Why am I
here?” Mitch asked again.

“You are a most impressive young man. Of course, they told me you have this
ability. Somehow you know things you are not supposed to know, yes?” Cheslov’s
eyes widened in reproach. He reached beneath his coat and removed a long cigar.
Snipped the tip using a guillotine cutter that looked like a worn, hungry
mouth. Lit it up with a battered, gunmetal Zippo. Leaned back in his chair,
took a deep drag. Exhaled a thick, hot, blue stream of smoke.

“Which is why you find yourself here. In my home.” Cheslov’s face saddened.
Then he continued, as if explaining to a child. “I am sorry, young friend, to
have to say this to you. That this is not a place a man wishes to find himself.
This is not a room from which people live to see a new day. No, my friend, this
is a room in which people take their last breath, see their last light. Hear
their last sound.”

Mitch remembered a long ago camping trip.

Cheslov smiled warmly down at him. “Why were you meeting the Deter bitch?”

Mitch said nothing.

Cheslov raised the cigar cutter to his face and a raven eye peered through the
opening. He smiled as he slid the blades together. “What was your intention?”

Mitch started the process of extracting himself mentally from his surroundings.
He ran number patterns through his head to take his mind beyond the pain and
the possibility of what the lunatic might do next. There was only one place
this was heading.

Of course he wouldn’t answer any of the lunatic’s questions. The best strategy
to resisting interrogation is to simply not provide any information at all.

“Where is the file?”

Once you start to give up information, even about minor unrelated topics, it’s
hard to stop and easier to give up important information. The answers to the
current questions didn’t matter in the least. The only thing that mattered was
to protect Kate. At any cost.

“With whom have you shared it?”

Mitch said nothing.

Cheslov walked to the head of the bed and slowly examined Mitch’s fingertips.

“You wear your micro on your index finger. Painted with green resin. Quite the
fashion statement. To whom have you sent the file?”

Mitch said nothing.

Cheslov grasped Mitch’s left hand and held it the way a man might hold the hand
of his son. Mitch felt a softness to the giant’s touch.

“Why do you not answer? Are you afraid?” Cheslov gazed down at him with a not
unkind expression. The giant’s thick, dark eyebrows rose as if trying to coax
Mitch to speak.

Mitch said nothing.

“I’ll ask you once more,” Cheslov said and a note of sadness crept into his
voice. The hesitant father who does not wish to punish but is left no choice.
“You have nothing to gain by continuing your silence. And quite a bit to lose.
Yes, quite a bit.”

Mitch stared at the overhead ceiling. Focused on the intricate wood carving.

Cheslov spread Mitch’s fingers.

Mitch said nothing.

“Tell me. With whom have you shared the file?”

Mitch said nothing.

“Enough of these games,” Cheslov said.

Article source: http://www.zimbio.com/Writers+Blogs+on+Writing/articles/DitQTp4Tqoh/Just+how+begin+write+book

Last week I went to a ‘workshop’ at Pembroke College run by the National Academy of Writing. I’ve been to one before but I thought I’d go again.

Richard Beard is the main speaker who performs a public edit on two submissions of written work – he’s brilliant. The extracts themselves were pretty amazing to begin with yet he managed to still find ways to improve them. Quite something.

I spoke to plenty of writers – there were a lot more there than last time and now I’ve built up a network of friends/acquaintances to discuss with… Maybe my Cambridge career is finally setting off.

The Academy includes many Patrons who are writers themselves, including the likes of Jacqueline Wilson, A. S. Byatt, Nick Hornby, Melvyn Bragg, Malorie Blackman and Kazuo Ishiguro. Therefore one is always in safe hands.

The speaker this time was the travel writer Ian Marchant. Visit his blog and it’ll tell you a bit about his visit to Cambridge. He was extremely interesting, though not totally relevant to a fiction writer but his methods, of course, are universal. The amount of research that he conducts and the plucking out of thin air of ideas is immense. So are his daring deeds and cunning ways of making money and the determination to keep on writing even in the face of poverty and starvation… You think I’m joking, this man lived it… Kind of.

It was extremely interesting and this post is basically a plea for anyone who would like to write (in the UK at least) to check out their website and maybe look for help/guidance. No one’s ever going to be a perfect writer, and there’s never a perfect way to write or method, and even Richard Beard himself, (in all his beautiful ruggedness), admits that his ‘edits’ are only ‘in my opinion‘.

It’s clear that it can’t harm to show your work to a reading audience. People have to read it… That’s what it’s for. You can’t keep it under wraps forever… Well you can. But you shouldn’t.

I’m thinking I might start posting some ‘snippets’ from some of my work and you can tell me what you think… Be as brutal as you want… well, don’t be, remember I have feelings.

But I say once more… LOOK THEM UP. It’ll be useful.

LOVEX

Article source: http://www.zimbio.com/Writers+Blogs+on+Writing/articles/8uBHa9gLvp-/national+academy+of+writing

The Vampires for Valentines giveaway post is HERE.

________________

I used to be a romance writer. People are surprised when I tell them this, because I don’t look like most people’s picture of a romance writer—say, Kathleen Turner in Romancing the Stone. When I explain that I’m also a speech pathologist, no one is surprised. I look like someone who would enjoy helping children overcome lisps. Nevertheless, I have written a number of books for Harlequin, so I’m a bona fide romance author. Here’s my story, with its not-so-happy ending.

I always say that I became a romance writer because I don’t drive on the highway. When my father’s health began to fail, I made frequent trips to visit him. We had three teenagers in the house at that time, so my husband stayed home to keep an eye on them. Because I fall asleep the minute the car leaves the city limits, I made my trips on the bus. Boring. I needed reading material. One day I was wandering through a discount store book department when I came upon a Silhouette romance. Hmm, just the right length to keep me occupied on my next bus trip. I bought it, read it, and got hooked on romance. I began buying two books, one for the trip there and another for the trip back. I bought more and read them at home.

One day I saw an article about Romance Writers of America, which was having its first annual conference in my home town of Houston. Hey, here were a bunch of women getting paid for writing what I was reading. Why not me?

I joined Romance Writers of America and hesitantly went to my first meeting. How would a nice middle-aged speech pathologist fit in with those sexy gals who turned out hot books? Surprise! Most of them were just like me. I had found a home and a group of friends.

Eventually I sold my first book, Blessing in Disguise, written as Lorna Michaels, to Harlequin Superromance. Alas, I never became really famous but I did sell my share of books, and yes, they were hot. In fact, the editor of my first book told me to cut down on the sex. I had too many love scenes.

My writing career continued until my last book came out in 2006. That was A Candle for Nick, a Silhouette Special Edition. Writing that book was eerie. The heroine’s son has leukemia and shortly after I pitched the idea to my editor, my husband was diagnosed with the same disease. I wrote that book while he fought a losing battle with cancer and finished it just weeks before he died.

His death propelled me from romance to creative non-fiction, where I have found another home. I’ve been working on a memoir, have published essays in various anthologies and am currently co-editing an anthology on widowhood with Silver Boomer Books. Anyone interested in contributing? Check out www.silverboomerbooks.com and click on For Writers. We’re accepting submissions through March 31.

I love writing, from those too-many sex scenes to the quiet reflection of the essays I write today, with my cat sitting on my desk and purring as I type on my computer. I love being a speech pathologist, too. I have the best of both worlds, although I wish my husband were still here to share it.

Article source: http://www.zimbio.com/Writers+Blogs+on+Writing/articles/NqP_AKZgvvm/Used+Romance+Writer+Guest+Post+Thelma+Zirkelbach

Stream of Consciousness Sunday is hosted by All.Things.Fadra. Post your 5-minute “brain dump,” then link up at Fadra’s website.

Today’s (Optional) Writing Prompt: Write about something that you unexpectedly had a hard time saying goodbye to.

When my husband and I first moved into our current house, in 2002, few of the rooms were the way we wanted them. One of the first things that m needed major surgery was the upstairs bathroom. It was so tiny, your knees touched the tub when you sat on the toilet. Obviously, we had to knock down the walls to make it bigger – but to do so, we had to sacrifice the prettiest little linen closet. I had a strange fondness for that closet, and I was sad to see it go. I still have nostalgia for it sometimes, even though I’m really glad we made room for a heart-shaped whirlpool tub.

To a lesser extent, I feel that way about the butler’s pantry on the first floor – a;ll those cute little cupboards and drawers. Now demolished to make the first-floor bathroom bigger.

But the person/thing I really had the hardest time saying goodbye to unexpectedly was my parents’ 6-year-old Akita-yellow lab mix, Amy. She was one of the sweetest dogs you’d ever meet. She died suddenly about three years ago of a heart condition, which no one knew she had.

Article source: http://www.zimbio.com/Writers+Blogs+on+Writing/articles/m0ayJNWAI8p/SOC+Sunday+Saying+Goodbye

Stopping by from Reading-Romances.com’s Romancing the Valentine Giveaway Hop? Please find the giveaway post HERE.

Eliot Hastings you’re not an easy person to find online. What would you like readers to know about you?

I live in Warwickshire, my interests include Architecture and History and I am lucky that I live in a country steeped in history so that I am able to follow a favourite hobby which is visiting historic buildings and Cathedrals.

What made you decide to write Forbidden Pleasures, Forgiven Desires?

I started writing short stories as a hobby years ago and never thought I would be published. But when I read some of Ken Follett’s work it inspired me to expand my ideas and develop my characters. It is also a lot easier for writers to get published these days and that was a big factor in bringing the books to fruition.

If there was a movie version who would you imagine playing Peter, Lisa and Suzy?

Not sure about the male lead but perhaps Catherine Zeta Jones as Lisa, and I think Angie Everhart would be ideal for Suzy.

Why did you choose to set your stories in the ’70s?

The two central characters of the first book Amanda and Kathryn meet in 1972 when they are at school, they remain close friends and they appear in most of the series bringing them up to the current time. The 70s and 80s were exciting decades in many ways and in the first book of the series, which will be published later this year, I wanted to try and capture some of those experiences and feelings. In the remaining books (including this one) the stories are mostly set in the present time.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, do you have a favourite artist or style of music that inspires you?

Yes I do, I have a very broad taste in music, I listen mainly to Rock, Blues, Jazz, Classical and Folk. I get inspiration from artists like Arcade Fire, Leon Russell, Bob Dylan, and for mood music I like to listen to Led Zeppelin, Genesis, MJQ, Bach, and Kate Rusby. A favourite I first heard (and sang) as a child is Allegri’s Miserere.

Who are your favourite writers? Do you have a favourite erotica writer or book?

My favourite writers are Ian Mortimer, Ken Follett and Robert Ludlum. My favourite erotica writer is Anne Rice, and The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy.

What can readers expect from you in the future?

The conclusion of this story will be published in February, the original story has nineteen characters and there are currently eight books planned for the series.

*****

Peter was an assertive man, in complete control of his life and work. But in his closest relationships he was a natural submissive, and he had been searching for a dominant partner for as long as he could remember. Dissatisfied with his relationships, he had sought the services of a professional Mistress. Lisa enjoyed her work as a sadistic Dominatrix, exploiting his masochism and they soon became good friends. It seemed as if he had everything he needed, and his search was over. Then he met Suzy and fell in love with her, they were brought together by a quirk of fate. She had her own agenda, but there was something unspoken, something below the surface that drew them together, but would she love him? And if she did, would he be able to live a life denying his need to be dominated?

Forbidden Pleasures, Forgiven Desires is available from Amazon UK, Amazon US, All Romance eBooks and many, many more.

*****

Eliot Hastings is a technical author and began writing short stories as a hobby some years ago. He is an engineering graduate and lives in Warwickshire, his interests include Architecture and History and he considers himself lucky to live in a country steeped in history. It allows him to follow two of his favourite hobbies which are photography and visiting historic buildings and Cathedrals. Eliot is into motor sports and music and he is a regular at race meetings and gigs up and down the country.

Catherine Zeta-Jones photo by Georges Biard, Creative Commons license

Article source: http://www.zimbio.com/Writers+Blogs+on+Writing/articles/V8waGR0SQRx/Interview+Eliot+Hastings

Stopping by from Reading-Romances.com’s Romancing the Valentine Giveaway Hop? Please find the giveaway post HERE.

–

WHOEVER it was said clothes make the man should have been writing adult erotica.

Actually, I just checked on Google and it turns out it was Mark Twain who came up with that one…and I doubt somehow that he ever attempted an explicit men only version of Huckleberry Finn!

Nevertheless, he did have a valid point for clothes surely do make up one of the most important elements of any good piece of erotic fiction.

I am one of those people who finds the best part of a birthday or Christmas is the sense of anticipation, looking at the gifts with their wrapping paper and bows, imaging what might be yours…and then ripping it off and hoping you won’t be disappointed.

It’s the same with sex – a naked body is a naked body but dress it properly, tease your reader with the possibility of what lies beneath and you have created an instant erotic atmosphere.

A man is just a man but put him in tight Levis, an even tighter white singlet and a hard hat and then sling a tool belt around his waist and you have the horny handyman, waiting to screw whatever he can.

Personally, although there is the occasional working guy in my stories – for instance a particularly horny and sweaty odd job man in Masters and Servants, part of my While the Wife’s Away collection – my preference is always for men in suits.

And the reason for that is quite simply that there’s more to unwrap, more pleasure in the anticipation as we unfasten the sexy tie, slowly unbutton the shirt – there’s nothing quite as sexy and stimulating as a simple button – and then strip him right down to the socks.

Here’s my randy middle aged and married businessman, dressed to impress in While the Wife’s Away…

I could no longer resist the urge to loosen his tie, always my favourite moment in the early stages of seduction, pulling at the knot just enough to allow me to undo the top two buttons of his shirt, allowing me to see a glimpse of the hairy chest I had rightly guessed would be there for me to enjoy.

Two more buttons unfastened revealed the dark forest of hair that swirled down from his shoulder blades and would, I guessed, go all the way down to the groin.

I pulled the shirt open, ran my hands through the hair and found the nipples, tweaking them gently before moving down to lick and suck, my tongue finding a way through the hair to the delicate hard pink that responded to my lips by becoming deliciously erect.

“I want you in my bed,” he groaned, pulling me to my feet and taking me by the hand as he led me upstairs to the bedroom, where an ornate brass bed with cool cotton sheets was waiting for us to begin the next stage of our sexual journey.

As he lay there, I undid the last button on his shirt, pulling it off and throwing it to one side, removed his shoes and socks, pulled off the black trousers and tugged his jock strap off to reveal…

Just remember that even in the oldest story ever told, things only get interesting once clothes make their debut.

Adam and Eve are living in happy innocence in the Garden of Eden before they taste the forbidden fruit and cover their nakedness.

Once the fig leaf – or the boiler suit or the dinner suit or even the suit of armour – makes it appearance you can’t help but wonder what the man might have hidden from public view and once you begin the fantasy process of removing each layer the possibilities for sexual excitement are endless.

And remember that the longer you can make the process of stripping last, the greater the sexual tension and the greater the ultimate pleasure – though there’s equally gratification to be had from two men who are so desperate that they literally rip their clothes off as they fuck!

Either way, that’s why I always like to make sure my men are fully dressed for the job – and are always ready to begin to a sensual striptease, one saucy item at a time.

And it’s also one of the main reasons why my next story is going to be a piece of historical fiction set at the start of the 20th century when men wore jackets, shirts with studs and detachable collars – a particular favourite of mine – ties, waistcoats, braces, granddad style buttoned vests, long underwear and then, in a final erotic flourish, socks with suspenders!

By the time you get down to the naked hairy chest – usually an essential in my stories though there are a few smoothies like myself along the way – the reader should be so excited that he’ll be wanting to do a strip of his own!

*****

While the Wife’s Away is a collection of three gay short stories from well-known erotic author Kris Andersson.

While the Wife’s Away: When the boss suggests an evening meeting at his home and makes it quite clear that his wife is away for the night, you can guarantee that there will be more than statistics and spread sheets on the agenda – and by the end of the night a new sort of business partnership has been created.

Masters and Servants: It’s hard losing your job – and even harder looking for something new. But just how far will one man go to impress the boss? From steamy encounters in the office to passion in a scenic lift and shower room to lust in the potting shed, this is one job search that proves especially stimulating!

The Sin of Father Anthony: When a new priest arrives in town, one lapsed Catholic decides it’s time to start attending Mass again – but he has more than absolution on his mind as he uses his girlfriend to get closer to the true object of his desire and give him a night he’ll never forget. From lusty housekeepers and choir mistresses to a hairy trucker with a taste for stockings and suspenders, this is a story packed with sexual thrills for a young man on a personal mission to satisfy his gay passions.

*****

Kris Andersson is an award-winning writer – and occasional actor – who specialises in gay erotica. His work has been described as both pacy and steamy. His current titles include While The Wife’s Away – a collection of three stories – Acts of Passion and A Special Gift. A fourth title is expected to be published very soon and will take Kris in a very different direction, a gay love story set against the horrors of the First World War and its aftermath.

Article source: http://www.zimbio.com/Writers+Blogs+on+Writing/articles/DOwB2DMZ58G/Guest+Post+Kris+Andersson+author+While+Wife

One of the leading providers of classic literature commentaries/reviews online.

Looking for Edgar Allan Poe? Alexander Dumas? Jane Austen, perhaps? You’ve come in the right place! Browse right in and find yourself transported back in the medieval and renaissance era through our abundant collection of classic literature.

Article source: http://www.zimbio.com/Writers+Blogs+on+Writing/articles/1sIMnk-z1b5/Norton+Collection+Classic+Scientific+Literature

Simultaneous events were held worldwide in celebration of the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens — the man who wrote A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, Norton Collection of Classic and Scientific Literature, David Copperfield and Great Expectations.

Dickens surely takes his time and mostly does not go directly to the point. In fact, during his time, he publishes his works in installments (which is cheaper than whole novels and easier to market). Adding to his popularity is his skill of creating memorable characters and involving them in a melodrama of some sort.

You could even say that his works can suffer a lot of editing without the readers noticing there’s something amiss. But his long-windedness is one of his selling point. Too bad, because nowadays many are after brevity.

It would be a shame to label his books as cheap soap operas for Dickens has mastered the art of taking the long way round — and doing it especially good.

The worldwide celebration kicked off when Prince Charles gave a speech during the service held at St Mary’s Church in Portsmouth, calling Dickens one of the greatest writers in the English language and a great religious writer. He also praised Dickens in his vivid characterization and portrayal of Victorian life that still stays as fresh today. Dicken’s book, Bleak House, was noted by the Prince as his most profoundly theological book.

Ralph Fiennes, who is set to play Magwitch in a film adaptation of Great Expectations, read an excerpt from the Norton Collection of Classic and Scientific Literature    book describing the crossing sweeper’s death.

Meanwhile, an excerpt from ‘The Life of Our Lord’ was read by one of his descendants. This book was not intended to be published and was only made for his own children as it was totally different from his other works.

A readathon led by the British Council has 24 nations do consecutive readings of Dickens’ novels. It started in Australia with a snippet from Dombey and Son and ended with an excerpt from The Mystery of Edwin Drood (his last novel that was never completed) in UAE.

Article source: http://www.zimbio.com/Writers+Blogs+on+Writing/articles/UgUGL98Hqzu/Norton+Scientific+Collection+200+years+Charles

“DC plans Prequels to Watchmen Series”

I’m serious: check the New York Times.

That wasn’t a headline I expected in my newsfeed this morning, but it also isn’t a surprise. In summary DC Comics are getting new writers to write prequels to the classic comic Watchmen. Alan Moore, the original writer and character creator isn’t involved. As the original comics tells two stories, many years apart it would be easy for prequels to spoil it for new readers, but rather than focus on that, I found the Alan Moore Quote at the bottom of the article interesting.

Moore states it is a blow to comics as a serious artform: “As far as I know,” he said, “there weren’t that many prequels or sequels to ‘Moby-Dick.’ ” NYTimes, 1st Feb 2012,

This I disagree with. I inherited a collection of books from a closing bookstore. Among them are Rebecca’s Tale, Pemberley, and Scarlett.

Other authors writing sequels to classic novels, many years after they were released, is not a new idea. These sequels tend to have a few things in common: They aren’t by the original authors, they were released many years later, and a few years after their release none of them have a profile anywhere near as high as the original books.

Rebecca, Pride and Prejudice, and Gone with the Wind are still unique. The existence of spin-offs is nothig new in the field of novels.

Regarding Moby Dick itself? A google search threw up five authors currently trying to write sequels. Wiki? Adaptations galore, and all but a couple are now obscure.

Given the above examples, and being old enough to remember when some of these came out (to great derision and comments of “Who does she think she is?” in at least one case) the greatest effect is always on the publisher and writer creating the sequels. The original? That stands alone. With all the original works, the authors above captured lightning in a bottle, the perfect combination of the times, attitudes, writing, and topic. Trying to do that again, within the constraints of an existing mythos? Unlikely.

So are sequels, prequels and spin-offs damaging to comics as a serious artform? I’d have to say no more than they were for novels.

This doesn’t mean I’ll buy the Watchmen prequels, anymore than I bought the ones above. Some things are better left stand-alone.

Article source: http://www.zimbio.com/Writers+Blogs+on+Writing/articles/TMX2nAewzxf/Sequelitis

Are you an author with a current work in progress? Would you like to share about your work on a future WIP Wednesday? If so, send your blurb to Erin O’Riordan: erinoriordan AT sbcglobal DOT net.

As a Groundhog Day treat, take 20% off The Smell of Gas (my pulp fiction novel – lots of sex and death) and “Melusine’s Secret” at Lulu.com with the code SHADOWHOG306. Good through Feb. 3.

The first of February is a cross-quarter Pagan holiday, falling in between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. The optimistic celebration of Imbolc looks forward to the end of winter and the renewal of spring – we’re halfway there! Wear white or yellow for Imbolc to encourage the days to keep getting longer.

If you’re interested in the folklore of Imbolc and the related February 1-2 holidays, you can read last year’s post HERE. Remember, February 4th will be Sarasvati Puja, the birthday of the Hindu goddess Sarasvati.

Sarasvati Pictures

Over the weekend, I wrote a scholarly and humorous article about the word “smexy.” The portmanteau word combining “smart” and “sexy” should be a favorite of mine, but I just can’t bring myself to like it. Brigid came up in the discussion, as you’ll read in this brief excerpt:

“If smexy were here [in the dictionary], it would fall precisely between smelter and smidgen. Smidgen’s not so bad; it has a cooking-show flavor, as in ‘Add a smidgen of cardamom to your vanilla pudding.’ Smidgen could even be delicious. Likewise, I have nothing against smelters, or anyone otherwise employed in the metallurgic arts. To my ancient Irish ancestors, smiths enjoyed the patronage of the great fire-goddess Brighid, and for the love of Brighid I could even love the word smelter.”

Imbolc Pictures

You might notice I also crammed in a pun on the word “flavor” and a reference to a line from Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? I was on a roll when I wrote the article, so I hope it gets picked up by SexIs Magazine. I also worked in references to SmexyAsians.com, Michael Trevino, Dick Cheney’s iPod and Miles Fisher. “This Must Be the Place” is my example of a song that’s kind of annoying at first, but then it grows on you. Then you can’t get it out of your head. Then you embrace it. Then you love it.

Of course you embrace the video right away, ’cause it’s a wonderful American Psycho homage. Miles Fisher is SO smexy. (Photo by Nadav Benjamin, Creative Commons)

So, what are you working on this fine cross quarter holiday?

Article source: http://www.zimbio.com/Writers+Blogs+on+Writing/articles/XpoisXPBHJd/WIP+Wednesday+Happy+Imbolc+L+Fh+ile+Br+de