David Steinberg's Blog, page 3

Book signing and talk in Van Nuys, May 13

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 7:30-9:30 pm
Reading of excerpts from This Thing We Call Sex, and book signing, Van Nuys, California. Information from Leanna Wolfe, LAWolfe@aol.com.

I’m pleased to be reading from my new book, This Thing We Call Sex, and speaking about sex trafficking and the politics of prostitution, in Van Nuys, Wednesday night, May 13, 7:30 pm, at a “Sex, Culture and Society Salon” hosted by Leanna Wolfe. My partner, Kim Mears, will also demonstrate InJoyUs, a remarkable new sex product. Signed copies of This Thing We Call Sex, as well as several of my other books, will be available for purchase. Please come join us.

Sex, Culture and Society Salon

Wednesday May 13

Doors Open  – 7:30 PM for Potluck Dinner

Please bring  food & drink to share

Program Begins at 8 PM

La Casa de Pensamiento Libre (Home of Leanna Wolfe)

14923 Marlin Place – Van Nuys, CA 91405

(End of the cul-de-sac between 14922 and 14927 Marlin Place)

(818) 510-0225

 $5 Suggested Donation

If you have never been to La Casa de Pensamiento Libre in Van Nuys, please do not park on the driveway, block the entrance to the driveway or any neighbors’ driveways.  You are welcome to pull in to drop off people who are mobility impaired as well as bulky items.  If you are allergy sensitive, please note that we have three dog and two cats.

 

Upcoming events and appearances

 

(in reverse calendar order):

 

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 12:00-2:00 pm
Radio interview on Lilycat and Stuff with Melinda Adams. Information from mskittywhore@yahoo.com
* * * * *
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 7:30-9:30 pm
Reading of excerpts from This Thing We Call Sex, and book signing, Van Nuys, California. Information from Leanna Wolfe, LAWolfe@aol.com.
* * * * *
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 3:00-4:00 pm
Second installment of conversation with Diana Wiley on her radio show “Love, Lust, and Laughter.” Myths of Monogamy, This Thing We Call Sex, and more. Listen live at prn.fm.

* * * * *

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2:00-3:00 pm
Reading of excerpts from This Thing We Call Sex at the Seattle Erotic Art Festival, followed by book signing. Reading on the main stage from 2:00-2:30; book signing off stage from 2:30-3:00. More information at seattleerotic.org.

 

 

Radio interview with Diana Wiley

I had a lovely time yesterday being Diana Wiley’s guest on her online radio show Love, Lust, and Laughter. Talked about a wide range of topics from men and pornography, to fine art sexual photography, to the Seattle Erotic Art Festival, and of course the backstory to my book, This Thing We Call Sex. Listen to the podcast at��http://prn.fm/love-lust-and-laughter-04-14-15.

Back Home after a fun trip to Seattle

I’m back in San Francisco after a delightful trip to Seattle for a workshop and book signing for��This Thing We Call Sex��at the Center for Sex Positive Culture, Thursday night, April 2.

It was a small turnout, but the people who came were interesting and enthusiastic, prompting a��lovely��discussion of current issues relating to sex and gender, and I sold about a dozen books which was encouraging. While in Seattle, I was able��to visit with��a variety��of friends I haven’t seen since last spring (Jody Myers, Sophia Iannicelli, Jim Duvall, Allena Gabosch, John Ullman, among others. Also got to meet and exchange books with Maggie McNeill, whose brilliant blog on sex workers issues (The Honest Courtesan) I have admired for a long time, and say hello to Mistress Matisse, who also writes insightfully about sexual issues and who I have photographed as part of my fine art series of images of couple being sexual at home.

I will return to Seattle April 23-27 to be part of the wonderful Seattle Erotic Art Festival (info at seattleerotic.org). I have four images in this year’s show, and will be doing a reading of excerpts from��This Thing We Call Sex��at the Festival on Saturday afternoon, April 24, from 2:00-3:00. I encourage everyone in the Seattle to check out the Festival, and to come say hello if you do attend.

BOOK READING AND CELEBRATION TONIGHT, MARCH 15, AT CENTER FOR SEX AND CULTURE

To celebrate the release of my new book,��This Thing We Call Sex: A Radically Sensible Look at Sex in America,��the Center for Sex and Culture is hosting a reading and book signing with me tonight, March 15, 7:30-9:30 pm.

I��will talk about how the book came into being and read a variety of excerpts including stories, poems, and reflections. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase.

The Center for Sex and Culture is at 1349 Mission Street, San Francisco. Hope to see you there!

This Thing We Call Sex goes public

 

My new book, This Thing We Call Sex: A Radically Sensible Look at Sex in America, is officially published as of today. The book is now available in print form, both from Amazon (here), and directly from me, autographed (here). An e-book version will be available from Amazon shortly.

I’ve been working on the book for two years, ever since my editor, Sarah Martinez, let me know that Bookpeople was interested in coming out with a collection of my Comes Naturally columns and other writings. What I thought would be a quick and easy project (pull out the best and most relevant of the columns, edit them up a bit and voila! a book) turned into a major bit of work after I decided that all the old writing needed serious editing, that I wanted to write several new pieces on issues that I had not addressed before, and then decided to add 40 of my couples photos as graphics for the various chapter opening pages. All that in addition to the inevitable unpredictable complications.

It’s been a good ride, and I’ve been blessed to be working with good people (editor, book designer, copy editor, etc.) at Booktrope. Now the book goes public, with all the excitement and anxiety that entails.

So, Happy Birthday, This Thing We Call Sex! May you have a rich and happy life!

The New Website Goes Live

After months of work, the new, updated, and redesigned version of my website (hosted by A.D. Coleman and The Nearby Cafe) just went live. Exciting to have my long-neglected site functional and up-to-date! Thanks to Allan for all his help in making this happen.

Gen Mai Cha

 

Steeping in you,

pungent leaves

soaking to soft

in the warm wet brew

that melts out of us

when we mix,

I take you in

watch, feel myself change

you change

slowly

and not slowly,

 

softer, softer,

crusts dissolving,

dances within dances.

 

The intricacy pleases me,

intrigues me.

We are only so slightly

beginning.

 

Good to take time to breathe open

the heavy rosewood doors

that lie in the dark

under years of silt,

down in the watery depths

where light is long forgotten

and fish have no eyes.

 

So much unknown and unknowable,

but this I know for sure:

you will be as surprised as me

to see where this path is taking you

me

us.

 

Is there anything better

than this trembling place of not knowing,

waiting expectant

to see what brew this will become,

sitting quietly

and not so quietly

day after day

on the shelf of the south window,

welcoming the hot

hot sun?

When All the Wheels Stop

 

When all the wheels stop

and the night is still,

tell me:

What do you hear then?

Love Poem

 

There are times

when all glory is dead,

when magnificence sits shriveled in the corner

whimpering sad laments,

when Would Be

and Could Be

and Should Be

disappear suddenly into the great Are Not,

and I am left all alone

with just plain me.

 

It’s like evening

when the brilliant sunset loses its shine,

when all color drains out of the sky

leaving the sky gray,

the trees gray,

the birds gray,

the soul a pile of ashes

caught again by surprise,

unprepared.

 

Everyone loves a good sunset.

But with you I can sit still

and let my gray evening eyes

meander slowly home.

My most self-loving voice

speaks from your face

standing gently in the doorway:

 

Come in from the cold evening,

it’s time to be home.