The Remains of the Year

For me, 2010 was not a very good year. The calendar was full of funerals and dates for operations. Bad things happened to family members, friends, friends of friends. People were lost, most before their time. So I'll be relieved to chuck that 2010 calendar into the bin and open a new, optimistically blank, one. I think 2011 must be better.

There were good things in 2010, though. Here are a few of the many.

Three Short Stories That Caught My Eye

Of course, there are many more, but these are the ones that have stuck most firmly in my memory:

1. Red Shoes Redux by Nikki Magennis from Alison's Wonderland, edited by Alison Tyler, published by Harlequin Spice.

2. The Red Brassiere by EllaRegina from Sex In The City: Paris, edited by Maxim Jakubowski, published by Xcite.

3. Pleasure's Apprentice by Remittance Girl, available to read at remittancegirl.com

(Seems I have a red thing going on this year.)

Two Websites I Have Taken to My Heart

1. Erotica For All – everything an erotica fan could want or need to know, courtesy of the brilliant Lucy Felthouse.

2. Madame Guillotine – because who the hell doesn't love Victorian prostitutes, great empresses of Hapsburg and Bourbon Europe, alleyways and gin?

One To Watch for 2011

One writer who has impressed me this year with her scope and versatility is Lana Fox. She looks at the subjects of sex and sexuality in a grown-up, joined-up way, writing commentary as well as beautifully considered erotica. I will be very interested to see where 2011 takes her.

Of course, there were lots and lots of other things. Wonderful anthologies; tip-top new novels from Charlotte Stein, K D Grace, Madelynne Ellis, Jeremy Edwards and many more; promising new voices breaking through the barriers all over the place.

In 2011 I know there is a lot to look forward to. So that's where I'm going to look now. Forward.