Monday means...

I have a lot to do... work, work, play, play...
Two days left to work on Incongruent Angel and then I'm on to the next project.
I'd be funnier, but I'm low on caffeine this morning. Once I get up to speed there, I shall be deep in writerlandia and not coming up for air til around 2:45... if you're still here then, perhaps we can chat.

Oh, and did you go read the LiAW shorts yet? There's a zillion (hyperbole) good ones. Get thee there and read. Here's a linky dinky: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/121724 go. Megan Derr's wowed me yesterday.

Ciao!

Friday: Flash postponed in favor of Advocacy

I don't have much to say today. Except this: go to this link. http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/163141/ny1-exclusive--school-prohibits-fifth-grader-from-giving-speech-on-same-sex-marriage
Watch the video and read the article. And then if, like me, you feel it's wrong that this bright 5th grader's voice was muted because of other's perceptions of proper and improper--despite the fact the boy's speech is all about civil rights, and not at all about sex ed.--then go to this link and sign my petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/united-states-president-invite-kameron-slade-to-the-white-house-to-give-his-speech?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

And have a super Friday.

Tuesday's Tease

A Little More Incongruent Angel...

Travis eyed the empty doorway in bewilderment. The fuck? One second Aaron was breathing him in like he was the answer to an oncoming oxygen shortage and the next he was being watched by the crazy assed bass player like Aaron really was a lost angel and Travis was the latest incarnation of the Anti-Christ. Travis drew in a deep breath, counting to forty-seven. He didn’t have the patience to count to a hundred, and if Aaron ever pushed him that far he’d give serious consideration to quitting the band altogether. Even though Travis loved the band, he loved Aaron more. If he had to pick one of the two he felt no hesitation about which choice he’d make.

If Aaron cooperated they might have a fighting chance at being together. Travis bit into the meaty flesh on the inside of his bottom lip. He was gambling all his dreams on Aaron’s sincerity in wanting this, and his ability to change. Travis shrugged. Well, wherever the notes fell, man, that’s the melody they’d get. He didn’t have a choice in taking this shitty chance… if he tried to pack those damn saddle-bags one more time, he was pretty sure his damn heart would just stop beating entirely.

Lying back against his pillow, Travis contemplated what he could do if everything blew up in his face. He snorted. “I could join the circus I guess.”

A laugh at the door drew his gaze down from the ceiling. “Waste of a great guitar man. They only have those teensy toy guitars at the circus.”  The orderly from yesterday stood just inside the doorway. Travis wracked his brain for the guy’s name… shit. He’d never heard anyone call the guy by name. “What’s your name, man?”

The kid blushed. “I’m Jeremy. I—I’m sorry. I thought you got it yesterday. Hey, if you don’t remember me I can take off—”

“No, no, wait. Did you bring the tape?” Travis really wanted to hear this kid’s voice belting out one of Liquid Sin’s songs. Jeremy had something, a sweetly innocent rasp that would float perfectly on the layered sound Sin created with a crazy mix of traditional and non-traditional instrumentation. And if he could craft his own lyrics as well he’d be worth his weight in platinum.

“I downloaded some songs onto a data stick in MP3 format. I figured that would probably work.” Jeremy smiled, his head tipping down a little as he glanced up through his lashes at Travis.

“Yeah, man, that’ll be great.” Holy platinum-plated shit. The kid was adorkable. Shy and nervous… Travis hoped like hell his singing voice lived up to the promises his speaking voice made, because with that nervous newbie vibe and Hottie McHotpants look he had going added to the sultry look Aaron and Rafi brought and his own boy next door look… they’d hit every demographic in existence. “We’ll listen to it as soon as we get home. You got a card or something to go with it so we can give you a call once we give it a listen?”

Jeremy reached into the front pocket of the battered silver messenger bag he had slung over one shoulder. “Um, yeah, sure. I had my friend Liz help me make some up on this freebie deal and…” He bit his lip, a tide of red sweeping up his face. “I mean, yeah. Here you go.”

He reached out to hand Travis the data-stick and the card. Travis caught his wrist. “Hey. How old are you, man? No offense or nothing, but you look hella young. I just wanna be sure if we like your singing voice the lawyers know what kinda contract to draw up.”

Jeremy’s brown eyes got huge in his face, and he jerked back quickly, rubbing his wrist. “I—eighteen. I’m eighteen.” He kept rubbing his hand and wrist as he backed toward the door.

Travis raised both eyebrows. Oooookay. Somebody didn’t like to be touched. That was fine. “Alrighty then. We’ll give you a call tomorrow.”

Jeremy nodded. He started to pivot toward the hallway, stopped and looked sideways at Travis. “Thanks. I love the band. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

Monday, Mania and doing the Dance

Yeah, so I thought you'd like a little something to kickstart your Monday. I've just finished the first draft of The Faery Tree, book one of The Tonawanda Faery Tales, the series I'm writing with Vicktor Alexander *may his star continue to rise*... and I'm jumping right into the remodeling of Incongruent Angel to expand it into a full length novel. Not a lot of time to chat, but I'll whet your desire for these books with another peek at the fabulous covers. :)

 Incongruent Angel will be the first of a series centering around the band Travis and Aaron play in, Liquid Sin. I really thought the title was luscious! And Vicktor has given me an equally luscious cover to match!

I love Aaron, Travis, and Travis's whole crazy family. Must go write more about them!

Happy, happy sigh. This cover for The Faery Tree is absolutely perfect. Let the Snoopy dancing commence.

A little Something Every Writer Should Know: The In Between by Kris Jacen

You may or may not know who Kris Jacen is. You've seen her work though, even if you don't know her name. She's a muse, a goddess, a mother, the holder of an EDJ and the kick-ass Exec. Editor over at MLR Press.

The woman is a powerhouse.

I managed to persuade her (okay, I bribed with views of multiple hotties and a cool ass place to break her fast one day) to write a bit about something that plagues many a new and not so new writer, and robs far too many of us of far too many amazing stories.

The dreaded revise and resubmit letter.

Many see we regret to inform you and flee for the hills screaming and whimpering, fearing that they are merely being told politely that they, and their writing suck. Babies, it just ain't so... and Kris, the all powerful Smut Fairy and muse to many is just the one to tell us why. So, without further pandering or posturing from moi, here's Kris...

****


The In Between

With all the editing and formatting I do, I've gotten so far behind in my pleasure reading it's not funny. BUT I finally gave up and started listening to audiobooks for a few of the books that I so want to read but don't really have the time to read. Right now I'm listening to JR Ward's LOVER REBORN (I’m a huge fangrrl) and the main male character has lost his shellan (mate) and she's in the In Between—didn't go to their version of Heaven (The Fade) or Hell (Dhund); it's different for everyone and can be a desolate place. 

Now you're probably wondering where I'm going with this reference or thinking I've lost my mind (which is a possibility). Most authors at one point in their career go to THEIR version of the In Between. Yes, they do. When? When they see a revise and resub letter. They're so focused on "they didn't say yes" that they miss that "THEY DIDN'T SAY NO". That's right, they completely miss the entire letter.

Most publishing houses have three types of letters that they'll send to an author that has submitted a manuscript to them:

· Yes – here's a contract; we might want some edits and you'll work with an editor but we want it

· No – sorry but this just doesn't fit our needs at this time but thank you (and if the letter is from ManLoveRomance/Passion in Print/Featherweight there will be editorial feedback on your story – just FYI)

· Revise/resub – and this is the one that throws authors to their In Between; the house liked the bones of the story but wants to see: a) that you're willing to work on your story with them; b) that what the house thinks of as major changes are acceptable to you and that you'll change them; c) you've got the determination to work with an editor in a back and forth to put out the strongest book that you can

The whole point of a revise and resub and what most authors don't see when they read a revise/resub is that the house really wants to work with you but thinks the manuscript needs more work before it can go into edits. A house is not going to take the time to give you point-by-point feedback if they don't want you to do it and send it back to them.

The In Between for authors really isn't that bad a place – it just means that the editor wants you to do a bit more work before they send you and "yes, here's your contract" letter.

****

I know of what I speak (er, spoke?) as I was in receipt of a revise/resub letter from MLR... I nearly tossed it into my etrash until a wise writer friend told me it didn't mean no... it meant we'd like to but can't unless you change a few things. That story ended up being the first thing I ever published as a professional writer. 

Thank you Kris Jacen, and Mlr Press for taking a chance on me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

You can find more about the amazing Kris over at Mlr Press. 

You'll be looking at The Talent, which surely applies to Kris, and while you're there take a moment to poke around and find out a bit about the authors and artists listed there. 

Tuesdays with Tian

*Tapping microphone clipped to his shirt collar nervously, a very pregnant Tian waddles onto the set of his new semi-regular interview show. *


Tian: Hi. *blushing* Sorry I'm late. I was... a bit tied up. 


Growling noises are heard from off stage. Tian's blush deepens, and he quickly brushes his hair forward in a vain attempt to cover the lurid love bites covering both sides of his neck. The movement shows off the faint ligature marks at his wrists. Clearly, Tian was being quite literal when he said he was tied up, lol.


Tian: I'm afraid I missed the taping of the show, but I hear it was something spectacular, so let's roll the footage, and you can all enjoy seeing... *sighing* Cedric MacKinnion. 


more growling, and then the unmistakeable sounds of sexual congress happening echo through the little studio. Tian turns scandalized and intrigued eyes to the cameras. 


Tian: Oh, for the love of little quiches, turn the footage on now! I have got to see what Kay and Lewell'yn are up to. That sounds fun...


*Tian attempts to lift himself from the chair, fails, scoots to the edge and tries again, this time with success. The stunned cameraman pans after him, catching his cute rear switching off the edge of the stage toward an archway leading back into the manor proper. The camera pans around, and the slightly bemused face of a young, handsome blond man appears.*


Rian: Uh, hi. I'm Rian Collins, and I, uh, work the camera. Tian appears to be *loud moaning noises echo from off camera, and Tian's voice is clearly heard yelling out a litany of 'Yes, yes, yes, right there, that's the spot.' Rian blushes.* Ah. Right, then, here's the spot.


****

Hi, this is Cherie Noel. I'm standing in for Tian tonight... he couldn't get away from Kay and Lewell'yn to come talk with you himself right now, Cedric and Denise, but he did send along a list of questions. He was quite taken with Cedric, and he wanted to be sure I told Cedric that... um, without letting on to Lewell'yn or Kay until he confesses to them that he may have just a teensy crush on Cedric. He promises to tell them tonight though, so everything will be all cleared up by this evening. :)

(A tall, young Immortyl with a dancer’s body slinks into the room.  His attire suggests either an inter-stellar pirate or rock-and-roll front man.  His deep green shirt is open at the throat, revealing a bit of sculpted chest as pale and smooth as white marble, ornamented with swirls of henna tattoos.  On this tantalizing hint of flesh reposes a jade pendant of a Chinese dragon.  He throws back long auburn hair and takes his seat.  Up-tilted green eyes narrow as a wicked grin inches up his left cheek. His attitude is at once insolent and inviting.)

Good evening, love.  It’s fabulous to see you again.  I’m distraught not to see Tian.  I was so looking forward to…renewing our acquaintance.

*Cherie glances up at the camera with a startled look, and then, shaking out the papers in her hands, begins to read off the pre-written questions after clearing her throat.*

1)Um, do you like any real food anymore? Because I cook. I love to cook, and if you let me know what your favorite dish is, I bet I could learn to make it for you.

I do eat real food.  Some vampires experience food aversions early on, but I never did.  In fact, I was wolfing down curry my first night.  I love Indian food, but I must confess, while living in India, I longed for a cheeseburger.  However, I do like my meat very rare.  I would be honored if you’d cook for me.  A thick, bloody steak would be nice—that’s s-t-e-a-k, not s-t-a-k-e.  A misspelling could prove fatal.

2)You're so beautiful, Cedric. Are you in love? I can't imagine someone as lovely as you being alone... you mentioned something about having more than one partner when you hosted me on your blog, but honestly, dear, this pregnancy is making me lose my mind. *sigh* Would you refresh my memory?

My darling, how kind of you to say so!  You’re quite the beauty yourself—wherever you’re hiding, my shy sweet.

No, I’m never alone.  Am I in love?  Well…yes, but not with just one person.  I’m a bit like you in that respect.  I do like girls and boys, so it’s difficult to settle.  There are some needs that just one lover or gender can’t fulfill--if you get my drift.  My appetites are omnivorous and rather experimental.  I’m not really the monogamous type, but there are two lovers who compete to hold my heart captive.

There is my delicious Mia.  Mmm…she’s all voluptuous and juicy.  I like a woman with curves. You should see her in a leather cat suit.  Of course, she has a mate already, so our relationship is special.  Mia is the avatar of my patron Goddess Kali, in the form of Durga.  She’s a woman to contend with…quite the little dominatrix, although, she’d deny it in public.  I’m so happy to serve her in every way.  Kurt, her partner, isn’t thrilled about it, but he’s done his share of sleeping around with other boys and girls.  He’s my boss, and sometimes it’s a bit awkward.  If he’d lighten up and join in the fun, it might relieve tension, but after his and Mia’s little ménage with Arturo it’s a sore subject. 

Where was I?  Oh—my other grande passione, Lord Liu—Liu Li Cheng to his friends.  He’s wise, mysterious, deep and devastatingly sexy—long white hair and deep dark eyes. Hot body.  He was a warrior in the former Han Dynasty and related to the reigning emperor of his human lifetime, taught imperial princes swordsmanship—with a real sword-- one made of metal.  Okay, he had a long-running affair with one of the emperor’s sons.  It ended tragically.  Li Cheng has been looking for this lost love for two thousand years.  He says that I’m his prince reincarnated.  If he’s right, the Gods certainly have odd ways, reincarnating an imperial Chinese prince as a ginger-haired, Scottish Immortyl.  The Deva do seem to have strange plans for me. 

Oh, by the way, vampire is kind of a dirty word among our kind.  We’re the Immortyls, the semi-divine children of Kali Maa. 

3) How did you meet your lovers, and what sort of adventures are you getting caught up in lately?

*All I seem to do lately is sleep, eat, and hunt for my feet. I swear I haven't seen them in days*

 Well, I met Raj, my progenitor and former master, in the underground in London.  Beautiful bastard!  I’d been a rent boy for three years, since I was fifteen, and I’d become a statistic.  I was sick to death with something one of my former clients had passed to me.  I couldn’t work at my former profession, so I’d taken up busking--playing my guitar for change.   Raj took me back to his house and put me to an ordeal to prove my worthiness to serve Kali Maa as an adept of the ancient arts.  Well, to make a long story short, I trained to be a temple dancer and practitioner of tantric sex rituals.  The idea behind this is to confer blessings upon the recipient.  So I was still a whore, but this time I was a whore with a fancy name, a scared courtesan.  My “lovers” were chosen for me by the chief elder, Kalidasa.  I was a pawn in dangerous games of court intrigue.  Most of these blokes were a total drag—except Liu LI Cheng.  He knows how to treat a lad right—and gives the loveliest presents. 

There was someone else in India—my guru Sandhya. She was the Goddess in the form of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva.  She was lovely—but I don’t like to dwell on her fate.

When I got to New York, the first person of consequence I met was Mia.  It was divine intervention again.  I needed guidance to fulfill my mission, and there she was--my Goddess in warrior form.  Of course, I had to bide my time with her.  A woman of Mia’s stature is no pushover--but believe me, I pushed and pushed, until she succumbed.  And succumb she did—again and again.

Of course, there is the den.  There is a group of lovelies, nicknamed the denizens, who frequent the basement commons of our building, The Vampire State, looking for nightly trade.  Not that I ever pay for the privilege.  I just beckon to whatever boy or girl catches my fancy, or a combination thereof.  I hate sleeping alone. 

I must say, I never have to go far to meet someone who wants to shag me. I’m like the proverbial flame to all those eager moths.

4)Cedric, if there was one thing you could change in your life, what would that be?

I hope you don't say becoming a vampire. If you hadn't I might have never met you, and, well, you are just fascinating. I'd have missed something spectacular if I hadn't met you.

I don’t recommend this state of being to just anyone.  For some it’s a divine calling, but too many use the power as an excuse for anti-social behavior.  Our gift attracts far too many sociopaths.  I like the immortality part, staying young, beautiful and powerful and all that—but the bloodlust is worse than heroin addiction—believe me, I know of what I speak.  Your veins cry out to be fed, and it’s not fun.  I really have no choice in my path.  The Devi has plans for me.  It’s karma.  Shakti, the Great Mother, will decide my fate, no matter what schemes I devise. 

I do need to overcome some personal demons before I’m released from the cycle of death and re-birth.  That much I will say. 

5)Oh. *whispering* What does it feel like when a vampire bites you? I mean, not that I'm offering, because Lewell'yn would simply freak out, and Kay would give me that wounded look... but I've been wondering ever since I met you. Could you describe it to me? *fanning self*

(Cedric leans slightly forward and drops his voice to a low note that feels like teasing fingers running along one’s spine.  His grin creeps up his check some more, and his eyes become jade slits.) Well, it’s all shivery and orgasmic—if you’re a vampire getting bitten by a vampire.  If you’re human, it’s terrifying and usually fatal.  An Immortyl experiences his  partner’s ecstasy as well as his own.  You see inside the soul—if he has one that is.  Most of them are a void.  Mia sees full-blown visions—but then again, she is the avatar of the Goddess. 

I haven’t shared essence much with Lord Liu yet.  One as old and powerful as Li Cheng can enslave you far too easily.  I was Raj’s slave and I don’t care to go there again, even with someone I respect as much as Li Cheng.  I must be master over myself before I take the plunge with him.  We stick to shagging—amazing, world-moving, supernova shagging. 

Of course, you aren’t human, Tian, my love—I can control my hunger if I’ve fed recently.  I’m game if you are. I can make your dreams come true.  You have really beautiful eyes…  You were simply glowing when we last met.  Your skin, your hair just shimmer—and the scent of you is divine.  Your blood has a delicate bouquet, like honey made from lavender blossoms.  Or we could simply shag.  I never had alien before.  Mia believes our origins may be alien.  She’s a skeptical sort when it comes to religion. 

So, how does this hermaphroditic thing work exactly?  Who does what and what goes where?  I’m a versatile sort, so I’m open—or other—to possibility.  No one need know.  I’m the soul of discretion.  Believe me, a former courtesan knows things that could bring down governments.  So, how about it, love?

6)Cedric, would you tell us a little about the latest story of your adventures your friend Denise has put out? And how did you meet her? Cherie just stumbled into the holding area on the Pirate ship, kind of hiding behind Lewell'yn... and she's been around ever since. She's crazy as a bed-bug, but we've grown to love her. Your author seems far more level headed. It that true, or is she just as happily insane as our girl?

You obviously don’t know the old girl.  She’s eccentric, keeps six parrots and talk to herself.  Bursts into song at the drop of a hat--show tunes! Well, there is the occasional Bowie or Queen, I can forgive her that.  She puts me through hell!  I think she’s a bit of a sadist.  She claims I just burst out of her head like Athena one night.  As if.  Originally, I was conceived as a love interest for a character who is introduced in our current adventure, but that part of the saga is yet to be written.  I am a bit demanding.  I wanted center stage and the spotlight, so I simply took it. 

So, Servant of the Goddess--I’m the titular character in this book, but Mia is the POV.  They call our stories urban fantasy.  I suppose the fantasy part is the sexy stuff with me.  In this latest tale, I’m newly arrived in New York when she encounters me.  Well, an adept of the ancient arts is worth his or her weight in gold—or three times that in my case.  She and Kurt are faced with a gigantic headache in the form of yours truly.  I bring tidings up upheaval at court and the recently-crowned Rani Guilietta’s intrigues.  There are factions and more intrigues going on among Mia and Kurt’s followers and even government agents muscling in on the rights to the secrets of immortality.  Yes, there is a wee bit of science to all this.  Of course, Lord Liu makes an appearance.  There are explosions and gun fights and even a big chase scene!  Oh, and there is some steamy stuff--mostly with Mia this time around.  If you want the boy-on-boy variety, read my previous tale, My Fearful Symmetry.  

My darling Tian, I know you’re hiding behind some exquisite screen or other.  I can smell you, you know.  Don’t be shy.  Remember, I only bite if asked.  Let me show you, in the flesh, so to speak, how happy I am to be here tonight.  You’re missing out on the shag of a lifetime.  Immortyl princes have vied for my favor.  Liu Li Cheng was prepared to pay three times my weight in gold for my companionship.  It’s a religious experience with an adept of the ancient arts.  I’m a conduit of divinity—or so they say.  In view of your condition, I can be gentle.  Let me practice all of my tantric arts…  You can invite the other blokes.  The more the merrier, I say.  Well, in any case, the offer stands, if you get my drift.  Lovely to be here.  I just linger a bit until you show yourself. 

They always do.
****

A short note from DeniseVerrico:

Here you go, Cherie. You might want to keep a close eye on your boys, as Cedric is bound and determined to hook up with Tian.

To the Readers: My loves, each and every one of you will get a free ebook of our short tales, Annals of the Immortyls, simply by leaving a comment and contact email where the authoress may send the link and free coupon code.  Here is a question for you to comment upon:  Should vampires sparkle, or is that best left to the Guru of Glitter, David Bowie?

  


Denise Verrico can be found all over the web, but if you want a sure thing for finding her and Cedric both, thy over at the Immortyl Revolutions page: http://www.deniseverricowriter.webs.com/

Not Monday, but here's the Mania...

Quick rundown of all the stuff I meant to tell you all about yesterday, but got so caught up in writing I forgot, and then I have to dash over to today's post before Tian blows a gasket. The little guy is interviewing Cedric MacKinnon, and seriously, he is all aflutter about it. Which, of course, has Lewell'yn in a mood, and Kay trying to keep the peace. I mustn't leave the boys on their own for too long.

Yesterday's meanderings and mania:
Last weekend was jam-packed with fun family times. We had a 1.8k Kids Run with the kidlet on Saturday morning, and then a full six hours or so at the Buffalo Zoo... and it wasn't til after we were there that I found out it was Vic's first time to the zoo. Any zoo at all! Geez, I'd have taken more pictures if I'd realized earlier on what a momentous occasion it was.

I did manage to snap a few shots of the family as they took a brief rest in the Rainforest Exhibit, and the one here to the left is my favorite. The kidlet gesturing excitedly, and Uncle Vic listening patiently? Yep, that's an accurate representation of their common interactions. Love and tropical birds, that's what I found in this photo. Not a bad combination if you ask me.

After the zoo, we staggered to the bus stop and after a mid-length ride, up the stairs to our apartment. The kidlet slept like a rock, and Vic and I put our barking dogs--er, feet that is--up in not so quiet relief. :)

The very next day, Sunday, was Buffalo's Pride March day, and we went out to see the parade, and then over to the Festival. You can find pics and even video over on Vic's Website (click on the words 'Vic's Website). It's a wonderful little look into the the nutty world of Vic and Cherie.

Yesterday I was writing. Writing. Writing, and writing. I managed just over 5,000 words. I've nearly finished the second story I picked up for the LiAW event over at the M/M romance group on Goodreads (you can find my first story HERE. Please be sure to leave a comment if you go check it out. Every one who comments between now and the end of June will be automatically  entered to win a free copy of the full length novel by the same name coming out this month. Be sure and spread the word about that as well. Okay, I know I missed some things, but I've got to get over to today's post and make sure Tian doesn't get himself into trouble. :)

Ciao, babies. Make today magic. Or as Damon Suede says, 'Do something Extraordinary. You might be dead tomorrow.'