Best Sex Writing 2010

Last night I went to a reading of a compilation called Best Sex Writing 2010. The editor of this collection has many other collections she's edited, including collections of BDSM stories and voyeuristic stories. She's also edited more than a handful of collections of erotica. Clearly, this is my kind of gal. Not to mention she looks like this:

This photos was on the front of postcards being given out at the event. Postcards, people.

Some contributors read some of their own pieces, including Janet Hardy, whose mere three page reading left me [1] short of breath, moved, and incredibly turned on. Finally, there was a piece read by Kerry Cohen, though it was originally written under a pseudonym, as it was piece about her plan to cheat on her husband.[2]It left me in a similar state, but with the added tension of hearing such a personal tale - as well as such a personal life decision - from the reader, and then going to talk to her afterwards.

Now, I realize that you all may not recognize books like the Ethical Slut, Loose Girl, or the name Rachel Kramer Bussel. However, being someone who seeks out this kind of literature, these are some pretty large names. Not only getting to see them in person and hear them read some extremely powerful literature of theirs, getting to talk to them afterwards[3] made me realize something that for some reason I hadn't before. Something about only hearing these women through either blogs or books, I somehow thought that they wouldn't be so friendly and open about these topics in public. Now, knowing that I love talking about these things with strangers and I haven't even made a career out of it, I shouldn't be too surprised.

This photo from a media event should have also given me an indication she wasn't too shy.[4]

I guess I'm trying to get across a few different things.

1. I don't think my interest in sex was waning, but this reading has certainly gotten it waxing. (get it?) And with this book now in my possession, hopefully I'll get some more interesting articles up soon.

2. You should pick up Best Sex Writing 2010. It's informative, it's hot, and it's written by some really great people whom you should feel good about supporting. In essence, every piece in there is what I shoot for in my writing.[5]

3. Remember that a lot of the time, strangers like talking about the same sorts of things you do, and don't mind dispensing with small talk. Next time you meet someone and you feel like talking about butt plugs? Try it on for size.[6] They might be into it.

1. Or, at least me. And the lady I was with. But really, probably the whole room.

2. She explained that her husband now knows about the essay and by the time it had gone to publication, she would have been okay with using her real name. I'm not on a personal campaign to out her or anything.

3. As terse and bumbling as I was, as they are a young sex bloggers...Backstreet Boys? What do the kids listen to these days?

4. I realize the pictures already give you a good indication, but she really is a sight in person. I was already having a tough time watching her walk back and forth, box of Voodoo Doughnuts in hand, when my friend points out matching finger sized bruises on each of her thighs. It was pretty rough.

5. Except I'm not, for example a gay male escort in San Francisco[6], so I couldn't even if I wanted to.

6. Yet.

7. Pun only kind of intended.