Hi folks…

As Mark Twain once said…rumours of our demise are greatly exaggerated!

Our Yahoo group may be closing but we are here to stay!

Stay tuned for new and regular blog posts…guest bloggers, excerpts and competitions!

And you can also follow us on Twitter…head on over there now!  www.twitter.com/LeagAmazWriters

And to kick off our new Twitter site, I will give away a free book from my backlist to one lucky follower on Twitter!

See you there

Maggie

www.maggienash.com

I know I’ve been away for a while, but I’m been busy…lots of real life issues, and work…but I’M BACK!

The Relic

Great news!  THE RELIC…my League of Amazing Writers story, featuring my alter ego Magda, is released Monday!

Here’s the blurb:

Finding herself in the wilds of a Penang rainforest wasn’t something Magda was exactly happy about. Being there on a mission to recover an ancient relic that threatened world peace certainly had its appeal, but the heat, the bugs and wild animals quickly cancelled out any of the excitement of the chase. Adding to her misery was the arrival on the scene of the last person she ever wanted to cross paths with. Vincent Stone, her rival in the search for the relic, and her ex-lover. The man who’d ripped out her heart and trampled on it had no business being in the same country as her, let alone the same town.

Vincent isn’t doing much better as he tries to remember why he’d broken it off with her. She made him feel more than anyone else but in his line of work, and with his past history, he didn’t have room for a relationship. But damn, she made him want one.

Click HERE to read an excerpt and to BUY the book

Don’t you just love the cover!

I’m guest blogging over at the Australian Romance Readers Association this week.  I’m talking about our favourite heroes.  If you drop by and leave a comment you’ll go into the draw to win a $10 gift certificate for Total-e-bound.  See you there!

Oh no! I’m a fan-girl!

Ashlyn Chase

I promised myself I wouldn’t be that chick. You know the one…she fawns all over her favorite author like it will somehow rub off on her. Well, I tried not to, I really did, but I’m afraid I fawned.

At our recent Let Your Imagination Take Flight conference, our keynote speaker was Mary Janice Davidson. I love her—um, you know, her books! They’ve provided hours of pure, guilt-free escapism for me. I’ve followed her career for years and have read at least half of her four page backlist. Well, during her keynote speech, she talked about being a fan girl herself! (Really?) Apparently she was invited to a book signing with two of her idols and admitted to touching them ever chance she got. Oh no! It was at that moment, I realized I’d touched her arm a few times too! Gaaaa! I was a fan girl! Oh, and that’s not all…

One bonus of being on the conference committee is that you get to go out to dinner with all the VIPs the night before the conference. It’s a chance to relax and socialize in an informal atmosphere. Well, that evening I told MJ (I can call her MJ now) I had a book plate with her signature on it, but I didn’t stick it in a book. I set it on my desk for inspiration. She said in her typical MJ fashion, “Oh…that’s nice—creepy, but nice.”
Well, I may have been a little too informal. I shared a yummy appetizer with Brenda Novak, dropped half of it on my jersey…and double dipped! (Eek.) I told her the minute I realized it, and assured her I was healthy. You know what? She was fine with it and actually double dipped too. These wonderful best sellers are people! Good people!

I’m finally used to having Barbara Keiler, aka Judith Arnold, around. But who knew she could crack me up as much as MJ did! It was a very fun-filled, belly-filled night. But, because I’m lame, I had to be the first one to leave and go to bed at ten-thirty. I just wasn’t able to stay up past my bedtime. It was probably a good thing since I was running around the next day, setting up the raffle table, giving a workshop and moderating another one.

Even though I was on the conference committee this year, I was able to attend a couple of workshops. They were fantastic. I’m really proud of the line-up we had and how many positive comments we heard afterward. For those of you who missed it, don’t worry. It’s not too late. You can order the conference on CD! The individual workshops are very reasonable priced and the whole set is well worth it! Check out our website www.necrwa.org to find out how to order. Or put this into your browser: http://www.fleetwoodonsite.com/index.php

In a recent TV interview, Penelope Cruz told Ellen how she first realized she was famous. She was taking a walk with her father in her native Madrid when, within the same twenty seconds, one car drove by and somebody yelled out the window, “I love you!” Then, another car sped by and yelled, “Whore!”

This is so typical of the creative life. The opinions on your work are subjective. Some of us have a hard time remembering these judgments aren’t personal, even if they seem like it. Thomas Wolfe said, “Every novel is an autobiography.” In a way, that’s true. I can only write from my own head, and maybe that’s why attacks on our “babies” feel like attacks on us.

Now, what if you can separate personal attacks on you from subjective opinions on your work? Is it any easier? Not if you want to please all of the people absolutely all of the time. Most of us want our work to be well received. Some artists may prefer to provoke rather than entertain, but as long as they get the reaction they’re looking for, they’re happy.

The comedy writers of the world are especially apt to be misunderstood if people don’t realize their tongues are firmly planted in their cheeks! I once wrote a silly comedy about reincarnation. In our Judeo Christian society, the idea is ripe for satire! The majority of my readership probably doesn’t believe in reincarnation as a certainty, so that wasn’t the hot button.

Unfortunately, I addressed the subject of suicide in the story. Now many people do have a strong opinion on suicide and experience with people who’ve either thought about it or attempted it. Some people really liked the story and I received some glowing reviews. Others skewered me. They reacted to me like the folks who rolled down the car window and yelled, “Whore” to Penelope. She’s not a whore and I don’t think suicide is funny.

Does that mean writers should shy away from all possible hot buttons? How can you? Are they listed somewhere? Potentially, anything could be a hot button. You could write about a car or a prom and wind up dealing with controversy. Stephen King did. But he was going for horror and it made his career. His belief? “The innocent must suffer.” 

My belief? Humor can be found in just about anything…even rejection. And that is a tough lesson to learn. That thick skin people mention is painful to grow. Your skin has to be attacked a few times before calluses form. Attacked too much and a person becomes callus and bitter. There’s a reason callus has two meanings. One’s a very appropriate metaphor…and kind of funny if you think about it.

A little bit from the manuscript that I just finished. Formerly titled, Team Player. I just turned it in so I don’t have a release date yet.

FYI, this story is a big spoiler for One For The Team. If you haven’t read it and don’t want to know what happens, stop here.

OFTT is a m/f story. This story is about Jason and Davey, two of Jen’s best friends. I assure you, it becomes m/m but it starts out m/f/m.

Here’s a taste of the first chapter as it now stands. Takes place right after Jen and Ken’s wedding.

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Very unedited excerpt, ©2009 Jet Mykles, all rights reserved

They’d all figured Jen could handle it. None of them had intended to change their friendship or turn it into anything long term. Just friends having fun. Then Ken had thrown a wrench into the works. Or, as he claimed, Jen had mucked it up by sleeping with Jason, Bart and Davey but refusing to sleep with Ken. Jason had to admit, that would have ticked him off too. Looking back on the one night when the five of them had been together, Ken was the only one who hadn’t done more than kiss Jen. Of course, she’d stayed the night when him when the rest of them had gone home. That was the night Ken had seen the proverbial light and asked Jen to marry him. Jason was happy for them. He was. Looking at them now, he wondered why no one had seen that they were meant for each other before.

But. That didn’t help him tonight. Clearly, if he was going to find companionship, he would have to go elsewhere.

Setting his glass down on the pristine white tablecloth, he stood. Jen and Ken were busy so he chose not to bother them. He’d already bestowed his congratulations on the happy couple and he’d see them at work on Wednesday anyway since they weren’t going on their honeymoon until November. Bart would be busy elsewhere in the restaurant since it was open for business tonight as well.

Where was Davey? The little snot was his ride home, which was the only reason he was still drinking. Last time he’d seen the other man had been when there were still people dancing on the miniature floor. That had to have been an hour or so ago. As he meandered toward the door leading out of the banquet room, Jason pulled out his cell and sent a text to his friend: Where r you? Read the rest of this entry »

Lately, I’ve let writing take a back seat. And you know what? I missed it! Really missed it. I had surgery, so couldn’t concentrate well on pain meds. I watched TV and listened to audiobooks. I couldn’t even read! I got so bored so quickly, I was amazed.

I’m thrilled to say I was able to write my usual 1,000 words this a.m. Something was missing when I couldn’t do that!

I had an interview that just came out on my friend’s yahoo loop. awakeningdesires@yahoogroups.com
Check it out for more up to date career news. If you want the personal details on my surgery, I put those on my personal blog. http://www.ashlynchase.com

Available October 13 from Loose Id

Since my new story’s going to come out next week, thought it was time for an excerpt. It’s one of my “gay for you” stories. I seem to be rather fond of those. What can I say? I like seeing straight guys get shaken up.

BLURB (subject to change):

Justin falls for Kevin the instant they pass each other on a sidewalk. Only, Kevin’s not gay. The higher ups at Kevin’s company are gay, however, and Kevin’s accidental meeting with Justin gives him an idea how to get around his controlling female supervisor. If he can gain access to the top men at an exclusive gay club, he might be able to finally share his ideas.

Justin instantly agrees to be his date, despite the obvious heartbreak that’s headed his way for going out with a straight man. At the club, Kevin gets a chance to meet the company owner, Victor Chen, and the man seems interested… both in his ideas and his date.

Kevin can’t deny his attraction to Justin, but he’s not gay. Right? He should step aside and let Justin have a chance to date Victor, who’s gorgeous, rich, and shares Justin’s interest in fashion. Despite his internal struggles, he really wants to explore their growing bond. Justin is certainly game, but a part of him knows they can’t have a future together. Is there more to their instant attraction than either suspect?

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Mostly edited excerpt, ©2009 Jet Mykles, all rights reserved

“… and then I…” Justin stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of the sidewalk, forcing two chatting women to split up to go around him. Ignoring their mild glares as they passed, he stared blindly over the plastic lid of his coffee cup, wondering if he’d just seen what he thought he’d seen.

Ahead, Frank kept walking a few steps before realizing he was alone. He spun, the spikes of his highlighted hair refusing to move in the mild breeze that kept the sunny street somewhat cool. “Hey?”

Justin heard him but couldn’t be bothered acknowledge the words. He snapped around, eagerly searching for… Oh yes! The hind view of the vision of loveliness that had just passed by him. Slightly rumpled charcoal slacks loosely framed a fine little derriere and an equally rumpled ice gray button-down draped slim shoulders. Waved hair the color of good French Roast almost brushed said shoulders.

“Justin, what are you…?”

Barely hearing his friend, Justin raced back down the sidewalk, nearly spilling his coffee in his rush to catch up to a wet dream come to life. He nearly ran over a guy on roller blades and just avoided getting wrapped up in a micro dog’s leash, but he finally made it to the vison’s side. He reached out to wrap a hand around an arm. Nice, he thought, feeling the biceps. Slim, but firm.

Said vision halted and twisted a graceful neck over and up to face Justin.

Oh. My. God! Innocently seductive brown eyes kind of focused on Justin from beneath sinfully full black lashes. Confused eyes that blinked up at him, positively enchanting. Elegant and sleek, just like the rest of him, Latino somewhere in his lineage, judging by facial features and gold skin tone. There was an almost innocence in that face even though he was had to be in his mid-twenties, at least. Justin wanted to devour the generous lips that parted in surprise.

“I’ve just fallen in love with you,” Justin declared, cradling his coffee cup to his chest as he kept hold on the vision’s arm. “What is your name, and please tell me you’re gay?” Read the rest of this entry »