Harper Bliss's Blog, page 53

Things I did this week #7

- Attended Hong Kong’s only music festival Clockenflap (where I’m from we have a dozen every weekend in summer)

- Was amazed by the general well-behavedness of people at music festivals in Hong Kong

- Was impressed by !!! (the band) and Bastille (check this, it’s awesome)

- Thoroughly enjoyed De La Soul’s swag

- Was less impressed by the organisers (inspired by the police, of course) cutting off Tiga mid-set because it was ‘ten o’clock on a Sunday night’

- Drank beer from pitchers (and regretted it the day after)

- Drank Heineken at the festival after party (where I’m from, drinking Heineken is considered a cardinal sin—still repenting, but it was the only beer in the club)

- Danced more in one day than I did in the previous three months combined

- Revised, revised, revised and… revised Undisclosed Desires some more (almost ready for beta-readers)

- Watched Cloudburst at the local LGBT film festival and was riveted by the amount of swearing Olympia Dukakis’s character Stella engaged in (great movie, btw!)

- Added a strap-on scene to Undisclosed Desires (the wife insisted)

- Indulged in fantasies Blogged about Monica Raymund

- Discovered that living within walking distance of Ikea is not good for a person’s sanity

- Made this list

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Hotties: Monica Raymund

Chicago Fire may well be my favourite new US network show. It has prime time melodrama written all over it, but hey, when it comes to TV, I allow myself a lot of guilty pleasures. And it does help that Monica Raymund is in uniform in every single episode. I liked her in Lie To Me (another guilty pleasure), but those pencil skirts and uptight blouses weren’t really working in her favour. I, of course, loved her in The Good Wife when she tried to pull one over on Kalinda (but no one messes with Kalinda). And I absolutely adore her in Chicago Fire. I pray the show will have a long run and EMT Dawson and her uniform (and her lesbian colleague) will grace my screen for many TV seasons to come.

An EMT doesn’t smile very often.

Oh Monica, you make me want to ride my bike now.

As ASA Dana in The Good Wife. Hard to resist, even for Kalinda.

Another kind of uniform, still cute though.

Don’t worry Monica, as long as you wear your uniform everything will be all right.

Be careful Monica, Kalinda has a bat… and a gun.

P.S. For all the people landing on this page after searching for ‘Monica Raymund Lesbian’… I feel your pain, but I fear the worst.

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Six Sentence Sunday #15

Champagne is back for Six Sentence Sunday. (You can catch up here, if you like.)

She hailed a cab with authority and waited for me to give the driver the address. Her eyes rested on me, cool and expectantly.

I mumbled my street name in Chinese, a flash of new confidence zipping through me, and shot her a wide smile.

“This better be good.” She locked her sad green eyes on me, chewing her bottom lip.

My mental state yo-yoed between pure panic and brashness. I wasn’t exactly in the habit of picking up women at the mall, let alone what looked like a neglected housewife.

As always, more Six Sentence Sunday goodness can be found at the official website.

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Things I did this week #6

- Visited Bangkok

- Saw some things a woman isn’t supposed to see

- Revealed the cover for Undisclosed Desires

- Saw JLo in concert (she was good (aka smoking hot), but I’ve yet to see a show match Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour—this one didn’t come close)

- Had one session with a personal trainer (it came with the new gym membership) and got slaughtered by the sweetest looking Chinese boy (I should have seen it coming)

- Had trouble getting up and sitting down for two days

- Neglected my blog (sorry)

- Found out that Salman Rushdie’s memoir only briefly mentions Padma Lakshmi (but it’s still a good read)

- Rejoiced in the return of The Layover

- Went to Ikea for the third time in so many weeks (the new flat is getting there)

- Didn’t write as much as I set out to do (due to a long-stretched Bangkok hangover)

- Saw the most ridiculous Hong Kong movie (Cold War, if you ever feel tempted—don’t!)

- Booked a flight home to visit my nephew in March

- Inspired Cheyenne Blue to make her own list (keep it up )

- Made this list

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Cover for High Rise Novella Two

I’m nearing the end of the first draft of High Rise Novella Two (I’m right in the middle of the really juicy bits), which now has an official title and cover. Ta-dah…

And a blurb as well:

Nat, a successful American writer who came to Hong Kong following the love of her life, chases every girl she can after a brutal break-up. Her neighbour Isabella, who has shied away from relationships since her divorce five years earlier, finds herself compelled to help. They strike up an unlikely friendship and are soon faced with a growing desire for each other. But can their differences in age, aspirations and lifestyle be overcome?

Undisclosed Desires is planned for the end of December, but I’m already getting excited.

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Six Sentence Sunday #14

After a break for Fool for Love last week, Champagne is back for Six Sentence Sunday. (You can catch up here, if you like.)

I grabbed the fancy bag that held my lamp and followed her to the exit. Her pace indicated determination, a trait I hadn’t yet noticed in her. Then again, I’d only seen the sadness in her eyes and not much else.

As we approached the taxi stand, my heart started hammering in my throat. The first sign of doubt. I didn’t question my desire as much as I did my tactics and the state of my flat. She didn’t strike me as a woman accustomed to furniture bruising and beds smaller than king-sized.

As always, more Six Sentence Sunday goodness can be found at the official website. I’ll be back with the next six sentences next week.

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Things I did this week #5

- Got my hair did (alternative lifestyle haircut once again)

- Released Fool for Love

- Blogged like a crazy person about Fool for Love

- Made a sizeable dent in the first draft of High Rise Novella Two

- Got my blog swamped by people questioning Monica Galetti’s sexual preference (glad I’m not the only one)

- Still didn’t get to the Padma Lakshmi bit in Joseph Anton (must be getting closer now)

- Started watching Top Chef again (Hello Padma!)

- Bought tickets to a J.Lo concert (I know… but she’s hot)

- Spent a good thirty minutes in the gym (but only because the showers are so damn good)

- Got on a plane to Bangkok (see you after the weekend)

- Made this list

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FOOL FOR LOVE is here

Today’s the day. I get excited every time I release a new title, but this one is a little bit special because it’s the first one in a series, which means I don’t have to say goodbye to the characters just yet. And I do love all four of them dearly by now.

Fool for Love is now available as a free download from Amazon. The promotion will run until Saturday 24 November 2012, so be sure to grab your free copy before then.

The blurb for Fool for Love (High Rise Novella One)

Betrayed by her long-term girlfriend, Alex moves into The Ivy to share a flat with her friend Nat. When she meets their neighbour Maddie, a jaded expat who’s had about enough of Hong Kong’s demanding life style, both Maddie and Alex are forced to reassess their warped view on love.

Fool for Love is the first novella in the High Rise series.

Download a PDF preview here >>

Or just download the entire novella from Amazon for free. Here are the download links:

- Amazon US

- Amazon UK

- Amazon DE

Enjoy!

P.S. If you’ve left a comment on any of the Fool for Love blog posts and you’ve been chosen as the winner, I’ll e-mail you at the address you provided when you commented (and GoodReads comments count.)

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One day to FOOL FOR LOVE

In today’s Fool for Love‘s blog post, I’ll tell you a bit more about its main characters Alex and Maddie. Before I started on the first draft I literally had weeks to put together character sheets as I was in Europe for a month-long family visit (and as we all know: newborn baby nephew=zero writing).

Instead of writing, I thought about writing (which is usually not my way of doing things). I anticipated all the writing I would do once I got back to Hong Kong without the cutest baby boy distracting me. So, I dug up a fancy Moleskine notebook someone gave me for my birthday (I have a whole stack because ever since coming out as a writer they seem to be the only presents I get) and started composing biographies for my four main characters.

Let’s start with (a brief summary of) Alex.

- Full name: Alessandra Pozzato

- Birthday: 9 October 1981

- Country of birth: Hong Kong

- Nickname: Alex (or Pizza, as Nat likes to call me)

- Profession: Group fitness instructor at Shape

- Hair colour: Black

- Eye colour: Brown

- Best friend: Nathalie Orange (Nat)

- Favourite movie: Anything with Charlize Theron (except Monster)

- Favourite song: We Found Love by Rihanna (or anything highly energetic and suitable for gym class)

- Favourite item of clothing: Tank top (white)

- Favourite food: anything organic

- Relationship status: heartbroken

And continue with Maddie

- Full name: Madison Gardens

- Birthday: 12 December 1972

- Country of birth: Australia

- Nickname: Maddie

- Profession: Investment banker at Crawford & Chase

- Hair colour: Blond

- Eye colour: Grey-blue

- Best friend: Isabella Douglas

- Favourite movie: Basic Instinct

- Favourite song: Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones

- Favourite food: Anything that goes with a nice bottle of Veuve Cliquot

- Time in Hong Kong: Two years

- Relationship status: It’s complicated

Let’s finish with another excerpt. (And don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy!) This scene takes place right before Alex and her flatmate Nat go up to Isabella’s penthouse to sample some of her Scotch.

FOOL FOR LOVE – EXCERPT

© Harper Bliss 2012

Usually, Alex had the place to herself on a Friday night, resulting in a YouTube clip hopping frenzy of interviews with Charlize Theron—to whom Rita bore an uncanny resemblance. She could hardly pretend to have forgotten about Rita altogether, no matter how hard Nat was trying to push her into the arms of another woman. It had only been five weeks and two days.

“Why do I have to change, anyway? We’re only going two floors up and I didn’t know you were such a stickler for decorum.” Alex asked Nat, who stood adjusting the collar of her shirt in the bathroom mirror.

“It’s the penthouse, Alessandra. You can’t go to the penthouse in sweat pants. It’s not right.”

“Well, excuse me, Miss Donatella Orange, but if I’m not welcome the way I am, I might as well stay in.” Alex slanted against the door frame of the bathroom. “And don’t call me Alessandra.”

“Donatella is worse.” Nat stuck her tongue out and her reflection in the mirror looked ridiculous enough to coax a smile out of Alex. Nat turned towards Alex, an unexpected kindness in her eyes. “It’s just a drink. Nothing more. And no funny business on my part, I swear.”

“Oh, all right.” Alex was getting sick of sulking at home, anyway.

“Now put on those cheap H&M jeans. It shouldn’t be said out loud, but your ass looks absurdly good in them.” Nat took a step closer and put her hands on Alex’ shoulders. “I know you’ve been hurt. Badly. But you’re hot stuff, Pizza. And the world is a better place with your ass in those jeans in it.” She quickly pecked Alex on the cheek. “And last I heard, looking good never hurt anyone.”

“What am I supposed to say to that?” Alex fought the urge to draw Nat in for a hug.

“Absolutely nothing. Come on, hurry up. I can taste that Scotch already.” Nat combed two fingers through her bangs and straightened her posture.

“You’re so easy to get, Orange.”

“If only someone could keep me, though.”

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Two days to FOOL FOR LOVE (Part two) – Sunday Snog

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Today’s snog is from (you guessed it right) Fool for Love. (Just sticking with this week’s theme. ) Remember to leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of Fool for Love!

Here we go for Alex and Maddie’s first kiss. Enjoy.

Alex allowed herself a silly chuckle. “You must think I’m terribly uptight.”

Maddie shook her head while digging her nails into Alex’ jeans. “The only thing I think is that you’ve been hurt. Anyway, you must think I’m quite the floozy.”

“Floozy?” Alex suppressed a fit of giggles. “Yeah, that about sums it up. A banker floozy with a seriously deranged moral compass.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Alex adored Maddie’s self-deprecating sense of humour. “Now.” Maddie leaned a little closer and put her wine glass on the table. “This floozy would really like to kiss those uptight lips of yours.” Maddie took Alex’ glass from her hand and put it away. “No tongue, I promise.”

“That’s about the most romantic proposal I’ve ever had.”

“I thought so.” Maddie slanted her head sideways as she inched closer.

Alex smelled wine and that expensive banker perfume she remembered—often and usually when alone in bed—from the evening on Isabella’s roof top. Maddie’s lips tasted salty and promising. She brought her hand to Alex’ neck and softly dug her fingertips into her muscles while parting her lips. Slowly, she trailed her tongue over Alex’ lips. Alex immediately reciprocated by opening her mouth and allowing Maddie’s tongue to slip in.

Do stop by Victoria’s blog for more snogging!

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