Writer Kathryn Robson on the Sex Shop, Circus of Books, and the Titillating Documentary It Inspired

Surfing through the glorious abundance of Netflx the other day, I chanced upon a fabulous movie about something unexpectedly entertaining: a bookstore. Thankfully, I clicked on the movie and watched it end-to-end in one sitting. That movie? Circus of Books. 

The documentary, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 26, 2019, tracks the life and times of the bookstore, which was the biggest distributor of gay and lesbian pornography anywhere in the United States. The shop, run by a cute little straight couple, helped change the world and offered a place for queer folks in Los Angeles to congregate, communicate, and grow (as well as indulge in some lustful behavior behind the shop). 

We caught up with Kathryn Robson, who co-wrote the film (it was directed by Rachel Mason, daughter of the shop’s owners). Robson, who helped craft and edit the movie’s narrative, talked about how she got involved in the documentary, what she appreciates about both sex and pornography, and what, above all else, she loves about telling stories.