Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 139

More Music stuff! coming to you semi-live from T.C. Blue

This past week has been a bit on the crazy side, and despite my best intentions, I haven't had much opportunity to write anything interesting for the Cafe. I am, however, working on a piece for next week that will showcase the work of an amazing photographer whose exhibit ""Transcendents - exhibition by Cameron Wolf featuring SWING at the International AIDS Conference 2012" was one of the highlights of the conference for me. (Disclosure, here: Cameron is an old friend... by which I mean I've known him for a really long time. I'm not calling him 'old.' Haha! This in no way colors my opinion on his photographic work. He's amazing.)

In the meantime, I thought I'd mention music. Again. Now, I know I've mentioned song lyrics in the past (my own, rather than anyone else's), and last week was commentary on the social relevance of La Lambert. This week, I'm just going to mention some of the music I've been listening to for the last couple weeks. Again, full disclosure: I did a road trip to upstate NY the Monday before last and returned this past Monday, so there was lots of driving time and music listening going on. Also lots of energy drinks. Heh-heh. So here, in no particular order, are the records I most enjoyed during the long-ass drive.

Scissor Sisters: Magic Hour -- Okay, this one was a little expensive for me, but I love these guys so I bit the bullet and paid my money. I'm glad I did. :) This record has a really interesting retro feel to me that I very much enjoyed. Personal favorite tracks include 'Baby Come Home,' 'Only the Horses,' and 'Best In Me.' I know, I know... 'Let's Have a Kiki' is all over the place and people love it (so do I), but there's much more to this record than just that.

Blood on the Dance Floor: Evolution -- This group kicks ass. there's no other way to say it. They just do. They're heavily made-up (my friend in upstate thinks they look scary), and their sound is an appealing mix of styles, but ultimately, their message is that we all need love and that love is the most important and powerful thing on earth. (Okay, I'm possibly letting my own interpretation color things, here, but isn't that what music and other forms of art are for?) Personal faves: 'Hollywood Tragedy (feat. Shawn Brandon),' 'Love Conquers All (feat. Elena Vladi),' and 'The Right To Love.' BOTDF is fairly heavy on the elctronics for some, I suppose, but Evolution definitely helped the drive go by more quickly. Also, they were great at the Warped Tour this past Tuesday. Just saying. (There's a 'Warped Tour' 2-CD set available now. It's between 8 and 10 bucks, depending on where you get it, and has 50 songs from the bands taking part in the tour. If you like to hear new bands, you might want to get this one. never heard of many of them, but now I have, and I'm GLAD!)

Black Veil Brides: Set the World on Fire -- I love this record. Seriously. And not just because I have a strong fondness for pretty boys wearing makeup. 'Rebel Love Song' is probably my favorite track. Or maybe 'Die For You.' Possibly 'Youth and Whiskey.' It's hard to say. These guys rock and do it hard, though.

Foxy Shazam: The Church of Rock and Roll -- Pretty much this whole record works for me. The first three tracks (Welcome to the Church of Rock and Roll, I Like It, and Holy Touch) get things started off right and it just keeps going that way. These guys have found a really good balance in sound and meaning, so I recommend them VERY highly.

Finally, no list of driving-music would be complete without mention of this record-- Marilyn Manson: Born Villain. Granted, he may not be everyone's cup of tea, but this record is fucking awesome. Yes, I just said that. I love the lyrics on just about every song, and one thing I think everyone has to agree on is that Manson definitely has something to say. It's not always what people want to hear, but that doesn't make it any less valid. Mucially, this record rocked the drive and I'm very happy that I bought it. Children of Cain, Pistol Whipped, The Gardener, and Murderers Are Getting Prettier Every Day are probably my favorite tracks right now.

I listened to a whole lot of other music on the drive up and back, but these are the ones that were both new and really resonated for me. Check these bands out here:

Scissor Sisters: Only the Horses - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3m-XH1Kij0
Blood on the Dance Floor: Unforgiven - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPJ_AnmB9Yg
Black Veil Brides: Rebel Love Song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl-_ZmNCOvo
Foxy Shazam: I Like It - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rz4I69mQMo
Marilyn Manson: the Gardener -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oq04qLiOAU&feature=c-shelf-119

I know there's a way to post links that's less unwieldy. Promise to figure it out before next week! Haha!

Until then, guys... Have fun and be good to yourselves!

~Tis

Welcome to Spicy Wednesday withScotty Cade at Café Risque...

Welcome to Spicy Wednesday withScotty Cade at Café Risque!

Today I have the pleasure of chatting with Kiernan Kelly, another of my blog mates, as we discuss “As Serious As the Grave,” A Torquere Press Single Shot Classic. Blurb: Tyler Grayle has really had it. Dying is a big part of his trouble even if it was only for a few hours before being brought back by the mysterious power of the Dante Comet. But he's adjusted to life with no heartbeat; it's the lack of any guy wanting to date him that's bothering him now. Until the weekend he discovers his best friend Daniel wants to be more than a friend. Then finds out that there are people out there who hate his kind and will do just about anything to make sure he stays dead for good.Can he make his afterlife work for him?
Scotty:  Good Morning Kiernan.  Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with us. It’s so good to finally meet you. We communicated back and forth while developing our blog, but never really had time to chat one on one, so I’m very excited to talk about some of your work.
Since I started doping this blog, I decided not to read the blurbs of books we discuss so I can read the story without any expectations and simply let the story unfold. Can I just tell you that right from the start, you had me in stiches? I was laughing so hard picturing the stinky Will in his cubicle with the evergreen air fresheners hanging on the walls and ooze dripping from every orifice. I can see it as plain as day and I couldn’t stop snorting. I almost think that maybe you worked with someone who inspired Will. Am I right? Cause I sure did. J
Kiernan: I confess, I used to work in a very famous theme park in broiling hot Central Florida, so I've had the opportunity to work with a BUNCH of people like Will, and had some close encounters with more than one rather overripe tourist as well. In all honesty, Will was my homage to the zombies we see in almost every zombie film. They tend to be...squishy. Since my hero definitely wasn't, I wanted to have a minor character that was.
Scotty: I totally get it. Now, I don want to assume anything, but you have to be one weird little cookie to have concocted a story like this. JThe imagination always seems to surprise me, but where in the world do you get this ideas?
Kiernan: Believe me, you wouldn't be the first to accuse me of being weird. LOL I take it as a compliment. While I do like reading and writing what most people consider "normal" romances, I also like writing ones that are on the edge, a little outside of people's comfort zones, or at least unexpected; stories and heroes that are a little different. As far as this story goes, it was written a few years ago before zombies were such a hot commodity. I think someone mentioned something to me about how zombies could never work in a love story, and I took it as a challenge.
Scotty: LOL! I’ll make a mental note about that. And of course the undercurrent of tolerance is always present and I loved how you worked it in to current and past intolerances. Was that always part of the story?
Kiernan: Yes. In fact, I'm working on another story set in the same universe, with the same undercurrents. I like including a message in my work whenever possible, but without hitting the reader over the head with it. Since intolerance and bigotry are issues that never fail to get my dander up, I wanted to include them. This story was the perfect vehicle for it.
Scotty: You know, again not having read the blurb, I saw something in Daniel that led me to believe that he might have feelings for Tyler right from the get go, being the hopeless romantic, I was pulling for them. With that said, did you always know that they would end up together?
Kiernan: Absolutely. I wanted my zombie paired with a living guy, someone who would see past the whole "undead" thing to the man Tyler still was. Who better to do that than his best friend?
Scotty: Also that Barry! I don’t want to give anything away, but I was all set to just hate him, and then he goes and sort of redeems himself. I was almost about to even like him, until he reveals why he doesn’t like Tyler. Did you base him on a boss you may have had at one time or another?
Kiernan: No, Barry is a conglomeration of different people I've known over the years, people who you think are jerks at first glance, until you come to find out you've just been misunderstanding them, and making assumptions about them. Then, once you get to know them you realize, wait...no, he really is a jerk, just not for the reasons you originally thought. 
Scotty:  So for the spicy part; Daniel and Tyler’s first sexual encounter was exactly what I would expect it to be, exciting, nervous, tentative, did I say exciting? Where do you pull from for these scenes?
Kiernan: I think as a writer, the most important virtue you can possess is empathy. You should be able to put yourself in anyone's head, to walk in their shoes for a while. I believe that if you can do that, you can write any character, male or female, straight or gay, etc. I just write the scenes the way I think the character would feel.

I do need to be in the "mood" to write a sex scene, though. If I'm not, then it'll come out reading stilted and mechanical. I've been known to write "Insert Sex Here" with an arrow, and go on to write the rest of the story, then come back to the sex scene when I'm in a better frame of mind.
Scotty:  I know exactly what you mean about being in the mood, I’m the same way. Can you give our readers a short excerpt so they know what to expect from this story?
Sure, love to. J
Warning: A Not Safe for Work excerpt from As Serious as the Grave:


They spent the weekend in bed.


Not sleeping – Tyler had the distinct feeling that there wouldn’t be much snoozing going on, at least for a while. Sex with him was too new for Daniel, and too amazingly sweet for Tyler for either of them to want to waste much time sleeping.


Even necessary trips to the bathroom and into the kitchen for sustenance were grudgingly made and executed as quickly as possible. If it weren’t for the fact that neither one of them could abide crumbs in the sheets, they’d have taken their meals in bed and peed in a bottle just so that they wouldn’t have to leave the bedroom.


Showers were the only concession they’d made. Over the course of two days they’d taken several together, and each one had produced enough steam to run a locomotive. Tyler half expected the water to evaporate from the heat their two bodies generated under the spray. He fancied he could hear the droplets of water sizzling as they hit their skin.


He was enjoying getting to know Daniel on this new level. Tyler found him to be a different sort of person than the one he’d known for so long. Oh, he was still Tyler’s Daniel, quick to laugh, fast with a comeback. But their intimacy brought a new dimension to their friendship as Tyler discovered Daniel’s tender side --the parts of him that liked to cuddle, that liked to read aloud in bed, and that loved to lick the bowl clean of devil’s food cake mix. Most of all, he enjoyed the part of Daniel that was hot-blooded --the insatiable Daniel, the seductive Daniel.


Tyler hadn’t yet entered Daniel’s body. Oh, he wanted to, thought about it constantly as a matter of fact. There wasn’t anything he wanted more than to share that closeness with Daniel, but he knew that Daniel wasn’t ready for it. Not yet, maybe not ever.


For all Tyler knew, Daniel might want to top, and Tyler wasn’t certain of how he felt about that. Formerly deceased or not, Tyler didn’t like to give up control and he knew it.


He contented himself with Daniel’s amazing blow jobs – the boy learned fast, and was eager and willing to practice his skills, Tyler noted with a satisfied grin as he watched Daniel’s dark head bob over his cock.


As he came again, his last coherent thought was a question: how many gallons of come could a man shoot in a single weekend before the reservoir ran dry? Then he was lost again, his brain shutting down, all energy redirected to his groin.


Scotty: Well, Kiernan, it’s been such a pleasure getting to know you a little better. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us and again, I really enjoyed this story.


That about does it for this weeks Spicy Wednesday. Below is a buy link for “As Serious as the Grave,” and Kiernan’s website so you can get a look at all of her other stories.




Buy Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1433http://www.kiernankelly.com/

I Have a Soapbox, and I'm Not Afraid to Use It.

Recently, there was a big kerfluffle on Facebook regarding one person libeling another, or rather an entire group of others. Now, I am personally familiar with several of this person's victims, and none of them deserve the crap spewed in their direction. Indeed, the person in question crossed the line into libel (written defamation) by blogging some horrible lies and unwarranted, untrue accusations about an m/m writer I know.

Here's the thing: some people seek fame by working hard on their craft, doing the work, taking the risk, and so forth.

Others take another, far less noble road. They are  viciously hateful, tearing down others in their profession, vomiting lies, all for the sole purpose of  generating a buzz. It's not fame they seek, but infamy.

For all the wonders of the Internet, including the ease of reaching so many people so quickly, it is a platform perfectly designed for bullies to flourish. The built-in anonymity of blogs, and social networking sites like Facebook, frees bullies to be as vitriolic as they wish without much fear of reprisal, and  to spread their hate to far more people than otherwise possible, all with a few keystrokes and mouse-clicks.

Cyberbullying can be even more hurtful than ordinary bullying because it's done on a world-wide scale. Gossip at the watercooler will only embarrass someone in the immediate vacinity; blog the same lies and the victim can be shamed globally.

The permanence of the Internet also works for bullies. Back at the watercooler, when something more interesting comes along, gossip dies and is forgotten, but nothing is ever completely gone once it is put online. It can come back to haunt you years later, because even if the original post is deleted, it probably still exists somewhere in one form or another.

Something needs to be done about people who use social networks and blogs to bully and defame. As a writer, I'm all for free speech, but there is a difference between stating your opinion and tainting someone's reputation with malicious lies, and perhaps injuring their career.

Well, okay. I said what I needed to say. I'm going to pick up my soapbox before somebody trips on it, and call it a day.

Song Inspirations by Cardeno C. (Dos)

Happy Monday! This week is the second of my posts about the songs that inspired my book titles. Sometimes it was the lyrics, sometimes it was the tone of the song, but one way or another, these songs connected, in my mind, with the stories I was trying to write.


Love at First Sight: “Love at First Sight” by Kylie Minogue. Love at First Sight is the story of Jonathan and David. Okay, so saying it’s “the” story of Jonathan and David is more than a little outrageous. But it’s at least “a” story about Jonathan and David,  and in this one, there’s a happy ending. *


Jonathan is a young man who considers himself to be very average. He has a knack for getting himself into trouble, and when the story starts, Jonathan is having one of those unlucky days. He’s visiting New York, gets injured, then gets lost in the hospital. When he looks up, he sees David. And just like that, everything goes from wrong to right and Jonathan stares at the man he immediately knows is his future. Though he realizes right away he and the stranger are meant to be together, he loses track of David that first day and it takes him years to find the man again. But just as he is giving up his search, not knowing what he’ll do with his life, David reappears, and this time he is back to stay.


With that introduction in mind, you can see why Kylie Minogue’s Love at First Sight felt very much like it fit this story.


Thought that I was going crazy Just havin' one those days yea Didn't know what to do Then there was you And everything went from wrong to right And the stars came out to fill up the sky The music you were playin' really blew my mind It was love at first sight 'Cause baby when I heard you For the first time I knew We were meant to be as one I was tired of running out of luck Thinkin' 'bout giving up, yea Didn't know what to do Then there was you


(*If you’re wondering what I’m talking about here, I recommend a quick Google search for David and Jonathan and all will be clear.)




Just What the Truth Is: "Nights in White Satin" by the Moody Blues

Just What the Truth Is is a love story, of course, but it's also a coming out story. Ben meets and falls in love with Micah and he sees the possibility of living the type of life he’s always wanted - a life he can share with someone, where they can walk together hand in hand; a life where he can appreciate the beauty around him, rather than living in fear of his family and friends figuring out who he is. But obtaining that life looks easier from the outside than it feels to Ben, who has had a lifetime of hearing his parents state their negative thoughts about gay people, including Ben’s brother.


 Ben is tired and overwhelmed. He feels like nobody can understand exactly what he’s going through and what he’ll have to give up if he comes out. But with Micah by his side, Ben eventually realizes that the only way for him to find his happiness and be who he wants to be in the end, is to own his truth.


The lyrics, the somber tone, and the passionate music in the Moody Blues’ Nights in White Satin fit this story perfectly.


Nights in white satin never reaching the end Letters I've written never meaning to send Beauty I'd always missed with these eyes before Just what the truth is I can't say any more
'Cause, I love you Yes, I love you Oh, how I love you
Gazing at people, some hand in hand Just what I'm going through, they can't understand Some try to tell me thoughts they cannot defend Just what you want to be, you'll be in the end And I love you Yes, I love you Oh, how I love you, oh I love you


Places in Time: “A Place in Time” by Amanda Abizaid

Places in Time is a shorty story I wrote for Dreamspinner's time travel daily dose. Jude and Ethan have been friends for decades, but it takes a trip back through time for Jude to see his own feelings through a different lens. Their friendship consists of places in time stretched over decades and it ultimately leads them to find their place in time as a couple. Amanda Abizaid’s A Place in Time has a great surreal feel to it that perfectly matches a story meant to have a bit of an other-worldly element.


So long ago, another life I can feel your heartbeat  
It's not a dream, remember us I could see it in your eyes
We'll find our place in time A place in time, beyond the sun
We'll find our place in time A place in time to call our own


Three more stories, three more songs. For those of you who've read these stories and heard the songs, what do you think? Do they fit?

All I Wanted Was The Weather... (D.W. Marchwell)

The forecast, it seems, is bleak.  With just one click, I managed to find out the weather, but also got a bunch of pop-ups telling me of Tom and Katie’s divorce and other assorted woes of the famous and not-so famous.  I do believe it’s one of the reasons I don’t surf the internet or watch news programs anymore.  Get in and get out, that’s my motto for both television and the internet.  It has, I’m afraid, left me terribly behind in current events; and that’s just fine with me.  As I rapidly approach my fiftieth birthday, I’ve found myself becoming increasingly alarmed by certain trends in the world; specifically the unbelievable amount of news coverage over someone else’s pain.  I will admit that ever since his incredibly embarrassing interview with Matt Lauer almost eight years ago now, sitting through a Tom Cruise movie has proven especially difficult for me - if only for the reason that I’m reminded, with every scene, that I know things about the actor that I don’t think I have a right to know.  While I’ll be the first to admit that celebrities who choose to open their mouths and voice their opinions in public are only asking for trouble, I will also be the first to respectfully suggest that the media outlets have a choice as to whether to air these (rather conspicuous) breakdowns for the whole world to see.“Schadenfreude” is the german word that simply means “taking pleasure in the misery or misfortune of others”.  Like the Germans themselves - if I may generalize for a moment - the word is efficient, conveying in four syllables what it takes several english words to accomplish.  But leave it up to North American audiences to turn these particular four syllables into an art form, one without compassion or understanding.  And it’s not just found in the media these days.  One of the most depressing things I’ve noticed in this day and age of Facebook and Twitter and Get-The-Latest-News pop-ups and those god-awful reality television shows is the effect it seems to be having on the future generations.  Like many high school teachers, I was patrolling the hallways during lunch and came upon a group of boys, each with their cell phones out, punching away furiously at the miniature keyboards.  A scene I’d witnessed a hundred times before.  I thought nothing of it - wondering yet again - why these same students were unable to show the same focus and attention to detail to their studies.  Then, as I prepared to leave the area to continue my supervision duties, I understood why.  They were all sharing an image, one that had them howling with laughter.  Being an incredibly private person, I’ve always been very respectful of someone else’s space.  So, instead of looking over one of their shoulders, I approached the boys - all of whom I’d taught at one point over the past three years - and asked what was so hilarious.  Looking back now, I understand why most of the boys looked chagrined and closed their phones.  But one boy in particular had no problems turning his cell phone around and showing me a photo that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget.  There, on his screen, was a photo of another student - a female student - lying on the floor.  The boy happily volunteered the whole story:The female student is diabetic and had collapsed during a class.  Not the first time she’d done so.  You see, she is heavy-set and had confided in me (when I taught her Science)  that she was trying “everything” to lose weight.  I took the opportunity to explain to her about speaking to her doctor about low glycemic index foods; those foods that will not cause her blood sugar to spike and thus eliminate the feeling of hunger later on, and the inevitable need to binge on something handy (but unhealthy) from the vending machine.  It was a teachable moment for me and I enjoyed being able to help her understand that what she eats is as important as how often.  Losing weight, she finally understood, was a balancing act between eating the right foods in the right amount and eating often enough to ensure not only good health, but an appropriate blood sugar level.  Unfortunately, she was looking for something more immediate.  And on this particular day, she’d gone without eating and it had caused her to pass out in class.  It was also unfortunate that she’d chosen to wear a short skirt.I don’t need to explain why one of the boys had taken the photograph, but I did ask them why they thought this photo was so worthy of their attention.  “If the picture was of your mother or your sister or your grandmother,” I asked solemnly, “would you still be laughing?  Would you still find it so worthy of sharing?”  None of them said anything, but I saw a flicker of humanity when they all stopped laughing.  I expressed my disappointment in all of them, but made sure they understood I wasn’t angry with them.  How could anyone be angry with them?  They have grown up in a world of computers and reality television dedicated to such images:  “Here, take a look, why not delight in someone else’s misfortune?”  These boys are a product of a society that encourages people to display anything and everything, no matter how base or vile or lacking in integrity.  And most importantly, they are still at an age when they must be taught that what they did was wrong.  But who will teach the media?  How will they ever learn that they do not need to publish every story or spend endless hours examining what are, essentially, very private moments in a person’s life? To be fair, there are more than a few individuals who’ve become famous because it’s what they’re after.  And shows that cater to these individuals would not have an endless supply of these wanna-bes if there was no demand.  Personally, I don’t watch these types of programs during which grown men and women embarrass and debase themselves for money, fame or both.  And I loathe that I’ve started to sound like my parents, but in my day, we had the first moon landing, Sesame Street and the Friendly Giant on our television sets.  I don’t ever remember a divorce or a movie star’s public misery being “news-worthy”.  I remember staying home with my mother - when I was sick - and lying on the sofa watching re-runs of The Brady Bunch where the worst thing to happen was that Jan learned, by the end of the show, that she was her own person, that she did not have to live in Marcia’s shadow.  I grew up at a time when the other students teasing me about my weight was restricted to taunts and jeers in the hallway or in the gym locker room; I didn’t have to worry about photos proving my over-indulgence in ice cream and desserts showing up on the internet.  The taunts and jeers were painful, but there was no reliving them because of a lasting record in anything but my memory.  I grew up during a time when something “viral” was something to avoid.  Sadly, Suri Cruise and the diabetic student will have no such respite; those images and stories are out there forever.  Maybe Tom Cruise is having a breakdown.  Maybe Katie Holmes realized that she could do much better on her own.  Maybe, when they chose to pursue a life in the public eye, they both knew that every minute of their lives would become fodder for gossip; or maybe they didn’t.  Perhaps, they chose their careers based on a passion for acting.  Perhaps, they chose their careers to become famous and compensate for a lack of something.  Only they know for certain.  But what about this student?  What about Suri Cruise?  Are they not entitled to some compassion and some understanding?  Has the line between personal and private become so blurred that we are incapable of recognizing it anymore?  Has the fact that a person chooses to be a public figure completely and irrevocably erased the need to know where that line is?  Or do people in a position to publish (or withhold) these stories see nothing but dollar signs?Have we, in this day and age of instant communication, lost our way?  Is there no one left to explain to 17-year old boys that the unconscious diabetic in the photo is a person?  That she has parents and friends who care deeply about her?  Is there no one in a position of power at the meeting, where they choose which stories about which celebrities, to stop and say, ‘No, we will not show these photos.  We will not mention the children.  Why don’t we lead with the story about the boy who shaved his head out of empathy for his classmate who is going through chemo.’?   Now that story?  I’ll click on the link for that story. 

The Importance of Being Lambert? by T.C. Blue

Hello, hello, all! Thanks for stopping by, and sorry this post wasn't up at the shiny crack of midnight. Heh-heh. I've had to make an unexpected visit to my best friend's in upstate NY, which means my sense of time has become slightly skewed. That aside… I had nothing prepared for today. I'm a pantser rather than a plotter. (Perhaps that will be my topic for next week! Haha!)
As I did have nothing prepared, I'm going to ramble a bit on a topic most people who know me will find incredibly unlike me. That topic is, of course… Adam Lambert. Yes, I said Adam. Lambert.
Now, let me give a little backstory, here.
See, I know the guy was on American Idol, however long ago that was. I even remember hearing about him from several of my friends at the time who were becoming die-hard fans. I think one of these friends even sent me a link to something or other on YouTube, and I actually watched it. I thought "Okay, this guy is pretty good, but… he's on American Idol. Shudder!" (Full disclosure -- reality TV irks me. I have, to this day, a certain degree of contempt for the shows in general, as well as those involved with them in whatever capacity. This is part of the reason I haven't had television at home for the last six years.) Point is… I watched the video of whatever performance it was (possibly Ring of Fire, though I can't swear to it), and thought it was an interesting version of whatever song. I even thought, "Wow, this guy is really pretty. I bet his can sing his ass off. Good for him." Then I went on about my business and gave Adam Lambert thought only when speaking with one or another of my 'Glambert' friends.
Now fast forward to earlier this year.
To be fair, I would have to be living under a rock to have missed all the hoopla about 'Trespassing'. (My thoughts about that album, on a song-by-song basis, coming… NEVER. Haha!) Also to be fair, I'd be lying if I said Lambikins (yes, I admit it, I'm one of those people who creates annoying, sometimes stupid nicknames for celebrities. Never anything as silly as combining couple names, but still. Lambikins, La Lambert, a few others I usually keep inside my own head. No offense meant, of course.) In any case, I'd be lying if I said Lambikins hasn't grown on me. The boy can sing his fucking ass off, and he does it well. I wasn't a complete fan, though, until this last month or so when I started seeing footage of the Queen/Lambert shows. And yes, I want me an Elmo-fur jacket, damn it! No clue what I'd ever wear it for, but I want one!
Now, a lot has been made of the social importance of having a successful, out, gay performer rocking the air waves. Lots of people and publications have examined the 'meaning' and 'relevance' of this, and they have done so far better than I ever could, so I'm going to keep it simple.
Is it important? Yes. But not for the reasons so many have posited. (I do think it's wonderful that LGBT kids have someone to look at with whom they can identify strongly because there's something about THIS GUY that's 'just like me' for them. But I don't believe that to be the MOST important thing, here.)
To me -- and YMMV, of course -- the important thing is that it doesn't much matter. By which I mean… Okay. The big, scary gay topic comes up frequently with relation to La Lambert. It's possibly the first thing most people hear about him. Swiftly followed by: 'Yeah, but damn, just listen to that note, man! I couldn't hit that shit for anything!'
In some ways, I think the success Lambikins is experiencing is helping to make the idea of gay as just another state of being more accessible to people who may be afraid or disturbed or inundated with narrow-minded views. In some ways, his very simple 'this is me, I'm gay, but hey, check out this great song' mentality allows those who want to look to see… talent is talent. Skill is skill. Sexuality and orientation, on the other hand…? Aren't all that relevant unless you're in the bedroom with someone. I think THAT'S the important thing -- that La Lambert is, by his very nature and ability, letting people see and hopefully understand that 'gay' or 'straight' is only one aspect of a person's being. And he's helping to show people that no one single detail defines him or anyone else. This is, in my not so humble opinion, a good thing.
Thoughts, people? Because I do love a good debate. J

Welcome to Spicy Wednesday with Scotty Cade at Café Risque!

Today we're featuring my fellow blogger DW Marchwell as he talks about Sins of the Father, a recent novel released by Dreamspinner Press.

Scotty: Good Morning Mr. Marchwell. Can I call you David or would prefer DW?

DW: Good morning to you, Scotty. Please, call me David.

Scotty: I’m very excited to get to know you. It’s funny that we share a blog, but we’ve never actually met in person. J I understand that Canada is your home and everyday you get to stare at the Canadian Rockies. What inspiration that must be? I’m so jealous, but enough about me, how are you this fine morning and how is our neighbor to the North?DW: I am wonderful, thank you, but a little soggy. My tiny corner of Canada has been getting inundated with rain over the last couple of weeks. On the one hand, it’s great because everything is green and looks so fresh; but on the other hand, I’m beginning to wonder if I should build an ark.

Scotty: LOL! Now, that I would like to see. I am so excited to interview you about “Sins of the Father,” a book you chose for this encounter and obviously one very close to your heart. The summer months are always the busiest for me and I struggle to find time to read or write for that matter, but let me just say that once I read the prologue, I made time. OMG David, the Prologue had me on the verge of tears from the get go, I felt Charlie’s despair in every word.

DW: Thank you for the kind words. The prologues written in the present tense were an afterthought. I’d written (what I believed to be) the main story, but then realized that I wanted to put the main character into context, that is provide that piece of history that would allow the reader to see what experiences had “defined” Charlie.

Scotty: I read in your bio that so many of your stories are about things and people in your life. Was this one of those books? If not, from where did you pull to write such emotion?

DW: Yes. While I was a student at university, my uncle (who was a prison guard at the local prison) had told me of all of the inmates he’d met who were (for all intents and purposes) wonderful men but who had had to overcome incredibly difficult circumstances. Many of these men had never completed high school, for one reason or another. Since I was in university to become a teacher, I asked my uncle if he could speak to the warden about me volunteering to do tutoring so that these inmates could get their high school equivalency. To make a long story short, the warden said ‘yes’ and I worked with many of the inmates to help them get their high school equivalency diploma. The idea for “Sins of the Father” came out of that experience.

Scotty: I must say however that I was indeed royally pissed that Jesse was taken from us after just meeting him. I loved his sincerity and his tenacity so much and to have to say goodbye to him so soon took me by surprise. And then having to wait to see how he died and learn the circumstances surrounding his death. What were you thinking man? J

DW: Besides the prologue written primarily from Jesse’s point of view, I wanted to show Jesse throughout the story, but using Charlie’s memories. While working with the inmates in the prison, I found the process of getting to know them quite fascinating. As they learned to trust me, they would divulge more and more information until I had a complete story, complete with details of the difficulties they’d had to face in life. As I wrote, I wanted to mirror that kind of discovery, to let the reader come to understand, little by little, how these characters had become who they are.

Scotty: Okay, I guess I’ll try to let that one go, for now. And just between you and me and our readers, I can tell you I started to feel better as I sank into the story and really got to know Charlie and the type of man he’d become despite the crap he endured in his young life.

DW: Charlie is a composite of many of the men I’d met while volunteering at the prison. I was truly inspired and humbled by the strength of will of some of these men who’d had to endure so much during their formative years. Charlie represents my deepest admiration for the indomitable spirit that I saw in so many of these men.

Scotty: That’s so impressive and kind of you to give your time to help others. You know before I started this book, I went to your website, as I do with all the authors I interview, and read you bio and perused your site. So I knew only what I learned from there, but I couldn’t help but imagine Charlie was a big part of you. You are both teachers for starters and that in itself set my mind wandering. How much of you is in Charlie?

DW: I think most writers put little bits of themselves in each of the characters they write. There are many parallels between Charlie and myself, although there are also many differences. Like Charlie, I’ve always enjoyed helping people, whether they are inmates or students or just people on the street, but unlike Charlie, my father was never in prison, nor did I lose my mother when I was 17 years old. Charlie is also a lot stronger than I think I would be given the same set of circumstances he endured.

Scotty: That would be a hell of a lot of stuff to work through and come out sane on the other end. Now Caleb, Little Pete and the other inmates acted as I thought they should, so no surprises there, but Junior/James. What a complicated man. I’m sure the emotions you portrayed in James must have been hard to write. When I write, I put myself smack dab in the middle of my story, so if you do that as well, that musty have been a real pisser.

DW: I’m a much more decisive person than James was portrayed in the story, so I found it frustrating to write James because he was so hesitant and stubborn about forgiving his father. There were many times I wanted to write a scene where father and son came together and everything would be fine, but ultimately that’s not who James is; he is a man who is still very much haunted by the feeling of betrayal and this, in the end, created the catalyst for the situation where he either learns to forgive and move on or continues to let that one moment in time define his entire life.

Scotty: I see exactly what you mean. I know from personal; experience that characters take on lives of their own and no matter how hard we try to make them do what we want them to do as authors, it never really works. It’s so hard to explain to readers how this process works, but it never fails.

With that said, it is Spicy Wednesday you know and we have to talk a little smut. You make us wait a long time for intimacy, but boy when we finally get it, it is the gift that keeps on giving. I never pictures Charlie as small or slight of build although you mention him a few times as the smaller man, but there is no question in my mind what James looks like, you painted a very vivid picture of him. Is he crafted after someone you know or did you make him up from the old noggin?

DW: James’s physical presence - his height and biker image - is based on my late husband Stefan. Like James, Stefan was very tall, very muscular and had several tattoos - long before it was fashionable to do so. Stefan was also a little haunted by events, although they had more to do with his being a gay police officer at a time when cops were seen to be the epitome of tough, macho heterosexuals. James was also inspired by many of the inmates I’d taught who never succeeded in letting go of their past, most of them allowing their lives to be defined by one or two events and thus end, tragically, too soon because of bad decisions and exercising what little power they had at the wrong time and in the wrong place.

Scotty: Wow, that’s really sad but bravo to you for the work you to do to help them have a better life when they get out and start over.

Now it wouldn’t be spicy Wednesday if I didn’t ask you to share a little dirt on yourself about writing sex scenes. I know for me, I always try to keep them as real as possible. I picture or practice J positions to make sure they work and just to overall keep it real. Do you do the same thing? Do you base your sex scenes on personal experience, so do you use personal fantasies as a foundation, do you experiences tell you about?

DW: I’ve always found the steamier scenes the most difficult to write because, on the one hand, it is erotica, but on the other, I want to use those scenes to further develop the characters. So, while I do have experience in most of these scenes, I also write scenes and acts that help the readers to understand the characters a little better; and these are experiences that I don’t necessarily have - but am aware of. If I haven’t experienced any particular act, I have several friends who are more than willing to provide me with as much detail as I can handle. (Honestly, I think they get a kick out of watching me blush and stammer my way through follow-up questions.)

Scotty: LOL, that is so funny! Now I won’t spoil the ending, but I was on the edge of my seat the last few thousand words. Know it can’t end like this. Yes this is it, get used to it. No wait here it comes. How can he do that? Wake up you fools! Get over here so I can beat some sense into both of you! Did you know the ending before writing the story or did you make it up as you went?

DW: Once I have an idea for a story, I usually let it roll around in my brain for as long as it takes for me to consider all possibilities; and then I choose the scenes and ending that appeal to me the most. In the case of “Sins of the Father”, I had a different ending in mind, but by the time I’d finished writing most of the novel, I didn’t really want to put Charlie and James through the ending I had originally planned. So, I changed it to give Charlie and James what I thought they deserved.

Scotty: Bravo, I couldn’t have taken any other ending! So, what’s next fro DW Marchwell?

DW: I continue to write -when I have the time - and am currently working on getting several stories out of my head and down on paper. As the stories are completed, I will keep readers posted via Facebook and my website in regards to possible publication.

Scotty: David, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. I loved this story and I’m sure our readers will as well. Thanks Again.

Email: dwmarchwell@gmail.com

Website: marchwellbooks.ca

Facebook: D.W. Marchwell

Novels:
Good to Know
An Earlier Heaven
Roots and Wings
Falling
When Memory Fails
Sins of the Father
A Still Small Voice

Short stories:
Until
Comfort
With Gladness (free read available on my website)
Mitchell’s Presence (part of Christmas anthology 2009)
Holding Purpose (part of “Wishing on a Blue Star” anthology for Patric Michael)

Welcome to Spicy Wednesday with Scotty Cade at Café Risqu...

Welcome to Spicy Wednesday with
Scotty Cade at Café Risque!


Today we're featuring my fellow blogger DW Marchwell as he talks about Sins of the Father, a recent novel released by Dreamspinner Press.
Scotty:  Good Morning Mr. Marchwell.  Can I call you David or would prefer DW?
DW:  Good morning to you, Scotty.  Please, call me David. 
Scotty:  I’m very excited to get to know you. It’s funny that we share a blog, but we’ve never actually met in person. J I understand that Canada is your home and everyday you get to stare at the Canadian Rockies. What inspiration that must be? I’m so jealous, but enough about me, how are you this fine morning and how is our neighbor to the North?
DW:  I am wonderful, thank you, but a little soggy.  My tiny corner of Canada has been getting inundated with rain over the last couple of weeks.  On the one hand, it’s great because everything is green and looks so fresh; but on the other hand, I’m beginning to wonder if I should build an ark.
Scotty: LOL! Now, that I would like to see.  I am so excited to interview you about “Sins of the Father,” a book you chose for this encounter and obviously one very close to your heart. The summer months are always the busiest for me and I struggle to find time to read or write for that matter, but let me just say that once I read the prologue, I made time. OMG David, the Prologue had me on the verge of tears from the get go, I felt Charlie’s despair in every word.
DW:  Thank you for the kind words.  The prologues written in the present tense were an afterthought.  I’d written (what I believed to be) the main story, but then realized that I wanted to put the main character into context, that is provide that piece of history that would allow the reader to see what experiences had “defined” Charlie.
Scotty:  I read in your bio that so many of your stories are about things and people in your life. Was this one of those books? If not, from where did you pull to write such emotion?
DW:  Yes.  While I was a student at university, my uncle (who was a prison guard at the local prison) had told me of all of the inmates he’d met who were (for all intents and purposes) wonderful men but who had had to overcome incredibly difficult circumstances.  Many of these men had never completed high school, for one reason or another.  Since I was in university to become a teacher, I asked my uncle if he could speak to the warden about me volunteering to do tutoring so that these inmates could get their high school equivalency.  To make a long story short, the warden said ‘yes’ and I worked with many of the inmates to help them get their high school equivalency diploma.  The idea for “Sins of the Father” came out of that experience.
Scotty:  I must say however that I was indeed royally pissed that Jesse was taken from us after just meeting him. I loved his sincerity and his tenacity so much and to have to say goodbye to him so soon took me by surpriseDW:  Besides the prologue written primarily from Jesse’s point of view, I wanted to show Jesse throughout the story, but using Charlie’s memories.  While working with the inmates in the prison, I found the process of getting to know them quite fascinating.  As they learned to trust me, they would divulge more and more information until I had a complete story, complete with details of the difficulties they’d had to face in life.  As I wrote, I wanted to mirror that kind of discovery, to let the reader come to understand, little by little, how these characters had become who they are.
Scotty:  Okay, I guess I’ll try to let that one go, for now. And just between you and me and our readers, I can tell you I started to feel better as I sank into the story and really got to know Charlie and the type of man he’d become despite the crap he endured in his young life.
DW:  Charlie is a composite of many of the men I’d met while volunteering at the prison.  I was truly inspired and humbled by the strength of will of some of these men who’d had to endure so much during their formative years.  Charlie represents my deepest admiration for the indomitable spirit that I saw in so many of these men.
Scotty:  That’s so impressive and kind of you to give your time to help others.  You know before I started this book, I went to your website, as I do with all the authors I interview, and read you bio and perused your site. So I knew only what I learned from there, but I couldn’t help but imagine Charlie was a big part of you. You are both teachers for starters and that in itself set my mind wandering. How much of you is in Charlie?
DW:  I think most writers put little bits of themselves in each of the characters they write.  There are many parallels between Charlie and myself, although there are also many differences.  Like Charlie, I’ve always enjoyed helping people, whether they are inmates or students or just people on the street, but unlike Charlie, my father was never in prison, nor did I lose my mother when I was 17 years old.  Charlie is also a lot stronger than I think I would be given the same set of circumstances he endured.
Scotty: That would be a hell of a lot of stuff to work through and come out sane on the other end. Now Caleb, Little Pete and the other inmates acted as I thought they should, so no surprises there, but Junior/James. What a complicated man. I’m sure the emotions you portrayed in James must have been hard to write. When I write, I put myself smack dab in the middle of my story, so if you do that as well, that musty have been a real pisser.
DW:  I’m a much more decisive person than James was portrayed in the story, so I found it frustrating to write James because he was so hesitant and stubborn about forgiving his father.  There were many times I wanted to write a scene where father and son came together and everything would be fine, but ultimately that’s not who James is; he is a man who is still very much haunted by the feeling of betrayal and this, in the end, created the catalyst for the situation where he either learns to forgive and move on or continues to let that one moment in time define his entire life.
Scotty: I see exactly what you mean. I know from personal; experience that characters take on lives of their own and no matter how hard we try to make them do what we want them to do as authors, it never really works. It’s so hard to explain to readers how this process works, but it never fails.
With that said, it is Spicy Wednesday you know and we have to talk a little smut. You make us wait a long time for intimacy, but boy when we finally get it, it is the gift that keeps on giving. I never pictures Charlie as small or slight of build although you mention him a few times as the smaller man, but there is no question in my mind what James looks like, you painted a very vivid picture of him. Is he crafted after someone you know or did you make him up from the old noggin?
DW:  James’s physical presence - his height and biker image - is based on my late husband Stefan.  Like James, Stefan was very tall, very muscular and had several tattoos - long before it was fashionable to do so.  Stefan was also a little haunted by events, although they had more to do with his being a gay police officer at a time when cops were seen to be the epitome of tough, macho heterosexuals.  James was also inspired by many of the inmates I’d taught who never succeeded in letting go of their past, most of them allowing their lives to be defined by one or two events and thus end, tragically, too soon because of bad decisions and exercising what little power they had at the wrong time and in the wrong place. 
Scotty: Wow, that’s really sad but bravo to you for the work you to do to help them have a better life when they get out and start over.
Now it wouldn’t be spicy Wednesday if I didn’t ask you to share a little dirt on yourself about writing sex scenes. I know for me, I always try to keep them as real as possible. I picture or practice J positions to make sure they work and just to overall keep it real. Do you do the same thing? Do you base your sex scenes on personal experience, so do you use personal fantasies as a foundation, do you experiences tell you about?
DW:  I’ve always found the steamier scenes the most difficult to write because, on the one hand, it is erotica, but on the other, I want to use those scenes to further develop the characters.  So, while I do have experience in most of these scenes, I also write scenes and acts that help the readers to understand the characters a little better; and these are experiences that I don’t necessarily have - but am aware of.  If I haven’t experienced any particular act, I have several friends who are more than willing to provide me with as much detail as I can handle.  (Honestly, I think they get a kick out of watching me blush and stammer my way through follow-up questions.)
Scotty: LOL, that is so funny! Now I won’t spoil the ending, but I was on the edge of my seat the last few thousand words. Know it can’t end like this. Yes this is it, get used to it. No wait here it comes. How can he do that? Wake up you fools! Get over here so I can beat some sense into both of you!  Did you know the ending before writing the story or did you make it up as you went?
DW:  Once I have an idea for a story, I usually let it roll around in my brain for as long as it takes for me to consider all possibilities; and then I choose the scenes and ending that appeal to me the most.  In the case of “Sins of the Father”, I had a different ending in mind, but by the time I’d finished writing most of the novel, I didn’t really want to put Charlie and James through the ending I had originally planned.  So, I changed it to give Charlie and James what I thought they deserved. 
Scotty: Bravo, I couldn’t have taken any other ending! So, what’s next fro DW Marchwell?
DW:  I continue to write -when I have the time - and am currently working on getting several stories out of my head and down on paper.  As the stories are completed, I will keep readers posted via Facebook and my website in regards to possible publication.
Scotty:  David, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. I loved this story and I’m sure our readers will as well.  Thanks Again.
Email:  dwmarchwell@gmail.comWebsite:  marchwellbooks.caFacebook:  D.W. Marchwell
Novels:Good to KnowAn Earlier HeavenRoots and WingsFallingWhen Memory FailsSins of the FatherA Still Small Voice
Short stories:UntilComfortWith Gladness (free read available on my website)Mitchell’s Presence (part of Christmas anthology 2009)Holding Purpose (part of “Wishing on a Blue Star” anthology for Patric Michael)

Stereotyping Heroes – The Good, the Bad, and the Too Stupid To Live

 Everyone loves a hero (or heroine). For the purpose of this post, let's stick with the masculine form of the word, only because heroes are what I happen to deal in. 
Whether they wear tights and a cape, or a policeman's badge, wear a fireman's helmet or dog tags, heroes never fail to thrill us, warm our hearts, and just plain turn us on. The heroes I'm addressing in this post come in all shapes and sizes, and from all walks of life. They are the stars of the story, the man of the hour, the protagonist. 
You'd think it would be easy to write a shining star of a hero, wouldn't you? I mean, just put in everything you ever wanted in a man -- good looks, great body, and a fantastic personality, right? Throw in loyalty, honesty, and a sense of humor; add in kindness, empathy, a love of all creatures great and small, and a healthy bank account, and you've got yourself a hero!
Wrong. What you've got is a stereotype. A bad one. 
I hate to be the one to break the news, but the perfect man does not exist.  Humans are built with flaws, every last damn one of us. Some of us tell white lies, or cheat on our income taxes or significant others, or harbor resentment of those in better social or financial situations. Others are overly concerned with their physical appearance, or overly critical of someone else's. Some folks eat too much, drink too much, smoke too much, fill-in-the-blank too much. 
In short, we are a species riddled with flaws.  
Does that mean our heroes should be written as self-serving, self-indulging assholes? Of course not. But they shouldn't be perfect, either. 
In fanfiction, there's a term called "Mary Sue," or "Marty Sue."  It's applied to stories that are obviously self-inserts (which sounds a whole lot dirtier than it actually is), those in which authors have created characters that are reflections of the author's ideal sense of self. In other words, the hero in the story is you, the writer, were you all shiny and perfect. These heroes are caricatures, bigger than life, with perfect hair, nails, skin, bodies, and personalities. They have no chinks in their armor. They may not be wearing their capes, boots, and tights, but you just know they have them hanging in their closet, all wrapped in plastic from the dry cleaner, ready to go. 
Perfect Heroes don't ring true with readers. They're annoying, boring, predictable, and after a while, readers may begin to resent them. This is never a good thing for the story. It's the cause of many drywall dings from readers pitching a book across the room in frustration (or deleting an ebook, as the case may be). 
Another failing in protagonists is at the exact opposite of the spectrum – the Too Stupid To Live Hero. This hero is rife with flaws, ranging from laziness to pure stupidity. He's the one who runs up into the attic to avoid the zombie horde, and gets trapped there. The one who doesn't turn on the light when entering the spooky dark room where the machete-wielding maniac is waiting. The one who bats his eyes and gives nothing but adoring obedience to his lover. In writing, he fares no better than the Perfect Hero. Readers will hate him, and want to see the zombie antagonist eat his face off. They will be rooting for the bad guy to win by the end of the book, and be sorely disappointed if the Too Stupid to Live Hero...well, lives. 
We need to write characters with flaws, because we need to write human characters (or at least, humanoid), heroes who are neither too perfect nor too stupid, but just the right combination of both, with enough failings to be interesting, to engage the reader; enough for the hero to learn and grow throughout the course of the story and become a better person. 
Got a favorite character? What were his (or her) flaws? Would you like them without the flaws? With more flaws?

Song Inspirations by Cardeno C. (Uno)

Happy Monday! I hope you're all getting your week off to a good start. My post today was inspired by Amanda, who asked me to share the songs that inspire my story titles. So that's a double inspiration to start the day. I may try to order that at Starbucks and see what happens. 
To keep the length of this post manageable, I’m going to break it up. I’ll share a few story title inspiration lyrics today, a few more next week, and the week after that I’ll talk about the songs that inspired my upcoming releases. I'd love to hear from you if there are songs you think I should consider for future book inspirations.
Okay, now on with the post!
Home Again: "Love Song" by the Cure.   When I was working on this story, I went back and forth between “Home Again” and "However Far Away, However Long I Stay" for the title. This story is told in two parts: (1) Noah and Clark meeting and falling in love, and (2) Noah and Clark coming back together after an absence. Through both parts, we learn that Clark and Noah are whole when they are together, that they are each other’s home, and that this didn’t change regardless of how far away they were.Whenever I'm alone with you You make me feel like I am home again Whenever I'm alone with you You make me feel like I am whole again
Whenever I'm alone with you You make me feel like I am young again Whenever I'm alone with you You make me feel like I am fun again
However far away I will always love you However long I stay I will always love you Whatever words I say I will always love you I will always love you


Where He Ends and I Begin: "Where You End and I Begin" by Radiohead

Where He Ends and I Begin is a story of two men who have loved each other since birth, but neither realized that the other was in love with him as well. In many ways, this is a very traditional “fall in love with the boy next door” story line.When I heard this Radiohead song, it made me think of Jake and Nate. Their love has always been (from when the dinosaurs roamed the earth), but there was a gap in between (twenty-eight years of devoted friendship before they each realized the depth of the other’s feelings). Once they share those feelings and put an end to, not so much lies, but misunderstandings, the men are up in the clouds and they’ll never come down. And anyone who has read the book can attest to the fact that they eat each other alive. Frequently.There's a gap in between There's a gap where we meet Where I end and you begin
And I'm sorry for us The dinosaurs roam the earth The sky turns green Where I end and you begin
I am up in the clouds I am up in the clouds And I can't, and I can't come down
I can watch and not take part Where I end and where you start Where you, you left me alone You left me alone
X will mark the place Like the parting of the waves Like a house falling in the sea In the sea
I will eat you alive I will eat you alive I will eat you alive I will eat you alive
And there'll be no more lies There'll be no more lies There'll be no more lies There'll be no more liesHe Completes Me: "You Complete Me" by Keyshia Cole

He Completes Me is the story of Zach, a man who hasn’t felt the love of family since his father passed away as a teen, and Aaron, a man who wants desperately to be Zach’s family. If ever there were opposites, that’s Aaron and Zach, and yet, they compliment each other perfectly. Aaron helps Zach be the best man he can be and Zach helps Aaron find joy in his own life.Can you hear me out there? Have you ever had someone who loved you Never leave your side? I know you'll be here because you love me, yes, you do
I'm givin' all my life and all my love if you Promise me that you'll be here forever I'll give you all of me, I'll give you everything If you promise me you'll never leave me
What my friends say don't matter. You'll be right here from the start And I'll get on my knees, I'll give you all of me If you never leave my side, because
You love me, you complete me You hold my heart in your hands And it's okay 'cause I trust that You'll be the best man that you can Baby, you love me, yeah, oh yes, you do, yeah
And no matter what they ever say about you I'm gonna stay by your side Promise me no matter what they say about me That you're gonna be here until the end of time
'Cause you held me down when nobody was around And gave me all the love I need So give me more, don't you ever leave' Cause you complete me
I know, you love me, you complete me You hold my heart in your hands And it's okay 'cause I trust that You'll be the best man that you can
'Cause you, give me my heart back Give me my love back, baby I want it all because it's never enough Give me my heart, give me my love back I want it all because it's never enough
You love me, you complete me You hold my heart in your hands And it's okay 'cause I trust that You'll be the best man that you can
You love me, you complete me You hold my heart in your hands And it's okay 'cause I trust that You'll be the best man that you can
And it's okay I know you do, I know you do Yes, you do, I need you, too Yeah, I love you, baby, ohh
Okay, so those are the first three books and the first three songs. What do you think?