Email: rachelkramerbussel at gmail.com



 

Lusty Lady

BLOG OF RACHEL KRAMER BUSSEL
Watch my first and favorite book trailer for Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica. Get Spanked in print and ebook

Thursday, November 05, 2020

Free books for life giveaway and Book Angel program helping kids in need

My November articles (so far) for Forbes.com are below, where I've been covering all things books, publishing, libraries, authors, literary agents, book clubs and more since November 2018, are about some cool things independent bookstores are doing. You can follow me there so you don't miss anything, and I'm now working on January 2021 articles and beyond, so if you're a book publicist, editor, agent, bookseller, librarian or book club organizer or anyone else doing something new and unique in the book world, feel free to pitch me (rachelkb at gmail dot com with "Forbes" in the subject line).

Having this beat has totally changed my freelance writing career and given me a great way to focus my interests, and cover books for other outlets like Publishers Weekly and Washington Post Book World.

Here are two articles I hope you'll appreciate. You can nominate someone to WIN A BOOK A MONTH FOR LIFE from London, UK bookstore Heywood Hill through Sunday, November 8, and you can donate a book to a child in need with Oblong Books in Rhinebeck, New York, either in person or online. More details in the pieces.

"Why UK Bookstore Heywood Hill Is Giving Away A Book A Month For Life"

heywood-hill-london-uk-bookstore-subscription-program

heywood-hill-london-bookstore-books-for-life-giveaway


"Bookstore’s Book Angel Program Ensures Kids In Need Receive Books For The Holidays"

oblong-books-rhinebeck-new-york-book-angel-tree-kids

oblong-books-book-angel-project-rhinebeck-new-york-independent-bookstore

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Best Women's Erotica giveaway and free Candy Lovers story

November has been busy: I turned 43, started writing about book publishing for Forbes.com, visited gorgeous Beacon, New York and am now gearing up for my December book release of Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 4. I've got a lot of exciting things planned for the December 11 launch and afterward, but for now, I wanted to share that I'm giving away 10 signed copies over at Goodreads (sorry, U.S. only, but subscribe to my newsletter now for giveaways open to all, including a big November birthday giveaway).

=BWE4pinkcarpet

And for more frequent updates, follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and I'm posting lots of sexy, fun stuff on the Best Women's Erotica Instagram.

Also exciting is that Rose Caraway has posted another free Candy Lovers: Sugar Erotica story on her podcast, The Kiss Me Quick's! Listen to "Forbidden Fruit and Honey" by Salome Wilde! The other free story is "Lemonade" by Melina Greenport. Subscribe to The Kiss Me Quick's for more, including my "Sugar Mama." Get all 35 sexy food lover stories read by Rose on Audible. Reviews are always appreciated and help me reach more listeners and readers as well as make decisions when selecting stories for future anthologies!

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, November 06, 2018

Enter now to get Best Women's Erotica of the Year 4 before it's in stores

I'll never forget the acceptance from editor Marcy Sheiner I received for my story "Doing the Dishes" for Best Women's Erotica 2004. I was so thrilled to finally be published in this major series in the erotica world. And now I get to edit that same series. One thing I promised myself is that I would push myself to be the best editor I could be, to both apply everything I've learned since my own first co-edited anthology was published in 2004 and to push myself to be better, to dig deeper as an editor, to publish more diverse authors than I did when I started and to try to reach as many readers as possible.

I'm so proud of what the Best Women's Erotica of the Year series has become and can't wait to see what you think about Volume 4, which has totally hot, sexy stories as well as heartfelt, also arousing love stories. There's torrid affairs, kinky sex, forbidden passion and much more. Since it's Election Day, I'll share that my inspiration for the outsiders theme (the other theme is risk) was Donald Trump's scary and dangerous rhetoric about outsiders, not just immigrants, but anyone who isn't like him.

BWE4pinkcarpet

I'm giving away 10 signed copies of Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 4 at Goodreads. Enter to win by November 9 (U.S. only; for giveaways open internationally, subscribe to my monthly newsletter - and yes, after this month's deadline mania is over, my website is getting a much-needed overhaul on Squarespace.) The photo above features galleys from an earlier giveaway, but this is to win finished copies, which will be in my hands and then in the mail very, very soon. And if you have a spare moment, I'd love if you'd add the book to your Amazon wishlist. Entering and adding it help the book reach more people before it's published on December 11, which helps it sell more copies, which helps me get to keep editing this series (yes, if nobody buys it, I'm sure I will be given the heave ho as the editor). But I don't think that will happen.

Stay tuned because I'm working on booking readings for this volume and there will be some fun promos and giveaways, especially on our Instagram, where I'm posting everything from sex toys to sexy women to hot Friday reads. Thank you for reading and supporting this series. I didn't start it and am humbled to be its third editor and honored to publish so many writers from around the world. My dream is to get to edit 10 volumes. I'm wrapping up my initial round of edits on Volume 5 now, for publication next December.

Without you reading, reviewing, following and spreading the word (and, of course, all the amazing bookstores and libraries who stock it!), I wouldn't get to do this, so THANK YOU. I don't take that lightly, and I edit every anthology like it's going to be my last and I need to go out with a bang, because that could be the case. But I hope it's not, and today, on a day when I hope for positive changes in the world, I'm also hoping that the powers that be like my work enough to keep believing in me as editor. In return, I vow to work on this series every day, to make it a little more visible, to bring in more authors from around the world, to have these stories reach the people who need them.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

These two erotica book giveaways end tomorrow, May 31!

I finally sent out my May 2018 newsletter and it has an exclusive, subscriber only giveaway at the bottom for my Cleis Press anthology Do Not Disturb: Hotel Sex Stories. Follow the newsletter link to enter and if you're a subscriber, you'll be eligible to win! It's open internationally. Not a subscriber? Get on the list at my website or on the left-hand side of this blog. You have until May 31, 2018 at 11:59 pm EST to enter. Books will be sent to winners on Friday morning. In June for Pride month, I'm giving away signed copies of Twice the Pleasure: Bisexual Women's Erotica.

And my U.S. only Goodreads Best Women's Erotica of the Year Volume 3 giveaway also ends on Thursday, May 31, so make sure to enter. Good luck!

BWEoftheyearvolume3cover

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

May erotica book giveaway at Goodreads - enter soon!

It's new(ish) month, so I've got a new erotica book giveaway at Goodreads open to U.S. readers. The deadline to enter is May 31, 2018. I'm once again giving away five signed copies of Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 3. I also encourage you to follow me on Goodreads (and all your favorite authors) for updates on my writing and books. Good luck!

BWEoftheyearvolume3cover

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Win a signed copy of Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 3

Over at Goodreads, I'm hosting a Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 3 giveaway for U.S. readers. Enter by April 15 to win one of 25 signed copies. Good luck! And follow @BWEoftheyear on Twitter and bestwomenserotica on Instagram for more giveaways around the year. As always, your reviews anywhere and everywhere (suggested locations: Goodreads, Powell's (where you can sign up to be entered to win a $20 credit if your review is selected to highlight in their Daily Dose newsletter), Amazon, Bn.com, Kobo, Audible), adding the books to your wishlists and sharing posts about the Cleis Press Best Women's Erotica of the Year series help our books reach new readers and ultimately help the series grow and thrive.

I've also posted the Volume 5 call for submissions on the theme of "Outrageous." You've got until August 1, 2018 to get your stories in for consideration! I'm pouring all my editorial energy into making this series everything I've dreamed it could be. Volume 4 will be out December 11 of this year and I'm working on making Volume 5 as hot as can be too!

BWEoftheyearvolume3cover

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

3 erotica book giveaways right now - act fast and enter to win!

This week there are three of my erotica book giveaways happening - so act fast and enter to win! And if you know anyone who likes sexy reads, let them know too.

Win Tasting Him: Oral Sex Stories (Deadline: December 14, 2017, open internationally, must be subscribed to my newsletter to be eligible - make sure to include your FULL name and mailing address to be entered. I'm noticing a lot of people putting something like "123 Main Street," which I obviously can't send mail to)

tastinghimcover

Win Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 3 and The Sexy Librarian's Dirty Thirty, Volume 2 (Deadline: December 17, 2017, U.S. only)

BWEoftheyearvolume3cover

Win The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2 (Deadline: December 21, 2017, U.S. only)

bigbookofsubmission2finalcover

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, June 02, 2017

Like free erotica books? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter!

Since I'm both sending out signed copies of Please, Sir to May's newsletter giveaway winners and sending out June's newsletter today, now's a good time to remind you that if you like free erotica books and want to know what I'm up to, you can subscribe at rachelkramerbussel.com or the left-hand side of this blog, Lusty Lady. I send one newsletter per month. You can also keep up with me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and, less frequently lately, Tumblr. If you want to know when my books are on sale, like the current Big Book of Submission $1.99 ebook sale that ends tomorrow, June 3rd, follow me at BookBub and you'll get notified any time my books are on sale, books with my short stories are on sale and when I have a new release.

pleasesirnewslettermailing

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Win my BDSM erotica anthology Please, Sir - enter by Wednesday, May 31!

Every month I give away books to my newsletter subscribers. If you haven't subscribed, you can do so on the left-hand side of this blog, Lusty Lady, or at my website, rachelkramerbussel.com (which may be experiencing some temporary technical difficulties), or at my Facebook page. This month's giveaway is 10 copies of my BDSM erotica anthology Please, Sir - enter using this Google form (which only I see). The deadline to enter is May 31, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Make sure to use the email address you're subscribed to the newsletter with and include your full mailing address - I sometimes have to pick a new winner when there's an incomplete address.

pleasesirgiveaway

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, May 09, 2016

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.

RKB-BEA-Promo-2016

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!

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Friday, November 27, 2015

A free book on Black Friday? Enter my giveaway on Facebook to win Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex

Like me, your inbox is probably inundated with Black Friday sales. I love a good sale too, but with Thanksgiving this week and me feeling truly grateful that I get to live this life and keep on editing books that I'm so proud of, I wanted to offer something back. So I'm giving away 5 copies of my first "little" (in size) book, Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex on my Facebook page. There are only three requirements: a) that you're in the U.S. (I'm not rich, so can only afford to send books via media mail in my country) b) that you subscribe to my monthly newsletter and c) that you leave a comment on this Facebook post with the email address you've used to subscribe to my newsletter.

Not a subscriber to my newsletter? You can subscribe on the left-hand side of my blog (lustylady.blogspot.com if you're reading hit elsewhere) or on my Facebook page (click on "newsletter signup") or on the left-hand side of rachelkramerbussel.com.

gottahaveitkindlecover

The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST tonight and I will be contacting the winners in the morning so I can send them their books! Good luck!

I hope you are feeling thankful this year, even if it's in small doses. I have strived hard to make gratitude a daily, deliberate part of my life this year, and along with that, I've tried to figure out ways to change the parts of my life that I don't like. It's not always easy, and sometimes there are curveballs thrown at me. For instance, in January, I'll be moving for the fourth time in four years. Do I want to? No. Will it require time and money that could have been invested back into my business? Yes. But is there anything I can do about it? No, and since I live by the Serenity Prayer, I am simply pulling out the packing tape today and getting a head start on packing up what will turn out to be mostly books, along with clothes and other important items. The upside of moving so often, especially after having lived in my convenient Williamsburg, Brooklyn apartment for 13 years, is that I care less about "stuff" in general and more about the specific things that matter. It gets easier to pare down each time. I've gifted hundreds of books to friends, and gotten to share in the delight of them reading one I liked (or, in some cases, never wound up reading). I got serious with myself about what items I wanted to keep and which I didn't.

Out of all the things I've read about gratitude, this post by the wonderful Latham Thomas of Mama Glow, "My Home Burned Down Before Thanksgiving & I Am Still Thankful" spoke to me the most. Read it and treasure people, health, love, humanity, not things. Yes, it's a paradox: this post is mainly about giving away a thing, and I make a living by crafting things (books) I care deeply about. But I care about them differently now after my moves. I know that they can be a burden as well as a blessing. Books have taught me almost everything I know about life, but they are not life itself. It's a good lesson to remember.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Monday, May 04, 2015

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.

3bookgiveawayapril2015

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Monday, June 03, 2013

Free books for Amazon.com reviewers

I've got a limited number of print copies of the following books to send to anyone (in the U.S.) willing to review them on Amazon.com (you must have an Amazon.com account you've made a purchase from at some point), and I ask that you post your review within 6 weeks. I'll update this post as they are claimed. I can also send Kindle editions to anyone, same deal. Email me at rachelkb at gmail.com with "Amazon" in subject and which books you want/where to send them (you can request up to 2). Twice the Pleasure: Bisexual Women's Erotica (1 print), Women in Lust (21 print), Peep Show: Erotic Tales of Voyeurs and Exhibitionists (41 print), Passion: Erotic Romance for Women (4 print), Serving Him: Sexy Stories of Submission (1 print), Please, Sir (2 print), Suite Encounters: Hotel Sex Stories (7 print), Going Down: Oral Sex Stories (4 print), Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica (1 print), Irresistible: Erotic Romance for Couples (1 print), Only You: Erotic Romance for Women (32 print). Thanks!

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Buy one get one free ebook offer extended through Monday March 25th at 11:59 pm EST

I decided to extend this offer through Monday night. 2 books for the price of one! I'm having another buy one, get one free ebook sale, since the first one with Serving Him went so well! Here's the deal: From midnight on Friday, March 22nd through 11:59 pm EST Monday March 25th, if you buy the Kindle ebook edition or Nook ebook edition of Twice the Pleasure: Bisexual Women's Erotica, I will send you any of my Kindle or Nook ebooks listed in this paragraph FREE, which includes the just-released ebook of Best Sex Writing 2013, featuring writers like Jonathan Lethem, guest judge Carol Queen, Patrick Califia, Amber Dawn, Madison Young and many others (more about that very soon). You tell me which one, I send it to you as a gift. What you need to do: Forward me your receipt with "BOGO" in the subject line for your purchase of the Nook or Kindle edition of Twice the Pleasure made between midnight March 22nd and 11:59 p.m. March 25th by 9 am EST Tuesday, March 26th and tell me these 3 things: which ebook you want, which format (Kindle or Nook), and what email address to send to (for Kindle, I cannot use an @kindle.com address to gift an ebook). Then I send it to you. I'd love it if you'd spread the word and if there's a book of mine you've been wanting to read, now you can get 2 for $9.99 (Kindle) or $10.68 (Nook) - no, I don't have a thing to do with ebook or online sales pricing. This greatly helps visibility with online stores, especially on Amazon as it can help get the book on their bestseller lists. If this goes well, I plan to do more BOGO ebook sales! Book pick options: Anything for You: Erotica for Kinky Couples, Serving Him: Sexy Stories of Submission, Instruments of Pleasure: Sex Toy Erotica, Caught Looking, Crossdressing, He's on Top, She's on Top, Yes, Sir, Yes, Ma'am, Please, Sir, Please, Ma'am, Rubber Sex, Spanked, Bottoms Up, Cheeky Spanking Stories, Tasting Him, Tasting Her, Going Down, Do Not Disturb, Suite Encounters, The Mile High Club, Peep Show, Fast Girls, Orgasmic, Smooth, Passion, Irresistible, Gotta Have It; 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, Surrender, Obsessed, Women in Lust, Hide and Seek Only You, Best Bondage Erotica 2001, Best Bondage Erotica 2012, Best Bondage Erotica 2013, Best Sex Writing 2008, Best Sex Writing 2009, Best Sex Writing 2010, Best Sex Writing 2012, Best Sex Writing 2013.



Introduction: Hot Bi Babes: A Both/And Approach to Bisexuality

1 Percent Adaptable Nicole Wolfe
The Wife Kay Jaybee
Operetta Jean Roberta
Lifeline Emerald
Goa Dena Hankins
The Robber Girl Lori Selke
The Adulterers Penelope Friday
Sunset Logan Belle
Break Cheryl B.
In the Mirror Valerie Alexander
Glitter in the Gutter Giselle Renarde
Seduction Dance Dorothy Freed
A Little Fun Rachel Kramer Bussel
Trinity Jordana Winters
Meeting at the Hole in the Wall Aimee Pearl
The State Tahira Iqbal
Strange Status Quo Salome Wilde
Walking the Walk Shanna Germain
ReGretable Circumstances Lane
Right-Red Flagging Sinclair Sexsmith
Page of Wands Cheyenne Blue
What I Want, What I Need Jacqueline Applebee

Introduction: Hot Bi Babes: A Both/And Approach to Bisexuality

Woody Allen once famously said, “Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.” As a bisexual woman, I can attest that this is not necessarily true. Bisexuality is more than just a math equation and cannot be so easily categorized or summarized. Identifying as bi, or being attracted to or engaging in sex with a variety of genders, or whatever version of something approximating those states of being , is the theme of this anthology, and in many ways, the term is actually a lot broader than that dual opportunity. This is not a book about choosing either/or, male or female, or simply one of each. It’s not about narrowing gender down to one size fits all, but about expanding our options, to a both/and approach to how we view and cultivate our sexuality. It’s a welcoming, inclusive definition that welcomes all comers—pun fully intended.

I wanted this book, while fictional and focused on the erotic aspects of bisexual women’s lives, to explore as wide a swatch of “bisexual” as possible. That means that some of the best stories here don’t mention the word bisexual at all; they don’t have to, because their bi angle, their queerness, is embedded—and bedded—in the story. The characters are living it, rather than identifying with it; the sexual exploration and attraction, the experience and movement, are more important than what anyone wants to call it.

The large majority of the submissions I received for this book were about women having sex with women, which makes sense in the context of a culture that still privileges heterosexual identity over any other kind. Even in an era of so-called lesbian and bisexual chic, there’s still plenty of discomfort with the fluidity with which many women view their sexuality. Shifting away from a purely heterosexual mindset forces women to grapple with the ways we differ from mainstream society, even one that is becoming much more open and knowledgeable about the varieties of queer life. The first time we dare to dip our toes—or other body parts—into the world of sex with other women is often momentous. Many of us will find the character of Laura, in Nicole Wolfe’s opening story, “1 Percent Adaptable,” familiar. Laura at first protests Marie’s advances, warning her that she’s not gay, not bi, until she listens to her body and follows its yearnings. “Laura was shocked that the kiss had surprised her, considering what had just happened between her legs. She let her lips caress Marie’s. She dared to let her tongue out to play. She risked letting her hands tickle Marie’s hips and backside,” Wolfe writes.

But I didn’t want this to simply be a first-time bi-curious tentative collection, but a robust one exploring the intimacy of life as a woman interested in men and women. That’s why I wanted stories that asked questions like the ones in Jacqueline Applebee’s closing tale, “What I Want, What I Need:” “I’d been out as a lesbian since I was twenty-three. Why was I suddenly spending time with a straight man? Why was I enjoying it so much? Had I really been a lesbian at all, or had I been lying to myself for the past twenty years?”

There are girlfriends and wives, husbands and boyfriends, first dates, threesomes and much more here. There’s daring and adventure, women taking risks by stepping outside their comfort zones, whether it’s by surrendering to a bodyguard in “The State,” by Tahira Iqbal, or confronting “The Wife” of a male lover in Kay Jaybee’s story, only to be confronted right back. The women you’ll read about are attracted to strong women like “The Robber Girl” in Lori Selke’s story, and men who surprise them with their sensitivity, as in my story, “A Little Fun.”

There’s also kink, if that’s what you’re looking for. In Cheryl B.’s “The Break,” spanking becomes a way for two exes to reconnect and revive the passion between them, while Sinclair Sexsmith takes us inside a gay bar and then home with a boy her protagonist has met there, one who may or may not know her true gender, in “Right-Red Flagging.” The protagonist of “Seduction Dance” is under the watchful eye of her master when she finds a new female plaything for her to command and seduce. Gender is played with, fucked with, and grappled with as well in Giselle Renarde’s “Glitter in the Gutter,” in which the female partner of a male cross-dresser encourages his interest when he fears he’s crossed a line and doesn’t want to live in the new, judgmental world he’s stepped into. Aimee Pearl writes in “Meeting at the Hole in the Wall, “Chivalry is dead, and I want to writhe naked on its grave.”

These are celebratory, sexy stories, but, all apologies to Mr. Allen, they are more complex than a view of bisexuality simply as “twice as much” to offer. I like to think of them as both/and stories that, collectively, offer a look at the ways bisexuality, queerness and lesbianism affect us while recognizing that there’s no monolithic typical bisexual. We are multifaceted, full of desires that can’t be contained in a single, simplistic category. We are hungry, horny, mischievous, naughty, provocative and, yes, curious. We may think we know what we want, only to keep on surprising ourselves just when we think we have it all figured out. We are open to a wide range of sexual possibilities, whether they exist in our heads or beyond.

I hope you’ll enjoy the twenty-two stories presented here, and that they serve as erotic catalysts, no matter how you identify.

Rachel Kramer Bussel

New York City

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

48 hour BOGO ebook sale March 22 and 23: buy Twice the Pleasure: Bisexual Women's Erotica and get any of my Cleis Press ebooks free!

BOGO offer extended: I'm having another buy one, get one free ebook sale, since the first one with Serving Him went so well! Here's the deal: From midnight on Friday, March 22nd through 11:59 pm EST Monday March 25th, if you buy the Kindle ebook edition or Nook ebook edition of Twice the Pleasure: Bisexual Women's Erotica, I will send you any of my Kindle or Nook ebooks listed in this paragraph FREE, which includes the just-released ebook of Best Sex Writing 2013, featuring writers like Jonathan Lethem, guest judge Carol Queen, Patrick Califia, Amber Dawn, Madison Young and many others (more about that very soon). You tell me which one, I send it to you as a gift. What you need to do: Forward me your receipt with "BOGO" in the subject line for your purchase of the Nook or Kindle edition of Twice the Pleasure made between midnight March 22nd and 11:59 p.m. March 25th by 9 am EST Tuesday, March 26th and tell me these 3 things: which ebook you want, which format (Kindle or Nook), and what email address to send to (for Kindle, I cannot use an @kindle.com address to gift an ebook). Then I send it to you. I'd love it if you'd spread the word and if there's a book of mine you've been wanting to read, now you can get 2 for $9.99 (Kindle) or $10.68 (Nook) - no, I don't have a thing to do with ebook or online sales pricing. This greatly helps visibility with online stores, especially on Amazon as it can help get the book on their bestseller lists. If this goes well, I plan to do more BOGO ebook sales! Book pick options: Anything for You: Erotica for Kinky Couples, Serving Him: Sexy Stories of Submission, Instruments of Pleasure: Sex Toy Erotica, Caught Looking, Crossdressing, He's on Top, She's on Top, Yes, Sir, Yes, Ma'am, Please, Sir, Please, Ma'am, Rubber Sex, Spanked, Bottoms Up, Cheeky Spanking Stories, Tasting Him, Tasting Her, Going Down, Do Not Disturb, Suite Encounters, The Mile High Club, Peep Show, Fast Girls, Orgasmic, Smooth, Passion, Irresistible, Gotta Have It; 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, Surrender, Obsessed, Women in Lust, Hide and Seek Only You, Best Bondage Erotica 2001, Best Bondage Erotica 2012, Best Bondage Erotica 2013, Best Sex Writing 2008, Best Sex Writing 2009, Best Sex Writing 2010, Best Sex Writing 2012, Best Sex Writing 2013.



Introduction: Hot Bi Babes: A Both/And Approach to Bisexuality

1 Percent Adaptable Nicole Wolfe
The Wife Kay Jaybee
Operetta Jean Roberta
Lifeline Emerald
Goa Dena Hankins
The Robber Girl Lori Selke
The Adulterers Penelope Friday
Sunset Logan Belle
Break Cheryl B.
In the Mirror Valerie Alexander
Glitter in the Gutter Giselle Renarde
Seduction Dance Dorothy Freed
A Little Fun Rachel Kramer Bussel
Trinity Jordana Winters
Meeting at the Hole in the Wall Aimee Pearl
The State Tahira Iqbal
Strange Status Quo Salome Wilde
Walking the Walk Shanna Germain
ReGretable Circumstances Lane
Right-Red Flagging Sinclair Sexsmith
Page of Wands Cheyenne Blue
What I Want, What I Need Jacqueline Applebee

Introduction: Hot Bi Babes: A Both/And Approach to Bisexuality

Woody Allen once famously said, “Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.” As a bisexual woman, I can attest that this is not necessarily true. Bisexuality is more than just a math equation and cannot be so easily categorized or summarized. Identifying as bi, or being attracted to or engaging in sex with a variety of genders, or whatever version of something approximating those states of being , is the theme of this anthology, and in many ways, the term is actually a lot broader than that dual opportunity. This is not a book about choosing either/or, male or female, or simply one of each. It’s not about narrowing gender down to one size fits all, but about expanding our options, to a both/and approach to how we view and cultivate our sexuality. It’s a welcoming, inclusive definition that welcomes all comers—pun fully intended.

I wanted this book, while fictional and focused on the erotic aspects of bisexual women’s lives, to explore as wide a swatch of “bisexual” as possible. That means that some of the best stories here don’t mention the word bisexual at all; they don’t have to, because their bi angle, their queerness, is embedded—and bedded—in the story. The characters are living it, rather than identifying with it; the sexual exploration and attraction, the experience and movement, are more important than what anyone wants to call it.

The large majority of the submissions I received for this book were about women having sex with women, which makes sense in the context of a culture that still privileges heterosexual identity over any other kind. Even in an era of so-called lesbian and bisexual chic, there’s still plenty of discomfort with the fluidity with which many women view their sexuality. Shifting away from a purely heterosexual mindset forces women to grapple with the ways we differ from mainstream society, even one that is becoming much more open and knowledgeable about the varieties of queer life. The first time we dare to dip our toes—or other body parts—into the world of sex with other women is often momentous. Many of us will find the character of Laura, in Nicole Wolfe’s opening story, “1 Percent Adaptable,” familiar. Laura at first protests Marie’s advances, warning her that she’s not gay, not bi, until she listens to her body and follows its yearnings. “Laura was shocked that the kiss had surprised her, considering what had just happened between her legs. She let her lips caress Marie’s. She dared to let her tongue out to play. She risked letting her hands tickle Marie’s hips and backside,” Wolfe writes.

But I didn’t want this to simply be a first-time bi-curious tentative collection, but a robust one exploring the intimacy of life as a woman interested in men and women. That’s why I wanted stories that asked questions like the ones in Jacqueline Applebee’s closing tale, “What I Want, What I Need:” “I’d been out as a lesbian since I was twenty-three. Why was I suddenly spending time with a straight man? Why was I enjoying it so much? Had I really been a lesbian at all, or had I been lying to myself for the past twenty years?”

There are girlfriends and wives, husbands and boyfriends, first dates, threesomes and much more here. There’s daring and adventure, women taking risks by stepping outside their comfort zones, whether it’s by surrendering to a bodyguard in “The State,” by Tahira Iqbal, or confronting “The Wife” of a male lover in Kay Jaybee’s story, only to be confronted right back. The women you’ll read about are attracted to strong women like “The Robber Girl” in Lori Selke’s story, and men who surprise them with their sensitivity, as in my story, “A Little Fun.”

There’s also kink, if that’s what you’re looking for. In Cheryl B.’s “The Break,” spanking becomes a way for two exes to reconnect and revive the passion between them, while Sinclair Sexsmith takes us inside a gay bar and then home with a boy her protagonist has met there, one who may or may not know her true gender, in “Right-Red Flagging.” The protagonist of “Seduction Dance” is under the watchful eye of her master when she finds a new female plaything for her to command and seduce. Gender is played with, fucked with, and grappled with as well in Giselle Renarde’s “Glitter in the Gutter,” in which the female partner of a male cross-dresser encourages his interest when he fears he’s crossed a line and doesn’t want to live in the new, judgmental world he’s stepped into. Aimee Pearl writes in “Meeting at the Hole in the Wall, “Chivalry is dead, and I want to writhe naked on its grave.”

These are celebratory, sexy stories, but, all apologies to Mr. Allen, they are more complex than a view of bisexuality simply as “twice as much” to offer. I like to think of them as both/and stories that, collectively, offer a look at the ways bisexuality, queerness and lesbianism affect us while recognizing that there’s no monolithic typical bisexual. We are multifaceted, full of desires that can’t be contained in a single, simplistic category. We are hungry, horny, mischievous, naughty, provocative and, yes, curious. We may think we know what we want, only to keep on surprising ourselves just when we think we have it all figured out. We are open to a wide range of sexual possibilities, whether they exist in our heads or beyond.

I hope you’ll enjoy the twenty-two stories presented here, and that they serve as erotic catalysts, no matter how you identify.

Rachel Kramer Bussel

New York City

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, December 14, 2012

Free book for Amazon.com reviewers: Only You: Erotic Romance for Women

It's that time of the year when I mail out 30 copies of my new book to some of my favorite readers, my Amazon.com reviewers! Just be one of the first 30 to request one and I'll send them as soon as they arrive, free and autographed (US only). And I know it says "for women" in the title but this book will appeal to anyone who wants sexy romance, and I know I have plenty of male and non-women readers too! Thank you so much if you've ever reviewed a book of mine; I truly appreciate it. Please email onlyyouantho at gmail.com with "Amazon" in the subject line and your name and mailing address in the body, and I'll send it out to the first 30 people who contact me. Not only do you get a free book, you get it before it's in stores or for sale, because I get my copies directly from the printer. I like to think of it as a win-win, for fans of the kinds of books I edit. And of course I also appreciate anyone who buys, recommends or just considers my books. The table of contents and introduction are below. Bonus good book karma for clicking "like" on Amazon and/or rating it on Goodreads.



Introduction: Very Happy Endings

Driven Angela Caperton
Overcome Alyssa Turner
Forgotten Bodies Giselle Renarde
In the Doghouse Hanna Martine
Autumn Rain Michael A. Gonzales
The Love We Make Kristina Wright
In-Flight Entertainment Catherine Paulssen
Republicans Don’t Like Kate Dominic
Mom’s Night Out Lolita Lopez
Slow Fire Donna George Storey
The Nude, Stripped Naked Jeremy Edwards
Edge Skylar Kade
Unfolding K D Grace
Married Abigail Grey
Cook’s Treat Elizabeth Coldwell
Hollywood Romance Veronica Wilde
Matters of the Heart Tenille Brown
September Song Anna Watson
Saved Cassandra Carr
For the Very First Time Rachel Kramer Bussel

Introduction: Very Happy Endings

“Honey, are you happy?” is the question with which Cassandra Carr opens her story, “Saved,” about a marriage that needs reviving, pronto. Haven’t we all been in relationships where we longed to ask our partners what they were truly thinking and feeling; whether they were happy; whether they had fantasies, regrets, dreams—but didn’t ask because we were afraid of the answer? I certainly have, so I have extra admiration for this lonely wife who dares to ask for what she wants, realizing it’s never too late. That is the same spirit that enlivens every story in this collection, where sexual pleasure and romantic happiness are not guaranteed at the outset. Couples in various stages of their romances experience tricky territory and have to ask, pursue, explore and test the boundaries of their love in order to reach new peaks, learn about themselves, and make their relationships stronger. Yes, these stories are hot, and I fully encourage you to read them with one hand, but I also find them heartwarming. They explore what happens within a marriage or relationship behind closed doors, for the most part, when you’re stripped bare in the literal and figurative senses, and are truly seen by someone who knows you inside and out.

You very likely know the feeling of being captivated by a lover, wanting to be with him morning, noon and night; dreaming about her when you’re away; reveling in the heights of passion as well as the tender comforts of togetherness when you’re not. The stories in Only You celebrate that feeling of knowing the ones you love for all their high points and their faults, of seeing beyond their outer image to what truly makes their heart beat, sometimes knowing them better than they know themselves. The stories you are about to read all explore the theme, in some way, of lovers who are drawn to each other, whether they fully understand why or not. Some are pulled apart by obstacles they have to overcome, and others simply can’t wait to tear each other’s clothes off. Some serve as teachers, guides or gurus into matters of the heart.

What I especially like about these tales is that the lovers here join forces, using their knowledge of what the other person gets off on to spur them to risqué acts, even under circumstances that may not seem ideal at first glance. “Forgotten Bodies,” by Giselle Renarde, addresses the ways we can forget our own bodies, not to mention our partner’s libido, in long-term relationships. Susan goes so far as to hide in the bathroom to avoid sex with her husband, only to discover that he’s cooking up something new and naughty for them to try. In “The Love We Make,” by Kristina Wright, fighting leads to the hottest sex imaginable, and means there’s no excuse too petty to pick a fight over, if they get to “make up.” Sex-starved Sidney in Lolita Lopez’s “Mom’s Night Out” engages in a one-night getaway with her husband, Owen, where they forget all about the draining daily duties of parenthood and rediscover how much they still hunger for each other.

Some of the lovers here are less experienced, such as M. in “Autumn Rain,” by Michael A. Gonzales, and Dean in my story “For the Very First Time.” Each delicately touches on the ways our first time leaves an impression, makes us fall that much harder for the person we’re sharing the momentous occasion with. Even when the characters aren’t actually virginal, when they approach their relationships anew, finding something novel in their partner’s kiss or touch, they can invoke Madonna and feel “Like a Virgin,” only with the bonus of a shared, special history.

As I’ve edited this collection, I’ve been listening to Adele’s achingly gorgeous album 21. Those songs are about lost loves, but they contain all the tenderness you will find here as well, and rest assured, not to give too much away, the tales in Only You have happy, sweet, sexy endings.

I wish you only pleasure in enjoying the stories you’re about to read.

Rachel Kramer Bussel
New York City

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, September 02, 2011

Free books at Goodreads - Happy Friday!

This should be approved shortly. I'm a little obsessed with Obsessed, especially because I'm a romance reader. And I plan to do these giveaways with each new book (though if you want to be extra super awesome, I'd love it if you'd be part of my Amazon review team, see my Twitter stream or email womeninlust at gmail.com with "Amazon" in the subject and your name/US mailing address in the body to get a copy of Women in Lust hot off the press next month, in exchange for reviewing it by November 30th).






Goodreads Book Giveaway







Obsessed by Rachel Kramer Bussel






Obsessed




by Rachel Kramer Bussel






Giveaway ends September 30, 2011.



See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.








Enter to win



Labels: , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

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:

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

You've gotta have Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex

I'm so excited about my biggest (338 pages) book ever, Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, which will be in stores any day now, from Cleis Press. I'm working on postcards, readings, an author-filled book trailer and much more. Mostly I love it because I got to work with tons of new authors, it's totally varied, from crossword puzzles to Godzilla, quickies to kink. The format of 1,200 words or less allowed me to play with the form and include a wide array of stories so there's something for everyone and the smaller trim size means it can fit in your coat pocket probably. And there's a cat on the cover and a photo on the spine!

The first 10 people to send me their receipts for the book will get a choice of (while supplies last) a free copy of Orgasmic or the new Jo Weldon-foreword-including Hide & Seek. Write me at gottahaveitbook at gmail.com with "Receipt" in the subject line! Readings are in the works for New York, LA and Minneapolis and hopefully I can squeeze in a few others too.



Order Gotta Have It from:



Amazon.com



Kindle edition (coming soon)



Bn.com (Barnes & Noble)



Books-a-Million



Borders



Powell's



IndieBound (find your local independent bookstore)



Cleis Press



Introduction: Short, Sweet and Totally Sexy

Seven-Letter Word Heather Lin
No Blame, No Shame Jeremy Edwards
Wasn’t It Good? Andrea Dale
The Things a Woman Will Make a Man Do for Her Isabelle Gray
Special Collections Fiona Curtis
Wonderland Madeline Elayne
Red Light Angela Caperton
My Femme Evan Mora
Genesis Shanna Germain
Serious Moonlight Michael A. Gonzales
Too Wondrous to Measure Salome Wilde
Hors d’Oeuvre Stan Kent
Missed Connection Tigress Healy
Ties That Bind Daniel Burnell
Eat Me Marina Saint
Jarret Shane Allison
Lucky Number Fifty-One Jennifer Peters
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler Tara Young
Spunk Sylvia Lowry
Time Cecilia Tan
Dining in the Dark Elizabeth Daniels
Downpour Elle
Need-Leash Mike Kimera
Crushed Satin Organza Carmel Lockyer
Not on the Mouth Cole Riley
Hot Buns on a Sunday Afternoon Erica Rivera
Feel the Burn Thomas S. Roche
Trixie Jen Cross
Police Dogging Elizabeth Coldwell
Tip Me Kiki DeLovely
Marxist Theory Elizabeth Hyder
The Dirty Things She Says Sinclair Sexsmith
Laughter in Hades Teresa Noelle Roberts
The Quick Stop Shashauna P. Thomas
Pain Surfer Cate Ellink
After Ten Years Christen Clifford
Over His Shoulder Maximilian Lagos
Manners Rachel Kramer Bussel
Veronica’s Ass Matt Conklin
Punishment Befitting the Crime D. L. King
Lies Kristina Wright
A Forced Witness Vampirique Dezire
Concensus Denise Hoffner
Don’t Struggle Valerie Alexander
Plotter Monocle
Intercept Burton Lawrence
Not a Bang, but a Whimper Jacqueline Applebee
Suggestion Emerald
Hands Free Effie Merryl
Remembering the Wrinkles Penelope Friday
Leaves Elise Hepner
The Copilot Mike Bruno
Pierced Kirsty Logan
Last-Time Lesbian Geneva King
Anal-yzed Donna George Storey
Independence Day Kate Pearce
Going Bald Craig J. Sorensen
Continuing Education Anya Levin
Meet Me in the Kitchen Giselle Renarde
Over the Line Helia Brookes
Not Just a Myth Heidi Champa
Hunger Maria See
The Tipping Point Lolita Lopez
The Advantage of Working from Home Kay Jaybee
For Dessert Jordana Winters
Good Neighbors Mercy Loomis
Laugh Sommer Marsden
A Good Stiff One Kathleen Bradean
Vacation Pictures Robert Peregrine

Introduction: Short, Sweet and Totally Sexy

Everyone needs a break from his or her everyday life sometimes, and what better way to escape than with a short story that gets right to the point? The authors of the sixty-nine stories you hold in your hand understand exactly how to pique your interest and get you off , and they do it all in 1,200 words or less. You don’t need long to get drawn into the drama, tension and lust.

I received close to three hundred submissions for this collection, more than I ever have before, and I think that’s because no one, writer or reader alike, can resist a short story that seduces instantaneously. These stories aren’t all about quickie sex, though there’s plenty of that. There are strangers who meet and know right away they must have each other, neighbors, travel mates, coworkers and long-term couples such as those in “After Ten Years” and “Remembering the Wrinkles” who are looking for ways to hold on to that spark. There are stories of sex in libraries, vacation sex and lots of outdoor sex—in the rain, in the street, all over. There are lovers with pecan rolls dripping in caramel, and meals where lovers feast on nothing but each other. There are even a few stories with no actual sex in them at allæyou’ll have to hunt those down and see why anticipation can be the sexiest act of all.

There’s humor, kink, flirtation, Godzilla, missed connections, sex toys, and one very bold census taker. But I don’t want to take up too much of your time that could be better spent getting intimately acquainted with these short but incredibly sexy stories. I hope you will savor them, read them aloud and return to your favorites again and again. Because all of us have a few minutes set aside for a quickie, don’t we?

Rachel Kramer Bussel
New York City

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Free erotica anthology from me for first 10 to purchase Gotta Have It

I got some fabulous news yesterday from my publisher Cleis Press - my biggest book yet, Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, aka, the erotica book with the cat on the cover, is shipping to me from the printer today, rather than in a month. So, to celebrate, I'm offering the first 10 of you to buy it a free copy of either Orgasmic or the newly rereleased version of Hide & Seek with an foreword by the one and only burlesque performer Jo Weldon.

Just email your receipt to me at gottahaveitbook at gmail.com with "Receipt" in the subject line and your mailing address. US only. Purchase it from anywhere but the first 10 with their receipts get the freebies. Kindle users, the Kindle edition will be out February 1st .

Stay tuned for Gotta Have It readings and postcards and podcasts and lots of fun stuff. This was a very fun but very challenging project to work on due to the sheer number of submissions and contributors. Big thanks to my amazing assistant Inara de Luna, who I highly recommend, for her help organizing things. I hope this does well in part because I want to do it again, and in part because I am excited to have the chance to publish so many new, and new to me, authors. Publishing someone's first erotica story? Totally makes my day/year. Also, I think this one has a very wide appeal; there's a little bit of everything, from Godzilla to crossword puzzles to long-term relationships to flirtations to libraries and missed connections to kink to the mile high club and more. Lots more.

Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex is edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel, and will be published by Cleis Press in February 2011.

Order Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex from:

Amazon.com

Kindle edition (coming soon)

Bn.com (Barnes & Noble)

Books-a-Million

Borders

Powell's

IndieBound (find your local independent bookstore)

Cleis Press



Introduction: Short, Sweet and Totally Sexy

Seven-Letter Word Heather Lin
No Blame, No Shame Jeremy Edwards
Wasn’t It Good? Andrea Dale
The Things a Woman Will Make a Man Do for Her Isabelle Gray
Special Collections Fiona Curtis
Wonderland Madeline Elayne
Red Light Angela Caperton
My Femme Evan Mora
Genesis Shanna Germain
Serious Moonlight Michael A. Gonzales
Too Wondrous to Measure Salome Wilde
Hors d’Oeuvre Stan Kent
Missed Connection Tigress Healy
Ties That Bind Daniel Burnell
Eat Me Marina Saint
Jarret Shane Allison
Lucky Number Fifty-One Jennifer Peters
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler Tara Young
Spunk Sylvia Lowry
Time Cecilia Tan
Dining in the Dark Elizabeth Daniels
Downpour Elle
Need-Leash Mike Kimera
Crushed Satin Organza Carmel Lockyer
Not on the Mouth Cole Riley
Hot Buns on a Sunday Afternoon Erica Rivera
Feel the Burn Thomas S. Roche
Trixie Jen Cross
Police Dogging Elizabeth Coldwell
Tip Me Kiki DeLovely
Marxist Theory Elizabeth Hyder
The Dirty Things She Says Sinclair Sexsmith
Laughter in Hades Teresa Noelle Roberts
The Quick Stop Shashauna P. Thomas
Pain Surfer Cate Ellink
After Ten Years Christen Clifford
Over His Shoulder Maximilian Lagos
Manners Rachel Kramer Bussel
Veronica’s Ass Matt Conklin
Punishment Befitting the Crime D. L. King
Lies Kristina Wright
A Forced Witness Vampirique Dezire
Concensus Denise Hoffner
Don’t Struggle Valerie Alexander
Plotter Monocle
Intercept Burton Lawrence
Not a Bang, but a Whimper Jacqueline Applebee
Suggestion Emerald
Hands Free Effie Merryl
Remembering the Wrinkles Penelope Friday
Leaves Elise Hepner
The Copilot Mike Bruno
Pierced Kirsty Logan
Last-Time Lesbian Geneva King
Anal-yzed Donna George Storey
Independence Day Kate Pearce
Going Bald Craig J. Sorensen
Continuing Education Anya Levin
Meet Me in the Kitchen Giselle Renarde
Over the Line Helia Brookes
Not Just a Myth Heidi Champa
Hunger Maria See
The Tipping Point Lolita Lopez
The Advantage of Working from Home Kay Jaybee
For Dessert Jordana Winters
Good Neighbors Mercy Loomis
Laugh Sommer Marsden
A Good Stiff One Kathleen Bradean
Vacation Pictures Robert Peregrine

Introduction: Short, Sweet and Totally Sexy

Everyone needs a break from his or her everyday life sometimes, and what better way to escape than with a short story that gets right to the point? The authors of the sixty-nine stories you hold in your hand understand exactly how to pique your interest and get you off , and they do it all in 1,200 words or less. You don’t need long to get drawn into the drama, tension and lust.

I received close to three hundred submissions for this collection, more than I ever have before, and I think that’s because no one, writer or reader alike, can resist a short story that seduces instantaneously. These stories aren’t all about quickie sex, though there’s plenty of that. There are strangers who meet and know right away they must have each other, neighbors, travel mates, coworkers and long-term couples such as those in “After Ten Years” and “Remembering the Wrinkles” who are looking for ways to hold on to that spark. There are stories of sex in libraries, vacation sex and lots of outdoor sex—in the rain, in the street, all over. There are lovers with pecan rolls dripping in caramel, and meals where lovers feast on nothing but each other. There are even a few stories with no actual sex in them at allæyou’ll have to hunt those down and see why anticipation can be the sexiest act of all.

There’s humor, kink, flirtation, Godzilla, missed connections, sex toys, and one very bold census taker. But I don’t want to take up too much of your time that could be better spent getting intimately acquainted with these short but incredibly sexy stories. I hope you will savor them, read them aloud and return to your favorites again and again. Because all of us have a few minutes set aside for a quickie, don’t we?

Rachel Kramer Bussel
New York City

Labels: , , , , , , , ,