As the Beatles Sang...

I think I'm gonna be sad...

NOT!!! Ticket to Ride is done!

For all intents and purposes anyway. I sent off the last chapter for review by Ms. Ava March and I have some forms to do for Amber Quill, but I am intending to send it off to the powers that be tomorrow.

What a relief! I can't believe I finished it by the deadline of September 01.

I am ridiculously happy to have finished another one. The release date is December 13, 2009

Of course on another note, I lost a follower so I am gonna be sad after all, :(
Ah, well, all is well in Shawn Lane land especially since Handsome Jack is now following me.

Sunday's Are Eye Candy Day

New Feature. Every Sunday, I will post some pretty boys. I loved this one so much I made it my avatar on Goodreads. Enjoy.

Friday Excerpt

Later in September (09/19/09), Sweet Reunion will be released from Amber Quill. Now it is too early to begin any sort of giveaway, but I thought I'd put a little teaser on here today for the book.

“I’ve got her settled in for the night,” Jason announced to him later that night after they’d eaten and done the dishes. They stood on the front porch, gazing up at the stars and the rolling waves of the ocean.

“You’re so gentle and kind with her, Jason. I’m really impressed.”

“Well, she is my mother.”Danny nodded. “Yeah, but I know lots of guys who wouldn’t be so forgiving as you.”

Jason exhaled. “It’s not been easy. Do I wish she’d done more to stand up for me and be a part of my life? Sure. But she was a victim of him too, and it’s hard to hate her, especially now.”

“I feel the same way. She’s so weak and frail. I just…wish someone in your family besides Kent had been on your side. You know? I know it would have been hard for her to leave him and take you all somewhere safe. Hell, if she had done that, you would have been gone out of my life so much sooner. It’s just I wanted you to have a family like mine. My mother and grandfather were so great to me, I wish you could have had that.”

“I know,” Jason said softly. “And I was such an ass to you.”

“Nah.”

“Yeah. I couldn’t wait to get away from Sutter’s Bay and everything to do with it because of my dad.” Jason grasped Danny’s hand and threaded his fingers with Danny’s. “Only that meant getting away from you, too. I thought that was what I wanted. What I needed.”

“It’s okay, Jason.”He shook his head. “No, it wasn’t. God, Danny, how can you just stand here and be so casual about this? Act like it was nothing. We were everything to each other. Best friends, first lovers. I just threw that away.”

Danny looked away and bit his lip. “What do you want me to say, Jason? That it hurt me? Okay. It did. I was devastated. You ripped my heart into shreds. Happy?”

Jason gripped Danny’s upper arms tightly. “No,” he whispered.

Jason pulled Danny closer, brushing his lips over the other man’s in a light, almost hesitant kiss.Danny whimpered and pushed himself closer still to Jason, their bodies melding together. He forced his tongue into Jason’s mouth. He tasted of the orange spice tea he’d been drinking. Danny slipped his hands down to cup Jason’s ass, pressing their jean covered erections together.The screech of a bat directly over their heads broke them apart, reminding them they were outside on the front porch.Danny smiled and stroked his thumb over Jason’s bottom lip.

“I better go home.”Jason sucked on his thumb. “I have a better idea. Want to walk to the beach? To our special place?”

Danny’s stomach fluttered with excitement. He glanced back toward the house. “Do you think we can?”

“Yeah, hold on, I’ll go tell her we’re going to go for a walk.” Jason went back inside.

Danny walked down to the end of the driveway. There was a cool breeze coming off the ocean and he was glad he’d thought to grab his windbreaker before he left his house.

Jason came back outside pulling a sweatshirt over his head. He smiled. “Okay, let’s go.”

Changing Gears On a Story

So I was reading a fellow writer's blog this morning (http://devonrhodes.blogspot.com) where she mentioned that she is changing the characters/direction of a story she had started for submission for a holiday themed story. In fact, Devon instant messaged me last night while I was on line to ask me what I thought.

Originally, she had thought to make this holiday story the romance of one of her secondary characters from her soon-to-be published story, Remarkable Restraint. But as she got into writing it and the character (Andy) she decided Andy deserved more to his story then the short little holiday romance she was writing. Ultimately, as I read in her blog today, she has decided to take Andy out of the holiday story and make it two other new characters so she can give them their cute little tale and concentrate more fully on Andy's HEA in the future.

I had a similar experience recently. When I began The Best Gift (my own holiday themed story), it was NOT a holiday themed story. Dustin and Malcolm were supposed to be the heroes in Ticket to Ride (my song-titled themed story for Amber Quill). But as I was beginning their story it simply didn't feel right for the characters. What I had happening to Malcolm was not working in my opinion.

And then, I saw the Nelson Brothers (Ricky's sons) at the airport and got an idea for Chad Storm, a singer of a formerly famous rock band, and the murder of his ex-boyfriend, and the cop, Jack, who catches the case. They seemed much better for Ticket to Ride and so I wrote their story for that title (and am getting SO close to having it finished).

But this left poor Dustin and Malcolm out in the cold. My dear CP, Ava March, liked this couple and encouraged me to come up with something new for them, not just abandon them to the trash bin, and thus The Best Gift, my holiday story, was born.

So, I am a firm believer, as writers, we should write what feels like it fits to us. I could have forced Dusty and Malcolm into Ticket to Ride but I think it would have sucked.

If something isn't working, ask yourself why. Is there something you could do to make it work? Change the story? Change the characters? Change the Point of View in the scene? Change the setting? Change your characters from a hero and heroine to a hero and a hero (like I will be soon)? Don't abandon all hope when something isn't quite working.

A New Beyond the Norm Excerpt

Okay, just to whet your whistle, I have decided to post one more excerpt from next week's release. Last one though. So enjoy.


DAVE bent over to peer into the refrigerator to see what he could feed his guest. He’d changed into sweats and a thin white muscle T-shirt, and he’d taken out his contacts and replaced them with his gold wire-framed glasses. He had some leftover Chinese food he’d picked up a couple of days ago. He opened the little white package and sniffed. Smelled okay. He set the container on the counter and reached into the cabinet for two plates.

"Hey, cool glasses."

Dave turned to see Kyle standing just inside the kitchen doorway. "Thanks."

"Dude, don’t you have anything in black?" Earlier when he’d brought him the clothes, Dave had resisted taking a peek while the young man showered. He hadn’t even glanced in the direction of the steamy shower glass. But now it was hard to keep his gaze off Kyle. Kyle had pulled on the navy blue shorts and pumpkin orange T-shirt Dave had left in the bathroom. They were way too big for him and hung rather awkwardly on his slim body. And he had reapplied his eyeliner.

Damn, the man was just adorable. Not at all Dave’s usual type. If he had one. Did he? He didn’t know. Maybe guys like himself. Whatever. But not pretty boys with black eyeliner and pouty, kissable lips. He sure hoped his sweatpants hid his obvious erection. But damn, the kid was hot.

"No, the navy shorts were as close as I could find," Dave said. "I threw your clothes in the washer. There was some blood on them. You okay?"

He noticed Kyle’s left cheek was already turning a bit purple, and there was a small cut there too. There was a bruise developing by his mouth. Dave suspected his ribs were probably bruised, too, if they weren’t broken. He wondered if Kyle had any head injuries. He really should have insisted on taking the kid to the hospital.

"Yeah, I’m all right. Just a bit banged up." Kyle smiled crookedly. "Maybe a bit sore, but I’ve had worse."

Dave nodded."You working the streets?"

"You mean selling my body or something?"

"Yeah."

Kyle shrugged. "I’ve done it before, but it’s been a while. A couple years, at least. And I only did it for a short time."

Dave spooned Chinese food on to the plates. "Drug habit?"

"Is this the Spanish Inquisition or what?"

Beyond the Norm Giveaway Begins

After closing his bar one night, Dave Johnson rescues Kyle, who is on the run after witnessing the murder of a federal agent in San Francisco. Dave knows Kyle is trouble but can't help falling in love; Kyle loses his heart but fears he's bringing danger to Dave's doorstep. When Kyle's pursuers close in, the two men are at an impasse. They can either separate and live in safety and loneliness, or find a way to stay alive and together.



Beyond the Norm is released next Thursday, September 3rd, and that means a giveaway. I'm starting it now. Just leave a comment and you will be entered. I'll let the randomizer thing choose the winner next Wednesday.

As you can likely tell from the cover, Kyle is Goth. Seems like a long time ago I originally started this story and for a while I let it just sit there unfinished until this past spring I forced myself to finish it and sent it off. Dreamspinner Press offered me a contract for it in June. So here is an excerpt if you want to see what you'd be getting (hopefully it won't prevent you from entering, lol):

Dave stood and reached down to help the kid up. He swayed a bit, and Dave held him. "You don’t think anything’s broken?"

"Nah," the guy said, feeling his ribs under his trench coat. "Just a little unsteady."

He had a slight lilt to his voice, but it was so faint, Dave couldn’t quite place it. Lightning flashed overhead and was followed quickly by a very large clap of thunder. "Look, we’d better get out of here. You got any place to go?"

The kid bit his plump, sensual lip pensively, and he shook his head. "Not really."

Dave hesitated. He knew nothing about this young man. For all he knew he could be an axe murderer. He might regret this, but…. "I don’t live far. Let’s get you dry and look at your injuries and maybe get you some food."

The younger man assessed him for a moment and then nodded. "Sounds good."

"Can you make it? Or do you want me to bring the truck over here?" Dave asked. The kid took a step but wobbled. "Stay here. I’ll be back."

Dave ran back to his truck, got in and started it, and drove across the parking lot to stop next to the kid, who opened the door and climbed in the passenger side. He leaned his head back on the seat and closed his eyes.

"What’s your name?" Dave asked.

"Kyle."

"Kyle what?"

Kyle stared at Dave. His mouth curved up at the corners just a bit. "Just Kyle."

Dave pulled out of the parking lot, switching on the windshield wipers. "Mine is Dave Johnson."

"Thanks, Dave Johnson."


Dave nodded and turned down the street that led to the block his house was on. He wasn’t kidding when he’d said he didn’t live far. His house was literally about two streets over from the bar. He’d chosen it for that very reason. "So why were those guys beating the crap out of you? Were they friends of yours?"

"Did they seem like friends?"

"No. So, then?"

Kyle sighed and ran his long pale fingers through his wet black hair. "Could be one of two reasons, I guess. I’m Goth, and for some reason that annoys certain people."

"And the other?"

"I’m gay. That seems to annoy guys like that even more." Kyle shrugged. "Maybe it was some of each."

Dave’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. Okay, so Kyle was gay. He was probably too young anyway, and Dave was supposed to be rescuing him from a bad situation. Not lusting after him. But, God, did he have to be gay? Because Dave’s cock had certainly perked up at the news.

Progress is Made

After a not so successful weekend, I am making decent progress today on Ticket to Ride. I've got close to 1,000 words done and that's just on a break and lunch at the EDJ. Pretty cool. I'm hoping tonight I can finish up the chapter.

I broke the 15,000 word mark too so I think by the time it's finished it will officially be novella length. I figure I have 2-3 chapters left. Can I finish it off by September 01? Um, well, I don't know, honestly. That's just a week away. But if not by then, not too many days after.

I can already see a sequel to these two, Chad and Jack, coming in the future. Thankfully if it does come down to a sequel it won't be until spring 2010. I have way too much to write now to even think of it now.

When this is over, I think in the last few months of this year (Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec), I can get maybe two stories done. One will be Twice in a Lifetime. This is the story of Jude, my rather flamboyant Englishman from September's release of Sweet Reunion. Jude is definitely insisiting he is next. Depending on how long Jude's story takes it is possible I can get to another story, but no promises, especially since I also plan on writing and posting the Christmas stories for my heroes in Pulling Away and Car Wash.

Still if Twice in a Lifetime ends up being the last book I write this year, I think I've had a very, very full year of releases and hopefully 2010 will bring many more.

Saturday Updates

I'm at the stage now where I am reviewing the galleys for Beyond the Norm so that is pretty exciting. Book comes out in less than two weeks now as it comes out on September 03. I will be doing a giveaway of a copy of course. I'll probably post about the giveaway next week.

I know I mentioned my submission of my Christmas story, The Best Gift, but the deadline for the Christmas stories has been extended so I will be waiting a few more weeks for the decision than I originally thought. So, some time in September I should know.

And speaking of Christmas stories, I'll be posting more about this as the holidays approach but look for some free Christmas stories on here featuring Kevin and Michael from Car Wash and Noah and Charlie from Pulling Away. These will be sexy stories, I promise.

Just recently, one of my publishers showed us some covers up for grabs for possible inspiration of a story for them. Though many of them were very tempting, I am trying to resist. I really have too many stories I must write now. Really. So I am remaining strong.

Some Questions About Reading Habits

So I have questions for those who care to answer. I am curious about this.

1) If you read a book by an author for the first time and do not care for it, will you try a second book?

2) If you have read two books by an author you did not like, would you continue to try more by this author or will you give up at last? Does it matter if it is an author that everyone else raves about but you just don't get the appeal? Is that what would make you try more than one, two or three books by the author?

3) If you read a book by an author and absolutely loved that book but everything else you have read by that author has been mediocre, would you continue to buy that author's books in the hope you'll find another book you love or would you eventually give up thinking the first one was a fluke?

This is just pure curiosity on my part because of some of my own observations on reader sites and blogs. So this is just for fun if you care to answer.

Shayne and Jack

Today I just wanted to say to my friends, Shayne and Jack, that I am thinking of them and I hope they manage to do something fun for their little road trip vacation.

They've had a difficult summer with Shay being sick and some other issues--not between them :-)---and they deserve this time together. I hope things get better soon you guys. I love you.

Rainbow Reviews Author Extravaganza

Don't forget the author extravaganza giving away free books of some of your favorite authors of the lgbt genre (me included, August 29th).

http://rainbow-reviews.com/?page_id=1542

http://rainbow-reviews.blogspot.com

A Requested Update

My friend, Ryan, who checks out my blog on a regular basis complained that I hadn't updated it all week so this is for him.

As you probably know, I have no releases in August, so it's difficult for me to find much to post about.

I will say that I am going right along on my song-themed story, Ticket to Ride. I just crossed the 12,000 words mark and expect it will end somewhere around 20,000 words when I end. Which is novella length.

Unfortunately, Ticket to Ride is part of the song themed PAX collection for Amber Quill and though it wasn't due until September 01, five other AQ authors beat me. Their stories are already done and submitted. So, my story will not be part of the first collection being released in November. Bummer.

No worries, though, it will be released either in December as part of a second collection or on its own.

Beyond the Norm, my goth/biker story, releases in less than three weeks so I will do a giveaway closer to the date.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Eye Candy Day

This beauty is the very image of what I envision for Christian, my duke's son from the as yet unwritten Regency M/M, Undeniable.

So when you read that book imagine him. I will, :-)

Upcoming Projects

I've come up with a name for my sequel to The Other Side and that is...The Same Side. I wanted it to match with the first one but I kind of felt The Other Side 2 didn't quite work. So, when I begin it, which will not, hopefully, be in the too distant future it will be The Same Side.



To just give you an idea where I plan to take the characters of Ray and Nick, I will say that Nick will still be a cop, but he will be taking on a very dangerous undercover operation that will drive a very serious wedge between the couple. You'll get the answer as to whether Ray won a seat on the city council and Ray's brother, Devon, will come out as gay himself.



The other project I plan on tackling next does not yet have a title. It will involve a secondary character from my September release, Sweet Reunion.



But first, I am working like mad on Ticket to Ride. I need to get my murder mystery romantic suspence tale done in just about three weeks.

Beyond the Norm Release Date

Got a release date of September 03, 2009 for Beyond the Norm.

Also made the coming soon pages

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/comingsoon.htm

Just a Little Something...

I don't generally post reviews here. I usually include the best snippets under "reviews of Shawn's work" on my website. But I decided to post this today for a couple of reasons. The first reason is, I think a little cheering up is in order, and the second is, this is my first "5 Star Recommended Read" from Fallen Angels Reviews. Pretty cool.

http://fallenangelreviews.com/2009/July/nene-mostlikelytosucceed.htm

Georgette

Don't want to bring anyone down, but I am sad today.

Last night, a dear woman I had known for twenty years or so died. She was the mother of one of my very closest friends and was basically a part of my chosen family. Someone I spent some holidays with and many days over the years with. A sweet, gentle lady who will be very missed.

It may sound morbid but each year around the holidays I think, will we all be here for next year's holidays? I'm not a kid anymore and therefore most of the people I know are getting on in years. My own mother turned 83 last week.

Anyway, today's blog post is dedicated to Georgette Pagnoni, 1930-2009. Rest in Peace.

July Amber Quill Best Sellers

AMBER ALLURE

1. On The Ragged Edge Of The World - Jamie Craig (Gay / Werewolf / BDSM)
2. Bring The Heat - M. L. Rhodes (Gay / Contemporary)
3. Alternative Treatment - Claire Thompson (Gay / Contemporary)
4. Nowhere Diner: Finding Love - T. A. Chase (Gay / Contemporary)
5. No One But You - KC Kendricks (Gay / Contemporary)
6. Until The End Of Time - Shawn Lane (Gay / Contemporary)
7. Wranglers: Discovery - Vivien Dean (Gay / Contemporary)
8. To Bend - Pepper Espinoza (Bisexual [M/M] / Werewolf)
9. The Mask He Wears - Fae Sutherland & Marguerite Labbe (Gay / Contemporary)
10. Double Standard - J. M. Snyder (Gay / Contemporary)

There I am at number 6. I am quite happy with this result since Until the End of Time was released the last weekend of July.

Rainbow Reviews Author Extravaganza

Now that it is is August, don't forget myself and several other well known authors of the lgbt genre are giving away books throughout the month of August. I'm not until the end of the month but check out the details and get involved if you'd like to win books from these great writers.

Details here: http://rainbow-reviews.com/?page_id=1542


Blog here: http://rainbow-reviews.blogspot.com/

Lawyers in Love Winner

There were 10 items in your list. Here they are in random order:
1. Robynl
2. Barbara
3. Stacey
4. Amy
5. Eyre
6. Armenia
7. The Falconer
8. D.L.
9. Erotic Horizon
10. Eva S

Congratulations Robyn. Please email me with your snail mail address to receive your book.
Email: authorshawnlane@gmail.com