Clare London

MISTLETOE MADNESS...GET YOURS!

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:39:13 GMT

The winter holidays are full of holiday spirit, friends, and family. Step under the mistletoe for a kiss and enjoy these stories of love around the holidays--from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day--tales warm enough to melt snow, ice, and men's hearts.

Your Christmas present to yourself. A story delivered automatically to your inbox each day in December. Over 1700 pages of fiction selling individually for $94.18. Buy early and save:

November - $49.99

After December 1st, stories will be available individually or as a single downloadable zip file for $64.99.

Available NOW at Dreamspinner Press.

Keep an eye out for mine - if you're tempted! - One Night Stand.

Teddy realizes he drank too much at the office Christmas party when he wakes up in a hotel room with confused memories of a night of fierce, fabulous sex, and a man asleep in bed beside him. He doesn't know how his outrageous behavior will be judged by his boss, but he'll find out soon - when his boss wakes up.

Teddy rolled on to his back, panting. The mattress dipped underneath him, the creak of the springs sounding like a moan. The bed felt very soft: the sheets snagging under his ass were surely thicker than usual. A muscle twitched in the dip above his left buttock and a dribble of sweat ran down between his thighs, tickling the underside of his balls. What a dream! It had been astonishingly vivid, immersing him completely and waking him abruptly like this, gasping and with a racing heart. A passionate dream, a wet dream. Dammit, wet beyond belief! His cock nestled at his groin, half-hard with morning arousal, and he didn’t need to touch himself to know it still throbbed from the memory of a fierce climax, a swelling, a bursting, a filling…

His head throbbed and his wrists ached. The physical feelings brought other memories rushing back into his mind. He’d held himself up on his arms, muscles tensed, flesh hot and damp with sweat, and he’d driven into the body beneath him, thrusting deeply, again and again, taking his satisfaction for as long as it took.

“So good. So fine. Please…”

There had been fierce, ugly sounds – his – and grunts and moans of unfettered desire. It had been his hand that had clutched the sheets inside his fist; his fingers that had bruised the skin beneath him with their desperate grip. It hadn’t been non-consensual, he was sure, but he’d barely recognized the sexual aggression released from him.

“You. Take it. Take me! More.”

Teddy stretched his left leg out and groaned quietly. His thigh was cramped, the muscles weary as if he’d been through a heavy session at the office gym. It had been a while since he went there on any regular basis, not like Marshall, his boss, who worked out most days. Tremendous commitment, but then Marshall was determined like that. Very assertive. Great body, too, of course. Yes. A great body. Still very sleepy and half-aroused, Teddy felt a flush run all over his skin.

Marshall always invited his staff team along to the gym with him, if they wanted to take advantage of the subsidized facility. When Teddy dropped out of the routine, Marshall had made a deliberate effort to coax him back. Came around to his cubicle at the end of the day and everything. Stupid thing was, Teddy thought Marshall had looked genuinely disappointed when Teddy explained he wasn’t really interested in going. Ridiculous, of course. Clerks like Teddy Newman didn’t have any effect on managers like Marshall Craig, disappointment or otherwise. Teddy had turned away, clearing his desk, afraid that Marshall would hear Teddy’s lie in the nervous tone. The visit wasn’t personal, of course it wasn’t. His boss was just being a good team manager, one of his many skills, and Teddy greatly admired Marshall for being so considerate and confident. He always had. Admired him, that is. Teddy smiled drowsily, his thoughts hazy. Anyway, thank God Marshall had given up on asking him after that: he’d have run out of excuses eventually.

He stretched the right leg as well. It was just as stiff. Dammit, he needed something like the gym, really. His promotion into Marshall’s team had been a great opportunity, but it’d been stressful too. In all sorts of ways.

Dreams… laughter and satisfied smiles. Another successful deal, the praise enthusiastic, the future plans shared. A gaze turned to him, warm, encouraging. A lingering handshake, an arm around his shoulders…

He’d been coming home from the office every day with tension knotted into the muscles of his shoulders. That was bound to take its toll on the whole of his body. Still cocooned in his half-waking state, Teddy wrinkled his nose. Amazing how the sleeping mind could impose such realistic physical symptoms!

Someone coughed gently. The body beside him in the bed shifted, the springs barely acknowledging the movement.

Teddy was suddenly, totally, shockingly awake. God. Not a dream at all!

A wave of horror washed over him. He lay as if paralyzed, trying to calm his thudding pulse, swamped by instinctive fear. Where the hell was he? What had happened last night? His muscles flexed, spiking the cramp afresh, reminding him exactly what had happened. Fierce sex: greedy and athletic. Incredibly great sex.

But with whom?

THANKSGIVING truly....

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:01:58 GMT

Yes, I'm home, after a weekend in some of Britain's worst weather - "of biblical proportions", according to some newspaper coverage. Typical. I reckon it just waited for me to get to an exposed coast before rolling up to its worst! I had you all in my heart and my fingers on the keyboard and my hat held firmly ON *LOL*. I'll post an update soon. Needless to say, I had more adventures, got less done than I'd hoped, but *loved* the experience - and will repeat it just as soon as I can :).

I'm blogging today, over at Ginger Simpson's Blog about Thanksgiving. It's not a UK holiday, but I think any time is good to give thanks. She's invited a wonderful array of guest bloggers during November, to celebrate the holiday, and it's amazing how we can all give thanks for similar and yet such different things. It's very inspiring and I hope you take a browse through the posts, not just *mine* (which should be up later today I hope).

I'm giving my thanks for WORDS. Not just written, but spoken, sung, emailed, joked, read, texted, whatever. The joy of being blessed with the ability, logistics and education to communicate - to share my fiction, to make and keep in touch with friends, to express myself.

Yes, I'm feeling fairly philosophical today, and grateful for what I have. Please join me!
♥

SIGH....

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:52:49 GMT

Hello FList and Vistors.

I've run away!

Well, not as melodramatic as it sounds. But things had been getting on top of me to the extent I wasn't eating or sleeping properly. Food made me nauseous, my hands were shaking on and off, I was crying at the drop of a hat. So I've taken my last 2 days holiday from work and have come down to Brighton for a long weekend.

On my own. WOW.

It felt odd, and the family did look a bit bemused, but I booked the hotel last night, then after work tonight I got in the car and drove. I have a novel to edit, several WIPs I need to examine for potential, and some stock to take. I had a day out with a friend last week and she said I ought to spend my royalties on things like this. As last quarter was yet again short of a pair of Jimmy Choos, I realised she was right. And seriously, it's sorely needed. I know I joke about the chaos around me at home and I do love my family dearly, but sometimes it all gets too much.

The room is gorgeous. I paid extra for a side sea view (don't tell Hubby) but I've been upgraded free to a full frontal *hehe*, view that is. I'm not closing the curtains tonight - I can see the sea, just past the bandstand that's all lit up. I can hear the waves and when I brought in my case, I could smell the wet tang of seaweed.

*am happy*

Of course, it's not Paradise *mwahaha*. The night staff are sullen, the floor of the room dips up either side so I'm typing on a slope, and the TV reception is so patchy the only thing that's not pixelated is Jackass 2. Hmm yes. May be turning that off in a minute, if someone starts nailing genitals or harrassing animals or something. Also I got lost (surprise!! I always do, even with sat nav) so I didn't arrive until 10 pm, and there are no parking spaces left at the hotel so I'm parked over 0.5km down the parade. And I had to make 2 journeys with case and laptop. But the rain held off and it was - wait for it folks, this is clare who reckons walk is an obscene 4-letter word - very, very pleasant under the streetlights and glow from the seafront hotels.

Now I'm sitting tapping this, drinking a bacardi and coke, eating one of those disgracefully expensive M&S salads I bought on the way, and looking out over the sea. I can go to sleep when I want, eat when and what I want, don't have to talk to anyone, worry about any chores, wonder what I've forgotten to do, who I have to wake up for school/college etc etc etc.

Is that dreadful?

Hubby is coming down tomorrow and we'll do some shopping, have a nice meal out, he'll stay over and go back Sun. Then I have another 2 days to work. Blissblissbliss. Then by the time I have to go home, I'll probably be getting lonely anyway.

OK, so Jackass 2 are branding someone's butt and putting a fish hook through a cheek and dropping him in with sharks. Ho hum. I'm off to surf my channels and try to find something less gross.

Wish me luck with the writing stuff!
♥

JUST AN AUTHORLY THOUGHT....

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:34:09 GMT

Just musing on the difficulty of writing an explicit sex scene with my household soundtrack in the background :

*Hubby defrosting the freezer, accompanied by the sound of cracking ice like a Scott of the Antarctic retrospective,
*Son#1 practising a medley of Deep Purple and Newton Faulkner (I know, I know, the ears boggle) on his electric guitar,
*Son#2 yelling alnost incoherently (thank god) at Call of Duty, something about one of his mates leaving him undefended on the top of a building.

chrissymunder said today my life reads like a sitcom.

I think it's more like The Omen.

My guys may end up in anguished UST.

*aarrgghh*

I AM WHAT I AM...!!

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:52:59 GMT

God, I bet this shot stopped traffic...LOL.

JB was fab!!! Yes, on Wed I went to see John Barrowman play Albin in La Cage aux Folles in London's West End (ish). His rendition of 'I Am What I Am' was a true show-stopper. It's a small theatre and we were in the front of the Dress Circle so we had a great view. Sometimes he was a little over the top - but it's in the nature of the show (and JB, I suspect:)). The dancers were amazingly, mesmerisingly brilliant, Simon Burke superb as Georges (what a voice!) and a Very Good Time was had by all. Including Son#2 who coped extraordinarily well with it all - as I'd hoped - and loved the wit and music of it.

*sighs happily*

Now I'm sitting watching the sheets of rain and high winds outside and trying to finish 3 tax returns before I can justify spending time writing. I'm also on my 3rd wash and Hubby is creating tapas dishes for the family celebration tomorrow for Son#1's birthday. I just have to keep my fingers crossed the weather clears so we have the planned fireworks...LOL.
♥

NO QUESTION AT ALL....

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:19:54 GMT

...an electric blue bob suited me! Don't you agree??!!!
LMAO

It's nearly midnight here, I'm drinking a home-made margarita after a Foul Week at work and wishing for Californian sun instead of London rain.

Sigh
♥

VOTE FOR THE GOOD BOOK!!

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:07:58 GMT

I Do is up for Book of the Month at Dark Diva Reviews. Jaime gave a thoughtful and enthusiastic review of the book on the site recently HERE, where she confirmed what a good read it is, in her opinion - and not JUST because of the great cause it supports.

"Readers have one week to vote for their favorite book.

The book that is voted Book of the Month will receive a Book of the Month Graphic for advertising, as well as a Featured Book Cover slot for November on the Dark Diva Reviews site.

You can find the poll HERE.

Please let everyone know to stop by and vote for their favorite book."

And I can only hope that for some of you, it will be I Do - and here's the BUY LINK *lol*".

♥

SMILING ALL COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:45:02 GMT

I'm THRILLED that True Colors has been selected by the Jury to be considered in the final stage of Elisa Rolle's RAINBOW AWARDS.

It didn't win the Popular vote in its category - BUT I'm very, very grateful to anyone who voted for it in the first couple of rounds. I was excited to get the votes I did in such great company!

Don't forget to check out all the nominees over at Elisa's announcement post, plus she's also running a fun contest for the best cover from all the nominees HERE.

♥

BACK AND SPAMFULL...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:24:21 GMT

I'm back from Yaoi Con where I had the most fabulous time. I go there full of wary nerves every year, because surely it can't be as much fun? and we all know you can't reproduce joy to order, and maybe people have moved on, or it'll all seem very jaded or overwhelming or boring or I'll feel too OLD...

But it was Fabulous :). The Con itself is fun and I love to watch the cosplayers, attend some of the panels and buy buy BUY loads of stuff. But mainly, for me, it's the joy of meeting a group of people who've really become good friends - not just the 'friends' that we all have online, whom we like of course but have never had the chance or appetite to welcome as something more - and to spend time with them in a totally relaxed way. We talked fandom and writing and jobs and clothes and food and families. We spent time in different small groups and then time all together, all of it as enjoyable as anything else. Big missing-you-already hugs to iveys_tales, badmomma64, klingonpoo, muse_neko, yaoichick, anime_gal22, colorfulshadows and caro_t.

I met some friends in real life for the first time - shout out to emlynley, bittermint, baileymoyes and arieltachna - and spent some precious time with friends I hadn't seen for a longer time like paikan (I needed more time with you, love, so sorry I missed you at the end of the day!) and mallorypath.

Highlights??? My panel on turning Pro with your Writing, with iveys_tales went very well, I was determined not to get too nervous and to enjoy chatting with people. I spent an entertaining hour with one of the Bishonen from the auction on Sunday morning - I was sitting in the lobby because I couldn't sleep, he hadn't been to sleep at all LOL - where we chatted (yes, that's all we did, to the more filthy-minded of you out there) about anything and everything from Prop 8 protests, whether he thinks straight het women exploit gay males for their m/m fic ideas or fantasies, how to handle garter belts without pinching the fingers, and the anguish/joy of apartment sharing *phew*. I also had a fab supper with my publisher and appear to have committed to all sorts of delicious new fiction over the next few months, so keep your fingers crossed I can peel myself away from RL sufficiently to deliver!

I bought pencilboards!!! (there's a surprise *cough*) and some art books, plenty of Pocky, plus I appear to have come home with 2 more pairs of shoes than I went with (must have been distracted by the margaritas).

And of course....tah dah... my blue wig that Pumpkin so kindly let me borrow and then keep!
Yes, photos will follow, if my kind friends will copy me in on them.

Now I'm off to catch up on posting all the things that I probably should have posted before now...

I miss SF deeply - but it's good to be back, too!
♥

I LEFT MY HEART...???????

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:56:54 GMT

And I'm back to San Francisco tomorrow to get it back LMAO.

5 glorious days in SF - well 3 full ones, much of the rest of it travelling *sigh* - and another trip to Yaoi Con. I'm a novice, it'll only be my 6th LOL.

Pancakes for breakfast...
Margaritas at the bar...
Cable cars...
Japantown...
More pencilboards for my collection...
Plenty of cosplayers to watch and marvel at...
So many US accents around me...
The Bishonen auction...
Running a panel on seeking professional publication (*ulp*)...
Meeting some DSP authors...
Signing my books, even if no one wants to buy them LOL...
Sitting in the lobby, writing, at 5am because I can't handle the jetlag...
Chatting about writing, reading and One True Pairing...
Maybe even some Californian sun!!!

And MOST IMPORTANT of all - meeting friends I haven't seen since last year.
Not sure I'm going to get to sleep tonight with excitement, and I haven't even packed yet...

I'll be back properly online next Tuesday, though I'm taking the laptop with me and will - of course - be tempted to come online sometimes. *am geek*
♥ ♥ ♥

WINTER WONDERLAND...

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:35:22 GMT

Well, the time is approaching!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN SEASON!

Try my Halloween-themed short stories for a quick fix of Holiday love, humour and horror!

Come and visit my pages on The GLBT Wiki:

For HALLOWEEN

and then when you're all Spooked Out, come and visit me and chrissymunder at our far more cosy CHRISTMAS pages HERE and HERE.
♥

LUST FOR COVER ART....

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:20:28 GMT

I'm pimping yet again because I LOVE my cover! LOL

It's out today, Muse at Amber Allure.

Gavin McGrath’s art career is in ruins, his health is failing, his wife’s left him because of his promiscuity, and he’s alienated people in the industry with his aggressive and arrogant behavior.

But when a full pot of red paint falls on his current canvas, apparently ruining it, it brings a change in his life he never expected. A strange, beautiful young man appears in his studio as his companion and Muse. Matteo is from another time but he understands artists all too well—and now his place is with Gavin.

Matteo brings devotion and inspiration across the centuries, forcing Gavin to take stock of his life and his behavior in the months he has left to him. Eventually Gavin realizes he must reconsider the capacity for love he’s always scorned—before it’s too late for both him and Matteo...

Read an excerpt at the Title Link above.

And now, please, sweet heaven, send me enough time and open eyes to finish another story I have to send them today. I'm tired of being tired :).
♥

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE FICTION!!

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:27:20 GMT

elisa_rolle is running a contest over at her LJ account for GLBT books.

It's now into its second public voting stage for the next couple of weeks.
Then the winners from the public vote are reviewed by a panel of judges.

If you've particularly enjoyed a book recently - or even from ages ago! - go and see if it's there. There's a fabulous range of nominations, and show your appreciation for an author and his/her book by casting your vote.

GO FOR IT!

Yes, I have some of my books in there, so I'll declare my interest up front like all those UK politicians *haven't* LOL. (I'm in *) But this is really to support Elisa and to make this event a successful and fun experience for everyone involved.

Vote for what you've loved to read - and well done to Elisa for organising such a mammoth task ♥.

Comedy
Coming of Age/Young Adult
Contemporary* True Colors
Fantasy* Twisted Brand
Futuristic
Historical
Mystery/Thriller* Freeman
Paranormal/horror* Masquerade
Debut Fiction
Biography/memoir
Poetry

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN!

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:48:30 GMT

Jen's fabulous blog Well Read is a year old today!

She reviews m/m fiction with a style that's intelligent, measured, enthusiastic, entertaining, constructive - and most of all, brave *lol*.

And she's such fun to chat to - her posts are thought-provoking and she's always happy to encourage discussion. Sensible discussion, that is :).

I'm very happy to have had the chance to be friends with her.
And I'd read the blog whether I was or not ^_~. ♥

Not only but also... FREE FICTION!!

I wrote her a brief romance story which is available on my site as Free Fiction. Feel free to read it HERE.

SURPRISE! Eddy has been friends with Allan for ages. A year, in fact. Funny how it takes a surprise party to make him realise Allan's rather more than that.

LOOKING GOOD NAKED...?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:29:38 GMT

I know, but I only mean emotionally. Honest!!

Come and visit me at Jessewave's Blog today where I'm rambling on about the struggles I have with REJECTION.

Follow my easy Seven Step Plan to Recovery - with pictures! LMAO

Read about my anguish, my shoddy, green-eyed behaviour, what I ripped out and eviscerated (god, I love that word...), what E and O mean to me, and why I mention KFC.

And don't forget to join in with YOUR comments!! or she may never ask me back again :).
♥

And god, doesn't that pic of me look grim, so large on the screen...?!

COME AND VISIT!

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:31:23 GMT

I'm at Desert Island Keepers this week, come and visit!

I'm chatting about ME (omg *blush*) today, then tomorrow about My Heroes - and a certain amount of Greed on my part...
Then Wed, I'm chatting about the link between Art and Fiction, particularly with my short Muse out later this month at Amber Allure.

WIN!! Post a comment on the blog on two of the days, and be entered for a chance to win a FREE download of one of my shorts - including the new release when it arrives.

♥

AMBER ALLURE BEST SELLERS

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:55:43 GMT

This looks very fine to me. I'm quite excited! ( <-- British understatement)
I'm in great company, too.

Sunday, October 4, 2009
Amber Allure September Best Sellers

AMBER ALLURE

1. Nick Of Time - T. A. Chase (Gay / Vampire)
2. Bitter Creek's Redemption - T. A. Chase (Gay / The Old West)
3. Sweet Reunion - Shawn Lane (Gay / Contemporary)
4. Wranglers: Voir Dire - Vivien Dean (Gay / Contemporary)
5. A Good Neighbor - Clare London (Gay / Contemporary)
6. Netting Neptune - KC Kendricks (Gay / Contemporary)
7. An Imitation Of Life - Karma Eastwick (Gay / Contemporary)
8. Memory Of Darkness - P. A. Brown (Gay / Mystery)
9. Burrito Belle's Gringo Guy - Deirdre O'Dare (Gay / Contemporary)
10. Wranglers: Discovery - Vivien Dean (Gay / Contemporary)

OCTOBER, A PERFECT TIME TO SCAVENGE...??

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:57:19 GMT

OCTOBER is going to be a month for Thrills and Treasure: I'm involved in TWO Scavenger Hunts. All you have to do is visit a series of websites, find a (barely) hidden icon, note down the URL-addresses and then report back to the site that's promoting the Hunt. Then you'll be entered for FREE prizes!

OFF YOU GO!

At Red Rose Publishing, details HERE.

At Dark Diva Reviews Blog, details HERE.

And of course, there's still a fabulous contest over at loveyoudivine, where prizes include free books and other gifts.

♥

TOP PICKED!! oo er missus...

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:40:25 GMT

I'm thrilled to have my story A Good Neighbor chosen as a TOP PICK for September at Dark Diva Reviews Blog. Thanks so much, Melissa!

And I've had no time to post and thank for the lovely reviews I've received:

At Rainbow Reviews:
Dylan was certainly the country mouse to Neal’s city mouse. Not an easy dichotomy to resolve if both are to live happily ever after. Ms. London has done an excellent job with character development, not easy in a story of this comparatively short length.

At Jeesewave's Blog:
Neal shone so bright that he eclipsed Dylan at times, but both characters were exquisitely drawn and this is typical of Clare London. Dylan was so understated that you tended to overlook him until he asserted himself and you realized that while he was a wonderful caring man who loved his aunts and took care of them, there were unexplored depths to him. Neal seemed to be the typical foreign correspondent whose only objective was to have a wonderful career jetting all over the world, then he surprised Dylan when he told him what he really needed.
As usual the other characters were well drawn and Clare had a lot of fun with Dylan’s outré aunts. I won’t describe them because you have to experience them for yourself. All I will say is that they were priceless and had many surprising facets to their personalities.
I loved this book and I think you will too if you read between the lines. By the way the sex was smokin’. This story is told in the 1st person POV from Dylan’s perspective. Definitely recommended.

At Jen's Well Read Blog:
One of the best things about this short was the pacing. The start is very slow which may initially put some people off, but I suggest you persevere as the story moves from the genteel pace of tea with the aunts - representing the familiar safe world which Dylan finds comforting - into a fast paced, breathlessly hot sex scene - representing the excitement and thrill which Dylan finds with Neal. Then the story slows down again and I was treated to what Clare London does best: great characterisation.

And finally, a lovely review at Amazon from R Parklane:
This a delighful little romance from Clare with 2 old aunts playing matchmakers behind the scene adding fun to the story. Definitely a nice approach than the usual sterotype. I enjoy Clare's writing style and prefer my story told in narration as it is more involving which is the case here. Just a short story but the characters are solid and appealing, the romance sweet and you just have to love a small town boy who cares for his old but feisty aunts who inturn just want their nephew to be happy with his man.

Thanks so much to everyone who's read, liked, reviewed or even just dropped in to say HI!
♥

AT THE LATE NIGHT, DOUBLE FEATURE, PICTURE SHOW...

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:55:16 GMT

I've been featured at Dark Diva Reviews, always such a fun place to visit!

The title they're featuring is A Good Neighbor, my new release at Amber Quill Press.

Read an excerpt and my bio, and also a lovely review they did of the title HERE.

Clare London has an appealing writing voice that draws the reader’s attention in on the first page. Her colorful descriptions never fail to bring her characters and their surroundings to life in my head. If you are looking for a quick M/M read that will bring not only smokin’ hot scenes, but a little comedic relief, then I suggest that you pick up a copy of A Good Neighbor today.

And there's a CONTEST too!
All the details HERE.
Answer's on my website (easy peasy, honest! LOL) and you can win a FREE download of the story or a bunch of promo goodies.
Closing date Wed Sep 30 - hurry along and take part!

♥

JUST KEEP BLOGGING, JUST KEEP BLOGGING...

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:30:13 GMT

I'm over at Amber Quill Authors Blog this week, chatting about my newbie status over there and sharing an excerpt of A Good Neighbor. Please feel free to drop in and say HI!

Ooh, and it's out at All Romance eBooks this week...

♥

GNASHER NEWS AHOY...

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:13:34 GMT

Well, it's been a monumentally important day in the Soap Opera that is the history of my dental treatment.

So many of you have suffered tales of my anguish, supported me through major root canal and bridge work, even read my small fic attempt to exorcise my phobia through pron. Dammit, you've even fed me painkillers at many a YaoiCon when I've inevitably arrived with an emerging abscess or two.

But today was Special O_O.

Big Confession time (me-age-wise). My dentist has treated me since I was at school and he first did my front crowns while it was still free for under-18s. Bless him, all the things we've shared in the near-30 years since! Several replacement crowns due to losses from chewy sweets and (once) a lamb burger, abscesses and antibiotic prescriptions too numerous to remember, consultant visits, happiness at seeing the back of that butcher who did my root canal work with his knee virtually on my chest,two different surgeries, the sorry divorce of mutual friends, six different dental assistants, the lens of my glasses falling out and the pair of us crawling on the floor trying to find it under the chair, his (failed) attempts to go part time, our mutual love for SF, his startled gratitude for a copy of my first book, a couple of verses of The Man I Love (when I was practising for a set), and the pleasure of both his children qualifying and joining him in the practice.

*phew*

Today he peered at me and said with solicitude 'what's wrong?'. And I was able to say 'Nothing. I'm just here for a check up.' OMG!!! i.e. no crisis dash by me to the surgery because something's fallen out / swollen up / is causing a pain worse than childbirth (ok, so I'm exaggerating there). He turned to his new dental nurse and said I was an unusual and long-treasured patient, I worked with numbers, sang Sinatra and wrote pornographic books. She smiled, bemused. But what's more important, he looked around my mouth, showed off my crowns to his nurse (look, All My Own Work!) and found nothing new to be done.

NOTHING TO BE DONE!!!!

He grinned and said wasn't today a bit of a special occasion?! I came home with a smile on my face and had to go lie down in a dark room.

Thanks for everything, JH!

/end episode #923 of my Dental Drama.
♥

REVIEWS >>>

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:31:06 GMT

I've had some great reviews for my vampire story Out of Time that I'd like to share excerpts from with you.

Ambrus travels in space and time, a mature and confident vampire, not looking for any permanent companion. Then in the bloody trenches of WWI, he meets Edward, a beautiful young soldier turned vampire against his will and fighting his fate with bitter anger and resentment. Ambrus is irresistibly drawn to him but Edward rejects him at first. What then follows is a strange, anguished courtship throughout the century, as Ambrus seeks to help Edward find his own way to peace as an immortal, and Edward learns what real love - and a real lover - is.

At Rainbow Reviews:
The moments of discussion and wisdom between Ambrus and Edward are touching, confusing and beautiful. Not only when they touch with their intellect but with their bodies and emotions as well. Eventually Ambrus and Edward are out of time in many ways except time is not important to them. Although this was a short story it was a really touching story and I fell in love with stoic and patient Ambrus a little.

At Jenre's Well Read blog:
Edward clings determinedly onto a life similar to that as a human, despite his obviously ability to make himself invisible to humans when he wants. He is angry that he was turned against his will and it is only as he faces the death of his human friends time and time again that he realises that he has to take the advice and help of Ambrus. Alongside this are the growing feelings of both men for each other which becomes the anchor for Edward when he starts to accept what he cannot change. Although this was only a short story, there was a lot of complexity built into the world building and the characters of both vampires which made this one of the more interesting takes on the whole vampire myth. Grade: Excellent.

At Literary Nymphs :
Out Of Time is a tale of two vampires, each in a different place in their existence. Edward is coming to terms with his new state, and Ambrus wants nothing more than to help him through this time. The two make a great couple. Edward keeps everything fresh, while Ambrus uses his wisdom to guide the younger vampire. Their relationship is relaxed and easy-flowing, thanks to Ambrus’ patience. Clare London’s Out Of Time is an impressive read and a wonderful contribution to the Immortal Fire series.

At Two Lips Reviews :
When you want love on the steamy dark side you want Out of Time. Ambrus has infinite patience which is really good for the younger Edward. Edward is having a hard time finding out how being a vampire figures into his life and how he should act being one. I love how Ambrus is patient enough to wait and to teach by action. He is a wonderful character I would love to see more of in the future.

And at Jessewave's blog :
The concept was original and the execution even better. The changing decades also added to the uniqueness of the tale as the reader gets to experience, if only for a few minutes, times that have moved into history. The complexity of Edward’s and Ambrus’ relationship over the years and the way that Edward’s personality evolved from the young headstrong human soldier to the seasoned savvy vampire, and Ambrus’ change from mentor to lover add to the texture of the story.

Thank you so much to everyone who's read and/or reviewed it! It's very much appreciated.

BTW have you checked out the other stories in the Immortal Fire series? There's some superb writing there and an astonishingly wide range of imagination. And it's coming out in print later this year.
♥

WEEKEND AHOY.....

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:36:19 GMT

Thank God the weekend's on its way. This has been a drudge of a week, I must say.
All the troubles with my car, chaos at work, Sons starting back at school/college, writing being more like pulling teeth etc etc.

So anyway, I'm looking forward to a weekend away at friends whom we love dearly, where I'll eat Chinese takeaway, drink a LOT of rose wine, and both moan and cheer about LIFE. Son#2 is staying over with my sister where they'll eat pizza and watch as many LOTR movies as they can fit in during an evening - with a box of tissues ready for Sis for That Boromir Moment, it never fails to catch us tearful - and Son#1 is hopefully too addlepated with having to get up before noon on a regular basis to organise a major party in our empty house at such short notice.

And this is COMING ON SUNDAY *lol*.

I can't get over the eye-candy joy of that cover. You can buy it HERE.

And did I share the cover for my next Amber Allure release? Oct 18, Muse is out.

Gavin McGrath's art career is in ruins, his wife's left him because of his promiscuity and he's alienated people in the industry with his aggressive and arrogant behavior. But a fortuitous accident with his current painting and the surprise appearance of a strange young man, Matteo, cause Gavin to take new stock of his life. Matteo brings companionship and inspiration across the centuries and Gavin eventually realizes he must reconsider the capacity for love he's always scorned - before it's too late for them both.

/end pimpage.
Have a great weekend, all!
♥

CHEAPER E-BOOKS!!!!

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:40:50 GMT

It's Wendi's birthday at RED ROSE PUBLISHING and there's 50% OFF all E-books just for today (Sept 9).

And - if you were tempted my way LOL - here are my two titles there at the moment. The third one That's Entertainment! doesn't join until tomorrow I'm afraid.

BUY ME HERE.