K.G. MacGregor's Blog, page 12

4.25 :: Woo-hoo!

I'm really proud & excited to announce that both of my 2010 books were just honored with Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Awards.

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I won't kid you, getting awards feels pretty damn cool! There's an extra shine on it when it comes from readers. If you're a fan of lesbian fiction and want a voice in deciding which books should be honored, hie thee hither to their Yahoo Group and become part of the action. They don't bite (unless you ask them nicely).

4.4 :: I wish they all could be California grrrrls

I know, it's been a while. I'd update more if I had news but I'm still in something of a writing lull. On the upside, I have semi-sort of-halfway committed to 2 books for 2012. If you had any idea how anxious it makes me to now have a semi-sort of-halfway deadline hanging over my head these days, you'd count that as big news. I still haven't worked out all of my back issues, but my doctors are chasing them with fascination & professional curiosity.

Since there's nothing new on the book front, allow me to share some more personal news. This year marked my 11th trip to Palm Springs for the Dinah, where there are more lesbians than you can stir with a stick. It's a great place to catch up with friends, to girl-watch, and to see some remarkable ladies play some remarkable golf. It's also a good real estate market, so this year we decided to buy a house (to build one, actually). The 6 years we'd spent living in California were my favorite by far, and I can't wait to get back out to the west coast. I'm sure all the headaches associated with packing & moving trucks & utilities & paperwork will magically take care of themselves. When it's all finished I'll have a real office again, and a stockpile of inspiration.

Just a reminder, I'll be giving the keynote speech this year at GCLS in Orlando. If you haven't yet registered, I hope you will. It's a great conference for writers, aspiring writers & readers -- anyone who loves lesbian books. The one thing you're guaranteed to take away from the conference is friends.

 

1.31 :: Keynote address at GCLS

Egads, it's true! I've been invited to deliver the keynote address this year at the 7th annual convention of the Golden Crown Literary Society in Orlando. And of course I said yes. Who could turn down an honor like that? In fact, I spent a couple of days pretty high on the idea ... until it sank in that keynote address meant they expected *me* to write it. You see, work & I haven't exactly been companions of late. Since my back surgery last fall, I've been leisurely drafting my next book, enjoying (probably too much) the lack of a deadline, which meant there was no real pressure to produce anything. Call it a hiatus, a vacation, sick leave ... whatever. It suited my state of body & mind, but now -- something *very, very good* must be on paper by mid-morning on June 10th or 11th, the usual slot for the keynote. Breathe!

It's okay, I can do this. Virtually everything I do starts just like this -- with a blank screen. Wait, I need coffee. And just one quick game of Spider Solitaire. More of that big ... blank screen ... with a blinking cursor.  Hold on, let me check for updates on Facebook ... and the Bella Blog. Relax, I won't torture you with the entire process. One of us tortured is enough. Here's all you need to know:

The 7th Annual GCLS Convention   

June 9 – 12, 2011    •    Walt Disney Hilton Hotel, Orlando

Despite my malingering, I haven't been a total slug over these last few weeks. As I mentioned earlier, I really (honestly) am drafting my next book. As you may recall, I got hung up a couple of months ago when I realized the story I was trying to tell wasn't going anywhere interesting, and I was forced to walk away from the premise I had in mind. One of the characters, however, refused to be ignored, and she insists I keep after this until I find a way to tell her story. She will win, because they always do.

I've also been up to my eyeballs with some very exciting developments at the Stonewall Library & Archive (where I'm a member of the board of directors). I'll happily gush about that news as soon as we get through all the official steps -- in other words, after our press release. Good stuff.

12.26 :: My Top 10 of '10

Between losing my mom & having back surgery, 2010 was a pretty tough year. Still, sharing the Top 10 highlights has become something of a rite, so I went back through my blog & calendar in search of the peaks and found plenty of things to celebrate. Turns out life is good even when it isn't.

 

10. In August I had a wonderful chat with Robert Jaquay on his program MyQmunity Gay & Lesbian Book Talk. A former librarian, Robert is a gifted interviewer whose insightful questions actually taught me things about my own writing. You can listen here.

9. The annual Xena Con always makes my Top 10 list, and if you read through the Behind the Book section for the Shaken Series, you'll understand why. Yes, we're an odd lot; Lucy Lawless once called it "a goofy show for smart people" but the reverse might be just as true. Some of those smart goofballs (or goofy smartballs) have become my dearest friends.

8. I may not be bragging next year about new releases, so I need to make the most of my 2 new books from 2010: Photographs of Claudia & Mother Load: Book 4 in the Shaken Series. Thanks to all of you who came along for the ride with Leo & Claudia and the Kaklis clan, and especially those who took the time to drop me a note or post a review. The best reward of writing is knowing that my work resonates with readers.

7. I had the pleasure of moderating 2 panels at the 2nd Annual Gay & Lesbian Literary Arts Festival (GALLA) in Ft. Lauderdale, a 2-day event hosted by the Stonewall Library, Museum & Archives and ArtsUnited. Many thanks to Susan X Meagher, Lee Lynch, Jean Redmann & Ali Vali for making the trip to South Florida.

6. Stonewall Library figured very big for me in 2010, and no doubt will for years to come. I was very proud & honored last January to accept their invitation to join the Board of Directors.

5. Worth Every Step got shortlisted for the Lammys in the Women's Romance category alongside some stellar company. Congrats to Collette Moody for carrying off the hardware.

4. Small Packages (Dramatic Fiction) landed on the short list for the Golden Crown Literary Awards, and Worth Every Step won in the category of Traditional Contemporary Romance. Woot!

3. The Goldie Award capped a *spectacularly fun* GCLS conference in Orlando, where a number of our Bella Forum members gathered from all over the world. Most of them knew one another only through forum chats, but they left Orlando best friends. Seeing them bond so easily was really heartwarming ... it reminded me of that magical feeling I got from the Xenaverse.

2. For our 2nd Bella Y-Tour event (following up on our Denver trip in 2009), I lured Katherine Forrest, Karin Kallmaker, Dillon Watson & Amy Dawson Robertson to Ft. Lauderdale with the promise of good weather. I swear it was perfect until they brought storms & cold air with them. Undaunted, Carol Moran threw us a fabulous welcome party in a downpour at the New Moon Bar; the next day Jack Rutland put us to work on a Volunteer Day at Stonewall Library, Museum & Archives; and we polished off the weekend with a reading hosted by Katherine that turned out a nice crowd of longtime lesbian book fans. If only it had been warmer ...

1. The very best thing that happened to me in 2010 was the outpouring of support & compassion from this community as I weathered the year's adversity. I was beyond blessed by your kindness, whether it came in the form of a note, a comment, a pat on the back or a hug.

The very best to all in 2011.

12.26 :: The Top 10 of '10

I can say without reservation that 2010 has been the most challenging of my life -- mentally, physically & emotionally. I've documented a lot of that here on my blog so I won't revisit the specifics, but suffice to say I won't be unhappy to say goodbye to 2010. Still, sharing the Top 10 highlights of my year has become something of a rite, so I went back through my blog & calendar in search of the peaks and found plenty of things to celebrate. Turns out life is good even when it isn't.

 

In August I had a wonderful chat with Robert Jaquay on his program MyQmunity Gay & Lesbian Book Talk. A former librarian, Robert is a gifted interviewer whose questions actually taught me things about my own writing process. You can listen here.

The annual Xena Con always makes my Top 10 list, and if you read through the Behind the Book section for the Shaken Series, you'll understand why. Yes, we're an odd lot -- Lucy Lawless once called it "a goofy show for smart people" but the reverse might be just as true. Among those smart goofballs (or goofy smartballs) are some of my dearest friends.

I may not be bragging next year about new releases, so I need to make the most of my 2 new books from 2010: Photographs of Claudia & Mother Load: Book 4 in the Shaken Series. Thanks to all of you who came along for the ride with Leo & Claudia and the Kaklis clan, and especially those who took the time to drop me a note or post a review. The best reward of writing is knowing there's an appreciative audience out there.

Worth Every Step got shortlisted for the Lammys in the Women's Romance category alongside some stellar company. Congrats to Collette Moody for carrying off the hardware.

Small Packages (Dramatic Fiction) landed on the short list for the Golden Crown Literary Awards, and Worth Every Step won in the category of Traditional Contemporary Romance. That capped a *spectacularly fun* GCLS conference in Orlando, where a number of our Bella Forum members gathered from all over the world. Most of them knew one another only through forum chats, but they left Orlando best friends.

I had the pleasure of moderating 2 panels at the 2nd Annual Gay & Lesbian Literary Arts Festival (GALLA) in Ft. Lauderdale, a 2-day event hosted by the Stonewall Library, Museum & Archives and ArtsUnited. Many thanks to Susan Meagher, Lee Lynch, Jean Redmann & Ali Vali for making the trip to South Florida.

For our 2nd Bella Y-Tour event (following up on our Denver trip in 2009), I lured Katherine Forrest, Karin Kallmaker, Dillon Watson & Amy Dawson Robertson to Ft. Lauderdale with the promise of good weather. It was perfect until they brought storms & cold air with them. Undaunted, Carol Moran threw us a fabulous welcome party in a downpour at the New Moon Bar; the next day Jack Rutland put us to work on a Volunteer Day at Stonewall Library, Museum & Archives; and we polished off the weekend with a reading that brought Stonewall a whole host of new supporters. If only it had been warmer ...

Stonewall Library figured very big for me in 2010, and it no doubt will for years to come. I was very proud & honored last January to accept the invitation to join their Board of Directors.

 

 

12.2 :: A friend in need

Still shopping for that special lesbian fiction reader in your life? You know the one ... she gasps & clutches her chest if you crack the spine or dog-ear the pages on her precious "paperback friends." I have a few ideas that will deliver not only a unique gift, but the knowledge that you're helping someone in a time of dire need. My longtime friend & fellow Xenaverse author Nene Adams suffered a severe infection that resulted in a month-long hospital stay, several surgical procedures, and the eventual amputation of her foot. She is currently awaiting transfer to a rehab center several miles from her home in Sneek, The Netherlands. There are several hurdles she & her partner Corrie face before release from rehab: Their home must be prepped for wheelchair access, and they must secure the means to transport Nene to & from her physiotherapy. It's a long, hard road ahead, but friends can ease her journey.

Here's where the shopping part comes in: On her website, In Shadows, D Jordan Redhawk is hosting an auction that features more than 50 books -- some rare, many autographed -- along with other items of interest to sci-fi/fantasy fans. Our goal is to raise $4,000 for Nene's immediate needs, things that won't be covered by medical insurance, and that have to be in place before she can come home. I've offered an autographed set of the Shaken Series (all 4 books), and I'll pay shipping to anywhere in the world. The auction closes December 14th, and I promise to get the package out the next day so you'll have it in time for Santa.

Helping one another is a longstanding tradition of both the Xenaverse & the lesbian fiction community, and it's easily the very best thing about all of us. Please follow this link to bid on the auction items or simply make a donation to Nene's fund.

For those who have been following The Saga of My Aching Back, I want to share some very good news: I saw the surgeon on Monday; he said the fusion looked very good, and he gave the thumbs up to begin physical therapy & exercise.

My annual rite -- my Top 10 Highlights of the Year -- is coming soon.

11.16 :: When a story falls apart

You know what I'm talking about. You get through the backstories, fix all the faces in your head, and smile to yourself when the soon-to-be lovers meet in the most unlikely of circumstances. You can't wait to see where it's all going, but that's just what you do. Wait, that is. And wait ... and wait some more. When something finally happens, it surprises you -- not because it was an interesting twist, but because one of the characters just did something totally off the wall. Then all the promise of the first couple of chapters fizzles out like fireworks in a flooded basement, and you thumb through to read the last page before tossing it onto your "recycle" pile.

The only thing worse than reading a story that falls apart is writing one. I once turned in a book to my editor and told her I wasn't very happy with it. She answered back that my instincts were pretty good. Talk about "damning with faint praise." Fortunately we were able to salvage it, but not without a major rewrite that turned the whole story on its head. I don't think I'm going to get that far with the story that's currently on my desk, something I've tentatively titled Rhapsody. I've been working since August on intricate character sketches and chapter outlines, but I haven't been able to muster the excitement to start writing. I finally admitted the reason today -- there's just no umph to this story, nothing that pushes a reader's boundaries or takes her to an unexpected place. In a word, it's boring. And if it's boring to me ... well, I can't expect you to waste your precious time on it. Not when you could be watching Hoarders or Dog the Bounty Hunter.

For now I'm tucking away all my notes, waiting for the umph to strike. That's usually how it works -- the muse finally drops by to poke me about one of my dormant ideas and I find myself suddenly inspired. That happened with Out of Love, a story that laid around untouched for two or three years. You see, two ladies hooking up at a convention did not an 80,000-word novel make. It was the doppleganger idea that finally got it moving. Something like that will eventually happen with Rhapsody, but in the meantime I'm going to empty my head and see what fills it. I've got nothing on Bella's production calendar for 2011. 

 

 

Since I've already dragged you through all the details of my recent back surgery, I'll fill you in on where things stand. That's a pun, get it? I still can't sit down for more than 20 minutes at a time (unless it's really important, like when I have my hair colored). There's a good chance I'll miss the Xena con this year, because I can't imagine I'd last 5 hours on a plane. I'm healing just fine though, and if my fusion looks good I'll start physical therapy in a couple of weeks. I have to get in shape for the TSA inspectors who'll be looking at me on those pornoscanners at the airport.

 

 

Don't even get me started on the election.

 

 

 

 

10.14 :: Mother Load shipping and ready for download

This book is very special to me. The Shaken Series was my first-ever foray into fiction writing, and its reception in 2002 by fans in the online world of Xena fanfiction forever changed my life, not only because it unearthed my bliss -- telling stories -- but also because it opened doors to some of the richest, most enduring friendships I've known. Since the moment publisher Linda Hill said yes to bringing this series to print, I've been consumed with ideas for a new story that would grow the bond of Anna Kaklis & Lily Stewart. With these two women the answer was simple -- grow their family.

I never had any personal inclinations toward motherhood, so my research work for this book was cut out for me from the start. There are literally hundreds of thousands of websites devoted to various aspects of pregnancy & giving birth, which meant my biggest challenge was narrowing down the information to that which best helped me tell the story. But motherhood is a lot more than medical factoids about fertilization, pregnancy calendars & delivery rooms. I know this not because I am a mother, but because I had one.

While working on Mother Load last spring, I was caring for my mom, who was in failing health and suffering from Alzheimer's. Writing was a respite of sorts, a chance to chuckle at Andy's antics, Anna's anxiety & Lily's raging hormones. As I worked, I inevitably relived a lifetime of memories of my mother, including recollections from family & friends of how she, with my soldier dad serving back-to-back tours overseas, cared for two small children on her own, one an infant daughter with life-threatening allergies and frequent bouts of pneumonia. How lucky I was to have the chance to return my mom's dedication with my own. In her last weeks, she struggled sometimes to find the right words to express herself, but I could always count on her to answer my many "I love you's" with her very sweet assurance, "I love you too." One night her poignant slip of the tongue crystalized the whole concept of motherhood for me: "I loved you first," she said. 

In honor of my mom, I'll be donating 100% of Mother Load's ebook royalties to the Alzheimer's Association. Click here to download from Bella Books & read it right now, or here to order the paperback, which has begun shipping. Thank you very, very much for reading, and I hope you enjoy the story.

 

10.14 :: Mother Load ebook now ready for download

This book is very special to me. The Shaken Series was my first-ever foray into fiction writing, and its reception in 2002 by fans in the online world of Xena fanfiction forever changed my life, not only because it unearthed my bliss -- telling stories -- but also because it opened a door to some of the richest, most enduring friendships I've ever known. I've deeply enjoyed the hundreds (maybe even thousands) of hours I've spend with fictional heroines Anna Kaklis & Lily Stewart, and after bringing adopted son Andy into their lives I've been consumed with ideas for how these two women might go about adding to their family.

I never had any personal inclinations toward motherhood, so my research work for this book was cut out for me from the start. There are literally hundreds of thousands of websites devoted to various aspects of pregnancy & giving birth, which meant my biggest challenge was narrowing down the information to that which best helped me tell the story. But motherhood is a lot more than details about fertilization, pregnancy calendars & delivery rooms. I know this not because I am a mother, but because I had one.

While I was working on Mother Load last spring, I was caring for my mom, who suffered from Alzheimer's. As I wrote, I relived a lifetime of memories  My mind wandered often to what I knew In her last weeks, she struggled sometimes to find the right words to express herself, but I could always count on her to answer my frequent "I love you's" with her very sweet assurance, "I love you too." Until the night a poignant slip of the tongue crystalized the concept of motherhood for me: "I loved you first."

In honor of my mom, I pledge 100% of Mother Load's ebook royalties to the Alzheimer's Association.

 

10.1 :: Mother Load ready for order

Back in 2007, I announced here that my publisher (Linda Hill) & I had hatched a plan to bring back the story originally published as Shaken in a 3-volume series, with hopes I could periodically peek in on Anna & Lily as the muse demanded. One of the conditions I laid out in that original blog was "if the series does well ..." Since the story had already been posted online and published in 2 prior editions, I wasn't sure about its marketability as a new series, and I knew I couldn't expect Bella to invest precious resources into a series that didn't deliver a reasonable return. Turns out I didn't have to worry about it, thanks to the wonderful reception from all of you. It's now 3 years later, and the first three installments -- Without Warning, Aftershock & Small Packages -- have enjoyed more success than I could ever have hoped, thanks to your support. All 3 were shortlisted for Golden Crown Awards (Without Warning won in the Contemporary Romance category). Not only that, the series was also published in hardback by the InsightOut Book Club.  I'm so grateful to all of you who cheered the return of The Shaken Series, and I hope you'll enjoy this 4th installment, Mother Load. I've wanted for years to tell this story, and you made it possible.

Bella Books is now taking orders for Mother Load, which -- as you can see -- happens to have a gorgeous cover. It won't ship until mid-October (i.e., when it arrives at the warehouse from the printer), but what's certain is that Bella will deliver it to you sooner than anyone else. What's also certain is that Bella deeply appreciates your support of lesbian fiction, especially when you order direct. For those who prefer the ebook, I'll post the link for download as soon as it becomes available.

Thanks again to all of you who have emailed or posted your good wishes following my back surgery. I'm now 3 weeks post-op and doing a bit better. After the 1st week, I was sure I would bounce back quickly, but reality set in after about 10 days and I concede that I'm in this for the long haul. To paraphrase my surgeon, this is my window to heal, not to build back my strength & stamina. It's driving me crazy to lie around so much, but it has allowed me to spend a lot of time in my head with a couple of new characters. Can't wait to start writing again.