Kaje Harper's Blog, page 39
August 12, 2012
Going to GayRomLit in October
For those who haven't heard of it, GayRomLit is a retreat for writers and readers of gay romance to get together, talk about books, have fun and treat fictional characters like they are friends...This year's event will occur October 18-21, 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Last year's retreat took place in New Orleans, and a wonderful time was apparently had by all. As a new writer at the time, I didn't go. But hearing the stories coming back from people who did attend, I thought "Maybe someday." I didn't think someday would be yet. I'm horribly shy in groups, although I can fake it. And then there's the cost of the trip, even though the registration isn't that much, but there's the flight and... I had all kinds of excuses.
But the death of William Neale before I had a chance to meet him was a nudge of one kind, and I met writer K-lee Klein and we talked for three hours without me saying anything too stupid (I hope.) And I got a royalty check that would cover the trip. So I went ahead and signed up.
I'm going as a reader, since author sign-ups are full. That means I'm not doing any of the Author Q&A or excerpt-readings, and I probably won't have an official spot at the book signing (unless they decide to squeeze me in.) But that's okay; I just want to hang out and maybe meet a few people, and listen to some of my favorite authors who will be there. You can find the current list of authors participating in some of the events on author and organizer Ethan Day's website. I'll be around with my nametag on if anyone does want a book signed or something. So I'm looking forward to it, wishing only slightly that I was an extrovert and did drink. But I expect I'll find some fun regardless. Last I looked there were a handful of late-registration spots still open, if anyone else is inspired to make the trip. I look forward to seeing some of you in New Mexico. Check out the darker corners - you'll probably find me there.
Last year's retreat took place in New Orleans, and a wonderful time was apparently had by all. As a new writer at the time, I didn't go. But hearing the stories coming back from people who did attend, I thought "Maybe someday." I didn't think someday would be yet. I'm horribly shy in groups, although I can fake it. And then there's the cost of the trip, even though the registration isn't that much, but there's the flight and... I had all kinds of excuses.
But the death of William Neale before I had a chance to meet him was a nudge of one kind, and I met writer K-lee Klein and we talked for three hours without me saying anything too stupid (I hope.) And I got a royalty check that would cover the trip. So I went ahead and signed up.
I'm going as a reader, since author sign-ups are full. That means I'm not doing any of the Author Q&A or excerpt-readings, and I probably won't have an official spot at the book signing (unless they decide to squeeze me in.) But that's okay; I just want to hang out and maybe meet a few people, and listen to some of my favorite authors who will be there. You can find the current list of authors participating in some of the events on author and organizer Ethan Day's website. I'll be around with my nametag on if anyone does want a book signed or something. So I'm looking forward to it, wishing only slightly that I was an extrovert and did drink. But I expect I'll find some fun regardless. Last I looked there were a handful of late-registration spots still open, if anyone else is inspired to make the trip. I look forward to seeing some of you in New Mexico. Check out the darker corners - you'll probably find me there.
August 7, 2012
Brief update and no, Home Work is not out, sorry
I just found out that if you give a book a release month on Goodreads and don't specify a day, it defaults to the first of the month. Which apparently has resulted in readers being told that Home Work came out on August 1st. Sorry, but no, that was Goodreads' error. My fault for not anticipating that such a thing might happen. I still have my fingers crossed for the end of the month, but some unforeseen problems the publisher has run into are making things slow. We'll have to wait and see.
On the plus side, my short story Tumbling Dreams in the Going for Gold anthology is due to release in about two weeks. I'll blog about that soon, when I have details.
My apologies to anyone who was confused, and thanks for being interested enough in my work to have me on your monthly updates list.
On the plus side, my short story Tumbling Dreams in the Going for Gold anthology is due to release in about two weeks. I'll blog about that soon, when I have details.
My apologies to anyone who was confused, and thanks for being interested enough in my work to have me on your monthly updates list.
July 29, 2012
Show Me Yours
Show Me Yours my second free story for the M/M Romance group's Love is Always Right event
is posted. You can now download it from Goodreads - here in several formats, hopefully this time with the gorgeous cover from Enny Kraft in place
Josh and Trey have been friends since they were kids, but Josh moved away when they were both seventeen. Their bond has been thinned by distance, by the weight of secrets withheld and a trust betrayed. For years now they've only exchanged short emails and occasional calls, over too many miles to cross. Trey's been willing to live with that, even encouraged it. Because letting Josh get close again might make keeping Trey's secrets impossible.
When Josh shows up on Trey's doorstep with a request for help, it could well be an unmitigated disaster. But Trey finds he can't say no. This is Josh asking Trey to lend a hand. Josh, the guy who still pushes every other man Trey ever looked at to second place. So Trey's going to take the chance and say yes. He's going to grab a few days with the straight guy he never stopped loving, take what crumbs he can get, and damn the consequences. Although those consequences may not turn out to be the ones Trey's expecting.
I hope you enjoy this story. I'm very grateful to Jen and the M/M group for the effort they put into this event, for the editing and formatting and posting of the stories, and all the work that went into providing 147 free reads for us. I really appreciate having my stories bookending the event, up first and last. Now I'm going to go catch up with some of the other wonderful stories that came in between. I've enjoyed all of the ones I've read so far, but I'm sure there are other gems waiting to be found. And thanks to all the other authors, who are saving my book budget and delighting me with the power of their imaginations. LiAW has been a wonderful event, and I'm sad to see it end. (Although not sad to have this story finally posted :)
is posted. You can now download it from Goodreads - here in several formats, hopefully this time with the gorgeous cover from Enny Kraft in placeJosh and Trey have been friends since they were kids, but Josh moved away when they were both seventeen. Their bond has been thinned by distance, by the weight of secrets withheld and a trust betrayed. For years now they've only exchanged short emails and occasional calls, over too many miles to cross. Trey's been willing to live with that, even encouraged it. Because letting Josh get close again might make keeping Trey's secrets impossible.
When Josh shows up on Trey's doorstep with a request for help, it could well be an unmitigated disaster. But Trey finds he can't say no. This is Josh asking Trey to lend a hand. Josh, the guy who still pushes every other man Trey ever looked at to second place. So Trey's going to take the chance and say yes. He's going to grab a few days with the straight guy he never stopped loving, take what crumbs he can get, and damn the consequences. Although those consequences may not turn out to be the ones Trey's expecting.
I hope you enjoy this story. I'm very grateful to Jen and the M/M group for the effort they put into this event, for the editing and formatting and posting of the stories, and all the work that went into providing 147 free reads for us. I really appreciate having my stories bookending the event, up first and last. Now I'm going to go catch up with some of the other wonderful stories that came in between. I've enjoyed all of the ones I've read so far, but I'm sure there are other gems waiting to be found. And thanks to all the other authors, who are saving my book budget and delighting me with the power of their imaginations. LiAW has been a wonderful event, and I'm sad to see it end. (Although not sad to have this story finally posted :)
July 14, 2012
A pair of shorts
Not that kind! *minds out of the gutter*
I just got an acceptance for a story I recently wrote and submitted, about a gymnast who is Olympics-bound. The title is Tumbling Dreams and it will probably end up around 18,000 words. It's for an anthology on the Olympics titled Going for Gold from MLR press. The plan is to release the anthology around the end of August, so it will mean some pretty fast editing, but the editor on this one seems to be on top of things. It will be fun to work with someone new. I learn things from every editor I do a story with.
Working with a new editor will also be part of the fun of tidying up Gift of the Goddess , my 20,000 word short that will be in the Storm Moon Press anthology Carved in Flesh , about guys with scars. This short story is a fantasy, which is fun since it's a genre I write, but not one I've published much of. Well, unless you count werewolves.
I never used to write short stories. Before I published Life Lessons I don't think I'd ever written a short that didn't feel like the first chapter of a novel. But I'm kind of developing a taste for them. Getting in under a word limit is still not my forte, but trying can actually be fun.
I just got an acceptance for a story I recently wrote and submitted, about a gymnast who is Olympics-bound. The title is Tumbling Dreams and it will probably end up around 18,000 words. It's for an anthology on the Olympics titled Going for Gold from MLR press. The plan is to release the anthology around the end of August, so it will mean some pretty fast editing, but the editor on this one seems to be on top of things. It will be fun to work with someone new. I learn things from every editor I do a story with.
Working with a new editor will also be part of the fun of tidying up Gift of the Goddess , my 20,000 word short that will be in the Storm Moon Press anthology Carved in Flesh , about guys with scars. This short story is a fantasy, which is fun since it's a genre I write, but not one I've published much of. Well, unless you count werewolves.
I never used to write short stories. Before I published Life Lessons I don't think I'd ever written a short that didn't feel like the first chapter of a novel. But I'm kind of developing a taste for them. Getting in under a word limit is still not my forte, but trying can actually be fun.
July 2, 2012
Poutine and The Taste of Summer
Brief Encounters
, a site for M/M short story reviews, has been profiling Canadian authors over the last week, and today, July 3rd, is my turn. You can find a review of my short story
Like the Taste of Summer
. If you are interested on my take on many things Canadian, there is also
an interview
. I hope you enjoy a look at my Canadian side, still waving a bit of a maple-leaf flag despite 26 years in my well-loved Minnesota adopted home. (Although if that damned marriage-restriction amendment passes, putting a ban on gay marriage in our MN state constitution, then moving back to Canada is going to look tempting. If you're a fellow Minnesotan, get out in November and vote “No”.) And if you come by Brief Encounters, don't forget to stop in at
the giveaway post
and register for a chance to win books from the listed authors, including a chance at one book from my backlist.
I've been busy writing, since I got caught up by a call for an Olympics story – it needs a little polishing before I submit it to MLR, but maybe you'll see an unanticipated short story coming out soon. No dates yet on the stuff I have in press. When I know, you'll know.
I hope everyone north of the longest undefended border had a happy Canada Day and that everyone south of it will enjoy their holiday on the Fourth. Have fun watching things go boom and sparkle, and keep everyone's fingers safe. May the heat abate, the power stay on, and may you all have an enjoyable holiday week.
I've been busy writing, since I got caught up by a call for an Olympics story – it needs a little polishing before I submit it to MLR, but maybe you'll see an unanticipated short story coming out soon. No dates yet on the stuff I have in press. When I know, you'll know.
I hope everyone north of the longest undefended border had a happy Canada Day and that everyone south of it will enjoy their holiday on the Fourth. Have fun watching things go boom and sparkle, and keep everyone's fingers safe. May the heat abate, the power stay on, and may you all have an enjoyable holiday week.
June 23, 2012
Canadian authors, booklist, and a cover
Brief Encounters Reviews, a review site for M/M short stories, is celebrating Canadian authors for two weeks. The site will have daily interviews and story reviews for M/M romance authors who have ties to Canada. The event leads off with Kate Sherwood.
My day will be July 3rd, which is fitting as it comes between July 1, the celebration of my native country, and July 4, the independence day of my adopted home. I'll give a direct link on that day. There is also a book giveaway, which you can enter now. All you have to do to enter is post a comment. If you have all my books and don't want my any-backlist-book prize, then you can just put (Kaje Harper) in your comment to still be in the running for the other authors. Remember, listing an author in your comment means you don't want their prize book. Good luck!
I spent most of the morning getting a list of all my books up on my wordpress website, with blurbs and multiple buy or download links. Hopefully it will help readers find my work, and decide what they may be interested in. I hadn't realized how much stuff I had out until I started to list it all. To anyone who has my whole backlist, wow, and thank-you! If you have any questions or suggestions for keeping that list at its most useful, (or if I messed anything up), I'd be glad to have you comment there.
My second free Goodreads Love is Always Write story is probably not releasing until late July, but once again Enny Kraft has made me a free cover. She is amazing in both her creativity and her generosity. This will be the cover for Show Me Yours .
How she found two pictures in the limited stock-photo sites that beautifully represent two moments in the story, I don't know. But I am grateful. Now I just have to wait for Jen in the M/M Romance group to release the thing.
My day will be July 3rd, which is fitting as it comes between July 1, the celebration of my native country, and July 4, the independence day of my adopted home. I'll give a direct link on that day. There is also a book giveaway, which you can enter now. All you have to do to enter is post a comment. If you have all my books and don't want my any-backlist-book prize, then you can just put (Kaje Harper) in your comment to still be in the running for the other authors. Remember, listing an author in your comment means you don't want their prize book. Good luck!
I spent most of the morning getting a list of all my books up on my wordpress website, with blurbs and multiple buy or download links. Hopefully it will help readers find my work, and decide what they may be interested in. I hadn't realized how much stuff I had out until I started to list it all. To anyone who has my whole backlist, wow, and thank-you! If you have any questions or suggestions for keeping that list at its most useful, (or if I messed anything up), I'd be glad to have you comment there.
My second free Goodreads Love is Always Write story is probably not releasing until late July, but once again Enny Kraft has made me a free cover. She is amazing in both her creativity and her generosity. This will be the cover for Show Me Yours .
How she found two pictures in the limited stock-photo sites that beautifully represent two moments in the story, I don't know. But I am grateful. Now I just have to wait for Jen in the M/M Romance group to release the thing.
June 11, 2012
Bits and pieces
I haven't blogged in over a week so I thought I might post an update of the things I've been up to lately.
I just handed in the second edits on Home Work - Life Lessons book 3. After being wrong about the time it took to get Unexpected Demands released, I'm still not going to make predictions, but it's moving along. I also got a look at the cover. I don't have a jpeg of it yet, but it's posted on the cover artist's website: Winterheart Design I love the picture of Tony on this one.
This is the blurb:
Mac and Tony thought the hard part was over. They're together openly as a couple, sharing a home and building a life with their two children. It's what they dreamed of. But daughter Anna struggles with the changes, Ben is haunted by old secrets, Mac's job in Homicide still demands too much of his time, and Tony is caught in the middle. It's going to take everything these men can give to create a viable balance between home and work. Especially when the outside world seems determined to throw obstacles in their way.
My second LiAW story, Show Me Yours is through final edits and should release in July, although the exact date is not specified in advance - I'll post here when it does, with a link.
The YA LGBT Books group on Goodreads, of which I am a moderator, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this week. I posted a little 6K story about two teen boys and a cat on the June story thread. One of our members has also compiled all the short fiction pieces by group members, including eight or nine of mine, in one thread here. We also have contests with book prizes and special prizes of a custom YA story written by me (and another by John Goode of the Foster High books.) So if you have an interest in YA LGBT stories, you might drop on by.
I have a 20K short fantasy M/M story, Gift of the Goddess, that will be in a Storm Moon Press anthology that is beginning edits. No publication date on that one yet. So plenty to keep me busy (even without the four novels in progress.)
Thanks to everyone reading and reviewing my work - I've had some truly lovely reviews lately and they do encourage me to write more.
I just handed in the second edits on Home Work - Life Lessons book 3. After being wrong about the time it took to get Unexpected Demands released, I'm still not going to make predictions, but it's moving along. I also got a look at the cover. I don't have a jpeg of it yet, but it's posted on the cover artist's website: Winterheart Design I love the picture of Tony on this one.
This is the blurb:
Mac and Tony thought the hard part was over. They're together openly as a couple, sharing a home and building a life with their two children. It's what they dreamed of. But daughter Anna struggles with the changes, Ben is haunted by old secrets, Mac's job in Homicide still demands too much of his time, and Tony is caught in the middle. It's going to take everything these men can give to create a viable balance between home and work. Especially when the outside world seems determined to throw obstacles in their way.
My second LiAW story, Show Me Yours is through final edits and should release in July, although the exact date is not specified in advance - I'll post here when it does, with a link.
The YA LGBT Books group on Goodreads, of which I am a moderator, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this week. I posted a little 6K story about two teen boys and a cat on the June story thread. One of our members has also compiled all the short fiction pieces by group members, including eight or nine of mine, in one thread here. We also have contests with book prizes and special prizes of a custom YA story written by me (and another by John Goode of the Foster High books.) So if you have an interest in YA LGBT stories, you might drop on by.
I have a 20K short fantasy M/M story, Gift of the Goddess, that will be in a Storm Moon Press anthology that is beginning edits. No publication date on that one yet. So plenty to keep me busy (even without the four novels in progress.)
Thanks to everyone reading and reviewing my work - I've had some truly lovely reviews lately and they do encourage me to write more.
May 31, 2012
"Show Me Yours" is handed in
I've been working pretty hard on the second free story that I volunteered for, for the Love is Always Write event. (Can you say "sucker"? But it was a gorgeous picture and I couldn't resist. And I love writing the freebies.)
I just sent it off to the editing crew (and immediately noticed two more typos- aargh. But I can fix them at the proofreading.) Anyway, I also posted a little snippet of the beginning of this 47,300 word story on the group and I thought I'd put it here too. This one should also be available for download when it releases (probably sometime in July.)
I hope you like this one too (although I'm not hoping to match the amazing reception Into Deep Waters has received.)
Photo description: Two dark-haired young men share a playful moment beside the ocean, framed against a backdrop of waves crashing on a rocky shore. Both men are laughing, wet and tanned, wearing only Speedos. The slimmer man reaches forward to snag the waistband of his friend's swim trunks, pulling them back in a way that exposes part of the other man's taut, rounded ass. The more muscular man reaches back with a hand planted on his friend's close-cropped head, shoving him away.
Dear Author,
It seems like we've known one another for ever, but he doesn't really know me at all. He doesn't know I'm gay and I'm really scared what will happen when he finds out. Especially when he finds out that I don't want to be just friends anymore.
.
****Chapter 1
The doorbell rang as Trey was lifting a batch of cookies out of the oven. He jumped and caught at the cookie sheet with his unprotected free hand as it tipped. Ouch! Fuck! He set the tray on the stovetop, pushed the oven shut with his knee, and slammed on the cold water in the sink for his burned fingers. Damn, that hurt! He tossed the potholder on the counter and let the blessed coolness sluice over his reddened fingertips
The bell rang again, longer. Whoever was out there was getting impatient. Trey sighed, turned off the water, and headed for the front hallway. The tip of his thumb throbbed and he absently stuck it in his mouth as he pulled the door open. And then just about bit it off.
Josh. On his front porch. Grinning at him with that wide, little-boy grin as if it hadn't been eight years since they'd last met. As if Trey hadn't done everything in his power to keep it that way.
There was laughter in Josh's grey eyes. “Hey, Trey, still sucking your thumb?”
Trey yanked his hand out of his mouth. For a moment he fought the impulse to slam the door shut – to just pretend he hadn't opened it and rewind to that last moment before the bell rang, when the worst thing that had happened today was a burned thumb. Not possible. He coughed and found his voice.
“Josh! You?” Jesus, that was smooth. Josh's grin was fading, and Trey realized he was standing planted in his own doorway, staring at Josh like he was some kind of alien. “I mean, wow, come on in! So... what brings you to my neck of the woods?” Without warning me first. Trey stepped back, pulling the door wide, and Josh came inside, brushing past him, the grin restored.
“You mean you don't think I came just to catch up on old times?”
“Yeah, right, you spent good money on a plane ticket just for that.” Suddenly Trey didn't care. It was Josh, here, in his house, after all these years. Trey grabbed Josh in a quick rough hug, and Josh pounded his back and finished up with a noogie, the years falling away.
“It's not the first time I've been back in town, you know. You've just never been around. You travel too damned much, and never out my way either.”
Deliberately. Trey did have some traveling to do for his job, but the panic with which he'd lined up a trip every time Josh announced an impending visit had nothing to do with the urgency of work. And everything to do with this man whom Trey'd had a hopeless crush on for years. Who, judging by the pounding of Trey's heart and the way he could hardly breathe for the sheer presence of the man, he still had a crush on. They were twenty-five instead of seventeen, and of Trey's half dozen boyfriends in the last eight years, a couple had been really nice guys, but apparently it didn't matter. It was still Josh Campbell who could make him crazy just by walking in his front door.
“Yeah, that's the job,” he lied. “But you're here now. Come on and sit down. We'll grab a couple of beers. You can tell me what's up with you.”
“Sure.” Josh sniffed the air. “Wow, what's that I smell? Don't tell me you still make those chocolate-chip orange-peel cookies?”
“Want one?” Trey led the way toward the kitchen, wondering what weird coincidence had made him bake Josh's favorite on the day he showed up at the door.
“One?” Josh laughed, deeper and richer than Trey remembered. “What makes you think I want just one?”
“The fact that you're still just as skinny as you were in high-school?” Josh wasn't skinny. He had a strong lean build under his T-shirt and cutoffs. His dark hair was cut shorter than it used to be back in school, he had more hair on his arms and legs, and better muscle definition in his calves and arms. And thighs. Where Trey hadn't been looking. Really. “Sit down at the table, I'll grab the brews.”
Trey stuck his head in the fridge, pretending to choose between Corona and Dos Equis, to give himself time to cool down. He heard Josh shove a chair back and sit at the kitchen table. Trey grabbed two Dos Equis darks and turned around. Josh was sprawled at ease in the bigger chair, legs akimbo, elbows on the wooden arms, grinning at him.
“Jesus,” Josh said happily. “I'm finally here. You look great. I've missed you, all these years. I know we email and all, but I've really missed just talking to you. I'll have to buy a new laptop with a fucking web cam so we can Skype from now on. To hell with the cost.”
Trey forced a laugh. “Wow, I never thought I'd hear you say that. Aren't you the guy who still uses scotch tape for band-aids like your dad taught you to?”
“I do not!” Josh sobered a little as Trey reached out to hand over his beer. He took the cold bottle from Trey's fingers, gave him a little salute with it, and then took a long pull with his dark eyes fixed on Trey's. “I missed you,” he repeated more softly.
Trey turned away, staring out the window. Every part of him was reacting to Josh like iron filings to a magnet. Josh's voice, Josh's eyes. It was too fucking dangerous. There was a good reason he'd tried so hard to avoid this. He leaned his hips against the counter so Josh couldn't see the happy reaction of his treacherous body. “I missed you too,” Trey said lightly. “No one here is likely to repeatedly hold me down and scrub mud in my hair.”
“I only did that once.” Josh's tone was mock-indignation.
“Twice. At least.”
Josh laughed. “God. This feels like coming home. I have friends in Connecticut, but no one like you. You have to come visit me there soon. I'll show you around, introduce you to everyone.”
Including Stephanie? No, that had been college. Maybe Danielle? Or was Linda the latest? Trey couldn't keep track of Josh's girlfriends. He didn't want to. “Sure. Sometime. So what does bring you back to LA this time?”
“Besides a craving for your cookies? Which you haven't offered me yet?”
Trey's libido tried to make something suggestive out of that, but he beat it back. He grabbed a plate, put a half-dozen of the still warm cookies on it and slapped it down on the table in front of Josh. “Yeah. Besides that.”
Josh took a big bite and grinned at Trey with melted chocolate on his lip. “I need your help. It's for Aunt Julie and Uncle Ted.”
“Are they okay?” Trey didn't think he'd be grinning like that if there was a serious problem. Josh's aunt and uncle had been there for him through some difficult times, and he adored them.
“They're fine. They opened that antique store Aunt Julie always wanted in Craneshore.”
“And...?” Trey pulled out his own chair and sat, sliding under the concealment of the table and not looking at Josh, not at his sparkling eyes, not at his chocolate-smeared mouth.
“This weekend is their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Uncle Ted bought them tickets for a one-week luxury cruise with all the trimmings. The shop assistant was supposed to run the place. But yesterday, not twelve hours after they sailed, the guy got in a serious car accident. He's going to be in hospital for weeks. Aunt Julie called me in a panic, begging me to go watch the place until they could arrange to get back. Uncle Ted called me ten minutes later begging me to call Aunt Julie back and offer to watch the place for the whole week, so her dream trip wouldn't have to be cut short.”
“What did you say?” As if Trey had any doubts. Josh would do anything for Aunt Julie.
“I said yes, of course. I had vacation saved up and this isn't a busy time for us. Summer session is slow and half the profs are off for the Fourth anyway. The lab is coasting right now. I can take a week off for Aunt Julie”
“So I still don't see where I come in.” Other than living close enough for Josh to show up on his doorstep for a visit and in ten seconds wreck eight years of hard-won indifference.
Josh leaned toward Trey and gave him the big, pleading eyes that had gotten Trey in trouble so many times. “Please, Trey, you have to help me. I can't do it by myself. There's the store, with customers and selling things that I have no clue what they even are, and it's the holiday weekend so they'll be busy. Then they have a freaking hobby farm, even bigger than the old one. They have a big vegetable garden and chickens and goats for chrissake. And a pony that has hated me for years. C'mon Trey. I need you.”
Crap. No. “I can't. I... I can't get away right now.”
“Please? Last week you told me your boss was threatening to take away your accrued vacation if you didn't take some of it. You said things were slow. It's just for a week.”
Trey cursed himself. Damn his big mouth. “Something has come up.” Like my dick. “I really can't.”
Josh stared at him with hurt surprise. Trey was surprised too. When had he ever had the strength to say no to Josh when he begged for something? Not since they were about thirteen anyway. But he had to. Because Trey knew that if he spent a week with Josh now, he would tell him. He would admit to Josh Campbell that he was gay, that he'd always been gay, and that no one else had ever made him feel the way he felt looking at Josh. That would kill even their tenuous long-distance friendship dead right there. No hope in hell of getting past it with their history.
“Look, Josh. You'll be fine. You can cope for a week, I'm sure. I have a lot to do here with work and all. I'm sorry.”
Josh looked at him, slowly drinking his beer. Trey saw his friend's eyes go dull and disappointed. “Okay, of course you're right. I'll figure something out. Maybe hire one of the locals. I just thought it would be fun, you and me. It was a dumb idea.”
“No, man, it wasn't dumb. I just... I can't right now.”
Josh gave him that familiar, crooked shrug. “Oblivious then. Assuming I could just walk into your life after eight years and expect you to drop everything for me, like we were still best friends.” He sat back in his chair, picked up a cookie, and bit into it decisively. “Mm. At least these are still good,” he mumbled around the crumbs. “So, I wanted to take a break between the flight and driving out there anyway. I've got some time. Tell me about your nursing home project, the one you were obsessing over. How did it go? Did you figure out how to get your peeping-Tom sensors to tell you when Grandma's shower has been too long?”
“Hey, it's valuable stuff. If we can catch even one senior with a health crisis through our monitoring system...”
“I know. I really am interested. It was just the image of you recording octogenarians in the bathroom.” Josh kicked his ankle. “We've barely even IM'd in ages. I figured maybe you'd developed a new kink.”
“Senior citizens? Um, no.” You don't want to know about my real kinks.
They chatted casually for the next half hour, about things that hadn't made it into emails. Trey complained about the fact that the sensor manufacturers he worked with all seemed to be based in boring cities like Pittsburgh. Josh talked about how no one else in the lab seemed to clean up after their damned selves and how it was always the most expensive culture ingredients that had the shortest shelf life. They both bitched about traffic and long commutes. Trey won that one just by virtue of living in LA, where ten miles could take an hour, if they were the wrong ten miles. He made it sound amusing, watching Josh's face.
“I haven't forgotten,” Josh said. “Remember the time the school had that field trip to the MOCA and the bus got so stuck in traffic they had to give it up? Not that any of us was devastated that we didn't get to spend the day with contemporary art.”
“I remember.” Three hours stuck on the bus, slouched in the seat next to Josh, vividly aware of their bare sweaty thighs side-by-side on the sticky vinyl... all his memories seemed to be filtered though a haze of Josh. It was a fucked up kind of pain and pleasure to hear them dragged to light in this new deeper Josh-voice. He shifted restlessly.
“Hey, want to see the upstairs floors I refinished? That was a hell of a job.” No more reminiscing.
Trey liked his place. It was just a rental, but the landlord was easygoing and after three years Trey had it pretty much fixed up, with colorful walls, the stained carpet taken up to expose wood floors that he'd finished on his own time, the heavy drapes replaced with light fabric shades. Trey skipped the bedroom. Not only didn't he want Josh standing next to his bed, but the pictures on the walls, although artistic, would leave no need to verbally come out of the closet.
They ended up in the front entry. Now that Josh was thinking about leaving, Trey suddenly desperately wanted to prolong the visit. He said, “How about dinner? It's past four now. Do you want to stick around for an hour or two, maybe go to Grady's Bar and Grill?” Josh had loved Grady's BBQ ribs, back when he lived here. It had been a rare treat, since they'd been too young to set foot in the place. Sometimes Trey's dad had brought a batch home for takeout.
Josh looked tempted but then shook his head. “I shouldn't. I haven't been to Aunt Julie's new place since they bought it. I'd really rather make the drive in the daylight.”
“Okay.” It was for the best. Really it was.
Josh looked at Trey for a minute, his eyes dark and a little sad. “So can I maybe stop by when the week's over? See you before I hop back on the plane and go home?”
“Christ.” A sad Josh just hit Trey where he lived, even after all this time. Trey wanted to hug him and didn't dare. “Of course. I'd be sorry if you didn't. You know I'd like to help you out with your aunt and uncle's place. I just can't.”
“It's okay. No worries.” He held out a hand.
Trey took it slowly. He was freaking shaking hands with Josh, like they were business acquaintances. He let go of their grip and stepped back.
“Come on out next weekend, maybe, if you want to see the store.” Josh gave Trey a wry smile. “And the goats and the Josh-eating pony. You're welcome any time. It's only a couple of hours away. I'll email you directions.”
And then he was gone.
Trey wandered back into the suddenly-empty kitchen. Damn the man. How dare Josh come walking back into his life with his grin and his energy, and the familiar smell of his skin when Trey hugged him, and the way he moved so balanced and easy... How dare he drop by for one measly hour and suddenly make the rest of Trey's life feel pointless and empty?
Trey picked the empty plate and the beer bottles off the table and stuck them in the sink. There were still a dozen cookies on the tray.
He'd eaten five of them, standing and staring out the kitchen window, before he realized what he was doing. Shit. He got a Tupperware and put the rest away before he could finish the lot. Unlike Josh, he had to work to keep the weight off. He was proud of his body and he wasn't going to mess that up just because...
Exercise. Exercise would be good.
****
I just sent it off to the editing crew (and immediately noticed two more typos- aargh. But I can fix them at the proofreading.) Anyway, I also posted a little snippet of the beginning of this 47,300 word story on the group and I thought I'd put it here too. This one should also be available for download when it releases (probably sometime in July.)
I hope you like this one too (although I'm not hoping to match the amazing reception Into Deep Waters has received.)
Photo description: Two dark-haired young men share a playful moment beside the ocean, framed against a backdrop of waves crashing on a rocky shore. Both men are laughing, wet and tanned, wearing only Speedos. The slimmer man reaches forward to snag the waistband of his friend's swim trunks, pulling them back in a way that exposes part of the other man's taut, rounded ass. The more muscular man reaches back with a hand planted on his friend's close-cropped head, shoving him away.
Dear Author,
It seems like we've known one another for ever, but he doesn't really know me at all. He doesn't know I'm gay and I'm really scared what will happen when he finds out. Especially when he finds out that I don't want to be just friends anymore.
.
****Chapter 1
The doorbell rang as Trey was lifting a batch of cookies out of the oven. He jumped and caught at the cookie sheet with his unprotected free hand as it tipped. Ouch! Fuck! He set the tray on the stovetop, pushed the oven shut with his knee, and slammed on the cold water in the sink for his burned fingers. Damn, that hurt! He tossed the potholder on the counter and let the blessed coolness sluice over his reddened fingertips
The bell rang again, longer. Whoever was out there was getting impatient. Trey sighed, turned off the water, and headed for the front hallway. The tip of his thumb throbbed and he absently stuck it in his mouth as he pulled the door open. And then just about bit it off.
Josh. On his front porch. Grinning at him with that wide, little-boy grin as if it hadn't been eight years since they'd last met. As if Trey hadn't done everything in his power to keep it that way.
There was laughter in Josh's grey eyes. “Hey, Trey, still sucking your thumb?”
Trey yanked his hand out of his mouth. For a moment he fought the impulse to slam the door shut – to just pretend he hadn't opened it and rewind to that last moment before the bell rang, when the worst thing that had happened today was a burned thumb. Not possible. He coughed and found his voice.
“Josh! You?” Jesus, that was smooth. Josh's grin was fading, and Trey realized he was standing planted in his own doorway, staring at Josh like he was some kind of alien. “I mean, wow, come on in! So... what brings you to my neck of the woods?” Without warning me first. Trey stepped back, pulling the door wide, and Josh came inside, brushing past him, the grin restored.
“You mean you don't think I came just to catch up on old times?”
“Yeah, right, you spent good money on a plane ticket just for that.” Suddenly Trey didn't care. It was Josh, here, in his house, after all these years. Trey grabbed Josh in a quick rough hug, and Josh pounded his back and finished up with a noogie, the years falling away.
“It's not the first time I've been back in town, you know. You've just never been around. You travel too damned much, and never out my way either.”
Deliberately. Trey did have some traveling to do for his job, but the panic with which he'd lined up a trip every time Josh announced an impending visit had nothing to do with the urgency of work. And everything to do with this man whom Trey'd had a hopeless crush on for years. Who, judging by the pounding of Trey's heart and the way he could hardly breathe for the sheer presence of the man, he still had a crush on. They were twenty-five instead of seventeen, and of Trey's half dozen boyfriends in the last eight years, a couple had been really nice guys, but apparently it didn't matter. It was still Josh Campbell who could make him crazy just by walking in his front door.
“Yeah, that's the job,” he lied. “But you're here now. Come on and sit down. We'll grab a couple of beers. You can tell me what's up with you.”
“Sure.” Josh sniffed the air. “Wow, what's that I smell? Don't tell me you still make those chocolate-chip orange-peel cookies?”
“Want one?” Trey led the way toward the kitchen, wondering what weird coincidence had made him bake Josh's favorite on the day he showed up at the door.
“One?” Josh laughed, deeper and richer than Trey remembered. “What makes you think I want just one?”
“The fact that you're still just as skinny as you were in high-school?” Josh wasn't skinny. He had a strong lean build under his T-shirt and cutoffs. His dark hair was cut shorter than it used to be back in school, he had more hair on his arms and legs, and better muscle definition in his calves and arms. And thighs. Where Trey hadn't been looking. Really. “Sit down at the table, I'll grab the brews.”
Trey stuck his head in the fridge, pretending to choose between Corona and Dos Equis, to give himself time to cool down. He heard Josh shove a chair back and sit at the kitchen table. Trey grabbed two Dos Equis darks and turned around. Josh was sprawled at ease in the bigger chair, legs akimbo, elbows on the wooden arms, grinning at him.
“Jesus,” Josh said happily. “I'm finally here. You look great. I've missed you, all these years. I know we email and all, but I've really missed just talking to you. I'll have to buy a new laptop with a fucking web cam so we can Skype from now on. To hell with the cost.”
Trey forced a laugh. “Wow, I never thought I'd hear you say that. Aren't you the guy who still uses scotch tape for band-aids like your dad taught you to?”
“I do not!” Josh sobered a little as Trey reached out to hand over his beer. He took the cold bottle from Trey's fingers, gave him a little salute with it, and then took a long pull with his dark eyes fixed on Trey's. “I missed you,” he repeated more softly.
Trey turned away, staring out the window. Every part of him was reacting to Josh like iron filings to a magnet. Josh's voice, Josh's eyes. It was too fucking dangerous. There was a good reason he'd tried so hard to avoid this. He leaned his hips against the counter so Josh couldn't see the happy reaction of his treacherous body. “I missed you too,” Trey said lightly. “No one here is likely to repeatedly hold me down and scrub mud in my hair.”
“I only did that once.” Josh's tone was mock-indignation.
“Twice. At least.”
Josh laughed. “God. This feels like coming home. I have friends in Connecticut, but no one like you. You have to come visit me there soon. I'll show you around, introduce you to everyone.”
Including Stephanie? No, that had been college. Maybe Danielle? Or was Linda the latest? Trey couldn't keep track of Josh's girlfriends. He didn't want to. “Sure. Sometime. So what does bring you back to LA this time?”
“Besides a craving for your cookies? Which you haven't offered me yet?”
Trey's libido tried to make something suggestive out of that, but he beat it back. He grabbed a plate, put a half-dozen of the still warm cookies on it and slapped it down on the table in front of Josh. “Yeah. Besides that.”
Josh took a big bite and grinned at Trey with melted chocolate on his lip. “I need your help. It's for Aunt Julie and Uncle Ted.”
“Are they okay?” Trey didn't think he'd be grinning like that if there was a serious problem. Josh's aunt and uncle had been there for him through some difficult times, and he adored them.
“They're fine. They opened that antique store Aunt Julie always wanted in Craneshore.”
“And...?” Trey pulled out his own chair and sat, sliding under the concealment of the table and not looking at Josh, not at his sparkling eyes, not at his chocolate-smeared mouth.
“This weekend is their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Uncle Ted bought them tickets for a one-week luxury cruise with all the trimmings. The shop assistant was supposed to run the place. But yesterday, not twelve hours after they sailed, the guy got in a serious car accident. He's going to be in hospital for weeks. Aunt Julie called me in a panic, begging me to go watch the place until they could arrange to get back. Uncle Ted called me ten minutes later begging me to call Aunt Julie back and offer to watch the place for the whole week, so her dream trip wouldn't have to be cut short.”
“What did you say?” As if Trey had any doubts. Josh would do anything for Aunt Julie.
“I said yes, of course. I had vacation saved up and this isn't a busy time for us. Summer session is slow and half the profs are off for the Fourth anyway. The lab is coasting right now. I can take a week off for Aunt Julie”
“So I still don't see where I come in.” Other than living close enough for Josh to show up on his doorstep for a visit and in ten seconds wreck eight years of hard-won indifference.
Josh leaned toward Trey and gave him the big, pleading eyes that had gotten Trey in trouble so many times. “Please, Trey, you have to help me. I can't do it by myself. There's the store, with customers and selling things that I have no clue what they even are, and it's the holiday weekend so they'll be busy. Then they have a freaking hobby farm, even bigger than the old one. They have a big vegetable garden and chickens and goats for chrissake. And a pony that has hated me for years. C'mon Trey. I need you.”
Crap. No. “I can't. I... I can't get away right now.”
“Please? Last week you told me your boss was threatening to take away your accrued vacation if you didn't take some of it. You said things were slow. It's just for a week.”
Trey cursed himself. Damn his big mouth. “Something has come up.” Like my dick. “I really can't.”
Josh stared at him with hurt surprise. Trey was surprised too. When had he ever had the strength to say no to Josh when he begged for something? Not since they were about thirteen anyway. But he had to. Because Trey knew that if he spent a week with Josh now, he would tell him. He would admit to Josh Campbell that he was gay, that he'd always been gay, and that no one else had ever made him feel the way he felt looking at Josh. That would kill even their tenuous long-distance friendship dead right there. No hope in hell of getting past it with their history.
“Look, Josh. You'll be fine. You can cope for a week, I'm sure. I have a lot to do here with work and all. I'm sorry.”
Josh looked at him, slowly drinking his beer. Trey saw his friend's eyes go dull and disappointed. “Okay, of course you're right. I'll figure something out. Maybe hire one of the locals. I just thought it would be fun, you and me. It was a dumb idea.”
“No, man, it wasn't dumb. I just... I can't right now.”
Josh gave him that familiar, crooked shrug. “Oblivious then. Assuming I could just walk into your life after eight years and expect you to drop everything for me, like we were still best friends.” He sat back in his chair, picked up a cookie, and bit into it decisively. “Mm. At least these are still good,” he mumbled around the crumbs. “So, I wanted to take a break between the flight and driving out there anyway. I've got some time. Tell me about your nursing home project, the one you were obsessing over. How did it go? Did you figure out how to get your peeping-Tom sensors to tell you when Grandma's shower has been too long?”
“Hey, it's valuable stuff. If we can catch even one senior with a health crisis through our monitoring system...”
“I know. I really am interested. It was just the image of you recording octogenarians in the bathroom.” Josh kicked his ankle. “We've barely even IM'd in ages. I figured maybe you'd developed a new kink.”
“Senior citizens? Um, no.” You don't want to know about my real kinks.
They chatted casually for the next half hour, about things that hadn't made it into emails. Trey complained about the fact that the sensor manufacturers he worked with all seemed to be based in boring cities like Pittsburgh. Josh talked about how no one else in the lab seemed to clean up after their damned selves and how it was always the most expensive culture ingredients that had the shortest shelf life. They both bitched about traffic and long commutes. Trey won that one just by virtue of living in LA, where ten miles could take an hour, if they were the wrong ten miles. He made it sound amusing, watching Josh's face.
“I haven't forgotten,” Josh said. “Remember the time the school had that field trip to the MOCA and the bus got so stuck in traffic they had to give it up? Not that any of us was devastated that we didn't get to spend the day with contemporary art.”
“I remember.” Three hours stuck on the bus, slouched in the seat next to Josh, vividly aware of their bare sweaty thighs side-by-side on the sticky vinyl... all his memories seemed to be filtered though a haze of Josh. It was a fucked up kind of pain and pleasure to hear them dragged to light in this new deeper Josh-voice. He shifted restlessly.
“Hey, want to see the upstairs floors I refinished? That was a hell of a job.” No more reminiscing.
Trey liked his place. It was just a rental, but the landlord was easygoing and after three years Trey had it pretty much fixed up, with colorful walls, the stained carpet taken up to expose wood floors that he'd finished on his own time, the heavy drapes replaced with light fabric shades. Trey skipped the bedroom. Not only didn't he want Josh standing next to his bed, but the pictures on the walls, although artistic, would leave no need to verbally come out of the closet.
They ended up in the front entry. Now that Josh was thinking about leaving, Trey suddenly desperately wanted to prolong the visit. He said, “How about dinner? It's past four now. Do you want to stick around for an hour or two, maybe go to Grady's Bar and Grill?” Josh had loved Grady's BBQ ribs, back when he lived here. It had been a rare treat, since they'd been too young to set foot in the place. Sometimes Trey's dad had brought a batch home for takeout.
Josh looked tempted but then shook his head. “I shouldn't. I haven't been to Aunt Julie's new place since they bought it. I'd really rather make the drive in the daylight.”
“Okay.” It was for the best. Really it was.
Josh looked at Trey for a minute, his eyes dark and a little sad. “So can I maybe stop by when the week's over? See you before I hop back on the plane and go home?”
“Christ.” A sad Josh just hit Trey where he lived, even after all this time. Trey wanted to hug him and didn't dare. “Of course. I'd be sorry if you didn't. You know I'd like to help you out with your aunt and uncle's place. I just can't.”
“It's okay. No worries.” He held out a hand.
Trey took it slowly. He was freaking shaking hands with Josh, like they were business acquaintances. He let go of their grip and stepped back.
“Come on out next weekend, maybe, if you want to see the store.” Josh gave Trey a wry smile. “And the goats and the Josh-eating pony. You're welcome any time. It's only a couple of hours away. I'll email you directions.”
And then he was gone.
Trey wandered back into the suddenly-empty kitchen. Damn the man. How dare Josh come walking back into his life with his grin and his energy, and the familiar smell of his skin when Trey hugged him, and the way he moved so balanced and easy... How dare he drop by for one measly hour and suddenly make the rest of Trey's life feel pointless and empty?
Trey picked the empty plate and the beer bottles off the table and stuck them in the sink. There were still a dozen cookies on the tray.
He'd eaten five of them, standing and staring out the kitchen window, before he realized what he was doing. Shit. He got a Tupperware and put the rest away before he could finish the lot. Unlike Josh, he had to work to keep the weight off. He was proud of his body and he wasn't going to mess that up just because...
Exercise. Exercise would be good.
****
May 30, 2012
Covers and spoilers
I spent a long time waffling over the new Into Deep Waters cover - because decisiveness is so not my strength. My husband claims it takes me a half hour to choose a flavor of jam at the supermarket. He's known for a little hyperbola but in this case he's not far off (although I can speed it up if the frozen food is melting in the cart...)
Oh yeah, the cover. I loved the two wedding rings on the winning cover, as an image. But I had enough people tell me that they didn't like spoilers on their cover to sadly take them off. I put a single braided ring in their place - those who've read the story will know why, and those who haven't can find out. So this is the final version (which Enny is giving me for free, the lovely woman. And she put up with all my waffling. There should be some kind of award.):
I'll get it uploaded as the cover when I figure that out. Thanks everyone for joining me in this adventure.
Oh yeah, the cover. I loved the two wedding rings on the winning cover, as an image. But I had enough people tell me that they didn't like spoilers on their cover to sadly take them off. I put a single braided ring in their place - those who've read the story will know why, and those who haven't can find out. So this is the final version (which Enny is giving me for free, the lovely woman. And she put up with all my waffling. There should be some kind of award.):
I'll get it uploaded as the cover when I figure that out. Thanks everyone for joining me in this adventure.
May 29, 2012
A Little Kindness
I'd like to ask a favor, please...
I'm just about done with the last edits on Show Me Yours, my second free Love is Always Write story. In avoiding those edits (because I loathe revising and am always looking for excuses to delay it) I've looked at some of the other LiAW stories that have come out. There are some wonderful pieces of work, and others less to my taste. But already, there is more great free reading than I have time for.
The other less-pleasant thing that struck me as I looked around was how many of them had at least one pretty-harsh review.
I want to ask you all, as you read these, to remember what this M/M Romance writing event is about.
Some of us are professionals - you have every right to expect my writing to be up to whatever standards you are looking for. If you don't like my style, if you hate one of my characters, disbelieve my plot, get bored or, hell, if you hate the color of socks my MC wears, feel free to review my story as harshly as you choose. Almost every story I've ever written has received 1-star ratings from someone. That's your right and privilege. Maybe you'll warn off other readers who hate pedantic language or green socks. Go for it.
But some of the writers for this event are putting their work in the public eye for the very first time. We ask them to do this. As Group members, we coax, and encourage, and tell them how much fun it will be. We push them to expose their creative baby to the world even if they're feeling a little unsure. And they do.
People who have never written a short story before work for a month and a half, and then tentatively, anxiously, and with tender pride, present the result to us. For free.
And some reviewers are writing reviews with one star, or exclamations points and bold letters about how wrong/bad/not to their taste the story was. I'm a pro and these would be painful for me, but they'd be part of the deal. For these new writers it seems unfair.
I'm not asking you to lie and say a story you didn't like was wonderful. I'm definitely not asking you to perjure yourself or misrepresent your tastes. All I'm asking for is a little kindness towards the amateurs and first-timers who are giving you the gift of their efforts.
Before you rate a story you didn't like, go look at the author page. If this is the only story listed, if the author has never charged anyone for their writing, be kind. If you hate the story, do you really even need to write that review? No one is losing money buying these. If someone else is going to hate it too, they'll know soon enough. If that review is going to be all about the story's failings, maybe you can just mark it as "read" and move on.
If you're determined to write your analysis of a story and it's not favorable, be polite. Don't highlight and underline it. If you can, round your stars up and not down. Find something, anything, that you did like to mention. These new writers spent many, many hours of effort, sweat and emotion in the creation of their story. (If you think that's an exaggeration, you go write one and see how demanding that first effort can be.) Perhaps in your eyes they failed. But give them some leeway and courtesy for the effort. It was a gift to you. You don't have to like it, but don't throw it back in the giver's face.
Please keep it generous, keep it kind, so I can feel truthful next year when I say to a newbie, "Try it. It's a lot of fun."
I'm just about done with the last edits on Show Me Yours, my second free Love is Always Write story. In avoiding those edits (because I loathe revising and am always looking for excuses to delay it) I've looked at some of the other LiAW stories that have come out. There are some wonderful pieces of work, and others less to my taste. But already, there is more great free reading than I have time for.
The other less-pleasant thing that struck me as I looked around was how many of them had at least one pretty-harsh review.
I want to ask you all, as you read these, to remember what this M/M Romance writing event is about.
Some of us are professionals - you have every right to expect my writing to be up to whatever standards you are looking for. If you don't like my style, if you hate one of my characters, disbelieve my plot, get bored or, hell, if you hate the color of socks my MC wears, feel free to review my story as harshly as you choose. Almost every story I've ever written has received 1-star ratings from someone. That's your right and privilege. Maybe you'll warn off other readers who hate pedantic language or green socks. Go for it.
But some of the writers for this event are putting their work in the public eye for the very first time. We ask them to do this. As Group members, we coax, and encourage, and tell them how much fun it will be. We push them to expose their creative baby to the world even if they're feeling a little unsure. And they do.
People who have never written a short story before work for a month and a half, and then tentatively, anxiously, and with tender pride, present the result to us. For free.
And some reviewers are writing reviews with one star, or exclamations points and bold letters about how wrong/bad/not to their taste the story was. I'm a pro and these would be painful for me, but they'd be part of the deal. For these new writers it seems unfair.
I'm not asking you to lie and say a story you didn't like was wonderful. I'm definitely not asking you to perjure yourself or misrepresent your tastes. All I'm asking for is a little kindness towards the amateurs and first-timers who are giving you the gift of their efforts.
Before you rate a story you didn't like, go look at the author page. If this is the only story listed, if the author has never charged anyone for their writing, be kind. If you hate the story, do you really even need to write that review? No one is losing money buying these. If someone else is going to hate it too, they'll know soon enough. If that review is going to be all about the story's failings, maybe you can just mark it as "read" and move on.
If you're determined to write your analysis of a story and it's not favorable, be polite. Don't highlight and underline it. If you can, round your stars up and not down. Find something, anything, that you did like to mention. These new writers spent many, many hours of effort, sweat and emotion in the creation of their story. (If you think that's an exaggeration, you go write one and see how demanding that first effort can be.) Perhaps in your eyes they failed. But give them some leeway and courtesy for the effort. It was a gift to you. You don't have to like it, but don't throw it back in the giver's face.
Please keep it generous, keep it kind, so I can feel truthful next year when I say to a newbie, "Try it. It's a lot of fun."
