Thursday, January 31, 2013

Welcome author Julie Lynn Hayes

I'd like to give a warm welcome to Julie Lynn Hayes.   Please make her feel at home and let's learn more about her book "Revelations."


Blurb:
Judas has never been very popular, not in any incarnation that he and Jesus and the others have lived through. But he doesn't care about that. All he cares about is following the instructions of God as set forth in the script that they follow. And Jesus. For Judas has secretly loved the son of God for over two thousand years. 
But now he decides that enough is enough, and he's tired of watching Jesus die far too early, and for what? This time Judas is determined to see that Jesus lives a long and happy life, no matter what price he has to pay to accomplish it...no matter if he has to make a deal with the devil himself. 
Revelations is a story of what could be, told by those who play it out, time after time after time, unbeknownst to the rest of mankind.  They've come back again, for yet another round.  But this time is going to be different.  

Excerpt:
Prologue: God
            It's not always easy to sit on the sidelines and watch what is happening, to resist the urge to intervene in his best interest.  My son's that is. Jesus. But I do so, because I know it's for his own good.  As well as for the good of mankind. I can't let my concerns as his father override my vested interest in the fate of man. But sometimes that is easier said than done.
            This morning I am not alone. Someone else is with me, someone with his own agenda, although we are not as diametrically opposed as some would imagine us to be. Good and evil aren't the simplistic concepts some would portray them as being—there are more grey areas there than you might think. And rightly so.
            He smirks. Too much for my taste, I have to admit, but sometimes he does have his moments, and he too has a part to play in what is happening in the world of men. Someone needs to fill the role of the villain, after all.
            The stage is being set for the third act, the scripts have been handed round, and the actors are taking their places. Will this time end any differently than the others? That depends on my son, on Jesus. I'm thinking this will be the time when he'll make the change.
            "He'll change nothing," Lucifer interjects, although I've asked him nothing, certainly not inquired as to his opinion. 
            I glance at him. He's dressed to within an inch of his life, and wears the most ridiculous sunglasses I've ever seen. I decide not to comment on his fashion sense. "I think he might, this time. I think he's ready for change."
            Lucifer snorts. "It's been two thousand years, and neither one has exactly caught on yet. Why should this time be any different?"
            "Care to put your money where your mouth is?"
            He eyes me carefully. "I would, but you see you have this whole mystic omnipotent God thing going on. Personally, I don't care for those odds."
            I arch an eyebrow. "I may be omnipotent, but Jesus does have free will  and he does possess the ability to make his own decisions. You think I'd stack the deck in my son's favor? Just to win a bet with you?"
            "Let's say I'm taking no chances." He smiles. "Tell you what, though—give me free rein.  Let me do what I want, and you not say anything or do anything to interfere with me? As far as they're concerned, that is."
            I open my mouth to object, he hastily interjects. "No killing, I swear to it."
            That's better. I still have some measure of control over the serpent.
            "So be it." I agree, turning my attention back to where it had been, to my son.  I'm smirking now. Openly.
            O ye of little faith, watch and learn.
The Making of Revelations: How it came to be

The idea was born many years ago. Over forty, actually. When I was a teenager. Back then, it didn’t have a name, and it had no real shape. But I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to tell the story of Judas Iscariot. The trouble was I didn’t know how.

What drew me to Judas, is probably what you’re asking yourself, and that’s a valid question. Ask anyone else who Judas is and you’ll get answers that are probably all variations on a theme of betrayal. I’m not sure exactly when I began to question that, but I do know that when I saw Jesus Christ Superstar performed live back in 1971 (or thereabouts), I had an epiphany regarding him. I saw him, not as the bad guy as often portrayed, but someone who not only believed in Jesus but was willing to do what he needed him to do. For without Judas’ “betrayal” of Jesus, the story would not have worked out the way it did. It needed to happen that way. And if you read the Gospel of Judas, he was the only apostle who trusted Jesus enough to do that for him. Gives one food for thought, doesn’t it?

Very interesting, but where’s the story, I wondered. Was I going to take an historical perspective, research the man and his life? Easier said than done, especially back then. We had no Internet. We didn’t even have computers. Research was all done through books. Libraries had card catalogs, a far cry from today when you can log onto your library website and browse their selection, then request what you want. So I looked and I found bupkus (nothing). I had the Bible, of course, but it tends to be limited on information, as well as a bit biased.

So nothing was written, and I let it go, as my thoughts formulated in the back of my head. In the meantime, I was reading, watching… and learning. King of Kings was my first Biblical movie, and I loved it. Jeffrey Hunter’s portrayal of Jesus is very moving, and I was very enamored of the film. Jesus Christ Superstar – I think I know all the words, I’ve listened so many times. I liked the stage version, but the first film not so much.

Besides watching these things and others, I read. Christopher Moore’s Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal. What a fabulous book! I loved it! So much I bought the special edition. And I read The Gospel of Judas! Forty years ago I’d never heard of such a thing. Of course I read the DaVinci Code, and watched the movie. And everything began to percolate inside my head…

Then one day it happened. Judas spoke to me, for the first time. And I simply began to write it down, not knowing what he might say, or where his story might lead. It turned out to be quite the story and took me on quite the journey, and led to places that I didn’t expect it to. If he’d have spoken forty years ago, I would not have been ready to receive his message. But my life up until the moment that I first heard him speak prepared me. And the result is Revelations.

The original title was Kyrie Eleison, a tribute to the Mister Mr. song, Kyrie. Kyrie eleison means Christ, have mercy on us. But then fellow author Marie Sexton, who was reading Kyrie for me at the time, suggested a simpler title. A better title. Revelations. So Revelations it became.

I know there are people who will not like Revelations, and by extension, me. People who will not see the message it carries, only that it does not follow what they believe. But ultimately, no matter what you believe, Revelations is a story of love. Love is the message, and love is something that binds us all together.

Revelations is love.

Thank you for having me here, enjoy your day!
Bio:
Julie Lynn Hayes was reading at the age of two and writing by the age of nine and always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Two marriages, five children, and more than forty years later, that is still her dream. She blames her younger daughters for introducing her to yaoi and the world of M/M love, a world which has captured her imagination and her heart and fueled her writing in ways she'd never dreamed of before. She especially loves stories of two men finding true love and happiness in one another's arms and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and two cats, loves books and movies, and hopes to be a world traveler some day. While working a temporary day job, she continues to write her books and stories and reviews, which she posts in various places on the internet. Her family thinks she is a bit off, but she doesn't mind. Marching to the beat of one's own drummer is a good thing, after all.  Her published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, and MuseitUp Publishing, and she has also begun to self-publish at various places on the Internet.  
My Links:
My Publishers:
Museit Up Publishing:  http://museituppublishing.com/
 
 

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Weds Briefs



It's that time of the week again to Flash.  Here is my continuing saga of Tom and Ben.

This week's prompt are, "Anything you want, you got it..." or use: ferry, head, position, or "May I ask what you think..." or use an animal of some kind or use an accident or "When he/she said... I thought I would..."

Tom and Ben had discussed many things during the course of their relationship. 
They’d both decided they’d rather live in a bucolic setting like Lancaster, Pennsylvania than in a big city.  They picked out the home they lived in together along with all the decisions about the furnishings and wall colors.  Neither of them wanted children, but they never spoke about getting any animals.  Ben had grown up with a menagerie of animals and Tom had tropical fish.   
Here they were taking care of a lady’s cat while she was recuperating at the hospital.
Andy was a shy tawny colored cat; they’d had a heck of a time getting him out of the basement, where he’d been hiding.
“Did he come out yet?” Ben had been patiently trying to coax the reluctant cat to come up with food, to no avail.
“Come here, Ben,”  Tom whispered to his husband and beckoned him with a wave of his hand to come toward the kitchen.
No sooner had Ben left the food out in the kitchen, along with a bowl of water, and left the room than the cat slowly ventured out of his hiding spot. 
“Do you think he knows where the litter box is?”  Tom asked him.  Ben had gone to the pet store yesterday after Tom had called him to tell him they’d be having a guest. 
“The man at the store said all you need to do is show them where it is and make sure they can get to it and the cat will do the rest.   So far he’s been using it.”
“Good, good.”  Tom was watching Andy eating the dried kibble Ben had poured in his bowl.   “He didn’t seem to want to sleep in the bed.”  
Ben went all out and, besides getting him food, bowls, and a litter box and litter, he’d gotten a cat bed and some toys.  
“I think he’s scared of being in a strange place.  You know how it is.  Not being comfortable in unfamiliar surrounding,  Ben said.
“Well, you certainly went all out to welcome him.  You do know this is temporary.”
Ben sighed.  “I know.  I just wanted to make sure Andy felt at home here until his owner can take him back, that’s all.”   Ben caressed Tom’s face with his hand and kissed him on the lips.
“What’s that for?”  Tom asked him.
“That is for being such a caring man and helping that lady out.”
“I couldn’t do it without you, honey.”   Tom returned the kiss.   He suddenly felt something pressing against his leg. He looked down and saw Andy rubbing his body against him.  “Well, will you look at that?  Hello, Andy.”    He bent down and carefully petted the affectionate cat.
“I guess he’s trying to say thank you.”   Ben slowly bent down and held his hand out; Andy sniffed at it and rubbed his head against Ben’s hand.
“I guess he’s saying the same thing to you.”
“When do you think the lady will be out of the hospital?”  Ben asked as he continued to pet Andy.
“I’m not sure.  I gave the lady my card so she could call me.  I guess I should phone the hospital and see what her condition is.”  Tom did just that.
Ben had made some coffee for himself and Tom and was sitting at the kitchen table looking out at their beautiful backyard when Tom came into the room.  “Well, what did they say?”

“They said she is doing very well.  They want to keep her overnight for observation”
The phone rang; Tom was closest so he answered it.  “Oh hello, yes, it’s Tom.  Uh huh, yes, he’s doing very well.  The question is how are you doing?”  
Ben could tell by the tone of the conversation it was Andy’s owner.
“Yes, well, there’s no rush.  Like I said, Andy’s doing fine and we can hold onto him for you as long as you need us to.”  Tom hung up the phone and turned to Ben.  “The lady, her name is Sharon Tucker. Her home isn’t livable and she’s going to be staying with her sister.   She has two dogs, she isn’t sure if she can take Andy there or not.   She asked if we could keep him a while until she gets herself settled somewhere.”
“So you mean we’re going to have this fella…” Ben bent down and picked up Andy, who’d been rubbing against his leg.  “For a while longer?”
“Look, Ben, I know we never discussed taking in an animal, but you know how spur of the moment this all was.”
“Hey, hey, Tom. It’s okay.  Do I look like I’m mad?  I just never thought about having a cat before. But you know, he’s kinda rubbing off on me…literally.”  They both laughed as Andy rubbed against’ Ben’s chin. 
Tom watched with a smile on his face, but in the back of his mind he had a kind of sadness inside.  ‘What’s going to happen when we have to return Andy to his owner?”
TBC
 Fellow Flashers:
 Victoria Adams      m/f
Chris T. Kat   m/m
MA Church    m/m
Nephylim     m/m
Cia Nordwell     m/m
Tali Spencer     m/m

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Six Sentence Sunday the last one

It's kind of sad when something worthwhile comes to an end.  So it goes with Six Sentence Sunday.   This is the last one.   I want to thank all those who work so hard on the site to give us authors a way to showcase our books.

Buy Link:
Sam nervously took a sip from the wine glass.

"Why don't you look at the menu?" Matt handed him the menu that had been lying next to him on the table. He noticed Sam's hand was shaking.

"You okay?" Matt asked him.

"Sorry, I'm just nervous. I haven't been on a date in a long time." He took another sip of wine.

link to Six Sentence Sunday Six Sentence Sunday

Friday, January 25, 2013

Welcome author Havan Fellows

I'd like to welcome Havan Fellows to my blog.  Let's find out more about her book "Wicked Solutions"




Hello *waves to all* and thanks for having me today Lily *air kisses my wonderful hostess* Wow, I've never been here before...this place is snazzy! Soooooooo...oh introductions! My name is Havan Fellows and I'm a writer—well at least that's what I call myself. Huh? *leans closer* what do others call me, you ask? Well I wouldn't be a lady if I said those things here...*winks and smirks*

Seriously though, I've had the privilege of being a part of the great group The Story Orgy, being published with Breathless Press and now my newest venture that I'd like to pimp out to you is called Pulp Friction...

What? I'm not supposed to ramble on about myself? Questions? Oh...*blushes* yes...yes I was supposed to answer a few questions...oops...okay here we go :)

How long have you been writing?
All my life, but only for a couple years for other people's consumption...I'm a late bloomer I guess...lol

What is your favorite genre to write?
My favorite is to bounce around. I have a great contemporary series out called m/m Synchronous Seductions which I adore...but I'm also loving my m/m fantasy series Wish Me Nothing...it's like everything else—you need diversity to spice things up...

What are you working on now?
I've got a few things on many different burners—only problem is I suck at cooking so something is bound to get burned *winks* I'm working on the next Wick book and another anthology short for The Story Orgy...it's good to keep busy...um...right? *heads desk giggling*

When you start a new story do you begin with character or plot?
The characters are extremely active in my head...as I attest to in my flash fiction Writing is a Socially Acceptable Form of Schizophrenia...so I'd have to say character...but you know there are no absolutes in life—so this answer can change without warning...lol

Tell us about your latest/upcoming release. What inspired it?
My latest release is Wicked Solutions and it formed in my mind when a friend approached the idea of writing edgy mystery/suspense shorts from older days that were commonly known as pulp fiction...and I must tell you—Wick Templeton is definitely edgy and suspenseful...also a whole heap of fun to write and I hope read :)


Wicked Solutions

Sometimes the only way for justice to prevail is to get a little Wicked...

Blurb:
People who call him know the deal. He'll solve their problems, but he'll do it his way. That's the only way Wick Templeton plays the game. His years on the force and connections to all types of specialists put him in a league of his own. That's how he intends to keep it.

An ex-boyfriend in need puts Wick on a path that crosses that of Ned Harris, a stranger who proves to be a worthy adversary.

Wick's simple agenda gets a little more complicated. Item one: Clear his ex's name. Item two: unmask the enigma that is Ned Harris.

It's a good agenda. Too bad Wick can't seem to stick to it.

You can find Wicked Solutions at All Romancee-books & Amazon

Excerpt:
Wick whistled while he worked, clicking on different files in Neer's computer and copy/saving them onto the brand new flash drive he had brought with him. Most of the files would end up being worthless, but he wouldn't chance missing the right one because he didn't want to transfer them all over.

"Would you mind not whistling that shit?"

Wick didn't even bother looking up, he could tell from his periphery vision that the big brute still sat proper in the chair. "Oh sorry, was that bothering you?" He licked his lips and when he blew between them the theme song for It's a Small World took flight.

"Just kill me now."

"I don't take requests. Now less talking please, I'm concentrating." He continued whistling his little ditty while he finished the last of the transfers.

He reached into his pocket for his second flash drive when he noticed a link on the M drive that he could've sworn wasn't there before. He clicked on it...nothing. He moved the mouse over it again and double clicked...still nothing.

"Say, Cliffy dah-ling. What's so special about the M drive?"

"Go to hell, fuckwad."

"Okay, that's a tad unwarranted." But it wasn't the words that got Wick's interest piqued. No, he already guessed Neer wasn't a poet. The way his back stiffened when asked about the M drive, now that interested Wick.

He messed around trying to find a back door for this elusive drive, but no go. Finally he just put his pointer over it and clicked repeatedly out of frustration.

It opened up to a password protected file.

"Well fuck me, that really does work?" He chuckled as he searched the obvious places on the desk just in case Neer's denseness equaled Brad's. Unfortunately, Neer didn't leave a handy dandy sticky note with passwords stuck anywhere. Well, this was as far as he could go without asking for help. He curled his lip up to the right, he hated asking for help.

"Hey Cliffy, wanna play a game?"

He twirled the chair so he faced the back of Neer's head and propped his feet on the desk.

"Go to hell, fuc—"

Wick raised his voice over Neer's, "There are five main swear words that are frequently used in the English language to hurt people's feelings. When used with lesser cuss words you can procure hundreds of derogatory names. When combined to make compound words your options go into the thousands, even higher if you aren't particularly worried about the grammar Nazis. If you insist on insulting me I'm going to have to ask that you change it up each time. It keeps our romance alive, keeps the spark in our relationship.

"So now, about our game. I've got a silencer in my bag here. I'm about to equip it on my gun right here in my hand." He held up the gun, when Neer attempted to look he stopped him. "What are you doing? No turning around. I really do have a silencer. You'll have to have a little faith in your dance partner on this one. Now, I'm going to ask you a few simple questions. If you answer them correctly all is well. If you don't; I shoot. Let's say, oh I don't know...I'll begin about a foot away from you, but each time I don't get the answer I want my aim will target a little closer...and yada yada yada. Get the gist of it?"


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Weds Brief

It's that time of the week.   Time to flash

This week's prompts: "As time goes by..." lol Just came to me, wonder why? or use a winter theme or use: snow, peeved, water or "When did you tell me..." or use a rainbow in your story or use a rainbow and a unicorn lol or use: handcuffs, silver, basket


 

Weds Brief 1/23

 

The one thing about being a public servant was you didn’t get the luxury of staying home because of a snow storm.

 

So that was why Tom was on the line helping put out a house fire. He was inside, checking for people that might be trapped inside the burning structure, while Ben was at home, probably sitting in front of their fireplace in the living room. Tom wished he was with him, cuddled up together, enjoying not only the warmth from the hearth but the warmth from each other’s bodies.

 

One consolation was he was wearing the long johns Ben gave him for Christmas.  They kept him warm under the layers of fire fighting gear. , It made him feel closer to Ben.

 

Cough, cough   Tom turned around at the sound that came from behind him.   “Hello!” he called out.  He signaled to his fellow firefighter that there was someone in the house.

 

“Help me, please, help me.”  Tom moved toward the voice calling out to him, through the obstacle course of furniture and an overturned table, to reach the figure that was lying on the floor of the living room. The room was filled with black smoke and, if not for the sky light spotlighting the body on the floor, Tom might have missed the woman.  

 

“I’m here, let me help you.” Tom carefully pulled the woman up and over his shoulder and carried her out.  He searched through the myriad of people who were standing outside until he found the paramedics who were coming toward him. He laid the woman on a stretcher. He took off his breathing mask and looked at the woman’s face. “You’re going to be okay now.” He felt the woman’s hand clasp at his coat.

 

“Please”  cough  “You have to save Andy.”

 

Tom looked at the burning house. He hadn’t seen anyone else there.  “There’s someone else in there?”

 

“My cat. He’s probably hiding.” 

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll find him.” He squeezed the woman’s hand and put his mask back on and ran back into the house. “Joe, there’s a cat in there.” He alerted his captain. 

 

“Okay, try to find him, but you be ready to leave if I tell you to clear out.”

 

“Okay, Joe.”  He ran back in and called out for the cat. He could just hear a faint meow.   “Jack,” he called out to his colleague ,who was trying to put the fire out in the kitchen.  “Do you hear a meow?”

 

“Yeah,” 

 

Tom could hear his friend’s voice over the headset built into the helmet. They followed the sound to the bedroom that was off the living room.  They found the cat lying very still on the floor. Tom picked up the limp animal and carried him out. The paramedics took out the special inhalator that had been donated by an animal clinic; it was made especially to revive animals. Tom put the mask on the cat’s face and gave him some oxygen. It took a few minutes but slowly Andy regained consciousness. 

 

The lady refused to go to the hospital until she knew her cat was okay. “Oh thank you, thank you,” She told Tom when he handed the animal off to her. 

 

“We need to take her to the hospital now,” Nancy, one of the station’s paramedics said.  “I’m sorry, the cat can’t come with her.” 

 

“But I don’t have anyone else who will take him. I don’t want him to be put in the pound. Please!”  

 

“I’ll take him,” Tom assured her.  “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. I’ll take him to the vet and have him looked over and then I’ll take him home. You just go to the hospital.” Tom gave the woman his card so she’d be able to contact him when she was able to take her cat back.

 

Tom lived up to his promise and took the cat to the vet for a check-up. Except for a slight burn on his ear, he was just fine.  

 

“Ben,” Tom called his husband. 

 

“Tom, are you okay?”  Ben could tell by Tom’s voice that something had happened.

 

“Yeah, I’m okay. We had a house fire call, there was a woman trapped. I got her out and she went to the hospital. But I have a little situation here. I hope you don’t mind if we have a guest over for a while.”

 

“Guest?” 

 

“Yeah her cat, Andy. She doesn’t have anyone for himto  stay with. I told her I’d look after the cat. Please, Ben. I know we never talked about having an animal in the house. But I promised her I would take care of him.”

 

“Okay, bring Andy home. I’ll go get him cat litter and all the other stuff.”

 

“Really, are you sure it’s okay?”

 

“Of course, we can’t let the lady down. Or leave Andy homeless.”

 

“Have I told you I love you, Ben?”

 

“Yeah, but not lately.”

 

“I’ll remind you when I get home.” Tom had a bounce in his step as he left the animal hospital and drove back to the station to get his stuff and then it was home to his man.

 

tbc