Kate Lowell's Blog, page 49
September 10, 2013
Tuesday Tickle: No Idea What to Call this Story
This is my Christmas story, about two guys who work for a video game company, and the perfect, or nearly perfect Christmas, one of them tries to give the other. They’re cute, ordinary guys, who happen to be madly in love. It’s weird–I like the Everyday Joe so much more than the superhero, Navy SEAL, leader of an Interplanetary Expeditionary Force kind of guy.
Here’s the first few lines of this story, which is still nameless, because I suck at titles. When I finally have to come up with something, I’ll let you know. First draft warning, as always, is in place.
Shawn opened the door to Rob’s apartment building, the keys Rob had given him on the six-month anniversary of their first date jingling loudly as he twisted them back and forth, trying to hit the sweet spot of the worn lock. A scratchy click heralded success and the bottom of the door made a harsh scraping sound as he yanked it open.
Once again, he wondered if he shouldn’t invite Rob to live with him. It was still early days, only ten months along, but they hardly spent any time apart anyway. And there was so much to love about Rob: his sensitivity, his sweetness, how his geekiness fit so perfectly with Shawn’s. How surprisingly hot he was in bed and how the cuddle afterwards was sometimes the best part. It wasn’t hard to make the mental leap from frequent sleepovers to waking up to Rob’s brown eyes every morning. He should ask him.
But not today. It was too soon. He’d scare Rob off if he came on that strong.
The smells of all the different breakfasts being cooked in all the different apartments mingled in the stairwell as he climbed up to the third floor. He sniffed—bacon, for sure. Sausages? Maybe. Eggs. Eggos. Toast. It was always an adventure coming over to Rob’s—he never knew what the place would smell like, or who he might meet in the hallway.
Like the guy in the dirty wifebeater dragging a bag of garbage into the stairwell as Shawn reached Rob’s floor. The stench of rotten food preceded him by a good yard or so, which gave Shawn enough warning to take a quick breath and hold it as the man went by, the bag bumping gently on the stairs as he passed. They nodded to each other, and Shawn hoped his face wasn’t turning red as his lungs immediately demanded to know why he’d stopped supplying their preferred foodstuff.
Filed under: Uncategorized
September 6, 2013
Wow, that’s quite a gap in the posts
I’m just popping in for a quick post to explain and give everyone a head’s up. Hubs is home–his cancer is terminal. We’re looking at maybe 8 weeks, if we’re lucky. I’ve been running around like a crazy person for the past week, getting hold of Home Care Services, filling prescriptions, visiting doctors, talking to the lawyer, dealing with family and friends and rearranging the house so he can be home, with his family, until I’m no longer able to meet his needs. Plus, the kitten went back to school this week, so there’s been all that as well.
It’s been frickin’ nuts. I’m exhausted and my time is no longer my own. I’ve managed to write a few words, but not consistently. Still planning on that Christmas release–I’m taking the computer to the hospital with me today and I’ll work while he’s napping (hubs was admitted for clots and swelling last night. And wasn’t that a clusterfuck–I went through the whole list of his meds 4 times over the course of the day, and he had to do it twice while I was gone to pick up the kitten. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that being in the hospital is a restful experience, because it’s not. He would have been better off at home).
Anyway, pre-emptive apologies for the lack of entertainment value you’ll find on the blog for the next little while. I may manage some random posts, but I can’t promise any kind of schedule. And, what time I get, I want to spend on making sure my two geeks have a happy Christmas together. Rest assured, I’m still beavering away–just maybe not as efficiently as is my wont.
I’d like to thank everyone who bought Bite Me Tender, because watching it climb the ranks at All Romance ebooks and seeing the royalty statement for the first week at Loose Id were real highlights in his days. He worries, and it makes him feel better to know that I have this money coming in. So thank you, for easing hub’s mind. You can’t know how much it means.
Filed under: Random Weirdness, writing Tagged: cancer, mm romance
August 30, 2013
Holy Crap, it’s Friday already?
This week has gone by at a breakneck pace. Thanks to everyone who’s made Bite Me Tender #39 on ARe’s Paid Werewolf/Shifter Romance list. Thanks to those who bought BMT during it’s first week at Loose Id–I just got my royalty statement and I’m very happy with the numbers. I think they’re pretty good for a newbie/unknown. Thanks to the Amazon customers, who give me a small boost every day.
Edits on the squirrel have gone back to the publisher. No significant changes, except to bring the grammar in line with house preferences. Cool. I hope you like Vince and Nathan. Although, apparently, Nathan was all drunk and hanging out on the wing of John Scalzi’s plane today, which worries me a bit. Vince needs to keep him on a short leash whenever he gets to running around with his hummingbird friend, Charlie. I bet if John had looked closely, he would have seen a little green hummingbird, all buzzed up on caffeine and flying around the plane.
My brother gifted me with a very nice surround sound system, that I have no idea how to set up. And I think I need a new TV to go with it. Mine is old, because I prefer reading to watching TV, and so it hardly ever gets turned on. Probably a bribe, or compensation for the number of catfights that have occurred in my house over the last two weeks. His cats just don’t learn–downstairs is my cat’s territory, upstairs is theirs. But two in the morning is not the time to be sorting out your differences, kitty cats.
Anyway, still working on Christmas pieces. Now that it’s starting to get cooler, hopefully it’ll be easier to get into the mood.
Have a great long weekend everyone!
Filed under: Random Weirdness, writing Tagged: mm romance
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Anais Morgan releases today!!!
A fellow Absolute Writer, Anais is a prolific author–I’m jealous of (and exhausted by) her release schedule. Her new book, releasing today from Evernight Publishing, explored the prejudice that still exists in our society against homosexual relationships.
Blurb:
When they finally find love, can it survive the scrutiny?
Vincent’s days at work are spent admiring a hot hunk of man flesh named Jason. Unfortunately, Jason is straight—or so Vincent believes. When Jason asks Vincent out to a sporting event, he confesses he’s interested, and Vince has no problem exploring these feelings with Jason. After a night of passion, they decide they’ve held back their true feelings for too long and want to try a committed relationship.
Just as things start to work for them, their boss finds out that they’re gay. He turns them in for on-the-clock PDA and tells their co-workers. Can Vincent and Jason’s relationship hold up against that kind of hatred?
It’s kind of sad–I remember dating advice that said to look around your workplace, since people working with you were likely to have similar interests.
Excerpt:
A knock came on the door. I walked over and unlocked the deadbolt. Jason smiled as I opened it. He stepped on the threshold, his brows furrowing the way they always had at work. Something was bothering him.
“We good?” I asked.
He hesitated before answering. “Yeah. Can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure.” I stepped aside to allow him to come in farther. After closing the door, I asked, “What’s up?”
He waited a few seconds, concern warping his gaze. I began to worry.
Jason said, “Look, Vincent, I know you’re gay.”
My teeth chattered while my stomach dropped between my knees. How did he find out? I’d been so careful, always watching my back. My hands shook, my knees wanted to knock so I leaned on one foot, trying to play it cool. “How did … you … umm. Well you see—”
Jason held up his hands in defense. Smiling, he said, “Look, I’m not mad. Actually, I think you’re cute.” He paused. “I’ve always thought something was wrong with me. I love sex, but mostly anal. Women turn me on, but not the way men seem to. Maybe I’m bi? I don’t know. But I want to find out.”
And did I ever want to pull him to my side. I smiled at him, my hands quivering and whispered, “I’ll help you.”
Jason took a step closer. He wrapped his fingers in my hair and pulled me in for a kiss. At first he puckered, unsure of what to do. I led him, kissing his bottom lip gently. He molded his lips to mine, following my lead.
“Want me to help you figure that out?” I opened his mouth with my own, sliding my tongue in. He massaged mine back, licking and playing with it. My body, and my cock, reacted to his touch. I wanted to break away and hug him, maybe jump for joy. But no, I couldn’t. I didn’t want the kiss to end.
Jason let out a small moan and I wanted him even more. Fuck the game, we could do this all night. I slid my hand up to the back of his neck. His hair stood on end. What did this mean? Could he be turned on, too? Or was he mortified?
Jason pulled back, gazing into my eyes. His were wide. He hated it, I could tell. He didn’t want it.
“That was … weird,” he said.
“I’m sorry.”
He smirked. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it.”
My cock twitched with his words. Wow. “That did just happen, didn’t it?”
And a few words from Anais herself:
Like what you’ve read? Want to read more? I’m hosting a giveaway. I’ll be on 13 blogs over the Labor Day weekend to promote Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now. All you have to do is comment on any of the blogs. Want more chances to win? Visit all of the blogs and comment! The more you comment, the better your chances. It’s that simple.
Visit www.anaismorgan.blogspot.com for a complete list of the blogs and dates. And as always, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy.
-Anais Morgan
Filed under: Erotic Romance, Guest Releases Tagged: mm romance
August 28, 2013
Bite Me Tender by Kate Lowell
Reblogged from MM Good Book Reviews:
Title: Bite Me Tender
Author: Kate Lowell
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Novella (105pgs)
Publisher: Loose Id (13th August 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Levi is a werewolf. His boyfriend, and the love of his life, is a witch. After living together for three years, they decided to commit to each other and change Glyn into a werewolf.
Bite Me Tender
Reblogged from Live Your Life, Buy The Book:
Title : Bite Me Tender
Author : Kate Lowell
Publisher : Loose Id (BUY HERE)
Genre : M/M, Paranormal
Length : 105 pages (e-book)
Published : August 13, 2013
Rating : ★★★
Blurb:
Levi is a werewolf. His boyfriend, and the love of his life, is a witch. After living together for three years, they decided to commit to each other and change Glyn into a werewolf.
August 25, 2013
Ugh, Sorry…
Not much of a post tonight. Lots of drama in the family right now and I’m afraid–no, pretty much certain–that I’m going to have to do something tomorrow that will make me very unpopular with certain family members. Still, I can’t let someone’s personal need for validation interfere with my husband’s struggle with cancer.
Fuck, I hate it when people are assholes.
However, people are buying Bite Me Tender and seem to be enjoying it. Monique at Sinfully Sexy Reviews made me promise her faithfully that there would be more Glyn and Levi. So it’s good that I already know what’s happening in the next couple of books. And it’s climbing steadily, for which I thank you all. It’s the one bright spot in my life right now, since I’m either too busy or too emotionally exhausted to get much writing done at the moment.
To be honest, I’m wondering if I’m going to need to take a hiatus, even from the blog, which isn’t a heavy workload. But I’m struggling with a critically ill husband, three confused and frightened children (even if two of them are grown and on their own), and a relative that seems to be doing her best to undo every good thing I set in place with hubs and somehow consistently seems to be there during some crisis that requires violating his treatment protocols. It’s worse, because he had to move out-of-province for treatment, and, since I and the oldest boy are running the farm, I can’t be over there with him consistently. Which means I can’t keep this (admittedly, I think unintentionally,) poisonous relative away from him.
As Glyn would say: Why is every choice a loss?
So if posts get kind of spotty, it’s not you, it’s me. I should still be around on Twitter, but damn, I’m tired.
I just wish…I don’t know. Something.
Filed under: Random Weirdness Tagged: cancer, tired, unhealthy relatives
August 24, 2013
Late Night Kink
Reblogged from Coffee and Porn in the Morning:
Plans this weekend? Not to worry, he'll still be waiting when you get back.
Oh, dear. I have to say, this kind of made my day.
August 23, 2013
Find Me Today at Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews!
Monique read Bite Me Tender this week. She reviewed it and she interviewed me (boy, was that intense!) So pop on over and see what she has to say!
On a purely random side note, I’m catsitting for my brother’s ex–don’t ask. I’m still not sure how it happened. Lots of howling and spitting and posturing going on. Reminds me a bit of Glyn and Connor.
Filed under: Bite Me Tender, Erotic Romance, My Releases Tagged: mm romance
August 20, 2013
Tuesday Tickle: Glory
So, I can tell you now, there won’t be many tickles from Glory, mostly because there’s a lot more fact-checking and ‘did I fuck up?’ checking and just ‘Do you give a crap about this character?’ checking. You see, I’m pushing myself a little on this. My editor asked for a sarcastic, genderfluid angel story. And, God help me, I cannot resist a challenge. I’m like those cats chasing the laser pointer and she knows it.
“See the shiny pretty? Go get it!” And off I bounce.
Pavlov’s author.
Anyway, here’s a peek of my angel, having a day that is more girl than boy.
Glory twisted in front of the mirror in her room in the Hall of Angels in Waiting, imagining what her wings would be like when she finally earned them. Would they be long and slender and white, or shorter and golden, more like her hair today? Would the feathers be long and narrow, or short and wide? And did these robes make her butt look curvy? Or just big?
Grace stuck his dark head in the door. “Glory! You’re wanted.”
“I’m always wanted, by so many people.” Glory looked over her shoulder and smiled mischievously at the other angel. “Who shall I grace with my presence today?”
Grace rolled his eyes. “There’s a job for you. Downside.”
“Wonderful. I was getting bored pushing paper. One more paper cut and I was going to go postal on someone.”
I wanted to do it with genderneutral pronouns, but the consensus seems to be that the vast majority of readers would find that jarring and be pulled out of the story. Maybe someday, we can do a poll.
What do you think of that, internet?
Filed under: Glory, Tuesday Tickle Tagged: mm romance
