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Martin jerked up, flailed, then shot Ian a pissy look that said that had been Ian’s fault. A second later, residual nerves or something else had him turning a festive shade of red. He considered Ian, then resumed his work with the lights, scooting down to hook them to nails he must have hammered in earlier.
“What’s it look like I’m doing?” The wavering note in Martin’s voice took a lot of the sass from the words. “I’m decorating for Christmas.” He didn’t look up.
Ian stared hard and somewhat anxiously at the knitted green hat with pom poms covering Martin’s hair, then glanced around the area in front of his house. An area that had recently begun to look more and more like something that might be called a yard.
It wasn’t domesticated. There was no field of useless grass or picket fence. But the berry brambles were free of spiderwebs and there was a patch of mint in the one spot that got the right sun. Ivy decorated the house but hadn’t been allowed to overtake it, and along the stone path to the door–as there was now a stone path to door– was a sign with Forrester carved out of wood. A friendly hello of a sign, if not a complete smiling welcome.
Ian had a feeling that was only a matter of time.
His fairy tale house, as Martin had once called it, was becoming absolutely charming, and that was before Martin had decided to decorate for Christmas.
The string of lights he was putting up were the simple, old-fashioned giant bulbs from a long time ago, although these were probably some modern energy-saving version, knowing Martin. He’d put more lights in the bushes and even around the front door.
On the door itself was a handmade wreath of green and red holly, tied with a white ribbon that Ian had seen Martin absently twirling around his wrists a few days ago while making decisions in the craft store.
Ian had assumed the ribbon was for presents, or something, and had spent a good hour worrying that Martin would not only expect good, thoughtful Christmas presents, but well-wrapped good, thoughtful Christmas presents, while Martin had picked out twine and new scissors and ribbon and big wire hoop. Then Martin had wanted to go to the hardware store and really, Ian should have known.
“It’s not too much?” Martin fidgeted with the end of the light string. “It’s just some lights, really. I figured Christmas was going to be one of those things you usually only see from the outside, or maybe don’t celebrate as Christmas but maybe as Yule or something?” He peered over, then looped the last bit of cord on the final nail. “So lights and a holly wreath are okay?”
“Do you usually do a lot on Christmas?” Ian asked carefully. He liked to think he was a careful man by nature though Martin assured him he was not. Not at all, babe. Not even a little. Nonetheless, with Martin and the topic of his parents, he had learned to be cautious.
Martin shrugged, then wobbled, and Ian quickly stepped away from his car. But Martin right himself and cleared his throat. “Make her some stuff, watch her ignore it or criticize it. Get high in the bathroom, go home, get drunk. Imagine what my dad is doing without me. Watch A Christmas Story. Pass out.” He shrugged again. “Guess I won’t be doing that this year. So I thought…. You know. I could do what I want. If you want it. It’s your house.”
Ian snorted but wisely held his tongue on that subject. Martin had a lot more than a drawer or a toothbrush in his bathroom. Ian owned different kinds of laundry detergent now. He had two shelves of Martin’s comics and graphic novels in his living room in a bookshelf Martin had built. Martin was in his house and taking it over with far more creeping tenacity than the ivy and Ian could not have been happier.
Except maybe once Martin was safely down off the roof.
“We didn’t really do holiday stuff when I was a kid. For any holiday,” Ian clarified, surprising himself with how hoarse his voice was. He waited a moment. “It looks like a charming forest spirit lives here.”
“A charming forest spirit does live here,” Martin replied smartly, but then took a deep breath. “So you like it? It’s not too much?”
“There isn’t a dying tree in my house, is there?” Ian tried to sound teasing but didn’t think he succeeded.
Martin raised his head. “Of course not,” he said softly. “Not even a plastic one. Not for you. I didn’t do anything inside the house, anyway.”
“Why not?” Ian pouted through his relief at not being subjected to a Christmas tree. “Not even mistletoe? Don’t you love me anymore?”
Wide eyes fixed on him for a moment before Martin huffed. “I was worried you wouldn’t like it.”
Ian pointedly looked over his house, now a warm, cheery, festive home, with lights in the fogged-up windows and a puffing, pink-cheeked Martin on the roof, like a bunny in two thick jackets and a crookedly knitted hat.
“What do you want to do inside the house?” he asked, then put out a hand. “Wait. Tell me when you are down here and not up there scaring the life out of me.”
Martin’s eyes lit up but he nodded and then made Ian lose his mind as he swung himself down, stretched his legs toward the ground, and looked as if he was going to jump the rest of the way.
The fact that he had probably done exactly that between putting in the nails and getting the lights did not stop Ian from bolting over to catch him.
To be perfectly honest, Ian might have done that anyway. Things were easier with Martin in his arms. Even when Martin crossed his arms and sulked and insisted he would have been fine.
He didn’t insist too hard, anyway. Two jackets or not, he was cold all over. Ian was happy to warm him up.
“So,” Ian started again, carrying Martin toward the door. “What are the plans for inside?”
“Well.” Martin studied him for a few steps, still uncertain about these things, still shy about his ideas. “Nothing big. Some candles and stuff over the fireplace. But I did want to try making fudge in your kitchen if that’s okay.”
“So okay,” Ian answered seriously. “As long as I get some.”
“Dork. Of course you do.” Martin hummed, already relaxing. “Also… are you doing anything Christmas Eve? If you’re not working, we could hang out. I don’t know. It might be nice.”
“I will check the schedule,” Ian promised. “Would Christmas Day do if I have to work the night before?”
“I suppose,” Martin decided, with an air of great sacrifice that he ruined by curling his arms around Ian’s neck. His hands were like ice. Ian would have to think of a way to warm him.
Ian glanced at the wreath before he pushed open the door. “Did you have any of that ribbon left?” he wondered as he stepped inside.
“Ribbon?” Martin lifted his head from Ian’s shoulder. “What for?”
“Plans of my own,” Ian told him, leering, and closed to the door to their house firmly behind them.quick note
Dec. 9th, 2016 07:00 pmSpeaking of, if you were on my Tumblr today, you might have gotten to see a snippet about the baby. Yes, THAT baby. Well, a few years in the future, so she's not a baby-baby. But... you get the picture. :) (If you honestly cannot figure out Tumblr, eventually I might post it here.)
Meanwhile, I am ready to submit the next book after Treasure for Treasure, I just have to adjust everything for Dreamspinner's new submission guidelines. But soon. Sooooon.
long time no see <3
Nov. 29th, 2016 09:25 pmWriting a story that WOULD NOT END. I love the characters and all, but for whatever reason, the story took me forever to write. (It was probably my emotions in the way. I'm not one of those people who are super in touch with their emotions. Then these issues and feelings just sort of appear in my stories, and I'm like... how did that get there? aaaah.) Anyway, I would adore talking about this book with everyone, but since it contains stuff about my newest book, I suppose I will wait until you all have at least read that. (Yes, this is a tease.)
Newest book? you say. Oh right. TREASURE FOR TREASURE FINALLY HAS A RELEASE DATE! December 12, you can get it and softly murmur mine mine mine as you stow it in your pocket.
In the nineteenth century, the dragon Dìzhèn put the small coastal town of Everlasting under her protection. Her family was supposed to carry on the tradition, but all of Dìzhèn the Great’s heirs eventually left rather than live in the shadow of such a powerful dragon.
Only the youngest dragon of the current generation remains: Zarrin, the softhearted disgrace of his family. He might be weak, small, and afraid, but he is determined to show the humans they have not been forgotten… one human in particular. The problem is, Zarrin can barely get that human to talk to him.
It should be a dream come true to have a dragon trying to get his attention. But Joe refuses to bow to Zarrin like everyone else. Yes, Zarrin is sexy, oddly gentle for a dragon, and stares at Joe with a gaze so hot it makes him shiver. But hurt, mistrustful Joe can’t believe Zarrin’s promises that he’s here to stay. Joe doesn’t realize he is the treasure Zarrin has been looking for his whole life, a treasure he once let slip through his fingers out of fear. Now, to win Joe’s trust, Zarrin has to be brave and become as strong as Dìzhèn herself.
Look at that!!!!
Also, for those who like audiobooks, The Firebird and Other Stories and A Beginner's Guide to Wooing Your Mate are now available on Audible.
And now, pimping done, I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in my little fundraiser, and gave money to worthy causes in exchange for sinppets of their choosing. You guys were awesome, and the snippets were fun to do. The charities thank you. <3<3<3<3
And because I have been editing and working on difficult story (it's so painful but good but painful, you guys) for weeks and weeks now, my brain glomped onto this idea like nobody's business. So. Everyone gets a story, which is fun at least.
(And before I forget, no release date on Treasure for Treasure yet. But there will be a sale on a set of Beings stories in October at Dreamspinner. And yes, I am still working on the book after Treasure for Treasure. (It hurts, but it's also soft and gentle, I swear.)
Anyway. Back to dragons who hoard stories.
This story references some ideas and things from books that haven't been released yet, so sorry if that is confusing. Just know that Redwolf and Rum is a graphc novel series about a werewolf, written by an actual werewolf, and that modern dragon families are little... weird. (Plus, like, doesn't the world need more gay dragon regency romances????)
All the Futures That Could Be
Too many stories and not enough stories, thousands upon thousands of them in the room as they were in Edgar’s mind. But to others it was hushed, and the crackle of the fire was peaceful, so they would often come to sit on the couch and listen to him talk about stories as if they believed what humans did—that storytellers were Seers. That was why Edgar was shown respect although he was a dragon with no treasure of his own.
But he certainly didn’t feel wise or all-seeing. He felt slow and foolish, half-lost in a graphic novel about love and unable to pull himself completely free.
just little Beings things
Jul. 1st, 2016 02:34 pmTHE BEINGS 'VERSE EXPLANATION POST!!
Q: What is the Beings 'Verse?
A: Imagine a world just like ours, but where the magical creatures of legend (like fairies and elves and werewolves) are real, and they live openly (for the most part) with humans. But, they haven't always done so. The creatures, referred to by humans as beings, only came out of hiding when they were forced to. This happened in Europe during World War I, and panicked humans were not very accepting, so most beings live on the fringes of mainstream human society. They are idolized for their beauty and power, but also feared and mocked. Humans also do not distinguish much between the legends around these creatures and the reality of them. Over time, even the beings aren't sure about themselves.
All cultures have these creatures, and different histories with them. Some clearly worshiped their beings as gods or something godlike. Others revered them. Others told stories about encounters with them, where the beings could be benevolent or cruel or loving or petty--you know, just like humans. This is where fairy tales come from.
But then, as humans grew in strength and numbers, they stopped taking such care with these beings. They destroyed the forests where they lived, or drove the werewolves from their lands. Many of these humans, especially in Europe, when Christianity/the Church became a dominant political force, and then through colonization and imperialism, became a dominant force in most other countries, outright rejected the beings. Because the beings are different. They love indiscriminately. Some of them are naked. Their morality has its own rules. They view things like gender, and sexuality, in ways that these humans did not want to understand. So the humans called them evil, or banned the stories of them, and they did the same to humans who were similar to the beings.
But, when those cruel, powerful humans brought war to the entire globe, the beings had no place left to hide. Of course, some had never hidden in the first place, or had continued on as they were under the noses of European occupiers, but that is a story for another time.*cough*
Some of the beings remember their history, and others do not. Because they aren't represented accurately (or sometimes at all) in human media, many of them now believe the horrible things said about them. Others are fighting to prove what they really are. Alongside these beings, you have the humans who are like, or who love them.
Q: Are you some kind of nerd?
A: Yes. Obviously.
The Books:
Q: How many books are there?
A: 6 as of now. 7 is on its way. I am working on 8. (I started it this week! Aaaah!)
Q: Do the books need to be read in order?
A: No. They are written as standalones. HOWEVER, I do think people will understand certain references better if at least some of the books are read in the order they were published. AND, there are moments with recurring characters and themes that will make more sense if you've read everything. But no, it's not necessary to have read, say, Some of Kind of Magic before you read A Boy and His Dragon or Little Wolf. (In fact, I don't think most people do.)
Book 1: Some Kind of Magic
A novella set in Los Cerros, a town with a significant being population, and which is considered a liberal town for that reason. A werewolf protects the things he loves, even from himself, if necessary. Features Ray Branigan, who is only the second being to ever make detective in Los Cerros. It also features lots of prejudice against beings, especially werewolves and fairies. Prejudices so strong even the beings have started to believe them. (Bad, Ray! Very bad! That is no way to treat your mate!)
Book 2: A Boy and His Dragon
Set in Madera, about an hour away from Los Cerros. About a human boy with a noble heart, and the nerdy dragon history lecturer who adores him. Humans have lost the language to communcate with beings, so it takes our human boy, the lovely Arthur, some time to realize what a dragon might mean by calling him treasure.
Book 3: A Beginner's Guide to Wooing Your Mate
Wolf's Paw, a town several hours from Los Cerros, is a town run by, and for, werewolves. If you're a human wizard, you might not feel very comfortable there. If you're a shy werewolf, you might feel like a bit of a failure for not getting your mate to love you. This story really starts to explain the idea of mating as werewolves view it. (Ray isn't really the explaining things type.) This is important because of
Book 4: Little Wolf
In which the toxic ideals about how werewolves ought to act have traumatized a young were to the point where he cannot recognize the mate in front of him. I cannot with this story. The real concept of mating (and treasure, and shine, and true love) finally starts to become more clear. It helps when you have a werewolf who acts more human than wolf.
(Book 4.5: A Mate of One's Own. A short story about Zoe, Little Wolf's friend, and her discovery of her mate.)
(Little Prince--a silly short version of Little Wolf I did, in which they are not werewolves. Very silly.)
Book 5: The Firebird and Other Stories
HOLY SHIT. Okay. This book... this book is readable without the other ones, but I personally would advise reading it after you have at least read one or two of the others. (I know some people didn't do that and still enjoyed it. But I'm just saying, it was written as I was writing the other stories and there are some tie ins.)
Basically, this book of short stories is about the beings shortly after they emerged from hiding, to the present day. Has lots of cameos, and except for two of the stories, is set in Los Cerros. LOTS of ideas about love and mating and hope in this story, which is good because there are a lot of horrible things humans have done to each other (and to the beings) throughout history. That hope is so, so necessary.
(Book 5.5: Frangipani and the Very Shiny Boy. A short story about a fairy desperately trying to get a boy's affection.)
Book 6: A Dandelion for Tulip
Back in Madera, with a human who is finally attempting to discover the real history between humans and beings, and the fairy who loves him. Further explores the idea of shine. Features a lot of callbacks to the ideas from the previous stories. And some cameos. Were you curious about fairies? Well this is the book for you, then. :)
Book 7: Treasure for Treasure
In which there is a small town that belongs to dragons--even though the dragons seems to have forgotten about it. One small, very determined dragon is going to have to prove to everyone that he will properly care for this treasure.
Book 8: (Well, wouldn't you like to know?)
And that is it for now. I do actually have a Beings 'Verse timeline in my notes, but it's incomplete, so in the future, I might repost all this and add it. I was also going to talk about Hottie Scotty and Mr Porter, but they are not beings, so I won't for now. Maybe this weekend.)
As always, people are free to ask me questions.<3
- a beginner's guide to wooing your mate,
- a boy and his dragon,
- a dandelion for tulip,
- arthur/bertie,
- beings in love,
- frangipani and the very shiny boy,
- hottie scotty and mr porter,
- hyacinth/walter,
- joe/zarrin,
- little prince,
- little wolf,
- nathaniel/tim,
- question,
- rennet the imp,
- somekindofmagic,
- the firebird,
- treasure for treasure,
- zeki/theo
But, at the same time, what I've been doing for the past few days is talk about stories and discuss online comics and analyze every single moment of books/pairings/series I love with other people, and... the distraction helps. Or maybe that's how some writers and book nerds and daydreamers deal with horrible things.
I mean, I was shouting at and then blocking assholes online for a while there. And then crying with friends, and just... yeah. But for some of us, fantasy is a weird coping mechanism. Making up headcanons about characters who aren't mine, and being silly stupid in love with all of them, and imagining how their stories might play out is just... so oddly comforting.
So to make my publisher happy, and also maybe for anyone who wants to know, or just likes fantasy romance as a distraction, I'm just going to list some promotional stuff today. Not-quite Arthur style.
This weekend (June 17-19) Dreamspinner is offering three of my titles (Dancing Lessons, Play It Again Charlie, and Wicklow's Odyssey) for 99 cents (each? I think?) on the new Dreamspinner website. (Of those, Wicklow's Odyssey is the one I like to make up headcanons about the most. Idk why. But Charlie and Will have so many AU versions of them)
Next week, A Dandelion for Tulip comes out. I got my paperbacks in the mail today. I'd completely forgotten about them. So, June 24th, all the fluffy, yearning boy-meets-fairy you can stand. Book Six in the Being(s) in Love series.
Speaking of, Dreamspinner just today accepted what will be Book Seven. Treasure for Treasure. Yes. That is the one involving the sugarbaby dragon. :)
I wrote a short story/novella and will self publish it soon. I'm just waiting on a cover, and then a bit more free time so I can format it. Hottie Scotty and Mr. Porter will probably go on sale on Smashwords and Amazon for a short amount of time, and then just Amazon for a while.
What else? (All this stuff happens at once) Oh, the Beings series is going to be translated into French, apparently. That's cool.
I will be messing about on my Tumblr for the weekend after Tulip comes out, as usual, if people want to join/bug me. :)
And oh. I am doing a blog tour (Which, now that I've done it, I'm not sure I would do it again. It's like speed dating in author bio form, and I am much too awkward for things like that.) But, here are the dates for my posts. Some of the sites might do reviews as well? I'm not really sure how it all works.
June 17 - MM Good Book Reviews
Yes, I did a different post for each one. And no, they probably don't make much sense. Especially toward the end. But there are some excerpts and me musing about fairies and shine and why I write the Beings, and things like that.
So I hope everyone is safe, and can find something somewhere to give them comfort. if it's my cheese, that's awesome, but if it isn't, I get that too.
And now I leave you with the cover, because these sweet, romantic fools are so not my usual dorks at all.
Lots of randomness happens over there in the strange lands of tumblring. Mostly I reblog geeky things, or fannish things, or ranty liberal things, and in between I make comments about what I am currently working on. Also people sometimes Message me or send me Asks about book stuff, which you are all always free to do. (You could also do this on Goodreads, or here, or Facebook, but that seems to be pretty rare. And I don't think LJ even notifies me about messages. Sigh.) Anyway. The Tumblr. You can even ask stuff anonymously if you want.
All right. Now. back to deets, which is very important they tell me.
The next book in the Being(s) in Love series is coming out at the end of June. A Dandelion for Tulip is released on June 24th. What's it about? Well, there is a doctoral student named David, who is so very much in love with a fairy named Tulip. But, Tulip doesn't date humans.
Of course, there's a reason for that. But poor David doesn't know it. And he isn't going to ask, because of some past heartbreak of his own. It's, um, a little awful, to be the kind of noble, pure soul who attracts Beings and who shines in every fairy's eyes. (I mean, ask Arthur. He'll tell you. It means more than you being nice or kind, it means you are brave enough to continue trying to be a good person, and that... is one of the most painful things you can do. The shiny ones are in such need of a fairy's care. It's a shame that some fairies are incapable of staying for long, but can make you feel like they might.)
So, um, yes, much pining. Light yearning and bittersweet feelings and longing and *Valentine's Day* and uuggghhhh.
Also, a bit more on North American (American) fairy culture. Because I'm sure everyone has been wondering what the hell fairies do amongst themselves, right?
A Dandelion for Tulip
(Also, I should point out for those own/want to own the paperbacks, the paperback preorders are on sale right now.)
Aaaaanyway. I submitted my sugarbaby dragon to DS and I'm waiting to hear back. So that would be the next Being(s) novel if they like it. Dragons!
In other Beings news. The Little Wolf audiobook is available on Audible. Apparently, it is 19 hours long (hotchi motchie!) and from what I've been told, the narrator had complete fun with it. I, of course, turn into a weird anxious baby when it comes to things like that and can't actually listen to the audiobook.
(If audiobooks *are* your thing, however, Dancing Lessons is now also available in audiobook form, also at Audible. And no, I haven't listened to it either. Someone tell me if it has a soft Chico.)
And, uh, I just finished something that was going to be a short something, but of course went a little longer because it's me. I hope to put it up on Amazon soon. Basically... me rereading my beloved LMM short stories, and thinking, oh wouldn't one of those be great, but set now, and queer, and maybe a bit kinky? Hmm. Not sure I succeeded there, but I did try. That should count for something.
And now for something completely different:
On a personal note, as someone who does NOT like discussing private matters (and who considers almost everything private), and who is also intensely anxiety ridden in social situations, I have a very small group of real llife and in person (not internet) friends, and one of them, knowing me, and just being supportive and lovely in an unspoken way, sent me a link to the Pride Converse. And while I have issues with commercialism in general and in this area, (and pieces of canvas costing $60-70) I also love Converse, and am one of those demi/bi what-have-yous--which is obvious if you know me, but not something I really talk about for the above reasons (and you know, to be left alone at work and not have my hours reduced etc). Anyway, the link was intended as a 'I know. I love you. And these shoes are cool, you could maybe get some?') and I am just so pleased and have been quietly atwitter about it all day today. So. Sharing.
NOW LET'S NEVER TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN. FEELINGS? WHAT ARE THEY? I DO NOT KNOW.
I am going to put more cherries in my ginger ale and read silly hockey boys in love.
More updates when I know more. :)
Which it is now. Although I am forcing myself to take a break before I edit. This is very difficult for us obsessive types, but it Must Be Done. (Or so they say.) I suppose I should attend to all those real world errands and necessities I was putting off in the meantime. Oops.
But you know, adorable sugarbaby of a dragon and his sensitive artist treasure. Like, I HAD to finish them. (And then I got mentally sidetracked a bit by some of the additional characters and randomly paired them up even if they don't speak to each other in the story aaaah the things my brain does.)
Anyway. So while I was finishing Joe and Zarrin's story (Treasure for Treasure is a good title, right? Adorable.) I got some other news. Dancing Lessons will be getting an audiobook! I think I was told it would be released in June. Or July. :) Either way, that is awesome. I also got to see the cover for A Dandelion for Tulip, the next in the Being(s) in Love series. Sadly, no nakedness on the covers, so this fairy will be dressed. (He wouldn't normally be, though. Just fyi. Tulip is like the old kind of fairy. The kind in story books.)
I wish I had more to say. My brain is still in Everlasting right now though. (Everlasting being the town that belongs to dragons. Not that there are any dragons around anymore, except one. The youngest dragon is the soft-hearted disgrace of the family, but determined to show the humans they have not been forgotten... okay... one human in particular at first and then the rest of the humans. One pretty human who he can barely get to talk to him. Which is so distressing. How does one talk to humans? What does it mean when they frown at you and give you presents? Why will the pretty human not accept *his* presents? Humans are so maddening.)
Hopefully, I will have more concrete information in at my next update. And maybe snippets or something now that I can take a small break for some fun stuff. (I wish I had more dragons, because creating a sub-series within the beings series called The Dragons of Everlasting would be amazing.)
