Circlet » Lauren's Tales

The further adventures of “The Ontological Engine”

Dec 102009

Click to buy me

People who have read my recent ebook anthology Up for Grabs have noticed that there is one story that is not really about transsexuality, though it contains some amazing transformations. It’s a steampunk tale that remains fresh and vivid even now that some of us are growing weary of steampunk. It has mad scientists, orgasm machines, and scandalous behavior set in a realm of Victorian manners. I’ve been asked by everyone including the author why I chose this anthology for The Ontological Engine. The full answer to this question is difficult to convey.

Let’s start with the Circlet Press slush pile. There is a certain type of manuscript that arrives with a cover letter stating “We hope you will enjoy this story, or at least find it funny.” This statement is the sign of doom. You could argue coincidence, or you could point out that these stories seem to be written by people who are so nervous writing about sex that they can only pull it off if the sex is so stupid that it can’t be threatening, or that there’s rarely anything funny about a story that tries too hard. These are stories that we anticipate reading with absolute dread.

“The Ontological Engine” is–not to put too fine a point on it–funny. And hot. Stories that make you laugh so hard that you have to loosen your clothes and so hot that you have to loosen them more are not easy to pull off. How could I not make room for this rauchy little number?

Since the original publication we’ve put an mp3 of this story up for sale (first part is free). We are beginning work on an entire collection of stories set in this world for 2010. I can hardly wait to get to work on cover art for this one. And today, just to bring another smile to my face, we have a lovely buff from the author of ErosBlog. Please enjoy the review, download the free first part of the mp3, pour yourself a nice cup of tea, and enjoy yourself.

Woot! “The Marketplace” is coming back!

Editing, Writing No Responses »

Dec 062009

For years the The Marketplace by Sara Adamson (aka Laura Antoniou) has been out of print. Now Circlet Press will be bringing it back as an ebook. I’ll be prepping the manuscript. Woot!

Wired Hard 4 is out at Circlet.com

Editing No Responses »

Oct 272009

One of my editing projects, the latest installment of Circlet’s gay speculative fiction anthologies, Wired Hard 4, is now available. Check out the link for purchasing information. There’s a not safe for work excerpt on Circlet. Here’s another!

ERWA Reviews “Up for Grabs.”

Editing No Responses »

Oct 112009

The Erotica Readers and Writers Association, one of our favorite destinations on the web, has reviewed our gender-queer anthology Up for Grabs: Exploring the Worlds of Gender.

The reviewer says, “[a]fter reading Up for Grabs, I have one complaint. It’s much too short!” Read the whole review here.

Porn with Zombies!

News 1 Response »

Sep 112009

Circlet Press just released a paranormal romance with werewolves and zombies:

Janey Hyde is fighting to keep her people alive in a Manhattan ravaged by zombies. Seamus, the leader of a werewolf pack also on the island is doing the same. Will an alliance between them be the salvation of their tribes? Or is the intense attraction they feel for each other going to be their downfall? Exploring love, lust, war, and politics, ALPHA is the debut novel from writer Molly Maddox. Seamus’s pack isn’t ready to accept a human in their midst, and attracted to him as she is, Janey isn’t sure she’s ready to submit to an alpha male when it could undermine her authority with her own people. But there is more at stake than her pride and his principles, and only by working together will they find a future.

Click on the link for an excerpt and purchase information.

Next Circlet Press Author Chat: Zachary Jernigan, Aug 14-15

News No Responses »

Aug 072009

Zachary Jernigan, the host of Circlet’s next author chat, wrote “Only For Myself: Japan, 2043,” the kick-off story for my collection Up for Grabs. He has another story forthcoming in Wired Hard 4, which will be available in about a month. Zachary’s work has a touch of the strange that will remind you of the first time you got excited about science fiction. Be sure to join us at Circlet Press’s LJ Community.

More Good News: Up for Grabs reviewed by Rainbow Reviews!

Editing No Responses »

Jul 262009

If I get any more good news tonight, I may explode. Rainbow reviews has published this lovely take on Up for Grabs, a short story collection I edited.

Erotica? Pornography? Smut!

Writing 1 Response »

Jul 182009

Every subject on the interwebz has as least one discussion that’s as worn out as the brush you use to scrub the cat box and twice as smelly. Hands-down the most tired of all is “what kind of music do you listen to when you do <subject of discussion group>,” but there is room for a couple more stinkers. In the world of erotica, it’s the erotica vs. porn debate.

Microfiction “The Hymn of the Pearl” at circlet.com

Writing No Responses »

Jun 192009

Once upon a time I had a fascinating dream. When I woke up, I wrote down the dream as it faded from memory. The result is a piece of microfiction called “The Hymn of the Pearl.” You can find it now at www.circlet.com.

Note: link-rot fixed.

Up for Grabs is up!

Editing No Responses »

Jun 162009

Up For Grabs: Exploring the Worlds of Gender
edited by Lauren P. Burka

With stories by Vinnie Tesla, Anya Levin, David D. Levine, Zachary Jernigan, and Ellen Tevault.

Up for Grabs is my first editing project with Circlet Press.

Read an anthology of erotic stories where gender is up for grabs. Thousands of people spend time on the Internet identified with a gender other than the one they were born with, for erotic gratification or to stretch their imaginations. But we asked our writers what if you got a tax break for changing your gender? What if you could choose to be no gender at all until you went on a date? What are the implications, both sexual and social, of gender possibilities beyond the choices and ideas our society currently holds.

Buy it directly from us here at Circlet.com as a PDF, or from one of our retailers:

Amazon’s Kindle Store

All Romance eBooks (.prc, Palm, epub)

Smashwords (.mobi, LRF, epub, pdb, HTML)

Fictionwise (all ebook formats)