Marie Sexton's Blog, page 38

The Seventh Veil

By the way, Heidi's latest release, The Seventh Veil, is available now from Loose Id. This is the first part of an epic m/m fantasy series.

As a bisexual bastard born to a country stuck in antiquated mores and ideals, Charles Perry had learned long ago to set his sights low: all he wants is a drink, a dram, and a whore of each gender to share them with. But strange visions haunt his dreams, and now the ghosts are following him into his waking hours. Charles must seek help from an alchemist or risk running mad. Charles's House blood makes him a high prize in magical circles, so he'll have to be careful.

But what the alchemist discovers in Charles's blood turns the whole world on its head. And in the arms of an exotic male pleasure slave, Charles will discover a destiny so huge it doesn't seem possible, but it's true. Charles Perry, noble bastard, is the lost consort of the Goddess of All Creation. And as the forces of darkness converge on him, Charles must learn to channel his power to save the world–or risk becoming the pawn that destroys it.

Read an excerpt here.

But it here.

Random Paris Facts

Now that Paris has been out a couple of weeks, I thought I'd share a couple of random facts about it.

First, the guidebook that Angelo uses actually exists. When I was trying to come up with a title for the book, I stumbled across Paris A to Z on Amazon. It's out of print, but I was able to purchase a used copy. I had no idea why I needed it, but once I had it in my hand, I knew Angelo would dig it.

Second, I have had one person ask about the poems Angelo shows to Matt and Zach. The poems are both by Wendell Berry. The one about Matt's amazed moments is called A Wild Rose, and you can see it here. The one Angelo shows to Zach is called The Country of Marriage, but as he tells Zach in the book, it's not the whole poem. It's only stanza V. I applied for permission to print the entire stanza in the book, but never heard back from the publisher, so had to cut it. You can see this poem here.

My space pirate story, tentatively titled Blind Space, is not quite done. I finished the first draft and sent it off to my beta readers. I've heard back from some of them. At this point, I think I need to add one scene to finish it, but I haven't really felt up to it. Which sort of brings me to my last point…

I don't normally discuss personal stuff here on my blog, but I've decided to break my rule this time.

For the past three or four months, I haven't felt well. It's not that I felt horrible. It was more like chronic, low-key blahs. Mostly, I've been absolutely exhausted. All the time. Back in January, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with walking pneumonia. But even after being treated for that, I didn't feel right. Some weeks would be better than others, and it never failed that about the time I'd decide to go see a doctor, I'd start feeling better.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, my husband and Heidi both convinced me to stop stalling. I finally went to the doctor. I found out that on top of not feeling well, I'd apparently lost weight and was running a fever. The doctor sent me for a battery of blood tests. Today, I heard back on those results. It's nothing horrific or life-threatening, so no worries. The first results indicate severe anemia. Apparently, there are many different types of anemia, and the next step is (you guessed it) more tests in order to figure out how to treat it.

So all in all, it's clearly not the end of the world. On the other hand, I also realize that this constant need to push myself, to write more, to do more, is more than I can handle at the moment. I don't just feel exhausted. I really am exhausted. In theory, I'll be starting some kind of meds or treatment or something in the near future, and hopefully I'll feel better then. But for now, I realize I have the right to say, "No more."

So that's kind of what I'm doing. No more. For the moment, at least. I'm not pushing myself to finish this story until I'm ready. I do have a release in about six weeks, and in the meantime, I'll have edits and such to do. I'm scheduled to do a couple of chats the weekend of April 30th, and I'll still do those. I'll still be around Facebook and Cupoporn and Twitter, but other than that, I'm sort of calling a time out.

TIME OUT!

I hope it won't last long. I hope in a few weeks I'm ready to jump back into writing full-speed, but for now, I'm taking a bit of a breather. Once I actually finish the space pirates, I'll let you know.

Until then, I'd like to say I'm thrilled at how many of you have contacted me to tell me that you loved Paris. I loved writing it, so it's really gratifying to know that the fun keeps growing. My next release is Between Sinners and Saints. It's tentatively scheduled for release on May 29th. I'm extremely excited about this book. I hope you all enjoy getting to know Jaime and Levi.

And just for the hell of it, I'll leave you now with this.

Guest Author: Teel James Glenn

My guest today, Teel James Glenn, is a native of Brooklyn though he's traveled the world for thirty years as a stuntman, fight choreographer, swordmaster, jouster, book illustrator, storyteller, bodyguard, and Actor. His stories and articles have been printed in scores of magazines from Mad to Black Belt to Fantasy Tales as well as a number of books and anthologies. He has over twenty books out from five publishers including the pulp themed Weird Tales of the Skullmask  and Deadline Zombies: the adventures of Maxi and Moxie from BooksforaBuck.com

*****

Shadows of New York is a period collection of adventure/mystery stories that range from short stories to novelette length. It follows Anton Chadeaux, Phd. Who the world comes to know as Dr. Shadows. He opposes evil across the world from Gotham to Hong Kong in the pulpish world of 1937.

When I started writing my Dr. Shadows series of stories I didn't want to. That is to say, I wanted to write an adventure hero, for sure and loved the pulp characters and story lines of the books from the thirties, but had always resisted the urge to write period stories.

Why?

Research! Its scared the heck out of me.

I'm one of those guys who yells at the History Channel if they get something wrong- no matter how small. "That sword didn't exist for a hundred years", "The Huns used small horses," etc…

And when I read most modern takes on period stories I found far too many 'winks' or incorrect attitudes expressed by the lead characters. Or, in some ways more annoying, a shallow misunderstanding of the 'world' of the time.

I made the promise to myself that I would try to write a book that could have been on the newsstands in the time period it was set; a 'lost' pulp characters, if you will.

Now, understand writing period stuff, even if it is a none fiction book is really an exercise in fantasy because you are really are building the world from the 'ground up'- controlling everything the reader sees and hears and, hopefully feels. With a pure fantasy world, however, no one yells if you include a historical character that could not have been there or a brand of cars that hadn't been built yet!

So I girded my loins by reading a number of period books first to get a sense of attitudes and language. But if you read stories from another time period the first thing you notice is that they generally take a lot of the culture and look for granted. Suits are not generally well described, many furnishing are just casually referred to and little details are 'assumed' i.e. things like hats—when and where to wear them.

I combined with my readings of fiction from the time I had to read none fiction on the fashions, cars, music and food of the period. And of course, the political and cultural events of the time.

Once I could imagine what the world looked like I did my best to 'get inside' it—what was the common misconceptions of the time? The popular myths?

It all came back, of course, to the characters in the end because the most well researched background does not make reader return to a series or care about what happens. It is not, after all, a history book.

With Dr. Shadows and his crew  I hope I have created vibrant real people who will transport the reader to another world of truth, justice and adventure in a world that might not have existed—but should have.

*****

Shadows of New York

In the 1930s, the world stands at the brink of war, Japan is intent on its conquest of China, and criminal masterminds are using the confusion to carve out their own empires. Into this world strides Dr. Shadows.

When his plane was shot down over Korea by the Japanese, Dr. Shadows was nearly killed, being rescued by Korean monks who nursed him back to health with an herbal treatment that turned his skin an ashen gray, but that also gives him a speed and agility unmatched by others. After years of healing and martial arts training, Dr. Shadows is back in New York where he's established the Shadows Foundation for Justice. Through this organization (and with the help of sidekicks Slugger Harris and monk and martial artist Dr. Hoon and perky Lee Han Ku (Hank)) he'll attempt to right wrongs, solve crimes, and defeat crimelords whose greed is spurring the world toward war.

Dr. Shadows' New York is not the glamorous stage for theater and the super-rich, but bars, Chinatown, and secret societies.

Fans of pulp fiction will chuckle over the name-dropping of mostly-forgotten characters, and his careful reconstruction of an era that is now in the past and perhaps never fully existed. As for his characters, Dr. Shadows just a bit of angst, and gives us a full range of villains, from classic arch-fiends to surprisingly complex and honorable enemies.

Published by BooksforaBuck.com

March 2, 2011

Get it here.

For the eBook: 978-1-60215-144-4

For the paperback: 978-1-60215-145-1

Angst

I'm over at Rachel Haimowitz's blog today talking about angst. And movies. I think. Join me!

Paris A to Z

Paris A to Z is available now from Dreamspinner Press. Get it here. It's also available on ARe here. It's not on Amazon quite yet, but it will be in the next few days.

Also, I have been interviewed today on Jessewave. You can find that here.

My friend Jane Kindred also interviewed me. That can be found here.

Did I forget anything?

Yes. I actually forgot to put acknowledgments into Paris, so I would like to thank everybody who helped me with this one: Heidi, Ethan, Wendy, Laura, Lisa, Julie, Dawn…. Good lord, I had a lot of help, didn't I? I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting somebody still. Basically, if you beta-read this for me, thank you!! Thanks to my husband, as always. And last but not least, I have to thank Randy Jansen on this one, for getting me unstuck in the very early stages. This one was so fun to write, and I really hope you all enjoy it!

It's Raining Men

L.A. Witt interview and book giveaway!

Today my guest is Lori, aka L.A. Witt, aka Lauren Gallagher (for those who like smut of the het variety). We'll be giving away a book later, so stick around!

First off, would you like to introduce yourself somehow?

Hmm. Um. *clears throat* *waves*  I'm Lori, and I'm an unrepentant erotica author. You may have seen me as L. A. Witt if M/M is your thing, Lauren Gallagher if you have a taste for hetero, and The Weaver if you watch America's Most Wanted.

Tell us a bit about your history as a writer? You now have….what? 300 titles available?

300? I wish. My 13th book just came out, and 14-21 are due out in the next few months.  I've been writing since I could hold a pen upright, and finally got serious about it in November 2008. That was when I switched from fantasy to romance, too, though I do plan to write some SFF again at some point. Romance just ended up being my niche.  I sold my first book in May 2009, and it's just kinda been madness since then.

What's the best thing about being a writer?

I have a 30 second commute, I wear my pajamas to work, I can have my cat on my desk while I work, I get to listen to my music, nobody bugs me, and I can take my work anywhere and everywhere…all of which is icing on the cake of the fact that I get to do what I've always wanted to do.  I've been doing this full-time for almost two and a half years, and I love it.

What's the worst?

*thinks*

*taps fingers on desk*

*keeps thinking*

*ten minutes pass*

Nope, can't think of anything.

You've been living in Japan for almost three years. It seems like you've been somewhat isolated during that time. How has this helped or hindered your writing process?

I rather like being isolated. I'm a social recluse by nature, and being a million miles away from everyone, plus no longer working a day job, has let me cultivate that reclusiveness to hermit-like proportions. For me, solitude and writing go together like peanut butter and jelly (and I freaking love peanut butter and jelly, so that should tell you something).

What's your favorite food?

It varies, but I seem to have developed a serious addiction to Japanese curry. I didn't like curry before I came here, but now? OMG.  Japanese curry is stronger in flavor but milder in spice than Indian, so I love it.  There's a restaurant here that serves this awesome curry soup that cooks in a huge cauldron all day long. One of these days, I'm just going to ask them to sit me next to the cauldron with a spoon and leave me alone for an hour or two.

Favorite ice cream flavor?

Cold Stone Cake Batter with cookie dough mixed in.  They couldn't make it more addictive if they mixed in some heroin and sprinkled crack on top.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee. Specifically espresso. I was born and raised in Seattle, so I'm a bona fide card-carrying shameless coffee snob.

Boxers or briefs?

They both look the same on the floor.

Name your three favorite books or series, or three favorite authors (your choice). (or you could do, the ones that influenced you the most, if that makes it easier)

Might be surprising from a romance author, but my three favorite books are:

Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov

The Stand, Stephen King

Rhapsody (books 1-3), Elizabeth Hayden (not crazy about the title character, but there's another main character who I FREAKING ADORE)

Name one irrational phobia you have.

Blue Chevy Astro vans. No, I don't know why.  I really don't.  My husband cracks up because if I get next to one on the freeway, I'll change lanes, and I won't park next to one.  I don't know if I saw one used on a TV show for a kidnapping or what, but they make my skin crawl.

Where did you go for your all-time favorite vacation?

I'd have to say the three-week road trip I took around British Columbia, Alberta, with a jaunt down to Yellowstone before returning to Seattle.

Where would you go for your next vacation if money and time were no issue?

Komodo Island. That was where I was supposed to go this year for my 30th birthday, but our travel fund got cleaned out thanks to some asshat tenants in our house back in the States. Someday.

Whips or whipped cream?

Why not both?

If I came to your home and looked inside the refrigerator, what would I find?

Shameful amounts of Dr Pepper. As much as I try to eat healthy, it's my Achilles heel.

If you could solve one historical mystery or unsolved crime, which would it be?

I think I've been watching too much Ancient Aliens, because my mind immediately went to the various pyramids around the world and why they were built.

*****

I'd like to thank Lori for being my guest here today.

Lori's latest release is Getting Off the Ground.

After being stood up at the altar, compulsive over-planner Elliott Chandler decides to turn their honeymoon on Oahu into a vacation for one. Fate puts a hitch in his plans, however, when the airport is snowed in and his flight is delayed.

In the airport, the jilted groom catches the eye of another stranded traveler: the laidback and very sexy Derek Windsor. Derek breaks the ice and strikes up a conversation, and as the temperature drops outside, the heat between them rises. Pity they're both going to different islands, but if their flight doesn't leave soon, Mr. Calm-and-Cool may just tempt Mr. Play-It-Safe to do something reckless.

And that plane isn't going anywhere any time soon.

You can find Getting Off the Ground here. Lori will be giving away a book today. You can choose any title from her backlist (either as L.A. Witt, or as Lauren Gallagher). Leave a comment to enter.

Come visit Amara's Place

Today I'm being interviewed and giving away a book at Amara's Place. Please stop by and say hello!

I'm over at Ethan's!

I'm at Ethan Stone's blog today trying to dispel a couple of myths about author intent. Stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a book! Go here.

Update and Random Things

As per usual for me, I've let a silly amount of time go by without doing any kind of blog update. For people who follow me on Facebook and Twitter and such, this might all be old news. Or not. I'm never really sure where the line is between keeping people up-to-date and badgering them to death.

Last night, I declared it officially spring here in Colorado. Obviously my "official" declaration doesn't mean much, but here's the thing: in Colorado, we may have nice warm days throughout the year, but the question is, what happens when the sun goes down? It can go from 70 to 30 in the blink of an eye. Last night my parents were over for dinner (my husband is away on a business trip) and after we ate we went out onto the back patio. My father played basketball with my daughter (she's six, and he's 6'3″, so he has a distinct advantage, but she doesn't seem to mind). I sat there drinking a glass of wine, and it was warm enough that even after the sun went down, we didn't have to come inside. Therefore: SPRING. And I for one would like to say, hooray!!

A quick rundown of what's coming up. It's funny to think that last fall, I was worried I wouldn't have any new releases in the 2011. I am happy to say, that hasn't turned out to be the case.

The third (and final, I think) book for Zach and Angelo, Paris A to Z, will be released by Dreamspinner Press on April 6th. This is a novella (about the length of The Letter Z) so will be published in ebook format only.
Between Sinners and Saints has been tentatively scheduled for ebook release on May 29th by Amber Allure. Paperback will be available a couple of weeks later.
Song of Oestend will be released as an ebook by Total e-Bound on August 22nd. Paperbacks will be available shortly afterward.

I always have a bit of a lag between projects. Even though I know it's part of my process, it makes me restless. A couple of days ago, I was whining to Heidi about being bored. She said, "Write a throw-away story about a fireman and a school teacher!" Then she started sending me links to naughty pictures, and somehow it devolved into, "Write about a pirate and a fireman. IN SPACE!" The crazy thing is, I actually started to think about it. Heidi for some reason became very excited and made me a collage (those of you who follow her know that she makes one for each of her own projects). I have posted it below. It's big, so click on it to see it full-seize. That lovely man center left and upper left is my pirate, Valero (and yes, he's named for a gas station – those of you who followed Heidi and I on our HaMEMA trek will get the joke). Anyone wearing a blindfold or lace is Tristan. Bottom center is the spoiled Prince who Tristan works for. And the gorgeous naked torso toward the lower right? Not sure exactly who he is, but who the hell cares? He's fucking hot!

So for better or worse, I'm working on space pirates. It's a bit on the kinky side (for me, at least, which isn't saying a lot). I don't think it will be a very long project. Maybe a short novella? Only time will tell.

I have a few blog guests scheduled for the upcoming weeks, and I have several dates as a guest on other blogs, so I hope you all will stop by and say hi while I'm out galavanting around cyberspace.

On March 26th, I'll be on Ethan Stone's blog, trying to dispel a couple of common myths about author intent.
On March 31st, I'll be over at Amara's Place, answering questions and giving away a book.
April 1st, L.A. Witt (aka Lauren Gallagher, for those of you who also read het) will be here on my blog, giving away a copy of one of the many titles from her backlist.
On April 2nd, I'll be talking about picturing people naked on the new blog . It will be their grand opening, and I think they have all kinds of prizes lined up, so don't miss it!
On April 6th, I'll be interviewed over at Jessewave.
Sometime the week of April 6th I'll also be a guest on Rachel Haimowitz's blog.
On April 15th, T.J. Glenn will be here on my blog.
On April 22nd, S.L. Danielson will be a guest here on my blog.
In theory, Ethan Stone will be around at some point pimping one of his new releases, but he's sort of lax about picking a date.  Ethan does have two upcoming releases, Flesh & Blood on April 1st and Wolf Moon sometime in late May.

Notice that once we get more than a couple of weeks away, I'm sort of vague on the details.

I want to congratulate the very talented Reese Dante, who received two Ariana awards for her fabulous cover art, one of which was for One More Soldier. HOORAY! I love Reese's work. Maybe I can arrange for her to do my space pirate cover?

If you've somehow missed it, make sure you stop by the new blog Heidi Cullinan and I are running together, Coffee and Porn in the Morning. We have hot men and giveaways! What more could you ask for?

Heidi and I will also be doing a booth at Capital City Pride in Des Moines. I think M.L. Rhodes will be there too, and maybe Rowan Speedwell and possibly Ethan Stone? Obviously, the details have yet to be ironed out, but I'll do my best to keep you posted. And HaMEMA will return for a second round in October when Heidi and I board a train and head for New Orleans for GayRomLit. This event is open to readers too (in fact, it's FOR readers) so join us if you can!

I think that's all of my "official" business. And now, bear with me while I get all serious for a moment (or just skip to the lovely photo below – that's fine too).

I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to try to maintain a public persona. It's always felt like a risk to me. I don't like drama. AT ALL. I have literally been sick over it for days at a time. And so other than this little rambling confession, I shall continue to do my best to avoid it. I guess where I get stuck is, does avoiding drama mean I have to hide from the world? Sometimes, that's how it feels, like every step I take is on thin ice. I see authors in my genre publicly attacking one another – it's rare, thank goodness, but it happens – and I hate it. It breaks my heart. It makes me want to disappear. It makes me long to bury my head in the sand and never come out. But then Heidi and/or Ethan talk me down from the ledge, and I take a deep breath and try to go on.

I suppose I just want to say, I bear no animosity toward anybody. I don't understand why any of us feel compelled to tear each other down. I want to support each and every author in our tiny little genre. I would rather assume the best of a person than the worst. I would always prefer to work toward friendship than toward friction.

Toward that end, I want you all to know how much I appreciate the support you give me. Even if you don't know it, every email or comment or tweet or… anything… helps me face the vulnerability that seems to come with trying to maintain any type of public identity. So, thank you.

And in the spirit of thanks, I shall leave you now with this…

Holy fucking god, is he not the hottest thing you've ever seen (or damn close to it)? Yum.

Have a great day!