Letting go

Sorry I'm a day late on the blog! Life has been extremely busy lately.

There are times when you just have to let go of things, be it kids, anger, your novel.

My children are getting to the age where they are move independent. It's a good thing. I'm struggling with that fine line between being too laid back and letting them find their place in the universe. It's an ongoing process. But I know the time is soon coming when I must step completely and let them meander through their path on their own. Not like tomorrow, but it is coming.

Anger is something that if you hold onto it, it burns you up inside. It will consume you from the inside out. You have to let it go before it does.

Books are something you have to let go of, too. My first novel, Blood Kiss, was one that I held dear to me and didn't want to let it go for a long time. After all, I didn't want it out there. It was precious to me and someone might hurt it (me because I was so connected to it). Unfortunately, the only way to move from being a writer to an author is to SHARE. There's still a part of me that screams, "Take it back!" whenever I submit. But I know you have to let go.

What are some other things you have to let go of? What have you let go recently?

Mechele Armstrong
www.mechelearmstrong.com

EXCERPT: Indigo Knights: Squire

Released September 7, 2010 from Loose Id
Pairing: m/m
Available in ebook from Loose Id

BLURB
Rabin Squire is on top of the world. At long last, everything is going his way. He’s about to go into the studio with none other than Brent Rose to put together a new album for his band, the Indigo Knights. Okay, so there’re currently only two members of the band, but with Brent’s help, that’ll soon change. Things are looking up.
Then there’s Izzy, Brent’s cousin. Rabin’s never been interested in a guy before but he can sure tell when one is gorgeous, and Izzy is that. He’s also funny, and sweet and…sexy as hell.
Since he’s not gay, Rabin never expected to have a fling with Izzy. But Izzy says their having sex doesn’t make him gay. Rabin’s not so sure about that but if Izzy’s good with it, what harm can come of it? Izzy agrees; no one else needs to know.
Then an even bigger opportunity means that Rabin has to move away. So if the thing with Izzy was no big deal, why does it hurt when it comes to an end?

************************
© 2010 Jet Mykles, all rights reserved
He followed Izzy up the porch and into the darkened house but felt oddly reluctant to head to his room. He’d been having a good time with Izzy.
“Want a snack?” Izzy stood, just a silhouette in the entrance to the kitchen, backlit by the moonlight from the bay window.
Given an excuse, Rabin decided it was just that. “Nah. I think I’m just going to head on up to bed.” Bed. The word had a charge to it that made him look away. Even if he was feeling attraction — and that’s probably what it was, strangely enough — he wasn’t going to do anything about it. It was a weird night. One that should end before anything happened. “’Night.”
“’Night.”
Izzy didn’t move as Rabin headed up the stairs. It was a relief to walk into the darkness of the hallway. Rabin walked into his room, closed the door, and didn’t bother with a light. There was enough moonlight coming through the open window to see just fine. Besides, the chancy dark went with the feeling that he was missing something. It wasn’t even sex. It was… He shook his head, unable to come up with anything. Maybe he should head down to Brent’s studio and play for a while. Brent had told him he was welcome, and the guitar often helped him to make sense of his thoughts — or at least calm them. Yeah, do that.
But first, he needed to change. The leather pants and boots were stylish but not all that comfortable. His shirt was off, and he was sitting on the edge of the bed to remove his shoes and socks when the knock sounded at the door. He froze.
“Rabin?”
Don’t answer. Stupid. Izzy knew he was there. “Yeah?”
Without waiting permission, Izzy opened the door, a ghostly blue figure draped in the shadows that were his loose hair and dark jeans. His shoes were gone. He stared at Rabin, expression blank, unreadable.
“What’s up?”
Izzy approached, and Rabin had to force himself to remain seated, torn between equally strong desires to stand up and flee, or stand up and reach for the smaller man.
Izzy stopped at his knees and tried a smile. Long, thick fringe mostly hid his eyes. “Thank you for tonight.”
Rabin summoned a smile back for him. Nothing out of the ordinary here, nope. “You’re welcome.”
Izzy searched his face — for what, Rabin tried not to know. “Rabin, I…”
Rabin frowned, forcing his gaze from Izzy’s. “Look, Iz, we should call it a night.” He’d stay in his room; he’d go to sleep and not go downstairs. He’d do that as soon as Izzy left.
“You’re right.” A palm cupped Rabin’s jaw. “You’re right.”
Startled by the touch, Rabin tilted his face back up. Izzy was right there, swooping down like a falcon catching a meal. Lips. Soft lips. Eager lips. Pressed against his own. At first, Rabin’s eyes stayed open in shock, but the blurred sight of Izzy’s long eyelashes caressing the soft ridges of his cheeks was too much to focus on when sensation ruled. He opened instinctively, his tongue seeking more. With a soft, happy moan, Izzy invited him in, tongue caressing tongue to coax Rabin to explore. So sweet. Rabin forgot he was kissing a guy and just concentrated on the mouth that easily melded with his. When Izzy straddled his lap, it was only natural to take hold of slim hips to pull that warm, solid body close. He fit so well, his slight weight perfect. Rabin slid one hand around back, teasing up the shirt hem to caress soft skin, encouraging gorgeous little moans he could barely hear. Fingers tightened in his hair, that little bit of pain egging him on to tilt his head and open wider. His blood heated with a fine tremor of pleasure.
Slowly, as the kiss calmed, proper brainwave function reasserted itself. Rabin opened his eyes and tilted his head back, but not far enough to lose the little nips and licks Izzy gave his lips. Rabin’s cock was rock hard and uncomfortable in the leather pants, and Izzy’s body pressed warm and willing against him didn’t help matters any. “Wait.”
Izzy didn’t stop, his fingers warm against either side of Rabin’s neck. His hips rocked forward.
Rabin dug his fingers into Izzy’s waist and turned his head. “Wait.”
“No no no.” Izzy’s breath caressed his lips, fingers tight on his skull behind his ears. “Don’t think. Please…just…” They were kissing again. God, it was fantastic. How could Izzy taste so good?
Wait. “Izzy, no. This is –”
“This is fine.” Tender kisses along his jaw. “It’s okay.”
“No. I’m not –”
“It’s fine. I promise. Just this — no promises, no expectations, I swear.” Finally dark eyes focused on his from inches away, pleading. Izzy was trembling — not a lot, but when he was pressed this close, Rabin could feel it. “I need to be close to…someone tonight. And I think you do too.”
***********************
Click here to keep up to date on Indigo Knights: Squire

Here you come again

I just thought it would make a good blog title, but now I've got that damn Dolly Parton song stuck in my head.

I finished yet another crap first draft about midnight last night (see earlier LI post on my embracing my ugly inner artist) which makes two novellas in about a week and a half. Now I have to go back and flesh in the not-so-lovely bones of one of my earlier literary monsterpieces.

I staggered in to view email this mornng -- already disgruntled to find I'm out of V8-Fusion -- and I saw that I have a blog due yet again. And four sets of edits.

I have no idea what to talk about this morning. Other than the fact that I desperately want this year to be over.

Coincidentally this week I received a questionaire from another publisher asking about blogs. What blogs do I read, what blog topics do I enjoy, blah, blah, blog.

I increasingly think that blogs as a whole may be past their prime. I've been saying that for two years, of course, so I could be wrong. Another publisher sent an invitation to a course in learning Twitter...and I can't make up my mind about that one either, although it certainly seems less time consuming.

So I think I'll leave ths post to be answered by readers -- and if no readers respond, well, fellow writers, I think we may have our answer.

Readers...

1 - Do you read publisher blogs?

2 - What blogs, if any, do you read?

3 - What topics interest you?

4 - What topics don't interest you?

5 - How would you like to interact with writers and publishers if not through blogs?

6 - Any other thoughts about blogs?

7 - Any other thoughts not about blogs?

Settler's Mine 6: The Rogue

I first met McTavish in the Rivals. He was a surgeon who helped out Layla. Even with that brief appearance, he fascinated me. He longed for so much that he didn't have, I could feel it even then. I knew I would have to write his book but it wouldn't be for a while. He's waited a long time and not very patiently for his story to be told. I'm so so glad I got to tell it. Writing his story made me feel as if Settler's Mine had come full circle. I think he's made out very well with mates who will give him "what for" in Decker and Arianna. Let's hope you think so too!

blurb:

Princess Arianna's brother is missing, lost in the dangerous brothels on Batuck. She can't find him alone so she hires a legend to help. When they meet, their heartstones glow. The legend -- the Rogue, a man called McTavish -- is her mate.

Decker's been studying McTavish from behind a desk for years. Catching him is his chance to earn a much-desired promotion in the Union Alliance. Then the Queen, Arianna's stepmother, who is responsible for the prince's disappearance, contacts him with a deal: find her son before McTavish does and use him as bait, and she'll make sure he gets that promotion. Except...

Decker can't stand her actions against her son and turns on the Queen. He contacts McTavish and Arianna to make a deal. The biggest surprise when they meet isn't that he plans to go through with it. It's that his quarry and the princess are his mates.

On the run from a vicious queen, the three must learn what can bond a princess, a law man, and a rogue...in order to save their lives and the throne.

http://www.loose-id.com/Settlers-Mine-6-The-Rogue.aspx

To read an excerpt: http://www.loose-id.com/excerpt.aspx?ID=1238

Mechele Armstrong
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com

It's A Whole New Life Out There

Hey all,

I'm finally back after a crazy few months. For those of you who don't know, just after we got back from Singapore and our trip through Asia I got really sick. Something to do with my kidneys that kept me down and out for almost two months.

Then, just as I was getting over that, my dear hubby was given the word that he'd been offered a job in Macau, which is an island just to the west of Hong Kong. It's a dream job. He's now Assistant Head of Special Effects for this Cirque du Soleil type show in the City of Dreams resort called The House of Dancing Water. It's an amazing show done 80% in water. Here is pic from the storyboard and it looks just like that. The gazebo comes right up out of the water.

You can see a trailer for the show here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8mu8PfWnyY

Anyway, so of course that meant we were moving. AGAIN. It was difficult to decide what part of your life to take in just a few suitcases. But we pulled it together and we are now living on the island of Taipa, which is part of the country of Macau. We have a beautiful apartment overlooking the harbor which has wonderful views and I've spent the last few weeks getting it furnished and liveable.

But I've really missed writing so I've decided to put that aside for a few days a week and get back to what I love. One good thing about all the crazy traveling is that I have so many great ideas it will take a lifetime to write them all down. Hopefully, Loose Id will be able to publish some of them.

Living here is very different, but so far we are enjoying the adventure. Each day we learn something new and it's my goal to have at least a working use of the language before long. Very little English is spoken here so it's that or constantly confuse the poor shopkeepers when I ask for something as simple as toilet paper. (ever tried to pantomime THAT! LOL)

Anyway, I just wanted to touch base with all my friends here and let you all know what was going on in my life. I'm slowing getting back on track with my website, blog and list, so keep on checking and see what is going on with me.

You all have a wonderful weekend and I will see you next month!

Hugs,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com/warrior/morethanawarrior.htm

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

The Spark of a New Idea

I recently started work on an outline for a new story that I hope I can squeeze in after my current project. For those of you following along, yes, I’m back to outlining and thinking about new plots. This one began with the spark of an idea for a specific setting and one detail about the two main characters.

As I was working on the outline yesterday, it struck me that I couldn’t recall when this idea first hit me. Where had that spark came from? Had I seen something? Read something?

I’m always playing with ideas in my head, and sometimes they start out so innocuous it doesn’t register as anything important until a few days pass and a few dozen “what ifs” run through my mind. Then I start writing it all down, and the idea makes its way into my official story ideas folder.

I guess it’s okay that I don’t know where this one came from or how it started. I know where it’s going. And in the end, it’s the final product that’ll matter.

So where have some of my other ideas come from?

Anything, anywhere. TV, movies, art, news stories, overheard conversations, people watching. The smallest gesture of two people in a crowded restaurant can grow and transform into a full backstory about how these two lovers met. I play with their “story,” asking myself what if this happened? And then this? Oh, how about this? And so on…

Yes, taking me out to dinner can be a challenge.

People are fascinating. You never know what you’ll see when you discreetly watch from a distance at a restaurant, the county fair, the waiting room of the doctor’s office, or even driving down the highway.

Maybe you’ll see a teenager singing to his steering wheel. Does he have dreams of becoming the next American Idol?

Or a couple arguing through tears and shouts, their young child in the backseat chattering away to her doll. Is this a typical family squabble? Or is there something more to it? Maybe they are trying to figure out how to elude the baby’s dangerous biological father who’s just escaped from prison.

I’m sure my conclusions are nowhere near the reality of their lives, but it sure is fun to make up my own ideas…and then throw all kinds of disasters at them.

Sloan Parker
www.sloanparker.com