Every day from now until December 25^th, Circlet Press will post a new FREE erotic story!

 

Though they are appearing in December, these stories are not holiday themed. (And thank God, because personally I find it extremely odd that so many publishers are producing Christmas-themed erotica anthologies. Seriously, now. Santa? Santa?! Not sexy.) 

These stories are also not just throw-away samples that didn't "make the cut". Many of these tales are from top erotica writers and excerpted from popular Circlet Press anthologies. This free Circlet collection will be very diverse, offering a little something for everyone-- including gay, lesbian, hetero, threesomes, genderqueer tales, and more. A new story will appear every morning at 1am, replacing the one from the previous day.

 

If you are not already familiar with Circlet Press, these freebies will be a great introduction. Circlet has produced some of the best scifi/fantasy erotica books available anywhere, and is run by Cecilia Tan, editor of one of my favorite vampire anthologies Women Of The Bite and author of the excellent erotic novel Mind Games. (My short story “In The Flask” was also published by Circlet Press in last year’s steampunk anthology Like A Wisp Of Steam.)

So, visit Circlet today. Whether you enjoy their free stories or purchase one of their many available ebooks, happy reading! After all, I think perusing some kinky erotica is the perfect relief from all that saccharine-sweet holiday cheer. Don't you?

        

HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE is getting great reviews so far. It received 4.5 out of 5 stars, and was chosen as a Night Owl Romance Top Pick! Take a look at the excellent write-up here.

        

National Writing Month begins tomorrow, and this year I have decided to participate!

If you are wondering what the heck National Novel Writing Month is, you can find out by visiting the website. In short, this is a personal challenge of writing 50,000 words in one month. The theory is that without a deadline looming, it is difficult--if not almost impossible--to get that novel you have always wanted to write down on paper. Committing to this will give you a clear goal and a clear deadline, and hopefully the extra push you need to start your first novel instead of forever putting it off until later.

Getting 50,000 words written in a simgle month is a crazy breakneck writing speed, but the hope is that the frenzied pace will allow creativity and spontanaity to come out that otherwise would have been suffocated with overplanning and procrastination. For me, at least, I can find it much too easy to outline again and again, forever putting off the day of actually putting fingers to keyboard and hammering out those first few chapters.

I have a very basic outline prepared for how my story will unfold, and pages of randomly jotted details and notations about different characters, but have not done any solid work on it yet. I have been thinking about starting this book for months, so by this point I can picture a lot of it clearly in my head already, but always the day of actually starting on it in earnest has been delayed and delayed. Basically, I keep getting distracted by short stories. Every time I think I am ready to buckle down and finally start a full length work, I seem to see several more anthologies I can't resist submitting to. Lately, I have also been considering editing an anthology of my own (which I admit would be very exciting). But from November 1st-30th this year, I am making a solemn vow to swear off the short story distractions and focus on a single project--my first novel.

I'm so excited about this new venture! A book of my own seems fun, but also daunting and intense. So wish me luck! I will try to keep you posted on my progress as the month goes along. I won't be blogging about the plot much 'till I'm finished. (But I'm sure to drop a lot of hints.)   ; )

Sign up and join me! Accept the challenge and start your novel tomorrow, November 1st! 

        

HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE, the world's first zombie romance anthology, has been released! The ebook is only $4.99 at RavenousRomance.com. Check it out today!

I am so excited about this collection! The anthology includes a lot of creative stories from very well-known writers, including New York Times bestselling authors John Skipp (writing as Gina McQueen) and Brian Keene, both of whom have won Bram Stoker Awards in the past for their zombie fiction. You can click here to read a complete list of authors and a tasty sample story.

The great thing about this collection is that it keeps you guessing from beginning to end. The zombie romance genre truly is entirely new, so from one page to the next one doesn't know quite what to expect. Some of the stories inside are funny, some action packed, some romantic, some downright sexy, but all are very very different which is refreshing to see.

My contribution to this collection is a tongue-in-cheek tale about Dan and Lucy, a zombie couple in the suburbs whose sex life is in a rut. They are making love like automatons, too exhausted from work and tiring commutes to do much more than paw at one another's lifeless flesh, until the day they decide to use their neighbors' bodies--and brains--to breathe a little life back into their marriage.

I hope that you enjoy reading this collection as much as we enjoyed putting it together. This was an exciting labor of love from the beginning. I hope that you find it entertaining in every way: funny, scary, sweet, sexy, and above all FUN! Download your copy today!

        

Sometimes in the world of erotica and sex anthologies, it seems as if everything that can be done has been done. Writers come across the same calls for submissions often. Topics like lesbian first time stories, themes of bondage and submission, vampire tales, and many others pop up time and time again. Don’t get me wrong. Many of these tried and true topics lead to excellent collections. Yet it is always refreshing to spot an anthology that is approaching things from an exciting new angle.

Two calls for submissions that recently caught my eye are Rachel Kramer Bussel’s Orgasmic anthology about the female orgasm (Cleis Press) and Candace Walsh and Laura Andre’s And Then It Shifted, an anthology of true essays about women leaving men for women (Seal Press).

The deadline for Orgasmic is coming up very very soon (November 1st), so you’d better get started today if you are interested. Better yet, this might be a great use for an erotic story that you have already written that was a little edgy and different. Because the theme is so wide open, this collection is sure to include an incredible range of juicy tales. She is looking for erotic stories between 1,500 and 5,000 words that involve a female orgasm in some way. Take a look at the editor’s detailed call for submissions here and be sure to follow all of her instructions. Also, sorry guys, but she is looking for stories from women only.
 
The other anthology And Then It Shifted is not an erotica collection but an anthology of essays by women talking frankly about their shifting sexuality. Submissions should be 2,000-4,000 words, and the deadline is December 1st. You can see their detailed call for submissions here at the book’s new website.

Both of these titles are being put together by excellent editors, and I can’t wait to read the finished products. Best of luck to all of you who plan to submit!

        

Great news! Lori Perkins just informed me that one of my stories has been selected for her Zombie Romance anthology! The anthology is called HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE, and will release on OCTOBER 29TH from publisher Ravenous Romance.

I am incredibly psyched about this collection! It is so great to see an anthology topic that is so refreshingly different. This topic is so different, in fact, that it leaves some onlookers a little shocked and confused when they first hear about it. Like a lot of people, your initial reaction may be something along the lines of "Zombie sex? Zombie sex? WTF?!!" But do not despair. I am here to assure you that this anthology is funny at times, seriously sexy at others, but always fun and surprisingly fresh!

The great thing about zombies is their endless variety. Like any other monster, zombies can be used as frightening antagonists, creating a reason for a sexy human hero and heroine to come together. (And trust me, there are plenty of incredible stories in this collection about humans fighting tirelessly to resist the zombie apocalypse) However, zombies can also be used as great metaphors for all of society's ills--everything from bad relationships to bad sex to consumerism, and more. (Just take a look at a few excellent zombie films like Night of The Living Dead, Dawn of The Dead, or Shaun of the Dead, to remind yourself just how complex and layered good zombie tales can be.)

My short story for this collection is titled "Some New Blood", and centers around the characters Dan and Lucy, your average zombie couple in the suburbs. As the story opens, their sex life is as dead as they are. They are making love like automatons, too exhausted from long days at work and tiring commutes to even think straight. Overall, things in their neighborhood seem a little dead. But Lucy has noticed that the new neighbors are different. The man next door is so gorgeous, she wants to eat him up. She can see what a great body he has--and judging by how much money he pulls in, she imagines he has a mind to match. She falls asleep at night thinking about that body . . . and those brains. In the end, a night with their neighbors and a taste of fresh flesh is just the thing to reanimate them and put a little life back into their marriage.

In addition to "Some New Blood", there are many excellent stories in this collection from top writers. So be sure to visit the Ravenous Romance website on OCTOBER 29TH to order your copy! Enjoy! 

 

        

After searching in vain for a sex-themed reading series in Dallas, I have finally decided to host my own. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to develop a vibrant community for erotica writers here. Cities like New York and LA offer many wonderful opportunities for authors to showcase their work--but so far Texas is falling sadly behind.

I decided to contact Rachel Kramer Bussel (the founder of the original In The Flesh, New York) for advice, and she graciously invited me to open a new branch of her famed reading series here! At this moment, I am still in the process of searching for a perfect venue and locating authors who are interested in reading. I am focusing on Dallas first, but have big plans for the future, and would love to organize readings in Austin at some point, as well.

I will post updates here and at my new blog InTheFleshTexas.blogspot.com as I nail down more of the specifics. My goal is to kick off the Dallas In the Flesh in Spring of 2010. Right now, I am trying to locate authors. If you might be interested in reading at In the Flesh in Dallas, please let me know by sending an email to InTheFleshTexas@yahoo.com. Be sure to visit the websites for In the Flesh New York and In the Flesh LA for more information about upcoming performances and reading opportunities in those cities. Thank you so much for your interest and support! I will keep you posted!

        

Great news! It's official! My short story "Pinup" will be part of Best Lesbian Erotica 2010, to be released in December 2009 from Cleis Press. You can preorder your copy today at Amazon.com.There are so many amazing writers appearing in this anthology (including one of my all-time favorites D.L. King!). Here is the final lineup:
 
Girona, 1960 ---  Stella Sandberg
In the Sauna --- Stella Watts Kelley
Jubilee --- Betty Blue
Sweet Tooth --- Sophia Valenti
Blood Ties --- Alex Tucci
He-She on the Train --- Maggie Veness
Lives of the Saints --- Holly Farris
Sexting: One Side of a Two-Way --- Kelsey Chauvin
The Rendezvous Series --- Colleen C. Dunphy
Amy's First Lesson --- Dani M.
Shameless --- Kymberlyn Reed and Anais Morten
Flick Chicks --- Allison Wonderland
The Purple Gloves --- Gala Fur
The Kitchen Light --- Nicole Wolfe
Uppercasing --- Charlie Anders
Pinup --- Vanessa Vaughn (That's me!)
Self-Reflection --- Tobi Hill-Meyer
Brush Strokes --- Elizabeth Cage
From the Halls of Montezuma --- R. G. Emanuelle
Tasting Chantal --- D. L. King
Ridden --- Natt Nightly
Thanksgiving --- Molly Bloom

Also, the intro to this year's collection was written by the band BETTY, best known for their appearances on The L Word. How cool is that?! (For any of you not familiar with their rockin' music, you can find a link to their website here.)

I have always been a rabid fan of this anthology series. Best Lesbian Erotica--whether compiled by Tristan Taormino or this year's fantastic editor Kathleen Warnock--has never been afraid to get down and dirty, always embracing lesbian sex in all its literary, creative, and explicit splendor. 

To this day, I can still clearly remember the first time I picked up one of these books. It was the end of winter break. I was rummaging through paperbacks in an airport bookstore, trying to find something to read on the plane ride back to college, and this series caught my eye. As you can imagine, the stories inside captured my imagination as I flew back that day. In fact, though I had known for years I was attracted to women as well as men, Best Lesbian Erotica whet my appetite for scenarios I'd never even considered before . . . and I've been addicted to erotica ever since. 

So, enjoy! I've made it my own tradition to snuggle up with the new Best Lesbian Erotica every Christmas holiday. I can't wait 'till it's time to cozy under the covers and crack open this year's collection!

        

Last Sunday, I showed up with several car loads of friends and my best feather boa for the Dallas Pride Parade at Turtle Creek, and had a wonderful time.

There were some fantastic entries in the parade this year, including the Turtle Creek Chorale and the fabulous costumes on the Club Rush float. But I have to hand it to the army of perfectly choreographed two-stepping cowboys. Guys, great job! You really did steal the show! I have to say, if you have a thing for cowboys (or girls!) Dallas has any pride parade in the country beat. There were lots of sexy gals in tight chaps wrangling their horses, and plenty of cowboys in ten-gallon hats dancing their asses off.

Anyone who has not been to the annual Dallas Pride Parade, be sure to mark your calendars for next year. It is a great way to support the Dallas GLBT community (even if you're straight).  After all, who could resist being outside on a sunny day with your dog at your feet, one hand wrapped around a cold beer, one arm wrapped around your honey, surrounded by happy people, listening to great local bands, and having loads of free stuff thrown your way? 

Sounds like heaven to me!

        

Three of my stories have been chosen for upcoming Cleis Press anthologies!

        

After three days of intense filming, I'm finally back! Wednesday wasn't so bad, but last Thursday and Friday I spent almost 10 hours each day shooting. It's difficult just being on your feet for that long--much less on the spot in front of a camera--but somehow I made it through, and all in all it was a great experience!

What surprised me most was how unprofessional a lot of the other reality show contestants were. (And I don't mean cattiness! Hell, I expected there to be a lot more bitchiness and diva-like attitude among the performers than there was. Things like that make great television.) No, what I'm talking about is just plain old reliability. A lot of the basics, like just showing up on time for shoots, some of the other girls seemed almost incapable of doing. If we were supposed to be on set at 8am, they would show up at 9. If we took an hour long break for lunch, they would drag it out to an hour and a half or maybe more. In short, I couldn't believe how blasé some of them were about the whole thing, as if they were picked out for television every day and this was no big deal for them. I'm telling you, if you are ever at a reality TV shoot or even just trying out for a reality show, one of the best things you can do to stand out is to just follow directions and make yourself available all the time so you get as much screen time as possible. Believe me, you don't just want the people in charge to notice you, but you want to be noticed for all the right reasons.

I don't know how you would feel in my position, but I am absolutely psyched about even the possibility of being on TV, and I am trying to do everything I can to make this happen. This project is being directed and headed by people who have put together independent films and other reality shows, so it has at least a real chance of being picked up by a network. Several actors and actresses playing the judges are also stars from other reality shows; so this is a serious undertaking by TV people who know their stuff, not a fly-by-night operation.

What we shot was a teaser reel--basically a sample of the show for network executives to watch. It will take about a month for the director and his assistants to edit the teaser (after all, we shot a lot of footage, and they also have several other projects active right now). Then, during the next few months, the producers will shop it around to different networks to see if anyone is willing to pick it up.

        

Great news! I got a callback for my Dallas-based reality show!

After trying out last week with tons of other girls, a small group has been selected. It is so exciting to see the process of putting a TV show together from the beginning!

The next step right now is shooting a teaser that the producers can shop around to different networks. They informed us on Saturday that we had been chosen and that we would need to be there at 6pm sharp on Wednesday evening for a shoot (and possibly all day Thursday and Friday, too). They asked us to bring along a family member, as well, so they could find out how our loved ones felt about all this. (They are probably trying to tell if anyone has an interesting family dynamic worth including on the show.)

I am not sure what exactly to expect during the shoot(s) this week. I know that on Wednesday evening we are going to mingle at a party in Highland Park (a very high-priced neighborhood in Dallas). We will probably sip cocktails for a few hours and chat and let the cameras catch some nice shots of us having fun and revealing a little about ourselves.

At this point in the development of the show, I can definitely tell that one of the things they are checking for is reliability. The producers scheduled these times with very little notice. Obviously, they are trying to see who is taking this project seriously and who is not. I'm sure it's rough for those with full time jobs to take this Thursday and Friday off right after Labor Day--and with only a few days warning--but that's just the way this works. We have to be committed enough to make time for their filming schedule, and I get that.

On Wednesday evening, they will let us know who they are going to use for the longer 8am-8pm shoots on Thursday and Friday. I am not sure what the later shoots will be like, but I assume it will involve meeting at our gym, since this is a show focusing on the unique workout classes there.

At this point, it's all about putting together a promising, interesting, and sexy teaser so the show will get picked up by a great network. The tryout stage of the process really wasn't that bad. Basically, my goal last week was to show up and communicate at least 2-3 things that were unique about myself. (For example, the fact that I am an erotic writer, or that I am obsessed with burlesque dance and fashion were all things the producers found memorable about my interview.) This is really my biggest advice for those trying out for a reality show. Some of the other girls failed because they gave the interviewer too many scattered stories and nothing to really latch onto. Instead, try to paint a picture of yourself with 2-3 outstanding characteristics, and you will be remembered. Are you a rabid comic book fan? A championship marathon runner? A professional video game competitor? A very serious medical school student? An aspiring country singer? Did you just loose 100 lbs? Break an obscure World Record? Recover from a terrible accident? Before you show up for a reality show tryout, you have to know exactly what is fascinating about you, or else you can't communicate that to anyone else. And, after all, that is the goal: to show them why you are interesting enough to be on TV.

Let's hope this week's shoot(s) go just as smoothly. I'm so thrilled! Tomorrow should be exciting, to say the least!

        

Those of you who read my blog often already know that I am willing to be quite the little media whore. I've decided I'll do anything for a little extra attention at the moment (after all, some minor fame never hurt anyone's writing career--so, I'm off to find some).

        

If you have ever wanted to learn more about building great buzz for your latest book release, then pick up a copy of this wonderful PR guide!

I discovered Dirty Little Secrets a few days ago while wandering my local book store. I opened it up, and before I knew it, 10, 15, even a full 20 minutes had passed and I was still standing there reading. The paperback is short. In fact, you can probably devour it in only a few hours. But is chocked full of surprisingly helpful information. The Dirty Little Secrets of Buzz: How To Attract Massive Attention For Your Business, Your Product, Or Yourself is the brainchild of PR expert David Seaman. If you are an author who is trying to draw attention to one of your writing projects, your website, your blog, or just yourself, there is no doubt you will find his advice useful.

In The Dirty Little Secrets Of Buzz, you will find information about how to send professional PR releases that increase your chances of being written up in the news (something every published author needs to learn sooner or later). It also includes a lengthy chapter about using social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace for more exposure (I thought I already knew everything I needed to know about PR on these sites, but trust me there's more). If you are a real publicity hound, Mr. Seaman also gives advice about how to  land a local radio interview or even get on television or in the tabloids (if you really want to).

The great thing about this book is that it gives very specific information instead of the usual broad overview of PR topics. As a relatively new author, I am always looking for helpful guides like this that I can sink my teeth into and really get something out of. Dirty Little Secrets definitely fits the bill. It may not map out an exact PR plan for you; but then again, it doesn't really need to. Everyone's marketing goals are different. Dirty Little Secrets lays out dozens of different tools, each of which can be used or not. It is up to you to pick and choose what best fits your style. Most readers do not find every idea in this book practical for them. However, almost everyone discovers at least one useful marketing strategy they never would have considered before.

        

It seems sometimes that the only data we encounter about book sales are the astronomical figures attached to publishing giants like J.K. Rowling or Oprah’s latest book pick. The only hard numbers we tend to hear about are the bestsellers—after all, everyone loves a feel-good news story about someone who was down on her luck, submitted a manuscript, and earned national fame and millions practically overnight. However, such a scenario is almost NEVER the case; and though most new authors know this, some still enter the publishing world unconsciously hoping for such a windfall.

As a new writer, it can be frustrating (if not downright impossible) to try to find solid information about publishers and their sales. And without such information, you may be wondering how anyone can possibly know what to realistically expect from her first book release.

When it comes down to it, how well your book sells will mostly rely on you and your marketing efforts. However, it is also helpful to know, very generally, the average amount of money that books from different publishers usually generate. New authors may be surprised to find that with some publishers, a few hundred dollars in earnings from an e-book or a few thousand from a print title is actually a successful run.

Keep in mind that it usually takes a writer a long time to build up notoriety and a solid fan base and to have enough titles that she can actually make a living solely off of her writing. Your goal as a new author should be to write as much as possible and to keep aggressively marketing each and every one of your titles. Eventually, if you have a particularly successful release, you will be surprised at how sales numbers for some of your older publications may suddenly increase as readers seek out more of your work.

There is an implied understanding that authors and publishers never make their earnings public. However, below you will find several sites that reveal how much you might expect to make on a book release. Hopefully, this can help you form realistic expectations about income from your writing career.

E-PUBLISHERS

Emily Veinglory, on her blog Erotic Romance E-publisher Comparison, periodically publishes a wonderful breakdown comparing average first-month sales from various e-publishers.

Her postings, like most other such sites, consistently rank Ellora’s Cave at the top of e-publishing. Amber Quill Press is also highly ranked, but keep in mind they are not open to any submissions and publish works by invitation only. Among the other established houses are Loose Id, Samhain, Liquid Silver Books, and Cobblestone Press. I would also encourage you to consider e-publishing newcomer Ravenous Romance, which does not have available sales figures because it is so new, yet has already managed to contract with some major erotic writers—including Rachel Kramer Bussel and Cecilia Tan.

EROTIC PRINT PUBLISHERS

For information about income from print books, take a look at Brenda Hiatt’s Show Me The Money, which is a great source for erotic romance publisher sales. (I have not been able to find any sites posting erotica sales, so erotic romance imprints are the closest available, but these should give you some idea of how much you might earn on a book in print.)

Remember: A lot will always depend on how well you market and publicize your titles; make sure your publisher is established and has a great reputation; and, most of all, keep writing! With enough hard work, eventually you will make a living as an erotica author.

        

The following is my interview with author and editor Jamaica Layne. Jamaica is a hot new voice in the erotica market. She has released a number of erotic romance novels with publisher Ravenous Romance (including her newest offering, The Mercenary Bride), and has also edited two steamy erotic anthologies. Judging by her astounding recent success, she is definitely an author to keep your eye on.


Q: Jamaica, thank you for the interview. You have recently released a number of novels, including Market for Love, Knight Moves, The Mercenary Bride and several books of your Vital Signs Series. Which of these did you have the most fun writing?

A: It's really hard to say. I enjoy the act of writing so much that it's always fun to write a novel, even when it's also a lot of work. But I would say it's probably a tie between KNIGHT MOVES and THE MERCENARY BRIDE. I really love writing historical fiction, especially historical fiction set in the Middle Ages. Plus KNIGHT MOVES has a lot of wacky tongue-in-cheek humor and outrageous situations that made it a blast to write. And THE MERCENARY BRIDE has a very spunky heroine and some very entertaining witty repartee between her and the hero that I enjoyed crafting very much.

Q: Which of your books has been the most successful so far, and what do you think is responsible for its popularity?

A: The most successful of my books by far is KNIGHT MOVES. It's sold more copies in ebook than even my current print release has in regular bookstores. Plus it's received a ton of favorable press. And it's very odd to me that this has happened, because KNIGHT MOVES is by far my weirdest book. I never would have picked it as my breakout hit, since it's a bawdy satire that crosses genres and doesn't fit easily into any category. (It also spoofs a lot of things, including sappy time-travel romances, Janet Evanovich novels, and even porno films). It just seems to appeal to a very wide audience, and I'm not at all sure why. I didn't do anything in particular to promote it besides what I do for all of my books. But its popularity has helped me get some promotional blurbs from bestselling romance/erotica authors like Cheryl Brooks and Victoria Janssen, and my agent is also pitching it to major print houses for a trade paperback deal.

Q: How do you market your books? Do you primarily use blogs and websites, in-person book signings at conventions or book stores, or other creative ideas? Can you give an example of specific places where you have seen a great response?

A: I do all of the above. I submit my books for review at all the major romance review publications, both print and online. I've gotten favorable reviews (even many 5-star reviews!) and author profile articles at Romantic Times Magazine, RomanceJunkies.com, JoyfullyReviewed.com, Coffee Time Romance, Crave More Romance, even the Chicago Tribune. I've done book signings at Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million stores in my area, with a particularly strong response at Books-A-Million. KNIGHT MOVES was a Recommended Read for the month of June at Joyfully Reviewed, which is very prestigious because they usually reserve that accolade for top-selling print authors in the genre, like Lora Leigh and Nora Roberts.

Q: You have also edited two anthologies: Power Plays about sex and politics and Experimental on the topic of sex and science. How many submissions did you receive for each anthology, and what was the most difficult part of selecting which stories to include?

A: I can't recall exactly how many submissions I got for each anthology, but I do remember it was way more than I could possibly use. Most rejections are easy----either because the stories just were not ready for publication or didn't fit the anthology's theme. Once I weeded all of those kinds of submissions out (which took care of about 80% of what I received), then it was all a matter of choosing stories that seemed to "fit" together into a cohesive book.

Q: What is your advice for beginning authors trying to get published?

A: Beginning writers need to know that the path to becoming a professional published author is not an easy one, and it usually involves years and years of work for little to no money. You have to read a lot (read published, bestselling authors every single day----they are your best teachers), and also, WRITE every single day. Practice makes perfect, and it takes many, many years to master the craft. And even after you master the craft, it can take years to be published and even longer (if ever) to make a living at it.. It's far easier to become a doctor or a lawyer than it is to become a published, bestselling novelist. Anyone looking to get rich quick or have an easy job writing novels should quit before they even start.

        

The Guardian, Erotica Cover Watch, and Ms Naughty have all reported that the erotica publisher Black Lace and the fetish imprint Nexus will not be releasing any new titles in 2010. The Erotic Readers and Writers Association Calls For Submissions page is also conspicuously absent any Black Lace/Nexus calls or other info they usually offer for these publishers.

        

I must admit, I have been avoiding twitter until now. I didn't quite get it, at first. Just what was the purpose?

But now that I have it, I have to say it's awfully handy for posting little tidbits that aren't important enough for a whole blog post or email! It's a great way to let fans know all about what I'm up to!

        

If you are an aspiring erotica author looking to get your short stories or novel published, be sure to take a look at the Erotica Readers and Writers Association webpage!

If you haven't discovered it already, you'll soon wonder how you ever lived without it. The Calls for Submissions section is a life saver. You can find postings from dozens of anthology editors who are looking for writers to submit short stories. You can also find info on erotic book and ebook publishers with detailed instructions on submitting manuscripts. Check it out!

        

People have asked me, "Why Short stories?" "Why not a novel?" they say, "Or at least a novella?"

        

It doesn't happen very often, but today I came across a call for submissions that literally had me blurting out "What the . . . huh?" as I sat reading my computer screen. The call was for short stories for an upcoming Zombie Romance anthology. (Yes, indeed, you read that right. ZOMBIE ROMANCE!)

The first time I read it, the idea left me not just chuckling but nearly rolling on the floor. The thing was that an hour later, two hours later, I still couldn't get the posting out of my head. My mind was swimming with images of workplace zombies, PTA zombies, taking off zombies' heads . . . giving zombies head?

OK, OK. In all seriousness, it's more of a romance antho than an erotica one--yet still, I can't write at the moment without thinking about the living dead, so I know I will be forced to submit something. Realistically, I expect the anthology to center mostly around some hunky alpha male zombie killers and heroines fighting back the tide. . .but I might throw a little zombie love in there for fun. The deadline isn't until August 31st, but I should have something ready by next week. Wish me luck!

You can take a look at the call for submissions here. The antho is being edited by Lori Perkins for publisher Ravenous Romance. Stories should be 1,500-5,000 words. Send yours in to lperkinsagency@yahoo.com today!

        

I am very excited that this year's Best Women's Erotica includes my short story "Switch" about a suburban couple's love for gender-swapping roleplay. The anthology and my story received a great review recently from Erotica Revealed! Check out the following exerpt:

"'Switch' by Vanessa Vaughn is a sweet, hot look at gender play. At home, gender roles often reflect tradition rather than the contemporary mores of society, and Vaughn uses this to her advantage. . .Somewhere in this anthology, you’re bound to find a story that either grabs you by the libido or gently strokes it to wakefulness. Either way, you’re going to enjoy yourself."
--Kathleen Bradean's review of Best Women's Erotica '09, EroticaRevealed.com

Click the link above to read the entire review!

        

Look for my story "Bermuda Triangle" in the new antho The Mile High Club: Plane Sex Stories. The tale centers around a female flying instructor who encourages two male students to have their first homosexual encounter in the air--and sits back to enjoy the view!

This is a kinky anthology offering a delicious variety of scenarios, and it has editor Rachel Kramer Bussel to thank for putting together such a tantalizing combination. She is responsible for such books as Yes,Sir, Yes, Ma'am, Tasting Her, and Tasting Him, as well as dozens more. Rachel is a very prolific erotica writer and editor, as well as host of the New York reading series In The Flesh, and I am beyond excited to have her choose my story as part of her newest project. 

Click here for a link to her web page, or click the book cover at left to read more about The Mile High Club!

        

I am thrilled that my short story "In the Flask", has received great reviews thus far! The story--about a professor, his eager young lab assistant, and homosexual experimentation in Victorian England--can be found in the ebook Like a Wisp of Steam. (Click on the cover to to read more.)

Check out excerpts from several wonderful reviews:

"Leaving nothing to be wanted, this story [Vanessa Vaughn's 'In the Flask'] will satisfy all readers of homo-erotica."--Review of Like a Wisp of Steam, WingsOfSteam.net

"['In the Flask' by Vanessa Vaughn] shows a perceptive understanding of the repressed, yet lusty, Victorian-era character. These men may be able to repress their desires, but they can't eradicate them. If given half an excuse, these desires will come bursting forth."--Val Kovalin's review of Like a Wisp of Steam, ObsidianBookshelf.com

"'In The Flask' by Vanessa Vaughn is in the vein of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde . . . These stories aren't hard science fiction, where the story is about the technology. Instead, there's a sense of wonder about science, giving it an almost magical aura. That is one of the hallmarks of steampunk, and this fine collection of well-crafted tales delivers on that promise. A very enthusiastic thumbs up." --Kathleen Bradean's review of Like a Wisp of Steam, EroticaRevealed.com

Actual reviews about little ol' me! Pretty cool, huh? If you spot any more, be sure to let me know!

        

My short story "Conditioned Response" is now available!

This steamy MMF tale is about a woman encouraging her current lover and her ex to make up once and for all in a quiet laboratory. It has just been released by Ravenous Romance in the anthology Experimental: An Anthology of Sex and Science!

Yes, I know. Here I am releasing a second erotic story set in a science lab--though taking place in a very different time period with a very different scenario. (The first was "In The Flask") What is it about test tubes, bunson burners and chemicals, you ask, that could possibly signal sex? The truth is, I'm not exactly sure what the attraction is. I assure you, I'm not working through some sort of lab coat fetish. Mostly, it is the appeal of injecting non-sexual elements into a sex story that I enjoy. Somehow, such unexpected details make everything feel more intense. So curl up with this ebook today and have fun watching the sparks fly for this erotic threesome!

        

My Short story "Switch" appears in Best Women's Erotica '09, the unforgettable annual anthology series from Cleis Press!

        

"Blood Lost" is an intense, romantic tale about a vampire couple consumed by bloodlust and suddenly reunited after years of separation.

I have always been a rabid fan of the vampire genre. I love the idea of danger, darkness, and uncontrollable cravings mixed in with sex; and this short story is filled with that same intense atmosphere. The vampires in this story are drawn to one another desperately, struggling to satisfy a hunger they cannot control. You will find yourself caught up in their spell, and, by the time the tale is over, maybe even longing to join them yourself.

 "Blood Lost" appears in the Ravenous Romance anthology Rekindled Fire: An Anthology of Reunited Lovers. Click on the cover to read more on the Ravenous Romance website!

        

"Filibuster" is a sizzling short story about an intense three-way power struggle in a congressional office.

        

Check out my erotic steampunk short story "In the Flask"!

What is steampunk, you ask? In short, alternate-reality tales of Victorian England where science and technology take on a magical quality. My story is about repressed gay urges, a scientific experiment, a professor, and his very eager young lab assistant. You can find it in the e-book Like a Wisp of Steam from editor Cecilia Tan.

I'm something of a fanatic about steampunk, yet still it is difficult to explain just why I find it so compelling. In my mind, it is a perfect fit with erotica. It  takes place in a time period full of intense sexual guilt and repression--yet the rebellious spirit of the steampunk genre allows an erotic story to defiantly and believably cut through the stiff starch and practiced manners. Check out the anthology to see what I mean!