Iridescence Blog Tour (blast from the past)

(Originally published Monday, June 25, 2007–on the Kuma Blog. )

iridescence

Five Questions from Jolie du Pre, editor of Iridescence, for Tawanna Sullivan, author of The Getaway.

1. Why do you write erotica?
While revising submission guidelines for my webzine (Kuma2.net), I thought about the themes and scenarios I wanted to see more of. It hit me–why not try writing the stories that I wanted to read?

2. What do you like best about lesbian erotica?
Well, I get bombarded with images of hetero sex (real or implied) nearly 24/7, so lesbian erotica is refreshing to me. Characters that I can usually relate to are at the center of the action.

3. What is the theme of your story The Getaway in Iridescence: Sensuous Shades of Lesbian Erotica?
In The Getaway, Sarah and Nicole try to redeem an incredibly bad day by taking an improptu trip. I suppose the theme would be sticking together.

4. Name some other books where we can find your work.
Published stories include The Souvenir in Hot + Bothered 4 and Homecoming in Longing, Love, and Lust: Black Lesbian Stories. I also have Sufficient As I Am, a nonfiction essay, in Spirited: Affirming the Soul and Black Gay/Lesbian Identity.

5. Just for fun! Gym Shoes or Stilettos?
Given that choice–gym shoes all the way. I’m really more the steel toe, oil-resistant workboot type.

Selling Jesus

They want your soul and your money your blood and your votes
They’re selling Jesus again
Selling love to you – selling love
~Skunk Anansie, “Selling Jesus”

[No more Jesus for me, thanks. I’m full.]

Wake Me On 9/12


9/11 is media black out day. I have absolutely no need to replay that day over and over and over again–so no television, newspapers, etc. While I understand the need for people to tell their stories (how I escaped, how my life has changed because I lost a loved one, etc), I don’t need to bombarded with them.

Every politician has a “heartfelt” quote at the ready–key words: security, safety, terrorism, America. Want to get a politician to shut up? Ask him/her about the health problems plaguing the ground zero area. Suddenly, mouths close and fingers of blame point somewhere else. Ask who should pay for the healthcare of people who inhaled that smoke, asbestos, etc–and politicians disappear. It’s a neat trick. Maybe by 9/11/2011, they will have their quotes and speeches ready to address the problems of 9/11/2006.

On a different note, I wonder if the people who are suckered into buying the as-seen-on-tv 9/11 coin are the same people who would have bought dust from ground zero. (Remember, how people were on eBay trying to sell what was supposed to be dust/remains from the toppled towers?) The silver in the coin is supposed to come from the world trade center itself, so you can have a little piece of the tragedy in your own home!

According to an article I found in the Arizona Republic (8/24/06): “The medallion is advertised as having 15 milligrams of 24-karat gold and being 0.999 pure silver. Based on Wednesday’s closing market price, the amount of gold in them is worth 33 cents and the silver is worth one-sixth of a cent. “

For the special low price of $29.99 (not including shipping and handling), you too can own a piece of shit worth $.33