Joy Lynn Fielding's Blog, page 6

New book!

I’m chuffed to bits (and more amused than I should probably confess to about such an apposite use of that phrase) that Blowing Off Steam, my tale of an engine driver, a trainspotter, and a spider called Mabel, is due to be published by Samhain Publishing next May.

I’ve had a ridiculous amount of fun writing this story and researching steam locomotives, and hope you all enjoy the adventures of Sam and Ryan (and Mabel) as much as I have.

Fabulous Five blog hop

I’ve been tagged for this Fabulous Five blog hop by the equally fabulous Chris T Kat, whose latest book Tidal Change is now available from Dreamspinner.

What am I working on?

What I’m hoping to get to work on in the next few days is the final book in the Strength of the Pack series — Karl’s story. I wanted to start it as soon as I finished Blowing Off Steam, but things that were happening in the non-fictional world had to take priority.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

I think that’s more for a reader to answer than it is for me. I can talk until the cows come home about characteristics of my work, but whether those differentiate it from others in the m/m genre, I really couldn’t say.  If anyone would like to venture an opinion, I’d love to hear! :)

Why do I write what I do?

I write M/M because I find the dynamics within M/M relationships fascinating. I read and enjoy M/F on occasion, but I don’have a particular interest in writing it. I struggle to come up with a female main character who interests me (though I love having strong female characters in supporting roles where the story permits) and on the odd occasion I’ve mused over a M/F plotline I’ve ended up entangled in all society’s baggage about gender roles.

As for the genres I write within M/M – I write whatever story comes to me at the time, and I can rarely tell in advance what that is going to be. I never expected to write one about trains, for example, though in retrospect I probably could have predicted the Masquerade series, with my love of all things Regency. I know it’s not exactly a Regency, being the tail end of the Georgian period and set in Venice, but it’s close enough.

How does my writing process work?

I tend to write in very short, concentrated bursts, then take a break doing something completely different (often just sitting quietly, with no stimuli) and wait for the next part to become ordered in my subconscious until it’s ready to be told. I try to capture concepts and feelings as they flow rather than get the sentence structure perfect, which means my first draft is a bit of a mess.

I always have a plan for the book in mind – I’m wary of starting one without knowing how it’s going to end, in case I write myself into a corner – but I don’t plan it all out in minute detail. Probably because half of the time the characters end up doing things that I hadn’t allowed for!  I often end up with themes emerging that I hadn’t expected.

Those who are paying attention will realise I’ve stopped at four questions rather than five. That’s because the fifth element is tagging someone else for this blog hop, but it seems as if I am the last person in the world to have done it!

 

If I was a shifter what animal would I be? – Guest blog by Chris T Kat

I’m delighted to have the lovely Chris T Kat here today. Her new book, Secret Energy, was released yesterday – and while I haven’t yet read it (something I’m hoping to remedy later today), I’m already in love with the cover.

Welcome, Chris!

Joy, thank you very much for the opportunity to be a guest on your blog. Dreamspinner Press published my new release, Secret Energy, on August 29th. Secret Energy is a shape-shifter story, and the sequel to Secret Chemistry (http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3520).

Shape-shifters are humans that possess the ability to (consciously or sometimes subconsciously) alter their shape. The best-known trope in literature is the wolf-shifter, although the animal world is large. Wolves are followed by cats (big cats, like tigers, etc.) and dragons. Mostly the stories have the humans shift into animals when they’re already grown up.

While I like these kind of stories, I adore stories in which the human shifts into the baby form of an animal. It just gives me the warm fuzzies to portray small animals with their typical baby fur and behavior. It also allows me to portray the characters in a different way. That’s why I chose to write Jay as a child and Tim as a teenager in Secret Chemistry. Although there are no baby shifters in Secret Energy, Robin is a bundle of energy. :)

The shifter is able to indulge in playful behavior, let out his “inner child” and, if he’s usually a caretaker, he can make sure to be taken care of instead. The human counterpart, who might act all tough usually, can show kindness and protectiveness toward the small animal. It’s a whole new dynamic, and it’s one I love to explore.

To get back on topic, if I could be any paranormal creature, I’d love to be a shape-shifter with the ability to shift into a cat, dog, wolf, fox or horse. Not very specific, right? If I can only choose one, I’d love to be able to shift into a fox. I adore the bright red fur and the overall marking (black socks and the pristine white chest and so on). Their eyesight and hearing and are described as astonishing, and they always appear as graceful, elegant creatures. I’d love to experience a day in the woods with the eyes of a fox. The intensity of the smells must be overwhelming, as well as all the noises around him. Although shifting into a wolf and experiencing the pack dynamics sounds fascinating as well.

If you were a shifter, what animal would you be?

Buy links:

Dreamspinner Press: ebook    paperback

Amazon 

All Romance eBooks

Blurb:

When wolf shifter Robin agreed to cover for his older brother Tim and Tim’s lover Jay, he never imagined feeling so stifled. Tim’s overprotective attitude suffocates him. Pressure from within—the urge to find his own mate—mounts daily. With a little help from Jay, Robin finally convinces Tim to let him go for a run alone, but he has no inkling that his life will change forever as a result.

Unexpectedly, he finds his mate Peter Brannigan, an old and special soul, and the one shifter who can bring balance to Robin’s life. The new couple spend days together, developing their bond as mates. Yet even as they explore and cement their relationship, crisis looms just ahead when an old enemy of the pack shows up and kills someone Robin loves.

 

Excerpt:

The scent called to Robin, setting something free within him—something unfamiliar and primal in nature. Robin’s mood alternated between exhilarated and scared, the combination and sheer intensity of both feelings troubling him.

Robin stopped near a small creek and carefully stepped inside the stream, the cool water soothing his paws and ankles. He took a few swallows of the clear water while his heartbeat slowed down.

The scent was strong around the creek, but Robin was unable to pinpoint it. After raising his snout high in the air, he inhaled the smell deeply, hoping it would infuse his lungs and from there spread to every part of his body, because whatever it was, it had a highly arousing but also calming effect on him. A long, high-pitched yowl broke free from his throat, announcing his longing.

Robin waited before he swept his gaze around. High pines surrounded the small creek, casting shadows on the water’s surface. The creek flowed slowly and smoothly, only occasionally hindered by rocks strewn in its bed. The water swirled around them, creating small vortices that gurgled.

Would anyone answer his plea? What would he do if someone did? Why was he even expecting someone to answer? It couldn’t be his mate—it just couldn’t—although everything would make sense, then.

No one answered Robin. In fact, he couldn’t even hear the usual cacophony of animal noises, just the water lapping at his feet. Robin pricked his ears, concentrating hard on what he could hear—the purling of the creek, the wind whipping through the treetops, and sometimes branches creaking. His breathing sounded harsh, closer to panting. Something wasn’t right, not at all.

Robin walked over to the other side of the stream, the earlier exhilaration dwindling. He shifted from foot to foot, darting his gaze around. An uncomfortable sense of isolation nestled into his insides. Maybe he should have listened to Tim after all?

Shivering, he stood there, not sure whether he wanted to go on with his search or go back to Tim, Jay, and Walter. Going back meant safety, whereas going after his potential mate—or whatever it was he was following—could mean anything.

Robin tucked his tail between his hind legs. He had never heard of a wolf being afraid of his mate. Wouldn’t that mean the scent didn’t belong to his mate? Or maybe his mate was nuts and he somehow recognized it? Whatever the scent was—or to whomever it belonged—it didn’t smell like a wolf.

What if his mate was female? How would that work? He had never been into girls. He liked them as friends, but any kind of advances had him running for the hills. Robin was gay, period. No, the scent had to belong to a male wolf.

No, wait. He’d already ruled out another wolf.

The darkness settling around him didn’t help the queasy feeling in his stomach. Whichever direction he turned his head, something moved in the shadows, leaving him vulnerable and scared. The moon remained partially hidden behind the clouds, but even if the sky had been clear, the moonlight wouldn’t have been able to illuminate the forest ground properly. Or at least not in a way Robin wanted.

Suddenly he started. The moon? Oh hell! Shouldn’t he have been back hours ago? Surely Tim was already looking for him. Why hadn’t he realized hours had passed? Had his wolf taken over without him noticing? His father obviously had a point with not wanting Robin to go anywhere alone in his wolf form.

Robin threw his head back and closed his eyes before he howled at the moon, the sound of his voice echoing through the forest, silencing every other animal in his vicinity. This time someone answered him. Robin jumped at the sound of a roar at the other side of the creek.

The roar didn’t sound like a wolf; it was too guttural for that. After his initial jump, Robin stood frozen, shock waves rolling through his entire body.

 

Chris T. Kat

Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there’s any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.

Links:

Blog: http://christikat.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/christi_kat

GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/ChrisTKat

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChrisTKat

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Chris-T.-Kat/e/B008FQQH2Q

Guesting at The Blogger Girls today – with a giveaway!

The lovely Blogger Girls are hosting me today, with a Rafflecopter draw for a copy of Riding the Whirlwind. Drop by to enter, and to find out just how whipped I am by my characters. ;)

The loneliness of the trainspotter

My train boys are very close to being finished, at long last. I’m relieved about this for more than the obvious reasons – I’ve discovered the whole myth about trainspotters being one of the most reviled groups in society isn’t just a myth. People really don’t want to discuss the different braking systems of steam locomotives over lunch, it seems. I find this perplexing. I’m obviously going to have to find a more socially acceptable research subject for my next book.

Meanwhile, Riding the Whirlwind has received a terrific 5 star review from Carly at The Romance Reviews – “A stunningly emotional and highly entertaining read” – and Shifting Sands has received a wonderful 10 Pots of Gold review from Tracy Gee at Rainbow Gold Reviews -“ The storyline is gripping, the plot is interesting and brilliantly written.”  

Thank you to both for taking the time to read and review. As always, I’m absolutely thrilled to learn that people are enjoying these books. :)

 

Summer Lovin’ m/m romance party – and RTW is now on Amazon!

Riding the Whirlwind, book 5 in Strength of the Pack series, is now available on Amazon.

And later today, Inner Goddess’s Summer Lovin’ m/m romance party moves to Facebook. Lots of authors, lots of fun, and, knowing my fellow m/m readers and writers, lots of pictures of half-naked men. Do come and join in, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway. I’ll be hosting from 1-2pm EST so there’s a perfect opportunity to ask any questions you might have for me!

 

 

Interview and giveaway

I’m over at Romancing the Book today, as part of their sixth anniversary celebrations! Do drop by and join in the conversation if you have a moment.

As well as finding out just why I can’t have a cat (or, more accurately, why a cat won’t take me on as staff), there’s a copy of one of my Strength of the Pack books on offer.

How is it August already?

Where on earth has this year gone?  It probably hasn’t helped that I’ve had my head buried in my work in progress for the last few weeks, as my planned 30k word novella grew into a 65k word novel. All I need is one more clear day of writing and the first draft should be complete. Words that may come back to haunt me, of course.

Anyway, that’s why I’ve been so quiet of late. I have various things planned for August to make up for such a quiet month. I’m participating in the Facebook event which Inner Goddess are running from 14-17 August for lovers of m/m romance. There will be giveaways, and more, from 25 authors. Do come and join in the fun!

Romancing the Book are celebrating their sixth anniversary by running a series of themed weeks, all of which have been lots of fun so far. GLBT week is 11-15 August, and I’m guesting there August 14th.

Then on August 28th, I’m with the wonderful Blogger Girls, with a guest post and giveaway.

And finally, the lovely Chris T. Kat will be a guest here on August 30th to talk about her latest book.

I’ll post links here as each post goes live.

On a slightly different note, Serena Yates has given Riding the Whirlwind a lovely review at Rainbow Book Reviews:

“…exciting, suspenseful, and deeply emotional as the main characters battle it out…”

Riding the Whirlwind – released today

When I sat down to write this series, I had no intention of writing the full story of Christian and Dave’s trip to New Mexico. It was going to be covered by a couple of lines in the final book. But somehow these two wormed their way into my head, and Riding the Whirlwind is the result.

Five years undone in just five days.

Dave Mitchell and Christian Taylor are on a mission from their alpha—to discover what happened to a pack of Argent shifters thirteen years ago. Away from their pack and out of their usual routine, they find underlying tensions in their relationship coming to the surface.

When their investigation leads them to the resident pack, Christian seeks respite from his demons by throwing himself eagerly into the cage-fighting ring the pack runs. He knows Dave hates him to fight, but he also knows Dave will understand. Dave always understands.

But when Dave meets a kindred spirit among the pack members, all Christian’s certainties come crashing down around him. It becomes clear that their relationship might not survive this. And when things between them reach crisis point and the local pack gets involved, it may prove to be the death of more than just their relationship.

It’s now available from Siren BookStrand, with a 10% new-release discount until July 22nd.  It will also be available from the usual third-party retailers (Amazon, B&N, etc) in a few weeks time.

Riding the Whirlwind is now available for pre-order

Riding the Whirlwind, Book V in the Strength of the Pack series, is now available for pre-order here. Released on July 15th, it follows the adventures of Christian and Dave in New Mexico during the events of Shifting Sands.

 

Five years undone in just five days.

Dave Mitchell and Christian Taylor are on a mission from their alpha—to discover what happened to a pack of Argent shifters thirteen years ago. Away from their pack and out of their usual routine, they find underlying tensions in their relationship coming to the surface.

When their investigation leads them to the resident pack, Christian seeks respite from his demons by throwing himself eagerly into the cage-fighting ring the pack runs. He knows Dave hates him to fight, but he also knows Dave will understand. Dave always understands.

But when Dave meets a kindred spirit among the pack members, all Christian’s certainties come crashing down around him. It becomes clear that their relationship might not survive this. And when things between them reach crisis point and the local pack gets involved, it may prove to be the death of more than just their relationship.