My current work in progress (WIP) is entitled Bell Jar Memories. Aidan Matthews is my main character. I have grown to love Aidan. He is complicated, broken, and guarded. In preparation for this story, I have taken my time and interviewed several people in the BDSM lifestyle. It has always fascinated me, the bond between Dom and sub. This week I'm working on my scenes to ensure the reader will be able to picture in their minds what they are reading. Aidan is going to make mistakes. He is going to question if the Dom is inside him. When reading BDSM stories, the Dom's always seems to me, so put together and confident, but they don't call start out like that.
In order to better understand Aidan's situation, I bought a flogger. I took the advice and tools I was given to learn how to flog. I have to tell you, it's easier said than done. It take so much concentration not to hurt someone. Not to mention how tired I was after twenty lashes. I have a new appreciation for those who have mastered this skill.
I found a picture that I tried to describe in my story. I fell head over heels in love with it. I think the time and attention it took to create the beautiful design is simply stunning. This week, I plan to tackle my BDSM scenes with respect and admiration. Let me know what you think of this picture!
What are you going to tackle on this Tackle it Tuesday?
Today, I will be tackling my new plot bunny. This idea had been stirring for some time now, but has finally made its debut. I haven't come up with a title yet, but my new story follows the life of a divorced father still fighting for his family. I have the first chapter written and will be working on research for this Boston set piece.
Last month was the worse month productively for me in quite a while. Real life and writers block really grabbed a hold of me. Now that I have made a slight break-through, I want to remind myself to keep going, keep believing in myself, and not to worry about what's next to come...worry about the current situation, the rest will come later.
That's why this weeks tackle it Tuesday is to tackle my mind so that the matter doesn't bog me down. ;) Happy Tuesday everyone.
For those who follow me, you may know my current WIP is Bell Jar Memories. The main character in BJM is Aidan Matthews. In BJM, we follow Aidan's personal journey back home after thirteen years after getting a frantic phone call from his sister.
I chose to tell this story in Aidan's point of view because the journey is so personal, it could only have been told correctly from Aidan. There are touchy issues like child abuse and rape that have harden the main character. He is a beautiful mess to me. He's strong, yet vulnerable.
I wanted my friends and readers to get to know Aidan as his story comes to an end for me.
AIDAN MATTHEWS
Shep ignored my come-ons. I felt the bed dip as he moved
and sat down beside me. He frowned, his fingers lightly touched the tattoo
above my heart. "You never told me what this one says."
"Broken," I whispered as sleep began to
tug at me.
I could vaguely feel his lips where his fingers use
to be. "What happened to you that night, Aidan?"
"I was broken, Shep. I'm so sorry I
broke." I could hear myself sob, but couldn't do a damn thing about it.
"Shh," he soothed. "It's okay, Aidan.
I'll help you pick up the pieces again." The bed shifted again, this time
I felt Shep slip under the sheets with me.
"All the kings horses and all the kings
men," I sang. Once again tonight I allowed the darkness to take me under.
This song reminds me so much of Aidan and his troubles.
Today, for Tackle it Tuesday, I am working on BJM.
Last weekend my husband and I spent an entire day cleaning out our sun room. There are more than six windows in our sun room. It is beautiful no matter what time of day. This past week I fell asleep in there more than once. It has become my favorite room in the house. The weather is starting to warm up, making the room enjoyable again. I can watch the kids play in the backyard, sleep on the leather couch, and snuggle with my hubby.
This week's Tackle It Tuesday is to simply RELAX! I need to learn to enjoy the moment and not rush onto the next item on my To Do List. Happy Tuesday everyone:)
What am I tackling this week? So glad you asked! If you visited Xara's blog last week, you know that I have been trying to cook more exciting meals for my family. Today, I plan to tackle dinner! I will be making Three Cheese-Stuffed Shells with Meaty Tomato Sauce.
Ingredients
8 ounces, weight Jumbo Pasta Shells
30 ounces, weight Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
8 ounces, weight Parmesan Cheese, Grated, Divided
1/2 cup Grated Romano Cheese
1 whole Egg
12 leaves Basil, Chiffonade
2 Tablespoons Minced Parsley
Salt And Pepper, to taste
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 whole Medium Onion, Chopped
5 cloves Garlic, Minced
1/2 pound Italian Sausage
1/2 cup Red Wine
1 whole 28 Ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes
1 whole 15-ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Minced Parsley
Preparation Instructions
Cook pasta shells for half the cooking time; make sure not to overcook. Drain and rinse in cool water. Set aside.
Heat olive oil in large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for a minute or two. Add Italian sausage and brown, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Pour in red wine and let it cook for a minute or two.
Pour in cans of crushed tomatoes and stir. Add sugar and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Check for seasonings; can add crushed red peppers if you like a little heat.
In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, half the Parmesan, Romano, egg, salt and pepper, basil, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Stir until combined.
To assemble, coat the bottom of a baking dish with sauce. Fill each half-cooked shell with the cheese mixture. Place face down on the sauce. Repeat with shells until cheese mixture is gone. Top shells with remaining sauce. Sprinkle on extra Parmesan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
I will let you know how everything turns out! Keep your fingers crossed!
This week, I am going to work hard at not being overwhelmed by everything I need to do. I'm going to take it a day at a time and enjoy the process. At least that's what I'm telling myself now;)
Bell Jar Memories first popped into my head February 23, 2011. Now, almost a year later I almost have a completed story. It hasn't been an easy road with this piece. When I first started I thought I would write any which way the wind blew. Well, Aidan didn't care for that. After 19k down, Aidan decided I wasn't telling the story right. I trashed that copy and started again November 4th. Since then I finally feel like I have captured the real Aidan and told the right story. BJM is over 40K now and shaping up to be one hell of a roller coaster ride. I can't say I have enjoyed every minute, but I feel blessed to tell Aidan's story. Aidan is my butterfly in a jar, and I am almost ready to set him free!
My tackle it Tuesday will be to tackle BJM and start prepping this story for beta readers and my critique group for feedback;)
This week I will be tackling one of my new current WIP's. This one doesn't have a title, but I would like you to meet Xavier Tobin and Issac Montgomery. My goal for today is to write1500 words for this exciting story!
For this week's Tackle It Tuesday, I want to type some scenes I have written by pen. I have had these scenes done for a while now, just not typed up. I'm being temporally lazy. Sometimes if I am not by a computer I will write on anything in sight whenever my Muse decides it has something to say. I have tons of little papers everywhere! I need to tackle them, before I become buried!
This week, I am SO excited for the release of Snakeskin Boots by Xara X. Xanakas. I will be giving away a copy starting tomorrow, so my Tackle It Tuesday will be to get my blog ready for the giveaway. I love this book and think everyone should have a copy! Jeff and Brad will soon be your favorite M/M couple!
Today is the first ever Tackle It Tuesday or TIT for short. On every Tuesday, I will post something that I would like to tackle or accomplish before midnight. You can post your TIT (NOT a real boobie, please) to show me what you are going to tackle as well.
Today I want to tackle my writing! I would like to have at least 1500 words written by the end of the day. I will be working one of my current WIP Bell Jar Memories.
Summer Michaels wrote her first story in the second grade, about a car-stealing potato. Thankfully, men in love with other men keep her muse busy and satisfied now. With a belief that love should be shared no matter what the form, Summer enjoys telling stories of rowdy cowboys, reunited lovers, and steamy shifters. When Summer is not reading and writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, water rafting, and giving the old woman in a shoe a run for her money.
