Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
Sorry about the scribble above


Here it goes again:


(Sorry to break the train of the dialogue here. 

I have not had a chance to read the book. But I am trying to catch up.
I have lots of thoughts about writing about sex. And am catching up on
the topic on the WeLL as well. 

I just want to thank Suzy for sending me her book via e-mail. 
And say that I am here lurking and will catch up soon. 

It's a bit different being in a WeLL conversation that
is also *public* and is about sex. That makes it even
harder, I think, to be candid.

I am a bit overwhelmed by the subject matter. 
And would probably be happier if I could post 
somewhere anonymously about sex. I have a 
domain about sex work that I have never filled in.)
  

    

  Susie, when I first heard of COYOTE it was 1985 or '86 and the person
(Norma Jean, in case that rings any bells) gave me the vague impression
that while it still existed it wasn't doing much.  Since then I've only
heard about it in the past tense, except when someone who says they're
a member gets interviewed.  What dates does your story correspond to,
and what (if anything) do you know about any present activities of the
COYOTE organization?

  BTW, this has been a *really* interesting topic, and I thank you for
being so generous with your time.
  

    
some of the best writers or erotica are scifi writers, so i wasn't
surprised to see Heinlein grouped with that ilk. i think it's because
many of us hope a lot of the stigmas on sex are really fading away, and
that, in a future where STDs are under control, casual sex really will
be casual. 

the things i read in conteporary fiction that get me hot and bothered
are still "bad" things, things against the catholic morality my parents
pretend to live by (no that they're old and sex isn't as important to
them as it used to be - but i could tell you stories from their younger
days). things like but infidelity, being paid for it, etc. 

but the sex is actually pretty tame, it's the situation that really
gets me going. the build up is the thing...
  

    

I wonder if you could sell a sequel called How To Read A Dirty Book.
  

    
You can buy my book thru Amazon.com, or Booklocker.com, or directly thru me,
 via Paypal, or snail mail.  If you want to use Paypal, ( which I've just
discovered, and is wonderful) go to this address:

https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=paypal%40susiebright.com&undefined_quan
tity=1&item_name=How+To+Read/Write+a+Dirty+Story&item_number=001&amount=16.95&
shipping=3.50&shipping2=2.00&return=http%3A//www.susiebright.com

Or, my snail mail is POB 8377, Santa Cruz, CA 95061.  Send $20, and I'll
send it out.

AS for Coyote, you're right that it's not an active organization, it's a
memory and a symbol now.  Margo gets involved in various things from time to
time, but as herself, not as COYOTE.
  

    

  Oh, ratz.  Thanks, Susie; I was hoping that it might be more than just
a memory but oh well.
  

    

Susie and Melisse, it's been a pleasure having you.  I just want to
acknowledge that our two weeks with you is up and say thanks for being
with us.

Things are at an interesting point, so don't feel like you must stop
now.  You are welcome to continue for as long as you like.
  

    
Thank you, Linda, for asking us.  I'll keep checking in.
  

    
Susie, I'm curious, have you ever been called in to add some sexual
tension to a TV series that's in a slump?
  

    
It's been wonderful being part of this... see you all around the well
in other palces.
  

    
Thanks, melisse, for the interview...  and no, I haven't been called in to
"Friends," or any other sit com to fire it up. I've only worked in film
scripts, never in TV
  

    

Gives new meaning to the phrase "Script Doctor"...
  

    

E-mail from Susie Bright:

In the Wake of  Sept. 11... 

Dear Friends,

SAFE BUT NOT SOUND

Like everyone else, I'm struggling to make sense of this past week's
events.  I'm concerned about all my family and friends in NYC, and I want
to offer my love  to all of you who've been directly affected by this.  
Let me know if there's anything I can do to support you.

 I first became interested in the sexual world because of my political
passions,  and when something like this happens, I have to turn to that
passion and test my resolve. 

It's been difficult.

 I noted in one news broadcast  that The Museum of Tolerance in Los
Angeles  closed its doors after the first air strikes- it seems like an
apt metaphor.  Tolerance,  the simple decency of appreciating people's
differences, has gone underground. 

 Instead, the fundamentalists of every world religion rule the order of
the day. Prejudice and social separation are the credos of the new "right
livelihood".  I never thought I'd see the day when a motto like  live and
let live became a shocking utterance.

I see the people in my own neighborhood who "hate fags," "hate Mexicans,"
etc.  They don't seem far off from their gun-toting counterparts across
the map.   This is the era of the suicidal fanatic, the person who's
willing to die (and take everyone else down with them) in the name of
their cause.  It's chic to have your own jihad.

Instead of the grassroots movements I grew up with that changed our world
forever, we  have suicidal maniacs who make history dance their tune. 
When MLK was assassinated, when the students at Kent State were shot, 
they were acts against  these individuals' will to live, their desire to
connect with humanity.  Now, the goal of the uber-revoltionary seems to
be total annihilation.

Who do I blame?

 I am furious at all the puritanical theologies that indoctrinate
soldiers for this unending self-destruction.  The words that terrify me
most are: "God is on our side." Marx said religion was the opiate of the
people, but I'm afraid today it's more like a runaway meth lab.

 I also have to point the finger at the people who, while far from being
religious purists,  have profited while idly watching this situation
retch to the boiling point. 

The corporate ethos that guides our global economy has sacrificed
everything- and everybody-  in the name  of the bottom line.  They didn't
spend the money to protect us,  they promoted inequities which  could not
stand, and  they didn't spend the time foster one iota of understanding. 
Their hypocrisy created arrogance beyond compare. 

The captains  of the ship can't  be surprised when the folks who didn't
make the gravy train go  insane. They can't be surprised at the oxymoron
of "airport security" - they're the ones that decided it could be done on
the cheap.  Capitalism digs division and hands out bandaids as long as
its methods delivers a profit- so it's  disingenuous  to be shocked when
a mouse appears with a box knife and cuts our throat.

This morning, President Bush announced: "Now that we have declared war,
we will lead the world to victory."  My daughter read his speech aloud 
out loud, and snorted. "Well, hip-hip-hooray,"  she said.  She is very
scared, and since she is eleven, she is  also exquisitely sarcastic.

I share her sentiments. The sabre-rattlers have  confidence that we can
carpet-bomb an ideology.  I almost envy their smugness, that it could be
that easy.  But this is a political battle we face, and it takes a
visionary resolve far steelier than any military might. 

My partner Jon dreamed of  Pogo last night:  "We have met the  enemy, and
he is us."
 So what do we do about us?   I want America to fight fanaticism with
heart, and to vanquish puritan intolerance with the greatest love and
insight-  the love we have for our freedom, and the insight that our
future lies together on this tiny  planet.  What is our agenda our
children's future is the goal?
 
At the moment I am  safe, if not sound. How are you?   I would appreciate
hearing from any of you at this time.  It's comforting and enlightening
to me to hear your thoughts. 

Clits Up, and  Mighty, Mighty, Peace,
Susie

 -- 

!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!
!*!*!*!*!*!*! !*!*!*!*!*!*!
SUSIE BRIGHT,  P.O. Box 8377  Santa Cruz, CA 95061

http://www.susiebright.com
  

    

  Wow, very well said indeed, Susie.  You've nailed the source (religious
zealotry especially) of these events.....
  

    



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28620-2001Sep14.html
http://www.pfaw.org/news/press//2001-09-13.320.phtml
  

    
Moving words indeed.

I am not so much mad at the "puritanical theologies" as I am those who
pervert them for their own capitalist and/or ideological ends.  I have
no problem with religious zeal so long as it is not wrapped around the
club with which someone attacks me.

I still have hope that our government will not attempt to "carpet-bomb
an ideology", that the President is merely attempting to appear strong
for the people and that our politicians are sincere when they speak of
patience and precision.  But I am young and idealistic like that.  I
too fear that, under pressure to show some results, our government
might do just that.