Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Moving Forward
Originally Billy was going to go to Ireland. I’ve been there myself, I thought, so piece of cake. But there was something not working with the story. I kept procrastinating on it. Billy was supposed to have a vacation affair you see, because, well, that’s the way it’s supposed to be for the Postcards From Paradise stories. But if he were traveling around different parts of Ireland, how was he supposed to carry on a two week affair while there. The Irish guy wouldn’t be traveling along with them.
Okay, so I changed it to they spend two weeks in Dublin. I still didn’t like it. Having been to Ireland I didn’t spend two weeks in one city. It seemed a bit weird to me. So I set it aside and began to work on Waking the Prince. Pretty soon, I thought, I will have to join Procrastinator’s Anonymous with Ava March.
Then I started thinking, oh, God, I don’t remember enough about Dublin to write about it. When I went I spent a day and a half there because we got to the tour we took late due to a plane problem. I’d have to do research, my stomach churned.
Finally I decided, I need to write this damn story and quit whining. I started in on it again and went…wait! Who says I have to have him vacation in Dublin or even Ireland at all. What place do I know better than anywhere that others in the country might decide to go to for a vacation? Why, Southern California, of course! And I know that also means Ian, Billy’s hero, can live there and have his two week affair with Billy while Billy explores Southern California. Perfect!
So, yeah, yesterday I changed all references to Los Angeles and California. Today, I actually WROTE on the darn thing for the first time in several days. Go me!
And yeah, even though they start out having the vacation fling, this is a romance, and I’m supposed to make it HEA or something. But I feel better now.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Got The Winners
1) Another Chance
2) At Long Last
3) Kevin
4) Sleeping Beauty
5) Silver Publishing
The winners were Juni and Melinda.
Juni chose to receive Galaxy's Heart, Sutter's Bay 3, when the story releases in May.
Melinda chose Accidentally His
Congrats!
2) At Long Last
3) Kevin
4) Sleeping Beauty
5) Silver Publishing
The winners were Juni and Melinda.
Juni chose to receive Galaxy's Heart, Sutter's Bay 3, when the story releases in May.
Melinda chose Accidentally His
Congrats!
No One? No One?
Either I made my contest too hard or no one wants to win a free book! Not one person has attempted to answser.
Here are the blurbs for the upcoming releases in case that gets you thinking (the existing books can be found on the publisher's sites for the description).
Galaxy's Heart - Ten years ago, Galaxy Winthrop had a one-night stand with the hottest guy ever. Besides the hot guy, there was one other thing Galaxy rememberd from that long ago night, the man's mention of the Northern California town, Sutter's Bay, where he once lived. Years later, Galaxy has made it his mission to save his troubled little brother, Leo. The once bright, bubbly kid has become sullen, quiet and despondent. Sutter's Bay seems the perfect location to start a new life for him and Leo.
Adam Colfer came back to Sutter's Bay to run his dad's diner after his passing. He'd thought he'd left it behind when he moved to San Francisco, but it seemed Sutter's Bay had other plans. The last person he expects to see in his quiet burb is Galaxy. After an explosive night of sex with a twenty year old Galaxy a decade earlier, Adam woke to an empty bed. But now Galaxy is in Sutter's Bay, a troubled brother in tow, and Adam can't help but wonder if this is his second chance to win Galaxy's heart.
Becoming His - A stripper in a gay club, Toby Sherwood has been a fan of bisexual actor, Lucas Cartwright, and his cable detective show, Harrow’s Eyes, for months, so when he’s invited to a taping of the show, he can hardly wait. Too bad the hunky actor already has a girlfriend.
Lucas has been charmed by the sexy Toby ever since he met him at the hospital during his brother’s accident. When he breaks up with his girlfriend shortly after Toby comes by the set of his show, Lucas begins to romance Toby.
With concerns over Lucas’s career and Toby’s dancing for other men, can the hot actor and the sexy stripper find happiness in each other’s arms?
Here are the blurbs for the upcoming releases in case that gets you thinking (the existing books can be found on the publisher's sites for the description).
Galaxy's Heart - Ten years ago, Galaxy Winthrop had a one-night stand with the hottest guy ever. Besides the hot guy, there was one other thing Galaxy rememberd from that long ago night, the man's mention of the Northern California town, Sutter's Bay, where he once lived. Years later, Galaxy has made it his mission to save his troubled little brother, Leo. The once bright, bubbly kid has become sullen, quiet and despondent. Sutter's Bay seems the perfect location to start a new life for him and Leo.
Adam Colfer came back to Sutter's Bay to run his dad's diner after his passing. He'd thought he'd left it behind when he moved to San Francisco, but it seemed Sutter's Bay had other plans. The last person he expects to see in his quiet burb is Galaxy. After an explosive night of sex with a twenty year old Galaxy a decade earlier, Adam woke to an empty bed. But now Galaxy is in Sutter's Bay, a troubled brother in tow, and Adam can't help but wonder if this is his second chance to win Galaxy's heart.
Becoming His - A stripper in a gay club, Toby Sherwood has been a fan of bisexual actor, Lucas Cartwright, and his cable detective show, Harrow’s Eyes, for months, so when he’s invited to a taping of the show, he can hardly wait. Too bad the hunky actor already has a girlfriend.
Lucas has been charmed by the sexy Toby ever since he met him at the hospital during his brother’s accident. When he breaks up with his girlfriend shortly after Toby comes by the set of his show, Lucas begins to romance Toby.
With concerns over Lucas’s career and Toby’s dancing for other men, can the hot actor and the sexy stripper find happiness in each other’s arms?
Monday, March 28, 2011
A New Contest
It’s time for another just for fun contest. I'll do another in April.
The first two people to email me the right answers will receive a free book of their choice, either off my backlist, or one of my two upcoming scheduled releases, Galaxy’s Heart (Sutter’s Bay 3) coming in May, or Becoming His (Toby and Lucas’s story) coming in June.
These answers can be found either on my blog, website, or other searchable source.
1) What was the first M/M story Shawn wrote?
2) Which book released first between these two: At Long Last and Most Likely to Succeed?
3) Michael’s hero is…
4) Waking the Prince is supposed to be a gay version of what fairytale?
5) Shawn has had books published with the following publishers: Amber Quill, Ellora’s Cave, Dreamspinner Press and….
Email answers to authorshawnlane@gmail.com
The first two people to email me the right answers will receive a free book of their choice, either off my backlist, or one of my two upcoming scheduled releases, Galaxy’s Heart (Sutter’s Bay 3) coming in May, or Becoming His (Toby and Lucas’s story) coming in June.
These answers can be found either on my blog, website, or other searchable source.
1) What was the first M/M story Shawn wrote?
2) Which book released first between these two: At Long Last and Most Likely to Succeed?
3) Michael’s hero is…
4) Waking the Prince is supposed to be a gay version of what fairytale?
5) Shawn has had books published with the following publishers: Amber Quill, Ellora’s Cave, Dreamspinner Press and….
Email answers to authorshawnlane@gmail.com
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Friends
Almost a year ago, my sweet, gorgeous adopted son, Drew, disappeared from the internet because of personal issues. After much pestering by many of us (including some of the now missing friends), Drew came back to us. I think we out-stubborned him and he realized our incessant emails weren’t going away, lol. I’m very grateful, because he is very special to me.
So this post goes out to other missing friends. I know real life gets in the way of the internet. I know it’s certainly more important than a friendship with me. But perhaps if you see that many of us are still concerned about you, still miss you, and still want you in our lives, even just on the internet, once or twice a month, you’ll reappear. We care about you, no matter what has happened in your life that has caused you to step away for a while.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Birthday Blues or Something
So today is my 46th birthday. Yeah, yeah, I know I don't look a day over 21. Thank you for that, lol.
I often wonder how I got to this point. I swear I was just 10 years old yesterday.
Anyway, my first published work arrived in 2008 and I've lost track of how many I've had since then. Isn't that terrible? I used to count. Every year I make a little more and every year the government takes a lot more. Hmm.I suppose that happens to all of us.
I'm not really doing anything special for it and that's fine. I had a nice dinner out a few days ago for it. Probably will have another dinner with friends some time next week. I'm in no great hurry. Or at least I don't think I am. lol.
I often wonder how I got to this point. I swear I was just 10 years old yesterday.
Anyway, my first published work arrived in 2008 and I've lost track of how many I've had since then. Isn't that terrible? I used to count. Every year I make a little more and every year the government takes a lot more. Hmm.I suppose that happens to all of us.
I'm not really doing anything special for it and that's fine. I had a nice dinner out a few days ago for it. Probably will have another dinner with friends some time next week. I'm in no great hurry. Or at least I don't think I am. lol.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Taking Chances
After I finished writing The Impersonator, it occurred to me that many of my loyal readers would not be thrilled with it. It was a bit different than some of what I’ve written in that Ben, the main character, deals with the pain and self-doubt and imperfections he sees in himself by having sex, sometimes with not so great guys. He’s a slut.
After a while of writing several stories many writers decide they want to take a chance on throwing something new into the mix. I admit this is a big chance because if you got out too far from what your core readers expect of you it can damage your readership. Think I am exaggerating?
Say you are an established M/M author wildly popular with readers. Never in your entire career have you included two men with a woman in your story. Suddenly you decide to do this. You feel this establishes a character trait for one of your heroes. Your readers write scathing reviews of how you disappointed them. They never expected YOU of all authors to do this to them.
You are writing a popular M/M series. One book you decide to get a little adventurous and you have a short M/M/M scene in the book because it sets up the character. Suddenly readers are calling for your head. Talking about how they can’t trust you, they won’t be reading one of your books again for a while, maybe never. You broke their trust, they say.
You’ve established your couple, are bringing them down the road to happiness with a few bumps and then…one hero cheats on the other. In an already established relationship. Run for the hills because the readers are coming at you with pitchforks.
You write a popular M/M vampire series and several books into the series you suddenly decide to add a third character to their relationship. Readers scream, ARE YOU NUTS?
These are real scenarios I’ve seen in books and reactions.
Sure a very popular M/M author will survive such scenarios but there are some readers you may never get back and if you are going to be adventurous you should keep this in mind.
In the beginning, I wrote both M/F and M/M books. Even in my first M/M book, Another Chance (first one written) Aubrey was bisexual and had sex with a woman in the first part of the book. He was madly in love with Daniel, but sought comfort from his pain in the arms of a woman he’d known most of his life and who, possibly, bore his children. It never occurred to me in those early days that some strict M/M readers would be bothered by that scene, but some were. Now in my current writing career I would not write a scene with a woman.
Also, back in those early days, anxious to get my career as an erotic romance author going, I volunteered to write a ménage and not just any ménage, but a M/M/F. I knew as soon as I sat down to write it I didn’t want to do it. Now I would never volunteer and if I had, I would admit to my editors that I didn’t want to write the story and get out of it. But then, well, I didn’t want to come off as a flake. So I wrote A Knight For All. Even die-hard fans cringe in dismay when they come across that one. It’s got its fans, some people liked it. But not my die-hard M/M only fans. I’ve joked that if I ever revisited Gregory and Edward from the story, it would begin with Katherine’s funeral.
I no longer write M/F because as a reader it just doesn’t do it for me anymore so if I don’t even like to read it (with very few exceptions) why would I want to write it? So, I CAN guarantee that no matter how adventurous I become, you won’t see a woman in a sexual relationship in one of my books again.
However, what I am going to do in my cop partners serial killer story (sorry it doesn’t have a title, lol), is have one hero already with someone when the story begins. The other partner is in love with him, but there is nothing he can do about it. I don’t know if this will cause panic among readers or not, but that is the way I feel the story needs to begin.
I’ve taken chances before by having a cheater, Brad. And though many readers forgave Brad just as Justin did, I still get some who just can’t get past what he did. Not everything you write will work for every reader, not even your die-hard fans. Most often if your die-hard fans are disappointed in your latest offering, they will still buy and read your books.
Am I saying don't write out of the norm, don't take chances? No. As a writer myelf I couldn't say that, but be prepared. The reaction could be not quite what you were prepared for.
After a while of writing several stories many writers decide they want to take a chance on throwing something new into the mix. I admit this is a big chance because if you got out too far from what your core readers expect of you it can damage your readership. Think I am exaggerating?
Say you are an established M/M author wildly popular with readers. Never in your entire career have you included two men with a woman in your story. Suddenly you decide to do this. You feel this establishes a character trait for one of your heroes. Your readers write scathing reviews of how you disappointed them. They never expected YOU of all authors to do this to them.
You are writing a popular M/M series. One book you decide to get a little adventurous and you have a short M/M/M scene in the book because it sets up the character. Suddenly readers are calling for your head. Talking about how they can’t trust you, they won’t be reading one of your books again for a while, maybe never. You broke their trust, they say.
You’ve established your couple, are bringing them down the road to happiness with a few bumps and then…one hero cheats on the other. In an already established relationship. Run for the hills because the readers are coming at you with pitchforks.
You write a popular M/M vampire series and several books into the series you suddenly decide to add a third character to their relationship. Readers scream, ARE YOU NUTS?
These are real scenarios I’ve seen in books and reactions.
Sure a very popular M/M author will survive such scenarios but there are some readers you may never get back and if you are going to be adventurous you should keep this in mind.
In the beginning, I wrote both M/F and M/M books. Even in my first M/M book, Another Chance (first one written) Aubrey was bisexual and had sex with a woman in the first part of the book. He was madly in love with Daniel, but sought comfort from his pain in the arms of a woman he’d known most of his life and who, possibly, bore his children. It never occurred to me in those early days that some strict M/M readers would be bothered by that scene, but some were. Now in my current writing career I would not write a scene with a woman.
Also, back in those early days, anxious to get my career as an erotic romance author going, I volunteered to write a ménage and not just any ménage, but a M/M/F. I knew as soon as I sat down to write it I didn’t want to do it. Now I would never volunteer and if I had, I would admit to my editors that I didn’t want to write the story and get out of it. But then, well, I didn’t want to come off as a flake. So I wrote A Knight For All. Even die-hard fans cringe in dismay when they come across that one. It’s got its fans, some people liked it. But not my die-hard M/M only fans. I’ve joked that if I ever revisited Gregory and Edward from the story, it would begin with Katherine’s funeral.
I no longer write M/F because as a reader it just doesn’t do it for me anymore so if I don’t even like to read it (with very few exceptions) why would I want to write it? So, I CAN guarantee that no matter how adventurous I become, you won’t see a woman in a sexual relationship in one of my books again.
However, what I am going to do in my cop partners serial killer story (sorry it doesn’t have a title, lol), is have one hero already with someone when the story begins. The other partner is in love with him, but there is nothing he can do about it. I don’t know if this will cause panic among readers or not, but that is the way I feel the story needs to begin.
I’ve taken chances before by having a cheater, Brad. And though many readers forgave Brad just as Justin did, I still get some who just can’t get past what he did. Not everything you write will work for every reader, not even your die-hard fans. Most often if your die-hard fans are disappointed in your latest offering, they will still buy and read your books.
Am I saying don't write out of the norm, don't take chances? No. As a writer myelf I couldn't say that, but be prepared. The reaction could be not quite what you were prepared for.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Not So Bad and What Next
Than once that is over and done with, my schedule will be wide open to work on whatever I want. So, here are some of the things I have in mind. If anyone would like to put their two cents in as to what should be my next project once The Way to Forever is finished, comment away.
Manfred’s Cursed Again
Sutter’s Bay 4
The Price Paid, my collaboration with Ava March
A sequel to another book (please mention what book you’d like to see a sequel to)
My Cop Partners Serial Killer Story
My re-write of a medieval paranormal
Waking the Prince, my gay Sleeping Beauty story
Can’t Be His, the third “his” book
Write-in a suggestion of something else
Monday, March 14, 2011
Still Time
There's still time to enter the contest to win Accidentally His over at Stumbling Over Chaos. I believe the contest runs until this Friday.
Accidentally His is a fun, light-hearted read that I think readers will enjoy. Besides the main characters of Elijah and Kirk, it also introduces Toby and Lucas who will get their own story in Becoming His.
Accidentally His is a fun, light-hearted read that I think readers will enjoy. Besides the main characters of Elijah and Kirk, it also introduces Toby and Lucas who will get their own story in Becoming His.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Before I Forget
My heart goes out to Japan today. The news, pictures, and video coming from there today are just horrible. Coming from an earthquake-prone place myself (where talk of THE BIG ONE is never far away), I can only imagine what those poor people are going through right now and will for a very long time, I suspect.
Once Again
An author is sending minions off to bash a review and a reviewer. They certainly aren't doing the author any favors. I see this all too often on sites like Goodreads but now I am seeing it on review sites at an ever increasingly alarming rate. Anyway, I can only shake my head and wonder what it takes to get the message out that this is not a good idea, never ever make a comment on a bad review, really. No arguing. I really mean this. Don't send your fans to do it for you either.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Contest for Accidentally His
Aha! Chris started me a day earlier than I thought, but that works for all of us, I think.
For a chance to win Accidentally His go here. Contest runs through March 18, 2011. Good Luck.
For a chance to win Accidentally His go here. Contest runs through March 18, 2011. Good Luck.
News
I finished Becoming His and it will be released in June (see coming soon on the side there...coming soonish).
Also I am having Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos give away Accidentally His. The contest doesn't start until later this week, but I'll post the link when it does.
Also I am having Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos give away Accidentally His. The contest doesn't start until later this week, but I'll post the link when it does.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
A Brief Update
Yes, I am supposed to be working on my vacay story, The Way to Forever. But I'm not. I'm working on Becoming His and I believe I will have it done by this coming Saturday. That's my plan.
Look for details of a contest later. I don't know what I will do yet. But something will be done as I have Accidentally His coming out later this month.
Look for details of a contest later. I don't know what I will do yet. But something will be done as I have Accidentally His coming out later this month.
Friday, March 4, 2011
February 2011 Best Sellers at Amber Allure
Woo hoo, there I am at #8. Considering what else released in February I am pleased to be included.
1. Embrace My Reflection
- T. A. Chase
(Gay / Contemporary)
2. Remember Me
- Lynn Lorenz
(Gay / Contemporary)
3. December Promise
- KC Kendricks
(Gay / Contemporary)
4. In From The Cold
- Carolina Valdez
(Gay / Contemporary)
5. Chance Encounter
- Christiane France
(Gay / Contemporary)
6. Into The Woods
- M. L. Rhodes
(Gay / Shapeshifter)
7. Long-Term
- Angelia Sparrow
& Naomi Brooks
(Gay / Contemporary)
8. The Impersonator
- Shawn Lane
(Gay / Contemporary)
9. How The Other Half Lives
- Clare London
(Gay / Contemporary)
10. (Boys Of The Zodiac)
Pisces: From Behind That
Black Door
- Pepper Espinoza
(Gay / Contemporary)
1. Embrace My Reflection
- T. A. Chase
(Gay / Contemporary)
2. Remember Me
- Lynn Lorenz
(Gay / Contemporary)
3. December Promise
- KC Kendricks
(Gay / Contemporary)
4. In From The Cold
- Carolina Valdez
(Gay / Contemporary)
5. Chance Encounter
- Christiane France
(Gay / Contemporary)
6. Into The Woods
- M. L. Rhodes
(Gay / Shapeshifter)
7. Long-Term
- Angelia Sparrow
& Naomi Brooks
(Gay / Contemporary)
8. The Impersonator
- Shawn Lane
(Gay / Contemporary)
9. How The Other Half Lives
- Clare London
(Gay / Contemporary)
10. (Boys Of The Zodiac)
Pisces: From Behind That
Black Door
- Pepper Espinoza
(Gay / Contemporary)
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
What Was I thinking?
A few things.
I have named my Postcards From Paradise story, The Way to Forever. This is the one where Billy goes to Ireland on vacation and meets the man of his dreams.
I’m currently working on Becoming His. This story is related to Accidentally His in that two secondary characters from the upcoming Accidentally His get their story in Becoming His. I’ve already got over 8,000 words done on the story and hope to get it done and into the schedule in the not too distant future.
Which also brings me to the news that I will be doing a new series for Amber Allure. I’ve been given the go ahead on the series and Accidentally His and Becoming His are the first two in the series. If I do it right I should have as many as 26 stories. Each “His” story will have a title that will begin with a letter of the alphabet. Quite clearly A and B will be the first two, lol.
I doubt all stories in the series will be directed related to Accidentally His and Becoming His. Meaning by the time the series is finished I doubt there will be six degrees of separation from all the cast of characters.
As you can imagine some letters will be more challenging than others so if anyone has suggestions for the following letters please feel free to send them my way via my email of authorshawnlane@gmail.com. Q, V, X, Y and Z. You would be richly rewarded if you suggest the ultimate title for those letters.
This series will keep me busy, of course, and that doesn’t even include all the other stories I have planned. Ah, well, at least the ideas have not dried up.
I have named my Postcards From Paradise story, The Way to Forever. This is the one where Billy goes to Ireland on vacation and meets the man of his dreams.
I’m currently working on Becoming His. This story is related to Accidentally His in that two secondary characters from the upcoming Accidentally His get their story in Becoming His. I’ve already got over 8,000 words done on the story and hope to get it done and into the schedule in the not too distant future.
Which also brings me to the news that I will be doing a new series for Amber Allure. I’ve been given the go ahead on the series and Accidentally His and Becoming His are the first two in the series. If I do it right I should have as many as 26 stories. Each “His” story will have a title that will begin with a letter of the alphabet. Quite clearly A and B will be the first two, lol.
I doubt all stories in the series will be directed related to Accidentally His and Becoming His. Meaning by the time the series is finished I doubt there will be six degrees of separation from all the cast of characters.
As you can imagine some letters will be more challenging than others so if anyone has suggestions for the following letters please feel free to send them my way via my email of authorshawnlane@gmail.com. Q, V, X, Y and Z. You would be richly rewarded if you suggest the ultimate title for those letters.
This series will keep me busy, of course, and that doesn’t even include all the other stories I have planned. Ah, well, at least the ideas have not dried up.
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