Blogs

For some time now I’ve been meaning to blog about my fondness for Swingtown, a TV show that had an all-too-brief run last summer; it was not surprisingly canceled by CBS due to low ratings (its timeslot on a weekend night couldn’t have helped in that respect) and modern-day petitioning Vice Squads who got their bowels in an uproar. The show may be history, but the characters live on in my head.

Six months ago I bought the 13-episode series on DVD with my Hanukkah gelt (thanks, Grandma!), and I find it oddly comforting to watch a random episode when my own life feels overly complicated, which is much of the time. Not that Swingtown simplifies anything; I just love how the complexities of families and relationships are dealt with so honestly. The series takes place during the summer of 1976, a year I remember just well enough so that I can recognize how spot-on the fashions and set designs are, in a well-to-do suburb of Chicago (I grew up in a similar environment outside New York City). Yet when you discount the feathered hairdos, tight bell-bottom pants, prevalence of orange and earth tones, milk delivered to the door in bottles, Quaaludes, and disco music, the issues raised in Swingtown are far from dated. Interestingly,the children (which includes Mike Kelley, creator of the series) of these disco-era “swingers” are now about the age their Silent Generation parents were during the 1970s, when so many of them opened their marriages or decided that sexual experimentation was not their cup of tea; got divorced or stayed together. Adults of that decade in the U.S., whether they were attracted to or repulsed by that hedonistic, pre-AIDS era, could not ignore it; part of the brilliance of Swingtown was how it showed one ’70s summer through the eyes three very different couples, plus four teenage children, and how it affected all of them in unique ways.

To our loyal readers, thanks for waiting. We are making headway through the sexy slush pile, searching for gems. This takes a lot of work.
 
And boots.
 
This week, however, we have two new stories for you--"Rites of Spring, Chapter 1," and very soon (tomorrow?) "Lightworker and the Shadow." These stories really help us to *ahem* flesh out our catalog--futuristic, ultra-sexual runners in one tale, and a gay superhero in the other.
 
I love it all.
 
Please let your writing friends know about our open call for submissions. Have a great weekend!

On Saturday night I saw The Girlfriend Experience, Steven "Sex, Lies & Videotape" Soderbergh's latest. It is currently playing in only three movie houses in Manhattan; fortunately, it's also on HBO On Demand. Unfortunately, that is the most positive thing I can say about this film--my friend and I did not have to shell out $12 apiece to see it. The other bright spot: my friend Kenny Blunt (who is partly responsible for the Chemistry parties that I've blogged about here) has a small role in this movie in which he plays, well, himself, except the real-life Kenny would never hire an escort to be his "girlfriend"--especially one as low-affect and boring as the one portrayed by Sasha Grey. Kenny manages more animation and rapport with the camera in his two minutes of onscreen time than the star of the movie. Sasha Grey may be the hottest thing since sunburn right now, but I cannot for the life of me understand why. Traci Lords made a far more convincing, if controversial and cartoonish, transition from porno to mainstream.

 

I'll start with the obvious: working at a wild soiree like Chemistry is a far different beast than attending such a party as a guest whose only responsibility is to channel your inner rock star. Yet being responsible for people's personal belongings compelled me to have a different kind of good time.

At the April Chemistry party, I did astrology readings for guests; I've also attended a similar local party as hired writer. So I am certainly no stranger to being "entertainment," both in the live sense and later on via my written impressions of the evening. A coat-check girl, however, is only entertainment to the extent that she is entertaining. I was far more concerned with being another "e" word--efficient. Fortunately, even though Mercury is still Retrograde, I managed to pull that off reasonably well. Even though it was the middle of May, the cool, rainy weather meant having to keep track of several identical-looking umbrellas in addition to jackets, pocketbooks, tote bags, and, as the evening progressed, various pieces of clothing.

The theme of the night was "Prom-iscuous," and many of the guests dressed up in Prom-like finery. I have a feeling that some "ironic" interpretations were meant with more than a grain of sincerity, and vice versa. One too-perfect couple was even chosen (by Applause-O-Meter) to be King and Queen.

Today we interview Mia Martina, author of "Nurse's Needle." Her story is unnerving and passionate, thrilling and voyeuristic. Have a peek here: https://www.paper-bag-press.com/ebook/nurses-needle

Erotica is a sort of art form. What do you enjoy about writing and reading it?

I like to write about people’s motives, especially in terms of sexuality. I happened into writing erotica by documenting my experiences of going to sex parties when I was single and had a huge appetite for indulging in exhibitionism and sexual expression. I have come to enjoy writing titillating stories and am currently expanding my skills as a writer by writing from different points of view.

I do enjoy reading erotica, especially before going to bed. After reading a steamy story with a good build up, I have delicious dreams.

What other kinds of writing do you do regularly?

Mostly journaling and mind mapping. I am thinking about participating in the National Novel Writing Month in November. I have always thought that writing a novel was out of my reach, but after reading Chris Baty’s book NoPlot? No Problem I am willing to take a crack at it. I’m not sure if this attempt at writing a novel will be an erotica piece or not. I will let the NaNoWriMo process guide me.

What do you like or dislike about ebooks? It seems that they are getting more attention these days.

I have mixed feeling about ebooks. I don’t like being attached to electronic devices. And printing out ebooks seems wasteful and not so pretty to display on a bookshelf. However, I do like that ebooks are eco-friendly, inexpensive, and easily accessible. For me, there is still a lot of romance in a bound book, even if the book is from the library. I am also a big fan of podcasts and audiobooks. My iPod is an electronic device I am completely attached to and I relish in my time listening to good stories.

Erotic Short Story Contest--Win a Publishing Contract!

Have you always wanted to be published? Maybe you write erotica to entice your lover, or simply to entertain yourself. Your writing group said you were good. If so, now is the time to submit it.

Hysteria (www.hysteriashop.com), Denver's upscale, female-friendly sex shop is pairing up with the newest online bookshop for erotic short stories, Paper Bag Press (www.paper-bag-press.com). We both love great erotica, and we love sex toys. We also love supporting local business.  To celebrate this fertile, creative time of year, we are hosting a contest for all potential authors in Colorado! This is how you enter:
 
Write your hottest, sexiest erotic short story, mentioning your favorite sex shop, Hysteria. Go over it with a fine-toothed comb: edit, edit, and edit some more. When it's perfect, send it as an email attachment to:

amy@paper-bag-press.com 

with the subject line:  Hysteria Erotic Short Story Contest.  Make sure your story is in .doc or .rtf format, and includes your name, email address, and phone number. Stories should be 2,000 to 10,000 words. We are looking for highly explicit stories that pay particular attention to the woman's pleasure and orgasm, and remember to feature the shop in some way.

For the past few Fridays, I've wanted to check out this Floating Kabarette at Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO, but something or other always got in the way despite its price being right ($0.00). Last night, however, apropos of May Day and Beltane, it all worked out beautifully and sexily, despite--or perhaps helped by--the rainy, swimming-pool humid weather that encouraged more people unwinding from a long week to stay home. I recruited two very dear, twisted friends who I knew would appreciate what promised to be an evening of salacious entertainment.

I always dig walking around in DUMBO. It's very easy to get lost on the winding cobblestone streets, but you can always get a whiff of sea air and stumble across a warehouse turned into a gallery, an upscale home-furnishing store, a bar, or a restaurant. I'm not sure what housed this space on Main Street before Galapagos moved down from its original digs in Williamsburg, where I read smutty fiction frequently, but several decades back it was most likely a warehouse. Inside there is two-level seating, very cozy and loungey with round tables and vinyl half-moon couches...and most impressive of all, the "floating" aspect of the main level: the reflecting pool bisected by a metal walkway.

We snagged a table right up front by the stage. The emcees of the Floating Kabarette were a hilarious duo named Olga and Bjorn, who suggested some highly suggestive activities they wanted to perform with various performers and audience members, but it was done in a smiling, iron-curtain accented, faux naïf style that made them endearing instead of ickily predatory. Best of all was when they managed to make each other "jealous" by leaving each other out of their respective fantasies, then broke into a full-fledged dance performance.

May 1 is here! With every purchase today, you will receive a free copy of a new story, "Stuart and Mimi," by our newest published author, Brigid Night. It is already loaded on to each published story, so when you buy a story, you will be able to download both of them, automatically!

Happy Beltane! Happy Springtime!

What an incredible woman. If you are at a loss regarding how to honor her, I recommend watching this video, and laughing yourself silly.

 

*wipes tears*

 

Hilarious.

I read this interesting story today. It appears that Amazon purchased Stanza, the popular ebook reading application for the iPhone.  When a behemoth pays attention to ebooks, others will, too. The Kindle showed some interest, yes, but you can only purchase through Amazon on the Kindle. You can purchase from other places using Stanza.

I'm just very interested to see what will happen next.