The Art of Teasing

A little while back, this beautiful specimen inspired me.



I wrote The Art of Teasing, a short m/m story available for free on Goodreads.

BTW, the photo is from the lovely and talented Dan Skinner, whose work you can find on Facebook and deviantART.

Rainbow Briefs - a gift

I don't often talk about why I write male/male romance. It's a bit of a convoluted subject for me. I suppose the best way I can explain it is to connect my journey as a writer with my discoveries about my sexuality. Looking back, I always assumed I would end up married to a man, have children with him and be happy with the existence I was taught was “normal” growing up. But I've always been attracted to women. Even as a little girl, though I dismissed it then as just acknowledging that other girls are “pretty.” As I got older, I realized there was more to my feelings with regards to some women. I'm not a fan of labels, but for those who are, they would consider me bisexual. I've never considered coming out, because as far as I am concerned, to my friends I am an open book and always have been.

Being able to talk about it is still something of an issue for me. When I spend time with members of the GLBT community in my hometown, I get the impression everyone either assumes I'm a lesbian or a hetero supporter of the community. I don't correct anyone's assumptions, because I often feel like I'm being nitpicky in emphasizing that I'm attracted to the person and not their parts. I suppose part of it is the stigma that comes with bisexuality. The urging to “pick a side” or the idea that I'm only claiming it because I'm at an experimental time in my life and I'll settle down with a man once I get it out of my system.

So, I don't talk about it. Not frequently, anyway. A few years ago, I started to get involved with my local GLBT community. First, I attended a Rally for Equality. The outpouring of love and community support I felt that day moved something inside me and I wanted more. Later that year, I volunteered for the Queer Power March. I think that experience cemented something for me. I had been so cut off from the people around me, from the sense of belonging I could have, without knowing it. In the years that have followed, I've volunteered for my local Pride organization and that sense of belonging and community has only grown stronger.

When I wrote and published my first gay romance novel, I still felt a little cut off from my community, though I was just becoming aware how much I was missing. I began talking to people online, spending more time with community members outside of big yearly events, getting to know how people were different from media portrayals of marches and rallies. I began to embrace individuals rather than ideas. I put what I've learned and what I love into my stories.

The last few years have been a revelation for me. Connecting with people in a way that I couldn't before, I have come to appreciate my community as a source of love and support. I have come to feel the way we rally to each other's sides – in spirit if not in person. When the It Gets Better Project began, I cried over each video, because that was the kind of outreach I wish I'd had when I was younger. I had the feeling it would be a valuable resource for years to come.

When Kaje Harper told me she had a group of Young Adult stories and was toying with the idea of putting them into book form under her other pen name, I was excited. I've been touched by her work so many times and I had the same sense I got from It Gets Better – that the full scope of what could be accomplished would be so much bigger than either of us imagined. So, I urged her to publish it. I found a collection of her stories in the Young Adult GLBT Books Group at Goodreads and formatted them into an ebook-ready doc, hoping she would take it seriously as something that would be rather than could be.

Then, I waited.

A few months later, she contacted me to tell me the book was a go. She'd rewritten several of the stories and added new ones to round out the collection. When Kaje emailed me the draft of the ebook, I sat down to read the stories and something came over me. I smiled. I laughed. I cried. And I got a good feeling. The feeling that people reading these stories would be touched, would feel loved, would know there was a bigger message, a greater purpose, a worldwide community that loved them, just because. As we worked on editing the stories and getting the book ready for publication, that sense we were doing something greater than merely putting out a collection of short stories grew until the book took its final shape.

Rainbow Briefs is finally ready.

It has felt like a long time coming. From April 14th, when I first suggested it, until November 2^nd . It feels like a lifetime. I don't know if everyone will get what I get from reading these stories. I don't know if everyone will feel the love and support behind the words, the meaning behind the broader messages, but I hope someone does. If just one person feels more loved, more accepted, more hope for a brighter future, all of the work we put into the book will be worth it.

I find it difficult to put into words just how much this collection of stories means to me, but I hope you've gotten a sense of it today. I am so proud to have been a part of publishing Rainbow Briefs and I'm ecstatic that I get to share it with you. The best part of all? The ebook is free. Go to your local retailer – Amazon*, All Romance Ebooks, Smashwords, Goodreads, and others – and download the book. Share the links with your friends, your family, someone you know could use an uplifting message. Help us bring this gift to the community. And please, leave a review. Let the author know how much you appreciate her effort. I, for one, will not be able to thank her enough.

*A note. Because the book cannot be listed as free on Amazon, it will be 99 cents until enough people vote that it's available for free elsewhere. All author proceeds from the sales will be donated to The Trevor Project. There is also a paperback version of Rainbow Briefs available on Amazon and CreateSpace. The author will not be taking a commission from those sales.

my year in retrospect

It's been an interesting year for me. I've done less writing this year than last year, but I feel like I got more accomplished. I finally got a game plan for my Savannah series nailed down. Sort of gave up on my writing/critique group (though I have hopes it could come back). And I published my favorite story.

I know, I know. Any writers who are reading this are probably screaming that I can never pick a favorite one. It's like telling my other babies they are unloved. Well, maybe. It's not that I love it more than my other stories, it's just my current favorite. It's the one I put the most blood and tears into this year. It's the one I drove myself crazy getting as close to perfect as I could. And it also got the least attention. (Cue the whining about underrated artistry or something along those lines.)

That's probably my fault. Because an early (shorter) version of The Strength of a Man was available last year, I didn't do a huge promo push when I released the full version on ebook and paperback. And I meant to take out some advertising and do some giveaways, but I got caught up with other things. One of the drawbacks to self-publishing is that I have to manage my time between writing and promoting - social networking can be a gift and a curse. But I love this book and I want more people to read it.

So, this is it. I've decided to give away as many copies as I can between now and Christmas day. My baby is now my gift to you and whoever you choose to share the links with: Smashwords (use code RR73V) and All Romance Ebooks.

Next year, I hope to get a lot more done, both in number of stories published and in feeling more accomplished. In the meantime, I think I'm growing as a writer with every new story. I hope you will take that journey with me.

BTW, if any of you are stuck for ideas for Christmas gifts, honest reviews are my favorite gift.

Six Sentence Sunday - Aug 26th

It's that time again! Six sentences from my novella, The Strength of a Man.

“You sure?”

“Just touch me already!”

James's laugh was smothered as Kurt kissed him again, pushing him back onto the bed. Kurt held James's head in place with a shaking hand, his kisses going from pushy to soft in the amount of time it took James to run his hand up the back of Kurt's jeans to the bit of skin bared by the back of his shirt. Kurt slowed the kiss until it was nothing more than torturous little pecks, soft bits of himself he shared with James, a little flick of his tongue, a pant of hot breath across his cheek, the slide of lips against stubble and hot skin.

James ran his hand up Kurt's back and Kurt arched into the touch like a preening cat, his lips breaking contact with James long enough to whisper, “Tell me how much you want me.”

For today only, you can download the novella for free from Smashwords. Use code: KE44U at checkout.

new stuff and free stuff and linky stuff

Yeah, I keep meaning to update my blog, but...I'm saving my words for my stories. Yeah, I know that's not an excuse. Well, it is, but not a good one.

Anyway, what am I doing now? Getting ready to release another erotic short story. Yeah, I've been doing quite a few shorts the last year or so, but my longer projects are in various stages of completion so I like to stay busy with the short stuff in the meantime. This story is a (much better) rewritten version of something I published in 2006. I'm really excited about 1. because it's smoking hot! and 2. because it's the first male/female story I've put out since...I'm not even going to guess what year that was. It's fun to get back to where I started, writing male/female erotic romance. I'm looking forward to seeing what people will think of it.

Speaking of awesome, people are actually responding to See Right Through on Amazon. I've gotten a couple of amazing reviews (yay) and it's being downloaded a LOT. If you're curious, you can get the novella for free from there, Goodreads, Smashwords and a number of other sites. Because it's free, you don't have to register an account to download it from Goodreads or Smashwords, but you do need an account to leave a review.

Want to help a great cause? Try GoodSearch. For every legitimate search you conduct, you can raise money for the charity of your choice. I use my account to benefit The Office of Letters and Light - the nonprofit behind ScriptFrenzy, NaNoWriMo and a number of programs for young writers. If you'd like to help them, you can use my link or register an account, find their name on the list of charities and make sure your efforts go towards helping them. The search engine is pretty effective and it's an easy way to help a charity that you can do every day.

See Right Through - free novella

My story for the M/M Romance Group's Love is Always Write Event is up. Click here to read See Right Through if you're a member of the group (and to read tons of other great, free stories). You can also download the novella from the book's page at Goodreads (you don't have to be a member), All Romance Ebooks and Smashwords.

Devin Salvo has always remained three steps ahead: in chess, on the pitch, and in his love life. His every desire is within arm's reach, except the one person Devin has always wished would be his in the end. All it takes is one conversation to open his eyes to a new possibility, one moment to change what Devin believes about friendship and love and one person to change the rules of the game.

Sam Marshall has been fighting his feelings for his friend and roommate for two years. When an opportunity presents itself, he makes his move, only to be faced with the very real fear that what he sees in Devin, the potential waiting to be realized, may be more than their friendship can handle.

a little tease

 Here's an excerpt from my upcoming story, See Right Through:

Sam watched Devin move another piece and then quickly moved his knight, taking it. “I want to know what part of this you have a bigger problem with. Call it curiosity on my part.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Sam began, “is your issue that Mike and I have talked about you a few times?”

Now it was a few times? Devin frowned.

“Are you bothered because he says he could see us together? Or is there something else?”

Sam's voice had grown quieter with that last question. Devin looked up from the board to see something he'd never thought he'd see from Sam. An expression that, on anyone else, would've been more than curious. It was open, vulnerable. A naked longing that disappeared as soon as Devin was sure he knew what it was, to be replaced by Sam pressing his lips together and looking down at the board again.

Wow. Okay. That made this conversation a hell of a lot more interesting. Maybe Sam had spent so much time analyzing Devin because he wanted to know if he had a chance. Devin wasn't sure how he felt about that.

“I'm not in love with the idea that you guys have talked about me,” Devin said. “It's strange.”

“I'm sorry our conversation made you feel that way,” Sam said. “I honestly wouldn't have said anything if you didn't want to know.”

“I know, I asked for it,” Devin responded. “About...us.” Dev looked up in time to see Sam's expression change before the mask slid back into place. “You don't think it's weird?”

Sam's lips trembled as he fought down a smile. “I think,” he began, reaching across the table, “life is full of possibilities.” He touched the back of Devin's hand with the tips of his fingers, gently stroking the skin. “If this isn't one you want to take advantage of, then you shouldn't feel pressured to do so.”

It wasn't Devin's imagination that the temperature in the room had risen. It was one thing when Sam was getting into his head on a purely academic level. It was another thing when Sam looked at him from beneath thick lashes as if he could unravel Devin from the inside out if given half the chance. And he so wanted that chance.

I may be getting my sanity back soon

I'll have to check with my muse, but I might be getting my sanity back sometime soon. (Or, some of it, anyway. I don't think I'll ever get it all back.) The extended version of  my short story, Starting Over, is finally finished. Again. Probably. Hopefully. Waiting to hear back from someone (and debating asking three more people to read it), but I think I've done it! Of course, I'm still high from the adrenaline rush from finishing yesterday, so I might go back and rewrite the last ten pages again in a fit of panic. Or not, if I can talk myself out of it.

Hopefully, it'll be out sometime in the next couple of weeks. I'm also trying to come up with a different title (since it is a very different story) and trying to work out the kinks in the book cover design. It'll come along, I'm sure.

In other exciting news, I did finish my cover for See Right Through. Isn't he beautiful?

 I can't wait until the story is posted at Goodreads. Only [censored] more days!

Free short story

My free short story, True Purpose, is now available at Smashwords and Goodreads.

Blurb:

Caught alone on a dark night, one man reflects on his past mistakes as he feels his life quickly coming to an end. Will one young woman be able to save him and herself from an uncertain fate as their paths and purpose become one and the same?

Love is Always Write

The Love is Always Write event has begun at the M/M Romance group at Goodreads. Six fantastic FREE stories have already been posted. The event will continue for most of the summer. No word yet on whether there will be free anthologies available, but if you'd like to read the stories, pop over to Goodreads.com and join the group (adults only, please).

Once you're a member, the Love is Always Write stories are being posted here, every day.

new series coming soon!

The Love is Always Write event by the M/M Romance group at Goodreads is almost upon us. I'm so excited, I can barely type. Why yes, since you ask, my story for the group is a large part of the reason I have disappeared from my blog lately. I rewrote about a third of my story twice and figured out how to tie it into an existing series I've been working on sporadically for over a year. Now? Now, the first (FREE!) story is going to be published soon (between the 15th of May and the end of July) and the pressure's on to finish the second story and really get the ball rolling. Also, I'm still working on the extended version of Starting Over, my free novella from last year's event.

What did I have for inspiration this year? A great photo chosen by one of the moderators of the group and this fantastic prompt by member Ami.

 

Dear Author,

See him? The one in the bottom of the pile? That’s me, Michael. And those two are my best friends, Dev and Sammy. My gay best-friends. I’m straight, by the way. I wholeheartedly love women. It’s just my fate that I have two gays as best-friends.

The trouble is, I KNOW that they are both crushing on me. That somehow they both wish I’m theirs. But what Dev and Sammy don’t realize, they’re actually perfect for one another. Now I just need help to make them see what everyone else see.

Sweet, right? I hope I did the prompt justice. I had so many ideas just from the first part of the prompt that I could barely get them down before I was swept in another direction. Ultimately, I went with something sweet and sexy with just a hint of southern spice, the perfect first story in my new Savannah series. Here's a taste of See Right Through:

Michael lifted two large pizzas in one hand. “Grabbed lunch. You guys hungry?”

Dev nodded, never taking his eyes off Michael. With six foot three inches of solid muscle and a smile that put the sun to shame, it wasn't difficult for anyone to figure out why his best friend was an occasional distraction. Whenever he walked into a room, Dev had trouble remembering his own name, never mind the best way to protect his queen from Sam's watchful gaze. All the attention was pointless, though. It didn't matter how many pointed looks he gave or the not-so-subtle flirting he did, he couldn't change the fact that Michael was straight. That didn't stop him from wishing for a sudden change of heart.

“Always. Just let us finish this game,” Sam said, drawing Dev's attention back to him and their game.

“Do you know if Lee's home?” Michael asked. “I was hoping we could play a pick up game after lunch.”

“He's not,” Sam said.

“We can still do that,” Dev said, his attention once again diverted. A chance to get Michael into some shorts and an excuse to tackle him repeatedly? Count him in.

“Granted, we've played rugby with four of us, but I don't think even we could pull off a three person game. One on one with a referee?” Michael asked.

“Two against one sounds better,” Sam suggested. He grinned, his expression turning lecherous as he eyed their roommate. Michael blushed and backed away a step, pizza held in front of him like a shield.

“I don't think two against one would be quite fair,” he said.

“I think you're big enough to handle both of us,” Dev put in. “I'd certainly be willing to give it a shot.”

“We promise it won't hurt,” Sam said.

“Speak for yourself,” Dev added.

Flash Me: Touch

The wind blows through his hair, tousling the soft brown strands as he turns to me. My smile is automatic. I reach up to brush a curl out of his eye.

“You were right,” I said. “It is a beautiful day. I'm glad we did this.”

Another couple passes us as we continue our stroll. The woman smiles and nods as she notices our joined hands.

“I think we should get married in the fall. Here in the park.” Where the world can watch.

He plucks a leaf from my hair, his hand lingering. “I agree.”

Flash Me: First

I stopped breathing.

It wasn't the touch of his lips that did it. It was the deliberate way he ran his hand through my hair, gripped the back of my neck and pulled me close. It was the way he licked his lips as he looked into my eyes, into me, and smiled a little at what he saw. When he leaned close, my heart pounded. I molded myself to him, taking his heat. When our lips touched, I knew I was home. Complete. Loved.

He kissed me as if he never wanted to let go. I won't let him.

Review: Something Sweet by Megan Derr

Don't have a lot to say about this except to note that I couldn't stop saying "awwwww" throughout the story. It's been a while since I've come across a story I liked that much. I especially love that it's light on the sexy stuff, but I was still glued to the proverbial page. Adorable story and so sweet it gave me a toothache.

Did I mention it's free?

Flash Me: Friends and Lovers

Today's flash fiction comes in the form of an outtake from my upcoming online serial. Anyone who has read my short story First Impression will recognize David. The other person is his band mate Eli, pictured.

Eli couldn't meet my eyes. There was so much emotion on his face—jealousy was at the forefront. But there was something else. Resentment? I knew he liked Damon, we all do, but I never thought he'd take the whole thing so personally.

“I'm glad you were able to do this for us,” he said after a long silence.

Read: Use my “talents” to get us a gig opening for our favorite band. Somehow I don't think “thank you” will be on Eli's list of things to say when he knows the whole truth. Maybe he already does.

Flash Me: Inspired

I'm still working on the extended version of my short story, Starting Over, but I've got a little flash fiction that's an outtake from the longer story. Enjoy.

“Tease.”

“Yes.”

That little grin from Kurt would've inspired him to take over on any other day, but James held back. He wanted to see what Kurt was going to do. He was the novice after all. How much could he—

“Holy hell.” Kurt flicked his tongue again and James whimpered. His hips bucked.

“I guess you liked that.” Warm breath against his thigh. Higher. James felt the soft trace of that wicked tongue along his length. Then teeth, just gentle enough for him to feel it. And lose control. The kid had been taking notes.





___________
Photo © Les3photo8 | Dreamstime.com

Flash Me: After Work

I want him to fuck me over the leather chair.

There's no doubt as to why. I imagine the feel of the soft leather brushing against the front of my body every time he moves contrasted with the brush of hair and warm skin and hard muscle against my ass—I can almost come just from imagining the sensory overload.

I'll grip the back of the chair as he pushes into me. The fabric will creak and I'll inhale the sweet odor of old cologne and cigars as he pushes my legs further apart and runs his fingers through my hair.











___________________
Photo © Baloncici | Dreamstime.com

new free anthology

Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Three is now available for download from All Romance Ebooks. This volume features stories from 27 authors, including yours truly. You can also get the stories in multiple formats from Goodreads.

Flash Me: Lick

“Mm.”

There was a sharp intake of breath and then a long sigh. Goosebumps sprang along his arms, but he didn't move. Didn't dare. Slowly, inch by inch, David relaxed onto the bed. He closed his eyes. The weight against his back shifted, hard and sticky against soft and yielding. Luke's tongue touched the spot between his shoulder blades again and he shuddered. His nipples tightened to stiff peaks against the soft cotton sheets.

Luke shifted again. His hand met David's hip, moved to cup the warm flesh rounded under his belly.

“How hard do you want it?”

Flash Me: The Stranger

He masks his interest behind a cup of coffee, an adequate prop. I smile and keep my eyes on my Kindle. I can't tell if his eyes are hazel or brown from here, but lord, he has the sweetest smile—perfect teeth and dimples get me every time.

I don't care what's happening in Coda—I could be reading about changes to the tax code for all the interest it holds now. Before I can panic and talk myself out of looking again, I hear a throat clearing above me.

I look up. He smiles.

Oh hell. I never stood a chance.



___

Photo © Hurricanehank | Dreamstime.com