The Bucket List Part four – ‘Chilled Out’

Release day is finally here!  When I offered to write a Christmas version of The Bucket List back in August, December (as it always does) seemed to be an age away. Of course, it’s here with a bang, as are Lucy, Amber and all her friends.

This story contains a small surprise. I could tell you, but I will let my very good friend and fellow author Robert Fanshaw reveal the details on his blog. His first book, ‘Shameless Ambition’ was part of the reason I was able to craft ‘Chilled Out’ in the first place. Thanks Robert!

This story was a hoot to create. Anyone who has read other books in The Bucket List series will recognise some old friends from the first and third stories. Whilst the series doesn’t have to be read in order, it does progress with the numbers and regular readers will notice small changes in the characters’ lifestyle.

I’m also hoping to announce the release of a small Lucy-and-Amber freebie… a prequel to the series. More on that when it’s ready.

In the meantime, stay warm, curl up with a good book (might I recommend one of mine or Robert’s?) and drink hot chocolate with no guilt whatsoever!

Double Whammy, bammy, thank you…etc

Well, the Christmas special of The Bucket List (Part Four – Chilled Out) is now complete and is having a wee rest before the final read-through. As promised there is a little surprise in there for readers of other SteameReads stories. I’m not going to say any more at this time *winks*

Chilled Out reprises some of the characters who have appeared in earlier Bucket List stories and may even contain a new romantic thread for poor Lucy…

It still feels a little strange to be writing a Christmas special in September. But I guess actors have to do this sort of thing all the time…

On another note, SteameReads have asked if I would like to try my hand at some M/M stories, so this week I borrowed the (fire fighting) cast of TBL3 ‘Flames of Passion’ and penned the first 1600 words. I like the way its developing, so watch this space!

Annie

X

SSS from TBL2

This week’s Six Sentence Sunday is from the upcoming novella and second Bucket List story, ‘Caught.’

Amber has lured her BFF Lucy to the bed section of a large department store. It’s late in the evening, and no-one appears to be around.

She indicates the largest, softest bed in the store…

“I just love this bed,” she said,  “and I wondered how it would feel to share it with you – when we get our own place.”

“Our own – ?”  My question trailed off into a dry croak. 

“Are we going to have to move?”  I was crushed. 

I’d grown to love the big house;  wandering around its vast space, naked or clothed, I’d experienced a freedom that had been akin to childhood memories, when cares were few and quickly forgotten.

“Move?  Nah,” Amber grinned, then she frowned.  “You don’t want to move out, do you?”

“Course not.” My eyes stung with relief.  “Never…I love…that house.”  

I’d nearly said ‘I love you’ but that suddenly felt awkward.

All right, that was more than six…but I soooo wanted you to get the full flavour of the love between Amber and Lucy.

Forgive me?

SSS from TBL2

This week’s Six Sentence Sunday is from the upcoming (fingers crossed) novella and second Bucket List story, ‘Caught.’

Amber has lured her BFF Lucy to the bed section of a large department store. It’s late in the evening, and no-one appears to be around.  Amber sashays up to me (Lucy), smiles and then…

Her large soft lips pressed against mine. 

In a moment, she was devouring me, her eager mouth engulfing mine, lifting me away from the cares of this world and into a weightless dreamy oblivion. 

I sank into bliss and tiny moans crept from my throat – until I remembered where we were and broke the kiss. 

“Amber, we’re in the middle of a department store.  The place is closing.  We’ll get locked in…”

“Not such a bad thing,” Amber cooed, taking hold of my chin to turn my head back towards her.

Annie

Really, really put my foot in it this week!

I wanted to begin today’s blog post by telling you a little more about myself, but then I realised that after having changed my on-line name twice to avoid

A)    Perverts and Spammers and

B)     being noticed (again) by my work colleagues and bosses

that telling you personal stuff would be kind of self-defeating.  I’d love to share a little more about me with my friendly followers – it’s beginning to feel like a family here – but I’m risking being exposed (not THAT kind of exposure!) to those who would mock, ridicule and generally hand me my notice.

So instead I’ll tell you a little more about what I do when I’m not rambling away on my blog.

I’ve been very lucky to be found by Steam eReads, an Australian publisher who specialises in erotic stories.  However, most of my writing income is still generated by ghostwriting – those short stories that are created in a whirl of inspiration, then sent off into the electronic abyss never to be heard from again.  It’s a little sad – rather like fostering children who never write home once they’ve left.  That’s why Steam eReads has become a little like a literary anchor to me.  My name is on the cover of the book that I wrote and they’ve been nice enough to allow me a say in the cover and the final editing.

Ghostwriting is my bread and butter for now, though.  So I continue to trawl for work, fend off those who can’t read what I specialise in (No, I DON’T do web design – where did it say that on my resumee??) and hum and haw over offers of $15 for 10,000 word ‘short’ stories.  Do I really need the work that badly?

But this week I put my foot in it.  I was asked if I could produce a 6k short story with a gay element – featuring two or more participants.  Erotica, I thought.  I can do that.  I can do gay erotica.  After all, my BFF characters Amber and Lucy are always ‘at it.’

I accepted the challenge – and was shocked when the outline arrived.  I’d naturally assumed (as you may have) that I would be writing about two (or more) girlfriends.

Nope.

The contractor wanted guy-guy stuff.

Aw, shoot.

Pun not intended.

I credit myself with a pretty good set of imagination neurons, but this was off the beaten track, even for me.  Yes, I have a gay friend.  I might even have two (I must ask him if he is – just to be sure).  But this will take some ‘getting inside the head’ stuff.

The alternative is turning down dollars that I can really use.

*sighs*.

Time to start following more gay (guy) blogs?

Definitely time to start checking the job descriptions more closely.

Any advice, guys and girls?