Author: Tristan Taormino

Join with other attendees for an enriching and educational weekend at Loving More’s 2009 National Polyamory conference and retreat. The annual National Conference is held at the beautiful Easton Mountain Retreat Center in upstate New York. Enjoy hiking on 175 acres, soak in the hot tub, relax in the sauna, and enjoy the wonderful food and hospitality of the Easton Mountain Staff.

This is a chance to immerse yourself in polyamorous community, connect with wonderful poly people from the US and overseas and make new friends. Have fun sharing knowledge and support. Escape to a magical place called Loving More.

Each conference and retreat is different and offers unique opportunities to learn, grow and meet others of like mind. This is the perfect place to learn for people who are polyamorous, new to poly, poly-curious, or just exploring relationships of any kind.

Want more information or to register? Please visit their website!

Happy May! Wow, the spring has been very busy for me with lots of travel, college appearances, and other events. In the past few months, I’ve been to the University of Washington in Bothell, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Amherst, Los Angeles, Wesleyan University, Providence, Brown University, Boston, University of Vermont, Milwaukee, and University of Wisconsin in Madison. I also managed to go to the LGBT Equality & Justice Day Rally and Lobby Day in Albany and even made the cover of Headquest Magazine, a trade magazine for head shops (ironic, since I don’t even smoke!)

I’ve got lots of exciting things to announce. My new book for Quiver, The Anal Sex Position Guide, is now available online and in boo kstores. Fleshbot did a cool story about it along with some photos for you to check out! I’m thrilled with how the book turned out: it really is the anal sex coffee table book of my dreams. The latest Vivid-Ed movie, Penny Flame’s Expert Guide to Rough Sex, was released in March and has gotten lots of good buzz. And, my Expert Guide to Anal Pleasure for Men will be out at the end of this month (look for a link to pre-order it coming soon on puckerup.com)! Plus, I re-teamed with Vixen Creations to create the Special Anniversary Edition of the Tristan Butt Plug; it’s a gorgeous toy. Check out this fantastic review!

I am getting ready to travel to Chicago, where two of my friends are getting married. Then, I head to LA, where I’ll be shooting three new movies for Vivid and working on editing the first volume of my new video series, Rough Sex. After a brief stop in Seattle to see family, I’ll be back in New York for nearly the entire summer. I’m looking forward to being home, catching up with friends, and taking a break from my insane work and travel schedule!

with lube + affection,
Tristan

P.S. I’m still in love with Twitter, please come follow me: http://www.twitter.com/tristantaormino

It has come to my attention that there is no longer a sale ranking for any of my books on your site, as there has been in the past. In addition, when I search for my name, “Tristan Taormino,” in the homepage’s search box, none of my books—except those that are currently out of print and unavailable—come up in the results; ironically, perhaps, an explicit sex ed video of mine does. According to the buzz on the internet today, this same thing has happened to many other authors, who all have something in common: our books are on sexuality, erotica, and gender, as well as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues.

In response to one author who brought this to your attention already, a representative wrote the following email which is being circulated on the web:

“In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude “adult” material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature.”

As the largest bookseller on the Web and a company which has profited nicely from my writing according to the now-disappeared sales ranks, you set an example for others. Your willingness to drop certain titles and authors from your search engine and ranking based on so-called adult content while you freely sell (and, again, profit from) pornography, sex toys, and other “adult” material is incredibly problematic and smacks of double standards.

I hope this issue will be resolved and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Tristan Taormino

To my readers:

Want background on what’s happened?

http://katebornstein.typepad.com/kate_bornsteins_blog/2009/04/disappeared-sex-positive-gender-bent-books-on-amazoncom.html

http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/04/12/amazon-rank/

Or log on to Twitter and search for #amazonfail

Want to complain to Amazon about this debacle? Here’s a great resource: http://tinyurl.com/cbst9c. Please make your voice heard!

I’m headed to Washington, DC & Baltimore for some fantastic events this coming weekend! I have been all over the US this year touring with my new book, Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships, and I am really excited to finally get down to DC & Baltimore for some tour events.
Know anyone in the area who might be interested in attending? I am looking for help getting the word out so please feel free to cross-post this information!

I hope to see you there!

xo,
Tristan

Friday 2/27, 7:00 pm
Washington DC
ANAL PLEASURE 101
In this sublime workshop, one she has taught around the world for over 9 years, Tristan introduces you to the world of anal pleasure for men and women. With humor and skill she covers a wide variety of topics, including: myths about anal sex; anal anatomy, the G-spot, and the prostate; basic preparation and hygiene; lubes, anal toys, and safer sex; anal penetration for beginners, and much more! There will be time for questions & answers with Tristan and her books & DVDs will be on sale for you to take home. This event is sponsored by Whole DC.
Location: Hotel Helix, 1430 Rhode Island Ave, Washington DC
Admission: $25, register online at  https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/55802
Info: wholedc (at) gmail.com
URL: http://www.wholedc.com/Tristan_and_Jenny_Events.html

Saturday, 2/28, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
VIP BRUNCH WITH TRISTAN TAORMINO
Washington DC
Want to support Whole DC and help us to open DC’s sex-positive community center and boutique? Show your support at this fabulous fundraiser brunch! You’ll be treated to an elegant VIP Brunch at the fabulous Hotel Helix with special guest Tristan Taormino. Tristan is an author, adult film director (including the red hot Chemistry series and the Vivid-Ed collection), sex advice columnist, and queer feminist and activist. This is your chance to enjoy a delicious meal and an intimate conversation with her and a small group of guests.
Plus, with your purchase of a VIP ticket to the brunch, you’ll also get: a front row seat at Tristan and Jenny Block’s reading that evening at 7 pm, a VIP ticket to the PolyAfterParty that night, AND a sexy goodie bag from Astroglide, PuckerUp.com & Whole DC. (a $50 retail value)
Location: Hotel Helix, 1430 Rhode Island Ave, Washington DC
Admission: $75 in advance only, register online at  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/56258
Info: wholedc (at) gmail.com
URL: http://www.wholedc.com/Tristan_and_Jenny_Events.html

Saturday, 2/28, 7:00 pm
Washington DC
JENNY BLOCK & TRISTAN TAORMINO AT GEORGETOWN
Jenny Block reads from her memoir Open: Love, Sex, and Life in an Open Marriage and Tristan Taormino reads from her book Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships. Their readings will be followed by a question & answer and discussion about monogamy, non-monogamy, and the state of love and relationships today. This event is co-sponsored by Georgetown University Pride as part of their Sex Positive Week and by Whole DC.
Location: ICC 115, Georgetown University, Washington DC
Admission: FREE (seating capacity limited to 150)
Info: wholedc (at) gmail.com
URL: http://www.wholedc.com/Tristan_and_Jenny_Events.html

Saturday, 2/28, 9:00 pm - 2:00 am
Washington DC
EPIC DC & Whole DC present
The PolyAfterParty!!
Sex positive? Queer, Straight, or Flexible? Mix & mingle at Be Bar, meet authors Jenny Block & Tristan Taormino in person, celebrate their new books and enjoy marvelous entertainment & dance until you drop. This party is a benefit for Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE) and the anti-domestic violence work they do in DC.
Doors open at 9 pm, DJ & Entertainment from 10 pm to 2 am
Location: Be Bar - 1318 9th St NW Washington, DC
Admission: Tickets available at the door $10, 18+ with id
Info: wholedc (at) gmail.com
URL: http://www.wholedc.com/Tristan_and_Jenny_Events.html

Sunday, 3/1, 6:00 pm, doors open at 5:30 pm
MAKING OPEN RELATIONSHIPS WORK
Baltimore, MD
Do open relationships really work? How do people create nontraditional partnerships that are loving and lasting? Tristan Taormino, relationship expert and author of Opening Up, shares some of the key principles that can help your open relationship(s) succeed. She’ll discuss common issues and problems-from “new relationship energy” and time management to jealousy and agreement violations-and ways to address and resolve them. Tristan will offer tips on communication, negotiation, and boundary setting, as well as how to cope with change. Learn how to get to the root of jealous feelings and transform them by embracing the concept of compersion. Whether you’re a newcomer or veteran to the world beyond monogamy, come discover strategies to help you nurture and grow your open relationship(s).
Location: Sugar, 927 West 36th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211 (entrance is behind building)
Admission: $30, register by phone (410.467.2632) or online here.
Info: tristanontour (at) yahoo.com

Monday, 3/2, 7:00 pm
MY LIFE AS A FEMINIST PORNOGRAPHER
Goucher College, Baltimore, MD
Award-winning author Tristan Taormino shares her personal journey from writer and sex educator to self-identified feminist pornographer. She’ll dish details about the process of producing, directing, and starring in her first video, The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women, from striking a deal with mainstream producer legend John Stagliano of Evil Angel Video to putting her ass on the line-literally. She’ll discuss why she chose to do porn, the challenges and breakthroughs she has seen within the adult industry with regards to women’s pleasure, and her personal goals for working within the industry. She will bring an old argument to a new level of discussion: Is feminist pornography a paradox or can we really create sex-positive empowering porn?
Location: Kelly Lecture Hall, Goucher College Campus, Baltimore, MD
Admission: FREE
Info: tristanontour (at) yahoo.com