Bid on the Romance for Chencia auction for hotel stays, signed books and more

Romance author Chencia C. Higgins is facing homelessness and the romance community is stepping in with the Romance for Chencia auction. I'm part of that because I donated a bundle of signed copies of 3 books, Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 5, 6 and 7. Volume 7 doesn't hit stores until December 14 so you'll be getting your copy a little bit early and supporting a wonderful cause! The auction has 144 items and runs from today through November 26. Check out all the items, including a stay at a Disney Hilton Head hotel, manuscript critiques, bookstore gift certificates and so many signed romance novels.



You can also donate to Chencia directly if you want to help. Via her Twitter feed, here are links to donate directly:

Cashapp

Venmo

PayPal

If you can't donate, please spread the word using the hashtag #romanceforchencia on social media.

The Great Big Romance Read is reading Pride by Ibi Zoboi in December

For Forbes online, I wrote about The Great Big Romance Read, a month-long worldwide event in December where in-person and online book groups are meeting to discuss Pride by Ibi Zoboi, a Pride and Prejudice remix (it even says so on the cover). You can even join yourself. Book groups are happening at events such as bookstores and libraries and elsewhere, and online book discussion groups, podcasts and YouTube channels are participating, which is one of the things that drew my attention.

The event was organized by romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice and you can learn more in my article. I happened to buy a copy for a teenage cousin of mine before I'd heard about The Great Big Romance Read and since I won't be seeing her until January, I'm hoping to read it myself this month, although sadly, with all my writing about books and some other new assignments, I haven't had as much time to read. I'm hoping I'll have some more time this month.

When a Jewish erotic romance author becomes a Christian inspirational romance author - my Broadly Q&A

Speaking of breaking into new markets, I've been reading Broadly since it debuted last year, and have found it fascinating, especially its coverage of sex. So I'm thrilled that today my first piece for Broadly is up; it's a Q&A entitled "What Happens When a BDSM Author Converts to Christianity". Some of you may be familiar with the work of Shoshanna Evers; I published several of her short stories and she wrote many BDSM erotic romance novels. Now that she's converted to Christianity, she's using the name Shoshanna Gabriel and you can read all about it in our interview, including the line, "I literally had an erotic story published that had no consummating sex scene. By accident."

The crowdfunded romance only bookstore that won't stock Fifty Shades of Grey

I interviewed Bea and Leah Koch, book-loving sisters who are crowdfunding via Kickstarter to open The Ripped Bodice, a romance only bookstore, in Los Angeles. Check it out to read about why they want to overcome stereotypes about romance readers, how the bookstore will function as a community space, and why they won't be carrying Fifty Shades of Grey.

Virginia is for LoveFest - see you in Charlottesville March 22nd

I'll be participating in two events on Sunday, March 22nd as part of LoveFest, part of Virginia Festival of the Book, which has an amazing lineup of authors. I plan to take notes on so I know who I want to see (Deafo author CeCe Bell, who was just award a Newbury Honor for her amazing graphic memoir, is already on my list!).



What else will I be doing in Virginia in March? Signing books at Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia, on Friday, March 20th with Kristina Wright at 12:30 p.m. (this will be on their site soon) and teaching, speaking and panel moderating at CataystCon in Arlington March 27-29, with a detour out of Virginia to Baltimore to teach my Erotica 101 writing workshop at Sugar on March 24th.

Thank you to Madeline Iva, who you should check out at Lady Smut, for inviting me. And yes, I write and edit more erotica than erotic romance, but I think this will be an interesting discussion and have plenty to say. Here's what's happening:

LoveFest Workshop: “Screaming To Be Ignored” — Capturing the Reader’s Attention
Sun. March 22, 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Barnes & Noble
1035 Emmet Street North, Barracks Road Shopping Center, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Hosted by: Barnes & Noble

“Every day hundreds of stories cross my desk, each one screaming to be ignored.” — Gordon Lish. How do you make your story capture a reader’s attention instantly? In this free workshop, anonymous would-be authors may submit short works: a one page query or the first ten pages of a novel. Published authors and savvy editors will use these submissions as a launching point to discuss their favorite writing craft tips.

Want to submit your work? The first 30 submissions received the day of the event will be considered on a first come/first serve basis. Look for the submissions box at the Barnes & Noble Information Desk. The store opens at 9 AM.

Participating authors and editors: Joanna Bourne, Mary Burton, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Melissa Marr, Mary Jo Putney, Kristina Wright. Moderator: Kimberly Kincaid.

LoveFest Book Signing: Meet & Greet Romance Authors
Sun. March 22, 2:45 pm - 4:30 pm
Barnes & Noble
1035 Emmet Street North, Barracks Road Shopping Center, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Hosted by: Barnes & Noble

Come join thirteen romance authors for one-on-one book chat in a friendly setting. Authors are available for book signing and photographs.

Participating authors: Joanna Bourne, Mollie Cox Bryan, Mary Burton, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Avery Flynn, Sabrina Jeffries, Kimberly Kincaid, Kieran Kramer, Sue London, Melissa Marr, Pam Morsi, Mary Jo Putney, Kristina Wright.

Talking sex, feminism, romance and The Fault in Our Stars with romance novelist Eloisa James

For Vulture's No Respect Week, I interviewed romance novelist Eloisa James, who's also a tenured Fordham professor of English literature, about feminism, sexuality, why romance is so hated, The Fault in Our Stars and more.

4 erotic romance anthologies for Valentine's Day and 1 book trailer full of kisses

I'm known more for my erotica than erotic romance, but these 4 erotic romance anthologies have plenty of hotness, sensuality and desire mixed in with the romance, and all make perfect Valentine's Day gifts. From now through Valentine's Day, use code VAL14 when shopping directly from publisher Cleis Press and get 4 for the price of 1. Here are the links to cleispress.com for these books: Irresistible, Obsessed, Passion, Only You. Do I have a favorite? Well, Irresistible has my favorite cover, but they are all sweet and sexy in their own way. Here's the book trailer for Passion to give you a little teaser, in which I make out, show off my "open" tattoo and sparkly fishnets and along with some special friends:

Love and sex have always been intimately intertwined--and Passion shows just how delicious the possibilities are when they mingle in this sensual collection edited by award-winning author Rachel Kramer Bussel. Be swept away as you travel to Paris and Greece (and Beverly Hills). Get stuck in an elevator, take a bubble bath, and explore nature in some very luscious ways. Indulge in "Big Bed Sex," get geeky with "My Dark Knight," find "An Easy Guy to Fall On," discover why there's "No Risk, No Reward," go to work with "The Efficiency Expert," and "Rekindle" an old flame. Featuring work by talented authors, Passion offers succulent stories sure to quicken heartbeats while appealing to the most romantic of souls.

Buy Passion from:

Amazon.com

Kindle ebook

Barnes & Noble (Bn.com)

Nook ebook

Powell's Books

Books-a-Million

iBooks

Google Play

Audible audiobook (click for free listen)

Cleis Press

Irresistible features loving couples who turn their deepest fantasies into reality—resulting in uninhibited, imaginative sex they can only enjoy together. Engage in a little sexting in A.M. Hartnett's sizzling "Safe for Work" office tryst, and follow a kinky candidate for public office—and his lusty wife—in Alyssa Turner's intriguing "Hypocrites." Cole Riley's moving "Same As It Ever Was" shows that makeup sex can be worth fighting for. As editor Rachel Kramer Bussel notes, the lovers in this daringly romantic anthology are "able to open up in the ways they do precisely because they have another person to rely on...We get to see how the layers of trust that have been built up get used to stoke the fire that burns between them."

Buy Irresistible from:

Amazon

Kindle ebook

Bn.com

Nook ebook

Powell's Books

Books-a-Million

iBooks

Google Play

Audible audiobook (click for free listen)

Cleis Press

We've all been there—so taken by a lover that you just can't stop thinking about him. Your imagination runs wild, fueling your fantasies. You feel hot, feverish, out of control. Your only hope of release is to possess and be possessed. In Obsessed: Erotic Romance for Women, Rachel Kramer Bussel has curated a gloriously explicit collection of riveting romance with an edge. Whether just-blooming passions, rekindled sparks, or reinvented relationships, these lovers put the object of their obsession first. From the almost-divorced couple in "Aftershocks," by Bella Andre, who finally confess their deepest desires during an earthquake to a woman who tells her boyfriend just how much she lusts after another man in Emerald's "Then," these lovers push the boundaries of their trust, and are rewarded for taking those risks. Obsessed lovers don't always do what is rational; sometimes they chase their dreams, as in Kayla Perrin's "One Night in Paris," across the world and across the landscape of their lovers' bodies. Lustful and literary, Obsessed asks just how far you'll go for the man you love.

Buy Obsessed from:

Amazon

Kindle ebook

Bn.com

Nook ebook

Powell's Books

Books-a-Million

iBooks

Google Play

Audible audiobook (click for free listen)

Cleis Press

Only You is full of tenderness, raw passion, love, longing, and the many emotions that kindle true romance. The couples in Only You test the boundaries of their love to make their relationships stronger. These lovers don't just go along for the ride—they want to take control and see how daring they can be. New parents rediscover their hunger for each other at a hotel in Lolita Lopez's "Mom's Night Out" while first class passengers get creative with ice cubes (and each other) in Catherine Paulssen's "In-Flight Entertainment." Kristina Wright's quarreling couple ends up having the hottest make-up sex imaginable in "The Love We Make." Whether it's a woman wanting to surprise her husband with cuffs and a blindfold, cooks exploring the sensual possibilities in the kitchen, or young artists who simply can't keep their hands off each other, Only You showcases twenty stories that are as loving as they are lusty.

Buy Only You from:

Amazon

Kindle ebook

Bn.com

Nook ebook

Powell's Books

Books-a-Million

iBooks

Google Play

Audible audiobook (click for free listen)

Cleis Press

My First Look at S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared by L. Marie Adeline

I love when I have the opportunity to write for sites I'm a fan of, in this case, Heroes & Heartbreakers, where I review/give a First Look at erotic romance S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared by L. Marie Adeline.

My 3 erotic romance and erotica calls for submissions

I'm reposting these for those who may not have seen them. Happy writing!

Couples' Erotic Romance Stories
To be published by Cleis Press in 2014

Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel is looking for romantic, primarily heterosexual erotic stories for a 2014 anthology of erotic romance. Stories can feature couples exploring new erotic territory, strangers who share a spark, lost lovers or exes reuniting, etc. Final book will contain a mix of storytelling styles, settings and heros/heroines. Kink, sex toys, exotic locations/scenarios welcome as long as there is an element of erotic romance as opposed to strictly erotica. Sensual and sexual should coexist. Stories should be strongly plotted, have engaging, unique characters and be hot and original. I highly prefer contemporary settings but will consider a limited amount of historical fiction. All characters must be over 18; no incest, scat or bestiality. No poetry. See my anthology Irresistible: Erotic Romance for Couples for examples of the kinds of stories I'm looking for. Unpublished stories only (this includes blogs and websites).

How to submit: Send double spaced Times or Times New Roman 12 point black font Word document with pages numbered (.doc, not .docx) OR RTF of 1,500-4,000 word story. Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch and double space (regular double spacing, do not add extra lines between paragraphs or do any other irregular spacing). US grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.) required. Only submit your final, best version of the story you are submitting. Do not send multiple versions of the same story. Include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address, and 50 word or less bio in the third person to romanceantho@gmail.com. If you are using a pseudonym, please provide your real name as well as your pseudonym and make it clear which one you’d like to be credited as. You will receive a confirmation within 72 hours. I will get back to you by September 2013. I cannot give any feedback on rejected submissions.

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

Deadline: June 1, 2013 (earlier submissions strongly encouraged)

Questions: romanceantho@gmail.com

Female Fantasy Erotica
To be published by Cleis Press in 2014

This collection of erotica will feature female protagonists living out their hottest fantasies. From vanilla kinky, single to partnered, from 18 to elderly, I'm looking for stories of all sorts of women (transgender characters are also welcome) exploring new aspects of their sexuality. For inspiration, feel free to check out a list by Violet Blue of common sexual fantasies, but stories must capture what about that particular fantasy for that particular character is so compelling and make it red-hot to work for this book, and authors are encouraged to be creative, daring and provocative with exploring the definition of fantasy and how it plays out for your character. All characters should be over 18. No nonconsensual scenes. No bestiality, scat or incest. No poetry. Please see my anthologies Orgasmic, Women in Lust, and Fast Girls for examples of the kinds of stories I'm looking for. Unpublished stories only (this includes blogs and websites).

How to submit: Send double spaced Times or Times New Roman 12 point black font Word document with pages numbered (.doc, not .docx) OR RTF of 1,500-4,000 word story. Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch and double space (regular double spacing, do not add extra lines between paragraphs or do any other irregular spacing). US grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.) required. Only submit your final, best version of the story you are submitting. Do not send multiple versions of the same story. Include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address, and 50 word or less bio in the third person to fantasyantho@gmail.com. If you are using a pseudonym, please provide your real name as well as your pseudonym and make it clear which one you’d like to be credited as. For the smoothest editorial process, please double check that the byline you are using with your submission is the byline you'd want published. You will receive a confirmation within 72 hours. I will get back to you by September 2013. I cannot give any feedback on rejected submissions.

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

Deadline: July 1, 2013 (earlier submissions strongly encouraged)

Questions: fantasyantho@gmail.com

Kinky Couples Erotica
To be published by Cleis Press in 2014

This book of erotica stories will feature couples exploring many aspects of BDSM, from newbies to seasoned players, in bedrooms and dungeons and far beyond. Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel is looking for BDSM stories featuring couples (though stories with more than two people are welcome). Couples can be of any sexual orientation but the book’s primary audience and focus is on heterosexual couples. They can be newbies or experienced players (or a combination of the two). The final book will feature couples who’ve just met but will contain mostly stories about already-established couples who are engaging in BDSM in various forms. The more creative, the better. Submissions tend to skew extremely heavily toward the female submissive POV, so if you are submitting a female sub/male dom story, please make sure it is unique and dazzling. I’m especially looking for stories from the top’s/dominant’s POV. Most of all, stories should be attention-grabbing, provocative and daring. All characters should be over 18. I’m looking for a mix of male and female tops and bottoms (and switches), as well as a mix of physical and mental power play. No nonconsensual scenes. No bestiality, scat or incest. No poetry. Please see my anthologies Anything for You: Erotica for Kinky Couples; Yes, Sir; Yes, Ma’am; Please, Sir; Please, Ma’am; He’s on Top and She’s on Top for examples of the kinds of kinky stories I prefer. Unpublished stories only (this includes blogs and websites).

How to submit: Send double spaced Times or Times New Roman 12 point black font Word document with pages numbered (.doc, not .docx) OR RTF of 1,500-4,000 word story. Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch and double space (regular double spacing, do not add extra lines between paragraphs or do any other irregular spacing). US grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.) required. Only submit your final, best version of the story you are submitting. Do not send multiple versions of the same story. Include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address, and 50 word or less bio in the third person to bdsmcouplesantho@gmail.com. If you are using a pseudonym, please provide your real name as well as your pseudonym and make it clear which one you’d like to be credited as. For the smoothest editorial process, please double check that the byline you are using with your submission is the byline you'd want published. You will receive a confirmation within 72 hours. I will get back to you by September 2013. I cannot give any feedback on rejected submissions.

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

Deadline: July 1, 2013 (earlier submissions strongly encouraged)

Questions: bdsmcouplesantho@gmail.com

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

I talk romance and erotica on the Bookrageous podcast

Click here to hear me talk about being a book lover, favorite books and the romance and erotica genres with In The Flesh alum Sarah Wendell of the wonderful blog Smart Bitches Trashy Books, along with hosts Rebecca Schinsky of The Book Lady and Jenn Northington of JennIRL (also events manager at WORD). I recorded my part at Greenpoint, Brooklyn extremely excellent indie bookstore WORD, where I'll be in the audience being a fangirl getting my Sarah MacLean and Kieran Kramer books signed April 27th.

Erotic romance excerpt: "Lingua Franca" by Justine Elyot in Passion

Taken from author Justine Elyot's blog is this excerpt from her story "Lingua Franca" in my just-published Cleis Press anthology Passion: Erotic Romance for Women.

Also: anyone who buys the book is entitled to a free Passion button, while supplies last! You can either snail mail a receipt to me at Prince St. Station, P.O. Box 39, New York, NY 10012 or scan it or email it to passionateantho at gmail.com with "Receipt" in the subject line and your mailing address (US only). Thanks!

From "Lingua Franca" by Justine Elyot:

“Instantly I am caught up in his embrace once more, my legs held up by his in case they give way, which is not unlikely. He walks me backward, painstakingly, until I fall on to one of the red plush sofas, and then he is looming over me, one hand next to my head, preventing my escape, and the other takes hold of my white uniform blouse and rips it open. A pearl button pings on to a nearby table and I gasp, part thrilled and part outraged. “Karel!”

“I sew it,” he grins, then his head is down there, his hair brushing my throat while he explores my cleavage with the full force of his lips and tongue. His hand works busily at my other buttons, undoing them in a less destructive way, until my lace bra is exposed to him, and his stubble prickles downward, seeking out the overspill of my breasts.

He lures my nipples out of the cups using the tip of his tongue, licking and sucking, taking his time, savouring the flavour. I plant my fingers in his hair, which is reddish-brown and falls over his brow, plentiful and sometimes a little lank. I stroke and knead automatically, my wits absent, everything of me concentrated at my nerve endings – especially those between my legs.

He seems to understand instinctively that attention is needed there. He lays me down along the length of the sofa, pulling off my skirt and burying his face in my belly while his fingers stray down beyond the elastic waistband of my knickers. They almost dance, they are so light and nimble. I arch my back and squirm, inviting him to increase the pressure and move on downwards, but he loves to tease me and to watch my expression as it grows more frantic with need, laughing softly, looking up at me through the valley of my breasts.

“Touch me,” I gasp.

“No talk,” he admonishes, almost-but-not-quite delving into the folds of my vulva. The fingertips are barely-there on my outer lips and I try to buck so that he is tricked into the fast-flowing juices, but he is wise to me and simply gives my thigh a light slap, laughing again, a laughing demon. “OK,” he says eventually, relenting, and I ease out a low sigh at the sudden invasion of his fingers, properly in and on and around me, pressing and pushing, finding me more than ready for whatever he has in mind. While his fingers work, he watches me, intently, catching every nuance of my response to him, every pained twitch, every flutter of eyelid. “I see what you like,” he tells me, now using two fingers to skewer me, in and out, getting coated with the evidence of my arousal. “I like it too. You want me? Inside?”

It seems a redundant question, given the rate at which I am flipping about on his fingers, but I am glad that he has asked it. He is not – as I vaguely feared – using me for some kind of sexual revenge. My pleasure matters to him just as his does to me.”



Purchase Passion from:



Amazon.com.



Kindle edition



Barnes & Noble (Bn.com)



Borders



Books-a-Million



Cleis Press