Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The Dreaded Word Dump...

...a.k.a. Deleting Chapter 7 and Starting it Over

Deleting a block of text I spent five days writing is something I do not love to do. Or even like to do. Heck, I can barely breathe before I hit the delete key - which is why I never *really* delete text. I cut and paste into a separate document because it might work later on in the story, or even in another piece of prose.

The cold, hard truth is sometimes it's simply necessary to dump text. It could be because of a new, better idea. Or even an older better idea. In this case, I saw two possible directions for the story to take, and I chose what turned out to be the wrong one. Well, maybe wrong isn't the right word, but it's the word I have this rainy night.

Typing the chapter solidified where the story should be going, so it was in no way a waste of time. The only deadline on this story is one I set for myself, so I have the luxury of being able to dump almost a week's work and regroup. And honestly, it's not the first time I've done this over the years - nor will it be the last.

What's the point of sharing? I guess it's just to let other writers, especially those new to the craft, that dumping text happens no matter how long you've been writing. And I needed to whine about it a bit.

But as Don Henley said - get over it.

So I'm going back to work now. With any luck, I can bang out a new chapter seven by Thursday. Or not. Either way, it will be okay.

KC

Sunday, November 14, 2010

What You Don't Confess

November 14, 2010

What You Don't Confess
Contemporary gay romance

What You Don't Confess is available now at 
AmazoniTunesBarnes and NobleKobo and other online book sellers.

****
I'm so pleased this book is finally available. What You Don't Confess closes the story arc about Dylan Donaghy, a character introduced in A Hard Habit to Break, and continued in Open Roads. Dylan is a friend and confidant to both Travis and Tyler, so it's only fitting he have the rest of his story told. All three stories stand alone, but I think the reader will enjoy the Marionville setting more if all three are read. I hope you enjoy Dylan's journey to coming out. - KC Kendricks
****


Bright and beautiful, Cassidy Barlow is one of Marionville’s new breed of movers and shakers. Outspoken on political and social issues, Cass draws a lot of media attention and knows how to us it. Out and proud, Cass makes no apologies for who he is, or who he wants – and he wants Dylan Donaghy. The only thing is, from where Cass stands, Dylan seems to be involved with two different men.

Coming out. The most difficult phrase in Dylan Donaghy's vocabulary. Handsome, successful, wealthy, he’s made it this far in life with only his closest friends knowing he’s gay. Dylan has a good reason for that to change – his deepening attraction to Cassidy Barlow. It doesn’t come easy, but Dylan takes a few first steps out of the closet. It’s his only choice if he wants to be with Cass, even though he knows Cass has some secrets of his own.

Every man has a private past and an unwritten future. What he won’t confess stands between the two.

EXCERPT

“You do know those four watchdogs of yours were there the entire evening, don’t you?”

I nodded. “They like to keep an eye on me. Obviously, it didn’t discourage you at all.”

His hand gripped my shoulders again. His amber gaze drilled into mine. “Just so I don’t step in it, Dylan, how many of them have you slept with? And don’t lie to me.”

I fought back against of wave of anger. How dare he imply I’d not tell him the truth? Being astute, he knew he’d pissed me off. I saw the apology in his eyes as he touched his fingertips to my lips.

“That didn’t come out right, Dylan.”

“ Apology accepted. Before today, I might have told you it was none of your business, but now I think you should know. We’re no longer intimate, but I have a very close, special relationship with both Travis and Tyler. I’m very happy for them that they both found a partner.”

“That’s what I figured out Friday night when they spent all that time running in and out of an area marked ‘private’. Especially Templeton.”

“Don’t test me too often, Cass. I don’t like it.” I spoke sharper than intended, but he needed to know my boundaries. “There’s a lot of space between your age and mine. Be careful not to judge until you get to where I am.”

Those restless hands of his skimmed along my sides. “I’m not being judgmental, I swear. I just needed to know what the dynamics are between you and them so I don’t put both feet in my mouth.”

“Okay. I get it. And for what it’s worth, all four of them, especially Travis, is rooting for you.”

“Really? He’s in my corner, is he?” Cass tucked his fingers under my belt and tugged. I levered my weight off the door and stepped past him, capturing his hand to pull him into the casual space I used for informal gatherings.

“He’s using tough love on me when it comes to you, so don’t be shocked, or surprised, at his little quips. Have a seat.”

Cass eased down on the love seat and patted the spot beside him. I ignored him, and went to the bar. “What would you like to drink?”

“Ginger ale?”

I nodded and poured two, handing his to him with an apology it didn’t come in a brandy snifter as I settled in beside him. I stopped him when he moved to put his arm around me.

“You’re killing me here, Dylan.”

“No, I’m not.” I sipped my drink. “Cass, I don’t want to make a misstep with you. I know what you want tonight, but what do you want next week? Or next month? Christ, what do I want next week?”

He leaned back and watched me with those amber eyes. His cool, even regard gave little indication of his thoughts. Cass downed his drink in three fast swallows, then swirled the ice around in the bottom of the empty glass.

“Do you always think everything to death, Dylan?”

“It’s a hazard one encounters in middle age.”

“I’m not some mistake you’ll regret when you’re ninety.”

I laid my hand on his thigh. The heat of his skin penetrated his jeans, and snaked up my arm. “You’re right, you know. I won’t regret meeting you, whether dinner is all we share, or we become friends, or if we become lovers.”

“Or? If? I don’t appreciate being jerked around.”

“Well, poor little you that I haven’t figured this out yet.”

Cass’s mouth dropped open, then snapped closed. He stared at me, blinked, and stared again. I reveled in private glee that I’d seen him speechless twice in one day, but that amusement was strongly tempered by the knowledge I had him too far off balance. I squeezed his knee.

“Look, Cass. I’m not jerking you around. Getting involved with someone isn’t easy for me. I’ve never been someone who gets a hard-on for a guy and loses my mind until I fuck him. I have to think things through, and consider the impact it may have on my life.”

He shook his head. “Babe, you’ve got to start living in the moment, and stop living in fear.” Cass set his empty glass down on the end table and stood. With angry, disappointed eyes, he met my gaze. A muscle moved in his clenched jaw.

My heart beat painfully. I knew what he was going to say...

WHAT YOU DON'T CONFESS
Contemporary gay romance

What You Don't Confess is available now at 
AmazoniTunesBarnes and NobleKobo and other online book sellers.

KC Kendricks
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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Many Rooms

November 11, 2010

There is a lovely line in an episode of Queer as Folk, spoken by the character of Lindsay, that strikes a chord with me.

My house has many rooms. I occupy but a few. The rest go unvisited.

In my house.

I am a daughter, a partner, a cousin, a friend, a co-worker, a supervisor, an employee.

I am a writer, a bowler, a music lover, a cook, an artist, a seamstress, a photographer.

These are rooms I occupy frequently.

But what about those other rooms, those I do not visit? I'm not sure I've even identified them all, although I sense their presence. Perhaps one day my journey will lead me to open some of those doors, be it slowly one by one, or recklessly flinging several open at once.

Many rooms.

I like that.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Do ebooks change the rules?

In this age of information saturation, it's easy to hit overload and stay there for a weeks on end. I know. I've been there a few times, and yet I still browse for articles pertinent to the art and craft of writing. Some days, like today, I do consider deleting all my Google alerts, but that's a blog for a different day.

If you follow the link below, you'll find a good article on how ebooks are changing the publishing world. I doubt that's news to anyone who reads author blogs. What struck me in this article was what it put into words something I believed to be true, but never articulated - the Kindle reader is so successful because it's a simple device with a singular function that it does well.

The article also touches on a few unpleasant truths. Piracy abounds in the ebook world, stealing a decent living from the serious writer. And (my opinion)if the serious writer needs to work a day job to support herself, it becomes difficult to find the time to write. Everyone loses when that happenes.

Anyway, it's a good article with food for thought and is worth the read.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/e-books-rewrite-the-rules-of-engagement/story-e6frg6zo-1225942072478

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

An affirmation of the prolific writer

November 3, 2010

I read an interesting article on prolific authors today. I think why it struck a chord with me is because of a post on a review site several months ago in which the owner of the review site and another author criticized a particular unnamed author for being a prolific writer. In the course of their conversation, it was admitted they'd discused this author, in depth, privately. I'm still deeply affected by having read such cruelty.

When I read the article by Philip Womack today and learned that Barbara Cartland had penned 722 books in the course of her career, I was a bit gaga. That's a lot of books. The article states that comes out to about a book every 40 days. What it didn't tell me was how in the heck to channel that ability.

The link to the article is below. No matter where you are in your writing career, you owe it to yourself to read it, especially the last paragraph with it's affirmation of the prolific writer. For it's affirmation we need to hear from other writers, our brothers and sisters in arms. Who else knows the pieces of self we pour into each work? And who else can wound - or heal - us with mere words?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/8080503/Being-a-prolific-author-isnt-a-bad-thing.html

Amber Allure October 2010 Top Ten Best Sellers

I didn't have a book release in October, but kudos to those who did. Congratulations to all for a book well written!

1. The Beach House - Shawn Lane (Gay / Contemporary)
2. Troy's Surrender - K. M. Mahoney (Gay / Western)
3. Inhabiting The Night - Carolina Valdez (Gay / Shapeshifter)
4. The Club At Cool Harbor - Christiane France (Gay / Contemporary)
5. Wolf's Survival - T. A. Chase (Gay / Werewolf)
6. (Boys Of The Zodiac) Scorpio: The Heart To Help - Jamie Craig (Gay / Contemporary)
7. Trust Your Tutor - Lilith Grey (Gay / Contemporary)
8. Between A Rock And A Hard Place - Clare London (Gay / Contemporary)
9. Tough Guy - Bryl R. Tyne (Gay / Western)
10. The Wild Bunch: Stace - Deirdre O'Dare (Gay / Western)