Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Work in Progress Wednesday--Thank you, Kris Jacen

This little offering came to me while I was sleeping last night...and must be sung to the tune of a song from the famed musical, Fiddler On The Roof.

Can you guess which song it is?

*****************************
Kris Jacen
Kris Jacen
Make me a match
Send me an editor who’s not a hack
Please make my editor
Discerning and wise
And for the love of words—
Please give to them
All seeing eyes
I want an editor
Who knows my brain
Better than I do
Yet is never a pain
Please make my editor
Sensible too
Not willing to let me say
Oh that story will do
Give one to me who—
Will
Demand the best writing
I’ve ever done
Cracking their whip
When I am a bum
Oh Kris Jacen, Kris Jacen
Make me an author worthy of praise
With an editor wise
In publishing’s ways…
**************************************************




Obviously, I am one of her success stories...because my story editor?


Rocks out Loud.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Can I get a pat on the head?

*sigh*
I have a great editor.
*sigh*
...and growing pains.
*sigh*
...this being an author stuff is wildly exhilarating. It's also rather painful. Geez. I can't imagine going through it without my (okay, gonna squee here, cause she's mine!!) awesome story editor.
Today though?
It hurts.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Monday Madness

Life is good.

I got so caught up in Mother's Day doings yesterday that I forgot to post a Sweet Sunday Excerpt. Meep.

Well, I guess I can forgive myself for that...I had a lovely visit with my daughter...er...conditionally that is.

Don't ask.

No.

Really don't ask.

At any rate, The Day passed, there was more that was sweet to it than bitter, and here we are, mid-afternoon into the mayhem of Monday.

I walked six miles this morning.

And I smell like it.

So, I'm gonna stretch, shower, and then get down to some serious editing/revising/writing. I promised myself that I'd get this revision done by this Friday...I'm not sure if that's realistic or not, but I'm gonna give it my best shot.

I love being a writer.

Life is good.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

The Two Way Mirror into My Brain

Story editors rock.

If you've never worked with an editor, or at least never worked with one where the *fit* was right you may be unaware of their scary, magical ability to have a two-way mirror installed in your brain.

No foolin'.

I'm pretty sure my story editor had one implanted right after she saw the results of my revise and resub to MLR.

So, before I even knew I had a contract my editor had an unimpeded view of the inner workings of my twisty little brain.

Jeez.

Sorry about the mess Jen. Er, and some bits are still under construction.

Yes, I see that you have a hard hat for when you actually venture in.

It's a great relief to me that you do.

Because, trust me, not even I always know what's going to pop out of the shadowy corners and by-ways of that place. Tread with caution.

Please.

I'm starting to get used to you, and I'd kinda like to keep you.

Oh, and tell Kris thanks.

She's like a magical story/editor yenta.

Heh.

I love having someone who loves my characters as much as I do helping me raise them up. Kids just do better when they have more than one concerned and loving parent looking out for them. Which is why I will say again and again that even though it hurts...the editing process hurts so good.

Story editors rock.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Constitution vs. Emotion: Things to Think about

So, while I'm all wrapped up in the art and theory of editing a manuscript for publication...

okay, gotta pause here for a little *squee*.

The Minnesota congress is talking about whether or not to alter their freaking Constitution to make gay marriage illegal.

Huh.

Um, separation of church and state anyone?

Anyone?

Bueller?

Right then...as in far right...scary, can we move it to the left, to the left?

In the responses to a very cogent argument presented by Rep. Steve Simeon (which you can view here http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110504/us_yblog_thelookout/minnesota-lawmakers-gay-marriage-defense-goes-viral  ) was one that I found particularily interesting. So I did the old copy and paste thingy. Check it out. I especially like the bits about how we don't live in a Theocracy (ummm...we don't? Sure starting to seem that way...) and that the Supreme Court would likely be too cowardly (my words, not the commentors) to take the case. Pffft. If they refuse I'll personally see about starting a grass-roots movement to make refusing pertinent cases cause for dismissal from the court. No fooling.
****************************************************
It will be interesting when this issue finally hits the Supreme Court. I expect it to be entertaining.

First, we do not live in a theocracy, so religious arguments are moot.

I am not a gay rights advocate; I support the US Constitution, and this IS a Constitutional issue. Gay couples (whether or not we agree with them, they ARE couples) are being denied the rights that we take for granted as married couples. The right to make medical decisions for an incapacitated partner, the tax policy benefits afforded married couples and the right to inheritance, for a few examples.

I support the US Constitution - ALL of it. I don't pick the provisions I like.

AMENDMENT XIV
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall...deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

What part of "NO STATE shall make or enforce ANY LAW" or "DENY ANY PERSON" is unclear?

Gay couples do NOT have the same rights as married straight couples, thus the equal protection clause is being violated. Yes, they can go to a lawyer and have documents drawn up, but that imposes a financial burden on them that straights do not have to bear. Again, it violates the equal protection clause.

Also consider the full faith and credit clause - Article IV, section 1. All states must recognize the "public acts, records and judicial proceedings" of every other state. Since 5 states allow gay marriage, all other states are COMPELLED to recognize those. They don't have to allow gay marriage to take place, but they do have to acknowledge those from other states as legal. This is the same principle that allows people to run off to Vegas to get married and still be married when they return home. Full faith and credit. So if any of those 5 states do not have residency laws, we already have gay marriage by default.

I used to suggest civil unions to give the same rights as marriage, but “separate but equal” has already been struck down.

For those that claim this is a states rights issue, the Constitution is superior to any state law or state constitution. "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; ... shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding." So if the Supreme Court rules that bans are unconstitutional, it does not matter what any state puts in their constitution.

So if/when this issue is taken up by the Court, I will find it entertaining, either watching a conservative court jump through hoops to find such laws constitutional, or watching the far right scream about "activist courts" if they actually follow the Constitution.

That's assuming they would even take it. It would not surprise me if they refused to take it.
1) The conservatives would not want to be on record as having to outlaw DOMA laws.
2) If the Supreme Court took it, any ruling would likely apply nationwide, whereas refusing the case leaves the ruling only applying to the states in whichever circuit court the case comes from; I would assume the California case is the most logical one at this point.

*********************************************

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

An Unedited Nibble of Tian's Hero

Lewell’yn watched the little Akanti dance around the kitchen. Two weeks of watching the little man cook had equated to two weeks of shagging the hell out of him. The graceful, sensual way Tian moved while preparing food never failed to stir Lewell’yn to hunger for more than the next delicious meal. Lewell’yn had his cock in the little man’s arse every chance he got, and still couldn’t get enough of Tian.
Little fucker’s addictive…
The man…kept colour in the world. Lewell’yn had suspected, from the moment he got close enough to breathe in the sweetly musky smell that was uniquely Tian’s that the man was his. He’d known for sure when touching the man that first time had brought colour back into his vision.
… and it’s just about time for another hit.
Lewell’yn craved the stabilizing force Tian exuded more than the smoking hot sex. There were worse things to be addicted to. Lewell’yn had used most of them at one time or another.
One of the quirks of my questionable DNA that I actually enjoy is my inability to become physically addicted to any of those substances. This feeling Peaches gives me may fucking well be the exception to that rule though.
Lewell’yn knew he was a greedy bastard. As often as he had the gorgeous redhead, and as satisfying as it was to screw the man senseless he wanted more. He’d seen to Tian properly not twenty minutes ago and here he was with his cock trying to tear its’ way right out of his shipsuit.
The next time Tian wags his sweet arse at me I’ll—fuck-!-that tears it…
Tian had bent down to pull a heavy sauce pan from the drawer below the big industrial stove. Lewell’yn stalked over, snatched him up and flung him face down in the midst of the vegetables he’d just finished mincing. He managed this time to avoid ripping the little Akanti’s pants as he impatiently yanked them down below the man’s trim hips.
“Lewell’yn! Damn it! You’re gonna make me late with the meal again!!”
“Peaches, I warned you this morning not to wag that fuckable little arse at me. If you wanted to serve yer meals on time ya shouldn’t have been advertising for a quick an’ dirty shag.”

*****


Tian gave a half annoyed huff as he tried to smack Lewell’yn with the closest weapon he found. Given that he was currently sprawled in the midst of his stir-fry ingredients the best he could do was to a bunch of scallions. Reaching over his head he managed to hit Lewell’yn with them three times before the man had his cock generously lubed with cooking oil and half-way up Tian’s arse. The words that had sounded briskly scolding in Tian’s head came out his mouth decidedly more breathy.
“Lewell’yn I-unnnh-I’m g-going to…oh, harder…I’m going to—unh—give you all the burnt food Jeram makes for the—Oh!—next week if  unnh you make me ruin ahh my  veg-oooh-tables.”  

*****

Stormy grey eyes ran down the small, elegant length of the cook’s back coming to a stop on the firm curve of his arse. Lewell’yn pulled his hips slowly back until his cock slipped almost completely out of the velvety heat surrounding it. Leaning down, he thrust back in with carefully controlled violence. Lewell’yn used his mouth to push back the edge of Tian’s tunic. He nipped sharply at the juncture of shoulder and neck, where the Akanti’s clothing would hide the tell-tale mark.  
Every single thing has colour. Red hair, yellow peppers, the sweet dusky pink of his moaning lips. It’s so good.
Lewell’yn wanted all of Tian’s sweetness and all of Kayron’s sass and fire. Having constant access to Tian for the past two weeks had made him realize the little man wasn’t his only addiction. The medic gave Lewell’yn something darker, something he was beginning to realize he craved as much as what Tian gave him.
Plaguing hell, I don’t have time for this. Shite, I may not even be fucking sane enough to manage the rest of this mission.
The craving burned just under the surface of his skin, as irritating as a slowly spreading rash. It had become damned distracting. It flared up at unpredictable times. It drew his attention when he needed to bring full concentration to bear on this fucking impossible mission. Lewell’yn hissed in displeasure. It was a damned weakness to crave them both so much.  
For fuck’s sake, I haven’t got time for either of them right now.
Lewell’yn lifted Tian off the table, one arm across his lightly sculpted chest, the other around his tiny waist. He was slamming into the little man now, forcing gasps of pleasure from his lover’s mouth. He canted his hips just so, ruthlessly striking Tian’s prostate with each brutal thrust. The little man’s hole fluttered around Lewell’yns cock, warning that he was about to marinate the stir-fry in cum. Lewell’yn took a step back from the table, cupping his hand over the head of Tian’s slender cock just in time to prevent him from spraying his release over the vegetables.
I fucking hate Jeram’s biscuits. They’re hard enough to break teeth on.
Half a dozen ragged thrusts later Lewell’yn felt the inexorable approach of his orgasm. He bit down on the sweetly musky nape beneath his mouth, high, right at the hair line, muffling his shout of completion in damp silk of Tian’s hair. Lewell’yn pulled out, but waited until he was sure the little chefs’ legs were steady enough to hold him up before releasing his hold on the smaller man. Then he grabbed a cloth off the table to wipe himself down.
He tucked his cock away as he spoke.
“You may want ta put your pants back on Peaches. Jeram will be here to help you finish the meal up in about five minutes.”
Resuming his post against the far wall of the kitchen Lewell’yn continued to wrestle with his twin addictions.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Mea Culpa...Again

Urk.

I dropped the blogging ball again. Dratted RL (real life) keeps interferrng with my self-styled status as a Goddess of Writing! LOL!!

So, mea culpa, my friends.

Forgive me please.

Today is a day full of shadows, and all the possiblities they bring. I adore rainy days for just this reason. Er, not that the sun is casting shadows on overcast days. Just that the whole world seems covered in a soft blanket of possibilities, and well, rather like an impressionist painting.

*sigh*

I do love the Impressionists.

Right then, since I missed my normal Sunday excerpt, I shall be posting one tomorrow for y'all.

In the meantime, have a lovely day, whatever that means to you.

Ciao.