Nihil Obstat

Dog-Earred Pages

On the 6:19 train to New York I opened my Wall Street Journal to this little item: “Web Sales of Bodice-Rippers Make for Heavy Breathing.” Romance giant Harlequin uploads almost all of the 100 books it publishes each month, and E-book publisher Ellora’s Cave has taken it a step further. It provides the racier fare fans have wanted but felt nervous asking for in stores. I was happily surprised that Ellora’s Cave had a Lesbian/Gay section, but it needs a few more lesbian characters. They were mostly in threesomes. I guess that’s titillating, but not threatening, to most female readers. I can see some very closeted, but curious women buying a lot of the menage a trois novels.

Of course, the Grand Dame of lesbian bodice-rippers has to be Naiad Press, now called Bella Books. My all-time favorite is Katherine Forrest’s “Curious Wine.” My only complaint was there was too much story between the sex. But Katherine captured the heat of the initial sexual encounter. Just about every dyke I know bought that book to read-and read–and read-until the perfect lover of her dreams appeared.

www.bellabooks.com

ellorascave.com