Tasty Tidbits

I'm rushing off to work this morning, but I've got a variety of tasty tidbits to share with you.

Cookbook

You have until the end of the month to download my free cookbook, Recipes from an International Kitchen. The twenty six page ebook combines photos from my travels with recipes that they inspired. To get your own copy, just go to http://www.lisabetsarai.com/cookbook.html.

Guest Blogging

Today, the 12th of January, I'm the Terrific Tuesdays guest at Molly Daniel's blog http://www.mjdaniels.blogspot.com. Drop by and say hello!

Also, next Monday the 18th, I'm guesting with Anna Kathryn Lanier, where my topic will be "Playing with Words". Her blog is http://annakathrynlanier.blogspot.com/.

Newsletter and Contest

My monthly web site update and newsletter will be posted around the 15th. So you still have a few days to enter my easy contest from last month and win a free copy of Necessary Madness. Visit my news page for details. I'll have a new contest for you when the January newsletter goes up.

New Release

Monday the 18th, Total-E-Bound releases Gaymes, a new M/M anthology featuring my story "Crossed Hearts". Find out more here!

My Birthday

The 31st of January is my birthday and I'm planning a party here, with fun and prizes. Stay tuned for more information.

Green Eyes and Gratitude

I belong to a number of on-line writing groups and in general, I've found them really useful. First, it's a way for me to get to "know" other authors in my genre. Writing can be a lonely business, especially when you live overseas as I do.

Second, the writing groups offer support, advice, professional information and marketing opportunities. I can share what I've learned with new authors and can learn from the veterans.

There is one problem with these groups, though. It's difficult to avoid comparing myself to my peers. I don't write as a full-time career, so I'm not nearly as prolific as some of my colleagues. I'm also new to the romance genre, relatively speaking. I don't know what works from a marketing perspective. Actually, I don't always "get" what readers want from romance. My sales so far are modest. Although I don't make my living from my writing, I still find a nice fat royalty statement to be a great affirmation.

Recently a well-known author, whom I greatly respect, commented that her very first book had sold 500 copies in the first month it was available, and that this was pretty typical of most of her releases.

Five hundred copies? In one month? I don't think I sell that many copies in a year. The green eyed monster immediately reared its ugly head. I was so envious--well, the comment put me in a bad mood for days.

Envy is a highly destructive emotion. It can poison your self-esteem and your sense of well-being. It can undermine external relationships, too. Every time I thought about her, I got this churning feeling in my stomach--despite the fact that she has helped me personally with information about ebooks and markets.

Fortunately, there's a tried and true antidote to envy: gratitude. When I look at my writing career, I see that I've been far more fortunate than many of my peers. My debut novel was accepted, enthusiastically, by the first publisher to whom I submitted it. I contrast this with some authors who tried for years to break into the publishing game before they finally succeeded. I may not have as many books out as some of my peers, but I've got a good, solid publishing history Furthermore,my acceptance to rejection ratio is very high; when someone rejects one of my stories, I tend to be shocked. Obviously I'm very spoiled!

I seem to have some difficulty getting my work reviewed, but most of the reviews I do receive are positive. For instance, I recently was rated as a Five Angels "Recommended Read" by Fallen Angels for my historical ménage short story "Monsoon Fever". Maia wrote:

I loved this story! Monsoon Fever is not only an extremely sexy read, it's also pitch perfect with place, attitude, and voice, with enough politics and society observations to please the most discerning reader.

You can read the whole review here.

How can I possibly stay envious?

I got a new lesson in gratitude recently, when friend and colleague Anna Kathryn Lanier hosted guest author J. Aday Kennedy. Ms. Kennedy is a successful children's author, despite the fact that she is paralyzed from a stroke. She started writing after the stroke, in order to do something useful with her time. I was awed by this woman's courage and persistence.

What do I have to complain about? I've got my own room to write, my own laptop, no kids to interrupt. I've got a supportive husband and good relationships with my editors. I'm healthy, for the most part, and the physical problems I do have are annoying rather than life threatening.

Begone, green eyed monster! I'm a very lucky lady. And I don't want to waste my time on envy when I could be writing!

Make It Your Own

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Black Velvet

Today is the 75th anniversary of the birth of Elvis Presley. I was considering titling this post "Yet Another Post about Elvis", since I expect half the members of the blogosphere to choose The King as their topic for the 8th of January. The title comes from one of my favorite songs, "Black Velvet", written by David Tyson and Christopher Ward and recorded in 1989 by Alannah Myles, about the young Elvis:

Up in Memphis the music's like a heatwave
White lightening, bound to drive you wild
Mama's baby's in the heart of every school girl
"Love me tender" leaves 'em cryin' in the aisle
The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for.

Old as I am, I'm too young to remember Elvis in his prime. Nevertheless, I'm not immune to his mystique. I've watched some of his old movies--"Roustabout" and "Viva Las Vegas". I've seen videos. I feel the smoldering passion and the barely-leashed sexuality in his songs, the youthful energy and the hint of rebellion.

These days entertainers perform half naked, make lewd gestures, feature obscene lyrics, and people hardly notice. Elvis was more subtle. Sure, he had those swiveling hips, those pouting lips and that low croon that sent a chill down your spine, but he was mostly polite. The sex was there, under the surface--you couldn't help but react--but it was a seductive promise, not an in-your-face display. Still, there were those in 1950's America who found him shocking, who wanted him banned for his suggestive manner.

Fat chance!

(Thank heavens!)

I'd love to be able to write the way Elvis sang, effortlessly evoking such aching desire. I wish I could distill the essence of his appeal--not loud and raw like today's stars, but smooth and fiery as a ten-year old bourbon.

I don't have anything original to say about the man or the phenomenon that was Elvis Presley. There are thousands of other bloggers who will no doubt say it all anyway. But the world is poorer without his passion. So I'll just wish you happy birthday, Elvis--wherever you are.

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Tune in tomorrow for a guest post from one of my favorite writers, Helen Madden. Helen's one of my blogging companions at the group blog Oh Get A Grip!. She's outrageous and funny and ferociously talented.

Crossed Hearts - A Sneak Peak

On January 18th, Total-E-Bound releases the new M/M anthology Gaymes, which includes my story Crossed Hearts. I thought you might like a little preview!

For the past six years, Jason Hofstadter has attended the Four States Annual Scrabble Tournament. Jason comes to the Four States for two reasons - to play Scrabble and to get laid. Every year since his first, he has managed to hook up with one of the other players for some sexual fun. This year he has a chance at the grand prize in the tournament. Meanwhile, he figures he has hit the jackpot when he spots handsome, bookish Matt Sawyer, who's competing at the Four States for the first time.

Shy and seemingly innocent, Matt turns out to be full of surprises. First, he jumps Jason in the rest room at Starbucks. Then he reveals that he's into BDSM and encourages Jason to experiment with topping him. Finally, despite his lack of experience with tournament play, Matt ends up competing with Jason in the semi-final round. When Matt throws the game he should have won, Jason is forced to confront his own feelings - about winning, about casual sex, and about Matt.

Here's an (X-rated) excerpt:

The elevator doors had scarcely closed before Matt was on him, arms like steel bands locked around Jason's body. Matt's mouth was hard and demanding, not at all what Jason expected. His tongue pried Jason's lips apart and plunged inside. Hands roamed down Jason's back to grip the swell of his butt. Strong fingers dug into his flesh, pulling his hips against the stony lump in Matt's crotch. Friction sent white-hot jets of pleasure sizzling up his spine.

He tasted the berry-flavoured residue of Matt's wine. He smelled the rich funk of dried sweat from their afternoon jaunt. He clutched at Matt's shirt, pulling it up so he could slide his hands over the contours of the other man's naked back, smooth as sun-warmed marble.

Matt pushed him against the mirrored wall, releasing his mouth to lick a path down his neck to the hollow of his throat. Jason sucked in his breath as Matt pinched his nipple. A star of green pain bloomed then ripened to golden delight. Matt ground his erection against Jason's thigh, his own thigh pressed firmly between Jason's legs. Jason's dick pulsed helplessly against the hard limb that held it captive.

His eyes fluttered open. He glimpsed their reflection in the opposite mirror, over Matt's shoulder. Matt's head bent to Jason's chest, suckling him through his shirt. Jason's hands were buried in Matt's loose jeans, stroking the boy's silky butt. Their bodies squirmed in slow motion as each tortured the other's trapped penis. It was beautiful and obscene.

The lift chimed as it reached Jason's floor. The doors slid open. They tumbled out, hands still tangled in each other's clothing. The corridor appeared to be empty—hopefully, everyone was down in the ballroom, listening to speeches, watching videos of last year's highlights. Matt caught Jason again, halfway down the hall, flattening him against some stranger's door and claiming his mouth.

"Wait--Matt, hold on, just a second..." Matt stole his breath. Jason couldn't talk, couldn't think. He was ready to explode. He struggled out from underneath the younger man's weight and half-dragged Matt down to his room at the end of the hall.

He fumbled for his wallet in the pocket of his tight jeans, every motion transmitted to his aching dick. He managed to extract the key card, while Matt circled Jason's waist from behind and rubbed his cock up and down Jason's crack. Jason's hand trembled as he tried to slide the card into the slot. The light remained red. "Matt, please! I can't do this..." Matt reached down between Jason's legs, stroking then squeezing. "Damn it, Matt!" Jason protested, weak from the pleasure that shimmered through him.

Finally, the LED turned green. Jason wrenched himself from Matt's grasp and pushed the handle. The door swung inward. The two men fell into the room and collapsed onto the bed.

Blowing Your Own Horn

By Catherine Bybee (Guest Author)

Thanks for having me here today, Lisabet. This is the final week of my blog tour for Binding Vows and I’m going to talk a little bit about promotion for authors and the making of a book trailer.

When I decided to finish my first book and begin another, I truly thought I’d only have to work on editing my manuscripts to perfection and finding an agent or publisher to agree that my book was worth publishing. After these accomplishments, I’d be home free, right?

No way!

How is the world to know about Catherine Bybee and her latest release? How is any author, even those who’ve made it to the bigger houses and have their books sitting on shelves right now, stand out among the rest? They promote. They blog. They work hard to have their names on the tips of reader’s tongues. They tweet. They facebook, and they Myspace. If they’re lucky, they have a little help from their publisher… sigh. Not me. I do it all myself.

I’ve found plenty of social loops and sites to talk with writers and readers about books and promotion and truth be told, I spend entirely too many hours yakking up a storm on the subject. I’ve also learned how to work my computer in ways I didn’t know possible. I started making book trailers as soon as I received my first cover.

Book trailers are a wonderful promotional tool. They are a one-minute commercial for your book with the flash of pictures and the drama of music. With a little creativity, your book trailer will capture the gist of the blurb on the back of your book and draw in your readers.

I love book trailers… I love watching a snippet of a book rather than reading it via a blurb. Can you think of a book you’ve read that was made into a movie? Didn’t you love seeing the trailers to these movies? You were able to picture the characters you read and fell in love with which made the trailers come alive for you, right? Book trailers work much the same way. So if you’re a writer and you haven’t attempted to make a trailer, take a leap and try. You just might find a whole new way to promote your book.

For more trailers and video blogs to help writers check out my youtube page:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CatherineBybee

For information on my latest release, Binding Vows… or earlier releases, Kilt Worthy or Soul Mate, stop by my website.

www.catherinebybee.com

Thanks again for having me, Lisabet.

A Sense of Wonder

Over the weekend my husband and I saw James Cameron's new movie "Avatar" (in 2D). I'm usually immune to hype--in fact it tends to make me more critical of the hyped item. However, I have to say that, in my opinion, "Avatar" really deserves the praise that it has received. It is an astonishing movie visually, as well as having a strong but not obtrusive message. In fact, it's haunting; my dreams have included elements from the film for the past two nights.

In case you're not familiar with the storyline, here's a synopsis. Jake Sully is an ex-marine who has lost the use of his legs in some unspecified accident. His bitterness is amplified by the violent death of his twin brother, a brilliant research biologist. Jake is offered the chance to take his brother's place on a mission to the planet Pandora. Pandora has an indigenous humanoid race; biologists are studying these people by creating synthetic bodies - avatars - that merge human and Pandoran DNA and then having scientists control these bodies remotely. Jake's avatar makes it possible for him to walk again, to run again, and to experience first hand the incredible natural world on the distant planet.

The main human forces on Pandora, however, are not the researchers but a shadowy corporate entity that wants to exploit the planet's mineral resources. Jake is recruited as a mercenary and informant for the company, but the more he learns about and becomes part of the native culture, the more he understands that it is must be protected against the humans who see the Pandorans as semi-human savages. Gradually he becomes a hero who battles against his own race to save his adopted race.

The most fascinating aspect of the movie is the vivid portrayal of Pandora's environment. Pandora is covered by lush forest filled with extravagantly beautiful and dangerous creatures. Cameron manages to make the place compellingly real. The film is almost 100% computer graphics, but as you watch, you forget this. You walk through groves of huge, trumpet-like flowers that collapse at a touch; ride four-winged dragon-like creatures among mountainous crags that hang suspended a mile above the planet; watch whispering sacred seeds float through the air, pulsing like translucent jellyfish.

Pandora's human inhabitants live in literal communion with the other beings in their world, hooking their bodies to those of the animals with whom they cooperate. The world of Pandora is alive, in the sense of the Gaia hypothesis--there's a kind of global spiritual consciousness that animates all the individual life-forms.

This, too, is totally believable. I've rarely seen a film that pulled me so deeply into its narrative. When I had to get up and go to the bathroom (I had a drink with dinner before, and the film is almost three hours long!), I was astonished to discover that my heart was beating twice as fast as normal and I felt like I'd run a race--all from the adrenaline triggered by the movie!

There's action in the tale, and romance too, with a memorable warrior/priestess heroine. The villains are so intensely evil that you will cheer out loud when they are finally vanquished.

What stayed with me above all else, though, was the sense of wonder and awe.

Later, thinking about the film (it's difficult to stop thinking about it), I realized that one reason it was so believable is that the alien life forms were somehow familiar. Our own world is home to creatures every bit as strange, exotic and miraculous as Pandora's. We don't need to venture off planet to see the same kinds of crazy colors and weird forms. Consider an orchid or a Venus fly-trap, a Portuguese-man-o-war jellyfish or a boa constrictor, a mayfly or a sequoia. I can see where Cameron and his team got their ideas.

Humans used to live in the same sort of harmony with their environment as the Pandorans. Perhaps that's why the worldview of Pandora seems so right. Seeing this film made me open my eyes and look around me, at the vivid, full-color, three-D wonders all around me--and to understand just how precious they are.

Perhaps it will have the same effect on you.