Sneak Peek Sunday: Autumn Leaves

The leaves are changing colors here in Québec, perfect timing for an excerpt from Autumn Leaves. The metaphor of the season is woven into the story--the tug of war between summer and winter, old and new, the beautiful colors, change, nevertheless the idea that something has to end before the new life can begin.

 



Rebecca and David shared a smile as the doorbell rang. Everything was set up to their satisfaction, the food, the party lights, drinks and dishes all in place. If she was honest, Rebecca liked an organizational challenge like this, getting everything ready on time and still having a moment to put on a pretty dress and sandals. It wasn’t like a lot of their guests would acknowledge that, because it was part of all of their reality. Callie possibly would, and Rebecca was beginning to think it wasn’t such a bad thing to be valued.
Maria and Craig were first, joined by Roz who had come alone. Perfect. That would save her from awkward small talk with Betty. Craig went to have a beer with his brother, and Roz engaged Dina in a conversation. The doorbell rang again, and Maggie perked up.
“It’s Callie!” She jumped to her feet, beaming. Rebecca smiled, not so much at her daughter’s reaction as at her own—she’d nearly done the same. All the time, she’d probably been worrying too much. Callie did all right in the community.
“David, Rebecca. Thanks for inviting me.” She had brought a bottle of wine which, Rebecca could tell from the label, was quite expensive.
“You’re very welcome,” David confirmed. “Excuse me.” He went to open the door to more guests, while Rebecca took the offered gift.
“Thank you. I’m not sure I want to share it with my friends though. You’re crazy. This costs a fortune.” Callie leaned a little closer to whisper, “I thought with all the work you did, you should have a little reward. Let’s share it.”
It made Rebecca ridiculously happy that Callie had chosen this wine to bring to the party, not to Asha. “I love that idea,” she said.
Dusk was starting early. It was just a little over an hour later that Rebecca stood by the buffet, mentally dividing the remnants between leftovers and garbage as she usually did. She was distracted again, though, as she was the whole day.
David and Callie were sitting in the swing, having a pleasant conversation as far as she could tell from afar. Strange and a little confusing to see them together like this, the man she had vowed to love and the woman who was all over her mind these days. Across the yard, she realized Betty had caught her looking, a knowing expression on her face. She knew nothing, Rebecca thought with sudden anger. She had no idea how often they, in their small universe, had failed to accept people just because they were different. They had made jokes, more clueless than mean-spirited, but certainly inappropriate. Betty couldn’t possibly understand how bad Rebecca felt about that. She’d gotten lost in Callie’s work of fiction, was torn between wanting to open those doors, but afraid to do so. What if in the end, she got more than she bargained for? There was a moth circling one of the party lights, and Rebecca chose to watch it instead, mesmerized, reminded of her earlier thoughts. If nothing else, she could sympathize with a living being that couldn’t withstand the temptation of being burned.


Will Rebecca give in to temptation? You can find out here:

smarturl.it/AutumnLeavesBW

Autumn Leaves: An anniversary & an excerpt

It's been a year today since I got the email from Eternal Press that said "accepted for publication". It's what we plan for and dream about, but still is a jaw-dropping moment--and more jaw-dropping moments followed: One year later, book two of the series (Winter Storm) is out, and book three (Spring Fever) three almost done. Autumn Leaves made it into the EP Top Seller List and also spent a few days in the top spot of Diesel/Eros ebooks in the "Lesbian" category. Winter Storm showed up in the 10 Ten of Amazon's Hot New Releases in "Lesbian".


I'm happy to release my third book with Eternal Press, a standalone thriller, this November. Basically, I still have to pick up my jaw from the floor--or again. Good times. I'd like to celebrate them with you by sharing another excerpt from the story that got the ball rolling:

“I don’t have any kids for you to babysit,” Maria said, “but you

can come over any time if you like.” She and Callie shared a smile

that was a lot more genuine and made Rebecca irrationally unhappy.

She should be glad that most of her friends accepted Callie,

because it would make a lot of things easier. Maybe. Rebecca emptied

her glass quickly. Coming here such a bad idea. She spent the

next few minutes working up the courage to tell Callie she needed

a moment in private.

“MILF, really? You called me that to her face?” she asked as

they stood by the coatrack in the hallway. First Asha Malik, now

Maria became Callie’s new best friend. It wasn’t the best of weeks

for Rebecca. She could tell it took Callie a few moments to make

the connection.

“Oh, that.”

“Yes, that. So?”

“I told you Asha doesn’t have any manners whatsoever. What’s

the big deal?”

“What the big deal is? You talked about me! Behind my back.”

“Just like you did before I came into the room?”

Rebecca had nothing left to argue with. She was brave, and

just barely drunk enough to confess her earlier lapse. Meanwhile,

her mood was taking an abrupt shift from defensive to guilty.

“I am so sorry. You’ve got to believe me.”

“It’s fine. I was overreacting too.” Callie sighed, and to Rebecca,

it sounded heart-wrenching. Not everything was fine after all.

“No, you don’t get it. I didn’t mean to expose you. It just...happened.”

What a miserable day.

“They would have found out at some point, anyway.”

It was not the reaction Rebecca had expected, and she didn’t

think she deserved this rather merciful response. She was making

too many mistakes already.

“I didn’t talk about you to Asha,” Callie said softly.

“You didn’t say ‘hot’?”

“Sorry. No.”

Her face was burning as they were standing too close in the

dimly lit hallway, uncomfortable truths coming at her all at once.

The way scenes from Callie’s book lingered on her mind, time and

again.

“Okay then.”

The way Maria had been all over Callie. There was no reason

to go all crazy, was there? Maria was touchy-feely with everyone.

“God, look at me. Drunk on a Saturday morning.”

Callie reached for her hand, and Rebecca stepped back so

quickly she nearly hit her head against the wall behind her.

“What do you want, Rebecca?”

Get so drunk I won’t feel the pain of curiosity anymore—or I

won’t care...Order more of those books of yours. Go, before I can

take a good look at what the answer to your question is.

“You have to understand!” she said heatedly. “I’ve never been…

I’m not normally that way. I’m not as narrow-minded as you think

I am. ”

“Are you done with that private chat of yours?” Maria had

joined them before Callie could answer. “Craig will drive you

home if you want.”

“No thanks,” Rebecca said. “I think I’ll take a walk.”

~ ~ ~

Watch this space for fabulous guests visiting my blog in June and July, and the chance to win free books of different genres! 

(Graphic by Vicki Clarke)

Giveaway Update and: Cover Reveal, Coming Soon!

Please not that you have until Wednesday, 12:00 noon EST to comment on the post below in order to enter the giveaway. See all instructions (it's easy! :)) in the post.

And either way, come back on Wednesday for the Cover Reveal of Winter Storm, the sequel to Autumn Leaves that will be available in February 2013.

Special E-book Offer!

It's not Friday, but there is something to report--if you'd like to buy Autumn Leaves or any e-book from the website

save 25% with this code on the calendar if you buy directly from Eternal Press.

For the paperback, check back on the Amazon site and sellers listed there or Barnes & Noble.

Mark your calendars also on December 6th for a little surprise.

Picture credit: Vicki Clarke

The Journey so far…and a look ahead.

It’s been a little over a week since the release day of Autumn Leaves as e-book, with the paperback coming out in a matter of weeks - published, the magic word.

What would you associate with it?

There are as many stories out there as there are books. I remember watching “Can’t Think Straight”, where one of the characters who has always been passionate about her writing, gets published in the end. It’s one of the cutest lesbian-themed movies out there, but you can’t help thinking--it doesn’t work that way, with the book anyway. Somewhere along the way, you’ve heard stories about how it isn’t all that romantic. You heard about best-selling authors, and the long road and many rejections. Recently, you probably heard the story of the novel based on Twilight fanfiction going all the way.

Whatever the story is, it is a dream come true. It doesn’t happen overnight, it takes work, luck and the right timing and people who make it possible--long before you dare to hit “send” on your manuscript submission. When all of it comes together, it’s only the beginning of the journey. That’s all right with me, it’s been an awesome road trip so far.

Want to share part of that road with me?

There are two giveaways coming up for a free pdf copy of Autumn Leaves, one as part of the Holiday Hootenanny on the Women and Words blog, and the other one I’m planning on Goodreads, announcement for that to come soon.

 

If you have already read Autumn Leaves, I hope you enjoyed the journey of Callie and Rebecca. I have some more good news, but that’s a story for another day.

 

Autumn Leaves Trailer

Here it is! Enjoy, and click back here to take a look at the cover art. Three more weeks to go, and I hope you'll all come back on November 1st to celebrate the release with me. There'll be fun, chatting and a giveaway. Watch out for details, and for now, have a great weekend!

Thank you's:

Music and compilation: Mathieu Lachance
Photo credit: Mathieu Lachance and Vicki Clarke
& D for being the voice.

Judge This Book by It’s Cover

In the last post, I said I’d share news if I got some, so here it is: I saw the first cover mockup for Autumn Leaves, from my cover artist at Eternal Press. This is taking the process to a whole new level of excitement. It’s beautiful and perfectly captures the tone of the story.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming but complicated love story, to be read on the beach or by the fireplace…What you see is what you get. Not right now, but as soon as I can share.

 To be continued…

Who Do You Think You Are? - “Autumn Leaves” and Beyond

I’ve read about quite a few authors who went from romance to mystery which had me wondering if it was something of a natural path. Can you do both, love and respect both equally?

As a reader, I love stories of smart, capable women making it in a men’s world. Their successes are satisfying, even more so when the author has them collaborate, not compete with other women. There is something about the heroine archetype in a mystery that makes me want to go there time and again. Write her, too.

Against that backdrop, I’ve been shaping my own writing and yet come out with a focus on writing romance, opposed to what seems the direction many other writers are going. Of course, there’ll be drama. There will likely be bad guys. I’ve realized over the years that I have a love for characters that are torn and haunted by the things and people they are passionate about--makes for fun introspection. I love it in a mystery, and in characters whose story is completely different from your favorite Hardboiled. Besides, there are just not enough happy-ending lesbian love stories around.

Of course, the sad stories are necessary and relevant to show the ugly face of prejudice, but if we want to believe that things are changing to the better, we need that vision, too.

It can be hard to challenge a long-held conception. There’s a reward in learning, and growing, and maybe change a few preconceived notions along the way. Autumn Leaves is a love story first and foremost. It’s also about what can happen when people are challenged that way, and not just the two main characters.

PS: Please bear with me as I'm starting to figure out how this blog works, gadgets and all, and see you next Friday! Well...maybe earlier than that. 

 

Everybody Has a Paris Story: How I Got Here

In the summer of 2009, I sat in this bistro in Paris with a woman I’d met online a few months before. You know how it is, common interests, you start talking and then you realize you’d both planned a trip to Paris. How about we meet for a coffee?

Aside from these exciting prospects, I had planned to get inspired. Isn’t it just a writer’s dream (aside from getting your novel published, that is) to sit in a café in Paris and let your characters come to life on the blank page? Actually, there was some note-taking during a picnic near the Eiffel Tower, and story-plotting, and falling in love as it is appropriate for writers meeting in Paris.

I started writing Autumn Leaves in the fall of 2010, a love story about learning to question misconceptions and prejudice, and following your heart. When it was finished in early 2011, there wasn’t much time to do anything about it, because I was going to Québec City in the summer. In the past year, I got married, the immigration process started and many words written, including a somewhat revised version of Autumn Leaves that recently got accepted for publication.

My advice, should you care for it: go with what - whom - you love, and find your Paris story. The rest will come.

If you come back to this blog, I promise more stories. Thoughts on writing, books, TV and movies, with a feminist spin and an eye on gay rights are likely to find their way in here. I'll keep you updated on Autumn Leaves, too.


Welcome.