Post 1001: The Locker Room

Okay-- I admit it--I put off this blog post for a day for a couple of reasons.

The first was that I was legitimately busy--I was writing up this blogpost here for Cup-o-porn for one--and I have to admit, I like how it came out. (BTW--if you follow the link, you will find that the NSFW links are VERY NSFW--just be aware, 'kay?) Do take a look and let me know if you like it--I'm still surprised by how much I enjoy writing non-fiction, and how much fun the prose can be in an informal essay, yes?

The second reason is that The Locker Room comes out officially tomorrow, and since this IS my 1001 post, I thought that giving away an actual PAPERBACK copy (signed of course) would be a good way to celebrate the 1001 post. Okay-- be aware. These things take a while to arrive at my door (usually about two-three weeks) but I WILL send it out to you once I get it. (The poor woman who won the contest for 899 is thinking "Sure!" but that one is coming--it was the manuscript for the Marcus and Phillip story-- I just didn't expect that to be a publishable manuscript--since it is, I want it pretty before she gets it!)

So, a few words about The Locker Room. First of all, NEITHER of those pictures is the official one. I chose the font of the second one and the orientation of the first, and sort of mushed them together. I don't know WHY this appealed to me more--but it did, and that's one of the perks of getting a say in the cover art, I guess. But I LOVE the cover for this one--it was, in fact, a gift from my editor of sorts, when I told her what the story I was writing was about, she sent me the picture. And it was PERFECT--so aMAZINGLY perfect for the story--that it still makes me giddy to look at.

Now I love this story--it was 'dragon ridden'--meaning, it took over me and I FLEW, but part of that was that it had been living in my head for a while. By the time I sat down to write it, it had worked out a lot of the kinks, and the only thing that was left were the things that usually surprise me about a story. (Penny was a surprise, and so was Mandy. The dogs were new, and Leo--he was DEFINITELY not what i was expecting.) Side characters, unexpected things they said, the way their personalities would be different than what I'd planned. One of the things that surprised me was how PHYSICAL my guys were--and how joyful about how physical they were. It made the love scenes a lot of fun to write--and that ALWAYS makes a work go quickly.

This was my NANOWRIMO story-- this was the novel I wrote during the month of November. Now, anyone who participates in this contest will tell you that even if you meet the guidelines, it actually TAKES longer than that. Yes--I wrote 60K in one month. In FACT, I wrote 75K in one month--but the story is 85K, so between drafting, editing for submission, etc., it took about six weeks--but that's still a shockingly short amount of time. (Or it was before I was done with Keeping Promise Rock.) This story was proof to myself that I could write quickly and (I HOPE decently) that by design, not just when I wrote because I HAD to--it was sort of a mastery test, I guess, in leashing the dragon--getting that fucker to give me a ride on command. (How To Train Your Dragon was one of my favorite movies from last year--I guess now I know why!) This story was also written at a time when I NEEDED to accomplish something, when I NEEDED to prove that I was good at something and that I couldn't be kept down, not by anybody (and certainly not by the small minded, hypocritical, , vicious people I was dealing with at the time.)

This story was a way to show that I could kick a little ass--so my boys got to be strong, fun, happy people, and, when they're on the court, they get to kick a little ass. I love them-- and I really hope you all love them too.

So The Locker Room opens at DSP tomorrow (the link is above, and, well, usually it's available in the evening before the official opening day.) It should be at amazon.com and All Romance e-book by Friday or Saturday. I sucked at basketball as a kid--at any sports really, and I'll never be a Xander or a Chris--but writing their story made me feel like an underdog winning a championship, or at least getting to play, and I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.

About the contest-- it's for a signed copy of the book

* Comment to win
* If you're a knitting friend who doesn't want the book, say so, and I'll go stash diving as an alternate prize
* If you'd rather have an e-book I can do that as an alternative, but this is for the official paperback version
* I pull names out of a hat--literally. I try to post pictures of Squish as she actually pulls the name.
* The contest closes NEXT Friday night, April 29th, at 9 p.m., PST (which is when I get back from Chicken's dance lessons and can do the drawing--after Supernatural, of course.)
* I'll send the book out as soon as it arrives at my door.

And I think that's about all. (And if you want the book AND sock yarn, say so too-- I really do need to clear out some stash.)

Good luck anyone participating--I hope you enjoy the read:-0

(Oh yeah-- almost forgot... Holy Goddess, Merciful God, LET IT NOT SUCK! I'm SERIOUS! I MEAN IT! Thankyaverramuch Cannyagimmehallelujia-Amen!)