Monday Moans ~ Allan O'Sullivan

I've lived a long time. I've loved enough people to know who I truly care about. So why do certain people drive me to the brink of insanity?

My name is Allan O'Sullivan. I've put up with a lot. I fought in the American Civil War. I've been hungry, tired, soaked to the bone. I can deal with a lot. There's one thing, well, no, one person I just can't...understand how to relate to.

She drives me to the edge. It's like everything is a game to her and nothing's serious. I try to explain things and she just blows it off.

Even Todd coddles her. He doesn't put up with anything from anyone. It's like he enjoys her spontaneity.

Am I the one who doesn't belong? He's my mate. The frustration I feel isn't wrong, is it? I don't know if I want to share him, but she seems to be in every last part of our lives--well, except the sex. So far that's not been a problem.

Maybe I'm overreacting. I mean, she's just our friend and a twenty-something girl lost. She doesn't understand her needs as a vampire.

Sigh.

One of these days we'll get this all straightened out...well, what can be straightened out.

I guess my Monday Moan was more of a moan than a mooooaaaaaaan. Sorry.

~Allan

Monday Moans ~ When Characters Won't Talk

I try to do a Monday Moans every week, you know, to let the characters run for a little bit. I like to let them loose from the cage here and there. But I've got a little problem. They don't want to talk.

If you're a writer, what do you do when the characters won't talk to you? Why do I ask? I'm stuck, that's why.

It's like they know they should be saying something, but they're staring at me with petulant looks on their faces. You want something, we don't want to put out...deal.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO DEAL!!!

Oh well. Maybe they'll be chatty next week.

In other news: I got a review! Yup. For Please Remember Me. I have much love and respect for Whipped Cream Reviews. I guess it's because even when they give a lower rating, it's done with tact, eloquence, and you learn something.

The author puts the reader in the position of not knowing what the truth is and what should come next. When you think you have it figured out, here comes another curve ball. The emotions, the heat and the conflict are almost tangible and suck you in like a vacuum.

Not bad, eh? I'm pretty pleased.

Monday Moans

Ok, just for a friend of mine, I'm putting in a pic today. He complained I don't have any pretty pics ~~ translation, I don't have any of girls. Brat. So, here are some girl ones.

I really want to write about her...soon.

Love this one.

Always a favorite.

Monday Moans

The boys are all rioting. They can't decide who got to talk, so I put them in their places. Hee hee. I'm evil. Enjoy the dual eye candy while they fret that I put them all in time out. ***muwhahahahahahaah***

Notice my torture theme?

They did, too.

Monday Moans

Monday Moans is the name, giving you a preview of me is the game. *Wink* Okay, so that's a little cheesy. Never let it be said that I'm not willing to make fun of myself.

Who am I?

Ah, yes, it would be nice if I gave you an introduction. My folly. (And yes, I do talk like that. Sammy would say I'm a true dork. She's right.) But my name. I'm Ryan Black, Ghost Explorer.

Wait...You've never heard of me? Really? Then I am just no doing my job. One more time.

I'm Ryan Black and I seek out the things that go bump in the night. I prove the things in the darkness are real. Oh yes, and I hunt for ghost. I am a Ghost Explorer.

Better?

I didn't think so. (Shrugs)I and the host of the show Ghost Explorers. But there's more to me than the schmaltzy guy who (cringing) tripped over my own two feet and got the willies scared out of me at the Allavisa School by an overly horny family of raccoons. You see, ghosts are real. Don't believe me? You're not alone. Many don't. Sad really. And the show should be global but I have to find the right cohort. My camera guy, Eddie, well, he's a nice guy, but A) he's married, and B) I don't swing that way. (and he's got really hairy legs. Not sexy.)

That being said, there is a particular person I want to cohost with. I'd like to be a whole lot more with her. Samara Jacobs. The woman makes my blood boil for all the right reasons. One look at her and I'm good for the day. (Actually I want to do more than look, but I can only ask for so much.)

Ahhh...yeah....well, I need to go...take care of something. Yeah... have fun, enjoy Wendi's blog and I hope to talk to you soon.

(Rushing from computer...rushing back)

And watch Ghost Explorers! Bye!

Flirty Friday

Megan stopped over today and wanted to know what the heck she should blog about. She's featured over at the Menagerie Authors blog, like she is every Friday. Now this is my Flirty Friday day... the day I generally talk about what I'm writing and what's on the docket. I suggest she does that.

She just winks.

Punk.

Yes, she's a dear friend, but she's a punk. Twirled a dark curl around her finger, smiled, and winked again.

Dammit.

See if I help her again.

So what am I working on...

Ghost Hunter (currently titled Careless Whisper) has gone to the critique partner. I dunno if she'll be happy with it, or if she'll come back and tell me it sucks. Usually the ones I love are the stories that the CP's tend to skewer. I know, I have more emotional investment in them. It's true.

I need to get back to me vampire Julian. (Why do I feel the need to say, the vampire Armand or Lestat...peculiar) No, my vampire in this story is Julian and his "brothers" Andreas and Vincent. I wrote a story for Whipped Cream which was posted a few weeks ago, but according to Julian, he wasn't done telling me his story. So on it went. I'll get to him very soon.

So much to write and so little time to concentrate when the characters are cooperating.

Back to the old aggravating vampires in the hopes they'll want to work.

Toodles.

Monday Moans and Another Tour Stop!

I should've posted this earlier, but last night (I normally write my posts the night before or tell the characters to step up to the plate the night before), I ended up with a whopper of a headache. Not a migraine, but it wasn't fun. Worst part? Woke up this am? Still there. Ugh. My characters knew better and hid out for the day.

But I'm telling you about the party and where I'm at today! I'm blogging with my pal Victoria Blisse at her blog. http://www.victoriablisse.co.uk/blog

I'm having a blast hanging out with Victoria, so join us and put your name in the hat to win a copy of My Immortal!

Friday Flirts

It's that time of the week again... a little glimpse into the world inside my head.

It's a scary place--inside my head. Lots of arguing, lots of screwing, and bucket-loads of emotions. I'm going to post this random question as I work out this post--have you ever been so emotionally involved in a story or character that you a)dreamed about it, b)swore what you'd been through was your memory, not the character, c)cried because you were drained?

Now that you think I've dropped all my beans, yes, I am/was so involved with a character and the issues of said character that when I finished the scene, I sat and cried. I've had some characters that were hard to translate into the written word (Cade? That's you.). I've had some that have had me in stitches. But I thought I'd ask.

Megan and I have been pitching this ghost story idea between us. I have to admit, it's really a collaborative effort. She suggests plot ideas, I add sex, she gets into the hero's head, I get into the heroine's. It's great. Really. Which means, Ryan and Samara (told you, Linda, I'd use it) will have their story (or since it's written, they have it, but I'm scared a publisher won't want it... we'll see).

I've got a country singer story stuck in my head and outlined. Think Gary Allan but a little more approachable (not that he's not... I've never met him--would love to, but that's a whole 'nother story). Torin's been burnt-bad. He's not an appeal-to-the-masses singer. He likes his perfect, secluded world. Touring and his manager seem to have another idea until Torin meets Clover. Then his world goes all to hell in a sexy, delicious, can't-keep-his-hands-off her kind of way.

And since I have threesomes involving two men and one lady in my head...
Juniper, Jacoby, and Parker. Parker's a mega-popular metal/rock/emo type singer for the band Razrs Edge. Juni and Jacoby are his former bandmates/lovers. They have a radio show--Juni and Jacoby in the Morning. Things are nice, safe, and staid until Parker calls with a request for help. Will Juni and Jacoby sacrifice everything for the one man that tore their lives apart or leave him once they've sated their needs?
(That's the one that made me cry.)

Then there is Siouxsie. She's the bookstore employee over at Feathered Edge. Her boss is Sav Welles from Tangled Up. She's a self-avowed fag hag. Wears the name like a badge of honor. One problem. The men she's the closest to aren't interested in her. Nope. Mark and Kile want each other and none others.
Or so she thinks. Things are quite so simple. Ever since they laid eyes on Siouxsie, she's sprinted circles in their minds. Mark and Kile want a threesome. Committed threesome. Now they have to convince her she's the only woman to make them complete.

Flirty Friday

So we are at the end of the week and it's time for Flirty Friday!

I am just about at the end of my Farmer. Yes, I used my summers helping at my grandparents farm as fodder for the story. I have just a tad left and hope to have it to a CP by tonight.

As for the others... well... they're temporarily on the back burner because I have half a zillion other things to get to first. But I have an outline for Gypsy, one for Rhett, and some major edits on Jaden, but hey, if you aren't working, you're bored...I know I am.

Plus edits should be rolling in for My Immortal. YAY!

(Love this ad? So do I! Want one like it? Go to Goddess Fish. You won't be disappointed. I'm not.)

Cooperation - That's the Name of the Game

Okay, I wanted to have some great long post today telling of how I managed to get my MS done. Yeah, right. Didn't happen.

Why is it, when you want the characters to cooperate, that's when they decide to do the OPPOSITE? Why?

I want to just say it's because they are men and men don't cooperate when you want them to, but that's too easy. I could say it's because they are human and who cooperates 100% of the time? Sorry, not I. (Shocker to find that out, huh?).

Well, I'm not sure why and I'm giving up worrying about it for now. I had two wise people tell me not to force the story, to let it write itself... okay, okay... I'm doing that. Maybe I've been hitting it way too hard lately... maybe not hard enough... I don't know.

I'm going back to my bat cave to stew about next week's Law and Order and to try to write something...

More Tips - Because You Asked for It

Okay, so yeah, I had a flash of that annoying TV announcer voice as I typed the title... Oh well.

I'm a cheeseball and I'm not afraid to admit it.

But onto the tips...

Someone asked me how to get into romance.
Good, yet vague question.
My take (and this is only my opinion, you'll have yours and please do share) is to first, READ. You can't write something you aren't familiar with. I'm not a widely read fantasy connoisseur, so I doubt I'll venture into fantasy romance (unless it's vampires... I'm all about the bite right now). But my point of interest (pardon the pun) is erotica and contemporary romance (the hotter, the better).
Once you start reading (or continue, because you should - my English teacher will gasp here - never not read. Even writers who are well established read the work of their peers and probably whatever else they can get their hands on.

Okay, so you've read a lot and feel ready to write that novel.

First, who are the characters? Whether you're a planner (you have the whole plot outlined to the finest detail) or a pantser (you have no idea where the story is going and let the characters drive), you need to know who is in control. I heard once that you need to know what's in the characters pockets. Now I can't remember who said it (it was a famous writer - for some reason Joyce sticks in my head - if you know, tell me) but I agree 100%. You can have some quirks, who doesn't, but you still have to know the characters you plan on letting take control of your life (Well, it may not be the case, but don't tell them.)

In my first novel, my writer Cass is meek, yet strong and determined. My hero, Logan is full of himself, cocky, and in need of an attitude check. I can tell you, he'd have loose change (pennies and dimes) in his pockets and a smirk on his lips.

Now you know the characters, what are they going to do? What's the plot going to be? If it's romance, well then it's boy meets girl (or vice-versa), boy falls for girl, something bad happens to split boy and girl up, and boy and girl must get back together. Is this a formula? No. A frame of reference... maybe.

Now I have more on this topic, but it's late and I'm getting long winded... so until tomorrow... back to the bat cave... I have blog awards to pass out.

Toodles.