Rachel Kramer Bussel's Blog, page 9
January 1, 2019
My Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed on smartphone addiction
My first byline of 2019 is my smartphone addiction op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer. If you're local, it should also be in print today or tomorrow (I have to see if it's available where I live in New Jersey or I'll get a Philly friend to get me a copy).
I'm proud to have a new publication to add to my credits as 2018 was a slow year with a lot of rejections (including one from this same paper, which I didn't hear back from when I submitted one in June on Seth Grossman). However, that one was to a generic address. This one was to a specific editor. I follow Sonia Weiser on Twitter and subscribe to her excellent editor pitch list newsletter, which is well worth the suggested $3/month and how I got this piece published. Sonia collects Tweets from editors about what they're looking for from writers. Happy writing (and less smartphone obsessing) in 2019!
I'm proud to have a new publication to add to my credits as 2018 was a slow year with a lot of rejections (including one from this same paper, which I didn't hear back from when I submitted one in June on Seth Grossman). However, that one was to a generic address. This one was to a specific editor. I follow Sonia Weiser on Twitter and subscribe to her excellent editor pitch list newsletter, which is well worth the suggested $3/month and how I got this piece published. Sonia collects Tweets from editors about what they're looking for from writers. Happy writing (and less smartphone obsessing) in 2019!
December 23, 2018
SALE ALERT: Best Women's Erotica of the Year 3 is only $1.99 this week!
Good news for sexy last-minute holiday shopping or treating yourself this week: Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 3 is only $1.99 for U.S. ebook retailers Kindle, Nook, Google Play, iBooks and Kobo now through Sunday, December 30! If you missed it or want to give a sexy gift, now is the perfect time. To get notified when my books are on sale, which happens several times a year, follow me on BookBub.
Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 3 delivers the kind of sexy stories you want most: daring, bold, and surprising tales of women who pursue their boundless passions anywhere and everywhere. Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel, winner of multiple Independent Publishing Book Awards, these scintillating scenarios turn the tables on how women are "supposed" to behave. Instead, these uninhibited vixens indulge in their favorite fetishes, do deliciously intimate "Body Shots," and get tied up with "Red Satin Ribbons." They pose nude, dress up, and roleplay, always obeying their most exhilarating impulses. These lusty ladies take your most cherished, private fantasies—from making a sex tape, to taking part in a thrilling threesome, to having a stud delivered to your door hot and ready—and make them come alive. Written by beloved authors Abigail Barnette, Annabel Joseph, and Charlotte Stein along with several genre newcomers, these are erotic encounters you'll want to savor again and again and again...
December 19, 2018
Bookstores' Most Wanted Books for 2019
For Forbes.com, I wrote about the 10 books that independent bookstores are most excited about for 2019. They include new work by Margaret Atwood (the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, Marlon James, Pam Houston, Helen Oyeyemi and debuts by Dana Czapnik and Stephanie Land, among other books. Obviously, I didn't have time or room to survey all indie bookstores but I tried for a good cross section of ones across the U.S.
December 14, 2018
My Playboy article on why men read erotica
You might be thinking, Of course I know why men read erotica. Well, my debut Playboy article is about why men read erotica, what they get out of it, how reading erotica is different from watching porn and what they learn from the genre. I interviewed Ernest Greene, author of The Master of O, about men's reactions to his very kinky book, and three male erotica readers.
Due to space considerations, I couldn't get into every nuance and this is geared toward heterosexual male erotica readers (though I'd love to read about gay male erotica readers if anyone writes that article), but I'm very happy to have broken into such an iconic publication and to add to the conversation.
Also, never give up: I pitched this in February to another publication. Filed in May. In August, I found out I was getting a kill fee. I brainstormed where to send it, finally decided on Playboy. Pitched in early November, and just under a month later, it was published.
Due to space considerations, I couldn't get into every nuance and this is geared toward heterosexual male erotica readers (though I'd love to read about gay male erotica readers if anyone writes that article), but I'm very happy to have broken into such an iconic publication and to add to the conversation.
Also, never give up: I pitched this in February to another publication. Filed in May. In August, I found out I was getting a kill fee. I brainstormed where to send it, finally decided on Playboy. Pitched in early November, and just under a month later, it was published.
December 11, 2018
Help me end school lunch debt in Cranston, Rhode Island
I just started a GoFundMe campaign to end school lunch debt in Cranston, Rhode Island.
What does this mean? I read an article saying that for children who go to the Cranston School District public schools whose families can't afford to pay for their lunch, the district is going to send a collection agency after these families starting January 2, 2019. This is shameful. I want to help pay off as much of the $45,859 as possible. If you'll join me in donating even a small sum such as $1 or $5 and/or spreading the word, it would help these families a lot. All of the funds collected will go directly to the school district, even if it's less than the full amount I'm asking for. You can donate under your name or anonymously.
I'm in the process of making a Cranston School District staff member the recipient so the funds will go directly toward them. I will not be withdrawing any funds myself but I was advised to set it up now to raise as much as possible this month. If you'd like to learn more about fighting lunch debt, I urge you to visit LunchDebt.org. Thank you for getting into the holiday spirit and helping these families!
What does this mean? I read an article saying that for children who go to the Cranston School District public schools whose families can't afford to pay for their lunch, the district is going to send a collection agency after these families starting January 2, 2019. This is shameful. I want to help pay off as much of the $45,859 as possible. If you'll join me in donating even a small sum such as $1 or $5 and/or spreading the word, it would help these families a lot. All of the funds collected will go directly to the school district, even if it's less than the full amount I'm asking for. You can donate under your name or anonymously.
I'm in the process of making a Cranston School District staff member the recipient so the funds will go directly toward them. I will not be withdrawing any funds myself but I was advised to set it up now to raise as much as possible this month. If you'd like to learn more about fighting lunch debt, I urge you to visit LunchDebt.org. Thank you for getting into the holiday spirit and helping these families!
December 7, 2018
Sexy book trailer for Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 4
We are just a few days away from the December 11 release of my new anthology
Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 4
! I'm so excited for these 20 brand new stories to be out in the world. If you've enjoyed the novels of Alyssa Cole, Alessandra Torre (who has a new novel out today), Megan Hart, Suleikha Snyder, Tamara Lush, Sofia Quintero, I'm pretty sure you'll love their stories in this volume.
I'm even more excited that my publisher, Cleis Press, made a book trailer for this collection. I've made book trailers before ( Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica was the first and has a special place in my heart), and acted in them, but this one is the first that someone else made for me. I feel special. It seems fitting because this is a special, super hot anthology.
Want to help the book succeed? Add it to your Amazon wishlist and put it on your Goodreads want to read list. You can also follow us @bestwomenserotica on Instagram and on Twitter and Facebook for updates and giveaways. Speaking of giveaways, Monday, December 10 is your last chance to win one of TEN AUTOGRAPHED COPIES over at Goodreads! (U.S. only) And here's all the buy links to get your own copy!
Also below: a snippet from our wonderful starred Library Journal review. Early readers are loving the hotness here and I hope you will too. And stay tuned for the audiobook later this month narrated by Rose Caraway! Want free adult erotic stories on audio? Click here for ones from the first three volumes read by Rose.
From our starred Library Journal review. Once the full review is online, I'll share it here.
I'm even more excited that my publisher, Cleis Press, made a book trailer for this collection. I've made book trailers before ( Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica was the first and has a special place in my heart), and acted in them, but this one is the first that someone else made for me. I feel special. It seems fitting because this is a special, super hot anthology.
Want to help the book succeed? Add it to your Amazon wishlist and put it on your Goodreads want to read list. You can also follow us @bestwomenserotica on Instagram and on Twitter and Facebook for updates and giveaways. Speaking of giveaways, Monday, December 10 is your last chance to win one of TEN AUTOGRAPHED COPIES over at Goodreads! (U.S. only) And here's all the buy links to get your own copy!
Also below: a snippet from our wonderful starred Library Journal review. Early readers are loving the hotness here and I hope you will too. And stay tuned for the audiobook later this month narrated by Rose Caraway! Want free adult erotic stories on audio? Click here for ones from the first three volumes read by Rose.
From our starred Library Journal review. Once the full review is online, I'll share it here.
The entries range from tenderly seductive—Alyssa Cole’s sf human/android tale “Essential Qualities” proves a true standout in this regard—to playfully raunchy, with everything in between. This anthology’s inclusion of diverse characters in terms of age, race, kinks, and ability is refreshing and much-needed in erotica; each writer finds a way to adhere to the collection’s theme while blissfully breaking the mold. VERDICT An exceptional volume of quality quickies; highly recommended.
December 3, 2018
The Great Big Romance Read is reading Pride by Ibi Zoboi in December
For Forbes online, I wrote about The Great Big Romance Read, a month-long worldwide event in December where in-person and online book groups are meeting to discuss Pride by Ibi Zoboi, a Pride and Prejudice remix (it even says so on the cover). You can even join yourself. Book groups are happening at events such as bookstores and libraries and elsewhere, and online book discussion groups, podcasts and YouTube channels are participating, which is one of the things that drew my attention.
The event was organized by romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice and you can learn more in my article. I happened to buy a copy for a teenage cousin of mine before I'd heard about The Great Big Romance Read and since I won't be seeing her until January, I'm hoping to read it myself this month, although sadly, with all my writing about books and some other new assignments, I haven't had as much time to read. I'm hoping I'll have some more time this month.
The event was organized by romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice and you can learn more in my article. I happened to buy a copy for a teenage cousin of mine before I'd heard about The Great Big Romance Read and since I won't be seeing her until January, I'm hoping to read it myself this month, although sadly, with all my writing about books and some other new assignments, I haven't had as much time to read. I'm hoping I'll have some more time this month.
December 2, 2018
What happened with Nora Roberts and Tomi Adeyemi and their similar book titles
I've been busy over at Forbes.com and yesterday wrote about the Nora Roberts Tomi Adeyemi book title plagiarism accusation of Roberts' Of Blood and Bone and Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone. Get the scoop and then (or on Twitter) because there will be a followup article this week.
November 30, 2018
Me on how to get a book deal by using Instagram at Forbes.com
I hope you'll check out my latest article at Forbes.com on "How to get a book deal from your Instagram account". I interviewed Stupid Fit Couple, Emma Lee of Hidden Heartbreak (and author of the book of the same name), publishers Andrews McMeel and Knock Knock and two literary agents to give you the scoop on what it takes to go Instagram to book.
It's the first of several articles exploring book deals and social media (including podcasts), so follow me at Forbes.com so you don't miss anything. I'm aiming to cover multiple service articles like this so if there are things you want to know about book publishing, let me know and I'll try to explore them. Email me at rachelkb at gmail dot com with "Forbes" in the subject line. I obviously can't cover everything but am always open to topic suggestions (though individual titles are less useful unless they're part of a trend or current events/publishing news).
It's the first of several articles exploring book deals and social media (including podcasts), so follow me at Forbes.com so you don't miss anything. I'm aiming to cover multiple service articles like this so if there are things you want to know about book publishing, let me know and I'll try to explore them. Email me at rachelkb at gmail dot com with "Forbes" in the subject line. I obviously can't cover everything but am always open to topic suggestions (though individual titles are less useful unless they're part of a trend or current events/publishing news).
November 24, 2018
New Forbes.com on what happens to authors when their publisher closes
For Forbes.com I interviewed four authors who've been through publisher closings, Kellye Garrett, Mollie Cox Bryan, Bonnie Vanak and Alexa J. Day (or a publisher not taking new submissions or publishing new titles, in the case of Midnight Ink). If you've been through this or know someone who has, I hope it's helpful. As always, if it's useful, please share it, and bookmark my Forbes.com profile for multiple articles per month. A few in the works are about how to get book deals and there's lots more coming in December and the new year. If you're an editor, publisher, publicist or literary agent with suggestions on book publishing trends or news, especially anything pegged to holidays, current events, celebrities, etc., please get in touch by emailing rachelkb at gmail dot com with "Forbes.com" in the subject line.
