I started a post about writing but then realized that it was really meandering and went nowhere of any consequence. The dog’s sitting on the couch and we’re watching a vocal reality show I’m partially invested in. Of course I just watched Supernatural and well, the boys… nom.

There was originally an intent to discuss writing and process. Everyone has a different way they write. I personally hate writing. I loathe it. It never fucking matches the emotions in my head and the styles are different from series to series which is nice to play with but then I get all…. Hey, is this going to fuck up a reader who is looking for that hard-boiled-ish voice of Cole? They’re not going to find that in Sinner’s Gin. It’s a different flavour. Is that wise?

Then of course it all boils down to… fuck it.

I have an urban fantasy written called Black Dog Blues. It was sent out and well, received good notes about the writing but the one thing that everyone came back to was… the main character was bisexual and this was going to be a problem. Okay, some people probably just hated it but there was a general consensus that it wasn’t… mainstream.

One agent told me that it would sell if Kai, the main character, was changed to female.

I thought about it. I did. Long and hard.

But, in the end… I felt like Kai’s penis should stay where it is. Between his legs.

Will I pitch Kai out again? Yes, maybe when the publishing houses are feeling more risky. Or perhaps it just sucks. But I love the character. I do. He sticks with me. And I don’t want to let him go. I don’t want to inject a vagina into him just to sell him.

I didn’t think that because I’m an artiste…or that I’m such a good writer that I’ll refuse to compromise the character and writing.

When you’re a writer, you’re a whore. That’s pretty much what it comes down to. We are whores and pimps. We dress up these characters and send them out to walk the streets to earn their keep. Sometimes you’ve got to change what they are wearing and where they go. It’s what the business end of writing is.

But what it all comes down to is when to say “Is this a good choice?”

I’ve sliced apart chapters and erased tens of thousands of words because they weren’t good enough. Bottom line: It has to be good enough.

Is Kai good enough? Dunno but he FEELS good. *cues James Brown* I didn’t want him to be dressed differently, or wear different clothes or speak differently. He just feels good where he is. Do I want to sell him? Yeah, I do. But it’s okay if I don’t. Because I LIKE his world and his character.

Sometimes, that’s enough. You know?

So, here’s a different project. The opening few pages of Black Dog Blues as written by Reece Notley. *bows out* Continue reading “And Now For Something Completely Different…” →

The hardest thing about writing is not really knowing what is going to happen before you write it. Sure, I can plot the shit out of something but actually putting the words down? That’s like a roll of the dice. And admittedly, when you’re face first into the screen for hours on end, you start to lose focus of what you’re doing then all of a sudden, everyone’s naked and you’ve got to put out.

Sex scenes are kind of difficult. I think there has to be a good balance between emotional satisfaction and physical gratification. I’ve read a lot of books where it was pretty much Tab A goes in Slot B and squicka squicka squicka. Fluids all over the place and men shouting “Fuck me hard with your ivory shaft of hot love!”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard nor said that while having sex. Maybe it gets some people’s buttons. I dunno. It just seems kind of weird.

I’m going to share a bit of Cole and Jae that happens in the first third of the new book, Dirty Secret. It’s not a lot and honestly, I can’t share a lot more without spilling spoilers everywhere. Also, the book’s not been optioned yet so please keep in mind, this isn’t the final end all be all. It’s got to go through edits and such so consider this a beaten up final.

I’ll talk about Sinner’s Gin maybe tomorrow. :::laughs::: God that book’s kicking my not inconsiderable ass.

Continue reading “Dirty Secret Sneak Peek [Caution: Smut Ahead]” →