Clare London's Blog, page 136

It's One of Those Writing Questions...

It's just one of those things...

I'm finishing off a novella (almost a novel) but it's not going well. I've found a plot hole in chapter 1, a hiccup to the flow in chapter 4. To be honest, I'm not sure the alternate 1st person POV works (albeit I've kept it to separate chapters). It's all about the guys and the romance, but the plot still has to be plausible and it just doesn't seem...
It's just not...
There's this bit where it...
I can't seem to get it...

Well, as you can see. I'm losing the whole grasp of it. 35k words and I can't get myself satisfactorily to the end. *ULP*

What the hell should I do?
Have you had the same situation?
How can I face chucking out all that work? But on the other hand, how can I NOT, if I just hate the f8g thing by now?

My options are to battle on and try to edit it (viciously, by now) into better shape. Or abandon it as insufficient potential, after all. I think if I move away from it now, I'll never come back. Is that the price I should be prepared to pay?

Essentially, how do I know if it's not working for me because (i) it's basically crap, or (ii) I just can't see it objectively any more?

*big self-indulgent sigh*

ILLUSTRATED MEN - they had a dream!

Illustrated Men is now out for sale in Ebook at MLR and Amazon in print.

*************

Today I'd like to feature the masterly work behind the scenes from Laura Baumbach (Publisher) and Kris Jacen (Formatting Director and Editor).


**************

Laura Baumbach
Publisher, ManLove Romance Press

Illustrated Men—the beginning

Back in November of 2008, my Editor-in-Chief Judi David was looking over the Internet offering for a cover for an upcoming DADT anthology we were planning. She came across the beautiful art of Michael Breyette and a particularly affecting piece of work we eventually used for Honorable Silence .



While she was at his website/blog, she found he has asked fans of his work to write a short story for any of his work that spoke to them. Professional writers and amateurs alike joined the fun by putting their imagination on paper, so to speak in this digital world. Judi found the exercise intriguing and began to talk with Michael about the possibility of sharing his work and his fans efforts into the publishing arena.
It took a lot of time, effort and three editors (Neil Plakcy picking up where Judi left off when health problems arose) contributing their energy to the project over a period of over 18 months but the final product was worth the wait, in my opinion. Illustrated Men not only showcases Michael’s brilliant work but conveys the everyday viewers’ emotional and imaginative response to his talent and skill. It is a unique writing blend of budding skill and proven talent matched with unmistakably gorgeous artistic expression.

Even the formatting of the book by MLR’s Formatting Director Kris Jacen reflects the artist’s ability to bring out the creative side of the person looking at Michael’s work. Kris’s innovative work has allowed Illustrated Men to be entered in to the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards for 2011 .

It was a long, creative, sometimes challenging road to make publication but the destination was worth the journey. I hope readers enjoy and appreciate every aspect of the book. Thanks to all involved – Michael, the editors, the authors, the editing teams and formatting genius -- it is so much more than another coffee table book.


**************

   

Kris Jacen

As the formatting director for a romance press, I don’t normally get to have fun with the layout of the books. But my job took on a whole new meaning for ILLUSTRATED MEN. I mean, look at the artwork (my fave? Night on the Town). When we started talking about how it should look, I was given very little in the way of parameters – actually no parameters. Laura let me go with what I thought would look best.

I got to have FUN! I think I gave Michael a moment of pause when I told him that I needed his signature for the layout and that I was going to come close to his handwriting for the titles of the illustrations (which I think I came pretty close to). I think it all managed to tie together quite nicely with the continuity of the colors from the cover to the artistic sweep at the top and bottom to the different fonts. We’ll see if it all pulls together enough to warrant a nod from the Independent Book Publishing Association’s Ben Franklin Awards for the layout next year. I’m a little nervous on that one. I’ve worked on books that have finaled for awards before but those go to the author (yes as the editor I get to help with the books) but this one is all on me and my vision – yikes!


*************

From the author and inspiration, Michael Breyette:

Please note: Michael's site contains ADULT art and you should be of age and maturity to access it.

"A thousand words, a single picture... Since artists are often called upon to turn prose into a visual for such things as book covers, I wondered, would writers be able to pick up the creative torch and run in the opposite direction? I had little doubts they could and it got me excited wondering what they would come up with for my own pastel paintings. So with that it mind I though it would be fun to launch a contest and invite friends, fans of my art, amateur scribes, professionals writers, really anyone who wanted, to pick a painting from my body of work and build a short story around it. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. I wanted to find out if that was true.

See Michael's site for full details of all his art.


"The Red Truck" by Justin Shepherd /(inspired by Red Truck)
"Booch" by L.John Williams /(inspired by Red, Wet & Blue)
"Dashing Through the Snow" by Todd Schoonover /(inspired by Dashing Through the Snow)
"Dirty Laundry" by Veronica / (inspired by Dirty Laundry)
"Don't Ask Don't Tell" by Aleksandr Voinov & Marquesate / (inspired by Don't Ask Don't Tell)
"Idol" by L. John Williams /(inspired by Night on the Town)
"The Pick Up" by Harold Dixon /(inspired by Leaving Las Vegas)
"Morning Glory" by Michael Breyette /(inspired by Morning Glory)
"Summer in the City" by Linda Schnelle /(inspired by Drenched)
"A Real Man" by John Stewart /(inspired by Bottom)
"Metamorphosis" by George Seaton /(inspired by Metamorphosis)
"Texas Twilight" by Gabriel Morgan /(inspired by Carson)
"Photo/Model" by Alan Bennett Ilagan /(inspired by Alan in Blue)
"Dirty Laundry" by Todd Peissig /(inspired by Dirty Laundry)
"GWM 52" by Harold Dixon /(inspired by Sunday Paper)
"Vows" by Justin Shepherd /(inspired by Let No Man Put Asunder)
"End of the Line" by Clare London /(inspired by Trainspotting)

CHRISTMAS IS COMING...?!

What do you mean, it's December already????
And there's snow in London, always an Event of Note LOL.

AND....here's another one!



Literary Nymphs is proud to bring you:
Dreamspinner Press' Advent Calendar 2010 Day chat
on THURSDAY DECEMBER 2, starting at 9:00am EST.

"This year's theme is Naughty or Nice .
So far, we have the following authors attending: Clare London, Chrissy Munder, Rowan Speedwell, Zahra Owens, Jamie Fessenden, Rachel West, Andy Eisenberg, Jonathan Treadway, J L Merrow, Amy Lane, Andrew Grey, Shae Connor, Alan Chin, Mary Calmes, Devon Rhodes, Rebecca Fullen, William Cooper, Amberly Smith, Dawn Kimberly Johnson, Josephine Myles.

So if you have time on Thursday, stop in and see what the authors have
cooked up this year. Don't miss out! See you there!"

Come and join us, chat to authors you know and authors you'll WANT to know in the future. Get in the Christmas spirit with excerpts from the stories that will be gracing many a reader's inbox this month.

And there's MORE...

A new review website starts up TODAY called Brief Encounters Reviews , devoting itself solely to m/m short stories. And I believe some of the Dreamspinner Advent stories may be featured during December - so check it out! It's run by Jen and Tam who (i) love m/m (ii) love reviewing, and (iii) do it damned well. Even if you don't have a story reviewed there, you'll find info and chat about many you'd like to read.

Here's the Welcome post.

Now back to trying to keep warm...
♥

DISCOUNTS and BOOKS galore!

Wow, I'm dashing in late with all these links and DISCOUNTS on your ebooks this weekend! Hopefully all of us - me too! me too! LOL - can take advantage of it :).



Dreamspinner Press

Save 20% on everything Thanksgiving Weekend
Thursday-Sunday All paperbacks and ebooks 20% off.



Torquere Press

Take 15% off your purchase at Torquere Books.
Just put 'thanks2010' into the coupon code when you check out and get 15% off the cost of your purchase.
Coupon is good through to Sunday November 28th at midnight (EST).

**Note: Torquere now offer all formats in one easy to download file. PLUS they accept Paypal**



Rainbow Ebooks

15% off on every title in their store starting now and running all weekend.
They're also entering anyone who signs up for their newsletter in a draw for a free Amazon Kindle ereader.

GLBT Bookshelf

And for an early Christmas shopping browse, why not visit the GLBT Bookshop and its own Bookstore. Especially now the Christmas Page is launched!!
Visit to find a collection of authors who want to wish you a Happy Holiday season.

♥

Well, I'm back...

Bet some of you never noticed I was away, eh?! LOL

For public consumption, I've been on and offline for over a week now with tendonitis in my right shoulder. It's been agony and I lost almost all mobility in that arm for several days. Anyway, it's eased off at last - god bless anti-inflammatories - and I'm seeing a specialist in a week's time, hopefully for a more permanent solution.

And now I'm trying desperately to catch up with online life! LOL Excuse me if I spam you with plenty of posts over the next week, because there are great things coming up over the next couple of months - just so little time to share them with you :).

♥

CLARE & CHRISSY giving thanks...!

Our blogging theme this month is giving thanks. Can't have enough of that really, can we? But you may be surprised to find our discussion includes call centres, aliens with potatoes, Homeland Security, University funding and semi-frozen turkeys ... amongst other things :).

Visit our post HERE .

We'll look forward to hearing from you!

♥

ILLUSTRATED MEN - the artist as author

Illustrated Men is now out for sale in Ebook at MLR and Amazon in print.

*************

My final author feature - for the time being, at least - is the artist Michael Breyette himself! Michael submitted anonymously and, lucky for us, his story was chosen to be part of the anthology.



The picture he chose to illustrate is Morning Glory. Click on the cropped pic to see the whole ADULT picture - if you're of the right age, that is.

MORNING GLORY

In Michael's own words: "A thousand words, a single picture... Since artists are often called upon to turn prose into a visual for such things as book covers, I wondered, would writers be able to pick up the creative torch and run in the opposite direction? I had little doubts they could and it got me excited wondering what they would come up with for my own pastel paintings. So with that it mind I though it would be fun to launch a contest and invite friends, fans of my art, amateur scribes, professionals writers, really anyone who wanted, to pick a painting from my body of work and build a short story around it. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. I wanted to find out if that was true."

Thanks to Michael for the inspiration for this book, and it's been a delight and a treat to be part of it. - Clare.

EXCERPT from Michael's Morning Glory story:
I leaned over and wrapped my arm around him, my cheek pressed to his own stubbly one. It was odd but nice; very uncharacteristic of me. I'm not typically a hugger, and get uncomfortable when people try to hug me. But Trent just pulled at me. I was feeling like I'd known him for years, we were so in sync.

"Come on, let's go for a walk," he said, standing up. I grabbed my back pack and we meandered down the circus that is Commercial Street on a hot July night. We strolled through a couple of shops and galleries, but I couldn't tell you anything we saw. We were so caught up in each other.
I don't usually open up that quickly, but Trent was so easy to talk to. In no time afternoon had turned to evening, and we found ourselves headed back toward the east end of town. We were both dizzy with alcohol and that peculiar brand of lust that springs up when you meet a guy you think is just perfect for you. We both were a bit unbalanced as we dodged the crowds of merry men, families, and outrageous characters bustling by. But it was nice, leaning against each other; I wrapped my hand around his waist, my hand conveniently finding the gap between shirt and shorts. His skin was smooth, soft and warm and I slid my fingers down his hip into the swimsuit that he still had on underneath.

He leaned into me, and put his hand on my chest and began gently massaging. That was about all I could take. I'd been craving to kiss this man ever since he lifted up those sunglasses. I stopped in the middle of the street and turned him toward me. I put both hands around his tight waist and pulled him close, our hips and groins making contact. He stared intently into my eyes, and I was drowning in his. His hands moved up my arms and around my back coming to rest on my shoulders. As I leaned toward him he matched my move. His lips were slightly parted, his heat exhaled onto my face.

Lips, touching, pressing, warm. Lips, parting, moist and slick. Embraces tightening; hands clutching. Cocks: thickening, tingling. Tongues swirling, teeth parting. Tongues dueling, sliding, tasting, nice. Withdrawing. Eyes opening, lingering. Staring. Then there was noise again. The street around us came back to life.

"Uhm…James," Trent whispered.

"Yeah?" I said adding a squeeze to his hand I still held as we resumed walking.

"Your place," was all he answered.


*************


See Michael's site for full details of the book, and all his art.

Please note: Michael's site contains ADULT art and you should be of age and maturity to access it.



"The Red Truck" by Justin Shepherd /(inspired by Red Truck)
"Booch" by L.John Williams /(inspired by Red, Wet & Blue)
"Dashing Through the Snow" by Todd Schoonover /(inspired by Dashing Through the Snow)
"Dirty Laundry" by Veronica / (inspired by Dirty Laundry)
"Don't Ask Don't Tell" by Aleksandr Voinov & Marquesate / (inspired by Don't Ask Don't Tell)
"Idol" by L. John Williams /(inspired by Night on the Town)
"The Pick Up" by Harold Dixon /(inspired by Leaving Las Vegas)
"Morning Glory" by Michael Breyette /(inspired by Morning Glory)
"Summer in the City" by Linda Schnelle /(inspired by Drenched)
"A Real Man" by John Stewart /(inspired by Bottom)
"Metamorphosis" by George Seaton /(inspired by Metamorphosis)
"Texas Twilight" by Gabriel Morgan /(inspired by Carson)
"Photo/Model" by Alan Bennett Ilagan /(inspired by Alan in Blue)
"Dirty Laundry" by Todd Peissig /(inspired by Dirty Laundry)
"GWM 52" by Harold Dixon /(inspired by Sunday Paper)
"Vows" by Justin Shepherd /(inspired by Let No Man Put Asunder)
"End of the Line" by Clare London /(inspired by Trainspotting)

So young and so thwarted....

OK, so the excitement was short-lived LOL.

I can't get to my own audio book, and neither can any of my UK-based friends and/or readers. You have to create an account at Audible to buy anything, then the minute they see my UK address (I assume that's the trigger), I lose access to all the Carina books.

And it's not listed on Audible.co.uk - where they keep "kindly" trying to redirect me!

It's not the easiest of sites to grasp anyway, though maybe that's because I've never got into the iTunes-type "management" software. You have to download the Audible software to be able to play the file you purchase. And one dear US friend did just that and *still* can't play it. It's obviously one of the Dark Arts I never learned at my local Hogwarts. *sigh*

I usually get bulldog-determined at this stage of technology, insisting that I Will Not Be Beaten. But this time I may have to admit temporary defeat.

I suppose Carina's not licensed for non-US trade. Yet. If ever. They've been very supportive of my angst, and are looking into the problem for me. I don't know if it's a timing issue and the books will eventually appear in the UK, or if their non-US authors will *never* be able to hear their own books!

Sorry if that all sounds a bit melodramatic, but I'm rather annoyed at the moment (that's me being "so British" as jordan_c_price says LOL).

So much for the global economy, eh? I sign away all my rights in every colour in every format in every damned planet of the solar system - but my home country is still excluded from it all. I have no idea at the moment if the issue lies with Carina, Harlequin, Audible (and by association, Amazon) or someone somewhere sticking pins in a Clare London doll. (paranoid? me??)

I've been through most of the stages in the last 24 hours - euphoria, shock, disappointment, anger, anguish. I'm about ready for resignation now *g*. Hubby is deeply glad (though bravely trying not to show it) that he's been out at work during all this, and only just got home on the tail-end of the saga :).

Anyway, let's see what happens. Hopefully I don't have to keep re-listening to JUST the sample for the rest of my life LMAO.

Thanks for letting me vent!
♥

(oh, and if anyone out there is better versed in the Dark Arts and manages to get a working copy and can give me feedback on how it sounds, please email me!!!!! clarelondon11@hotmail.com. It's cold out here on the ledge of despair...*mwahaha*)

Now I can reach your ears as well as your eyes....

Well, this link to my audio book is rather exciting. Blinded by Our Eyes is now an audio book as well!

I'm waiting for a voucher for my free author's copy, but I'm not known for my patience in these matters and I may encourage one of my beleagured family to buy a copy for me to listen to. So far it hasn't reached the UK branch of Audible.com and I'm not sure yet if Harlequin have extended their titles to non-US territories (I'm off to check with Carina Press).

Hell, I'm reluctant to pay the extra 15% that Amazon.com will charge me for being an overseas customer, let alone the excrutiatingly bad exchange rate I'd suffer if I had to buy at dot com.

Anyway, I've listened to the sample and it's ... interesting :). The actor (American, I assume?) has done a range of m/m books in different accents.

"Unabridged", eh? I wonder just how many actors they have who are willing / happy to do books in this genre that are often erotic? The London-British accent in BBOE may take some getting used to :).

Or is it just the culture shock of hearing my book read aloud?

But how very, very exciting!! Excuse me while I squee for a short while at being in another format.

♥

REVIEW ROUNDUP and authorly musing...

So here's a bit of a Review Round-up. I *really* appreciate anyone who takes time to read and comment on my books but I've got behind on a few things over the last couple of weeks, including posting my thanks.

I know, it looks like I have something out every damned week, doesn't it? *lol*. Please be reassured (!!) that a lot of this is timing at the publishers, rather than any dastardly scheme of my own. Plus I'll be taking a rest to the end of the year, and maybe even into 2011, so there won't be much more from me until well into the New Year. That's not to say I won't be writing, just that I don't have anything else contracted at the moment.
*clare looks around her, wondering if she's last year's news, even in early november*.

Anyway, enough of that sob story!
My review of reviews has been ... interesting, to say the least. I'm thrilled at the good and encouraging ones I've received, but there have been a couple that made me go ... ouch. I'd always encourage anyone who wants to give feedback to post a comment on Amazon or AllRomance or GoodReads - the authors really appreciate it and it helps other readers make choices for future reading. And I *don't* expect every comment to be glowing, or a book - *my* book - to be liked by everyone!

However, I do sometimes worry that people are more inspired to post a comment after a negative and/or disappointed response to a book than after a delighted but calmly content response. Does that make any sense?

I'm not complaining *in the least* about my feedback, and I'm also at fault for not posting my own personal responses as a reader often enough, or at least not publicly. I'm just in a Musing Mood :).


Between a Rock - the "no-sex" story?! - has thrilled me by getting in the October Top 10 at Amber Allure.

It's had a good response at GoodReads and it had a lovely review at Jessewave's :

EXCERPT: Clare London's stories are mostly character based, and this book is definitely character based with no bells and whistles, and it's told almost entirely from Garry's first person POV except at the end. I enjoyed Between A Rock and a Hard Place very much, and even though Will was only present physically at the very end I was able to get a sense of his character because Garry described him so well in his musings. As for Emily and Max, they are are now two of my favourite characters and at times I really felt sorry for poor Garry. If there was one thing I would have wanted I would have loved to have spent more time with Garry and Will after they left the airport, so that I could have shared some of their private reunion. Definitely recommended.

Branded is dear to my heart as I really loved writing Maen and Dax. It just got a fabulously detailed and thoughtful review from Michelle at GoodReads .

EXCERPT: As you can probably guess, the two men fall in love, but this is not a simple happily-ever-after story, permeated with tender love scenes and endearing words, though it does have that. It is a novel rife with action and betrayal. The men are captured, more than once, their lives endangered numerous times, they are separated for long periods, and their love questioned. It is both heart-wrenching and sweet. However, the main storyline of this book, is not of their love and struggle to be together, but of their fight, both together and separately for change. It reminded me more than once of a famous Margaret Mead quote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

This story was inspiring, horrifying at times and endearing. One that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys angst filled stories of love and courage.

NOTE: the rest of the review contains spoilers.

Blinded by Our Eyes also received a thoughtful and perceptive - as always! - review from Elisa Rolle . I liked her assessment of Charles, the narrator, and how his personality came across at times as complacent, as a lover of visual beauty in art - until he had to face a reality that was far from beautiful.

EXCERPT: Last to enter the scene is Antony, supposedly Paolo's lover, but even that it's not clear. Charles suspects Antony to be the one who killed Paolo, for different reasons. But when he meets the man, again for an artistic fascination more than for a sexual interest, Charles changes idea. I think the reasoning in Charles's mind was, since Antony is a good artist, able to create beauty, he cannot be the killer. Strange reasoning indead, since there is not direct connection between the two things, if not in Charles's mind and, at this point, his morbid fascination with everything is beauty.

Now from all of above someone could think I didn't like Charles, and it's wrong; I think Charles was a complex character, and I did like the author didn't write him like an umpteenth wanna-be private investigator. Sincerely I think Charles was interested in finding the murderer more since the murderer killed a potential great artist than for a love of justice: that made him original, and even his obsession for beauty was something that gave him deepness.

I've received some great reviews for 72 Hours .

At Jessewave's:

EXCERPT: This was an amazing heart pounding thriller, that once I started, I had to read through as much as I could to see what would happen. On that basis alone, it was a great book, but it is so much more. It's also a heart wrenching love story about misunderstandings and learning how to love someone that would have also been a fantastic book on it's own merits. Now combine the two and you get this suspenseful thriller with interesting characters and a wonderful love story to boot. Why are you still reading this review? Go now and get this book!

At Literary Nymphs :

EXCERPT: It is very easy to see the strong connection between the two men, as well as what pulled them apart. The author could have very easily used the situation the men and the rest of their team found themselves in as the reason to get back together, however she did not. By having Tanner and Niall struggle with their feelings for each other as they tried to come to terms with their past made the story more believable.
The mystery surrounding the team will hold the reader's attention. The action scenes are strongly written and while it is not overly difficult to figure out who the bad guy is, the reason he is after them may keep you guessing.

Also others at GoodReads for 4 and 5-stars, and a couple of 5-star reviews at Amazon .

Maybe this disproves my concern that people only want to share the bad news?!

But... I also have a 2* "disappointment" rating on the same book:

EXCERPT: Hate to give bad review but can't let someone else waste $6.99. I read the sample and that should be enough to give you an excellent idea about the rest of the book. Why did I buy it after reading the sample? Hope over experience, I suppose. Might have been a good idea just never got any better.

*ulp*
I don't get many ratings on Amazon, and it's sobering when one skews so far to the other side.

Anyway, that's how things are at the moment. Lots of great encouragement, lots of fun - and the occasional pulling on the brakes :).

And as the reason I started this post - THANKS to all readers, supporters and commenters, it's good to share it all with you!

♥