Comments on: Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys

By: carla crandall

carla crandall — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:58:35 +0000

I am one of the contributors; in fact, mine (just for identifying purposes) was printed as the first in the SAGE collection. Personally, I love the book and am, as always, devoted to putting the message out there–that the stigma needs to go, and actual understanding that people in or have been involved in the sex industry, are people with minds, hearts, souls, intellects, and everything that goes with it. I’m thrilled that this message is getting out, and not only that but getting THROUGH to people. I was there, in that basement, when we were all laughing and crying and going through all those raw emotions that were never meant, at the time, for anyone’s eyes or ears other than us, David and his great literary editor/writer wife. So–as far as the intros go–in my view, David splendidly captured the essence of these writers, in his great unique David-esque style. He certainly nailed me perfectly (no pun intended!)in my intro. A former SAGE client, I have difficulty seeing their problem with it–but am open to feedback. I will not pretend to know situations I don’t, but “deplorable”–the way supposedly “no effort made to contact” SO-AND-SO…I KNOW David did his best. pEACE OUT, CC

By: amstutz

amstutz — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:04:28 +0000

Wow, brutal attack on the book and the NYT review in the NYT letters to the editor this week. Makes me want to really pick up a copy of this baby.

By: Amstutz

Amstutz — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:58:36 +0000

This either must be a wildly popular book or the publisher made a serious misjudgment as to how many copies to have printed. I went to two indie bookstores – no copies and 6-8 weeks before more will be in. I tried Barnes and Noble. No copies in any of their stores in a six county area and the earliest no shipment would be in in two weeks. Any idea where you can get a bootleg copy?

By: Laura Gardner

Laura Gardner — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:59:06 +0000

It will undoubtedly be showing up next week in the NYT as well. The editors evidently claim affiliation with S.A.G.E., Standing Against Global Exploitation, since one of the editors used to have a position there; however, SAGE just contacted the NYT to correct this misinformation. The editors are no longer affiliated with SAGE – however, they did dishonor confidentiality of some clients currently and formerly engaged with SAGE. They also used stories written by one of those clients, without making any attempt to contact her first. I look forward to seeing NYT’s response to SAGE’s letter next week. The breach of confidentiality and complete lack of ethics on the part of the editors of this book is deplorable.

http://www.sagesf.org/

By: Monica Shores

Monica Shores — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:28:46 +0000

David,

My pleasure. I didn’t think the intros were too nice, I just didn’t think they were necessary. I sympathize with the urge to gush because I enthuse about all my amazing sex worker friends, too. And I’ve already encountered the loveliness of Surgeon and Sadie and some of your other contributors, so trust me, I’m not trying to argue that they aren’t great. Anyway, it’s awesome that the book is winning hearts and minds. Keep converting all the people out there who ought to know better but don’t.

By: David Henry Sterry

David Henry Sterry — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:51:06 +0000

hey, thanks for the shout out. what’s interesting to me is that the New York Times, not the most ho friendly rag in the world, chose to put this on the cover of their Sunday book review section and wrote such glowing things about the book. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/books/review/Bentley-t.html. so in fact, individuals who don’t already believe in sex workers’ humanity are in fact writing about it, and picking up this hefty anthology. i’m getting emails from civilians who have point blank told me they have never thought much about this, but are deeply moved by the book, and think about sex workers in a very different way. our editor at soft skull being one of those people. and it wasn’t my idea to write all those intros, the publisher insisted. i am a sentimental person, and in this age of world weary cynicism, people are giving me lots of shit about being too nice in the intros. but i would do it again. be nice in the intros. it’s all true, i wasn’t making it up. and i don’t think it makes it seem like their writing isn’t good because i tell what my experience was in meeting them. but what the hell, i’m probably wrong. happens all the time. anywayz, again, thanks for the smart, insightful and well written piece.