Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 129

Why always the bad guy?

Okay, so obviously this is Richard Armitage who I have been crushing on since I started watching Robin Hood, the BBC version.  And now, he's Thorin in The Hobbit and everybody loves him but my problem is that even when he was playing the worst guy, the bad guy, the guy clad in black leather (that's a whole other issue), I was still wild about him. He was the bad guy. Why on earth am I still attracted to the the bad boy? I'm a grown (cougholdcough) woman now, the love of the bad boy should be over.

But it can't be helped. It's movies, it books, why is the bad guy always so strong and decisive and single-minded? The hero is flawed and all over the place most time, but the villain? Oh no, not him. He has firm purpose, it's the evil he's spreading. Women, and men go wild for the bad boy. Normally he has a lot of style, he's dashing and he really knows how to walk into a room. And I don't mean the evil guy, the one who you want the hero to not only kill, but revive, and then kill again, I mean like Loki in The Avengers. He's bad. He killed people. But it's sort of... forgiven. You just want to rehabilitate him. I guess I have to examine my own psyche and figure it out. But do you find yourself rooting for the bad guy, watching the show not for the hero, but for the hot guy in leather? I swear, that whole time I watched Robin Hood I kept thinking to myself, Marian you fool, Guy's the hot one, Robin is a annoying. But of course she was pining for the wrong guy. Or maybe I was. Hard to say.

Very Inspiring Blogger Award by Cardeno C.

Cafe Risque was nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award by SJD Peterson (Jo). Jo is has a degree in History and until a couple years ago never read fiction. Now she writes and reads nothing but gay fiction, gay erotica, and M/M romance. She lives in Michigan, loves hockey, and has a coffee addiction (I can relate). You can see Jo's blog and learn more about her HERE. 



THE RULES:Display the award logo on your blog.
Link back to the person who nominated you.
State 7 things about yourself.
Nominate 15 bloggers for this award and link to them.
Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements.

7 THINGS ABOUT ME (in no particular order):
My writing goals are to make people feel warm and happy, and to portray positive, fulfilling relationships.Every once in a while, I sneak a soapbox into my books underneath the sugar and spice. (Shhhhh, don't tell.)I have a day job to pay the bills, but writing is my passion.Caffeine is critical to my ability to function. Really, really critical.I love art. Seriously love it. Like in a "no blank walls in my house, would it be weird to start hanging it from the ceilings" way.I'm a terrible blogger. I keep on trying though, so here's hoping I get better.Music inspires me. I love lots of different types of music and certain songs keep me company through an entire book. 15 INSPIRING BLOGS:Click around and visit some of these blogs. I hope you enjoy them.Amy LaneAndrew GreyAriel TachnaGay Geek DadJoyfully JayJoyfully ReviewedLeAnn's Book ReviewsMary CalmesMrs. Condit and FriendsThe Novel ApproachPiper Vaughn & MJ O'SheaPoppy DennisonRhys FordStumbling Over ChaosTop2Bottom Reviews

Flash Fiction Sunday: I Didn't Know He Was a Dude!

Alex Benson had a problem.

Five cups of coffee into his workday and he had to piss like a racehorse. But now, here he was, faced with the great "urinal debate." The Inspector General's men’s room contained three urinals, and one stall. Urinal A was occupied by Jarrod Carson, IT guru. Urinal C was blocked by an "Out of Order" sign. So did he take Urinal B and have to take his junk out while Jarrod was in his personal space, or did he take the stall, knowing full-well he'd have to sit down and hang out for awhile just to make it look like he wasn't going in there to avoid taking a leak too close to another guy?

His brain flashed to the pile of folders on his desk. No way did he have the patience for the latter option. Alex stepped over to urinal B.

"Hey man, how's it hanging?"

Alex cringed inside, immediately regretting his decision. How's it hanging? For Pete's sake.

He cleared his throat, and kept his eyes rooted on a spot in from of him. "Fine. Great. You?" Oh, no, no, no. As soon as the polite query was out of his mouth, Alex wanted to call it back.

"Fuckin' awesome, man." Lucky for Alex, Jarrod was able to zip up and talk at the same time. "So I'm banging this chick Debbie last night, yeah?"

Good. Grief. In an attempt to shield himself from the psychological trauma of Jarrod's tales of sexual adventure, Alex went to his happy place: box seats at the Colts / Redskins game. Beer. He managed to get lost enough in thought not to realize that Jarrod had been talking for quite awhile...aaand Alex still had his fly open. He moved so fast to rectify the problem, he nipped himself with his zipper.

“Fuck.”

"Whoa, careful there buddy." Oh, good. Jarrod noticed. "Listen, I don't wanna be nosey or anything…”

And it got even better.

“But you've got a scary lookin' mole on there you might want to get checked out."

Um. "Okay. Thanks." Jee-zus. H. Roosavelt. Christ.

"No sweat." Jarrod paused and used some water from the sink to slick his unruly hair back – what was it with tech guys and refusal to use standard grooming products? The man had dark, deep-set eyes and a strong jaw. He would be handsome if he shaved. "Seriously though, you should get that thing looked at. My mom's a dermatologist. You don't wanna mess around with that shit."

Alex grumbled and adjusted the "thing" in question before heading back to his paperwork.

-

When Alex approached the admin desk a short while later, their secretary was busy chattering away on the phone, regaling the listener with a story of the time she got a bad root canal in the Army.

Now, Jessica was a sweet girl, but not terribly bright. She liked her skirts short, her heels high, and based on the easily visible tattoo across her ferocious sweater kittens, she had once also rather liked a guy named Tony. But the idea of the government handing Jessica an M16 was scarier than the thought of handing one to Lucy Ricardo.

"Agent Benson! Are you here to chip in for Agent Martin's baby shower?"

Um. "Actually." He held out a file folder. "I need this stuff copied for a meeting."

She didn't take the file. "And?"

"And I need you to clear my calendar for this afternoon, I have a doctor appointment."

"And?"

"And...have a nice day?"

Jessica tsked and shook her head slowly. He assumed that when she folded her arms over her massive her chest it was meant to look intimidating, but all it did was provide a platform on which her already lofty breasts could rest. Jesus, look at that cleavage. It was like the Grand Canyon. Did stuff ever get lost down there, like cracker crumbs or car keys? Small animals?

"I already got a gift."

"But this is for the shower." Jessica looked expectant.

"I barely know her."

"Come on, what do you want me to do for incentive, flash you?"

He sighed and placed the folder on her desk. "You're practically doing that already." No, Jess was not a bright girl.

Jessica further proved her true professionalism by sticking her tongue out. Which was pierced. "Come on, agent Benson, if enough people don't chip in I'll have to pay myself for the whole thing. You wouldn't do that to me, would you?" The batting of overly-gunked eyelashes was too much. He had to go.

Alex rubbed his temple. And intense throb had taken up residence behind his left eye. "Fine.” He pulled a twenty from his wallet and dropped it on the folder. "Please copy this stuff, I'll have my Blackberry while I'm out if anyone needs me."

She waved the bill at him. "Thank you for your generous contribution!"

"Shoot me," he murmured as he pushed his way out through the lobby's double doors.

-

Damn Jarrod and his inappropriate boundary crossing all to fricking hell. The doc has decided that the mole on his Johnson was "probably benign" but wanted to biopsy it anyway, and nothing made a man want to run screaming for the hills like somebody coming at his special parts with a scalpel.

"Come on." Alex crumbled and shifted his laptop bag while he waited in line at the Crepaway on 20th and L. Thanks to the doctor visit he'd had to work late to catch up on paperwork, and needed to placate his inner beast in a way that only a hot crepe with Nutella gushing out of it possibly could. Or… something he couldn’t get nearly as easily since he was between relationships.

He had finally gotten his order when some kind of disturbance erupted outside, complete with flashing red and blue, and shouting from a couple of sequin-clad Asian chicks. Hooker roundup, must be. Was it that late? He gripped his styrofoam container carefully, intent on sliding past the whole thing when a he heard a familiar voice:

"Dude, I didn't know she was a hooker!"

"Jarrod?" The head of the man being cuffed snapped around to look at Alex. Jesus, no.

"Agent Benson! You gotta help me out man, I swear I didn't know it was a pro. And I definitely didn't know it was a dude. You have to believe me."

"Oh, he knew all right, you wanted some of this didn't you, baby?" A statuesque vision in heels and a mini-dress flipped her mane of flowing hair and made kissy faces at Jarrod. Alex had to give him/her credit for managing to muster up all that sass while handcuffed.

In one glance everything Jarrod tried to deny was obvious: muscular legs, Adam's apple...flat chest underneath a glittery number that barely would've fit Alex's twelve-year-old niece. So… all the “chicks” Jarrod kept banging, huh?

Huh.

Alex looked longingly at his takeout container, and then over at Jarrod, wondering now about the man’s story. Alex could guess: He’d been raised in a well-off family next door to another well-off family, and he’d gone along for the ride and married that girl next door because the deal came with free college tuition and he hadn’t had the changs at first to rock the boat. He’d never done a pro, thank God, but he’d done plenty of reckless shit. It was hard to hold who you really were inside.

Alex dug into his pocket for his IG badge, and made his way over to the officer holding Jarrod. The look of gratitude on Jarrod’s face was a lot to take.

“Agent Benson, I’m really sorry—”

“Hey.” Alex touched his arm. “No worries. Let’s deal with this, and I’ll buy you a crepe.”

Jarrod smiled. “Thank you. I’d like that.”

Happy Sunday! 
Love, Ellis

Just Some Random Rambling by Cardeno C.

Happy Monday, y'all. If you've read my posts here you know I am the worst blogger in the history of blogging because I have nothing to say. Despite that, I endeavor to keep on trucking so today, I'll share just a bit of rambling nonsense and then stop (hopefully) before I humiliate myself too much.

Okay, so update on what I've been up to lately, in semi-chronological order (which is really not my thing, as you may know from my books):


I submitted the 2nd book in the Mates series. This one is called Until Forever Comes and it's about Ethan and Miguel, the vampire/shifter couple I introduced in Wake Me Up Inside. While I'm waiting to hear back, I'm tweaking and improving and getting some amazing help along the way from the wonderful Jaime Reese. I am not fretting. Nope. Not at all. Don't believe me? Okay, fine. Fair enough. Can't say I blame you. Writing this one was extra special fun for me because I felt like I had my own personal sounding board and cheerleader along the way in Ms. Mary Calmes. If you've read Mary's werepanther series then you understand how intimidating/amazing it was to have her in my corner for this book. If you haven't read her series, go now. Click here. Seriously.  Dreamspinner Press has chosen a sports theme for their summer Daily Dose anthology. I tend to write novels, rather than novellas or shorts, but I make exceptions for Dreamspinner's Daily Dose and Advent and I've found that I really like it. I had a great time writing a short novella that was a combination of my favorite theme (friends to lovers) and something new for me that I may explore more in a future book (enemies to lovers). Now I'm just doing the fingers-crossed, hope they like it dance. Again, not fretting.I bought coffee at a convenience store. The cup sprung a leak in my car. I was able to rescue most of the coffee in a handy travel mug so it wasn't a total loss, and I've been calling myself MacGyver ever since. One thing I cannot seem to save, however, is my phone. Coffee dripped on it and no amount of duct tape or rice (thanks for the suggestion, though) is going to bring back the audio. So my task this week is to find a new phone. I've enlisted the help of an expert (thank goodness for techie friends), and hope to be fully operational again soon. I haven't watched movies and TV in a very long time because I tend to write in my free time or read in my free-free time. But after a strong recommendation I watched the Avengers. This movie was totally and completely lost on me. I mean, the hawk guy was super hot, but he was a zombie most of the movie and I liked him better in that cop show that got cancelled (I actually used to watch that show, but I can't remember what it's called). Robert Downy, Jr. is wonderful. I've adored him since we were both young, and the man has aged damn fine but all that sarcasm seemed a bit too much considering the surroundings. The suit guy I liked a lot. Charming as hell. (SPOILER: But brother got shot and killed so that sucked.) Now, I'll tell you what didn't suck: Banner. He was a sexy-as-hell homicidal/suicidal mad professor and I was smitten. The man needed way more screen time. I filed him away for a character inspiration. We'll see what happens. I'm working on a new book now. It's something different for me in lots of ways, but it's already been a joy and hopefully the results will be good. I'll keep you updated. Enjoy your week. I'll blabber mindlessly some more next week. Maybe. We'll see.
CCwww.cardenoc.com

Pretty Pictures

Drawing by Reese DanteSorry, no flash fic this week. I'm on very limited internet time, and my family is all getting over the plague. But still, I've got something really awesome for you:

I've been on a quest for some time to make new artwork for my web site. And I did mean make, I graduated from college with half an art degree (the other half got lost under my dorm room bunk bed or something) but eventually after some hilarity and a lot of tears, I just totally gave up. I wanted something that captured a particular feel, and I just wasn't finding stock art that worked, and my busy schedule didn't allow for the endless searching and futzing. I nearly lost my scant remaining marbles. Our wonderful Mary Calmes insisted I call Reese Dante. and here is what Reese did:


I'm so in love. Reese was unerringly patient with my rambly stream of consciousness emails and in the end captured the essence of exactly what I was looking for. You can see the full version at my website.  
If you love Reese's work and are in the market for a custom book cover, logo, or a gorgeous banner like this one, get in touch with her at ReeseDante.com

My First Reading Recommendation for 2013 — by BG Thomas

So today I wanted to make my first reading recommendation. I am really excited about this book, and anyone into sailing stories in the past, especially pirate stories, needs to read this book. If you want excellent writing, a non-contemporary setting, obvious exhaustive research, and to be taken to another place and time, keep reading...
The book is “On a Lee Shore,” by Elin Gregory. And here is just a little to whet your appetite...
"Give me a reason to let you live..." 
Beached after losing his ship and crew, and with England finally at peace, Lt Christopher Penrose will take whatever work he can get. A valet? Why not? Escorting an elderly diplomat to the Leeward Islands seems like an easy job, but when their ship is boarded by pirates, Kit's world is turned upside down. Forced aboard the pirate ship, Kit finds himself juggling his honor with his desire to stay alive, not to mention his desire for the alarming--yet enticing--captain, known as La Griffe. 
Kit has always obeyed the rules, but as the pirates plunder their way across the Caribbean, he finds much to admire in their freedom. He deplores their lawlessness but is drawn to their way of life, and begins to think he might just have found a purpose. Dare he dream of finding love too? Or would loving a pirate take him too far down the road to ruin?    So, Erin, what is it that calls you to write about such faraway times and places?

I was brought up in a house that was built in 1625 in a village that is mentioned in Domesday Book. The past was there - all the time, every day - and seemed more immediate and relevant than the modern world. Astronauts and rock music happened, I knew, but they happened to Americans half a world away. My family and friends endured the Second World War, my grandfather served in the Great War, in Palestine where he once saw T E Lawrence and on the Western Front. I knew men who had ploughed with horses and one who remembered the headmaster of the little school coming in to tell the chidren about the Titanic going down.

Nowadays I work in a museum and on any given day handle objects from the Neolithic to the modern day. I work in a castle on the edge of what used to be a Roman fort. The past is more alive to me, in some ways than the present. It's not as unfamiliar to me as modern urban life is.  I've never been clubbing but the annual round of ploughing, lambing, haymaking, harvest doesn't change and neither does human nature.


What is it that calls you to write about such faraway times and places?

I was brought up in a house that was built in 1625 in a village that is mentioned in Domesday Book. The past was there - all the time, every day - and seemed more immediate and relevant than the modern world. Astronauts and rock music happened, I knew, but they happened to Americans half a world away. My family and friends endured the Second World War, my grandfather served in the Great War, in Palestine where he once saw T E Lawrence and on the Western Front. I knew men who had ploughed with horses and one who remembered the headmaster of the little school coming in to tell the chidren about the Titanic going down.

Nowadays I work in a museum and on any given day handle objects from the Neolithic to the modern day. I work in a castle on the edge of what used to be a Roman fort. The past is more alive to me, in some ways than the present. It's not as unfamiliar to me as modern urban life is.  I've never been clubbing but the annual round of ploughing, lambing, haymaking, harvest doesn't change and neither does human nature.

How much research do you generally do before you feel you're ready to release a tale to the public?

I don't think you can ever do enough research. Someone will always have done more, have had access to that vital piece of information you either couldn't find or didn't know to look for in the first place. Stirrups! The number of books with a Roman setting that mention stirrups! Stirrups are such an obvious and useful thing that we can't imagine a time when they didn't exist. All one can do is ones best to get as much as possible right and be prepared to take the punches if you get something wrong.

Back to the question - maybe 2 years? But some subjects take a LOT longer.



Why ancient sailing vessels and pirates?

Why not? I like both very much indeed. The sailing vessels of the 17th and 18th century were the Apple Macs of their day. Immensely complex in design, demanding top quality components, but once assembled, simple and efficient in use. Also they are beautiful and the language associated with them has had a profound effect on our everyday English.

Since reading that fully 8% of the pirates during the Golden Age of piracy [1700 to 1720] were Welsh - a terrific number when one considers the tiny population of the country in those days - I was determined to stage an exhibition about pirates at the museum where I work. Once I had a good look at the background material it was too much fun to NOT write a novel about it. Since male male relationships are known and attested amongst them, even to the extent of life-long domestic contracts called 'matelotage', the subject seemed even more appropriate.



Why tell your tales from a MM point of view?

There have always been men who loved other men and I doubt that their number has changed much over the years. Stored in the museum we have more than 100,000 objects - documents, tradesmen's tools, coins, clothing, furniture, photographs - and yet I do not know of one that is definitely associated with anyone who would place themselves on the rainbow. Not a single one. Yet, even assuming that only one percent of the population in the collection area would have described themselves as gay[had the term existed at the time], around 1000 of those objects most probably belonged to, were made by, were owned or cherished by a gay man.

I'm not claiming to be qualified in any way to express the authentic experience of a gay man living as a 17th century pikeman, or a Victorian shopkeeper, or an 18th century gamekeeper, but I feel it's important to try - to try with the care and respect that the subject deserves, while making the story as much fun as possible both for the characters involved and for the readers - and to make it clear that it's not a modern phenomenon, but a natural and important part of human life contributing greatly to the richness of society in all periods.



What can we expect next from your pen?

Let's not count our chickens, shall we? I want to write things with the same kind of feel as Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Romping action adventure stories with some plot relevant romance. I was lucky with On A Lee Shore but who's to say that the next book will be acceptable anywhere? I keep my eye on the market, readers polls and what other authors say about the subject and it's pretty clear that any book featuring male male relationships is expected to contain fully described sex scenes, in fact will be considered lacking if it doesn't. I'm not comfortable writing the real grunt and thrust sex scenes [either MM or het] and I think that shows.

But I'm not worrying about what will happen to the stories when I've finished them. I am on the third draft of a short story where I told historical accuracy to take a hike and just wrote knights in armour, unrequited love suddenly requited and lots of violence. It's called A Taste of Copper and I hope to submit it, somewhere, soon. I'm halfway through a novel set in 6th century AD Northumbria, more cavalry and battles with a relationship that grows slowly from convenience bonking to deep and abiding love. That's called A Fierce Reaping. Then at the planning stage there's "Eleventh Hour", spies in 1920s London,  "The Long Secret Summer" set in the 1940s, and "The Hounds of the North", set in first century Rome and Britannia. I hope I live long enough to finish them all.

Many thanks for allowing me to answer your questions.

Many thanks to you for joining us!



Excerpt:

There was no question of standing to fight. Outgunned and outnumbered, the only thing the Hypatia could do was run. So run they did, the crew hurling themselves in all directions in response to the master's shrieked orders.

Kit joined them, kicking off his shoes to scamper up the rigging. The wind tossed his hair across his face and plastered his shirt to his back as he raced Forrest to the top. A quick glance back made his breath catch. The two ships were coming apace, a brigantine much larger than Hypatia and the other, closer, sloop rigged with a huge spread of white sails. The black flags were more apparent now, and Kit's heart raced as he edged along the footrope.

"Have a care, Mr. Penrose, sir," Forrest said as he too reached the yard. "Go back down, sir, do!"

"I know what I'm about, thank you, Forrest," Kit said, and when he leaned to reach the reef lines with as much agility as any of them, the man grinned and left him to it.

The sails filled with a crack, and the Hypatia met the next wave head on. Kit looked back at the pursuing sails, calculating distances and speeds. As he watched, the tan sails of the brigantine were obscured by a puff of white smoke. A relieved curse ripped from Forrest's lips as a spout went up well astern.

"That's it," he said. "Them devils'll not catch us now."

They both whooped their approval, and Forrest shook a fist. "You've no fancy to be a pirate then, Forrest?" Kit said with a laugh.

"Me, sir? No fear, sir," Forrest said. "There's only one way that can end, and I've no desire to be turned off-God a' mercy!"

A gun had boomed again, this time from the sloop. Forrest and Kit stared in horror at the wreckage of blood, flesh, and splinters that had exploded from where the master had been standing at the tiller. Hypatia shuddered and lurched, shaking Kit loose. For a sickening moment his legs swung free over the chaotic deck, before he hooked a toe into the footrope and clung to the yard to get his breath back. Below he could see Captain Dorling wringing his hands while Uttley hung over the stern, either retching or trying to see the damage.

Forrest cursed again. "He's going to strike," he muttered. "The captain's going to strike."

Kit envied Forrest the ease with which he swung hand over hand down the shroud. He followed, muscles protesting at the effort, jumped the last six feet, and ran aft.

The sloop and brigantine were approaching fast.

"Black flag," Dorling shouted as Kit reached him, "so we have a chance. Strike the flag, strike it, I say. It's La Griffe-once he flies the red flag there's no mercy. Get the colors down, damn you."

There was a shout from one of the hands as the tattered rag of black flapping from the brigantine's main mast dipped and began to lower. On deck Kit could see a flash of red and gold, but Dorling was already scrambling to lower the ensign himself.

To find this book, look right here!:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/On-a-Lee-Shore-ebook/dp/B00ANV96ZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356875443&sr=8-1&keywords=on+a+lee+shore

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/On-a-Lee-Shore-ebook/dp/B00ANV96ZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356875081&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-a-lee-shore-elin-gregory/1113959452?ean=2940015737042

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/On-a-Lee-Shore/book-Vo0SCSyhtEWxv2KSFrVrrA/page1.html?s=nnGDk90AIEyX2-p9X_3tgQ&r=1

All Romance E-Books: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-onaleeshore-1023270-145.html

Fly-by!

Hi, all, and apologies but today's post is really just a fly-by. There's a family emergency going on that has me in upstate NY. In the middle of winter. *shivers* This being the case, I haven't had time to prepare anything for today or even think about what to share with you guys. That said, I AM always thinking, so...

FLY-BY:

I've come to the conclusion that the super-religious or just generally divisive and intolerant types truly want to believe their whole "gay is a choice" line for one reason and one reason only.

See, if gay (or bisexual, or whatever variant or gradient of human sexuality someone might possess) is the way some people are born, that truly means there's nothing wrong with being "different" from what is considered the norm. If these same people are gay/whatever by choice, then it's OKAY to hate them for being somewhere other than on the super-hetero end of the curve.

So that's my thought of the day. Discuss. :)

~Tis

Twitter Recap by Cardeno C.

Happy Monday! There might come a day when I have something insightful and scintillating to say on this blog. Until then, I'll continue to grasp at straws. Today is one of those days - another twitter recap. I hope your 2013 has been terrific so far!
restaurant industry tip: don't say the reason a side dish didn't get delivered is because "she felt sick & ran to the bathroom." Jan 06, 2013  Oddly riveting and catchy, don't you think? http://t.co/kJ62uJtu Jan 06, 2013  Win a copy of Wake Me Up Inside here: http://t.co/J0Eyt5fD. Jan 04, 2013  How to feel old: put on a sweatshirt that has the date on it. From over 20 years ago. Jan 04, 2013  Eight Days was included as a December favorite at @jayhjay432 - whoot! http://t.co/TIS7ZCkJ Jan 03, 2013  This is the text I got from my friend who is moving: We've gotta code 9...my mover is HOT! Jan 03, 2013  Thanks so much to @Lasha for choosing Wake Me Up Inside as one of her Top Five Paranormal M/M Books of 2012! http://t.co/y3z2vuM5 Jan 03, 2013  What kind twisted maniac puts raisins in chocolate chip cookies? Jan 03, 2013  Noooooo! http://t.co/DRAXqJTg Jan 02, 2013  Just heard about a cornhole tournament. Y'all it's a real thing. Really. Jan 02, 2013  What. Is. Happening? http://t.co/wxB8nzYn Jan 01, 2013  Happy happy new year! I hope your 2013 is full of happiness. Jan 01, 2013  Have I ever mentioned that I have a thing for Jon Bon Jovi? Fifty years old and more gorgeous than ever. http://t.co/eEGhO0o8 Dec 31, 2012  A fly keeps attacking me. Inside my house. I think this means I've taken this writing thing too far and should maybe integrate bathing. Dec 31, 2012  A glimpse of life w/ a looming deadline: staying in all weekend & writing w/ only an occasional mental-health break to organize my closet. Dec 30, 2012  Time machine update: rocker dude is back at the gym. Slayer shirt this time. Sleeves cut off because no way would they fit. Tats on display. Dec 27, 2012  Sitting outside the gym finishing my Diet Coke before going in and surfing iTunes. Something seems odd about that but I can't figure it out. Dec 27, 2012  Good news - Joe the plumber has arrived w/ my new water heater. (for real) Dec 26, 2012  Success! http://t.co/zDc2fIHr Dec 26, 2012  4 people on iPhones trying to find an open coffee shop. No luck. Dec 26, 2012  Talking to 2 single straight guys in their 40/50s who were friended by model-type 20's women on FB. They didn't believe me when I said scam. Dec 26, 2012  When is a bad time for a hot water heater to die? If you chose Christmas day right before leaving for a party, you're looking in my window. Dec 25, 2012  OMG Eight Days is mentioned in USA Today: “@HEAusatoday: Mary Grzesik #HEArecreads m/m http://t.co/YaG8TNtE” Best gift ever. Thank you! Dec 25, 2012  Merry Christmas! Here's a little falalalala for you: http://t.co/mNkmhj0s. Dec 25, 2012  A really nice review for Eight Days at @T2BReviews. Thank you. http://t.co/kJCdWC6F Dec 24, 2012  How long can a cup of coffee sit out before it goes bad? Because I just discovered someone's abandoned Starbucks cup & it looks full ... Dec 23, 2012  Today's mystery: Diet Coke – tastes good. Veggie loaf – tastes good. Diet Coke/veggie loaf burp – tastes gross. Dec 20, 2012  Double fisting it this morning. Need two Diet Cokes. What did you think I meant? Dec 19, 2012  Y'all. I have spilled THREE different substances on my shirt today. & the day is just getting started. Dec 18, 2012  Off to a protest. I'll be back yesterday. http://t.co/9lbu7wBl Dec 18, 2012  Honored to be included w/ MaryCalmes @arieltachna @andrewgreybooks @amymaclane: Scattered Thoughts Best Books of 2012 http://t.co/JewXx4iL Dec 18, 2012  Love this example of shiny-happy from people who have a somber-sulky rep. Way to find your good time! http://t.co/zudrhWvn Dec 18, 2012  Just pretended to text so I could take a pic of a couple at the gym for a future book. = New writer's low. Dec 17, 2012  RT (best start to a week in the history of ever - thank you!): Joyfully Jay Crissy’s Best of 2012 http://t.co/rXOP9rGr Dec 17, 2012  Marine Captain Matthew Phelps proposes last night to Ben Schock at the White House. Congratulations to them. http://t.co/n3P0IPZJ Dec 17, 2012  Uh, that's a new road feature. http://t.co/MDfHH6aC Dec 16, 2012  Remember my mechanic post? I've been back twice. Latest news: he's 80% confident that the issue is resolved. I'm still 100% clueless. Dec 15, 2012  I just got the most amazing cover for my new book from @ReeseDante. Shivers and smiles, y'all. http://t.co/TItg2RKc Dec 13, 2012  Today is the last day to win a copy of Eight Days here: http://t.co/BQzDUlbE. Leave a comment for @jayhjay432! Dec 13, 2012  Taking shortcut in neighborhood & had to stop for 1/2 dozen guys w bulletproof vests, radios, & guns. Police incident or porn shoot? Dec 12, 2012  Time machine alert: pantera shirt, acid washed jeans, rocker hair dude just walked into the gym. Good shoes though. Dec 10, 2012  I needed something happy today and this So did the job. http://t.co/o4lNxHu9 Dec 10, 2012 
CC
www.cardenoc.com

Too Much or Not Enough--on Sex in Romance Stories--by BG Thomas

So when is enough, enough? Or isn't it? Or is fade-to-waterfalls good enough? Or even too much? Those are questions I have as not only a writer, but a reader as well.
I like sex. I like to have it and I like to read about it. But I think it has value for different reasons...
There is the need (desire?) for porn and a rush to Nifty Archives or Men on the Net, and that is all fine and dandy. Then I have my need (desire) to see what my heroes are up to when they have a need (desire) for loving or just plain getting off.
I'm from Missouri, show me. I want to know what the heroes of a book are up to, either mine or when I am sitting back, reading a good M/M romance. I want to know what they like, what their preferences are, what turns them on and if they are vanilla or run to kink. Why? Because I think it tells us more about the characters.   
Are they very common lovers doing the old--kiss--kiss some more--kiss the neck and suck some nipple--maybe shove their erections against each other and after orgasms, they're all done?
  Are they more adventurous and want to explore each other's bodies with lips and tongue? Not afraid of burying their face in a hairy armpit or sucking fingers and toes or nursing balls and maybe...just maybe...letting their mouths go just a little further south?
  And what about more? Getting a little kinky?


Sex is fascinating to me--most for the most part, I want it as an extension of the characters and who they are and how they feel about each other. If I'm wanting horndog reading, there is always wank stories on the Internet.
At Jessewave, an poll was taken about sex and what the readers wanted. Readers were asked if they want nothing but sex, no sex at all, or a balance. There were most options than that, but that was what it came down to. I was pleasantly surprised at the answers.
53% wanted a balance in their books, a good story but liked hot sex as well.
37% said they think the should advance the plot, but otherwise it's just porn.
I was relieved. I was afraid the poll would fall under they fade-to-waterfall side, or the plot-what-plot side. By at least one poll, me and the readers see eye to eye. It was a good guide on what to write. Check out the poll (and take it?) right here:  http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2012/08/17/readers-how-do-you-like-your-mm-romances/


In one of my recent stories, I have two sex scenes. The first is a one night stand and I wrote it from that angle. A guy who doesn’t consider himself sexy or attractive gets a chance to spend some bed time with a total grade-A fucking stud. It was written as this guy getting a chance to do what he’d only jacked of thinking about before. It is sex! He lets himself go and really goes for it—a naughty wild time.
The second scene is where he finally consummates his loving and sexual feelings for the love interest. I came this close to skipping the second scene. I wanted sweet sweet sweet!
But then I thought I would be cheating myself, my characters, and the reader. I had shown my hero doing the nasty. I wanted them to see that he can be different with different men in different situations—and that loving sex doesn’t have to be boring or vanilla. Or if it is vanilla, it isn’t Always Save but can be something from Häagen Daz or Trader Joes.
Thankfully, readers who have written me seem to agree.
I think it would have also been sad to only show the sexually compulsive side of my hero. We needed to see he knows how to make love.
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I don’t get squeamish. I write sex. But I don’t write porn. Not any more. I used to, years ago. There is a difference.
I’m not a Always Save lover. So there is going to be a few things that aren’t quite Harlequin 1960s sex scenes. My characters aren’t afraid of sweat, or sucking toes, or rimming. They’ll use a good bit of the later and forgo lube—and yes it is possible! I am amused by a recent review where a lady stated unequivocally that you can’t have anal sex without lube. I fell out of my chair laughing. Yes Virginia, you can. And men do have a natural lube. It might just take longer. I mean first there is pre-cum, which on some men is extensive. Also, the bottom does lube up. Just not like a woman. So with some spit and precum to start the ball rolling, wild and wondrous sex happens without AstroGlide, I-D Glide, K-Y or even Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. I mean what do people think gay men did before all these lubes showed up? People do know that most of them are a fairly new invention, right?
Has anyone seen “Brokeback Mountain” and the first love scene? Did Jack tell Ennis, “Wait! Wait! I’ve got a little tube of Astro-Glide in my back pack!”


But sexual technique only touches on sex in scene. Sexual preference is only a part of it. A gay man just starting to have sex might be repelled by an act that he some to love above all things. I can’t tell you how many sexual newbies I’ve talked to that are horrified by the idea of rimming a man, who come to love it beyond orgasm itself as time goes by.
Or swallowing. A buddy of mine said that was what he’d been longing for his whole young life and when he had sex with a man the first time, he took to it like a duck to water? For others it is an acquired taste. For some it isn’t important. For others it is vital part of making love to a man and/or showing him you love him.
And this isn’t even touching on the subject of topping, bottoming, versatility, and aversions or preferences to either!
Sex tells us a lot about our heroes. A whole lot.


I find in my reading that I’ve done two things while reading sex. Wait for it with baited breath, or skim it or skip over it when it arrives. It depends. One popular author’s sex scenes bore me to tears and I think, damn! Do these guys do anything BUT have sex? Another author presents scenes I want to read over and over. Some books disappoint me by never giving me a sex scene at all. Subjects I’ll touch upon in future reviews, but not today.
If I want porn I will go to the Internet or look for titles like, “Mixed Sluts” or “Uncut Studs” or “Dick-Tation.”There is a place for that I am sure. I won’t knock an author for their tastes. Especially when I cut my teeth in the 90s writing for magazines like FirstHand, Bear, and FS Quarterly!
But when I read (and write) romance, I want the sex.
What about you? I’d love to know. After all, I have books to write!
Yours Always,BG Thomas
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PS: This is probably my favorite movie of all time, and certainly some of the hottest and romantic gay sex in a movie ever. If you don't know it, you MUST see, "Shelter."

It's That Time of Year! (T.C. Blue cops to laziness)

Welcome, good readers, to my first post of 2013. :)

The new year has gotten off to a rocky start for me, what with family drama, might-as-well-be-family drama, and a few non-family-related dramatics, but that's not what I'm going to talk about here. In fact, I'm going to say a little something about New Year's Resolutions -- specifically my own past promises to myself.

See, I always manage to swear up and down -- silently, of course -- that I'm going to do this or that and end the new year better for the things I've accomplished. One year, I was going to learn Japanese (I can say hello, but that's about it). Another year, I was going to take up painting (this didn't happen since I have about as much artistic talent with brushes and canvas as an armadillo has fur). I've wanted to learn to play an instrument, skydive, quit smoking, lose weight, get another motorcycle (I miss my bike like you wouldn't believe). I've promised myself I'd give up red meat (*snort* as if!), take some classes at my local college, read the Fellowship of the Rings books again (as an adult this time, rather than as a 12 year old).

I've told myself that I was going to do all sorts of things over the years and haven't really accomplished any of them, and I don't even have good reasons. What it somes down to is... I'm lazy, I suppose.

Oh, I write. I write a lot. That's an accomplishment of sorts, in and of itself. But that's not something I have to force myself to do. It's not something I have to make time for or travel great distances to manage. It doesn't require an excessively large portion of my tiny-ass apartment, either, so that's good. Haha.

I also do a bit of glam-goth crafting, which is fun, but again... unlike learning a new skill, I actually enjoy it.

See, I've come to realize something about myself in the last few years, and while it's not a particularly admirable trait, I've finally learned to embrace it. The truth -- my truth -- is that while I like knowing how to do things, I don't much care for the LEARNING portion of the process. I generally feel awkward and stupid until I've been at something new for a while. (This is exactly why I'm so glad I started writing in the fan fic arena. Unlike, let's say karate - which I actually did study for a few years - when you start writing fan fic, people within the fandom are super supportive. Also, they're not in the same room with you, so you can't see the nose-wrinkling looks of WTF they might be wearing.)

I hate feeling awkward and stupid so much that I'm much more likely to quit something just a few tries in, because I'm not getting good at it fast enough for my liking.

Yes, I'm just as impatient and critical with myself as I can be with other people, if not moreso. And if I have to actually leave my place and drive somewhere and THEN feel incompetent? Forget about it. Hahaha.

So knowing this about myself, I made a conscious decision to lowball the New Year's Resolution for 2013. This year, I resolve to live my life in a way that doesn't leave me any worse off when 2014 rolls around. I resolve to continue being the best daughter, aunt, friend and sister that I can be. I resolve to be honest but not hurtful, kind but not a doormat, nd smart but no more of a smartass than usual.

I resolve to give my best effort to the people and things around me and in my life, but to admit it when I know my best effort may not be enough. I resolve to volunteer some of my time with causes that matter to me (as I did in 2012 when I canvassed with Marylanders for Marriage Equality). And I resolve to speak with authority only on subjects with which I have more than a passing acquaintance.

I won't end the new year speaking Japanese or playing guitar. I won't learn to skydive and I probably won't lose weight. It's also highly unlikely that I'll have another motorcycle anytime in the near future, but that's okay.

I do hope to quit smoking (again, but for good this time), and there's a possibility that I might actually read Tolkien with the eyes and mind of an adult, if I have the time. I'll absolutely have new stories finished and hopefully published, as well, and that's still amazing to me.

So maybe I'm being lazy, and maybe I'm just not motivated enough to accomplish all the things I've tried to in the past. Or maybe my simple resolutions as listed above will let me end 2013 feeling as though I haven't let myself down. That's the goal, anyway.

So how about you guys? Any resolutions you care to share? :)