Since today is pre-holiday-weekend slow, I’ve been compiling a list of as many retailers as possible, and it’s now up on the Publications page.
And can I just say how much it thrills me to see how many countries my books are available in. ‘Cause it thrills me a lot.
accomplishedThis is something I’m not terribly comfortable asking, but I’ve been thinking about it for a couple days and I’ve decided the worst result is that no one does it. So.
If you have read any of my books, please leave reviews or ratings for them, particularly at Torquere Books or Amazon. It doesn’t need to be a huge review: even just a “I own it” and a star rating at Amazon will be a boost.
If you do write a review, be honest: this isn’t about my ego. Even a mediocre review is better than no review at all. Reviews help sales; sales earns me more royalties; more royalties brings me closer to the day I can write full time. Everybody wins. (Well, I hope you think it’s a winning situation for you: I can only assume you’re here because you like what I write.)
I like t-shirts, and I’ve been wanting to do some book-related t-shirts for a while. But I’ve wanted to so something a little . . . off the beaten path, maybe?
Those of you who’ve read Chiaroscuro know a lot of the action takes place in the Gallagher family bakery, so the plan is to make some schwag with a Gallaghers’ Bakery logo: at the very least a barbecue apron, mostly because it both amuses me and feels very appropriate.
I’m still playing with designs, and a few of my ideas are below the cut. Click on the thumbnail to see the design in full. I plan to have the store open by the time Something Beautiful comes out on the 25th.
Chiaroscuro has a new review at Fallen Angels Reviews.
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.
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.”
The EPPIES were last night.
I didn’t win, but it’s an honor just to be nominated, right? And there’s always next year.
(This probably won’t be a regular thing, actually, but I had to call this post something.)
Because this has come up a time or two in conversation with readers, it feels like time to explain what chiaroscuro is and why I chose it as the title for my first novel. Bear with me: I was a humanities major in college and can ramble on about the things I love for quite some time.
I am very pleased to announce that Torquere Press will be publishing the sequel to Chiaroscuro, Something Beautiful, sometime this year.
Details as I get them.
(Also, there are no words quite as good as “You’re selling.” It’s like telling an actor, “You got the part.”)
Luckily, both came to their senses, leading to a sweet and satisfying ending. If you like books with a lot of emotion and drama, pick up Chiaroscuro.
Yayness.
I am proud and pleased to announce that Chiaroscuro is finalist for the 2008 Eppies in the GLBT category.
(No, really. This is me excited.)
