Smart Bitches Trashy Books | All of the romance, none of the bullshit.

Tawny Taylor is reporting on her blog that Siren Publishing has won the bid for the rights to Triskelion’s contracts, but no official word has been posted on Siren’s website. As per her entry, which cites an unnamed author loop, “All the contractual rights that were included in the bid are now returned to the former Triskelion authors, unencumbered.”

Anyone out there got confirmation or details? 

Erotica author Anne Douglas sent me a link to a story that she discussed on her blog: a Jacksonville, FL, mom is up in arms because her 16 year old daughter brought home an erotica novel from the library.

Says the mother:

“This is just the kind of stuff we’re trying to protect our kids from in society today,” says Maddox. “And here she’s able to just grab it off the shelf at the library with no one there to keep it away from them.”

According to Douglas’ blog entry on the story, the book in question was by Zane. Further, this is Douglas’ local library:

On a personal note, this is not the only erotic romance on the shelf at Pablo Creek - I was pleasantly surprised to pick up Diane Whiteside’s Irish Devil (I think I saw one of the follow up stories too). Pablo Creek also has a separate children’s section—as in not even in the same main room, and also a separate wall of teen books in the fiction, along with a separate teen computer/meet&greet teen shelving room that is in a glassed off section from the main library. Teens and children are well catered for at this particular library.

My reaction: a hearty “Oh, for fuck’s sake, people. Literally.” It’s, of course, the library’s fault that a 16 year old can check out erotica from the local library. And I suppose we need some beefy security guards at the local bookstore, too, should any 16 year old want to buy such literature.

What a waste of an opportunity to have a thoughtful conversation about sexuality with a daughter. Instead that poor girl is going to be embarrassed for weeks. 

Not only did four people forward me The News Story Of The Day To End All News Stories Ever, but a friend of mine texted me to tell me about George Clooney and Fabio getting into a shoving match at a NY restaurant.

According to the variety of sources carrying the story, Fabio and some lady friends were having dinner, when Clooney asked them to stop taking pictures - sources theorize that Clooney thought they were taking pictures of him.

Fabio got up and went over to George’s table — not to apologize, but to explain that the photos weren’t of George. “I thought you were a nice guy,” Fabio, 48, said to George, 46. “Stop being a diva.” Those were apparently fighting words, because George stood up and the two started arguing until George went to push Fabio.

“Stop Being a Diva!” might be the new battle cry of the Smart Bitches, certainly. At least, this one.

As Lizzie said in her email, “Who is famous-er? Whose manager talks more smack? Who assumes anyone with a camera out is pointing it at him? Who you calling a diva? Who will YOU root for in Fabio v. George Clooney?”

Good question! Who is your money on in a grudge match: Clooney or Fabio? I have to say, I like both men. I find Clooney fascinating because he’s talented and smart and has a sense of humor - but I have a soft spot for Fabio because he doesn’t take himself so seriously. Any man that can walk around with giant manboobs and shill for margarine is a man for me to have a beer with any time. But in terms of a fight? My money’s on Fabio. 

Thanks to Bitchery reader Lisa, who sent me a link to her site where she reposted an announcement that all proceeds in perpetuity for the sale of All Through The Night, her new Troubleshooters book, will be donated to MassEquality, which is fighting to preserve equal marriage rights in Massachusetts. According to MassEquality, her gift has already surpassed $250,000.

Says Brockmann,

I fervently hope by the time you read this that my son’s right to marry will have been preserved.

But if not, then I have this to say to the people who are rapidly becoming a minority themselves, people who don’t think that gay Americans should have the same rights as the rest of us--

What part of love don’t you understand?

To everyone else, to all the friends of Jules--past, present and future--thank you for believing, and for helping to change the world.

Word up to Suzanne Brockmann.

Updated to add:

I just found out that Ms. Brockmann is signing books in NJ today, but I’d never get to the store in time. But! Harvey, the nice owner of The Clinton Book Shop is going to grab five copies for me and ask Awesome Brockmann to sign them. SO! Five copies will go to Bitchery readers, and royalties will go to MassEquality, and I’ll eventually trek out to Clinton to tell Harvey how awesome he is.

Hmm. Now. How to giveaway those five books. Ideas? 

From the “OMG I’m squicked out from just reading the first paragraph” department, we have a link sent by Bitchery reader Kimberly Anne, who is as squicked as I am: Purity Balls.

No, not that kind of ball. You put on a dress, pledge to remain a virgin, and dance with your dad.

I’m not kidding:

the main agenda is for fathers to vow to protect the girls’ chastity until they marry and for the daughters to promise to stay pure. Pastor Randy Wilson, host of the event and cofounder of the ball, strides to the front of the room, takes the microphone and asks the men, “Are you ready to war for your daughters’ purity?”

Make war! Not love! And ignore the degrading interpretation of “purity” and somewhat repulsive subtext of controlling your daughter’s virginity!