K-lee Klein's Blog: Chaos in the Moonlight , page 15

Winners - GRL swag and Trick of Dreams

Announcing both winners at the same time. 
*drum roll*
Winner of "Not going to GRL" contest 
Kate(polipetl)
AND
Winner of ebook copy of Trick of Dreams
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Congrats and thanks for stopping by.I'll be sending out emails soon.
Have a good day everyone.

Halloween Give-away & Survivor love

I'm having a streak of writers' block and it's making me crazy. I still have to post about GRL but the words just aren't there either so I've been catching up on the shows I taped while I was gone.

I don't think it's any big secret that I'm a reality show junkie - from So You Think You Can Dance to Hell's Kitchen to Big Brother - I like them all but I think my first fave was and still is Survivor. Hello, my name is K-lee and i'm a Survivor-aholic. 

I've been watching from the very first season which has spanned 12 years and 25 seasons. I've always had a favourite player of course and yeah, they've always been dudes and a lot of the time, probably hot dudes - okay almost all the time, in my opinion. But I don't intentionally search for the babe in the show each season - it just naturally happens. ;)

So in between organizing my WIPs, deleting emails and generally getting frustrated that Ali is not speaking to me at the moment - he can be such a bitch - I decided to share my fave player in each season.


~~EDIT - AFTER THE FACT~~Wow, that was more work than I thought over two days but believe it or not, it sparked some creativity and I've managed to write a little here and there. Goes to show that sometimes trying too hard is exactly what hinders the whole process - any process really. It also shows that my brain needs something to do when it seems to be running on empty and searching for lovely boys is a very good way to challenge it. I hope you enjoy my little trip down Survivor memory lane. 
And now that my brain is firing on a few more cylinders than it has been for the past week, I'm going to do a give-away. Leave your name, email address and a nice little comment for a chance to win an ebook copy Trick of Dreams which comes out on Halloween. 
BlurbMisha hates Halloween. Nothing good has ever come of it even though it was the day he was born. He spends his days at a thankless job and fills his nights turning tricks. His only reprieves from his miserable life are his best friend and the alluring dreams that come to him night after night.
On his first Halloween as a free man, a string of strange occurrences only firm up his position on the dreaded day. But the kindness of a stranger and a gift from his best friend send Misha's mind reeling with flashes of his dreams and what was once unrecognizable suddenly becomes a little more familiar.
***
Now on to my Survivor faves
Season 25 - PhilippinesMalcolm FrebergFlowing hair, cute smile, sense of humour and so hot.From 18 to 11 people down and he's still around - keeping my fingers crossed.



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Season 24 - One WorldJay ByarsHe was voted out 7th so I didn't get to enjoy his as long as I would have liked.But since he's a model, his pictures are everywhere.



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Season 23 - South PacificOzzy Lusth (he's been on my blog before :D)Returning player who had a rough time this round but went from voted out first& heading to Redemption Island to 4th place.



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Season 22 - Redemption IslandMatt ElrodHe was so adorable and had a really hard road.I do love it when they go in all clean and pretty and end up stunningly scruffy.



 I have to post my 2nd favourite because he's one of my fave all-times.Rob MarinoHe won this season.

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Season 21 - NicaraguaJud Birza (Fabio)  He wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer but sharp enough to win the season.They nicknamed him Fabio and he was pretty damn funny.


***
Season 20 - Heroes vs. VillainsI have to go with one of each.Hero - Colby Donaldson (you'll see him later too)


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Season 19 - SamoaJohn FincherOne of those who went in squeaky-clean and ended up scruffy-hot


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Season 18 - TocantinsJ.T. ThomasSweet cattle rancher who took home the prize with a 7-0 vote


***
Season 17 - GabonCharlie HerschelThis season wasn't very memorable for me.


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Season 16 - Micronesia(Fans vs Faves)Fave - Ozzy LusthShorter hair, climbs tree like a monkey - hot and sweet


Fan - Jason SiskaSo pretty but naive


***
 Season 15 - ChinaTodd Herzog22 year-old gay, flight attendant - so cute


I also loved Erik Huffman *meow*

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Season 14 - FijiAlex Angarita 



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Season 13 - Cook IslandsOzzy LusthUm... he looks familiar (poor baby came 2nd)


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Season 12 - PanamaI can't remember who I liked better so I'll post bothAras Baskauskas (winner of this season)


Austin Carty


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Season 11 - GuatemalaBobby Jon DrinkardHe was definitely scruffier and not so naive in his second round


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Season 10 - PalauBobby Jon DrinkardI have him twice but he's not one of the heavy hitters -I just always loved him in both his seasons



***
Season 9 - VanuatuThis wasn't a memorable season for me but I liked the winnerChris Daughtery


 And John Kenney was not wearing this on the show ;)

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Season 8 - Survivor All-StarsThis is a hard season - both my faves Colby, Ethan and Boston Rob.So I'll skip it.
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Season 7 - Pearl IslandsRupert BonehamHe was so sweet and loveable - you just had to cheer him on


***
Season 6 - The AmazonAnother meh season for me but Daniel Lue was sweet - didn't last long.


***
Season 5 - ThailandRobb ZbacnikHot head, didn't last long but he had an awesome look (and tattoos)


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Season 4 - MarquesasRob MarcianoBoston Rob's first season - he didn't do well.


***
Season 3 - AfricaEthan ZohnSo beautiful and sweet-natured.He's beaten cancer twice and just keeps on truckin'.


***
Season 2 - Australian OutbackColby DonaldsonYes sir - an awesome country boy.


***
Season 1 - BorneoTo be perfectly honest, I don't remember rooting for a hottie in the first season.But my faves wereRudy Boesch(yep, I loved that crotchety old guy)

And the man everyone loves to hateRichard HatchI loved how he and Rudy were a team even though Rudywas completely freaked out by Richard's gayness. :)

Family of Misfits Character Collector Cards

I've been dying to share my character cards with everyone that didn't go to GRL and since it's over, here they are. :) My fabulous friend, writer and graphic designer - L.C. Chase - made them for me - she's also the one who did the cover for Lucius' Bite and will do the rest of the series too. And if you ask her what kind of client I am I'm sure she'll say a very picky, anal retentive, perfectionist one. ;) And I totally am.

It took me a long time to find the right faces to go with my characters - would be so much easier if we could pick just any old picture off the net and use it how we see fit. But since that's definitely not the case, I scoured the photo sites looking for just the right boys and I think I've found them. Ali and Nicu were the toughest and poor L.C. had to try to Ali-up my witch's hair. Manny will be my next searching task. You'll notice Kalo doesn't have a bio because he's still a bit of a mystery but his card has a teaser for the next book in the series, tentatively called Ali's Intuition. Hope you like. :)
(PS I have lots leftover if anyone would like a set)

Release Day for PRIVATE DICKS: UNDERCOVERS (2 days late)

It's release day!!! Okay, so I'm a couple days late but I did know when it went live even if I didn't advertise it. Lol. Well, I probably did on twitter and facebook but this poor blog always gets last dibs.

I also swear I will get my GRL thoughts blogged soon - still a little overwhelmed at getting home and settling back into life. Need to get my pink wipe-off board back into use so I can can myself organized since right now I'm flailing around like a chicken with my head cut off.

I will pick the winner in the "Not Going to GRL" contest next week since I have to wait for my lovely friends to ship my books and leftover swag from GRL. Soon, my people, soon.

But anyhow - the PRIVATE DICKS: UNDERCOVERS anthology featuring my story "The P.I. & the Rockstar" is finally out. I've seen the rough version of the print copy too, and it's fabulous.

I have to pimp my own story first - is that politically incorrect? :P I have a special bond with these characters and they will appear again in their own full-length story eventually. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy Mason and Jade as much as I do. :)

The PI and the Rockstar by K-lee Klein — Mason is a detective. He’s not flashy or hip and he doesn’t have an office conducive to entertaining wealthy clients. But when made-of-money Durango and his gum-snapping daughter hire him to do surveillance on a popular rockstar named Jade Jonathan Lee, Mason’s business world collides with his personal life, and the result is a mystery that must be solved.


There's some fabulous authors and stories in this anthology and you just have to check them out.

Temper by Siobhan Crosslin—Reese hates deception, but that's all his life has been since he was sent to investigate a wolf pack on clashing sets of orders. Keeping his lies separated is all that's keeping him alive, and it's a job that grows harder by the day—especially with the unexpected complications of the alpha he's investigating.

Glamour by Holly Rinna-White—When his little brother is kidnapped, Jason hires Eric, PI and long-time crush, to find him, terrified of what will happen if people learn his brother is unregistered psychic. But when Jason is kidnapped as well, he learns he and his brother are not the only ones keeping secrets.
The Virginia Gentleman by Alison Bailey—When the Virginia Gentleman rides into town, it's a sure bet that trouble ain't far behind. He's quick on the draw, feared by all, and one sad little group of train robbers is about to find out why it's never wise to bet on trouble.
The Royal Inquisitor by Megan Derr—Esmour is one the best Inquisitor's in the kingdom, but the penance bracelets on his wrist serve as constant reminder that once he was not a master of deception, but a victim. To solve his latest case, he must work alongside the liar who changed his life, and the love he learned too late was never real.
Regarding the Detective's Companion by E.E. Ottoman—Jamie is desperate: he has no money, rent is coming due, and if he does do something soon he'll be forced back into a life of charity and pity. So when he is brought a case, Jamie takes it—even if it will mean lying to his client, manipulating the suspect and propelling himself into the middle of a plot involving murder and political intrigue.
The Demon Bride by Isabella Carter—One dead body left at the door is more than enough, but after three are left on the stoop of his father's agency and no one else is willing to investigate, Quinton decides he'll just have to solve the mystery himself.
Too Dangerous by Sasha L. Miller—Shi is good at what he does, no matter what his stupid ex thought. Danger comes with the territory, especially when that territory includes a special license to do select work for the government. But when the government needs him to fix something that defeated even their most elite, Shi learns that some situations are too much even for him.
One last thing - I have to show-off my beautiful tattoo. It's two week birthday is today and it's still healing and peeling a little. You'll also get the story of my awesome tattoo artist and the almost five hours I spent with him at a later date - along with some pics of the actual process. :) Please excuse the quality of the picture, especially the glare, little bit of blurring, lines from sleeping and weird positioning. Lol. It's hard to get a good pic but I assure you, it's beautiful and totally exceeded my expectations. :)

Not going to GRL? Enter my prize pack giveaway.

Happy Monday, y'all. You know I don't say that in real life - ya'll. But I have a lot of friends who do and I enjoy writing it. :)

For anyone who isn't going to Gay RomLit, this is your chance to win a prize pack of the things I'll be pimping at the retreat.
The prize pack will include:


 A signed, print copy of LUCIUS' BITE - FAMILY OF MISFITS 1
A signed, print copy of DOMESTIC RELATIONS
4 Collector Character cards from Lucius' Bite
A double-sided postcard featuring two of my books.
Two K-lee Klein pens *snickers*
And maybe something Canadian, eh?
I'll ship anywhere - just keep in mind the further you are away, the longer the wait will be, plus the mail system is a little damn slow.
The random giveaway will close on October 25 and prizes will be shipped after that date.
To enter, leave your name, email address and some small comment that will make me smile (always appreciated). For extra entries - 1. invite a friend to enter (they should mention your name in their comment), 2. follow my blog, 3. follow me on twitter, 4. post this link somewhere else.
I'm not sure how many posts I'll have between now and then, but with two new releases at the end of October, you can expect at least two more contests when I get back.  Good Luck and have a great couple of weeks.
Hugs.

Cat crisis, Comfort zones, Cosmic Avengers & Crazy week

Good day. Despite the lovely cookie monster over there <-- this post isn't about cookies or pretty monsters.

Cat Crisis - We had a cat crisis in our house last week of epic proportions - to put it honestly, we thought Miss Henri was on her deathbed because of the way she was acting.

It was so close to how our dog Willow had acted last year when he think she had a stroke - Willow had to be put to sleep three days after we noticed the change. In that period of time she went blind, couldn't walk, couldn't control her bladder and lots of seizures. We said goodbye to her on Good Friday last year.
Henri was luckier. She hadn't had a seizure and she wasn't dying - but she was very sick.


After two trips to the vets and one to the emergency animal hospital, it was discovered she had a very large abscess on her anal gland (TMI) and it had ruptured in two places. She had fever and infection and was lethargic and like one big wet noodle when we picked her up. They did surgery and she came home four hours later with a lovely cone on her head.

She didn't seem to be improving that much in the first couple of days but then she started not hiding as much and being a little bossy. Last night we took the cone off her head and she's almost back to her good old self.  It was a scary time and being that my depression is kicking my ass right now, it make it all the more emotional and frightening. Sometimes I think we forget how important our furry family is to us.

Comfort Zones - I finished a story on the weekend that took me a little out of my comfort zone. I've written many different sub-genres - paranormal, western, rockstars (yes, that is a sub-genre in my book), a little fantasy. But generally I write contemporary. This story I just finished was a little contemporary, a little fantasy, and a little fairy tale. I've never mixed so many things into a story - ever - so I'm a little worried about how it will turn it out. You'll be able to read what I'm talking about when it comes out on October from Less Than Three Press. Pretty cover, right? Check out all the other Halloween Rentboy stories on the same day, too. Click on the pic for my link. (PS I went way over my word count of 10k too so at the moment, before edits it's almost 16k - oops)

I'm also going out of my comfort zone in another story I'm writing that I won't reveal any more about. I won't even tell you the zone I'm veering into just in case it doesn't work out at all and I trash it completely. :) Let's just say it's an interesting twist to what I usually write. ;)

We have a release date for Private Dicks: Undercovers with my story, The P.I. & the Rockstar - October 24 from Less Than Three Press. There's some awesome authors in this anthology so give it a go. Preorder price right now is 15% off - awesome!

In other news, the sequel to "Countdown to Daddies" has been accept for release sometime around Christmas with MLR's Ho Ho Ho stories. Keep your eye out for Gabe, Matteo and the twins in "Countdown to Santa". :0

Crazy Week - Next week I leave for Yaoi-Con in Long Beach, California with some awesome peeps from Less Than Three Press. How nervous am I to be meeting these lovely ladies that I talk to all the time online and consider good friends? Very very very nervous.

I leave on the 10th then head to Albuquerque for GRL (we've been promised half-naked cowboys, too :D) so this week I'm trying to get everything done but my lowness is creeping into my head. I'm struggling but trying to keep it at bay because I still have swag to organize, swag to finish, prizes to figure out and buy, get my hair did, find a suitcase since mine just may not make it this time around, meet a deadline I'm already late for, do edits, and attempt to keep freaking sane doing it all. I probably owe people emails and texts or dms or whatever and I swear if I owe you one, I'll get to it soon.

I'm also putting together a prize pack for people who aren't going to GRL. I'll start running that next week so keep your eye out. And one other thing I'm trying to figure out is the new tattoo I'm getting with the LT3 girls in Long Beach. One idea was decided then turfed because it just wouldn't have worked but now I think a better idea is being put into play - one I've wanted for a while. So hopefully when I get back I can post a pic of my newest body art. And just for information's sake, we're going to the oldest tattoo shop in the U.S. and I have a lovely man named Shay ready to ink me up. :)

Last but now least I've been wearing the crap out of my Avengers DVD. Woot! It always makes me happy.
I thought this was a really cool poster.

But since Loki's never on the posters or covers - here he is

And did you know that when Tom Hiddleston isn't being Lokihe's one of the funniest guys ever?

And some funnies...












I want this t-shirt soooo baaaaad!

Sunday with Guns N' Roses & Blind Melon...

This weekend has been a mesh of side effects of a med increase, struggling at doing some writing and resurrecting the 80s/early90s chick in me. Guns N' Roses has helped me do the latter and despite the strangeness (stranger than normal) that became Axl Rose, I still love the band, the music, his awesome voice, his plaid shirts and his wiggly hips.
I'm also still crushing on Gilby Clarke again since I saw him on Rockstar Super Nova a few years back. ☺(sorry there's so big - the size down seemed so tiny :/)

Hope y'all are having a good weekend.

 Sweet Child of Mine – no explanation needed – pure Axl and GNR.



Paradise City (another one most people know)



Welcome to the Jungle (starring Axl's very teased – Bon Jovi – hair)



Live and Let Die starring Axl's kilt (for part of the video anyway)



Patience (starring Axl's whistle and amazing hips) – I love when he slowed it down then brings it back up really fast. The man had amazing vocal range.



November Rain (the weird wedding one – all the ballady-type videos told some sort of story)



Don't Cry (another odd video but I love the rooftop setting and the other singer in the other plaid shirt on the roof is Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon who OD'ed a few years later – when I watched it after all these years, it still made me sad to see him. He was so full of energy and talent)



Knockin' on Heaven's Door – live version from Tokyo. I love this video. The intro is a little long if you don't like guitar solos but you can fast forward over that if you want. Axl in a long fringed coat and his undies with his little soldier pretty clearly displayed – jumping, dancing and singing is a definite must see if you're a fan. Lol. Despite his underwear, Slash's body was still the killer one in the vid. ☺


No Rain – by Blind Melon - just because I wanted to listen to some more of Shannon Hoon – live version– the video's a little dark and just ignore the annoying chick at the beginning)



Change – acoustic version with no video but it's so beautiful and the picture matches how Shannon lived his life. He was a creative, talented, old soul 28 year old who was taken too soon. Beautiful but sad and ironic lyrics – take a listen. ☹



I don't feel the sun's comin' out today 
It's staying in, it's gonna find another way, yeah, hey 
As I sit here in this misery 
I don't think I'll ever no long' seen the sun from here 

And, oh, as I fade away 
They'll all look at me and say and they'll say 
"Hey, look at him", I'll never live that way 
And that's okay, they're just afraid to change 

Ah, when you feel life ain't worth living 
You've got to stand up and take a look around 
You look up way to the sky 
Hey and when your deepest thoughts are broken 
Keep on dreaming boy, 'cause when you stop dreamin' it's time to die 

And as we all play parts of tomorrow, oh, no, no 
Some ways we'll work, in other ways we'll play, yeah, yeah 
But I know we can't all stay here forever, oh 
So I want to write my words on the face of today 
And then they'll paint it up 

And, oh, as I fade away, yeah 
They'll all look at me and say, they'll say 
"Hey, look at him and where he is these days" 
When life is hard, you have to change 
When life is hard, you have to change

Depression and Sweet Story Recs

Fall has always been a hard time of year for me. There's never been a rhyme or reason as to why and believe me when I say, it's been researched and queried over and over. I have clinical depression - I'm not afraid to say it and I don't care who knows it - and there are two times of year that sink me lower than others: Fall (namely end of August to end of October) and the months of January and February (my birthday month lol). Strange timing and I'm thankful for the couple months between fall and January to sort of regroup

I managed to skip the fall hurdle last year, probably because I'd already been in hospital the better part of the year anyhow but this year its reared its ugly head full and fast in the past two weeks. I've been using the skills I've learned over the years - trying to get out of the house, keeping busy, not beating myself up (sort of) - but it's not working at this point. I even have something - 2 things actually - to look forward to in October; Yaoi-Con and GRL, but my head is still clouded with darkness. 


I went to the doctor yesterday and the conclusion was that my knee not getting better and the addition of the pain in my opposite foot, is not making the depression any better. (have I mentioned I don't like my doctor at all and DUH!) So we're going to try increasing my main medication from 300 to 450 which is a whole lot of upping but it's 150s are the only dosage the pills come in. I've always had good luck with this med, none of the side effects I usually have with others that leave me climbing the walls or comatose on the couch. 

But... but there is a chance my anxiety will increase since this is a med that has an energy factor built right in - that's one of the reasons I love it. The anxiety thing will not be a treat if that's the case since fall makes me anxious enough but I'm hoping if it happens, it'll be short-lived and then I'll move beyond the dark cloud in my head. A person can only do so much crying until they think they'll melt into a puddle of their own tears, right? How poetic of me. :) <--- see - I am trying.

On to books. My concentration and attention span has been worth crap so I've been looking for shorter books that without a lot of angst, and not unlike the food cravings I have right now, I wanted some sweetness. Here are a few books that I'd strongly recommend if you're in the mood for sweetness. Hope you enjoy.


CINDER by Marie Sexton - Eldon Cinder would give anything to see Prince Xavier one last time, but only women are invited to the royal ball. When the local witch offers to make Eldon female for just one night, he agrees. One spell. One night. One dance. What could possibly go wrong.

~~This one has been on my Owned-to-be-read shelf ever since it came out but I just never got around to reading it. Well I finally did this week and it's so awesome. I love the sweet story and the characters and Cinderella has to be the greatest fairy tale to be slashed ever because it has so many possibilities. Just when I was sure I knew what was happening next, the author would switch things up and another element would be added to the story. 

I loved Eldon. He was such a kind, gentle soul and the way he and Prince Xavier meet in the first place is such an adorable scenario. I think I just sat and looked at the last page, hoping more would just magically appear on the page because I just hadn't had my fill of the lovely couple. It didn't but I was just happy to have read about Eldon and Xavier and I'm sure I'll read their story again and again.


INK AND PAPER by Megan Derr - Enitan is a simple clerk in the stationary shop now owned by his stepfather. He spends his days cleaning and tending the inventory, wishing he could have have more of a presence in the shop, or leave to start his own somewhere else. Then a stranger walks into the shop, seeking ink, and Enitan finds himself swept into a world  to which he does not belong, and wishing for things even more impossible than a shop of his own.

~~In sticking to the Cinderella theme, this is also a version of the well-loved fairy tale and in Megan's beautiful style of vivid description, world-building and fabulous character development, it's a tale that touched me right away. In my eyes Enitan had already given up in the beginning of the story but as soon as the handsome stranger walks in, something inside him opens up again, something deep and needful and hopeful. When the man comes back and specifically asks for him, I could see the hope burning bright inside Enitan's whole body just from the description. He's a strong man despite his situation and the appalling circumstances that have been his life since his mother passed away and the man in question has not only the want and pure love to take care of him but to also change more than just Enitan's non-existent love life. 

As always, I wanted more when the story ended - but then again I'm greedy that way. And if you haven't discovered Megan's other works, please take a step and do so. The knowledge and flair she has for writing both fantasy and historical are truly gifts I wished I possessed. Plus, I love her rockstars, too, even though she doesn't think they're as awesome as I do. (Personal note - And speaking of rockstars, I have this weird Cinderella rockstar story floating around in my head and since I've always wanted to write a fairy tale, I hope it sticks around long enough for me to do so)


FROG by Mary Calmes - Weber Yates's dreams of stardom are about to be reduced to a ranch hand's job in Texas, and his one relationship is with a guy so far out of his league he might as well be on the moon. Or at least in San Francisco, where Weber stops to see him one last time before settling down to the humble, lonely life he figures a frog like him has coming. Cyrus Benning is a successful neurosurgeon, so details are never lost on him. He spotted the prince in a broken-down bull rider's clothing from day one. But watching Weber walk out on him keeps getting harder, and he's not sure how much more his heart can take. 
Now Cyrus has one last chance to prove to Weber that it's not Weber's job that makes him Cyrus's perfect man, it's Weber himself. With the help of his sister's newly broken family, he's ready to show Weber that the home the man's been searching for has always been right there, with him. Cyrus might have laid down an ultimatum once, but now it's turned into a vow-he's never going to let Weber out of his life again.

~~I'm not sure if this was meant to be classified as a fairy tale retold but with the prince and frog references, there was no way I couldn't go there. Weber is one of the sweetest, most gentle characters ever despite the tough, rodeo cowboy shell he carries around like a badge of honour - or more than likely, to keep emotions from touching him. I loved how comfortable he was in any and every situation and how he wasn't afraid to show Cyrus his true feelings despite still insisting they couldn't make their relationship work. This was a sweet story all the way around - cute kids, a supportive family, and two men who only had eyes for each other and the best intentions at heart.

I know there are a ton of sweet stories out there and I have read some more but these are three I read this week and loved. Does anyone have any sweet recs or fairy tale retellings that are faves of yours? I'd love to hear about some of them. :)


And one last thing - there have been some speculations lately about whether readers want to know personal details about authors and I've pondered it myself. My answer is that the writer I am is massively inspired by the emotions I have on a day-to-day basis and since I've never been one to stifle those emotions - and in general, don't know how - I share what how I feel and what's going on in my life because it's important to what and how I write. For me it's personal preference and everyone has a right to their own, as well as a right to read or not read what I might spout out about - lol say that three times fast - myself. I thank you for being interested in me as a person but certainly don't expect you to be.

I can't leave without some pretty which I've been trying not to post - pictures in general - and have been failing greatly in my attempt.



Oh, Wil. I really need to write something using your body, hair and face. *sighs*

Contest winner, Fanfiction query & Hephaistion

Congratulations to Lisa who won a free ebook from the awesome Zathyn Priest from his interview last week! *throws confetti* And thank you to everyone who stopped by to comment. 

JI thought I'd make this a double purpose post because I have a ponderance that I'm obviously pondering. I've been writing a submission for a serial - something I've never done before - and it's been very daunting to say the least. In my head writing a serial story is different than writing a normal story, so to speak. I'm having issues with it because I don't think it's fitting the story I had in my mind and will be too heavy and not rockstar-central enough to submit for the serial call - not that it's anywhere near done anyhow. 
Now I'm debating whether I can write something else in time for the deadline which is September 30. Neither the serial itself or the story I was already writing is my what I'm deliberating in my brain though. My mind has gone to whether or not it's ethical or politically correct to take inspiration from some of my fanfiction stories. For me it's a really logical place to go since it's a rockstar story I'm writing - and also one of my top sub-genres in m/m romance - plus it's where I got my start in writing things I actually let people read.
I started out my fanfiction career - lol - writing Alexander the Great and Hephaistion but my second and probably more prolific stories were rockstars in love. I wrote one band predominantly and one of the members much more than the others and I still love those stories and the band, of course. So I guess I'm wondering if it's wrong - either in an ethical or cheating way - if I let some of those fics influence the rockstars I'm still continuing to write. I don't mean I'm going to recycle my old stories - *ahem* like a very popular BDSM book being made into a movie - and the characters will obviously be different, but is it okay to use those inspirational times of writing - and following that particular band around to over 13 gigs - to help me with the new rockers in my head?
And I'm not talking solely about this serial story I'm wanting to write because as I already said rockstars are one of my favourite subjects to read and write. It may sound like an odd ponderance and query but it's valid in my head and as I'm someone who always fears I'll offend someone, I like to think things over before attempting things... over-thinking obviously being the norm for me. 
Now just because you asked - lol or didn't and I just feel the need - please feel free to ogle my inspiration for all my Alexander the Great/Hephaistion fics. And yes, I definitely had more of an addiction to Phai than Xander (played of course by the gorgeous Jared Leto and a big obsession for me - can you guess who the band was that I wrote all my bandslash about now?)  :)







Oh, and did I mention I have a poster-sized Hephaistion hanging in my bedroom. ;)

Zathyn Priest, The Scarlet Letter & a giveaway

I'm thrilled to have the fabulous Zathyn Priest on my blog today. He's here to talk about the online magazine he established not so long ago, The Scarlet Letter. So let's get started. (PS click the pic for the link to The Scarlet Letter)
Welcome Zathyn. Thanks for humoring me and letting me interview you (again). J First of all how are you? How was your summer? Or was it winter in Australia?
Our winter has just finished and going into spring now.  I despise summer so the longer that takes to get here the better as far as I’m concerned. 
So The Scarlet Letter is an online magazine aimed toward GLBT writers. When did you introduce it to the online public? What was or is your major goal in starting it?
The magazine went live a few months ago, only a matter of a couple of weeks after the idea was conceived.  It was something I’ve wanted to do for a while now and a conversation with fellow author, Michele L Montgomery, turned an idea into a reality.  I got straight to work on it the following day.
The main goal with it was – and still is – to provide an avenue of free promotion for GLBT writers while keeping the magazine reader friendly. With hundreds of books available for readers to choose from, promotion is an important part of being an author.  Many writers make the mistake of assuming their job is done once they’ve written ‘the end’ at the bottom of a manuscript. 
Is there significance for you in naming it The Scarlet Letter?
I started Scarlet Tie Books prior to starting The Scarlet Letter, which is a publishing label I began so I could publish my own graphic fiction.  That then soon snowballed into what is fondly now referred to by me as The Scarlet Project.  The magazine is one of those projects and so the name needed to have the word ‘scarlet’ in it. 
The Scarlet Letter was made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel of the same name, in which a woman who had committed a sexual sin (Adultery) had to wear a red A in public to show other’s she was a sinner.  A scarlet tie, or handkerchief, was worn by men in the early twentieth century as a signal to other gay men that they were available. 
Basically the name was chosen to represent the hidden, though not hidden, sexual connotations of what was once considered sinful in the western world and punishable by death, to a more open minded, accepting society in regards to sex and sexuality.   
What type of articles do you run and how often are you publishing it?
We started off with writing/promotion articles but are now accepting any topic that is related to GLBT issues/experiences.  Basically, if it’s something an author would put on their own Blog, it’s probably something the magazine would publish, too.  We don’t want to get stuck in the trap of only showcasing promotional material, as that will soon get old for readers.  We want to keep it fresh, keep the readers coming back for the next issue, and we’re always open to suggestions on how we can do this.
Is The Scarlet Letter geared more toward readers or writers or both? Is it about promotion and if so, how important do you think promo is for a writer?
It’s geared toward both.  This type of magazine can’t be successful if it doesn’t recognize readers as much as it recognizes those authors who contribute content.  There’s no point filling the online pages with material if no one clicks the links to read it.  So the magazine has to be entertaining as well as promotional.
We encourage those authors who have a featured book, Blog, or article to check back during the month and make sure they acknowledge reader comments.  If someone has taken the time to read your post and leave a comment, I think the least an author can do is make sure their effort doesn’t go unnoticed.  
Self promotion is so important and it can’t be stressed enough.  A lot of this involves author/reader interaction. Gone are the days when a writer is a name on a book cover and their real self is never heard or seen.  To make your book stand out from the hundreds upon hundreds of other GLBT books, you need to hit the promo trail.  And don’t make the mistake of assuming this means posting purchase links on every available social networking site and calling it a day.  Get your cyber self out there, meet the people, shake hands, be friendly, and people respond to the effort.  I’m not saying you need to reply to every single post on your FaceBook timeline… but don’t be elusive either. 
Just an example of what I mean:  You want to buy a new pair of shoes and there are two people available to help you choose.  One of them points to a shelf and says, ‘Over there.  That’s where the shoes are.’ And then he/she walks away and leaves you surrounded by a store full of other shoes, feeling like your interest in the product is totally dismissed.  The other person takes the opportunity to greet you with a smile, makes you feel welcome in their store, takes you to the shoes and makes you feel good about buying shoes off this pleasant sales assistant.  Which one are you more likely to buy from?  And more to the point, which one would you return to buy from again?
Do you have a staff that works with you and do you have specifics about who can submit articles and books for your consideration?
The magazine is partnered with Top2Bottom Reviews, run by Michele L. Montgomery.  Michele and I both have the same work ethic –workaholics.  She works with me on the magazine, interacting with authors and promotions.  She’s more personable than I am – lol – and without her help the magazine wouldn’t be what it is.  We got over 5,000 hits on issue three of The Scarlet Letter and the hard work is paying off.
Had establishing your own publishing company, Scarlet Tie Books, been a goal of yours for a while or did you have some specific reason for starting it up? Tell us about your company.
I wanted to publish graphic fiction – books with illustrations – and there was nowhere that published graphic gay fiction. I registered the business name Scarlet Tie Books for that reason.  Then I had others asking if I’d consider publishing their books and it grew from there. 
Now we’re also open to submissions outside of the graphic fiction genre.  We’re looking for stories that are heavy on plot and less on the sexual content.  Strong characters, strong stories, and if there is no sexual content at all then that’s fine by us. 
I can't end the interview without asking about what you're working on, Zathyn. You know I'm a fan of both your writing and graphics so I'm always awaiting your next release. Is there anything you can share about what's next for Zathyn Priest fans?
I can tell you, with almost 100% certainty that there won’t be anything new from me this year.  The Statue was released a few months ago and that’ll be the only one for 2012 (click the cover for the link).  Unless I’m struck by some kind of magical intervention, nothing I’m working on at the moment will be finished before 2013.
The ones I’m working on currently are The Violin Player, a sequel to The Curtis Reincarnation.  Dystopia, which is a paranormal contemporary novel and it’s about three quarters done.  The third is Emrys Amara, contemporary/vampire novel, and that’s about half done.
I’m not a prolific writer and do so many other things other than write.  I get to it when I get to it.  I don’t see any point in forcing myself to write if I’m not in the mood to do it. If my heart isn’t in it, then it’s not going to be good enough for anyone to read.  The last thing I’d do is part with a story that wasn’t given my full attention and commitment.
Thanks again for being here. Good luck with your magazine, company and writing. J
Thank you, K-lee. And thank you for letting me visit your Blog today.  All the best to you, too!
Zathyn is offering an ebook from his backlist for one lucky commenter. Leave your name, email address and a nice hello to Zathyn J then  I'l make a random draw for a winner. Contest closes at midnight, Monday September 17. (click on the banner to have a peek at Zathyn's website)

Now because I'm such a fan of both his writing and graphics, I'm posting a few pics of his book covers just in case anyone hasn't seen them yet. Click to find out more about them.