Monday's Hottie

It's one of those cold, grey November days, the kind of day where I'd like to curl up in front of a proper fireplace with a good book, nice music and a box of expensive Belgian chocolates. Instead, I'm writing, there's no fireplace in this house and I'm buggered if I'm spending a fortune on the aforementioned chocolate.

I need to kick some life into this blog so I've decided that Mondays will be devoted to eye-candy from now on...if I remember. I need visual inspiration when I'm creating characters and I've a file full of Very Nice Pictures. This week's inspiration comes in the breathtaking form of Santiago Cabrera. He's a Chilean actor who, most recently, played Lancelot in the BBC production of Merlin. Apparently he was in 'Heroes' too, although I never watched that. Anyway, my contribution to brightening up your Monday is this picture.

Who wouldn't want such a knight to rescue you from your dragons or demons?

Post-Thanksgiving Snark

Happy post Thanksgiving, everyone!

It's been another busy week. I finished one book and starting writing another. Then I decided last night that it wasn't working, so I've started it again. Ah, the joys of writing. :)

Today's offering is another from the trunked m/m romance which has since evolved into 'Mourning Jack'. There will be news on MJ once contracts are signed.

Don't forget to check out all of today's snark on Marie Sexton's blog. Go awn, you know you want to!

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“How about some music?” He turned the television off.

“Music would be much better. I don’t get much of a chance to just sit and listen to music. Plus, I have no idea what you like. I’m curious because I couldn’t find your CDs when I had a nose around last night.”

“That’s because I have most things on my I-pod.” He rose and opened a cabinet beneath the bookshelves. “You weren’t nosey enough.” He set the I-pod speakers on a shelf and switched it on. “It’s just a mix of things.”

A blast of funk shook the room. Iain swore and dived for the volume switch. “Ooops. Sorry about that.”

“Return of the Mack? Are you taking the piss?”

He sank down beside me. “I told you, it’s a mix. I happen to like this.”

“I bet you put on your parachute trousers and dance around the room when no one’s looking.”

“I might.”

“Christ. I think I may have to leave.”

Iain edged closer and wrapped his arm through mine. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“If the next song is Michael Jackson, I might.”

Some Victorian Snark

This week I finished the first draft of my m/m historical (the first in a series) and jumped almost immediately into the second. I figured I may as well write while the mood is with me. This little excerpt is from this second book, a bit of gentle Victorian snark. In this snippet Joshua's Uncle Jacob and his long time companion, the Captain are visiting.

For more Saturday Snark, don't forget to check out the lovely Marie Sexton's blog where you'll find links to all sorts of snarky goodness from other great writers.

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Uncle Jacob peered through the sitting room window. “So that’s the artist then?”

I glanced past him at the figure perched on a stool at the far end of the paddock. Wyndham held a sketchbook and stared at the house. “Yes, that’s him.”

“Is he any good?”

“Uncle, you hired him.”

He chuckled. “Heh, so I did.”

The Captain, shook his head. “You’re getting absent-minded in your old age, Jacob.”

“You’re a fine one to talk.” Jacob returned to his seat. “You poured salt into your tea this morning.”

November Snark

Good week for me. There'll be more on that soon. Let's just say I'm a happy writer bunny and leave it at that for now. :D

Plus, something wonderful arrived yesterday. The print copies of 'Stolen Summer'. I am certain that the poor woman who delivered the package thinks I'm madder than a box full of frogs because I just started grinning and didn't stop. Opening the box and actually holding a copy in my hand for the first time was just magical. I actually picked them all up and hugged them. Oh yes I did because ... well ... it was a bloody marvelous moment.

Today's snarkage, again, is from a novel which is going nowhere because bits of it have gone somewhere else. There's just sod all snark in the historical I'm writing at the moment!

So, campers, don't forget to check out Marie Sexton's blog for a cornucopia of Saturday Snarkage :)

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The silence was broken by the thunk of a wheelbarrow in the yard.

“What was that?” Iain kissed the corner of my mouth.

“Valeria. She’s come to see to her horse.”

“The Russian girl? I want to see.” He retrieved his jeans and fastened his shirt.

“Don’t let her see you, for fuck’s sake. She may want coffee or something.” I found my jeans and straightened my jumper.

Iain lifted the blind and peered beneath it. “I bet that blonde isn’t natural. She should’ve done her roots for Christmas.”

Saturday already?

Where does the time go? I've been buried in NaNo frenzy this week, my first NaNoWriMo for a couple of years. I'm cheating ever so slightly in that I'm using it as a kick in the arse to get the latest story written. It's working. I've been clearing 2,000 words a day and I may even have a decent first draft by the end of the month.

Sadly, because it's set in the mid 19th century and because my two protagonists, Marcus and Jacob have to survive a prolonged siege in the Red Fort at Agra and then have to hide their feelings for each other back in England, there isn't much snark.

So, I've salvaged this from a trunked novel. The two characters eventually reappeared in 'Mourning Jack' which I did finish.

For some reason, I just love writing chef characters.

Don't forget to check out all of today's snark on Marie Sexton's blog.

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I put my arm around Ian and he settled against me, resting his head on my shoulder. I loved the warmth of him, the scent of him, the softness of his hair beneath my cheek. “I’m sure I’ll love the pheasant. It’s fine with me as long as I haven’t got to pluck it.”

“I skinned it and I picked out the shot, so you don’t have to worry about breaking your teeth.”

“Thank Christ for that. I like a chef takes the trouble to deal with the small things, like peoples’ teeth.”

“I aim to please.”