Anniversary Blog!

Old Business

The bonus chapter for A Soldier’s Choice is complete. I’ve sent it out to those who have purchased the book. I believe I’ve sent it to all who have won an e-book. Please, let me know if I’ve missed anyone. I still have one winner who has not contacted me with an e-mail address.

Blog Party Chat Reminder

The chat will be this Sunday at 4pm PST (that’s 7pm EST) in the chat room on: http://soldierschoice.com/dlchat.htm

Though the chatroom is on the Soldier’s Choice website, the chat can cover any of the novels, fanfiction, my work in film. I’ll try to answer most questions though I ma deny everything later. Also, my internet connection is fragile. I may disappear from the chat at any point. It’ll take a minute or two to get back. Be patient. But do come out and have some fun.

Pop Culture References – No, It’s Not Your Imagination

As I explained in my blog of 08/29/2006, I am a pop culture maven. References to things I like to watch tend to end up in all of my writing. In the most recent version of The Privateers, there is a funny and pivotal scene that is fueled by an obscure reference from one of the Thin Man movies – and not even a well-known film from that series. It tickled Jon and me, so in it went. I’ve been asked by some very sharp readers, who also watch entirely too much TV, whether what they were seeing in my work was a reference to a film or TV show. I was really impressed by the fanfic reader who spotted the Pooty Tang reference in a Due South slash story. But I was most disappointed that no one noticed the All Simpsons installment of The Secret Logs of Mistress Janeway. I mean, I can see readers missing the Eddie Izzard or Invader Zim references in the later Logs (63 and 64), but how do you miss the Simpsons? Ah well. The answer to the questions raised is, if you think it’s a reference, it probably is. And yes, there are some in The Gift of Surrender, The Price of Surrender and in A Soldier’s Choice. Find them, and I’ll give a big prize!

On The Anniversary of the Blog

I’m actually surprised to have written a whole year of blogs and almost one every week. When this was suggested to me by publicists, I wasn’t keen on the idea at all. I’m not really sure if it has helped my books sales, but I have enjoyed the experience. I am really flattered to have readers from far flung places around the world, and I hope that you all will continue to enjoy my lunacy. I hope to speak with you at the chat!

Leading Men, Excerpt and Moving

Chat Change

My wonderfully astute husband pointed out that I am usually insane after moving. He thought it prudent to move the chat until after we’re settled. I agreed. Thus, I will be chatting on Feb 18th on either the Sybpress site or the Soldier’s Choice site. I’ll post an announcement as the time gets closer. I’m also going to hold off on contests and save them for the chat.


Moving

The move has been more traumatic than the others partly because this has been our longest residence since coming to LA in 1995. And mainly because we weren’t willing to move. Condo-conversion has forced us to go sooner than we’d planned. Despite our complex’s odd location (convenient only to LAX) and the constant rhythm of jet engines, we’ll miss this place. It had critters besides strafing hummingbirds and wacky squirrels. There are snowy egrets and falcons and even a fox that lives on the airport grounds. Then again, we knew the time was coming to leave Playa del Rey. It has been developing at a frenzied place. Traffic and parking are becoming impossible. A new place will have new energy. I’ve opted to look on the move as a positive thing. Though the bare walls and magnet-less fridge make the last days of transition depressing. Let’s talk about something that’s more fun.

Leading Men

I’m talking about the literary kind, not the actor kind in this instance. I find it very hard to let go of Vincent Greven and Rik Heron from A Soldier’s Choice. My bonus chapter is actually long enough for three chapters, and still those naughty boys are murmuring seductively in my ear to let them continue to play. I certainly love my other male characters, but something about this pair has me completely enthralled. They were such fun to write. The guys are sardonic as well as sexy. They are as funny as they are brave. But I think it’s their vulnerability that makes me want to stay with them. As soldiers, Vincent and Rik are the most dangerous and talented the military has produced, but in matters of the heart, they are relatively untried and fragile. They often get things wrong and suffer for it – especially with those closest to them. For example, one of Vincent’s oldest friends has a lot of trouble coping with his relationship with Rik in this excerpt:

It took a mere five minutes more to tell my squad of over six years that we were retiring. There were not many questions. Perhaps that was because they would still be seeing me fairly often. Perhaps it was because they had felt my detachment some time ago. They wished us luck and promised to throw a lewd party at some point. There was nothing to do but return to my office to move out some of my things.

We had just piled a number of my personal belongings on the couch when the door slammed open and closed leaving what looked to be a furious Jenn Saxl in the room.

“It’s bad enough that you drag Vincent into your twisted games,” she snarled. “You have to have Bobby, too?”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Vincent bristled. “Nobody dragged me anywhere. I went to him on my own.”

“Like you had a choice,” she spat. “This...pervert...has controlled you since you were a kid.”

I was spared snorting out loud at that by my lover’s derisive retort.

“If you think that about our past, you weren’t paying close attention,” Vincent all but shouted in a full-blown Greven tantrum. “He never laid a hand on me that way until two weeks ago. Fuck, I was twenty-fucking-one before I was ever kissed!”

Jenn had sense enough to cower a little in the face of that fury. The room was crackling with his power.

“But why does Bobby have to be involved?” she demanded.

“Rik and I became his legal guardians today to protect him,” Vincent snarled. “He’s manifested.”

Jenn gasped. A lot of wind was taken from her sails. “How can either of you protect him when you’re part of the military?”

“We retired effective today,” Vincent said. His own anger subsided as the threat to me lessened. “We need to keep him close until he decides what he wants to do.”

Vincent’s voice was normal, but I knew he was an emotionally worn and trembling.

“Enough,” I said quietly.

My lover looked lost without anger to fuel him. I took him in my arms and held him tight. His arms nearly crushed me. Jenn was riveted on us as I wordlessly comforted him.

“I am so sorry that this has upset you,” I said to her as I gently stroked Vincent’s hair. “This should have been handled more delicately. We wanted to do this differently. But know this, Vincent is who I live for. I will protect him and make a place for his loved ones in our lives. Ms. Saxl, Jenn, rejecting them will hurt them deeply and yourself as well.”

Jenn sank onto a free space on the sofa and began to cry softly. Vincent pulled away from me to kneel in front of her.

“I’m sorry, Jenn,” he whispered. His voice was hoarse from shouting. “I knew how you felt, but it was hard to say anything. I’m lousy at this stuff...and I didn’t want to hurt you. That’s the last thing I wanted.”

“Good job, genius,” she quipped between sniffs.

She was quiet for a moment. “At least you’re back to normal – temper and all.”

Vincent chuckled. “I’m sure Rik is thrilled to see that.”

I snorted and went back to filling boxes.

“I’m sorry, too,” Jenn said. “I just saw Bobby’s empty room and realized you’d both be gone. I freaked and now...I’ve outted you to the squad.”

Vincent shrugged. “It was going to be all over Central command by this afternoon when the Generals get our retirement letter.”

“And we weren’t planning to hide it,” I added easily.

Jenn relaxed for a few seconds, and then she flushed bright red. “Oh God. We were yelling about Bobby manifesting. He won’t be safe!”

“He’s fine. That school is locked up tighter than a bank vault,” Vincent said. “And we dropped off the guardianship paperwork with them. Nobody can pick him up but us.”

“Besides, if I know my Lieutenant, the squad didn’t hear most of that,” I said, opening the door.

As I expected, Remak was alone in the bullpen.

“Thank you, Ouida,” I said.

“Not at all, sir. If I may, Miss Saxl and I would like to go to lunch,” she said.

Jenn looked up then smiled. “Yes, I would like that.”

“Will you come see as at home?” Vincent asked. There was a plea in his voice.

“Yes...yes, I will,” she said softly. “Bye, Vincent...Colonel.”

I shut the door, and found I had Vincent in my arms. His head tilted back and his lips parted. I couldn’t help but kiss him deeply and slowly. He clung to me humming his pleasure.

“Thank you for protecting me,” I whispered above his lips.

“I live for you, too,” he murmured, kissing me again. It was a sweet, tender kiss. “I want to go home. We should be napping or something.”

“I want that, too...especially the or something,” I replied with a smile. “But we have to get your brother and his furniture.”

“Let’s have an expensive lunch then,” he sighed.


I suppose it’s the dichotomy of a physically strong yet emotionally vulnerable men (who happen to be gorgeous that’s so appealing). I get to arrange a lot of comforting and protecting between them. Fortunately, the novel is doing very well. I’ll likely do a sequel. That makes me happy, but I really do have to let them go for the moment and be a film maker and a publisher for a while. Once we’ve moved, that is.

Year Anniversary Blog Party!!

Believe it or not, the Blog will be a year old on February 11th. To
celebrate, I'm having a chat on my website February 11th. I'm not sure
of the time right now.  I just tested the chat program and it works,
so we'll upload it this weekend. We can talk about most things I'm up
to (film stuff, the publishing stuff and my novels). I may even answer
such things as:

Why WAS that anime voice actor in my livingroom?
Who did I have that $100 breakfast with?
What is it with me and possessive men?
What happened to that squirrel?

And there will be instant contests with prizes!!

So stay tuned for the url and time.

Little Victories and Keeping Sane

The last few weeks have been odd, even by my standards. In California, Malibu burned one week then needed snow ploughs the next. I actually saw snow on the hoods and roofs of cars. That pretty much summed things up. Amidst the good news is that A Soldier’s Choice is getting a favorable response, and we haven’t really started the heavy ad campaign. I’m really pleased about that. My bout of the flu or whatever that was has stalled finishing the bonus chapter, but it is now nearly complete. The writing thing is good. I have ideas for two more novels. That makes me very happy. The last week has been full of little and timely victories.

The film thing continues in its weirdness. It turns out that the oft mentioned $100 breakfast was worth the price. Our script and vision impressed that actor. We have our President for The Privateers largely because he wanted it to happen. He is already a royal from an extremely successful trilogy. We hope this will be another. And that is good news amidst the spirit numbing morass that is this business. In this same week that we scored a genuine A List actor for our film, we discovered that in order to even talk to any more of them, we needed an A List casting director. How do you get to talk to one without 20 grand in hand and an A-list writer or director? You happen to be partners with a mid-level manager who has a former 80s b-movie queen who loves corsets in your stable, and said b-movie queen is key to a scene in a major horror film involving werewolves, nazis Rob Zombie and Robert Rodriguez (Grind House). Coming through on a Sunday makes for one grateful a-list casting director. This all sounds very glib and fun over drinks, but the reality is quite scary when you think about the odds of those circumstances happening. We were in the middle of it and didn’t believe it.

Every day has been up and down with making in roads and hitting incredibly dense, arbitrary and stupid walls. It’s often extremely difficult to keep that positive attitude going. We’re managing. It keeps me in limbo, which I really hate, but we have to keep pressing. Now, we are really close to the big project. And there are some nice little ones finally taking shape as well. We’re hanging in there with each little victory.

The other things keeping us sane on the path to our goals are our friends here. Of course, my publishing maven Marie is always ready with keen inisghts and endless patience with me. There is the imported friend, Randy, who is our major set elf when we are in production. Set elves get things done. They build apartments or pirate pubs from scrap wood and a single rusty nail. Doesn’t matter the hardship, they get ‘er done! Lately, he’s been driving me around so I can maintain a livelihood and he’s been helping us look for a place. Then there is my wonderfully literate, talented and insane friend Craig. He was part of the 3^rd street promenade Borders posse, and he keeps me from being homicidal on set. He lends be the most wonderful books to read, and never fails to make me laugh. We had the most wonderful conversation about the benefit of preserving an 1890 book on hemorrhoids (with drawings). I didn’t even question why he was calling me from a cave in the Santa Monica Mountains. That just happens with Craig. I was more amazed that he could get a signal there and not in my apartment. And then there are the Koerners. They came over to have Jon teach Gabriel about Speed Racer. This isn’t strange because Jon would try to teach any guest we have about Speed Racer if I’d let him. But this was business. Gabriel is lead FX modler on the big budget film version with Keanu Reeves as Racer X. Any reason is great to see this lovely couple. I’ve known Gabriel since Trekkies (he’s that over the top kid with the mullet). And I adore his beautiful and brainy wife. We talked French food while the boys watched 60’s anime. Next week, she and I will make Boef Bourguignon and work with puff pastry!

The hunt for a new home has been harrowing. We are usually competing with eight couples who have wild looks in their eyes as we race toward the manager's office. I had been really worried, but I think it will all work out somehow. We may not even be in the country in a couple of months. And if all else fails, one of my darling actor boys offered me camping space in his yard. Hopefully, the canals won't flood.

I promised a contest question. Let me see... Does anyone out there know what a roller stroller is and who made it a fashion statement? And or name the Canadian band who first sung the hit Lenny Kravitz made famous in the 90's.

Blog Winners and Answers

I'm working on the new blog right now. Some events are still unfolding, so I may have to wait until Friday night for a real comment. We have things really heating up on the film front, and we having a moving date, it seems. But there some really crazy and some cool things going on that I have to wait to see how they turn out.

We had three winners. Unfortuantely, two are straight men who would have some problems with certain activities my heroes indulge in frequently.

Kim W won the e-book and one of the bonuses. The bonus chapter has a little more tweaking before it's presentable.

The answers are for question one: Maniac from the film Flashdance.

The guys got the answer to the second question. The series is Ghost in the Shell SAC: 2nd GiG. The song is called Rise. I usually don't go about quoting lyrics, but these are so much in keeping with the tme of the book, I thought I would here. You can also view the really kick ass opening of that series here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cEN96e-frY

The song is sung in english and another language, but the images made me actually watch the series.

Song Title: rise
Performed by: Origa
Lyrics by: Tim Jensen / Origa

I'm a soldier, and that means I'm both defendant and judge
I am standing on the two ends of fire
Bending over the steep turns, overtaking death and life
I'm running to fight the shadow of the lies

No matter how much threads deceit weaves
The truth will show the face of light

* Save your tearsfor the day when our pain is far behind
on your feet come with me
we are soldiers stand or die

¶ Save your fears take your place
save them for the judgement day
fast and free follow me
time to make the sacrifice
we rise or fall

I'm a soldier, born to stand in this waking hell I am
witnessing more than I can compute
pray myself we don't forget
lies, betrayed and the oppressed
please give me the strength to be the truth


people facing the fire together
if we don't, we'll lose all we have found


* repeat
¶ repeat

Don't you cry,
Hide your tears
Because there'll be a new day
Your fireWill be heating Thousands of hearts
Now, rise up
Hide your pain and fear far off
The one who is right will win
Remember, everything is in your hands

* repeat
¶ repeat

New Blog and contest in a couple of days.

A Soldier's Choice E-book Available Now!!!

A Soldier's Choice is now available as either an Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Reader e-book now at http://soldierschoice.com. The bonus cookbook and chapter are availabe with the e-book as well. The print book will be available via Amazon.com or bn.com by January 22nd.

Happy Reading!!

Contest Hints

It seems I have been too obscure in my questions. I have been admonished, so let me give some hints.

For Question One -- The film made legwarmers and off the shoulder sweats popular. It also maintained that women construction workers moonlighted as exotic dancers. And the song was actually written about a serial killer. The title of the song makes that clear.

For Question Two -- The anime series features a female lead who carries a gun and runs around in a thong and a jacket. In the critaclly acclaimed film though, she was often naked. The song from the last season of the series (or 2nd GiG) is up for an american anime award this year.

Good Hunting!

You can e-mail answers to: deborahlwarner@gmailcom

Deadline for Slash and Burn

Just a reminder that the deadline for submissions to 'Slash and Burn' is January 15th. If you have submitted and not heard from us by now, we may have your story and no way to contact you. We changed e-mail servers six weeks ago and lost a lot of the contacts. If your name and e-mail wasn't on the story, we have no way of reaching you. Please, e-mail us at sypress@gmail.com with the name of the submission. Again, the deadline is January 15th. The url for info is: http://sybpress.com/slashburn.htm.

New Year, New Contests

Okay, we want to get the promtion started on A Soldier's Choice even before the release date. I have e-book versions in Acrobat pdf or Michrosoft Reader complete with the beautiful cover art. All you have to do is answer one of the questions below. They are super hard, but if you click around where I surf, you'll find the answers.

What song from an iconic 1980s film was originally written about a serial killer, but changed to reflect this upbeat, move your feet movie?

Or

For the first time in my writing history, there was a song that reflected the theme of my story. It is called one of the best anime series opening themes ever. It was a series on Adult Swim (thethme is from the second season) and it was an acclaimed cyber punk anime film that influenced the creators of The Matrix. I used a paraphrase of one of the lines for the first line of the back blurb of my book. What is the name of the theme OR the name of the series.

In your replies, let me know which form of the e-book you'd prefer.

Email me at deborahlwarner@gmail.com or post a comment here.

Year End Rant!!

I saw the squirrel the other day. He was just as crazy as ever, so I wasn’t sure if all the fumes and dust were really affecting him. He used to fall out of the trees before the renovations began. We’ve already started packing. I wonder if the little critter will ever move on.

Many things are on my mind at the end of the year. And there is a lot going on personally and professionally. There is so much on all fronts that I am not even attempting to cook the festive New Year’s Eve buffet. I just don’t have the time or energy to spare. Oh, don’t think the Eve won’t be festive (as long as there is champagne, I could eat mayonnaise sandwiches). I’m just taking it easy on the cooking, save for two very traditional soul food dishes. To do what those Food Network peeps do without a shopper and interns takes too many hours. I want to relax with a glass in my hand and a vague smile on my face as 2007 rings in.

My first observation for this year is that I prefer years when traveling to France is a part of the equation. We did some fun traveling this year, don’t get me wrong. But there is something about that country that makes everything else more bearable.

2006 was interesting professionally because I was largely a gun for hire instead of working on producing my own scripts. I did a lot of budgeting and scheduling for other small film-makers. That was strange because I really hate doing all that detail-oriented paperwork, but it pays really well. I was surprised to have reached the point where I know how many days and how much a film will cost from just reading the script. The script doctoring happened once. That was really strange, because that film was something I would have never written on my own. It was kind of cool to fix it and keep the spirit the writers intended. I’ll know whether or not the fixes worked when the reviews come in.

But it wasn’t all working for other producers. We started the process on one of the biggest projects of our modest careers. I’ve been playing footsie with the A-list, baby. A hundred dollars for coffee and toast for four in Beverly Hills (that only happened once), hob nobbing with some intense agents and managers (I don’t see how anyone that tightly wound can be enjoying their work). We may be in Europe as early as next month to continue development of the film. I have no idea what the next two weeks will bring. This is not a fun state for someone who hates limbo and really hates to travel on short notice. But I can never turn down a shot at an adventure. This one looks to be a huge one. And in that vein, I've had more than my fair share of fangirl fun. I've met and even befriended some long admired actors. That's been a hoot and a half.

The research Jon and I have been doing all year for the Hemmingway thing has made my grad school paper jones kick in(there are those who believe we’re only doing this to shoot a film in France for six months, but we really put a lot of time into that script). I know I’ll have to write one for all that research and the central thesis of that script, but there are other papers that I’d like to write if I had the time. Some of the serious and whimsical are:

The Juliet Complex: Character Death in Fanfiction. And yes, the complex can apply to men.

Homoeroticism in the Sword and Sandal Movie. I know that Spartacus and Alexander are no-brainers, but it was howling apparent in the Robe, for goodness sake. All that moaning and gnashing of teeth by Richard Burton over Victor Mature was hard to ignore – even at 4a.m.

Book ‘Em Delko: Comparing and contrasting CSI: Miami and Hawaii Five-0. There are more similarities than one might think.

On the novel writing front, this was a very odd year. I had a very difficult time finishing The Price of Surrender despite loving all the characters. Everything else I was doing seemed to get in the way of that novel. I was very depressed about continuing as a novelist when it was all over. I began to think that the toiling I was doing in film had disconnected me from writing prose. But then I was at Dragon*Con and the first sentence for A Soldier’s Choice (the back blurb is now up on the temp site. You can read it by clicking the title) popped into my head. I had written three chapters before we touched down at LAX. It felt so good to have characters interacting in my head instead of budgets and flow charts and day out of days schedules. Mind you, I was still doing those things and then some, but I was also writing that novel every chance I got. That story has spawn other ideas for next year. I am very happy about that.

On the personal front, it was a great year. Jon and I got to go home for a while and reconnect with family and friends(and stuff our faces with proper steak sandwiches and soft pretzels). I got to know my wonderfully eclectic in-laws better. I find them to be extraordinary. And it was nice to forge new bonds with my brother and my father. We had a great time at Dragon*Con, and Jon got to know my wonderfully sharp-witted grandmother. I was glad to get to know her again.

All in all for 2006, to quote the song, ‘regrets, I’ve had a few but too few to mention.’ I bid a sad farewell to my naked rugby guys of Dieux de Stade 2006. I have the new batch on order.

Next year, we’ll be living in a new place and undoubtedly doing something new. As long as I’m learning something, creating something, cooking something and making new friends(especially the actor boys), loving and laughing 2007 will be a great year.

Next week, I’ll have e-books of A Soldier’s Choice for giveaways, and more strange rants to share.

Now, I’m going to put my glad rags on, pop a cork on some nice bubbly and enjoy the company of my friends. I’m hoping that you and yours will have a great time, too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas!

The trees are up at last. We have a regulation sized one and a little, artificial one from our first year here. The little tree is the Todd Manning tree, named after my favorite soap character at the time -- more than ten years ago, I think. The Hanuka bonfire is ablaze and threatening the Christmas Stockings. It's a melancholy holiday because of the impending move, but I think everyone will have their usual good time. At our next place, we may add Festivus to the celebration.

We don't know who from the film part of our lives will be coming by. We never do. Word spreads that we have an open house, and whoever shows up, shows up. I'll get photos of them in my happy holiday hat (santa hat with mistleto attached). And they all know that any misbehavior will be in my blog and elsewhere.

So I'm off for last minute stocking stuffers and later, the buffet cooking frenzy. I hope all of you have a great holiday, whatever you celebrate. Look for the mega year-end wrap up next week!

May you all have a very sybaritic holiday!

http://sybpress.com/dlxmas.htm

The Perils of Infamy

Consternation is the theme for me this week. No that the week has been bad, per se. It's a little early in the week to render that judgment. But events have filled me with consternation. Today, our new overlords, er landlords, commenced jack hammering the pool. I'm assuming that is being done to replace said pool. All I know is I have a headache and the dust is giving me fits despite the closed windows and doors. But that's not the only reason for my agitated state-- it's just the loudest.As a former slash writer, I am often placed in potentially awkward situations with actors. Many of the ones I've met or have worked with are aware of slash on the net. And they have some pretty strong opinions. I always have to out myself as a slasher before some well-meaning fan does.

The revelation has yet to cause me any problems in my film career so far as the actors are concerned. Though I have been in the incredibly embarrassing position of explaining Real Person Slash (RPS) when I want nothing to do with it. The fans are another story. I can always tell when Trekkies has run on cable. I get a burst of hate mail claiming that I have ruined the franchise. I am awaiting a backlash from Fullmetal Alchemist fans when they discover who my narrators on the book trailer are. And I realize that many FMA fans are really young, but I have no intention of promoting anywhere that's age inappropriate. I've even child protected this blog as I do all of my sites with registration on the sites that support child block software and I have warnings. Children shouldn't even be looking at any of my pages. I know that won't matter. Like the affronted Trek fans, the affronted FMA fans will think I am trying to besmirch that series. All of this is howlingly funny as I also received a number of notes to me or about me concerning the Slash and Burn anthology. I seems in some circles, I don't really know enough about slash to make this sort of call for fiction. This gets frustrating, and fills me with consternation, I tell ya.

But the thing that has me in an uproar this week is that I can't really talk about what I'd like to talk about in my blog. The high powered Beverly Hills type guy is pretty net savvy. He does appreciate the value of good net buzz (despite the negligible affect of the ticket sales of Snakes on a Plane). However, he likes a controlled release of information, especially before all the contracts are signed. I get that, and I agree with it. But it makes me nuts to go through grief over fandom and not get to talk about the cool stuff that's going on. And I know you're thinking 'how could he find out what you write in the blog?' A few months ago I would have agreed. However, according to my stat counter, I've had hits on my blog that stemmed from searches on the web for Elizabethan cooking (I have no idea why) to the French Rugby Calendar. All I have to do is mention The Privateers, and someone will find the blog because of it. And most of the stories have to have references by name to really make sense.

Thus, I am censored for now. I'll have more on the next book next Monday. But the good news is that the jackhammers have stopped.

Lovers, Families, Novels and Films

There was lots of drama in the apartment complex this past week. To begin with, it's no longer an apartment complex -- it's going condo. And in that process, they've cut down almost all of the trees in our environment. I was saddened by this more than I thought I would be. The place now looks like a concrete institution. But I also thought it had ended the escalating feud with the squirrel. Even the hummingbirds had disappeared. To my relief and, surprisingly, that of my room mate, the squirrel came back. As did the hummingbirds. We think it was the noise of the tree cutters that scared them away for a while. I'm really pleased that we have not lost that part of our routine -- however strange it is.

It seems my life and my creative work have attached me to several strange 'families.' I'm not counting my blood relatives and in-laws as strange, no matter what I've muttered during holiday gatherings. Out here in LA, I have among my friends lots of novelists, screenwriters, poets and actors. No musicians, which is odd. There is one stand-up comedian though. Our room mate is the odd man in the mix, but he has enough eccentricities to be a creative person. But I digress.

They are all strange in some sort of way which makes for volatile mixes at times, but we are all very close. I can't think of them as any other way but family. Which is the only reason I answer the phone at 1:30 am knowing that it'll result in an ordeal that'll last hours when I really need to sleep. At least this time he wasn't nearly naked. Hey, wait, I actually enjoyed that part of the last pre-dawn adventure. Ah, well.

With the holidays coming, having an eclectic and unpredictable family means making sure there is enough food for anyone and everyone who may take a notion to cross our threshold. This gets really interesting when my friends hand out my card to actors with nowhere to go because they looked forlorn. Some of them I know can afford a really good meal (I see the re-runs, I know there are residuals). I suppose they come for the camaraderie and the comments during bad movies we show.

Having these relationships seems to mean that I am fascinated by the dynamics of families -- even ones cobbled together because of common interests. This theme keeps coming up even in my erotica. In the Surrender novels, the relationship between Nikulainen and his brothers is as important as his relationship with Sarianna. I ended up healing the relationship between Nikulainen's father and grandfather when I hadn't planned on having that thread in the novel. I wrote The Price of Surrender because I could bear for Armas to remain estranged from his family.

In A Soldiers Choice, I started with just the two men but soon built a family around them. I think these other characters help define my protagonists. Know a characters relationships and you get to know them. These relationships also give the drama higher stakes. It's very clear that though my main men are a physcial match for almost anything, those around them are vulnerable to attack. The threat of losing someone close or the danger for the main characters that stems from them trying to protect a love one makes for more suspenseful drama.

Jon tells me that all of my work has that family theme somewhere. In Demon Under Glass, it's like the Odd Couple gone terribly wrong (can a vampire and a doctor share an apartment without driving each other crazy). In the cop novel, Freak Experts, the romance begins in the midst of a failing marriage and involves forging a new family with a squad of cops. Geez, I sound like one of my professors.

A total non-sequitur. In the Simpsons tonight, Gor Vidal mentioned my Ala Mater, Temple University and the year I was in the graduate writing program.

Enough literary analysis. I didn't spend the week doing that. In fact, I was only thinking about it as I start the polish on A Soldier's Choice. This past week was power meetings in Beverly Hills and conference calls from Europe. All of it less aggravating than usual. This was in part because I got to hire some friends for parts they've been waiting a long time to play. I also landed a major anime voice actor from FMA (Fullmetal Alchemist) to do excerpts on my booktrailer and audition for this film. That was a lot of fun. The big fat hairy deal of the week though was being solicited by and hired a highpowered agent to make the film happen. It was really cool to have this guy come after us on the strength of the concept and the script. Of course, he's one of those guys with a blackberry who may call at 5am because of something happening in Japan. Now, I only answer my cell when we're in production. I'm as laid back as he is high-powered. This should be interesting.

I must now morph into Martha Stewart. I've got six pies and pounds of side dishes to start.

Taming the Muse

This subject comes up today because I am an acquisitions editor on Sybaritic Press. On the occasions that I have advised aspiring authors when wearing my editor hat, I often tell them that they need to ditch their muse. I usually say this because the muse is often blamed for a lack of productivity on the writer's part. 'My muse isn't speaking to me' or 'I can only write when my muse is working.' Nonsense, I tell them. If you want to be a writer, write and write every day. Write something and keep writing. It's the only way to hone skills. And if you want to get published, editors expect work to be turned in when it's due.

I had the notion of writing in response to inspiration only beaten out of me in undergrad and then grad school. I was a Journalism/PR major as an undergrad. We had to do exercises with basic facts given by the instructors that we had to put into stories -- news stories, features, interviews, press kits. It taught us how to structure a coherent story quickly. In grad school, I had to write a chapter a week each semester of my thesis novel and I had to write a short story per week for my workshops. There was no time to wait for inspiration. You had to present a detailed outline of the novel and then follow the structure. The artistic touches (adding depth to the characters, refining descriptions and dialogue) came with the re-writes.

Of course, there must be inspiration. That is what makes the writer choose which story to tell or what characters to follow. But if a writer wants to be a professional, the writer must treat the craft professionally. If you want to be professionally published (even with a small press), you have to be able to meet deadlines. Learning how to work from structure will enable a writer to get through any kind of writer's block. It may not be a perfect draft, but what an editor is there for -- to help hone the draft.

Right now, I have an out of control muse. I'm crashing through my soldiers novel because it simply must be written -- NOW (that happens sometimes), I have my hot cops novel that has a publishing date I must meet -- so I'm working on that as well. And now I want to write a short piece about my mother and I at happy hour in a French Quarter bar in New Orleans called Dancing with the German at Happy Hour. I blame that on youtube.com. But that is for another blog. All of these stories demand my attention. Since I have a publishing deadline on one of them, I have to give that the higher priority.

So, to those fanfic writers who want to break into the professional world, it's fine to keep writing fanfic. I consider it practice and it can hone skills. However, once involved with a press or when you're trying to get the attention of a press, deadlines must be met. It's hard for me to accept that the story I'm waiting to see isn't finished when I'm seeing new fanfic from the same writer being posted all over the place.

I now get off my soap box and return to my usual insanity.

Next week, excerpts from the new book and Jury duty in LA. Also, see the news section of http://sybpress.com for exciting announcements and calls for stories.

Out, Out Damed Plot

I was watching an episode of CSI- Miami or as our roomate calls it Horatio's Happy Flippy Sunglasses Hour, and was even more devoid of logical plot than usual. Mind you, I don't tune in for Brechtian depth, but it was ridiculous though the murder was solved in a humorous fashion when -- literally-- everyone involved in the case was dead at the end. Well, the cast wasn't. That would have been something, but I digress.

Even the pulpiest of pulp fiction needs sensible plots that have at least some internal logic. I drifted from mysteries written by lawyers because the plots made no sense outside of a courtroom. One book, written by a best seller author, actually had the police acquiescing to the demands of a serial child rapist and murderer who wanted to visit the daughter he'd traumatized on the hopes he might have some information on an active case. I haven't read a mystery since that one three years ago.

I even want plots with my smut. I know that sounds a bit extreme, but even a ten page short story needs some plot to get potential lovers from hello to afterglow. And the plot should be plausible within the genre written and compelling. In the Surrender novels (The Gift of Surrender and The Price of Surrender), I spent a great deal of time on the intrigue that surrounded my couples. I enjoyed spinning that web almost as much as I did writing the love scenes. My Cops, Freak Experts, isn't so much a who done it but 'how solved it.' The novel unfolds around how these men work together and how it fosters an intense relationship.

My new novel (I still haven't titled it -- being very indecisive there), Soldiers for now, has what I hope is an intriguing plot about military paranoia, self discovery and meshing of an extremely offbeat and dangerous family. And there is much hot, delicious smut as well. I may put up some excerpts at some point soon. In all of my ficiton, I have it proofread for errors in both the prose and the plot from people who know whatever genre I'm writing in. It's not hard these days to get information on virtually every subject and make the plot plausible. In Fantasy, it just has to make sense internally.

So, don't settle for fluff that's completely plot free or has a plot that gives a headache. Though I admit, I'll probably look at CSI Miami next week. Again, pretty people.

Speaking of pretty, I have to say hello to a new calendar boy in my Dieux de Stade 2006. Alas, there are so few months left. Anyway, he turned up on my 8th wedding anniversary, so I must mention him. Todd Feather is not French, he's from New Zealand. Very nice -- though frowny. Before him was Julien Laharrague, tres magnifique!

Later this week, I'll be doing a new contest. Stay tuned and read carefully.

Music, You Tube and Roller Strollers

I did a post in July about how, in general, listening to music isn't a great way for me to work. I get dstracted by lyrics and trips down memory lane. Well, I've found a more treacherous distraction -- youtube.com

I've been on there a few times for various reasons. My friend Scott's PSA on pain management is there now at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZgP1viWYwg

I watched to support him in his work...who am I kidding? I was there because he's naked and sweaty. and looks good that way.

On Friday though, I was there because an actor's agent had me so riled that I couldn't think straight, let alone write. I swear film is the only industry where the job applicant feels justified in picking a fight with the potential employer. I didn't even call the so and so in the first place. anyway, I was angry and noticed the site in the cache. I looked up some anime things, and then wondered whether the Bay City Rollers had any videos there. In my defense, Mervyns has been running a commercial with part of the song Saturday Night as its theme. The song was in my head, so I looked. It was there. I wasn't ever a fan of the band, but it was part of the high school school lunch scene. I was even gifted a ticket for my 16th birthday, so I wouldn't feel left out when the rest of the table went to see them in Philly. That was really interesting. Anyway, that video led to me looking up Shiela E and Prince (I've seen them live as well -- it was a differenct experience from the BCR) and MC Hammer, and of course Springsteen(whom I still see live now and again and who still looks great in jeans). Two hours later, I was calmer but really far behind in my paper work. I also have an account there with a frightening favorites list.

In the midst of all this distraction, I finished my short story for Sybaritic Press' Slash and Burn anthology, and that story is on its way to being a novel. I fell in love with the soldier boys and their antics, so on I go. I got some good title suggestions, but I'm still mulling. These guys seem to be in bed a lot, but with two guys, that's to be expected. I also find I'm enjoying the science fiction elements of the plot. There are the timely dilemmas of what to do if there was a way to make an ultimate soldier. What do you do with those soldiers who don't want to be weapons any longer? It's interesting to write, and hot fun to boot.

One last thing about YouTube. It's a handy place to put up video for professional reasons. For one of the films in development, I needed a way to give acess to a previous version of the same project to our art director and the fight coreographer. And since we make no money from the broadcast and it is a tool for getting the full feature done, we used youtube.

Check out our first short and soon to be a major feature at:

http://theprivateers.com/trailer.htm

And keep a sharp eye on everything I mentioned in this blog. It'll be part of a contest next week.

Report on West Hollywood Book Fair

My second favorite line from the fair was 'I found a way to put a cyborg in Elizabethan England.' And the next time we're there, I'm going to have half naked men with fans cooling our booth. Not that I think that will work, but I'd feel better.

For the report that will make this make sense (probably), go to:

http://sybpress.blogspot.com/

enjoy!

New Novel Title Search

This is the new and untitle novel. Please read and make title suggestions.

Here is the backstory:

The setting is Earth in the near future. Paranoia and a military unchecked has lead to the creation of elite soldiers who are altered humans. Their naturally enhanced traits (strength, speed or paranormal skills) has been intensified through genetic manipulation and advanced training. A few years prior to this story, Vincent Greven, a young prodigy even among these elite soldiers, discovers a plot by those at the head of the military to sieze control of the government by using a device that will control all of the altered humans on earth. Greven's squad leader, Rik Heron, comes to believe Vincent. He and his squad take on virtually the whole military while Vincent takes down the device on his own. The resulting explosion sends Vincent into another dimension. He is lost for two years. Vincent returns in spectacular fashion on the heels of another doomsday machine. He and Rik re-unite and destroy the machine.

The story:

Rik stops Vincent from destroying himself after the battle is won. In doing so, he realizes long repressed feelings he's had for the young man. He risks letting those feelings show, and discovers that Vincent shares them. While they try to heal from the last battle and many old wounds, a deep bond is building. However, their frinds and colleagues are not pleased for many reasons beginning with their both being men. While they navigate the messy personal situation, they discover that new plots are brewing in the government that have them in the crosshairs yet again.

An Excerpt:

The first time I held him in my arms was an accident. I grabbed Vincent to pull him back from the abyss. I could not believe it when I saw him lurching toward the edge on his damaged leg. He had done his job. We both gave almost all we had. The mission was finished. We had sent the hulking, fiery menace back to whatever hell it had come from. But Vincent was still trying to fight – still determined to punish himself. He would never admit to that, but he was punishing himself for still breathing when so many were not. I knew what he was doing because I had been intent on the same self-destruction. He had the same haunted, guilty look in his eyes that I saw when I looked in the mirror each morning. It was wrong for him to feel that way. His transgressions were minor in the scope of that accursed conflict that tore him from our world. His life was worth more than that. Seeing Vincent again made me consider the possibility that mine was worth something, too.

I grabbed him as he staggered toward that burning chasm. I used all the strength I had left to jerk him back against me. Momentum took us down the incline. I rolled over curling around his lithe body to shield him from other blasts. It was surprising that he didn’t fight me. The inevitable final explosion startled him. I pulled him closer.

“I’ve got you, Vince,” I murmured into his ear. “I’ve got you.”

When the chasm fell silent, I carefully turned us over, but kept him close to my body. I managed to sit up against a large rock. Vincent was sprawled across my lap. His closeness felt better than anything I could have imagined.

“Don’t try to move. I don’t think either of us can get far,” I said quietly.

“I wasn’t planning to,” he replied softly.

Vincent pulled away lightly to look at me. His large, amber-hued eyes were curious. I looked back putting all I felt into the gaze. Vincent’s eyes widened in surprise and his cheeks flushed, but he did not avert his gaze. His regard grew warmer before he eased back against me and rested his head on my shoulder. I held him until our rescuers arrived to pull us apart.

So, what do you think? I'd like a title with the word Soldier in it, but I also need to convey that this is a romance, not a war story. Give it a try and make a suggestion. Thanks!

Sybaritic Press at West hollywood Book Fair

The Sybaritic Press booth at the 5th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair is numbers 72-73. For the exhibitor Map, go to:

http://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org/images/map_1000.jpg

For general info including how to get to the fair, go to"

http://westhollywoodbookfair.org


Come out and see us! Let us give you a free critique or learn how to write smut!

DL

Dragoncon Part Two, Actors, Perverts and New Novels

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