Two of my erotica books are $1.99 right now plus my Tasting Him giveaway

Exciting and time sensitive news: Cleis Press has put two of my anthologies on sale! The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales is $1.99 through Sunday, December 10 and Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 2 is $1.99 through Sunday, December 17, for U.S. ebook retailers. This is a great opportunity to snap these up if you haven't read them or give them to someone who might like them as a holiday gift.

Throughout the year, assorted books of mine tend to be put on sale so I strongly encourage you to follow me on BookBub (aka my favorite website and perfect for any book lover who also likes saving money). You would also have my MAJOR THANKS if you left a review wherever you purchased it or on Goodreads. I'm three reviews away from the magic number of 50 on Amazon for BWE 2; according to everything I've read on the subject, 50 reviews helps their algorithm kick in and then they show the book to more potential buyers, which helps increase sales, which helps me pay my rent and continue to increase payment to my authors. So any reviews are greatly appreciated, anywhere (yes, even offline).

Buy links for The Big Book of Submission - only $1.99 through December 10, 2017:

Kindle

Nook

Google Play

iBooks

Kobo



Buy links for Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 2 - only $1.99 through December 17, 2017:

Kindle

Nook

Google Play

iBooks

Kobo



That brings me to my December newsletter, which you can read by clicking the link and scroll to the bottom for my sexy book giveaway. Never do I face greater impostor syndrome than when it comes to writing my newsletter. Well, writing and formatting. I'm a word person, always have been and always will be, but it's 2017 so I've had to figure out the barest minimum of graphic knowledge (ha).

I even skipped my newsletter for three months this year because I was going through a major depression and also just had no idea what to so or how to present anything I could say. But today I got this newsletter out in a timely manner, checked every single link...and still managed to mess up the date of the giveaway. The deadline to win Tasting Him: Oral Sex Stories is December 14, 2017, not November 30, which would be impossible. I strongly encourage you to enter, especially if you've never won one of my giveaways (secret: I do try to spread the book love around to new winners). And if you like the newsletter, please consider sharing it or passing along my website to someone who might want to subscribe. Thanks for putting up with my horrible design skills - what I lack in visual imagery I make up for with hot books!


Click to get to the giveaway - enter by December 14!

BDSM erotica sale alert: The Big Book of Submission is $1.99 through June 3!

Happy news: now through June 3, The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales is only $1.99 thanks to my awesome publisher, Cleis Press. Buy links are below, and something else cool: If you are an audiobook fanatic, you can get the Audible audiobook version of these 69 stories read by Rose Caraway for the discount price of just $7.49 after you purchase the Kindle edition.



Buy The Big Book of Submission for $1.99 until June 3rd for:

Kindle

Nook

Google Play

iBooks

Kobo

Here's a little more about what's in the book:

Submission takes many forms in this collection of 69 short stories, from straining in bondage to taking a spanking, being put on display, and beyond. By turns bratty and worshipful, these submissives will go to great lengths to fulfill their naughtiest fantasies and are rewarded splendidly by their masters and mistresses. A student returns to show his former teacher who’s really in charge, a photo shoot becomes an opportunity for erotic games, and a man revels in his wife’s past as a former dominatrix. These brats, masochists, and hungry-for-sensation subs go above and beyond for the ones they adore, pushing themselves to new limits while their devious dominants put them through their paces. Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel, these short stories sizzle with the tension of erotic power play, commands followed, and service willingly performed.

Want to be the first to know when my books go on sale? Follow me on Bookbub and you'll get an email whenever they're at rock bottom prices.



And if you like this book, stay tuned for The Big Book of Submission Volume 2 out in December in ebook form and January in print!

Three days left to submit your stories to The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2

I didn't get a chance to post it here (it's quicker for me to post on Twitter and Facebook so I tend to post updates there more frequently) but I extended my call for submissions for my Cleis Press BDSM erotica anthology The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2 to Tuesday, February 28th. I usually get a flood of submissions, and have for the three previous 69-story anthologies I edited, but for this one, I have gotten far fewer submissions than I need this time around. So this is the final extension, which has been updated from the original slightly to more accurately reflect what I currently need to complete the manuscript. If you can whip up a hot, creative, kinky submissive story that fits the guidelines by Tuesday, send it in!

If you previously submitted a story to The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2, your story is being considered; do not resend it. If you have previously submitted one story, you may submit another one (for a total of two), but if you have already submitted two stories, please do not submit any more. Highly creative, unique and unusual settings, motivations and characters are most desired.

Call for submissions
The Big Book of Submission Volume 2 (working title)
Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel
To be published by Cleis Press in 2018

Right now what I am especially looking for are: stories starring people of color, stories about BDSM and submission in creative settings (especially outside bedrooms and dungeons), stories about people new to BDSM, especially stories about new dominants (but told from the submissive’s perspective), stories about less common fetishes, male/male (or male/male + other characters) stories, male/female (or male/female plus other characters) stories and stories in which submission is used as a tool of personal growth and/or empowerment. I will consider female/female stories but those are already abundant in my manuscript so it would have to be especially outstanding. Yes, some of these are a lot for a 1,200 word or less story to do, but I have faith that writers can dazzle me with their stories, and I especially encourage those whose work I’ve never published before to submit. All stories received by the new deadline of February 28, 2017 (11:59 pm EST) will be considered.

Please make sure to read and follow these guidelines in order for your work to be considered. Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel is looking for short erotica stories of 1,200 words or less focused on the theme of submission within BDSM. Stories submitted that are over 1,200 words will be rejected. While the word count is short, I want complex stories with a beginning, middle and end, not simply scene snippets.

I will consider stories from a dominant’s perspective if that is the best way to illuminate the mindset of the submissive, but they must explore what the submissive gets out of the scenario in some way. The final book of 69 stories will contain an extremely wide variety of characters, POVs (I welcome first, second and third person stories), settings, scenarios, motivations, experience levels, motivations, BDSM practices (which can be combined with other sexual acts), fetishes, couplings, relationships, etc. I welcome the use of sex toys and BDSM implements, real or imagined. All genders and sexual orientations welcome.

All characters must be over 18 for the entirety of the story; no nonconsensual activity, scat, incest or bestiality. No poetry. Original, unpublished stories only. Stories from authors whose work I have not published before are especially welcome. See The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales to get a feel for the types of short submissive erotica I enjoy. Please note that this anthology will not include author bios.

How to submit: Send double spaced Times or Times New Roman 12 point black font Word document (.doc or .docx) with pages numbered OR RTF of 1,200 words maximum to bigbookofsubmission@gmail.com. Stories that are not in keeping with the theme of the anthology or are over 1,200 words will not be considered. DO NOT submit multiple versions of a single story; submit ONLY your final, complete, edited version of your story with the story title and byline you’d want published. 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. I will consider a maximum of two stories per author. Include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address. 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 (such as Jane Doe, writing as Ann Smith). You will receive a confirmation within 72 hours. I will get back to you by September 30, 2017.

Payment: $25 and 1 copy of the book on publication in 2018

Deadline: February 28, 2017, 11:59 pm EST

Get The Big Book of Submission and Gotta Have It for $1.99 this week!

New week, new sales: the book versions of The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales and Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex are on sale for just $1.99! Get these super hot and varied erotica collections while they're cheap! To summarize the, the submission book is all BDSM erotica focused on the submissive person, and Gotta Have It is really a free for all with everything from funny to kinky to couples to multiple partners to vanilla to BDSM and much more.



Buy The Big Book of Submission for:

Kindle

Nook

Google Play

Kobo



Buy Gotta Have It for:

Kindle

Nook

Google Play

Kobo

2 new anthology calls for submissions: Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 3 and The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2

These may not need a preface because they are very wordy as it is, but here goes: I chose to post these now, rather than waiting until a later date, even though it means anyone submitting now will have over a year to wait. I did that for my own sake so I am not racing around trying to meet an unmanageable deadline and to put some new calls into the world sooner rather than later. As you'll see below, if this is too long to wait, don't submit to these calls. If you have questions after reading both of them thoroughly, feel free to ask, but please honor your time and mine by not asking me anything that's already stated below.

I get more precise with each call based on things I see happening in the submission process. The truth is, I wasn't sure I would take on any more calls because I have a lot going on these days work wise and want to put every effort humanly possible into making the books I have out there now succeed, which can be hard to do when you are also in the midst of editing one, let alone two, anthologies. But I also know that part of my life's work is giving as many authors as possible a platform, which is why I've strongly encouraged authors new to the genre and those I've never worked with to submit. As for why there aren't bios on The Big Book of Submission, one word: space. Cost is the reason those authors will receive one contributor copy. And yes, I bolded my pet peeves.

I may very well tweak them slightly, as tends to happen, but I wanted to get the process started now. My goal is always to get my calls read by as many writers as possible and increase the pool of submissions, so I will be doing my own research and outreach to make sure these reach a wider audience than my past ones have. If you know of any websites, bulletin boards, groups or individual writers who might appreciate the calls, I would love if you passed them on. I often get writers telling me they heard about my calls right before the deadline, which is obviously less than ideal circumstances for writing, so I hope that this is seen with plenty of time to jog your creativity.

I welcome questions about these calls (though I cannot read any story drafts or comment on any specific plots or storylines, though I will answer specific content questions related to these guidelines if an element is unclear), and I also respect that these calls aren't for everyone. If these speak to you, good luck, and I look forward to reading your stories when it's time!

Lastly, if you submitted to Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 2, I'll be getting back to you by the end of June, so please be patient.

My anthology submission calls are probably so long they scare away some writers. I'm okay with that. I'm an editor who asks for what I want.

— Rachel Kramer Bussel (@raquelita) June 14, 2016

Call for Submissions
Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 3
Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel
To be published by Cleis Press in December 2017

This anthology is open to women authors only, as the series has been since its inception (genderqueer and nonbinary authors are welcome to submit as well). I want your best, boldest, hottest, most creative and diverse 1,500-4,000 word erotica stories, written by and starring a wide range of women, from single to coupled, living in big cities and small towns anywhere in the world, of varying sexual orientations, races, ages (all characters must be 18+ for the entirety of the story) fetishes, jobs, interests and life experiences. I want fast-paced stories that grab me from the first word and don't let up on the heat until the final word. I want stories about women with sexual fantasies, fetishes and lives that are underrepresented in the erotica genre. I want stories that sizzle, push envelopes and surprise me. I don't want clichéd plotlines or generic characters.

Stories in the final book will range from humorous and playful to intense and soulful, and will reflect a similar sexual, racial and age diversity as the stories in Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 1. Story submissions must be unpublished (never published, in whole or in part, anywhere, online or offline). No scat or incest, although age play will be considered as long as it's clear in the context of the story that the characters are engaging in roleplay. No poetry will be considered.

I don't want to limit your creativity, because I want these stories to be as dazzling, varied, surprising and sexy as possible. I want your very best work, the kind that will make readers want to savor your story over and over again. Some things I'm looking to include in this volume: stories by authors who've never been published in the Best Women's Erotica series or are new to writing erotica, stories by authors based outside the United States (and stories set outside the United States), stories from the point of view of women of color, stories from the point of view of transgender women, stories featuring women in their forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties or nineties, romantic erotica (they don't necessarily need to have a traditional "happily ever after," but happy endings are extremely welcome too), stories involving more than two people, stories in unusual settings, erotica touching on current events (though the story should be one readers ten or twenty years from now will also appreciate), stories that touch on real-life issues affecting women, BDSM stories (especially ones with creative motivations and femdom stories, though I also want stories about outstanding submissive women), and creative fetishes. These suggestions are merely meant as springboards for your storytelling. All stories that meet the guidelines will be considered.

In a nutshell: I want stories that blow my mind, that grab my attention and don't let go, that say something new and exciting about sex and sexuality, that will appeal to longtime erotica readers and new readers. I gravitate toward unique, creative, memorable characters, settings and scenarios. I will consider sci fi, fantasy, paranormal and historical stories, although they will likely not comprise the majority of the book. For an idea of the types of stories I like, see Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 1.

In the interest of publishing a range of authors, those whose work appears in Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 or Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 2, will not be considered for this volume, but contributors to previous Best Women's Erotica collections are welcome to submit work.

Rights: non-exclusive right to publish your story in this anthology in print, ebook, and audiobook form. Authors will retain copyright to their stories.

How to submit: Submit only 1,500-4,000 original, unpublished stories that are not being considered elsewhere. Maximum two submissions per author. I want only original work that has never been published online or in print. All characters must be 18 or over for the entirety of the story. US grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.). Submit to bweoftheyear@gmail.com by attaching a Word .doc or .docx file, double spaced, Times New Roman Black font with legal name, pseudonym (if applicable), mailing address AND 50 word-or-under third person bio on the first page of your story above the title. Please make sure to double check the word count of your bio and only submit 50 words or less. Please make sure to use an email address you check frequently.

All stories must have a title and byline included with the submission (no untitled stories). Indent half an inch at the start of each paragraph. Use double spacing for the entire file; do not add extra lines between paragraphs or use any other irregular spacing. If you cannot use Word, submit as both an RTF AND include the full submission in the body of an email, including title, story text, bio, name and pseudonym (if applicable), and mailing address. DO NOT SUBMIT MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF THE SAME STORY. SUBMIT YOUR STORY WITH THE TITLE, BYLINE AND WORDING YOU WOULD WANT PUBLISHED IF THE STORY IS ACCEPTED. MAKE SURE TO THOROUGHLY PROOFREAD YOUR STORY BEFORE SUBMITTING IT. Only stories that are between 1,500-4,000 words and submitted by December 1, 2016 will be considered. Please do not ask about exceptions to the word count or deadline as they will not be granted.

I will confirm that I have received your submission within 72 hours. I will respond to all submissions by September 30, 2017. If you have not heard back from me by October 1, 2017, feel free to follow up at that time. Please note the time frame and if you need a response sooner than September 30, 2017, this is not the right anthology for you.

Payment: $150 and 2 copies of the book within 90 days of publication

Deadline: December 1, 2016

Questions: Email bweoftheyear@gmail.com

Call for submissions
The Big Book of Submission Volume 2 (working title)
Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel
To be published by Cleis Press in 2018
Please make sure to read and follow these guidelines in order for your work to be considered. Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel is looking for short erotica stories of 1,200 words or less focused on the theme of submission within BDSM. Stories submitted that are over 1,200 words will be rejected. While the word count is short, I want complex stories with a beginning, middle and end, not simply scene snippets.

I will consider stories from a dominant's perspective if that is the best way to illuminate the mindset of the submissive, but they must explore what the submissive gets out of the scenario in some way. The final book of 69 stories will contain an extremely wide variety of characters, POVs (I welcome first, second and third person stories), settings, scenarios, motivations, experience levels, motivations, BDSM practices (which can be combined with other sexual acts), fetishes, couplings, relationships, etc. I welcome the use of sex toys and BDSM implements, real or imagined. All genders and sexual orientations welcome.

All characters must be over 18 for the entirety of the story; no nonconsensual activity, scat, incest or bestiality. No poetry. Original, unpublished stories only. Stories from authors whose work I have not published before are especially welcome. See The Big Book of Submission to get a feel for the types of short submissive erotica I enjoy. Please note that this anthology will not include author bios.

Rights: non-exclusive right to publish your story in this anthology in print, ebook, and audiobook form. Authors will retain copyright to their stories.

How to submit: Send double spaced Times or Times New Roman 12 point black font Word document (.doc or .docx) with pages numbered OR RTF of 1,200 words maximum to bigbookofsubmission@gmail.com. Stories that are not in keeping with the theme of the anthology or are over 1,200 words will not be considered. DO NOT submit multiple versions of a single story; submit ONLY your final, complete, edited version of your story with the story title and byline you'd want published. 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. I will consider a maximum of two stories per author. Include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address. 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 (such as Jane Doe, writing as Ann Smith). You will receive a confirmation within 72 hours. I will get back to you by September 30, 2017.

Payment: $25 and 1 copy of the book on publication in 2018

Deadline: January 10, 2017

Questions: Email bigbookofsubmission@gmail.com

Like free erotica books? Enter to win my anthologies Sex & Candy, Hungry for More or The Big Book of Submission

If you subscribed to my newsletter you'd know this already (and if you haven't, please do!), but I'm doing a giveaway tomorrow (Tuesday, May 5th) morning at 9 am EST, at which time I'll draw winners of free copies of my anthologies Sex & Candy (now out of print), Hungry for More and The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales. (U.S. only, sorry folks reading abroad.) All you have to do is enter the giveaway here before 9 a.m. Tuesday and hope that you win! I'll be doing more giveaways via my newsletter in coming months as well.

Want free kinky erotica? Rose Caraway's podcast has it!

The audiobook of The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales, was just released, and narrator Rose Caraway is sharing free stories from this book of BDSM erotica on her podcast, The Kiss Me Quick's. Up right now for your listening pleasure are:

"Dear Sir" by Kay Jaybee

and

"Toasted Marshmallows" by Tilly Hunter

Purchase the entire audiobook right here.


(fyi, I know the cover is squished, but I want to make it clear this is the audiobook!)

Also, through at least Friday (possibly through Sunday), the Kindle and Nook ebook versions of The Big Book of Submission are on sale for just $1.99. That's $1.99 for 69 stories! And Audible is having an April sale where if you buy 4 audiobooks, you get a $10 credit to use toward your next purchase (it takes a few days to go through). Happy listening!

For a taste of all 69 stories, you can read excerpts on the book's Tumblr.

Kindle BDSM erotica sale alert: The Big Book of Submission is just $1.99

Updated: I just found out about this from this Tweet (thank you, Roni Loren!) and wanted to let you know: The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales is only $1.99 right now for Kindle. You can listen to a free sample of the audiobook at Audible. The sale will last for a week (which I think means it ends on Sunday, but I'd buy by Friday just in case). You can also read free excerpts of all 69 stories.

Buy 4 audiobooks, get a $10 credit at Audible in April (and The Big Book of Submission is on sale)

Audible has a great promotion going on through the end of April: buy 4 audiobooks, get a $10 credit. Not only that, but my latest audiobook, The Big Book of Submission, is on sale for just $9.97, so you could buy 4 others and get it free. Here are my 5 favorite of my audiobooks (I already told you which one of mine NOT to buy).


The Big Book of Submission


The Big Book of Orgasms


Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex


Orgasmic


Best Bondage Erotica 2014

Yes, this promo is real (I've already taken advantage of it):



Of course my top 3, linked to the above and below images, are narrated by Rose Caraway, because she has been the most wonderful person to work with, and the only narrator who has gone out of her way to promote my audiobooks both on her The Kiss Me Quick's podcast and by making specifically tailored images for them, and her talent, professionalism and dedication show in the audio and in the sales figures. Simply put: I'd love to work with her on all my audiobooks. Since that's not possible, the ones she has worked on are the ones I continually encourage people to check out, and I would love to work with her again (hint, hint!). I can't say enough good things about her, and the best part is you can just click on any Audible book, hers or another reader's, and get a free sample listen to help you decide for yourself. One of the main criticisms I've seen of my 3 69-story anthologies, all narrated by Rose, is that they are too short and there's not enough story. Well, if you only like novels or very long stories, these aren't for you! If you are like me and have a short attention span and love short and snappy and sexy and variety, then maybe they are. I hope to have the opportunity to edit another book of 69 short stories someday, because it's a fun process and I get to work with so many more authors than I usually do. (Right now my only call for submissions is the one for Best Women's Erotica 2016, open to women authors with a June 1 deadline, though earlier submissions are strongly encouraged!).

Orgasmic is one of my favorite anthologies I've worked on and has a story I highlight in my erotica writing workshops: "Chemistry" by Velvet Moore. As someone who almost failed chemistry in high school (I could do the math but the science eluded me), I fell extra hard for this chemistry fetish tale, and it's just one of 25 amazing stories in the book, all centered around female orgasm.

I heard Audible founder and CEO Don Katz give a great talk on Saturday at TEDx Navesink about investing in their local community in Newark, and it's great to be a Jersey girl working with a Jersey company (who, yes, is owned by Audible). With that, I'll take a moment to post this graphic again, because I love working with Rose:

3 audiobooks, 3 bestsellers: Thank you, best narrator ever, Rose Caraway

I don't have enough words to express how grateful I am to Rose Caraway for being such a brilliant narrator of my audiobooks for Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories and The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales. When I saw Rose pays my rent, I'm not kidding; her audiobooks make up a large percentage of my royalties, which are what allow me to work from home and cobble together what still often feels like a crazy, pinch-me, how-did-I-get-here career for a woman who dropped out of law school with no plans and no money. She brings such dedication to her work, making sure everything is perfect, creating fun, wonderful graphics and truly bringing a level of professionalism to the recording and promotion of these audiobooks like you wouldn't believe.

I wanted to take a moment to thank you, and to encourage you to listen to her The Kiss Me Quick's podcast. Another reason she's awesome: she sent her anthology The Sexy Librarian's Big Book of Erotica around the world to get signed by her international group of authors and is giving that signed copy away! Who does that? Nobody else I know. I love the passion and excitement she brings to all her projects. I promise to share the free stories she will be posting from this latest collection of BDSM erotica, as I've done before.



Here's one of my favorite images, for the free recording of "Forced Orgasms" by Shoshanna Evers in The Big Book of Orgasms. Listen to it:

Listen or download this sexy story at: http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/kisstherose/id/2811318
Or subscribe in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kiss-me-quicks-sex-stories/id463196186
or Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/rose-caraway/the-kiss-me-quicks-erotic-sex-stories-by-rose-caraway

(FYI, she also narrated the audiobook my essay collection Sex & Cupcakes, which I recommend, but in terms of my bottom line, I won't get royalties on that for 10 years, so I am focusing on the whole earning a living thing here.)

69 BDSM erotica stories in The Big Book of Submission now for your listening pleasure!

I couldn't be more thrilled that Rose Caraway has narrated the audiobook of my BDSM erotica flash fiction anthology The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales. (click that title to read excerpts from all 69 stories!)



It's my third book of 69 very short stories, each 1,200 words or less, and the third of them that Rose has narrated. I'm not just saying that because the two she previously narrated, The Big Book of Orgasms and Gotta Have It have sold so well they pretty much made up half of my entire last royalty check. I'm saying it because she has singlehandedly brought my erotica offerings to a whole new audience and it's such a huge honor to get to keep working with her and innovating. I think she'll be bringing you more free listens from this hot offering but for now, you can get a sample of The Big Book of Submission audiobook on Audible.

You might also like:


The Big Book of Orgasms


Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex

Today only: 25% off any book at Amazon

Yes, really, any print book on Amazon is 25% off today:

To use this promotion, you must enter "BOOKDEAL25" at checkout under the "Gift cards & promotional codes" section to receive 25% off any ONE (1) book purchased in your order (up to $10 promotional credit).

All my books are listed on my website and most give you a free sample on Amazon or you can look inside them. My top 3 picks?

The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories - my all-time favorite book I've edited! Named a must read of the year (though technically it's a 2013 release) by Book Riot.

The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales - this year's kinky contribution that has a ton of variety in terms of who's giving and getting, and lots of twists on BDSM. Want a free sneak peek, or rather, 69 of them? Excerpts from all the stories are here.

Orgasmic: Erotica for Women - "Erotica for Women" is part of the marketing, which is necessary in a highly competitive publishing marketplace, but please don't let that dissuade you if you don't identify as a woman. These stories are hot, hot, hot, and this book contains one of my all-time favorites that gets mentioned in every erotica class I teach: "Chemistry" by Velvet Moore. I almost failed chemistry so this one continues to wow me every tie I read it.

5 sexy excerpts of what you'll hear tomorrow at She Bop in Portland, Oregon

Please join me, Tiffany Reisz, Stella Harris, Emily Bingham and Laurel Isaac tomorrow, September 10th at 7:30 for a free erotica reading from 4 of my books at She Bop, 909 N. Beech Street, Portland, Oregon, and if you can't make it, tell your friends (that's easy to do on Facebook). Here's 5 snippets of what you'll be hearing, and if there's time I may sneak in a bonus reader favorite story from The Big Book of Orgasms. Can't make the reading? Order online from She Bop.




(not pictured: Laurel Isaac)


Hungry for More

A tiny bit of "Bringing the Heat" by Tiffany Reisz - read more at her website.

They stepped into the room right across from the shower stalls. Through the other side of the curtain, Jada could peer in and see everything. It seemed to be some kind of therapy room. A padded leather table only about four feet high constituted the only furniture in the room. A plaque on the door read “Evan Christopher, Sports Therapist.”

Flak started to strip out of his uniform. Jada winced at the black bruise that covered the left side of his back where the fastball had struck him. Other than the bruise, however, Flak’s body was flawless—broad shoulders, well-muscled and sturdy, and yet not an ounce of fat on him. A young man’s body. The trainer, Evan, was sexy in his own right too. Slightly taller and about five years older, Evan wore wire-rimmed glasses on his handsome, intelligent face and had a seductive five o’clock shadow on his sculpted lower jaw.

The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories

Here's an excerpt from "The Jeffrey Factor" by Stella Harris:

Jeff let him adjust to the sensation for a moment, sliding the vibrator in and out slowly, twisting and rubbing it against his inside walls, but only teasing the spot where he really wanted it.

The vibrator switched on and Shane moaned around the gag in his mouth; even on the lowest setting the sensations lit up his nerves. His nipples peaked and tightened and he thrust his hips upward, hoping against hope for friction he didn’t find.

Jeff laughed again. He claimed not to have a sadistic side, said he didn’t enjoy dishing out pain, but Shane considered this cruelty all the same.

The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales (read 69 excerpts, one from each story, right here)

Here's a little bit of "How to Fail" by Laurel Isaac:

All I could think was how I must be doing something wrong. I must have forgotten some technique I usually use, or there must be something wrong with my body that the feeling good wasn’t kicking in. Maybe if I waited a little longer it would start to. Maybe this was how it always was in the beginning? If only he’d slow down I might be able to figure it out, but the paddle abruptly landed squarely in the middle of my right cheek. The throbbing felt like it had shocked me right in half. I let out a sob. And there it was again, and again. If only I had a minute, I might be able to…but the strokes kept landing, bludgeoning, deafening.

And here's a little from a male POV story I wrote called "Reverse Psychology:"

See, I’m not a sadist by nature—I wouldn’t hurt a fly. Really—I’m the kind of guy who goes out of my way to give directions or help little old ladies across the street. I’m a service sub, the worshipping sort, but I I fell madly in love with a woman who happens to be a masochistic domme. Sasha likes pain, but for her it has nothing to do with being a “bad girl” or any of that. If I dared to call her names like slut or whore during sex, she’d lock up my cock for a week.

For her, it’s about the sensation, the intensity, the feeling. She says getting flogged is cathartic, being spanked releases endorphins, having her nipples bitten makes her blood boil. And because I love her and want to please her, I do as she says. It’s a different kind of submission than any I’ve ever known, but I like obeying her, and knowing how turned on she gets. It’s like reverse psychology, where you tell someone to do something and hope they do the opposite. With us, though, I do the opposite of my impulses, for her. Sasha makes sure to show me appreciation—when she’s not ordering me around.

Best Bondage Erotica 2014

Here's an excerpt of "Pegged" by Emily Bingham:

“Do you trust me?” I ask, straddling his lap.

He looks at me with the dark pools of his eyes over the rim of his thick glasses, the hint of a shy grin on his lips. Slowly, he nods, almost as if it pains him to admit it. I take his curly head in my hands and lean in to kiss him. The boy is talented with his tongue, his mouth so inviting that at times it’s easy to get lost in. Part of me wants to be greedy; roll over and let him have his way, splay me open and worship the folds between my legs as long as he likes.

I resist the urge, wanting tonight to be about him and taking him where he wants to go. It’s his turn to be small and defenseless for an evening. I want to be so kind to him that it becomes cruel.

Reader bios and Twitter handles, so you can Tweet to them how much you liked their stories, and She Bop is @SheBopTheShop:

Rachel Kramer Bussel is a writer, editor, event organizer and consultant. She's edited over 50 anthologies, including Hungry for More, The Big Book of Submission, The Big Book of Orgasms, Cheeky Spanking Stories, Fast Girls and edits the Best Bondage Erotica series. She writes widely about sex, dating, books, pop culture and hoarding, teaches erotic writing workshops at colleges, conferences and sex toy stores and Tweets @raquelita.

Emily Bingham is an ethical slut, story teller, consent activist, and rope instructor, she writes smut so she can have an excuse to say filthy words on stage. The only thing she loves more than words is rope. Her stories appear in a number of Cleis Press anthologies. @RopeQuean

Stella Harris is an erotica writer, BDSM educator, and sex & intimacy coach. She teaches for a variety of sex-positive organizations in Portland in addition to leading and organizing her own public classes and offering private instruction. Publication highlights include several anthologies by Cleis Press and a series of tantalizing and informative articles on kinkly.com. @stellaerotica

Laurel Isaac is a queer writer of sex stories and personal essays. She’s currently exploring small-town queer life in Southern Oregon.

Tiffany Reisz is the international bestselling author of the darkly comic Gothic erotica series The Original Sinners, a genre she made up entirely on her own. Tiffany lives in Portland, Oregon, with her boyfriend, her cats and her delusions of grandeur. @TiffanyReisz

I'm in an unboxing video thanks to Unbound Box!

I don't know why exactly, but seeing my latest anthology, The Big Book of Submission, in this unboxing video by Subscription Box Mom, who also reviewed the Erotic Education Box by Unbound Box, made me super happy! I guess it's partly because though I'm perpetually glued to my iPhone, I'm not much of an early adopter when it comes to technology. I once bought a speaker to try to podcast, and never used it. I killed my MacBook Pro with water damage and am now adjusting to life with a Chromebook. I am not exactly the most up to date technology user so never imagined I'd have anything to do with an unboxing video, but there's my face smiling from my bookmark and my hot new 69-story book that I hope will reach people who may not keep up with the latest in erotica but are open to learning, as befitting the box's title. It's also very cool to see the book cozied up next to these other sexy products, and I am hoping to get my hands on the Maison Close bralette to use as a writing prompt in my workshops.

But first, a little bit about unboxing videos. CNN says:

Welcome to the world of "unboxing videos," one of the many peculiar genres on YouTube, the Google-owned video hosting site where viewers watch more than 6 billion hours of video every month. The volume of unboxing videos has boomed in recent years. Easy to make and surprisingly hypnotic to watch, the videos have become a lucrative little corner of the Internet for the people who film them.

Okay, so here's the Subscription Box Mom one:



But wait, there's more! I wrote a letter to customers about what to expect in the book, and why I edited it and what my goals are for it. Plus Unbound Box wrote in the card included in the box, "Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel, this new collection of short stories is the perfect study guide for kink, power play and BDSM." Here's everything in the Erotic Education box; buy it here and use SUBMISSION10 to get 10% off your order. Read a free excerpt of my story "Reverse Psychology."

Get a box of sexy goodies sent to your door, including The Big Book of Submission, from Unbound Box

I had heard about sex toy mail order curating company Unbound Box online, and started truly checking them out when they asked if they could post some excerpts from my books, and since then I've been exploring their site and loving all the packages they offer each quarter. They partner with wonderful small businesses and that's how I discovered Seagrape Bath & Body, whose Aches and Pains bath soak I'm eager to try after messing up my neck sleeping weirdly this past weekend.

I'm thrilled that The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales is part of their next box, the Erotic Education box, shipping in early September, and to offer you 10% off the cost by using code SUBMISSION10. What's in the box? You'll have to wait until it arrives on your doorstep or they announce it, though they have revealed that the other companies are Maison Close, Sustain and Babeland, but it will definitely be full of sexy awesome things. Here's their exact wording:

We're so thrilled to announce that our next Unbound Box, Erotic Education, will ship first thing this September! We've prepared a course load of the kinkiest goods and treats for this box as we explore BDSM, sensual massage and the most scintillating collection of erotica stories.

You can get a sneak peek of the book with their excerpt of my story "Reverse Psychology."

Upcoming events in NYC, Seattle, Portland (Oregon), Los Angeles, San Francisco, Maine, Chicago, Milwaukee and online

I'm posting this as much for myself as for all of you - I have more events this September than possibly any other month ever, and there may be 1-2 more added in New England, which I hope to know for sure about this coming week. Needless to say, this will probably be my last extensive tour for a good long while, since they are pricey and I hope to be digging in to new writing projects this winter. So please come out if you can and whether you can or can't, I greatly appreciate you spreading the word. I try to canvas at my events and see where people have heard about them from, and it's always a mix: from a store, via Twitter or Fetlife or Yelp or any number of random places. So I'll be working hard this August to get the word out, since events only work if there's an audience. You'll find the official link beneath the date and time for each event in bold.

I'm honored to be doing my first event at She Bop in Portland, Oregon with erotic romance superstar Tiffany Reisz, and to get to read with the wonderful Rose Caraway, whose crazy hot The Sexy Librarian's Big Book of Erotica just came out (it's shipping now from Amazon, and will be on bookstore shelves and, of course, Audible, narrated by Rose, very soon). So here are the details, and if I do book that New England event, I will update this post and my RSS calendar (which only showcases the upcoming 30 days). Attending a workshop and have a specific question? Email rachelkramerbussel at gmail.com with "Workshop" in the subject and your question and which workshop you're attending. Can't make the workshops but want your erotica (or nonfiction sex writing) critiqued? See my website for my rates, and contact me for longer projects. I'm excited to visit all these cities and see old friends and meet new people. I also am so grateful to be home most of August to spend time in my backyard and with my guy and to prepare for a whirlwind of planes, trains and sexy stories!

August 22, 11 am
BDSM Writers Con publishers panel
Publishers panel on Selling Your BDSM Fiction and Nonfiction. Join us for a panel discussion with various publishers, editors and literary agents on how to market your BDSM short stories, novellas and novels, as well as memoirs and how-to books to the growing erotica market. Discover what editors and publishers are buying as well as predictions for the future and how to make your manuscript worthy of publication. Self-published authors will benefit from this workshop as well as discover ways to expand their market and improve their manuscripts to enable them to complete with other small press and the bigger houses.

This workshop is being facilitated by Lori Perkins, Publisher of Riverdale Avenue Books and Samhain Publishing.

Presenters include: Lori Perkins of Riverdale Avenue Books; Christina Brashear, Samhain Publishing; Latoya C.Smith, editor at Grand Central Publishing; Treva Harte from Loose Id; Rachel Kramer Bussel; and Louise Fury of the Bent Agency.
The Roosevelt Hotel, 45 East 45th Street, NYC

September 6, 3:30-4 pm
Free erotica reading in Seattle
Readings from The Big Book of Submission, The Big Book of Orgasms and Hungry for More with me and local contributors.
Center for Sex Positive Culture Annex, 1608 15th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119

September 9, 7-9 pm
Erotica 101 writing workshop, Seattle
Professional erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, editor of over 50 anthologies such as The Big Book of Orgasms, Flying High and Best Bondage Erotica 2014, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing, from getting started, finding your voice, and incorporating your surroundings, pop culture, and personal experiences into your stories to crafting a range of characters and settings and submitting your work. In this supportive, welcoming workshop environment, you’ll learn how to write vividly about everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies, and make them fit for particular publications in the thriving erotica market. This workshop will address the recent boom in erotica inspired by Fifty Shades of Grey, provide examples of well written erotica, and will include multiple writing exercises. You’ll be given a handout listing major markets and further reading suggestions. No previous writing experience required. Please bring laptop or pen and paper. 18+ with ID. $30 at the door/$23 in advance. Get tickets at Stranger Tickets.
Center for Sex Positive Culture Annex, 1608 15th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119

September 10, 7:30-9 pm
Free erotica reading, Portland, Oregon
Come listen to erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel reading from her latest anthologies, Hungry for More: Romantic Fantasies for Women and The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales. Joining her will be local contributors Tiffany Reisz, Stella Harris, Emily Bingham, Laurel Isaac and Marievie. Attendance is free, but it's requested that if you're attending you RSVP on Facebook.
She Bop, 909 N. Beech Street, Portland, Oregon, 503-473-8018

September 12, 9:15 am-12:15 pm
Erotica 101 writing workshop, Los Angeles before CatalystCon
In this three hour workshop Rachel Kramer Bussel, professional erotica author and editor of over 50 erotica anthologies, such as The Big Book of Orgasms, Cheeky Spanking Stories 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 discover how to incorporate everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies into your writing, and make them fit for particular magazines and anthologies. The class will also cover branding yourself as a writer, using and selecting a good pseudonym, and using social media to promote your work and do outreach. She’ll also talk about submitting your work and keeping up with the thriving erotica market, including anthologies, ebooks, magazines and websites. Please bring paper and writing implements or a laptop to use for in class writing exercises. A bibliography with erotica resources will be provided. $45 (or $79 with pre-CataystCon Sex Writing 101, see below).
The Westin Los Angeles Airport, 5400 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045

September 12, 1:30-4:30 pm
Sex Writing 101 workshop, Los Angeles before CatalystCon
In this three hour workshop, writer and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel will cover all you need to know about writing about sex, including blogging, first-person essays and journalism. You’ll learn how to ethically write about your love life, what editors are looking for, where to find experts on sexuality topics, and how to stay abreast of current sex news. Whether you’re looking to write a sex blog, column, articles or books, you’ll find out how to pitch, how much money you can expect to make, and how to maximize your editorial opportunities. The class will also cover branding yourself as a writer, using and selecting a good pseudonym, using social media to promote your work and do outreach, and how to pitch stories. Rachel has been a sex columnist for The Village Voice, Penthouse and The Frisky, and has written about sexuality for Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast, Glamour, Inked, Salon, xoJane and many other publications. A resource list covering markets for sex-related pieces will be provided. $45 (or $79 with pre-CatalystCon Erotica 101, see above)

**Attendees who would like the opportunity to get feedback from Rachel on one piece of their own writing (3,000 words or less), to be submitted prior to the workshop can purchase this as an add on to either of the above workshops. Fee: $20
The Westin Los Angeles Airport, 5400 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045

September 13, 9:30-10:40 am
Shameless Self-Promotion: Marketing 101 for Activists panel, CatalystCon
With Charlie Glickman, Cunning Minx, Reid Mihalko and me (follow along with the hashtag #cconself on Twitter)
Got a sex-positive cause you want to promote but remain unsure how to market yourself, your group or your organization effectively? Got the passion and drive but missing the marketing degree and the communication plan? Join this panel of expert sex-positive educators and activists as they share marketing tips designed to help you gain credibility, generate content and promote your ideas effectively. Attendees will learn how to use basic marketing tools such as speaking, blogging, social media and ebooks to build a following and promote themselves effectively.
The Westin Los Angeles Airport, 5400 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045

September 14, 12:30-1:40 pm
Moderating Envelope-Pushing Erotica panel, CatalystCon
Envelope-Pushing Erotica: How Sexy Stories Can Change The World (follow along with the hasthag #cconerotica on Twitter)
Erotica can be more than just entertainment and titillation; it can help redefine what’s considered sexy, give readers an expanded way of looking at sexuality and reach readers in ways nonfiction may not. Each of the authors on this panel approaches the topic from a different angle: Shawna Kenney, as editor of Book Lovers: Sexy Stories from Under the Covers, explores the depths of literary erotica, senior sex expert Joan Price, as editor of Ageless Erotica, demystifies sex over 50, and Rebekah Weatherspoon, whose tagline is “Where The Happily Ever Afters are Always In Color,” as author of BDSM-themed erotic novels such as At Her Feet and Blacker Than Blue. We will discuss what it means to push the boundaries of erotic fiction, the marketplace for erotic books, incorporating diverse types of stories and characters and the meaning of erotica in readers’ lives. Moderated by Rachel Kramer Bussel, editor of over 50 anthologies including The Big Book of Orgasms and the Best Bondage Erotica series.
The Westin Los Angeles Airport, 5400 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045

September 15, 7 pm
Free erotica reading with Rose Caraway
Join Rose Caraway, editor of The Sexy Librarian's Big Book of Erotica, and contributor Rachel Kramer Bussel (The Big Book of Submission, Hungry for More) for a reading, discussion and book signing.
The Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, San Francisco, 415-863-8688

September 18, 6-8pm
Erotica 101 writing workshop, Portland, Oregon
Professional erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, editor of over 50 anthologies such as The Big Book of Orgasms, Flying High and Best Bondage Erotica 2014, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing, from getting started, finding your voice, and incorporating your surroundings, pop culture, and personal experiences into your stories to crafting a range of characters and settings and submitting your work. The workshop is tailored to help get you published and highlight timely calls for submissions.

In this supportive, welcoming workshop environment, you'll learn how to write vividly about everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies, and make them fit for particular publications in the thriving erotica market. This workshop will address the recent boom in erotica inspired by Fifty Shades of Grey, provide examples of well written erotica, and will include multiple writing exercises. You'll be given a handout listing major markets and further reading suggestions. No previous writing experience required. Please bring laptop or pen and paper. $25/person; register at Brown Paper Tickets.
Q Center, 4115 N. Mississippi Avenue, Portland, Oregon

September 23, 7:30 pm
Erotica 101 Writing Workshop, Portland, Maine
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. $25/person. Seating is limited and we expect this workshop to fill up FAST! Call Nomia at 207-773-4774 or visit store to register.
Nomia, 24 Exchange Street, Suite 215, Portland, Maine, 207-773-4774.

September 24, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The Guilty Pleasure of Erotic Literature, Portland, Maine
Join Gina O'Rourke, owner of Nomia, and Rachel Kramer Bussel, editor of several erotica anthologies for a conversation about 50 Shades and other titles; the lines between romance, erotica and pornography; and recommended reads. #bannedbookweek
Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium, 5 Monument Way, Portland, Maine

September 28, 6:30-8 pm
Erotica 101 writing workshop, Chicago
Professional erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, editor of over 50 anthologies such as The Big Book of Orgasms, Flying High and Best Bondage Erotica 2014, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing, from getting started, finding your voice, and incorporating your surroundings, pop culture, and personal experiences into your stories to crafting a range of characters and settings and submitting your work. In this supportive, welcoming workshop environment, you’ll learn how to write vividly about everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies, and make them fit for particular publications in the thriving erotica market. This workshop will address the recent boom in erotica inspired by Fifty Shades of Grey, provide examples of well written erotica, and will include multiple writing exercises. You’ll be given a handout listing major markets and further reading suggestions. No previous writing experience required. Please bring laptop or pen and paper. $20/person or $35/two people. Register online.
Early to Bed, 5044 North Clark Street, Chicago, 773-271-1219

September 30, 8:30 pm
Erotica 101 writing workshop, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Professional erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel 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. $20/person; register online. Doors open at 8:15 pm.
The Tool Shed, 2427 N. Murray Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 414-906-5304

October 24, 7:30-9 pm
Writing Erotica for Pleasure and Money, New York City (for New York Academy of Sex Education)
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.

You are sure to find growth with the very prolific, award winning erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. She will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing. Learn how to get started, find your voice, and write against type.

She will talk about incorporating everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies into your writing. Rachel will teach you how to groom your writing to fit particular magazines and anthologies. And how to submit your work and keeping up with the thriving erotica market (including anthologies, ebooks, magazines and websites.) Materials needed: Please bring a laptop or paper and pen. $25/person. Advance registration required.
The Pleasure Chest, 1150 Second Avenue, New York City (Upper East Side, accessible by 4/5/6/N/R/F trains), 646-470-5129

Can't make any of these but want to learn more about erotica writing and start submitting stories?


I'm teaching this online erotica writing class with LitReactor for four weeks starting October 16. The great thing about it is that you can take it from anywhere in the world, on your schedule (it's not live), get feedback from me and other attendees, use any name you like as your username, letting you remain anonymous, and dive in-depth into the world of erotica. This is great for fiction writers who want to amp up their sex scenes, those who have an idea of what kind of erotica or erotic romance or sexy fiction they want to write but don't know where to submit it, and those just started out who want guidance as to how to make erotica come alive on the page. I've been asked often if I'm going to teach my erotica writing workshops in various cities, and since I can't travel everywhere, this class is a way that I can do so virtually.

Sex toy stores selling The Big Book of Submission

Here are the sex toy stores I know of so far selling The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales (click on the title to read 69 excerpts) - if your favorite one doesn't have it in stock, ask! I'm hoping to add more names to this list very soon. I've been to all of these stores save for She Bop, and can't wait to read there in September.

Early to Bed (Chicago) - and I teach Erotica Writing 101 there September 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Lotus Blooms (Alexandria, Virginia)

Secret Pleasures (Washington, DC) - it's not in their online store yet, but it's in their brick and mortar store

She Bop (Portland, Oregon) - coming very soon, as am I (September 10th, to be exact)

Sugar (Baltimore, Maryland) - I'm not seeing it in their online store, but it's in their brick and mortar store

The Tool Shed (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - and I teach Erotica Writing 101 there September 30 at 8:30 p.m.

Getting off on mental kink and the joy of service in The Big Book of Submission

I'm someone who enjoys erotica about all kinds of kinks and fetishes, but I admit I have a soft spot for mental kinks, for filthy minds, for the way words and actions can combine in ways that set someone on fire (not literally). Some of my stories are more action-oriented, but usually I'd say there's at least some mental component too. I haven't been writing as much erotica lately as I I'd like to; it doesn't always come as easily as it once did, and I struggle more for it. I only occasionally go back and reread a story and think, Wow. I pulled it off the way I wanted to.


Lotus Blooms reading, front: Me, Tess Danesi, Michelle Augello page; back: Emerald, Kristina Wright

Last week at sex toy store Lotus Blooms (where you can get a copy!) in Alexandria, Virginia, I read the entirety of my story "Reverse Psychology" from The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales, and I did think that. I liked that I had what I hope is a believable male narrator, one who isn't a sadist, but performs sadistic actions in the name of service. For me, a dirty mind is probably the number one thing that will make me attracted to someone, because then they can wield it in all sorts of ways, expected and unexpected. They can get me to do things I would never have thought I'd want to do, which is similar to my male protagonist. Perhaps someday I'll write his domme's side, about a woman who loves pain within the context of BDSM but doesn't have a submissive bone in her body.





This is the first post in the month-plus-long virtual book tour for The Big Book of Submission, so readers and authors will be sharing their takes on the book. You can read almost half of "Reverse Psychology" over at Unbound Box, who will also be posting 2 more excerpts from the book, so keep an eye on them. And I'll post as soon as the audiobook narrated by Rose Caraway is for sale! Again, when you don't 100% love your work, it can be awkward to hear it read aloud by someone else. When you know you've given it your all and are happy with the final outcome, rather than wondering, What if I'd added a line here, or rearranged this paragraph..., it's a far more exciting experience to have it read back to you.

Purchase from:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kindle ebook edition

Nook ebook edition

Amazon UK

Kindle UK

Kobo

Books-a-Million

Powell's

IndieBound (find it at your local independent bookstore)

Google Play

iTunes

Cleis Press

12 independent bookstores where you can buy The Big Book of Submission

I'll be stopping in at as many of these stores as I can to show them just how excited I am about The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales, and adding to this list as well as promoting the sex toy stores selling the book @submissionbook on Twitter and on Facebook and Tumblr. I'm thrilled that BDSM erotica is so popular that even Harvard Book Store (!!) is carrying it. Who knew?



If your favorite store doesn't have it, ask for it and they'll order it for you - then let me know you did at shortsubmissionantho at gmail.com and which store it was and I just may send you a special present.

Long story short - this is a make or break year for my little books, and I'm hoping they make it in a big way! I'm doing everything I can to help them along, though most of it involves luck and magic and who knows what else. But one thing that definitely helps is bookstores seeing that readers want a certain topic. I've learned about the importance of hand selling on my little tour this past week and am hoping this little kinky book connects with readers and booksellers, because I'm very proud of it.

Posman Books (New York)

Bluestockings (New York)

Book Loft (Columbus, Ohio)

Books Inc. (San Francisco Bay Area)

City Lights Bookstore (San Francisco) - I didn't see it on their website but I'm told they ordered it so please ask if you want to buy it from them!

Wicked Grounds Cafe (San Francisco)

Elliot Bay Book Company (Seattle)

Harvard Book Store (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Powell's Books Inc. (Portland, Oregon)

Boulder Bookstore (Boulder, Colorado)

Tattered Cover Bookstore (Denver, Colorado)

Unabridged Book Inc. (Chicago)

Happy Kindle and Nook ebook release day, The Big Book of Submission!

With some of my books, it's like two parties release date celebrations, with print and ebook. The Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales, my third anthology of erotic flash fiction stories of 1,200 words or less, following Gotta Have It and The Big Book of Orgasms, starting shipping in print recently and is out today for Kindle and Nook. It's a huge bargain: 69 stories for just $9.99 (Kindle) or $10.99 (Nook).



And I get to do the very first live reading from it this Thursday at sex toy story Lotus Blooms in Alexandria, Virginia. It's absolutely free, you just have to register online. You can also get copies at the stores where I'm teaching erotica writing workshops this week: Sugar in Baltimore (July 23 workshop details) and Secret Pleasures in Washington, DC (July 26 workshop registration details). And August 1st kicks off the book's virtual book tour, which will take you behind the scenes with authors as well as offer up reviews and more. You can also follow @submissionbook on Twitter for news from me and the contributors.

For those who want a print copy, if you're a Barnes & Noble shopper, they don't have an erotica section but they do have a Fiction Anthologies section, where you can find The Big Book of Submission, as I did last week at their Union Square store on 17th Street in Manhattan: