Archive for A Sticky Wicket in Bollywood
A Sticky Wicket is done…
Good news…A Sticky Wicket in Bollywood is finished and turned in. Just waiting on the contract, so we can sign it and get editing on it. š I also turned in Stealing Life…it’ll be re-released July 1st.
Devon and I have already started plotting out the second book in the International Men of Sports series. The second one is about a French Cyclist and a French reporter. It takes place during the Tour de France. Yay! It’s tentatively titled Chasing the King of the Mountains (since King of the Mountains is a title you can win during the Tour…and you get to wear a polka dot jersey if you do win it.)
Our goal with this series is to take the reader to exotic (or at least interesting) locales, and introduce you to sports that the people in those countries play. We aren’t focusing on American sports either, though one story will have a hockey player in it. (which isn’t truly an American sport…lol)
So our second book takes place in France and focuses on cycling. The third is Germany/soccer(football). 4th: Australia/rugby…5th: Canada/curling/hockey….6th: Brazil/beach volleyball. At least one main character will play the sport featured, though in Germany and Canada, they’ll both be athletes.
We hadn’t planned on the books being long enough to go into print on their own. At first, we planned on grouping them together, two at a time. But Sticky Wicket took on a life of its own, and suddenly we were over the 50k mark, so now each book will also be coming out in print individually.
Now that I’ve given you the scoop on the International series, I’ll let you know that Home Sweet Home is moving along. I’m hoping to be able to sub it next week some time. Yay! Then it’s on to a bunch of stories and the last book in The Beasor Chronicles, Thieves.
I hope you all have a great weekend…and if you’re going to watch the Super Bowl, hope it’s a good game for you. š
Wednesday Work In Progress…
Today I thought I’d share with you an excerpt from A Sticky Wicket in Bollywood, the collaboration between Devon Rhodes and yours truly. My character is Ajay Singh, and he’s one of India’s top cricket players. He’s a pretty good guy, but he has a bit of a temper, and it’s been known to cause him trouble from time to time. Here you go….
A Sticky Wicket in Bollywood. (copyright c. 2013 Devon Rhodes & T.A. Chase)
Excerpt:
Ajay backed away from Neel, who had jumped to his feet and was uncharacteristically crowding in Ajayās face. Neel had never reacted this way to Ajay talking to anyone before
āI didnāt think it was that important for you to know I talked to Raj. Weāre just meeting for chai, Neel. Itās not like weāre going on a date or anything.ā Ajay took a few steps back, trying to put space between them.
āOf course, you couldnāt date him. Rajan isnāt about to come out of the closet for a lover, not now when heās at the top of the Bollywood world,ā Neel commented.
āWhatās your problem, Neel? Iāve never seen you act this way. If Iād known youād do this, I wouldnāt have told you the truth about where Iām going. And what do you mean out of the closet? I never said that Rajan was gay.ā Ajay shook his head. āIāll see you tomorrow at the stadium for practise.ā
He shoved his way through the crowd, not really paying attention to who he ran into or if anyone was snapping a picture of him being rude to the dancers. All he wanted was to get out of the club and away from Neel at that moment.
Once he was outside, he flagged down a cab, then climbed in. He told the driver to take him to Cafe Pringa. As the vehicle pulled from the kerb, he spotted Neel bursting out of the club. Ajay grimaced at Neelās crazy actions. There was something going on with his friend, but Ajay didnāt have time to figure it out.
All he wanted to focus on was being able to see Raj in person for the first time since that unfortunate argument. Ajay rested his head against the cool glass of the window, and admitted to himself that he probably couldāve seen Raj a long time ago, if heād returned any of the messages Raj had left on his phone. His stubborn pride and fiery temper made it impossible for him to say he was sorry.
With age came maturity and a certain amount of wisdom, and Ajay was finally ready to face the mistakes heād made in the past. Maybe when he did that, heād be able to move on and find something good in his future, though he doubted that whatever was waiting for him would be better than the perfect relationship heād let slip away when he was young and foolish.
The cab stopped in front of Cafe Pringa, and Ajay sat, staring at the late night crowd. Did he have the courage to step out of the vehicle and go face the man heād never forgotten? Could he find the strength to ask for forgiveness?
Raj had to have some kind of fondness for Ajay, if Ajay could use Rajās actions of calling him back and agreeing to meet him as evidence.
āAre you getting out, sir?ā
The driverās question jolted Ajay, and he nodded. After paying the man, he shoved open the door, then climbed out. His phone beeped and he looked down to see a text.
āare you here yet? Found a table outside in the corner.ā
Ajay could lie and say heād gotten caught in traffic, or something had come up and he wouldnāt be able to make it. He stared at the words as they shook slightly from the trembling of his hand. No. He wouldnāt do that. It was time to face his past, and hopefully regain a friend who had meant far more than anyone else ever had.
They Walk Among Us is available now…
I posted some places yesterday, but in case you didn’t hear, They Walk Among Us is now available at Amber Allure. Click here to go check it out. š Or you can browse my website to see what else is coming out soon.
Anyway this weekend was a great writing weekend. I did two real-time writing sessions with Devon Rhodes (which meant I stayed up really late since she’s like three hours behind me…lol) but we achieve two 10k+ days in a row, and our book is now over 34k. Which is awesome because it means we’re actually going to be bumping the word count up to 50k+, and our book will be out in print. Since it’s the first in a series of six books, that means all of them will be in print as well. Woot!
I really can’t wait for you to meet my cricket player…and Devon’s Bollywood actor. I think they’re wonderful together. š
Also, I got a good amount written on Home Sweet Home as well, and it’s moving along at a good pace. Hoping this week will get me even more words.
Well, it snowed last night and the world outside is snowy/icy. Might be a good day to stay inside and write, but I do have some errands to run. So I’m going to write for a little while, then head out into the cold world (lol) to get what I need.
Have a marvelous Monday, everyone.
New Cover-Leaving Home
Isn’t this so yummy? I love this cover. š And it’s going to look awesome with the other books on my shelf when I get the print version.
I just finished final line edits on Leaving Home, so it’ll be up for pre-order at some point. I’ll make sure to let you all know when it’s up.
I’m working on Home Sweet Home and A Sticky Wicket in Bollywood this weekend. Hoping to get a lot finished. š At least on HSH. I have a partner who has to do her part on ASWiB…lol So together, we’ll get a lot done, I’m sure.
Well, it’s snowing here, giving me the perfect excuse not to go anywhere and just focus on advancing my stories. I hope you all are safe and warm wherever you are. Also, have an awesome weekend.
Wednesday Work in Progress….
Here’s another little peek at Home Sweet Home. Next week, you might get a peek at A Sticky Wicket in Bollywood (if Devon agrees I can post a little bit of it..lol)
Excerpt: copyright c. 2013 T.A. Chase
Yancey didnāt rush, even though he wanted to. He hadnāt seen Juan in three months when Juan came to celebrate Yanceyās graduation from vet school. He strolled into the arena, then leant against the wall as he watched Juan ride the big bay gelding in a tight circle.
He held his breath as Juan pointed the horse towards a double oxer about four feet three inches high. It wasnāt the biggest jump set up in the arena, but it was one of the widest. It would force the horse to not only launch himself and his rider high in the air, and stretch out as far as he could over the jump without touching it with his hooves.
Juan made a kissing sound, and gave the gelding a little tap on the hip with his crop as they approached the jump. With a grunting heave, the horse threw himself off his feet, reaching out his head, and curling his hooves under him. Yancey bit his lip, saying a silent prayer that there had been enough power in the leap for them to clear the oxer.
One rail rattled in its cups as one leg rubbed over it, and Yancey winced at the thought of it falling. It had been a good jump, with almost perfect form from the horse. Juan didnāt move a muscle, sticking to the geldingās back like a burr. After landing with a thud, they continued on down the line over another jump built to look like a brick wall.
Yancey waited until Juan was heading towards him before he moved. Juanās head came up, and Yancey saw the big smile crossing Juanās face. He walked over to the centre of the arena where Juan was pulling his mount to a halt.
Juan nearly fell out of the saddle in his haste to get to Yancey, who caught him in a tight embrace.
āHoly shit, man. What the hell are you doing here?ā Juan pushed him away, gripping his shoulders tight.
āI got in early this morning. Iāll explain the whole thing tonight at dinner if youāre not doing anything.ā Yancey glanced over at the horse. āAre you done with him or do you need to ride some more? I can wait as long as it takes. Iāll be here awhile.ā
āNo, Iām done. He cleared the last two jumps, so we ended on a high note. Forman needs to build his confidence up, and this is a good way.ā
After taking his arm, Juan led him and Forman out of the arena towards the training barn. Yancey helped Juan to remove the geldingās tack, and while he put it away, Juan groomed Forman.
Yancey clipped a lead rope to the horseās halter when Juan finished brushing him. He let Juan take Forman to a paddock where he allowed the gelding to go free. Forman took off, kicking and bucking as he raced across the ground to join the other horses at the end of the paddock.
He laughed as Juan raced over to him, and he wrapped his arms around Juanās waist. Yancey picked Juan up before whirling him in a circle. Juan cradled Yanceyās face in his hands, then pressed his lips to Yanceyās.
Yancey kissed Juan back, licking his tongue along the seam of Juanās lips, and he asked for entrance. After tilting his head, Juan opened to him. Yancey swept in, tasting Juan; remembering all the flavours heād discovered throughout the years of kissing Juan.
Monday again…
Check out what I saw from my kitchen in my backyard….not really. And not that any of you really thought there’d be penguins in my backyard. Though that would have been totally awesome…lol. It did snow last night though, and I’m not very happy about it. I’m hoping the roads are good, so I can go up and visit my mom today. Didn’t get up there yesterday because I had a headache.
Okay…to update you on my writing. Home Sweet Home is going well. Not as far along as I’d like, but still I’m sure I can get it done by the end of the month. š The Occasional Prostitute (my contribution to the 2013 GRL antho) is coming along as well.
Also, Devon Rhodes and I have started our book. We’re writing a series of six stories about men and international sports. So the sports aren’t going to be your usual basketball, baseball, or anything like that. A Sticky Wicket in Bollywood is the first in the series, and it’s about cricket and is set in India. Hopefully when it comes out, you’ll all love it. š
Plus Ninja Cupcakes is out for general release at Total e-Bound, and Home of his Own is up for VIP download. If anyone is interested in them, or for some reason, doesn’t have them yet. Wishing for a Home has hit the coming soon page at TeB and No Going Home is available in print starting today.
Oh…and my marvelous editor at MLR Press, Kris Jacen, has an interview at Top2Bottom Review. Please take a minute to stop by and read it. She talks about how busy an editor’s life really is. In my opinion, editors have the tough job out there. At times, I think writing is hard, but really I’m just putting Ā down on ‘paper’ the daydreams in my head. Kris has to make sure those daydreams make sense. š
Almost forgot the link. Click here.
Well, I have a lot of work to do…and not enough hours in the day to do it. I hope you all have an awesome Monday.
