More Contract Goodness

As a writer, I'm always thrilled when I can turn my obsession (err, interests) for something into a novel. My love of horses brought me my m/m novels Riding Partner and the forthcoming Cowboy Up. As I have recently discovered GI Joes can be quite useful for plotting and choreography issues, they have become my latest obsession.

I've just turned in a free Encounter story to Changeling Press. You can read it with the next issue of the Cheeky Changeling, their newsletter. It's about a man who restores broken GI Joes. Well, a particular action figure comes to life and thanks him in a very unique way. This idea has led to a series, and I'm pleased to announce that I've signed contracts for them. I'm busy writing, so won't say too much, except that I am thrilled with this unique idea and a chance to let my imagination "play."

As I eagerly await a release date for Cowboy Up, I am working on this new series. And I hope, that you will enjoy them as much as I.

A Little Holiday Spice

In the spirit of the season, I thought I'd give you all a little Holiday Fic I wrote last year

Noel

Blessings Be

James Buchanan

(c) 2006

Much thanks to Reb, Syd, CB, Nicole and SamC who gave me inspiration even if I couldn’t quite work in the snowmobile, stalker and nutcracker scenes.


“What are you doing?” An irritated, but cultured voice came from behind Les. Backing it, the boisterous cheer of a holiday party cut the night. Part Christmas, part end of exams, and part wrap party for the local university’s production of A Christmas Carol throbbed full swing. Over indulgence hounded Les. Too much drinking with people he really didn’t care for. He needed the money, the college needed a sound tech… it was decent enough for a student job. And at least he didn’t have to pretend to be straight around theater geeks.

“Writing my name in the snow.” Les growled, glancing over his shoulder while tying not to get anything on his combat boots. Oh, Dear God, the questioner was wearing a Santa hat pushed back on his head. Blond curls poked out underneath. That was almost more Christmas cheer then Les could stomach.

Chad Mitchell stood staring at Les while he had his dick in his hand taking a piss. Dockers, button-down green, plaid shirt over a white t-shirt set off indignant blue eyes. “You could have used the bathroom inside.” Freckles dotted the bridge of his nose. His old style hunter’s coat couldn’t keep the frost from tinting sharp cheeks. Shit, Les cursed under his breath, accosted by an LL Bean catalog while taking a leak.

“Right.” Les tucked himself away and yanked up the fly of his black jeans. That done, he shoved his hands in the pockets for warmth and shouldered deeper into his army surplus Patton style jacket. “And stand in line with all those giggling girly things that can’t hold their beer? Much easier this way.”

For all of the bad taste, Les’ brain did a little stop-start routine when he turned full on. The first full-dress rehearsal, Les memorized each line and angle to Chad’s body. All and nothing was left to the imagination in the grey velvet and linen the costumers pulled together. Every time he saw Chad drift out to stage center in those tight Dickenson Era pants and cutaway coat, he had the same reaction. Chad was tall and not too bulky under layers of winter clothes. The line costume indicated a nice butt and sculpted body lurked underneath. In the darkness of the sound booth, Les wanked himself off while just watching Chad move. Thank God there weren’t many cues during Chad’s scenes.

Tight and proud, full lips crawled into a near sneer. “You just have to be that way, huh. All angsty and self righteous?” The blond actor tucked his own hands under his armpits.

It was Goddamn freezing out behind the house. Snow flurries fluttered down. One landed on the ring in Les’ nose and turned it to ice. He sneezed. Back, over a wool cloaked shoulder, fairy lights danced through an over wrought Christmas tree framed Currier and Ives style in the window. Fuck, Chad looked like a post card. Put a stamp on Chad and mail it to Les’ bedroom. Muted strains of the little drummer boy drifted around them.

“Always.” Les agreed. Cold seeped through waffle soles and Les hopped from one foot to the other trying to keep feeling in his toes. Blondie glared. “You theater jerks, so pompous. Man you guys suck.” He laughed. “Scrooge… repent, turn back before it’s too late.” Throwing as much over emphasis as he could into the line, Les teased. He draped his right arm before his eyes and threw his head back, “Don’t end up like me.”

Indignant, Chad’s lips went thin. “That’s not my line.”

Les waived it off. “Shit, you all take this college theater shit way to serious. Les,” he drew out his own name with a starlet’s falsetto, “my mic’s not right. How am ever going to emote correctly with this crappy sound system.”

Chad snorted. “I never said anything like that.”

“No.” It was Les’ turn to glare. “You didn’t even talk to me when I fitted you out for you wireless.”

Glancing off towards the house, Chad seemed embarrassed. “You didn’t seem like you wanted to talk with me during production.”

Les’ eyebrows crawled up. Running his tongue along the edge of his teeth, the little bar through the muscle clicked against enamel. “Why would you want to talk to someone like me when you’re surrounded by all those so cool people? What would all your artsy buddies think? Oh, look at Chad, he’s talking with the techie nerd.”

“Maybe ‘cause under all that black and attitude you’re kinda cute.” The look went from embarrassed to sly. “Even if you’re a gothed out computer geek with a good knowledge of sound systems.”

“Me?” Cute and Les rarely occurred in the same sentence.

“Yeah.” Chad looked back toward the house. A mix of desire and distasted flew across his face. Then he turned back to Les. “Wanna blow and grab some hot chocolate?”

“I don’t think they have any hot chocolate there.” Les shook a dusting of snow off his head. Crystals caught the light in Chad’s blue eyes.

“Neither do I.” Chad smiled. “But I know I have some at my place.”

Les laughed. Then he stepped in to Chad’s personal space. Suddenly all hard and tight and tense the other man almost drew away. Spicy cologne rose from his collar, wrapping Les’ senses in thoughts of mulled cider and fireplaces.

In his mind, he could see firelight tracing the edges of those sharp cheeks. Full lips responded to every kiss as Chad sighed and shuddered. So silken-hard and so demanding, Chad’s prick swelled in his hand. Both of them locked together as Les rammed into the tight, hot confines of Chad’s body. Frenzied, Chad rode him. Sweat sparkled across their skin… little jewels caught in the flames. They moaned. They called each other’s names. They drove each other until everything faded to two bodies trembling and shaking against each other.

Another laugh slipped past Les’ lips as he nipped Chad’s ear. “No you don’t, I drank it this morning.”

Ah, technology...

I came home to the black screen of death today, so I'm posting this with my work laptop :( Which means the excerpt I wanted to post can't be accessed, and neither can the cover of Lustful Thoughts now available at Samhain. This anthology was put together by the talented Sasha White and includes tales from Sasha, J.J. Massa, Beth Williamson, S. Desires and myself.

I guess I could save the cover to the laptop, but I'm really paranoid. Plus the cover is het so I feel kinda strange about posting it here anyway. Unfortunately I haven't read all the other stories, so I'm not sure how many others are MM besides my "Man Ho." Okay, I'm really starting to sound pathetic now, so to make up for it I'll run a contest... Comment here about whether you've been naughty or nice and I'll pick a winner from the bunch. You don't even have to say why you've been one or the other ;) Post your entry here before midnight EST December 25th and I'll announce the winner in my next day's post, the 26th. Hopefully Santa will bring me a computer (or a repair) by then. I've defintely been nice... I think.

Have a very gay Hanukkah

I'm very proud and excited to tell you that my new novella is out today!



Eight Nights is a coming-of-age story about two university students, and it takes place at Hanukkah. I really loved writing this, and I've got a lot of other stories about Lucas and Nate kicking around in my noggin. So hopefully this will be a big success and I'll be able to play with them some more. *g*

What better way to celebrate the holidays than with some hot gay sex? No better way, I say!

Bonded Hearts is now released

The first book to my Dragon Riders Series, Bonded Hearts, was released last week at Loose-Id :D

This is a M/M/F book set in the world of Ketall, a world where dragons and humans live together. Each book of the series will center around a different dragon and their bondmate(s).

ISBN: 978-1-59632-580-7
$4.99
www.loose-id.net


Blurb:
Detective Nick Montgomery finally catches up to the serial killer plaguing Miami, however, he doesn't count on being caught up in the killer's own spell and transported to Ketall. An alternate world of a primitive nature and is home of dragons and magic.

One particular female is Jax, a red-eyed dragon who doesn't exactly like him. Or the idea of having to share her Rider, Kel, with anyone. She’s young, possessive, and spoiled. At least that’s what Kel tells her. So why is she attracted to this off-worlder who interrupts their life? Why does he set her blood boiling with desire every time they are near? And why can’t she kill him to rid her of the annoyance?

Kel is drawn to the stranger he saves from death. More so when he realizes that Nick is also fated to bond with his dragon, Jax. Never has a dragon had two bondmates at one time. But an evil sorcerer and his witch complicates things by trying to send Nick back to his own world. To do so would mean killing both Jax and Kel.

Can the three overcome all obstacles to save themselves and Ketall?

EXCERPT:
Awareness came slowly to Nick. The floor beneath him rocked leisurely, almost lulling him back into the abyss of unconsciousness, until he was jostled none too gently. The movement slammed the air from his lungs. Just when he caught his breath, the ground jumped from beneath him again.

Nick groaned with pain and forced his eyes open. He tried to lift to his hands and knees, keeping his balance with the sway, but his right leg refused to hold his weight. He tumbled back down and his right arm screamed in protest as he landed hard on it.

“Fuck,” he spat.

The rattle of chains drew Nick’s attention to his surroundings. His eyes finally focused on the wood floor. The sun heated his skin, the sound of birds chirping reached his ears, and a horse neighing let him know he was outside.

His thoughts remained foggy. What was the last thing he remembered?

Chasing a killer. Amos Bronson. And blood. Lots of blood everywhere. There was a light, its brightness and heat burning him, followed by cool darkness. What had happened? How had he gotten outside? And hadn’t it been nighttime?

“He’s awake.” A sharp voice dragged Nick from his cloudy memories.

There were six sets of eyes staring at him. Men of varying ages. Unkempt, streaked with dirt, they were clad only in pants that tied at the waist. The only other items they wore were thick manacles on their wrists from which dangled chains that were locked to the floor.

Prisoners? What the hell was he doing with prisoners? But these men weren’t wearing the normal inmate attire.

“Where the…?” Nick attempted to sit up again, this time being more careful of his leg and arm.

He was in some sort of crude cage. The top and bottom were made of thick wood; the bars surrounding them were solid black iron. The swaying and jostling was the result of the cage being pulled behind a single horse. The creaking wheels kicked up dust from the dirt road.Like the others, thick iron manacles chafed his own wrists, locking him to the floor. Even if he wasn’t chained, there would be no way a man of average height could stand in this cage. Even at his five feet eleven inches, Nick wouldn’t be able to kneel without having to slump down.

“Who are you? Where am I?” He addressed the group at large, his throat dry and scratchy. He shivered and swiped at the sweat dripping down his face. “How did I get here?”

“Found you on the side of the road. The Master thought he’d get some coin for you before you died,” a red-haired man said with a sneer.

Nick shook his head. The Master? Coin before he died? For that matter, what was with the cage? This dirt road? Where the hell was he? Certainly not in Miami. Instead of tall buildings, busy streets, and palm trees, he beheld thick clumps of trees along one side of the road and open fields on the other.

Definitely not Miami.

He closed his eyes. Nothing made sense. Nick ignored the sharp pain in his leg and the way the fabric of his jeans stuck to the wound.

“I don’t --” His words were clipped by the pop of a whip. The six other men flinched and cowered as much as their chains would allow.“No talking, slaves.” A harsh, deep voice boomed from Nick’s left. Turning, he was met with near black eyes. They belonged to a large man dressed like a Ren Faire refugee. His pants were dark brown and resembled leather. His shirt, probably originally white, and now coated with sweat and the dirt from the road, was tight around his bulk. He had several leather bands around his wrists and leather boots encased his feet. The most menacing part of him was the long bullwhip he held in his hand.


Now, back to work finishing my next M/M story I'm hoping to submit by the end of this month :D

My Cup Runneth Over

I just got done turning in four blurbs and titles to some m/m novellas I've been thinking about. They're about GI Joes who come to life. How fun is that?

I love it when the ideas flow. One of the things I love about this business is that I never get bored. GI Joes who come to life. Underwater beings who find love through a marriage of state. Historical vampires fighting during the civil war. High level professional equestrians finding love within, and outside of, their sport. The possibilities and my imagination are boundless.

So what M/M do I have coming up?

In January, For Love and Country, will be released from Samhain Publishing. Part of the "Serving Love" anthology (which will see print in Jan 09), this story features two vampires in the early days of the Civil War.

Unscheduled, but working on edits is, Cowboy Up, another one of my hot men on horseback. This time, I look at Rock Brennan, a former rodeo rider who turned to the sport of reining and a dressage diva, Andreas Thorpe. The cowboy isn't the only one who has to "cowboy up" to get the job done, but the results are oh so sweet.

I'm looking at a M/M novella series from Changeling. Not contracted yet, so can't say too much. Also looking at an alternate universe M/M series I've discussed with my Loose Id editor.

I love writing M/M so plan to see a lot of it out of me in the upcoming year!

Happy reading!!!!!

What is and what could never be....

As you probably know Anne and I have a series with Loose ID featuring members of the Japanese rock band ChildsPrey. We've pretty much given all the featured band members their own storyline and were toying with the idea of having one couple, guitarists Jun & Koji, a short story with Jun's ex-wife Rumiko.

Readers would love it, right? What could be better than to revisit our our guys and see them being with one another as well as someone they both care for?

I've been doing in informal poll on our e-mail loop asking for feedback on the idea and so far the opinion is overwhelmingly against a three-some.

I was surprised, but not in a bad way.

Koji needs to give us a pat on the back (or front ~_^) for making his triumph over a seemingly unrequited love so complete that no one wants us to screw with his and Jun's HEA--or have them screw around with anyone else even if they'll always have close ties via the kids.

I imagine Anne and I won't be finishing the grande menage a trois any time soon and will keep our little story in our heads but for those mildly interested here's how it would have started....

* * * *

Tokyo

"What the hell are you doing?" Jun kicked the apartment door closed behind him, then stepped out of his shoes in the entry way before stepping on the carpet. He stopped at the entrance to the living room and eyed Koji over the top of the grocery bags in his arms.

"I'm...setting...a new world record," Koji grinned, his words coming out half-slurred. He was standing--on his hands--his feet resting against the wall while the tips of his hair brushed the carpet. With all the blood rushing to his head, his face was practically the same shade of strawberry as his dyed hair.

"Uncle Koji's been there forever, otousan," Kaoru sat crossed legged on the floor next to Koji with a plate of musubi on his lap. The five-year-old boy picked up an egg timer and waved it Jun. "It's gone ping once already!"

The timer only counted thirty minutes at a time, thank God. Jun rolled his eyes. "Koj, get down. Your arms are starting to shake."

"The hell they are," Koji panted. "I'm fine...a little dizzy...but fine."

"Uncle Koji can do it," Kaoru set the timer back on the floor and popped another one of the seaweed-wrapped dumplings in his mouth.

"He can do it," Yuuka chirped up. Jun turned to his daughter who was lying face down on the couch a few feet away from Koji and Kaoru, coloring in one of her coloring books while a Hamtaro re-run played on the TV.

"You're not even watching," Jun raised an eyebrow at the three-year-old.

She looked up from her book long enough to pout at Jun. "It's boring."

"Thanks a lot, Yuuka," Koji sputtered.

Jun sighed. "I think I should've hired a baby-sitter to look after all three of you before leaving." He turned and went to the attached kitchen area. Behind him, there was a loud thud and the apartment floor trembled.

Kaoru started clapping, followed by Koji's muffled voice. "Ow."

"I think you need to go on a diet, Koj. You shook the whole damn floor when you fell," Jun said when his best friend and lover entered the kitchen, rubbing the top of his head.

"Ha. Ha." Koji reached up to the highest cabinet and took out the bottle of Noshin. After taking the over the counter caplets for his headache Koji said,

"So, Rumiko is coming to pick up the kids tomorrow?"

Jun nodded. "I'll miss having them here."

Koji smiled and drubbed Jun's shoulder. "Me, too."

"Miiiinnnneeee!" Yuuka wailed. "Gimme!"

"Stop kicking me!"

"Gimme!"

With a muffled groan Jun rushed out to deal with his children.

Koji grinned. "Then again, after a month of this a return to quiet will be nice."

Jun darted to the couch where Kaoru and Yuuka were in a tangled mess of

flailing limbs. "Hey, stop that you two." He dropped down on the empty spot next to them and pulled the little boy off his sister.

"She started it!" Kaoru whined. He clutched the coloring book to his chest "She doesn't share."

"He was mashing me!" Yuuka burst into tears. She climbed into Jun's lap and started sobbing her heart out.

Jun sighed. "Kaoru..."

"She always gets her way!" Kaoru tossed the coloring book to the floor and
started bawling. With all the commotion, Koji made the mistake of stepping out of the kitchen.

"Is everything okay?"

Kaoru ran over and attached himself to Koji's leg. "Uncle Koji, it's not fair!"

"I think it's nap time for them," Jun said dryly.

"No nap!" Kaoru protested his little chin jutting out the way his father's did when he was angry.

"No nap!" little Yuuka mimicked.

Jun looked positively pained and Koji tried not to laugh. He reached down and hoisted Kaoru onto his shoulders. "If you two get some rest I'll take you to the park after dinner and to get some ice cream."

"Only babies take naps," Kaoru protested again, tugging on Koji's hair.

"Babies nap!" Yuuka agreed, wanting to pull her father's hair in the same way but obviously thinking better of it when he gave her a stern look.

Koji reached up and took hold of Kaoru's hands. "How about if you two listen to a new song I wrote? "

"Then park and ice cream?" Kaoru asked.

Jun shook his head no but Koji winked at him. "Sure."

"Okay."

"Okay!"

Koji swung Kaoru down and sat him on the sofa next to Jun and Yuuka then got his acoustic guitar from its stand and took a seat on a leather ottoman. The song he played wasn't new and it wasn't his composition but before it was finished it worked its magic and both children were snoring softly and resting against their father.

Setting down the guitar Koji picked up Kaoru and Jun took Yuuka and they placed both children on the wide low bed in the guestroom. Jun switched on the baby monitor then closed the door as he and Koji exited.

They went to their room across the hall and Jun fell back onto the bed. "I don't know how you did it but I'm glad you did."

Koji shut the door then lay next to Jun, chuckling when Jun rolled over and drew him into a deep searing kiss. "I thought you were tired," Koji said, still breathless and becoming more so as Jun's calloused fingers snaked beneath the hem of his t-shirt to skim his sensitive nipples.

Jun pressed his growing erection against Koji's hip. "I have a little life left in me yet."

"Ooh." Koji let out a puff of air. "That feels like more than a little."

Jun laughed. "Didn't you believe me when I said it?"

"I dunno, I had my suspicions," Koji licked his lips and sat up. "You've been
going non-stop with the kids this entire month. It's been what--" He held up his
hand and counted off four fingers. "God, that long since you've had any 'life in you'."

"Hey, Koj!" Jun smirked. "Helping Kaoru learn how to count has paid off for you, too."

"Ha. Ha." Koji smoothed his hands over the front of Jun's black t-shirt. "Now
back to what I was saying...I think I need some hard evidence before I believe you." He traced a finger along the fly on Jun's dark blue jeans.

Smirking Jun slid down his zipper and pulled his throbbing dick free of his silk boxers. "That evidence hard enough for you?"

"Almost," Koji purred kneeling and bending forward to tease Jun's length with
the tip of his tongue. He loved the way Jun weaved his fingers through his hair and tugged until his scalp tingled. He took Jun's cock into his mouth and simply held it there until Jun groaned and pushed his hips forward.

"Don't tease me…"

Koji pulled away and looked into Jun's gorgeous dark eyes. "Never," he said softly before capturing Jun's lips with his own.

They shed their clothing in minutes and were a tangle of arm and legs, their bodies heating, perspiring as they kissed and caressed, rubbing against one another until they couldn't wait any longer. Jun grabbed the tube of strawberry scented lubricant from the nightstand drawer and coated his fingers then handed the lube to Koji before shifting to lay with his head near the foot of the bed.

Jun took Koji's cock into his mouth, slipped his hand between his lover's thighs to stroked and probe his tight opening, groaning when Koji did the same to him and they fell into a natural steady rhythm, their mouths sucking, slick ingers gently fucking, pressing and prodding the sensitive glands within.

They came hard and long, almost simultaneously, trembling with untold pleasure, sucking all of the thick salty come like men dying of thirst and not wanting to waste a drop.

Koji let out a low moan and dropped on to his elbows, resting his head on the inside of Jun's thigh. He nuzzled his lover's wet dick, kissing the base of the semi-hard erection. "I've missed your cock," he sighed. "The way it tastes, the way it feels."

Jun continued to work his lips along Koji's sex. He murmured in agreement,
squeezing Koji's ass with one hand and pressing two fingers back into the stretched opening with the other.

Arching up with a groan of pleasure, Koji pushed back against the touch. "Oh yeah...I've really missed that, too."

"You poor deprived man," Jun said, his voice husky. His cock hardened again and pushed upwards. "How can I make it up to you?"

"This is a good start," Koji stroked the rigid, pulsing length with his tongue.

"Now, fucking me hard would be even better."

Obliging, Jun shifted to lay atop Koji.

Little voices echoed in the distance.

"Shit," Jun said, as he stared at the baby monitor receiver, his cock poised at

Koji's waiting entrance.

"They'll doze back off. They ran around the apartment all day," Koji whispered, raising his lean hips, trying to draw Jun in.

"Yeah," Jun said when the monitor grew quiet. He kissed Koji slid into his willing body with one quick thrust only to freeze when he heard his daughter shriek.

"Outousan!" The sound of small feet pounded through the monitor and down the short hall.

"You locked the door?"

"Um," Koji stammered, Um…"

"Yuuka!" Kaoru called in the hall.

The little girl shrieked and rattled the door knob. The door began to open. Jun
pulled out of Koji and both men dropped off the bed and onto the floor grabbing for their pants.

"Where are mine?" Koji squeaked as he groped around the carpet on his hands and knees.

"I don't know!" Jun shoved himself into his pair, proving that, yes--under enough stress, a man can put on his pants both legs at a time.

"Shit!" Koji panicked.

"Otousan," Yuuka whined, stepping into the room and rubbing the sleep from her eyes with both hands.

Jun had no choice. He shoved Koji butt-first into the adjoining bathroom and shut the door.

"What's the matter, baby?" he panted, forcing a smile. "Don't you want to go back to sleep?"

"No," Yuuka toddled over and reached up for him to grab her. "Where's Uncle

Koji? I want him to sing again."

Koji grabbed a pair of rumpled jeans from the hamper in the bathroom and pulled them on. He splashed water on his face then tossed a towel around his shoulders and strode back to the bedroom in time to see Kaoru come in and pick up something from the floor.

"See through toothpaste!" He squeezed the tube and a glob fell on his finger and dripped onto the floor.

"No!" Jun called.

"Shit!" Koji dived over the bed and swept his arm around the little boy's

middle, throwing the towel over his hand to keep him from tasting the "toothpaste".

Jun collapsed onto the bed with Yuuka still in his arms.

"Koji say a bad word," she taunted as she squirmed free and slipped to the

floor. Koji wiped Kaoru's hand and let him go then wiped the lube from the

rug. He looked up as Yuuka went down on her hands and knees and reached under the bed. "Jun…"

Her little head poked up followed by a chubby hand. A chubby hand holding furry handcuffs. "Otousan, what's this?"

Jun's eyes bulged. He reached over and snatched the toy from her outstretched

hand. "That's, uh"

"That's mine!" Koji dashed over, laughing nervously. "I found it on the bus." He tried to take it from Jun who glared at him.

"I thought you put all this stuff away," Jun hissed through clenched teeth.

"It was in the last batch of presents Kim and Imai sent--I forgot about them."

Koji yanked away the cuffs.

Kaoru burst into a fit of giggles and jumped on the bed. "I wanna see!"

"No!" Jun tackled his son and pulled the boy down on to the sheets. "It's, uh, for ladies." He winced at his own lame excuse and buried his face in his hands.

"Then why does Uncle Koji have them, huh?" Kaoru giggled some more and squirmed in his father's arms. "What are they for?"

With a defeated look, Koji sat on the edge of the bed. "Well, Kaoru, when two

people love each other very much--"

Jun shoved him off the bed. "Koj, shut up!"

"Shit," Koji whined, rolling on to his knees.

"Uncle Koji said a bad word again," Yuuka crawled out from under the bed.

"I'm telling, I'm telling."

Jun buried his face in his hands. He groaned when the doorbell sounded. "Oh, god what now?"

"If it's Imai, I'm punching him," Koji said as he dragged himself to his feet and went to answer the door.

When Koji exclaimed, "I love you!" Jun bolted upright and rushed to the

livingroom, his children a few paces behind.

"Um, hi Koji," Jun's ex-wife Rumiko said as she struggled to break free of Koji's bear hug only to have her legs seized by her children.

"Uncle Koji has fuzzy bracelets and see- through toothpaste!" Kaoru exclaimed.

"And he said bad words!" Yuuka added.

"It's not important. You don't want to know," Jun assured her as he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Rumiko raised her eyebrows but laughed. "I won't ask then."

* * * *

If you're so inclined please check out the latest novel length installment in the series featuring the CP boy's arch rival Miji Makana in Secret Moon released this week.

Sleigh bells ring...

Heh. It's been a long day, but I survived it!

We have snow and ice, so one kid's school was delayed and the other's was closed. So, between having my son home all day and cleaning, I managed, believe it or not, to get a little done.

I have a short-short story coming out as a Sizzle in the next All Romance Ebooks newletter. Just turned it in, and I'll let y'all know when it's live. It's a little musical number called "Descant". A bit different from my usual fare, but then again, maybe not. Music is close to my heart--especially classical, since I grew up on it.

Music plays a huge role in my work--from entire playlists for stories/characters, to general inspiration. At times, it even plays a role in my stories themselves. I'm currently working on a story for the Urban Phaze line in which one of the lead men is a French horn player. Seeing as how I played the horn in high school, and my mother still plays, it just seemed natural. The couple in the Urban Phaze story will also star in a later story for Phaze's Overture line.

A lot of authors don't like music or noise when they work. I am one of those who can't really work without it. :)

"No Apologies" by J.M. Snyder :: coming soon

My story, No Apologies, will be released this Friday from Aspen Mountain Press. You can enter my monthly contest to win a copy of it when it's released. For more details, visit http://jmsnyder.net/contest.html.

BLURB:
Donnie Novak and Jack Sterling have known each other forever. Growing up together in a small Midwestern town, they were best friends. After high school, they both enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the same time, and somehow were assigned to the same company before being stationed on the U.S.S. Oklahoma together.

One night on leave, Donnie crosses an almost imperceptible line between friendship and something more. A stolen kiss threatens to ruin what Donnie and Jack have built up together all these years, and the next morning, he can't apologize enough.

But a squadron of Japanese bombers has their sights trained on Pearl Harbor's Battleship Row, and in the early hours of December 7, 1941, Donnie might not get a chance to set things right.

EXCERPT:
Inside the galley, the tables are already crowded with sailors in dungarees, their trays filled with eggs and potatoes and toast. I fake a half-hearted grin when Ralph waves, and Jack looks at me briefly before turning back to his food. No smile, just a naked wariness I put on his features, and I'm not hungry anymore. I just go through the motions of getting a tray and letting the cook fill it up. Jack hates me, I know it.

I sit down beside Ralph; across the table, Jack looks up at me and I have to choke back a sudden sob that burns my throat. "Hey," he says softly.

"Hey." I toy with the food on my tray, mashing the eggs with my fork and trying not to watch his jaw as he chews. "Chuck's still asleep, lazy ass."

Ralph laughs. "He's still passed out, you mean," he says, finishing off his own eggs. "You guys shouldn't drink so much. I ain't dragging you back to the ship again. Next time, I'll just leave you there. You can explain to the captain why you didn't make it back."

Jack smiles and even though it's not at me, my heart still rises to see the curve of his lips. "You wouldn't do that."

He's right -- Ralph isn't the type to leave his friends. He's threatened it before but always gets us back safe.

"Just watch me," Ralph warns. "You never know. Just you wait and see."

An uneasy silence falls around us, despite the talk at other tables. I manage to get a forkful of eggs into my mouth, but they taste soggy and bland and it's all I can do to swallow them down. I want to tell Jack I'm sorry again, I want to apologize until he has to forgive me, he just has to, but I don't want to say anything with Ralph right here because then he'll want to know what I'm sorry for, and I know Jack wouldn't want me to say. I'm sure he'd just rather forget, or pretend the whole thing never happened, and I wonder if he still tastes my lips on his. I want to ask him that, I want to know ...

Ralph's voice startles me. "What's wrong, Don?"

I grimace at my tray and don't know how I'm going to finish this food -- I don't feel like eating now. From across the table, Jack glances at me with a slight frown on his face, a worried look that silences me. Don't tell, that look says.

When I don't answer him, Ralph adds, "You look like you just lost your best friend. And you're on leave, boy. Cheer the hell up, already."

Well, Ralph, I did lose my best friend. For one little kiss, I threw everything we had away.

What the hell was I thinking? I wasn't that drunk, I wasn't.

© 2000-2007 J.M. Snyder

Which do you prefer, penis or cock?

As I sit trying to think up yet another euphemism for the male member, I find myself barely able to resist using the word penis, in place of cock or prick or any of the hundred plus words we see so often in fiction.

I type it out -- PENIS -- stare at it, and then hit delete.

Why?

Because there's a very thin line between erotic and clinical when it comes to sexual details in romance(or any other genre, I suspect). I remember a review from not too long ago, though which one eludes me at the moment, where the reviewer claimed I was too clinical with anatomical details and it haunts me like a shrieking specter.

Anyway, since I'm a little biased (yes, I actually like the word penis) I thought I would throw it out there and get all of your opinions on the matter.

Which do you prefer to see in fiction, a penis or a cock? Does a member by any other name still taste as sweet? (sorry, couldn't help myself)

Plot Bunny Attack!

Okay, so my sister and brother in law are up here for a weekend visit, and today we're heading to the Biltmore estate since my sister has never been there and wants to see it. So I'm sitting here checking out all the stuff to do and planning our day, and BAM, plot bunny attack.

Here's what I'm thinking. Long-term winery manager meets hotshot newly-hired wine expert (I know there's a name for that, but it escapes me O_O). Hotshot is annoyingly good at his job, everyone loves him, and Mr. Dependable-but-Shy manager is a bit jealous though he doesn't want to admit it. Tension, arguments, and much manlove ensues. Yay!

Question for y'all: where do the sex scenes take place? That first, passionate, just-can't-help-ourselves quickie? The angry sex? The making-up sex? The I-love-you sex? Check out the Biltmore website and find me some awesome spots for man-nookie!
(the Biltmore estate title in the first paragraph is a link, btw, in case the links don't always show up for y'all like they don't always for me...)

Minor Dilemma

You've probably seen me post before about how eager I was to get my hands on Suzanne Brockmann's All Through the Night and last week I did---sort of. I haven't had the extra cash to buy it so I had to get it via the library. Of course many others had the same idea so I was on a waiting list. The book finally comes in for me and I took it home all set to delve in on the nice and quiet holiday.

Of course, my luck being my luck, I got hit with the head cold from hell and didn't feel like being awake much less reading. I finally start reading and do a quick check at the library website to see when the book was due back. It was due back that day. No one told me book others have requested are only allowed out for a week. So I read all of a dozen pages if that.

And to be honest I wasn't that thrilled with what I'd read.

Is it me? Am I weird for wanting to whack Jules Cassidy upside the head and tell him to stop sounding so damn "girly". I'm sorry, but to me seasoned FBI agents do not call people "sweetie" or say "Eww". It irks me.

I already know from a review that there are no great mansexy parts to look forward to so I really don't know if I want to get hold of this book again.

Does anyone else out there find Jules to be a rather unflattering stereotypical gay man? I've known gay men who on the girly side of the spectrum but I think Jules' profession is what bugs me most about how he speaks and thinks.

I think he should be harder around the edges, more "cop like" if you will.

Tell me, how do you see the character? Is he realistic to you or annoying?

Being seriously over-commited recently

I thought I'd give you a little drabble I wrote a while back. Completely work-safe with a mild language warning.

Have fun.

Spring Cleaning

(c) 2007

James Buchanan

Mark sat on the steps of the apartment building surrounded by his stuff. One suitcase of clothes propped up his back. The collection of Justice League Comics double bagged and boxed in the two long white cardboard cartons rested next to him. It was all he’d managed to salvage before Charles tossed him out on his butt.

What a way to begin Spring Cleaning. About ten minutes too late he realized Charles really was serious about getting rid of all the old junk. As usual, he’d just ignored the jibes as he headed out to work that morning. Hell, Charles had on his rattiest clothes and a giant sized roll of garbage bags. That tended to mean big time house work. Like always, he’d laughed off Charles’ suggestion that he dump his old junk and grow up. He figured it meant he’d have to high tail it home and pull a few things out of the bin, shove it under the bed for awhile and bring it back slowly. Charles always hit that mood around this time of year. Clean up, clear out, move on.
Mark just hadn’t figured that Charles had meant Mark as well this time.

“Hey, what’s up?”

Mark looked up from studying his hands in his lap and found a green eyed pair of eyes right in front of his own. “Shit!” He started back, knocking over the suitcase. Jake, their upstairs neighbor rocked back: slipping and almost falling off where he knelt on the step. Oh crap, Mark didn’t want to explain to Jake or anyone why he was sitting on the stoop with his junk. “Sorry you startled me.” He swallowed. “Not much. Just doing a little housecleaning. Out with the old, in with the new.” He smiled.

With green eyes and soft brown hair, Jake was a nice looking guy. He’d moved into their building right after Mark and Charles started living together. Mark had ogled the new tenant every trip up and down the stairs the day he’d moved in. It had been Mark who’d made the effort to introduce himself, Charles couldn’t be bothered. And it was Mark who’d pumped Jake for what he did, where he came from and all that getting to know you type of thing.

Charles made fun of Jake behind his back because he was an animator on a kids’ network. It wasn’t a serious job according to Charles. Still, they’d been good neighbors and invited Jake, plus one, to the Christmas thing, and the New Years thing. Jake never brought a date and never stayed long. But he was always around when Mark needed something. He’d never failed to help out with a lift somewhere or help hauling up another bookcase for his treasures, or needed a running buddy in the mornings… well before Mark’s shift had changed.

Jake looked like he was about to say something when the sound of a window opening caused them both to look up. Charles’ voice flew out of the window. “God I hate this piece of shit!” The sound was followed by a poster in a black wood frame. That would be the one with the vintage snapshot showing the atomic bomb blowing up behind the 1950’s Vegas Skyline. It sailed through the air to land in the street. Two bounces carried it right into the path of a station wagon. With a screech of brakes and a crunch, the poster earned a place in the dumpster.

Righting the luggage, Jake parked himself next to Mark. “Housecleaning, huh?”

“Yeah,” Mark nodded as his razor scooter followed the path of the ill fated poster. “Cleaning the house of everything that reminds him of me.” The scooter only made it as far as the side walk. Wasn’t quite as aerodynamic as the first missile.

Jake set a grocery bag at his feet. “You guys never seemed right for each other.” Fishing out a packet of chips, he popped them open and offered the first grab to Mark.

A handful of Salt and Vinegar potato chips would at least make thing bearable for the moment. “What do you mean?” Over their heads sailed a tin of DVDs a Puss & Boots bobble head, his Sin-City coffee mug and the wall clock that told time backwards. Too bad, that clock had been given to him by his physics advisor when Mark had landed his job at JPL. Varying degrees of crashes sounded at impact.

“Well, he’s just kinda uptight. Everything was just so… so, you know?”

One by one, paperbacks flew. He crammed the chips in his mouth and mumbled. “No. I don’t know.” At least the books would be salvageable.

“So designer.” The voice out of Jake’s mouth sounded like one of the cartoon characters he drew. Mark knew ‘cause he recorded all the shows on TiVo and watched them when Charles wasn’t around. He sure as hell didn’t want to listen to any snarky comments while he enjoyed laughing his ass off. Jake added in a woman’s over-earnest falsetto, “There is a motif… we will not deviate from the motif.”

Mark snorted down a laugh. “Okay.”

“It all coordinates.” While doing a tradeshow model presentation dance with his hands he teased more. “It is sold as a set so that it all matches.” Then Jake shoved a chip in his mouth. “Blech.”

“Yeah, he’s a little like that.”

“A little?” Jake almost choked. “That’s like saying Jerry Fallwell has some gender issues.” Finally able to breath again he managed another question. “I don’t know what the hell you saw in him. He couldn’t have that big of a dick. Come on, you two just didn’t seem to be right for each other.”

“True. He says I’m immature.” Mimicking Charles’ voice, Mark tried not to laugh. “I have a childish, pedestrian sense of humor. No grown man, no one with a job designing space-probes and satellites should collect Three Stooges memorabilia.”

“He’s an ass.” Jake shook his head. “I almost told you that the first time I met you… actually the first time I met him.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Well, you were living with him.” He rolled his eyes. “Didn’t seem right to get in the middle of somebody’s life.”

Mark gave Jake a sideways glance. “And…” Jake was grinning.

He swallowed and shrugged. “Now you’re not.”

“And now I’m homeless.”

“Hey, I have a couch.” Jake stood and offered his hand. Almost embarrassed he added, “And a big bed.”

Staring up at the other man, Mark considered the offer. Charles had been comfortable, well used and, mostly, there. They hadn’t had much of a relationship for a long time, probably even since before Mark had moved in with him. “A bed for the night might be nice.” He took the proffered grip and let Jake pull him to standing. A china cat arced above their heads and impacted with an explosion of pottery shards. “I wonder if he realizes that was his. Never liked that piece of crap anyway.”

That set them both laughing as Mark hefted the boxes. The clothes were replaceable… vintage Bronze-Age comics not so much. A little lighter in mood than before, he bounded up the stairs.

“Here,” Jake stopped at the door and fished something out of his grocery bag, “you need this more than me.” He tossed a blister packed toy back toward Mark.

Almost fumbling boxes as the package landed on the top of the pile Mark asked. “What is it?”

“It’s a bunny that shits jelly beans.” Jake pushed the door open with his butt. “I guess that makes two of us with a juvenile sense of humor.”

December's almost here...

So I'm wondering what one MM tale stood out for you this year. Got an ebook or print recommendation? Two or three? I want to hear what got you hot or maybe made you cry. What characters did you meet that you didn't want to part with once the book said The End.

A New Cover: For Love and Country by Mary Winter

I received this cover a few weeks ago, but life and the holidays conspired to help keep it under wraps. I am so excited about this story For Love and Country my January 08 release from Samhain Publishing. This is a historical m/m novella taking place during the early days of the Civil War. For more information visit here: http://samhainpublishing.com/coming/for-love-and-country

And the best part (besides this absolutely drool-worthy cover by Anne Cain)? This book releases a day after my birthday!!!! Happy birthday to me with hot vamprie man love. Yummy!

“For Love and Country” by Mary Winter
Publication Date: January 15, 2008
Cover art by Anne Cain
Love? Or duty? His choice will damn his country—or his heart.
A Serving Love story.

Vampire Basile Gagnon wants nothing more than to put the United States, its war, and the heartbreak he found on its shores far behind him. He has suffered the loss of one too many mortal lovers, and refuses to risk his heart again, not even for Emil, the mortal he turned away five years ago.

When Union soldier Emil Franks steps aboard Basile’s ship, his mission is to try to convince Basile to lend his vessel to the Union cause. But with one look at his former lover, he reveals far more—his lingering love for Basile.

Neither time nor the fires of war have dimmed their passion for each other, but not even the fact that Emil is now a vampire can sway Basile from his course. In two days’ time, he leaves for his native France.

On this war-torn Valentine’s Day, Emil must choose: Love? Or country?

Happy swoon! :) Enjoy!