Coco de Mer boutique - 23 Monmouth St, Covent Garden WC2H 9DD, London
Luxury erotic boutique, Coco de Mer, will be stocking advance copies of my limited edition book, 'The History & Arts of the Dominatrix', in time for Christmas. I have only just sent off the box of beautiful books, so give them a little time to magically appear in store.
For those of you who have not visited Coco de Mer, it is a beautiful boutique "for lovers, adventurers and dreamers". Amongst their collections are the most exquisite lingerie, masquerade, bespoke jewelry, perfumed candles, designer toys and bondage gear... and of course - delicious books.
Coco de Mer plays the role of erotic educator by hosting popular salon evenings, whose teachers include Max Absolute (aka Mistress Absolute), who incidentally is the subject of an artwork by Kate Peters, featured in my book. A few years back, I was indeed called for a rather unusual request at Coco de Mer. My friend Midori, who has her own book on 'The Seductive Art of Japanese Ropes Bondage', was having a last-minute crisis due to one of her planned models falling ill. She wanted me be her model, to demonstrate some of her "arts" to the audience of a salon catered unusually to men! I initially had a good chuckle at the subversive request, but decided why not - another great story for my grandchildren one day. (It was I have to say somewhat bemusing serving in this way as a model looked on by around 35 curious men while Midori "played" with me, but a fun time was had by all. Thank goodness for the preliminary glass of champagne to quell nervousness!)
Amongst Coco de Mer's book range is Betony Vernon's 'The Boudoir Bible' (in French La Bible du Boudoir - Guide du plaisir sans tabou). For those who don't know it, it's a delicious book, beautifully crafted and illustrated. Betony Vernon's interest in sexuality extends to her work as an acclaimed artisan designer of exquisite erotic jewelry, working in Milan and Paris.
I have had a few people asking about whether I will give a salon at Coco de Mer, sharing the erotic wisdom of the Dominatrix and her 'Realm Arts', her links to ancient Goddess religion, and the aristocratic activities of Georgian and Victorian England. My schedule is rather hectic up through Christmas, but I will speak with them and see if it may be possible to give a talk on my book and on the historical batten of erotic female wisdom, to schedule for sometime in the first half of 2014.
For those wishing to purchase a copy of my book (and indeed browse around), Coco de Mer is located conveniently in London's Covent Garden, at 23 Monmouth Street WC2H 9DD. With Christmas fast-approaching, they have conveniently late opening hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 11 am to 7 pm, Thursday: 11 am to 8 pm, Friday & Saturday: 11 am to 7 pm, Sunday: 12 pm to 6 pm
Website: http://www.coco-de-mer.com/ and phone: 0800 011 6895, of for their store phone 020 7836 8882.
(Please allow them some time to get the book up as I've only just sent the box off! Or phone ahead first to check!)