Today is my day at Slash & Burn. Drop by to visit while I ramble out a mid-year writing update…
Ciao,
Pia
Category Archives: Publishing
Hot July Days (AKA Free Reads!)
How would you like two to three free stories every day in July (and probably well into August)?
Okay, okay, I’m not really waiting for your answer because who wouldn’t?
Nope, no catch. No hidden fees. Nothing more than over 100 free stories written by the authors of the M/M Romance group over on GoodReads.com. These free stories are available to read for any member of the group, and you only have to like reading M/M stories to join (oh, and verify you’re at least 18 years old). Some time later this year, the stories will be released as an e-book anthology, but why wait?
Join the M/M Romance group by clicking HERE, and then clicking Join Group.
I suspect some of you are wondering why all of these authors would be giving away free stories. Everyone has their own reason for participating, but overall, the group members are a lot of fun, and the author members enjoy giving back to the community that supports them. The theme for this project is the group’s new slogan:
Don’t Read In The Closet.
Stories of coming out in love, being out in love and committing out in love.
Each freebie story started with a photo and a Dear Author letter written by a reader member. Authors snagged photos/letters on a first come first write basis, writing stories from 5k to 25k (ish) and from contemporary to paranormal and more.
Once a member, you can view the photos, letters, and stories HERE. I shouldn’t have to warn you that the stories may be NSFW, but also be aware that the photos, too, might be a bit racy for several of the story threads.
The stories will be posted starting July 1st, and then every day thereafter until every story has been shared. There will be no schedule of authors, because we want readers to try new authors as well as their favorites, so please drop by daily (or as often as you can) to check out these great stories.
The thread for my story is HERE. Check out the photo, reader’s letter, and then return soon to read the story. Some great names are participating in this summer fun.
Happy reading, cari miei, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy some amazing stories.
Ciao,
Pia Veleno
http://piaveleno.com/
Have a story to sell? Tweet it!
Hey writers! All of you – published or unpublished, listen up.
As you probably know, I wet my pants with excitement when Loose Id bought my latest story. Since we signed the contract, I’ve had a wonderful experience with a talented editor and helpful, friendly staff.
Not to mention — oops, but I will anyway — virtual elbow rubbing with some of my favorite authors.
No, wait, this post isn’t about getting all fangirl, so I’ll get back to the point. If you’ve ever considered writing for Loose Id, you will have a chance to pitch to an editor Wednesday on Twitter. Yes, that’s right. You’ll have the span of ONE tweet, to garner interest in your baby. If your tweet hits the mark, you’ll get an invitation to submit a partial manuscript. How cool is that?
Several LI editors will be available for two Twitterpitch sessions — one from noon to 1pm Eastern time and the second from 9pm to 10pm Eastern time. All you need to do is tweet your pitch with the hashtag #twitpitch so they can find it.
Know someone who might be interested? Forward this along.
I can’t wait to see all the #twitpitch tweets tomorrow!
Ciao,
Pia Veleno
http://piaveleno.com
Under Contract: Summer Lust
This weekend I finished the first round of edits on Summer Lust, my first Loose Id story. Unofficially, I’m hoping for a late summer release date, but I’ll share more once I know for sure.
Working (aka unedited rough draft) blurb:
Ready for change, Tyler Pierce has the whole summer ahead of him when he flies to Sand Piper Beach to turn over a new leaf. Sun, swimming, exercise, he’d return home a new man, sexy and buff. Best of all, several states away from home and college, no one but his dad knows him, so he can muddle through the challenges of getting fit without friends laughing at him.
During his first visit to the fitness center, Tyler meets the perfectly muscled and fit Cody Dawson, fitness instructor and sexy gay man. Not only does Cody help Tyler learn how to use the strength training equipment, but he crashes through Tyler’s fantasies to lure him into bed.
Just a passing fling, Tyler decides. Cody, after all, could get any number of better looking men without even trying. Besides, the summer doesn’t last forever and, too soon, Tyler will return to campus and Cody’s ex will have an unhindered shot at winning him back.
A summer fling can grow into something more, but it’s up to Tyler to recognize if it’s true love or just heated summer lust.
I’ve been warned that I’d hate my editor by the time it was all done,(LI has a reputation for ruthless editing, and by that, I mean, putting out a damn good product) but honestly, my editor is challenging me to write better in a subtle but firm way. I was much more frustrated with the rejection letters that said (my translation) “It’s not bad, but we’d like to see X, Y, and Z. If you do that, we’d reconsider.” I got a couple of those before they offered the contract, so now (with a contract signed) I’m much more confident about the work I’m doing on the story, and I’m enjoying the process of getting to the finished product.
While I’m waiting for the next round of edits, I’ll be working on a cowboy story and/or a musician story (not CRANK, but a different musician). The sequel to Man Whore is not off the books, but it is on hiatus until Summer Lust is out of my hands.
Enough with the updates. I have a CRANK chapter to edit and post.
Happy Mother’s Day, dear Readers.
Ciao,
Pia Veleno
On Not Writing
There are a few things that I want to blog about, but those topics are darting around in my mind like hummingbirds on a blend of acid, speed, and high quality Jamaican coffee. Another time perhaps, once they’ve settled into coherency.
For now, I’m half-heartedly dragging myself out of the anti-writing funk that I’d been blaming on winter. Shorter days always kill my energy and creativity levels, but the days are now long enough for me to sneak out for runs after work, so I no longer have that excuse. I won’t call it writer’s block, because I don’t believe in that nonsense. I’m simply not focused and not working hard enough on getting that back. I think about it, but as any published writer will tell you, thinking about publishing and getting through all the steps of writing, editing, and revising are two very different beasts.
I still have time, but I suspect I’m going to miss the anthology call for the gay cowboys. I have six weeks, but despite the full synopsis in my head, I’ve managed to type less than 6k words of a 20k story. Yep, that’s how little focus I have.
But wait, I’m not blogging about this for sympathy, and I’m certainly not whining. Much of it comes down to two things.
One, my paying job is in the investments industry and thus tax season is crazy with “expected overtime” and anxious clients demanding to know why we reported what we did on their tax forms. It’s mentally draining, but it pays the bills.
Second, I’ve been dwelling a lot on publishing houses and the way they do things. This is one of those hummingbirds that I want to let free, but I’m not ready to blog about it just yet. With Summer Lust under contract with Loose Id, I’ve already seen some differences between Silver Publishing and Loose Id. Of course, I expected some, especially after what LI expected of me before offering a contract, and it’s not all one-sided either. Hence the need to sort it all out before diving into it further.
With so many bloggers and forums spouting off about e-publishers, and building my own experiences now, I start to dwell on good homes for my stories while I’m trying to write them. It’s very distracting, even though I have a plan. Even though I fully intend to finish the Personal Demons series for Silver and I fully intend to submit a group of contemporary stories to LI. Even though my plan hasn’t changed since I first signed Fallen, I find the entire matter distracting.
Enough excuses. I’m going to go for a run – the first all week after tearing up my calves pushing too hard with a modified stride – and yes, this helps the writing (the writing, not the injury). My mind focuses on stride, breathing, pace, and cars, but underneath all of that, subtle gears twist and grind laying out upcoming scenes and throwing kinks into the works. Not kinky kinks, dear readers, but those awful things that writers like to do to torment their characters. If I have to work this hard to get them to you, then they’re going to work damn hard for their happily ever after.
Ciao,
Pia Veleno
PS ~ Happy, happy birthday to my Dad. He insists he doesn’t celebrate such things, but I still do. Happy birthday Dad! I’m looking forward to our visit on Easter. Remember that framed needlepoint you always had in your office? I used to think they got your birthday wrong. How appropriate that, with your love of numbers, you were born the day after tax day. I love you!
Excerpt: Man Whore
Chapter 1
Morgan Desrosier slipped through the heavy black door sporting the name HIM in two-inch, white chipped letters above the handle: the only identifier that anything existed beyond its walls. As he strutted up to the bar, the bartender wrapped up his conversation with current customers and poured a glass of whiskey, leaving it in front of Morgan as his gaze circled the crowd.
“Slow for a Thursday,” the bartender said.
“Very,” Morgan agreed. Men mixed and milled about, sure, but none of the bodies elicited interest from his. Several men looked him over. Morgan discounted their hungry stares. He dressed to draw attention— fishnet crawled down his arms peeking out from beneath the elbow-length sleeves of his charcoal tee, black jeans with green-stitched seams, sized snug enough to leave little to the imagination, black plastic hoops in his ears matched the impressions under his shirt of little circles piercing his nipples. To complete the look, his chestnut brown hair sported random black and green tips. He lined his eyes the same, black smudges hugging crisp, green lines, colored around emerald eyes openly judging any man bold enough to meet them.
After draining his drink, Morgan wove through the bodies on the dance floor, avoiding groping hands until he reached his intended marks. Yes, plural. The twins turned in unison, beaming wide smiles of perfect white teeth at him.
“Our favorite slut,” said Cayne. Or, maybe, that was Layne.
“Looking for company?” asked Layne. Or maybe Cayne.
They preferred the mystery and Morgan couldn’t be bothered to unravel it. To him, they were one. To him, they were The Twins. He didn’t bother trying to guess which one was Layne and which was Cayne because, when he did, he inevitably guessed wrong. His hips swung as he approached, dancing himself between them. Their hands welcomed him, one twin wrapping his arms around Morgan’s waist while the other draped fingers around the back of his neck, tickling and teasing.
“You know I’m always looking for company,” Morgan said.
Exactly the same, he didn’t care if the lips pressing to the back of his neck belonged to Layne or Cayne. Each had thick, sandy brown hair that fell over his face as if playing a game of hide-and-seek, and the most unusual amber eyes with outer edges of muted green. They dressed anywhere from conservative and casual to seductive to purely flamboyant. Tonight, they wore ripped Levi’s and maroon shirts with the buttons separated to their navels. Morgan, with one arm around the shoulders in front of him, slipped his free hand down a bare, smooth chest.
The twin tilted his head, his hair falling over his eyes as they reflected mischief hidden in his thoughts. With a smile he said, “Take us home, M.”
“You know my rule.”
“And you know ours.” The whispered words eddied around his ear and then dove down to his balls.
“Once,” Morgan said.
“Once,” they agreed in unison.
“And you won’t be weird about it later.”
The twins chuckled. The one behind him pressed his hips to Morgan’s ass while his brother grinded against him from the front. “We promise,” said Cayne. Or maybe Layne. “It won’t ruin our friendship.”
“Just play,” said the other. “Just pleasure. Just once.”
“Unless you request more.”
Morgan laughed. “Cocky fuckers.”
“Yes,” purred Layne. Or maybe Cayne.
“We know what you like, and we know what we like.” The other gave him a faux coy wink.
“And that,” said the first, “is dancing with you, M.”
“And teasing me,” Morgan added.
“No teasing.” The tongue wet his ear before continuing with words. “Promises.”
Morgan dropped his hands to the waist in front of him and yanked the man closer. His response was clear and firm in his pants. The twin nodded. On Morgan’s shoulder, he felt the other nod in reply. “Oh boy, what did I just agree to?” Morgan asked.
“Every man’s wet dream,” answered the tongue in his ear. “Twins in his bed.”
–
For a note on Cayne and Layne, see my blog post “Double Trouble”.
To purchase MAN WHORE, visit Silver Publishing.
Thanks for reading!
Ciao,
Pia Veleno
Now Available: Bound By Love
New release from Silver Publishing!
Read about a naughty angel, a love-struck demon, and at least one wingasm in Bound By Love. My Valentine’s Day short story is now available for download from Silver Publishing by clicking the sexy book cover.
Read chapter one here: Excerpt
Hell is as dangerous and fearsome as mortals are led to believe, which is why Beliaz left it behind to make a home on earth with a fallen angel named Eden. When Bel forges a ring to bind Eden to him forever, Hell has other plans for them both.
Excerpt: Bound By Love
Recently, I challenged myself to write a holiday story. After writing Bound By Love, I couldn’t remember why I avoided them. In fact, Bel and Eden haven’t been silent since.
Enjoy this free excerpt (aka Chapter One). For the entire story, there will be a pre-order link at the bottom. Silver Publishing will be releasing Bound By Love next Saturday (February 12th) for Valentine’s Day.
Blurb:
Hell is as dangerous and fearsome as mortals are led to believe, which is why Beliaz left it behind to make a home on earth with a fallen angel named Eden. When Bel forges a ring to bind Eden to him forever, Hell has other plans for them both.
Excerpt:
Bel carried a platter of cookies and milk into the living room. He set the tray on the coffee table and then crossed his arms over his broad chest. He silently admired the way Eden moved as he strung tinsel over a fresh-cut tree with tiny blinking lights. Despite Eden’s flowing, white poet’s shirt and loose-fitting blue jeans, Bel pictured his sinewy muscles flexing like a snake dancing in a mesmerizing sway. Long hair, the blue of a cop’s uniform, hung down to his waist. The color matched the tint of Eden’s wings, currently hidden in gill-like sheaths along his shoulder blades. Humming a Christmas tune, Eden tugged a clump of tinsel apart and tossed several strands onto higher branches.
“I have to admit it,” Bel said. “Your holiday cheer is starting to get to me.”
Eden turned and flung tinsel over Bel and then bounced up on his toes to kiss the man’s lips. “I love the holidays. Every one. Christmas, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving.” He lowered his eyes and smiled shyly. “I’m especially looking forward to Valentine’s Day.”
Bel wrapped his arms around Eden and, when he pulled him close, Eden nuzzled his neck. “I thought Christmas would be your favorite,” Bel said.
Eden reached up and ran his slender fingers through Bel’s thick, dark curls. “I love you, and Valentine’s Day is the holiday for lovers.”
Bel’s violet eyes swirled with hints of black and a low growl slipped from his throat. Eden, unflustered by those minor demonic habits, continued to exploit Bel’s love of being touched. He traced Bel’s square jaw with one fingertip until Bel turned his face into the touch, sucking the finger between his lips. Eden kissed his stubbled cheeks, playfully avoiding Bel’s mouth while his pale hands roamed Bel’s hard, muscular body.
“You’re never going to finish decorating if you keep that up.” Bel tightened his hold on the angel as Eden tried to pull away. “I’m okay with that,” he added.
Eden gave him one more kiss, its chasteness refuting Bel, but the playful smile that followed reminded him he’d have Eden naked by the end of the night. The angel had a surprisingly high sex drive. “What are you smirking at?” Eden asked. The way he diverted his gaze back to the tree, Bel suspected Eden knew exactly what he’d been thinking.
Bel tightened his embrace and said, “I want you to open a present.” He enjoyed the feel of his body wrapped around Eden’s seemingly delicate form. His lover was anything but fragile, no matter how much he looked like a fine china doll.
Eden gave him a playful shove and an incredulous look. “You can’t wait until tomorrow?”
“I can, but I want to give you your gift now.” Bel took Eden’s hand and dropped down to his knees in front of the tree. Once Eden joined him on the floor, they exchanged gifts wrapped in shiny and colorful paper with bright ribbons and machine-made bows.
“Open it,” Eden said. His gift, wrapped in blue metallic paper with a bow that had long streamers curling down one side, rested in Bel’s lap. “You first, since you’re so impatient.”
Bel couldn’t help but smile. It had taken time to draw the angel out of his shell, so every tease and flirtation was precious to him. He tore away the paper and with a loud “Yes!” he flipped the box over in his hands, his fingers drawing out into claws and digging into the cardboard. “You said no, but I had hoped you didn’t mean it.” Bel glanced up from the PlayStation box with a wicked fanged grin. Excitement tended to shake his willpower when it came to resisting the shift to demon form, but Eden understood, so for once he didn’t fight it quite as hard as he’d like to. “I believed you,” Bel said. “Which makes this so much cooler. I thought your kind couldn’t lie.”
With a blush, Eden lowered his head but raised his eyes to meet Bel’s. The half-demon’s fangs had retracted and his fingers returned to normal humanoid shape. “I didn’t lie,” Eden said, “I merely avoided the truth so that I could surprise you.”
“Open mine, my light.” Bel’s eyes momentarily glowed with the purple-black whorls of shadowfire before settling to his usual shade of violet.
Eden nodded, his long, blue hair falling over his face as he turned a small box between his fingers. It fit in the palm of his hand and sported a bright red ribbon wrapped around a miniature candy cane. The tag read, “For my guiding light.” Eden had little internal light since his
Fall, but to the demon half-breed, Eden was a beacon in a world overrun with outcast demons and humans seeking their sick kind of life. Even Fallen, the angel was stronger than most Bel had met in his time on Earth’s surface.
As Eden carefully peeled shiny white paper from the tiny box, Bel inched closer, leaning against Eden’s shoulder, his gaze fixed on the package in the angel’s hands. “Open it,” he whispered fervently.
“I am.” Eden smiled at his lover’s glee.
As the paper fell away from a leather-bound box with miniscule gold hinges, Bel sat up and snatched the box from Eden’s fingers. He opened it, and then turned it so Eden could see. Even Bel’s excitement didn’t shine in his eyes as much as the slivers of brightly colored gems decorating a wide gold band displayed on a bed of the softest scrap of cloth he could find.
Eden’s mouth fell open. He worked his lips, but couldn’t form the words.
“I love you, Eden. We may not be able to do the human thing and get married, but I want you to wear my ring as the love of my life.”
“Bel… That’s…” Eden gulped and licked his lips. “It is beautiful.”
“Marry me, my guiding light.” Bel took the ring from the box and lifted Eden’s hand, sliding the cold metal around the angel’s finger. A perfect fit.
“We can’t.”
“I know, but it only matters to us. We’ll know what it means even if the humans in this area don’t understand two men in love.”
Eden stared at the ring. The gems glowed with a life of their own —not life, magic— in shades of red, blue, and green, twinkling like the lights on the tree beside them. “I mean, we can’t. I can’t accept this, Bel. I just… I’m sorry, I can’t.” He tugged the ring off and shoved it back in Bel’s
hand. When he met Eden’s eyes, the pain sank into Bel’s heart like a heated dagger. He didn’t expect the angel to understand Hell’s customs, but clearly, Eden thought Bel meant the ring as its original purpose and not—
“Eden, wait. Let me explain.”
Eden stumbled to his feet. Fat tears watered his eyes. He stumbled out of the room and out of the house before Bel could clarify his intentions.
~*~*~*~
Bound by Love will be released by Silver Publishing on February 12, 2011. For pre-order information click HERE.
~*~*~*~
New Contract!
It’s official. I suppose if anyone tried to figure it out, they would’ve. I wasn’t exactly subtle, but hey, I was (am) excited.
Call me superstitious, but I don’t like to announce a book contract based on just the acceptance email. Sure, it’s pretty much a done deal then, but any number of things could change – maybe I don’t like the contract terms, or snail mail loses the paperwork, or… *gasp* they change their mind. Okay, maybe not the last one, but like I said, call me superstitious.
Are you asking yet?
Who is it? What’s getting published? Stop effin’ teasing me Pia!
After a couple of rounds of rejections with revision suggestions, Loose Id has made an offer for Summer Lust. I swung back and forth between frustration that it wasn’t good enough and elation that the editor would give me personal feedback to bring the story up to their standards. I’m glad I stuck it out and didn’t like doubt win. They were great suggestions, and I haven’t made a change that I didn’t like.
An official release date is yet to come, but the target is this summer. The next revision and line edits will delay my work on the sequel to Man Whore but that story is making me pull teeth to get words out anyway. A break may very well be what I need to let the subconscious muck around with it.
I am thrilled to be accepted by Loose Id. Some of my favorite M/M authors publish there, and I’m honored to be a part of that family. If you hear any fangirl squeals, it’s because I’m chatting with the minds that created some damn fine pretty gay boys.
Ciao,
Pia
New Cover Art and a Print Release!
Wow! I am so excited to show off my new art for Man Whore, the first in the Personal Demons paranormal series. Reese Dante asked a bunch of questions and let me see the art through its stages to make sure everything came out just right. She is an amazing artist! Morgan is a, shall we say, unique person, and she hit every detail. Dare I say she enjoyed the challenge? Special thanks to Reese for this beautiful work! (A link from my Bookshelf and a blog announcement will let you know as soon as pre-orders are available.)
In other news, Fallen will be available in print starting next Saturday! (I’ll share a little secret. Reese is very excited to have her first angel in print, so drop on by Silver Publishing’s website and pick up your copy first!) I am thrilled with this announcement as I hadn’t expected it to go to print until I wrote Bran’s story, so they could release as one volume.
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Now Available!
Make You Sweat
Now Available in Audio!
Now Available!
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