Andrew Q. Gordon's Blog, page 43
August 5, 2014
Ashes of Life – New Release Available Now for Free
As I’ve mentioned a few times, Ashes of Life is a story I wrote for the Love’s Landscape edition of Don’t Read in the Closet (DRitC) sponsored by the Goodreads MM Romance group. Basically how it works is someone sends in a picture and gives a bit about what the picture says to them and asks an author to write the story behind the picture.
Here’s the prompt I selected:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1729208-dear-author-ilona—claimed-by-andrew-q-gordon
As many who read my work know, I love fantasy. There is something about being able to read about things that can’t be real but should. Once I might have said that writing fantasy, being able to bring to life my imagination, is even better, but I’ve learned much since I was a ‘lil q myself. The tendency to make characters all powerful is hard to resist. Creating believable systems of magic can be more challenging still, and while in my mind I’m the all-powerful hero, my inclination is to just play god and make it go away. Yawn.
With Ashes I took a slightly different approach. Thane—the main character and narrator—has no powers at all. “Jeanne,” in a review on Goodreads described Thane as: “Just a kind humble man living life the best he can.” He also happened to free a being—the phoenix Eraq—that was powerful and at the center of a millennia long conflict.
I wanted to write this story from the POV of someone who couldn’t move mountains or save the day with a wave of his hand. I wanted a hero who was one of us. I’ve kept the magic and mythical creatures to a minimum to focus on Thane and Eraq so this should be a good read even for non-fantasy fans.
If you get a chance to read the story. I’d appreciate you taking a moment to let me know what you think.
The story is available in ePub, Mobi and PDF so whatever devise you have it should be easily accessible. Here is the link to the website where the eBook is available for download:
Ashes of Life; by Andrew Q. Gordon
Ashes of Life, By Andrew Q. Gordon
When Sergeant Thane asked his best friend and second in command, to go riding, he had no idea how much his life would change. Whisked away by his horse to a forest that shouldn’t exist and hears a cry for help.
Answering the plea, Thane releases a phoenix—Eraq—from his centuries long imprisonment. Eraq’s first act of freedom is to claim Thane as his own.
But the phoenix is more than he appears. A mage-shifter, Eraq sets his sights on the man who answered his call for help. Thane returns the interest despite learning that his act of liberation has set in motion events that will change the world.
When he learns his relationship with Eraq places him at the center of events beyond his understanding, Thane refuses to abandon the man he’s come to love. Even as it hurtles him toward certain death.
About the Author:
Andrew Q. Gordon wrote his first story back when yellow legal pads, ball point pens were common and a Smith Corona correctable typewriter was considered high tech. Adapting with technology, he now takes his MacBook somewhere quiet when he wants to write. He currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his partner of eighteen years, their young daughter and dog. In addition to dodging some very self-important D.C. ‘insiders’, Andrew uses his commute to catch up on his reading. When not working or writing, he enjoys soccer, high fantasy, baseball and seeing how much coffee he can drink in a day and not get the shakes.
Social Media Links:
You can find his books at
Follow Andrew on his website: www.andrewqgordon.com,
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/andrewqugordon,
On Twitter: @andrewqgordon,
Or just email him: andrewqgordon@gmail.com
&nbs
July 31, 2014
Free Fiction Friday – The Price of Love – Part 1
The Price Of Love – Part 1
“Stop!” I watched the camp grow smaller the higher we flew. We left everyone with no explanation. He didn’t even ask me first.
“Barh!” Nothing. Not even a twitch to acknowledge I’d spoken. “We can’t leave them. They’ll die!”
“They’ll die even if we stay.” Barh’s flat affect stung like a slap. He spoke to me like we were strangers.
Barh’s magic took us higher than we usually went. In fact, I could only remember one time we’d flown this high. We couldn’t be going there. Not now. Involuntarily I looked down. Stretched below my feet, the combined armies of three kingdoms gathered to meet the Degari, a swarm of evil the world thought vanquished ages ago.
Gathered to die might be more accurate. Without Barh, they had no hope. He knew that. So why was he running away?
“BARH!” I almost reached out to grab him, but stopped when I remembered where we were. “We can’t abandon our friends!”
He flinched and slowly turned. I could see the strain of the last year in every new crease on his still-youthful face. As the last Magi, the war had taken a terrible toll on him.
“Jackson.” He smiled at me in what felt like the first time in days. “If we stay, we won’t survive. No one will. We’ll be swept aside and the world will be lost. Our salvation lies with Chenoth.”
We were going there again. Had Barh’s mind finally snapped under the demands he placed on himself? Chenoth was a myth. Everyone from the Scholars of Hendry to the Magi, including Barh, had desperately searched for Chenoth the moment the Degari reappeared. Years of hunting turned up nothing. Not even a clue.
“Chenoth doesn’t exist, Barh,” I whispered. “He’s a fable told to small children to help them sleep at night.”
His icy façade seemed to melt a bit as he smiled at me again. “Chenoth is real, Jacks. I know people think he’s a myth, but believe me, he’s real.”
Barh had been so distant lately, it was as if he were leaving me, one thought at a time. He risked everything to be with me so why did he suddenly act like he didn’t care?
Of course when we met, I had no right to expect him to care about me. He was Barhingolis the Magi. A living legend that people looked to for salvation. Me? I was no one; the son of a cooper from a small village in the far western province of Wesmer. My village had the dubious honor of being the first place the Degari attacked when they returned.
Barh led the force that saved what was left of my village. I can still see that day in my mind, etched forever as both the saddest and happiest of my life. In shock and alone, I stood over the broken, bloody bodies of my father and younger brother when this kid—Barh was barely twenty at the time—walked over and tried to comfort me. His compassion and gentle touch helped heal my pain.
For weeks we denied our feelings for each other because admitting them created more problems than it solved. Magi were discouraged from falling in love because getting married meant almost certain loss of their powers. In the hundred generations of recorded history, only three of the dozens who took the oath of marriage remained a Magi; just three. Barh made four, adding to his legacy.
Barh was everything he promised and more; husband, lover, friend, companion. Even the constant grind of the war didn’t diminish our bond. At least, it hadn’t until the last war council ten days ago. Since then he’d kept apart, isolated in his thoughts.
Looking down, my knees shook. No matter how many times Barh took me flying, I still felt a moment of panic when I saw nothing beneath my feet. Years of practice taught me it was best to focus on something other than the air under foot, so I trained my gaze on the army rapidly disappearing from view. The army Barh set in the path of the enemy and then abandoned.
Barh had persuaded the three kings of the Klandish Continent to put aside their distrust and hatred for each other to stand as one. Every soldier who could swing a blade or pull a bow was assembled just beyond the Northern Pass. In a different time, Barh would have been praised for what he’d achieved. But death approached from the north and we’d need a miracle for anyone to survive the day to sing at all.
From my vantage point, I saw a dark, swirling mass that stretched to the end of my vision and beyond. This high up, they looked like an enormous swarm of ants, churning across the snow and ice. The Degari were packed so tightly together they hid the snow from my sight.
“Two more—even you and I—won’t stop that.” Barh’s warm breath tickled my ear as he pointed toward the enemy.
“Fleeing feels wrong, cowardly. We’re abandoning them when they’re expecting us to stand with them.” The soldiers expected Barh to be there. “Without you, their morale will fail.”
“Jacks, this is our only hope. I can’t stand against that for long.” He nodded weakly toward the Degari. “What would happen to their spirits when I died before them?”
I stared into his eyes, but he still felt distant. The words I wanted to say wouldn’t come out.
“Besides,” he took my hand and kissed it gently. “Word is being spread throughout the army that I’m going to summon Chenoth. That will strengthen their hearts.”
Barh stepped back and my heart skipped a beat. When did he get so gaunt? Alone in our tent at night I’d never noticed the change. Or maybe I just refused to see what was there. He’d been lean and wiry when we met, but now he looked starved. Seeing his pale blue Magi Robe gathered loosely around his leather belt, I understood fully the price he paid.
Although handsome, Barh’s most amazing feature was his piercing eyes—the eyes of a Magi. Crystal blue, they had captivated my soul. With just a look he would soothe my fears and make everything seem better. Now all I saw was a deep sadness that wrenched at my heart.
Unable to bear the pain in his eyes, I turned to see our destination looming ever closer. Floating above the center of the continent, the Island in the Clouds reminded the world that the Gods left behind special beings to protect us. But if our guardians lived here, no one could find them. Birds and insects were all that populated the lush forest surrounding the lone mountain in the center of the land.
“Barh, we searched here last year.” I tried my best not to sound worried. “Chenoth wasn’t there.”
“Yes, he was.” His words were barely audible and he turned the moment I looked his way. “But I refused him.”
Refused him? What did that mean? We came here last year and left with nothing; not even a clue where to go next. At least that is what Bahr said at the time.
I replayed that trip in my mind, trying to remember any detail that might explain Barh’s answer. But all I could remember was when he told me Chenoth wasn’t there. He woke me from a deep sleep; I’d been dreaming of the day we met ten years prior. When I opened my eyes, Barh appeared frightened, and said we were wasting our time. With no further explanation, he insisted we leave—immediately.
That’s when our life turned frantic as we scoured the world for information. We chased down any lead, persuaded every scholar we could to leave no page unturned and even uncovered several lost troves of information in abandoned cities long forgotten. The effort devastated his body to a degree I only just noticed.
My thoughts were interrupted when we cleared the cloud cover and emerged into a brilliant blue sky. Soaring above the clouds, what I saw deserved all my attention. It took my breath away the first time I’d been here and today it was just as amazing.
Last time we came, Barh went slowly to give me time to soak in all the details. Today he didn’t slow down at all, making straight for the solitary peak I knew to be our destination. Halfway up the eastern slope, a large cave held a lonely vigil over the land. Talon marks riddled the cave, evidence of the dragons that once lived there according to Barh.
A year ago, Barh had such hope and confidence we’d find Chenoth. He left a different man. More determined, and more desperate. Why were we coming back? And why today? Everything about this trip unnerved me, especially how distant Barh acted.
We rounded the mountain, and slowed as the mouth of the cave opened wide in front of us. Gently he lowered us until my feet touched the hard surface. I stomped my boots into the earth and Barh grinned.
“You never did like to fly, did you Jacks?”
“Flying isn’t the problem. I just prefer seeing something solid under foot.” I tapped my foot several times and laughed.
The presence of something—or someone—killed my good mood. I scanned the cave and my heart seized. Everything felt different. This was the same place, but it wasn’t. The position of things hadn’t changed, but I saw so many things I hadn’t a year ago. The walls were lighter and felt warm under my hand. It was no longer a cave, but rather, a home. A balmy, almost stifling heat had replaced the bitter cold of winter, which should have been worse at this height.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize Barh had walked farther inside until I heard him kick a rock against the wall. Shaking my head to clear the daydream, I quickly caught up to him.
Barh abruptly stopped at the entrance to a dimly lit cavern and I nearly barreled into him. I moved to his side and watched his barely open eyes search the empty room. Barh’s voice, shaking and cracked broke the silence.
“Chenoth.” Barh kept his gaze on a white patch of rock in front of him. “As you said I would, I have returned.”
Be Sure To Check Out The Other Stories:
Follow all your favorite and read the first 100 words on the group’s website:
Free Fiction Friday
July 30, 2014
A Month Of Pictures – July ’14
July was a busy month and one where I came to the wonderful, yet sad realization that ‘lil q isn’t so little anymore. She met her Great Aunt Michele, went to the dentist, got to play with the big kid on campus and had swim lessons too. There were a lot of others, but these capture the month best.
And what would a monthly picture update be without a few videos:
This to me captures what it’s like to be 2½:
Couple videos to show of her swimming skills:
July 20, 2014
Update Time
I’ve said I’d try to do more of this, so here goes.
Buy Purpose for .99 cents all day July 21, 2014.
Yep, that’s not a misprint. Dreamspinner Press is offering three books a day for .99 cents. Purpose is one of those three tomorrow. But you have to buy it on their website, can’t get it anywhere else. So for those of you waiting to buy it, tomorrow is the day. Here’s a link:
Author Interview:
Next, I was interviewed by Rachel Gebhardt on her blog today – July 20, 2014. I’m also giving away a copy of Wayward Ink’s first two books - Bollocks! and Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust. Read the interview and enter to win!
http://wolfwriterga.weebly.com/author-interviews/author-interview-andrew-q-gordon
Free Fiction Friday Starts August 1, 2014
Not sure yet how many people will be joining us at first, but the Website is done – as you know if you read my blog – and Grace R. Duncan and I are going to start posting in two weeks. I’ve got plans to rework my very first anthology piece I wrote for Gay Authors and repost it on my site. The Price of Love, was first published in Sept 2010. Hard to believe it’s been that long. It needed more work than it thought but I’ve got enough ready to go that I can start posting August and not miss a beat. My next free Friday Fiction event is going to be to finish My Guardian Angel is a Cockblock. Yes I know I left folks hanging. I hadn’t planned to wait this long to finish it, but I got caught up in things. Hopefully soon, but I am working on it.
Book Updates:
I’ve already mentioned that The Eye and The Arm is being published, and as part of the Marketing campaign, DsP Publication asked I get at least the first Chapter of Book three ready to use as a teaser at the end of Book Two. I’ve got a working title, which I feel Pretty confident will be the actual title when it is published. I’ve officially begun work on Book Three - Kings of Lore and Legend. The plan is to submit it to DsP Publications by Dec 1. Wish me luck. :-)
Harp Strings is coming along – limping might be better, but Lily has asked me to get it to her by Sept 15 at the absolute latest. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. The basics are there, the last few chapters need writing, but I need some steady free time to write. I’m going to try something I read to get more writing time in. We’ll see if it works.
Strand Anthology from Wayward Ink Publishing. So Lily has challenged me to do an entry for Stranded. So this is going to be a tough one to do, but I’m going to try never the less. I have the story sorta fleshed out, not to find the time to write it. I’m going to use this to try something new – again. If this gets done in time it’ll be a Sci-Fi story. Not sure it’ll include Alien sex, but Alien love for sure. :)
That’s all to report—everything else is too remote to even discuss.
July 16, 2014
Guest Author: Lane Hayes – Better Than Friends
Almost exactly one year ago, I came to your site as a first time published author to chat about my first book, Better Than Good, Andy. A lot has happened between July 2013 and July 2014! My third book and most recent, Better Than Friends was released last month. (It actually hit #1 on Amazon’s LGBT Bestseller list!) It’s been so fun to see the wonderful response of a growing readership who love these guys from DC. People have their favorites now and have opinions about possible directions for book #4. I couldn’t be more thrilled!
In Better Than Friends, it all begins at a wedding. As these things sometimes do. Inhibitions are low and sometimes what might be considered reckless behavior doesn’t seem like such a bad idea in the heat of the moment. When Curt meets Jack he knows at first sight this is no ordinary man. And when he offers Curt a ride home on his Harley, he’s proven correct. It’s one thing to go with the flow, but Curt is pretty sure Jack is out of his league. They really have nothing in common. Except…baseball. Both men love the sport. In fact, the hunky man with the Harley and tats is a bit of baseball fanatic. Time spent watching baseball becomes the springboard to a newfound friendship.
Curt and Jack’s story isn’t just about falling for a friend. It’s about what the bond of friendship brings out in each man. Compassion and a shoulder to lean on when times get tough. They find along the way that affection and esteem pair very well with an intense physical attraction. The Odd Couple scenario in real life doesn’t always make for a happy ending. There must be something more. So what’s the missing link? Friendship, admiration, respect and ultimately trust.
The Better Than Stories series are all standalone books and can be read in any order. I’m a stickler for reading numerically, but honestly, there is no confusion if you happen to read this one before say, Better Than Good. You will meet characters from the other novels in Better Than Friends, but hopefully that will simply make you curious enough to go back and read their stories as well. J And yes, there will be more Better Than books, however, my next release will be the first in a whole new series!
Thank you very much for having me here today, Andy!
Happy Reading!
Lane xo
Blurb:
When Cu
rt Townsend, a successful young DC lawyer, attends his first gay wedding, he doesn’t expect anything more than a great evening out spent celebrating two lucky guys willing to commit to one another. He certainly doesn’t anticipate meeting someone like Jack Farinelli. Fourteen years Curt’s senior, Jack owns two businesses: a gay bar and a motorcycle shop. He’s gorgeous and self-assured, but Curt is positive they have nothing in common.
Jack is comfortable in his own skin. He’s attracted to Curt’s quick wit and easy manner but most of all, to their unexpected mutual love of baseball. As they forge a friendship based on their shared enthusiasm for the sport, they begin a journey which reveals how their differences might be the catalyst behind a growing attraction. Both men have experienced their share of pain, but they realize they need to set aside the past and learn to trust in a future if they are to have one together.
Author Bio:
Lane Hayes is a designer by trade, but is spending more time these days doing what she loves best. Writing! An avid reader from an early age, Lane has always been drawn to romance novels. She truly believes there is nothing more inspiring than a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her first novel was a finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Awards. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband, three teenage kids, and Rex, the coolest yellow lab ever.
Excerpt from Better Than Friends by Lane Hayes:
“You have to be kidding. You’re telling me you can take one look at someone and based on what they’re wearing, you know how they like it in the bedroom?” His expression now was incredulous.
“Didn’t you suggest the same thing when you made fun of my khakis?” I countered. The lawyer in me loved the chagrined expression on his face. Score one for the defense.
“Fine. You’re right. I did and I apologize. For all I know you might have a sex swing in your bedroom and a hankering for getting tied up. With or without your khakis on.”
“Ha fucking ha.”
Jack chuckled and nudged me playfully in the side. “I’m just messin’ with you. I’m sorry I laughed.” He choked and muttered “not really” loud enough for me to know he was still teasing me but I let it slide.
“Enlighten me. I don’t understand why anyone would want to wear leather. It’s sweaty and uncomfortable.”
“To each his own. This isn’t a sex club or sex bar though and if you look closely, you’ll see that not everyone is wearing leather nor are they all gym rats. See…” Jack pointed to a group of skinny guys dressed in jeans standing around a pool table. “…and not that I paid too much attention, but the guys behind us with their tongues down each other’s throats aren’t wearing leather either. I think, my friend, it is safe to suggest you walked in here with pre-conceived notions. What else do you think you know?”
I studied Jack’s strong handsome profile for a moment deciding to ignore his question, though his observation about my pre-conceived notions was astute.
“How did you come to own a “leather bar” anyway?”
“That was cute.”
“What?”
“That little air quote thing you just did.”
“Cute? Whatever. Answer my question. Or is it personal?” It occurred to me that I felt oddly comfortable in Jack’s company and was probably guilty of being a touch overly familiar.
“No, it’s not personal. I worked as a bartender fresh out of high school. I was green as could be but I looked a mite older than I was. Either that or they were desperate, come to think of it. One week I was moppin’ the floor and the next I was mixin’ cocktails. They were pure shit at first so I studied up till I was decent at it and became the best damn barman around. That first bar I worked at was a true hole in the wall catering to motorcycle men. Gay ones. It was my eighteen year old self’s personal idea of heaven. I was hooked.”
“When did you buy this place?”
“I guess it was about four years ago now. I was co-owner at another club before this one and when everyone wanted to sell, I took my part of the profit and bought this place. That last place was called the Level. You heard of it?”
Who hadn’t? It had been a very hip club in the Dupont area. One of those uber bars where there was so much stimuli between the bar, restaurant and club that you never felt the need to move on. I nodded briefly and Jack smiled slightly. “Huh, I wonder if I ever saw you there.”
“Could have. I liked that place. Why did your partners want to sell? That place was popular.”
“Yeah. I was bummed about it at first. I thought about just trying to buy Peter out but…”
“Peter? Like Jay and Peter? That Peter?”
“Yeah, that Peter.” Jack raised his eyebrows at my tone. I sounded a little too inquisitive but I couldn’t help it. I was strangely interested about what type of relationship he and the equally god-like beautiful Peter had had. They were both stunning masculine specimen. No doubt they had made a gorgeous couple when they were together.
“You were together for a while, right?” I prodded.
“You mean like… “we dated”?” Jack teased using air quotes for good measure.
“Well…”
“Yeah, Curt. We dated. But basically the truth of the matter is that we really didn’t do much of the dinner sort of dating you and the accountant did earlier. We mostly just fucked.”
I knew Jack was being purposefully provocative, and it was working. I should have been disgusted or maybe irritated by his manner, instead I was really fucking turned on. His use of the word “fuck” sounded like the deed itself. I could feel my cock swell again and I glad I wasn’t wearing tight jeans like I normally would at a bar. I swallowed hard and turned to face Jack straight on. The wicked look was back, his blue eyes blazing with decadent challenge. I felt a very strong pull. This man was all kinds of trouble.
Purchase Links & Contact Information:
More About Lane Hayes:
Blog: www.lanehayes.wordpress.com
Twitter: LaneHayes3
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Lane_Hayes
Email: lanehayes@ymail.com
July 12, 2014
Updates and a Book Recommendation
Yesterday I got word—contracts are a word(s) right—that Dreasmpinner Press, specifically their ‘DsP Publications’ line, has accepted the The Eye and the Arm – Champion of the Gods Book Two. This is actually very cool, much cooler than just they bought my book. DsP Publication is a non-romance focused LGBT press. Dreamspinner has invested time and money into creating a line – and a marketing plan—for books that might have an MM Romance element, but the focus is on something more. Fantasy, Sci-fi, Paranormal, Historical, etc. Stories that have something other than romance as the main conflict and tension.
As part of the release of The Eye and the Arm, DsP Publications is going to re-release The Last Grand Master. Also, I have a semi-firm release schedule for the rest of the books. I’ve agreed to get the first chapter of Book Three—as yet untitled—ready to go in the back of The Eye and the Arm. My plan is to also have a couple short stories—things related to the books that either didn’t make it into the books or are mentioned in the books that would make good back story. These will be give out as part of the run up to the release (re-release) of the books.
As I said, very cool indeed. The only draw back is that fantasy/sci-fi review sites, blogs, marketing channels, etc require about four months once the book is ready in order to accept an ARC- so The Eye and the Arm won’t be out until April of 2015. Ah well, the rest will be out every six months after that, so once the wait is over, they will come out on a regular schedule.
Work In Progress Update:
I would say I’m about 75% finished with Harp Strings, my new contemporary story. I’ve kinda written mostly linear, but have parts of the end 1/3 already written. I’m hoping to have that out by late 2014. That will be coming from Wayward Ink Publishing.
And Now a Book Recommendation:
Some people who read my blog know I’m friends with J. P. Barnaby – beyond being just a wonderfully giving person, she’s also quiet a talented author. Her newest release - A Heart for Robbie is about—well let me give you the blurb then I’ll be back:
Blurb:
Waiting for someone else’s child to die so yours can live is the worst kind of Hell.
Celebrated Young Adult author Julian Holmes pits the heroic characters in his Black Heart series against all different kinds of monsters. But when a critical heart defect threatens his son’s life, he finds he has no champion. No amount of books, classes, or practice can prepare Julian for the fight to save his beautiful son’s life.
Suddenly there are hospitals, transplant lists, and the nightmare of insurance red tape to navigate. In the midst of his trouble, Julian meets Simon Phelps, the insurance coordinator for Robbie’s case. Simon lives so deep in the closet he might never find his way out, but he dreams of exactly what Julian has. Then one night, drunken need and desperation brings them together, and a new fight begins.
Buy Links:
Dreamspinner Press
Amazon
So I started to read this on the Metro yesterday. J.P. sent me a text saying don’t cry on the train, it’d be embarrassing. My reaction was—yeah no worries there—and I started to read. I made it about fifteen pages and had to stop until I got home.
This book is personal for J.P. if you read her blog and her posts about the book you’ll learn more about how she lost her daughter to the same condition that is portrayed in the book. That she could write this book amazes me in itself. But if you read it—and you really should—you’ll be blown away by the strength one depth of the writing. You are immediately drawn into Julian’s pain and hurt. I won’t reveal the ending—I’m not finished yet so it’d be hard unless a skip to the end and I don’t plan to do that—but this is a must read.
July 9, 2014
Something New – Free Fiction Friday
Where: Free Fiction Friday
When: Starts Aug 1, 2014
As some of the people reading my blog know, I am not doing the Wednesday Briefs Group anymore. I wanted to do something a bit different with my free fiction posts and felt a new format would better suit what I want to do. I made some good friends there and still think they are a great group of authors. If you’re not following them, you should. There is a lot of good stories being offered for free.
For me, I wanted more freedom than the Wednesday Briefs format allows. I want to write without having to use weekly prompts or have a hard word count. I want to be able to post stories that are finished rather than come up with new chapters every week. To that end, Grace R. Duncan and I have come up with a new group Free Fiction Fridays.
Our plan is to start posting on Friday August 1, 2014. In the meantime Grace and I are working on creating the tools to help promote the authors who join together with us. We’ve begun creating a website so we can post the first hundred words or so like I started with Wednesday Briefs. We’ve also open a twitter account: @freeficfriday and a Facebook page: Free Fiction Friday
The idea is authors will post their work on Fridays. Some will post every week, others whenever they can. There are no word limits and no mandatory prompts to follow. The site will collect the links to everyone who is posting that week and create a free fiction post on the website. People can stop by and see who’s posting and read a sample of what’s being offered and be able to click a link to read more.
We’re hoping to have a large diverse group so all authors are welcome to join us. Anyone interested in joining can contact Grace - djserani@gmail.com or me andrewqgordon@gmail.com.
Hope to see you all starting August 1st.
July 3, 2014
June Picture Day – Part II
June had a couple family events – father’s dad and my father’s birthday – won’t say what number but it was one of those ‘milestone’ ones that brings the entire family together. ‘lil q really liked being around her older cousins. (she is the youngest of the group by 6 weeks)
The school had a father’s dad even and I didn’t take too many picture because I was required to do the activities with ‘lil q but before we got started I snapped this one of her and her BFFs:
And this one just made me laugh so i figured I share it:
June 28, 2014
June ’14 Picture Day – Part 1
So yeah, I’ve been a bit busy (or you could say lazy I suppose) and haven’t gotten these up. There are a lot of them, so I’m going to break it into two days.
Day at the National Zoo
Washington DC has a pretty nice Zoo – and it’s free. The problem is on nice days you need to get there early or else it gets too crowded. We managed to beat most of the crowd and get in a decent visit before ‘lil q started to get tired.
Birthday Parties.
This time of year is birthday season for the kids in ‘lil q school. We of course have to go to them all.
Odds and Ends:
Just because they’re cute and I don’t have an ‘event’ to put them under.
June 25, 2014
Second Shot – The Senior Year – 35
Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 35
The night felt strained. Blake wished he’d told Jason he and Ethan didn’t want to be a part of the ‘party.’ Despite his best efforts to keep things chatty and friendly, even Ethan couldn’t cut the tension.
Then again, maybe Ethan was the problem. Blake noted how Hanna tensed up every time Ethan did something flamboyant. Wendy brought out the ‘gay’ in him—at least that is what Ethan whispered too him after a particularly funny exchange.
He thought he’d have minded the over-the-top, queeny performance, but seeing his boyfriend having fun, being himself, laughing with their friends, Blake realized that was part of the attraction; Ethan was comfortable being Ethan. Everyone—Hanna excluded—enjoyed the ‘show.’ Even Dean managed to laugh.
It wasn’t that she was hostile, but Hanna didn’t want to be there. Dean ignored the hints she made that she wanted to leave, but Blake—and probably everyone else—heard them. Twice Dean made eye contact with Jason who merely raised an eyebrow.
His hope for an early evening—where he and Ethan could be alone—showed no signs of happening. When Ethan and Wendy launched into a new back and forth, Blake got up to use the bathroom.
After drying his hands, he opened the door and nearly jumped back when he found Hanna standing inches away. “Whoa!”
Her eyes opened wider and she stepped back, but she quickly recovered. “Sorry.”
Blake nodded at her mumbled apology and stepped aside. “Sorry too. I didn’t expect anyone to be there. All yours.”
“It’s okay, I don’t really need to go. I just wanted to get up.”
“Ah.” He didn’t know what she meant by her comment, and he wasn’t sure he wanted clarification. “Well, I’ll leave you alone then.”
“Actually. . .” she touched his arm and kept it there while she made eye contact. “I really wanted to talk to you alone for a minute.”
“Um…about?” He’d barely said three words to her and he’d been okay with that. Especially after he learned what she’d said after they met the first time.
From the way her eyes tighten when she stared at him, Blake mentally braced himself for her answer.
“Look, I like Dean—a lot—and I think it would be a lot easier for us if you and your boyfriend would go do things on your own. He’s not comfortable seeing you two together.”
Although he’d expected something like this, her exact phrasing was a surprise. “He’s not, or you’re not?”
“Dean isn’t.”
“Really?” Blake shook his head. Did she think everyone was blind and stupid? “So you’re saying he tolerates us because we’re friends with Jason and Peter?”
She glanced at the hallway leading to the rest of the house. “Yes.”
“Funny, he’s never mentioned that to me. And we talk all the time.”
Her sneer almost made him laugh. For a manipulator she needed to work on her delivery. “He’s not stupid. If he tells you, you’ll tell his brother.”
“But if you tell me instead of him, you think I won’t? Who’s stupid now?”
The glare his words earned him could have cut a diamond. “If you’re really his friend, you wouldn’t tell Jason, but even if you do, Dean will deny it and Jason will believe his brother over you.”
“Got this all figured out, don’t you?” This time Blake laughed. “First of all, I’m not going to tell Jason that Dean said that, because I know Dean didn’t say it. I will, however, tell them both what you said. Go ahead and deny it, cause I know you will. I’m willing to bet Jason will believe me over you.”
Her lips tightened and when she inched closer, Blake prepared himself in case she tried to slap him. “Why can’t you leave us alone?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. You and your boyfriend. Dean’s brother and his boyfriend. Why can’t you people just stay away from us? We don’t want you around.”
“Now we’re, ‘you people?’ Really?” Blake resisted the urge to punch her offensive face. “You know, I don’t like you, so I’m not trying to be around you. Your problem is you need to convince Dean to not hang around us. Because right now, he’s choosing to be around us—his friends. If you don’t like it, take it up with him.”
“I’m warning you—stay away from us.”
“Or what, Hanna?” Jason’s voice surprised him. He looked up as Hanna turned around. Jason stood with his arms crossed. “What are you going to do?”
“Jason…he was threatening me. I was….”
Jason held up his hand. “Save it, Hanna. I’ve been standing here almost since you two started to talk. I saw your face as you stood up and I figured you were up to something.”
“Why do you hate me? You’ve been trying to split us up from the start.”
The ‘go on the offensive’ move might have impressed Blake under different circumstances. But the stupidity of the statement made him shake his head.
“No, actually it was Darryl, my straight best friend, who thought you were poison. I’m the idiot who tried to give you the benefit of the doubt.”
Watching his friend struggle, Blake felt sorry for Jason. He knew how much he wanted Darryl and Peter to be wrong.
“Why don’t you just go?” He nodded in the direction of the front door. “I’ll tell Dean what happened after you go and spare you the embarrassment of having to watch me tell him.”
She stared at Jason and Blake wondered which would blink first. From the blank look on his friend’s face, Blake had his money on Jason to win. He tore his gaze from the two of them when he heard footsteps.
Dean’s expression went from quizzical to concerned. “What’s going on?”
“Hanna’s leaving.” Jason never turned his attention from her.
“What?” Dean looked from her, to Jason and then to Blake. “What happened?”
Jason raised an eyebrow and Hanna finally blinked. Turning to Dean, she said. “I’m going home.”
Without waiting, she brushed past the brothers and headed down the hall.
“Wait!” Dean moved closer, but Jason touched his shoulder.
“Let her go.”
“But…” Dean’s face told Blake all he needed to know. “Everyone else was right about her, weren’t they?”
Jason twisted his lips and nodded.
