The Pornographer’s Daughter

A Memoir of Childhood, My Dad, and Deep Throat

More than forty years after Deep Throat arrived on the cultural scene and inspired a sexual revolution, questions about the ethics of pornography and its impact on society are still being asked.

I was only three years old in 1974 when my father, Anthony Battista, was indicted by the federal government for distributing the now famous porn film Deep Throat. The stress drove my mother, Frances Battista, to worry endlessly if her husband would be put in jail. She became so depressed that she attempted suicide.

I survived this family trauma to live a surprisingly normal life. But instead of leaving the past behind me, I developed a burning curiosity to understand my family's history. Why did the federal government so vehemently prosecute this case? And why did my father get involved in distributing this notorious porn film in the first place?

The Pornographer's Daughter is an insider's glimpse into the events that made Deep Throat and pornography so popular, as well as what it was like to come of age against the backdrop of the pornography business.


Recently optioned by Lost Mountain Productions to develop into a TV series.

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The Pornographer’s Daughter

A Memoir of Childhood, My Dad, and Deep Throat
By Kristin Battista-Frazee

Skyhorse Publishing
Hardcover & ebook
On Sale: September 16, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-62914-434-4
Price: $24.95

Trailer

This book trailer features the talented David Koechner, known for roles as Todd Packer on “The Office” and Champ Kind in “Anchorman” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues”. David lends his character Gerald "T-Bones" Tibbons to the role of the obnoxious reporter who crashes David’s book round table event where I'm the special guest. It’s a funny, unique book trailer that will have you laughing. Produced and directed by Steve Barnett, producer of “300” and “The Spiderwick Chronicles", and editing and production work by Joe Homokay and James Penland.

“An honest and unadorned depiction of what it’s like to grow up in a house where hardcore pornography and live sex shows pay the bills. ”

— Robert Rosen, author of Beaver Street: A History of Modern Pornography

Reviews

“Kristin's historically fascinating story parallels our world today. Here is a collection of unique characters and storylines that you couldn’t make up if you tried. I couldn't be more excited to option her memoir as our inspiration for an incredible television series.”
Steve Barnett, producer of “300” and “The Spiderwick Chronicles"


“A fascinating account about a piece of pop culture history as well as a story about a family caught up in trying circumstances. This book is bound to strike a chord with anyone who has ever tried to make sense of their family history.”
Katrina Alcorn, author of Maxed Out: American Moms on the Brink

“Kristin's story is a fascinating and fun look at an era and series of events that changed our country. Even more compelling, at its core is an emotional story about a family and their struggle to stay together after being thrown into a tremendous amount of trouble.”
David Koechner, actor, comedian, SNL alum, and producer known for his roles as Todd Packer on “The Office” and Champ Kind in “Anchorman” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues”


“I’ve never read a porn book like The Pornographer’s Daughter. Kristin Battista-Frazee combines memoir, biography, and journalism in an entertaining and informative way that will really suck readers in.”
Eric Danville, author of The Complete Linda Lovelace

“An honest and unadorned depiction of what it’s like to grow up in a house where hardcore pornography and live sex shows pay the bills. Set in a twilight zone somewhere between All in the Family and The Sopranos, the cast features a father facing federal obscenity charges in Memphis, a mother washing down Nembutal with shots of Wild Turkey, and a daughter taking it all in with the eye of a budding journalist. It’s miraculous that Battista-Frazee was able to persuade her family to tell her in such unsparing detail what went down when she was a child. The most surprising plot twist, however, is that Battista-Frazee emerged from the chaos and trauma to lead a shockingly normal, middle-class life. “
Robert Rosen, author of Beaver Street: A History of Modern Pornography

 

Other mentions:

The New Social Worker Magazine, Book Review, May 19, 2015

Shuizmz, Book Review, The Pornographer's Daughter, November 10, 2014

The Beautiful Kind, Book Review: The Pornographer's Daughter, November 8, 2014

ItsFourthAndLong Blog, Book Review: The Pornographer's Daughter, October 22, 2014

 

Author Interviews & Press

Deep Throat @50: The Distributor, The Rialto Report, June 5, 2022

Creating Your Brand as a Non-Profit Professional, Successful Non-Profit Podcast 

Sunday Night Safran with John Safran and Father Bob Mcguire, Triple J Radio Interview, October 4, 2015

New Social Worker Magazine, #NewSWBook Twitter Chat, May 20, 2015 

Philadelphia Inquirer, The Pornographer's Daughter Comes Home, April 21, 2015

National Association of Social Workers, #SWBattistaFrazee Twitter Chat, April 16. 2015

Arlington Magazine, Adult Education, March 2015

Bleeple.com with Hugh Nolan where we discussed The Pornographer's Daughter, the adult industry and the impact of pornography on today's culture., March 5, 2015

Maggie_Linton_cropped.jpg

Maggie Linton Show, SiriusXM Segment, December 16, 2014

Northern Virginia Magazine, Life, Family and Pornography, December 11, 2015

StorErotica Magazine, Interview by Brittany Black featuring Anthony Battista, December 2014 

The Jewish Channel, Up Close Interview, week of December 1, 2014

The Jewish Channel, Up Close Interview, week of December 1, 2014

Orlando Sentinel, 'Pornographer's Daughter' remembers 'Deep Throat', December 1, 2014

Tallahassee Democrat, Local events held to celebrate the launch of the Memoir, The Pornographer’s Daughter, November 21, 2014

Radio Interview on CJAD 800 Passion with Dr. Laurie Betito, November 14, 2014

El Confidencial, Garganta Profunda' cambió mi infancia: confesiones de la hija de un pornógrafo, October, 21, 2014

Salon.com, My dad, the pornographer: How “Deep Throat” forever changed my childhood, October 19, 2014

South China Morning Post, E-/audiobook reviews: Non-fiction, by Charmaine Chan, October 18, 2014

VICE, My Father, the Pornographer (UK and US), October 15, 2014

Think Progress, Explicit Failure: How The Right Lost The War On Pornography,  October 8, 2014

The Huffington Post, My Grandma Saw 'Deep Throat', October 6, 2014

ELLE Magazine Australia, Sex, Lies and Videotape, October 2014 

Washingtonian Magazine, Deep Dive, September 2014

The Age, In Short Non-Fiction Pick of the Week, September 5, 2014

Australia's Daily Life, Book Extract, My Father Was Convicted of Distributing Pornography, August 30, 2014

The Sydney Morning Herald, Book Extract: Deep Trouble, August 30, 2014

Publisher's Weekly, Book Deals: Week of September 9, 2013

AIP Daily Interview,  October 2012

Penthouse Forum, Exclusive Interview: Deep Throat, My Father and The Mob, July 2012

XBIZ Press Release, June 2012

AVN Press Release, June 2012

Phantom 105.2, radio interview, June 2012

Luke is Back Interview, May 2012

Book club in Macon, Georgia received a visit by Google Hangout. It was great fun.

Book club in Macon, Georgia received a visit by Google Hangout. It was great fun.

Book clubs

If you participate in a book club, consider adding The Pornographer's Daughter to your club's reading list. I can join your group in-person in the Washington, D.C. area or if you live anywhere else in the country we can meet online via Google Hangouts.

My visit will add an exciting dimension to your reading and provide your book club members insight into aspects of my story that you might not have otherwise learn about. Also here's your chance to ask me questions in real time so you won't be left wondering about the motivation in my storytelling. 

Download a Book Club Discussion Guide

 

 Book Events

  • Philadelphia Barnes & Noble, June 13, 2015

  • One More Page Books, May 7, 2015

  • Barnes & Noble in Lake Sumter Market Square, April 22, 2015

  • The Writer's Center, March 22, 2015

  • Barnes & Noble Plantation, March 5, 2015                                        

  • Barnes & Noble Tallahassee, November 29, 2014  

  • Books-A-Million McLean, October 24, 2014

  • The Strand Bookstore, NYC, September 26, 2014 

  •  Fall for the Book Festival, September 12, 2014

  • Kramerbooks, Washington DC, September 8, 2014