tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1943199790070985102024-02-20T15:08:19.912-05:00Jaye Valentine: Idiosyncratic Hot MessBlog of author Jaye Valentine.Jaye Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515430893010588287noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194319979007098510.post-41978403976059625402011-07-06T16:09:00.000-04:002011-07-06T16:09:45.523-04:00Independence Day Weekend & General Updatery<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wow, I've been a blogging fool lately! Who knew? :-D<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lots of good stuff happened this past weekend, and I was sorry to see the holiday end.<br />
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1. We had Reno's folks over for the day on Saturday, July 2. I made Beer-Battered Cod (with made-from-scratch batter, not the lazy, cheater packaged stuff) and the most incredible homemade New England Clam <s>Chowdah</s> Chowder in the history of the civilized world. Steamed corn-on-the-cob and a garden salad completed the meal, with (not homemade because I hate baking) Boston Cream Pie (giggling on account of I'm twelve) for dessert. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh, and two gallons of sangria with a ton of fresh fruit added (orange slices, whole berries, bite-sized chunks of pear and apple), which we managed to decimate in one day, and all without producing a hangover on the next. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Helpful Hint</i>: Drink a tall glass of water between each alcoholic drink, and another glass of water before going to bed to eliminate or at least minimize day-after hangover symptoms, which are mostly a result of dehydration. Take it from an expert. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the clams were steaming for the chowder, I checked my email and found I had a flattering request from Wave at Reviews by Jessewave for me to become a member of her "author contributor" team. I'll be doing a regular blog post every 2 – 3 months on some random topic pertaining to M/M romance, gay fiction, or gayness in general, more often than not keeping to the lighter side of things, but don't hold me to that—I can be serious sometimes, honest! I hope Wave's readers will give me some ideas on what they'd like to see me address. Here's a link to Wave's welcome-aboard post, new on her blog today. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2011/07/06/announcement-jaye-valentine-3/">http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2011/07/06/announcement-jaye-valentine-3/</a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On Saturday evening, we were treated to a wonderful fireworks display on our community's private, lakeside beach (which is practically on our front doorstep). We initially thought this was our community's official celebration bumped up a day early due to a forecast of bad weather for Sunday night, but it wasn't. As we found out on Sunday night (the weather report was wrong, as usual around here—how do those guys keep their jobs?), the previous night's fireworks were attributed to "Oh, that was just Fred." Well, Fred did a damn good job, and I'm so happy that Reno's parents were able to experience first-hand the total awesomeness that is our new neighborhood. I think seeing what an amazing place this is to live helped make up for the fact that Reno's a little farther away from them now than they would prefer. "Deliriously happy kid" balances out that hour-and-a-quarter drive.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. Sunday was another awesome day, though far less busy. I didn't have to cook due the presence of massive quantities of leftovers from the day before (I tend to cook for a small army when company is coming). We ventured up to the main road mid-morning to replenish our depleted sangria supply, and we were feeling no pain by the time a neighbor knocked on our front door around 9:00 p.m. to inform us the official fireworks were about to begin. So, we <s>staggered</s> skipped down to the beach and holy mackerel, the fireworks were fantastic, exploding directly over our heads and reflecting on the lake. I had one of my frequent "moving here was the best thing we ever did" moments, and became a little teary-eyed. I blame the sangria. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. The 4<sup>th</sup> of July turned out to be a relatively quiet day, although I did manage to finish a blog post I'd been working on, struggling over, and having internal angst-fests about for two weeks. If you want to hear about the historical novel Reno and I have been writing, and read a long excerpt (7,900 words) from the story, you can do so here. ===> <a href="http://www.macleodvalentine.com/3/post/2011/07/background-and-excerpt-of-our-forthcoming-historical-novel.html">http://www.macleodvalentine.com/3/post/2011/07/background-and-excerpt-of-our-forthcoming-historical-novel.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. Reno took Tuesday off from the day gig, and we managed to get some writing done. Unfortunately, I woke up in the morning with a painful stiff neck/shoulder, so I wasn't able to sit at the computer very long, and my focus was more on how bad my damn neck hurt and not on the writing. I blame the lack of sangria. Still, despite a very busy weekend, we managed to add another 2,000 words to the book, which makes me happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Now that I've caught up on some other things and with the big holiday weekend past, I'm getting back to work today on revising and re-editing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">StarCrossed 3: Objects in the Mirror</i>. I've already completed the revision/re-edit on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">StarCrossed 2: Opposite Ends of the Spectrum</i>. Boy, did they need it, and that's all I'm going say on that topic. Once I'm finished with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">StarCrossed 3 (</i>which will be in the next few days), I'll be putting them both up for sale at all the usual places. I'm excited for our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">StarCrosse</i>d series to be available for the first time in all same places now that we are in control of distribution, rather than a title here, a title there. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The only online store that won't have any of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">StarCrossed</i> books is the Amazon Kindle store, due to the twincest element. Bad, Jace and Konnor, bad! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Kindle formats of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">StarCrossed</i> books will be available at AllRomanceEbooks.com for the enjoyment of all you darling perverts. :-)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More news later. Have a nice Hump Day, everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">--Jaye</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div>Jaye Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515430893010588287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194319979007098510.post-14087892725865662442011-06-28T10:50:00.001-04:002011-07-03T12:30:45.202-04:00Gender Bender by Jaye Valentine and Wave (x-post)I had planned on cross-posting the blog entry I co-wrote with Jessewave on the topic of cross-dressing, which was posted on her blog this past Friday, June 24. However, both Wordpress and Blogger are being a royal pain in the ass regarding the images, and since I really don't have time to screw around with this for any length of time, I'm simply going to cheat. :-D<br />
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Here's the link to the cross-dressing post on Jessewave's site (which also contains the pretty pictures):<br />
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<a href="http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2011/06/24/gender-bender-by-jaye-valentine-and-wave/" target="_blank" title="Gender Bender by Jaye Valentine and Wave">Gender Bender by Jaye Valentine and Wave</a><br />
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If you come back here and comment after reading, you'll be entered into a random drawing for a PDF copy of your book of choice from the following list of our titles containing a cross-dressing male character. Click on the links for more info on each book.<br />
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<a href="http://www.macleodvalentine.com/soft-focus.html" target="_blank" title="Soft Focus by Reno MacLeod & Jaye Valentine">Soft Focus by Reno MacLeod & Jaye Valentine</a><br />
<a href="http://www.macleodvalentine.com/only-words-max--skyler-1.html" target="_blank" title="Only Words by Acer Adamson">Only Words (Max & Skyler 1) by Acer Adamson</a><br />
<a href="http://www.macleodvalentine.com/any-excuse-max--skyler-2.html" target="_blank" title="Any Excuse by Acer Adamson">Any Excuse (Max & Skyler 2) by Acer Adamson</a><br />
<a href="http://www.macleodvalentine.com/happily-ever-before.html" target="_blank" title="Happily Ever Before by Jaye Valentine">Happily Ever Before by Jaye Valentine</a><br />
<a href="http://www.macleodvalentine.com/firecracker.html" target="_blank" title="Firecracker by Jaye Valentine">Firecracker by Jaye Valentine</a><br />
<a href="http://www.macleodvalentine.com/dna-double-helix.html" target="_blank" title="D.N.A.: Double Helix by Jaye Valentine">D.N.A.: Double Helix by Jaye Valentine</a> (warning: twincest)<br />
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Drawing will take place on Monday at 9:00 p.m. EDT, July 4, 2011.<br />
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--JayeJaye Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515430893010588287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194319979007098510.post-89995516955555404052011-01-30T23:37:00.007-05:002011-01-31T15:53:03.295-05:00LoveRomancesCafe Interview<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reno and I were recently featured guests at the LoveRomancesCafe Yahoo group. The following were interview questions asked by the moderator, Dawn Roberto, along with our responses.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The group's website is as follows should you wish to join: <b><i><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe/</a>.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>January 16, 2011</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DR:<i> Please tell us about your latest book.</i></b><br />
<b>JV:</b> Our most recent release is a solo effort by me (Jaye Valentine), a short story entitled "D.N.A.: Double Helix." This story is actually the first few chapters of a novel that will be released in late March 2011. (As a side note, the price of that novel will be adjusted to reflect the containment of the previously released short story). The short is currently the #1 bestseller and #3 gay title on All Romance eBooks/OmniLit (and has been so for well over a week), and is the #7 bestselling erotica title there regardless of genre. I'm not one to spam groups like this, touting my own good fortune, but I'm pretty damn proud of this achievement. As a warning, this story deals with a very specific kink (twincest) so it's not for everyone, but it's apparently for more people than one might think. :-)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>What can we expect from you in the future?</b></i><br />
<b>JV:</b> The next release from M&V Tailz, which is the name Reno and I have given to our collective projects, is a full-length vampire novel entitled "The Visionary." We've taken quite a few liberties with the origin of vampires and have re-written some Biblical history, so we hope readers will find this a refreshing take on the vampire genre. This book will be released at some point in February once the edits and cover art is completed. Reno is in the process of hand-drawing the cover art, which is absolutely gorgeous. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>How do we find out about you and your books?</b></i><br />
<b>JV:</b> We have a website: <a href="http://macleodvalentine.com/">macleodvalentine.com</a>, and our backlist can also be found on the GLBT Bookshelf Wiki at <a href="http://bookworld.editme.com/JayeValentine">http://bookworld.editme.com/JayeValentine</a>.<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?</i></b><i><br />
</i><b>JV:</b> That depends on the story and the characters. Obviously, we aren't vampires or demons (and certainly not angels), but we are gay, so life experiences from that perspective do indeed filter into our writing.<i><br />
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<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?</b></i><br />
<b>JV:</b> We've both been writing for many years, but only after meeting in person did we decide to collaborate professionally.<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?</i></b><i><br />
</i><b>JV:</b> We watch more competition reality shows (<i>Survivor</i>, <i>Project Runway</i>, <i>Top Chef</i>, etc.) than would generally be considered healthy. :-) We recently bought a house near a huge lake, so we'll probably get into boating and fishing once the tundra melts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RM: </b>We just go with the flow. I work and have other obligations and sometimes when I come home at night I'm just not up for writing. We try and write a little every night, but learned early on not to push at something that isn't coming easily. It's hard to force creativity.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>JV: </b>Whenever Reno says so.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>What is your writing routine once you start a book?</i></b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RM: </b>On the nights we feel like writing, it's usually dinner, clean up, and then right to the books. It's just the two of us at the house, so we don't have to deal with family on a day-to-day basis. We'll write generally until midnight or so.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>JV: </b>What Reno said.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>Does your family bother you when you are writing - are there constant interruptions?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RM:</b> Oops. I jumped the gun there. The only family to bother us is our two cats. There are some nights, especially close to the full moon, when Anakin is particularly needy and active. We call him our two year old. Sephiroth, the other cat, is much less high maintenance. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>JV:</b> Two words: calming treats.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?</i></b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RM: </b>My biggest relaxer is to go to the barn and ride. I've made some great friends out there, both on two and four feet. It's such a shift in activity and mind exercise! Great mental and physical therapy. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?</i></b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RM: </b>Great characters and getting to write with my partner.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>JV:</b> My multiple personalities. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>Where do your ideas come from?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RM:</b> Honestly? Dreams. I'll wake up and tap Jaye on the shoulder. The book we are currently working on was that way. I dreamed a scene between the two main characters and a book was born.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>JV:</b> See previous reply.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>Among your own books, have you a favorite? A favorite hero or heroine?</i></b><i><br />
</i><b>JV:</b> That's a tough question. If I didn't like the characters or stories, I wouldn't have been able to write them in the first place. That said, I do have a particular fondness for our <i>StarCrossed</i> series because that's the first project Reno and I worked on together. If nothing else, it's my sentimental favorite. <br />
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Of my solo efforts, I'm crazy in love with Isaac and Jeff from "Firecracker." On one hand, it surprises me this story hasn't done better sales-wise, but on the other hand, theirs isn't a conventional romance story. I love it and had a blast writing it, and there will be a sequel even if I'm the only one who reads it. :-)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RM:</b> I have to agree with Jaye. In addition I really enjoyed writing "Little Japan," because I love the Japanese culture and the characters in that book became so vivid for me.<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>Which of your books has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?</i></b><br />
<b>JV:</b> I think one of the easiest books to write for us was "Little Japan." I can honestly say that book wrote itself, flowing from start to finish. As I recall, we never had an "Oh brother, that was really crap we wrote last night" moment during the first draft for that book. And trust me, that happens frequently, and it would be disingenuous to suggest otherwise. :-)<br />
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The one we're working on right now is very hard to write due to the time and place the story occurs. It's taxing emotionally, and the research has been a real eye-opener. I don't want to say anything more about it now, but I think our readers will enjoy the book. <br />
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All our books have been fun to write from my perspective, in one manner or another, so I can't really cite one as being more enjoyable to write than another. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RM:</b> The easiest books are the ones Jaye and I blow through in a weekend. We've had a few of those. "Purple Hearts" comes to mind. We originally wrote that story for an anthology about physically challenged characters, but the book was never released and we decided it was good enough to push out on our own. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hardest, I have to go with Jaye's answer all the way. Historical novels are very time consuming to get them right. But it's been worth it. I love this new book and it might become my new personal favorite. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most fun? Hard to say. The gang at<i> StarCrossed</i> are easy and fun for me.<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?</i></b><br />
<b>JV:</b> I'll field that one for both us. That varies from book to book. Sometimes a particular character and their situation comes to mind first, other times it might be a location, and still other times it might be a plot. And sometimes it's just a picture of a hot guy that spurs us to write.<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>What part of a book has been the easiest to write? The hardest?</i></b><br />
<b>RM:</b> I think writing the opening lines are actually the easiest to me. I love setting the stage and painting the vision of what I'm seeing in my mind's eye. For me the hardest part is making sure all those little loose ends in our more complicated stories get wrapped up—that we don't forget a character somewhere or have continuity issues. "What color was that character's shirt again?"<br />
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<b>JV:</b> The opening paragraph is the hardest part for me, which is why I usually let Reno do it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>What are the elements of a great romance for you?</b></i><br />
<b>JV:</b> For me, the crucial element of a great romance are two characters that, deep down, know they are meant to be together regardless of what anyone else might think or what their societal situation might approve. Finding love in the face of adversity trips a major trigger for me. Reno nodded as I read that to him, so this reply comes from both of us.<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i>What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?</i></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RM:</b> The easiest part of writing, and the most enjoyable, is creating the characters and finding their voices. We try very hard to make sure each character has his own personality, and writing up little bios for each one helps a good deal. The hardest part is writing "The End".<b><br />
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JV:</b> The easiest part of writing for me is the first draft. The hardest part is going back once the book is finished and "killing our darlings." Writing a great scene but realizing later that it has to go, for whatever reason (usually having to do with pacing), is really rough. <br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?</i></b><br />
<b>RM:</b> As I answer this I have about thirty pairs of eyes glaring at me from the back of my head to make sure I answer the way they want. Answer enough for you? I fully admit to not having a leash on my characters. They run free and constantly pop up in my daily life.<br />
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<b>JV:</b> Intellectually, I know that I am in control of my characters, but sometimes that seems far from the truth. We've had instances where one of us has written a big chunk of text, and then says, "Crap, that's what <i>I</i> wanted to say, but so-and-so is telling me different." Some characters speak to me louder than others in my head, and those usually end up being the characters that resonate best with readers. So now, I always listen to my various muses. And I'm really glad Reno's answer makes him sound a little bit crazier than me. <br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b>DR: </b></span>Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?</i></b><br />
<b>JV:</b> Yup. Not for shorter works, but for novels this happens all the time. When that happens for either of us, we just switch to another story for a while and let the other one simmer. We're never at a loss for new ideas, but it seems like we hit about the 35,000-word mark when we feel the need to step away temporarily. Reno adds that when we come back to those abandoned stories, re-reading from the beginning after some distance always clears up any problems we were having.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jaye Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515430893010588287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194319979007098510.post-77699246436529753682011-01-07T17:13:00.004-05:002011-08-11T09:17:26.063-04:00Amazon Blocks "D.N.A.: Double Helix"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
After Amazon pondered for over a week since<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>D.N.A: Double Helix</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>was uploaded to their Kindle system, the title has officially been BLOCKED from publication. That's right, folks. Amazon has decided that you're not grown up enough to read about two FICTIONAL adult males engaged in a sexual relationship that cannot possibly result in mutant offspring. That's their prerogative as a business, and even if I don't agree, I do respect their decision. I wonder, however, what they'll go after next. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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As a result, I have removed all our M&V Tailz titles from Amazon that contain brotherly incest, twins or otherwise, humans or otherwise. It was brought to my attention by the recipient of an Amazon nastygram that should a glut of a publisher's titles be in violation of Amazon's entirely nebulous content rules, that not only will the "offending" titles be removed, but the publisher's entire catalog as well. I'm not ready to give up our Amazon account just yet, but when other venues start picking up the slack---and they eventually will---then we'll consider ditching Amazon completely.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
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In the meantime, I've acquired the software to create Kindle-compatible copies of our books (in Mobipocket .prc file format), and I will be uploading this additional format for our entire catalog to all retailers with whom we have a direct relationship (meaning, vendors we access without the use of the Smashwords distribution engine). I hope to have all titles updated with the additional format by the end of this weekend.<br />
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I've never been one to presume to tell readers where to buy our books (inform, yes, but not tell them where I'd prefer they shop). However, in light of this development I<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>will</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>make a hearty, vocal recommendation. Both as a reader/consumer and as a publisher/author, I've had nothing but a wonderful experience dealing with All Romance eBooks since day one. Their publisher interface is a breeze to use, and in all the time I've been working directly with distributors (including one of the big ones) and retailers, I've never come across such responsive, friendly customer service. I recommend All Romance eBooks with absolutely no hesitation for romance and erotica titles, and their sister site OmniLit for other genres. Lori James and Barb Perfetti---you ladies ROCK hardcore. My hat is off to you both.<br />
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<a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dnadoublehelix-496854-172.html">D.N.A.: Double Helix</a></i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is now available for $0.99 at All Romance eBooks in Kindle-compatible PRC format in addition to the existing formats of PDF, PDB, HTML, and EPUB. Click on the pretty book cover below and indulge your naughty fantasies. :-)</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dnadoublehelix-496854-172.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5269090370_e627d1062e_m.jpg" /> </span></a></div>Jaye Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06515430893010588287noreply@blogger.com0