Weigh-in Wednesday - What am I Thinking?

Or, more accurately, what is Spunky drinking? He's got me lined up with all kinds of projects.

First, there's a WIP I'm working on with Piper Vaughn, called I and Love and You. We're still about a third of the way through it, but you can catch a couple of inside looks over on the Babes in Boyland blog. Here's one. And another.

I've still got to get clucking on Why The WereChicken Crossed the Road. My cyborgs have slowed down, and my Lucky Bastards are pining away for some attention too. They're probably behind all the James Dean posts lately.

Seems like enough to keep a person busy, right? You might think so, but Spunky said "NO!"

The MM Romance group over at Goodreads is organizing another round of free short stories based in photos and prompts submitted by readers. Spunky just had to say "WRITE THIS!"

Dear Author 

It’s the 26th Century and the human race has seeded itself throughout many galaxies. These two guys have been paired up for the latest Ursa Majoris Pornacopia Holoflick. They have 24hrs to figure out how to get it up and get it on… without breaking Universal Health and Safety Codes for Interspecies Sex Acts. 

Enjoy... 



Of course, Spunky's passed out face-down in a gutter somewhere at the moment, leaving me high and dry behind my keyboard.

Thanks for the inspiration, O muse o'mine.

~xxx~

Weigh-in Wednesday - One Month Down

Can you believe we're already in February? January seemed to fly by. I'll probably scale back these weigh-ins to monthly. I'm really not all that interesting, so inundating you with weekly updates seems a bit much.

Let's check my scorecard and see how things are shaping up....

Stop Eating Crap: I've been detoxing for a week now. Zero carbs, no sugars, no fats, no oils. I had some headaches at first, but I FEEL GOOD ANYWAY. I've given up coffee *gasp!*, but you can have my iced tea when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers. One thing I have determined through extensive research is that grapefruits are minions of evil, flinging their bitter juices in mini-missiles directly to your eyes, computer screen, or keyboard.

Just sharing the warning before you decide that innocent looking fruit is safe.

Start Moving:  That treadmill standing in the living room has actually seen some use. (Use that it was designed for, pervs)

What Did Work?  Monkey Wrench was accepted! I love my little spider monkey, and I'm glad he'll be joining Jeff out in the world. (Not to mention it's embarrassing to have a series of one book.)

What's Next?  Razor's Cut, my Valentine's short will be out in a couple of weeks, and you can enter to win a copy in the SuperHuge Giveaway at  Babes in Boyland.

I'll be working on a joint project with my #AwesomeTweetMommy Piper Vaughn. We've got the story outlined, and we're hoping to finish it this month. I've made some progress on a sci-fi cyborg idea that hit me last year. And the shocking thing? I actually like it. 

What else? I'm not sure. But I'll be sure to share with you as I find out. 

~xxx~

Weigh-in Wednesday - er, Thursday

Wow, it's been a while since I did this. I kind of curled in my shell and avoided the world. I didn't even do a year-end wrap up. Lazy, lazy bum.

So, I'm sure you can guess that the Stop Eating Crap/Start Moving thing didn't work out so well for me last year. We'll just move on and say "FEEL GOOD ANYWAY" for this year. No beating myself up for last year. I'm simply going to do better this year.

What Did Work?

Well, I'm glad you asked. I started last year with a goal to get published, even if I had to self-pub. Thanks to my fantabluous writing group, I managed to actually accomplish my goal. Without their courage, I wouldn't have been able to do it. They had the balls I needed to borrow to hit the 'send' button and try. Lo and behold, Dreamspinner was just that for me last year. They spun my dreams into reality. I had a short story published in the Riding Double anthology, Crazy Wind, the follow-up novella, and the first of my Were Menagerie books Snakeskin Boots. 

There were some freebies mixed in there too. L.C. Chase let me ride along on Jailhouse Rock, and Lissa Kasey helped me Sink or Swim. (They're both amazing authors - you should go check them out). There was also the choose your own Stendhal's Stand adventure I published on my website. 

Really, my wildest dreams couldn't have imagined all this. 

Obligatory commercial: You can find out more about all of these titles on my website or my goodreads profile. 

Now, back to your regular programming...

What's Next?

For one thing, notice how I said "the first of my Were Menagerie books" up there? Well, last month, I would have said "what I hope will be the first". I managed to finish and submit! Monkey Wrench. I'm now in the music-hold portion of our program with that one.

While I wait for word on that one, I've had a couple of other acceptances. A Valentine's Day short I whipped up was accepted by Less Than Three Press. Razor's Cut is due out February 15th.

And I'll be celebrating No Pants Day (May 4th) in my skivvies, along with the characters in Bennie's Wish.

I'll be co-writing again, this time with my #AwesomeTweetMommy Piper Vaughn. We've got some ideas simmering, so stay tuned.

Anything Else?

I've got a few other ideas churning, but I will be around. Some stories that want to be told, and maybe a few freebies, so keep your eyes open. 

I hope you're not sick of me yet. Now that I've crawled out of the hole I've been hiding in, I intend to fill that sucker up with concrete. Yes, that is a warning. See you around. 'Cause I'm not going anywhere.

~xxx~

Weigh-in Wednesday - I'm an Author? Edition

So I may not be moving more, or eating less crap, and my blogging has sucked, but something amazing did happen last week. Something big. Huge. Life changing–for me anyway.

I had my first release. As in my name is on the cover. Alone. I am standing on my own. Time to put out, I mean put up or shut up.  Make a splash or FAIL LOUDLY.

Crazy Wind blew onto the Dreamspinner website last Wednesday.

What else is going on?
You mean that's not enough? Okay. I have an official blurb for Snakeskin Boots, and a tentative release date (slithering in October 5!).

I'm a submissive, too. I mean, I have submitted. I mean, I finished my No Pants Day story and submitted it for consideration. The countdown is on to take it off.

~xxx~

Weigh-in Wednesday #Who Knows

All right, for those keeping score, it's Week 29, and this is Wednesday #28 of 2011. The last time I did a WIW, it was #15. Guess I've been a little off track lately. Epic failure on my part.

Half the year is gone. I'm looking around, trying to find it, but it's just not there. What the hell did I do with it?

How have I failed? Let me count the ways...

Stop Eating Crap? I think we all know that's a big, fat nope. Let's move along, all right?

Start Moving? Again, nothing to see here.

Blogging? Uh, yeah. Wish I had better news.

What Did Work? Standing in the middle of my brain, it doesn't feel like much. I've felt lost lately, and very much out of sorts because of it. Spunky the Muse has gifted me with some ideas, but he floats in, knocks up a plot bunny, then leaves like the deadbeat muse he is. 

Taking a step back, what did I accomplish? 

• I finished a story for charity. That one has sparked an idea for a sci-fi cyborg story which may turn into my first novel.  
• I co-wrote one of the Hot July Days stories for the Goodreads M/M Romance Group with Lissa Kasey.  
• Bennie's Wish, my No Pants Friday story, is finished, too. It's a super fluffy, lightweight little novella. I'll submit it by the end of July.

• Crazy Wind, the short novella featuring my cock-blocking sheriff, has a tentative release date of August 10. Edits are complete, and I've been through the galley proof. I'll share cover art as soon as I am able. 
• Snakeskin Boots has entered the editing phase. I'm really looking forward to bringing my were-boa out into the world.

• My website, http://xaraxanakas.com, is up and running. Go, poke around in there. Let me know what you think. There's a feedback button on every page, so just click on me. 

I guess I've been better than I thought.

What's Next? Stop being so damn lazy. Get off my ass, get my brain in gear, and get things going.

I've been making some progress on my Spider Monkey story. The current plan is to finish him by the end of this month. Can I do it? Anybody wanna lay odds?

After that? He'll need some companions, so I will focus on that pesky were-chicken and the tattooed biker librarian bobcat that's been marking some turf.  Really, it's not a silly as it sounds. And a were-bunny popped up to say howdy.

Then there's Stew. He works at a big-box home improvement store, and he's going to be a lot of fun to write, once Spunky gives me an actual plot to go along with his personality. There's also a yuppie-hunting rocker in the mix, and a Car!Porn idea I really hope I am capable of doing justice to. There might some follow-ups to a couple of co-authored shorts in the pipeline, as well. You never know.

In October, I'll be attending the GayRomLit Retreat in New Orleans, LA. I'll see a lot of you there. You'll be able to find me - I'll be hiding in a corner. I'll attempt to come out of my shell, but I am painfully shy. Is there anything you want to see from me there? Let me know. I'll see what I can do.

Seems like enough to keep me busy, yeah? Now, if only the shiny would dim a bit so I could focus...

~xxx~

Weigh-in Wednesday #15

Believe it or not, I have actually made changes this week. I know - my track record isn't great, so maybe I shouldn't really talk about it this yet. But here I am anyway.

I've started a strict detoxing program. Today, it's going fine. I'm a whole day and half into it now, so of course I'm still in the gung-ho, let's go get 'em, good-bye fat ass, hello, hot pants stage of it. We'll see if I'm still in it next week.

In a way, it's the hardest and the easiest thing for me to do. Hard because of sticking with it. You're cutting out almost everything from your diet - absolutely no oils, fats, sugars, carbs, processed foods, dairy. This also means no coffee, because I won't have the cream to go with it. By this weekend, I predict I'll be learning how to drink it black. It's easy because the choices are so limited, there's really nothing to think about. Extra lean beef, skinless chicken, and organic vegetables. Apples and grapefruits.

So, can I keep this up for a month? Time will tell....

~xxx~

Weigh-in Wednesday #14

Jeepers! Over a quarter of the year is gone already? What have I done with it?

Stop Eating Crap? Still too lazy/bored/set in my ways to stop eating crap. And I feel like crap for it. You'd think I'd know better, huh?

Start Moving?  Started walking on the treadmill, and then stopped again. I did pay for another year at the gym. Does that count?

Blogging? I've been in a 'radio quiet' mode lately. Current events have turned my empathy meter up to 11, and I haven't had a lot to really say, so I haven't been blogging much. I've had my moments on twitter, though.

What Did Work?   I resubmitted Crazy Wind, the novella featuring a certain cock-blocking sheriff, and I had my first experience with a Cover Spec Sheet. We'll see what they come up with. Since it's Dreamspinner, I am sure it will not make the Hall of Shame. 

Snakeskin Boots, my wereboa story, was finally accepted. Waiting turned me into a manic depressive ball of nerves. It looks like that one will have a Sept/Oct release, and it's a long novella/short novel length. I just need to remember to sign and return the contract. I have a clear idea of what I think the cover should be for this one, so I won't have any trouble filling out the spec sheet on this one. Maybe I should go ahead and get that started....

What's Next?  Blurbs. Why do we have to write blurbs? I'm thinking I should get ahead of the curve on the these two stories. They're going to come asking for them, so I might as well get them ready.

I've given my spider monkey his new friend. He's really cute, and Aaron is going to have a lot of fun with him, I think. Not that much fun, though. Gotta save something for his HEA.

Another plot bunny hopped by, so I'm also working on a holiday story. What holiday, you ask? Well, No Pants Friday, of course. Doesn't everybody celebrate it?

~xxx~

Weigh-in Wednesday #12

I paid the gym memberships for another year. That counts, right? Right?

~xxx~

Weigh-in Wednesday #9

Another month down. How'm I doin'?

Stop Eating Crap?  This is going to sound like a "check's in the mail" excuse, but I really did start working on this today. Got up, had a protein shake for breakfast, staying away from fried foods for lunch. Great plans - we'll have to see about the follow through.....

Start Moving?  Started moving yesterday. New month, new goals, yeah? Hitting the treadmill for an hour at a time. Today my thighs and butt are yelling at me for doing lunges on the treadmill. But, I'm ignoring them and plan to make it worse later today.

Blogging? I'm still here. Most days. And, I've joined twitter. I solemly swear not to post my bathroom habits to @xaraxanakas.

What Did Work?   I got published! My first short story was published by Dreamspinner this month.

 

AND! They've also accepted a follow-up novella with expected publication in July/August. Yes, my cock-blocking sheriff found a home. I'm just reworking the story a little to get to the required pieces of  flair to get him is own cover now.

I wrote a short story that I believe has redefined blasphemy. A saga so sacrilegious, it is destined to become the caboose on the Fetish Express to Hell anthology I'm planning. At least I'll have a comfortable trip with the steampunked-out train I'll have. Two words: Bar Car.

My were boa is out in the big, wide world. Spouse hit the send button to help me submit Snakeskin Boots. I'm gnawing the legs of tables waiting to hear back about his fate. Tick. Tock. Accept my WereCock, already! Wait - that's going to be Were Menagerie, Book 3: Why Did the WereChicken Cross The Road?

What's Next?  My geeks got the short end this month. I really need to do something special to make it up to them. They have left the office, at least. York's having a rough day, but things are about to look up for him. 

Lastly, my spider monkey has a new friend. And he's going to get a new name, once I get back around to working on him.

Does it sound like I have a plan? Time will tell. Plans change and fall by the wayside. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

~xxx~

Weigh-in Wednesday, #8

My Cheetos are baked. Does that count?

~xxx~

Weigh in Wednesday #6

Nothing to see here. Move along.

(I'm such a loser. Only not, I guess.)

~xxx~

Weigh-in Wednesday #5

So, one month in. How'd I do?

Stop Eating Crap?  Nope. Still eating food from a bag. We've tried cooking, but I < insert excuse #1, #2, #3, #4..... >, so we wind up taking the easy way out. Something I don't have to leave the car - or even the house (Pizza and Chinese is getting boring - we need more delivery options) - to get.

Start Moving? Unless you count a few 8 hour days of schlepping hardware leaving me a sore, agonizing mess, I didn't get any extra exercise. So, yeah, fail on count 2.

Here's where I'm supposed to pledge to do better, and promise myself I'm going to try harder, and that these new fat girl pants I had to buy will be too big very soon. And yada, yada, yada. Truth is, I'm human, and I'm lazy.

Blogging? I really don't think I'm that interesting, so only missing 5 days isn't that bad, is it?

What Did Work?  The story I submitted in December got acccpted last month. So I got that going for me. I also wrote a new short story (yes, it's about the cock-blocking sheriff). I'm doing some cleanup and edits on it, and it'll go out next week.

The biggest thing I did last month was finish my first novella/novel-light/novel. So far, reaction has been mostly good. The people who have read it seem to like it and have provided some good (read: constructive) feedback. I'm digesting the comments and trying to decide how to incorporate it. I will submit it by the end of the month - and that terrifies the ever-lovin' stuffin' out of me. There may be some alcohol involved afterward. Just saying.

What's Next?  My geeks will get more of a real story line – or at least they’ll finally leave their stable and venture into the outside world. I think a group camping trip to the lake, where they all get wet and drunk may be in order. And some nerdy geo-caching (they can’t just mountain bike). ‘Cause nerds do it with gadgets.  ;-)

And I'll continue with my plan of world domination through likable shape shifters. My spider monkey will get some affection. He's been telling me I may have been mistaken about his story. We'll see.....

And I really will try to do better at not eating crap and starting moving. I'm getting too old to feel this old.

~xxx~

Weigh in Wednesday #4

I'm sitting at my desk eating a brownie. 'Nuff said.

~xxx~

Weigh in Wednesday #2

I almost didn't post today. Weigh in Wednesdays aren't fun. They aren't earth-shaking, there's no excitement to them. They're boring. And a bit of a bummer.

But, if I didn't, it would be a cop-out.

So, how'd I do? Let's see:

1. Stop eating crap - that lasted a whole three days before excuse, excuse, excuse. 

2. Start moving - yeah, not so much there. 

So, all in all, I was an epic failure on this front last week. It's not looking too good for this week, either, but I'll be back here on Wednesday again, fail or not.

~xxx~

Weigh In Wednesday #1

Well, here it is already. Weigh in Wednesdays. My favorite day of the week.

Full disclosure: I've had a 'Biggest Loser' like transformation. I lost over 100 pounds two years ago. I did it through a diet program, and I had surgery to remove extra skin after losing the weight. Now, I hate my scale. Actually, it hates me. And it's working in cahoots with my jeans to make me believe I'm back where I was.Or at least on my way there. And the worst part? My thighs and ass are working with them. 

I know I'm not where I was. Believe me, standing 5'1" and weighing 275 pounds is very different from where I am now. I have no intention of going back there. BUT, if I don't quit eating crap and start moving, I can very easily wind up back where I started. So, that's my plan. Stop eating crap and start moving. Sounds so simple, doesn't it? The proof will be in the abstaining from the pudding. Since this the first week, I have nothing to report, except high expectations of myself. We'll see how I did next Wednesday.

And we're off.......

~xxx~