Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary - REVIEW

​Book review: Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary

     As my first traditionally published lesbian book this story will always hold a special place in my heart. That being said, I can't say that it's a book for everyone. 
     The book is about Lois Lenz, a girl who decides to leave her hometown and her first crush for the big city and her chance at a career job. While she's at her all girls boarding house she struggles to not just learn big city life, but that the boarding house has a secret. So does her Boss, Mrs. Pierson. 

     Published in 2007, but it takes place in 1959. That matters because it deals with a lot of cliche topics. It talks about communists in America and women in the work place. I personally believe these tropes are an important part of our history as women and as lesbians. I did also enjoy the retro feel of it overall. 
     It was a quick read for me, and it had a great flow that just took you through the story of Lois coming out and really finding her place in the world. The ending had a little dangerous twist that I seen coming but was still enjoyable.

Final thoughts: 4/5 stars. I wish that it didn't feel so outdated for being such a "newer" book.  

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Maps!

Not sure about you, but when I read a novel and it has a map in the front, that book just got ten times better. Small details like that make the entire adventure more fun.

Making those maps on the other hand, is a royal pain. I'm still going to have one in the front of the Lionheart Abyss series, but maps aren't my cup of tea.

After all, I am more of a coffee drinker.

Give me your thoughts on fantasy maps in novels below and be sure to check back soon for more news about the upcoming Lionheart Abyss saga.

Balance

Its hard to find that middle ground between whaving fun and working, but I'm trying. Got my tower computer set back up. That in itself helps. I've also started taking a book with me to work to read on my breaks. Fingers crossed that this helps.

Back in the saddle

Due to a new job the past few moths have been crazy. However, with the help of some new writing friends and unconditional support from my partner. I've been able to start writing again. So perhaps with a nightmare job it might just be the push I need to get my craft back on. Expect a book review soon!

Progress made; progress lost

I've been silently brooding the past few days because I'm an artist. I had saved often, made sure to keep my life work saved. It still didn't save me. Over a thousand words gone because of a corrupt file. It could have been worse, but it's always heartbreaking to loose progress. This isn't the first time I have either. Some of my best scenes are lost to the harsh attunement of my temperamental laptop. Perhaps once I have Wi-Fi again I can return to backing things up on google.

Weekly goals

Oddly watching YouTube videos has inspired me. Time to start getting some habits made.

For the next 10 days (until the end of next week) I want to spend 5 min a day writing. It will take longer to get my laptop warmed up and open but I'm hoping small goals will make this easy.

I also want to add to that, reading 1 book every month. In high school I used to take out Stephan King novels in a week, I think I can make this work.

Now, this goal isn't about my blog, but about my novel. Posting these regularly have been a massive help and I look forward to keeping up with them this time.

Hopeful plans

By this point I'm as tired of saying it as you all are of reading it, but over the next year I actually want to focus on my writing.

I want to get some books out, set up some daily habits. Really let myself have at the work that I love doing. Maybe even find a few rejection letters.

I have a lot of stuff from over the years all piled up. Some of it I believe is pretty decent. Some other things, not so much. The more I think about it, the more I feel drawn to write select stories and when I ask myself why. The answer is simple.

Because gay.

Told you, simple. It the world of stories you're told to wrote what you know. Well, I know a little about a lot. Doesn't mean I need to write a cookbook about 100 ways to use ramen noodles. Useful, I'm sure, but it wouldn't satisfy me. I need hope. I need struggle. I need the world to see a side of life that not everyone gets to experience.

I need to show someone that it gets better in a way that only I know. So stick with me friends. I'm working on some pretty intense lesbian stories. I can't wait to share them with you.

Little details matter

I figure that I'll give you all a break from me going on about my first child, I mean short. I actually have been mulling over some things the past few days, and in my massively sleep deprived state of mind, details just so happen to be what I would like to bore you with today.

Not just any details though! The little ones. Sure we might care about how her eyes sparkle in the moonlight, but will they shimmer under a half moon the same way?

Small things like that matter to our human brain. When we are out living our lives all these things assault us.

For example, I was watching a show called Skin Wars. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, it's a body painting competition. The challenge was to make your human model look 2D. How does this apply to writing you ask. Let me explain a bit more so please just hold tight. When the winner of the challenge was announced the model walked out. My brain pooped itself. The person moved like a 3D figure (Cuz it is) and yet looked 2D. My brain couldn't mesh the two because something is either one or the other. Not both.

Little details can make all the difference in your world. They can mean the difference between someone brain flipping a table, making them reread something a few times, hence pulling them out of the story.

For the next few days, I challenge you to observe one thing around you, that you normally don't pay attention to. A few quick examples, the cigarette butt can at your local grocery store.

Let me know how that challenge goes with a comment, I'd love to hear from you.

My Favorite part of writing Just Desserts

When writing there's always one moment while we work that stands out. My first short was no different. For me that moment came when I finally wrapped it all up. When I could see all the little details from the beginning tie into the final moments. It was then that the title even struck me.

I also greatly enjoyed the entire process of re-writing the novel years later. Some people asked why the second version that came out was changed so much and honestly, it was a simple answer. Once I got in there and started touching things up, I realized how far I had come with my personal writing style. So it got updated.

Check it out here:
Warning: saucy lesbian sex

Just Desserts- A History

Every story has a story. It has its own creation. Today I was to remember what made me start writing and a bit about my first published novel.

I had always enjoyed writing small gay things. My step father was my biggest supporter of those early days. He believed that I should get that stuff out to the public. He listened to me when I explained why I would ever want to be a lesbian author. This isn't that story.

He fell sick and while in the hospital things took a turn for the worst. He fell into a coma. I took my chance. I wanted to have a book published for when he came out. I was scared to push myself however, to finish it. In the end I waited too long. He sadly passed away while in the hospital. I published the first version of "Just Desserts" a week later.

Read the book here.
Warning: lesbian erotica. May not be appropriate for all ages.

What I've been doing

This is really gonna be a repeat of most posts with similar titles. Life happened is the short version. Last September I had taken a step up with the company I was with. Honestly, I loved my day job. However, it added 20 hours a week driving alone. Full time and toss in some overtime. The weeks were long. The days blended together. I finally sadly had to leave because it had become a toll on my health. Only now am I starting to feel myself again.

But have I wrote anything more in this time?

Kinda?

I did push out a few shorts. Links and more info of all my novles will be posted here over the next few weeks. Otherwise, not a lot was done. So again, I feel like I'm starting all over again, and it oddly feels good.

Back in the saddle

We all know this by now. I can't keep myself on track to save my life. But again, I'm gonna keep trying. A little update about my personal life. I still work full time but am no longer driving 20 hours a week. That alone gas been crazy cool. It's also given me some stability to be able to write more. So I can honestly say that I'm excited to start working on a novel again. This time things will be different. I'm going to be working on whatever I feel like writing. Wherever my heart is. And it's got me super hyped.

So fingers crossed .

Also, ps, still no internet. So phone posts all the way!

I tanked NaNoWriMo

Whelp, I honestly expected this. Work got the best of me. I ended up with a super low word count. Not even 20,000 words. I'm not really disappointed in myself because I worked like 60 hours over the holiday weekend alone.  Maybe next year.

Another 1,000 words down

Each little bit is bringing me closer to my goals!

I wrote the hardest scene yesterday.

Yesterday I picked up writing again for a short while and in doing so, I pushed myself. It was the hardest thing I have ever written, but it turned out so good. So emotional and raw. I had my partner read it and she even became excited for the manuscript to be finished.

I can only hope to have more days like that this month.

Word count down the drain.

Yup, this year went exactly how I figured it would.  I have no time, or energy to write. I've even lost the inspiration that I had last month. It's just buried under the pile of work stress. I normally only have about 3 hours a day to myself where I am not working or driving to and from.

It's been hard this year and to be honest to myself, I won't finish anywhere near on track. But I do still have my deadline, and a few days off coming up.

I'll be interested to see where they go.

Day 5 NaNoWriMo

Well, day 5 has come to an end and I can't say that I am proud of myself. I'm just over 3,000 words. Done with chapter one, yes, but nothing to be proud of. I am already behind, that's normal so I'm not worried, but I have a day off coming up soon. Maybe then I can get some big numbers down.

3 Pages of Plot

As part of this year's NaNoWriMo I am pulling out every trick I have. Including mapping out a plot. Took me 3 pages of hand written notes, but I am so ready to start this year's challenge.

I have a release date.

So with how excited I am about NaNoWriMo this year, I decided to mix  that with my personal goals. So sense this will be released for free in chapters, I've decided to release the entire novel as one, but for sale. Today I happily announce my release date.

MARCH 1st 2018
The Adventures of Ragnar (title subject to change )

I have a lot of work a head of me, and I can't wait.

NaNoWriMo 2017 prep

Okay, so as I'm sure you all know, November is just a few days away. Now, for the part that you might not know is that it's national novel writing month. It's a challenge to write a new book from start, to at least 50,000 words in the span of said month. I'm about to do it again.

This year, I'd be curious to see if any of you would be interested in following my personal goals and progress.

What's it about?

Glad you asked. It's a fantasy novel that follows a tribal man who's life gets turned upside down when he is sold into slave trade. His adventures only grown from there as he not only finds himself, but adventures with a band of pirates, finds love, and must make the hard choice of happiness, or to save the world.



I'm so excited for this year. I'm also already behind. Gotta finish up my character sheets!