MeiLin Miranda's Blog, page 58
February 1, 2011
Interview with Me
Haven't had enough of me? Hey, there's plenty of me to go around! Fellow writer and Broad Universe member Tracy Morris interviews me about crowdfunding, self-publishing, my "stupidity" in publishing my first draft online (my word, not hers), BPAL and more over at her LJ.
January 31, 2011
Chapter 7 Part 2 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book One
Fennows pounced on the wine. He finished off a glass in two gulps and poured himself another. He regarded Temmin across the table, as the Heir piled his plate with ham and cold chicken. "D'you mean to tell me you haven't bedded that little darling?"
Temmin's hand paused over the bread basket. He blushed, but said, "It's none of your concern, Fennows," and fished out a roll.
Fennows squinted at him, malice playing around the corners of his mouth. "Touchy! It's true, isn't it? You do qualify for Supplicancy. And at your age, tsk."
"I said, it's none of your concern," said Temmin. He took a fierce bite from a chicken leg.
"Dear me," said Fennows. "I'd be grumpy if I were a virgin, too, I should think. What is it, old thing? Don't like girls? One would assume you do, the way you stare at Allis Obby, but then, perhaps it's Issak Obby who's your ultimate goal? Well, they're a package deal, ain't they."
January 28, 2011
Chapter 7 Part 1 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book One
In fact, Fennows could not ride. Fennows couldn't do anything. Temmin watched a groom trying, and failing, to give the spotty young man a foot-up onto his horse. Fennows abused the poor groom the whole time: did the groom know who he was--disrespectful cur--clumsiest groom in Tremont, he should think. And he got away with it! The groom didn't blink an eye. If Temmin had used that tone at home, he'd have found out what was what. But none of the grooms met Temmin's eyes this morning, merely pressing their knuckles to their foreheads or bowing, and all of them eyeing Fennows when they thought the Heir wasn't looking. It all conspired to deepen Temmin's already-sour mood.
"You will entertain Lord Fennows tomorrow, Temmin, and from time to time while he is with us as your studies permit," King Harsin had said the night before. "His father is important to me politically. Learn to like him. Is he really so bad?" he'd added at Temmin's sour face.
January 27, 2011
Episode 42: A Reproachful Chat with a Cat | Scryer's Gulch
John and Annabelle reached the Hopewell Hotel's front door, both aware they might be overheard now that they stood somewhat out of the bustle of the road. "I think we should leave the topic of...our man until a more private moment," said John.
"I completely agree," said Annabelle. "Well, then, Mr Runnels. Until tomorrow, dinner? Good night." She shook his hand. He kept it in his just a hair longer than necessary, their eyes met just a hair longer than was proper, and they parted just a hair before more might be revealed one to the other.
January 26, 2011
New free ebook at Smashwords: "Accounts"
I took the three stories in the series about Maleen Polls, Liddy Obby and the twins, edited them to better reflect canon, and put them up as a free ebook at Smashwords: Accounts. It contains "An Opening of Accounts," "A Balancing of Accounts," and "A Settling of Accounts," and is available in just about every format known to mankind. 
Last Day to Vote for "Lovers and Beloveds" at Preditors and Editors
Today's the last day to vote for "Lovers and Beloveds" in the Preditors and Editors reader poll. Right now I'm in first place, but don't be complacent! 
I don't think this will mean a great deal in the scheme of things, but every little mention helps. Thanks!
Upcoming ebook of IHGK shorts: "Accounts"
I'm publishing an ebook of the "Accounts" series of short story prequels--the ones of Maleen Polls, Teacher and the twins. Initially it will be up at Smashwords. I'm giving it away. I'll be releasing a number of the old stories as ebooks; they'll be edited to fit canon. If they have sex in them, they'll be 99 cents; if they don't, they'll be free.
January 24, 2011
"Lovers and Beloveds" chapter 6.8 is live
A Mentor. Temmin considered his older cousins and their Mentors. Sometimes their Mentors treated them with fatherly regard, sometimes with brotherly affection, and sometimes with open lust in the case of the handsome ones; most of his cousins tolerated it, and one or two of them reveled in being a more powerful older man's temporary confidant and bedmate. "Mentoring is rather like those two, isn't it? I mean, Mentors are older, and so was Hildin. Though not much older, was he. Ten years or so? And the Mentor has a great deal more experience and power than his Student, but then, that's rather the point, isn't it? To learn what the Mentor knows, to become friends with those in the Mentor's circle who can benefit him? It's that power thing you're always going on about." Temmin looked up at Teacher, too interested for bashfulness. "But what does the Mentor get out of it? Is it just the sex?"Read more -->
"For some, it is the sex. For others, the service--teaching what one knows. For many, I suspect it is the chance to relive one's youth through another. Some Mentors and Students do not ever touch one another. Perhaps most."
"You'd never say that if you saw my cousins with their Mentors!"
"One wishes to keep up appearances," said Teacher. "The relationship between Mentor and Student is considered the most perfect, the most pure, a union of equals, at least in terms of class and education. Who would wish to proclaim himself a failure at that?"
"One of my cousins is still with his Mentor, and it's been years since they should have ended," mused Temmin. "I wonder who Papa is considering for me. I mean, I'm the Heir--no family is more powerful than ours. So I suppose I'd be matched with someone I can learn from--" He looked up, wide-eyed with a sudden thought: "It's not you, is it?" he said.
Chapter 6 Part 8 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book One
Temmin left the book, desperately aroused. He couldn't say what provoked him more: Warin and Emmae's lovemaking, or the strange scene at the end. He gripped the table's edge and reached for quelling thoughts, anything to dull the book's effects. He turned to the story. "So it's Hildin the Usurper," he stammered.
"Still Prince Regent. King Gethin had slipped into senility by this time," answered Teacher.
"He had magic too? How many people held it?"
January 23, 2011
Fundraiser: $10 for Chunk of Book 2 First Draft
As I said in the last blog post, my insurance company has decided I don't really need to have a particular critical test every month--or at least they don't have to pay for it. Nor do they have to pay large chunks of other bills I thought they were paying. And a tooth has decided to go bad at the same time.
Rather than whine here for donations, I'm offering you something for something. You give me $10, I give you the prologue and first chapter of book two. That's about 8,800 words.
