3/23/2012

Flash Fiction Friday: Soap Opera


Flash Fiction Friday 




Soap Star

Another fine mess I've fallen into. Doing hair product commercials kept me fed, clothed and shelterd. Then I met Fabian. He suggested I audition for a new soap opera he was going to be involved with. I let him convince me over martinis and anti-pasta.
The audition went well. The director said our chemistry melted the screen.  I just wished Fabian had told me what kind of soap ahead of time. I didn't realize he wanted me to play his love interest. I pictured a "buddies" thing, like Butch and Sundance.
How do I tell him I'm straight and engaged?


New Excerpt: Mark's Opening Gambit


Coming up on April 5 pretty quickly now! 

Here's an excerpt from 

Mark's Opening Gambit

EXCERPT

The golden brown gaze didn't warm in the slightest under his own admiring regard, but scanned his faded Levis and tight T-shirt with disapproval. Mason half expected to be informed he didn't meet the dress code for the elegant little shop. Instead, Mark Addison looked him over and dismissed him as though he were beneath notice.
Shrugging off the snobbery, Mason slapped his brother on the back. "Go get 'em, kid.  Or whatever you guys call it." He hoped to sleep in his car while his brother played, and turned to leave immediately.
He met Addison's eyes again, tried for a smile, but the arrogant host stared right through him. "Students participating in the tournament are to be supervised by adults at all times." 
The inflectionless voice grated on his nerves as much as the pronouncement.  It wasn't like these were two year olds, for God's sake. It was Chess Club. By virtue of their very geekiness they were mature, well behaved teens.
Too bad such a sexy voice and face belonged to such a prick.  Unfortunately for Mason, he couldn't focus on Johnny's progress through the tournament. All he seemed able to focus on was that slim figure moving between the tables, the unconscious grace of the small man's movements, the seductive draw of tightening khaki across his backside as he bent to survey a board or pick up something from the floor.
He scowled as Mark glared at him again, turning and facing resolutely out the window into the parking lot. In the reflection the glass provided, he watched Mark excuse himself from Ainslie, the kid's coach, and head in his direction, a determined expression on his face.
Good. The self-righteous prick had noticed him. Mark stopped right next to him, and they stood staring out into the parking lot together.
"Stop staring at me like that."
Mason snorted, turned to look down at the shorter man. "Like what?"
The older man twitched and licked his lips. Mason stifled the groan that wanted to escape. He shifted restlessly.
"You know. Like...that."
"Like I want to throw you over my shoulder and take you out of here and fuck you? Sorry. Can't do that." Fascinated, he noted the flush on Mark's cheekbones deepen, heard the hitch in his breathing and knew that he'd been right. Chemistry burned between them.
"You..." Mark glanced cautiously around the shop at the kids concentrating so fiercely on their chess games, the proud parents and coaches peering anxiously at their little darlings. Mark stuttered to a stop before starting again. "Not here. We need to talk privately. Meet me behind the shop in ten minutes."




3/22/2012

Realism and Romanticism: SA Meade Speaks




Reality versus Romanticism in Fiction

Romanticism: The state or quality of being romantic.
Romantic: Given to thoughts or feelings of romance.

When I jumped at a chance to write a guest post on Lee’s blog, I had no idea I'd be set an essay question…jeesh.  Anyway, I’ve given the matter some thought and this is my take on this brain-twister of a topic.
Ever since I stumbled across my first Victoria Holt novel in the school library many, many years ago, I’ve been a sucker for a good romance. I’m one of life’s daydreamers and I like a novel that can take me away from bills, the price of petrol in the UK and what to make for dinner for under £2.06. Having said that, I’m also a reader who likes my books grounded in some sort of reality. 
My pet peeves in romance include love at first sight and perfect characters. Give me lust at first sight and I’m happy and give me real people with sharp edges, broken dreams and issues. I can’t be doing with excessive mooshiness. I read an m/f romance once that ended with the dashing hero arranging for the local peasantry to ski down the local mountainside at night carrying blazing torches so that his girlie could be impressed by the spectacle. It was one romantic gesture too far for me. A romantic gesture, to me, is a cup of tea brought upstairs in the morning, a brave smile when life is crap and a goodnight kiss.
I try to reflect my views on romanticism as much as I can when I’m writing. I try to remember that I’m writing about real people with problems and quirks. All right, they may not fart in bed or clip their toenails in the living room, but they’re stubborn, bad-tempered or too quiet for their own good. I love weaving reality into my romances. I love reading romances with real people.
So, there’s my essay. Did I pass, Lee?

I'll say!  Thank you so much for not including the nail clipping scenes in your books!  I like fantasy in my fiction, and a touch of reality.  Blend it right and you've got a reader for life in me! 

Check out SA Meade's work at her blog: http://kestrelrising.blogspot.com/

Want a preview? Just to make sure SA has the right blend of reality and romance for you? 

Here's a delightful excerpt from Orion Rising

The silence left by the end of the music was broken by the soft clunk of the station’s heating system kicking in for the night. Paul’s leg brushed against mine. Without wine to dull the heat, I crossed my legs and tried not to think what his closeness was doing to me. I struggled for something to say.
            “Thanks for the curry.” It seemed as good a start as any.
            “My pleasure.” He shifted beside me until our shoulders touched. “It’s nice to cook for someone. It’s not really worth just cooking for myself. Do you cook?”
            “A bit, but it’s fairly basic stuff.I’ve been known to open a tin or two and heat the contents up.”
            Paul laughed. “You’ll have to show me what you can do.”
            “All right, I will, one of these days.”
            He slid his arm across the back of the settee. “I’ll hold you to that.”
            I fought the urge to edge closer.
            Paul moved until the gap between us disappeared. I felt his hand, light on my hair. “You don’t mind, do you?”
            The hesitancy in his voice took me by surprise. He was no longer the station boss. He was just a man, finding his way.
            “No, I don’t mind at all.”
            “It’s been a long time since I’ve really enjoyed someone’s company”—Paul curled his fingers into my hair—“the way I enjoy yours.”
            I wanted to kiss him. I wanted him to kiss me. “I enjoy your company, too.” I turned to face him.
            Paul’s eyes were veiled in the twilight of the room. He glided his fingers over my skin, bringing them to rest on either side of my face. He leaned close, his lips parted.
I twisted my fingers into his hair and kissed him, sliding my tongue along the curl of his lower lip until his mouth opened beneath mine. Everything throbbed. Everything ached.
“Oh…Jesus…Michael.” Paul sighed, his breath warm on my lips. He rested his forehead against mine. “Talk about still waters.”



3/21/2012

Lucky 7


Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Lucky Seven





Here are the rules:
1. Go to page 77 (or 7th) of your current ms
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines - sentences or paragraphs - and post them as they're written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 other authors. No cheating.



Okay Page 77 - & paragraphs: 



"I mean you're young, your little brain controls your life right now. Eventually you'll realize that there's more to life than sexual gratification, more to people than hot bodies and getting off."
Willow jumped off the bed, his guts churned with fury. "I may be indecisive but I am not shallow!"
Cade's blue eyes gleamed. Was he laughing at him? Mocking him? "It's okay. Everyone is all about sex at some point in their lives. You grow out and up and into real relationships as you experience more of life."
Oh yeah. Exposure to Cade should wear that crush right down to nothing. "Then I'm blood y amazed that you want to have a relationship with me and my little head!"
Solemnly Cade intoned. "I happen to like your little head. And to be perfectly honest, I love playing teacher. Much as I thought I'd hate it, I even enjoyed the whole choices thing."
The heart that stalled at the word love on Cade's lips skipped back into beat. "Yeah....that was ....genius."
"Thank you. Now...Ice cream? sofa? Bruce Willis?"




Be Yourself

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~e.e. cummings, 1955
The Romance Reviews