reported by Nigel Gimble, FictionFanatic.com

When Spice author Jina Bacarr opens her podcast with a story about desperate housewives who withhold sex from their husbands until the men stop the war, she's quick to point out this erotic story isn't new. "Lysistrata was written in 411 B.C. by the Greek playwright, Aristophanes," she says, "but it's as timely today as ever and just as sexy as the latest trend in women's fiction hitting the book shelves."

What took so long for erotic fiction for women to gain popularity? "It's mainstream meets bitstream," quotes Bacarr from recent stories about the sudden rise in these books because of the Internet's easy access and anonymity. "Men have had all the fun since 'Fanny Hill or: Memoirs of Woman of Pleasure' by Englishman John Cleland was published in 1749," says Bacarr. "Now it's time for women to get in on the reading action."

Bacarr's podcast about the popularity of erotic fiction for women is part of her ongoing series "In the Zone with Jina Bacarr: Hot topics with a cool point of view." In this episode, Bacarr discusses the history of erotic fiction. "Did you know hymns began as odes to gods of reproduction and eros?" she asks, "and a famous nineteenth century American humorist published erotica anonymously?"

She also discusses Harlequin's new erotic fiction imprint, SPICE. Spice launches in May with two titles, "Tease" by Suzanne Forster and "Getting Even" by Kayla Perrin.)

"Spice Books are sophisticated erotic fiction with gorgeous covers you wouldn't be embarrassed to read at Starbuck's while sipping your favorite latte," says Bacarr. "There's something for everyone at Spice, from an erotic S&M club in Manhattan, to women getting even with the men who done them wrong in a very big way, to a woman who writes erotic letters for other people to send, to enchanted erotic fairy tales, to the mysterious world of the geisha."

There's no doubt. It's hot stuff.

To listen to the podcast about Spice and erotic fiction for women, go to: www.JinaBacarr.com/blondegeishaPODCAST.html

Or go directly to: www.JinaBacarr.com/spice.mp3

For additional information on Spice Books, go to: www.eharlequin.com

Jina Bacarr is a radio talk show host and the author of "The Blonde Geisha" (SPICE Books, August 2006) and the award-winning "The Japanese Art of Sex: How to tease, seduce, and pleasure the samurai in your bedroom" (Stone Bridge Press 2004).

Recommended Resources:

1) Between the Cracks: The Daedalus Anthology of Kinky Verse by Gavin Dillard

2) The Joy of Writing Sex: A Guide for Fiction Writers by Elizabeth Benedict

3) The Burning Pen: Sex Writers on Sex Writing by Carol Queen