L.E. Franks's Blog, page 7
June 21, 2014
A Sale and A Sequel: Snow Globe is heating up my summer – What about yours?
Last Summer I wrote a short story in mad burst of inspiration.The words gushed from me, which was good–I only had two days from the moment inspiration struck until the submission deadline for Dreamspinner’s Advent Calendar.
The story spun out in front of my eyes, like a movie reel and I raced to capture the scenes as they came to me. I kept sketching out the moments translating them into words on the page but there was so much more I wanted to write. I kept making notes to myself – when I’m done I’ll go back, I’ll add this element, I describe this next action, I’ll follow these characters out the door… but I had no time to do it.
That constraint turned out to be a gift. It kept me focused and provided the framework for what became the voice of the piece. But at the end of the day I had to leave half the story untold, keeping most of the POV in Kris’s head. Leaving much of Tyr’s motivation murky at best.
That decision didn’t go unnoticed.
This Goodreads review from Mandy is representative of a vocal group of readers incensed on behalf of my character Kris.
Tyr apparently has a lot to answer for:
“On the one hand, I LOVED this story.
I love the way the disabilities are handled. The love of a family, the goodness and innocents of Bun.
The sweetheart called Kris, what a wonderful man. Loved Eddie. The snow globes and Kris’ creativity and love of them and his bravery was really fitting to the heartwarmingtheme. I so wished Kris had gotten a better man! one who deserved the treasure he is.On the other hand, I’m going to rant. You are being warned!
Now Tyr..well, let’s just say, he did NOT grovel enough for me. He did nothing for Kris, it was Bun who invited him, it was Eddie that offered him friendship. Tyr took him to another state for a date. He did nothing to make his life better, he literally threw him under the bus. I have no sympathy for him and honestly Kris forgave him far too easily and quickly for me. Kris and Bun get 5* . Tyr and the town..big fat zero stars.”- Mandy
Goodreads Review of Snow Globe
I wish I could tell Mandy how much we writers love to see such passion in the reviews they leave, but that’s still a big ‘ouch’ for Tyr.
Yikes.
I hope he doesn’t run into Mandy any time soon–at least not until he has a chance to tell his side of the story…
And that’s the point. Short stories have their limits. This one is told primarily from isolated points of view. These two characters have spent most of their lives living in their heads and at the time of this story they still require the assistance of others to translate for them. Kris’ reluctance is more obviously understandable–verbal tics get in the way of the simplest conversations for him. It’s not surprising he’s developed a talent that allows him to work on his own.
But I promise you, Tyr is not a cad. But that’s another story–one I’m working on now.
If you’d like to catch up with Kris and Tyr and weigh in on Mandy’s impression of the two, I’d love you hear it. You can find Snow Globe on sale right now here: Snow Globe On Sale at All Romance eBooks . Also available for your kindle at Amazon. -LE
May 23, 2014
Halle-frickin-lujah! I’m writing again. A little excerpt from today’s work.
The Fourth Act
excerpt from the very rough draftHe was tall and thin, with a spine rigid like a piece of rebar had been fused with the bone. His features were vulpine, sharp instead of broad, the nose long and aristocratic rather than flat. His eyes a piercing jade under thick sable locks that brushed the collar of his dark shirt—hair I found myself wanting to touch.
I swallowed my tongue as I tried not to drool in front of this dark angel—as beautiful as a renaissance painting—his skin glowed a pearl white, almost translucent in the low light. And not unlike the avenging angels depicted in paintings of the era, he was a man without humor.
There were no smile lines at either the corners of his mouth or eyes, and his skin reaping the benefit of his serious nature was unblemished and smooth. He could pass for any age within a forty year span and I guessed it to be closer to thirty than forty.
He had a controlled energy flowing off him that gave him a gravitas that was written into every movement he made and every look he shared, and when he turned that force in my direction I almost burst into flames.
Softly he condemned me. “You walk like elephant. You will not last.” He snatched the clipboard from my hand and spun lightly, like a dancer, disappearing up the stairs.
I followed, not wanting to risk finding my own way out, not wanting to leave that first impression on his lips. Already I wanted to please him and the fact that I didn’t weighed heavily on my heart. So I kept him in sight, kept watching the slim hips, kept following the flex of his buttocks as he climbed higher. He was a metronome of elegant seduction, and without those hard, damning eyes on me I could lose myself in their motion.
He cast a single look over his shoulder.
“We are now backstage. No words. No sounds….” Ford narrowed his eyes. “Don’t even breathe.”
With that I followed him into the magical chaos of his world and found that breathing wasn’t going to be an issue. If I thought Ford was the angel of darkness, then what I saw before me—suspended twenty feet above the stage from a single red ribbon—was the angel of light. – LE Franks
May 17, 2014
Let’s Get Something Straight – Love is Love, and May 17th is International Day Against Homophobia
I celebrate the 10th anniversary of the freedom to marry that began for the US in Massachusetts, continuing its tradition of cradling freedom in its infancy.
I celebrate the acceleration of that very basic human right –marriage equality –now spreading like wildfire across the country, burning through pockets of hatred and fear in some of the reddest states in America.
I celebrate a generation of children, and teenagers, and college students, for whom the sexual orientation of others is irrelevant.
I celebrate the rapid growth of gay romance as a genre –t he virtual walking in each other’s shoes that has contributed to broader acceptance and understanding outside this community.
I celebrate how some of our favorite plot lines have become real this year.
I celebrate the sports heroes coming out around the world.
I celebrate the relationships they’re now sharing boldly, lovingly, openly in front of the cameras.
I celebrate the broad acceptance by their teammates on and off the courts and fields in contradiction to the expectations of narrow-minded pundits and bigots.
I celebrate the same-sex partners of the military personnel serving our country.
Those men and women can now stand and be recognized for their vital contribution and support to the partners and spouses laying their lives on the line for the rest of us.
But mostly, I celebrate love.
There is so much of it to celebrate…
…but we still have work to do in our fight against homophobia:
We are still far from the ideal of a universal right to marry.
Far from full constitutional protection from discrimination in the workplace, the marketplace, and even our homes.
The world is full of archaic laws criminalizing homosexuality and free speech with very deadly consequences for something as simple as self-identifying as Gay, Lesbian, or Transgender.
Here is Amnesty International’s list of the current hot spots:
This year Amnesty International is focusing attention on a number of countries where change is urgently needed.
Cameroon: Violence, arbitrary arrest and detention because of real or perceived sexual orientation are commonplace. Cameroon’s penal code criminalizes same-sex sexual acts and the offence is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.
Haiti: Attitudes to LGBTI people have become increasingly hostile since the 12 January 2010 earthquake, when a number of religious groups providing aid to Haiti claimed homosexuality had led to the natural disaster. In November 2013 men armed with machetes and handguns beat up two members of an LGBTI rights group at their office in Port-au-Prince.
Russia: A 2013 act has outlawed public LGBTI events. Several peaceful assemblies have been disrupted by the authorities on the basis of this homophobic law. Police routinely fail to protect LGBTI individuals from violent attacks.
http://www.vocativ.com/world/russia/cut-their-balls-off-russian-official-supports-kids-kicking-gay-rights-activists/
Serbia: A Pride event planned for 31 May is at risk of a last minute ban. Since 2011 public authorities have banned Pride marches on the basis of threats from homophobic groups. A march in 2010 was overshadowed by 6,500 angry counter-demonstrators.
Uganda: On 23 February the President signed into law an Anti-Homosexuality bill which stipulates a life sentence for same-sex relations, and allows for the extradition of Ugandans having same-sex relations abroad. Violent attacks, arbitrary arrests and torture and other ill-treatment of LGBTI people continues with alarming frequency.
Ukraine: After being banned from the city centre, the first Kyiv Pride was held last year in an isolated location. Counter-demonstrators still tried to disrupt it, throwing firecrackers and tearing down banners. Organizers of the 2014 Pride on 5-7 July have received threats of violence, while the government refuses to legislate against discriminating towards LGBTI people.
But let’s not leave without hope. Change has already come to the world, and it will continue to improve with courage and conviction, and attention. Here is the banner from the British Embassy to the United States official Twitter feed:
Yeah, isn’t it?
With Love -LE
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, TUMBLR, FACEBOOK
May 14, 2014
May 12, 2014
Review of – Can This Be Real May 12, 2014
Review of – Can This Be Real May 12, 2014
“This is an awesome book. I love the way the characters just seem to work together. LE Franks has a very sweet gift at telling stories.” MM Good Book Reviews
Tweet me: @boxtersushi FB Me: LE Franks Tumblr Me: @boxtersushi email me: le.franks.books@gmail.com
May 7, 2014
Where I reveal maybe not the reasons for my madness….
Where I reveal maybe not the reasons for my madness….
….but at least the secret to my infamous cookies. (And no, not a euphemism.)
A blogpost from yesterday: http://www.apassionforromance.blogspot.com/2014/05/tasty-tuesday-teaser-le-franks.html
Can This Be Real – LE Franks
Release date April 25, 2014 – MLR Press
Blurb:
Chef Christian De Guisse can’t trust a man who doesn’t love his food, Detective Andrew Simmons won’t let any man close who thinks he’s broken—somewhere between these two points, love is possible, but only if they get real.
When Chef Christian De Guisse accidently outs Celebrity Chef Jordan Slayer during a fight in front of The Times entertainment reporter—it only gets Christian ex-boyfriend status and a one-way plane ticket to culinary exile in Oregon. But a fortuitous meeting with Detective Andrew Simmons at the Portland airport keeps De Guisse and his collection of exotic herbs out of the hands of homeland security, starting the chemistry simmering between them.
Andy isn’t much of a foodie and for a chef who communicates love through his cooking this may be one hurdle too high.
https://www.allromanceebooks.com
April 28, 2014
What I’m Writing Now.
Inspiration photo for Fourth Act.
April 25, 2014
Interview and Release Day for Can This Be Real
Check out Day 2 of the Can It Be Real Blog Tour and read how I captured the heart of the man I married. (Restraining order contemplated, but not required
April 24, 2014
Guest Author: L.E. Franks
The start of my blog tour for Can This Be Real. – A quick peek into my writing year and lessons I learned. – LE Franks
Originally posted on Grace's Author Blog:
I am very pleased to introduce the lovely and wonderful L.E. Franks on my blog today. Please give her a warm welcome!
* * *
Thank you Grace Duncan for hosting the first stop in my blog tour for Can The Be Real releasing on April 25th through MLR Press.
The Life Cycle of a Story – Can This Be Real
2013 was a very unreal year for me. It was the year that saw the completion of my first novella 6 Days to Valentine, the fruits of my writing partnership with Sara York with book one of our Wolves & Waves series with publication of Prodigal Wolf, acceptance of another joint project for Totally Bound, and inclusion of my Christmas short story—Snow Globe—for Dreamspinner press’s Advent Calendar.
In the middle of this came a submission call from MLR Press for “Foodie” stories. Instantly, I…
View original 707 more words
April 16, 2014
Con Season – It’s Time for the Rainbow in Tampa
Have I mentioned how much flying to the East coast from California sucks? Never mind. It’s my own fault, I know this. I want to be on the first plane out of town, regardless of the destination. So that 6 am flight out of Oakland? Yeah. 3:30 am comes fast on the heels of bed at 2 am. But I’m here now. Tampa – home of the unbroken horizon that kept me twitching the first time I visited. Before that initial trip I’d never experienced any place so flat. I’ve always lived someplace with a mountain range (or at least impressive hills) at my back. And it matters.
This time I’m prepared. Well. Maybe.
Tomorrow our Gay Romance community of writers and readers begin four days of conferencing and communing. We started early.
My favorite part of con season is the face-to-face missing from all the checking in and chatting done via social media. I prefer coming in a day or so early and lingering in the bar or lobby with an eye for the familiar face, or at the very least the traveller casting a searching glance of their own. New friends to meet.
Last night while I lingered over my martini (sounds better than the large glass of straight gin and three olives served to me in a drinking glass), waiting for Sue Brown to arrive from London, I ran into Kindle Alexander. We spent the time catching up on life since we’d shared the same air in Atlanta at GRL2013. By the time Sue appeared we’d collected Sandrine Gasq Dion, and Ann Linder and headed out to a local steakhouse for dinner.
The Aside: (As a vegetarian, there is no better eating than at a steakhouse as long as the sight of blood isn’t an appetite killer for you.
Tip: For the squeamish Veg – Avoid Morton’s Steakhouses where the menu comes bleeding off the hoof to your table and reminds one of that scene with the cow from Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Doug Adams…. we miss you.)
I can’t wait to see who I’ll bump into next.
Ann Linder, Sandrine Gasq Dion, Kindle Alexander, LE Franks, Sue Brown
