After roughly 15 years of Internet use, I've officially hit saturation point. Add in the smart phone, which has been both blessing and curse. On one hand, the smart phone has freed me from the desktop. If I'm waiting on an important e-mail from an editor, I don't have to hover over my computer all day. On the other hand, when my brain used to scream "Put your hands in the air and step away from the Internet!" I could literally turn off access and then literally walk away for a few hours or even days. Now, the damned Internet is in my pocket wherever I go. Combine all this with hitting saturation point on my writing career, promoting said writing career, the e-publishing industry, the M/M genre, the M/F genre, as well as their accompanying blogosphere, social network, etc (which then circles back around to my love/hate affair with the Internet) and my brain has finally short-circuited. I've been waiting on a sign from the Universe as to which direction to take certain things in my life, and I finally got it -- a big, red STOP sign.
The fact that I'm compelled to blog about this is beyond ironic, and yes, it burns, but it also says it all, doesn't it? At this stage in the game, there's no going back to a world without the
Net. And that's fine! I appreciate the convenience of the Internet, and my smart phone has enhanced that convenience. For example, my son is excited we'll be able to listen to our favorite St. Louis radio station after we move to Savannah, thanks to, yep, the Internet and the Tune-In app on my phone. I like checking my bank balance with the bank app. I like that I can text someone at the house from the grocery store with "How much milk do we have?" before I buy another gallon. But...I do remember a time before we had all these things, and we got by just fine, didn't we? So as I've tried to do with other aspects of my life, I'm figuring out how to balance things better. The Savannah move will be a good time to start. I'm not cutting the umbilical cord -- that's like going cold turkey on caffeine or sugar only to come back craving it like a beast, or losing 10 lbs. from a crash diet only to yo-you and gain back 20. The more sensible approach is to decrease consumption of unhealthy things and cut out bad habits while increasing or trading out with better, healthier things.
As for writing, my latest "creative crisis" (if you could even call it a "crisis"; more on that in a bit) is linked, in part, to all of the above. There was a time when writer's just wrote, but we have to wear many hats now. As with smart phones, this is mixed blessing/curse. On one hand the current state of publishing paired with social networking has freed authors to write what we want and actively target the readers and reviewers who want it. On the other hand, there are days when I'd love to have someone else handle the business and promo end of things so I could, you know, write. Then there are days when I think authors did better when we wrote in a vacuum and didn't have instant access to sales rankings, reader discussion, etc. Balancing writing with the rest of life can be an interesting challenge when writing, itself, is now an intricate tightrope walk. Think of the usual challenges that creative types tend to battle, both internal and external, by adding some weights, a spinning hat, and juggling while riding that tightrope on a unicycle, and it really gets interesting.
It's normal for me to go through ups and downs, good days and bad, writer's block followed by uber-productive hypergraphia marathons. I've suffered burn-out before, but in the past I've been upset by it, which meant I still had some passion for the craft. Eventually, I've always put my big girl panties back on -- just like I did when I'd had a rough day at the "real job" -- and get back to work, often bouncing back stronger and better with a new book to show for it. I've reached a point, however, where I could give a flying fuck. It's not burn-out because there's nothing to burn. I'm no longer upset about lack of progress/attention/success in certain areas, I'm just ambivalent, and when I reach the ambivalent stage on any aspect of my life, it means I'm ready to wash my hands off it and move on. It used to be that when I'd threaten to never write again, I'd feel grief, even guilt. When I said it the other day, I felt sudden relief and overwhelming peace. Before my readers and closer peers freak out and start offering well-meaning condolences or encouragement, that peace of mind then lead to this revelation:
I will always be a writer with a story to tell, it's just not erotic romance right now.
Other than some prescheduled posts and existing obligations (like the upcoming scavenger hunt -- I'm still in!) I'm taking a semi-break from the Net and undetermined sabbatical from writing. I need to focus on moving, sending off my baby bird who's flying from the nest, exploring a new town with my two kids that are still with me, and getting reacquainted with my spouse who's mostly worked out-of-town the past 3-1/2 years. If you don't hear from me in the next few months, I'm still here, I'm just recalibrating. There will be more books, too, once I've refocused my lens, a process which I suspect will be aided greatly by reducing my Net use. There'll be erotic romance, even -- Blue's story isn't done, and in fact I think the final Blue Ruin installment may well be my erotic romance swan song. My plans for revising/extending Sleight of Hand into a longer work or series are still brewing, too, but that project won't be "erotic romance" by the time all is said and done. My new direction in genre(s) will likely see a new pen name(s), but I will make that change public if appropriate. We'll see, and as I always like to say, stay tuned.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Coming in May: Erotic Romance Scavenger Hunt
Just a head's up -- I'll be participating in this exciting scavenger hunt next month, along with 19 other authors, from May 25 to 27. So check back Memorial Day weekend if you'd like a chance at winning 20 books! Yep, that's right, 20 books, including both M/M and M/F, some in e-book, others in print. The required blog hop will feature exclusive material from each author, including excerpts, outtakes, character bios, and more that have never been posted elsewhere. My M/M novel Sonoran Heat will be one of the titles up for grabs, and my exclusive content will be an excerpt from my current work-in-progress. To sweeten the pot, some authors will be offering their own separate prizes to participants at their individual blogs. I, myself, will offer one choice from my backlist to one lucky commenter on my scavenger post that day, so even if you don't win the grand prize, you might still win some goodies on the side! Details are as follows:
The Erotic Romance Scavenger Hunt is a collaboration between m/m and m/f erotic romance authors. The hunt will feature exclusive bonus material from each author as well as clues for readers to collect. Unscramble the clues to reveal a mystery phrase, and enter to win TWENTY books, one from each author in the hunt.
Rules and Guidelines
The Erotic Romance Scavenger Hunt will run May 25, 2012 - May 27, 2012.Readers will be given a starting point. From there, they'll be directed from blog to blog, enjoying bonus material along the way and hopefully discovering some fantastic new authors to read. Hidden within each post on the hunt will be a single letter that is red. Jot those letters down because they're part of a scrambled phrase.
Once you've finished the hunt and collected all the letters, unscramble them to reveal the mystery phrase. When you've uncovered the phrase, fill out the entry form in order to qualify for the grand prize (Entry form will be revealed closer to the hunt).
CONTEST DETAILS:
• Open internationally
• Provide a working email with your entry. Incomplete entry forms will not be considered.
• Only one entry per person (one duplicate entry will be considered a mistake and deleted without penalty; more than one will result in disqualification).
• If you win, you must respond to a confirmation email within 48 hours or a new winner will be drawn.
• You must be 18 years or older to enter.
Participating Authors
• Miho Li• Tara Lain
• Katey Hawthorne
• Emily Cale
• Kerry Freeman
• Z.A. Maxfield
• Heidi Belleau
• Katrina Strauss
• Sloan Parker
• Mary Calmes
• Ava March
• Marie Sexton
• Avril Ashton
• Angel Martinez
• Augusta Li
• Fae Sutherland
• Bella Leone
• Carole Cummings
• Rowan McBride
• Amelia June
Friday, April 20, 2012
Lucky Thirteen - Page 13 from Windswept
It's Friday and time for my second Lucky 13 post. Today I'm sharing page 13 from my paranormal M/F novella Windswept. It's available as both a stand-alone e-book for only 99 cents...
...or as part of an anthology with four other stories in both print and digital:
I originally wrote Windswept in 2007 for the Aphrodite's Apples anthology line Masquerade. The series explored the timeless theme of gods consorting with mortals, the premise being that the Olympian gods invited select mortals to an annual masquerade ball. I knew I wanted to write something a bit different with one of the less popular gods, but Hades was already taken by a fellow "dark romance" author. While researching a steampunk story, I somehow stumbled upon demi-god Aeolus, the Keeper of the Winds, and I found the god I wanted to write about.
I meant to write a short story but Windswept grew into a 20,000 word novella. I also deviated from the dark romance I'd envisioned with what is probably my sweetest, lightest story to date. It's the closest thing I've written to "traditional" romance with equal parts homage and spoof of various Harlequin and Avon tropes. I made my lead female a geeky meteorology student, named her Tempest Rayne, and then whisked her away from the masquerade ball to Aeolus's remote island home. As for my take on the Wind Keeper, he was inspired by a mix of JD Robb's Roarke and Anne Rice's Louis. I also had a lot of fun with the Greek god theme, depicting Zeus as a swinging lounge lizard, Aphrodite as a bling-decked jetsetter, and the Three Graces as a fashionably-hip stylist team.
The original publisher went under and Windswept sadly went out-of-print. I found hope in 2009 when Tease Publishing announced their Love's Immortal Pantheon line, which explores similar themes as the Masquerade series did. I reworked Windswept accordingly, submitted it to Tease, and found Aeolus and Tempest a new home.
Page 13 sees a freshly-coiffed Tempest (courtesy of the Three Graces' mad makeover skills) arriving at Aeolus's island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Enjoy, and check back next Friday for page 13 from my short story Efflorescence.
** BLURB **
When Tempest Rayne receives an invitation to the annual Gala of the Gods, the awkward meteorology student thinks it's too good to be true. Allowed to meet one Greek god of her choice, Tempest requests to meet Aeolus, legendary Keeper of the Winds -- to talk about the weather, of course.
Granted eternal custodianship over the Four Winds, the once-mortal Aeolus quietly watches the world pass by from his remote island home. When Hera tells him of the young woman who has asked to meet him, the lonely wind keeper is intrigued and agrees to honor Tempest's request.
Neither mortal nor god is prepared for the encounter that follows. When the Olympians brew up a little Mediterranean squall, Tempest and Aeolus must ride out the storm together, plunging them into a whirlwind of passion, leaving them both...Windswept.
** PAGE 13 EXCERPT **
The yacht slowed, nearly stopping. Steered cautiously by unseen hands, the hull deftly avoided bumpy rocks where they jutted through shallow pools of water. Leaving the strait, the yacht entered a private cove, protected by a ring-shaped island, the indigo water shining clean and pure.
"Look," said Aphrodite. Bracelets clinked as she fluidly extended one regal arm and pointed. "Aeolus's palace."
The steepest crag of the island, directly opposing the small harbor's mouth, loomed into view. The base of the crag was surrounded by a wall of bronze, the metal gleaming like a shiny copper penny in the sun. Tempest noted a giant door set into the wall, and knew three more like it represented each cardinal point of the precipice.
Aeolus really holds the winds down there, she mused to herself.
Above the bronze wall, hundreds of kingfishers flew in and out of countless burrows dug into the pumice layer of the mountain. Tempest's gaze drifted upward. Sun-bleached stucco walls with arched windows appeared to grow naturally from the rock, taking shape as an elegant palazzo. Flat-topped turrets set at each corner were bedecked with spinning anemometers alongside miniature satellite dishes. While the palace proved impressive, in Tempest's mind, she had envisioned a more antiquated structure.
Puzzled, she knitted her brow. "It looks so...modern."
Aphrodite shrugged. "We update his house every few centuries in a fashion appropriate to the time."
As Tempest absorbed this, she contemplated the true meaning of immortality. In one sentence, Aphrodite had glossed over countless centuries as though they were days. The goddess might as well have been discussing a daily mundane activity like grocery shopping or sorting laundry.
The cruiser nudged gently against the dock. Tempest's gaze followed a set of wooden zigzagged ramps that led to a narrow break in the bronze wall, which in turn opened to steep steps dug into the mountain's side.
Tempest shifted in her high heels, her feet already sore. "We have to climb to the top?"
"Of course not!" With a harrumph, Aphrodite snapped her fingers.
Tempest blinked. Her head reeled as her mind comprehended the wide span of the harbor, now open below, the yacht reduced to a toy boat, the harbor resembling a bathtub. The goddess, a miniature doll from where she stood on deck, waved and blew a kiss, and then the yacht slowly pulled away from the dock.
"What? No!" Tempest pleaded, certain the goddess could still hear her. Helpless, she watched from on high as the boat veered back toward the passage strait.
Clutching her backpack, Tempest swallowed the lump in her throat. Swaying on her heels, she pivoted and faced the door, carved of thick oak, the wood etched in an intricate floral pattern. She started to use the large brass knocker, then noted and tried the doorbell rope instead. The muffled sound of a gong reverberated from somewhere deep within the house.
A few moments passed as Tempest patiently waited. The door creaked, and Tempest found herself greeted by an elderly gentleman, his stern face framed with silver waves of hair and a neatly-trimmed mustache of white. He wore a simple suit of black.
Was this Aeolus? While the man looked to be around the age she had placed the Wind Keeper, somehow she had thought he would be taller and would look more...
Greek. Kingly. Godlike.
"Buon giorno, signorina," the gentleman said with a bow, his manner crisp but his Italian smooth. He reached out and took her backpack, holding the battered bag at arm's length with a look of distaste. "Step this way, per favore."
"Grazie," she thanked him, realizing the man must be a steward. Of course, a god who lived in an enormous home would have servants. Wholly out of her element, Tempest took a deep breath and crossed the threshold.
** Copyright 2007 by Katrina Strauss
Windswept is available via the following formats and venues:
Stand-alone e-book:
Kindle
All Romance
Print or digital anthology Love's Immortal Pantheon, vol 2:
Amazon
...or as part of an anthology with four other stories in both print and digital:
I originally wrote Windswept in 2007 for the Aphrodite's Apples anthology line Masquerade. The series explored the timeless theme of gods consorting with mortals, the premise being that the Olympian gods invited select mortals to an annual masquerade ball. I knew I wanted to write something a bit different with one of the less popular gods, but Hades was already taken by a fellow "dark romance" author. While researching a steampunk story, I somehow stumbled upon demi-god Aeolus, the Keeper of the Winds, and I found the god I wanted to write about.
I meant to write a short story but Windswept grew into a 20,000 word novella. I also deviated from the dark romance I'd envisioned with what is probably my sweetest, lightest story to date. It's the closest thing I've written to "traditional" romance with equal parts homage and spoof of various Harlequin and Avon tropes. I made my lead female a geeky meteorology student, named her Tempest Rayne, and then whisked her away from the masquerade ball to Aeolus's remote island home. As for my take on the Wind Keeper, he was inspired by a mix of JD Robb's Roarke and Anne Rice's Louis. I also had a lot of fun with the Greek god theme, depicting Zeus as a swinging lounge lizard, Aphrodite as a bling-decked jetsetter, and the Three Graces as a fashionably-hip stylist team.
The original publisher went under and Windswept sadly went out-of-print. I found hope in 2009 when Tease Publishing announced their Love's Immortal Pantheon line, which explores similar themes as the Masquerade series did. I reworked Windswept accordingly, submitted it to Tease, and found Aeolus and Tempest a new home.
Page 13 sees a freshly-coiffed Tempest (courtesy of the Three Graces' mad makeover skills) arriving at Aeolus's island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Enjoy, and check back next Friday for page 13 from my short story Efflorescence.
** BLURB **
When Tempest Rayne receives an invitation to the annual Gala of the Gods, the awkward meteorology student thinks it's too good to be true. Allowed to meet one Greek god of her choice, Tempest requests to meet Aeolus, legendary Keeper of the Winds -- to talk about the weather, of course.
Granted eternal custodianship over the Four Winds, the once-mortal Aeolus quietly watches the world pass by from his remote island home. When Hera tells him of the young woman who has asked to meet him, the lonely wind keeper is intrigued and agrees to honor Tempest's request.
Neither mortal nor god is prepared for the encounter that follows. When the Olympians brew up a little Mediterranean squall, Tempest and Aeolus must ride out the storm together, plunging them into a whirlwind of passion, leaving them both...Windswept.
** PAGE 13 EXCERPT **
The yacht slowed, nearly stopping. Steered cautiously by unseen hands, the hull deftly avoided bumpy rocks where they jutted through shallow pools of water. Leaving the strait, the yacht entered a private cove, protected by a ring-shaped island, the indigo water shining clean and pure.
"Look," said Aphrodite. Bracelets clinked as she fluidly extended one regal arm and pointed. "Aeolus's palace."
The steepest crag of the island, directly opposing the small harbor's mouth, loomed into view. The base of the crag was surrounded by a wall of bronze, the metal gleaming like a shiny copper penny in the sun. Tempest noted a giant door set into the wall, and knew three more like it represented each cardinal point of the precipice.
Aeolus really holds the winds down there, she mused to herself.
Above the bronze wall, hundreds of kingfishers flew in and out of countless burrows dug into the pumice layer of the mountain. Tempest's gaze drifted upward. Sun-bleached stucco walls with arched windows appeared to grow naturally from the rock, taking shape as an elegant palazzo. Flat-topped turrets set at each corner were bedecked with spinning anemometers alongside miniature satellite dishes. While the palace proved impressive, in Tempest's mind, she had envisioned a more antiquated structure.
Puzzled, she knitted her brow. "It looks so...modern."
Aphrodite shrugged. "We update his house every few centuries in a fashion appropriate to the time."
As Tempest absorbed this, she contemplated the true meaning of immortality. In one sentence, Aphrodite had glossed over countless centuries as though they were days. The goddess might as well have been discussing a daily mundane activity like grocery shopping or sorting laundry.
The cruiser nudged gently against the dock. Tempest's gaze followed a set of wooden zigzagged ramps that led to a narrow break in the bronze wall, which in turn opened to steep steps dug into the mountain's side.
Tempest shifted in her high heels, her feet already sore. "We have to climb to the top?"
"Of course not!" With a harrumph, Aphrodite snapped her fingers.
Tempest blinked. Her head reeled as her mind comprehended the wide span of the harbor, now open below, the yacht reduced to a toy boat, the harbor resembling a bathtub. The goddess, a miniature doll from where she stood on deck, waved and blew a kiss, and then the yacht slowly pulled away from the dock.
"What? No!" Tempest pleaded, certain the goddess could still hear her. Helpless, she watched from on high as the boat veered back toward the passage strait.
Clutching her backpack, Tempest swallowed the lump in her throat. Swaying on her heels, she pivoted and faced the door, carved of thick oak, the wood etched in an intricate floral pattern. She started to use the large brass knocker, then noted and tried the doorbell rope instead. The muffled sound of a gong reverberated from somewhere deep within the house.
A few moments passed as Tempest patiently waited. The door creaked, and Tempest found herself greeted by an elderly gentleman, his stern face framed with silver waves of hair and a neatly-trimmed mustache of white. He wore a simple suit of black.
Was this Aeolus? While the man looked to be around the age she had placed the Wind Keeper, somehow she had thought he would be taller and would look more...
Greek. Kingly. Godlike.
"Buon giorno, signorina," the gentleman said with a bow, his manner crisp but his Italian smooth. He reached out and took her backpack, holding the battered bag at arm's length with a look of distaste. "Step this way, per favore."
"Grazie," she thanked him, realizing the man must be a steward. Of course, a god who lived in an enormous home would have servants. Wholly out of her element, Tempest took a deep breath and crossed the threshold.
** Copyright 2007 by Katrina Strauss
Windswept is available via the following formats and venues:
Stand-alone e-book:
Kindle
All Romance
Print or digital anthology Love's Immortal Pantheon, vol 2:
Amazon
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
So where is Blue Ruin set?
When I wrote the first Blue Ruin book, I purposely went with an "anonymous metropolis" not because I'm a lazy writer but to make a statement: that ultimately, most American cities and their surrounding suburban sprawl are the same, yet with those little touches that still make them uniquely home. However, readers will note I still gave names to the various neighborhoods Derek and Blue frequent. The fact is, the unnamed city in Blue Ruin is based very closely on my hometown of Dallas/Ft. Worth, although I envision it being somewhere near the West Coast, like Seattle or Portland. Here are the real-life DFW (aka the Metroplex) locations that I've based various Blue Ruin locations on:
1. The downtown urban center and skyline is based on downtown Dallas, minus the distinctive Reunion Tower/giant disco ball.
2. The rainbow district of Oakwood is based on Dallas's gay neighborhood Oak Lawn (where I lived, worked, and partied during my late adolescence/early adulthood). However, its streets named after trees are ganked from the Woodland West neighborhood in the DFW suburb of Arlington.
3. The bohemian-chic Soho-esque district of Jericho Pass is based on Dallas's boho district Deep Ellum. The interior of Derek's swank apartment building is based on a combination of the Santa Fe Terminal (former train terminal turned lofts) and the Adam Hats building (former Model T factory turned hat factory turned lofts). The exterior, on the other hand, is newer and taller, and based on a photo of a Tokyo high-rise.
4. The underpass graffiti mural Derek drives by in the first book upon entering Jericho Pass? That's based on the former Good Latimer tunnel that doubled as gateway to Deep Ellum. Both the tunnel and mural were demolished a while back for the new commuter rail. (I preserved the tunnel in my books; a photographer preserved it on film here. There are some broken image links but keep scrolling. Some of it is typical graffiti but again, keep scrolling.)
5. Jodi and Dusty's apartments are based on some crappy ones I really lived in on the Arlington/Grand Prairie line. Dusty's fire is based on three different fires that occurred in three different complexes in that same apartment cluster within a 6-month period. One of those fires directly affected me; another came close. Yes, I eventually got the hint and moved elsewhere.
6. The upper middle class neighborhood Blue grew up in and where his parents still live is Arlington's Interlochen neighborhood. But...the farm-dotted backroad Blue takes to get there is based on the Hurst/Euless/Bedford backroads (although encroaching development is rendering them less and less backroads.) And...the dangerous S-curve with the white cross is behind the previously referenced Woodland West area in Arlington. (Yes, there really is a white cross there. Yes, I always took that curve carefully.)
So there you have it. Blue Ruin is basically set in Dallas/Ft. Worth but it's not in Texas -- it's in my brain. Which explains why Blue doesn't have a Texas accent, while readers are seeing the Metroplex as I knew it rather than the stereotypical "JR Ewing/cowboy" image often associated with the area. Any questions, y'all?
1. The downtown urban center and skyline is based on downtown Dallas, minus the distinctive Reunion Tower/giant disco ball.
2. The rainbow district of Oakwood is based on Dallas's gay neighborhood Oak Lawn (where I lived, worked, and partied during my late adolescence/early adulthood). However, its streets named after trees are ganked from the Woodland West neighborhood in the DFW suburb of Arlington.
3. The bohemian-chic Soho-esque district of Jericho Pass is based on Dallas's boho district Deep Ellum. The interior of Derek's swank apartment building is based on a combination of the Santa Fe Terminal (former train terminal turned lofts) and the Adam Hats building (former Model T factory turned hat factory turned lofts). The exterior, on the other hand, is newer and taller, and based on a photo of a Tokyo high-rise.
4. The underpass graffiti mural Derek drives by in the first book upon entering Jericho Pass? That's based on the former Good Latimer tunnel that doubled as gateway to Deep Ellum. Both the tunnel and mural were demolished a while back for the new commuter rail. (I preserved the tunnel in my books; a photographer preserved it on film here. There are some broken image links but keep scrolling. Some of it is typical graffiti but again, keep scrolling.)
5. Jodi and Dusty's apartments are based on some crappy ones I really lived in on the Arlington/Grand Prairie line. Dusty's fire is based on three different fires that occurred in three different complexes in that same apartment cluster within a 6-month period. One of those fires directly affected me; another came close. Yes, I eventually got the hint and moved elsewhere.
6. The upper middle class neighborhood Blue grew up in and where his parents still live is Arlington's Interlochen neighborhood. But...the farm-dotted backroad Blue takes to get there is based on the Hurst/Euless/Bedford backroads (although encroaching development is rendering them less and less backroads.) And...the dangerous S-curve with the white cross is behind the previously referenced Woodland West area in Arlington. (Yes, there really is a white cross there. Yes, I always took that curve carefully.)
So there you have it. Blue Ruin is basically set in Dallas/Ft. Worth but it's not in Texas -- it's in my brain. Which explains why Blue doesn't have a Texas accent, while readers are seeing the Metroplex as I knew it rather than the stereotypical "JR Ewing/cowboy" image often associated with the area. Any questions, y'all?
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The perils of stock photography and writing shaggy-haired twinks
I'm cracking up this morning at KZ Snow as she exposes our two-timing cover boys:
http://kzsnow.blogspot.com/2012/04/katrina-strauss-you-got-some-splainin.html
Those cads! I hope they're using protection.
http://kzsnow.blogspot.com/2012/04/katrina-strauss-you-got-some-splainin.html
Those cads! I hope they're using protection.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Love's Immortal Pantheon anthology can now be borrowed free via Kindle!
One of the anthologies I'm in is now available for free loan from the Kindle Owner's Lending Library. If you're an Amazon Prime member and own a Kindle device, you can borrow one e-book a month courtesy of this feature. One of the thousands of available titles is Love's Immortal Pantheon, Vol 2 which features 5 stories pairing gods with mortals, including my M/F novella Windswept:
This collection finds me in very fine company with Cat Johnson, Cara North, Selena Illyria, and Dagmar Avery (aka Stella Price). If you're an Amazon Prime member and interested in sampling the wares, the Kindle listing for the antho is at:
http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Immortal-Pantheon-Vol-ebook/dp/B006GEAAIQ/
You'll have to access it via either your Kindle E-Ink or Fire in order to take advantage of the lending feature. If you haven't used the Kindle Owner's Lending Library before, detailed instructions on how it works can be found here. As both a reader and an author, I'm happy to see legal options for borrowing and sampling e-books at no cost. Should more of my digital titles become available for loan, I'll update readers accordingly.
This collection finds me in very fine company with Cat Johnson, Cara North, Selena Illyria, and Dagmar Avery (aka Stella Price). If you're an Amazon Prime member and interested in sampling the wares, the Kindle listing for the antho is at:
http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Immortal-Pantheon-Vol-ebook/dp/B006GEAAIQ/
You'll have to access it via either your Kindle E-Ink or Fire in order to take advantage of the lending feature. If you haven't used the Kindle Owner's Lending Library before, detailed instructions on how it works can be found here. As both a reader and an author, I'm happy to see legal options for borrowing and sampling e-books at no cost. Should more of my digital titles become available for loan, I'll update readers accordingly.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Moving to Savannah
Well, I'm moving again. This time the destination is Savannah, Georgia. After working out-of-town contracts since moving to St. Louis three years ago, my spouse has landed a permanent gig that includes a relocation package. This move entails one of my older children leaving the nest, so this will be a transition for our household in a few ways. My husband and I are both Southerners, so at least we won't suffer culture shock, but I've already advised the two kids going with us to brush up on their "Yes ma'ams" and "No sirs"! (I tried to teach them, I promise -- as my Alabama grandmother spins in her grave -- but they've grown up in areas where you just don't hear that and, if anything, get looked at funny for showing a little verbal respect.)
As for our new home, I'm sure things have changed there since Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was written, but my understanding is that Savannah remains a quirky bohemian mecca with an open gay community. In addition, the area is experiencing a population boom with lots of Midwesterners and Yankees coming in, so my kids won't be the only new faces in town. (Or the only ones who say "Huh?" instead of "Ma'am?" *sigh*) I am not looking forward to the logistics of the move itself, but I'm keen on trying fresh-caught shrimp straight from ocean to plate for the first time in my life. I also hope to catch a drag show from the fabulous Lady Chablis, who calls Savannah home.
I won't be leaving St. Louis until the end of May, so I have two months to close house here. Writing will likely take a backseat to life until I'm settled in down in Georgia, but I'll still be blogging, including my "Lucky 13" short story excerpts that start on Friday the 13th. Stay tuned for further adventures, and if you are in the Savannah area -- or Charleston, Jacksonville, or heck, even Atlanta -- let me know!
As for our new home, I'm sure things have changed there since Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was written, but my understanding is that Savannah remains a quirky bohemian mecca with an open gay community. In addition, the area is experiencing a population boom with lots of Midwesterners and Yankees coming in, so my kids won't be the only new faces in town. (Or the only ones who say "Huh?" instead of "Ma'am?" *sigh*) I am not looking forward to the logistics of the move itself, but I'm keen on trying fresh-caught shrimp straight from ocean to plate for the first time in my life. I also hope to catch a drag show from the fabulous Lady Chablis, who calls Savannah home.
I won't be leaving St. Louis until the end of May, so I have two months to close house here. Writing will likely take a backseat to life until I'm settled in down in Georgia, but I'll still be blogging, including my "Lucky 13" short story excerpts that start on Friday the 13th. Stay tuned for further adventures, and if you are in the Savannah area -- or Charleston, Jacksonville, or heck, even Atlanta -- let me know!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
If they only knew...
I was in line at the bookstore yesterday when two young men behind the counter began discussing a certain book a lady had just requested over the phone. The book? No, not one of mine, but Fifty Shades of Grey. One guy said he was going to have to read it to see what all the controversy is about. The other guy casually commented that he has "read better", leaving me to wonder what and who he might be reading in our fair BDSM genre. If only they knew what I write, or I'd had the guts to chime in and suggest this one particular author named Katrina Strauss. Perhaps I'd have been braver if I'd been at the hair salon eavesdropping on fellow middle-aged women. (Another BDSM author on Twitter reported that very scenario and actually made a few book sales out of it.)
Funny that I'd find a hair salon a more conducive environment to self-promotion than a bookstore, eh? The thing is, outside of one convention appearance, I'm not comfortable going "public" and prefer to restrict talk of what I do and "who" I am on the Net. Even Anne Rice originally wrote her awesome Sleeping Beauty series under a pen name. As more readers emerge from behind the anonymity of online personas to discuss books like 50 Shades, I wonder if more of us hardcore erotica authors might be able to step out of the closet alongside them? With the BDSM genre recently garnering mainstream attention, I'm already seeing potential signs of trickle-down affecting my Eldritch Legacy sales. (My M/M BDSM series Blue Ruin seems to be gaining renewed interest as well, but that appeals to a different readership. It's the Eldritch books that are suddenly shooting up my rankings list these past few weeks.) I've heard similar reports from other BDSM authors, so I suppose we shall see.
Funny that I'd find a hair salon a more conducive environment to self-promotion than a bookstore, eh? The thing is, outside of one convention appearance, I'm not comfortable going "public" and prefer to restrict talk of what I do and "who" I am on the Net. Even Anne Rice originally wrote her awesome Sleeping Beauty series under a pen name. As more readers emerge from behind the anonymity of online personas to discuss books like 50 Shades, I wonder if more of us hardcore erotica authors might be able to step out of the closet alongside them? With the BDSM genre recently garnering mainstream attention, I'm already seeing potential signs of trickle-down affecting my Eldritch Legacy sales. (My M/M BDSM series Blue Ruin seems to be gaining renewed interest as well, but that appeals to a different readership. It's the Eldritch books that are suddenly shooting up my rankings list these past few weeks.) I've heard similar reports from other BDSM authors, so I suppose we shall see.
Page 69 from Off the Beaten Path
Today is my final 69, Dudes! post. For the past several Wednesdays, I've been posting page 69 from my full-length novels. Today, I'm sharing from my contemporary M/M romance Off the Beaten Path:
When Loose Id sent out a submissions call for vacation-themed stories, I decided to give it a shot. I knew immediately I wanted to explore an atypical vacation, something a bit, well, off the beaten path! This lead to research on what's known as a "volunteer vacation" where families, church groups, school groups, etc dedicate a vacation to renovating parks, building houses, clearing jogging/bike trails, cleaning beaches, or other service-oriented activities while enjoying the amenities the location has to offer. In my story, my characters combine a camping trip with clearing a hiking path and other "park restoration" activities. Problem is, one of them didn't exactly volunteer.
Off the Beaten Path was also a bit off-track for me in that it was my first non-yaoi M/M as well as my first "true" contemporary minus dark romance, paranormal, and/or the BDSM themes I explored in previous stories, paving the way for later works Sonoran Heat and Sagittarius Blues. In classic "opposites attract" fashion, I pitted semi-closeted lacrosse player Travis against outspoken vegan and gay activist Kyle. By page 69, Travis and Kyle are kinda/sorta getting along... especially after they woke up accidentally spooning in their tent in one scene, followed by no-strings-attached sex the next night. Here's their slightly educational conversation the morning after. Enjoy, and check back on Friday the 13th where I'm starting a special excerpt theme for my short stories that don't have a page 69. Thanks for all the comments everyone's offered the past several Wednesdays!
** BLURB **
Travis Bell is openly gay to family and friends, but as a college athlete, he chooses not to define himself by his sexuality. When he covers for a friend's misdeed, he's forced to renegotiate his future. Carefully. Or he's going to lose his coveted lacrosse scholarship. The last thing Travis plans on, however, is a "volunteer vacation" in the remote wilderness with members of Omega Beta Pi, aka Off the Beaten Path, a fraternity devoted to gay rights and environmental causes. To make matters worse, he must share a tent with Kyle, an opinionated activist who also happens to be the hottest guy Travis has ever met.
Kyle Schafer is a proud activist who disapproves of Travis's ignorance on issues affecting the environment and gay community. To his even greater annoyance, Kyle finds himself attracted to his shallow tentmate on a purely physical level. Travis goes against everything Kyle believes in, but that doesn't dampen the chemistry that sparks between them. Pretty soon, it looks like Travis isn't the only one who'll be going off the beaten path.
** EXCERPT **
Travis stressed throughout the morning over what would happen once he and Kyle went to bed that night, as anxious over what might transpire as he was of what might not. He channeled his nervous energy into clearing the last stretch of the path, the sound of the waterfall growing closer by the second as he battled the most thick, tangled growth yet. Raising the loppers high, he snipped off the low-hanging tree limbs that blocked his way.
At last, he reached the end of the path. Like a conquistador staking his claim, he speared the loppers into the earth, and then stepped out onto the bedrock ledge. The small waterfall loomed into view. A curtain of white spilled down a rocky slope, fanning into several cascades before dropping several feet below into a pool of aquamarine.
Travis stared down in wonder like an explorer who'd just discovered hidden treasure. "Wow," he mumbled. "It's beautiful."
"It sure is," Kyle said, finishing up behind him. He came up beside Travis and leaned on his rake. Their shoulders brushed, sending tiny shivers of sensation through Travis's limbs. "Look." Kyle pointed at a row of rocks where the pool fed into a shallow section of stream. A cluster of turtles lay basking in the sun, a few of them paired off in the quiet throes of mating.
"Must be nice," Travis said. "Lazing around all day by the waterfall, soaking up the rays, enjoying a little outdoor orgy without a care in the world."
Kyle chuckled. "Yeah, that's the life."
"You think any of those turtles are gay?"
"Maybe. Homosexual behavior has been observed in fifteen hundred animal species."
"Really? That few, huh?"
"Yeah. A percentage mate for life, too. Male swans have been known to breed with a female, then chase her away once she's laid the egg so he can raise the hatchling with another male. Kind of dispels the notion that animals only exhibit gay behavior in a show of dominance or when there isn't enough of the opposite sex to go around."
"Interesting." Duly impressed by Kyle's knowledge, Travis couldn't resist making light of it. "I'm all for backing the gay lifestyle with scientific data, but I have to ask: what scientist is hard up enough to watch that much animal sex?"
Kyle laughed again, his eyes crinkling. "Someone's got to take one for the team."
** Copyright 2009 by Katrina Strauss **
Off the Beaten Path is available in e-book at:
Loose Id
Kindle
Nook
Fictionwise
All Romance
When Loose Id sent out a submissions call for vacation-themed stories, I decided to give it a shot. I knew immediately I wanted to explore an atypical vacation, something a bit, well, off the beaten path! This lead to research on what's known as a "volunteer vacation" where families, church groups, school groups, etc dedicate a vacation to renovating parks, building houses, clearing jogging/bike trails, cleaning beaches, or other service-oriented activities while enjoying the amenities the location has to offer. In my story, my characters combine a camping trip with clearing a hiking path and other "park restoration" activities. Problem is, one of them didn't exactly volunteer.
Off the Beaten Path was also a bit off-track for me in that it was my first non-yaoi M/M as well as my first "true" contemporary minus dark romance, paranormal, and/or the BDSM themes I explored in previous stories, paving the way for later works Sonoran Heat and Sagittarius Blues. In classic "opposites attract" fashion, I pitted semi-closeted lacrosse player Travis against outspoken vegan and gay activist Kyle. By page 69, Travis and Kyle are kinda/sorta getting along... especially after they woke up accidentally spooning in their tent in one scene, followed by no-strings-attached sex the next night. Here's their slightly educational conversation the morning after. Enjoy, and check back on Friday the 13th where I'm starting a special excerpt theme for my short stories that don't have a page 69. Thanks for all the comments everyone's offered the past several Wednesdays!
** BLURB **
Travis Bell is openly gay to family and friends, but as a college athlete, he chooses not to define himself by his sexuality. When he covers for a friend's misdeed, he's forced to renegotiate his future. Carefully. Or he's going to lose his coveted lacrosse scholarship. The last thing Travis plans on, however, is a "volunteer vacation" in the remote wilderness with members of Omega Beta Pi, aka Off the Beaten Path, a fraternity devoted to gay rights and environmental causes. To make matters worse, he must share a tent with Kyle, an opinionated activist who also happens to be the hottest guy Travis has ever met.
Kyle Schafer is a proud activist who disapproves of Travis's ignorance on issues affecting the environment and gay community. To his even greater annoyance, Kyle finds himself attracted to his shallow tentmate on a purely physical level. Travis goes against everything Kyle believes in, but that doesn't dampen the chemistry that sparks between them. Pretty soon, it looks like Travis isn't the only one who'll be going off the beaten path.
** EXCERPT **
Travis stressed throughout the morning over what would happen once he and Kyle went to bed that night, as anxious over what might transpire as he was of what might not. He channeled his nervous energy into clearing the last stretch of the path, the sound of the waterfall growing closer by the second as he battled the most thick, tangled growth yet. Raising the loppers high, he snipped off the low-hanging tree limbs that blocked his way.
At last, he reached the end of the path. Like a conquistador staking his claim, he speared the loppers into the earth, and then stepped out onto the bedrock ledge. The small waterfall loomed into view. A curtain of white spilled down a rocky slope, fanning into several cascades before dropping several feet below into a pool of aquamarine.
Travis stared down in wonder like an explorer who'd just discovered hidden treasure. "Wow," he mumbled. "It's beautiful."
"It sure is," Kyle said, finishing up behind him. He came up beside Travis and leaned on his rake. Their shoulders brushed, sending tiny shivers of sensation through Travis's limbs. "Look." Kyle pointed at a row of rocks where the pool fed into a shallow section of stream. A cluster of turtles lay basking in the sun, a few of them paired off in the quiet throes of mating.
"Must be nice," Travis said. "Lazing around all day by the waterfall, soaking up the rays, enjoying a little outdoor orgy without a care in the world."
Kyle chuckled. "Yeah, that's the life."
"You think any of those turtles are gay?"
"Maybe. Homosexual behavior has been observed in fifteen hundred animal species."
"Really? That few, huh?"
"Yeah. A percentage mate for life, too. Male swans have been known to breed with a female, then chase her away once she's laid the egg so he can raise the hatchling with another male. Kind of dispels the notion that animals only exhibit gay behavior in a show of dominance or when there isn't enough of the opposite sex to go around."
"Interesting." Duly impressed by Kyle's knowledge, Travis couldn't resist making light of it. "I'm all for backing the gay lifestyle with scientific data, but I have to ask: what scientist is hard up enough to watch that much animal sex?"
Kyle laughed again, his eyes crinkling. "Someone's got to take one for the team."
** Copyright 2009 by Katrina Strauss **
Off the Beaten Path is available in e-book at:
Loose Id
Kindle
Nook
Fictionwise
All Romance
Monday, April 2, 2012
Take a walk on the dark side with the Eldritch Legacy
One legacy, built on love, lust, and the power of magic.
From the frightful depths of the medieval dungeon,
to the wild ride of the gritty urban streets --
Come, take a walk on the dark side as only an Eldritch can.
"Katrina Strauss brings this world of political intrigue, excess, and royalty, mixed with help from generations past, alive in a way that most authors can't... Run, don't walk to get this series, you will not be disappointed." Tara Gibbs, TwoLips Reviews
*****
"I easily see The Eldritch Legacy moving into place next to Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty trilogy." Adra Steia, author of Muse and A Year of You
*****
Edgy, boundary-testing and just plain testy, Strauss is a pure visceral reading pleasure which you'll guiltily devour even as you tell yourself you shouldn't." Lee M, Kwips & Kritiques
*****
"This is dark fantasy, and the characters are definitely not Disney." Elise Logan, author of Dining In
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