Browsing Archive: December, 2009
I really don't believe in New Year's Resolutions, not at all. Last year I decided that my New Year's Resolution would be to sit and watch all three Lord of the Rings movies in one go. I achieved that, but it highlights the fact that I don't take these things too seriously.
After all, I don't smoke, I don't drink and over all lead a pretty healthy lifestyle. Okay, sure, I could lose a few pounds, but then again, who couldn't? I don't think weight loss should be a once a year thing, only to las... Continue reading ...
Christmas dinner has been eaten, the decorations around the house now look tacky and everyone is sick of carols, not to mention the sight of any more festive food. Yep, it's that time of year when the waiting game begins. No, I'm not talking about New Year, I'm talking about me having to wait for any word on my current submissions and my next release in February.
It's pure agony, almost to the point distraction. I haven't been able to work on my current work, Light of the Body (which is going ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark Alders on Monday, December 21, 2009,
In :
eBooks
Well, everyone seems to be doing it, so now I am. Here are the highlights of my writerly year, including a general idea of sales for those who may want to read about that sort of thing from a eBook author's POV.
After deciding to become a 'serious' writer in 2005, my debut novel, Call of the Hunted, was published on January the first of this year by eXtasy books. Before that I was basically honing my skills, sending stuff to FTL markets and discovering more and more that I loved writing m/m st... Continue reading ...
Why is it when we are at our busiest (writers, I mean) we get more and more ideas for novels? As it stands I have about 7 novels to write in 2010 which are committed and have deadlines and are part of a series or continuation of first books I have already sold! Yikes! Yet, on the way to work on the train each day, more and more ideas hit me!
Six months ago I was begging for ideas, my muse just went on holiday and the bitch just didn't bother telling me. She didn't even leave a note on the refr... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark Alders on Thursday, December 17, 2009,
In :
news
For those of you who noticed, my site underwent a little makeover recently. I think the new look reflects me as a writer a little better. I do write sci-fi more often than not, with the rest of my stories being fantasy. So, yeah, a spacey theme works well IMHO.
This new look also includes, in the tabs at the top, the new series' I am working on. "The Pembroke Eve Chronicles" and "The Keeper of the Land Series" have both been accepted by eXtasy books and will be published starting from February... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark Alders on Wednesday, December 16, 2009,
In :
news
Well, first it's the news that The Pauper's Prize placed second in the fantasy category at the Rainbow Awards, then I hear my short story, The Cadet's Officer got a respectable 3 star (good read) review from Night Owl Romance (one of the largest online reviewers of romance novels)
Sure, The Cadet's Officer is a short story, so when a reviewer wants to see more, you can be pretty certain they related well to the characters and wanted said short story to be a novel or a the very least a lot lon... Continue reading ...
Things are getting busy at work...which is to be expected for this time of year...
On another note, and more in line with my writing, I have completed half of my latest WIP, Light of the Body (about 25000 now). It has turned out completely differently to what I had originally envisaged.
Sure the basic plot is the same, but never in my wildest imagination would I have thought up zombie insectoids which are alive and taking over the town! Okay, so I did think of them, but yep, this story is infe... Continue reading ...
I think I have come off my high now after my 2nd placing at the Rainbow Awards in the Fantasy category. Sheesh! You'd think I'd won, wouldn't you?
Anyway, back to business as usual. I have completed my beta reading duties for now and have also completed the edits I needed to do for my Ravenous Romance (RR) NaNo submission, a novel titled: The Nourisher. An m/m sci-fi space opera Saga revolving around Drake, an intergalactic lawyer.
I don't know what they (RR) are looking for, other than what t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark Alders on Saturday, December 12, 2009,
In :
competition
I don't usually blog on weekends, but geez, I am still on cloud 9 about my Rainbow Award second placing for fantasy! I mean, wow! Recognition is da bomb! It really is.
Elisa commented that my book was a 'dark horse' and that she was glad I got a placing with it. I am, too. Although, perhaps by that she meant that I am a relatively unknown author in the grand scheme of things (which I am) and that this win will hopefully help get my name out there even more. Well, that's how I am interpreting i... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark Alders on Friday, December 11, 2009,
In :
Rainbow Awards
I am thrilled to bits to hear the news that my book, a homoerotic fable titled: "The Pauper's Prize" has been awarded second place in the Rainbow Awards (fantasy category)! *faint* I am stunned!Thank you to Elisa Rolle for hosting the awards. Thank you to all the readers who voted for the book. Thank you to the Judges who shared reader opinion. I've never won anything in my life before and it's a great feeling to get recognition in this way, especially considering my confidence as a writer wa... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark Alders on Thursday, December 10, 2009,
In :
sales
Over there at eXtasy you can get all my '09 releases, that's Call of the Hunted, Mama's Heart, The Cadet's Officer and The Pauper's Prize,
all for an amazing 30% off! So for your chance to fill up your eBook
stocking this Christmas, head on over to eXtasy and pick up some great
bargains. Call of the HuntedMama's HeartThe Cadet's OfficerThe Pauper's Prize Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark Alders on Wednesday, December 9, 2009,
I'm in a silly mood today (that pretty much covers me most of the time anyway LOL)
So...I was thinking, what movies/TV shows would be better if they were m/m? I mean, I know it won't ever happen, and that this is just pure hypothetical fantasy, but I got to thinking, gee, this movie/story would be great if two of the male lead characters in the show formed a romance! Many the world over have thought the same and many characters have become a pairing in the fan world, with some becoming so fam... Continue reading ...
Okay, rant and rave time! LOL (I don't ever really rant and rave--just have things that annoy me and make me roll my eyes to the heavens or that I don't understand) This next peeve is one of those eye rollers for me big time!
The thing for me at the moment is characters in books/movies who can shape-shift/transform into something like a werewolf/dragon/whatever and when they change back are fully clothed! Okay, when they change their clothes rip off, do whatever it is they need to do, and low... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark Alders on Saturday, December 5, 2009,
In :
news
I have been knee deep in my new WIP, Light of the Body, the second, yet standalone, part of the Pembroke Eve Chronicles. Remember, Shadows of the Mind is due for release in February, so I've basically got to get my writing skates on!
So how's Light of the Body shaping up?
Well, I've planted down nearly 10,000 words, and just like my NaNo novel last month, this thing has taken me over. It starts off all sweet and romantic with Jacob (the series is told through his eyes) and Callum about to go t... Continue reading ...
Is traditional romance dead?
Well, according to Lori James of All Romance eBooks (fast becoming one of the largest online sellers of eBooks) Yes...traditional romance, is on the decline. Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Boy and girl live happily-ever-after is fast becoming...well...boring and readers are turning away from such stories in droves.
Best selling romances these days (and romance is by far the biggest seller in the eBook market) are Vampires and werewolves falling in lo... Continue reading ...
Ever passed someone in the street and thought, gee, they smell nice? Well, research has found that smell plays a big part in how we perceive someone, whether or not we are attracted to someone and most importantly, whether or not we stay with someone when we do form a relationship with them.
Remember that famous quote by Ms. Monroe: "All I wear to bed is Channel no. 5"? Well, surprise, surprise that particular perfume is the worlds best seller. Thing is, on a lot of women, Channel No. 5 smell... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark Alders on Tuesday, December 1, 2009,
In :
news
Over there at eXtasy you can get all my '09 releases, that's Call of the Hunted, Mama's Heart, The Cadet's Officer and The Pauper's Prize, all for an amazing 30% off! So for your chance to fill up your eBook stocking this Christmas, head on over to eXtasy and pick up some great bargains. Call of the HuntedMama's HeartThe Cadet's OfficerThe Pauper's Prize Continue reading ...
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About Me
My name is Mark Alders. I live in a house. This house has a street in front of it which is a good thing because if it didn't I wouldn't be able to drive down to the shop and purchase the chocolate I need on a daily basis *giggle*
Seriously, I am a mild mannered post office worker by day and an erotic romance writer (mainly male/male) at night. Not much else to say other than, like everyone else, I have bills to pay, a mortgage and family that I love and drive me crazy all at the same time. Oh, and I have a dog, too!
See?
Average Joe...except when I get down and write...then I let my imagination go to places I never knew existed and my characters invade my mind.
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