Year in Review

Let me jump onto this end of the year wrap up bandwagon. I’ve neglecting this blog lately and I feel quite naughty about that. You have my deepest apologies. Life always gets too fast for me. Let’s do this wrap up with a month-by-month recap. (to the best of my memory’s ability)

January:
~I felt what -5F feels like in my hometown. It isn’t something I ever want to experience again.
~The editing process for Undercover Sins (my first novel) started. I was elated.

February:
~Still freezing my buns off.
~I attended citizen police academy.

March:
~Undercover Sins was released by Dreamspinner Press. I feel like a proper author.
~I got tasered.

April:
~I started writing Water Waltz

May:
~I finished editing World on Fire and submitted it.
~Summer hit. I spent too much time in movie theaters.

June:
~Pride! This year seemed extra fun.

July:
~X-Men First Class. That is all.
~World on Fire accepted by Dreamspinner Press!

August:
~Fire Tango, sequel to Water Waltz, started. Later changed to book # 2 in a planned series.
~Las Vegas trip!
~My aunt left this world. I still miss her.

September:
~Water Waltz accepted by Dreamspinner Press!

October:
~Yaoi-con in San Francisco. What a wonderful time. I think by the next con, I won’t be as shy with my fellow authors. (I met a reader, not sure if she wants to be mentioned so I won’t, and she was amazing. It made the entire trip remarkable!)

November:
~Fire Tango, “sequel” to Water Waltz, finished.
~NaNoWriMo...started and dropped in favor of the editing process for World on Fire and Water Waltz.
~Blog tour for angels and demons. Water Waltz talked about in detail for the first time.

December:
~Fire Tango in editing before submitting to publisher.
~Untitled third book in Water Waltz series is started.
~Edits for World on Fire are finished! The novel is officially ready for publication. Releasing January 16.
~Because I felt that my life wasn’t busy enough, I bought a puppy.

Faydora

My first year as a published author came with a lot of changes—some bad but most good. I’m still getting used to telling people what I write in my spare time. Maybe this time next year I’ll be a pro at it.

Looking forward into 2012, my big plan includes four newly contracted novels. If I want to reach for grandeur, I’ll include a super long manuscript that’ll need to be two books in those plans. But I won’t include that one just yet. The task to rewrite that one is daunting to even me.

Thank you for supporting this new author in 2011!

Beautiful Cover Art for World on Fire

I got the cover for World on Fire and I love it!

Lovely!

Anne Cain did the work. I've always loved her covers and was so excited when I learned she was assigned to World on Fire. She certainly didn't disappoint me in the least bit. This is wonderful.


World on Fire blurb:

When shy Cole Saunders sets out for Nowheresville, Colorado, to interview a reclusive artist, it’s mostly to prove he’s capable of doing the job. He doesn’t expect a house and garden so elaborate and secluded that he’s forced to rely on his subject, Lucian Thomas, for anything he needs.

While Cole is trying to get a read on his host, Lucian turns the tables on him, knowing more about Cole than should be possible, wielding an uncanny ability to draw Cole out of his shell. And something even stranger is happening in the garden, which seems to rearrange itself at its master’s whim. Lucian claims he wants to set Cole’s world on fire, but all Cole can see smoldering is the tension between them.

World on Fire will be release January 16!!!

Water Waltz: not your typical angels & demons

This is a part of the Hot Angels and Cool Demons blog tour.

I love the concept of angels and demons. Regardless of any biblical ties, the idea of such beings is fascinating. To me angels and demons are in the same circle as elves and faeries: magical or supernatural beings that some believe to exist without having proof.

Is there a different between a man with wings and an angel? Probably. However, there’s no difference in my mind. In my writing I’ve taken the concept of an angel and removed the link to religion. In Water Waltz, I’ve created my own version of an angel with the ability to conceal his wings within his body.

Demons are usually considered malevolent supernatural beings from hell or the underworld. If angels symbolize the good, then demons are the evil. I’ve used the idea of demons to create my own version of such a creature. In Water Waltz, my demons carry power over elements, and I separated demons and devils—giving the sensual nature to the devils. 

Water Waltz is a tale with a political nature and a romance twisted deeply into the plot. The angel and demon races share a volatile relationship with humans. Devils and faeries are added to the mix but are not touched on too deeply in the first book.

Varun is a demon with control over water working with an organization to protect humans that are brought across the border for illicit purposes. His angel butler—Triste—is his ex-lover whom he still loves. Varun had only accepted Triste’s decision to end their life together to be his servant in hopes his angel would return to him. Varun rescues a human and discovers a plot to stir up war. While Varun races to uncover the one responsible, Triste goes behind his back to do just the same. But Triste reveals a dangerous secret which jeopardizes his life. It’s up to Varun to save him and rekindle their lost romance.

--

Fremont removed his hat and placed it on his knee. The red hair, freed of the confines of fabric, fell into place. Longer locks around Fremont’s face framed his high cheek bones and gave view to temples without horns.

“Why?” he asked.

“Why have I not returned calls?” Varun sought clarity.

Fremont smiled, shifted in his seat, freeing his tail from beneath him. “I don’t really care when I’m ignored by you. I ignore you as well. I want to know why you’re here and why now.”

“Would you believe I’m lonely?”

“No.” Fremont laughed, placing his arm behind Varun on the seat. “I heard about Barish. I assume it was you.”

“Is there anyone who hasn’t heard about Barish?”

“Since the lounge opened this morning, the whispers have all been about him. Some say he was murdered, and others say he choked on his favorite wine.” Fremont’s lips curved into a smirk. “But the odd thing is, no one cares. It’s just another death, and I can’t say most even cared about him.”

Varun nodded slowly, watching as Fremont’s tail snaked across his thigh. He’d allow the intrusion “Are humans still in the brothel?”

“Yes. When there’s a demand, there’s a supply. Sally wished to relieve the two strays she already employed, so she accepted three more. You know she treats them fair.”

“Male?”

“Yes. The desire to seek a female human for sexual gratification doesn’t exist.”

“Which are seen more with the humans?”

“It’s about even.” Fremont scooted closer. “The angels like humans because they’re tough like demons without being demons. The demons like humans because they’re soft like angels without being angels.” He tilted his head before adding, “And devils like everything.”

“Devils are insatiable creatures.” Varun chuckled. “And they have wicked tails.” His hand closed around Fremont’s tail, removing it from his lap. “Mind your manners, Fremont.”

“My tail has an entirely different set of rules to live by.” Fremont winked.

Water Waltz is now available from Dreamspinner Press!!

Don’t forget that each comment is added to a drawing to win a free ebook from each author on the blog tour!

November 14: Jay Di Meo
November 15: Ellis Carrington
November 16: Daniel Christian Juris
November 17: JK Coi
November 18: Kiki Howell
November 19: Michael Mandrake
November 20: Angel Martinez
November 21: Marie Dees
November 22: Sara York
November 23: Barbara Elsborg
November 24: Hayley B. James
November 25: Ryssa Edwards
November 26: Andi Anderson
November 27: Arlene Webb
November 28: Diane Hartsock
November 29: Kiernan Kelly
November 30: Tour Wrap Up: Jay Di Meo, Misty Malone, & Marie Dees

Sales! Glorious Sales!

I have a few coupon codes for Dreamspinner Press to anyone with a desire to buy some romance this weekend!

At the Dreamspinner Press store right now until November 30th, there's a We Are Thankful Sale: 20% off everything on the web site! Great time to grab some books you've been eyeing.

Also, they reached 1500 fans again on the Facebook page after the first page mysteriously disappeared. To say thank you, there's a code on the page for 15% off one order of any size over the next year. Visit the Facebook page for the code.

Happy shopping!!

Strange Dreams

I don't always remember my dreams but I remember a small part of one from last night. I was given my cover for Water Waltz and it was a green sheet with a gold stamp that looked like a 18th century horse carriage. It was very odd and not fitting for the book...but mostly just ugly.

Upon waking, my sleepy mind convinced me that it was true! It took me a few times of hitting the snooze button before I woke up and remembered that I just send in the cover request so there's no way I got a cover back already.

I get home tonight and receive an email to let me know an artist has been assigned to Water Waltz: Paul Richmond. Paul did the cover for my first book, Undercover Sins, so I'm pleased to have him again. I also trust his work will be exactly what I want and no odd green things.

Hot Angels and Cool Demons Blog Tour

Who doesn't love a good story about angels or demons? It's just the right amount of fantasy to make me a happy reader. (or writer) For the next two weeks there's a blog tour for authors of angel and demon stories.

Not only is the topic a fantastic one, but each commenter gets put into a drawing to win one free ebook from each of the authors!

Read the introduction on Jay Di Meo's blog. And the schedule for the tour is below. Have a wonderful time and the best of luck to you!

November 14: Jay Di Meo
November 15: Ellis Carrington
November 16: Daniel Christian Juris
November 17: JK Coi
November 18: Kiki Howell
November 19: Michael Mandrake
November 20: Angel Martinez
November 21: Marie Dees
November 22: Sara York
November 23: Barbara Elsborg
November 24: Hayley B. James
November 25: Ryssa Edwards
November 26: Andi Anderson
November 27: Arlene Webb
November 28: Diane Hartsock
November 29: Kiernan Kelly
November 30: Tour Wrap Up: Jay Di Meo, Misty Malone, & Marie Dees

NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month. I've participated a few times. Only once was I ever serious with it and only once have I "won" and finished 50k words in November. I thought I'd participate this year and use the rest of my WIP as part of the 50k word count, but that won't be happening. I'm far too busy with edits and other correspondence with the publisher to think about my WIP. Too much work makes me curl up and watch anime all day.

Is anyone writing a novel this month for NaNoWriMo? I went to a group meet up for it and wrote a chapter toward my WIP. Great night. I had pumpkin pie too. Mmm.
If you're working on the 50k for November, good luck to you! Chances are if you're doing NaNoWriMo, you aren't wasting time reading a blog.

Locked Out

According to my vehicle, today’s temperature at 8:00 this morning was a chilly 32 degrees Fahrenheit. I have a key chain that separates my car key from the rest of my keys. I got to the new office before my colleague today. I left my jacket in the car since the afternoon will be warm enough to be in just my sweater. I go into the office for the first time using my key and turn off the alarm. I then remember my mobile phone is in the car. I rush out with my car key, grab my phone, and I discover in my ultimate wisdom I’ve locked myself out of the office.

I stood outside to further my show of intelligence until my colleague arrived a few minutes later. I had my car key and could have sat in there, but I didn’t think about that until later. I guess I wanted to punish myself for being a silly duck.

In writing news: I’ve sent the cover and blurb for World on Fire to the publisher. I'm really looking forward to the cover. I also finished the first round of edits early. I focused and worked nonstop until I finished. I doubt I’ll be that fast for the next round...I do love edits.

Vacation is over...back to work

I've returned home from San Francisco, but I think I left all my free-time there. Luckily I caught up to my deadlines as far as writing is concerned, but everything else has fallen off my map. My bags are still packed, and my house is a disaster. How it got so dirty is beyond me. I wasn't there to mess it up...

The day job is going well. We're moving so I've been packing while working. I discovered I like to pack and get rid of things. (trash or donations--doesn't matter! Just get it out of my life) And then today I gave myself a gnarly cardboard cut under my nail and across the fingertip. I won't be typing normally for a few days. Ouch.

Today, October 28th, is my birthday. I'm a year older and, so I've been told, wiser. I agree to the first but not the second. Hello? Cardboard cut is not something a wise person would do...I'm sure of it. Last night I went out with my parents for a birthday dinner and enjoyed a steak. Today my coworker is buying my sushi for lunch. If anything, 2011 is the year I'm spoiled for my birthday. I usually ignore this day by being out of town so maybe this is how birthdays are supposed to be. I have no complaints so far. I have amazing family, work colleagues, and friends.

Earlier this week I received an email to let me know World on Fire has started the editing process! This morning I received another email asking for cover specification. I can edit all day, but I am dreading the cover. I went to school for graphic design and one class included making commercial product logos and labels. I am terrible with it. I might have passed, but no company would've bought my designs. I hope to sit down this weekend and really give it a good think. I want this cover to be great!

Yaoi Con autographs

I'll be at dreamspinner press table Sunday at 2-6.

Reading for Yaoi-Con

I made myself a list of m/m romance books to read before Yaoi-con. This list is 8 books deep and I have until next week. I don't know why I did this to myself. I think this is one goal I will not reach. But I will try my hardest.

Remember, if you're going to Yaoi-Con this month, stop by the Dreamspinner Press table in the dealer's room and say hi! I have free bookmarks and you can take your pick or grab both. :D

Water Waltz: Releasing early 2012

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook (links to the left) you already know my third book was accepted by Dreamspinner Press. When I called my mother to inform her, she was so proud and happy that she cried. This is the first time in my life I'm happy I've made my mother cry. She believes one day I'll be doing book tours and being interviewed by Jay Leno. I know none of that will ever happen, but I do love her imagination.

Water Waltz is a fantasy story set in an alternative universe. Demons, angels, devils, and humans make up the world. There's love and war and danger. What else could you need? This one I wrote and finished this year so it's the most recently finished in my backlog of stories to revise. I hope readers enjoy reading it as much as I had fun writing it. We'll find out early 2012. Not to jump the gun, but my current WIP is a sequel to Water Waltz.

Guest Blogger: J.R. Loveless

Today I have a guest blogger. J.R. Loveless gives us a treat into the world of yaoi. I'm over on her blog, so you can check out what I had to say about yaoi on her blog.


J.R. Loveless: What is Yaoi? How is it different from Western M/M Romance?

Yaoi, around since the late ‘70s, is a Japanese term meaning Boy’s Love, but the word itself actually has no meaning. It is a shortened acronym of ‘Yama nashi, ochi nashi, imi nashi’. Translation: No climax, no point, no meaning. Despite the translation, most Yaoi does have a point, meaning and a climax (sometimes many, LOL). Yaoi is mainly targeted to and written by women focusing on homoerotic or homoromantic relationships. The key factors in most Yaoi animes/mangas/etc. are the usual couple characteristics. The ‘seme’ (or better known as the ‘top’) is usually older, taller, more masculine and serious in nature. The ‘uke’ (or better known as the ‘bottom’) is usually shorter, feminine, outgoing in nature, and the younger of the two.

My own journey into Yaoi began in 2005 when I discovered the popular anime, Loveless. Loveless is the ‘softer’ side of Yaoi as it only hints at a relationship between the two main characters. There were only 12 episodes of Loveless aired in April 2005. The characters in Loveless actually have cat-like features such as ears and a tail which are lost when they become ‘adults’ (by losing their virginity). Aoyagi Ritsuka is a 12-year-old boy who’s brother was murdered a few months prior to the beginning of the anime. In the first episode, Ritsuka meets Agatsuma Soubi, who claims to be a good friend of his brother, Seimei. Ritsuka comes to discover the secret life his brother lived involving spell battles, paired up with Soubi. Soubi is considered the ‘Fighter’ and Ritsuka is the ‘Sacrifice’. The series ends before the manga and kind of leaves you wondering, but if you truly wish to know the outcome, you can pick up the manga volumes which the artist/writer intends to end at fifteen releases.

There are quite a few Yaoi animes available, such as Gravitation, Gakuen Heaven, Junjou Romantica, Kizuna, Kirepapa and many, many others. Although, there are many that some may find objectional so view with caution. Examples of these are ones such as Papa to Kiss in the Dark and Boku no Pico. These contain relationships between family members or between an adult and a younger boy.

Manga has a wider selection of Yaoi available than the anime. Most anime series or OVAs are based on mangas and may continue the story after the series has ended. Loveless is such a series.

What I’ve discovered since venturing into the world of western male/male romance is that there is a significant difference between the two. The main difference I’ve noticed is the characters. In the majority of what I have read, both of the characters are usually masculine, quite close in age, and either top or bottom or versatile. From what I have seen in regards to reviews written by the actual reader on sites such as Goodreads.com, western male/male romance readers tend to be more critical of novels written in the Yaoi style.

Yaoi themed novels that I recommend to those who may be interested in discovering the world of Yaoi:
Something For Nothing by Connie Bailey, Blue Rose by Sui Lynn, Undercover Sins by Hayley B. James, or Gatekeeper by Rayne Auster.

And for those who already love Yaoi, perhaps some of these western male/male romance novels:
Detour by Talia Carmichael, The Assignment by Evangeline Anderson, or St. Nachos by Z.A. Maxfield. All great stories and definitely recommended.


Discover the world of Yaoi for yourself by visiting one of the best sites on the net, Aarinfantasy.


Signing Off,
J.R. Loveless

You can find out more about me, enjoy free reads, or contact me with your comments at http://www.jrloveless.com. Follow me on Twitter @jrloveless or friend me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheJRLoveless. Or you can enjoy my blog posts http://jrloveless.blogspot.com.

New Look for Blogger

I am lost and confused by this new interface, Google! But I forgive you because programmers and designers need jobs too.

Soon I'll be having a guest blogger! I pretend to know what I'm doing half the time, but really I just ooze confidence in my bewilderment. It's a secret I'm sharing with you, dear readers. So for my guest blogger, we picked a topic and released the words in wild abandonment! I've read her post I'll be posting here and...wow. You guys are in for a treat. She made my post look like I scribbled it in crayon and pinned it to the refrigerator.

I won't keep it a secret. The guest blogger is author JR Loveless! She's one of my closest friends and a wonderful person (and author!). She's definitely made a name for herself in a short time. Check out her site and blog.


I'm still working on my work in progress, Fire Tango, and hammering out the plot. But lately I've received an influx of emails asking if I'm going to write a sequel for Undercover Sins. I haven't on planned it. If I continue to see interest, that might change, but as of today there is no sequel in the works. I appreciate every note I see on my first novel. It's very encouraging!

4.5 Stars for Undercover Sins

I do love getting "Your book reviewed" emails in my inbox during a very, very lazy Monday. (any day, really) I've accomplished nothing of any real value today and am feeling highly motivated to continue this course. Maybe I'll take 2 naps before bed time.

Anyway!

Emma at Night Owl Reviews has reviewed my first release, Undercover Sins. I love that name, Emma. I have  a dear friend named Emma and so the name forces a smile across my face upon reading it. This Emma's review for Undercover Sins also makes me smile.

Review from Whipped Cream

My first book, Undercover Sins, was reviewed by Whipped Cream Erotic Romance Reviews. It got 4.5 cherries out of 5. It's a wonderful review and made me smile for a bit on Friday. Read it by clicking the image below.

They also have it up for book of the week! Vote for me? The poll runs until Sunday (tomorrow):
http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/index.htm

World on Fire accepted!

My second submission to Dreamspinner Press has been accepted! I’m so very excited about this one. I dragged my feet on my edits before submitting the manuscript and I sort of regret that now. This year has been like living on a crazy farm and I still can’t find my marbles. When I grasp at a few, I end up pushing them out of reach. It’s slightly terrifying but also extremely fun.

World on Fire mixes an introvert and an extrovert with a dash of fantasy. I hope readers enjoy it. One complaint from Undercover Sins was the lack of delving into Demetrius’s head. Third person stories can jump into any character’s head, but I use third person limited. World on Fire is told from Cole’s point of view in third person. When one character is a puzzle, limiting the third person perspective is a way to keep that puzzle a mystery. (That and Lucian’s mind is too fast-paced to safely dive into.)

I’m waiting on word back regarding Water Waltz—my manuscript with demons, angels, devils, and faeries. I’m waiting patiently on that one. I have high hopes for it.

World on Fire is set for a January-February 2012 release. I’ll keep you posted.

Being Proud of my Genre

It’s always hard to predict how people will react—no matter how close the relationship. I avoided telling my parents about being published until I couldn’t hide it any longer. Mom has a tax filing business and I always use it to file my taxes myself. So I was in the “office” and filing my 1099 and of course it raised questions. Mom and dad were both in the room so I meekly explained I got a romance story published. Mom assumed Harlequin type. I didn’t correct that assumption until it was released and I explained why I prefer if my parents did not read my book. Again, they surprised me by understanding but still remaining supportive.

Now the reason I’ve kept my author-self a secret from the few who are required to love you (so I’ve been told) is part silliness from me and part history. Mom used to be openly against gays, but I think years of my sister and me arguing with her changed her mind. Dad isn’t one to express opinion one way or the other so I always assumed he was in mom’s court. But neither was alright with sex discussed openly. I guess the love of their daughter outweighs anything else.

Mom has bragged about my accomplishment to other relatives. I’ve never believed I would be bragged about. My sister is an artist and has been in the spotlight of brags since I was in junior high. I always thought it was cool I was related to her and her talent but never expected to be in that spotlight too. Any now my mom can brag about both her kids. Lucky mom.

Dad called me yesterday after I told mom I have a second book due out now and said we’re going out to dinner to celebrate. I went from being terrified of them learning about Hayley B. James to telling mom 30 minutes after receiving the contract and then going to dinner with the family to celebrate. It’s all very strange to me, but I hope this will become routine.

Now I’m not afraid to tell any family member about my penname! Except the grandparents...they’re old school. It was hard enough to break it to them that their granddaughter is pro-police and took a citizen police course...That was a stressful breakfast.

WIP Teaser

I felt like sharing a small part of this WIP since it is now in the editing stage. I started in April and in July it will be completed and ready for submission.

This unedited teaser needs a little background: Varun is a demon and Fremont is a devil. That's all you're getting. ;)

Enjoy.

Fremont scooted closer. “The angels like humans because they’re tough like demons without being demons. The demons like humans because they’re soft like angels without being angels.” He tilted his head before adding, “And devils like everything.”

“Devils are insatiable creatures,” Varun chuckled. “And they have wicked tails.” His hand closed around Fremont’s tail, removing it from his lap. “Mind your manners, Fremont.”

“My tail has an entirely different set of rules to live by.” Fremont winked.

“How have you been really?” Varun ran his thumb across the soft skin of a devil’s tail.

“I find good in everything, Varun. Rain never touches my sunshine.”

“I’m glad of it.”

Fremont took his hat from his knee. “I’m so happy you’ve stopped by to visit, dear Varun. Does this visit come with a meal?” He placed the bowler on Varun, adjusting it to sit just right. “Maybe I’ll accept the offer if you offered.”

Varun smiled at the hint.

Entertaining Bromance: X-Men

Bromance: a nonsexual, close friendship between two men. 

This new segment will be reviewing, with commentary and pictures, bromances in movies and TV shows that I happen to watch or hear about. There are many, many out there.

I'll start with the summer movies!

Movie: X-Men: First Class. 

Bromance between: Charles and Erik. (Professor X and Magneto, if you will.)

Now, if you happen to know me (or follow me on Twitter), you might already know I'm slightly obsessed with this movie. It's truly a fantastic movie. The acting is all superb. The plot is thought-out and thorough. The actors are hot hot hot. (Not counting Kevin Bacon—Sorry Bacon fans)
And the bromance on screen threatens to drop the "b" from bromance to be just straight up romance. (or gay up romance, if you will.)

I'm in no way an avid comic book reader. I know some of the history through a few comics, but mostly my knowledge comes from relatives who are X-Men comic-nerds. I know Charles and Erik were close before they went their separate ways. This movie captures their bromance wonderfully.

A fair bit of warning! SPOILERS! This will RUIN the main plot of the movie. And by ruin, I mean RUIN! You will know details of the plot you may not wish to know before buying a ticket and settling down for a 2 hour cinematic experience.

If you won't like reading about bromance between these two characters, do not read on. (I know some characters are sacred and you do not tread on that.)

Again. Spoilers! Continue on if you've already seen X-Men: First Class or don't care if you know all the movie's secrets the trailers don't want you to know.

 

WIP Wednesday

Much like Six Sentence Sunday, here's a small tease from a work in progress. I plan to use my blog more for this type of posts, so expect more teasers from me.

This one is from my most current WIP. It’s fantasy with humans, demons, angels, devils, and faeries (oh my). A beta has said it has a touch of steampunk to it. I love Victorian era and steampunk so I can see why that element might have slipped into the story. I’m enjoying the plot and characters, and I’m taking my time to groom and grow all parts of the story. It’s nearly done now so I hope to have it ready for submission by fall.

Enjoy this WIP Wednesday tease.

“You’re a tyrant some days.” Nolyn squeezed passed Varun, nodding a goodbye to Triste. “Be kind to your butler, Varun.”
“Kind?” Varun whispered, moving his gaze onto Triste. He lifted his hand to tuck back a lock of silver hair that had fallen out of place. An angel with silver and white mixed hair was rare.
“The—” Triste ran his fingers through the fringe across his forehead, repeating the fix Varun had done. “The human is still asleep, and I’ve placed water in the room for him.”
“Are you concerned?”
“Concerned about a human, sir? Not entirely.”
Varun studied the angel, observing the green eyes that were so uncharacteristic for his angel type. Triste could have been so much more.

Six Sentence Sunday [Adult Addition]

A piece from World on Fire, my finished WIP. I started the submission process just last week...or week before?
This one is from a sex scene between two men. So...you've been warned if you ventured in from outside of the M/M blog sphere...

“Still afraid of the dark?” Lucian’s whispered words sounded much louder.
“I wasn’t afraid of the dark,” Cole corrected. A shudder rocked his body when Lucian suddenly stopped teasing and eased a single finger into him.
“You’re beautiful,” Lucian murmured against Cole’s back. Cole answered with a quiet moan.

Ah. What a tiny tease.

Pride Parade Photos

Shirtless men, almost shirtless ladies, and lots of rainbows. What else does one expect from Pride!

 I love her sign!

More after the jump! (and more on Facebook)

Pride 2011

The parade was fantastic--as expected. Not as many condoms being thrown around this year. More necklace beads though.

I'll upload photos when I return from more fun. My group split up for a break--two are going to a birthday party. I'll rejoin them in an hour and we'll go into the fair grounds where Pride is in full swing!

I'm handing out bookmarks too. I forgot the stack when I left this morning. I wanted to drop them off around Nob Hill too. Oh well. At a later time.

I have to say, I love Albuquerque!!!!

Fire for Pride!

Arizona Wallow fire has been burning up the dry brush since May 29^th. New Mexico has been basking in the ashes and smoky haze since June 2^nd. (Maybe June 1^st...I can’t remember when it reached us)



from krqe

The conditions in the middle of the state are only getting worse. I’ll take the ash and smoke over a fire destroying everything I’ve ever known. I don’t know if the Wallow fire went through communities already, but I know it took out vacation homes and is encroaching on small towns now.

awesome sunset (pic from krqe)

So let’s see. The east has tornadoes, the middle section has floods, and the southwest is on fire. Is there volcanic activity in the west yet? That would round out the disasters. Or a tsunami or something. (I certainly hope this does NOT happen, but I can’t always be optimistic. I think I’ll start asking friends to move out of the west coast now...)

from krqe

It isn’t all bad. I can’t be outside, my house is a warm 98F degrees without the swamp cooler on, I can’t use the swamp cooler because it blows the outside air into my house, I can’t have the windows open to get that cool evening breeze, and my house remains a stifling 90+ hell, but my allergies have yet to react to the smoke! See? Silver lining. There’s always a lining of silver somewhere.

Writing:

I’ve also managed to write at least ten sentences in that final scene that has been blocking me for over a month! It took two nights to write those, but it offers me some hope it might be finished by July. I wish I understood why my mind shuts down when I try to finish that WIP. Do I not want it done? Do I hate that scene this much? Maybe I know it’ll go off to be a submission and I fear rejection? Ah. I need a shrink in the house!

Citizen Police:

Tonight I’m attending my first citizen police academy alumni meeting. I have no idea what tonight’s class is but the classroom offers air conditioning so I am so there! The police have been involved in a lot of shootings lately, and I’m hoping they discuss it tonight. The news stations are all over the stories and I don’t trust the reports. From experience, the news warps the details to make the police a bad guy. (Sometimes the police are in the wrong, but not as often as the news would make you believe.)

Pride:

If I remember on Saturday (Pride day! Whoo!) I’ll post a six-sentence-Sunday from the WIP I’m finishing soon. And next week (or Sunday) I’ll post photos from Pride! My gay-bf asked me for fashion advice. (The irony was not lost on me) My advice was a banana hammock and a sign for deposits and withdraws. He informed me that on Pride weekend, signs are unnecessary. I promised him a box of condoms for his Price present. I won’t forget the lube.

Lost with my Muses

I've been neglecting my online homes lately. I've been mad busy with a lot of things. One is a WIP that my muses have just taken off with! I think I'll finish it shortly. The other is revision of a submission. I have one final scene to revise and edit before I can submit. I also want to clear out some finer details since it gets a little complicated.

I just read the Adrien English mysteries by Josh Lanyon. I do love an ending that isn't fairy tail but still satisfying. I'm moving on with Lanyon books to read Mexican Heat. It comes up a lot in fan discussions and reviews for Undercover Sins. I'm curious to see how closely the two are related. I've read a lot of free fiction on forums, but I've only recently started in on the published romance. I'm a late bloomer. I like Josh Lanyon for the lack of lengthy sex scenes. I feel comfortable reading his novels at work. No glancing around, worrying who might have super vision and can read a Nook from 15 yards away. (Note: no one I work with can.)

I've finally convinced my day-job boss that the world is moving into the digital age. After a year of making fun of my Nook, he wanted my opinion on which e-reader he should buy. (he listed iPad in the lot...I'm not a fan.) I still don't think he'll make the jump, but he's thinking about it. I wasn't sure I'd like the e-reader, but I truly do. I can sleep with it and not bend pages.

Six Sentence Sunday

It's very late and I'm very tired. I'm sure I'll check this entry tomorrow and wonder what made me type what I did.
I'll try to make Six Sentence Sunday a habit! Time washed away from me last week as I edited and read too much online comics. (why are those things so addicting?) The weather is also very nice now and I want to enjoy it before summer takes a hold of my house and makes it an oven. I find June and July just dreadful.

Anyway. Here's this week's Six Sentence Sunday from World on Fire.

Lucian picked up Wilcox the lobster, smiled at it, and pinched one claw to hold it out. The other twisted in a desperate attempt at escape.

“My point is that you have no real connection to—” Cole dropped his sentence when Lucian moved away with the lobster. His steps toward Victoria were sweeping circles to the left, and...Cole shook his head, astonished. Lucian was dancing a waltz with the lobster while moving into the breakfast nook.

 For more Six Sentence Sunday, visit the blog.

Dreamspinner Press Sale

Happy anniversary, Dreamspinner Press!
To celebrate Dreamspinner Press turning four in the month of May, there's a month-long sale!

Includes:
20% off all ebooks in the Dreamspinner Press store.
A drawing each week for an ebook reader of the winner's choice: Kindle WiFi, NOOK WiFi, or Sony PRS 350SC
49.99 on the 2011 DD set - First Time for Everything until May 25

There's also weekly specials!

Week One Specials:
40% off all ebooks that are turning 4:
A Summer Place
Cursed
To Love a Cowboy
Slight Details & Random Events
Caught Running
Diplomacy

Week Two Specials:
30% off all ebooks that are turning 3
Far From Home by Madeleine Urban
Alliance in Blood by Ariel Tachna
The Archer by Abigail Roux
Murder Most Gay by John Simpson
Love Ahead by Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux
Condor One by John Simpson
Sparks Fly by Clare London
Selfless by Michael Powers
Children of Bacchus by Andrew Grey
Cut & Run by Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux
Task Force by John Simpson
Covenant in Blood by Ariel Tachna
Irish Winter by John Simpson
True Blue by Connie Bailey

Week Three Specials:
Download the first book from seven of our most popular series FREE - a different
book each day.
Sunday - May 15 - Condor One by John Simpson
Monday - May 16 - Litha's Whim by Amy Lane
Tuesday - May 17 - Cut & Run by Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux
Wednesday - May 18 - Promises by Marie Sexton
Thursday - May 19 - His Hearth by Mary Calmes
Friday - May 20 - Love Means... No Shame by Andrew Grey
Saturday - May 21 - Luke by Jan Irving

Week Four Specials:
All Dreamspinner Press Anthology ebooks 50% off!
A Brush of Wings
Curious
Games in the Dark
Know When to Hold 'em
Make Me a Match, Vol. 1 & 2
Making Contact
Mr. Right Now
Myths and Magic: Legends of Love
Necking
Reflections of Love
Riding Double
Sandals and Sodomy
Sindustry Vol. 1 & 2
Uniform Appeal

 Visit Dreamspinner Press for the savings! And check the homepage on May 29, 30, and 31st for three special surprises.

Interviewed on Top2Bottom

Top 2 Bottom Reviews interviewed me! (Lisa is a sweetie.) The site also reviewed Undercover Sins and gave it a recommended read with 5 kisses.

Read the review here and the interview with me here.

Undercover Sins: 5-Stars

This was brought to my attention this morning. I love when reviews give the good and bad from a book. Thank you, Chris Castle "Readiculous." Next book, there's lube and I'll be sure to have enough foreplay to satisfy as well. ;)

Chris Castle "Readiculous" gave Undercover Sins 5 stars:
I really enjoyed this story. It's not the best I've ever read, but it's among the few I would say are truly original and inspired. Here are some pro's and con's
(Spoilers ahead):

The bad news:
1. I was a little put off by the characters' use of proper English. Some people might not care, but I found it distracting and unrealistic to have each of the mobsters, whores, and uneducated meatheads speak in full, descriptive sentences free of contractions.

2. There were a few plot divots. Nothing major, but sometimes the actions of the character didn't match what the reader knows about them. Especially when it comes to the way Demetrius treats Ty and vice versa.

3. I wanted a little more out of the sex scenes (call me greedy if u must). There just wasn't enough foreplay, creativity or lube to make me happy. Still, I DID enjoy them; I just wanted more.

The good news:
1. I REALLY enjoyed the plot. I have a ridiculous amount of m/m fiction on my Kindle and after a while it all gets mundane, and unoriginal. But in this case I really had no idea what was going to happen next and I enjoyed that immensely. I've read it all, so that's really saying something. The author even had me going at the end about certain things (I'll let you read). I was like, 'No. No way. Nah...really? OMG! Awww.'

2. I love, love, love grit! Sometimes I like a nice sweet story about two people who fall in love, but most of the time, I'm a hardcore grit fan. I don't shy away from reading something distasteful or morally bankrupt. I really like the fact that this author wasn't afraid to make the main character do horrible, horrible things and then be cute afterward. The guy is a human trafficker; he's not full of rainbows and anyone expecting that should read another book.

3. Despite it all, I wanted the two leads to come together. I connected to Ty and his struggle between loving someone evil and hating him at the same time. There were times I felt the same way about Demetrius and any time I can 'fall in love' with a human traffiker, I call it good writing.

Reviews for Undercover Sins

Undercover Sins has received some fantastic feedback over on Amazon.com!
I'm flattered and happy to see such nice thoughts. Thank you, dear readers. You've brightened my day!


Amanda J. Kroha gave 5 stars:
The mark of a great book, to me, is not being able to tell what will happen next. This story not only does that, but had me on the edge of my couch/bed/chair(I just couldn't put it down!) till literally, the very end. I feel like I was right there with the main character through every twist. Laughing, crying, raging, and at one point near sick with anxiety. I know I will be re-reading this book again soon.


Mårten H gave 5 stars:
Excellent plot with a lot of unexpected twists and turns without being unbelievable. The charaters were hot and very much alive. One of the best gay romance novels to date. Highly recommended.

Vixen gave 5 stars: This book is terrific. After reading the synopsis and the other reviews, I didn't even bother with the sample, I just purchased the book and I'm REALLY glad I did! The story here is superb. There are twists and turns all the way to the end, effectively keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. It's not angst - it's suspense and intrigue. This is the first book by this author that I have read and I will be looking for more. The pace was set early on and just kept going without ever dropping off or getting boring. I loved the characters in the book, even when I was still trying to figure out who the "bad guys" really were!! The story is absolutely complete in and of itself; it doesn't leave you hanging with a bunch of loose ends that would require a sequel. This is one you should not miss - HIGHLY recommended.

The end of CPA

My Citizen Police Academy is ending on Thursday. It's been a long 13 week course and I have loved 90% of it. I had respect for officers before, but this course has tripled that respect. I won't get on my soap box about police and the public, but I will say that too many don't see police as human...I didn't even realize how I disconnected them from Average Joe until after this course.

Anyway. I think getting some free time will help me get my writing flow back. I'm already writing again but I need to get some sex scenes down! I'll get on that soon. Soon. I have one in the works that is a rewrite of an unpublished work that I hold close to my heart and want to finish it with the love it deserves. I would love to see it published. We'll see.

Yaoi-Con 2011

I have registered and booked my hotel room. I'm ready for this year's Yaoi Con in San Francisco.

http://www.yaoicon.com/

If you'll be attending, you might just find me there!

There's no coffee in Podunk

No offense to those of you who are living in a true Podunk place, but Albuquerque is far from the definition of Podunk.

pic from wikipedia

 Once upon a time I remembered watching a movie with two of my closest friends. This movie had an FBI agent from Dallas moving to Albuquerque, NM. It recently came across highly recommended to me by Netflix, so I figured I'd watch it again because maybe when I was younger I didn't know what was good. 

No, even now it sucks. I thought--back then--that it was an old movie or at least set in the 1980s. But no. This is a 2004 production.

outside of Starbucks

Let me tell ya, don't listen to this movie. We have a Starbucks. Actually, we have a LOT of Starbucks. Gallup is not a part of Albuquerque even though they are close. We happen to have more than two FBI agents and a big ol' building separate from the court house to house them in!
The city has a population of 535,239 and this population requires coffee and law enforcement!(and donuts for that law enforcement)

Oh and contrary to popular belief, we are not run on horse and carriages like the wild west. I promise. I'd probably be a bigger fan of horses if this was the case.

from wikipedia

Hayley Got Herself Tasered

There I was in the back of the prisoner transport unit fighting another inmate with tooth and nail. He grabbed me in a head lock. I clawed at his face. Then unbelievable pain coursed through both our bodies. We were left stunned and without fight left in us.

No. I didn’t actually get into a fight. Last night at Citizen Police Academy we learned about Use of Force, which included taser guns. For the demonstration, I (as the only female volunteer!) was positioned beside a classmate. He put me in a headlock and the taser wires were split—one on my shoulder and one on his opposite shoulder. We both felt the full glory of this device.

It was my first (and hopefully last) experience with a taser gun and at the capable hands of a police academy instructor that tasers a lot of cadets and officers requalifying to carry the weapon. (Not to mention his history of tasering criminals while a patrol officer)

Let me tell you in all honesty, it hurt. (That’s big shocker (haha) to hear, right?) I have accidentally electrocuted myself through means of light sockets, dismantled appliances, and damaged cords, but I’d take all of those over another taser gun hit. If I hear that taser gun sound again I might curl up into a ball of fear and pain.

Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. I might only cringe at the sound of a tasering, then laugh gleefully while the bad guy spasms. It certainly hurt but the moment the trigger was released, the “dear god stop the police officer from doing this” pain went completely away.

Unlike in novels and movies, I did not pass out. I did not lose memory. I did not pee myself. The shock clenches every muscle in your body. But your heart and brain will continue about their daily, normal operation. (With the added “holy shit this hurts” memo from your brain, kindly asking you to stop whatever it is that causes such pain.)

Have you ever pulled on your fuzziest pair of socks, danced across some carpet, and tapped the shoulder of a friend? That static shock leaves a tingle in your fingertip for a moment, right? (If you haven’t done this in a dry climate in the winter, I highly suggest a trip to NM in January to experience this because it’s fairly amazing in my opinion. Despite my static-self shocking everything I come in contact with all winter, I still think it’s cool.) My hand had rested on the back of my partner during the shock and had the tingle of a static shock well after the demonstration had ended.

I also got a welt on my shoulder where the instructor taped the wire to me. (The wire is usually attached to the body by a point that stabs into you, but luckily that was not part of this learning experience. Those points have to be removed by trained EMTs.)  The welt went away completely by the time I got home so I have no lasting signs from a taser gun.

A big thank you for the officers volunteering to stay late and talk to the students of the Citizen Police Academy! I wouldn’t have allowed myself to be tasered if it wasn’t at the hand of a profession while other professionals stood nearby.

Release Event at Dreamspinner Press

I'll be blogging and answering any questions. And sharing excerpts from Undercover Sins.
http://dreamspinnerpress.com/blog/

Available Now!

It is awesome when I get a play-by-play from a reader reading my book. I woke up to that this morning and loved it!

Available today! 

Paperback: First 20 to buy gets a signed copy!

 Or  

ebook: Dreamspinner Press is having a sale on all ebooks! 

Edit:

Now available on Amazon Kindle  Amazon paperback as well.

And on Rainbowebooks

What's in a name?

I’m picky about what I name characters. I’ll search names for the right meaning and/or sound. For Undercover Sins, I chose some of my names carefully.

Demetrius has a Greek heritage that is often referred to, so I needed a Greek name for him. I’ve always been a fan of the name Demetrius, so I used it with a smile. I chose this name for the heritage and sound, not for the meaning.

Tynin was used for Ty simply because it could be shortened and Ty seemed plausible for a prostitute. His actual name, Gabriel, was chosen for the meaning. Gabriel is a hero name and the character certainly tries to be one.

Ty’s Lieutenant was simply named Lesley because I liked the sound of the name with his rank. Lieutenant Lesley just rolls off of the tongue.

Demetrius’s bodyguard was named Lee for no reason other than it was short, and flowed well with the nickname he often uses for Demetrius: Dem. It has no special meaning behind it.

In other stories, I’m far more obsessive with names, but it always comes down to how each name sounds with the other names I’ve chosen. This is all a matter of personal opinion though. How one name pairs with another could be drastically different for each reader and/or writer. I often fall back on favorites to name characters as well.

Last March I needed a new book series to read while traveling. I went to the mystery section in a bookstore and picked a book based entirely on the main character’s name. I’m not even joking. His full name had three parts and each name was a favorite of mine so I knew I’d love the series. Luckily, it turned out that I did enjoy the series, but I’m sure if the character had been bestowed with less favorable names, I would have moved down the shelf and chose a series set in modern day since I rarely pick up 1800s settings. His name just couldn't be ignored in that instance.

Does anyone else have a name they love so much that they’ll pick up a book based on just that?

Coming Soon

Undercover Sins

 Cover art by Paul Richmond

Police officer Gabriel Carter refuses to walk away from an assignment without seeing it through. So when he goes into deep cover as a male prostitute named Ty, he intends to do everything in his power to see his case to an arrest. He seduces his mark, Demetrius Prado, the second most powerful man in Las Vegas and a human trafficker, but the man is nothing like he expected.

The more Gabriel learns about Demetrius, the more twists and turns are thrown his way in the convoluted case leading to Demetrius’s rival, Arden, and beyond. It’s a case of mistaken identities and layer after layer of trumped-up cover stories, and Gabriel is sure there’s no way he’ll ever be able to trust Demetrius with his life… much less with his heart.

Available on March 7th: Dreamspinner Press store

Now up on Dreamspinner Press

This is me excited!

My little bio is now listed on Dreamspinner Press website: here

I also have the cover for my book. Once everything is confirmed, I'll post it with the blurb. I think it has finally, just now, sunk in that this is really happening. I'm very excited for March now.