Originally from California, the acclaimed author Mitzi Szereto is now based mainly on this side of the Atlantic.

Not only is Mitzi one of the most prolific writers of erotic fiction in the UK, she is also the pioneer of the erotic writing workshop, and a well-known fixture on the interview circuit, appearing in the Bravo TV documentary 3001: A Sex Oddity and on BBC Radio. Her outspoken and controversial views on the erotic literary scene have made her a trendsetter, earning her a reputation as an author and editor who has put the 'literature' back into erotic literature.

On the distinction between erotic writing and pornography, Mitzi has strong views –

“There are some people who see them as the same thing for the sole reason that both deal with sex and sexuality in an explicit manner. They are not the same thing at all. And it isn't just a matter of giving one a more upmarket label than the other. In a nutshell, pornography does not have any real artistic value -- it's brainless and disposable. It's simply a tool to sexual stimulation. Junk food for the libido, if you will. Erotica involves the brain. It seduces the reader, whereas porn masturbates the reader.”

She is the author of "Erotic Fairy Tales, A Romp Through the Classics", the novella "highway", and editor of the first "Erotic Travel Tales". Her work has appeared in publications and anthologies including The Erotic Review, Moist, The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica 2002, Wicked Words 4, Joyful Desires: A Compendium of Twentieth Century Erotica, Writers’ Forum, and Proof. She’s also known as M. S. Valentine, author of the best-selling erotic novels "The Captivity of Celia", "The Governess", "The Martinet", "Elysian Days and Nights", and "The Possession of Celia". The pioneer of the erotic writing workshop in the UK and Europe, she’s the first to run such a course in universities, as well as literary festivals and arts organizations. Her outspoken and often controversial views on the erotic literary scene have made Mitzi a trendsetter, earning her a reputation as an author and editor who has put the “literature” back into erotic literature.