August 16 in Philadelphia: Jeremy & Helia!

Here's the official press release for our Philadelphia appearance—coming up in just a few weeks now!

Contact: Susana Mayer, Ph.D., Salonnière 215-840-5830
email: PCSalons@gmail.com – reserve a time slot to read at Salon (5 min max)
www.PhiladelphiaCulturalSalons.com – blog of all things erotica, Salon notices, guidelines.

The Erotic Literary Salon will be held Tuesday, Aug. 16. Part of the evening will feature two erotic-fiction authors who have been a married couple for over a quarter century, Jeremy Edwards and Helia Brookes. Widely published author Edwards, whose work has been described as “witty, charming, intelligent, raunchy, and wildly arousing” and whose erotocomedic novel Rock My Socks Off was released last year, returns to the Salon to read from his short stories. http://www.jeremyedwardserotica.com/

Brookes, who has been writing erotica for several years and has been published both online and in print, makes her Salon debut this month. She will be reading her story from the recently published collection Gotta Have It. One copy each of two new anthologies containing stories by Helia and/or Jeremy—Gotta Have It and Nice Girls, Naughty Sex—will be given away in the course of the evening. http://heliabrookes.blogspot.com/

Helia will lead a discussion about the challenges of making time to write, revise, and submit when writing erotica is important to you but not always a top priority. This talk will be held at the end of the Salon for erotica writers and those interested in becoming writers.

PHILADELPHIA: The Erotic Literary Salon, unique in the English-speaking world has launched a growing movement mainstreaming erotica. Salons attract a supportive audience of 50 or more individuals. Approximately a dozen participate as writers, readers, storytellers, spoken word performers of original works/words of others, the rest just come to listen, enjoy and applaud. Frances, our resident nonagenarian (94 years young) often recites her original erotica.

Salons gather the 3rd Tuesday of every month at TIME (The Bohemian Absinthe Lounge), 1315 Sansom Street, Center City, Philadelphia. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. (limited seating), for cocktails, food and conversation. The event begins promptly at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $10, discounted for readers, students, and seniors (65+) to $8. Salon attendees must be 21.

Creator of this event, Dr. Susana, is Philadelphia’s best-known sexologist. She lends her voice to the Salon by offering relevant information to support the discussions that arise in the Salon/blog.

“…surprisingly comfortable….Salon devotees praise her for the space she has created….”
“I think Susana is doing a very brave thing.”
Philadelphia Inquirer, February 10, 2010

“There are laughter and tears along with the hot rush of blood – to the face.
Daily News, March 15, 2010

I know a couple of erotica veterans who are planning to be there as well, and I hope we'll also hear them read from their fantastic work.

Here's to you, Helia Brookes!!

Salon! (And thanks for all the fish.)

Tomorrow night (Tuesday, July 19) is Erotic Literary Salon night in Philadelphia! Here's this month's exciting program:

The Erotic Literary Salon will be held Tuesday, July 19. The gifted writer Sistah J.R. Nate will deliver her “kinky and taboo” stories in her special tantalizing prose style, always leaving her audiences wanting more. Daniel Sperry, world class cellist will share his original music and the poetry of Rumi, Kabi, Mary Oliver, and others. www.cellomansings.com The freelance Burlesque dancer, Eris Vayle will close the evening with an exotic performance.

Salons gather the 3rd Tuesday of every month at TIME (The Bohemian Absinthe Lounge), 1315 Sansom Street, Center City, Philadelphia. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. (limited seating), for cocktails, food and conversation. The event begins promptly at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $10, discounted for readers, students, and seniors (65+) to $8. Salon attendees must be 21.

[P.S. Go here to get a special parking coupon.]

Next month's salon (Tuesday, August 16) will feature a husband-and-wife pair of eroticists—us (i.e., yours truly and the fabulous Helia Brookes)!

Friday Is My Day

I guess it is! Today two (count 'em) never-before-published Jeremy pieces have gone live: "Dr. Olsen's Loquacious Automaton," at Oysters & Chocolate Erotic; and "Sweater Sparks," at The Erotic Woman. Yippee!!

"Dr. Olsen's Loquacious Automaton" is a lesbian steampunk piece, a tale of vaudeville, feminism, and technology:

Even in two pieces, thought Sal, Nora was absurdly fetching. Before Danny closed his case again, she stole a fond glance at the exquisitely curled woolen head of black hair; the glimmering marbles painted to resemble cerulean eyes; and the rubber lips that had been dyed the brightest scarlet, to ensure they’d show up pert and pretty as far away as the balcony seats.

"Sweater Sparks" is a story of camaraderie, serendipity, and sparking moments set at a summer festival in Ottawa:

While he wandered the festival, he replayed their history in his mind. And he laughed at himself for thinking of it as a “history”: technically speaking, they had no history together—or at least no History. Had they ever even interacted outside of business hours? Calvin couldn’t remember a single time when he and Louise had headed in the same direction after locking up the store, or when they’d deliberately or even serendipitously intersected at a party or club. As discussed, she was always heading east when he was heading west; going home when he was going out; seeing a play when he was hearing a band; walking toward the quays when he was biking toward the park.

Thank you, TEW and O&C!!