The Write Stuff

Speak Its Name - Where to find the e-book

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:50:35 GMT

Whoops! This book isn't up at the Bristlecone site due to technical difficulties, but can be found here:

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-speakitsname-184679-145.html

It's also up as a kindle version at Amazon

Applying Sun Tzu to the fight for Equality

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:45:42 GMT

This is a phenomenon that's been observed before. When an issue is "YES" or "NO," the "YES" has an automatic, built-in advantage. People are more likely to push a 'yes' button after a cursory reading. This is why the anti-equality forces always word the intiative so that the answer they want is YES. And they use all the weasel-words they can in order to make the actual purpose of the initiative not quite clear.

Why do supporters of equality for same-sex couples always wind up trying to DEFEAT initiatives that are worded in such a contorted manner that the voter may not be entirely certain what s/he is voting for?

WHY NOT EQUALITY INITIATIVES? Why not, "Do you support the right for two consenting adults to marry one another without regard to race, creed, religion, or gender?"

I remember reading that some people voted FOR Prop 8 in California under the mistaken impression that they were voting FOR same-sex equality. I'll bet the same thing is true here.

I think we should stop trying to defeat bigotry and, instead, initiate equality.

At this point, we can hardly do worse!

It is SNOWING!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:29:46 GMT

It is frakking SNOWING. We have to run an errand, and so, of course...

First week of November, never fails.

Sigh.

I'll be back to the Cheyenne fest on Speak Its Name pretty soon.

TWO AT ONCE!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:01:34 GMT

No, not a threesome -- Cheyenne Publishing and Bristlecone Pine Press are throwing a celebration on Thursday November 5th to introduce Hidden Conflict: Tales from Lost Voices in Battle

and re-introduce Speak Its Name: A Trilogy.

To read excerpts from the two anthologies, watch the book trailer, or to get details on how to enter the drawings to win some really cool prizes, visit the Kindle boards (http://www.kindleboards.com/) or the Speak Its Name Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpeakItsName/

Bristlecone Pine Press will give away a free eBook of each title, and Cheyenne Publishing has a brand new paperback of Hidden Conflict with a bookplate signed by all four authors, and a paperback copy of Speak Its Name with a bookplate signed by all three authors. Everyone who enters the drawings will be eligible to win Hidden Conflict bookmarks. Come on by for full details on how to enter.

***

Those are the official prizes - I'm throwing in some Macaronis and Royal Navy bookmarks along with that, on the Yahoo group. See you there!

"I DO" IS UP FOR BOOK OF THE MONTH!

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:04:30 GMT

Over here:

http://darkdivasreviews.webs.com/bookofthemonthpoll.htm

Please vote!

I know -- I hate it when people do the rah-rah "Vote for MEEEEE!" routine, because the best writers I know are always the ones who are excessively modest about self-promotion. But this isn't about me, or even all of us who contributed -- it's about supporting the fight for equal rights under the law.

Please vote... and please pass this along!

Thank you!

Yet more asshattery from Amazon

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:36:18 GMT

Amazon, always on the search for ways to improve their profits while irritating the hell out of authors, has come up with a doozy: ALTERING WORDS AT RANDOM IN E-BOOKS as a good way to catch pirates.

I have to admit I thought of this myself -- deliberately changing a word or two in copies sent out for review, because I know for certain that someone I used to trust has been uploading books. But my notion was for the author and publisher to do this -- so that it could be done without affecting the story. Amazon, apparently, thinks bunging in a random synonym is the way to go.

http://dearauthor. com/wordpress/ 2009/10/29/ thursday- midday-links- roundup/comment- page-1/#comment- 220203

And the link provided to the actual patent request, here:

http://patft. uspto.gov/ netacgi/nph- Parser?Sect1= PTO1&Sect2= HITOFF&d= PALL&p=1& u=/netahtml/ PTO/srchnum. htm&r=1&f= G&l=50&s1= 7,610,382. PN.&OS=PN/ 7,610,382& RS=PN/7,610, 382

Now, altering, say, a word in the blurbage? The font of the page numbers? Sure. But to change, for example, 'gasps' to 'pants?' The classic, "his breath came in short pants" would make the writer look like a fool. "Frigid" and "chilly" are not the same thing.

I'm sure Amazon thinks the actual, y'know, words in a book don't really matter. It's just "product." And Jane at Dear Author doesn't seem to get it, either... All I can say is, I do NOT want Amazon rewriting one word of my books.

HATE CRIMES ACT SIGNED INTO LAW!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:53:18 GMT

Finally.

And it is the FIRST law to explicitly include transgender people.

Here's the Human Rights Campaign's link to thank the families of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Mr. Byrd's murder was race-based, but it motivated his family to help expand the umbrella of protection.

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=4385

Yeah, this is change I can believe in.

Geek-O-Lanterns!

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:42:01 GMT

Including a Cylon and a Captain Jack O'Lantern (Torchwood)

More time than I plan to spend on a pumpkin!

Extremely interesting Q&A with Rep. Barney Frank

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:47:08 GMT

http://blog.reddit.com/2009/10/congressman-barney-frank-answers-your.html

It's got a longish Youtube video, which I'm not going to embed--the last question is the most interesting, in which he discusses how to work effectively for equal rights for GLBT people.

His rule of thumb: Phone calls and emails and letters... because politicians pay more attention to a thousand letters from constituents than to several thousand protest marchers who probably can't vote for or against them.

The rest of it's very interesting, as well.

I Do TWO still seeking Submissions -- especially the LBT ones!

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:41:00 GMT

Well, we have only a month to go to the deadline for submissions on I Do Two. We have received some stunning m/m stories already – and wouldn’t object to receiving more. (The more quality submissions we get, the higher the quality of the anthology at the end). However, we are a little concerned that we’ve not had the breadth of f/f, bi or transgender stories to choose from, yet. So if there’s anyone out there who can help us with that, please send us your stories! There’s still a month to go, and here are the submission guidelines:

The anthology, titled “I DO, TWO”, is a sequel to the January 2009 charity anthology “I DO!” All authors donate their stories to benefit the Lambda Legal Fund, for the purpose of supporting marriage equality. The collection covers a range of times, places and people, and illustrates the universality of love and commitment

To date, I DO has raised over $1500 for the cause of equal rights in marriage.

I DO TWO will be a similar, companion volume, published by MLR Press. (Contracts will be in line with their standard contract.)

We’re looking for stories between 1,000 words and 10,000 words long. M/M, F/F, Bi and transgender stories are welcome. There is no strict theme, but we have certain things we do *not* want to see, for example stories which undermine the purpose of the anthology – that is, no stories which are about how gay people do not want to get married or do not deserve to get married. We do not want anything that reinforces negative stereotypes – no snuff fiction, scat, golden showers, necrophilia or underage sex.

Because of the potential copyright issues, we cannot accept fanfiction, either.

If you possess the copyright for your story and it isn’t currently under exclusive contract to anyone else, we are happy to consider stories which have been published before. Please make a note in the covering e-mail.

As long as your story follows these guidelines and comes within the word-count, please send it to lee(dot)rowan(at)yahoo.com

Your story does not need to have an explicit marriage-related plot or even a happy ending! Any story that celebrates the theme of love as valid, no matter the genders of the players, is welcome.

This is for a charity anthology, so you will not get paid. All profits will go straight to the Lamdba Legal fund. Through education, litigation and public policy work, Lambda Legal works to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people, and persons with HIV. Since their founding in 1973, Lambda Legal has become an active and vital part of the GLBT civil rights movement instrumental in the fight for same-sex marriage rights both nationally and, most notably, in the fight to strike down California’s Proposition 8.

Deadline for submissions is 1st December 2009.

Cheyenne Chat at Romance Lives Forever!

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:24:47 GMT

Today (Sunday) 3-5 pm Eastern... (That's noon-two in California, or 8-10 pm in the UK, and sometime Monday afternoon for you Aussies!)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancelivesforever/messages

A look at Cheyenne's new anthology, "Hidden Conflict" with new stories by Alex Beecroft, Mark Probst, Jordan Taylor, and E. N. Holland ... and excerpts from the re-release of Speak Its Name (Charlie Cochrane, Erastes, and yours truly), Erastes' Frost Fair, and my Royal Navy books. And who knows what else.. it's Halloween week!

Community at its best - SaveDave auction to stop a foreclosure...

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:41:43 GMT

I read about this in jkluge's journal. Jean is a longtime fannish friend (from Star Trek days, egad) and is putting up some of her gorgeous art prints to help raise the money needed to let Dave keep his home, a community gathering center and sacred space in rural Tennessee.

The full explanation is here: http://community.livejournal.com/save_dave/283.html?page=2#comments

If you would like a bargain on the Royal Navy books, I've got a set of the first editions up for auction there, $25 for Ransom, Winds of Change, and Eye of the Storm. And there's scads of yummy things, jewelry, custom knitwear, even a personalized song and CD from Filker Dave.

I can't think of anything worse than facing eviction, especially at this time of the year.. and the idea of protected land falling into the hands of a bank breaks my heart. If you're shopping for the holidays or just want to help, here's a chance to do that.

Makes sense for a writer...

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:17:00 GMT

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

NBDC - The Illusionist

Nature, Background, Detail, and Color

You perceive the world with particular attention to nature. You focus on the hidden treasures of life (the background) and how that is affected by the details of life. You are also particularly drawn towards the colors around you. Because of the value you place on nature, you tend to find comfort in more subdued settings and find energy in solitude. You like to ponder ideas and imagine the many possibilities of your life without worrying about the details or specifics. You are highly focused on specific goals or tasks and find meaning in life by pursuing those goals. You are a down-to-earth person who enjoys going with the flow.

The Perception Personality Types:

Take The Perception Personality Image Test at HelloQuizzy

PLEASE click on this to support hate-crime legislation!

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:18:24 GMT

And feel free to crosspost. Unfortunately, this site logs ISPs so only people IN the US or US territories can participate. Damn it.

From the Human Rights Campaign:

Last Thursday, 49-year-old Jack Price, an openly gay man, was attacked right outside of his home by two individuals yelling anti-gay slurs. Price suffered a broken jaw, fractured ribs, collapsed lungs, a lacerated spleen, and had to be placed in a medically induced coma.

This brutal hate crime, caught on a surveillance video, comes just as the Senate prepares to cast the final vote on the inclusive hate crimes bill. We can't afford to wait a single day more for this law.

Tell your Senators to watch the video before they cast their vote on the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

https://secure3.convio.net/hrc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=598&pagename=homepage

TAKE THE FIGHT TO MAINE!

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:35:57 GMT

The Prop Hate gang are trying to repeal Main's marriage rights laws with a very similar campaign. Same old, same old... fear and hate.

This time, our people were ready (and there's the additional advantage of Mainers being tough-minded, independent folk.

Please take a minute to check out this article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-hogarth/why-im-optimistic-about-m_b_322320.html

Near the bottom, there are links to volunteer for helping get out the vote -- even a get-out-the-vote effort that anyone can help with from anywhere in the country!
http://www.protectmaineequality.org/page.cfm?ID=151&CFID=31486246&CFTOKEN=63736963

If this bill is defeated, it will be the first step in turning the tide on the anti-equality dinosaurs. Please do what you can to make Maine the first victory over ignorance.

Feel free to crosspost!

Vote!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:43:36 GMT

I'm waving the poster for the Queer Wolf anthology because I love Charlie's Wolves of the West... such well-bred puppies!

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/805833.html

Trick or treat!

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:12:52 GMT

Looking at this haul, I should give a word of thanks to the tricksters.. from my teeth and my pancreas!

My LiveJournal Trick-or-Treat Haul
lee_rowan goes trick-or-treating, dressed up as Amelia Peabody Emerson.
abstractrx gives you 19 tan grape-flavoured pieces of bubblegum.
alex_beecroft gives you 3 teal tropical-flavoured gummy worms.
atthe_algonquin gives you 1 pink vanilla-flavoured gummy worms.
c_smith_author gives you 17 light green passionfruit-flavoured nuggets.
charliecochrane gives you 13 light green blueberry-flavoured jawbreakers.
elisa_rolle gives you 19 pink spearmint-flavoured pieces of taffy.
emmacollingwood gives you 7 purple watermelon-flavoured wafers.
erastes tricks you! You lose 33 pieces of candy!
gehayi gives you 2 green vanilla-flavoured gummy bats.
jenniferthorne tricks you! You lose 25 pieces of candy!
lee_rowan ends up with 23 pieces of candy.
Go trick-or-treating! Username:
Another fun meme brought to you by rfreebern.

Speak Its Name is back in print!

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:52:25 GMT

And almost a week early, too. Thanks, Mark!

It can be found here:

http://www.amazon.com/Speak-Its-Name-Charlie-Cochrane/dp/0979777364/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254964950&sr=1-8

and here:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Speak-Its-Name/Charlie-Cochrane/e/9780979777363/?itm=1&usri=Speak+Its+Name++Cheyenne

And on Amazon.co.uk

and you should be able to order it through your friendly neighborhood indy bookstore.

This should not pass unnoticed.

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:38:27 GMT

http://jesseonthebrink.blogspot.com/2009/10/police-brutality-new-yorks-finest.html

Please feel free to crosspost.

FINALLY!

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:43:19 GMT

My long-suffering publisher, Mark Probst of Cheyenne, has been wrestling with Amazon for some weeks now, trying to get the new editions of the LBR transfers (my Royal Navy books and Erastes' Frost Fair) to show up on the sales-rating threads at Amazon. I've been checking off and on for some time now, without much hope because, well... Amazon is not very good at this.

But! Not only did Eye of the Storm show up, the NEW editions are showing in a search by my name (though still not under "gay," for reasons I cannot fathom), and Eye of the Storm shows up at #6 in

‹ Books
‹ Gay & Lesbian
‹ Literature & Fiction
‹ Fiction
Romance http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/14044691/ref=pd_ts_b_nav
Gay
Lesbian

Winds and Ransom made it into the top 40, too. However... weirdly... if you click on "Gay," just beneath the "romance" category... my book vanishes. (Since #3 & #4 were lesbian, I was, of course, hoping that Eye would move up in the "Gay" category... but no such luck.)

This is irritating because Amazon used to allow many threads for a book to be rated in, and now it's restricted to TWO... thus confining any sort of gay book to the gay thread. The subtle ghettoes of amazonfail...

Still, it's nice to see that the books are back in the land of the living. That hiatus where everything showed out of stock, when I knew the books were back in POD? Not fun!

Google redux

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:59:13 GMT

Remember back in August, when I posted about the Google/Writers Guild publishing rights grab, and people were going "that can't be legal!"?

Apparently it wasn.t The Justice Department investigated. Story here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-brantley/google-books-right-goal-w_b_307089.html

For those who follow the whole Mercury-retrograde thing.. it went back to normal yesterday.

Rapists should face the consequences. Even "celebrity" rapists.

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:19:23 GMT

In 1978, Roman Polanski pled guilty to raping a 13-year-old-girl. And he ran off to hide. Now he's saying he shouldn't be extradited.

If you disagree, there's a petition here...

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/art-does-not-excuse-rape-polanski-must-face-justice

and a more detailed blog about the issue here:

http://chrismm.dreamwidth.org/577422.html

including a list of 'celebrity' douchebags who think Polanski should be let off scot-free (the list includes Woody Allen... why am I not surprised?)

I'm not going to spend any more time on this, because I personally think raping children should be a life-sentence-throw-away-the-key kind of thing, and I've been pissed off enough this week.

Word on the Street---Kitchener-Waterloo Book Fair

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:27:00 GMT

I'll have a booth in the "Writers Block" at the KW version of the annual Canadian book fair, Word on the Street. If you're anywhere near Victoria Park between 11 pm and 6 pm, dew drop inn... I'll have Alex Beecroft's Captain's Surrender and Erastes Frost Fair (and one, count it, one copy of Standish.) And EL van Hine's Erotic Etudes, and a table copy of two of Charlie Cochrane's "Lessons In" books and Emma Collingwood's ghost story, and.. whatever else I've packed but don't recall.

Hope to see you there!

Lammys... ye gods.

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:19:20 GMT

And before saying anything about the Lambda Literary Award brouhaha, let me say that we have checked to see whether the Lambda Literary Association has any connection whatsoever with Lambda Legal, and to the best of our knowledge, it does not.

In brief, the LLA has changed the basis of its awards from excellence in writing about GLBT to writing by GLBT writers, and "clarified" its position by saying that anyone who enters is automatically identifying as GLBT.

I am not making that up.

http://asknicola.blogspot.com/2009/09/lambda-literary-award-guidelines.html

And for the record--I moved to Canada with my partner so our marriage could be legal. Gave up a 24-year career as a massage therapist; my license isn't recognized here. It's been hard, but it's worth it... so please, no misconception that I'm a straight chick whining about mean old gay boys. I think that two excellent books by Alex Beecroft and Erastes are what scared the New York literary set, because either False Colors or Transgressions is at least as good as, for example, Tales of the City.

Unsurprisingly, a lot of GLBT writers don't seem to think the redefinition of purpose is such a great idea. I was going to post an opinion, but I've already done that on the above blog, so I'll just say one more thing and then give a few links to the discussion.

Lambda Literary has ten mirror award categories for gay and lesbian work. 20 in all. There are 22 awards. One each for Bi and Trans. So... changing the rules to make things fair to "the glbt community?" I don't think so.

http://www.teddypig.com/2009/09/shame-on-me-shame-on-you/comment-page-1/#comment-2733

http://www.mlrpressauthors.com/2009/09/the-little-lost-lambdas-some-thoughts-by-victor-j-banis/comment-page-1/#comment-207

http://erastes.livejournal.com/449814.html?#cutid2

EXCELLENT post here: http://rm.livejournal.com/1719681.html

And lest you feel inclined to disabuse me of my right to an opinion that may not be the same as yours, know that any abusive comments will be deleted and the writer banned. I didn't link this post to the whole world and I'm not going to put up with uninvited screamers.

Bloody HELL.

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:43:44 GMT

I just heard from my editor at Running Press. For promotional reasons, the publication date for Tangled Web is being pushed back to January, with (I think) the release in December. I hope it's before Christmas, but who knows? At least it's still going to be published.

I HOPE.

ARRRRRGGHHHH!