Nico Jaye's Blog, page 3
June 12, 2014
Punch-Drunk Love - now available!
Hi everyone! Just a quickie note to mention that my Love's Landscapes story, Punch-Drunk Love, is now available here for members of the M/M Romance group to read: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I'll post another update when the downloads are available next week, but in the meanwhile, hope you enjoy! Remember to check out all of the other fabulous freebies in this event, too! ♥
I'll post another update when the downloads are available next week, but in the meanwhile, hope you enjoy! Remember to check out all of the other fabulous freebies in this event, too! ♥
June 11, 2014
A Personal Post
Back in January I posted about the difficulties we would face as my furbaby battled cancer.
We lost that fight this weekend.
In loving memory of Nico, from whom I borrowed this pen name.
A personal post follows:
Nico, you were the best little boy boy, and I couldn't have asked for a more fabulous roommate, friend, and kitty confidante. You were there for me through thick and thin, and I loved knowing every day that I would come home to your cute little meows, head butts, and biscuits on my arm. We settled into New York together, and we had many wonderful times.
There was the time I first saw you, when the woman at the rescue home kept putting kittens on my lap and asking if I was interested in them. Nope, I was most definitely not. I was interested in the grey four year old adult cat who was on their website. So we stood up and she took me to you, and there you were, sitting so majestically on top of the refrigerator, like you weren't gonna have anything to do with that ruckus. The woman warned me that you weren't very affectionate and could be kind of stand-off-ish. Oh, Nico, how wrong was she??? :)
Then there was the time in my first NYC apartment when I came out of the shower one night to see that the rooftop access door was opened. I didn't freak out for the usual I-watch-too-much-Law-&-Order reasons. Oh no. I freaked out because there you were, sitting in the open doorway with your hind legs outside and your front paws indoors, looking very very confused. I was so scared you would run away, but I learned over the years that you weren't just gonna bail on me like that. (P.S. There was no intruder in the house, thankfully--the latch just wasn't secure on a windy night.)
There was also the time I was hosting Thanksgiving at my second NYC apartment. Little did I know there would be more than ten people in my small one bedroom in the West Village. It was a cozy group and a lovely evening. The turkey was on the counter, and I had just taken it out of the oven. I turned my back for a second, and of course that's all it took for you to jump up there and start sniffing around. You were reeeeeally into that turkey, and when I picked you up, you doth protested fiercely. I still have the scar from your contributions to that evening. :)
There were the times when you would jump from the couch to my bed in my third NYC apartment (a studio), or how I learned to rip off the loose packing tape whenever I put a box down for you to explore, or when you would trot across the room with your tail high like you owned the world, or the way you would wait on the round carpet in front of the bathroom whenever I was taking a shower. There were the times you played catch with a paper receipt ball and ignored the toys I bought for you. There were the times when I would lie down on the couch with a book in just that way, and, without fail, you would come curl up in the cradle of my arm and do biscuits before falling asleep.
Through the years, there were so many memorable times, and I cherish every one of them. Thank you for bringing so much happiness and joy to my life. I'll always love you and remember you.
♥
I just needed a moment to shine the spotlight on the furry love of my adult life thus far. We'll return to our regularly-scheduled m/m romance-y stuff shortly. Thanks.
We lost that fight this weekend.
In loving memory of Nico, from whom I borrowed this pen name.
A personal post follows:
Nico, you were the best little boy boy, and I couldn't have asked for a more fabulous roommate, friend, and kitty confidante. You were there for me through thick and thin, and I loved knowing every day that I would come home to your cute little meows, head butts, and biscuits on my arm. We settled into New York together, and we had many wonderful times.
There was the time I first saw you, when the woman at the rescue home kept putting kittens on my lap and asking if I was interested in them. Nope, I was most definitely not. I was interested in the grey four year old adult cat who was on their website. So we stood up and she took me to you, and there you were, sitting so majestically on top of the refrigerator, like you weren't gonna have anything to do with that ruckus. The woman warned me that you weren't very affectionate and could be kind of stand-off-ish. Oh, Nico, how wrong was she??? :)
Then there was the time in my first NYC apartment when I came out of the shower one night to see that the rooftop access door was opened. I didn't freak out for the usual I-watch-too-much-Law-&-Order reasons. Oh no. I freaked out because there you were, sitting in the open doorway with your hind legs outside and your front paws indoors, looking very very confused. I was so scared you would run away, but I learned over the years that you weren't just gonna bail on me like that. (P.S. There was no intruder in the house, thankfully--the latch just wasn't secure on a windy night.)
There was also the time I was hosting Thanksgiving at my second NYC apartment. Little did I know there would be more than ten people in my small one bedroom in the West Village. It was a cozy group and a lovely evening. The turkey was on the counter, and I had just taken it out of the oven. I turned my back for a second, and of course that's all it took for you to jump up there and start sniffing around. You were reeeeeally into that turkey, and when I picked you up, you doth protested fiercely. I still have the scar from your contributions to that evening. :)
There were the times when you would jump from the couch to my bed in my third NYC apartment (a studio), or how I learned to rip off the loose packing tape whenever I put a box down for you to explore, or when you would trot across the room with your tail high like you owned the world, or the way you would wait on the round carpet in front of the bathroom whenever I was taking a shower. There were the times you played catch with a paper receipt ball and ignored the toys I bought for you. There were the times when I would lie down on the couch with a book in just that way, and, without fail, you would come curl up in the cradle of my arm and do biscuits before falling asleep.
Through the years, there were so many memorable times, and I cherish every one of them. Thank you for bringing so much happiness and joy to my life. I'll always love you and remember you.
♥
I just needed a moment to shine the spotlight on the furry love of my adult life thus far. We'll return to our regularly-scheduled m/m romance-y stuff shortly. Thanks.
June 6, 2014
Lesson Learned
Recently I started writing what I thought would be a flash fic fun sort of exercise--a historical Regency-set secret lovers sort of story--using the new no-outline approach that I took with my werewolf story. Little did I know that my tiny flash fic would turn into a 6000+ word short story. O__O Like the werewolf story (tentatively titled "He's Just Knot That Into You" *grins*), this shortie just kept going and going...and going. Who am I to argue with what the guys have to say? :)
While my werewolf goes through various beta stages, I thought I'd share a small piece of Christopher and Jack's story. Here's a glimpse (very rough and unedited!), and keep an eye out for more news on this one as I figure out what the heck to do with it. ^__^
Hope you liked the little peek into Christopher and Jack's lives!
In the meanwhile, I have to ask: are you a member of the M/M Romance Group?? You can read more about the MMRG here at http://www.mmromancegroup.com and join the group on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/.... I only ask because there's a fabulous writing event that kicked off last week.
Love's Landscapes is a very cool writing event featuring free stories every day throughout the summer. My upcoming freebie, Punch-Drunk Love, will be coming out soon, and the MMRG is the only place you can read it first! Otherwise, you'll have to wait for the downloads to be available on their website. :) If you're not a member, then think about it! Highly recommended if you're an m/m romance fan.
Hope you're all doing well, and happy reading!
♥,
NJ
While my werewolf goes through various beta stages, I thought I'd share a small piece of Christopher and Jack's story. Here's a glimpse (very rough and unedited!), and keep an eye out for more news on this one as I figure out what the heck to do with it. ^__^
From A Time for Loving
When Christopher returned to the bedchamber at the time the clock ticked its way past midnight, Jack was waiting for him. As was their routine, they locked the doors to bar any unwanted nightly visitors, such a practice explained to the household as a way to deter Christopher's childhood habit of sleepwalking.
Little did they know he'd outgrown such an inclination years ago.
"A pleasant evening," Christopher said mildly over his shoulder as Jack assisted him out of his well-fitted navy coat.
"Was it?" Jack murmured in response. Setting aside the garment onto the clothes valet, he turned to face Christopher's back and skimmed his hands over his shoulders. His palms, forever callused from years of campaigning, nevertheless picked up the texture of the silver-embroidered brocade waistcoat. Those shoulders were broad, carrying with them the weight of responsibility—for their regiment, for their secret, for their future—well beyond Christopher's twenty-three years.
Lost in his thoughts, Jack startled when Christopher turned around to grasp his wrist gently. He looked up into Christopher's familiar gaze and sighed, his heart settling into place even as his pulse began to race at the sight of the heat in those blue depths.
"It would have been much more pleasant with your company, Jack," Christopher said, his voice warm and low.
Swallowing thickly, Jack smiled up into that precious face. Tilting his head, he listened and heard the sounds of the house going to sleep around them.
This was their time—the time between days when they could be lost in their world.
"You know 'tis impossible, Christopher," Jack whispered regretfully, searching
his gaze. He moved to clasp his hand, drawing Christopher's palm to his neck
and curling it against the skin there. "But our time is now, and my company is yours. Yours always."
Hope you liked the little peek into Christopher and Jack's lives!
In the meanwhile, I have to ask: are you a member of the M/M Romance Group?? You can read more about the MMRG here at http://www.mmromancegroup.com and join the group on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/.... I only ask because there's a fabulous writing event that kicked off last week.
Love's Landscapes is a very cool writing event featuring free stories every day throughout the summer. My upcoming freebie, Punch-Drunk Love, will be coming out soon, and the MMRG is the only place you can read it first! Otherwise, you'll have to wait for the downloads to be available on their website. :) If you're not a member, then think about it! Highly recommended if you're an m/m romance fan.
Hope you're all doing well, and happy reading!
♥,
NJ
May 14, 2014
"Punch-Drunk Love" has a cover! :D
Hi all! I just got back from doing some traveling in Colorado and Arizona, and I couldn't wait to share the cover for my upcoming M/M Romance Group freebie, Punch-Drunk Love. The story, which features two kickboxing boys, is set in the San Francisco Bay Area (with a detour to Vegas...) and full of fluff. I hope you like it!
My super talented graphic designer friend Natasha Snow (http://www.natashasnow.com) created this beautiful cover. To me, she hit the nail right on the head, and it's absolutely perfect for the lighthearted vibe of the story.
*stares*
Oh! Ahem...
Sorry, got a little caught up in the awesome cover. :D
Anyway, hope you all like it, and keep an eye out for more on Punch-Drunk Love! The story, along with a number of other freebies, will come out this summer during the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event.
♥,
NJ
My super talented graphic designer friend Natasha Snow (http://www.natashasnow.com) created this beautiful cover. To me, she hit the nail right on the head, and it's absolutely perfect for the lighthearted vibe of the story.
*stares*
Oh! Ahem...
Sorry, got a little caught up in the awesome cover. :D
Anyway, hope you all like it, and keep an eye out for more on Punch-Drunk Love! The story, along with a number of other freebies, will come out this summer during the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event.
♥,
NJ
April 29, 2014
To Outline or Not to Outline
To outline or not to outline...
That is now the surprising question.
Although I'm still learning when it comes to writing (and, in fact, aren't we always learning?), I'd always done things the same way up till now: outline outline outline!
Perhaps it's the need to have control over a process (namely, writing) that in itself is quite creative. Perhaps it's my background as a lawyer that means I like to know what to expect. Or perhaps it's the problem solver in me that likes to think "hey...how exactly do they get from meet-cute to HEA?"
Anyway, up until now, I've always been about the outline. Even if it wasn't a completely detailed outline, it always took me along the main events from Point A to HEA. With every story I've written, there has been some kind of outline.
Well, no longer.
As an update on the kickboxing boys , I turned that in last week. (yay!) So keep an eye out for Punch-Drunk Love when the M/M Romance Group releases it this summer alongside a bunch of other nifty freebie stories. Like my other M/M Romance Group freebies BTW I Love You and Man-to-Man Coverage , it's around 15-20K words of fluff. On a separate note, the 15-20K words mark appears to be my sweet spot when writing, but maybe that's a subject for another blog post. :)
Anyway, I completed the kickboxing boys' story and immediately turned to a new one that had been waving its arms at me for attention. This story has taken up my writing time the last few days, and it's basically giving the finger and sticking its tongue out to my other WIPs.
I had a general idea that I wrote down in a quick paragraph of story direction.
But here's the thing...after that, I just sat down and began to write it.
No outline, no other notes, nada.
It's been so much fun.
The story is about a werewolf (yes, watching Teen Wolf has definitely provided some paranormal writing inspiration), and it's pretty much fluffy lycan fun. :) Let's just say surprise shifting, bad dates, some porn mags, and a charming new office assistant are involved.
The process of not having a process has been eye-opening. It's quite freeing, and I can definitely see the appeal of how writers favor this approach. That isn't to say that I don't have a rough outline in my head, but it's almost like not putting it down on paper has some kind of psychological effect of feeling no pressure to take things one way or another.
It might be that extra step of writing it down that has made me feel more locked into an idea. While my outlines in the past have themselves been fluid, my decision (or reluctance?) to change major points possibly was influenced by the fact that they were already down on paper in the first place. So maybe having it in writing already felt like a commitment, whereas doing it from the inspirational paragraph and whatever thoughts are in my head instead permit a lot more straying.
I have no idea, but it's making me question how I approach my other WIPs. Which could be a good thing. Or a bad thing. >__>
We'll see, right? As it is, I'm working on my werewolf boy for now and will take the others one day at a time. I've had a lot of fun trying out this new approach, so who knows? Maybe that'll be my new MO when it comes to getting my stories onto the page.
I've heard so many things about how people plan their stories one way or the other. If you have any opinions on how to organize and put together your tale, please share. I'm curious to hear what you guys think. =)
Now...back to my werewolf!
♥,
NJ
April 18, 2014
Kickboxing Smuff Update, Title Madness, and Another Sex and Candy Giveaway!
It's been a while since I've posted, so I thought I'd add a little update about the kickboxing Love's Landscapes story that has been consuming my free time. Consuming it voraciously. Like a puppy with a juicy bone. *ahem* I finished up the draft last night (yay!), and since I do most of my edits as I write (which is just as time-consuming as it sounds, heh), I polished it up this morning and sent it to my awesome beta buddy for thoughts. >__>
A lot of stuff happens, and, at the same time, it's total smuff (smut + fluff), too. I'm a little nervous about how that combo works here, so we'll see what she thinks. I wanted to post a cool kickboxing photo, but there weren't any decent ones in the public domain. Thus, instead of a kickboxing or boxing photo, here's a picture of Nico-kitteh sitting in a box:
I can also tell you that a unicorn costume makes an appearance in this story. Anything else is secret, and you'll just have to see what happens when the (freebie!) story comes out this summer! ^__^ The full prompt and picture can be found at the end of my post here .
I would totally share the title with you, too, except I'm not sure yet what it is. Eeps! Yes, I sent the title Punch-Drunk Love to the event organizers, but now I'm not sure if I like it enough to use it for the story. *shakes fist weakly* Argh, why is the title so hard?
For my latest story Sex and Candy, the title was automatic.
Have you heard the Marcy's Playground song "Sex and Candy?" That's one of my favorites, and I had it on repeat often in college. Of course, when I set the decidedly smuffy short story in a club called Hard Candy (which you can read more about here ), the title Sex and Candy immediately popped into my head. At the time, there was only one other story out there with that title, so I thought it was good to go. I wrote the story back in autumn and didn't give the title a second thought.
It's funny because a few weeks before the March 30th release, another story with the title Sex and Candy came out from MLR Press. That came as a surprise, but then, after reading the description, I realized the stories were completely different. Now I'm just crossing my fingers that people give my Sex and Candy a shot, too. =)
So while I'm waiting for my beta buddy to get back to me (alliteration there, eh?), I thought I'd post a bit about Sex and Candy and give some stuff away. Yay!
There have been some amazing reviews, and I'm so freaking grateful to everyone who has checked it out. Thank you! You can see what the folks at Prism Book Alliance, My Fiction Nook, and 3 Chicks After Dark had to say about the book if you're curious. =)
Another thing to mention is that the publisher, JMS Books, is having a sale this weekend. All ebooks are 40% off, including Sex and Candy. You can enter the giveaway on my blog for an ebook copy or, if you can't wait to read it, you can pick up the discounted story (for $1.79) here at JMS Books through April 20th! :D
Anyway...GIVEAWAY TIME.
Yay!
GIVEAWAY
I'm giving away another prize package to celebrate the Sex and Candy HARD opening (heh heh, hard) now that it's available everywhere. *tosses confetti* The soft opening on March 30th was a publisher-only release date, so here's a quick listing of some of the other ebook retailers where you can now find Sex and Candy:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance eBooks
Smashwords
To celebrate all the sexy and sweet things, I'm doing a giveaway package with these lovely goodies:
- ebook copy of Sex and Candy
Plus a snail mail package of these items (open to international winners because you guys read books, too!):
- a pair of electric blue undies (unfortunately, hot guy not included)
- a candy-colored gumdrop bead bracelet
- a silver-colored metal "love" ring
HOW TO ENTER
To enter the giveaway, please visit my blog post HERE and leave a comment!
Contest closes at 10PM (Pacific time) on Monday, April 28, 2014.
Thanks for checking out the post, and happy reading!
A lot of stuff happens, and, at the same time, it's total smuff (smut + fluff), too. I'm a little nervous about how that combo works here, so we'll see what she thinks. I wanted to post a cool kickboxing photo, but there weren't any decent ones in the public domain. Thus, instead of a kickboxing or boxing photo, here's a picture of Nico-kitteh sitting in a box:
I can also tell you that a unicorn costume makes an appearance in this story. Anything else is secret, and you'll just have to see what happens when the (freebie!) story comes out this summer! ^__^ The full prompt and picture can be found at the end of my post here .
I would totally share the title with you, too, except I'm not sure yet what it is. Eeps! Yes, I sent the title Punch-Drunk Love to the event organizers, but now I'm not sure if I like it enough to use it for the story. *shakes fist weakly* Argh, why is the title so hard?
For my latest story Sex and Candy, the title was automatic.
Have you heard the Marcy's Playground song "Sex and Candy?" That's one of my favorites, and I had it on repeat often in college. Of course, when I set the decidedly smuffy short story in a club called Hard Candy (which you can read more about here ), the title Sex and Candy immediately popped into my head. At the time, there was only one other story out there with that title, so I thought it was good to go. I wrote the story back in autumn and didn't give the title a second thought.
It's funny because a few weeks before the March 30th release, another story with the title Sex and Candy came out from MLR Press. That came as a surprise, but then, after reading the description, I realized the stories were completely different. Now I'm just crossing my fingers that people give my Sex and Candy a shot, too. =)
So while I'm waiting for my beta buddy to get back to me (alliteration there, eh?), I thought I'd post a bit about Sex and Candy and give some stuff away. Yay!
There have been some amazing reviews, and I'm so freaking grateful to everyone who has checked it out. Thank you! You can see what the folks at Prism Book Alliance, My Fiction Nook, and 3 Chicks After Dark had to say about the book if you're curious. =)
Another thing to mention is that the publisher, JMS Books, is having a sale this weekend. All ebooks are 40% off, including Sex and Candy. You can enter the giveaway on my blog for an ebook copy or, if you can't wait to read it, you can pick up the discounted story (for $1.79) here at JMS Books through April 20th! :D
Anyway...GIVEAWAY TIME.
Yay!
GIVEAWAY
I'm giving away another prize package to celebrate the Sex and Candy HARD opening (heh heh, hard) now that it's available everywhere. *tosses confetti* The soft opening on March 30th was a publisher-only release date, so here's a quick listing of some of the other ebook retailers where you can now find Sex and Candy:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance eBooks
Smashwords
To celebrate all the sexy and sweet things, I'm doing a giveaway package with these lovely goodies:
- ebook copy of Sex and Candy
Plus a snail mail package of these items (open to international winners because you guys read books, too!):
- a pair of electric blue undies (unfortunately, hot guy not included)
- a candy-colored gumdrop bead bracelet
- a silver-colored metal "love" ring
HOW TO ENTER
To enter the giveaway, please visit my blog post HERE and leave a comment!
Contest closes at 10PM (Pacific time) on Monday, April 28, 2014.
Thanks for checking out the post, and happy reading!
March 31, 2014
RELEASE DAY GIVEAWAY!! Sex and Candy Soft Opening! ^__^
I am hope-hope-hoping that the nifty giveaway goodies will help! March 30th was the "soft opening" for Sex and Candy (and OMG isn't that just a ridiculous way to describing release day for an m/m erotic romance?). :) I say "soft opening" because the story is officially available on the publisher's website, but it won't be available on other distributors' sites (like Amazon or B&N) until next weekend. For now, though, Sex and Candy can be found here at JMS Books at a 20% discount!
Thinking up a blog post to go with a release day giveaway is a toughie for me, so I'm just going to chat a bit about how the story came into existence.
I didn't set out to write a D/s story with a Dom or a sub or any of the other BDSM vibes in the story. Nope, not at all. The stories that I read don't typically fall into those themes, and I definitely hadn't written it before. Sex and Candy, though, is simply the organic product of the story that the characters needed me to write.
Lee is such a sweet guy, and he wanted/needed a firm hand. Without spilling exactly what happens, I'll just say that he finds it...in more ways than one. ;) The BDSM vibes are D/s-lite with an element of cute sweetness. Indeed, my super smexy author friend Kol Anderson said it was "sexy...incredibly sexy," so I hope you all like it. ;)
Sex and Candy is a short story, but there are a few things that show up in it that I'd like to share in the giveaway. Sooo...here's the fun stuff!
GIVEAWAY:
And...for a US winner...a snail mail package of these goodies:
a pair of electric blue undies (unfortunately, hot guy not included)
a candy-colored gumdrop bead bracelet
a silver-colored metal "love" ring
March 20, 2014
"Sex and Candy" Smuffiness, plus Smuffiness in Progress!
Howdy, folks! I've been pretty radio silent lately, and I apologize for that. Life has a way of getting busy all at once and then, suddenly, it's a new season. Like whoa!
In that period of time, I began my job hunt, and I spent an amazingly fun time in NYC, during which I attended a friend's wedding and had so. much. food. I loved it.
Anyway, life was busy, and my "then suddenly" moment came when I realized that my short story Sex and Candy will come out in ten days.
Yes, ten days!
How exciting is that?? I'm super psyched - this story holds a very special place in my smuffy (that's smut + fluffy) heart. ♥
Here's the cover - keep an eye out for it! ;)
Isn't it fun? *grins*
You can find Sex and Candy on the JMS Books website on March 30th or look for it on other ebook retailer sites shortly thereafter. Check out the blurb and a (quite scandalous!) excerpt here at the publisher's site . If you are so inclined, you can also add it to your shelf on the Goodreads page here: Sex and Candy. Kol Anderson called Sex and Candy "sexy...incredibly sexy." And Kol's super smexy, so hopefully that's a reason to check it out. ;)
The next bit of smuffiness to report revolves around the M/M Romance Group's annual writing event. My author roots lie deep within this writing event. In fact, if it weren't for the M/M Romance Group's 2012 event Love is Always Write, I'm not sure if I would have had the courage and motivation to write something to completion AND publish it for the world to read. Once I did, though, Man-to-Man Coverage was born, and I found that I really had fun with the creative process of fiction writing. The satisfaction of seeing boys who lived in my head find love on the page didn't hurt, either. =)
Well, the M/M Romance Group's 2014 writing event Love's Landscapes is under way, and I've picked a prompt. *quivers with excitement* It's kickboxing. It's sporty. It's being outed in front of your entire team. It's smuffy goodness.
Check out the Dear Author thread here (note: must be a member of the Goodreads group) or you can see the NSFW picture and prompt after the jump. =D I've been having a lot of fun with this smuff, and I hope you all enjoy it!
So, yes, kickboxers coming your way this summer. ;) And Sex and Candy's D/s smuffiness coming your way in ten days!
♥♥♥,
NJ
P.S. Keep your eyes and ears peeled because I have some Sex and Candy giveaways planned, too. Two words: sexay undies. ;)
NSFW photo and prompt inspiration for my next story after the jump:
In that period of time, I began my job hunt, and I spent an amazingly fun time in NYC, during which I attended a friend's wedding and had so. much. food. I loved it.
Anyway, life was busy, and my "then suddenly" moment came when I realized that my short story Sex and Candy will come out in ten days.
Yes, ten days!
How exciting is that?? I'm super psyched - this story holds a very special place in my smuffy (that's smut + fluffy) heart. ♥
Here's the cover - keep an eye out for it! ;)
Isn't it fun? *grins*
You can find Sex and Candy on the JMS Books website on March 30th or look for it on other ebook retailer sites shortly thereafter. Check out the blurb and a (quite scandalous!) excerpt here at the publisher's site . If you are so inclined, you can also add it to your shelf on the Goodreads page here: Sex and Candy. Kol Anderson called Sex and Candy "sexy...incredibly sexy." And Kol's super smexy, so hopefully that's a reason to check it out. ;)
The next bit of smuffiness to report revolves around the M/M Romance Group's annual writing event. My author roots lie deep within this writing event. In fact, if it weren't for the M/M Romance Group's 2012 event Love is Always Write, I'm not sure if I would have had the courage and motivation to write something to completion AND publish it for the world to read. Once I did, though, Man-to-Man Coverage was born, and I found that I really had fun with the creative process of fiction writing. The satisfaction of seeing boys who lived in my head find love on the page didn't hurt, either. =)
Well, the M/M Romance Group's 2014 writing event Love's Landscapes is under way, and I've picked a prompt. *quivers with excitement* It's kickboxing. It's sporty. It's being outed in front of your entire team. It's smuffy goodness.
Check out the Dear Author thread here (note: must be a member of the Goodreads group) or you can see the NSFW picture and prompt after the jump. =D I've been having a lot of fun with this smuff, and I hope you all enjoy it!
So, yes, kickboxers coming your way this summer. ;) And Sex and Candy's D/s smuffiness coming your way in ten days!
♥♥♥,
NJ
P.S. Keep your eyes and ears peeled because I have some Sex and Candy giveaways planned, too. Two words: sexay undies. ;)
NSFW photo and prompt inspiration for my next story after the jump:
February 11, 2014
Coming Out as a Gay Athlete, College Draft Edition
It's been a while since I've posted about gay athletes, and, my oh my, how things have changed. Michael Sam, a promising college football player, came out on Sunday night as a gay man. With NFL Draft Day just weeks away, the impact of his coming out on his draft prospects is the big question on my mind.
This post is part of a loosely-themed series that I like to call "Coming Out as a Gay Athlete." Previous posts covered an athlete's coming out , homophobia at the time of last year's Super Bowl , a fake girlfriend , a gay athlete in the '70s , stats , and more . The big question, in my opinion, has been (and will be for the foreseeable future) how athletes and sports leagues will react to having a publicly gay athlete on their roster.
In a post last year, I posed that question about an athlete who came out and was eligible for free agency that summer. Jason Collins, who came out last April, remains without an NBA team, and I am incredibly disappointed. While Collins may not have been a superstar, he is a seven-foot player, and seven-foot players aren't easy to come by. It surprises me that absolutely NO team saw potential for him on their roster.
Michael Sam, who came out as a gay athlete this weekend, is a college football player of considerable skill. He was voted SEC Defensive Player of the Year while playing with the Missouri Tigers, and he is definitely expected to be drafted to an NFL team, perhaps as high as the second or third round. In the CBS draft report, which serves as sort of a scouting report list for prospective players, the top prospective draft picks are ranked. Prior to this weekend, Michael Sam was at no. 90, and, overnight after coming out, fell to no. 170. The rankings have since "stabilized" at no. 110, but this drop nevertheless concerns me.
Will Michael Sam get the fair chance that he deserves on NFL Draft Day?
In the past, the question of how professional sports leagues would react to having a gay athlete playing actively on their team was very hypothetical. Even in the hypothetical, the reactions were mixed. There has been a lot of support - hypothetically, of course - from players, both active and former alike, and in all of the sports. Now, though, the question comes up with a very real face and a very real set of circumstances that will reveal the impact, if any, such an announcement would have on an otherwise promising and talented player's prospects.
CBS Sports takes a guarded and ultimately pessimistic viewpoint on the impact, while others take a more optimistic and supportive stance. A number of Sports Illustrated opinion pieces reveal a thoughtful analysis of how the NFL will react, with this one, revealing the progress that gay rights in sports have made in the last several years , as one of my favorites. Most telling, though, may be the immediate support Michael Sam received from the public, including current and former players, as shown by Deadspin .
Once again, I'm hopeful that there will be a team with the courage to reward this talented player's merits without letting his personal life influence their decision. He's a good player who deserves to find a team that appreciates his strength and talents, and I wish him all the best in his future NFL career. As the Bleacher Report puts it ever so eloquently in a piece that highlights the success of Sam's contributions to his college team, " Michael Sam Being Gay Will Only Be a Distraction for Those Who Want It to Be ."
I look forward to the day when the question of teammate and league reactions to having a gay athlete in their midst is a thing of the past. I look forward to the day when a player's sexual orientation isn't even a blip on anyone's radar.
Watching closely on Draft Day,
NJ
P.S. The second book in my freebie Man-to-Man Coverage series covers the main characters' coming out while active players in the NFL. I hope things go just as smoothly with Michael Sam as he begins his professional football career.
This post is part of a loosely-themed series that I like to call "Coming Out as a Gay Athlete." Previous posts covered an athlete's coming out , homophobia at the time of last year's Super Bowl , a fake girlfriend , a gay athlete in the '70s , stats , and more . The big question, in my opinion, has been (and will be for the foreseeable future) how athletes and sports leagues will react to having a publicly gay athlete on their roster.
In a post last year, I posed that question about an athlete who came out and was eligible for free agency that summer. Jason Collins, who came out last April, remains without an NBA team, and I am incredibly disappointed. While Collins may not have been a superstar, he is a seven-foot player, and seven-foot players aren't easy to come by. It surprises me that absolutely NO team saw potential for him on their roster.
Michael Sam, who came out as a gay athlete this weekend, is a college football player of considerable skill. He was voted SEC Defensive Player of the Year while playing with the Missouri Tigers, and he is definitely expected to be drafted to an NFL team, perhaps as high as the second or third round. In the CBS draft report, which serves as sort of a scouting report list for prospective players, the top prospective draft picks are ranked. Prior to this weekend, Michael Sam was at no. 90, and, overnight after coming out, fell to no. 170. The rankings have since "stabilized" at no. 110, but this drop nevertheless concerns me.
Will Michael Sam get the fair chance that he deserves on NFL Draft Day?
In the past, the question of how professional sports leagues would react to having a gay athlete playing actively on their team was very hypothetical. Even in the hypothetical, the reactions were mixed. There has been a lot of support - hypothetically, of course - from players, both active and former alike, and in all of the sports. Now, though, the question comes up with a very real face and a very real set of circumstances that will reveal the impact, if any, such an announcement would have on an otherwise promising and talented player's prospects.
CBS Sports takes a guarded and ultimately pessimistic viewpoint on the impact, while others take a more optimistic and supportive stance. A number of Sports Illustrated opinion pieces reveal a thoughtful analysis of how the NFL will react, with this one, revealing the progress that gay rights in sports have made in the last several years , as one of my favorites. Most telling, though, may be the immediate support Michael Sam received from the public, including current and former players, as shown by Deadspin .
Once again, I'm hopeful that there will be a team with the courage to reward this talented player's merits without letting his personal life influence their decision. He's a good player who deserves to find a team that appreciates his strength and talents, and I wish him all the best in his future NFL career. As the Bleacher Report puts it ever so eloquently in a piece that highlights the success of Sam's contributions to his college team, " Michael Sam Being Gay Will Only Be a Distraction for Those Who Want It to Be ."
I look forward to the day when the question of teammate and league reactions to having a gay athlete in their midst is a thing of the past. I look forward to the day when a player's sexual orientation isn't even a blip on anyone's radar.
Watching closely on Draft Day,
NJ
P.S. The second book in my freebie Man-to-Man Coverage series covers the main characters' coming out while active players in the NFL. I hope things go just as smoothly with Michael Sam as he begins his professional football career.
February 2, 2014
Happy new year! (No really, it is a new year...)
Happy Lunar New Year! Here's a pic of Nico-kitteh in his festive attire. :)
January 31st marked the first day of the year of the horse. So...happy new year! Or, as we say in Chinese, Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Celebrating the new year in my Chinese American family usually involves many traditions, from things you do (or don't do) to foods you eat (or don't eat). We ate a special meal the day before to close the old year of the snake, and the day after we opened the new year of the horse with another special meal. The first day of the new year is meant to set the tone for the rest of the year, so we focused on enjoying ourselves, spending time with family, not doing any housework, and having a peaceful and happy day.
Here's a question for you all: Did you set any new year's resolutions this year? If not, why not set a lunar new year resolution? =D
I have this bad habit that I've been trying to kick since I was a teen. It's really gross. No really, it is. I confess: I bite and pick at my nails and cuticles. GROSS, I know. Ugh, I know, it's awful. This nervous habit had been the bane of my existence for over half my life. For the "regular" 2014 new year, I made a resolution to be done with it once and for all. On this day, 31 days later, I can say that I've been successful so far. Yay. YAY! Hoping and crossing my non-gross fingers that I can keep this up.
So in the spirit of new years, rather than kick a bad habit, I'm going to try to develop a good one in this year of the horse. My informal lunar new year resolution is to write for an hour a day with as few interruptions or distractions as possible. That means you, internet! I recognize this goal isn't much for a lot of authors, but with so much on my mind - between Nico's care, my now-active job hunt, and the general time-suck that is the internet - I want to make my goals realistic and achievable. Baby steps, right? So now I've got something to aim for that will hopefully help me get those plot bunnies down on paper. *shameless grin*
Speaking of Nico-kitteh, he begins his radiation therapy on Wednesday. I have high hopes that he will come through this well and be with us for many more years. The recommended treatment is quite aggressive, but I have confidence that he's receiving the best care possible that will give him the best chances possible. That said, your positive and healthy vibes would be much appreciated!
In closing, I wish all of you a happy lunar new year! Here's hoping that the year of the horse will bring us all health, happiness, longevity, and joy. =)
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
NJ
January 31st marked the first day of the year of the horse. So...happy new year! Or, as we say in Chinese, Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Celebrating the new year in my Chinese American family usually involves many traditions, from things you do (or don't do) to foods you eat (or don't eat). We ate a special meal the day before to close the old year of the snake, and the day after we opened the new year of the horse with another special meal. The first day of the new year is meant to set the tone for the rest of the year, so we focused on enjoying ourselves, spending time with family, not doing any housework, and having a peaceful and happy day.
Here's a question for you all: Did you set any new year's resolutions this year? If not, why not set a lunar new year resolution? =D
I have this bad habit that I've been trying to kick since I was a teen. It's really gross. No really, it is. I confess: I bite and pick at my nails and cuticles. GROSS, I know. Ugh, I know, it's awful. This nervous habit had been the bane of my existence for over half my life. For the "regular" 2014 new year, I made a resolution to be done with it once and for all. On this day, 31 days later, I can say that I've been successful so far. Yay. YAY! Hoping and crossing my non-gross fingers that I can keep this up.
So in the spirit of new years, rather than kick a bad habit, I'm going to try to develop a good one in this year of the horse. My informal lunar new year resolution is to write for an hour a day with as few interruptions or distractions as possible. That means you, internet! I recognize this goal isn't much for a lot of authors, but with so much on my mind - between Nico's care, my now-active job hunt, and the general time-suck that is the internet - I want to make my goals realistic and achievable. Baby steps, right? So now I've got something to aim for that will hopefully help me get those plot bunnies down on paper. *shameless grin*
Speaking of Nico-kitteh, he begins his radiation therapy on Wednesday. I have high hopes that he will come through this well and be with us for many more years. The recommended treatment is quite aggressive, but I have confidence that he's receiving the best care possible that will give him the best chances possible. That said, your positive and healthy vibes would be much appreciated!
In closing, I wish all of you a happy lunar new year! Here's hoping that the year of the horse will bring us all health, happiness, longevity, and joy. =)
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
NJ
