Rachel Kramer Bussel (born 1975) is an American

author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...

columnist A columnist is a person who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Column (periodical), Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs. They take the ...

, and editor, specializing in

erotica Erotica is art, literature or photography that deals substantively with subject matter that is erotic, sexually stimulating or sexually arousing. Some critics regard pornography as a type of erotica, but many consider it to be different. Erot ...

. She previously studied at the

New York University School of Law The New York University School of Law (NYU Law) is the law school of New York University, a private research university in New York City. Established in 1835, it was the first law school established in New York City and is the oldest survivin ...

and earned her

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...

and

women's studies Women's studies is an academic field that draws on Feminism, feminist and interdisciplinary methods to place women's lives and experiences at the center of study, while examining Social constructionism, social and cultural constructs of gender; ...

from the

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...

Career

Bussel has been a Senior Editor at '' Penthouse Variations'', a Contributing Editor to '' Penthouse'', and a blogger for ''

The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (''The Huffington Post'' until 2017, itself often abbreviated as ''HPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers p ...

''. In addition, she is a rotating interviewer for the

Gothamist ''Gothamist'' is a New York City–centric blog operated by New York Public Radio. From 2003 to 2018, Gothamist LLC was the operator, or in some cases franchisor, of eight city-centric websites that focused on news, events, food, culture, an ...

and a columnist for ''SexIs Magazine''. She has written for the ''

Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture publication based in Greenwich Village, New York City, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Ma ...

''. She has authored many erotic

short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...

and has collected her own works, as well as others', in dozens of published collections, including specialized volumes on

BDSM BDSM is a variety of often Eroticism, erotic practices or Sexual roleplay, roleplaying involving Bondage (BDSM), bondage, Discipline (BDSM), discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and other related interpersonal dynamics. Given ...

(two volumes of ''Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z'' and the ''He's On Top'' & ''She's On Top'' collections) and

lesbian erotica Lesbian erotica deals with depictions in the visual arts of lesbianism, which is the expression of female-on-female sexuality. Lesbianism has been a theme in erotic art since at least the time of ancient Rome, and many regard depictions of lesb ...

(''Glamour Girls'' & ''First-Timers''). She has also co-edited a number of collections with other editors and writers, including Alison Tyler, Stacy Bias, Wendy Caster, Julie May, and Christopher Pierce. From 2005 to 2010, she was the curator for a monthly erotic reading series, ''In the Flesh'', in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

Personal life

She identifies as

bisexual Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females. It may also be defined as the attraction to more than one gender, to people of both the same and different gender, or the attraction t ...

, saying in 2006, "I think ideally I'd like to have a male lover and a female lover, either a triad situation or one on one." Kramer has been a resident of

Teaneck, New Jersey Teaneck () is a Township (New Jersey), township in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. The town is know for their pancake throwing contest held ...

Awards

She received a 2009 Independent Publisher Book Award for the ''Tasting Him'' and ''Tasting Her'' anthologies. She received the National Leather Association International's Samois Anthology Award for 2012 for ''Surrender: Erotic Tales of Female Pleasure and Submission'', for 2016 for ''Dirty Dates: Erotic Fantasies For Couples'', and for 2019 for ''The Big Book Of Submission Volume 2''.

Bibliography

As author

* ''The Lesbian Sex Book: A Guide for Women Who Love Women'' with Wendy Caster (2003) * ''The Art of the Erotic Love Letter'' (2011) * ''Everything But'' (2011)

As editor

* ''Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z'' (2004) * ''Up All Night: Adventures in Lesbian Sex'' with Stacy Bias (2004) * ''First-timers: True Stories of Lesbian Awakening'' (2006) * ''Caught Looking: Erotic Tales of

Voyeur Voyeurism is the Sexual attraction, sexual interest in or Human sexual activity, practice of watching other people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, Human sexual activity, sexual activity, or other actions of a private nature. ...

s and

Exhibitionist Exhibitionism is the act of exposing in a public or semi-public context one's intimate parts – for example, the breasts, Sex organ, genitals or buttocks. As used in psychology and psychiatry, it is substantially different. It refers to an ...

s'' (2006) * ''Secret Slaves: Erotic Stories of Bondage'' with Christopher Pierce (2006) * ''Ultimate Undies: Erotic Stories About

Underwear Underwear, underclothing, or undergarments are items of clothing worn beneath outer clothes, usually in direct contact with the skin, although they may comprise more than a single layer. They serve to keep outer clothing from being soiled ...

and

Lingerie Lingerie (, , ) is a category of primarily women's clothing including undergarments (mainly brassieres), sleepwear, and lightweight robes. The choice of the word is often motivated by an intention to imply that the garments are alluring, fashio ...

'' with Christopher Pierce (2006) * ''Sexiest Soles: Erotic Stories About Feet And Shoes'' with Christopher Pierce (2006) * ''Second Skin: Erotic Stories About Leather and Latex'' with Christopher Pierce (2006) * ''Glamour Girls: Femme/Femme Erotica'' (2006) * ''Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z, Volume 2''(2006) * ''

Crossdressing Cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothes traditionally or stereotypically associated with a different gender. From as early as pre-modern history, cross-dressing has been practiced in order to disguise, comfort, entertain, and express onesel ...

: Erotic Stories'' (2007) * ''Hide and Seek: Erotic Stories'' with Alison Tyler (2007) * ''Sex and Candy: Twenty Succulent Stories'' (2007) * ''He's on Top: Erotic Stories of Male Dominance and Female Submission'' (2007) * ''She's on Top: Erotic Stories of Female Dominance and Male Submission'' (2007) * ''Best Sex Writing 2008'' (2007) * ''Yes, Ma'am: Erotic Stories of Female Dominance'' (2008) * ''Yes, Sir: Erotic Stories of Male Dominance'' (2008) * ''Dirty Girls: Erotica for Women'' (2008) * ''Rubber Sex: Erotic Stories'' (2008) * ''Spanked: Red Cheeked Erotica'' (2008) * ''Tasting Her:

Oral Sex Oral sex, sometimes referred to as oral intercourse, is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a person by another person using the mouth (including the lips, tongue, or teeth). Cunnilingus is oral sex performed on the vu ...

Stories'' (2008) * ''Tasting Him: Oral Sex Stories'' (2008) * ''The Lust Chronicles Anthology'' (2008) * ''Bedding Down'' (2008) * ''Best Sex Writing 2009'' (2008) * ''Love Notes: A Music and Sex Anthology'' (2009) * ''Do Not Disturb: Hotel Sex Stories'' (2009) * ''

Mile High Club The mile high club is slang for people who have had sexual intercourse on board an aircraft during flight. While this usually refers to sexual acts in an airliner lavatory (for privacy), a sexual act anywhere on a plane in flight would fit the t ...

: Plane Sex Stories'' (2009) * ''Bottoms Up: Spanking Good Stories'' (2009) * ''

Peep Show A peep show, peepshow, or, a peep booth is a presentation of a live sex show or pornographic film which is viewed through a viewing slot. Several historical media provided voyeuristic entertainment through hidden erotic imagery. Before the devel ...

: Erotic Tales of Voyeurs and Exhibitionists'' (2009) * ''Best Sex Writing 2010'' (2009) * ''Please, Sir: Erotic Stories of Female Submission'' (2010) * ''Please, Ma'am: Erotic Stories of Male Submission'' (2010) * ''Fast Girls: Erotica for Women'' (2010) * ''Orgasmic: Erotica for Women'' (2010) * ''Smooth: Erotic Stories for Women'' (2010) * ''Passion: Erotic Romance for Women'' (2010) * ''Best Bondage Erotica 2011'' (2010) * ''Surrender: Erotic Tales of Female Pleasure and Submission'' (2011) * ''Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex'' (2011) * ''Obsessed: Erotic Romance for Women'' (2011) * ''Women in Lust: Erotic Stories'' (2011) * ''Best Bondage Erotica 2012'' (2011) * ''Best Sex Writing 2012: The State of Today's Sexual Culture'' (2012) * ''Irresistible: Erotic Romance for Couples'' (2012) * ''Curvy Girls: Erotica for Women'' (2012) * ''Going Down: Oral Sex Stories'' (2012) * ''Anything for You: Erotica for Kinky Couples'' (2012) * ''Hungry for More: Romantic Fantasies For Women'' (2012) * ''Cheeky Spanking Stories'' (2012) * ''Instruments of Pleasure: Sex Toy Erotica'' (2012) * ''Best Bondage Erotica 2013'' (2012) * ''Only You: Erotic Romance for Women'' (2013) * ''Best Sex Writing 2013: The State of Today's Sexual Culture'' (2013) * ''Twice the Pleasure: Bisexual Women's Erotica'' (2013) * ''Serving Him: Sexy Stories of Submission'' (2013) * ''Baby Got Back: Anal Erotica'' (2013) * ''Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories'' (2013) * ''Best Bondage Erotica 2014'' (2014) * ''Big Book of Submission: 69 Kinky Tales'' (2014) * ''Best Bondage Erotica 2015'' (2015) * ''Naked Desire: Erotic Romance for Women'' (2015) * ''I Want You Bad: Obsessed Erotic Romance for Women'' (2015) * ''Dirty Dates: Erotic Fantasies for Couples'' (2015) * ''Come Again: Sex Toy Erotica'' (2015) * ''Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 1'' (2016) * ''Begging For It: Erotic Fantasies for Women'' (2016) * ''Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 2'' (2016) * ''On Fire: Erotic Romance Stories'' (2017) * ''Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 3'' (2017) * ''The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2: 69 Kinky Tales'' (2017) * ''Candy Lovers: Sugar Erotica'' (2018) * ''Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 4'' (2018) * ''Erotic Teasers'' (2019) * ''Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 5'' (2019) * ''Best Bondage Erotica of the Year, Volume 1'' (2020) * ''Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 6'' (2020) * ''Best Bondage Erotica of the Year, Volume 2'' (2021) * ''Coming Soon: Women's Orgasm Erotica'' (2021) * ''Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 7'' (2021) * ''Big Book of Orgasms, Volume 2: 69 Sexy Stories'' (2022)

References

External links

*
Rachel Kramer Bussel at ''Elle'' magazine
*
"An Erotica Writer on Why So Many Women Are Into Kink"

"Erotica author is boring in the bedroom — and she likes it that way"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bussel, Rachel Kramer 1975 births Living people UC Berkeley College of Letters and Science alumni American women short story writers 21st-century American short story writers BDSM writers Bisexual women writers Place of birth missing (living people) New York University School of Law alumni American erotica writers American women erotica writers Writers from Teaneck, New Jersey Sex-positive feminists 21st-century American women writers Educators from New Jersey American women educators American bisexual women American bisexual writers