Hello again. Not even gonna count the months since my last post. Doesn’t matter, I only now have something to say and I’m resigned to the fact that I don’t blog well when I don’t have anything to say. 

‘Lucky’ in Excessica’s ‘Like Magnets, We Attract’ Anthology coming April 13/09

Excerpt: MM

I’d thought Josh had already left for Thanksgiving. Most everyone else has. Leo’s getting into his eighty-thousand dollar beater right now. Yep, folding that smokin’ long-legged frame right in there.

Yes, it has been 8000 years since my last blog post - or somesuch.  I think I've figured out that I'm never, ever, going to be a hugely popular author 'cause I simply suck so very hard at the promo.  :(  Ah, well.  So last week, when I was laid up after gall bladder surgery, Ruthie's Club ran my rain story 'RainWhore' and  a five  part wedding flash based on  the Something Old/ Somethin New poem.  Very cool.  If you have a membership check it out, and if you don't go get one.  Seriously.  Some of the best Erotica I've ever read is on that site.  Next week - on Sept 24, I'm told - Cleansheets will be running my highly angsty MM story 'Slipstream'.  That site's free and also just chock full of fabulous erotic goodness so go read, k?  And last but not least, my short story 'Waves' (Also a real angst driven thang.  Issues?  Me?  Nah.) will be available October in Cleis Press's 'Frenzy' antho, edited by the lovely and talented Alison Tyler.   Look for it in Chapters - before they turn into Indigo's and there won't even be an erotica section anymore.  Grumble-grumble-bitch.

It's been tough writing this summer, 3 kids and no darn time.  But my oldest is back in school now.  Yay.  And as soon as we get the raging case of strep throat that everyone seems to have contracted under control, I'm gonna try hard to get back into my writing schedule.  I'll keep you informed of my progress.  Actually, I probably won't.  I think we've already established that I'm not very good at the 'informing' thing.  But, hey, no news is good news, right?  And if I sell anything I'll definitely mention it.  Someday.

Hey, hey,

I know...it’s been three months...again.  What can I say?  Blogging just ain’t my thang.  But since I have a new release coming out this Tuesday - the 18th of March/08 - I thought I’d better get my butt in gear.  The cover for Forgive and Forget is my profile pic now.  But since it’s so pretty, I thought I’d give you a blown up version:

Many thanks to Anne Cain of Loose ID for all her hard work, and for masking that broken blood vessel in Apollo’s nose.  Lol.


Now, I already posted an excerpt from this novella.  You can find it  a few  entries back, so today I’m going to give you the original myth this little tale was based on, and then my take on what really happened.  I think you’ll agree that it was just dying to be made into a BDSM oriented MMM Menage story... or perhaps that’s just me.    A pic to get you in the mood:


Zephyrus and Hyacinth 480 BC

The myth:  Hyacinth was an exceptionally handsome young man who excited the love of both Apollo and Zephyrus, god of the west wind. Hyacinth professed his love for Apollo, and the jealous Zephyrus raised his winds so that a discus thrown by Apollo killed the youth. Heartbroken, Apollo had the hyacinth flower bloom where the young man died.

Okay.  That’s nice.  Short and sweet, right? 

But...what if Zephyrus was really in love with Apollo, not Hyacinth?  And what if he hadn’t meant to kill Hyacinth, at all, but was in fact trying to let the boy win because Hyacinth had believed that Apollo could only love him if he proved himself Apollo’s equal; and since Apollo had spurned Zephyrus’s love, Zephyrus just wanted the sun god to be happy - even if it was with someone else?  Wait, though. Wait... What if it turned out that Apollo really did love Zephyrus.  He just doesn’t remember the fact because - somehow - his memory of that love has been taken from him?  That would be a bit of a mind-fuck, wouldn’t it?

Cut to three-thousand years later.  Zephyrus has been watching the blood-line of  Livana - Hyacinth’s sister - for all these years, hoping to find a passable duplicate of Hyacinth.  Lucas is perfect, almost identical in appearance to the Spartan Prince, and just as much of a pain slut as his great...great...you get the idea...Uncle.

Zephyrus offers Lucas to Apollo...hoping to mend their shattered relationship and to open the lines of communication again.  He’s resigned himself to the fact that Apollo doesn’t love him, but he just has to know...What the hell happened?

Thus begins Forgive and Forget - a twisted tale of love, revenge, and deep, dark desires. 

Alright, one more tiny excerpt, just ’cause:

As they arrived, candles flared to life in the many golden wall sconces spaced around the walls, bathing the marble in butter yellow light. Their feet sank inches deep into his custom-made white and ivory rugs. Apollo’s bed, raised on a foot-high marble pedestal, sumptuous with gold lamé pillows and white satin sheets, glowed like a holy alter in front of them. As it should. Fucking was Apollo’s true religion.

"Merde!" Lucas cried. He clutched Zephyrus.

Zephyrus looked vaguely panicked when he realized where Apollo had sent them. "Okay, then. I’m going to go," he said, trying to disengage from the boy.

"No," Lucas cried. "Stay. Please."

"He won’t hurt you, Lucas."

"Beg to differ," Apollo said.

Lucas twisted his body into Zephyrus’s.

"Not helping, asshole!"

Apollo grinned at the show of spirit. He’d forgotten how much he used to love ruffling Zephyrus’s feathers. Apollo pressed himself against Lucas’s back. His cock nestled between the boy’s ass cheeks, and Apollo couldn’t resist a little bump and grind against the taut, velvet-clad globes. "Anyway, darlin’," he leaned down to whisper. His tongue traced Lucas’s ear as he spoke. "You’ll have a safe word."

Zephyrus’s gulp was only heard because Apollo’s face was mere inches from his mouth. Apollo raised his eyes. Had he made Zephyrus use a safe word, too? He must have -- he almost always did. Funny that he couldn’t remember, though. That long-ago night with the wind god was a strange, empty blur in Apollo’s mind. He must have been really loaded.

"Goldenrod," Apollo said to Lucas. He’d been using the same word for forever. Zephyrus’s expression was strained. "Your word is goldenrod, Lucas. All right?" Apollo’s voice soothed while his hands stroked gentle up and down the boy’s sides.

Lucas’s trembling began to abate. "Goldenrod," he repeated. "All right." His head came back to rest against Apollo’s chest. His arms still loosely wrapped Zephyrus’s waist. When Zephyrus again tried to unwind them, they tightened. "I want Zephyrus to stay, though," Lucas said, looking shyly up at the sun god. "Please?"

"No."

"Sure."

"No," Zephyrus said again. "This isn’t about me." He was more forceful this time in pushing Lucas away. So forceful that his shove moved not only Lucas back, but the god behind him, as well. "I’m going now."

Apollo reached out to snare Zephyrus’s hair before the wind god could dissipate. Such long hair really was a terrible vulnerability. He began tugging Zephyrus toward his body. "No, it’s about Lucas," he said. He smiled down at the boy and used his free hand to cup Lucas’s jaw, angling his head back even more so that Apollo could press a kiss to those perfect lips. "And if Lucas wants you here, then here you’ll stay," he finished.

Hi.  Whew, long time, huh?  You may have noticed that I've moved to Burlington, ON from Edmonton, AB.  Probably you didn't - it's just one tiny difference in my profile - but hey...you may have.  Yep, I've been home about 5 weeks now and I haven't written a single darn word in over 8 weeks.  :(  First there's trying to sell, keeping the house friggin' spotless, then moving cross-country, getting unpacked, settled, enter Christmas shopping, and now I'm looking after my sister's 21 month old little girl, who is just 2 weeks older than my own 21 month old little boy.  And my eldest is having serious issues with the move and his new school.  So again I say, whew.  Lol.

Nonetheless, I am making timid progress in my chosen 'porn writer' career.  Loose ID just shot me an acceptance for 'Forgive and Forget', that Greek BDSM piece about Apollo and Zephyrus.  I've never worked with Loose ID before, but have heard great things, and their author line-up is fabulous.  An excerpt for F and F can be found a few blog posts back, along with pics of my new tattoo.  :) Here's the blurb I presented to L-ID.

APOLLO, GOD OF THE SUN

Apollo never wanted to see Zephyrus again.  His friendship with the wind god had been murdered on the same day his lover Hyacinth was - three-thousand years ago.  But Zeph's back and, somehow, so is Hyacinth.  As present blends with past, Apollo finds himself assailed by strange, vague memories.  Had he and Zephyrus really been together?  When?  Where?  Gods, why couldn't he remember? 

ZEPHYRUS, THE WEST WIND

 Three-thousand years without his soul-mate was three-thousand years too long.  But Zephyrus finally has something to offer Apollo, something to make the sun god sit up and pay attention.  Zeph doesn't know why Pol walked out on him so long ago, but he damn sure intends to find out.  Can the sun god be made to see reason?  Be made to remember how good they were together?  Gods, Zephyrus hopes so. 

And on a final note, I finally have a new book cover for my Profile Pic.  Yay!  'Course, Hard Hats won't be available until June 08, but I don't care.  I've had the same Profile Pic for over a year and I had to change it!  Lol.

Lotsa Love,

Alisha

Hey, hey,

Long time n'all that.  It's 'cause I've sold my house and am moving back to Ontario next Friday, ya see.  No time to write - let alone blog.  :( 

Anyhoo, I just received a lovely acceptance from Ms. Alison Tyler for her Super Short, Super Sexy antho with Cleis.  I subbed my story, Waves, (those of you in the tank might remember it) and Alison was kind enough to call the piece 'transcendent,' which was a wonderful thing to say, don't you think?

Right, that's all I had to say, really.  Moving/acceptance=done.

I don't believe this anthology will be out until 09, but I'll post when I find out more.  Assuming, that is, that I have internet again anytime in the foreseeable future.  Lol.

xo

Alisha 

I feel kinda bad that I never blog unless I have a plug to do.  Yep, kinda, sorta bad.  But, meh, what do you do?  I just have trouble finding anything to say, is all.  So, right then, lets get to those plugs, shall we?

Silver Rings went up at Ruthies Club today.  It has a nifty illustration by A. Wilkowski.  Have a boo if you're an RC member.  And if you're not...why not? 

Also, I got another nice review for The Summoner a while back. Debbie H of  GottaWriteNetwork reviews says:

The Summoner is a fantastic read with twists and turns on every page... Kasdeya is a hero that any woman could and would fall in love with.  Alex is his perfect counter part.  They compliment each other in every way and the sex is hot.  The secondary characters added richness to the story that left you eager for the next book where maybe one of them would be hero/heroine.  I thoroughly enjoyed The Summoner and hope that each of you gets a chance to read it.  5 out of 5 Quills

And last, but not - in my opinion, anyway - least:

Looks like my short, 'Who Will Know?' in  Torquere's Shifting Again antho has been nominated for a Gaylactic Spectrum Award.  (I didn't know what it was either.)  Apparently it's for: the best science fiction, fantasy or horror short fiction work originally released in North America during 2005 or 2006 with significant positive gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender content.

What especially tickles me is that it's not an 'Erotica' award.  I'm cross-genre-ing, baby.  Lol. 

Now, there's 100 other nominees and 'Who Will Know' was one of the first short stories I ever wrote, so  - really -  I don't stand a snowball's chance.  But still,  it was a nice surprise.

And, err, in my personal life...not too mucking fuch happenin'.  I'm finally over the three month writer's block I just suffered through.  Some people say they never experience panic-inducing, mind-blanking writer's block.  To those people I say...PPHHPPTT!  Get the hell away from me!  

But...(deep breath) it's over now, and I'm calm.  All's well.

Have a super week everyone.

xo

Alisha

Damn, I truly suck-diddly-uk at blogging!  Over a month and nary a word... :(
Okay, catch up time!

I received a fabulous review for 'The Summoner' yesterday.  Which was nice, 'cause tho sales have been good I've only had two official reviews.  JERR gave me 4 out of 5 and had some complimentary things to say. (That was 4 months ago, but the review's still not up on JERR's site.)  And Cocktail Reviews gave me 3 out of 5 (Gah!).  They also whispered pretty things in my ear, but let's face it 3/5 kinda sucks - the main complaint was my little book was 'too erotic.'  Hee, hee.  So anyway, when Two Lips Reviews finally handed me a coveted 5 out of 5, with a heat rating of 3 peppers (Hot, hot, hot)  I was...pleased!  Here's an excerpt from that review, click the link to read the whole thing:

"This book was the greatest and one to add to my favorites.  Alisha Steele captures your heart with this riveting story.  It's a book you are unable to put down until the last page is turned.  The Summoner is the ultimate erotic novel that makes you groan burn and tremble along with the characters. Alisha Steele has opened your eyes to just how sexy, sensual and breathless you should be when in love with a Fallen Angel.  From beginning to end, I devoured The Summoner and can't recommend reading it highly enough!"

Other news?  you may be asking.  Or you may not, authors tend to live in their own closeted 'me-centric' worlds.

I've had a lovely acceptance from Mr Neil Plakcy of Cleis Press for a story called 'Vertigo.'  He actually said 'Wow!' in his email.  Which made me say, Wow!  'Cause, hey, how often can you get an editor to say, 'Wow!' over your work.  Not too bloody often in my experience.  Hard Hats - the construction fantasy MM antho where 'Vertigo' found a home - will be released sometime in 2008, I'll post more info as I come by it.

And another acceptance by a nice man named Neil.  I'm beginning to really like that name!  Lol.

Neil Anthony of Ruthie's Club has accepted my story 'Silver Rings,' another MM piece, for publication.  (I'm definitely considering changing my pen name and ditching the het shit ;P)  Ruthie's Club, for those who don't know, is a super paysite with fabulous written and illustrated erotica.  It's pretty cheap for such quality stuff, IMO.  Check it out.

Other than a 'yes,' I've absolutely no other info on when 'Silver Rings' will be available for public consumption.  But, lovely reader, when I know...you'll know.

And now, it's time for 'News completely irrelevant to anyone but me!':

My Mother, who I'm very close to, came to visit me for two weeks and left on Saturday.  I've been riding a huge wave of depression ever since.  Every time she comes I wonder WTF I was thinking moving 3000 miles away and then having kids.   My boys have no grandparents in their day-to-day life. :(

And speaking of my boys...I received a dandy call from my five-year-old's Kindergarten teacher.  She thinks it might be better if he was 'held back' in Kindergarten - due to emotional immaturity.  He's the youngest in his class, having just slid under the cut-off by 10 days.  However, she says, it's really my choice and she'll pass him if I say to do so.  She's also given me just 2 days to ponder the issue.  Thanks, Susan!  I keep flip-flopping.  There's huge pros and cons on both sides of the equation.  And, on the one hand, I know this is just one year in (hopefully) eighty, or so.  Probably not a BFD either way.  But, on the other hand, I can't help but feel that my decision will severely affect the rest of his school experience.  Any opinions in cyber world??  I'm almost paralyzed with indecision, over here!

Whew.  Info dump over!

Lotsa love,

Alisha

Hi again, everyone! I just got accepted into my very first print anthology:

Don't Ask, Don't Tie Me Up: Military BDSM Fantasies
Editor Eric Summers
Publisher: Starbooks Press...

Here's the book blurb:

Military men in uniform fulfill a dream for many, and military men in BDSM scenes fulfill even more erotic fantasies. Is it true what they say about Marines? Is the Army really looking for a few good men or just a few obedient ones? Can anything top the U.S. Air Force? Does the U.S. Navy need more seamen? How does the U.S. Coast Guard defend the homeland from penetration? Boot camp and basic training create men who are disciplined and respect authority. Recruits know the meaning of "Sir, yes, sir." Whether Daddy or boy, dominant or submissive, military men have it all and are best equipped for BDSM fantasies, Master/slave relationships, role-playing, and muscle worship.

It should be out by the end of the year. Yay! Don't get me wrong - I love Epub, and it's been very good to me. But there's just something about holding a book in your hand and knowing your words are printed inside, ya know?

So, in honor of...here's a little excerpt.

Cry Wolf
 Story and excerpt content: MM

"Bring me off, Cain."

"But they're getting closer," he argued, even as his fingers curled around the thick, meaty rod.

"I don't give a shit," Wolf said. He urged Cain's fist to move on his prick. "You're not leavin' 'til I come."

As he stroked Wolf's cock, Cain struggled to appear nonchalant. Nothing to see here. Just a doctor having a late night chat with one of his patients. Move along. Move along.

It should have been easier for him to fake humdrum than for Wolf. He wasn't the one getting a hand job. But as the women drew nearer, Cain found himself sweating and shaking. He held the clipboard tight in his lap and struggled not to betray his excitement.

Wolf was rocking his hips the slightest amount, even though the movement must have been agonizing, and he'd once again let his head fall back against the wall. His eyes were slitted, but Cain knew they were open by the black shimmer visible between his lashes. The only sign the kid gave of being agitated was the continual darting of his tongue along his lower lip. Left. Right. The harder Cain pumped him the faster Wolf licked. Cain's own cock was so stiff he thought he might come just from watching that sexy pink glide.

"We've gotta talk," Wolf murmured. His hand rose to his chest in an entirely casual gesture. No one but Cain was close enough to see the way he pinched and stretched his dark little nipples through the threadbare undershirt. How he wished he could just lean over and take one of the tiny brown nubs between his teeth. "They're gonna wonder why you're sitting here, otherwise."

"Uhhh." Cain racked his mind for the words to an ordinary conversation. "Uhhh."

Wolf grinned. "They can't hear us, Doc. Why don't we talk about how, as soon as I'm on my feet, I'm going to tie you up and do nasty, painful things to your body?"

That didn't help. Now Cain couldn't even form a coherent thought, let alone a whole series of words. Only one word made it past his lips. "Like?"

"Like dripping hot wax all over your shoulders and back as I fuck you."

That sounded so good. Cain's hand moved faster, a bouncing lump under the sheets. "And?"

The women had stopped one row away to discuss something or other. Their backs were to Cain and Wolf.

"And…" Wolf's stomach muscles had begun to quiver. "And, flogging your snow white ass until it's red and welted. You…" His prominent Adam's apple bobbed and his teeth clenched. "You look like a bruiser, Doc," he gritted out. "So pale." His cock stuttered in Cain's palm. "Do you bruise up pretty?" The last word was uttered on a guttural moan as hot jizz streaked down Cain's fingers.

The nurses were on the move again when Cain drew his hand out from under the sheets.

"Yeah," he whispered. The come on his knuckles tasted bitter. "I do."