Holiday!

So while it was oh, in the single digit temps (°F) the week after New Year's, we went to the Caribbean ^_^ I'm still regretting the bloody damage to the bank account, but I'm kinda glad I bought those tickets back in August in a fit of financial optimism.

Mr. ADR and I decided this counted as our honeymoon since way back when we were even more broke than we are now young and got married, we didn't get any farther than Applebee's for post-nuptial celebrations. And trips to fan-cons and the San Diego Zoo somehow just never quite had the honeymoon feel to them...

So while we're a bit too creaky for much frolicking, it was definitely lovely to do nothing and have someone else get the dirty dishes and clean the bathroom.

Not to metion waking up to the sound of the sea every morning and this view:

Or hanging out on a boat watching the coconut trees roll by:

Even when it rained:

And marveling at the utter insanity of these people:

Then we came home to find the waterfall pond out in front of the house had frozen over. wtf?

Can we have summer yet? Plz.

Hazy shade of winter

It's COLD. And I'm totally on an 80's music kick. I've been listening to my Pandora station and inflicting random lyrics on my flist on facebook. It's like a virtual, synthesizer ridden 80's advent calendar. *evil*

New kitteh has settled in quite well, but came down with an upper respiratory infection 2 days after we got him. Guess it was a good thing we got that leather sofa after all. Snot cleans off a lot easier than if it was upholstery. le sigh.

At least he's mostly over it. And just in time for the other two to start sneezing. As we speak, I have 12 lbs of snoring, snorting cat over my right arm. She wakes up about every 5 mins, sneezes on my hand, licks her face and goes back to sleep. If I try to use the mouse or the number keypad, I get an armful of claws.

Also got my yearly catalog from stockroom.com today. I really want to buy myself christmas pressies from there.

Like this for instance:



Festive, no?

Or maybe this one. Pyrex™. Not just for casserole anymore. Yum!




Happy thoughts! ^_^

Gobble gobble

Wow. Was that Thanksgiving that just went by? Has the month slowed down yet? It's been mad busy this one has. Not to mention I lost my virginity twice.

Yep, I did my very first reading in NYC with the very awesome D.L. King, Evan Mora and Sacchi Green which was super fun and fabulous and I want to do it moar!

I also rode the NY subway for the first time. And after the first time, I did it all by myself!

Apparently I've also got the New Yorker scowl down since I got asked for directions on the subway twice. I didn't have the heart to tell them "I didn't even know how this thing worked yesterday" so we checked out the map and I think I sent them the right way. Maybe.

So somewhere in all that I found a Popeye's fried chicken in Brooklyn (ok, that was because I got lost but still. I didn't know they even had Popeye's in NYC) and the American Museum of Natural History. All very cool.

Only thing that marred that weekend was the news from Fort Hood. I went to high school in Killeen and it's my adopted hometown. Much of family has been in the service, my friends are or were, Mr. ADR is a veteran, my nephew just shipped out for basic a week ago. So when I hear things like that it makes me sad and angry on a level I can't even express.

Still, there's been a lot to be thankful for. I've made at least two wonderful new friends, got to spend time with an old friend who I haven't seen in years, and just adopted a new kitty!

It was also a good Halloween (Samhain for tree-hugging pagans like meself). I sacrificed some things this year that were safe and comfortable, and it's been painful to adjust. But I think I'm heading the right direction for the future (better than my subway directions at any rate!). Guess we'll have to wait and see.

The cannibal stakes looked decent- I was hoping for more Indian burial-ground and less Pirates of the Caribbean, but still not too bad.





I do think the skeleton wreath turned out really well. As we speak it's still on the front door, and since the bloody berries and red tentacles came from the Christmas section it's *technically* a Christmas decoration...





House of Doom. Do not attempt to sell me vacuum cleaning services, salvation or cookies!




As for Thanksgiving, it was quiet- the sort I like. I spent it at home with Mr. ADR and the fur circus, making sure new kitty got adjusted and no fights were got into. We didn't cook anything but pancakes and bacon, and that was really ok. No stress, no overeating. I've found that celebrating by sometimes doing nothing can be the happiest sort of celebration.

And oh yes, writing. Well I didn't do Nano, official or otherwise. Work, the flu, a cold and a nasty lung infection took care of that. But I did make progress on a WIP that's been stalled for a long time and I think it will be [finally] finished soon after all.

Going back to this WIP was part of a decision I made at Samhain about my writing. I don't believe in Divination "oooh I see the future" (apologies to Prof. Trelawney). But I do think if we sometimes shut up and listen to our gut instinct it will point us in the right direction.

So I'm going to take some chances with my work I've previously been afraid to- because it was easy and comfortable not to- because I think it's the right path.
I'm curious to see how it all turns out.

Readings and Thunderstorms

I'll be in the company of several amazing writers at Bluestockings Books in New York on Nov 6th at 7pm for a reading from 3 kick ass lesbian erotica anthologies: "Where the Girls Are" (which includes my story, Urban Fairytale), "Lesbian Cowboys" and "Girl Crazy".

More info is here: http://bluestockings.com/events/ and http://sacchig.livejournal.com/49884.html

I'm excited! Plus this gives me an excuse to tool around NY for a day or two and go shopping ^_^

*****

But first... there's Halloween!! I've spent the weekend making cannibal stakes with "shrunken head" skulls and a halloween wreath. I got the wreath up on the front door last night and promptly had to take it down tonight since (lovely Texas weather) we're having a severe thunderstorm with quarter-sized hail.

I didn't think the skeletons and ribbons would appreciate that so down it came. Hopefully the weather will be less violent the rest of this week.

I'm going to try to get the cannibal stakes up tomorrow- have to figure out how to arrange them appropriately intimidatingly on the front lawn- and I might even try to get some pictures. Me and the camera don't do so well and no, my phone doesn't take pictures.

(Yes, really. I went with the cheap one the phone company sends me free every two years for renewing my contract- hey, I'm a writer. Broke is part of the job description. )

I did find cute pumpkin LED lights on clearance for my study window. They're so very cute and I'm terribly tempted to leave them up all year. But I probably need to give the neighbors a break.
I still don't think they're over last year when I left the skeleton hanging from the front doorway through December and put a Santa Claus hat on him... what? It was a good idea! >.>

Unofficial Nano

...I am considering it.

I've never done Nano because well, I write slower than molasses in July. And because I edit as I go. I've never been able to throw a bunch of words on the page and then sort out the bodies later.
It has to feel like a puzzle, slowly getting pieced together as I go, otherwise I get cranky and frustrated and start throwing things at the husband and the zoo.

When it comes to novels, I'm even worse. I think my average for completing a novel is 20 months (don't ask what the high end was)

BUT this year I am thinking, unofficially, about trying for 2 short story anthologies of 25K words each for 50K by the end of the month.
They have to get written sooner or later so I might as well go all or nothing like a march hare in November and see how far I get... Who knows? It might even work :P

And if I do manage it, I'll take myself out for a very nice dinner with dessert and no extra exercise bike time. (Might even drag Mr. ADR along too.)

*going to make some tea and ponder the madness further*

Teeth and things

It's been an interesting month or two. I want to say I've been off having fabulous adventures- sadly that hasn't been the case.

Unless one counts having 4 teeth extracted on Tuesday. Me, I could think of a fairly long list of things that would beat that one out.

I think the worst part of it is the food or lack thereof. I've been existing, or trying to, on jello pudding, yogurt, applesauce and baby food. Today we moved on to instant mashed potatoes and tuna.
That was exciting!

But being off work for the dental surgery gave me a little time to look at writing again: trying to get caught up on what's written, what's due, what I was thinking about when I wrote that random sentence over a month ago... resurrecting my blog... again...

The only problem is that my wrist has also decided to go on strike along with my jaw so the typing part doesn't work out so well. (Funny how everything decides to not work at the same time.)

Much of it has been stress from the most craptastic day job, so I've been looking for another one:
For hire: smut/fantasy writer with superior Excel skills and great spelling.

Yeah. Maybe I should go check those lottery numbers...

Ah well. In other, better news!

This is a bit late, but Like a Queen from Circlet Press is available and if you haven't checked it out yet be sure to! It's an amazing collection- quite a lot of kink and very hawt.

I really enjoyed writing The Queen's Jewel for this collection. The story of the Princess & the Pea has always been one of my favorites- even as the sanitized versions go, it was still rather dark. I mean the queen knew the effect that pea was going to have. And the story always revolved around the queen and the princess. The prince was pretty much secondary. I always kept thinking there had to be more to it.

The story "Sweet Bruising Skin" by Storm Constantine in the Black Thorn, White Rose collection of retold fairy tales has a wonderful and very haunting interpretation, and is probably the best retelling that I have seen.

My take is much more lighthearted, but it certainly doesn't lack for naughtiness... and bruising. Happy reading!

Monday, monday

Mondays aren't good for much but procrastination. So of course, I thought I should blog instead of write ^_^

I keep meaning to post more often here, but then I don't remember until inconvenient times like oh, 20 minutes into rush hour or while I'm cleaning the cat's litterbox and I have this sudden flash of writerly genius Wherein I Have Something Meaningful and Witty To Say.
Then it's gone, and I'm left with gridlock and plastic bags of poo.

There. If that doesn't sum up some existential truth about life and purpose, I don't know what does.

On a good note, I've been getting lots of words. Not as many as I'd like, but certainly more than average. Finished a couple of short stories and submitted them *fingers crossed*

I have a few more cooking, and I've set a goal to work on the non-erotica projects a bit too. I have two fantasy novels I've been laboring over for the better part of five years now and I'd like to see finished drafts this year (Did I mention I write SLOW?)

I found inspiration in the oddest place today too. Scrolling through facebook today I came across a status update from a friend: a girl with a nosebleed in the middle of a busy street, a hot guy behind the counter of the nearest shop where girl rushes to find emergency tissues.

So wonderfully loaded with potential that is ^_^ Now to just find the time to WRITE it...

And because I like to share, here's a micro- snippet from the story I'm wrangling at the moment. It's all about a girl crush. (But I think my subconscious is secretly complaining that it wants to be on holiday. Ah well. If I can't go, I can at least send the characters.)

I see her on the beach at sunset. A portrait against the backdrop of a tropical sea and a sky on fire: long hair, long down to her waist; one arm raised, holding a wide-brimmed hat in place; T-shirt flapping around bony hips as she watches the light burn into the sea.

I could walk away with my picture and tell any story I want, make her into anything I desire. In another place, I would. But here on a distant beach, I gamble on the preposterous because I'll never see her again after this moment.

-----

Kitteh iz gettin tyed up

Some S&M for Caturday... Because this is hilarious. And because I can't actually think of a coherent post. ^_^

P.S.

Thank you to Mr. ADR Forte for wherever he found this gem in the labyrinth of gaming forums.

Can haz goodies?

whee! I have the day off for the 4th of July holiday and new smutly goodliness came in the mail!

We can't have fireworks thanks to stupid homeowner's association. BUT there are fireworks aplenty between the covers of D.L. King's Where the Girls Are and Pleasure Bound from Alison Tyler.

Both collections feature work from all kinds of awesome people, including some names that are new to me, but whose work is no less amazing.

Send me an email at adr@adrforte.com or leave a comment with which book you'd like. I'll send goodies next week (after I recover from too much beer and err.... sausage tomorrow) ^_^


Charlotte Dare
ADR Forte (me!)
Evecho
Jacqueline Applebee
Cari Z
Evan Mora
Crystal Barela
Kathleen Bradean
Rachel Kramer Bussel
Andrea Dale
Stella Sandberg
Dalia Craig
Roxy Katt
Nan Andrews
Jessica Lennox
Lisabet Sarai
Victoria Oldham
Sophie Mouette
Sommer Marsden



Nikki Magennis
ADR Forte
Kristina Wright
Sommer Marsden
Teresa Noelle Roberts
Sophia Valenti
Donna George Storey
Michael Hemmingson
Brooke Stern
Shanna Germain
Rita Winchester
Xan West
Annette Miller
Diana St. John
Dakota Rebel
Kristina Lloyd
Malcolm Harris
Bella Dean
Jax Baynard
Thomas S. Roche
Alison Tyler
Tess Danesi
Stephen Elliott

To Summer

".. thou, O Summer,
Oft pitched'st here thy golden tent, and oft
Beneath our oaks hast slept, while we beheld
With joy thy ruddy limbs and flourishing hair."

--William Blake

Love that image of summer. Luscious, isn't he?

And don't we know it with the last week or so of temps in the 100's °F (low 40's °C).
But I'm not complaining.

All summer and into the fall and early winter my writer brain wakes up and goes to work before the January hibernation sets in through mid-spring sometime. So I'm taking advantage of it this year.

I've dug out some old projects and started to dust them off, and I'm carefully considering all the fun, new shiny plotbunnies banging on the door to be let in. A few have snuck in anyway and held the cheesecake hostage while demanding to be written.

Here's a snippet from the latest, "The Alchemist":

His fingers brushed her skin and she tensed, shivered. He forgot how to breathe. The heat of her body seemed to flood his through the contact between skin and skin.

His arm nearly shook with the effort to keep his touch minimal, to not sink his fingers into the yielding flesh and make her moan with desire.

Please, he invoked her silently. Please let me touch you.

But she didn't move.

He could tell she was watching him intently. The scent of her arousal mingled with the honey and wildflower sweetness of her perfume, made him giddy.

His gaze fixed on the gaze he could only feel, but not see, he lowered the wand. The glowing tip grazed the inner edge of her raised thigh. She didn't move.

No stranger to the touch of magic, then.

Slowly he moved the wand down her thigh, and then, where muscle changed to soft flesh, she shivered again. Gasped.

Her fingers closed tight around the stone.

---

Warning: fire hazard

"...Texas July morning. Heat-soaked air, moist and sticky like my fingers on my clit..."

Read the rest of my flash fic, "Texas Hot" in Playing with Fire, the new collection from Alison Tyler that's almost too hot to touch! You may need a tub of ice cubes handy ^_~

Werewolves and smut- oh my!

Like werewolves? (who doesn't) Here's a bit from my story, Carnival of the Grotesque:

She felt the tips of his fingers move under her chin and opened her eyes. He loomed over her, a dark shape, not man or beast. Something else. Something caught between. Something beautiful and grotesque.

"Gia," he whispered.

"How do you know my name?"

His fingers moved to her cheek, pressing the flesh against the bone like a sculptor molding clay.

"I asked," he said. His voice ragged and strained, his composure as frayed as her own. "I learned all I could. I had to. I couldn't think but I thought of you after that day."

His grip tightened on her chin, almost at the threshold of pain. But his thumb brushed like silk over her lips, parted them, teased her lower lip so that she ached and ached.

"And after last night. When I saw you standing in the moonlight. God help me. Do you see?"

"Yes." Yes, she saw. She knew...

Read the rest in Like an Animal: Erotic Tales of Werewolves from Circlet Press. For eReader/Palm format click here.

Who says romance has to be boring?

Afternoon Delight is out now! And just in time for Valentine's Day too.




Get this one and read your sweetie a story at bedtime, or at breakfast or maybe just after lunch. Just be sure you have some time to spare afterwards ^_^



Girls on Top features my story "Gone Huntin" and eighteen other super-hot stories compiled by Violet Blue.



This is another great Valentine's Day present (and yes, you can be on top even when you're on the bottom...)

Dark Angel review

Dark Angel Reviews had good things to say about my story, "Flashback" " in Lust at First Bite, from Black Lace books ^_^

Frenzy

If you're pressed for time, be sure to check out Frenzy, the latest collection of sizzling super-short smut from Alison Tyler, featuring two of my stories.

Like a Sword

I'm excited about this one! Like a Sword is available from Circlet Press and features my story "Healer". Get it in Kindle on Amazon or PDF here.

New story at Cleansheets

My Exotika short Pinstripes is now available over at cleansheets.com.

Here's a bit:

During summer it gets hot in here. Sweat trickles down her spine as she kneels and inhales the laundry scent of clean pinstripes. Imagines she's kneeling at his feet, sucking his hard cock...