Originally posted by nyxmidnight at Why SOPA is dangerous, an explanation of the bill

I have been reading a box of letters I've carried around, unread, for 35 years.

It's a love story and it's beautiful and makes me cry. All of them are from my mom (Mary) to my dad (John) who was in Viet Nam that year (1968). Mom had left her abusive husband (with Johnny's help) and was waiting for him to return so they could marry and start their life together.

I wish I had Johnny's side of the letters, but I only have mom's. She was 28, had three little girls and no money. The letters detail her struggle to survive, her battle for a divorce from her ex and her longing for Johnny. She wrote nearly every day for nine months. They also sent tapes, though those have not survived.

She tells her daily life with three small children. She sent children's drawings and a list of the first words I learned to read. She tells him how important it is that he survive. Always, how much she needs him and the life they will create together.

I was there. I was 6 and I remember this. I remember mom crying all the time, not having enough food, bill collectors pounding on the door and her hiding from them, the red white and blue letters from John... soo much coming back to me.

It's an amazing story. It does remind me that romance novels drive me crazy because "happy endings" depend on where you end. If you stop when he comes back, marries "us" (he said that), carries us off to our new home in Oklahoma, and they have another baby, then it's a happy ending.

Problem is that the happy ended 6 years later when a hit and run driver killed him.

Mom went through a grief purge in 1976 and tried to throw away all of his stuff. I managed to save a lot. I remember finding the letters and deciding not to read them but to save them for the future. I carried that box of letters around for the next 35 years, knowing that when mom died, I would read them.

These letters are such an amazing window into the past. I've always planned to write a book about mom's life.

After he died, mom became an activist. She changed the world in so many ways, saved so many women's lives, both individually and through the changes she helped bring about. She never remarried. On her deathbed she was talking about how now she would "go dancing with Johnny" again.

It makes me cry for her again.

My husbands say it's why I have a thing for tragic angsty romances. And why I still like to give them a happy ending no matter how much bad happens. Someday though, I will write the story where one dies and write about grief.

It's so important but most love stories don't write about surviving that kind of loss. Even most tragic love stories have both of them die, like Romeo & Juliet. The really hard thing is honoring the person by going on.  Mom did it for us - four children.

When dad died, my aunt sent my mom a bouquet of six roses - one for each precious year they had together.

Remember that makes my tear up every time. Those six years though - they were worth it. They saved us. They taught me it could happen, that love like that was real.

Today is the last day of our Indiegogo fund raising campaign and your last chance to sign up for such perks as a autographed books, custom made floggers, year long paid memberships and more. Check it out and see our video:

Come check out the:
ForbiddenFiction.com Launch Campaign

"Well, I'm gonna get out of bed every morning... breathe in and out all day long. Then, after a while I won't have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breathe in and out..." (From Sleepless in Seattle.)

My mother, Mary E. Atkins, an amazing feminist and social justice activist for nearly half a century, died Saturday. There are no words to describe the void left.

I sat beside her bed, holding her hand and singing to her for the last two days of her life. To say that my mother and I were close would be an extreme understatement. My dad died when I was 13. That left mom with four children to raise and I am the eldest. Mom and I took care of each other and my sisters. Mom was my friend, my ally, my teacher, my mentor and so much more.

One of my mother's favorite songs about our relationship was, "You and Me Agaisnt the World" by Helen Reddy:

You and me against the world
Sometimes it seems like you and me against the world
When all the others turn their backs and walk away
You can count on my to stay

And when one of us is gone
And one of us is left to carry on
Then remembering will have to do
Our memories alone will get us through
Think about the days of me and you
You and me against the world

I'll be attending BASCon again this year, November 4-6.

This year I will also be giving two presentations:

Erotic Writing – It’s more than writing sex. (Saturday, Nov. 5, 1-2 PM)
Some sex writing sound little better than read stereo instructions (Insert tab A in slot B), Learn what it take to make writing about sex meltingly hot.

Switching – Fan-fiction and Pro-writing. (Saturday, Nov. 5, 2-3 PM)
Some tips for fan writers who want to become paid authors. It’s not always an either/or. Some of us switch both ways.

Anyone else going? I'd love to hear form you.

We are looking for artists who can work on commission providing color covers for books.


(Yes, fan art can be part of your portfolio! Accounts on Deviant Art, etc.)

If you are interested, please send email with a link to samples of your work to: submissions@forbiddenfiction.com

Free memberships are sill available at: ForbiddenFiction.com

I attened the Erotic Author's Association conference last weekend. I was a marvellous experience. In particular, I am always impressed by how many of the authors of erotic fiction are women and the way feminism has opened up choices for everyone.

During the conference, I explained that my radical feminist mother taught me: The right to say "No' should also include the right to say 'Yes.'

I thought folks might like to read a segment from an earlier writing where I explained some of that background.

From the "Introduction" to Lesbian Sex Scandals (page 2), by Dawn Atkins (my birth name, though I no longer use it):

Lips pressed together, tongues touching, hands caressing and sweaty bodies – the glorious feeling of touching and being touched by a woman – lesbianism, I have been told, has nothing to do with this. It is primarily a political agenda. The test of a true feminist.

My mother taught me about feminism. Feminism was carrying signs in front a building when the Junior Chamber of Commerce wouldn’t admit girls. Feminism was writing papers about women for history classes. Feminism was marching in ERA demonstrations, even when men threw rocks at us. Feminism was being on call for the rape crisis hotline. Feminism’s goal was equality for everyone. Feminism was my mother supporting and encouraging her four daughters to become strong and independent – and to change the world.

Jackie taught me something else. She taught me that being touched by another was what made it all worthwhile. She taught me the pleasure I could find in the arms of another female body. Feminism was the struggle and strength. Sex was a source of pleasure and comfort.

What of the transformative power of sexual experience? Despite isolation from other lesbigay people in 1970s small town Oklahoma, I knew that I was not straight. Sexual experience, was for me and many others, was a defining moment in my identity. Although this is not true for everyone, we do ourselves, our lovers and our community, great disservice when we dismiss the power of sexual experience to shape our identities.

Did feminism influence my sexuality as well? Yes. My mother taught me feminism included fighting for the right to enjoy love and sex, with whomever I wanted -- and that I should never give over the right to my follow my own heart, mind or body. I think my radical feminist mother was unprepared for the directions her daughter would take these teachings. We are both feminist and she is proud of my work, but where sexual politics are concerned, we often take very different approaches.

Come see a VIDEO with myself and Fenwick explaining ForbiddenFiction.com! It's an IndieGoGo fundraising campaing for set-up. Really, I let them film me and everything. (Can't hide any more!)

Come check out the:
ForbiddenFiction.com Launch Campaign

ForbiddenFiction.com has opened the option of Free Memberships. Sign up in advance and get a special invitation when curtain opens and the stories begin!

You can also follow updates at any of the social media sites listed on the sidebar on the site.

ForbiddenFiction.com is opening submissions. Not yet ready for general call, but those following can read revised information on our Submissions Page!

For those who want to find D.M. Atkins on Google+
and: DM Atkins on Twitter
and: DM Atkins on Facebook

You can also find out more about the new publishing group, ForbiddenFiction.com at:

Google+ see: gplus.to/ForbiddenFiction
and: ForbiddenFic on Twitter
and: ForbiddenFiction on Facebook

Anyone wanting to hear me speak or read, can find me at Westercon 64 this weekend.

Here's my schedule of panels and readings:

Friday, Jul 01 2:30 PM to Friday, Jul 01 4:00 PM in room: Gold
Queer Representations in Speculative Fiction
How are non-heterosexual relationships and non-binary gender identities represented in speculative fiction? Where is it done best, and where is the genre lacking? A survey of representations, both good and bad, across all speculative fiction media: books, films, TV and comic books.

Friday, Jul 01 5:30 PM to Friday, Jul 01 7:00 PM in room: Valley
Fan Editors Panel
Fanzines have different audiences, frequencies, means of distribution, and editorial attitudes. Editors explain why they publish a fanzine. Thinking of publishing a fanzine? Encouraging words will be offered.

Friday, Jul 01 10:00 PM to Friday, Jul 01 11:30 PM in room: Crystal
Erotica in SF
How far back does erotic content go in science fiction? Panelists discuss the history of erotica in science fiction as well as current trends in the subgenre.

Saturday, Jul 02 1:00 PM to Saturday, Jul 02 2:30 PM in room: Valley
After Borders, What?
A decade ago we were all hearing that independent shops were doomed because Borders was taking over. Now Borders is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. What's next for bookstores, independent and otherwise?

Saturday, Jul 02 5:30 PM to Saturday, Jul 02 7:00 PM in room: Crystal
Environmental Politics of SF/F
SF/F has long dealt with environmental concerns, imagining the future impacts of overpopulation, climate change, peak oil, and water shortages. Contemporary writers talk about the importance of ecological themes in their work.

Sunday, Jul 03 1:00 PM to Sunday, Jul 03 2:30 PM in room: Gold
Delusions of Gender
From alien races with one sex or many to human androgynes, hermaphrodites, and beyond, SF has used gender and sexuality as lenses to examine human minds and cultures. Consider the single sex of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness versus the five sexes of Melissa Scott's Shadow Man. The James Tiptree, Jr. Award anthologies also explore these possibilities.

Sunday, Jul 03 4:00 PM to Sunday, Jul 03 5:30 PM in room: Valley
Classic Vampires Versus "New" Vampires
Bela Lugosi's Dracula seems as innocent as a dad in a 1950s sitcom compared to the vampires in today's movies and TV shows. What was the old set of rules that defined the lives of vampires? In what ways have different writers changed them, or the way vampires are characterized, while making the legend a more popular source of entertainment than ever before?

Sunday, Jul 03 5:30 PM to Sunday, Jul 03 7:00 PM in room: Gold
E-books and Reading Privacy
Your reading preferences can become public with e-books, because you pay by credit card or PayPal and get them via email. Could this depress the market for some kinds of literature? Or will we become brazen enough about our choices that we no longer care?

Sunday, Jul 03 10:00 PM to Sunday, Jul 03 11:59 PM in room: Valley
Reading: Erotica
Come listen to experienced erotica writers, Dave Smeds, D.M. Atkins, and M. Christian, read from their works.

This weekend we celebrated my son's birthday. Each year he picks a theme and we do it up with a decorated cake, props, costumes etc. The first one was Winnie the Pooh. Over the years we've had Fairies, Dinosaurs, Dragons, Batman, Spiderman, Superman, Pokemon, Harry Potter (twice), Pirates, Midsummer Night's Dream, Robin Hood and this year -- Doctor Who.

uncledark spent three days building a TARDIS from a refigerator box I picked up. It took six cans of blue spray pain. We made it so it opens and put it across the front door, so guests had to enter through it. Made it look "bigger on the inside." My son dressed as the newest Doctor (the 11th, played by Matt Smith), while two of his friends came as the 10th and the 9th. There were three Amy Ponds, River Song and one of the villians Madame Kovarian. My husbands dressed as Captain Jack and The Master (uncledark). My sister, scificangel, came as Donna Noble (more pics at her journal). I was a Weeping Angel. It's 8 AM now, and there are eight teenagers passed out in my liivng room from the slumber party.

Doing these theme parties is great for the adults (fans all) as well as the kids. We got to put a lot of our creative talents to work. I like doing costumes and cake decorating. So here is my "Starry Night TARDIS" cake I did for ther party.

Here is the "Starry Night TARDIS" cake pictures:

( More Pictures )

I designed these shirts for my son and his friends, who are all proud childen of geek parents. I thought I would share in case folks here wanted one:

Next Generation Geek by slashpervert
View more Geek T-Shirts

I know, I have been absent from fandom since March 4 when our scumbag now-ex-landlord gave us notice. The house sold. The new owners are nice and reasonable people. They have given us the extra time we needed to find a new place and pack our very large household. We are packing and still packing.

This week's good news was that we finally signed a new lease on a house and will be moving on the 16th. That gives us a week to finish packing here. Then the clean up. Then the unpacking at the new place. All things considered, I will probably be missing from online communities for another month.

I miss you all.

Since quite a few poeple have expressed interest in knowing more about ForbiddenFiction Publishing and the site itself is still in the process of code modification and design work, I am inviting you to friend the journals we have set up for updates on our progress.

On LJ: http://community.livejournal.com/forbiddenficpub/
On IJ: http://asylums.insanejournal.com/forbiddenfic/
On DW: http://forbiddenfiction.dreamwidth.org/

If you have considered submitting writing for publication, would like to work with our editorial or design groups, or are just curious about what we are up to, feel free to come over and check it out. I'll be posting more information soon.

Just a quick note, as I am on my way out the door for a meeting. Yes, if you recieve an invitation to submit writing (or art) to ForbiddenFiction Publishing, this is for real. I promise to write up more about it as soon as I can, but someone asked me to let people know that these letters that have gone out to a handful of fan fiction and original fiction writers are legit. I am one of the core group of people who have been working on the project for two years now. You are welcome to ask me questions here or send them directily FFP.

Our base website is up, althrough the one that will go live will have a lot more to it. Here is the address: forbiddenfiction.com.

Meme seen at both eroticjames and duskpeterson:

I know very little about some of the people on my friends list. Some people I know relatively well. But here's a thought: why not take this opportunity to tell me a little something about yourself. Any old thing at all. Just so the next time I see your name I can say: "Ah, there's so and so...she likes office supplies." I'd love it if every single person who's friended me would do this. Yes, even you people who I know really well. Then post this in your own journal. In return, ask me anything you'd like to know about me and I'll give you an answer.

Sweet Somethings: Samples from the Circlet Smorgasbord ISBN 978-1-885865-49-6

FREE Download! No coupon code necessary…

(This version is a PDF. HTML and ePub available by request.)

Since 1992, Circlet Press has been committed to publishing quality works of erotic science fiction and fantasy. From werewolves to robots, mad scientists to fairy-tale princesses, we have something to captivate every erotic imagination–and we want everyone to know! For the first time ever, Circlet is offering a free sampler for download. Sweet Somethings: Samples from the Circlet Smorgasbord features excerpts from twenty books, providing an enticing taste of what Circlet has to offer.



Sweet Somethings includes samples from the following stories:

“The Bridge” by Sacchi Green, from Best Fantastic Erotica
“Master Mind” by Cecilia Tan, from Edge Plays
Alpha by Molly Maddox
“Navigator” by Kathleen Tudor, from Like That Spark
“Transplant” by Ellen Tevault, from Up for Grabs
“Skin Deep” by Shanna Germain, from Like a Thorn
Faewolf by D.M. Atkins and Chris Taylor
“Wood” by David Sklar, from Like a Sacred Desire
“Enslaved” by Kierstin Cherry, from Like Crimson Droplets
“The Coming Age” by Angela Caperton, from Like a Corset Undone
“Charlie” by Kal Cobalt, from Robotica
“The Pillars of Hercules” by Lionel Bramble, from Like a God’s Kiss
“Ota Discovers Fire” by Vinnie Tesla, from Like a Long Road Home
Mate by Lauren P. Burka
“Queen’s Jewel” by A.D.R. Forte, from Like a Queen
“The Changeling” by Whitt Pond, from Wired Hard 2
“Lupine House” by A.N. Cortez, from Like an Animal
“Come Monday” by Jamie Joy Gatto, from Sex Noir
“Waylaid” by Julie Cox, from Like Tooth and Claw
“The Succession of Knoorikios Khnum” by Zachary Jernigan, from Wired Hard 4