Life Drawing a novel by Michael Grumley
This book was just given to me with the words: "You might like this." I looked at it. The cover was plain. The illustration was a half naked man (or he might be totally naked, the picture stops before you can find out) draped in swirls of orange and yellow (not my colors). But I WILL read anything. I've started a new book, which is the part I love the best, where anything is possible, and characters are shady at best as far as wants and dreams and worldview. Somewhere, this book is tied in with that start, and I have to acknowledge it.
This book was amazingly penned. It is a love story between two people set in Mississippi to start and then branches off to Hollywood and so forth and so on. It is the story of a boy who grows into a man and finds the kind of love that he can appreciate. He gives that love away in favor of more obviously carnal things and then finds that it is all that he could want in the world. It is a highly sexual book without all the naughty words and phrases. This fool (don't take that wrong we are all the self-same card in the deck at one time or another) goes to Hollywood and finds that all that glitters most definitely isn't gold...and that love is the only real thing that is golden.
The book was good. The author of the book, learned in forward and afterward, was far more interesting. I don't really care who an author is as long as they write a good story. However, this man's life was so fascinating, his love so deep and strong, his death so sad and sudden, that I found myself more engrossed in it than than the haunting words of his novel. Add that to the fact that his love published the book after his death and then died ten months later...
I do enjoy the rare, but marvelous people, and I found Mr. Michael Grumley and Mr. Robert Ferro to be both rare and marvelous.
Th-tha-That's All Folks...
NEXT...Ice Skating Up Hill...The Fall (cause people keep stickin' their big feet out) and the after thoughts of one sexy ass writer with a broken leg, shattered collar bone and dual fractures of the heart...
*thump-thump*
12.13.2010
12.05.2010
ON READING
I was skulking around some used book store as I am wont to do and ran upon a copy of Tarzan the Ape Man. Immediately realizing that I have seen the movie in a thousand different ways, I have never read the book, so I made the purchase and took that bad boy home with me. All I'll say about it is...it was an experience--beautiful, exciting writing. I read it in the same vein that I read anything by H.P. Lovecraft. Sometimes absolute, stunning brilliance is tempered with 'other' things. It doesn't make the work any less amazing. It does, however, make me sad...no sadder, though, than the taking of unemployment checks and the casting of hardworking families into abject poverty, which was the state of the nation on the news the other night. [I guess they'll be opening up workhouses in this mofo soon enough, eh? And the Bumble will be selling children in the streets].
"Booy, for sale--!"
Anyway...
I have just learned to appreciate the beauty...to 'try' and understand what's ugly and to go back to the beauty again...Speaking of beauty...
At the same time, I purchased: The Prisoner of Zenda, because it had that Count of Monte Cristo, Man in the Iron Mask thing going on. This was beautiful. The main character was a pompous ass. But when he flinched, in the beginning, by being rebuffed for the color of his hair, I felt his soul and fell in love with him a little.
And Black Boy, which I read for school forever ago. I can admit that, although I loved the book, I didn't understand it then the way I understand it now. I saved this for last because it had the most profound affect, but I can put into words what that affect was. It was similar to that which I got from Tarzan, but different...In Black Boy, I felt an aching beauty that had little to do with the story of the writer, but had everything to do with the writer himself...I touched that person and was not rebuffed.
ON WRITING
The business of writing I have found is complex and intricate. The thieves in the forest of the business are legion. They have no shame and there is little justice.
Do not let your heart be broken. And do not sell your soul.
I was skulking around some used book store as I am wont to do and ran upon a copy of Tarzan the Ape Man. Immediately realizing that I have seen the movie in a thousand different ways, I have never read the book, so I made the purchase and took that bad boy home with me. All I'll say about it is...it was an experience--beautiful, exciting writing. I read it in the same vein that I read anything by H.P. Lovecraft. Sometimes absolute, stunning brilliance is tempered with 'other' things. It doesn't make the work any less amazing. It does, however, make me sad...no sadder, though, than the taking of unemployment checks and the casting of hardworking families into abject poverty, which was the state of the nation on the news the other night. [I guess they'll be opening up workhouses in this mofo soon enough, eh? And the Bumble will be selling children in the streets].
"Booy, for sale--!"
Anyway...
I have just learned to appreciate the beauty...to 'try' and understand what's ugly and to go back to the beauty again...Speaking of beauty...
At the same time, I purchased: The Prisoner of Zenda, because it had that Count of Monte Cristo, Man in the Iron Mask thing going on. This was beautiful. The main character was a pompous ass. But when he flinched, in the beginning, by being rebuffed for the color of his hair, I felt his soul and fell in love with him a little.
And Black Boy, which I read for school forever ago. I can admit that, although I loved the book, I didn't understand it then the way I understand it now. I saved this for last because it had the most profound affect, but I can put into words what that affect was. It was similar to that which I got from Tarzan, but different...In Black Boy, I felt an aching beauty that had little to do with the story of the writer, but had everything to do with the writer himself...I touched that person and was not rebuffed.
ON WRITING
The business of writing I have found is complex and intricate. The thieves in the forest of the business are legion. They have no shame and there is little justice.
Do not let your heart be broken. And do not sell your soul.
11.12.2010
There is a review for Seduction of the Fae floating around everywhere that has got to be the most hilarious thing I have ever seen (or it was before someone mercifully fixed it up:). After recieving several beautiful reviews for that book, the differences in perspective amazes me.
"I don't like dat!"
Ah well, no one likes everything...I still love you, dear reviewer and thank you for your time.
On another note: Savage Love will NOT be published by Red Rose Publishing. Also, the interracial that was written behind it, will NOT be published by Red Rose Publishing.
"No beef, no problems," she said, "just...ain't gonna do it."
Currently Reading: The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. I just love the title, don't you? Just might be the best title ever, really. The book's about just what it says its about so far, and...Death.
And I have found an author I adore. Jay Bonansinga and his Ulysses Grove novels. I don't even really like the thriller genre, but I love this man's books. There are plot twists a plenty, and Ulysses is just...fyne. I am currently reading: Shattered. I am not reading them in order, 'cause I already read Perfect Victim.
Word to both the wise and the foolish: I adore Dan Savage and his column, Savage Love, and if you don't know what I'm talking about...you should find out.
"I don't like dat!"
Ah well, no one likes everything...I still love you, dear reviewer and thank you for your time.
On another note: Savage Love will NOT be published by Red Rose Publishing. Also, the interracial that was written behind it, will NOT be published by Red Rose Publishing.
"No beef, no problems," she said, "just...ain't gonna do it."
Currently Reading: The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. I just love the title, don't you? Just might be the best title ever, really. The book's about just what it says its about so far, and...Death.
And I have found an author I adore. Jay Bonansinga and his Ulysses Grove novels. I don't even really like the thriller genre, but I love this man's books. There are plot twists a plenty, and Ulysses is just...fyne. I am currently reading: Shattered. I am not reading them in order, 'cause I already read Perfect Victim.
Word to both the wise and the foolish: I adore Dan Savage and his column, Savage Love, and if you don't know what I'm talking about...you should find out.
7.19.2010
7.01.2010
The Queen of the Mandrake Fairies is beautiful. This cover is beautiful.
Seduction of the Fae is out now at Red Rose Publishing
Savage Love is next...
I love this cover absolutely:) It defies my attempts to make it as huge as I want it right now.
I'm happy...I'll get it together soon enough.
5.02.2009
A New Day Has Come:
What kind of day that is exactly remains to be seen, eh?
As I go deeper down this rabbit hole and shake off those who seem to think that I am little more than something to feed on...I must say that today I feel rather free...and that is a beautiful thing that I choose to share.
*dances the freedom dance just like in slavery time...and brings down the rain*
To Those That Tried to Devastate Me Yesterday:
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do...suck...seed..."
I know you'll do your best,
Raquel
What kind of day that is exactly remains to be seen, eh?
As I go deeper down this rabbit hole and shake off those who seem to think that I am little more than something to feed on...I must say that today I feel rather free...and that is a beautiful thing that I choose to share.
*dances the freedom dance just like in slavery time...and brings down the rain*
To Those That Tried to Devastate Me Yesterday:
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do...suck...seed..."
I know you'll do your best,
Raquel
4.27.2009
I feel the necessity to defend myself and make my stand perfectly clear on some things:
I attended the Romantic Times Convention in Florida, 2009. I'll talk about that later, but I don't have any pictures and all those things or any talk of joyous times and fun. I'm all about business at the moment. There are lots of other authors with the fun pics and the like...go see them and their work for that kind of beauty. I am not on that right now.
My website is down (I think) because I WANT it to be... I had to let it completely go in order to find the will (through necessity, right?) to build another one from the ground up, all by my lonesome, with my tech-skillz-deficient self. Wish me luck. Something will be up sooner than later. It will be some shade of green:)
Okay...it's later as far as my Convention concerns go. I looked for Liquid Silver Books in order to politely request my books back. I heard from another author that the editor was looking for me to answer my concerns but we never quite ran into each other, shamefully. That said, I did call her room several times and received no return phone call, but because it's really busy down there...I can see how that can happen.
The contracts ran out on two of the books months ago...
This is what I know:
The Cambion's Kiss--The contract ran out in January, 2009. Without a word to me, the book is still being sold on the Liquid Silver site and other places. I request the book rights back via email. I have heard nothing.
Seduction of the Fae--The contract ran out in November, 2008. Without a word to me, the book is still being sold on the Liquid Silver site and other places. I request the book back via email. I have heard nothing.
Due to the unanswered emails and phone calls, I am speaking with a literary attorney on the matter of these contracts (or the complete lacks thereof) and another matter of not receiving a single dime from another company that I work for...ever--of course, I told the publisher to save my royalites until they got to be a thousand dollars, and at a buck twenty five a quarter that's gonna pay out in my ripe old age.
Ain't writin' fun...???
It's a shame when you love it helplessly, when it is and has always been your joy and solace....
But anyway,
We will see what these inquires bring, perhaps its all just some HUGE mistake and a few words will fix it right up so that everyone can go on their merry ways. But that was my convention.
I attended the Romantic Times Convention in Florida, 2009. I'll talk about that later, but I don't have any pictures and all those things or any talk of joyous times and fun. I'm all about business at the moment. There are lots of other authors with the fun pics and the like...go see them and their work for that kind of beauty. I am not on that right now.
My website is down (I think) because I WANT it to be... I had to let it completely go in order to find the will (through necessity, right?) to build another one from the ground up, all by my lonesome, with my tech-skillz-deficient self. Wish me luck. Something will be up sooner than later. It will be some shade of green:)
Okay...it's later as far as my Convention concerns go. I looked for Liquid Silver Books in order to politely request my books back. I heard from another author that the editor was looking for me to answer my concerns but we never quite ran into each other, shamefully. That said, I did call her room several times and received no return phone call, but because it's really busy down there...I can see how that can happen.
The contracts ran out on two of the books months ago...
This is what I know:
The Cambion's Kiss--The contract ran out in January, 2009. Without a word to me, the book is still being sold on the Liquid Silver site and other places. I request the book rights back via email. I have heard nothing.
Seduction of the Fae--The contract ran out in November, 2008. Without a word to me, the book is still being sold on the Liquid Silver site and other places. I request the book back via email. I have heard nothing.
Due to the unanswered emails and phone calls, I am speaking with a literary attorney on the matter of these contracts (or the complete lacks thereof) and another matter of not receiving a single dime from another company that I work for...ever--of course, I told the publisher to save my royalites until they got to be a thousand dollars, and at a buck twenty five a quarter that's gonna pay out in my ripe old age.
Ain't writin' fun...???
It's a shame when you love it helplessly, when it is and has always been your joy and solace....
But anyway,
We will see what these inquires bring, perhaps its all just some HUGE mistake and a few words will fix it right up so that everyone can go on their merry ways. But that was my convention.
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