I’m delighted to welcome both Victoria Blisse and Lucy Felthouse today :). If you’re in the UK, we’re talking about a fabulous event they’ve put together which is only a couple of weeks away now. Smut by the Sea is on 22nd June in Scarborough, and we’ve got all the info for you.
If you’re not in the UK, read on anyway because Victoria and Lucy produce anthologies and I asked them for their advice if you’re thinking of submitting a story :).
Welcome to you both :).
So lets get straight to the details. What is Smut by the Sea?
Smut by the Sea: Scarborough 2013 will be an Adults Only Event held at Scarborough Library on the 22nd June 2013. It’s a celebration of smut with erotic authors performing short readings from their stories, covering a wide variety of genres we are going to have a little something for everyone during the day.
In the evening we’ll be having a launch party extravaganza with fun, laughter & prizes galore and so much more for the two Smut by the Sea anthologies that go hand in hand with the event.
How did you come up with the idea?
Well, it was me and Mr Blisse who came up with the event idea and as soon as we decided we’d make it reality we decided to pull in Lucy as she’s got mad skillz like organisation and keeping me and Mr Blisse in line. 😉 Basically it’s an excuse to go to Scarborough, my favourite place in the world, with some of my favourite people –smutty authors and our readers. I’m thrilled the idea’s caught on!
Who are some of the erotica writers doing readings?
We have got a brilliant mix of authors, along with me and my fellow Northern Bird Lucy we have Tabitha Rayne, KD Grace, Gemma Parkes, Rachel Kincaid, Janine Ashbless, Slave Nano, Ruby Kiddell, Lexie Bay and Ashley Lister all reading. I can’t wait to hear all the yummy smut!
How can people get involved and come along?
The great thing is that the daytime part of the event from 10-4pm on the 22nd June is totally free, so you just have to turn up at Scarborough library and come in to join the fun. If you want a fab goodie bag, a glass of something bubbly (or a non-alcoholic alternative) and entertainment in the form of readings from Smut by the Sea authors and Burlesque from the amazing Moorita Encantada then you need to come along to the evening lauch party, you can get your tickets here: http://smutbythesea.eventbrite.co.uk/
If you can’t make the day but you still want to be part of things, we are looking for prize donations for the erotic tombola and there are still some sponsorship options open: http://smutbythesea.co.uk/getinvolved.html
So there’s lots for folks to do and ways to be involved.
As well as organising fun events, you also produce anthologies together. What do you look for in submissions?
Victoria: We look to see if a story fulfils the brief. If the call asks for a seaside story, we want to be able to see that as we read. Also we need a good plot and interesting characters that keep us involved and entertained. We do love the sexy bits but there needs to be a point to them.
Lucy: A fun, engaging and hot story!
Do you always agree about which stories will make it into the final anthology and what do you do if you disagree?
Victoria: We go with the one I like. We don’t often disagree but when we do we get Mr Blisse’s opinion too and then go with the majority vote. It’s all very diplomatic.
Lucy: We often agree on stories, but if we’re not sure, we discuss further, and, as Victoria says, get the opinion of Mr. Blisse.
Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to send a submission for one of your anthologies?
Victoria: Do it! Just be sure to follow all our guidelines and you can’t go wrong.
Lucy: What Victoria said! Plus make sure it’s a fun, light-hearted story. We don’t do dark.
Do you think it affects how you deal with submissions because you are also writers and know how it feels to be on the other side of things?
Victoria: Definitely, I know the nerves involved with being on the waiting end of things. We make sure to respond to every submission as soon as possible and send out both acceptances and rejections (nice ones though, I hope) to every author who submitted.
Lucy: We’re more understanding and if we think a story just needs a little tweak to be suitable for the anthology, we’ll ask the author to do that, rather than rejecting it outright.
How can readers get their hands on the Smut by the Sea anthologies and are you planning any more?
Victoria: Here are the links you’ll need:
http://victoriablisse.co.uk/books/smut-by-the-sea
http://victoriablisse.co.uk/books/smut-by-the-sea-vol-2
And I can certainly see more seaside smut in our future, what do you think Lucy?
Lucy: I don’t doubt it! They’ve been very popular and I’ve enjoyed working on them, so yeah… though maybe next year 😉
Can you tell us about your writing and how you got started writing erotica?
Victoria: I write rubenesque erotica which is often as funny as it is sexy. I wander around many genres with the odd dip into paranormal, Menage and fantasy to name a few. Basically my writing is designed to give you a pleasant warm feeling deep inside.
My husband is the reason I write erotica. I had an erotic dream that would not leave me be and he, very wisely, told me to write it down and I’ve been at it ever since. Oo er!
Lucy: I write all sorts! Different pairings, genres, some is pure erotica, some is erotic romance, and I’ve even penned a couple of sensual tales which aren’t so graphic! In terms of how I got started… it was a dare!
Do you have any advice for new writers?
Victoria: Write, write, write and write some more. Just keep doing it, keep practising and never give up. This really is the key to it all.
Lucy: Read lots in your chosen genre and learn to edit your own work to make it the best it can be before you send it off.
What’s next for you?
Victoria: Well, after Smut by the Sea on the 22nd I suspect I’ll collapse in a heap somewhere! Writing wise I have two novellas due out in the autumn, Sharing Nicely and Really Cooking. Both are ménage tales with a twist.
Lucy: I never stop! As well as writing and editing, I run my own marketing business and another website. So all of that takes up my time and I squeeze in as much writing as humanly possible!
Victoria’s Bio:
Victoria Blisse is a Mother, Wife, Christian, Manchester United Fan and Award Winning Erotica Authoress. She is also the editor of several Bigger Briefs collections, and the co-editor of the fabulous Smut by the Sea vol 1 & vol 2, Smut Alfresco and Smut in the City Anthologies.
Victoria is also one of the brains behind the fabulous Smut by the Sea Event taking place at Scarborough Library (UK) on the 22nd June 2013. A day dedicated to Erotica with a mini erotic marketplace and lots of Author Readings, Fun Giveaways and Exciting Talks.
She is equally at home behind a laptop or a cooker (She is TEB’s Resident “Naked Chef”) and she loves to create stories, poems, cakes and biscuits that make people happy. She was born near Manchester, England and her northern English quirkiness shows through in all of her stories.
Passion, love and laughter fill her works, just as they fill her busy life.
You can often find Victoria procrastinating on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Lucy’s Bio:
Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over seventy publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include Best Bondage Erotica 2012 and 2013, and Best Women’s Erotica 2013. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies. She owns Erotica For All, and is book editor for Cliterati. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9
