K.C. Kendricks's Blog, page 107
January 14, 2012
Just released! A Cat Named Hercules by KC Kendricks
January 14, 2012
contemporary gay romance
available now at
Amber Allure
New in town, Shiloh Rudy joins a group of civic-minded volunteers to better acquaint himself with his recently adopted community. It's a good way to make friends, network, and help make a difference, not to mention perhaps meet someone interesting—in a romantic sort of way. The one thing Shiloh didn't expect was a love to rival all others to come with four white paws.
Gale Widmyer is on his feet and moving forward after piecing his life back together following a series of wrong choices. The one bright spot in his existence, even in his darkest moments, was the fulfillment of his dream to become a veterinarian. Gale's making good on a promise to himself when an abandoned kitten leads him to Shiloh Rudy and a chance at the happiness he never hoped to have.
Laying the cornerstone for a developing relationship comes easy for Shiloh and Gale. But the wounds of the past often remain unhealed at their deepest point. A few careless words erect a wall of silence between the two men, one Shiloh has to breach if he hopes to win Gale back. But it will take more than apologies to win Gale's forgiveness and put old fears to rest. It'll take a cat named Hercules...
INTRO:
…The abrupt weaning I understood, but the other? Who would do that to such a helpless creature? "Then I'm keeping him."
"In that case, your kitten has fleas, ear mites, and a touch of conjunctivitis. He's also under nourished and almost surely has worms."
My heart pounded as I snatched the kitten from Galen's hands and tucked him safely against my chest. "Is he going to die?"
Galen pushed his sunglasses up to rest on top of his head and grinned at me. I fell into his gorgeous hazel eyes as he stared into my sky blue orbs with open curiosity. Damn, the man had long eyelashes.
"He'll be fine. Do you think we can finish our chores here this morning, or do we need to go straight to my clinic so I can treat him and fix you up with what you need?" He poked the kitten's paw and those tiny, wicked claws popped out again. "You're in for a real treat with this little guy."
I'd go anywhere he asked me to go, but I didn't want to appear too eager. "Oh? Why is that?"
"They call cats with these black and white markings a 'tuxedo' because, obviously, they look like they're wearing one. This fellow has the added bonus of white 'gloves.' Tuxedos tend to have a lot of personality." Galen squeezed my elbow. I thought his hand lingered a moment too long, but perhaps it was just wishful thinking.
"C'mon. I'll tell the other work crew they'll have to finish pulling up these bricks and we'll go to the clinic."
"Thanks, man. I owe you."
I knew I was in two kinds of trouble when he nodded and grinned. "I'm afraid you will…"
EXCERPT
...Gale opened his front door and moved back so I could step inside. Complimenting his choice of attire required breathing, and he'd knocked the air right out of me. Black slacks, a maroon-and-black long sleeved knit shirt in a classic argyle pattern, and loafers had never affected me like this before. I managed to speak the inane phrase.
"Wow. You look great."
He smiled at me as he closed the door. "Thanks. So do you."
Gale reached for me, then stopped. I hated to see his uncertainty. It was more proof he needed to do some living before he got serious about anyone, including me. I smiled and closed the distance between us, slipping my arms around his waist. Our lower bodies touched, then he leaned into me. His lips opened as my mouth covered his, and I tasted the cinnamon freshness of chewing gum recently disposed of. He pulled away.
"What? You're grinning."
"I am. I just learned what gum you like."
He rolled his eyes. "You're a little nuts, aren't you?"
I was nuts about him, but I couldn't say the words aloud. "I'm no more crazy than the next guy." I kissed him again, enjoying the connection between us.
Gale deepened the kiss and my body responded with a delicious jolt of arousal that sent heat all the way to my toes. My cock swelled, eager to convince to me to forget dinner and go hungry this evening. Gale rested his forehead on my shoulder.
"I could get all stupid and say we should forget dinner and just go to bed."
I ran my hands over his back, feeling the lines and planes of the lean body under the soft shirt. Was he hard, too? I cupped his ass to steady him and pressed my pelvis tightly to his.
"We're at the same level of 'stupid,' but we've got to eat." I squeezed his butt. "Don't we?"
His stomach rumbled, and we laughed. I loved being able to laugh with him. He kissed me with those cinnamon-flavored lips again, then released me. "I am hungry, Shiloh. Let me get a jacket."
"We have time for a quickie, you know." Damn. I shouldn't have said that. The sharp interest in his shining gaze was total agreement. He grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the oak stairs.
"Nice place you have here."
"Don't try and change the subject. Remember, I've been deprived. I have to make up for lost time."
I barely noticed his bedroom. We'd both dressed for each other with such care and now clothing flew in all directions. His hands brushed across my chest, cool with excitement, then he turned away. Gale yanked the bedspread down and jerked open a drawer in the large bookcase headboard and tossed condoms and lube onto the pale blue sheet. I grabbed his hips and bumped my pelvis to his ass.
"No time for that." I planted my left knee on the bed, held on tight to him, and rolled us onto the mattress. "Hand job. Then we get some food into us so we can come back and do it better."
He grunted as he broke free of my grasp and crawled up to the pillows. "I guess we can leave our socks on, huh?"
"Yep." I knelt over him. Gale laughed and caressed the inside of my thighs. I shivered, but not with cold. My sac tingled and drew tight to my body as he cupped it.
"Tell me you don't plan to shoot all over me again."
I grinned and flopped down beside him. "Not tonight, at least."
"What do you plan to do to me?" He shifted to face me.
I rolled onto my side and fisted his hard dick.
"Just this right now..."
A CAT NAMED HERCULES
ISBN-13: 978-1-61124-234-8
contemporary gay romance available now at
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.comblog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.comTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricksmailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeysGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_KendricksFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
contemporary gay romance
available now at
Amber Allure
New in town, Shiloh Rudy joins a group of civic-minded volunteers to better acquaint himself with his recently adopted community. It's a good way to make friends, network, and help make a difference, not to mention perhaps meet someone interesting—in a romantic sort of way. The one thing Shiloh didn't expect was a love to rival all others to come with four white paws.
Gale Widmyer is on his feet and moving forward after piecing his life back together following a series of wrong choices. The one bright spot in his existence, even in his darkest moments, was the fulfillment of his dream to become a veterinarian. Gale's making good on a promise to himself when an abandoned kitten leads him to Shiloh Rudy and a chance at the happiness he never hoped to have.
Laying the cornerstone for a developing relationship comes easy for Shiloh and Gale. But the wounds of the past often remain unhealed at their deepest point. A few careless words erect a wall of silence between the two men, one Shiloh has to breach if he hopes to win Gale back. But it will take more than apologies to win Gale's forgiveness and put old fears to rest. It'll take a cat named Hercules...
INTRO:
…The abrupt weaning I understood, but the other? Who would do that to such a helpless creature? "Then I'm keeping him."
"In that case, your kitten has fleas, ear mites, and a touch of conjunctivitis. He's also under nourished and almost surely has worms."
My heart pounded as I snatched the kitten from Galen's hands and tucked him safely against my chest. "Is he going to die?"
Galen pushed his sunglasses up to rest on top of his head and grinned at me. I fell into his gorgeous hazel eyes as he stared into my sky blue orbs with open curiosity. Damn, the man had long eyelashes.
"He'll be fine. Do you think we can finish our chores here this morning, or do we need to go straight to my clinic so I can treat him and fix you up with what you need?" He poked the kitten's paw and those tiny, wicked claws popped out again. "You're in for a real treat with this little guy."
I'd go anywhere he asked me to go, but I didn't want to appear too eager. "Oh? Why is that?"
"They call cats with these black and white markings a 'tuxedo' because, obviously, they look like they're wearing one. This fellow has the added bonus of white 'gloves.' Tuxedos tend to have a lot of personality." Galen squeezed my elbow. I thought his hand lingered a moment too long, but perhaps it was just wishful thinking.
"C'mon. I'll tell the other work crew they'll have to finish pulling up these bricks and we'll go to the clinic."
"Thanks, man. I owe you."
I knew I was in two kinds of trouble when he nodded and grinned. "I'm afraid you will…"
EXCERPT
...Gale opened his front door and moved back so I could step inside. Complimenting his choice of attire required breathing, and he'd knocked the air right out of me. Black slacks, a maroon-and-black long sleeved knit shirt in a classic argyle pattern, and loafers had never affected me like this before. I managed to speak the inane phrase.
"Wow. You look great."
He smiled at me as he closed the door. "Thanks. So do you."
Gale reached for me, then stopped. I hated to see his uncertainty. It was more proof he needed to do some living before he got serious about anyone, including me. I smiled and closed the distance between us, slipping my arms around his waist. Our lower bodies touched, then he leaned into me. His lips opened as my mouth covered his, and I tasted the cinnamon freshness of chewing gum recently disposed of. He pulled away.
"What? You're grinning."
"I am. I just learned what gum you like."
He rolled his eyes. "You're a little nuts, aren't you?"
I was nuts about him, but I couldn't say the words aloud. "I'm no more crazy than the next guy." I kissed him again, enjoying the connection between us.
Gale deepened the kiss and my body responded with a delicious jolt of arousal that sent heat all the way to my toes. My cock swelled, eager to convince to me to forget dinner and go hungry this evening. Gale rested his forehead on my shoulder.
"I could get all stupid and say we should forget dinner and just go to bed."
I ran my hands over his back, feeling the lines and planes of the lean body under the soft shirt. Was he hard, too? I cupped his ass to steady him and pressed my pelvis tightly to his.
"We're at the same level of 'stupid,' but we've got to eat." I squeezed his butt. "Don't we?"
His stomach rumbled, and we laughed. I loved being able to laugh with him. He kissed me with those cinnamon-flavored lips again, then released me. "I am hungry, Shiloh. Let me get a jacket."
"We have time for a quickie, you know." Damn. I shouldn't have said that. The sharp interest in his shining gaze was total agreement. He grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the oak stairs.
"Nice place you have here."
"Don't try and change the subject. Remember, I've been deprived. I have to make up for lost time."
I barely noticed his bedroom. We'd both dressed for each other with such care and now clothing flew in all directions. His hands brushed across my chest, cool with excitement, then he turned away. Gale yanked the bedspread down and jerked open a drawer in the large bookcase headboard and tossed condoms and lube onto the pale blue sheet. I grabbed his hips and bumped my pelvis to his ass.
"No time for that." I planted my left knee on the bed, held on tight to him, and rolled us onto the mattress. "Hand job. Then we get some food into us so we can come back and do it better."
He grunted as he broke free of my grasp and crawled up to the pillows. "I guess we can leave our socks on, huh?"
"Yep." I knelt over him. Gale laughed and caressed the inside of my thighs. I shivered, but not with cold. My sac tingled and drew tight to my body as he cupped it.
"Tell me you don't plan to shoot all over me again."
I grinned and flopped down beside him. "Not tonight, at least."
"What do you plan to do to me?" He shifted to face me.
I rolled onto my side and fisted his hard dick.
"Just this right now..."
A CAT NAMED HERCULES
ISBN-13: 978-1-61124-234-8
contemporary gay romance available now at
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.comblog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.comTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricksmailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeysGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_KendricksFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
January 1, 2012
Starting the New Year by Tossing it Out A-Z with Arlee Bird
January 1, 2012
I like to attack the new year not as a time to take charge of life's little annoying foibles and vow to do better, but as the time to brush off the so-called "failures" and move forward on the successes. I'm off to a flying start with a guest blogger appearance on Arlee Bird's Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog. I completed the 2011 A-Z Challenge and I'm looking forward to 2012.
If you're a writer, and yes, bloggers are writers, too, then think about accepting the 2012 challenge. Meet the call.
* * * * *
This New Year finds me delving into my family tree. It's been interesting to gather confirmation of connections my grandmother spoke of so many years ago. I wonder why I waited so long to do this, but I know the answer. As with all things, the right season in my life had to arrive.
When I opened my calendar this morning, Nickelback greeted me with Bottom's Up. Ha! I behaved last night and didn't need the little jab at myself in case of morning after lethargy. We stayed home last night, sharing a bottle of wine over Cowboys and Aliens. And speaking of wine, I've added a page to my website about wine. I'm sure true wine connoisseurs will laugh like hyenas over my choices, but I need to keep track of what I like somehow. It's a work in progress.
But back to the calendar. January is blessedly - and purposefully - empty of a lot of activities. (I just had the thought I should fill this paragraph with a bunch of "ly" words in case my editor should read it - but I most assuredly won't.) I have a deadline to meet, and January is reserved for some serious writing time. January is finally "Justified" month, too. For all you fellow Raylan fans, January 17th is the season three blast off.
Growing up, my life didn't lack traditions, but one tradition my family missed the New Year's Day meal. Maybe after all the Christmas festivities, my grandmother, mother, and aunts were too tired to even think about another gathering. Who knows? It was different in my partner's family and to that end we're fixing dinner again today. Maybe I need a recipe page on my website, too. I've got a lot of extra space to use. I'll have to think about that (says the one who tries to avoid cooking).
It's time to wrap it up and get on with the day. Taking the Christmas tree down on New Year's Day is a family tradition I need to keep this year. I've often left my tree up through Epiphany, but this year it needs to come down today. I need to restore order in my home and get back to writing.
Darn...that almost sounds like a new year's resolution.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
I like to attack the new year not as a time to take charge of life's little annoying foibles and vow to do better, but as the time to brush off the so-called "failures" and move forward on the successes. I'm off to a flying start with a guest blogger appearance on Arlee Bird's Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog. I completed the 2011 A-Z Challenge and I'm looking forward to 2012.
If you're a writer, and yes, bloggers are writers, too, then think about accepting the 2012 challenge. Meet the call.
* * * * *
This New Year finds me delving into my family tree. It's been interesting to gather confirmation of connections my grandmother spoke of so many years ago. I wonder why I waited so long to do this, but I know the answer. As with all things, the right season in my life had to arrive.
When I opened my calendar this morning, Nickelback greeted me with Bottom's Up. Ha! I behaved last night and didn't need the little jab at myself in case of morning after lethargy. We stayed home last night, sharing a bottle of wine over Cowboys and Aliens. And speaking of wine, I've added a page to my website about wine. I'm sure true wine connoisseurs will laugh like hyenas over my choices, but I need to keep track of what I like somehow. It's a work in progress.
But back to the calendar. January is blessedly - and purposefully - empty of a lot of activities. (I just had the thought I should fill this paragraph with a bunch of "ly" words in case my editor should read it - but I most assuredly won't.) I have a deadline to meet, and January is reserved for some serious writing time. January is finally "Justified" month, too. For all you fellow Raylan fans, January 17th is the season three blast off.
Growing up, my life didn't lack traditions, but one tradition my family missed the New Year's Day meal. Maybe after all the Christmas festivities, my grandmother, mother, and aunts were too tired to even think about another gathering. Who knows? It was different in my partner's family and to that end we're fixing dinner again today. Maybe I need a recipe page on my website, too. I've got a lot of extra space to use. I'll have to think about that (says the one who tries to avoid cooking).
It's time to wrap it up and get on with the day. Taking the Christmas tree down on New Year's Day is a family tradition I need to keep this year. I've often left my tree up through Epiphany, but this year it needs to come down today. I need to restore order in my home and get back to writing.
Darn...that almost sounds like a new year's resolution.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
December 29, 2011
A Cat Named Hercules - new cover!!
December 28,2011
It's new cover time!!
Look for A Cat Named Hercules on January 15, 2012.
It's new cover time!!
Look for A Cat Named Hercules on January 15, 2012.
December 24, 2011
Mistletoe Blog Hop round up
Congratulations to Gena, winner of a .pdf copy of A Hard Habit to Break.
Once again, thanks to everyone who participated. You're invited to join my new release announcement mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys.
Merry Christmas!
Once again, thanks to everyone who participated. You're invited to join my new release announcement mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys.
Merry Christmas!
December 23, 2011
Blog Hop contest is closed
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Mistletoe Blog Hop! My individual contest is now closed and participant comments hidden for privacy.
December 16, 2011
Mistletoe Blog Hop!
December 16, 2011
It's time for the Mistletoe Blog Hop to begin!
It's easy - just visit all the blogs and enter the individual contests, and then visit PJ Schnyder's page to enter for the grand prize - a loaded Nook.
To enter my individual contest for a .pdf copy of A Hard Habit to Break, just comment on the blog under this entry. One winner will be selected after the blog hop ends on December 23, 2011.
To enter the drawing for the grand prize (US only) go to http://pjschnyder.com/blog/contests/ and click on the entry link. The list of authors giving books for the grand prize is at the end of this blog.
Grand Prize offerings on the Nook (US only):
A Brush of Darkness -Allison Pang (WINNER MUST DOWNLOAD THROUGH ADOBE DIGITAL EDITIONS)
A Hard Habit to Break - KC Kendricks
Angel in the Middle - Marie Dees
Betting on Hope - Kay Keppler
Blood of the Maple - Dana Marie Bell
Cry Wolf - Angela Campbell
Dearly Departed - Lia Habel
Entanglements - PR Mason
Eris - D. Renee Bagby
Golden - Joely Sue Burkhart
Grey's Lady - Natasha Blackthorne
Her Dark Knight - Sharon Cullen
Hunting Kat - PJ Schnyder
Knight of Runes - Ruth A. Casie
Leading Her To Heaven - Kayleigh Jamison
Love on Cloud Nine - Linda Andrews
Lust on the Rocks - Dianne Venetta
Men of the Sea Anthology - Eliza Knight
Murdering Eve - Kelly Lee
Redaction - Linda Andrews
Relearning the Ropes - DC Juris
Risking Trust - Adrienne Giordano
Shadows & Dust - Yvonne Nicolas
Sloane Wolf - Margay Leah Justice
Snowy Encounters - Clarissa Yip
Soul Catcher - Vivi Dumas
The Alchemist's Perfect Instrument - AL Davroe
The Demon He Knows - RA Vaughn
The Fallen Queen - Jane Kindred
The Knife's Edge - Stephanie Draven
Underdead - Liz Jasper
What Not To Fear - Robert C. Roman
White Hot Christmas: Santa's Claws - Stephanie Burke
And here's the fine print:
- Prize is as stated. No prize substitutions or exchanges and all winners are final.
- Entering this contest constitutes agreement to all rules stated in this post.
- Rules are subject to change without notification or reason given.
- Contest begins December 16, 2011, and ends December 23, 2011, EST.
- Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Must be 18 or older to win.
- Chances of winning varies based on number of entries, and there is going to be a lot of entries.
It's time for the Mistletoe Blog Hop to begin!
It's easy - just visit all the blogs and enter the individual contests, and then visit PJ Schnyder's page to enter for the grand prize - a loaded Nook.
To enter my individual contest for a .pdf copy of A Hard Habit to Break, just comment on the blog under this entry. One winner will be selected after the blog hop ends on December 23, 2011.
To enter the drawing for the grand prize (US only) go to http://pjschnyder.com/blog/contests/ and click on the entry link. The list of authors giving books for the grand prize is at the end of this blog.
Grand Prize offerings on the Nook (US only):
A Brush of Darkness -Allison Pang (WINNER MUST DOWNLOAD THROUGH ADOBE DIGITAL EDITIONS)
A Hard Habit to Break - KC Kendricks
Angel in the Middle - Marie Dees
Betting on Hope - Kay Keppler
Blood of the Maple - Dana Marie Bell
Cry Wolf - Angela Campbell
Dearly Departed - Lia Habel
Entanglements - PR Mason
Eris - D. Renee Bagby
Golden - Joely Sue Burkhart
Grey's Lady - Natasha Blackthorne
Her Dark Knight - Sharon Cullen
Hunting Kat - PJ Schnyder
Knight of Runes - Ruth A. Casie
Leading Her To Heaven - Kayleigh Jamison
Love on Cloud Nine - Linda Andrews
Lust on the Rocks - Dianne Venetta
Men of the Sea Anthology - Eliza Knight
Murdering Eve - Kelly Lee
Redaction - Linda Andrews
Relearning the Ropes - DC Juris
Risking Trust - Adrienne Giordano
Shadows & Dust - Yvonne Nicolas
Sloane Wolf - Margay Leah Justice
Snowy Encounters - Clarissa Yip
Soul Catcher - Vivi Dumas
The Alchemist's Perfect Instrument - AL Davroe
The Demon He Knows - RA Vaughn
The Fallen Queen - Jane Kindred
The Knife's Edge - Stephanie Draven
Underdead - Liz Jasper
What Not To Fear - Robert C. Roman
White Hot Christmas: Santa's Claws - Stephanie Burke
And here's the fine print:
- Prize is as stated. No prize substitutions or exchanges and all winners are final.
- Entering this contest constitutes agreement to all rules stated in this post.
- Rules are subject to change without notification or reason given.
- Contest begins December 16, 2011, and ends December 23, 2011, EST.
- Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Must be 18 or older to win.
- Chances of winning varies based on number of entries, and there is going to be a lot of entries.
December 15, 2011
Is it Friday yet?
December 15, 2011
Starting tomorrow, I'll be participating in my first blog hop - the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop with about 50 other bloggers/authors.
On Friday, as soon as the gods of day jobs allow, I'll post what I'm giving away and how you can enter to win it. PLUS, go to PJ Schnyder's site at http://pjschnyder.com/blog/contests to enter to win the grand prize - a nook preloaded with books from some of the participating authors (US only).
The Mistletoe Blog Hop runs from December 16-23, 2011.
So check back tomorrow. You might get a good chuckle if the Linky Link thingee doesn't work right for me.
KC
Starting tomorrow, I'll be participating in my first blog hop - the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop with about 50 other bloggers/authors.
On Friday, as soon as the gods of day jobs allow, I'll post what I'm giving away and how you can enter to win it. PLUS, go to PJ Schnyder's site at http://pjschnyder.com/blog/contests to enter to win the grand prize - a nook preloaded with books from some of the participating authors (US only).
The Mistletoe Blog Hop runs from December 16-23, 2011.
So check back tomorrow. You might get a good chuckle if the Linky Link thingee doesn't work right for me.
KC
December 13, 2011
Thoughts of the Day
December 13, 2011
I confess I have what I hope is merely a "healthy" curiosity about the news headlines. I'd hate to have to admit to obsession, but sometimes I wonder. Take yesterday, for example. I learned Katie Couric is single again (there are worse fates), that jewelry you've seen advertised on TV is a poor Christmas gift (get the he$$ outta town!), and finally, something really interesting, a TV station in New York, in a seventeen second loop, aired the first broadcast of the Yule Log burning in the hearth in 1966.
Okay - so I have the Yule Log DVD and I run it while I'm reading in the sunroom during this time of the year. It's hokey, but I like it.
If you're wondering what all that has to do with writing, let me confess that everything in my life revolves around writing. I'm a writer. Life is given to me so I can put it in a book. And I never know when some tidbit from the life will work its way into a book. Everything is relevant in one way or another.
I'm hardly unique in that. To be a writer, a person needs to have an active curiosity about many things. I think being able to maintain that curiosity as we age is important to our overall health. But beyond that, the writer has the ability to see a single item from different perspectives and blend those perspectives into one cohesive whole. It becomes an interesting gift to be given.
With Christmas almost upon us, I've been pondering my gift giving habits. My family and friends have been very blessed, but who doesn't worry about the future in these trying times? Everyone I talk with confesses to less lavish spending during this holiday season and more giving to those organizations that reach out to those in need. We are among them, although there is the occasional trinket when we see something we know another will truly appreciate.
And to my partner: I'll appreciate jewelry, especially pearls, advertised on television or not, anytime of the year.
KC
http://www.kckendricks.com
I confess I have what I hope is merely a "healthy" curiosity about the news headlines. I'd hate to have to admit to obsession, but sometimes I wonder. Take yesterday, for example. I learned Katie Couric is single again (there are worse fates), that jewelry you've seen advertised on TV is a poor Christmas gift (get the he$$ outta town!), and finally, something really interesting, a TV station in New York, in a seventeen second loop, aired the first broadcast of the Yule Log burning in the hearth in 1966.
Okay - so I have the Yule Log DVD and I run it while I'm reading in the sunroom during this time of the year. It's hokey, but I like it.
If you're wondering what all that has to do with writing, let me confess that everything in my life revolves around writing. I'm a writer. Life is given to me so I can put it in a book. And I never know when some tidbit from the life will work its way into a book. Everything is relevant in one way or another.
I'm hardly unique in that. To be a writer, a person needs to have an active curiosity about many things. I think being able to maintain that curiosity as we age is important to our overall health. But beyond that, the writer has the ability to see a single item from different perspectives and blend those perspectives into one cohesive whole. It becomes an interesting gift to be given.
With Christmas almost upon us, I've been pondering my gift giving habits. My family and friends have been very blessed, but who doesn't worry about the future in these trying times? Everyone I talk with confesses to less lavish spending during this holiday season and more giving to those organizations that reach out to those in need. We are among them, although there is the occasional trinket when we see something we know another will truly appreciate.
And to my partner: I'll appreciate jewelry, especially pearls, advertised on television or not, anytime of the year.
KC
http://www.kckendricks.com
December 7, 2011
Sleepers
December 4, 2011
Instead of wrapping my brain around the concept of actually getting some writing done today, I've been playing. Or is it procrastinating? Maybe both. I have a mental "to do" list for the day and I think I need to scrap it in favor of fun pursuits. I feel like I've had my fingers to the keyboard without ceasing for far too long.
Or maybe I've allowed a conversation with my man to discourage me. Which would be my fault, not his. He's a pretty good cheerleader (as long as he doesn't wave his pom-poms and make a mess on the floor).
Being published is hard on a person's psyche. Those big pieces of yourself that you carved off and planted in a story are out there for the world to see. Most of the time all that comes back to us are the words of "reviewers," and recently the trend seems to be for really cunty snarky "reviews" - but that's another blog. I'm talking "reviews" when we hit "R" in the 2012 A-Z Blogging Challenge so I'll save it for then.
While the willingness to bleed out all over the page is a prerequisite to writing, it doesn't insure any given book will be well received. Some very well-written books become "sleepers" in the author's backlist, and it was this topic my partner and I discussed over shared a glass of wine.
Up until this point, my backlist contained one true sleeper - Passion's Victory. I believe this is due to the fact it garnered a 2008 CAPA nomination. Those sort of things can be like the kiss of death to a book. But from the emails I've received from readers over the years, Passion's Victory has been loved by everyone who didn't let the CAPA nod scare them off.
But now I think I have another sleeper on my hands - Double Deuce. Rather after the fact, the head guru at Amber Allure came along and said anything with a mystery tag didn't sell. Sure wish I'd known that when the concept was discussed. Of course, the problem is that Double Deuce is first and foremost a KC Kendricks romance and the "mystery" is the crime solving elements of the plot. I'm sure big name mystery writers would laugh like hyenas at the mystery tag being applied to Double Deuce. Live and learn.
What's discouraging is I've planned a neat little story arc for the two main characters in Double Deuce to carry through what I'd hoped to be a trilogy and if the sales don't back it up, I can't spend six months writing it any time soon. And that's a shame, if I do say so myself, because I think readers who love romance would love, love, love what would have happened at the end of book three.
So thinking out loud here, so to blog, what do I do? Do I write stories the majority of my readers want, and will make my publisher keep on accepting my stories, or do I take my own advice and write the story I want to write and to hell with worrying about it?
I guess the answer will come some morning when I put my fingers on the keyboard and the words start to flow. Stay tuned.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com/
blog: ttp://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com
Twitter: ttp://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
Instead of wrapping my brain around the concept of actually getting some writing done today, I've been playing. Or is it procrastinating? Maybe both. I have a mental "to do" list for the day and I think I need to scrap it in favor of fun pursuits. I feel like I've had my fingers to the keyboard without ceasing for far too long.
Or maybe I've allowed a conversation with my man to discourage me. Which would be my fault, not his. He's a pretty good cheerleader (as long as he doesn't wave his pom-poms and make a mess on the floor).
Being published is hard on a person's psyche. Those big pieces of yourself that you carved off and planted in a story are out there for the world to see. Most of the time all that comes back to us are the words of "reviewers," and recently the trend seems to be for really cunty snarky "reviews" - but that's another blog. I'm talking "reviews" when we hit "R" in the 2012 A-Z Blogging Challenge so I'll save it for then.
While the willingness to bleed out all over the page is a prerequisite to writing, it doesn't insure any given book will be well received. Some very well-written books become "sleepers" in the author's backlist, and it was this topic my partner and I discussed over shared a glass of wine.
Up until this point, my backlist contained one true sleeper - Passion's Victory. I believe this is due to the fact it garnered a 2008 CAPA nomination. Those sort of things can be like the kiss of death to a book. But from the emails I've received from readers over the years, Passion's Victory has been loved by everyone who didn't let the CAPA nod scare them off.
But now I think I have another sleeper on my hands - Double Deuce. Rather after the fact, the head guru at Amber Allure came along and said anything with a mystery tag didn't sell. Sure wish I'd known that when the concept was discussed. Of course, the problem is that Double Deuce is first and foremost a KC Kendricks romance and the "mystery" is the crime solving elements of the plot. I'm sure big name mystery writers would laugh like hyenas at the mystery tag being applied to Double Deuce. Live and learn.
What's discouraging is I've planned a neat little story arc for the two main characters in Double Deuce to carry through what I'd hoped to be a trilogy and if the sales don't back it up, I can't spend six months writing it any time soon. And that's a shame, if I do say so myself, because I think readers who love romance would love, love, love what would have happened at the end of book three.
So thinking out loud here, so to blog, what do I do? Do I write stories the majority of my readers want, and will make my publisher keep on accepting my stories, or do I take my own advice and write the story I want to write and to hell with worrying about it?
I guess the answer will come some morning when I put my fingers on the keyboard and the words start to flow. Stay tuned.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com/
blog: ttp://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com
Twitter: ttp://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
