Archive for July 24, 2013

July 24th, 2013

Yet Another Fabulous Time at The Erotic Literary Salon!

Robin "Erobintica" Sampson and me post-Salon

Robin “Erobintica” Sampson and me post-Salon

As usual, it seems, it’s taken me a bit to blog about this, but I do want to offer a recap of my visit to The Erotic Literary Salon in Philadelphia last week. This was my second time as a Salon featured reader, and I really find it such an honor!

Something new this time was that Susana Mayer, founder and curator of the Salon, has begun offering the features a chance to lead a discussion about a topic of their choice with attendees for a half hour before the Salon starts. Since I’d seen mentions of it lately and feel interested enough in the subject to have written about it myself, I asked if I could chat with the attendees about the depiction of condom use in erotic fiction.

I was really interested in what the attendees had to say on the subject, both as writers and readers, and I was delighted by the degree of participation in the discussion. I also loved that there seemed to be a diversity of perspectives, and I never sensed any disrespect on anyone’s part of any of them. Awesome! For me, it really turned out to be an interesting conversation, and I appreciate the opportunity to have initiated it and especially appreciate the offerings from all those who chose to share.

As usual, there was a remarkable array of presentations among the five-minute readings in which participants have the opportunity to partake. I truly am struck by what an extraordinary, unusual (not to mention popular!) environment Susana has managed to create with the Salon. Its specialness is unmistakable, and it’s been such a pleasure to be there every time I have.

I read just before intermission and prior to the other feature presenter, the featured musician of the evening, who opened the Salon again after the culmination of the break. I had chosen, for particular personal reasons, to read from my story “Then,” which was published a couple years ago in Rachel Kramer Bussel‘s anthology Obsessed. The story is too long to fit into the 10 minutes I was allotted, so I started in the middle. :) I don’t really have to describe it, as the video is right here if you are interested:

One of the things I’ve consistently found joyous about attending the Salon is seeing people there I know and love. Though there were a few “regulars” who weren’t there that I missed, this time was no exception. Of course seeing Susana is a delight, and Erobintica came down from Connecticut and read us two new poems during her turn at the mic. Her good friend whom I won’t name here (as I don’t know if he’s okay with that) was there, too, and I ended up staying overnight with them so I could have lunch the next day with my extraordinarily delightful new friend Ashley, whom I met at CatalystCon East and who was attending the Salon as a brand-new resident of Philadelphia. A wonderful couple I had the pleasure of meeting last year at a Monica Day-curated event was there, too, and it was a delight as usual to see them.

It was, as it has been in the past, a marvelous time. Enormous thanks to Susana for letting me feature, Erobintica’s friend for hosting me overnight and for doing my videotaping, and all who came out to physically be with us for the event. Already looking forward to next time!

Love,
Emerald

“There’s a place I know, if you’re looking for a show, where they go hardcore…and they turn me on…”
-Ke$ha “Take It Off”

July 24th, 2013

Recommended Reading #159: Abortion, Pt. IV



      “Why a 20-Week Abortion Ban Is Unthinkable: One Woman’s Near-Death Experience” by Valerie Tarico (Reproductive Rights, Health and Body, Politics) 6/26/13

I find the final paragraph of this one of the most powerful and have long strongly agreed with it.

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      “Reproductive Choice Is About More Than Getting ‘Fat’—It’s About Bodily and Economic Autonomy” by Natasha Chart (Health and Body, Reproductive Rights) 7/10/13

As I see it, this piece addresses a number of practically relevant considerations that haven’t always seemed as noted, especially to those who have not actually experienced pregnancy.

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      “US: The GOP’s pro-life hypocrisy” by Jill Filipovic (Reproductive Rights, U.S. Public Policy, Politics) 7/9/13

This is stated about as well as I can imagine it being stated. (The only slight caveat I would offer is that I see it as not solely a political party thing—some Democrats are anti-choice, and some Republicans are not. But I can understand the author using the wording she does since a lot of this focuses on Republican-controlled legislative bodies and/or Republican-sponsored bills.)

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Recommended Reading posted every Wednesday