Where Does the Time Go?

     Where does the time go? 
     First, I need to apologize for not posting last week. It isn't that I didn't write a blog, but after I reread it, it was so whiny and bitchy I decided to just skip it altogether. Yeah, it had been a particularly rough week. So…moving on. 

     Now I need to figure out what to put on here this week… 

     Ran into bit of an issue with My Hero, which I had hoped to have up for purchase by now but my editor didn't think the ending worked, so I’m rewriting that. Of course after three new chapters later, I still haven’t gotten it finished. Errr. Still working on it, so hopefully I’ll have it done by this weekend. Keeping fingers crossed. 

     The countdown for GayRomLit (GRL), being held here in Atlanta has begun. I’m so excited to be attending this year. I’m also blown away that my book, P.O.W. is being released right in the middle of it. Actually, I’m scared shitless! This is a story that is really unlike anything I've written before, so I’m unsure how it is going to be received. It’s has content that I know will make some people very uncomfortable, and…well it won’t be for everyone. 

      Why? It is a tough, gritty in your face and a somewhat violent book. There are several torture and rape scenes, which really got another author all up in arms. (Well, it isn't her book so she can shove it.) It isn't something that I took on lightly, but after many hours of research, I found out it does happen. Unfortunately, this happens more than you may think but is almost never talked about. I actually got the idea from CNN. Thank you Anderson Cooper.  

     Why would I write something like that? Well, I’m gonna tell you. I initially wrote it for an open call submission. When I saw the open call I only had eleven days to write it. I got it done in ten. The big problem was that I didn't have the time to sit down and get it polished up. It was rejected. No big surprise. 

     I plugged along on it, got it polished up a bit and put it away. Went back to it, tweaked it here and there, and put it away. Sent it off to a beta reader and she added some suggestions, and yep, I tinkered with it and put it away. Gave it to someone else to read and was encouraged to submit it to Man Love Romance (MLR). Pulled a blurb and synopsis out of my ass and sent it in. By the way, I hate

writing a synopsis, and blurbs even more so. I’m just not very good at it. BUT here is the funny part: I had found a blog on how to write those done by an editor. I followed the instructions she gave and sure enough I got a decent enough piece out of it. Little did I know at the time that it was written by the editor I was about to submit P.O.W. to! What are the chances? 

     Before I submitted it to MLR I did go and read their guidelines. Of course one of the big no-no’s was no non-consensual sex. Well, I submitted it anyway. The worst they could say was no, right? I think it was like ten days later I got a phone call from Kris Jacen. Not an email but a phone call. You literally could have knocked me over with a feather. 

     We talked, she as a little concerned about how graphic some of the ‘scenes’ were and said the editor I would be working with may ask me to tone them down some. Guess what… he didn't! Of course there were a lot of edits, not all that bad, but the main content of the book was left intact. 

     Here is where I need to explain some things about me I guess. I don’t write in sex scenes for the sake of having a sex scene. Personally, I've never liked that and after reading Ryan Fields blog and how he approached the subject, I felt justified. If a sex scene doesn't move the story along then it doesn't belong there. No matter how hot it is, it needs to go. So when I wrote some of these scenes, they had a direct bearing on the story. I didn't just throw a couple of guys out to be gang-banged to titillate. I know some people get off on that, but that was NOT the purpose of those scenes. The rape scenes went to show the character of these men, what they went through and more importantly how they survived. I also wanted to draw attention to some of the after effects with PTSD. 

      I did a special dedication to those in our armed forces, but it wasn't enough. I don’t know that it would ever be enough. When I hear of military personnel being overseas, especially the Middle East for three and four tours I just cringe. No one should have to be put through that. Marines, who are the best of the best in my humble opinion, always seem to get the worst of the worst. It was those men and women who I had in mind while I wrote this. 

     So… Hoo-Rhaa. Gotta love them Marines. 

      One more little thing before I go to get ready for some serious football watching: Autonomous body parts. Let me just set a few people straight on this. I happen to fucking like autonomous body parts. I know it is all wrong and Theo Fenraven would probably use my own cattle prod on me, but I do. Don’t ask me why, but I do. 

      I read ‘Cry to Heaven’ by Anne Rice years ago and I've never looked at a man’s hands the same. The way she wrote that was just pure sex! I mean I threw some serious wood over that scene. Granted, I have toned it down somewhat, but damn, when I want to write about a hand touching and feeling through the treasure trail as it looked for the precious

treasure, in my mind, that hand is just a hand and not attached to anything. It has a mind of its own. Yeah, kinda creepy and Adam’s family weird, but that’s just the way I’m wired I guess. Weirdly wired. 

      Have a great week everyone! 

      Max ;-)

p.s. the Marine I used here has got to be one of my favs. Enjoy?