Avoiding Facebook? Me? Nah, couldn't be.

I feel like I haven't been as active on ace book, or any social media for that matter. Why? One reason is that I've been writing. My "new years resolution" for this year (and I had the same one last year) was to write EVERY DAY. Last year at this time I wasn't "writing" I was editing The Cost of Loving, but out of 31 days in January I only edited for 21. So I missed 10 days. This year I am writing in January with a goal of being finished this book in Jan/Feb, although I think it will be done in March. IDK. But as far as my resolution goes, I have written something 13 out of 16 days of January. (Yes, I wrote some this morning too.) And in the last 8 days I have written what I consider the "goal" amount, which is something significant. (1000-2000+ words) I WOULD LOVE to write 2500 words/day. (I think I read somewhere that is Stephen King's word count goal.) But for me, 2500 is unrealistic. I have moments when the words are flying, but I haven't gotten into the habit long enough to get that much flowage consistently. I hope that will be more easily attained as I make writing a part of my daily routine.

But writing EVERY DAY is hard. I am a mom, wife, and caretaker of a zoo of animals. I run out of time in the day for ALL the things that need to be done. So far, the goal of writing SOMETHING everyday is working. (Except for those 3 days I missed.) And I have also learned, that when I am super focused I CAN write about 1000 words an hour. That is something very exciting for me. It shows me that I CAN have time for the "mom world" and the "writer world" and it doesn't take that much, just commitment. Of course, I am super slow at writing so sometimes the words are not quite flowing at 16.67 words per minute. But when they are, I can potentially write 1000, 2000, 5000 words a day! Or more!!! IF I find the right day to do that. I thought today would be such a day, but I have NO bread, I'm out of lunch meat and dishwashing detergent and there is still one day of school tomorrow, which means I need to go OUT and buy food and other items. This takes up a lll my writing time!! I hate that. But I am learning to balance my time. THIS IS GOOD!

AND SINCE I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT WHEN IT HAPPENED, I WON SOME AWARDS. (Sorry, caps lock.) My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap! won the Goodreads M/M Romance Choice Awards for Best Athletes, and Best Humorous novel. 3rd place for both. This was very cool since I am always up against some steep competition.

I guess of you like my athletes, I need to write another novel with a soccer player and make it funny. Hmm??

         

Lately, when I am on FACEBOOK, it is to check Tj's status. Sometimes I don't WANT to check because I do worry about them too much. It is a roller coaster. What I want is smooth sailing. (I have my demands, God!) I want Eric to have a straight and easy road to recovery and what do I find, Incompetent doctors and posts about Eric being terrified. This makes me sad, upset, worried, frustrated… and who am I? Just a fan and fellow writer who happens to have met and talked to them both in October. I'm not in their lives, yet I feel their pain as many of you do out there. They are with us in our hearts and we all want this to go smoothly, don't we? So keep those prayers going!!! What I've seen, is that Tj Klune is probably the most protective and loving man I've witnessed. (*Witnessed from a distance, & online.) And Eric is extremely tenacious and determined. Together they are an incredible force of love and devotion. It makes me cry to read the posts Tj puts up because I wish ALL couple could feel that same amount of love in their hearts. Sadly, few do. I see way too many couples give up, move on, divorce, cheat, or whatever.

Sometimes I wonder if THAT is why people have an issue with gay marriage. Yes, they blame it on religion (blah, blah), but what if it is a subconscious jealousy over the straights' lack of commitment? IDK, I think like this sometimes. If straight people can't get it together--and oh yeah, I've seen LOTS of couples splitting--then maybe they are, without realizing it, railing against gay-marriage because they secretly worry that the gays will get it right. IDK. What do you think? I come up with crazy thoughts all the time. But what I do know, is that lately I have seen MANY gay couples talking about these milestone anniversaries. Like 19/ 20 plus years! For what I have seen in my personal life, way too many couples in know hit 12/15 and they are not he skids. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT???? Not cool.

I am an advocate of marriage, of commitment, of monogamy. I believe in two people together forever. So maybe gay-marriage is God's way of giving straight people a wake-up call to show them what they forgot how to do>>>> COMMIT! Because marriage ain't easy. People are all different and living with someone day in and day out can wear you down if you are not working together. Am I always happy? Um, no. But I am in no way ready to call it quits. I want to work on it and make it better. For me and for my children.

Eric and Tj have a tough road ahead of them, but they are off to a great start because they love so deeply and so completely that it makes me jealous. I want to feel they deep sense of dire need to be with my partner. I love their LOVE. And to all the couples out there who have had a long-term commitment or marriage to the one they love --> Ken & Andy, Ryan & Tony, Rick & Bruce, Andrew & Dominic, David & Marc, Jeff & Will <-- you all are an inspiration to couples everywhere. Keep going. Show the younger generation how it's done. AND! Dare I say, show the straight non-committers how it's done!!

I guess that's all I got to say. I'm around. I've written 15,556 words this month. It is exciting and challenging and fulfilling to "live my dream" and create stories that I hope one day you will all enjoy. I hope I will be able to share an excerpt of Misplaced Affection with you soon. I do not write chronologically so sometimes there are gaps in the beginning which need to be filled in before I share. Although, I'm not so sure that Misplaced Affection has as good a beginning as Names Can Never Hurt Me. The prologue to NAMES is a killer. (hahaha) I just loved it. Misplaced Affection's prologue was written in English class. I liked it. I wrote (am writing) a story based off that beginning. Bear with me, I think it is a good story. AND it has a happy ending. I know, because I started writing the ending last night. (See, out of order.)

Remember… If you have means to give, Eric and TJ need your support. They are still in the hospital. Eric's bills do not stop, they multiply. So every dollar counts towards helping them. They're friends and family have raised $41, 685 as of right now and that is incredible!! Please keep the pot growing!! Hospitals are expensive.

CLICK HERE

Anniversary of JOCK!!! and the last day of 2013

Hello, hello.

This has been a great 365 days. My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap! came out Decemeber 31, 2012. Today it is on sale at Dreamspinner for $5.59. Who out there has NOT read this book??? Don't put it off any longer. Hop over to Dreamspinner today and buy it. Better yet, buy a paperback and I will sign it the next time I see you. I will be at 4 conventions this year! FOUR!

MARCH - We have the RAINBOW BOOK FAIR in New York.
APRIL - RainbowCon in TAMPA
MAY - HUGE ONE…. I'm going to RT Booklovers Convention in New Orleans
OCTOBER - and we are back full circle to the conference that kicked it all off… GRL!!!!

This book was a huge hit for me! It showed me that I CAN write something funny and popular and that I can write quickly. I don't know if you follow my blogs and remember what I write, but the latest one I signed a contract for took over a year to finish writing. JOCK took a little over two months. True, it is 87k and NAMES is 118k, but the key is that I CAN write a story in a few months if I put my mind to it! JOCK showed me I have that capability. JOCK also brought readers my direction in a way that When Love is Not Enough did not. Of course, there are a fair number of you readers who bought JOCK and then discovered WLINE. And I am so glad for you!!! 

I tend to be a slow writer. I'm sorry. One of my "New Year's Resolutions" is going to have to be WRITE FASTER!!!!! Writing faster and more consistently is a resolution for my dedicated fans. Thank you for your continued support! As you know, if you are friends with me on Facebook, I live in Maryland. I am open to meeting for coffee or something. I plan to go to Leesburg, VA sometimes soon. And when I am at these conventions I mentioned, please come up and say HI and give me a hug. (If you like.) And IF we are friends on FB and I do not connect your name with your face, it might be because your profile picture is of a flower, or a pile of Dalmatian puppies, or something, and I am not connecting your name with our conversations. Bear with me. I'll catch on.

As far as 2014… What do I hope to do?

MEET MORE PEOPLE. Fans - YES. Other Authors - YES! 

Who do I want to MEET in person??

Tina Marie. She is a wonderful friend, Beta reader, and reviewer.

Cody Kennedy!! Yes. I most definitely want to meet Cody in person and hug him.

Elizabeth North. I would like to meet the person responsible for giving me a chance.

Kage Alan. I think  he is hilarious and very nice. I want to hug him too.

Lisa Hinsley – An author who has battled cancer for so long it is exhausting just to think about it. She has an amazingly tenacious spirit. I respect and admire her.

Jeremy Shipp - A bizarre mind and a fascinating online personality. I'd like to have coffee or a cruller with him ;)

Beth Bellanca - terrific online friend. :)

Paul Richmond. I kind-of met him in like 2012 but I didn’t introduce myself so I want another chance..

Ryan Field. - He is a wise person who seems to have something to say about everything. His blog is very informative! So yeah, I want to meet him.

Zathyn Priest. Although I do not see myself visiting Australia anytime soon, Zathyn seems very nice :) But if I don't fly to AU, then that also rules out meeting Lily Lamb. :(

Ashlyn Kane - One of my all time favorite authors!! (I voted for her in the Goodreads M/M Choice Awards.) I was disappointed that she was in Germany (I think) during GRL.

SJ Frost - Another of my favorite Authors.

Jay Bell - One of my favorite authors and ONE SWEET GUY. I can not imagine is is any less kind in person then he is online. I'd love to give that guy a hug! (But, I'm also not flying to Germany. Oh well.)

Matt Boston- Seems like a terrific guy! He survived jail after all!! I'd love to meet Matt, Brad, Sam and Rick. A great bunch of guys with big hearts!!!

Daisy Harris - She is friends with friends and I don't know how I haven't met her yet. :)

Serena Yates - Large presence online. Book reviewer and writer. Like to meet her but UK is too far!
Margaret George - also in the UK. Unfortunately. I guess a have to plan to join the UK meet up of authors one of these years!
And if and when I do, Ijeoma!! is on the list! Lovely woman with a huge heart for those who are oppressed and hurting in the world.

As well as other who comment often that I'd like to hug: Kazy Reed, Deeze Brown, Tame Anna, Cassandra Carr, Terry Ferris, Pamela Pelaam-One, Macky Holding, Marie Siders, Mika Milette, Meike Durr (Darn Germany), Ashlyn Forge, Helen Jacobsen, Paul Wright, etc…

Melanie Tushmore, Alan Chin, Jayden Brooks…

So … that 's a short list. I realize I needed to include more people but I got tired of typing.

Also on the "wish list" as it were for meeting people. The celebs I'd love to meet include Davy Wavy, Tyler Oakley, Sean Paul Lockhart, and Dan Feuerriegel. (odd combo, I know.)

Anyway… who is on your list for 2014??

What are YOUR resolutions?

I want to write more!

Celebrate JOCK's anniversary by re-reading it, recommending it, buying it (if you haven't), or telling me your FAVORITE SCENE!! Ellis and Cole need the love ;)

And remember, this is the last day to vote on the M/M choice awards on Goodreads. JOCK and The Cost of Loving are in many categories. (And WLINE is up for favorite M/M novel of all time!)


~ Later taters
Wade

NaNoWriMo - WIP

So NOVEMBER is NaNoWriMo month. Why I will never know. November is a very busy month with Thanksgiving in there. Maybe some think you can find extra time to write during time off for the holiday, but for me I spend my time cooking so there is less time to write. No matter, I am up for the challenge.

NaNo basically challenges a person to write 50,000 words in one month. It comes out to be about 1,667 words a day. For some, this is easy-peasy. Not so for me. A consistent 1667 is difficult. The most I have ever written in one day EVER was 12k. I did that once. I can write in bursts and get 12k in a couple days and that is great. What I am doing is trying to focus the challenge and use it to MAKE me write more consistently. Would I like 1667words/day? Oh heck yeah! The obstacles are basically daily living. I have kids. They have sports. I have obligations and stuff I need to do and sometimes it takes priority over writing. HOWEVER, this is the first year were I have had support to write. This is the first year in my published career where my FAMILY knows I write, allows me time to write, asks me how the writing is going, and on that rare occasion when something gets published they are happy for me. This is also the first time when I have been able to share freely about my writing to people I know, people I meet, and people I interact with on a daily basis.

THIS IS HUGE!

That is why I go back to 2013 being "My YEAR". (*Blog reference to WEIGHTLESS IN 2013) It is the best feeling in the world to be myself everywhere I go. I'm not saying I am wearing a gay pride T-shirt and waiving my Wade Kelly Books banner everywhere. NO. I have tact, and residual fear. I know homosexuality is almost as controversial as talking about religion or politics. At least in Carroll County. But I am opening up one person at a time. I tell people straight up I am an author. I never used to do this. I avoided saying anything. This year has been so awesome for me!

From my "Weightless" blog there was a list of things to accomplish:
1. Write everyday. - Not accomplished yet, but I am hopeful. I write MORE than ever before, so that's good.
2. Publish The Cost of Loving. … DONE!!
3. Finish writing Names Can Never Hurt Me … DONE! (and submitted 11/3/13)
4. write Darian's story. hmm, it stands at over 36k which is good, but I haven't worked on it for a while. (writing "NAMES".) I will get to it. Just not yet.
5. Come up with a storyline for the sequel to JOCK. Hmm, not quite, but further along in my head than in January.

MY GOALS NOW:
(10 months later)

1. Publish Names Can Never Hurt Me. This is contingent on signing a contract so please, everyone, cross your fingers for me!
2. FINISH writing another book, preferably by the end of 2013. Doable? Maybe. If I keep the pace I am writing at currently.
3. Write Darian's story.
4. Write a sequel to JOCK.
5. Write another novel. (I have several to choose from.)
6. Basically -- WRITE my fingers to the bone.

Currently I am writing Misplaced Affection. This is a novel I started because I had to write a piece for English class. I wrote like 1400 words and just kept going. It is cute, so far, and full of angst. My hands were shaking and I was breathing rapidly when writing several scenes. It is basically what I call the "Wade Kelly Special". Full of real characters, raw pain, and lots of angst before the characters find love. And, well, maybe, some sex thrown in there as well. LOL! "NAMES" is on the lighter side of the Wade Kelly Special. Misplaced Affection is probably more toward the angst side. If I had a scale????
1 being the lightest read. Happy. Fun. little angst. HEA. AND 10 being torture on the emotions.

1            2             3            4              5             6            7           8           9           10
                                                                                                                                      
         JOCK                                  NAMES                  MA      TCOL              WLINE

What do you think? Are these ranks accurate? (And for those who read this on GR and the format gets all messed up, Jock is a 2, NAMES I ranked 5, Misplaced Affection I said 7, TCOL 8, and WLINE 10.) My favorite part is writing 5 novels on that scale. heehee. Gotta get them all published!

This is what I am concentrating on for November and NaNoWriMo:

Misplaced Affection

Two best friends, one huge secret, and a wedding that stands in the way.

Victor Adams, or “Tory” to his friends, has a secret, (two secrets)—he’s gay, and he’s in love with the boy next door. Tory’s known for years how he felt, but he’s kept his secret because he’s convinced that telling his best friend, Jack, could destroy their relationship. And then, when Tory finally works up the nerve to tell him, Gwendolyn and her friend enter the picture and mess up everything. Tory couldn’t say the words now. Not when “I love you” sounds like a lame attempt at hiding his jealousy over Gwendolyn. Besides… so cliché.

Jack Mitchell was every girl’s heartthrob and every boy’s wet dream. Quarterback from high school turned horticulturalist, Jack had a personality that could sell anything, do anything, or be anything. Except, he couldn’t sell the truth—to himself. He’d been living a lie ever since his best friend Nate, Tory’s brother, died eight years prior. And just when he thinks he’s ready to talk about it, and tell Tory how he feels, he meets the prettiest girl in town and gets swept away.

Two years later, both friends stand ready at a wedding neither one wants to go through with. The best man, dying on the inside as the only man he’s ever loved commits himself in marriage—to a woman; and the groom, going through the motions of what is expected of him, even though, in his heart, he’d rather be saying “I do” to someone else. At this point, only God could intervene to avert disaster.

SO THERE YA HAVE IT.

let me know what you think.

Other news: the Goodread M/M Romance Choice Awards are open for nominations. check out the page. Mine have been nominated, but in case you read a book you think needs to be on the list, head over there and nominated one or several. (HERE.)

Laterz,

Wade

The PEOPLE'S CHOICE is never "gay".

Have you noticed that the people's choice awards are always the titles that can be found at Walmart or Target or somewhere all Random House books can be sold. I NEVER see LGBT titles on those shelves. NEVER. I had this discussion before back when I ranted about 50 Shades of Grey on the bookshelves where it is so easily accessible to underage kids to peek into etc… That is fine, but a LGBT title like Something Like Summer will not get sold there. (This is my example from my prior blog.) So anyway…

THE PEOPLE'S CHOISE AWARDS ON GOODREADS… Who would you REALLY like to see? We can vote just like everyone else and the "write in" line below the covers can be used to support YOUR favorite LGBT authors and/ or books! Write in matter! I do remember one year when Hot Head by Damon Suede actually made it to the final round of votes! That seemed like a milestone!

So who do I vote for? Who would YOU vote for?

This is the link to the Goodreads awards page: HERE.

Personally, I voted for My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap! for BEST HUMOR. You can too :+)

Best FICTION… Into This River I Drown by TJ Klune

Best FANTASY… Stealing the Wind by Shira Anthony

Best HORROR… Zombie Boyz by TJ Klune, Eric Arvin etc…

Best ROMANCE… Well it has to be The Cost of Loving… lol… :p

Best YOUNG ADULT FICTION … Omorphi by C. Kennedy

Best Debut Author: Michael Chulsky for The Descending Darkness

There are other categories. Sadly I'm not sure which ones fit those to vote for. LET ME KNOW. Tell me who you recommend. Leave comments. But most of all, go vote! This is election day. Some of these LGBT titles are just as good as the mainstream, yet get over looked all to easily. Make noise people! VOTE.

That is all.