Reviews & Lists

Reviews for "Jock" that I am aware of - I say that because often reviews are listed and I have no clue - seem to indicate that most people enjoy the story. YAY! I enjoyed writing it, I would certainly want my readers to enjoy it too! Here are what some have to say:

AMOS LASSEN:

Kelly, Wade. “My Roommate’s a Jock? Well, Crap!”, Dreamspinner Press, 2013.

Coming Out…Again

Amos Lassen

Cole Reid became a shut in at age fifteen because he had been outed by his high school basketball team. This caused his behavior to change and he has become hard, sarcastic and obsessive-compulsive. This caused him to lose friends and to drive people away from him. Everyone hates him because he is gay and he seems himself as repulsive and he gives up on happiness. When he gets to college he is a loner all the way and anal-retentive to boot. He has no problems with it until his roommate finishes school, graduates and leaves. He is replaced by Ellis Montgomery who just happens to be gorgeous, straight and a jock. Interestingly enough the two become friends and Cole begins to get a new look at life and he learns something about friendship but he also hopes that something more than friendship will develop between himself and Ellis.

I really enjoyed the characterizations. Cole comes across as cynical and neurotic but then he seems to come into his own and this shows us the importance of friendship and caring. Ellie is a good guy from the very get-go and he is responsible for Cole’s return to life. When we first meet Cole, we are not sure of how to take him. I found something in him to like but probably because his own experiences reminded me a bit of my own. The way he does things might seem excessive but he is alone and Kelly explains why. The moment that he feels that first pang that someone cares about him, he begins to change. He gives us his story as he sees and lives it and when someone else takes over the narration, the story flows nicely. Ellis doesn’t say a lot but when he does, he is worth paying attention to and I love the way his character developed. Ellis’s friends, Rob and Russell also have something to say and are very funny. I also like the idea that Ellis never even considered himself to be gay.

I have left a great deal of the plot out and I did not say that this is a love story which it is. That should give you some idea about what happens but without me telling any of the plot. I really enjoyed this and I think everyone who reads it will agree.

 MANtastic Fiction

REVIEW

There are so many things about this book that I like. It is strong from beginning to end. And I say this even though I wasn’t happy with some of the events that go on.

Out first impression is of Cole, a self admitted control freak with OCD tendencies. We are in his POV for the majority of the book so if Cole rubs you the wrong way then that could hamper your enjoyment of this story. For me, though, I found him to be just the right balance of charm and nuttiness. (I have a little control freak in me so I can relate.) His methods are a little over the top sometimes, but is written in such a way that works. For all that he is trying to stay in the shadows, he has A LOT of fire!

The reasons for his behavior are explained well. His background experiences are hardly new or original, but instead of dragging it out, it is presented in a way that says “this is it, I’ve dealt with it, so should you, let’s move on.” I think it would have been fine for his history to have taken up more page time, but by limiting the past, there was much more room for developing more original here-and-now content.

I knew I should throw out any preconceived notions as soon as the first kiss happened around the 11% mark on my kindle. I’m always worried when the couple gets together too quickly. Either the rest of the book turns too fluffy for my taste, or they go through hell and back to earn their HEA. MRAJ?WC! has given me a third option. There were so many things that happened in this book and none of them felt rushed or incomplete or over dramatic. Every event had it’s own space. (Kind of fitting for a book about a control freak  )

Another thing I was not expecting but worried about as soon as it presented itself was religion. I find a lot of the religious content of MM books to be heavy handed … either in a nasty, bigoted way or by preaching to the choir. Not so in MRAJ?WC!, at least not in my opinion. A supporting character is religious. His views are discussed and other characters are free to disagree and there is no harm or ill will, no drama, no hidden agenda. Religion happens, that’s about as worked up as anyone gets over it.

POV and timeline a huge sticking points for me. As far as I could see, the timeline was pretty tight. MRAJ?WC! is paced well and written clearly. The POV threw me a couple of times. Cole is the dominant POV, but there are 5 other characters that share their POV at one time or another. 4 POV changes are from supporting characters. Each one brings something necessary to the story even though they originally confused me. The first time it happened I went back to re-read the book blurb because I thought I forgot who the love interest was supposed to be. Why are we hearing from a secondary character, is his POV going to pop up again? The easy answer turned out to be no, but his insight added a lot to the story. As did the other 3 who made singular POV appearances. I didn’t always like what they had to say or how they behaved, but they were all important. Depth, and lots of it!

The 5th POV is obvious, Cole’s roommate, Ellis. We don’t hear from him often, but it’s a doozy when we do. His journey is surprising. The book blurb doesn’t hint too much to Ellis’s inner debate. And his sticking point isn’t his sexuality, not really. There is a little, but it turns out to be much more than that. A self-aware, self-perception kind of thing. This part could have been really insulting if it were written badly. I haven’t seen any reviews mention it, so I can only assume that, like me, they felt Ellis’s feelings, experiences, and actions were written very well. Add in the very real life truth that every sexual escapade isn’t as perfect as most books would like to portray, and Ellis is an awesomely unique character.

The only thing that still has me baffled is Cole’s interaction with Stan, the school’s housing something-or-other. When he is first introduced everything seems fine. I don’t recall anything standing out about the man. Not surprising since he doesn’t have a huge part to play except as the one responsible for saddling the jockaphobe with a jock roommate. When he reappears mid story, he is more developed … but nothing like I assumed based on his and Cole’s earlier encounters. Not his age, not his job, not his personality, and certainly not his intentions. Stan isn’t shown in a good light and I’m not too sure why. Was this just because we are seeing him through Cole’s dark-colored glasses after a bad morning? Cole’s new impression of Stan totally overshadows everything in a distracting way. What was the point? Toning down Stan’s dialogue would have just kept the scene as an essential step along the way. Leaving the scene intact but following it up later with something to re-enforce Cole’s reaction would have given the scene purpose. But as-is, the scene seems to stick out like a sore thumb to me.

But don’t let that stop you. MRAJ?WC! is a really good book that may challenge your perception of college nerd/jock stories. I was not expecting anything more than a few hours of banter reading but got something so much more original and complex.

To which a readers responded: "I am looking forward to more of Wade’s work. I do agree that the Stan character seemed a little contrived. Like Wade felt he needed a matchmaker and came up with this side story but didn’t flesh it out. I would have preferred to have Stan play a larger role or to not have been there at all. This didn’t take away from my pure enjoyment of the story and the excitement over getting my hands on some of Wade Kelly’s words!" (I love that last part.)

MY ROOMMATE'S A JOCK? WELL, CRAP! Will also appear on Rainbow Book Reviews and The Armchair Reader, so I will update this post when it is!

As far as LISTS!   If you follow me at all you know I am a total "list" person. I make lists, I do lists, and I obsess over how many lists I can find that MY BOOKS are on!!! So here are the lists on Goodreads that contain "Jock".

The Best Humorous Gay Romances  4 people so far voted and that is cool! I'd vote myself, but I don't want to make waves ;p  Plus, I haven't read many books in the "humor" department so my vote would be totally bias.

The Best M/M Romance Published in 2012 THIS category could stand some help from my readers. ONE VOTER so far. Although, I guess if it is not the "best book" you read, then I shouldn't be there. I need to write better stories!!

Best Gay For You Romance One vote here too. Sadly. I think this category is a good one. 

Where I'd LOVE to see it? Favorite Gay Couples Because personally I think Cole and Ellis are great together. *winks* 

As of 6:13 am on this Wednesday Morning, My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap! was still #1 on Dreamspinner Press, # 2 on Amazon.com (where, I might add, that it has been for several days in a row!), and #3 on All ROmance Books.

If anything else interesting happens, I will let you all know!

Thanks for stopping by!                ~ WADE

Ecstatic, Overjoyed, Thrilled, Elated, Jubilant, & Tickled Pink!

Ecstatic, Overjoyed, Thrilled, Elated, Jubilant, & Tickled Pink!

Can I have “Synonyms for Pleased” for two hundred, Alex? HAHHAHAA! Yes, this is me being happy and telling you all about it yet AGAIN! > My Book is #1< I hope I don’t get too awful boring to listen to (or read about.) There is only so much to say at the moment. MY BOOK IS DOING AWESOME! My Roommate’s a Jock? Well, Crap! as of  6:50 am, 1/7/13 was:

# 1 on Dreamspinner Press’s Bestsellers List

# 2 on All Romance eBooks’ Best Selling Gay Fiction list!

# 3 on Amazon.com’s Best Selling Gay Fiction List, 

These stats go up and go down… yada, yada, yada… Amazon’s list changes hourly. And for a brief moment last night was #2 on their list. (I took a screen capture of that!) I’ve been a little obsessed lately with the screen captures but it is my proof positive that MY BOOK really was there at one time. Fame is fleeting and I know I’ll drop soon enough! Speaking of… When Love IS Not Enough made it to #21 once on Dreamspinner’s page and I was thrilled with that! I’m hoping though, with this new novel, that any of you out there who haven’t read my other novel might give it a shot. I know, I know, the “bittersweet” tag has scared people away. It really isn’t that bad. … Okay, maybe it is, but it is worth the tears—trust me! If you read “Jock” (as readers are referring to it) and you want more of my stuff, please give WLINE a shot! (purchase at Dreamspinner) Read other reviews on Goodreads. Most people like it, even if they had theirs hearts ripped out while reading it. I don’t want this to sound like an apology, because I love my “Jock” story, but “Jock” was written out of my need for something lighter. I was writing some deep stuff and needed a break. “Jock” was fun to write. No one died! But to those of you out there who read “Jock” and hated it, or thought it mediocre, I ask that you give WLINE a chance. (When Love is Not Enough) The sum of my writing cannot be seen in one, or the other. I have loads of stories in my head, and many ways to tell them. Humor and Tearjerkers. Laughs & giggles, as well as tragedy.

My goal in everything is to get you to think. If I haven’t achieved that, tell me. Please. If I know what doesn’t work, maybe I can improve in the next novel! I am learning to take criticism much better. Especially constructive criticism. And when I say, “Thanks, very fair review” on your page, I mean it! I don’t always comment. But when I do, I mean what I say. Sometimes a bad review written well makes ME think about what I wrote. If I can grow by a readers words then good on you!!

I’m over the moon that My Roommate’s a Jock? Well, Crap! is doing so well. It has an awesome title and a perfect cover, and was published by a terrific publisher. Is it perfect? No. But then, the author of it isn’t perfect either! I am learning. This is publication #2 for good ol’ Wade! I intend to improve with age and experience. Stick around with me and maybe you can be a part of my growing experience. I am happy as can be to have 122 “fans” on Goodreads. I am also pleased as punch to have readers e-mailing to thank me for writing my books. It means something to ME, that they mean something to YOU. I want to write with purpose. Not simply to entertain. My vision is to touch lives with peace, hope, love, joy, grace, and mercy. On my website it says (or said) that I don’t write “cute” stories. I had to change that. “Jock” is cute. But that isn’t my goal. I want to write to make readers think of subjects and situations, and people in a way that maybe they hadn’t before. Maybe that’s why it takes me so freakin’ long to write them, I don’t know. As I strive for meaning in my own life, I translate my musings to the reader. I put to print what I am feeling. I know I can’t be the only one to feel like this. So I write. For some of you out there to “get” my intent perfectly shows that I am NOT alone!

Whether in tears or laughter, I hope we share many more books together! Thank you readers, for helping “Jock” to climb the charts. Recommend it around! Word of mouth is a strong motivator!  In 16 months WLINE has 198 reviews, and in contrast "Jock" has 115 in a WEEK! hahha

And whoever is Karen E. Morrison and iluvEdwardCullen on Amazon, THANK YOU for your reviews! Only two on Amazon so I am thankful they are pleasant ones ;) ….. “This story is so sweet you will get cavities.” LOL!!!

To Vampire66 on All Romance, thank you for posting a review! It is the only one there! ;)

And to Wil, and Dee, Thank you for listing your reviews on DSP!

Cheers,

Wade

AND I was reviewed by Amos Lassen! Check out what he said! http://reviewsbyamoslassen.com/?p=20226

WEIGHTLESS in 2013

 I’m blogging again. I can’t help it. I’m excited, and happy, and anxious, and nervous. I blog to get my thoughts out. My Roommate’s a Jock? Well, Crap! is selling well which is VERY exciting indeed.

AS OF 5:21 am on 1/4/13, Jock is still # 4 on Dreamspinner’s Best sellers http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/products_bestsellers.php

And #24 on Amazon’s best seller list of gay fiction! It was 14, but hey, whatever! It’s still up there. http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/10169/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_2_5_last

AND, as was brought to my attention yesterday by “It's Bubbles, Hunty”, Jock is also at the top of the chart on All Romance eBooks “Best Selling Gay eBooks”. It is sitting at #2 right yet another day! http://www.allromanceebooks.com/category145.html

I was reminded of the feeling I have right now when I turned on iTunes and “Weightless” by All Time Low came on. I wrote a note on FB about my new fascination with this band, but lots of you on GR aren’t on FB. So, I’m bring it up again here because it fits my mood, and what I’ve been feeling lately.

Lyrics go:

“Manage me, I'm a mess

Turn a page, I'm a book

Half unread

I wanna be laughed at

Laughed with, just because

I wanna feel weightless

And that should be enough”

Oh My Gosh! So true. (for me anyway) I know I will write other books. I KNOW I will write better books than “Jock”, but for now—I feel weightless! I’m a screwed up mess of a person sometimes, but in this moment I feel awesome!  (*and we wonder where Darian comes from?)

Because much of LAST year I felt like more of the lyrics as I struggled with TCOL forever and got nowhere fast:

“But I'm stuck in this fucking rut

Waiting on a second hand pick me up

And I'm over, getting older

If I could just find the time

Then I would never let another day go by

I'm over, getting old

Maybe it's not my weekend

But it's gonna be my year

And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere

And this is my reaction

To everything I fear

Cause I've been going crazy I don't want to waste another minute here.”

SO HELLO 2013!  It’s a new year full of who knows what ahead. But I don’t want to waste another minute doing nothing! I have goals. I want to keep them. #1 is to write or edit everyday. If I skip a day (like Wednesday) then come back strong and make up for lost time. Even if I only do a little each day, writing keeps my head focused on my passion! I don’t want to lose my drive. I love writing. And writing definitely has an effect on my moods and stress level. I NEED writing, like I need air!

So do a writer a favor:

“Make believe that I impress

That every word

By design

Turns a head

I wanna feel reckless

I wanna live it up, just because

I wanna feel weightless

Cause that would be enough

If I could just find the time

Then I would never let another day go by

I'm over, getting old”

And by “old” lets just say “Old hat” or “forgotten”. I don’t want to drag out my life’s ambition (writing) until what I write has no impact at all and I’m forgotten. I want to take hold of my time—NOW!

“Maybe it's not my weekend

But it's gonna be my year

And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere

And this is my reaction

To everything I fear

Cause I've been going crazy I don't want to waste another minute here

This could be all that I've waited for

(I've waited, I've waited for)

And this could be everything

I don't wanna dream anymore

Maybe it's not my weekend

But it's gonna be my year

And I've been going crazy

I'm stuck in here

Maybe it's not my weekend

But it's gonna be my year (it's gonna be my year)

And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere (go nowhere)

And this is my reaction

To everything I fear (everything I fear)

Cause I've been going crazy I don't want to waste another minute here.”

Sorry. Indulge me. I like that song. I feel like that song sometimes. Not with music, but with regard to writing. Right now I feel weightless because one little Romantic “Jock” comedy is doing really well. MAYBE, MAYBE, next time the same thing will happen but with TCOL… lol… My angsty, coming-out type drama about what happens AFTER Matt’s best friend dies and he’s left sleeping with Jamie's ex, Darian, and everything that ensues when he out’s himself at church! Lol, good times! Which is why I wrote Jock, remember? Angst was too much to take that long. I needed a break, so I wrote something funny for myself ;)

So… resolutions… Do you have any? MINE are:

#1 write every day  (includes editing)

#2 Publish The Cost of Loving

#3 finish writing Names Can Never Hurt Me

#4 Write Darian’s story. This one has a long title. Love, Trust, and Learning to Live Again. I’m shortening it to LTLTA when I list it in blogs to come. I can’t wait to reveal the cover for this one. It is perfect!! Best cover ever!

#5 Come up with a story for the sequel to jock. I have a title on my website. That may or may not stick, but I haven’t come up with a story yet. I’ll keep you posted!

I’m flying high. Feeling Weightless. Enjoying my two minutes of fame. I’ll come back down tomorrow.

~Wade

BTW: Thank you Tina for pointing me to MANtastic Fiction: http://mantasticfiction.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/my-roommates-a-jock-well-crap-by-wade-kelly/

A commentator wrote: “…the excitement over getting my hands on some of Wade Kelly’s words!”  … DUDE! This is me flying higher. Hooked on MY words? Wow!

And don’t forget to read the review on Mrs. Condit Reads!

http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.php/?p=9463

COPYRIGHT: I don’t own rights to “Weightless”. I copied them off of Lyrics A-Z

Learning As I GO, 2013, and a Little Bit About ME.

I am new at this writing scene. I haven’t been published long and navigating the waters is scary. Especially if you try to do it alone. It is also a day-to-day learn-as-you-go deal. When I first started writing, I didn’t know it would be this hard. IT IS!!!! Writing is actually the easiest part. (For some, writing is hard, and to those I would say, “be prepared!”) I sit at my Mac, touch the keys, and let the story fall out. Easy. (Sometimes.) After the story is finished, it becomes a whole other deal. Editing is LONG!!! Or it should be. I go over a story several times and somehow I miss all kinds of things. I think the brain automatically “corrects” words, so when you read “he” and it was supposed to read “the” you can miss it easily. THAT IS WHY MORE THAN ONE SET OF EYES IS GOOD! People use Beta readers. I had one for “Jock”. (This is the term I see being used.) My Roommate’s a Jock? Well, Crap! was written Jan-Mar 2012. Edited in April and submitted by May 11^th. It wasn’t published until 12/31/12… You can see how long this process takes. For-ev-er!!! So, for newer authors than myself, be aware of the wait. Waiting is NOT FUN! The best thing to do is write another story while you are waiting to hear about the one you submitted. That is why I wrote Jock. (or MRJWC, as I like to abbreviate it.) I was WAITING to hear back about The Cost of Loving. (TCOL)

TCOL was submitted three times and turned down three times. Most publishers will not give you concrete reasons. My educated guess, now that I’ve had a really great editor go over it for me, was that the manuscript (MS) had too many problems. Grammar was just the tip of it. (I SUCK at grammar.) There were mistakes in information. There were unbelievable parts that if left in would probably turn people off. No necessarily the readers who are just looking for a good story, but the readers who think about it fully and stop to analyze information. I had too many things that would pull the reader OUT of the story. So, I’m rewriting it. (Parts of it.)

BUT, am I giving up on the story? HECK NO! The first reason is that I love it! As R.B. told me, she is team Matt! Hahhaa. Personally I think I’m team Darian, and if I quit now, no one will ever know what happens “next” to these guys. Will it ALL be believable? Maybe, maybe not. BUT THIS IS FICTION. Right? I’m not writing a biography. Not everything in WLINE happened to me personally. I drew from SOME personal experiences, but that was how the story took shape. But my stories are only meant to try and reflect reality, and FEEL real. In my experience, real life is stranger than fiction, so if I wrote REAL experiences then people probably wouldn’t believe me anyway.

I see myself as an artist. I feel stories. Most of the time they come on like a hurricane and overtake me until I can get them out! Lena believes in me, and is helping me learn how to be a good writer. This has been a year with a LOT of distractions though. (2012) I’m hoping that 2013 will be my year to get organized and write EVERY DAY! (I say that, but I didn’t write yesterday.) Writing and editing is key to getting stories finished, submitted, published…. AND, when rejected, SELF published! LOL

Self-publishing is even harder because you have to do everything yourself! I looked for help. Enny is helping me. She designed GREAT covers for me. Ones I hope to USE this year!!! TCOL turned out great, but I think the cover for book three is my favorite of all! (Love, Trust, and Learning to Live Again is book 3 in the Unconditional Love series and it is Darian’s story.) I will be writing LTLTA (Love Trust Learnig to Live…) in 2013!! I have big plans for this year!!

Another thing I am learning, is to keep my mouth shut. I OFTEN saw things that can be taken several ways. I never intend on hurting people, but I do. For that I’m sorry. I try to avoid talking about myself. I talk about my writing. Sometimes, about things I like, eating and cooking for example. Yet, when I talk about me, it isn’t about ME, it’s just things. I am stepping out and saying a few things here…

I have a hard time trusting people. A few years ago, I lost ALL my friends. Has that ever happened to you? It’s not a fun experience. I WISH TCOL was published because many of my experiences went into MATT DIXON’s character. Anyway… It started with a nasty e-mail from someone I went to church with saying something about “finding out about me.” (I am NOT going into details about my lifestyle, my family, my political views or anything else here. Let’s JUST stick to the writing side of things.) When this person said that, I thought, “What the hell could they possibly mean?” I keep to myself. I don’t really do anything “wrong”—right? Turns out this person stalked me online and found some things I had written about homosexuality. (And it wasn't even posted under my real name which make this creepier!) As we all know, the “church” and “homosexuality” do not mix easily in the same sentence. The pastor came to my house! No details, just consider that it was one of the worst experiences of my life. After that, people I had known for years didn’t talk to me. All this started with something I wrote that the church didn’t agree with. I was not caught at a gay bar. I didn’t make out with the pastor’s son. I wasn’t featured on Xtube. (Examples here.) It was one tiny thing standing up for gay rights that started a landslide. Like a sneeze on the top of a mountain covered in snow. ONE little thing that completely ruined my life. Or so I thought…

WLINE came out of that pain. (When Love is Not Enough) I had no one. I’ve never felt so alone. So I wrote about suicide and talked to a therapist. It was difficult, but I can look back now and see how necessary it was. I am a person that DOES BELIEVE things happen for a reason! EVERY THING. I wrote WLINE. I left that church and found a new one. I made friends! I made really good friends that know me inside and out and still want to BE my friends. AND I AM NOT ALWAYS EASY TO GET ALONG WITH!! Cole Reid is a “cynical fatalist” because one of my friends called ME THAT! I am very cynical! I see the glass half-empty. I am dour, argumentative, and frankly – a jerk sometimes. We all have our flaws, these are mine. But I know who I am.

I MAY say things that hurt people. Maybe even readers. I do not intend to, but I’m stupid. I talk smack without thinking first. I ask for grace. Please. I spent a lot of years being somewhat two-faced. Not in the sense that I’d be nice to you in person and bash you when you turned your back. That’s not me. But I tried to get people to like me by being what they wanted to see. I kept my opinions to themselves if they were not acceptable in a certain crowd. Where did that get me? I lost all my friends anyway! That was 2010. An awful year! I don’t do that anymore. I’m just me. I speak my mind, I act like I want to, I don’t hide my opinion. At least for the most part. My therapist told me I DON’T have to open up to EVERYONE ALL THE TIME. She said to take it one person at a time. There ARE people who will not agree with me. There are people who will NOT like me. I can’t change that. What I’m learning is that it’s okay. It’s okay to be liked for who I am, and not liked for the same reason. At least people are getting a clear picture.

ONLINE, I do NOT give all the details. Why? I don’t have to. My personal life is just that- personal. Little by little, if you read my books, and blogs, you are going to put all the pieces together for yourself. I AM pretty open, even if I try not to be. I TRY hard not to talk to people about my life because I’ve already had stalkers. PEOPLE that lived in my hometown who could have just drove to my house and asked me stuff. Why would I want stalkers that come from the other side of the world through the internet. It makes me paranoid to think about it. For months, I would feel like people were watching me in the grocery store to see what I bought and give their approval or not. I don’t want to ever feel like that again.

I LOVE that people e-mail me. Readers etc… I DO! I answer them right away. But what I’d say is that if you write me all the time, and I don’t respond all the time, I’m just being cautious because I’m scared. I can’t have the “homosexual police” showing up at my house again. It’s fu***ing scary! I’m human. I get scared.

If you are going to love me or hate me, I want it to be focused on my writing. I blog. You’ll get to know what I think and feel. I tend to be transparent which is not always good. My therapist thinks I need to work on that. I am. What I strive to be is straightforward. I am what I am.

Things I need to learn include NOT talking about reviews or people who mention something bad. I have to let things slide. Not everyone is “team Wade”. Some, just can’t stand my POV shifts, my time jumps, my _______ (fill in the blank.) I am aware of this. BUT DON’T STOP TELLING ME! Even bad reviews, I DO read. I take into consideration everything people write. Because then, when I sit down to write, maybe something someone hated will be altered in the next book.

I am a work in progress. TWO novels is just the beginning. Tell me when I suck! Call me out on my crap. I’ll listen even if I don’t like it. Jock has WAY LESS pov shifts than WLINE!! I’m learning. And… sex without a condom… apparently not a good idea in a story, even if it feels more likely to happen in real life. OKAY, I get that! Like I said, I’m learning. I thrive on feedback, even negative feedback. Also, when I started writing, it was sci-fi. So don't think that one bittersweet theme, and one comedy is the sum of me. I'm just getting started! ;)

Of course, POSITIVE feedback is best J I’m a praise junkie. Surely, you already knew that!

All for now. Over and out.

Wade Kelly

~And please don’t call me Shirley

Side notes: as of 8:34 am on 1/3/13, Jock is # 4 on Dreamspinner’s Best sellers http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/products_bestsellers.php

And #20 on Amazon’s best seller list of gay fiction! http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/10169/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_2_5_last

Long Awaited, Much Anticipated, Next Release from Wade Kelly

Yes, it has been a very LONG wait from the last time I had a novel release, but the day is finally here! Mt Roommate’s a Jock? Well, Crap! is OUT!!! When Love is Not Enough Came out August 29, 2011, and THIS is 16 months later. I apologize for the wait, although I have been waiting so much of it myself.

For the faithful few who have stood by me through this struggle of finally publishing a SECOND novel, I thank you from all my heart. There have been a bunch of loyal “fans” who have become like friends. You have stood by me in the long process of rejection with The Cost of Loving and you all have been excited with me over the acceptance of My Roommate’s a Jock. If you don’t know who you are, here is a start…

VIO, Deeze, R.B., Mika, Lena, Candice, L-D, Tina, Tom, Darci, Manuela, Dee, Shirley, Barb, Keri, Kat, Kaje, Pam, Kim, Kade, Monika, Anna, Laura, Dorome, Ijeoma, Ken, Allie, Dee, Chris, Summer, Don, L’Marie, Laura M, Lady McNeil, Dark M, Jamie, Fiona, Barbara, ENNY, Mercedes, Anke, Edina, Carole-Ann, Oceankitty…

I collected these names from “comments” on blog entries and people who interact with me often. If I missed your name, ooops, I’m sorry. I tried to mention everyone who has encouraged me in the last 16 months.

But the wait is over! My Roommate’s a Jock? Well, Crap! is out and listed on Dreamspinner Press’ “New Products” page. I will watch the “Best Seller” page with my fingers crossed! It think When Love is Not Enough hit #21/25 at some point. I’d just love to hit the top 25!!! …. Hahhaha… Who am I kidding? I’d love to be #1 for a day! (or two) but that all depends on my readers. If you like romantic comedy “My Roommate’s a Jock” then say so! Shout out! Tell friends. I rely on word of mouth. Conversely, if you hate it, please break it to me gently. I can be sensitive on occasion.

With “sensitivity” in mind, I came across a blog entry that I thought was ironic:

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/1602174-cynically-fatalistic

In this entry I mention how someone described ME as a cynical fatalist… LOL… My characters really are me!!! Cole Reid opens the book with that line! HAHAHA. I forgot about that blog entry. It made me laugh.

I’m not sure what else to say about this. I’m stoked! My book is out! GO BUY IT!

Last night I dreamt about a possible “sequel” sequence and characters. I woke up excited about it. I’ve been thinking about how to handle a sequel for this book. I have a title. I have an idea for a plot. BUT…. I was told sequels should be about new characters, not the old ones revisited. That stumped me. How could I write about Cole, but not about Cole? I MAY have come up with the answer! So, if you read this book, and find you are interested enough in this style of writing and the basic characters etcetera, let me know. Comment. I’ll probably write a sequel anyway, but I’d like input. I’ve been writing down content for a sequel since I finished writing the first one. I love my characters!!!

But I am not writing it NOW. I am editing today! The Cost of Loving needs loads of attention! My head needs to be in Matt and Darian!!! Not any new characters. (Although I could see myself jotting down some lines about Nick and RC) Pray for me. Wish me well. Send good vibes my way. Send virtual hugs. I need my “fans” and those out there who believe in me even when I don’t. You are awesome!

Thank you,

Wade  J

Let the Editing Commence

I know I'm slow. That's just me. Slow, lazy, procrastinating lump - call me what you will. But I have FINALLY picked up (opened rather) the final editing draft for The Cost of Loving. I've had it since December 7th. Part of the delay was in not wanting to look at it without my full concentration. I like being IN the heads of my characters and for a while now my mind has been in Nick's. (Nick Jenkins from Names Can Never Hurt Me.) I have been trying to write my thoughts and scenes involving Nick and RC but even that has drawn out into this stagnation of guilt for not making the time to do what I love. Sometimes I hate that I'm actually responsible and care about my job and what I need to accomplish in "real life." If I could blow off everything and write when I wanted to maybe something would get done and I could finish some projects. As it is, December flew by. Now, with only TWO DAYS until my next novel (My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap!) releases, I decide to look at the MS (manuscript) for TCOL. (The Cost of Loving) Call me crazy. I want to stay one this! I WANT to be diligent and plod through it page by page, chapter by chapter until it is DONE, and done with perfection!! (LOL) As it stands, there are 332 pages. I know that will change. For one, I will probably delete things, scenes, etcetera that are unnecessary. I want to simplify the plot as much as I can without losing the gravity of the information. I'm going to rewrite chapters. THIS I already know!!! Not looking forward to that but it has to be done! KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE! KEEP AFTER ME!! I'm going to update my progress, probably via comments on this blog on the Goodreads version. Today was step one - I opened the document. I am STARTING!!! I plan on doing edits all day.

First I am going through the ENTIRE document and adding the grammar changes and corrections to my original document. My style of editing lately is not just hitting "accept" to the track changes. I look at them, then switch to my original doc and fix things. I'm HOPING this will help me remember the things I get wrong. What I noticed in doing My Roommate's a Jock so recently, is that I make the SAME MISTAKES all the time. So to all you writers out there who are even newer to the publishing scene than I am, make/take notes of what you do wrong! Chances are you make the same mistakes all the time and never catch them! My editor said she spent 50 hours going over this MS. I can not imagine how much she wants (in payment) for dedicating so much time. I can only hope it is more of a flat rate and hourly. Hourly at like $10/ hour for example is a BUTT LOAD of cash! But I see it as education. I NEED a professional telling me what the hack I don't get right. I NEED a professional explaining what works and what doesn't. Luckily, she is willing to wait for payment. She said she'd wait for royalties and such to come in. My cynical self laughs at the absurd notion of even reaching enough royalties to pay her... HAHAHHAHA. But I htink it is kind that she would even suggest it. Plus, she didn't give me a price. I think she is working with me. I think she believes in me and thinks I can learn and improve. She is a great lady!

AFTER I add the corrections, then I am going to go back through and delete and rewrite! Stay tuned for the step-by-step process :D

Laterz!

OH YEAH... in the meantime... buy my new book!!! *winks* (click here!)

What is Cole Reid up to for Christmas?

Hello lovely readers! Happy Christmas Eve to all of you.

(For those not celebrating Christmas, Have a happy Monday!)

      A little while ago Zathyn Priest asked around who would like to do a "character interview" for Christmas. He was going to put it in the Scarlet Letter but alas the Scarlet letter is not longer available. (I wish all the best to Zathyn and all he does)... Anyway, I thought I would post the interview I did only because I thought it was funny and a clever idea. I don't think it has any "spoilers" necessarily. If you are worried, then don't read it. I think it is pretty straight forward that My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap! is a romantic comedy of the M/M variety and that it has a happy ending. I did not write a horror novel (this time) so the main characters aren't hacked to pieces one by one until only Cole is left. (You knew that, right?) So, I don't think my "interview" will spoil anything. There is ONE week until release day!!! You can still pre-order on Dreamspinner Press. I noticed that ALL my stuff is marked down! (Get it while it's HOT!!!) I also put the EXCERPT from My Roommate's a Jock on my website. It's under BOOKS. It is probably easier to read on my website than on Goodreads (for those who read things on Goodreads.) So, here is the "interview" that Cole did for The Scarlet Letter. Enjoy.

Hi. My name is Cole Reid. I’m from the great state of Pennsylvania. I live in Gettysburg and attend college here. I’m studying Physics. I guess I’m your stereotypical science nerd. I have brown hair, brown eyes, a goatee and I wear glasses. I am SO not muscular. I love wearing funny, science-related T-shirts. I’m cynical most of the time and see the world as a place where nothing good ever happens to me—that is, until this year! I’m 21, and I graduate in the spring. This semester in college I met the love of my life.

QUESTIONS

1)      What are you doing for Christmas and who are you spending it with?  Are you off to celebrate the day with family/friends or are you staying home?__ Well, for the first time EVER I’m spending Christmas with my boyfriend. Feels weird saying that! I have a history of nowhere relationships that end with me feeling used. The Ellis happened along and everything changed. We agreed to spend part of the holiday with his folks and some of the time with mine.

2)     Tell us if you, or your family, have any Christmas traditions.  If you don’t have one, would you like start your own and what would it be? __Growing up, I remember decorating the tree with my mom. I hate cold weather, so my sister was the one to help my dad hang the lights and decorate the yard. This year, I’m hoping mom will let Ellis help decorate. I’d like to do that together and maybe have our own tree next year for just the two of us to decorate.

3)     What’s your favourite childhood Christmas memory? __My favourite memory was going out to buy a Christmas tree (I think I was 10) and coming home with a dog. The tree farm where my family went had a few puppies and my sister got attached to one. It followed us all through the trees and after my dad cut one down, Bethany begged him to let her keep it. As it was, the owner was trying to get rid of the puppies and said we could take it. Our first dog. My mom named him Sam. It was a golden retriever.

4)     How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa? __ Did you work it out yourself, or did you stumble on the truth?  How did finding out the truth affect you?  I kind of don’t remember specifics. I think it was a gradual thing. Like, you hear it at school “Santa isn’t real” but you say to yourself that it isn’t true. My mom always seemed way too interested in what I wanted for Christmas. (Because Santa wouldn’t need her to ask me.) Then one year, I found a present under her bed. I’m pretty sure I was seven. (It was way after Christmas.) She made some lame excuse about Santa hiding it for me, but I think that was the clincher. A year later I went LOOKING for presents under her bed, before Christmas, and found lots! So, it fell apart for me when I was eight-ish. I’m not sure if that was the beginning of my belief that nothing good ever goes my way, but it certainly could have been!

5)     What do you hope to find under the Christmas tree this year?  __I found everything I ever wanted in Ellis. As long as he is with me, I don’t really care if I have anything under the tree. But, a new mop would be nice.

6)     Do you have a favourite Christmas Carol?  __If so, which one is it and is there a specific reason why you like it? Um, NO! Spending this semester with Rob and Russell (Ellis’s friends) cured me of ever wanting to hear Christmas music again!

7)     If you could have one famous person, living or dead, at your Christmas dinner table, who would it be and why?  What one question would you ask this person? __Albert Einstein. He is my idol. I’d like to ask him if he was ridiculed as a child for being different? I mean, he was smarter than everyone else, right? Kids get picked on for everything where I’m from. I’m gay, and in a sense “different” than most where I live. Sometimes it’s hard. I wonder if he was made fun of and picked on for his brains like I am for my sexuality? He had ideas that were WAY OUT THERE given the time. People may have even seen him as “possessed” as far as I could guess. Weirder things have happened.

8)     If you got caught under the mistletoe with someone other than your partner, who would you hope it would be?  (Can be a celebrity or other fictional character) __Again, Albert Einstein. Smart guys are hot! (Although I’d liked to have run into him when he was younger. I’m not into older men.)

9)     If you could name a new reindeer to guide Santa’s sleigh this year, what would it be?  Why would you name him/her this? MONTY …lol… that is my boyfriend’s nickname.

10) Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?  If so, what is your resolution for 2013 and do you think you’ll be able to keep it? __ I promise to try to be more positive. Ellis says I always point out the negative. I am realistic and I know the universe is out to get me, but he doesn’t see things that way. He’s a “glass half full” kind of guy. For him, I’m trying to change my outlook. Will I keep it? Probably not. I fail most things that are not related to school.

     I hope you enjoyed reading what Cole thinks of Christmas. (It IS tomorrow, after all!)  So do yourself a favor and PRE-ORDER My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap!