kf writes books

Writing Goals for 2012

2012-01-21T22:48:00.000-06:00

While I may not have met all my writing goals for 2011, my writing year still rocked. What We Deserve and "Realize" were published, and I got tremendous feedback on "Keep Me." So, what are my goals for this year?

1. Read books outside my genre.

Last year, I read dozens of gay romance books by various authors. Contemporary, sci-fi, paranormal. Sweet, erotic. All kinds. My goal this year is to read mostly books outside the genre. I'm currently reading The Tiger's Wife, which is absolutely beautiful so far.

2. Write another book.

Will it be the sequel to WWD or one of my dozen or so plot bunnies? No clue really. I'm also going to try to make it around 20K words longer than WWD.

3. Write 1000 words per day.

Debbie Ohi @ Inkygirl has a goal: to inspire writers to write. Instead of concentrating on larger, shorter-term goals, she wants to encourage us to develop a consistent writing habit. The goal is to write 250, 500, or 1000 words a day at least six days a week.

I've decided to take on the 1000-word goal. So far I've completely sucked at it. But I'm still going to give it the old college try. And, instead of having a per-project wordcount in my sidebar, I'm going to have a total wordcount for the year.

4. Write a short story each month.

Write 1 Sub 1 challenges writers to follow in Ray Bradbury's footsteps by writing and submitting one short story or poem each week or month. Inspired by the site, I have a goal to write a short story each month and post it on my new site, 32 Flavors. At the end of the year, I'm planning to gather up all my short stories in one volume and publishing it on Amazon.

In some ways these goals seem more ambitious than last year's. In other ways, I feel like they're more doable. We'll see in 2013 :)

What are your writing goals for this year?

Looking back on 2011 and ahead to 2012

2012-01-05T08:04:00.000-06:00

I've got to admit: 2011 was a mixed bag for me. There were really great things that happened, and there were really crappy things, too. I started off the year very ill and having major surgery that kept me out of work for two months, but I ended it as a published author. Talk about extremes :)

I'm hoping 2012 is a little more even, a little less of a roller coaster. Becca, one of my fellow Book Bunnies, suggested a way to take a look back and another ahead. Here are my answers:

What I learned in 2011

There is a limit to what I can endure on my own.
My friends and family are always behind me.
Not everyone gets me, but that’s okay.

Hopes for 2012

Publish another book
Participate in my first walk for the CCFA
Ride the Natchez Trace Parkway from Alabama to Nashville on the back of my husband’s Harley

Best books I read in 2011

That's another post :)

What am I most looking forward to in 2012

My first trip to Gatlinburg with my hubby and my friends
My SIL’s wedding
The release of A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Things I'm most proud of myself for achieving in 2011

Getting through my surgery and making it back to my normal daily life
Publishing my first book
Publishing my first short story

How was your 2011? What are your hopes for 2012?

Ho ho ho, we have winners!

2011-12-18T17:41:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my super-duper holiday giveaway! The turnout was great, and I'm happy to announce the winners.

3rd prize, an ebook copy of What We Deserve, goes to:

James!

(Hey, James, I need your email addy. Email me kerryfreeman dot books at gmail dot com.)

2nd prize, ebook copies of What We Deserve and Mistletowed, goes to:

JoAnna!

And the grand prize, ebook copies of What We Deserve, Mistletowed, Drawn Together, and Breathe and a stocking full of goodies, goes to:

booklover0226!

Thanks again to everyone who entered!

Super-duper Holiday Giveaway!

2011-12-10T07:13:00.001-06:00

To celebrate a wonderful year of new readers and friends, I have assembled a super-duper holiday giveaway that should tempt any gay romance fan.

3rd prize

Your very own copy of What We Deserve

2nd prize

Your very own copy of What We Deserve...

and Tara Lain's new ebook Mistletowed

Grand prize

One lucky person will win the giveaway motherload!

You will win one awesome, custom-made for this contest, pinup stocking from Originals By Lauren, which will be loaded with sweet goodies.

You will also win one copy of each of the following ebooks:

What We Deserve

Tara Lain's new book Mistletowed

and my two favorite gay romance books, Drawn Together by Z. A. Maxfield and Breathe by Sloan Parker

So, what are the rules?

Be a human 18 years of age or older.
Live on Earth in an area where the prizes won't land you in jail.
Leave a comment below by 11:59 pm U.S. Central time, Friday December 16th.

How much easier could that be? I know, right?

Good luck, and many wishes for a wonderful 2012!

Today I'm thankful

2011-11-24T06:21:00.001-06:00

For love.

The love of my husband. Always that. The love of my family and friends. The love of those who have only ever seen me as words on a screen but who I count among my closest friends.

For time.

Time with the people who mean the most to me. Time to become who I want to be. I have always known that my time is not unlimited, but I've truly begun to realize that neither is anyone else's.

For life.

Experiences, good and bad. Books and music. Good food and better company. My husband's kisses.

For you.

Everyone who reads my stories, my drabbles, or my blog. For your kind words, your support, your time.

A sucker for love

2011-11-22T06:13:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, I was at my favorite salon sitting in the chair of Julie, the only cosmetologist who has ever cut my hair exactly the way I ask. I will follow her to the ends of the Earth, just saying. The music piped through the shop is always from my favorite satellite radio station. A song I played all day at work came on.

"I love this song."

Julie listened for a few seconds. "That's really pretty."

"I'm a sucker for a love song. Probably explains why I write romance, huh?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yeah, probably."

I'm a sucker for a love song, a love story, just love in general. If you read my books, know that I'm probably never going to write anything less than a HEA. My characters are going to be good guys, even if they go through rough patches, and most of the time are going to be goofy and in love.

My wonderful fellow Book Bunnies and I recently had a conversation about what kind of books we want to write. This is what I said:

I want to write books that offer a happy escape with a message of that, despite the crap that the world throws you, you can build a life that makes you happy. It may not be perfect, and you may have to go through a gauntlet of shit to get there. But, in the end, if you can find one other person to run that gauntlet with you, the rest ain't so bad.

Like I said, sappy ;)

What We Deserve is out!

2011-10-25T07:45:00.001-05:00

Woohoo!! It's hard to believe that a year ago What We Deserve was just an idea, maybe even an outline, for NaNoWriMo 2010. A title change, a significant outline change, and many many edits later, What We Deserve is now available on the Loose Id website.

And what do I do on release day? That's right, I post sappy thank yous!

To Jules Robin, my editor, who was an absolute dream to work with. I think she loves my guys as much as I do.

To Becca Scott and Shae Connor, who were wonderful betas and awesome cheerleaders

To my surgeon and my gastroenterologist, who got me through a really bad patch that could have derailed the entire writing thing

To Becca, Bella, Kimber, Tessa, and Sasha, the best critique group ever

To Debbie and Scott, RL friends who didn't laugh when I told them about my book and supported me through the publication process... and they bought me porn :)

To the Goodreads M/M Romance group, whose support of gay romance writers is tremendous

And, never last or least, to my husband. I cannot put into words what his love and support means to me. I love you!

All done with the sappiness, now it's on to the closing number. My original working title for this book was a lyric from this song, so I thought it would be fitting to pull this video out again. Plus, I just love this song :)

Weekend Boyporn: Pics that remind me of the guys in What We Deserve

2011-10-23T09:43:00.000-05:00

When I plan a book, I look for photos that kinda match my mental picture of the characters. For What We Deserve, I've always had the same three people in mind.

Fran Kranz, who played my favorite geek on Dollhouse, immediately came to mind when I first thought of Sean:

My Tyler has always been Kevin Rose. Maybe I can make Tyler become that rich in the next book ;)

And only one person could have ever been my Jamie: Andy Whitfield.

There are also a few other pictures that remind me of my guys. This one was sent to me by my lovely beta Becca, who declared that this is absolutely Tyler :)

Speaking of Tyler, I saw this picture recently, it immediately made me think of Tyler and Jamie.

Every once in a while I see a picture of Rupert Grint, and I think, "That's totally Sean in college."

Last, but not least, this is what I think the guys do at home on a Saturday night ;)

What We Deserve will be out Tuesday!

Where do plot bunnies come from?

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

One of the most common questions an author is asked is, "How do you come up with your story ideas?"

Have you ever watched Chuck? The main character -- Chuck of course -- is a walking supercomputer. Sometimes he looks at something, and the computer in his brain goes into super-Google mode, pulling up all kinds of information on whatever Chuck's looking at.

It's kinda like that. Except I don't have Google in my brain.

I have lots and lots of voices.

I can't predict what will set it off, and I can't control when it happens. Just sometimes I'll see, read, or hear something, and suddenly men are in my head telling me their stories.

When I saw the prompt picture for my Hot Summer Days story "Keep Me," I immediately knew the history between the two men and why one was submissive at the other's feet.

For my NaNo '11 book, it all started at Fab.com. No, really. I was looking at some prints and visited the site of the vendor selling them. I noticed that their prints were of pictures on the Library of Congress online archive. From there I searched for old pictures of places in Alabama and somehow ended up staring at the pictures of three unknown Civil War soldiers. The rest of the story will spoil the book for you :)

What We Deserve started as lunch at Arby's. As I was eating, I saw two kids, one a boy of about sixteen and the other a girl of about twelve, waiting for their to-go order. The girl looked at that boy like he hung the moon, and he listened to every nervous, rambling word she said to him. They left right before I did, and I watched them carry several bags of food (she mentioned in her ramble that they were buying for both their families, who were having lunch together). He doted on her, helping her into the truck before getting in himself. I immediately thought that, in a few years, he was going to look at that girl in a whole new way.

I can't help myself. I write romance. :)

When I got to work, I couldn't get those two kids out of my mind. Then the voices took over, and the kids became two boys, the younger completely besotted with the older.

And the rest is history...and also spoilers ;)

What We Deserve will be out next week!

Wordy Wednesday: An Excerpt from What We Deserve

2011-10-19T07:42:00.000-05:00

(Cover design by Valerie Tibbs)

What We Deserve, my first book, will be released by Loose Id next Tuesday. I'm so excited and, quite frankly, freaking out just a little :) After having Sean, Tyler, and Jamie in my head for over a year, I'm a tiny bit nervous about introducing them to everyone else. I ~~hope~~ think you'll like them, though.

A blurb for the new visitors *wave*

Years after Sean’s heart was broken by his first love Jamie, he is ready to try his hand at love again with Tyler, his handsome, perfect-geek-for-him boyfriend. But when Jamie returns home after twelve years in the army, Sean finds himself unable to choose between his passion for Tyler and his still smoldering desire for Jamie.

Maybe he doesn’t have to choose after all.

In this excerpt, Sean and Tyler are having lunch after finding out Jamie has returned home.

I picked up his cup, and as I stood, I spotted a familiar face sitting at a table between me and the soda fountain. It wasn’t until I focused on her escort that I panicked.

“Oh fuck.” I quickly sat back in the booth and scooted up against the wall.

Tyler frowned. “So you give me grief, but you can say it whenever you want?”

“Quiet.” I leaned across the table and whispered. “Who would be the absolute last person I’d want to see right now?”

His eyes went wide. “You cannot be serious.”

I laid my head on the table. “I wish I weren’t. He’s here with his mom.”

Tyler began to lean out of the booth. “I want to see him. Where is he?”

I grabbed his arm and pulled him back. “No, he’ll see you.”

“What are we? In high school? Tell me where the hell he is so I can look at him.”

I sighed. “Second table from the drink fountain. His mom’s wearing a red shirt, I think.”

Tyler leaned out of the booth again. He was still and silent for several seconds before sitting up again. “Oh.”

I could see that Tyler’s playful mood had taken a nosedive. “Oh? That’s it?”

“Yep.”

I laid my head back down on the table. So much for not seeing Jamie. Why were they even in Atlanta anyway?

I jumped up, determined to at least get out of the restaurant without having to talk to them. “Let’s go.”

“Sean…”

I reached out and grabbed Tyler’s arm. “Don’t make me yank you up and carry you out of here.”

He held his hands up in surrender, his cheeks burning again. It always turned him on when I was dominant and demanding. The blush made me think our night wouldn’t be a total loss after all.

There was no way to leave without passing their table. I pushed Tyler in front of me, gave his ass a little smack, and told him to walk fast. I hoped the shield of his body and a little speed might get us out of there unnoticed.

“Don’t stop, no matter what,” I whispered.

Face forward and back straight, Tyler headed down the aisle between the tables. I wasn’t far behind. Just as we passed their table, I heard Dr. Matthews speak.

“Sean?”

I pulled up beside Tyler and urged him forward with a hand to the small of his back. He stumbled slightly, but neither of us stopped. I cringed when I heard her voice again.

“James, was that Sean?”

Rushing outside, we walked a few yards down the sidewalk before stopping to lean back against the outer wall of a nearby store.

Tyler chuckled. “I think I just officially turned into a teenage girl.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” I pulled away from the wall and turned to Tyler, wrapping my arms around his waist. “You certainly don’t feel like a girl.”

“Yes, but I do feel like a complete idiot.”

Taking a chance, I kissed him. It was the only way I knew to apologize. He went stiff in my arms, but I didn’t stop. He finally relaxed, moving his lips slowly with mine.

“Forgive me?” I ran the pad of my thumb over his reddened lips.

“I must, since I let you kiss me in front of God and everybody.” He gave me a shy smile.

“This wasn’t exactly how I planned to spend our lunch hour. Come over tonight and let me make it up to you?”

“Only if you provide the food and the beer.”

“I think I can manage that.” I quickly kissed him once more. “It’s the least I can do after using you as a human shield.”

Still entwined around each other, we agreed on a time for dinner and said our good-byes. Tyler allowed me another quick kiss before pulling back and walking away, sparing me one brief look over his shoulder.

I could see him standing there out of the corner of my eye. I wasn’t sure how long Jamie had watched us, but judging from the look on his face when I turned toward him, he’d seen plenty.

Our standoff lasted long enough for me to really look at him. His skin was darkly tanned, and his arms and chest were bulging with muscles I didn’t remember him having. While obviously growing out from its army cut, his hair was still very short, and the dirty blond was mixed with a little gray at his temples. As he stared back, he wrung his hands, passing his fingers over the prominent veins. His bottom lip was clenched between his teeth.

The only thing that hadn’t changed were his eyes. Deepest brown. Expressive. Bottomless. No matter how hard he fought to cover his emotions, they were obvious with one look into his eyes. Even as he held his body confidently and almost confrontationally, he watched me with eyes that were sad…pleading…desperate. Still, he didn’t move toward me. He just waited.

I turned and walked away, leaving his wringing hands and puppy-dog eyes without a glance back.

What We Deserve on Loose Id

What We Deserve on Goodreads

Wordy Wednesday: "Happy Hour" by Bella Leone

2011-10-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

See, I told you I was going to do better :) I must admit, though, I've had this excerpt planned for a while.

This week, I give you an excerpt from Bella Leone's "Happy Hour," a Torquere Press Charity Sip.

Strangely, I find myself watching him as I listen to my mother rattle off five more brands of Southern-style ale, none of which I'll find in the middle of downtown Alexandria. His eyes look back to mine, and when they lock onto me, I can't help but smile. Back home, I'd never openly eye a man; staring at another guy could get you beat down, but I can't help myself. Something about him makes me forget my usual caution.

He's slender, but has muscle on him under his t-shirt. He's what my momma would call "lanky." I think he's hot. I wouldn't tell Ma that though. She's a good, God-fearing woman and, although she's not bothered by having a gay son, she's seriously opposed to casual sex of any kind with anyone. If she knew about some of the things I did on Spring Break last year, she'd pass right out, right after slapping me.

Now I'm only half listening to my momma. I notice that the blond's hair is on the shaggy side and he looks like he's seen his share of beach time with his suntanned skin and freckles. Unlike my freckles upon freckles all over bright white skin, his are placed perfectly on his cheeks and nose; somehow they just add to the beautiful glow of his skin.

"Okay, Ma. I promise. Yes, ma'am. I'll see if I can order Lone Star online. Oh, you'll send me some?" The blond's eyebrows shoot up. "All right, Momma, I'm gonna get outta the store and head home. I'll talk to ya soon. Love ya, too."

As I hang up and shove my phone back into my jeans, I'm still gazing into his dark brown eyes. He is very attractive. I can't stop my hungry gaze from lingering on his full lips and trailing along his slightly stubbled jaw. Warmth creeps up my chest and neck, settling in my cheeks.

He takes a step toward me, his smile rendering me speechless. "Please don't you dare buy Budweiser or PBR. I cannot in good conscience allow that to happen to those innocent bratwursts."

Don't forget: the 2011 Charity Sips benefit the It Gets Better Project.

"Happy Hour" at Torquere Press

Music Monday: Adele

2011-10-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

I've been such a bad blogger! I've been busybusybusy, but I'm getting back to my regular schedule. And my first Music Monday in a while has to be the new Adele video. She's just so dreamy *sigh*

22 days until the release of What We Deserve!

What I love about the cover of What We Deserve

2011-09-18T11:36:00.001-05:00

I'm so happy to share the cover of What We Deserve, which was designed by the talented Valerie Tibbs.

Years after Sean’s heart was broken by his first love Jamie, he is ready to try his hand at love again with Tyler, his handsome, perfect-geek-for-him boyfriend. But when Jamie returns home after twelve years in the army, Sean finds himself unable to choose between his passion for Tyler and his still smoldering desire for Jamie.

Maybe he doesn’t have to choose after all.

I love it! *happy dance* Wanted to point out a few things I really love about it:

Jamie's hand. Jamie (the first man) has hands just like I described in the book. I have an intense hand fetish, and this detail makes me incredibly happy.
Sean's hair. Sean (the second man) has the perfect hair! Such a beautiful ginger boy *sigh*
Tyler's expression. Tyler (the third man) has a look on his face that not only nails his personality but also makes me wonder if he's been telling other people about his plot in book two ;)
The Atlanta skyline. Setting my stories in the South is central to my writing, and that beautiful skyline makes me wish I was in Atlanta right now.

If I hadn't written the book, this cover would definitely make me buy it :)

BTW, you can now add What We Deserve to your Goodreads to-read list. The book will be released on October 25th, and I'm in the process of planning some fun stuff for the month leading up to it.

My Interview with Bella Leone

2011-09-16T07:56:00.000-05:00

My bestie and critique group sister Bella Leone will have her first story published by Torquere Press as part of their 2011 Charity Sips release benefitting the It Gets Better Project. As one of the story's betas and a fan, I wanted to give y'all a chance to get to know a little about Bella and her story "Happy Hour."

After a light, flirtatious conversation about what makes a good beer; Bodie invites Eli back to his place to try some real brews. After a few tries of different beers, our boys are loosened up and in confession mode. All the embarrassing tidbits come out, making for fun and silliness. Surfer Bodie shares a secret and comes out of the music closet, to the ginger cowboy’s delight. Heavy petting ensues then Eli leaves with the promise of more.

Q: Your story Happy Hour will be released tomorrow. Does it all still seem a little unreal?

A: If by unreal you mean that at any moment my cat will lick my face and I'll wake with a start tangled in my sheets. then yes. I really don't feel like it's real yet, not in the least.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for Happy Hour?

A: I came up with Eli, my main character, first while watching coverage of the royal wedding and someone caught Prince Harry handing a toy from his pocket to a young flower girl. I knew right then I had to write an adorable ginger boy. From there it just bloomed. The plot evolved from watching my husband get hit on at the liquor store as he looked for a new brew and a beautiful, tall man tried to help him/hit on him while I hid around the corner loving every minute of it. Somehow it all melted together into Happy Hour.

Happy belated b'day to Prince Harry :)

Q: Eli and Bodie meet in the beer section of the grocery store and bond during a private beer tasting. Are you a beer snob? Do you have a favorite beer?

A: I knew very little about beer when I started this story. It was pretty cool to watch a documentary on how beer is made. *Yay History Channel!* I make a mean pumpkin ale bread. I do have a favorite, Frambois Lambic, it's raspberry flavored and it's ambrosia! If you've never had one, I highly encourage all to partake!

Q: Any plans to continue Eli and Bodie's story?

A: That is so tempting... What should I have their next adventure be?

[I say Eli & Bodie Go To Oktoberfest! *evil grin*]

Q: What other stories are you working on?

A: Currently, I'm working on a story set in Canada at a prestigious hockey academy. It's more of a romantic dramedy. I've opened up an old romance, my NaNo '09 as well. I'm mentally preparing for NaNo '11 too! I'm extremely excited to start NaNo-ing!

Q: Last question. Your story, as well as the other Sips released tomorrow, will raise money for the It Gets Better Project. If you were making an It Gets Better video, what would you say to LGBT kids watching it?

A: Bullying isn't just a kid problem sadly. It can hurt to be told that you being you isn't okay or isn't good enough. Trust me when I say that no one decides your worth, but you. I'm glad I didn't give up and I'm glad I can help others realize the truth that it does get better. It gets so much better.

Thanks to Bella for the interview. Be sure to buy lots of Charity Sips tomorrow to benefit a great cause!

In 2008, Torquere Press’ fantastic authors decided to support a charity with an annual short story collection called our Charity Sip blitz. In the past three years, we’ve donated more than $13,000.00 to charitable organizations that support GLBT causes.

For 2011, Torquere’s authors have chosen the theme “Getting Better” in honor of the It Gets Better project, which helps LGBT youth understand that life as an openly queer adult is not only possible, but happening for millions of people, worldwide. More than thirty authors have written short fiction pieces and have agreed to donate all proceeds of the sales of these stories to this year’s charitable organization. Torquere Press Inc. will match the authors’ donations completely.

This year, we’re also pleased to announce that our distribution partner, Rainbow eBooks, has agreed to be the title sponsor of our Sip collection, and will be our sole distributor outside of the Torquere Books website.

Please support our sponsor by visiting them at www.rainbowebooks.com. Torquere Press and our authors truly believe we can make a difference by donating to organizations that promote awareness and equality. If you’d like to help, please support the Charity Sip Blitz and enjoy some great romance today! Available September 17, 2011 at www.torquerebooks.com and www.rainbowebooks.com.

Update: You can now buy Happy Hour at the Torquere Press website and add it to your Goodreads TBR list!

Andy Whitfield (1972-2011)

2011-09-12T00:43:00.000-05:00

I was very saddened to hear this evening that Andy Whitfield, the actor who played Spartacus in the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, lost his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. My husband and I are huge fans of his work on Spartacus, and our prayers are with his wife and children.

But to me, he will also always be my Jamie. When I was planning What We Deserve, my newly-home-from-the-Army-and-out-to-his-parents protagonist was modeled after him. In my head, I can't see Jamie without seeing Andy Whitfield.

He was a gentle man who never said a bad word about anyone, a gifted photographer, engineer (no really!) and a brilliant actor. Andy’s incandescent film presence made men want to be him and women want to marry him. Andy’s two babies will always know that their Daddy cherished them and their mother, Vashti, above all things. How lucky we were to have him grace all our lives. Godspeed, Andy!~ Lucy Lawless

Flash Fiction Challenge: Welcome Home

2011-09-08T18:12:00.000-05:00

As part of the Writers' Platform-Building Campaign, we were challenged to write a flash fiction story, 200 words or less (mine is exactly 200 words), beginning with, "The door swung open." As an extra challenge, we could end with, "The door swung shut."

If you've been to the Bunnies blog, you know I can't turn down a drabble challenge. I just had to try something a little longer. Here goes (I'm entry #336):

Welcome Home

The door swung open, and I was pulled into the apartment by my collar. Before I could catch my breath, I was slammed against the wall, pinned by strong hands.
His mouth was on mine. His knee wedged apart my legs. “Where have you been?” he asked between rough kisses.
When he buried his face in the crook of my neck and began to suck hard enough to mark my pale skin, I took a deep, shuttering breath. “Dinner.” I rattled the take-out bag clutched in my hand.
“Dinner can wait.”
I dropped the bag just as he ripped open my shirt. Buttons pinged across the wood floor. Finally free, my hands travelled his body, and all they found was warm, taut skin.
He worked the tongue of my belt free and unzipped my slacks. Humming, he eased his hand into my briefs. “So hard already.” His fingers wrapped around me and stroked once, twice, again, again.
Cupping his face between my hands, I pulled him close for another kiss. “If I’d known it would be like this, I’d have moved in sooner.”
He slid down my body and knelt at my feet. “Welcome home.”
The door swung shut.

Joining the campaign

2011-08-31T16:02:00.000-05:00

Tessa Conte, one of my fellow Book Bunnies, blogged today about a campaign to help authors and bloggers build their platform and, in turn, help others do the same. Tessa hasn't steered me wrong yet, so I decided to join in :) If you'd like to build up your platform, you can join the Third Writers Platform Building Campaign at Rachael Harrie's site through today (yeah, I'm a bit of a slacker.)

Since my first book is coming out in October, I thought this would be the perfect time to network and hopefully get some pointers on marketing as well. I'm already a nervous wreck about the unofficial Dragon*Con M/M authors panel this weekend. Shae Connor has organized a great group, and it's sure to be fun :)

Using photos to plan my WIP

2011-08-29T07:04:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite pre-writing activities is finding photos to inspire my writing, especially the physical descriptions of my guys and the setting.

Just like every author, I get very attached to the characters in my stories. I spend a lot of time creating histories and profiles for each one, documenting the men who inhabit my brain. For my new WIP, Nancy Boy, I was having trouble figuring out how the guys look. I started with a photo of a couple added characteristics of two other men to develop final descriptions of each character.

And poor Marc. He's on his third name. I think he may get to keep this one.

In addition to character pictures, I like to find pictures to help me visualize settings. A very important location for Nancy Boy is the kitchen of Travis' parents' house. When looking for setting pictures, online real estate websites are your friend. I searched for houses in Charleston, South Carolina that were around $1million (Travis' parents are loaded), and I found a house with the perfect kitchen.

I'm completely jealous of anyone, fictional or otherwise, who has that kitchen ;)

Now the hard part: writing about all this loveliness :)

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-08-28T07:49:00.000-05:00

I've started writing a new book. If my characters mind me, it will be dark and angsty and a little sexy at times. The working title is Nancy Boy, and this is the first six sentences of the first chapter.

Marc swung the heavy film camera as easily as a pillow but handling the humidity was a different matter entirely. "Why the fuck am I in South Carolina in the middle of fucking August again?"

Carly adjusted her sunglasses and sighed. "Chef Antoine."

"Fuck Chef Antoine."

Carly rolled her eyes and walked away from the van toward the home of the famously private chef.

Visit the Six Sentence Sunday website for a list of all the great participating writers.

Music Monday: Staind

2011-08-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

My muse is very musical. She responds to music more than anything else; sometimes it's all she will respond to.

Driving around a couple of weeks ago, I was listening to this song when my muse decided to wake up and talk to me. I couldn't begin to explain all the twists and turns our conversation took, but, by the end of the song, I had the beginning of the plot for my new WIP.

All My News That's Fit To Print

2011-08-22T00:20:00.000-05:00

Sorry I've been ~~a little~~ a lot lax at updating my blog. It's been a busy, busy time for me, partially due to the day job and partially due to actually feeling up to leaving my house for a change :) There have been several moments over the last few weeks that my husband and I have just looked at each other and said, "Can you believe we're actually doing this?"

What a difference a year makes.

I have several things I'd like to share, ending with my biggest news.

Free Download: Keep Me, my Hot Summer Days story

Keep Me, a story I wrote for the Goodreads M/M Romance group's Hot Summer Days collection, is available as a free download on my official website. It's gotten wonderful reviews on Goodreads, and I'm so happy that readers have enjoyed it.

Interview at The Salton Sea Chronicles

Lee Prewett interviewed me for his blog, and I hope I didn't sound too dorky :) I talked a little about myself and my writing, and I passed on some of my favorite advice for new writers.

Dragon*Con, here I come!

The lovely Shae Connor has organized a little get-together to allow readers to meet and chat with a few M/M authors, and I'll be there, too :) If you're in Atlanta Labor Day weekend, feel free to drop by and hang out for a while.

Saturday & Sunday, 1-3PM, Marriott 10th floor

And I saved my best news for last...

Coming Soon to Loose Id: My boys!

If you follow me on Twitter or G+, you've likely heard this news already, but I can't help but share again :) I've signed a contract with Loose Id to publish my menage romance, What We Deserve. Sean, Tyler, and Jamie are close to my heart, and I'm looking forward to everyone else having the opportunity to get to know them. The book is scheduled for release in October, and I will post the cover as soon as I have one :)

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-08-21T08:46:00.003-05:00

This week, I have another six sentences from "Realize." This is a little snippet of the morning after :)

Lifting my head slightly, I noticed Nick sitting at the foot of the bed.

I rubbed my eyes with the heel of my hand. "What time is it?"

"Time for you to put some fucking clothes on."

I looked down and discovered that Will and I were naked and on display. I quickly grabbed the sheet next to me and covered us up.

Next week a new story maybe *crossing fingers*

Visit the Six Sentence Sunday website for a list of all the great participating writers.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-08-14T07:09:00.000-05:00

My six sentences this week are again from my short story "Realize," which was published by Torquere Press. Ryan is undressing Will, who he's been crazy about for months:

His blush deepened, and he crossed his arms over his chest until I pried them away.

"Don't."

He bit his bottom lip. "I'm skinny."

I gently pushed him back to lie on the bed again and ran my hands over the warm, caramel skin stretched across his chest. "You're perfect."

Visit the Six Sentence Sunday website for a list of all the great participating writers.

Music Monday: Placebo

2011-08-08T09:35:00.000-05:00

There are probably a few reasons I've got the following song stuck in my head, but the main one would be my new fixation on Brian Molko (thanks, Tessa!). The video imagery is kinda like my world right now. I've had vertigo for several days, and sometimes things don't quite seem real.

P.S. Check out the new blog by my critique group to see how my fixation began.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-08-07T07:54:00.002-05:00

My six sentences this week are from my short story "Realize," which was published by Torquere Press:

We were so close; I barely had to bend before our lips touched.

I took his plump bottom lip between mine and pressed against him. He rewarded me with a soft moan. His mouth began to move with mine, torturously slow then faster, harder. I urged his lips apart with my tongue, and he tasted faintly like mint. He offered his mouth and tongue to me, and I took them, greedy for more.

Visit the Six Sentence Sunday website for a list of all the great participating writers.

Music Monday (on Tuesday): Maroon 5

2011-08-02T10:00:00.002-05:00

In a couple of weeks I'm going to see one of my favorite bands, Maroon 5, live for the first time. I'm addicted to their new song, and I can't wait to hear it live. My goal: not to make a fool out of myself by dancing in public. No one wants to see that ;)

Music Monday: Lady Gaga & Starfighter

2011-07-25T21:37:00.000-05:00

The last week has been crazy (more on that later...yeah, I know I already said that once), and my blogging once again fell by the wayside. But you love me anyway. Forgive me?

I've been on Tumblr a little while, and I'm the queen of the reblog. Every once in a while, I find something interesting and post it. Recently I found a video that set the awesome Starfighter to Lady Gaga. I posted it on Tumblr and then proceeded to stay away from my email for 24 hours.

The next time I logged in, I had 75 unread emails telling me my little post had been reblogged. As of today, the video has been liked and reblogged 242 times. Apparently I'm not the only one with a thing for Cain and Abel. And I'm seriously in love with this "Bad Romance" remix.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-07-24T06:59:00.001-05:00

This week has been hellaciously busy (more about that later). I've been so busy, I forgot to sign up for Six Sentence Sunday. I really don't want to miss a week, so I hope the 6 Sunday folks don't mind my posting this anyway. Since "Keep Me" was posted on Goodreads and my website (as a free download) this week, I'm posting a little snippet from it.

I gripped the arms of my chair, my hands aching to touch him just one more time. With a sigh, he rested his head on my thigh.

“I missed you so much.”

Losing my battle with restraint, I traced his ear with a shaking finger. “I missed you, too.” My mouth was parched, and my voice was hoarse and quiet.

Visit the Six Sentence Sunday website for a list of all the great participating writers.

Music Monday: The White Stripes

2011-07-18T10:00:00.002-05:00

I was a complete slacker last week. Well, my day job had me a little stressed out (CRASHED SERVER!!!! RUN!!!!! SAVE YOURSELF!!!!!), and I completely forgot to post for Wordy Wednesday. I'm hoping this week will be a little more... serene.

Let's start off with a song guaranteed to relax your frayed nerves. It's on my "happy songs to listen to on the commute to work" mix CD.

See, don't you feel all blissed out now?

And I'm completely ~~embarrassed~~ secure in my musical taste to admit that I discovered this song through this video:

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-07-17T07:13:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you write something and immediately think, "That's not half bad." Then you read it again later and think, "That's damn good, if I do say so myself." Then you realize it's exactly six sentences, and you high five your muse.

This is from a new short story I'm working on and need to finish this week. Wish me luck :)

This is my favorite part of the day: the kiss welcoming me home. Even after all these years, I can't make myself close my eyes. I want to see my man moving closer, and I sigh right as our lips meet. He's been drinking wine again. I can taste it on his lips and then his tongue and then inside his mouth. He tastes sweet.

Visit the Six Sentence Sunday website for a list of all the great participating writers.

Weekend Boyporn: All Drarry, All the Time

2011-07-16T22:00:00.020-05:00

*whispers* We're just going to pretend that hubby and I didn't get a little drunk last night celebrating the tenth anniversary of our first date, and that this was really posted when it was supposed to be. Kthxbai.

I've asked a few friends to send me some of their favorite boyporn, and I knew exactly who to ask when it came to Drarry fanart: Vampisthenewblack. She and I bonded over Twilight slash (don't judge), and we share a love of my HP OTP, Draco Malfoy + Harry Potter...Drarry.

When I asked Vamp to send me her favorite Drarry fanart, she jumped on the task and returned with some beautiful work. (P.S. If anyone knows the original artists, please let me know so I can give them credit.)

And for all of those mourning the end of the Harry Potter movies, I just have one thing to add:

Music Monday: Anna Nalick

2011-07-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

My husband found this video and sent me the link. He didn't know it's a song that's been stuck in my head on and off for a while now. I love this acoustic version.

P.S. There's a winner is the Skyrockets in Flight giveaway. The oven mitts will soon be on their way to Crystal from Reading Between the Wines Book Club. Congrats, Crystal! Hope the guys keep you happy in the kitchen ;)

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-07-10T07:07:00.001-05:00

I've gone back and forth about which sentences from What We Deserve to post this week. Since it's from Sean's POV, there aren't any "objective" descriptions of him. But there is that time Jamie tells Sean about the day he first knew he was attracted to him...

“When you came back, you were different. You’d gotten so tall. You didn’t even have to look up to make eye contact with me anymore. And you weren’t so skinny, and your hair had turned to that deep color I like so much.” His head lolled toward me. “God, I wanted you."

But, just so you know, this is who I see in my head when I think of Sean:

Visit the Six Sentence Sunday website for a list of all the great participating writers.

Weekend Boyporn: Bedtime

2011-07-09T22:53:00.000-05:00

This week, since I'm very, very sleepy as I write this post, I decided some lovely boys cuddling in bed would make the perfect theme for this week's collection.

Wordy Wednesday: My favorite reads so far this year

2011-07-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

This past holiday weekend has me all discombobulated. I didn't get my giveaway post scheduled until the last minute, I didn't post a Music Monday AT ALL, and I forgot to line up an excerpt for today.

Then it occurred to me: the year is half over. Maybe I could share my favorite reads so far this year. As with my 2010 list, these books weren't necessarily released the first half of 2011. I just read them this year.

And you'll probably recognize a few :)

Breathe, Sloan Parker (Amazon)

Lincoln McCaw lost everything -- his home, his job, his partner -- after he caused a fatal accident. A year later, he's drowning the guilt and despair in whiskey, but he needs to move on. His sister and her kids are counting on him. Then he meets a man who ignites a passion Lincoln thought he’d never find. Too bad one night is all they can have together. Now he needs to figure out how to turn away from the only person who makes him feel alive…before whoever is sending him threats decides Lincoln needs to suffer more than he already has.

Jay Miller is surrounded by grief and misery until he finally gives in to all those years of sexual fantasies about being with another guy. Realizing he’s ended up in the arms of the man who caused his wife’s accident, he tries to pull away. But how can he give up a friendship he needs more than anything -- a friendship and a love that could save him? He may not have time to make the choice before someone else destroys it all.

Hot Head, Damon Suede (Amazon)

Where there's smoke there's fire.

Since 9/11, Brooklyn firefighter Griff Muir has wrestled with impossible feelings for his best friend and partner at Ladder 181: Dante Anastagio. Unfortunately Dante is strictly a ladies' man and the FDNY isn’t exactly gay-friendly. For 10 years, Griff has hidden his heart in a half-life of public heroics and private anguish.

Griff’s caution and Dante’s cockiness make them an unbeatable team. To protect his buddy, there’s nothing Griff wouldn’t do… until Dante is nearly bankrupt and proposes the worst possible solution: HotHead.com, a gay-porn website where uniformed hunks get down-n-dirty… Now Dante wants them to appear there— together.

Griff may have to guard his heart and live out his darkest fantasies on camera. Can he rescue the man he loves without wrecking their careers, their families, or their friendship?

The Cranberry Hush, Ben Monopoli (Amazon)

Vince Dandro might be going through the quietest quarter-life crisis of all time. He lives alone, works at a comic book shop, and has a crush on his coworker he can't seem to act on. His life is just fine, but only just fine. Everything changes when Vince's long-lost friend Griff shows up at his house in the middle of a blizzard. They were roommates in college, so close back then that Griff's girlfriend called them "lifebuddies" -- but Vince's love for Griff ended the friendship, he thought, forever. They haven't spoken in years. Why has Griff shown up again? And, more importantly, can Vince handle his return?

Vince and Griff are two twentysomethings struggling to find their places in the world and in each other's lives. This is a story of friendship and love, both unrequited and requited, and learning how to fly through the post-college void, where sometimes the only sound you can hear is The Cranberry Hush.

Nothing Ever Happens, Sue Brown (Amazon)

Andrew’s life is a cliché: he’s a gay man trapped in a loveless marriage, thanks to his religious, overbearing mother. Then a new couple moves in down the street, and Andrew finds himself falling for Nathan in a big way. Nathan is straight, married, and just about to be a father, but after one fateful night out together at a club, Nathan has to face the fact that his feelings for Andrew go way beyond that of a friend and neighbor.

When Andrew’s wife asks for a divorce, both men’s lives are thrown into disarray. Arguments about their responsibilities to their wives and children, doubting themselves and each other, and some harrowing lies pull them apart… but they never leave each other’s thoughts.

Life After Joe, Harper Fox (Amazon)

It's not the breaking up that kills you, it's the aftermath.

Ever since his longtime lover decided he'd seen the "heterosexual light," Matt's life has been in a nosedive. Six months of too many missed shifts at the hospital, too much booze, too many men. Matt knows he's on the verge of losing everything, but he's finding it hard to care.

Then Matt meets Aaron. He's gorgeous, intelligent and apparently not interested in being picked up. Still, even after seeing Matt at his worst, he doesn't turn away. Aaron's kindness and respect have Matt almost believing he's worth it-and that there could be life after Joe. But his newfound happiness is threatened when Matt begins to suspect Aaron is hiding something, or someone...

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn & David Levithan (Amazon)

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.

This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be—and where the next great band is playing.

Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you’ll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

All Stirred Up, Z.A. Maxfield (Amazon)

Brendan Blankenship’s life is going exactly as he planned. He’s the CEO of an engineering firm that manufactures – among other things – automatic defibrillators, he’s got a great relationship with his twin brother, Evan, and their offbeat, colorful mother, and he has a veritable smorgasbord of men to choose from every weekend if he wants to have a little fun. Sure, he’s high strung, but that goes with the territory of type A personality and coffee achiever.

After Brendan and his mother witness a completely random tragedy his carefully controlled life begins to fall apart. First he starts having nightmares and panic attacks, and then he loses focus in his daily life. His board of directors insists he take a vacation at a so-called “relaxation destination” and to make matters worse, they’ve hired a stress management consultant to accompany him.

Enter Dirk Melovitch, whose job it is to help Brendan learn to relax. Unfortunately, from the moment they set out together, everything goes terribly, horribly wrong. What happens when a messed up, stressed out businessman and a newly licensed therapist with an old hippie soul embark on the trip from hell?

Keeping Promise Rock, Amy Lane (Amazon)

Carrick Francis has spent most of his life jumping into trouble with both feet. The only thing saving him from prison or worse is his absolute devotion to Deacon Winters. Deacon was Crick's sanity and salvation during a miserable, abusive childhood, and Crick would do anything to stay with him forever. So when Deacon's father dies, Crick puts his college plans on hold to help Deacon as Deacon has helped him.Deacon's greatest wish is to see Crick escape his memories and the town they grew up in so Crick can enjoy a shining future. But after two years of growing feelings and temptation, the painfully shy Deacon finally succumbs to Crick's determined advances and admits he sees himself as part of Crick's life.It nearly destroys Deacon when he discovers Crick has been waiting for him to push him away, just like Crick's family did in the past. When Crick's knack for volatile decisions lands him far away from home, Deacon is left, shell-shocked and alone, struggling to reforge his heart in a world where love with Crick is a promise, but by no means a certainty.

What were some of your favorite reads so far this year?

Celebrating the Fourth with a Giveaway!

2011-07-04T00:01:00.010-05:00

Happy Independence Day to everyone in the U.S., and happy Monday to everyone else! Several bloggers have gotten together to organize the Skyrockets In Flight Blog Hop Delight, and, since it sounded like fun, I decided to join them. There was only one requirement to join: I had to hold a giveaway.

A giveaway? Yep, one lucky person will win one pair of pinup oven mitts that I found in the OriginalsbyLauren shop on Etsy.

Aren't they just awesome? And I'll even ship them internationally.

I'm going to make entering my giveaway super easy. Just leave a comment on this post between now and 11:59 PM Central on Sunday July 10th. On Monday July 11th, I'll use the random number generator at Random.org to choose the winner.

Be sure to check out all the other blogs in the blog hop and enter their giveaways as well.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-07-03T04:00:00.005-05:00

Last week, I let Sean from What We Deserve tell you a little about Tyler. This week, he's going to tell you a little about Jamie, his first love.

His skin was darkly tanned, and his arms and chest were bulging with muscles I didn’t remember him having. While obviously growing out from its Army cut, his hair was still very short, and the dirty blond was mixed with a little gray at his temples. As he stared back, he wrung his hands, passing his fingers over the prominent veins. His bottom lip was clenched between his teeth.

The only thing that hadn’t changed were his eyes. Deepest brown.

Whatever will I post next week? :)

Visit the Six Sentence Sunday website for a list of all the great participating writers.

Weekend Boyporn: Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-02T22:00:00.001-05:00

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
- The United States Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

To my fellow Americans, have a safe and happy July 4th!

To everyone, come back Monday for an Independence Day blog hop and giveaway!

Wordy Wednesday: Excerpt from Hot Head by Damon Suede

2011-06-29T10:00:00.039-05:00

I'm not sure where I first read the blurb for Hot Head, but I clearly remember immediately adding it to my to-read list on Goodreads before the entry even had a cover image.

Where there's smoke there's fire.

Since 9/11, Brooklyn firefighter Griff Muir has wrestled with impossible feelings for his best friend and partner at Ladder 181, Dante Anastagio. Unfortunately, Dante is strictly a ladies’ man, and the FDNY isn’t exactly gay-friendly. For ten years, Griff has hidden his heart in a half-life of public heroics and private anguish.

Griff’s caution and Dante’s cockiness make them an unbeatable team. To protect his buddy, there’s nothing Griff wouldn’t do… until a nearly bankrupt Dante proposes the worst possible solution: HotHead.com, a gay porn website where uniformed hunks get down and dirty. And Dante wants them to appear there—together.

Griff may have to guard his heart and live out his darkest fantasies on camera. Can he rescue the man he loves without wrecking their careers, their families, or their friendship?

Once I started reading the book, I found it impossible to put down. I somehow managed to do it Thursday, but then came the weekend. There was no good reason not to stay up all Friday night to finish, so I read until 3am Saturday morning.

I'm not exaggerating. Just ask my husband, who rolled over in bed to threaten iPad confiscation several times.

I could tell you how great the book is, but I'll let it speak for itself:

“10-60 has been transmitted for the World Trade Center, 10-60 for the World Trade Center.”

Soon as the planes hit, every FDNY house had sprinted for the Twin Towers. Trucks poured into lower Manhattan, threading through the insanity in the streets. Smoke everywhere. Ash falling. Jumpers. Carnage. Streets muffled under shredded paper, shin-deep. People wandering dazed, covered in grit, stumbling in a thick gray blizzard. Shuffling armies of wage slaves trying to get home, to get to a phone, to get off the fucking island before it sank.

To find the eight engines and five trucks required for a major emergency, dispatch had pulled units from Brooklyn and Queens. Griff’s engine had been one of the first on the scene ’cause they were just over the river. Even after the second plane hit, the crews were hauling ass to get people out safely, to contain the situation. Twenty-five engines, sixteen trucks, probably six battalions. No one expected the Towers to actually come down; a lot of guys had rushed inside trying to get civilians out.

Then—motherfuck—World Trade 2 did exactly that, and then it was worse than anything any of them had ever seen.

Griff had been street level, humping hose into 90 Church Street, when he heard a boom and a strange roar, and then this black cloud slammed through the streets, chasing them. Rubble and paper churning around him, he tried to outrun the pitch dark, but it caught him and threw him through a plateglass window, so he had to crawl blind through the smoldering fog to the rig. Zero visibility on a sunny morning.

The Big Apple lost its mind.

Command was wiped out. Hundreds of men missing. Griff was helping do search and recover with his crew in the subway at Cortlandt Street when he heard Dante’s name on the radio, some emergency call from the site of the north tower before it went too.

Without thinking, Griff called the Anastagios, or tried to—two hours after the crash there was still no cell service, and phone lines were crippled with people wanting answers and people calling their families to say goodbye from inside the wreckage. Still no count of the victims and wounded and what was the point, really? He tried to call his wife, same deal. They were in a bubble down here.

Dante could have been anywhere. Apparently, closer in you could still hear victims trapped beneath the rubble, begging for help. The news stations figured it was World War Three. Nobody knew anything yet. The body count might be as high as 20,000; the whole city scrabbled to get a straight answer.

Griff just put one foot in front of the other and tried to save a few folks, letting the eyewash stations clean his soot-caked eyes over and over so he could keep searching. He heard other planes had gone down, in Washington, but it was hard to tell and facts were thin on the ground. Some monster had punched a hole in New York, and hope was draining out of it into the river. Here he was, trying to find one person in the thick of it, feeling as blind and dumb and useless as anyone. Some fucking hero.

Griff picked his way in as close as he could to the Pit to keep an eye out. World Trade Center 7 collapsed in the early evening. Praying he’d hear Dante’s name again from someone down here, he worked with the crews that whole night like a zombie, his face gray under the ash. Everyone choking on the smell of acetylene torches and worse. Looking for his best friend and helping a few lost souls along the way. Thousands of people searching for family and coworkers who’d literally disappeared into thin air.

Griff cut people out of cars and carried people to the ambulances. He rescued a starved Labrador with a broken leg, trapped in a deli licking milk off the linoleum. He found a pregnant paralegal shuffling barefoot in the powdered concrete, her shoes lost, her eyes lost, and pointed her toward the Bridge so she could walk home to her kids.

No one had seen Dante since that call from the second tower, but Griff kept asking and looking and listening for that one name, day and night and day. Thirty-seven straight hours with no sleep, and then Griff tore his hand open trying to lift a mailbox off a corpse in a $1,600 suit. He didn’t even notice he was bleeding till one of the paramedics was in his face shouting at him.

Shock. He was in shock.

They put him in an ambulance and herded him to one of the emergency tents that had bloomed like miracles around Ground Zero. People groaning and whimpering and choking on the dust. He couldn’t feel anything. Some wetneck resident in scrubs sewed his hand together and told him to go home; instead, he went looking through Hell for Dante.

* * *

It took five hours and most of his sanity.

“Are you family?” The army reserve nurse eyed his pasty skin and bright hair. Her eyes scanned a clipboard quickly. She flipped a page of scrawled notes.

They were walking through the wide, echoing hallways at Bellevue where there seemed to be acres of grimy patients on gurneys squirming slowly like someone had lifted a rock and shone a painful light on grubs. Clusters of weeping, frantic families who thought the world might end at any minute, desperate just to say goodbye and love.

“Brother.” Griff knew he looked insane. His mauled hand itched.

She tapped her notes. “He was pinned in a stairwell, but he dragged himself and his partner out a vent in time. Crazy mofo, sounds like.”

“You have no idea.”

They turned a corner and everything was suddenly okay.

Dante lay curled on his side, his black hair dusty and the top half of his face livid with bruises and long scratches. The paramedics had cut him out of his clothes, and the gown was bunched over his sooty hip. Dante’s eyes and hands twitched, dreaming. His curved lips seemed too red and too dark, like a tattoo of a mouth. He coughed in his sleep, and somehow it was Dante’s voice coughing, even from across the room.

Griff would’ve known it anywhere, and he almost pissed his pants he was so relieved, choking on lungfuls of air as he went to his best friend.

Dit-dit-dit. The nurse’s pager went off, and she headed back into the groaning sea of gurneys in the vast hallway; she didn’t even look at Griff, and he wouldn’t have noticed if she had. Griff’s strong legs suddenly gave out, and he went down on a knee by the thin cot.

Thank you, God. Thank you, God.

He wished Dante would make another sound, any sound. He leaned over that tired face just to hear him breathing, the exact music of Dante’s breath. Kneeling so close, he wanted to put his dusty ear to his friend’s chest to hear the miraculous lub-dub of Dante still living.

You asshole. Had to be a fuckin’ hero—

Griff’s blunt fingers fumbled over Dante’s wrist and took his rough hand. Suddenly he knew New York was gonna be okay. They were all going to survive.

Dante shifted a little, just barely squeezed back, and made one of those comfortable grunts in the back of his throat. Like someone had made a joke in his dream and he was gonna start laughing.

Griff’s bright hair stood on end and his heart was suddenly too huge and too hot for his ribs, beating against its cage.

- Plip -

Something wet fell on their linked knuckles making the ash and grit run and Griff realized that he was crying-crying-crying and he didn’t know how to stop it felt so good to let the tears slide free and clean… the acid draining out of his head so it could stop burning. His mouth open and weeping ’cause a hole had been punched in him. Big gulps of disinfected air and his thick right knee bouncing with the last of his nerves. He couldn’t make himself stand up.

He raised his other hand to smooth Dante’s ragged, matted hair so he could see and then froze, because who knew what kind of injuries there might be. He couldn’t move, his stitched, pale hand hovering over Dante’s olive forehead, over the eyelashes inky soft against his cheek.

Griff watched his torn hand pull back slowly, like it belonged to a stranger. Would they let him stay? He was in shock, right? He had a right to be in the hospital. If the doctors wanted to move him, they could fuck off. He stiffened like a feral dog guarding pups.

Dante squeezed his fingers again, just barely, like a dream.

The relief was so sharp it made him gasp.

Nose running, Griff used his free hand to fish out his cell and dial the Anastagios so they could cry and shout and pass the phone around in relief; then he remembered that there was no signal, that it was just them there then, alone together, that he couldn’t reach anyone anywhere—so he told God instead.

Buy Hot Head from Dreamspinner Press

Buy Hot Head from Amazon

(Thanks to Damon for sharing the great excerpt!)

Music Monday: Lily Allen

2011-06-27T10:00:00.002-05:00

Good grief, I'm so addicted to this song. I thought about posting the official video, but it was this odd storyline about kidnapping Elton John. Instead, enjoy this live version:

And this is why am I addicted to this song.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-06-26T07:00:00.004-05:00

This past Wednesday, you may have noticed quite a few tweets with the hashtag #twitpitch. Several editors were monitoring the hashtag to find new stories. After re-typing my pitch a dozen or so times, I finally sent this tweet about What We Deserve.

I also recently won an auction to have my story beta read and critiqued by Shae Connor. She sent back a lot of great notes, and she even let me talk her ear off on the phone. She picked the scene that this week's six sentences are from. This is the first time in the book Sean describes his boyfriend Tyler.

I let my head fall backward. Even upside down he was perfect. His hazel eyes were the perfect mix of green and brown and set in a slightly round, boyish face. The five o’clock shadow might have added a couple of years to his visible age, but he still didn’t look 31. His full, bow-shaped lips were smirking, as usual, and he was wearing those little black-rimmed glasses that drove me fucking insane. I wanted to grab a handful of his soft, black hair and pull him down for a kiss.

Maybe next week I'll let Sean tell you about Jamie *evil grin*

Visit the Six Sentence Sunday website for a list of all the great participating writers.

Weekend Boyporn: Kisses

2011-06-25T22:00:00.002-05:00

I've been in a kissing mood lately. Wanna do it. Wanna read about it. Wanna watch it. So, this week's boyporn is all about the meeting of two mouths.

Photo by igy.deviantart.com

Shared by Sasha :)

These two are going to be the death of me.

Wanna see more boys kissing? Visit Fuck Yeah Gay Kisses.

Wordy Wednesday: An Excerpt from Model Student by Shae Connor

2011-06-22T10:00:00.004-05:00

Is a week long enough to fall in love? In Model Student, it's more than enough time for Aaron, a model who attends NYU's film school, to find out everything he needs to know about Matt, a journalism student who wants to interview Aaron for his senior project. Sparks fly the first day they meet.

The coffee shop around the corner was quiet. Aaron supposed it was because of the gorgeous weather. It was first really nice spring day of the year, and people were probably out spending time enjoying it. Maybe he'd do that tomorrow; it was supposed to be even more beautiful.

Not as beautiful as the man sitting across from him. The sun glinted off Matt's hair through the window, and Aaron watched, fascinated, as the light formed a halo around Matt's head. Golden boy, Aaron thought, smiling at himself.

Matt caught the smile. "Something funny?" he asked, eyes glowing like his hair. Aaron shook his head.

"No, nothing, just enjoying the view," he said softly, not even trying to pretend he was looking outside. Matt blushed again, and Aaron smiled wider. "Sorry, didn't mean to embarrass you."

Matt looked up at him from under his lashes, heat behind his eyes. "Not embarrassed, exactly," he murmured. Aaron swallowed as he understood Matt's meaning.

Buy Model Student from Dreamspinner Press

Buy Model Student from Amazon

Music Monday: Hanson

2011-06-20T10:00:00.002-05:00

OMG! *girly squeal*

*cough* *cough* Okay, I'm not very good with the girly squeal, and I'm too old to have fangirled over Hanson. But I am absolutely hooked on this song. Sirius XM plays a acoustic version that kicks ass as well.

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-06-19T07:00:00.005-05:00

Welcome to my first Six Sentence Sunday post! I hope that maybe I have enough WIP that I can post for a while without resorting to repeats ;)

My first Six Sentence Sunday is from my upcoming freebie for the Goodreads M/M Romance group's Hot July Days. The title of the story is "Keep Me."

“You have five minutes.”

“Thank you,” he whispered before entering.

God, he was so skinny. I shook my head and closed the door, determined not to give in to the twisted urge to take care of the boy no matter what he did. Still, I couldn’t help but notice the absence of the thick, blond curls I’d once loved to tug. I remembered how soft the hair covering his arms was, how the softness extended over every inch of skin.

Visit the Six Sentence Sunday website for a list of all the great participating writers.

Weekend Boyporn (NSFW): Boys and Food

2011-06-18T22:57:00.002-05:00

This has been a good week, and most of it has to do with my story for the Goodreads M/M Romance group's Hot July Days anthology. While I've shown you the pic for my story, I thought I'd share another picture for another writer's story.

This tasty specimen inspired Zach Sweets' story Luscious Love. Can't wait to see what Zach has planned for this cutie.

Want to see more boys playing with their food?

Of course you do!

"I'm hot, sticky sweet, from my head to my feet." I'll never think of the Def Leppard song the same way.

Admit it, a milk mustache is the last thing you're looking for.

Gosh, I've got the munchies now. I wonder why...

Rocking the Double X Chromosomes

2011-06-17T07:44:00.000-05:00

I want this shirt!

Recently I was asked if I was a *gasp* female who wrote *double gasp* male homosexual romance. It made me wonder if I’ve made it clear that I’m not a guy. So, just in case:

I’m a chick.

And here's my I'm-a-chick-and-have-actually-been-asked-some-of-these-questions FAQ:

Why are you using a unisex pen name? Because my mother picked it out of a baby name book the day after I was born.

This is me...except younger, skinner, and wearing makeup.
Also, do you know how hard it is to find a picture of a
tomboy who isn't scowling? Newsflash: just because you're
a tomboy doesn't mean you're a bitter harpy. Kthxbai.

Why do you prefer writing from a guy’s POV? I have found that I am more comfortable writing from a male POV. Maybe it’s because I’ve been a tomboy all my life. Maybe it’s because the majority of my friends are and have always been male. Maybe my mom hit me in the head with that baby name book when I was young.

Why do you write gay romance? Have you ever heard of the term chicks-with-dicks? Male characters who are basically poorly disguised women? Well, when I wrote het, all my female MCs were guys-with-vaginas. And, as soon as I started writing both my MCs as male, I was a much happier writer.

What does your husband think about all this? I hate this question. It's like, "Do you have your husband's permission to do this?" Anyway, he thinks it’s awesome. He hopes I become a “world-famous author” so we can buy a bigger house. And he's stopped asking, "Where did you learn to do that?" *evil grin*

Now I'm off to my only-slightly-evil day job in a male-dominated field *waves*

Wordy Wednesday: An Excerpt from Auld Lang Syne by Tia Fielding

2011-06-15T10:00:00.004-05:00

This week I'm posting something different for Wordy Wednesday: an excerpt from a soon-to-be released book.

Tia Fielding's Auld Lang Syne will be published next month by Dreamspinner Press. If you love cowboys, this book is for you.

After leaving trouble behind, Jackson Way has found a home on the Triple-R, but he hasn’t found that one perfect horse—and men are pretty thin on the ground as well. Jack’s got a once-a-year hookup with a carnival worker, but it’s been quite some time since the carnival’s been by. When the ranch owner’s nephew comes to the Triple-R to work, Jackson has to admit, Blair McRae can tempt a man.

But Jackson’s not the only one with a past to make a man skittish, and Blair’s not willing to risk his bruised heart if Jackson’s not ready to let go of his past. Jackson had to work hard, be patient, and let go of the past to get his one perfect horse—is he willing to go to the same lengths to hold on to that one perfect man?

Not enough? Tia also shared this awesome excerpt:

A couple of years after he had been hired, the old stable master, Greg Jenkins, had retired and moved to Houston where his daughter was living. Jack had been nervous as hell. After all it wasn’t something he would ask for, the job.

He didn’t have to ask. The evening before Greg’s departure in the gatehouse, as the staff’s quarters were called, there was a knock on the door. Seamus walked in, and the youngest ranch hands cleared out. Only Greg, Jack, and some others were left.

“Lads,” Seamus had greeted them, and everyone, even Greg, who was a good fifteen years older than the boss, had murmured a greeting. “Jackson, can I talk to you and Greg in private?” Seamus had asked and that had cleared the room completely.

They had sat in the kitchen and Seamus had looked from Jack to Greg and back before grinning widely. “So, Greg here is leavin’ us to go live with his lass. Now I’m wondering who should be the stable master. What do you two have to say to that?” Then Seamus had leaned back in his usual style and grinned at them again.

“As I see it, Jack is more than capable. Besides, he knows more about the breeding side of things than I do. I’m more of a straightforward cowboy type with the horses. If you’re going into breeding, you need him here. He might be a tad young, but he can do it all,” Greg had said and Jack had been in awe. First of all, it was the most he had heard the older man talk, ever. Secondly, he was getting praise, which didn’t happen often at all. Not because he was doing a bad job or anything, but because Greg just didn’t give praise to anyone.

“Jack?” Seamus’s eyes had turned to him, and Jack had swallowed hard.

“Well… I mean sure, I want the job more than anything. There’s just….” He swallowed again, fidgeted, and then blushed. At twenty-seven he was pretty much over the whole blushing thing or so he had thought, but no.

“Aye?” Seamus had asked and raised a brow at his stuttering.

“I’m… there’s something you need to know… about me. Before you hire me for anything more than a stable hand.” Jack had forced the words out and then cleared his throat when all he got was silence. He looked back at Seamus and forced the rest of his confession out, “I’m gay.”

“Oh…,” Seamus said, and Greg looked away. Jack tried to figure out what it was Seamus was thinking, but couldn’t really come to any conclusions. Then all of sudden a huge grin was back on Seamus’s face, and he laughed heartily, much to Jack’s surprise and shock.

“That certainly explains the last three years. I mean you never seem to be quite as lively as when the carnival is in town. And I happen to know that a certain blond plays on your team.” Then Seamus had laughed even more, and Jack had blushed beetroot red. Even Greg had chuckled under his breath.

Had he been that transparent? His first year at the ranch had been okay, but when the carnival came into town and he had gone to the bar with the ranch hands, he had met Peter. Now Peter was nothing like Jack. He was a six-foot-two blond god. A god with piercings and tattoos and a lanky body with lean muscles and the most erotic voice Jack had ever heard.

Yeah, he had fallen hard and fast and spent three nights in Peter’s trailer, having the time of his life. That was how it went from there on, every year for three or four nights at the end of July the carnival came in. Jack would sneak away from Three R and get fucked into oblivion by the gorgeous Peter.

“Eh… yeah…,” he had mumbled, and after a moment Seamus had gotten more serious again.

“You gotta know that it makes no difference to me. Hell, I have a nephew who’s gay, and I never had any problem with that. I mean I might have been raised as a Catholic, but it’s my folks’ beliefs, not mine,” Seamus had said. “So you want the job or not?”

“Hell yes!” Jack had grinned. They had shaken on it. And that had been it.

I can't wait to read more about Jackson and Blair!

Tia's Goodreads page

Tia's page on the Dreamspinner website

Music Monday: Radney Foster

2011-06-13T10:00:00.003-05:00

On my iPod, I have various playlists for writing. I have a wake-me-up playlist. There's even a boom-chicka-wah-wah list. But my largest playlist by far is my get-in-the-mood-to-write-people-falling-in-love playlist. I decided today's song would be the first song played when I shuffled the songs.

If you've heard this song, it's probably the remake by Keith Urban. However, Radney Foster wrote the song (with Darrell Brown) and is the original artist. I became a fan of Radney when he was half of Foster & Lloyd, and I continue to be a fan of his solo work.

Maybe next week I'll pick a boom-chicka-wah-wah song ;)

Weekend Boyporn (NSFW): It's all about the ass

2011-06-11T22:00:00.002-05:00

Ah, another week is over, and I'm wading through boyporn to decide what to share. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

I'm a butt girl, I will not lie. My poor husband has to put up with my objectifying his (absolutely perfect and beautiful) rear all the time. So, this week, I think I'll post some of my favorite bubble butts for your viewing pleasure.

Wordy Wednesday: An Excerpt from Knight Errant by KD Sarge

2011-06-08T10:00:00.002-05:00

Another one of my favorite m/m books is Knight Errant by KD Sarge. It's a great sci-fi coming of age story about two great boys and a cast of colorful secondary characters. And it just received 4.5 stars at Reviews by Jessewave (beware: the review contains spoilers).

In this excerpt, we get to see Taro, our handsome protagonist, meet Rafe, the fluffy "baggage."

Finally I hit the uni district. I'd last been there for my test. I found the address easily, a little homegrown coffee shop with mismatched chairs, just far enough from the campus not to be crowded. Damn Eve, anyway. Ten people inside, and I had no description, no nothing. I'd assumed I was going to a home, or I'd have asked. How was I supposed to know who her baggage was?

I stood by the door a minute, but no one greeted me except the teenager behind the counter. I told her I was meeting someone, and still no one approached me. Blast it.

After another scan of the customers, though, I went over to a curly-headed brunette dressed like a theatrical pirate in white and blue striped pants and a baggy billowy blue shirt. He'd been staring out the window. When I cleared my throat he jumped and looked up, a brilliant smile forming instantly.

"Rafe?" I asked. The smile widened.

"Lucky me, I am," he answered, bouncing to his feet and bowing. "Rafael Rylie Ballard," he said. "Rafe. At your service." His eyes gave an extra sparkle, adding voltage to one hell of a grin. "And you are...?"

"Taro. Captain Marcori sent me." I didn't tell him I'd looked for the most baggage-like person in the room. Ben had spent years trying to teach me some manners. I'd have to tell him I'd finally used them. "Come with me."

"Anywhere," he said, and picked up a bag. Another sat on the seat opposite him, so I grabbed it.

Damn. He packed like Eve, fitting every last thing she could in the hold. I took the other bag from him, just for balance, and led the way.

When Eve said baggage, she wasn't kidding.

"Cori—excuse me, Captain Marcori—said she was sending her brother," he said, raising one eyebrow as he looked me over. Eve was tall with blue eyes, blue hair, and white skin. I was short and dark, dark, and dark. I looked back at him blankly.

"She did," was all I said. Rafe the baggage laughed.

After you read this book and love it (because I know you will), you'll be happy to know the sequel, His Faithful Squire, will be available in August 2011. Oh, and just 'cause KD loves you, she's offering a extra featuring Taro at twelve, which will be available from the Turtleduck Press website on July 1st.

Knight Errant page (with purchase information)

His Faithful Squire page

Music Monday: Parachute

2011-06-06T10:00:00.001-05:00

There are certain songs that, when they come on the radio, make me turn up the volume and sing at the top of my lungs. Listening to the song can instantly wake me up and improve my mood. This week's song does just that:

*singing along and making the dogs howl*

Weekend Boyporn (NSFW)

2011-06-04T22:00:00.006-05:00

Another week, another serving of boy porn :) Each morning, I send my friends in my writing group a picture, and these are my favorite from the last week :)

These guys must live down here. It's 10-15 degrees over the norm lately, so our blankets and sheets usually end up in floor each night. Of course, no one is hanging out on our ceiling taking pictures of us ;)

Yeah, so I have a weakness for guys in tighty undies. Don't act like you don't ;)

I find most of the pictures I post on Tumblr. If you have a tumblog, let me know so I can check it out.

Have a great week!

Meet Ryan & Will

2011-06-01T18:42:00.000-05:00

I've had an idea percolating for a while now. Wouldn't it be interesting to find someone to read "Realize" and then draw their vision of Ryan and Will. After all, Ryan and Will have lived in my head for quite some time now, and they'd like to meet some new people.

On Tumblr (where I post too much boyporn and pictures of Adele), I'm following a group of very talented people who are drawing their own original superheroes and have formed their own league, the Teacup League. And, wouldn't ya' know it, the league is filled with manlove :)

There is a lovely lady on Tumblr, and I love her artwork and her Teacup characters. As luck would have it, she also accepts commissions.

I'd like to introduce you to Ryan and Will:

You could hear the squeal down the street this morning (at 5am, mind you) when I first saw these guys. They are PERFECT! Thank you so much DD!

Wordy Wednesday: An Excerpt from Breathe by Sloan Parker

2011-06-01T10:00:00.003-05:00

Last week, I told you about my favorite m/m book. This week, the excerpt is from the book that comes in a VERY close second on my list: Breathe by Sloan Parker.

Lincoln McCaw has recently left prison after serving a sentence for his part in a fatal car accident, and he can't balance his need to punish himself with his want for a man who is the last person he should be involved with.

The kid slid onto the empty stool between them. “Can I bum a smoke?”

With the back of his hand Lincoln slid over his pack of Marlboros.

“Thanks.” The kid picked up the smokes. He dug one out and placed the pack next to Lincoln’s beer. “Uh, you got a light?”

The guy was really killing his buzz. Lincoln fished the lighter from his pocket and tossed it to the kid, who fumbled the catch but saved the lighter from hitting the wood floor. Good thing. Lincoln’s grandpa had given it to him. He didn’t need it scuffed up.

He also didn’t need the kid sitting so damn close. He smelled clean, refreshing after time spent with the jailhouse inmates who weren’t sure how to work the showers or the sinks. The kid held out the lighter, his eyes wide, his lips parted, his chest rising with each shallow breath as he stared at Lincoln.

Lincoln accepted the lighter, as well as the slight press of the kid’s thumb to his palm.

Oh, hell. He’d never had someone come on to him in Sonny’s, not in any local establishment for that matter. Public propositions for gay sex didn’t go over well in a town the size of Edgefield.

Had the kid heard those fuckers from earlier?

Maybe he was toying with him. Maybe he was friends with those guys, and Lincoln was about to get his ass kicked out behind the bar. But it didn’t feel like the kid was fooling. It felt good. To be touched. To be wanted again. His hand clenched as he set the lighter with his smokes.

The kid was staring at the TV again and made no attempt to move back to his previous stool. He played along the length of the cigarette with his fingers before he took another drag. His hands were a bit beat-up, rough, the hands of a man who worked for a living. Yet the kid treated the cigarette as if it were made of delicate tissue paper until his last puff. Only then did he crush the butt into the ashtray with the push of his thumb.

Would fucking the kid involve the same mix of tenderness and roughness?

Lincoln’s dick had hardened more with each play of the long fingers over the roll of tobacco, with each drag between the kid’s lips. Damn. He hadn’t gotten hard that fast in a long time. Not from one look and a touch of hands. This twentysomething kid brought to life needs he’d learned to bury. Would it be so bad to just give in? To feel again?

He wanted a fuck, but could he let himself have even that much of a release?

No. Too soon to feel good. To feel anything.

The relationship between Lincoln and "the kid" is fraught with angst, and there is also the mystery of who is sending Lincoln threatening messages. Sloan will have you guessing until the end whether either problem will be solved.

Breathe at Loose Id

Breathe at Amazon

Music Monday: Marcy Playground

2011-05-30T10:00:00.002-05:00

Remember the fluffy short story I talked about in Saturday's post? Not only is this the theme song, it's the title:

And, no, I don't always do this. I swear!

Weekend Boyporn (NSFW)

2011-05-28T22:00:00.005-05:00

Last week I told you about the picture prompt I posted for the Goodreads M/M Romance group's July short story project. This week I want to show you the picture prompt I chose to write about.

Photo by http://cub69.deviantart.com/

I saw this picture and I just wanted to know what the story behind this intimate moment was. Why this caring hand on the head, did the man with the tattoo have a hard time? Please give them a HEA.

If you're not a member of the M/M Romance group, make sure to join before July so you can read all the great short stories as they're posted.

Since the short story I'm currently working on is some fluffy goodness (more about that in another post), I thought my second picture should be a bit of fluffiness as well.

Have a great weekend, and, those of you in the U.S., have a safe Memorial Day.

Wordy Wednesday: An Excerpt from Drawn Together by Z. A. Maxfield

2011-05-25T10:00:00.003-05:00

My favorite gay romance is an awesome story by Z. A. Maxfield. Drawn Together has elements of mistaken identity, yaoi (and you know how much I love yaoi), and suspense. Everyone I've recommended it to has loved it.

Here is a small excerpt to hopefully encourage you to read it if you haven't:

Rory stood tapping his foot in line behind about a hundred others who wanted an autograph from the singular Ran Yamane. His trip to California and the complete dedication it required to drive fifteen hundred miles in three days made it the first opportunity he had to relax and just enjoy the pleasant sensation of inertia.

In fact, in the fragrant, floral-scented bubble of space he was occupying, Rory took immense pleasure in imagining the moment when he would first see his idol. He imagined her shy surprise, and perhaps her humble acceptance of his floral tribute. From there, he would ask her to autograph his book and then his line drawing from eBay.

Rory was certain she would remark on his accent, because thirty or forty minutes away from the bayou simply everyone did. While it made an excellent icebreaker, he didn’t like the way people thought it made him slow. On the other hand, it never failed to interest women, whether they thought he was slow or not.

What that said about women, he didn’t know, but he hadn’t been too proud to use it to his advantage on more than one occasion. He could simply say, “Please allow me,” in New York City and open a door for a woman, and he wouldn’t have to look for a hotel room for the night.

Behind his floral tribute, Rory was wondering just what he would do to attract Ran Yamane’s attention when he reached the front of the line. He could see her from behind; her long black hair hung in a loose braid down her back. She sat at a desk on a large platform three steps off the ground, flanked by two men standing almost at attention. She faced away from the line of autograph seekers. She chatted briefly with each person as she signed her name; then they moved on. Rory could see she wore some sort of long black coat with the collar turned up, so he was tormented by his inability to catch even a brief glimpse of her face.

At last his turn came, and one of the men flanking her motioned for him to come up. He mounted the three stairs and went to stand before her. He took a deep breath and held his floral tribute out with a low bow. In the dark recesses of his mind, over the pounding of his heart, he thought he heard someone murmur something that sounded like “another one.”

When at last he raised his head to look at the woman of his dreams, he froze with his mouth gaping open like a fish. Before him, with his arms folded demurely across his chest, was the most beautiful man he’d ever seen, but still, a man. Nothing less than a man, with a pitying expression on his face.

“You thought I was a woman, didn’t you?” he asked. “I get that a lot.”

And, it turns out, this is the least of Rory's problems.

Give this book a try; I'm sure you'll love it.

Drawn Together at Loose Id

Drawn Together at Amazon

Music Monday: Neon Trees

2011-05-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

I love Neon Trees. When I listen to them, it's like a flash back to the really good music of my high school years (and I'm so not telling you when that was). "Goodbye to My Heart" is the original theme song for What We Deserve, and their new song is great as well. Maybe it can be the theme song for the short story I'm working on...

When Plot Bunnies Attack

2011-05-22T11:47:00.001-05:00

Awww, look at the cute and fluffy bunny.

Some days, my plot bunnies frolic in the grass, all happy and content. Other days, it's like I'm Jimmy Carter, swatting away the damn things with an oar.

(Seriously, if you don't get the Jimmy Carter reference, don't tell me. I feel old enough already. Just check out Wikipedia.)

Writers get their ideas from lots of places. I've gotten ideas from songs, pictures, news stories, porn (don't judge). What We Deserve started out with a plot bunny I got while watching two kids talk in line at Arby's last summer.

Cute and fluffy my ass!
(Drawn by Tessa)

My main problem with plot bunnies is that they're so damn distracting. I can be going gangbusters on whatever I'm writing, and a new plot bunny will grind me to a halt. Oh, that book I was going to write? That's all well and good, but how 'bout this shiny new idea I just had? And don't get me started about the zombie plot bunnies that want to eat my brain.

I'm writing my plot bunnies in a notebook (a snazzy new one I bought from JetPens), so that helps a little. The bunny queue is getting a little long, but that's a good thing, right?

How do you deal with plot bunnies?

Weekend Boyporn (NSFW)

2011-05-21T22:00:00.001-05:00

Ah, it's the end of another week, so you know what that means: beautiful men together :)

I'm a member of the M/M Romance group on Goodreads. We are currently posting sexy pictures and prompts, and others are claiming them to write short stories will be posted on Goodreads through July. Here's the picture I posted:

Can't wait to read the story it inspires! Next week, I'll post the picture I chose to write about.

Before I show you the second picture, I should admit something.

Hello, my name is Kerry, and I ship Drarry.

Don't look at me that way! I think Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy are meant to be, and I don't care what any stupid book says *stomping feet* This beautiful art by wincest_drarry shows why.

See?

Have a great weekend!

Wordy Wednesday: An Excerpt from The Cranberry Hush by Ben Monopoli

2011-05-18T10:00:00.002-05:00

You've seen me gush over The Cranberry Hush by Ben Monopoli before, so I won't fangirl too much. You should read it, but, if my word isn't enough to convince you, try out this excerpt:

"Who is it?" I called and began to wade out into my yard with clumsy, teetering steps. Snow went down my boots and bit my ankles through my socks. The stranger looked back and forth along the piles of snow along the street that formed a barrier between him and my yard. He threw up his hands in mock desperation and waved again.

Part of me knew who it was by then -- a part that could tell just by the way he moved his hands, by the tone of his scarf-dampened voice. In fact, what I now doubted more than the person's identity was whether I was really awake at all, and not still in bed, dreaming all this up. But when I got closer I was able to see his eyes through the opening between his hood and his scarf. They were green and bright. They belonged to the person in the photos on my living room wall.

The last inch of coffee slipped from the mug as it left my fingers and disappeared in a poof of white.

"Griffin?" It came out of me as a whisper. There was an inclination to run away, to dive beneath the snow and burrow away. I stepped hesitantly at first, not bothering to look for the mug, and then walked faster, stumbling, like I was running along the beach, overcome now, amazed, amazed. "Is that you?"

"It's me! I must look like a snowman."

If you think you know where this story goes, I assure you, you don't. The plot was engaging, and the end was a refreshing change. Most of all, the book is self-published, and I'm all about supporting quality self-published works in our genre. Plus, Ben is a really nice guy :)

Once you've read it, please come back and let me know what you think!

The Cranberry Hush on Amazon

Music Monday: Adele

2011-05-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

This week I'm sharing a video for two reasons:

I've got an intense, desperate girl-crush on Adele.
She's singing my favorite song by The Cure.

Isn't she just lovely? *sigh*

Weekend Boyporn (NSFW)

2011-05-14T20:00:00.014-05:00

My final new feature announcement is Weekend Boyporn. It's probably pretty obvious what this is. I'm going to post one or two pics each week. And, as always, feel free to share your stash with me :)

This drawing is by the incredibly talented Cris-art. You can find more of her artwork on her Tumblr blog.

Wordy Wednesday: A excerpt from Realize

2011-05-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

So, it's Wednesday, and I'm debuting my new weekly feature, Wordy Wednesday. Each Wednesday, I'll post a quote or excerpt from something I've read or written...or I might just gush over a book I've read recently.

This week, I'm sharing another excerpt from "Realize," my short story published last month by Torquere Press.

"Hey there, Ryan. Keeping an eye on little brother?"

My eyes never stopped tracking my target, but it was all I could do to keep them from rolling back into my head. Nick, the star running back of the football team, was Will's friend, and we got along, generally. However, his main hobby was busting my balls, and I had more important things to concentrate on tonight. "Just checking out the party. Not sure I want to be in that sea of flesh."

"The easy availability of flesh is the only reason to come to a frat party. Well, that and the free booze." Nick's large hand crossed into my field of vision, and he pointed directly where I was looking. "Ain't Will the popular one tonight? Not that I can blame the ladies. I wouldn't mind getting a piece of that either."

I stared at Nick. "What the fuck? Since when are you into guys?"

"Um, since always." He cocked his head to the side. "Is your gaydar on the fritz or somethin'?"

I shrugged. "It's never really worked all that well."

"You're telling me," he muttered.

"Realize" is available from the Torquere website.

Music Monday: Christina Perri

2011-05-09T10:00:00.002-05:00

Today I'm starting the first of three new weekly features. On Mondays, I'll post a video of a song that's stood out to me or been stuck in my head lately.

This week is "Arms," a beautiful new single by Christina Perri. It makes me think of my husband :)

My next new feature will debut on Wednesday.

Help the Alabama tornado recovery relief effort

2011-05-01T17:21:00.000-05:00

As you may know, my family lives in Alabama. While all our friends and family made it through the storm with no damage (but many are still without power), many areas of the state have been devastated. (See Shea Conner's blog for more information about the storm.)

The best way to help is to donate to the Red Cross. You can do this via their website, and you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to have a $10 donation added to your phone bill.

Toomer’s for Tuscaloosa is also maintaining a list of donation drop-off points in other U.S. states. I can tell you right now bottled water and personal hygiene items, as well as non-perishable food that doesn’t have to be cooked, is in high demand.

My husband and I shopped at Publix today (which was the first grocery store in our town to reopen…the night of the storms before they had power!), and they asked us if we wanted to make a donation to Red Cross tornado recovery relief. We added it right to our total. If you shop at Publix, ask them if they are accepting donations as well.

Thanks to everyone for checking on us and making sure we were okay. We were very lucky.

Geek is the new sexy

2011-04-23T08:52:00.000-05:00

On the new Sweet Spot m/m romance mailing list (sign up if you haven't already), we had a discussion about our love of geeks and stories about them. I must admit, I am biased. I'm a geek (a computer programmer during the day), and my husband is a geek (too many ways to list). So I love reading about geeky people falling in love. I like writing about it, too: two of the characters in What We Deserve are geeks.

Let's begin our discussion with some sexy geek picspam :)

Oh, dear Lord, who doesn't love Nathan Fillion? Firefly. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Castle. Castle wearing a space cowboy Halloween costume.

I will tell you right now, this man is the only reason I watched Dollhouse. This picture of Fran Kranz is also how I picture Sean in What We Deserve.

Kevin Rose is probably the most adorkable tech millionaire you'll ever see. That's part of his charm. Check out the Diggnation show if you don't believe me. He is who I picture when I think of Tyler in What We Deserve.

Maybe it's just me, but I love Masi Oka. I weep over how they fucked up his Heroes character, but Masi Oka rocks. And how can you not be jealous of his work as a digital effects artist for Industrial Light & Magic?

Now that you are sufficiently schooled in the sexiness of geeks, here are a few books my Sweet Spot peeps and I enjoyed.

The Cranberry Hush by Ben Monopoli

Vince Dandro might be going through the quietest quarter-life crisis of all time. He lives alone, works at a comic book shop, and has a crush on his coworker he can't seem to act on. His life is just fine, but only just fine. Everything changes when Vince's long-lost friend Griff shows up at his house in the middle of a blizzard. They were roommates in college, so close back then that Griff's girlfriend called them "lifebuddies" -- but Vince's love for Griff ended the friendship, he thought, forever. They haven't spoken in years. Why has Griff shown up again? And, more importantly, can Vince handle his return?

Vince and Griff are two twentysomethings struggling to find their places in the world and in each other's lives. This is a story of friendship and love, both unrequited and requited, and learning how to fly through the post-college void, where sometimes the only sound you can hear is The Cranberry Hush.

I started the geek discussion when I recommended this book to the list. I enjoyed this book so much that I stayed up half the night...on a work night...to finish it. The characters and plot are captivating, and the plot goes places I didn't expect. I'm really hoping for a sequel *begging with big puppy-dog eyes*

Drawn Together by Z.A. Maxfield

Rory might just be a simple southern boy from St. Antoine’s Parish Louisiana, but he knows what he wants. He’s been in love with the girl of his dreams, reclusive and mysterious artist Ran Yamane, since junior high school. And now he has the chance to meet her. He’s going to chuck everything and travel 1,500 miles to Anime Expo in Long Beach to tell her, and no one and nothing is going to stand in his way.

Ran Yamane is not a girl, but he gets that a lot. People come to him with teddy bears and chocolates and disappointment by the truckload. He’s trusted fans in the past and been tragically wrong. So when he meets Rory he’s understandably wary, but resigned. What he’s not prepared for is his magnetic attraction to the young man, Rory’s apparent willingness to overlook his gender, and the fact that their lives are both thrown into chaos when his number one fan (and psycho stalker) shows up to get revenge.

I've discussed my love of this book previously, and several people on the mailing list liked it as well. When I spread the love that is m/m fiction, it's the first book I recommend. If you haven't read it, go read it now. This blog will still be here when you get back.

Tech Support by Jet Mykles

Aaron is a whiz with computers but horrible with people. Painfully shy, it’s sometimes all he can do to communicate when he’s face to face with anyone. The fact that he has unusually red hair and gorgeous green eyes only makes it worse because people don’t want him to hide.

But then he’s called upon to troubleshoot a problem with the laptop of Yoshiki Fukui, a big shot executive with his company. Ki is brash, outgoing and painfully handsome and just being in his presence makes Aaron all jittery.

When Ki asks Aaron to help him set up a state-of-the-art entertainment system in his new house, Aaron can’t resist the lure. Little does he suspect that Ki’s got more than just technical help in mind.

First, I have a weakness for red-haired geeks, which has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I'm married to one. Second, there's a yaoi vibe to this that I just can't resist. Third, it's just hot. Seriously hot *fanning self*

Why I Love Geeks by T. A. Chase

Chuck Davidson’s a homicide detective in Boston, and it’s put a damper on his relationships. It’s hard to find a guy who will put up with his crazy hours. Plus, Chuck has an aversion to modern technology. He likes sports, beer, and classic cars instead. How is he to know that planning the impending death of his newest phone will bring him in contact with a cute geek who just might have a thing for rugged, "slightly out of touch with the newest gadgets" older men?

Herbert Pommerest has never been on a date or even kissed a man before. Oh, he knows he’s gay. He did all the experiments to ensure it was true, didn’t just go through a rebellious phase or a knee-jerk reaction because women scared him to death. For Herb, it’s easy to hide himself behind his research and daydream about what having a boyfriend would be like. But saving an expensive phone from an early demise brings him in contact with a street-wise mature detective. Suddenly Herb wishes he knew how to flirt because he’d love to take some lessons of the sensual kind from the sexy Chuck Davidson.

Can a geek and a detective find common ground between their vastly different worlds before one of Chuck’s cases threatens to put Herb in danger from a ruthless killer?

This is a popular book on the Goodreads M/M Romance group, and I enjoyed it, too. I'm a sucker for books about geeks or cops, so having a book with both is like hitting the jackpot :) Sometimes the geekiness of Herb may seem overdone, but have I met real-life geeks who meet every stereotype? Yeah, I have. Some of the things that Herb says just made me laugh out loud, and Chuck is pretty dreamy *sigh*

Now, go forth and find some geek sexiness...and share it with me when you do :) I'm going to listen to my favorite geek song, which I've loved ever since my friend Ang shared it with me.

Miscellany in lieu of a Cohesive Blog Post

2011-04-15T16:32:00.001-05:00

Hmm, maybe I should add this scene to the book, too.

1. I have finally figured out how I want to edit What We Deserve. I hope to get my second draft finished this weekend and off to my beta reader by the end of the weekend. Next on my list: outlining the YA story now that I have a plot in my head.

2. YouTube is a huge time suck. I've spent WAY too much time watching a German soap opera over the last few days. Which leads to #3...

3. I really should have retained some of that German I took in college.

If American soaps were like this, they wouldn't get cancelled.

4. My new Kindle is lovely. The case's built-in light is the bane of my husband's existence. This is what happens when he tries to take it away from me:

5. Authors shouldn't use the words "anus" and "rectum" in sex scenes. Having a character think that his partner has a "beautiful anus" is just wrong.

6. The Antique Bakery DVD set came out this week, and the Junjou Romantica season 2 DVD set will be out May 10th. Sekaiichi Hatsukoi just started airing on Japanese TV (and fansubs are on Crunchyroll). I may overdose on the yaoi.

Ono and Chikage (Antique Bakery), Nowaki and Hiroki (Junjou Romantica), Takano and Ritsu (Sekaiichi Hatsukoi)

7. I ordered a < Epic print and a Starfighter t-shirt. Yeah, the shirt where Cain and Abel are kissing.

*sigh*

8. Thanks to K.D. Sarge for the yaoi dolls she sent me. Seriously considering taking them to work.

Fuck you, Crohn's disease. Yeah, bitch, you heard me.

9. I'm still fighting the battle against Crohn's disease, and the surgeon said I can return to work on Monday. We're trying not to get our hopes up that I'll go into remission, but I do feel better than I have in over a year. There's only one problem. How will I get through the day without checking my Goodreads stats 100 times?

10. My friend Sasha interviewed me for her blog. I sound like a complete dork, but, then again, you knew that :)

In my head, all my stories have a song associated with them. This is the song in my head when I think about my YA story:

Webcomics: My latest addiction

2011-04-08T19:03:00.001-05:00

I have a tendency to find things that are terribly addictive. Fan fiction. Yaoi. Cappuccino Jelly Bellies. Chocolate. I'm forever adding to the list. Now I have a new addiction: webcomics. I'd thought I'd share my four favorites.

The Less Than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal

I could describe it, but I'll just let E. K. Weaver, the talent artist that creates this comic, tell you:

In the span of a single day, Amal calls off his arranged marriage, comes out to his conservative parents, promptly gets disowned, goes on a bender... and wakes up the next morning to find TJ, a lanky, dreadlocked vagrant, frying eggs and singing Paul Simon in his kitchen.

TJ claims that the two have made a drunken pact to drive all the way from Berkeley to Providence. As it happens, Amal promised his sister he'd be there for her graduation from Brown University. And TJ, well... TJ has his own reasons.

The agreement is simple: Amal does the driving; TJ pays the way - but a 3500 mile journey leaves plenty of time for things to get complicated.

I am in love with TJ and Amal. From their chemistry to their humor to their pop-culture references, they are completely entertaining. I'm looking forward to finding out more about TJ's past, and Amal's first meeting with his parents since coming out will be dramatic. I love E. K.'s drawing style, and her full color pages are simply beautiful.

The Less Than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal is updated on Tuesdays.

Starfighter

Created by Hamletmachine, Starfighter is the story of Cain and Abel (their code names), a pair of galactic soldiers fighting to protect Earth. Fighter Cain makes it clear right away that navigator Abel is his, and he immediately marks him so that all the other fighters know this on sight. Seems, too, that Cain might have motives other than lust for doing so.

Starfighter captivated me immediately. The story and the artwork are top notch, and there are a few panels (one of Abel looking in the mirror, in particular) that are breathtaking. I'm hoping that Cain isn't the asshole he appears to be now, because I love him and Abel together.

Starfighter updates weekly.

Teahouse

In Emirain's comic, Xanthe Atros owns and manages a brothel called the Teahouse. It is very upscale, and they cater to wealthy clients looking for opposite and same sex interaction. The story is heavy on the man love, and mystery and unrequited love abounds.

You can't miss how beautifully the comic is drawn. Not only are the characters lovely, but their surroundings are intricately detailed as well. The sexy times are very sexy, and the unresolved sexual tension between Xanthe and Linneus is palpable. I just wish I knew how Xanthe and Linneus ended up pimp and whore when they so obviously care for each other.

Teahouse updates on Wednesdays.

Trying Human

Emy Bitner's comic is about a race of aliens, called Greys, who repeatedly abduct humans (with the government's knowledge) for medical procedures. Hue, the only Grey who can feel emotions, has fallen for Julie, an abducted human, and he goes to Earth to meet her when she's not drugged. The story also flashes back to the late 40s, when Hue's father EBE1 had a relationship with Phillis, a human on the military base where EBE1 was held.

The plot for this comic is mysterious, humorous, and romantic. Several subplots are heading toward an inevitable collision, and I can't wait to see what happens. Hue is adorable in both his Grey and trying human forms. And, just when I least expected it, boom! Manlove :)

Trying Human updates every Tuesday through Friday.

Anyone have a webcomic they'd like to recommend?

A writer's work is never done

2011-04-05T21:53:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this doesn't have anything to do with this post.
But it's from the new Sekaiichi Hatsukoi OVA, and how can you resist that?

The past few days have been great! I've been tweeting, blogging, facebooking, and goodreading (okay, I'm making up verbs - shoot me) all about the release of "Realize," and I've gotten some really great feedback. "Realize" has been added to the Goodreads database, so you can now add it to your book lists and review it. I've also got an official Goodreads Author profile as well. And, just in case you were wondering, I also have a Facebook fan page.

So what am I working on now? I'm back to edits on What We Deserve, starting with updating the outline to match what I wrote in the first draft. I'm planning to add 2-3 chapters, then I'll be sending it off to my beta readers again. I'd forgotten how much I love the guys in this story, and I think the new chapters will help the reader like them as much as I do.

I'm still throwing around ideas about what I'll write next. I have ideas galore, and I just can't decide which one to concentrate on first. I still think my YA book will be next, but it could also be another adult contemporary romance. Decisions, decisions.

And now I'll leave with a video that has nothing to do with this post, other than that I've been listening to this song while I update my outline.

"Realize" is now available

2011-04-02T10:34:00.001-05:00

It's official! "Realize" is now available from Torquere Press! *happy dance* Here's the blurb from Torquere's new release mailing list:

Realize by Kerry Freeman

College senior Ryan buries his feelings ! for his younger roommate Will and becomes an overbearing, overprotective bodyguard. When Will drags Ryan to a Homecoming party, Ryan learns he's not the only one attracted to the wide-eyed freshman. The night ends in a confrontation, and Ryan must decide if he'll finally reveal his true feelings to Will, or lose his roommate to another man.

Pick up your copy today: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3108

I've also added the book to Goodreads!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to wake up the neighborhood with my offkey singing and scare them with my uncoordinated dancing :) And this is the song I wanna dance to...

The post where I get mushy

2011-04-01T11:16:00.001-05:00

Anyone who writes knows that you don't do it on your own. There are many people, some you may only know through the Internet but who know you better than anyone, who support you and prop you up on days when you think everything you write sucks and who celebrate with you when you finally get that first acceptance letter. I think I have the best support team in the world, and I just wanted to give them a shout out.

To Michelle, my editor at Torquere, who was great to work with.

To Sloan Parker, who let me pick her brain about short stories when I first started writing "Realize."

To my two SILs, who are great cheerleaders and secret keepers.

To my doctors, who make sure I'm still alive and kicking.

To the best group of beta readers (and dear, dear friends) anyone can have:
Pushy
Kimberley Dane
Susie
jadedandboring
Becca

To a wonderful group of friends, who sat with me in a pub in Chicago last summer and told me I could do this. I can't wait to see you all again!

To Greta, who was the first person I ever let read anything I'd written and my first cheerleader.

And, never last or least, to my husband. He's pretty sure I'm certifiable, and he still loves me with all his heart. You can't ask for more than that in life. I never forget how lucky I am. Love you, baby.

An Excerpt from "Realize"

2011-03-30T19:16:00.001-05:00

UPDATE 4/2/11: "Realize" is now available at the Torquere Press website! http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3108

It's only THREE DAYS until the release of "Realize," and I'm rapidly becoming a nervous wreck. You spend lots and lots of time on your baby, only letting trusted friends read it, and, after the scariness of submitting to publishers and working with an editor (although my editor was lovely and far from scary), you have to get ready to push that kid out the front door and into the great big world. It's enough to drive a person to drink. Luckily, I have chocolate instead ;)

As I promised, here is a excerpt from "Realize." The story is told from the perspective of Ryan, who is trying to pretend he doesn't have feelings for his younger roommate Will:

Leaning against the banister's wooden spindle, I slumped down on the landing and closed my eyes. Nick was wrong. From the instant Will had walked into my dorm room and introduced himself as my new roommate, I'd understood how I felt about him. The way my body reacted to his deep, brown eyes and smooth, dark skin hadn't surprised me. I'd spent night after night in the bed across from his, dreaming of touching him, tasting him. I'd begun losing focus and struggling with my classwork, so I'd worked hard not to be distracted by my feelings for him.

That didn't mean I couldn't look out for him.

I may have only been three years older, but it felt like much more time and experience separated us. Will had grown up in a small town and came to our huge campus with a wide-eyed enthusiasm that drew everyone to him. He was so innocent. I couldn't take advantage of that. I wouldn't. But if he ever gave me the slightest indication that he might feel the same way...

Sighing, I straightened and stomped downstairs to find him. I needed to see him, make sure he was okay. As I pushed through the sweaty mass of half-buzzed students, there was no sign of Will. A few guys from my various classes tried to stop me to say hi, but I just waved, smiled, and went on my way until I made it across the large room.

And what Ryan finds when he makes it to the other side makes hiding his feelings impossible.

Just three more days. Just three more days. *biting nails* Hold me...

My Musical Inspiration for "Realize"

2011-03-28T12:00:00.025-05:00

There's always some discussion among authors about how we come up with our story ideas. For me, I get a lot of ideas while listening to music. A song or even just a line in a song will set off a chain of thought that leads to a new story.

For "Realize," the plot came to me while listening to the radio on the way to work. The song I heard? "Realize" by Colbie Calliat:

I kept thinking about unrequited love, about waiting for that person to just look at you and have that moment of clarity that tells them you're the one. Then I thought, "But what if the person with the unrequited love is really the clueless one? What if he just can't see what's right in front of him?"

I thought about naming the story something else, but, when it came right down to it, "Realize" seemed the only fitting choice. Every time I heard the song now, I think about my guys and smile.

My first release is in one week!

2011-03-26T12:10:00.000-05:00

Yes, I celebrate in a big way *wink*

On April 2nd, Torquere Press will release my short story "Realize" as a part of their Sips line. I am so excited I'm about to burst! I have really enjoyed working with Michelle, my editor at Torquere, and I can't wait until "Realize" is available.

Here's a little blurb to wet your whistle:

Ryan, a college senior, buries his romantic feelings for his younger roommate Will and becomes an overbearing, overprotective bodyguard. Will drags Ryan to a Homecoming party, and Ryan learns he's not the only one attracted to the wide-eyed freshman. When the night ends with a confrontation between the roommates, Ryan must decide if he'll finally reveal his true feelings to Will.

Come back later this week to read a excerpt and listen to the song that inspired the plot :)

(P.S. Sorry I haven't been around lately. I had major surgery at the end of February (stupid Crohn's!), and I'm just now getting back into the swing of things. I'm a little behind on my goals for the year, but I'm hoping that, once I'm 100%, I'll write like a mad woman *grin*)

A man in uniform

2011-01-15T09:21:00.000-06:00

I am working on one of my writing goals: writing a short story specifically for a publisher's call. I thought I'd write something toward the holidays for the various calls for holiday-themed stories, but I've decided to work on something for Dreamspinner's Uniform Appeal anthology.

Every time I think of writing a story about a man in uniform, the uniform that comes to mind is almost always the turnout gear of the firefighter. I had a deep, abiding respect for firefighters. We learn early that fire is dangerous and painful, and we spend the rest of our lives hoping to avoid it. Firefighters suppress that basic fear and willingly fight the flames, entering burning buildings to save complete strangers. I can't imagine the courage and strength it takes to do that.

If you've ever eaten at Firehouse Subs, take a minute to look at the drink cups. Each one carries the story of a firefighter who's gone above and beyond to help other people. Like most uniformed forces, the heroism doesn't end when the uniform is off. The stories are amazing and make you wonder what you'd do in the same situation.

In my story, my guys are dealing with a budding relationship and encounter such a situation. When they are faced with life and death, will it make one re-evaluate what he's willing to do for the man he loves?

Norah and boy2boy appreciation

2011-01-06T07:06:00.000-06:00

While doing research for my next book, a contemporary YA romance, I decided it might be a good idea to read a YA book that didn't involve vampires, witches, zombies, or shapeshifters. I read a blog comment somewhere that recommended Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. I'd seen the movie and kinda liked it, so I one-clicked that bad boy onto my Kindle.

By the end of chapter two, I had a raging crush on Norah, which just got worse when I read the following:

A guy emerges from the van and I recognize him as the guy who made out with the non-singing member of Nick's band after their band's set. I only caught a minute of their kissing before I had to look away. Sub Z is way turned on by two boys kissing. I don't see why ogling same-sex kissing should be the exclusive domain of frat boys whacking off to lesbian action, that's so sexist. Feminism should be all-inclusive - it should be about sexual liberation, equal pay for equal work, and the fundamental girl right of boy2boy appreciation.

Yeah, I think I kinda love Norah.

P.S. I loved the book, and I'm very glad I saw the movie before I read the book. I'd have been pissed if I were a fan of the book first and saw how they completely fucked up the plot in the movie.

P.P.S. Speaking of boy2boy appreciation, here's a video a friend sent me last night. Shelter has been on my Netflix list for a while now, and I think I need to move it up in the queue.

My Writing Goals for 2011

2010-12-30T06:36:00.000-06:00

Ah, it's that time of year where people make all kinds of resolutions they'll never keep, after which they'll beat themselves up about it before making the same resolutions next December.

Resolutions suck.

Goals, on the other hand, rock.

I set one writing goal for 2010: finish the first draft of something, anything. I finished one short story (which I've submitted to a publisher) and the first draft of my first novel. 2011, I decided, needed some better defined goals.

Edit What We Deserve (Household of Three book 1) and submit to a publisher

On January 13th, I’ll begin the first edits to What We Deserve based on my notes and feedback from my critique partner. After my edits, I’ll run it by my critique partner again before getting a couple of beta readers to give it a look.

Improve my snowflake outlining ability

I get a little flustered when I try to create an outline outside of a spreadsheet, but I’m going to try the snowflake method again. I believe that, once I get the hang of it, it will really help my process.

Outline and write first draft of book 2 of the Household of Three series

I know the basic plot, but I need to sit down and outline it. Currently, I plan to work on it during the 2nd half of ‘11.

Outline book 3 of the Household of Three series

Again, I know the basic plot and need to put it on paper. I want to outline it before I start writing book 2.

Write my YA novella and get to ready to submit to publishers

Sure, I have no idea who would publish a YA m/m romance novella, but I’m writing it anyway :)

Write and submit one short story in response to a publisher submission call

There are several submission calls for short stories at various publishers, and I want to write and submit a story to one of them. I’m leaning toward a holiday-themed story, most likely New Year’s.

So, what are your goals for 2011?

My Favorite Reads 2010

2010-12-27T08:00:00.004-06:00

Last Christmas, my husband bought me a Kindle. I wasn’t sure I’d like it. I liked holding a book in my hand, hearing the pages turn.

Yeah, that was last Christmas. This Christmas I’m wondering how I’m going to manage my rapidly growing collection of Kindle books. My husband is thrilled that he doesn’t have to put together more bookcases. And I’ve read more this past year than I have since college.

To mark the end of the year and my Kindle’s first birthday, I’ve compiled an alphabetical list of my favorite books of the last year. These books weren’t necessarily published in the last year, just read by me during the last year.

Beautiful Darkness, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

Last year, my favorite book was Beautiful Creatures, the first book in the Caster Chronicles series. I enjoyed reading a YA book told from a guy’s POV (Ethan rocks, btw), and the Southern gothic setting clinched it for me. To say I was waiting on pins and needles for the second book is understating it … a lot.

As much as I love Beautiful Creatures, I love Beautiful Darkness more. In Beautiful Darkness, Ethan goes on an incredible journey to learn about himself and his family and to save the girl, and he comes out stronger for it in the end.

It’s a long, long wait until book three. *wasting away*

Drawn Together, Z.A. Maxfield

Rory might just be a simple southern boy from St. Antoine’s Parish Louisiana, but he knows what he wants. He’s been in love with the girl of his dreams, reclusive and mysterious artist Ran Yamane, since junior high school. And now he has the chance to meet her. He’s going to chuck everything and travel 1,500 miles to Anime Expo in Long Beach to tell her, and no one and nothing is going to stand in his way.

Ran Yamane is not a girl, but he gets that a lot. People come to him with teddy bears and chocolates and disappointment by the truckload. He’s trusted fans in the past and been tragically wrong. So when he meets Rory he’s understandably wary, but resigned. What he’s not prepared for is his magnetic attraction to the young man, Rory’s apparent willingness to overlook his gender, and the fact that their lives are both thrown into chaos when his number one fan (and psycho stalker) shows up to get revenge.

I have to admit that the cover of this book is what initially drew me to it. (P. L. Nunn, I want you to design all my books covers when I, you know, actually get published.) I’d read (and enjoyed) Z.A. Maxfield’s Stirring up Trouble, and, when I checked out her website, this cover just jumped out at me.

I seriously don’t know how to express how much I absolutely adore this book. Rory and Yamane are completely meant to be, even if they don’t always know it themselves. And the psycho stalker? She is one scary individual. (And, when I went back and looked over this book to write this post, I ended up reading the entire thing again.)

Hammer & Air, Amy Lane

Graeme and Eirn have no words for what they are to each other. Children, clinging together in a crowded orphanage; friends, battling back to back in a school yard; and bedmates, finally bridging the gap between sleeping next to a body and allowing it to touch you in the night—all of these roles are summed up by just their names: Hammer and Air.

The innocent exploration of their newest roles is brutally marred when a violent, ill-tempered master threatens Eirn, and Eirn's "Hammer" kills the man in a fair fight. The two run off into the wide world with only each other for safety. It's difficult to forge a good life with only a blacksmith's hammer and a printer's cleverness, but together, Hammer and Eirn will learn to negotiate the dangers of magic and motion, of sex, obsession, and tenderness, and of the word that can make sense of it all—one word they must earn for themselves.

This book snuck up on me. Sure, I couldn’t put it down. True, I was completely sucked into Eirn and Hammer’s story. And there were times I wondered where they were going to end up. Then I reached the end of the book and I CRIED. Big crocodile tears even.

“There will always be a Hammer and an Eirn.”

*sniffle* See, I’m doing it again.

Junjou Romantica, Shungiku Nakamura

Misaki is struggling to pass his college entrance exams, and has taken up a tutor: the cool and sexy Akihiko Usami, who also happens to be a famous boys' love novelist. At first, Misaki is disgusted by Akihiko, but slowly, Misaki realizes he may be developing feelings for the older man. And so begins the bumpy relationship of this odd couple, filled with comedy and pure romance.

Come on, did you really think we’d get through a list without JR appearing on it somewhere? Yea verily and henceforth, let us refer to 2010 as The Year Kerry Discovered Junjou Romantica. *blare of trumpets*

What can I say that I haven’t already said? Junjou rocks. The End.

Knight Errant, KD Sarge

From pickpocket and con artist to little brother and trusted comrade is a tough transition, but Taro is making it. His new sister, former Marine Eve Marcori, promised his dead mother she'd "look after" him. To her that means family, home--her interstellar freighter--and a solid future. In four years she has trained Taro extensively; the next step is college. Taro would rather be shot, but he never forgets his debt to Eve, so he means to honor her plans or die in the attempt.

When Eve rescues former joy-boy and current layabout Rafe Ballard, death seems the likely outcome. Rafe is so apparently useless that Eve calls him 'the baggage' and appoints Taro his custodian. Irritated into disobedience by his carefree charge, Taro tries to get rid of Rafe. Instead he gets them both kidnapped by the jealous husband Rafe was fleeing. Though they are off-planet before Taro can act, his training may be enough to bring them safely through--but now he has bigger problems. Forced into partnership--and freedom--with Rafe, Taro begins to see him differently. Kind, funny, and caring, Rafe is everything Taro never knew he wanted. And all he can't have. Eve's plans leave no room for a playboy boyfriend who can never measure up, and Taro can't let her down.

Caught between the sister he'd die for and the man he's beginning to live for, Taro decides it's time to start making his own plans. And if the new skills aren't enough, he'll give the old ones a try.

I don’t know why I keep saying I don’t like sci-fi. Two of my favorite authors (Frank Herbert and Madeleine L'Engle) are sci-fi authors. Two of my three favorite books (by aforesaid authors) are sci-fi books. I’m just sci-fi picky, I guess.

Knight Errant is a great book, and Taro and Rafe are a great couple. Watching Taro accept who he is (not the co-ed type) and who he wants (definitely the Rafe type) is thoroughly entertaining. The secondary characters are just as colorful as Taro and Rafe. And, as much as I love a naughty book, I didn’t miss the sex scenes. Don’t get me wrong, Taro and Rafe are not celibate creatures by any means, but KD leaves all that up to the imagination … and I have a very, very dirty imagination ;)

Mistletoe at Midnight, LB Gregg (from the His for the Holidays anthology)

Owen McKenzie has traveled to Vermont to spend an old-fashioned Christmas with his family when he finds himself staying at the same inn as his first love. Owen is disconcerted to realize he's still attracted to Caleb Black but refuses to pursue him. Caleb left him once, and Owen's not going down that road again.

Caleb is ready for a second chance with Owen and gets it when fate and the matchmaking McKenzies conspire to strand the two men in a rustic cabin during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. Can Caleb convince Owen to rekindle their romance so they can stop spending their holidays apart?

While all the stories in the His of the Holidays anthology are seriously good, Mistletoe at Midnight is my favorite. I’m a sucker for stories involving a return to your first love, and Owen and Caleb are great characters to root for. The story also has a great humor running through it, which makes it a wonderfully cheery story to read.

More, Sloan Parker

For fifteen years Luke Moore has lived by three rules: stay off his father's radar, never spend more than a single night with any man, and never fall in love again. But one night of explosive sex and two men whom he can’t get out of his head have Luke breaking them all. Richard and Matthew push him past all his boundaries—both sexually and personally—and now he’s no longer hiding from his senator father; he’s taking him on. And he isn’t just falling for one man; he’s falling for two. If you're going to break the rules, might as well break them big.

But Luke’s father has his reasons for hating how his son lives, and he’ll do whatever he can and use all his power to keep Luke away from Richard and Matthew.

Can this threesome find a way to make their unconventional relationship last with the world around them trying to pull them apart? And will Luke be able to keep breaking his rules for Richard and Matthew, or will he head back to his familiar way of life just when his new lovers want to bind him tighter?

I didn’t just add this book to my list because it’s hot (it is) or because Sloan is awesome (she is). I included it because I really enjoyed it. The main and secondary characters are really interesting (can’t wait to read Walter’s book Sloan’s working on), and it’s got a good undercurrent of mystery. Did I mention it’s hot? ;)

I also asked my writing buddies to tell me their favorite read of 2010:

Nanna picked:

Will Grayson, Will Grayson, John Green & David Levithan

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.

"Not one but two Will Grayson's, both with incredibly authentic and endearing voices, both struggling to figure out their identities as they navigate high school, their lives intersecting on one fateful night outside a porn shop. Throw in the larger than life, flamboyant Tiny Cooper and a final scene that takes place during a musical and you have a recipe for pure win."

Tessa Conte chose:

Raised By Wolves, Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

"I wasn't expecting much when I started to read this - just another YA-ish shifter story, right? Kind of a Mercedes Thompson for young adults. But then I started reading...and could not put the book down until I was done. Well written, engaging characters and lots of tension … definitely my favourite read of the year!"

Becca selected:

Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

"Stephanie Perkins creates a fantastic story with sympathetic, real characters. I was able to read it in a matter of hours and I did a lot of sighing, laughing, gasping, and didn't want to put it down the entire time. I fell in love with imperfectly perfect Etienne' St. Clair and thought that Anna was a great anti-heroine as she was funny, snarky, smart, and seemed like a real teen girl but was not annoying. Perkins had the perfect literary storm of snark, brains, silliness, and sweetness. I adored this book :)"

Kimberley Dane tagged:

Channeling Morpheus series, Jordan Castillo Price

These novelette-length stories are scary as hell and packed with freaky sex. Michael is a waif in eyeliner who's determined to wipe vampires off the face of the earth. Wild Bill's got his eye on Michael, and he's willing to do anything to go home with him. If the romance between Gomez & Morticia gives you goosebumps of delight, if you look forward to Halloween movie marathons all year long, if you've got a soft spot for fake fog and black lights, then Channeling Morpheus is the series for you!

"My favourite read of the year would have to be the Channeling Morpheus series by Jordan Castillo Price. I've always been a sucker for a good vampire story, couple that with a pretty boy in eyeliner and lots (and I mean LOTS) of very, very hot sex and Channeling Morpheus is a shoe in for my top spot."

What was your favorite read of 2010? Which book are you looking forward to in 2011?

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

2010-12-25T11:10:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! Hope everyone is safe, warm, fed, and healthy, that you are able to share the day with family and/or friends who love you, and that the next year is everything you want it to be.

I woke up at 5am this morning and immediately began wrapping presents (yes, I'm a slacker). Two hours later, I walk through the house and take my first look outside. AND IT'S SNOWING! For many of you, this might not be an Earth-shaking development, but I live in Alabama. A White Christmas is HUGE for us.

The view out my front door this morning

So, in celebration, I am sharing some Christmas videos with you :)

Even though neither of us are film-makers, my husband and I watch the Film Riot videocast because it's hilarious. Here's their Christmas episode (small note, contains some simulated violence):

Now, let's move to the musical portion of the post :) First off, the song that I couldn't get out of my head while I was wrapping presents this morning:

The second song is my absolute favorite Christmas song and artist combo EVER:

And, last but not least, the song I've been playing the crap out of ever since it was on Glee:

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Some flash fiction for Christmas

2010-12-24T05:22:00.002-06:00

There is a group of ladies, and we call ourselves the Plot Bunnies. We kept each other on task and off ledges through NaNoWriMo, and, to celebrate NaNo's completion, we decided to have a flash fiction exchange for Christmas. Three prompts, 250 words.

My prompts were from my lovely friend Booknerd Becca:

Character: A lean, lanky Irishman named Tobias
Setting: A library during the holiday intercession
Topic: Awkward study date for human sexuality class

And here's the result. Merry Christmas Becca! Hope you like your story :)

I lied to my parents when I said I couldn’t come home for Thanksgiving because I had to study for my Human Sexuality final. I never had to work to pass a class.

The only thing I was interested in studying was Tobias Doherty.

And now he was telling me our sessions together were over.

“I don’t understand.” I gripped the library shelving behind me. “We have a final …”

“I think we both know we don’t need to study.”

I closed my eyes and tried to will down my dick, which responded to Tobias’ thick, deep brogue as quick as a dog to a dinner bell. It didn’t care that the jig was up, that weeks of silent admiration and pining were over. It only cared that there was a warm, wet, full-lipped mouth it wanted inside.

“Daniel.”

Oh, God, the way he said my name. It was almost reverent. But that couldn’t be …

“Daniel, open your goddamned eyes and look at me.”

Slowly, I looked up. Tobias’ long, lithe body was hunched over mine, pinning me against the shelves. His moss green eyes were trained on my lips, and, before I could breathe a syllable, he was there. His soft lips against mine, his tongue in my mouth, his long fingers buried in my hair and bringing me closer.

He pulled away slightly, his heavy pants mixed with mine. “See, you silly little man. We’ve got the human sexuality thing down pat. Now come and kiss me again.”

And what does Tobias look like in my head? Oh, just the guy singing this song:

First draft happy dance

2010-12-14T06:33:00.000-06:00

Raise a glass! I finished the first draft of my book! *does a really uncoordinated and embarrassing happy dance* There's still work to be done, of course, but the overall story is out of my head and onto a (virtual) page.

Oh, and that new working title? What We Deserve. And it's going to be the first book of a three-book series. (Yes, I know that's a trilogy, but trilogy sounds so ... epic.)

So what now?

Yep, that's right. It's time to edit. Well, it will be in a month. I'm going to set it aside for one month while my critique partner takes a red pen to it. While she's doing that, I'm going to (a) read some of the 40 books on my to-read list, (b) outline my next book (very dark and angsty, at least in my head), and (c) try to keep myself from working on this book until January.

BTW, if you're looking for some great editing advice, check out Chuck Wendig's terribleminds blog. He's planning a series of posts on the editing process, and the first post was full of helpful advice for editing newbies (like me). Hell, you just should read his blog anyway.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a little more embarrassing happy dancing to do before I get back to work.

Ten Things I Learned During NaNoWriMo

2010-12-04T12:28:00.001-06:00

Ah, it's December, and I have survived NaNoWriMo. I didn't make 50K, but I did almost finish the first draft of my book ... and I learned a few things along the way.

1. I am not a fast drafter.

Yep, I'm pretty much the tortoise.

I think an inordinate amount of time before I write something. Would Sean really say that? How would Jamie hold his glass? When Tyler isn't being a smartass, how does his expression change? I can't write with abandon.

2. I am incapable of not self-editing.

You'd think with all the pre-thinking, I'd be able to lay off the editing until I finish the first draft. Nope, not me. I usually reread the previous chapter before I start the next one, and I edit just a little. I'm hopeless.

3. I now know why authors drink.

It's the voices. The voices never stop. It could be worse. I could have Edgar Allen Poe's voices inside my head. At least mine like to put on live porn shows for me.

4. A thousand words a day is probably my limit.

I have a day job, so my writing time is limited. If I write a thousand words, I feel pretty productive, and I still have enough time left to sleep and talk to my husband ... but maybe not in that order.

5. But If I'm pushed, I can write 4K.

I attended a great all-evening write-in in Nashville one Sunday, and I managed to write 3800+ words. There were lots of opportunities to get distracted, and I took every one. One less run for Oreoes, and I would have made 4K.

6. A writer sometimes needs to be with other writers.

We weren't exactly the Algonquin Round Table, but we got by.

There's nothing like sitting across a table from a real, live human and being able to ask her if this name makes my ex-Army combat medic sound too prissy. (BTW, the answer was no.) Someone who can talk you off the ledge with an orange scone when your story takes a left turn and you take a right. When you're stuck on your story, you can help her research the Scottish education system during the early 1800s. And the Alabama Elsewhere ML and his girlfriend were awesome cheerleaders as well.

7. Writing a three-person sex scene is really hard (no pun intended).

Okay, let's put tab A in slot B1, and tab C in slot B2. Now, tab B in slot A2, and tab C in slot C1. Oh, wait, I have C fellating himself. I don't know how Sloan Parker keeps up with her guys so well. Mine are often looking at me and wondering when I'm going to write the next damn action already.

8. I am married to Sheldon Cooper.

*tap* *tap* "Kerry."
*tap* *tap* "Kerry."
*tap* *tap* "Kerry."

For God's sake, what?!

"That commercial you like is on."

*headdesk* *headdesk* *headdesk*

9. On the other hand, my husband can be very helpful, too.

My husband and I have been together almost 10 years, and he's pretty useful when it comes to killing bugs and spiders *shiver*, reaching crap on the top shelf, and grilling a mean steak. But whoda thunk he would be good at talking me though a three-book ménage story arc. Over dinner. In a restaurant. In Alabama. Yeah, me neither.

10. Sometimes the story you start with is not the story you end up with.

Oh, THAT'S where I'm supposed to go!

My story changed from a m/m romance with a love triangle to a ménage. A friend's elves turned into aliens. Another friend's drunken elf came out of the closet. The biggest lesson I learned was to go where the story takes me. So I have a ménage romance with a new working title? Apparently, that's what I needed. And, truth be told, I like this story much better.

Okay, okay, one last thing: here's the commercial my husband was talking about...and it is my favorite :)

Come on, how can you resist hip-hop hamsters?

Characters on Strike

2010-11-13T23:39:00.000-06:00

At first their protests were a little vague and disorganized.

I love the guys in my NaNo story, really I do. Sean, Tyler, and Jamie are all great guys.

When they're not being whiny bitches.

This week, the guys went on strike. I couldn't get a decent word out of the lot of them. I was having to drag them kicking and screaming from scene to scene.

Then I realized the problem. Should I really be dragging them were I want them to go, or should I be following their lead?

So I spent a day or two trying to figure out exactly what the hell it was they wanted from me. Apparently they wanted a completely rewritten outline for the last two-thirds of the book. I figured I'd better listen before they started asking for overtime pay and better benefits.

Now I have a shiny revised outline and three really happy but still fairly odd voices inside my head. The jury's still out on whether this will all lead to an awesome book or a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Current NaNo status:
Words: 16,565
Story: 6.5 chapters (10.5 to go)
Meds for the voices: Large quantities of chocolate (stipulated in their new contract)

I may be 5K words behind schedule, but I've got a kick-ass NaNo theme song:

NaNoWriMo turned me into a zombie

2010-11-08T06:01:00.000-06:00

Braaaains!

At the end of my first week doing NaNoWriMo, let's have a recap:

Words: 10, 759 (~ 920 words behind were I should be)
Story: 4 chapters (13 to go)
Sleep: Completely fucked up

I have developed a horrible sleep schedule. At 8pm when I should be writing, I fall asleep with my laptop in my lap. At 3am when I should be sleeping, I'm wide awake and anxious to write.

And don't even get me started about the meeting I fell asleep in last week.

When I am awake during the day (you know, when I'm at the job), I'm the walking dead. You wanted what when? You want me to remember something I did 4 months ago? Yesterday? This morning?

Still, I'm much further along in writing than I would likely be left to my own scheduling devices. I'm concerned that, at the end of my 17 chapters, I still won't have 50K words. But, if MC#3 keeps being such a cutie, I may have to add a few more chapters ;)

So, wanna know who won the Junjou Romantica giveaway? Okay, I guess I can tell you. The winner is *drumroll*:

vampisthenewblack

Woohoo!! *throws confetti* Vamp will be the proud owner of the first season of Junjou Romantica on DVD. Did I mention that I really like Junjou? Oh, you got that? Okay.

With all the zombie talk, I now have The Cranberries stuck in my head. Now you will too.

My Fav Slash/Yaoi Pairings: #1 Nowaki & Hiroki, Junjou Romantica

2010-10-25T20:11:00.002-05:00

It's only taken me 3 months to do a top 8 countdown, but we are finally here. *drumroll* My favorite slash/yaoi pairing is:

Nowaki and Hiroki from the anime

Just when you thought I couldn't fangirl over Junjou any more, I pull out another pair from my favorite manga. Nowaki and Hiroki are the Junjou Egoist pairing. Hiroki is a college literature professor who has an unrequited love for Usagi. Nowaki is a hard-working young man who dreams of being a doctor. After Hiroki finally accepts that Usagi will never love him, he sits alone in a park and cries, and a stray model rocket brings Nowaki into his life.

Nowaki and Hiroki shortly after they first meet

Unlike other ukes who resist admitting their homosexuality or their love for their seme, Hiroki knows he's gay and that he loves Nowaki. His struggle is against losing himself to his lover; he doesn't want to become emotionally dependent on Nowaki even as it becomes clear he has. Nowaki is also not the typical seme. He is younger than Hiroki, and he's constantly working to become a man who is worthy of Hiroki's love.

Hiroki finally gives in *sigh*

As much as I love all the Junjou pairings, the Egoist chapters are where this manga's true beauty lies. The two men love each other deeply, and, even though their pride can get in their way, they always come back to each other. In my favorite Egoist scene, Hiroki's words show the incredible depth of his love for Nowaki.

Is there a limit, a boundary to the feeling of "love," I wonder? Even if I hurt you...even if you hurt me...instead of our passion turning to loathing, I'd rather the scar be burnt into your body like a brand. And that way, you will never be able to forget me. And we will never be apart. Never...never in my life...have I loved someone as I do now.

Ever since I first learned about at Reviews by jessewave, I've recommended Junjou Romantica to anyone wanting to read a yaoi manga or watch a yaoi anime. Since first reading Junjou, I've read LOTS of yaoi, and Junjou is still my favorite.

To mark my finally finishing my top pairings countdown, I'm giving you (if you're of legal age and yaoi is legal where you live) the opportunity to experience Junjou Romantica for yourself!

I'm giving ONE winner a choice of either the season 1 anime DVD set (Region 1, subtitled) OR the first 4 volumes of the manga. You don't even have to live in the U.S. But, keep in mind, if you're not in the U.S. or Canada, you must have a Region 1-compatible DVD player to watch the DVDs.

The rules of the giveaway are very simple:

Make sure you follow my blog over there -->
Make sure you leave a comment on this post telling me whether you'd like the DVDs or the manga. Oh, and a yaoi rec would be much appreciated, but not required :)

By participating, you are asserting you are of legal age and that the importing/distribution of yaoi is not prohibited by law in your place of residence. (I totally stole that wording from Kimi-chan, btw.)

I'll announce the winner on ~~Halloween night, my last night of freedom before NaNoWriMo starts~~ Sunday, November 7 @ 10PM CST.

So I'm not always good with delayed gratification

2010-10-17T21:36:00.000-05:00

I'm usually pretty good about delaying gratification. I researched the car I wanted for six months before I finally test drove and bought one. I don't have to have the newest, coolest stuff right when it comes out - I can wait. I save things and experiences for later to reward myself or just to simply keep myself going when I'd rather quit.

The only thing I usually have trouble putting off? The consumption of chocolate.

See, I'm not the only one.

But lately I've had trouble making myself wait until November 1st to begin writing my NaNo story. I thought originally that waiting 2 1/2 weeks wouldn't be a big deal. I was wrong. It's KILLING me! I want to play with my characters and write all the stuff they keep telling me so that it isn't in my head anymore. *stomp* *pout*

With some encouragement from my buddy *waves to Aimee*, I decided to pass some of the time by fleshing out my character descriptions. I returned to step 7 of the snowflake method, and something miraculous happened.

Okay, maybe not miraculous, but pretty cool.

Alas, this isn't my snowflake. But it's cool, no?

As I started describing my characters in more detail, they became more real to me. Especially my third MC, who has been screaming for more attention for a while. After a long talk with Tyler (he's my third MC), I found a slight problem with my outline and fixed it. My guys now have birthdates and hobbies and college degrees. I know Sean (MC#1) has a Kindle, Jamie (MC#2) is a foodie, and Tyler (MC#3) wants to be MC#1 in a sequel.

Now I just have to figure out how to spend the next fourteen days.

P.S. Just wanted to share this video my husband found. The animation is incredible.

P.P.S. I'm going to post my favorite yaoi pairing later this week. The post may or may not (or may) include a giveaway.

My Fav Slash/Yaoi Pairings: #2 Usagi & Misaki, Junjou Romantica

2010-10-10T18:37:00.000-05:00

If yaoi is an addiction, Usagi & Misaki are the gateway drug. Junjou Romantica was the first yaoi I read, and the story of Usagi and Misaki is the perfect introduction to the traditional yaoi dynamic.

Usagi and Misaki's first kiss *sigh*

When we meet Usagi, he's in love with Misaki's brother. It is an unrequited love he's held for quite some time, even though he knows Misaki's brother is very straight. Through a series of events, Usagi ends up tutoring Misaki as a favor to his brother, only to find himself falling in love with the younger man. Misaki, eighteen and just beginning college, is torn between wanting to be everything to Usagi and not wanting to admit he's gay. Gay gay gay gay gay.

Misaki loves Usagi's big hands...who wouldn't?

Usagi is the typical seme; he's older, taller, more masculine looking, and quite lecherous. Misaki is the typical uke; he's younger, shorter, more feminine looking, and very hesitant. While Usagi often declares his love for Misaki, Misaki is stingy with his declarations. However, he's definitely quick to become jealous of anyone who tries to get Usagi's attention.

I could fangirl about Junjou Romantica all day, but you should just read the manga and watch the anime. I have a sneaking suspicion this will not be the last time you read those words on this blog :)

Is it November yet?

2010-10-07T23:37:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year again. If November is National Novel Writing Month, then October is National Decide on a Plot Bunny and Outline It to Death Month (NaDePlBu...oh, forget it).

For a few weeks, some of my NaNo cohorts *waving at the Plot Bunnies* and I have been throwing around ideas to see which ones stick. We've discussed genres, POVs, character names, plots, titles, software...pretty much anything and everything to do with our plans for NaNo.

Over the last several days, we've narrowed down our ideas and begun coming up with our game plans. Some outline (like me); some don't. Some have lots of research to do; some don't (like me). But we could all agree on two things: we created "book covers" for our NaNo profiles and wrote one sentence summaries (a la the Snowflake method) of our stories.

I was originally going to return to work on the story I set aside while I was sick, but a nefarious plot bunny grabbed me and wouldn't let go. If I've learned anything it's to let nefarious plot bunnies have their way and no one gets hurt.

What's the new story? So glad you asked.

Eighteen years and one heartbreak after falling in love for the first time, a man must choose between his returning first love and his perfect-for-him boyfriend.

I've outlined the story and begun work on the character descriptions. I'm excited about this story and can't wait until November 1st to start writing.

Oh, and where did the title come from?

My Fav Slash/Yaoi Pairings: #3 Edward & Jacob, Twilight

2010-10-06T21:41:00.000-05:00

Come on, don't act like you haven't thought about it.
(Illustration by http://randy-man.deviantart.com/)

When I read the Twilight books (yeah, and don't act like you haven't read them), I always felt bad for Jacob. I was never one of those people that hated him. I always thought that Bella kinda jerked his chain, encouraging him not with words but with actions, only to leave him heartbroken at the end of Eclipse.

Now, in my fantasy Twilight world, Jacob isn't all alone, left to imprint on the first vampire baby that comes along. Instead, he's all lovey-dovey with Mr. Sparkles, Edward Cullen.

And it's all newssodark's fault.

"This is crazy," Jacob whispers, but his free hand rubs up Edward's side and around to the small of his back and stays there.

Edward shivers pleasantly. "I know," he whispers. He palms the side of Jacob's neck, and then slides that hand down Jacob's arm, over his side, to draw circles on his bare back. Jacob makes a soft, hot sound in his throat and swallows hard, pressing closer to Edward like he can't help himself. Edward wraps his arm more firmly around Jacob's waist, the tips of his finger grazing the scar. Jacob is thinking in pictures, images of he and Edward together, of Edward alone, Edward's smile, Edward's voice, Edward's touch...

"Jacob," Edward whispers.

Jacob turns his head just slightly, noses across Edward's cheek and then pulls back, just a little, just enough to meet Edward's heated gaze. No one has ever looked at Edward like this before; so open, so warm. Jacob's scent is intoxicating. He's close, so close.

"Edward," Jacob murmurs.

"Shh," Edward soothes. They're so close. Edward lets his eyes close and grazes his lips over Jacob's, and gasps. Just that simple, bare touch sends sparks through his nerve-endings. Something in his mind clicks into place, and suddenly he can feel Jacob, in his mind, in his arms, and he can feel Jacob feeling him. It's intense, and he can't keep from trying again, from closing his mouth more firmly over his werewolf's. Jacob makes a lovely sound and responds heatedly, holding Edward tighter. It's intense and overwhelming and intoxicating, unbelievable. Jacob is warmth and fire and ease and passion. Edward can feel him more completely than he ever has anyone before, than he ever has even himself. It's like Jacob has crawled inside him, or he's crawled into Jacob, and he can't tell where his mind ends and Jacob's begins. He pulls Jacob closer, glides his hands over the broad expanse of Jacob's back. Jacob's mouth opens beneath his and Edward tentatively, cautiously slips his tongue into Jacob's mouth. It's hot, impossibly slow, all soft suction and heat. Jacob moans, so sweetly, and Edward tastes the sound, lapping at the roof of his mouth, the backs of his teeth. Jacob's hand threads into his hair, palm cradling the base of his skull. His tongue sweeps along Edward's. It's good. It's so good. It's perfect. That spark is a current now, thrumming between them, binding them together. He doesn't know what it means that he feels like this, that he can feel Jacob so deep in his being, but he likes it. He doesn't want to lose it. Not now. Not ever.

In Underneath, Jacob loses his family and the wolf pack, and Edward realizes that, while Bella might be his blood singer, Jacob is his mate. I just hope newssodark finishes the story someday...Edward and Jacob need to be together, damn it!

Yep, that's right, Edward and Jacob are meant to be. Please don't spoil my fantasy.

Loving my new website layout

2010-09-28T18:50:00.000-05:00

I asked Danny @ Dreamy Blog Designs to put together a new layout for my site. She tells me in chat this morning that she has an idea but is afraid I might not like it.

Are you kidding me?!

It's perfect, and I am so excited to unveil it!

Thanks, Danny! :)

My Fav Slash/Yaoi Pairings: #4 Miyagi & Shinobu, Junjou Romantica

2010-09-24T07:11:00.001-05:00

Finally, we reach the first pairing from the first manga I ever read: Junjou Romantica. I've turned into quite the Junjou groupie:

Why yes, I do get strange looks when I pull this out at Panera Bread.

I've read every chapter of the manga and watched every episode of the anime online, and I'm in the process of purchasing the volumes and DVDs as they're released in English. No matter how much yaoi I read/watch, Junjou is still my favorite.

Miyagi & Shinobu from the manga

In Junjou, there are three couples, and Miyagi & Shinobu are the Junjou Terrorist couple. Originally they weren't going to be on my list. Then I re-watched the first season of the anime. I'd forgotten how different their relationship is than the "traditional" seme/uke. In this story, Shinobu (the uke) pursues Miyagi (the seme), who is reluctant to start a relationship with the much younger man (not as young as he appears, however - he's 18). Come on, Miyagi, how can you resist a face like this?

Shinbou is such a cutie! (from the anime)

I want to go all fangirl (yeah, like the laptop pic doesn't already do that) and tell you their entire story, but that would keep you from reading the manga and watching the anime. Just do it; it's worth it.

Miyagi & Shinobu *sigh*

P.S. It was this post at Reviews by jessewave that turned me onto Junjou Romantica and yaoi. The site is a great place to read reviews of current m/m romance books and get advice on writing m/m romance yourself.

She's alive!!

2010-09-07T23:19:00.000-05:00

Yep, I'm still alive and kicking, no thanks to my Crohn's and the meds the hospital gave me. I spent the entire month of August seriously ill, and I've just recently begun feeling like maybe I can leave my house again.

I haven't written a word since sometime in July. My husband said he knew I was feeling better when I asked where he hid my laptop and began talking about writing again. I feel like I'm starting completely over on my book, but maybe that's a good thing.

Speaking of writing, I signed up for NaNoWriMo. I've not had much luck completing it in the past, but there's always a first time :) If you want to add me as a writing buddy, you can find my page here.

What have I been doing to pass the time? Watching marathons of bad reality TV (Jerseylicious, I'm talkin' 'bout you), reading manga and M/M romance, and watching anime. Now that I feel like I can string together a sentence or two, I'm going to spend the rest of the time at home writing. Well, as soon as I finish watching the anime series that has two pairings on my top slash/yaoi pairings list.

Before I go, I want to thank my husband for everything he's done to take care of me the last several weeks. He'd say I don't have to thank him, but I'm going to do it anyway. Thanks, baby *kiss*

My Fav Slash/Yaoi Pairings: #5 Ono & Chikage, Antique Bakery

2010-07-31T13:55:00.001-05:00

Ah, yes, Ono and Chikage. Now here's a beautiful, complicated couple. Ono is the pastry chef at the cafe of Chikage's childhood friend. First complication: Ono's first love was Chikage's friend, who cruelly refused him in high school.

Since that first refusal, Ono has become "a Gay of Demonic Charm." Anyone he likes, gay or straight, falls desperately in love with him. Which would be great except for the second complication. Ono finds it impossible to be sexually faithful to anyone.

The first time Ono and Chikage meet in the manga

Still, over the course of the manga and the doujinshi (which, btw, are by the original manga artist), Ono and Chikage find a relationship that works for them.

Yeah, I can't find translastions of the last 3 doujinshi, but they definitely look cozy here.

Antique Bakery has comedy, drama, and plenty of sexual tension. It's been released as a four-volume manga (licensed in English), 14-volume doujinshi (not licensed *boo!*), and 12-episode anime (which will be released on US DVD in early 2011 *happy dance*). I've watched fansubs of the anime, and it is very good. I can't wait to add the DVDs to my collection.

Ono and Chikage in the anime

And if that's not enough Antique Bakery for you, there are a couple of live-action movies. Most reviewers say the Korean version (simply titled Antique) is the best, and I really enjoyed it. The characters names have all been changed to something more Korean, but it's not difficult to figure out who's who.

Cast of the Korean movie Antique

One parting question based on the comments on a blog post I read recently: are you less likely to read a manga/book that doesn't have a main couple who are mutually monogamous? Ono is really not the monogamous type, and I found that I could accept that as long as Chikage did. Would that be a deal-breaker for you as a reader?

My Fav Slash/Yaoi Pairings: #6 Edward & Seth, Twilight

2010-07-26T22:16:00.001-05:00

I've said several times that I have a weakness for fan fiction, and I've reached the first fan fiction pairing on my list.

Just to note: in the fan fictions below, Seth is a HUMAN ADULT. I'm not talking about 100+ year-old vampire Edward and 15 year-old shapeshifter Seth. That's just a little shota for me.

The first Twilight slash fic I read was also the first Edward and Seth story I read. The Return of Edward Masen by manyafandom, Seth is faced with the return of his childhood hero Edward, who's been gone ten years. Seth soon finds himself more than a little interested in Edward:

There was a flash of white in my periphery that caught my attention. I turned my head to it and saw Edward taking his sweat-soaked shirt off. His back was slowly exposed to me and I could see the definition of each muscle under his gleaming skin.

And oh my fuck, my mouth went dry as the attraction and lust I felt for him, and had successfully kept at bay, came roaring to life. I felt myself harden as I imagined my hands moving up and down his back, my fingers tracing the indentations and separation of each muscle, my tongue following the same path, tasting him.

The story is short (2 chapters). At the end, I was yelling, "No! You can't stop there!" I love the slow (for a two-chapter story) build to their confession. Very nice and sweet. It's rated M, but that's purely for language.

My other favorite Edward and Seth story is Say Something Else by vampireisthenewblack. But it's not just an Edward and Seth story. Edward reacquaints himself with childhood friend Seth, but at the same time he's mourning the sudden loss of his lover Alec. There's a lot of flashbacks to the relationship between Edward and Alec, and, even while you're pulling for Seth, you don't really understand how Edward will ever get over Alec.

I made it to the door before he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me around to face him. "Edward, don't do this. You're going to hide yourself away again, and I won't let you."

I refused to look at him. "I have to."

"Why? Because you miss him? Because you were going to love him for the rest of your life and now he's gone? This is not the end of your life, Edward. It's just another part of it. Sure, it's not going how it was supposed to go, how you planned, but it doesn't mean you should just give up. You deserve to be happy." He relaxed his grip on my arm and slid his hand up so it rested on the curve of my shoulder. "I know you'll never be able to love anyone as much as you love him. I know I could never be good enough—"

"Shut the fuck up, Seth." I refused to meet his eyes, I wouldn't be able to leave if I looked at him, everything he felt showed in his eyes and I craved that love so much. "You don't know what you're talking about. You..." I choked on the words. "You're wonderful. You make me feel better, you make it so I can breathe. You tell me you love me but you can watch me fall in love with the man I will love till I die. The man I want, crave, need but can never have again because he's gone. Fuck, Seth. I can't do that to you. I want you, but I can't expect you to share me with him because I can't ever let him go and I don't want to. I'll ruin your life. You're just a kid, you deserve someone who can give you everything, not someone whose heart is buried in England." I tried to turn away, but he tightened his grip. I felt the computer taken from me, heard him set it down somewhere. I stared at the floor, at my shoes, at Seth's bare feet.

Edward is too wounded to be with Seth, but he can't stay away. Seth sees Edward's pain, and all he wants to do is take it away. So sad and so beautiful.

Come on, admit it: you read fan fiction too. Got a favorite slash pairing? There's a couple to yet to come on my countdown.

The Great POV Debate

2010-07-24T17:00:00.007-05:00

I've been banging my head against a brick wall for days now, trying to decide which POV I'm going to use in my book.

I've written a lot of stuff in third person, and I like third person...just not for this story. But I can't live with a single first person narrator. I've tried to talk myself into it, and I just can't.

So I'm back to writing my two-narrator, first-person story. I have decided to try something different, however. I'm going to write all the chapters from one character's POV first. Then I'm going to write the remaining character's chapters. I think it would be easier to keep the characters' voices consistent if I'm not switching back and forth a lot.

My next book? Limited 3rd person. The one after that? A single 1st person narrator. Yeah, I've got my POVs decided before I even have my first book written. How's that for ambitious? :)

My Fav Slash/Yaoi Pairings: #7 Shiki & Akira, Togainu no Chi

2010-07-23T17:38:00.003-05:00

My love of this pairing truly perplexes me. I'll explain why:

Shiki and Akira are characters from Togainu no Chi, a boys' love game. I've never played the game.

Then Togainu no Chi was made into a manga. I've never read the manga.

So how do I know anything about this pairing?

Doujinshi.

For all I know, Shiki is a total ass in the game/manga, and these two don't even belong together. But in the doujinshi, they're perfect for each other. So much so I can't stand reading the doujinshi in which Akira is paired with anyone else.

And what made me squee like a fangirl?

I don't speak a lick of Japanese, and I don't have any idea when this will be fansubbed in English. Still, I'm so excited about the anime, I've completely lost count of how many times I've watched the trailer.

Maybe I should just watch it in Japanese and continue to think that Shiki and Akira are MTB...

My Fav Slash/Yaoi Pairings: #8 Seiji & Sono, Sensitive Pornograph

2010-07-21T19:56:00.003-05:00

I confess: I am addicted to slash fan fiction and yaoi manga/anime. Yes, I know, I am a complete geek. I not only admit it, but I own it. :) I thought a fun way to kick off the blog would be to post a list of my favorite slash/yaoi pairings. I wanted a top 10, but I could only come up with 8 favorites. Sorry 'bout that.

So, without further ado:

Sensitive Pornograph is a manga (containing 6 stories) that was made into an anime (containing 2 stories). The first story in both is the romantic tale of Seiji and Sono.

Seiji is a mangaka (manga artist) who meets Sono during a visit to his publisher. Sono asks Seiji out for a drink, and Seiji realizes that Sono is his favorite mangaka. The two hit it off (of course, it's yaoi!), and Seiji finds out things about Sono that threaten their new relationship.

When I first got into yaoi (thanks to this post), a friend suggested that I read Sensitive Pornograph. Of the stories, Seiji and Sono's was by far my favorite. Even with the bump in their relationship, they are so sweet and romantic together. *sigh*

When I watched the anime (English sub is 2nd video - NSFW), I was happy to see that Seiji and Sono's story followed the manga. There is more sex, but I'm not complaining ;) The only things I didn't like about the anime version were the 80s TV movie background music and the seriously misguided sound effects.

The second story in the anime was my least favorite in the manga (D/s, dubcon), so be forewarned.

Anyone else out there a Sensitive Pornograph fan?