Hello, beloved friends!
If you follow me on social media, you may have seen that today is my birthday! Thank you to the generous admirers and colleagues who have treated me extra kindly today (and it’s only 3pm!). If you’re feeling generous, don’t be shy. Even the smallest of tokens brings me great joy.
The autumn always breathes life into me. I’m an attention-basking Libra, sure, but I’m also a studious little slut for whom the shortening days, each a bit brisker than the one before, never fail to spark that back-to-school feeling. I even wrote myself a little research syllabus to stay accountable to my reading through the end of the year. (You can check out my book list at the bottom of this post. Most titles are historical, and chosen to support my understanding of Madeleine: An Autobiography as I work to adapt and annotate it.)
I gotta say, coordinating Sex Worker Writes workshops and regular writing circles has definitely been the highlight of the second half of my year. Creating community with other sex-working writers has been rewarding in ways even I couldn’t have anticipated (and I knew it would be great time. I mean, obviously…). I am extremely grateful for my fellow Whores who show up week after week to share our creative energy with one another.
I have also been working on solidifying an outreach practice to support and care for unhoused and street-based sex workers in my area. I always take snacks/water/condoms, sometimes clothing and toiletries, and am cultivating a relationship with Queen City Harm Reduction to also offer naloxone/Narcan. If you, reader, are interested in offering any financial support, you can do so by sending funds directly to me or through my Wishtender (I am happy to send receipts for products purchased, upon request).
Finally, I have some very exciting news about my Blog! After devoting a lot of energy to a piece about romantic relationships with/as sex workers, I felt it deserved a larger audience than my personal website. I sent a copy of it to Tryst Blog, and it was picked up! I’m extremely honored to have my work alongside so many other talented SW/writers, and on such a beautifully-designed site. Keep your eyes peeled for details on when that will be published. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
In addition, my post about sex work books was featured on ELust Sex Blogs (thanks, y’all!). And speaking of reading lists…
Book Titles for Fall/Winter “Semester”
- Good Time Girls
- Sex in the Margins
- Bordellos of Blair Street
- Wild Women
- I’ve Got To Make My Livin’
- My Life As A Whore
- From Boudoirs to Brothels
- Soiled Doves
- Daughters of Joy/Sisters of Misery
- Upstairs Girls
- Women’s West
- Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments
- Working Girl
When finished, I will share my notes for all these titles in the Archives.
Happy Hallows’ Eve, weenies! Love ya!
Madeleine Blair 