Pages

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Vamps...New dead girl anthology from Torquere Press


I may be dead, but I can still dream.

I dreamt I was the maiden Persephone, my sun-streaked brown hair falling in curls down to my slim adolescent waist, my golden skin shining in the late afternoon sun of the meadow. Suddenly, a shadow fell across my body, chilling me. In an instant I was snatched away to the Underworld by grim, darkly beautiful Hecate. She declared herself my queen and my lover, but I refused her. Refused her, until she squeezed between my unwilling lips the juice of six blood-red pomegranate seeds. With the sticky, sweet and tart juice on my tongue, I became part of the Underworld.

I was just about to claim my rightful place as co-regent of the Realm of the Dead when I was awakened by loud voices. The television, I soon realized. My mortal lover, Hollie, had suddenly cranked up the volume as she sat in the living room.

As I vainly attempted to stuff Hollie’s pillow and mine into my ears to mute the noisy intrusion, I heard a familiar, televised voice. "Affirmative action perpetrates the worst kind of injustice, Larry," the woman said. Followed by more intellectual blah blah blah, interrupted at some point by Larry King’s follow-up question. I tossed my sheet aside angrily and crept up behind Hollie’s recliner.

Hollie’s hand still held the remote, as if poised to turn it up louder, should the need arise. It wouldn’t, of course. My hearing is far better than that of mortals.

"Mama looks good," I said. Hollie startled when I spoke, dropping the remote. Three months undead, and I’m already a master of sneaking up on folks. "Damn good. She must be getting some regular." I settled onto the arm of Hollie’s chair.

"You scared me," Hollie said.


This is an excerpt from "Oakley Falls," my contribution to Vamps from Torquere Press.

Oakley is a lesbian, a vampire, and a stripper. She and her mortal lover Hollie have their issues, but Oakley's unlife is going well...so why does she find herself waking up chained to a chair in the basement of The Third Eye Gentleman's Club? Could it have something to do with her favorite pro basketball player, flamboyant, New Orleans-bred Johnny Lee Bayliss?

Friday, December 11, 2009

A Hanukkah Treat For Gentiles and Jews Alike


It's that time of year again! Dig in to a delectable winter treat, as warm as a potato pancake on a frosty Hanukkah night!

Caught up in the magic of the Festival of Lights, Gabriella wants everything to be perfect for her holiday with Jared. Jared has very specific tastes-and a slight obsession with teasing the individual flavors out of the aromas of fine wines. Even the kosher wine he chooses for the first night of Hanukkah is subjected to his beloved wine aroma wheel.

But wine is not the only thing that can be tasted, analyzed, and savored. Gabriella and Jared discover new uses for Jared's favorite toy as the Hanukkah candles burn down...

Read "Spicy, Earthy, Sweet" by Erin O'Riordan at Ravenous Romance (update, 2015: Although originally available at RR, the title can now be found on Etsy).

Help out a starving artist for only $1.99! It's a beautiful story (but only for readers 18+)!

Erin O'Riordan, despite what her Irish name may lead you to believe, is of mixed Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Pagan descent. Following the philosophy of Joan Borysenko, she proudly embraces all of her diverse spiritual heritage. Her spiritual-sexual writings include the Pagan-ritual-inspired erotic novel Beltane, from Eternal Press. Visit her home page at www.aeess.com.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

"The Boy," New Fiction

"The Boy" is a short fiction piece I wrote, literally, in my sleep. I was dreaming this right before I woke up this morning, in almost these exact words, as nearly as I can remember. Parts of it recall George Gordon, Lord Byron, but it isn't strictly historical fiction. It's only a dream.

What am I? A poet, some would tell you. A monster, others would say. They call me “monster” because they have never known one like me. What they call badness I merely call enjoying the full range of pleasures bestowed on me by my Creatrix.

I traveled with a man-servant I was in the habit of calling The Boy, because he had been in my service since, when he was eleven, his aristocrat mother turned him out of the house, deciding he should make his own way in the world. That was nearly a decade ago, and he was certainly a man now, with a beard and a physique any Classical sculptor would have killed to reproduce in stone. Not that I thought of The Boy like that…until the occurrence at Lillian’s.

Lillian is my grandmother’s first-born grandchild, my cousin, and blessed with all of the privileges of a first-born. She possesses a superior intellect and beauty beyond what any painter has ever captured in oils. She was my friend and confessor, naturally my lover, and occasionally my drinking partner.

We had just finished one such drinking binge and were lounging carelessly in the large, luxurious tub of one of her bathing rooms. She was sitting on my lap, and though penetration was quite out of the question given our drunken state, I was nonetheless admiring the shapely form of her buttocks and enjoying the feel of her skin caressing mine. That was when The Boy walked in, despite my explicit instructions to the contrary.

I hurried from the tub, quickly wrapping Lillian in one of her fine towels, though I took no measures to cover my own nakedness. I upbraided The Boy, then turned to Lillian and apologized to Lillian for her embarrassment.

“No matter,” my lovely, nonchalant cousin replied. “I was about to go to bed anyway.”

“Sweet dreams,” I said, kissing her. “Dream about your future husband, who I am certain will be a great scientist with whom you will make many bold discoveries.”

“Only if you promise to dream about your future wife, who I’m certain will be a charming aristocrat without a thought in her head, whose immense wealth you will recklessly squander.” We laughed, and she went off to bed.

When she’d left the chamber, The Boy turned to me with fire in his eyes. “You know she is your cousin.”

“And what difference does that make to me? I’ve done the same with three of my four sisters.”

“I want you to do with me what you do with her,” came The Boy’s bold reply.

“No,” I answered flatly. “What you are talking about is called sodomy, and they put men in prison for it.”

“Then let them put us in prison, where we’ll be alone together to do it again and again.” With startling speed he closed the space between us and pulled me into him for a powerful kiss. The Boy’s inclinations came as some surprise to me, as he had never before shown interest in any of my romantic entanglements, either with women or with any of the other men. Still, the drunkenness seemed immediately to clear from my mind, and my erection sprang to life, vying for space against The Boy’s solid cock.

Perhaps this is why they call me mad and dangerous, and why I am unwelcome in most any society I visit, but I threw all caution to the wind. I sent The Boy to my chamber to fetch the special ointment I keep for such occasions, then bent him over the edge of the bathtub and applied the ointment liberally to his entrance. If The Boy felt any pain from the taking, he made no sign of it, though his cries of enjoyment were loud and frequent. Though I had never thought of The Boy like that before the occurrence at Lillian’s, he was to be the love of my life.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

In Sleeping Beauty's Bed: Bawdy Fairy Tales by Mitzi Szereto

Pure, naughty fun: Mitzi Szereto's multicultural fractured fairy tales (Cleis Press, 2009) aren't for kids, but they are the kind you could read out loud in a pub to amuse your friends. In that, they resemble the oral versions of classic tales told around campfires in ages past. (Along with the tales, the author also includes a brief introduction giving some information about the story's origin.) Like the ale-soaked storytellers of old, Srezeto injects a good dose of humor into each bawdy yarn. She retells European fairy tales, including "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Rapunzel," but also ventures into Middle Eastern and Asian fairy tales, giving each a unique, humorous twist undreamt-of by the original tellers. This book will sit comfortably on my personal bookshelf in between Feminist Fairy Tales and The Virago Book of Erotic Myths and Legends.

One note: very sensitive readers may wish to bypass "Michel Michelkleiner's Good Luck," as it contains scenes of violence some may find offensive.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

New, Original Writings on the Web



If you're not using Gather.com, you may have missed some of my latest, freshest writings. In case you did, let me catch you up:

My tribute to the late Betty Page: A Film Review
In honor of the passing of model Betty Page at the age of 85, I've decided to share my review of the 2001 DVD Betty Page in Bondage. If you are a Betty aficianado, you can rent the film from www.dvdavenue.com. Not one of my personal favorites, really, but here's the info you need to know before you rent the DVD:

"Actually, my favorite part of this DVD was when I first took it out of its sleeve. The picture on the disc itself is a pretty one. Betty Page had a really nice body. To truly enjoy this video, though, one would have to be a hard-core Page fan. It's composed entirely of antique "stag reels" of her . . . interesting 1950s costumes and music, but only mildly naughty by today's standards. Scenes of girl-on-girl bondage that were probably quite titillating in the mid-20th century are just rather quaint and even bizarre now."

Other Recent Posts:
Original Short Story, "God and The Devil Are Married" at http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977754375

Reprint of "Chocolate Jesus and the Oral Thing" at http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977754159

Review of Witch's Heart, a book by Tabitha Shay at http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977741950

And don't forget to take the latest Facebook quiz and find out "Which Beltane Character Are You?" You can find it at http://apps.facebook.com/whichbeltanesowgpc/?_fb_fromhash=3bb3bf9c249e2c69417dfeae82690e0c.

If you love Beltane, buy "Bomb Pop" from Erotique Press at www.erotiquepress.com. (Note: the website may be down for a redesign for a day or so, but keep checking back!)

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Early June Update

Greetings, fellow readers!

I've had an awesome week. First, on Sunday, the literary goddess known as Blodeuedd (surely you remember her from Welsh Celtic mythology; she was the one made out of flowers) posted her review of Beltane. It's a great review; please visit books-forlife.blogspot.com to read it. There's also a link on my Review Links page on aeess.com.

Then I received an acceptance e-mail from Circlet Press. They're already publishing my short story "In the Lair of the Monster" in the Like a God's Kiss anthology. On Tuesday, I found out they also accepted "Invisible Touch" in the Like a Mask Removed(superhero erotica) anthology!

Today, there was more awesome anthology news: Maxim Jakubowski wants "Iced," a short story that premiered in Lucrezia magazine, for the Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica. What an honor to have a story selected without even submitting it!

BTW, if you are interested in building your own sci fi/fantasy anthology, please visit AnthologyBuilder.com. They've now accepted five of my stories, so look for them.

Monday, May 25, 2009

"Beyond Her Book" Blog Seeks Readers

Dear book-loving people,

Over the long weekend, I went to Milwaukee and had the pleasure of meeting book blogger/Publisher's Weekly editor Barbara Vey. I'm passing along her contact information because she is looking for readers willing to read some of the many books she acquires and write short (4 sentences) blurbs about them for her website. She especially needs erotica readers. If you read my book, Beltane, and enjoyed it (or books like it), please get in touch with her. She'll give you the books for free; all she asks is that you pay the shipping.

Barbara's information:
Barbara Vey
Contributing Editor, Publishers Weekly
Beyond Her Book blog
www.publishersweekly.com/BeyondHerBook
Twitter - http://twitter.com/barbaravey
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1113386705
MySpace - www.myspace.com/

In Other News:

My review of Ultra Flesh is now online at www.lucreziamagazine.com

If you've always wanted to edit your own anthology of sci-fi/fantasy stories and articles, visit www.anthologybuilder.com. Three of my stories are available there:
"Peter Parker's Aunt May Is A Goddess"
"Black Bear Skin"
"Poet's Day"

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

New and Upcoming Projects

BELTANE was featured at Fang-Tastic Books recently. I've got more blog dates coming up on May 18th and June 3rd; look for more details soon. Big thanks to all of you who stopped by to leave your comments and enter to win a free signed copy of BELTANE. Congratulations, Kimber L!

"Josephine Baker in Berlin" e-book is now available from www.readerjack.com. The cost is $2. "Jo Baker" was originally published by www.oystersandchocolate.com, but is no longer available in the O&C archives. [Update: Get it free at iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/josephine-baker-in-berlin/id447580842]

"In the Lair of the Monster," a retelling of the Greek myth of Medusa and Perseus, will be featured in the upcoming Circlet Press release Like A God's Kiss: Erotic Mythological Tales (Erotic Fantasy & Science Fiction Selections).


Lucrezia Magazine (www.lucreziamagazine.com) will soon feature my review of the film Ultra Flesh.

"Bomb Pop," an orally fixated fantasy, will soon be available as an e-book from Erotique Press. [Update: now published by Noble Romance and available for Kindle.]

You can always find links to my stories (many of them free!) at www.aeess.com.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

BELTANE is now available in paperback on Amazon

CLICK HERE to get your copy of Beltane by me, Erin O'Riordan!


Beltane is a sexy romance. Allie is marrying the man of her dreams, Paul Phillip. A buttoned-down lawyer, he may not be "exciting," but he makes Allie feel like a princess. Allie's twin sister, Zen, takes a chance on Allie and Paul Phillip's wedding caterer, Chris. Chris is more the hit 'em and quit 'em type, though. When Zen meets hip businessman Orlando, she thinks she's found what her sister has with Paul Phillip. Which sister will end up with her true love?

Monday, February 23, 2009

The Surrender of Persephone: A Review

The Surrender of Persephone by Selena Kitt (2009; Phaze Books) retells the Classical Greek myth of the virgin goddess of spring, Persephone, and her abduction by the god of the Underworld, Hades. In myth, Persephone grows into her role as queen of the Underworld to become a powerful and mysterious goddess. In Kitt's uncensored version, Persephone chafes at her mother Demeter's restrictiveness and dim view of males, both human and divine.

On her way to gather wild flowers for her mother's harvest festival, Persephone pauses to watch a mortal laborer bathe in a stream, entranced by his beauty. She gets sidetracked by the goddesses Artemis and Athena, "virgin" goddesses who are off-limits to males but more than happy to dally with other immortal women. Despite such pleasurable divine intervention, Persephone still wonders, "Will the ache between my thighs only be satisfied by a man?"

Up from the depths of the earth comes Hades, also known as Aidon. He lifts Persephone into his chariot and takes her to the eerily lovely splendor of his Underworld kingdom, the land of the dead. In his mind, this is a perfectly acceptable arranged marriage, a deal between Aidon and Persephone's father Zeus. Persephone feels a mixture of fear and attraction to the handsome, amber-eyed god. Slowly, he introduces her to a world of sensual delights balanced with controlled pain.

I'm not usually a fan of books about bondage, dominance and submission. If I were, I would probably prefer the women on top. Aidon dominates Persephone, and from Kitt's skillful writing, it is also abundantly clear he loves her. The couple comes to love one another and seem to be meant to be together. The sweetness balances the S+M themes.

Only two things slightly mar this darkly romantic tale. One is the implied heterosexism. Why shouldn't Persephone's encounters with Athena and Artemis be as satisfying as her encounters with Aidon? The other is Debi Lewis's cover art. The models are beautiful, but don't quite match the book's descriptions of its divine beings.

Otherwise, The Surrender of Persephone is a highly enjoyable erotic romance. Pour yourself a nice glass of pomegranate juice and settle in for a good read.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Join Me At Book Talk, Feb. 21-22!

Please join me at http://booksbypickles.blogspot.com this weekend (Feb, 21-22, 2009). My guest spot begins at 8am Saturday and runs through 11am Sunday. I'll be discussing my novel Beltane and all things literary. Be sure to leave a comment; one lucky commenter will win a signed copy of my short story anthology.

You can also find details on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=56417007062&ref=nf#/event.php?eid=56417007062&ref=mf