What about girls

Contrary to what some may believe, I do like writing about women. Just because most of my stories are about gay or bisexual men doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading or writing about straight romance anymore. To me, it's just romance. It's two -- or more -- people figuring out how to be together and having amazing sex. That's what I enjoy.

So why haven't I written more about girls? Not sure, to be honest. Most of the ideas that've come to me have been about men, lately. Could be because of the company I keep. Most of my best friends these days are writers of m/m. When everyone's talking about guys, you tend to think of guys more. There's also the fact that one of my better known series, Heaven Sent, and its sequel series Indigo Knights, are about guys. That's a lot of books right there. Plus, more of my vocal fans are into m/m so those are the requests I hear most. I'm mercenary enough to want to at least try and give my readers what they want. They're the ones buying after all, right?

But back to the girls. I'm one, so naturally I imagine myself as a heroine in many a story. Being me, I also imagine myself as a hero in many a story, but it's certainly easier to play the girl's role. I know that body, after all. No matter how hard I try, I still can only imagine personal penile wonders. Despite the plethora of straight romance available, I still think that m/f is worth telling. I like to think that I have a different take on girls, just like I have a different take on guys. Every author does. I enjoy my girls and, yes, most of my girls not only enjoy guys but enjoy (or end up enjoying) guys with guys. So maybe there's a tiny bit of Mary Sue in there, with me getting my kicks through my heroines. Is there anything wrong with that? That's part of the fun of creation, is it not?

My next book coming out, Toys for Good Girls, is m/f. The book previous to it, Reindeer Games, is m/m. I'm not at all sure what pairing a next book might have. Like in my Dark Elves series, the elves in my version of Santa's Village aren't much caught up in gender issues. They'll have sex with either gender, based on personal preference rather than any pressure from their society. It's a rather nice concept that I really wish applied to real life. Perhaps that's why I've used it for both of my elves series.

Do I expect all my readers to read all my books, regardless of pairing? Not at all. I can respect a reader's choice to only read m/f or m/m. It comes down to personal preference and there's nothing wrong with that. Am I sad when I write a book in a series that causes some readers to not read the entire series? Sure, but them's the breaks. I try to include all that's necessary to enjoy a book within the book itself. I can't always succeed in that, especially if a book is deep within a series, but I do try.

I guess what I'm getting at is that I'm going to continue to write women. And men. And different pairings. Hell, perv that I am, I've even got ideas about critters that can't be considered male or female. I try to write what I enjoy and enjoy what I write and I like variety. I would encourage anyone to do the same. Who knows? There may be a book of a pairing you don't usually enjoy that would blow your mind because the journey of the characters is just that good.

Leashed 4: Tangled Leashes is drafted

I have finished the first full draft of Leashed 4: Tangled Leashes. Can I just say WOOT!


You see, this book is a long time coming. Leashed 3: The Lion's Share came out in April of '08. That's more than three years ago now. Far too long to pause in between books, let me tell you. Ok, looking back, there was a 2 year wait between book 2 and book 3, but that just didn't seem as bad/long as this time.

That's probably because I had major problems with this one. The story just would not come. I had full-fledged characters to work with, a number of possible scenarios, tons of problems I could introduce, but no matter how I put the pieces together, they wouldn't stick. It was so bad that I actually took a year hiatus while writing the manuscript. Yep, I started this one in October 2010, I think. Abandoned it in January of this year because it wasn't working and I was killing myself trying to force it. So it sat with Meg and the boys murmuring in the back of my head while I finished a few other projects. But I got back on track. Took me longer to finish than I'd expected, but I think I put a pretty good "end" on it last night. Now, of course, comes polishing, rereading and editing, but at least now I have a draft to work with. Now I have something I feel comfortable signing a contract for.

What's it about? Same characters. Takes place about four months after Lion's Share with Meg dealing with all that's happened. Funny to think -- and she does think this -- that so much has happened in what amounts to six months of her life. But it turns out she's special. Michael's special. Rudy's special. Logan's special. Hmm, yes. Logan. He's still around and still after Meg, although she can't figure out why he'd bother.

So, for those Leashed fans among us, I'm so very sorry for the delay but the next installment is coming. I have no release date to share with you but you know I'll announce it when I do.

Edit the past

So, I’m rereading Two For One Deal, the first book in my Leashed series. This is part of my prep to try and finally finish Leashed 4 (still not official title). I’m liking it. TFOD, especially, is one of my favorites of my stories. I enjoy the first meeting between Meg, Michael and Rudy.

But I kind of wish I could go back and edit the past.

There are little bits of the story that I wish I could change. Little details I wish I could remove or add. It would help me so much as I’m writing the sequels. I know more about their magic and their world now and some of the stuff that I put in that first book is limiting where I can go. I’d love to have a more solid description of magic and change the way Meg wielded some of her power. But, I read series books often and I really don’t like when an author changes history, so I’m stuck with what I’ve written. I’ll tell you, though, I’ve got a new appreciation for those authors I’ve been upset with in the past.

It’s no biggie, though. I’ll manage. I hope. This darn book has taken me years. I gave it up last year because it wasn’t going anywhere and I’m still having trouble with it. My main issue, of course, being that I’ve got an established threesome but I think everyone knows I need to work the damn lion into the mix. Not easy because I know a lot of readers aren’t going to appreciate the intrusion. But I think I might have latched onto the idea that’ll save me.

Wish me luck!

Leashed 3 now in print

The third book in my Leashed series is now available in print from Amazon.

I love this series. I do. Of all my heroines, I think I most identify with Meg. She's the heroine I'd be if I could choose a fantasy world to inhabit. I mean, why wouldn't I pick Meg? She gets two sexy men of her own in Two for One Deal then acquired another one in The Lion's Share. Who's to say she won't get more men? *author whistles innocently*

I've been asked when the next book is coming out. I can only answer "soon?" Why the question mark? Because I'd already started Leashed 4 earlier this year but I had to stop. The story just wasn't right and I was in a bad head place to fix it. So I abandoned it for other stories.

Of those other stories -- which included the first installment of the Indigo Knights series (sequel to Heaven Sent) which comes out early September -- I've got at least two more to finish before I can get back to Leashed 4. But the good news is, I think I know what was wrong. Will take a bit more thought but I think I got it. I hope I got it. Because I can't abandon Meg and the boys.

Even I want to know what happens next!

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