Veinglory

So, May earnings were: $500
I would consider this: good

I had some back royalties come in from a previous period, so this is more than I normally make in a month with no new release. I need to get writing, I have only one work in edits and need to get some more queued!

Labels: habeus greenus

I was intrigued as soon as I saw the cover to 'Walk Like a Man'. I am not a frequent reader of lesbian fiction but the idea of female masculinity is interesting to me.

My first impressions of the inside of the book weren't great. There is no table of contents and the header line just lists the title of the book (in most anthologies it would be the title of the story). I like to peruse my way through a collection rather than just take it as it comes.

As it turns out there are about 21 fairly short stories. Despite other reviews mentioning the diversity of the stories to begin with I found they felt rather similar, like different parts played by the same actor. And to begin with I was also not overly impressed with how each story was more a scenario than a narrative with a beginning middle and end.

However, by about half way through my impression completely changed. It became apparent that each story gives a snapshot of how individual women resolve their identities given the rigid categories offered of male/female, straight/gay, dom/femme. Then some of the characters returned to add another chapter to a story or tell it from another point of view.

Rather than providing a succession of independent, fully resolved stories the author comes at the issue from dozens of perspectives weaving together a commentary about how people negotiate their place in the word, their sexuality and their relationships. And sometimes what we get isn't perfect, maybe most of us don't really deserve perfect or wouldn't know it if we found it. But the most enjoyable stories are ones where love, persistence and honesty create relationships that transcend categories.

My advice would be to persist with this collection which comes into its own more from the development of larger themes than the strengths of any individual story.

Labels: review

I am a somewhat disillusioned fan of vampire fiction. I have a few hundred vampire books and have read a few hundred more than that. The days when I would buy a book just because it was vampire fiction are long gone given the sheer quantity of them out there and the average quality, which seems to sink every year. In the last week I just happen to have read three vampire books and this one, 'Running Dry' by M. Christian, made me think: Oh, right. This is what I loved about vampire fiction all along.

And I should probably make clear is that we are not talking about bats, tuxedos and mock-European-accent type vampire cliches here. The very essence of the vampire mythos is having to take something from someone else to live, take so much that they die. That is the monster inside the man, that is the dilemma. Modern vampires who have immortality, angst and superpowers but no real down side to their state pale in comparison to this.

The basic story is about Doud, a conflicted man trying to reconcile what he needs to do to live his long life with his respect for human life. Shelly is his friend, a middle-age gallery owner who has to confront a few of her own personal demons when she finds out what Doud really is. And finally the story starts with the return of Doud's old lover Sergio who had every reason to want Doud dead. The kind of creature Doud really is would take a little long to explain. He needs to feed off others but his nature springs from the author's unique vision and has none of the surface features of the stock blood-sucking monster.

There really is very little to complain about in this book. I do think some of the events in the last third of the book could have been described at more length to help us setting into the twists and turns and to add pathos to the ending which could (should?) have had more emotional impact. But this is a quibble. The characters are likeable without being particularly heroic or virtuous (like real people). The story pulls you along with something new unfolding in every chapter. More than anything the writing is effortless to read, so it is more like watching the story through a window than wading through a swamp of words (this being the greatest difference between this book and the others I read this week). Based on my experience of M. Christian's writing so far (this book and his anthology 'Filthy') my main advice is this, if a book has his name on it you should buy it.

If you like fiction with gay themes their presence here is a bonus, but the reason to buy this book is because this book is good.

Labels: reviewTHURSDAY

I broke someone's brain, so the day wasn't a total loss ;)

can't talk

edits

.

After three years
in Indiana
for the first time
I found a cornfield
beautiful.

But my soul still revels
in the stench
of mangroves,
the crunch and slither
of life. With dusk

the birds come home.



[poemtrain]

Okay so at some angles you can see the anatomy is way off, the lamp is held to the foot by flaking putty and it is missing the screws to properly secure the shade to the fixture. But hell, for $10 I am not complaining. I think it's pretty cool :)

Last week I wrote nothing, nada, zip....

Bad Emily,

no bookie.

Labels: updateSATURDAY

I was cut off from my internet supply for six days [checks pulse] but I seem to have survived. Nevertheless my new, serious job where privacy of email and web use is quote not to be assumed unquote will be cutting back the ol' online presence some.

With the exception of a mattress, scooter and suitcase this is it. Everything I own is in one place and ready to go...

Labels: photoFRIDAY

The efficient local police caught the apartment flasher. Unfortunately I wasn't able to identify him off photos but a couple of the others who saw him could. Apparently this is the last over a very long line of similar offenses. I get that different people have different sexual kinks but how sad is compulsive public exposure as your sexual preference?

I always have mixed feelings about fantasy names. Any name that required an apostrophe or had more than four syllables makes me want to roll my eyes. I have yet to fully recover from a fantasy romance writer who named one of her minor characters 'Shiraz' (a ruddy character with an acerbic aftertaste). But on the other hand a magical paladin or berserker barbarian really isn't going to proclaim 'behold the might of Alfred' as he poses majestically against the skyline.

My current story has characters Fisk, Levin, Albreckt, Fae, Rudith, Halry, Jess and Tessa. Generated basically by slapping together some random syllables. Hopefully none of them is also the name of an obscure form of cider or a kind of rare Canadian cheese. Because if it was, you'd tell me, right? For a game you can all play at home: which if these names are for female characters? (Hint, there are three of them).

So, late last night I heard informally that I will get the visa I need to take up a great job I have been offered. It is a reasonably influential position, right in my specialty and pays more than twice my current salary even after taking into account the Chicago cost-of-living. The only down side, if you could call it that, is that a high powered job is likely to cut into my writing time. I was angsting a little about that because it seemed not impossible that I would effectively give up writing entirely. The dollar-to-drama ratio with some epresses is becoming exasperating and there are only so many hours in a day.

So, somewhat later last night I watched two episodes of Highlander on DVD, took out the trash, walked the dog and went into my bedroom. I pulled down the blinds and then heard a tap on my window. The bathroom light was on and it was dark outside so I lifted the blind and leaned my hand against the window to look out. Lo and behold a large blond man is masturbating a few inches away just on the other side of the window. I would like to say I shouted something sarcastic and set the dog on him, but actually I hid in the kitchen and called 911.

I finished describing the guy and was waiting in the dark and my very next thought was: this is an interesting life experience, I wonder how I can use it in a story? Which made me realise that at this point in my life I really can't just stop writing. By the time a rather nice looking uniformed policeman arrived I was already taking notes of his dialogue and mannerisms for use in my next novella. I have never been much for the great 'writer artiste' identity where writing is all about tapping some deep well spring of creativity that would otherwise drive one insane.

I would have to concede, however, that writing has become part of how I see the world, process my experiences and communicate them. One way or another I suspect I will find some time to keep writing.

Well, a bit behind. The Nameless God is at 46,500 aiming for 50,000 and should be finished in the next week with a good tail wind.

Then I have to pick what to do next, suggestions more than welcome:

1) Here Comes the Sun: Sequel to Eclipse of the Heart, Mason's redemption
2) Family Ties: Sequel to Tongue Tied
3) Wild Horses: High fantasy femdom MF with centaurs
4) Keltoi: Celtic style fantasy MFM with chariots
5) Flaming: MM comedy superhero dystopia with drag queens...
6) Freelance: Sci fi MM, dark with lots of aliens, ambiguity and angst.
7) My Hero: MM where one M is a women in a male alien clone body so is that really MF?
8) Tickle me Emo: MM odd couple romance with an agoraphobic goth and an overweight nudist
9) The Shameless Throne: Fantasy alphafem MF from male POV (older man) indirect sequel to The Nameless God
10) A Stitch in Time: MM time travel where a driven scientist learns to love by being thrown back in time and meeting the same man at earlier and earlier periods in his life.

---

ETA: Just received informal notice from my lawyer that my visa has been approved. My new status allows me to take up a great job and eventually apply for a green card. I thought I would be celebrating but I feel kind of weirdly limp and relieved. I'll celebrate tomorrow ;)

Plot bunnies have hijacked my brain but there's about 20 of them and they can't decide on a destination.

Labels: GZP

I am waiting and waiting to see if I have the work permit I need for my new job. Originally I would have heard on Monday but there has been a delay. It is a little hard to focus on anything when so much of what happens even in a week's time depends on this verdict!

From Top and Bottom Book Reviews.

Wow. Not only was this review very positive it was insightful, detailed and specific. Please go and take a look because they have some other great MM reviews up as well as mine. Short excerpt below:

"My favorite character turned out to be the one I thought I’d hate the most. Thane is hot and sexy in a bloodsucking-monster-turned-domestic-nymph kind of way ... He wasn’t just the second romantic leading character - he was the point of it all, the ultimate goal, the prize that both Sean and I were keeping our eyes on throughout all the chaos and distractions."

Labels: promoTUESDAY

.

Sullen and still
you walked upon me
which I allowed,
smiling with secret knowledge.

But the time came, boy
when I put aside my garden
and toppled your tower,
all your hard work,
right over and took half.

This earth, like me,
is not more good,
just more patient.





[poemtrain]

Labels: poetryMONDAY

After submitting Father of Dragons I haven't been writing fiction for the last week. Now I will get back to The Nameless God for Loose Id. Current;y it is at 42,000 words and aiming for something between 50 and 60k at a rate of 5k a week. Although if my work permit is approved I will take a break to deal with moving and starting work.

Labels: updateSATURDAY

Me: You shouldn't eat that.
Dog: It tastes good.
Me: In a few minutes you'll be yacking it up on the ground, or if I'm really lucky the carpet.
Dog: You know I can't understand you, right?
Me: Is that why you never listen to me?
Dog: I listen. Blah, blah, blah means maybe I should wag my tail. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! means I should look apologetic and possibly hide in the bathroom. This current tone of voice is unclassifiable so I am settling on looking mildly interested and proceeding with what I am doing.
Me: Okay, I'll just have to extend this walk until you yack up that grass.
Dog: My cunning plan works again.

Labels: photoFRIDAY