Monday, October 11, 2010

Stranger than Fiction

This is a follow-up to my post about Stepping Out of my comfort zone.
So I did it - I was the Literary Guest at a local sex toy/lingerie store, etc.'s Erotic Bliss pARTy. What an evening it was! The small space was crammed full of an artsy-looking crowd (my favorite kind of folks!) and the event began with a mix and mingle while a woman in one corner painted a nearly nude male model's body with beautiful designs. In another corner, a young woman was doing tarot card readings. There was a very pregnant lady sitting on a stool selling her miniature vegan brownies and cupcakes decorated with breasts or penises.

I told myself I was just going to read the passage I'd chosen from Getting Even with Warren and get it over with (which I had heavily rehearsed with emotion, per Jina and practiced just saying the words loudly and clearly, per Brenda). I knew it was a friendly crowd - several people had even said so. That helped. It helped, too, that my awesome hubby was there, standing in the background giving me a you-can-do-this look.

And I read the scene -- a woman giving a man head while he drove. (But don't worry -- he's parked before his big moment;-) I didn't stumble or stutter or otherwise embarrass myself. People laughed at the appropriate moments. I finished, the guests clapped and I drew a relieved sigh. Then I sold a few books and watched the last act - a couple who fingerpaint sensual portraits on a huge canvas. Quite amazing to watch.

Then I mingled, had my fortune told by the tarot card reader and chatted with a few party guests. I spent a bit of time talking and joking with a couple who were as friendly as could be. When I mentioned that my husband was there, the couple exchanged glances. And this sophisticated erotic romance author was totally clueless about what was going on -- until the woman said she'd hoped we could have done a threesome.

You could have knocked me over with a feather. Um ... hello? I was in a place where they give classes on "The Oral Arts," "Pole Dancing" and "Threesomes and More." I think I should have paid a little more attention to what was really going on. I'd stepped out of my suburban life and into one of my stories!

All in all, it was a fun night. Three different men asked my husband if he was a cop (yes - he does look the part to the nth degree and yes - he is in law enforcement). His response - "I'm Miss Daniels' driver and bodyguard." Gotta love him.

So now that I've done this feat that sounded so terrifying, I know it won't be so scary next time. But if there is a next time, I hope I'll wear my intuitive hat so my jaw doesn't drop if I have a similar experience.

A writer buddy commented when I told her about my evening - "There's got to be a story in there somewhere." Isn't there always?


9 comments:

Savannah Stuart said...

Awesome story! I think my face would have flamed bright red if a couple had asked me to be part of a threesome. And so not surprised people can tell your hubby is a cop. :) Glad the night went well and that you had the man there as support!

Wynter said...

I think I did blush a bit;-)

Jina Bacarr said...

What an fabulous experience, Wynter! Be sure to make notes of the details of the interesting things going on -- like the body painting, what designs they drew, colors, kinds of paints -- little things you might not remember later but you'll have on file if you want to use it in a story. You can't get this kind of research anywhere else...

Thanks for the wonderful wrap-up! I really enjoyed it, like I was there!

Wynter said...

Good ideas, Jina. Thanks. True about the research!

KC Burn said...

Hey - getting invited to a threesome is a great compliment! Or at least, I'd take it as such! Sounds like a fun evening - wish I could have been there.

Dalton Diaz said...

Oh, man, I really wish I could have been a fly on the wall. You definitely have a story to write!

Michelle Polaris said...

Now I want to go to one of these parties. (pout) Sounds like you did wonderfully. I'm so proud of you. And your husband's response was classic. Way to go!

Nancy J. Cohen said...

Took a lot of courage to go where you went. Consider it research.

Wynter said...

I guess I am flattered as well as flabbergasted. Definitely great research for a future book!