jana_denardo: (kept tears)
jana_denardo ([personal profile] jana_denardo) wrote2015-08-30 03:24 pm
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Sunday Small Talk

So I spent the week with no internet. That sucks when it comes to my it being my release week. So that happened but yes Soldiers of the Sun has released and it seems to be doing pretty good, the whole series really so that makes me smile.

 photo SoldiersoftheSun_FBbanner_DSP_zpsnc7bjbjt.jpg

Also I have entered Soldiers of the Sun in the fantasy romance category of the Rainbow Awards. Last year Kept Tears got an honorable mention and made it to the final rounds. We'll see how the boys fair.

Speaking of the boys, check out this excellent article Sue Brown did here about all those who hate on women in m/m stories. Obviously this is near and dear to me. As a minor spoiler for those who haven't seen who I gave the boys as their newest partner, let's just say I know someone will write a review going 'why is there an icky woman in this story?' and I will just say this once. Strong female characters will be in my stories. Sometimes as supporters, sometimes as former lovers, maybe even as a villain but because they are villainous and not just because they're female and must be there as the bad guy by default. If having a female character at all in your m/m romance bothers you, then save yourself some grief and skip my stuff because they'll be there. I refuse to marginalize people.

I'm slowly moving forward on my Simmer story. To that end I was looking over a cookbook we found in my grandmother's effects, a 1982 family reunion cookbook. I had already planned to put at least two recipes one from either Italian granny in my story. Now I will put in something else from the family. Mostly they're desserts and I've noticed that even more so in really old cook books but Mom put that in perspective. Back in the day people went visiting on Sundays after church. You never went empty handed.

As for the Simmer story, I'm hitting a few snags but Google Earth and friends are helping. I'm setting it in the spiritualist community I lived in a decade ago, Cassadaga Fl. However my memories are turning out to be...less than reality. I'm finding that disturbing. Now that I have some of that sorted, I'm moving forward with the story (and yes there IS a female character, so there, haters).

And my internet being out was good for one thing, no writing distractions! I'm almost done with Blood Red Roulette. I'm giving myself a deadline of Nov 1st. I want this out of the way before Nano starts. I think it's possible. To my discomfort, I'm realizing how long this is. Why can't I get under the 100K mark? OMG why? I still say I need a Vegas field trip for this one.

Speaking of Vegas, in case you missed my 'Woke Up Married in Vegas' blogathon story, you can find it here . I need to go read some of the others myself yet.

[identity profile] evil-little-dog.livejournal.com 2015-08-30 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad Soldiers is doing well! That's great.

Yay for getting writing done. I sent you some edits back. I need to do some writing myself.

[identity profile] jana-denardo.livejournal.com 2015-08-30 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
me too. Thanks

cool thanks. I'll look once my sugar comes down from the scary range

and write, write, write

[identity profile] evil-little-dog.livejournal.com 2015-08-31 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
You're welcome. On both counts.

I think I'll go curl up and die quietly now.

[identity profile] jana-denardo.livejournal.com 2015-08-31 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
ugh tell me about it. not sure what's going on with my blood sugar. I just know it's bad

[identity profile] evil-little-dog.livejournal.com 2015-09-01 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
I felt like you, waking up at 3:00 and not being able to go back to sleep.

[identity profile] evil-little-dog.livejournal.com 2015-09-01 10:50 am (UTC)(link)
It did.

[identity profile] silvrethorn.livejournal.com 2015-08-31 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Since I made a version of you a character in my St. Augustine story, and you're the proprietor of a disguised Denoel's Bakery called Denardo's, if you find any recipes for pastries and sweets you'd like to sell in your fictional bakery, pass them on. It would be fun to feature Italian desserts instead of the original French pastries the Denoels sold.

[identity profile] jana-denardo.livejournal.com 2015-08-31 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
cool. I can pass on grandma's pizzelle recipe. I've seen those in bakeries. Grandma was a professional cook. (okay she was a cook for an insane asylum but still)

[identity profile] kiramaru7.livejournal.com 2015-08-31 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
YAY! For your book doing well!! That's awesome!! :D

I have to read that article. I for one don't mind a good female character in a m/m story. I LOVE Jo, Siobhan, & Tabuu. Eleni was made to be hated & women can be just as villainous as men, but they can also be good friends & lovers. *dismisses the nay-sayers with a wave of my hand* It's funny how we can have men or women as the baddies in a het story & no one cares. *sighs* Those who hate the girls in the m/m stories are probably there for smex. *rolls eyes*


OOOH! I like the idea of recipes being in there! Especially stuff you can actually find in a bakery & eat! :D


NOOOO! I happen to like long books!! And if Vamps in Vegas is going to be really LONG, awesomeness!! *is planning on getting that one too when it comes out* You so do!! I found Ellis Island. XD I've actually passed it numerous times leaving Vegas. XD I'm mostly on the strip so it was nice seeing it. :D

I read it when you first posted it & left you a comment there. XD

[identity profile] jana-denardo.livejournal.com 2015-08-31 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
thanks it is!

yeah I've had this conversation many a time especially in my fanfic days with some of the slashers. I was hoping not to see it in professional gay literature but I guess there is that bleed over of readers. sigh.

I believe the recipes have to be included with the anthology submission.

I like long books too but oddly there's a push back against them too! Sigh. Yep you've been a help with this one. In fact I probably should send you the revised version so you can pick it up again.

I've not been in Ellis Island myself (it was recommended by another friend who lives out that way)

Indeed you did and it was much appreciated!

[identity profile] kiramaru7.livejournal.com 2015-08-31 12:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Yuppers!! :D

*sighs* I guess so. Stupid people. It's actually insulting to gays.

Nice!! I like that idea! :D

Really? o.0 Are we getting dumber & dumber as a society? Please tell me no. That would be awesome! Thanks!!

I've never been in there & never paid it any attention until now when I read in your story. XD

You're welcoem! :D

[identity profile] jana-denardo.livejournal.com 2015-08-31 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I think so too

I sometimes think we are

i know now I have to go to Ellis Island next time

[identity profile] kiramaru7.livejournal.com 2015-08-31 09:56 pm (UTC)(link)
*sighs* A pity they're not seeing it that way. I think if they did, they wouldn't be like that.

*face palms* I was afraid of that.

Yeah! You'll have to let me know how it is! Memphis Barbecue is good too. It's closer to Nellis AFB than the strip, but worth a trip out there if you have a car. They give you a lot of food for the money & it tastes like home. :D

[identity profile] jana-denardo.livejournal.com 2015-09-01 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
I agree with you

I'll have to keep that in mind. Dad was stationed at Nellis

[identity profile] kiramaru7.livejournal.com 2015-09-01 11:33 am (UTC)(link)
*Nods*

Sweet! So you grew up in the area! That's awesome! :D

[identity profile] jana-denardo.livejournal.com 2015-09-01 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually no I didn't. Dad was there two years before he was going to ship to Viet Nam but two weeks before he shipped his dad died and he was sent home to care for his 9 year old brother and his mom in the Pittsburgh area. I've never actually seen Nellis.

[identity profile] kiramaru7.livejournal.com 2015-09-01 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow! That was really nice of the military to let him go home. Sorry his dad died & he had to be the man of the house. That's got to be hard.

I've been there for several airshow weekends. We stay on the Strip & drive out there. I've been a few times sitting in the car on the way over & seen jet fighters in the air above us. It's a weird experience.

[identity profile] jana-denardo.livejournal.com 2015-09-02 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah when you're the only provider for the family you can get discharged. I think though having to take over that you contributed to his bad attitudes now.

that's cool

[identity profile] kiramaru7.livejournal.com 2015-09-02 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
That's good they do that. Yeah?

It is! :D