Amy Lane's Blog: Writer's Lane, page 24
August 14, 2019
Namaste
Little Old Ladies in the Pool--Redux
There are a few of us who are diehard liberals--we know each other and we float in packs.
One of my diehard liberals was beating the water in a frenzy today. She was furious. She'd spent the weekend with inlaws who were staunch supporters of the pustule in the White House, and she'd given herself sciatica working out too hard to vent her rage.
I raged a little with her. "My one consolation--ONE consolation," I told her, "Is that he appears to be rotting from the inside out. I hope it's syphilis."
She gave a harsh bark of laughter.
I asked her, "Do you know how people die of syphilis? Shit literally rots off their body, like their noses and tongues and cheeks fall off, and they're in agonizing pain. And since he refuses to get a real doctor to look him over, and since we all know he's a horrible abomination of a human being who treats women like trash, he could very possibly have syphilis."
And this lovely woman--this beautiful grandmother, this staunch advocate for civil rights, this kind person who worries about the welfare of everybody in the pool--lights up. Completely. As though a flame had been ignited within.
"Really?" she asked, so very hopefully.
"Yeah. It's totally possible."
She gave me a serene smile. "That's the best thing I've heard in three years. Seriously. Namaste."
Namaste, y'all. Poetic justice lives.
There are a few of us who are diehard liberals--we know each other and we float in packs.
One of my diehard liberals was beating the water in a frenzy today. She was furious. She'd spent the weekend with inlaws who were staunch supporters of the pustule in the White House, and she'd given herself sciatica working out too hard to vent her rage.
I raged a little with her. "My one consolation--ONE consolation," I told her, "Is that he appears to be rotting from the inside out. I hope it's syphilis."
She gave a harsh bark of laughter.
I asked her, "Do you know how people die of syphilis? Shit literally rots off their body, like their noses and tongues and cheeks fall off, and they're in agonizing pain. And since he refuses to get a real doctor to look him over, and since we all know he's a horrible abomination of a human being who treats women like trash, he could very possibly have syphilis."
And this lovely woman--this beautiful grandmother, this staunch advocate for civil rights, this kind person who worries about the welfare of everybody in the pool--lights up. Completely. As though a flame had been ignited within.
"Really?" she asked, so very hopefully.
"Yeah. It's totally possible."
She gave me a serene smile. "That's the best thing I've heard in three years. Seriously. Namaste."
Namaste, y'all. Poetic justice lives.
August 13, 2019
Now Available: Paint it Black
The seeds to this book were in the original--but they were buried deep.For those of you who read the extras from Beneath the Stain (THEY CAN BE FOUND HERE) you may have seen the signs.
The day Mackey's mother got the letter that Mackey wrote in rehab, she was with a potential suitor--whom she kicked out of the house the minute he said something shitty about Mackey's situation. Her son, Cheever, was friends with his son--and Cheever followed up that moment by acting like a real punk.
Why would he do that?
Blake confessed to Mackey that he'd worked as a prostitute in the early days when he didn't always have food money--what kind of scars would that leave? Then, in his POV section in the extra content, we see that he's got a low-level case of the unrequiteds for Kell, his best friend--but that he loves Kell enough to be happy for him when Kell hooks up with Briony, who is the love of his life.
Blake's got hidden depths--when does he get his happy ending?
When I was asked to write a sequel to Beneath the Stain, my first instinct was to say no--Mackey and Trav were an epic love story. How do you follow that up?
But underneath that, I knew that somewhere in the back of my mind, Blake and Cheever had something really profound in common.
They were both the forgotten ones, the ones laboring in Mackey's shadow, trying to find the light. Now that Mackey is secure enough to try to spread that sunshine around, is their enough love in the world to fix these two broken souls?
Short answer--yes!
Long answer--you're going to have to read it to see!
But as I was writing this, I would send it to my beta reader and ask what had bothered me about writing a sequel to BtS all along-- Is it worthy?
"Yes," she said. "It's perfect."
Of course, that could be because she loves me. A lot.
But the point is, I worried. I labored. I really wanted to make this one worthy of its predecessor.
I do hope I succeeded.
A Beneath the Stain NovelEverybody thinks Mackey Sanders’s Outbreak Monkey is the last coming of Rock ’n’ Roll Jesus, but Cheever Sanders can’t wait to make a name for himself where nobody expects him to fill his famous brothers’ shoes. He’s tired of living in their shadow.
Blake Manning has been one of Outbreak Monkey’s lead guitarists for ten years. He got this gig on luck and love, not talent. So hearing that Cheever is blowing through Outbreak Monkey’s hard-earned money in an epic stretch of partying pisses him off.
Blake shows up at Cheever’s nonstop orgy to enforce some rules, but instead of a jaded punk, he finds a lost boy as talented at painting as Mackey is at song-making, and terrified to let anybody see the real him. Childhood abuse and a suicide attempt left Cheever on the edge of survival—a place Blake knows all too well.
Both men have to make peace with being second banana in the public eye. Can they find the magic of coming absolute first with each other?
Buy at Amazon
Buy at Dreamspinner
August 12, 2019
That was a weekend
So the next two weeks are going to be hellishly busy--but this weekend was the portal to that hell.FRIDAY-- Friday, Squish and ZoomBoy danced with their troupe before the RiverCats game. Squish wasn't excited about doing this because Saturday was going to be a big day also, but we insisted. It wasn't easy--I had a foot-thing going, and the kids went into the park at 4:30, but Mate and I had to stand in line until 6. The troupe started dancing at about 6:15, so it was a good thing we didn't wait until later to get in line, but OU. UCH.
We stayed for the rest of the baseball game--and watched the RiverCats lose 0-15. Looking at the stats of the kids (yes kids!) up to bat, Mate and I had a revelation. The team had been winning all season-- but these kids (!) had NOTHING in their stat boxes. We figured that the major league team had called up the winning players to cover for the players with injury, and the kids we were watching were literally the high school graduates called up from AA ball. You had outfielders that couldn't catch bloopers, batters who swung way out of their strike zones, and pitchers who couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. Only entertaining if you like to heckle, and we couldn't--it was just so sad.
Anyway--we stayed until the fireworks--but given how long it took to lose that painful game, it didn't feel quite worth it this time.
Also, we all got sunburned.
On Saturday, it was soccer, opening day. Mate coached U12 Boys (mostly just because he likes being a team player) and someone else took over Squish's team (which was a whole political mess because people thought THEIR kids only deserved to win so they almost split the team and left the "lesser" players back with Mate --including Squish-- and I found out and said "that's mean" because it's EXACTLY what happened to Chicken, and then there was a small brouhaha and basically Mate stepped down because he has no ego in the team's win, and anyway--he's coaching somewhere he's appreciated and Squish gets to play with her peers.)Anyway we spent ALL Saturday in the sun.
And came home, ate sandwiches, and slept.
Today we went shopping for school clothes. I have to say, the Old Navy clerk who was adorable and excited because she was cooking salmon for dinner and who called her cash register "Busted" because (her words) "she gets tired of work sometimes" really did make that entertaining.
Anyway-- Mate also reffed two games yesterday, and earned some cash, and he put it in my wallet this morning before we left for school shopping.
I was helping Squish out, swapping sizes while she was in the dressing room, and she said, "Hey--can we get shoes, too?"
I was like, "*yawn* I don't know, honey--"
"We can get coffee on the way!"
She looked so hopeful, I had to tell her yes.
Her whole face lit up. I went back to where Mate was sitting and said, "Squish suggests a stop at StarBucks on her way to the Skechers store." (Parents know Old Navy and Skechers were made of sales this weekend.)
He yawned. "Sure," he mumbled. He hates coffee. "They'e got those refresher things. We can do that."
So we get to Starbucks and he starts looking through his wallet.
"Where's my money?"
"You gave it to me."
"No, I had a whole wad of cash this morning."
"You gave it to me."
"But it was two twenties and two fives, folded up."
I pulled it out and waved it at him. "You. Gave. It. Too. Me."
"But I remember putting it in a wallet--"
"You DID! You put it in MY wallet!"
He unfolded it. "Oh. I guess I gave it to you."
I stroked his shoulder and gave him anime eyes. "You're so pretty," I sighed. "So pretty. It's a good thing you're pretty."
"Yeah, I know," he yawned. "We can all skate on my looks."
August 9, 2019
Bacon and Eggs --a VERY SHORT Part 8 for Jai and Georg
This is going to be super short--like drabble short. I'm in the middle of a blog tour, and the kids have a full plate this week--but I couldn't let us forget about Jai and George! Also Parker was in dentist pain and needed some pets, and we always pet Parker because we love him, so this is for him too.
* * *
Jai heard him yawn and stretch, and then the rustling in the tent that indicated he was getting dressed.
"Going to the bathroom," he called softly, and Jai looked up from the eggs he was scrambling.
"Da."
George gave him a shy little smile and a wave and set up for the restroom two campgrounds away.
Jai bit his lip. He'd gotten a smile in the morning.
He hadn't been sure--not really. The night had seemed amazing to him, but he'd been dominant and a little bit kinky. Sure, rent boys were okay with that if you paid for it, but Jai didn't often find willing partners who liked to be teased until they screamed.
But George... George had taken all of it, willingly--happily. Like every suggestion Jai had made had been designed to make George catch fire.
The results had been... magic.
Jai thought magic deserved some bacon and eggs in the morning. And some coffee as well.
For a small man, George made a lot of noise tramping around in his tennis shoes. Jai wasn't surprised when he slipped his cool hands around Jai's middle, under his fleece, and nuzzled his shoulder.
"Good morning," he said, as contented as a cat.
"Good morning." Jai turned away from their food, which was nearly done and bent his head so he could take George's mouth. Ah, minty. Good. Jai had brushed his teeth too. "Sit," he said gruffly after he'd pulled away. "We can eat."
"I need to cook for you, eventually," George told him. Then he grimaced. "Or maybe I can just be the one who brings takeout on Fridays."
Jai laughed softly in deference to the early morning sun peeking through the black shadows of the the trees. "You don't cook?"
"Not well," George confessed guiltily. Jai slid his eggs onto a plate with three pieces of bacon and some toast that had been working as well, then put the whole works in front of George with ketchup and butter. "This here is my only dish really," he confessed, taking a bite of bacon. "Mm... and you seem to do it just fine."
Jai chuckled and plated up his own food, poured them both milk, and then then sat down next to him on the picnic bench.
"What do you have planned today?" George asked him after his first bite.
Jai closed his eyes and swallowed blissfully. "Fishing--it will be boring, if you would rather--"
"I have a book in my truck," George said happily, and some tension seemed to go out of him. "Sitting in the quiet with you sounds really nice."
"Good. I am not good at cocktail parties." Jai took a gulp of his milk--milk made him happy in the morning, and it gave his stomach a good buffer from black coffee, which he'd put on the camp stove for when they were done.
"I can fill space with my chatter," George apologized. "I mean, I'll bring the book in case you're ready to strangle me, but seriously--lots and lots of talking."
Jai chuckled. "We shall find a medium," he said. "Somewhere between the silent void of space and a monkey in a tree."
George grinned. "Wow. That's impressive. It's like I've been waiting for a guy to say they can compromise with me my entire life."
Jai gave him a self-deprecating roll of the eyes. "Too many men named Marvin and Gary," he said with a wink.
"Not enough men named Jai who can blow my mind in bed," George told him, and Jai nodded.
"Da." Then the banter faded, and he found the answer to this next question was really important. "What we did last night--it was good? Truly good? No regrets?"
George met his gaze soberly and shook his head. "None. Just, you know. Don't want to scare you away so we can do it again."
Jai's grin threatened to take over his whole face, but he fought it back. "Good," he said, keeping that eye contact. "I would like very much for us to do that again."
"And again," George added.
"I've always enjoyed camping," Jai told him with a bland smile.
"I can see why."
They buried themselves in their bacon and eggs then, before making ready to walk to the lake, camp stools over their shoulders, fishing tackle in Jai's hand, George's book in his. George actually read quietly for an hour, as the sun rose gloriously over the mountains, setting the lake on fire.
Jai couldn't ever quite remember a more brilliant morning.
* * *
Jai heard him yawn and stretch, and then the rustling in the tent that indicated he was getting dressed.
"Going to the bathroom," he called softly, and Jai looked up from the eggs he was scrambling.
"Da."
George gave him a shy little smile and a wave and set up for the restroom two campgrounds away.
Jai bit his lip. He'd gotten a smile in the morning.
He hadn't been sure--not really. The night had seemed amazing to him, but he'd been dominant and a little bit kinky. Sure, rent boys were okay with that if you paid for it, but Jai didn't often find willing partners who liked to be teased until they screamed.
But George... George had taken all of it, willingly--happily. Like every suggestion Jai had made had been designed to make George catch fire.
The results had been... magic.
Jai thought magic deserved some bacon and eggs in the morning. And some coffee as well.
For a small man, George made a lot of noise tramping around in his tennis shoes. Jai wasn't surprised when he slipped his cool hands around Jai's middle, under his fleece, and nuzzled his shoulder.
"Good morning," he said, as contented as a cat.
"Good morning." Jai turned away from their food, which was nearly done and bent his head so he could take George's mouth. Ah, minty. Good. Jai had brushed his teeth too. "Sit," he said gruffly after he'd pulled away. "We can eat."
"I need to cook for you, eventually," George told him. Then he grimaced. "Or maybe I can just be the one who brings takeout on Fridays."
Jai laughed softly in deference to the early morning sun peeking through the black shadows of the the trees. "You don't cook?"
"Not well," George confessed guiltily. Jai slid his eggs onto a plate with three pieces of bacon and some toast that had been working as well, then put the whole works in front of George with ketchup and butter. "This here is my only dish really," he confessed, taking a bite of bacon. "Mm... and you seem to do it just fine."
Jai chuckled and plated up his own food, poured them both milk, and then then sat down next to him on the picnic bench.
"What do you have planned today?" George asked him after his first bite.
Jai closed his eyes and swallowed blissfully. "Fishing--it will be boring, if you would rather--"
"I have a book in my truck," George said happily, and some tension seemed to go out of him. "Sitting in the quiet with you sounds really nice."
"Good. I am not good at cocktail parties." Jai took a gulp of his milk--milk made him happy in the morning, and it gave his stomach a good buffer from black coffee, which he'd put on the camp stove for when they were done.
"I can fill space with my chatter," George apologized. "I mean, I'll bring the book in case you're ready to strangle me, but seriously--lots and lots of talking."
Jai chuckled. "We shall find a medium," he said. "Somewhere between the silent void of space and a monkey in a tree."
George grinned. "Wow. That's impressive. It's like I've been waiting for a guy to say they can compromise with me my entire life."
Jai gave him a self-deprecating roll of the eyes. "Too many men named Marvin and Gary," he said with a wink.
"Not enough men named Jai who can blow my mind in bed," George told him, and Jai nodded.
"Da." Then the banter faded, and he found the answer to this next question was really important. "What we did last night--it was good? Truly good? No regrets?"
George met his gaze soberly and shook his head. "None. Just, you know. Don't want to scare you away so we can do it again."
Jai's grin threatened to take over his whole face, but he fought it back. "Good," he said, keeping that eye contact. "I would like very much for us to do that again."
"And again," George added.
"I've always enjoyed camping," Jai told him with a bland smile.
"I can see why."
They buried themselves in their bacon and eggs then, before making ready to walk to the lake, camp stools over their shoulders, fishing tackle in Jai's hand, George's book in his. George actually read quietly for an hour, as the sun rose gloriously over the mountains, setting the lake on fire.
Jai couldn't ever quite remember a more brilliant morning.
August 6, 2019
Quick Bites
Me to Squish: So, I think we might be able to go shopping at Old Navy on Thursday for school clothes--good?
Squish: I don't know how that would work, Mom. There's, you know. The red wave.
Me: *puzzled* Republicans are invading Old Navy?
Squish: ...
Me: ... Oh. We can go next Monday instead.
Squish: That would be best.
* * *
Mate and I are watching Veronica Mars, and I am fawning all over Logan Echolls, the asinine 0-9er (as they call the rich kids in the series) because he is such a poor-little-rich-boy and I am so falling for his big brown eyes.
Me: But see-- he was a douchebag, but he feels badly about it.
Mate: All the 0-9ers can burn in hell.
Me: Harsh.
Mate: ...
Me: Okay, fine, he's an asshole but I like his eyes.
* * *
I made enhanced pizza for ZoomBoy today-- regular Safeway cheese pizza but I added turkey pepperoni to it. ZoomBoy was so happy.
Mate and Squish were a little meh.
Me, to Mate: It was good, dinner?
Mate: *shrugs*
Me: Look--we eat simmered chicken and vegetables like four nights a week, and he humors us and microwaves burritos.
Mate: *sigh* Yeah. OKay. It wasn't bad.
Me: Good. I just wanted to make his food too.
* * *
And I promised Jai and George--possibly tomorrow, maybe Thursday. But DEFINITELY this week. *sigh* Summer went by so fast... are we all ready for Paint it Black in a week?
I'M NOT!!!!
Squish: I don't know how that would work, Mom. There's, you know. The red wave.
Me: *puzzled* Republicans are invading Old Navy?
Squish: ...
Me: ... Oh. We can go next Monday instead.
Squish: That would be best.
* * *
Mate and I are watching Veronica Mars, and I am fawning all over Logan Echolls, the asinine 0-9er (as they call the rich kids in the series) because he is such a poor-little-rich-boy and I am so falling for his big brown eyes.
Me: But see-- he was a douchebag, but he feels badly about it.
Mate: All the 0-9ers can burn in hell.
Me: Harsh.
Mate: ...
Me: Okay, fine, he's an asshole but I like his eyes.
* * *
I made enhanced pizza for ZoomBoy today-- regular Safeway cheese pizza but I added turkey pepperoni to it. ZoomBoy was so happy.
Mate and Squish were a little meh.
Me, to Mate: It was good, dinner?
Mate: *shrugs*
Me: Look--we eat simmered chicken and vegetables like four nights a week, and he humors us and microwaves burritos.
Mate: *sigh* Yeah. OKay. It wasn't bad.
Me: Good. I just wanted to make his food too.
* * *
And I promised Jai and George--possibly tomorrow, maybe Thursday. But DEFINITELY this week. *sigh* Summer went by so fast... are we all ready for Paint it Black in a week?
I'M NOT!!!!
August 5, 2019
Kermit Flail-- Those Boys of Summer!
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phew!
Okay-- so yes. July was insane. There was RWA and giving classes and taking classes and not winning the RITA (I am actually not bitter about this--the winner was charming, and the night was so obviously bigger than me!) and finishing books and starting books--it's been busy around here!
It's also been hot--so hot? Are you hot? I'm hot... I think we should all just kick back under the shade and... perspire, with all of the hot men available to us on the Kermit Flail, don't you think so? Oh I think so. I think those boys of summer deserve some shade, some iced tea, and some of our sweet, sweet attention...
I do indeed.
With that in mind, I've got an amazing Kermit Flail this time round! A lot of new players--and some players we haven't heard from in a while. Lissa Kassey has been very busy with her unique blend of sci-fi and romance, with not only a couple of new releases but a boxed set to celebrate the final book in a series! Elle Keaton, Jay Hogan and Louisa Masters present some very tasty contemporary, while Susan MacNicol takes us to a place called Fetish Alley for an erotic spin on mystery and intrigue! Speaking of intrigue, newcomers Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood take their two law-students in love on another case to solve--and a wedding to plan to boot!
And, well, for those of you who haven't seen, I've got another spleen-ripper with Outbreak Monkey in the sequel to Beneath the Stain, titled Paint it Black. Come see how Blake Manning and Mackey's little brother find peace in Mackey's shadow--and their own bit of sunshine to help their love grow.
See? Summer's not over yet--come join the fun with all the great stories! I've got SO MUCH to read this August--I can't wait!
Paint it Black
by Amy Lane
A Beneath the Stain NovelEverybody thinks Mackey Sanders’s Outbreak Monkey is the last coming of Rock ’n’ Roll Jesus, but Cheever Sanders can’t wait to make a name for himself where nobody expects him to fill his famous brothers’ shoes. He’s tired of living in their shadow.
Blake Manning has been one of Outbreak Monkey’s lead guitarists for ten years. He got this gig on luck and love, not talent. So hearing that Cheever is blowing through Outbreak Monkey’s hard-earned money in an epic stretch of partying pisses him off.
Blake shows up at Cheever’s nonstop orgy to enforce some rules, but instead of a jaded punk, he finds a lost boy as talented at painting as Mackey is at song-making, and terrified to let anybody see the real him. Childhood abuse and a suicide attempt left Cheever on the edge of survival—a place Blake knows all too well.
Both men have to make peace with being second banana in the public eye. Can they find the magic of coming absolute first with each other?
BUY HERE
Candy Land Hidden Gems Book 3
By Lissa Kassey
Blurb: Candy has gone from being the top companion at the Hidden Gem, to managing it. While he is busy restructuring the red-light district into an adult playground, his fellow companion and lover, Ivy finds time to spend with Institute of Scientific Study Investigator, Jackson Taylor. Candy can’t hide the fact that he’s jealous of Jack for taking Ivy’s time, and Ivy for catching Jack’s interest.
Ivy loves Candy and Jack, but he’s not sure how to make it work between the three of them when Candy’s libido runs at hyper speed and Jack’s is non-existent. All he knows is that he wants to try. Each time he tries to bring the three of them closer, life gets in the way. Most recently a series of violently murdered companions which Jack is investigating, while putting Candy and Ivy on high alert.
Something more than brutal murders is happening in City M. A sleeping threat to humanity is changing the world. Candy, Ivy, and Jack will have to band together with their friends to either evolve or be swept under a tidal wave of awakening power.
Buy Here
Dominion Novels--Boxed Set--By Lissa Kassey
Books 1-4 are on sale to celebrate the new release of book 5--you can find them HERE!
Absolution
Book 5 of the Dominion
By Lissa Kassey
For those who have been waiting almost a decade for the next Dominion book, it's finally here!!!
Sam is used to being the bad guy. So when he becomes the undead, he doesn’t understand why it pisses him off. Sure guys throw themselves at him, and he’s strong enough to toss a car across a room, but he’s friends with two of the four pillars of Dominion power and mentored by one of the most powerful vampires in the world. Things that put a damper on his whole ‘scourge of darkness’ vibe.
For months he’s been letting a little red-eyed monster out to play and feeding on the dangerous instead of on the willing. If it weren’t for his endless desire to take a nibble from his sexy and tattooed roommate, Constantine, he’d still be stalking the night looking for human monsters to devour. Instead he’s taking on a cibo, a regular blood donor, in the form of Luca, a dhampir.
With Luca and his profound knowledge of undead politics in his life, Sam begins to realize he doesn’t know as much as he thought, and maybe that’s not his fault. His mentor’s sanity is slipping, the world is changing, and vampires are beginning to lose control. Will Sam fall into the darkness too, or can Luca and Con drag him back from the abyss?
BUY HERE
Legally Bound
by Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood
Love can’t protect you from a psychopath.
Law students Liam Macadam and John Lawrence are madly in love, and everyone knows it. Granted, John is eighteen years older, but so what? With the end of law school in sight, they’re busy planning a wedding and a life together.Unfortunately, not everyone is happy for them. Somebody is determined to tear them apart, and when the situation spirals out of control, Liam and John have to find a way out before it costs one of them his life.Legally Bound, the second book in the Beyond Courtship series, can be read as a stand-alone novel. It is a sexy May-December romance full of suspense and adventure
BUY HERE
Out of the Office
by Louisa Masters
Whoever thought achieving career goals could be boring? Not Duncan Witten, but here he is at forty-one, in his dream job… and hating it. Throw it all away for a challenge? Yes, please!
If only Dunc had known his challenging new job came with Paul Hanks, a man who redefines “stubborn.” They need to work together to meet targets, but thanks to Dunc’s idiot predecessor, Paul won’t take his calls or reply to emails.
There’s only one solution: travel across the country and confront Paul face-to-face. It’s time to take things out of the office.
BUY HERE
Trusting the Elements
by Elle Keaton
There’s nothing like a near death car accident to open your eyes. Otto Proulx decides surviving was a sign; he’s being given a second chance to claim the life he wants to live. For the past few years he’s been hiding in the shadows, vague texts from a troubled ex-partner keep him at home along with his general lack of luck in the romance department. This is his last chance, he’s certain, this time he’ll meet the man for him, the one he’s sure is out there somewhere.
Greg Trainor runs a specialty kite shop and helps his friends out when they ask. That’s the kind of guy he is, if somebody needs something, they call on Greg. He’s a big guy and no genius, but he’s dependable. So…yeah, when he sees a car precariously perched on the side of the road, he stops to help out; it’s what he does.
One night of passion leads to…several more and suddenly both men are searching around to define what they have together. Neither wants to scare the other off and neither wants to ask for more. Will the two men be able to set aside their fears and create a family together, trusting the elements are in their favor?
BUY HERE
For Fox Sake
by Susan McNicol
The Places You'll Go And The Things That You'll See
Former SAS soldier, Clay Mortimer, the M in M&W Investigations, had thought he'd seen it all. But when his ex calls and asks for a favour Clay is intrigued, and then a bit surprised. He and his partner, Tate Williams, have a robust and imaginative sex life, but the things they see and learn in Fetish Alley take their understanding of human behaviour to the next level. Tate's take is part kid in a candy store fascination, part shocked. At the end of the day, all good detective work requires an open mind and the skill to ferret out the truth. Still, the layers of deceit and avarice they encounter are more than par for the course, particularly from people who are not keen about outsiders to the world of Fetish Alley.
Buy Link
Digging Deep
by Jay Hogan
A Digging Deep Story
Drake Park has a complicated life. As a gay male midwife, he’s used to raising eyebrows. Add Crohn’s disease and things get interesting—or not, considering the sad state of his love life. Experience has taught Drake that most men are fair-weather sailors when it comes to handling his condition—gone for dust when things get rough. Staying healthy is a full-time job without adding in any heartbreak, so a little loneliness is a small price to pay. If he says it often enough he might even believe it. One thing for sure, the cop who arrested him isn’t about to change that.
Caleb Ashton does not have a complicated life. A senior detective with the Whangarei Police Department, he likes his job and is good at it. He works hard and plays hard, happy to enjoy as many men as he can while he’s still young enough—or at least he was. These days he feels adrift for the first time in his life, and the only thing sparking his interest—a certain prickly young midwife.
But can Drake find enough faith to risk opening his heart again? And does Caleb have what it takes to cope with the challenges Drake’s condition presents?
Buy Here
Phew!
Okay-- so yes. July was insane. There was RWA and giving classes and taking classes and not winning the RITA (I am actually not bitter about this--the winner was charming, and the night was so obviously bigger than me!) and finishing books and starting books--it's been busy around here!
It's also been hot--so hot? Are you hot? I'm hot... I think we should all just kick back under the shade and... perspire, with all of the hot men available to us on the Kermit Flail, don't you think so? Oh I think so. I think those boys of summer deserve some shade, some iced tea, and some of our sweet, sweet attention...
I do indeed.
With that in mind, I've got an amazing Kermit Flail this time round! A lot of new players--and some players we haven't heard from in a while. Lissa Kassey has been very busy with her unique blend of sci-fi and romance, with not only a couple of new releases but a boxed set to celebrate the final book in a series! Elle Keaton, Jay Hogan and Louisa Masters present some very tasty contemporary, while Susan MacNicol takes us to a place called Fetish Alley for an erotic spin on mystery and intrigue! Speaking of intrigue, newcomers Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood take their two law-students in love on another case to solve--and a wedding to plan to boot!
And, well, for those of you who haven't seen, I've got another spleen-ripper with Outbreak Monkey in the sequel to Beneath the Stain, titled Paint it Black. Come see how Blake Manning and Mackey's little brother find peace in Mackey's shadow--and their own bit of sunshine to help their love grow.
See? Summer's not over yet--come join the fun with all the great stories! I've got SO MUCH to read this August--I can't wait!
Paint it Black
by Amy Lane
A Beneath the Stain NovelEverybody thinks Mackey Sanders’s Outbreak Monkey is the last coming of Rock ’n’ Roll Jesus, but Cheever Sanders can’t wait to make a name for himself where nobody expects him to fill his famous brothers’ shoes. He’s tired of living in their shadow.
Blake Manning has been one of Outbreak Monkey’s lead guitarists for ten years. He got this gig on luck and love, not talent. So hearing that Cheever is blowing through Outbreak Monkey’s hard-earned money in an epic stretch of partying pisses him off.
Blake shows up at Cheever’s nonstop orgy to enforce some rules, but instead of a jaded punk, he finds a lost boy as talented at painting as Mackey is at song-making, and terrified to let anybody see the real him. Childhood abuse and a suicide attempt left Cheever on the edge of survival—a place Blake knows all too well.
Both men have to make peace with being second banana in the public eye. Can they find the magic of coming absolute first with each other?
BUY HERE
Candy Land Hidden Gems Book 3By Lissa Kassey
Blurb: Candy has gone from being the top companion at the Hidden Gem, to managing it. While he is busy restructuring the red-light district into an adult playground, his fellow companion and lover, Ivy finds time to spend with Institute of Scientific Study Investigator, Jackson Taylor. Candy can’t hide the fact that he’s jealous of Jack for taking Ivy’s time, and Ivy for catching Jack’s interest.
Ivy loves Candy and Jack, but he’s not sure how to make it work between the three of them when Candy’s libido runs at hyper speed and Jack’s is non-existent. All he knows is that he wants to try. Each time he tries to bring the three of them closer, life gets in the way. Most recently a series of violently murdered companions which Jack is investigating, while putting Candy and Ivy on high alert.
Something more than brutal murders is happening in City M. A sleeping threat to humanity is changing the world. Candy, Ivy, and Jack will have to band together with their friends to either evolve or be swept under a tidal wave of awakening power.
Buy Here
Dominion Novels--Boxed Set--By Lissa Kassey
Books 1-4 are on sale to celebrate the new release of book 5--you can find them HERE!
Absolution
Book 5 of the Dominion
By Lissa Kassey
For those who have been waiting almost a decade for the next Dominion book, it's finally here!!!
Sam is used to being the bad guy. So when he becomes the undead, he doesn’t understand why it pisses him off. Sure guys throw themselves at him, and he’s strong enough to toss a car across a room, but he’s friends with two of the four pillars of Dominion power and mentored by one of the most powerful vampires in the world. Things that put a damper on his whole ‘scourge of darkness’ vibe.
For months he’s been letting a little red-eyed monster out to play and feeding on the dangerous instead of on the willing. If it weren’t for his endless desire to take a nibble from his sexy and tattooed roommate, Constantine, he’d still be stalking the night looking for human monsters to devour. Instead he’s taking on a cibo, a regular blood donor, in the form of Luca, a dhampir.
With Luca and his profound knowledge of undead politics in his life, Sam begins to realize he doesn’t know as much as he thought, and maybe that’s not his fault. His mentor’s sanity is slipping, the world is changing, and vampires are beginning to lose control. Will Sam fall into the darkness too, or can Luca and Con drag him back from the abyss?
BUY HERE
Legally Boundby Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood
Love can’t protect you from a psychopath.
Law students Liam Macadam and John Lawrence are madly in love, and everyone knows it. Granted, John is eighteen years older, but so what? With the end of law school in sight, they’re busy planning a wedding and a life together.Unfortunately, not everyone is happy for them. Somebody is determined to tear them apart, and when the situation spirals out of control, Liam and John have to find a way out before it costs one of them his life.Legally Bound, the second book in the Beyond Courtship series, can be read as a stand-alone novel. It is a sexy May-December romance full of suspense and adventure
BUY HERE
Out of the Officeby Louisa Masters
Whoever thought achieving career goals could be boring? Not Duncan Witten, but here he is at forty-one, in his dream job… and hating it. Throw it all away for a challenge? Yes, please!
If only Dunc had known his challenging new job came with Paul Hanks, a man who redefines “stubborn.” They need to work together to meet targets, but thanks to Dunc’s idiot predecessor, Paul won’t take his calls or reply to emails.
There’s only one solution: travel across the country and confront Paul face-to-face. It’s time to take things out of the office.
BUY HERE
Trusting the Elements
by Elle Keaton
There’s nothing like a near death car accident to open your eyes. Otto Proulx decides surviving was a sign; he’s being given a second chance to claim the life he wants to live. For the past few years he’s been hiding in the shadows, vague texts from a troubled ex-partner keep him at home along with his general lack of luck in the romance department. This is his last chance, he’s certain, this time he’ll meet the man for him, the one he’s sure is out there somewhere.
Greg Trainor runs a specialty kite shop and helps his friends out when they ask. That’s the kind of guy he is, if somebody needs something, they call on Greg. He’s a big guy and no genius, but he’s dependable. So…yeah, when he sees a car precariously perched on the side of the road, he stops to help out; it’s what he does.
One night of passion leads to…several more and suddenly both men are searching around to define what they have together. Neither wants to scare the other off and neither wants to ask for more. Will the two men be able to set aside their fears and create a family together, trusting the elements are in their favor?
BUY HERE
For Fox Sake
by Susan McNicol
The Places You'll Go And The Things That You'll See
Former SAS soldier, Clay Mortimer, the M in M&W Investigations, had thought he'd seen it all. But when his ex calls and asks for a favour Clay is intrigued, and then a bit surprised. He and his partner, Tate Williams, have a robust and imaginative sex life, but the things they see and learn in Fetish Alley take their understanding of human behaviour to the next level. Tate's take is part kid in a candy store fascination, part shocked. At the end of the day, all good detective work requires an open mind and the skill to ferret out the truth. Still, the layers of deceit and avarice they encounter are more than par for the course, particularly from people who are not keen about outsiders to the world of Fetish Alley.
Buy Link
Digging Deepby Jay Hogan
A Digging Deep Story
Drake Park has a complicated life. As a gay male midwife, he’s used to raising eyebrows. Add Crohn’s disease and things get interesting—or not, considering the sad state of his love life. Experience has taught Drake that most men are fair-weather sailors when it comes to handling his condition—gone for dust when things get rough. Staying healthy is a full-time job without adding in any heartbreak, so a little loneliness is a small price to pay. If he says it often enough he might even believe it. One thing for sure, the cop who arrested him isn’t about to change that.
Caleb Ashton does not have a complicated life. A senior detective with the Whangarei Police Department, he likes his job and is good at it. He works hard and plays hard, happy to enjoy as many men as he can while he’s still young enough—or at least he was. These days he feels adrift for the first time in his life, and the only thing sparking his interest—a certain prickly young midwife.
But can Drake find enough faith to risk opening his heart again? And does Caleb have what it takes to cope with the challenges Drake’s condition presents?
Buy Here
August 1, 2019
Evolution TV
I am trying to turn the television off. That's it. Just off.
Mate: Okay, so take that one--the red one--and go all the way to the right.
Me: Done.
Mate: Now click the power off button.
Me: Done.
Mate: Now the other remote--
Me: I can get it from here.
Mate: Well you seem to have trouble--
Me: There are five different machines to make this happen. What in the hell-- you people take a simple device and make five different--
Mate: My people?
Me: Men. This is men. This is without a doubt, MEN. YOU PEOPLE take a simple idea--an elegant idea--like the television--
Mate: Wait, five?
Me: Yes five.
Mate: Five machines.
Me: Yes five machines. There are five machines involved here.
Mate: What in the--
Me: There's the PS4--
Mate: It isn't even on!
Me: WELL THEN WHY DID I HAVE TO USE THE REMOTE?
Mate: Fine!
Me: So there's the PS4, there's the whatever other box that is, there's the red remote, there's the black remote and there's the television--
Mate: YOU'RE COUNTING THE TELEVISION?
Me: The television started it.
Mate: So a laptop is three devices?
Me: It's one. It is self-contained.
Mate: Unless it's a keyboard attached to a dongle.
Me: THAT is not my idea. You did that. You attached things to my computer and said, "Well, where. This is what you should do." But I've taken it other places--it's really very self sufficient without the two dongles and the keyboard and the mouse.
Mate: But those things help you.
Me: But they're complicated.
Mate: You're awful.
Me: Want a remote?
Mate: Sure?
Me: WHICH ONE??????
Mate: You're still awful.
Me: Fine. I'm awful. Go count your technology bits. It will make you feel better about my awfulness. They're hanging out all over the place.
Mate. Fine. Just remember--turn on the box, and the TV, and the X-Box.
Me: I'm going to go type on my keyboard attached to my dongle attached to my laptop. Because THAT I understand.
Mate: Okay, so take that one--the red one--and go all the way to the right.
Me: Done.
Mate: Now click the power off button.
Me: Done.
Mate: Now the other remote--
Me: I can get it from here.
Mate: Well you seem to have trouble--
Me: There are five different machines to make this happen. What in the hell-- you people take a simple device and make five different--
Mate: My people?
Me: Men. This is men. This is without a doubt, MEN. YOU PEOPLE take a simple idea--an elegant idea--like the television--
Mate: Wait, five?
Me: Yes five.
Mate: Five machines.
Me: Yes five machines. There are five machines involved here.
Mate: What in the--
Me: There's the PS4--
Mate: It isn't even on!
Me: WELL THEN WHY DID I HAVE TO USE THE REMOTE?
Mate: Fine!
Me: So there's the PS4, there's the whatever other box that is, there's the red remote, there's the black remote and there's the television--
Mate: YOU'RE COUNTING THE TELEVISION?
Me: The television started it.
Mate: So a laptop is three devices?
Me: It's one. It is self-contained.
Mate: Unless it's a keyboard attached to a dongle.
Me: THAT is not my idea. You did that. You attached things to my computer and said, "Well, where. This is what you should do." But I've taken it other places--it's really very self sufficient without the two dongles and the keyboard and the mouse.
Mate: But those things help you.
Me: But they're complicated.
Mate: You're awful.
Me: Want a remote?
Mate: Sure?
Me: WHICH ONE??????
Mate: You're still awful.
Me: Fine. I'm awful. Go count your technology bits. It will make you feel better about my awfulness. They're hanging out all over the place.
Mate. Fine. Just remember--turn on the box, and the TV, and the X-Box.
Me: I'm going to go type on my keyboard attached to my dongle attached to my laptop. Because THAT I understand.
July 30, 2019
Wow. Just... You know. Wow.
So I know some of you keep up with me on FB and were probably not surprised to see I didn't blog for more than a week. Some of you have probably been wondering where I've been.Let's start with the obvious.
A. I didn't win the RITA for best short romance. For the record? I'm not particularly disappointed--Teri Ryan won, she was adorable, and her speech was charming. I'm glad I got to hear it. Finaling in contests like the RITAs is a particularly sweet form of validation, and I'm not going to lie--I love it when it happens. But it's not the only reason I write. Sure, I may never final again. But I might. And I'm honored just to have been in that company. Funny story about that moment? I texted Mate with, "Nope," when she was announced. He texted back with, "Sorry--she got a lot of applause when her name was called." And then he sent me a screen shot of my slide from the streaming video, to prove he was watching. Which was incredibly sweet. And that was a little win itself.
B. My actual travel time to Newark airport was a fucking nightmare. Again, some of this was covered on FB, but I think this story deserves a retelling. Mate and I arrived at Sac Metro about an hour before my plane was supposed to board and I made a horrifying realization: in the dark, half-asleep, I'd put on two different black tennis shoes. You heard that right. 0.0 So keep in mind that the next thirty hours--which is how long it took me to get from Sacramento to Manhattan was done in mismatched sneakers.Now my first act once I got in the airport was to hit up a friend whom I knew would be taking a train in. "Hey, Rayna... 'sup?" And because she loves me, she bought me a new pair of shoes that I got to wear for the rest of the trip. But that didn't help during the nineteen hours of layover in Dulles, nearly six of which were spent ON THE TARMAC in two different attempts to take off. Ugh.
The worst part was when, at one-thirty in the morning, the plane waiting to take off was told to come back because the flight crew had timed out. That was bad--but the passengers in the back, where I was seated, started to get ugly. (I don't know why people do this--if someone tells me my pilot is too tired to fly, I believe them.) So we had to wait another half-hour to deplane because we needed security at the gate so their flight attendants didn't get beat up. BLARG.Anyway, we deplaned, it was fuck-all in the morning, and the plane was taking off at eight a.m., which meant any attempt to find a hotel would result in about three hours of sleep. I slept in the terminal, the plane FINALLY took off at 10:30 am, and by the time I got to Newark, boy was I out of it. By the time I was in the cab on my way to Manhattan, I couldn't discern between the scent of New Jersey (Elizabeth) and my own body odor, and after I actually got there and showered, I was knocking things off tables with the sheer gravity of my exhaustion.
In that time, someone asked me if my mismatched shoes were comfortable, to which I responded, "One of them."
And... scene.
C. After all that, the actual time spent in New York was lovely. The elevators at the Marriott Marquis are still out to get us--have no illusions--but in between classes (one of which I gave!) and award ceremonies and signings, I got two visits with my dad's family, and boy, have I missed out not contacting them before. I need to remember that they're wonderful, kind and warm people. I know I was there for business, but they were still my favorite part of the trip.D. My last two days went something like this:
* Wake up at 6:30 a.m. after five hours of sleep (RITAs were the night before) so I could give my class.
* Gave class at 8:30 am. THOUGHT I did a good job. My nearest and dearest assure me I stunk on ice. Am now very confused.* Three more classes, lunch, then got ready for signing.
* Signing from 3-5.
* Changed, went downstairs to meet Karen Rose and Andrew Grey and their spouses so we could go see Wicked.
* Wicked was wonderful. Nobody told me the ending didn't suck--I was pleasantly surprised.* Went out for late dinner, got back at one, talked to bestie and roommate until 2, 2:30, fell asleep while she was still staying awake for an early flight.
* She left at 5:30.
* I got up at 6:30 a.m so I could pack before my cousin came to pick me up.
* Picked up at 8:30. Brunch with family at 9:30.
* After brunch, went to cousin's house to visit his wife and adorable son. They took me to the airport at 4:30.
* Boarding at 6:30. Plane took off at 7:30.
* Home and in bed at 1 a.m.
In case you were wondering where I've been for the last two days?
I've been SLEEPING. Because brother, that was a long week.
Anyway, about that night at the RITA'S...
First, there's the picture with me and Mary Calmes, because she was my plus one and I was super proud she was there. Next, there's a picture of me and Kate McMurray and... are you ready for it? JR WARD. Because miracles do happen, and apparently even if you barf a little fangirl all over her, she's still pleasant, kind, and charming. It's all a blur--that's all I remember.
But OMG I MET JR WARD AND SHE DIDN'T RUN AWAY SCREAMING.
And seriously-- even if I'd won, the RITAs still wouldn't have been better than THAT.
Also-- for those following social media...
The RITA'S were awesome. But I hope they were just a beginning. The validation from your peers really isn't complete unless ALL YOUR PEERS are involved in the awards process. I was pleased to see we were making inroads in diversity and inclusion--but we're not all the way in country yet. I hope this program continues to be more and more diverse, until nobody even raises an eyebrow at the diversity of the winner--all that people notice is the outstanding quality of the book.And now, maybe a little writing... you know. Before I go sleep some more.
I think I'm still catching up.
By the way? The kids and the dogs seem to have noticed I'm back. I'm so happy to be home.
July 19, 2019
Jai/George Part 7--Good Morning to You!
So a quick installment tonight before the weekend. Remember, I'm taking off Monday morning for New York, so this is going to have to tide us over!* * *
Good Morning to You!
George slept in sort of a half-aroused fever dream, engulfed in the arms of a giant who kept him warm and safe and horny.
"Mm..." George whined a little, because he scooted back and bumped something that penetrated, titillated, pulsed and throbbed. He reached behind himself, arching so he could... wait, was something in his ass?
"You are needy?" A voice purred in his ear, and George came fully awake.
Jai. He was in the tent with Jai, surrounded by the smells of canvas and the sharp high desert of the Tehachapi Mountains--and sex. And Jai. The darkness around them was complete, but there was a sharpness in the air that indicated dawn was close.
Jai thrust up against his backside, and the plug he'd left in only a few hours before was tapped hard, and suddenly George was awake and dawn wasn't the only thing that was close.
"Oh my God!" He was loud--louder than he'd meant to be--and Jai's hand came up in front of his mouth.
"Sh," he whispered. "Should I get the gag again?"
George shuddered, all of his pleasure synapses firing at once.
"Depends," he said breathily. "Are we going to go fast or slow?"
Jai chuckled softly and nuzzled his shoulder, his ear, from behind. "Both."
George moaned--but quietly. "No gag," he begged. "Just... just now."
HIs rim must have swollen around the plug, because Jai needed to add some lube to it to pull it out, and the ache was just on the ledge of pleasure and pain. And then Jai's cock, huge and slick, was right there to take it's place, and George felt tears start at his eyes. It didn't hurt, but the fullness, the sense that he'd never come down from that first orgasm, was overwhelming.
"It's okay, little George," Jai said, his thumbs brushing at the tears even as he moved, thrusting slowly and steadily inside George's willingly given body. "I'm taking you over, but I'll be kind."
George let out a breath with no voice, and his own cock grew and throbbed. Jai kept fucking, but his hands--his hands were exploring. George's chest, his thighs, plucking his nipples, stroking his cock... George kept all his voices to himself, the hush of the dark morning helping to make this a moment in a bubble, a quiet all to themselves. "Okay," he said brokenly. "Okay."
Jai picked up speed.
George captured Jai's hand as he plucked George's nipple, needing to clutch something. His body was doing a slow roll, almost a preparation to orgasm, a leviathan sexual wakeup, and he was flying, lost in the dark, only Jai's ragged breathing and his hand keeping him tethered to their bed on the floor of the tent.
"Don't let go," Jai rumbled.
"Don't stop," George begged.
"Let me stroke you. I am close."
George wrapped his fingers around Jai's wrist as Jai closed his hand over George's cock and stroked slowly, in time to his thrusts. The contact made the stroking delirious, an extension of George's own touch, and he was just swimmy enough from waking up in a full state of arousal for the sensation to amp his need exponentially.
And up and up and up and up... George released Jai's wrist so he could bite down on his palm, because swat was breaking out over his forehead, his chest, and his orgasm rolled through him, slow and huge, and he needed to stifle his cry.
He creamed up over Jai's fist, and behind him he heard Jai's slow, tortured breath as he convulsed inside George's ass, the torrent of come scalding and real as the two of them rode the wave together.
The come down was shakier this time.
Jai held his hand, covered in spend, up to George's mouth, and George lapped dreamily, because he was in no place to say no to anything sexual right now. The act, filthy and fulfilling, almost soothed him. What they'd done had been animal and real and the bitterness proved it.
When he was done, their breathing subsided, and George realized his backside was dripping around Jai's softening cock and he had no urge to wash himself.
"Sleep?" he asked groggily.
"Yes."
"That... I'm going to need more of that. And more and more and more..." His voice wandered dreamily. "It's like heroin. A drug. I'm feeling so high..."
Jai nuzzled his neck again. "Next month, I shall bring all my pretty toys," he promised direly. "And you will forget you can have sex with other men."
"I can't." George was out of it--but he was also candid. "Whole life, boring. You, here, now, is electricity and fire. No more sex for other men. Ruined me. Wrecked my asshole. In a good way."
Jai chuckled. "So, there will be a next month?" He sounded... wistful. Hopeful. Like he wanted the answer to be yes, but he wasn't sure.
"Do you have any bodies in the trunk?" he asked.
"Not this trip."
Ah, well, nobody was perfect. "As long as there's no bodies in the trunk, there's always a next month." He felt wise as he pronounced this, but Jai's wounded sound surprised him.
"I shall be careful to never have bodies in my trunk with you," he said, and as much as it should have been a joke, it sounded like a true promise.
"Okay. I promise we'll do this again."
"Thank you." Jai rested his cheek on the top of George's head, and George had enough consciousness for one more word.
"Thank you. Was wonderful."
"You deserve no less, sweet man. Now sleep."
George closed his eyes, limp and used and happy. When he awoke in the morning, sunlight lit up the inside of the tent, although it was still chilly. The spot next to him was empty, but there was the sounds of something frying on a grill outside the tent, and the smell of bacon.
George's body was loose and a little sore and a lot glorious. Wow. They'd done that. The smell of sex and the stretching in his backside and even the feeling of come on his thighs--it all made it real. George felt delicious and debauched and cared for--and he wanted that man outside frying him bacon to know that this was all his doing, and George had developed more than an attachment or an attraction for him.
George had developed a crush.
Imagine what more could develop in the course of the day.
July 18, 2019
*headdesk*
To make it perfectly clear, I was going to write some Jai/George tonight. I was excited about writing some Jai/George.
They were gonna go round two. I was gonna blow your minds with it, I swear.
I was celebrating you see--because that edit that was giving me hell two weeks ago came back, and my editor was impressed and I was excited and I've been progressing on my newest WIP and whooppeeee!!!! Progress on something positive.
So I took my computer with me to the kids' dance lessons so I could write my newsletter in McDonalds (free soda water, with all that yummy ice!) and then send my edit back.
And I was in the middle of my newsletter when it happened.
The computer crashed.
The newsletter--which was almost complete--was saved.
The edit and 8,000 words of my WIP?
Were not.
Repeat, not.
This McDonalds I go to--air conditioning, free ice water, I get one cookie when I go in there--is pretty much vacant. There's like me and a homeless guy who came in for coffee and some AC. The drivethru is full so the employees are busy, but I'm alone by the bathrooms, silent screaming at my damned computer.
I needed a table to topple, or a stuffed animal to pitch across the room or something. I didn't want to break out into loud expletives because the poor guy on the other side of the restaurant was looking a little wild-eyed and having me scream out of nowhere might have done some damage.
But anyway, my computer rage quit, and then I just pulled out my knitting and pouted. And that's where we are.
I managed to recover most of my WIP from my nightly email to my beta reader, but that fuckin' edit. Man, I can barely look at that thing. I'm just clicking the mouse until it's done, without examining any of the changes this time.
I was so proud, too.
*sigh*
Well, some days are like that.
You just don't expect them to happen in McDonalds.
-- Oh!
I'd like to thank EVERYBODY who's purchased and reviewed Warm Heart so far-- you all seem to love it and I'm very happy about that. And seriously-- thank you so much for the reviews. I'm ever so grateful to everybody who's helped this book be a success!
Amy
They were gonna go round two. I was gonna blow your minds with it, I swear.
I was celebrating you see--because that edit that was giving me hell two weeks ago came back, and my editor was impressed and I was excited and I've been progressing on my newest WIP and whooppeeee!!!! Progress on something positive.
So I took my computer with me to the kids' dance lessons so I could write my newsletter in McDonalds (free soda water, with all that yummy ice!) and then send my edit back.
And I was in the middle of my newsletter when it happened.
The computer crashed.
The newsletter--which was almost complete--was saved.
The edit and 8,000 words of my WIP?
Were not.
Repeat, not.
This McDonalds I go to--air conditioning, free ice water, I get one cookie when I go in there--is pretty much vacant. There's like me and a homeless guy who came in for coffee and some AC. The drivethru is full so the employees are busy, but I'm alone by the bathrooms, silent screaming at my damned computer.
I needed a table to topple, or a stuffed animal to pitch across the room or something. I didn't want to break out into loud expletives because the poor guy on the other side of the restaurant was looking a little wild-eyed and having me scream out of nowhere might have done some damage.
But anyway, my computer rage quit, and then I just pulled out my knitting and pouted. And that's where we are.
I managed to recover most of my WIP from my nightly email to my beta reader, but that fuckin' edit. Man, I can barely look at that thing. I'm just clicking the mouse until it's done, without examining any of the changes this time.
I was so proud, too.
*sigh*
Well, some days are like that.
You just don't expect them to happen in McDonalds.
-- Oh!
I'd like to thank EVERYBODY who's purchased and reviewed Warm Heart so far-- you all seem to love it and I'm very happy about that. And seriously-- thank you so much for the reviews. I'm ever so grateful to everybody who's helped this book be a success!
Amy
