Eroticon 2013 Write Up by Lucy Felthouse

Eroticon is a conference for erotic writers and sex bloggers, organised by the incredibly capable Ruby Kiddell. This year it took place in London. There's more information here.

So, without further ado...

Wow… how to write this post without making it longer than the average short story?! I guess I’ll keep it short and to the point, and of course, the photos will speak a thousand words… or something. I am still exhausted from a fabulous weekend, and therefore my brain is not firing on all cylinders. Probably not any, actually. So, here goes:

Friday night:

Not part of the conference, but a fabulous night out with K D Grace, Victoria Blisse, Lily Harlem,Tabitha Rayne, Lexie Bay, Kay Jaybee and myself. K D Grace organised a trip to the Volupte Lounge in the City of London. We had a delicious dinner in Belushi’s first of all, then headed off for some burlesque. And it was brilliant. I’m afraid the names of the performers escape me (though I suspect K D Grace will have them all listed in her write-up), with one exception. Dave the Bear. Yes, Dave. A man, who performed some boylesque. For me, he was the highlight. He was very funny, sexy and totally bonkers. Our table laughed, cheered, whistled and whooped throughout, and also very much enjoyed Stefan, a rather attractive young man who was dragged onto the stage and made into the partner of a Russian ballerina – who happened to be a man. For the sake of brevity, I’ll just say this was a night full of friendship, giggles and fun. And Kay Jaybee with her first shot – a Butterball, which was delicious.

Saturday:

So – conference time. A very tired bunch of smut writers made their way from their hotel to the conference, popping into Waterloo station for some food and drinks first. I attended the opening speech, Brook’s speech on sexual health and contraception (which I found fascinating, and am hoping to have one of the members on my blog at some point), then Kristina Lloyd’s creative writing workshop. I’d never met Kristina before, so like the fangirl I am, I asked her to sign one of her books for me, which she very graciously did after the workshop. During, though, there was no time for autographs – it was a packed session which produced a hilarious outcome. We had spreadsheets with differently coloured blocks, and we had to write various things in the boxes. For example:

Name four things that sparkle:

• Edward Cullen
• Stars
• Ice
• Snow

It was early in the morning (especially for me, I’m not at all a morning person), which is my only excuse for the first answer. But it did make me giggle. Our homework is to write something containing some of the words and elements we came up with. Hopefully I’ll be able to get to that soon.

Then came refreshments, and I ended up not going to any of the sessions because I was too busy chatting with people, both people I already knew, and those I was lucky enough to meet. Next came Remittance Girl’s workshop, which was more theoretical than Kristina’s, but incredibly thought provoking, and left me with many thoughts whizzing around my head.

Afterwards came lunch, and I accidentally got chatting and ended up  missing the next session, because I didn’t want to walk in late – oops! But some fantastic conversations were had – not least one with Mario Cacciottolo, who runs the Someone Once Told Me website, which is a fabulous idea – check it out to see what it’s all about. It turned out we both went to the University at Derby (though not at the same time) and actually had one of the same lecturers – what a small world!

Soon, many people were flagging, including myself, so me, Victoria Blisse, Lexie Bay, Lily Harlem and Tabitha Rayne headed over to see the Sh! Girlz. Tabitha had never met them before, so it was a very exciting experience for her, and of course I’m always delighted to see the ladies, especially since Renee, Jo and Shelly were there. So it was hugs all round, some signing of books, some giggles, some purchasing, then we reluctantly went on our way – via a pub – to go and get something to eat. I led the girls from London Bridge Tube station to Gourmet Burger Kitchen on Clink Street without consulting a map, impressing them all  After feeding our faces, we headed back to the hotel and nattered until almost one in the morning. Which leads me to…

Sunday:

Even more tired, we headed –  bags and all, as most of us went home straight after the conference – back to the venue. Victoria and I were on the first panel, about anthologies, so we had to liven up. Thankfully we managed it (Victoria is fine with mornings, luckily, so she chivvied me along!) and had a great panel with Rachel Kramer Bussel and Maxim Jakubowski with lots of varied and fun questions, which I hope we answered successfully.

Again, lots of networking and chatting was done, and so I didn’t attend any more sessions until the afternoon, which was K D Grace’s creative writing workshop. She’s my friend, so I admit I am biased, but it was excellent, interesting and very informative. I got a little bit of my novella written, so I came away with something to work on, too.

Sadly, it was then time to go. A huge round of goodbyes were made at the venue, then some of us headed to Waterloo station, where another round of goodbyes were made. I then headed onto the Northern Line to St. Pancras, and eventually, home. I was so knackered it was a struggle not to fall asleep on the train, but I managed it. Just.

Overall:

The tiredness was absolutely worth it. Writing is such a solitary business that it’s absolutely fantastic to be able to  meet up with like minded people and chat, share ideas, and just generally have fun. I don’t regret missing some of the sessions, purely because the time I spent meeting new people and being with ones I already knew was invaluable. Sadly, I didn’t get to meet everyone I wanted to, but I checked a few off the list, which I’m very pleased about. And there’s always next year to meet the rest. I can’t wait! Well done, Ruby Kiddell – you pulled it off again, and it was even better than last year. Roll on Smut by the Sea!

*****

Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over seventy publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include Best Bondage Erotica 2012 and 2013, and Best Women's Erotica 2013. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies. She owns Erotica For All, and is book editor for Cliterati. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9 

Guest Blog: K D Grace

When it comes to sex, let’s face it, the eyes have it. While it’s true that we do have four other senses, and no doubt sex is the best when all senses are engaged, there’s something outrageously hot about the idea of looking but not touching. I’ve always been a bit of a voyeur, and I love the idea of observing the act of passion, analysing it, playing it over inside one’s head from every angle. I’m also intrigued by the fact that being the outside observer means one can vicariously participate in the sex act of both partners, which is something those actually involved in can never do.  It’s almost like having sex twice at the same time. Or better yet, make that three times, once for each partner and once for the watcher. So, sex in the eyes of the observer is in some strange kinky way three times as powerful while being at the same time once removed. However, the watcher in this case is always the passive third party, only ever observing, only ever taking in and analysing the sex act of the couple being watched.

But, imagine how much more power the watcher would have if he or she were also the one calling the shots, still not participating, but telling the sex partners what to do to each other – especially if one of those involved is his mistress.

In my novella, Surrogates, even though he’s in love with his beautiful gardener, Francie Carter, Daniel Alexander III takes his marriage vows very seriously. Until he gets the nerve to ask his wife, Bel, for a divorce, watching each other masturbate is all he can offer Francie. Then Dan convinces Francie to allow his friend, Simon Paris, to be his surrogate – to have sex with her while Dan watches and supervises. It’s a win-win. Dan stays faithful to his wife, and with Simon’s help, he can keep Francie satisfied until he asks for a divorce.

With their yawner of a love life, Dan’s wife, Bel, is enjoying her own version of borderline fidelity with her massage therapist, Ellen. Bel can’t see the harm. After all, it's not proper sex if it's with another woman, is it?

Dan’s discovery of Ellen and Bel trysts strangely rekindles his passion for his wife. As sex with Bel gets kinkier and better, and sex between Francie and Simon gets ever more sizzling, Dan thinks he has the best of both worlds. But secrets don’t stay secret. Substitutes aren’t the real thing. And in the end there are no surrogates for matters of the heart.

Blurb:

DANIEL ALEXANDER III takes his marriage vows seriously. Until he gets the balls to ask his wife, BEL, for a divorce, watching each other masturbate is all he can offer his beautiful gardener, FRANCIE CARTER. But when Dan’s friend, SIMON PARIS, agrees to be his surrogate, affairs of the heart get complicated.

More info and buy links: http://kdgrace.co.uk/books/surrogates/

Excerpt:

Dan wasn’t listening. ‘Francie, darling, I know how hard it is for you, with us not able to really be with each other. I promise that’ll end soon, and we can be together properly. But in the meantime, it’s not right me having Bel and you having no one. So I’ve come up with a solution for us. Simon will be my surrogate.’

‘What?’ Francie had pushed herself back against the sink as far as she could. Her heart raced in her throat and her face felt like it would burst into flame. ‘You want me to … You want us to …’ She nodded to Simon, then she glared up at him. ‘Is this why you’re here?’

But before Simon could do more than make a couple of fish gasps, Dan ploughed on. ‘Oh don’t you see, darling, it’s so perfect. If I can’t be with you, if I can’t give you what I know you so desperately need, then who better to help us both out that my dearest, most trusted friend, Simon.’

‘He’s a landscaper. He’s hired help just like I am.’ She sounded a lot more hysterical than she meant to. What she wanted to sound was outraged. What she wanted to sound was incensed.

‘No, sweetheart, no. Simon and I are old friends. We went to uni together. We spent a wild summer in Italy together. Darling, I’d trust Simon with my life.’ He shot Simon a meaningful glance, then his gaze came to rest on her. ‘I’d trust him with the person in my life I value most, the one I most want to make happy.’ He caught his breath, and his face softened. ‘Please, darling. This is a gift, something I can do for you. You can pretend he’s me. I can make love to you through Simon, and you, anything you’ve wanted to do to me you can do to him.’

‘Anything?’ She spoke around her racing heart, which felt like it would jump right out of her mouth.

‘Yes, anything, darling. Anything.’   

‘Good.’ Before she had time to consider what she was doing, she slapped Simon, hard, hard enough that he recoiled. Both men gasped, and her hand stung like fire. But she ignored the pain, squared her shoulders and looked Simon right in his now watering grey eyes. ‘Then you can give him that for me.’

To her total surprise, Simon did exactly as she said. He walked over to Dan and slapped him, slapped him hard enough to knock Dan up against the staging table, slapped him hard enough to draw blood where a tooth cut his lip.

The electric silence that followed was interrupted only by the heavy breathing of all three. The two men glared at each other for a moment, sizing one another up. Trembling all over, Francie grabbed the edge of the sink for support, just as Simon turned his back on Dan and came to stand in front of her. He stood so close his breath ruffled the hair that had come loose from the clasp she wore it up in, so close that the rise and fall of his chest beneath his T-shirt was impossible to ignore, so close the heat rising from his body felt magnetic.

‘Does that about sum it up?’ He asked.

For a second, she thought she might cry. But instead, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. She kissed him as hard as she had slapped him, like she wanted to eat him up, like she wanted to crawl up inside his warmth. And he kissed her back. Jesus, how he kissed her back! He kissed and nipped the hollow of her throat around to the sensitive place below her ear, then he whispered in between efforts to breathe. ‘If you want me to stop, tell me now before it’s too late.’

‘Don’t you dare, don’t you dare, don’t you dare,’ she gasped over and over again, guiding his hand to the knot tied below her right breast that held her wrap-around dress closed.

He yanked it hard, then he shoved and pushed until the dress slid from her shoulders and pooled on the floor around her gardening clogs. Somewhere in the periphery of her mind she heard Dan’s fly unzip, a sound she’d grown used to over the past few months, a sound that constantly taunted her with everything she could see yet never touch.

But there were other things to focus on today. Simon kissed his way down her sternum and cupped her breasts, cupped them and kneaded them until her nipples strained against the callouses of his stroking fingers. Then his mouth took over. What her breasts lacked in size, they made up for in sensitivity, and her whole body thrummed as he suckled and bit, nibbled and licked.

*****

K D Grace was born with a writing obsession. It got worse once she actually learned HOW to write. There's no treatment for it. It's progressive and chronic and quite often interferes with normal, everyday functioning. She might actually be concerned if it wasn't so damned much fun most of the time.

K D's critically acclaimed erotic romance novels, The Initiation of Ms Holly, The Pet Shop and Lakeland Heatwave Book 1: Body Temperature and Rising are published by Xcite Books and are available from all good paperback and eBook retailers.

Her erotica has been published with Xcite Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Harper Collins Mischief Books, Black Lace, Erotic Review, Ravenous Romance, Sweetmeats Press and Scarlet Magazine.

Find out more about K D Grace on her website, http://kdgrace.co.uk. She's also on Facebook and Twitter.

*****

Win a $25 All Romance eBooks Gift Card!

As part of her Surrogates blog tour, K D Grace would like to give away a $25 All Romance eBooks Gift Card to one lucky winner. All you have to do is enter using the below Rafflecopter to be in with a chance of winning. Increase your chances of winning by visiting the other stops on the tour and leaving comments there, too! See where else K D Grace is visiting here: http://www.writermarketing.co.uk/prpromotion/blog-tours/currently-on-tour/k-d-grace/ a Rafflecopter giveaway

K. D. Grace: 'The Initiation of Ms Holly'

I gleaned a lot of inspiration for my erotic romance, The Initiation of Ms Holly, from being stuck in the Eurostar Tunnel in the dark on a malfunctioning train; at least that was the catalyst. But the idea of being forced to use our other senses as a replacement for the over-developed sense of sight has always intrigued me and has played a role in several of my short stories. I wanted to create a world in which my hero and heroine would be forced to rely on other senses.

Often in novels, we literally see the world through the eyes of the author, and our eyes are constantly at the forefront of our Panoply of the Senses, with television, films, internet, even books. We get a visual glut of input with not nearly enough attention paid to the other senses. As writers, it’s not unusual for us to view our heroine or hero up close and personal in our mind’s eye. In many cases we may even have already picked out the perfect actor or actress to portray them in the inevitable movie that will surely follow (Please tell me I’m not the only one who does thisJ.)

A good bit of the first three chapters of The Initiation of Ms Holly takes place in the dark or with Rita Holly blindfolded. But the novel goes way beyond a few chapters in a blindfold. Rita is not permitted to see the face of her lover, Edward, until she completes, to the High Council’s satisfaction, the initiation ritual into the secret society, of which Edward is a part -- The Mount. Neither is she allowed to have sex with him until she is a fully-fledged member.

What I wanted to do was create a world in which our most common method of being attracted to each other – sight, and our most common response to falling in love – sex, are taken away. Rita and Edward are left with only their other senses and with their wits to overcome the obstacles set before them, that is IF they care enough about each other to endure the challenge. And Vivienne, the sexy but vicious head of the High Council of The Mount, has no intention of making it easy.

It’s an archetypal story -- not being able to experience one’s lover through the sense of sight. In Greek mythology, Psyche is not allowed to see the face of her lover, but he is so tender, so engaging so charming. And since he visits her in the dark of night, it’s a fair assumption that he’s good in bed too! Whatever he does, he does it well, caring for her in ways that inspire love. But of course it’s not enough. Psyche needs to SEE the man she loves to reassure herself he’s as wonderful as she believes him to be and not the monster her sisters tell her he is. Of course he’s neither man nor monster. He’s Eros, the god of love, himself, and she has broken his only command – not to look upon his face. Let the fun begin! The tale of their love and Psyche’s abandonment and reunion with Eros is one of my very favourite myths. The Initiation of Ms Holly is a modern retelling of that story, all dressed up and turned about and set in London.

Which brings me back to the other senses. Can we truly trust what we can’t see with our own eyes? Most mammals trust their noses far more than their sense of sight, and there have been studies done that suggest we humans still have those latent mammalian olfactory abilities. We just don’t use them anymore. Barn Owls can hunt quite effectively in total darkness by using only their amazing sense of hearing. Could we actually recognize true love with our sense of smell, could we recognize the heartbeat of our lover, or the shape of his face against our fingertips? Could we rely on the sense receptor in our skin to define for us what we can’t see? How much of what is unseen could we perceive with our ears or with our sense of taste? Edward tests some of Rita’s other senses in the beginning chapters of The Initiation of Ms Holly, with some very yummy results. ‘I don’t have to see you to appreciate you,’ he tells her upon their initial meeting in the pitch black of the train.

For me, toying with the senses and how they affect our desires and feelings for other people, how they affect our perception of intimacy, provides one of the most fascinating angles to any story. If we can’t see our lover, can we trust our other senses to tell us if we’re living with a monster or with a god? And even if we do see our lover, do we trust what we see with our own eyes to be the whole truth?

Rita and Edward’s journey is fraught with sensual twists and turns as well as the usual emotional mine fields that litter the path to love – jealousy, doubt, lack of trust, fear of loss, and all sorts of other tantalizing goodies. Emotions and senses – put the two together and watch the fireworks. Sometimes what we see with our own eyes is not to be trusted. And sometimes we CAN smell a rat. So the journey of a thousand miles, the journey to love, begins with a kiss in a dark train – at least for Rita and Edward. That and some very expensive chocolate.

*****

K D Grace was born with a writing obsession. It got worse once she actually learned HOW to write. There's no treatment for it. It's progressive and chronic and quite often interferes with normal, everyday functioning. She might actually be concerned if it wasn't so damned much fun most of the time.

K D's erotic romance novel, The Initiation of Ms Holly, published by Xcite Books, is now available everywhere.

Her erotica has been published with Xcite Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Black Lace, Erotic Review, Ravenous Romance, and Scarlet Magazine.

Her second novel, The Pet Shop, also published by Xcite Books, will be available in October 2011.

Find out more about K D Grace on her website, http://kdgrace.co.uk/. She's also on Facebook and Twitter.