Veinglory

Divine by Mistake is a revised version of a novel first published as Goddess by Mistake. It is the story of Shannon Parker a teacher who is magically transported to a world full of mythical creatures. She takes the place of a warrior priestess of the Goddess Epona and soon finds herself in a traditional marriage to a sexy Shaman centaur. She must then rally her people to face an invasion by evil winged creatures who are seizing and impregnating human women.

As a huge centaur fan I was predisposed to like this book, which is clearly very popular with both romance and fantasy fans. Indeed, I found this book very easy to read and entertaining. Shannon is a personable protagonist and the action is fast-paced. I found the centaur characters appealing and the dialogue engaging. The interplay between secondary characters is well written and creates interest in reading more about this word and its denizens.

However I also found I simply couldn't comfortable from the point that mass abductions, rapes and murders are revealed that Shannon is still shown (in terms of where her thoughts and attentions are most often described as lying) as being largely preoccupied with making puns, habing sex, choosing accessories and taking an endless number of luxurious baths. It isn't that Shannon lacks empathy, some brief scenes are genuinely very moving, but the bulk of the prose tends to rest on flirting, bad jokes and wardrobe. The chick-litty first person and the tragedy of the events never gelled for me as a reader. I also considered the triumphant ending some what sudden and derivative and many of the plot points in the last third of the book cast the hero and heroine's judgement in very poor light (i.e. they did stupid things that got more peole killed than necessary, victory was more despite than because of these actions).

I certainly don't regret the time or money I invested in the book and I will try one of the author's other works with a heroine who is not from modern America and so might seem less blithe and preoccupied with narrating the events in pop culture dialect. Most readers will probably not have the same "issues" I do and so should probably give a writer with PC Cast's obvious talents the benefit of the doubt and try her work for themselves.

Labels: P C Cast

Labels: sketchWEDNESDAY

Some great new cover art from Anne Cain for Father of Dragons-->

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There is a new review of Tongue Tied from Marcy Arbitman at Just Erotic Romance Reviews

In part: Ms. Veinglory's first book set in this contemporary other-world, is a hoot and a half! ... plot is smoothly handled, with surprises coming all the time ... I simply cannot wait until the next installment of The Wicca Man. Ms. Veinglory is magnificent! (5/5)

Wow. I think she liked it ;)

Labels: promoTUESDAY

Once caught, my love is a lasting ember.
It could bake bread all night and still
heat the morning bathwater.

Yet you keep asking for a visible flame.
It’s that kind of attitude that gets a man burnt --
if he’s the inflammable kind, it’s best to know.

But there should be a better way to
find men with hearts like hearth-stones
than setting them alight.




[poem train]

So one of the things I will be doing now is discussing how much I make at this writing game (i.e. not all that much, but I do have a day job). Towards the end of of the month, when all the cheques are in for the previous month, I will discuss how it went--giving earnings rounded to the nearest hundred dollars.

So, April earnings were: $900
I would consider this: very good

That amount is pretty good for me and mainly down to having a new release in April. Ebook sales are always massively higher in the first month when the book is new and displayed on the publisher's front page. Next month's figures will probably be down to around half of this amount.

Labels: habeus greenus

These aren't great pictures (Aaargh, look at the noise!), but hey--it's a blog not an art show. I get to play around a little. I like saturation, and contrast, and trees....




...I have 25 more pages to proofread then Father of Dragons is off to my editor. Anne Cain has done the cover and y'all are going to love it.

My TBR (to be read/reviewed) list -- (but not until after Friday when I submit Father of Dragons)

1. Divine by Mistake by PC Cast
2. Running Dry by M Christian
3. Reason to Beleive by Jessica Inclan
4. Muse by Leigh Ellwood
5. Pulling Strings by Jules Jones
6. Dark Horses and Black Beauties by Melissa Hollbrook Pierson
7. In the Dark by Rob Graham
8. Vrolock by Nolene by Patricia Dougan
9. Iridescent Invassion by Sapphire Phelan
10. Master of Obsidian by Jamie Craig
11. The Pleasure Palace by Sara Winters
12. Vampire in Sensible Shoes by Sasha Flynn
13. SummerWorld by Serdar Yegulalp

Labels: thursday13

Labels: sketchWEDNESDAY

I am trying a new experiment. Below is a feed for all my blog posts across the many blogs I contribute to. Topics include my writing, erotic romance genre writing in general, self-published fiction, romance writing by Australians, Alpha female romance and gay fiction.

Subscribe in a reader

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"Although I confess that centaurs are not my usual choice of characters to read, this trio of stories fascinated me. Each story is well written and engaging. Centaurfold amazed and intrigued me from start to finish."

Nannette, Joyfully Reviewed

"As with many books, A Heart In Shadows was, at its base, a story of good and evil, love and hate. This is the first book that I have read by Emily Veinglory and I was truly impressed."

Marcy Arbitman, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

Labels: byemilyveinglory, Centaurfold, Heart in Shadows, promoTUESDAY

I am packing which means I am finding weird random stuff that I drew or wrote over the years... don't ask me what I was thinking with this one:



[click picture to see full size]

It is a sad fact that I first heard of Katherine D. Jones on the occasion of her death. Like many black romance writers it seems her work never quite got the promotion, distribution or acclaim it merited. I have ordered a copy of 'Deep Down' to add to my reading pile.

As a writer of gay fiction I feel it is well past time I was more assertive in acquiring my reading material. Diversity should be the name of the game here. How many stories need to be told about wealthy big city white American girls? Sure, they are part of the picture... *part* of it.

So, join the reading diversity movement--heck, to hell with diversity, just reading the real world not the Barbie's Dream House (TM) version that seems to be the main stock and trade of romance fiction. Start with the works of Katherine D. Jones. Throw me some suggestions about where to go from there.

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Delivery estimate: May 31, 2007 - June 2, 2007 1 of:
Invisible Life: A Novel
Sold by: Amazon.com
1 of: Deep Down
Sold by: Amazon.com
1 of: Dark Thirst
Sold by: Amazon.com
1 of: Cuffed by Candlelight: An Erotic Romance Anthology (Noire Passion)
Sold by: Amazon.com

I am meant to turn in Father of Dragons on the 25th. Goal: 7000 words this week, written: 4790 words. Ergo and am off to writing furiously despite the glorious balmy weather--blurring the line between goals and gaols...

Labels: updateSATURDAY

Because any woman who possesses both a camera and a dog has a lot of these....

Labels: photoFRIDAY

Well, actually I am sure I did say that. (To quote Kathryn Falk: "It sounds like me").

“Fandom is a gateway ‘drug’ for erotica and romance reading and writing - not only for m/m,” explains Emily Veinglory, author of several popular erotica novels, including Eclipse of the Heart. “It helps modern people get over the stereotypes associated with both genres as ‘trash’ fiction only for the undereducated or perverted.”

From an article by C. Potts.

Labels: Did I say that?

No particular meaning here... but it is good to keep the pens and paints out and in use. I found the eye in the centre on the pavement on the same day I bought a new blank journal--some might say there is a connection. Or maybe it is just that I guess somewhere out there is a teddy bear with an eye-patch?

Labels: sketchWEDNESDAY

"King of Dragons, King of Men is a true fantasy tale that involves great magical beings and ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The story creates a believable magical but ordinary world that begs to be explored. Throughout the tale William, Allen and Margaret explore the morass of morals that is created by the love of two men and one woman." [Sabella, Joyfully Reviewed]

The picture today is a sketch I did about half way through writing KODKOM. Anne Cain was nice enough to use it as a basis for the eventually cover design.

Labels: KODKOM, promoTUESDAY

The best symbol of the States
for me, is found where urban sprawl
assumes each road is both
more and less 'traveled by'

we try to find our [
and cross each other's] way --
a white line intrudes
a tidy box within the fugue

and for a moment giving up
our progress, we give each other way,
take and make turns, or failing that
defer to what is right

in some dim way required
to understand each others minds --
and through a veil of glass
meet each other's eyes beneath

the ever flashing lights --
a glimpse of the people
[by the people, for the people]
in practice, rather less grand than any flag

but none the worse for that.





[poetry train]

Labels: poetryMONDAY

I will be blogging every second Sunday over at the MM Slash and Burn blog. Please come visit me there. (Yes, I am still going on about Peter Woodward).

My main project at the moment is Father of Dragons, intended for Samhain Press. My goal is 1020 words a day and over the last week I wrote 8784 words, so that's good. Of course the week before was not so good with all the job interviews so I still have some catching up to do.

I recently watched the TV series 'Crusade', a one-season spin off from Babylon 5. Too many cooks really did spoil what could have been a fine series, but the character of Galen has got me thinking. (The fact that I love bald men and good diction didn't hurt any re: the general fangrrl squee of it all....)

No new job yet. The one I was offered is still mired in work visa hell and not looking good. On the up side I can probably extend my stay here at least until the end of the year so I am not quite as desperate....

Labels: updateSATURDAY

I am going to try giving rough themes to the days of the week. This should prompt me to stay active in my various creative activities, both professional and amateur (or a little of both).



So I will start with photoFRIDAY. Here is a shot from this morning. I didn't realise until after I took the shot that this was a flag raised for the funeral of an American soldier; I probably wouldn't have snapped it had I known. But once I looked at it I thought it was a shot worth sharing, a small town's gesture of respect.

[Edited to Add] Now approved at my shutterstock account

Labels: photoFRIDAY

A very positive and much appreciated new review from Nicole at Sensual Reads. Although I cannot quite contain a very slight coughing sound on the issue of 'Sears' ;).

"Maewyn’s Prophecy 4: A Heat in Shadows is one of the best books I have read. Emily Veinglory is a talented author who can fill a story with plot as well as heat. I highly recommend that you read this one."

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p.s. I don't normally plug myself across blogs but this post over at EREC is the first one where I start to draw some conclusions about the sales generated by various epublishers, and it has an interesting link and reply by Anne Douglas.

Labels: Heart in Shadows, Maewyn Series, new review

I've been tagged (by request) by Anne Douglas:

So, 8 things you (probably) didn't know about me.

1) I've never had to stay overnight in a hospital. I still have my appendix, tonsils and all bones unbroken and plan to keep it that way.
2) My favorite word is 'luxurious', because of the sound the 'x' makes.
3) I have officially given up on books by Mercedes Lackey. No more, I say!
4) I am seriously thinking about moving to Australia in January.
5) Yesterday I spent an hour searching for my dog only to come home and find him waiting there for me.
6) I am planning to write mf after I finish my current to works-in-progress but I still haven't decided whether to use a different pen name or not.
7) I don't like to wear blue jeans, black or gray only.
8) I haven't had a 'significant other' for 7 years and I'm not really looking for one. You don't have to want romance to write it ;)

Here are the rules :
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

These days writers are told over and over again that a book must grab the reader from the very first lines. I am not sure I have ever started off with much of a hook, but here are the first (unedited) three lines for my current works in progress. What do you think?

1) Father of Dragons (intended for Samhain Press)
The heel of Xeras’s boot flapped loosely as he walked through the gloom of the forest at dusk. Miles back he had limped on in hope of finding a village or a forester’s house, somewhere to beg for a night’s shelter and a scrap of food. But the road had become more erratic and faded into a haphazard path, and finally, stumbling over a tree root, he realized he had lost his way altogether.

2) The Nameless God (intended for Loose Id)
Fisk kept moving as he shoveled the manure out of the sty. The piglets bit at his leggings, pinching the skin if he didn’t shake them off quickly. One of them grabbed the bottom of the wooden shovel and almost wrenched it from his hands.

It is getting quite hot here, but I have just discovered that a bird has built a nest in my air conditioning unit. So I guess I will just have to sweat....

Most lambs go through the fence,
but they turn back
because the ewe can't follow

the verge of the road is verdant.

Hedges to the horizon,
closing in with a blank sea mist.
Easter is a reminder --

of the fate of lost lambs.

You couldn't follow and I did not return
but I have learned now
to let the fences hold me.

if you call me I will come home.




[poetry train #3]

Labels: poetry monday

"This was a very different story. It was very interesting in that the reader can feel Sebastian's uncertainty and question the validity of the situation. This is a great read for when one can steal a few moments of “me” time."

Full review here

Labels: the Temptation of Sebastian

First month sales are in for Tongue-Tied and let's say I am encouraged. A sequel is being outlined. However one informal review suggested there were typos. Feel free to let me know if this is a sequel you would want to see, or there are other stories you want more of first. Oh, and please tell me if you found any errors please? The joy of ebooks is that they can be fixed! (veinglory at gmail.com)

P.s. here is MT from Loose Id with the cover art, photo courtesy of Mari Free.

Labels: Tongue Tied

[click on picture to see full size]

Labels: gay zombi penguins

I have decided to move the Gay Zombi Penguins(TM) from their neglected livejournal over here with their own tag. On blogger I can upload pictures directly which is way easier. It will also be a prompt to finish off some of the story lines. here is the very first penguin picture, little did I know....

Labels: gay zombi penguins

"Dealing Straight delivers what those old cowboy movies featuring oh-so rugged men in tight jeans vowing brotherhood forever and how no women can tear them apart only hint at: hot consummation of the love that cannot be spoken aloud."

A respectable 82 for Dealing Straight from Mrs Giggles.

Labels: dealing straight, mrs giggles, new review