I’ve installed a guest book for people who’d like to say hello but don’t want to comment on a specific blog post.

I’ve also changed the name of the wedding story preview in the Upcoming section: “My secret music boyfriend” was always intended to be a working title, and I think I’ve found a title that’s a bit more evocative of the story as it’s currently shaping up: “Apples and Gin”, as in a song lyric by one of the characters.

(Insert Yours Humbly giggling with glee here.)

I’ve also updated the excerpt, as a lot’s happened with that story since I first posted about it.

Two more titles have also been added to the Upcoming section, though they do not have excerpts yet as I don’t have anything to post. A Taste of Honey is the next in the San Francisco series, and will focus on Ben and Jamie again; and The Queen of Wands is another in the Arcana imprint for Torquere Press. I’ll activate those links as soon as I have something to show.

My Cafe Press shop is now open! There’s just one design available at the moment but I’ll be adding more. I’ll also take suggestions for products (depending on what’s available from Cafe Press, of course) and designs to add.

My favorite is the barbecue apron.

And now, have a little excerpt from Something Beautiful. The countdown to the release date is on!

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Looking through some old files the other day I found another Chiaroscuro snippet I’d written a while back, so I’ve added it to the site. It’s a little drabble called The Happy in my -ness.

The King’s Diamond comes out in a week and a day (always something so poetic about “and a day”, don’t you think?) so here’s a taste. (I’m so excited about this story, y’all. Trying something completely new is so much fun.)

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If I can just leave the theme alone for a while . . .

Speaking of spring, I have a Birthstone Single Shot coming out next month. We’re editing. (Yay!) Here’s an excerpt, because I’m in a remarkably good mood today and feel expansive.

This one’s experimental. (Experimental like whoa. )

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I’ve been organizing some files today (I got a new computer a few weeks ago and I’m still transferring and consolidating things) and came across the first scribble of what would eventually become Chiaroscuro. This was written in January 2005.

Jamie & Ben: a love story

For years Ben has said they met at a party. “That’s not quite right,” Jamie says. “You met me at a party—I met you in the elevator.”

“Explain,” Ben says.

“About a week after I moved in, I was on the elevator and you got on with your bicycle. It was crowded so you were holding the bike upright on one wheel, and you were humming ‘Come On Eileen.’” He also remembers how Ben smelled—like grass stains and sweat, like he’d been playing football in the park—and how he smiled at everyone in the elevator.

“But we didn’t learn each other’s names until the party,” Ben points out.

“Didn’t matter. You were mine as soon as I heard you humming.”

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I’m having the kind of day where you just want to curl up with a blanket and some cocoa and let the world get on without you for a while. Of course, I can’t, so . . . have a piece of what I wish I were doing right now.

This is for the Birthstone line. It’s an experiment for me, in genre, style and subject matter. I hope it works. (Snippet is SFW.)

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Nanowrimo is off for me this year, as I have a Deadline.

Hee. I have a deadline.

I have nothing but a bottle of Izze and my will to get me there. Onward!

But first, have a snippet. I like snippets.

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It’s time to go on to the next, don’t you think? So here’s a little excerpt of the current, Something Beautiful.

Dune walked back slowly to the waiting room and sat in his chair, and then leaned his head on Jamie’s shoulder. Jamie put an arm around him and kissed the top of his head. “How is he?”

“Scared.”

“Poor mite.”

“He’ll be fine,” said Ben. “People don’t die from having their appendix removed.”

“But if it’s the first time you’ve had surgery it’s still scary,” Dune said.

“Yeah,” Ben admitted, “but he’ll still be fine.”

Dune nodded, knowing Ben meant well, and Jamie kissed the top of his head again. “I thought I’d go hunt up some coffee,” Jamie said. “Do you want any?”

“Sure, please.” Dune started feeling his pockets for his wallet. “And something to eat, too, if you can find anything.”

“My treat,” Jamie said, waving Dune’s wallet away. He stood and kissed both their foreheads, and ambled off down the hall.

Ben moved over a chair and held out his arm. “C’mon.”

Dune laughed wearily and leaned against him. “Is it that obvious?”

“It’s not often I see you fall apart. This feels like a night for the scrapbook.” He chuckled. “‘Dear Diary, tonight Micah was hospitalized and Dune fell apart in the most zen manner possible. It was the best night ever.’”

“Dork,” Dune said, poking him in the side.

“I tease because I love,” Ben said and hugged him one-armed. “You’ve really got it for that kid, don’t you?”

“I’ve got something,” Dune said into Ben’s shoulder. “I couldn’t even tell you what it is. I just–” He shook his head, unable to find the words.

“Like having him around,” Ben said.

“Yeah. I mean, he may be a high-strung little twink but he’s my high-strung little twink. It’s too quiet without him. Too predictable. Too normal.”

“He’s going to be fine,” Ben said again. “It’s not like he was hit by a bus.”

This may stay, it may go. That’s the nature of a WIP.

Hi, kids, remember me? It’s been a while: I’ve been waiting for the editing/proofing/preliminary work to be finished before I posted anything more. But now the novel is with the proofers and I have a release date: August 22nd, so it feels like time to let you all know what you’re in for.

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