…it’s still September at the moment.

Unfortunately things happening outside the writing sphere have meant I’ve not been able to devote much time to writing recently.

Rather than have the blog die a complete death whilst I deal with family problems I’ll be posting once a week on any progress I make, and hopefully will be back to full writing strength soon.

If you have any questions about my writing or comments I can always be contacted at my e-mail address (just change the relevant words to symbols):-
sarahleslie_silvertree at yahoo dot co dot uk

Next progress report (hopefully with something to report about) in a week.

…until the end of August.

See you all in September

If I had to tell you my worst writing habit it would be procrastination. Just getting my bum on the seat in front of the keyboard and screen seems to be the hardest thing to do. (Hence my 5000 word a day target for August*). Once I’m there it’s figuratively blood, sweat and tears to get anything on the page. If I’m lucky I may get into a flow but it doesn’t seem to happen that often for me.

So I felt almost encouraged in a way when I happened to read Wen Spencer’s blog at the weekend. Wen Spencer is one of my favourite authors. I think she’s incredibly original and has tackled a number of genres and (for me) has never once written a story that didn’t draw me in. I could only hope one day to write half as good as she does. (Bad grammar – sorry! )

Wen Spencer’s livejournal – Squatting Rights

It was her post of May 9th that struck a chord. I was sorry to hear she’d had to stop writing due to medical problems. But her image of chipmunks on crack frantically spinning a hamster wheel is one that’s going to stay with me. I obviously have lazy non-addicted chipmunks, possibly I have a guinea pig that is too fat to even get onto said hamster wheel. Hopefully by the end of August I will have a lean mean guinea pig writing machine.

* – the point is not so much to hit the 5000 word target every day, but to get as close as possible and hopefully maybe hit it once or twice. If I can get any of the rewrites or first drafts completed I will be supremely happy.

So I wasn’t actually intending to carry on with this story, the online fiction was going to be more of a series of vignettes. But this one didn’t want to let go. So here’s a little bit more. The first part is possibly still at the bottom of the page or you can get to it through the Online Fiction category or Brief Encounter tag. Carried on after the cut.

Brief Encounter (unedited), copyright Sarah Leslie

When John finally stopped, he stood outside not his own room but the strangers and before he could let himself think, he knocked three times.

“Enter,” called a voice from within. The rich timbre left no doubt as to the identity of the speaker.

John remained frozen. He could still walk away. Instead, he reached out and grasped the door handle. He viewed the action remotely, almost as if someone else moved his hand, curled his fingers round the brass of the handle, depressed the lever and opened the door.

Choice made, he stepped into the room, closing the door softly behind him.

The stranger sat at a small writing desk with his back to the doorway, his pen covered the pages he was scribing with remarkable speed. He didn’t look up when John entered, merely said, “I’ll be with you in a moment,” and carried on writing.

John clenched his hands together behind his back and resisted the urge to fidget. The room smelled pleasantly of dark spices and sandalwood. Unlike his own room – whose total furniture consisted of a bed and dresser – this suite was richly carpeted and had not just two plush armchairs but also a sofa. Two doors led off the main area, one presumably to a bedroom, the other to a bathroom or maybe another bedroom. He was out of his depth here. How could this man afford such luxuries?

“Because I’m very good at what I do.”

John jerked round to find he was now the one under scrutiny.

The courtesan no longer wrote at the desk but had turned the chair so that they faced each other. The stranger inspected him from head to toe, as if he had every right to do so, all the time his index finger stroked back and forth across the fullness of his lower lip. “Forgive my impertinence,” he murmured, “but you’re very easy to read.”

Silence descended. The other man seemed in no hurry to speak and John didn’t know what to say. Finally, in desperation, he blurted, “What’s your name?”

“You can call me, Adam.” So saying, he leaned back in his chair, the movement pulling the material of his trousers tight against his groin.

John cursed himself for noticing.

“What should I call you?” asked Adam.

With a start, John realized they had already entered negotiations. “John, but…” But what? But I don’t know what I’m doing here? That was a lie. But I don’t know if I can afford you? Truth, but it wouldn’t get him what he wanted.

“Sit down, John.”

John sank into the nearest chair, his eyes never leaving Adam’s face.

“What do you want?” asked Adam.

The deep dark pools of those eyes mesmerized him. “I want everything,” he admitted and he felt no shame in saying it. In this place, he could be honest with himself.

“Everything costs. What have you got?”

John thought of the ten sovereigns that was all he had in his purse. No matter what, he knew he couldn’t touch the five hundred in the strong box. He could lie, say he had only five sovereigns, keep something back for himself, but he’d been honest when he’d said he wanted everything. “I have ten sovereigns.”

Adam stood, stalked across the room like some exotic animal and dropped into the chair opposite John. “Ten sovereigns will buy you a kiss.”

“A kiss?” All this angst for a kiss?

“You’re disappointed.” Adam reached out and smoothed his thumb across the fullness of John’s lower lip. “I promise it will be a kiss you’ll never forget.”

John tried to ignore the trembling in his lower belly. Adam’s thumb kept up its provocative movement and he had to resist the urge to open his mouth and take it inside. “How can you know that?” he asked, his mouth brushing against the constant motion of Adam’s thumb.

“Because,” responded Adam simply. “You want it so badly.”

I think t-shirts are possibly the best clothing ever invented. lol

And my new favourite place to visit on the web is lastexittonowhere.com I must admit to not getting all the references without cheating. I’m obviously not as up on my sci-fi as I thought.

But I have treated myself to a Nostromo shirt and will be picking up a Sulaco one as well.*

* – Something of an Alien fan. Maybe because my only recurring dream involves Aliens in a supermarket doing their weekly shopping. Which possibly says more about how I feel about supermarket shopping than how I feel about Aliens.

I’ve just spent two days with the killer migraine from hell. Feeling much better now.

Just time today for a quick WIP update as I gear up for August madness.

Demon’s Touch – First Draft – 1489 words

Raven – Rewriting – 8417 words

The Bargain – Rewriting – 3852 words

I’ve charged through Season 2, and think I enjoyed it even more than Season 1.

Favourite episodes – Heart, really sad and angsty ending. I’m definitely a lover of the angst. And my other favourite episode – Tall Tales – I always find it interesting when TV programmes show us the same action from the point of view of different characters.

Absolutely brilliant climax to the season and I am looking forward to Season 3.

In other TV related news, True Blood FINALLY started in the UK. I’m a big fan of the books, so can’t wait to see how they’ve translated to the screen.

I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted.

:sigh: I suck at blogging. But will be doing my best to start posting again. As Xena would say – don’t apologize, improve.

In August I’m hoping to write 5000 words a day, so currently ramping up to that.

WIP’s at the moment – Demon’s Touch – first draft, rewriting The Bargain.

Along with a load of other Samhain GLBT authors.

Pop over and read some excerpts.

Beth Wylde’s Yahoo group

Please be aware this is an adult group and will have adult content.

So I finally finished Season 1 of my Supernatural marathon.

I don’t remember seeing any of the episodes before, so I guess the couple of episodes I caught prior to catching the end of Season 4 must have come from either Season 2 or 3.

I love the banter between Dean and Sam. And I especially like how the episodes manipulate you into feeling more scared through the use of lighting and camera work.

Season Finale – it doesn’t matter how many times or how many ways I’ve seen that HGV plowing into a car plot device used* – EVERY SINGLE time it gets a reaction. Usually involving whatever liquid I’m drinking going up in the air and over everything. Onto Season 2, and then I’ve really got to dig my Alias box sets out, I never did see past Season 3 of that show and I’d love to know how everything was resolved.

*I’ve seen it on Alias, Medium, The Bionic Woman, Terminator lol. It’s something of a sci-fi favourite.