Exactly how a reading should go

I'll post more about the 2 readings, Thursday's with Susie Bright for X: The Erotic Treasury at Books Inc., and last night's FABULOUS one at Good Vibrations in Berkeley. Huge thank yous to all the Good Vibes staff for being so friendly, cool, and helpful (they laid out wine, sparkling water, cheese, crackers, fruit and something sweet I didn't try!) and were offering 15% off all erotica that night, Cleis Press, especially my awesome publicist Brenda Knight, and the readers: Tracy Clark Flory, Mary Roach, Violet Blue, and Mistress Morgana Maye. I was meeting Mary Roach and Mistress Morgana for the first time, and all were really inspiring. I'm not sure that I'd ever heard Violet read before, and she was fabulous as well. Picking out which one of her columns to include in the book was one of the biggest (though welcome) challenges of putting this collection together.

And of course thank you to everyone who packed the place and made it such a welcoming environment. I lived in Berkeley for 3 years and at the time never could've imagined I'd be writing about sex the way that I do. I didn't even use a vibrator back then, hadn't even seen one in person! Yes, I was a very sheltered college student in many ways. So that was very exciting for me and now I'm hoping to come back in April or so for Do Not Disturb: Hotel Sex Stories and The Mile High Club: Plane Sex Stories.


L to R: Tracy Clark-Flory, Mistress Morgana Maye, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Violet Blue, Mary Roach
photo via Violet Blue on Flickr; thank you to the man whose name I forgot who took it!

One of my favorite things to ask people is how they heard about the reading; some people said online, many said via the East Bay Express and San Francisco Bay Guardian. One guy had bought the book at GV and came back to hear us. Tracy's family was there, and it was packed and really fun. I love reading and editing, but there is nothing like hearing authors read their work, with asides, in their own voice.

Also, I was very honored to meet Ericka Lutz, who I've read online and off. I'm hanging out with the very cool Single Mom Seeking author and Rachel Sarah this weekend.

If you missed us or just can't get enough sex writing, and/or want the cupcakes I'm going to bring on Monday night, come on out to Booksmith at 7:30, Monday, February 2nd, to hear me, Violet Blue, and Tracy Clark-Flory. 1644 Haight Street, San Francisco. Violet Blue snapped this photo of the store:


(the misspelling of my name, though, really has to stop - I don't know where it comes from or why when paired next to a properly spelled postcard it isn't caught, but the same thing happened with GV in umpteen listings. it's not the end of the world, it's just that it happens ALL the time.)

As always, read more about Best Sex Writing 2009 right here.

My Bay Area mini book tour

I'm a bit crazed as I get ready for 5 days in the Bay Area. Just bought gifts for all the kids I'm visiting (baby twins, a 4-year-old boy and a 8-year-old girl). Have been trying to remember what I need to bring...like postcards plugging my Booksmith reading, and my copy of X: The Erotic Treasury to get signed.

Gonna do my best not to be online the entire time there, but I'm sure I'll be checking in. Sunday I think I'm gonna find a hotel, since it was so fun staying in one last weekend. I fly home on a redeye Monday night after the reading, then on Tuesday evening I have to call in about jury duty on Wednesday!

If you're not in the Bay Area, please pass this on to someone who is who might like these events. You can read my introduction to Best Sex Writing 2009 here.

January 29, 7:30pm

Books Inc. for X: The Erotic Treasury with Susie Bright
16th and Market St., San Francisco

Rachel Kramer Bussel
Greta Christina
Donna George Storey
Susie Hara
Susie Bright



January 30, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm (this is the right time)

Best Sex Writing 2009 reading
Rachel Kramer Bussel reads from new anthology Best Sex Writing 2009 with local contributors, including Mary Roach (author of Bonk), Violet Blue (San Francisco Chronicle sex columnist), Mistress Morgana Maye (Sex for America contributor), and Tracy Clark-Flory (Salon.com).
Good Vibrations, 2504 San Pablo Avenue (at Dwight Way), Berkeley, CA
FREE

February 2, 7:30 pm

Best Sex Writing 2009 reading
Rachel Kramer Bussel reads from her new anthology Best Sex Writing 2009 with local contributors, including Violet Blue (San Francisco Chronicle) and Tracy Clark-Flory (Salon.com).
Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, San Francisco
FREE

I'm also gonna shoot a fun video in Booksmith where I check out what they have to offer erotica-wise. Looking forward to that, and to shopping at all 3 stores! I haven't bought a sex toy in a really long time, and books...well, I can always use more books.