Dakota Flint

Put your hands on me baby

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:19:40 GMT

Not much to report here, keeping my head down--mostly--and studying hard (ZOMG sooo hard, *breathes*) for finals next week, though you can find me on twitter most days. It's quick, easy, and fun interaction. :)

Oh, and thank you to Elisa and Mara for my v-gifts! Much appreciated!

Anywho, I haven't posted anything about this So You Think You Can Dance season (I love this show), so I thought I'd share my favorite routine of the season so far. Surprisingly enough, it's a...Cha-Cha. Can't remember last time my favorite wasn't a contemporary piece, but this was fun and sexy and just cool. Enjoy!

(If you want to skip the intro stuff, the dance starts at 1:22)

Woo! So enjoyable. Now I want to go see Burn the Floor in the city over break!

This little cover art of mine...

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:44:15 GMT

...I'm gonna let it shine.

Okay, don't mind the singing--that's probably just the dayquil carrying a tune--but I do want to give my new cover art a chance to shine because I think it's scrumptious.

So ta-da! Here's the new cover art for my cowboy novella, Seeing You, done by the very talented Natalie Winters.

Seeing You will be out from Samhain Jan. 19, 2010!

The funny thing about the law...

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:11:45 GMT

is that it can be...funny. And by that I mean strange, and also amusing because I tend to find the strange amusing.

Or at least the case opinions, written by judges, (which is pretty much all law students read) can be. Mostly it's when you come across a case where the judge was either a frustrated playwright or literary critic, and they add what I like to think of as flourishes to the opinion. Or you wonder how many more references to Dickens or Shakespeare they can make, because you're studying the law and they're quoting fiction. And every once and a while you come across a case where you read the opinion and think, "Ha! This judge was taking the mick, right?"

So I thought I'd share a little from what has become my top favorite case I've read in law school, because I do love the absurd. And ghosts. :)

Stambovsky v. Ackley, 572 N.Y.S.2d 672

So I won't bore you with all the legal issues and jargon, but basically this guy contracts to buy a house and then discovers it's haunted and wants the contract to be cancelled.

The opinion starts out, "Plaintiff, to his horror, discovered the house...was widely reputed to be possessed by poltergeists." The opinion is only a couple of pages and we have these phrasing gems throughout:

"plaintiff hasn't a ghost of a chance"

"spirit of equity"

"[basis for granting relief] elusive if not ephemeral"

"Pity me not but lend thy serious hearing to what I shall unfold." (Oh yeah, that's from Hamlet. Didn't I tell you they like to quote the Bard?)

"'Who you gonna' call?'" (Apparently they also like to quote Ghostbusters.)

"[transaction will] come back to haunt him"

"most unnatural bargain"

"[this notion is] a hobgoblin which should be exorcised from the body of legal precedent and laid quietly to rest"

Ha.

But the best line in the whole piece? "...as a matter of law, the house is haunted."

Ha. Ha.

Marriage Equality: New York Edition

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:23:48 GMT

It looks like Governor Patterson is being true to his word, and he's not going to let the NY State Senate get away with another stall-fest on the marriage equality bill. It will hopefully be one of the first things on the agenda when the senate returns to albany (Nov. 10th-ish?)

So what can you do? If you live in New York you can--and should!--call your state senator to let them know they must vote on this issue now. No more waiting! And that they must vote in favor of marriage equality for all.

You can do this by using the nifty callback form thingy Empire State Pride Agenda set up. Or you can go to the NY State Senate website and use the box on the left that says, 'Find my Senator."

If you don't live in NY...you can spread the word to anyone you know who does live in NY, so that they can make sure to voice their opinion before the legislature heads back to Albany in the coming weeks.

Shortie, what do I do with you now?

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:57:36 GMT

I just realized that my Torquere Press sip, First, A Dance, which I wrote for the charity sip blitz is no longer available for sale.

I'm trying to decide what to do with it, if anything, and wondered what my dear f'list thought. If you have an e-pubbed short story that's no longer available, what do you do with it?

Because I could do nothing with it, stick it in a file some place and forget about it. Or I could make it available on my website as a free story, or I could put it in my to-do list for stories to work on and rewrite and expand it when I get the chance.

And if I do put it on my website...what do you think about reading on the website vs. a downloadable pdf? I have two other shorts on my website that I just stuck in directly, but they're only 2k. First, A Dance is 7k-ish.

What do you think?

Hello stranger!

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:34:42 GMT

I know I've been ignoring my LJ for a while, and I kept meaning to post an update on things and say hello to everyone after being MIA for a couple weeks. Okay, three weeks. No? Surely no longer than a month, right?

*gulp*

2 1/2 months? Seriously? Wow.

You all must have thought I'd fallen off the face of the earth. Maybe even the backside.

So I apologize for my absence, but speaking of backsides...I recently started law school. *g*

Which explains why I haven't been around much, though I have continued to read my f'list so don't think your shenanigans have gone unnoticed, ;)

So it's been a time problem. It's been interesting adjusting and ironing out a schedule that works for me, but I've finally managed it--er, mostly--and I won't say I'll have more time in the future (b/c where in the world would I get that from?) but rather that I'll be using my time more efficiently and will be able to do things like say hello on here and share writing updates.

Speaking of writing...

Well. I hate to report that spring and summer were very hit and miss for me in terms of writing. I was struggling with what was, at the time, a devastating illness in my family. In August, that prognosis changed, a miracle in a way, and things have been looking up since then. I started feeling the urge to write more and more, until it once again became a daily craving.

Now it's just eking out time to write amidst the craziness, but I actually think I'm more productive now than I was when I had all day to write. Is that backwards, or what?

So while I have no official news right now, I'm cleaning up a few WiPs so I can finally--finally!--submit them. Um, after midterms of course. *g* And I'm hoping for good news on a current submission--but I'll keep you posted, I promise. :)

Oh, and I have an official release date for the ebook edition of Seeing You: 2/23/10 from Samhain Publishing.

(You can still pick up the print anthology of Studs & Spurs, which includes Seeing You, from MLR Press here or here.)

Reviews and News: Seeing You

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:02:43 GMT

I'm beyond late posting these reviews, but I was waiting for some news about Seeing You and I thought I'd do it all up in one post. :)

The lovely and discerning Kassa reviewed the Studs & Spurs anthology and she gave my contribution 4 stars and called it "a sweet and romantic story." You can read the rest of the review here at Kassa's LJ or here at reviewsbyjessewave. Thanks Kassa for the review!

The wonderful and prolific Elisa Rolle also reviewed the Studs & Spurs anthology. She also called it a "sweet romance" and said, "The mood is definitely less light, but the story is not less romantic." You can read the review here at Elisa'a LJ. Thanks Elisa for the review!

And in other related news, I recently signed a contract with Samhain to publish Seeing You as a standalone ebook. I'm so excited to be working with them, I really am. There's no set release date yet, but it looks like probably February 2010 for the ebook edition of Seeing You.

Studs & Spurs is out!

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:34:11 GMT

I have a new novella, Seeing You, out now from MLR Press as part of the Studs & Spurs print anthology! I'm lucky enough to be included with three supremely talented authors: JL Langley, Kiernan Kelly, and Angela Fiddler. Yee-haw!

Blurb for Studs & Spurs

Saddles, spurs, Stetsons . . . and love? Sexy cowboys grab hold of more than a saddle in these entrancing stories from four talented authors of the genre. Kiernan Kelly takes us on an adventurous cattle drive to the Oregon Territory with a greenhorn and an old hand. Angela Fiddler’s retired rodeo men accept each other and the black riders. Two men overcome grief, rebuild a ranch and find love in Dakota Flint’s story. And JL Langley offers a light-hearted tale of a city boy and a rancher filled with love, laughter and a marriage of convenience?

Blurb for Seeing You

Everything changed for Dylan the night his brother, Simon, was killed in an accident. Unable to face the pain–or Simon’s partner, Wade–Dylan leaves life on the Lazy G ranch behind. Over a year later, Dylan gets a call saying he’s needed at home and he returns to find both the Lazy G and Wade in bad shape. Will Dylan and Wade be able to deal with their grief and rebuild the ranch? And will Wade see that sometimes you can find happiness again?

You can buy Studs & Spurs online through IndieBound.org:

Shop Indie Bookstores

Or you can order through Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

Excerpt

“What the fuck are you doing?” I barely recognized my own voice.

He blinked water out of his eyes and stared dumbly at me before saying, “What?”

“I said, what the fuck are you doing out here? I know it might seem like a nice night for a walk to you, but I thought I might inform you that it’s pouring outside.”

Wade looked away, as if he was too tired to even look me in the face, and said, “Go back to bed, Dylan.” Then he turned back around to lean on the fence, dismissing me, and my anger turned to rage.

It felt like someone else moving after that. Someone else’s hand grabbing Wade’s shoulder to turn him around again, someone else’s arm that cocked back and let fly straight into Wade’s granite jaw, someone else that watched as Wade’s head snapped back from the force and he stumbled against the fence. Because surely it couldn’t have been me that touched Wade in anger.

But it was definitely me that went down, without a fence to catch me, when Wade’s fist connected to my own jaw. I was sure that would hurt later, but at the moment, I couldn’t feel anything except anger and relief that Wade was still fighting.

I scrambled back up out of the mud and then it was happening so fast, the adrenaline moving through my veins as we both grunted and swore and swung our limbs, that I wasn’t sure who was landing punches where. We were like one beast, ugly and flailing. I hadn’t brawled like this since Eddie Baron, one of the linebackers in high school, had called Simon a faggot when we were juniors.

The rain and mud were making things slippery, and then we were on the ground wrestling like a couple kids in the mud, both of us obviously no longer going for blood. Wade managed to roll me onto my back and straddle me, and I felt mud oozing around my head. I could barely see with the rain falling into my eyes.

It felt like the mud was seeping into my ears, which was just fucking nasty, and I stopped struggling for control and reached out, grabbed a handful of mud and aimed it for Wade’s face.

It landed around his left temple and I smashed it into his hair and ear as best I could. I started laughing when Wade stopped moving and just sat back, looking down at me as if I had suddenly turned into a purple dinosaur.

I laughed and laughed until I was scared I would never stop laughing, and all the while Wade looked down at me with his mouth hanging open in shock. Which just made me bellow more as he was catching mouthfuls of rainwater like that.

Just as Wade was starting to look really concerned, the laughter just dried up and I became aware that we were out in a thunderstorm and it was pouring, and I hadn’t bothered with a shirt. I wouldn’t be surprised if my nipples were little blue pebbles, and I grinned at the weird thought.

That must have been the final straw, because Wade grabbed my chin and forced me to meet his gaze. “Are you fucking crazy?”

I considered this. “Probably. But if I’m crazy for lying here in the mud and laughing in the rain, aren’t you crazy for watching me do it?”

Wade grinned and said, “Probably.” The grin caught me off guard. It had been so long since I had seen it, making him look unexpectedly boyish despite the years carved into his face. I looked at that grin and the momentarily happy look in his eyes, and I couldn’t breathe.

As if he was deflating, the look faded from his face, and he said, “Why did you hit me?”

“Because I couldn’t stand it one more minute. Not one more fucking second.”

“Stand what?”

“Watching you give up.”

“I have not.” But he said it quietly, and I knew he didn’t even believe himself.

“You have. What do you think Simon would say?” I winced as I said this, hating myself for it, and Wade looked like I had punched him again.

“I–”

“Simon died. Not you. I want you to stop acting like it was you that died on that highway.”

“How do you know it wasn’t?”

That physically hurt. “Because that’s bullshit. I watched my brother die in my arms, okay? I watched and for a while I wish I had too. You’re not the only one who lost something that day, and I’m sick of watching you wish you could join him when the rest of us are doing the best we can to pick up the pieces.”

Wade snarled back at me, “Why do you care now? You just left. Just packed your bags and left like I was nothing to you. Like this place was nothing to you.”

That left me momentarily speechless. “I…Wade.” I wasn’t sure what to say. I tried again. “I just…I was trying to adjust to a world without my brother in it, and every time I looked at you I kept waiting for you to get angry that I walked away from the crash and Simon didn’t. I just couldn’t stay for that.” I told myself that the burning in my eyes was from the mud and rain.

Wade looked shocked. “You thought that? I…never.” He scrubbed his hands over his face, not that it did any good. “Christ, I thought a million times that it shouldn’t have been Simon. But I never once thought it should have been you instead.”

I hoped Wade would think it was only rain leaking around my eyes. “I…thank you. Didn’t want to think of you hating me.”

“No.” Wade was looking down at me, and I was about to ask him to get off me because I could feel my teeth getting ready to chatter, when he let out this weird choking sound. Then he said, “What do you want from me, Dylan?”

Road Tripping

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:50:13 GMT

It's almost summer, folks. You know what that means: it's vacation time!

I'll be traveling quite a bit in the next couple weeks, and even though it's not for pleasure or fun, it has me thinking about the summer trips my family has planned that are supposed to be fun.

And we're driving, not flying, which is great for me because I LOVE road trips. That's a bit weird, eh?

But it's true. I like the driving part, I like the riding part. Packing the car for a long road trip feels so much more...momentous and adventurous, I guess, than running to the airport to catch a flight. And as a kid, I liked looking out the window as we moved through small towns and big cities, through farmland and forests and mountains. My imagination would run wild as I made up stories about people who lived there. Seems a bit odd to me now, how much I lived in my imagination, but if I'm being honest, I still do that in a way. Only now I'll see something and think, wouldn't that be interesting for my current project or wouldn't that make a cool story.

So what about you? Have any trips planned for this summer? Do you share my love for road tripping or do you feel a little more like this on long car trips:

(Heh.)

Positivity: Day 5

Fri, 15 May 2009 19:12:55 GMT

I'm doing this once again kind of quickly, sorry, but I am determined not to miss a day of positivity week.

I'm borrowing my positive thing for the day from my sister, J, b/c we're leaving to go to her college graduation which is this weekend. Yay! Go her!

And since I'm the sweetest little sister ever (*cough*) I won't be teasing her about graduating a year after I did. Slow and steady still wins the race! I'm so proud of her, truly.

Plus, I seem to have misplaced my voice and can only manage odd croaking sounds. It's really kind of creepy sounding, actually.

So yeah, no teasing. I'm sure she'll be disappointed. Heh.

Hey, TGIF and all that, what's good with you folks?

Positivity: Day 4

Thu, 14 May 2009 17:27:58 GMT

I think this is the first time I've posted regularly on my blog in months. Does that count as a positive? No?

I woke up sick today. So my positive thing is...I showed up?

Yeah, okay it's kind of lame, isn't it? I don't think it counts when you have what is likely just a cold.

But it made me think about other situations and I do want to say for the record that yes, I do think just showing up can be a positive thing. When things are tough and you think that's all you can manage, or you doubt you can even manage that but you do it anyways. You show up. Go you. Be proud.

Anywho, since it's just a cold and I don't think I really deserve points for showing up, I'm going with...chicken soup.

Yes, my positive thing for the day is the chicken soup I just had for lunch. Maybe it's just the comfort thing, but it always makes me feel better when I'm sick (if I can eat, of course).

And now I'm going to climb back into my bed and watch Anne of Green Gables, which also never fails to make me feel better.

But please carry on today's positivity, folks!

Positivity: Day 3

Wed, 13 May 2009 20:43:05 GMT

Woo, today was a busy day and I'm doing this on the fly. Which is probably good, because this one's definitely more lighthearted.

My positive thing for the day: I'm going to see Wolverine tonight. Finally. I know everyone and their sweet ol' granny have already seen this movie, so I'm a bit behind. But tonight it is the night!

And I hear rumors of a nekkid Hugh Jackman.

Uhn.

That's all I have to say about that.

Okay, maybe I'd add n "Mmmm" just to be sure.

(And yeah, I know this photo is from "Australia" but I just like it. He was flippin' edible in that movie.)

So what's something positive you did/said/saw/thought/received today?

Positivity: Day 2

Tue, 12 May 2009 19:59:26 GMT

So for the second day of positivity week, I had a surprise visit from my sister, K, and my youngest nephew and niece.

Granted they only live 20 min away and I spend a huge amount of time at their house, but it's still a big deal. It's kind of like packing up the mountain to go see Mohammad. It's pretty shocking. K is totally preggers right now, and with 7 kids, soon to be 8, it's always been easier for the rest of the family to go to her and save her having to wrestle the kids into the car.

But today it was such a joy to see them pulling into my Mom's driveway. I can't think of many things better than a "hug tight" from a 3 year old. He smelled like clean laundry, sunshine and grass, and I'm pretty sure a rogue bit of maple syrup the washcloth missed after breakfast. And I love the sweet innocence of a smile from a one year old. Doesn't matter what else is going on, you smile at her and she smiles back. A simple exchange. Joy for joy.

Not to mention, I'm not biased or anything (yes I am) but these are two of the cutest kids ever. And oddly enough--or maybe not so, since I look the most like my oldest sister--my youngest niece looks exactly like I did at that age. A total mini-me. As I said, cutest kid ever. *g*

And of course I was in their face with my camera...it's a habit I picked up last year.

These tykes just make me happy.

So what's something positive you did/said/saw/thought/received today?

Positivity: Day 1

Mon, 11 May 2009 20:08:30 GMT

I hope everyone had a good weekend and a wonderful Mother's Day! I had a very nice, quiet day with my Mom, lovely time that I know I will cherish.

And, according to the doctors, it will likely be the last Mother's Day I spend with my Mom. She has lung cancer, and it has already metastasized.

Sorry, that's a bit...unfiltered, isn't it?

I've debated what to say here, and more importantly, what not to say here. But I've never been good at keeping things to myself and considering what will be happening in the coming months...well, I don't blog, or write, in a vacuum. It is what it is.

I think many of you reading this already know my family and I lost my nephew last August to brain cancer. If I had to title that chapter of my life--the ten months we fought to save him--I think I'd go with, "Hope and Coffee." Most days, those two things were all we, I, had to go on. Positivity, hope, faith, call it what you will...it is the soft beam of light on your face when the night seems unending and the hand that guides you when the road is long and the obstacles many. It is the gentle benediction granted a bleak heart and moments of grace offered an exhausted soul. It is the greatest defense against despair.

And some days it is almost impossible to hold onto.

The last few weeks I've done panic, I've done anger, and I've done fear. And while I can't promise I'm completely done with those emotions, I do know that now is the time for positivity. It is time to focus on the good things, the important things, the things to cherish, the things that make us smile, the things that make our lives better...the people that make our lives better.

And thinking about that, I'm sure everyone could do with some positivity. I know I'm not the only one with a sick loved one, I'm not the only one that is stressed or sad or scared for whatever reason. Not to mention that so many people have lost their jobs, their homes, and are feeling desperate. These are tough times.

And hey, even if that isn't the case for you, it's my considered--but decidedly inexpert--opinion that positivity can only do you good!

So I thought I'd host a "Positivity Week" on my blog. Each day I'll post something positive I've seen or done or thought, and invite everyone to comment with their own positive thing. It can be anything, doesn't have to be something big or grand...something you did for someone or that they did for you, something you saw, something you think, etc. :)

For my first contribution to positivity week, I did this at my Mom's today:

I just wish I had taken a "before" picture in the shed!

There's something about hard physical labor. Usually, I'm much more the type for long walks. Or 30 min on the treadmill. *cough*If at all*cough* But despite the dirt and the--dear god--spiders, lugging and stacking that wood just felt good. My muscles were burning, and I was sweating like nobody's business, and yet I could practically feel my body relaxing inch by inch. The sunshine was brilliant, the breeze was cool, and there was the unmistakable smell in the air of dirt, mulch, and new blooms. New life. Growth.

Yeah, it just felt good.

So what are some good things going on with you?

Taking time

Sat, 02 May 2009 14:21:17 GMT

I wanted to put up a sticky post (ignore the year) to let anyone know who visits my LJ that I will probably be updating this blog infrequently, if not at all, in the coming weeks. I'm dealing with a family crisis, waiting for a lot of questions to be answered. There are a lot of things I just don't know at this point.

I'll still be checking e-mail so feel free to drop me a line, and I may check in around the blogosphere at times, I don't know...just taking things one at a time for the moment.

Whatsa Happenin?

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:28:25 GMT

Well. So much for my promise to blog more.

Not much happening here, except it seems I'm struggling with a teensy tiny, erm, focusing problem. Which totally sucks, since I was chugging away on my vacation novella (tentatively titled "Holding onto Summer") and about 3/4 through I just...boom. Focusing problem, which I'm not naming in fear that I'll have to face up to it being ThatWhichWillNotBeNamed.

I have the urge to look over my shoulder now.

*cough*

Anyways, so in lieu of me actually saying anything interesting I thought I'd ask what ya'll are reading these days. Or if you're an author, what you're working on, or better yet, if you have a new release out these days.

My TBR list looks a little like this these days:

Heh. Just Kidding. Kind of. That's only my print TBR, and since I mostly read digital these days...my TBR folder has 171 files in it.

Srsly.

Tweet, Tweet

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:13:37 GMT

So I've been trying out this Twitter thing in the last week or so.

The verdict? Perfect if you want to ~~waste time~~ chat with people. I find I quite enjoy it, though I'm not quite sure how useful it is from a marketing standpoint.

But it's fun. Maybe not as fun as what my characters were doing this morning (*big cheesy wink*), but as a writer you take what you can get.

So if you want to see what I'm tweeting about, you can check it out here: http://twitter.com/DakotaFlint

I thought this was funny though:

Give it to me one, er, six more times...

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:37:15 GMT

I probably sound like a broken record, but...I know it's been a while since I've blogged regularly. I'm not quite sure what my deal is, other than I always seem to be so busy and LJ posts are the first thing to get postponed. Or maybe I've just lost my blogging enthusiasm? Or should I say (hopefully) temporarily misplaced it? Either way I'm hoping to get back into the habit of blogging more regularly now, so I hope you all will bear with me a little longer.

So what have I been up to lately? Writing, of course. Law school applications. (They were eating my life!) And basketball.

Yes, you read that correctly. I love college baskbetball and it's tourney time. The time for face paint and beer practically oozing from your pores, the time for school fight songs and screaming yourself hoarse, the time for bracket pools and game parties, the time for underdogs and incredible stories of triumph. Is March not one of the best months ever?

Take last night for example. My team, Syracuse (18), played UConn (3) in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tourney. Everyone thought UConn would win, but Syracuse won instead. After SIX overtimes.

Yes, you read that right, too. SIX. It boggles the mind. By the 6th overtime, most of our starters had fouled out and the guys who hadn't were literally drooping, the exhaustion pouring off of them along with the sweat. But they just wouldn't quit (and neither will ESPN...they're replaying the "instant classic" again and again today). All those players, on both teams, left it all on the court, pushing themselves for more, and more, and then still more.

Is it any wonder why I'm such a fan? I mean, look at that heart. You just don't get that in your every day professional bball game.

And you know, it got me thinking. (Yeah, yeah, yeah...that's where the smoke smell is coming from, I know. Heh.) Thinking about writing in general and romance specifically (a natural progression from basketball and uber-fanness). And I realized that some of my favorite re-read romances are ones that maybe aren't what I consider technically perfect--they could use some tightening here or there, or this plot point is kind of weak. But in the end that doesn't seem to matter to me, because they have heart, that indefinable something that keeps me glued to every page--even the imperfect ones. And so I forgive the missteps and they go on my keeper shelf anyways. Imperfect joys.

So yeah...that's what I'm thinking about today. Romance and basketball. A flippin' winning combo if I ever heard one.

What about you? What's on your mind?

California is recruiting...

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:40:19 GMT

So last night I had the TV on in the background and I happened to glance up at the words, "California. Find yourself here."

Then they flashed the Governator and other celebs talking about how great CA is.

And...that was it.

Uh....

I'm guessing they want people to go visit (tourist $). But I can honestly say it was kind of weird. I've never seen a commercial like that on my TV for another state. Cities, yeah sometimes if they're promoting something--like Orlando and Disney World.

But never another state just saying, "Hey you should be here."

And isn't CA kind of like...um...imploding or something?

Hmmmm. Strange doings...

For a laugh...

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:08:14 GMT

I'm not usually one to pimp another author's interview when the author isn't me and I didn't do the interview...

BUT I do like to pimp laughs and they're free, so if you have a moment you can hop on over to the interview of Ethan Day over at Stormy Glenn's blog...and tell me this guy doesn't make you laugh! His response to one of the questions made me choke with laughter and diet coke--and if you're thinking that's as unattractive as it sounds, you're right! I was coughing, laughing, gasping, diet coke was everywhere and tears were running down my face.

But it was the best choke I ever had! (Ha.)

Men In Uniform

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:24:57 GMT

What is it about men at work and the uniforms they wear? What makes them so sexy? So yummy? So hot? So drool-worthy? So...well, you get the picture.

I'm guest blogging about that very thing over at Jeanne Barrack's The Sweet Flag today, talking about a few of my favorite men in uniform and why I think they're so attractive.

So feel free to stop over and tell me why you think uniforms are sexy (or not, if that's your cup of tea) and what uniform really gets your heart pounding. ;)

Ha! Sometimes you just...

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:26:21 GMT

need this:

Hump Day: Gettin' Pimpy Wit It

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:17:10 GMT

It's been quite a long time since I've done a book pimpin post...I bet you've all missed them. (right? RIGHT?)

So yesterday started out like any other day. I had some things to do, some scenes I wanted to add to my current WiP. Out of curiosity I hopped on over to the Loose Id site to see what new releases were out and I noticed a new m/m author I'd never heard of before, Ethan Day. My curiosity knows no bounds when it comes to new authors, so I read the excerpt. And laughed. So then of course I googled the author, found his website and blog and read those. And laughed. And before I knew it I was ignoring my plans for the day--and my towering TBR pile--and laughing so hard I got dirty looks from the people in Starbucks.

What a flippin' blast this book was. So. Funny.

The blurbage for Self Preservation:

Davis always assumed they would wind up back together, until Jack calls and invites Davis to his wedding to Tadd Austin, a prominentarchitect in Chicago. Jack's only known Tadd for two weeks, so whatever Jack feels for Tadd couldn't possibly compare to what he shared with Davis. There's no way in hell Davis can stand by and watch the life he always expected to get back slip away to some guy Jack barely knows. Tadd Austin, indeed…more like Toad Ass-ton, Davis thinks.

With his best friend, fashion designer Deseree Wildwood in tow, Davis has to shed his sweet, guy-next-door persona, and re-vamp his image into a self-confident, hot piece of eye candy. He's going to the wedding with only one goal in mind: to do whatever it takes to win back Jack. The Toad is toast!

Once in Chicago, Davis discovers it isn't going to be as easy as he thought. Not only is Tadd very un-Toad-like, but a mysterious British playboy named Alex Parker manages to interject himself into the mix. Only true love will survive as the tug of war ensues in this Bermuda love triangle from hell.

Most of you who have read my book recs or "non-reviews" probably know this, but for anyone new reading I thought I should warn you. I don't usually give a summation of the book. Or any useful information either. Juuuuuust kidding. I give buy links don't I?

Basically, the number one reason to buy this book? It's hysterical. Srsly.

It starts off...mildly amusing, and I was smiling a lot and thinking, "What a great, lighthearted way to spend an afternoon." And then Day must have hit his stride, because I started laughing out loud. When I wasn't laughing, I had this goofy smile on my face. I'm not kidding when I say the peeps at Starbucks gave me dirty looks. The stressed out suit types and the pseudo-intellectuals looked uncomfortable. There was happiness going on at my table.

I didn't care though. And by the time I had made it halfway through the book? I didn't even care where the author was taking the story. Kind of like crack, those laughs, and I needed the hit, so I wouldn't have particularly cared if 3/4 through the book all the characters had donned capes and started unleashing their super powers. As long as the laughs kept coming.

Which is not to say I think the author took this story places it shouldn't have gone. The opposite in fact. I think Day delivered every step of the way. It was all very over the top--in the BEST possible way--so if you're looking for angsty drama or reams of internal, gut-wrenching conflict...this ain't it. This is a very funny romp with some very endearing characters.

So some other reasons why I loved this book:

The cast of characters was great. I think just about every one of them could be one of my friends in real life. They're so funny, and fun, and like all the best characters, they're far from perfect. The main character Davis? He cries waaay too much--which in RL would make me roll my eyes--but I just LOVED him. Full stop, I thought he was a great character. Kind of neurotic, loyal, determined, good-natured, a little self-absorbed, emotional, stubborn, and so darn funny. Did I mention that I LOVED him?

Davis's best friend, Deseree? Priceless. She has some of the best lines and I can totally relate to her. She's spunky, determined, also very loyal, a total foodie, and knows the power of good fashion sense. What's not to love?

And Alex...oh my. I LOVED him too. He's called things in the story by various people like, "scamp" or "scalawag" and that's soooo...him. I loved his style, the fact that he makes a joke of everything, his interaction with the other characters. He's very funny, and I loved the crap he got away with saying. Hee. Loved. This. Guy. And, of course, the interaction with Davis was probably my favorite part. Here's a tiny sample (I don't want to spoil anything!) from their first meeting:

“I‟m…”

“Yes, I know,” Alex said with a sly smile. “I asked around about you at the party.”

“Really? And what did you discover?” Davis asked as he turned to move forward in the line.

“I‟m ashamed to report, other than your name, nothing.” Alex lightly touched Davis on the arm and added, “Which has made you all the more appealing.”

Davis laughed as two guys passed through the line, knocking him face first into Alex. He caught Davis to keep him from falling. Feeling Alex‟s hand on his ass, Davis grabbed his shoulder, pulling himself back up. The two men laughed as they looked back.

“I‟m fine…thanks.” Davis shot them a nasty look as the guys walked off without so much as an apology. “Rude fuckers.”

Alex laughed as he smoothed out Davis‟s jacket. “That filthy mouth of yours is delightfully charming.”

“Well, I aim to please,” Davis said, still irritated.

“Really?” Alex asked, looking into Davis‟s eyes entirely too seriously. “I think I‟m in love.”

Davis paused for a moment before laughing. “Do guys actually fall for that?”

“No go, huh?” Alex asked with a frown. “Bollocks.”

“Has that ever worked for you?”

“Yes, actually… I‟ve found most men find me utterly irresistible.” Alex placed a hand on his stomach and added, “Especially when I‟m making an ass out of myself.”

“I‟ll have to get back to you on that one,” Davis said, a little unsure what to make of him, even though he loved the way the word ass sounded in Alex‟s accent.

“Wise decision,” Alex said, stepping forward as they were now only one person away from the bar. “It‟s good not to make snap judgments. And fear not, I have a wide range of ass-like behavior with which to impress.”

“As well as a fondness for the word ass,” Davis said, raising his eyebrows.

“Yes,” Alex said with a devious grin, “and you seem partial to the word fucker. Together we make ass fu --”

“All righty.” Davis scowled, patting Alex on the chest. “I think I get it.”

“See how utterly perfect we are for one another?” Alex asked earnestly. “You…complete me.”

Heh. I. Loved. This. Guy. Did I say that already? See? This book has me so besotted I'm repeating myself.

In addition to da funnies and great characters, the writing is clean and tight, good balance, good rhythm. I was just jonesin every step of the way, along for the ride, and I never wanted it to stop. I hope Day brings these characters back for an encore someday, and I can't wait to read his next offering.

Ya'll should take my word for it and pick up a copy of Self Preservation and check out Ethan Day's website.

Manlove Monday

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:25:00 GMT

ZA Maxfield and I are guest blogging over at Nose in the Book blog today, talking about out some of our favorite m/m characters. We did a manlove draft, picked our A-teams, and we're ready to rumble.

Stop on over and see who made our teams!

RIP: my brain

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:51:28 GMT

How is it that the last four practice tests I took my score DECREASED?

I give up. I'm going to spend the rest of the day playing with the kiddies, watching bad tv, eating pizza, and praying like hell my brain decides before 8:30 AM tommorow that it loves me again.