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In a new kink in the old dating game, erotica writer Zane has a way to meet that special someone: freak dating. It's conventional "speed dating" with a twist -- during the rounds of eight-minute get-to-know-ya conversations, singles are required to wear masks and talk only about sex.
Zane is the Prince George's County woman best known for her steamy fiction featuring African Americans. (She's never publicly revealed her real name, but it is widely reported to be Kristina LaFerne Roberts.) She's written nine books, sold more than 4 million copies and landed on the New York Times bestseller list multiple times. She came up with the idea for freak dating three years ago as a way to help women express their sexuality. Women, she says, deserve great sex and need to ask for what they want, just as men do.
"I see this as a way they can actually communicate their desires," Zane says. "That is the area most women have problems with." She added the masks, which hide most of the face, so that "people will feel more open to conversation." The goal is to determine whether two people are sexually compatible at the start. Not to say that sex is the only thing that matters in a relationship, but she believes it's pretty darned important.
The inaugural event kicks off tonight at Zanzibar on the Southwest waterfront as part of Zane's 40th birthday party. Like traditional speed dating, women will sit at tables while men rotate through the room. Each couple will have just a few minutes to talk, then use response cards to rate their interest: 1 means "when Hell freezes over"; 7 translates to "addicted." The cards will be collected, and e-mails forwarded only with the consent of both parties.
Talking dirty doesn't come cheap: Admission to the birthday party is $25, plus $50 more for freak dating and mask. Based on e-mail interest from her fans, Zane has already committed to host the event once a month through March.
Will the hostess get freaky herself? The mother of three is now single, having finalized her divorce earlier this month.
"I would definitely do it," she told us.
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