Who’s Going to GayRomLit?

Posted on October 5, 2011 by SloanParker

GayRomLit is just over a week away. I won’t be in attendance, but someone (who shall remain nameless in order to protect their super secret identity) shared some info with me about a scavenger hunt taking place at the event.

For those of you who haven’t heard of it, GayRomLit is a new retreat for readers and writers of GLBT romances organized by J.P. Bowie, Ethan Day, Lynn Lorenz, Carol Lynne, and Amanda Young. This is the first year for the retreat, which is being held in New Orleans on October 13 – 16. My publisher, Loose Id, along with several others and many authors of m/m romance will be there. It should be a great time for authors and readers to mingle and talk about male/male romances. I can only imagine some of the conversations that will take place over those four days. ;)

For those of you attending, I was given a preview of the Scavenger Hunt that a group of the authors have planned. Here’s how it works:

17 authors are participating in the scavenger hunt.
The retreat’s registration bags will contain a clue sheet and empty bracelet for all attending the retreat.
Attendees who want to participate in the scavenger hunt will solve gay romance riddles to find out which authors are part of the game.
You collect beads from the authors and there are more raffle prizes at the end.

I can’t tell you who the 17 authors are, but I’ve seen the game and it’ll definitely be an entertaining way to break the ice and meet some of the well-known and newer m/m authors at the retreat.

So who’s all going? Anyone who follows the blog? I hope you guys have fun! Don’t get too crazy. Ah forget that. It’s a once-a-year event with fellow lovers of m/m romances all in one place. Have a wicked good time!!

Link Roundup: On Being Gay, 9/11 & More

Posted on September 12, 2011 by SloanParker

Sharing a few links today. Hope you find some of the articles interesting. I know I did. And I may have shed a tear or too with some of these.

The first edition of the Hot Summer Days (HSD) Anthology is now available. You can get a copy via Goodreads. They have several ebook formats available. It looks like there will be four editions in total. My story will be in the fourth volume.
A touching post by author Dorien Grey: On Being Gay, Parts I and II (scroll down the page to get to the posts dated September 2nd and 5th)
A moving look back at 9/11 from a New Yorker’s POV: Walk Through 9/11/2001 Through Damon Suede’s Eyes
For my writer friends out there an interesting article: Donald Maass, James Scott Bell and Christopher Vogler Discuss Story Structure
I blogged at Loose Ends last week and shared several songs that sometimes help this writer out: Motivation for When Writing (Or Life) Takes the Hard Way. I’d love to hear what songs motivate you.

Remembering 9/11

Posted on September 9, 2011 by SloanParker

Like most Americans, I will never forget that day ten years ago. I remember exactly where I was when I heard that the first plane had crashed, then the next, and the next, and finally the last. I remember the impossibility of watching men and women jump to their deaths from the World Trade Center. I remember watching the twin tours collapse and not comprehending what I was seeing. I remember the tears, the fear, the countless stories of heartbreak and heroism that left me speechless.

And proud.

I remember the chilling moment I saw a plane flying overhead on the day they started air traffic again. I remember talking with strangers in stores and on sidewalks, sharing news and comments as if we were old friends.

In honor of remembering that day and all who were lost, here’s an amazing memorial video and a link to the story of one of the day’s heroes and the brave mother he left behind.

Sand Art – “Never Forget” a 9/11 Momorial by Joe Castillo

Unexpected legacy left by hero of Flight 93: How a mom has “became a tireless advocate for issues that were important to her son.” “The openly gay rugby player was one of the heroic passengers who led a revolt against the terrorists on United Airlines Flight 93.” (I don’t think the video is available anymore, but you can still read the story).

What do you remember about that day?

When Will MORE Be Available in Print & Other FAQs

Posted on August 10, 2011 by SloanParker

I finally got the FAQ page added to my website. It includes questions like When will More be available in print, When is your next book due out, and others.

I’ll keep adding the most common questions I get asked by readers as I have time.

Drop me a line if you have a question that isn’t answered on the FAQ page.

Links: Breathe at B&N, Motivation & Facebook

Posted on August 8, 2011 by SloanParker

I’ve had my head down finishing up TAKE ME HOME and only have a minute to post today (and it’s almost time to hit the sheets for some serious sleep), so I thought I’d quickly share a few links.

For those of you who were asking, BREATHE is now available at Barnes & Noble.
I blogged last week on one of my group blogs about motivation: Giving Lackluster Motivation a Kick in the Pants. Your reader comments about my writing and stories really do help!
I now have a Facebook Author Fan page. You can “Like” the page to follow my writing news on Facebook. Or you can friend me via my regular profile. Or do both. I’m probably on FB more than any other social site (when I have time to be online at all, that is).

Okay, I’m off to bed.

Can’t wait for everyone to get a look at TMH. Is it December yet?