Tracy Quan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Born: | USA |
|---|---|
| Occupation: | Novelist, Columnist, Essayist |
| Writing period: | 1999 - |
| Subjects: | Sex, Sex work, Prostitution |
| Debut works: | Column: Nancy Chan: Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl in Salon Novel: Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl |
| Website: | http://www.tracyquan.net |
Tracy Quan is an American writer and former call girl. She is best known for her Nancy Chan novels. In addition, Quan writes on issues related to sex and sex work and is involved in the prostitutes' rights movement.
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[edit] Biography
Tracy Quan was born in the Northeastern U.S., but grew up in Ottawa, Canada.[1] Her parents emigrated to the U.S. from Trinidad; she has spoken of Chinese, Indian, African, and Dutch ancestors.[2] [3][4] Her parents divorced, and for a time her father was the custodial parent. She credits her close relationship to her father and her ease with older men to this experience. [5]
Tracy Quan read Xaviera Hollander's book The Happy Hooker when she was 10 years old and decided to be a prostitute. (Her prior aspiration, to be a librarian, was due to her image of librarians as independent, working women who got to collect money in the form of library fines.) By 19 she was supporting herself as a sex worker; she reports eventually earning $500 to $800 for a 2-hour session.[1] Quan notes she spent 15 years as a working girl in London and Manhattan, although she juggled both writing and sex work for a few years. Quan is currently a full-time writer.
Tracy Quan first made a splash with her Nancy Chan: Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl column in Salon.com. Combining sex with a twice-weekly serial, the semi-autobiographical column centered on Nancy as she juggles her 'straight' boyfriend and family with her clients and girlfriends' problems. The story continues in the novels.
Tracy Quan described her age as "thirtysomething" in 2001. She is reportedly vague on her exact age and birthplace.[1]
[edit] Philosophical and/or political views
Tracy Quan served as a spokeswoman for Prostitutes of New York, or PONY, a sex workers advocacy organization.[6] Quan regards herself as a "libertarian entrepreneur", who advocates decriminalization of prostitution in the US. [7][3] At the same time, she does not encourage others to go into the business.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c Naiman, Sandy (2001). CANOE Lifewise Living.
- ^ Townsend, Emru (2001). The Critical Eye.
- ^ a b Howley, Kerry (Nov 7, 2005). Reason magazine.
- ^ Quan, Tracy (May 22, 2003). Time to Celebrate Asian Diaspora Month.
- ^ a b Buchwald, Laura (2001) Random House's Boldtype magazine
- ^ Wren, Christopher (Aug 19, 1997) New York Times: Life Gets Harder on the Already Mean Streets, retrieved on Nov 23, 2006.
- ^ Tierney, John (Sept 4, 2001) New York Times: The Big City; Hypocrisy Is So Sexy In A Call Girl, retrieved Nov 23, 2006.
[edit] Works
[edit] Nancy Chan
- Nancy Chan: Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl ran in Salon.com from July 1999-January 2000 as a twice-weekly serial.
- Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl (2001) ISBN 978-0-609-60724-4. Despite name similarity, the events in this novel are set after the Salon series.
- Diary of a Married Call Girl: A Nancy Chan Novel (2005) ISBN 978-1-4000-5354-4
[edit] Other
- Orientalia: Sex in Asia (2003) (With photographer Reagan Louie.) ISBN 978-1-57687-186-7
