Drop on over to Farrah J. Phoenix’s blog for her Sexy Voice Competition: see the entries here. Yes, I entered with my short story “Reunion” which is slated to appear in the Bunnie podcast once they get back online. Have fun and enjoy all the sexy stories read aloud.
My short story “Park Larks” — set in the secret garden in Regent’s Park — appears in the latest issue of Bunnie, the glossy erotic magazine from Red Rabbit Books. This issue is available as a FREE e-magazine. It’s got the same great stories and gorgeous photography, including a wide variety of beautiful scenes capturing the theme of The Great Outdoors For those of you who came to the Bunnie reading at Waterstone’s Nottinghill back in June, this is the story I read the first half of that night (such a tease!).
It was a crazy and fun-filled Albacon this year. Of course one of the most fun parts was having a chance to catch up with the wonderful Liz Hand. Fortunately, I’ll see her the end of the month, too, at the Poe conference at UMass Amherst (no, I don’t have many details to give — one of the things we both hoped the other knew more about. Well, surprises can be nice, too). She read from her forthcoming story “The Maiden Voyage of Macauley’s Bellerephon” which held the audience enraptured. I can’t wait to read the whole thing.
Things kicked off Thursday night with a new event. Jackie Kessler hosted an editors and agent panel. It was informative and well-attended despite not being part of the “traditional” con. New and experienced writers found a lot of information and had questions a-plenty. Afterward, Debi Chowdhury and I hosted a tarot card reader party (thanks so much Donna for coming to read!). It was a lot of fun and we met lots of people.
Friday was also a new event: the writers conference. Brainstormed by Debi and coordinated and scheduled by the indefatigable Susan Hanniford Crowley, it featured all kinds of panels and workshops like Toni Andrews’ “Five Fixes” for your manuscript, the fabulous Stella Price‘s “Promotion for the Author on a Budget” and Jackie Kessler’s “How to Write a Query Letter” — all of which went over very well with the eager writers and writers-to-be. I was on panels about Urban Fantasy and Using Mythology. There was a big signing at 3 o’clock, but that’s when I had to run off to give my paper across town on Beowulf: Prince of Geats at the 24th International Conference on Medievalism over at Siena College.
I got back in time for dinner and then the ice cream social. Stayed up way too late yakking and having fun, meeting for the first time fellow Ravenous writer Debra Hyde, whom I’d only known on-line. Saturday was a jam-packed day of panels and readings. Fortunately I was only on one panel, so I didn’t have to be too bubbly after the craziness of the day before. It was perhaps not the thing to do for con com members to do, but some of us skipped the banquet and went to Plum Blossom for dinner and it was worth it. Debra and Debi and Susan and I hosted an erotic reading in Debi’s room that night which went on ’til quite late and everyone seemed to have a terrific time. Debra brought fabulous gift bags to help promote the Ravenous writers, so I’m sure we’ll be remembered fondly!
Sunday everyone was dragging a little bit, but there was a good showing for the panel appreciating Charles Brown. Liz, David Hartwell, Brett Cox and Ron Drummond reminisced about their own memories of Brown while explaining his importance to the field of speculative fiction as a whole, not just as editor of Locus, but as a cheerleader for the genres. Even after all the panels were done, we couldn’t all drag ourselves away, so Ruth and Debi and I went out for sushi at Sushi Tei. Yum!
See you there!
The Hot Summer reading at East Line Books went gloriously well. There was great food and wonderful desserts, trivia and much fun. The women who came were all delightful, as was our hostess Robyn and her daughter Lily. There was a nice variety of readers, both personal essays and some hot romance. One woman read both an essay about on-line dating and an excerpt from her first romance novel which has sparked interest from Harlequin. Another read an hilarious essay about buying condoms for her son’s study abroad trip. I got to meet local writer Jackie Kessler, who read from one of her steamy Hell on Earth titles, Hell’s Belles.
My pal Jenise snapped this photo of me holding up the cover art for Chastity Flame. The problem with e-books is that you don’t have anything tangible to sell, so I thought I should have some kind of visual aid, so I stopped by the office supply store and had them print the cover on some nice card stock and then laminate it. Voilà! The gals in the copy center gave enthusiastic thumbs up on the cover art, too.
I read the beginning of “Love on a Spoon” explaining that I had been inspired to choose that story because my free Nutella mugs had just arrived. I stopped just when things were getting naughty because Robyn had thought it best to keep things PG. The audience wanted more, so I read a little from the beginning of Chas, apologizing because I forgot about the little (non-PG!) encounter she recalls at the start, but no one seemed to be the least bit bothered (just the opposite, in fact). It was great fun and I got lots of compliments.
I’m off to Pi-Con tomorrow with my alter ego. See you there, folks.
Tonight at the fabulous East Line Books. I’ll be reading a little from CHASTITY FLAME:
East Line Books will sponsor a Hot Summer Night of Romance Readings, Scrumptious Snacks, Games, Prizes, Laughter, and the most amazing array of Romance Novels you could ever imagine!!!
Wednesday August 19th
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Cost: No cover charge if you spend $5 on books!
Note: Comedian Steve Smoller will open the night with ten minutes of stand-up comedy exploring romance–Don’t miss it!
RSVP 371-4151 or email Robyn Ringler at RLDSR12@aol.com
Don’t forget (if you’re in the Capital Region) to drop by the fabulous East Line Books tomorrow night:
East Line Books will sponsor a Hot Summer Night of Romance Readings, Scrumptious Snacks, Games, Prizes, Laughter, and the most amazing array of Romance Novels you could ever imagine!!!
Wednesday August 19th
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Cost: No cover charge if you spend $5 on books!
Note: Comedian Steve Smoller will open the night with ten minutes of stand-up comedy exploring romance–Don’t miss it!
RSVP 371-4151 or email Robyn Ringler at RLDSR12@aol.com
I will be reading at East Line Books later this month in Clifton Park, NY. What shall I read?
