Laura Antoniou

Laura Antoniou (born August 4, 1963) is an American novelist. She is best known for her The Marketplace series of BDSM-themed novels, which were originally published under the pen name of Sara Adamson. She has also penned gay male erotica under the name "Christopher Morgan."

Antoniou attributes her earliest literary encounter with dominance/submission scenarios to a young adult book entitled Greek Slave Boy, by Lillian Carroll (originally published in 1970), the story of a boy who is purchased in a Roman slave market.[1] She began writing stories as a teenager, all of which had sadomasochistic tones and themes of erotic power struggles.[2] Later, she turned a youthful attempt at a novel with these elements into a world for an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.[3] Her interest in role-playing games leveraged into creating and editing a gaming magazine, Gateways Magazine in the mid 1980's.[4]

Antoniou began writing erotica professionally after reading a call for authors in the magazine "The SandMutopia Guardian". The advertiser was Richard Kasak, founder of Masquerade Books, one of the largest publishers of pornography in 1990's.[5] She contacted Kasak, who suggested that she write a book about people doing SM for the first time.[6] The novella, "The Catalyst," was the result. Antoniou then began a relationship with Kasak that included the publication of her first three Marketplace novels, "The Marketplace," "The Slave", and "The Trainer," as well as a series of anthologies focusing on women engaged in sadomasochistic behavior: "Leatherwomen," "Leatherwomen II," "Leatherwomen III," "No Other Tribute," and "By Her Subdued." Using a male pseudonym, Antoniou also authored and edited several gay male books for Kasak, including Musclebound.

While writing novels for Kasak, Antoniou also edited magazines for his publishing company, working as the submissions editor for Badboy and Bi-Curious magazines from 1995-1996. In addition, she was also a columnist for Girlfriends magazine from 1995-1997, and a regular contributor to the SandMutopia Guardian from 1993-2000. In addition, Antoniou contributed short stories and non-fiction to anthologies with sadomasochistic themes.[7]

Antoniou's books, short stories, and non-fiction were widely distributed, both through Masquerade Books and in collections and anthologies edited by others. She became a frequent guest speaker and presenter at BDSM conferences, and produced the 1992 Ms. North East Leather Contest[8]. She was the keynote speaker at the 2005 International Master/slave Contest,[9] 2006 Great Lakes Leather Alliance Conference[10], 2007 Leather Leadership Conference[11], 2008 International Ms. Leather Contest[11], 2009 Northeast Master/slave Conference[12], and the 2011 Southwest Leather Conference[13]. She was also the sole female judge at the 2010 International Mister Leather Contest[14].

In the mid-1990's, Antoniou converted to Judaism (she was raised Greek Orthodox), and married her partner Karen. Together, they created a SM-themed Passover Haggadah, entitled "Avadim Hayinu (Once We Were Slaves)", which has become a popular text for kinky Jews and for people interested in the intersection of BDSM and spirituality.[15] Karen also edited Book Four of the Marketplace series, "The Academy" and contributed several short stories to it.

In the mid 2000's, The Marketplace series went out of print. Antoniou took the books to Mystic Rose Books, a small publisher based in Connecticut. The trilogy was re-released with expanded material (an added short story in the case of the first two books, and nearly six chapters of new material for the third). Antoniou also published Books 4 and 5 with Mystic Rose Books, "The Academy: Tales of the Marketplace" and "The Reunion." In 2004, Antoniou also published "The Catalyst and Other Works" with Mystic Rose Books, which included the first novella she had ever published professionally, as well as short stories and non-fiction that had been written for anthologies and magazines.

In 2010, Antoniou moved her books to a new publisher, Circlet Press, which created a special imprint for her Marketplace novels, "Luster." In addition to a reprint (with added material) of the first five books, the sixth book in the Marketplace series, "The Inheritor" is anticipated to be published in 2011. Several of her other books have also been re-released by other publishers, including Alyson[16].

Antoniou was born and raised in Queens, New York. She was adopted, and the oldest child of an immigrant father (originally from Cyprus) and an American-born mother.[17] She had a younger brother, now deceased.[18] She lives in Flushing, Queens with her spouse.

References

1. Writing Below the Belt: Conversations with Erotic Authors, by Michael Rowe. 1995, Richard Kasak Books
2. The Burning Pen: Sex Writers on Sex Writing, by M. Christian 2001, Alyson Books
3. Ibid
4. Gateways Magazine masthead
5. "A conversation with the Prince of Porn Paperbacks", salon.com http://www.salon.com/weekly/kasak960729.html
6. Writing Below the Belt: Conversations with Erotic Authors, by Michael Rowe. 1995, Richard Kasak Books
7. SM Classics, edited by Susan Wright. 1999 Masquerade Books
8. Leather Archives & Museum, www.leatherarchives.org
9. The Leather Journal, 2005
10. Leather Leadership Organization, LLC XI
11. 2009 International Ms. Leather Contest. held May 1-4, 2008
12, 2009 Northeast Master/slave Conference, www.masterslaveconference.org
13. 2011 Southwest Leather Conference
14. www.imrl.com visitors guide 2010
15. Interview with Sensuous Sadie, 2003. www.sensuoussadie.com
16. Alyson Books
17. Writing Below the Belt: Conversations with Erotic Authors, by Michael Rowe. 1995, Richard Kasak Books
18. Obituary: "Buffalo News": https://www.legacy.com/buffalonews/deathnotices.asp?page=obitfinderorder&personid=115438420

Partial bibliography

The bibliography below includes most recent publication information where available.

NOVELS

Laura Antoniou, writing as Anonymous: Lady F, Masquerade, 1993, ISBN 9781563336423 (out of print)
Laura Antoniou, "The Catalyst and Other Works," Mystic Rose Books 2004, ISBN 0-9645960-8-3 (previously published by Masquerade Books, 1991)
Laura Antoniou, The Marketplace, Circlet Press, 2010 ISBN 978-1-88565-57-1 (originally published by Masquerade in 1993 and then Mystic Rose Books in 2000)
Laura Antoniou, The Slave, Mystic Rose Books, 2001 ISBN 978-0964596054 (originally published by Masquerade in 1994)
Laura Antoniou, The Trainer, Mystic Rose Books 2001 ISBN 978-0964596061 (originally published by Masquerade in 1995)
Laura Antoniou, "The Academy: Tales of the Marketplace," Ed. Karen Taylor. Mystic Rose Books, 2000 ISBN 0-964560-3-2
Laura Antoniou, "The Reunion," Mystic Rose books, 2002, ISBN 0-8645960-7-5
Laura Antoniou, writing as Christopher Morgan, "Musclebound and Other Stories," Alyson Books, 2002 ISBN 978-1555836511 (previously published by Masquerade Books, 1996)

ANTHOLOGIES

Laura Antoniou, editor, Leatherwomen, Rosebud, 1993, ISBN 978-1563330957 (Out of Print)
Laura Antoniou, editor, Leatherwomen II: The Revenge of the Leatherwomen, Rosebud, 1994, ISBN 978-1563332296 (Out of Print)
Laura Antoniou, editor, Leatherwomen III: Clash of the Cultures, Rosebud, 1994, ISBN 9978-15633361956 (Out of Print)
Laura Antoniou, editor, No Other Tribute: Erotic Tales of Women in Submission, Rhinoceros Books, 1997, ISBN 1-56333-603-0 (Out of Print)
Laura Antoniou, By Her Subdued." Masquerade Books 1995, ISBN 978-1563332814 (Out of Print)
Laura Antoniou, Some Women," Rhinoceros Books, 1997 ASIN: B002W9KGCY (Out of Print)
Laura Antoniou, editing as Christopher Morgan, The Sportsmen," Masquerade Books, ISBN (Out of Print)
Laura Antoniou, editing as Christopher Morgan, Steamgauge," Masquerade Books, ISBN (Out of Print)

SHORT FICTION AS CHRISTOPHER MORGAN

"Looking for Bubba," in Southern Comfort, Ed. David Laurents, 1996, Badboy ISBN 978-1563334665 (Out of Print)
Steamgauge," in Western Trails," Ed. Gary Bowen, 1997 Badboy ISBN 978-1563334771 (Out of Print)
"In-Tents Encounter," in "Friction", Ed. Gerry Kroll, 2000 Alyson Books ISBN 978-1555834715

AS LAURA ANTONIOU all of the stories below have been reprinted in "The Catalyst and Other Works"

"The Way of Heaven" in "SM Pasts," Ed. Cecilia Tan, 1995 Circlet Press ISBN 978-1885865069
"In The Name of Art," in "Virgin Territory II," Ed. Shar Rednour, 1996 Richard Kasak Books ISBN 978-1563335068
"The Little Urban Maid" in "Once Upon a Time: Erotic Fairy Tales for Women," Ed. Michael Ford, 1996 Richard Kasak Books ISBN 978-1563334498
"Electra On the Rocks: Following the Paradigm Tides," in "The Second Coming", Ed. Pat Califia and Robin Sweeney, 2000 Alyson Books ISBN 978-1555832810
"Brian on the Farm", in "Switch Hitters: Lesbians Write Gay Male Erotica and Gay Men Write Lesbian Erotica " Ed. by Carol Queen and Lawrence Schimel, 1996 Cleis Press ISBN 978-1573440226
"The First Time" in "Best Lesbian Erotica 1997", ed. by Tristan Taormino, 1997 Cleis, ISBN 978-1573440653
"Antivenom for the Soul" in "Pomosexuals: Challenging Assumptions About Gender and Sexuality," Ed. Carol Queen, Lawrence Schimel, and Kate Bornstein 1997 Cleis Press ISBN 978-1573440745
"Shayna Maidel," in "Ritual Sex," Ed. Tristan Taormino and David Aaron Clark 1996, ISBN 978-1563333910. Reprinted in "Things Invisible to See" Ed. by Lawrence Schimel, 1998 Circlet Press

ARTICLES

Unsafe at Any Speed OR Safe, Sane and Consenual, My Fanny. Essay presented at the University of Washington Institute of Sexuality, 1995. Cf. www.sexuality.org/latrans.html (reprinted by permission in "The Catalyst and Other Works")
The New Brand. "The SandMUtopia Guardian 18" 1995, reprinted in "The Catalyst and Other Works
How to Handle the Personals. (Two Parts) "The SandMUtopia Guardian 19, 20" 1995
To Serve in Close Attendance to Nobility: Samurai Tradition in an SM Context. "The SandMUtopia Guardian 21" 1995, reprinted in "The Catalyst and Other Works"
Finding a Houseboy. (Two Parts) "The SandMUtopia Guardian 30, 31" (1998)

External links

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