The Basics
Age and occupation. How long have you lived here, where did you come from, and where do you live now?
28, Smut Editor and Writer. Ive lived here for 7 and a half years, I grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, then lived in Berkeley, then Manhattan, a brief foray into Jersey City and now I live in Brooklyn.
Strip-Three
1. You recently put out a book titled "Up All Night: Adventures in Lesbian Sex." Could you talk a little about it and the similarities to the hot action on The L Word show?
Up All Night is a collection of true lesbian erotica stories that span a wide range of activities and settings theres sex outdoors, in the office, on an Amtrak train, a Halloween pissing orgy, fisting, roleplaying, kink, dirty talk, hot girls and hot butches, and lots more. There are some very sweet, tender, loving stories and some that are just more down n dirty, bare bones sex. I think it has a little something for everyone, from humor to really hot, wild sex by writers such as Alison Tyler and Tristan Taormino. Im a sucker for a true story and the true part of these makes them extra exciting, especially the more out there ones. I love when someone reads one and says "did she really do that?" Theres lots in there that might be fun to read about but youd never try, or things that you might read it and say "I want to do that," but a lot of it is about the relationships between the characters, be they girlfriends or friends or even one night stands.
I dont know if the stories in Up All Night are all that similar to the sex on The L Word for that I may have had to edit Dyke Drama Erotica (Ill work on that book proposal shortly). Theres more sex in my book probably than on that show, because its all sex in Up All Night, but there are some stories such as "Ungentlemanly Behavior," in which a butch top and femme bottom switch roles, that are gritty and slightly angry and mix things up. I am still fixated on the last episodes sex scene with Bett and Tina it was fucked up and hot all at once, with so much anger and passion and wrestling behind it. Theres no prison sex in my book though. I like sex, both written and real, that goes outside the usual boundaries of what we might think sex is or thats unlike anything Ive seen or felt before, that takes you to a whole new place, both mentally and physically, where youve never been before and makes the world seem new and exciting. Maybe thats a tall order, but I do think its out there.
2. What can you say about "gay retirement homes" that we all don't already know? (Suggestion: start from the beginning.)
Probably not all that much, but I did write an article for GO NYC about a gay retirement home in Santa Fe that sounds really cool; theres no age requirement and they have good food and activities and lots of cool stuff; and Id totally consider living there.
3. I'm sure you're not ALL about sex...so what shakes your thighs when you're not imagining pony rides?
Well, Im definitely not all about sex. I like many things cupcakes for one (Magnolia Bakery preferred!), I enter contests every day and often win some very cool stuff like $500, a whole Doc Martens outfit. I run a mailing list for my favorite singer Mary Lou Lord (who has an incredible new album out called Baby Blue). I also love trivia and bingo and anything like that where I get to show off my competitive spirit, and I use the library a lot, always leaving with huge stacks of books. Im a total nerd about certain things, like cards (I love sending cards), office supplies (Staples is my absolute favorite store), and babies (my friend just asked me "are there any babies you dont think are cute?). I am just a sucker for all of those.
Proust-Krucoff Questionnaire
9pm, Wednesday - what are you doing?
If I havent just gone to a reading, which seems to happen on many a Wednesday, Im probably home in front of my computer with 10 Word documents open, trying to focus on just one of them, but really moving every few seconds to explorer and checking my email or reading some blog that I deem much more important than whatever Im supposed to be working on. Basically anything that falls under the umbrella of "procrastination" most likely.
Best celebrity sighting in New York, or personal experience with one if you're that type.
I wish I could say that Id seen Monica Lewinsky, but despite having tried to meet her many times and the fact that almost everyone else I know has met her, my only glimpses of her have been at tapings for her HBO special and of The View. I am the worst celebrity sighter ever, they have to be specifically pointed out to me, even when theyre right in front of me. My ex did see Leisha Hailey (of The L Word) on the street and rushed up to her and said hello and then put me on the phone with her and we had a very odd conversation.
Describe that low, low moment when you thought you just might have to leave NYC for good.
I think even in my lowest moments, such as having basically a nervous breakdown during law school and realizing I had to drop out or right after September 11th, it never occurred to me to leave New York. Sometimes I feel like this city is the only thing that keeps me alive and motivated; I truly cant picture myself ever living anywhere else.
Just after midnight on a Saturday - what are you doing?
Probably stumbling home from a concert, waiting for the train, or trying to get my friends to laugh. My wilder times of taking my clothes off in public or having rock stars put money in my bra are pretty much over.
What's the most expensive thing in your wardrobe?
My Donna Karan glasses.
Finish one of the four following sentences:
1) "Outside of his building, on E. 9th Street, Chip took money from Enid and..."
went to Crif Dog and stuffed himself with yummy hot dogs while playing video games.
Where do you summer?
Well, I dont really use the word summer, but usually I "summer" in my sweltering, non-air conditioned apartment, with occasional visits to my family on Marthas Vineyard.
What was your best dining experience in NYC?
Id have to say when my friend Heidi made me Canteens macaroni and cheese from her mac and cheese cookbook. It was so yummy and even better than eating it at Canteen because I got to take some home afterwards AND got to do the dishes (yes, Im weird like that, I love doing dishes). A close second would be eating yummy spicy food and having many fruity, sweet drinks on my first, unexpected trip to Sushi Samba after getting a pedicure - that was pure decadence.
Just how much do you really love New York?
So much Id gladly marry it, even without a ring, as long as I get to live here forever.
What happened the last time you went to L.A.?
Are you sure you want to know? [Ed.- Yes, yes...] I had sex in the plane on the way to LA, then in the car, in the mall parking lot, basically all over LA I was getting it on. I had a wild, crazy, awesome birthday weekend, spent time with some of my most amazing friends and family, got driven around in a white convertible, ordered off the secret menu at In-N-Out, went to a baby shower at Camryn Manheims house, bought CDs at Amoeba, went to the Elliott Smith memorial, had hot birthday sex, wrote my first piece for the Village Voice and generally had one of the best trips of my life, all crammed into 4 little days.
Medication: What and how much do you take?
I dont know if this is good or bad or what, but none. I dont even drink anymore so Im pretty boring like that. Im a terrible patient anyway; even when I get prescriptions for my allergies, I dont really take the medications after about a week. Sometimes I use breath rite strips which are like magic.
Of all the movies made about (or highly associated with) New York, what role would you have liked to be cast in?
Rosanna Arquettes character in Desperately Seeking Susan, because even though of course it would have been cool to play Madonnas character, I am much more often that shy, timid Jersey girl wanting to emulate all the cool, together New York chicks.
If you could change one thing about New York, what would it be?
People would walk faster or stay to the side. New York is supposed to be full of pushy, impatient people, like, well, me, but I always wind up behind the slow walkers and feel like I need a horn just to get down the street. And these are not all tourists, but actual New Yorkers who feel compelled to pause smack in the middle of the sidewalk or walk at a snails pace. Dont you have somewhere to go? Move, people, move!
The End of The World is finally happening. What are you going to do with your last 24 hours in NYC?
Im going to hopefully spend it with the people I love, my friends and family, and walk all up and down the streets of Manhattan and just soak up as much of that city energy as possible. And eat lots of cheese!
Rachel reveals even more on her websites: RachelKramerBussel.com and LustyLady.
