Three Word Scenario: My Brother’s Best Friend

Here's another one of my three-word scenarios (where I take three random words and write whatever scenario comes to mind, using each word at least once.)

I had such fun with this one. I didn’t plan to do a holiday-themed scenario, but when I searched for the random words, I couldn’t resist the first one that came up. Perfect for this time of year. These scenarios seem to be getting longer and longer. Maybe I’ll end up with a novel-length one someday. 

The words for the following scenario were generated using this random word generator: pumpkin, computer, spark

(c) halfpoint / www.fotosearch.com Stock Photography

“You done with that pumpkin yet?” Leo was examining something on his computer. His eyes never left the screen as he asked me the question with as much interest as if he was talking to a telemarketer.

So much for confessing my feelings for him on Halloween.

We’d been seated across from each other at the kitchen table for the past hour, but until he’d asked about the pumpkin, neither of us had said more than five words. He had a trial to prepare for, and I had a pumpkin to gut.

Why’d I buy the thing anyway?

Because I’d always been a sucker for the holiday. As a kid I’d loved the costumes, the candy, going to my Grandma’s for a tall glass of cider, and trekking with my brother through the fallen leaves that covered the sidewalks of our neighborhood in search of those rare houses with the king-size candy bars.

Those fond memories were why I’d thought tonight would be the night I’d work up the courage to tell Leo I no longer thought of him as just my older brother’s best friend, to tell him I was seriously crushing on him.

I had been since the night my brother came home to the apartment we shared and announced that Leo was going to crash in our spare room for a while because he and his wife had separated.

“He’s gay,” my brother added as if that was all the explanation I needed. Maybe he thought all gay men instantly understood each other and didn’t need to speak at all.

But I did need to speak. It was driving me crazy not telling Leo how I felt.

He’d been staying with us for months now. Most nights my brother went out with whatever girl he was seeing, leaving Leo and me alone. We’d have dinner together, then he’d get some work done or suggest we rent a movie. Sometimes we’d just listen to music and shoot the shit for hours. I wasn’t usually as tongue-tied as I was now.

Of course, we’d never before discussed how much I wanted to suck his dick.

“Blake?” He leaned forward and snapped his fingers in front of my face. “You in there?”

“Yeah. What?”

“Did you finish it?” He gestured with his head to the pumpkin on the table.

The bumpy, orange surface before me only had one triangular eye carved into it and nothing else. I hadn’t had the focus to do more than that. “Sure. It’s done.”

Even without a mouth, the pumpkin seemed to be laughing at me.

Leo stood and stretched his arms over his head, giving me a glimpse of his stomach as the bottom edge of his T-shirt rose above the top of his jeans. I wanted to lick that skin, use my lips to trace the line of dark hair disappearing into the jeans that were unbuttoned at the top. I wanted to know if he wore boxers or briefs underneath, and if he was as controlled in bed as he was during the day in the courtroom. Or did he let go when he fucked? I wanted to know how it felt to have those serious, dark eyes staring at me in bed.

I licked my lips as he came around behind me to get a look at my pathetic carve job.

“That’s just about the scariest jack-o’-lantern I’ve ever seen.”

I elbowed him in the thigh. “Shut up.” I wanted to reach back and stroke that thigh with the palm of my hand. I held still.

He didn’t. He placed an open hand on the table beside the pumpkin and leaned over me so he could get a better look.

He was close; his chest made contact with my shoulder on his every breath. Neither of us spoke for a minute. Maybe two.

He didn’t need to stare at that stupid one-eyed jack-o’-lantern that long. There wasn’t much to see.

Maybe tonight was the night, after all, and maybe he wasn’t going to tell me to fuck off like I’d feared.

I turned my head his way. He did the same until we were eye to eye, and in that moment I knew. He wanted me the way I’d been wanting him.

The air in the room seemed to come alive with energy, like a spark of lightning had zipped through the space.

“Blake.” He breathed my name more than said it.

Then he moved with amazing assurance and speed. I couldn’t have stopped him if I’d wanted to. He tugged me out of the chair and backed me against the refrigerator behind us. I hit so hard, the upper freezer door popped open and smacked me in the back of the head. I didn’t care. He was touching me.

His mouth covered mine.

I wrapped my arms around him, clutching his back, dragging him closer, desperately wanting to memorize every inch of his body under my hands, every moment of the consuming kiss. Because that one kiss might be all I’d get.

As if I had a gift for prophesizing, he pulled back.

But he didn’t go far. He leaned in again so his forehead was pressed to my left temple. “I’ve waited so long for this.” He kissed my cheek, my earlobe. “Years.”

What? Did that mean… “So before?”

He looked away, toward the table and the pumpkin still sitting there with that taunting eye. Then he met my gaze again. “Yeah. Long before she and I called it quits.” He nuzzled the side of my neck. The scratch of his dark stubble on my skin had me very aware of his touch as he kissed his way up to my ear. “I think I’ve wanted you since the day I met you.”

We’d met when I was sixteen, when he and my brother had been freshmen in college.

Which meant… He’d wanted to be with me for over ten years.

“I just didn’t know how to accept it,” he added. “I pushed it aside, went on with my life. Only, my life was all a lie.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why tonight?”

He laughed. “I’ve been trying to make a move for weeks now. Just couldn’t figure out how. Never came on to a guy before, never kissed one.” He shook his head, glanced at the table again. “Watching you there, I couldn’t resist. You just looked so damn adorable carving that thing.” He kissed me, taking his time now, his hands exploring, his soft, wet tongue brushing against mine. Then he was backing me across the kitchen, moving us toward the hallway, toward my bedroom.

Passing by the table, I caught a glimpse of the single carved eye socket of that stupid, beautiful pumpkin—the best damn jack-o’-lantern on the planet.

“I love Halloween,” I murmured as my lips brushed his again.

Copyright (c) Sloan Parker, September 2013

Award-winning author Sloan Parker writes passionate, dramatic stories about two men (or more) falling in love. Sloan enjoys writing in the fictional world because in fiction you can be anything, do anything--even fall in love for the first time over and over again. She lives in Ohio with her partner and their neurotic cats where her greatest moments in life are spent with her family, her friends, and her characters. You can learn more about Sloan and her writing at www.sloanparker.com.

First and Last Lines

The first and last sentences are considered by many to be the most important lines of a book. There’s even a commonly utilized blog topic where authors and readers post first and last lines of their favorite books, as well as tumblr posts dedicated to first lines and even one for all the Harry Potter books.

I thought it might be fun to take a look at the first and last lines from my Loose Id titles. I was surprised at how well the two sentences from each summed up the themes and character arcs of these stories, something I hadn’t consciously worked to do when writing them.

I was not surprised, however, to see how short the lines were. My editor says I have a very staccato style. My natural flow seems to be to write a longer sentence bracketed by shorter, punchier ones.

Here are the first and last lines of my LI books:

MORE
I hadn't seen any sign of my stalkers.
“I'll love you both until I take my last breath.”

BREATHE
Hope you found some peace in jail.
To save each other.

TAKE ME HOME
“Have you guys done it yet?”
So long as he was with Evan, he was home.

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE
“You’re mine now.”
“We’ll see.”

What are the first and last lines from one of your favorite books?




Award-winning author Sloan Parker writes passionate, dramatic stories about two men (or more) falling in love. Sloan enjoys writing in the fictional world because in fiction you can be anything, do anything—even fall in love for the first time over and over again. She lives in Ohio with her partner and their neurotic cats where her greatest moments in life are spent with her family, her friends, and her characters. You can learn more about Sloan and her writing at www.sloanparker.com.

Not Your Enemy

Isn't that cover amazing! IMO it is totally out of the box. Of course I'm eager to see how readers will respond. Hopefully they'll want to know why she's looking at this hunky hunk the way she is and rush to find out more.

Well, guess what, I can give you an idea. I love exploring capture elements in my erotica. BDSM isn't what I'm looking for so much as the relationship between people who should be enemies (see, that's where the title comes in) but wind up not to be.

Justifying having a powerful and potent man kidnap or capture a modern woman is hard to pull off so what I did was throw my characters into the past. They belong to different, warring clans. There's a winner and a loser and to the winner goes the spoils--specifically a brave yet helpless female warrior.

He isn't a rapist. As his clan's war leader, he's ruled by his people's ethical standards and those standards say he will treat her as a worth prisoner of war. That's all well and good, but this prisoner is a beautiful, sexy woman. Yes, she hates him. Yes she'd kill him if she had the opportunity.

Then their bodies begin to speak to each other.

Released today: Choices

The first of The Looking Glass series, Choices is a contemporary with a hint of paranormal, set in Sydney, Australia. It features a Magic Mirror which shows the person who looks into it their One True Love. Great if you were looking for love, but what would happen if you didn't want love, or the person it showed you was not anyone you'd ever want to fall in love with?



Marc's straight, always has been and thought he always would be, but when he's shown his true love in a magic mirror he's shocked to find out his true love is a man. Not only that, it's up to him to convince his true love they're meant to be together. All bad enough, but after finding Liam, the only way he’s able to persuade Liam to go out with him is to offer him sex – even though that's something Marc's definitely not ready for.
Liam thinks Marc is crazy. Marc's straight but he's talking about true love and making a life together. Liam doesn’t believe in love and he certainly isn’t going to fall in love with a crazy straight guy regardless of how sexy he is. But he hasn’t reckoned on Marc’s pushy attitude or his offer of sex which, no matter how much he knows he should, Liam can’t turn down.

To read an excerpt, click here.

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

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?

World Building 101

Scanning through reviews (I shouldn’t, but I do), I noticed the phrase wolf-shifter used to describe Daniel, the hero of A Taste of Scarlet. I understand this is a common designation in paranormal romances that feature humans who’ve acquired the ability to shift into werewolf form.

But in the Treeland Pack storyverse, werewolves are a separate species. Pure bloods can shift to human form from birth. This may be a small distinction, but for me it’s critical to who they are–werewolves capable of appearing human. Not converted humans.

By the same token, in the Treeland world, humans can not become werewolves. Doesn’t happen. Mixed blood werewolves come from a male werewolf mating with a human woman. They may or may not be capable of shifting to wolf form. There’s no way to know until puberty. Those who never shift are latents. Of those who do eventually transition, most die.

A kind reader stopped by to explain that the term shifter refers to any paranormal creature who can phase between at least two forms--usually human and a beast of some kind. Made perfect sense to me after she explained it. :)

Fortified with this new knowledge, I now understand my wolfies are shifters, my demons aren't, but my dragons are.

When I read, exploring a new world is definitely part of the fun. Do you like to discover new realities or do you prefer your fiction set in well established worlds?

Creating a Book Trailer for Your Novel

I was fortunate to get to take a wonderful workshop at Savvy Authors from author, Kris Tualla, on How to Create a Book Trailer. This workshop was hugely challenging for me since i'm not very techy and had never even used Powerpoint before. But I DID IT!! The results are shown below in my book trailer for Genetic Attraction which is now available from Loose Id.

This trailer isn't very sophisticated compared to many, but i've gotten great comments on it, plus lots of questions on how to do it. I can't duplicate Kris's workshop here, so i would advise hopping over to Savvy Authors and seeking her out. However, i will outline the steps, so you have an idea.

• Tell your story in about 20 punchy, short  lines. This is the critical step. Everything depends on getting this script right, plus it's great discipline because you should be able to describe your book in an elevator speech. Start with the setting (thank you Kris, for that great tip) and don't get caught up in the details!
• Select pictures and or video to go with your script. You MUST own these pictures, so go to a royalty free stock photo house. I got my great pix from 123RF for less that $1.50 each. It's good to find multiple pictures of one person who looks like your characters. In my trailer, i was lucky to find several photos of the same attractive red-haired woman and the same adorable young man. 
• Put your script and pictures together in Powerpoint. If you know the application, you can use some of the tricky fades and wipes for transitions, but don't get too fancy. the key is the story.
• Find music that fits your story at one of the free music sites. 
• Acquire music editing software like Cakewalk or Goldwave. You'll have to pay for this, but it's not too expensive. I found the music editing step the hardest. The application was difficult for me to understand, but through lots of trial and error, i finally got it to my satisfaction.
• Download free conversion (Powerpoint to video) software and put your music and PP slides together. You'll likely have to adjust timing on your Powerpoint screens to get the music to time just right. Keep at it!
• When you like it, upload it to YouTube and you're in the movies!!

As i say, this project was hard for me but completing it was oh so satisfying. I'm happy with the outcome and looking forward to making my next trailer for The Scientist and the Supermodel coming out in May from Loose Id. See what you think of my results:

Tweetaholic? More on Book Promotion

I promised last week that I would write this week about Twitter, so I’m doing it even though I really want to tell you about my new DOG!!!! Well, I’ll tell you a little because she is sitting on my lap right now. She is a papillon, butterfly in French, and has the giant butterfly ears to prove it. She is A-dorable. No name selected yet, but we’re considering Jolie which means pretty in French or Poppy.

Okay, on to social media. As I said last week, I’m not a social media expert. I’m just sharing my personal experience, both as an author and a PR person. Last week we talked about Facebook and said it is a very personal platform. Twitter is a different animal. I am a Tweetaholic and use Twitter more than Facebook (although I appreciate Facebook more all the time). Twitter is far more a “broadcast” medium.  Much of the world’s news – earthquakes, fires, floods, divorces-- appears first on Twitter. On Twitter, you have “followers” and you want to have a lot of them because every one is a potential reader or friend of a reader. Start by following other writers – there are tons of them on Twitter. Not only do writers read a lot, they also have people who read them who might also want to read you. Yes, you only have 140 characters, but you get used to packing a lot into that short form, plus a link to something like your blog, your book buy link, a YouTube video, etc. (This post, for example, will be tweeted several times today.) 

Unlike Facebook, Twitter is ephemeral. You Tweet, it goes out, maybe it gets “retweeted” if people are interested, and it goes away. So you can come back later and tweet about the same thing. But, like on Facebook, you can’t be too pushy. People will unfollow you if you try to sell all the time. Only about a third of your tweets should be salesy. The rest should offer useful information, be retweets of other people, and comments on their tweets. While not as personal as Facebook, Twitter is still social, and the way you treat people matters.

People freak out over Twitter wondering how on earth they can read all those tweets, especially when you get over 1,000 followers. The answer is “you can’t”. You get an organizational tool like TweetDeck or Seesmic and use it to organize your tweets. You soon start to get a sense of who you want to follow most closely. When you come onto Twitter, you read the tweets you see and maybe comment on some. That might develop a new friend from somewhere in the world. One day I saw a tweet about a movie someone liked. I asked where she saw it. She said “the city”. I said Los Angeles? She said, no, Vienna!  A very international  platform.

Mostly, on Twitter, you comment on the people who have mentioned you. It sounds hard, but you’ll get the hang of it. There are regular events like Follow Friday when you can recognize people and they may recognize you and perhaps follow you in return. Regularly, you should follow people who interest you (Twitter will make suggestions or you can look at the lists of people you follow) and they may follow you back. Some people hate the relentless nature of Twitter. But it’s a fabulous place to promote your blog, your book, your book tour. You’ll find new people that you may want to friend on Facebook or Goodreads. It’s a must for self promotion by an author. Set aside a few minutes a couple or three times a day to participate. Just always remember that book promotion is more about the book than the promotion.  Which one do you like better?  Twitter or Facebook?  Why?

Also, if you pop over to my Book BLOG and follow and/or leave a comment, you may WIN a copy of Genetic Attraction, my M/M/F menage now available from Loose Id. 

Book Promotion: Facebook Fanatic?

Have you noticed that people tend to be huge fans of either Twitter or Facebook and will use one a lot and the other very little or not at all? Actually, while you may prefer one, you have to do both because they are very different in the way they reach people and even the people they reach. I started out trying to cover both in one discussion and was heading toward a 900 word post. I figured that would try your patience, so this week I’ll talk about Facebook which I think is the easiest to grasp. Next week we’ll cover Twitter (my personal fave). Please note, I’m not a social media expert. This is my experience over the last six months introducing myself and my first novel, Genetic Attraction, plus some of my PR training.

So, let’s discuss Facebook, the most popular social media tool and subject of the film, The Social Network (great movie, by the way.) I am active on Facebook, but don’t begin to use all its tools. I don’t have a fan page and don’t think I’ll need one for a long while (fan pages are great when you want to exceed your 5000 friend limit. I should be so fortunate! LOL). So, for beginning purposes, here are some things to remember.

Your Facebook page is a part of your persona as a writer. Whether you write under your own name or not, do NOT mix your personal friends and chats with them with your professional friends. Create two different Facebook accounts and keep them separate. But, with that said, remember Facebook is a personal medium. This means you communicate with the people on Facebook as you would a friend. You share semi-personal information, things about your life, something fun you see on YouTube or television. You chat and, above all, you comment on other people’s posts, share their triumphs and mourn their losses. On Facebook, you may post an announcement about your blog or your new release once. But it stays, so you can’t push it. Facebook is not a pushy platform and people get really mad if you try to sell them. Fecebook is about friends. Be friendly! My friend, Sloan Parker is, IMO, the master of Facebook interaction, and if you want to know how to use it well, watch her.

Who do you follow? I’d start with other writers, publishers, agents, people whose information you really want to know. As you grow your list, Facebook will suggest other friends like the ones you have. You can see your friends’ lists and perhaps ask to friend some of those people. Because of the nature of Facebook, most people (even your number one author idol!) will agree to be friends with you. It’s a kick! You can have real conversations on Facebook, but mostly you want to “be a friend” to the people who you follow. Do that, and when you ask for support, like for a blog tour or book advice, chances are they will give it. And it gives your growing number of fans a place to find you and interact with you personally. I have people who like my books who see me online and come and chat.

Like all social media, Facebook can be addictive. Resist. You need time to write. But it is a marvelous way to meet people and cement relationships. If you’re not using it, go over and sign up. It’s easy. If you have an account but don’t use it, start looking for friends and vow to visit the page once a day to comment on their posts. You’ll be delighted with the results.

What is your favorite social media tool? Why do you like it best?

The Big Picture: Some Things Do Get Easier

With the start of 2011 came the revising phase of the two erotic romances I’ve been working on for the past few months. One is a suspense featuring Walter Simon from MORE; the other is a friends-to-lovers story, and both include a passionate romance that steams up the e-reader (or so I hope).

Since revising is where most of my energy is focused lately, that’s what today’s post is all about.

I’ll be editing these manuscripts for a while before I dig into a new project, but that doesn’t bother me. I enjoy going over and over a story, adding in the little details that build stronger characters and increase the emotions and sexual tension.

One of my writing goals for this year is to write faster, which means producing fewer drafts for each project. I thought I did pretty well on these latest “first drafts” until I started reviewing one of the manuscripts. There are more plot and pacing revisions needed than I had expected.

It’s not a bad thing, though. With one day of frustration and three productive days of making revision notes, I’ve figured out some of the issues. I feel good about that. There are many times I’m too close to my work and can’t see the big picture. I’m hoping this means I’m getting better at objectively examining my writing.

Working out these issues has taught me a few things:

1) It gets easier to cut scenes.
Not sure if it’s because I’m cutting scenes early in my self-editing process or because after working with Loose Id on two books, I’m able to see issues more clearly and accept that the story will be stronger if I make the cuts. Whatever the reason, I’ve spent the last two days cutting and combining scenes, and I can see the improvements at a higher level.

2) Listen to my internal reader.
When writing a scene, I shouldn’t focus solely on whether the scene is right for the story (is it moving the plot along, is it building characterization, etc.) but also ask myself if it’s a scene readers will find interesting. The most important scene for the story’s plot may very well be the most boring, non-essential scene for a romance reader.

3) Listen to my gut.
If my gut tells me to veer off the planned outline, I should do it! Many writers who plot out their books beforehand will admit this is an important point to accept when it comes to effective plotting, and I was reminded of that this week. Sometimes even the best laid plans need to be revised once they are put into action.

4) Magical things happen after that first draft.
As I took note of the necessary revisions and locations for adding details, I could see the story strengthening and was reminded that layering in emotions and characterizations is what makes a story unique. This is the part where I love being a writer.

So yeah, it might take some time to get these books ready to submit to my editor, but I feel like I’m on the right path and that’s a great place to be.

Sloan Parker
www.sloanparker.com

My POV on POV

When I first submitted my manuscript for Genetic Attraction to Loose Id, I got a revise and resubmit letter that suggested that I needed to work on point-of-view.  Now, I’m new to fiction writing (although I’ve been a non-fiction writer for a lifetime), but I thought I knew about POV. I looked at my manuscript closely. I wasn’t head-hopping (jumping from one character’s point-of-view to another’s  a number of times in a scene). I always clearly indicated switches in POV.  What was the matter? I expressed my frustration to my editor who tried to help, but I just wasn’t getting it.

After weeks of bad trial and error, my editor sent me a document from a workshop that talked about deep point-of-view. (DPOV). I read it and the lights came on. It was the “wa-wa” experience (remember in the Miracle Worker when Helen finally connects the feel of water on her hand to the symbol for water Annie was making?) Suddenly, I understood the difference between skating lightly on a character’s viewpoint, and being locked into his or her thoughts and feelings, and that understanding literally transformed my writing on the spot. I got the difference between:

Omniscient POV- -It was a dark and stormy night.

Shallow POV --John saw it was a dark and stormy night.

Deep POV – John pushed against the door, fighting the intense wind that tried to slam it on him. He held up his hand in front of his face, but his eyes just couldn’t adjust to the darkness. Crap, he didn’t know it could get this dark. He hated the blackness. He couldn’t stand the sense of isolation. 

I understood that point-of-view wasn’t a thing that made writing good, it was in many ways, everything. It is the key to the reader’s emotional involvement and satisfaction. A reader doesn’t know necessarily why they feel unconnected with a book or scene in a novel, but, chances are, it’s because the writer has missed deep POV. Some pretty famous authors who are notorious for head-hopping likely get away with it because, while they are in a character’s head, they are in DPOV.

Since that first moment of understanding, I’ve gone on to workshops and readings in an effort to make my point-of-view expression deeper and more natural. While I went through my first two books line by line to edit the POV, I find that today I more automatically write in DPOV, and when I don’t, I catch myself more quickly.  I’m still a newbie and have much to learn, but I’ll be forever grateful to my editors for that guidance. Now, if they could just improve my commas! 

That very novel, Genetic Attraction, is available TODAY from Loose Id. When i saw it on the home page a few minutes ago, i cried. It was a journey of learning during which i changed my POV. 

See it here at Loose Id:  http://www.loose-id.com/Genetic-Attraction.aspx

Here's the delicious blurb:

At a conservative Long Island University, renowned researcher, Dr. Emmaline Silvay, has two great loves – her life-saving work, and her younger research partner, Jake Martin. The romantic love is impossible. She’s his boss and he lives with his girlfriend. The the “girlfriend” is actually a boyfriend, the beautiful and infamous supermodel, Roan Black.

Resigned to a platonic relationship, Em accepts a weekend invitation to their home, but the men have a menage on their minds. She can’t resist, doesn’t even want to. But their intentions go far beyond passion. They want her to “be a part of them”. Their three-way love defies propriety and the standards of the University that funds their work. The supermodel’s fame makes secrecy impossible. Their ménage threatens to crumble all she’s worked for. What will give way to make room for genetic attraction?

Want to say hi:  tara@taralain.com
http://www.taralain.com
http://taralain.blogspot.com
http://beautifulboysbooks.blogspot.com

Wondering About Shorts

Something I’ve been wondering lately: do readers of m/m romances/erotic romances like reading shorts? No, not the ones some hot guy is wearing…I mean short stories.

I enjoy writing an occasional short story. They take me more time than I’d like since I tend to rewrite more than I write, but for the most part I enjoy the freedom of putting together something shorter than my normal work. Something where I can try a new character without committing to a longer story arc. Where I can play with a sex scene that might not fit any of my other characters. Where I can take a kernel of an idea and run with it, rather than worry whether a plot has enough meat to carry any entire novella or novel-length book.

I’ve got a couple of free stories available on my website. My hope was that they would give potential readers a sampling of my work before they invested in a new author’s first book. But now that I have two books out, I’m debating if I should write any more shorts. I have at least one more I need to finish editing. But after that, I'm wondering if I should write another if the muse strikes. Do readers enjoy an occasional short story from authors (either as a freebie or for sale) or would you prefer authors spend their time working on longer stories? Any authors out there care to share if your shorts are doing well with readers?

Do you enjoy reading shorts at all? Why or why not? Do you find they are usually representative of an author’s other work? Or are you frustrated and wish an author would stick to one length (either shorter or longer)?

I’d love to hear what anyone thinks on the subject of shorts (even if you just want to comment on the pics of the guys in shorts I shared).

For anyone interested, you can check out my website for my free m/m erotic romances.

Thanks for listening and for any opinions you’d like to share.

Sloan Parker
www.sloanparker.com

New Release: Breathe by Sloan Parker

Breathe
by Sloan Parker

Genre: LGBT Suspense (m/m)
Length: Novel Plus
Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs



Available now at
Loose Id

BREATHE is the story of two small-town strangers who meet and discover an undeniable attraction only to learn a little too late they never should have met at all. Or so they think.

One man’s wife was killed in a car accident a year before the story begins. The other man is the one who caused the accident that took her life. They are (hopefully) two very likable guys stuck in an impossible situation.

For me this story is about forgiveness, love, and the power of both to make a huge difference in our lives. I hope anyone who picks up a copy enjoys Lincoln and Jay's story. I had a wonderful experience writing it.


BLURB

Lincoln McCaw lost everything -- his home, his job, his partner -- after he caused a fatal accident. A year later, he's drowning the guilt and despair in whiskey, but he needs to move on. His sister and her kids are counting on him. Then he meets a man who ignites a passion Lincoln thought he’d never find. Too bad one night is all they can have together. Now he needs to figure out how to turn away from the only person who makes him feel alive…before whoever is
sending him threats decides Lincoln needs to suffer more than he already has.

Jay Miller is surrounded by grief and misery until he finally gives in to all those years of sexual fantasies about being with another guy. Realizing he’s ended up in the arms of the man who caused his wife’s accident, he tries to pull away. But how can he give up a friendship he needs more than anything -- a friendship and a love that could save him? He may not have time to make the choice before someone else destroys it all.

Read an excerpt and purchase at Loose Id

Release Day!! His Brother's Keeper

His Brother's Keeper
by Ali Katz
Publisher: Loose Id
Cover Art: Justin James
Purchase Link

What happens to romance when the honeymoon is over? Eventually, real life will interrupt: jobs, finances, sickness, disaster, kids, the age old question of who's turn it is to do the dishes tonight. Few couples lead lives so charmed they never have to deal with these things. The raging heat of passion is reduced to a simmer when family takes over.

His Brother's Keeper, affectionately referred to by my friends and crit partners as HBK, is one family's story.

Sal and Jess are from different worlds. Sal knows how to love. He's watched his parents practice for-better-or-worse his whole life. Jess, who's homelife revolved around taking care of his little brother, is still learning.

But, when disaster strikes, it's Jess in the driver's seat with Sal riding shotgun. Romance, however, is forced into the back seat for a while and love becomes the fuel that keeps them going.

More than a romance, HBK is a love story. I hope it touches you in some way.

Blurb

After six months, Jess and Sal are still living the honeymoon - sex in the hall, sex on the stairs, sex on the kitchen floor. Life couldn't be more perfect.

Enter Jess's little brother, Teddy.

A kid is the last thing the lovers need, especially a sullen, troubled teen, with far too much baggage, but Teddy needs them, and when life throws a curve, real men swing.

A kid in the house, however, means getting together is no longer just a matter of wrestling to see who's going to top, or stashing little bottles of lube in convenient places. It takes innovation - they haven't tried the laundry room in the garage -- and discretion -- hard to be discreet if your lover crows when he comes. Watching Teddy bloom makes the daily challenges worthwhile. They manage.

Their little family is just beginning to take on a healthy new shape when Teddy is viciously attacked and Sal comes under suspicion.
Now, where and when take second place to if and but. The ultimate test begins as they fight to hold fast to love and family while merciless forces work to rip them apart.

Read an Excerpt

Thanks for reading,

ali
www.a-katz.com
On Facebook: Ali Katz
On Twitter: practicalkatz

Why erotic romances? Is it more than sex & lust?

Hello everyone! My name is Sloan Parker and I’m new author with Loose Id. My first book, More, an m/m/m erotic suspense was released two weeks ago and today is my first day to blog here at Loose Ends.

I'd just like to take a quick moment to say thanks to everyone who’s already picked up a copy of More. I appreciate you taking a chance on this new author. It’s been a thrill to hear directly from readers and to have my book on the digital shelves alongside many of my favorite authors. Huge thanks to everyone who worked on More, including a special thank you to my editor Antonia and to April Martinez for the gorgeous cover.

With More’s release, I've been thinking a lot about writing and reading, love and passion. What is it about an erotic romance that works for me? What is it that makes me want to read another? And another? What draws me in to a love story? What made me want to spend hours writing my own stories?

Today I thought I’d share some of my answers to these questions. In no order, here are some of the reasons why I love romances (and erotic romances in particular):

• The discovery. For a new couple, there is so much to discover about each other. I love going along on that journey. Meeting someone new, seeing where the two characters fit together, watching as they discover each other’s personalities, the little quirks that make them individuals, as well as their discovery of each other’s physical needs and wants.
  
  
• The growth. I love when a character grows as a person through the journey of love and sexual intimacy. So much of who we are as individuals is influenced by our pasts, our previous relationships, and uncovering those histories (both as a reader and a writer) is fascinating to me. Using that history to shape their journey through a romantic, erotic relationship is even more so.
  
  
• The love. Experiencing those moments of falling in love with someone is one of the greatest joys of life. The next best thing, reading about that journey in a story filled with unique characters and an interesting plot. When it’s done well, it all ties together to create a beautiful story that says something about us as human beings.
  
  
• The humanity. I like reading about characters that are flawed, that have some major personal challenges they need to overcome in order to let another person into their mind, their body, their heart. I like watching them make mistakes and blunders, then watch as they grow and try to do better with each turn of the page.
  
  
• The tension. I like romances with heightened internal and external conflicts. Fill a romantic story with suspense or a mystery, as well as an interesting, unique conflict between the romantic leads and you’ll have me hooked.
  
  
• The sex. Well, I do like erotic scenes in my romances after all. Entering the bedroom through a moment of sexual play with the characters makes the story so much more personal. There is nothing we don’t see. It’s often a wonderful way to get a look at how the characters are growing emotionally. It also allows me as a reader to connect on a deeper level with the characters, to see who they are in their most sensual, private moments.
  
  
• The intensity. Erotic romances are filled with passion and lust in a way other romances aren’t. They make you squirm in your seat. They get your heart racing, your breath catching, often on page one. Many times I’m thinking, SLOW DOWN but I’m also thinking, KEEP GOING. It’s that push and pull, that rush of adrenaline, that intensity of attraction that makes the couple (or more) seem destined for each other. I like when they are just as surprised by their emotional connection as I was by their physical one. I find myself giggling at their naiveté. Did they really think it could be just about the sex, the lust? I love watching them get blindsided by both the passion and the emotions, watching them take that wild ride together.
  

So how about you? What do you like about reading romantic, erotic stories?

Celebrate With A Contest

INTO THE NIGHT, book two in Caitlyn Willows' Into the Heart erotic paranormal series, was just released (Book one, INTO THE LAIR, is a 2007 Dream Realm Award Winner) which gives Caitlyn two fantastic reasons to celebrate! And Author Island is helping me do so with a great contest!

Want to win the Shapeshifter Tarot card deck that helped guide Caitlyn's muse through the writing of INTO THE NIGHT? Then head on over to Author Island for information on how you can enter.

New Release: Into The Night by Caitlyn Willows

INTO THE NIGHT
Book 2 - Into The Heart Series
by Caitlyn Willows
Erotic Romance - Paranormal - Shape-shifter
September 2008
Cover Artist - Marci Gass
Loose Id
ISBN 978-1-59632-770-2

It’s an experience too farfetched to be real, but Trina Tate knows she holds the memories of another woman's soul. Memories that cry out to be with the man, the king she once loved. Drawn to the park each night Trina watches shape-shifting black jaguars running...and mating...and craves to be a part of that. Is she shifting herself or is that too only memory?

Wyatt Caldwell has resolved himself to a life without his soulmate. He's lost the love of his life twice. Duty now occupies him -- duty as head of Braden Institute, duty as leader of the shape-shifters. But once he sees Trina roaming, searching the park fully nude, body and soul calling for his touch. How could he possibly resist?

Excerpt:

Trina pulled in a hard breath. A thousand different scents assaulted her. She shook her head to clear it and tumbled to one side. Vertigo. Damn, it was happening again. Trina caught herself before she fell and eased down onto the cool grass. Nausea roiled in her stomach. She wrapped her arms around her midriff in a desperate attempt to keep from throwing up. The buzz in her head grew to a roar. She squeezed her eyes shut against the pain she knew was coming. It slammed into the back of her skull with the force of a sledgehammer.

She tucked into a fetal position, shaking arms clutching her knees. Blackness clouded her mind, and she felt herself drop into a void. Her body convulsed, as if it were trying to leave the confines of her skin. Trina couldn’t say if the seizure was real or just the workings of her troubled mind. Finally, the sensation passed, and she peeled her eyelids open.

She was sprawled on the ground, her fingers digging into the soft grass like a lifeline. Deep gouges bloodied her forearms. She panted, as if she’d run a marathon, each hard breath amplified as the pain in her head drifted away.

Trina pushed herself upright. She felt weak now, every movement an effort. Braced against the tree once more, she hugged her knees. This was why she'd sought the jaguar shape-shifters out. She wanted answers. Needed them. Except the pull of sex, the smell of sweat and hormones, the magic of whatever they were, had taken over instead. She’d been compelled to strip off her clothes, to watch, to join them.

Then Wyatt had been upon her, tracking her, reeking of sex and maleness, asserting his dominance. And she caved, letting him do whatever he wished, take whatever he wanted. The loss of control, the total submission, affected her in ways she’d never imagined. The old Trina would have nipped that in the bud without blinking. But this person she’d become, this person she didn’t recognize…

She buried her face in her hands to squelch the rush of tears. Trina didn’t know what she’d become. She needed help -- their help. Somehow she had to convince them to do so, convince them she wasn’t crazy or nosy or whatever she’d been before. She needed to convince herself, too. She didn’t know which task was harder, getting someone to believe she'd changed, or trying to believe it herself.

No, she knew what was hardest -- asking for help in the first place. It’d taken her a great deal of soul-searching to get to this point -- finding the clan and following them. She couldn’t let the opportunity pass now. The chances of finding them again would be few after tonight; they’d be more watchful now that she’d gotten too close. Of course, Trina could always corner Wyatt at the institute.

Just like he could corner me.

Trina’s pulse leaped at the thought. She hugged herself at the memory -- the promise -- of his hard, hot body looming over hers. Here was a man who took control without asking, who took it because it was his right. If he could do all this to her in the space of an hour and with an audience, what would he do if he had privacy and all the time in the world? The things he could do to her body! The things he could do to her heart.

She shook her head. No, being alone with Wyatt Caldwell was a big mistake. It was better to get this over with tonight. To make the shape-shifters listen and give her the answers she needed.

If they could.

Trina pushed to her feet and brushed her hands down her T-shirt. Her ragged nails snagged on the cotton. Her forearms stung. She didn’t want to see how much damage she’d done to herself while she was out of it. The truly bizarre thing was that, by morning, any sign of injury would be gone anyway.

It was one of those new mysteries happening to her, like how she could now see in the dark, how her body healed overnight, how her sense of smell rivaled that of a bloodhound. She’d learned to accept the enhanced abilities; after all, what other choice did she have? But the isolation, turmoil, and confusion they caused were driving her slowly insane. Or maybe she’d always been close to the edge, and these events were accelerating her decline. The last few nights she'd spent watching the jaguars was the first time she’d felt connected to anything in six months. No wonder she’d hesitated to shatter that by approaching them.

God, you’re pathetic.

Trina winced at the words her conscience threw at her. The last time she’d heard those exact words had set her on a course from which she’d sworn she'd never deviate. Never again was she going to be the victim in any way, shape, or form.

Trina sighed. That decision had isolated her as well. How ironic she’d be suffering this -- she looked at her hands -- whatever this was, now.

She lifted her chin and tried to catch the clan’s scent. A cacophony of smells slammed into her -- the zoo, the residue from the autumn fires, the ocean, vehicle exhaust. Blood.

Fresh nausea clenched her stomach before she considered it was probably her own blood filtering into the mix. She’d only had six months to learn how to deal with a super-sensitized sniffer. Sorting smells in the rain forest was vastly different than doing so in the city.

Trina shook her head. No, this was a lot of blood. Something big had been killed and recently, too, since the stench of decomposition hadn’t set in. Now that was a smell she’d never had a problem identifying. Living in the rain forest, life and death were never more than a hundred yards away, and nature quickly reabsorbed the loss. But this…

She debated on whether to call the police. The conversation played in her mind. I think something’s dead. No, I don’t know what. I don’t know if it’s a person. No, I don’t know where. Somewhere in Balboa Park. No, I’m not a fucking psychic. This isn’t a crank call.

Trina sighed and let it go. Without specifics, there wasn’t anything she could do to help. She clenched her fist against her thigh and forced her attention on finding the clan. Except too many scents vied for her attention, making it difficult to sort them out.

Now what? Did she wander the park, hoping to run into them? Disillusioned, she wrapped her arms around her midriff as she determined her next move. Wyatt’s scent drifted upward. Trina smiled. Of course, he’d been all over her. His scent would naturally be on her.

She inhaled and felt a rush of goose bumps over her skin. Her breath hitched as her body remembered the hard thrust of his body. She scuffed her hands over her arms in a futile attempt to banish the desire burning inside and then lifted her nose to the air to catch Wyatt’s scent.

There. Trina expanded her senses and caught a whiff of the rest of the clan. They’d congregated not too far away. Pulling in a breath and warning her libido against getting sidetracked, she headed in that direction.

The things we do for love

No, I hadn't forgotten I was supposed to blog here. But it's been quite a week. Blood Lines 5: Bitter Love released. I'm so excited about this story. I had a ball writing it, and Amaretto is just awesome.

I'm always amazed by the things we do for the kidlets. DH went out tonight to find TV Guide because it has those 3D glasses for the concert movie premiere this weekend with Hannah Montana. Yeah, Hannah Montana. The DH was thrilled to be buying that magazine LOL.

In Bitter Love, one thing Amaretto does for Leif is scratch his nose. *G* did you think I was going to say something else? It's a strange moment but a rather touching one.

So what's the oddest things you've ever done to keep someone happy?

Mechele Armstrong
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com

Author Interview: Katrina Strauss

Author Name: Katrina Strauss

Year started writing for LI: Late 2007

Titles: Blue Ruin 1: Some Kind of Stranger, Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me

Web Page: http://www.katrinastrauss.com/

http://katrina-strauss.blogspot.com/

What genre do you write in, and why? : Dark, erotic, edgy romance, or what one of my first readers dubbed Romance for the Black Coffee Crowd. The darker and sexier, the better, and I don't see why romance can't encompass both. I originally wrote paranormal and historical het but now focus on m/m and yaoi contemporary. The majority of my work, both het and m/m, encompasses BDSM themes. Real life experiments aside, I find BDSM works well on the written page in exploring not just the physical but the psychological dynamics at work in romantic relationships.

How much time do you spend writing every week? : In a good week? Around 8 hours a day, up to 12 if I'm meeting a deadline. Other weeks, I may not get anything written at all!

What was the first story you ever wrote about? (not nec. first published story) : The Adventures of the Cute Little Pig, complete with illustrations. Hey, I was only six. And yes, it was a romance, though I dare say my style has, erm, matured since then.

How do you judge the effectiveness of the sensual scenes in your stories? : If I get so hot and bothered that I have to step away from the computer and go outside to cool down? Then I trust my readers will enjoy the scene as well!

Favourite candy while writing? : Chocolate, of course! The Muse demands it!

Where did your most unusual plot idea come from? : A marathon viewing of D.Gray-man which led to naughty yaoi fantasies, followed by re-watching Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, paired with research on Victorian-era train travel, psychiatry, and spiritualism. Lo and behold, a story emerged from all that.

What inspires you to write? : I've always had a need to create and have dabbled in various artistic mediums since childhood. Before I started writing full-time, I tried photography and enjoyed a few publications. I'm also a self-taught seamstress and made Renaissance-inspired clothing and Pagan lifestyle accessories for a few years.

What music inspires your writing? : My writing mix used to consist of older bands like The Sisters of Mercy, The Cure, or Depeche Mode, but with the Blue Ruin series I've updated with more current acts like The Killers, Linkin Park, and Shiny Toy Guns, along with various J-rock bands. (Though the Blue Ruin books are each named after an 80's song, so go figure…)

Plotter or a Pantser? : Pantser, though with the last few books I've created a kinda/sorta outline after winging it through the first few chapters and getting a better handle on where the story is going.

Does your cat insist on sitting on your keyboard like mine does? : I don't have cats anymore, but when one of my two dogs wants attention, he nudges the sliding keyboard tray under the desk with his nose and then props his head in my lap.

When you get stuck, how do you find your way back to the writing? : If my input isn't balanced with my output, my work suffers. I turn off the computer and read a new book or manga, watch a movie, or *gasp* go outside. I hate to admit it but zoning out during housework with the I-Pod helps, and I often work out plot elements while I'm sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming. I also find a nice long drive helps me think more clearly on whatever I'm writing.

The Personal stuff:

Any outrageous liaisons in your past? A few. I was pretty scandalous in my younger days. Don't tell my teenagers this.

Where's the most unusual place you ever managed to have sex? : A golf course. At night. Yes, the sprinklers came on. Fore!

What kind of books do you read for fun? : I enjoy manga and am currently reading the D.Gray-man, Loveless, and Godchild series. I also can't get enough of JD Robb's In Death series and devour each release like candy. (JD Robb is actually Nora Roberts, but the In Death series is darker and grittier than La Nora's usual fare.)

If you were to make a bumper sticker for your car that had to relate to erotic romance, what would it say? : Got yaoi?

Soulmates? Do you believe? : Yes, I do, though I also believe soulmates can be star-crossed, thus making for challenge.

Sex with anyone famous? : Not that I can recall…

Cake or Pie? Coke or Pepsi? Tea or Coffee? : Cheesecake (which is a little of both cake and pie??), Coke, and white chocolate mocha latte with a shot of raspberry liqueur. Yes, I confess – I write Romance for the Black Coffee Crowd but I prefer some flavor to my brew.