Rachel Kramer Bussel's Blog, page 147

September 6, 2011

Read this if you like Greek myths and YA: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Thank you to Amazon Vine for sending me Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs (also available in a Kindle edition). Visit her blog for a chance to win a copy!



My review:

I've been a fan of all of Tera Lynn Childs' YA novels, and this new series delivers on its premise and more! Taking another cue from Greek myth, this time Medusa, she presents a new series featuring triplets Gretchen, Grace and Greer. Gretchen is an old hat at accessing her superpowers and fighting smelly monster all over San Francisco; she's tough, from her Kevlar wrist cuffs to the daggers she stores in her boots. Grace and Greer discover their powers and have to both make sense of them, and the danger they're in, and come to terms with no longer being "normal."

The dragons are colorful and creative, looking to anyone not able to see their true nature like regular people, but the girls can see the truly hideous outsides and their murderous intent. Childs once again makes mythology come alive as each sister uses what she knows, along with a little help from some special elders, to help her do her duty. There's also the requisite cute boys, or in Greer's case, a mock surfer stud; Greer's chapters are among the most fun, because she's got the most to lose.

This is a delightful start to a trilogy, and even though I remembered almost nothing about Medusa, I quickly learned about the myth (or, in Sweet Venom's world, the "myth" of the myth). I'm not really a gore lover, but the scenes where the girls have to use their literal sweet venom to attack are fun and the girl power here is not the Spice Girls kind, but the creative, ingenious, bonding kind. I'm looking forward the next installments in the series.
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Published on September 06, 2011 09:35

September 2, 2011

Deadline extension for my erotic spanking anthology

I extended my erotic spanking anthology deadline to September 15th!





Call for Submissions

Erotic spanking anthology (title TK)

Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel

To be published by Cleis Press

Deadline: September 15, 2011



Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel (http://www.rachelkramerbussel.com) is looking for erotica stories on her favorite topic: spanking! I want creative, original spanking stories in a variety of settings using all sorts of implements. Because of the highly specific nature of a themed anthology such as this, characterization, plotline and motivation are all extremely important. Spanking as part of roleplay, discipline, adventure, foreplay, etc. are fair game. Stories that incorporate other types of sex or kinky acts (oral sex, anal sex, role-playing, bondage, etc.) are welcome. The final book will have a mix of POVs of tops and bottoms, and a variety of motivations, scenarios, implements and storytelling styles. All genders and sexual orientations are welcome.



Unusual settings/scenarios, a variety of spanking implements, use of sex toys, group scenarios, and public spanking scenes are all encouraged. Most of all, I want stories that truly eroticize spanking in every way possible. All characters should be over 18; no incest, scat or bestiality. No poetry will be considered for this book. Original stories only; no reprints.



See my anthologies Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica and Bottoms Up: Spanking Good Stories (more information and story samples are available at http://spanked.wordpress.com/about and http://bottomsupbook.wordpress.com/about) for an idea of the kinds of stories I'm looking for. All characters must be over 18. No poetry. No scat, bestiality or incest. Original, unpublished stories only. Since submissions will be considered on a rolling basis, earlier submissions are strongly preferred.



Payment: Contributors will receive $50/story and 2 copies of the anthology on publication. Contract is for one-time rights (if you would like to see the exact contract terms, email eroticspankingantho at gmail.com with "Contract" in the subject line).



How to submit: Send double spaced Times or Times New Roman 12 point black font Word document (.doc only, 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. Include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address, and 50 word or less bio in the third person to hoteleroticabook@gmail.com. If you are using a pseudonym, please provide your real name and pseudonym and make it clear which one you'd like to be credited as. I will be accepting stories on a rolling basis so the sooner you submit, the better. Cleis Press has final approval over the manuscript so you can expect a final answer by February 1, 2012.



I've been seeing numerous recent submissions that do not conform to my guidelines. They are there for a reason and submissions not meeting these guidelines will not be considered. Please read and follow them or risk your submission being rejected or returned for reformatting. If you have any questions, please contact me at eroticspankingantho@gmail.com



About the editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel (http://www.rachelkramerbussel.com) is the editor of 38 anthologies, including Gotta Have It, Surrender, Best Bondage Erotica 2011, Bottoms Up, Spanked, The Mile High Club, Do Not Disturb, He's on Top, She's on Top, Tasting Him, Tasting Her, Crossdressing, Dirty Girls, and is Best Sex Writing Series Editor. She is Senior Editor at Penthouse Variations, writes a column for SexIs Magazine, and hosted and curated In The Flesh Reading Series in New York for five years. Her writing has been published in over 100 anthologies, including Susie Bright's X: The Erotic Treasury, Best American Erotica 2004 and 2006, and Zane's Purple Panties and the New York Times bestseller Succulent: Chocolate Flava II. She has written for Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast, Fresh Yarn, Mediabistro, Newsday, New York Post, Penthouse, Time Out New York, Zink and other publications.
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Published on September 02, 2011 18:54

Want to read: The Adults by Alison Espach

I have so many books I'm currently reading, in various stages and various ways, and so many waiting to be read, but I am forever hearing about another one that calls out to me. I'm trying to be patient and wade through some I own and get rid of them (yes, me, get rid of books). The Adults by Alison Espach (side note: I don't get Amazon's pricing, but currently the paperback, out on Tuesday, is $9.73 and the Kindle edition is $11.99).







Here's the Publishers Weekly review:



In Espach's charming coming-of-age debut, 14-year-old Emily Vidal's life begins to veer off course at her father's 50th birthday party when he announces that he and her mother are divorcing. The birthday night ends with dad kissing the neighbor, Mrs. Resnick, in the woods, where Emily and Mrs. Resnick's son, Mark, discover them. The disorienting discoveries continue: Mark's ailing father commits suicide, and Mrs. Resnick is pregnant with Emily's dad's baby. With dad off to Prague and her mother undone by the affair and hitting the bottle, Emily loses faith in all the adults around her, even as she is becoming one of them. Emily starts an affair with an English teacher 10 years her senior, mostly to see how far she can go, which turns out to be pretty far. She and the teacher, Jonathan, who leaves teaching to become a lawyer, return to each other again and again as Emily graduates from college and moves to Prague to be with her father. Espach perfects the snarky, postironic deadpan of the 1990s and teenagers everywhere, and her ear for modern speech and eye for fresh detail transform a familiar story into an education in what it means to be a grown-up. (Apr.)
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Published on September 02, 2011 18:45

Free books at Goodreads - Happy Friday!

This should be approved shortly. I'm a little obsessed with Obsessed , especially because I'm a romance reader. And I plan to do these giveaways with each new book (though if you want to be extra super awesome, I'd love it if you'd be part of my Amazon review team, see my Twitter stream or email womeninlust at gmail.com with "Amazon" in the subject and your name/US mailing address in the body to get a copy of Women in Lust hot off the press next month, in exchange for reviewing it by November 30th).











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Goodreads Book Giveaway













Obsessed by Rachel Kramer Bussel













Obsessed









by Rachel Kramer Bussel













Giveaway ends September 30, 2011.





See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.















Enter to win







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Published on September 02, 2011 10:32

August 31, 2011

Read ths: Pretty by Jillian Lauren

Some Girls author Jillian Lauren, who I interviewed last year, is back with her first novel, Pretty . It's part of The Nervous Breakdown Book Club and I'm going to finish reading it this weekend. So far it's gripping and the language and story are fierce.







Here's the official description, more on this soon, and check out Jillian's site for her book tour dates!



It's been one year since the car accident that killed her boyfriend left her scarred and shaken. Flanked by an eccentric posse of friends, she is serving out a self-imposed sentence at a halfway house, while trying to finish cosmetology school. Amid the rampant diagnoses, over-medication, compulsive eating, and acrylic nails of Los Angeles, Bebe looks for something to believe in before something–her past, the dangerously magnetic men in her life, her own bad choices–knocks her off course again.
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Published on August 31, 2011 06:49

August 30, 2011

The official Irresistible lineup

At long, long last...the hot hot lineup to Irresistible: Erotic Romance for Couples . I'm very excited to share this varied collection of stories, which includes many authors who I haven't worked with before. There's everything from a military family to getting over trauma to a sex scandal to a strip club (yes, that's my story) and much more! More closer to the pub date, including how to sign up for a free copy to review (I do that with every book, follow me @raquelita on Twitter for details). The book will have its own Wordpress site closer to the pub date, and I promise this makes a hot Valentine's Day gift!







Introduction



Twice Shy Heidi Champa

Safe for Work A.M. Hartnett

Repaint the Night Janine Ashbless

Same As It Ever Was Cole Riley

Out of Control Karenna Colcroft

Warrior Kate Pearce

Hypocrites Alyssa Turner

The Pact Elizabeth Coldwell

Exposing Calvin Rachel Kramer Bussel

Six Eyes, Two Ears Kris Adams

Renewal Delilah Night

The Netherlands Justine Elyot

Predatory Tree Craig J. Sorensen

The Mitzvah Tiffany Reisz

After The Massage Kay Jaybee

Pink Satin Purse Donna George Storey
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Published on August 30, 2011 13:49

Scorpio sex in hot historical romance Star Crossed Seduction by Jenny Brown

I'm debating whether to buy this just-published romance novel, Star Crossed Seduction , in paperback or on my Nook (and also a bit confused as to Barnes & Noble's loyalty program - I believe it doesn't cover Nook purchases, but if it does, then I haven't used it on the 10 or so purchases I've made and cannot for the life of me figure out how to). Anyway, ever since I read Jenny Brown's debut novel Lord Lightning I've been eager to read this. Go Scorpios! I've started a lot of historicals that I wound up putting down but hers made me race through it and almost not want it to end cause I was enjoying it so much, so I hope this one is just as good.







Read an excerpt free at Scribd



Jenny Brown has a great post (originally intended for the Borders Trueromance blog, alas) on her blog about the book, including:



One sentence summary: In this Scorpio-themed book, a war-weary Cavalry officer, who is looking for a night of dalliance, rescues a beautiful pickpocket from arrest, but their casual encounter leads to a no holds barred battle of the sexes that threatens their very lives--unless they can heal their wounded hearts.



Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Trev is fluent in several of the languages of India and has earned a reputation as being an expert in the interpretation of Sanskrit manuscripts--including the Kama Sutra.





What is your heroine's occupation: After the death of her lover, the revolutionary, Temperance and two young girls have supported themselves by picking pockets. Their only alternative was to work for the local bawd, Mother Bristwick.



What is your hero's occupation: Trev, who grew up in a military family, is a cavalry officer recently returned from fighting in India's Third Maratha War. But his real love is the "little jobs" he undertakes from time to time for the scheming head of India's Political and Secret Department.
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Published on August 30, 2011 08:07

Twitter party about Obsessed September 5th, win Babeland prizes!

For more information, see the Cleis Press Tumblr. See you on Twitter Monday night! Or anytime @raquelita (and @cupcakeblog, where we're inching toward 20,000 followers!). More free erotic romance excerpts from Obsessed coming soon, and I just finalized the table of contents for Irresistible and my 2012 oral sex anthology Going Down! But first, the books that are out.



We're having a Twitter Party with Rachel Kramer Bussel Sept. 5, 7-9pm EST!



The hashtag will be #obsessedbook, and Rachel will be on hand to answer your pressing questions about the anthology, writing/editing, and who knows what else? There will be prizes for best questions: something fun donated by Babeland, and a copy (or three) of Obsessed - sent right to you. All you have to do is tweet!



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Published on August 30, 2011 05:59

August 29, 2011

Call for submissions: Female submission anthology

Untitled Female Submission anthology (Title TBA)

Editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel

Publisher: Cleis Press (late 2012 or early 2013)

Deadline: November 1, 2011

Payment: $50/story, upon publication



This anthology of erotic stories will explore a wide range of female submission and male domination. Stories can be told from a female sub POV, a male dominant POV, or second or third person, as long as it's a kinky erotic story focused on the topic. What's it like to be a female submissive, whether a full-time slave to a powerful master, or a kinky woman involved in an intense scene? These stories should explore the range of ways women submit to men, whether masters, husbands, boyfriends, play dates, strangers, Internet chatters, etc. Is the storyteller a lifelong bottom, or a new convert to kink, or simply enthralled to a particular man? Does merely offering herself up to any guy get her off, or does something about this particular top excite her? Can be long- or short-term relationships, single encounters, or anything in between, as long as the characters and plot are believable and the story is hot. Characters can be part of the BDSM scene/community or newcomers to the world of kink. I don't want simple snapshots of scenes that don't tell us anything about the characters' motivation. Please see my anthologies He's on Top; Yes, Sir; and Please, Sir for an idea of the stories I prefer. No nonconsensual stories; all characters must be over 18. No scat or incest. No reprints.



I encourage you to think beyond clichéd scenarios, as well as thinking outside the box when it comes to "power play." I am especially looking for stories where not all of the erotic action is centered around physical sensation. There can also be more than two people in a given story or scene (or even just one if they are following someone's orders), and bisexual scenarios are welcome as long as the bottom/top relationship is a heterosexual one, as fitting the title. My biggest pet peeve with the submissions I've rejected in the past is lack of characterization/jumping into the BDSM scene too quickly. The more variety you can bring to the topic, the better your chances of your story being accepted.



Guidelines: Stories should be unpublished and not submitted elsewhere for publication. Stories should be 1,500 – 4,000 words, double spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font, in a Word document only. If it is truly impossible to send a Word document, please send as both a RTF AND in the body of the email. You MUST include your bio (50 words MAX) and full contact info (mailing address, phone number, real name/pseudonym) when you submit.



Payment will be $50/story and 1 copy of the book upon publication (late 2012 or early 2013). Contributors will retain the rights to their stories. You may submit up to two stories. Please note that the publisher has final approval over the manuscript.



Send your submission as a Word document to femalesubantho@gmail.com





Please make sure to follow ALL directions. I'm getting a lot of single-spaced, non-Word document submissions without bios or mailing addresses. Please also make sure you send your FINAL version of your story, not a first (and then second or third) draft. All of the pertinent information, including a polished version of the story and your bio/contact info should be included in a single email, not multiple ones. Thank you.



If you have any questions, please email femalesubantho@gmail.com







Deadline: November 1, 2011

Expect to hear back from me by April 2012

Payment: $50/story, upon publication (late 2012 or early 2013)





About the editor: Rachel Kramer Bussel (http://www.rachelkramerbussel.com) is the editor of 39 anthologies, including Gotta Have It, Surrender, Best Bondage Erotica 2011, Bottoms Up, Spanked, The Mile High Club, Do Not Disturb, He's on Top, She's on Top, Tasting Him, Tasting Her, Crossdressing, Dirty Girls, and is Best Sex Writing Series Editor. She is Senior Editor at Penthouse Variations, writes a column for SexIs Magazine, and hosted and curated In The Flesh Reading Series in New York for five years. Her writing has been published in over 100 anthologies, including Susie Bright's X: The Erotic Treasury, Best American Erotica 2004 and 2006, and Zane's Purple Panties and the New York Times bestseller Succulent: Chocolate Flava II. She has written for Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast, Fresh Yarn, Mediabistro, Newsday, New York Post, Penthouse, Salon, Time Out New York, Zink and other publications.
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Published on August 29, 2011 11:15

August 28, 2011