"A blisteringly good read ...

"From the opening lines the story is charged with chemistry between the central characters.... [It's] intelligent, witty and erotic. If you’ve ever found yourself smiling during sex, this is probably a title you’ll enjoy."

—Ashley Lister, Erotica Readers & Writers Association

Thank you, Ashley and ERWA!!!!!

"You may never look at a rocking horse in the same way!"

I'm so chuffed about all the positive remarks that have been accruing in user reviews of Rock My Socks Off at Amazon UK!

The book has been described as "unabashedly witty and consistently delightful," with "extremely erotic sex scenes" characterized by "weird and wonderful sex in crazy places." It's been called a "fun and frisky" story "featuring characters you want to spend time with," and "a naughty little escape from the grey real world that will cause things to happen between your legs."

My novel has been labeled a "witty and intelligent erotic title from a tremendously talented US writer"! A reviewer alludes to "the tremendous chemistry between the two central characters," and another breathes the words "Stephen Fry"! RMSO has been compared enthusiastically to the type of book that offers "lots of ideas for a rainy day"; and one reader is pleased to note that "you may never look at a rocking horse in the same way!"

Thank you, reviewers!!

P.S. If anyone who has an Amazon UK account (and who has read RMSO) would care to take advantage of the "comment" button below the review by "Roroblu's Mum," just to briefly and politely set the record straight re. the distorted impression she gives regarding the book's focus, I'd be much obliged! Please note that I'm not trying to start arguments with critical reviewers; I just think this particular review could seriously mislead potential readers. Opinions are opinions, but I'm concerned here with basic information about the novel's content. I'd comment myself, but I don't have a UK account. [Advt.]

Silly and Serious Words at Rude Words

The astoundingly efficient people at Rude Words have already posted the interview responses that I sent them yesterday! I replied to ten questions about myself, my life, my opinions, and my work, with a mixture of silly and earnest answers.

Thank you, Rude Words!

Reading Material

I've been having a great time reading all the erotic-author interviews at the new Rude Words blog. (And I'm working on my own interview answers at this very moment. Published erotica authors, visit the site to learn how you can participate.)

And since it's Sunday, there's a new slice of revelation up at the F-Stop blog. Click through to laugh hard and think deeply with the legendary Ashley Lister.

Rock My Soxoniensis Off!

Okay, I do realize that my novel's representation in the Bodleian Library of the University of Oxford merely reflects that library's status as a legal deposit library for the United Kingdom, rather than any special distinction given to Rock My Socks Off. In other words, if I understand correctly, they pretty much have "one of everything" in the stacks.

This knowledge, however, will not prevent me from saying, "Whoopee, I'm in the Bodleian Library!" and posting a nice picture of Radcliffe Camera ("Radcliffe Camera, photograph thyself!"). My erotocomedic opus, mind you, will most likely be curated in a somewhat less glamorous venue—for instance, a salt mine in Cheshire—once the librarians have finished relishing the sex scenes. I mean, processing the acquisition.

Hot Shiver of Exposure

My F-Stop essay, "Hot Shiver of Exposure," is now live! My naked soul and torso await you here. (For background, see me down there.)

Thanks, F-Stoppers!!

Next Stop, F-Stop!

Have you been following the soul-searching, skin-baring essays at F-Stop? F-Stop, which aims to "expose the naked I," is a project recently launched by Neve Black, Shanna Germain, and Donna George Storey. To date the blog has featured posts by fascinating guests Susan DiPlacido and Craig J. Sorensen, as well as entries by each of the brilliant hosts. F-Stop is a place to see a more naked side—figuratively and sometimes literally—of writers you know, and writers you'll be glad to meet in the (un)dressing room.

It's my turn to get naked this coming Sunday, March 21. I'll be taking my shirt off (yeah, yeah, so what else is new?) and talking about my own sense of exposure, past and present, in the context of my identity as an erotica author.

Read the F-Stop mission statement/invitation here.

Rock My Socks Down (Under)

If you're in Australia, it looks like the time is right for you to get your hands on my novel! I've been noticing more and more sources in your part of the world who are ready to sell it to you. Here are some leads:

Angus & Robertson
Borders.com.au
EmporiumBooks.com.au
Play4me.com.au

For an extensive, international list of where to purchase RMSO, visit my website.

Cougar author parade!

Today is the final day of Cougar Book week at AuthorIsland Tiki Hut. If you'd like to sink your teeth into six excerpts and have a chance of winning a free copy of the antho, start here and follow the "newer post" trail!

Free e-book at Xcite!

Click through to download Temptations 1—gratis! You'll get stories by Elizabeth Cage, Cyanne, Kristina Wright, Carmel Lockyer, Beverly Langland, Kitti Bernetti, and Georgina Brown.

Meet me at the Tiki!

Today is my turn at the AuthorIsland Tiki Hut, as we spend the week promoting The Cougar Book! An excerpt from my story can be found basking in the sand, and I'm also taking questions.

One of this week's commenters will win a free copy of the antho. And I'd like to add that no sooner had I arrived at the Tikit Hut than I was offered a tropical drink—so I definitely recommend you hie yourselves over to this island paradise.

Thank you, AuthorIsland!

Just a clarification

The latest Amazon (UK) Vine review of Rock My Socks Off [read my earlier essay on the pitfalls of Vine here] is by somebody who is very put off by the "watersports" theme in erotica. She mentions that prior to reading RMSO, she read my story in Ultimate Decadence, which is an over-the-top high-concept piece in that vein. (This is a book about decadence, after all.) Let us say it did not agree with her.

But the Viner gives the impression that RMSO is also a work that goes to town with this theme, and I feel the need to note here that it is not. Most people reading this blog are aware that I've written many stories that prominently (and, imho, tastefully) feature watersports (and, of course, an even larger number that don't). And if you haven't yet picked up Rock My Socks Off, you may not realize that the Viner's remarks are quite misleading. Yes, peeing appears briefly in the book a few times, in a titillating and not very graphic way. But it is by no means a major part of the action (even the sexual action), the way it was in the short story that the reviewer so disliked. It comprises, rather, a tiny fraction of what goes on in my novel.

So if you like my writing but WS isn't your thing, I do hope you won't be scared away by one reader's distorted account!

Cougar authors vacation at AuthorIsland

This week, six authors from The Cougar Book will be featured, one per day, at AuthorIsland's Tiki Hut! I'm not sure of the exact schedule, but I may be one of the guests, and I'll keep you posted. Either way, I'll see you on the island!

Apologizing for Blogger

Apologies to anyone who subscribes to this blog via e-mail who has found that some of the text in certain posts has displayed as randomly huge. I swear, it's not ego; it's Blogger capriciousness. I've only just been made aware of the problem.

Most Desirable

In 2009, the BBC reported that "Edinburgh has been voted the most desirable city to live in the UK.... beating off its nearest rivals." [Note that this evocative imagery represents the Beeb's choice of words, not mine.]

The article doesn't say so, but one has to assume that the ample supply of books from the Xcite line is a key element in the city's ranking. Now, thanks once again to the photographic astuteness of roving reporter and awe-inspiring author Saskia Walker, we have graphic evidence not only of an exemplary Xcite assortment but also, specifically, of my very own novel's representation in the "Athens of the North."

I told you I loved Scotland! And I love Saskia Walker! (Look for her new erotic-paranormal tour de force, Rampant, soon!)

... in which Dr. Dick stops podcasting long enough to drop by for a chat!

Richard Wagner, Ph.D., ACS, is a tirelessly multitasking clinical sexologist, relationship counselor, video producer, entrepreneur, and charity founder. In the online world of sex advising and podcasting, he’s better known as Dr. Dick [NSFW].

Dr. Dick’s podcasting incarnation recently celebrated its third anniversary. (It is rumored that Dr. D. took his podcast out on the town to celebrate, and that a hotel room was involved.) Those of us in the erotic-literature scene are probably most familiar with Dr. D.’s “The Erotic Mind” [NSFW] podcast series in particular, which consists of interviews with erotic authors and artists, and whose roster of guests to date includes such scintillating subjects as Jordan LaRousse & Samantha Sade [NSFW], Kay Jaybee, Donna George Storey, Jolene Hui, James Lear, Emerald, Shanna Germain, Ashley Lister, Craig J. Sorensen, and D. L. King. I can tell you from personal experience, both as an interviewee and a devoted listener, that Dr. D. is a fascinating, charming, insightful, and hilarious host. (Follow the link above to listen for yourselves!)

I recently had a little informal online chat with Dr. D., with the intention of getting his perspective on his podcasting experiences. (The chat, as reproduced here, has been edited in various ways, to bring you a smoother reading experience and spare you our digressions into topics like the weather, Beatles trivia, and whether we think Jordan or Samantha is more ticklish.)

Jeremy: Three years is quite an epoch, in Internet years.

Dr. Dick: that is so true
Dr. Dick: it’s like dog years
Dr. Dick: only not so furry

Jeremy: Speaking of which ... how has the podcast animal evolved for you in that time?

Dr. Dick: i was horribly nervous for about the first 6 months

Jeremy: And then you relaxed? Or did you progress from horribly nervous to *terribly* nervous?

Dr. Dick: i did relax from horribly to terribly then to just really anxious

Dr. Dick: i have to write out all my scripts

Jeremy: It seems to work well! And I know both from listening and from participating that this method leads to a healthy blend of spontaneity and organization.

Dr. Dick: it’s true
Dr. Dick: when i started the interviews the whole process changed

Jeremy: Have your podcasting goals evolved or developed in directions you didn’t anticipate?

Dr. Dick: they’ve evolved from generic interviews to thematic interviews
Dr. Dick: i now have three podcast series going at once—The Erotic Mind, Sex EDGE-U-cation and Sex Wisdom
Dr. Dick: i seem to be branching out in different directions
Dr. Dick: as i encounter interesting people in the field of human sexuality, i ask for an interview

Jeremy: Did the “Erotic Mind” series initially take shape as a major project, or was it a smaller idea that got out of control?

Dr. Dick: it started with an interview i did with Sam and Jordan at oysters and chocolate

Jeremy: Ooh, yeah—I remember that. Those two are enough to get anyone hooked.

Dr. Dick: i had so much fun with them and they were so insightful; i thought to myself, why not chat with other authors and artists
Dr. Dick: see if we can uncover something of the creative process involved in this unique art form
Dr. Dick: once i started the series, it was pretty smooth sailing from there on out

Jeremy: Every artist, and every conversation you have with your guests, is different ... but are there some general trends that have emerged?

Dr. Dick: that is so true, trends have emerged
Dr. Dick: one universal is that the artists and authors were all creative with pictures or words as children
Dr. Dick: they all grew into their talents
Dr. Dick: i don’t think i’ve interviewed anyone that started creating their art as an adult

Jeremy: Interesting! I wonder how true that is in other fields. People our age (ahem) who do computer programming, for example, were most likely *not* messing around with mainframes in their childhood. But maybe they were doing related activities—logic puzzles or something.

Dr. Dick: many of the graphic artists who now work with computer generated images started out with crayons, pencils, pens and paper

Jeremy: I guess they were the kids who were drawing instead of *eating* the crayons.

Jeremy: It’s clear from your intelligent and well-thought-out interviews that your years of experience as a sex therapist inform your understanding of the erotic arts. Going in the other direction now, have your explorations of the “erotic minds” of writers and artists influenced your thinking as a sex adviser?

Dr. Dick: they sure have! i am now more likely then ever to turn clients on to erotica
Dr. Dick: i think there is a significant therapeutic aspect to reading and writing erotica

Jeremy: I’m interested to know how they react to that.

Dr. Dick: some don’t understand my suggestion till i explain it to them
Dr. Dick: some are resistant
Dr. Dick: others think it’s an interesting idea that they would like to look into

Jeremy: Do you see a societal discomfort with sexuality as coloring how some of them respond to the idea of reading “dirty” books?

Dr. Dick: absolutely
Dr. Dick: same goes for images
Dr. Dick: i often have to make it stronger than a suggestion
Dr. Dick: i have to insist on it as part of the therapeutic intervention
Dr. Dick: surprisingly enough lots of clients will not do it till i insist
Dr. Dick: just saying the words out loud that you see on a page is a big thing for some

Jeremy: “Prescribed by Dr. Dick.” I would love to see that plastered on a book I’m in.
Jeremy: Oh, before I forget to do the PSA here ... am I correct in thinking that you’re continually on the lookout for published erotica authors to interview?

Dr. Dick: yes!

Jeremy: You hear that, lurkers?
Jeremy: How can they get in touch with you, DD?

Dr. Dick: dr_dick AT drdicksexadvice DOT com

Jeremy: You must put an incredible amount of work into these enriching and entertaining shows.

Dr. Dick: it’s true
Dr. Dick: finding interesting interviewees is a constant challenge
Dr. Dick: the time and energy i put into the pre-production is enormous
Dr. Dick: then there is the production itself, which is often a crapshoot

Jeremy: Where are my winnings, then?

Dr. Dick: the post-production stuff is also a challenge. finding sponsors, making the presentation lively, making the posting attractive is all very time consuming

Jeremy: What do you envision going forward, for Dr. Dick the podcaster and Dr. Dick the sex therapist (and any other Dr. Dicks you have on hand)?

Dr. Dick: i’m cutting back on my private practice
Dr. Dick: i’ve been doing it for nearly 30 years
Dr. Dick: frankly, it gets a bit repetitive

Jeremy: Almost anything would, right?

Dr. Dick: and nowadays folks are less likely to want to work at solving their problems
Dr. Dick: “can’t you just give me a pill for that?” is what i often hear

Jeremy: Do you hand out placebos?
Jeremy: I bet they get suspicious when the “pill” comes out of a PEZ dispenser.

Dr. Dick: no placebos ;)
Dr. Dick: i pretty much can tell in 10 minutes if the prospective client will want to work out the problem

Jeremy: It’s been wonderful chatting with you, Dr. Dick! (But this bill you’ve just handed me is an outrage, and if I were you I wouldn’t pay it.)
Jeremy: Before we completely wind it up, is there anything in particular you’d like to talk about?

Dr. Dick: not really

Jeremy: You’re so antisocial.

Dr. Dick: i know!!!

Okay, so he doesn't want to talk to me anymore ... but he'll talk to you! So chime in below with your comments, and pick the good doctor's brain.

Jeremy: You *will* take questions from the floor, right?

Dr. Dick: i'll be on the floor? will there be cocktails? sure!

The Man Who Was (or Will Be) Thursday

I'll have a special guest on my blog this Thursday, March 4! It's the scintillating and multitalented Dr. Dick [NSFW], who will be here to chat about his podcasting adventures—and to educate and amuse us, as always. I hope you'll join us!

"Mr. Edwards paints a delightful picture ...

"... of a relationship grounded on mutual respect and mutual horniness. The result is satisfaction for all, including the reader.... If you're in search of some good-natured, cheeky entertainment, I recommend it highly."

—Lisabet Sarai, Erotica Revealed

Thank you, Lisabet and Erotica Revealed!!!!!