Just a quick reminder that you can still vote for the Model Student cover in Paul Richmond’s “Uncovered” contest through this Wednesday, April 27. Elisa Rolle’s blog has complete information, and the winner will be announced there on Thursday, April 28. You can go HERE to vote.
The image in question:
Absolutely freaking GORGEOUS. So GO VOTE!
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Posted in contest, m/m, model student, paul richmond
A lovely review from Amos Lassen for the Never Say Never anthology, which includes my story “Stripped.” A snippet:
You cannot help but love the characters and the story is very well-written. It is interesting to “eavesdrop” on two men who come together for the first time.
Thanks to Amos, and also to fellow author Xavier Axelson for sending me the link!
Posted in amos lassen, anthology, never say never, reviews, short story, silver publishing
First up, Dreamspinner is now taking pre-orders for the First Time for Everything Daily Dose set, which will give you a story a day for the month of June. Right now, you can get the whole set for just $39.99! Prices go up as the release date approaches, so order early. Individual stories, including my story “Chicago,” will go on sale in June.
And my other bit of news: I have a contract on my novel! Sand and Water is tentatively set for a late summer release (also with Dreamspinner). More details as I have them!
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Posted in 2011 daily dose set, chicago, dreamspinner, fiction, m/m, novel, romance, sales, sand & water, short story, writing
It’s another release day! The Uniform Appeal anthology is out today from Dreamspinner Press, and it includes my short story “Discovering Columbus.” You can grab a copy in ebook or paperback format. (It’ll be out in Kindle format soon, too.)
The anthology includes stories from an incredible list of amazing authors, so be sure to check it out, especially if you’ve got a thing for men in uniform. 😉 The full list:
Chasing Jamie by Eric Arvin
Famished by Lou Harper
Delayed in San Diego by Pepper Espinoza
Hot Stuff by Maria Albert
Duty by Emily Moreton
Discovering Columbus by Shae Connor
Fire House Flame by Paul Taylor
Sold! By K.R. Foster
Heat of the Moment by Dawn Douglas
Double Cross by Lesley Hastings
The Night Shift by Louise Blaydon
Jean-Paul by Ryan Loveless
Walk a Mile by G.R. Richards
Secrets and Lies by Jay Starre
The US Male by Lisa Worrall
Good Things Come… by Rowan McAllister
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Posted in anthology, discovering columbus, fiction, m/m, release date, romance, short story, uniform appeal, writing
My “day job” is working for the federal government. I’m considered “nonessential,” so if no budget is passed by Monday morning, I’ll be furloughed, without pay, until there’s a deal.
(I don’t like the term “nonessential.” It makes it sound like our jobs are meaningless, and that’s not true. It just means sending us home isn’t going to endanger anyone in the short term. No one will die if some research papers don’t get edited for a while.)
For me personally, a furlough isn’t a huge problem in the short term. I have some cushion, some savings, so I’d be fine for a little while, at least. If a shutdown stretched into the 21 days that the last one did, things would get dicey, even if we’re given back pay at the end of it.
My sister (also my roommate) works as a government contractor. Some contractors will be allowed to take leave time if there’s a shutdown (direct employees will not), but she doesn’t have any available right now. She wouldn’t get paid for any furlough time.
Now, we’re on the high end of the scale. I can cover for my sister in the short term. We have money in the bank, available credit, and plenty of food, plus she just got her tax refund, and I have two royalty payments coming later in the month.
The worst thing about the shutdown is the situation with the military. Active duty troops would keep right on working, in many cases fighting, but they wouldn’t get paid until a budget is passed. Meanwhile, Congressional pay is mandatory, so they’d get paid to keep squabbling.
Sigh. I didn’t mean to get all political here. Long story short, if we get furloughed, I’m going to spend the time writing. It doesn’t pay as well as the day job, but it’s certainly better than nothing.
I am constitutionally incapable of working on one project at a time. My mind is built for multitasking. I get bored if I do any one thing for any length of time—even things I normally enjoy. And when I’m bored, I procrastinate in any of a million and a half different ways.
So, I never just have one work in progress.
Currently, I have one ultra-short story written but not revised, one short story about half finished, one novel in extensive revisions, and two probable novels each a chapter or so in. I’ve worked on all of them actively within the past two weeks.
Now, five WIPs at a time is a bit much even for me. I can’t keep up with that many at once and actually make any progress. I’m probably going to drop the short story for now, since it doesn’t really fit the original idea any more (it was an anthology target), and the ultra-short can sit a while longer, since it’s also for an anthology but the deadline is some time off.
That leaves the three novels. I can’t really choose between the latter two, because ideas and scenes keep popping into my head for both of them. The revision is more restructuring and editing than actual writing, so that gives me two writing projects and one editing project.
That, I think I can handle. I have at least a dozen other ideas noted or stories started, some of which have been sitting for a while now, but they can continue to sit until one of these projects is done. I never turn away inspiration, so if something hits me on one of those, I’ll open it up, but I won’t make an effort toward them.
In short, I need to find a happy medium between bored and scattered. That should probably be my writing goal for 2011: get in the habit of maintaining a WIP list long enough to keep me interested, but short enough to keep me focused.
Hey, it’s something. 🙂
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Posted in editing, fiction, goals, novel, short story, works in progress, writing
Okay guys, time to get those voting fingers in business!
The GORGEOUS cover fabulous artist Paul Richmond created for my novella Model Student is up for grabs as a limited-edition giclee print. The catch? First it has to win his “Uncovered” contest. It’s up against three tough contenders, but I don’t think I’m totally biased when I say it’s the best. Okay, maybe I am, but still. 😉
You can get complete information on the contest, and a bunch of awesome bonus material from Paul, at Elisa’s Reviews and Ramblings. If you’d rather cut right to the chase, you can go HERE to vote. Three winners will receive the first three limited-edition prints of the chosen image, along with some other great prizes too!
For those who need a refresher, here’s the image in question:
*STARES*
The winning print will be displayed in the Dreamspinner Press booth at Gay Days in Orlando, June 2–5, so no matter who wins, if you’re there, be sure to check it out!
Voting runs through April 27, with the winner announced on April 28. So GO GO GO! VOTE VOTE VOTE!
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Posted in contest, dreamspinner, model student, novella, paul richmond
An awesome review for “Stripped” at OutInPrint as part of a review of the Never Say Never anthology. A snippet:
The story, which is well written, has emotion, a touch of romance, and some great sex. I’ve not seen other stories by Shae, but after reading this, I’ll be looking for more from this author.
Thanks, guys! (And thanks to Xavier for the heads up!)
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Posted in anthology, never say never, out in print, reviews, short story, stripped
A quick promo for a fundraiser two good friends of mine have put together for disaster relief in Japan.
Japan Calls allows you to bid on a personalized, 15-second voice message from one of a long list of entertainers—actors, musicians, and others. Donations go directly to relief charities (a list is provided). The list of entertainers runs the gamut from Mark Ruffalo to Eliza Dushku to Sasha Cohen to Aiden Turner to the Veronicas. Auctions opened today and will run for a week.
You can check out the full list and place a bid here. (The auction is on Livejournal, but you do not need to have a Livejournal account to bid.)
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Posted in charity
Michele at Michele ‘n Lisa Reviews gave the Never Say Never anthology 4 Kisses and had some great things to say about my contribution, “Stripped.” A little snippet:
Just wait till you get to the hotel scene. Holy Hot Cakes! Grab your ice water first.
Thanks, Michele! 🙂
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Posted in adult, fiction, m/m, michele~n~lisa, never say never, reviews, short story, stripped
shaeconnorwrites 