Hundreds of Long Island women flocked to Bethpage State Park on Monday for a chance to meet E.L. James, author of the wildly popular book Fifty Shades of Grey.
Surrounded by her entourage, James received standing ovation as she entered a packed ballroom at Carlyle on the Green in the latest stop on her book tour. Before a book signing, fans had a chance to participate in a Q&A session with the author.
James said she is “completely stunned by the frankly crazy reaction to the books.” The author, wife and mother, who left her job two years ago to write the series, seemed incredibly appreciative of her audience. When asked with whom she would like to have dinner, she responded, “I would like to have dinner here with you all.”
The romance between main characters Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey is surprising because of its unconventional nature: Grey asks Steele to sign a contract, and she agrees to be his “submissive” and to partake in a range of erotic activities. The stories were first published online, and as word of mouth spread, droves of people — many of them not traditional readers of romantic or erotic fiction — began downloading them on iPads and Kindles.
The three-part series is for adult women what the Twilight trilogy is for young teens. Though the graphic sexual content may have first piqued reader interest, “Shadists” everywhere say it goes deeper than that.
“They’re all about empowering women to take charge of their sex lives, fantasies, and desires,” said Logan Levkoff, a sexologist who spoke at the event. She believes the popularity “represents what women do best: talk to each other and share information.”
Fans also saw a lighter side. The books are about “More than just sex, but a fun love story,” according to fan Jodee Grandwilliams of Herricks.
Fifty Shades really has whet women’s appetites, as one time just does not seem to be enough. Melville resident Nicole Marino has read them “Many times, eight to be exact.”
Ellen Broder of Roslyn, a mother, and wife of 34 years, read each book twice. Like many, she feels people are drawn to the books because “Everyone wants somebody.”
Elysa Krukowski of Commack attributed her passion for the series to “Living vicariously through the author’s fantasies.”
Geralyn Mueller, a PTA president from Setauket, said she could not put the book down once she got started.
“Two friends told me about the book,” she said. “I started reading it and for one week straight, I got nothing done in my house.”
The Bethpage event was hosted by Divalysscious Moms, a New York City-based female empowerment group.
Another book signing Monday evening at Barles & Noble in Carle Place also drew a crowd of several hundred fans, which has been a common occurrence at stops on her East Coast book tour.
-With Associated Press
