Because you keep asking that question

 The title of the post is Joss Whedon's famous answer to why he writes strong female characters.

In recent weeks I've encountered several members in good standing of the He-Man Woman Haters Club. They all say roughly the same thing.

"Women have no business in SF/Fantasy/Horror. They don't understand it, because they're stupid and they just gloop it up with their romance."

As with so many things, the hateful seem extra empowered lately, as if they realize they are winning.
So, since romance in science fiction is a recent thing, thrown in by silly women who can't handle space ships, I guess the following never happened.

1) John Carter never courted Dejah Thoris under the light of Thuria and Cluros in the ruins of the city of Thark.

2) Antonius Block never played chess with Death over the whole of Sweden so he could see his Karin one last time before death.

3) Brunilla never found Uncle Einer sleeping under his green wings.

4) Jim Kirk never fell hard for Edith Keeler.

5) We were never introduced to group marriages, line marriages and polyamory. Because a man like Heinlein would only writer about giant bugs being blown to bits!

6) Logan made his run alone, without the romantic entanglement of Jessica. He also didn't spend two more books hunting for her across the post-apocalyptic world after the domes fell, or on an alternate earth.

7) Buttercup and Wesley, enough said. William Goldman preferred to write the emotional violence of Lion In Winter instead of True Love.

8) Dracula simply came to England to feed, not in search of his long-lost love. And he was quickly put down by clever men, who acted solely out of fear and not for love of the same lady.

If you're wondering why I left out Star Wars (me, who thinks Brian Dailey sitteth at the right hand of the Great Flanneled One), the big romance occurs in The Empire Strikes Back, much of which was written by Leigh Brackett, who died during filming. Production was shut down for her funeral. So, it's just a woman glooping things up with her romance.

Women have been writing in the genre since the beginning. We are not a new feature. Many, like Alice "James Tiptree Jr." Sheldon published under pseudonyms. More, like Andre Norton, Leigh Brackett and Julian May took advantage of androgynous names. Still more used initials, CJ Cherryh, AC Crispin, JK Rowling.

Here at Inkstained Succubus, we are proud of our women writers. We are proud of our men writers. We are proud of our trans*, gay, lesbian, bi, asexual and straight authors. And we do not require anyone to hide. The only way we won't be proud of YOU is if you send us the usual cliche-riddled stereotypes that make us wonder if you know any women, regardless of your actual sex.

For more reading on the subject of sexism in fandom and SF in general:
http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/2013/06/out-with-old-boys-club-in-with-new.html
(this explains the dust-up that started it all)

http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/513901.html 
(as does this)
http://geeksout.org/blogs/amberhardfemme/comic-con-i-love-you-youre-bringing-me-down
(A chronicle of a recent incident at ComiCon)

Seanan McGuire on being GeekCred checked at ComiCon
 http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/524767.html

http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/2013/06/more-posts-about-sexism-in-science.html

http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2012/10/writing-horror-while-female.html

http://www.doctornerdlove.com/2011/11/nerds-and-male-privilege/

My Sexy Saturday Blog Hop: Sexy is my Drug

This is a blog hop. The point is seven words or sentences or paragraphs of The Sexy. Please go check out the other tastes on the blogs listed at the end.

Today's bit comes from Nikolai, by Angelia Sparrow, a kinky gay Pygmalion story in a dark future.
Available at Inkstained Succubus.

The evening proceeded as all the others had. Nick cleaned up the kitchen then did what homework he had left. Ligatos read in his favorite chair, a very large stack of printouts which he supplemented with occasional taps on his handheld.

Nick finished what math he had, went over his Italian once more, and could not concentrate on the sonnets he’d been assigned. He caught himself glancing over at Ligatos, watching the large hands work the touch pad or examining how the kissable mouth twisted as he read something distasteful.

He tried to control himself, but Sir noticed anyway. Finally, when Nick was on the fourth glance in less than a minute, Ligatos stood up. He turned off the handheld, set it atop the printouts and beckoned Nick to follow.

Nick marked his place, set his book on the coffee table and went. He knew what was coming next: what he’d wanted for weeks. As he stepped into the bedroom, he started unbuttoning his shirt immediately.

Large hands stopped his movement and pulled him close. Nick’s arms went around the taller man’s neck and he bent with the embrace. Very gently, so softly he almost didn’t feel it, Ligatos kissed him.

Nick melted into the long-awaited kiss, wanting it to last. In bare seconds, it was gone and the big hands were unfastening him, barely ghosting over his skin. He stayed very still, concentrating on the touches,  shaking just a little from pent-up desire and fear.

A brush of lips at his ear accompanied the whisper, “Take what you want.”

Upheaval

Hello loves.

There's some upheaval on all fronts here at the Press.

The Lost Lab is moving house and will probably be out of commission for at least 3 weeks. Editing will be slightly slowed.
There are changes happening here at the Den, but they shouldn't impact the press too much. (My husband, Mudd the Mighty, is off on a long term adventure, so today is a day of much hustling and bustling)

A note:
Email, contracts etc will only be dealt with during office hours. These are Monday-Friday, 9-5.
Anything that comes in on a weekend will be dealt with Monday, so don't panic if you send your manuscript of The Greatest Novel Ever, Really! to us on Saturday and don't hear before Tuesday.

Author Packets.
We now have an author packet. You should get this when you are accepted.
It has
The Pre Edit guide and Template
The Book info and cover art form
A FAQ file
A sample contract. This is NOT your contract. This is a standard one for you to read over before you get the Echo Sign one.
If you prefer paper contracts, let me know before I send the Echo Sign one.
A reminder that all IS contracts are negotiable on most points. (the royalty percentage is not. It is as high as I can make it and still pay the other people involved in the book)

Please let me know. We are here to work with you and make your experience a good one.