Hi guys!
New Steps
NaNoWriMo! I forgot to mention this in my last Check in, but I used a printable by Heart Breathings, a.k.a. Sarra Cannon to help prepare myself for this month of craziness. So far, so good. I’ve logged just over 6,000 words in three days, and am on track to log another around 1700-2000 today. Go me! To help with this, I buddied up with fellow writer Renee Wittman so we can help each other stay accountable. I’ve known Renee since high school, but it was only recently that we got back in touch. She was the one who introduced me to the Last Herald Mage trilogy by Mercedes Lackey way back when. It was my first foray into high fantasy, and I absolutely adore it. I still read it every couple years. In fact, my set of the books is getting a little ratty, so one of my milestone rewards is buying myself a copy of the omnibus.
So far, I’ve been working on primarily two stories. Travel Blogger and Brother Drakaina.
Travel Blogger is a contemporary romance short story about Elijah. He is nursing a ravaged heart by travelling the country learning people’s stories and discovering the hidden gems of America. But he never expected to meet Jay, another man who is just as troubled as he. Together perhaps they can heal their broken hearts.
Brother Drakaina is a high fantasy short story set in the kingdom of Skymound. Mikon’s twin sister was prophesized to inherit the Dragon Soul, making her the Drakaina, half of the ruling couple. The Drake, the other half, also inherits a Dragon Soul. They are two sides of the same coin. Once they accept each other it unlocks a powerful magic inside them which fuels the barrier that keeps the five kingdoms protected from the Shadow Realm. But during the ceremony something goes awry, and Mikon’s life will never be the same.
I’m super excited for both of these. They are wildly different, but it’s nice because it gives me a choice depending on what mood I’m in. Do I want to work on a sweet, sappy, humorous rom-com, or do I want a pensive, magical, and serious fantasy? Sometimes both.
The Breakdown
When Harry Met Harry by Sydney Smyth, narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Malcolm Young
At the beginning of the story, Henry “Harry” Lee is a businessman from Singapore who has a chip on his shoulder the size of his father, and Harrison “Harry” Fields is a recent theater graduate who is at the end of a long backpacking adventure around the world. They get stuck annoying each other on an 18 hour flight from Singapore back to the States. Most notably by Henry telling Harrison that gay man can’t be friends because sex always gets in the way! They gratefully part ways to go on with their lives. But five years later they are thrust back together by fate. Hilarity and a little heartbreak ensues.
I just finished listening to the audiobook of this adorable contemporary m/m romance, and I loved it. The back and forth, twists and turns, jubilation and irritation are all superb. The dialogue was amazing. The story unfolded organically and I could completely see this happening IRL unlike most stories of this trope I’ve read before. Highly, highly recommended. Oh, and the two guys that narrate it are fantastic as well.
Living Life
The job is going really well. I’m learning the systems quickly, and everyone is really nice. I am one of the only two women in the building. There are about 25 guys, many in and out. But ten are there all the time. It will take some getting used to because it is about the opposite of the last place I worked. But I can’t complain. Especially because I get my own office with a big window.
Stay in tune for next week with more NaNoWriMo updates and my next recommendation.
As always, thanks for checking out the site and I hope everyone is doing well. If you feel so inclined, check out my social media and head over to Medium.com for exclusive content.
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