From Page to Stage: Exploring Gender and Performance with Queer Erotica Author Titus Androgynous

Send us a text Season 4, Episode 535: Queer Erotica and Drag: Embracing Spicy Art Forms with Titus Androgynous. Join Ruan Willow in this captivating episode as she dives into the world of queer erotica and performance art with the talented Titus Androgynous. Titus, a transmasculine, non-binary writer and performer from Toronto, Canada, shares their journey through various art forms, including burlesque, drag, and erotica writing. With works featured in acclaimed publications like Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year and Listen to Your Skin, Titus brings a unique perspective on gender, sexuality, and the art of performance. In this episode, Titus discusses the intersection of gender performance and erotic storytelling, exploring how embracing different gender expressions can be both freeing and empowering. They share their experiences as a drag king and the challenges of leaning into sexiness on stage. Titus also reads their story "Demon Lover," a poignant tale that intertwines themes of mental health, anxiety, and sensuality. Quote from Titus Androgynous: "No one was going to take me seriously until I took myself seriously." Guest Bio: Titus Androgynous (they/them) is a transmasc nonbinary writer and performer from Toronto, Canada. Their queer erotica has been included in several publications including Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year, Volume 6; Listen to Your Skin: An Anthology of Queer and Self-Love; and I Write the Body: Queer and Trans Kink, Desire and Defiance. Titus has performed and created pieces in genres including burlesque, sketch comedy, clown and Shakespeare. They have been performing nationally and internationally as a drag king since 2013. Titus is one of the founding authors of Theo Reads, the newest and best place to read spicy stories online. Book: (affiliate link, podcast may earn a commission) Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year, Volume 6 https://amzn.to/3CHdrRi 00:01:30 " You"re also a singer and an actor and you do spicy art forms 00:02:28 " we can talk about gender and performance 00:09:06 " You know that some people will be reading these stories as a form of sexual play 00:10:55 " Is there really a difference between drag and burlesque 00:14:38 " I"m going back a bit about gender and Gender performance 00:19:34 " There"s no room for improv in burlesque because you"re working with music 00:20:25 " For the writing you really have to trust yourself. For the presentation you have to wait 00:21:55 " A lot of fiction focuses on that young age and the newness of that 00:25:42 " Would you be willing to read something for us? Absolutely. So this is a piece that will be available on Theo Reads 00:42:49 " When you sit down to write something, what"s the first thing that grips you 00:44:05 " Do you consider yourself more of a pantser or a plotter 00:49:20 " Community involvement versus watching with someone else and watching their reactions 00:54:31 " How many times do male authors get sold compared to female authors 00:56:42 " Theo Reads 01:01:26 " People are judging those books by their cover, right headliner app Support the show Subscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribe Sign up for Ruan"s newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillow https://linktr.ee/RuanWillow I Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge