what people are saying about Magic Touch

http://www.romrevtoday.com/Erotic%20Shorts/magic_touch.htm

The new short story

Recipe for Love, is available at Changeling Press. http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=258

It's a short story, a little less than 5000 words, but it's 1.99, so it's a steal. It's about Megan, a magical bakery owner, and the man she finds irresistable. Check it out!

Nope, haven't forgotten

I've just been crazy busy. That time of year, after all. I have a new story coming out over at Changeling Press, www.changelingpress.com. Het, for those interested in my non-male/male stories, and short and sweet. It's called Recipe for Love, so look for it soon.

The Magic Touch has been garnering reviews, so keep an eye peeled her to see more once I get them posted.

On the m/m front, I have a new novel out in April from Torquere, as well as a new Turn of the Screw serial slated to start in um. March I think. Yay.

I've been a busy bee writing shorts, and have had one accpeted for Lipstick on Her Collar, a collection of lesbian shorts due out next fall. I'm excited to be working with these editors again, as they were great to do business with on Rode Hard and Put Away Wet (available from Suspect Thoughts Press)

On the personal front, I'm trying to singlehandedly keep the post office in business, getting all my stuff mailed, and trying to clean out my house for an eventual move. Christmas looms, and I have very little done, but am determined to put up the silly tree this week and dig out the sparklies. I could use a little sparkle, after all.

I got a lovely review

here, look! A lovely review for The Magic Touch

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/November2005/Anita-TheMagicTouch.htm

many thanks to Anita at Fallen Angels Reviews

posting for the ERWF blog circle

Press Release from ERWF Member Kay Derwydd: "Novel Visions" by Kay Derwydd Available at Chippewa Publishing http://www.chippewapublishing.com $2.00

Jonathon Cayle is a horror novelist visiting New Orleans for a two-week long book signing stint. Unhappy with his life back in Atlanta with his girlfriend, he is grateful to be able to explore his preference for men while he’s out of town. What he finds in New Orleans, however, is the last thing he ever expected.

**Excerpt** He sat down on the bed, kicked his boots off, and draped his coat over the end of the bed to let it dry out. The stability of a regular mattress was a welcome relief. He was sick to death of Nadeen's obsession with waterbeds. He switched on the television to the news then began to undress. He only watched the news half-heartedly, feeling a bit out of the loop with the local bits, but he left it on as he went into the bathroom to fill the tub. He had an hour before Jess would be back and a nice soak in hot water would do him some good. As he sank down into the steaming water, he felt calmness sweep over him. Now this was heaven. No Nadeen, no ringing phones, no socialite visitors; just himself, a hot tub, and the decadence of New Orleans right outside his window. With the soothing effects of the water, he was finally able to think about his next book. He was in town to do the signings for The Hart Files, but he knew the plotline demanded another book. Rather, the main character demanded another book. Kain Hart: now there was a man to be reckoned with, and what better place to do a book signing for a vampire novel than New Orleans? Jonathon smiled and closed his eyes; if only Kain Hart were real. He chuckled quietly. If Nadeen knew he lusted after men, she would have a fucking heart attack. Jess knew, however, and she was constantly trying to set him up with some cute guy she knew. Jonathon groaned at the thought of finally touching a man again. The last time he had was nearly a year ago, long before he started dating Nadeen. Within two weeks of the beginning of their relationship, she had made it clear she was not fond of gays and lesbians. Jonathon's heart collapsed in on itself that day, but he stayed with her; only the gods knew why. As the steam wafted up around him and the tub, Jonathon felt himself drift off to sleep several times. If he had more time, he would give in. Every time he did, he was treated to a delicious dream of Kain Hart, his darkly sensual vampire from his latest novel. Oh, if only he were real. With a Kain Hart to keep him company, Jonathon would never return to Atlanta or Nadeen. He could not help but grin at the thought of the socialite bitch's reaction should that happen. So lost he was in his daydream of Kain, he did not hear the knock on his suite door until the person was nearly banging on it. **** http://chippewapublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=65&osCsid=39c41bcf9792a7e07f1c663e8c0f0712

New Single Shot!

from Torquere Press!

Called Partners on the Trail, this one is set in the old west. If you liked Cowboy Up and my story there, well, this one is for you!

www.torquerepress.com

dude

check it out. I got featured in a newsletter!

http://www.laceysavage.com/newsletter.htm

an excerpt from the new book

The Peacock and the Firebird, available from Torquere Press
www.torquerepress.com

Anthony is a maskmaker. Santino is a wealthy modern Venetian who has hired him to make masks for mid-summer. They have a definite attraction, but is it real, or is it an echo of the past?

***

"I am sorry. I think it was more of a rendezvous chamber. A..." he paused, searching for the words. "A love nest."

"Oh."

That caused Antonio to blush, which made Santino smile and move closer, brushing shoulders. "Oh. Yes. I the Lord of the house had liaisons he wanted to keep secret. Will it shock you if I tell you that all of the clothing I found in the trunks here were for men? For many different sizes of men in fact."

"Don't be silly, Santino. I've already opened my fat yap and told you how attractive you are. I think that makes it obvious that I agree with the Lord of the house."

Those fine cheeks were bright red, but Antonio looked at him from under dark lashes, flirtatiously, he thought. Irresistible. Putting an arm around Antonio's waist, Santino turned them both so they faced one another.

"Good. I do as well, you know." He laughed. "Of course you know. I all but admitted I got you tipsy to take advantage of you."

"I wish you had been able to."

Eyes wide, as if he could not believe he said it, Antonio stared at him. So close, those eyes and cheeks and lips, and Santino could not resist kissing them. All of them, pressing light kisses to Antonio's eyes as they closed, one of each cheek, then gnetly on the lips.

Soft and sweet, Antonio's lips, and they opened for him, letting him in. Santino would not resist such an invitation, how could he, and he pushed inside Antonio's mouth with his tongue, tasting wine and heat and spice. Antonio returned the kiss with enthusiasm, hands coming up to hold him in place, aggressive suddenly, pushing against him.

They hit the wall beside the door and the torch in his hand hit the floor, shattering, pieces of plastic scattering wildly. The sound and motion seemed to jolt Antonio, who pulled away, staring at him. Lips swollen, hair mussed, Antonio was the very picture of sudden passion, making Santino's prick throb in his trousers.

"I want you."

"I..." Poor Antonio looked so confused, both aroused and frightened. "I don't do this."

"What?"

"Kiss strange men. Have sex with a client. Any of this."

"But you want to." Please. Please say yes, he thought.

"Yes. Yes I do."

"Thank God."

my second book for the month!

This one from Torquere Press! www.torquerepress.com Look for The Peacock and the Firebird. Yes indeedy a new Rossi novel. If you liked Mysterious Ways, or even if you've never read it, you'll like Peacock. I promise ;)

New Book

Is now available!

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=222

I'll post an excerpt etc soon. Yay!

From the ERWF blog circle

Press release from ERWF member Fiona Glass: 'Elfmeet' by Fiona Glass

Chippewa Publishing LLC http://www.chippewapublishing.com $2.00

New and just released by Chippewa, this is a short fantasy tale about an elf who has grown up believing he is human. His life changes for good the day he runs away from home and meets a real elf in a village inn.

Extract: As they reached the door, the landlord glanced up, and called out in alarm. “Hey, young ‘un, don’t you be going off with the likes of him. One of the fairies, he is, or as near as dammit, and you know what they say about folks what goes with the fairies.” “They say they never come back unchanged,” Jon replied. “But that’s all right, I’m not sure I want to stay the way I am.” With that, he grasped Kes’ hand more tightly and followed him out of the door. The night was cool and clear. A new moon was rising over the village roofs and tiny snowflake stars dusted the sky. As they left the houses behind, the stars grew ever brighter until they filled Jon’s sight, sparkling like jewels against the black cloth of the sky. He breathed deep. “They’re beautiful,” he said. “I never really stopped and looked at them before.” Kes smiled and wrapped an arm around his waist. “Yes, they are beautiful. There are lots of beautiful things in this world that men never take the time to see.” Just past the last straggling buildings, he led Jon along a narrow path and into the woods. It was quiet in here with the deep silence of air that was rarely disturbed, and Jon felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. There was magic in the air, and a faint, silvery music that tinkled in the breeze, and if he wasn’t much mistaken, there were eyes amongst the leaves. “Who are they?” he whispered, holding as close to Kes as he could. “Just the rest of my tribe; don’t worry, they will watch over us and bless our mating,” Kes whispered back. Jon found himself in a clearing full of white flowers and the longest, softest grass he had ever seen. The trees formed a circle; their branches raised high to give a clear view of the sky. The moon had vanished behind some wispy cloud but the stars were still there, larger and more brilliant than ever, forming a vast and glittering necklace around the world. He stood and stared in awe until Kes tugged and he tumbled down amongst the grass stems in a tangled heap of leggings and limbs and hair.

_________________

E-books: One Degree of Separation from http://www.torquerepress.com Elfmeet from http://www.chippewapublishing.com

an ode to cowboys

oh, to see their fresh, clean cut faces under hats, their triangular torsos with the wide shoulders and narrow hips, their tiny butts framed by chaps...

what a wonderful world.

God, I love cowboys.

This rhapsodizing brought to you by the PBR... (www.pbrnow.com)

If you like cowboys, check out Cowboy Up from Torquere Press. It's a fab anthology and I'm more than a little proud of my story in it. (www.torquerepress.com) Also be on the lookout for Partners on the Trail, a new old west single shot from me at Torquere, out this month.

whee

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=222

we have cover art.

Gracious, it's been awhile

Got the first draft of my cover art from Changeling Press. Don't forget that the (really short) het novella, Magic Touch comes out there on November 11. Go, shoo. Go buy it when it comes out.

No word on the story sold to Chippewa. As soon as I know anything, I'll holler.

What else? Look for a new Torquere Press single shot toward the end of November. It's a historical western, and I fell in love with the main characters, especially the narrarator Hank.

I need to get off my duff and clean and all... I had a friend up visiting, and man was that *fun*. Only problem is I get used to being lazy ;)

Watch this space for excerpts

wasted days

where does the weekend go? Why do I write better at my day job?

Lord lord

I need a new hat

something for fall. Maybe something in purple or burgundy red, with big fall flowers or fruit or something. Something outrageous.

I also need to get off my duff and get stuff going again. Progress on the novel goes well, but I have several shorts I need to write. I have no idea when edits on the one story will come in, so I'm just not looking at that right now. I also have another single shot due in I think in January, and I need to get on that. I'm torn between a fantasy piece I have started, a 1920s Egyptiology romp a la my all time favortie author Elizabeth Peters, or a sci fi slave piece.

I also have a BDSM story to work up for Turn of the Screw...

right

back to work

oh and just to see if anyone is reading, the first non-spam comment I receive on this entry will get a free copy of my book, A Gentleman of Substance, out from Torquere Press. It's m/m, post Colonial historical. Feel free to read an excerpt here, first: http://www.torquerepress.com/orders/talbot/jt011/ch01.html

Like I said, no spam. If your comment references any kind of advertisement it will be deleted.

More news

Sold a story to a print anthology called Lipstick on her Collar. Like the tale I have in Rode Hard and Put Away Wet (pimp pimp, find it at Suspect Thoughts Press), it's a lesbian erotica piece. It's not cowgirls this time, though. It's very 40s glamor girl. More on that when I figure out when it will be released next year...

also also

watch this space for news on a short story that will be available as an ebook download from Chippewa Books, also a het romance

ETA

on the magical het romance from Changeling Press, Nov 11.

Yay

Also in November, a new single shot from Torquere called Partners on the Trail. Set in 1880s New Mexico, the story is about cowboys Hank and Jasper, who struggle to deal with falling in love in a world that doesn't accept that at all...

More on the print books

and also other stuff

It's amazing how holding a paperback with your name on the cover makes you squee. I love ebooks, but having the tactile sensation of *my* book is just awe inspiring.

The new het romance from Changeling press (ebook, approx 15000 words) is supposed to come out in November. I haven't seen cover art or gotten an exact date.

The sequel to the book in paperback (which is Jumping Into Things from Torquere Press, available for $13.95 in trade sized paper) is half done. I've decided on a title; I'm calling it Landing with Both Feet. It should be out in the first couple of months of 2006, and I'm thrilled to pieces with how it's going, despite the angst.

Now if I could just hear back on some of the multitude of stories I have out...

falls over

my very first print book is out. Jumping into Things, the bestselling e-book at Torquere Press is now available in trade paper, for 13.95. You have no idea how proud I am, how excited. Go see. go' act="&aff=" rnd="7164495&rrc=" affl="&cip=" pg="cat&ref=">>http://www.torquerepress.com/cgi-bin/ccp51/cp-app.cgi?usr=51F3987158&rnd=7164495&rrc=N&affl=&cip=65.102.246.123&act=&aff=&pg=cat&ref=print">go here

lalala

Cowboy Up, from Torquere Press will be out on the 15th. The anthology rocks the house, and has a story in there by meeee! Ahem. Actually I'm rather proud of Jorge and Pete, so go grab one when it comes out. It also features Sean Micahel, BA Tortua, AM Riley, Parhelion, Chris Owen, and... oh poo. I know there's more. As soon as I look it up I'll edit ;)

so

so, I'm making my daily word goal. Go me. I have a ton of shorts I need to send out, some erotic, some not. I've got two slightly dark, slightly twisted stories that are homeless and I think, well done. But not erotic.

What else. My editor at Changeling seems like a very nice lady. I've been so accustomed to working with the folks at Torquere that I admit I went straight into panic mode when she mentioned re-writes, but I think I'm ready now ;)

Re-writes and I have a love hate relationship. Heaven knows I'm not perfect, but once I'm done with a story, to my mind at least, it's hard to revisit it. I know what happens. The end. It's not that I mind the work. I'm just all about the new and shiny. Gnat on crack, that's me.

Is there anyone out there but the viagra spammers? I've gotten 2 comments in this journal, both spam...

Novelette accepted

Changeling Press has accepted a short novela (about 13000 words) called the Magic Touch. It's het, erotic romance, and very fun magical nonsense. I'll post here when I find out when it's due out, but I'm excited to be working with them!

Of course

Neil Gaiman has better content because people ask him questions...

*chirp* *chirp*

Started on the sequel to Jumping Into Things. (which I originally typed as Jumping Into Thongs, making the characters in that series blush). I'm really pleased with it, despite the fact that it's trying to tear my heart out and stomp that sucker flat.

In other news, I have so many subs out right now that I wish one, just one, would get back to me, good or bad, so I don't feel like they're just floating out there in some weird lost story ether...

Content! they say

So I was reading an article on blogs for authors. Are they a good marketing tool, or a time sucker?

One romance author said they were a complete waste of time. She did much better sending her news to her webmaster and just having them update. Another said her blog made her more accesible to her readers, and she wouldn't give it up for love or money.

I think I fall somewhere in between. I do sometimes have trouble thinking up content. I admit I have a hard time making myself interesting, and I *do* worry about knowing the author making the writing less attractive to the reader.

On the other hand, I am an unrepentant journaler. Paper, electronic, mixed media, I do them all. So it's not like this a hardship. A time dump? Well, maybe. But no more so than anything else I do.

One of my favorite author blogs is Neil Gaiman. He was never one of of my most read until I started reading his blog, but then I started to see his books in a whole new light.

If I can get one person more interested in reading me by giving up a little piece of myself here? Yay. I'm all for it.

from the ERWF blog circle

The Fruity Awards 2006 Erotic Romance Writers International are both pleased and proud to announce their brand new Fruity Awards for published 'queer' erotic romance. Co-sponsored by Forbidden Fruit, the Erotic Romance Writers' Forum and Erotic Romance Reviews for Women, the Awards have been set up as an antidote to certain recent award ceremonies, in an attempt to divert attention and prestige back to the people who deserve it most - the writers.

All e-books published during 2005 are eligible, providing they fall within one of our three categories - male/male, female/female, and pansexual (or 'open queer' which includes but is not limited to bisexual, menage, transgendered, cross dressing and other unusual or experimental forms of queer writing.) Voting is open now at the ERWI's new website at http://www.bysable.com/awards.html .

Nominations can be made until 1 December 2005, at which time the members of the ERWI will choose the most popular books in each category. These will be read by our judges and first, second and third places awarded on the basis of quality of writing and sheer enjoyment. There will also be one overall winner chosen from the top three books in all three categories. The winners will be announced on 1 February 2006.

We do hope you will take the time to nominate your favourite queer erotic romance titles fromm 2005 and look forward to reading the work of some excellent writers.

Sable St Germain, Erotic Romance Writers International
Emily Veinglory, Erotic Romance Writers' Forum
Fiona Glass, Forbidden Fruit Magazine
Delinda Jasper, Erotic Romance Reviews for Women

Congratualtions!

To Taravan and Josie, who won in my Dog Days book giveaway!

Congratulations, folks! Enjoy

Look! I'm in another book!

Shifting Too, edited by Rob KnightDoes a good book bring out the beast in you? Then you’re going to love Shifting Too.

The sequel to the bestselling anthology Shifting, edited by Rob Knight, Shifting Too presents seven new tales of living life on the wild side. Shapeshifters abound in stories by BA Tortuga, Sean Michael and Alex Draven.From the wilds of Alaska to the jungles of India, or even a more urban jungle, these stories are hot enough to satisfy all of our animal urges, and full of enough human emotion to make us fall in love.

Run wild! Pick up Shifting Too today

There's a certain pair of tigers I wrote with sean michael in there. If you've read Shifting and liked Malik and Rishi and Lynn, this is the prequel, or how Malik and Rishi met :D Yay

progress

We have progress folks. Halfway done with two new stories. Trib copies of Rode Hard and Put Away Wet in hand. Postcards from said print book sent to Barnes and Noble, Borders and Hastings. Two more shorts ready to be polished up and submitted to contests.

Right now I'm enjoying the fact that I've gotten into a routine with the writing. Instead of scrambling at deadline time, I'm doing a chunk every day...

Let's see if it holds.

from the Erotica Romance Writer's forum blog circle

by Emily Veinglory:

It’s been a fairly busy month with my new gay western e-novella coming out with Loose-Id:
http://loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=203.

“Richard is worn out, used up, and just plain cynical. Son of a wealthy Bostonian banker, he came west to gamble and carouse when his life fell apart. Though a sensitive and moral man, he finds a reckless life easier to bear—since he has no one to care about and no real hopes for his future.

Brave, beautiful U.S. Marshall Wayne Sneddon wants to change all that. He enlists Richard to help him find and take down a bigwig out to get water rights for himself, regardless of the settlers in the way. In part, Wayne needs help, but more, he wants Richard’s company. In between the shooting, fighting and intrigue, Richard comes to share Wayne’s feelings…but after he finds the courage to share Wayne’s bed, will he find the courage to share his feelings?

Sometimes just about anything is easier than Dealing Straight.”

Excerpt: http://loose-id.com/EVDSex.aspx

Ship of Fools

His voice drew me more than anything. Rough as an oyster shell and deep as the wind off the sea, it shivered me the first time I heard it, goosebumps rising on my skin. They tried to hang him once, in Charles Town, but he was no goose, to be broken and cooked for Sunday supper.

When he touches me, his hands are like driftwood, smooth on the backs, rough like beach sand on the palms and fingers. They're as scarred as his voice, from ropes and sails, from fishing hooks and thieves knives. Now he does the knifing and no one tries to stop him.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, legs like mainmasts, all of these things I know. His hair slips through my fingers like otter's sleek fur. His too long nose and full lips I feel during hard kisses that shake me to my devil-owned soul.
Learning my craft took my sight, the magic leeching it away, but I know him, inside and out. Others fear him for his skill with a sword or his imposing physical presence. I need not see him to be terrified of him, for he has one power no one else holds over me.

He makes me want to be human again.


(This snippet tied for third place in the Dark and Desirable contest from the Erotic Romance Writers Forum) http://veinglory.8.forumer.com/index.php

Mood- Kinda Black

Which is silly. I was in a sunny, hat loving mood today. Even at the day job. But dwelling on things-note how that word sounds like you're in a cave-is a bad thing.

I keep wondering how to quit that pesky day job. Any suggestions aprpeciated. Anyone want to be my patron?

market listing

Torquere Press is pleased to announce a new Single Shot line beginning in 2006 -- Birthstones.
Birthstones will be a sexy, sensual homoerotic series with a birthstone theme completely and solely interpreted by the author (i.e. Using the stone itself, the color of the stone, the mystical meaning of the stone, the area the stone is mined, use your imagination). I'm looking for unique takes on the theme, on interesting characters, hot sex, and attention to relationship.
Guidelines:
- Homoerotica, please. Heterosexual stories will not be considered- 10,000-15,000 words- a flat fee of $28US upon publication- exclusive electronic 2 year contract (your print rights are your own)
The available stones/months are:
January/Garnet -- deadline October 1, 2005February/Amethyst -- deadline November 1, 2005March/Aquamarine -- deadline December 1, 2005May/Emerald -- deadline February 1, 2006June/Pearls -- deadline March 1, 2006
Please email questions and submissions to:submissions@torquerepress.com with Birthstones in the title.
SA ClementsSingle Shots EditorTorquere Presswww.torquerepress.com/

Yeehaw

Rode Hard and Put Away Wet is finally available from Suspect Thoughts! http://www.suspectthoughtspress.com/pressrode.htm

I have a short story in it, titled Sweethearts of the Rodeo, about a pair of rodeo princess candiates. Nice and smutty and hopefully fairly authentic cowgirl ;) (The editors thoguht so).

I eagerly await my trib copies. (Someday I'll write about how long it took me to connect trib with its word origin. Duh) Go buy it :D Right now it's 12.00 on the website, as opposed to 16.95. :D

Close

Getting close to getting Peacock done. Oh yes I am. Then editing, book reviews and other various deadlines... ack

Trying to sort out

I have so many ideas. So many snippets of stories. I have a deadline to meet right now, and I'm pretty confident I will, but from there I'm not sure where to go.

I would love to get out from under the day job. So I have to decide if I want to concentrate on getting more pub creds or doing longer stories that will start to really bring in royalties...

I'm not a good decision maker. I fret and fuss.

But something is bound to break soon, so I need a *plan* darn it.

Hats and other oddities

My new straw cowboy hat looked better on my neice than it does on me...

I won Best Original Content in the Logical Lust Flash Fiction contest. No link yet, as they just notified. They said it will be up at the end of the month. Go me/ Not bad for 250 words.

from the ERWA Blog circle

an Excerpt from Ally Blue

Title: Forgotten Song Genre:
Contemporary, Non-traditional sexualities
Author: Ally Blue
Author URL: http://www.allyblue.com/
Release date: "soon"
Publisher: Loose Id Publisher URL: http://www.loose-id.com/

The sun was in my eyes when I woke the next morning. I pulled the pillow over my head and tried to remember why the hell I was on the floor. Then I heard the toilet flush, and everything came back. I sat up just as the bathroom door opened.
“Hi,” I said as Eric shuffled back to the bed and plopped down. “How are you feeling?”

He shrugged. “Okay, I guess. Little bit of a headache, but it’s not too bad. I look like I got hit by a train though.”

I grinned. He did look banged up. A big, ugly black and purple bruise spread from under the bandage on the left side of his forehead to cover part of his cheek, and his eye was swollen. The blood on the bandage had dried to a deep reddish brown.

“That is a nasty bruise, isn’t it? But at least the cut’s stopped bleeding.”

He nodded. “Yeah. Hey, Ben, would it be okay if I use your shower?”

“Oh, sure, there’s clean towels in there on the shelf.”

“Thanks.” He stood and stretched and my brain promptly stopped working. Jesus, his body was perfect. Okay, nearly perfect. I got a better look at the scars this time, and my mouth went dry. A long, thin pink line, obviously from some kind of surgery, started just under his ribs and ran down the middle of his abdomen until it disappeared under the edge of his underwear. Several small round scars dotted his belly, and one larger than the rest puckered the skin on one side of his ribcage. But the one that caught the eye cut a long, wide, jagged path halfway across his stomach. I couldn’t even imagine what could’ve made a scar like that, or the amount of pain that must’ve gone with it.

“Did you get a good enough look?” Eric’s voice dripped with anger, and I realized I was staring.

“Shit, I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well. Not too pretty, are they?” I looked up at his face and caught a glimpse of a hurt so deep that it made me ache to see it. Then the tough-guy mask was back in place and the pain was gone like it had never been there. I knew what I’d seen, though, and I swore to myself right then to help him heal whatever wounds he still had.

up on the soapbox once more - an editorial

I work in a library. Bear with me, I can see your eyes glazing over, but there is a point here.

I am not a librarian. I have not earned the right to call myself that by going to grad school and having my brain replaced with that of an alien. I am what they (and by they I do mean the librarians, no offense to any present) call a "para"professional. Meaning since I did not go and learn how to catalog my fabric scraps I am not a professional at my job, even though not one "professional" librarian in my library can check out a book. Yay for double standards.

What does this have to do with writing? Specifically with writing erotic romance and erotica?

The same double standard applies. If you like sex, you'e somehow less literary. If your erotic (note...erotic) books have a lot of racy, raunchy scenes, you're less than acceptable in polite company, you don't rate a review on the big dogs' sites, and other people who purport to be erotica writers call your work less than complimentary things. (Like oh, trash, wretched, too light on plot, despite the fact that your test readers found it angsty enough to *cry* over it.)

So what is it? Is it latent puritanism? Is it just that some people should be writing traditional romance rather than erotica, but have found that the addition of gay love pushes them out of that market? Or do I have a fundamental misunderstanding of erotic?

No, not all of my favorite erotic readings are explicit. But I don't see why expicitness, as long as it's well done, can't be literate.

One More down

Finished my new novella for the Torquere Press Turn of the Screw line, called Masque, and it's off to edits tomorrow. Go me for hitting my deadline.

I like it, even if I think it needs a little more detail here and there. Luckily the editor on this one knows my style well enough to help me out.

I have another deadline looming, and naturally those are not the characters talking...

In it for the love

What is it about making your first sale that makes a writer suddenly have stars in their eyes? There was a time when I would take any kind of pub credit, even if it was non-paying. (Okay, I still do, but bear with me.) I know a lot of writers who did the same thing. We all started out in this very small community called gay erotica at the same time, all mucking away at making a name for ourselves, insanely grateful if anyone would look twice at us.

So where did that joy go? When did it get to be a game of "I was robbed!" and "They don't pay enough."? Sure, I'd love to quit my dayjob and go full time writing. Who wouldn't? But when did writing for the love stop being a priority?

Or maybe for some people it was never one to begin with.

I, for one, am grateful to the small presses, websites, and e-zines that have given me my start. And I will continue to send them my writing, because I feel like they're the ones who are really changing the face of erotic romance today.

If I can get big money somewhere, that's great. But there's still enough love in me to support the people who helped me get there, and be proud of what *they* do for *me*.

Dog Days of Summer

As summer blisters into July and August, our thoughts turn to...dogs? Well dog days anyway. So what better way to celebrate those long, hot days and lazy summer nights than with a little contest? Author Julia Talbot has a great love for dogs as characters in their own right, and in two of her releases from Torquere Press they play a big roll.

So in honor of the heat, and the love of wagging tails and drooling tongues she's giving away a copy of each. Jumping Into Things is a double novella featuring a pair of brothers who both find love in unexpected places. Jed and Ross are as rugged as the Western Colorado landscape they come from,and just and stubborn. Good thing their new loves are patient men.

Love Dot Com is a Torquere Single Shot, longer than a short story, shorter than a novel, about two computer geeks who find love and companionship online.

Register to win one of these ebooks by emailing Julia at juliatalbot@gmail.com . Put Contest entry in the subject line and give her your name, email address and a statement that you are over 18.

Sign up to win today!(Must be 18 to enter. Winner will be chosen by random drawing August 15, 2005)

getting close

to finishing the new Turn of the Screw for Torquere Press

woo!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

deadlines

eek.

Grins. It's silly, but man it's hard to get motivated when it's gorgeous outside.

ERWF Memeber press release

ERWF Press Release from Member Fiona Glass Want the chance to win a $20 cash prize, *and* read a good book? Then why not pop along to Fiona's website
( http://www.tavaran.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/fionaglass/news.htm ) for details of the free treasure-hunt competition she's running to coincide with the launch of her e-book from Torquere Press? 'One Degree of Separation' is a collection of eight poignant gay love stories featuring men from all walks of life - journalists and gypsies, humans, vampires and aliens, even a prisoner or two - all of whom have fallen in love. All you need to do is answer the five simple questions on the site, email your answers to Fiona by 15 June 2005 and all correct entries received by that date will be entered into a prize draw, the winner to receive a $20 cash prize! Of course there's always a catch and in this case you need to have read the book before you can answer the questions. But as it's available from Torquere Press ( http://www.torquerepress.com ) for only $4.95, and as it's a really great read, that doesn't seem like too much of a hardship! Good luck, have fun, and no cheating!

look! my own press release

ERWF Press Release from Member Julia Talbot

Author Julia Talbot's greatest passions run to food, hats, history and cowboys. Two of the four are represented in her new releases for June 2005. From Torquere Press comes a Screwdriver imprint novel titled Post Obsessions, a Georgian era tale of lust and need that begins with a series of steamy letters and ends with an abiding love. Something about powdered wigs and tight pants makes that era one to really sink your erotic sweet tooth into. Maybe it's the intrigue. Or maybe it just feeds the men who aren't afraid to wear make-up fetish.

The cowboy obsession comes out in short story featured in Rode Hard and Put Away Wet, an anthology of lesbian cowboy tales from Suspect Thoughts Press. Edited by Rakelle Valencia and Sacchi Green, the anthology is sure to please anyone who likes their women rough and tough and unafraid of hard work. Julia's story, titled Sweethearts of the Rodeo, is all about vicious competition in the world of a rodeo princess.

Both books have scheduled release dates of June 15, 2005. Post Obsessions will be available in ebook format for $2.99. Rode Hard will come out in trade paperback for $16.95. Help Julia feed the food and hat collections and check them out!

From the Erotic Romance Writer's Forum

A press release for the blog circle there. Written by Emily Veinglory.

ERWF Press Release: ‘Dark Erotica’ is not a phrase that immediately makes a lot of sense. After all erotica is ‘come hither’ and dark implies ‘run, run for your lives!’ However on some strange and visceral level there is a peculiar similarity between lust and fear, And there is no doubt that a blending of the two is easily found from the ‘holy dread’ described in the classic poem ‘Kubla Khan’ to Anita Blake’s love triangle with a werewolf and a vampire lord. Logical Lust, an e-publisher of diverse erotica, is the last to mine this rich seam. ‘Eternally Noir’ is a dark erotica anthology including sixteen stories including a startling variety of ideas and sexualities. The stories range from openly amusing to genuinely spooky and are, in my entirely biased opinion, well worth the $3.95: http://www.eternallyerotic.com/eternallynoir.html

bites nails

about a million contests just came due and we should be hearing soon. Apparently Rode Hard from Suspect Thoughts is not due out until the 15th. POKES them.

Also on the 15th, I have a Screwdriver coming out from Torquere called Post Obsessions.

Ack.

Deadlines loom.

New Stuff

Not so much from me, though I am blazing along on a couple of new stories and have sent out submissions on two anthologies.

But the contest entires are up for the DIY contest at Torquere Press, and there's some blazing stories about folks taking themselves in hand, if you get me. Find them here: http://www.torquerepress.com/contest/index.html

What else? I got another new hat, this one a simple straw roper cowboy hat, the kind so popular right now with the skinny, belly baring girls, but it looks fab on me too...

ramble ramble

So.

Yeah.

Okay, so I'm waiting impatiently for Suspect Thoughts Press to put out Rode Hard and Put Away Wet, a lesbian cowboy compilation that I have a story in. Why you ask? It's print! And I'm in it! And I get copies!

Ahem.

I also got a new hat. Embroidered straw with wooden cherries. It's horrid. I love it. If I ever find my @#&% camera, I'll put up a picture.

tomorrow there's an author chat over at Torquere Press. http://www.torquerepress.com/chatschedule.html

It's not me, it's a lady named Will Okati, but I hope to hop in if anyone wants to come say hi.

New Stuff

Yep. New Stuff over at Torquere Press. http://www.torquerepress.com

A new Screwdriver novel, Wheel of Fortune, about a scribe and a young mute in Renaissance Venice.

And a new Single Shot. Thrust and Riposte, about early 1800s fencers

Just a note

First post in a new blog! Ahem. Yes, well, I love journals, and I decided I needed one I could link to my writing website. So welcome. This is where I ramble about the writing.

Too start off, how about http://www.justusroux.com/guest_writers.htm where if you can find my story Cold Weather Survival Guide.