Ruth Sims's Blog
January 27, 2014
Committing Mayhem Upon a Friend
What's a good reason to commit violence upon a friend? Here's one, and no jury of my peers (who live here, anyway) would convict me.
My friend is a successful author (one of the few I know who actually can live on it!) and while we in Illinois are waking up to 20 mph winds and -15 temperatures, he emails me to say, "It's even abnormally chilly here---80s instead of 90s."
Cruel, cruel man. He's in Bangkok. He and his partner of many years to there every January-April. So I think I need to hurt him. Badly. Problem is, I can't go to Thailand. No money, I'm afraid to fly, and afraid of the water in which airplanes sometimes end up in.
And the next person I hear say "if winter comes can Spring be far behind?" will be fed to the first lion I run across. Actually I've never heard anyone say that, but it makes a good ending sentence.
My friend is a successful author (one of the few I know who actually can live on it!) and while we in Illinois are waking up to 20 mph winds and -15 temperatures, he emails me to say, "It's even abnormally chilly here---80s instead of 90s."
Cruel, cruel man. He's in Bangkok. He and his partner of many years to there every January-April. So I think I need to hurt him. Badly. Problem is, I can't go to Thailand. No money, I'm afraid to fly, and afraid of the water in which airplanes sometimes end up in.
And the next person I hear say "if winter comes can Spring be far behind?" will be fed to the first lion I run across. Actually I've never heard anyone say that, but it makes a good ending sentence.
June 7, 2013
Feel Good Friday story
I bet nobody reads my blog because I never remember to put anything on it. You think?
Today -- go to www.RainboweBooks.com. My favorite of my short works is featured there as the feature story for Feel Good Friday, and if you click on "Expand" you can read an excerpt from it.
It's one of my short works published by Untreed Reads, the best place for short stories and novellas of all kinds.
I hope you'll give the excerpt and interview a look.
Today -- go to www.RainboweBooks.com. My favorite of my short works is featured there as the feature story for Feel Good Friday, and if you click on "Expand" you can read an excerpt from it.
It's one of my short works published by Untreed Reads, the best place for short stories and novellas of all kinds.
I hope you'll give the excerpt and interview a look.
March 9, 2011
another pointless blog post
I don't think anyone ever actually sees these posts, but just in case...
I have posted a free short-short story at http://www.goodreads.com/story/list/2...
It's either a late Christmas story or an early Christmas story, depending on your viewpoint, but it's fun. I hope if anyone reads it they enjoy it.
I have posted a free short-short story at http://www.goodreads.com/story/list/2...
It's either a late Christmas story or an early Christmas story, depending on your viewpoint, but it's fun. I hope if anyone reads it they enjoy it.
November 10, 2010
Help?
I know that everybody, including my cat, knows more about technical stuff and using Goodreads than I do. However, I want to change something about my listing of The Phoenix and can't figure out how.
There are two versions: one, published in 2004 with a subsidy publisher, is not current.
The second, published in 2009 by Lethe Press in both paperback and ebook, is current. There were changed made in the new version. Both covers are shown on Goodreads. The old one always seems to be the default, though.
How can I un-list the original (2004)version without affecting the listing of the 2009 version? I found a librarian page where I could delete the old cover, and change various information, but I was afraid to tinker with it because I didn't want to lose or mess up the other listing. The old one is down to a few copies in a warehouse and will soon be gone. I hope. Because it hurts sales of the new one, and it's not quite as good.
Oh, confusion, thy name is technology.
Any info will be gratefully accepted.
There are two versions: one, published in 2004 with a subsidy publisher, is not current.
The second, published in 2009 by Lethe Press in both paperback and ebook, is current. There were changed made in the new version. Both covers are shown on Goodreads. The old one always seems to be the default, though.
How can I un-list the original (2004)version without affecting the listing of the 2009 version? I found a librarian page where I could delete the old cover, and change various information, but I was afraid to tinker with it because I didn't want to lose or mess up the other listing. The old one is down to a few copies in a warehouse and will soon be gone. I hope. Because it hurts sales of the new one, and it's not quite as good.
Oh, confusion, thy name is technology.
Any info will be gratefully accepted.
Mainstream reviews for Counterpoint: Dylan's Story!!!
I haven't posted anywhere for quite a while, due to family stuff a.k.a. Real Life, but I wanted to pop in with something that pleased me. My reviews for Counterpoint: Dylan's Story have been fabulous so far, but they were all people and reviewers in the gay romance genre field. You can't help wondering how well a mainstream reviewer w...ould view the book when you are reviewed only by your own genre, whether it's SF, fantasy, erotica or what have you.
In the last couple of weeks, I've had the pleasure of have two mainstream reviews:
one will be published in the Historical Novel Review. The magazine won't be out for a while due to delays, but I saw the tearsheet, and it's a short but very, very good review, though it unfortunately has a major spoiler.
The other is online at Feathered Quill http://www.featheredquill.com/histori... -- where it's listed in two categories: Historical, and Romance
It, too, is a terrific review and fairly long.
I love my genre readers and reviewers to pieces, but it's a warm and fuzzy feeling to get mainstream reviews, too. The first ones I've had for a novel.
In the last couple of weeks, I've had the pleasure of have two mainstream reviews:
one will be published in the Historical Novel Review. The magazine won't be out for a while due to delays, but I saw the tearsheet, and it's a short but very, very good review, though it unfortunately has a major spoiler.
The other is online at Feathered Quill http://www.featheredquill.com/histori... -- where it's listed in two categories: Historical, and Romance
It, too, is a terrific review and fairly long.
I love my genre readers and reviewers to pieces, but it's a warm and fuzzy feeling to get mainstream reviews, too. The first ones I've had for a novel.
September 4, 2010
This was the week that was
Erastes, Alan Chin, and a person known as Lilyraines -- three super-good reviews in three days. One great review in one week is terrific. Two is a bit startling. And three… well, three is downright freaky.
Erastes’ 5-star review is, naturally, on Speak Its Name. http://www.speakitsname.com/
She says it’s “a rich and winding story of love, obsession, disappointment and talent.” “It’s a real coming-of-age story, not in a clichéd way of ‘I’m homosexual and have to come to terms with it’ but the way that life forces Dylan to get to grips with his pride, overcome it at times, and compromise with other people, other artists. At first he’s all ‘it’s my way or nothing’ but gradually he learns to work with others, even if that sense of ‘no, I’m right, and they’ll realise it one day’ never leaves him. …in his brash young, privileged manner he thinks everything, including love, will fall into his lap, and it’s heartbreaking sometimes to see how he finds that life isn’t like that.”
Lilyraines’ review is a 4-1/2 star Top Pick that’s on http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nor/Re... I especially liked her take on the characters:
“Dylan's passion - and pigheaded stubbornness - comes through in dazzling color. Both Laurence and Geoffrey serve as balances - and counterpoints - to Dylan in different ways. Laurence is just as passionate, and as stubborn, about what he does but in a more...level....way. Sort of like turning a corner and going ‘Oh, there you are,’ with a smile at seeing an old friend. Geoffrey is as vibrant and fiery as Laurence is warm and cool. That vibrancy and fieryness serves in good measure against Dylan's own, almost mad, passion.” -- Isn’t that lovely?
I love this phrase from Alan Chin’s review: “…the reader wraps these characters around himself like a cloak on a cold night, and feels their passion and pain. Upon finishing the last page I wanted to stand, clap my hands and yell, “BRAVO.” The rest of it is at:
http://alanchinwriter.blogspot.com/ And while you’re there, read some of his other posts; they’re very interesting.
Erastes’ 5-star review is, naturally, on Speak Its Name. http://www.speakitsname.com/
She says it’s “a rich and winding story of love, obsession, disappointment and talent.” “It’s a real coming-of-age story, not in a clichéd way of ‘I’m homosexual and have to come to terms with it’ but the way that life forces Dylan to get to grips with his pride, overcome it at times, and compromise with other people, other artists. At first he’s all ‘it’s my way or nothing’ but gradually he learns to work with others, even if that sense of ‘no, I’m right, and they’ll realise it one day’ never leaves him. …in his brash young, privileged manner he thinks everything, including love, will fall into his lap, and it’s heartbreaking sometimes to see how he finds that life isn’t like that.”
Lilyraines’ review is a 4-1/2 star Top Pick that’s on http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nor/Re... I especially liked her take on the characters:
“Dylan's passion - and pigheaded stubbornness - comes through in dazzling color. Both Laurence and Geoffrey serve as balances - and counterpoints - to Dylan in different ways. Laurence is just as passionate, and as stubborn, about what he does but in a more...level....way. Sort of like turning a corner and going ‘Oh, there you are,’ with a smile at seeing an old friend. Geoffrey is as vibrant and fiery as Laurence is warm and cool. That vibrancy and fieryness serves in good measure against Dylan's own, almost mad, passion.” -- Isn’t that lovely?
I love this phrase from Alan Chin’s review: “…the reader wraps these characters around himself like a cloak on a cold night, and feels their passion and pain. Upon finishing the last page I wanted to stand, clap my hands and yell, “BRAVO.” The rest of it is at:
http://alanchinwriter.blogspot.com/ And while you’re there, read some of his other posts; they’re very interesting.
Last chance to win a copy of The Phoenix or Counterpoint
I FINALLY figured out how to post something here!
One print copy of The Phoenix and one print copy of Counterpoint: Dylan's Story will go to the winners of the Romancing the Book contest accompanying the interview with me. With shipping so high, I regretfully have to limit the books to folks in the US and Canada, but bookmarks are light and I'll send them anywhere. One day left!
Go to:
http://www.romancing-the-book.com/sea...
To enter the contest for print copies of Counterpoint: Dylan's Story and The Phoenix, you first need to leave a comment or question for Ruth. Then to finish your entry, you must either leave your email address in your comment or send a message to:
contests.bookblog@gmail.com (sorry. I couldn't get it to make a click through link)
If you'd like one of the 25 bookmarks up for grabs, just send a message to the same email address and include your mailing address. The first 25 responses will get a bookmark. And the book winners will be announced on Sunday, September 5.
One print copy of The Phoenix and one print copy of Counterpoint: Dylan's Story will go to the winners of the Romancing the Book contest accompanying the interview with me. With shipping so high, I regretfully have to limit the books to folks in the US and Canada, but bookmarks are light and I'll send them anywhere. One day left!
Go to:
http://www.romancing-the-book.com/sea...
To enter the contest for print copies of Counterpoint: Dylan's Story and The Phoenix, you first need to leave a comment or question for Ruth. Then to finish your entry, you must either leave your email address in your comment or send a message to:
contests.bookblog@gmail.com (sorry. I couldn't get it to make a click through link)
If you'd like one of the 25 bookmarks up for grabs, just send a message to the same email address and include your mailing address. The first 25 responses will get a bookmark. And the book winners will be announced on Sunday, September 5.
June 16, 2010
New release and New release to come!
Whew. It took me hours to get this far. A techno-genius I am not. But it's a start.
My new short story Burma Girl, from Untreed Reads is now available as an E-book just about everywhere. A full list of places to buy it can be found at the publisher's website:
http://www.untreedreads.com/?page_id=...
"Burma Girl is the story of a man obsessed, and the destruction and havoc it bestows upon his daughters. Told from the point-of-view of the sisters, now elderly, the tale unfolds all of the pain and drama that has happened to the family. Along with the tale of a man completely mad in his pursuits, other family secrets begin to be revealed. In the end, nobody escapes the wrath of the Burma Girl."
NEW AND COMING IN JULY
Counterpoint: Dylan's Story will be published in July by Dreamspinner Press. This is one author who can't sit still for the excitement. Do you have any idea how hard it is to type when you're doing a happy dance? Especially when you're a klutz?
Two other short stories are available from Untreed Reads:
Mr. Newby's Revenge -- if you ever wanted to know how to use colored contact lenses, brown paper towels, and kitty litter to get even with somebody (shades of MacGyver!) this story will tell you how.
The Lawyer, the Ghost, and the Cursed Chair will make you laugh... unless you think a furry gay junk dealer, a 98-pound nun in jail for assault, a gay lawyer, a ghost, and a 100-year-old curse aren't funny.
My novel The Phoenix new edition published 2009 by Lethe Press, is available wherever fine books are sold. Gay Victorian drama beginning in the slums of London and following Kit St. Denys from there to fame in England and America, through stunning trauma, and home again.
My new short story Burma Girl, from Untreed Reads is now available as an E-book just about everywhere. A full list of places to buy it can be found at the publisher's website:
http://www.untreedreads.com/?page_id=...
"Burma Girl is the story of a man obsessed, and the destruction and havoc it bestows upon his daughters. Told from the point-of-view of the sisters, now elderly, the tale unfolds all of the pain and drama that has happened to the family. Along with the tale of a man completely mad in his pursuits, other family secrets begin to be revealed. In the end, nobody escapes the wrath of the Burma Girl."
NEW AND COMING IN JULY
Counterpoint: Dylan's Story will be published in July by Dreamspinner Press. This is one author who can't sit still for the excitement. Do you have any idea how hard it is to type when you're doing a happy dance? Especially when you're a klutz?
Two other short stories are available from Untreed Reads:
Mr. Newby's Revenge -- if you ever wanted to know how to use colored contact lenses, brown paper towels, and kitty litter to get even with somebody (shades of MacGyver!) this story will tell you how.
The Lawyer, the Ghost, and the Cursed Chair will make you laugh... unless you think a furry gay junk dealer, a 98-pound nun in jail for assault, a gay lawyer, a ghost, and a 100-year-old curse aren't funny.
My novel The Phoenix new edition published 2009 by Lethe Press, is available wherever fine books are sold. Gay Victorian drama beginning in the slums of London and following Kit St. Denys from there to fame in England and America, through stunning trauma, and home again.
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