K-lee Klein's Blog: Chaos in the Moonlight , page 11

K-lee Update, beautiful dwarf drawings & prompt table

I've finished my first prompt story in the Hobbit fandom. It's a Kili/Fili - I know, how shocking, right? The prompt I used was "sick" and the story's about 3,200 words - more than I'd planned but those dwarfs can be very bossy when they want to.

Most of the words are pretty angsty and hurt-comforty which is why I picked this table. I like to injure then fix. ;) I haven't posted it yet but will do that to LiveJournal, FanFicion.net and Archive of Our Own that I just registered for.





I've been a little more productive on some of my other stories since I started a couple of dwarf-fics. I think it's fuelling my muse and clearing my head a bit. Plus, I really enjoy writing them. One or more of the prompts will be Thorin/Kili or Thorin/Fili but I'm just not sure which one - angsty though I'm sure. As usual, I'm struggling with a title, and despite it "only" being fan fiction, that sort of thing still matters to me. I have some Aidan/Dean in my head that just won't go away either. Bad K-lee - RPS is bad even though you've read it before. ;) (PS I'm sharing some dwarf-kilt drawings that I'm in love with and stick Scottish-dwarf plot bunnies in my head - click the pics for bigger images)
Found here  -->   http://dwalinroxxx.tumblr.com/tagged/...


I registered for Rainbow Con in Florida next April (2014). It's the first year and involves the smaller pubs. Looking forward to it but a little nervous about the panels because I never think I have anything to offer.


GRL registration is this Saturday, and despite some apprehensions at first, I'm going to try to register for Support Author. There's only 30 spots in that particular category so I might not get in anyhow. I'm not Featured Author material - I have a fair number of books but have only been around for just over a year so I'm definitely not considered established. If I can't get Supporting Author then I'll probably register as a guest. I've really enjoyed the last two years at GRL and I go to see all my friends. This year is an extra squee because Zathyn Priest will be coming, as long as he gets a spot. We've become pretty good friends and I'm dying to hug him in person. :)


I've had a horrible few days with my knee. Back to two crutches and I can barely put any weight on it at all but there's really nothing I can do. Pain killers fuzz my head but the damn thing still hurts. I'm thinking of calling my old God-of-Physio to see if coming in might get me some pain relief. I'm a little pissed off that the so-called Sports Physio guy I waited 6 months to see just left me hanging until after my MRI at the end of September. None of it makes any sense to me. Oh well. Doesn't help to whine.

Another two drawings that give me inspiration and suit my prompt table too.(from http://twodwarves-oneeagle.tumblr.com...)

The Hobbit comes out on DVD on March 19 and that makes me very excited, despite already seeing it 5 times. ;) I've preordered and apparently there will be a link to get a sneak peek at the next in the series - The Desolation of Smaug - which is due out in December.

(from http://aniorro.tumblr.com/image/44710...)


I leave you with one of my fave Christian Kane songs (while he was in Kane with Steve Carlson). It has some lovely Leverage images too. By the way, have any of you ever checked out Stage-it? I've seen Steve Carlson, The Life of Riley (twice) and Jason Manns with Misha Collins. It's such an awesome way to hear some smaller bands trying to finance their tours. Check it out. http://www.stageit.com

Author A.F. Henley Blog Tour Interview

Please welcome A.F. Henley to my blog today. A.F. is currently trekking along on a blog tour to promote a book from Less Than Three Press called Honour. Welcome to Chaos, A.F.
Thanks for having me!  I'm thrilled to be here. Love the name of the blog by the way. I can only hope it's indicative of the personality behind it. I do love me some Chaos in life. 
1.     I'll start with some basic information so you can tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? How long have you been writing? What do you do for fun? Go ahead and tell us everything.
I was born in B.C. but have considered Ontario, Canada home for most my life. From April to November I love it with every ounce of my person. From December to March however ... let's just say that I begin wondering how much greener the grass in Tennessee really is. Or if Texans really do wear cowboy hats while they do their grocery shopping. I'm not much of a winter person.
I've been writing since I was about eight. I used to have a strong affinity for dog-love stories, in the most innocent of ways, of course, but the way I have it figured is romance is romance, be it bromance, dogmance, or outright sexual attraction. So I guess the inclusion of love has always been a huge theme of mine.
As for what I do for fun ... does sarcastic commentary count as a reasonable pastime? I read. A lot. I write more. I chat and surf way too much. You know those people that walk outside, blinking and squinting, with their arms held out in front of them as if they're newly blind, mumbling words like, "What IS that glowing orb above us?!" ... That's me. Outside activities are best enjoyed from the comfort of one's desk chair. Although, honestly, I used to be one hell of a good soccer player. Or was it that I just really liked how I looked in the socks? ... One or the other.
One of the things I'm most proud of in my life is the animal rescue support that my partner and I do. We've had everything from moles to deer, domestic to wild, and we have an awesome track record so far. To this day we still have raccoons that were re-released that come to our back door for visits.
2.     How did you start writing? Do you have any major influences that got you into the genre?
My mother (love you, Mom!) has always encouraged my writing, as well as several teachers along the way. But I can't for the life of me say that "this thing" is how I started. It was just always there. It was always something I wanted to do.
As for the genre of M/M, I can say without a doubt that my friend Kelly was the first person who inspired me to give it a go. I also have a huge love-on for Stephen King and Chuck Palahniuk. That being said, I would never dare to say any of these people's talents influenced my work. They're all just too good to do that to them. Besides, Lord knows the last thing I need is another decapitated toad hopping around on my back step. (Long story.)
3.     What things do you enjoy most about writing? Are you a plotter or pantser?
Writing takes away the wrong of everyday life. Like I said in a blog once, real life hurts. It's full of tears and obstacles, restraints and limits. Fiction can remove all that. Disney may have misled us all, but the reason we all fall for the lie is because we want to believe that good guys win, true love can conquer all, and if we try hard enough we'll succeed. Knowing that I can put a smile on somebody's face, that I can pick them up out of reality and drop them smack dab in the kind of place where those beliefs reign supreme, even if just for a few hours, is what I enjoy about writing the most.
I cannot stress enough that I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants writer. I know there are writers that spend hours detailing character sheets and flowcharts and maps and what-have-yous, but if I had to do that first, the novel would never get written. I detest too much order. I despise having to rely on forethought. There's a reason for that though – I swear it. I've always said that all I do is write my novels. The story belongs to my characters. I sit down at the keyboard, I open up my head to hear what they're saying and write down what they tell me. It's hard to pre-plan something that hasn't been told to you yet.
4.     I've heard you enjoy the researching aspect of writing and you're a genius at Google. What sorts of things do you research before you start the story and is it an ongoing process while you're writing the manuscript?
I am the Google King. (Not really, but I do love the way that sounds.) I love research and I'll do it continually throughout the writing process as opposed to trying to sift through a bunch before I even start. There isn't a single thing I won't look up online. My browser history is ... well ... diverse, if nothing else. I'll never forget the day I walked into my office and my partner was staring up at my from my computer with this ... look on his face ... and he gives me two words, "Cock cage?"
There was a surprising amount of research for Honour. I couldn't seem to keep my head in the same timeline when it came to fashion and weaponry, buildings and travel without it. It also helped me develop a whole new fetish which, hey, one can never have too many of those, right? (Think: swords. Seriously, no one should love a weapon as much as I love swords.)
Înflori was a whole different kind of research game though. It involved some serious culture digging. That was tough because it's hard to pull fact from opinion – and opinion is something that is almost too readily available on the Internet.
5.     Do you have any writing or reading quirks (for example, playing certain music while you're writing or having to turn in a circle four times before you begin :D) or squicks (things you simply cannot read or write)?I have an awful writing quirk, in fact. I need dead silence. Chair squeak? Background noise? Dog scratching? Partner walking to loudly? ... Think Jack Nicholson in The Shining.
As for squicks I'm pretty much in the norm of that I guess. I won't write bestiality, I'm cautious about N/C and dubcon, and I don't do underage. Also, probably in contrast to a lot of folks, you will rarely find an MC death in my work. I think out of the hundred-plus I've done so far I've written one. And it was a Halloween story.
6.     I noticed the two books you have out (coming out) with LT3 are very different in terms of characters and even period in time, do you have a favorite genre or sub-genre to write or read?
I have one out now, Înflori, and two on their way, Honour and Sonata. Both Înflori and Sonata are classed as contemporary romances, and Honour is historical. I also have two anthology fictions coming out, Rockabye (contemporary) and MEMWARS!, which is a fantasy. So, yeah, I guess you could say I'm a bit of a sub-genre jumper. That goes back to the whole "it's not really my story" thing. I guess it just depends on who jumps into my head when there's an opening. The only sub-genre I've been nervous exploring was fantasy because I tend to keep telling myself that it sounds foolish. I'm hoping I've gotten over that though.
I do prefer contemporary for reading however, because I can relate to it.
7.     Now it's your turn. Tell us about Honour.
Thank you for the opportunity J
I love the story inside Honour. It's so much more than a story about a Prince and his First Gentleman falling in love. It's about people treating people with respect and decency all the way around:  a parent to a child, a stranger to another, a lover to his partner, a person in power to one who has none, and then vice-versa for the whole lot of it. It's about learning truths about love and overcoming that little voice in our heads that tells us to retaliate instead of compromise. It's about remembering that no matter who you are or what you do, there will be repercussions to every decision you make and sometimes those consequences can destroy so much more than first expected.
And ... it has a sword on the cover!
8.     I like to torture my blog guests a little bit before they leave so here are some multiple choice questions for you. J
Giraffe or monkey?  Giraffe. They're just so damn stylish.
Tea or coffee?  Coffee. It's easier to mix with alcohol.
Beach or mountains?  Mountains. Seclusion, peace, animals … and a much higher likelihood one can avoid that glowing orb previously mentioned.
Cowboys or rockstars?  Cowboys and rockstars. Wrestling.
AND finally, who would win in a fight between vampires and werewolves. Whoever's watching them at the time.
Thanks for stopping by, A.F. Good luck with Honour and your blog tour.
Thanks for having me! I appreciate both the time and the efforts. To thank everyone, please let your followers know that all comments on this blog will be entered into a draw for a free ebook of Honour, in the format of their choice. Name selection will be done by random number generator and the contest will close on March 12th.
~*~*~
Official Bio for A.F. Henley:
Henley was born with a full-blown passion for run-on sentences, a zealous indulgence in all words descriptive, and the endearing tendency to overuse punctuation. Since the early years Henley has been an enthusiastic writer, from the first few I-love-my-dog stories to the current leap into erotica. Henley shares a home in rural Southern Ontario with both life partner and a plethora of furry, scaled and winged rescue friends.
A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for ‘research purposes’ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, tend to flourish.
Henley has been proudly working with LT3 since 2012, when Înflori made its debut, and is thrilled to add two more novel titles, Honour and Sonata, as well as two anthology stories, Rockaybe and MEMWARS! to the docket for 2013.
Comments, kudos and signature card requests are happily received at afhenley.com.
HonourM/M Historical Romance45,500 words
Blurb
Recently docked after a voyage abroad, Emmett wants only to find a warm bed and good food, for himself and the cabin boy he's taken into his care. Those plans are impeded, however, by an altercation in the streets—with a man he realizes too late is England's heir to the throne, Prince Andrewe.
When the encounter unexpectedly leads to a position in the royal household attending the prince, Emmett is not certain what to think. On one hand, it's a reliable income and ensures the safety of his charge. On the other, it's neither the life Emmett knows, nor an environment that he's comfortable in. Left to learn his lessons the hard way, Emmett spends his days contending with a spoiled, infuriating prince who leaves him in a constant tangle of emotions.
Then he begins to hear whispers of treason and must make a choice: defend Prince Andrewe, or betray him.
Ebook (in all formats) available at: Less Than Three Press

Dwarf-aholic nonsense and a K-lee update

Greetings from the land of hermits and cave-dwellers. Some of this might just be me repeating myself and not having the brain power to remember or even check. I have indeed been using my hermiting (not a word) skills to keep myself shut away in my cave. January and February are months where my clinical depression clouds my brain with the added bonus of having my borderline personality disorder seal the deal and keep my mind and body in complete chaos. In other words, things have not been good but since February is quickly passing, I'm hoping for a new start yet again. (this post is sort of a rehashing of the one I did on LiveJournal today - just so you know.

February is also my birthday month which has never had any appeal to me but thanks to those of you who wished me well on that day where I grow nothing but older. I experienced a bout of writers' block in December, January and February and it's just been over the past week that I've been able to get some of the ranting and raving characters and plots out of my head and onto the page. Not being able to write feeds into the depression since that's generally my outlet to clear myself of some of the emotion that the borderline sees fit to keep spinning 'round my head at all times. (OH BY THE WAY - THAT DUDE ON THE RIGHT ---> YOU'LL FIND OUT ABOUT HIM LATER)

I'm still on crutches because of my knee - it's been over a year now. I've had 5 months of physio, 2 cortisone steroid shots (freaking OUCH), acupuncture and have now been to a sport physio doctor who basically told me it's not arthritis or bursitis but something more than likely "mechanical" - what the hell does that even mean? So the during the five minutes he spent with me he asked the question "how important is this to you?" I sort of sat there with my mouth open not sure what to say and of course, I got a little teary (I'd warned the resident I'd seen first about the state of my emotions). I finally asked him what he meant after feeling like an idiot for at least two minutes as silly tears trailed down my face. He said "some people don't like surgery so you have to decide if you think it's worth it". My answer was simple and surprisingly not emotional - I've been on crutches for a year with the same pain I started with (for no apparent reason either). I didn't let it hinder what I did over that past year; a cruise to Europe, a week in NYC, time in both Long Beach, CA and Albuquerque, NM, but at the same time I don't want to be using a crutch and having the pain that often keeps me up at night (even with sleeping pills) for the rest of my life. 

If nothing can be done in the long run then fine I'll accept that, but if there's a chance I can get back to two regular legs without an extra appendage that would be completely awesome. Next step is an MRI and it's been booked for... September 30 at 7am. Lord have mercy what a frustration that is - 9 months to get an appointment. Another long wait then I have to see the same guy about the results and if his assumption is right, he'll then send me to a surgeon (I mean he'll put me on the waiting list) then if surgery is decided, another waiting list awaits me. All in all, I figure it will be another year before anything gets done and that's a hard reality to swallow. Anyhow - enough whining.  

So besides my Christian Kane addiction, I've developed a Hobbit addiction as well, or more precisely the three Durin dwarfs in the Hobbit movie addiction. I've joined fandoms and read enough slash to keep me thoroughly entertained and have now decided I will step back into the realm of fanfiction writing with sexy dwarfs in mind. If you've read any of my old livejournal posts before, you'll know I don't have a problem with writing 'cest and that's exactly what my dwarfs will be labeled - Durincest. An uncle and two brothers - Thorin, Kili and Fili. I wasn't a LOTR fan by any means - I liked Aragorn and Legolas, of course, but I never got so much into the story as I have with the Hobbit. I've seen it 4 times and there's another visit in my future. I have movie coupons and free points and all those things so I'm not spending a fortune, besides if it's the only thing that gets me out of the house then it's good thing.

I originally went to the movie because of one of the dwarfs - Kili (the most adorable one by far) who is played by the beautiful and talented Aidan Turner (he's the pretty in beginning of the post) and I already knew of. He was on Being Human UK and I freaking adored him - vampire John Mitchell - if you haven't seen the show, you just have to - Being Human UK season 1-3. That's why I went initially went and because I've found "epic" type movies have been the only ones that hold my attention (except gay films) over the past few years. I quickly fell in love with Kili (Aidan's character) and then Thorin (played by the fabulous Richard Armitage) came storming into my consciousness, followed closely behind by Fili (Kili's older brother played by Dean O'Gorman - who coincidently was in the gay-themed movie When Love Comes that I've had for years and love).

Between the three of them it's hard to choose a favourite - Kili was the one in the beginning because of his sweet hotness but then Thorin came charging in with his majestic attitude and also hotness. Fili was last to register on the hotness scale and he has the best freaking hair I've ever seen. Kil and Fili are pretty much inseparable which makes for a whole ton of slash running through my head. I think Kili still has top spot though.

The bottom line is I'm writing Dwarf slash and will be posting it on my LiveJournal and maybe Archive of Our Own if I can swing an invite.  There might be some dwarf RPS (Aidan and Dean or as they are called in the slash world Aidean ;D) happening eventually as well. So much love for those two. I've also signed up for a prompt table on LiveJournal too, with the theme of Hurt/Comfort since I really like hurting and comforting any boys (or dwarfs) I love. I've posted my table in my journal and hopefully can stay on top of it.

My husband is not happy that I've given in to my dwarf obsession by starting a story that is at 7000 words already (5000 in one sitting - I just couldn't get the words out fast enough). "Can't publish that so why are you writing it?" *sigh* "Because it's making me very happy". Writing my Kili/Fili has seemed to clear some of my block as well and I've been able to do some writing on my other stories over the past few days. Doesn't hurt anyone and it felt so good to just go at it and write haphazardly and feel like it something almost familiar. I think I'm going to enjoy stepping back into my fanfiction shoes.

On the original writing front, Lazy Valentines seems to be getting some good reviews and that makes me very happy. I worried a lot about it, maybe because it had been a while since I'd put anything out. I dunno. I feel better about it now though.

My rancher/city boy fic is up to 50000 words now - ha, I did start it for a serial sub call but that's been blown out of the water now with my word count. I'm pretty sure I have another 5-7k left to get it finished, too. Okay, I've rambled enough.  Have a great week.  *Hugs*
Pics of course :)(If you've been to my Tumblr - you'll have already known about myobsession - expect some dwarf pic spams and some Aidan and Dean ones too)
Kili

Kili and Fili(Kili is absolutely hotly adorKable and Fili has the best hair Ever)

Aidan Turner and Dean O'GormanAidan is just about perfect and Dean's adorable

Fili with Uncle Thorin (worrying about Kili no doubt)

The fabulous Richard Armitage as ThorinKing Under the Mountain

And you couldn't honestly think I'd forget Christian, right? (a couple recent pics - not mine)

Christian and his BFF (well, used to be) Steve Carlson (awesome musician)


And an older one I couldn't resist.

Isabella Carter blog tour is stopping here!

Please welcome a friend and fellow Less Than Three author, Isabella Carter, to my blog. She's in the midst of a blog tour and this is her stop for today. Isabella is an occasional knitter and she loves Disney, gaming and happy endings. AND she's a real sweetheart. I owe her a Sandy Relief story and she hasn't nagged me about it at all. Back to business, Isabella is touring to promote her new book, A Shadow of a Dream, and she's also doing a giveaway on her blog. All the info is at the end of this post. So have a read and make Isabella feel welcome. 
~*~*~
One of the important groups in Shadow of a Dream is the Order of Watchers, the hunters of witches, demons, and all other monsters that go bump in the night. The Order is supposed to be the great good protecting the world from the tyranny of magic, but as with any institution run by humans, it is rife with corrupts and those looking to serve their own interests. There is a lot of good in the order, the problem is that it's eclipsed by the pride and greed of those seeking fame or bloody vengeance
Hunters are expected to be detectives, jury, and sometimes executioner all in one. It's not a job with a high expectancy of survival and few hunters survive past their twenties. Those who do are awarded the title of elders and put on the council to manage the younger generations of hunters.
There is no room for gray in the hunter philosophy, no such thing as a good witch, only a time bomb waiting to explode in your face. And that is why there is no room for questions, only soldiers that execute their orders without asking.
Ultimately, this is Basil's biggest problem with the Order. He's not content with the what, he must know the why and most times, the Elders don't have the answers. It's easier to brand something a malcontent than to give an answer. And while Basil is loyal to the idea that forms the basis of the Order, he finds himself questioning the organization. In this, Alexander proves a perfect foil, loyal to both the idea and the organization.
Basil's struggle between his loyalty and his need for answers provide one of the larger conflicts in the story. If the Order isn't going to give him the answers, then it's clear he's going to have to look somewhere else. Unfortunately, the Order has clear rules for dealing with supernatural creatures and if he's not careful, he'll find himself on the wrong end of a hunt.
Excerpt from the hunter's handbook.
Regarding the Fae
1: Never trust a faeThe fae exist only to serve their own needs. They were inherently selfish creatures who take whatever catches their attention and twist it to their own needs. A fae does not share something that they consider theirs. Ever. And power be with you if you are unfortunately enough to catch a fae's attention. They won't leave until one of you are broken and the fae never break.
2: Never make a deal with the faeThe deal will never be in your favor and (see above) the fae do not share. Any help they offer is only in the most literal of sense. Don't accept a debt from the fae either. Any assistance they offer is often tainted by their near irresistible urge to commit evil.
3: Never fall for the faeWhile they are undeniably beautiful, you are but a toy to their whims. Their heart forever lies in their home where humans are but servants and and pretty dolls to be admired. Fae have no heart, but they will delight in taking yours as their trophy.
Never forget that fae are creatures of great power and with this power comes an even greater potential for evil. Never forget that they are not human. No matter how much they appear to be, they will never be one of us. Never forget, fae do not have hearts.
So always aim for the head.
~*~
Blurb:
Solving a murder is never an easy matter, even when circumstances are ideal. For Basil, circumstances are far from ideal. Because the murder is far more complicated than at first it seems, and before he can even begin to solve it Basil must contend with a council that refuses to listen to him, a partner he despises, and a thief who is a temptation that Basil cannot seem to resist …
Buy it here:
Less Than Three Press
All Romance
Amazon
~*~*~
In closing, thank you so much for taking the time to read and I hope you've enjoyed a little peak into Shadow. And I want to say thank you to the ever lovely K-Lee for hosting me.
There's also a giveaway! You can enter a giveaway for an ebook copy of Shadow of a Dream at my blog, http://marrontenshi.blogspot.com/2013.... The giveaway runs until midnight, February 28th.

The Misty Mountains (or) Thorin's Song from Hobbit Trailer

Love this so much. One of my fave parts of the movie.

New freebie, upcoming author visit, Christian Kane & dwarfs.

Okay, so TRASHCAT really has nothing to do with this post except I felt just like him when I woke up this morning (still do). I won't go into it because I still don't have all the facts or know what's right and what's wrong. I will say I may not be attending GRL this year due to the unamused thing but nothing is certain, and I'm going by my gut-reaction right now more than anything else.

Moving on - I've failed my blog again. My randomness obviously stopped and so did my posts. I blame it on the depression and lack of motivation to do anything BUT I did do something. I decided last week that I needed to do a Valentine's story and my chosen pairing were Devon and Scott from Lazy Sundays. I think they needed a better happy ending plus I'll be making them into a full-length novel with both stories included and continued later in the year. Anyhow Lazy Valentines is now written, beta-ed, formatting and uploaded. The fabulous Megan Derr made me the cover and I found a pic of the same guys on the Lazy Sundays one. :) It's sweet and sugary just like the story. Not a long of angst in this one, people. But it is Valentines Day after all.

The info for Lazy Valentines is below. ALSO, please tune in (lol) tomorrow for a blog post by a friend of mine, Isabella Carter and fellow Less Than Three author (who I still owe a Sandy Relief auction story to - oops) . She's making a stop on her Shadow of a Dream blog tour so come by and say "hey".

~*~*~

Lazy Valentines blurb

It's Valentine's Day and Devon Ducaine has never felt so much excitement and nervousness in his entire life. Taking the stage to sing to hundreds or thousands of people has nothing on trying to right the wrongs of your past with the man you love and almost lost. 

Scott Weston never imagined he'd have anyone like Devon in his life, let alone ever having someone he loved say those three little words back to him. When Devon invites him out for a whole day of Valentine surprises, it's the most romantic thing Scott's ever had happen to him. But surprises and new experiences can cause panic, and Scott's anxiety and panic attacks are always an issue when he's faced with the unknown. 

Devon and Scott love each other, but is it enough to get through what's supposed to be the most romantic day of the year? Will they let nerves and guilt over-ride their hearts or can Valentine's Day be the start of the next phase in their relationship, one of honesty, sharing and trust? 

~~Lazy Valentines is a free story and sequel to Lazy Sundays. It can possibly be read as a stand-alone but works much better if read after Lazy Sundays. Both stories will be included in an extended novel-sized book to be released later in the year by Less Than Three Press.~~

~*~*~

You can download Lazy Valentines from Less Than Three Press or GoodReads (links below). Eventually it will be on AllRomance too. 

Lazy Valentines - Less Than Three Press

Lazy Valentines - GoodReads

If you haven't read Lazy Sundays, it's better to read it first. You can download it here...

Lazy Sundays - Less Than Three Press
Lazy Sundays - All Romance
Lazy Sundays - GoodReads
Thanks guys. Have a good day and weekend, and remember to stop by and say hi to Isabella tomorrow. :)
~*~*~
AND you didn't think you'd get away with at least a couple Christian Kane pics, right?
My daughter made me a Christian calendar for Christmas
and this is my February calendar boy. :)



From Leverage - love this pic

These two pics were taken in Spain last weekend.I do not claim they are mine in any way, shape or form, andhope it's okay to share them. I'd be happy to give creditif I remember where they came from. :)

And yes, he cut his hair but it's growing out. Lol.I love how he's always kept his own style no matterwhere he is or what he's doing.

After Isabella's visit, you will begin to hear about my Dwarfobsession. I'm shocked I haven't shared it yet. Should be the Hobbit obsession since I've seen the movie 4 times but it's the dwarfs I love.If you follow my Tumblr you'll already know this. ;)

Stealing the Dragon blog tour - Mell Eight

I'm pleased to welcome fellow Less Than Three Press author, Mell Eight, as she makes a stop on my blog during her "Stealing the Dragon" blog tour.  She's doing a giveaway on her blog, all information posted at the bottom of this page. Enjoy.

~*~*~
Dragons have been a fascination of mine for a very long time.  It has always enthralled me that the same mythos crossed the globe and then became unique to each culture and society the dragons encountered.  I've researched and learned as much as I could and that time and effort has gone directly into every dragon I've ever written about.  The dragons in my Dragon's Hoard Series are a combination of many different types of dragons from across the world.  I tried my hardest as an author to make my dragons unique while still honoring the history and power that generations before me have put into the dragons of myth. 
I've always found the European dragon to be a series of paradoxes.  Fierce and violent, these dragons were always portrayed as huge, lizard-like creatures flying through the sky and lighting up the air with brilliant blasts of fire.  These dragons were also depicted as fiercely protective despite their destructive nature.  They collected treasure and land and hoarded what they possessed despite the knights and princesses who constantly disturbed them.  St. George the Dragon Slayer was known to have fought and prevailed over a marauding dragon, just as Smaug caused extreme strife for the dwarves of Tolkien's brilliance by coveting treasure and gold.  
The Asian dragons were as opposite the European vision as humanly possible.  Snakelike, without wings and only the smallest of arms and legs, these dragons were often elemental in nature and were protectors of the lakes and streams they inhabited.  These dragons were often seen as gods, revered and honored, but also feared for their powers.  The dragon in Miyazaki's Spirited Away exactly personifies what these dragons represented for the people of Asia. 
There are dozens of other dragon myths that I don't have the space to list here.  The dragons living closest to home are the feathered serpents belonging to the South American legends about the god Quetzalcoatl and one day I would love to write about them.  The dragons in my Dragon's Hoard Series are mostly a combination of the European and Asian versions.  My dragons have scales and large wings, they breathe fire and they hoard gems, and they are very protective of the things most important to them. At the same time, they safeguard the people they have taken responsibility over with equal intensity and are treated with respect for their power in return. 
Stealing the Dragonis the newest book in the series and Tori, the dragon who this story revolves around, is as far from violent as any European style dragon could be.  Nyle, from Finding the Wolf, was naïve and innocent, but he still had an edge to him.  He fought for Leon and against the magi as best as he was able.  Tori doesn't even have that edge.  Instead he has an exuberance and love of life that stands out among the rest of his dragon family.  The humans respect Nyle, but he is also greatly feared, as are the other dragons.  Tori, on the other hand, is loved and cared for by everyone he encounters.  It defines who he is and how he reacts to the events surrounding him.  Here is one of my favorite Tori moments from Stealing the Dragon:
*~*
Jerney looked down at what An'tatori was holding and gasped. It was a silver necklace with a delicate blue teardrop topaz hanging suspended in an intricate silver net. The topaz itself was such a clear light blue color that Jerney could see An'tatori's hand through the stone. It was beautiful.
"I can't accept this," Jerney said with a shake of his head. "It's beautiful, but I don't want to take a part of your hoard."
An'tatori held up the gem near Jerney's face. "It matches your eyes," the dragon said softly. "I want you to have it because I want you to be my friend."
"Your friend?" Jerney asked, incredulous. An'tatori wanted to be his friend after his spells had allowed for the hatching gem to be stolen? Jerney was a thief and a witch, which wasn't exactly friend material for a baby dragon.
"My big brother Nyle is friends with a wolf, so why can't I be friends with a witch?"
Jerney swallowed at the casual reminder that lovers Dragon Lord An'nanyle and Prince Leon were related to An'tatori. He thought An'tatori's logic was a bit off, but he was insistent.
"My name is Tori and I want you to be my friend," An'tatori said firmly, holding the necklace out again.
"My name is Jerney," he said softly as he reached out and took the necklace from Tori, "and I would be honored to be your friend."
"Good," Tori said with a happy smile. "Now put the spells on that necklace so you won't lose it!" Tori grabbed Jerney's hands and led him over to his bed. Jerney sat down across from Tori and set the necklace onto the blanket in front of them.
Tori was watching the necklace intently, one hand still clutching the ruby gem around his neck, as Jerney studied how serious the dragon really was. There was no indication that Tori was at all upset about how the night had gone—the tear tracks had all vanished from his cheeks and his gold eyes glinted with a child-like excitement that reminded Jerney again of his siblings when they were young and had found some new and exciting toy.
Jerney reminded himself that children could be fickle. There was every possibility that in a few days Tori would be at his door asking for the necklace back. But at that moment, Tori wanted his new friend to have it, so Jerney would oblige Tori for as long as the excitement would last.
Jerney prepared the spells in his mind, envisioning clearly the potion ingredients and the steps to brew it. Once he had a picture of the bottled potion in his mind, he lifted his hand and passed it over the necklace. A glance up at the dragon showed that Tori was biting his lip and wiggling in place in excitement, so Jerney added some sparkle and a flash of light to his spell.
The dragon jumped and giggled before reaching out to touch the necklace. "No one will steal it from you now?" he asked as he pushed the necklace towards Jerney.
"No one," Jerney affirmed. He picked the necklace up and clasped it around his neck. It settled there comfortably, with the teardrop landing just below the hollow of his throat.
"Good," Tori said with a nod. Tori yawned and shook his head. "We'll have to play more later," he said as Jerney got up off his bed.
~*~*~
Stealing the Dragonarrived in stores on February 6th, so if you want to read more about my dragons and about Tori in particular, here is where you can buy the book:
LT3 ARe Amazon  
I am also hosting a free giveaway to celebrate the release of Stealing the Dragon.  All the information is posted on my blog: Mell Eight Blog  Please enter and tell me about your favorite dragon! 
If you want to know more about the Dragon's Hoard Series—Stealing the Dragon or the upcoming fourth book in the series, Melting the Ice Witch—or about any of my other works please check out my website: Website
Thank you so much to K-Lee Klein and to dragon lovers everywhere for giving me this opportunity to show you my hard work.  I hope you enjoy Stealing the Dragon and The Dragon's Hoard!  Sincerely,
Mell Eight

Music Wednesday - Kane/Carlson/Smith/Nutter

This was supposed to be for Music Monday then Tune Tuesday but instead it's for today, just plain old Hump Wednesday. You'll know one of the artists (at least from my blog) but maybe not the others, so have a listen. I get razzed at home for my *coughs* obsessions but being interested in one artist or actor or whatever can also broaden the mind to others that you wouldn't have even knew existed without the initial obsession. That's what I tell myself anyhow. ;)

Also, I have a special guest on my blog on Friday - Mell Eight from Less Than Three Press will be making a stop on her blog tour to talk about dragons so make sure you pop by. So here we go - Music Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Enjoy. (PS Damn blogger was being difficult in embedding these vids - took me two days - ugh)

~*~*~
Christian Kane, Steve Carlson (long-haired blond), Riley Smith (far left) and Brian Nutter (singer, songwriter - far right). Chris and Steve were in the band Kane and still perform together sometimes - Riley is a long-time buddy who has his own band "The Life of Riley" with Henry (beside Riley).
Lol - keep in mind it's live so not always in key. ;)

Christian Kane (of course)Director's cut of The House Rules, directed by Timothy Hutton.
You'll see Steve on guitar as well.


Chris with Brian Nutter in London
(love this version so much)



Steve Carlson is a singer, songwriter from California. He and Chris
formed the band Kane in 1998. Kane has produced two albums and Steve has at least 8
of his own solo albums.He has a smooth laid-back style and his songs are really
beautiful. Go check him out.



Live version of Piñata Novia during a Kane show
(beautiful song and, yeah, I love the little special appearance by Mr. Kane, too)


Chris and Steve also have a long-time friend you might recognize from the TV
series Supernatural among others. Jensen Ackles performed on Steve's album
"Sharing the Covers" and damn his voice is beautiful.



Riley Smith is an actor and musician, best buds with Christian and Steve for over 10 years- you may recognize him as Riley Wallace on the new 90210, plus other TV shows likeSummerland, The Playboy Club, Drive and some movies too)
The Life of Riley - Vancouver (love this song since it's about a city I love, too)(live video so there's some cute banter at the beginning)


Brian Nutter is a singer/guitarist based in Nashville. He's toured with Keith Urban and various other artists. He's opened for Christian and Kane I believe.
He has a free mp3 download of his song Red Sundress --> here
Little Pink Houses (with Christian Kane)




With Keith Urban in Australia last month




~*~*~

Stuck in the grey & giveaway winners

On the heels of a couple almost-normal days where faking it inline was mildly possible, the last few have been covered in a thick layer of grey. It's not even a translucent shadow where I can at least tumble a few words onto a page that are homelessly, hopelessly, frustratingly rattling around my brain. It's thick and bold and has but one purpose, to suck the life out of me, and unfortunately its succeeding.

I'm not giving up because I know January and February have dealt me this hand of depression for more years than I can remember, but this year rather than not seeing the forest for the trees, I can't even see the trees. The last couple of years seemed less grey or maybe they were lighter variations; ash, slate, rather than the thick gunmetal grey I'm stuck in right now. I also know that the majority of the time I've felt like this hospitalization has been the solution but that's not something I want to even consider right now. Making that decision on my own is in itself a little glimmer of light I suppose.


There is still a piece of my brain, of my heart, that knows if I tough it out this too shall pass but my vision is so cloudy from the fog and tears I'm having a hard time hanging onto that thought. My reclusive ways don't help me during these times when my fingers itch to reach out for a helping hand or a kind word but I just hope those relationships (online, RL) weather the storm - because things will get better, right?

My giveaway had 4 comments and rather than choose a winner (or trying to find the energy to do so), I'm giving each one a choice of format for In The Moment, because the title is so ironic to what's happening right now. If you have my email, mail me with your format preference and I'll send it along.
Stacey-Jo, Jagr, Lisa and vitajex.

The colour scheme seemed appropriate

Random #6 - Anxiety

Today's random subject is anxiety, mainly because I'm anxious as hell right now. I have panic attacks and generalized anxiety disorder which unfortunately means that most times I have no idea why I feel like I'm going to crawl out of my skin.

Nothing is different about my day today yet my heart is pounding hard enough for me to feel it in my ears. My body feels twitchy on the inside more than the outside. I'm a little disoriented and shaky. To put it bluntly, I'm having a bad day.
A lot of times anxiety goes hand in hand with depression so this time of year is like a double whammy for me in that respect. I've pasted the Cycle of Anxiety below and I've talked to doctors and what have you, but unfortunately, my anxiety doesn't really have a normal pattern, at least not the sudden onset kind like today.

I also have what I call normal anxiety - meaning anxiety that I know the cause of whether it's nervousness about going somewhere, or in my case at the moment, leaving the house. Social anxiety falls into that category for me, too. It's been a big one the last coupleof years because I've attended a few conferences. For some reason I can go toa concert and not worry about it  though. Strange how the brain works.


Anticipation is a big anxiety trigger for me, and on top of that I'm a constant worrier and catastrophizer. That all adds up to a lot of pressure but since I know those things about myself, I can understand it and control them a little better than when my mind and body are turning against me for no reason.


I've been to classes on relaxation and "controlling your anxiety" but generallythe skills they they introduced didn't work for me. Concentrating on your breathing is a big skill for anxiety and it seems to work really well for a lot of people, but I'm not one of them. When I try to use that skill it just makes me go into panic mode and hyperventilate. I've actually passed out because of it. 

Another skill I've been taught is listening to music when anxiety worms its way in.Usually the suggestions have been soothing music, quiet, serene and calming. Thatdoesn't work for me either BUT music does work if I rock the volume enough toraise the roof and of course it's music I love not somerelaxation tape.  

I'm also a big pacer when I'm anxious, preferably with my favourite loud music playing.I've paced in hospitals, shopping malls, and on the streets. I have a pacing pattern in my house, too - it's a circle route between the kitchen, living room and dining room. I'm surprised I haven't worn a hole in the floor yet.

This has taken me a long time to finish so I'm going to stop babblingand go pace while with some loud Christian Kane. Don't forgetto put your name in the hat for my new release on my last post.I'm giving away a copy of In The Moment.Have a good one and enjoy my usual dose of Kane.


Christian Kane and Brian Nutter - Hemorrahage (in your hands)Have a listen - it's pretty awesome and it's not even a country song.