S.L. Armstrong's Blog, page 20

Five M/M Genre Peeves

There are things in the gay romance/M-M romance genre that I cannot stand. Really. Things that turn me off to a story just from reading the blurb. I thought long and hard about it and decided to share the top five things that turn me off, both as a reader and an editor. Not saying they're bad, but I am saying they put me off of stories more often than not. I doubt everyone will have the same sort of list, so keep in mind these are just my opinions, nothing more.

Gay For You

This one annoys me. It makes the assumption that bisexuality doesn't exist, and that sexuality is a switch. One flick, you're straight, another flick, you're gay. No gray area, no middle ground, no room for anything but gay or straight. It rubs me really wrong as a bisexual woman married to a bisexual man.

Just because someone has, up to the point of the story, only been straight does not mean that ONE relationship with a person of the same sex makes them gay! It means they're bisexual, even if it's just for one guy. There's nothing wrong with being bisexual. I'm so tired of the bisexual shaming, and I get it from all corners of the spectrum. I sat in on a GLBT panel at Necronomicon one year, and the gay man hosting it made it clear bisexuals didn't exist, they were just greedy, confused people.

No. 'Gay For You' is insulting to me as a trope title, and it demeans and/or erases bisexuality completely. I don't like it. I don't want to read it. I don't want to enter discussions about it. If I write a character who has, up to the point of my story, been with opposite sex individuals, and falls in love with someone of the same sex, then that character is bisexual and I won't label it anything but.

Women

I don't mind the annoying female friend. All people have them. I can tolerate those characters far more than I can the villainous women. Women who are simply out to ruin the gay man's life in some way. What's with the women hating? It happens a lot. Women are erased or painted in awful lights. I've been told it's some sort of internal misogyny, but I dunno. I don't hate myself or women. I love women, and yet, I find myself not having many of them in my M/M fiction.

I also wind up always questioning my villains. If they're female, I wonder if someone is going to call me on it, and if I make them male, I wonder if someone's going to complain about no women. In the end, it almost feels like I can't win. I write women how I write them because those characters happen to be like that. Sometimes they're the annoying best friend, sometimes they're the ruthless bitch, sometimes they're the mother figure.

But, in general? Yeah, I don't like how women are used in M/M fiction. Usually, they're a throwaway character or a bad guy, if they're there at all, and that just needs to stop. The world has men and women, and M/M should showcase that, too.

Boys Do Cry

OMG, I am so tired of people bitching about men crying. Hello? Can we stop that? I grew up in a household where, when my brother cried, my father called him a baby. It was insulting and cruel and I don't like hearing the same sort of mentality being translated into M/M criticism. Men don't cry. Really? Or is it just that, like my brother and husband, men are shamed and conditioned about crying, and so many just swallow it back so they can 'act like a man'?

I don't like it in life, and I sure as hell don't like it in fiction. Men should cry. And men who do cry should not be called babies, women, or 'too feminine'. They're human, and when something emotional or physical hurts or is too much to deal with, sometimes, crying is the only reaction. Stop telling me, through literature, that we're still stuck in the ridiculously stupid mindset that men cannot—and should not—cry. My men cry, and when I have a son, you can bet your ass I will encourage him to express his emotions however is best for him.

Real men cry. Deal with it.

Leathermen, Twinkies, and Bears, Oh My

Yes, these are subcultures in the gay community that exist, but they are NOT the only ones. There are so many subcultures, one's brain could fizzle out while trying to research them. If you're going to stick a character into a gay subculture, make sure it's the right fit and that you're representing it to the best of your ability. Don't just fall to the same old stereotypes. Not all gay men are going to fall into the neat categories of leather daddy, twink, or bear, so don't force them to be.

A Same-Sex Relationship Doesn't Mean the Sex Is Always the Same

Dear lord, does every gay man take it up the ass and every gay woman enjoy a nice fisting? No! Of course not! It drives me crazy to see characters having sex the same way over and over, from different book to different author. It's like everyone was given the same Users Guide manual, and they've all been writing from that. Spice it up! Variety! From vanilla sex in bed to BDSM, stop doing the same thing over and over and over again! Just… stop it!

So, in short, those are my peeves. I'm guilty of them myself at times, but I'm trying to get better.

Creative Freedom

Non-con fiction wasn't my thing. Let's get that out right now. In my fanfiction roots, I was one of those who staunching said that non-con and dub-con were—flat-out—rape. Now, I still believe this in a real world setting. There is no such thing as dubious consent in the real world. Someone doesn't say, 'Yes, fuck me', and someone fucks them, then that's rape. Plain and simple.

However, I have learned that there are differences in the fictional world. I've learned not to be ashamed of my rape fantasies. I've learned that I am one among many, and I don't feel like I need to explain myself or my fantasies anymore.

I hadn't really done anything non-con or dub-con until I sat down last December and wrote Unwilling Compromise, starring a vampire named Seth and a werewolf named Talon. I fully intend to revisit their relationship and situation in a full length novel, but it was my first official foray in non-con fiction. I quickly followed that up with another short, Angel Lost, that dealt with non-con as well. I think I may revisit Jophiel and Llirr in the future.

Through those two stories, I realized I really liked non-con/dub-con. Even better, I liked setting up that forceful beginning between two characters, and then finding a way for them to still fall in love and be together. It's the fantasy, after all, and I'm really digging this fantasy.

Not that I plan many of these sorts of stories. I want to explore them, yes, but they aren't my biggest kink. Right now, I'm just trying a little bit of everything. I love not having to box myself in, that I can choose anything I want at any time I want. Right now, it's single gay teen fathers and cross-dressing bisexuals, but tomorrow? Who knows. And I love that. I love the freedom and the chances and the creative fun I have as a writer.

Never giving this up.

And I'm definitely giving non-con a good try in a longer piece very soon.

Romanticizing Monsters

I was watching a discussion not too long ago about what people are tired of in the books they read. One person said she was tired of vampires and elves not being the monsters they were originally made out to be in literature and myths. I've seen similar complaints, where readers thought such creatures should solely be represented as the monsters they were originally conceived as.

And this bothers me. It bothers me whenever I see readers saying certain archetypes or creatures should only be used in one way. Only one? Really? Authors should box themselves into only how an old myth—used to explain any number of naturally occurring events—was originally told? In my opinion, limiting an author's bag of tricks is never a good thing. Yes, writing a vampire as an evil, undead creature that's only thought is to drink blood is all fine and well, but the romance genre (which is what the conversation was discussing) doesn't really lend itself to those sorts of irredeemable characters unless they're the bad guy.

Yes, elves and vampires and werewolves and witches all have dark, negative pasts, all meant to keep young children and impressionable women in line. But, in this modern age, they can be transformed into good, sexy, alluring creatures that can be heroes or heroines, seductive and honorable all at once. A hint of the evil, a touch of the dark, but ultimately, the characters have a heart of gold that draws their love interest to them. There is nothing wrong with this, and to say that such paranormal characters should only be evil monsters is just… grr-inducing to me.

You remove all those characters, box them in the Evil Guys corner and don't touch them unless they're a villain, and then what's left? What fantastical main characters can you use other than a historical or contemporary human being pitted against the forces of evil? Oh, those stories are fine and dandy to me, and when I'm in the mood to read one, I do, but I also love paranormal main characters, characters that have nothing to do with me or my world or anything I know in reality. It's deep immersion in worlds and peoples that just can't exist here and now, and they're given a romanticized edge to fit the necessary genre restrictions.

Are the roots of these characters evil and cruel and dark and inhuman? Yes, no doubt about it. But it's the job of the writer to take what is known and turn it into something new. A new story, a new angle, a new approach. Zombies, devils, demons, centaurs, everything is up for grabs, ready to meet the challenge of being turned into a romantic lead that a reader can root for, sympathize and fall in love with. If it isn't your thing, you don't have to read it, but saying these sorts of characters should never be used for anything but their original mythological purpose is disheartening and limiting.

I hope I'm not the only author/reader who thinks these things! I love having a wealth of material to pull from, to weave into my stories and the worlds I create. I may not be for everyone, or read everything that comes out, but I do love having lots of choice, and I am very against limiting anything that might add another layer to my writing and reading experiences.

It's My Birthday!

It's my birthday!

At 10:07am on March 11, 1980, I was born at Charleston Memorial Hospital. I can't believe it's my 32nd birthday. It seems only last year I was turning 21! Then again, I couldn't believe my little brother turned 30 this year. XD Time, oh, how it flies.

To celebrate, I'm offering my debut title, The Keeper, for 25% off at Storm Moon Press and Smashwords. At Storm Moon Press, you can just buy it at the discounted price, but at Smashwords, you'll need to use the coupon code: YN78H. The special will run for two weeks, ending midnight on March 25th. So, you can get an awesome little tale of angst with a hint of vampirism for $2.24 instead of $2.99! Woot! Happy birthday to me!

Reviews: Don't Get Personal

I want to touch on reviews just once more, and then I think I'll have said everything I can say on the topic.

Oftentimes, authors are told reviews aren't personal. They're comments about a product. And while I am 100% behind this thought process, I also say that yes, reviews can be personal. I try to always look at a review objectively. A personal review is usually pretty easy to spot. They tend to say something about the author personally. I had one such review recently, and I immediately wanted to say something to that reader.

What did they say?

They made an assumption about my own sexual orientation based on the story I wrote. I had to be straight to write two lesbians having sex with a male for procreative and political purposes. Excuse me? No, that's a personal comment that had no place in any review. Comments about an author's sexuality, their personal life, their political beliefs, ANYTHING that isn't in that book makes a review personal. A reader makes such an assumption, I am going to take it personally.

And I should. This person doesn't know me from Jack. My bio says I'm married, but that doesn't make me straight. And, even if it did, it doesn't devalue my story about a lesbian couple who are put between a rock and a hard place. It's insulting, and I have every right to be insulted. It's not cool. It's offensive, and I've the right to be offended by it. It's a bad review regardless of anything they had to say about the story itself because the preface the review with a comment on my ability to write lesbians due to my perceived sexuality.

Readers/reviewers? Please, don't do that. I'm happy to get a negative review that talks about the voice, the characterization, the plot, the cover, the editing, the pacing… but not one that includes reference to my own sexuality that has nothing to do with the story itself. My religion, political views, personal life? Those are hands-off topics in a book review. Don't make the reviews personal if you don't want me to take the reviews personally.

Writing Sex Scenes

This was originally posted over on Zach Sweets' blog, but I wanted to post it here, too, for those who didn't see it on his blog.

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Today, I'm going to talk about writing sex scenes. Well, I'm going to try. Everything that needs to be said would take me several days to cover, so we're just going to hit on some highlights. I'm going to try very hard not to ramble, but, hey, rambling isn't necessarily bad!

Let's get started.

How to Write

Know your characters.

One thing that can completely turn me off to a story is when I've learned about these two characters, and then they have sex and it might as well be two strangers. It's like watching an action movie and being able to tell when they switch to the stuntman. The suspension of disbelief just crumbles. So make sure that your characters have sex in a manner consistent with their personalities, or provide an explanation for why they don't. There is nothing wrong with the meek, middle-management company man having a proclivity for rough, dominant sex, but make sure that the disparity is addressed. (See 'advancing the plot' below.)

Choose your language.

The words you choose will help to set the mood for your scene, so that's a decision you need to make early. Is this meant to be a sweet, loving scene, or a dirty, sweaty romp? Choosing that will influence the way you write the scene. "Stroking his shaft" evokes a very different image than "jerking his cock", and it's important to realize that. Nothing ruins the emotional impact of a sex scene more than inappropriately chosen words thrown into the middle. Be conscious of the feelings you want to convey to your readers and make sure your language reflects that at every step.

Keep the purple prose to a minimum.

Even in a sweet, emotional scene, there is a limit to the amount of flowery language that a reader will tolerate. Be wary of the number of euphemisms that you employ. Length, rod, manhood, rosebud, love-button, purple-headed warrior, or anything with the word "nether" – these are all things to be aware of. If you're uncomfortable calling the bits involved by appropriate names, then focus on writing the emotions more than the actions. Don't just resort to goofy words, because it won't come across the way you think it should.

Don't storyboard your scene.

This is something I, as a plotter, can be guilty of. If you plan out point-by-point how your sex scene is supposed to go, it's my experience that the scene winds up rigid, stiff, and not in a good way. There needs to be a natural flow, a progression that is fluid and flawless. Emotion has to fill those love scenes as much as any physical act. Lust, love, hunger, need, desperation, repulsion – what's behind the act? What drives the characters together? What ignites that spark? You can't really plan that out. That has to come from your characters, has to flow naturally, and there needs to be a flexibility when you write sex/love scenes.

Everything you write should be to advance the plot, including the sex.

I can't stress this enough: everything you write must serve a purpose. No word should be useless, not act superfluous. Sex can be used to show a deepening of emotion, a removal of emotion, jealousy, hurt, fury, anguish. It can show how a character who has, thus far, been careful and stoic reveals the true sadist inside him. Sex is when a character can be his most vulnerable or his most vicious, and a sex scene should be both titillating and purposeful. Always advance your plot, even if your character is on his back… or bent over a fence post… or chained to a St. Andrew's Cross.

Don't stress out!

Keep it mellow. If it gets to be too much, set the scene aside. Move on to the next scene, or try writing something completely unrelated. If you put too much pressure on yourself to get the scene just right, you risk stifling it. Sometimes, the harder you try, the less return you manage. Chill out, have a cocktail, and then come back to your boys and see if they're a little more talkative. If not, my advice would be to seek out a willing author or reader in your genre and bounce ideas off them. A sounding board can sometimes be the best tool an author has. The key? Relax.

What to Write

Not everyone has sex the same way.

This should be a no brainer, but I guess it needs to be said. Every couple has sex in a different way. Some like missionary, others like cowboy. Some like it doggie, others like to be slammed against a wall and thoroughly reamed. *ahem* Point is, everyone is different, and it's high time authors began writing it as such. Blowjob, anal, handjob, between the thighs, rubbed along the ass crease, thrust between the feet, dry humping, 69, fisting, frottage, rimming, mutual masturbation… the list goes on and on. There are so many possibilities, and it would be wonderful to see the gay men we write about experience varied and personal sex lives.

Couples don't have sex the same way every time.

By that token, couples simply don't have the same sort of sex every time they choose to fuck. Let's get real. Sex is a messy, dirty, wonderful, crampy sort of activity. Legs go numb, hips ache, a back spasms, and angles get all screwed up. Some couples have favorite positions, but a lot of couples? They shift positions during sex. I rarely see this. I'd love to see a twelve page sex scene where the couple goes at it from the front door to the bedroom, working their way through half a dozen positions along the way.

Everyone's different, and every couple is different. No couple, day in and day out, have the same sex. This also brings me to one of my biggest pet peeves: 'preparation'. If you're doing fingering a foreplay, great. I think the erotic romance world could use with more foreplay. What I get so incredibly annoyed with is the one finger, two finger, three finger, BAM! routine. It's still going on, and I'd love to see the unsexiness that is ass prep go the way of the dodo. Anal sex, unless you do it often, usually hurts for the first couple of thrusts unless you've spent twenty minutes warming that ass up. By all means, do that, but if you don't plan to, just lube up that cock and thrust it home. Give a little wriggling, some heavy breathing, some discomfort, and then get on with the show.

Not all gay men enjoy anal sex.

This is another pet peeve of mine. Guess what? Just like not all women like a dick up their ass? Not all men like it, either. In fact, a good number of the gay men in my life don't engage in anal sex. Ever. Now, personally, I think that's a travesty as I am a big fan of anal penetration of all kinds, but, to each their own. Which means anal sex shouldn't the pinnacle of gay sex, even in fiction.

Not every gay man swallows come.

This… this, oh, man, this is something that's been grating on me for a while. In my opinion? Come is disgusting. I don't like it. I don't like it in my mouth or on my skin. There is this mental block for me. Pre-come is even worse for me orally. It's the texture, I swear. I also know I'm not the only woman who isn't fond of the warm, slippery stuff. Do you know what I also know? Not all gay men swallow the load shot in their mouths, either! OMG, right? The desire to suck down that sperm milkshake isn't linked XX chromosome. Just because one likes fucking men doesn't mean one likes a shot in the mouth. Or on the face.

Spitting, swallowing, looking the other way… it's all good. Variety is the spice of life, and like with everything else here, USE IT.

If you use a condom, make it sexy.

When it comes to anal sex, spermicidal lubricant isn't necessary. This means you can use unlubricated condoms since, you know, there better be lube happening. Which means condom use can be sexy. It can be easy. It means guys can roll that condom down with their lips. It means you can give a brief handjob before the beefcake slides it home. Calling back to the previous point about swallowing, using a scented condom removes the whole spit or swallow dilemma! If using for anal sex, make sure your guy pulls out before he softens, else the whole point of using a condom can be lost. And don't tie the stupid thing into a knot and toss it in a waste can. I don't know of a single person—straight or gay—who actually does that.

Clean up can be sexy.

Here's the thing. Sex is messy. Sweaty. There are fluids. There's bowel upset. There could even be a little nausea or blood. Make the clean up part of the sex. Tenderness. Love. I tell you, when a guy or gal I'm with takes the time to actually clean me up post-boinkin', I feel like the center of their world. My comfort matters to them, and that's what you can put into that post-coital moment when things are squishy and mouths are dry. You don't have to call explicit attention to wiping away come, but it always warms my heart when I see an author have their characters clean each other up. It shows a level of care and intimacy I love in sex.

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Wow! That was… wow. I hope that helps someone, or at least made a couple of readers laugh. These are things I keep in mind. Things that stick out to me when I read books in this genre. Ask questions. Read posts. Engage in discussions. The worst thing an author can do is remain ignorant, not seeking answers when there are so many sources to draw on. Just… make sure you ask them in the right forum. Don't butt into a gay friend's personal space and ask him if he spits or swallows or if his guy takes it up the ass.

Also? The prostate is not a magic joy buzzer. Some men love it. Some men hate it. Some men, it does nothing for them. Kind of like Goldilocks and those beds, right? Right.

My Top Ten Books

Mmm… my favorite books. This is a difficult topic to do because I wanted to narrow it down to ten of my favorite books. Of all time. And I've been reading a very, very long time. My mum always encouraged me to read, and so my obsession with books began very early. I remember getting books as early as five-years-old, though I didn't get the great fiction books until I was seven-years-old. Then, nothing could stop me.

But some books have left a serious mark on me, and I'd like to take a moment to share them with you. These are in no particular order, just how I thought of them. Some are out of print, but they still hold a special place in my memory.

The Doll Hospital – This is one of the first books I remember reading. I had a lot of these Scholastic books. They were inexpensive and perfect for my age. I think I was in first grade when I got the book. It was a great book about a young girl who was ill and couldn't go outside much and had an overprotective mother. It was my first introduction to seriously ill children, and the storytelling was beautiful.

Shira: A Legacy of Courage – This is one of my first non-fiction books, and I can tell you vividly how old I was when I read it. I was in the fourth grade. It was a bright yellow hardback. I was reading inside instead of going to the playground for recess, and as I read the epilogue about this young girl and her death, I sobbed. It was so heartbreaking, but such a positive book, and I've never forgotten it or the young girl I read about who was my age (at the time) when she died at home surrounded by the people who loved her.

The Three Musketeers – Thirteen. I read this when I was thirteen, shortly after watching the Disney retelling of the story. I was shocked how different it was! But, the story captivated me. I loved it! I often tell people this was the first book that truly had me immersed in its world as, in the middle of reading it, I set it aside to get something from the kitchen and, when I came back into my bedroom, I went to flip on the TV to finish watching whatever I'd been watching. But, it wasn't a movie, it was a book, and I still grin to myself at how much I loved reading it.

The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes – This comic book series led me to the world of fanfiction. My quasi-girlfriend in the eighth grade gave it to me to read on the first day of summer school. I devoured it—and all her other volumes—and then the two of us began writing fanfiction based on Death and the Corinthian having a relationship (gods, we had so much fun!). The storyline is so vast, so compelling, I recommend The Sandman to just about everyone I meet.

The Shining – Not my first Stephen King book, and I actually read it in my mid-twenties, but it's the creepiest of them. The Overlook Hotel was haunting, and the personal tragedies displayed between the three protagonists throughout the story have stuck with me. This is, in my opinion, King's best book, and I reread it frequently… and it still creeps me the fuck out.

Last Herald Mage Trilogy – Fifteen when I read this trilogy, given to me by my best friend, Jimmy, who was gay and wonderful and one of the most precious people in my life. The story of Vanyel is one I often revisit. It's made me a huge fan of gay fantasy novels, and I keep hoping I'll find an erotic trilogy of this caliber that doesn't do the fade-to-black that Lackey did with this one. It's a great trilogy, and any fan of gay fiction and fantasy fiction shouldn't miss it. (This was also the first set of books I ever gifted K. Piet with. )

The Silmarillion – While I do love Lord of the Rings, it's The Silmarillion that really caught my imagination. The language, the people, the stories… gods, they are fantastic. Tolkien is where I truly cut my fanfiction teeth, what has helped shape my own fantastical world of Egaea, and I think a lot of what I read in Tolkien's work has heavily shaped my own storytelling style.

The Vampire Diaries – My mum bought me the first two of these books when I was fourteen. I loved Smith's works after that and bought many of her books. But, this series always brought me back. I reread it once a year. Of course, my adult brain gets angry with the 'Why couldn't she just have them both, hmm?' thoughts. I do adore a good love triangle, I just hate when one in that triangle is finally kicked to the curb. Poor Damon.

Flowers in the Attic – I saw the movie before I read the book, but I was in seventh grade when my girlfriend at the time handed me the book to read. I was… shocked. Shocked. Loved it. Loved the barely contained erotic incest themes, loved how I hated Cathy as a character, and I loved the darkness of the storyline. I've read several V.C. Andrews books, but none hold a candle to the tragic tale of the The Dollanganger Series (though My Sweet Audrina comes in at a close second with a hell of a mindfuck storyline).

Sleeping Beauty Trilogy – Seventeen-years-old, I bought this series from my used bookstore. Holy hell. My official introduction into erotic romance, and boy, was it an introduction! It's pure BDSM fantasy, and I haven't read it in a number of years, but it left an impression. Oh, did it leave an impression. XD

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You'll notice there aren't any titles from the M/M-gay romance genre. This is because I haven't read anything in the genre in the last year. I don't want to compile a list of my top picks there because I've not read nearly enough. I can't wait to have the TIME to read the 200+ books on my TBR pile. I weep that I don't have the time I used to for reading, though, I suppose, I need to just make time. Maybe, in a few months, I'll have a list like this for my genre. I can only hope!

"Mae" Teaser for Friday Fiction!

K. Piet and I are almost 25,000 words into a new novel entitled Mae. Originally, that wasn't to be its title, but as we've sat on it for the last couple of weeks, it just fits. We're not going to argue with that. It's a novel about a seventeen-year-old single father doing everything he can for his infant daughter. When he isn't even looking, the guy of his dreams walks into his life, but it isn't all roses. In the end, Zach and Wil have to decide what's most important to each of them and if they can walk the path of life together, or if they must part ways to achieve their life goals. It's a really sweet piece that we're head-over-heels for at the moment.

And, today, I'm going to share a small piece of it with you! I hope you guys like it!

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"I know you're not going to invite me in yet, but how do you feel about a kiss?" Wil murmured.

Zach's pulse skyrocketed. Had Wil read his thoughts somehow? He did his best not to jump forward, not to make demands or make a fool of himself. He managed to lift his hand without it shaking, and his fingers combed through Wil's blond hair. It was slightly damp with sweat, but he didn't care. He gently pulled Wil forward, and the heat of the Florida evening seemed to double as craned his neck and whispered against Wil's lips, "A kiss would be nice."

It was such a lame invitation to his own ears, but he saw the pleased glint in Wil's eyes and felt Wil's lips curve up into a smile as they pressed against his. They were just as soft as Zach remembered, the press of them just as sweet as the first time. Wil's lips caressed against his, and each movement just sent another thread of pleasure tingling down his spine. He could feel the thud of his heartbeat along every inch of his skin, and when Wil's lips parted and he felt that first slick hint of tongue, he gasped, pulling back for a moment.

"I'm sorry," Wil said quickly, though he stayed close instead of shying away. "Moving too fast?"

Zach shook his head, though the movement was small. He cheeks flushed with the heat of embarrassment, but he smiled as he said, "No. Let's just try that last part again." When he pulled Wil's lips back to his, there was no resistance, just one of those soft, deep chuckles that traveled directly to Zach's groin. The second kiss was a little more confident on his part, and when he felt that tiny swipe of Wil's tongue again, he opened up, tilting his head a little more.

It was an invitation Wil seemed eager to take. Wil's tongue slid past his teeth and teased along his in a way that made his toes curl in his shoes. Zach couldn't stop a soft moan from escaping him, and as his head spun with the pleasure of the kiss, he had the vague sense of moving, shifting. He was so caught up that it felt like he was floating, but then Wil's hand was at the junction of his neck and shoulder, the other cupping his hip, and he felt his shoulderblades press to the metal of his apartment door.

Being pinned even that small bit as Wil kissed him made him harden instantly in his jeans, and he put one hand back against the door to catch himself as his knees nearly gave out. What was Wil doing to him? It was like he was drowning in the heat of the night and the smooth taste of chocolate fondue that lingered on Wil's lips and tongue. He might have done anything Wil wanted in that moment, but that was the instant Wil chose to gently pull back, leaving him panting and dazed and half certain he was going to faint.

The Monster TBR Pile

Oh, the pains of my to be read pile. I've not had much time for reading simply to read, and so the books have just piled up. I mean, hundreds of books clamor for my attention. I keep telling myself I'll put aside an hour each night to read for a little while, but something else always seems so much more important. Writing, editing, publishing, graphics, even watching the husband-thing playing Dragon Age II trumps reading.

I'm not sure what's with the ennui. I love the books and stories I read for acquisitions with Storm Moon Press, so it's not like I'm not reading. I just don't read any of the books I buy from other publishers, and it's kind of a sad state of affairs. Every time I think I get ahead, to the point where I can sit and read, something else crops up. No reading for S.L., oh, no. Professional or personal, issues pop up and I just can't say no. I'm very bad at taking 'me' time.

Let's see… what's on the list? How about we take fifteen titles I'm really looking forward to reading (in no particular order):

The Ever Knight by Georgia Fox

Surviving the Change by Cari Z

Inheritance by Lissa Kasey

Cast Offs by Angelia Fiddler

Amor Prohibido by Ellis Carrington

Damian and the Doctor by Gale Stanley

A Thread of Deepest Black by Finn Marlowe

Blood Relations by J.P. Bowie

The Strongest Shape by Tessa Cardenas

Infected: Prey by Andrea Speed

Muse by Clare London

Bound by Deception by Ava March

Nowhere Ranch by Heidi Cullinan

Faking Perfection by Mia Watts

Change of Heart by Mary Calmes

Eventually, I hope to begin working my way through these books. Some have been on my TBR pile for years. Just rotting on my hard drive. Boo. I need 36 hours in a day, not 24! But, yes, so there's what I hope to read this year. Even if it's just these fifteen titles, plus what I read for acquiring, I'll consider it a win.

Sequels and Series: Have A Point!

OMG, the number of sequels! Just about every book I see now has a sequel. And usually? The sequel (or sequels, sometimes) are terrible. They don't actually add anything to the original work. There's a reason why most people believe sequels suck: they tend to.

The Keeper will eventually have a sequel, mainly because Hadi and Judas only received a happily for now ending. There's also worldbuilding I'd like to explore as well as a new facet/depth of Judas when he has to face so many changes in his life after Hadi enters it.

But I think that's the only book that we have a sequel planned for. Nothing else needs a sequel. What would I say in a sequel to Catalyst that could even begin to touch the depth that the first book did? Nothing. Kasper and Logan get married, have BDSM in their lives, get a dog, a cat, and Kasper goes back to school. There's nothing more to tell of their story. Nothing more for Aric and Nikola from Rachmaninoff. They ride off into eternity, living and fucking and feeding. Could I write books about them? Oh, of course. I love the characters I write and could spend endless pages telling their little, mundane stories. But are they fit to sell? To offer up to the public? No. Not at all.

If the book doesn't further the story, there's no reason for a sequel. Authors need to step away from their characters a little. Let their story be told, and then let them go.

Now, a series is very different, and I don't count those. Series always intended more than one book, and thus, should be able to support the mini-arcs as well as the overreaching plot arc. The books in a series following the initial book aren't so much sequels as a continuation of a larger plot (or they should be). K. Piet and I have a number of trilogies and series planned, and all have small plots that resolve within the book with a larger plot that resolves itself between the first and last books.

I'm all for series and sequels, so long as they say something. Endless character drama with mediocre sex scenes do NOT compelling reading make. Think before you decide to work on a sequel, and plot out your series so they make sense. Everything written should have a point, serve a purpose, including sequels. This reader will thank you for it.