I’ve been impatiently anticipating this trip ever since Girl on the Net told the bloggers at Woodhull’s Sexual Freedom Summit how bloody brilliant Eroticon would be in 2017. (Um… did I use bloody correctly? I’m trying, people.) For the past few months, I’ve made travel arrangements, brainstormed ideas for my Eroticon talk and the panel I’m sitting on, made plans with other bloggers, and learned some British lingo. (Pants are UNDERWEAR. Okay. I’ve got it now. Really.)
In just a few short hours, I’m turning on my vacation message at work and ignoring anything that isn’t related to my trip. I’m so pleased to not only be in London for the duration of Eroticon, but for an entire week! I’m staying with my sweet friend Sarah Jane of marvelous darling for the conference, and we have plans to visit local sex toy shops and manufacturers, get our #TouristFemme on, and eat all the bread London has to offer. We even have a trip hashtag: #SarahsAbroad. I’m also beyond excited to spend time with Girl on the Net and Emmeline Peaches this week!
Come Listen to Me Talk About Sex Blogging & Feminism!
I’m thrilled to not only attend Eroticon, but to have the opportunity to give a talk on my favorite thing: sex blogging as a feminist act! If you’re attending Eroticon and interested in learning about why blogging and writing about sex is an integral part of feminist activist work, catch my talk, Sex Blogging as Feminism and Social Justice, on Saturday at 10:20 AM. You can read the full description of my talk on the Eroticon schedule!
I’m also honored to sit on a panel on How to Use Your Blog to Educate with Emmeline Peaches and Hot Octopuss on Sunday at 2:20 PM. We’ll be discussing how bloggers can spread the word about sex and sexual health, and give you some ideas on how to incorporate education into your own blogging and writing work.
Eroticon 2017 Meet & Greet Questions
To kick things off and drum up excitement before the conference, Eroticon attendees usually do a virtual meet and greet in the days and weeks leading up the actual conference. So, without further ado, here are my answers! I cannot wait to meet all of you so soon!
Name (and Twitter if you have one)
Sarah Brynn Holliday, but you can call me Sarah! Some bloggers call me Formidable Femme or Spooky Femme, so that works too. You can also just yell “hey, spooky” and I’ll respond. Whatever. And my Twitter is @FemmeReviews!
What are you hoping to get out of Eroticon 2017?’
So many things! Of course, I’m looking forward to spreading the gospel of feminist sex blogging, but I’m most excited to make connections with UK bloggers and writers. Sadly, we North American bloggers don’t get to see too much of the European blogging crew, so I’m delighted for the chance to reconnect with dear friends and make some new ones!
This year’s schedule at Eroticon is pretty full on but which 4 sessions do you already have marked down as ones you want to attend?
Okay, in 2018, can Eroticon just be an entire week long so I can attend all of these amazing sessions?! (Just kidding, conference organizers. Kind of.)
It’s so hard to choose, but I’m most looking forward to Conflict Resolution in the “Call-Out” Era with Ruby Goodnight, Pitching 101 with Girl on the Net, Hands on Rope Workshop with Djfet (and Sarah Jane as my rope partner!), and Hashtag Sex Work with Kate Lister.
Tell us one thing about yourself that not many people know?
Everyone in my personal life knows this, and my close blogging circle does, but I don’t think all of the UK writers and bloggers do: I work in the abortion rights and access movement full-time. I live and work in a red state in the U.S., and the work is deeply frustrating at times, but it’s one of my deepest passions. (If you had told 16-year-old me that I would become the abortion-and-sex-toys-girl, I wouldn’t have believed you.)
If you’re attending Eroticon and are also interested in/already doing abortion rights and access work, I would LOVE to take you for a cup of coffee or a drink while I’m in town and pick your brain about abortion rights, restrictions, and legislation in the UK. Just email me!
If you made the papers, what would the headline be?
I’m notoriously awful at these kinds of questions, so in true Sarah fashion, I asked Twitter and the blogsquad. I couldn’t pick between these two, from Kate and Lilly, respectively: “Local Spookyfemme Shreds the Patriarchy With Vampy Nails and Impact Implements” and “Local Sex Educator Creates Penis-Shaped Baguettes for Trauma Training”. Those headlines tell you all you need to know about me, to be honest.
If you could have one skill for free (I.e. without time/practice/effort) what would it be?
I would LOVE to be a great dancer. An adequate dancer, even. Anything. Anything is better than my current dancing. (Eroticon folks, you’ve been warned.)
Complete the sentence: I love it when…
…I get the entire bread basket to myself.
See y’all in London!
None of this would be possible without my incredibly generous Eroticon sponsor, O.school. Be sure to follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for updates on their upcoming launch!