Erotic Lure
The Erotica Readers & Writers Association Newsletter
May-June 2008
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Dear Lascivious Ladies and Lewd Lads,

It’s May – “the lusty month of May”, according to Lerner and Loewe – and here at the Erotica Readers and Writers Association we take that extremely seriously. I’m Lisabet Sarai, your regular unremittingly randy guide to the delights of the ERWA site. Let me take you by the hand (or whatever) and show you some of the incendiary stuff we’ve put together for your pleasure.

I like to start in the Galleries, because they’re one of the things that make ERWA unique. There are dozens of sites featuring sex toys and adult movies, and a handful with insightful and provocative articles about sex, but no one offers the kind of exciting, original, and varied erotic fiction that we supply at ERWA, month after month, year after year. May’s theme is “Fruit of the Gods: Religion and Mythology”, and our talented authors have outdone themselves. The Gallery also features a half dozen tantalizing erotic tales outside the theme – drop-your-jaw, knock-your-socks-off, amazing stories that will make you laugh and cry and burn with sympathetic desire.

Read your way to ecstasy at:
www.erotica-readers.local/story-gallery

Continuing with the theme of reading, let me mention just a few of the dozens of new erotica titles awaiting you in our Books for Sensual Readers section. In this U.S. election year, what could be more appropriate than the collection SEX FOR AMERICA: POLITICALLY INSPIRED EROTICA, edited by the outrageous Stephen Elliot (author of MY GIRLFRIEND COMES TO THE CITY AND BEATS ME UP)? Talk about political dirt! Sticking with the U.S.A., there’s Penny Birch’s new Nexus title, AMERICAN BLUE, in which Penny goes underground into the seedy world of porn flicks to “rescue” her misguided niece Jemima. In the pure erotica category, check out Cecilia Tan’s haunting WHITE FLAMES: EROTIC DREAMS. For erotic romance, I recommend Julie Anne Long’s THE PERILS OF PLEASURE, a tale of a dissolute rogue rescued from the gallows by a daring female mercenary. My gay pick of the month is THE PALACE OF VARIETIES, a raunchy story of innocence corrupted set in London’s gay underground. In the lesbian arena, I have to mention PURPLE PANTIES, the new multiracial F-F collection edited by Zane. And I took a quick peek into the Art and Photography pages, zeroing in on SENSES, a startling and sensuous collection of imagery by glamour photographer Frank De Mulder.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Browse the “Hot Chick Lit”, or the “Hard Guy Lit”, or the “Provocative Non-Fiction” categories, or wallow in our wealth of graphic novels. If you see anything you like, just click on our links to Amazon to have it delivered quickly and discretely to your door. Every purchase you make via our affiliates helps keep ERWA alive.

Celebrate print at:
erotica-readers.local/books

May has brought everybody out of the woodwork in the Smutter’s Lounge. Donna George Storey leads off with a cultural and culinary ramble through Japan that leads to sexual fantasies about John Lennon and finally to asparagus. (Now if that doesn’t stir your curiosity, I don’t know what will!) Ann Regentin’s “Beside Ourselves” ponders the current plight of identities being purloined or manufactured, and the possible triumph of marketing over creativity. J.T. Benjamin is all worked up about The Good Old Days, making a convincing case that some things, at least, have improved. Ashley Lister debuts a new column, “Between the Lines”, in which he interviews authors about specific works. (This month’s focus is Debra Hyde’s story from SHE’S ON TOP.)

There’s also a bountiful crop of reviews. Ashley Lister tackles BEST FANTASTIC EROTICA and J IS FOR JEALOUSY, edited by Cecilia Tan and Alison Tyler, respectively. Angelika Devlin reviews Deanna Ashford’s historical romance TEMPLAR PRIZE. Rob Hardy covers WHO’S BEEN SLEEPING IN YOUR BED, a comprehensive survey of sexual fantasies by Freudian therapist Brett Kahr. And I review Lynne Connolly’s energetic paranormal romance SUNFIRE, set in the intoxicating world of rock and roll.

The Lounge is open 24/7 for your enjoyment:
erotica-readers.local/ERA/SL/Smutters_Lounge.htm

As you know, we’re the Erotica Readers and WRITERS Association. Every month our Authors Resource pages provide hard-nosed advice as well as moral support to aspiring erotica writers. This month Louisa Burton counsels anyone who wants to write a novel: write the book you want to read. Ashley Lister discusses the key element in writing an effective opening, namely, arousing the reader’s curiosity. Alison Tyler details “How to Win Friends and Influence Editors”, warning that “the erotic community is too small to go around making enemies”. Amie M. Evans offers a long and useful list of writing exercises and prompts for creativity. Finally, I’ve contributed an article called “Through the Looking Glass” about my experiences in the last year, moving into the world of e-Published romance.

You’ll find all this, and lots more in the archives, at:
erotica-readers.local/erotica-authors-resources

Got a story or a novel to sell? Looking for themes to get your creative juices flowing? The ERWA Calls for Submissions page is the most comprehensive in the world of erotica. Highlights this month include “Lace and Blade” – romantic fantasy where sharp verbal repartee is as important as sharp weapons. Torquere Press is seeking M/M/F menage tales for “Down the Chimney”, as well as homosexual romances based on fables or myths, for “Flipped Fables”. Black Lace has calls out for four themed short story collections. Shonia L. Brown is looking for black lesbian erotica, and D.L. King has just opened a call for lesbian erotica involving city girls.

Find information on all these publishing opportunities, and dozens more, at:
erotica-readers.local/ERA/G/Call_For_Submissions.htm
(Don’t forget to mention in your cover letter that you saw the call on ERWA!)

What’s left? Oh, movies! and sex toys! Both sections are super this lusty month. In the Sex Toy Playground, the Babeland gals showcase toys for the GLBT set. There’s the “Jolie”, and the “Lumina”… but my vote is for the aptly named “Big Red Dong”. Then Mae Schultz discusses toys that travel well – small, discreet, and deceptive. Why suffer when you’re away from your box of goodies?

All work and no play is no fun at all:
erotica-readers.local/sex-toy-playground

Our May Adult Movies section reinforces my perception that porn is reaching new levels of narrative sophistication and artistic creativity. “Dark City”, from Adam and Eve, is a stylish film noir revolving around the archetypes of slippery villian, hardboiled detective, and femme fatale. In the adult version, though, there’s more than mere sexual tension. “Morphine”, directed and performed by Kimberly Kane, is the raw, reality-based tale of a young women struggling against addiction to become a Nashville star. “The Doll Underground” gives us a secret movement of female sexual revolutionaries using terrorist tactics against the tyranny of Big Business. All with plenty of sex involved, of course.

Okay, if these titles sound too heavy for a night of carnal entertainment, try “Fired”, a lightweight comic romp featuring delectable brunette Carmen Hart. And if you feel like improving yourself, spend some time in our new “Sexy Sex Ed” section, where you’ll find titles like “The Expert’s Guide to the G Spot”. Let Tristan Taormino and her fun-loving demonstration couples show you how to do it – whatever it is you want to do!

Browse the best in adult film at:
erotica-readers.local/adult-movies

If you find a title you just can’t live without, no problem. Our links to Adult DVD Empire and Smutnetwork.com will have that film on your screen in no time.

Inside the Erotic Mind this month, the topic is faking orgasms. The discussion is lively and heartfelt – four pages worth of commentary! Have an opinion? Add to the discussion by clicking on “Participate”.

Wander Inside the Erotic Mind at:
erotica-readers.local/inside-the-erotic-mind

Our ERWA website of the month is Friend Finder. Friend Finder is an active personals community for fun, friendship, and romance. Post a free entry, mingle in webcam chatrooms, watch video intros. You can even create your own Blog (it’s easy!) to share with people you’ve met on Friend Finder. Meet people in your city, or anywhere in the nation. There’s always chatters ready to play 24/7, so jump in and join the festivities – maybe meet your soulmate! Friend Finder is easy to navigate, and lots of fun.

There’s lots more waiting for you on the site. I haven’t talked about the Portfolio of Adult Links, or Music to Set the Mood, or the Treasure Chest… But you’ll have to explore that on your own. You’ve got plenty of time; our lovely webmistress Adrienne takes a break in June, so the next issue of the site, and this newsletter, will be in July. Just in time for fireworks and apple pie—trysts in the grass—skinny dipping—washing the car in short shorts and a skimpy halter…

You know, the way I look at it, every month is lusty…

Living la vida loca,
Lisabet

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