I'm gearing up for my upcoming events in Virginia and Maryland, specifically Richmond (Marh 20), Charlottesville (March 22), Baltimore (March 24) and Arlington (March 27 and 28 at CatalystCon). All the details are below. I'm also very excited to check out my friend's restaurant
Blue Pit BBQ in Baltimore. You can expect a full report on it!
March 20, 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Book signing and meet and greet, Richmond, Virginia
I'll be signing my latest titles at independent bookstore Fountain Bookstore - get one for you or as a gift!
Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary Street, Shockoe Slip, Richmond, Virginia, 804-788-1594
LoveFest Workshop: “Screaming To Be Ignored” — Capturing the Reader’s Attention
Sun. March 22, 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Barnes & Noble
1035 Emmet Street North, Barracks Road Shopping Center, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Hosted by: Barnes & Noble
“Every day hundreds of stories cross my desk, each one screaming to be ignored.” — Gordon Lish. How do you make your story capture a reader’s attention instantly? In this free workshop, anonymous would-be authors may submit short works: a one page query or the first ten pages of a novel. Published authors and savvy editors will use these submissions as a launching point to discuss their favorite writing craft tips.
Want to submit your work? The first 30 submissions received the day of the event will be considered on a first come/first serve basis. Look for the submissions box at the Barnes & Noble Information Desk. The store opens at 9 AM.
Participating authors and editors: Joanna Bourne, Mary Burton, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Melissa Marr, Mary Jo Putney. Moderator: Kimberly Kincaid.
LoveFest Book Signing: Meet & Greet Romance Authors
Sun. March 22, 2:45 pm - 4:30 pm
Barnes & Noble
1035 Emmet Street North, Barracks Road Shopping Center, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Hosted by: Barnes & Noble
Come join thirteen romance authors for one-on-one book chat in a friendly setting. Authors are available for book signing and photographs.
Participating authors: Joanna Bourne, Mollie Cox Bryan, Mary Burton, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Avery Flynn, Sabrina Jeffries, Kimberly Kincaid, Kieran Kramer, Sue London, Melissa Marr, Pam Morsi, Mary Jo Putney.
March 24, 6:30-8 pm
Erotica 101 Writing Workshop, Baltimore
Professional erotica author and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, editor of over 50 anthologies such as
The Big Book of Orgasms, Flying High and
Best Bondage Erotica 2014, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing, from getting started, finding your voice, and incorporating your surroundings, pop culture, and personal experiences into your stories to crafting a range of characters and settings and submitting your work.
In this supportive, welcoming workshop environment, you'll learn how to write vividly about everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies, and make them fit for particular publications in the thriving erotica market. This workshop will address the recent boom in erotica inspired by
Fifty Shades of Grey, provide examples of well written erotica, and will include multiple writing exercises. You'll be given a handout listing major markets and further reading suggestions.
No previous writing experience required. Please bring laptop or pen and paper. $25/person. Register in store, by calling 410-467-2632 or online at
Brown Paper Tickets.
Sugar, 1001 West 36th Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 410-467-2632
March 27, 9:15 am – 12:15 pm
Erotica 101 workshop, CatalystCon, Arlington
In this three hour workshop Rachel Kramer Bussel, professional erotica author and editor of over 50 erotica anthologies, such as
The Big Book of Orgasms, Cheeky Spanking Stories and
Serving Him: Sexy Stories of Submission, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing. Learn how to get started, find your voice, and write against type. You’ll discover how to incorporate everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies into your writing, and make them fit for particular magazines and anthologies. The class will also cover branding yourself as a writer, using and selecting a good pseudonym, and using social media to promote your work and do outreach. She’ll also talk about submitting your work and keeping up with the thriving erotica market, including anthologies, ebooks, magazines and websites. Please bring paper and writing implements or a laptop to use for in class writing exercises. A bibliography with erotica resources will be provided.
This class will take place on Friday, March 27, 2015 at the CatalystCon host hotel. You must purchase a ticket to this workshop separately from CatalystCon on the registration page. $45/person.
Register here.
Hilton Crystal City, 2399 Jefferson Davis Way, Arlington, Virginia
March 27, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Sex Writing 101 (Nonfiction), CatalystCon, Arlington
In this three hour workshop, writer and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel will cover all you need to know about writing about sex, including blogging, first-person essays and journalism. You’ll learn how to ethically write about your love life, what editors are looking for, where to find experts on sexuality topics, and how to stay abreast of current sex news. Whether you’re looking to write a sex blog, column, articles or books, you’ll find out how to pitch, how much money you can expect to make, and how to maximize your editorial opportunities. The class will also cover branding yourself as a writer, using and selecting a good pseudonym, using social media to promote your work and do outreach, and how to pitch stories. Rachel has been a sex columnist for
The Village Voice, Penthouse and The Frisky, and has written about sexuality for
Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast,
Glamour, Inked, Salon, xoJane and many other publications. A resource list covering markets for sex-related pieces will be provided.
This class will take place on Friday, March 27, 2015 at the CatalystCon host hotel. You must purchase a ticket to this workshop separately from CatalystCon on the registration page. $45/person.
Register here.
Hilton Crystal City, 2399 Jefferson Davis Way, Arlington, Virginia
March 27, 8:30 pm
CatalystCon Opening Keynote Plenary Address
I'll be joining the esteemed Francisco Ramirez, Kristin Beck and Melanie Davis for this opening panel moderated by Lynn Comella to kick off CatalystCon.
CatalystCon, Hilton Crystal City, 2399 Jefferson Davis Way, Arlington, Virginia
March 28, 9:30 am - 10:40 am
CatalystCon panel, “Sharing Sex Stories from the Page to the Stage”
Whether on the page, stage or podcast, sharing personal sex stories means making public what’s often deemed private and inviting audiences to read, hear—and judge. What are the biggest challenges and rewards of airing our “dirty” laundry? How do we decide which sex stories are worth telling? Is there such a thing as TMI? How can we be deeply honest while honoring others’ boundaries (and having ours respected)? How can we tie our lives into what’s happening in the larger world and further social and political change? Is writing about your sex life different than sharing it live or via podcast? This panel will explore what it’s like to invite readers, listeners and audiences inside our bedrooms, and beyond. Featuring
Cooper Beckett, blogger and founder of podcast Life on the Swingset,
Twanna A. Hines, blogger,
Metro sex columnist and creator/performer of one-woman Capital Fringe show
I Füçkèd Your Country, and
Jillian Keenan, who’s written about BDSM and sexuality for
The New York Times, Slate and elsewhere, and is at work on a book on Shakespeare and sexuality. Moderated by
Rachel Kramer Bussel,
Philadelphia City Paper sex columnist and author of the personal essay collection
Sex & Cupcakes.
CatalystCon, Hilton Crystal City, 2399 Jefferson Davis Way, Arlington, Virginia
Labels: Baltimore, CatalystCon, Charlottesville, Fountain Bookstore, LoveFest, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Richmond, Sugar, Virginia, Virginia Festival of the Book