What’s a guy to do with a woman who hates to cry? #sixsunday

This six comes from Tempted, soon to arrive in the Into the Unknown anthology with J. Taylor Publishing.  This is from Liam Kane’s point of view, the hero from The Glass Man.

Lila hates it when he gets all sentimental with her.

I pressed my lips to hers, let them drift up over her peach-soft cheek, over her long lashes to her brow.  “My only wish is to keep the peace in this world and bring back the innocence I saw in your eyes a few minutes ago.”  I moaned as I recalled [Lila’s] face at the moment of her climax.  “I’ll see it restored one day, just watch and see.”

A dull pain rippled out from my gut.  It took me a second to realize she’d hit me.

Don’t forget to click on the logo above to see the other entries this week.

Coming December 1, 2011

When dreams come to life

Summer, 2010.  My life had taken an unexpected u-turn on the job front.  It threw me for a loop at first, but looking back now, it’s one of those events that defined me.  Or at least set me on the road to figuring out who the heck I am.  At 37 years old, I still didn’t know.

With a lot of time to ponder life, a story popped into my head.  One that came from ::ahem:: ‘dreams’ of the daytime sort, and no, I won’t elaborate more on that.  😉  My crazy imagination spun and twisted ideas, characters, settings and a collision course for my heroine and villain to follow.  I lived and breathed the story in every quiet moment, playing scenes like movies in my mind.

I’d taken an online writing course or two.  I knew I had it in me, somewhere deep, to create a story that would entertain … well … someone.  So, I opened my laptop and typed Chapter 1.  I find that blank page daunting, always.  Daring me to fill it with something interesting.  And I’m not one to back down from a challenge like that.

Six weeks later, I had the first draft of The Glass Man stewing in my laptop.  With the help of my buds from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pens at Scribophile.com, I had it polished up in another six weeks. To my utter shock, most liked the book.  Yes.  Mine.  The one that came from my own mind, heart and soul.  I’d entertained someone.  My goal had been achieved.

Then the amazing happened.

I knew how hard the publishing world could be, and I held little hope that my baby would ever reach any readers beyond my writer friends.  I was okay with that.  Though, fine, I admit it, I did fantasize about holding my own novel in my hand one day.  By some fantastic twist of fate, I got in touch with a new and crazy-talented publisher, J. Taylor Publishing about The Glass Man.  Their response:  We want to publish your book.

WHAT?  After reading the email about a hundred times, pinching myself until I was certain I was awake AND made certain I hadn’t slipped into an alternate reality, I responded:  Um … hell yes!  Okay, so I didn’t say that in my response, but translate that into something moderately professional with a hint of excitement, and there you have it.

There were so many exciting moments over the last six months.  Signing a contract.  Seeing the cover design for the first time.  Getting a release date.  Bookmarks, cool pictures, pre-release reviews.  Today, I’m going to be signing the first run of paperback novels at Chapters Bookstore in Peterborough, Ontario.  A real bookstore.  My novel!

I am, truly, living my dream.

And now I know who I am.  I’m an author.  A professional daydreamer, and proud of it.

RELEASE DAY!!!  The Glass Man is now available!!!

Click here for purchase links

Tempted Part 2 #sixsunday

Here is another snippet from Tempted (from Liam Kane’s POV (The Glass Man)), part of the Into the Unknown anthology coming soon from J. Taylor Publishing.  In this scene, Liam has done something to make Lila emotional, something she despises.  She’s just slugged him for it.

“Damn, that hurt.” I rubbed my stomach. “How hard have you been working out?”

She shrugged and cast a smile over her shoulder, one that could claim my heart and soul, not that I minded. “Hard enough. Now, I’d better get back before my whole guard comes looking for me. It’ll be hard enough explaining why I’m naked.”

Don’t forget to click on the Six Sunday logo at the top to find the other participants’ entries.

Coming December 1, 2011