Announcing the Blue Ruin Reader Forum!
http://blueruin.aceboard.com/
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Blue Ruin Reader Forum
Announcing the Blue Ruin Reader Forum!
http://blueruin.aceboard.com/
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Reader reviews for Blue Ruin 2!
Italian reader Elisa Rolle, who regularly offers reviews of m/m and yaoi titles at her journal, has weighed in on Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me. Here's a snippet:
Elisa also points out that Blue Ruin 2 is not necessarily "menage". (I myself consider it a love triangle, but I'm hard-pressed to explain the resulting dynamics without giving away the plot!) You can read Elisa's review in full at http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/276450.html
Reader Brenda Rodriguez has posted her own review at various forums. She expressed similar sentiments as Elisa, as well as offering her take on the presence of what she calls "girl cooties" in my yaoi. *laugh* (I'm not adverse to casting females in my yaoi, but I will assure my readers and give away plot up front in that I still adhere to the rule that only the boys get to play in yaoi-land.) It's a bit difficult to provide links to private forum threads, so Brenda has given me permission to share some snippets of her thoughts here:
Brenda goes on to explain why she enjoyed BR2 after all:
And regarding those icky girl cooties:
I feel Brenda nailed it on the head in that this series is an ongoing HEA. Though Blue Ruin took a certain direction a few books sooner than anticipated, and in a wholly different way than I'd originally envisioned, I intended all along to stick with the same ongoing relationship and show the ups and downs entailed during Derek and Blue's first few years together. What can I say? The Blue Ruin series is the result of reading the rough ride that is Yamane Ayano's Finder series, Miyamoto Kano's soap opera styled Rules, and La Nora's ongoing HEA In Death series at around the same time. Yes -- the very het relationship of Roarke and Eve from In Death, of all things, is one of the inspirations behind the hot yaoi boylovin' of Derek and Blue. Who knew? Well, now you do! ;)
Anyway, don't forget that I'm donating ten percent of BR2's first month royalties to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths. Anyone who forwards their BR2 receipt to katrina_strauss13 AT yahoo DOT com between now and May 20th will receive a 5x7 postcard of the cover, tucked discreetly in a plain white envelope so as not to induce nosebleeds in any yaoi-inclined postal workers.
"I should confess, I was uncertain. Even if I liked a lot Blue Ruin 1, I don't like very much menages (even if they are M/M/M menages), and so when I saw the new cover of Blue Ruin 2 I was perplexed[...]I will like this new ones like the previous ones? And the answer is yes."
Elisa also points out that Blue Ruin 2 is not necessarily "menage". (I myself consider it a love triangle, but I'm hard-pressed to explain the resulting dynamics without giving away the plot!) You can read Elisa's review in full at http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/276450.html
Reader Brenda Rodriguez has posted her own review at various forums. She expressed similar sentiments as Elisa, as well as offering her take on the presence of what she calls "girl cooties" in my yaoi. *laugh* (I'm not adverse to casting females in my yaoi, but I will assure my readers and give away plot up front in that I still adhere to the rule that only the boys get to play in yaoi-land.) It's a bit difficult to provide links to private forum threads, so Brenda has given me permission to share some snippets of her thoughts here:
"Gushy fangirl squees aside, I wanted to figure out why I liked this book so much. I mean, the premise had the potential to blow up in Katrina's face. Why take a couple that earned a place in many readers hearts and introduce a lot of conflict, including a third person, into the mix?[...] You see, I originally assumed that the series would be comprised of books with HEAs for other characters in the Blue Ruin world, not messing with Derek and Blue's HEA.
Brenda goes on to explain why she enjoyed BR2 after all:
"BR2 has many of the elements that made BR1 a great book. Obviously it helps to have visually appealing characters like Blue and Derek. The ongoing power exchange between Blue and Derek and Blue's subtle rebellions add to the mix. The simple yet engaging whodunit plot keeps things moving. The violence brings in that dark aura that gives the book an edge and makes it feel more like an anime movie. But none of those things are what makes Close To Me a great book. What really makes a difference in this book is how the characters deal with the tough situations they face as the story evolves. From an emotional standpoint, the characters faced many situations where the choice was between bad and worse. The characters were tested. They struggled. They learned lessons. And if the outcome was bittersweet, that's ok. That is an integral part of growing. So, there is no traditional HEA at the end of BR2. I guess you could say there is, if you view it as an 'on going' HEA. The point is, this is not the end of the journey. It is just one more step along the path."
And regarding those icky girl cooties:
"I should point out that I generally hate girl cooties in my m/m books. When I realized Katrina had introduced two more female characters, I had a moment of panic. Was she about to ruin the book? Luckily the answer is no. In fact, the opposite was true. These two female characters added a lot to the book. Some of my favorite moments in the book involve the girls. They are funny, refreshing and a bit like I think I would be if I had the privilege of having friends like Blue and Derek. 'Live-action yaoi' indeed!"
I feel Brenda nailed it on the head in that this series is an ongoing HEA. Though Blue Ruin took a certain direction a few books sooner than anticipated, and in a wholly different way than I'd originally envisioned, I intended all along to stick with the same ongoing relationship and show the ups and downs entailed during Derek and Blue's first few years together. What can I say? The Blue Ruin series is the result of reading the rough ride that is Yamane Ayano's Finder series, Miyamoto Kano's soap opera styled Rules, and La Nora's ongoing HEA In Death series at around the same time. Yes -- the very het relationship of Roarke and Eve from In Death, of all things, is one of the inspirations behind the hot yaoi boylovin' of Derek and Blue. Who knew? Well, now you do! ;)
Anyway, don't forget that I'm donating ten percent of BR2's first month royalties to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths. Anyone who forwards their BR2 receipt to katrina_strauss13 AT yahoo DOT com between now and May 20th will receive a 5x7 postcard of the cover, tucked discreetly in a plain white envelope so as not to induce nosebleeds in any yaoi-inclined postal workers.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
On crafting a difficult character...or, "The Lestat Defense"
I first read Interview with the Vampire when I was in the seventh grade. My father gave me his spine-worn copy after he saw I had graduated to the likes of Stephen King and had no desire to read crap like Sweet Valley High (though I perhaps, erm, read a few here and there when I was bored....). This was a few years before I went goth, as I was still in my gawky poseur kinda/sorta New Wave stage. If anything, Anne Rice's vamps may have been what steered me in a darker direction. Allow me to pat myself on the back in saying that upon the release of The Vampire Lestat a few years later, I was well familiar with Ms. Rice's work. By Queen of the Damned, I actually recommended Anne Rice to many of my newfound gothy-type friends.
I digress a bit, though. The point of today's post is -- when I first learned that Lestat would be the protagonist of the second book, my 14-year-old self was aghast. In the first book, Louis presented Lestat as a complete asshole. Yet I was curious to read more work of this nature by Anne Rice, and so with an open mind, I cracked the newly-presented hardback (courtesy of dear old Dad again) to the first page. I read the opening line: "I am the Vampire Lestat.". ‘nuff said – an introduction so confident and powerful in its sheer simplicity, and I was immediately entranced. Here we meet a narrator who is aware that many readers will be approaching him with very loaded preconceived notions of his character and personality, and so he knows he need only say his name and then immediately launches into the story before he loses us. As the story continued, I came to admire, respect and yes, love Lestat for his strengths and flaws alike. My respect for Anne Rice increased greatly as well, for here was an author who had taken a character her readers had expected to detest, and then turned him into an endearing icon of modern gothic horror and pop culture.
I eventually tired of The Vampire Chronicles around book six. My beloved Lestat had grown predictable in his actions (hmm, let me guess, by the end of this new installment, he's going to...turn someone into a vampire even if he really shouldn't?). Overall, Anne Rice lost me somewhere along the way -- not because of her new direction because hey more power to her, but because she decided with a "clarity that was brilliantly clear" or whatever that convoluted line in Blood and Gold was, that she no longer needed an editor. Yet in my own work, there is always a little bit of my favorite blond-haired, blue-eyed, anti-hero devil to be found in every lead male I’ve crafted. Yes, it's Monsieur de Lioncourt's fault that I have this thing for the hot but imperfect alpha and/or rogue male with complex personality and dark angsty secrets to be gradually revealed as we unwittingly fall under his spell.
Unbeknowst to me, this influence was in full effect when I crafted a new character for the second Blue Ruin book, Close to Me, which was just released yesterday. I had originally planned to bring Cameron Carter, Blue's former schoolyard bully nemesis, into the fold around book four. The Muse, however, had other ideas and Cameron came barging into not only Blue's life but mine in book two. I balked at first. Based on what little my readers, or hell I the author, knew of him from book one, I wasn't sure that I was even going to like Cameron, much less be able to craft a sympathetic character my readers could accept. And so finally, I gave in, told the insane Muse "Hey you're crazy but you know best", and directed Cameron to enter stage right. And then Cameron swaggered in, smiled his dimple-chinned grin, and cracked a joke to another character, and I said to myself, "I can do this." By the following chapter, I discovered Cameron's tormented past and found I had judged him wrongly. (What, you thought we authors actually plan this stuff in advance? No, many of us are clueless as to what the heck our characters are up to and figure this stuff out as we go along!) And rather than brush Cam's flaws under the rug, I utilized them, making them as much a part of his motivation as I did his strengths or his well-meant intentions. I will say this...for all the free rein I've learned to give the Muse, this was also the first time I went back and reeled the characters in a bit. I won't say how, why or where lest I give away the plot to those who have not read the story yet; but to those of you have read it already, let's just say that if you think Blue suffered a moment of weakness, you should have seen how far things went in the first draft.
By final draft, not only had Cameron grown a good deal within just the span of one book, he had forced Blue and Derek to grow, both individually and as a couple. And he forced me to grow as a writer. It wasn't until after I'd turned the manuscript into my astute editor that it finally hit me...I'd pulled a Lestat. I'd introduced a character who I expected everyone to hate -- one who I myself wanted to hate -- but by the end of the story, he had won me over. Of course not everyone is going to understand or give a rat's ass about my learning experience from the author end. I expect not all readers are going to agree with Cameron's role in the series. While I've already received some very positive feedback on this release, I also know of a few Blue Ruin 1 readers who don't intend to give book two a second glance. But at the end of the day, I know that I wrote the story that demanded to be told. As for the readers who've stayed on board and already come to love Cameron as I have, well, I don't have to tell you that he's something special, and that the parting scene between him and Blue is one of the most heartfelt scenes I have ever written. (Yes, I cried when I wrote it, what can I say?)
Currently I am re-reading Interview with the Vampire, as I see Anne Rice's gothic influence rearing its head in the draft for Blue Ruin 3, perhaps due to the Lestat realization I came to after book two. (In fact in book three, Blue enters a rather gothy-looking living space and quips “What the hell is this? Interview with the Vampire?”) What with my love for Lestat, it's almost painful to read Interview now, and I actually find Louis quite annoying. Funny how my perspective has changed since that first reading back in seventh grade... Only in darkness can there be light, but it is those shades of gray where we truly see ourselves. A difficult character can challenge both author and reader alike to broaden their views, and I'm always up for a challenge.
I digress a bit, though. The point of today's post is -- when I first learned that Lestat would be the protagonist of the second book, my 14-year-old self was aghast. In the first book, Louis presented Lestat as a complete asshole. Yet I was curious to read more work of this nature by Anne Rice, and so with an open mind, I cracked the newly-presented hardback (courtesy of dear old Dad again) to the first page. I read the opening line: "I am the Vampire Lestat.". ‘nuff said – an introduction so confident and powerful in its sheer simplicity, and I was immediately entranced. Here we meet a narrator who is aware that many readers will be approaching him with very loaded preconceived notions of his character and personality, and so he knows he need only say his name and then immediately launches into the story before he loses us. As the story continued, I came to admire, respect and yes, love Lestat for his strengths and flaws alike. My respect for Anne Rice increased greatly as well, for here was an author who had taken a character her readers had expected to detest, and then turned him into an endearing icon of modern gothic horror and pop culture.
I eventually tired of The Vampire Chronicles around book six. My beloved Lestat had grown predictable in his actions (hmm, let me guess, by the end of this new installment, he's going to...turn someone into a vampire even if he really shouldn't?). Overall, Anne Rice lost me somewhere along the way -- not because of her new direction because hey more power to her, but because she decided with a "clarity that was brilliantly clear" or whatever that convoluted line in Blood and Gold was, that she no longer needed an editor. Yet in my own work, there is always a little bit of my favorite blond-haired, blue-eyed, anti-hero devil to be found in every lead male I’ve crafted. Yes, it's Monsieur de Lioncourt's fault that I have this thing for the hot but imperfect alpha and/or rogue male with complex personality and dark angsty secrets to be gradually revealed as we unwittingly fall under his spell.
Unbeknowst to me, this influence was in full effect when I crafted a new character for the second Blue Ruin book, Close to Me, which was just released yesterday. I had originally planned to bring Cameron Carter, Blue's former schoolyard bully nemesis, into the fold around book four. The Muse, however, had other ideas and Cameron came barging into not only Blue's life but mine in book two. I balked at first. Based on what little my readers, or hell I the author, knew of him from book one, I wasn't sure that I was even going to like Cameron, much less be able to craft a sympathetic character my readers could accept. And so finally, I gave in, told the insane Muse "Hey you're crazy but you know best", and directed Cameron to enter stage right. And then Cameron swaggered in, smiled his dimple-chinned grin, and cracked a joke to another character, and I said to myself, "I can do this." By the following chapter, I discovered Cameron's tormented past and found I had judged him wrongly. (What, you thought we authors actually plan this stuff in advance? No, many of us are clueless as to what the heck our characters are up to and figure this stuff out as we go along!) And rather than brush Cam's flaws under the rug, I utilized them, making them as much a part of his motivation as I did his strengths or his well-meant intentions. I will say this...for all the free rein I've learned to give the Muse, this was also the first time I went back and reeled the characters in a bit. I won't say how, why or where lest I give away the plot to those who have not read the story yet; but to those of you have read it already, let's just say that if you think Blue suffered a moment of weakness, you should have seen how far things went in the first draft.
By final draft, not only had Cameron grown a good deal within just the span of one book, he had forced Blue and Derek to grow, both individually and as a couple. And he forced me to grow as a writer. It wasn't until after I'd turned the manuscript into my astute editor that it finally hit me...I'd pulled a Lestat. I'd introduced a character who I expected everyone to hate -- one who I myself wanted to hate -- but by the end of the story, he had won me over. Of course not everyone is going to understand or give a rat's ass about my learning experience from the author end. I expect not all readers are going to agree with Cameron's role in the series. While I've already received some very positive feedback on this release, I also know of a few Blue Ruin 1 readers who don't intend to give book two a second glance. But at the end of the day, I know that I wrote the story that demanded to be told. As for the readers who've stayed on board and already come to love Cameron as I have, well, I don't have to tell you that he's something special, and that the parting scene between him and Blue is one of the most heartfelt scenes I have ever written. (Yes, I cried when I wrote it, what can I say?)
Currently I am re-reading Interview with the Vampire, as I see Anne Rice's gothic influence rearing its head in the draft for Blue Ruin 3, perhaps due to the Lestat realization I came to after book two. (In fact in book three, Blue enters a rather gothy-looking living space and quips “What the hell is this? Interview with the Vampire?”) What with my love for Lestat, it's almost painful to read Interview now, and I actually find Louis quite annoying. Funny how my perspective has changed since that first reading back in seventh grade... Only in darkness can there be light, but it is those shades of gray where we truly see ourselves. A difficult character can challenge both author and reader alike to broaden their views, and I'm always up for a challenge.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Blue Ruin 2 is out today!
Available now from Loose Id!
Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me
Blue finds pleasure in playing pet to Derek, but is eager to pursue goals outside of their relationship. Derek affords Blue room to grow, trusting love will keep his restless pet in line. That love is put to the test when a hurtful crush from Blue's school days appears seeking absolution. Caught between two strong-willed men, can Blue prove his loyalty to one while denying his attraction to the other? Katrina Strauss tests the boundaries of faith, loyalty, forgiveness, and love in Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me, available today from Loose Id!
Read an excerpt: http://www.loose-id.com/KSBR2CTMex.aspx
Buy the book: http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=707
In Close to Me, a secondary character donates their hair to an organization that creates wigs for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. While I don't name or endorse any specific group in the novel, I thought it only fitting that ten percent of the first month's royalties go to one such organization. After researching and considering four very worthwhile groups (which you may find listed here along with donation tips versus misconceptions) I feel Pantene's Beautiful Lengths is the most appropriate choice for a donation from The Readers of Katrina Strauss.
Any reader whose purchase contributes to this donation is eligible to receive a free 5x7 postcard of the cover -- yes, the hot all-boy love triangle as depicted by PL Nunn, tucked discreetly in a plain white envelope of course! To claim your postcard, simply forward a copy of your receipt for Close to Me to katrina_strauss13 AT yahoo DOT com between now and May 20th, 2008, and the bishies shall be on their way. So, dear readers, let's put our love of yaoi toward a good cause!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Another excerpt from Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me
Only one week and one day until the release of Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me. As with the first Blue Ruin book, the second installment includes shout-outs to various evil influences. Last time I snuck in references to everything from Star Wars to My Chemical Romance, as well as those oft-speculated missing three days from Yamane Ayano's Finder series. This time around it's Gravitation, Death Note, X-Files, Harajuku GothLolis, and every steamy Haruka Minami shower scene ever illustrated. (Yes, Haruka-sensei gives good shower!) I've even included fandom staple sea salt ice cream, though I'm representin' Westside with blue raspberry rocket pops.
And...I've managed to pay homage to good old high school yaoi, all the while keeping my characters of legal Western age. Lest anyone think I did so with a perverted agenda, bear in mind that if I truly wanted to get perverted, I would have found an excuse to dress Blue in one of those Japanese schoolboy uniforms with the really cute stand-up collars. Okay perhaps I was maybe looking for an excuse to throw in just one kiss up against the lockers, but in the end I utilized my "not high school yaoi" backdrop as contrast between the two very different worlds that a now 19-year-old Blue finds himself torn between. There's the very adult, very mature relationship with an older man that Blue committed to before he was quite prepared to handle the emotional responsibility entailed. Then there's the chance for Blue to overcome unresolved issues of the past while reliving the youth that he never really got to enjoy. Naturally angst ensues...which also offered me the opportunity to explore good old angst-ridden yaoi. Soo...here is one of my "not high school yaoi" scenes, wherein we are introduced to one certain Cameron Carter (aged 20 for the record).
Excerpt:
Blue plodded down the stairwell, one hand in his pocket, the other clutching a black notebook with a number two pencil stuck in the spiral binding. At the foot of the stairs he veered right, then went through a pair of sturdy metal doors and made his way down the corridor. His boot heels echoed eerily off the scuffed tile, the chains on his bondage pants jangling in time with each step. He passed a row of lockers, the painted metal alternating between the school colors of maroon and orange.
At night, with the lights dimmed and the halls empty, the facility bore a sinister, surrealistic feel. Though it was his first time in the building, Blue found it wasn’t much different from his old high school. In fact, it was a little too close for comfort, right down to the cloying scent of industrial strength pine cleanser, causing his gut to twinge with the same anxiety that had plagued him throughout adolescence.
He stopped at the last door on the left. He peered through the narrow wire glass panel, confirming he’d arrived at the right place.
No turning back, Blue told himself. He turned the doorknob and entered the classroom. He was greeted by a flicker of fluorescent light and the hum of idle chatter, the scent of pine giving way to chalk dust and paper. A few of the students looked at him with passing curiosity. A trim, middle-aged redhead in a terry cloth track suit lifted a brow as she eyed him up and down, then resumed her conversation with a pudgy, balding gentleman dressed in a decidedly conservative polo shirt tucked into belted, pressed khakis.
Scanning the room, ignoring the faces, Blue went to an empty desk on the back row. He slapped his notebook down on the desktop, slipped out of his velvet jacket, and hung it across the backrest. With a clatter of chains, he took his seat and slouched down, propping his foot on his knee.
A voice chimed from his left. “Hi.”
Blue wondered how on earth he’d overlooked the girl with amethyst eyes. He took in her striped baby doll shirt, fishnet arm warmers, pierced nose, and black emo swoop streaked purple at the fringes to match her contacts.
“Hey.” He nodded back, a show of solidarity with a fellow misfit and the one student in the room who appeared closest to him in age.
“I’m Jodi,” she offered with a slight wave of her hand, her nails painted black with hot pink star decals. Normally, Blue might have found such a combination garish, but somehow the girl’s quirky style suited her.
“I’m Blue."
“Fitting,” she giggled. Her pale cheeks flushed pink and her smile deepened. “That was a killer concert.”
He looked down at his shirt. “Yeah. I was on the lawn and couldn’t see crap, but they sounded great.”
She gave a knowing laugh, then nibbled her lower lip and looked down at her hands folded on her desk. It struck Blue that she might be flirting, had perhaps assumed he’d chosen that particular seat in order to meet her, but when it came to girls he could never really tell. He’d observed women exhibit such an appreciative reaction in Derek’s presence, but then his boyfriend could pass for a damned GQ model.
A bespectacled, wiry-haired gentleman in a short sleeve button-up plaid shirt and a horribly outdated tie entered the room with a stack of textbooks topped by a clipboard. As the door shut behind him, the man dropped the books on the teacher’s desk with a thud.
“Oh, that must be sensei,” Jodi muttered under her breath.
“Huh?” Blue asked.
Their instructor took his place at the podium. He offered an obligatory greeting, then immediately informed the class that obtaining a GED was no easy feat. For perspective, he explained that one-third of high school graduates would fail the GED test. Blue refrained from raising his hand and asking how that one-third had managed to finish school in the first place. Any musings over the complexities of the educational system were kept to himself.
The teacher reminded them that they would meet for three and a half hours every Monday and Wednesday evening for the next three months and engage in what he termed as “intensive review of the five core subjects necessary for graduation.”
In other words, thought Blue, they were going to cram like nobody’s business.
The teacher then went on to explain that the test would take eight hours, divided into two four-hour sessions. As he outlined the five parts of the test on the chalkboard, Blue did what he’d often done in school -- he zoned out. He’d already read up on the test and knew what to expect. He was ready to get started on reviewing everything he’d forgotten over the past several months since he’d dropped out. He stared out the window and watched a small flock of night birds swarm around a streetlamp, swooping and diving at the insects that had gathered under the warm, fuzzy light like lambs to the slaughter. Absently, he clicked his tongue ring against the back of his teeth.
The rhythmic scratch of chalk upon slate was interrupted by the squeak of hinges. Blue glanced toward the door. A tall young man in a classic leather biker jacket, tight jeans, and black sneakers swaggered into the room.
“Sorry,” said the latecomer in a smooth baritone.
Blue knew that voice. He knew that confident gait. The former quarterback’s hair was longer now, the chestnut brown crew cut grown to wispy layers that fell in his eyes and framed his square jawline. He’d lost some of his build, the biker jacket hanging on his six feet frame more loosely than his letterman jacket had, but his chest still stretched out the black T-shirt before tapering to his smooth, narrow waist.
“Wow, he’s hot,” Blue vaguely heard Jodi mutter.
“Hello, Mr. Carter,” he thought he heard the teacher say, the words muffled by the sound of Blue’s pulse pounding in his ears, the rhythm matching his heart as it hammered against his rib cage.
The new arrival grinned, showing perfect white teeth, and his chin dimpled. “I parked the bike by the gym but the back door was locked. Had to go around.”
It couldn’t be him. Of all the damned night schools in this godforsaken city…
“New security measures,” said the teacher. He nodded toward an empty desk at the front of the room. “Have a seat.” He peered over his bifocals at his clipboard. “You’re retesting for the Language Arts portion of the exam. So you won’t need to come in on Wednesdays.” He looked back up at the younger man.
“I trust you won’t be back for round three?”
“No, sir. I couldn’t bribe you last time, so I guess I’ll break down and study for this one.”
A soft wave of laughter rippled through the room. But then Cameron Carter had always been able to charm his way through anything.
*****
*****
Copyright 2007 by Katrina Strauss
Excerpt from Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me
Coming April 15th from Loose Id!
http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=707
Available now:
Blue Ruin 1: Some Kind of Stranger
http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=635
*****
*****
And...I've managed to pay homage to good old high school yaoi, all the while keeping my characters of legal Western age. Lest anyone think I did so with a perverted agenda, bear in mind that if I truly wanted to get perverted, I would have found an excuse to dress Blue in one of those Japanese schoolboy uniforms with the really cute stand-up collars. Okay perhaps I was maybe looking for an excuse to throw in just one kiss up against the lockers, but in the end I utilized my "not high school yaoi" backdrop as contrast between the two very different worlds that a now 19-year-old Blue finds himself torn between. There's the very adult, very mature relationship with an older man that Blue committed to before he was quite prepared to handle the emotional responsibility entailed. Then there's the chance for Blue to overcome unresolved issues of the past while reliving the youth that he never really got to enjoy. Naturally angst ensues...which also offered me the opportunity to explore good old angst-ridden yaoi. Soo...here is one of my "not high school yaoi" scenes, wherein we are introduced to one certain Cameron Carter (aged 20 for the record).
Excerpt:
Blue plodded down the stairwell, one hand in his pocket, the other clutching a black notebook with a number two pencil stuck in the spiral binding. At the foot of the stairs he veered right, then went through a pair of sturdy metal doors and made his way down the corridor. His boot heels echoed eerily off the scuffed tile, the chains on his bondage pants jangling in time with each step. He passed a row of lockers, the painted metal alternating between the school colors of maroon and orange.
At night, with the lights dimmed and the halls empty, the facility bore a sinister, surrealistic feel. Though it was his first time in the building, Blue found it wasn’t much different from his old high school. In fact, it was a little too close for comfort, right down to the cloying scent of industrial strength pine cleanser, causing his gut to twinge with the same anxiety that had plagued him throughout adolescence.
He stopped at the last door on the left. He peered through the narrow wire glass panel, confirming he’d arrived at the right place.
No turning back, Blue told himself. He turned the doorknob and entered the classroom. He was greeted by a flicker of fluorescent light and the hum of idle chatter, the scent of pine giving way to chalk dust and paper. A few of the students looked at him with passing curiosity. A trim, middle-aged redhead in a terry cloth track suit lifted a brow as she eyed him up and down, then resumed her conversation with a pudgy, balding gentleman dressed in a decidedly conservative polo shirt tucked into belted, pressed khakis.
Scanning the room, ignoring the faces, Blue went to an empty desk on the back row. He slapped his notebook down on the desktop, slipped out of his velvet jacket, and hung it across the backrest. With a clatter of chains, he took his seat and slouched down, propping his foot on his knee.
A voice chimed from his left. “Hi.”
Blue wondered how on earth he’d overlooked the girl with amethyst eyes. He took in her striped baby doll shirt, fishnet arm warmers, pierced nose, and black emo swoop streaked purple at the fringes to match her contacts.
“Hey.” He nodded back, a show of solidarity with a fellow misfit and the one student in the room who appeared closest to him in age.
“I’m Jodi,” she offered with a slight wave of her hand, her nails painted black with hot pink star decals. Normally, Blue might have found such a combination garish, but somehow the girl’s quirky style suited her.
“I’m Blue."
“Fitting,” she giggled. Her pale cheeks flushed pink and her smile deepened. “That was a killer concert.”
He looked down at his shirt. “Yeah. I was on the lawn and couldn’t see crap, but they sounded great.”
She gave a knowing laugh, then nibbled her lower lip and looked down at her hands folded on her desk. It struck Blue that she might be flirting, had perhaps assumed he’d chosen that particular seat in order to meet her, but when it came to girls he could never really tell. He’d observed women exhibit such an appreciative reaction in Derek’s presence, but then his boyfriend could pass for a damned GQ model.
A bespectacled, wiry-haired gentleman in a short sleeve button-up plaid shirt and a horribly outdated tie entered the room with a stack of textbooks topped by a clipboard. As the door shut behind him, the man dropped the books on the teacher’s desk with a thud.
“Oh, that must be sensei,” Jodi muttered under her breath.
“Huh?” Blue asked.
Their instructor took his place at the podium. He offered an obligatory greeting, then immediately informed the class that obtaining a GED was no easy feat. For perspective, he explained that one-third of high school graduates would fail the GED test. Blue refrained from raising his hand and asking how that one-third had managed to finish school in the first place. Any musings over the complexities of the educational system were kept to himself.
The teacher reminded them that they would meet for three and a half hours every Monday and Wednesday evening for the next three months and engage in what he termed as “intensive review of the five core subjects necessary for graduation.”
In other words, thought Blue, they were going to cram like nobody’s business.
The teacher then went on to explain that the test would take eight hours, divided into two four-hour sessions. As he outlined the five parts of the test on the chalkboard, Blue did what he’d often done in school -- he zoned out. He’d already read up on the test and knew what to expect. He was ready to get started on reviewing everything he’d forgotten over the past several months since he’d dropped out. He stared out the window and watched a small flock of night birds swarm around a streetlamp, swooping and diving at the insects that had gathered under the warm, fuzzy light like lambs to the slaughter. Absently, he clicked his tongue ring against the back of his teeth.
The rhythmic scratch of chalk upon slate was interrupted by the squeak of hinges. Blue glanced toward the door. A tall young man in a classic leather biker jacket, tight jeans, and black sneakers swaggered into the room.
“Sorry,” said the latecomer in a smooth baritone.
Blue knew that voice. He knew that confident gait. The former quarterback’s hair was longer now, the chestnut brown crew cut grown to wispy layers that fell in his eyes and framed his square jawline. He’d lost some of his build, the biker jacket hanging on his six feet frame more loosely than his letterman jacket had, but his chest still stretched out the black T-shirt before tapering to his smooth, narrow waist.
“Wow, he’s hot,” Blue vaguely heard Jodi mutter.
“Hello, Mr. Carter,” he thought he heard the teacher say, the words muffled by the sound of Blue’s pulse pounding in his ears, the rhythm matching his heart as it hammered against his rib cage.
The new arrival grinned, showing perfect white teeth, and his chin dimpled. “I parked the bike by the gym but the back door was locked. Had to go around.”
It couldn’t be him. Of all the damned night schools in this godforsaken city…
“New security measures,” said the teacher. He nodded toward an empty desk at the front of the room. “Have a seat.” He peered over his bifocals at his clipboard. “You’re retesting for the Language Arts portion of the exam. So you won’t need to come in on Wednesdays.” He looked back up at the younger man.
“I trust you won’t be back for round three?”
“No, sir. I couldn’t bribe you last time, so I guess I’ll break down and study for this one.”
A soft wave of laughter rippled through the room. But then Cameron Carter had always been able to charm his way through anything.
*****
*****
Copyright 2007 by Katrina Strauss
Excerpt from Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me
Coming April 15th from Loose Id!
http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=707
Available now:
Blue Ruin 1: Some Kind of Stranger
http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=635
*****
*****
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
An excerpt from Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me
Just two weeks until the April 15th release of Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me! I thought I'd whet everyone's appetite today with a teaser, followed by a second excerpt next Tuesday. Warning, this one is mildly naughty and not necessarily worksafe. Enjoy! ;)
*****
*****
Blue woke later to find it raining still, the DVD player off and the room dark. He rolled over and, for the first time in days, found himself alone in the king-sized bed. Warmth lingered upon the cream-colored sheets, confirming Blue’s suspicions that only when he was fully asleep did the other man sneak away for a moment of privacy. Blue burrowed his face into the pillows, inhaling the fragrant scent of Derek’s hair. Absently, he slid his hand between the satin-encased pillows and the wrought iron headboard. With a light rattle of metal upon metal, he toyed with one of the disused wrist cuffs. He traced his thumb down the strap, delighting in the smooth grain of leather, thinking of the way both cuffs cut into his wrists when he strained against them at the height of passion. He gave the restraint a wistful tug, the clink of the chain eliciting a faint stirring of arousal.
Blue sighed, wondering if his master would ever use the restraints on him again. Listening to the rain, he gradually grew aware of the steady stream of water coming from the bathroom.
He slid out of bed and padded across the floor. He cracked the door to the bathroom, the one and only enclosed room in the loft, and stepped inside.
Steam swirled around him. With a tender smile, Blue studied the blurred figure through the shower stall door. He’d initially been drawn to Derek by the man’s lithe six foot two frame, toned but not overly buff, and that amazing mane that now shimmered down the other man’s back as he tilted his head and rinsed his hair. While Blue had stayed with Derek for reasons that extended beyond appearance, he would never tire of looking at that body, his intimate knowledge of every plane and angle only enhancing the sight.
As he watched Derek turn around, Blue grew further aroused. He slipped off his robe, the velour pooling to the floor behind him. Homing in, he advanced toward his quarry, his cock lengthening, his grin gone sly.
Sometimes it was the master who needed to be reminded of the rules, and Blue was up to the task.
*****
Excerpt from Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me
Copyright 2007 by Katrina Strauss
Coming April 15th from Loose Id!
Available now:
Blue Ruin 1: Some Kind of Stranger
BDSM romance for readers of yaoi
http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=635
*****
*****
*****
Blue woke later to find it raining still, the DVD player off and the room dark. He rolled over and, for the first time in days, found himself alone in the king-sized bed. Warmth lingered upon the cream-colored sheets, confirming Blue’s suspicions that only when he was fully asleep did the other man sneak away for a moment of privacy. Blue burrowed his face into the pillows, inhaling the fragrant scent of Derek’s hair. Absently, he slid his hand between the satin-encased pillows and the wrought iron headboard. With a light rattle of metal upon metal, he toyed with one of the disused wrist cuffs. He traced his thumb down the strap, delighting in the smooth grain of leather, thinking of the way both cuffs cut into his wrists when he strained against them at the height of passion. He gave the restraint a wistful tug, the clink of the chain eliciting a faint stirring of arousal.
Blue sighed, wondering if his master would ever use the restraints on him again. Listening to the rain, he gradually grew aware of the steady stream of water coming from the bathroom.
He slid out of bed and padded across the floor. He cracked the door to the bathroom, the one and only enclosed room in the loft, and stepped inside.
Steam swirled around him. With a tender smile, Blue studied the blurred figure through the shower stall door. He’d initially been drawn to Derek by the man’s lithe six foot two frame, toned but not overly buff, and that amazing mane that now shimmered down the other man’s back as he tilted his head and rinsed his hair. While Blue had stayed with Derek for reasons that extended beyond appearance, he would never tire of looking at that body, his intimate knowledge of every plane and angle only enhancing the sight.
As he watched Derek turn around, Blue grew further aroused. He slipped off his robe, the velour pooling to the floor behind him. Homing in, he advanced toward his quarry, his cock lengthening, his grin gone sly.
Sometimes it was the master who needed to be reminded of the rules, and Blue was up to the task.
*****
Excerpt from Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me
Copyright 2007 by Katrina Strauss
Coming April 15th from Loose Id!
Available now:
Blue Ruin 1: Some Kind of Stranger
BDSM romance for readers of yaoi
http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=635
*****
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