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Features and Interviews
Excerpt: Taking The Toll by Kiki DeLovely
From Take Me There, edited by Tristan Taormino (Cleis Press, 2011)
My eyes flutter open immediately. No time for this gently waking up business— conscious thought pouring like honey into my leftover dreams, slowly mixing together until cognizance fully takes hold and I contemplate getting up. No, there’ll be none of that. Today’s Sunday 10:37 a.m. Good. I have just enough time to get this started.
We may have been out late last night but now is no time to worry whether she’ll be sleepy, cranky, too tired… No matter what, I will make this happen. Usually I insist on being dropped off on Saturday nights or at least fucking at her house and then going home to mine. Sleepovers can happen on Friday, Thursday; shit, even Monday, for all I care. Sunday mornings are mine— ever since I was a little girl. But we had reached that point—the three-‐month mark—and she requested a Saturday night stay.
Normally this would be met with an immediate and firm, “No,” but this one might be a keeper, so I figured I’d have to let her in eventually. And there’s something about her that has quickly gained my trust. Something about the way she holds me—my hand on the street, my body in bed—it’s charming and chivalrous. Something about the way she makes her way through the world, whether alone or with me by her side: exuding inward confidence, outward audacity. It’s all so comfortable and natural with her, even encouraging. She enjoys existing in a duality— challenging masculinity while continually tugging on the boundaries of the box labeled female— and I enjoy eroticizing everything that makes her genderqueer. I like this thing we have. I like her. And I want to see where we could be going, so I grant her this one wish, warning, “You know I’m a morning person…”
Slightly distracted by her raised eyebrow, I continue, “I don’t like to sleep my Sunday away…”
I’m even more distracted by how she’s checking off each of my points in the air. “None of this lazy Sunday morning, brunch at two, got it?” Her dark eyes shine. One last check mark. “Got it.” We’ll see.
She said she got it. So now I roll over, look into her sleeping face, her expression fetching and proud, her brow furrowing even in sleep, and consider my possibilities. She has this edge about her—not completely hard yet deeply masculine. This is the edge where my lust resides. She is not exactly my opposite but rather my complement: thuddy biker boots to my strappy Fluevog heels, bien morena to my slightly lighter hue, the curve of her biceps to that of my hips. Her masculinity takes my high femme to greater heights. Our complementary natures play into each other, coloring outside of the lines. We look real good together. More importantly, we feel exquisite.
I start to go in for a kiss but just before disturbing her sleeping lips, I decide on a different tactic and roll over once again. I slowly back up, deliberately pressing my ass up against her boxers; gently at first, then with just enough pressure so that she’ll start to get the idea. She grumbles a slight groan.
10:41. Shit, I’ve got to work faster. I take hold of her free hand, interlace my fingers with hers and draw her fingertips across my skin skirting the edge of my panties, gliding up my chest, grabbing one breast firmly, dragging her palm across my erect nipple and finally bringing her fingers up to my mouth. It’s just two fingertips; at first my tongue teases them—I can tell she’s definitely awake now but not quite yet there—then I lick down the crack between the two, tracing back up and sliding both into my mouth. I suck and work my tongue, all the while still pressing back into her, as she’s now beginning to press into me, moaning as though it were her cock instead of her fingers that I’ve wrapped my tongue around.
10:45. I’m a little later than I’d like to be…but this’ll work. I run her moistened fingers back down along my chest. Teasing time is over. I slip the thin strap of lace on my panties to the side and guide her fingers into my already wet cunt. As I inhale audibly, she positions herself to take control, her teeth digging into my shoulder and then growls, “Fuck, baby, what’s got you going this morning? Still reeling from last night?”
Perhaps, but that’s not what’s made me quite so wet this morning in particular, though I don’t dare tell her that. Instead of playing along with her game, I make it clear that I’m in no mood to talk, arch my hips and slam myself down on her fingers. She’s quickly forgotten she ever asked me a question in the first place, scooting down to get better leverage, fucking me harder, deeper.
10:55. Perfect.
She knows exactly how to work my pussy—how to get me going like no other and get me off such that my mind stops its obsessive running and I practically forget my name. I’m getting incredibly close now—the timing has seemed to work out to my advantage…until I hear her say, “Baby, I need to fuck you with my cock….”
10:58. Fuck. “N-‐n-‐n-‐n-‐n-‐no…keep going… Please don’t stop please…” She looks down at me with that half-‐cocked grin. “Darlin’, you know how I love it when you beg, but Papi knows best and, trust me, I definitely need to fuck you with my cock. My hard-‐ on is raging.” She’s already flipped her legs over the side of the bed and is rummaging deep into the pant legs of her jeans to find last night’s discarded strap-‐ on.
10:59. Fuck, fuck, fuck!
I flicker my eyes closed and take a deep breath just as she steals a glance back at me—did she see my eyes start to roll back? It doesn’t matter now because the bells begin to toll and I try desperately to regain my composure.
Ding-‐dong. I bite my lip. Ding-‐dong. Squeeze my thighs together. Ding-‐dong. Suck in more air. Ding-‐dong. Bite down harder. Ding-‐dong. My hips involuntarily raise…just…barely… But it’s too late—a slight whimper escapes my lips. Ding-‐dong. I’m greeted by her eyes penetrating me. Ding-‐dong. Shit, she’s been watching the entire time. Ding-‐dong.
She cocks her head, taking in the sound in the distance; it’s finally striking her what’s going on. “You’re getting off on this, aren’t you?”
Want more? Order your copy of Take Me There – Trans and Genderqueer Erotica, edited by Tristan Taormino today!
Interview with D.L. King
D.L. King is a prolific author and the editor of Carnal Machines: Steampunk Erotica. Here she talks about steampunk, her favorite erotica authors and what the future holds for her writing and editing career.
When did you first get interested in steampunk and what made you decide to edit a collection of steampunk erotica?
I’ve always been a fan of Victorian erotica, like A Man With a Maid and issues of The Pearl. An awful lot of imaginative erotica came out of that period, written by people who were supposed to be above it all… Yeah, right! Reading those stories got me interested in the period and seeing the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes movie brought it all together in my head.
Do you have a favorite steampunk author? Story? Film?
My favorite steampunk author is Neal Stephenson, who could arguably be thought of as a cyberpunk author, but he’s who got me interested in the genre in the first place. Although more traditional steampunk authors might be Jules Verne, H.G Wells or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
My favorite steampunk movie is currently Sherlock Holmes and I’m patiently (or not) waiting for the second installment in the franchise!
As far as my favorite story, if you’re talking about Carnal Machines, I couldn’t choose. I think they’re all pretty amazing and I’m really looking forward to hearing what the readers have to say about their favorites!
Do you have a favorite steampunk event or conference? More importantly—do you dress the part?
I haven’t been to a steampunk conference yet, but I’m hoping to. And about dressing the part, well, I have a few favorite pieces of clothing and jewelry, reminiscent of the genre. First, I have a necklace made up of an old typewriter key, letter D, on a tiny ball chain. I got it in Lancaster, PA and really should have asked the artist to make me an L and a K, as well. I may still do that. I bought a bracelet, by the same artist, that is all typewriter keys. It’s so cool! I also acquired a timepiece encased in a small crystal ball. All the gears are visible and can be seen working. The ball is suspended by a brass fitting on a chain to be worn around the neck. It’s about the size of a fifty-cent piece and is fabulous.
I’m also a big fan of corsets and have a few of them. I recently bought a second one from a company called SM Hertz. My first from them is black and blue leather. The newest one is also leather, but is black and white stripes and feels very steampunky to me. Worn with a long black skirt and my black cotton steampunk buckle jacket—with all the jewelry, of course—it can be quite fetching.
What do you enjoy reading for pleasure? Are you or have you ever been in a book club? Where do you look for book recommendations?
I’ve never been in a book club. I get book recommendations from friends, Amazon, Good Reads and other authors. I also tend to read everything by an author I really like. Right now, I’m reading Just Kids by Patti Smith. It’s about her friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe and is so beautifully written. I’ve just finished Fever Dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child and Bleeding Hearts by Josh Aterovis, none of which are steampunk but all are great!
Who are your favorite erotica authors? What books would you recommend to someone new to the genre?
I have several favorite erotica authors and editors. My first is G C Scott, specifically His Mistresses Voice and The Passive Voice. I also love work by Alison Tyler, Kathleen Bradean, Jay Lygon, Louisa Burton, Violet Blue, Rachel Kramer Bussel and Remittance Girl. There are lots of others, too numerous to name.
It’s hard to recommend books to a generic “new to the genre” person because it’s really all about what that person is interested in. If they’re interested in BDSM, I might recommend Anne Rice’s Beauty books. If they were specifically interested in female submission, I might recommend The Story of O or Rachel Kramer Bussel’s He’s on Top, Yes, Sir or Please, Sir. If they were interested in female dominance, I’d recommend Rachel’s books, Please, Ma’am and Yes, Ma’am or my own Melinoe Project. If they were interested in spanking, I might recommend my Spank!, Rachel Kramer Bussel’s Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica or Ultimate Spanking by Miranda Forbes.
If someone had no idea what they were interested in, I’d probably recommend Best Women’s Erotica, edited by Violet Blue or The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica, edited by Maxim Jakubowski—any of the editions. (I’m in Best Women’s 09 and the 8, 9 and 10 editions of the Mammoth Books.) That way they could get a good overview of all the various sub-genres and decide what they liked best.
What’s coming up next in your writing and editing career? Will we be seeing more steampunk stories or anthologies from you?
I don’t know about more steampunk, but maybe! I still have some pretty awesome stories I wasn’t able to use in Carnal Machines, so a second steampunk book would be great! First, though, my new anthology, Daddy’s Little Girl: Butch/Femme Erotica will be out soon, from Cleis Press. I’m also taking submissions for a new succubus anthology titled Seductress: Succubi Erotica, which I’m very excited about. That one won’t be released until Halloween of 2012. I’ve got stories in other people’s anthologies coming out soon and am working on my third novel.
Interview with Rachel Kramer Bussel
Rachel Kramer Bussel is quite possibly the most prolific editor of erotica anthologies and certainly one of the best known names in erotic fiction. She took some time out of her busy schedule and recent reading in Seattle to answer a few questions for the Naked Reader Book Club.
You’ve edited several popular BDSM anthologies—including Yes, Ma’am and Yes, Sir and Please, Ma’am and Please, Sir. What do you think is the perennial appeal of domination/submission stories and are you planning to edit similar companion anthologies in the future?
I think people enjoy hearing from the perspectives of tops and bottoms. Obviously these are fiction collections, but I think they speak to real issues, tensions and fantasies in the BDSM world that resonate with readers and allow them to put themselves in the place of the storytellers.
Do you prefer writing stories or editing anthologies? Does one inspire the other?
I’m thankful I don’t have to pick! I like doing both because when the writing gets hard, which lately it is with most of my stories, I can turn to editing and work a different part of my brain, and hopefully return to writing inspired. I’m trying to push myself in my erotica beyond the topics and styles I tend to be drawn to, and also look for stories that go a little outside the norm for my anthologies.
How is the erotica that is being published in 2011 different from the erotica of a decade ago? What’s new, what’s changed?
I’d say the biggest thing that’s changed is that there’s more of it, and for authors, more accessibility to calls for submissions. I found out about the book I first got published in, Starf*cker, edited by Shar Rednour, via Tristan Taormino’s Double T Newsletter (which you can sign up for at her site, puckerup.com). Now there are multiple venues online, such as erotica-readers.com, to find calls. I think there’s gotten to be more erotic content in mainstream fiction and in romance as well, which has helped push the envelope. I also think we’re at a point in time where if you don’t like what you’re seeing on the bookstore shelves, you can self-publish your own work on a blog or as an e-book.
I know you read voraciously and often recommend books you love. Have you ever belonged to a book club? Is there a website or blog that you turn to for book recommendations?
I spend a lot of time on Amazon browsing books I want to buy and often clicking through to books other people have purchased. For young adult books I like the authors at www.thecontemps.com, and I also read Romantic Times Book Reviews, which covers everything from YA to mystery to mainstream fiction to erotica, but mostly I just poke around online and in bookstores and see what looks interesting to me.
What’s next for you in your writing and editing career—and what would be your dream anthology to edit?
I’m editing a few more anthologies for Cleis Press, one of hotel erotica, with a July 1 deadline, which will not be extended; I’ve gotten a huge number of submissions for it, which I’m looking forward to reading. I plan to rent a hotel room so I can get in the proper mood! Then I’m editing a book of erotic spanking erotica, a favorite topic of mine, and one of erotica focused on bisexual women. I’m putting the finishing touches on the latest in the nonfiction series I edit, Best Sex Writing 2012. Other than that, I’m not sure what’s next. I’d say I’ve gotten to work on so many of the anthologies I’ve wanted to do. I’d say maybe a themed book of nonfiction is something I’d love to edit.
Rachel’s Links:
http://rachelkramerbussel.com
http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/raquelita
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Kramer-Bussel/122880675514
Interview with Molly Weatherfield
The lovely and talented Molly Weatherfield graciously agreed to answer some questions for the Naked Reader Book Club about her books Carrie’s Story and Safe Word. Here she talks about the inspiration behind Carrie’s Story, what it’s like to be considered the author of a classic and her thoughts on being an erotic romance writer. Enjoy!
Carrie’s Story is often described as a classic of the S/M genre. When you were writing Carrie’s Story, did you ever get the sense that this book would be singled out as a must-read in the BDSM canon of literature?
Classic. Wow, thanks. And the answer to the question is no, absolutely not. When I was writing Carrie’s Story, I wasn’t at all sure it would even get published.
What was the inspiration for Carrie’s Story? Had you read much of the BDSM genre before you wrote the book?
Short-term, the inspiration for Carrie’s Story was the discussion that was going on in the feminist movement in the early 80s, about whether non-PC, non-egalitarian images and themes were ok. I was fortunate enough to be exposed to some amazingly smart women in those years — Susie Bright, Amber Hollibaugh, Gayle Rubin — who were saying amazingly smart things that resonated with me and encouraged me to take seriously my own erotic imagination.
Because, besides the more recent stuff by Pat Califia and Anne Rice I was dipping into in the 70s and 80s, I’d spent my late teens and early 20s immersed in what I’d call the real SM classics: lots by the Marquis de Sade and of course Story of O.
Did you make a conscious decision to tell the book from Carrie’s point of view or did it just work out that way? Do you think writing the story from Carrie’s perspective makes for a more intimate connection between character and reader?
Not so much Carrie’s p.o.v as Carrie’s voice. I think there’s a kind of brave smart girl voice that weaves in and out of modern fiction. From Jane Austen to Charlotte Bronte and Louisa May Alcott through, oh, maybe Madeleine L’Engel, it’s the voice that has formed the backbone of my own reading and ideas of what brave and smart really are, and I wanted a book about sexuality that would give body to that voice.
Did you always intend to write a sequel to Carrie’s Story? Was Safe Word harder or easier to write than Carrie’s Story? Of the two books, do you have a favorite?
Nobody was more surprised (or more pleased) than I was, to begin to see how there might be a sequel there. I don’t know which book was harder — or easier — to write. Because the honest truth is that writing both of them was just about the most fun I’ve ever had, though on the whole, I prefer Safe Word, because it was so much fun to play with the multiple narratives and do all that tricky stuff, and actually to make it work. And because I loved developing Jonathan and especially Kate.
What brought you to the erotica genre? Do you write in other genres?
Like I said, fun and feminism, and the desire to spend some quality time with my erotic fantasy life and see where it would take me. I didn’t think of myself as a fiction writer, but in the context of an erotic coming-of-age story I found I could think about stuff that had fascinated me since adolescence and embody it in characters who talked in recognizable voices. The first time I found myself writing dialog, writing COMMA CLOSE QUOTE HE SAID PERIOD (I had to go to my bookshelf to check the punctuation) I was hooked.
And yes, I have written fiction in another genre. Like Carrie, I was curious about what she and I called “supermarket romance,” and I wanted to explore the love story side of things — the Jane Eyre and the Jane Austen side of my imagination, if you will. So while I was finishing SAFE WORD I began imagining a historical romance novel that Carrie might have written… and voila! The Bookseller’s Daughter, which takes place in pre-revolutionary France with the Marquis de Sade even making an offstage appearance.
It, along with 3 other historical romance novels and a novella, have since been published under my own name, Pam Rosenthal. The books are pretty hot but light on the SM; readers who are interested can find out more about them at http://www.pamrosenthal.com. And I’m happy to say that the latest of these books, The Edge of Impropriety — which won the RITA (Romance Writers of America’s Oscar) for Best Historical Romance of 2009 — will be reissued in a week or so, in a svelte, inexpensive, mass-market paperback format. The link for finding out more about that one is http://www.pamrosenthal.com/books/edge.php
Who are your favorite authors and what books are in your to-be-read pile right now?
My favorite romance author is my pal and partner in crime Janet Mullany, who writes smart, hilariously funny and sexy Regency-era chicklit. I’ve recently been loving Steven Saylor’s mystery series set in ancient Rome. I very much admire the pornography of Simon Shepard and Stephen Elliott’s My Girlfriend Comes to the City and Beats Me Up, and this past week I found myself utterly gobsmacked by how wonderful Stacy Schiff’s recent Cleopatra biography is. Proust did change my life about a decade ago — I recommend that everybody at least give him a try. And right now, part of me wants to drop everything and disappear into the late, much-lamented David Foster Wallace’s posthumous novel The Pale King, which is sitting on our coffee table right now, daring me to do just that. Wallace was just so brilliant, so deeply great and important.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your work or life?
I can understand the impulse, but I nonetheless really don’t like it when erotic romance writers say things like, oh well, the sex is there to move the plot forward. If the sex is any good at all, the reader ought to feel like the book is in serious danger of being stopped in its tracks. Which isn’t to say that a book should drag, but that erotic writing ought at least to threaten to take over the show, because it is — or ought to be — its own reward, both for the reader and the writer.
