Xio Axelrod's Blog, page 23

National poetry month

As a songwriter, I sometimes write lyrics before I have music to go with them. Some never find their melodies. One day I realized that they didn’t need music to be heard and, so, my poetry was born. I published two volumes a few years back (both are now out of print.)

Since it’s National Poetry Month, I thought I would dip into my archive and post one or two.

Enjoy!

Seconds and Thirds

my dear sweet

my summer surprise

if you only knew

between each breath

behind the smiles

underneath every bit of banter

lies a resounding fear

an echo of our combined pasts

and our tenuous present

sad sometime ago

and funny

this shoulder is for you

these arms

my dear sweet

the seed of my sighs

if you only could see

the cloying fog of regret

that settles upon me

i am in perpetual need

of your brand of comfort

wrap me up

keep me warm

on seattle grey afternoons

and i will cool your storm

of santa ana red memories

we are the walking wounded

limping into love

~Xio Axelrod

The End, The Beginning

now i know

when morning rises

all of this will have changed

and there will be more questions

more lies to be told

it could not last forever

this throbbing aching night

courting release so subtly

while we scream into the wind

whatever we make of this

time won’t let us forget

that we were once worthy of love

may we be again, someday

~Xio Axelrod

Starstruck and the fate of the Falling Stars series.

It was one year ago that I finished posting the first draft of Starstruck, the serial novel. I remember it well, because I uploaded the final chapter just a few hours before I took off for my European tour, back on 9th April, 2013. I knew that I would be on the road for a couple of months and didn’t want to leave the readers hanging. Well, not too much. (That book had one hell of a cliffhanger, lol.)

Yesterday, I finished editing the first book in the Falling Stars series. It includes most of the original serial, and will retain the title, Starstruck. The second book, tentatively titled Stardust, will complete Sam and Val’s story, but it will also explore another couple. And no, I ain’t saying who. Yet. Subsequent books (I have five planned so far) will focus on different couples in the ever-growing Falling Stars universe. Some you have met. Others you have not.

What happens next is anyone’s guess, but I do know that the Starstruck will be published and in readers’ hands. For that reason alone, I am over the moon.

Thanks for taking this journey with me,

Xio

The Writing Process – with Sugar Jamison

I asked one of my favourite new authors, Sugar Jamison, to share her writing process. Sugar (who also writes under the name Ginger Jamison) penned one of my favourite stories from last year, Dangerous Curves Ahead. Her new book, Thrown For A Curve, just hit shelves last month and is another fun, sexy read!

“I write romantic comedies, and there are a million of them out there.  In my Perfect Fit series all my heroines are plus sized/ curvy, which is different, but I think my voice is unique and sarcastic and funny. Some people don’t appreciate my snarkiness but  a lot of people do.”

To learn more about Sugar, and her writing process, pop over to her post at Writing Secrets of Seven Scribes, a blog that she shares with six other aspiring and published authors.

Thanks for participating, Sugar! oxo

A Blog Tour – Xio’s Writing Process

I’m a little – okay, a lot – late in posting this, but below you’ll find out a little bit about my writing process. Before I go there, I wanted to thank my friend and writing mentor Denny S. Bryce who tagged me on this blog tour journey. You can read her thoughts about her own writing process by clicking here. (Thanks for tagging me, Denny!)

What Am I Working On?

As some of you know, I completed a 180,000 words web serial last fall called Starstruck. Since December, I’ve been in the process of carving into that work to extract two or three novels. (Likely three.)

It hasn’t been easy slicing and dicing. Since this is my first real undertaking in the world of publishing, etc, I’m making a lot of rookie mistakes. Fortunately, I have some good friends – both published and non-published – to give me sound advice.

In addition to Starstruck and its sequels, I have outlines for more books in that series (Falling Stars) as well as two other series and some stand-alones. The ideas are there, I just need to get over the enormous hurdle of finishing this first project.

How Does My Book Differ from Others in the Genre?

I found out quickly that the premise of Starstruck doesn’t sit well with a number of romance readers/editors. The idea of a failing marriage isn’t romantic, per se, but the story is about second chances. There’s a lot of hope that it’s never too late to find your true love. In my other works, I stick more closely to what romance readers have come to expect, but in my own way. In other words, I’m a trope-tripper. I like to mix it up.

Why Do I Write What I do?

It’s simple: I am in love with love. I adore everything from the initial butterflies to the smoldering kisses to the morning-after glow. I always try to keep my stories grounded in realism, though. Not that I have anything against a good fairy tale, I just think that other people write them way better than I ever could. I do write the ‘happily ever afters’, but I usually go through a number of ‘happy for nows’ before I get there. I mean, let’s face it, most of us stumble on the way to our destinies. It’s only human.

How Does My Writing Process Work?

Apparently, I’m what they call a “hybrid”, a cross between a “pantser” and a “planner”. A pantser is someone who sits down and just lets the story take them wherever it wants to go. I confess to it doing that more often than not, though I also utilize the trusty old outline; particularly for my longer series. That’s the planner side of me, so yeah…hybrid.

I also employ the series bible. It helps to keep everything straight when I start introducing new characters to my universes or get mugged by an unexpected plot twist. Yeah, my characters like to keep me on my toes. They’re just as real to me as my husband and my friends. They often chat to me – and to one another – in my head or on the page. Some of them even have their own Twitter accounts and can get pretty active.

As far as inspiration, ideas come to me from the strangest places. In my other life, I work in music. I’ll often get an idea from listening to (or writing) a song. Other times, I might overhear a snippet of a conversation and see a story in it. Quite often a line from another book will grab me, or one from a poem, a film or a TV show.  It could even be a piece of art. The creativity of others inspires me, but even every day life can bring me a eureka moment. The news is also a great source.

So that’s me, in a nutshell. I’m still new to all of this, so I’m learning as I go. So far, it’s been a fun ride!

Just one kiss.

Back in December, I finished an outline for a new novel called Strangers When We Meet about a woman who meets the man of her dreams during a flash mob. The mob gathers in a city park (Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia) and kiss for 60 seconds before walking away, leaving astonished bystanders behind. My character spends the next two weeks attending flash mob after flash mob in an attempt to find her sexy kissmate again.

The idea that something so intimate, and yet so impersonal, could spark a love story appeals to me, but I wondered if it would be a hard sell for a reader. That is, until I watched the following video on Monday:

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However you want to look at the people in this video - they're all pretty, they're actors-slash-models, it's a publicity stunt - the fact remains that they are strangers to one another. What transpires is a glimpse into our humanity and our need for connection.



Sure, it's awkward. Watching it is awkward, so I can't even imagine what it must have felt like to be one of those people, asked to "make out" with someone they didn't know. In front of cameras, no less.



"Are you filming?" (Thankfully, yes.)

"Should we just start?"



All of them seem to want to establish a baseline connection; something that justifies (?) what's about to happen.



"It's nice to meet you."

"You have nice eyes." (I love that line, by the way.)



Some of the kisses are innocent and sweet, so full of hesitation that the participants never really let their guard down. That's perfectly fine. Perfectly human. Some of them, however, are so full of unexpected longing and - dare I say it - potential that I wouldn't be surprised if the film crew felt like intruders. I know I did.



Human connection is something that we all strive for, though some people are reluctant to admit it. Loners. Anti-socials. Whatever. Valentine's day is a BFD (big effin deal). eHarmony and Match.com don't struggle for business. Romance novels outsell most (if not all) other genres.



I've been reading a lot of romance, lately. Learning from the masters, if you will. I've noticed a recurring theme starring the secretly lonely, misunderstood Alpha Man and/or Jilted Woman. If only s/he found the right woman/man/situation. If only s/he took a chance, s/he could find true love.

Taking a chance is a terrifying prospect, especially if you've been hurt in the past. People tend to stick to what they know; who they know. So, to be asked to engage with a stranger? I don't know if I could do it, but I love the idea that someone could and would.

Watching this video, stories begin to pop into my head. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I've seen a lot of my author friends comment on it. And I've no doubt that Strangers When We Meet will draw some inspiration from these little vignettes, I mean...c'mon. Some of these people are so clearly dazzled.



"What's your name again?" *giggle*



I love it! But don't mind me, I'm just rambling as I hit replay. In my romantic little heart, love connections were made that day. At the very least, watching this gives me a spark of hope that in this highly digital, impersonal age, nothing trumps a kiss.

Celebrating you and the birth of Starstruck/Falling Stars

It occurred to me yesterday that the one year anniversary of Starstruck came and went without my notice. Being neck deep in revisions of the original serial, and translating it into a series of novels, has been a daunting task. It’s still isn’t done, but I’m a little upset that I let the date pass without any sort of…something.

A little over a year ago, I began typing (what I thought would be) a short tale of love between two people that, despite having enormous obstacles in their path, found each other.

It was supposed to be quick and dirty (pun intended), but as more and more of you caught onto the thread of my narrative, you started encouraging me to write more. And more. And, before I knew what was happening, I was chapters and chapters, thousands and thousand of words, into a new universe that just kept growing.

Starstruck ended and I started posting the planned sequel, Starcrossed, and then the strangest thing happened. You asked me where you could buy my book.

My book? I scratched my head. What book?

I laughed, at first, because who would want to buy something they’d already read? You had to be joking, or worse, were just being nice to me as a person who had no clue what she was doing; someone who enjoyed doing it anyway because you asked me to.

You wrote me letters and articles and interviewed me and created artwork for me and squee’d when we met and I was amazed when you said my words had touched you, when I was the one touched by you. You said you were moved, even as I was moved by you.

I’m still amazed, touched and moved.

This whole endeavour – carving a “real” book out of the raw materials that I shared with you, attending my first professional conference, having the courage to talk to people in the industry about my writing, putting my music on hold while I focus on this – it’s all because of you.

You are my muse, dear reader.

So I am celebrating you, and I want to say thank you for your continued support over this past year. I would, quite literally, be nowhere without you. I know it’s been a long wait, but I promise that Sam and Val and the story of their love will be in print or e-print this year. From me, to you.

Much love,

Xio

Book rec: Sweet Southern Betrayal (Robin Covington)

This was my second Robin Covington novel. A while back, a friend pointed me towards Playing the Part, and I was blown away. I kicked myself because I didn’t get around to reading it until after I attended RWA where I got to meet the lovely Ms. Covington. In hindsight, it may have been a good thing that I hadn’t read any of her work prior to meeting her. I would have turned into a gushing fangirl, lol.

Lost in the mire of writing and edits, I didn’t get around to reading more of Robin’s work until her most recent release day, January 13th, when Sweet Southern Betrayal was unleashed upon the world.

If I tell you that I devoured this book in 2 hours, believe me when I say I am not exaggerating. The third in a series, I was stunned by Robin’s characterization and wonderful dialogue, not to mention her steamy, steamy scenes. I fell in love with this group of guys, and the women that captured their hearts. I immediately downloaded the first two books in her Boys Are Back In Town series and finished them both by lunch the next day. Writing could wait, this was a lesson in how-to.

Like your men Alpha, but with feels? They’re in this series. You want a little danger with your sexy? You’re on. You want strong, independent women? Hell yeah, she’s got them. Small town, big city – Robin captures her settings so well that you feel like you’re there. And you know I’m a dialogue girl, Robin doesn’t disappoint. These are real conversations being had by real, three-dimensional people. Did I mention the steamy factor? Off. The. Charts. *fans self*

If you’re looking for a new author to check out, Robin Covington should be high on your list. Pick up a copy of Sweet Southern Betrayal and say hi to Robin on Facebook and Twitter. Tell her Xio sent you.

Happy reading!

Polar vortex

It sounds like a so-bad-it’s-good SyFy movie of the week, but it’s not. The middle of the USA is getting hit by record-low temperatures, caught up in something that they’re calling a “polar vortex”. Out here on the East coast, we’re not faring much better. Sounds miserable, right? Lucky for me, I’ve got some temperature-raising writing to do to usher in 2014.

Did you like that segue?

So much to do, and a brand new year in which to get it done. Revisions for Starstruck are moving along. They’re taking much longer than expected, but with over 170,000 words, even after the second draft, there is still quite a bit of work to do to retrofit this serial-novel into a, well, novel-novel. I had to step away from Sam and Val for a bit so that I could come back to them with fresh eyes.

In the meantime, I wrote the first draft of Humbug Love, the first in (what I hope will be) a series of holiday romances that will debut in December of this year. I also outlined Starlight, the sequel to Starstruck, and made some notes on the myriad other stories I have up my sleeve.

For me, 2013 was a fantastic introduction into the world of writing. Now it’s time for me to take what I learned and dip my toe in the publishing water.

Ooo! Warm.

Happy New year, Xiomaniacs! I hope to be a small part of your good times.

And happy reading!

Xio

NaNoWriMo and then some

I’ve been a bit quiet lately, I know. It’s been a busy autumn, and I’m trying to juggle oh so many things. But now that NaNoWriMo is upon us, I thought I’d share news of my first release.

I’m using NaNoWriMo as the impetus to write, edit and publish my first book, Humbug Love.

If only real men were as sweet, sensitive, strong and sexy as the men on TV. After the year she’s had, Lily can’t wait to spend Christmas alone in a winter paradise, eating her favourite foods and watching a marathon of her favourite TV show, We The People. Still reeling from her latest disastrous relationship, she wants nothing to to with the opposite sex, especially during her favourite time of year. Her plans are derailed when she – quite literally – runs into Alec.

Running from his own faltering love life, Alec needs some time away from his hectic schedule in Los Angeles. There are only three rules for his vacation: no fake smiles, no fake women and, most importatnly, no paparazzi. He’s in desperate need of something real, but he settles on some ‘me time’, alone at Lake Tahoe. At first glance, Alec ticks every box on Lily’s wishlist. But is he naughty, nice, or (even worse!) a perfect blend of the two?

Humbug Love is the story of everything going wrong and yet somehow turning out just right.

2014 is going to be a busy, exciting year for me and I thought ‘why not start it off a little early’? It’s ambitious, and more than a little crazy, but I’m going for it. =)

Are you NaNoWriMoing? How’s it going? Stay tuned for updates on my progress.

Mwah!

Xio

You guys rock my world! (Cover art reveal)

Over the weekend, I began world-building for book two of the Falling Stars Series. I was so excited about my new couple that I couldn’t wait to share them with you. So, I asked you to help me find more followers on Twitter and Facebook and you guys came through. Not only that, but you also brought more readers to my Tumblr blog, something that I hadn’t even asked for.

How much do you rock?

I love you, Xiomaniacs! I well and truly do. Hope you like the inspirational cover for book two. This is what I will use to guide me as I craft Adam and Mina’s story in Starlight.

Follow them on Twitter: @AdamMcKenna_WtP and @MinaSparks_WTP

All the love in the world!

Xio