Words Matter

I have blogged often about WHY I write. Those who read my blogs have heard this before and I am sorry for the redundancy but my hope it that MORE people read my blogs now then before. IDK, maybe I am only talking to myself. (If not, please comment online, or in private message, *wink*) I write because I see things that go on in the world and I feel like I can’t sit back and do nothing. Case in point, see picture below:

Maybe some will view blogging as “doing nothing” since I hide behind my computer most of the time, but step by step I am striving to make a difference in people’s/reader’s lives and eventually in the people’s lives I interact with on a daily basis. Change takes time. Stepping out in faith that I will not get crushed again, takes time. I’ve hidden myself away for three years and denied what I think and feel out of fear. Fear of being myself, fear of saying things others will not agree with, and fear that someone will show up at my door and chastise me for having an opinion that hurts their feelings. (Or goes against their beliefs, because that happened before.) What I’ve learned is that people are capable of all kinds of hatful things. And they will even do them out of an attempt “to love”. But I often get the feeling these are the CONDITIONAL LOVE types of people. “I’m gonna love you, but you need to do the following….”

Well ya know what? Words matter. Words count. Words hurt.

 

I titled my series “Unconditional Love” because I am attempting to write a scenario of events in these characters lives, which mirrors things I observe in real life. Are they “actual” events or imagined ones? Some of both. I also take what I might experience (ie. Matt’s accident in TCOL) and I write it into my characters. I totaled MY truck exactly like Matt experienced in my book. I am trying to be real, and realistic. Sometimes, I might get it wrong. Whether it be from a lack of research or inexperience, I do get things wrong and I am sorry. My GOAL is to make readers think. If you are stuck on one detail and obsess about it, shoot me a e-mail. Ask me about it. Ask me if it happened to me, or if I even tried researching it. I WANT to deliver correct information! But I admit I am lazy and often do not dig deep enough to know what the heck I am talking about. And if the worst of the worst happens and I get the sex wrong – TELL ME!!!!! As you have discovered, I am NOT a man. There are some things I just won’t know. (Unless you tell me.) Side Note: I would have no problem discussing details of the same if some male person out there wants to set me straight. *another wink*

Another thing that has been on my mind is of a personal nature. Someone I know died this week. It was very hard to hear. He was young. 27. Taken from this world in more than likely a non-natural fashion. (Details of his death have not been released.) Mutual friends are hurting. I am hurting. And as in many deaths that occur in young lives, natural and unnatural, the people left behind have to deal with guilt. Guilt that questions, “Did I do enough? Was I a good enough friend? Did he know I loved him?” Because in the interest of expounding on the concept of “words matter”, I seriously doubt that some individuals in his life missed the fact that some words are hatful and can strangle a person even when they are delivered from a sense of wanting to help, or trying to love. It is out of that “conditional” love that we use words like fool, worthless, disgusting, and even worse: FAGGOT, FLAMER, FAIRY, DYKE, etc…

This song basically says it all. I can’t find the lyrics online, but I wrote down the ones I heard while listening. (Some could be incorrect.)

Define me, with all your words,

Then find me a lesson to be learned.

You can brand me or burn me, and I won’t let it hurt me.

Define me, as what I am,

And try me as just a simple man,

I’m no harm to you; I’m just doing the best I can.

And if I’m defined by what I do, then what am I supposed to call you?

The shadow of a broken path you abuse.

And if I can stand on my two feet, I’ll break the wall were we will meet,

I’ll document our combination for you.

We’re starting this party tonight, where people will be undefined,

And love who they want when the judgment is done and wont have to hide.

Starting this party right now, where people can shake off their doubts,

And send out their love as it moves through the crowd and people can shout:

That they love a man, or they love a woman,

And no one will be judged for love and I can’t be judged for who I am.

Define me with broad clichés, but I wont undergo any hate for a stranger’s mistake

I’ve struggled through the boundaries of societies needs, and now I’m not trying to please, it’s freeing.

Define me, as God’s child, I’m human, and here only a while, this Earth is as much mine as yours in the end, so let’s unite as friends.

And if I can lie in nature’s bed without the roses killing me dead, I think the Earth has got a point and we’re a moving joint.

And if I can say my prayers at night, I think I’m doing something right.

Let’s open up a song of safety and carry through the night.

We’re starting this party tonight, where people will be undefined,

And love who they want when the judgment is done and wont have to hide.

We’re starting this party right here, where people will shake off their fears,

And mass tolerance is replaced with resistance and everyone cheers:

That they love a man, or they love a woman,

And no one will be judged for love and I can’t be judged for who I am.

That they love a man, or they love a woman,

And no one will be judged for love and I can’t be judged for who I am.

I love it. And the video. 

> LINK TO VIDEO HERE <

I often disagree with they way parents “parent” their children. It is what it is, and I’m sure there are people who disagree with me too. But my personal mission and passion, (and this comes into play in my writing) is for homosexuals, homosexual children: teens or young adults, or older homosexual individuals who have felt the oppression and hatred for years. Personally, I do not think it is loving or kind to try to treat ANY person differently based on sexuality. People are people. Start there. Love based out of love. It grieves me to think some people, kids mostly, are out there thinking “God hates me because I’m gay.” Or simply, “There is something wrong with me.” And if those questions enter the mind, where are they coming from? Society? Parents? Church? Friends? People, especially kids, (and to ME that is basically anyone under 25, haha) need to know they are loved regardless of sexuality. Kids have a hard enough time trying to live life! I would never want to redo my youth. It was too hard. Young adults NEED parental guidance and LOVE. Sometimes kids make mistakes, sometimes they fall in love with the wrong people, sometimes they commit crimes, sometimes they take the wrong job, but they still need parents to help them and love them and guild them. Add to that example a gay son who is confused and lonely and lost. (or daughter.) Just because that son is gay doesn’t change the rules. A young gay man is STILL in need of guidance and love and support when it comes to love and life. And in this society, even more so! Personally, I don’t think it is a choice to be homosexual. I think you are born that way. (Maybe I’m wrong.) But NO ONE would choose a life of hatred, intolerance, and continual chastisement. I mean seriously, would YOU? WHY would anyone CHOOSE that?

Answer: they don’t. So why try to change people? I say love them for who they are. And Allow GOD to love them for who they are.

I’m stopping here. I have no desire to argue theology or sticking points in my belief system, or yours. But my biggest problem with the church today is the over abundance of CONDITIONAL love, and pointing the finger at everyone else. I do not think the “church” as an entity looks at itself very often. It if did, I think it would see the hypocrisy going on.

Anyway… I have probably rambled on too long, but I basically talk to myself anyway. (Me, and about 150 fans who MIGHT read this.)

I write to paint a picture of what I see in the world and to challenge it.

My challenge to YOU out there is to love people UNCONDITIONALLY. Embrace people. Get to know them as people. Gay, straight, tattooed, pierced, or even if they are wearing a plain white shirt with a tie, get to know the people in your life with out defining them with words. Or If you do, let the words be FRIEND, LOVER, CONFIDANT, FAMILY. We are all on this Earth together.

~Wade

Labor Day. Enjoying my “day off”.

I can not remember a time when I got out of bed later than 9:30am. Refreshing?  Possibly. I mean, I had to get up and let the dog out so he didn’t pee on my floor. (He does that.) But then I went back to bed (5:30am) because it was just too darn early to be up! We had a cook out yesterday with lots of people. Cooking. Eating. Talking. Laughing. It was good, but tiring. Most everything was also cleaned up before I went to bed so there was little to do this morning. I drank coffee and had a piece of cake. I also color-coordinated my calendar with soccer games and gymnastics meets. I’m all ready for the busy fall season.

Today is a “free day” so I plan to write. (Names needs to be completed!!) I also have homework for my English class due Wednesday.

For the last couple years I have not been a fan of kids going back to school before Labor Day. WAY TO EARLY if you ask me. But, now that I am in school too, and the school for them is getting harder, I think it is a good idea. This way they can ease into it. After this first week, we were ALL exhausted! And then with a birthday party yesterday (not for me), we NEEDED today off! It is 10:30 and we are all up now, but the house was very quiet for a long time. Normal Monday mornings are hectic. Kids up, all trying to get ready to catch the bus or whatever. Me running out the door at 8:45am now that I am a college student. (haha) We are scheduled into a busy season of life.

As I said in the last blog, I used to complain about it, but realized that this is what lots of people do. At least in this area. Maryland, as well as the DC Metro Area, is a very busy place. Not laid back much at all. Maybe in Texas, but not here. So if I choose to live here, this is the life I lead. Crazy busy. So I need to deal.

I think this year I have come to terms with that and I see the need to be organized and scheduled for the first time ever. I was never good at schedules before. I’m a wing-it kind of gal. Not now. Necessity has produced change. I can relax and blow off time when I am caught up on the necessary things. What are they? Laundry, cooking, homework, driving to scheduled events, and yes, the most important, WRITING!!!! I am trying to write everyday possible. I’ve written something at least 4 days a week for the last month. I’d like to see that increase to 5-6 days a week. Word count? IDK. I shoot for 1500-2000 words a day, but sometimes that is hard to attain. But I am confident it will happen.

I am also determined to get my “hoarding” under control and clean out my house!!! HUGE GOAL there!

News flash! Besides The Cost of Loving sitting at #11 on the Dreamspinner Best Seller List, I noticed all my books are on sale over there. So GO GREEN, and buy an eBook today!

Multitaskingmomma gets her head out of the oven, The Novel Approach, Rainbow Book Reviews, Joyfully Jay, Mrs. Condit Reads, and Amos Lassen.

~Wade :)

By all means, follow me on Twitter, "follow" my BLOG, "like" me on Facebook, add me to your "circles" on Google+, check out my pins on Pinterest, review my books on Goodreads and Amazon, become a “FAN” on Goodreads.com; and check out my webpage often for changes. And spread the name of Wade Kelly like wildfire. *winks*

Go GREEN!!

“Go GREEN” is my stolen catch-phrase. It normally stands for an environmentally safe product. Well, dear friends, buying The Cost of Loving in eBook saves trees, right? (Although I’d love you all to buy paperbacks.) My book also has a GREEN cover!! So when you think of or hear the phrase “Go GREEN”, remember ME!!! And buy the eBook. >> The Cost of Loving <<

TCOL is doing well. Hanging in there at #13 today on Dreamspinner Press. Woohoo!! Climbing the charts ever so slowly like a GREEN turtle. Haha. And it is still on the bestseller list on Amazon, only slightly lower than last week at #66. Why do I tell you the details? IDK. I stalk myself. I keep tabs. And I share. I blog about what I am thinking and I am thinking, “Yay, my book is still selling.” This matters. (At least to me.) The more I sell, the less chance people will forget who I am in between books. I am a slow writer. We all know this. If I produce a book a year I DO WORRY that fans will forget me.

In other thoughts… I am writing. I have around 75k in Names Can Never Hurt Me. I have time today to continue writing so I hope to get the count to 77k. (Slow, but sure like a GREEN turtle.) There are times in writing it that I think, “Oh gosh, is this stupid? Will readers think my characters are stupid, or unbelievable?” So, yeah, I don’t know. Matt and Darian (and Cole and Ellis) are so good. I really think they are people I could meet in real life. So sometimes I wonder about Nick and RC. Are they “real” enough? *sigh* I will not know until someone reads the book. I will probably have a beta readers. (I can think of two women who will want that job.) Hopefully they will tell me if the book sucks. I KNOW I like the beginning; my worry is in sustaining the thrill and candor for the duration.

This week has practically been a blur. School has been in for one week and I am already exhausted. The pace of cleaning, cooking, writing, laundry, PR (public relations), homework, filling out paperwork for 3 schools, etc has been very demanding. And soccer hasn’t started yet. (No games anyway.) At this pace, I will not last the year, let alone last to the end of September. I am just plain tired.

Anyway… I’m moving a head one painfully slow step at a time. (Turtle steps. GREEN turtle steps.)

Remember Go GREEN. Buy The Cost of Loving from Dreamspinner Press. (Or Amazon, or All Romance eBooks, or Barnes and Noble, or Rainbow eBooks.) And if you already bought it, and hopefully liked it, then tell your friends. I am no good at marketing. I have little time to breathe let alone saturate the Internet with interesting sales pitches that will make people buy my stuff. Really, I’m relying on word of mouth & REVIEWS.

Speaking of….

Have you seen the newest ones? I discovered today, a review that Amos Lassen did on The Cost of Loving. Although his review stated there was nothing “new” to sink his teeth into (with regard to religion, etc.) he did say that the “book was well written and the character development was excellent.” I think that is pretty awesome to hear! So maybe stop by and give him a comment. Commenting on BLOGS and REVIEWS 1. Lets the reviewer know people READ them, but also 2. Encourages the reviewer to review another book by the same author if what they have to say is of interest. So comment away!

My Roommate’s a Jock? Well, Crap! has not been forgotten. GGR-Reviews liked it! Please go check out HIS review and leave a comment :)

And The Cost of Loving was reviewed on Rainbow Book Reviews! So check that one out as well and comment.

Comments make people want to read it, as well as encourage reviewers to review it.

** Also, btw, MARY CALMES has my book listed on her site under Booyah! Books- The Dog Days of Summer! I'm thinking we need to show the love and comment on HER page so she knows it is worth the time to recognize other authors. She is a terrific writer and is very kindly recommending others. I personally am very appreciative! ~Thanks Mary!

Thank you all for stopping by. Please, spread the name of Wade Kelly. I need all the support I can get! And it's #FF (follow Friday), wear GREEN to think of The Cost of Loving, and Wade Kelly! (heehee)

Hugs,

Wade Kelly

By all means, follow me on Twitter, "follow" my BLOG, "like" me on Facebook, add me to your "circles" on Google+, check out my pins on Pinterest, review my books on Goodreads and Amazon, become a “FAN” on Goodreads.com; and check out my webpage often for changes. And spread the name of Wade Kelly like wildfire. *winks*

Multitaskingmomma makes me cry.

Am I allowed to blog an entire review? If not, let me know and I'll edit it or delete it. Don't want people mad.

Posted by Multitaskingmomma gets her head out of the over!

**LOL, Apparently, no matter what I do, the color of the letters remains BLACK. So I guess I can't copy it after all. I will continue to try.** YAY, it worked. HUGE, but it worked.

Review: The Cost of Loving (Unconditional Love #2) by Wade Kelly

The Cost of Loving (Unconditional Love #2)

by Wade Kelly

Published August 16th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press 

Formats Available: .epub, .mobi, html, pdf

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

When author Wade Kelly wrote When Love Is Not Enough (Unconditional Love, #1) way back in 2011, I did not read it. I knew it was good, but I was looking for romantic and sexy MM stories at that time. Since then I have grown (yeah, right!) into this genre that I basically am not scared to read some of the more horrific situations the LGBTQ community goes through. I have time and again said that I may be a brave individual, but no one is braver than someone gay who has to knowingly and willingly face the horrors society throw their way and still live to tell the tale. I don't think I could, to be blunt about it.

When I saw this book on the DSP list of new releases, I thought long and hard before I clicked that option. Well, I finally did. Honestly, I still hesitated as I was too thick in personal insecurities to read it. So yes, it's been long in the Kindle folder before I decided to bite the bullet and just read.

This was one long journey to self-discovery and acceptance for both Darian and Matt. The book opens where the first book ended. If one were to expect an HEA sort of story for a sequel, they are totally wrong. 

This is a psychological drama. Period. 

This is the tale of Darian's spiral down the depression road for trying to cope with a loss profound. The author does not mince words with Darian's experience into the alternate world of psychosis, for that was really what he was going through. I would go so far as to say that he had a Major Depressive Disorder which environmental cause was the unfortunate suicide of Jaime (this is my own conclusion although the author does not mention any diagnosis and there is a lack of history to reach a definitive diagnosis). His journey from its onset all the way to his recovery was very beautifully written by Ms. Kelly. 

Although Matt is the major character in this book, it is really Darian's story. Matt plays a huge role in this recovery and he also goes through the psychologicall and societal wringer as well. The author's approach to his religious background was quite astounding. She did not mince words here, from her blunt insult of the bigotry that is very thoroughly practiced and accepted as norm (believe me, it is NOT the norm although many think that it is) all the way to his father finally finding the right religious community which did accept and love based on their faith and logical sense of morality. It was Matt's role as Dare's"comforter" that was the pivotal discovery by the psychiatrist who had failed in realizing this initially. After which, Matt's role was just MORE and Dare's road to recovery was solidified.

The Cost of Loving is not a light read, far from it. It is a window into the psyche of a survivor. The survivors each take their own course to coping. This is the tale of how suicide has such a profound and sometimes fatal effect on those left behind. It serves as a lesson to those thinking this is the ultimate way out. It is not. 

I have to be honest. I jumped to the last chapter. After reading it, I went back to December 2010 and finished it all the way. There were some parts that were just too painful to read, that were just painfully real. 

This is a beautiful book but I have to be honest and say this is not for everyone. That said, it is impossible for me not to recommend it. 

If you are brave, I think you should read this and just go through the experience.

Beautiful.

My life when I’m not writing:

Today marks a new chapter in my life, as well as the “fall semester” of craziness that normally ensues. I’ve said before, mainly in my bio, that I have 3 children. Well, fall SOCCER dominates around here. My son plays varsity soccer T-TH-SUN. My daughter is a gymnast and practices M-F-SAT. This leaves Wednesday night as the only NIGHT free.  I don’t really mind as I LOVE watching my son play soccer. (Yes, Ellis was a soccer player like my son! And Ellis’ “broken leg experience” in JOCK was exactly how it happened to my son. Lol, but not.) But driving everywhere like a taxi driver can be exhausting.

During the day, I am now in school MON & WED. I leave as SOON as my youngest gets on the bus. (I have children in High school, Middle school, AND Elementary!) Tuesday mornings have been designated for those errands that need to happen every other week, every 8 weeks, or whatever like Getting my hair done (tomorrow), getting my nails done (because I want to look classy at GRL), and getting a massage (because I am perpetually tense and need them). Thursday’s I will be able to write between 9-3, and Fridays 9-3. Unless of course I plan a lunch date! Saturdays are pretty much taken by sports, camp-outs, and other family events. Sundays I go to church and my son plays soccer. I have a full schedule.

I used to complain more about all the stuff I did when Gymnastics decided it had to have like a thousand fundraisers and wanted to suck up all my time. I don’t have the time. But though complaining I found that most other moms have the same deal. We multitask, have jobs, and make all the other stuff “fit” somehow. I can’t complain, because I am just like every other mom. Mothers do it all!!! Maybe that is why I am a little “off” in the head. I’m slightly insane so I can handle the demands.

I don’t know.

One thing is for sure, this school year will have to be organized and scheduled, or there will never be clean clothes nor will there be food in the house, and dinner might be served at 9:30pm.

I WILL be online when I can. Luckily I can access most things from my phone. And I can Tweet from my phone. I can FB message from my phone. I just can’t write from my phone.

Writing will have to be very disciplined or it will not happen. So, fingers crossed, the next phase of life begins: Me, as an organized person! Note: This is probably the most girly-sounding blog I have ever written. Hopefully it is not too much of me sounding like a whiny, over-commited MOM, but I will get back to writing related blogs at some point. Unless you like my bitching over life, and the details of my everyday events ;p

Over and out,

Wade

By all means, follow me on Twitter, "follow" my BLOG, "like" me on Facebook, add me to your "circles" on Google+, check out my pins on Pinterest, review my books on Goodreads and Amazon, become a “FAN” on Goodreads.com; and check out my webpage often for changes. And spread the name of Wade Kelly like wildfire. *winks*

You’re a winner!

This is the BLOG that started it all: Let’s Play Twenty Questions. And no one ansered ANY, nor did they comment. Because of this, I felt like an EPIC FAILURE, (Title of another blog) and voiced my discontent. Then Mel pointed out that since she already pre-ordered my book she saw no need to enter a contest to win etc… And also, a couple other people told me the same thing, one even called me an “auto-buy”. So, really, am I an epic failure? Apparently not if readers (my fans) are willing to buy my book ahead of time and consider me an “auto buy”. That is actually a very HIGH compliment and extremely flattering. Thank you all so much!

What I have learned from this experience is that IF I want to GIVE AWAY a copy as a bonus to my fans, I have to think of doing it BEFORE there is a pre-order button. The blog hop thing was good to grab the attention of people who don’t read my blog, and/or have not heard about my books. My blog is mainly read by people who HAVE read my books OR people who find my rambling interesting enough to skim through.

In the blogs that followed and on Goodreads, I had 9 commentors. So, I did a random drawing and ANONYMOUS won. (lol, she did leave an e-mail address.) So, lucky winner, you get to wait for the next maybe 8 months to get your prise, but as soon as my next book comes out, I will give you a copy. I did something similar with a “website challenge” to see if people actually visited my website and read it. A girl names Beth won a copy of TCOL because of that and I think she had to wait 8 months to get it. So next time, I have learned to do these “contests” ahead of time.

On the release front. The Cost Of Loving is doing well. Not the “block buster” that JOCK was, but the thing about JOCK was it’s universal appeal. It is light and funny, has a great cover, and I think the majority of m/m Romance readers want light with a HEA. So, JOCK foot that bill. (It is correct to “foot the bill”, right?) JOCK is funny and does not involve a suicide in any way. Jock sat at #1 for a couple weeks, and TCOL has made it as high as #5. Right now, (because the lists change hourly) TCOL is like #39 on the Amazon best seller list for Gay and Lesbian ROMANCE, but on that same list is When Love Is Not Enough!! 2 books on one list is a new experience for me. (note: TCOL is #21 on the GAY romance List, and #19 on the Dreamspinner Best seller list.) Lingering on lists is really good. Even if I’m not #1, (or #10), People are still BUYING my books, they are just buying the other ones MORE. Right? And I KNEW Whiskey and Wry (Sinners Series) would be at #1!!! DUH!

This is me being positive. If you read my blogs at all you will know I am not always a positive person. I am a dour character often. Chin up, Wade!

I also got an e-mail from All Romance eBooks to tell me I was on the best seller list. I even was sent a graphic to post. AND also on the same day someone reviewed WLINE. They said: Submitted By: youngromancelover on Aug 22, 2013

A enjoyable story with hot characters and a happy ending. Short and sweet, ,eh?

So this is what is going on with me. I start School on Monday. I am an official student!! I got my ID yesterday and went to Orientation. I am going to BLOG about that one Monday. “The New Me”…

I can’t think of anything else.

Comment, or e-mail. Let me know your thoughts.

Wade Kelly

By all means, follow me on Twitter, "follow" my BLOG, "like" me on Facebook, add me to your "circles" on Google+, check out my pins on Pinterest, review my books on Goodreads and Amazon, become a “FAN” on Goodreads.com; and check out my webpage often for changes. And spread the name of Wade Kelly like wildfire. *winks*

Controversial Russia

I tend to talk about writing controversial things, but in real life I am rather dense. I do not keep up on the news. In fact, I am one of those sad people who get their news on Facebook. Yes, that is true. I scroll through the news feed and click links, and voila I read news. Often it is from the Huffington Post. Sometimes other sites that actually post news. Recently I have seen “protests” about the Olympics, and Russia, and the anti-gay rallies etc…

Let me just say I am appalled. Not shocked, but appalled. I am not shocked because I tend to think that people are capable of much worse than Russian demonstrators. Things go on in African countries that could equal the Russian activities and then some. Violence in general is awful, but am I shocked? No, not really. Perhaps shocked it is not worse yet.

I saw a post yesterday about Wentworth Miller protesting the Olympics by deciling to speak and “coming out” to Russia. (You can read about it on Advocate.com) Apparently he’s been out for years anyway. Maybe Russia is behind the times? Idk. Anyway, way to go Mr. Miller!! I applaud you for taking a stand. There were also a couple of Russian athletes recently who kissed in protest of the anti-gay laws. Good on them.

I was searching to see if there was a symbol or picture I could use on Facebook for my icon as a protest of my own against the Russian rulings etc. In searching Wentworth Miller I came across Johnny Weir. Oh. My. Gosh!

I used to LOVE figure skating when I was younger. LOVE IT. But over the years, and the fact I don’t have TV other than Internet and Netflix, I have seen the Olympics, nor have I seen figure skating in years. So, Johnny Weir was new to me. (Yes, I live under a rock.) First, I had to “pin” him to a board on Pinterest. So gorgeous. Anyway… Seems he is also against the Russian controversy. (Imagine that.) And one article on Huffington Post said he was willing to be banned or arrested if the Olympics are held in Russia. I pause to think: Would I be willing to do that?

I don’t know. I think those types of stands take GREAT courage and personal conviction. I was told in a review of TCOL that I’m ballsy and have cajones, but I seriously doubt my fortitude under such duress. I think people like Wentworth Miller and Johnny Weir are amazing people. And these are just TWO examples. Please, if you know of others, list a comment below. Shout out the true HEROS in the world who will not let people be treated sub-human like they have been in Russia. IT IS WRONG! And as a person who loved watching the Olymics as a kid, I think I'd rather skip them if this is how Russia treats people. If I was an athlete who trained forever to be there??? Well, that would be a very hard decision, but I would hope that I would stand for what is right and not for personal gain. 

I don’t have a “symbol” per se to voice my personal protest, but I stole Johnny’s picture off the internet.

I DO thank you people who are up on the news and who post things for the lame individuals like myself who need help when learning about the world at large. Continue to post. I am reading them.

Other news… TCOL hit #5 on Amazon on Tuesday, but it seems 5 was as high as I go with this one. (Now it’s #14) As long as it lingers in the top 20 or 50 or whatever, that means people are at least buying it. So far I have seen very few reviews to know how you readers are receiving it. I do hope you like it. I am always worried about it.  On a good note it is #17 on Dreamspinner Press. I’m still going to go with the phrase “Go GREEN,” because the cover is green, lol, and buying in ebook saves paper etc. So GO GREEN and buy off Dreamspinner Press. But WLINE is still hanging in on The romance list at#88. :)

I am writing. I have 72k on Names Can Never Hurt Me. I have outlined and structured the chapters so I can see where there are holes. I am pushing to get a first draft done so I can begin edits. I want it to be GOOOOOOD!! This one is somewhat funny, not as serious, and probably a little quirky. I am not a huge reader so I am not sure at what point the “suspension of belief” ends/begins. IDK. I am using my storytelling imagination and going with it. I like my character Nick Jones. I think he is funny in an idiotic sort of way. He gets himself into all sorts of messes on his way to personal and sexual awareness. My newest form of a blurb is:

What if sexuality wasn’t a definable thing, and labels merely got in the way?

Nick Jones couldn’t remember a time when he wasn’t popular, when he wasn’t the best looking guy in the room, nor could he recall ever having to coax a woman into bed with him. And recently, Nick even added guys to the list of “been there—done that” when kissing Corey on a dare led to much more and on several occasions. His reputation to “screw anything” was well known, and he didn’t care. Constant sex had never been a problem. So why was the attention of someone new causing such consternation?

RC was a mystery from the moment they met. A frequent customer where Nick worked, getting to know RC was interesting, yet incremental due to the fact that he wasn’t in the “in crowd.” RC was overweight, always sweaty, and lived up to the nickname “scruffy dude”. Still, Nick could not let go of his deep longing for friendship, even if that friendship was with a loser—and a gay loser at that.

When friendship with RC stirs longings deep within his heart, Nick is faced with a need to look past the superficial and take hold of a connection deeper than he’s ever known before. External pressures of social conformity threaten to snuff out the fire before it ignites his soul, but the deeper question for Nick is why one relationship should define his future as he navigates the waters of self-discovery and sexual identity.

What do you think? Would you read that? Let me know. Comment. E-mail. FB message me. Tweet me. All of the above. Let me know your thoughts.

And if you liked TCOL, let me know that too.

Laterz,

Wade

By all means, follow me on Twitter, "follow" my BLOG, "like" me on Facebook, add me to your "circles" on Google+, check out my pins on Pinterest, review my books on Goodreads and Amazon, become a “FAN” on Goodreads.com; and check out my webpage often for changes. And spread the name of Wade Kelly like wildfire. *winks*

Amazon’s Best Seller List

I’m a list girl. I like lists. I make lists. And now, I like BEING ON lists! I have always made lists because I often forget the things I need to do and therefore need to refer to the lists often. When I joined Goodreads.com, I discovered LISTS on there on topics from “favorite Holiday story” to “Best M/M tearjerker”, etc… So I voted on some of them. And then people voted for MY BOOKS on some of them. (I love that.) And then I discovered rating lists when My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap! (Jock) became popular enough to hit the Best Seller lists on Amazon and ARe. That was just cool! But it also becomes addicting as an author to “re check” the lists to see where my book was.

Friday, August 16, 2013, marked the day that the long awaited, much anticipated SEQUEL to When Love Is Not Enough (Unconditional Love, #1)  (WLINE) came out. The Cost of Loving (TCOL) took forever to get published. I am ever grateful for Elizabeth North who took a chance on me. :) She is awesome. WLINE was not a huge seller at first. Not really. Suicide, and more specifically GAY suicide, is not the topic someone thinks about when looking on Amazon for their next ROMANCE book purchase. BUT I am not the normal writer and I was very down and depressed when I wrote it. It meant something TO ME and therefore I was not looking to write popular just to sell a book. Lucky for me, Ms. North must have seen potential.

THEN Jock came around and I discovered the Best Seller List. I think it was #1 on Amazon for best gay romance for 12 days. What an awesome 12 days! That is only possible because of my wonderful readers!!! THANK YOU. You saw it, liked it, rated it, and recommended it. Jock got my name out there! Jock made me consider being honest about who I am and why I write on a different level. Jock’s popularity helped me “come out” so to say. I never desired to hide who I was from my fans, as much as hide from people I knew in real life. But hiding who you are is a painful thing and I saw the need to BE MYSELF, and like who I am. So I started telling people.

NOW, I am “OUT” to the Internet world, to my friends and family (for the most part) and little by little to the community I was once afraid of. I am embracing being ME. Not to mention embracing being WADE.

I stuck it out and TCOL finally got published. It is another personal story like WLINE. More of why I felt I needed to keep trying to get it into the hands of the fans. I am discovering that readers like to KNOW the authors. My writing comes from within me. I feel these feelings. The characters take on aspects of MY personality and some of their circumstances actually happened to me.

TCOL came out Friday. That was three days ago. Because of my wonderful fans who have not given up on me, and even ones who say “Write anything you want and I will buy it,”  The Cost of Loving is climbing the charts at an alarming rate. (At least in my unbelieving mind.) You fans are amazing. You really are truly gracious and forgiving. I know my writing takes forever and that has to be frustrating. I also whine a lot and that can’t be fun to hear all the time. I also bitch and complain. Yet still, here you are! My fans are there buying my book like crazy. So THANK YOU. Thank you deeply.

I am often checking the Amazon page to see where it lands next. Amazon changes hourly. It was #15 on the Best Seller List for Gay Romance on Sunday at one point, then it dropped. Today it is ranked #17. I am thrilled to pieces. And because people are noticing that one, When Love Is Not Enough is appearing on the charts again too! YAY!!!!!! #70 was not so shabby when WLINE sold 1/6^th of the amount that Jock did. Then it rose to #44 before I went to bed. Now it sits at # 55. I think that is awesome!!!

As far as Dreamspinner’s Best Seller List goes, it hit #19 Sunday but has slid back to #22. I’m okay with that. I didn’t expect it to appear at all this quickly. People have to BUY it from Dreamspinner to get it on that list and most people buy off of Amazon anyway.

So thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I will continue to write. I am trying to be more consistent so I can get something submitted by October. (Names Can Never Hurt ME.) After that, I think I will try and write the rest of book 3 of the Unconditional Love series. If I can just write consistently, the books will get written. Right? Right!

I also have some reading promised to people so I need to squeeze that in there.

I think Friday I will draw a winner for the blog challenge of leaving comments. Back a couple weeks when I listed a 25 question contest that epically failed I decided that I need to make things easier and also start them BEFORE books are up for pre-order. So the winner of the “comment” contest will win a copy of the next book I publish. Leave a comment here, or in the past like 3-4 blogs. I’ll do a random drawing.

Ciao for now,

Wade

By all means, follow me on Twitter, "follow" my BLOG, "like" me on Facebook, add me to your "circles" on Google+, check out my pins on Pinterest, review my books on Goodreads and Amazon, become a “FAN” on Goodreads.com; and check out my webpage often for changes. And spread the name of Wade Kelly like wildfire. *winks*