Tag Archives: sloan parker

Website updated with new files for my free stories

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Uh-oh…It looks like several of the links to my free short stories were not working for the past few weeks. I think some of the ebook files were inadvertently deleted from the web server (the PDFs worked fine but some of the others were gone). Sorry for the inconvenience to anyone who wanted the mobi, epub, or html formats. All of the links are working again.

I also took the time to redo the files. They are the same three stories. I just recreated the various ebook formats to correct a few formatting issues and to include the updated cover for Swept Away.

I also added new web pages to my site with the full story for each, so now you can read the short stories right on the site, instead of downloading one of the ebook formats.

Here are the direct links to read online:

Swept Away
A Lesson in Truth
The Break In

You can also check out my serial story “More Than Just a Good Book” here. I’ll be starting on part 5 shortly. Not sure when that’ll be out yet, but I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, I’m still plugging away on revising Walter and Kevin’s story.

Breathe Named One of Joyfully Reviewed’s Best of 2011

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I’m thrilled to share that Breathe was selected as a Joyfully Reviewed Best Romance in 2011.

Huge thanks to the reviewer Nannette for taking the time to read and review the book last year and to Joyfully Reviewed for posting their reviewers’ top picks. I was incredibly honored to see it on the Best of 2011 page alongside so many amazing authors. Also very cool to see the number of m/m books on their list.

I’d like to also thank everyone who has picked up a copy of Breathe and gave it a try. It is now my bestselling book. I am touched and grateful for each and every email and comment I get from readers about this story.

Thank you all!!

M/M Romance Reader Appreciation Day List of Prizes

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Tomorrow, April 7th, is the first m/m Romance Reader Appreciation Day at the Sweet Spot Yahoo Group. It’s all about saying thank-you to the wonderful readers of m/m romance. Over the past few years, we’ve heard from many authors who are amazed and delighted by how supportive, kind, and generous they’ve found the people in the m/m reader community. We couldn’t agree more. You guys are the best. So we’d like to say THANK YOU for your part in supporting the various genres of m/m romance.

Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

  1. If you haven’t already, join the Yahoo Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheSweetSpotMM/
  2. Watch the group (or your email if you choose to receive emails from the group) on Saturday, April 7th for a message with instructions on how to enter.
  3. Reply to that message between 8am and 8pm EST indicating you’d like to enter the giveaway.

That’s it. You’ll be added to the drawing for your chance at a random prize. Winners will be announced via the group after the giveaway closes. Authors will be sent the winning email addresses at that time and will contact their winners directly.

So far, the following authors have generously donated these books or other prizes. Thank you, authors!

All books are in ebook format unless otherwise indicated.

Hope you can join us at The Sweet Spot Reader Appreciation Day, hosted by Sloan Parker and S.J. Frost.

Sometimes Minor Edits Lead You On

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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.

(c) Sloan Parker 2012

(c) Sloan Parker 2012

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

Writing Update: One Story’s Journey

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(c) istockphoto.com

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