1 new story by me in Bondage Bites edited by Alison Tyler

Updated September 18, 2015: Updated - only one of my stories made the cut for this book, so I've changed this post to reflect that. I've got a new short story in Alison Tyler's new anthology Bondage Bites: 69 Super-Short Stories of Love, Lust and BDSM, which is also available for immediate download in the Kindle edition. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a copy so I can devour it, but I can tell you I have a story in it called "Wiggle Room."



Here's a little teaser from the start of "Wiggle Room" about hot rope bondage.

For the rest of "Wiggle Room" and my other stories, you'll have to check out the book.

From "Wiggle Room" by Rachel Kramer Bussel

“That good, honey?” Ned asked, his gaze studying me in all my trussed up glory. One of the things I love best about my husband is how seriously he takes our bondage play. He’s a kinky nerd—the best kind, because he doesn’t just like to do things, in bed or out, but to understand why he’s doing them. When we got together five years ago, he was a virgin when it came to bondage, discipline, spanking or any kind of power play. “I don’t see myself as that macho kind of guy, Yvette,” he confessed mournfully to me one night. We’ve come so far since then.

I’ve shown him he doesn’t have to be what he considers macho to have me at his mercy. I’ve been there since he took me to a hidden restaurant and fed me all sorts of mouth-melting delights, then went down on me until I came so many times I was giddy by the end. Besides, I’m not into punishment play. He may swat me in the kitchen and tease me for being a “bad girl” because I’ve burned something yet again, but when he ties me up it’s all about getting off.

So instead of being bratty, I simply beamed at him. “Perfect,” I replied, which meant that I had plenty of room to wiggle against the pretty purple ropes he’d gotten me for our one-year anniversary. Not only is purple my favorite color, but he’d washed them to make them extra soft and even added little pom poms to the ends so they tickled when they brushed against me.

Supporting myself and supporting my fellow authors and editors

I haven't publicly posted about this yet, in part because I haven't known what to say, and in part because I've been busy with deadlines and teaching. Now that I'm between LitReactor classes, and actually getting over a cold as I prepare to hit the road for my Virginia and Maryland events and post my first call for submissions in a while, it seemed appropriate.

This year, in marked contrast to last year when I had to move because I wasn't bringing in enough income, I'm approaching work from a steadier place, but still one that is lived freelance check to freelance check. I'm working on doing everything I can to best bolster my business, including making smarter choices than I have in the past. I used to flit off to every event that asked me to speak, paying no mind to the cost either because I had a full-time job then or I thought it would be "good for my career" to always say yes. This year, I am soundly focused on minimizing my costs while also making sure I meet the deadlines for my steady writing gigs at Thought Catalog, Philadelphia City Paper and DAME and pushing myself to write for new venues. This means that I will be drastically cutting back on travel and events, even those in New York City, in order to protect my time for my work and my personal time. I'm learning that in order to have the energy, interest and focus to do what needs to be done, I have to say no almost as often as I say yes professionally, and think hard about the things I do say yes to.

It also means that I have to make the best choices for my career, including when I sign on to edit more anthologies, which I've held off on as I catch up on previous ones (which I am wrapping up this month). My approach is not the same as it once was, when I was crazily editing 6-8 anthologies a year, which meant a heavy workload for me, less enjoyment of the process, and what I see as my book sales cannibalizing each other. Now, I am being more choosy and doing fewer books per year, but putting my heart and soul into the creation and promotion of them. For instance, this year, I see Come Again: Sex Toy Erotica as my strongest release because it's likely to have the most widespread appeal, it's very fun, and it's one I'm incredibly excited about (my copies are shipping to me from the printer today!). Therefore, I'm putting a lot of my own time, effort and money behind promoting it. I couldn't do that if I had another book coming out right behind it. (That's all me and my particular personal situation; plenty of authors, especially romance and erotica authors, can and do successfully put out and promote numerous books per year. I strive to learn from them but also know my limits.)

So for every new book or writing project, I very carefully consider and decide how they best fit into my overall goals for my work and my business. Part of why I now strongly prefer teaching writing online is because the only cost to me is time. I approach any new business decisions the same way, which is why I hired a lawyer for the first time in my life to help negotiate the contract I just signed. Trust me, as a former law student who still feels tremendous guilt about dropping out, even 15 years on, this was not an easy step, but it was a necessary one that had an immediate result. It reminded me that I have to always work to protect myself first and foremost. I've made the choices that work for me, and will evaluate any future decisions on a case by case basis.

That being said, yes, I've been troubled reading the recent accounts by Violet Blue, Alison Tyler, and Kristina Wright about their treatment in publishing, by the press we share in common, all of whom I consider friends and colleagues and all of whom have published my writing in previous, current or future anthologies. I care on both levels; as a friend/colleague and as an author.

Here's the part where I don't really know what to say, so what I'm going to say is: support their work and buy their books. How have I done that? In addition to purchasing their books, by doing things like interviewing Violet Blue about her must-read The Smart Girl's Guide to Privacy, which genuinely changed how I approach so many aspects of my life; it's also being re-issued this July by No Starch Press and I strongly urge you to read it and take the necessary steps to protect yourself (see the book's Tumblr for more information). By mentioning their books, like Morning, Noon and Night in a column about sex at various times of the day. Stay tuned for Thursday's sex column about threesomes quoting Kristina Wright.

Here are covers and links to their recent or upcoming books. I hope you'll support my fellow authors' work and my work. I don't see this as an either/or situation. How can you support them? Buy their books, read their books, blog and Tweet and post on other social media about their books. Review them on Goodreads and Amazon. Spread the word. Follow them @violetblue @AlisonTyler @kristinawright on Twitter. Sharing book news counts for so much in an age when many of us, me included, find out about what we want to read next online. As someone who lives in a town without a bookstore, I do support brick and mortar stores when I'm in them, but most of my book purchases are made online because that's what I can access on a daily basis.

I'm proud of the stories I have in their books, and hope we all have incredible success whatever publishing path we choose because I believe the market has room for great sexy smut of all kinds. I'm linking to Amazon, as I often do, because they have an affiliate program and I think Kindle is one of the most common ways of accessing ebooks, but I encourage you to support your local independent bookstores and publishers. For Violet Blue's ebook titles, including erotica anthologies Filthy Housewives and Holiday Kink, get them from Digita Pub. Now, a reading list for you:

Bisexual Husbands edited by Violet Blue, out this Thursday, March 20th (read the introduction)



Official blurb:

Seven stories skillfully depict seven different bisexual husbands whose cravings for a same-sex tryst have reached the point of no return, and their wives can't wait to watch -- or join in, sometimes controlling the action. Layered characters and vivid, clever fantasies drive this compendium of bisexual men in loving couples who want to get dirty -- sometimes taking turns as the center of a three-way where there's truly no limits.

In "Your Turn" an unsuspecting husband is turned into a plaything by his wife and her dominant executive boss; in "Pick Up The Interest" a woman orchestrates payback for a secret same-sex favor her husband received in college. "Roger's Fault" watches a husband find out his wife wants to be "one of the boys" in a same-sex threesome; "Sparks Will Fly" finds a wife picking up a total stranger in an exclusive hotel for a surprise encounter her husband will never forget.

In editor Violet Blue's award-winning style, this collection takes graphic erotica, casts each story with complex and relatable characters, puts them in the hands of exciting writers, and blends literary erotica with hardcore. Bisexual Husbands delivers a rich erotic anthology, artfully spiked with charming cocktail recipes and playful tips for trying out bisexual fantasies in real life. Blue's introduction to the book "Bisexual and Voracious" features steamy story excerpts within an essay that looks at perceptions of male bisexuality and takes apart what everyone gets wrong about bi men -- namely, that they don't really exist. This book shows exactly (and graphically) just how hot bisexual men can be.

This book contains adult situations, including domestic discipline, backdoor and oral play, power exchange, role-play, bisexual men, and explicit scenes. The book also depicts non-monogamous relationships and sexual activity (and penetration) involving more than two individuals.

Alison After Dark: Sultry Stories to Keep You Up All Night by Alison Tyler



Official blurb:

Alison After Dark features nine naughty stories by Alison Tyler. "Insomnia" is Ms. Tyler's middle name—in fact, if you're up, she's probably up—and these tales explore many of the different illicit events that occur in the middle of the night. Themes include watching a girlfriend with another man, to cheating, to anal, to figging.

The sultry stories in the collection are a mix of brand-new, never before published pieces (The Keymaster, The Key, The Keyhole, All Things to All Women), as well as several hard-to-find stories (Too Dirty to Clean, The Prince and the Upholsterer, Cherry Slushie, and Seeing Stars). Finishing the collection is: Planes, Trains, and Banana-Seat Bicycles (originally published in The Mile-High Club).

Violet Blue says, "Alison Tyler is a prolific, sharp editor and a hell of a writer."

Publishers Weekly says, "Readers tired of sensationalistic portrayals of BDSM will appreciate Tyler’s nuanced and realistic approach..."

City Book review says, "Alison Tyler shines as a literary voice in erotic fiction."

This book contains erotic content and is intended for adult audiences only.

Three of Hearts: Erotic Romance for Women edited by Kristina Wright, out now in print and ebook, including Kindle (contains my story "An Extra Pair of Eyes")



Official blurb:

Three’s company? No, three’s a charm! Three of Hearts features sexy trios who are not just falling into bed, but are also falling in love. These stories fearlessly explore the emotional and sexual dynamics of three hearts romantically intertwined. Voyeurs and exhibitionists alike get what they want in Rachel Kramer Bussel’s “An Extra Pair of Eyes.” “What Happens in Denver” leaves indelible memories when three co-workers get snowed in during Cheyenne Blue’s romp. Editor extraordinaire Kristina Wright outdoes Kerouac in her wildly romantic “Three for the Road.” From a couple introducing a third person to their relationship for just one night of fun, to a woman torn between two lovers—who decides not to choose—and long-term triads who collaborate on all their desires, Three of Hearts focuses on joy in triplicate and female pleasure.

My 6 new erotica stories and 8 writing workshops to learn how to write and sell your own

Even though my mind is such that I tend to focus on the stories I didn't write and wish I had, it turns out that despite that tendency, I have written some stories that I'm excited about in some new and upcoming anthologies. Details of those are below. I've said before that one thing I love about the erotica genre is how welcoming it is to new writers; check out the new site Pillow Talk by erotica authors Tamsin Flowers, Malin James and Jade A. Waters for a taste of how they write. So I'm posting to let you know about these new stories and fabulous new books, but also because if you are interested in erotica, I want to encourage you to go for it. I'm teaching erotica writing workshops all over the country and hope you can join me; I tailor each one to be timely and encourage you to get your work to editors who are hungry to publish new authors ASAP. Yes, you could send something out now and have it published in an anthology in as little as a year. It's a heady feeling, and while that one sale won't bring you riches, it would cover the cost of my class and could lead to many other opportunities, especially if you keep writing. I know not all of you are in these cities, but if you know someone who is who might want to break into erotica, please let them know. It's my first time teaching at Sugar (Baltimore), Secret Pleasures (Washington, DC), Foundation for Sex Positive Culture (Seattle), Q Center (Portland, OR), and Early to Bed (Chicago), so I am especially looking forward to meeting many new writers.

July 23, 6;30 pm, Baltimore erotica writing workshop

July 26, 7 pm, Washington, DC erotica writing workshop - this class is limited to 20 people and filling up fast

September 9, 7-9 pm, Seattle erotica writing workshop

September 12, Los Angeles, erotica writing workshop (for CatalystCon attendees)

September 18, Portland, Oregon erotica writing workshop at the Q Center

September 28, 6:30-8 pm, Chicago erotica writing workshop

September 30, 8:30 pm, Milwaukee erotica writing workshop at The Tool Shed

October 24, 7:30-9 pm, New York erotica writing workshop

And here are the new books - enjoy!


Slave Girls: Erotic Stories of Submission with my very kinky blindfolded in a hotel room (yes, I love blindfolds!) story "Out of Sight"


Can't Get Enough: Erotica for Women
I've been reading and publishing stories by Tenille Brown for years so it's very exciting to see her publish her first anthology; looking forward to reading it! My threesome story "Under His Watch" is in this book.


Bound for Trouble: BDSM Erotica for Women with my nipple clamps and blindfold story "The Kissing Party"


She Who Must Be Obeyed: Femme Dominant Erotica - my story "Demo Model" is about a kinky demonstration


Summer Loving: 20 Sultry Stories
This summer-themed anthology is a benefit for erotica writer Sommer Marsden, whose husband has cancer. Read more about it at Alison Tyler's blog - it is forthcoming from Excessica.


The Sexy Librarian's Big Book of Erotica
I love this cover so much and am extremely honored that my inspired-by-real-life story "Book Swap" opens this anthology by podcaster Rose Caraway, who is my favorite audiobook narrator and has made my audiobooks Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex and The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories such a gigantic success (I'll crunch the numbers on my July royalty check, but the Gotta Have It audiobook outsells the print and ebook combined many, many times over, which is pretty amazing, while my favorite of my books, The Big Book of Orgasms, has been holding steady on the Audible erotica bestseller list since two weeks after it debuted, all thanks to Rose's genius. I'll be reading with her from the book September 15th at awesome independent bookstore The Booksmith in San Francisco - stay tuned for details.

Double the kink in July with Bound for Trouble and The Big Book of Submission

I'm counting the days until The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales is in my hands and will be posting more about it here and at @submissionbook on Twitter and on Tumblr and Facebook but today I wanted to tell you about a great companion book of bondage erotica also coming out in July, edited by Alison Tyler. It's called Bound for Trouble: BDSM Erotica for Women and it's cover and contents are hot, hot, hot! My story is called "The Kissing Party" and was inspired by reading about House of Scorpio's parties, which I've yet to attend but hope to someday. I took kissing and bondage and nipple clamps and kink and mixed them up into a sexy story. I hope you'll check out both books; The Big Book of Submission has 69 stories, each 1,200 words or less, so short but extremely sexy bits of kink, some of the best work I've published on the topic, and Bound for Trouble which promises to be as hot as all of Alison Tyler's work. Both will be available in ebook and audiobook form and for sale at all kinds of bookstores; I'm linking to Amazon because I'm part of their affiliate program and it's an easy way to link, but I encourage you to shop for these books wherever you prefer to buy books, or directly from publisher Cleis Press.


The Big Book of Submission

Blurb (this is the one I wrote for the postcards I made, which I'll be handing out at upcoming events):

What do you do when the person who pushes all your buttons orders you to do something that makes your heart pound—whether with fear, arousal or both? Gotta Have It and The Big Book of Orgasms editor Rachel Kramer Bussel is back with a new book bursting with BDSM stories of all kinds. From a student who returns to school his teacher in bondage to a woman tasked with taking x-rated dressing room selfies, these sexy tales exult in kinky power play. From spanking and stripping to dungeons and dinners, a “Naughty Prof” to “Breathless Obedience” and “Training My Dom,” these men and women go all the way in order to submit to their creative tops.

Bound for Trouble

Blurb:

Bound for Trouble is the tenth bondage-themed anthology for Alison Tyler, a veteran at collecting the very best BDSM stories for her readers’ pain-tinged pleasure. Bondage sends shivers (the really good kind) down spines. With Bound for Trouble, Tyler uncovered new jewels, glimmering examples of the ultimate in erotic writing. Every writer in this book focuses on a different facet of the bondage theme. Some characters use tools, some words, one uses paper chains. There are male subs, femme doms, and more. But what these stories have in common is addiction. And fascination. And obsession. Plain and simple, bound for trouble.

6 hot anal sex stories in my ebook Between the Cheeks

My just-published 6-story ebook Between the Cheeks: Anal Erotica is the perfect book to hold you over until the release of Baby Got Back: Anal Erotica (shipping to stores now!), or as an introduction to the topic! It's for sale for Kindle or Nook. And yes, careful readers may have read some of these before, but they're all here in one hot ass ebook.



Here's the table of contents:

Pink Satin Purse • Donna George Storey

As Long As You Don't Wake Me • Neil Gavriel

Apple Blossoms • Emerald

A Different Kind of Reality Show • D. L. King

Playing the Market • Angela Caperton

Worth It • Alison Tyler

And my introduction:

Anal Exploration

In popular culture, anal sex is often thought of as strictly a female receptive act—receptive to a penis, that is. Truth is, there's a wide range of anal pleasure to be had for people of all genders. In Between the Cheeks, that range is explored, savored, enjoyed. Each element of preparation, from fantasy and anticipation to tension, humiliation, curiosity and sheer delight, is drawn out, while all kinds of touch get their due.

Our desire for anal sex is often paired with mixed emotions—want plus fear, eagerness plus uncertainty. Good erotica plays up—and with—those fears, exaggerating them, exposing them, incorporating them into the story, since they are a part of life. In Neil Gavriel's "As Long As You Don't Wake Me," the male protagonist submits to his mistress, Jen, and even though he is eager to please her, aroused by the scenario, there is a part of him that is still a bit unsure:

“Just relax, you know you want it up there,” she said. And I did, in a way that was a little scary and raw to me. Of course, the reality was that I could do nothing to stop it, tied up and exposed as I was. That scared the hell out of me and excited me in equal measure.

After two women give him a threesome he wasn't quite expecting in Emerald's "Apple Blossoms," Brad is awed by what he's learned from these lovers—about their sexuality, and his own. "He stood in front of us, an unquestionable humility reflected in his eyes, his chest moving perceptibly as he finished catching his breath."

As you read on, you'll find strap-on play (pegging), rimming (analingus), anal intercourse and more, though certainly there are plenty of other anal delights a person can enjoy. Each story details not only the physical responses of the characters, but the mental ones, highlighting the mixed emotions that can make anal play, from either end (pun intended), so exciting. Here's Donna George Storey in "Pink Satin Purse," as Natalie discovers the intoxicating power she holds over her Keenan as he awaits her touch—and tongue:

Her hands wandered over his backside freely, stroking his thick, strong thighs, raking slippery fingers over his tensed buttocks, hard as iron. But when her finger somehow found its way into his valley, she faltered, caught off guard by the tender, silky flesh. Even more surprising was her husband’s deep sigh of response. Her chest tightened. As if she’d crawled into his skin, she felt the electric shudder of being touched in this forbidden place, a witch’s brew of shame and pleasure.

I hope these stories excite, arouse and encourage you to explore anal eroticism—talking and fantasizing about it, as well as engaging in it, with whatever body parts and sex toys (and plenty of lube!) you desire.

Rachel Kramer Bussel

Chess erotica/Naked Reader Book Club discusses G Is for Games

Tuesday night, August 9th, from 8 to 10 pm EST, the Naked Reader Book Club will discuss the Alison Tyler anthology G Is for Games, which includes my chess erotica story "Check, Mate." This URL is where the chat will actually take place.

Here's a snippet from my story "Check, Mate:"

Thinking about fucking him not only helps pump me up to win the game, it allows me to mask my true thoughts; I've never had much of a poker face, and have blown games when bursts of utter glee raced across my face, causing my opponent to revise their hastily drawn plans. The more he makes me wait, the more tempted I am to blow the game, fold my king in humiliation, sweep the pieces to the floor, and slam him against the wall. His slow manner seems to mock me, as if he feels none of the same urgency. In my befuddled state I drop my pen on the ground and when I bend down to pick it up, I really can’t help but look up at his erection. Oh, it’s there all right, silently straining against his jeans, thick and solid and all mine. At least, it will be once we get this damn game over with. I sit back up but still feel antsy, twiddling with the pen in my lap. His eyebrows twitch and he bites his lip as his eyes careen around from one side of the board to the next. Eventually I stand and stroll behind him, try to literally look at the board from his angle, from his side, but even so, I miss what he’s been plotting all along. It seems so obvious once I fall into his trap, but until then, I’m utterly confident in my moves.

I have no time to be shocked or fight back; his pieces have already entered my lair. I’m exposed just as surely as if I were strung up spread-eagled, my pussy open and vulnerable. That’s what I think about as I tremblingly move my king one short step away from doom. But he comes at me again, this time moving faster, pouncing. A quick glance at his face finds it smooth, unmarked by wrinkles as my heart pounds at this new development. The onlookers fade from my peripheral vision as we duke it out on the board. A glimmer of an exit path beams at me, but he squelches it in moments until my king stands naked, quivering, before I’m forced to surrender him to the obvious conclusion. Yet I don’t feel like I’ve lost; my brain is on fire, not to mention my pussy.

Surrender is a pick for Fast and Easy Book Club!

Check out the Fast and Easy Book Club, with selections by the wonderful Alison Tyler, over at Violet Blue's Tiny Nibbles blog, where there's also an excerpt from Teresa Noelle Roberts' excellent story "Daddy's Girl," which I think I can say is my favorite Daddy/girl story I've ever read, and maybe the only one I've ever published. To me what makes it so hot is that it delineates the role-play and explains it, without sacrificing an ounce of the heat of the story. (For more information about Surrender, click here.)

Here are their first picks:

"To put it bluntly, weddings make me horny."

No, not me, but the protagonist of my story "Wedding Crasher" in the new Alison Tyler anthology from Harlequin Spice, With This Ring, I Thee Bed which just came out. Here's a little bit more from the opening of the story:

To put it bluntly, weddings make me horny. Not the idea of a wedding, me in a frilly gown and veil, walking down the aisle with the mythical man of my dreams. I leave that stuff for other girls, ones far more traditional than I. I can get through all the shmaltz, the bad dresses, worse food, and even dismal music as long as I can find someone to make my night a little more interesting. It can be a man or a womanæor both at once! I’ve had some of the best sex of my life at weddings, and I think the reason is because even the cynics among us can’t help but get lulled into the sense of love and companionship that are in the air at a wedding. We want someone to celebrate with, even if we’re not breaking in the honeymoon suite.



Now or Forever by Nikki Magennis

Racing to the Altar by Sommer Marsden

Forever Hold Your Peace by I.K Velasco

A Lucky Wedding by Thomas S. Roche

Something Old, Something New by Sophia Valenti

Kiss the Bride by Lana Fox

One Last Time by Saskia Walker

Forsaking All Others by Janine Ashbless

Mother of the Bride by Cheyenne Blue

I Married a Gigolo by Jax Baynard

Strippers and Cigars by N.T. Morley

Something Blue by Shanna Germain

Speak Now by Heidi Champa

Wedding Crasher by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Blushing Bride by Bella Dean

Anniversary Waltz by Portia Da Costa

I Will by Erastes

A Vow for a Vow by P.S. Haven

Seven Year Itch by Kristina Lloyd

Rites of Passage by ADR Forte

Naked Nuptials by Alison Tyler

Love, Honor, and Obey by Rita Winchester

May the Best Man Win by Kate Pearce

Taking Vows by Kristina Wright

The Wedding Stoppers by Michael Hemmingson

An anthology I didn't flake on: With This Ring, I Thee Bed edited by Alison Tyler

Because I don't flake on all anthologies, just the highest-paying! Ha ha ha...or not. I hope I will get more chances at nonfiction, because that's where my heart is, but I will continue to write erotica for as long as the ideas show up. I'm hoping 2011 is the year of making amends and getting second chances to redeem myself for my follies. If not, oh well. But I am determined to cut out all the messiness and focus on what matters. This year and last I lost my way bigtime, and whether it's toxic people or bad behaviors, I'm cutting out everything that's a problem and cutting way back on time wasting so I can work on myself. I fucking need it, clearly.

Proofread my story "Wedding Crasher" that will be in Alison Tyler's 2011 Harlequin Spice anthology With This Ring, I Thee Bed. It's about a bisexual girl who picks up people at weddings, in this case, a hot male/female couple. Look for it in April and see the lineup below.



Now or Forever by Nikki Magennis


Racing to the Altar by Sommer Marsden

Forever Hold Your Peace by I.K Velasco

A Lucky Wedding by Thomas S. Roche

Something Old, Something New by Sophia Valenti


Kiss the Bride by Lana Fox

One Last Time by Saskia Walker

Forsaking All Others by Janine Ashbless

Mother of the Bride by Cheyenne Blue


I Married a Gigolo by Jax Baynard

Strippers and Cigars by N.T. Morley

Something Blue by Shanna Germain

Speak Now by Heidi Champa


Wedding Crasher by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Blushing Bride by Bella Dean

Anniversary Waltz by Portia Da Costa

I Will by Erastes


A Vow for a Vow by P.S. Haven

Seven Year Itch by Kristina Lloyd

Rites of Passage by ADR Forte

Naked Nuptials by Alison Tyler


Love, Honor, and Obey by Rita Winchester

May the Best Man Win by Kate Pearce

Taking Vows by Kristina Wright

The Wedding Stoppers by Michael Hemmingson

My fairy tale story "Let Down Your Libido" out now in Alison's Wonderland

Alison Tyler's latest anthology, for Harlequin's Spice line, Alison's Wonderland, is out now (in stock at Amazon, haven't been to a bookstore this week but if it's not in your local romance section, I'm sure it will be soon). I haven't gotten my author copies yet but it looks fantastic and is perfect for anyone who loves fairy tales.



There's a blog for the book where you can find out more. I was hoping to lure one of the readers to one of the last few In The Fleshes. If that doesn't happen, perhaps I'll read a taste of my story, "Let Down Your Libido." I love that there's a story called "Slutty Cinderella" and one called "The Midas F*ck." Fairy tales are NOT my forte so I'm extra honored to be included here.

Speaking of In The Flesh, postcards are here for the last 6 readings (July-December). Want one? Send your US mailing address to rachelkramerbussel at gmail.com with "ITF postcard" in the subject line.

I'm in Alison's Wonderland

I mean, my fairy tale-inspired science experiment story "Let Down Your Libido" is going to be published in Alison Tyler's Harlequin Spice anthology Alison's Wonderland, out this summer. Via her blog (click there for big version - my name's on the back cover, woo-hoo!). I will post my own book cover for them both once it's finalized and when I'm finally done with it. I know, it's been a looooong time coming (you don't even know the minute fraction of that saga, trust me).



Below is the table of contents. I'm still sorting out themes for the rest of 2010 for In The Flesh. August will be Sex on the Beach and perhaps I can have someone read from this book (or maybe I can!).

The Red Shoes (Redux) by Nikki Magennis
Fool’s Gold by Shanna Germain
The Three Billys by Sommer Marsden
David by Kristina Lloyd
Managers and Mermen by Donna George Storey
The Clean-Shaven Type by N.T. Morley
The Midas F*ck by Erica DeQuaya
Sleeping with Beauty by Allison Wonderland
Unveiling His Muse by Portia Da Costa
Always Break the Spines by Lana Fox
An Uphill Battle by Benjamin Eliot
Moonset by A.D.R Forte
Mastering Their Dungeons by Bryn Haniver
A Taste for Treasure by T.C. Calligari
The Broken Fiddle by Andrea Dale
The Cougar of Cobble Hill by Sophia Valenti
Wolff’s Tavern by Bella Dean
Slutty Cinderella by Jacqueline Applebee
Kiss It by Saskia Walker
Let Down Your Libido by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Dancing Shoes by Tsaurah Litzky
Gold, On Snow by Janine Ashbless
After the Happily Every After by Heidi Champa
Cupid Has Signed Off by Thomas S. Roche
The Walking Wheel by Georgia E. Jones
Rings on My Fingers by Alison Tyler
The Princess by Elspeth Potter

Sex shoes

I saw these shoes on Alison Tyler's blog and was entranced.

I don't think they'd be my exact sex shoes, but high heels turn me on. Just putting them on is often enough to get me going.

And I know I'm not the only one.

Happy Amazon Spike Day to me and Bottoms Up - now let's SPIKE SPIKE SPIKE it way lower than 26,890

Right now, as of 12:50 am EST, this is how my brand-new book Bottoms Up: Spanking Good Stories is doing on Amazon:



If you buy it anytime in the next 23 hours and 10 minutes in paperback (not Kindle) from Amazon.com, you will be helping lower this number, boost my sales, and be entered to WIN a paddle of your choice, from the multitude of offerings on Amazon. There are heart paddles, paddle brushes, leopard-print paddles, xoxo paddles, slut paddles, and so many more, and the winner, plus one extra winner, will also get copies of my 3 previous spanking erotica anthologies, Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica, Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z 1 and 2. Basically, if you're at all inclined to buy Bottoms Up from Amazon.com, you should do it today. (I also encourage you to buy it from your local indie bookstore/sex toy store, but only Amazon.com is part of my one-day promotion.)

There are 20 kinky spanking stories in Bottoms Up that I think you'll like very much. Visit the Bottoms Up site for a free sample and stay tuned for author interviews.

Publishers Weekly said that it was "whipped up by the popular sex blogger." Yes, that's me, whipping up books in my kitchen. Ha ha.

Here's what erotica writer Neve Black had to say about Bottoms Up:

I really enjoyed how each story is varied and complex, much like the characters - like in Donna George Storey's A Thousand Words, I could feel his shame mixed with all the kinky lust running through his pulsing veins...superb. Or in Alison Tyler's, The Hardest Part, the excrutiating build up and power struggle between the two characters was intense, which made the story sizzle-hot...fabulous. Sommer Marsden's, Bossy had me chuckling, aroused and I could feel each and every hard smack...Wow! Actually, all the stories are amazing in this collection, because I didn't know what was coming next. Every story is a new surprise. It's fun, exciting, kinky and hot. Once you read this book, you'll be searching for a paddle, a wooden spatula, or a lover's hard hand - spanking is good, especially when you've been bad. Enjoy!

ps. I kindof like this paddle, described as:

Leave your heart throb a throbbing heart with a solid swing of this unique paddle. With each stroke, a cut-out heart shape on the end will leave a red heart behind on the skin for a kinky visual effect! Covered in soft velvet, this paddle is excellent for dual sensation play - just glide the sensual surface over reddened flesh for an erotic effect. A wrist loop ensures the paddle always stays firmly in your grip.Color: RedType: PaddleMaterial: Velvet, VinylLength: 15 inchWidth: 3 inchSpecial Features: Velvet Surface, Wrist LoopWeight: 5 oz

latest Dating Drama column

Been busy with various deadlines and getting ready for Saturday's book trailer shoot for Do Not Disturb: Hotel Sex Stories (to be shot, yes, at a hotel) and next week's trip to the Bay Area (full details about all 3 readings TK) and forgot to post the link to my most recent Dating Drama column for The Frisky. It's about what the best time of the day is for sex, and I get to quote Alison Tyler even!

Stephen Elliott in purple fishnets

Because why not? This photo is from Alison Tyler's blog and is of Sex for America editor and noted author Stephen Elliott in purple fishnets (I love fishnets!). Enjoy!

Oh, and be sure to also visit Stephen's awesome site The Rumpus, which I hope to contribute to in 2009, for everything from what high heels say about sex, style, politics and power to a review of The Wrestler and much, much more.

Why the anonymous comment never wins

I kindof hate anonymous comments. I think they're a lazy way for people to hide behind...nothing. Stupidity. Not always, of course, but it kindof made me smile to see that Alison Tyler unearthed her anonymous mean commenter. And no, I have no idea who it is, and honestly don't care. My point is that you reap what you sow. Sometimes it doesn't seem that way, but I believe it is true.

I certainly read things I don't like, and sometimes I write about them. With, you know, my name. I would much prefer to write about things I do like, happy things, but life isn't always like that. But there is a difference between constructive criticism and bitchy anonymous hatred. Someone once left a comment on one of my Amazon blog postings wondering why a certain publisher published my stuff. I'm not quite sure why she didn't take that up with them, but that was not the right place for it.

Anyway, just found that kinda fascinating.

My story "Crossed," inspired by Dark Odyssey

I started writing my story "Crossed" while in the lobby of the hotel for Dark Odyssey earlier this year. I found the atmosphere ripe for writing, and below is the beginning of what I came up with. Something I talk about in my Erotica 101 workshops (hoping to be teaching more soon!) is using your surroundings as writing fodder, whether that means a desk, a bed, a kitchen, a moving vehicle. Obviously, a sex conference is a place that's ripe for this kind of exercise. I didn't do much there, save for spanking a few people (that was interesting in and of itself though) but I found the people around me, the atmosphere, and the furniture all of interest.

I parlayed my story into a finished piece that's just been published in Hurts So Good: Unrestrained Erotica, edited by Alison Tyler and just published by Cleis Press.

Crossed
by Rachel Kramer Bussel

I’m strung up on a St. Andrew’s cross, blindfolded, my breasts pressing through the space of the X as I face the wall, my back and ass exposed to any and all who want to look. And though my eyes may be covered, there are plenty who want to look. I can hear them chattering behind me while my husband, Chuck, readies his implements. I’m nervous, but the kind of nervous that makes my pussy tighten, my nipples harden. I like being nervous, I like trying new things. I like being pushed to my limits.

There’s a leather ball gag shoved in my mouth. I happen to know it’s purple, but only because Chuck told me after he’d blindfolded me. He bought it especially for me--large. I know because he used to use a smaller one on his ex, but he told me I not only have a bigger mouth, but I’m a bigger brat, and I needed more of a challenge. I’m such a competitive, horny slut that hearing this only made me open wide as could be. We both have mixed feelings about gagsæat the right time, there is nothing hotter than hearing a man or woman scream in ecstasy as she gets beaten in all the right ways. Those piercing cries can fill a room and become the perfect soundtrack to sadism. But there is also a charm in watching someone struggle, in being aware that those screams exist but for the moment are locked away, known only to the one holding them in. It’s like watching a silent movie, and the noise has to transform into some other outlet of pain, be it a wrenched face or muscle spasms or twisting and writhing, all of which can send any true sadist into orbit.

I should know, because despite my current enjoyable predicament, I am oneæa sadist, I mean. See, the two of us are switches, meaning that we go both ways kinkwise. We can get off on being held down, controlled, dominated, as well as being the one inflicting the best kind of pain in the world. I have been known to grin as widely as a lottery winner when I’ve got him over my knee and am turning his wide ass a beautiful shade of rose. But I can’t deny that being strung up, immobilized, cuffed into place is also one of the most highly charged fantasies I have.
We like to spice things up to make sure our lives never get stagnant. So for the annual BDSM conference we attend in our nation’s capital, far from our small Iowa town, we decided to bet on who would be the top and who would be the bottom for this momentous occasion, and who could get the other off the fastest. Having been high school sweethearts and marrying at age 20 (we’re now 42), we know a lot about how to make each other come. But apparently he knew just that much more than me, clocking in at three minutes, six seconds, while it took me three minutes, twenty-two seconds to make Chuck come in my mouth. Not that I’m complaining—first because I love blowing him and would gladly linger on his cock for an hour; and second because now here I am, with a whole audience watching my still trim ass and strong back as I await what will happen next.

For the rest, check out Alison Tyler's just-released anthology Hurts So Good: Unrestrained Erotica.

And the table of contents, direct from the editor herself:

The Sound of One Hand Clapping Nikki Magennis
Sting Jessica Lennox
No Substitute for Experience James Walton Langolf
Panty Lines Sommer Marsden
Lucky N. T. Morley
Testing the Water Teresa Noelle Roberts
Never a Rookie Craig J. Sorensen
Provocation Jay Lawrence
I Promise to Do My Best Teresa Joseph
Party Manners Morgan Aine
Trophy Buckle Rakelle Valencia
Toying with Lily Mike Kimera
Turnaround A. D. R. Forte
Flick Chicks Allison Wonderland
Equilibrium Anna Black
First Time Since Xan West
Omega to Alpha Diana St. John
Crossed Rachel Kramer Bussel
My Mainstream Girlfriend Stephen Elliott
Rock Paper Scissors Shanna Germain
All in the Wrist Alison Tyler

The Spanked virtual book tour is here - win a copy from Alison Tyler!

Today is Day 1 of the Spanked virtual book tour and guess what?

You can win a copy of Spanked from Alison Tyler! Get on over there to tell her your favorite spanking memory and read her thoughts on the joys of spanking. She also shows us these super-cool Spank Me panties you can buy on Etsy, and shares the definition of spanking - how hot is that? In the best, nerdy sort of way!

spank
–verb (used with object)
1. to strike (a person) with the open hand, a slipper, etc., esp. on the buttocks, as in punishment.
–noun
2. a blow given in spanking; a smart or resounding slap.

F is for "Fishnet Queen"

My story "Fishnet Queen" is in Alison Tyler's new anthology F is for Fetish, part of her awesome Erotic Alphabet series. (I also use all those teenage years of chess playing - but I was a virgin then! - as inspiration for "Check, Mate" in G is for Games.)



Here's the start of my story:

First thing I see are her legs, clad in the kind of stockings that make me hard just by thinking about them: fishnets. Her legs are long, and in her mini skirt, which rides up her thigh, I can see her pale skin augmented by the tightly woven black pattern that seems made just for her. She doesn’t just wear the fishnets, she owns them. I've seen women try to rock fishnets who simply can't pull them off, who wear them as if they were any other kind of stockings, tugged on hastily during a rushed morning, ripped in spots, slammed into sneakers, used and abused in the most careless manner possible.

There should be some kind of test when purchasing such delicate garments, I think, like an ID for cigarettes, but in all things fishnet, the test should be for class. I can always tell when a woman really cares about her fishnets, when she's the type who shakes them out before holding open the hole and sliding her foot into it, aware of every nuance of sensuality involved. I can tell when she makes sure that the seam up the back is perfectly even, forming a straight line right up to her ass, one I love to trace with my tongue, when she cares enough to buy the kind that have a seam. I can tell when the mere act of donning a pair of fishnets sends a rush of blood to her clit, when she morphs from gorgeous to goddess in the act, when she lets them transport her from ordinary to sex goddess. The rest of her outfit doesn’t really matter, nor how tall or short she is; a woman who wears fishnets like they’re her birthright is the kind I want to fuck, the kind whose fishnets I want to kiss and stroke and caress before ultimately peeling them down and plunging my cock inside her. Fishnet girls are all about foreplay, leaving me on the edge of arousal for as long as we both can stand it. That's the kind of woman I look for, who wears her fishnets not simply as artifice or armor but amour, who steps into her dominance one foot at a time.

Read the rest in F is for Fetish

erotica
fetish
fishnets