Evie's Whispered Words

Reading Challenges

2012-01-30T23:18:00.000-08:00

Just for variety, here's a post about reading rather than one about writing. This year, just for a bit of nerdy fun I have signed up for a couple of reading challenges on Goodreads. I anticipate this being a very busy year for me, so I probably have a snowball's chance in Hell of finishing them, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. The first is the A-Z Author Challenge for the Romance Reader's Challenge Group. The idea is to read a book with an author starting with each letter of the alphabet. I reckon I could find a Chinese author for 'x', but apparently any author with an 'x' in their name is acceptable.

2012 A-Z Author Challenge
3/26 complete

A
B
C Carroll, Jonathan- The Land of Laughs
D
E
F
G Grant, Mira- Feed
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R Beth Revis - Across the Universe
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

The second is the A-Z Book Challenge. This one sounds a bit easier. The goal is to read a book with a title starting with each letter of the alphabet.

A-Z Book Challenge
3/26 complete.

A Across the Universe- Beth Revis
B
C
D
E
F Feed- Mira Grant Feed
G
H
I
J
K
L The Land of Laughs- Jonathan Carroll
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

I'll post an update later in the year. For now, I'm off to have a read. Don't interrupt me!

More F***ing Flash

2012-01-22T23:35:00.000-08:00

I recently entered another one of Alison Tyler's flash contests with this story. It didn't win, but I had fun writing it.

Summer Rain

By Evelyn Applegate

“Wet enough for you?” Lyla asked, watching the raindrops wind their way down Theresa's muscular arms as she paddled. The sky had been a clear and cloudless blue when they set out that morning, but by mid-afternoon it was as grey as the old woolen army blanket Lyla was now pulling over her head as a makeshift raincoat. The Summer rain didn’t mess around. Once it started it came down hard.
“I hate to say I told you so, but, well, I told you so. It always rains here on New Year's Eve. It's like a rule or something,” Lyla continued. “Honestly we might as well be swimming!”
“Are you asking me to throw you overboard? Because I will!” Theresa turned so Lyla could see her mascara streaked face. The firm set of her mouth said she was only half joking.
“No,” Lyla squeaked.
“Well then shut up and keep an eye out for a good spot on the bank to rest. We can shelter under the canoe.”

In a few minutes time they were doing just that. Lyla nestled into the crook of Theresa's arm as the rain hammered a tattoo on the hull of the canoe drowning out the calls of the birds and the sound of the river. Theresa slid a hand down to the fly of Lyla's jeans and expertly popped the button open. Going on texture alone she moved her fingers past soft lace and feathery hair until she reached the warm slit hidden there. She began the lazy rhythmic stroking that usually had her young Australian lover purring like a cat.
Suddenly, Lyla giggled.
“Is something funny?” Theresa asked.
“Sorry, I was just thinking of something from Monty Python.”
“At a time like this! What was it?”
“Oh, just that what we're doing is like your American beer.” Lyla loved ribbing Theresa about her country, but this was odd timing even for her.
“What?” Theresa's voice took on a warning tone.
“It's fucking close to water!” Lyla giggled again heedless of the consequences.
“Fucking? I'll give you fucking!”
Theresa rolled on top of Lyla and tugged down her jeans. Pinning the slender blonde's hands above her head with just one of her own strong hands she kissed her roughly. As her tongue pushed its way into her lover's mouth she reached down with her free hand and resumed her exploration of Lyra's cunt. She slipped first one, then two fingers rapidly in and out reaching for the familiar rough spot in the velvety wetness. She pulled away from Lyra's mouth and the blonde gasped “Lube! Backpack. Front pocket.”
Moments later, Lyra gasped at the cold wetness as Theresa's fingers drove back into her, three this time, then four. Finally Theresa pushed and felt her whole fist slide in. Lyra rocked against her hand as she pumped in and out, filling her completely.

Afterwards, as Lyla lay there gasping, Theresa smiled. “Yeah. That's wet enough.”

2011-11-27T13:55:00.001-08:00

Health issues and the spectacular destruction of my old computer slowed down my writing for a while, but I'm getting back into it.In the meantime have some linkage:The Guardian's Bad Sex Awards is on again. They usually get either a giggle or a disgusted-but-cannot-look-away stare from me.Also, if you haven't watched this video, you should. It's truly beautiful.

Happy Birthday to me!

2011-10-30T15:20:00.000-07:00

And happy Halloween to everybody else. May it bring candy and much spookiness!

Oh and for those of you planning on embarking on the mad journey that is Nanowrimo tomorrow, you might find this article by Jodi Cleghorn helpful. Oh, and consider joining the guys on Often Inspired for their annual Nanowrimo contest. It's always heaps of fun. I'm not attempting another novel this year as I have too many other writing projects on the go as it is, but I'll be watching my friends' progress with interest.

Femslash

2011-09-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

I know it's a couple of years old, but I love this! I wish there was a little more Katee Sackhoff in it though. I had the honour of meeting her at a con in April and she was lovely.

Bits and Pieces

2011-05-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

I have a bad habit of reading quite a few different books at the same time. See?

Evelyn's currently-reading book montage

Evelyn's favorite books »

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Since most of these are anthologies it's not really too confusing, but I should actually knuckle down and finish some of them so I can write some reviews. My writing tends to go the same way. I start writing a story, then have an interesting idea and start writing that, then think of something new and before I know it I've got half a dozen stories on the go and nothing completed to show for a whole month of writing. Having lots of ideas is a good start, I think, but I need to work on my focus. At any rate, I can assure you that there are new stories coming, it's just that presently they're all in bits and pieces. I'll get there. It's just a case of picking one and sticking to it.

I love this!

2011-04-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

I don't know how to make it fit into my blog, sorry, but you can see it all if you click on the picture.

Geeking Out

2011-04-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun at Supernova at the weekend, gawking at the cosplayers and celebrities and trying not to spend the whole month's budget on books, comics, dvds and assorted geekery. I MET KATEE SACKHOFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For those who don't know, she's Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica, and she was lovely, despite being probably quite jetlagged.

I got to (briefly) meet fellow Brisbane author Trent Jamieson, who signed my copy of Managing Death, the second book in his awesome new urban fantasy series Death Works (more info about this can be found on his website, including some spiffy 'community announcement' videos about the series).

I also briefly said hi to Marianne de Pierres, whose new young adult series, Night Creatures, I really must check out. So many books, so little time! That's it for now. I'd better go and tackle the giant stack of unread books by my beside before it topples and crushes me in my sleep.

On a somewhat related note, this made me giggle:

Under the weather

2011-03-19T03:21:00.000-07:00

I've been sick for a while (nothing serious, just a cold and stomach flu- what a great month!), but am still plugging away at another story on and off. Today, though I took time out to join in a rally for gay marriage here in Brisvegas. Apparently there were about 400 people marching, which sounds about right. Not quite the numbers seen in other larger cities, but considering our population and the fact that it was pissing down today it wasn't too bad. There's another rally planned for May 21st. Hopefully if we can keep the issue in the public eye and keep up some pressure on the government eventually something will happen.

I love this video. :)
Beware: Contains lots of naughty words. Well, mainly just the one lots of times.

I'm Not Afraid of Romance

2011-02-12T21:54:00.000-08:00

I'm a contrary creature. Originally I got into reading romance novels because I felt an automatic urge to rebel against intellectual snobs who not only dismiss all romance novels as crap without ever actually bothering to read one but dismiss all romance readers as morons for liking the stuff. Some of these people are sci fi and fantasy fans who, after fighting exactly the same battle for years, frankly should know better. To these people I say, fuck off.

Yes, some romance novels are crap (indeed some are hilariously so -plagiarist and racist Cassie Edwards springs to mind) but as Theodore Sturgeon once said, 90% of everything is crap. Romance is a massive and diverse genre, with a ludicrous number of (sometimes alarmingly specific) subgenres. There are romance novels that are also murder mysteries (like J.D. Robb's In Death series, which is also kind of sci fi), or heist stories (like Jennifer Crusie's Agnes and the Hitman, which is sort of like what you might get if Elmore Leonard took up writing romance), historical fiction, you name it. And of course, the readers are a diverse bunch too, so it is unfair to assume anything about their intelligence from the fact that they enjoy a genre you don't personlly like (or haven't even tried), just as it would be unfair of me to think that all fans of Dan Brown have suet pudding between their ears instead of brains. Which I don't, honestly. I know some of you people even have degrees. I don't get it, but whatever.

So, in conclusion, do what you wanna do, read what you wanna read yeaaaah and leave other readers to enjoy their trashy books unsneered at. And if you haven't already, check out Smart Bitches Trashy Books where a couple of very smart ladies put what I was trying to say far more cleverly than I could.

Was this post purely an excuse to post the video below? Only I will ever know for certain.

Vajingo bingo

2011-02-05T20:06:00.000-08:00

That's not the name of a game as far as I know, but it should be.

Lately I have been trying my hand at writing some historical erotic fiction and have encountered a small problem. While there is a certain amount of suspension of disbelief needed to accept that people in Ancient Rome or Medieaval Europe or wherever/whenever are speaking modern English, writers mostly get away with it, but certain words stand out more than others. You don't want to throw around 'shlong' and 'bearded taco' unless you're actually trying to be funny. Actually, you usaully don't want to do that in a contemporary story either, but I'm getting sidetracked...

When it comes to describing parts of the body, especially the naughty bits, I find that modern slang sounds very jarring, and clinical terms are too, well, clinical. Where possible I guess you can research and find out the actual words people used for these parts in the time of your setting, but if it's really far back that can be pretty difficult. I think I will set myself a project to read more historical erotica and pay special attention to how writers describe things- whether they use slang of the time or get around it with careful description (I don't want to slip into Harlequin territory with 'her sex' and 'his rod' etc. either). So, that's my project for the week.

Suggestions on description in historical erotica, or of good historical erotica to read would be very welcome.

Tata for now!

More Authors Helping Flood Victims

2011-01-26T01:41:00.000-08:00

With one day to go until the final deadline I'm still not quite finished my submission for 100 Stories For Queensland. Flash is tricky to write! It's hard to bring a story to a satisfying conclusion in just 1000 words. I've written flash before of course, but it was mainly erotica, and I find that easier because, without wishing to sell my chosen genre short, there's a more obvious conclusion for events to come to (no pun intended), so it's just a matter of trimming away some of the preamble. Wow, that really is selling erotica short. I don't mean that it's easy to write, because it's not (well, no more so than any other genre), or that it's less worthwhile somehow (there are some seriously brilliant erotica flash stories out there). I suppose I just find it easier sticking within my comfort zone. This exercise has been good for me and I probably should practise this kind of thing more often.

Fellow Goodreads author Sean Williams is involved in another initiative by Aussie authors to help flood victims. Visit Writers on Rafts if you'd like to help out and go into the draw to win some pretty awesome prizes donated by various authors. These incluce author visits, book packs and the chance to have a character in an upcoming book named after you.

100 Stories for Queensland

2011-01-15T19:47:00.000-08:00

A couple of writers are putting together an anthology called 100 Stories for Queensland to raise funds to help victims of the recent flooding in the area. They're calling for submissions of flash fiction, any genre as long as it's upbeat and not about death and destruction. It's not my usual genre but I will see if I can come up with something suitable.

In terms of loss of life the floods aren't on the same scale as other disasters like the earthquake in Haiti, but the damage to homes and businesses is in the billions and it is likely to take the state a couple of years to recover. There are people out there right now sweeping out their homes and emptying everything they own onto the footpath to be taken away in a garbage truck. Many of these people were insured for everything except flooding because they couldn't get flood insurance due to their proximity to the location of their homes. Click here for photos. So please, if you can help us out by submitting a story, buying the anthology when it's finished, or preferably both.

If you'd like to donate to the Premier's disaster relief fund directly you can do it here. Thanks in advance for your support.

Floods

2011-01-11T17:16:00.000-08:00

Half of my city is under water at the moment, so I may not be online much for a while. Hopefully we won't lose water (it's ironic having none to drink when it's everywhere!) and the river will subside soon. In the meantime I have a roof over my head at least and plenty to read when I can't go anywhere due to all the road closures. My heart goes out to those who aren't so lucky.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T23:23:00.001-08:00

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I know I did, mostly just kicking back with my family. The wet weather we've been having here was a good excuse to to just stay holed up indoors with some wine and a few good books. Santa has brought me a few new additions to my TBR pile, including Divine By Mistake by P.C. Cast and Graceling by Kristin Cashore, both of which I'm itching to get into. I'm currently halfway through Grave Peril by Jim Butcher which is a cracking good read so far.

I haven't really made any resolutions this time. I'm tempted to could go with "try to read more", but that's not so much a resolution as just doing exactly what I wanted to do anyway. "Get more writing done" might be better. I'll certainly try. Happy holidays everyone!

Bargain E-books

2010-12-13T22:51:00.000-08:00

Land of A Thousand Dances is being featured at the moment on Bargain E-books, a site that showcases E-books in any genre costing five dollars or less. It's worth checking out for anyone who's on a budget and wants something new to read.

And then...

2010-12-09T17:48:00.000-08:00

I'm not dead. I've just been struggling to get much writing done lately because other regrettably necessary things keep getting in the way. Of course this is always the case, so it should just be a matter of managing my time properly etc. etc. I'm working on it. As always I have a couple of short stories in the black hole, awaiting editorial responses and more in the draft stages.

In the meantime, I have a shiny link to share. If you've never read this comic you definately should. Platinum Grit rocks my socks. It's by a couple of Australians and it is at times funny, at times poignant and frequently bizarre. The art is awesome and the characters drag you into their world and won't let go. Episode 12 is particularly close to my heart because out of sheer desperation and lack of ideas Kate, the sassy young magazine writer, is trying to write some erotica and finding that it isn't as easy as it looks.

"Her skin was hungry for his touch BECAUSE IT HAD ONLY HAD A SLICE OF TOAST ALL DAY..."

And now that I've posted that I see that there's an issue online that I haven't read yet. Dammit! I will promise it to myself as a reward when I get my latest draft finished. Bye for now!

Oh Me of Little Faith

2010-12-03T23:57:00.000-08:00

Having been convinced for most of November that I would never get my novel finished in time I finished with a day to spare. The same thing happened last year. For some reason I can never quite believe in myself when I'm about halfway through. I don't suppose it matters whether I think I can do it or not as long as I keep typing just the same. I just need to accept that self doubt is a necessary part of the process.

This year's book is an as-yet untitled detective novel set in Brisbane, Australia. I plan on editing it, but I'm going to let it lie fallow for a month or so first. In the meantime I have more short stories to be getting on with now that I have time to think of things other than novelling.

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Nano journey with me, whether you got to 50k, or beyond, or only a couple of hundred words. If you enjoyed Nano and learned from it the time certainly wasn't wasted.

Now, let there be chocolate for the Novelist!

Nanowrimo Woes

2010-11-18T01:06:00.000-08:00

I'm still plugging away at Nanowrimo, despite being quite woefully behind at this point. I think it's still possible for me to win, just a bit unlikely. Still, that's what I thought this time last year and I did finish then. We'll see...

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-30T03:06:00.001-07:00

I'm going to be pretty busy tomorrow, so I just wanted to get in early and wish you all a Happy Halloween! The little vampire squid is back for the occasion just because I love him (what? Bizarre sea creatures are cool!)

On a totally unrelated note, for this weekend only the very Giselle Renarde is donating 100% of the proceeds of sales of her ebook Ugly Naked People to the LGBT Youthline. I've just picked up a copy and am it looks like a great read.

Now back to my last-minute novel plotting. Have a great, spooky time!

Procrastination

2010-10-25T21:22:00.000-07:00

I need to get my novel plotted out ready for Nanowrimo but instead I have been:

Shopping for books

All Romance Ebooks

Audible

Bargain Ebooks

Writing Other Stories

Watching The Guild

I'd really better do a least a little plotting before bed. Aaaany minute now...

Scribbling away...

2010-10-12T02:23:00.000-07:00

I'm busily jotting down ideas for Nanowrimo. Once again this year I will be joining the folks from the Often Inspiredforum to share the madness that is speed novelling. They're a friendly bunch, so if you're signing up for Nano you should come and join us. There is a competition running over there with a $100 purse to be split between those who sign up to the forum contest and succeed at completing their 50k. A little extra incentive can't hurt.

It's that time of year again!

2010-10-10T00:43:00.001-07:00

That's right, it's Spring and a young woman's fancy turns lightly to thoughts of writing. I have signed up once again. This year I am trying something a bit different and having a go at a crime novel. It's bound to absorb all my writing time for the duration of November so I will be working hard to get some more short stories written and either shared here or sent off into the black hole before that happens. Wish me luck!

Monday: What Are You Reading?

2010-09-20T02:22:00.000-07:00

This is a fun weekly meme hosted by Book Journey.

Current Read:

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

I seem to be late to this bandwagon. I'm only a little way into this one, but I'm enjoying it so far. The mysterious pressed flowers in the first chapter have me intrigued.

Just Finished:

Heaven: Season 4: Wasteland ~Mur Lafferty

This one is part of a series of podiobooks (serialised audiobooks) by Mur, of the Geek Fu Action Grip podcast. Heaven is the story of Daniel and Kate, two friends who die suddenly in a car accident and go to Heaven only to find that it isn't at all like they expected. In the first of the books they leave the Christian Heaven in search of somewhere more satisfying to spend eternity, but unbeknownst to Kate, Daniel has another agenda. They travel through various different afterlifes (some of them hilarious and bizarre), suffer and ultimately (by this volume) become gods themselves. Just when I think I know where this series is going it heads off in a different direction.

Up Next:

I'm not sure. Possibly Alison's Wonderland edited by Alison Tyler. It's a collection of smutty fairytales by various authors, which looks like a good volume to curl up with before bed.

Happy reading everyone!

Coming Soon

2010-09-19T20:22:00.001-07:00

Land of A Thousand Dances is now listed on the Coming Soon page at Logical Lust. It's a sexy lesbian romance with a paranormal twist. Click here to check it out!

Land of A Thousand Dances

2010-09-16T00:55:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce the upcoming release of my short story, Land of A Thousand Dances through Logical Lust publishing on the first of October. I'm so in love with the cover art! Please do judge the book by it. ;)

2010-07-28T01:19:00.000-07:00

"Holding your stomach in when your clothes are off is not fuckable. Slapping your ample behind and inviting him to ride the wobble is". -Belle de Jour, The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl

I just love that quote so much I felt moved to share it. It kind of struck home this week when I had to go shopping for bras again due to change in size. I don't mind a little wobble. I firmly believe it's all in the presentation, and a little bit of satin and lace certainly doesn't hurt.

I know it's been a while between updates. I didn't end up making it past round two of the Smut Marathon, but participating was fun and I am going to stick around and see how it ends. Round three's theme is 'Stilettos", which spell check tells me has one 'l' and two 't's and not the other way around. How could I call myself a lover of fine shoes and not know that? Anyway, go there, enjoy the free stories and vote, and be proud of your wobbly bits if you have them.

Twist Contest Results

2010-06-14T00:38:00.000-07:00

Round One of Alison Tyler's Smut Marathon has come to an end and I didn't get eliminated. In fact I did okay. Many thanks to those who voted for me!

Calling it the Twist Contest keeps making me think of this:

That's just how my mind works. So, now, on to round two. Wish me luck!

Twist

2010-06-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

Round One of Alison Tyler's Smut Marathon is under way! I more than a little nervous about it, since the story I've put in is a little different from what I'd usually write, (kinkier and smuttier), and I really don't want to get eliminated in the first round. On the other hand, somebody has to be eliminated, and there are some pretty awesome writers taking part so I guess I'll just have to be philosophical if this is it for me.

There are fifteen sexy flash stories up there to read, so please visit and vote for your favourite.

What Are You Reading?

2010-05-25T02:13:00.000-07:00

What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila of One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. It's supposed to be a Monday meme, but this is close enough, especially since Sheila's about 10 hours behind me.

In the last couple of weeks I read more of a variety of genres than usual, which was fun.

I have just finished:

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Genre:
Length: Novel
Format: Print
Did this guy get paid by the plot twist or what?! The atmosphere was chilling and I didn't see the ending coming at all.

Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James
Genre: Young adult, thriller
Length: Novel
Format: Print

A brief excerpt from the publisher:

"'Truth or dare?' she asks.

I hesitate. I have so many secrets, so many things I don't want to reveal, but this is only a game, only a bit of fun. 'Truth,' I say finally. 'I can imagine one of your dares, and I don't fancy running down Oxford Street naked tonight.'

'Truth,' Alice says slowly, drawing out the vowel sound as if she's savouring the word. 'Are you sure? Are you sure you can be completely honest?'

'I think so. Try me.'

'Okay.' And then she looks at me curiously. 'So. Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?'

Katherine has moved away from her shattered once-perfect family to start a new life in Sydney. There she keeps her head down until she is befriended by the charismatic Alice, and her life takes her in new directions. But there is a dark side to Alice, and as we learn the truth of Katherine's sister's death and Alice's background their story spirals to an explosive finale."

This one was the kind of book that you keep thinking about for a while after you finish it. I got sucked in to the character's world and (much to the amusement of my boyfriend) kept muttering to myself as I read about what an evil bitch Alice was, though ultimately I felt sorry for her (but not too much). I can relate to the moral dilemma of whether it is ever acceptable to 'drop' someone because they bring too much negativity into your life, or whether you just stick by your friends no matter what. I was impressed by the way the reflections on the grieving process and parenthood seem so authentic and the dialogue so natural. It's the best book I've read so far this year.

Underneath by Alison Tyler
Genre: Erotica
Length: Short story
Format: eBook

It's unusual to read an erotic story that is both sexy and also kind of sweet. There seems to be an underlying message in it about learning to be comfortable in your own skin. At least that's what I took from it.

Smut Marathon

2010-05-22T18:41:00.001-07:00

You might remember me posting a while back about house-hunting. Well, eventually I found a place, and everything happened pretty quickly with signing the lease etc. but it's taken me a while to get settled in at the other end. I've only just got internet set up back at home have finally had a chance to sit back with a cuppa and catch up on all the blog posts and new stories I have been missing.

It seems I am back in Internet Land just in time, because Alison Tyler has the blog for her Smut Marathon up and running. Yours truly will be taking part in the contest and it looks like it'll be a lot of fun. Stay tuned for smutty goodness!

Meet Kevin

2010-04-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

Archie comics have introduced a gay character. That's right, a sympathetic gay character in a mainstream comic! Neato, isn't it! Here's hoping this will lead the way for other comic artists and writers.

Incidentally, if anyone has any recommendations of comics/graphic novels with LGBT characters, I'm interested. Especially if they're anything like Strangers in Paradise, which is awesome. I'd buy the omnibus if it didn't cost $85 just for the shipping (ouch!).

Beautiful Malice

2010-04-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

Daisy Chain Book reviews are giving away 5 copies of Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James. It sounds exciting, and the contest is international, which makes a nice change. This one is a young adult book. A bit different from my usual fare but I find I enjoy some variety now and then.

*Edited so that the post actually makes sense. Lack of coffee makes Evie's brain not work good...*

Alison Tyler's Smut Marathon

2010-04-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

This sounds like so much fun! I've been enjoying Alison's flash contests, but latest idea of hers will take the competition to a new level.

Vice

2010-04-18T22:11:00.000-07:00

I have a new perfume. It's called 'Vice' which seems appropriate for me, and it smells like a mixture of Turkish coffee, chocolate and sugar. When I wear it people sniff the air and ask whether someone is baking a cake. I shouldn't really go to Etsy. Something there always catches my eye and dents my budget.

In other news, there is more writing underway, I swear! Soon I will know the release date for my first eBook short story, Land of A Thousand Dances, a paranormal lesbian romance I am just itching to share with the world. In the meantime there will be some reviews up soon.

Tata for now. Stay full of vice! I'm planning to.

Blog Hop!

2010-04-17T01:56:00.000-07:00

This week I'm joining the Blog Hop. Like an eejit I didn't read the instructions there properly, so my link info isn't quite right but hopefully my fellow bloggers won't hold it against me. I should have written that I'm technically an 'old' blogger, since I've been blogging for more than three months, but really I feel I'm very much a newbie at this.

This blog is mainly a place to post about my writing but it's also a book blog with reviews of books in genres I enjoy, mainly erotica and romance, but I'm keen to check out blogs about other genres too.

To join in, drop by Crazy For Books!

Sapphistocated

2010-04-09T23:02:00.000-07:00

Sapphistocated byYeva Wiest, Jolie DuPre, Alessia Brio and Beth Wylde
Subgenre/ themes: Contemporary, lesbian
Format: Ebook
Rating: Four stars
Available from Phaze.

This anthology is comprised of four short stories by four talented authors. My personal favourite from this collection was the first story, Double Decker by Alessia Brio. It's the story of a young butch lesbian named Tess who is seeking to win not only a Kareoke Contest but the heart of the woman of her dreams. This one had me flicking through my cd collection to listen to some old favourites. I felt immersed in Tess's world and was anxious when she was anxious and excited when she was excited, and found myself sorry when the story ended. I think I'll check out some more of Alessia's work soon and I am going to have to remember the term "SOL day".

I Know What I Want by Jolie DuPre is about a beautiful young waitress who is trying to break into modelling and is intrigued to find herself hired by a wealthy older lady to act as a 'centrepiece' at a party. The story didn't go where I expected it to, which was a pleasant surprise, but I felt that it ended a bit abruptly, leaving me wondering what happened next.

Better With Age by Beth Wylde was a heartwarming story about Olivia, a single mother who is reunited with her first love, Aleesha, after decades apart. Olivia's relationship with her college age daughter, and the way she deals with an awkward situation many teenagers and parents of teens will surely relate to, is touching.

Finally, Drawn by Yeva Wiest is the tale of manga artist Sydney, who finds herself attracted to her own creation, the buxom, two-headed Kisha. At the same time Sydney finds herself attracted to two very different real women; the BBW Alice and the slim, athletic Beth. Her attempts to get to know them both lead her to finally question her assumptions about beauty and what is truly sexy. The use of toys in this one was different from anything I have read before, and the fantasy element was intriguing.

All in all this anthology is well worth a read.

Bloody Rose

2010-04-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

This image is the most tasteful thing that came up when I searched for 'blood'. Apparently it's a 'bloody rose'. Well there ya go.

It's that time of the month again for me (too much information? Grow up!), which might go some way towards explaining last night's dirty dream about Storm Large (I find myself more attracted to women just before, after and during my period. It's like my body goes "Not reproducing this month eh? Fine. Go get some pussy then."). Or it could just be that she's gorgeous. This cover broke my brain, appropriately enough.

Next week begins the 'Spring' part of the cycle for me, which hopefully will have me in a creative frenzy again. For the time being I'm resting and wasting time on Youtube.

2010-04-03T01:38:00.001-07:00

Here's another little flash piece from one of Alison Tyler's contests. This time I tied for first. :)
The prize was a scarf by Etsy seller The Opposite of Om, and entrants had to choose a colour from the sixty odd different yarns available as a starting point for their story. One of the yarns was called 'Regency', so I wrote this:

Tea and Sympathy

“Oh, Mr Hambly, it was so very good of you to rescue my dear sister and bring her home to us,” said Lara Chadwick, nibbling daintily on a piece of shortbread.

“Nonsense Miss Chadwick! I merely did what any gentleman would have done under the circumstances. I could hardly leave her to perish in the swamp,” Hambly replied.

“True,” Lara conceded, “But staying to comfort me afterwards was a little beyond the requirements of duty. Would you care for more tea?” Her cornflower blue eyes twinkled.

“Not at present, thankyou Miss Chadwick. Perhaps later.” Hambly’s arm shook a little as he gripped the edge of the table.

“And as for comforting you, I do not do it out of duty.”

“No? Why, then, do you stay so long? ”

“My dear Miss Chadwick, I was aggrieved to see you in such distress, and wished to return the delightful flush to your cheek.”

“So all of this you have done solely for my benefit, Mr Hambly?”

“Not entirely, Miss Chadwick. I must confess that I find a certain satisfaction in my efforts.”

“Indeed?” Lara had finished the biscuit and gestured towards the plate. “Are you sure you won’t have one? They are really so very good.” She leaned into the wall giving her hips a tiny jerk for emphasis on the last three words.

“No thankyou. In point of fact, I believe I will be feeling satisfaction shortly.”

As he drove deeper into her Lara let out a soft, ladylike moan .

Let Me Clear My Throat

2010-03-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting this blog again, mainly because I am currently experiencing the joy that is
househunting during what the newspapers are calling a housing crisis (which is probably an exaggeration, but not much of one). Hopefully I will find somewhere that is cheap and not too nasty before my lease is up. In the meantime I am not getting a whole lot of reading, let alone writing, done.

I'm still waiting to hear back about a few stories, and will hopefully be able to link to some more of my stuff online, or places you can buy it, soon. For now, enjoy this video. It has nothing to do with anything but it cheered me up:

2010-03-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

This is another story for one of Alison Tyler's contests. This time I tied for second place, which I was pretty happy about.

I'm also working on some longer stories and should have one out in ebook form soon. I'll post more details when I know what's happening. In the meantime, here is...

Better Late Than Never

“Sorry I’m late honey!” said Martin, coming inside. His wife sat at the table in a frilly apron patterned with red cherries, and as he came around the table to kiss her he realised to his surprise that she had nothing on beneath it. Inwardly he cursed his own tardiness. He’d been going over the Jenkins account while he could have been back here caressing his wife’s bare shoulders and hips as she stood at the stove cooking. Or dispensed with dinner altogether and just carried her into the bedroom. He felt himself stiffen at the thought.

“Never mind. Sit down.” Lucy gestured towards what looked to be a delicious roast chicken dinner. “It’ll be cold, but edible.” Martin had been married long enough to know that he was not yet forgiven for his misconduct. He took a couple of bites of chicken. “Lucy this is delicious! I really am sorry. I didn’t realise you’d go to so much trouble. I mean, the food, the wine, the candles-.“

He stopped and looked at the two brass candlesticks in the middle of the table. The right one held a tall white candle, producing a dim romantic glow. The left was empty.

“What happened to the other candle?”

“Oh that.” Lucy affected a casual air. “You were late and I got a bit impatient so I used it.”

“Used it? How?”

“Let me show you.”

She put one bare foot up on the edge of the table and reached for the candle.

"Like a penis, but reversible..."

2010-03-05T21:39:00.000-08:00

I love this but it's dangerous if, like me, you often find yourself singing little snatches (no pun intended) of songs to yourself in public.

Sorry about the video quality. There was a better version but I couldn't embed it.
Also, I why don't I own a leopard print evening dress?

Number Three

2010-02-27T23:03:00.000-08:00

This is another free flash story written for one of Alison Tyler's contests.

Number Three

“You’re not serious.” The genie started at him incredulously. In three thousand years no-one had ever asked for this. Oh they had wished for sex, but always with the Sultana, or Pamela Anderson or their best friend’s wife or whatever unobtainable goddess they’d had in mind before they stumbled on the magic ring she called home. They never had so much as a second glance for the skinny dark-haired girl who would make it all happen for them.

“Perfectly serious,” the man replied. “I’ve got my youth and vitality back and all the money I could want. Now I want somebody to share it with, at least for a little while. Besides, I’ve heard the stories. There’s always some catch with these deals, some moral lesson you’re supposed to get out of it. It never works out if all the wishes are totally selfish.”

The genie looked at the silken bondage ropes he held.
“You know, in the Aladin’s last wish was to free the genie, not tie her up,” she said suspiciously.
“You’ll be free to go at any time if you want to. I’m just banking on you not wanting to.”
He cleared his throat and said solemnly “I wish for you to stay with me as long as you’re enjoying yourself.”
The genie looked over his newly restored, nineteen year old body, her gaze lingering on his crotch where his trousers had formed a tent big enough to house a whole tribe of Bedouin.
“Wish granted.”

Inspired by this pendant by GwenDelicious

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39242792

Sit Pretty

2010-02-27T01:21:00.000-08:00

Sit Pretty ~Julia Talbot
Length: Short Story
Subgenre/themes: M/M, werewolf, shapeshifter
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Torquere Press
Rating: ****

I've been meaning to read some more werewolf stories, and am still looking for recommendations if anyone has any. Julia Talbot has written quite a few, so I thought I'd try this short and see whether I liked her style. I was not disapointed. The writing is fresh and exciting and I thought the idea of a werecat and a werewolf in love was a nice quirky touch. The m/m sex is fairly full on, so this one is probably best avoided if you're not really into that sort of thing but if you are you'll love it.

For the Girls

2010-02-21T19:20:00.000-08:00

My Flash story Hair will be appearing on For The Girls, an Aussie erotica site and ezine created by women for women. It's a quirky little story that I like to think is a little feminist.

That brightened my morning. My day job has been (as always) interfering with my writing and it's reassuring to know that at least some of what I do get finished will actually be out there where people can read it. I have four different stories in progress at the moment and I keep switching between them whenever I get bored or have an idea for one of the others but I think I need to knuckle down and get one of them finished so I can submit something again. I'd better get back to it!

Lucky Last

2010-02-20T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here is my entry in Alison Tyler's Lover Boy Contest. This time I had the distinction of coming last (well coming first is rude, isn't it?). There are so many stories about earth-shatteringly good sex that I wanted to write about bad sex for a change, although I had a fair idea that no-one would want to read about it. I'm contrary that way. This contest was inspired by Phoebe Marie's Conversation Heart necklaces. Contestants had to choose one and write 250 words. This offered so much scope that I think I might use some of the other necklaces as starting points for stories when I'm stuck.

Entry #2: Love Me

He perched on the arm of the couch where she lay sprawled, still clutching her gin and tonic.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“You said that already.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Love me.”
He sighed. “It’s just not that simple, babe.”
“Well then fuck me.”
“Really?”
“It’s better than nothing.”

She put down the glass, spread her legs and began to hike up her skirt, then stopped.
“I don’t want to see you while you do it. I don’t want to see the way you look at me.”
She yanked down her panties and turned around, kneeling on the couch with her head resting on the cushion at one end and her bare arse raised into the air. He didn’t move, and after a moment she looked up.

“What are you waiting for?”
He hesitated. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Come on! If you’re going to leave me the least you can do is give me a good fuck first. One for the road.”

He stood and unbuckled his pants, lowering them enough to let his cock slip free, feeling it hardening at the sight of her waiting naked arse. Kneeling behind her he slid his hands around to feel for her clit.
“Don’t!” she said curtly, her voice muffled by the cushion. “Just fuck me.”
“All right!” he snapped. Gripping her waist he plunged into her. She was bone dry but so tight he came quickly. She was right. It was better than nothing.

Slippery Slope

2010-02-11T15:32:00.000-08:00

Hee hee!

Loving Lucas

2010-02-09T00:32:00.000-08:00

Loving Lucas by Lisa Marie Kiefer
Subgenre/Themes: m/m erotic romance, contemporary
Length: Novella
Format: audio book
Rating: ****
Available from Dreamspinner Press

I'm pretty new to m/m romance and this book makes a good introduction to it. It's a sweet love story with believeable, likeable characters and well written sex scenes. It's the story of a former teacher named Lucas who is haunted by his memories of being assaulted by a deluded lovesick pupil. Nicholas, the local sheriff, befriends Lucas and obviously wants to be more than friends, but Lucas pushes him away, having been rejected by his last boyfriend because of his scars from the assault. Fortunately, Nicholas is nothing if he's not persistant. I got really caught up in the story and listened to it all in one go. I especially enjoyed reading (or rather hearing) about Lucus' decision to cease to be a victim and take control of his life. I give it four stars, the highest rating I've given out so far in this challenge.

2010-02-06T19:55:00.000-08:00

Finally here is some of that free flash I've been promising. I wrote this one for the Glowing Tart Pink Contest on Alison Tyler's Trollop With a Laptop blog. It didn't win, I think probably partly because it isn't explicit, but I had fun writing it and was pretty chuffed by Alison's comment that she "fucking loved it". The title doesn't really have anything to do with the story. I chose it because I wanted a shade of pink that suggested something both beautiful and poisonous.

For the record, my own vote in the contest went to the very sexy Rose Comes For Desert by Erobintica.

So...without further ado:

Coral

Ariana finished the little toe, and with an elegant flourish that kept the polish from dripping, she returned the brush to the bottle.
“There.” Glowing with satisfaction, she lifted her left foot and wriggled her toes to show of her work. “Like it? It’s called ‘Tart Pink’”

She stood, slipped out of her robe and slipped on the white lace panties and bra she had laid out on the bench. She didn’t really expect Mark to respond. He’d never taken much of an interest in her toilette before and he wasn’t about to start now.
“Usually for semi-formal I’d go with something darker,” she continued. “Like maybe a Deep Purple or Crimson Dawn, but I wanted something a little playful. But not too much. Something zestier than Ballet Slipper, but just a bit more subtle than Flamingo Flush.” She leaned forward, easing her breasts into the soft cups of her bra and deftly fastening the clasp.

“Of course being a man, Stavro isn’t going to notice the nails. Not at dinner anyway. I’ve always found that the best way to get a man to notice your toes is to put them behind your ears.”
Ariana took her gown from the hanger and tugged it over her head.
“You’re not even listening, are you?” she asked petulantly.
She glanced over into the tub.
Marcus’s glazed eyes stared stupidly up at her. His lips were tinged a gorgeous Arctic Ice Blue
“Pity. I could use a hand with this zipper.”

By the Moonlight

2010-02-05T00:30:00.000-08:00

By the Moonlight by Jaxx Steele
Sub-genre: Vampire, m/m romance, m/m/f
Length: Novella
Format: audio book
Rating: ***
Available from: Dreamspinner Press

This is my second read (or rather listen in this case) for Erotic Horizon's Erotic Romance Reading Challange. I had mixed feelings about this one. Vampire stories are always fun, and this is the first I've read with two male vampires getting together (that shouldn't be too much of a spoiler since this is a romance) so that was refreshing. One thing I really liked was the idea of vampires who can have sex, which I prefer to the impotent vampires or bloodlust-as-a-metaphor-for-sex type of vampire story like Anne Rice's series.

Unfortunately, though, while I can suspend disbelief about bloodsucking creatures of the night, I found the characters in this book a bit hard to believe in. I could just about buy the unlikely scenario that that a man, (vampire or otherwise) who has slept with strangers on a regular basis for some years (I'm not sure how old he's supposed to be, maybe I missed it) had never thought of oral sex before, but for him to have never had a proper wank in his life until the events of this story just stretches credibility too far. I mean, presumably at some point before he was a vampire he was a teenage boy!

The plot is fine, and the sex scenes are sexy, but the dialogue is a bit clunky. I understand why Byron, a centuries old vampire might be stuck in his ways and refuse to learn modern slang, but why does a random woman the two vampires encounter talk in the same old-fashioned, stilted way? It was as though they all suddenly and inexplicably slipped back in time.

Since this one's an audiobook I ought to also mention the reader. I couldn't find his name credited, but whoever he is he has a sexy voice and did a great job of making the book come to life.

All in all By the Moonlight is not bad, and listening to it as I went about the housework certainly made doing the dishes a lot more interesting.

Sin Eater

2010-01-31T01:41:00.000-08:00

The Sin Eater by Evangeline Anderson
Length: Short Story
Genre: Erotica romance, fantasy, Bondage
Format: E-book
Rating: ***
Available free from Ellora's Cave.

This is the first of my reads for the Erotic Romance Reading Challenge. Okay, it isn't novel-length, but I want to choose my books for the challenge by whether they sound interesting rather than by length, so some will be long and some will be short. What I'm going for is a variety of themes and genres. I will try and read straight, gay and lesbian stories, some contempory, some historical, some paranormal and some Sci Fi or fantasy.

Sin eater, which by the way has no connection whatsoever with the spooky Heath Ledger film of the same name (apparently it was called The Order in the States), is arguably erotica rather than erotic romance, but the 'l' word is invoked, so I reckon it counts. It's erotic fantasy set in a kingdom ruled by the God-King Karn the Insatiable (yes, really). The main character, Lena, is in training to become a 'Sin Eater'- a royal consort with certain special skills, such as the ability to take on another's lust and broadcast it back to them and a magical ability to retain her...um...tightness, and forced to wear a completely transparent outfit permeable to bodily fluids. As you are. There's some bondage, but nothing too full on. The story is pretty well written, but it's probably best not to take it to seriously. Just sit back and enjoy the naughtiness.

Reading Challenge

2010-01-24T16:46:00.001-08:00

I'm joining the Erotica Romance Reading Challenge for 2010. The idea is to read ten erotic romances in a year. Since erotic romance is my genre of choice (or rather one of them- I do like a bit of variety and I go on the odd crime fiction kick) anyway that might not sound like much of a challenge, but I have been having a little trouble getting through entire novels lately due to other commitments and hopefully this will encourage me to make time to read and to reflect on what I'm reading so I can review it. Plus, it will be interesting to read other people's reviews of a range of different books. I'm a sucker for a naughty fairy story soI think I'll start with Marla by Philip Sweeny. Updates to follow as I keep reading.

Edit: Okay, having said that I ended up starting with something else. Marla will come later...

1. Sin Eater ~Evangeline Anderson
2. By the Moonlight ~Jaxx Steele
3. Loving Lucas ~Lisa Marie Kiefer
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

One Act Erotica

2010-01-21T19:09:00.000-08:00

Having vowed to put some more content on (in?) this blog this year, I am now planning to post up a series of One Act Erotica stories. They'll be little flash pieces- 1000 words or less. Some will be previously published stories, others may be written just for the blog. This will give me something to post about in between trying to get longer stories written and published and help keep me writing regularly. Apologies that I have none to post up today. This is just a 'coming attractions' post. Watch this space!

Kraken are the New Vampires

2010-01-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

I hear they're remaking The Clash of the Titans. Quite why they want to mess with the awesomeness that is Harryhausen I can't understand, but I'll probably go and see it if only for the Kraken. I hear Kraken are the new vampires. ;)

The critter in the picture is a vampire squid. Yes, really. Now I'd better stop blog-hopping and get on with some writing. Damn you Internet and your fiendish distractions!

Five Reasons Why Sex Can Make You Healthier

2010-01-15T22:16:00.001-08:00

Five Reasons Why Sex Can Make You Healthier

Not that you need an excuse, but it's nice to feel good about what you were planning to do anyway. ;)

Posted using ShareThis

Portuguese Parliament Votes to Permit Gay Marriage

2010-01-08T20:26:00.000-08:00

I'm glad they're permitting it somewhere!
(Edit: Yes, I know it's legal in half a dozen countries already, but you know what I mean).

Link courtesy of Deliciously Naughty.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T00:53:00.000-08:00

I hope you've all had a good time over the holiday season. I had a pretty relaxing Christmas and New Years, just staying in with my family and enjoying good food and lots of it.

As far as resolutions go, this year I am going to try and update this blog more regularly. I'm currently in the process of revamping it. Well, maybe just 'vamping', since it wasn't much to start with, but I have plans for it. You'll see.

In the meantime, here are some more of my recent reads:

Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella (novel, chicklit)
This one is easier to relate to if you either have had a baby recently or are close to someone who did. I love the crazy situations the heroine gets herself into, and the scene at the pre-natal class is just spot on. It's a nice, light holiday read, just the thing for this time of year.

Affinity by Sarah Waters. (novel, supernatural thriller/romance, lesbian)
I always enjoy books set in the Victorian era, and I found the segments of the novel about spiritualism fascinating. The ending is fantastic! Waters has a knack for lulling the reader into a false sense of security then at the last minute pulling the rug out from under them. I liked this one even better than Fingersmith. I think I'll seek out some more of her books.

Photo from Bigfoto.com.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T01:33:00.000-08:00

This is the best Christmas movie ever.

2009-12-02T00:34:00.000-08:00

Nanowrimo 2009 is over, and to my great delight, I actually succeeded this year! I finally wrote a novel! It's a steampunk romance, set in the Old West. It still needs a title, not to mention some serious editing before it sees the light of day, but I have proved to myself that I can actually make time for writing when I need to, and produce longer works than I have ever previously attempted. Already I have an idea for another novel in mind. Further details to come once I actually put pen to paper for it.

For the time being, though, I have some short stories to get cracking on. I kept coming up with ideas while I was supposed to be working on my Nano novel. I often get a lot done when I'm procrastinating. Somehow even cleaning the toilet doesn't seem like work when it's not what you're actually supposed to be doing.

Upcoming stories include something Christmas themed, and a were story I've been working on on and off for a while. I'll continued sending off submissions, but I also plan to write one or two short pieces just to post up here. I don't have a formal posting schedule for this blog, I'll just continue to put stuff up whenever I can.

Congratulations to my fellow Nano-ites! Whether you 'won' this year or not you've done some writing and that's what it's all about.

Still struggling on...

2009-11-22T04:08:00.000-08:00

...with my Nano novel. Wish me luck!

Bad Sex Awards

2009-11-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

I just saw this via Neil Gaiman's twitter. *shudders* It's good to see that even well-respected, prize-winning authors can get it so wrong.

In other news, I am STILL way behind with my Nano novel. Nine days to go, and I'm not even halfway done. Ah well. I'm giving it a red hot go.

Gay Unions Now Legal in Australia

2009-11-13T00:23:00.000-08:00

Well, in part of Australia, anyway. It's definately a good start, but the exclusion of transgendered and transexual couples is bizzare.

In other news, Nanowrimo continues. I'm still behind. I'll see how far I can catch up at tomorrow's Write In.

2009-11-08T03:08:00.000-08:00

I went to a Nanowrimo 'write-in' for my region today. Typing in a cafe made for a nice change of scene. Strangely, I got a lot more done working in a noisy, crowded public place than I ever seem to at my desk at home. I'm still behind with my word count, but getting less so.

A House Divided

2009-11-06T15:30:00.001-08:00

A House Divided

Posted using ShareThis

I love vampires, I really do. I persisted with Anne Rice's series as far as The Vampire Armand, but Lestat's ever increasing Mary-Sueperpowers got on my goat so much that I gave up. I enjoyed the Victorian spookiness of Dracula and Barbara Hambly's Those Who Hunt the Night and Travelling With the Dead, and the quirky Southern weirdness of Poppy Z. Brite's Lost Souls. I've watched everything from late night SBS vampire lesbian erotica to The Lost Boys and enjoyed them all.

BUT-

Werewolves. What can I say? I don't know what it is about them, they're just sexy as Hell. I'm a big fan of the Kelley Armstrong books featuring the female werewolf Elena (and I just found out that there's at least one more about her I haven't read yet. Joy!) and it occurs to me that I haven't read much else in the way of werewolf fiction. There just doesn't seem to be as much of it around as there are vampire stories. Well, I guess it's time to investigate what's out there!

I'd be grateful for any recommendations.

Photo by Jelaga.

Edit:PS, check out this nifty progress meter from Write Or Die. Must get back to my Nano!

Nano has begun!

2009-11-02T03:57:00.001-08:00

Nanowrimo 2009 has begun! I am somewhat behind with my word count already, partly because I seem to have contracted Peruvian Death Flu (or something) and currently have lymph nodes the size of grapefruit. Ah well. Hopefully I can catch up when I'm better. I don't want to push myself too hard just now.

Good luck to my fellow Nano-ites!

Scholastic reverses decision to ban gay friendly books from fairs

2009-10-29T16:09:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to see sanity prevail.

Thanks to Erec for drawing my attention to this.

Often Inspired

2009-10-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

I've got loads of ideas bubbling away in the back of mind, ready for Nanowrimo, and have come up with the beginnings of a plot outline and some character descriptions. It's going to be a Steampunk Erotica story. With zeppelins. I'll be sharing the journey with the folks from the forum at Often Inspired, a fun and supportive community of writers. Now I just need dedication, hard work and a lot of coffee.

Nanowrimo

2009-10-23T02:18:00.000-07:00

I've taken the plunge and registered for this year's Nanowrimo. This is probably a completely mad thing to do, since I have quite a number of other time consuming commitments at the moment, but so does just about everybody else who signs up for it, and really, what do I have to lose? My mind, my family's patience, but other than that?

Now I just need to figure out what the heck I'm going to write about. I've had an idea for an historical novel in the back of my mind for a while, but I've left it a bit late to get the research done in time this year. Hmmm. Maybe some steampunk? We'll see... Wish me luck!

The Pronoun Problem

2009-10-18T15:02:00.000-07:00

I have a pet hate. You know when you're reading a story and the author feels the need to use the characters' full names every single time they're mentioned?

John Featherington-Smith looked up at the sky. "Hmm. It looks as though a storm is on the way," mused John Featherington-Smith. "I had better close all the windows." With that, John Featherington-Smith walked home to the neighbourhood where John Featherington-Smith had lived in all his life... Etc., etc., etc.

I don't know if the authors do that because they are particularly proud of the names they came up with, or if that's just how they talk in everyday life, but the repetition really annoys me, and being annoyed distracts me from the story. To keep from breaking the narrative flow you can just use a pronoun instead (or at the very least just the character's first name- Surely if we get to share a steamy sex scene with him we're on a first name basis by the end of the tale!). This works okay in a heterosexual story, but I found that when writing lesbian erotica (and presumably the same apples to m/m action), all the 'she did this' and 'she did that' can get confusing. How do you make it clear to the reader which 'she' you're talking about each time? I try to get around it by describing the women (it helps if they're very physically different, or at least have different coloured hair), but it's tricky. If there are any other writers of girl-on-girl out there reading this, what do you do? I'm open to suggestions.

Photo by Ignacio Leonardi

Recent Reads

2009-10-14T02:24:00.000-07:00

Since I'm not ready to talk about my own work just at the moment I thought I'd post about what I've been reading recently.

Everyone Worth Knowing by Laren Weisberger
Novel
Genre: Chicklit/Romance(contemporary)

This is the second novel by the bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada. There aren't as many laugh-out-loud moments as with her first book, but it was a lot of fun, and had me hooked on page one. I comiserated with Bette's struggles to balance her crazy new job with her personal life (though thankfully I've never had to deal with that kind of overlap between the two myself), and any romance reader could relate to the heroine's coming out of the closet as a romance fan. I'll definately be checking out Weisberger's next book.

A Twisted Bard’s Tale~ Selena Kitt
Genre: Erotic romance (lesbian)
Short Story (ebook)

This little story was a different take on Romeo and Juliet. I was expecting an alternate story with the two young lovers as women, but Selena Kitt takes a different, more interesting tack than that. It was amusing and original, and the sex scene was pretty darn hot. I recommend it as a fun, quick read.

Sweet Escape

2009-10-02T17:47:00.001-07:00

I have a couple of stories in the pipeline at the moment, but nothing to show just now. However, I did want to share a random shopping tip. I've just been enjoying a couple of days of self pampering, and I am absolutely in love with this facial scrub from Ocean of Bubbles.com. Citrus, shmitrus! Why would I want citrus when they also have chocolate or Vanilla Liquor (the one I'm enjoying at the moment, which smells divine!)? They're all made with natural ingredients, mostly food, which makes sense since if you can't eat it you shouldn't really put it on your skin.

Great, now the subject heading of this post has put the Pina Colada Song in my head. It's a little early in the day to go in search for cocktails. Maybe tonight...

Somebody think of the children!

2009-09-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

The Australian Government's mandatory internet censorship scheme still threatens to become a reality. If it does, it will slow down our internet and block access to thousands of sites deemed "harmful and innapropriate to children" to all households, whether there are any children living there or not. Even where there are kids, couldn't parents, I don't know, try supervising them? At the very least they could use one of the optional filters that are already freely available instead of a universal filter inflicted on everybody.

Get Up.org is running a campaign to try and stop the scheme from going ahead. If you're a fellow Aussie and you believe in freedom of information click here to sign the petition.

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too. -Voltaire

Sinead's Hand

2009-09-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

This video is so clever, and a great way to approch a sensitive topic.

Tag! You're it!

2009-09-17T19:47:00.001-07:00

The talented EdBeale tagged me for this game. That was almost a year ago, so she may have long since forgotten about it, but now that I’m back online I may as well fill it out.

In this game of Tag, one has to list 7 things about him/herself and pass it on to 7 others, who in turn list 7 things. Should be simple enough…

1. I find glasses terribly sexy, on men or women.

2. Sometimes evangelical Christians spam my MySpace page wanting to save my soul. The last one said he’d had a dream about me, which is flattering, I suppose. I asked him what he was wearing in the dream, and what I was wearing, and did he mind if I invited a friend to watch. He didn’t reply. I guess I’ll never know.

3. If I find any change (down the back of the couch, under a chair) while I’m cleaning the house, it’s mine, regardless who it originally belonged to. Of course, this is irrelevant when you live alone.

4. When the planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center I was asleep in my bed.

5. I’m a terrible gardener. I can’t even keep pot plants alive. I have such good intentions when I buy potted herbs, imagining serving my guests pasta with fresh basil, or Thai with homegrown coriander, but then I forget to water them or the cats eat them.

6. My favourite ice cream flavour is choc mint. Or maybe Cookies and Cream. Or Rum and Raisin.

7. As you can see, I am often indecisive.

Well that’s that. Now for the tagging part. I tag…um…

Giselle Renarde
Laurie's Laudanum
Stacy
Deliciously Naughty
Jennifer Muirhead
Sasha White
Tales of a Fantasy Scribbler

I don't know some of them very well (or at all, I just follow their blogs), and of course there's no guarantee they'll want to play, but I had fun.

2009-09-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

Whoa...long time, no post. A good friend of mine threatened to, and I quote, "poke [me] with a stick" until I updated this blog, so here is an update. I don't have anything much to report, except that she and I have made a pact to try harder to get some more writing done. I've just sent off another submission, so we'll see what happens.

2008-11-03T16:07:00.001-08:00

Just got a rejection. Bleah. I guess I'll just grit my teeth and keep on going... I may yet find another home for this story anyway. I'll have a look over it first and see if I can think of any parts that need revising. Sometimes it becomes clearer over time.

It gets worse

2008-10-25T05:28:00.000-07:00

Now the Australian government has even tried to censor criticism of the mandatory internet filtering scheme. And here I was hoping things would improve under the new Labor government.

This makes my blood boil

2008-10-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

Australia is to have compulsory internet filtering that will censor material that is deemed "harmful or innappropriate for children". Not having any children myself, I am more than a little annoyed that I will still be forced to have filtered internet. Quite apart from the fact that this will be particularly annoying to me personally, since I probably won't be able to access the sites I want to submit my erotica stories to, it's the principle of the thing! I'm an adult, and I should be allowed to look at porn if I bloody well feel the need to. It also won't stop at porn. What about sites about abortion, euthanasia, drugs etc? Who decides what is "appropriate"? Then there is the fact that the filtering system will slow down our already crappy broadband speeds. Thankyou very much, Federal government.

Anyway, if you're a fellow Aussie and this makes you angry, write to the minister and tell him so (follow the link above).

Broken by Kelley Armstrong

2008-09-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

I realise that this isn't exactly a new release, but I have decided to start reviewing some of my own most recent reads, regardless of their release date. It will keep me busy and get me to think critically about what I think 'works' in fiction and what doesn't, which should help with my own writing. Besides, a good book is a good book, no matter when it was published.

Title: Broken
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Published by: Orbit Books, 2006
Length: Novel
Rating (out of five): 4
Photo of the lady herself by Curtis Lantinga

Broken is the seventh of the Otherworld books, a series of urban fantasy novels which feature strong, usually female main characters of various supernatural 'races' (werewolves, witches, necromancers, sorcerers, vampires, ghosts and half-demons). This book is the third to feature Elena, the world's only female werewolf, as the narrator (the books in between being narrated by other characters). Having enjoyed the previous two Elena books (Bitten and Stolen) so much I confess that I skipped straight to Broken without reading any of the books in between. However, one of the great things about this series is that the books stand alone as novels, so that the reader can skip books or read them out of chronological order and not feel confused about the overall plot of the series.

Elena is an attractive blond freelance journalist with a secret- every now and then she likes to run around outdoors naked chasing rabbits with her lover, Clay. Bitten was the tale of how Elena became a werewolf, and of the beginning of her relationship with Clay, the taciturn, sexy bodyguard of the werewolf pack's leader. Stolen continues this story, introducing new threats to the pack's safety, as well as new allies, such as the witch Paige, who becomes the narrator of later books in the series.

In Broken, Elena has decided not only to stay with Clay, but to have a child with him. She is anxious about the pregnancy, wondering what effect her regular changes into wolf form will have on her developing child. Partly to take her mind off things, she returns to her old stomping grounds in Toronto to fulfil a bargain with the half demon Xavier. She agrees to steal the From Hell letter, allegedly written by Jack the Ripper, in exchange for some information important to the pack. However, things go horribly wrong when Elena's handling of the letter accidentally opens a portal to Victorian London, bringing with it disease, killer rats, restless souls and possibly the Ripper himself.

Reading another book about Elena was like catching up with an old friend and hearing what she has been up to since you saw her last. It is always a pleasure to read about her because she is a strong and independant female who holds her own in a male dominated society, both as a wolf and as a woman. It is easy to be carried along with her hopes and fears regarding impending motherhood. Clay is also an interesting and engaging character, probably more so in this book than in Bitten. Over the course of the three books his motivations have become a bit clearer. His being an anthropologist adds an interesting dimension to him as a person. He is at once fascinated by the human race and apart from it. Jaime, the necromancer, who appears late in this book, also caught my interest. I will now have to go back and read the intervening books to find out more about her.

The werewolf element in the story works well, avoiding making werewolves simply seem superior to humans in every way, as werewolves, vampires and other supernatural creatures are often depicted in fiction. Instead, in Armstrong's books, being a werewolf has a definate downside. The fact that being a werewolf is shown to be extremely inconvenient at times, particularly for Elena, makes the books seem more balanced and realistic.

The plot of this book, throwing together as it does disparate elements such as werewolves, sorcerors and Jack the Ripper, is a bit bizarre, but it works. You just have to suspend disbelief, sit back and enjoy the ride. My only criticism regarding Broken is that I found the plot a little difficult to follow in the last third or so of the book. This could just be me, as I was reading the book late at night after long days at work. A reread may be in order. The conclusion, which I won't spoil for you, has the same kind of realism I have come to expect from Armstrong. The characters don't get let off too easily, and nothing comes without a price.

Broken is a quick read, but its characters will stay with you for quite a while. I recommend it.

The first two chapters of Broken are available for free online at the author's webpage, along with heaps of bonus material, such as the author's commentary on the series, deleted scenes, online novellas and free bookmarks and wallpapers.

2008-09-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

I finally submitted a story for publication yesterday, and now I'm being assailed by doubts as to whether it was any good. There's no point worrying now, of course. Either it is or it isn't. I will try and distract myself by writing something else. Something a little shorter this time, I think, that I can put up somewhere for free as a sample of my work. I'll keep you posted...

More On The Brisbane Writers Festival

2008-09-20T01:42:00.000-07:00

A friend persuaded me to come out to the festival today and I ended up having a great time. I listened to a panel discussion featuring local historical romance authors Anna Campbell, Christine Wells, and Canadian writer Susan Parisi. The latter has written a novel set in 18th century Venice which sounds like very much my sort of book (I'll be off to the bookshop after payday!). The three ladies told some interesting stories about the perils of getting details wrong about historical periods, or conversely doing so much research that you get sidetracked and never finish your novel. I took notes.

I also picked up a membership application for Romance Writers of Australia Inc., who sound like they could be pretty helpful to a new writer like myself. The ladies at their stall gave me some sample newsletters which have some handy writing tips, plus a free Harlequin book by an Aussie author (Miranda Lee). All in all it was a pretty successful day. Now I must get back to my own writing!

2008-09-10T16:15:00.000-07:00

I just saw this in the 'Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal' webcomic. It seemed appropriate:

Romance Novel TV

2008-09-09T03:20:00.000-07:00

I just stumbled on the RomancenovelTV website. There are loads of reviews and author interviews. As if I needed another way to procrastinate!

2008-08-31T16:09:00.000-07:00

I hear the Brisbane Writers Festival is coming up again soon. Some of the 'Fringe' events look like fun. I think I'll go along to a few.

My own writing is still plodding along. A get a bit cagey about telling people about what I'm working on until it's almost finished and I'm at the revising stage. However, I can tell you it's a dark fantasy/erotic romance, specifically a 'were' story (not werewolves, were-something else), and it's gotten a little stranger than I meant it to be. That could be a good thing, I can't tell yet. I'm still trying to think up a title. Sometimes those don't come to me until after I'm finished. Updates to follow once it's a bit more polished.

2008-08-25T05:47:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I really should put something up here to justify the adult content warning. Um... Boobies. Now I need a juvenile content warning. Seriously though, I haven't had any stories, sexy or otherwise, published yet to post about. I will let you know when I do, though it may be a while yet. I'm thinking of sending something to Phaze, which I hope they'll like. We'll see...

2008-08-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

I'm an aspiring author. I write mainly romance and erotica short stories. This blog will chronicle my attempts to get published. Hopefully sooner or later I will have some good news to post. Fingers crossed!