I have a release today!

I'm so so excited! The second book in the Fire Riders series released overnight last night.

Blurb: Alin can’t believe he captured Geant. Even though he did it unfairly and feels badly about it, he feels his people need this leverage against Eastania. The grizzled captain of Eastania’s dragon riders is just as fascinating in person as he was on parchment. Geant wants his freedom and if his captor would just come in chain's reach, he could get away. But Alin the captain of Wardona’s dragon riders is a little too alluring and sexy, and too smart to take the risk.

When Alin finally does walk within Geant's chain's reach, many things could happen. But what does is nothing either man expected. Combustion. And not the kind that explodes dragon riders. Volatile chemistry of the sexual sort.

Then Geant’s mate Elesia shows up, along with the Eastania delegation ready to negotiate freedom for Geant; she knows one thing instantly. Someone else has been taking her mate. What she discovers is an attraction and an interest in Alin as strong as Geant's own.

War threatens to keep them apart. Can they deny how they feel, or will the fire within consume them all?

To read an excerpt.










A snoopy dancing Mechele
www.mechelarmstrong.com

The Writer's Life

There are so many roadblocks, pitfalls and challenges to creating a book. First, we need an idea, plot, characters. Then we need to form them into some sort of logical progression. After that, it’s edits and rewrites and more edits, and somewhere in between we have to create a query that makes our book sound enticing in two paragraphs and a synopsis that summarizes the story from start to finish in a couple of pages. If anyone tells me they like writing a synopsis, I’ll assume they’re lying through their teeth.

This doesn’t take into account the distractions of a day job (which many of us have) and the obligations and pleasures of family and friends. Carving out time to do the writing is sometimes as much of a challenge as actually writing the book.

All those challenges take place in the comfort of your own home. Once you let your baby out into the big, bad world, there’s rejection, revise & resubmit letters, contract assessment, edits and more edits (when you’d already thought your baby was PERFECT). After publication, you worry whether you’re going to sell anything. Are you doing enough promotion or too much? What if no one reviews your book? Worse, what if they give you a bad review? What if everyone hates it? (Yes, many of us are this neurotic.) There are also pirates and plagiarists to worry about. Life as a writer is fraught with worry, and then you need to worry… can I do it again? Can I go through that all again for the next book?

Clearly, though, my cat thinks I do not struggle or suffer enough and has taken it upon herself to add just that little bit more…

Don’t get me wrong, the joy of creating something from nothing makes up for a lot of pain. Knowing complete strangers can read your words and feel moved is what keeps so many of chipping away at those roadblocks. Thank you, to all the readers out there who help make it worthwhile for us.

KC Burn

A Very Demon Christmas

Just for dangerously sexy fans an excerpt from A Very Demon Christmas, Demon Hunters I scheduled to release next Tuesday, December 20!

 

Colin tied the ribbon Diane had given him around Holly’s slender throat. The thin line of color marked her as taken -- his.He loved how her lips were wet and swollen from his kiss. He loved the way she responded to him with total, helpless, surprised, submission. He loved how her abundant curves felt against his raw needs. And he hated not being able to read her. Touching hadn’t made even a crack in her impenetrable thought shield. He also hated being wrong.

In addition to not being able to read a single idea in her beautiful head, he had new problems. Her mouth was an oasis of pleasure in his barren life. Her silken tongue carried a seductive flavor of hot cocoa with a touch of cool mint. He should never have tasted her sweetness. Now it would be twice as hard to maintain his distance. But he had to; there was too much at stake, including her life.

Absently, he stroked the soft, soft skin over her delicate collarbone just below his mark of ownership. Then he watched her pulse at the base of her throat, entranced by the way it fluttered in response to his touch. What he should do was untie the ribbon, then escort her to the holding pen until the slave auction.

Yeah, sure. Not happening. He couldn’t stop touching her. Forget about putting her on the auction block for some other Dom to claim. She was completely untrained. Someone else might be impatient, too harsh, or… Not happening, no way, no how. The whole argument was moot. For now she belonged to him, and he wasn’t strong enough to forgo this chance to play. He was keeping her for tonight.

He’d agreed to do a teaching scene before the auction. Originally, he’d intended to work with hot wax or maybe a bullwhip -- always a crowd favorite. But the idea of marring Holly’s perfect skin, even temporarily, sickened him. Learning her limits and how she responded to pain was part of being her Master, but he sure as hell wasn’t tossing her into an extreme scene with no idea how she’d react.

He let his thumb drift lower, grazing the top curve of her deep cleavage. And lower still, until he skimmed the edge of the lace cups. Through the stretched lace, he watched her nipples darken and pucker even tighter. He teased her swollen tips with a brush of his thumbs, and the thin material peaked over the stiffened points. “Tell me what you want, baby.”

Her breath caught with a little hitch. “A kiss, Sir.”

Damn, she got to him. His cock lengthened and hardened further until it was a pleasurable heavy ache pinned by his slacks against his thigh. He unbuttoned his jacket and leaned closer, crowding her -- letting her softness cradle his raw hunger.
“Where?” The single-word question grated out like he’d swallowed a load of gravel.

Another ragged breath bumped her lush breasts against the starched front of his dress shirt, adding fresh heat to his fever.

“Everywhere.”

Only the fact that they were in a public place, and he was fairly certain he wouldn’t stop at kissing, kept him from stripping off the bits of lace and taking her up on that offer. But he couldn’t resist probing her mind for lascivious images. There weren’t any. More accurately, there weren’t any he could access. He concentrated and tried again and came up just as empty. Apparently, he couldn’t read her thoughts even when he was touching her. He’d been so focused on her physical responses and that tempting body he’d forgotten the disturbing absence of his usual mental connection.

A muffled thunk sounded close to his feet.

“There’s your toy bag. Added some red hemp. Showtime, Master Colin.”

“Thanks.” Colin stayed riveted on Holly.

Duec laughed. “Nice slave.”

Colin whirled, but Duec’s broad back was already halfway across the room and moving fast through the crowd. No way was he going to chase down his boss and leave Holly unprotected. Then what Duec had said sank into Colin’s head. Leave it to Duec to provide the ideal Christmas present. Red hemp -- absolutely perfect.

He cupped Holly’s nape. “Come on. I’m going to put your beautiful body on display.”

A muffled squeak that might have been a protest came from her lips.

“Do we need to talk about your limits?” Colin rubbed his thumb along the side of her neck and deepened his voice with enough compulsion to ensure her compliance. “Or are you going to trust me absolutely?”
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
 


Be sure and stop by next Tuesday for cover goodness and a chance to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Happy Holidays from Josh Lanyon

I want to take this opportunity to thank my readers -- and the folks at Loose Id (in particular, my wonderful editor Judith David) for a wonderful year.

For nearly five wonderful years, in fact. I think I'm especially cognizant of the long and successful run I've had because A - it's the time of year when we  pause and reflect (in between pepper-spraying each other) about the past twelve months, and B - I'm taking a writing sabbatical next year.

It's going to be a very strange year for me. Not that I won't be writing (I hope!) but that I will be writing without deadlines. It's hard to imagine what that will be like.

In any case, the main reason these past years have been so productive and so satisfying is you. You the readers who buy the stories and then tell your friends about them -- take the time to tell me that you've enjoyed them --  and then turn around and buy more stories.

Thank you for that. Without the support of readers, writers could not afford to write as anything more than a hobby -- which, in my case, would mean very little writing at all. So thank you. Thank you for buying the sure bets like the Adrien English mysteries, and thank you for taking a chance on the spec fiction like The Darkling Thrush and the historical mysteries like This Rough Magic. Because you take risks in what you buy, I can take risks in what I write.

I hope that this holiday season finds you healthy and happy -- surrounded by friends and family and lots of good books.

See you next year!

Make the Yuletide Gay!

If you’re like me, you’re eager to read holiday-themed romances this time of year. Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza, I love them all. So I thought I’d bring the holiday stories to me! Make the Yuletide Gay is a holiday extravaganza featuring giveaways, holiday recipes and plenty of hot man-on-man action.

A variety of authors are guest blogging at my website this month until December 23, so visit often for festive reading suggestions, contests and more! Happy holidays!

Meet Kyle and Evan

I'm thrilled to announce the release of my third novel-length e-book, Take Me Home.

Take Me Home is the story of Kyle and Evan, two friends who've known each other for over 10 years and who are both at a turning point in their writing careers. Every December they take a holiday trip from California home to Ohio. This year's trip is quite different, though. For starters, Kyle has a journal from his grandfather that someone desperately wants to get their hands on, and it seems a cross-country train trip won’t stop them from coming after it.

That’s not all that’s distracting Kyle and Evan from their writing. This is the first time they’re making the trip alone since their initial drive out to California. Evan’s former boyfriend isn’t going with them, and now they are ready to finally face what they mean to each other. Or are they?

Thank you to my lovely editor, Antonia, and everyone at Loose Id for helping this story find its way.

Inspiration Pics for Kyle and Evan

Kyle

Evan

 

 

Blurb for TAKE ME HOME

Aspiring television writer Evan Walker has been in love with his best friend since high school, but Kyle doesn’t do boyfriends. Never has. Never will. Evan knows it’s a bad idea to give in to desire when he wants more than a friend with benefits. He has a new dream job. Now all he needs is the dream partner.

Kyle Bennett is a mystery novelist with a severe case of writer’s block. He needs a change. He has three days on their cross-country train trip home for the holidays to figure out how to tell Evan he’s staying there for good. He also has to write the overdue pages for his editor. Only, he’s a little too distracted by the close quarters in their sleeper compartment—and Evan’s ass—to get much done.

The sparks that fly between them are hotter than ever. Good thing they have a real-life mystery to focus on: why people all around them, including Evan’s new boss, want to get their hands on a journal that once belonged to Kyle’s grandfather.

When a blizzard traps them in the mountains, Kyle and Evan steam up the train’s windows and must finally face their true desires.


Excerpt from TAKE ME HOME

Evan shivered. Which made no sense. He was still warm from the run, the sweat on his skin not even dry yet.

Kyle took another step. Evan wanted him to stop. He wanted to shout all the reasons why this had to stop, before it got started, wanted to tell Kyle not to move another inch.

He didn’t.

And Kyle didn’t stop coming at him until they were practically touching, Kyle staring down at him.

Evan tried to focus on Kyle’s words, on the news about the journal and his grandpa, but all he could think about was what he’d seen when he’d walked into the apartment: Kyle, all skin and taught muscles, wearing only his tight-as-sin white underwear, the briefs stretched over his cock, and the way Kyle had looked at him in the dim light of the hallway.

Just once. He’s leaving anyway. Evan closed his eyes and forced himself to concentrate on the conversation. He looked up at Kyle again. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Kyle said the word with a slight curve of his lips. He took a step back and reclined against the wall, looking casual, like he was about to flirt with a bartender for a free drink. “After I read it, I was thinking about that night in the motel room in Iowa on our first drive out here.” He slowly swung his head in Evan’s direction. “Do you remember that night?”

Evan nodded.

“Do you ever think about it?” Kyle’s voice was barely a whisper.

Up until a few months ago, Evan hadn’t let himself, but since he’d moved in with Kyle… “Sometimes.”

“Like right now?”

“Yeah.”

Kyle slid along the wall, traveling the last remnants of space between them. “Ev, I’ve been waiting ten years to finish what we started.” He pushed off the wall and turned until they were face-to-face again, his dark eyes unflinching as he leaned in. He stopped before their lips touched. The heat of that mouth and body so close stoked the fire inside Evan.

His own body reacted, his cock pushing at his shorts. He wanted to shove Kyle against the wall and kiss him until morning, do everything he’d ever dreamed of when it came to touching Kyle, everything he ached to feel about the man.

The smile Kyle gave him next wasn’t the usual cocky one he’d used with countless guys over the years. He pressed forward and slid his lips along Evan’s skin from the base of his neck to his earlobe, leaving a trail of goose bumps in his wake. He lingered over Evan’s ear and whispered, “You smell so damn good. I want to fuck you, Ev.”

Evan shivered again. “We shouldn’t…” He couldn’t say more. Didn’t want to. The time for talking was over. Kyle ran the tip of his tongue along the outside of Evan’s ear, and Evan instinctively moved closer. His breath hitched with the touch of Kyle’s bare abs against him. Why had he worn a T-shirt to go running?

Using only the weight of his body, Kyle turned them until Evan’s back was against the hall wall, then flattened his palms to the wall on either side of Evan’s head. He licked his lips and spread his legs until their bodies lined up groin to groin, then rolled his hips, putting pressure against Evan’s cock. “God, Ev…”

With that movement, those two words, Evan groaned and let his head fall back to the wall. He couldn’t stop himself. He rocked his hips in time with Kyle’s. The feel of Kyle’s body, his hard cock against him, drove his own arousal higher.

Kyle spoke again, his voice even lower. “It could be so fucking good.”

Evan lost track of the arguments he’d been telling himself since he’d left the apartment earlier. He raised his head, and their lips met, the softest brush of flesh until Kyle opened his mouth, seized Evan by the back of the head, and slid his tongue into the touch. The kiss deepened, and Evan thought he’d never be able to stop feeling Kyle’s mouth on his, their tongues pressed together.


Take Me Home is available now at Loose Id.

Thanks to all my readers for their support!

Sloan Parker
www.sloanparker.com

Mistletowed: Writing Outside the Lines

It’s amazing that in these days of digital-first publishing, stories can be directed to an audience down to the proverbial gnat’s eyelash. You don’t have to settle for specifying that you like M/M or BDSM or romantic suspense. Readers can look for M/M BDSM books that happen to also be suspenseful. And when you submit a book to a publisher, you indicate the genre and subgenre you have written so they know how to market it.

My first novel, Genetic Attraction, was M/M/F ménage contemporary. Easy peasy. My fourth book, Golden Dancer, is a M/M/M romantic suspense. Spell Cat, that comes out in the spring is another simple category-- M/M contemporary paranormal. But my other books? Not so simple. I first got into difficulty with my second book. The Scientist and the Supermodel is M/M. It’s the love story of two men. Seems straightforward. Nope. Because it’s the prequel to Genetic Attraction and the guys are bisexual it was categorized as a ménage even though it  wasn’t. My summer novella, Volley Balls, is LGBT contemporary. It’s also the love story of two men. But the suggestion that a third man may enter the relationship was expanded into a full love scene at the last moment at the publisher’s suggestion and bingo, it’s a M/M/M ménage even though the third guy gets no air time and is an antagonist for most of the book. I’ll bet some readers have wondered where the heck the third person is for many pages. LOL

And now there is Mistletowed. It’s the humdinger! This is a short novel (32,000+ words) with seven important characters! It starts with two M/F couples and their gay friend plus two other friends. It ends up being a M/M book that also has M/F and M/M/F ménage with BDSM. Plus it has a touch of paranormal! 

It's hard  to categorize this ensemble romance. And I don’t know who will read it! (But I hope you will.) I guess you can say it has something for everyone.

Why do I insist on writing outside the defined lines? Because that is what interests me. I started my fiction writing career really late and I do what I love to do. Throwing interesting characters together and seeing where they take me is a delight! I also enjoy fluidity and the unexpected in characters’ sexuality. This all adds up to books outside the box. But I love writing them. And I hope you enjoy reading them.

Would you like to win Mistletowed?  Go over to http://beautifulboysbooks.blogspot.com and leave a comment and FOLLOW the blog. You will get another entry. There will be a lot of other opportunities to win Mistletowed before Christmas. Watch for them at Beautiful Boys Books.  Thank you so much!  :  )

And here's a nibble of Mistletowed:

Excerpt: Mistletowed by Tara Lain; M/M, M/F, M/M/F with BDSM, with MAGIC!

Available December 13 from Loose Id.

 Five friends, one piece of mistletoe. Christian Elliott has the perfect life -- right girlfriend, right job, right house and car. How come he’s only really happy when he’s with his best friend, Jason? Melanie Cantrell has everything she wants. Why can’t she stop cheating on her boyfriend with her yoga teacher? Buttercup Allender adores her stable life with Winston.  But she can’t give up her secret desire for BDSM. Stir them all together at a holiday party with a beautiful rock god and a submissive stockbroker and what do you get? It could be love and it could be magic.

Ripping the box cutter through the cardboard, Buttercup tore down another carton to take to recycling. She grabbed the pile of books, hefted them into the front of the store, and loaded them on a shelf she’d prepared earlier. Shoot, long day and more to go. The shop was closed Mondays, and since Winston taught several classes, it was her chance to really do the unpacking, stocking, and other big jobs.

A knock rattled the glass. She smiled. The shop had a lot of loyal customers, and sometimes they really needed something for a spiritual event or ceremony. They knew she’d sell it to them, even if she was closed. She lifted the edge of the shade that covered the glass door. What the heck? Melanie and Andy stood outside, scarves around their necks against the California chill.

She opened and motioned them in. “What’s up, you two?”

Melanie wore tight black yoga pants that looked great on her slim frame and a hooded sweatshirt. “You doing inventory, Buts?”

“Unpacking and stocking, actually. Not as tedious. Why?”

“Want a volunteer?” Mel pointed to Andy, who smiled. The man sure didn’t talk for himself much.

Buttercup noticed he was wearing workout pants and a sweatshirt too. “You came dressed for the job?”

He looked down. “No, I was going to do yoga with Mel.”

“Then Winston told us you were working hard over here, and Saint Andy wouldn’t hear of you doing it alone, so he made me bring him here.”

“Really?” She looked at him, and he blushed. “Hell’s bells, I can always use help. Especially strong male help.”

“Well, you got him. I’m gonna be late for class. Can you bring him home when you leave?”

“Sure.” Hell, the guy looked appetizing in those slim athletic pants. A lot better than khakis.

Melanie rushed off, glancing at her watch, and Buttercup looked at her new apprentice. Why on earth had the guy wanted to help her? “You sure about this? Yoga would be a lot more fun.”

He looked down and blushed again. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

“Okay. You asked for it.”

An hour later she had run cute Andy ragged. He’d carried boxes, unloaded books, cut up cartons, and ferried stacks of material to the recycle bin. She asked. He did. Not a question. She’d died and gone to heaven. She looked at him up on the stepladder. Hell’s bells, she had a lot of cute butts in her life right now. “Hey, let’s take a break. You like tea?”

“Sure.”

She went back to the little kitchen area she kept in her stockroom, poured a couple cups, and turning, found he’d followed her in. “You want milk or sugar?”

He smiled shyly. “How do you take yours?”

“I like milk in this kind of tea.”

“Okay.”

They sat in the two café chairs at a little round table shoved up against the wall. “So you’re a stockbroker?”

“Yeah. A Portfolio manager, actually.” He looked up at her through his lashes. “It’s okay to be surprised. Everyone is.”

“’Cause you’re so, uh, quiet?”

“Yeah. But I have a gift for stock picking and market analysis. I’m actually pretty good at it.”

“Yeah, Mel said.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound egotistical or anything. I --”

“Andy, quit it.”

“Yes, ma’am.” And he simply stopped talking.

She stared at him. “What did you say?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Why did you say that?”

His eyes stayed cast down. “Because I want to please you. Do what you say.”

“Why?” He didn’t answer. “Answer me, Andy.”

“Yes, ma’am. I want to do what you say because I like you so much, and I want to serve you.”

Well, shit. Just plain shit. “You don’t even know me.”

“Yes, ma’am, I do. I felt I was supposed to come here, and when I met you, I knew why. Because you’re my…” His eyes glanced up, then back to his teacup.

“Your what?”

“My mistress.”

Holy shit. What had she done by putting her desires out into the universe? Created a ready-made slave? “Andy, did Melanie tell you I’m with someone?”

“Yes, but we don’t have to have sex. Just let me serve you, please.”

“Sweetheart, didn’t you just break up with someone?”

He nodded.

“See, that’s all that’s going on. You’re on the rebound from this other woman.”

“Man.”

“Hell! Andy, was this man your dom?”

“Yes.”

“And your lover?”

He nodded.

“So you’re gay?”

“No, I’ve always been with women until him.”

“I’m not even a dominatrix.”

She got that glance through the lashes again. Sexy much? “Yes, you are. You’re my Mistress Buttercup.”

She burst out laughing. “See, right there I fail. A dominatrix has to be named Tanya or Greta or Antonia. Certainly not Buttercup.”

E-mail:                   tara@taralain.com

Website:              http://www.taralain.com

Author blog:       http://taralain.blogspot.com

Book blog:           http://beautifulboysbooks.blogspot.com

Goodreads:        http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4541791.Tara_Lain

Savvy Authors:  http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/member.php?2398-Tara-Lain

Twitter:               http://twitter.com/taralain

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What One Thing Can’t You Live Without?

I recently completed an interview with Julie Hayes (available on her blog December 9). One of the questions she asked was “You’re marooned on a small island with one person and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have?”

Well, of course I’d take my partner, but what about the object?

What if it was truly a deserted island with no electricity (and not one with a hatch filled with food and a washer and dryer like in Lost)? What one item would I want to have with us? What couldn’t I live without?

Should I take something to pass the time? A deck of cards? A favorite book?

Something to help with our rescue? Or with our survival? A box of matches or a Swiss-Army knife? How about the U.S. Army Survival Handbook?

I ended up cheating and saying I would assume I could have a solar-powered battery for my laptop. Even without the Internet, I could write for hours, read all the e-books I have saved on my hard drive. Heck, I could even play solitaire. And if I really planned ahead on the off chance I'd get marooned, I could download all five seasons of Queer as Folk to my laptop before we left.

I know, that really is cheating. I’m still stumped on what I’d take if there wasn’t power. I’m a writer, you’d think I could come up with something. Perhaps I’m too attached to things and can’t pick just one. Or I rely on too many tangible objects in life.

How about you? What one thing would you want with you? What can’t you live without?

Sloan Parker
www.sloanparker.com

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.

Chivalry vs Efficiency

Is chivalry dead? And should it be?

I’m all for chivalry… or at least, basic common courtesy, which, like common sense, is none too common. However, there’s one place where it drives me absolutely nuts. Nuts, I tell you! There are six floors in my building at work. Yes, I’m lazy enough to take the elevator. I get out at the 3rd floor. There’s a bunch of guys who, even if they’re at the elevator first, will stand aside and let us females on the elevator. Now, I guess it is certainly courteous, but pointless. Not like holding the door open for someone. As long as you’re not muscling your way to the front, we women are perfectly capable of waiting our turn.

So, these guys -- I think we need to call them nice but dumb. Why do they let women on first? And these guys will often let EVERYONE on first, not just women. Honestly, it’s so not necessary -- especially when they’re going to the top floor! The problem is when you let everyone get on first, you get on last and you’re IN THE WAY when I want to get out. Seriously. These guys are first in line for the elevator, and know they’re going to the top floor. Just get in the f**king elevator. I’d be a lot more appreciative of the efficiency than you letting me get on first, because IT MAKES NO SENSE!

I guess if my boat was sinking, I might be more than happy to get first dibs on the life raft, and perhaps the whole elevator thing is merely training for a tragedy that may never happen, but I ride that elevator every day, and bite back sarcastic comments every day. I may never have to worry about that sinking ship.

Then again, courtesy is so rare these days, I suppose I should give them a sticker for passing Chivalry 101. The world would likely be a poorer place if efficiency completely took the place of chivalry, so I shall continue to bite my tongue.

KC Burn

Gender bias

From time to time I run across acrid commentary about women writing male male romance or straight men writing gay love stories, or the arrogance of men writing romance between a man and woman.

Seriously? Why on earth would anyone think one gender had a great claim to expertise in writing craft as applied to any particular genre?

History offers many example of women being discriminated against. Here's where I get really confused. I would have guessed our own history of oppression, prejudice, and discrimination would have made women more sensitive and less tolerant to this kind of injustice. Reading commentary written by women, vilifying men who dare to think they can capture romance on the page, dismays me.

Are those women railing against male authored romance unaware of D.H. Laurence, T.S. Eliot, Leo Tolstoy, and William Shakespeare?

Practicing gender bias makes no sense. Thankfully the vast majority of readers are too smart to be bothered by an author's gender or sexual orientation or race or any other irrelevant label.

Right? Uh, you all aren't prejudiced against men writing romance are you?

The OHMYGODIHAVEABLOGDUE post

Uh....

So let's just go totally for fun and totally wacky.

Here's a picture. Give me the first line of the story you would write about this picture. Type it right into the comment section.  And then I'll randomly pick a winner and the winner can pick a title from my backlist. Any title.

When You Need a Laugh

After a really long week, I’m in the mood to share something light and fun. The following are Twitter hashtags and users who occasionally give me a laugh or share an interesting fact or quote. Even if you aren’t on Twitter, you can still click on the links and check them out. I’ve included a sampling of tweets with each hashtag or Twitter user listed below.

(For those of you who are not familiar with a hashtag, it’s a way for users to search and follow themed content across all tweets by using the # symbol to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet.)


#FiveWordsAfterSex

• Note to self: Buy batteries (via @TweakerTweets)
   
• I can't feel my legs (via @Brownskin_Mo)
   
• Round four in the shower (via @Arii_B_SoReal)
   
• Guess you're not Gay (via @Treehousecasino) 

@OMGFactsSex

• Despite conventional wisdom, men are actually more romantic than women! --- http://ow.ly/6J0pE
   
• An identical twin has 20-50% chance of being gay if the other is
   
• People have had sex 'on' the Moon! How so? -- http://t.co/BpTYPTjk
   
• Men's testosterones levels rise by 45.7% after 7 days of not ejaculating! Details -- http://t.co/Ab7Szmy9
   
• 34% of men admitted that they told lies to have sex

#sexquote

• Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night. - Rodney Dangerfield (via @Regeene)
   
• Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand. - Woody Allen (via @Regeene)
   
• Sex is like air; it's not important unless you aren't getting any. (via @MeghanJade)

#WorstPickUpLines

• I like your clothes, I bed they'd look even better on my bedroom floor (via @387wagner)
   
• girl I know yo feet hurt cause you been runnin through my mind all night! (via @FromLA_France)
   
• Do you like clocks? (Yes.) Put two hands and a face on this. (Point down) (via @SindeeDanger)
   
• Are my undies showing? Answer: "No." You: "Would you like them to? (via @The_WunderKind)

Do you have a hashtag or user you follow that gives you a good laugh?

I ain't afraid of no ghost?

Or am I.

It's the Halloween season. Boo! *Grins* did I scare you?

The monsters of Halloween all have fable and myth told about them long before Trick or Treat became the thing to say.

Just about every society has had a vampire myth or legend. Who can blame them? Yes, I do have a soft spot for vampires. Buffy and Twilight have only increased their popularity.

People have believed spirits could come back from the dead since culture began, either as ghosts or vampires or other worldly presences.

We've had a fascination with the moon and men who could turn into werewolves since long before Werewolves of London or Lon Chaney Jr.

My current favorite monster? Zombies. I'm loving the Walking Dead on AMC. Even with the nightmares. What's your favorite?

Have a Boo-n-tiful Halloween. Beware the monsters....

Mechele Armstrong
www.mechelearmstrong.com

Apologies

Uh, *blush* *stammer* sorry, folks. My calendar was attacked by dueling highlighters, in the ensuing mayhem I blogged here last Friday... But I feel awful about screwing up so I stole the best apology I could find for y'all.

Worth a Thousand Words

I don't have any interesting work habits. I don't use index cards or story boards or Ken dolls or paper dolls. I have an outline and I adjust as necessary. But I do love looking at photographs and listening to music when I'm writing -- especially when I'm writing historical fiction.

At the moment, I'm working on the sequel to This Rough Magic. The sequel is called Ill Met By Moonlight, and it's set a few days before New Year's Eve 1935.

Handsome Nob Hill socialite Brett Sheridan and tough PI Neil Patrick Rafferty have been "together" for about six months now. Of course "together" in 1935 was a very different thing than it would be for two gay men today. There are strains on their relationship arising out of more than their very different backgrounds -- and the reappearance of Brett's first love doesn't help matters.

Add in equal measures of Egyptology, blackmail and murder and you've got a very personal case for our two intrepid detectives.

Anyway, it's been a busy year for me and although This Rough Magic only came out a few months ago, it's taken me a while to get up to speed with the characters again. I've been listening a lot to music of the period. One song that featured largely in This Rough Magic was an old Bing Crosby favorite.

I thought I'd share it with you.

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.

I'm at GayRomLit...

And I almost forgot to post! So, GayRomLit is in full swing here in lovely New Orleans. I'm having lots of fun, even though I find it difficult to talk to new people. I've met a lot of awesome Loose Id authors, like Belinda McBride, Kiernan Kelly, Tara Lain, Missy Welsh, Johnny Miles. Heidi Cullinan, Amanda Young and Ethan Day. I've met one of the big guns at Loose Id, Treva Harte. I had a lovely lunch with Lynn Lorenz and a couple of very sweet readers. I don't really act like a typical fan girl, but it has been super-cool meeting all these authors who've written books I love.

There are several other LI authors I hope to run into before the event ends tomorrow, but I have to admit, I'm getting worn out! I've chatted with a lot of fabulous readers and done some sightseeing. I did an author reading, although that was totally terrifying. I wish I had some pictures to post, but I'm not much of a picture taker. I know, I know... I don't talk, I don't take pictures... what good am I?!? ;)

The organizers have done a great job, and I'm thrilled I had a chance to be here for the first one. So, not much of a blog post, but seriously, I'm exhausted and not really prepared for blogging today (hence the late afternoon post). With any luck, I'll be able to attend next year as well.

Alpha males

A few months ago when I wrote A Promise of Amber, the second Treeland Pack Tale, scheduled for release next Tuesday, most of the time I looked like this, except for the curlers.



I love wolfies, but those Alpha males are darn hard to get along with.

Frequently my thoughts turned to how much fun the demon guys had been. Mow that I'm working on the second demon story, I realize my mistake. Demons are not any more reasonable than the werewolves.

What the heck was I thinking? They're demons. Duh.

I actually miss the furry dudes even though they growled and snapped, and made me cry.

One of these days, I'm going try coaxing a story out of some regular human guys.

You Are Already Naked

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about goals and accomplishments. My editor and I have just sent my upcoming release off to line edits. Yay!

It feels good to be getting closer to the completion of this project. Take Me Home was an unexpected story for me and definitely threw my goals off the original plan for 2011. I’m okay with that, though. I’m extremely proud of how this one turned out. It did, however, mean I had to put a hold on my other manuscript and thus put a longer gap between my releases than I would have liked.

For that reason, and the many other roadblocks that we writers face, it can be easy to get discouraged in this business and give into the fear that comes with putting your creativity out into the world.

The quote below started making the rounds again after the recent passing of Steve Jobs. I think it’s a great quote for anyone who has a dream of accomplishing something but are afraid to try, to put themselves out there where failure is a real possibility, especially public failure. As an author, I can relate to that fear. Most writers live with it on a continual basis.

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

- Steve Jobs in a commencement address at Stanford in 2005

Fear (of failure and success) can be a part of what makes it difficult to push forward with any goal. One way to look at it is along the lines of what Steve Job was saying: in the end what do you really have to lose by trying? Another way to look at it is that most accomplishments require a series of tasks. Break down a goal into tasks and it becomes less frightening and more manageable.

Very few writers can create a publishable first draft. And those who do often edit and revise as they write that draft. They have a process that involves re-reading their work as they write, either chapter by chapter or at the beginning of a writing session or whenever they get stuck and need to go back over what they’ve written. It varies for everyone. Even with creative endeavors there are steps that one can take, a process that works for the individual writer or painter or musician or whatever, and moving forward with those steps is the way the end result is achieved.

That’s how many goals are accomplished, how dreams are discovered. Through creativity, diligence, and perseverance.

Just think about where Steve Jobs (and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak) started with Apple and how far personal computers advanced during his lifetime. Sure, he was only one part of that achievement, but the advancement of the technology does illustrate how far a dream can go.

FROM THIS...

1976 - Apple I
Photo Credit: Flickr/Ed Uthman


TO THIS...

2010 - iPad
Photo Credit: Apple

So, for all of you out there with a dream to achieve a specific goal—whether it’s writing or mountain climbing or losing weight or anything else—I hope you see that you are already naked and decide to give it a try.

“To reach a port, we must sail—Sail, not tie at anchor—Sail, not drift.”
- Franklin Roosevelt

Sloan Parker
www.sloanparker.com