Sloan Parker's Blog

This one’s for Scott and Mark.

“In a sense, you will find that it does not matter what stance you take in bondage and discipline games. Either role done well transcends into the other, and to be done well both require trust.” – Lady Ravinia

For those of you who are waiting to read more of their story, I added a new section to part four this weekend. I promise I’ll get it up on the site just as soon as I can. I do try to give as much attention to detail to this story as I do my published novels, so it takes a bit of time to revise, edit, and get feedback from others for each part.

I’m on my third pass working on Walter and Kevin’s story, and I had a series of great writing sessions this week. Today I worked on a chapter and a half that needed a few changes, including adding some dialogue and reactions. I ended up rewriting almost all of it. I was in some sort of zone where the dialogue and character interactions just flowed and worked better within the overall story arc. The more I rewrote, the more I knew what I had previously written wasn’t working. When I was done, it felt good to know it was the right call to rewrite those scenes.

Even though decisions like these affect the overall amount of time it takes to complete a project, this type of revising just seems to work for me. The more time I spend with the characters and their story, the clearer the overall picture becomes. Sometimes I can’t see the forest with all those damn trees in the way.

It took about five hours to get that chapter and a half rewritten. I sat in my comfy chair in my office while I wrote. These two little guys came in to keep me company.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I’m hoping to get in another 5 hours or more of writing on Sunday.

Sorry I haven’t been posting much lately. I took an unplanned/unexpected sabbatical from blogging. I’ve been slammed recently with non-writing work and family obligations, but when I did get to work on my writing, I rocked it on Walter’s story. I figured an update on my progress was long overdue.

And progress is exactly what I’m making with Walter and Kevin’s book. I’m writing every day again and finding a groove with this story that feels really good.

Which is nice because this book has been through such a long journey already. Here’s the path of its life so far:

1. Brainstormed story ideas (started in 2010).
2. Created character sketches/story outline.
3. Wrote synopsis.
4. Took a break to work on synopses and outlines for Richard’s and Matthew’s books (from More)
5. Submitted all 3 synopses to my publisher.
6. Worked on another project while I waited for feedback on which book they’d prefer to see next.
7. Received feedback.
8. Revised story outline & character sketches based on publisher’s suggestion to remove one story element.
9. Worked on rough draft.
10. Had inspiration for a new story, so I put Walter and Kevin’s aside to create proposal since Christmas stories were being considered at my publisher. After receiving approval, I wrote and revised Take Me Home.
11. Back to Walter and Kevin’s story. Worked on completing rough draft.
12. Had to take a break to work on edits from my editor for Take Me Home.
13. Back to Walter and Kevin’s story. Completed revisions of first seven chapters.
14. Decided to make several major changes to the story (scenes deleted and new scenes added). Reviewed entire manuscript and worked in changes.
15. Completed revisions of first ten chapters (as of today).

This story is nothing like it started out as, and yet, it’s becoming more of what I had envisioned in the first place. I cannot tell you how much I love the conversations and interactions between Walter and the much younger Kevin.

This book may not have had the quickest path to publication, but I am really happy with what I’ve got on the page now.

I’ve also worked on revisions to part four of Mark and Scott’s story, the serial novel More Than Just a Good Book. I need to review a few more times, and then send to my critique partner. I’ll announce when it’s ready for you to read on the blog and in my newsletter.

So that’s where I’m at this week. Thanks for listening!
Sloan

Back in December I did an interview at author Julie Hayes’s blog and one of the questions was: Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scenario using them: concert, documented, broadcast

Below is what I came up with. Maybe the idea to a new story, I don’t know. I thought it might be fun to post these 3 word scenarios from time to time as a creative exercise. A way for me to play around with new ideas that don’t have to become anything more than an idea (or maybe they will).

My friend Harry used to work as a producer for broadcast TV. But he told me when he finally accepted he was in love with his best friend, he gave up the career he’d always hated, moved to New York, and started a band. See, I’m his best friend. A guitarist. I think Harry would do anything for me. He’s even landed us some sweet concert gigs, and he’s documented our journey as a rising band for our website. I watched the footage last night. There’s a lot of me in it. Maybe he really does love me this time around.

What do you think?

I’m thrilled to share that my third novel, Take Me Home, is now available for purchase in various e-book formats. You can pick up a copy at Loose Id or keep an eye on my site for links to other e-book stores such as Amazon and All Romance eBooks. I’ll add the links as the book become available at each site.

TAKE ME HOME: Ten years after their one and only night in each other’s arms, best friends finally give in to passion and new sexual roles while trapped in a blizzard as they head home for the holidays.

I hope everyone who picks up a copy enjoys this holiday friends-to-lovers story. Have a happy holiday season and a beautiful, healthy new year!

Join me and several other m/m authors as we celebrate the holiday season on Keira Andrews’s blog. You can check out several of the posts already there. Mine will be coming December 19 and will include an excerpt from Take Me Home that I have not shared yet here on the blog or my website. Although, it won’t be new to those of you who pick up a copy of Take Me Home when it releases this week.

For those of you who do check out Take Me Home, I truly hope you enjoy Kyle and Evan’s story.

Thanks for checking out Keira’s blog and helping us celebrate the holiday season.

A girl can dream, can’t she?

Thanks to author Julie Lynn Hayes, I shared my thoughts on this question and more when she interviewed me for her blog. Her questions were interesting and quite unique. You can read my responses on her blog.

Also, Book Devotee Reviews is hosting a giveaway for Take Me Home. To enter, follow Jet and leave a comment on her blog.

And there’s a few days left for the giveaway at Rarely Dusty Books. The winner will be announced on Dec. 13.

A huge thank-you to Julie, Jet, and Janna for hosting!

I mentioned the other day there would be a few more chances to win a copy of TAKE ME HOME. The lovely Janna at Rarely Dusty Books invited me to do a guest blog today. I’m talking about the setting of the train in Take Me Home and how setting can be used to help shape the story and the characters.

Comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on release day. The winner will be announced on December 13.

What are some of your favorite settings in a romance? I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks to artist Marci Gass for a beautiful representation of this story.

Take Me Home releases next week on December 13, 2011 (you can usually pick up a copy at Loose Id just after midnight EST).

Aspiring television writer Evan Walker has been in love with his best friend since high school, but Kyle doesn’t do boyfriends. Never has. Never will. Evan knows it’s a bad idea to give in to desire when he wants more than a friend with benefits. He has a new dream job. Now all he needs is the dream partner.

Kyle Bennett is a mystery novelist with a severe case of writer’s block. He needs a change. He has three days on their cross-country train trip home for the holidays to figure out how to tell Evan he’s staying there for good. He also has to write the overdue pages for his editor. Only, he’s a little too distracted by the close quarters in their sleeper compartment—and Evan’s ass—to get much done.

The sparks that fly between them are hotter than ever. Good thing they have a real-life mystery to focus on: why people all around them, including Evan’s new boss, want to get their hands on a journal that once belonged to Kyle’s grandfather.

When a blizzard traps them in the mountains, Kyle and Evan steam up the train’s windows and must finally face their true desires.

You can read an excerpt of their first kiss in 10 years and the first 2 chapters on my site.

In the next two weeks there will be several chances to win an ebook copy of my upcoming release, Take Me Home.

The first is at my guest blog post at Babes in Boyland where I’m talking about Sex, Love & Danger. The giveaway closes on Tuesday, 12/6/2011 at 9PM CST.

Keep an eye on my blog for more chances to win.