Once upon a time, erotica for women was a virtual oxymoron. It wasn’t until editors like Susie Bright introduced the Herotica series that modern lovers could read about sex and passion from a woman’s perspective. Fortunately for connoisseurs of lusty tales, women have many books to choose from, including several recently published anthologies from literary vixen, Rachel Kramer Bussel.
Bookstores are too prude
Bussel recently spoke to Modern Love. Here’s what she had to say about women's erotica, and the 'big' bookstores failure to satisfy our cravings for more:
“There's a lot more erotica on the market, appealing to all kinds of audiences. Romance has gotten more explicit and sexually experimental, and general fiction also features plenty of sexually provocative scenes.”
“Now, there's not just one kind of erotica, or "women's erotica." There's so much variety and I think that alone helps give people permission to explore it. My great aunt, who's in her seventies, told me she and her husband bought an erotica book to read together...and it wound up having one of my stories in it!”
“Also, the Kindle and other e-readers and online shopping mean you don't have to hunt around for erotica in bookstores (which often don't have erotica sections) and can search for exactly what you're looking for, plus find similar titles. I'm sure a book like my Crossdressing anthology has found many more readers because they can order from the privacy of their home. That being said, I hope bookstores realize how big of a market there is for erotica and capitalize on that.”
Indeed, a recent decision by one of the major sellers demonstrates this prudishness. The source reports, "Molly Crabapple is an artist and illustrator based in New York City. Her graphic novel 'Scarlett Takes Manhattan,' which is full of sex, drama, and glamour, was published last year by Fugu Press. However, as she prepared to do press for the book, including an appearance at South By Southwest, she found out that Barnes & Noble – the country’s largest retail book chain – wouldn’t carry the title, deeming it 'too pornographic.'” Folks often have to find other ways to scratch their fantasy itch when it comes to reading erotica.
These road humps aren't preventing Bussel from authoring and editing. She has selected stories rich with sensual language, intriguing plots, and scenes that could work as well in non-sexual volumes, indicative of the quality of writing. Collected from a talented cadre of authors, including Modern Love favorite, Alison Tyler, these three anthologies should appeal to all flavors and fantasies - heterosexual, lesbian, monogomous and not.
Mile High Club: Plane Sex Stories, for example, offers exquisite new ways to join that infamous flight path; Do Not Disturb: Hotel Sex Stories, takes readers into the forbidden pleasures of sex in someone else’s bed, and Spanking is sure to put a blush on your cheeks, both top and bottom, depending on how far you’re willing to act out the stories within.
The market is there, and women are exploring their sensual and literary sides thanks to the talents of women like Bussel. Her books are published by Cleis Press; check out the sample slide show with quotes from the books themselves, included.
Warning – titles and content explicit.
Additional Modern Love columns to enjoy: 'Seal it with a Kiss' an uproarious and delicious read 'Best Sex Writing' a saucy collection for the daring and demure Lori Gottlieb dishes on love, feminists, and her NYT bestselling book, Marry Him!
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All Modern Love Examiner articles ©2010 by Tinamarie Bernard; reposts permitted with link back to original article. All other rights reserved
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