emlynley

When we write main characters, we want you to love them, and we'll do our best to make the characters worth caring about.  But we've all read stories where one of the main characters does something that we can't believe or accept. As a writer, it's hard to judge where the limit is for what readers will accept in terms of character's behavior. I'd like to get some idea of what you can't tolerate.

( what's your limit? )

I'm catching up on friend requests and have just added a bunch of new people.

I like to use subgroups to keep track of everyone, so if you are a writer, please let me know, including what genre you write and who your publishers are.

If you are a reader let me know, I have a special list for you also!

If you might want to be a beta reader, remind me to add you to that flist subgroup also.

Thanks, and welcome to my LJ. I'm hoping to get back into a regular schedule of updates here.

For the moment, just a reminder that all my titles at Fictionwise are currently 45% off.  Here's the full list: 

http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/EMLynleyeBooks.htm

Given the generally high stress levels of the past couple of months, I am struggling to finish the current WIP and could really use some beta help. I am looking for a couple of people who can give detailed feedback and help with some brainstorming, not just say "I liked it" or "didn't like it".  I'm screening comments so you can feel free to mention contact info if you would like to be part of this project. I'll give more info to the people who respond. Thanks in advance.

Also, please take a minute and fill in yesterday's poll regarding some of the other projects I'm considering working on next. Based on the few responses, it looks like there is not much interest in some of them and I'm likely to scrap the ideas/outlines.

Poll is here

As you all know I'm a huge fan of polls. It's been a while since I've done one, and this will help me decide which of my plot ideas to focus on.

Please use a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being not much interest, 10 being definitely want to read... thanks for answering, and feel free to add details or other suggestions in comments.  Of course, all would be m/m stories, but I'm more curious about what themes and topics are of interest.


( the poll )

Contrary to appearances, I am still alive. There have been times during the past couple of months it wasn't entirely clear to me, but hopefully recent troubles are in the past.

I am trying to catch up on emails, comments, writing, etc., that had be put on hold to deal with some medical and legal RL issues. Hopefully you haven't all abandoned me.

So, excuse the lateness of my Happy New Year wishes, but I hope that everyone has a happy and healthy 2010 and that at least some of your dreams will come true.

What's Christmas without a little bondage? Check out my newest story "New Tricks" in Bound with a Bow, a GLBT BDSM Christmas Anthology from Phaze! I wrote this story back in May, so I'm thrilled to finally see this volume released!

This is a great anthology, with other stories by Michael Black, Beth Wylde, Sascha Illyvich and Lee Benoit.

Latex, leather, or lace. Oh, my! Bridles, bondage, and ball-gags. Oh, wow! Puppies and ponies and paddles. Yes, please. May we have some more?

It’s almost Christmas time and everyone is headed to Broad Horizons to celebrate the holidays. You won’t find a jolly fat man in a red suit here, unless that’s what turns you on of course, but you will find everything else your lusty libido desires. Got a naughty sub that needs some special discipline or just feel like checking out the club? Maybe you’d like to buy a membership for that special Domme in your life? If so, then Broad Horizons is the place to be this Christmas Eve. We don’t care if you’ve been good or bad. In fact, we think naughty is nicer, and we know it’s a hell of a lot more fun.

New Tricks by EM Lynley: Skeptical and straight-laced Blake isn't so sure about attending Broad Horizons' Christmas Eve Party. He's never gone in for any of that kink, but he wants to humor Jay as they spend their first Christmas together. Despite his initial aversion, he's powerfully drawn to the scene and eager to experiment. After Jay reveals a hidden secret from his past, he's willing to play, and in the end Jay receives a gift more precious than he ever expected.

 

( summaries of the other stories )

 

 

Thanks to my flist for sending me snowflakes! I've been offline for most of the past week after the DSL modem died and I had to get a replacement. Clearly I missed something here on LJ about how to send these. Can someone please let me know since they aren't listed on the regular virtual gift page.

It's been so cold here in SF area that we actually had snow the other day. Brrrrr.

I can't believe how fast the month went by and I still have most of my to-do list undone.

It's been a tough month for me with very little writing done. I had what seemed like a minor back pain turn into something much more serious and I spent more time lying down than sitting up and writing. It seems to be under control for the time being and I'm trying to get back on schedule with writing and posting here.

December looks to be catch-up month for me, I guess.

First off, I'm sorry I haven't had time to post as frequently here. I'm honestly swamped with work and it's been hard to find time to write the posts I've been planning. I will definitely make more of an effort to post on a regular basis, though it may just be shorter posts rather than the longer ones I'd like to share. I tend not to post random personal posts since I'm not sure any one is interested, but I am happy to pop in more frequently if you do want to hear what I'm up to.

The main thing today is that Cocktoberfest was a HUGE success! I had to run it on my wordpress blog so I could have guest bloggers write their own posts. LJ doesn't really have that functionality unless you create a brand new comm.

We had guest posts from AJ Llewellyn, James Buchanan, Sage Whistler, Ethan Day, Janey Chapel and LOTS more. I want to thank all of my guests again and I'll definitely be doing an event like this again. I have a few of my own posts that I didn't have time to use since I had such a great lineup of guests.

There are still a ton of prizes that haven't been claimed. So, please head on over to the Cocktoberfest Winners' Circle and check for your name. I'm giving the winners till Sunday to contact me or their prize will get reassigned. That means if you leave comments now, you still have a chance to win! So please do check out the guest posts and comment. I'll probably give away a few extra prizes to people who comment between now and Sunday night.

I'm going away for the weekend so I may not have chance to get online again for a couple of days.

I just saw Elisa posted the winners of the popular vote earlier today. HUGE congratulations to my good friend storm_grant for winning the Comedy category with her novel GYM DANDY.  The book got  some mixed reviews since humor isn't universal, so I'm just thrilled that so many people let her know just how much they enjoyed the story and how damn entertaining she can be!

There's just so much bad news nowadays I don't even like to turn on the news. But we need more writers like Storm that can amuse and entertain us.

As for me, SEX LIES & WEDDING BELLS got Honorable Mention in two categories, which shocked the hell out of me considering the competition. Thanks to everyone who took time to vote for me. It also is gratifying to see so many people I never even heard of had voted for my book.

Join me and a over a dozen other m/m authors over on my blog for COCKTOBERFEST: a week-long celebration of hot guys and hot writing about them!

Guests include: AJ Llewellyn, Zoe Nichols, Ashlyn Kate, Ethan Day, Janey Chapel, Clancy Nacht, Cassandra Gold and MORE!

The fun starts here with the roundup. And join in on Cock Talk, open all week.

Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells was nominated for Elisa Rolle’s GLBT Rainbow Awards. In the first round I made it to #35/116 in Contemporary, which shocked me since I didn’t even ask for votes. I generally shy away from these things since it’s more like a popularity contest and not necessarily about the books.

But out of those 116 books only 10 will make it to the next round. It would be nice to make it to the final round, where a small panel will read the books and vote on their favorite.

The link to vote is http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/821460.html

I’m in section #4 or just search for my name or book title.

I am also in the “Debut Fiction” category…

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/823540.html

I’m tied for last place there, so I could really use a vote from you in that category! Thank you.

You will need to be logged onto your LJ account to vote, OR you can leave a comment if you don’t have a LJ account. (There is a comment form at the bottom of the page and just choose “anonymous”)

Thanks so much! If anyone wants to spread the word around for me, I would be incredibly grateful.

I just got cover art for Bedknobs & Beanstalks, m/m fairy tales anthology. This is the first antho I’ve edited and I’m so excited to see it coming out next week from Ravenous Romance.

The stories include:

Jack and the Peenstalk by Clancy Nacht

The Rebelliously Single Prince by Lenore Black

Cry Wolf by Mercy Loomis

Kintaro by S.J. Frost

Ashes and Crystal by Jason Rubis

Handsome and Grateful by Kilt Kilpatrick

Swan Made by Mina Kelly

King’s Honor by JL Merrow

The Merman’s Tail by Jay Di Meo

You may have already seen it, but it's definitely worth watching again.. and again.

I have been pretty busy and haven’t made time to blog. I definitely need to fix that and spend some time here and I will. But I have been working on several projects so here’s what’s going on.

1. “Animal Instincts” I found out a few days ago this story will be released as a Torquere Sip on Oct 10! If you’re a fan of Nate and Cory from “A Heat.Seeking.Missile” you’ll want to see what they are up to now.

2. Disguises will be released by Dreamspinner on Oct 28. It’s already up on their website, which is very exciting! I saw the galley the other day and it looks great. I’m very excited about this release with a new publisher.

3. Bedknobs & Beanstalks (m/m fairy tales) is done. I approved the final draft this week and it’s in the homestretch. I’m still waiting for a release date, but I expect it to be available within the next two weeks.

4. Other projects: finishing up Rarer than Rubies, Wicked Good Anthology and reading subs for the lesbian fairy tales, which is still open.

5. Contest: I’ll have a new contest up later today.

I'm working on putting together a new contest. I'd just like to get some idea what prizes people would most like to win. Please take this poll and let me know. Thanks!

I've definitely been behind on the blog and emails this past week and I'm trying to catch up. Gmail had some issues and has been delivering messages long after they were sent. I even lost an email with a contract from a publisher and thankfully they re-sent the email.

I got the cover art from Dreamspinner last night for DISGUISES,  which will be coming out next month. Here's the blurb. I'm going to post an excerpt later on once I pick a good one.


DISGUISES from Dreamspinner Press
M/M Contemporary Erotic Romance

Race Wilcox and Derrick Steele are best friends and co-stars of a
mildly popular television series that's perpetually on the verge of
cancellation. Publicity and ratings are a high priority for their
network, and both stars are expected to attend the Halloween party
which has been turned into a huge publicity event. Race hates
Halloween, hates dressing up and hates publicity, and only the
prospect of going along with Derrick makes the idea palatable. Until
he finds out Derrick's long-term, long-distance girlfriend Stella
Reynolds will be joining them. Race is also straight, yet he can't
explain the sudden jealousy that information causes.

When shocking events during and after the network's party reveal
startling secrets, Race comes to realize that he wants more than
friendship with Derrick, only he's not sure that Derrick is willing to
put their friendship at risk by taking things to a whole new and
intimate level.

I never did come back on Friday to announce that Venus Envy was available, so here goes:


VENUS ENVY by EM Lynley

M/M Paranormal Erotic Romance
Novella
From Cobblestone Press

Now available!

 

 

Sancus, Roman God of Loyalty, snubs Venus’ amorous advances and she casts a curse so he’s attracted to every hot guy he sees. During a week of almost non-stop sex he meets a mortal with whom he desires a genuine relationship, but Sancus must realize it’s actually a love spell before he can win Aurelio.

( Excerpt (R) )
Check out free stories at my website: http://emlynley.com/free_reads.html




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It's been quiet here the past few days. I've mostly been offline thanks to headaches. This is Day 3 of killer headaches, Day 2 of feeling like I'm dying, and Day 1 of wishing I actually was dead.

Writing is impossible at the moment and I haven't wanted to read any more antho subs while I'm feeling so unwell, just to make sure I read them with more care and attention.

I'm just checking in briefly while waiting for the release of VENUS ENVY later today. As soon as I hear from Cobblestone that it's available, I"ll be posting a link, then going back to bed. I know a lot of people are looking forward to this one and so am I.

Till later....