Greetings from Austin, see you tonight at Bookwoman and Thursday at Bedpost Confessions!

Hello from Austin! I hope you'll join me or let your Austin friends know about my 2 events here this week, the erotica writing workshop tonight, Tuesday, November 19th from 7-8:30 at feminist bookstore Bookwoman at 5501 N Lamar Blvd A-105 ($15/person). Call 512-472-2785 to register or you can do walk-in registration too. Many thanks to do512.com, austintexas.org, The Austin Chronicle and CultureMap Austin for listing it.



Then Thursday night, November 21st, I'm expanding on my age play story at Bedpost Confessions, which sounds like a huge event and which I'm fairly nervous about, since I usually do better revealing those kinds of things behind the shield of my laptop screen, but I'm excited and think it builds character to do the things you're scared of. Bookwoman will be selling my books there too! It's the 21st at 8 at The North Door, 501 N I-35, Austin, TX 78701. Tickets are $10 at the door.



And a few fun photos from Austin so far, I arrived on Sunday and checked out the East Austin Studio Tour, which I highly recommend, and, of course, a bingo hall:




Fosters Tree - this was amazing, made with 9 miles of stainless steel!






I saw some little kids deconstructing one of these and thought it was allowed, like interactive art, until I saw them get reprimanded.


blue elephant behind Up Collective


We didn't win but I still had the best time playing bingo amongst what seemed like semi-professionals, with computers and words I didn't even know, though I liked that kids were allowed too!

My feminist sex toy store and bookstore tour: Northampton, San Francisco, Albuquerque, Austin and Portland, Maine

I wanted to put all my upcoming events in one post, and highlight the feminist sex toy stores who are community forces and who help keep people like me in business by providing spaces for events such as erotica writing workshops and lots of others. I had a fabulous time teaching at The Tool Shed in Milwaukee, where the only reason I resisted buying a toy was because I didn't want to subject it to the TSA in my carry-on luggage. I did buy this card though to send to my boyfriend, who told me it was the best card ever, so that worked out well:



So here's what's coming up (the workshop description is the same for all Erotica 101 workshops), with a few assorted other events like Bedpost Confessions and Literary Mischief in NYC thrown in, and I am looking into online classes, but first am focused on making these a success. If you know anyone in these cities who might like my events, please let them know.

November 3, 6-8 pm
Erotica 101 in Northampton, MA
Oh My Sensuality Shop, 122 Main Street, Northampton, MA, 413-584-9669
official Facebook page
Rachel Kramer Bussel, professional erotica author and editor of over 50 erotica anthologies, such as The Big Book of Orgasms, Women in Lust, Please, Sir and Please, Ma'am, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing. Learn how to get started, find your voice, and write against type. You'll discover how to incorporate everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies into your writing, and make them fit for particular magazines and anthologies. She'll also talk about submitting your work and keeping up with the thriving erotica market (including anthologies, ebooks, magazines and websites). Whether you're writing to that special someone, penning longtime fantasies, or want to earn cash for your dirty words, this workshop is for you. Please bring paper or writing implements or a laptop to use for in class writing exercises. A bibliography with erotica resources will be provided.
$20/person, please call 413-584-9669 to reserve a seat.

November 6, 6:30 pm
Free reading from The Big Book of Orgasms in San Francisco
The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories (Cleis Press) is editor Rachel Kramer Bussel's latest and greatest erotica anthology. This climactic collection of pansexual short shorts are perfect for bedtime reading to a lover or on your own. Whether getting off from exhibitionism, voyeurism, hot wax, dirty talk or a very special pair of blue jeans, the characters in The Big Book of Orgasms go all out for the Big O. From vanilla to kinky, and everything in between, there's something for all erotic readers here. At this special reading, Bussel will be joined by contributors Lily K. Cho, Malin James, Crystal Jordan, Sinclair Sexsmith, Donna George Storey, B.D. Swain, Virgie Tovar, Jade A. Waters and Xan West for an evening of steamy stories that's sure to leave you hot and bothered.
Good Vibrations, 1620 Polk Street (at Sacramento Street), San Francisco, CA 94109, 415-345-0400

November 12, 7:30 pm
Erotica 101 in Albuquerque
$20/person, $35/pair. Register at link below.
Self Serve Toys, 3904B Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, 505-265-5815, info at selfservetoys.com

November 19, 7-8:30 pm
Erotica 101 in Austin
official Facebook page
$15 per person. Call 512-472-2785 to register.
Bookwoman, 5501 N Lamar Blvd A-105 Austin, Texas 78751

November 21, 8 pm
Bedpost Confessions
I will be sharing a sex story at this three-years-running sex and storytelling night! $10 at the door.
The North Door, 501 N I-35, Austin, Texas

November 26, 6-8 pm
Literary Mischief with Slash Coleman. $10 admission.
Loft 227, 227 W. 29th Street, New York

December 3, 7:30-9 pm
Erotica 101 writing workshop
Nomia, 24 Exchange Street, Suite 215, Portland, Maine
Seating is limited and we expect this workshop to fill up FAST!
Please call the shop at 207.773.4774 to reserve your spot! $20 per person.

Austin, Texas Erotica 101 writing workshop

Yes, I'm coming to Austin in November for this November 19th erotica writing workshop at feminist bookstore Bookwoman, and then to tell a story on November 21st at Bedpost Confessions. If you know anyone in Austin looking to try their hand at erotica, please let them know. Thanks!

Erotica 101 writing workshop
November 19, 7:30-9 pm.

Professional erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, editor of over 50 anthologies, including The Big Book of Orgasms and Serving Him: Sexy Stories of Submission, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing. Learn how to get started, find your voice, and write against type. You'll learn how to incorporate everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies into your writing, and make them fit for particular magazines and anthologies. She'll also talk about submitting your work and keeping up with the thriving erotica market (including anthologies, ebooks, magazines and websites). Whether you're writing to that special someone, penning longtime fantasies, or want to earn cash for your dirty words, this workshop is for you. Paper and writing implements will be provided or you can use your own laptop. $15 per person. Call 512-472-2785 to register.
Bookwoman, 5501 N Lamar Blvd A-105 Austin, Texas 78751

I want your Frankenstorm sex diary and Austin events with StrangeLove and Shanna Katz

I'm in sunny, beautiful Austin, and will soon have photos and video clips from my wonderful erotica panel at Paramount Theatre (felt so fancy!) with Pat Tucker at the outstanding Texas Book Festival. The organizers went above and beyond and have even been helpful to those of us stuck in Austin due to Hurricane Sandy. I am still editing weekly sex diaries at Daily Intel and I'd love someone who's in the eye of Frankenstorm to write one starting today and cover Frankenstorm sex. Email me at sexdiaries at nymag.com and I'll send you details. Did you know 70% of Americans have had sex during a thunderstorm or tornado? Find out the storm/sex connection at Buzzfeed Shift.

Below are two fun events in Austin and as long as I get home in time, I'll still be at Williamsburg, Brooklyn sex shop Shag reading Cheeky Spanking Stories to you in the dark.

Tonight the band StrangeLove (stream their music free at their site!) perform at 12:30 a.m. at Saxon Pub at 1320 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin.

Tomorrow, October 30th at 7 pm, hear Shanna Katz give an oral sex workshop at feminist bookstore (remember those? they still exist but need your support!) at Bookwoman, 5501 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin. Details:

BECOME AN ORAL SEX AFICIONADO

You can’t be a superstar sex partner until you’ve mastered the subtle art of cunnilingus. For starters, you need to get your timing down, learn what licks feel good and how to be sure your partner is truly enjoying your efforts. Luckily, Oral Sex That’ll Blow Her Mind teaches all this and a whole lot more.

Whether you’re just getting started or are practically an oral expert, this book has just what you need. It’s packed with tips and techniques to improve those tingling tongue moves and features tastefully erotic photos of positions perfect for oral pleasuring.

Oral Sex That’ll Blow Her Mind is far more than a set of skills. It explains how cunnilingus helps you feel connected with your partner (whether you are the giver or the receiver) and how to enrich that experience.