Procrastination Station

This is where I have been the last two weeks…fully parked and camping out at procrastination station. I have been doing anything and everything to avoid writing.

I cleaned my house. *gasp* Too bad it didn’t last long.

I learned how to properly trim the herbs in my garden. I have been growing them for years, but always jus yacked off leaves as I needed then was sad when they went to seed. For once I decided to google proper trimming techniques and now they look fabulous. I should have lots of herbs all season. Heck, I even made herbed butter. You know? Chopping up herb varieties and folding it into softened butter and then rolling it in wax paper and chilling in fridge?

Yeah, I know. Procrastination station.

I mean, I even infused vinegar with tarragon. I’ll probably use it. Lol

So why am I procrastinating so much? Baking bread and playing on Pinterest?

Well, at first it was because I was stuck on a sequel that I’m working on. I won’t say writer’s block, per se. But I will say it was going in a direction that just didn’t feel right. So I gave myself permission to leave it alone for a few days. After all, I had just submitted a novella for a new 1Night Stand called FINDING HIS FANTASY which featured Josef, the sexy Haitian bartender from my book ACCIDENTALLY BEAUTIFUL, and Paul the art gallery owner from my writer pal Wendy Burke’s holiday romance WISE MEN SAY. I had a book on a publisher’s desk. I always feel pressure when I don’t have at least one story in the pipeline. I should have felt success and not so guilty about doing no writing or writing related activities, aka blogging etc.

But I felt totally guilty about it even as I started a new compost heap out back. (See, now that is MAJOR procrastination lol) But then a friend said, “Didn’t you used to take a little break in between books? It seems like the last few years, you’ve finished one project and immediately started the next.”

Hmmmm, I thought. Is that true?

It was!

I have been writing continuously with no “me time.” I was so focused on what ny next project should be, and the one after that, I’d decided “me time” was just an excuse to procrastinate and not write. But hey, I like playing in my garden. I like making herb infused vinegars. And for the few hours it lasted, I liked having a clean kitchen.

It felt great actually!

I guess the point of this blog is that taking a little trip to Procrastination Station isn’t such a bad thing. I took a little down time, left some of the self-inflicted pressure behind, and just did some stuff that I enjoy. I took my friends kids to the zoo, I went on some bike rides. I even went and saw Magic Mike XXL last night with my two besties! LOL, THAT was fun!

And you know what?

That little plot hole I was struggling with, I think I filled it. I might even start working on it as soon as I sigh off here. Which means, that maybe my stay in the station is coming to an end. I believe some of Santa’s elves up in THE NAUGHTY NORTH POLE are whispering book six to me as we speak…..

What about you guys? Do you ever take a break from writing, but then you feel guilty about it?

I would love to hear from you!

~D

Deanna Wadsworth might be a bestselling erotica author, but she leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her wonderful husband and a couple adorable cocker spaniels. She has been spinning tales and penning stories since childhood, and her first erotic novella was published in 2010. When she isn’t writing books or brainstorming with friends, you can find her making people gorgeous in a beauty salon. She loves music and dancing, and can often be seen hanging out on the sandbar in the muddy Maumee River or chilling with her hubby and a cocktail in their basement bar. In between all that fun, Deanna cherishes the quiet times when she can let her wildly active imagination have the full run of her mind. Her fascination with people and the interworkings of their relationships have always inspired her to write romance with spice and love without boundaries.

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You can also find her young adult alter ego, K.D. Worth Facebook│Twitter

You can also find her young adult alter ego, K.D. Worth Facebook│Twitter

What Happens at the Salon … Ends Up in a Book!

by Wendy Burke

My Decadent Publishing writing pal DeannaWadsworth, just happens to be the person who cuts my hair.  Usually, I’m allotted much more time than any other scheduled appointment, because we both know while she’s trimming, dying and making me look fabulous, (…a chore unto itself…) we’ll be plotting books, or working on endings, or wondering how "Minor character A" from one of my 1NightStands ends up as "Main Character A" in one of hers. 

  Well, it’s happened again.    

  At first it was completely accidental, then it was a challenge, now after six books total, all these characters know or are related to each other in some way.

  Deanna was intrigued by the gallery owner in my Wise Men Say, so she decided to ‘steal’ him. I’m happy to report, her next 1NS offering, Finding His Fantasy, is nearly complete.

  But, wait there’s more.

  The Wise Men Say characters are totally unrelated to any of the other six "over-lapping character" books we’ve published – well, that is until the last time she cut my hair!  Now, it looks like there may be at least four more: a spin off from her latest story, and if I get off my duff, at least one from me – which will neatly tie her Bear It All, Accidentally Beautiful, The Best Ever, and my The One He Chose, Haste Ye Back, and For Me, to her latest story and back to Wise Men Say.

   Yes, it does sound confusing – but it made crystal-clear sense when we yammered on about it during my dye-

job processing. (…complete with odd looks from other stylists and their clients. Thankfully, she did not holler, "You should totally kill the priest!"...)

   I’d hate to think of what we’d come up with if I got a perm!

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and three fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West.

Playing Favorites

   I don't have children, so I can't say if this is true, but I'm told mothers 'have no favorites when it comes to their kids.

   I don't think that's the same when it comes to stories, because I'm definitely more partial to some of my five books than others.

   Is that wrong? I don't know. Is it common?  Again, I don't know, but if my fellow authors want to weigh in on the subject, I'd be glad to entertain their comments.

   Why does it happen?  I think it may have to do with 'where' I was when the story was penned -- what was going on in my life -- did the 'birth' of the story, and its subsequent 'upbringing,' end up being a peaceful process with few painful trips to Dr. Editor?

It's a toss up for me, "The One He Chose", and "Haste Ye Back."

"Chose" was the second story Decadent Publishing contracted from me. I got an awesome, threatening acceptance email from the submission specialist and from then on out the process was wonderful. The first line of the book came to me in a dream and the title bantered about over beers with my fellow-DP author, Deanna Wadsworth. "It'll probably be something overly sweet and uber-cheesy, like The One He Chose," I said with a slight slur. Yes, my non-author friends, this is how books get titles! When she swiped a character in the story for her own 1Night Stand, well, then we both knew we were on to something.

"Haste" pretty much wrote itself within days of returning from a vacation to Scotland. Although, it began as a much longer work, again Deanna stepped in and insisted it be a 1 Night Stand. (Damn, she's gonna want an agent's cut pretty soon!) The locale was imprinted in my mind, and I go back and read "Haste" every now and again, just to remind myself of the scenery on my vacation, which really isn't captured properly in photos.

In some ways, I'm a bit fonder of Ian and Bryn's 'situation' than that of Jake and Grace's in The One He Chose. But, there's also something about Grace and Jake's 'innocence' of their situation I'm drawn to, compared to Bryn and Ian's 'revenge,' so to speak.

I love each of the characters. Now, I guess, I'll get an email from Deanna forcing the two couples to meet!

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and three fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West. You can holler at her: wendyburke1994@bex.net.

The Morning After

Readers always want to know what happens the day after a 1Night Stand. Well, in my bestselling book, The Best Ever, young Jason Lewis is more than a little happy to wake up in the arms of his high school crush, superstar baseball pitcher Blake Huntington. #surreal  

And Blake is more than happy to set aside his position and play catcher for Jason. #whowouldathunkit?

But these boys know how to switch it up in order to hit a homerun! Their two days in Vegas were filled with stolen moments of pleasure, and nights of exploring newfound delights. #xrated

So does what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas?

Not with these two!

For both Jason and Blake, they have found the love they have been looking for since the first time they met in high school. #dreamcometrue

Upon their return to Michigan, Blake was true to his word and the guys have been busy creating an online scholastic program and app that uses sports analogies to help kids understand math. So far, it is going well and should be live within the month. As you can read in the book, For Me, by Wendy Burke, the story of Jason’s sister, Abby, Jason and Blake are planning on moving in together.

With Blake’s sports career, however, their relationship still needs to remain on the down-low. As far as everyone else is concerned, Jason rents the pool house at Blake’s West Bloomfield home. Blake is working with his publicist and agent on if and when he decides to make their relationship public, but unfortunately that might be some time in the future.

Jason isn’t bothered by their need for discretion nearly as much as Blake, because he has never been one for social situations or public attention. #nothankyou!

It’s plenty awkward for him when Blake gets him box seats or ones behind the dugout, then takes him to functions as his “best friend and business partner.” He’d much rather blend into the crowd and watch his lover from the jumbotron, holding their love close to his heart and not sharing it with anyone. Surrounded by adoring fans and the electricity of the crowd, and knowing that Blake loves him? #thebestever

What lies ahead for these boys is unclear, as a sequel to their story is dancing around in my head, so that’s all the update you will for now. Maybe in the near future, we will hear what is even better than the best ever. #sequel?

The Best Ever—A 1Night Stand Story

Jason Lewis is a self-proclaimed nerdy guy who hates his red hair. Bullied most of his life, at 22 social situations still make him awkward. On a trip to the World Video Game Expo in Las Vegas, Jason decides to enlist the help of Madame Eve in his failed romantic endeavors. While at the con, he runs into sexy, professional baseball pitcher Blake Huntington, the guy he tutored in high school. Blake invites him to a party and after hanging out with his high school crush, Jason begins to regret booking his 1NS "encounter" later that night. But Madame Eve may have planned the best night ever.

Deanna Wadsworth might be a bestselling erotica author, but she leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her wonderful husband and a couple adorable cocker spaniels. She has been spinning tales and penning stories since childhood, and her first erotic novella was published in 2010. When she isn’t writing books or brainstorming with friends, you can find her making people gorgeous in a beauty salon. She loves music and dancing, and can often be seen hanging out on the sandbar in the muddy Maumee River or chilling with her hubby and a cocktail in their basement bar. In between all that fun, Deanna cherishes the quiet times when she can let her wildly active imagination have the full run of her mind. Her fascination with people and the interworkings of their relationships have always inspired her to write romance with spice and love without boundaries.

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#deannawadsworth, #LGBTromance, #mmromance, #gayromance, #decadentpub

What Comes After?

By Deanna Wadsworth

Every novella that steals our heart leaves us wanting more, which is what a good 1Night Stand story is all about. My personal favorite (I know writer’s shouldn’t have one but I do) is my book Accidentally Beautiful. It tells the story of an uptight Scottish man named Martin Baird. A concierge for Castillo Resorts, he personally ensures Madame Eve’s customers have flawless encounters. He first appears in The One He Chose by Wendy Burke, as the best butler anyone could ever want. Then he “accidentally” meets Garret Fisher, a confident sexy Dom from America while in the Caribbean. It’s soon becomes apparent that they are made for each other—as if Madame Eve makes mistakes! Ha!

We are gifted with a peek at their life in Haste Ye Back by Wendy Burke, but how can a Scot living in Canada make a HEA with a guy from Detroit?

Well, Garret took care of everything, per his usual.

He found them an apartment in Windsor, Ontario, less than a half hour drive from his bar The Fifth Base, a popular sports bar near Ford Field. Being in Canada but so close to the states works great for both of them and Martin didn’t even have to bother with a US visa.

Three hours from their new home is the Toronto Castillo Resort and Casino. Though he is rarely on site, Martin transferred there soon after returning home from the vacation which changed his life forever. He makes an average of three to four out of town trips a month all over the world to set up 1Night Stand encounters according to Madame Eve’s very specific requirements. The Castillo family is exceedingly happy to entrust Martin with this job, because very few concierges would go to the trouble of collecting an ancient suit of armor from an antique shop in Queens and setting it up in a room at the Castillo Resort-Dalmahoy’s in Scotland then not question why the occupants and suit of armor completely vanished the next morning. (I bet you wanna read that book but I haven’t written it yet!)

 Martin’s newfound confidence is something Garret looks upon with a deep sense of pride. But by no means is Martin any less of a sub. Under Garrets gentle direction, both in and out of the bedroom, he has come to a greater understanding of his nature, embracing his need to serve others and thus growing in confidence. The ease the two men share, the perfection of the roles both of them were born into, has created a devoted love that others can easily see when they are together—which they try to do as often as possible. At least once a month, Garret goes with him on assignments, checking out the local color and of course the beer!

Garret’s family has welcomed Martin into the fold and when he’s in town he’s often seen bussing tables and waiting on customers at The Fifth Base. After a fair amount of teasing and harassing from his brothers—which Garret only allowed to continue for a while—Martin is a bone fide member of the Fisher clan.

Garret and Martin have no intention of bothering with a marriage certificate—much to Garret’s mother’s disappointment because she has always wanted to attend a gay wedding. The bond the two men share transcends the normal, and mere paper cannot define the depth of their devotion to one another. They are going to be together for the rest of their lives and that is no accident!

And in case you were wondering, it didn’t take long for Garret to get Martin into a kilt. He bought one of the Baird family plaid, instructed Martin to wear it and nothing else on their first night at their new apartment in Windsor, and then...let’s just say, after that Martin had a whole new appreciation for the garment of his countrymen and the inventive mind of his lover.

Accidentally Beautiful—A 1Night Stand Story

Martin Baird is perfectly content in his safe, predictable job as head concierge for Castillo Resorts, but when a handsome stranger whisks him away for a night of tropical escapades—first visiting an isolated gay bar then to a secluded beach where erotic delights await—Martin’s world is thrown upside down. He’s never met a man like Garret Fisher, but it seems he has been waiting for a night like this all his life.
Could something truly beautiful come out of this accidental meeting? Or was it really not an accident at all?

Deanna Wadsworth might be a bestselling erotica author, but she leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her wonderful husband and a couple adorable cocker spaniels. She has been spinning tales and penning stories since childhood, and her first erotic novella was published in 2010. When she isn’t writing books or brainstorming with friends, you can find her making people gorgeous in a beauty salon. She loves music and dancing, and can often be seen hanging out on the sandbar in the muddy Maumee River or chilling with her hubby and a cocktail in their basement bar. In between all that fun, Deanna cherishes the quiet times when she can let her wildly active imagination have the full run of her mind. Her fascination with people and the interworkings of their relationships have always inspired her to write romance with spice and love without boundaries.

Facebook │ Twitter │Blog │Goodreads

#1NS, #1nightstand, #MadameEve, #deannawadsworth, #onenightstand, #decadentpub

Where are they Now?

By Deanna Wadsworth

For those of you who love short stories, the 1Night Stand series is very popular. You get an exciting setting, two great lead characters, steamy sex and a HFN. But as with all HFNs, readers want to know what happens next! Well in my book, Bear it All, you meet young Travis who has a hankering for big, older, hairy guys. Cue John, the bear of Bear it All. Readers can get a sneak peek of their HEA in Wendy’ Burke’s The One He Chose, where we learn that Travis and John are living in Ann Arbor and building a house together.

But where are they now?

Well, as you may remember, Travis had just taken the bar and wanted to become a child advocate and John was teaching law at UofM. Travis passed, of course, and now he is a guardian ad litem at Washtenaw County Court office. He loves his job. John continues to teach, and spending his free time in the small vegetable garden he talked Travis into putting in their back yard. Travis prefers to go organic by shopping at Whole Foods, and makes sure John doesn’t get carried away with his garden and annoys their suburban neighbors or break any rules of the development rules.

Their house has become the place to watch the Ohio State vs Michigan game and every year the transplanted Buckeye, Travis goes all out to taunt John, even wearing full scarlet and grey to the Michigan hospitality tents with John’s coworkers. Last year Travis even bought a blow up Brutus and had him holding a decapitated wolverine in their front yard, which the neighborhood committee made him promptly take down due to a complaint from his own household. But it is all in good fun and John has big plans to best Travis in this game this fall.

Aside from an occasional, “Is this your son?” from a stranger, most of their friends and family barely notice their age gap anymore, and some of Travis’ friends refer to them as the old married couple, ‘Jonvis’.  

Still, the happy couple does feel a few things are missing in their lives. Since their home state of Michigan bans same sex marriage, they are taking a trip to Chicago this weekend to check out possible wedding venues. They haven’t told anyone their plans, but they are hoping for a late summer wedding, right before John starts his fall semester. And of course, a honeymoon at Castillo Resorts in Turks and Caicos where their romance began!

Once that little piece of paper shows the world what they have known in their hearts from their first night together, they are considering adoption. John insists he is too old for babies and Travis has always wanted to make a difference in a child’s life, give them the chance he never had. So they’re hoping to adopt an older boy, or perhaps siblings the system cannot find homes for.

Whether any children turn out to be Wolverines or Buckeyes is anybody’s guess, but one thing is for sure they will be growing up in a home full of laughter and love.

Bear it All—A 1 Night Stand Story

Travis hired 1Night Stand hoping for a hot encounter with a sexy older, hairy man, someone to make him feel safe and cherished, and John looks custom made to order.
After losing his partner three years ago, John needs to learn how to open his heart and live again. He thinks a one night stand in the Caribbean might be the answer, but when he sees the young, thin and much smaller Travis, he thinks the agency sent the wrong man.
Can desire overcome misunderstanding when these two bear it all? Or will both men walk away from exactly what they need and desire?

                                            

Deanna Wadsworth might be a bestselling erotica author, but she leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her wonderful husband and a couple adorable cocker spaniels. She has been spinning tales and penning stories since childhood, and her first erotic novella was published in 2010. When she isn’t writing books or brainstorming with friends, you can find her making people gorgeous in a beauty salon. She loves music and dancing, and can often be seen hanging out on the sandbar in the muddy Maumee River or chilling with her hubby and a cocktail in their basement bar. In between all that fun, Deanna cherishes the quiet times when she can let her wildly active imagination have the full run of her mind. Her fascination with people and the interworkings of their relationships have always inspired her to write romance with spice and love without boundaries.

Facebook │ Twitter │Blog │Goodreads

#deannawadsworth, #1NS, #1nightstand, #onenightstand, #MadameEve, #decadentpub