Rainbow Snippets – 10.11.18

If you’re new to Rainbow Snippets, it’s a Facebook group where authors of LGBTQ fiction post a six-sentence snippet (or there abouts) of a WIP, a published story, or a recommendation, every weekend. You can see all the snippets here.

This week…a sneaky cover reveal for the Christmas novella coming soon, and a snippet featuring some brotherly…encouragement.

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“Oh my god,” Chase whispered. “It’s happening again. What has gotten into you two?”

Kyle didn’t smile but splayed his hands on the table as he settled into his chair. “All I’m saying is you’re home now. It was only ever baseball that was keeping you two apart and now that your life has taken a different turn—I just think it’s about time you two found a bit of happiness, is all.”

Chase had to catch his breath. “It’s been almost six years. You can’t possibly think—”

“How many people have you dated in the last six years, Chase?” Tyler asked before stuffing his mouth full of waffle.

Chase blustered, then bit out, “Some. Plenty, actually.”

Kyle shook his finger without raising his hand from the table. “Not slept with. Dated.”

There was a snort from the chair next to him and Justin gazed up at him, clutching his invisible pearls. “Are you a hoe, Uncle Chase?”

Chase scowled at him and bumped him with his shoulder. “Shut up and eat your waffle.”

 


Tinsel Fixes Everything

They say you never get over your first love.

After a meteoric rise to baseball stardom, Chase Meadow’s dream is cut short and he’s back home for good, helping his brothers run the family bar while he finds his feet. Plenty of things have changed since he left for college. Although one thing he recognizes right away is Joel Levine.

From setting eyes on the skinny, stammering teen their first day of high school, until reluctantly parting five years later, the two of them had been inseparable. And now, Joel is definitely someone not easily forgotten.

But as Chase settles back into home town life, he finds that under the superficial differences—the leather jacket and tattoos—Joel is still the same person he fell for when they were fifteen. While they’re both older and wiser, Chase never stopped loving Joel. And as Christmas rolls closer, Chase starts to think that maybe Joel never stopped loving him either.

They say you never get over your first love.
Some people don’t have to.

 

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Rainbow Snippets – 04.02.18

If you’re new to Rainbow Snippets, it’s a Facebook group where authors of LGBTQ fiction post a six-sentence snippet of a WIP, a published story, or a recommendation, every weekend. You can see all the snippets here.

Today’s snippet…something from the new free WIP project posting now — 72 seasons. Click here for details.

******

“This your place?”

Cal was a little flattered that the guy thought he could afford somewhere so expensive and smiled to himself at the compliment. That and the fact his date’s voice was warm and deep and genuinely curious. Unfortunately for him, all Cal said was, “It is for the next hour. You wanna a drink?”

The guy shook his head. “No, I—No, thank you.” He’d slipped off his outer layers and was clutching them to his chest as he stood in the center of the open plan space. There was something totally adorable about it, something deliciously innocent and awkward and Cal prayed to god it wasn’t an act and that the guy wouldn’t turn out to be a serial killer.

WIP – 72 seasons

I’m so excited to start this project today. I think a lot of it is being nervous as I have no idea how it’s going to work out or if I’m going to be able to pull it off. But also, I’ve never tried writing anything in quite this way before, so it’s going to be interesting for me to see how the story is going to develop.

Anyway, I thought I’d leave some info here about my plans and what you’ll be getting this year…and why.

Read More…

Rainbow Snippets – 21.01.18

A little something from a new project I’m starting in a couple of weeks — 72 Seasons

Two men. Neither is exactly as they seem. It takes a year for both of them to realize who they really are and what they really want.
One year. 72 encounters. A work in progress.

If you’d like to find out more you can join my Facebook Readers group.

If you’re new to Rainbow Snippets, it’s a Facebook group where authors of LGBTQ fiction post a six-sentence snippet of a WIP, a published story, or a recommendation, every weekend. You can see all the snippets here.

“Cal reached out, taking one of Ben’s hands that were clenched at his side, and gently worked his fingers into the fist that immediately opened like a flower. Cal liked the feel of them immediately. The thick fingers were calloused and rough, a stark contrast to his own slender, soft ones. He wanted to ask if Ben was in construction, a carpenter maybe, but erred on the side of something safer as he drew Ben towards the large leather couch. “Come on. Come sit with me. We can start with something easy. I meant what I said y’know?” He ducked his head and succeeded in catching Ben’s reluctant eye. “I’ll take very good care of you. We’ll go slow. How does that sound?”
Ben nodded. It was slight at first then more assertive. “Slow sounds good.””

Rainbow Snippets – 24.04.16

Sunday, Maybe Monday

Rainbow Snippet time! If you’re new to Rainbow Snippets, it’s a Facebook group where authors of LGBTQ fiction post a six-sentence snippet of a WIP, a published story, or a recommendation, every weekend. You can see all the snippets here.

More from the WIP. Time is passing, and the boys are starting to figure each other out.

…..

“Tell me how you hurt your hand again?” Jordan gave him a sly smile, and raised his eyebrows at the mark on the wall.

“Arm wrestling Karen.” When Jordan had asked him back at the hospital why his hand was strapped, Adam had come up with some other bullshit excuse. He hoped this one would get a smile, which it did. “Hey, she’s stronger than she looks.”

Jordan huffed out a laugh, and started to awkwardly scoot back on the bed, his eyes flitting around the room at the entirety of his life piled in black garbage bags.

Rainbow Snippet – 16.04.16

Sunday, Maybe Monday

Rainbow Snippet time! If you’re new to Rainbow Snippets, it’s a Facebook group where authors of LGBTQ fiction post a six-sentence snippet of a WIP, a published story, or a recommendation, every weekend. You can see all the snippets here.

A little more from Sunday, Maybe Monday, and Adam should have maybe asked this question about twenty minutes earlier, if you know what I mean : )

…..

Something about Jordan’s body language changes in a way Adam doesn’t quite expect. He glances up to find a sheepish look on Jordan’s face, and a shiver of worry passes through him. “Please tell me you’re over twenty-one.”

Jordan swallows hard. “I’ll be twenty in a few weeks.” There’s an uptick at the end of the sentence that makes the statement sound like a question, and Jordan sound his age.

Groaning, Adam buries his face in his hands.

Rainbow Snippet – 09.04.16

Sunday, Maybe Monday

Rainbow Snippet time! If you’re new to Rainbow Snippets, it’s a Facebook group where authors of LGBTQ fiction post a six-sentence snippet of a WIP, a published story, or a recommendation, every weekend. You can see all the snippets here.

Today’s snippet is a little something from a short/novella I’m working on at the moment. One day, I’ll write a character that isn’t broken…honest.

…..

What really caught Adam’s eye though, were the deep purple and green bruises on Jordan’s forearm. Jordan quickly stowed his coat on the hook where his backpack was already hanging, hurrying to roll down his cuffs to hide the marks. He buttoned them at the wrists, as he turned.

“You want some ice for that?”

Jordan looked up, startled. But finding Adam’s face neutral, without blame or pity, he swallowed hard, and shook his head. “They…they don’t hurt or anything.”

Adam shrugged and went back to unpacking, laying trays of tomatoes on the countertop side-by-side, feeling strangely proud of the way he was able to act like Jordan’s injuries were nothing, when, inside, he was boiling with vengeful rage.

Rainbow Snippet – 19.03.16

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Rainbow Snippet is brought to you today by the letters W, I and P, and the number, 9. Very early days with this one. See all of the other snippets on the Facebook page.

…..

Drew was sitting on a gurney in one of the less than private bays in the ER when he heard Adrian’s frantic voice from behind the thin blue curtain.

“You called him?” Drew did his best to glare at the lieutenant who had stood tight jawed in the corner since they brought Drew in.

Eric shook his head and glowered at the sound of Adrian yelling, as if he thought his stare could penetrate the material surrounding the bed. “No. No, I did not.”

Drew sighed, then winced at the twinge in his rib cage. “Better get this over with then.” He matched the infuriated look Eric shot him with one of his own. “You know damned well, he’s only going to keep yelling.”

Rainbow Snippets – 20.02.16

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Where does the time go! Snippets are here again. Find all of them on the Facebook page. I’m cheating a bit today, a little more than six sentences, but I didn’t want to slice up this exchange. From the current WIP x

…..

“Thank you.”

Caleb shrugged and pulled his hat on. Jacob was having none of it though. “I mean it. Thank you for letting me stay. You know you don’t have to.”

Caleb paused as he stepped down into the street, his boots crunching on the frozen mud. “There’s some bad weather coming. Turning you out in it wouldn’t do either of us any good. I’d only worry that you’d be back…stealing my chickens.”

Jacob cracked a smile. “I would never steal chickens from you. Your horse, sure, but never chickens.”

Rainbow Snippets – 30.01.16

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So, if you’re not already aware of this event, every weekend a bunch of authors get together to celebrate LGBTQ fiction by posting six sentences of their work, whether it be published, work in progress, or a little bit of something that won’t ever come to anything. It’s only six sentences to represent the colors on the Pride flag, and just on Saturday and Sunday…except it isn’t. People post a little thing, mostly at the weekend but often stuff pops up during the week too. So do drop by and check out the post for this weekend, or any past weekends on the Facebook page.

My snippet this week is a little something from the Old West shifter fic I’m working on. I’m hoping to get the first draft done by the end of next month…although the rate I’m going right now, it might be next year. Keep your fingers crossed for me! x

…..

Jacob stood in the doorway, fidgeting with the roll of fabric in his hands, his head bowed. Caleb felt a sudden pang of emotion when he realized Jacob was holding the bloody, tattered remains of the pants he had been wearing the day before. Caleb rose to his feet, and walked cautiously over to him.

Reaching out, Caleb took hold of the bundle, and drew it gently out of Jacob’s reluctant hands. He walked back to the fire and tossed the fabric casually onto the embers. “Would you like some more coffee? And food? There’s eggs and ham, if you’d like?”

Jacob’s eyes were fixated on the rising flames for a moment, before he took a deep breath and nodded. “That would be…thank you. If it’s not too much trouble.”

Rainbow Snippet – 23.01.16

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This week’s six sentence snippet is from the new WIP with the horrible working title of Little Werewolf House. Don’t forget to check out the other snippets on the Facebook page and you can read a little more about Caleb and Jacob here

…..

Jacob didn’t speak until Caleb was laying the clothes out on the bed. “Is it just you here alone, Alpha?”

Caleb started at the form of address, shocked at the heat that flared in his belly, more than the way his wolf ached to hear it.

He coughed, and stuttered out, “I…yes. Yes, it’s just me.” He felt a pang of sadness at having to admit the words aloud, but added, with a undertone of warning in his voice, “And don’t call me that. Caleb is fine”

Rainbow Snippets – 6.12.15

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I joined a new Facebook group, Rainbow Snippets, where authors can post a six sentence snippet of an existing work or wip or whatever, every weekend.

Turns out it’s blummin’ hard to pick something! It appears I write in phrases that are seven sentences long…which is interesting.

Today’s snippet is from Stumble Forward, which I’m still in the process of editing.

…..

Jack looked up at him, eyes soft and watery, his mouth moving like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Alec sat carefully on the bed next to him, peeled the fingers off his skin, and held Jack’s big hand between his two.

Jack looked like he might cry and when he spoke his voice was cracked and broken with tears. “I’m sorry. Don’t hate me…I’m so sorry.”

The tone of his words hit Alec in the chest, as real as a fist but he smiled softly, squeezed Jack’s hand and laid it on his bare chest, pulling the sheet up to cover it and whispered, “I don’t, and I know you are. I’m sorry too.” But Jack’s breath was already rasping into a snore, or at least verging on one, and the apology never reached him.

WIP – Caleb

“The closer he got, the harder his heart pounded. It had been so long since he’d been close to another of his kind, the effect it was having on his wolf was almost too strong for him to bear. It was hard to get a good look at the person on the wagon, being wrapped in at least two blankets that covered everything but his face. And even that was obscured by the way his head lolled on his chest.

Caleb was surprised to find the boy lashed to the seat with a rope. The sheriff saw the look on his face and placated him, explaining, “He couldn’t sit upright unaided when we left, but he made it clear he didn’t want to get in the back of the wagon.”

Caleb grunted, accepting the explanation, but angrily attacked the knots holding the boy there all the same. When the last one came free, the boy toppled sideways into Caleb’s arms. Caleb caught him easily and was disturbed that the dead weight of him felt so light, despite the length of his limbs. Gathering him into his arms like a child, he started towards the cabin, with the Sheriff striding ahead to get the door.

For a moment, Caleb could have sworn that he felt a soft, warm breath on his neck, and a murmured, “Alpha,” but it seemed unlikely, even though his wolf gave a long deep sigh and curled around the imagined word like it was a warming fire.”

Excerpt from the wip currently known as Little Werewolf House

Image credit: Becky – refugeridge.org

News – As One Door Closes…

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So, the end-of-December deadline for Black Bird has been scrapped for reasons beyond my control, and I have to say that after the initial discomfort of having to change my plans, I’m glad the pressure is off and I can now spend some quality time with the boys instead of having to rush it.

It does also mean that I now have the opportunity to write other things, which is pretty damn exciting.

I have some wips that I should really pay some attention to.

My student/lecturer thing needs updating, although that’s really a case of sitting down with a few hours in front of me and typing. The joy of freeform.

My Werewolf thing, on the other hand, is stumping me a little. The next chapter has to bridge between two plot points, and right now I have no idea how to do that. I need to figure out what’s going on with those guys before I should even contemplate writing anything…but before the subscribers eat me alive : /

In addition to those puppies, I saw this thing on Facebook, and though I don’t have an idea right now, the plot bunnies are restless, so we know how that goes.

And, I really enjoyed writing the little short for Halloween, so was hoping to get some time to write something for the Festive Season…which I will now have time to do! Too!

So, that’s the state I’m in.

If you have any thoughts or prompts of what I should be doing with my writing time, do let me know.

Also, let me know if you have any tips about choosing what to write next. Do you flip a coin? Interpret the viscera of sacrificial plot bunnies? Or line ideas up, spin three times with your eyes closed, and write which ever one you stick a pin in?

Actually, I like the idea of that last one…hmmmm

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