Amy Lane's Blog: Writer's Lane, page 112
October 5, 2015
*Kermit Flail* October, Pre-GRL style!
*gasps for breath*
Holy COW! Did you all see that? That was SEPTEMBER! It went at the speed of light-- we'll never catch it now!
*wheezes to a halt*
Well, here we are in October, and it's right before GRL in San Diego, and dudes… going so fast. And I"m getting SO excited!
So here we have a bunch of BRAND NEW AUTHORS that I'm happy to see into the fray--Antonia Aquilante, Lissa Kassey, Ki Brightly and R.J. Jones-- as well as some authors that I've met both personally and on line! Can we say hello to the funny and brilliant Cat Grant, who has an unexpected release this month? How about Andrew Q. Gordon, who is one of the nicest--and the brightest--men I've ever met! As well as Anna Martin-- sweet as pie and lovely in person; Devon Rhodes--stunning and brilliant and with the world's most amazing smile; Talia Carmichael, the infinitely kind and kinda shy; August Li, KING of the the beautiful cover art, the wicked snark, and the amazing world building, and, pulling up the rear (they don't even have buy links yet) my beloveds, Cherie Noel and Rhae Camdyn, do staunch allies and lovely people who have been working together on a soooooper sekrit novel that they only just now revealed.
I'm SO EXCITED!!!
Let's give our VAST ASSORTMENT of authors a furious and sincere Kermit Flail! YAYAYAYAAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAAYAYAAYAAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
Purpose
by Andrew Q. Gordon
Forty years ago the Spirit of Vengeance—a Purpose—took William Morgan as its host, demanding he avenge the innocent by killing the guilty. Since then Will has retreated behind Gar, a façade he uses to avoid dealing with what he’s become. Cold, impassive, and devoid of emotion, Gar goes about his life alone—until his tidy, orderly world is upended when he meets Ryan, a broken young man cast out by his family. Spurred to action for reasons he can't understand, Gar saves Ryan from death and finds himself confronted by his humanity.
Spending time with Ryan helps Will claw out from under Gar’s shadow. He recognizes Ryan is the key to his reclaiming his humanity and facing his past. As Will struggles to control the Purpose, Ryan challenges him to rethink everything he knew about himself and the spirit that possesses him. In the process, he pushes Will to do something he hasn't done in decades: care.
Buy at Amazon
The Prince's Consortby Antonia Aquilante
Legends tell of large cats defending the principality of Tournai, but such creatures have been lost to time.
Or have they?
Prince Philip inherited the throne at a young age, and since then, his life has centered around ruling his country and resisting those pressuring him to take a wife and conceive an heir—forcing him to hide his attraction to men. When kind-hearted Amory is offered to the prince in exchange for more time for Amory’s father to complete a commission, both Philip and Amory are horrified. But Philip agrees to keep Amory at the palace, where they gradually become friends, then lovers. For the first time in his life, Philip is free to share not only his heart, but the magical shape-shifting ability that runs in the royal bloodline.
Neither Amory nor Philip imagined falling in love, and they certainly don’t expect the lengths those who oppose their relationship will go to keep them apart—maybe even resorting to murder.
BUY AT DSP
Storming Love: Wild FireJade & Conradby Talia Carmichael
Life brings an unexpected complication to a man who was only seeking some relaxation, yet what he found was a man who would light his soul on fire…Jade Blakstone wanted some time away from his hectic schedule and took a trip to get away. He never expected to find a man who would strike all the right notes within him. Together they burn hot and fast, making Jade wonder if there is more between them than just a passing dalliance. But as hot as they burn for each other, so do the wild fires that have broken out. Conrad is a firefighter and Jade fears that they will be over before they begin when he goes to fight the fires raging in Northern California.From their very first meeting, Conrad Kendrick knew Jade was something special. Now he just had to convince Jade that although they have chemistry, there was something that was even sweeter—the connection of two souls who have foundBuy at MLR
Evolution: Genesisby Lissa Kassey
Evolution made music history when one bandmate turned vampire and another joined the vampire hate movement Preservation Group. Gene is trying to cling to the music as his relationship with Kerstrande begins to spiral into the darkness of hidden demons. Jaded by his years as a vampire flunkie, Kerstrande uses his newly won power over New York City to destroy his enemies and protect Gene. But a demon called a Fallen begins to take control of KC, slowly devouring his soul and through him the entire city. Battling against the evil that wants to destroy him, Kerstrande fights to hold onto Gene’s brightness.A power unlike any other grows within Gene and shines like a beacon to the demons surrounding him. Realizing that only he can save his lover, Gene is willing to do anything to shake the darkness loose. Even if it means reshaping the future, the band, and his own existence.
Buy at DSP Publications
The Shape of Honeyby Ki Brightley
Yulian Volkov is an entrepreneur and lone werewolf who hates the city. At a pack meeting, he learns the only member he’s attracted to is being expelled for crimes unspecified. Yulian strikes a deal with the pack leader to allow Rolly Witten to live on his farm and work in his Meadery. Although enjoying handsome Rolly’s company, Yulian must tread carefully, since Rolly doesn’t trust him and the pack doesn’t acknowledge homosexuality exists. Meanwhile, Yulian stealthily courts Rolly by teaching him the value of his wolf side.
Rolly, who’s known he was gay since he was a teen, has accepted a life of solitude—and a life of crime. He has no desire to relocate. Yet Yulian’s trust in his ability to do honest work builds his confidence. As life is settling well for them, Rolly learns a friend from his old pack had a crush on him, and he’s torn between returning his friend’s feelings or pursuing the budding relationship with Yulian. But that’s not their worst problem. Assassins are trying to take out both wolves, and they need to figure out who wants them dead or all the trust and happiness they’re building together won’t matter.
Buy at Amazon
Cairn and CovenantBy August Li
An assassin’s unexpected mercy granted Octavian Rose his life and freed him from his father’s control, but it left him with little more than the clothes on his back and the determination not to waste his chance at a life of his choosing.
As Octavian sets out to make a name for himself, he refuses to compromise his ideals for money or status—a decision tested as he works his way up the ranks as a mercenary fighter and novice mage. Along the way he forges friendships, takes lovers, and makes bitter enemies, all while striving for the power he feels he deserves and can wield fairly.
With the advent of the Blessed Epoch and the discovery of new cultures, the world is changing. Octavian’s decisions will affect not only those closest to him but will have profound worldwide consequences that he cannot begin to imagine. For twenty years, Octavian does what he must, and his choices bring him brilliant victories alongside crushing losses. Time and again, he must choose between what is right for all and what is beneficial to him, while hoping for the wisdom to tell the difference.
FREE Short—A Lesson and a FavorEight years before meeting Yarrow and Duncan in Ash and Echoes, the man now known as Sasha lived and breathed for a single purpose: to kill for gold and the glory of his cult and dark god without emotion or hesitation. In this lost tale of Sasha’s early career, he’s dispatched on a difficult mission—one with a surprise in store for him.
FREE Short—Archer's Regret Sylvain Damasca has seen and done it all since walking away from his wealthy family and the promise of a future title. He’s had more men, money, and adventure than he can count—including a part in the founding of Rosecairn—but he’s restless, and no amount of gold, wine, or casual companionship can scratch his itch. It might be time to deal with the one thing he left unfinished, if he can find the courage to face the only man who ever got underneath his skin.
Buy at DSP PUBLICATIONS
The One That I WantBy R.J. Jones
Jason escapes into the magic of a Broadway play every weekend. Musicals always have a happy ending and for a few hours he can believe there’s a happy ending waiting for him, too. When the tall drink of water who works on the top floor of Jason’s building, wants to take him on a date, Jason is surprised. After all, Jason is awkward and skinny, and sees himself as a boring accountant, while Paul is tall, dark, and incredibly hot.
Despite Jason’s reservations, Paul and Jason start dating and attending the shows Jason adores. But if Paul likes musicals as much as Jason, why does he always doze off? Is Paul leading a double life? Does he have a wife tucked away somewhere?
Jason knows Paul is hiding something and when the secrets come out, Jason finds his fantasy comes to life, right there on the stage.
Buy at AMAZON
Hopelessly Devotedby R.J. Jones
One year on from Paul's proposal, Jason is living a life he never dreamed of. As he fusses with his tie and readies to walk down the aisle, he reminisces about the previous twelve months. It hasn't all been smooth sailing for the happy couple in the lead up to their wedding, with obstacles big and small thrown in their way.
Marrying one of New York’s most eligible bachelors has Jason’s stomach in knots. Expectations of their society wedding are high, but out of love for Paul, Jason goes along with the grand plans because he understands Paul’s family has a reputation to maintain. But Paul has a surprise up his sleeve that just may see Jason getting the wedding of his dreams.
Follow Jason on his journey as he prepares to marry one of the most eligible bachelors in New York and find out just how Dave got his name.
Buy Both at Amazon
Rites of Passageby Cat Grant
Adulthood sucks.
With college graduation behind them, Seth Thompson and Bilal al-Mansoori enjoy their last carefree summer. But the perfect future Seth’s envisioned since high school—moving to New York to pursue a career as an artist—doesnA trip to the UK for Bilal’s sister’s wedding offers a chance to get back on the same page. But their holiday is abruptly cut short when the unthinkable happens…
And Seth faces the very real possibility that he may never see the man he loves alive again.
Buy at Amazon
Storming Love: WildfireCaleb & Shaun
by Devon Rhodes
Sometimes saying goodbye can end up saving a relationship.
Breaking up with Caleb was the hardest thing Shaun had ever done. It left a huge hole in his home and in his heart. But feeling like he was constantly competing with Caleb's adrenaline-rush hobbies pushed him to make a stand...one he constantly second-guesses, especially now that Caleb's gone with his Hot Shots team for a big fire in California.
Caleb knows he's a lucky man. His family supports him and he's able to do what he loves for both work and play. It took losing Shaun, though, for him to realize that his priorities were out of whack. And now his luck might be running out as his crew gets trapped by a fast-moving fire line.
All they really need is a second chance...if Caleb can stay alive long enough to make it home.
Buy at Amazon
My PrinceBy Anna Martin
After growing up in a rough part of town, George Maguire worked his way out of Manchester and to a career as a design engineer. Alexander van Amsberg, an architecture student at the University of Edinburgh, wasn’t the sort of guy he normally had explosive, hotel-room one-night-stands with. Alex was charming, classy, and, as George later learns, Prince of the Netherlands.
Fate brings them together again, and Alex makes sure to get his sexy stranger’s phone number this time. Despite all the reasons why they shouldn’t work, something clicks, and Alex thinks that this time, he might have found the right guy. But Alex’s aristocratic ex stirs up trouble in the press for George and his humble family, and Alex realizes he has to get real about having a boyfriend from the wrong side of town.
While George acknowledges his modest upbringing, he doesn’t let anyone insult his family. Life’s no fairy tale, and regardless of his royal title, Alex might destroy his one chance for happily ever after.
Buy at DSP
Say Hello to Jackass Flatsby Cherie Noel and Rhae Camdyn
On the surface, Jackass Flats seems as common as ticks, tornadoes, or tumbleweeds on the plains of North Texas. But, scratch past the small town charm of Mama Cee's restaurant, or Gear Grinders Garage & Machine Shop, and you'll find a whole mess of interesting goings on. Mix a DEA investigation running off the rails, a Paul Bunyan sized French émigré dealing exotic cars, a long eared, lonely deputy scouting for stuff and nonsense at the infamous local casino, and a bow-chicka-wow-wow romance track playing at full volume, and things get spicy with cayenne, cilantro, and a heartwarming dash of good natured hilarity. As Sheriff Drayton Jeepers likes to say whilst stroking the road kill he claims is a toupee, "No one south of the highway lives in their own skin." Yeah, we don't know what he means either, but finding out promises to be fun!
Holy COW! Did you all see that? That was SEPTEMBER! It went at the speed of light-- we'll never catch it now!
*wheezes to a halt*
Well, here we are in October, and it's right before GRL in San Diego, and dudes… going so fast. And I"m getting SO excited!
So here we have a bunch of BRAND NEW AUTHORS that I'm happy to see into the fray--Antonia Aquilante, Lissa Kassey, Ki Brightly and R.J. Jones-- as well as some authors that I've met both personally and on line! Can we say hello to the funny and brilliant Cat Grant, who has an unexpected release this month? How about Andrew Q. Gordon, who is one of the nicest--and the brightest--men I've ever met! As well as Anna Martin-- sweet as pie and lovely in person; Devon Rhodes--stunning and brilliant and with the world's most amazing smile; Talia Carmichael, the infinitely kind and kinda shy; August Li, KING of the the beautiful cover art, the wicked snark, and the amazing world building, and, pulling up the rear (they don't even have buy links yet) my beloveds, Cherie Noel and Rhae Camdyn, do staunch allies and lovely people who have been working together on a soooooper sekrit novel that they only just now revealed.
I'm SO EXCITED!!!
Let's give our VAST ASSORTMENT of authors a furious and sincere Kermit Flail! YAYAYAYAAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAAYAYAAYAAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
Purposeby Andrew Q. Gordon
Forty years ago the Spirit of Vengeance—a Purpose—took William Morgan as its host, demanding he avenge the innocent by killing the guilty. Since then Will has retreated behind Gar, a façade he uses to avoid dealing with what he’s become. Cold, impassive, and devoid of emotion, Gar goes about his life alone—until his tidy, orderly world is upended when he meets Ryan, a broken young man cast out by his family. Spurred to action for reasons he can't understand, Gar saves Ryan from death and finds himself confronted by his humanity.
Spending time with Ryan helps Will claw out from under Gar’s shadow. He recognizes Ryan is the key to his reclaiming his humanity and facing his past. As Will struggles to control the Purpose, Ryan challenges him to rethink everything he knew about himself and the spirit that possesses him. In the process, he pushes Will to do something he hasn't done in decades: care.
Buy at Amazon
The Prince's Consortby Antonia AquilanteLegends tell of large cats defending the principality of Tournai, but such creatures have been lost to time.
Or have they?
Prince Philip inherited the throne at a young age, and since then, his life has centered around ruling his country and resisting those pressuring him to take a wife and conceive an heir—forcing him to hide his attraction to men. When kind-hearted Amory is offered to the prince in exchange for more time for Amory’s father to complete a commission, both Philip and Amory are horrified. But Philip agrees to keep Amory at the palace, where they gradually become friends, then lovers. For the first time in his life, Philip is free to share not only his heart, but the magical shape-shifting ability that runs in the royal bloodline.
Neither Amory nor Philip imagined falling in love, and they certainly don’t expect the lengths those who oppose their relationship will go to keep them apart—maybe even resorting to murder.
BUY AT DSP
Storming Love: Wild FireJade & Conradby Talia Carmichael
Life brings an unexpected complication to a man who was only seeking some relaxation, yet what he found was a man who would light his soul on fire…Jade Blakstone wanted some time away from his hectic schedule and took a trip to get away. He never expected to find a man who would strike all the right notes within him. Together they burn hot and fast, making Jade wonder if there is more between them than just a passing dalliance. But as hot as they burn for each other, so do the wild fires that have broken out. Conrad is a firefighter and Jade fears that they will be over before they begin when he goes to fight the fires raging in Northern California.From their very first meeting, Conrad Kendrick knew Jade was something special. Now he just had to convince Jade that although they have chemistry, there was something that was even sweeter—the connection of two souls who have foundBuy at MLR
Evolution: Genesisby Lissa KasseyEvolution made music history when one bandmate turned vampire and another joined the vampire hate movement Preservation Group. Gene is trying to cling to the music as his relationship with Kerstrande begins to spiral into the darkness of hidden demons. Jaded by his years as a vampire flunkie, Kerstrande uses his newly won power over New York City to destroy his enemies and protect Gene. But a demon called a Fallen begins to take control of KC, slowly devouring his soul and through him the entire city. Battling against the evil that wants to destroy him, Kerstrande fights to hold onto Gene’s brightness.A power unlike any other grows within Gene and shines like a beacon to the demons surrounding him. Realizing that only he can save his lover, Gene is willing to do anything to shake the darkness loose. Even if it means reshaping the future, the band, and his own existence.
Buy at DSP Publications
The Shape of Honeyby Ki Brightley Yulian Volkov is an entrepreneur and lone werewolf who hates the city. At a pack meeting, he learns the only member he’s attracted to is being expelled for crimes unspecified. Yulian strikes a deal with the pack leader to allow Rolly Witten to live on his farm and work in his Meadery. Although enjoying handsome Rolly’s company, Yulian must tread carefully, since Rolly doesn’t trust him and the pack doesn’t acknowledge homosexuality exists. Meanwhile, Yulian stealthily courts Rolly by teaching him the value of his wolf side.
Rolly, who’s known he was gay since he was a teen, has accepted a life of solitude—and a life of crime. He has no desire to relocate. Yet Yulian’s trust in his ability to do honest work builds his confidence. As life is settling well for them, Rolly learns a friend from his old pack had a crush on him, and he’s torn between returning his friend’s feelings or pursuing the budding relationship with Yulian. But that’s not their worst problem. Assassins are trying to take out both wolves, and they need to figure out who wants them dead or all the trust and happiness they’re building together won’t matter.
Buy at Amazon
Cairn and CovenantBy August Li
An assassin’s unexpected mercy granted Octavian Rose his life and freed him from his father’s control, but it left him with little more than the clothes on his back and the determination not to waste his chance at a life of his choosing.
As Octavian sets out to make a name for himself, he refuses to compromise his ideals for money or status—a decision tested as he works his way up the ranks as a mercenary fighter and novice mage. Along the way he forges friendships, takes lovers, and makes bitter enemies, all while striving for the power he feels he deserves and can wield fairly.
With the advent of the Blessed Epoch and the discovery of new cultures, the world is changing. Octavian’s decisions will affect not only those closest to him but will have profound worldwide consequences that he cannot begin to imagine. For twenty years, Octavian does what he must, and his choices bring him brilliant victories alongside crushing losses. Time and again, he must choose between what is right for all and what is beneficial to him, while hoping for the wisdom to tell the difference.
FREE Short—A Lesson and a FavorEight years before meeting Yarrow and Duncan in Ash and Echoes, the man now known as Sasha lived and breathed for a single purpose: to kill for gold and the glory of his cult and dark god without emotion or hesitation. In this lost tale of Sasha’s early career, he’s dispatched on a difficult mission—one with a surprise in store for him.
FREE Short—Archer's Regret Sylvain Damasca has seen and done it all since walking away from his wealthy family and the promise of a future title. He’s had more men, money, and adventure than he can count—including a part in the founding of Rosecairn—but he’s restless, and no amount of gold, wine, or casual companionship can scratch his itch. It might be time to deal with the one thing he left unfinished, if he can find the courage to face the only man who ever got underneath his skin.
Buy at DSP PUBLICATIONS
The One That I WantBy R.J. JonesJason escapes into the magic of a Broadway play every weekend. Musicals always have a happy ending and for a few hours he can believe there’s a happy ending waiting for him, too. When the tall drink of water who works on the top floor of Jason’s building, wants to take him on a date, Jason is surprised. After all, Jason is awkward and skinny, and sees himself as a boring accountant, while Paul is tall, dark, and incredibly hot.
Despite Jason’s reservations, Paul and Jason start dating and attending the shows Jason adores. But if Paul likes musicals as much as Jason, why does he always doze off? Is Paul leading a double life? Does he have a wife tucked away somewhere?
Jason knows Paul is hiding something and when the secrets come out, Jason finds his fantasy comes to life, right there on the stage.
Buy at AMAZON
Hopelessly Devotedby R.J. JonesOne year on from Paul's proposal, Jason is living a life he never dreamed of. As he fusses with his tie and readies to walk down the aisle, he reminisces about the previous twelve months. It hasn't all been smooth sailing for the happy couple in the lead up to their wedding, with obstacles big and small thrown in their way.
Marrying one of New York’s most eligible bachelors has Jason’s stomach in knots. Expectations of their society wedding are high, but out of love for Paul, Jason goes along with the grand plans because he understands Paul’s family has a reputation to maintain. But Paul has a surprise up his sleeve that just may see Jason getting the wedding of his dreams.
Follow Jason on his journey as he prepares to marry one of the most eligible bachelors in New York and find out just how Dave got his name.
Buy Both at Amazon
Rites of Passageby Cat GrantAdulthood sucks.
With college graduation behind them, Seth Thompson and Bilal al-Mansoori enjoy their last carefree summer. But the perfect future Seth’s envisioned since high school—moving to New York to pursue a career as an artist—doesnA trip to the UK for Bilal’s sister’s wedding offers a chance to get back on the same page. But their holiday is abruptly cut short when the unthinkable happens…
And Seth faces the very real possibility that he may never see the man he loves alive again.
Buy at Amazon
Storming Love: WildfireCaleb & Shaunby Devon Rhodes
Sometimes saying goodbye can end up saving a relationship.
Breaking up with Caleb was the hardest thing Shaun had ever done. It left a huge hole in his home and in his heart. But feeling like he was constantly competing with Caleb's adrenaline-rush hobbies pushed him to make a stand...one he constantly second-guesses, especially now that Caleb's gone with his Hot Shots team for a big fire in California.
Caleb knows he's a lucky man. His family supports him and he's able to do what he loves for both work and play. It took losing Shaun, though, for him to realize that his priorities were out of whack. And now his luck might be running out as his crew gets trapped by a fast-moving fire line.
All they really need is a second chance...if Caleb can stay alive long enough to make it home.
Buy at Amazon
My PrinceBy Anna MartinAfter growing up in a rough part of town, George Maguire worked his way out of Manchester and to a career as a design engineer. Alexander van Amsberg, an architecture student at the University of Edinburgh, wasn’t the sort of guy he normally had explosive, hotel-room one-night-stands with. Alex was charming, classy, and, as George later learns, Prince of the Netherlands.
Fate brings them together again, and Alex makes sure to get his sexy stranger’s phone number this time. Despite all the reasons why they shouldn’t work, something clicks, and Alex thinks that this time, he might have found the right guy. But Alex’s aristocratic ex stirs up trouble in the press for George and his humble family, and Alex realizes he has to get real about having a boyfriend from the wrong side of town.
While George acknowledges his modest upbringing, he doesn’t let anyone insult his family. Life’s no fairy tale, and regardless of his royal title, Alex might destroy his one chance for happily ever after.
Buy at DSP
Say Hello to Jackass Flatsby Cherie Noel and Rhae CamdynOn the surface, Jackass Flats seems as common as ticks, tornadoes, or tumbleweeds on the plains of North Texas. But, scratch past the small town charm of Mama Cee's restaurant, or Gear Grinders Garage & Machine Shop, and you'll find a whole mess of interesting goings on. Mix a DEA investigation running off the rails, a Paul Bunyan sized French émigré dealing exotic cars, a long eared, lonely deputy scouting for stuff and nonsense at the infamous local casino, and a bow-chicka-wow-wow romance track playing at full volume, and things get spicy with cayenne, cilantro, and a heartwarming dash of good natured hilarity. As Sheriff Drayton Jeepers likes to say whilst stroking the road kill he claims is a toupee, "No one south of the highway lives in their own skin." Yeah, we don't know what he means either, but finding out promises to be fun!
October 4, 2015
Reasons I love...
My friend Berry Jello--
Reason 1-- I'm at her Scentsy party and I hand her a little wax fragrance tester.
"What's that?" she asks-- she is a little loopy with wine.
"I dunno. Smells like vanilla and cum."
"Oh my God!"
"What?"
"Did you guys hear that?" she said loudly. "Amy says this smells like vanilla and cum!"
"Uh, Berry, there was a reason I said that quietly to you."
"Oh, sorry! What's it called?"
"White Satin Sheets."
She smells it, and then says, a little quieter, "Oh yeah. You're right. It does smell like vanilla and cum."
Reason 2--
"Smell this, Amy. It's my favorite. It's called "My Dear Watson."
"Mmm…" (I bought this scent later.) "That's…" I think of Sherlock, smelling John's neck. "Nungh…"
"Right? And they're so cute together."
"Yeah. Totally. I'm buying this."
"Good. YOu can write more fanfic."
She's so right. I'm TOTALLY writing more fanfic to this smell.
Reason 3-- We are playing a game in which we try to guess what our hostess is thinking. There are a bunch of free association words, and we answer as though we are Berry Jello.
Berry complains that I have missed most of them, and do not know her at all.
"No!" I reply. "See? Here, under "Run"-- what did you put?"
"I put 'No thank you'."
"See what I put?"
"It says, 'Why, am I being chased?'" She giggles. "Yeah, okay. You know me."
Mate--
We are listening to the kid's play list-- The Hanging Tree from The Hunger Games was playing, and I remember that he's actually read all three books.
"You getting excited?"
He smiles shyly. "Yup."
"Good. You'll have to answer all my questions."
"Yup."
He's so proud.
Zoomboy--
We are creating the kids playlist.
"Do they have 'March of the Cambreadth'?"
Dude-- that alone!
Squish--
"Do we have 'Rocky Road to Dublin'?"
And again…
Chicken--
Got her first work paycheck and bought a cat. *happy sigh* Just like mom.
Big T--
Came home from watching The Martian and gave me a brief history in movie mechanics and thematics relating to interstellar travel.
It was highly informative.
I am impressed.
Geoffie--
"She picked me up, did you see, she picked me up… I shall lay in her arms and sleep now."
And thus, I end up blogging holding a small dog.
Johnny--
"I shall lay here until summoned, and then my licking shall be mighty."
Bestie-my-Bestie
"What?" She is scandalized. "What in God's name is this?"
"It's my iPod!"
"Where's your playlist!"
"I don't have the playlist--don't forward that!"
"I hate that song."
"You love the Foo Fighters!"
"Not when they come after the Beatles!"
"Stop that!"
"What in the hell is wrong with your radio!"
"It's set on random!"
"That's the problem! What in the hell! How do you just listen to music when you don't know what comes next?"
"Isn't that what life is like?"
"Don't play that song again!"
And so forth. I haven't been in a slap fight in so long… *sniffle* I miss Mary...
Reason 1-- I'm at her Scentsy party and I hand her a little wax fragrance tester.
"What's that?" she asks-- she is a little loopy with wine.
"I dunno. Smells like vanilla and cum."
"Oh my God!"
"What?"
"Did you guys hear that?" she said loudly. "Amy says this smells like vanilla and cum!"
"Uh, Berry, there was a reason I said that quietly to you."
"Oh, sorry! What's it called?"
"White Satin Sheets."
She smells it, and then says, a little quieter, "Oh yeah. You're right. It does smell like vanilla and cum."
Reason 2--
"Smell this, Amy. It's my favorite. It's called "My Dear Watson."
"Mmm…" (I bought this scent later.) "That's…" I think of Sherlock, smelling John's neck. "Nungh…"
"Right? And they're so cute together."
"Yeah. Totally. I'm buying this."
"Good. YOu can write more fanfic."
She's so right. I'm TOTALLY writing more fanfic to this smell.
Reason 3-- We are playing a game in which we try to guess what our hostess is thinking. There are a bunch of free association words, and we answer as though we are Berry Jello.
Berry complains that I have missed most of them, and do not know her at all.
"No!" I reply. "See? Here, under "Run"-- what did you put?"
"I put 'No thank you'."
"See what I put?"
"It says, 'Why, am I being chased?'" She giggles. "Yeah, okay. You know me."
Mate--
We are listening to the kid's play list-- The Hanging Tree from The Hunger Games was playing, and I remember that he's actually read all three books.
"You getting excited?"
He smiles shyly. "Yup."
"Good. You'll have to answer all my questions."
"Yup."
He's so proud.
Zoomboy--
We are creating the kids playlist.
"Do they have 'March of the Cambreadth'?"
Dude-- that alone!
Squish--
"Do we have 'Rocky Road to Dublin'?"
And again…
Chicken--
Got her first work paycheck and bought a cat. *happy sigh* Just like mom.
Big T--
Came home from watching The Martian and gave me a brief history in movie mechanics and thematics relating to interstellar travel.
It was highly informative.
I am impressed.
Geoffie--
"She picked me up, did you see, she picked me up… I shall lay in her arms and sleep now."
And thus, I end up blogging holding a small dog.
Johnny--
"I shall lay here until summoned, and then my licking shall be mighty."
Bestie-my-Bestie
"What?" She is scandalized. "What in God's name is this?"
"It's my iPod!"
"Where's your playlist!"
"I don't have the playlist--don't forward that!"
"I hate that song."
"You love the Foo Fighters!"
"Not when they come after the Beatles!"
"Stop that!"
"What in the hell is wrong with your radio!"
"It's set on random!"
"That's the problem! What in the hell! How do you just listen to music when you don't know what comes next?"
"Isn't that what life is like?"
"Don't play that song again!"
And so forth. I haven't been in a slap fight in so long… *sniffle* I miss Mary...
October 2, 2015
Priorities
Okay-- I am extremely pleased and surprised and flattered at how many of you REALLY love the Cartinski (as a reader has dubbed it) dynamic. (You can chime in as to whether you like that or John/Jack, actually-- I've been calling it John/Jack.) One reader hath gone above and beyond and made me many many memes with our heroes on it, so I need to write at LEAST enough more episodes to use some of those up. And I'm not arguing with that-- I like my middle aged dads. Have one myself, actually-- it's just nice to see the appreciation runs deep :-)
Enjoy!
* * *
The silence in the hospital room stretched long and thin. Stiles sat near the head of the bed, arms crossed, glare focused at the top of Jack Carter's blond head.
Jack sat on the other side of the bed, elbows on his knees, blue eyes glued to the pale face of Stiles's father, as John Stilinski breathed steadily in and out.
Derek Hale stuck his head into the room.
"Stiles--"
"No."
"Stiles!"
"No!"
Derek stalked into the room, right into Stiles's body space, and bared his teeth. His canine teeth.
"Stiles."
Stiles's head snapped back and he stared unhappily into Derek's blue eyes. "Derek, you can't possibly mean--"
"I do," Derek growled. "Can't you smell them?"
Stiles looked away from those bright blue, innocence-killing eyes. "I don't have your nose, oh mighty wolfen warrior," he snapped.
Derek let out a sigh and leaned his head until his wrinkled brow touched Stiles's.
"Please tell me you're not just being an asshole."
Stiles darted his eyes to where his father lay, heavily bandaged, and fought for breath.
"Derek, it's my dad."
"I know."
"But…"
"But he's not just yours anymore."
Stiles let out a growl that sounded surprisingly like Derek's. "I do not agree with that assessment."
Derek sighed. "I don't care if you agree or not. I can smell them, Stiles. Like Scott can smell me and you. It's a big deal."
Stiles let out a little whimper. "It was my fault--"
Derek shook his head. "So wasn't."
"It was--"
"It wasn't."
Both of them looked, surprised, to where Carter was still sitting at John's side. Tentatively, like he was afraid of his audience, Carter reached out a battered finger and stroked the back of John's knuckles as they lay on the sheet.
"Wasn't your fault, Stiles," he rasped. "Was mine."
Stiles and Derek let out identical sighs.
"It wasn't," Derek murmured to him.
"No, no--wasn't," Stiles agreed.
"Then you need to leave the room." Derek wasn't a wolf anymore, but Stiles was actually more impressed than ever.
* * *
Stiles was the one who discovered that the boundary between Eureka County and Beacon Hills did weird shit to the supernatural.
He'd been out with the others on his mountain bike while Scott, Liam, and Derek were running in their furry forms. They were further out behind Derek's property than Stiles, at least, could ever remember being, when Scott leapt over a log in his path…
And sparked blue, landing on the other side of the log in his human form, naked and fucking surprised.
Liam went leaping right over the damned log, but Derek stopped, executing some sort of ninja flip to keep himself clear.
For a moment, the woods were silent, as Stiles stared at his naked friends and they stared back.
"The fuck?"
"I feel…" Scott mumbled, standing and wobbling a little. "I feel…" He put his hand out, like he was leaning on a wall, and howled instead as his hand sparked blue again. they all watched as his paw turned furry, with claws on one side, and then turned pink and raw and human when he pulled it back.
"Oh," Scott mumbled, looking at Stiles in panic. "This is… bad."
And then they heard the gunshot, and the blue laser came out of nowhere, missed Scott by inches, and blew the log he'd jumped over into splinters.
Stiles and Derek looked at each other, and did the couple-sympatico thing that they did sometimes. Scott and Liam were naked and confused, and Stiles and Derek were not-- somebody needed to distract fire.
Stiles grabbed Scott's phone from his pocket and threw it across the invisible veil. "Scott!"
Scott's attention snapped forward and he caught the phone with werewolves instincts, and Stiles shouted, "Call my dad!"
And then he and Derek started screaming and yelping at the top of their lungs, and the blue laser bolts followed them through the forest, towards the rubble of Derek's old house, as they screamed back through the forest.
* * *
Carter's cock, thick and wide, was stretching John's ass so wide, so sweetly, he lost the ability to brain words.
"Nungh…" He pounded on Jack's shoulders, trying to beg for faster, for harder, when Jack was just moving slow as syrup.
Jack chuckled and lowered his head to blow in John's ear. "You really like this, don't you?"
Oh, Lord. Everything had faded into the pressure and burn in his asshole, the swollen ache of his cock, and the smell and texture of Carter's lovely body as he drove hard and slow into John.
"Ungnungh…"
In John's whole life, he couldn't remember when sex had taken him so far outside himself, immersed him so totally into this other world with the person inside his body. He clenched Jack's shoulders harder, so physically needy for pleasure, it was like those long years without any joy had never existed at all.
Carter chuckled more, his breath short, and started to move a little faster.
"Ah… yes…" John closed his eyes, afraid they'd tear up. How embarrassing, crying from pleasure, crying in front of another man.
But Carter grabbed a handful of John's hair and forced his head back. "No hiding," he growled, and John nodded.
"Okay… just… just… don't stop…"
Carter nodded, his jaw set, and the deliciously slow lovemaking that had become their afternoon suddenly sped up, huge and fast. Lightning and thunder, rolled through John's body, blinding him, deafening him, to everything but Jack's harsh pants in his ears and the euphoria rushing through his blood.
Whoosh!
Like wildfire, the climax rushed them both, and Carter whooped just as John gasped. Carter's cock pulsed with orgasm, and John moaned, spraying cum over his stomach and chest. The world stopped, for just that breath, and then Carter fell to the side of him, his spend rushing out all over John's ass, and John let out a groan and threw his arm over his eyes.
The sound that issued from John's throat then was pure joy.
"Good?" Jack asked, tracing a pattern between John's nipple and his belly button.
"You've killed me," John laughed, so replete he wasn't sure he could move.
Then Carter licked his nipple and he laughed, pulling his knees up to his chest. Carter laughed too and continued to play, tickling behind his knees and his ribs and his tender stomach. John rolled to his side, laughing like a kid, and Carter stopped tickling him long enough to rest his chin on John's upper arm.
"I like this," Carter said soberly.
"I'm not complaining." John smiled into Carter's pretty blue eyes, feeling winsome and young for the first time in forever.
"I'd like more of this," Carter said. He smiled. "I'm not a smart man…"
"But I know what I like," John finished for him. Yeah, he'd heard all about Carter's job in Eureka. Carter never said it, never mentioned the times he'd seen something that the rest of the world hadn't, but John was truly coming to believe the world would have been destroyed a couple of times over if Carter wasn't doing what he was doing.
"I'd like more of this," Carter said softly.
"How do we do that?" Seriously. "I'm up to my ass in werewolves, Jack. You live in a sentient house that would probably try to eat me if I ever came over."
"I don't share," Carter responded, grimacing. He sighed. "Yeah, I know. Pretty dreams, right? You and me, setting up house. I mean…"
Allison had left him while pregnant with his child. Carter had two stepchildren, Zoe, and a one year old in shared custody, and all of those people were in Eureka. He wasn't just going to walk out on them--and John didn't want them to.
"It's forty miles too far," John sighed. He brightened after a moment. "But, you know, Derek and Stiles might move to Eureka, and maybe Scott can move the base of ops--"
Carter was shaking his head. "No-- no, I don't think so. We had this weird influx of druids one year, and Fargo set up this sort of supernatural border patrol--"
John swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "Wait-- what does it do?"
Carter shrugged. "I don't know--but whatever it did to the druids, they left us the hell alone."
John groaned, suddenly seeing all the ways this could go south, just as his cell phone rang.
He picked it up and Scott McCall shouted through the speaker, his voice pitching and yawing as, it sounded like, he swung from form to form.
Carter started throwing on his uniform, which had been strewn around their usual hotel room in anticipation of a long lunch, saying, "Oh man, that can't be good."
John was pulling his writing pad and pen out of his shirt pocket, while he threw the shirt over his shoulders. "Okay, okay son-- calm down. Now give me the nearest landmark--" He put his hand over the receiver and glared at Jack. "They are in Eureka, Carter, and someone is chasing them with a laser, dammit!
"Aw crap," Jack muttered, pulling on his boots.
* * *
Jack drove while John conferred with Scott on one phone, and pulled out Carter's other phone to call Parrish. "The guy with the gun is on the other side of the barrier," he snarled. "But we don't want to shoot him with real bullets if we can help it-- according to… Sherriff Carter, that blue laser will only blow things apart if they're supernatural."
"So Derek's toast?" Parrish asked, as though making sure.
John closed his eyes. "No-- Derek is not toast." He thought of Stiles, try ing to mountain bike faster than a glowing laser gun. "My son-- my son is most likely toast."
"Your son is not toast," Carter snapped. "Here-- give me my phone--"
"You're trying to drive!"
Carter grunted. "Car!"
"Yes sir?"
"Call Allison."
"Your former wife no longer resides in your resid--"
"She's at the company ruling the world with her husband, dammit. Now poke her, and tell her we need to put that damned border ray on hold!"
"Sir, are you sure she'll take your calls?"
"Tell her my boyfriend's son is in danger, dammit, and use those exact words!"
The car shut up long enough to go have it's conversation, and John looked at him.
"Carter, did you just out yourself to your whole town?"
Carter shrugged. "Allison knew," he said, almost defensively."That's really brave," John said, his body remembering the way that possession had rolled through it. This man was so much more than the dumbest employee in Eureka.
To be continued…
(Sorry guys-- tired-- I'll continue this next FRiday.)
The Snap
Chicken's Cat, Val, who is chunky andvocal and loves the boys better.
Chicken adores her.I'm not sure I can articulate the thing that causes the snap.
There is a moment when my brain--which has been running like a hamster on a wheel for some time--simply stops.
The hamster is thrown off the fucking wheel, into a wall, and it just lays there for a while, looking dazedly around while the wheel continues to turn in the background.
The hamster threw me off of the wheel today.
The only productive thing i did was buy milk, and check in on my offspring. For those curious, Squish gave a speech for Student Council and feel she did well, Zoomboy has a C in English now, Big T is as flamingly liberal as I am and thinks Trevor Noah is doing a splendid job on The Daily Show, and Chicken has procured a 5 yo rescue cat named Valyrie. Mate had his own snap tonight and almost fell asleep before we served him his cake. All the kids are a little put out that Mate and I didn't make much of our birthdays this year, but what can I say? We're both lying dazed by the hamster wheel, going, "Oh for sweet fuck's sake, we have to get back on that thing?"
So tomorrow expect Fanfic Frida-- and if we want some interactive stuff, PLEASE send me pictures (either on FB, Twitter, or here) of the couple you most want to see. I got some VERY wonderful John/Jack pictures for my birthday, and if I don't hear anything definitive, I'm doing John/Jack again, because I think we could do some hurt comfort there, don't you?
And from here on out, it's a dead sprint to GRL, so expect to hear some of that. I'm hideously behind, I really am. But I guess I needed to catch my breath before jumping on the wheel again.
September 30, 2015
Since you all asked...
I had a wonderful birthday :-)Big T and the little kids gave me the movies Ghost, Blade Runner, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Mate took me out to dinner--and my friend Wendy gave us a gift certificate to the steak place we love the most.
Chicken gave me this amazing .gif.
Amazon.com gave me Mate's present in time for HIS birthday tomorrow.
Dreamspinner Press gave me Truth in the Dark available on audio, narrated by Nick J. Russo, who's talent continues to blow my mind.
My bestie Mary gave me pretty pictures of pretty boys-- hello new phone screen saver.
And you all?
You all gave me a zillion greetings on FaceBook that made me feel special all day.
Thanks all! Night!
September 29, 2015
An Unusual Pre-Birthday
So, this morning, the lovely, inestimable, AMAZING fantastic Rhys Ford did a terrible thing to me today.
She wished me Happy Birthday.
Now see, a couple of years ago, Rhys took me on one of my best and most memorable birthdays to date-- she took me to an alpaca farm, and to eat with her in San Diego, and we dragged Chicken along and on the whole, one of my better birthdays. But when I was down there, my whole "time disability" clicked in-- and I mean extreme. I insisted it was my birthday for an entire day when it wasn't, and Rhys just nodded and smiled and humored the crazy person, and this whole thing would be much funnier if it wasn't for the fact that I misjudged when I was planning to come home (on Mate's B-day) and had to add $100 to my ticket to come back in time.
So, this morning, the joke was on me-- my birthday is tomorrow.
And thank God.
I spent this birthday in my sweats, with no makeup, probably creeping out my dentist who was giving me a filling. The filling itself was sort of a pisser-- I hadn't NEEDED a filling until the hygienist accidentally popped out the old one last week while flossing my teeth. So, today it was the long needle, the deep deep nerves, the drill, and, when they were done? The drooling.
OH, the embarrassing drooling. Did I mention I went to the post office, mailing Chicken's birthday package and some other envelopes while drooling? So while in the line at the post office, I complained about the damned postage machine that was full of LIES-- while drooling.
"Da mathine-- da mathine toll me an ga' me da pothdage, thee?"
"Yes, ma'am, but this obviously isn't an envelope-- there's stuff that's not bending inside."
"Dere pothtcards-- DON'T BEND DEM!-- Dere thpothed to be thent…"
"But ma'am, it won't bend--"
"DON'T BEND DEM! Jutht nebermind. Quit i'. Leab me awone to bay a dollar thix. I don' cawe."
And of course, I didn't care by then, either. I was too busy wiping drool. *headdesk*
Today was too much work to do, and soccer, and me cooking dinner, and jollying the kids to homework and in the background, FB was popping up "Happy Birthday" banners like wildfire.
I was… flattered.
It was my faux birthday and people were wishing me happy returns.
It made me want to dress up tomorrow and do my makeup and try not to drool. (Although I assume that will stay gone now that the damned anesthetic has worn off.) It made me want to celebrate my birthday, dammit! You know the way you do as a kid, where you wear something special and hope the whole world knows it's your day?
So, thanks Rhys. Apparently that birthday WEEKEND was the gift that keeps on giving. Hopefully today sucked up all my bad day juju, and tomorrow can be a really nice birthday-- even if I'm the only one who knows why I'm wearing the nice clothes and has done the makeup.
(Mate will notice-- I think we're doing our birthday date tomorrow, since his birthday is on October 1st. I have ordered his present--I'm so excited. I hope I got the right one!)
She wished me Happy Birthday. Now see, a couple of years ago, Rhys took me on one of my best and most memorable birthdays to date-- she took me to an alpaca farm, and to eat with her in San Diego, and we dragged Chicken along and on the whole, one of my better birthdays. But when I was down there, my whole "time disability" clicked in-- and I mean extreme. I insisted it was my birthday for an entire day when it wasn't, and Rhys just nodded and smiled and humored the crazy person, and this whole thing would be much funnier if it wasn't for the fact that I misjudged when I was planning to come home (on Mate's B-day) and had to add $100 to my ticket to come back in time.
So, this morning, the joke was on me-- my birthday is tomorrow.
And thank God.
I spent this birthday in my sweats, with no makeup, probably creeping out my dentist who was giving me a filling. The filling itself was sort of a pisser-- I hadn't NEEDED a filling until the hygienist accidentally popped out the old one last week while flossing my teeth. So, today it was the long needle, the deep deep nerves, the drill, and, when they were done? The drooling.
OH, the embarrassing drooling. Did I mention I went to the post office, mailing Chicken's birthday package and some other envelopes while drooling? So while in the line at the post office, I complained about the damned postage machine that was full of LIES-- while drooling.
"Da mathine-- da mathine toll me an ga' me da pothdage, thee?"
"Yes, ma'am, but this obviously isn't an envelope-- there's stuff that's not bending inside."
"Dere pothtcards-- DON'T BEND DEM!-- Dere thpothed to be thent…"
"But ma'am, it won't bend--"
"DON'T BEND DEM! Jutht nebermind. Quit i'. Leab me awone to bay a dollar thix. I don' cawe."
And of course, I didn't care by then, either. I was too busy wiping drool. *headdesk*
Today was too much work to do, and soccer, and me cooking dinner, and jollying the kids to homework and in the background, FB was popping up "Happy Birthday" banners like wildfire.
I was… flattered.
It was my faux birthday and people were wishing me happy returns.
It made me want to dress up tomorrow and do my makeup and try not to drool. (Although I assume that will stay gone now that the damned anesthetic has worn off.) It made me want to celebrate my birthday, dammit! You know the way you do as a kid, where you wear something special and hope the whole world knows it's your day?
So, thanks Rhys. Apparently that birthday WEEKEND was the gift that keeps on giving. Hopefully today sucked up all my bad day juju, and tomorrow can be a really nice birthday-- even if I'm the only one who knows why I'm wearing the nice clothes and has done the makeup.
(Mate will notice-- I think we're doing our birthday date tomorrow, since his birthday is on October 1st. I have ordered his present--I'm so excited. I hope I got the right one!)
Fucking Monday
* The @midnight episode with Jack McBrayer was the best thing about my day. Saying. Surprising minx that he was, I very much enjoyed watching the other players and Chris Hardwick tease him into relaxing and kicking ass on the show. Favorite moment? Chris Hardwick was just about to tell him that because it was his first time on the show, the fact that Jack was in last place still wasn't getting him kicked off of the final round.
To which Jack responded, "Please let me leave!"
I died laughing. Particularly because THAT'S how I felt about this entire fucking day.
* First of all, I've done some math this year. ZB is going to a different school than Squish, and while Mate drops him off in the morning, I pick him and Squish up in the afternoons. I am losing between 30 and 45 minutes out of my day because of this. And because of a change in the soccer/dance schedule, I went from two nights a week doing extracurricular activities to three, plus some extras on the side (Squish wants in the GATE program, which means I pick ZB up at 2:30 and Squish up at 4:30 and THEN we all ride together to dance lessons!) All told, I lost between 5-7 hours of time a week which I used previously to work. Given that the rest of my day is a little more fractured, It's like trying to do 40 hours worth of work in 32, and I'm scrambling. So, if I'm late with e-mails, or absent on social media (although I seem to bitch more when I'm stressed because I can't concentrate, so that's not a good measurement) or if you sent me an interview that I thought I could do or asked me a question that I was SURE I could get to--
I can't. I just flat out can't. And it's driving me crazy. I worked so hard to be reliable and I've been a fucking twatwhacking mess since… June, mostly, but I thought it would get better when things settled down. Turned out, things are settling down with 7 less hours and I don't know what to do to get them back.
So, yes. Happy MOnday, the hamster wheel is going faster, run you little bastard run!
* And we started out this Monday with poop in the hallway. And under Squish's bunk. And pretty much in piles everywhere. Squish was late to school because: poop.
Good morning!
* And I got to aqua and it turns out that the aqua classes that have been keeping me alive and mobile have all been canceled. Seriously-- I was M/W/F like clockwork, and the only ones they have left are T/Th. Which will teach me to bitch about the instructors btw-- I should have known that was coming.
* Got home and worked past my nap time. I napped for about 45 minutes and when it was time to go get ZB and then Squish, I… well, I had my head up my ass, or down the editing rabbit hole or… whatever. I went to Squish's school first, which meant I was 20 minutes late picking up Zoomboy and then 5 minutes late when I came back and got Squish. They were fine--but *headdesk*-- there goes mother of the year…
* Got back and worked past the postage time. The good news is, I've submitted the damned book, and I can pull my head out of my ass for at least a couple of days. And since I've got a dentist appointment tomorrow (grrrrr….) I should be able to get to the post office!
* The bad news is that I've been holding back the raging waters with my finger in the dike while I've been frantically finishing this project with my other hand. I am SO FAR BEHIND. I can't even write another list, because it will just make me cry.
* Whatever it was I wanted to make for dinner got subverted for my need for comfort carbs and dudes… I don't want to talk about dinner. It was tasty and horrid. Ulg.
So--
This is sort of a pathetic whine about MOnday. I mean, Chicken worked sick, and had to deal with $200 repair on her car-- that was a worse Monday. Mate has had soccer meetings for the last month of Mondays-- that would put a damper on ANY day of the week.
And when I posted a whine on Twitter/FB, the general response I got was, "It HAS been a cruel and unusual Monday, hasn't it?"
So I'm going to be interactive if I can-- what basically miserable stupid shitty thing happened to make your Monday less than ideal? No tragedies-- I mean… dudes. If somebody passed away, that's not a Monday thing, that's a big painful deal. No-- this is, you know, dogs pooping, cars breaking down, checks not making it on time, the traffic light that lasted 45 minutes with the kids screaming in the back… share your Monday story, because right now, my whine is pretty pathetic, made painful mostly because I had my head up the dragon cave and wasn't functioning on all 8 cylinders.
What's YOUR Monday?
September 27, 2015
What it is I finished...
Well, much of my social media heard me crowing to the stars that I'd finished something last night. I've been editing it today, to submit tomorrow, and then my pre-GRL life can start. Because right now, I'm behind on ALL THE FUCKING THINGS.
Anyway--
I thought I'd share a little bit of Selfie, which is the thing I finished. It's part of the Bluewater Bay Universe (from whence came Deep of the Sound) and this one deals more directly with some of the actors.
One actor in particular. On actor who spent eleven years of his life hiding a big fucking secret from the whole world, and now that the secret has been gone for a year? Connor Montgomery is having a hell of a time finding normal.
Fortunately he's got Noah Dakers to help him find normal. But Noah's vision of normal is a little more san than Con's--and Con's not as ready for it as he should be.
Are you ready? Here's and excerpt from Selfie, which will be out in April.
* * *
Simon?” Noah was trying to sound humble—and failing. “Uh… don’t take this the wrong way but—““I’m gone,” Simon said quietly. I didn’t flinch from his hand on my shoulder. “I’ll have Anna get Jillian the contract by Monday. Please stay. This show’s so good with you.”“Thanks,” I said automatically. “Yeah. Of course I’ll stay.”And then he was gone, and I was alone with Noah.“You knew?” he said quietly.“Like I said, not with who. It… I was gone a lot. Vinnie wasn’t…”“Strong,” Noah said quietly. “I get it. So—why did you leave Warlock Tea?”I shook my head, not wanting to do this, not now. “Noah—“ I all but begged.“Got it. Let’s get to the car and get you on some pain meds.”“No pain meds,” I muttered. “R.I.C.E.”“All weekend,” he said grimly, and then he squat next to me so I could throw my arm around his shoulder. He straightened and I pushed, and in a moment I was hopping across the trailer. We got to the steps and Noah made me hold on to the doorframe so he could walk down and steady me as I hopped some more.God, by the time I got to the car, I was sweating and pissed.“You know what?” I bitched as he slid me into the back seat.“You want me to sell your mountain bike?” he asked before shutting my door and getting into the front seat.“No,” I snarled, using my adrenaline. “I want to get better so I can ride that thing again. I’m going to ride it, and I’m going to screamdown that goddamned hill, and I’m going to show it who the fuck is the fucking boss. That’s what I’m going to do. And then I’m going to go down a bigger hill. I’m going to go down hills so steep I need a fucking parachute to get on the trail in the first place. I’m tired of this shit. I’m tired of things hurting. I’m tired wanting to hide my head under a pillow and scream and cry and sleep. I’m fucking tired of pain. I’m going to make pain my bitch, and I’m going to fly down that fucking mountain with my hair on fire, screaming bloody murder all the—ouch!”There was a cattle guard in the driveway of the property we’d leased for the outdoor sets. Going over that fucking set of pipes almost made me throw up.“Sorry about that,” Noah said gently.“Don’t be sorry,” I muttered. “Not your fault. I’m tired of pain. I just want to live my life without any fucking pain.”“Yeah, sure,” he soothed. “But first, you’ve got to heal.”Neither of us were talking about the ankle, and both of us knew it. “Yeah, fine,” I muttered. “I’ll fucking heal. I don’t have to be gracious about it.”Noah laughed softly, and I knew what he was going to say before it came out of his mouth. “And we have the video to prove it!”“Augh!”I shut up and seethed for the rest of the trip. By the time we were done with the X-Rays and the bandaging and the fitting for the brace and, yes, the pain medication that I finally relented and agreed to take, I was too exhausted to seethe. I was too exhausted to talk. In fact, about the only thing I had the energy to do was to fold my arms in front of me, tuck my head in the corner of the door and the seat, and fall asleep. I woke up at the end of the forty-five minute drive as Noah was parking the car. He got out and opened the door for me, handing me the hated and dreaded crutches.“Ugh.” “Yeah, well, get used to them. When you’re not standing on the set, that’s your default for the next two weeks.”I glared. “I can do water aerobics and weight lifting,” I reminded him and he rolled his eyes.“Yeah. There’s a pool at the Global—if you want I’ll have Anna get you permission to go swim there in the mornings. Are we done being a diva who has to keep his body perfect now?”“You seemed so sweet when we first met,” I muttered. “Who knew?”“I’m a philosophy major, Connor. Sarcasm is our defense against the workforce disappointment.”“Ha.” I started to hobble forward, letting him open the garage door for me. He followed me into the house, taking one of the crutches and holding my arm while I used the banister to make it up the stairs.“Ha what?”“You have the world’s greatest job at the moment,” I told him facetiously. “You get to watch me completely implode and shuttle me to exciting places like hotels and doctor’s offices. You have nothing to complain about.”He took my arm over his shoulders as we cleared the landing, and held the crutches in his opposite hand. I leaned on him until we got into the bedroom. “Can you pee standing up, or do you have to do number two?” he asked in all seriousness, and I…I did not take that very well.I collapsed on the bed, laughing my ass off. “Number two? Oh my God—did you just ask me if I have to take a crap? Because—““Yeah, I get—““I mean, I know the paparazzi can be intrusive sometimes—““Yeah, there was probably—““But Jesus, Noah—not even Vinnie used to ask me if I had to take a crap!”Noah rolled his eyes. “I’m sure he didn’t. Vinnie was perfect and saintly in all things.”“No he wasn’t.”“Did I mention the sarcasm? Now do you have to go sit down and have private time for a while or what?” I thought about it. “Naw,” I said, suddenly sober. “Just let me pee and brush my teeth."
Anyway--
I thought I'd share a little bit of Selfie, which is the thing I finished. It's part of the Bluewater Bay Universe (from whence came Deep of the Sound) and this one deals more directly with some of the actors.
One actor in particular. On actor who spent eleven years of his life hiding a big fucking secret from the whole world, and now that the secret has been gone for a year? Connor Montgomery is having a hell of a time finding normal.
Fortunately he's got Noah Dakers to help him find normal. But Noah's vision of normal is a little more san than Con's--and Con's not as ready for it as he should be.
Are you ready? Here's and excerpt from Selfie, which will be out in April.
* * *
Simon?” Noah was trying to sound humble—and failing. “Uh… don’t take this the wrong way but—““I’m gone,” Simon said quietly. I didn’t flinch from his hand on my shoulder. “I’ll have Anna get Jillian the contract by Monday. Please stay. This show’s so good with you.”“Thanks,” I said automatically. “Yeah. Of course I’ll stay.”And then he was gone, and I was alone with Noah.“You knew?” he said quietly.“Like I said, not with who. It… I was gone a lot. Vinnie wasn’t…”“Strong,” Noah said quietly. “I get it. So—why did you leave Warlock Tea?”I shook my head, not wanting to do this, not now. “Noah—“ I all but begged.“Got it. Let’s get to the car and get you on some pain meds.”“No pain meds,” I muttered. “R.I.C.E.”“All weekend,” he said grimly, and then he squat next to me so I could throw my arm around his shoulder. He straightened and I pushed, and in a moment I was hopping across the trailer. We got to the steps and Noah made me hold on to the doorframe so he could walk down and steady me as I hopped some more.God, by the time I got to the car, I was sweating and pissed.“You know what?” I bitched as he slid me into the back seat.“You want me to sell your mountain bike?” he asked before shutting my door and getting into the front seat.“No,” I snarled, using my adrenaline. “I want to get better so I can ride that thing again. I’m going to ride it, and I’m going to screamdown that goddamned hill, and I’m going to show it who the fuck is the fucking boss. That’s what I’m going to do. And then I’m going to go down a bigger hill. I’m going to go down hills so steep I need a fucking parachute to get on the trail in the first place. I’m tired of this shit. I’m tired of things hurting. I’m tired wanting to hide my head under a pillow and scream and cry and sleep. I’m fucking tired of pain. I’m going to make pain my bitch, and I’m going to fly down that fucking mountain with my hair on fire, screaming bloody murder all the—ouch!”There was a cattle guard in the driveway of the property we’d leased for the outdoor sets. Going over that fucking set of pipes almost made me throw up.“Sorry about that,” Noah said gently.“Don’t be sorry,” I muttered. “Not your fault. I’m tired of pain. I just want to live my life without any fucking pain.”“Yeah, sure,” he soothed. “But first, you’ve got to heal.”Neither of us were talking about the ankle, and both of us knew it. “Yeah, fine,” I muttered. “I’ll fucking heal. I don’t have to be gracious about it.”Noah laughed softly, and I knew what he was going to say before it came out of his mouth. “And we have the video to prove it!”“Augh!”I shut up and seethed for the rest of the trip. By the time we were done with the X-Rays and the bandaging and the fitting for the brace and, yes, the pain medication that I finally relented and agreed to take, I was too exhausted to seethe. I was too exhausted to talk. In fact, about the only thing I had the energy to do was to fold my arms in front of me, tuck my head in the corner of the door and the seat, and fall asleep. I woke up at the end of the forty-five minute drive as Noah was parking the car. He got out and opened the door for me, handing me the hated and dreaded crutches.“Ugh.” “Yeah, well, get used to them. When you’re not standing on the set, that’s your default for the next two weeks.”I glared. “I can do water aerobics and weight lifting,” I reminded him and he rolled his eyes.“Yeah. There’s a pool at the Global—if you want I’ll have Anna get you permission to go swim there in the mornings. Are we done being a diva who has to keep his body perfect now?”“You seemed so sweet when we first met,” I muttered. “Who knew?”“I’m a philosophy major, Connor. Sarcasm is our defense against the workforce disappointment.”“Ha.” I started to hobble forward, letting him open the garage door for me. He followed me into the house, taking one of the crutches and holding my arm while I used the banister to make it up the stairs.“Ha what?”“You have the world’s greatest job at the moment,” I told him facetiously. “You get to watch me completely implode and shuttle me to exciting places like hotels and doctor’s offices. You have nothing to complain about.”He took my arm over his shoulders as we cleared the landing, and held the crutches in his opposite hand. I leaned on him until we got into the bedroom. “Can you pee standing up, or do you have to do number two?” he asked in all seriousness, and I…I did not take that very well.I collapsed on the bed, laughing my ass off. “Number two? Oh my God—did you just ask me if I have to take a crap? Because—““Yeah, I get—““I mean, I know the paparazzi can be intrusive sometimes—““Yeah, there was probably—““But Jesus, Noah—not even Vinnie used to ask me if I had to take a crap!”Noah rolled his eyes. “I’m sure he didn’t. Vinnie was perfect and saintly in all things.”“No he wasn’t.”“Did I mention the sarcasm? Now do you have to go sit down and have private time for a while or what?” I thought about it. “Naw,” I said, suddenly sober. “Just let me pee and brush my teeth."
September 25, 2015
We Shall Never Speak of This Again
Wherever Sheriff Stilinski went with his new "friend", he didn't get back until the shadows were dripping golden through Stiles's bedroom window.Stiles and Derek were just getting out of the shower when they heard him come through the door, calling, "Guys! Guys! I've got some pizza here!"
Derek half-laughed in the middle of pulling his freshly laundered shirt over his head. "You know, your dad is pretty awesome."
Stiles nodded and pulled his boxers on. "You've got clothes for tomorrow?" he asked. "I mean, now that I did laundry?"
Derek nodded. "Yeah, but--"
"Then stay. Again. For dinner."
"Stiles--"
"Your place sucks. It's big and broody and lonely. Lots of women slept there who either tried to kill you or died. Stay here."
Oh Lord. So easy. Would be so easy just to stay here and pretend they were one happy family.
When John Stilinski called out again it was from the foot of the stairs. "Are you telling me neither of you have an appetite?"
"Be right there, Dad!" Stiles called from his door. "What kind of pizza?"
"I brought three--combination, with anchovies, and pepperoni. Derek can eat them all if he feels like it, because I had a big salad with chicken for lunch."
Stiles's grunt did not sound like he was buying it. "Why would you do that without me nagging?"
"I had lunch with another middle aged man, Stiles. Do you think we both don't check cholesterol?"
"Huh. Yeah, give us a minute."
Stiles closed his door and checked over his shoulder to see if Derek was clothed.
And Derek smacked him in the face with a T-shirt and sweats. "Stop tormenting him," he said. "And yes, I'll stay until tomorrow."
Stiles's grin was so happy/evil, Derek tried really hard to pretend he didn't know what he'd just signed on for. Stiles was going to make him ask "the question".
* * *
John Stilinski was still befuddled over the events of the night before.
Well, not really befuddled. Bemused.
Well, not really bemused. AROUSED.
Yes, he probably should have been entering the viagra years, but every time he'd thought about what he and Jack had done in the muted quite of his bedroom the night before, his erection grew both uncomfortable and embarrassing.
Which explained how a trip to Eureka to take Jack out to lunch had gone on a lot longer than either one of them had planned.
Because last night…
They'd both taken off their shoes before they entered the kitchen, and John had listened carefully before they padded up the stairs.
Oh, thank God. Not a sound--just the unmistakeable smell that was probably werewolf sex, because Stiles had been pretty active with boys and girls before Derek, and John had never been quite that… overwhelmed with pungency until Derek.
"Oh my God…" Jack whispered behind him. "It smells like… like sweat sox and elephant semen."
John chuckled as they passed Stiles's room and dragged Jack unselfconsciously down the hall.
"The sweat sox were my son's," he admitted. "The other thing--"
"Werewolf sex?"
"Saying."
John stopped in his doorway and frowned. "Wait a minute-- how do you know what elephant semen smell--"
Jack kissed him again, that same assertive sweetness that he'd given in the car, and John melted against the doorframe. Fumbling, he reached behind him and opened the door, backing up so Jack could come in and shut the door behind him. He pulled back long enough to turn on the lamp near his bed, hearing the snick of the lock just as he looked up.
Jack was walking toward him with definite intent, unbuttoning the cuffs of his blue dress shirt as he walked.
John was suddenly, acutely aware that he was forty-seven years old. Yeah, sure, he went running more mornings than he didn't, and he worked out his upper body when he could--but still. Time didn't tell kind lies. He knew his chest hair was a little gray and his ass wasn't as tight as it had been and--
Carter finished unbuttoning his shirt and drew near, close enough for John to feel his heat. His rough hands cupped John's cheeks and he made John look at him.
John was really starting to like those crinkles in the corners of his eyes. "What?" he asked, his voice shaking a little.
"You tell me."
John looked down to the neck of Carter's tank. His chest was muscular and broad, and he only had a few blonde hairs in the center.
"You've got a really nice chest," he said, feeling pathetic.
Carter laughed softly and lowered his head, kissing him behind the jaw. "You've got really nice eyes," he said, brushing John's ear with his lips.
"Backatcha… oh…"
"And I like your laugh," Carter continued, nibbling down the side of his neck. "And your kindness…"
"Mmm…"
Carter was unbuttoning the front of John's shirt, and John had lost track of why they were telling each other stupidly nice things--but that didn't mean he was going to drop the ball.
"You've got a really nice smile," John mumbled, as Carter kissed down his chest. They were both wearing tanks under their blue dress shirts, which was sort of funny, really, but John didn't feel like laughing.
Particularly when Carter shoved the dress shirt off his shoulders and then lifted his tank up by the hem and pulled it over his head.
"You like my smile?" Carter asked, his eyes glinting wickedly in the lamp light.
"Yeah," John said, comfortable again in his own skin. He raised a hand and rubbed Carter's abdomen under his tank. "I really like your smile."
"Do you like my teeth?" Carter teased, and John frowned.
"Sure-- they're part of a smile right--ooooh…"
Carter lowered his head to John's chest and nibbled gently on his nipple. John's hand flailed for Carter's shoulder, and Carter licked the the nipple, and then nibbled again, and then nipped.
"Ahh…" John's hands flailed, finally finding purchase on Carter's hard biceps. He squeezed hard, knowing he couldn't hurt, couldn't bruise, and he realized there were unexpected good things about being with a man.
Carter chuckled and licked over to his other nipple and John groaned and sat down hard on the bed.
"Lay back," Carter ordered.
So easy. Just do what this kind, funny man asked him to and touch back. Run his hands down the smooth skin of Carter's back, knead his chest, enjoy the little catches of breath he made when John hit something particularly sensitive.
And keen as Carter paid copious amounts of attention to a part of John's body he'd thought had fallen off years ago.
John's hips were arching off the bed, and Carter's hand at his groin made him ache. "Oh God!" he breathed. He reached awkwardly down between them, trying to reach Carter's groin to see if he had an erection that could pound nails.
Carter pulled back and laughed. "YOu want to do this like gentlemen? I'll show you mine and you show me yours?"
John had never felt like a nervous virgin before--like Stiles, he'd pretty much thrown himself into sex with a sort of practical joy. You had to have it, right, or your dick would fall off? (He'd actually heard Stiles say that to his first girlfriend-- if he hadn't used that line on Stiles's mother, he would have smacked the kid in the back of the head.) But he felt like a nervous virgin now.
"Yeah," he said, trying not to hide. "But, uhm, can we do it under the covers."
Jack's laugh and smile were enough to make John's stomach flip. "Yeah, sure."
"God--your dimples--fucking lethal."
Carter chuckled some more as he stood and gave John a hand up. John had to turn his back to strip, he was so embarrassed. By the time he'd gotten naked and scrambled under the covers, Jack was naked too. He stood next to the bed and held his hands out before doing a little turn and presenting himself again.
His stomach was the washboard stomach John had once possessed in his youth, and his chest was just as wide and wonderful as it had felt under John's hands. His skin was a sort of natural gold, even the pale part of his hips and thighs. And now that John had taken that inventory, he could move down to the thing that scared him the most.
"Oh."
Yeah. It was big. John couldn't seem to come up with a comparison-- was it bigger than his? Longer? Wider? Or did all the bigness come because it was probably going to end up inside John's-- uh, either way, it was wide and thick and long and erect.
Basic sex mechanics seeped into John's brain. "Uh, that's for me?" he asked, confused.
"Yeah, John. I, uh, don't normally spring one of these for someone I'm not excited to see."
John bit his lip again and whooshed the covers down, exposing his pale, middle aged glory for Carter to inspect.
Carter didn't. He slid into bed next him, and caught his mouth in another knee-melter of a kiss. John was glad he was lying down, seriously. And then Jack threw his leg over John's hips, and blew his mind.
OH God, two male naked bodies, sliding together, their chests touching, their groins… oh God. Carter's cock was touching his. It was the most amazing, wistful sort of foreplay.
John wanted to touch it! He reached down between them, not so awkwardly this time, and grabbed him, appreciating the size and texture of him in his palm. He closed his fingers and squeezed, stroking up toward the head, and then he rubbed his thumb.
"Oooh…" he breathed. "Skin's so soft…"
Carter's pained chuckle made him flush, and then Carter's hand on John's erection, doing exactly what John was doing to Carter, made him groan.
STroke… stroke… stroke stroke stroke stroke stroke… oh God! A man's hands were on him, a man was touching him, kissing him, and his body was vibrating, swelling, aching, and climax was rolling in his thighs and his stomach--
"I'm gonna come!" he gasped.
"Come…" Jack whispered. "We've got the whole night…"
"Ahhh…" Oh, it had been so long. His testicles tightened up between his thighs, and the edge of Jack's thumb caught on his slit, just as his fingers tightened around John's crown and…
"Ohhh…" He whimpered into Jack's mouth and Jack captured the sound. Oh… oh God… Ohhhh…. Oh, he'd forgotten what climax at someone else's hands felt like. A hand job, naked bodies, a passionate kiss--apparently these things were the same no matter who was giving them.
Or maybe because the person giving them was giving them right.
John melted into the mattress, aware that Jack had continued stroking him through the slickness of come. After a moment, when his dick had swelled again, and he was hard and tight and a little tender, he grunted and pulled his hips back.
"That was amazing," he breathed, smiling at Carter with a sort of innocent gratitude. "What can I do to… you know…"
"YOu ever given a blow job?" Carter asked, his hips twitching with a little bit of urgency.
"Nope." John grinned. "But I'll try anything once." He rolled his hips and moved his body until he was eye level with Jack's chest. "But first, I'd like to try these…"
Male nipples were tiny and hard, and he liked them very much. He especially liked the throaty sounds Jack made when he nibbled on them, and he understood why the other man had spent so much time there. But John had a goal now, and he kissed his way from nipple to nipple, staying just long enough to make Carter grab his shoulders and keen with frustration.
"You know what you are," Carter mumbled and John kissed his way down a mildly furry abdomen to a perfectly shaped, bald cockhead.
"A middle aged man learning how to give head?"
"A prick tease," Carter said, then he leaned his head back and gave that appealing, throaty laugh just as John licked his crown.
The laugh turned into an "ooooh…" and John realized he was enjoying the hell out of this. His own cock still tingled, and it was already aching. And the taste of the pre dripping from Carter's cock had really flipped his switch.
He didn't even have to think, didn't have to feel, didn't have to have the big epiphany about, "Oh my God, I'm touching a guy's dick with my mouth!" because he wanted to taste that again.
He carefully positioned his teeth and lips and tongue and sucked Carter in like he was pulling on an extra thick popsicle.
Jack's hushed grunt and his fingers scrabbling in John's hair were enough to keep John hard for hours. Oh, man, this was power. It had been power with a woman and it was just as powerful with another man. He was doing something for Carter, something important, something huge.
He pulled up his fist and started stroking, using his lips and tongue together. He wasn't a pro or smooth or sophisticated--he was what he always had been: serviceable and competent.
He could tell by Carter's increasingly frantic tugging on his head that he was about to cum, and suddenly, he didn't want to pull away. He was lost in it, in giving someone pleasure, in doing something, something of importance, even if it was making this charming, kind man climax.
"John… coming…"
John's response was to move his hand and lower his head and bottom out as best he could.
Jack bit his own shoulder and grunted, and poured into John's mouth, the saltiness and bitterness enough to make John gag a little, and spill some out of his mouth. It puddled in a mess over Jack's balls, but John didn't have time to be embarrassed, because Jack pulled him up by the shoulder.
"C'mere," he muttered thickly. "Here…"
John went, proud and aroused and thrilled, because… oh yes! There was Carter's mouth, and his tongue exploring, tasting again, and John answered, the shyness and hesitation gone. He'd do anything-- everything-- because doing it with this man felt so right.
The kiss went on, and on, and on, until they were both thrusting against each other's groins some more, and Jack pulled back with a gasp.
"So," he panted, a sleepy, sated, aroused smile on his face. "Round two?"
"God, yeah," John answered. "Who does what?"
Jack's smile was sin itself, and his voice made John's cock even harder…
* * *
Derek went down the stairs first, knowing Stiles would wait a scant five minutes before crashing the supposed ten minutes of talk time he'd given for Derek to answer the all important question.
God, he didn't want to do this.
"Derek!" Sheriff Stilinski said, sounding genuinely happy to see him. "Come get the pizza before it becomes, you know, tepid."
Derek smiled a little, recognizing Stiles's sense of humor and dorkiness wrapped up in the stolid, no-bullshit man he'd once been so contemptuous of.
"Tepid pizza is better, sir," he said gravely, and was rewarded by John Stilinski's quick grin.
"That should be on a T-shirt," he answered, just as gravely. "Where's Stiles?"
Derek sighed. He couldn't go through with this. "Waiting for me to ask you the most embarrassing question of all times, sir."
Sheriff Stilinski paused in the act of getting plates out from the cupboard. "Oh hell. Could we not?"
"He's relentless. You know he's relentless."
"Even if I give the answer, you know what's going to happen--"
"Squeamishness? Weirdness? Having your name dragged into my sex life for at least another month? Yes sir, I know."
"Oh God." John shook his head and set the plates on the table, very carefully not looking at Derek. "So why are you--"
"Because if we get it out of the way now, I'll get my boyfriend back sooner. So, uhm, do you mind?"
"Jesus. I swear-- if I wasn't going to see the guy for as long as humanly possible, I'd say it wasn't worth it--"
Derek rubbed the back of his neck. "You know he'll be awful, right? He'll be asking that nice Sheriff Carter until the poor guy runs screaming from the house--"
"Yes. Yes I know." John grabbed napkins and a glass bowl and put them both on the table, and then took the salad out of the plastic thing and put it in the glass bowl. "Dammit. Fine." He turned and balled the salad bag up and pitched it into the trash can by the sink. "Both of us. Happy?"
Derek thought about it. Both. For some reason that canceled shit out. "Best answer we could hope for-- thank you sir." Then he turned his head and shouted over the stairs. "Stiles, they both topped! Now stop being a child and get down here and eat!"
"OH my God! You told him I told you to ask!"
Derek met John's eyes and for a moment they were both in complete agreement.
"We shall never speak of this again," Jon said gravely.
Derek nodded his head. "A-fucking-men."
September 24, 2015
Hmm… A bit salty...
So… GRL is in 20 days, and you know what? I need to frickin' plan.Anyone want to know what's on my plate?
God-- me too. Shall we list?
* Birthday Week-- Mate and I turn 48 next week.
* Swag ASSEMBLE! Price tag tiny stuffed soccer balls to book cards.
* Tie book cards around the neck of Clopper stuffed dogs.
* Buy M&M's and put them in Amy Lane mugs.
* Buy more paper swag cause what I've got now is weak shit
* Clean the kitchen table, cause, ulgh
* Do laundry
* Finish Selfie, cause I have a frickin QUEUE.
* Start the category romance I'm writing for DSP-- fun!
* Finish edits on Bound, part 1&2.
* Moar laundry. And some folding!
* Do I have the clothes I need?
* Shoot! I have a game I need to map rules for! GodDAMMIT how did that sit so long?
* Two interviews on my dashboard.
* Uhm… I'm promoting two blogs this month?
* A character interview for Amber Kell's B-day celebration-- I'm thinking Deacon?
* PLanning a panel for GRL
* Assemble my setting workshop for GRL
* Crap-- do I have enough swag?
* Can I order it NOW since I only have 20 days?
* Clean my bathroom, cause DAYUM.
* Squish is in choir and GATE, so I need to revamp the way I pick up and drop off kids.
* Help Squish with her student council speech and poster
* Make sure ZB gets his English grade up. Frickin' reading logs!
* Make sure the crack house moving into the abandoned place next door does not kidnap my children. I only wish I was kidding.
* Decorate for Halloween.
* Get kids costumes.
* Oh crap, I've got another edit for Winter Ball.
* RITA awards are when?
* I'm on a blog tomorrow, aren't I? I know I must be…
* Happy Birthday Chicken! (She's 21.)
* I absolutely must watch NBC's The Player. Because Phillip Winchester in his underwear, that's why. It's not negotiable, I shit you not.
* Soccer games every weekend.
* Dance on Wednesday.
* GATE'S on Wednesday too?
* Feed the cats!
* Walk the dogs.
* Aw man-- I've got another dentist appointment next week!
* What was that about finishing the book?
* And don't forget to clean my plate, because there's veggies on the bottom.
