Sienna Sway's Blog - Posts Tagged "romance"
Just One Bite (volume 6) review
To start This new Goodreads blog, I think I should give my review of Just One Bite (volume six) which had my short story in its line up.
Overall it was a good read, really generally fun and exactly the type of thing that I am often in the mood for but rarely can find.
The anthology is a collection of eight romance short stories all featuring gay romances entwined in some way with the supernatural. The obvious choices there are for werewolves and vampires(my own story no exception to that) and so there was plenty of both. In fact that would be my only complaint, that of all eight stories only Sitting a Feisty Stallion by ID Locke and Of Men and Mice by Mira Ismine were not about one or the other. Luckily the variety of the vampires and werewolves from one story to the next were different enough that it still wasn't much of an issue.
The first story Taste a Werewolf by Megan Derr was a fun read that was great to start off with and really set the tone for most of the book. In it a vampire professor satisfies his cravings for a werewolf student by hiring werewolf prostitutes whenever he gets the cravings. When he calls for a playmate this night though, the very person he's been fantasizing about walks through the door. Really unique in my opinion, even if only for the relationship dynamic. Vampire professor, really, who thinks of stuff like that? Megan Derr apparently.
The second story was my own, The Visitor by Rukaya Hamdi. I wont say much here, but I did notice that its the only werewolf in the whole bunch who turns on the full moon completely out of his own control. I think the Hollywood style is a little out of fashion now. What can I say, I love werewolves of all types.
Third on the list was Bound For Death by Anitra Lynn McLeod featuring a beached Vampire tied up on the sand and waiting for death when a friend finds him. He knows escape is futile but that doesn't stop them from enjoying his last night. This one was in my opinion kinky and very sexy. Probably the hottest sex in the book. The now or never vibe mixed with being tied up and it was pretty much in the bag.
Bite the Dust by Sarah Madison was to me the most unique for a romance. In it a vampire stalks the night, the decision made that he will kill tonight. He follows a variety of people before finally landing on the most interesting; two men one hunting the other. In a strange turn of events he end up saving one from the other. I believe this is the only story without a sex scene but for some reason it still felt like it was moving too fast at the end. The characters were very compelling but I think a longer version of this that was extended would be a bit more satisfying at the end.
Friends, Not Food by Julia Talbot takes it back into the realm of quirky supernatural with a human boy living in a house with all vampire and werewolf roommates. Apparently the MC is very attractive because he has been mercilessly hit on by every one of his roommates except one, the one that he wants of course. This one was definitely sweet. Yet another couple from the book that I would love to read more of.
Of Men and Mice by Mira Ismine was possibly my favourite story out of the anthology. When one character is a fox shifter and the Other an owl shifter there's little or nowhere to go wrong. This couple had a great chemistry and the story was totally unique and sweet.
The seventh story I Promise by Cardeno C. was more emotional than most of the others. In it, the MC had already met and separated from the love of his life, due to being turned into a vampire. A flashback shows his old love and explains his current misery but is happiness going to reappear in his afterlife? I Promise was very sweet, and gushy just as one would expect from this type of anthology.
Last but not least was the story Sitting a Feisty Stallion by ID Locke. This one featured a phooka and his consort, a horse trainer. An interesting duo with lots of interesting ways that their relationship could play out. I found it adorable that the phooka got jealous when his partner rode another horse, and in general they were a cute pair. I do wish that the phooka's heavy Gaelic accent wasn't written quite as strongly as it was though. It did interrupt with the reading flow a little bit, but even then it was hard not to get into the story.
As a whole, Just One Bite Volume Six was a very entertaining read. Some stories stood out more than others but because of the variety of the stories I think that there is bound to be at least a couple of gems in the collection for all readers. In fact it was good enough for me to download and begin to read the whole Just One Bite series.
And hey, its a free read. Can't go wrong there.
Overall it was a good read, really generally fun and exactly the type of thing that I am often in the mood for but rarely can find.
The anthology is a collection of eight romance short stories all featuring gay romances entwined in some way with the supernatural. The obvious choices there are for werewolves and vampires(my own story no exception to that) and so there was plenty of both. In fact that would be my only complaint, that of all eight stories only Sitting a Feisty Stallion by ID Locke and Of Men and Mice by Mira Ismine were not about one or the other. Luckily the variety of the vampires and werewolves from one story to the next were different enough that it still wasn't much of an issue.
The first story Taste a Werewolf by Megan Derr was a fun read that was great to start off with and really set the tone for most of the book. In it a vampire professor satisfies his cravings for a werewolf student by hiring werewolf prostitutes whenever he gets the cravings. When he calls for a playmate this night though, the very person he's been fantasizing about walks through the door. Really unique in my opinion, even if only for the relationship dynamic. Vampire professor, really, who thinks of stuff like that? Megan Derr apparently.
The second story was my own, The Visitor by Rukaya Hamdi. I wont say much here, but I did notice that its the only werewolf in the whole bunch who turns on the full moon completely out of his own control. I think the Hollywood style is a little out of fashion now. What can I say, I love werewolves of all types.
Third on the list was Bound For Death by Anitra Lynn McLeod featuring a beached Vampire tied up on the sand and waiting for death when a friend finds him. He knows escape is futile but that doesn't stop them from enjoying his last night. This one was in my opinion kinky and very sexy. Probably the hottest sex in the book. The now or never vibe mixed with being tied up and it was pretty much in the bag.
Bite the Dust by Sarah Madison was to me the most unique for a romance. In it a vampire stalks the night, the decision made that he will kill tonight. He follows a variety of people before finally landing on the most interesting; two men one hunting the other. In a strange turn of events he end up saving one from the other. I believe this is the only story without a sex scene but for some reason it still felt like it was moving too fast at the end. The characters were very compelling but I think a longer version of this that was extended would be a bit more satisfying at the end.
Friends, Not Food by Julia Talbot takes it back into the realm of quirky supernatural with a human boy living in a house with all vampire and werewolf roommates. Apparently the MC is very attractive because he has been mercilessly hit on by every one of his roommates except one, the one that he wants of course. This one was definitely sweet. Yet another couple from the book that I would love to read more of.
Of Men and Mice by Mira Ismine was possibly my favourite story out of the anthology. When one character is a fox shifter and the Other an owl shifter there's little or nowhere to go wrong. This couple had a great chemistry and the story was totally unique and sweet.
The seventh story I Promise by Cardeno C. was more emotional than most of the others. In it, the MC had already met and separated from the love of his life, due to being turned into a vampire. A flashback shows his old love and explains his current misery but is happiness going to reappear in his afterlife? I Promise was very sweet, and gushy just as one would expect from this type of anthology.
Last but not least was the story Sitting a Feisty Stallion by ID Locke. This one featured a phooka and his consort, a horse trainer. An interesting duo with lots of interesting ways that their relationship could play out. I found it adorable that the phooka got jealous when his partner rode another horse, and in general they were a cute pair. I do wish that the phooka's heavy Gaelic accent wasn't written quite as strongly as it was though. It did interrupt with the reading flow a little bit, but even then it was hard not to get into the story.
As a whole, Just One Bite Volume Six was a very entertaining read. Some stories stood out more than others but because of the variety of the stories I think that there is bound to be at least a couple of gems in the collection for all readers. In fact it was good enough for me to download and begin to read the whole Just One Bite series.
And hey, its a free read. Can't go wrong there.
Kissing Santa
I am very happy to say that Kissing Santa has been released! It is a short sweet christmas story about a gay couple deciding to move forward in their relationship.
I'm particularly fond of the couple and considered writing follow up stories taking us through the various holidays. In fact a short Valentines story is already ready to go on my blog in February.
This is actually the first story I've released that has been published in a traditional way (submission, acceptance, editing schedules, release dates, etc.) I have to say that it's been incredibly exciting.
Here's to hoping that it is the first of many. :)
If you're interested the short story can be purchased through torquere press or a couple other third party sellers.
Here's the link and thanks for reading!
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.ph...
I'm particularly fond of the couple and considered writing follow up stories taking us through the various holidays. In fact a short Valentines story is already ready to go on my blog in February.
This is actually the first story I've released that has been published in a traditional way (submission, acceptance, editing schedules, release dates, etc.) I have to say that it's been incredibly exciting.
Here's to hoping that it is the first of many. :)
If you're interested the short story can be purchased through torquere press or a couple other third party sellers.
Here's the link and thanks for reading!
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.ph...
The realities of being a writer OR The art of not selling
So, as some of you may know, last March I had my first novel published.
Well, it was a novella actually, but with the few short stories I’ve had published over the years it was (and is) the longest piece of writing I’ve had published.
It was a lot of firsts for me. First time working with an editor, first time working with a cover artist, first time having something published as a stand alone and not in an anthology.
It was incredible and fun and exciting and it made me hungry for more. I couldn’t wait to finish my next book. It would be longer and better.
The thing is, when I wrote Cold Blood, Warm Heart I thought it had everything. It was filled with excitement, had sexy chemistry between the leads, a strong heroin and some heart. Also, it was short. I actually thought it would be a quick fun read. You know, a beach book for the paranormal romance fan. I didn’t think sales would be an issue.
And then I didn’t sell a single copy.
It was made available on Cobblestone press’ site, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc. and yet not a single copy sold.
I waited in excitement for friends and family at least, to snatch up one of these little ebooks but even that didn’t happen.
My first quarterly statement arrived in my email box with a great big 0 in the “copies sold” box.
It was a weirdly numbing experience. I thought back on the writing process, on how hard I had worked, on how much fun I’d had and I was disappointed. I wanted people to read it at least, even if they hated it, I wanted it to be experienced by someone, anyone…
Eventually, I sent out a little reminder to friends and two of them purchased the book but I couldn’t help but feel it was out of pity.
Then, a young woman I had gone to high school with agreed to review the novella. She had become the book reviewer for a big newspaper-which worried me.
This was a trashy romance novel to read for fun, not a great literary work. I sent it to her anyway, fingers crossed until she finished reading it and I received her curt email saying, very briefly, “I cannot review your book”.
To be honest, it took the steam out of me even more.
You always hear stories about writers starting out and not selling. It’s not that I didn’t think that would apply to me, but for some reason, I didn’t think I would mind that.
I thought that my writing was done to nourish my soul and for no other reason. That’s not true though. It’s so unlike me to even think that way. Of course I write because I love to BUT I also cherish a sense of community. I love to talk to other writers, to share works of fiction, poetry or art that I love in order to inspire others. I love to read other people’s work and I love to contribute. I want to share. That trait is in my very being.
After a while of this deflated feeling, working on every art aside from writing fiction, I finally realized; I would have rather put it out for free somewhere like fiction press, or even Tumblr if that meant it would be read. I admit that I even stopped reading my emails.
I’ve started to write again. This time a YA novel that would be published in my real name and separately from my adult romance for obvious reasons. Yes, I still want to publish. Why? Because being a writer is what I’ve always wanted, whether anyone reads my writing or not. Heck. I don’t mind writing on the side, as long as I am actually writing.
And then I checked my email.
My publisher had missed sending me my royalties. The first quarter I had nothing. The second quarter my sales were under ten dollars so it wasn’t sent. The third quarter I had fallen through the cracks and been missed.
I opened the statement expecting nothing.
There was almost twenty dollars.
There was another ten after that but I hadn’t known about it since i’d avoided my email for so long.
Maybe a year ago thirty-five dollars would have seemed like nothing but now! Now, thirty-five dollars means that ten people have bought my book!
What an incredible feeling to go from zero to ten. I am elated.
Getting to this place took a little longer than it should have for me, but it was a lesson to keep doing what I love. It was a long winded way to remind me to keep going because any small progress is a big pay off when you work for it.
It’s funny, there are so many stories of writers being disappointed by lack of sales but there are very few to describe the absolute pleasure of knowing that even one person out there has read your work.
Keep writing all you authors out there. It is so worth it.
~
Please note that this post was available on my website/blog first- https://siennasway.wordpress.com/
Well, it was a novella actually, but with the few short stories I’ve had published over the years it was (and is) the longest piece of writing I’ve had published.
It was a lot of firsts for me. First time working with an editor, first time working with a cover artist, first time having something published as a stand alone and not in an anthology.
It was incredible and fun and exciting and it made me hungry for more. I couldn’t wait to finish my next book. It would be longer and better.
The thing is, when I wrote Cold Blood, Warm Heart I thought it had everything. It was filled with excitement, had sexy chemistry between the leads, a strong heroin and some heart. Also, it was short. I actually thought it would be a quick fun read. You know, a beach book for the paranormal romance fan. I didn’t think sales would be an issue.
And then I didn’t sell a single copy.
It was made available on Cobblestone press’ site, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc. and yet not a single copy sold.
I waited in excitement for friends and family at least, to snatch up one of these little ebooks but even that didn’t happen.
My first quarterly statement arrived in my email box with a great big 0 in the “copies sold” box.
It was a weirdly numbing experience. I thought back on the writing process, on how hard I had worked, on how much fun I’d had and I was disappointed. I wanted people to read it at least, even if they hated it, I wanted it to be experienced by someone, anyone…
Eventually, I sent out a little reminder to friends and two of them purchased the book but I couldn’t help but feel it was out of pity.
Then, a young woman I had gone to high school with agreed to review the novella. She had become the book reviewer for a big newspaper-which worried me.
This was a trashy romance novel to read for fun, not a great literary work. I sent it to her anyway, fingers crossed until she finished reading it and I received her curt email saying, very briefly, “I cannot review your book”.
To be honest, it took the steam out of me even more.
You always hear stories about writers starting out and not selling. It’s not that I didn’t think that would apply to me, but for some reason, I didn’t think I would mind that.
I thought that my writing was done to nourish my soul and for no other reason. That’s not true though. It’s so unlike me to even think that way. Of course I write because I love to BUT I also cherish a sense of community. I love to talk to other writers, to share works of fiction, poetry or art that I love in order to inspire others. I love to read other people’s work and I love to contribute. I want to share. That trait is in my very being.
After a while of this deflated feeling, working on every art aside from writing fiction, I finally realized; I would have rather put it out for free somewhere like fiction press, or even Tumblr if that meant it would be read. I admit that I even stopped reading my emails.
I’ve started to write again. This time a YA novel that would be published in my real name and separately from my adult romance for obvious reasons. Yes, I still want to publish. Why? Because being a writer is what I’ve always wanted, whether anyone reads my writing or not. Heck. I don’t mind writing on the side, as long as I am actually writing.
And then I checked my email.
My publisher had missed sending me my royalties. The first quarter I had nothing. The second quarter my sales were under ten dollars so it wasn’t sent. The third quarter I had fallen through the cracks and been missed.
I opened the statement expecting nothing.
There was almost twenty dollars.
There was another ten after that but I hadn’t known about it since i’d avoided my email for so long.
Maybe a year ago thirty-five dollars would have seemed like nothing but now! Now, thirty-five dollars means that ten people have bought my book!
What an incredible feeling to go from zero to ten. I am elated.
Getting to this place took a little longer than it should have for me, but it was a lesson to keep doing what I love. It was a long winded way to remind me to keep going because any small progress is a big pay off when you work for it.
It’s funny, there are so many stories of writers being disappointed by lack of sales but there are very few to describe the absolute pleasure of knowing that even one person out there has read your work.
Keep writing all you authors out there. It is so worth it.
~
Please note that this post was available on my website/blog first- https://siennasway.wordpress.com/
The Writer's Doubt
I decided to write this post because The Oaf Prince will be released this month. It has been a long journey bringing this novel to life and I think its one that many authors experience. Doubt is like an unwanted seed that can grow in the mind, watered by insecurities.
To me, this book will always represent a relaxed happiness. Summer stretching forever, in a time that I took off of everything just to write. School, work, and yes, even travel, were put aside. This was the ultimate treat that I could give myself. And I can say, the time was well spent with my family, my dog and two cats, and with my mother.
The story is a light-hearted comedy/romance about a prince, a kidnapping and a forced marriage to a male ogre. At the time, I wanted to experiment with a fun story and The Oaf Prince really helped me to identify my voice as an author and to identify why I loved to write in the first place.
Something happened to me though, in the process of completing the novel. It started with a whisper of doubt, maybe it was too much like this other story… maybe no one else would find it funny… maybe the characters were flat… the list went on and on.
I’m sure this sounds familiar to other writers out there. It wasn’t really a conscious decision to put the book aside, but low and behold, a year past, and then another. I would take it out periodically and edit it, but the doubt never went away.
To this day, I’m not really sure what happened. I have a guess though, that maybe the fear of putting The Oaf Prince out into the world, opened me up too much. It exposed me in a way that I have never experienced. After all, I have never had a full length novel published, and what I want more than anything is for this story to be read. I want it to make people smile and feel happy. What if it doesn’t? What if all I get is a few raised brows and a “she wrote that?” By putting it out there, I am asking for reviews.
I guess the fear of negative reviews might be part of the whole issue. I don’t bother reviewing books that I don’t enjoy. To be honest, I rarely even finish reading books that I don’t enjoy. But I do appreciate honesty. I want to be read and I want to continue to improve my writing. I want to grow as a writer. How else am I supposed to do that?
I guess that’s why I am now publishing The Oaf Prince. I chose to self publish with Amazon Direct (which I will soon write a post on) and finally open myself up to the experience of not only releasing this book, but self-publishing at the same time. I’ve been waiting for years, allowing doubt to fuel me, allowing doubt to keep my book sitting buried in a computer. Well no more!
To my fellow authors; lets be brave! Lets put ourselves and our words and our experiences out there and see what happens!
Today I set the release date and made the book available for pre-order. For the first time, my doubt has vanished. I am excited and most importantly, I am having fun.
Isn’t that the whole point?
~Sienna Sway
To me, this book will always represent a relaxed happiness. Summer stretching forever, in a time that I took off of everything just to write. School, work, and yes, even travel, were put aside. This was the ultimate treat that I could give myself. And I can say, the time was well spent with my family, my dog and two cats, and with my mother.
The story is a light-hearted comedy/romance about a prince, a kidnapping and a forced marriage to a male ogre. At the time, I wanted to experiment with a fun story and The Oaf Prince really helped me to identify my voice as an author and to identify why I loved to write in the first place.
Something happened to me though, in the process of completing the novel. It started with a whisper of doubt, maybe it was too much like this other story… maybe no one else would find it funny… maybe the characters were flat… the list went on and on.
I’m sure this sounds familiar to other writers out there. It wasn’t really a conscious decision to put the book aside, but low and behold, a year past, and then another. I would take it out periodically and edit it, but the doubt never went away.
To this day, I’m not really sure what happened. I have a guess though, that maybe the fear of putting The Oaf Prince out into the world, opened me up too much. It exposed me in a way that I have never experienced. After all, I have never had a full length novel published, and what I want more than anything is for this story to be read. I want it to make people smile and feel happy. What if it doesn’t? What if all I get is a few raised brows and a “she wrote that?” By putting it out there, I am asking for reviews.
I guess the fear of negative reviews might be part of the whole issue. I don’t bother reviewing books that I don’t enjoy. To be honest, I rarely even finish reading books that I don’t enjoy. But I do appreciate honesty. I want to be read and I want to continue to improve my writing. I want to grow as a writer. How else am I supposed to do that?
I guess that’s why I am now publishing The Oaf Prince. I chose to self publish with Amazon Direct (which I will soon write a post on) and finally open myself up to the experience of not only releasing this book, but self-publishing at the same time. I’ve been waiting for years, allowing doubt to fuel me, allowing doubt to keep my book sitting buried in a computer. Well no more!
To my fellow authors; lets be brave! Lets put ourselves and our words and our experiences out there and see what happens!
Today I set the release date and made the book available for pre-order. For the first time, my doubt has vanished. I am excited and most importantly, I am having fun.
Isn’t that the whole point?
~Sienna Sway
The Oaf Prince Free
Another free give away is coming up, this time for the ebook of The Oaf Prince. Starting this friday, February 12th for five days on amazon.
Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Oaf-Prince-...
Make sure to mark your calandars!
Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Oaf-Prince-...
Make sure to mark your calandars!
About Archibald's Catch
It's been three years now since The Oaf Prince was published.
It was incredible and I really loved every moment of that. It was a learning experience as well as wish fulfillment and I am so grateful for every person who took the chance and read it.
Well after three long years, its finally time for my next M/M romance novel!
I've been having a lot of fun with this one, but as always there are a lot of nerves involved when you are releasing a book out into the world for anyone to read. My baby!
Archibald's Catch is about a merman, Nen, who is dragged from the water by Archibald, and forced by a curse to love him.
Synopsis:
"It is said that if one can capture a mermaid, she will be bound to you, filled with love stronger than the tides of the sea, for the rest of her days.
Archibald wants that. He wants that devotion and passion. He wants his life to have meaning, to be that man with something that no other man has. He wants to be special.
But when its finally time, when he drops that net and all the stars align, what he pulls up is not a mermaid at all.
The merman is as breathtaking and wild as any impossibility, any myth, could be. And the fairy tales are true. The love the merman feels is deep and passionate...
And neither of them are happy about it."
They are both grumpy and flawed and I really hope that you will like them.
Thanks as always for reading my blog posts and my books. Archibald's Catch
It was incredible and I really loved every moment of that. It was a learning experience as well as wish fulfillment and I am so grateful for every person who took the chance and read it.
Well after three long years, its finally time for my next M/M romance novel!
I've been having a lot of fun with this one, but as always there are a lot of nerves involved when you are releasing a book out into the world for anyone to read. My baby!
Archibald's Catch is about a merman, Nen, who is dragged from the water by Archibald, and forced by a curse to love him.
Synopsis:
"It is said that if one can capture a mermaid, she will be bound to you, filled with love stronger than the tides of the sea, for the rest of her days.
Archibald wants that. He wants that devotion and passion. He wants his life to have meaning, to be that man with something that no other man has. He wants to be special.
But when its finally time, when he drops that net and all the stars align, what he pulls up is not a mermaid at all.
The merman is as breathtaking and wild as any impossibility, any myth, could be. And the fairy tales are true. The love the merman feels is deep and passionate...
And neither of them are happy about it."
They are both grumpy and flawed and I really hope that you will like them.
Thanks as always for reading my blog posts and my books. Archibald's Catch
