2 videos from my California readings: Orgasmic mashup and "Manners" at Coco de Mer

I just got emails about these lovely readings - big thanks to Bianca Butler and Dave Naz, respectively, for taping us!


Roundup of the reading at Booksmith in San Francisco featuring me, Violet Blue, Susie Hara, Dusty Horn and Donna George Storey - if you want to watch the whole thing, click here from The Campanil at Mills College. Violet Blue read from "The Fugly Ducky" by Thomas Roche, and I read from "Espionage" from Best Women's Erotica 2011, though you have to check the Booksmith link for that, in full. There was a LOT of humor at this reading, as you can tell from this clip above.


Orgasmic: Erotica for Women

Rachel Kramer Bussel reads Manners from Dave Naz on Vimeo.

Dave Naz taped me reading my kinky face-slapping story "Manners" from Gotta Have It - click that link for details on 68 more hot stories! Did I say that 5 members of my family were in attendance? I so almost read something else (and opened the evening with a personal favorite, that I also read at Good Vibes, the last story, "Vacation Pictures" by Robert Peregrine, which I look forward to reading at Bluestockings on Valentine's Day, it's so humorously hot).

I'm hoping to do a reading in Seattle the weekend of June 25-26 - alas, there are no Seattle contributors to Gotta Have It but I have something up my sleeve. And I'm working on (fingers crossed) trying to do a Midwest tour of Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Chicago when it's warmer - maybe even Madison if a venue will have me. Will keep you posted!

Coco de Mer photos

It's gonna be a hectic next few days as I meet the biggest deadline of my life. Hopefully after that I can get to know my new computer and kindof get back to real life. I am going to be severely curtailing my 2011 travel plans after frittering away way too many days off on this trip, which has been mostly fun, partly emotional, and now I'm ready to go home. So anyway, I am trying to "be a writer," which sounds way too laughable to my ears, but here are some photos from Coco de Mer in LA, where I coveted everything. See all of my shots here and read The Gloss on "Five Things I Learned About Sex From Writers of Erotica".

Funny story - I walked from The Beverly Center to Magnolia Bakery and then used my iPhone's GPS to lead me to Melrose, but for some reason, Google Maps thinks Coco de Mer is in the opposite direction than it is, so I wound up at this corner of Melrose and Doheny. I called a friend for a ride and no sooner had I hung up than my cousin pulled in! He randomly found me. I was joined at the reading by lots of new and old friends, 4 cousins, 1 uncle and 1 family friend. Wow! So blogging will hopefully be light the next few days as I try to force evil words out of me - well, they're not evil, but they are starting to feel evil the tougher to come by they are.

The $90 message I most needed to hear this week

I will be posting more about last night's wonderful reading at Coco de Mer, also about nausea, goodbyes, a mystery missed call, Virgin America and adjusting, here from today's home base in Silverlake. I've been taken in by some very kind friends until I can fly home. Today's project, in addition to hanging out with an adorable baby and a huge to do list of writing I've been neglected in this surreal week, is trying to reconfigure my belongings so they'll fit into my bursting-at-the-seams suitcase.

For now, though, I will tell you that I bought this $90 blindfold, not because I will be getting blindfolded anytime soon, but because it was beautiful and I thought that I, so full of fear in so many matters, needed to own this message. "The only real freedom is freedom from fear." Indeed. It's called the "Bondage for Freedom" Blindfold and Cuff Kit, and indeed, on my receipt, it said "Bondage for Freedom." Fitting as I contemplate both bondage erotica and in the more broader sense, the idea of freedom and how that is a blessing and a curse in so many ways as I try to work on starting over this month on my personal goals and, ironically, trying to remove myself from the world of sex and dating so I can accomplish them with minimal heartache.

But the fear is something I live with every day. Just a week ago I faced a lot of my biggest fears and it wasn't all perfect. It was bittersweet in a lot of ways but I think every time we don't face our fears, we give them a way to control us.



And this is what the bag looks like:



In other news, I'm excited that my book Obsessed: Erotic Romance for Women, out in August, is available for pre-order on Amazon (no cover yet). It'll also have a foreword by the wonderful erotica writer Caridad Piñeiro®, whose new e-book Aztec Gold, just out from Harlequin's digital imprint Carina Press, I'm looking forward to reading on my phone tonight. I'll post a review when I'm done, but I started it and if you like paranormal romance, it's a steal at $3.19.



Official description:

Six months ago, Cynthia Guerrera's lover and fellow archaeologist Rafael Santiago trekked into the Mexican jungle in search of one of the fabled Cities of Gold—and never emerged. Guilty over their parting, Cynthia won't rest until she knows what happened. When the discovery of a conquistador's journal corroborates Rafe's intended path, Cynthia is determined to finally leave the safety of the museum to rescue him, despite the conquistador's dire warnings, and her own traumatic past.

Arriving at a remote village deep in the jungle, Cynthia is both elated and angered to find Rafe alive. But he is far from well, having watched his team be decimated by a bloodthirsty demon-goddess. When Rafe reveals he has been gifted with supernatural powers—powers he plans to use to kill the beast and save his brother, still held captive in the temple—Cynthia must face her own inner demons to fight alongside the man she loves.

35,500 words

My call for Going Down officially ending, but you can get the guidelines for the kinky couples and erotic romance anthologies as well as Best Bondage Erotica 2012 here. Earlier submissions are always preferred as I work on anthologies on a rolling basis.

Free female arousal gel Zestra and how to be Shameless with Pamela Madsen

Want free samples of female arousal gel Zestra, plus free cupcakes and champagne? Join me, Rachel Kramer Bussel, along with Pamela Madsen, author of Shameless, who you can watch below, along with Eden Bradley (The Lovers) and Oriana Small (Girlvert) for free tonight at Coco de Mer, 8618 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (West Hollywood) at 7 pm. See you there!

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:

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)

Coco de Mer bath milk is sexy scent therapy you must try

Ever since I bought this bath milk, I’ve been carrying it around in one of my bags. Its designed for, well, baths, but I don’t have a bathtub, and besides, I don’t want to squander it. I kindof want to eat it (but I haven’t, yet), it’s that amazing. To me, it smells like the beach, like the coconut of suntan lotion. It smells sexy, in a I-want-to-sprinkle-this-all-over-my-body-and-writhe-against-my-tied-up-lover-and-drive-them-insane-with-the-smell. I almost can’t even do it justice in words. In the New York store in SoHo, they have it in a bowl, and I sniffed it and knew I had to have it. It's really a luxury, a blissful little escape from real life into this beautiful white powder that is not bad for you in any way (unless, I guess, you ingested it). But smelling it, putting it on your body or in your bath? Total joy. I so recommend it. I will even sprinkle it on you if you buy it at our February 1st Coco de Mer reading in Los Angeles, if you like.



Here's a link to where to buy it and their official description (I edited Bataille's name and added the link). I really cannot stress enough how good this smells. I consider it scent therapy, and I'm not even sure I believe in scent therapy, but every time I open my cluttered purse to find a Metrocard/cash/book/pen/etc. and get a whiff of it, I not only pause for a few extra seconds, I smile. And that's worth a hell of a lot more than $25.

A lightly scented aphrodisiac milk bath containing ultra moisturizing real milk protein. Milk is a prized ingredient and a precious symbol of sexuality. Through out history it has been used on the skin, drunk in elixirs and poured into pools for bathing. Our Milk Bath comes in a beautiful cotton bag that is made and embroidered at a fair trade project in India with the words; ‘Now in the corner of the hallway there was a saucer of milk for the cat. ‘Milk is for the pussy, isn’t it? Said Simone. Do you dare me to sit in the saucer?” I dare you’, I answered almost breathless.’ From The Story of the Eye by George Bataille.

Serving Suggestion: Prepare your body for seduction by sprinkling a handful or the scented powder into a running bath.

West Coast tour starts in 2 weeks

It's a mini tour, but since I'm flying across the country for it, I'm calling it a tour! After that I'm working to make events happen in other cities too. I'm itching to go back to Denver and Minneapolis and read at The Smitten Kitten and I'll be in Seattle in June and some other events are maybe in the works. I'll keep you posted!

January 27, 6:30-8 pm
READING AND EROTICA ADVICE WITH DONNA GEORGE STOREY
Join me and Orgasmic contributor Donna George Storey 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

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

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

My January and February 2011 events

I'm still working on descriptions and jpegs and all that, but a heads up about my January and February events:

January 19, 8 pm - panelist at Gameshow Speakeasy at Le Poisson Rouge, NYC

January 27, time TBA - reading with Donna George Storey and others, Good Vibrations, Berkeley, CA

January 28, 7:30 pm - reading with free cupcakes at Booksmith, San Francisco, CA

Award-winning local writer and sexpert Violet Blue (Best Women’s Erotica 2011, Seal It With a Kiss) and New York-based erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel (Orgasmic, Fast Girls) join forces to bring you an evening of sexy smut! Featuring local Orgasmic contributors Susie Hara, Dusty Horn, and Donna George Storey, plus free cupcakes, this promises to be a steamy night of sensuous stories.

February 1, time TBA - Reading at Coco de Mer with Eden Bradley, Pamela Madsen and Oriana Small (aka Ashley Blue), Los Angeles, CA. Free cupcakes and champagne!

February 14, 7 pm - Hosting and curating erotica reading, Bluestockings, NYC

February 17, time TBA - discussion at McNally Jackson, NYC

After that, working on events in UK, Minneapolis, possibly LA again, Seattle in June and hopefully Denver, Madison, Milwaukee, down the road. Cities I'd love to visit and do events in (if you're the type who can make that happen, email me at rachelkramerbussel at gmail.com) : Santa Fe, Chicago, Washington, DC, Boston. And Russo's Books in Bakersfield, California is on my list.

I'm torn about events, because they are fun to do and organize, but extremely stressful. Even with In The Flesh, which had a steady audience, you are competing with all the other events in town, rushing to get press, to draw people in, to spread the word, and I'm talking here about free events. Readings are a hard sell, especially, imo, in bookstores, and I think draw a certain type of audience member. They can be a publicity boon and it's a wonderful chance to meet people you wouldn't otherwise meet, but the question I keep coming back to, as someone who pays for all my own travel, therefore not actually making money off these trips is, at what cost? It's something I have been doing despite the cost for the last few years, but as I'm getting older and also just don't have that disposable income, I have to truly consider. So in my ideal world, I'd love to hit all those places. In real life, with the constraint of money and limited time off, I am not sure how many I'll get a chance to visit. I'm already having qualms about taking 4 days at the start of the year, but will have to budget my time much better than I have in the past few years. So maybe the cities I don't get to, I go to in 2012. Because no way am I giving up on my dream of a real vacation, at the beach, by myself. That's what gets me through the tough days.

Sex, Romance, Champagne, Cupcakes! February 1st, Los Angeles, Coco de Mer reading!

I'm doing a mini West Coast tour, which hits Good Vibrations in Berkeley January 27th, Booksmith January 28th (with Violet Blue, rest of lineup TBA for both of these!) and February 1st in LA at Coco de Mer. Other events around my book Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex are also in the works for a range of locations, from Minneapolis to the UK, but first I have to get through this crazy month. Feel free to tell your Facebook friends and grab this Flickr photo and let people know about this LA reading!



And our books...links below are to Amazon via my affiliate link, as are all Amazon links on this blog (Girlvert and Shameless will be out in January, you can pre-order), but I encourage you to buy this, of course, at Coco de Mer at our reading and get them signed, or any of your local bookstores. And don't forget, through December 31st, my publisher Cleis Press is having a 20% off sale!


The Lovers by Eden Bradley (more info at www.edenbradley.com)


Best Bondage Erotica 2011 edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel (more info at www.bestbondageerotica.com


Shameless by Pamela Madsen (more info at www.beingshameless.com)


Girlvert: A Porno Memoir by Oriana Small, aka Ashley Blue (more info at daveaz.com/oriana)

Orgasmic: Erotic Stories for Women book trailer posted

Dress by Yumi Kim, lots of the extra goodies like the Pussy Lover teacup by Coco de Mer (no product placement, I bought all those things, because I love both those shops).



Click here to read the introduction and learn more about Orgasmic.

Purchase Orgasmic from:



Amazon.com.



Kindle edition



Barnes & Noble (Bn.com)



Borders



IndieBound (search for your local independent bookstore!)



Cleis Press

I heart Coco de Mer

Yesterday I walked over to Coco de Mer in West Hollywood and was wowed by the gorgeous, gorgeous outside and inside. It is truly "erotic luxury" (its tagline). I signed copies of Yes, Sir and She's on Top, so you can get those there, and am looking into doing a reading in their beautiful garden. I snapped these photos:






I bought a greeting card and was given this giant purple penis shopping bag, a perfect gift for me!


This is part of a larger James Joyce quote.