On Paper

Sometimes I like to be told what to do. I particularly like the sense of being in the calm, confident hands of someone who knows what she's doing, and takes pleasure in showing me the way.

This is the pleasure of being edited.

We bloggers are usually masters of our own little domains, and there's no quality control to keep us in line. We can publish whatever we want, and the only filter between us and the world is the very limited time and attention of readers, whose linkage and recommendations weed out the interesting from the tedious.

There's a lovely sense of freedom involved in this, but when the opportunity comes along to write for an edited paper-based publication of the old kind even the most seasoned blogger appreciates the discerning eye of an editor. Bloggery is a solitary vice until the comments start to roll in, and the feeling of having my writing scrutinized and tweaked is a surprising combination of anxiety and the pleasure of validation. It's a delightful thought that a seasoned professional is taking the time to go through my prose and declaring it fit for publication.

And now, by a coincidence of publication schedules on either side of the Atlantic, two books I have contributed to are coming out at the same time.

First by a couple of weeks is Ultimate Burlesque, a collection of smut, filth and glamorous depravity, edited by Emily Dubberley and Alyson Fixter, for the noble purpose of raising much-needed dosh for Macmillan Cancer Support. If you order it straight from Xcite Books, 55% of the cover price goes to charity (15% if you do it via Amazon).

Should you fancy seeing some of the authors in hot, sweaty action, the Ultimate Burlesque tour will be bringing dirty talk to bookstores across the land. Enjoy the mellifluous voices of the authors themselves reading filth in reputable bookstores on these dates:

2nd October
6.30pm The Big Green Bookshop, Wood Green Featuring Richard Bardsley, Maxim Jakubowski, Mark Farley, Sarah Berry and Carmen Ali
Tickets: Free
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=27401121021

9th October
7pm Notting Hill Waterstones
Featuring Katie Fforde, Mark Farley, Christiana Spens, Alyson Fixter and Emily Dubberley with a burlesque performance from the fabulous Ophelia Bitz and Femme Ferale
Tickets £3 redeemable against purchase
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=28404965675&ref=ts

12th October
3.30pm The London Fetish Fair, Shillibeers, Caledonian Road, Islington N7.
Featuring Mark Farley, Sarah Berry and performance from Beatrix Von Bourbon and Tallulah Mockingbird
Tickets £5 Fair runs 12-6, with author event from 3.30
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=23404688157

16th October
8pm The Vibe Bar @ The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 Featuring Christiana Spens, Mark Farley, Alcamia, Sarah Berry and performance from Fifi La Bomb, Leyla Rose and Ivy Paige
Tickets £7/£5 NUS/concs
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=22819034670

17th October
8pm The Dogstar, 389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton SW9 Featuring Olivia Darling, Mat Fraser, Wanda Von Mittens and Mark Farley
Tickets £5
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=40747621072

30th October
7pm Brighton Waterstones
Featuring Emily Dubberley, Carmel Lockyear, Kristina Lloyd and Richard Bardsley
Tickets £3 redeemable against purchase
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=64067400514

1st November
5pm-7pm, Sela Bar, 20 New Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6NU As part of Leeds Erotica Festival (LeedsErotica.org.uk) featuring Alyson Fixter, Miranda Forbes and Claire Worldley plus performances by Anna Fur Laxis, The Boneshakers and Beatrix Boom
Tickets: Free
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=36150649736

2nd November
Erotic Literature Day. 2pm onwards. Upstairs at Sela Bar, in Leeds, as part of Leeds Erotica Festival (LeedsErotica.org.uk) featuring Alyson Fixter and Miranda Forbes from BABC, along with Victoria Blisse, Alison Brumfitt, Tilly Green and Becky Cherriman.
http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=35451336531&ref=mf

Once you've gone to that little lot, you could always book a ticket to the Burlesque Against Breast Cancer Ball at http://www.burlesqueabc.com and help raise even more money for Macmillan...

As for the other book I'm in, it's not out just yet, but I'll post something about it when it does. I'm very excited, because it's edited by none other than Susie Bright. All I know right now is that the book will be gorgeous on the outside and filthy on the inside.