Rachel Kramer Bussel's Blog, page 19
May 23, 2017
Podcast recommendation of the week: Sluts and Scholars
I'm starting a new hopefully weekly series here on Lusty Lady, Podcast of the Week. Over the last two years I've become a voracious podcast listener and love discovering new to me podcasts. They really stay with me in a different way than reading, and I can often listen while working (though not when writing). So for my debut, I want to recommend a new podcast, Sluts and Scholars. They cover all sorts of sexuality topics in a really fun, engaging way. You don't need to have any prior knowledge of the subjects. Here's how the hosts describe themselves: "Nicoletta is an MFT Intern (sexologist) and Simone is an actor and activist and they both like . . . . SEX, or at least talking about it."
I've especially enjoyed their interview with porn star Nina Hartley and recent episode on parents talking to kids about sex (title: "When Your Daughter Finds Your Dildo"). Check out all the episodes here and subscribe via iTunes, Stitcher or your favorite podcast method, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
Have a podcast recommendation? Leave a comment or email me at rachelkramerbussel at gmail dot com with "Podcast" in the subject line!
I've especially enjoyed their interview with porn star Nina Hartley and recent episode on parents talking to kids about sex (title: "When Your Daughter Finds Your Dildo"). Check out all the episodes here and subscribe via iTunes, Stitcher or your favorite podcast method, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
Have a podcast recommendation? Leave a comment or email me at rachelkramerbussel at gmail dot com with "Podcast" in the subject line!
May 15, 2017
Listen to me talk resistance erotica and meeting my celebrity crush on Susie Bright's podcast
For your listening pleasure, check out my interview on the podcast In Bed With Susie Bright. The show's title: "The Resistance Will Be Hot and Heavy." It's about my Rolling Stone anti-Trump erotica article and meeting my celebrity crush after 18 years (stay tuned for more about that experience from me soon).
May 5, 2017
My Rolling Stone article on erotica writers and publishers resisting Trump
I wrote about anti-Trump political erotica for Rolling Stone, talking to erotic writers and publishers including Chuck Tingle, Go Deeper Press, Coming Together and the writers behind Kickstarter funded anthology NASTY: Fetish Fights Back, whose content and motivations are explicitly about resisting our new administration and its policies. Their books benefit organizations lie the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and MoveOn. If you like the article, I'd appreciate if you'd share it.
April 25, 2017
Bisexual erotica anthology Twice the Pleasure on sale for $1.99
This month has been a whirlwind of travel (to see family in Westchester, to Connecticut to see a friend and binge watch Grace and Frankie, to Boca Raton for an event, to Philadelphia for vacation, to New York this weekend), so I haven't had a chance to post all the things I've wanted to. For now, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter because I have lots of giveaways for you and to check out my latest Cleis Press erotica anthology sale: the ebook of
Twice the Pleasure: Bisexual Women's Erotica
is only $1.99 for a limited time! Buy it for Kindle, Nook, Google Play, iBooks and Kobo. Also, a note: I didn't write the copy associated with the book and when it was written, I wasn't the eagle eyed micromanager I am today who tends to write my own book cover copy. But I still love what's inside the book and hope you will too, especially if you're interested in queer, bisexual and sometimes bicurious women who get it on with all sorts of lovers.
Here's my introduction to the book:
Introduction: Hot Bi Babes: A Both/And Approach to Bisexuality
Woody Allen once famously said, “Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.” As a bisexual woman, I can attest that this is not necessarily true. Bisexuality is more than just a math equation and cannot be so easily categorized or summarized. Identifying as bi, or being attracted to or engaging in sex with a variety of genders, or whatever version of something approximating those states of being , is the theme of this anthology, and in many ways, the term is actually a lot broader than that dual opportunity. This is not a book about choosing either/or, male or female, or simply one of each. It’s not about narrowing gender down to one size fits all, but about expanding our options, to a both/and approach to how we view and cultivate our sexuality. It’s a welcoming, inclusive definition that welcomes all comers—pun fully intended.
I wanted this book, while fictional and focused on the erotic aspects of bisexual women’s lives, to explore as wide a swatch of “bisexual” as possible. That means that some of the best stories here don’t mention the word bisexual at all; they don’t have to, because their bi angle, their queerness, is embedded—and bedded—in the story. The characters are living it, rather than identifying with it; the sexual exploration and attraction, the experience and movement, are more important than what anyone wants to call it.
The large majority of the submissions I received for this book were about women having sex with women, which makes sense in the context of a culture that still privileges heterosexual identity over any other kind. Even in an era of so-called lesbian and bisexual chic, there’s still plenty of discomfort with the fluidity with which many women view their sexuality. Shifting away from a purely heterosexual mindset forces women to grapple with the ways we differ from mainstream society, even one that is becoming much more open and knowledgeable about the varieties of queer life. The first time we dare to dip our toes—or other body parts—into the world of sex with other women is often momentous. Many of us will find the character of Laura, in Nicole Wolfe’s opening story, “1 Percent Adaptable,” familiar. Laura at first protests Marie’s advances, warning her that she’s not gay, not bi, until she listens to her body and follows its yearnings. “Laura was shocked that the kiss had surprised her, considering what had just happened between her legs. She let her lips caress Marie’s. She dared to let her tongue out to play. She risked letting her hands tickle Marie’s hips and backside,” Wolfe writes.
But I didn’t want this to simply be a first-time bi-curious tentative collection, but a robust one exploring the intimacy of life as a woman interested in men and women. That’s why I wanted stories that asked questions like the ones in Jacqueline Applebee’s closing tale, “What I Want, What I Need:” “I’d been out as a lesbian since I was twenty-three. Why was I suddenly spending time with a straight man? Why was I enjoying it so much? Had I really been a lesbian at all, or had I been lying to myself for the past twenty years?”
There are girlfriends and wives, husbands and boyfriends, first dates, threesomes and much more here. There’s daring and adventure, women taking risks by stepping outside their comfort zones, whether it’s by surrendering to a bodyguard in “The State,” by Tahira Iqbal, or confronting “The Wife” of a male lover in Kay Jaybee’s story, only to be confronted right back. The women you’ll read about are attracted to strong women like “The Robber Girl” in Lori Selke’s story, and men who surprise them with their sensitivity, as in my story, “A Little Fun.”
There’s also kink, if that’s what you’re looking for. In Cheryl B.’s “The Break,” spanking becomes a way for two exes to reconnect and revive the passion between them, while Sinclair Sexsmith takes us inside a gay bar and then home with a boy her protagonist has met there, one who may or may not know her true gender, in “Right-Red Flagging.” The protagonist of “Seduction Dance” is under the watchful eye of her master when she finds a new female plaything for her to command and seduce. Gender is played with, fucked with, and grappled with as well in Giselle Renarde’s “Glitter in the Gutter,” in which the female partner of a male cross-dresser encourages his interest when he fears he’s crossed a line and doesn’t want to live in the new, judgmental world he’s stepped into. Aimee Pearl writes in “Meeting at the Hole in the Wall, “Chivalry is dead, and I want to writhe naked on its grave.”
These are celebratory, sexy stories, but, all apologies to Mr. Allen, they are more complex than a view of bisexuality simply as “twice as much” to offer. I like to think of them as both/and stories that, collectively, offer a look at the ways bisexuality, queerness and lesbianism affect us while recognizing that there’s no monolithic typical bisexual. We are multifaceted, full of desires that can’t be contained in a single, simplistic category. We are hungry, horny, mischievous, naughty, provocative and, yes, curious. We may think we know what we want, only to keep on surprising ourselves just when we think we have it all figured out. We are open to a wide range of sexual possibilities, whether they exist in our heads or beyond.
I hope you’ll enjoy the twenty-two stories presented here, and that they serve as erotic catalysts, no matter how you identify.
Rachel Kramer Bussel
Still aren't sure if you want to read it? Click here for excerpts from all 22 bisexual erotica stories!
Here's my introduction to the book:
Introduction: Hot Bi Babes: A Both/And Approach to Bisexuality
Woody Allen once famously said, “Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.” As a bisexual woman, I can attest that this is not necessarily true. Bisexuality is more than just a math equation and cannot be so easily categorized or summarized. Identifying as bi, or being attracted to or engaging in sex with a variety of genders, or whatever version of something approximating those states of being , is the theme of this anthology, and in many ways, the term is actually a lot broader than that dual opportunity. This is not a book about choosing either/or, male or female, or simply one of each. It’s not about narrowing gender down to one size fits all, but about expanding our options, to a both/and approach to how we view and cultivate our sexuality. It’s a welcoming, inclusive definition that welcomes all comers—pun fully intended.
I wanted this book, while fictional and focused on the erotic aspects of bisexual women’s lives, to explore as wide a swatch of “bisexual” as possible. That means that some of the best stories here don’t mention the word bisexual at all; they don’t have to, because their bi angle, their queerness, is embedded—and bedded—in the story. The characters are living it, rather than identifying with it; the sexual exploration and attraction, the experience and movement, are more important than what anyone wants to call it.
The large majority of the submissions I received for this book were about women having sex with women, which makes sense in the context of a culture that still privileges heterosexual identity over any other kind. Even in an era of so-called lesbian and bisexual chic, there’s still plenty of discomfort with the fluidity with which many women view their sexuality. Shifting away from a purely heterosexual mindset forces women to grapple with the ways we differ from mainstream society, even one that is becoming much more open and knowledgeable about the varieties of queer life. The first time we dare to dip our toes—or other body parts—into the world of sex with other women is often momentous. Many of us will find the character of Laura, in Nicole Wolfe’s opening story, “1 Percent Adaptable,” familiar. Laura at first protests Marie’s advances, warning her that she’s not gay, not bi, until she listens to her body and follows its yearnings. “Laura was shocked that the kiss had surprised her, considering what had just happened between her legs. She let her lips caress Marie’s. She dared to let her tongue out to play. She risked letting her hands tickle Marie’s hips and backside,” Wolfe writes.
But I didn’t want this to simply be a first-time bi-curious tentative collection, but a robust one exploring the intimacy of life as a woman interested in men and women. That’s why I wanted stories that asked questions like the ones in Jacqueline Applebee’s closing tale, “What I Want, What I Need:” “I’d been out as a lesbian since I was twenty-three. Why was I suddenly spending time with a straight man? Why was I enjoying it so much? Had I really been a lesbian at all, or had I been lying to myself for the past twenty years?”
There are girlfriends and wives, husbands and boyfriends, first dates, threesomes and much more here. There’s daring and adventure, women taking risks by stepping outside their comfort zones, whether it’s by surrendering to a bodyguard in “The State,” by Tahira Iqbal, or confronting “The Wife” of a male lover in Kay Jaybee’s story, only to be confronted right back. The women you’ll read about are attracted to strong women like “The Robber Girl” in Lori Selke’s story, and men who surprise them with their sensitivity, as in my story, “A Little Fun.”
There’s also kink, if that’s what you’re looking for. In Cheryl B.’s “The Break,” spanking becomes a way for two exes to reconnect and revive the passion between them, while Sinclair Sexsmith takes us inside a gay bar and then home with a boy her protagonist has met there, one who may or may not know her true gender, in “Right-Red Flagging.” The protagonist of “Seduction Dance” is under the watchful eye of her master when she finds a new female plaything for her to command and seduce. Gender is played with, fucked with, and grappled with as well in Giselle Renarde’s “Glitter in the Gutter,” in which the female partner of a male cross-dresser encourages his interest when he fears he’s crossed a line and doesn’t want to live in the new, judgmental world he’s stepped into. Aimee Pearl writes in “Meeting at the Hole in the Wall, “Chivalry is dead, and I want to writhe naked on its grave.”
These are celebratory, sexy stories, but, all apologies to Mr. Allen, they are more complex than a view of bisexuality simply as “twice as much” to offer. I like to think of them as both/and stories that, collectively, offer a look at the ways bisexuality, queerness and lesbianism affect us while recognizing that there’s no monolithic typical bisexual. We are multifaceted, full of desires that can’t be contained in a single, simplistic category. We are hungry, horny, mischievous, naughty, provocative and, yes, curious. We may think we know what we want, only to keep on surprising ourselves just when we think we have it all figured out. We are open to a wide range of sexual possibilities, whether they exist in our heads or beyond.
I hope you’ll enjoy the twenty-two stories presented here, and that they serve as erotic catalysts, no matter how you identify.
Rachel Kramer Bussel
Still aren't sure if you want to read it? Click here for excerpts from all 22 bisexual erotica stories!
April 18, 2017
Free erotica story: "Her Best" by Corrine A. Silver on The Kiss Me Quick's Podcast
You can now listen to another hot story from
Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 2
, appropriately titled "Her Best" by Corrine A. Silver, on The Kiss Me Quick's Podcast narrated by Rose Caraway. You can listen to two other free erotica stories on the podcast: "Brick Dust" by Kay Jaybee and "Taste" by Jocelyn Bringas and get the full audiobook experience on Audible. I love working with Rose so much and am honored that I got to do so again.
April 12, 2017
New articles on breakup sex and open marriage
I'm a little behind on blogging because I've dipped my toes back into freelance writing, with an article on breakup sex in The Washington Post's Solo-ish section and an as told to interview profiling a week in the life of a woman in an open marriage for Redbook. Regarding the latter, I was thrilled that they asked me to cover polyamory in a total non-judgmental way that highlights the experience of the polyamorous person. These assignments were also great because when I have a lot of time I tend to agonize and overthink, but with only a few days and a little over a week to complete them, I had to hustle and get busy. In my forties, I'm finally learning the ways I work best and trying to use them to my advantage and I'm very grateful to these two editors for being great to work with and giving me these opportunities.
It's felt wonderful to get back to writing; I really couldn't muster any ideas or focus right after the election, thinking everything I considered was pointless, but now I realize that life goes on and that I have to continue to learn and grow and push myself so I'm working on new pitches and pieces that I will share once they are finalized.
I've got more articles coming up, so stay tuned to my Twitter and Facebook pages, and if you like free erotica books, subscribe to my newsletter on the left side of my blog or on my website. I meant to send April's last week but didn't get to it so it'll be going out soon with a giveaway of my new anal sex erotica audiobook.
It's felt wonderful to get back to writing; I really couldn't muster any ideas or focus right after the election, thinking everything I considered was pointless, but now I realize that life goes on and that I have to continue to learn and grow and push myself so I'm working on new pitches and pieces that I will share once they are finalized.
I've got more articles coming up, so stay tuned to my Twitter and Facebook pages, and if you like free erotica books, subscribe to my newsletter on the left side of my blog or on my website. I meant to send April's last week but didn't get to it so it'll be going out soon with a giveaway of my new anal sex erotica audiobook.
My new book is in Cosmopolitan!
I'm so thrilled that
Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 2
gets this amazing shoutout in the May 2017 issue of Cosmopolitan, all thanks to Bea and Leah Koch, the owners of amazing romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice in Culver City, California. I wish I lived closer to their store because it's so amazing, so the admiration is mutual. Check out Volume 1 and Volume 2 and stay tuned, because Volume 3 hits stores in December.
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April 5, 2017
Listen to anal sex erotica read by Rose Caraway in new Baby Got Back audiobook!
Great news: I got to work with the wonderful Rose Caraway again on the audiobook for Baby Got Back: Anal Erotica (click through to listen to a free sample). As you may know by now, Rose is my very favorite narrator and always does an outstanding job so I requested her when my publisher, Cleis Press, asked who I wanted to narrate this book. The stories are, yes, all about anal sex, but also so much more! Give a listen to the free sample over at Audible or download the whole book. And...if you subscribe to my monthly newsletter right now you can get a chance to win one of 25 copies - the April newsletter goes out on Thursday, April 6th! And don't worry if you're reading this after April 6th; I do giveaways every month in the newsletter.
Here's what the book's about, if the title didn't intrigue you enough:
Here's what the book's about, if the title didn't intrigue you enough:
Baby Got Back is a stimulating set of stories of anal fun. Rachel Kramer Bussel has edited some of the best-selling erotica books in the business and this is her first book devoted to all manner of backdoor pleasures. These daring and, dare we say, cheeky sex stories have a lot of variety. Plenty of excitement and offer much erotic inspiration.
Whether you love anal sex or have never tried it, Baby Got Back, edited by award-winning author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, offers a peek at what happens when men and women check their inhibitions at the door. You'll find bent-over boyfriends, butt plugs, "A Taste of Jamaica", and "Body Heat." In "Rectified", when Lela gets bored with every sex position out there, Brad arrives to teach her about one she learns is everything she'd hoped for and more. In "Delivery", Lynn takes a break from a Vegas bachelorette party so Wesley can show her a very good time. Whether exploring a new side of backdoor pleasure or affirming their passion for this sometimes taboo activity, the characters in this book savor every moment.
March 31, 2017
Kinky erotica for just $1.99 - Dirty Dates limited time sale!
Great news: My fabulous publisher Cleis Press has put my BDSM kinky couples erotica anthology Dirty Dates: Erotic Fantasies for Couples on sale again! So if you don't have it or want to give someone a very sexy gift, now's the time while the $1.99 sale is on (through Sunday, April 9th). You can visit Amazon to read the introduction and table of contents, which includes authors such as Jade A. Waters, Erzabet Bishop, Justine Elyot, D.L. King, Skylar Kade, me and many other talented folks. Here's where to buy it: Kindle, Nook, Google Play, iBooks and Kobo
Hope you like it, and stay tuned for more ebook sales: Twice the Pleasure will be discounted for about a week starting April 27 and another kinky erotica book, The Big Book of Submission, will be $1.99 starting May 1 for about a week.
Hope you like it, and stay tuned for more ebook sales: Twice the Pleasure will be discounted for about a week starting April 27 and another kinky erotica book, The Big Book of Submission, will be $1.99 starting May 1 for about a week.
March 28, 2017
Paying markets: My new Cleis Press anthology calls for Erotic Teasers and Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 4
I'm editing two new anthologies for Cleis Press - links below. As I blogged about recently, the calls are long, and may get tweaked as time goes on at the URLs below, but I did my best to answer any and every question an author might have, including listing the exact contract terms you'd be asked to sign. As should be crystal clear, I don't want sloppy first drafts, I won't read any unrequested revisions and I want your very best, hottest work. Keep in mind that I generally can only accept less than 10% of the submissions I receive, so make yours brilliant, unique and outstanding! Happy writing! And if you do have questions, direct them to the email address listed at the bottom of the relevant call.
Erotic Teasers - pays $100, October 1 deadline
Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 4 - pays $200, November 1 deadline
Erotic Teasers - pays $100, October 1 deadline
Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 4 - pays $200, November 1 deadline
