LAKEPORT ? The book subject may seem risque, yet The New York Times printed a cover page review Sunday on the collection edited by a Lakeport man.
Richard Martin helped edit and wrote a story and a few poems in “Hos, Hookers, Call Girls and Rent Boys: Professionals Writing on Life, Love, Money and Sex.” David Henry Sterry, the author of “Chicken,” also edited the book.
Men and women who worked in the sex industry wrote memoirs, rants, confessions and poetry for the book. Soft Skull Press released it in July. Some of the writers show prostitution exploiting men and women while others celebrate the sex trade, Martin said.
“I hope this book sheds light on both sides of the argument,” he said.
Industry stars such as Xaviera Hollander and Annie Sprinkle wrote pieces as well as people who had never published any work, Martin said.
Crime and addiction opened the world of prostitution to Martin, he said.
“My opinion is clouded by my personal experience ? that prostitution was not empowering for the people I knew,” Martin said.
He worked as a barker at Condor nightclub in San Francisco, which was the first U.S. venue to feature topless entertainment, he said.
Martin got out of the sex industry and started working with non-profits. He worked as a development director for Standing Against Global Exploitation, which aims to end commercial sexual exploitation of children and adults, he said.
Martin is working on a Master”s in English creative writing from San Francisco State and has a bachelor”s in the same degree, he said.
He moved to Lakeport about four years ago and works as development coordinator for the non-profit, Rural Communities Housing Development Corp.
“I do get satisfaction out of helping people get out of challenges,” Martin said.
Watershed Books in Lakeport doesn”t have copies yet, but expects the store will by the time it has a signing and discussion with Martin from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 2. Catfish Books in Lakeport is also waiting for the book. Other Lake County bookstores were not immediately available for reference.
Martin was “thrilled” to learn the book he had been working on for four years would be on the cover page of The New York Times, he said.
Martin and Sterry”s book has been back ordered, as many retailers ran out, Martin said.
“We thought it would sell,” he said.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
