Carly Milne's first book, "Naked Ambition," which is an anthology of writings from 31 women who are involved in and around the adult film industry, is available starting today.
The book (Carroll & Graf, $14.95) "gives voice to the new generation of women shaping not only what sexual material we consume, but how we think and talk about sex."
“The whole concept of the book is to demystify the myth that women don’t watch or enjoy sexually-oriented material," said Milne, a veteran industry writer who formerly operated her own adult PR firm. "They’re not just watching and enjoying it, they’re selling, making and writing about it, too. Porn has long been a provocative social force that many have espoused as being dangerous and degrading to women, but 31 women have contributed stories saying otherwise in my book.”
The contributors share their "personal histories, thoughts, and passions to underscore the profound influence that porn has had in liberating a newer, younger generation of women by claiming their sexual lives on their own terms."
For the first time, featured writers include porn star Nina Hartley, Theresa Flynt of the Hustler empire, porn star Tera Patrick, Village Voice sex columnist Tristan Taormino, author Violet Blue, web mistress Joanna Angel, Internet entrepreneur Danni Ashe, web curator Hester Nash, Variety’s Dana Harris, Wired’s Regina Lynn, Stuff Magazine’s Laura Leu and Club Jenna's Linda Johnson, among many others.
“It’s really hard for me to pick a story that’s my favorite,” Milne said. “Some of the most provocative tales come from women who are nowhere near the camera’s eye, such as Lainie Speiser, the publicist for Penthouse, or Holly Randall, who is following in her mother’s footsteps by becoming an erotic photographer for some of the top men’s magazines in the world.
"That’s not to say that those directly working in the industry don’t have amazing stories, however. Mason, a director, tells a tremendous tale discussing her decision to make porn over finishing her law degree, and Jewel De’Nyle writes her transition from performer to company owner as her father, a former politician, gets defamed by his co-workers and the FBI because of what his daughter does for a living. It’s quite a provocative story.”
Milne, a former associate editor for AVN magazine who is now the sex correspondent for Stuff, got to know each of the women who contributed during her time as an adult publicist.
She said that having the book hit stores today was gratifying.
“It’s been such a long process. It feels really good,” she said. “So many other people contributed to it that I feel like it’s everybody’s book, not just mine. I’m really proud of everybody who decided to contribute.”
There will be a reading of the book from 7 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 20 at Hustler Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. The readers so far are: Dana Harris, Regina Lynn, Holly Randall, Theresa Flynt, Jennifer Martsolf, Hester Nash, Jodi Marie Lindquist, Katie Smith, Joy King, Nina Hartley and Violet Blue. The list is subject to change.
