HALP! The Shrew Needs to Move!

Here's the deal. I am moving over 900 miles at the end of the week, and my freelance writing has been seriously impacted by the packing and other things involved with such a major move.

In short, I'm dead broke, and I have to be out of my farmhouse attic apartment by the first. The money is simply not there. I am desperate and afraid I'll have to store all of my things to come back for later. That's how bad it is.

Help me. I am your friend, and PayPal is my friend. $1, $5, $20, whatever. Anything. Please.

Once I'm settled, there will be goodies in the mail for anyone who has sent me anything. Post cards, jewelry, small pretty things, some token of my affection and gratitude. Just help me get myself and my bed and my desk back to home.




Also, I get that people are broke. The economy sucks right now, and we're all feeling it. I'm just reaching out because I don't have other options. I also appreciate all the moral support and soul-love that has been coming my way. Thanks to everybody who has expressed concern and sympathy. I love you guys too.

Ethan Forrest

Here's a couple of pictures of one of the main characters in "Knight of Arrows, Knight of Swords."

Everybody, meet Mr. Ethan Forrest, hipster druggie gyspy mage...

This is a sketch from a lovely friend of mine that I met at AWA. I think it captures him perfectly.

This is a picture of a ABJD stolen from the alientune on Deviantart. Is it stolen if I just linked back? Anyway, she has some gorgeous dolls that totally remind me of characters.

Knight of Arrows, Knight of Swords

To make it official, here is the announcement of my novel purchase! (You will be seeing many more updates on the novel coming soon!)

http://www.candlemarkandgleam.com/tag/knight-of-arrows-knight-of-swords/

Candlemark & Gleam is proud to announce the acquisition of a new title: Knight of Arrows, Knight of Swordsby A.C. Gaddis!

Like a number of our other books, this one doesn’t easily slip into simple blurbs or neat little soundbites. But that doesn’t mean it’s not an incredible story.

Knight of Arrows, Knight of Swords takes place in a burnt-out, post-apocalyptic world where demons roam the earth, and certain humans are sworn to both kill the demons and suppress the knowledge that they’re out there (don’t want to start panic in the streets, after all).

Two of these gifted humans, a mage and a warrior, were paired off in a Sacred Band within the mysterious, cunning, powerful Order of Steel – but they broke the Order’s laws, and have been driven apart and sent to find their own ways in the world.

Now, each has become involved with a creature that he doesn’t understand – not demon, not angel, not human, not undead – creatures both beautiful and terrible, with agendas of their own.

Knight of Arrows, Knight of Swords follows these men and not-monsters on their journeys, both real and metaphorical, as they try to prevent demons from overtaking the world, evil from shattering a fragile peace forged between races, and heartbreak from shattering them.

It’s a romance in the old, medieval sense of the word – laden with lush imagery, grand and sweeping heroic adventures, and, yes, a whole Gordian’s knot of tragic love stories.

Radio Silence

The Shrew officially apologizes for the radio silence on this blog.

I have been working on revisions to my novel and writing to pay the bills. Haven't had much time for blogging.

In the coming months, however, things will be picking up!

In the meantime, check out my friend's debut novel: Broken Gods by Jason Vey! Congrats, Jason!

The Life of a Freelance Writer and One Quasi-Review

So right up there at the top of this blog it says "tales of a the life of a freelance writer," and you know what's hilarious?

I haven't been posting here lately because I've been too busy with my freelance writing.

Does this count as a tale of the life of a freelance writer? Ironically? I would ponder this, but that means I would have to type some more. And I've been doing that all day.

In other news, I finished The Fall of The Kings by Ellen Kushner, the third in her fantasy series that begins with Swordspoint. I skipped The Privilege of the Sword because I am an idiot, even though I hear it is a great book. I might go back and read it. These books are amazing, and I can't recommend them enough. If you enjoy historical novels and city novels, you will enjoy Kushner's books. And of course, they have boys who love boys in them. Which makes it better. And that's all the "review" I have in me now. Terrible, I know.

Regular reviews will return when morale improves.

Got fiction? Call for Submissions from Lethe Press.

Call for Submissions from Lethe Press!

Melt in Your Mouth: Chocolate, Boys and Bed
Editor: CB Potts
Publisher: Lethe Press, Summer 2011
Deadline: March 30, 2011
Payment: 2 cents/word and a copy of the book on publication

Melt in Your Mouth: Chocolate, Boys, and Bed
Sweet, sticky, decadent…is anything better than chocolate? Yes, there is – especially when the tempting mouthful is presented by a candy artistan who looks good enough to eat…

Lethe Press is seeking well-written, inventive gay male erotic stories that feature chocolatiers, confectioners, bakers, and candy men of every persuasion – including the one that got caught with his hand in the bon-bon box! Particularly attention paid to stories that are fun, upbeat, and a step or two off the beaten path…give us your best gourmet treats!

Click HERE for more details.

Holy Bulging Muscles, Batman!

So I was browsing iO9 and came across this gem: 90s Marvel Comics Pin-Ups.

And I was struck by how many of those male superheroes look, well... gay.

Exhibit A: Captain America.

Yeaaahhh, um... iO9 said it best: "This Captain America illustration was a collaboration between Norman Rockwell and Tom of Finland."

And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't point out comics' first gay superhero: Northstar. 

Now, he's hot, don't get me wrong... but somehow this is more demure than the "straight" superhero pin-ups in the bunch. I honestly wonder why that is... Is Northstar not presented as a sex object because he's gay? Because it would be more threatening to show him in a banana hammock? Possibly. Are Captain America's muscles presented to the (presumably male) viewer as something to aspire to rather than something to desire? If so, where does this put female or gay male viewers? Is Capt. America presented to female viewers as titillating, and if so, then is Northstar as well? 

Take a minute to glance at these two pictures... Captain America's ass is there for all to see (oh, those wrinkles are driving me crazy), but Northstar's is conveniently hidden by that spray of water. The Shrew wonders why. The Shrew does not have any hard answers, but thinks it's fun to contemplate the intersection of comics, representation, sexuality and the male gaze. If anyone has thoughts, feel free to share in the comments. 

If you're interested in reading more about gay superheroes, here's a few links:

Good Ole Wikipedia

Beek's Books Gay Superhero List

Perry Moore, author of Hero (a gay superhero novel), also has a list. 

A great article on HubPages.

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