Sex in Sepia

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Erotica 101. Or, How I Got My Perv Back

It should probably come as no surprise that I'm something of an erotica enthusiast. I mean, yes, I make a newsletter every weekday about erotica that requires me to flip through about a thousand blog entries; and, yes, I edit erotica for Circlet Press, which is about as iconic as erotica publishers go. However, it's not just a job for me. I once seduced a man by explaining to him the relevance of erotica as a literary genre. I'm not even kidding. So, my love for this stuff goes deep.

Which is why it's alarming when I start to feel burned out about it. Lately, I've been bad about getting the newsletter out on time, getting my daily quota of editing done, and even about answering my emails. Sometime around two this morning I decided something needed to be done. Erotica and I need to fall in love again.

For inspiration, I turned to Susie Bright's brilliant How to Write a Dirty Story. In it, she has a reading exercise that encourages the reader to explore all facets of erotic fiction. Her list of recommended reading is as follows.

Erotic Romance: The Lady's Tutor by Robin Schone, Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers

Erotic Sci-Fi: Cecilia Tan, Anything from Circlet Press, Crash by J.G. Ballard

Gothic: Anne Rice writing as A.N. Roquelaure

Horror: Lucy Taylor, Poppy Z. Brite

Plain Brown Wrapper: Anything by Anonymous, Penthouse Letters

Victorian: The Pearl, A Man and a Maid

Women's Erotica; Herotica, Fear of Flying, Delta of Venus

Modern Classics: Henry Miller, Lady Chatterley's Lover

The Classic: The Story of O

Mystery/Thriller: In the Cut, the Noirerotica series

Lesbian: Pat Califa, Tristain Taormino, Hot and Bothered

Gay: John Preston, John Rechy, Flesh and the Word, Aaron Travis

So, eliminating Stuff I've Read, Stuff I Don't Own, and People I Work For (and have therefore read extensively), here's my reading list:

Crash by J.G. Ballard
The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure
Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite
Penthouse: Naughty by Nature
The Way of a Man with a Maid
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
In the Cut by Susanna Moore

If anyone feels I'm missing something (and wants to donate an e-copy of that something to me ;-) please let me know. I'll post updates as I read through.

Erotica Today: 12 January 2012

Erotica Today
For 12 January 2012

New Releases

Too Hot to Handle by Doris O'Connor from Evernight Publishing
Blew Moon by Mallory Hall from Siren BookStrand
Friendly Seduction (Friends and Acquaintances 2) by Jennifer Denys from Siren BookStrand
The Calm Before the Storm by Mandy Rosko from Siren BookStrand
Ravyn's Destiny (Ravyn Warriors 3) by Jana Downs from Siren BookStrand

Free Stories

"Underhanded" by Giselle Renarde via Oysters and Chocolate
"The Pussyholic, Part One" by Julius via Every Night Erotica

Excerpts

From Comrade Bear by Mary Winter via Pink Petal Books

News, Views, and Reviews

After the Big Kiss via Adventurotica
Won't You Be My Neighbor? via Adventurotica
Writing About Taboos via Naughty Nights Press
Interview: Kellie J. Kamryn via Erotic Diaries
Guest Blog: Cara Bristol via Erotica for All
Review of Blushing Violet by Ann Mayburn via Dark Divas Reviews
Review of Boats in the Night by Josephine Myles via Dark Divas Reviews
Review of Her Mr. Wrong by Rita Sawyer via Long and Short Reviews
Review of Her Wolfen Destiny by Jennifer Cole via Long and Short Reviews

Calls for Submissions

Ellora's Cave for Men via The Erotica Readers and Writers Association

Erotica Today: 11 January 2012

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Erotica Today: 9-10 January 2012

Friday, January 6, 2012

Erotica Today: 6 January 2012

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Erotica Today: 5 January 2012

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Erotica Today: 4 January 2012

Erotica Today
For 4 January 2012

New Releases

New from Torquere Press
Wizard's Trap by Margaret L. Carter from Ellora's Cave
Portal to Passion by Tara Nina from Ellora's Cave
Built 4 It by Daisy Harris from Ellora's Cave
Dear Addi by Regina Cole from Ellora's Cave
Skylark by Aspen Anders from Siren BookStrand
Online Ménage by Sara Kingston from Siren BookStrand

Free Stories

Incubus Tales, 27th Night: Where You Are via Circlet Press
"Trust Me, Part One" by Lee Brazil via Erotic Diaries
"The Girl of My Dreams" by theonlyone via Porn for Women, by Women
"That Temple in Assam, Part 2" by Elaine Lowe via Every Night Erotica

Excerpts

From Comrade Bear by Mary Winter via Pink Petal Books

Erotica News, Views, and Reviews

The Year In Porn Books (A Slightly Belated Look Back) via Fleshbot
Guest Post by Kenya Carlton via Getting Naughty Between the Stacks
Review of Double Strokes by Kat Black via Erotica for All
Review of Quarterback by Anitra Lynn McLeod via Long and Short Reviews
Review of Temporary Insanity by Victoria Blisse via Whipped Cream Reviews
Review of Demon’s Captive by Selena Illyria via Long and Short Reviews
Review of Storming His Heart by Marie Harte via Long and Short Reviews

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Back into the Swing

As it were.

I promised myself, and apparently Twitter, that I would write more this year, and this is my first attempt to keep that promise. After basically writing off the last half of December, now it's time to get back to work. On today's schedule: betareading a fantasy adventure serial, and editing an erotic fantasy novella.

The first can be found at TheWizardsProphecy.com. It's a labour-of-love type project, with the writer, editor, and artists working for free, because we all believe in this story, and want people to read it. Check it out.

The second is my latest project for Circlet Press. It's a gorgeous, lyrical tale starring selkies, which are pretty much at the top of my list of favourite fantasy creatures. I meant to have this turned in at the end of December, but the holidays and some personal drama ate my brain. I'm gonna get my hustle on now, though, because I'd really like to get this one on the market soon. I've been lucky lately in that I've been receiving manuscripts featuring Celtic mythology. Princes of Air was the project before this, another beautiful book that I was desperate to get out there. Do me a favour and read that one too. I promise you'll thank me.

Honestly, writing Cecilia Tan to beg her to take me on as an editing-slave was probably one of the best creative moves I've ever made. Circlet has a collection of wickedly talented authors, and I'm almost embarrassed at how lucky I've been to work with them.