Wrelease Day!
by IndigoOkay, technically it was yesterday.
But whatever! My first-ever book has been released by Samhain!
It was an amazing, exciting, overwhelming day, marred only slightly by my conviction that no one would actually buy the book. That the world’s collective gaze would slide past it with the same determined unwillingness to connect that waitresses reserve for me when I knock my Diet Coke into my lap and need about a thousand more napkins right NOW.
That my editor at Samhain, unfailingly nice and friendly as she has always been, would email me in all caps, wailing that I had wasted the best months of her life and serving me with the publishing equivalent of divorce papers.
But to my shock, some people actually ordered THE TRAP yesterday! Oh, happy day! Happy dance! Worry gone! Joy embraced! Birds singing! I am a published author! People actually bought my book and they are actually going to … going to …
Oh, God.
They are going to read it.
What if they hate it? What if they hate David? What if they hate Ethan? What if they hate me?
Deep breath.
Okay, so some people might hate it. Some probably will hate it. But others will like it. And maybe someone will even love it. After all, this is the effect art, in all its guises, has on people: With some, it resonates. Others, it leaves cold.
And it’s not just art, either. Everything has champions and critics.
Take my beautiful, smart, funny goddaughter, for example. She’s a nice kid. Does well in school. Kind to people and animals.
But she hates cheese.
It’s not a lactose thing. She didn’t suffer some traumatic cheese-related mishap as a child. She’s never been pinned beneath a runaway wheel of cheddar. Her father didn’t run out to the store for some pepper-jack and never come back. She just … hates cheese. All kinds. Nice sharp cheddars … melt-in-your-mouth bries … even bland, unoffending mozarella.
Now, if she disliked celery, I could understand. I could relate. But as it is, I watch that kid rolling back the top off her pizza or easing an unsullied chip out from under a stack of nachos with the surgical precision of a tournament Jenga champion, and I think, but how? How is it possible for anyone to hate something I like as much as cheese? How is she not more like me?
And of course, this inevitably leads to the thought that maybe it is I who should be more like her. After all, if only I hated cheese, perhaps I, too, could be a size 0. If I, too, embraced a lifestyle of celery-bacy and complete cheese avoidance, not only might I achieve a more exalted state of personal artery uncloggedness, but I could also help to reduce the number of dairy cows in the world and reduce global warming!
For a moment, I tremble with the possibilities.
Then I shrug and eat my goddaughter’s discarded cheese.
Because I am helpless in the grip of my cheese love … just as she is powerless to change whatever internal programming causes her to draw back from a precious wedge of Maytag Blue as if it were the mutant offspring of a tarantula and a rattlesnake.
Somehow, watching that kid struggle to build a taco out of nothing but lettuce and shredded chicken (she hates sour cream, too, and don’t even get me started on that) always makes me ponder the little differences between people. The ones that make it just a tiny bit more challenging to connect, or to relate, or to share perspective.
Maybe it’s good that we have these little differences. Maybe learning to accept that someone can hate something you like, or like something you hate, is good practice when it comes to connecting past the bigger differences. The ones that lead to the less gentle arguments on the bigger stage, where the voices are louder, and the exchanges are angrier, and some people seem inclined to make their point with sharp bits of metal instead of words.
Wow. Looking at it this way, I guess it isn’t such a bad thing that not everyone will love my book! Not if it’s going to help prevent war, and all!
I feel so much better.
But still … I really hope you like my book.
Indie
**looks around**
Am I the first to post here? YIPPEE!!
Just finished reading The Trap (when I should have been studying for midterms **waves fist at really talented writers**) and I LOVED it. Usually, that whole dominance/submission element is so not my thing, but you did it in a way that was moving, emotionally honest and beautiful, and I absolutely ADORED both David and Ethan.
So, now you get to look forward to not only a brand new fan, but this brand new fan poking you over and over again and saying “Waht’s next? What’s next? What’s next and when will it be released?” Think of it as the biblioholic’s version of are we there yet? **wink**
Anyway you, congrats on a GREAT story. And seriously, I look forward to reading all your future work.
Blue
Hi, just finished your first book The Trap and wanted you to know that I really enjoyed it! I read a lot of m/m ebooks and can get stuck in a rut buying my favourite author’s but recently I have branched out and have tried out the books of some new authors and have only been disappointed a couple of times yours happily was one I greatly enjoyed, I look forward to your next writings thank you very much for the entertainment.
Regards karen
Indigo, I just finished reading your book. (Actually, I took the morning off so I could finish it!) It just pulled me in and I couldn’t put it down. I fell in love with Ethan and David (they are so luscious). I came onto your website searching for more. Please tell me you are working on your next book!
I bought The Trap the day it came out. I started reading it yesterday and couldn’t stop! It was so amazing! The dialogue was hilarious and I loved the evolution of Ethan and David’s relationship. I would never have guessed that this was a first book! Well done and keep writing! I look forward to your next book!
Amber
I loved The Trap! It entertained me on a long boring drive yesterday, then I had to re-read it again today. More, more, more!
Just wanted to let you know i bought it and LOVED it! (there you got your caps….) Keep writing. I visited your site to find your other books because it was too good to be your first!
I loved it. Loved David and Ethan. I sat up until 2am to finish it because I just could not put it down. I’m half way through re-reading it now. Any chance of it coming out in paperback? I’m one of those die hards who likes to have paper copies of her favourite books.
Just a quick note to tell you that I loved “The Trap”. I’m a married, het woman who loves romance, all kinds of romance, including hot, hot m/m romance. The story line caught my eye and I bought it for my kindle, and started it that day. Didn’t put it down until I was done the next afternoon. It was a page turner, tear jerker…Loved the laughter, the story of Bella..it was fantastic. I’m looking forward to some more of your books!!
Just wanted to let yoy know…I wreally (couldn’t wresist) loved your book. Loved the characters..I read it straight through! I just wish that it didn’t have to end. I look forward to your future books. Keep up the good work and God Bless!
Congrats on your first ebook – Loved it!! I look forward to many more. (oops, Freudian typo there, meny more ha!)
“The Trap” will be a book I pull out to read over and over again. I laughed…I cried… I cringed… and had to look away, I was embarrassed for Davo and touched by him all at once and I rooted for Eath, and laughed and sighed the entire way. It was a never ending emotional cycle that I never wanted to end. I never saw the next corner coming and I could not put it down. It was a comedy, it was a drama it was passionate and it was a tear jerker, you had me hooked I rooting for them, I was sorry to see it end. Hope to see more about Davo & Eath. Hope to read anything else you put out. You have a Fan for life!!
Hi Indigo
LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!
I actually kept it and put in my to keep folder.
THANKYOU and I loved Ethsn
Loved your book!!! Just finished it last night and hope you have more coming!
Hi. I just wanted to say that I read The Trap and LOVED it. I thought it was very well done. It was a very moving story. I could not put it dowm. I look forward to more wonderful stories.
Wow! I don’t think you have to worry… I purchased The Trap last weekend and have read it no less than 4 times already and skim it throughout the day when I need a moment of blissful escape. I purchase man/man ebooks voraciously and you have immediately become my most favorite author. I absolutely love your writing style – the characters were extremely well-developed, the dialogue was sharp, funny and so believable, the sex was smoking hot, and so much more important than that, the atmosphere was molten, even when E and D weren’t touching each other. The Trap was damn near perfect. Whatever you’re working on now… please write faster!
just finished reading your book last night it was wonderful. I had to read it from start to finish in one sitting it captured me that much that I was almost late to work the next morning from a lack of sleep but it was well worth it. I stopped in here to see if you had published any more but no
. I can’t wait for more from you perhaps more of Ethan and David?? please? Anyway just stopped into say great book and I can’t wait for more.
Loved the book! And loved Ethan and David too! Do you have any more books in the pipeline?
I LOVED the book! Please write more, on either these or other characters. So much emotion — I don’t cry at books and I cried at this one.
Indie – I just wanted to let you know I’ve reviewed your book on B&N and on My Book Store and More. I loved it and can’t wait for your next one! Here is the review:
I just completed this book in one sitting and WOW! A powerful story of one man running away from his feelings and the lengths another will go to make him acknowledge them.
Both David & Ethan are three dimensional and likable characters. The theme of domination and submission is explored deftly and yet gently. As Ethan works to teach David that submission is more than handcuffs and blindfolds, wanting David to yield while holding a part of himself back, David reaches some amazing insights about himself and about his actions.
It’s a story of both discovery and redemption that brought tears to my eyes and cause me to jump my husband’s bones. Double win!
Can’t wait to read more work by this author.
Wow! I posted a comment here yesterday and it looked like it went through but now I don’t see it. Let’s give it another go! Wanted to let you know I finished your book and I loved it! Posted reviews at Barnes and Noble and My Bookstore and More. This is the review text:
I just completed this book in one sitting and WOW! A powerful story of one man running away from his feelings and the lengths another will go to make him acknowledge them. Both David & Ethan are three dimensional and likable characters. The theme of domination and submission is explored deftly and yet gently. As Ethan works to teach David that submission is more than handcuffs and blindfolds, wanting David to yield while holding a part of himself back, David reaches some amazing insights about himself and about his actions. It’s a story of both discovery and redemption that brought tears to my eyes and cause me to jump my husband’s bones. Double win! Can’t wait to read more work by this author.
Loved your book!!!
Loved Ethan and loved David.
I was laughing out loud….in the middel of the night…with my husband asleep next to me.
Cant wait for the next one!!!
Love from Holland
Love the book – any plans for any more?
Hi there I just recently bought the e-book version of The Trap and loved it! I was hoping though if there is perhaps a seqeul? I really want to see more progression with David and Ethan’s Dom/Sub relationship I just wanted to laugh and cry at the same time reading what Ethan did to Dvid all the while thinking maybe he should just wave a white flag and admit he loves the guy already? lol
looking forward to your reply
ps do you have any other books in progress currently?
Hi!
I loved Ethan, David and Tilda! My heart just about broke there towards the end when David had to say all those things to Ethan to get the pin number for the satellite phone. Ugh Seriously, I cried.
I just finished The Trap and I wanted to tell you how much I loved it. I saw that it on Amazon and the synopsis grabbed me right away. Then I read it and had to see what else you had out for me to dig into and then I find it’s your first book out!!! So, it was AMAZING.
In short, you are great and so is your book and I can’t wait for the next one!
Thanks for all your hard work.
-Rachel
I not only read it but also re-read it and I loved it! Thank you for making a happy ending because that much pain and angst without resolution would have killed me. Not to be greedy or anything, but I keep checking back for your next publication. I sincerely hope to see it soon!
Hi,
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading The Trap. I loved the characters, I loved the whole premise of the story, and I loved the way you concluded the whole thing. Beautiful story!
Loved your book “The Trap”. Plot was not predictable, characters were interesting, and the tension of what happened and what happens next was great. Loved the BDSM elements and thought they were well done. Thanks for a most enjoyable read. MORE PLEASE and let me know when it’s coming? capthelen
Ha. That was…fascinating. I totally understand the fear that people will hate it. I’m actually more worried that people will be indifferent to my new one. For the record, I’m one of the people who LOVED your book. And if I could steal Ethan…
Hi Indigo,
Do you have any more books lined up?
Great One…
Ok. Is there anything I could possibly hook up to my piano or even a type of microphone or any type of technology out there where I can record my music I play on my piano and then it will convert it to music notes on music sheet paper through my laptop…
Hello! The best/easiest way to do this is with a digital piano/keyboard that has MIDI output capability. If you have one of these, then there are notation programs (Finale is the industry standard, finalemusic.com) that will take the notes you play and notate them automagically.
This is how I used to compose back in the late 90s/early 2000s …. then I kind of got out of the habit and started just writing on my violin/viola and then manually notating on screen. Since I don’t really play piano, this turned out to be much faster for me.
I know this isn’t what you want ideally, which would be a program that could somehow take input from your playing a regular (non-digital) piano into a mic, but I haven’t yet seen anything that does this. That doesn’t mean it isn’t out there; I just haven’t seen it yet if it is. I’d be surprised, though … this being said, the latest version of Finale DOES offer something called “MicNotator,” which allegedly allows you to “notate” music by playing your brass or wind instrument into a mic. This is very cool. Now, neither brass nor wind instruments can play chords, so the tones that would enter a mic are fairly pure, single notes. I suppose it’s possible (though Finale makes no representation to this effect) that you might be able to make this work with a regular piano playing into a mic as long as you play only one note at a time (i.e., record a simple melody line, then a simple harmony line, then a simple bass line, etc., and combine them later in the software).
But seriously, the simplest, most straightforward solution would be to acquire a digital keyboard with MIDI output capability, and connect that directly to your laptop. Finale will notate from this, and I believe there are other notation programs that can do so, as well.
Good luck, and happy musicking!
Indie
Hi, Laura!
I’m so sorry it’s taking me so long to get something else out … rest assured, I have not lost interest in writing!
It’s just been a bumpy year with endless demands on time and emotional energy. Several seriously sick friends, a failing parent, a neighborhood battle with city hall, heavy music obligations, and trying to get a new business off the ground … in the midst of all of this, I have been working on two books, and I promise they will eventually see the light of day. Please know that I am SO grateful for your interest and your patience … and I definitely understand your concern; I have sent similar emails to a couple of authors myself this year. (And the worst thing is that even when I wait several years for a new book, I know it’ll take me all of a day to read it!!!! And then the waiting starts again! Arrrrrghhh!!!)
I hope you’re having a good fall … hang in there. I’ll definitely make an announcement when one or both of these books finally makes it to the release pipeline.
Indie