Feminist bookstore I want to move into: Book Woman in Austin

Really: just give me a cot and I'll give up the apartment I can't get home to anyway and move in to feminist bookstore Book Woman in Austin. It is amazing! I went there last night to see my friend Shanna Katz, sex educator and author of Oral Sex That'll Blow Her Mind, give a workshop about sexuality, complete with vulva puppet. She was hilarious and informative and in half an hour I learned a lot and had a lot to think about, like the compliment sandwich. My friend Kambri Crews is reading from her memoir Burn Down The Ground on Friday.

I saw that the Delicious Issue (shouldn't every publication have one?) of Curve is out with an article I wrote about Cupcake Royale owner Jody Hall. I discovered on their new books table two by Naomi Shihab Nye I'm coveting, plus Transfer which I'm already a fan of, and the memoir Not Quite Nirvana: A Skeptic's Journey to Mindfulness by Rachel Neuman, which I obviously need to read, not just because she shares my name. I discovered the very first anthology I was ever published in, back in 2000, Best Lesbian Erotica 2001. I was just in awe of the entire place and impressed that while feminist bookstores have come and gone, this one is around and thriving and putting on amazing events. They had a bunch of my erotica books and a healthy sexuality bookcase too! I'm loving it here so much that am half tempted to try to talk my guy into moving here. So yay Austin!


me with ten of my books (and Suite Encounters was on the shelf below)


Shanna Katz with vulva puppet



If you're in Brooklyn and can get out safely, BCakeNY in Prospect Heights is giving out free cupcakes from 5 to 6 today. I will be giving out free candy to trick or treaters at a friend's in Austin!

Housing Works Best Sex Writing 2012 reading

Housing Works is my very favorite bookstore I've ever been to. I love all the galleys they have, I love the atmosphere, I love that I often run into people I know, I love that it's a nonprofit and I'm very excited to be hosting such an amazing lineup. The official Facebook invitation is here if you want to let anyone know about this special event with free cupcakes and below the listing are the titles and links, where applicable, of what you'll be hearing, along with some probing questions by me and a Q&A by the audience. See you there!

Wednesday, April 25 at 7:00 pm Best Sex Writing 2012 reading Join Best Sex Writing 2012 editor Rachel Kramer Bussel and contributors Camille Dodero, Ellen Friedrichs, Lynn Harris, Amanda Marcotte, Joan Price, Abby Tallmer, and Rachel Rabbit White for readings from this year's collection of the best journalism and essays about sexuality and a Q&A on wide-ranging topics, include SlutWalks, aging and sexuality, teenagers and sex laws, dating sites for people with STDs, drag shows, men who prefer fat women, and the gentrification of the West Village. Free and free cupcakes. Housing Works Bookstore Cafe proceeds go toward the fight to end AIDS and homelessness. Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, NYC
B/D/F/M to Broadway/Lafayette
212-334-3324

What you'll hear from (though it's possible I may not be able to resist one last public reading of "Adrian’s Penis: Care and Handling" by Adrian Colesberry):

"Sluts, Walking" by Amanda Marcotte (original to Best Sex Writing 2012)

"Grief, Resilience, and My 66th Birthday Gift" by Joan Price (excerpted from her book Naked at Our Age)

"Latina Glitter" by Rachel Rabbit White

"Dating with an STD" by Lynn Harris

"Guys Who Like Fat Chicks" by Camille Dodero

"Losing the Meatpacking District: A Queer History of Leather Culture" by Abby Tallmer (original to Best Sex Writing 2012)

"Penis Gagging, BDSM, and Rape Fantasy: The Truth about Kinky Sexting" by Rachel Kramer Bussel

"The Continuing Criminalization of Teen Sex" by Ellen Friedrichs (original to Best Sex Writing 2012)

My last book party is tomorrow night at Fontana's! See you there!

That may be overly dramatic, but tomorrow may actually be my last book party. More later on my mixed feelings about events. I'm excited about this, but also dreadfully nervous, as I always am, and full of guilt for not devoting as much time as I should have on promoting and organizing this. I'm sorry and am trying to do better. That kindof applies to my whole life, but I know making the same mistakes over and over and expecting different results is the opposite of maturity.

So I'm learning and growing and figuring out what I'm comfortable with in terms of expending time and energy, and what I'm not. It's a slow process, but I think what Gretchen Rubin says in The Happiness Project about happiness not deriving from the same activities for everyone is so true. I tend to think I "have" to do everything, even at the expense of my sanity, and I crash very hard, even though that's often private and more of an emotional implosion.

One thing my Salon hoarding essay has shown me is that hiding those fears and flaws and fuckedupness doesn't actually do me any good. I'm not saying I plan to post every single thought I have; in fact, I'm making a concerted effort, with a reward system, not to post such personal stuff anymore. But at the same time, I can't apologize for having feelings, but I can apologize for letting those feelings propel me to treat people poorly. I am sorry, and I'm trying to be better.

So yeah, in all likelihood my next book party will happen on the internets, though I may make a burlesque exception, but I'll deal with 2012 in 2012. I'm working very hard to stay day to day, moment to moment, because even this very second can seem overwhelming, let alone The Future. So make sure to come out! Chocolate book cover cupcakes are first come, first served!

Sex and Obesssion and Free Stuff at Fontana's!



Thursday, August 25 · 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Fontana’s
105 Eldridge
New York, New York

Join editor Rachel Kramer Bussel and Obsessed contributors, along with The Lost author Caridad Piñeiro, and Tied Up Events for a fabulous book party celebrating The Lost and Obsessed: Erotic Romance for Women!

Author readings, free cupcakes, gift bags from The Pleasure Chest NYC, snacks, giveaways and more!

Party party party! Free massage candles, custom cupcakes, posters and more

I hope you will join me at Fontana's on August 25th for our exciting book party for Obsessed and The Lost (paranormal romance fans - check it out!). Also very excited about my first book posters, which I ordered from PosterBrain, who were extremely fast and had excellent customer service, and which we'll be signing and giving away to a lucky attendee!

August 25, 7-9 pm
BOOK PARTY FOR OBSESSED AND THE LOST
Join editor Rachel Kramer Bussel and Obsessed contributors, along with The Lost author Caridad Piñeiro, and Tied Up Events for a fabulous book party celebrating The Lost and Obsessed: Erotic Romance for Women! Obsessed contributors Logan Belle and Jennifer Peters will read. Free giveaways include JimmyJane massage candles and signed book posters. Author readings, free cupcakes, gift bags from The Pleasure Chest NYC, snacks, giveaways and more! Free, 21+
Fontana's, 105 Eldridge, NYC

I'm doing a few scattered readings in New York for the rest of the year but this is the only event I am hosting. I'd had a dream about doing a multimedia event with comedy, music, film, trivia and readings but realized my energies need to be focused elsewhere and that there are plenty of events going on in this wonderful city. So do come and if you can't make it, I hope you will offer up a bit of good karma and tell someone else in NYC who might be able to. Sexy readings, free cupcakes, poster and sex toy giveaways (thanks The Pleasure Chest), giveaway of a JimmyJane massage candle (you so want this!) and more.

To spread the word: Facebook invite

And the cupcakes aren't just any cupcakes! I'm ordering them from Treat, who made these:



These cupcakes will have the covers of Obsessed and The Lost on them!

For more about Obsessed, including the table of contents and introduction, visit obsessederoticromance.com/about. Want a free postcard? (US only) Email obsessedantho at gmail.com with "Postcard" in the subject and your name and address in the body!

See you at Sh! in London Saturday night

Maybe when I'm in London or my stopover in Iceland I'll have a chance to post links to the things I want to see, like the Kirsty MacColl bench in Soho Square, Jamie Reid exhibit at Isis Gallery, London Street Photography Festival, Tracey Emin exhibit, but if not, I'll be off enjoying London and a much-needed vacation. I am excited to see very old friends and explore and write and read and thankful that my iPhone will work so I can communicate a bit better than last visit, which seems like forever ago. I'm still a mess, but I'm hopefully not going to have a broken suitcase, expired passport, or be banging a grandfather. Why, I even have the copy of Gotta Have It, though managed to forget the copies of the novels by authors like KD Grace and Justine Elyot I ordered. May buy some others while I'm there.

Sh! says they are almost at capacity, so get your RSVPs in!

July 2, 6:30-9:30 pm

LONDON READING AT SH!
Join New York-based author and erotica editor Rachel Kramer Bussel for her first UK reading. She will be joined by authors Janine Ashbless, Jacqueline Applebee, Justine Elyot, KD Grace, Kay Jaybee and Carmel Lockyer, reading steamy selections from books such as Orgasmic, Smooth, Best Bondage Erotica 2011 and Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex.

Free cupcakes and bubbly while supplies last!

Books will be available for sale and signing.

True to our female focused ethos, we ask that male guests are accompanied by a woman.

Spaces are limited, so make sure to book your space early as this FREE event will fill up quickly! Email us at shop at sh-womenstore.com and we'll add your name to the guest list!

Sh! Women's Erotic Emporium
57 Hoxton Square
London N1 6PB

Please pass this on: Facebook invite

Learn from my mistakes: never book a plane ticket on good faith

A heads up: I will only be doing one event in London, the July 2 reading at Sh!. I want to impart my lesson to you because I never would have booked the trip if I'd known I was only doing one reading. It just makes zero financial sense. I will deal with it but this is not a year for me to be wasting money, so authors, especially those funding their own events: do not ever take anyone's word for anything. I should've known that, and you should too (like, DUH, right?), but sometimes we (or maybe just me) are too trusting/gullible when it comes to business, and pay the price for it. So I would just warn you to always get something in writing when it comes to events. I will take that advice if I do any future events, though I have no plans to save for a joint event I'm working on for Las Vegas in September. I am going to focus on what I want to be doing: writing and editing. I have done enough readings to last my lifetime, I think and will leave entertaining to the professionals who love being on stage. I don't, except as a host.

My week is too insane and there is literally nothing I can do about it for me to be too upset, but I do feel a little foolish and naive. The only thing I can proactively do is let you know not to make my mistakes. I am most upset with myself, because I'm the one who bought the ticket and agreed to go without truly investigating everything and that is very poor decision making on my end, for someone in my financial situation. Not something to be proud of at 35. Live and learn. As I said, this is the last year I plan to do any readings outside New York City. I want to travel not like a crazy person who is always working and hustling and begging people to come to events and spending money like a rich girl, but someone who can fully appreciate her time in other locations. New me, indeed! Overhaul is in place right this very second. I'll chalk this error up to the old me.

That being said: London! I am excited to have time to explore and see friends and enjoy myself. It'll leave me more time for fun and hopefully will draw more people to Sh!, who have been professional, prompt, enthusiastic, supportive and wonderful. My first London reading is going to be a success, I predict.

July 2, 6:30-9:30 pm

LONDON READING AT SH!
Join New York-based author and erotica editor Rachel Kramer Bussel for her first UK reading. She will be joined by authors Janine Ashbless, Jacqueline Applebee, Justine Elyot, KD Grace, Kay Jaybee and Carmel Lockyer, reading steamy selections from books such as Orgasmic, Smooth, Best Bondage Erotica 2011 and Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex.

Free cupcakes and bubbly while supplies last!

Books will be available for sale and signing.

True to our female focused ethos, we ask that male guests are accompanied by a woman.

Spaces are limited, so make sure to book your space early as this FREE event will fill up quickly! Email us at shop at sh-womenstore.com and we'll add your name to the guest list!

Sh! Women's Erotic Emporium
57 Hoxton Square
London N1 6PB

Please pass this on: Facebook invite

Seattle, Seattle, Seattle! Get your FREE cupcakes and sexy erotica Monday night

This is the kind of question I am fielding from my readers from Naked Girls Reading:

By the way, do you know if it would be possible for us to wear sheer lacythings with nothing underneath? So it would still show our nudie bits but technically be clothing? Just trying to figure out how to make it the most like Naked Girls Reading as possible.




What will they wear? I don't know, and I wouldn't tell even if I did. You have to show up Monday night to find out! Extra special karma points to those who spread the word about this fun, free event. I do plan to visit Seattle again for fun but I probably won't do more readings so please do check it out! I will be offering up teasers of the stories we plan to read. I'm open to suggestions, so if you liked Gotta Have It and have a request, I'll read any of the 68 stories (Shanna will presumably read her own, "Genesis")! Free tote bags will also be given out courtesy of EdenFantasys.



Baby raspberry rhubarb (rhubarb cake w/raspberry cream cheese frosting)
Baby gay (vanilla funfetti cake w/vanilla buttercream and rainbow sprinkles)
Baby peppermint on chocolate
Baby salted caramel
Baby triple threat

Get your free cupcakes and hot smut:

June 27, 6-8 pm, FREE
Babeland, 707 E. Pike Street, Seattle, 206-328-2914 (get directions here)
Gotta Have It reading

Join Gotta Have It editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, contributor Shanna Germain ("Genesis") and burlesque performers Jesse Belle-Jones, Polly Wood and Heidi Von Haught from Naked Girls Reading for a fun, fabulous event at Babeland Seattle for short, sexy readings from Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, plus free cupcakes! Free copies of SexIs Magazine will be given away.


Salted caramel is the one on the top; see more of my photos from Cupcake Royale Capitol Hill on Flickr.

My last Seattle and London readings, please come: free cupcakes June 27th and July 2nd

I won't be reading in Seattle or London again unless something very special and surprising and sponsored comes up, so please join me and please support my work by letting anyone who might be interested know about these events. I don't skimp - there's free cupcakes from Cupcake Royale in Seattle and free cupcakes and champagne in London. Excited about these events (but also very excited to come home and not have to stress about them!).

I do kindof have to pinch myself because it's pretty fucking awesome that my books are for sale in London and Sh! knows who I am and that over the years of editing numerous anthologies I've forged relationships with authors who I'm excited to meet in person. For me, I'm both a very social creature and someone who craves major amounts of solitude. I've been thinking about going on a writing retreat if I have time, or some sort of space where I can just get away from the hectic overload of NYC. Writing fulfills that need to be alone and feel like I'm creating something, but getting to work with other people and create something bigger and better than I could ever possibly create on my own is why I continue to edit anthologies. Sometimes I have my doubts about whether it's "worth it" or whether I will continue to, and after the hotel erotica book I have nothing signed up, so we'll see, but I do enjoy getting to know writers' styles and the ways they approach a topic, the styles, the viewpoints. I learn so much about sexuality in general and erotic writing by combing through hundreds of submissions per year and the opportunity to put a face to a byline is one I'm very much looking forward to, even if I'm super nervous that nobody will show up.

Thanks!

Seattle reading June 27th at Babeland

Monday, June 27 · 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Babeland
707 E. Pike Street
Seattle, WA

Join Gotta Have It editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, contributor Shanna Germain ("Genesis") and burlesque performers Jesse Belle-Jones, Polly Wood and Heidi Von Haught from Naked Girls Reading for a fun, fabulous event at Babeland Seattle for short, sexy readings from Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, plus free cupcakes! Free copies of SexIs Magazine will be given away.

Cupcakes will be 5 dozen mini cupcakes by Cupcake Royale, also in Capitol Hill. Flavors:

Baby raspberry rhubarb (rhubarb cake w/raspberry cream cheese frosting)
Baby gay (vanilla funfetti cake w/vanilla buttercream and rainbow sprinkles)
Baby peppermint on chocolate
Baby salted caramel
Baby triple threat

London reading July 2nd at Sh!

Saturday, July 2 · 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Sh! Women's Erotic Emporium
57 Hoxton Square

Join New York-based author and erotica editor Rachel Kramer Bussel for her first UK reading. She will be joined by authors Janine Ashbless, Jacqueline Applebee, Justine Elyot, KD Grace, Kay Jaybee and Carmel Lockyer, reading steamy selections from books such as Orgasmic, Smooth, Best Bondage Erotica 2011 and Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex.

Free cupcakes and bubbly while supplies last!

Books will be available for sale and signing.

True to our female focused ethos, we ask that male guests are accompanied by a woman.

Spaces are limited, so make sure to book your space early as this FREE event will fill up quickly! Email us at shop@sh-womenstore.com and we'll add your name to the guest list!

Dear Seattle, your free cupcake menu awaits June 27th - see you at Babeland!

If you come to my Babeland Seattle reading with Shanna Germain and Naked Girls Reading burlesque performers Jesse Belle-Jones, Polly Wood and Heidi Von Haught, you'll also be served 5 dozen cupcakes from Cupcake Royale. I don't skimp on readings! Capitol Hill for the win! We'll all be reading from the hotness that is Gotta Have It. June 27th, a month from today, see you (and, hopefully, your Seattle friends), there!! Your official Facebook invite is right here. You might have to fight me for the salted caramel...no, I will go beforehand and eat a full-size one all by myself, cause they are ridiculously good. Also, hello? They have a flavor in June called "gay." I obviously had to get it. I'm sure someone will be reading a queer story. Or several someones.

Baby raspberry rhubarb (rhubarb cake w/raspberry cream cheese frosting)
Baby gay (vanilla funfetti cake w/vanilla buttercream and rainbow sprinkles)
Baby peppermint on chocolate
Baby salted caramel
Baby triple threat

Get your free cupcakes and hot smut:

June 27, 6-8 pm
Babeland
707 E. Pike Street
Seattle, WA


Salted caramel is the one on the top; see more of my photos from Cupcake Royale Capitol Hill on Flickr.

Free champagne and cupcakes July 2nd at Sh! in London - please RSVP

If you plan to join me for a very sexy reading from my books Smooth, Orgasmic, Best Bondage Erotica 2011 and Gotta Have It at Sh! in London July 2nd, please RSVP to shop at sh-womensstore.com so they know how much bubbly to carry, and if you'd do me a giant favor and let your London friends know (you can do so via this handy Facebook invitation) I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm taking a bit of a gamble with this pricey trip but I think it's going to be fabulous and am very excited to meet these booksellers who are excited to host me and all these authors whose work appears in my anthologies. More info about them and their stories TK. I'll be joined by Janine Ashbless, Jacqueline Applebee, Justine Elyot, KD Grace, Kay Jaybee and Carmel Lockyer, all very accomplished authors in their own right, do look for their books. I just ordered some and have a few more to catch up with before my trip. And if you have any London press contacts please let me know at rachelkb at gmail.com with "London" in the subject because we are happy to send books, press release, etc. There will also be a July 4th event, location TBA, and I will be available for interviews July 1-5.

Official reading details:

Sh! Women's Erotic Emporium
57 Hoxton Square
London N1 6PB

Join New York-based author and erotica editor Rachel Kramer Bussel for her first UK reading. She will be joined by authors, reading steamy selections from books such as Orgasmic, Smooth, Best Bondage Erotica 2011 and Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex.

Free cupcakes and bubbly while supplies last!

Books will be available for sale and signing.

True to our female focused ethos, we ask that male guests are accompanied by a woman.

Spaces are limited, so make sure to book your space early as this FREE event will fill up quickly! Email us at shop at sh-womenstore.com and we'll add your name to the guest list!

You can listen to some of them (you'll know) in the Gotta Have It book trailer below!

Naked Girls Reading Gotta Have It live, free, Seattle, June 27th!

2011 is the last year I will be doing readings all over the place like a crazy woman unless they are very special (or someone else pays for me) so I really am excited about this very special reading. PLEASE do me a giant favor and tell anyone in Seattle who might be interested. I want to pack Babeland. Here's a too-racy-for-Facebook photo of Naked Girls Reading Seattle, who will be joining me, along with erotica writer extraordinaire Shanna Germain, author of the story "Genesis" and editor of the upcoming Bound to Lust. Shanna is also featured in the Gotta Have It book trailer. I'll get to work on some yummy cupcakes - I'll be in Seattle mid-April for CupcakeCamp Seattle and it's a huge cupcake city so I'm sure that won't be a problem.

Facebook invite
June 27, 6 to 8 pm, FREE
Join Gotta Have It editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, contributor Shanna Germain ("Genesis") and burlesque performers from Naked Girls Reading for a fun, fabulous event at Babeland Seattle for short, sexy readings from Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, plus free cupcakes!

Free cupcakes and short erotica tonight at Bluestockings in NYC

I'm doing a lot fewer readings these days, and I have my sanity back, but tonight I'm hosting two In The Flesh alums, Christen Clifford and D.L. King, reading about long-term relationship sex and librarian/library patron BDSM, respectively, plus serving up free mini cupcakes, as we all read from my new book Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex from 7-8 pm at Bluestockings, 72 Allen Street, NYC. I know there are a bazillion events this Valentine's Day in NYC (feels like more than ever), but mine is free, fast, sexy and you'll be out of there in time to go off and have a romantic dinner. And enjoy free cupcakes. What more could you ask for? See below for excerpts from their Gotta Have It stories and Christen, in the Gotta Have It book trailer. You'll also get to find out the two pseudonyms I use in the book!

And here's the Facebook invite if you want to tell your friends.



From "After Ten Years" by Christen Clifford:

“Touch me,” I say.

And he does, lightly, softly. I feel like he is really touching meæthe me he used to know and fuck. He traces the curve from my rib cage to waist to hip, slowly, up and down. He adds in my shoulder and thigh. I feel, not exactly beautiful, but well-shaped, for the moment. I breathe there with him; I leave my arms above my head as if I’m bound; I don’t start in on his cock. I lie there and let myself be touched.
He brushes my nipple. The next time he gives it a tight squeeze. I exhale, moan and voice an intake of breath. I turn to him for a kiss. His mouth is hot and wet and open and searching.

Now his hand is between my legs. I hate that my wetness doesn’t drip anymore; he has to go in and find it and coax it out. But it’s there. I shift so my back is to him. I have a very sensitive back. He reaches around so his hand is still on my cunt, the other on my nipple. I want him to hurt me a little. He’s never liked it when I’ve asked him to hurt me in a big way, to slap me or hit me; he can’t do that kind of violence to me. That’s okay. We have our limitations.

Another breath.

“Bite me a little,” I say.



Christen Clifford is a writer and performer in New York. Find her @cd_clifford or christenclifford.com.

From "Punishment Befitting the Crime" by D.L. King:

It seemed the rumors might actually be true. Ted had been working on finding out for himself for quite a while now. He’d been diligently bringing books back late ever since that friend of Frank’s had brought it up at the poker game. He’d said, “That bitch of a head librarian punishes guys who break the library rules.” He’d said that he heard she’d actually spanked some guy for bringing his books back late. He’d said it like it was a bad thing. Everybody laughed and made lewd remarks. That was all right; they weren’t library types. He’d have been surprised if they read much more than the back of the cereal box or the sports page.

But he couldn’t stop thinking about it. He began to fantasize about what kinds of punishments Ms. Carmichael might mete out to guys who didn’t follow the rules--and now he was going to find out.

He walked around the desk and fidgeted as he waited for her to open the door. He felt like a little boy who’d been sent to the principal’s office with the exception that a trip to the office in elementary school had never produced a hard-on. He crossed his hands in front of him just as the door opened and Ms. Carmichael, red lips pursed, gave him her most severe look yet. She led him to an office behind the desk.

Editor of Where the Girls Are, The Sweetest Kiss, Spank and Carnal Machines, D.L. King also publishes the review site, Erotica Revealed. Find her stories in Best Lesbian Erotica, Best Women’s Erotica, Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica, Sweet Love, Please, Ma’am, Fast Girls and Sex in the City: New York, among others. She’s published two novels. Find her at http://www.dlkingerotica.com.

Free champagne & cupcakes, 4 authors & 4 hot off the press books!

Free champagne & cupcakes! Plus a fabulous segment of female writers writing about sex in different ways. You don't want to miss it, I promise! Please tell your Los Angeles friends if you can...here's a handy Facebook link. I put the Best Bondage Erotica 2011 cover because it's my favorite (and 2012 will be just as hot, out around my 36th birthday this November!), but Gotta Have It will also be for sale.

February 1, 7 pm
Join award-winning author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel (Gotta Have It, Orgasmic) along with erotic romance novelist Eden Bradley (The Lovers), and memoir writers Pamela Madsen(Shameless) and Oriana Small, aka Ashley Blue (Girlvert) for a night of hot readings and free champagne and cupcakes in this beautiful setting!
At Coco de Mer, 8618 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
310-652-0311



I know our photos are above, but here are bigger versions.

Eden Bradley





Rachel Kramer Bussel





Pamela Madsen





Oriana Small (aka Ashley Blue)





and just for fun, me and Oriana last year at the West Hollywood Book Fair:

Tonight tonight tonight! The BIG night at Booksmith - be there or watch the livestream!

Tonight tonight tonight! 3 dozen free cupcakes from Mission Minis which if what I'm hearing is true are going to go fast! It's also being covered by Litseen.

January 28, 7:30 pm
READING WITH VIOLET BLUE AT BOOKSMITH



Me and superstar author and editor Violet Blue read along with Orgasmic contributors Susie Hara, Dusty Horn and Donna George Storey!

Free cupcakes!

Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA
415-863-8688

Official Booksmith link

I think I will read "Espionage" from Best Women's Erotica 2011, a personally challenging story, because I don't know when I'll get the honor of reading with Violet again. And because it's good for me to challenge myself, to read a story that's maybe about something deeper and more important than just sex or kink. Or maybe that's just my imagination, but I think I will read it in my velvet and leather lace up the back show off my tattoo sexy new Kardashian for Bebe dress.

I was going to tell you why it really sucks when you spend a lot of time and effort and do a reading and the store doesn't have the books that they were supposed to, but I think you can figure out why that sucks. What I have to do is be open and remind myself that that is a learning experience to micromanage and double check and make sure make sure make sure for the future.

Not complaining about anything...truly. I had to wake up at 5:30 am to test Skype and now have to try to fit a ton of stuff into my various suitcases. But first, a luxurious bath! I could so get used to this bathtub thing.

West Coast book tour is this week: Berkeley, San Francisco, Los Angeles! All free, all with free cupcakes, and hot, hot stories.

I'll be doing a separate post about my 3 New York City events in February, but as a reminder, unless I'm already traveling or have a special occasion like a panel, this is my last year of doing a bazillion outside readings. I just can't pretend like I can afford them or that I'm rich, and it doesn't make financial sense to be running all over the country when I could be working smarter, better and trying to sell more books. So my point is: come see me in Berkeley, San Francisco and Los Angeles now! I'm hoping to get to a few other cities like Denver, Minneapolis and Milwaukee in 2011 as well, fingers crossed.

A reminder with Facebook links - I'd really love it if you'd spread the word. All these events are free, it's a chance to get the just-released Gotta Have It signed by me and contributors (Denise Hoffner, who wrote census taker erotica story "Concensus" in Gotta Have It, has been added to Thursday's Berkeley Good Vibrations reading) and I'm getting fabulous, unique cupcakes, different ones from different local bakers, for each event.

Saturday night I will also make my third appearance on The Dr. Susan Block Show - listen online! Saturday night, January 29th, 10:30 pm to midnight, PST, I'll be on with Shameless author Pamela Madsen - my interview with her will be up soon at SexIs Magazine.



January 27, 6:30-8 pm
READING AND EROTICA ADVICE WITH DONNA GEORGE STOREY
Join me and prolific local erotica writer Donna George Storey (author, Amorous Woman, contributor, Orgasmic, Gotta Have It) and Gotta Have It contributor Denise Hoffner as we read some of our favorite erotica and share erotic writing advice. Free!
Good Vibrations, 2504 San Pablo Avenue (at Dwight Way), Berkeley, CA
510-841-8987

Facebook invite (no need to RSVP though, but if you want to pass it on to friends)

January 28, 7:30 pm
READING WITH VIOLET BLUE AT BOOKSMITH



Me and superstar author and editor Violet Blue read along with Orgasmic contributors Susie Hara, Dusty Horn and Donna George Storey!

Free cupcakes!

Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA
415-863-8688

Facebook invite (no need to RSVP though, but if you want to pass it on to friends)

February 1, 7 pm
COCO DE MER READING



Join me along with Eden Bradley (The Lovers), Pamela Madsen (Shameless) and Oriana Small, aka Ashley Blue (Girlvert) for a night of hot readings and free champagne and cupcakes in this beautiful setting!
At Coco de Mer, 8618 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
310-652-0311

Facebook invite (no need to RSVP though, but if you want to pass it on to friends)

Dusty Horn reading her lesbian erotica story "Share" from Orgasmic

Please join us, and tell your San Francisco/Bay Area friends, to join us on January 28th; here's the official Facebook invite if you want to let people know about it, but you don't need to RSVP. You'll be among the first to get your hands on Violet Blue's new book Total Flirt and copies of Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex, with stories by me and Donna George Storey, will also be for sale! And free cupcakes, including vegan ones! Below is Dusty reading from her story "Share" from Orgasmic at Orgasm Night at In The Flesh. She also has a very hot story called "Subdue" in Best Bondage Erotica 2011 that I'm sure she'll sign at Booksmith too!

Party with Cupcakes Take the Cake - celebrate 6 years of cupcake blogging December 7th in NYC and Seattle!

Yes, it's true, in December 2004, before I could have ever imagined anything like what we have today, I started Cupcakes Take the Cake. You can read the first post, "I Love Cupcakes And It Shows!". Now we have interns and meetups and all sorts of fun things planned! More on my 2 other big December events soon, all are ones you don't want to miss! See the left-hand side of Cupcakes Take the Cake for a drop-down menu of our blog archives, with over 12,000 cupcake posts. Yes, really.



Reposted from Cupcakes Take the Cake:

We are so excited to celebrate our sixth anniversary of Cupcakes Take The Cake with parties in both Seattle and New York City next Tuesday. It is our first time partying bicoastal with Betsy Eves from Java Cupcake hosting the Seattle Party and the New York editors and columnists (Rachel, Stacie and Melissa and Me) partying here in Brooklyn. Get your tickets today. Tell a friend.  It's your chance to eat lots of cupcakes and have a fun time!

No more NYC event hosting for me after December 16th

I'll post more about Comedy Sex Night November 18th, where, if my non-tech brain can figure out how to upload a video off my iPhone (I know it's supposed to be "easy" but for me it's not) I will be showing a video about my sex toy collection and what my personal organizer did with it, but your last chance to see me host an event for at least a year will be December 16th at the last In The Flesh. I will be on a plane to Los Angeles next Thursday night for a project I'll be sharing about when I can, and a chance to catch up with lots of old and new friends, pose for photos, see Sugar Daddy by Fielding Edlow and attend CupcakeCamp LA. More on all the LA madness soon.

I can safely say it's very sad that I am missing Comedy Sex Night and if there were any way I could've rearranged it I would have. I've been anticipating Sara Schaefer's set for 6 months because I know what the story's about and, uh, let's just say it's a topic close to my heart (or perhaps a body part higher up). It's going to be an amazing, sidesplitting night and I might actually break my no organizing rule to host a comedy show because I love comedy and these comedians in particular

I do have an event I'm speaking at coming up at McNally Jackson in February and I'm sure there will be assorted NYC readings, but I will not be hosting/organizing anything so as to focus on my writing and to actually attend some of the other kickass events that happen in NYC, like Drunken! Careening! Writers! and Steamboat, which I've had to miss every month because of In The Flesh.

In 2011, unless something unusual comes up, I won't be hosting or organizing any NYC events. I don't have the time, energy or cash for it, not to mention can't handle the stress. I will be traveling and have confirmed plans for a January 28th reading at The Booksmith in San Francisco, and am hoping to do readings in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and Minneapolis in 2011.

My point was, if you want to catch me reading (probably "Vegas Treat" from the just-released Best Bondage Erotica 2011) and hosting, not to mention catch a kickass event of burlesque, cabaret, memoir and erotica and possibly music, plus nosh on 500 cupcakes and get cool prizes, don't miss the last In The Flesh on December 16th!


In The Flesh logo by Molly Crabapple

There is no RSVP requirement, but if you'd like to RSVP and/or spread the word on Facebook, click here for the Last In The Flesh event listing. Note early start time of 7:30. See also the In The Flesh Reading Series fan page on Facebook.

IN THE FLESH EROTIC READING SERIES
LAST IN THE FLESH
December 16, 2010, 7:30 pm - 10 pm
AT HAPPY ENDING LOUNGE, 302 BROOME STREET, NYC
(B/D to Grand, J/M/Z to Bowery, F to Delancey or F/V to 2nd Avenue, http://www.happyendinglounge.com)
Between Forsyth & Eldridge. Look for the hot pink awning that says "XIE HE Health Club."
Admission: Free
Happy Ending Lounge: 212-334-9676
http://www.inthefleshreadingseries.com

After 5+ years, over 200 readers, countless cupcakes and sexy moments, In The Flesh Reading Series is ending. Join us for a free, festive, sexy, cupcake-filled last hurrah, with erotica, memoir, burlesque and 500 free cupcakes to celebrate!Featuring memoirists Nancy Balbirer (Take Your Shirt Off and Cry), and Michele Carlo (Fish Out of Agua), burlesque performer GiGi La Femme (Revealed, Wassabasco), memoirist Stephen Markley (Publish This Book), In The Flesh alum and famed letter writer Samara O'Shea (Note to Self, For the Love of Letters), Lambda Literary Award winner Rakesh Satyal (Blue Boy) and romance novelist Kama Spice (Sehra's Honor). Hosted and curated by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Best Bondage Erotica 2011, Passion, Orgasmic, Fast Girls). Giveaways include copies of SexIs Magazine and 500 cupcakes by Baked by Melissa.

In the Flesh is a monthly reading series hosted at the appropriately named
Happy Ending Lounge, and features the country's best erotic writers sharing stories to get you hot and bothered, hosted and curated by acclaimed erotic writer and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. The series was named Best Reading Series by New York Press in 2009. From erotic poetry to down and dirty smut, these authors get naked on the page and will make you lust after them and their words. Since its debut in October 2005, In the Flesh has featured such authors as Mike Albo, Laura Antoniou, Mo Beasley, Susie Bright, Lily Burana, Jessica Cutler, Mike Daisey, Stephen Elliott, Valerie Frankel, Polly Frost, Gael Greene, Andy Horwitz, Debra Hyde, Maxim Jakubowski, Emily Scarlet Kramer of CAKE, Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Edith Layton, Logan Levkoff, Suzanne Portnoy, Julie Powell, Sofia Quintero, M.J. Rose, Lauren Sanders, Danyel Smith, Grant Stoddard, Cecilia Tan, Carol Taylor, Dana Vachon, Veronica Vera, Susan Wright, Zane and many others. The series has gotten press attention from the New York Times’s UrbanEye, Daily Candy, Escape (Hong Kong), Flavorpill, The L Magazine, New York Magazine, NBC New York, New York Post, New York Observer, Philadelphia City Paper, Time Out New York, Flavorwire, Fork in the Road, Gawker, Gothamist, Jezebel.com, Nerve.com, Serious Eats, Tasting Table and Wonkette, and has been praised by Dr. Ruth.

Nancy Balbirer's memoir, Take Your Shirt Off and Cry, was published by Bloomsbury in April. She is the author and star of the critically acclaimed solo show I Slept With Jack Kerouac and Other Stories, the co-creator of the cult reading series, Cause Celeb!, and has co-starred on Seinfeld and MTV’s Remote Control. She is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is the co-owner, designer and doyenne of the West Village boite, Pasita. She lives with remarkably few regrets in Manhattan with her husband and daughter.
takeyourshirtoffandcry.com


photo by Rob d'Entremont


Rachel Kramer Bussel is an author, editor, blogger and reading series host. She is Senior Editor at Penthouse Variations and a former sex columnist for The Village Voice. She’s edited over 30 anthologies, including the kink-themed Spanked, Bottoms Up, Yes, Sir, Yes, Ma'am, He's on Top, She's on Top, Rubber Sex as well as Fast Girls, Orgasmic, Peep Show, The Mile High Club: Plane Sex Stories, Do Not Disturb: Hotel Sex Stories, Tasting Him, Tasting Her, and the non-fiction Best Sex Writing series. Her books won 3 2009 Independent Publisher Awards. Her writing been published in publications such as Clean Sheets, Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast, Fresh Yarn, Huffington Post, Mediabistro, Newsday, New York Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Tango, The Village Voice, and Time Out New York, and in over 100 anthologies, including Best American Erotica 2004 and 2006. Rachel conducts nationwide readings and erotic writing workshops. She has hosted In The Flesh since October 2005.
www.rachelkramerbussel.com


photo by Anya Garrett

Michele Carlo is a writer/performer and comedic storyteller who has lived in four of the five boroughs of New York City and remembers when a slice of pizza cost fifty cents. Her stories have been published in Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood’s Lost & Found: Stories From New York, Chicken Soup For The Latino Soul and SMITH Magazine. Her memoir, Fish Out of Agua: My life on neither side of the (subway) tracks, was published this summer by Citadel Press.
www.michelecarlo.com



Since 2005, GiGi La Femme has been named one of New York City’s sultriest striptease stars and is also the co-producer of the monthly show Revealed Burlesque at the Under St. Mark’s Theater. A Golden Pastie Award winner for Best Booty Shaker 2009 and Miss Coney Island 2010, the multi-talented bump ‘n’ grinder, go-go girl, chanteuse and pin-up model has traveled the nation performing signature acts such as "Spanking", "Princess Leia" and "Sweet Leaf". She is also the host of Wasabassco Burlesque at venues around New York, New England and Washington, DC.
gigilafemme.com


photo by Greg Brophy

Stephen Markley is an Ohio transplant, who graduated from Miami University in 2006. After an eight month, 12,000 mile cross-country road trip that left him completely broke, he made the daring decision to move to Chicago. As far as he knows, he is the only person from that school in this city. He writes for Cars.com's blog KickingTires and his freelance work has appeared in the Chicago Reader, RadarOnline, the Populist Progressive, 10,000 Tons of Black Ink, Private Investigator's Magazine, Midnight Times, and the Weber Studies Journal. Most importantly, he is an author. His first book, Publish This Book, can be found on Amazon.com and bookstores everywhere.
www.stephenmarkley.com



Samara O’Shea has written two narrative non-fiction books—one on the art of letter writing and the other on the importance of keeping a journal. On her website, LetterLover.net, she offers to write letters and wedding vows for those struggling to find the right words. This is Samara’s fourth time reading at In the Flesh. She is honored to have been a part of this wonderful reading series. Samara will be reading from her unpublished book, Don’t Make Me Defriend You, about losing her cyber virginity.
www.letterlover.net



Rakesh Satyal is the author of the novel Blue Boy, a gender-bending comedy about a young Indian American boy's fascination with the Hindu god Krishna. He is an editor at HarperCollins, where he works with such authors as Paulo Coelho, Clive Barker, Armistead Maupin, and Paul Rudnick. A member of the planning committee for the annual PEN World Voices Festival, he sings a popular cabaret show in the city. He lives in Brooklyn.
rakeshsatyal.com



Kama Spice has lived in the East and the West and merges both in her stories. She considers herself a pro-sex feminist who likes to explore the point where spirit and eros converge to create power. Kama is published in various genres and has two erotic romance novels with Ellora's Cave, with a third forthcoming.
KamaSpice.com

Sexy tights for tonight's birthday Passion reading!

Join us at WORD, 126 Franklin Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (G to Greenpoint) tonight for free cupcakes and buttons and sexiness! Call WORD at 718-383-0096 if you need help finding it.

Click here for excerpts from all the stories.

Please join me, and if you can’t, please tell your NYC friends to join me as well as my authors who are coming in from Berkeley, California and Washington, DC, to celebrate my 35th birthday with free cupcakes and a steamy, sensual reading from my brand-new anthology Passion: Erotic Romance for Women!

November 11, 7-8:30 pm
Passion reading and Rachel’s 35th birthday celebration
Join Passion: Erotic Romance for Women editor Rachel Kramer Bussel and contributors Monica Day, Emerald and Donna George Storey, along with historical romance author Sarah MacLean (Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord) at Greenpoint, Brooklyn indie bookstore Word for readings, discussion, signing and free cupcakes to celebrate Rachel turning 35. Free Passion buttons will be given out to all attendees.
Word, 126 Franklin Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (G to Greenpoint Avenue)

Facebook invite

Historical romance author Sarah MacLean joins Passion reading November 11th with free cupcakes!

I'm thrilled to share the news that romance author Sarah MacLean will be joining us on November 11th at 7 pm at Greenpoint, Brooklyn bookstore Word for my 35th birthday Passion reading, with free cupcakes from mini cupcake company Kumquat Cupcakery. I'm working out the flavors now but they will be red and white to match the cover of Passion.

official Facebook invite if you want to pass the word along.

November 11, 7 pm
Passion: Erotic Romance for Women and Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord reading
Word, 126 Franklin Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (G to Greenpoint Avenue)

Join Passion: Erotic Romance for Women editor Rachel Kramer Bussel and contributors Emerald and Donna George Storey, plus historical romance author Sarah MacLean (Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord) at Greenpoint, Brooklyn indie bookstore Word for readings, discussion, signing and free Kumquat Cupcakery cupcakes to celebrate Rachel turning 35. Free Passion buttons will be given out to all attendees.



By the way, Passion just came out this week! Click on the cover above to read the introduction. I have room left on the November virtual book tour if any bloggers want to join - just email passionateantho at gmail.com with "Book Tour" in subject line and your URL and name and mailing address in the body.

I actually met Sarah for the first time at Word and her first novel Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake was my first foray into historical romance in a long time and I loved it. I'll write more about it later, and why I think it's a feminist romance novel. I'll add my review of it to the end of this post, but first I want to share her bio and the cover of her new book, which you can hear her read from at Word and get a signed copy, Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord. Do visit her blog daily as she's doing some fun guest posts around the theme of Ten Ways plus book giveaways - I'm cribbing from those posts on which historical romance authors I should be reading!





New York Times and USA Today bestselling author SARAH MacLEAN grew up in Rhode Island, obsessed with historical romance. Her love of all things historical helped to earn her degrees from Smith College and Harvard University before she finally set pen to paper and wrote her first book. Sarah now lives in Brooklyn with her husband, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. She is the author of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake and her latest, Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord. Please visit her at www.macleanspace.com.

Official book blurb from Sarah's site:

Ten Ways... is the follow-up to the New York Times & USA Today bestselling Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, and the second in a trio of Regency-set historicals about the Marquess of Ralston, his twin brother, and their half-sister:

"Lord Nicholas is a paragon of manhood. And his eyes, Dear Reader! So blue!”
Pearls & Pelisses, June 1823

Since being named on of London’s "Lords to Land" by a popular ladies’ magazine, Nicholas St. John has been relentlessly pursued by every matrimony-minded female in the ton. So when an opportunity to escape fashionable society presents itself, he eagerly jumps—only to land in the path of the most determined, damnably delicious woman he’s ever met! The daughter of a titled wastrel,

Lady Isabel Townsend has too many secrets and too little money. Though used to taking care of herself quite handily, her father’s recent passing has left Isabel at sea and in need of outside help to protect her young brother’s birthright. The sinfully handsome, eminently eligible Lord Nicholas could be the very salvation she seeks.

But the lady must be wary and not do anything reckless…like falling madly, passionately in love.

My review of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, available in bookstores now. Ten Ways will be released October 26th from Avon. Read lots more reviews on Amazon



I do not read much historical romance but saw Sarah MacLean speak on a panel about romance writing and liked the premise of this book so I tried it and...I loved it! Callie's list of 9 rules she wants to break speak to the restrictions on women in society of her time, and how the single woman was basically left to simply husband hunt. That is not what Callie (Calpurnia) wants, and while she is not sitting around pining for Ralston, she knows in her heart that she loves him and won't settle for anything less. In the meantime, she is willing to go out of her way and risk her reputation to check off the items on her list, perhaps not quite realizing the risks involved and what she's setting in motion. MacLean adds enough twists, and paints Callie as both the perfect foil for rake Ralston as well as someone generally pitied by many in her social circle, as evidenced by the wager placed on who will marry her first. Throughout, Callie is feisty, headstrong and, most of all, holding out for true love, even when it means rejecting the only man she has ever loved. This is a clever romance that captures how each of its protagonists are changed by the experience of falling in love, even when they don't realize it. I'd recommend it to others who are newcomers, or even skeptics, when it comes to historicals, as well as anyone looking for a sensual, steamy romance.