Between The Covers

It’s twice the celebration this month. First, host Lori Perkins welcomes historical romance author Pan Rosenthal—also known as BDSM author Molly Weatherfield—to our reading. Then we’ll swing into full gear, bringing key 2013 Lambda Literary Award finalists to the mic. Namely Kelli Dunham, Stephanie Schroeder, and Mark Corece!

Be sure to bring your favorite dirty word for our Dirty Word Draw and the chance to win prize bags of books, ebooks, and other sundry items!

Doors open at 7 for socializing. Reading starts promptly at 8!

Here’s our line-up:

Pam Rosenthal writes sexy, award-winning historical romances under her own name and literate BDSM erotica as Molly Weatherfield. Her first romance novel, The Bookseller’s Daughter, won the Romantic Times Readers’ Choice Award for Best Sensual Historical of 2004 and is being re-released in e-book form this May 28 Samhain Publishing. Two of its integral characters are lesbians—a rarity in romance and rarer yet when first released in 2004.

Her erotic novel Carrie’s Story (written as Molly Weatherfield) was chosen by Playboy.com as one of “the 25 sexiest novels ever written” and has been in publication since 1995, most recently from Cleis Press and Audible.com. Pam considers her BDSM erotica “sort of equal-opportunity, essentially het, but proudly and profoundly influenced by LGBT culture and community.”

A Brooklyn native who now lives in San Francisco, Pam’s thrilled to be reading her work in New York City. To find out more, hang out with her online at http://pamrosenthal.com, follow @pamrosenthal on Twitter, or like Molly on Facebook at https://facebook.com/MollyWeatherfield.

Kelli Dunham (kellidunham.com) is everyone’s favorite ex-nun genderqueer nerdy nurse comic. Kelli was one of Velvet Park Magazine’s 25 Significant Queer Women of 2011 and was named to the 2012 Campus Pride Hotlist. Kelli was also given the The Fresh Fruit Festival Award for Distinction in stand-up comedy, although Kelli has never before or since been called distinguished. Kelli is a registered nurse and the author of four books of humorous non-fiction, including two children’s books being used by Sonlight conservative home schooling association in their science curriculum. Her fifth book, Freak of Nurture, a collection is humorous essays that none other than lesbian comedy godmother Kate Clinton called “laugh out loud outrageous storytelling” is just our from Topside Press.

Kelli has three comedy CDs to her credit “I am NOT a 12 Year Old Boy” “Almost Pretty” and “Why Is the Fat One Always Angry” all which are on regular rotation on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s Rawdog Comedy Station and Pandora’s Margaret Cho Comedy Station.

Kelli was recently the expert on “What Is Normal” in Twist Magazine (known as Tiger Beat’s little sister magazine), on a page facing a full color poster of Justin Beiber. There isn’t even an ironic statement to match that, it’s just strangely true.

Stephanie Schroeder is a lesbian-feminist writer and activist based in Brooklyn. Her work has been anthologized in the queer classic anthology, That’s Revolting: Queer Strategies for Resisting Assimilation. Her erotic fiction has been collected in Up All Night: Adventures in Lesbian Sex, Hot & Bothered: Short, Short Fiction on Lesbian Desire, volumes 3 & 4, and other collections.

An independent mental illness awareness activist, Schroeder is the author of the transformative memoir Beautiful Wreck: Sex, Lies & Suicide. She is currently a Contributing Editor at Curve Magazine. Find out more information about Schroeder’s book at www.beautifulwreck.com and find a sampling of her journalism at www.stephanieschroeder.com.

At Between the Covers, Stephanie will read from her essay, “I Don’t Want to be Part of Your [De]Evolution”, included in the Lambda-nominated anthology Here Come the Brides: Reflections on Lesbian Love and Marriage.

Mark Corece is a writer, filmmaker, radio personality and media consultant. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Mark is a graduate of DePaul University with a Master of Science in Video Production and Visual Media. Known for his innovative takes on the arts and politics, he has contributed to numerous print and online publications: AfroPunk.com, Gozamos.com, The Daily Voice, Windy City Times and BET.com. Mark provided commentary for media outlets such as WVON 1690 AM (the largest black talk radio station in Chicago), NPR (National Public Radio) and several college radio stations.

In 2011, Corece’s critically acclaimed Freedom of Identity documentary was a mainstay in the indie film festival circuit. He also produced Camille S. DeBose’s documentary Good Hair and Other Dubious Distinctions, which was honored by the Black Harvest Film Festival.

Continuing with his love for film and media, Markis a freelance video editor for BET.com, editing video packages for Denzel Washington’s Flight, Halle Berry’s The Call and Motown: The Musical on Broadway. He is a consultant for ThinkTank Digital, managing social media and serving as a liaison between clients and press outlets. Most notably, Mark spearheaded the promotion of Jada Pinkett Smith’s documentary Free Angela and All Political Prisoners.

On the panel circuit, Mark spoke at Bronx Community College of New York, NYU and the LGBT Community Center’s Queerlebrity! series. Mark is the co-editor of and contributing writer to Keith Boykin’s anthology For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Still Not Enough: Coming of Age, Coming Out, and Coming Home.

Fantastic only begins to describe our evening on May 3. Acting host, co-curator Debra Hyde welcomed Michelle Churchill, Catherine Gigante-Brown, Elizabeth Thorne, Ann Heredeen, and DL King. And what a wonderful mesh of stories and author enthusiasm! Not only did we have a mutual admiration meeting but our exuberance galvanized our crowd of an audience as well!

Check out all the evening’s photos at our Facebook page. And while you’re there, Like the page and subscribe to it. If you want monthly announcements about Between the Cover’s events, please join our mailing list.

Be with us June 7th as we welcome erotic romance author Pam Rosenthal—also known as BDSM author, Molly Weatherfield, and Lambda Literary Award competitors Kelli Dunham, Stephanie Schroeder, and Mark Corece. More information to come!

It’s going to be a busy night on May 3rd as co-curator Debra Hyde hosts the evening and bring Michelle Churchill, Catherine Gigante-Brown, Elizabeth Thorne, Ann Heredeen, and DL King to the microphone. Be sure to bring your favorite dirty word for our Dirty Word Draw and the chance to win prize bags of books, ebooks, and other sundry items!

Remember, doors open at 7. Reading starts promptly at 8!

Here’s our line-up:

Michelle Churchill tread the boards in NYC and sang with her band in CBGBs. She spent twenty years hard time working with litigators. Now she is basking in the heat and glory of FLASHES. Her second book, FLASHES is a sparkling and witty memoir with the charm and self-questioning of Bridget Jones’ Diary mixed with the lust and sassiness of Sex And The City; the kind of stuff that only happens in movies or a good romance novel. While Michelle is waiting for Hollywood to call, she is working on her next book.

Catherine Gigante-Brown has been a freelance writer of fiction, nonfiction and poetry since the ripe young age of fifteen. Her works have appeared in publications like Seventeen and Screw—and practically everything else in between. Along with Robert “The Harrad Experiment” Rimmer, she co-wrote two biographies for Prometheus Books: Mistress Jacqueline’s Whips & Kisses and Jerry Butler’s Raw Talent. Under a variety of noms de porn, her short stories have appeared in several erotic fiction anthologies. Dozens of her scripts have been made into adult films. She was born and bred in Brooklyn, where she still lives with her husband and teenage son. The El is her first published novel.

Elizabeth Thorne has always written, but she didn’t begin writing erotic stories until she started working in a place known as The Sex Lab. It was an act of desperation since, ironically enough, studying sex kept her too busy to meet anyone larger than a mouse. Unlike Cinderella she doesn’t actually swing that way. These days, Elizabeth spends her much time corrupting the youth of the land with tales of the science of sexuality. When not engaged in such nefarious teaching activities, you can usually find her writing in various cafes and ice cream shops. Elizabeth has contributed to more than a dozen anthologies of erotica and erotic romance and is particularly proud of “The Gingerbread Dungeon” – her collection of BDSM fairy tales. You can find her online at withbatedbeth.com.

Ann Herendeen is the author of Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander (2008) and Pride/Prejudice (2010), both published by HarperCollins; the short story “A Charming Menage,” published in the anthology Gay City 4: At Second Glance (Dec. 2011); and an ongoing e-book series of novels and novellas: “Lady Amalie’s memoirs.” Ann lives in Brooklyn.

D. L. King is a smut writing—and editing—New Yorker who lives somewhere between the Wonder Wheel at Coney Island and the Chrysler Building. The editor of the newly released Under Her Thumb: Erotic Stories of Female Domination as well as The Harder She Comes: Butch Femme Erotica, Seductress: Erotic Tales of Immortal Desire, and the Lambda Literary Award Finalist, Where the Girls Are: Urban Lesbian Erotica, D. L. King also publishes and edits Erotica Revealed, the erotica book review site. The author of dozens of short stories in dozens of anthologies, she is the author of two novels of female domination and male submission, The Melinoe Project and The Art of Melinoe. Find out more at her website and her blog.

“It was a delight to host my generation, the next generation of writers under 35 at April’s Between the Covers Reading. Our lineup was amazing. Each writer rewarded us with unique stories of sex and the body—all intelligent, insightful and sexy! Abigail brought us wonderful fantasies of male pegging, Aimee schooled us on the complications of genital non-conformity, Anna gave us stories of pain, romance and desire and Grace reminded us that racial objectification in the bedroom can both be frowned upon and laughed at. Several lucky audience members went home with gift bags filled with art by KD Diamond, discounts on Corset magazine, erotica and condoms, lube and gloves to safely finish off the party! It was a magical night and I was reminded how brightly we are painting a sex positive future for generations to come.” –Ashley Young, curator

Between the Covers’s March 1st event was one hot night that not even the lion of March could dampen. We welcomed Coliloquy.com and editor Melanie Downing who introduced its Entwined erotica line to our audience. The concept? One writer contributes the opening scene of a new erotic adventure, but when the heroine reaches a decision point, the narrative fractures into wildly different pathways, each written by a different author. The result? Four novellas to choose from.

Then, Entwined authors hit the mic and floored the audience. Lissa Trevor shared the launching chapter of Unbound, Volume 1, then read an excerpt from her Wild Oats. In a hot red and black lace dress and black boots—whew! Debra Hyde read from Hers, putting Unbound’s protagonist on a decidedly lesbian track. It was leather women all the way!

Performer and Urban Erotika founder Mo Beaseley led us to intermission with his rousing — and arousing Whips and Roses.

After a quick break, Cecilia Tan had our audience melting in their seats when she read from her Dear Girl part of Unbound. She had protagonist Charity enduring a countdown — either come when her partner reached its end or else. Man, did we sweat that one out with Charity!

Finally, Joy Daniels introduced us to the forthcoming second collection due out from Entwined. In this volume, Rachel Carter, an intern working in a sex museum, unpacks a box that’s part of a major acquisition only to find… something. Each author decides what that erotic item is and how it figures into Rachel’s adventure. For Joy, it meant masks and masquerades. For us, it meant whetting our appetites for more things Entwined.

Coming April 5th: Erotica and The Next Generation, curated by Ashley Young. Reading: Sassafras Lowrey, Anna Sanai, Grace Jahng Lee, and Aimee Herman. Also joining us: Corset Magazine with 25% off subscriptions!

Introducing Entwined—a whole new way to enjoy the erotic story. Brought to you by Coliloquy.com, the Entwined erotica series brings together all-star authors and fans into a single immersive experience. One beginning. Four happy endings.

Join host and Riverdale Avenue Books publisher Lori Perkins as she welcomes Cecilia Tan, Debra Hyde, Lissa Trevor, and Joy Daniels. They’ll read about Charity, protagonist of Unbound, Entwined’s first volume. And—bonus read! We’ll include a few words from an upcoming volume as well!

This month, we’ll expand our prize packages to include special swag thematically tied to Entwined’s first volume, Unbound. Bring you favorite naughty (daring, steamy, sensuous, obscene, filthy, even erotically esoteric) word and enter it in our Dirty Word Draw for the chance to win one of these prize packages!

Doors open at 7 for socializing. Reading start promptly at 8.

How does Entwined work?

Designed to push the boundaries of your fantasies as you explore the best of modern erotica, each Entwined book is a stand-alone volume, co-written by award-winning romance and erotica authors. One writer contributes the opening scene to a new erotic adventure, but when the heroine reaches a decision point, the narrative fractures into wildly different pathways, each written by a different author in her own genre.

Want to try a threesome? Go back in time to see a former flame? Submit to some hardcore BDSM? How about all of the above? Anything is possible. So explore!

Meet our March Reading Line-Up:

Not only is Lissa Trevor an Entwined author, but she’s key to Coliloquy’s launch of Entwined and its community during the Valentines Day holiday with her Coliloquy project, Val-Entwined. Readers choose one of Lissa’s templates a romantic pairing of their choice: Male/Female, Female/Female, and Male/Male. Fill in a few details, such as special locations or favorite erogenous zones, and customize the cover and dedication. Then download the instructions on how to load it on the recipient’s reading device and—Viola! A special story surprise! In Lissa’s Unbound path, Charity chooses to travel back in time to sow some wild oats, she finds passion and pleasure in the roads not traveled.

Cecilia Tan is the author of the forthcoming BDSM romances Slow Surrender, Slow Seduction, and Slow Satisfaction, to be published in Grand Central Publishing’s Forever Yours imprint. Her gay BDSM fantasy quest romance, The Prince’s Boy, won honorable mention in both the Rainbow Awards and from the National Leather Association’s Writing Awards. She is also the author of the Magic University series and many other books and stories.

Cecilia’s Unbound path returns Charity to Ireland, but with BDSM novel to write. She begins keeping a diary for her main character, a lonely woman wondering if she has the courage to explore her darkest fantasies. Then fate puts a tall, dark, handsome man in the business class seat beside her and Charity falls asleep with the “diary” in her lap—only to wake to his voice in her ear, telling her he’ll fulfill her dark desires if only she’ll say yes.

Debra Hyde is the Lambda Literary Award winning author of Story of L, a modern retelling of the classic Story of O set in the contemporary lesbian leather world. Romantic Times BOOK Reviews magazine named it and her heterosexual novel, Blind Seduction, to its Fifty Hot Reads beyond 50 Shades of Grey, calling Blind Seduction “a story about what happens after the BDSM seduction.” Debra’s Unbound avenue takes Charity down a lesbian BDSM path to pleasure and personal fulfillment. Debra’s also the lead author on an upcoming Entwined title, this one featuring an esoteric erotic artifact, a sex museum, and the rubble of history. Oh yes—and all the eroticism she’s known for.

Joy Daniels writes erotic romance because she likes to expose her characters completely – strengths, flaws and scars. Although she is from New York City (and still a loyal Yankees fan), since moving to Maryland she has developed passion for southern boys and their toys. Her debut novella, Revving Her Up features stock car racing, and she’s working on a ménage story set in Nashville. Given the opportunity to help her hometown, Joy contributed a short story, “Lights Out”, to Riverdale Avenue Books’ We Love New York anthology to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief. She is honored to be a part of the second volume of Coliloquy’s Entwined Erotica line with the novella “Unmasked”. You can visit her online at www.authorjoydaniels.com.

The descent of cold air and influenza impacted our February Between the Covers, canceling half of our reading authors and diminished our audience, but we still had a great time, reading and enjoying erotica while enjoying Valentine’s Day candy and drinks from the bar. Proof you can’t keep a good crowd down.

Pinch-hitting, co-curator Debra Hyde read the first chapter from O. M. Grey’s Avalon Revisited, an all-out erotic vampire novel that, rife with historical backstory and steampunk backdrops, kept her up until 2:00 a.m. the night before. And no, she wasn’t shilling for sponsor, Riverdale Avenue Books (well, not much). Publisher Lori Perkins had no idea she had purchased the book and had delved into its captivating story.

Next up, Sam Rosenthal gave the audience a sweeping overview of his genderqueer novel, Rye, introducing them to Matt, Rye, and Rain, its engaging and endearing characters. According to Sam, Rye’s filled with intimacy, desire, and discovery, told through the prism of polyamory, sexuality, and gender with a top-bottom dynamic—and his chosen excerpts certainly backed up his claim!

Last batter up: author, director, screenwriter Mathew Klickstein shared poems both ribald and rousing, then dove into a tale of a writer who psychically loses his ideas to the women he sleeps with—who then go on to become famous as he falls further into the poverty of writer’s block. What a crazy ride we took with him as his protagonist suffered for his art…or rather, the sabotage thereof. Matt’s thinking about turning the work into a full-length novel. Let’s hope life doesn’t imitate art for his sake—and ours, the reader!

Join us March 1st when we’ll explore the new Entwined imprint from Coliloguy.com and its groundbreaking concept of one story idea and four wildly different narrative pathways. Curious? Stay tuned.

What a night we had! We packed the room and then some!

Thank you to our amazing authors: Joy Daniels (Revving Her Up), Ij Miller (Wuthering Nights), Leia Shaw (The Dom With a Safeword), Lissa Trevor (the forthcoming Spank Me, Mr. Darcy from Riverdale Avenue Books), and the remarkable Mark A. Michael and Patricia Johnson (Great Sex Made Simple).

(L to R) Lori Perkins, Joy Daniels, Ij Miller, Leia Shaw, Lissa Trevor, Mark A. Michael and Patricia Johnson