C.B. Conwy's Blog, page 10
December 26, 2011
Alphabet Soup is nominated for an award!
And I didn't even notice it until now! I'm both absentminded and apparently quite determined to work myself to death... A bad combination!But it really is true: The readers of Goodreads M/M Romance have nominated Alphabet Soup in the BDSM category of the 2011 Members Choice Awards. If you feel like it, you can vote for it here - and you can see a lot of other great books nominated (among other several stories by Kate Sherwood).
By the way, the M/M Romance group is wonderful - I can recommend it. Ironically, I've banned myself from going there very often; it's that good. I would never get anything written if I allowed myself to go! But if you haven't got a novel to finish, it's a wonderful group:).
December 23, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all of you! May your holiday be relaxing, may your presents be plenty, and may your food be amazing. And may you not kill any of your family, not even your in-laws who point out that you've forgotten to water the plants and that you've gained five pounds.
And if everything fails, then do like me: Escape into the world of hot fictional men.
And if everything fails, then do like me: Escape into the world of hot fictional men.
December 18, 2011
Christmas blues and what to do about it
So. I've been a bit quiet lately - in real life as well on this blog. The reason is that Christmas is getting closer and closer. And with Christmas comes drama.
My family loves drama, and they especially love to put me in the middle of it, it seems. The reasons are many, and convoluted, and for a large part, incomprehensible to me. It has something to do with the fact that I've chosen to live my life differently, including getting a university degree and insisting on using it, even though it's posh. Sigh. (And no, there's nothing as boring as reading about other people's families, is there?)
Well, here's what I do when I've got the blues, Christmassy or otherwise: I read. And I don't read just any book; i want Comfort Lit. So, if you've got your own family hassles, here are some good escape tips:
Kate Sherwood's Dark Horse stories. I've mentioned her before, but her work is still wonderful - and some of it is even free.
The Gaucho Code. I've read and enjoyed Julia Talbot's stories before, but this is really a gem. I also like her Just Like Cats and Dogs.
Baker's Dozen. I read this book a couple of years ago and really, really loved it.
And something quite different: The Administration. A free online story which absolutely isn't feel-good Comfort Lit. But hell, sometimes you want something different.
Another free story is Noel Blue's The Groupie. I'm saving the last chapter for when I've survived my Christmas ordeal:)
I hope that's helpful in fighting your own Christmas blues - or just reading some good books.
My family loves drama, and they especially love to put me in the middle of it, it seems. The reasons are many, and convoluted, and for a large part, incomprehensible to me. It has something to do with the fact that I've chosen to live my life differently, including getting a university degree and insisting on using it, even though it's posh. Sigh. (And no, there's nothing as boring as reading about other people's families, is there?)
Well, here's what I do when I've got the blues, Christmassy or otherwise: I read. And I don't read just any book; i want Comfort Lit. So, if you've got your own family hassles, here are some good escape tips:
Kate Sherwood's Dark Horse stories. I've mentioned her before, but her work is still wonderful - and some of it is even free.
The Gaucho Code. I've read and enjoyed Julia Talbot's stories before, but this is really a gem. I also like her Just Like Cats and Dogs.
Baker's Dozen. I read this book a couple of years ago and really, really loved it.
And something quite different: The Administration. A free online story which absolutely isn't feel-good Comfort Lit. But hell, sometimes you want something different.
Another free story is Noel Blue's The Groupie. I'm saving the last chapter for when I've survived my Christmas ordeal:)
I hope that's helpful in fighting your own Christmas blues - or just reading some good books.
November 30, 2011
Himiko: Warrior is doing well
As a matter of fact, it's in the top 10 on the Fictionwise website. And I'm so proud! It's always amazing - and very rewarding - when real people read the stories I've spent all those long weekends and evenings putting together. Furthermore, the Himiko books are quite different from my kinkier books; there's actually something resembling a plot in them as well as a lot of minor characters. Or rather, not that many, but I took the time to develop Aki and Robbie and Sam and Jerry until I knew their back story. It was quite a trip to get to know these guys.
I've gotten the first reviews, and they're amazing as well - you can find the links here.
I've gotten the first reviews, and they're amazing as well - you can find the links here.
November 12, 2011
Reversed roles
Oh, dear God. The mess of it *chuckles*.
As you might know, my current project is the sequel to A Russian Bear. Both our heroes are having some trouble adjusting, and I must admit to enjoying torturing them a bit. It's not going to be really angsty (I'm far too fond of them to really mess up their lives), but they're definitely having some issues.
The reason why I'm chuckling is that I just had Tom pat Mischa's cheek indulgently after Mischa's latest freak-out. Let's just say that Mischa did not take kindly to that:). I think our other hero might have a spanking coming up!
As you might know, my current project is the sequel to A Russian Bear. Both our heroes are having some trouble adjusting, and I must admit to enjoying torturing them a bit. It's not going to be really angsty (I'm far too fond of them to really mess up their lives), but they're definitely having some issues.
The reason why I'm chuckling is that I just had Tom pat Mischa's cheek indulgently after Mischa's latest freak-out. Let's just say that Mischa did not take kindly to that:). I think our other hero might have a spanking coming up!
November 6, 2011
The week from Hell...
Well. The good kind of Hell, if such a thing exists. I worked my ass off this week on my Real Life job, and it was so much fun - but dear God, it was exhausting. I actually felt hung over yesterday from sheer fatigue.
I can't really write when I'm this worn out, which is a shame, because writing gives me a lot of energy - and it's been months since I've really been able to do it. I had a day off last weekend, and I read through my sequel to A Russian Bear. It was so long time since I'd last had my hands on it that I actually caught myself thinking "oh, wonder what's Mischa's going to do now?" I'm really looking forward to having more writing time!
But, in the meantime, I used my semi-comatose time to read some really good stories. I've read a couple of books by Kate Sherwood - Dark Horse and Out of the Darkness - that I really, really loved. A warning: They will make you cry, but God, they're good. Alas, yesterday I found out that the wonderful author actually has three free stories out about the same characters! I've read two of them so far, and they're excellent.
You can read more about Kate Sherwood here.
Oh, and I almost forgot to tell that the lovely Kate plans to give us more free stories! Read more on her website.
I can't really write when I'm this worn out, which is a shame, because writing gives me a lot of energy - and it's been months since I've really been able to do it. I had a day off last weekend, and I read through my sequel to A Russian Bear. It was so long time since I'd last had my hands on it that I actually caught myself thinking "oh, wonder what's Mischa's going to do now?" I'm really looking forward to having more writing time!
But, in the meantime, I used my semi-comatose time to read some really good stories. I've read a couple of books by Kate Sherwood - Dark Horse and Out of the Darkness - that I really, really loved. A warning: They will make you cry, but God, they're good. Alas, yesterday I found out that the wonderful author actually has three free stories out about the same characters! I've read two of them so far, and they're excellent.
You can read more about Kate Sherwood here.
Oh, and I almost forgot to tell that the lovely Kate plans to give us more free stories! Read more on her website.
October 29, 2011
Himiko: Strange name, strange author
How on Earth do you create something as strange as the books about Matt and Pietr? Well, I'll try to explain. The Himiko of the title is actually a real - albeit very mysterious - object in space. I even read a headline calling it a "mysterious space blob." Yeah, sexy name, isn't it? To be a bit more scientific, it's a Lyman-Alpha blob - but this is basically all the scientists know about it. What fascinated me about this discovery is that nobody really know what the Himiko is. It might be the predecessor of today's galaxies, but it's the only one of its kind, so it's hard to tell.
Intriguing? Yes! Well, at least it was to an author with an over-imaginative brain (and all authors have one of those). I read a small note about it in the newspaper, and my brain started running wild pretty much immediately. By the way, you absolutely shouldn't blame the scientists for any of my ideas about the Himiko blob really being the aliens coming to find us; that concept is completely unfounded in science. As all good fiction is.
The other part of my inspiration is Plato's idea that we were all originally one person and then later divided into two entities - the origin of the most important concept in romance: Finding your other half. I'm very interested in the matrixes of culture, for example stories that exist in many cultures, and Plato's theory has become one of those matrixes, at least in Western culture.
Mix and dilute with an annoying alien as well as a human with an anger management problem (which, by the way, turns out to be something quite different from an anger management problem), and you have the Himiko books.
And yes, looking back on what I've just explained, I admit that author's brains might be a little strange. But hey, that's probably a requirement of the trade.
Intriguing? Yes! Well, at least it was to an author with an over-imaginative brain (and all authors have one of those). I read a small note about it in the newspaper, and my brain started running wild pretty much immediately. By the way, you absolutely shouldn't blame the scientists for any of my ideas about the Himiko blob really being the aliens coming to find us; that concept is completely unfounded in science. As all good fiction is.
The other part of my inspiration is Plato's idea that we were all originally one person and then later divided into two entities - the origin of the most important concept in romance: Finding your other half. I'm very interested in the matrixes of culture, for example stories that exist in many cultures, and Plato's theory has become one of those matrixes, at least in Western culture.
Mix and dilute with an annoying alien as well as a human with an anger management problem (which, by the way, turns out to be something quite different from an anger management problem), and you have the Himiko books.
And yes, looking back on what I've just explained, I admit that author's brains might be a little strange. But hey, that's probably a requirement of the trade.
October 27, 2011
Himiko: Warrior in top 50
Wow, my baby is doing well! Himiko: Warrior shot straight into top 50 in its category on Amazon - on its very first day there. I'm a very proud writer right now:)
I'm especially happy because the Himiko books were my very first project and the story that got me back to writing. I published A Russian Bear first, but I began writing Himiko one day on the train on my way home from work. I still remember very clearly the feeling of butterflies in my stomach before I wrote that first sentence, because this was writing. I knew that I wanted the story to be good, and it was a little scary, actually. Of course, Matt and Pietr had been living in my head for so long that I had to get rid of them somehow (I guess I shouldn't tell that to anybody in the medical profession).
Well, long story short: I hope you enjoy reading Himiko: Warrior as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I'm especially happy because the Himiko books were my very first project and the story that got me back to writing. I published A Russian Bear first, but I began writing Himiko one day on the train on my way home from work. I still remember very clearly the feeling of butterflies in my stomach before I wrote that first sentence, because this was writing. I knew that I wanted the story to be good, and it was a little scary, actually. Of course, Matt and Pietr had been living in my head for so long that I had to get rid of them somehow (I guess I shouldn't tell that to anybody in the medical profession).
Well, long story short: I hope you enjoy reading Himiko: Warrior as much as I enjoyed writing it.
October 25, 2011
Himiko: Warrior is here!
And I'm so happy. To be very, very honest, I felt a little bad when I divided the story into two parts. There's nothing I hate more than reading a story and then be unable to finish it right away (no, I see nothing wrong with instant gratification).
But I assure you, it was for the best - especially for the second part which became Himiko: Warrior. I got to write about the past of the Himika, which hopefully solves some of the mysteries of the first part. And then I got to discover the secondary characters, and that was perhaps the best part of it. Sam and Jerry have a very big place in my heart at the moment - I hope you'll share my fascination with them!
You can read more here - or you can go straight to Torquere Press to buy your own copy of the conclusion of the tale of the Himika. Yep, Plato was right; there really is a better half for all of us.
But I assure you, it was for the best - especially for the second part which became Himiko: Warrior. I got to write about the past of the Himika, which hopefully solves some of the mysteries of the first part. And then I got to discover the secondary characters, and that was perhaps the best part of it. Sam and Jerry have a very big place in my heart at the moment - I hope you'll share my fascination with them!
You can read more here - or you can go straight to Torquere Press to buy your own copy of the conclusion of the tale of the Himika. Yep, Plato was right; there really is a better half for all of us.
October 22, 2011
Himiko: Warrior available everywhere this Wednesday
Well, okay, then: everywhere you normally buy your books. In the future, Torquere will release new books on all websites at the same time. That means you'll be able to buy Himiko: Warrior at Amazon, All Romance, and Fictionwise from Wednesday - and of course you can buy it directly from Torquere, as well.
Oh, and I have a new excerpt for you! As promised:). Go here to read the official excerpt from Himiko: Warrior.
Here's a little about the book:
When the aliens arrived on Earth, it turned out that Plato was right: You really can find your other half - your soulmate. And Matt found his. Now he's got an unbreakable mental bond to his mate and some intriguing telekinetic abilities to explore. Full of excitement, Matt returns to his old life. But he's completely unprepared for the anger and rejection he encounters because of his bond with Pietr. Shunned and assaulted, Matt realizes the hard way that you can never go back. Especially not when you're bonded with the enemy.
Giving up isn't an option, though. Even though Matt's pretty sure that Pietr's the most annoying alien in history, he's also sure that his mate is more important to him than anything else. But Matt's mental strength is increasing, and Pietr can no longer hide the one secret he's been desperate to keep. Matt's world falls apart, and he's not sure if he's ever going to be able to put it back together.
But he might not have a choice. The hostility between humans and Himika is increasing, and Matt is forced to face some unwelcome truths about his own nature in order to ensure not only his own survival, but that of his fellow human beings as well.
Himiko: Warrior is the sequel to Himiko: Bonding.
Oh, and I have a new excerpt for you! As promised:). Go here to read the official excerpt from Himiko: Warrior.
Here's a little about the book:
When the aliens arrived on Earth, it turned out that Plato was right: You really can find your other half - your soulmate. And Matt found his. Now he's got an unbreakable mental bond to his mate and some intriguing telekinetic abilities to explore. Full of excitement, Matt returns to his old life. But he's completely unprepared for the anger and rejection he encounters because of his bond with Pietr. Shunned and assaulted, Matt realizes the hard way that you can never go back. Especially not when you're bonded with the enemy.
Giving up isn't an option, though. Even though Matt's pretty sure that Pietr's the most annoying alien in history, he's also sure that his mate is more important to him than anything else. But Matt's mental strength is increasing, and Pietr can no longer hide the one secret he's been desperate to keep. Matt's world falls apart, and he's not sure if he's ever going to be able to put it back together.
But he might not have a choice. The hostility between humans and Himika is increasing, and Matt is forced to face some unwelcome truths about his own nature in order to ensure not only his own survival, but that of his fellow human beings as well.
Himiko: Warrior is the sequel to Himiko: Bonding.
