LB Gregg Three Days of DIK: Music

How swell that Tracy scheduled me just after the release of my third Men of Smithfield novella--Cover Me--which I'm sure you are all sick unto death of hearing about. Instead of promo-ing my book (which you can buy here,--Enter Smithfield0309 and save at checkout when you purchase a copy of Cover Me.--Yes I just did that. Sue me.) I thought I'd share my muse. Since I have so much to do. And I'm a fucking procrastinator of the highest order. Also I swear a lot. Oops.

(BTW: Kris, this post is dedicated tor you, because you are on the top of my list of things to do. Not that I'm doing you. Or...anything. Merow.)

Finding My MOJO

Every morning I get into the car to drive my extraordinarily above average offspring to school. They attend six days a week, and the boy (who boards at school three nights) needs to be driven 26 miles on partially unpaved Connecticut backroads to his highschool high on a mountain. Well, as high as mountains get here.

And every morning, armed with TWO to-go-cups of coffee, I listen to music--as most people do. The difference is that I have put together a playlist which I call "Let's Get To Work" to inspire us. My son isn't amused by 9/10ths of the music, but he's a good sport. Also he's usually asleep against the window. He's 16 and growing.

Initially, I put this playlist together for a friend, but it's really MY music--although I need to add this:

house of pain cypress hill : jump around

because that's just fricken fun.

Anyway! Here's the playlist:

Love You Madly ~ Cake

mmmm...caek

I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked ~ Ida Maria
fun!

Pump It ~Black Eyed Peas

littlegirl's theme song

15 Step ~Radiohead

Ally Blue take note!

Beautiful Stranger~ Madonna

Must have a Madonna song, yes?

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground~The White Stripes

Funny that a friend just put this song in the first scene of a new book. ;)

Privilege~ Incubus

Brandon Boyd, aka my secret bf

Think I'm In Love~ Beck

video is fab

I Will Possess Your Heart~Death Cab for Cutie

Indie must

Hands Down~Dashboard Confessional

This song builds brilliantly.

Supermassive Black Hole~ Muse

Muse is cool.

Short Skirt/Long Jacket~ Cake

Another fab video.

Samson~Regina Spektor

Drippy girl song. Everyone needs one.

Feeling Good~ Adam Lambert

I luff him

Interesting!

I like finding out which music my friends are listening to. I also discovered, through Teddypig, that you can send a playlist to a friend--did not know that! How cool is iTunes? How rich are those guys?

I'd love to find out what your theme music is--your muse for driving kids, or getting dressed for work, or just putting your head back in the game. What's your song?

My THEME song for the last six months, is on that list. Anyone venture to guess what it is?

OK I'm off to write a pineapple conflict story for my pal Kris, two months late. I heart you all madly, and I'm off for the races--theme song blasting.

Although seriously I'm getting antsy for a new song.

Clare London Day Three: It’s Not What You See – but How You Feel?

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see. (Edgar Degas)

What an excellent quotation, eh? I may be an author but I can’t say I have any other artistic talents. I can copy a picture, which made me good at cartoons when I was younger, and I can sew a great Barbie frock, so I do have some creative talents. But real painting, drawing or sculpture? No way!

And yet it’s a theme I find myself drawn to in my fiction. My novel “True Colors” features an unruly, provocative and highly talented artist Zeke. He is infamous for his turbulent abstract art and sets up intriguing, unexpected exhibitions where he blends paintings with all the objects and treasures of real life. He and his lover Miles are drawn even closer together by Zeke’s art, finding it a medium for their emotional bond.

More recently, I have a short story releasing at Amber Quill Press later this month – the 18th, if I may pimp it LOL – called “Muse”.

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.

Matteo was inspired by a work by one of my favourite painters, Caravaggio, called “The Musicians”. Gavin’s art is more traditional, the sketching and painting of nudes, but his new project excites him in a way nothing ever did before – and so does Matteo.

And in a current work in progress, my hero is the owner of an art gallery. Charles has always been in awe of an artist’s skill, including the young Valero brothers whom he sponsors and loves. But after a murder in the gallery, Charles takes stock of his life and realises he has talents of his own. He expresses himself through his love of art, and passes on that encouragement and compassion to others. And in the process, he discovers a determination to seek out the truth –whatever the cost.

So I’m no artist myself, but I’m an enthusiastic consumer, and I love when it moves hand in hand with other mediums. When I wrote fanfiction, occasionally artists would gift me with drawings they’d made to illustrate my stories. I also entered several contests and challenges, inspired by a drawing. Of the four stories in my anthology “Masquerade”, three of them were illustrated in this way. I’ve included some of these pictures today, to share with you.

The holy grail is to spend less time making the picture than it takes people to look at it. (Banksy)

At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since. (Salvador Dali)

But how many of us can live that dream? We all work hard for our art, whatever form it takes. For me, visual art inspires a different response than fiction does. Fiction requires a longer attention time, and – if good - will build a path to your heart. But art generates a much more immediate response. I can admire the craft and skill of a painting, as I can a book – but my heart has already decided whether to love it.

Good art is not what it looks like, but what it does to us. (Roy Adzak)

And isn’t that what we all seek in fiction, as readers and/or writers? I know it’s true for me.


Thanks so much to DIK for allowing me on board this week. I’ve had a great time, I must admit I don’t want it to come to an end so soon. I have heard that the weather at home is cold and damp and my inbox is by now the size of War and Peace (and probably just as contentious). Hmm. But look! I don’t seem to be able to find my suitcase, to pack to go home. I’ll have to stay here. No, of course the family won’t miss me. Well, not for another month or so. And I am so in need of a decent holiday…

You can visit Clare London here
http://www.clarelondon.co.uk
or at her blog .
http://clarelondon.livejournal.com/

Pictures in order: Pensive Beauty; Kit from Freeman by Gwydi; Muse cover; The Musicians by Caravaggio; Mori from Threadbare by Agnes; Sleep from Possession by Helm; The Kiss from Possession by Helm.

Clare London Day Two - Heroes

Clare’s Dilemma: So many Heroes, So Little Time?

Everyone talks about their heroes, don’t they? We read about them, we write stories about them, we admire them and cherish them and sigh for need of them.

Can we help it if we’re entranced by the image? Our hearts are excited by adventure and strong passion, while our heads admire loyalty and integrity. To find the combination in one man – well, what more could we ask. And there’s such a range to choose from: the artists, singers, doctors, firemen, cowboys, bad-guys-turned-good, good-guys-tempted-by-bad, old and young, indoors and outdoors-men, saints and sinners, tall, blond, short and lean, rough and tough and strong and mean… well, you get the picture. Heroic behaviour can burst from any one of them.

And one of the most likely scenarios is when love comes into the equation. Then we are treated to those who love from afar, and those who fight for their love. The big, strong guys who face up to each other in a crisis but want to snuggle up in a snowstorm. Those who struggle with expression, while others charm with soft words. And we probably do have our favourites – whether we like the shy, sensitive, intellectual type, or the buff, muscled, strong and silent type.

But hey! Whoever said I had to make a choice?

I answered a question online recently about what was my favourite genre in which to write my stories of men and their loves. I found that more difficult to answer than the infamous interview question – where do you see yourself in five years’ time J. Because I don’t really have a favourite, I like plenty! I’ve written fantasy, contemporary romance and paranormal settings. I’ve written happy-ever-after, happy-for-now, don’t-know-about-happy-but-you-look-good-in-my-shower, and – to one reader’s annoyance recently – character death. My heroes are flawed and their heroism erratic. Sometimes they’re selfish, they make mistakes, they miss the damned point.

But they all have the potential to be Hero. And the fun of writing them is to see whether I can bring that out.

I don’t think it’s fickle, to find heroes in all situations – through time and space, with lovers, with enemies, with women and men. Our hearts want to seek the best of human nature, to admire kind and loyal and brave behaviour. It doesn’t have to be on a battlefield. He doesn’t have to be alarmingly handsome – which, after all, is a matter of taste. It’s the spirit that we seek. And here is my shopping-for-a-hero list.

Charmed Chap

This hero is not of this world. He may not even be human. Is that so bad, so long as his ambitions and aims are still recognisable? And there’s such glamour in the vampire bite or the magic of a man truly in love…

My first published book was Masquerade, a collection of fantasy stories that featured vampires, psychics, wizards and a beautiful young man who had more in common with a silkworm than the oppressed workers around him. And recently I revisited the fantasy theme with my vampires Edward and Ambrus, in my short story Out of Time.

Fantasy Fellow

This guy lives in an alternate universe. He may not know how to work a washing machine but he’ll wield a sword and is free from so many of the chains of modern society’s expectations.

I wrote two novels set in a fantasy world, Aza City, where women ruled as Mistresses but were supported and served by their male warriors – who then satisfied their true desires and need for companionship with fellow soldiers. That was The Gold Warrior and Twisted Brand. The Gold Warrior Maen was everything a true hero should be in his devotion to duty and his sense of place in the hierarchy – until he fell from grace because of his love for his apprentice, the Bronzeman Dax.

Modern Man

Now this one is more familiar in many ways, in that he wears recognisable clothes and has no more special power than being able to open that jar of peaches you’ve been struggling with for half an hour. But in fictional hands, his heroism is still just as valid, and with all the vivacity and empowerment of modern life.

This year, I published the contemporary romances Sparks Fly and True Colors, full of glamour, melodrama, mystery and high-powered city business. Both were based on the attraction of opposites. In Sparks Fly, playboy Nic battled with geek Aidan to the very end of the book, despite their desperate attraction to each other. And in True Colors, cool businessman Miles tried to ground the mercurial artist Zeke, even as Zeke was bringing excitement and spontaneity to Miles’ life.

And I also published Freeman, set in my home city London, in a world of crime and mystery, and with a fair dose of angst before dawn. Freeman is a very modern man who lives alone in the city, successful and rich, but who thinks he’s lost the art of connecting emotionally with people – at least until he meets Kit, a young man who disturbs everything and demands Freeman’s attention in return.

So I’ve covered all these categories *sez Clare, buffing her nails*. What about you? Do you have favourites? Or do you think – as I do – that variety is the spice of life?

And now, back to struggling with the lid of that jar of peaches until My Hero comes home from work…
J

You can visit Clare London here
http://www.clarelondon.co.uk
or at her blog .
http://clarelondon.livejournal.com/

Clare London Day One - All About Me

Today I'm thrilled to introduce one of my very favourite m/m authors, Clare London. Not only does she write wonderful books, but she is a fellow Brit and possibly one of the nicest, kindest, supportive authors I've ever met. I first got to know Clare when I emailed her after reading one of her stories and we've become good friends since then. So without further ado, I'll hand you over to lovely Clare.

Hi there everyone.
I’m thrilled to be invited on to the island this week, I’ve crammed everything into my suitcase and I’m ready to introduce myself. After all, these questions were fun! But you weren’t just asking for one answer each time, were you? I mean, were you? *cough*. A couple of the questions ran away with me. Am I loose-tongued? Indecisive? Or just plain greedy? Feel free to let me know…

Favorite Reading Position?
In bed. Alone, except for my ereader and my fictional heroes, though don’t tell Hubby that.

Favorite Heroine?
Stephanie Plum, the bounty hunter from Janet Evanovich’s books. And if I can’t be her, I want to be Grandma. I’ll pack my own gun. Do I have to learn a New Jersey accent?

Author everyone loves but you don’t.
Dan Brown (I was rather chastened to find at least 6 names sprang to mind at this question).

If you could be in one book/series/world which would you pick?
Stephanie Plum’s! Or maybe the angel world of Samaria in the Sharon Shinn books. Or back to St Mary Mead with Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple…

How old is your inside voice?
21 and 4 months.

If you could be a hero who would you be?
Jack Reacher in the Lee Child books. My book ‘Freeman’ is my homage to that man, that author, that style of fiction. OK, so I’ll never be over 6 foot, built like a brick s**thouse, an ace fighter and alluring lover (well, I’m working on one of those and it’s not the 6 foot thing….), but I enter one of those books with the delight of knowing I’m someone else totally for a while. And that’s a kick-ass hero with no one waiting at home for me to hang out the washing.

What heroine is most like you?
I so don’t want to be one of those TSTL heroines, but I’m not very heroic material. I get lost easily, I get scared in the face of physical danger (you know, like having dental work), and although I reckon I know what to do in a crisis, it’s often the wrong thing (according to hubby). So I won’t tar any poor heroine with my character traits.

What heroine would you like to be?
One of the ones who doesn’t get lost, is brave in the face of torture (like dental work) and ALWAYS knows what to do in a crisis. But still looks sexy *lol*. I’d like to look like I imagine Stephanie Plum does. She wears jersey tops and teased hair like I wish I could. Oh, and did I mention she fascinates both Joe Morelli and Ranger? A girl could have a worse aim in life.

Boxers, Briefs, boxer briefs, kilt (I say we add commando)?
Commando. Boxer briefs a close second. Tell you what, ask the guy to take them off and I’ll make a scientific comparison.

Favorite book set on a tropical island.
I can’t think of any except Lord of the Flies (was it?) and The Beach LOL. Can I stretch the tropical theme and have Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassen? Or am I just exposing the fact I’m geographically-challenged? I’m sure there are tropical islands in Florida…

What hero is most like your significant other?
James Bond. No, really. Well, my SO is the first man I’d turn to in a crisis – when I’m lost and facing the torture-thing - and what’s more, he has a fine sense of direction so I could rely on him to get us out of it. Oh, and he’d love the Aston Martin.

What hero would you like to be your significant other?
None. I have my hero already J

If you were stuck on a desert island what 3 things would you bring?
Coffee, laptopwithinternetconnection (that’s only one thing, right?) and toast. Damn, that means no marmalade on the toast, I’ve used up my 3 things, never mind.

Favorite drink to bring to the DIK party
Crème de menthe frappe. So call me pretentious. But I love it and it’s also good for indigestion after living on all that coffee and toast.

You can visit Clare London here
http://www.clarelondon.co.uk
or at her blog .
http://clarelondon.livejournal.com/

Probably The Most Random Post You've Ever Read

As I was perusing my local library’s web site for books and happily clicking hold buttons, I had an old memory surface from the deep dark recesses of my mind. Remember when you had to write your name on an index card to check out a book? Looking at that card, you could see who checked out the book before you. How cool was it if you got to write your name below the name of the cute boy you secretly liked? It was magical. It was fate. It was DESTINY. I’m pretty sure that in some countries it means you’re married or something. Well, that and maybe there has to be an exchange of a goat or two.

Technology has changed a lot of things at the library. Remember those big wooden card catalogs? Gone. Remember all the time spent in 3rd grade learning the Dewey Decimal system? What a freaking waste of time. We could have used that valuable time to learn more New Math, or the metric system. Thanks a lot President Ford. (Those of you who are also children of the 70’s know what I’m talking about) Now when I want a book, I click the hold button on the library web site and they call me when my books are ready. I walk in the library, go to the desk and they hand me my books. I don’t even have to look at the shelves anymore. Pretty sweet. But I do kinda miss the magic of the index cards.

Technology has also changed the way we read and purchase books. In March, I got a Kindle 2 for my birthday and to date I have 115 books on it. When I say I have a Kindle, some people react like I have sacrificed my soul on the altar of Amazon and make the sign of the cross to ward off the evil oozing from my pores. I don’t care. They can bite me. I love my Kindle. I want to marry it and have its babies. I saw a tweet yesterday that said “Kindle is coming to the UK, for the better or for the worst.” Really? For the worst? How could it be for the worst? Look, nobody’s gonna force you to buy a Kindle. If you don’t want it, don’t buy it. But maybe some people in the UK would like to buy a Kindle, so now they can. What’s the big deal? Is there some underlying evil I’m missing?

Sure, there are some things that bother me, like why oh why can’t I get Julie Garwood’s backlist of medievals on the Kindle. Judith McNaught’s A Kingdom of Dreams? Not on Kindle. The major T-Pain in my ass right now? Some publishers *coughStMartinscough* are charging $7.99 for a Mass Market Paperback and then charge me $9.99 for the Kindle version. See, here's the deal pubs, if I shell out money for an e-reader, chances are I spend money and read books. Yeah. Go figure. In fact, people who buy e-reading devices are probably your best customers. In these tough ecomomic times, do you really want to piss off your best customers? Publishers, please don’t turn our relationship into a manipulationship. Manipulationships are ugly because both parties can engage. I could make a list of all the pubs that do this. Maybe I’ll call it “Kindlers List.” People would read that list publishers, oh yes they would, and then they would get all angryfied and boycotty. Because that’s what people do when they feel like they’re getting the shaft. Or maybe not. Maybe they’ll just go to the library. So straighten up, fly right and make it fair.

For the most part, I’m loving my Kindle. I have 115 books I don’t have collecting dust on my book shelves and I can carry around those 115 books everywhere I go. I’ve downloaded free e-books and found a lot of new authors that I probably would never have read otherwise and I’ve bought their backlist or their new releases because of it. This has come in very handy these past 4 months.

My mom was diagnosed with cancer in May and the last 4 months have been one hellish hospital stay after another and lots of my time spent traveling from Missouri to Illinois to Texas and back. My Kindle has been a godsend. I can buy and read books while sitting in the airports and hospital rooms. My mom is a big reader as well and I credit her with instilling in me my love of reading aka my addiction. She encouraged me to read at a very young age by reading to me, showing me that reading was important and enjoyable by having a book in her hands almost everyday and by introducing me to the library. Love you mom! :)

Before I leave to go stay with her, I download samples of books I think she may like and hasn’t read yet. I let her read the samples and choose the book she wants to read and buy it right then and there without having to leave the hospital. So convenient! More often than not, we turn on the Text To Speech feature and we, as well as the other cancer patients in the room, listen to the books. (Sshhhhhh. Don’t tell the Authors Guild) I can’t tell you how much this has helped her frame of mind. It gives us all something to think about and talk about besides pain, surgeries and cancer.

So eff off e-book and e-reader haters. I love my Kindle and I’m not sorry. (Pssst, Kindle, I’ll be the big spoon tonight.)

P.S. While I was tripping down memory lane, I thought of a few more obsolete things. Remember these?

Skate keys that you wore on a string around your neck.
The Frito Bandito
TV’s that took about 5 minutes to warm up
A-bomb safety drills at school
Crissy dolls that grew longer hair when you pushed a button on their head.
Laundry detergent that came with free glasses or dishes in the box.
Milk came in glass bottles with cardboard tops
The egg lady would deliver TO YOUR HOUSE a dozen fresh eggs for 45 cents. 50 cents for brown eggs
Romper Room (I had my very own Romper Stompers)
The soap opera Dark Shadows and the cartoon Jonny Quest used to scare the crap outa me.

Ahhhhh…the 70’s. The decade where there were no “participant trophies”, (There were only winners and if you weren’t the winner you were the LOSER so suck it up you big crybaby.) and the word “self-esteem” wasn’t even invented yet.

What are some of your favorite memories of things that no longer exist and make you feel really old when you talk about them?