BEA book signing today and flash giveaway of 5 copies of Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 ends tonight!

Two quick things: I'm off to Book Expo America (BEA) at McCormick Place in Chicago and if you'll be there, come get a signed copy of Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 from 2:30-3 pm in the autographing area, Table 9.



I'll be Instagramming my favorite book finds too (rachelkramerbussel) because for me, BEA is really about being surrounded by fellow book lovers, absorbing all the new books and excitement over books and exulting in stuffing my tote bags full of gifts for myself and others. It's a wonderful celebration and place to learn about this industry and I intend to take full advantage of it.

If you can't make it (or even if you can!), I'm doing a giveaway of 5 copies of Best Women's Erotica of the Year on my Facebook page (open to all, your choice of print, ebook or audiobook). Ends tonight at 11:59 pm EST so enter fast!



And bonus news: the wonderful Rose Caraway, my very favorite narrator, who narrated the audiobook and contributed to it, has shared her hot, wild story "The Carnalarium" on her podcast The Kiss Me Quick's. Listen and enjoy!

Do you like free books? Sign up for my newsletter and visit my Facebook page on Friday (plus a BEA giveaway)

I'm getting ready to head to Chicago later this week to attend Book Expo America (BEA), where on Friday at 2:30 I'll be signing free copies of my favorite of all my anthologies, Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 at Table 9 in the autographing area.



BEA is a book publishing industry event so most likely, if you're not an author, editor, publisher, librarian or press, you won't be there, but that doesn't mean I don't have free books for you too! If you aren't already a subscriber to my newsletter, get on that ASAP (at the left-hand side of my Lusty Lady blog or at rachelkramerbussel.com) so you can enter to win a signed copy of Dirty Dates in my next newsletter giveaway exclusive, coming this week. And so that nobody feels left out of the Best Women's Erotica love, on Friday, May 13th I'll be posting a flash giveaway on my Facebook page, so stay tuned for that - you'll have to act fast to win!

BEA = Books Everywhere, Aaaaahh!

I'm heading into New York today for Book Expo America at the Davits Center, where I'll be signing free copies of Come Again: Sex Toy Erotica at 2:30 in the autographing area and, I believe, 3:30 at the Cleis Press booth. However, if you've been following my Instagram account or blog, you know I'm moving very soon to South Jersey. Which means I am purging books left and right.

Considering the fact that free stuff is catnip to my hoarder lust, the prospect of being in a convention center full of free books and not being able to take them feels utterly masochistic. Good thing I am a masochist in many ways, then! Truly, it will be a challenge, because cracking open a new book fills me with such joy; it's one of the greatest things I can think of to do with my time. It's a gift, and for me, Book Expo has always been about soaking in the atmosphere of books, books and more books, of being surrounded by book people, of geeking out on publishing. Yes, I can do that while I'm moving, but it's not the same, and I already feel left out and I haven't even arrived.

That being said, I can't wait to take notes on what to read after I move. I'll be posting pics so check my Instagram (rachelkramerbussel).

Let the BEA book lovers madness begin: signings, readings and fun

This week is Book Expo America at the Javits Center, my favorite event of the year; I love the energy and excitement of being surrounded all over by books and book people, by people who read. I didn't go yesterday but downtown I did run into author Wendy McClure, Patrick Hughes, who is now with Central Recovery Press, who published the memoir Dopefiend by Best Sex Writing 2012 contributor Tim Elhajj, and someone from UK distributor Turnaround, and am excited to see lots of friends and possibly sneak in to the Natalie Merchant signing today. This year bookstores have been offering $45 Power Reader passes to shoppers and if you like books and can get to New York City, I cannot recommend BEA enough, triple or quadruple that if you're a writer. Seeing the sheer size of what's being published, getting catalogs, meeting authors and publicists and editors, all of it, for me, is energizing in its own unique way. It helps remind me that books are my favorite thing in the world and that I'm honored to be a part of it in a way I wasn't when I started going to BEA in, I believe 2002.

Here's what I'm up to this week:

June 5 - Book Expo America signing 11:30-12:30 in the autographing area, signing 1-2 at the PGW booth, Javits Center

June 6 - lesbian erotica reading, 7 pm, at Bluestockings, 72 Allen Street, NYC, featuring authors and editors from The Harder She Comes: Butch Femme Erotica, Say Please: Lesbian BDSM Erotica and Girl Fever: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex for Lesbians

June 7 - noon, speaking at Blog World YouSayToo Booth Speaker Series “Building Audience & Community Around Your Passion.” Javits Center.

June 8 - 7 pm, Suite Encounters: Hotel Sex Stories reading and free cupcakes! Bluestockings, 72 Allen Street, NYC

Waking up next to her makes a rough week a little better

Trying to snap out of this rough week's mindset so I can appreciate my vacation this weekend and leave the ills of New York and self-sabotage behind. Excited to spend some time away and also to come back and hopefully have both perspective and creativity, two things I've been lacking lately. Waking up next to this fluffy, friendly one has helped, and I get to do it next week too!

When I was little I always begged my mom for a cat. "If you're not going to get me a cat, don't get me anything," I said before I think my 8th or 9th birthday. But I was allergic and we lived in an apartment building where they weren't allowed. I wasn't hearing it. I honestly don't know if I'd be good at taking care of a cat in the long-term, but I don't have to worry about that. In the short time, like tonight and tomorrow morning, I get to cuddle with her, which is perfect, cause talking to people I would probably not be so successful at right now.

It's such a close shot cause she was lying on my chest. So, onward. I am very good at lamenting what I haven't done, but am trying to focus on what I can do in the moment, like write about BEA fatigue. And masturbation. And gay threesomes. The usual mix. I will tell you that the best book I got at BEA (obviously haven't read them all, but I can tell) is Pesi Dinnerstein's forthcoming memoir from Seal Press, A Cluttered Life: Searing for God, Serenity, and My Missing Keys. I grabbed it this morning...after frantically looking for my keys.

She nails things in just the first few pages I've read that could be straight out of my head, about the reasons behind hoarding and clutter and filling ourselves up with all the things we fill ourselves up with, women like us. I am trying not to do that, yet that process seeps in, whether it's filling up my hand with to do list items or my bags or my home or my mouth. Unlearning, or avoiding, lifelong bad habits is extremely challenging. They are comforting even when they're clearly dysfunctional, hence I make the same errors when it comes to not finishing, procrastinating, spending, clutter, whatever, over and over again. It's why I'd rather not drink at all than even give myself the option.

I'd rather choose nothing because I don't think I'll ever be fully rid of my all or nothing mindset; that's the rationale behind my short-lived dating hiatus. I couldn't trust myself and my "all" in terms of dating was both literal and full of bad decisions, ones that often, in the moment, felt good. I could talk myself into justifying them just like I do with all the other arenas where I'm careening into negative behaviors. It's not just a daily thing but sometimes an hourly, or by the minute, process of pulling myself out of that darkness. I almost lost it yesterday with such a wave of self-hatred I could barely get myself back for my signing, let alone smile and act happy to sign books. But I did and by the end I actually was kindof happy to have signed all the copies of Gotta Have It that were placed in front of me. I gave out swag and people not only looked excited to read the book, lots were giving it as gifts, and I wrote down the URL for the hotel erotica anthology I'm editing. Thank you to everyone who came to that signing for helping me see that failure isn't such an all or nothing prospect. It's one (or, okay, three or ten) failures, paired with lots of successes. There isn't a scorecard; it's just life, and sometimes I make good decisions and live up to my potential, and sometimes I bomb hard. I know there is a lesson in the bombing; I'm still trying to figure out what that is and find a way to prove to myself that I can meet my goals. I can't try to live up to anyone else's goals for me; that is a road to ruin, but I can make goals for myself and hold myself accountable, and that is what I'm trying to do in this crazy year of 35 that much of the time I just wish were over.

One lesson I learned this week is that having a cat stick her wet little nose all up in my face and show me so much unconditional love was both adorable and really healing. She doesn't care in the least about any of my human flaws and problems and I totally needed that. It was an unexpected bit of catsitting and I'm very grateful for the opportunity.

Free erotica books (Gotta Have It) at BEA tomorrow; new jewelry by Objets d'Envy

Crazy busy with a bazillion deadlines, plus tomorrow I'm going to Book Expo America, where I've been going every year since I think 2002, certainly before anyone ever entertained the notion of having me edit (or, uh, write) a book. I love it, though I think my enthusiasm level has dialed down marginally; mostly, I am looking forward to having time to actually read all the amazing books that have come into my possession lately, like the memoirs Wanderlust by Elisabeth Eaves and My Year with Eleanor by Noelle Hancock and the novel America Pacifica by Anna North and...lots of others. I am excited to pick up a copy of Between Here and Forever by one of my favorite YA authors, Elizabeth Writes, meet with my publicist from Rare Bird Lit and generally stuff as many free books into my bags as I can, and hunt down publicists I pester with emails all year. And maybe someone will be serving cupcakes, or at least little snacks. I so can't wait until I take the first true vacation I've had in longer than I can remember this weekend. Sortof a sad statement that on my own I don't let myself take vacations, but thankfully that is changing and I get to explore Boston with someone who I don't seem to get to see enough of here and who knows it better than I do and is willing to walk all over the place with me (I think).

If you follow me on Twitter you already know how to get free books if you are up for Amazon.com reviewing (next will be Obsessed, which I'll be sending out in early July, stay tuned for giveaways and a NYC book party!). Anyway, tomorrow I will be bringing hundreds of postcards (decluttering for the win!) and if I remember, book buttons (I got them made for Please, Sir and Passion and somehow now have thousands of buttons taking up space in my home). So stop by and say hi and get a copy of Gotta Have It signed.

May 25, 1 pm - 2 pm and 3 pm-4 pm

BOOK EXPO AMERICA - SIGNING FREE COPIES OF GOTTA HAVE IT

You have two chances to get a free signed copy of Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, plus free book buttons!

1-2 pm I'll be at the Cleis Press booth, 4625A, and 3-4 pm I'll be in the autographing area (look for me).

Jacob Javits Center, NYC


bookexpoamerica.com

I'm a huge fan of Chicago-based jewelry company Objets d'Envy and my new favorite of theirs is their Demi necklace. I have it in three colors and am a little obsessed. Here's one of them:

At my BEA signing

I think I signed 140 copies of my IPPY Award winning anthology Best Sex Writing 2009 at BEA. It was really fun - thanks to friends like Douglas Wolk and Judy McGuire for stopping by, and to Cecilia Tan for snapping this photo!

someecards.com rocks BEA

Love this and their holiday-themed postcard book is off the hook! Check out their site for more hilarity. See all my 2009 BEA photos in this Flickr set.

Book signing at BEA!

Me and my mosquito bites will be signing free copies of Best Sex Writing 2009 Friday from 12:30-1:30 at Book Expo America, autographing area, Table 11! I am so so excited. I'll be Tweeting and maybe even vlogging for the next 3 days from there. And I'm going to the Tweetup tomorrow night after I get my gold medals for the IPPY Awards!

Other signings tomorrow you don't want to miss (well, I don't want to miss, though surely I will not be able to get to all of these). This list is as much for me to remember as to share. And if it looks all over the map, that's how BEA is, but so much moreso. Check booth numbers with official BEA schedules at the link above or at BEA.



Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover, Ally Carter, 9:30-10:30, autographing area

Permission Slips by Sherri Shepherd, 10:30-11:30, autographing area (unticketed, curiously)

Lit by Mary Karr, 11-12, autographing area

FREE: The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson, 11-12, Booth 3358

Getting It Through My Thick Skull by Mary Jo Buttafuoco, 1-2, Booth 2559
(I both think this is an amazing title, and, um, have read both of Amy Fisher's books, so really should read this)

Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles, 1:30-2, autographing area (I've been wanting to read this)

Live Nude Elf, Reverend Jen, Friday, 1:30-2:30, Booth 4437

Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz, 1:30-2:30, autographing area

Lost Constellations: The Art of Tara McPherson, 2-3, Booth 2759

The Mere Future by Sarah Schulman, 2-3, Booth 4514

Secret Society by Tom Dolby, 2:30-3, autographing area

Obsession: An Erotic Tale by Gloria Vanderbilt, 2:30-3, autographing area

Watching What We Eat: The Evolution of Television Cooking Shows by Kathleen Collins, 2:30-3:30, autographing area

Going Away Shoes by Jill McCorkle, 2:30-3:30, Booth 3577

The Cake Mix Doctor Returns by Anne Byrn, 3-4, Booth 3577

The Memoirist by M.J. Rose, 3:30-4:30, autographing area

The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument by KRS-One, 4-5, Booth 4237

Topping the list of books I'm excited to get at BEA

...is this new one, Lost Constellations: The Art of Tara McPherson by Tara McPherson, just out from Dark Horse Comics. I first discovered her work from an album cover by Canadian band The Weekend, and a few years ago interviewed her for Gothamist.

Actually, I will probably get a signed copy for my friend Brett Jackson, of Meet the Jacksons, cause he's a fan too and is putting me and my mom up in Geneva in May.

Book Expo America: the excitement is building!

(click to enlarge)

Okay, maybe I'm the only one walking around with a printout of the autographing sessions and in-booth signings and a highlighter, but my excitement about Book Expo America, better known as BEA, is building! Oh, and they are now on Twitter.

I am signing FREE copies of Best Sex Writing 2009 on that Friday, 12:30-1:30!

Snapshots from BEA

More of my thoughts on BEA as a whole will have to wait. Oh, but I can say I'm excited for BEA 2011...in Vegas! For now, some photos!

The first people who greeted me after I went and got a press pass (because fiasco 3, after losing my cell phone and missing my plane - oh, and a $75 cab ride to Glendale - was realizing I had forgotten the BEA pass Cleis sent me at home) were these elves:



I like the books that are stacked in a pretty way:



My Cleis Press publicist Kara Wuest and marketing guru Austin Wallace, who not only are fabulous at their jobs but are a lot of fun:



Cory Doctorow signed his YA novel Little Brother for me - this is in my top 5 "books I will read ASAP that I got at BEA."



Kevin Smokler rocked his Booktour.com bowling shirt (yes, it had his name on the front):



I met Laurie Halse Anderson's daughter while waiting in line for Nikki Giovanni to sign Hip Hop Speaks to Children



Covers: (the big celeb covers I saw were the Olsen twins book and the Perez Hilton book)





Celebrity sightings: (also saw Arianna Huffington)

Alec Baldwin



Kevin Nealon



Dionne Warwick signed Say a Little Prayer: (it seems like a lot of celebs write kids' books, as opposed to...ones for adults, or maybe it just skewed that way since I was looking for kids' books for my cousins/friends)





I got Josie Bissett (Beverly Hills,90210) to sign a copy of her book Tickle Monster for my friend Ellen's daughter Clementine:



And I'm psyched for Angry Little Girls in Love by Lela Lee, out in October: (click here to see a larger version if you can't read it)





And, of course, cupcakes! The first book from Crumbs Bakeshop by Mia Bauer comes out from DK in October. It's called Crumbs Bake Shop in a Box and I think it may actually be a kit.



I got the two books I most wanted, but sadly didn't get to meet either author. Of course they're both memoirs by single(ish) moms:



Accidentally on Purpose: A One-Night Stand, My Unplanned Pregnancy, and the Best Mistake I Ever Made by Mary F. Pols - read it on the plane yesterday. Full review later, but of course it was moving, though seriously, every memoir I read lately has parental death in it. Gave me a lot of food for thought, about motherhood and about mothering those around us. Also gave me hope that my eggs aren't yet dead at 32 (Pols was 39 when she got pregnant/had her son).



And Trailer Trashed: My Dubious Efforts Toward Upward Mobility by Hollis Gillespie, which was originally to be published by ReganBooks (and I'd been told by an editor there it was to be called Sky Whore).

Recovering from BEA

I've meant to post about BEA but it's been madness involving lost everything, book overload, meetings, celebrity sightings (Arianna Huffington, Alec Baldwin, Dionne Warwick, Kevin Nealon, but sadly no Vicki Lawrence), sunshine, tacos, Rollerderby, bloggers, cupcakes, and cuddling. Aside from those moments of panic about losing all my belongings, I've been having fun. The no cell phone thing really isn't that bad.

More on BEA soon, but I have to get ready for the LA Cupcake Meetup at Lark Cake Shop.

I got to hang out with the wonderful mom and memoirist and funny lady Andrea Askowitz and our publicist and marketing manager Kara Wuest and Austin Wallace from Cleis Press. Here's Andrea reading at In The Flesh about pregnancy sex, or almost sex - listen to her to hear it. She's on the Misery Loves Company tour right now for her book My Miserable, Lonely, Lesbian Pregnancy.

Kevin Nealon at BEA

Before Friday, I'm going to post my "What looks good at BEA" post, but the lists are so big and I have a zillion deadlines. For now, I'm excited for Hollis Gillespie (new book is called Trailer Trashed) and Vicki Lawrence (yes, dressed as Mama from Mama's Family).

I also obviously want to get Kevin Nealon's book Yes, You're Pregnant, But What About Me? Check out this trailer for it:

Adventures in book covers: Going Gray

When I can't sleep, I look up books on Amazon, and add things to my wish list I want to read. Especially memoirs. This one looks intriguing. Though I must say, I'm really not a huge fan of the "and Everything Else That Really Matters" type of subtitle. It seems overdone and a bit hyperbolic, and also almost like saying that before writing the book/embarking on the adventure, the author knew nothing. But I'll forgive her that because I love these kinds of books in general.

Especially since BEA is around the corner, I'm jonsesing for big piles of new books to devour. I'm making BEA plans now and it's crazy, but in a good way, so many cool agents and editors to say hello to and authors to interact with. I'm signing Lambda Literary Award finalist Glamour Girls: Femme/Femme Erotica (free! come get one for your favorite lesbian or boobiesexual) at Haworth's booth (1503) on Saturday, June 2nd, at 1 pm along with Michael Luongo (editor of Looking for Love in Faraway
Places and reader at June 20th's In The Flesh GLBT Night), Greg Herren (editor of His Underwear, which contains my story "Mystery Man"), and Robert Taylor (author of A Few Hints and Clews).



Going Gray: What I Learned about Beauty, Sex, Work, Motherhood, Authenticity, and Everything Else That Really Matters by Anne Kreamer