Lisa Henry's Blog, page 11

Sweetwater. Also, underwear.

Thanks to everyone who's left comments on the Sweetwater blog tour so far. If you haven't, you still have until the 8th of October to visit these great blogs for a chance to win.



September 29, 2014 -  The Jeep Diva September 29, 2014 -  Smoocher's Voice September 29, 2014 -  Delighted Reader - Spotlight Stop September 30, 2014 -  Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews September 30, 2014 -  Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words -Spotlight Stop September 30, 2014 -  The Blogger Girls - Spotlight Stop September 30, 2014 -  Erotica For All - Spotlight Stop October 1, 2014 -  3 Chicks After Dark October 1, 2014 -  Love Bytes Reviews - Spotlight Stop October 1, 2014 -  Prism Book Alliance - Spotlight Stop October 1, 2014 -  Rainbow Gold Reviews - Spotlight Stop October 2, 2014 -  The Novel Approach - Spotlight Stop October 2, 2014 -  Book Reviews & More by Kathy -Spotlight Stop October 2, 2014 -  MM Good Book Reviews - Spotlight Stop October 2, 2014 -  Joyfully Jay October 3, 2014 -  Boys in our Books October 3, 2014 -  Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess- Spotlight Stop October 3, 2014 -  Slitsread - Spotlight Stop October 3, 2014 -  Romancing the Book

Meanwhile, for all those times that Elijah mentioned his drawers, they would have looked something like this:




Rawr.

It's Almost here: Sweetwater!

Not long now! Sweetwater, my historical western, is out on September 29. Although, if you pre-ordered it from Riptide, you’ll get it early on the 27th.

From the 29th, I’ll be doing a blog tour. If you want the chance to win a $20 Riptide gift card and any title from my backlist, just follow the tour and leave a comment to enter the draw.

Psst: you can read an excerpt of Sweetwater here.
And you can follow the blog tour at the links below:





September 29, 2014 - The Jeep Diva
September 29, 2014 - Smoocher's Voice
September 29, 2014 - Delighted Reader - Spotlight Stop
September 30, 2014 - Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
September 30, 2014 - Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words - Spotlight Stop
September 30, 2014 - The Blogger Girls - Spotlight Stop
September 30, 2014 - Erotica For All - Spotlight Stop
October 1, 2014 - 3 Chicks After Dark
October 1, 2014 - Love Bytes Reviews - Spotlight Stop
October 1, 2014 - Prism Book Alliance - Spotlight Stop
October 1, 2014 - Rainbow Gold Reviews - Spotlight Stop
October 2, 2014 - The Novel Approach - Spotlight Stop
October 2, 2014 - Book Reviews & More by Kathy - Spotlight Stop
October 2, 2014 - MM Good Book Reviews - Spotlight Stop
October 2, 2014 - Joyfully Jay
October 3, 2014 - Boys in our Books
October 3, 2014 - Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess - Spotlight Stop
October 3, 2014 - Slitsread - Spotlight Stop
October 3, 2014 - Romancing the Book



 Wyoming Territory, 1870.

Elijah Carter is afflicted. Most of the townsfolk of South Pass City treat him as a simpleton because he’s deaf, but that’s not what shames him the most. Something in Elijah runs contrary to nature and to God. Something that Elijah desperately tries to keep hidden.
Harlan Crane, owner of the Empire saloon, knows Elijah for what he is—and for all the ungodly things he wants. And Crane isn’t the only one. Grady Mullins desires Elijah too, but unlike Crane, he refuses to push or mistreat the young man.
When violence shatters Elijah’s world, he is caught between two very different men and two devastating urges: revenge and despair. In a boomtown teetering on the edge of a bust, Elijah must face what it means to be a man in control of his own destiny, and choose a course that might end his life . . . or truly begin it for the very first time.

Coming Soon - Brandon Mills versus the V-Card

In exciting news, JA Rock and I have a release date for Brandon Mills versus the V-Card, the second in our Prescott College series. For those of you playing at home, the date is October 28!




Dinosaurs. Brandon and Alex love them.


I don’t know what it is with the Prescott books, but the timing is always terrible for me when it comes to promo. When Mark Cooper versus America came out, I was in hospital and, despite all my best intentions to get some work done while in there, I spent a lot more time being unconscious than I’d intended. Also being on drugs that made me very happy and floaty.


Brandon Mills is out the week after GRL, and I’ll be in San Francisco that week with my friend Kate, who I met a gazillion years on my first day of school at Goondiwindi State High. So, once again, the lion’s share of the blogging and stuff will be down to JA. But I will totally pay her back in chocolate. She knows I’m good for it.


But you can’t have a sequel without a three-quel, right? That’s a word now. So, from the kinkfest of Mark Cooper versus America , to the awkward sweetness of Brandon Mills versus the V-Card , to:


Ta da!


Liam McDermott versus Authority .


This is the working title for our third Prescott book. And yes, there will be kink. There will be a D/s relationship. And, for Liam McDermott, college will mean a very steep learning curve.
  

The blog post I never wanted to write.

On paper, a dog shouldn’t mean so much. But often things aren’t the same on paper as they are in your heart.

Today I had to get Cleo put to sleep. The vet said it could take up to a minute, but it was a matter of seconds, really. She was old, and she was hurting, and she went very quickly.

So I’m a mess, of course.

Twelve years is a long time. I think it will take me a while to be able to go to sleep without listening for her claws clicking across the floors, as she’d flop down beside my bed with a long sigh before snoring like a chainsaw.

























This is a pic of Cleo and her BFF Grub, being accidentally photogenic. 

Once upon a time – and I’ve probably told this story before – Cleo ate Christmas.

It was my first year in my own house, and I was going to make the latticed veranda beautiful. I went and spent a lot of money on Christmas lights and decorations, then spent hours threading them through the lattice. Hours, getting the spacing just right. My arms and shoulders were killing me by the time I was finished. I flicked the lights on once to make sure they worked.

God, it would look so good at night when I turned them on. I could hardly wait!
Then, studying the molding above the front door, I thought to myself, That would look great with a piece of tinsel above it.

I went inside to get some tinsel.


And, in the thirty seconds I was gone, the dog chewed through the power cord for the lights. Hours of painstaking work with a chair and a step ladder… ruined.

“We are never doing Christmas again!”

I pulled all the lights and the tinsel and the decorations down while I ranted and raved and had a meltdown, and the dog just sat and placidly watched me go insane.

“Never again!”

We did, of course. Lots of times. And Cleo never really lost the uncanny ability to hone in on the things I least wanted eaten, and eat them. My brother-in-law’s new expensive sunglasses. Books. Yummy crunchy CDs. Any bra she could reach.

She was fun and stupid and lazy and sneaky and sweet and stinky and happy and naughty and bouncy.


I’m going to miss her like hell.

What's another word for...

So here's something interesting that I stumbled across on thesaurus.org: the word "masochist." Notice anything depressing about the suggested synonyms?

 

Not only are they all highly inaccurate, but the suggestions with the most votes are: 
degenerate 
pervert
deviate 


I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. And I'm not, really. I am annoyed though. I'm annoyed that the so-called synonyms have to come wrapped in a negative value judgement. And I'm annoyed at the assumption that any of the words on this list even come close to being anything like a synonym. All of those things on that list are very, very different, and very, very specific. 


And sure, of course I shouldn't be relying on some website that suggests avocado as a possible synonym for oak, but it's different. An oak does not equal an avocado. The comparison is stupid, but it's not offensive. 





Oaks aren't avocados, any more than masochists are degenerate. 


I'd say the whole thing is like comparing apples and oranges, but then thesaurus.org probably can't tell the difference. 

Bliss is here!

Yay! Bliss is here! Well, it is if you've pre-ordered through Riptide. Otherwise it'll be here on the 18th! 





They're always happy.

Rory James has worked hard all his life to become a citizen of the idyllic city-state of Beulah. Like every other kid born in the neighboring country of Tophet, he’s heard the stories: No crime or pollution. A house and food for everyone. It’s perfect, and Rory is finally getting a piece of it.

So is Tate Patterson. He’s from Tophet, too, but he’s not a legal immigrant; he snuck in as a thief. A city without crime seems like an easy score, until he crashes into Rory during a getaway and is arrested for assaulting a citizen. Instead of jail, Tate is enrolled in Beulah’s Rehabilitation through Restitution program. By living with and serving his victim for seven years, Tate will learn the human face of his crimes.If it seems too good to be true, that’s because it is.

Tate is fitted with a behavior-modifying chip that leaves him unable to disobey orders—any orders, no matter how dehumanizing. Worse, the chip prevents him from telling Rory, the one man in all of Beulah who might care about him, the truth: in a country without prisons, Tate is locked inside his own mind.

*** 

If you want to read the first few chapters of Bliss for free, go and check it out at Riptide! 


And don't forget you can join the blog tour and win an awesome prize! Heidi and I will be touring here: 


August 18, 2014 - Joyfully Jay
August 18, 2014 - On Top Down Under Book Reviews
August 18, 2014 - MM Good Book Reviews - Spotlight Stop
August 19, 2014 - Butterfly-o-Meter Books
August 19, 2014 - The Romance Review - Spotlight Stop
August 19, 2014 - Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
August 19, 2014 - Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess - Spotlight Stop
August 20, 2014 - Book Reviews & More by Kathy - Spotlight Stop
August 20, 2014 - Delighted Reader
August 20, 2014 - 3 Chicks After Dark - Spotlight Stop
August 21, 2014 - Smart Girls Love Sci-Fi
August 21, 2014 - TTC Books and More - Spotlight Stop
August 21, 2014 - The Novel Approach
August 22, 2014 - All I Want and More Books - Spotlight Stop
August 22, 2014 - Prism Book Alliance
August 25, 2014 - Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
August 25, 2014 - Crystal's Many Reviews - Spotlight Stop

Flash Fiction Addiction is here!

Well, actually it's on Facebook. 

JA Rock and I have stated a flash fiction group for anyone who is interested. We'll be posting a shared prompt at least every month, and hopefully get some fun and crazy-different responses. If you're into writing flash fiction, or just want a smile, come along and join in. You can find it here: Flash Fiction Addiction. 

Here's our first every picture prompt, and my story underneath. Enjoy! 



Whoops


“Are you sure?” Peter growled, his canary yellow pants a million times sunnier than his current disposition.

“Dude, at least you got the hat.” Max said. “What the hellis up with this shirt? Do I tuck it in or not?”

“You’re just jealous because you couldn’t grow a moustache,” Alan said.

Max snorted. “Your moustaches are ridiculous.”

“Epic,” Alan muttered, smoothing out a crease on his high-fastening blue pants. “They’re epic.”

“All right,” the general said. “Settle down, please. Let’s not forget you’re scientists and you have a serious mission out there. I don’t need to remind you that time travel is inherently dangerous, and that’s without the risk of discovery. Good luck, and stay safe.”

Peter held up his hand. “Wait. I just want to double check. These clothes, really?”

The general glanced at the technician. She nodded rapidly. “We take our research very seriously!”

“Fine.” Peter sighed, and led the others into the module.

“Well,” said the general. “Back they go, all the way to 1973.” He blinked at the display. “What does B.C. mean?”  

The technician shrugged. “No idea, sir.”

She turned the dial, and the module disappeared in a flash of light and smoke.
 

Brandon Mills versus the V-Card

In exciting news, JA Rock and I have signed a contract with Loose Id for our Mark Cooper versus America sequel – Brandon Mills versus the V-Card . Not our original title, as you guys know, but we like it!

Brandon is Mark Cooper’s best friend, but they couldn’t be more different. Mark is reckless, loud, and would rather stab himself in the eye with a pen than actually do any work, while Brandon is quiet, sensible, and studious. He also feels sick at the idea of intimacy. Even a simple hug takes him to a place he doesn’t want to go.   

Because of this, Brandon Mills has a different feel to Mark Cooper . Mark Cooper was about two guys—both out and proud—negotiating a burgeoning relationship while also figuring out their kinks, Brandon Mills is about two guys who are both completely inexperienced. One of them, Alex, is desperate to lose his virginity now he’s at college, while Brandon, who has almost convinced himself he has no interest in sex, is terrified of his attraction to Alex.

For Alex, it’s love at first sight. Brandon is cute, and smart, and he has a plastic dinosaur on his desk. It’s clearly meant to be.




















Alex may just be the cutest character JA and I have ever written, by the way. He’s incredibly smart, a little nerdy, clumsy, and what he lacks in experience he makes up for in enthusiasm. Awkward bus BJ, anyone?

And don’t worry. Mark and Deacon are still in this book. Deacon’s being as supportive and caring as always, and Mark’s being Mark. Our favourite football player Blake is back as well, and this time he’s on a mission. A completely misconstrued mission.

We don’t have a release date yet for Brandon Mills versus the V-Card , but as soon as we do, we’ll let you know!

Amazon versus Virginity

As some of you may know, JA Rock and I have been advised by our publisher to change the title of our Mark Cooper versus America sequel, which was called Brandon Mills versus Virginity . Because Amazon would refuse to list it with that title.
When I mentioned this on Goodreads, a few people pointed me towards this book:





















Why is this book allowed to use the V-word, but we aren’t? I suspect that it’s all to do with the way this book is tagged. While this book, for all I know, might be full of sexy good times, it’s not listed as erotica or erotic romance, so it escapes the cull. Here’s how it’s categorised on Amazon:
















Actually, there is a heap of books on Amazon with the V-word in the title. There are books about this woman:






















And this man:


















And this product:



















And, yes, even virginity exactly as it pertains to sexual experience, or lack thereof:



















The title, if you can’t read it, is Virginity: A Treasure . Personally an idea I find more disturbing that a lot of stuff in erotica (yes, even counting monster porn) but that’s a discussion for another day.
So what’s the big deal about the word virginity in our title, Amazon? Brandon Mills is nineteen. He’s an adult, who happens to be a virgin. It’s not unusual. It’s also not unusual for a nineteen year old college boy to spend a lot of time obsessing about his status.


What’s frustrating about this, as JA pointed out in an email, is it’s about sex. It’s fairly obvious that Amazon is only targeting erotica and erotic romance titles. You don’t see the same rules being enforced on writers of chainsaw blood-splattering gore, do you? And why should you? It’s ridiculous. Adults have the right to read what they want to read.


Except, apparently, when it comes to sex. Then a quick glance at the title – not the content, mind you, but the title alone – will allow Amazon to make the decision for you. Because there is absolutely no content in Brandon Mills that crosses any boundaries. The sex is consensual, and it’s sweet and funny and awkward. There’s not even any kink in it! Okay, there’s a mild dinosaur fetish, but that’s kept out of the bedroom.


Here’s what JA wrote in her email, which sums it up nicely:


I think the way they're doing it now does come off as an attack on sex. Because I don't see the same kind of scrutiny being applied to books in the thriller genre--notorious for exploitative depictions of maimings and murder and sexual assaults. So why should a romance that depicts those things--as long as it's in a negative light--be any different?


Come on over here, double standard. Step into the light so we can all see you. 


And, you know what’s most annoying about this entire thing? The fact that Amazon pretty much owns the universe. What Amazon wants, Amazon gets. As much as a part of me wants to says “Fuck you, Amazon!” and publish only to other retailers…well, that would be a pretty dumb financial decision. Amazon is the market.


It would just be nice if the market took its head out of its arse one day soon. 


In the meantime, I hope you'll all enjoy Brandon Mills versus the V-Card when it comes out! 

Flash Fiction!

Here's a flash fiction piece I wrote last year for one of the GR groups. The picture prompt, from what I remember, was a woman in really short skirt and really tall stilettos stalking down a set of steps towards a surprised-looking guy in a suit. I don't remember all the rules, but I know we had to get the word "candle" in there somewhere. 
So here's what I wrote. I like to think it's proof that I don't always torture my characters. 











Cynthia Montgomery.

She moved as sleekly as a cat, in those high heels, short skirt, and legs that went on for-fucking-ever. Slinking up the steps like she was looking to rub herself against the nearest tomcat. Who would be Dan, by the way.

Poor woman, because what she didn’t know was that all those hours of effort—of plumping and primping and waxing and buffing—were completely wasted on Dan. That slightly stunned look on his face? Not befuddled by lust. He just hadn’t expected to see what his boss had for breakfast.

“Holy shit,” he whispered when I came around with the tray. “Did you see that?”

“Canapé, sir?” I asked him in my best waiter voice. Which was as shit as the rest of my technique, to be honest. I’d already spilled champagne down Brad-from-Accounting’s monkey suit.

“Are you still pissed off about that?”

“What? You mean being a waiter at my own boyfriend’s swanky corporate gig? No, I’m totally fine with it. Sir.”

Dan made a face. “Look, you know I couldn’t invite you. Besides, you needed the cash.”

“Oh, fuck off,” I said. “The only reason you didn’t invite me is because Cynthia fucking Montgomery is sexually harassing you, and you might get fired if she finds out you’re about as straight as Rock Hudson.”

“I beg your pardon?"

Shit. Cynthia moved as silently as a cat as well, and had somehow managed to circle us.

“You must be Dan’s boyfriend,” she said, extending a perfectly manicured hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last. Dan talks about you all the time.”

Oh fuck. Really? Really?

Dan rolled his eyes. “Cynthia, this is Max, who is somehow under the impression that I’m not out at work.”

“Um,” I said. “’lo.”

“You look different without your hair all—” She made a vaguely spiky gesture with her fingers. “I saw your music video, by the way. You’re very talented.”

“Um.” The canapés wobbled dangerously. “I’m sorry I said you were sexually harassing Dan.”

“Oh, I am.” Cynthia raised her eyebrows and shot Dan a teasing look. “But no more than he enjoys.”

Dan laughed. “You look hot tonight. Sofia Vergara couldn’t hold a candle to you.”

“That’s why I love you, darling.” Cynthia took a canapé, popped it in her scarlet mouth, and winked. “Now, has anyone seen Brad? I hear he’s back in the market.”

“In the bathroom probably,” I said. “I spilled champagne on him.”

Cynthia threw her shoulders back, showing off her finest assets. “Perfect. Dan, I may be late to the office tomorrow. Don’t call me.”

She strutted off, looking fabulous.

I stared at Dan and he stared at me.

“Um, Cynthia seems nice,” I ventured tentatively.

“Idiot,” Dan said affectionately. “Dance with me.”

“I’ll get fired,” I told him.

Dan held out his hand. “You’re a terrible waiter anyway.”

True.

I ditched the tray and followed him onto the dance floor.