dracoqueen22: (Cantlookyouintheeyes)
So, yesterday was Ask the Author day on the Torquere Social list, and I was the one in the hotseat. Since many of you aren't members of said social list, I thought I'd go ahead and post that informal Q&A here if anyone was interested in reading it. I've put each question in italics, with my answer following it.

Read more... )
 
dracoqueen22: (pic#)
Yeah, yeah, I know. I was published in December when I signed the contract, but really, truly, I've got the proof now.

WABAM! The Requiem of Janus is now available for purchase through Torquere Press. At the reasonable price of $8.99, you can get it in the following formats: html, lit, pdf, prc, epub, Sony-optimized pdf

Here's the link to where you can purchase it.

Also, there's an excerpt available as more information on that site, but I'll go ahead and post it here as well.

Excerpt

He had only a faint impression of location. A wide, soft bed and fluttering curtains on the edge of his vision, sheets so soft beneath him they poured like water. It was dark outside, evidenced by night-time shadows, but multiple torches provided enough illumination. The heat they generated kept the chill at bay, curling from their sweat-soaked skin.

A rough tongue scraped across his collarbone. A body much larger and broader than his hovered over him, driving him deeper into the mattress and Janus couldn’t do anything except shudder and pant for more. Fingers tangled through his hair, tugging his head back and revealing the pale column of his throat. Teeth and lips devoured the exposed skin, marking Janus in the most primitive way.

The smell of sex hung thick in the air, a heavy and consuming musk that he hungrily sucked in through his nostrils. A thigh worked between his legs, pushing them insistently aside as another thigh joined. Janus hadn’t even realized his eyes had closed until he opened them, staring directly into the most intense crimson shade he had ever seen. Familiar eyes darkened with lust before a wet and warm tongue slid across over-sensitized flesh.

Janus gasped, lips falling open as he arched his back, hips restlessly searching for something more than the fleeting brush against a solid abdomen above him. It was a dream; he should not have been so conscious of every little detail. He knew his lover’s name but not why the guard should have the audacity to sneak into Janus’ subconscious.

Strong fingers reached between their heaving bodies, wrapping around Janus and stroking him firmly. Janus murmured, chewing his bottom lip as warmth pooled in his belly, trickling through his body to gather in his groin. He had never reached such a high plateau of need with any other partner. It nearly frightened him.

But Janus did need. Terribly and desperately needed this touch as if it could save him.

Smooth tones murmured in his ear, words that made little sense to his lust-driven mind. The syllables didn't matter. Not when the words stopped and the tongue started, curling around his ear and making him shudder. Janus reached up, as if suddenly realizing that his hands had a function. They clung to the tanned body above him, fingernails digging into a broad and muscular back as he writhed, silently begging for more.

Time shifted and stopped, rearranged itself and started again and Janus gasped. He gasped and moaned as he clutched at sheets, head tossed back and hair sprawled behind his head. Pleasure blossomed in his groin, stars bursting behind eyelids he hadn’t even realized were closed as that man – Alcaeus, he admitted to himself -- thrust into him, deep and so damn good.

He held ecstasy in the palm of his hand, white-hot desire coursing through his body with all the subtlety of a hammer. He didn’t care that he sounded like a common whore, panting and moaning and demanding ‘more’ and ‘harder’. He whined and whimpered, the salty flavor of sweat blossoming over his tongue as he bit down on Alcaeus’ shoulder. Hands clamped around Janus’ buttocks, pushing so deeply inside he thought he might never be able to remove Alcaeus, that he would always be marked in some way for the rest of his life.

He ached with a pain that wasn’t quite hurt but more like a need that desperately sought to be quenched. His heart ached, his soul ached, his body ached and he sought release, something to liberate all of the hardness inside of him that he had bottled. All the fears and the pity and the nasty little truths of his true nature beneath the impassive mask.

Alcaeus murmured his name against Janus' own skin as the guard's hand wrapped around Janus, stroking him to the same rhythm of the steady thrusting. He tossed his head back, the pressure building up as it dissolved into a steady stream of ecstasy that he could no longer withhold. He came, Alcaeus’ name on his lips, and Alcaeus followed soon after, the warmth effusing his lower region.

In the distance, thunder crashed and lightning struck...

... with enough volume to jerk Janus awake, a name still on his lips and his body restless beneath the covers. He sat up, chest heaving and heartbeat rapid as his eyes flickered around the dimly lit room. His quarters. In the temple. His blood throbbed in his veins and the dream shifted about in his head.

Thunder crashed once again outside his bedroom window, followed by a flash of hot-white lightning. Magick coiled restlessly in his belly, responding to his emotions and sending the cast out of control. It tenaciously sifted away pieces of his soul. The main problem rose between his legs, throbbing with every remembered cry of pleasure.

Why did he continuously think of the guard? The man whose name he knew by informant only and whose voice he had yet to hear? And why, dammit, wouldn’t his arousal fade?

With teeth clenched and sweat clinging to his body, Janus threw back the covers, reluctantly wrapping his fingers around his straining arousal. He fell back, sprawling against the cool silk of his sheets. His body hovered on the precipice, taut with the need for release.

Ashamedly, it took only a minute for him to crest, body desperate for stimulation. Janus made a mess of his bed, partly disgusted with himself. He moved to cleaner blankets, idly contemplating a bath.

One incident with one man on a random occasion and everything refused to remain the same. His curiosity would not be dissuaded nor his libido denied.

Release by his hand remained unsatisfying. And though Janus knew half a dozen names of selas or aides who would be happy to accommodate him – especially Niord if Janus sent for him – Janus could not fool himself for the sake of saving face. None would do but Alcaeus.


This is so exciting! I'm so giddy here, it's practically scary.

Just an FYI, too. I'm the featured author for the week of June 8th as well on Torquere Press. They did a little interview thing on me, so you should check it out if you're curious. That link is here:  Also, I'll be hosting Torquere's chat on Livejournal on June 14th so stop by and say hello so I don't feel like such a newbie!

It would mean the absolute world to me if any of you could stop by and purchase a copy. If you enjoyed the original, then I guarantee you'll like the redux version. And if you can't afford it just yet, that's okay. I understand. Times are hard and I can't buy half as many books as I want to myself. Letting me know you'd like to but can't is just as nice as a purchase. Trust me. I like knowing that someone is interested in my work. Thanks everyone!

Wow. Guess that means I should get my ass in gear for the next fic, huh? 

 

 

dracoqueen22: (Default)
No sooner did I receive my cover did I also receive news of my release date.

~June 9, 2010~

Barring no troubles, of course. That's the day all of you, my fellow fans, will finally see the brand-new The Requiem of Janus in all its published glory!

That's right around the corner my friends! Soooooo close.

I can't wait.

And so, in celebration, I'm opening up a no-holds barred request time for the story of The Requiem of Janus. Oneshots, ficlets, AU, canon pieces. Throw it at me! I'm going to try and release some sexy snippets as well, as soon as some good ideas strike me that I can write. I want to start promoting this thing asap, so keep an eye out on this journal for more announcements.
dracoqueen22: (welcometohell)
Greetings!

Well, The Requiem of Janus is definitely set for May. Yay! I've already turned in my final editing copy and now it's at the proofers. No more rewrites! Even more yay! I've also met my cover artist and we've gone back and forth on that until we have a workable cover. Double yay! I'm going to have to start thinking about how I'm going to market this. I'm thinking banners, advertisements, announcements. Suggestions? 

As for Monster, it's been pushed back to June. I'm going to have to get a new cover artist after all, but it probably will work a little easier this time. I'm still thinking I want to commission someone to draw me the cover I have in mind, since it's not something that can be done with photoshopped images. Well, after I earn someone money I suppose.

And as for the personal version of The Finer Points of Thievery. I'm in my edits of chapter one now, and I'm brainstorming ideas for an additional fourth chapter/scene/point. Etc. I also have ideas to slip in little interludes between each chapter from Frost's POV so we can get a bit into his head. We don't get to see much of Frost's thoughts during the series itself, so it will be a neat little bonus for those who buy a copy. Oh! And I've already commissioned an artist for the picture I'll use for the cover. Feriowind, who did the previous Frost/Sleet pic, will be doing this one as well. I figure, hey good to go with what's awesome, right? 

Now, I'm debating if I want to go for a MayNaNo or if I'm too busy. I really have a lot to do. Damn.
dracoqueen22: (axelroxaslove)
This time, I really have no excuse for the delay in updates except for a massive bout with procrastination.

In short, I still have no computer, but my mother has graciously allowed me to use hers. I still can't write as much as I want to thanks to the move and Real Life, but things are looking up for me.

I've received my first major round of editing for The Requiem of Janus, and I will tell you all this much: It's definitely going to be a different book by the time you guys get to purchase it. I'm rather proud of the new way it's turning out and I know you will all enjoy it as much as I do. It's better, it's deeper, it will tear your heart to pieces. At least, I hope anyway. Still, May is a long way in coming, though it seems short with all the work I have to do.

I'm nearly done with the rewrites of Aftermath as well. I've added at least five chapters to the length of it as well as altering the ending slightly. There are new scenes, rewritten scenes, the works. Pretty soon, it'll be ready for me to try and sell. I'm currently researching who best to introduce it to. It's one of my favorite fics so I'm hoping to get a good response from it.

Now, for the real news.

I've decided to try and sell a few of my non-marketable books on my own. Books that I would either find difficult to market elsewhere or that I feel would be better enjoyed with changes imposed on me. These I plan to sell myself aka self-publish. At first, they will only be downloadable files but as time goes on, I will likely market them as print on demand as well.

At the moment, I have decided on three stories to market on my own to start: Walking Delusions, Fallen Angel Fallen God, and The Finer Points of Thievery which is a piece of the War of the Animum series.

Now each story will have added scenes and bonus chapters as well as being fully edited and rewritten. I will commission covers for each story as well so that those willing to purchase a copy will be privileged to seeing something new while keeping something to entertain those who wish to read free material.

I am also making a greater effort at announcing things in my livejournal. I'd like to keep this the hub of information about my original works and my fanfiction works as well. I will announce all emerging published fics here, as well as keeping up the reviews of my fanfiction, my stories, manga, other fanfic writers, original writers, so on and so forth.

I may, occasionally, need a kick in the arse in reminder to keep my promises. I welcome any of you to prod me if I've fallen off the wagon.

Well, I think that's enough blabber for today. Keep your eyes peeled in the future!
dracoqueen22: (shunukilove)
So... let's go with the bad news first. My computer up and died. Broke. Stopped working with no warning whatsoever. Thus the prolonged silence on my end. At the moment, I am borrowing my mom's laptop but still, it's rough going. I don't anticipate getting a new one for at least a few weeks from now. But since I've been without a computer for like... two weeks, I haven't written anything. Alas. Except for seven handwritten chapters of a brand-new original fic.

More on that to come later.

In the meantime, that means updates won't return until March at the earliest. I'll need time to get back in the groove, get back to writing, etc. Not to mention getting settled in after a major move and finding another job. Hopefully, when I return, I'll have lots of ficcage to hand out.

Now for the good news. I have a release date (perhaps tentative) for The Requiem of Janus. We're looking at May 2010 folks. That means it will be coming out at the same time as Monster. Huzzah! I'm very excited about this. I've also been introduced to my editor and he seems like a neat guy. We'll get along well together. He'll rip my manuscript apart and I'll doggedly fix it. *grins*

Anyway, the new fic I had worked on in my extended absence was a supernatural murder mystery with a slashy theme. Very outside my usual but very interesting to try. The basic gist? An American PI heads to Japan to investigate the death of a billionaire's son which said billionaire doesn't believe to be an accident like the local authorities suggest. To quote some famous movie, "nothing is what it seems". Huzzah! I'll have to do a lot of research before it's up to snuff and ready for human consumption, but it seems to be cruising along mightily nonetheless.

I should return soon with more news.

Ciao.
dracoqueen22: (Default)
So... I've just signed the contract for The Requiem of Janus and sent it in. 

I am so EXCITED about this. I feel like I've been given some validation as a writer.

I mean, I know that I'm rather popular in fanfiction. I've built up some renown for my FF7 and Bleach stories. That I will admit because it's true and any sort of modesty would just be fake and rather immodest of me. I know I have at least five fans that read everything I write just because I wrote it and that's so flattering one wouldn't know how I feel about that. Geez, just knowing that I'll write it and they'll read it is enough motivation to press fingers to the keys, even when I'm feeling uninspired.

BUT, that is fanfiction. And my original fiction has not quite taken off like my fanfiction. I push and push and try to drive people to read it, but I can't seem to entice anyone. As a result, it doesn't get updated nearly as often as my fanfiction and that's partly my own fault. I keep saying that I'm going to focus on my original fiction, but I'm so enamored of the notice I get for my fanfiction that I always end up back focusing on it rather than the stuff that's mine alone. A quandary.

Admittedly, I have a hard time reading original fiction myself. One, because it tends to be so cliche and awful that I'm turned off by it. Two, because I have a hard time picturing the characters and I don't already see the ties that could be between them. It makes me a rather lazy reader, I suppose. So I can see why original fiction would be something difficult to sell.

Anyway, with that long tangent, what I'm trying to say is that I haven't received any validation as an original writer which has always made me question my ability to create something new and interesting enough to invite readers to partake in it.

But now, I'm beginning to believe that my original works might actually be interesting. That a publisher is willing to take a chance on The Requiem of Janus (after I have already suffered one rejection) is a wonderful thing. And it may only be an e-book, but for a slashy fiction, that's the best medium, I think. That cuts down on costs.

So I hope (all my fingers crossed) that I can sell some copies of this book and prove the publisher's faith in me. I'm going to do my damnedest to promote this thing. Pushing and pushing and writing side stories to try and entice readers. I really want to prove that I will be an asset to them rather than a regret.
dracoqueen22: (mytimeisjustbeginning)
At last!

I enjoy success once more.

Yes, my friends, you heard me.

The Requiem of Janus has been accepted for publication! I am so ecstatic it's crazy.

So here I am, rushing around to remove it from everywhere it's been posted. Luckily, all those sites only have the beta version and not the one that's been through three rewrites, re-edits, and the like. So they don't have the final version.

I am so excited, I don't know what to do with myself.

November has been a great month!

Also, to clear up a few things, if I do decide to move most of my posting to livejournal, rest assured that I will kept my homesites up to date. They will never be shut down.

But that's still a plan far, far in the future. I don't have enough of a livejournal following to make this a possibility yet. So I will remain posting on ff.net and aff.net for the time being.

Wahoo!
dracoqueen22: (discardregret)
I just met my editor for Monster. She was really nice and she loved the story! Which is always a good thing. She even complimented my editing skills, mentioning that she needed to correct very little.

Booyah!

So I received the first draft last night and got so excited that I looked through it and sent it right back within an hour.

No further changes needed to be made. Huzzah!

Now I am just waiting for it to be officially published. Excitement!

In other news, I'm down to 133K for the rewrite of The Requiem of Janus. I pulled out one scene that I plan to release as a oneshot later and I ripped out another small plot that's pretty boring. Let's hope I can pull out 13K more.
dracoqueen22: (Default)
I forgot to announce the updates. Whoops.

But that doesn't matter! Because I just received an e-mail from DreamspinnerPress asking to see my complete manuscript of The Requiem of Janus! Huzzah!

That's no guarantee of getting published, mind, but it's several steps closer than I've ever been before! It's the first time I've gotten beyond the query stage for my slashy/homosexual love works. And the first time I've gotten past the query stage for a novel as well. Even if they don't take it, this proves that I had something worth looking twice at!

Here's keeping my fingers crossed that they want to publish it! Then I can finally start handing out links and stuff for all my fans to buy it. How exciting!

Update!!

Jul. 17th, 2009 12:22 am
dracoqueen22: (shunukilove)
I updated like... awhile ago, but I never got on here to say so. I am such a slacker. Oh well, I'm not entirely sure anyways referring to this for updates anyways since other methods are much, much more reliable. lol

Original Update: None

Fanfiction Update:

1) The Butterfly Effect - Chapter Three - Prelude for the Straying Stars
2) Seireitei Monogatari - Drabble 128 - In the End - Shunsui/Gin - Sequel to Stray


Also, PUBLISHING NEWS!

I finally finished the extended version of Monster and have already edited through it and sent it on to the publisher. She's going to look over it and lemme know if it's what she wanted or not. I managed to expand a story that was a mere approximate 4000 words to over 32,000 words. Huzzah!

Now, I've started on The Seeker extended version and having much fun connecting it to War of the Animum, with Frost and Beryl making strong appearances. I think you'll like it. I know it's going pretty smoothly.

I started back working a bit on my fanfiction. Managed to pound out another chapter of Chronicles of Valentine and The Butterfly Effect as well. I'm also in the midst of a final edit through The Requiem of Janus so I can start sending that out to possibly interested parties.

I'll try to keep ya posted on how things go.

Enjoy the updates!


dracoqueen22: (neverthoughtitdbelikethis)
So talks are still going well. I'm at about 28K with my extended version of Monster and really, I think you guys will love it. It's just as good as the original with a nice, twisty ending.

I've started plotting my extended version of The Seeker, and wow, I've decided that it fits in perfectly with my War of the Animum universe, so you can expect to see some connections there. I think I'll even have Frost show up! *cackles madly*

According to my publisher, the extended versions of The Seeker, Monster, and The Devil's Wife will be available in e-book format, for purchase online. If The Phoenix Curse or any of my other larger stories are accepted they will be print-to-order. Very exciting!

I'm still working on editing through The Requiem of Janus. I have someone looking it over now for plot crap. And I'm going to do some more ripping and tearing. I've still got about 30K to go before it's an acceptable length. It's still at a massive 150K words, which is the largest of any original fiction I've written. *boggled*

In the meantime, my fanfiction writing has stalled to a halt. Well, except for Chronicles of Valentine which I'm about halfway through the seventh part after just posting the sixth. *wipes sweat from brow*

More updates to come as I find time! I'll keep you posted!

dracoqueen22: (mytimeisjustbeginning)
Huzzah!

She wants my stories to join her August line up of novels for young readers. Exciting!

Of course, they are going to have to be expanded a bit. Turning a 4K short story into a 65K novel should be interesting. And time-consuming. So I won't be putting up any fic reviews for a couple of months, and fanfiction updating shall slow to a crawl, but I won't abandon it entirely. It'll just be something for my free time, or when I'm stumped in my writing.

For those interested, the stories she chose were: Monster, The Seeker, and The Devil's Wife. Monster has been fic-reviewed already if you want to read through that on here. I'll let you know when they actually go into print should you decide to buy a copy and support me.

Wow, this is exciting.
 


dracoqueen22: (mytimeisjustbeginning)
It's official... she loves my stories! Squee! This is epic! This is fantastic. I will eventually be a published writer. She wants all three of the stories for her Young Adult line! Wonderful!

Now, if only I wrote romance and erotica, she want my novels, too. *nose to grinder* I can do it. If I can write homosexual romance erotica, I can write het. In fact... I'm already thinking of a plot. Something smooth and sultry between a Yoruichi-esque heroine and a Grimmjow-esque hero. Mrowr. The heat that would rise between them. Maybe I can throw some werewolves into the mix, though have them be different clans... Grimmjow the panther, Yoruichi the... leopard? *snorkle* Who knows? 

Excitement!
dracoqueen22: (discardregret)
So...I just sent three of my short stories to a potential publisher. Not just a secretary. Not just a person who will forward it to the one in charge if necessary, but to the motive behind the music. To the actual head honcho herself. And with any luck, she'll love my work, request the longer pieces, and put a contract in the works. Huzzah!

Keeping my fingers crossed!

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