Jet Mykles's Blog, page 15

And we're done

Woohoo! Doin' the happy dance here because I just sent a readable draft of Leashed 4: Tangled Leashes to my beta readers. And I even think I'm happy with it.

So excuse me while I celebrate… *cues the music*

And, yes, for those who have and haven't noticed, I've queued the second Indigo Knights book for my next project. Haven't started yet, but will do so probably toward the end of November.

More 2011 images

I haven't been posting each time, but there are a few new images up in the 2011 gallery. I've been playing less with stories and more with Poser technical stuff — just updated to new version which is really cool! — but there are some pretties.

http://artwork.jetmykles.com/2011/

Most images are NOT worksafe.

Tangled Leashes – Leashed 4 gets a title

And I title's got to mean I've made headway, yes? Yes! I think I've finally — FINALLY — figured this puppy out and might even be close to finishing. Certainly in the next few weeks.

New title is Tangled Leashes and, boy, is it descriptive of the story. Lots going on and it's the details now that's slowing me down. Making sure I've got the flippin' magic right. Geez, it's my world, you'd think it'd be easier for me. Ha!

So that's my small update. I'll keep you posted.

Update, of sorts

I know I've been really quiet lately. I wanted to assure you that I am working, it's just slow going. 2011 hasn't been the best of writing years for me, unfortunately. First Reverb wiped me out and now Leashed 4 is kicking my ass. But that's just whiny author talk. I've been doing lots and lots of reading, much of it in series, so I find myself being just as impatient for the next story as some of my readers. So I get it. I DO get it.

It looks like Toys for Good Girls will be coming out in November so that should be fun. Again, it's a not quite Christmas story that takes place in Santa's Village which resides in a parallel universe where elves can shapeshift into reindeer or chubby little men with jolly laughs and pudgy tummies. This one's m/f though so we'll see who of Reindeer Games' audience is interested. Sorry guys, I gave it some serious thought but Bok insisted that he wasn't gay. I think Tanty's pretty cool though so hopefully some of you will enjoy her.

Leashed. Oh my gods. I've written this elsewhere but let me just say again that I have a new, profound respect for authors who write series about the same individuals. I'm not so sure I'll be doing it again anytime soon. It's one thing to write Heaven Sent or Dark Elves and keep the rules straight, but each of those books is about different people. Fresh heads. New perspectives. With one exception, Leashed is in the head of the same person! Now, don't get me wrong, I like Meg. I really do. I'm pretty sure there's a psychological reason that hers and her sister's are my only first-person narratives. Meg's head is very comfortable for me, probably because her thought patterns match mine very closely, and Noelle is a lot like Meg. Meg's not my problem. It's the rest of the crap! Oh man, decisions I made back during Two for One Deal just aren't as easy to bring to life as I'd thought. Then I had vague ideas. Now I'm reaching some of the realities. BUT… I'm determined to make it work this time. I abandoned this story last year and I'm not going to do it again. There must be something to it because when I took up the manuscript again, I thought I'd be tossing most of the old stuff out and I'm finding that, instead, I'm leaving most of it in. It's the fine tuning that was off and one relationship that I'm having a devil of a time getting to work. But, hopefully, with the help of the crit partners and a few beta readers, I'll get this one in shape in the next month or so.

What then? I think probably the second Indigo Knights. It's been awhile and I think Lance is ready to tell his story. Yes, Lance, not Danny. Not yet. I'm pretty sure our lovely lead singer will be last in this series. He's got some growing to do. (Oh my, isn't that ominous lol)

Although, y'know what? I probably shouldn't say this publicly because I'll get the pressure to actually do it (but maybe that's ok). I'm thinking I need to go back and write some fantasy. Maybe a Dark Elves offshoot or tangent story. Or maybe Colt from Sursein Judgment is ready to tell his tale. I need a world that's not ours to work in for awhile. Or maybe some entirely new world to play in. That really is — was — my first love. Swords and sorcery, magic and mystical beings in a medieval type setting. Castles. Dragons. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Sideline. If you're an author of fantasy and you want to get some research books to get a feel of medieval life, I can't recommend a particular series enough. Here's a link to Life in a Medieval City by Joseph and Frances Gies. I read these ages ago and they're terrific. Not too in depth but not elementary either. They give you a great feel of real life and ideas of what kind of detail to put in stories. The same authors have a few other books and I'd recommend them too. And now they're on Kindle!!!

But, that's down the way. First, must tackle Meg and the boys and beat them into submission! Uh, I mean, see what they have to say.

Interview at Nightlight

DM Sands interviewed me for the Nightlight blog.

http://noonnight.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-virtual-sit-down-with-jet-mykles.html

If you're in Philadelphia August 12…

An Evening of Gay Men's Romance at Giovanni's Room

Philadelphia, PA (August 12, 2011) Join MLR Press at Giovanni's Room for an up close and personal book signing featuring the award winning authors of some of the best in contemporary gay fiction.  The evening will include readings by: Victor Banis, Ally Blue, James Buchanan, Z.A. Maxfield, William Neale, and Rick R. Reed. Selections from their current releases will showcase a variety of heat, from sweet romance

Giovanni's Room, founded in 1973, is the oldest gay bookstore in the US. Housed in historic buildings from the 1800s, Giovanni's intimate setting and comfortable ambiance allows readers and authors to connect one-on-one, providing a unique experience. Attendees can mingle with their favorite author or discover new books and authors.

Owned by best-selling, award-winning author Laura Baumbach, MLR Press offers the highest quality stories to readers of gay fiction and erotic romance. MLR Press titles include multiple award-winning and Lambda nominated books such as the Donald Strachey Mystery Series by Richard Stevenson and The Golden Age of Gay Fiction edited by Drewey Wayne Gunn, a Benjamin Franklin Award winner. Books from MLR Press take readers on amazing adventures through the creative minds of a small, select group of bright, uniquely talented authors and artists.

Friday, August 12, 2011

5:30 to 7:00 pm

Giovanni's Room

345 S. 12th Street

Philadelphia, PA

Also attending and signing books: Laura Baumbach, Kimberly Gardner, Ethan Day, Jet Mykles, Diana DeRicci, Taylor Donovan, Liz Strange, DH Star, David Juhren, and Karenna Colcroft.

For additional information:

http://www.giovannisroom.com/event/evening-gay-mens-romance

###

MLR Press information: http://www.mlrbooks.com/books.php  

A Discussion with Muses

I posted a little bit of nonsense over at Fiction with Friction. A discussion I had with Luc, Radin, Michael and a few other characters from my stories.

http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2011/07/30/a-discussion-with-muses/

Edit the past – FWF

New post at Fiction with Friction today. A little bit about my troubles with Leashed 4.

New Images – m/m

Two new m/m images in my 2011 gallery

Been Reading – FWF

Posted a bit of chatter at Fiction with Friction today.