4/30/2016 1 Comment Flash Fiction~So Sweet and ColdEarlier this month one my writing groups had a contest to write a story of revenge at 1250 words or less. Normally this type of thing immediately causes my mind to go utterly blank, and every story idea ever hides from me. This time, however, I was inspired, perhaps because just writing it was a sort of revenge. To my surprise, I won the blind vote (stories were published anonymously by the admin and votes were tallied by # of likes.). (Cake is in the mail to me, hahaha!) This is the winning story: His name is Mica. Mee-ka. At first I think it’s a dumb name, and I kind of hate him. But it’s impossible to pretend he’s not gorgeous. Just shy of six feet tall with curly hair the colour of pumpernickel. Big brown eyes framed with feathery lashes. A fuck-me gorgeous mouth. And I haven’t even got to his broad shoulders, washboard abs and sweet ass. Or the jeans he wears so tight I can tell you he dresses to the right. I’m not his type. He’s dating The Bitch, after all. I run into him at the coffee shop, literally. On purpose, but I pretend it’s an accident. “I’m so sorry,” I apologize, rubbing at spilled coffee on his shirt front. “I just live around the corner, I think I have shirt that will fit you? The least I can do.” He’s annoyed, but also amused. I’m very hands-on with my help. Did I mention the abs? I’d have licked the spilled coffee off him. “I’m seeing someone,” he says when it’s clear I’m being a little too helpful. His choice of words gives me hope. I back off with a sheepish smile. “Sorry.” I give him another smile and offer, “Can I at least buy you a drink at Bolt’s? Strictly platonic, just to square us up?” That’s where she met him. He looks bemused, like he’s never had someone like me come on to him before. Maybe he hasn’t. “I guess,” he says, then more decisively, “Sure.” *** Bolt’s is busy, it’s Friday night. We’ve exchanged names but not numbers. I already knew his name. It’s not him I want to hurt. I wave and call, “Mica!” when I see him. He’s funny, more relaxed than I thought he’d be, knowing I’m attracted to him. I begin to feel a little bad that he’ll be caught in the middle of this. Still, I’m doing him a favour, really. We’re three drinks in and our seats have drawn closer when he gets a text. “Shit,” he says. “Girlfriend. I’m supposed to--she wanted to go out tonight.” “Been seeing her awhile?” I ask, knowing exactly how long it’s been. “Long enough a night out without her shouldn’t be an issue. We caught a movie last night and have firm plans for tomorrow and Sunday.” He frowns, as if just noticing the way she wants all his time. She’s manipulative. I’m doing him a favour. “It’s not like we’re on a date,” I joke, holding up two fingers as the waitress makes eye contact. Mica laughs, and it sounds self-conscious. I wonder if he’s been wondering. He gets two more texts before I take his phone and turn it off. I hand it back to him with a smile. “Been there, done that. She won’t kill you for one night on your own.” He stares at his phone as if he’s not sure, and our drinks arrive. He shrugs at me with a sheepish smile and puts it away. “Guess not.” I told myself I would go to any lengths, even drugs, but I can’t do it. I really like him. I decide I have to seduce him the usual way, with charm and guile. He’s already flinging an arm across my shoulders and telling me how nice I am. He’s even said I have pretty eyes, though he blushed when he said it. We’re talking about dumb things our Facebook friends post and laughing uproariously. I’m watching our drinks because I want him relaxed, curious, willing, but also able. He leans in, beery breathed, still giggling and our foreheads bump. I kiss him before he can move back, a solid kiss, but not too aggressive. When I open my eyes, he’s staring at me confused. “Feels the same,” he says. “Do it again.” I smile and kiss him again, and he kisses me back this time. People are staring. “Let’s go back to your place,” I suggest in a soft murmur. “I can’t. I have a girlfriend, it wouldn’t be… I mean, it wouldn’t, would it?” “It’s up to you,” I say. I realize I mean it. I’ve discovered that not only is Mica fuckably hot, he’s funny, interesting. I hope he says yes, let’s go home. Is it significant, I wonder, that The Bitch and I have the same taste in men? He stares at me, his arm still around my shoulders. “Okay,” he says. “But just, you know, for another drink.” *** “This is weird,” he says. His eyes are closed and he’s running his fingers through my hair, across my face, like a blind man. “I can’t tell the difference.” I capture one hand, draw his thumb into my mouth. He gasps. I let it slide out and lean in to kiss him, a proper kiss, lips opening to tongues, deep, hungry. I’m careful to keep my body angled just far enough from his, so he continues to not notice the differences between me and The Bitch. We’re on his sofa. While he’s distracted by kisses, his hands grasping my head, I’ve taken his phone. I open one eye and find The Bitch’s number. I dial it and toss the phone to the table, face down. She’ll hear enough. I unbutton his shirt, swallowing his moans of pleasure. He opens his eyes in shock as I trail my hand over that glorious torso. I think I’m close enough to him he can forget I’m not The Bitch, not any woman. I think that’s why he can let himself do this. It’s not cheating if he’s not sticking his dick in a strange pussy, right? I pop the button on his jeans, tug at the zipper. He’s hard, it strains the fabric, and he doesn’t help me, but he says, “Oh, fuck yes…” He’s loud, when his mouth isn’t covered by mine. The Bitch has sucked his cock. She’s sucked mine, too. I’m better than she is; Mica is never going to forget this night. Maybe, if he doesn’t figure out that my original motive was to hurt The Bitch for dumping me, show her how it feels to know your partner is fucking someone else… maybe he’ll call me when she dumps him.
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4/5/2016 2 Comments What do April Snows bring...?Some groundhog somewhere is just dying to have his spring-predicting head snapped off... Earlier this year I posted about my Adventures in Book Trailers. These were inspired by Brian Paone, who has a book nominated for the Hugos this year. He's a marketing guru (how I learned about book trailers, ha!). He also advocates audiobooks... Audiobooks and YouTube get together at Storytime with Whimsey. She's read a couple of authors I know, including the above mentioned Brian Paone ~ "Outside of Heaven", and my friend Paul Edward Fitzgerald ~ "Don't Open the Door!" ...I might have done some artwork for the videos... Check 'em out! (remember--bold is a clickable link!)
3/24/2016 1 Comment WiP ~ Another M/M FairytaleAs some of you know, I sent City of Dreams back to LT3 for consideration for a different anthology. They'll either admire my determination or ban me from submitting anything to them EVER. The story is just under 18k words. And Prince of the Stable is on Kindle, part of the Kindle Select program, which means it's exclusive to Kindle until May-ish. It is also just under 18k words. So I thought I ought to, just in case, write a third m/m fairytale to maybe bundle together for a small print book, maybe in old fashioned paperback size, rather than the splashy, popular trade paperback size. I mean even if LT3 accept City of Dreams--and they should, because it's awesome--the rights will one day revert to me. And if they like it, they might like this new one, too... either way, as Sil would point out, an alternative plan would not be amiss. I thought I would share my "process" since I thought of it. I've got a working title of Heart of the Matter, and like the other stories, drawing elements from a variety of fairytales, primarily Snow White. I'm going to post an excerpt of the very beginning of how I work, because it's very hard for me to describe in author interviews and such.
And that, kids, is what my "process" looks like: bits of notes, questions to self, random dialogue. Amazing to think it ever all becomes a coherent story, eh?
3/18/2016 6 Comments Writing: The Hard PartsWriting can seem to have its share of hurdles, but anyone who's gotten to The End knows that the hard parts are yet to come. Beyond editing the piece to within an inch of its life, comes the really difficult bits: shopping it around, writing a blurb, a synopsis, a query letter. Waiting a min. of twelve weeks to learn if you can shop it elsewhere. And if you're self-publishing, then you need to format correctly, and get a decent cover, and blurb.
And the promoting, You want to promote your work without being that annoying person who is always saying, "buy my shit!" Howzzat work? Well, helpful websites are eager to tell you. Provide useful information. Hmm, well, I certainly help you to avoid crappy books by reading and reviewing them for you...right? Be fun, upbeat. No, failed that one. I have books in my stack of reviews to do that I really liked, and they're so much harder to write than the books I didn't. Snark comes easy to me. You'd think I could write villains just like *snap* but no, my characters get all my good humour, witty banter, and kindness. I'm not even snarky in a useful way, like Chuck Wendig (check out his blog, btw. I want to be him when I grow up.) So I'm asking you, my readers (all four of you), what would YOU like to see on this blog, besides more awesomely mean reviews? Oh, and I need a picture... hang on... 3/9/2016 1 Comment Cabaret~Cover Test
3/1/2016 0 Comments A Line Drawn in Quicksilver
A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall
My rating: 1 of 5 stars, DNF I read the description for this book and I was really anticipating it, it sounded like a unique and very interesting way to tell a romance! Nope. I made it through Chapter one by sheer dint of will. Chapter one consists of no less than ten different, first person POV, including the fucking park bench. And frankly all the voices sounded so much alike, it was hard to tell who the hell "I" was without going back up to decipher the name from the curly font (whoever picked that typography...). I was expecting each chapter to be a different -- and for the love of all that's wordy, there are mechanics to writing! -- third person POV on the love story, which would have been cool. There is little worse than anticipating a good, unique story and finding out it's the dog's breakfast in terms of style and voice. View all my reviews 2/21/2016 0 Comments Good StuffToday I'm going to tell you about a blog that is not my blog, because I'm a snarky bitch and when I try to think of things to write in my blog, that aren't snarky, I usually draw a blank. Hijinksblog is by a wonderful person and, unlike my blog, offers useful writing tips for writers of all skill levels. Julia discusses everything from the ultra newbie dilemma of "How to Begin" and covers important topics like how to handle backstory and avoid the dreaded Mary Sue. I just mock those things. She helps prevent them. She is a hero. Also, every time she posts a link, the image from her blog comes up--it's a delicious, enticing mug of rich, hot chocolate. However, as generous and heroic as Julia is, she does not offer a hot chocolate recipe. So my dear readers, I am offering a hot chocolate recipe you can savour as you read her blog.
2/14/2016 0 Comments Happy Valentine's Day
2/12/2016 1 Comment Book Trailers II, the Sequel A few people asked me about the hows of making a book trailer--I know, right?! [interrobang love]. First, let's talk about "free". It's true we can make book trailers with no outlay of cash, but our time is worth something, too. If you put in twenty hours on a book trailer and it still looks like something drunken swamp monsters made, you have saved nothing. Pay someone. (That applies to book covers, too.) With that disclaimer out of the way, here's the "ingredient list" Windows Movie Maker Video loops (links at end of post) Music (links at end of post) images of your book/cover quotes from your book reviewer quotes (if avail) Other wordy things you want to communicate. It saves time to have all the wordy things (quotes, website addresses, etc.) organized and easy to access, maybe put 'em all in an .rtf file. Picking and choosing what to include can be the most time consuming part. The second time consumer is poring over the video loop and music sites to pick the just right ones to use. Once you have all the "ingredients", we approach the third time consumer: putting it all together. 1. Open WMM and drag all your video, images, and music in. WMM will automatically link it all into a "movie" in the order you've added them, but that's okay, that's where we start. Now, many people "add titles" -- don't do that, that creates the amateurish look we want to avoid. Instead, move your video loop to the beginning (if it isn't already there) and use "add caption" that will put words on your loop. You can pick your font, point, position, and then decide on the animation. WMM has quite a few to choose from. You also have options to control how long the effect lasts, and it will run faster if you choose a shorter time. That matters because it should match the speed of your music. If you've chosen a slow majestic piece of music and your words move too fast... The words also need to be onscreen long enough to be read. The fewer the words, the less time they need to be there. These times can be adjusted at any point in the process. Use the preview button often. 2. The video loop might be a full minute or more long, so you'll need to use video tools to split it. I'm not going to go too far into stylistic details like how soon to flash your book cover and all that because I've made two book trailers and I'm only slightly less in the dark about the mysteries than you are. I wanted to get my cover up right after running a flashy title sequence, so that's what I did. WMM has some transitions you can play with, fades and swipes, so it's a smooth process. In my second trailer, I made a .jpg of the cover to the right on a black background (the same one WMM uses) so I had space to add words ("add captions") --I'll include my second book trailer at the end so you can see what I mean. Again, under video tools, you have an option to control how long the image displays, and that time will depend on if you're just showing your cover, or if there are additional words. Watch the preview to ensure you can read it. Basically, you're interspersing stills with your video loop (you can use your own video, if you're that skilled and resourceful, of course). 3. The last part of the trailer should be acknowledgements for the video loop(s) and music and any other talent you need to credit (like your cover designer, if it wasn't you). Note that adding or changing transitions often moves your captions, so watch for that in the preview to make sure there's not a lot of blank screen or looping video with no words. Once the visuals all work to your satisfaction it's time to think about that music. 4. Many music tracks are two-three minutes long, so you want to listen to the whole thing to know which part you want to use. Just as you can split video, you can also split music (music editing tools). Now you start looking at the beats of the music and the transitions of your video and images and caption animations. Ideally you're matching them, while not messing up the length of time it takes to read the words. This, for me, is the hardest part, and I suppose it doesn't need to be done, but look at a video where it's been done and one where it hasn't. It's subtle wow factor. Watch it over and over to make sure you got all the timing as right as you can then you can save it directly to YouTube or to your computer (so you can upload it on your Amazon author page, haven't looked to see if Goodreads allows uploading of videos). Don't forget to save your project in the WMM work file, in case you misspelled your main character's name or some other goof that you completely missed because you were focussed on other things. Not like that happened to me. Nope. So here is my second trailer, for A Line Drawn in Quicksilver. Which is not available at all find ebook retailers, in spite of what the trailer says, This is a sneak peek for your eyes only. VIDEO LOOPS
http://movietools.info/ http://www.motionbackgroundsforfree.com/ http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/video/_ (music clips, too) (you can also Google "free video loops") Many of these free loops are available under the Creative Commons attribution license (CC-BY) meaning you must give credit where credit is due. Read the the copyright information! MUSIC http://www.purple-planet.com/ https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary http://incompetech.com/music/ Again--Read the copyright information! Some, especially from the YouTube audio library, need no attribution at all, others do. If you're having trouble figuring out Windows Movie Maker, just Google WMM tutorials, there's lots of help available online! HAVE FUN! |
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