Showing posts with label Mary Winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mary Winter. Show all posts

Saturday, August 9, 2008

NEW RELEASE: Mission: Possession

missionpossession_sm.jpg



Mission: Possession
Live Action Hero Book 3
By Mary Winter
http://www.marywinter.com/
RELEASE DATE: 08/02/08
Changeling Press
http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=954
genres: urban fantasy, m/m, action figure come to life

BLURB:


Hugh has put his marketing talents to work for the store he owns with his friends, The Fantastic Five. He knows a hunk when he sees one, and the broken action figure has model material written all over his muscled body. Hugh repairs him and places the figure in the center of his new ad campaign. But when Hugh finishes taking the photos, the figure, magically returned to life, comes out from behind the camera and into Hugh's life.

A model before he was a soldier and then an enchanted action figure, Talon is no stranger to the camera. The handsome man behind it, however, is completely new and all his. Talon is determined to show Hugh that a picture is worth a thousand kisses. But inside his chest beats the heart of a hero, and when he interrupts a robbery, he's wounded, and Talon might lose not only his magazine-cover good looks, but Hugh.

Read an excerpt now!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

New Cover - Live Action Hero 3 Mission: Possession



I am pleased to announce the new cover for my next installment in my Live Action Hero series - Mission: Possession.

It goes on sale August 2! (http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=954) I hope you enjoy! I really had fun with this story.

BLURB:

Hugh has put his marketing talents to work for the store he owns with his friends, The Fantastic Five. He knows a hunk when he sees one, and the broken action figure has model material written all over his muscled body. Hugh repairs him and places the figure in the center of his new ad campaign. But when Hugh finishes taking the photos, the figure, magically returned to life, comes out from behind the camera and into Hugh’s life.

A model before he was a soldier and then an enchanted action figure, Talon is no stranger to the camera. The handsome man behind it, however, is completely new and all his. Talon is determined to show Hugh that a picture is worth a thousand kisses. But inside his chest beats the heart of a hero, and when he interrupts a robbery, he’s wounded, and Talon might lose not only his magazine-cover good looks, but Hugh.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Of Men and Horses


As a woman, I watch a man ride a horse well, and my eye is drawn to a couple of things: his hands soft and gentle on the reins and his seat and legs providing a good foundation for his riding skills. I figure any man (especially dressage riders) who can communicate cues to his horse through the subtle use of his hands would probably do the same thing on a woman, or man's body. In horseback riding the buttocks and thighs are your foundation. You don't wrap your legs around their barrel. You use your thighs and your seat to feel what the horse is doing beneath you, and to send subtle cues like a half halt to your horse.
So maybe that's why I find it so easy to write about men and horses. And why, Rock and Andreas struck me as two of my favorite characters. Andreas is the consummate dressage rider. He's proper and disciplined. He believes in control. Where Rock competes in the western version of dressage--reining. It's a wild sport, done at high speed with intricate maneuvers. Horses are a lot younger in the reining arena, and coming from rodeo, it was a perfect fit for Rock.
Yet, these two men, in spite of being polar opposites know all about the subtle body language of horseback riding and how a touch, a shift in position can say so much. And when they touch each other...sparks fly.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Man-on-Man Muse


Two out of my last three releases have been M/M novels. I didn't plan it that way. I simply wrote the stories that my muse demanded that I write. The muse is a fickle thing. If she doesn't get her way or get fed on a regular basis, she gets all bitchy and refuses to talk to me. I guess I could think of her like my boyfriend's haughty half-Himalayan/half-farm cat kitties (always referred to as "the girls.") One took after the Persian half of the Himalayan breed, the other took after the Siamese half, but both of them are spoiled princess. The Fancy Feast cat has nothing on these two. Of course, I treat my kitties like rag dolls. They're the fluffies I pick up and hug, or pet, or share my lap with. The girls think this behavior is scandalous! And both, having Siamese heritage, will be sure to tell you about it. They even have these "harumph!" looks they get that make you just want to break down in giggles, because really... they're cats. How high-and-mighty can they get? Quite a lot.

So, in order to keep my muse happy, I not only worked on my action figure come to life series, Live Action Hero, from Changeling Press (points to cover on the right), but I also worked on my novel Cowboy Up from Ellora's Cave. (points to top cover). Both released earlier this month, and I have to say that my muse is very, very happy.

Of course now Hugh & Talon (from Live Action Hero 3 - Mission: Possession) are giving me fits.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Fun in the greenhouse (or why I want to watch)

Over the last weekend I attended the Des Moines Science Fiction Society's (DMSFS) annual convention DemiCon. (http://www.demicon.org/). One of the panels I was on talked about the hot men of science fiction. And of course, you know Captain Jack and his young sidekick Ianto were among the topics of conversation.

But the conversation went something like this.

Other panelist to me: "Captain Jack, the character, may sleep with anything, but the actor John Barrowman is completely gay."

Me: "So."

Other panelist: *looks at me as if I've lost my mind.* "He's gay." (As if I, a M/M author has no clue what that means.)

Me: "I can watch! I'll probably even take notes."

Other panelist proceeds to look at me like I've grown a second head.

And maybe that's why in one of the Torchwood episodes, when Gwen finds Jack and Ianto playing "hide and seek" in the greenhouse, I found it hilarious that they offer to have Gwen join them. (And why if I were Gwen, I would have said hell yeah in a heartbeat.)

So what is it about "watching."?

Aside from the million nuances I'm sure I'd pick up that would help my writing, I think it boils down to having two very handsome men feeling secure enough to express their physical appreciation/lust/love/whatever you want to call it sexually and being secure enough to do so in front of an audience. I'll be shallow for a moment. Eye candy is eye candy. Two of them are even better. Two of them naked and having sex, even better! (the best!). And I think watching that, especially since men really are different from women and it would be fascinating to see their physical desires play out. I don't have to join them to appreciate the beauty of the male form and the beauty that can be found in sex, no matter the gender of the participants.

Also, I happen to be an unashamed admirer of the human form. I can see why my partner thinks Gwen is gorgeous (and she does have a lovely accent, too.). There's also the lure of the forbidden. I can watch and know that they wouldn't want me touching, but I can think about it. The brain is the largest sex organ in the human body, after all. I can imagine being between (behind, beside, name your preposition and I can be there) the two men, participating, enhancing their pleasure and my own.

No, it's not something that I'll ever do in real life, most likely. But I can fantasize, and that, is the allure of watching. Because it's like a movie screen for your mind.

So who would you want to watch?

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Round Robin: Part 1

Samuel closed his eyes to catch a moment’s peace in the hospital’s break room before he had to head back to the overly-busy emergency room. He’d run out of coffee and blood in the same day, making him one very cranky vampire. If it weren’t for the fact that he’d just celebrated his one hundred and seventy eighth birthday recently, he’d think he was a new fledgling fresh out of med school. At least he’d been able to handle the residency process. Being over a hundred and fifty when you did rotations allowed some tolerance to sunlight and not needing any food or sleep.

“Dr. Wexford to emergency. Dr. Wexford to emergency,” Ken, one of the latest crop of residents, said over the intercom.

Ken doll. Samuel smiled as he downed the rest of the hospital’s god awful coffee and tossed the empty cup into the trash. It made a perfect arc and sailed neatly into the center of the receptacle. With his surfer spiky blonde hair and eyes the color of the ocean outside his the view from his remote home, Ken looked like the proverbial childhood toy. And boy would Samuel like to play with him. He shook his head to clear the thought as he hurried from the break room and down to whatever the latest crisis was. Tonight was his last night before a two week vacation.

He followed the sound of commotion into one of the bays and stopped. His blood ran cold. The mortal on the table looked heart-stoppingly familiar, and for once Samuel was thankful that his heart didn’t beat. Blood caked the man’s midnight dark hair to his forehead. A gash ran along the outside of his left eye. An air splint held his right arm, and Samuel bet he’d see bruising on the man’s chest from a steering wheel.

“Car accident. He rear ended a truck on the Pacific Coast Highway, just past the turn off to Malibu Canyon Rd. Apparently the truck thought he saw something on the road and our patient didn’t stop quick enough. At least that’s what the truck driver said.”

Samuel listened with half an ear as he stared down at the man he’d once professed to love until the end of time. “Blake Bothman, the founder of Wirefly International,” he said.

“You know him?”

Samuel nodded, his throat too tight to say anything more. He drew a deep breath. Damn it, where was his emotional detachment when he needed it.

Ken laid his hand on Samuel’s shoulder. “We’ll take good care of him. He’ll be just fine. I promise.”

Sam looked down at Ken’s hand with his neatly manicured fingernails. Such youthful optimism. He’d had it once long ago. “Thank you,” he said, and hoped like hell Ken doll was right.

On the table, Blake groaned. “Samuel. Must. Get. To Him.”

Samuel surged forward. He touched Blake’s shoulder. “I’m here,” he said. “You’re in the ER. You’re going to be all right.” He glanced at Ken and saw the resident nod. He grabbed a chart and shoved it in Samuel’s free hand. Scanning it, Samuel saw nothing more than a few minor injuries, nothing some rest wouldn’t cure.

“Samuel,” Blake groaned again. His eyelids fluttered open for a moment. Green eyes connected with dark brown. And then they dipped closed. Blake’s moment of consciousness had passed.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

New Release - Mission: Carnal by Mary Winter


Mission: Carnal
Live Action Hero Book 1by Mary Winter
Available Today from Changeling Press
http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=816
M/M Urban Fantasy (action figures)

Adrian turned his passion for action figures into a thriving comic shop, The Fantastic Five. After spending most of his life in the world of super heroes and aliens, he’s not surprised when the action figure he’s repairing comes to life. He’s more surprised by the instant attraction he feels to the man—and the fact that it’s mutual. These guys are supposed to be Real American heroes. But right now, Adrian wants him to be his hero.

Mack’s waited a long time for a reward. He’s come back wounded from a brutal mission, but the Toymaker upstairs promised him a new life and a new mission. When Adrian repairs his broken body, his gentle touch also repairs Mack’s broken heart. Now it’s Mack’s turn to repay Adrian, by teaching him about living your wildest fantasies and making your dreams come true.
Enjoy!!!!!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Excerpt: Live Action Hero 1 Mission: Carnal

Live Action Hero 1- Mission: Carnal
Mary Winter
M/M Urban Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: February 29, 2008
Changeling Press
http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=816

BLURB:
Adrian turned his passion for action figures into a thriving comic shop, The Fantastic Five. After spending most of his life in the world of super heroes and aliens, he’s not surprised when the action figure he’s repairing comes to life. He’s more surprised by the instant attraction he feels to the man—and the fact that it’s mutual. These guys are supposed to be Real American heroes. But right now, Adrian wants him to be his hero.
Mack’s waited a long time for a reward. He’s come back wounded from a brutal mission, but the Toymaker upstairs promised him a new life and a new mission. When Adrian repairs his broken body, his gentle touch also repairs Mack’s broken heart. Now it’s Mack’s turn to repay Adrian, by teaching him about living your wildest fantasies and making your dreams come true.
EXCERPT:
Adrian blinked as the numbers on the spreadsheet blurred. Automatically, he reached for his tepid mug of coffee, wincing at its chill. He’d calculated the numbers backwards and forwards, not liking the decline they showed. Just past January first, he should have showed a boost in fourth quarter sales. After all, they had the holidays, then the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day to spend holiday money. Comics had been flying off the shelves. Several hot new releases had patrons queuing in line even before The Fantastic Five had opened.

Adrian shook his head. He rose to his feet, his gaze catching, as it often did, on the broken action figure sitting on the corner of his desk. The man sat there, his feet lost probably during some child’s “battle”. One hand had been almost torn from its wrist. Looking at it, he couldn’t tell, but Adrian knew if he picked up the figure, started to move the jointed limbs, he’d find the tear. He’d intended to start working on it tonight.

“Sorry, buddy,” he said, then smiled when he realized he spoke to a toy.

Adrian stood. He reached for his mug, not quite able to pull his attention from the figure. Adrian had found this toy in a box at a garage sale a few blocks over while out on his run. Although the figure had a production date in the mid-nineties, something about the toy had drawn Adrian. Normally, he wasn’t overly fond of the modern figures.

The plastic soldier sat there, stubble covering his cheeks and jaw. It gave him a surly look, as if he were a grizzled soldier who barked orders at his men all day. Short, dark brown hair was cut with military precision. His brows were dark slashes over his piercing blue eyes. Broad shoulders, perfectly muscled body, he looked like the real American hero his now long-gone packaging had declared him to be.

“As soon as I get through these numbers I’ll take care of you.” Adrian frowned at his nearly-empty mug. The clock on his computer told him it was after ten pm. Way too late to continue the caffeine drip he’d been on all day. If only he could pinpoint the source of the store’s drop in earnings. Then, he’d have some answers for his friends and partners.

Not that they needed them. Dean would be leaving for a windsurfing vacation tomorrow. Van and Hugh trusted him with the day-to-day operations of the store. Hugh worked on marketing and promotion. Van provided legal assistance and spent a lot of his time scouring for action figures to restore. The Field Medic operated as a subdivision of their store restoring vintage and modern action figures.

With a shake of his head, Adrian went to the kitchen. Moments later he returned with a cold bottle of water.

“Forget about the numbers,” a whisky-rough voice said in his mind.

Adrian stared at the figure. He’d been known to make jokes about what toys would say if they were real. But this was real enough as to be spooky. The voice sounded exactly like he guessed the toy would sound, a kind of Tommy Lee Jones commanding tone that always made Adrian’s cock stand at attention. He debated about answering, but decided what the hell, he was only talking to a toy. No one needed to know. “I’d like to,” he replied. “Then again, if you were real, there are a lot of things I’d like to do.”

Adrian allowed his mind to wander, imagining the figure as a real flesh and blood man. He figured he slipped deeper into a sex-deprived insanity with his musings, but it’d been ages since he’d been laid. Adrian knew he would drag his fingers through the man’s silken hair. The figure’s broad chest demanded an exploration with lips and fingers. Long, muscled legs and a tight ass. Just thinking about how he would look had Adrian’s cock hardening. He reached down and cupped his hand over it. His erection strained the denim.

“What do you want to do?” That gravelly voice filled his head again.

Adrian wanted to put those lips to better use. He shook his head. Damn it, he had numbers to go over and a plan to create. He didn’t have time for idle fantasies.

“Give me half an hour, all right?” Adrian arched an eyebrow at the mute figure.

“All right,” the voice barked back.

Adrian gulped half the water bottle down. Capping it, he turned away from the figure that had possessed so much of his thoughts. He should be focusing on his business. He must be losing it if he were having a fake conversation with a broken action figure. Rubbing his eyes, he vowed he’d get through these numbers come hell or high water. Or the distractions of a certain action figure sitting on the corner of his desk.

What he needed was to get laid. His dick swelled just thinking about a wet, willing mouth. The heavy length of a tongue stroking him, watching a man hollow his cheeks as he sucked hard. Adrian sighed. Yeah, that was exactly what he needed.

“Me, too, man,” the gravelly voice replied.

“Will you stop it?” Adrian asked. He snarled, realizing he’d copied the same column of figures three times. “Focus. You can do this.”

“I could do you.”

Adrian whirled in his desk chair. He was going fucking nuts! Some claimed masturbation caused dementia and blindness. Perhaps that was his fault. He’d hand-jobbed himself into a psych ward. He snorted, thinking his friends would laugh at that. They were always telling him to quit being so picky and just pick up a man. They teased him that he was like the profit and loss sheets he worked with.

Okay, that was it. One more pass through the numbers, and that was it. He had to get out of here.

He had to get laid.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

The Waiting Game



My novel For Love and Country was released just a little over a week ago from Samhain Publishing. And I'm in that lovely, or not so lovely, limbo state. I've gotten one review for it already (Beth from Paranormal Romance Reviews says: "...This story is wonderfully written and I was drawn in from the first page. The characters are very appealing and easy to fall for. It's a wonderful blend of history and romance and the sexual tension between the two characters really heats up the pages. Mary Winter's desire to bring the Civil War era to life has paid off.") However, that's the only review I've seen so far.

I've heard some good things about this book, so I know (okay, so I hope) people are buying it and reading it. But those first few weeks after a story's release are very tenuous. We all want to believe that people are buying, and reading, and loving our work. However, the waiting takes it toll. Every author, I'm sure, goes through this, and in the end, we finally see reviews or reader comments and know that yes, the book did reach its intended audience and they enjoyed it. (whew!)

I am noticing that reviews are taking longer to come in these days. But then again there are tons of new books released every month. It'd take a huge staff to get through all of them. And many people are like me, where certain authors are definitely on the "to read" list. It just takes a while to get there.

So in the meantime, I'll wait as patiently as I can.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

When good websites go bad

My webhost was giving me fits, major fits. Apparently last weekend's outage caused them not to restore a bunch of folders to my server--folders that I didn't know I needed until I tried to do anything to the website. Well, the issue was fixed on my Jupiter Gardens site (http://www.jupitergardens.com/ ) , but it remained on my Operation: Write website (http://www.operationwrite.com/ ). And, since Jade and I were planning an unveling party, and she had a lovely little flash fiction piece she was going to use to kick it off, well, I was understandably peeved.

I decided to move the site. However, in my haste, I completely deleted it. Oh noes! Suffice to say, that was not the worst thing I said that day. Luckily, the lovely person who did the design kept the template, and we were able to import earlier posts from blogger. About forty-eight hours later, Operation: Write was once more up and running. Most everything has been readded and the site is as good as it's getting.

Now, to convince Jade to post her flash fiction and get this party started.

However, this has taught me an important lesson. Always keep a backup of your websites, especially now that I don't use FrontPage and won't automatically have it saved on my C:\ drive. Don't be hasty when you're trying to kick someone (in this case my web host) in the ass. And, smile. It will all work out in the end.

I hope your websites behave and you have a stellar week!

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Falling in Love All Over Again

I'm currently working on edits for my next M/M story. As part of my personal editing process, after going through the manuscript on the computer screen, I print it out and read it again. Sometimes the act of seeing something in a different font, on a different medium, makes those little mistakes jump out. Plus, I get a chance to read all about my hunky men on horseback again.

Edits can be grueling. I can't think of an author who unequivocally loves doing edits. But self-editing is a necessary part of the writing process. For me, one of the joys of reading through my work multiple times means I get to fall in love with my characters again.

Over and over again.

You see, if I can't fall in love with my characters and the story, then I'm pretty sure a reader can't either. And if I've read something four times, and I still end with a smile on my face from having a satisfying read, then I know it's a good book. That doesn't mean it won't need more polishing or even a critique partner or two to hack it to bits. But deep down, in spite of whatever flaws the story may have at this stage of the game, it's a good, solid love story.

If I didn't love the characters the first time, I wouldn't have written their story. Working with the prose and falling in love with them again...well, that's what makes this writer smile. And hoepfully, when it's all said and done, you too!

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Willed and Waiting...inspiration...


Okay, so my latest release from Changeling isn't M/M. No, I've got edits on my next men on horseback book to take care of next week. But, I thought I'd share with you the hotness that is the inspiration for Rody, my hero.


http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=687

It's those blue eyes that get me every time...



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