks and displays practically writhed with a constant influx of stilletoed, booted, corseted, latexed folk, as well as a good number of people dressed up like average Brits out for a day of fun and entertainment. The atmosphere was laid back and festive.
I settled in at a signing table decked in an Xcite table cloth and stacked artfully with gorgeous golden copies of The Initiation of Ms Holly. Once I’d made myself comfy, I retrieved my special blue book signing pen from the depths of my bag and did a few warm-up stretches to prepare my fingers for my first ever official book signing event.
I settled in at a signing table decked in an Xcite table cloth and stacked artfully with gorgeous golden copies of The Initiation of Ms Holly. Once I’d made myself comfy, I retrieved my special blue book signing pen from the depths of my bag and did a few warm-up stretches to prepare my fingers for my first ever official book signing event.
And sign I did! I lost count fairly early on, enjoying the banter about costumes and sexy Christmas gifts, about what inspired me to write Holly and what people were enjoying most at Erotica. In the midst of it all, Kay, who had gone exploring, brought back periodic reports of her adventures and inspiration amid the exhibits.Back from a short break, Hazel brought me an icy beer to quench my raging thirst from all that hard signing and talk, and one of the lovely Eargasm Chix thoughtfully brought both Kay and me a gourmet cookies to sustain us.
Once the signing was done and my energy was restored by alcohol and sugar, there was more exploring to do. Then it was time to watch Dita Von Teese. We watched the show from the mezzanine of the food court ensconced next to a lovely lady with a huge raven tattoo peeking up over the back of her silver corset.
After a day full of obstacles, eye-candy, book-signing, and sensory overload, we ended up back at the hotel talking writing and erotica over a bottle of Chilean red. The perfect end to the perfect day.
As I sit here in the quiet of my lounge, bleary-eyed from lack of sleep and still trying to take in the fullness of the day, I’m thinking about Hazel, who spent another long day today working the Xcite Booth at Erotica. Of course the way the books were flying off the racks, she may have run out of stock and had to close up shop early. Thanks, Hazel and Mirandas and Eargasm Chix for doing such a fabulous job! You a
ll rock! On a final note, as I was waiting to catch my train back home, I decided to check out the WH Smiths, and to my delight, I found Holly has arrived at Waterloo Station too, and she's all ready to travel!
It was a really good weekend!
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Book Signing at Erotica 2010!
This Saturday, at Erotica 2010 I'll be checking out the goodies and fondling leather and corsets all in the name of research for more hot stories. But at 3:00 pm, I'll be having even more fun signing copies of The Initiation of Ms Holly at the Xcite Books booth. If you're in the London area, be sure to stop by, do a little fondling of your own and get your copy of The Initiation of Ms Holly signed by moi. Erotica and the Xcite booth are very hot places to be on a crisp autumn day.
Book signing
Saturday 20 November 2010
3:00 pm
Xcite Books Booth
Thursday, 11 November 2010
The Business of Pleasure: A spanking good read
When Charlotte Steele scrapes together the money for the sex fantasy of a lifetime from a secretive organization called The Number, she never imagines that she will end up working there beneath the disciplined tutelage of Mr. Bryant and Mr. Collins. It's a rough, but exciting ride for Charlotte as the three plan and execute fantasies for exclusive clientele, and in the process discover a few secret fantasies they hadn't counted on. Justine Elyot never fails to deliver a red hot story full of intricate, horny kink.Her novel, The Business of Pleasure is no exception. From the very beginning we are drawn, along with Charlotte, away from her work-a-day routine onto a roller coaster ride that is the dark, secretive world of BDSM and kink, the world The Number creates for their clients. That world is richly drawn and sexy as hell, a world too steamy not to boil over into Charlotte's everyday life. The Business of Pleasure is a spanking good read on every level!
Be sure to visit Justine at The House of Elyot to learn more.
Monday, 8 November 2010
More on Sexuality, Spirituality and Creativity with Dr Dick
Be sure to catch Part two of Dr Dick's interview with me on his fabulous series, The Erotic Mind. Dr Dick tells me that the first half of our our interview was a big hit, and tons of people downloaded to hear us talk about the creative process and healing the rift between sexuality and spirituality. If you missed it, tune in, catch up, and find out why so many people are having a listen.Dr Dick is a Clinical Sexologist in private practice in Seattle. He has been a practitioner of Sex Therapy and Relationship Counseling for 30 years. He believes in affirming the fundamental goodness of sexuality in human life, both as a personal need and as an interpersonal bond. Plus he's an all-around great bloke!
Holly has Arrived at Terminal Five!
My darling Husband took this great photo at a W H Smith in Heathrow Terminal Five. Being my PR person extraordinaire, he stealthily rearranged the shelf so three other anthologies in which I have stories are nestled up beside The Initiation of Ms Holly. I suspected Holly would be there. Understanding the joy of seeing our babies on the shelves, as only another writer can, Justine Elyot told me she had seen it in Gatwick. Naturally I was anxious for photographic evidence of Holly in the airport, ready to entertain and titillate travelers on their long flights.
As I look at the photo, I have to smile. Several years ago, I had the privilege of attending a martial arts camp in Poland with the fabulous poet, scholar, kick-ass martial-artist, and all around great bloke, Afaa Weaver. In the airport at Krackow waiting to catch our flights home, we checked out the book shelves in one of the shops, as writers do. He graciously listened to me go on and on about the novel I was writing. When I finally took time out to breathe, he ran a hand along a shelf of books and told me, half joking, that once your book appears in the airport shops, you’ve arrived. Mind you, Afaa is someone who arrived long before I even realized there was a journey to be made. But I am so there now! In W H Smiths. In Terminal Five. (See photographic evidence.)
Airports are always places in flux, places of comings and goings. Arrival is also departure to new destinations as well as coming home. Airports are places of beginnings and endings. The Initiation of Ms Holly is on the shelf, and The Pet Shop is in the making. I have arrived at the airport. Now the actually journey begins. I can hardly wait to see where it takes me. I’m sure Afaa would see the poetry in this arrival.
As I look at the photo, I have to smile. Several years ago, I had the privilege of attending a martial arts camp in Poland with the fabulous poet, scholar, kick-ass martial-artist, and all around great bloke, Afaa Weaver. In the airport at Krackow waiting to catch our flights home, we checked out the book shelves in one of the shops, as writers do. He graciously listened to me go on and on about the novel I was writing. When I finally took time out to breathe, he ran a hand along a shelf of books and told me, half joking, that once your book appears in the airport shops, you’ve arrived. Mind you, Afaa is someone who arrived long before I even realized there was a journey to be made. But I am so there now! In W H Smiths. In Terminal Five. (See photographic evidence.)
Airports are always places in flux, places of comings and goings. Arrival is also departure to new destinations as well as coming home. Airports are places of beginnings and endings. The Initiation of Ms Holly is on the shelf, and The Pet Shop is in the making. I have arrived at the airport. Now the actually journey begins. I can hardly wait to see where it takes me. I’m sure Afaa would see the poetry in this arrival.
Friday, 5 November 2010
The Pet Shop is on its way!
I'm celebrating great news! Xcite Books will be publishing my second novel, The Pet Shop, in the UK October 2011, and in the US and Canada January 2012.
Here's just a tiny peek of what you'll find inside The Pet Shop:
When STELLA JAMES jokingly blames her lack of a sex life on her demanding new job with the STRIGIDA COMPANY, a human Pet from the mysterious PET SHOP isn’t exactly the solution she had in mind. But Strigida sends her, TINO, complete with a collar, a leash, and an erection, and Stella discovers that the pleasure of keeping Pets, especially this Pet, is extremely addicting, and anything but simple.
The Pet Shop is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast but the jury is still out on which is which.
Here's just a tiny peek of what you'll find inside The Pet Shop:
When STELLA JAMES jokingly blames her lack of a sex life on her demanding new job with the STRIGIDA COMPANY, a human Pet from the mysterious PET SHOP isn’t exactly the solution she had in mind. But Strigida sends her, TINO, complete with a collar, a leash, and an erection, and Stella discovers that the pleasure of keeping Pets, especially this Pet, is extremely addicting, and anything but simple.
The Pet Shop is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast but the jury is still out on which is which.
Monday, 1 November 2010
Talking Sexuality, Spirituality and Creativity with Dr. Dick
I'm very excited to be Dr. Dick's guest for the next two weeks on his fabulous podcast series The Erotic Mind. I recently discovered The Erotic Mind series, and I'm definitely hooked! Dr Dick and I talk about sex and religion and the creative process and lots of other exciting topics.
Dr Dick is a Clinical Sexologist in private practice in Seattle. He has been a practitioner of Sex Therapy and Relationship Counseling for 30 years. He believes in affirming the fundamental goodness of sexuality in human life, both as a personal need and as an interpersonal bond. Plus he's an all-around great bloke!
Part 2 of Dr Dick's interview with me will be 8th November. Put it on your calendar.
Don't miss Dr. Dick's other two on-going interview series, Sex Edge-U-cation, and Sex Wisdom.
Biology is a Bitch! Bring on the Erotica!
In the now notorious interview with Attitude Magazine, Stephen Fry may or may not have been joking in saying that straight men feel they "disgust" women, who only have sex because that "is a price they are willing to pay for a relationship." Apparently Fry is on record as also being of the opinion that women don't really like sex. If they did, they would "go to Hampstead Heath and meet strangers to shag behind a bush."
The remarks and the uproar they’ve caused make me wonder how much value can be placed on any comment about women’s attitudes toward sex without taking into account the fact that biology is a bitch.
Women are practical. Women count the cost. And with the biological cost so high, it’s not surprising that women’s approach to sex tends to be a little more cautious then men's. I’d like to mention just two of those biological biggies that should be taken into consideration before attempting to expound upon woman’s attitudes toward sex.
1. Women can, and often do get pregnant, while on the other hand, men do not. It takes a man… well not very long, to father a child, an act he can easily and often repeat at will with very little consequence.
Biology, however, has designed women with a propensity toward pregnancy. That same pesky imperative to pass on the genes to the next generation which may compel a man to scatter his seed far and wide demands that a woman incubate and nest and raise. For women, that involves nine months of carrying a child inside her body at considerable danger to her own health. And that’s just the beginning. According to an article in the Guardian, in the U.K. the cost of raising a child to age 21 is now a staggering ₤200,000! Not wonder most women aren't anxious to tackle this alone.
2. Size is everything! Men are bigger, and stronger than women. Women are only about half as strong as men in the upper body, and about two-thirds as strong in the lower. Top that off with a good dose of testosterone for added aggression, and it’s not too difficult to see why most women would think twice before joining a shag fest in the shrubs.
For women sex will always be a calculated risk. It sucks, but it’s true. It doesn’t mean we want it any less, or think about it any less often, or need it any less than men do.
The tremendous rise in sales of erotica for women is evidence to just how much women do think about sex. Biology may be a bitch, but erotica is our friend. And, being practical, women are aware that ertocia is a sexual outlet for which there is no risk of pregnancy, no risk of rape or violence, and no ₤200,000, twenty-one year price tag. Women may not be shagging in the shrubbery, but it’s pretty clear, women most definitely DO love sex, and think about it often.
The remarks and the uproar they’ve caused make me wonder how much value can be placed on any comment about women’s attitudes toward sex without taking into account the fact that biology is a bitch.
Women are practical. Women count the cost. And with the biological cost so high, it’s not surprising that women’s approach to sex tends to be a little more cautious then men's. I’d like to mention just two of those biological biggies that should be taken into consideration before attempting to expound upon woman’s attitudes toward sex.
1. Women can, and often do get pregnant, while on the other hand, men do not. It takes a man… well not very long, to father a child, an act he can easily and often repeat at will with very little consequence.
Biology, however, has designed women with a propensity toward pregnancy. That same pesky imperative to pass on the genes to the next generation which may compel a man to scatter his seed far and wide demands that a woman incubate and nest and raise. For women, that involves nine months of carrying a child inside her body at considerable danger to her own health. And that’s just the beginning. According to an article in the Guardian, in the U.K. the cost of raising a child to age 21 is now a staggering ₤200,000! Not wonder most women aren't anxious to tackle this alone.
2. Size is everything! Men are bigger, and stronger than women. Women are only about half as strong as men in the upper body, and about two-thirds as strong in the lower. Top that off with a good dose of testosterone for added aggression, and it’s not too difficult to see why most women would think twice before joining a shag fest in the shrubs.
For women sex will always be a calculated risk. It sucks, but it’s true. It doesn’t mean we want it any less, or think about it any less often, or need it any less than men do.
The tremendous rise in sales of erotica for women is evidence to just how much women do think about sex. Biology may be a bitch, but erotica is our friend. And, being practical, women are aware that ertocia is a sexual outlet for which there is no risk of pregnancy, no risk of rape or violence, and no ₤200,000, twenty-one year price tag. Women may not be shagging in the shrubbery, but it’s pretty clear, women most definitely DO love sex, and think about it often.
Monday, 25 October 2010
Another Rude Reading from The Initiation of Ms Holly 26th November at Sh! Portobello!
Mark your calendars Friday 26th November -- Reading at Sh! Portobello by yours truly from my novel, The Initiation of Ms Holly.
If you missed the fun at the launch party for The Initiation of Ms Holly at Sh! Hoxton store, not to worry. Here is another chance to enjoy some of the best and the rudest bits from Holly. And it's my chance to read to you from the legendary Pink Throne at the Sh! Portobello Store. Plus we all get to party with the fabulous Sh! Ladiez. A hot evening to take the autumn chill off.
More juicy details to follow shortly!
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Best Launch Party EVER!
Friday night we celebrated the launch of The Initiation of Ms Holly in style at Sh! Women's Erotic Emporium, Hoxton. The traditional Sh! pink fizz and cupcakes were the grazing fare of the evening, along with a lovely, and appropriately pink and scrummy banana cake that my dear friend, Helen Calaghan, made just for the occasion. We started the evening early with a pre-launch drink at the Bluu Bar right next door to Sh! It was the perfect place to meet up with old friends and new ones too before the bash began. I headed over a little early to get into the Killer Shoes, touch up the lippy and generally get in raunchy reading mood.
It was an all-star cast. The lovely Triona Adams, of Nun the Wiser fame was there for Holly's maiden voyage. And I felt expecially honoured to be able to celebrate with some of my very favourite erotica writers, Kay Jaybee, Jacqueline Applebee, Scarlett French, Kate Marley,
and
and Lucy Felthouse. Lucy is the founder of the exciting new website, Erotica For All, one of the best things to happen to erotic readers and writers in ages! If you haven't checked it out, do so.
The totally amazing Hazel Cushion, managing director and founder of Accent Press , of which Xcite books is apart, was also there. I can't thank her enough for all she's done to make The Initiation of Ms Holly a reality. Hazel, you rock!
Speaking of people who rock, the fabulous Sarah Berry, editor and all-around fearless leader of Foreplay Magazine was there. Her enthusiasm and passion for erotica and writing are inspirational.
For two and a half wonderful hours Holly had a fizz-flushed captive audience. I read some of my favourite raunchy passages, answered questions, signed books and in general had a fantastic time. When people weren't listening to me read the sexy bits they were wandering about, browsing the pink, toy-filled, fun-filled shelves of Sh! women's store, while the lovely Sh! Ladiez kept the fizz and cupcakes and pink banana cake circulating.
Afterwards, the party overflowed to a nearby Pizza Express where we ravenous partiers discuss writing and sex and networking and fun-stuff in general. The party ended up being only slightly less than a slumber party as Kay, Sarah and Raymond and I migrated back to the hotel room still talking writing, raunch and censorship.
Back home now, having had twelve much-needed hours of sleep, I'm still smiling all over myself. I can hardly wait for the next launch party. That means, back to work on the next novel, and lots more fun!
Special thanks to Lucy Felthouse for some of
the fantastic photos. Lucy, you're the best!
A TASTE OF HOLLY
Excerpts of The Initiation of Ms Holly are now available for your reading pleasure at Erotica for All and at Xcite Books.
WIN HOLLY
For a chance to win your free copy of The Initiation of Ms Holly, check out Eriotica For All and the Goodreads Xcite group.
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