Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Dead Brains Anonymous

I see from Amanda's post that I'm not the only one with uncooperatie brain syndrome. My reason, however, is different. I'm making tiny baby steps in breaking a block that's literally been almost completely unbreakable.

They're really tiny baby steps but they're steps and that is all that matters. I'm also hoping to share really good news soon.

Well...hmm, I do believe I can share some of it. I have another Asher story coming out soon from Torquere. November I believe and it's the final one, a giant novella that I'm calling No Man's Land.

I've also received an offer to renew the previous stories, starting wtih the very first one, Asher and the Elevator Romp (oh the memories!), Asher and the Threesome and Unreal.

Hopefully, further good news is on the way. Meanwhile, I'm going to go to bed because I have been awake for far too long and then there are words to be written.

Anyway, y'all have a good one. See you in the funny pages!

Monday, June 28, 2010

I've got nothing...

I was hoping to have something interesting to talk about on my scheduled blog post here at Slash & Burn today, but the truth is...I've got nothing. I'm nearing the end of a new project and my mind is not cooperating when it comes to letting me think about anything else right now.

However, if you're interested in hearing about what I'm working on then keep reading...

At the moment, I'm about 2k away from finishing up the second Mackenzie Twins short story - Tempestuous Revelation. If I had to narrow down the genre, I would say it's erotica with a touch of relationship drama thrown into the mix. Here's the cover and blurb for your guys:



Dominic and Mason have barely come to grips with the new aspects of their bond when one tiny slip up shines a light on their forbidden relationship. With societal pressure weighing down on them, the brothers are faced with an impossible decision – one which could end more than their taboo love.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

I need an App for that

Specifically one that delivers hot guys to my phone. I have my new shiny the HTC HD2 and while it's not an iPhone or Droid based (still runs windows mobile) since I'm nowhere near a power user, I'll do fine.

But there are some sorely missing apps...like one that would take me directly to my Xtube favorites. What's the point of a small, hand-held internet connecting device if you can't watch porn. And while I can surf the net for it from my phone, the whole secondary interface thing is a bit of a PITA.  Because otherwise I'm tethered to my desktop or laptop.  But surfing porn form anywhere and the sweet one palm free access. It's built for porn.

There is an app for mixing cocktails. Frankly though that's what bars are for. Although a friend swears there's a craigslist type hookup app which I guess makes bars passe. 

And an eBook reader. I know there's tons of that type of app...but one that will tell me before I get to deep into reading whether the book sucks or not.

I could probably think of a few more, but still, what do you wish there was or what do you use all the time that's cool?

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Today Is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life

Sorry for making you sing an old commercial jingle. But it's kind of true. Although for me, that would be tomorrow. Tomorrow is the first day of my life as a full-time writer. Well, a mini-life. Even though I'm a teacher, I teach at a private school, so I've had to work summers because I'll be damned, the bank expects me to pay my mortgage in the summer too. But to my surprise, enough people have bought my books to make it possible to give this whole writing for a living wage thing a shot—at least for the next two months. Wish me luck that the whole setting my own schedule means more than playing computer games and clicking around the internet after shiny links dangling in my face.

The credit for this opportunity goes to a lot of people. I'd like to thank my critique—ooops. That's my Rita acceptance speech. (Hey. Hell might freeze over. You never know.) Actually, credit goes to the readers who've put down cash in hopes of a good story. So here's a bit of my WIP for fun. And if you see someone doing some crazy car dancing with a lot of fist pumps during your commute home tomorrow—it's me.

Not Knowing Jack

Chapter 1


Tony Gemetti had a rich fantasy life. No, not like that—except when it was like that—but give him an ordinary circumstance, and he could imagine some pretty weird shit behind it. Like now.

He and his boyfriend Jack had just walked into Bed, Bath and Beyond to pick up something that Jack needed because Jack always needed something to make the house look even more like a picture right out of Architectural Digest. Tony couldn't remember what the thing they were getting was, but he knew after they found it, Jack would let Tony drag him through all the kitchen stuff. Jack the chef would explain what some of the freaky looking equipment was for, and Tony would suggest a much kinkier use for it. Then they'd go home and fuck like something on Animal Planet. Or sometimes they wouldn't make it home. Sometimes they only made it to the car which was fine with Tony, even if they couldn't get up to much since today they’d taken Tony's ancient Rabbit instead of Jack's BMW X-3.

But this trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond wasn't going like that. This was Tony standing alone in the seasonal display area near the front—a weird mix of fans for summer and stuff for kids to put in their dorm rooms and seashell string lights. Jack had said something like "I'm going to get the thing," or maybe he went to the can. Tony wasn't paying attention because there had been this tiny little box that looked like it was made out of twisty ties, and he had to touch it. But now Jack wasn't there. And he didn't come back.

Tony checked out all of the fans, poked at the lap desks—which didn't look to be nearly as interesting as a lap dance—and switched on every one of the snake-necked desk lamps, and Jack still didn't come back. The fantasy thing didn't start right away, because there were still the super fuzzy pillows to touch and candles to smell and a bowl of rocks—people paid money for rocks?—to make fun of. When he put the rocks back into the glass bowl, his elbow caught in a rack of shower caddies and by the time he'd picked them up he knew he'd been waiting at least twenty minutes.

Jack had disappeared.

An alien abduction was too easy. It would have to be something really weird. Tony banked on some kind of government conspiracy. Like he'd go up to the check out and say "Have you seen that guy I came in with?" and they would say "Sir, you came in alone" because Jack was really a deep undercover agent, and some guys in black would erase the surveillance tapes of the store.

Tony would go home, but Jack's house wouldn't be Jack's house, and the pictures of them on Tony's phone would be gone, and their friends Sean and Kyle would act like they'd never heard of Jack. So Tony would have to find him, rescue him from some evil military boss, because Tony was the only one who believed that there had ever been a Jack.

"Hey." Jack appeared at his side, and Tony knocked over the caddies again. He wasn't a klutz. Jack had scared the shit out of him, popping up like that when Tony was halfway to convinced he was the only person on the planet left with a memory of Jack.

"Did you get the covers for the mop?"

"The what?" Okay. Tony had heard Jack the first time. But it took a little time to get back from fantasyland, especially when the return destination was a Bed, Bath and Beyond in Canton, Ohio. So, Jack hadn't been erased. He'd still disappeared for a long-ass time.

"I thought you went to get them."

"I told you I wanted to look at a new duvet. I've been all over the store looking for you."

There might have been a few more acres of towels, shower curtains, and bedspreads than the entire state of Ohio required in this one store, but it didn't take twenty minutes to do a lap around it. Not even two laps.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Summertime?

I suppose, technically, it's summer. The sun has come out today, as a matter of fact. Yesterday--you know, the Solstice?--was in fact the longest cloudy day of the year. The Solstice Parade on Saturday got lightly rained on. Ah, summer in the Pacific Northwest. It doesn't really arrive until the 5th of July. As my brother put it the other day, "The geoduck saw its shadow." But that's okay. I'll grab a little Vitamin D today while I can and hope it'll last me until the next sunny day rolls around in, oh, two weeks (if we're lucky). It's not like I can take my computer outside and work while sitting on the deck or anything, anyway. I've tried and it's a no-go. Even on the cloudy days, the screen reflects too much. Ah well. I'll finish editing the story I'm editing and then I'll go out and get some VitD. Assuming the sun is still out there by then...

I think it's supposed to be nice for Pride this weekend, though. I keep forgetting it's the parade this Saturday because I'm a space cadet sometimes, and because I've not been to the festivities since they moved from the gay-central part of town to downtownish. It used to be so easy to go and now the commute is just nasty. I'm kind of insular that way. If the buses don't make it easy, parking had better be. If parking is too much trouble, I stay away. How lame is that? But it's PRIDE! I know I'll see lots of friends and have a great time. I just have to get off my butt and go. Maybe today's sunshine will inspire me to get out of my hermit crab shell.

Monday, June 21, 2010

I had a long and busy week with a previous commitment along with having trouble with my net, but mostly my router. I need a new one and am contemplating - or more like begging my husband - on which one I want to get because the one I want isn't cheap. *sigh*
So, I thought you all could use a little eye candy to start the week off since I'm busy trying to finish up another story. Enjoy!







Monday, June 14, 2010

Two new paperbacks - Falling Into Sin & Pyromancer!

falling-into-sin-2x3.jpgFalling Into Sin
By Amanda Young & Pepper Espinoza

ISBN: 978-1605047775

Now Available at:

amazon.jpg bn.jpg borders.jpg powellsbooks_logo3.gif



Love means leaping without a net…or a parachute.

Falling in Controlled Circumstances by Pepper Espinoza
For years, Gregory and Phillip’s life together has felt perfectly complete. Until one fateful day when Phillip has a close call while on duty…and Gregory finds himself in the glide path of Jim, a dangerously charming American pilot. He’s a force of nature Gregory finds irresistible, but he holds strong—then Phillip encourages him to take what he wants. That night all three of them learn what it means to fly. But at what cost?

Sins of the Past by Amanda Young
Ryan Ward never liked blind dates. Still, even though lunch with Andrew Vought ended badly, there’s something about the haunted single father that makes Ryan want a second chance. Andrew gave up on love long ago, but his fiery relationship with Ryan, in bed and out, rekindles hope it has found him at last. Commitment, though, means letting go of the baggage—and secrets—of the past…

Read an excerpt of Sins of the Past HERE


pyromancer-2x3.jpgPyromancer

ISBN: 978-1590212387

Buy the paperback at...

amazon1.jpg lethelogo1.jpg tlabookscom.gif



One desperate night, a rent boy hot enough to scorch the motel sheets, meets a man doomed to burn for love.

Christian Ryder is a lonely man because of his strange abilities; pyromancy, a curse that causes the temperature to dangerously rise whenever Christian grows excited. He has accidentally hurt lovers in the past and has sworn off personal attachments.

Tanner O'Bannon is broke and desperate. The recent loss of his father has thrown Tanner into a tailspin of debt he can't afford to pay. Working as a rent boy allows him to pay the mortgage and his college tuition, but it's burning away his soul in the process.

Through the machinations of an escort agency these men are thrown together. Smoldering embers of desire fan the flames of love, but will it be enough to make Christian overcome his fear of love, or to save Tanner from the fire?

Excerpt



Tanner O'Bannon slumped over his kitchen table as he tried to balance his checkbook. Money was tight, his balance down to just above two bucks, but at least he wasn't in the negative anymore. He couldn't afford the outrageous overdraft fees the bank charged. He'd been eating ramen noodles for a month. If he never saw another petrified block of pasta in his life, it would be too soon.

Tanner's eyes blurred as he ran through the figures once last time before flipping the checkbook closed. He folded his arms and laid his head on the cool surface of the mahogany table. He was exhausted, but needed to stay awake for just a little longer. On call for work until three a.m., he couldn't afford to fall asleep or miss a single phone call. He needed the money too badly to risk losing his job, even if it was one he was ashamed of. Necessity overruled pride.

He jerked his head up and gave it a shake, trying to force himself to stay alert. He rose to his feet, walked over to the sink, and splashed icy water on his cheeks. As he mopped his face with a clean dishtowel, the phone rang. Only one person would be calling this late.

He didn't know whether to be happy or sad. On the one hand, it meant money; on the other, degradation. His father would be rolling over in his grave if he knew what his only son was doing to pay the debts he'd left behind.

Tanner crossed the room and picked up the phone. He listened to Nigel's directions, then set it back in the cradle before jogging up the stairs. Upstairs, he hopped into the shower and quickly scrubbed himself from head to toe with citrus-scented body wash. He stepped out and yanked a dry towel off the rack, briskly rubbing it over his hair and skin while he fumbled through a drawer under the sink for lube and a butt plug.

He squeezed a dollop of lube into his hand and ran it over the plug, liberally coating its short length. He reached behind to swipe the remaining moisture through the crease of his ass. The toy in his right hand, he leaned over the toilet and braced his left hand on the back of the commode. He spread his legs shoulder width apart and took a deep breath, trying to relax his muscles as he pressed the blunt rubber tip against his asshole. Due at the motel in thirty minutes, there was no time for finesse. He exhaled and shoved it home, wincing at the sharp burn of his ass stretching around the plug.

The things you have to do to make a buck, Tanner thought, as he grabbed the washcloth he'd used in the shower and wiped off the excess lube around the wide base of the plug. He dropped it in the sink and headed into his bedroom to dress.

Time to go to work.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Scare Me

The family and I finally watched Paranormal Activity the other night. It scared the ever lovin' crap out of me, in spite of the minor distraction of some character-related issues I had with it. I tell you what, it was wonderful to have a movie scare me that much. I didn't think it could be done. I thought I was too jaded O_O

So, I need some recommendations. The lovely and wonderful Jaye Valentine tells me I need to watch The Fourth Kind so I plan to check that one out whenever I have time. Anyone else? What should I watch? What's terrifying? I'm looking to scare myself, people!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Wait - it's JUNE?!?

Okay - what happened to the first part of 2010? It was just here! Heck, in the Pacific Northwest, it's still Spring - we've had constant rain and cold. The current joke is that Summer was last Saturday when it got into the low 70's and was sunny - for the ONE day.

Ugh.

So I guess an update is in order. I'm finishing up edits on my m/f story, Escape to Me, for Ellora's Cave right now. I ended up re-writing parts of the story because I've learned a lot since I wrote it and the new scenes weren't blending all that well with the older ones. I hope my editor likes it and it should be off my desk by the end of the 4th of July holiday.

I'm working on Desert Alchemy, my steampunk/urban fantasy story that I'm going on the agent hunt for when I get it done.

But the ones you all will be most interested in are the two m/m stories currently timesharing some writing time. Forsake Not is my military "don't ask, don't tell" story and about 1/4 done, I think. It's hard to write as I have a son in the Army, stationed in Germany and currently recovering there from knee reconstruction. It gets to me. He doesn't happen to be gay but I so feel for those in our armed services who are. They give up a lot to serve.

The other m/m is Music of the Heart - the first in the Bran's Visions stories. I know my MLR editor will be happy to hear it's getting some writing love, too. So far it's one of the few stories I can (and almost must) write to music.

In the process of looking for new Celtic Rock music for inspiration, I found a great new (to me) group called Coyote Run. You can check them out at their website http://www.coyoterun.com/.

Other than that - working the Evil Day Job and trying to be a wife, mother, etc. My health has improved greatly since I was diagnosed as having celiac disease and I got off gluten. I'm not so exhausted and sick all the time. I'm working on moving stuff around in the room that will become my writing office and today we got cable internet and VOIP so things on that front are a LOT faster - YAY!

So a lot is happening - organization is up next for some improvements.

Friday, June 11, 2010

That was then and this is now

This is the week for cover pretties and genre hopping. On June 30 Dreamspinner will release Most Wanted an historical novella and on July 6 Loose Id will release Risky Maneuvers a contemporary with lots of action and a bit of Wtf is that?? ^_^

Rumor has it that there will be a video trailer for Risky Maneuvers in the very near future...





Thursday, June 10, 2010

Joe 2.0

I'm buried deep in working on Requiem in Leather the sequel to Hard Fall.  The story takes place in San Francisco during leather week which culminates with Folsom Street Fair.  So while I get ready to dive back in, I thought I'd share a couple of photos from past Folsom jaunts.





Wednesday, June 9, 2010

This Has Got To Stop

“You did it again,” one of my critique partners thoughtfully pointed out. No, she wasn’t talking about the fact that I’d started five sentences on the same page with the word even—although she might have been. She was talking about my unrelenting physical abuse of my characters.

“Not that it’s a bad thing,” she went on to say. “Like for Kim [No Souvenirs]. He was a control freak and you gave him motion sickness. And Ian [An Improper Holiday], the perfectionist with the missing arm.”

Tony and Jack, minor characters in Regularly Scheduled Life, are getting their own book. By my “doing it again,” she meant my giving Jack an ulcer. Jack sees success in outward beauty, a perfectly presented entrée or a meticulously planned landscape while keeping his own flaws hidden. Bottling up secrets and shame is enough to give anyone an ulcer—another source of embarrassment for Jack.

I don’t start out hurting my characters this way. I don’t plan every bit of their existence at the beginning. I know who they are and what they want, but then other bits come to me. And seriously? It has to stop.

I have an overly keen imagination (A Bulletin from the Department of Duh). Sean’s migraines, Kim’s motion sickness and now this hole in Jack’s gut—I feel it all when I’m in their point of view. Call it revenge of the characters. I torture them; they torture me. Hmm. Does anyone have a convenient muse I can blame instead?

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

New, New, New!

I got a new cover. Didja see? Didja, didja?? :D I officially *heart* it! My editor sent it just yesterday. Such an awesome "welcome back from vacation" surprise! Release date is late July. (Am I the only author who can't remember her release dates when she gets them? I probably am. I mean, it's only, like, HUGELY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. But I digress.) So anyway, the book is with the line editor, so we're in the final stages now. I'm so excited about this one. It's sci-fi (obviously), which is a totally fun change from fantasy--despite the fact that every bookstore I've ever seen lumps the two together. Of course, that's probably why I've read so much of both all my life.

Also new is that I finally sent another manuscript in. It's been a while since I submitted anything novel length, and this one's been kicking around since its inception at NaNoWriMo 2007. Yes, I said 2007. Oy. It's m/m + m/m/f, fantasy again, but with magic and mystery, too. Fingers crossed the editor likes it.

But wait, there's more! I've had beta edits on my second GLBT paranormal novel for nearly a month now but, seeing as I was on vacation very far away from reality, I never actually got around to looking at them, never mind going through them all. I started that process yesterday and can I just say that my betas rock? Only one of them has read this one so far but, dude, her comments are so useful! I'm dying to finish my first pass and then start on the serious work of revising. Whee!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Let's here it for the boys...

It's the end of the school year, so I'm busy with all the stuff that goes with it, along with trying to complete the writing of a book or two. However, I did purchase a book the other day and just couldn't put it down. I thought I'd share my thoughts today. :)

I love book series. Those who know me are aware that I’m a series-ho. *g* So, when I find a series I like, I rejoice…and gobble them all up.



With that said, for those who are similar to me, have you found characters that you root for with each book that passes your hand (or screen as the case is now) hoping they get their piece of heaven, especially with some man-love or even some female-love? They can be either main characters or secondary ones. But all you want is for them to be happy. Truly happy and be who they are meant to be.


I finally had that moment when I read Laurell K Hamilton’s latest Anita Blake book: Bullet. I discovered this series a few years ago, reading the first eight books in a matter of weeks. Since then, this is one series I can’t seem to miss a book when released – even buying the hardback though it’s more expensive. (Don’t get me started on my opinion on that subject)


Anyhoo – Mrs. Hamilton has hinted around and even played a little with m/m (her weres are a cuddly bunch) & even some f/f sex. Also some BDSM with certain characters. Those who read this series know that ménages and more are common…but the key element is Anita. Well, finally Mrs. Hamilton has given my man-love mind some ease with this latest book. She finally has some real man on man action and not just in one scene. Even some f/f going on. No, the details aren’t as graphic as I write, but the entire scene, in my opinion, did it justice.


I don’t want to go into to much detail for those who haven’t read the book yet, but I’m a Richard fan. And throughout the series, he hasn’t really stepped up to be the character he should be, but I keep rooting and hoping that he’ll grow up…or grow a set of balls - lol. Let’s not forget my fantasies of him getting much closer to a few of the other characters…if you know what I mean *wink* However, that all changes in Bullet. Not only does he have an involvement in some man kissing *whew*, his inner dominant really shines through. Who can resist an alpha wolf? *whew* Oh, and he wasn’t the only man kissing other men in this book. Like I said, I won’t be throwing too many spoilers out there, but dang it, Asher is a happy vamp by the end of this book.


So, in the end, there are a handful of characters of Mrs. Hamilton’s that I’ve been cheering for, hoping that she makes them happy with some man-loving action that they so desire. I’m also extremely glad that we’re able to see more gay love in the print books being released. I don’t read her books, but from what I understand, Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter’s series has one that focuses on a gay couple.
So, is there a series where you see characters, book after book, and you can’t wait for them to get their “happily ever after” or perhaps they finally got it. Fill me in. I’m always on the look out for more series. Sshhh, just tell my husband, as he says I have too many books right now as it is. LOL

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Hi folks! Sorry for the radio silence a couple of Sundays ago. No other excuse except for being busy, busy, busy. I hope your May had a smooth transition into June.

Speaking of June, this is the month that usually puts me in a pretty good mood because it heralds the arrival of my favorite season. I know that there are some folks who hide from the sun and can't wait until the cooler fall weather comes around again, but I'm just not one of them. Summer is my best, most relaxed time of the year, and there is just so much prettiness to look at when I go down to the beach. Summer means pool time, baseball games, the county fair. Cheesy, yet awesome.

Most of the characters in my books tend to like the warmer months of the year as well. I have lifeguards, surfers, guys who take their motorcycles out on long, warm days for a ride. Summer is my time and I'm not ashamed to pawn that characteristic off on a character. It helps to live in a state with gorgeous weather mostly year-round. Summer gets warm, but the humidity is low and nighttime temps are mild.

Do you love summer? Or hate it?




Thursday, June 3, 2010

Where, oh where, has my little muse gone?

Despite what folks might think (seeing as I've been a bit MIA lately), I have NOT stopped writing. I've been unbelievably busy, and my muse has been a royal PITA. I am indeed writing, though--trying to knock out some deadlined (and in one case, past-deadline) pieces.

I do have a week-long chat spot coming up soon, including an interview. I'll share the link(s) when I get 'em!

Until then... back to work!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Words to write by

I love finding advice from other writers. I don't listen to everyone because I'm stubborn and like to do things my way but I enjoy learning from old hands. Writing is hard and it drives you crazy sometimes (all the time). So I'll share my favorite bit of advice from an old m/m goodie :)


"First rule: Stop digging. Yeah, what you're doing right there, bitching about how you can't write. Stop that. The only way to climb out is... just climb."
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