Monthly Archives: February 2012
Inspiration Behind the Story: What
Joel Rush
I honestly don’t remember where I first saw this photo of actor/model Joel Rush and, try as I might, I can’t seem to locate a photographer’s name to give credit here for this shot being the inspiration behind my short story What.
The first thing I thought when I saw this photo was this man is upset, troubled by something, maybe frustrated, and I’ve just interrupted him trying to sort things out. He turned to look at me and barked, “What?”
So I had to answer his question. Or, actually, Sam had to, and Sam very much did not want to, but felt he had a duty to explain himself… Since it’s his fault… Jeremy’s in this mood to begin with… Because the guys in the tattoo shop were… Fighting again and Sam’s pretty sure it was his fault even though he can’t figure out why. Yeah, that.
This story turned out to be the first shifter story I had ever attempted, then I tacked on a little GFY and some hurt/comfort. I ended up with a roughly 4,000-word story about Sam discovering that, not only is his boss and the man he’s loved from afar a werepanther, but Jeremy’s also got one hell of a mating instinct going on for Sam. Sam and Jeremy riding off into the night to begin their relationship after a handjob, some kitty domination and claiming, and a long talk about what’s going on with everybody wrapped up the story pretty well for me.
But the story wasn’t really done-done.
Going back into Sam and Jeremy’s world, I decided that gay mates in the werepanther prides was previously been forced to live a little like soldiers under DADT. Jeremy, though, he’s not the type of guy who’ll just accept that he’s not allowed to publicly claim Sam as his own like anyone else who, through some miracle, has found their one true mate. All kinds of rules govern these werepanthers and now that Jeremy has successfully lobbied for gay mate rights, there are rules he and Sam have to follow. Jeremy’s just a little leery of one of them since, until Sam, Jeremy was straight. It’s up to stuttering, submissive Sam to step up and be the man Jeremy needs him to be so they can have the future they deserve.
There is also an incident with a squirrel. 
All told, this photo of the gorgeous Joel Rush inspired in me a short story of 19,000+ words that firmly establishes the relationship of Sam and Jeremy with a very nice HEA. So, coming in late-spring/early-summer from Amber Allure is What by Missy Welsh.
Coming Soon from Amber Allure!
I made this post sticky so you can read about how I took a chance and ended up landing a 6-contract deal with Amber Quill Press’s Amber Allure line. Posts following this one could contain seriously smexy details on the upcoming stories. 
Breaking Through Unmotivation
Where M.J. and Piper Play!
Today, I’ve done a guest post over on Babes in Boyland, the combo blog of the “sweet and awfully cute” authors M. J. O’Shea and Piper Vaughn, where I talk about breaking through unmotivation.
Many of you may know that I’m currently unemployed and have been for a year (with a brief stint in a temp job that failed to help much). Tuning out all that stress, worry and self-doubt to write has been an enormous challenge for me. I have learned some tricks along the way, though, to kick start my motivation. Now I share those with all of you as one of M. J. and Piper’s author posts about the writing life.
So hop on over to Babes in Boyland to learn about such things as:
- Doing it anyway
- Ignoring the shiny
- Interviewing characters
- What to read, and
- Why you shouldn’t discount the fine art of manipulating family members.
Break through that unmotivation! Because, for Pete’s sake, if I can do it you certainly can.
