tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47168045193566152752024-03-12T21:54:05.810-05:00Single Author Seeks...An agent, a sex life, and a reality check. Life and writing advice you can sink your teeth into.Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-25375036366315924362013-01-14T19:48:00.002-06:002013-01-14T19:48:57.737-06:00Turn Me On<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Turn Me On</span></u></b></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5 Simple Rules to Sex Scenes</span></i></h3>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFS5aoqPm3h2LwTceLcrSoV83ZUv_3quHzOgM5If2YGyQmU3MOjiI0uzARJLrcYAfb_zNQ-xtgd1hNyG9DtjngxMYgWe-H6efzqMMdCq8yWfn05dSYzsGWbvAx9R0R8_90-_SpkLdIQg/s1600/tumblr_mgfrtkdKnA1s0hbeno1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFS5aoqPm3h2LwTceLcrSoV83ZUv_3quHzOgM5If2YGyQmU3MOjiI0uzARJLrcYAfb_zNQ-xtgd1hNyG9DtjngxMYgWe-H6efzqMMdCq8yWfn05dSYzsGWbvAx9R0R8_90-_SpkLdIQg/s320/tumblr_mgfrtkdKnA1s0hbeno1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've made it quite evident among my fans that the two things I <i>love </i>to write are action and sex. Two things that can be both very exhausting but also <i>very</i> fun to write. They both require a certain mood and the right pacing in order to create a great scene that draws the readers in and keeps them hooked. I always feel that those two kinds of scenes shape and epitomize your characters. Both sex and fighting cut deep to the bone and uproot emotions (or even lack there of) in the character and can show just what kind of person (or animal) they are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course, they can also be one of the hardest things to write. I've had countless people ask me how I write my sex and fight scenes. I'm not going to touch on the action today (maybe another day?) but I compiled a few simple rules that I feel can assist in writing a hot and steamy sex scene that gets your panties and boxers wet.</span><br />
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<h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rule One</span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Dim the Lights</i></div>
</i><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Mood Setting</i></div>
</i></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just like sex, it's all about the mood. Depending on the mood depends on how things follow and how the scene is going to turn out. You need to decide before you start fighting what kind of mood you're setting. Is it romantic? Is it kinky? Is it hot or is it emotional and filled with oodles of angst? Are our lovers saying goodbye or being reunited after a long separation Did they just meet our have they been together for years? These are important questions to ask yourself, because depending on the answers means what kind of scene will happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Two characters that are having a one night stand may not be able to get that perfect ebb and flow that two lovers who have been together for years have. It may be rough, messy, and filled with alcohol induced passion. On the other hand, two characters that know everything about one another's bodies may know the exact buttons to hit, or in another way may be going through a rough patch and be having troubles getting things to work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Figure out what you want and start.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On a side note, I always find that it helps to play some "mood music" when I write. I select a playlist tailored to what I want, whether it kinky or emotional.</span></div>
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<h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rule Two</span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Which Position?</i></div>
</i><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Language and Style</i></div>
</i></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This goes for many things. You need to figure out what kind of sex is happening, whether it BDSM or pure vanilla (or anything in between). Once you got that and the mood set it's time to start writing. Language and style are important because it's one of the things that draws a reader in. If this is an emotional scene between two estranged lovers, you'll want to load on the depth. It won't be a wham, bam, thank you m'am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A reader can't connect two the characters if they're brought to a sudden climax. The same goes for sex that's supposed to be heavy on the kink. Don't over do it with the floral descriptions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Figure out what pertains to the scene and go with that. Just like with any kind of writing, you don't want to add too much or too little. It can ruin the scene and completely jar your reader out of the moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And we all want to get off, right?</span><br />
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<h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rule Three</span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Say My Name</i></div>
</i><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Word Choice</i></div>
</i></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While some may think this goes with language and style, this is completely different. I can not stress how <i>important</i> it is to be careful with your word selection. The wrong word can ruin a moment just as quickly as the wrong mood. Also be mindful of repetition and trite phrases.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpPTN8QXVc85mnCVMVsYdgAWgKJ3zAgD_8CKma6xQA2FDufs6LqYshgt_ie79dZX9jBf5KS56_p5TzGgbUuGGBlMHhql6ND2jDWVyY5Jg60LfZoXbItyEhrmmcky_af4E4KAnrskg4UE/s1600/tumblr_mgjkuvFUwO1s2d2jso1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpPTN8QXVc85mnCVMVsYdgAWgKJ3zAgD_8CKma6xQA2FDufs6LqYshgt_ie79dZX9jBf5KS56_p5TzGgbUuGGBlMHhql6ND2jDWVyY5Jg60LfZoXbItyEhrmmcky_af4E4KAnrskg4UE/s320/tumblr_mgjkuvFUwO1s2d2jso1_500.jpg" width="237" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes I know there are only so many words for "cock" but that doesn't mean you have to over do it. Don't turn around though and use some crazy description either. If I'd received a dollar for how many times I'd scene a member described in some off the wall way, I'd be a very rich person. All it does it make me go "what the fuck did I just read".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This applies to women as well. MY GOD! Women are worse then men. The things I've read about a woman's vagina.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think about what would appeal to your readers, as well as what appeals to you. Don't go out of your comfort zone, but understand that you're trying to sell a scene here. What would you want to hear? Would you really want to hear a man whisper in your ear how he wants to pound your sacred flower? Or would you ever whisper to a man how you want to lick is joy stick?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yeah, I didn't think so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Please, <i>please</i>, choose your words wisely. The wrong word can destroy an entire scene.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rule Four</span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Hard, Slow, or Sideways?</i></div>
</i><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Pacing</i></div>
</i></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now that you've got 1-3 figured out, it's time to set the pace. Just like sex, you want to set a pace that's realistic. If your characters are supposed to be having a tender moment, you don't want him in and out in three seconds flat, just as if they're drunk and groping at each other like two hormone-crazed teenagers, they aren't going to be doing a slow waltz.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Foreplay is a good way to figure out the pace. Does foreplay fit in? What kind? A little petting or a full body massage?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqkZ6Ara9GChYrou-9O2ZD0WnG5f548qaYaAHJM3-ylwS3q5munNlutMoA0i_eMhKtRu87x0wPjZW3qtiE101GUhXHy7LW3f8x6Kie2DbKxgL-X3l-RFbqV2vmDRaXfoZyuXf0ZNgkpc/s1600/tumblr_mgmou00PvB1rwq1i5o1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqkZ6Ara9GChYrou-9O2ZD0WnG5f548qaYaAHJM3-ylwS3q5munNlutMoA0i_eMhKtRu87x0wPjZW3qtiE101GUhXHy7LW3f8x6Kie2DbKxgL-X3l-RFbqV2vmDRaXfoZyuXf0ZNgkpc/s320/tumblr_mgmou00PvB1rwq1i5o1_500.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rule Five</span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Are You a One-Minute Man or a Marathon Man?</i></div>
</i><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Length</i></div>
</i></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just like pace, keep in mind what kind of sex is happening. Be realistic about the scene. If it's an in and out job, it doesn't need to be stretched out. A few paragraphs could suffice Is it a simple blow job? That doesn't take two pages to describe. Then again, if your characters are going heavy on the foreplay or performing kink scenarios, then it's probably going to take a bit. Just be mindful of what is happening and how it would really happen to you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The last thing you want is to bore your reader by over stretching the scene. Ask yourself as you're writing, does this make sense? Would this really happen? And you'll be able to set a decent length that will draw your readers in and see to it that your characters aren't the only ones having a good time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-84205114602322864622013-01-11T20:36:00.000-06:002013-01-11T20:36:17.432-06:00Forward MotionSo I recently just did an overhaul for the new year and updated most of my social networking sites -- including this! I'm going to attempt to be more interactive with all of this. Key work being attempt. I suck at blogging -- I'm the first to admit it -- so I don't know how good I'll be about blogging. Most likely you'll see the most updates on my tumblr and twitter.<br />
<br />
For any of you who followed me while I posted stories on Fictionpress.com, this post is mostly directed towards you.<br />
<br />
First off I want to say how grateful I am to all those that have read my stories and left reviews, favorited, or sent me messages about them. I am <b>always</b> happy to hear from fans. I know a lot of stories have been posted over the years on FP and most of those are either unfinished, one-shots, or the first book in a series (which was never finished). So there are a lot of stories people are waiting to see finished or continued.<br />
<br />
Regretfully, I must say that with my current workload, I just don't have time to sort out <b>ALL </b>of those stories. That isn't to say that some aren't still on the back burner, but I have other stories that take priority and creative juices. For those that would like to follow a free story, I do have one posted on tumblr. I'll warn you though, that one will be updated sporadically. It is a story I'll work on in between my other manuscripts.<br />
<br />
I am terribly sorry to all those that followed my stories, but I want to assure you some have not been forgotten and are in either current works of being revamped or will eventually be. Just so no one is left guessing, I'll address my most popular stories.<br />
<br />
First off, <b>Kingdom Come</b>. By far one of my most popular stories and one I hold close to my heart. This one is need of some <i>serious </i>-- and I stress serious -- overhauling. Characters need to be fleshed out. Plot holes need to be filled. Details need to be covered. And just the editing, my God. It's a full time job. I haven't had the energy nor the desire to approach it just yet. I plan to. I plan on reworking the story (keeping all the original characters), possibly turning into a stand alone instead of a trilogy. But it's a big project and like I said, I haven't been up to it quite yet.<br />
<br />
<b>Sentinel/War Cry </b>has definitely not been forgotten and I'm happy to say I'm working on the prequel series (posted under the title Age of Anima [which has been removed]). I have finished the 1st drafft of the manuscript and have begun to edit it. The prequel explains the world that Sebastian and Eben lives in and sets the back story that will eventually lead up to their tale. So that is definitely in the works and please, <i>please</i>, keep checking back to find out more about it. I know you'll love the characters from the prequel as much as you love Sebastian and Eben. I expand on the world and you learn things that work so horribly glossed over in the previous story.<br />
<br />
<b>Chasing August/Seattle Rain</b> these stories and their characters are special to my heart. They are the first ones I had posted on FP and I love them to pieces, but in the end... I'm just not going to continue or come back to it. I have no desire to. I've tried, I swear I have. But I lost inspiration and whenever I come to it in an attempt to rewrite Ashley and Beau's tale, I just hit a wall. I'm not a big fan of writing contemporaries and I really don't want to work on one. I'm sorry, really... but this one is done.<br />
<br />
<b>Monster </b>& <b>Ainsley & Anna </b>will be reworked at some point, I just don't know when. I like them both and while I don't like doing contemporaries, I feel a desire to see these ones through. I just haven't figured out when.<br />
<br />
<b>God of the Machine/Deus ex Machina </b>will be continued eventually. It is too big and too complicated, so I need to go back and do some <i>serious </i>overhaul, just like in Kingdom Come. I haven't been up to it and other projects have taken priority. Keep looking back though because it <i>will </i>be continued.<br />
<br />
If there are any stories that you have questions about please feel free to e-mail, message, or comment and ask. I'll answer all the questions you have. Once again I am sorry to all my fans who were reading those stories. I hope you understand and keep looking back to find out what I'm doing next! Thanks for reading!Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-53818540078624944652012-10-26T21:32:00.004-05:002012-10-26T21:32:36.866-05:00Win a Copy of I AM HERE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPq0PuXqRagnuaoqiZrgjDjt9ClfND8T05_ZgArQ1N9MV0QtVHN3lEIYB5gTV8V89QVOW6VNyUjUk6Jq3VWJOtAlKenHs98bfSKeWROK3bEkrNjCXJ4Rw89PApTq1kFY_44jgecX5AoVI/s1600/ES_MT1_IAmHere_coverlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPq0PuXqRagnuaoqiZrgjDjt9ClfND8T05_ZgArQ1N9MV0QtVHN3lEIYB5gTV8V89QVOW6VNyUjUk6Jq3VWJOtAlKenHs98bfSKeWROK3bEkrNjCXJ4Rw89PApTq1kFY_44jgecX5AoVI/s1600/ES_MT1_IAmHere_coverlg.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"><b>Sawyer</b> wants <i>Jesse</i> and <i>Topher</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"><b>Topher</b> and <b>Jesse</b> want <i>Sawyer</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"><b>Sawyer</b> is dating <i>Jesse</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"><b>Jesse</b> use to date <i>Topher</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"><b>Topher</b> wants to date <i>Sawyer</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">They all just want to <u><i><b>survive</b></i></u>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">The zombie apocalypse has never been this <u><i><b>HOT</b></i></u>!</span></div>
<br />
<span class="userContent">Want a chance to win a free copy of I AM HERE?
Well here's your chance! I'll be giving one free copy (ebook format of
your choice) of I AM HERE to one lucky winner. Just submit your e-mail
address with your name and your zombie survival plan. Just click the
link for how <a href="http://bit.ly/PwXq2G" target="_blank">enter</a>! Good luck!</span>Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-17620399997997766162012-07-25T19:24:00.000-05:002012-07-25T19:24:41.650-05:00Cut & Run Review<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Cut & Run</b></u></span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Book I </i></b></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b>by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban </b></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgsxzSl_-GpFNXVbAwWKysf10oMve_4IeyVJRR_bbm7HNea29JiaWO4IKXriXMQnqd15z1GeUBwS0jpT-N-yFxCCBtpkAd4e5eKbxa2qXoXLIWUz-mL7nUOpj_K9YOvDn4LX-RNcjjpo/s1600/5199022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgsxzSl_-GpFNXVbAwWKysf10oMve_4IeyVJRR_bbm7HNea29JiaWO4IKXriXMQnqd15z1GeUBwS0jpT-N-yFxCCBtpkAd4e5eKbxa2qXoXLIWUz-mL7nUOpj_K9YOvDn4LX-RNcjjpo/s320/5199022.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Genre</b>: LGBT Contemporary Romance</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Heat Level</b>: HOT<br /><b>Stars</b>: 3/5</div>
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<a name='more'></a></div>
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<![endif]-->Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban created a wonderful story
that was an enjoyable read, albeit at moments taxing. Cut & Run is the
story of Ty Grady and Zane Garrett, two FBI detectives that have everything to
lose and even more to gain. They’re two opposites, as volatile as a hurricane
and a volcano. When they’re thrown together things have a tendency to --
literally <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> figuratively – explode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to catch a cryptic serial killer
they’ll have to set aside not only their personal problems but also their
hatred for one another and figure out how to work as a team.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I’d like to say its good cop and bad cop, but there wasn’t
much of a vibe. Both Ty and Zane put their own twist on the bad cop genre.
While Ty embraces it, Zane is reluctant at first. About halfway through he
manages to give into his vices and becomes his own version of a bad cop.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My biggest issue with Cut & Run was the chemistry
between Ty and Zane. While they both have a physical attraction to one another
that is beyond steamy, they have a terrible emotional connection throughout a
chunk of the story. They’re always bickering, to the point that it actually
gets old. I’m one for heavy drama and angst, but the fights between them seemed
at moments trite and boring, even random at moments. They’d be doing something
with the case and out of nowhere one of them would be set off. I thought things
would taper off after things literally get physical (in the bad way) between Ty
and Zane, but it lasted all the way up to the end. </div>
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Sometimes their personal drama seemed to trump the case.
There were also moments where the case dragged on and I was ready for some kind
of progression. I did have to set it down a few times because I got agitated
myself with them!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Despite things, I did care for them (Ty more than Zane) so I
wanted to see the story through. The mystery was good. I figured it out about a
quarter of the way through, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but</i> they
had managed to make me second guess myself more than once so I was constantly
second guessing myself.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I loved, absolutely loved, how they swapped positions. They
both displayed dominate and submissive personalities, so to see them display
that in the bedroom was great. When Ty dominated Zane I got chills. I thought
Ty might be the more submissive one, but I found that I liked Zane bottoming.</div>
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<br /></div>
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All together I recommend picking up Cut & Run and giving
it a read. Once you read it you’ll be hooked. I’ll definitely be picking up the
next book in the series!</div>
</div>Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-3734605462039266912012-07-07T14:11:00.002-05:002012-07-07T14:11:56.857-05:00Congrats!Congratulations to Mary Preston for winning the Amazon GC on my blog tour. It was a really fun experience and I'm so grateful to Goddess Fish for their help and support. Thanks to all that participated and commented. I hope that everyone enjoys Event Horizon~!Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-84328800156320884092012-06-24T19:38:00.002-05:002012-06-24T19:38:55.628-05:00Blog Tour Kick Off!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByzH6r9TDSfvqUZHYM9xPLjI8WLVSzV0MWmj_SvZyOPd8Dkl4_B4RzvDivCB8nu4hMSfYaGp-frYm9B5pwde0qnyhxmREuiRCPSMeML5ZmnpPxYYpgKO5fW5H7X8hzD-_0YK3s4f2LVM/s1600/VBT+Event+Horizon+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByzH6r9TDSfvqUZHYM9xPLjI8WLVSzV0MWmj_SvZyOPd8Dkl4_B4RzvDivCB8nu4hMSfYaGp-frYm9B5pwde0qnyhxmREuiRCPSMeML5ZmnpPxYYpgKO5fW5H7X8hzD-_0YK3s4f2LVM/s1600/VBT+Event+Horizon+Book+Cover+Banner+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hey ya'll! The Event Horizon Blog Tour starts tomorrow! You can get a full agenda of the tour via my <a href="http://evelynshepherd.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. Follow me and you could win an Amazon Gift Card!Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-83091600758433883152012-06-18T20:38:00.001-05:002012-06-18T20:38:39.574-05:00<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">REVIEW MONDAY!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's my review for the Adrien English series, a wonderfully witty mystery series! Don't expect reviews every Monday, I can barely blog every month!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Adrien English Series</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">By Josh Lanyon</span></i> </span><br /><br />I'm going to try to review this without any spoilers. There is a chance I may slip up though, you have been warned! The first thing I have to say is that this series was completely engrossing. Lanyon has written a series that pulls you in and makes you care about his characters. Adrien is a wonderfully witty protagonist who has an uncanny ability to find himself in trouble. Through five original novels Adrien not only plays the amateur sleuth but also weathers through a shaky relationship with closted LAPD officer Jake Riordan.<br />
<br />
Jake was not a character I liked. I'm the first to admit it. I did not root for him through pretty much all of the series. It wasn't until I was about 70% through <i>The Dark Tide</i> that I finally started praying he and Adrien wound up together. I found him selfish, cruel, egotistical and a complete asshole. I didn't agree with any of Jake's motives throughout the series. That's the beauty of it though. Lanyon created such a dynamic character that you could disagree with him as a person and still enjoy a character. It was <b>realistic</b>.<br />
<br />
Adrien and Jake meet in the first novel <i>Fatal Shadows</i> when Adrien is suspected of murder. In order to absolve himself of the tragic murder of his best friend, Adrien begins to investigate. <i>Fatal Shadows</i> was a splendid beginning to a great series. You fall in love instantly with Adrien and his hermit persona. I could definitely relate to him. As a former bookseller myself, I was tickled by his bookstore and side-career as a writer. There are moments in my life where I think 'man, I'd love to own my own bookstore'.<br />
<br />
By the second novel <i>A Dangerous Thing</i> we get to see Adrien's relationship with Jake develop. This is where I started to dislike Jake. The sex scenes are scorching and definitely made me squirm and all my fun bits perk to attention. Lanyon has a way of creating a mystery that slowly unveils its self. I didn't see the ending coming until it hit me. I tried to piece it together but all my theories got tossed out the proverbial e-reader.<br /><br /><i>To Hell You Say</i> gave the series a bit of a paranormal twist when Adrien's employee Angus winds up getting in hot water with a Satanic cult. When Adrien is pulled into the mess, he must sort through the clues to not only prove Angus's innocence but save his own hide. <i>To Hell You Say </i>introduces Guy and is a pivotal turning point for Adrien and Jake's relationship. This was where I hated Jake the most. Guy was a wonderfully witty character who I <i>so</i> wanted Adrien to shag.<br />
<i></i><br />
<i>Death of a Pirate King </i>is the fourth Adrien English novel. The name its self is amazing. Set two years ahead, Adrien is in a long term relationship with Guy. His book is being optioned for a movie but while at a lunch to discuss its possibilities one of the guests wind up brunching in the big cafe in the sky. Adrien finds himself once again on the receiving end of an investigation with now ex-boyfriend Lieutenant Jake Riordan. Feels reignite as Adrien struggles with his cold relationship with Guy and his suddenly burning memories of Jake. But when truths start to surface about their previous relationship, Adrien isn't sure his heart is strong enough to take Jake back. Hell it may not even be strong enough to keep him going, especially with his doctor petitioning for open heart surgery.<br /><br />The series comes to a perfect conclusion in <i>The Dark Tide</i>. Recovering from surgery and on bed rest, Adrien is taking things slow. When a body is dug up from the renovating side of his bookstore Cloak and Dagger, Adrien turns to his on-again-off-again ex-cop boyfriend Jake for some help. Jake, recently off the force and now working as a PI, is more than willing to jump at the chance to be with Adrien. While they try to unravel the mystery of the skeleton in the stairwell they both struggle to figure out if they're strong enough to finally make it work. Adrien's ex-boyfriend Mel showing up doesn't help the situation.<br />
<br />
<i>The Dark Tide</i> was a perfect end to the series. I wish there was more, but Lanyon found a good place to wrap it up. Adrien and Jake grow significantly in this novel and by the end of it the entire series is summed up. It has an old noir vibe. While the mystery is less sinister as the others, I was definitely kept guessing on why Jay Stevens had been shoved in Adrien's stairwell. Jake made a turn around and by the end of it I had fallen in love and was more than happy to see him and Adrien finally together.<br />
<br />
If anyone is looking for a mystery that keeps you on your toes and has a unique charm to it, the Adrien English series is definitely the one for you. Each book (even with my disdain for Jake) received five stars and I give the entire series a five star review! Kudos to you Josh for creating a wonderful world. I only wish there was more of Adrien and Jake we could read, especially now that they have finally found their happily ever after!Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-44614990940164034092012-05-23T22:38:00.000-05:002012-05-23T22:38:00.155-05:00Gay Sex vs. Straight SexSo I just finished a sex scene for the new manuscript I'm working on. I was really nervous as I grew closer to the scene. It dawned on me as soon as I set the scene up that it had been a <i>long</i> time since I had written a heterosexual sex scene.<br />
<br />
What does that say?<br />
<br />
Is gay sex really that different from straight? (Ignoring the obvious
parts used). It all is based on an emotional/physical connection. The
same emotions and pleasure apply. Yet when I got to that scene I found
myself thinking "okay, now what?". There were even a few minutes where I
had to go back and rewrite because women don't/can't do that!<br />
<br />
It was almost pathetic... okay <i>very </i>pathetic. I'm a woman and I
had issues! My world has been filled with so many men humping like
rabbits that I've begun to neglect the women!<br />
<br />
Maybe I should write some more straight stories?<br /><br />For the last few days this has been me:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFItTxkWefVxMPPpMGafOKJ7atBbywUuFmJH6PjdQBgxgIU6SVXGklRJbU2T3QE7fnzEOLmnQVIuSfITsbyEUcqZmbX1KWoqcGA_rnfjfZp45XY2l43NCjD069H5-3kqG4OA-hOVt2LVA/s1600/writers-block-demotivational.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFItTxkWefVxMPPpMGafOKJ7atBbywUuFmJH6PjdQBgxgIU6SVXGklRJbU2T3QE7fnzEOLmnQVIuSfITsbyEUcqZmbX1KWoqcGA_rnfjfZp45XY2l43NCjD069H5-3kqG4OA-hOVt2LVA/s400/writers-block-demotivational.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I'm glad to be finished, but I'm wondering if it turned out okay. That and I'm leading into another scene so... back to square one.<br /><br />Gay sex vs. Straight sex.<br /><br />Which one is harder to write?<br /><br />Maybe it's the mood music... should I turn on some Barry White?<br /><br />Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-15312326847802623852012-05-21T19:23:00.001-05:002012-05-21T19:23:41.724-05:00Thanks Everyone!I'm glad so many people took part in the Hop Against Homophobia! It's really great to see so many people standing up and taking a stand.<br /><br />The winner of the raffle is..... drum roll please~!!<br />
<br />
Qbee2! Congratulations dearie!Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-27217317924562720382012-05-17T20:18:00.001-05:002012-05-17T20:19:53.351-05:00Hop Against Homophobia!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaNne-jDj0JS7UTZmLQiHDP11kfsf3al1lq9Yayt1xr_y1-1LAS7bqd68ulY4LPJKv1HhvRt8BS5cS9OHN697lSlZN2rPcQJNHHP-gHzt-08UWMmleph5vQIfNL8OQNB4OnYn7yyAo3I/s1600/Hop+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaNne-jDj0JS7UTZmLQiHDP11kfsf3al1lq9Yayt1xr_y1-1LAS7bqd68ulY4LPJKv1HhvRt8BS5cS9OHN697lSlZN2rPcQJNHHP-gHzt-08UWMmleph5vQIfNL8OQNB4OnYn7yyAo3I/s320/Hop+2.png" width="239" /></a></div>
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Well I’m so late it isn’t even funny. This should have been
out this morning. Whoops, my bad. That’s okay though, I’m getting it out now. I
really struggled with what to write for this. In a time when homophobia and gay
rights is at the tip of everyone’s tongues, what is there to say? I personally
have not felt the heartache of homophobia, though I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have </i>seen the pain it can cause. There are moments when I wonder if
people forget that in the end we’re all the same. We all just want to be loved
and to give love in return, so why does it matter what ethnicity or gender that
person is?<br />
<br />
I can remember when I was younger watching <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Will
& Grace </i>with my mom. It took me forever to understand what it was
about. As a teenager I read a lot of coming out novels. Alex Sanchez’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rainbow Boys</i> was one of my favorite
series. But as I got older and found my own calling in writing I realized that
I wanted to create a story that helped fight against homophobia. I wanted to
create a character that faced challenges not because he was gay, but that he
just happened to be gay and had challenges to face. Theo became that character,
someone who is not defined by their sexuality but by their actions.<br />
<br />
Right now things are shaky in the world. Hatred is spelled out callously on
church signs and posted on Facebook. We can’t forget that no matter what side
we’re on, whether supporting or not, we are all entitle to our opinions and
should open our minds. It is not about telling a person their wrong, but about
showing that while they may not agree they do NOT have to be belligerent. There
is a difference between being non-accepting and being prejudice.<br />
<br />
My best friend and I constantly bash heads, but in the end we both accept that
we have different stances. She does not support gay rights while I on the other
hand am a firm supporter. Her views are derived from her religious beliefs,
while I stand under the belief that love is love. Despite what she believes
though, she has never once been cruel or hateful. While she doesn’t agree, she
still treats everyone with the same decency she expects to be treated with.<br />
<a href="http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hop Against Homophobia</a> is about taking a stance and showing that we don’t have
to be hateful. Over 250 authors have band together to spread to word through
the 20th. As an author of LGBT, it is my duty to use my voice to spread the
world. As readers, it is your job to do the same. We all need to band together
and teach the world that in the end, all you need is love~!</div>
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So now here’s a chance for you to jump in and show your support. Bounce around
and check out other blogs. Don’t forget to like Hop Against Homophobia’s
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HAHMay17" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0lIgjwiWnXbAmcNgIcrk0jnE1trl3k6FaOJyGewRqRWI44B0jt_r3SZn9l7N4u8DUemAqE_krleExaDrwCxeoS5ArrIZeX68Scg8d2DyVb2-T0r3oUrJYEFjMF3svYfRI_OyPVQYEL0/s1600/warning-slash-tote-bag-black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0lIgjwiWnXbAmcNgIcrk0jnE1trl3k6FaOJyGewRqRWI44B0jt_r3SZn9l7N4u8DUemAqE_krleExaDrwCxeoS5ArrIZeX68Scg8d2DyVb2-T0r3oUrJYEFjMF3svYfRI_OyPVQYEL0/s320/warning-slash-tote-bag-black.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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<br />
Show your support by winning this awesome tote. And what’s a tote without
goodies? See where Theo started with a e-book copy of <i>The Hunting Moon</i>. Here’s
how to win (winner will be announced Monday the 21<sup>st</sup>):</div>
<ul>
<li>
Leave a comment with your e-mail</li>
<li>
Follow my Blog</li>
</ul>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Excerpt from <i>The Hunting Moon<br />(PG-13)</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i></i></b></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></div>
His eyes were just dark enough to be called mysterious<b>, </b>and
by the way his long black hair fell into his face, obscuring it in
sultry shadows, I knew he was someone dangerous. He held himself above
everyone else, with an almost predatory stance that sent delicious
tingles up my spine. He was ensconced in the back of the club, sitting
in a booth on the other side of the dance floor, watching the crowd as
it bobbed and swayed to the addictive beats the DJ spun. His friends had
abandoned him two songs earlier, and he didn’t seem to be in a hurry to
join them.<br />
I had been watching him half the night from the corner of my eye. He
seemed to dominate the club with his presence, and I knew I wasn’t the
only one watching him. I also knew that I was going to be the one to get
him tonight.<br />
Some people call it <i>gaydar</i>, though I don’t believe in that
-- I just call it good instincts. It also helped that he had been
watching me under the veil of his long lashes.<br />
I wasn’t looking for love -- hell, I don’t believe in love. I believe
in quick fucks and one-night stands. And tonight he was going to be my
conquest. From the way his glare met my stare, I knew I was going to be
his too. I took a long swig of my beer, numbing my tongue just a little
more. I was working on my third bottle, and tonight I had no plans of
slowing down. If I was going to be back in the shit hole known as
Columbus, Ohio, then I was going to be drunk facing it. I had left
Columbus in pursuit of a career with the NYPD Preternatural Task Force. I
had succeeded until six months ago, when my partner was killed on the
job by a deranged lycanthrope. Now, after seven years of avoiding this
place, I was back.<b></b><br />
And this dark Adonis was going to make me forget why I had returned. I
finished the last of my beer and set the empty bottle on top of the
bar. He tipped his head to the side, his hair spilling back to reveal
the sharp contours and angles of his face. His skin, when the light
played across it, was a rich burnt caramel that left my mouth watering.
The gray graphic tee he had on was straining against the hard muscles of
his chest and broad shoulders.<br />
I walked around the side of the dance floor, following the row of
booths that wrapped around to the back of the club. He glanced up at me,
and my fingers itched to brush away the silken tresses that fell into
his long face. His full lips parted into a quick smile, and hunger
churned in the pit of my stomach. This was a game I was very familiar
with -- one that I was fond of.<br />
“Hey.”<br />
His voice was like liquid silk pouring over my skin and wrapping
around my body, caressing every intimate part of me, and it held the
faintest Spanish accent. My eyelids lowered in a hooded glance, and my
lips twitched into a smile that was pouting and promising. I wasn’t
giving him the option to back away. “Dance with me.”<br />
Amusement lit up his dark eyes, but he didn’t protest. He stood up,
towering over me by a good four inches -- and that was saying something,
since I was six feet even. I slid my hand up his chest, and my fingers
played over the silver designs of his graphic tee before fisting in the
cotton fabric. I pulled him with me as I walked backward onto the dance
floor. I didn’t look to see if people moved. I made them move, nudging
them with my mind and guiding them away from the middle of the dance
floor. My gaze never left his, and he didn’t seem interested in anyone
around us either.<br />
Large hands found my hips, and our bodies began to move as one,
naturally. I rocked my hips into his, relaxed my grip on his shirt
slightly, and coiled my other arm around his neck. His hair, which had
to be well past his shoulders, spilled over and tickled the exposed skin
of my arms.<br />
The song pounded in my ears, and I couldn’t tell you what the lyrics
were. I was hypnotized by his eyes; it was like staring into the eyes of
a wild dog. They flashed with feral intensity, their chocolate color
swirling with blinding deep golden yellow, like smoky topaz. He nudged
his hips forward, rolling them so that his hard-on brushed against mine.
A shock ran through me, and my breath came out in a stuttered gasp,
earning a broader grin from him. He repeated the motion, and my grip
grew tighter around his neck and shirt, pulling him closer to my body.<br />
His hands spread up my back, massaging the tight muscles in my
shoulders. My cock was straining in my Diesel jeans, chafing against the
zipper. I let out a low growl, grinding harder against him in a vague
suggestion of what was to come. He didn’t seem to need any further
invitation. His mouth sealed over mine, his tongue pressing past the
barrier of my lips. I opened my mouth wide, and it became all about
tasting and feeling. He tasted of beer and cinnamon gum.<br />
When I broke away for air, I met his eyes. They burned with the same
hunger that I felt. I turned around before he could come in for another
kiss, pressed my ass against him, and shook my hips.<br />
He grabbed my hips again, his grip hard and demanding. I could just
imagine his hands running up my body, pulling and guiding me as he
drilled into me from behind. I closed my eyes with a flutter of lashes
and arched, letting my hands tangle in the soft mess of his hair. It ran
through my fingers smoothly, and I knew I could spend hours just
stroking his hair.<br />
“So what’s your name?” I shouted over the music.<br />
His lips brushed my right ear, his tongue flicking out to nudge the
silver hoop I had in. His hands wrapped around my waist to my stomach
and traced the hard muscles of my abs through the black material of my
T-shirt.<br />
“Carlos,” he said in a low growl.<br />
The song changed, but I didn’t know what to. All I could hear, all I
could feel, was the sound of Carlos’s breathing as he tempted my body
with his long fingers. I tightened my hold on his hair and pulled his
head down, craning my neck so I could turn and kiss him. He rolled his
hips at the gesture and eagerly sucked in my tongue.<br />
Much more of this, and I was going to come in my jeans, right there
on the dance floor. I released his hair, letting it whisper past my
fingertips. With another promising smile I asked, “Your place or mine?”<br />
He embraced me against his chest, his arms wrapping around me to
secure my body. His lips branded my neck in a slow kiss, and I felt a
quake run through me.<br />
“Mine.”<br />
That was fine by me. If he turned out to be a psychopath, I’d just
pop his ass full of lead. But I knew he wouldn’t try anything funny. He
was straining just as bad against his tight jeans as I was.<br />
“Let’s go.” I untangled myself from his body. The hold I had on the
crowd, the one that had kept them at bay from us, was released. They
moved back like the tide coming in, none the wiser on the fact that I
had pushed them away from us.<br />
Carlos cocked his head to the side and followed me, not protesting
when my hand tangled in his. His palms were rough from work, and they
felt strong as they flexed around my own fingers. If he signaled to his
friends that he was leaving, I didn’t know. Honestly, I didn’t give a
rat’s ass about them. I was much more interested in getting to his car.<br />
The cold air burst against my face as soon as we stumbled outside. It
was the beginning of October, and already there was the promise of a
harsh winter to come. I had skipped my jacket tonight, mostly because I
had been too lazy to grab it on my way out, so I ignored the sudden
goose bumps that rolled down my arms. I wasn’t cold for long, though,
because Carlos wrapped his arms around me. His breath warmed my neck as
it curled down my skin. He flicked his tongue out against the sensitive
juncture between my neck and shoulder. I craned my head up, rolled my
eyes to look at him, and asked, “Where’s your car?”<br />
He gestured to the parking garage adjacent to the club we had just
come out of. The red sign overhead glowed in a neon haze, illuminating
the back path that The Red Light was on. It was just behind another
club, part of a small cluster of joints that could be found down in the
Short North. Music could be heard in the distance, on the other side of
the industrial steel doors that slammed closed behind us. The bouncer
standing outside the door eyed us carefully, probably sizing us up to
see how drunk we were.<br />
With long strides, Carlos pulled me toward the five-story garage,
wrapping me in the rock-hard band of his arm. I found an expanse of
exposed skin on his neck and bit down hard, earning a startled grunt
from him.<br />
“You’re a ferocious one,” he said with a rich chuckle.<br />
I warmed my fingers by rubbing them up his side. “I’m an impatient one.”<br />
“Patience, <i>mi corazón</i>.” <br />
He laughed, dragging me into the elevator near the front of the
garage. He hit the button, and the doors swung closed with a metallic <i>ding</i>.
I pushed him against the wall, my mouth latching on to his. He let out a
low growl, grabbed ahold of my hips, and pulled me hard against him.
Just as my body was beginning to get into it, the doors dinged open on
the fourth floor.<br />
He pulled away and nudged me forward, panting, “Come on.”<br />
A grin twitched across my lips, and I followed him as he led me
through the labyrinth of cars. His was a brand-spanking-new Ram 1500 in a
sharp red. It gleamed beneath the garage lights, and I was pretty sure I
had just had a minor orgasm from looking at it. He traced his fingers
up my bare arms, and I shivered, saying, “You looked like a truck man.”<br />
He fished his keys out without a word and beeped it unlocked. I
walked over to the passenger side, opened the door, and climbed up into
the seat. As soon as he was situated in the truck, I closed the space
between us. Within the twenty minutes it took to drive to his house, I
worked on revving up his engine. My hands caressed every spot I could
reach, my lips following.<br />
Once we swung into the driveway, we climbed out of the truck and
closed the distance between us in a steamy reunion of tongues. He
couldn’t find the keys fast enough to unlock the house door. We stumbled
into the house. I pulled his jacket off, dropping it on the floor as he
guided me through to the master bedroom. I caught a fleeting glimpse of
a flat-screen TV as we made our way down the hall, a tangle of arms and
lips. He grabbed my shirt by its hem and pulled it up over my head in a
single liquid motion, letting it fall in the doorway as he pushed me
inside. I watched as his gaze raked down my chest, taking in the
definition of my abs. It was the hoop in my left nipple, though, that
his gaze zeroed in on. A devilish smile split his lips.<br />
He hooked his index finger through it and gave a hard pull. Sweet
pain coursed through my body. I moaned, my eyes fluttering closed with
anticipation. Carlos let out another growl and gave another pull.<br />
My nipple ring was released and he pushed me onto his king-size bed.
His comforter was soft cotton. I pulled myself up on the bed and looked
up at him through a veil of burgundy bangs. Slowly he pulled his shirt
off, revealing the six-pack he was rocking. His skin was such a rich
color of caramel… I wanted to suck every inch of him, taste him to see
if he was as sweet as he looked.<br />
He threw the tee sideways in a random direction. “Let’s see how hard we can go, mi corazón.”<br />
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</div>Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-59537701426043232772012-03-30T12:52:00.000-05:002012-03-30T12:52:42.258-05:00Facebook BannerWell it's finally time for me to hop on the Facebook bandwagon. With the new format design that means my author page will look even more beautiful. The only issue is I don't have time to come up with a cover design for it. Not wanting to be left in the digital dust, I've decided that it's time to start a contest! So here's how it goes.<br />
<br />
I need a banner. You design one. The theme should in some how embody the Theo Bourne series. Just e-mail your entries to Evelynshepherd@evelynshepherd.com and on April 30th I'll select a winner. The winner will get a $50 gift card to Amazon.com.<br />
<br />
Easy! So all you graphic designers, artists and fans out there get designing!Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-7920071170160170082012-03-20T20:38:00.000-05:002012-03-20T20:38:48.787-05:00Media WagonRandom post alert. I'm not good at this keeping up with the post thing. Can't make promises to get any better. On the plus side, the reason I fail is because I'm focused on working on manuscripts.<br />
<br />
One thing I've been trying to work out lately is publicity. I've been trying to line up ways to get the word out. It's a lot of work and while my editor/publisher are amazing, I still need to do my own leg work. It's hard, especially when I don't have the foggiest clue what to do and well... lets face it, I'm more interested in just writing.<br />
<br />
There needs to be a nice balance between writing and publicizing, but I don't know where that balance is. It's stressful at times. Give-me-a-six-pack-kind-of-stress.<br />
<br />
So when is it a good time to push aside the key board and focus on publicity? Authors have always struggled. We think the battle is over when we land that deal, but it isn't. It's continuing to spread the word of your story and boast sales. While I'm not in it for the money, that still is how I make my living. So one just wonders when I should set it all aside and try to sale. Should I turn off the muse at some point and focus solely on trying to sell?<br />
<br />
Is there ever a point when that doesn't happen?<br />
<br />
What is the best way to sell?<br />
<br />
Well, I don't have a lot of answers. I'll figure them out. I will be doing some blog tours in the future. I'm working on getting them lined up, so when they do appear I'll definitely post. I will be participating in Hop Against Homophobia this May, a great tour focused on spreading the world equality as well as the love of m/m writing. So look for that. Until then chickadees, I shall try to find that balance of writing-media.Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-80215865021582641892012-01-15T13:19:00.000-06:002012-01-15T13:19:25.298-06:00GIVEAWAY!In celebration of the release of Event Horizon (1/24), the second book in the Theo Bourne Series, I'll be giving away a free copy of The Hunting Moon (e-book). All you have to do is e-mail me @ evelynshepherd@evelynshepherd.com with what race Theo Bourne is. The answer can be found on my website: <a href="http://www.evelynshepherd.com/">http://www.evelynshepherd.com</a>. Contest ends January 24th. Good luck!Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-54665216575486365592011-11-04T21:26:00.000-05:002011-11-04T21:26:37.170-05:00What's in a Name?A question that our good ol' friend William Shakespeare introduced. Ironically, now there's a question in on him. Though that really isn't old news, and completely irrelevant for that matter.<br />
<br />
I just finished a manuscript that I've been working on for the last few months. I'm rather proud of it, though it is still a long way from being finished. It definitely needs some polishing and a bit more character development.<br />
<br />
The major thing it needs is a title.<br />
<br />
I've always felt that a title can say a thousand words. A title in the end can be the deciding factor on a story. I'm more likely to take a story seriously when it's given a thought provoking name such as <u>And Then There Were None</u> and <u>Women of the Silk</u>, compared to Harlequin titles that lay the plot of the story out ( I.E. our ever favorite The Prince Boss's Mistresses Secret Affair Million Dollar Baby). I'm not knocking Harlequin. When I was younger I totally cracked into my next door neighbor's Harles.<br />
<br />
Of course I was like thirteen and had yet to develop taste buds when it came to literature.<br />
<br />
I'm not saying you should judge a story by it's title fully, just like you shouldn't judge it by it's cover. In the end the writing is what matters. But lets face it, a title is important.<br />
<br />
So when I finished my manuscript and sat down to pick a name, I was stumped. Because I want something that gives the full force of the story. It must be a powerful title because I want this story to be a powerful novel. When I first started I threw a title on and called it a day. But that doesn't suit it anymore.<br />
<br />
Now I'm stuck picking something out.<br />
<br />
Luckily, with the help of mulling over my work for a little bit and the help of some inspirational music, I think I've selected something that'll definitely have some driving force behind it. But I'm not going to settle until I've read through the manuscript one more time and decided that it's a good fit.<br />
<br />
Oh titles, why must you elude me?!Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-14364217265279836502011-10-31T23:11:00.002-05:002011-10-31T23:11:50.421-05:00FreebiesHappy Halloween! <br />
<br />
So I've spent the night carting kiddies around to collect candy and dishing out some candy myself. After all the festivities and a major case of sweet tooth, I've churned out a new publicity stunt -- eer I mean story!<br />
<br />
In honor of the holiday I've started a horror story, which I'll be updating on my Tumblr account twice a month. Check it out and follow it, then check out my story available for purchase <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/The-Hunting-Moon.aspx" target="_blank"><i>The Hunting Moon</i> </a>another grizzly horror/urban fantasy!<br />
<br />
<i>Cotton suffers from chronic nightmares. Just as he thought his and Esteban's life would settle into a peaceful normalcy, he finds that their quiet home holds dark secrets. Someone or something is out to get them. If Cotton wants to put an end to the nightmares, he and Esteban are going to have to put to rest the spirits that haunt their home.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<a href="http://evelynshepherd.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><u>PENROSE</u></a><i><br />
</i>Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-10985224632720057262011-10-25T20:32:00.000-05:002011-10-25T20:32:18.174-05:00ExcerptOkay, so I've lacked majorly in updating this thing. This was why I never kept a journal when I was a kid. I <b>always</b> forgot to write in it.<br />
<br />
So to give everyone (you nonexistent chickadees out there) a quick overview of how my months have been so far: CRAZY.<br />
<br />
I've had a book release, finished two novels and begun the process of editing one, still hammering out the first draft for the other, and finishing up a third. As well as inserting about a million book ideas in between that. I finally got smart and bought some journals to track my ideas.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Writing Tip</b>: Keep paper on you, whether loose, a notepad, or a journal. When those ideas hit, JOT THEM DOWN!</blockquote><br />
In between that I've been balancing family life and writing, I've barely had time to collect my thoughts and key them in<br />
<br />
As an apology, here is an excerpt from my published novel <u><b>THE HUNTING MOON</b></u><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>EXCERPT </b><br />
<br />
His eyes were just dark enough to be called mysterious<b>, </b>and by the way his long black hair fell into his face, obscuring it in sultry shadows, I knew he was someone dangerous. He held himself above everyone else, with an almost predatory stance that sent delicious tingles up my spine. He was ensconced in the back of the club, sitting in a booth on the other side of the dance floor, watching the crowd as it bobbed and swayed to the addictive beats the DJ spun. His friends had abandoned him two songs earlier, and he didn’t seem to be in a hurry to join them.<br />
<br />
I had been watching him half the night from the corner of my eye. He seemed to dominate the club with his presence, and I knew I wasn’t the only one watching him. I also knew that I was going to be the one to get him tonight.<br />
<br />
Some people call it <i>gaydar</i>, though I don’t believe in that -- I just call it good instincts. It also helped that he had been watching me under the veil of his long lashes.<br />
<br />
I wasn’t looking for love -- hell, I don’t believe in love. I believe in quick fucks and one-night stands. And tonight he was going to be my conquest. From the way his glare met my stare, I knew I was going to be his too. I took a long swig of my beer, numbing my tongue just a little more. I was working on my third bottle, and tonight I had no plans of slowing down. If I was going to be back in the shit hole known as Columbus, Ohio, then I was going to be drunk facing it. I had left Columbus in pursuit of a career with the NYPD Preternatural Task Force. I had succeeded until six months ago, when my partner was killed on the job by a deranged lycanthrope. Now, after seven years of avoiding this place, I was back.<br />
<br />
And this dark Adonis was going to make me forget why I had returned. I finished the last of my beer and set the empty bottle on top of the bar. He tipped his head to the side, his hair spilling back to reveal the sharp contours and angles of his face. His skin, when the light played across it, was a rich burnt caramel that left my mouth watering. The gray graphic tee he had on was straining against the hard muscles of his chest and broad shoulders.<br />
<br />
I walked around the side of the dance floor, following the row of booths that wrapped around to the back of the club. He glanced up at me, and my fingers itched to brush away the silken tresses that fell into his long face. His full lips parted into a quick smile, and hunger churned in the pit of my stomach. This was a game I was very familiar with -- one that I was fond of.<br />
<br />
“Hey.”<br />
<br />
His voice was like liquid silk pouring over my skin and wrapping around my body, caressing every intimate part of me, and it held the faintest Spanish accent. My eyelids lowered in a hooded glance, and my lips twitched into a smile that was pouting and promising. I wasn’t giving him the option to back away. “Dance with me.”<br />
<br />
Amusement lit up his dark eyes, but he didn’t protest. He stood up, towering over me by a good four inches -- and that was saying something, since I was six feet even. I slid my hand up his chest, and my fingers played over the silver designs of his graphic tee before fisting in the cotton fabric. I pulled him with me as I walked backward onto the dance floor. I didn’t look to see if people moved. I made them move, nudging them with my mind and guiding them away from the middle of the dance floor. My gaze never left his, and he didn’t seem interested in anyone around us either.<br />
<br />
Large hands found my hips, and our bodies began to move as one, naturally. I rocked my hips into his, relaxed my grip on his shirt slightly, and coiled my other arm around his neck. His hair, which had to be well past his shoulders, spilled over and tickled the exposed skin of my arms.<br />
<br />
The song pounded in my ears, and I couldn’t tell you what the lyrics were. I was hypnotized by his eyes; it was like staring into the eyes of a wild dog. They flashed with feral intensity, their chocolate color swirling with blinding deep golden yellow, like smoky topaz. He nudged his hips forward, rolling them so that his hard-on brushed against mine. A shock ran through me, and my breath came out in a stuttered gasp, earning a broader grin from him. He repeated the motion, and my grip grew tighter around his neck and shirt, pulling him closer to my body.<br />
<br />
His hands spread up my back, massaging the tight muscles in my shoulders. My cock was straining in my Diesel jeans, chafing against the zipper. I let out a low growl, grinding harder against him in a vague suggestion of what was to come. He didn’t seem to need any further invitation. His mouth sealed over mine, his tongue pressing past the barrier of my lips. I opened my mouth wide, and it became all about tasting and feeling. He tasted of beer and cinnamon gum.<br />
<br />
When I broke away for air, I met his eyes. They burned with the same hunger that I felt. I turned around before he could come in for another kiss, pressed my ass against him, and shook my hips.<br />
He grabbed my hips again, his grip hard and demanding. I could just imagine his hands running up my body, pulling and guiding me as he drilled into me from behind. I closed my eyes with a flutter of lashes and arched, letting my hands tangle in the soft mess of his hair. It ran through my fingers smoothly, and I knew I could spend hours just stroking his hair.<br />
<br />
“So what’s your name?” I shouted over the music.<br />
<br />
His lips brushed my right ear, his tongue flicking out to nudge the silver hoop I had in. His hands wrapped around my waist to my stomach and traced the hard muscles of my abs through the black material of my T-shirt.<br />
<br />
“Carlos,” he said in a low growl.<br />
<br />
The song changed, but I didn’t know what to. All I could hear, all I could feel, was the sound of Carlos’s breathing as he tempted my body with his long fingers. I tightened my hold on his hair and pulled his head down, craning my neck so I could turn and kiss him. He rolled his hips at the gesture and eagerly sucked in my tongue.<br />
<br />
Much more of this, and I was going to come in my jeans, right there on the dance floor. I released his hair, letting it whisper past my fingertips. With another promising smile I asked, “Your place or mine?”<br />
<br />
He embraced me against his chest, his arms wrapping around me to secure my body. His lips branded my neck in a slow kiss, and I felt a quake run through me. <br />
<br />
“Mine.”<br />
<br />
That was fine by me. If he turned out to be a psychopath, I’d just pop his ass full of lead. But I knew he wouldn’t try anything funny. He was straining just as bad against his tight jeans as I was.<br />
<br />
“Let’s go.” I untangled myself from his body. The hold I had on the crowd, the one that had kept them at bay from us, was released. They moved back like the tide coming in, none the wiser on the fact that I had pushed them away from us.<br />
<br />
Carlos cocked his head to the side and followed me, not protesting when my hand tangled in his. His palms were rough from work, and they felt strong as they flexed around my own fingers. If he signaled to his friends that he was leaving, I didn’t know. Honestly, I didn’t give a rat’s ass about them. I was much more interested in getting to his car.<br />
<br />
The cold air burst against my face as soon as we stumbled outside. It was the beginning of October, and already there was the promise of a harsh winter to come. I had skipped my jacket tonight, mostly because I had been too lazy to grab it on my way out, so I ignored the sudden goose bumps that rolled down my arms. I wasn’t cold for long, though, because Carlos wrapped his arms around me. His breath warmed my neck as it curled down my skin. He flicked his tongue out against the sensitive juncture between my neck and shoulder. I craned my head up, rolled my eyes to look at him, and asked, “Where’s your car?”<br />
<br />
He gestured to the parking garage adjacent to the club we had just come out of. The red sign overhead glowed in a neon haze, illuminating the back path that The Red Light was on. It was just behind another club, part of a small cluster of joints that could be found down in the Short North. Music could be heard in the distance, on the other side of the industrial steel doors that slammed closed behind us. The bouncer standing outside the door eyed us carefully, probably sizing us up to see how drunk we were.<br />
<br />
With long strides, Carlos pulled me toward the five-story garage, wrapping me in the rock-hard band of his arm. I found an expanse of exposed skin on his neck and bit down hard, earning a startled grunt from him.<br />
<br />
“You’re a ferocious one,” he said with a rich chuckle.<br />
<br />
I warmed my fingers by rubbing them up his side. “I’m an impatient one.”<br />
<br />
“Patience, <i>mi corazón</i>.”<br />
<br />
He laughed, dragging me into the elevator near the front of the garage. He hit the button, and the doors swung closed with a metallic <i>ding</i>. I pushed him against the wall, my mouth latching on to his. He let out a low growl, grabbed ahold of my hips, and pulled me hard against him. Just as my body was beginning to get into it, the doors dinged open on the fourth floor.<br />
<br />
He pulled away and nudged me forward, panting, “Come on.”<br />
<br />
A grin twitched across my lips, and I followed him as he led me through the labyrinth of cars. His was a brand-spanking-new Ram 1500 in a sharp red. It gleamed beneath the garage lights, and I was pretty sure I had just had a minor orgasm from looking at it. He traced his fingers up my bare arms, and I shivered, saying, “You looked like a truck man.”<br />
<br />
He fished his keys out without a word and beeped it unlocked. I walked over to the passenger side, opened the door, and climbed up into the seat. As soon as he was situated in the truck, I closed the space between us. Within the twenty minutes it took to drive to his house, I worked on revving up his engine. My hands caressed every spot I could reach, my lips following.<br />
<br />
Once we swung into the driveway, we climbed out of the truck and closed the distance between us in a steamy reunion of tongues. He couldn’t find the keys fast enough to unlock the house door. We stumbled into the house. I pulled his jacket off, dropping it on the floor as he guided me through to the master bedroom. I caught a fleeting glimpse of a flat-screen TV as we made our way down the hall, a tangle of arms and lips. He grabbed my shirt by its hem and pulled it up over my head in a single liquid motion, letting it fall in the doorway as he pushed me inside. I watched as his gaze raked down my chest, taking in the definition of my abs. It was the hoop in my left nipple, though, that his gaze zeroed in on. A devilish smile split his lips.<br />
<br />
He hooked his index finger through it and gave a hard pull. Sweet pain coursed through my body. I moaned, my eyes fluttering closed with anticipation. Carlos let out another growl and gave another pull.<br />
<br />
My nipple ring was released and he pushed me onto his king-size bed. His comforter was soft cotton. I pulled myself up on the bed and looked up at him through a veil of burgundy bangs. Slowly he pulled his shirt off, revealing the six-pack he was rocking. His skin was such a rich color of caramel… I wanted to suck every inch of him, taste him to see if he was as sweet as he looked.<br />
<br />
He threw the tee sideways in a random direction. “Let’s see how hard we can go, mi corazón.”<br />
<br />
Carlos turned and walked over to his dresser, which was shoved against the wall opposite the bed. It gave me a chance to see the gigantic tattoo covering his back. I could only see the details in the moonlight that came in through the open window. It looked to be a depiction of the Virgin Mary cradling a skull, with a colorful halo of sunlight behind her, mixed among the clouds. Wreathed beneath her were blooming roses, and above Mary’s head in an archival script were the words “Rest in Peace.” Beneath the artwork, I could see every muscle flex. My mouth watered. He was so honed.<br />
<br />
He fished out a container of lube and turned back around to face me, dangling it in his fingers tauntingly. I licked my lips, my mind going blank as he approached me with a slow swag. His jeans were held up by a black leather belt. He dropped the lube on the bed and unfastened his belt, pulling it out with a jerk, so that it cracked to the side. I fisted the comforter in my hands and ordered, “Get your hot ass over here.”<br />
<br />
A wicked glint played in his brown eyes. The moonlight caught in their dark depths, like the night was coming alive. He climbed onto the bed, resting on his knees. The belt was still resting menacingly in his hands.<br />
<br />
“I’m making you my bitch tonight,” Carlos growled.<br />
<br />
Prickles of desire danced over me, burning me up. I rested back against the pillows, saying with a taunting smirk, “We’ll see about that.”<br />
<br />
He pounced, moving with the skill of a wild beast. Suddenly it made sense to me what he was. He held the aura of something arcane. It was like a sixth sense inside me that could feel the presence of those beyond human. I looked up at him, my eyes sparkling with wonderment, and whispered, “Werewolf.”<br />
<br />
He smiled playfully, crouching over me with the belt tight between his hands. “Correction, werecoyote.”<br />
<br />
I cocked my head to the side and scanned the contours of his face. I licked my lips, hunger spiking even higher. There was always something dangerous about fucking a lycanthrope. They were wild and insatiable, and depending on their level of control, could randomly shift during lovemaking. A weaker lycan could easily turn in the midst of passion and rip out your throat. Carlos seemed to have his power in check.<br />
<br />
He sobered for a brief moment, asking, “Is that all right?”<br />
<br />
Granted, most paranormal and arcane things had been brought to light, and some had even been granted citizenship and rights, but that didn’t mean there was total acceptance. Lucky for Carlos, I was one of the freaks.<br />
<br />
I released a small burst of power, sending Carlos flying backward onto his back. I pounced, straddling his hips and grinding my pelvis down into his. “That’s more than all right.”<br />
<br />
The game was back on, and Carlos let out a growl that definitely belonged to a coyote. He released one end of the belt and grabbed my arms, throwing me sideways so he could reclaim the top.<br />
<br />
“Good, then your tight ass is mine.”<br />
<br />
He slammed my hands above my head, and I bucked up, trying to throw him off. With inhuman speed, he wrapped the belt around my arms in makeshift cuffs. Sex with something arcane is always interesting.<br />
<br />
“That all you got?” I taunted, twisting my arms against the binding. He just smiled and began to work my belt off, pulling it away and quickly unsnapping the button of my jeans. My cock twitched, straining against my zipper. He cupped my hard-on, rubbing it gently through the rough material. I forgot about struggling against my bindings for a moment and moaned out into the crisp air of the room.<br />
<br />
“Do you know how sexy you are?” Carlos murmured.<br />
<br />
“Yes.”<br />
<br />
Carlos chuckled into my ear as he bent over my body. “Cocky bastard.”<br />
<br />
The smart-ass comment that I came up with left my head as soon as his tongue traced the shell of my ear. He continued to apply a lazy amount of pressure to my aching cock, working wet kisses along my neck. I pressed upward with my hips and seethed. “Damn it, what happened to the part about making me your bitch?”<br />
<br />
“Are you going insane?”<br />
<br />
Oh, he was a cruel bastard. I closed my eyes and smiled when his hand tightened around my throbbing shaft, adding more pressure.<br />
<br />
“That’s cheating.” Carlos snapped, pulling his hand away and flicking me in the nose.<br />
<br />
I blinked and sputtered in disbelief. “Did you just flick my nose?”<br />
<br />
“Yes,” he clucked, rising up and resting his weight on my knees. “For cheating.”<br />
<br />
I slanted a glare in his direction. “Well, if someone would stop dragging it out…”<br />
<br />
“You are very impatient.” There was laughter in his voice. He was mocking me.<br />
<br />
“I told you that.”<br />
<br />
“So you did,” he drawled out, rising up and sliding down. He pulled my shoes and socks off, dropping them on the other side of the bed. He hooked my belt around my tied-up hands and secured it to the bars of his brass headboard with his own belt. Suddenly I had a newfound appreciation for brass beds.<br />
<br />
“What are you going to do now?” He rubbed a hand up my thigh, kneading the muscle.<br />
<br />
I tugged my arms and looked at him, smirking. “Nothing now, I guess.”</blockquote>Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-89176201306678300472011-03-12T14:34:00.000-06:002011-03-12T14:34:03.155-06:00Sex and Editing -- Not Your Normal DuoSo my life went from relatively uncomplicated to about Dante's Inferno level of bedlam. I've just started the second round of editing for my novel, which is due by the end of the month. I'm the kind of person that when I know time is ticking, I feel it. So I'm nail biting the fuck out of my fingers because I'm trying to get things done and the rest of my life is pulling me in different directions.<br />
<br />
Editing, for all those that haven't experienced, is the painful combination of exciting (at least the first time) and tedious. The first round was, though stressful, very educational and fun. Yes, I tore my story to shreds and added/removed things, but it was a process I've never done before. So I loved it all. Not to say that I'm not enjoying this. But it's about as exciting as watching dog shit...just not as disgusting. I'm staring at a computer for hours, going through and making grammatical corrections. You wouldn't think that's exhausting, but it is. So for all you newbie authors out there, brace your self for the tedious side of writing. Every job has it. Ours just sucks majorly.<br />
<br />
So what does sex have to do with anything?<br />
<br />
Well, in the midst of all my editing/writing chaos, I'm also playing cupid. And it's damn near as stressful. Trying to make arrangements for your best friend to get with someone (I won't say who~) is tiring, when you have to make everyone happy.<br />
<br />
It probably doesn't help that my sex/love life has severely dropped to a big ol' fat 0 once I got back from Cali. So long love life. I'm devoted to writing. The only male company I get is two gay guys in a story and the man in my dreams.<br />
<br />
Can we all say, pathetic? Anyone else running through a dry spell? Lets all have a collective sigh.Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-17735415691170971552011-03-03T20:15:00.000-06:002011-03-03T20:15:49.177-06:00To Outline or Not to Outline?So one of the biggest things I discuss with my friends (at least my fellow authors) is the beginning process. Everyone does it differently. And between gossiping about boys and clothes, we each break down how we start our novel. Seeing as how I've just begun my second novel in the Theo Bourne Series, I've decided that now would be a good time to discuss outlining processes. See, it isn't all about sex.<br />
<br />
So the question is: <i>to outline or not to outline</i>? Good ol' Bill, I bet he never knew his one little quote would be butchered so horrifically.<br />
<br />
In the end, it all depends on how you're comfortable. I know authors who don't outline. They get an idea and after working it through their heads, they start writing. Whatever comes, comes. If you're comfortable with that (I know I'm not) than you can definitely just ignore this post.<br />
<br />
If you're someone that likes outlining, than maybe I can shed a bit of advice. There are hundreds of ways to outline, but I've found the two major ones are minor outlines and detailed. I've done them both and I prefer the detailed. I feel more in control.<br />
<br />
I'll just give a brief breakdown of each forum:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Minor Outlines</b></span><br />
<br />
This is when you just need a general direction to go with your story. Minor outlines for me consist of key points that will happen through out the story, major arcs. General I don't do a chapter breakdown with minor outlines. I have a list of characters, places, and a series of events. Usually ten. Minor outlines gives you a lot of elbow room to shift things around, without feeling too tied down to the plot. This is great for someone who doesn't like to sit down and work out the entire plot in one go. If you're a writer who wings it through the chapters, then I'd suggest this form of outlining.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Detailed Outlines</b></span><br />
<br />
Detailed outlines are far more extensive. For me, this is an entire breakdown of the story. It sometimes ties you down to the plot (than again, maybe that's just me!) but it also gives you a clear view from beginning to end. You always have room to change the plot, never forget that. With a detailed, I break the entire story down from chapter to chapter. Each chapter has a list of major events that are going to happen. I also include days/time/seasons (whatever is relevant, important to note) and a list of places and characters. I find that with a detailed outline I have a clear view of where I'm going and I can't stray from the plot. It also helps me prevent events from getting confused/obscured/forgotten. For me, I have a tendency to forget what I write unless I look back. So with a detailed outline, I have the ability to go back and take a peek of what happened the previous chapter without actually having to reread the entire chapter.<br />
<br />
I actually do both a minor and detailed outline. I use the minor to help place the larger events through out the story, breaking them down into each chapter. In the end, it's what you're comfortable with. There are plenty of other ways to outline. This is just how I roll! :)<br />
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A good resource for writing tips is Janet Evanovich's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Secrets-Bestselling-Author/dp/0312354282"><i>How I Write</i></a>. I'd also check out <a href="https://secure.palmcoastd.com/pcd/eSv?iMagId=0768P&i4Ky=IL39">Writer's Digest Magazine</a>, which is loaded with oodles of tips for you lovely chickadees!Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716804519356615275.post-57454963327798956792011-03-02T20:30:00.000-06:002011-03-02T20:30:01.308-06:00California is a long way...So I've just gotten back from a weekend romp on the west coast. Originally it was suppose to be a vacation where I could recharge my batteries and indulge in a little sex fantasy. Somehow it went from that to something very stressful and lacking in the fantasy department. I think my characters have a better sex life than I do.<br />
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How pathetic is that?<br />
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So my very first note of advice for all you readers out there (here by dubbed chickadees): <i>California is a long way to go to get sex.</i><br />
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I guess to say in my defense, I was also trying to figure out if a relationship could work. That's a giant NO. Who would have thought an author and a theater tech wouldn't work? Then again, if you don't have imagination in the bedroom, it's never going to work. At least for this particular author. Boring doesn't even begin to describe it.<br />
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I won't touch on the dreary weather that Cali produced for me. The sunshine that I was told about, that I always hear about, some how escaped me. So this woman came back to humble Ohio with nothing more then some great plot bunnies for her next novel.<br />
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When all else fails in life, turn to plotting. It definitely helps. I covered some serious outlining and worked out the major key points for my next novel. And I guess thanks to the lack of sex, I was able to fantasies about new things to use for my characters. So when life gives you lemons, turn them into a juicy love scene!Evelyn Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432404068639359802noreply@blogger.com0