Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

EP 394 - Centerfold Stories with Charlotte Kemp

Dec 26, 2024

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Mark interviews author and former Playboy Playmate Charlotte Kemp about her book CENTERFOLDS.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In the interview Mark and Charlotte talk about:

Charlotte adjusting her last name Helmkamp into Charlotte Kemp when she first began modeling
Being Playmate of the month December 1982 and the cover model for the October 1983 issue of Playboy
Interviewing about 40 women in order to get the 20 stories that she included in the book
Being blocked from publishing her book when she'd first started by Hugh Hefner
Using the title "Centerfolds" for her book because she wasn't able to use the term "Playmate" as the trademark is owned by Playboy
How Charlotte decided which of the stories ended up making it into the book
The backstory of how Charlotte became Playmate of the Month at the age of 19
Charlotte's self-appointed bodyguard, Lance, who sat outside the Green Room and kept her safe from any men looking to take advantage of an innocent younger "girl next door"
How the payment works for Playboy models, which is pay for the first photo shoot but no residuals for re-use of those photos in other issues
Learning how to read when she was two years old and the voracious reading she's been doing since she was young
What Charlotte is reading now
The type of short stories that Charlotte likes to write
Charlotte being the first Playmate to ever have a license from Playboy for the running team that she created
The Playmates with a Purpose running group fund-raising and brand-raising Charlotte was passionate about
Charlotte's experience with the Playboy brand in Japan and how the associated merchandise was all high end
How more women have found their voices in recent times and own more of their own properties instead of letting men control them
Prince's role in taking back his name, and helping female artists with similar strategies, being a strong champion of women
Stories from the book such as one from Cynthia Myers and how she narrowly evaded a fateful event with Charles Manson
Charlotte's strong feelings about ensuring she preserved the voices of the people she interviewed for Centerfolds
How the women Charlotte interviewed were able to open up and share their experiences
The way that a person could feel "owned" by Playboy
The short story collection that Charlotte is working on releasing
Charlotte's Howard Cosell story
And more...

After the interview, Mark reflects on his own history as a Playboy magazine reader and writer, as well as a few things Charlotte shared in the interview.

Links of Interest:

Charlotte Kemp was Playboy’s “Miss December 1982” and Playboy’s cover model in October 1983. She also appeared in many ads and calendar photos for Playboy. She was the first Playmate ever given a license for “The Playboy Running Team” in 1993 and had ten Playmates on the team who successfully raised money for many charities. Her first book was For My Eyes Only, which includes poetry, prose and short stories. During her working years with Playboy, she was the first to hold the titles of “Miss Budweiser” and “The Best Breasts in the USA.” She has starred and appeared in several commercials and movies, including a top 25 B-Horror film of all time, Frankenhooker. She has appeared on Inside Edition, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and many radio shows all over the country. She has appeared in fourteen foreign editions of Playboy and lived for a time at the Playboy Mansion.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0