Kim Fielding's Blog, page 51
October 3, 2014
Sssss
My sister-in-law took this photo yesterday. Isn’t this a lovely fellow? He lives on the farm that inspired the Bones series farm. I wonder if he knows any werewolves.
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October 2, 2014
Please welcome Suki Fleet!
My writing process… …is very disorganized–made up of scraps of paper, receipts that were at hand, notes on my phone and scribble down words. Titles often come to me long before stories do—though I suspect my subconscious is working away scribbling down on its own scraps of whatever happens to be lying around in my brain, because it always amazes me how everything comes together (when that happens it’s one of the best things about writing for me). Skeleton is the most complete story that I’ve been inspired to write. And by that I mean I didn’t really struggle with the plot or the characters. I didn’t stop in the middle thinking where do I go from here! like I normally do. I just wrote. Jan’s character was clear to me from the start—tall, Dutch, imposing, but sweet and caring beneath. He was inspired by the Dutch people we’ve met at the campsite we stay at on in the South of France Before I started writing it, I remember thinking I wanted to write a really self-contained short story that left a reader with feeling of completeness. And I hope I’ve accomplished that. I’ve packed a lot of story in there. A little mystery, a little sweetness, a little twist. It was a fun story to write. I finished this story in a month (including edits) and that is fast for me. I think I usually average 15-20K a month now, but that is something I’ve had to build up to.
Skeleton Blurb and Author Bio Blurb
Jan has given up on love, at least the romantic kind. He loves his five-year-old son Henry more than anything. But when Henry starts school, Jan is introduced to Matthew, a very sweet but shy young man who helps out in Henry’s class. Although he tries desperately to ignore his attraction, Jan finds himself falling for Matthew—he’s everything Jan needs. But amid creepy silent phone calls and possible break-ins, things start to fall slowly apart for Jan. Matthew wants to trust Jan, but the skeleton Jan has been trying to keep buried in his closet and the guilt he feels threatens to destroy everything good in his life.
Author Bio
Suki Fleet currently lives in the heart of England. Her childhood was quite unconventional and she spent some time living on a boat and travelling at sea with her family. Since she was very small she has always dreamed of writing for a living, but though she has written original fiction online for years and encouraged many new writers to keep going and follow their author dreams, it is only recently she got the courage to make her own dream a reality and actually send something off to a publisher. By day she runs her own business selling fabric (her second love) and juggling family commitments, by night she weaves the stories that the characters in her head dictate. These stories often start with pain or longing but always end with love.
Skeleton Buy Links
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September 30, 2014
October Fieldingpalooza Contests and Tour
It’s a busy time around here! October means FOUR new releases, and then a fifth release on November 1. To celebrate, a contest! Or really, multiple contests. Now, pay attention, because there’s a test at the end.
First off, we have three Rafflecopter giveaways. You can enter all three. If you comment, please specify which contest you’re commenting for. You can comment once for each if you like. 
This is one of the prizes: a tote bag filled with a T-shirt, swag, a surprise book of mine, and a bunch of bone-themed goodies. I’ll sign the bag if the winner wants me to, and I’ll ship anywhere.
Winners will be notified on November 1. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway
What are the new releases?
Brute in French on October 7
Bone Dry on October 10
“Standby” in the Stranded anthology on October 10
“The Dance” in the Bones anthology on October 27
The Festivus Miracle on November 1
And I’m doing a huge blog tour, so come visit these sites for interviews, trivia, and lots more. There’s another contest at the end!
October 1: Jamie Fessenden
October 2: Suki Fleet
October 3: Nikka Michaels
October 4: Chris T. Kat
October 6: Shae Connor
October 6: Sean Michael
October 7: Anna Butler
October 8: PD Singer
October 9: Lily Sawyer
October 10: Charlie Cochet
October 12: Helen Pattskyn
October 13: Grace Duncan
October 13: Queer Romance Month
October 14: Michael Rupured
October 15: Louise Lyons
October 15: Lane Hayes
October 17: Nic Starr
October 20: Brynn Stein
October 21: Jana Denardo
October 22: Because Two Men Are Better Than One
October 23: Andrew Q. Gordon
October 24: Alina Popescu
October 25: Tali Spencer
October 27: Anne Barwell
On November 1, I will post a quiz. The answers to the quiz questions will be in all those guest posts–so it’s sort of a scavenger hunt. You’ll have one week to find the answers. Whoever gets the most answers correct wins one of those lovely bones swag bags, complete with t-shirt and goodies, plus a complete set of the Ennek trilogy in print (signed if you like), plus a $10 Dreamspinner gift certificate and a $10 Wayward Ink Press gift certificate. If there’s a tie, I’ll randomly choose a winner. So read all those guest posts–each one is different!–and keep an eye out for the end of tour quiz.
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September 28, 2014
New release! “Standby” in Stranded anthology
They’ve been shipwrecked and abandoned.
Marooned and cast away.
And left helpless and high and dry.
But you should never underestimate the tenacity of the human heart…
Stories Included:
Craiving Stains by Alina Popescu
Trapped since birth in a sterile, hospital-like apartment, Wynn longs to break free to experience the world.
Enter Doyle.
But is Doyle real, or is he just a figment of Wynn’s imagination?
Say Cheese by Michael P. Thomas
Sitcom sensation Felix Medrano, America’s Sweetheart, throws a star-studded surprise party for his sweetheart, beanpole barkeep Grover Shepherd.
It’s a smash, save for one detail: Shep is a no-show.
Who’d have thought it would be so hard to pop the question?
Standby by Kim Fielding
Who’d have thought being stranded at the airport could possibly have some long term benefits?
Certainly not Tom.
But then he hadn’t bargained on meeting Rafael…
The Raider by Asta Idonea
The gods truly do work in mysterious ways as Thorstein found out when he was left for dead on the battle field of a foreign land.
The Buckle by Rob Colton
One ditching and one rescue later, Hayden discovers the use of a telephone isn’t the only offer that’s on the table…
Ari by Nephylim
Benji and Ari have spent their lives feeling lost and alone, stranded between genders.
Can they help each other stop unravelling?
Opposites Attract by Lily G. Blunt
Chris and Andreas are opposites in character.
Both fear the other wants to move on.
Can being stranded on a mountainside resolve the doubt that is threatening to tear them apart?
Out of Order by Eric Gober
Rob was the one who got away.
Trent stumbles upon him during a trip to San Francisco…
Right before a deadly earthquake…
Dating for Deafies by Nikka Michaels
If Evan York keeps hiding from the world behind his laptop he might miss out on something special.
Will he find the courage?
One Snowy Night by Louise Lyons
One snowy night, Keith Brambles learns that appearances can be deceptive.
The Climb by kirifox
Jessie went camping with friends expecting to have some fun and maybe drink a little beer.
Instead, he found his perfect man…
but is he real or just a dream?
Did You Leave Any for Me by Sarah Hayes
Two ex-lovers, one hotel room, and one random act of technology.
Will they fall out or fall back in love?
Sweetness and Strength by JN Olsen
Miles makes one seemingly small and inconsequential decision that turns out to be not so small and inconsequential after all.
Pre-order now!
Get your copy of Stranded by pre-ordering it on the WIP website.
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September 27, 2014
Please welcome Kay Walker!
Hi there! I’m Kay Walker, and I’m very thrilled to be here to discuss an anthology I’ve had the privilege to be a part of. Thanks so much to Kim Fielding for hosting me today!
Earlier in the year, a group of writers via Bru Baker on Twitter had a conversation about using the theme of ‘workplace’ for writing short stories. We all went our own separate ways to create a variety of unique shorts based on that theme, and then put them together as an anthology. Lucky for us Dreamspinner liked what we came up with! Below is a little bit about the anthology All in a Day’s Work, and my own story called Unmasked, including an excerpt.
All in a Day’s Work blurb:
A guy’s got to make a living. He can do it the conventional way—by selling cars, scooping ice cream, or delivering sandwiches—or he can earn his money as a spy, a historical interpreter, or the host of a myth-busting television show. Whether the men in this anthology are working hard to build their own business or performing in drag at a dance hall, every day has the potential for surprises and the chance to satisfy their lust or maybe find something more permanent. For the guys in these stories, what’s all in a day’s work might be anything but what they expected.
Ice Cream Dreams by Shae Connor My OTP by Bru Baker The Bet by Holly O. Hale Not Quite 1776 by Therese Woodson Extra Mayo by Henrietta Clarke Short Timer by Jenni Michaels Dance Hall Days by Amy Jo Cousins Unmasked by Kay Walker
Unmasked summary:
In the near future, the line between the poor and the Uppers—the cruel and greedy rich—is sharper than ever. Raven’s work as a spy is to maintain the public persona of a member of high society while teaming up with his tech handler, codename Glitch, to electronically steal from the rich and redirect resources to the poor. They’ve set their sights on avaricious Upper Jakinda Diaz, who Raven has been studying for months. After a close call on the mission, Raven returns to their safe house full of restless energy. Both Raven and Glitch need to relieve the stress of their dangerous careers in espionage and they find that with each other.
Unmasked excerpt:
“All clear, Magpie,” Glitch said through the communicator.
Raven growled with a little annoyance. “Raven. It’s Raven. We’re in the middle of a mission. Can’t you use the codename you’re supposed to?”
“Sure thing, Toucan,” Glitch said easily, and Raven rolled his eyes. “Speaking of the mission, now is not the time to complain. You’ve got work to do.”
“We’ve got work to do,” Raven stressed.
“True. That being said, digital is on loop. Funny word, isn’t it? Loop. It just means that it will only record a blank corridor, no matter who finds themself down it. Why would you call it a loop? Why not just a—constant play, or something?”
“Who’s wasting time?” Raven asked, though it came out a bit more fond than he meant. “You’re the techie, not me.” Raven let himself out of the stall. The tension and frown had melted away, the act of Marcus being unsettled and needing to excuse himself completely gone. Raven was fine. More than fine. He was about to embark on the task behind his whole reason for being at this stupid event.
“Coast is clear,” Glitch said again, so Raven left the restroom and continued down the corridor, going farther and farther away from the main lobby. “Next door to your left is the stairwell. Go up three flights.”
Raven pulled open the door with no problems; Glitch had unlocked them remotely so Raven wouldn’t have to chip-swipe in. He couldn’t leave a trail.
All in a Day’s Work anthology available from Dreamspinner Press: ebook || paperback
Kay Walker’s Bio: Kay Walker was born and raised on the Canadian Prairies. Growing up in a small, rural town, books not only helped to pass the time but also became a beloved form of entertainment. Reading opened up the world in ways Kay could only dream about. And dream she did! Kay now loves trying to create characters, plots, and entire worlds of her own in hopes to entertain others.
In addition to reading and writing, Kay likes watching movies and television shows—especially anything supernatural, sci-fi, LGBTQA, or with strong female characters. She enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and tries to be buddies with the elliptical. (They don’t always get along.)
Twitter: @KayWalkerWrites
Website: http://kaywalkerwrites.com/
E-mail: kay.walker.writes@gmail.com
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September 25, 2014
Banned Books
As you may know, we’re in the middle of National Banned Books Week. You can see the list of most-challenged books here.
In addition to being an author, I’m also a parent. My kids are 11 and almost-15, and they’re both avid readers. My younger one, who favors fantasies, has almost exhausted her school library’s supply, leading the librarian to give her lists of books to check out from the county library instead. My older daughter is currently re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird and has just discovered Love in the Time of Cholera, which she’s raving about. She also loves Stephen King. Needless to say, this makes my heart sing.
I would never try to prohibit my kids from reading a book. To be sure, I’ve gently discouraged both of them from picking up my books for a couple more years because I think–especially for the 11-year-old–some of my work is too explicit. And here’s the thing: neither of them has argued with me about this. And although my books are readily available around the house and on our Kindles, neither of the girls has tried to read them (except the Ennek series, which my older daughter has read). I think this is because kids, like adults, will naturally censor themselves. If something makes them uncomfortable, they probably won’t read it.
I also think parents can discuss difficult book topics with their kids. For instance, my older daughter and I have had some great discussions about racism and the justice system, thanks to Harper Lee.
What it comes down to in the end is that precious few children have ever been harmed by reading a book–but a whole lot of people have been harmed by not reading.
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September 24, 2014
Please welcome Taylin Clavelli
Writing M/M fiction as a female author
As a female writing all male characters, I’ve been asked the question why, several times.
On a personal note, I have been married for 24 years, and for the majority of that time I have worked in a male dominated environment. I am also a practicing martial artist, which again, is a male dominated sport. So I’m familiar with the way men speak, act and think. When it comes to writing, regardless of gender, emotions are emotions. If I get injured, I experience the same pain as a man. At the other end of the scale, when I am happy, the same elation runs through my body.
The ability to think of an adventure and transfer it to the page—well, that all depends on the artistic nature of the author, and gender doesn’t enter into the equation. On that occasion, my style would differ from another woman’s as much as it would a man’s. As far as the intimate sexual details are concerned, I’m old enough to know the euphoria accompanied with the act as well as a few other details which I won’t go into. This leaves the differences between m/m loving as opposed to f/f or m/f loving. Well, apart from the fact that I truly enjoy my research, I have some friends who are happy to be frank, open, and honest with me, plus I am thankful for my imagination!!!
So, in the end, I guess it comes down to the fact that I simply enjoy writing stories where the main characters are in an all-male relationship. I don’t get jealous about wanting to be the woman in the stories, and I can concentrate on the adventure itself. And I get double the fun ‘playing’ with two cocks instead of one.
The community of LGBT writers, too, is so supportive; it’s a privilege to know them. They also have one hell of a sense of humor, and when we get together, I split my sides laughing. In their company is a good place to be.
I only have one complaint about writing m/m, and I’m sure authors of f/f literature encounter the same. When some people, thankfully not all, discover I write m/m they automatically think it’s porn on a page. This truly irks me. I changed many of my reading habits over to m/m because I found the stories so much more interesting. Sexual interaction in an m/m adventure is there for exactly the same reason as m/f fiction – it’s there to enhance the story not make it. Yet no one bats an eye when the coupling characters are m/f. Some of my readers have been brought to tears (in a good way) at my stories, and not all of them have explicit sexual content.
Synopsis
Born in the wrong time…
In 1875 Dakota, Sheriff Jamie Carter has to hide his interest in men, even from his gutsy twin sister, Anna. On a good day, the truth can mean a bullet between the eyes, and on a bad, one in the back.
A man on a mission…
Jamie leaves Anna in charge of Blackrock and he hits the bounty hunting trail, along with his faithful equine companion, Houston. Five territories, scores of ‘Wanted’ posters, and many bullets later, his path unexpectedly converges with that of enigmatic loner, Kit Brooks.
Two men with one soul…
Will the smoldering fire between them rage into an inferno and break down protective barriers, allowing them to find love? Or will it separate and kill them?
Beneath Dakota skies…
Jamie and Kit’s story is a sweeping saga of cowboys, Indians, persistent broads, and vengeful villains, where the cowboys aren’t always the good guys, and love can’t be taken for granted.
Book trailer:
Buy the book:
WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/dakota-skies/
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NHPMJ7C/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NHPMJ7C/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dakota-skies-taylin-clavelli/1120358729?ean=9781925222036
About the author:
Taylin Clavelli lives in the United Kingdom, about 15 miles south of Birmingham, and a short journey from the world famous Cadbury’s Chocolate factory. She’s married with children and loves her family with all her heart.
Her love of books has been a long standing affair, with Taylin liking nothing better than to lose herself in an imaginary world.
Until she met Lily Velden, she never considered trying her hand at writing. However, after talking ideas, Lily encouraged her to put pen to paper—or rather, fingers to keyboard. Since, with a few virtual kicks in the right place, she hasn’t stopped. Her confidence eventually led to her writing an original work for submission.
Her first published work was Boys, Toys, and Carpet Fitters, developed for the Dreamspinner Press Anthology – Don’t Try This At Home.
Now she absolutely adores immersing herself into the characters she creates, and transferring the pictures in her brain to paper, finding it liberating, therapeutic, and wonderful.
Outside of writing, her interests include; martial arts (she’s a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwon-do), horse-riding, all of which facilitates her love of a wide variety of movies. Her action heroes include Jet Li and Tony Jaa—finding the dedication these men have for their art combined with their skill both amazing and a privilege to watch. If pressed, she’ll admit to thinking that the screen entrance of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean – Curse of the Black Pearl, and Shadowfax in LOTR, to be the greatest screen entrances ever. Her all-time favorite movies are Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.
The simple things in life that make her day, putting a smile on her face are:
Laughter – especially that of her children.
The smell of lasagna cooking – it makes her mouth salivate.
The dawn chorus – no symphony ever written can beat the waking greetings of the birds.
Social links:
Website: http://www.taylinclavelli.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005234535413
Twitter: https://twitter.com/taylinclavelli
Giveaway:
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September 22, 2014
It’s called karma
I flew to Seattle this weekend for GRNW. The conference was fantastic. Got to hang out with some great people and had a lot of fun. I’m pretty sure that if she wanted to, Tracy Timmons-Gray could take over the world. I gave away a lot of unicorn ducks.
But first I had to get to Seattle, which meant driving to Sacramento and getting on a plane. it’s a short flight–only about 90 minutes. Perfect for reading the newest installment in Amy Lane’s serial novel, Beneath the Stain. But then these two ladies sat next to me and proceeded to chat nonstop with each other, very loudly, about Jesus. Then we landed and had to spend 30 minutes or so waiting for our gate to clear, at which point the ladies’ loud conversation turned to ex-husbands and their gardens, and how their pansies miss them but they don’t get along with their oleander. They did voices for the flowers. I wanted to open the emergency exit and boot them out, or at least read aloud from a particularly juicy part of Amy’s book. But I am a grown-up. So instead I complained about them on Facebook.
And then I got to Seattle and had a lovely time. Most of the conference was in the main branch of the public library, which is a really cool building. I had a view of it from my hotel too.
And it’s a nice hotel. You can borrow a goldfish to keep you company (I didn’t, but it’s nice to know there’s an option). But I am so annoyed when hotels pile on decorative throw pillows, which are unhygienic and will only require removal, and I will probably trip on them if I get up in the middle of the night.
But I recovered from my slight pillow-related trauma, in part because the lovely Andrea Speed discovered that the café across the street has margarita gelato. With tequila in it.
And the weather was gorgeous and I met all sorts of fun people, and I generally had a great time. On Sunday I even got to sleep in and then have a nice walk around downtown.
So then I headed back to the airport–congratulating myself for avoiding the people on their way to the Seahawks-Broncos game–and I checked in, and I had some lunch and walked some more, because I really do try to get 10,000 steps each day.
And it was time to get on the plane so I lined up. I was spacing out when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned and who did I see? The Jesus ladies. “Hey!” said one of them. “We shared a plane on the way here!”
Yes. Yes, we did.
Not only that, but they ended up sitting one row in front of me, where they talked Bible stories the entire way. Nonstop and loudly, although at least I couldn’t hear them as well this time. And I’m sure this wasn’t coincidence. It was my karma for complaining.
As we deplaned, I noticed that the lady who’d sat next to them on this trip was glaring at them. I wonder if she complained on Facebook. I wonder how karma will bite her on the ass if she did.
On the good side, the gate agent in Seattle for Virgin America looks like Robert Pattinson and, although he was in Washington state, he did not sparkle. At least, I don’t think so.
(PS–When I got home, I had news that Brute releases in French on October 7. Merveilleux! That means I have 5 releases within less than 30 days. It’s a Fieldingpalooza!)
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September 18, 2014
How to Get Boned
Tsk tsk. Get your mind out of the gutter!
As it turns out, October is a very bony month. On October 10, the 3rd book in my Bones series, Bone Dry, releases. Not only can you preorder it now, but you can preorder the paperback at 35% off through September 21. And if you’re going to GRL, you can use the code GRL2014, and DSP will ship the book to GRL for you for free, and I can sign it for you there.
But also! On October 27, the second book in the Gothika series will release. It contains voodoo-themed novellas by me, Eli Easton, Jamie Fessenden, and B.G. Thomas. It’s called Bones.
So you see? A bony month.
To celebrate, I’ve had a few tote bags printed up with those terrific covers. I’ve filled the bags with a matching T-shirt plus lots of bones-themed swag and surprises. I’ll be giving a couple of these bags away during contests in October, as part of a big blog tour.
I’ll be bringing a couple of these bags to GRNW this weekend. They’ll go to the first people who request them.
And I’ll be bringing a few to GRL in October. The question is, how should I decide who gets them. A contest beforehand on my blog or FB or Twitter? First come, first served? Give ‘em to the first people who bring me Bone Dry to sign? I can’t decide!!
Please help me by leaving a comment below, telling me how I should distribute the bags at GRL.
(I’ll have lots of other swag too, including unicorn rubber ducks, bone candy, and free stories.)
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September 15, 2014
Souvenirs
If you’ve read my blog entries before, you’ve undoubtedly surmised that I love to travel. When I do, I pick up souvenirs. I have a few special themes, such as my collection of children’s books in other languages, and I have a tendency to buy earrings.
But one of my favorite things to snag is a small piece of artwork depicting the place. Here are a few of my favorites:
From left to right, these come from Mostar (which inspired The Pillar), Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Paris. The one from Mostar is handmade in copper.
The items in the grouping on the left come from St. Martin (hey! I have a story out in December called “Saint Martin’s Day”!), Warsaw, and San Francisco, and the one on the right is from Prague.
These come from two separate trips to London. The first one shows the city in 1572; the other is a modern-day panorama of the Thames.
This is a collection of photos of pointy things from my first trip to Europe. They’re from Germany and London.
While photos and inexpensive art make great souvenirs–easy to schlep!–postcards are great too. This is one of my office walls.
I occasionally go for pieces that aren’t quite as flat and easy to carry. The raven’s from the Grand Canyon and the dish is, of course, from Murano.
And sometimes souvenirs come of neccesity. I have a pair of pajamas I bought in Barcelona after Air France lost my suitcase for a day and a half. I have a couple of sweatshirts from underdressed visits to the mountains and the coast. And I have this watch, which I bought in Trieste, Italy.
It’s not an Italian watch–it’s actually a Swatch. But I’d been living in Croatia for 4 months at that point, my Timex battery had gone dead, and I’d given up on finding someone in Zagreb who could replace it. When we took a day trip to Trieste–my grandfather’s birthplace–I bought a new watch. I wear it daily, and it always reminds me sweetly of that day.
My daughter collects snowglobes. She has dozens and dozens of them. What are some of your favorite souvenirs?
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