Dirty Money: Memoirs of a Stripper

by Erin Louis

Having spent 17 years in the exotic dancing industry, I have grown tired of the typical ill adjusted, drug addicted stripper story. Contrary to the reigning stereotype, I offer a candid look at my own adventures in the industry and how it has affected my life. I present my memoirs as a rebuttal to the talk show depiction of exotic dancers as chemically challenged, poorly disguised prostitutes with severe daddy and body image issues.
Starting with my childhood, I recount the experiences I had and what led to my choice to become a stripper. I recall the funny, sad, and sometimes gross moments in my career. I try to answer all the questions most people ask me once they've had a few too many drinks and finally give in to their curiosity about my naughty job.

248 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2015

About the author

I am a former adult entertainer, with a love of books, writing and humor. My job has given me a unique perspective on life. I spent twenty years as a stripper on and off and started writing as a way to shed light on a misunderstood industry and profession. Frustrated with the stereotypes often presented on talk shows, movies, and articles, my goal is to help paint a broader and more accurate picture of the profession. But also, to destigmatize and humanize those who choose to work in the adult entertainment industry.

I am active in the secular community and write and advocate for secular issues. My focus is on the separation of church and state, secular humanism and critical thinking.

My passion for writing began with nonfiction, but I have always loved horror fiction. Stephen King, Lois Duncan, and Clive Barker got me through some tough years growing up. I found an escape through those books along with countless others. My own fiction reflects those influences as well as my love for all things dark and maybe just a bit scary.

Reviews

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

DIRTY MONEY: MEMOIRS OF A STRIPPER is not your run-of-the-mill biographical memoir. It's not even run-of-the-mill for the memoir of an exotic dancer. Erin Louis shares the journey of her life up on the neon stage. It's the lean storytelling that keeps you turning the pages.

Erin Louis' tale is not the stereotypical story of a shy girl, forced into exotic dancing only to get caught up with drugs and prostitution, only to fall from glory into a gutter and face death in the eye. No, Erin Louis is the (rare?) well behaved dancer who does her best to avoid those pitfalls at every turn and still make a living as a stripper.

The fact of the matter is, even without all the sex and drugs and lurid tales you may want to seek out in a book on the topic, the stories you do get are still interesting and intriguing. Erin spares a lot of the gory details and takes you on a whirlwind ride though her life both on and off the stage. And she makes you care. You root for Erin the whole way. Will she find life beyond the stage? It's not my place to say. You'll have to read to find out.

The only negative to the book is that it could really use another pass from a proofreader. The errors aren't' glaring and I never felt taken out of the narrative as I encountered errors but there are a decent amount of errors. Forgivable in this day and age but noticeable nonetheless.

Overall, I enjoyed this quick read. Its not the type of stripper story I would have expected. Erin tells you that out of the gate and yet it's unexpectedly good. Its the look behind the curtain from an unexpected point of view. This isn't necessarily the story of one woman's journey as a Stripper so much as the story of one woman's journey through life.

And she's got plenty more life to live for a follow up memoir. I just hope her husband lives to make it in that book!

[Ulysses Flogbart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not hot man

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF - I tried to get through the whole book having listened to similar titles, but this one just did not hold my attention long enough to get through more than ~65% of it.