09.28.06
On my retirement, or something like it
Recently, NaughtyWords approached me for an interview about being an editor of erotica anthologies. Since the interview, which is really interviews, plural, with several folks including Susie Bright and Rachel Kramer Bussell, woven together so that our viewpoints on the various questions are compared, has begun to run on the site, I thought I’d first point to it and then mention something that isn’t anywhere in the interview.
So. Pointer given. Which means that now I want to talk about Sir Not Appearing In That Interview, namely, the fact that I’m actually a retired editor of erotica anthologies. This is something I’ve been letting people know gradually over the past few years, and the reactions have been fascinating. A few people, like my mother, have seemed relieved. A few more people have nodded understandingly and said something along the lines of “good on ya, I’m glad to see you doing what you need to do.” But many people have reacted with a certain amount of shock, and demanded an explanation. The NaughtyWords editor did that, in fact, when I agreed to the interview with the caveat that I was no longer working in the genre: I’m stunned! “Severine” is one of my all time favorite erotic stories! Why would you of all authors quit?!
The answer is pretty simple: I said what I came to say and I did what I came to do. I did not set out to climb to the peak of Mount Smutverest, drive my flag into its summit, and survey the world from its eminence. I certainly didn’t sent out to do erotica as my one and only literary pursuit.