The Next Big Thing Blog Hop - Irresistible

I’ve been tagged by the marvelous Ava March to participate in the Next Big Thing blog hop (click HERE to check out her post). The idea is to answer 10 questions about your current WIP (work in process). There’s no giveaway or anything-it’s just a spot of fun to talk about what’s in process or coming soon. So here I go.

1. What is the working title of your book?

Irresistible

2. Where did the idea for the story come from for the book?

Just my head. I’ve been wanting to write a story about a love affair between a lord and his butler for a few years and it’s hard to write such a story as a contemporary so I went back to my first love of historicals. I’ve found my voice is generally more suited to contemporaries but I’m happy to be writing this story.

3. What is the genre of the book?

Regency-set M/M erotic romance

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters for a movie rendition?

I honestly can’t think of a single actor who would be good for Lord Christian, but this picture above has inspired me and this is what he looks like in my head. As for James Harrington, my butler and MC, I picture a more ruggedly handsome type, Hugh Jackman from Kate and Leopold or Dylan McDermott.

5. What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

I don’t really do these very well. So I think I will skip this question. Sorry!

6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency/publisher?

A publisher

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your book?

I am still working on it. I’ve probably been working on it about a month now but I often write on different stories at once.

8. What other books would you compare this to within your genre?

I try not to compare myself and my books with others.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I already answered this above for number 2

10. What else about the reader might pique the reader’s interest?

Oh heavens, I don’t know. Maybe knowing that during the day Harrington is the employee who must know his place but at night he can drive Lord Christian to nearly unbearable levels of ecstasy.   

****

Not sure who else to tag. So, I will try to tag my old friend, Devon Rhodes, though I haven’t talked to her in ages!

Good News

Both myself and Ava March, my fabulous critique partner, had productive weekends. She finished Thief, the first book of her trilogy from Carina Press next year, and I finished More Than Enough. We did a bit of squeeing about it, let me tell you.

Ava must turn her attention to her next book in the series soon, but this puts me in the most excellent position of no hard deadlines for the rest of the year. I can do as I please as far as writing and it feels great. I have projects in mind to work on, of course, but they are all open-ended.

Woo hoo!

That will bring More Than Enough as the final release for me in 2011. I have some forms to tackle before I send the story in to Amber Quill. I will have a freebie available on ARe in December as well, but that's actually already written as well.

Story Behind the Story - Trust

I'm copying Ava March today and doing a story behind the story for Trust

Stats: Submitted partial of Trust to Loose Id on September 10, 2008. Received request for full ms on September 21, 2008. Received email from editor saying they would want some revisions, but would consider looking at ms again after those were done on October 20, 2008. Rather than re-write a story I was pretty satisfied with, I chose to submit to a publisher I had already worked with, Ellora’s Cave, on October 21, 2008. Ellora’s Cave offered contract November 07, 2008. Trust was released on April 29, 2009.


Little Known Fact – When it came time for edits, my editor at EC asked for more sex. Other than Brad’s uncompleted blowjob in the prologue the first full sex scene didn’t occur until Chapter four (around that, it’s been a while since I looked at the book). Given the facts of their breakup and Justin’s car crash injuries I was dismayed to say the least at this. How was I supposed to get Brad and Justin to do it any sooner?

My editor suggested a flashback and though that was not my preference, I wrote the scene of Brad and Justin’s first encounter in college. I thought there was plenty of sex already in Trust and adding another scene would not add to the story. I wrote it anyway.

Extremely Little Known Fact – I debated having Justin catch Brad in full anal sex when he came into the locker room looking for Brad. I ditched this idea because I thought the uncompleted blowjob was going to be hard enough to get Justin and readers over let alone going for the whole thing.

How Did I get the idea for the book – Actually it came from a song. 38 Special’s “Second Chance”. If you haven’t heard the song it’s about a guy asking his girl for a second chance because his heart needs it after he has cheated on her. I both really like that song and it makes me angry at the same time. It brings out an emotional response in me and I wanted to do that in a book. And I chose to make Brad a paramedic, a selfless hero, to make him more likeable to the reader, who might consider giving him that second chance just as he hopes Justin will.

If I could edit the book now would I change anything – Yeah, I had a reason for making Brad celibate for the entire time after his breakup with Justin. I wanted him to torture himself, I wanted it to be mental and messed up. But I did get some reviews where certain reviewers doubted Brad would be celibate for that many years so I would have either explained it better or perhaps changed it. Really though I was pretty happy with the book.

Will there be a sequel – Never. I gave them their white picket fence and the characters are under contractual obligation to EC.

Misc stuff- Trust is one of my more controversial books, if not the most. Some readers loved it, and especially loved Brad. Others just couldn’t get past the cheating, no way, no how.

Trust ended up being my last published book with EC. I had some really good experiences there and some successful books, but sometimes there comes a parting of ways. I didn’t want to write the kinds of books EC wanted to publish and vice versa. It took me a while to come to the conclusion that the two of us just no longer suit, but I have now and have moved on.

Get It! Get It!

Within a few hours, the fabulous Ava March will have a new book available from Loose Id. Do yourself a favor and pick it up. This is no ordinary historical, I assure you.

His Client

Monday Updates

My Monday updates is a little later than usual because I don't have much to update.

I'm back to the EDJ after five blissful days off.

I'm still waiting anxiously for my cover for Pulling Apart. All the other covers around that time have been completed so I am stalking my inbox hoping to see it arrive. lol.

As far as writing is concerned, I'm working on free stories for December right now. Once I have those out of the way I'll likely work on either Accidentally His or Galaxy's Heart (Sutter's bay 3). When those are out of the way I suspect I will finally turn my attention to my cop partner story as it's nagging me the most these days, but probably won't get a chance until well into 2011 to sink my teeth in there.

Yesterday, my fabulous critique partner, Ava March, had her first release from Amber Allure. As I believe I have mentioned on the blog over time, Ava and I have been working together for several years, back since our days in a critique group through an online writing chapter. Ava is the only one who gets to see my stories ahead of time and I am the only one who gets to see hers ahead of time. It works for both of us quite well.

So, I can say without a doubt, Beyond Reckless, is a great short story. Do yourself a favor if you haven't done it already, hop on over to Amber Allure's site and get Beyond Reckless for $1.95!

Have a good week.  

Today's Post....

is here....Story Behind the Story of Most Likely to Succeed

His One And Only by Shawn Lane, Excerpt

I'm doing a blog post tomorrow over at Ava's on the story of Most Likely to Succeed, so today I'm going to post an excerpt of the very soon to be released His One and Only.


“Hey, Mark, can you take this call later this afternoon?” Travis Anderson asked, after knocking briefly on Mark’s closed office door the following Wednesday and just opening the door without waiting for an answer.

Mark looked up from his pleadings at the tall blond man. Along with Travis, Mark and Nathan had formed their law firm, Anderson, Llewellyn and Stevens, a few years after they had finished law school. All three men had become friends after meeting in law school and forming a bond over being gay.

There seemed to be an epidemic of romance at the firm lately as both Travis and Nathan had hooked up with guys from the office. An epidemic, frankly, Mark intended to avoid. Fortunately, as far as he could tell, his partners had already discovered the only eligible hot gay bachelors at the firm.

He shook his head. “Sorry, can’t. Ask Nathan or maybe one of the associates.”

Travis’s mouth dropped open. “What?”

He smiled patiently. “I won’t be in the office this afternoon so I can’t take your call.”

“Oh. You have a trial or a hearing?”

“No.”

“Client meeting?”

“No.” He wouldn’t have believed it, but he was actually enjoying the dumbfounded expression on Travis’s face. They all knew him too well.

“Then—”

“I’m going to be in Newport Beach.”

Travis frowned and sat in the chair directly in front of Mark’s desk. “What’s in Newport Beach? Potential new client?”

“Definitely not. I don’t think Drew could afford us.”

“Drew? Who the hell is Drew?”

Mark grinned. “He is the reason I’ll be in Newport Beach. I’m having coffee with him.”

“Coffee? What for?”

“You’re a brilliant lawyer, counselor, you figure it out.”

Travis continued to frown, but then his eyes widened a little. “Are you saying, like a date?”

“Yes, like a date. Furthermore, this is the second time.”

“Really?”

“Is that so surprising?” Mark scowled. “That someone would want to see me?”

Travis put up his hands. “No, no. I’m not surprised someone would want to see you; I’m just surprised you’d want to see them. Mark, you don’t date. And in the middle of a work day, no less?”

He nodded. “I think Drew is trying to keep it casual. At first anyway.”

“Well, so tell me about this guy.”

Mark glanced at his watch. Saved. “Can’t, if I’m going to make it in time, I have to go now. Besides, it’s a bit premature. If things progress anywhere, and I’m not sure they will, I’ll consider telling you about him.” He stood and grabbed his suit coat off the coat rack in his office.

“Will you be back later?”

“Probably. He only gets a half hour for lunch.”

Mark left Travis in his office staring after him.

Yes, Another Monday

I've already heard from a few who enjoyed reading Only His Heart so thanks for that.

I only have about one or so chapters left on The Beach House. So I should meet my goal of having it done by May 31, 2010.

That's about it for me. I hope this week goes reasonably fast as it's a three-day weekend coming up here. I know many of my pals have plans. Shayne and Jack are going away for the weekend (plus extra). Ava is going to visit family. Me...I am staying home.

Excerpt - From Afar by Ava March

Coming February 23, 1010 from Samhain Publishing.


Leather creaked as Aleric shifted on the bench again. His knee bumped Raphael’s. Aleric’s quick intake of breath was clearly audible even above the sounds of the horses’ hooves pounding against the street as the driver took them swiftly to Mayfair. Another bump against Raphael’s knee, and Aleric pressed his calf against his. The slow rub of soft wool against his stocking-covered shin spoke louder than words that Aleric wanted his attention.

Desire flared under his skin. He could not have tamped it down if he had tried. Even the knowledge that Aleric only wanted him because he was there, to serve as a convenient vessel to sate his lust, could not dim the need building swiftly within him.

He looked to Aleric. The man’s silver-blue eyes were glazed with passion, his lips parted, exposing the sharp tips of his fangs, as he stroked his erection through his trousers.

Reaching up, Raphael closed the thin shade on the window in the door, blocking out most of the moon’s light, but not all of it. The silvery light seeping around the edges was just enough to cloak the interior in shadow, but not full darkness.

The soft swoosh of Aleric’s palm sliding over his trousers ceased. Both of them sat still, not moving a muscle. Raphael let the anticipation build until he could feel the waves of need rolling off Aleric, lapping against his skin, fueling his own.

Would it ever be like this with another?

Never.

A beckoning flick of his head, and Aleric shot off the bench. The carriage shook as he landed on Raphael, knees straddling his hips and arms braced on either side of his shoulders. Aleric slanted his mouth over Raphael’s, his fangs smacking against Raphael’s teeth. Before Raphael could even begin to savor the harsh kiss, Aleric dropped his head to nuzzle Raphael’s neck. Raphael tipped his head back, granting access as Aleric frantically dragged his lips along his jaw and up to nip at his ear. A shiver racked his spine. His now-hard cock twitched against the placket of his breeches.

“I can’t stop thinking about being with you.” A bit of confusion underlined the passion soaking Aleric’s low voice.

Raphael caressed his sides, felt the tremor shake the man’s body. “You mean you can’t stop thinking about sex. It’s to be expected. All your senses, all your instincts are heightened, strengthened. Lust is just one of them. With time, you’ll grow accustomed to the desires, to the constant need, and be able to temper it.”

“I do hope you’re right.” The quick puffs of Aleric’s hot, moist breath fanned his neck. He shifted closer, pressing full against Raphael. “It’s disconcerting, to say the least, to have such little control over myself.”

“Don’t be disconcerted. There’s no need. I’m here for you.” Raphael’s words turned into a groan as Aleric ground his hips, rubbing their hard pricks together.

With a tug on Aleric’s hair, he brought the man’s mouth back to his. There was nothing quite like kissing Aleric. The way it made him feel, as though he had found home. His heart clenched at the prospect of losing Aleric, but he pushed aside the despair, focused on the man in his arms. Determined to gather as many memories as he could of Aleric, for they would need to last him an eternity.

He grabbed Aleric’s arse, fingers pushing the soft wool of his trousers between his firm cheeks. Tongues twining, lips crushed together, they ground against each other, working each other into a fever pitch. Fluid seeped from the tip of his cock, dampening his breeches. Every move they made caused the slick satin to rub over the head of his cock in an agonizingly sweet caress.

An impending orgasm gripped his spine, teased his ballocks. Not yet! He wanted to be inside Aleric, wanted the man beneath him, but the cramped confines of the carriage would pose a challenge.

But he couldn’t leave Aleric untended to—he had given the man his word, after all, that he’d be there for him. He could well remember that overpowering, yet confusing constant need, during the initial weeks after he had been turned. Raphael worked his hands between their bodies, jerked on the placket of Aleric’s trousers. One tug and the ties of his drawers snapped in two. Twisting his head, he broke the kiss and pushed on Aleric’s broad shoulders. “Get up. Turn around.”

“Why?” Aleric moved to lean back down. Raphael had to lock his arms straight to hold the larger man back. Turning Aleric into a vampire had not only amplified his emotions but his physical strength as well, leaving Raphael with the distinct impression Aleric could have broken his hold in a trice if he so chose. He stared at Raphael for a moment, his lips wet from their kisses, his chest heaving, his muscles hard as iron beneath Raphael’s hands. Then dawning comprehension replaced the bewilderment on Aleric’s face. “Oh, you want to bugger—”

“No. Not here,” he said with a quick shake of his head. “Something else. Just get up before we reach Mayfair.”

Happy Friday

Continuing on these very cool pictures. I love the expression for this one too.

Ava, what do you think? Couldn't he be Raphael in From Afar?




Everything's okay. Still on track to finish Still the One this weekend and I already know it will be released April 11, 2010.

Hope everyone has a good weekend ahead of them and look for an excerpt of Ava March's From Afar. It's one she has chosen just for my excerpt day so you won't see it anywhere else

The Nothing New Day

This is one of those days when I really have nothing to say. Sad, isn't it? I'd decided I was going to try to post something pretty much every day but what happens to days like this when there is nothing to report?

Hmm. I am anxious to finish Still the One. I love Dusty and Malcolm but others are calling to me. The good news is I am working toward their satisfying conclusion and I don't anticipate having any trouble finishing this weekend.

I'm waiting on two covers at present. I submitted my cover form for Still the One so I am waiting for that and of course the cover for Calvin and Matt's story, Only His Heart.

Once this one is out of the way, I intend to continue writing Jude's story and also to start the final "only" book, His One and Only starring Drew and Mark. Yes, I named Drew after our Drew. I have a tendency to name characters after some people I know and many of the characteristics of people I know, as well as myself, end up in the book.

On Saturday, the excerpt posted will be from Ava March's upcoming release, From Afar. I suggest you don't miss this book if you are an Ava fan because it will be a long time before her next one comes out. Isn't that right, Ava? lol.

Writing Sex

Today’s topic is writing sex.

I recently finished the first scene of an erotic nature between Matt and Calvin. Now I don’t know whether you guys know this or not but this is the most difficult part for me. Not because I am a prude. Obviously I am far from it. But it has become the part I most dread writing in my books.

I’ve basically come full circle on this. In the beginning, when I was writing romances of the non-erotic kind I dreaded writing the sex part. Though even non-erotic books have become more explicit these days back when I was concentrating on them you still had to use words like manhood.

Writing sex back then was a struggle for me because I didn’t want it to sound like insert tab a into tab b and as someone who struggles with description in her writing most of all (characterization and dialogue are more my forte), having to do entire scenes describing sex was no fun. I did it and most of them came out all right, but still I would heave a sigh of relief when the scene was done.

Then, I had the great fortune of meeting Ava March. I don’t think either of us had a clue when we were first introduced how well we would work together and how good of friends we would actually become (we email each other several times almost every day).

If I had not met Ava, I would never have the confidence to write erotic romance even though that was what I myself liked to read. When I wrote my first to homoerotic romances, Another Chance and The Squire, I found the sex pretty easy to write for the most part. Easier than I expected. It was still a smidge difficult for me, but it was getting better.

Several books after the sex got easier and less burdensome. But then along about the summer of 2009 I regressed back to those initial days and it has become something I dread.

There are a few reasons. Most notable is you want each scene to be erotic without repeating the same sex every book you write. With as many books as I have out now you can see how this can become hard (smirk). Sure Alex and Craig are different characters from Calvin and Matt for instance but let’s face it they all have the same parts. Ask almost any homoerotic author and they will tell you they face this same dilemma.

Another for me is, like the point of view characters in my scene, I want to make the sex the best it has ever been for my hero. Both physically and emotionally satisfying beyond belief. This is IT for these couples. While in reality I know real couples break up sometimes and move on to other lovers, these guys will always be together and so their reward MUST be mind-blowing sex. Can you imagine the pressure? Lol.

I am only going to mention one other reason and I am going to mention it only very, very briefly. I allowed a comment made by someone to bother me so much that it haunts the scene every single time I write it. My dear Shayne knows what I speak of.

Obviously in spite of these mostly self-made obstacles, I still manage to get past the scene. I hope some day soon I won’t dread them as much as I do now, because I love it when a reader enjoys reading about the love between my men. It makes all the struggle well worth it.

The M/M Meme I Was Tagged For

The too kind, EH (http://erotichorizon.blogspot.com/) tagged me for this M/M Meme

Rules:

1. Answer all the questions below in either the comments here or post it on your own site. If you post it on your own site you have to come back and give the link here so I/Kris can mosey on over and see if you have a sticky beak.

2. You have to tag two other people once you’re done and pester them relentlessly until they do the meme too.

3. Instead of a meme image thing you have to post a cookie, preferably a twofer. It is an m/m meme after all. ;)

Questions:

1. How long have you been reading GLBTQ fiction? Three or so years

2. What was the first book you read in this genre? Without Reservations by J.L. Langley

3. Are you 'out' as a reader? Yes. It’s hard not to admit to reading it since I write it. That being said there are always family members and friends who are “unaware”.

4. Ebooks, print or both? 90% ebooks. Even authors I previously read in paperback if the book is available for my Kindle I read it there.

5. Do you buy direct from publishers or from secondary sellers? Usually the publisher because as I am an author myself I know the author makes more from books sold directly from the publisher.

6. Prove you're a Book Slut. How many books would you say you buy a week? I used to buy many, many more than I do, but I can’t buy that many anymore because I don’t have much time to read as I am always writing. I’d say nowadays I probably buy about 5 a month.

7. Are you a cover, blurb or excerpt buyer? I’m actually an author buyer for the most part. Once I like an author I buy all their books regardless of the cover, blurb or excerpt. If I don’t know the author, I read the blurb if the cover has attracted me. I rarely read the excerpt before buying.

8. Yeah, you read reviews, but do you actually take notice of them? I do, but I don’t let a bad review of a book prevent me from buying it especially if it is an author I enjoy or I know the things mentioned in the review won’t bother me or I am aware I never agree with that particular reviewer. Generally I make up my own mind as to whether I will buy a book and rarely let the review influence me overmuch one way or the other.

9. Who's your fave publisher? Amber Allure, of course, lol.

10. What about authors? Your top two only!! Well like everyone else I have more than two but since I like to follow rules when I can I will mention only two. Grrrr. J.L. Langley and Ally Blue

11. Is there a sub-genre you particularly dis/like? I'm not too fond of BDSM or sci-fi, but there are exceptions to even that as I love J.L. Langley’s Sci-Fi books. I prefer contemporaries but can’t really say I will refuse to read any subgenre.

12. Short or long?? *rolls eyes* And, no, I'm not talking about cocks. I like shorter length really. Both as a writer and a reader. I like to be able to read many books so a 200,000 tome makes my eyes glaze over, sorry.

13. Anything turn you off about m/m or is all just glorious smut to you? I hate anything to do with bodily fluids other than come. I have had the extreme displeasure of reading a book with details I found too gruesome to stomach. I am also not fond of fisting in books and will skip over any scene that involves it.

14. Finish this sentence. You know it's m/m twu wuv when...you’ll kiss the guy first thing in the morning even though he has morning breath. What the hell? Weird question. I think you are trying to go with M/M clichés but everything in writing has been done before and to death.

15. What trope or theme are you heartily sick of in m/m romance? Sneak ménages. I want to know if there is a ménage scene even if it’s just one time with the best friend or the guy helping you in the dressing room or whatever and not be surprised by my two in love guys getting it on with a surprise third. At least then if I know I can make up my mind whether to read it or not.

16. If you could choose any 3 characters for a m/m/m who would they be? Aiden from My Fair Captain by J. L. Langley, Keaton Reynolds from Without Reservations by J. L. Langley, and Lord Oliver from Bound by Deception by Ava March. As you can tell I like the pretty boys.

17. What new GLBTQ release are you most hanging out for right now? Can I say my own in December? No? Um, the next book by A.M. Riley. Forget its name, but that’s the one. One of my favorite authors definitely.

18. What GLBTQ book has completely blown you away this year?
The Elegant Corpse by A.M. Riley

19. What do you think we'll see more of in m/m romance in 2010? Vampires, BDSM, werewolves, historicals, and mystery/suspense.

20. Don't you agree that author Josh Lanyon should kill off arsehole character Jake Riordan? No I am waiting for the asshole (sorry I am American and it’s an ass not an arse) to redeem himself. I believe in redemption.

Tag:

Ava March - http://avamarch.blogspot.com/

Devon Rhodes - http://devonrhodes.blogspot.com/

Random Updates Part 23

Two things.

1) Kathleen has not emailed me yet for her prize. Kathleen, are you still wanting it? Please let me know at authorshawnlane@gmail.com

2) I was talking to my CP the other day, Ava March, about an idea I had for a fairy tale that would have princes instead of a prince and princess and instead of discouraging me from writing it she actually ENCOURAGEd me to write it. Can you believe that? Anyway, it would be a take-off of Sleeping Beauty called, Waking the Prince. I sort of thought of it when I saw Samhain asking for fairy tale stories for their anthology next year. Will I write it for them? Not sure. Honestly, I haven't had much luck with Samhain. But I might write the story anyway.

Ah, A Long Weekend

Nothing all that new and exciting to report.

Beyond the Norm seems to be doing well in its first couple days of release so I am pleased about that.

I got my galley for Sweet Reunion so I will be going over that over the long weekend.

And my few days of rest after completing Ticket to Ride must officially come to an end and work begins in earnest on Twice in a Lifetime.

Also the most generous Barbara of the fabulous blog, Happily Forever After, who did some work on Ava March's blog has generously offered to tweak mine if I so desire and of course I do. So watch out for a new look sometime soon (got to figure out what I want).

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What are you working on now?

I am working on Ticket to Ride. The story premise is that just as a has-been rock star is looking to make his come back his boyfriend announces he is leaving him. Then the boyfriend ends up being murdered. I have no idea of the length. It’s supposed to be finished by September.

2) Anything else?

I’m also working on Pieces. It’s a story of depression and moving on from grief and finding or re-finding new love. One hero’s boyfriend killed himself and he’s having trouble moving on from that and it’s going to take him falling in love all over again with his first love to get his happily-ever-after.

3) Sorcerer’s Lover 2 just released, do you have any more sequels in the works?

Sorcerer’s Lover will definitely have a third installment. In the third one, the war between Benedict’s brothers, James and Henry, will heat up and at least one of them will look to using Warin’s powers to become king. I am anticipating late 2009 or early 2010 for that one.

I am also intending to conclude Nick and Ray’s story from The Other Side 2 as well as get out Ray’s brother, Devon’s story at some point. Those are the only sequels planned at present.

4) You seem to write pretty fast. How do you do it?

I don’t know, really. It’s something I’ve always been able to do when forced but lately I have been slowing down a bit. Which is why I have only got Until the End of Time to release at the end of July for Amber Quill and Beyond the Norm to release in September for Dreamspinner Press. Nothing else is completed but as mentioned I am working on it.

5) Do you read reviews of your work?

Sometimes. I am learning the painful lesson some people just won’t like your work. I’ve gotten great reviews and bad reviews, but honestly I don’t see either kind affecting the sales for my books much. I know for myself, as a consumer, I don’t really pay attention to reviews on review sites when choosing books for myself.

I pay more attention to reader reaction than review sites and for the most part I have gotten very positive reader reaction to the majority of my stories. It’s always lovely getting an email from a reader or a comment on the blog from someone who loved my story. That always makes me very happy.

Any person who puts out their work whether it is writing or acting or painting is going to be subject to criticism. There are millions of people in the world and we don’t all like the same things.

6) Do you have a writing routine?

No. I don’t write for so many hours or force myself to work on any given day. I try to write every day but it just doesn’t work for me. I usually write at the day job at lunch during the work week. Sometimes at night when I come home and I am vegging in front of the television I can get a little more done. And on the weekends I might get 500 words done for the entire time. But if I am determined to write and finish something I will work a lot more and a lot faster. When I decided to do Until the End of Time I got 2,000 or more words done on that per day.

7) Do you plot or just write as it comes to you?

Well, every story is different. Right now as I am working on Ticket to Ride I am just writing it. Don’t know who the killer is or why or anything. I know the killer is not Chad or the cop-love interest, Jack. But for Beyond the Norm I pretty much knew where I wanted to go with that story when I started. Same with Trust. Those were both plotted in my head before I wrote them. I rarely ever sit down and write down a plot even when I do have the plot in mind. I store them in my brain.

8) When are you going to write the Regency lord and butler story?

I have visions of myself starting that in late summer or early fall. But it’s also entirely possible it will have to be pushed to early 2010.

9) Do you have any advice for aspiring writers of the m/m genre?

First, please read and enjoy the genre you are writing. Don’t just start writing it because you hear it is the hot thing. If you don’t enjoy the genre readers will know. I was reading m/m well before I ever penned the first one (Another Chance). The other thing is join writing groups, on line chapters are good if you can’t find a local one, RWA now has a Rainbow chapter, find a critique partner you mesh with, and finish the story. Endless re-writes of your beginning chapter will get you no where. In order to get published you have to submit. If you can’t find a critique partner, enter a few contests that will take the genre and get some feedback that way. Also, research publishers who publish what you write. Read their stories and get a feel for what they like.

10) Since your first published erotic romance, The Squire, came out a year ago is there anything you’ve done to promote your books that you think has worked?

Actually, I joined a reader’s site called, Goodreads. I was talked into it, really, by Ava March, but I am glad I did. I have been able to talk about different books we’ve all read or wanted to read in the genre and gotten some great recommendations I might never have known about without them. I’ve also met some really wonderful readers that I have become good friends with, Shellie for instance, and my favorite person in the universe, Shayne. I’m extremely grateful for their kindness and friendship. And I know both have convinced other readers to try my books and I can’t thank them enough for their support.

Ava's Favorite Gay Romances

(by Ava March, official moocher of Shawn's blog)

Hi all! Shawn gave me the nudge to post my own list of favorite gay romances, so here it is, in random order.

Seeking Redemption: Aiden and Ethan by Cameron Dane – Dane really knows how to write ubber angst, and since I’m an angst junkie, I just lap it up. This book also has the added plus of featuring two best friend heroes who were on the cusp of becoming lovers on the day they graduated from high school, only to be torn apart. The love that Ethan feels for Aiden in the prologue feels so real – that young love, that ‘yes, I will go away with you and only be with you’ love. So wonderfully pure and untainted, and a stark contrast to the man Ethan has become in chapter one.

Diving in Deep by K.A. Mitchell – I’ve read this one countless times. Like Stacey, this is a go-to book for me. The book doesn’t have big external elements – there are no killers and no family drama. It’s Cam and Noah’s story. The sex scenes burn up the page, and Noah’s internal angst really tugs at my heart.

Pyromancer by Amanda Young – The first Amanda Young book that I read, and the one that turned me into a fan girl. There is just something about Christian & Tanner that really appeals to me. Perhaps it’s that Tanner has steel in his spine, despite the fact he’s so young and turning tricks to pay the bills. Or perhaps it’s that Christian is so achingly lonely.

Faith and Fidelity by Tere Michaels – The prologue is heartbreaking and sets the tone for the book. This one is light on the actual sexual elements but high on sexual tension and angst as Evan and Matt, two men who had never thought of themselves as gay, go from friendship to love, leaning on each other and helping each other out through the hard times.

The Squire and At Long Last by Shawn Lane – I had a hard time narrowing this down to two favorite Shawn books. I love her first m/m book – Another Chance – and not just because it’s a Regency. But The Squire and At Long Last have a tiny bit of an edge. Shawn has a knack for crafting characters that just suck me into a book. Duncan is so innocent and curious, and the fact he’s not a very good squire makes him even more lovable. As for At Long Last, Shawn made me totally believe Preston’s struggles with his sexuality – it felt so very real.

My Fair Captain and The Englor Affair – No list of favorites would be complete without at least one J.L.Langley book. I can’t possibly choose between the two, so I included both. Though, like Shawn, MFC probably gets the edge because I absolutely adored Aiden. I also love J.L. Langley’s novella, With Love. Just re-read that one the other day. Lainey….he’s so darn adorable!!


That’s my list, and I just realized that while I myself write only historicals, that there is only one historical on my list of favorite m/m books, and it's not a Regency. Interesting. I do read historicals, and there are a handful that were very close to making the list. But when Shawn asked me about posting my own list of favorites, these were the books that first popped into my head. These are the ones I re-read, the ones that stick with me long after ‘the end’. And the ones that suck me back into the book when I start thinking about them again. …yeah, I was supposed to post earlier today, but I kept opening up books, and re-reading, instead of typing up my post. :D

Feel free to share your own list of favorite gay romances!

Thanks!
Ava
http://www.avamarch.com/

Jane Austen, M/M Romance, & Opposites Attract…

(by Ava March – official moocher of Shawn’s blog)

…three of my favorite things. I love Jane Austen. My favorite book of hers is Pride and Prejudice (which some of you may have picked up on already). I love M/M romances, and I love Opposites Attract story lines. And yes, all three things actually go together.

When I read Austen’s books, I can’t help but think that some of her heroes would be better suited to each other, than to their heroines. Not just my favorites, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, but also Mr. Knightley and Frank Churchill (Emma), and Edward Ferrars and John Willoughby (Sense and Sensibility). Of course, this could be because I tend to have M/M romances on the brain - I do write them and spend a lot of time mulling over new plots and characters. But Austen’s works are also prime ground for my overactive imagination because she tended to write one reserved/pragmatic hero and one playboy/easy-going hero. My personal opinion (and I’m no literary scholar) is that Austen used the two types of heroes to play off each other and drive the primary heroine to her ultimate hero.

I personally love to write gay heroes who appear as opposites but actually go together perfectly. I find the dynamics of such a pairing quite interesting. Letting the heroes smack into each other and bouncing back rather like the ends of a magnet, until they snap together like puzzle pieces. And no, not just in the physical sense. *g* But that moment when they realize how well they complement each others’ strengths and weakness, making each stronger when they are together.

That’s pretty much the underlying theme of a novella I just finished. In Convincing Arthur, one hero is the ultimate rakehell, just seeped in vice and debauchery, while the other is the workaholic solicitor. Shawn also uses opposites in a number of her books. The Other Side is a prime example, along with At Long Last, The Squire and Pulling Away, to name a few. And I also happen to know that Car Wash, which will be out in June, features a yummy pair of opposites. I love Kevin!!! He's so darn cute. *squee*

OK. Fan girl moment over, back to the post. Opposites and Austen. My personal favorite pair that never was is Bingley and Darcy. Darcy is so stuffy and reserved, and he’s not much of a social butterfly, to the point where he’s a bit intimidated to attend a country dance. But easy-going, sociable Bingley would be perfect for him, tempering Darcy’s rigid exterior. Darcy’s so aware of social standing whereas Bingley is so unassuming he doesn’t even realize he’s the object of every match-making mama. Plus, Bingley's the type to fall in love at first sight whereas Darcy has to analyze everything. The two men are the best of friends in the book, which emphasizes my belief that they’d be well suited to each other.

And Frank Churchill doesn’t really want Jane Fairfax. He’d be better suited to Knightley.

(and please excuse Frank’s hair – I don’t know what the stylists were thinking. Poor Ewan McGregor.)

My second favorite pair that never was is actually Edward and Willoughby.

All right, so that’s a rather brooding picture of Willoughby, but I think it’s hot so I included it. Perhaps this one suits the post better -

See...so happy. The devil-may-care playboy who takes Marianne for fast carriage rides about the countryside. And I think Edward would be a total missionary-man if left to his own devices (or if left with Elinor), so he needs someone like Willoughby to spice him up. *g*

So there you have it – why Jane Austen’s works inspire me to pen M/M erotic romances. Who is your favorite Austen pair that never was? Do you like Opposites Attract storylines, or do you have a different favorite? And what movies/books inspire you?

Thanks!!!

-Ava

Bound to Him, Loose Id

Object of His Desire, Samhain

Convincing Arthur, Loose Id/July 2009

www.avamarch.com

Friday at Last

I am so close to being finished with Beyond the Norm I can taste it. Or something.

Anyway, my plan is to finish it this weekend and get it off to determine its fate in the publishing world. It feels like I have been working on Kyle and Dave's story forever, but of course I haven't. The books only going to end up somewhere around 23,000 words or so.

Hopefully life won't get in the way of my plans. I have Saturday free to do as I wish so it should be doable.

Current Song I'm Listening to Over and Over: Just My Imagination by The Temptations. Truly a beautiful, touching, heartbreaking song. But I don't know, does this make me too much like Ava March and I'm listening to old timer's music?

And here is a teaser for Car Wash:

Reaching into his back pocket, Kevin pulled out the pad of paper where he marked what washing packages the owners chose. He went to the head of the line and started taking care of customers. He didn’t even look up for several moments, having no idea the size of the line.

Jose, who stood near him ready to vacuum the interiors, whistled. “Caliente.”

Kevin glanced up from the pad. Just a couple cars away was a dark red Maserati. Kevin recalled seeing it in a magazine advertisement. He thought the name of that particular model was the GranTurismo. His jaw dropped. He swallowed heavily, unable to keep from staring, but not at the sleek, sexy speed demon. Rather his gaze was fixated on the hot as hell guy behind the wheel.

The god had dark wavy hair and he wore deep, dark shades. Sensuous, kissable lips. Kevin’s tongue slipped out and he ran it along his own lips, imagining what the other man’s mouth would feel like. Even though he was still a couple spots away, Kevin could see he wore a suit. Broad shoulders filled out that suit. He frowned. Damn, but there was something disturbingly familiar about the man.

Jose nudged him.

Kevin blinked out of his stupor and realized the woman in the sedan in front of him glared at him. “Sorry, ma’am.” He flashed the woman his don’t-you-just-think-I’m-adorable smile. “You wanted the standard wash, right?”

He wracked his brain, trying to think of why the Maserati guy looked familiar. Someone famous?
The Maserati finally pulled up to him. The man smiled. Oh, lord, the god had dimples.

“Yum,” Kevin said, before he could stop himself.

Mr. Maserati lowered the sunglasses. Dark, chocolate eyes framed by impossibly long lashes stared back at him. “Kevin? Kevin Flaherty?”

Michael Bennett. It couldn’t be. But it was.

Bound to Him by Ava March is released

Lord Vincent Prescot’s life couldn’t be better. Thriving investments, well-respected by his peers, and mind blowing sex with a man who submits to his every desire -- what more could he want?Lord Oliver Marsden should be more than happy with his life. He’s been in love with Vincent for over a decade and six months ago the impossible happened and they became lovers. But since then, nothing has changed. More specifically, Vincent hasn’t changed. Oliver has tried to be patient -- it took a lot for Vincent to accept the fact he preferred men. But what felt like a tiny distance between them six months ago now feels like an ever-widening chasm. Why can’t Vincent stay the night? Is it too much to ask for Vincent to call him Oliver and not Marsden? He knows Vincent cares for him, but does Vincent love him?Then Vincent’s father asks him for a favor -- one that involves marriage. If Vincent agrees, he’ll have the respect he’s craved from his father his entire life but he could lose Oliver. Nor does Oliver make the decision easy. To keep Oliver, he’ll have to do more than deny his father. He’ll have to give Oliver his heart.

Bound to Him from Loose Id, LLC

Congratulations to Ava on the release