Jay Bell's Blog, page 19

City of Owls

I'm in Athens! And sitting in the hotel while glued to my netbook. That doesn't seem right, does it? I just can't stay away from you guys! Unfortunately, my hotel charges 20€ per day for internet access, something I'm only splurging on this once. The rest of the week, I'll be off the grid. I just wanted to let you guys know that I'll be late in responding to emails for the rest of the week. See you on the flip side!

Inspiration – Something Like Summer revisited

A reader recently wrote me (hey Daren!) expressing an interest in other songs and images that inspired Something Like Summer. I have a previous blog entry about some of those inspirations, but there are indeed more sources not listed there. Let's start with another hot image of Tim Wyman. Well, model Bruno Santos really. The photo you see to the left was the one I kept looking to during the college years. I gave him a haircut for the book, because I've always loved spiky hair, but that's Tim all right. For me at least. Unfortunately I still haven't stumbled on photos that truly remind me of Ben or Jace, which is especially frustrating in Jace's case. I can see him see so clearly in my mind that I must have seen him somewhere, but I don't know where.

As for other songs that inspired me, my descriptions of them get spoilerish. If you haven't read the book yet, turn back now if you don't want to know!

The first is Do You Sleep by Lisa Loeb, which gets me every time. This was the background tune to the end of Ben and Tim's time together in highschool. There are a couple of scenes that are transparently taken from this song. Some lines I imagine Ben singing, some are Tim's, but I feel it really resonates with how their relationship was falling apart. Crank it up and give it a listen.

The next song is sort of Jace's theme. To me it's about Ben needing him, and later missing him. The music itself reminds me of Jace's character, kind of ritzy, classy, and offbeat, but also a little sad at times. "I have this picture hanging in my room, and I refuse to take you down…" This one is by Duran Duran and called We Need You.

Finally, we have another song by The Fold. The first inspiration article has a song by them as well, Faster Still, which was sort of the anthem of the novel. The song below, I Know You Well, represents the end of the story. No, not that part, but afterwards, when Tim is driving Ben home from the gallery. In the song Faster Still is a line "As I look into your eyes, I don't know you any better" which is a doubt Ben shares at the end of the college years. This song is Tim's answer and promise, as they cruise away into their happily ever after.

So there you have it, another set images and sounds by talented artists that helped fuel my words. I'm not sure if these resonate with you like they do me, but it's safe to say that Something Like Summer wouldn't have been the same without them. On that note, let's end with one more photo of Tim Wyman. Just because.

 

Sexy short story!

Language Lessons is here! This short story is a contemporary romance, and although not related to Something Like Summer in any way, fans of that novel will find much to enjoy here. At least that's my hope. Grab this story while you can, because it will only be free for the next week. Here's the blurb:

Love doesn't come easy. For Joey, he didn't care if it ever came at all. He was much too busy adding notches to his bedpost and preparing for life as an adult. But when a causal fling waxes nostalgic about the one that got away, Joey starts to wonder if he isn't missing something after all, if there really is something to be learned from the language of love.

 

You can download Language Lessons from Smashwords in a variety of formats, even for your Nook and Kindle, but you'll have to move the file to your eBook reader manually. For those uncomfortable with this, the story will be up on the Kindle and Nook stores by the end of the week. Unfortunately there isn't a way to upload free Kindle books to Amazon (unless you are a publisher) and they have rules about price competition. The lowest price I can name on Amazon is 99 cents, which will then have to be the price at all other locations. Still, it's cheaper than anything at the dollar store and absolutely free if you grab it now:

Read online (PDF) or download as Kindle mobi, Epub, Sony Reader, or Palm.

One more time! And another. … and another.

My challenging working conditions. Where's my dream study?

When I was young I wanted to be a rock star. Or a hermit. More than either of those, I wanted to be a writer. I had a very clear image in my mind of how it would be. I'd shuffle to my typewriter every morning with a cup of coffee—because that's what adults drink—and dream up a new world and characters to inhabit it. So far so good, except give me a mug of tea, a shower, and breakfast first. Anyway, I would punch away at the typewriter and throw every completed page into the air, only for it to be caught by my eager publisher who would moan in pleasure at my latest prose. Once finished, the publisher would send the manuscript away. I would keep writing, and a couple of months later a box of books would show up at my doorstep. If only…

I honestly thought my job as a writer would be to write. I suppose it is, but those days where I sit down and create raw new material are rare. I love the rush that comes with writing a new novel, discovering how the plot unfolds as it bleeds into life, and being surprised at where it all ends up. But once I have a completed first draft, the writing stops and the editing begins. This involves reading what I've written, which is fairly entertaining the first time around, but I don't sit back and leisurely flip through pages. I tweak every sentence, rewrite entire scenes, play with character motivation, and try to polish what's on paper until it shines brighter than what I see in my mind. Then I start over and do it all again. The editing, not the writing. This happens over and over again until I can't see anything left to change. That's when the editor comes in and shakes things up, meaning even more drafts.

Uh... Maybe not.

I'm not complaining. There's isn't an aspect of creating a novel I don't enjoy, but how much time editing takes becomes frustrating when my mind is filling up with new story ideas. There's the contemporary romance I want to write, the one that makes Ben's life appear tame by comparison. Then there's the sequel to a book I haven't even released yet. Before I can get to those, I have to spin round and round in that crazy editorial dance until I'm dizzy, which I suppose is thrilling in its own way. It's just not what I pictured as a kid. Some good news for my childhood self; being cooped up and writing all day isn't so different from being a hermit in a cave, and since I have no boss, that rock star mohawk and hair color is totally possible!

Of stories yet to be told…

"Ever thought of doing a sequel?" This question is music to an author's ears. So many of you wonderful readers (that possess exquisite taste, I might add) have been asking me what my plans are for future novels. Naturally the word sequel has been bandied about quite a bit. This is a tremendous compliment because it means you really enjoyed a book. As I a reader myself, I always love a good series and being able to revisit a world and characters that I grew attached to. Writing a sequel would be an interesting challenge, and I'm sure I'll explore that possibility eventually. However, the next book coming out is another stand-alone story, and I thought you might like to hear about it. Here's the summary:

"John Grey is dead… and that's just the beginning of his troubles!

Purgatory should have been a safe haven for souls that belong neither in Heaven nor Hell, but instead John finds himself in a corrupt prison, one bereft of freedom or pleasure. Along with his decedent friend Dante, John makes a brave escape, only to fall straight down to Hell and into the arms of Rimmon, a handsome incubus. After succumbing to Rimmon's charms, John is soon playing ambassador to Hell, visiting the afterlife realms of other cultures to recruit an army strong enough to stand against Heaven. As interesting as his new job is, John's mind keeps returning to Purgatory and the souls still trapped there. Somehow John must stop a war he doesn't believe in and pull off the largest prison break in history, all while desperately trying to attract the attention of an incubus whose heart belongs to another."

The working title for this project is "Purgatory." To be honest, I already know the proper title, but I'm keeping it a secret. My best friend came up with it, and it's so terribly clever that I'm scared unsavory sorts will steal it away before I have a chance to use it.

Purgatory is an interesting novel in that it defies genre. There are some aspects that feel very much like fantasy, since the story draws from the mythology and religion of many different cultures. And yet, the main characters are from modern times, and some of the settings are completely contemporary. Perhaps the best way to describe this book is as an adventure… and a crazy one at that. I've been polishing this sucker every single day, and feel confident that I can get it out by late summer or early fall. Past this novel, I have a few more surprises, but we'll cross that bridge once we've already made it through Heaven and Hell.

Arthur Interview

Wait, who's Arthur? Forget him! I'm the one that was interviewed!

Danielle, who was already kind enough to review my book on her site ALPHA reader, recently asked me if I'd like to answer a few questions. Any time you ask an author if they'd like to talk about their books or themselves, you can bet the answer will a resounding "YES!" This interview can currently be found on The Book Addict. Here's a small sample.

Q: 'Something Like Summer' looks at the many aspects of being young and homosexual – Ben is 'out' and proud, but still struggling with loneliness and bullying. Tim, meanwhile, is in denial and firmly closeted. What do you hope your readers take away from both Tim and Ben's approaches to their sexuality?

So many stories put readers in the driver's seat of a closeted character, reminding them of the fear and anxiety that accompanies that state. Instead of doing this, I hoped that closeted readers would enjoy being Ben for a while, to experience being free of that burden while also seeing themselves from the outside. I wanted them to become frustrated with Tim, to realize how good his life could be if he would just take that leap of faith.

Read the full interview here

Dumb Like Me

I've been in a love a few times in my life and was always happy to lose myself in the experience. The thrill of discovery, the emotions that threaten to overwhelm, and the heartbreak when it all falls apart. Yes, even the most difficult aspects of love are somehow alluring. As much as we might wish otherwise, reason cannot be applied to the curious emotion. There is no diagnosis or cure, and for those that enjoy its side effects, few reliable guidelines to ensure it will last. I have a niggling fear sometimes, when Andreas looks at me and I see that spark in his eyes, that one day it will fade. Or I worry that my feelings for him won't stand the test of time, that the flame will be extinguished if I somehow fail to nurture it. Then I think of those that came before him, and I am comforted.

There was one person I loved, and for a while he loved me, and we kept trying. We came together in countless ways, always starting with the same dance steps before trying out a different rhythm, but it never worked. We hurt each other, we had little in common, and ultimately we were better off apart; but there was still love. All I can say in my defense is that I liked the way he made me feel. I hope he would say the same. I continue to love him, even after all these years, and this is what I take comfort in when I worry about Andreas. Love never truly ends. I can think back on that long ago lover and still find that spark, those long dormant feelings that were created but have never gone away. Not completely. I think if I saw this person years from now, old and hunched over in the grocery store line, my heart would still skip a beat.

Ben and Tim have that kind of love. Whether it is right or wrong, one of them good or bad, is beside the point. To judge their relationship as being reasonable or not is to ignore the chaotic force that binds them together. And really, isn't the world full of couples like Ben and Tim? Those that argue, make each other cry, and yet cling to each other as if their lives depended on it? We may shake our heads in puzzlement, but if we could see them in their most private and intimate of moments, I believe we would witness something miraculous. It might be hidden in a laugh, or tucked away in a spontaneous kiss, but somewhere in there would be that sly, mysterious trickster called love.

Flesh and Blood has been revamped!

Or should I say "rewolfed" since this story is about a werewolf. [*crickets chirping*] Uh, anyway, back in October of last year, I released this free prequel to The Cat in the Cradle, and never heard much back. I believe the most positive review came from my best friend, who described Flesh and Blood as being too short, disjointed and totally confusing. Yeah, well, somebody had to tell me. My friend was right, so it was back to the drawing board. Now Flesh and Blood is over three times its previous length, and explores Nikolai's story in much greater detail. Not only do we discover his origins, but we learn how he became the prisoner of the Purple Oligarch, and what happens to him after the events of The Cat in the Cradle. Flesh and Blood always felt like the black sheep of the family, but now, thanks to some honest feedback, I'm can proudly pat it on the back and say, "Yup! That's my boy!"

You can read the story online (PDF) or download it as Kindle mobi, Epub, Sony Reader, or Palm.

Inspiration – Something Like Summer

Thomas Edison once said "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration." That ratio may work for an inventor, but I feel that artists are much more dependant on inspiration than that. Personally, I take inspiration from books I enjoyed while growing up, as well as relying heavily on the experiences of my past. I've also found that one art form will frequently fuel another.

Songs are a tremendous source of inspiration. Lyrics are a form of storytelling so compressed that they often leave much to the imagination. This, accompanied by the way music intensifies emotion, can cause a story to unfold in my mind as I listen. Some of my books even have anthems, songs I listen to over and over again to get me in the right mood. Other times I'll discover a tune later that reminds me of my book. On rare occasions I'll even tweak scenes to better match the lyrics. Without a doubt, the anthem for Something Like Summer was a song called Faster Still by The Fold.

I had a small tracklist of various songs that correlated to scenes in Something Like Summer, and their rhythm beat like the heart of the story for me, bringing life to the relationship between Ben and Tim.

Sometimes even a simple photo can be inspiring. I was halfway through the first draft when I stumbled upon a photo of professional model Bruno Santos and felt like I had found a photo of Tim Wyman instead. Bruno has had a number of looks over the years, and only some of them truly remind me of Tim, but being able to flip through those when I needed to get closer to the character was a great help. The two photos featured here made me especially glad, since one could easily be Tim in his teen years, the other how he appears at the end of the book.

These are just a few examples out of many. To paraphrase the opening quote, I'd say art is 40% inspiration, 30% imagination, 18% desperation, and 12% delusion. Hmmm. Maybe we better leave the famous quotes to Edison.

My new book is out and proud!

Watch out! Print and eBook copies of Something Like Summer have been unleashed and are rampaging the internet! If there's only one book of mine you try, I would totally give you my first born child if you make it this one. Never before or since have I written something quite so personal, so near to my heart. Not that this is the story of my past, because it isn't, but I did draw heavily from my experiences of being an openly gay teenager in high school. Feeling alienated and alone, even after coming out? Check. Falling in love with the wrong person, realizing it, and loving them anyway? Oh, yeah. Been there. Being brave enough to seduce the hottest guy in school? Uh, I only wish! Something Like Summer travels beyond high school too, into that strange wilderness of adulthood that we're promised is less complicated, even though it really isn't.

I should warn you that there is scalding hot sex in this novel as well. Oh, okay, that's less of a warning and more of a calculated sales pitch. However, this book is about the nature of relationships and one aspect of that is physical intimacy. There are some graphic sex scenes, but tastefully done and tempered with heart. That's all that matters to me in a story, is being able to relate to the heart of a character no matter how similar or different they are to me.

For those with a trigger finger, there are some buying options to the right. The eBooks are dirt cheap, but if you prefer paperback, you can get 10% off the price when buying directly from CreateSpace. Just use the code X6VKP2K4 during checkout. Not only is this cheaper for you, but my royalties almost double, so it works well for both of us. Don't let the shipping dates scare you off either, since CreateSpace delivers much faster than they claim. For those still uncertain or tight on cash, there is more information and free chapters here.

I hope you enjoy reading Something Like Summer. Be sure to drop me a line once you've done so. The second greatest thrill of being an author (after writing of course) is hearing the thoughts and feedback of the readers.