Today's post comes to us from Rachel Kramer Bussel, editor of Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Vol. 6 among many others. We've talked about the last couple of volumes here and how diverse, affirming and sexy these collections are and this one is no different. Each volume is organized around a loose theme, interpreted by the authors in a variety of ways.
This time around the theme is adventure and can't we all use more of that (in a safe way) in 2020?
Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Vol. 6 releases on December 8th from Cleis Press. If you're interested in a copy of your own, Cleis and Rachel are giving one away! You can enter below now through December 6th or buy a copy wherever books are sold.
Please consider using one of these links to support the site at no additional cost to you: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, Kobo
Now, on to Rachel's words! Find out why she chose adventure as this year's theme and what she hopes these stories deliver to readers.
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Why Adventure is a Fitting Theme for Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 6
By Rachel Kramer Bussel
When I selected adventure as the theme of my new anthology, Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 6 (Cleis Press, December 8), I’d never heard of COVID-19 or coronavirus. I was simply looking for a theme that authors would find exciting to write about and readers would enjoy reading about. I wanted something that could encompass all sorts of sexy scenarios while giving the stories a loose connection.
The 20 authors I selected for the anthology more than delivered on my initial idea. There are several travel-themed stories in the book, such as Zoey Castile’s “Far Side of the World,” in which a woman travels to the Outer Hebrides in Scotland and has an unexpected lusty adventure, and Mia Hopkins’ “The Eighth Wonder of the World,” about a single mom who has a fling with the skipper of her tour boat.
Other authors approached the adventure theme in ways I never expected when I envisioned this anthology, such as Naima Simone’s “Inked on My Skin,” about a tattoo reality TV show competition that takes a decidedly steamy turn, and “The Escape Room” by Elizabeth SaFleur, in which a kinky couple celebrate their anniversary in a very fun and creative way.
Exploring sexuality through the lens of adventure would be exciting at any time, but over the last nine months, as I’ve stayed home and prepared for the book’s release, I’ve come to see the adventure theme as a very fitting one for the strange year 2020 has turned out to be. As I’ve reread these stories, I’ve enjoyed living vicariously through characters who are able to do things that the pandemic has now made impossible. Which is not to say that I would personally partake of all of them even in non-pandemic life, but as an editor and reader, I’ve loved getting to virtually inhabit so many different perspectives and scenarios, especially when I’m bored with my very familiar surroundings.
Some of the stories’ takes on adventure might seem like events that could potentially happen, such as strangers connecting at a business conference in “The Conference” by Anuja Varghese, but during this pandemic, that story takes on an even more exciting allure. I have a feeling that even people who are usually bored by conferences wish they could safely attend one right now and savor the thrill of mingling with dozens or hundreds of people—and perhaps one special person (or more than one!) behind closed doors.
I hope readers who’ve been deprived of whatever they consider adventure to be this year can find some escape, entertainment and fantasy within the pages of this book.
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Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Vol. 6 releases on December 8th. The giveaway widget is below, but first! here are the rules:
This giveaway runs from December 2-6, 2020. Open to US residents only. Must be 18 or older to enter. No purchase necessary to win. Love in Panels will provide the winner's email address to Rachel Kramer Bussel for shipping.
If you want to purchase a copy, please consider using one of these links to support the site at no additional cost to you: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, Kobo
Ready to enter the giveaway?
Use the widget below or click here.
