Writerly Ways

Before I get into it, here, have a teaser for my upcoming novella, Triskelion set right here in SE Ohio. You can find it here

I wanted to talk about relationships. Maybe it's a function of me not being in one for years. Maybe it's just a simple matter of 'you can't please everyone.' Maybe there's something actually there. I don't know.

In my first (that I know of) professional review (and how sad and yet maybe a tad hopeful am I that one of the kindest reviewers to me is now reviewing erotica for USA Today), for the steampunk mystery If Two of Them Are Dead said she liked it (gave it 3.5 -4 stars depending on where she posted the review), that she really liked the sex but she didn't buy Abraham and Victor as a couple. Another reviewer (your average Goodreads reviewer) said the same thing about Aaron and Rhys in my novel, Kept Tears

Now I have to admit it, it hurt more about Aaron and Rhys than Abraham and Victor. The latter's story is more about solving the mystery than it is about romance (and I keep hoping once DSP rolls out it's non-erotica line, I might be asked to write for it because wow, I'd much rather do that!). I could maybe see the reviewer's point. Still, I thought I had laid out their mutual attraction well.

Aaron and Rhys IS as close to a full blown romance I've ever written, no pun intended. It did hurt a little that people didn't buy them as a couple. Because here is where the doubt creeps in. Where did I fail? Did I fail? Maybe what makes a romance to me doesn't work for someone else.

I'm reading one right now and the romance isn't working for me either. I like the rest of the book so far but insta-soul mate on the first meeting? Nope, that is NOT my reality. It isn't. I can't even wrap my mind around it.

Maybe this is what they wanted and didn't get in my stories. I don't know. There's no clues to why they didn't buy them as a couple. evil_little_dog had a suggestion for me, to write it as overblown as I can then whittle it back to something I can actually live with.

That is one way to do it. Only a few of you read either of these stories (that I know of) so I can't really ask about a specific failing. So my question is, what makes a relationship work for you? What makes it fall flat?

I know that everyone will have different answers here and that it is impossible to please everyone. Still, if there's a pattern, it might be helpful. Thanks

Yearly Word Count -

Triskelion - Edited and returned
Nothing But Himself - Edited and returned
Untouched - Splinters of Silver and Soldiers of the Sun
Yule in Wales -

well that changes things

I was going to go home tomorrow but now I'm going tuesday. Two reasons.

1. Mom woke me up early (she thought I was getting up to go to the office since my net came back too late to call her). Anyhow, since I was groggy, I pushed off the bed (memory foam) on my bad arm. Holy fucking hell. I seriously wonder if I turned the partial tear into full thickness. I couldn't even steer today without pain. I did eat a big lunch so I could take my NSAID without ripping up my stomach. Thank god it is all highway on the way home but man packing the car hurt.

2. I have an appt here for my TMJ which I thought was next month. I might as well stay and talk to them because I have more info on that (like I can be fine in the morning then sore in the day so it can't all be grinding teeth). I'm not looking forward to it since I quit wearing the retainer as soon as work was over.

I'm at that creepy point where my brain whispers bad things to me. It's not helping that my hormones are bouncing like a superball.

And I think that's what's putting me in such a bad mood. I've seen some meta lately that's just really annoying me. Ridiculous really. Though sometimes I think we overanalyze shows so much worrying about this and that and we suck all the fun out of it. Ah well. Put it out of my mind or I'll just work myself over literally nothing.

However this is important. Science vs anti-vacc hype

And is anyone doing camp nano in july? I am. Looking for people to put in my cabin. Okay technically there are more people in my local group than I can select to begin with but variety is good.

Also I apologize for this right now but it's one of those things I just have to share. I saw it on World's Dumbest and had to go look for it. I have NO idea what they're saying since I don't know Japanese. If you don't watch it all, skip to the end. Basically it takes objectifying women, sexual hijinks and WTF Japan to a whole new level.

Watch on YouTube

declutter day 236 Item tossed-t-shirt why kept -It was a gift why tossed -It was not something I really wanted across my chest.

May's books

No DVDS since I STILL had no time to review everything I wanted to. As always, talk to me about any of the books. I have a lot of good ones this time.

Book:the Marathon Conspiracy historical mystery

Book: Starglass YA, SF

Book: The Mysterious Affair at Styles Agatha Christie's first novel.

Book: Infected: Life After Death mystery (m/m)

Manga: Dance in the Vampire Bund #14 urban fantasy, end of series

Book: Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things humor

Book: Silverboy YA fantasy

Manga: The Crimson Spell #1 Yaoi fantasy

Manga: Blue Exorcist #12 urban fantasy

Book: Stitch: Gothika #1 m/m erotica anthology

Manga: Fairy Tail #22 fantasy

Book: Motel. Pool. m/m paranormal.