Where the heck have I been?

Working the EDJ, that's for sure. It's been crazy, and I haven't been writing lately.

Also trying to place my latest book - and guess, what? Success! Loose Id has contracted for my book, Brainy and the Beast, and I'm very happy. It should publish this April.

Stay tuned for more...

Being Part of the Good

The world we live in is a complex, dangerous place. All one has to do for verification of that is turn on the news, or check the Internet. Stories of war, cruelty and evil abound. We have to look harder to find stories that make us smile, or laugh, or even shed a tear of joy. Sometimes I get philosophical when I'm faced with the bad and evil acts that occur all too often around the globe.

Romance, in any of its many facets, is a counterpoint to the brutal realism we face with regularity. The ways of love, and the stories of love, help us believe in a better world, that there is hope for us. At the very least, romance is an escape. At its best, it is a reflection of our inner selves, the love inside that needs to be expressed and shared.

M/M romance is a part of the romantic fiction genre that is fast growing, finding new readers all the time. The growth and growing acceptance of this sub-genre has been amazing, and add to the hope I feel for this human race. The exposure to more and more people, most of them reportedly straight females, demonstrates to me a growing acceptance of the variations of love.

I was at a romance readers/authors meeting this spring. In one of the sessions, a panel member was asked why straight women read m/m romance. I listened to a few answers from panel members before I volunteered my own. "Women want to know that men can fall in love." To me, the messaging behind M/M, if one wants to look for such, is the representation and verification that men are capable of the deep feelings, profound thought processes, and the both sweet and goofy behavior that comprises love. 

We need reminding that humanity is inherently good, that most of the world goes about its days functioning in a productive, constructive way. Reading, writing, believing in romance is an important part of the good. We need to perpetuate it, to expand it, to spread the hope and the love far and wide.

In doing so, we don’t just spread love; we open minds and we foster tolerance and acceptance. Seems to me the world could use a heck of a lot more of that. 

Marketing With Mandy

Mandy Roth kindly hosts authors now and again - and yesterday I was lucky enough to be spotlighted on her blog. She had some great questions - and I have to say my answers weren't half bad.

Marketing With Mandy

MANtastic Fiction

This week I'm featured over at Mantastic Fiction. Dolorianne is graciously hosting 2012 GayRomLit authors and I'm up for week 19.

 JM Cartwright Hopes

Stop by and take a look!

Round Table discusses GAYS IN THE COMICS!

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Meme: Lucky Seven

Guh. I'm late to the ball - surprise - but I'm here. Lucky 7 it is. 

Here's a shot from my just completed work, Brainy And The Beast. On page 7, down to the 7th line, here goes: 

"They're good swimmers." I shrugged, not quite knowing what else to say. My fingers tapped restlessly over the keyboard. Now that the work ticket was filled, I was feeling a little nervous. God knows why. Not like the first time I was talking to a guy I found attractive. Right?

"I see." He seemed to like saying that.

Great. I'd completely killed any chance of having this guy take me seriously. At least, seriously enough to get laid. Jesus, when would I learn to keep my mouth shut? I blew out a breath. No hope for it -- might as well get back to work. "Okay. I'm going to go back in the shop, so that I can try to get to your car sometime today." 

I've actually finished Brainy And The Beast

This has been a long time coming, and I apologize up front to readers who've been asking and waiting for my next book. It's been somewhat of a struggle because this book refused to quit. The characters kept talking and doing things. Geez! Anyway, it's now at 91,344 words and I've sent it to my editor. She'll take a few weeks to do her thing, then I hope it's polished and ready to submit to a publisher.

Whoa. I've been waiting to be able to say that, let me tell you!

If it's accepted, I sure hope I get a 2012 publishing date. *Fingers crossed!*

Anyway, now I can focus on some smaller projects, then I want to get going on Antonio's story - On The Ball. Antonio is Brandon Halvorsen's friend and he appeared off-screen in The Trouble With Angel.