Category: Short Stories

‘Coming Around and other erotic stories’

On By TomIn Achievement, General, Insight, Novel, Short Stories4 Comments
Due for publication in the coming week ...
Due for publication in the coming week …

Yes, you read it correctly. It’s the title I’ve chosen for my upcoming collection of short stories.

I did intend to write a post about another ‘resources’ book, but I thought it might spice up the reading if I said a little now about my latest project.

Why mention it now?

I’m in the final stages of preparing to publish my next thriller, ‘Amsterdam Calling’ and I wanted to give myself a break from the story as usual between edits. The erotic collection will probably be published by the end of next week, which is ahead of the thriller.

Why produce a collection of erotica?

Why not? I enjoy writing them in between all my other types of storytelling and I’m still incensed by the likes of ‘Fifty Shades …’ and how weak it was as a plot, no matter how much money the author made from it.

Why short stories and not a novel?

Instead of writing about something I know nothing about, which is what the author of the ‘Fifty Shades …’ trilogy did, I am writing about a genre which I have perhaps more experience than she did in hers. Enough said there I think.

How many stories are in there?

A total of 12 short stories although a couple of them are longer than normal to do justice to the plot.

What is included in the storylines?

Bi-curious female, bi-curious male, gay, ménage, voyeurism, cross-dressing, transgender, BDSM.

Who should avoid it?

I’ve written a disclaimer inside that suggests that the following categories of reader would be best advised not to indulge: the under 18’s, the prudish, narrow-minded, unimaginative, easily offended or homophobic.

Am I out to shock?

No, just as I’m not publishing to jump on the bandwagon. I don’t think it will make me a millionaire. For me it does two things, apart from the fun I had writing the stories over recent months.

1. I wanted to show that with a little knowledge and some imagination, a writer should be able to tackle any topic.

2. Now that I have other topics out there and selling, I want to see if my attempts at this specialised genre are entertaining.

Would I consider writing a novel in this genre?

Yes I would, but it would only happen if I had sufficient good reviews across the three platforms when it goes on sale.

The good news is that I intend to use it as a practise run to publish on Amazon (for Kindle), Smashwords and Kobo. I intend to publish my next thriller on all three platforms and this will let me see all the glitches early.

There is other good news. Nobody sees who buys an eBook, so you can sneakily upload it and read it and nobody will know unless you tell them.

Okay, you can take your hands away from your eyes now – it’s all over. 🙂

The Leibster Award

On By TomIn Achievement, General, Insight, Novel, Poetry, Short Stories10 Comments

 

liebster_award[1]What is the Liebster award?

At first glance, it reminded me of an electronic chain letter, but without the associated pressures – it’s an e-social idea, it’s fun and does a marketing job for all who participate.

It’s an award given in the blogging community, to celebrate new blogs, or blogs with a follower count of less than 200. I found out today that the ‘follower’ figure is meant to be 1,000 – but that includes Twitter.

It’s also to encourage new people to blog and join in the blogging community as a whole. Our social blogging world, which is colloquially known as the ‘blogosphere’.

The word Liebster is a German word that doesn’t translate literally, but more or less means: kindest, nicest, lovely, dearest, sweetest, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome. I’ve listed the connotations that were passed on to me, and I’m delighted to have been nominated.

The rules, should you choose to accept the award from the person that nominated you:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated you. In my case Princess of Dragons, and with that link go my thanks.

2. Answer questions that your nominator has set their nominees.

3. Share 11 random facts about yourself.

4. Nominate 5-11 blogs that have less than 200 followers to receive this award.

5. Create 11 questions for your nominees to answer.

6. Contact your nominees and let them know you have nominated them!

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My questions from Princess of Dragons, with my answers of course.

1. What is your preferred cheese?

Cheddar.

2. If you could own an animal, what would it be?

An eagle, because I could set it free without worrying about it’s survival.

3. Mention one thing that’s on your bucket list?

I’d like to see a cure for cancer.

4. What colour do you think your soul is?

Transparent, so I can disguise my innermost feelings from the devils of the world.

5. If you could do any job for a day, what would it be, and why?

A farmer, so that I could enjoy a really long, tiring day and feel that I’d given something back.

6. Name one good thing that has happened to you lately?

I woke up – again.

7. What’s your Myer’s Briggs profile?

Dominant, Introvert, Sensing.

8. Quick, pick your weapon of choice?

Browning 9mm pistol.

9. When was the last time you cried?

The day after burying my dad.

10. What would you call the novel about your life?

A Life of Choice

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Okay guys, if you’re still with the programme, here are 11 random facts about me:

1. I took up smoking in 1971 at the age of 19 – and stopped in 1977 at age 25.

2. When I was 17, it took me 6 mins 15 secs to run a mile. When I was 40, it took me 5 mins 15 secs to run a mile.

3. I taught my son to drive when he was 17.

4. Between the ages of 20 – 60, I had owned 20 cars.

5. I’ve driven (fast) around the old (long circuit) of the Nurburgring in three different cars … at different times.

6. I’ve had lunch with HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal.

7. I took up writing poetry in December 2007, and between then and 2010 I wrote 730 poems.

8. I type at an average 40 wpm.

9. I appeared in a national newspaper as a teenager, interviewed on radio in my mid-20’s, and interviewed on TV when 40.

10. I’ve had the same email address since 1994.

11. I produce my own A4 year planner every year.

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My nominations (in alphabetical order) are:

Lynne:  http://lynnelives.wordpress.com/

Phil:  http://seventhself.wordpress.com/

Stephen:  http://stephenthom.wordpress.com/​

Veronica:  http://veronicahaidar.wordpress.com/

Kathy:  http://wktucker.com/

I’ll apologise here just in case any of them have more than the required followers.

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Are you still awake? Here’s your questions guys:

1. If you could change your first name, what would you have instead?

2. If you could speak a second language fluently, which one would you choose?

3. If you could live in another country, where would you live?

4. If you could reincarnate as an animal, which would you return as?

5. If you had to lose one of your senses, which one would you lose?

6. Do you say, ‘the glass is half-full’, or ‘the glass is half-empty’?

7. If given the choice to turn back time, which year would you choose to be born?

8. Would you publish a 100% truthful autobiography?

9. Who is your hero or heroine, and why?

10. Stranded alone on a tropical island, which object from the modern world would you choose to have with you?

11. Give three words that best describe how you’d like to be remembered?

Well, now I’ve got that out of my system, I hope you all enjoyed it. Take it forward with the blessings of all who have gone before.

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