The Moving Blues

If there's one thing that I despise, it's moving. I've moved so many times in my life that just thinking about it makes me ill.

I've settled into my new apartment and it's in a much nicer area of the city. The last place was a dive and in a rough area where I didn't feel safe and secure. At this moment, I'm sitting at my desk and realizing how freaking different this new area is. We're still in the city, but if I sit and just listen, I can hardly hear anything other than a car driving up the street.

Hopefully I will put down roots here for a bit. It would be nice to settle into a place for an extensive period of time. Oh, and Charlie loves the new place too. That's really important!

Xondra

The Fuss With Paypal

I held my tongue for a long time when it came to the Paypal mess, even though I was one of the authors who had their self-published titles yanked from Bookstrand without warning. None of my titles violated Paypal's terms of service, but they were still pulled from that site.

At first I didn't know what to think. I was pissed off and rightfully so. Who the hell does this company think they are to decided what's sold on a third party vendors site, right?

I don't agree with what's happened, but I can't say that I was surprised that it did happened. The major influx of pseudo incest stories had been happening for some time and often when I logged into a seller's site, they dominated the new release lists with their sometimes explicit covers and titles. Knowing the history of Paypal from their past actions with other sites, it was only a matter of time before they became involved, and they did in a huge way when they started threatening to withdraw their services from many sites if certain titles were not removed within a week.

Incest titles aren't my cup of tea. I'll be the first to admit that, but I do repect the rights of people who want to buy those books. If they somehow violate the terms of service for a particular site, I think it should be up to the site itself to deal with it and not some outside company that comes out of nowhere with their guns a'blazin!

Now, on to the next bit.

Beastiality has always been a no no for most publishers. That's nothing new. But where do shifter stories fit into this you might ask yourself? Apparently, Paypal has their own opinion on that and if you write these stories you might be affected. So, where will all this end?

I've actively decided to no longer support Paypal. In the grand scheme of things it's about all I can do to protest. Unfortunately, the third party vendors won't get my money when I go to purchase books if they use Paypal as a payment system. I refuse to be told what I can or cannot buy. I encourage others to do the same. 

Onward

So much has happened over the past year and when I sit and reflect on everything, I can honestly say that I am pleased for the most part with my life.

I got married to the one love of my life and that was definitely the biggest moment for me of 2011. I love you with all my heart, Adam. And I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. You are my constant support, my rock in life, and I love you for everything you are.

Christmas was great! It was quiet and I had many days off from work which was a surprise.

I've been thinking about the coming year and how I want to change some things in my life. My goals are as follows:

-To become more healthy. I want to start back at the gym and I need to eat right again.
-To not take life so seriously. I often stress about so many things. I need to realize that nothing's perfect in life and that's okay.
-I plan on taking my writing in another direction. My focus will no longer be on erotica. I want to break into the mainstream romance and literary world. I do have a sub with Harlequin and I plan on sending them something else. I also have another big publisher in mind to sub.

I will still write erotica. I won't be giving it up completely, but it won't be my primary focus.

I have a literary novel started and I plan on finishing that and subbing it to an agent. It's a risk I feel I need and want to take.

So, that's my plans for the near future in a nutshell. How about you?

Busy Bee

I don't post much about my personal life on this blog as I like to keep that seperate, and for the most part offline. Anyhoo, I thought it'd be nice to share a little of what's going on with me along with an update of what's out and upcoming for me in regards to my writing. Bear with me, I'm exhausted sitting here with a cup of coffee after finishing two nightshifts.

I started back to work last month after taking a years leave to write and sort some personal crap out. It's been hard moving back to the city and adjusting to the shift work again. My writing routine has gone to hell and I'm finding it hard to fit it in even on my days off since all I want to do when I'm off is veg, and sleep. I'm managing to write at least 1k on most of my days off, but it's not easy when the words won't come.

Current Works:

-New sub for Siren(MMF)
-Edits for My Gay Zombie.
-Multiple shorts(MM)

Upcoming Releases:

-Forever Night(MF) Coming in December from Secret Cravings Publishing
-Stockings and Suspenders(Christmas Antho) Coming in December from Evernight Publishing
-The Men of Buckshot Ranch: Mark(MMM) Coming in February from Total-E-Bound
-My Gay Zombie(MM) Coming in October from Iron Rose Press
-The Best Gift(MM) Coming in Decemeber from Iron Rose Press

Recent Releases:

-Our Dirty Little Secret(MMF) Siren Publishing
-The Men of Buckshot Ranch: Jay(MM) Total-E-Bound
-Star Treatment(MM) Total-E-Bound

Recent News:

Menage on the Prairie(MMF) and Our Dirty Little Secret(MMF) will be released together in a print combo from Siren Publishing coming soon! I was thrilled with this news. Most of my sales come from e books, but it will be great to have print copies available.

Life's been hectic, but it's good keeping busy. My ultimate plan is to eventually write fulltime and give up the day job. Is it possible? Who knows. I'd be interested to hear from others who have done it.

That's my life in a nutshell at this time. What projects are you working on?

Author Interview with S.A. Meade

X- Tell us about your most current release and what inspired you to write it?

S.A.- My upcoming release, Stolen Summer came about as a challenge on Absolute Write, a brilliant forum for writers. The challenge was to write an erotic scene in a completely different point of view from your normal one. I wrote a scene told from a man’s perspective, in first person. I had great fun writing it and afterwards the characters wouldn’t let me go. I had to tell their whole story. The first draft was churned out in a month but it took a long time to get it right. All in all, 14 months from writing those first words to getting an offer.

The main character, Evan, is a British journalist. When he comes back from covering the war in Afghanistan, his best friend Colin confesses he’s in love with him. After he gets over the shock, Evan decides that he quite likes being with Colin. It’s a learning experience for him, but it’s also a happy and passionate one. They do quite a lot of shagging, bless ‘em.

Unfortunately, Evan has one last overseas assignment in Pakistan. He’s kidnapped and held hostage by insurgents. He’s freed after 4 months but he and Colin soon learn that being free doesn’t mean the ordeal is over. I put them through a lot, I’m afraid.

Total-E-Bound

X- When did you start writing and what was your road to publication like?

Do you have any advice for new writers starting out?

S.A.- I’m one of those writers who started writing as soon as I could hold a pencil. I had several tries, over the years, at actually finishing a novel. My first serious attempt at trying to get published was two years ago. I didn’t get very far and the poor thing was consigned to the trunk. I kept writing and will keep writing until my fingers drop off.

My advice to new writers is to read, read and read. Don’t expect things to happen overnight, learn patience and grow a thick skin. Find beta readers you respect and trust and cherish them. I would never be at this stage if it wasn’t for the terrific fellow writers who told me what worked and what stunk.


X- What other things interest you besides writing?

S.A.- There’s other things?

I love horses and horse racing (if it’s British). Cooking – we’ve been living on a tight budget ever since we returned to England and I love turning out great food for next to nothing. It goes without saying that I’m also very interested in eating.

X- What are you currently reading and what books can be found in your to-be-read pile?

S.A.- I recently finished reading Promises by Marie Sexton. It’s wonderful and so effortlessly written. At present I’m tracking down material on flying Spitfires and P-51s, because I’m revising a historical novel set in England during WW2. Some of the new bits will be told from a fighter pilot’s point of view, so I need to know how to fly these things.

X- If you could relive one moment in time, which one would it be?

S.A.- Eeeeee…tough one. Probably the moment I accepted the job in Arizona. If I could go back, I’d turn it down and held out for a job somewhere more … green and less dusty. It wasn’t all bad. My parents lived close by so we did see them a lot more than we did before.

X- Name one item you cannot do without in life and why.

S.A.- My lap top – it’s my link to the outside world and the repository of all my writing! *hugs shiny black lap top*

X- What’s your favourite flower?

S.A.- A variety of old-fashioned rose, the Rosa Mundi. It’s a beautiful old rose, it smells gorgeous and looks beautiful.

X- What’s your ultimate indulgence?

S.A.- It’s a toss-up between Godiva chocolates or a pepperoni and sausage pizza from Vincent’s Pizza in Pittsburgh. Sadly, I have access to neither at the moment.

X- What can we expect to see from you in the future?
S.A.- I have a m/m novella that needs a bit of polishing. When it’s all tidied up and making sense, I’m sending it to my editor at Total-E-Bound. I’m also hoping that the WW2 novel may be the one that attracts an agent.

X- Sounds good! Thanks you for being on Write Outside the Box, and best of luck with your writing career.
S.A.- Thanks for letting me spout drivel all over your blog, which is an excellent one btw.

I have a blog here, and email.

X- Thanks!

S.A. Meade's Stolen Summer will release from Total-E-Bound on August 29th, 2011.

The Short Story Dilemma

Dilemma is the key word in this blog post.

So far in my writing career I have written mostly short stories and novellas. Is this by choice? Yes.

I like the length and while I do write full length novels, I like the fact that I don't restrict myself.

I have been given bad reviews based on length. This is something that I totally don't get. If you have something against short works, then don't buy them. Obviously you can only do so much with a limited amount of words, yet I do try to get the whole story in there the best I can.

How do you do this, some may ask? I start at the meat of the story. I like lots of conflict, that's what interests a reader. And there is nothing worst than reading something where nothing happens.

This is a partial rant because some tend to think a writer is lazy for writing shorter works. But I will tell you straight up that I put my best into ANYTHING that I write, short or long.

In the end it comes down to me and my readers. But to the people who have a gripe with length, don't buy it. It's simple. It's the same as the people who have issue with sexual content. It really is that simple.

Rant over,

Xondra

Inspiration

Ideas for stories usually come to me at the strangest times. I could be in the shower, washing my hair when a name comes to me, and then the premise of what could be a story involving the person in my mind. Usually I end up scrambling to get the idea down so I won't forget it since I am working on other stuff. Other times, I'm in bed when the inspiration strikes me for another story. I'm very random that way.

I'm curious to know how you get inspiration? Where do your writing ideas come from?

The debate to self-publish



Most recently, Amanda Hocking posted a wonderful blog post on her rise to success through self-publishing. She mentioned that at this time she is doing more marketing for her books than she is actual writing, though her site shows that she does have books coming out this year and in 2012.

I have to admit, self-publishing has crossed my mind. It's not because I think I am going to be the next Hocking, nor do I expect the money to suddenly come flowing in.

Outside of romance and erotica, I write some stuff that I don't think would fit with a print or e press. That is, it doesn't quite fit into their guidelines on what they are actively seeking. So, where does that leave me with these works? I ask myself that question almost daily.

The one thing that does hold me back is the stigma that I find still attached to self-publishing. Some tend to make a person considering it, feel like that their stuff isn't worthy of a more traditional means of publication. Of course, in some cases that's true without a doubt. I have read some pretty shitty self-published stuff. Then again, I have also read some bad books that have been published by some big publishing houses. In the end that's all subjective, as my best book ever could be your most hated book.

Back on topic. Have you considered self-publishing? What are your thoughts when something doesn't fit the mold set forth by most publishers?

Self publishing is a heck of a lot of work for anyone who would like to do it right. Some things to consider are:

-Cover art. A good cover is a must in my opinion.
-Editing. Can you sufficently edit your own work? Can you afford to have someone else do it? Do you know someone who can help, free of charge? These questions are just a few things to consider.
-Formatting. This one scares the hell out of me. I am a tech-turd and clueless to such things. Bad formatting can cause a reader to not want to come back to you ever again. This applies to both electronic and print formats.
-Promotion. It's a lot of work to get your name out there, especially if you are an unknown. Do you have the time and energy? Do you have what it takes?

So, this is the stuff that runs through my head. I'd be interesting in hearing your thoughts on the subject.