Uh-oh

Oh, man, it's Wednesday again, and I don't have a thing to report.

The problem, I think, is that I've been fighting this extremely nasty cough for several weeks now. Coming up on a month, for petesake. I've been to the doctor three times, even, so it's not like I'm just being stubborn. This cough just does not want to let me go.

You know what's extremely unsexy? Coughing a lot. It's exhausting. My head hurts from the pressure buildup. My stomach aches from clenching those muscles. My throat is sore -- not from true symptoms, but from the constant abuse of the cough. And whether it's the illness or the Special Happy Fun cough syrup I've been taking, I'm exhausted all the time. I went home early from work two days last week, and all I did was go home and go to bed until nearly dinnertime -- then got up, ate, and went back to bed. I have no energy left over for anything like a sex drive.

And if I'm feeling unsexy myself, I certainly don't have the drive to motivate anyone else's sex life.

But never fear! I will come through with some entertainment... I send you onward to fellow author Rowan McBride's tumblr, where she posts all kinds of stuff. Lots of it is incredibly hot pictures, but lots of it is just downright interesting, wonderful, and fun. I mean seriously fun, check this one out:

Go ye forth, and check it out: rowanmcbride.tumblr.com

Four Things Make a Post

I got the cover art for the Weird Science anthology, coming out next month! Check it out!

Is that not cool? And it's pretty much exactly what I envisioned as the "show" set for my story, "Doctor Tentacle and the Pheromone Incident", which is about a man who plays a mad scientist on a TV show, and the show's gopher/intern, who just might be a real mad scientist in his spare time... It was a fun story to write, and I can't wait to see it in print!

***

I know I promised you pictures from the Roanoke Pride Festival, but... we didn't get there until late in the day, and either half the vendors had already left because of the rain, or else it was much lamer than last year. And to make matters worse, the friend I was with had an asthma attack from all the cigarette smoke in the air. So we only stayed for about an hour, and no, I didn't spot Jesse.

I did kiss a queer, though. I made some quip to my friend about putting onions on my cheeseburger "because it's not like I'm going to kiss anyone today, anyway," and the sweet, 60-ish man running the burger stand said, "Don't be too sure of that!" and leaned over the counter and puckered up.

***

And in further news, I've signed on as a part-time editor with JMS Books. I'm excited for this -- I've met JM a couple of times in person, and she's fantastic, and it's also great to be expanding that part of my resume.

***

And finally, the contest! My winner is umchic on LiveJournal -- drop me an email at liz (dot) brooks (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll send you a copy of Assumption of Desire!

A Contest?! A Contest!

Last year, I went to the Roanoke Pride festival to help out with a vendor table. I had a fantastic time, and it even spawned my story, Assumption of Desire. So this year, I'm going back!

Only this time, I'm not going as a vendor -- I'll be with a friend and her aunt. (I should print out a copy of Assumption to take with me, just in case I run into the "real" Jesse who inspired the story.)

And just because I'm excited to be going back to this fun festival, let's have a contest! Leave me a comment here or on my Facebook page, and next week, when I'm back from the festival to post pictures, I'll draw a name to receive a copy of Assumption -- which is, in my opinion, probably the single hottest thing I've ever written. (Or, if you already have that, one of my other books.)

Square deal? Yeah. And if you happen to be going, keep an eye out for me. I wonder if I can get a "Fruit Fly" shirt made up before Sunday...?

Starring

Whoops, the Monday holiday slipped me up, and I almost forgot it was Wednesday! But not quite.

Last week, I'd been bitten hard by a story -- did it stick? It did, mostly. I had one night where I just wasn't feeling it, but the next night I rallied and managed to finish the story. Sent it off to Lynn for the quickest beta-read ever (but she still managed to ask why X had happened, and I'd explained that all in my head but somehow forgotten to move it to the actual story, so a million hugs to Lynn, the best beta reader EVAR), fixed the hole, and then shipped it off for submission.

It's called "The Sinner's Star". Here's the quick-and-dirty blurb more or less as I pitched it to the anthology editor: Five years ago, Dope's best friend, Rat, died as they were fleeing the scene of a crime they'd helped commit... or so he thought. But now Rat's turned up on Dope's doorstep with a .45 and a prison tat on his face -- and Dope's not sure which one he finds more frightening.

How'd you like another little taste? The first one was in last week's post, if you missed it. (Do recall these are both unedited; the final result, if they take the story, may be somewhat different.)

"Girls are fine. Fun. But there's no meaning. I've never fucked a woman and then wanted to do her again."

Rat moved, finally, straightening his spine and lifting his chin, though he still didn't turn to look at Dope. "And with men?" he asked, his voice so soft Dope had to strain to hear the words. "You ever keep a man around, after you've gone to bed with him?"

"Yeah," Dope said. "Yeah, sometimes. Had a few partners, the last year or so. Last one stuck around for almost six months."

Rat stiffened, and Dope knew he'd said the wrong thing, though fuck if he knew why. Rat jerked the door open before Dope could stop him. "Fuck you, Dope," he spat. "Just... fuck you!" He stalked down the dim hall.

Dope never did know when to keep his big damn mouth shut. He leaned out the doorway. "Wish you would!" he called. Rat might have twitched, but he didn't turn around. Dope had lost Rat, he realized suddenly, for the second time. Really lost him. And this time, he didn't even know why.

Sounds like true love to me... ;-)

And don't forget! This is Torquere's anniversary month, and they have a whole snootful of prizes to give away! Books and gift certificates and silly gift packages, all donated by Torquere authors (including me -- check out the complete list at http://www.torquerepress.com/anniversary/). Their grand prize, at the end of the month, is going to be a Kindle Fire, for petesake! And all you have to do to enter (...did anyone else just hear the strains of "Alice's Restaurant" start up there? And all ya gotta do to join... No? Just me? Ah, well.) ...All you have to do to enter is click on over to that page and enter your name, your email, and my name as referrer! No, really!

Torquere Anniversary Celebration!

Torquere Press is nine years old this month, and they want to give you presents to celebrate! And holy cow, what presents! They've got books. They've got gift certificates. They've got gift baskets filled with fun stuff. They've got a freaking Kindle Fire!

And all you have to do is go to this page and enter your name and email address on the form! (And my name. There's a prize for referring authors, too, so pretty please enter my name.) That's it! No blog hops, no scavenger hunts. So you have no excuse not to participate -- head on over there and enter!