Cherry Cox's Blog

​Hey, it’s my birthday! 

Well, it’s not actually today. But it is coming up on December 1.

And to celebrate, the good people at Paperback Pleasures a hosting an ebook giveaway. Yes, they’re giving away ten free copies of IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP.

To be in the running all you have to do is subscribe to their newsletter. So, if you’ve been um-ing and ah-ing about downloading it, now’s your chance to get it for free!

And did you know that once you subscribe to Paperback Pleasures newsletter you can get other free stuff? Like a magazine interview with the boys from Acts of Insanity... The giveaway starts at midnight on November 23 so head on over there and subscribe for your chance to WIN!

http://www.paperbackpleasures.com/birthday-giveaway.html

The great science fiction writer Isaac Asimov once said:

From my close observation of writers… they fall into two groups: 1) those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review, and 2) those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review.

After a year and a half of plotting, developing, drafting, crafting, agonizing, re-writing, editing, and re-editing, I’m pleased to say IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP has now hit the virtual book stores. It is now on the virtual shelves!

The hard work has been done, the sparkling wine has been sipped, the hangover has been endured, and the manuscript, painstakingly crafted, has now been sent into the big wide world to be read, judged, loved, hated, and ultimately - reviewed.

Like most writers, I’d like to think that everyone is going to love my baby as much as I do. Logic, of course, tells me that this unreasonable. And there are those who continue to remind me that if I can’t stand the heat, I should not have ventured into the kitchen.

Well, like all good rebels, I not only went into the kitchen but I played with fire.
When I began writing IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP, I honestly gave no thought whatsoever to the idea that it might be reviewed. I had no real idea that it would be held up to scrutiny, that it would be criticized and critiqued, assessed and appraised. I just wanted to write a book that I would like to read.

However, now that it's out there, I'm now fully aware that at some point I am going to have to deal with criticism - good, bad, or ugly. In 2012, urban fantasy writer Stacia Kane said:

NO reader has ANY obligation to an author, whether it be to leave a review or to write a “constructive” one. I put out a product. You are consumers of that product. Since when does that mean you have to kiss my ass? Hey, I like Pop-Tarts and eat them a few times a year; since when does that mean I’m obligated to support Kellogg’s in any way except legally purchasing the Pop-Tarts before I eat them? I wasn’t aware that purchasing and consuming a product meant that I was under some sort of fucking thrall in which I’m only allowed to either praise the Pop-Tart (which to be honest isn’t hard, especially the S’mores flavour) or, if I am going to criticize a flavour, offer a specific and detailed analysis as to why, phrased in as inoffensive and gentle manner as possible so as not to upset the gentle people at Kellogg’s. 

That’s one great attitude towards the inevitable. I think I’ll adopt it, if Stacia doesn’t mind, of course.

Love my book or hate it. Either way, you owe me nothing.
​
But I do owe you. And to those of you who have already purchased it, to those who have downloaded it and read it, I hope it was worth it.

Happy Rocktober, motherf**kers!

Yes, I'm happy, can you tell? I'm happy because IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP is finally about to hit the virtual book shelves.

Rocktober 21st.  Mark it down. It's important. It's also the date in time to which Marty and the Doc travel.

It's an auspicious day. Really.

For the last fifteen or so years, my focus has been on writing screenplays as well as adapting other writers’ manuscripts into screenplays. I don’t know if you know anything about screenwriting, but let me tell you it’s a hard gig. And unless you’re Aaron Sorkin you can often find yourself wondering if the challenges of writing a screenplay are actually worth the effort. Well, yes, it is worth the effort but the rewards can be achingly few.
​
It was as I was toiling away on yet another adaptation, this time a romance/mystery, that the idea for IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP first injected itself into my tragedy-loving brain. Just like the Greeks of old, I love a good drama and love it all the more if it’s a tragic drama. Now, I guess you’re wondering if this makes me psychologically impaired or damaged in some way. Maybe it does, I don’t know... I know I’m not a half glass empty kind of person. On the contrary, I’m a glass half full kind of gal. All I know is that I’m fascinated by the passions that compel people to behave in destructive and self-destructive ways. Always have been. 

The Greeks were also fascinated by tragedy. Their plays dealt with all the big themes: love, pride, loss, power, and the rocky relationships between mortals, and gods and mortals. Their plays often followed a basic structure: the conceited protagonist commits some kind of crime then as his world crumbles around him he comes to realize the error of his arrogant ways.

In dramatic art, the term ‘catharsis’ describes the effect that tragedy has on the audience. Essentially, it means purification (of the heart) through the purging of emotions (especially pity and fear) through art. If we are able to divest ourselves of petty worries and concerns, we are, thereby, able to realize that there is nobility in suffering.

Now, I think I may have mentioned, once upon a time, that romance was never really my thing, especially romance of the Mills & Boon variety. But a pay check’s a pay check and we all do what we have to do to keep a roof over our heads, right? So, as I worked my way through the romance/mystery manuscript searching for hooks and motivations, plot points and character arcs, I began to think - I can do this. I can write a romance…

But I didn’t want to write an ordinary romance. I wanted write a romance with grit. After all, a romance with grit was still a romance, right? So, in July 2013, I sketched out a plot for my very first romance novel, indeed my very first novel. And now, here we are, almost one year to the day, and that novel is about to the hit virtual book store shelves.

So, if you love gritty rock ’n’ roll, if you love a killer tragedy, then this is the book for you! AVALAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW FROM AMAZON

AVAILABLE FROM iBOOKS 21ST ROCKTOBER CHERRY COX ON AMAZON

I know I haven’t checked in for a while, and I’m really sorry about that. However, there has been a lot going on. There’s always a lot going on but this week more than usual…

A few weeks ago, I was driving home after checking out my friend’s band one Friday evening. Unfortunately an inattentive cab driver, who was no doubt giving his undivided attention to his attractive lady passenger, ploughed straight into the back of me. The damage to my car wasn’t too bad and I’m still able to drive it; however, I have grief a-plenty when it rains because the lid of the trunk is buckled and water leaks in. But I’m counting my blessings because no one was injured and we’re all around to do battle with the insurance company.

My beloved-yet-ancient car never once complained. It just kept going, like it always does, getting me from A to B in its quiet yet dedicated way. Until yesterday. Yesterday, it groaned and squealed like it was in serious, serious pain. Something was terribly wrong.  However, thankfully it was nothing that a trip to the mechanic and $600 dollars couldn’t fix. I’m pleased to say we’re back in business – despite still battling with the insurance company.

In the midst of all that vehicular mayhem, my number #1 son, son #1, my first born, my beloved child, informs me that he’s moving out of home - and for a moment, I’m speechless. I mean, I knew this day was coming and I know it is the natural cycle of things… But wow.

Then I promptly got over the shock and sense of loss and said, “What can I do to help?”

So, son #1 is moving out with his girlfriend. He is happy. And I am happy. Son #2 is happy. We’re all happy. The time has come and I know son #1 will do great. More blessings to count.

Then, some super-duper news regarding my novel. Dick Ward, the immensely talented actor/singer/improviser/performer, is narrating the audio book version of IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP. Now let me tell you, Dick has a beautiful voice, mellifluous, honeyed, baritone. It is very, very sexy, and I am ecstatic that he is the voice of INSANITY.

So, Rocktober is just around the corner and I’m just a little bit excited that IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP will soon be available. I know it’s not in the stores yet but I’m already working on book #2 in the series.

And I’m off to count my blessings for they are many. Thanks for checking in and I’ll see you in Rocktober!

The very gorgeous Dick Ward

And you know what that means, don’t you?

It means the long-awaited release of IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP is just a few short weeks away and I couldn’t be more excited. And nervous. Excited.

I got the idea for IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP well over a year ago and now, after months of story development, character development, staring at blank screens, and wrestling with writer’s block, it’s about to hit the virtual shelves.

It’s one thing to write a novel; however, it’s quite another to set it free. And as we get closer and closer to the release date, I’m becoming increasingly aware of my ‘launch anxieties’. These are pesky little things that I didn’t think I had, but alas… And yes, they are enough to keep me awake at night plagued with questions like: Is it good enough? Did I do enough? And, what could I have done better? I’m sure every author on the planet experiences the same anxiety as they stare down the barrel of a new release date.

I try not to ask myself the big question: Will people like it? It’s a loaded question and like all art a written work’s creative value is subjective. Without question, writing is a risky business. Authors pour their inner-most thoughts and emotions out onto a page then hold it up for the whole world to see. And the whole world will, of course, judge them by it. In that light, I reached out to an acquaintance who is a Senior Editor at a publishing company in Melbourne, Australia and asked her to take a look at the manuscript pre-launch. This is what she said:

Raw, sexy, electrifying. A world where music is God and Rock n' Roll is a religion, Cherry Cox delivers the sounds, smells and tastes that is the 80s rock era.

Jax is an unforgettable character, leading you down the dark slivers of the industry as he struggles to accept himself in a world that's not yet ready to. I swayed from wanting to comfort him, slap him, jam with him and fuck him.

Cox has captured the sexual tension and chemistry between Jax and Harley brilliantly, leading the way for a partnership that has to succeed in more ways than one. Each scene made me feel like I was there in the moment, whether that was being part of the band and playing music, to being in the corner of a seedy bar, reeking of booze and itching for my next fix.

Acts of Insanity paves the way to a new genre, where rock and sex come together in a spectacular way. I can't remember the last time I read a story where I was so emotionally invested in the characters, and their plight, I just kept coming back for more!

Needless to say, I was very happy with her review. Needless to say, I’m still nervous. But there’s no going back, Acts of Insanity is about to take to the stage.

Oh, and if you want to get a heads up on the band, head on over to PAPERBACK PLEASURES and sign up to their mailing list. Doing so will get you a freebie copy of CHEAP SHOT magazine’s interview with Jax, Harley, and the rest of the boys from the band.

And you know what that means, don’t you?

It means the long-awaited release of IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP is just a few short weeks away and I couldn’t be more excited. And nervous. Excited.

I got the idea for IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP well over a year ago and now, after months of story development, character development, staring at blank screens, and wrestling with writer’s block, it’s about to hit the virtual shelves.

It’s one thing to write a novel; however, it’s quite another to set it free. And as we get closer and closer to the release date, I’m becoming increasingly aware of my ‘launch anxieties’. These are pesky little things that I didn’t think I had, but alas… And yes, they are enough to keep me awake at night plagued with questions like: Is it good enough? Did I do enough? And, what could I have done better? I’m sure every author on the planet experiences the same anxiety as they stare down the barrel of a new release date.

I try not to ask myself the big question: Will people like it? It’s a loaded question and like all art a written work’s creative value is subjective. Without question, writing is a risky business. Authors pour their inner-most thoughts and emotions out onto a page then hold it up for the whole world to see. And the whole world will, of course, judge them by it. In that light, I reached out to an acquaintance who is a Senior Editor at a publishing company in Melbourne, Australia and asked her to take a look at the manuscript pre-launch. This is what she said:

Raw, sexy, electrifying. A world where music is God and Rock n' Roll is a religion, Cherry Cox delivers the sounds, smells and tastes that is the 80s rock era.

Jax is an unforgettable character, leading you down the dark slivers of the industry as he struggles to accept himself in a world that's not yet ready to. I swayed from wanting to comfort him, slap him, jam with him and fuck him.

Cox has captured the sexual tension and chemistry between Jax and Harley brilliantly, leading the way for a partnership that has to succeed in more ways than one. Each scene made me feel like I was there in the moment, whether that was being part of the band and playing music, to being in the corner of a seedy bar, reeking of booze and itching for my next fix.

Acts of Insanity paves the way to a new genre, where rock and sex come together in a spectacular way. I can't remember the last time I read a story where I was so emotionally invested in the characters, and their plight, I just kept coming back for more!

Needless to say, I was very happy with her review. Needless to say, I’m still nervous. But there’s no going back, Acts of Insanity is about to take to the stage.

Oh, and if you want to get a heads up on the band, head on over to PAPERBACK PLEASURES and sign up to their mailing list. Doing so will get you a freebie copy of CHEAP SHOT magazine’s interview with Jax, Harley, and the rest of the boys from the band.

So how did I start writing M/M romance/erotica fiction? Well, that’s a good question, especially as I have never been a fan of romance stories. Ever. Apart from a few literary classics, my favorite novels are (or rather were) mostly about vampires, witches, and creatures of the night. Romance was just way too Mills and Boon for me.

Then one day, while I was surfing the web for info on my latest celebrity crush, I stumbled across a site which was dedicated to celebrity fanfic. I had no idea such a thing existed but I immediately signed up, and stayed up, and was spellbound by the dozens and dozens of M/M stories that were posted there. A lot of the stories were good, a few of them were awesome, many of them were graphic. However, every single one of them was compelling. And just like that, I was addicted.

Now, I don’t have a gay brother, or a gay son, or even a gay friend. However, as you may or may not already know, once upon a time I did have a gay lover and his struggle for acceptance, to simply be recognized as a human being, was heartbreaking. When he finally gathered the courage to come out, because he felt he could no longer live an inauthentic life, his father disowned him and most of his friends shunned him. Naturally, he was devastated. He was the same person he’d always been, yet all of a sudden an outcast. When he finally told me, it answered a lot of my questions. It certainly didn’t make me love him any less.

But back to M/M… You might be surprised to learn that a lot of M/M romance fiction is written by women. You might also be surprised to learn that M/M fiction is mostly read by women. M/M romance fiction is one of the hottest, fastest-growing sub-genres currently available in ebook land. The readership dedicated to gay romance is huge, and growing every day.

So, have I become a fan of romance stories? Yeah, I guess I have. I still love my vampires, witches, and creatures of the night. And I still love great literary fiction. But I can honestly say that I am now also a fan of romance, especially M/M romance/erotica.

If you’re new to this genre and don’t know where to start,why don't you take a look here:

http://www.maryse.net/books/book-recommendations/most-highly-recommended-mm-romance-reads.html

It's a great list. And if you do end up reading one or more of the books recommended, drop me a line and let me know what you thought of it. I’m always on the lookout for a good read...

Yep, I do. I write M/M fiction.

It has been brought to my attention that some people might be disturbed by the fact that my first novel is an M/M romance. They feel that by writing such a thing I could be alienating a large chunk of my potential audience.

Well, you know what? If that large chunk of my potential audience is alienated, then I’m sorry but that's their loss.

IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP is M/M fiction; however, it’s also a story about two lost souls who, despite the imperative to hide their true selves from the greater world, find each other and fall in love. It’s a moving, yet sometimes brutal, human drama.

I understand that M/M fiction isn’t for everyone. I understand that this M/M fiction isn’t for everyone given the explicit language/drug use/sex scenes. I don’t like huntin’, shootin’, or fishin’ so you sure as hell won’t find me reading anything to do with those activities. So, my point is this: if you don’t like M/M fiction, if it offends you in any way, then don’t read it. It’s as simple as that.

Personally, I love M/M fiction (obviously). I love reading it, I love writing it. However, I also love reading and writing M/F fiction. And angel fiction. I love reading steampunk fiction, vampire, sci-fi, horror, historical, and good ol’ literary fiction. I also love reading bios and non-fiction. I’ve even been known to read the cereal box in those terrible, terrible times when there’s nothing else in the house to read!

So, yes, I love M/M fiction. And who knows, if you dare to try it you might just find that deep down inside you like it too…

Yep, I do. I write M/M fiction.

It has been brought to my attention that some people might be disturbed by the fact that my first novel is an M/M romance. They feel that by writing such a thing I could be alienating a large chunk of my potential audience.

Well, you know what? If that large chunk of my potential audience is alienated, then I’m sorry but that's their loss.

IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP is M/M fiction; however, it’s also a story about two lost souls who, despite the imperative to hide their true selves from the greater world, find each other and fall in love. It’s a moving, yet sometimes brutal, human drama.

I understand that M/M fiction isn’t for everyone. I understand that this M/M fiction isn’t for everyone given the explicit language/drug use/sex scenes. I don’t like huntin’, shootin’, or fishin’ so you sure as hell won’t find me reading anything to do with those activities. So, my point is this: if you don’t like M/M fiction, if it offends you in any way, then don’t read it. It’s as simple as that.

Personally, I love M/M fiction (obviously). I love reading it, I love writing it. However, I also love reading and writing M/F fiction. And angel fiction. I love reading steampunk fiction, vampire, sci-fi, horror, historical, and good ol’ literary fiction. I also love reading bios and non-fiction. I’ve even been known to read the cereal box in those terrible, terrible times when there’s nothing else in the house to read!

So, yes, I love M/M fiction. And who knows, if you dare to try it you might just find that deep down inside you like it too…

I'm so excited to let you know that my debut novel IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP, book one in the Acts of Insanity series, is scheduled for release this fall.

The Acts of Insanity series is a story about a hard rock band struggling to make it on the Sunset Strip in 1985. More than that, it's a story about the taboo romance between the band's two most important members.

"Well, let me tell you this rock star - the world isn't ready for a gay guitar god, you understand me? The world isn’t ready for gay. One word of this gets out, one whiff of suspicion, and it’s over. Do you understand that?”

Many years ago, I was a musician and a performer. I also had a lover who was a junkie, and another who was gay. (No, I did not have these lovers at the same time - in case you were wondering.) Both of these beautiful men struggled with complex emotional issues, and with finding their place in society. Being a part of their struggle was heartbreaking. Sadly, neither one of them is alive today...

I was also married to a drummer who had his own set of complex emotional issues. Needless to say, we're now divorced.

IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP is not something I wrote in an effort to jump on the 'romance novel' bandwagon. The idea for this book has been swirling around in my head for a long time. Years, actually. It's only now that I have the luxury of time to get the words on the page.

IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP is not for the feint-hearted. It's raw and hard-core but at the same time it's fun and deeply moving. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

So for now, stay great and if you feel so inclined, drop me a line. 

Cherry.