Rachel Kramer Bussel's Blog, page 76
March 26, 2014
Duke porn star Belle Knox talks breaking into XXX, sex workers rights, Catholic school sex education and more
I interviewed Duke University freshman and porn star Belle Knox at Elle.com - we discussed how she got into porn, sex workers rights, her Catholic school education, her porn role models, her relationship status and more. If you like it, I'd love it if you'd pass the link on in some way. I had a tight word count so didn't get to include every interesting thing she said, but she was very articulate, passionate and, in my opinion, fascinating. I know I certainly was not as eloquent at 18.
What people are saying about my erotica writing workshops
I'm gearing up to book some fall workshops (if you're interested, email me at rachelkramerbussel at gmail.com) in places like Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, and hopefully Chicago, Milwaukee and Portland, Maine too, but I am revved up about teaching and want to visit more schools, stores, conferences, groups, etc. First up is New York City again on May 30 from 7:30-9 p.m. for New York Academy of Sex Education on the Upper East Side ($25/person, you must sign up in advance). Also sign up for the Academy's latest newsletter has details on all their upcoming workshops on things like embracing your inner sex geek, navigating non-monogamy and claiming beauty with the wonderful Jo Weldon, sexuality and disability, talking to your kids about sex and more (hint: some of them may be used as erotica fodder!).
Here's what people are saying about my workshops:
"Rachel's workshop at Self Serve provided a really excellent opportunity for writers interested in erotica to talk to and ask questions of a leader in the industry, who is incredibly friendly and accessible. Rachel shared with participants tips and tricks to find ways to keep erotica topics and writing interesting and new, which is a very valuable skill for writers."
Hunter Riley, Store Manager, Self Serve (Albuquerque)
Rachel Kramer Bussel brought her enthusiasm, sharp skills and years of experience to the class. The format allowed for plenty of writing time, sharing time and a good amount of Q and A. I think even professional writers would learn a lot from Rachel. She's definitely welcome back to teach in our store any time!"
Lucky Tomaszek, Education Coordinator, The Tool Shed (Milwaukee)
"I loved attending Rachel's Erotica Writing workshop. Whether you're a professional erotica writer or a hobbyist, her class has something for you. She's an excellent facilitator and gives valuable suggestions and feedback for making your writing sexier and more compelling."
Kate McCombs, sex educator at katemccombs.com
Here's what people are saying about my workshops:
"Rachel's workshop at Self Serve provided a really excellent opportunity for writers interested in erotica to talk to and ask questions of a leader in the industry, who is incredibly friendly and accessible. Rachel shared with participants tips and tricks to find ways to keep erotica topics and writing interesting and new, which is a very valuable skill for writers."
Hunter Riley, Store Manager, Self Serve (Albuquerque)
Rachel Kramer Bussel brought her enthusiasm, sharp skills and years of experience to the class. The format allowed for plenty of writing time, sharing time and a good amount of Q and A. I think even professional writers would learn a lot from Rachel. She's definitely welcome back to teach in our store any time!"
Lucky Tomaszek, Education Coordinator, The Tool Shed (Milwaukee)
"I loved attending Rachel's Erotica Writing workshop. Whether you're a professional erotica writer or a hobbyist, her class has something for you. She's an excellent facilitator and gives valuable suggestions and feedback for making your writing sexier and more compelling."
Kate McCombs, sex educator at katemccombs.com
March 20, 2014
May 30 erotica writing workshop in New York, Upper East Side, for New York Academy of Sex
I'm back on the Upper East Side May 30th from 7:30 pm-9 pm, for New Yorkers and those who'll be in town for Book Expo America (where I will also be doing a signing) teaching Writing Erotica for Pleasure and Money for the New York Academy of Sex, held at sex toy store The Pleasure Chest, 1150 Second Avenue. It's $25 and the official description is below. If you know anyone looking to break into erotica writing, I'd appreciate you letting them know. I'm also hoping to teach my new nonfiction sex writing workshop there but don't have a date yet. You must sign up in advance.
Official description:
Official description:
Whether you’re writing to that special someone, penning longtime fantasies, or want to earn cash for your dirty words, this workshop is for you. You are sure to find growth with the very prolific, award winning erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. She will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing. Learn how to get started, find your voice, and write against type. She will talk about incorporating everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies into your writing. Rachel will teach you how to groom your writing to fit particular magazines and anthologies. And how to submit your work and keeping up with the thriving erotica market (including anthologies, ebooks, magazines and websites). Materials Needed: Please bring a laptop or paper and pen.
CatalystCon East and West
Last Friday and Saturday I had the pleasure of attending CatalystCon in Arlington, Virginia and teaching three-hour long erotica and sex writing workshops. It was my first time teaching nonfiction, and I had to push myself but I learned a lot, and I hope students in both classes are sending their work out, because they have a lot of wonderful ideas, and doing those extended workshops made me want to teach more and made me think about what I can offer by way of encouragement to those new to the fields. I still feel as if this career is one I stumbled into after law school, but maybe I was led here by more than chance. Being at Catalyst reinforced that for me, that this is what I love doing, and I love the challenge of thinking about what would make a good story, fiction or nonfiction, and trying to shape words to make that happen.
I met people from all over the U.S. and beyond, heard amazing stories, learned about sex work and porn, played Cards Against Humanity and was incredibly inspired, and that's with me only staying for a small part of the conference. If you're on or near the West Coast, check out CatalystCon West September 11-14 in Los Angeles. I am working to put together a kickass panel pitch on erotica, so I hope to be there again. If you know anyone interested in sexuality, feminism, activism and learning new things, I recommend you check it out. I'd write more but am in the middle of packing to move soon and assorted deadlines this week, but was inspired as a writer, educator and person. There were many bloggers and others I've corresponded with, but there were also people who were new to me and each other who bonded (again, Cards Against Humanity!) and developed a camaraderie I was impressed with.
I met people from all over the U.S. and beyond, heard amazing stories, learned about sex work and porn, played Cards Against Humanity and was incredibly inspired, and that's with me only staying for a small part of the conference. If you're on or near the West Coast, check out CatalystCon West September 11-14 in Los Angeles. I am working to put together a kickass panel pitch on erotica, so I hope to be there again. If you know anyone interested in sexuality, feminism, activism and learning new things, I recommend you check it out. I'd write more but am in the middle of packing to move soon and assorted deadlines this week, but was inspired as a writer, educator and person. There were many bloggers and others I've corresponded with, but there were also people who were new to me and each other who bonded (again, Cards Against Humanity!) and developed a camaraderie I was impressed with.
March 11, 2014
69 audio orgasms with The Big Book of Orgasms audiobook
No, I don't really know what an "audio orgasm" is but I liked the sound of it! Rose Caraway, narrator extraordinaire, who made
Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex
an audiobook besteller, is back with the audiobook of my favorite title,
The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories
, out now on Audible! Happy listening!
69 audio orgasms with The Big Book of Orgasms auidbook
No, I don't really know what an "audio orgasm" is but I liked the sound of it! Rose Caraway, narrator extraordinaire, who made
Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex
an audiobook besteller, is back with the audiobook of my favorite title,
The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories
, out now on Audible! Happy listening!
Airplane sex is for lovers in my book Flying High: Sexy Stories from the Mile High Club
I have a new book out called Flying High: Sexy Stories from the Mile High Club, though "new" is more appropriate because these are the same stories in the book formerly known as The Mile High Club: Plane Sex Stories. But for those who didn't read it, here's a great chance to enjoy travel erotica with some pretty creative twists. When I wrote my story "Urgent Message," in-flight wifi was only just taking off, so to speak. It involved a couple, one in the air and one on the ground, sending some very dirty messages. One of my all-time favorite erotica stories is "Wing Walker" by Cheyenne Blue, which took this theme and totally twisted it in one of the hottest ways possible. This edition also has a foreword called "Sex in Space" by Alison Tyler!
Here's a recent review from Library Journal:
Introduction: Joining the Mile High Club
34B by Bill Kte’pi
Instrument Flight Rules by Zach Lindley
A Brief Respite by Desiree
Get On, Get Off by Jeremy Edwards
The Scream Queen by Sommer Marsden
Wild Child by Matt Conklin
Bermuda Triangle by Vanessa Vaughn
Top Banana by Craig J. Sorensen
Nasty Little Habit by Donna George Storey
Urgent Message by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Obedient by Teresa Noelle Roberts
Aisle Seat by Stan Kent
Game in the Sky by Elizabeth Coldwell
When Your Girlfriend Wears a Very Short Skirt by Thomas S. Roche
Planes, Trains and Banana-Seat Bicycles by Alison Tyler
Flights of Fancy by Geneva King
The Girl Most Likely by Kristina Wright
Bert and Betty by Ryan Field
Wing Walker by Cheyenne Blue
Introduction: Joining the Mile High Club
The Mile High Club is, for many, the stuff of legend, but I’m here to tell you that where there’s a will, there’s a way. Flying can bring out so many of our insecurities, fears, and frustrations, that it’s natural we’d want to find a way to relieve all that tension by getting it on. Indeed, several of the stories here deal with sex as a way to conquer a fear of flying.
Just as I was completing this volume, I got a call from a friend who told me that on the way back from a family vacation, he got it on with a woman he ran into on the plane whom he’d known, but never slept with. They managed to have full-on intercourse (and much more) as the rest of the passengers slept–or so they thought! They found out later that they’d been true exhibitionists, seen by horny voyeurs.
In these stories, characters are often surprised to find themselves engaging in such risqué behavior midflight. The surprise and naughtiness make what’s happening even hotter. For others, it’s been carefully orchestrated, such as the woman meeting her online pen pal in “34B” or the one putting her arsenal of sex toys to good use in “Obedient.”
Other scenarios are more fanciful, and, unless you’re really lucky, are probably not going to happen to you. Part of the thrill of even thinking about the mile high club is that in such close quarters, someone’s bound to notice the movements, noises, and sensations of sex happening near him or her. Voyeurism and exhibitionism are part and parcel of sex on a plane, even if you never officially get caught.
I’m sure you are probably picturing getting it on in a tiny airplane bathroom, and yes, that happens here. But there’s more than one way to join the Mile High Club, as the “Wild Child” in the story by Matt Conklin learns when her kinky new friend asks for some extra ice. And in “Bermuda Triangle,” we’re introduced to a threesome that takes edge play to new heights, as a man is blindfolded and instructed to fly, his fear upping the ante for the novel sexual encounter about to take place.
While this isn’t a how-to manual, I’m sure you can pick up a few tips on the fine art of blanket placement and in-flight discretion from these talented writers. Alas, during the numerous flights I’ve taken in the last year, nothing so risqué has happened to me, but that hasn’t stopped me from fantasizing about what might be going on a few rows over, or wondering, as I stand in the security line, who might try to pick me up. I love that Wi-Fi is the wave of the flying future, as I write about in my story “Urgent Message,” and I’m looking forward to much in-the-air flirting.
Whether you’re a member of the Mile High Club or just want to be, I hope these stories take you on some exciting trips, and that your next plane ride is just as eventful! Please feel free to share your story or keep up with what’s new in plane sex at my blog at http://flyinghighbook.tumblr.com/.
Rachel Kramer Bussel
New York City
Purchase Flying High from:
Here's a recent review from Library Journal:
Yet another anthology from the ever-titillating Cleis Press that is “quick” by its very nature, this collection of smutty stories centers on joining the infamous “Mile High Club.” These high-flying sexual adventures give new meaning to the phrase friendly skies, with contributions from talented erotica authors across the board (e.g., Desiree, Matt Conklin, Bussel, Elizabeth Coldwell, Alison Tyler, and Cheyenne Blue). Cleis’s compilations are always a great blend of humor, sass, and smut, and this one doesn’t fail to deliver. The only critique one could have would be lack of diversity. A majority of these shorts comprise heterosexual couples, engaging in fairly uniform sexcapades such as covert airplane bathroom rendezvous and raunchy romps under the safety of airline blankets. To be fair, this may be part and parcel of the limited capacity of aircrafts themselves; perhaps there isn’t much space, creatively and literally, to expand beyond the conventional notion of “airplane quickies.” A few intrepid authors do make the attempt, however; one piece sings the praises of newly developed airline Wi-Fi to engage in high-altitude cybersex, while another depicts a thrilling encounter that doesn’t occur inside the plane at all but on its wing.And the official blurb:
Verdict Overall, an entertaining collection for those seeking some spicy short stories, or even those looking for some pointers. Recommended for fans of Cleis titles and other erotic anthologies.
All aboard for a round-trip ticket to a really good time! Award-winning editor Rachel Kramer Bussel takes you under her wing with a full exploration of in-flight fantasies in Flying High. This gleeful guide to getting it on at 30,000 feet, complete with plenty of ideas for membership into the Mile High Club, presents scintillating stories of one-flight-stand seductions by solo strangers, flirty flight attendants, cocky captains and passionate passengers.Foreword: Sex in Space by Alison Tyler
Vanessa Vaughn’s edgy “Bermuda Triangle” follows a dominating female flight instructor and the two male students who do everything she says. “Wing Walker,” by Cheyenne Blue, takes the idea of in-flight sex to a new level, when an amorous couple gets busy on the top wing of a biplane. Thomas S. Roche’s “When Your Girlfriend Wears a Very Short Skirt” teases readers with a well-placed blanket and love in the lav. Flying High is sure to make anyone a frequent flyer!
Introduction: Joining the Mile High Club
34B by Bill Kte’pi
Instrument Flight Rules by Zach Lindley
A Brief Respite by Desiree
Get On, Get Off by Jeremy Edwards
The Scream Queen by Sommer Marsden
Wild Child by Matt Conklin
Bermuda Triangle by Vanessa Vaughn
Top Banana by Craig J. Sorensen
Nasty Little Habit by Donna George Storey
Urgent Message by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Obedient by Teresa Noelle Roberts
Aisle Seat by Stan Kent
Game in the Sky by Elizabeth Coldwell
When Your Girlfriend Wears a Very Short Skirt by Thomas S. Roche
Planes, Trains and Banana-Seat Bicycles by Alison Tyler
Flights of Fancy by Geneva King
The Girl Most Likely by Kristina Wright
Bert and Betty by Ryan Field
Wing Walker by Cheyenne Blue
Introduction: Joining the Mile High Club
The Mile High Club is, for many, the stuff of legend, but I’m here to tell you that where there’s a will, there’s a way. Flying can bring out so many of our insecurities, fears, and frustrations, that it’s natural we’d want to find a way to relieve all that tension by getting it on. Indeed, several of the stories here deal with sex as a way to conquer a fear of flying.
Just as I was completing this volume, I got a call from a friend who told me that on the way back from a family vacation, he got it on with a woman he ran into on the plane whom he’d known, but never slept with. They managed to have full-on intercourse (and much more) as the rest of the passengers slept–or so they thought! They found out later that they’d been true exhibitionists, seen by horny voyeurs.
In these stories, characters are often surprised to find themselves engaging in such risqué behavior midflight. The surprise and naughtiness make what’s happening even hotter. For others, it’s been carefully orchestrated, such as the woman meeting her online pen pal in “34B” or the one putting her arsenal of sex toys to good use in “Obedient.”
Other scenarios are more fanciful, and, unless you’re really lucky, are probably not going to happen to you. Part of the thrill of even thinking about the mile high club is that in such close quarters, someone’s bound to notice the movements, noises, and sensations of sex happening near him or her. Voyeurism and exhibitionism are part and parcel of sex on a plane, even if you never officially get caught.
I’m sure you are probably picturing getting it on in a tiny airplane bathroom, and yes, that happens here. But there’s more than one way to join the Mile High Club, as the “Wild Child” in the story by Matt Conklin learns when her kinky new friend asks for some extra ice. And in “Bermuda Triangle,” we’re introduced to a threesome that takes edge play to new heights, as a man is blindfolded and instructed to fly, his fear upping the ante for the novel sexual encounter about to take place.
While this isn’t a how-to manual, I’m sure you can pick up a few tips on the fine art of blanket placement and in-flight discretion from these talented writers. Alas, during the numerous flights I’ve taken in the last year, nothing so risqué has happened to me, but that hasn’t stopped me from fantasizing about what might be going on a few rows over, or wondering, as I stand in the security line, who might try to pick me up. I love that Wi-Fi is the wave of the flying future, as I write about in my story “Urgent Message,” and I’m looking forward to much in-the-air flirting.
Whether you’re a member of the Mile High Club or just want to be, I hope these stories take you on some exciting trips, and that your next plane ride is just as eventful! Please feel free to share your story or keep up with what’s new in plane sex at my blog at http://flyinghighbook.tumblr.com/.
Rachel Kramer Bussel
New York City
Purchase Flying High from:
March 7, 2014
69 sexy flash fiction stories for your listening pleasure with Rose Caraway's narration of Gotta Have It
I'm absolutely thrilled that
Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex
has spent a year on the Audible audiobook bestseller list for erotica and sexuality, doing so well that the audiobok version has been outselling the print and ebook editions. This tells me that there are lots of listeners eager for hot erotica in bite size form, which is great because very soon you'll be able to listen to Rose narrate ! She's been kind enough to record free versions of several of the stories already, and is offering a whole new round if you check out her podcast The Kiss Me Quicks, where she also let me gush about what Gotta Have It means to me. And for you Audible.com customers who are willing to post a review of the audiobook within a month, I've got a special deal for the first 10 of you to respond: email me at gottahaveitbook at gmail.com with "Audible" in the subject line and in the body a link to your Audible.com profile (so I know you have an account with them) and email address to send the audiobook gift to (if it's different from the one you're emailing with) and I will send the first 10 people a free copy of Gotta Have It. I just ask that you post an honest review within one month of receiving the ebook. Thank you so much for making Gotta Have It the audibook such a success and getting me to start listening in the process!
Follow Rose @RoseCaraway on Twitter for more freebies and giveaways and her wonderful podcast and audiobook news.
And now for the latest free listen, "Veronica's Ass" by Matt Conklin.
Follow Rose @RoseCaraway on Twitter for more freebies and giveaways and her wonderful podcast and audiobook news.
And now for the latest free listen, "Veronica's Ass" by Matt Conklin.
March 5, 2014
My review of mystery City of Darkness and Light by Rhys Bowen
Rhys Bowen's early 20th century Molly Murphy (now Molly Sullivan) mystery series has become a favorite of mine, with its wonderful historical detail and intrepid sleuth. I got to review/preview the latest, set in 1905 Paris, City of Darkness and Light, for mystery site Criminal Element.
March 3, 2014
3 ebooks of spanking and BDSM erotica and erotic romance for only $1.99 on Kindle
For a limited time (sorry, I don't know how long, so I'd hope on the sale now) my books Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica, He's on Top: Erotic Stories of Male Dominance and Female Submission, and
Passion: Erotic Romance for Women
are on sale for only $1.99 on Kindle! More info about each is below, including the very first book trailer I ever made, for Spanked.
Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica
Watch the book trailer (yes, I get spanked in it, safely enough for YouTube):
He's on Top: Erotic Stories of Male Dominance and Female Submission
Passion: Erotic Romance for Women
Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica
Watch the book trailer (yes, I get spanked in it, safely enough for YouTube):
He's on Top: Erotic Stories of Male Dominance and Female Submission
Passion: Erotic Romance for Women
