Sunday, 17 July 2011

Music & Other Random Thoughts


This song: Inside of You; by Hooberstank is just fricken awesome... though I change it slightly in my head so that it fits with my m/m themed books: it has special meaning to me when I am working on Declan & Asher's story: Windblown Kisses- His Damsel In Disgrace...

On other news: I have finished book 2 in The Lines of Marsden: Living in Shadows, and have just sent it off to my proofers...

I have been asking people to think of a series title for the Viking/time travel series from my MM Romance HJD short:  Shadows on the Heart; which I have decided to expand and turn into a series.  The only name so far is by JenMcJ and her suggestion is a good one: Time Kings.  I have decided to stay with the theme of someone coming back in time or visa versa to be mated.  So if anyone out there has a suggestion please let me know.

Friday, 15 July 2011

Short & Sweet

Okay, exciting news... well it is for me.  My Short story: Shadows on the Heart. is up on the Goodreads M/M Romance page.  That is my story about the Viking, the Vampire and the Slave... go check it out along with all the other great free short stories that are up.

Hot Summer Days Short Stories.

Thursday, 14 July 2011

Thursday's Thoughts


I started working on the second book in my Windblown Kisses series: His damsel In Disgrace.  It is a little darker than I originally planned, so I might have to go back and re think about it for a bit. This book has the main characters of Asher Hamilton, & Declan Vivvens/Connelly. 
Declan Is Viv's biological son and Asher has connections to the Connelly's as well... he is Girly's half brother. It makes for some interesting writing, from my point of view at least... 

Plus I am writing the third book:Take Me As I Am; at the same time which is Teddy (Bear), & Jamie... They are two characters that you fall in love with very early in the first book right from when they are young. By the time we get to Jamie & Bear's love story 8 years has passed since we started with Ray, & Viv's love story in book one: My Knight In Tarnished Armour.

Wednesday, 13 July 2011

Weekly Read


Timing: By Mary Calmes

Timing, is one of those books that is in my constant re-read pile. I had a hard time choosing just which of Ms Calmes books I was going to write about, as I have loved everything of hers that I have ever read:

The Warder series.
Change of Heart series.
A Matter of Time series.
Romunus.
The Guardian.

Ms Calmes has a wonderful way of drawing me into her stories through the fantastic characters and scenery that she creates.  Her characterisation is different; it makes everything seem new again.  In this particular book, I love the way her two main characters interact.  Because to me, it just seems like it could happen in any normal family.

I loved the fact that it wasn’t instant love at first sight.  Ms Calmes did give us that for all of two seconds before it all went to hell in a hand basket and set Stefan and Rand off on their love/hate story that made this book a thing of beauty for me.

Not only did Ms. Calmes do a fantastic job of telling this strange but compelling love story; I loved how she had two other background stories that helped the story along:  Love story with Rand, Stef’s job with Knox, and the wedding of his best friend Charlotte.  Three completely different stories woven together to turn Ms Calmes work into wonderful story.

This is a book that I do not hesitate in saying if you haven’t read this yet then do so.  It has a bit of everything; laughter, tears, angst and a whole lot of WHOA! 

I have this book in both print, and ebook, so I am never without it.  Timing for me is a feel good book; meaning that no matter how bad it gets - things can only get better.  Also the very thing you are looking at could be standing right in front of you - all you have to do is open up your eyes and look.
  

Thank-you Ms Calmes, for allowing me into your worlds for just a moment in time; and thankfully I can revisit them whenever I want.


The cover was done by: Anne Cain


I will end with my favourite lines:


“What are you still Doing here, Stef?”

I stopped walking, froze where I was, looking at her like I was seeing her for the first time. “Shit, what am I doing here?”

“Stalling.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re scared,” she said.  “It’s okay to be scared but you gotta dive into the deep end sometime and trust that you’re not gonna drown.”

“I love him.”

“I know,” she nodded, “he’s the only one you’ve cared enough about to fight with.  That’s how I knew, that’s how I always knew.”


Tuesday, 12 July 2011

Inspirational Music & Their Influence On My Writing


This is the song for me that is Christian and Michael love story.  They sing it for him at his birthday in book 5: The Trail Of Red Roses.  Michael, because he loves Christian, and Gypsy, because through Michael's love she also loves Christian (though not in the same way)... They tell me it's a twin thing.  When I hear Nickelback it makes me want to write something in the series: The Lines Of Marsden.  It is my connection to Michael and Christian.

Monday, 11 July 2011

Random Thoughts


Today I have been working on Windblown Kisses; Book 1: My Knight In Tarnished Armour.  I have just received it back from my new friend Erica who has done a wonderful job in helping me sort some of it out... like making sure I remembered to add descriptions.  I have a tendency to forget the important stuff like that.
I have also been making last minute preparations before I leave on my big adventure.  Only 10 days to go but who is counting...

I am waiting to download the next instalment in:

 Gabrielle Evans series: Fatefully Yours # 5: Shades of Black.

Amber Kell's series: Supernatural Mates # 3: A Prideless Man. 

Bailey Bradfords series: Southern Spirits # 6: What Remains. 

Jan Irving's Uncommon Cowboy series # 3: Straight Cowboy.  

That will give me a bit to read over the next day or so.  I feel as though I have so much to do and not enough time to do it in... and then to top it off I was trying to tidy up the office before I go and found another partial manuscript called... actually it doesn't even have a title but it is about two young men Eli Bailey, who is anorexic and Neo Stevenson, who is a cutter... This story is about two young men who were once at the start of a beautiful relationship, and through the words of Aaron Bailey (Eli's Twin), this story shows how hurtful words turned both their world to pain... We follow how they get their lives back on track, and into each others arms, and hearts, where they have always belonged.


Sunday, 10 July 2011

Loop Challange

Yesterday On Z A Maxfield's Yahoo group, Kris sent out a challenge to make mud sexy. So a few of us all wrote scenes doing exactly that... Okay, so mine is not so much sexy but more sweet.  I thought I would share it with you anyway.

SNIPPET

Dominic stared out the window; his breath fogged the glass.  A smile rested on his lips that just wouldn’t go away.  The guy from next door was out in the pouring rain jumping in puddles with a young boy in tow, what the hell was Adam thinking?  Dominic wiped the glass and watched as the boy scooped up a handful of mud and tossed it at Adam.

Dominic chuckled as Adam stopped in shock and stared at the boy; he remained motionless for but a moment before he started chasing the boy around the yard.  Squeals of happiness fell from the child’s lips.  Adam picked the boy up flying him around like an aeroplane.

“More, more, more Uncle Adam.”  Could be heard over the laughter from both participants in the game.

The mud the boy had thrown was now smeared down Adam’s wet, very wet, white t-shirt.  Dominic couldn’t take his eyes of the way Adam’s t-shirt clung to his body.  Adam had only been in the house next door for the past six months; but somehow in those six months that he had wormed his way into Dominic’s thoughts.  Adam might carry a little extra weight than most people he would find attractive, but there was something about Adam that kept him forever in the forefront of Dominic's mind.

Glancing out the window Dominic chuckled; Adam was now covered in mud as was the boy.  It was kinda sweet in a really messy kind of way.  They looked like they were having so much fun.  Dominic sighed.

“Dom, are you staring at the neighbour again, and drooling?”

Dominic looked over his shoulder at his sister Agnes.  “I’m not staring.”

“Ah, but you are drooling.”  Agnes laughed, and Dominic blushed.  His sister Agnes had taken him in when his parents decided they didn’t want a gay boy for a son.

“Have you even spoken to him in the whole time he has been living there?”

Dominic shook his head and blushed again.  “No,” he whispered quietly.

“You should, Adam is a real sweetie.” Agnes walked over and put her hand on Dominic's shoulder.  “He might surprise you.”

“I’m gay, Aggie.  Not many straight boys want to be friends with a gay boy.” Sadness washed over him as his sister patted his arm.

“Dom, you’re not broken.  Mum, and Dad, are the broken ones.”

Dominic sighed again, “Maybe you should try telling them that.  They told me exactly what they think of me.  Told me how I was never going to heaven now.”  A tear spilled over and ran down Dominic's cheek.

“Dom, God loves all people; not just the straight ones.”  Wrapping her arms around her brother Aggie hugged him tight.  “Our parents are full of crap.  No matter what those narrow minded bigots think; to me, you are worth it.

“Thanks Ag,” Dominic turned and hugged her back.

“Okay, the mailman just came so put on your running shoes and run out and get the mail.”

“But it’s raining,” Dominic whined half heartedly as he pulled off his socks.

“Well stated captain obvious.”  Aggie chuckled and pushed him towards the door.

Dominic shivered as the first wet drop of rain hit his skin.   He jumped the small garden bed between the house and the mailbox.  Landing awkwardly; he ended up skidding across the front lawn on his arse.  Coming almost to a stop against a pair of jean clad legs.

“Oh, shit!”  Dominic managed to get out as Adam came tumbling down on top of him.  Adam braced himself over Dominic an arm on the ground on either side of his head.  Legs all tangled together.  Dominic felt the squelch of Adam’s mud covered clothing pressing against his.  Dominic stared up into Adam’s crystal clear, blue eyes.  A smile played over Adam’s plump lips.

“Hi,” Adam whispered.

Dominic’s eyes widened as Adam spoke; his voice was as soft and as smooth as silk.  “Hi.”  Dominic winced as he realised that his body was having a distinct reaction to Adam’s.  He didn’t want to move and bring attention to the fact that he was now as hard as a rock.

Dominic groaned and Adam chuckled as a big handful of mud landed in Adam’s hair and proceeded to slid down and drop onto Dominic's face.

“That look, looks good on you.”  Adam grinned, his thumb coming up to wipe the mess away from Dominic's cheek.  “Oops, sorry.  I think I made more of a mess.”

“Hey Uncle Adam, are you going to kiss him?  Is he your new boyfriend?  What’s his name?”

Dominic's thoughts were interrupted by the chatter of the young boy.

“What do you think Charlie boy?  Do you think he needs a kiss?”  Adam turned his head and smiled at the small boy squatting beside their heads.

Charlie giggled and nodded his head.  Dominic gasped as Adam’s head slowly lowered until their lips gently met.

Breaking apart Adam smiled.  “Hi, my name is Adam, and you are?”

“Dominic.”  Dominic said with a smile of his own.

“More squealed Charlie in delight.  Dominic grinned as Adam’s lips claimed his once more.

They all looked up to see Aggie standing in the doorway clapping.  Dominic blushed.

“Beautiful.”  Adam said  with one last kiss.