Meet Jaime Samms

[Dreamspinner]

Meet Jaime Samms, author of "My Rugby-playing Twink" this Saturday, January 4th from 2-5pm Eastern/11am-2pm Pacific.

[Andrea]

Please tell me this is the right place - don't want to miss it.

[Jaime]

It's the right place. You haven't missed anything. I'm busy being fashionably late, as usual :D

[Nancy]

Hi! :)

[Andrea]

Jaime wrote: "It's the right place. You haven't missed anything. I'm busy being fashionably late, as usual :D"

Fashionably late is good. Can I ask a slightly off topic question?

[Jaime]

So, I probably should have prepared for this better, but sadly, my default for dealing with being nervous about things is to not think about it until I absolutely have no choice. Which leads me to: I'm nervous about this. I'm not sure what to talk about. I'd love to set the tone by showing you all the delicious cover of the book, My Rugby Playing Twink, however, I'm not sure how to post a picture on Goodreads. Something I didn't know I didn't know how to do until right now. My Rugby-playing Twink
There. That's sort of it, but so tiny.

[Jaime]

Andrea wrote: "Fashionably late is good. Can I ask a slightly off topic question?"

Sure :)

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "Hi! :)"

Hi, Nancy. Thanks for coming by. I'm just getting going, so stick around for the fun stuff like giveaways and excerpts.

[Andrea]

Jaime wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Fashionably late is good. Can I ask a slightly off topic question?"

Sure :)"

Rainbow Alley - will we get more and if so, when? I love that series!

[Nancy]

I deal with my nervousness the same way you do, Jaime. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

Is this a new story, or an old story with a new title?

[Andrea]

Jaime wrote: "So, I probably should have prepared for this better, but sadly, my default for dealing with being nervous about things is to not think about it until I absolutely have no choice. Which leads me to:..."

Think of it as our eagerness balancing your nervousness - that way, we're all good. :)

[Jaime]

Andrea wrote: "Jaime wrote: "Rainbow Alley - will we get more and if so, when? I love that series!"

Shh! That's the other publisher!
Here are the links: What's out now: http://jaime-samms.com/books/total-e-...
And what's coming, both from Rainbow Alley and Dreamspinner: http://jaime-samms.com/coming-soon/

[Nancy]

Jaime wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Hi! :)"

Hi, Nancy. Thanks for coming by. I'm just getting going, so stick around for the fun stuff like giveaways and excerpts."

I won't be far away from my computer today. It's freezing cold outside!

[Andrea]

Jaime wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Jaime wrote: "Rainbow Alley - will we get more and if so, when? I love that series!"

Shh! That's the other publisher!
Here are the links: What's out now: http://jaime-samms.com/boo..."

Yeah, that's what I meant about off topic :)

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "I deal with my nervousness the same way you do, Jaime. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

Is this a new story, or an old story with a new title?"
Glad to know I'm not alone :) Rugby Twink (because I'm lazy) is actually an amalgamation of three previous stories that were published elsewhere. That publisher, sadly, had to close their doors, and I have combined and expanded on those three stories to create this novella. So it is the same essential story, but with a better feel for David, the rugby player, and, I hope, the same less angsty (for me, anyway) vibe as the shorts had.

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "I won't be far away from my computer today. It's freezing cold outside!"

You must be getting the weather we had the last few days. It's been -30 Celsius here, which is, like, -25 Fahrenheit or something? Stupid cold! Imagine my relief at the heat wave I woke up to this morning when it was only 16C!!!!

[Andrea]

I've read all your novels and novellas but none of the shorts so I'm glad to know you've combined them as a novella.

This one sounds a little different from your other work and I'm looking forward to reading it.

[Jaime]

Andrea wrote: "Yeah, that's what I meant about off topic :) "

Well, if you need or want more info than those links provide, just PM me and I'm happy to talk about them, too. Today, it's all about my DSP releases, though, and there are a fair number of them. I'm thinking if you like Tales from the Alley, you might like Stained Glass There is all the angst and some of the D/s dynamic in that, even if not the same characters.

[Koozebane]

MY RUGBY-PLAYING TWINK is one of those irresistible titles, for sure! And this winter has taught me that I'd never make it in the East...even cold northern California was too cold for me at Christmas...

[Jaime]

Andrea wrote: "I've read all your novels and novellas but none of the shorts so I'm glad to know you've combined them as a novella.

This one sounds a little different from your other work and I'm looking forwar..."

Thank you! :) It's definitely, well, "lighter" maybe? No D/s really, and more a slice of normal, everyday life as opposed to gangs and rent boys and, well, all the hurt I put my characters through.

[Andrea]

Well, if you need or want more info than those links provide, just PM me and I'm happy to talk about them, too. Today, it's all about ..."

I see that you have a sequel to Off Stage: Right coming soon. That's wonderful!

[Nancy]

Jaime wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I won't be far away from my computer today. It's freezing cold outside!"

You must be getting the weather we had the last few days. It's been -30 Celsius here, which is, like, -25 Fah..."

It was -4F when I got up this morning. Now it is a balmy 24F. I am about 4 hours away from the Canadian border, so we get lots of cold weather here.

[Andrea]

Nancy wrote: "Jaime wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I won't be far away from my computer today. It's freezing cold outside!"

You must be getting the weather we had the last few days. It's been -30 Celsius here, which is,..."

It's in the 60's here and I think I'm freezing - think I'd better rethink that.



Well, if you need or want more info than those links provide, just PM me and I'm happy to talk about them, too. Today, it's all about ..."

I see that you have a sequel to Off Stage: Right coming soon. That's wonderful!

[Jaime]

Koozebane wrote: "MY RUGBY-PLAYING TWINK is one of those irresistible titles, for sure! And this winter has taught me that I'd never make it in the East...even cold northern California was too cold for me at Christm..."

I grew up in Canada, so I should be used to this weather....brrrr! I kinda liked that title, too. And it really suits David's personality.

[Andrea]

Why did you decide to redo the shorts into the Rugby Twink? Glad you did, just wondering about the process. Creativity amazes me since I have absolutely none.

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "Jaime wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I won't be far away from my computer today. It's freezing cold outside!"

You must be getting the weather we had the last few days. It's been -30 Celsius here, which is,..."

And I'm about 5 hours north of the boarder. Sometimes winter seems to last forever, even though it doesn't, really. And it's funny, but now that I think about it, I realize winter is not something that enters my books very often. I just don't write about it. You'd think, with it being such a huge chunk out of my year, it might make at least an occasional appearance.

[Nancy]

I am new to your work, having only read Still Life. Which story would you recommend I read next? I love to see characters suffer for their happy ending.

[Koozebane]

Canadian, useful to know. So there is hope for a hockey twink (my favorite kind) someday?

[Jaime]

Andrea wrote: "It's in the 60's here and I think I'm freezing - think I'd better rethink that.

Well, if you need or want more info than those links provide, just PM me and I'm happy to talk about them, too. Today, it's all about ..."

I see that you have a sequel to Off Stage: Right coming soon. That's wonderful! ."

I'm very excited about that one, actually, It's been contracted and slated for early 2014 sometime. It's called Off Stage: in the Wings and is about Lenny and Vance. They need their HEA. Also, along the way to getting to their bliss, I came across Kilmer, Vance's ex, and Jacko, A guy who used to play in Vance's road band. They have a rocky relationship that keeps waking me up at night, so looks like I'll have to write a third here, soon. I'm thinking Off Stage: Beyond the Footlights. I'm working on the playlist for it while we chat, in fact.

[Jaime]

ASIDE: If anyone can help me with posting pictures, I'd love to share a few of our back yard as it looks right now. I just don't know how to post in GR.

[Nancy]

Jaime wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Jaime wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I won't be far away from my computer today. It's freezing cold outside!"

You must be getting the weather we had the last few days. It's been -30 Celsius h..."

It's the end of summer that gets my down the most. Once winter is here, I'm quite OK with it. I love bundling up in big sweaters, sipping hot cocoa, and curling up in front of the TV or with a good book.

[Nancy]

Jaime wrote: "ASIDE: If anyone can help me with posting pictures, I'd love to share a few of our back yard as it looks right now. I just don't know how to post in GR."

Are your pictures in Photobucket or a similar site?

[Jaime]

Andrea wrote: "Why did you decide to redo the shorts into the Rugby Twink? Glad you did, just wondering about the process. Creativity amazes me since I have absolutely none."

Everyone has some kind of creativity. Maybe not writing or drawing, but how about cooking? Gardening? Knitting? I'm sure there's something. What do you do in your spare time?

As for why, well, because David wasn't as fleshed out as he deserved to be in the original stories, and because, practically speaking, my home publisher doesn't publish short stories. Since the three stories were basically the tale of Ian and David getting together, struggling through the throes of a growing relationship and finally accepting their togetherness, and written in chronological order to begin with, it just made sense to fill in the blanks and make all the stories one.

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "I am new to your work, having only read Still Life. Which story would you recommend I read next? I love to see characters suffer for their happy ending."

Is it wrong that I just let out a gleeful chuckle reading this? Heh. You might like Stained Glass as well. Some people figure the ending isn't as happy forever as it should be, but I think it's about as hopeful as is realistic. And if the unanswered questions in Still Life didn't bug you, then the end of Stained Glass shouldn't, either.

Then, you'll also like Better. Jesse has been through a lot, and Aadon has had a hard time being the responsible one at too young an age to have to worry about it, so to me, their finding each other and finding a way to make it work is very well earned. And I think, it's testament to how strong and lasting they will be together, too.

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "Are your pictures in Photobucket or a similar site?"

I can certainly put them there easily enough, yes.

[Jaime]

Koozebane wrote: "Canadian, useful to know. So there is hope for a hockey twink (my favorite kind) someday?"

Oh, no I must cope to my ultimate shame as a Canadian Citzen. I don't watch hockey. Never played it. Can't even skate. *hangs head*

On the other hand, I've been known to take on a challenge if given the right prompt...

For instance, the very first story I ever had published, I wrote because someone told me there was no such thing as a sweet, m/m romance. Sweet, as in no sex, but still the satisfaction of a good romance and the promise of HEA. I did a good enough job, the publisher decided to publish that story anyway, even though it didn't make it into the intended anthology, which turned out to be all het romance in the end.

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "It's the end of summer that gets my down the most. Once winter is here, I'm quite OK with it. I love bundling up in big sweaters, sipping hot cocoa, and curling up in front of the TV or with a good book. "

Being inside in winter, I'm okay with :) I like fall, though. Not too hot, not too cold, lots of pretty colours, and, it's my birth season, so I'm pretty sure that has something to do with it, too.

[Nancy]

Jaime wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Are your pictures in Photobucket or a similar site?"

I can certainly put them there easily enough, yes."


I snagged these instructions from the m/m romance group:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "Jaime wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Are your pictures in Photobucket or a similar site?"

I can certainly put them there easily enough, yes."


I snagged these instructions from the m/m romance group:
http..."

perfect! thank you so much!

[Nancy]

Jaime wrote: "Is it wrong that I just let out a gleeful chuckle reading this? Heh. You might like Stained Glass as well. Some people figure the ending isn't as happy forever as it should be, but I think it's about as hopeful as is realistic. And if the unanswered questions in Still Life didn't bug you, then the end of Stained Glass shouldn't, either.

Then, you'll also like Better. Jesse has been through a lot, and Aadon has had a hard time being the responsible one at too young an age to have to worry about it, so to me, their finding each other and finding a way to make it work is very well earned. And I think, it's testament to how strong and lasting they will be together, too..."


Still Life's ending was really quite perfect for me. I don't require all loose ends to be tied and I don't even need a HEA if it doesn't fit the story. A story is successful if leaves me thinking about it for days after reading.

I reviewed Still Life for Hearts on Fire Reviews and expected it to be light and sweet, just like the other stories I read around the same time. I was thrilled that it was totally different!

Thanks for the recs! I have some dollars left on my Amazon gift certificate. :)

[Jaime]

okay, so here is our back yard. Such wishful thinking, with the lawn chair and all...

[Nancy]

All I see is [image error]

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "Jaime wrote: "Is it wrong that I just let out a gleeful chuckle reading this? Heh. You might like Stained Glass as well. Some people figure the ending isn't as happy forever as it should be, but I ..."

Well, I hope the dollars are well spent :) If you're part of the m/m group, you probably have access to "Door at the End of Summer it's sort of a prequil to "The Foster Family" which isn't out yet, but will come out from Dreamspinner next year.

[Jaime]

And here was my back door yesterday morning. On the *inside* of the house.

So wrong....

[Nancy]

Jaime wrote: "okay, so here is our back yard. Such wishful thinking, with the lawn chair and all...

"

Your snow doesn't look quite as deep as ours. We got about 14 inches.

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "All I see is [image error]"

fixed? I see the picture now

[Nancy]

Are you a full-time writer, or do you have an evil day job?

[Andrea]

Jaime wrote: "And here was my back door yesterday morning. On the *inside* of the house.



So wrong...."

I've now decided it's positively sweltering here!

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "Jaime wrote: "okay, so here is our back yard. Such wishful thinking, with the lawn chair and all...

"

Your snow doesn't look quite as deep as ours. We got about 14 inches."
So far, it's not the snowy-est winter we've had, but it's early days, yet. We still have about a month to go before it begins to thaw.

[Jaime]

Nancy wrote: "Are you a full-time writer, or do you have an evil day job?"

As of the 20 Dec, 2013, I am a full time writer with a very much less-than-evil day job with Dreamspinner in their audio book department. My hope is that between that job and writing, I can pay the bills, feed the kids, and remain sane. I was doing the first two okay with my prev. day job but the last was increasingly in question. I'm very enthusiastic about what 2014 is going to be like for me and my family.