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kristenslater

~ Writer of gay romance. Born romantic and lover of a happy ending.

kristenslater

Category Archives: My books

Catching up

08 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by slaterkristen in My books, Random musing, Writing

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Tags

Dreamspinner Press, Release news, Romance, Writing

Yikes!

It’s been a long time since I wandered by here and wrote something. Time just seems to slip away somehow, and now here we are, in December.

So, what’s happened since—can it really be that long?—July?

Well, I’ll start with the story that came out on 16 July. People have bought copies! If you are one of them, thank you so much. Some people have put reviews up. Again, thank you to them, because it’s really great to get feedback, not only about what they liked but also what they didn’t.

In September I got to meet some other writers and readers at the inaugural UK gay romance book signing and reading in London. In spite of my trepidation about going, I’m glad I got over my nerves because it was a good day out. I’ve signed up to go to the UK GLBTQ fiction meet in September next year (as a reader) as well. It’ll be my first time doing something like that, so I’m sort of nervous even though it’s still ten months away.

Traditional granny square

A granny square!

I’ve been doing some crochet classes in the evenings. I really wanted to learn how to do granny squares. My own granny taught me, but I’d forgotten how. Now I have a scarf, some wristwarmers, a hat and part of a hot water bottle cover. Plus lots of ideas and enthusiasm. The classes were held at a local school and there were about 12-14 of us—with one lone man in the middle of us chattering women. Although it’s finished now, another short course was arranged for January and I’m looking forward to learning Tunisian crochet.

And, as I do each November, I took part in National Novel Writing Month, where you try to write 50,000 words in the month. I normally do quite well but this year was a bit of a washout. I made the mistake of coasting a bit in the first couple of weeks, because I’d booked a week off work for writing. Unfortunately, that meant that when a severe cold which turned into a chest infection hit me, I didn’t do any writing that week and very little the week after. It turns out that coughing 24 hours a day is extremely tiring, especially if you can only sleep sat up and for, at most, three hours. Oh well. I still have 13,000 words I didn’t have at the beginning of November and a solid basis for a story.

Oh, and PS—getting published wasn’t a fluke! Dreamspinner Press accepted a short story I submitted for their Advent Calendar set of stories, which is available now. You can buy the whole package or each story individually, whichever you prefer. Here’s mine

Book cover - The Journey BackHaving quit his job, Idris is trying to make it home to his partner of twelve years, Dan, in time for Christmas. Stuck on a train during a snowstorm, Idris has nothing to do but think back on how much he has missed by putting his career first. His job has been straining their partnership for years, and now Idris worries he’s damaged it beyond repair. He desperately wants to get back to the UK and salvage their relationship—if there’s even anything waiting for him when he gets home.

That’s all for now. Hopefully I’ll write a bit sooner next time.

Kristen
xx

The birthday present

16 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by slaterkristen in My books

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Tags

Birthday party, Blog Tours, Dreamspinner Press, Progress report, Romance

It’s here! It’s here! My novella Working It Out releases today on the Dreamspinner press site. I’m so excited.Working It Out Book Cover

It’s my birthday on Saturday. On the same day, I get to take over the Dreamspinner Press blog for a few hours to promote my book. How cool is that?

Just before Christmas, I got news that they were going to publish my story. On my birthday I get to celebrate that it has just released. I’m so thrilled. Please do come and join me. It will start at around 4.00pm UK time (that’s 11.00am in New York, 8.00am in Los Angeles and 1.00am on Sunday in Sydney) and finish around eight hours later.

If you comment on any of the posts on Saturday, you could even win a copy of the story and try me out for free. What have you got to lose?

And don’t forget—I’m going to be popping up on a few blogs around the internet. If you want to see what I’ve got to say, check out the Dreamspinner Press blog on Saturday and follow the links on my Blog Tours page.

Kristen
xx

It’s almost here!

23 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by slaterkristen in My books

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Tags

Dreamspinner Press, Progress report, Release news, Romance

My novella’s available to pre-order on the Dreamspinner Press site. Oh my. I have a page there under my name. Working It Out Book Cover

Here’s a look at the cover. I really like it and it’s been hard not sharing it until now.

So what’s it about? Here’s the blurb to whet your appetite.

“Celebrating six months with his boyfriend has Cas in a bit of a panic. Joe’s been saying “I love you” for a while, but Cas just can’t get the words past his lips. A week before Christmas, he finally says them when a nearly fatal accident almost takes Joe, and Cas faces the possibility of losing the best man he’s ever known. But whispered declarations are one thing. Through a long, tough recovery both men must work out that love is more than words.”

Excuse me a moment while I continue bouncing excitedly.

Kristen xx

It’s all coming together

02 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by slaterkristen in My books, Writing

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Tags

Dreamspinner Press, Progress report, Romance

Oh my. It feels like a while since I last wrote, but it’s only been a couple of weeks. Things are moving on apace, getting really close. It’s June already and my story’s due out next month!

I’ve done my author profile, the cover is finalised, there’s a kickass blurb (I can say that because I didn’t write it) and I even have a tentative publication date.

I got the galley proofs from the publisher, Dreamspinner Press, at the weekend and it seems like a good time to tell you a little bit more about the book.

It’s a novella—for those that don’t know, that’s a story which is too long to be a short story but too short to be a novel. This one will be about 70-75 pages long and is called Working It Out. It’s a romance—I guess you know that already if you’ve looked at the top of the screen 😉 —and is the story of how twenty-six-year-old Cas works out how you know if you’re in love with someone.

I’m getting so excited and can barely wait to share the blurb and cover with you. As soon as it’s available for pre-order, you can bet I’ll be posting the details.

I’ll also be kermit-flailing like mad.

And probably squeeeing.

I’ve got used to people staring at me, so I shan’t even wait until I’m home and alone before doing that.

I shall be posting on the Dreamspinner Press blog the week it comes out and am hoping to do a little blog tour to get the word out there about my story. I’d better get started with all that non-fiction writing I need to do, hadn’t I?

See you later

Kristen
xx

Recent posts

  • Catching up Monday 8 December, 2014
  • The birthday present Wednesday 16 July, 2014
  • I’m going on tour Sunday 13 July, 2014
  • Hearing Voices Wednesday 9 July, 2014
  • What am I to do? Thursday 3 July, 2014

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