Tag Archives: more

Print book giveaway going on at my Yahoo group this week

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SloanParkerPrintBooks2

(c) Sloan Parker 2013

A giveaway is going on at my Yahoo group until Friday, July 5th at 11:59 p.m. EST. One winner will receive signed print copies of MORE, BREATHE, and TAKE ME HOME. Anyone who joins the group before then is welcome to enter. Once you’ve joined, look for the post titled “Giveaway for signed copies of my print books” for instructions on how to enter.

My Q&A Yahoo group includes sneak peeks of works in progress, answers to common questions, and any other discussions of M/M romances members would like to bring up.

(You can also subscribe to the Yahoo Group by sending a blank email to SloanParkerDiscussions-subscribe@yahoogroups.com from your email account.)

Checking in with the MORE boys: Writing MORE THAN MOST

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SP_more_coverSmI’m working on the first draft of MORE THAN MOST (More #2) and thought I’d share some tidbits. Please note: some of this may get deleted in later revisions of the manuscript.

  • Richard was just surprised to find out someone he thought couldn’t stand him actually respected and admired him.
  • Several unexpected visitors have Richard waiting for Matthew to tell him the truth about what he wants.
  • I didn’t realize how much Luke would still count on non-verbal communication until I started writing this book. It’s a struggle for him to put things into words, but when he does, man he says a lot.
  • Matthew just brought up a topic neither Luke nor Richard were expecting. The poor boys are speechless.

 

Who’s Gary? I’ll Show You Mine If You Show Me Yours

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I dedicated my latest novel, HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, to one very special young man named Gary. Who is he? I wrote a guest post several years ago where I shared about Gary, my very first love. Since How to Save a Life’s been out for a few weeks, I thought I’d repost that old blog entry for anyone who’d like to know more about the story behind the dedication.

The following was originally posted at Fiction with Friction on March 25th, 2010.

My first release is available at Loose Id this week, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The book is titled MORE and is the story of a confirmed loner who breaks all his rules for two men he meets at a sex club. Too bad his father will do almost anything to put a stop to the relationship.

Writing and submitting a book was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. And with its release I’ve been thinking a lot on life and goals and love and risks.

Thinking about all that took me back in time to my very first love.

He was an older boy who lived down the street from me and wanted to play “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” Uh, get your minds out of the gutter, folks. He was talking about my horse and his goat.

And no, those aren’t some special code words for penis and vajayjay. I grew up on a farm. I really had a horse. And he really had a goat.

There was much discussion on the deal. I think it went like this…

Gary: “I’ll bring my goat tomorrow.”

Me: “Okay.”

Gary: “You can show me your horse.”

Me: “Okay.”

I think I mentioned he was older than I, and I was seriously crushing on him, so words weren’t my forte right then. I was lucky I could form single syllables.

The next day, he dragged that goat almost a mile from his house to mine along a major two-lane US highway. I can just imagine all the truckers and summer vacationing families laughing at this kid walking his goat down the center of the ditch, the blazing sun beating down on them, sweat dripping off his brow, the stubborn goat stopping every few steps, and Gary dragging it by the little rope he had looped around her neck. You really would have thought Gary was getting a piece of ass for how much effort he went to with that goat. That boy loved horses.

I would’ve loved a kiss, but I never did get to kiss Gary.

After the horse/goat deal, we didn’t see each other as much. When it came time for me to go to the same high school as he, I decided I’d work up the nerve to talk to him again. It was my chance to get him to notice me. I had it all planned out. I was going to be lost, wandering by his locker and have to ask him how to find my next classroom. Not the greatest setup, but I was fourteen. Give me a break.

Never did get to try it out, though. Gary was killed in a car crash before the school year started. As far I know, he never did get to ride a horse.

That’s a regret I still carry with me. I should have asked Gary if he wanted to take my horse out for a ride, even if it meant I’d get in trouble when my parents got home. I should’ve offered. I should’ve asked.

I should’ve kissed him.

If I had only known that summer we spent together was the only one I was ever going to have, I would have taken a chance sooner.

Sometimes taking a risk is the best option. So my advice…if there’s ever something you really want to try but are afraid to, don’t let the fear stop you. I wanted to write a novel about three men who meet on the same night and fall in love. I guess…dreams really do come true.

So what was your first love? Your first crush? Did you kiss? Hold hands? Come on, I’m feeling nostalgic. Share…

Good luck to each of you on making your own dreams come true.
Sloan

On Writing: The Essence and Passion of a Story

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(c) istockphoto, marekuliasz 2011

The following was originally posted at Loose Ends, but I wanted to share here as well for all my writing followers.

Last year Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats tweeted 22 rules of storytelling. Now that I’m knee-deep into a first draft again (writing the sequel to my m/m/m menage MORE), I keep going back to some of those tips she mentioned when it comes to the basics of storytelling.

Two of my favorites are:

“Why must you tell THIS story? What’s the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That’s the heart of it.” — Emma Coats

“What’s the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there.” — Emma Coats

I think these go hand in hand when writing a first draft. I have to know the basics of what I’m trying to say and I have to be driven to share that story. I believe if the author lacks a passion for writing any particular story, the readers can tell.

When first starting a novel-length book, if I don’t have a firm grasp on the core concept of the story as well as the passion to tell that story, I stumble my way through the first draft, going back over the plot outline and who the characters are at their core until I land on the truth of what I’m trying to say.

Some questions I ask myself:

  • Who are these men? What do they believe about love? What goals do they have in life? What are their biggest dreams? What are their biggest fears? All of these can help drive the plot.
  • What are the basics of the plot in one sentence? One paragraph?
  • What is the ending of the story? What happens just before the ending? How are the characters emotionally impacted by the conclusion of the plot?
  • What in my own life (what experiences, dreams, hopes, imaginations) is influencing me to write this story?
  • What is it about my own beliefs and passions about living life that stirs me to write this story about these characters?

For me the journey of discovering all this is what makes storytelling such a powerful, enjoyable experience. It may stretch out the process of writing that initial draft, but I think my stories would not be the same (and neither would I) without it.

You can read the full list of Coats’s tweets here:
The 22 rules of storytelling, according to Pixar

Thank you, thank you!! How to Save a Life a Bestseller

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To all my readers, a huge thank-you for helping HOW TO SAVE A LIFE reach the Top 10 Bestseller’s list (currently #4) at All Romance eBooks and the Gay & Lesbian Romance Bestseller list at Amazon (top location spotted was #4). My first novel MORE has even reappeared as a bestseller (#2 in Gay & Lesbian Erotica at Amazon). THANK YOU, EVERYONE!

Also, thank you for all the recent emails and other messages about the book. Hearing from readers means a great deal to me, and your words of appreciation and encouragement seriously help me through the tougher writing days. I’m thrilled so many of you are enjoying Walter and Kevin’s story.

All my thanks,
Sloan