Last day in Seattle, cupcake meetup tonight 5-7

It's sunny in Seattle - I haven't posted nearly everything I've been up to, but follow TwitterFoursquareFacebookTumblr for some photos as they're easier to upload than here. I fly back tomorrow, teach erotica at Shag Saturday, fly to Minneapolis Sunday morning. NOT recommended in any way and I'm bummed that I booked it that way, but will survive.

I'll have a new call for submissions to announce soon and will need LOTS of stories very fast (they are going to be short so it'll be easy and I'm all about the rolling submissions to reward the smart early birds) so stay tuned for that hopefully next week. The sooner they're done, the better is my new motto so a reminder again: Passionate final deadline is March 15th but it's filling up fast.



My lesbian pregnancy erotica story "Swollen," another one that was a loser a few times, just got accepted to the Sacchi Green anthology Lesbian Lust, out this summer. Yesterday I ate so much I very much wanted to come back to my hotel and puke, but I lay down instead. Not recommended, but the food at Barrio and the cupcakes at New York Cupcakes and Cupcake Royale definitely are!

And tonight if you're in Seattle, join us at Trophy Cupcakes! The cupcakes won't have my face on them like the gorgeous, one-of-a-kind beautiful ones they made for me for free on Tuesday for the Elliott Bay reading, but there will be some freebies. 5-7, Trophy Cupcakes (Wallingford), 1815 NW 45th Street, Suite 209. Can't wait!


my Anya Garrett photo cupcakes by Trophy Cupcakes!

the display at Elliott Bay


pre-eating (I am kicking myself for not shooting video of the process)

My 4 new book covers!

Just got my new book covers in from Cleis Press - all are fall releases (only one, Orgasmic, has been turned in, though Naked is almost done and as I posted, Passionate is getting there and I'm eagerly awaiting submissions. Haven't seen covers for Best Bondage Erotica 2011 or Best Sex Writing 2011 yet (just typing "2011" feels weird though!). While I'm away this weekend I'll post about The Art of the Erotic Love Letter - I'm writing this one, my first nonfiction book, and will be seeking input. And I have to say, even 30+ anthologies in seeing my name on a book's cover never gets old, and, I predict, never will.


(Yes, Passionate is now called Passionate.)

My anthology Passionate is filling up - get your stories in soon!

My women's erotica anthology Passionate: Romantic Erotica is now one quarter full (I'm doing rolling submissions) - the very strict deadline is March 15th and early submissions are welcome and better your chances. Thanks! You can see all my current calls (this one and Best Bondage Erotica 2011 and Best Sex Writing 2011) by clicking here.

Call for Submissions
Deadline: March 15, 2010 (earlier submissions especially welcome)

Passionate: Romantic Erotica
To be published by Cleis Press

Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel is looking for romantic, primarily heterosexual erotic stories for for women's erotica anthology Passionate: Romantic Erotica. Stories can feature couples exploring new erotic territory, strangers who share a spark, lost lovers, etc. "Passionate" can be interpreted widely. Kink, sex toys, exotic locations/scenarios welcome as long as there is an element of erotic romance as opposed to strictly erotica. Stories should be strongly plotted, have engaging, unique characters and be hot and original. I highly prefer contemporary settings but will consider a limited amount of historical fiction. All characters must be over 18; no incest or bestiality. No poetry. For an example of the kinds of stories I’m looking for, see my anthologies Bedding Down: A Collection of Winter Erotica and Dirty Girls: Erotica for Women or the work of Megan Hart, Lauren Dane, Kayla Perrin, Marilyn Jaye Lewis, etc. Female authors only (those who self-identify as female are welcome to submit to this anthology.)

How to submit: Send double spaced Times or Times New Roman 12 point black font Word document with pages numbered (.doc, not .docx) OR RTF of 1,500-5,000 word story. Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch and double space (regular double spacing, do not add extra lines between paragraphs or do any other irregular spacing). US grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.) required. Include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address, and 50 word or less bio in the third person to passionateantho@gmail.com. If you are using a pseudonym, please provide your real name and pseudonym and make it clear which one you'd like to be credited as. I will get back to you by September 2010 with a final answer (preliminary answers by June 2010). Authors may submit up to 3 stories. Original stories only; no reprints.

Payment: $50 and 2 copies of the book on publication

I've been seeing numerous recent submissions that do not conform to my guidelines. They are there for a reason. Please read and follow them or risk your submission being rejected or returned for reformatting. If you have any questions, please contact me at passionateantho@gmail.com

About the editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel is the editor of over 25 anthologies, including Peep Show, Bottoms Up, Spanked, The Mile High Club, Do Not Disturb, He’s on Top, She’s on Top, Tasting Him, Tasting Her, Crossdressing, Dirty Girls, and is Best Sex Writing Series Editor. She is Senior Editor at Penthouse Variations, wrote the Lusty Lady column for The Village Voice, and has hosted and curated In The Flesh Reading Series, named Best Reading Series by New York Press, in since October 2005. Her writing has been published in over 100 anthologies, including Susie Bright’s X: The Erotic Treasury, Best American Erotica 2004 and 2006, and Zane’s Purple Panties and the New York Times bestseller Succulent: Chocolate Flava II. She has written for Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast, Fresh Yarn, Mediabistro, Newsday, New York Post, Penthouse, Time Out New York, Zink and other publications.