Tag Archives: In the Flesh London

In the Flesh has its Naughty Re-launch in London

DSC00031Wednesday night in London it might have been cool and raining outside, but inside the fabulous Alley Cat Bar, the atmosphere was hot and steamy. For four years Rachel Kramer Bussel’s In the Flesh was a popular monthly event on the New York street calendar and, to have the event re-launched in London by the fabulous Suzanne Portnoy, author of The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker: The Intimate Adventures of a Woman Who Can’t Say No. was like a blast from the very recent past in a very naughty, very fun way. The event was sponsored by Xcite Books.   

In the Flesh London hostess Suzanne Portnoy, who read at the New York event, said: ‘Although it held its final reading in 2010, In the Flesh is fondly remembered by anyone who has ever written erotica. Authors would share their stories to get the audience hot and bothered. It was a great place where established and new writers/bloggers of erotica could share their work in a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. Many UK based authors performed there and now we are bringing it back to the heart of London, where we hope it will take on a new lease of life.’ And it certainly seems to have done just that.

In the Flesh New York had a reputation for being one of America’s rudest reading events. Plus it had cupcakes! And down the stairs in the basement that is the Alley Cat, there was a wonderful incongruity in the dark, mirrored blues bar with its wall-décor of vinyl records and gigantic version of Barbarella playing against the back wall of the stage behind the drums and the cheerful, brightly-coloured plates of cupcakes set on each table. Rachel might not have been there, but her inspiration certainly was!

The venue itself has quite an amazing history. The Alley Cat is located in the basement of what was once the famous Regent Sound Studios on Denmark Street. Denmark Street has the honour of being the place where the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, Elton John and David Bowie recorded songs, but it’s also where serial murderer Denis Nilson worked in the Job Centre on the corner.

I felt a bit like I was making history, being among the readers for the first In the Flesh event in London. And reading with such fab names as Liz Coldwell and Jilly Boyd with Suzanne Portnoy hosting us was a real honour. Also, for me DSC00037it was an even more special occasion for several reasons. First of all, Raymond’s sister, Cindy, brother-in-law Pat, and niece Juanita are all visiting from the States, and they came along to party with us — Juanita having just gotten off the plane from Miami. Second, my multi-talented cohort, Moorita Encantada, closed out the evening with a wonderfully wicked musical scene from our play, The Eye of the Beholder. As always, Moorita was stunning.

We arrived early to find Suzanne already there sorting out the bartenders with her wonderfully naughty blues playlist for the guest to listen to until the readings started. The house-sized Barbarella was then replaced with the sassy In the Flesh London logo just as Moorita with her fab OH, Daniel, showed up to get her sound system set up and make sure she had time to get into her Medusa costume.

The fabulous Liz Coldwell started the evening with a very hot m/m boy meets werewolf story that had everyone squirming in their seats. I followed on with one of my favourite scenes from The Pet Shop, breakfast with Tino, and Jilly Boyd had us all seriously craving fruit … er that should be fruit vendors … in the final reading of the day.

Then after a nice break for much-needed liquid refreshment to cool everyone down and more cupcake chomping for energy, Moorita Encantada took the stage as Medusa, the lead role from our burlesque play, The Eye of The Beholder. As always, Moorita did us both proud.

After the first In the Flesh London was officially over, there was time for more drinks and planning and scheming the next one. As was the tradition of the original, In the Flesh London will happen regularly last Wednesday night of every month in the Alley Cat from 6:30 to 8:00. All erotica writers and bloggers who are interested in reading should contact Alison at Xcite. Alison@accentpress.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

News, Naughtiness and Nomination Niftiness

It’s been awhile since I’ve had a news update and with an exciting summer fast approaching and lots of things happening, I thought it was time I caught everyone up on the latest. So grab your diaries and mark the dates and hold on to your hats. It’s gonna be a wild ride!

COMING SOON!

In the Flesh London Re-launch

One of America’s rudest reading events, In the Flesh, relaunches in London on May 29th giving well-known erotic writers the chance to share their In the Flesh logowork with their readers. For four years In the Flesh was a popular monthly event on the New York street calendar. Curated by erotic writer editor Rachel Kramer Bussel it featured the best writers in erotica from the US & UK.

Sponsored by Xcite Books and hosted by bestselling erotic memoirist Suzanne Portnoy, In The Flesh London will be held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Alley Cat Bar & Club on Denmark Street starting on 29th May from 6.30pm – 8.30pm.

The first session features readings by prolific erotica authors Liz Coldwell (former editor of FORUM magazine), KD Grace, Jilly Boyd and will be hosted by Suzanne Portnoy, author of  The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker: The Intimate Adventures of a Woman Who Can’t Say No.

The venue The Alley Cat is located in the basement of what was once the famous Regent Sound Studios on Denmark Street. Denmark Street has an illustrious history, where the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, Elton John and David Bowie recorded songs but also where serial murderer Denis Nilson worked in the Job Centre on the corner.

Details:                                                             

Date: 29th May

Time: 6.30-8.30pm

Place: The Alley Cat Bar & Club,4 Denmark Street, London WC2

What: Erotic Reading Night sponsored by Xcite Books,.

Get your tickets here, FREE! http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/6634737679/estw#

Come join us for rude reading pleasure and lots of surprises.

eto-awardETO Best Erotic Author Nomination

That’s right, I’ve been nominated! I can still hardly believe it! I’m very excited to be on the short list for Best Erotic Author 2013, as voted for by subscribers to the ETO Magazine! This is the first year ETO has had a category for Best Erotic Author, so I feel a bit like a pioneer!

And just look at who I share that honour with: Rachel Kramer Bussel and Kay Jaybee!! Also on the list are a couple of writers I’m sure no one has ever heard of before, but I wish them well anyway – EL James and Sylvia Day. (heh, heh!) I’m chuffed to bits just to be nominated and to be in such fine company. And I’m even more chuffed that I’ll actually be able to be in Birmingham on the 23rd of June for the ETO with author extraordinaire and good friend, Kay Jaybee to do a little bit of book signing for Xcite Books. Then afterwards, it’s off to the award ceremony, dawlings! Black dress and pearls at the ready!

And it gets even better! As if it wasn’t enough to get to be in Birmingham for the ETO Awards, I’ll be coming down from Scarborough after a wild and crazy Saturday at

sbtsmed(1)Smut by the Sea

Smut by the Sea: Scarborough 2013 is an Adults Only Event held at Scarborough Library on the 22nd June. It’s a celebration of smut with erotic authors, including myself, performing short readings from stories covering a wide variety of genres. There’ll be a little something for everyone and loads of fun for all.

In the Evening there’s a Launch Party Extravaganza with fun, laughter & prizes galore and lots more, including an exclusive performance of a scene from The Eye of the Beholder, the wildly wicked, quirky burlesque play I’ve written with the multi-talented Moorita Encantada, who will be performing. Check out the schedule of events and if you want to join the fun, all you need to know is on the Smut by the Sea website. I hope to see you there.

Eroticon 2014

Yes, I know it’s still a long ways away, but it’ll be here way before we know it, and I just have to share the news that I’m going to be speaking with the fabulous Victoria Blisse at Eroticon next year, on a subject that is near and dear to both of our hearts, Sex and Spirituality. Victoria and I have been dreaming and scheming this topic for a while now, so it will be great fun to finally be able to share our thoughts on a very important topic and have a whole roomful of erotic authors and bloggers share their thoughts with us.

Also, I’ve been asked to do another writing workshop for Eroticon 2014. I’m very much looking forward to that, since it was so much fun last year. I’ll be keeping you updated on dates, times, places and all the fab speakers as the event draws nearer, and I’m sure I’ll be able to convince Ruby Kiddell into telling us more as time grows closer.

What’s in a Name?

We authors need lots of validation, as we’re very much a neurotic lot, or at least I am. We need to feel the love, probably more often than most people. Sometimes that happens in the form of award nominations or good reviews or being asked to speak or read at an event or someone simply saying they Stella and Tino Bownessenjoyed our book. And sometimes it happens in completely unexpected ways. Last weekend I was validated and shown the love in the most unexpected and most moving way I can ever remember, so I had to share it with you.

Most of you know Chris and Caroline Bowness. They’ve been on the Passionate Partners segment of my blog and Chris is now a regular contributor with his Consenting Adults post once a month. (He also has a weekly Consenting Adults news round-up you won’t want to miss)In fact I met Chris on Facebook when he messaged me to say that both he and Caroline had enjoyed my novel, The Pet Shop, and from there, we struck up a friendship.

Last weekend, the Bowness family welcomed two new members to the household, two rescue puppies, half Jack Russell and half Chiuaua. Imagine my delight to learn that these two bundles of energy (which all of Chris and Caroline’s FB friends saw bounding around on the lovely video they shot and shared on FaceBook) were named Stella and Tino! Yup! That’s right! The lovely Caroline and Chris named their naughty Pets after MY naughty Pets! For those of you who don’t know, and haven’t yet read my novel, The Pet Shop (shame on you if you haven’t!) Stella and Tino are the main characters, and Tino is a very naughty Pet, indeed! I have it on good authority that Tino Bowness is misbehaving just like his namesake!

So, to Caroline and Chris Bowness, a heart-felt thanks. There is no compliment you could have possibly paid me, as a storyteller, that would have meant more to me.

Oh, and make sure to tune in next Thursday, the 30th, for the next instalment of Consenting Adults – Chris’s tribute to Masturbation Month with that mysterious world of male sex toys revealed!

In Other News:

ExecDecisions Banner1

Most of you who follow me on Twitter or are friends on Facebook know that my counterpart, Grace Marshall, is hard at work on novel three of her Executive Decisions trilogy, The Exhibition. At the moment she has just passed the 34,000 word mark, which is roughly a third of the way, and she has left Staci and Harris in a very awkward situation, where they’ll probably have to remain until after the long weekend. Hubby’s lovely sister, Cindy, her OH Pat and the fabulous niece, Juanita, are coming all the way from the steamy south of the US to the bracing English spring for a visit. This bank holiday Monday, Grace wants to take them all to the County Show to see the fancy chickens and eat some fresh strawberries and cream … all for inspiration, you know. I think she might allow me to go along if I promise to behave myself.

Wishing you all a strawberries and cream sort of weekend … and fancy chickens too if you’re so inclined!

 

In the Flesh Erotic Reading Night Relaunches in London

One of America’s rudest reading events, In the Flesh, relaunches in London later this month giving well-known erotic writers the chance to share their work with their readers.

Sponsored by Xcite Books and hosted by bestselling erotic memoirist Suzanne Portnoy, In The Flesh London will be held on the last Wednesday of every month at the Alley Cat Bar & Club on Denmark Street starting on 29th May from 6.30pm – 8.30pm.

The first session features readings by prolific erotica authors Liz Coldwell (former editor of FORUM magazine), KD Grace, Jilly Boyd and will be hosted by Suzanne Portnoy, author of  The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker: The Intimate Adventures of a Woman Who Can’t Say No.

For four years In the Flesh was a popular monthly event on the New York street calendar. Curated by erotic writer editor Rachel Kramer Bussel it In the Flesh logofeatured the best writers in erotica from the US & UK.

In The Flesh London hostess Suzanne Portnoy, who read at the New York event, said: ‘Although it held its final reading in 2010, In the Flesh is fondly remembered by anyone who has ever written erotica. Authors would share their stories to get the audience hot and bothered. It was a great place where established and new writers/bloggers of erotica could share their work in a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. Many UK based authors performed there and now we are bringing it back to the heart of London, where we hope it will take on a new lease of life.’

The venue The Alley Cat is located in the basement of what was once the famous Regent Sound Studios on Denmark Street. Denmark Street has an illustrious history, where the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, Elton John and David Bowie recorded songs but also where serial murderer Denis Nilson worked in the Job Centre on the corner.

Details:

Date: 29th May

Time: 6.30-8.30pm

Place: The Alley Cat Bar & Club,4 Denmark Street, London WC2

What: Erotic Reading Night sponsored by Xcite Books,.

Get your tickets here, FREE! http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/6634737679/estw#

Come join us for rude reading pleasure and lots of surprises.