Rowena Sudbury writes m/m romance and is published with Dreamspinner Press.

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Select a title below, click the cover for more information.

The King's Tale

"Magic of Lammas"

"Silent Night"

Promises and Lies

"Blue Moon"

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Find me on the web...

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Sorry, but I've had to change this journal's settings to only allow comments from registered users. I'm getting far too many spam comments, even with the catchpa enabled. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Stop by to check out the discounts this week!

May 13-19, we will offer a 30% discount off all books (including in-stock paperbacks) by authors who signed with us during our third year of business: Andi Anderson, Jae Ashley, Rayne Auster, Lenore Black, Scarlet Blackwell, Anne Brooke, H.J. Brues, Brackley Burke, Mary Calmes, Tessa Cárdenas, Heidi Champa, R.W. Clinger, Rachelle Cochran, Diana Copland, J. Crow, Heidi Cullinan, Jana Denardo, Sophia Deri-Bowen, Sonia Devereaux, Libby Drew, Anne Dudley, Chelle Dugan, Andy Eisenberg, Henri Fer, Jamie Freeman, Lacey-Anne Frye, Lyn Gala, L.A. Gilbert, Roland Graeme, Cornelia Grey, Julie Lynn Hayes, S. Reesa Herberth, Violet Hilton, Jan Irving, Felicitas Ivey, Dawn Kimberly Johnson, Joanne Kells, V.B. Kildaire, L.J. LaBarthe, Amy Lane, Shawn Lane, Trina Lane, Sam C. Leonhard, Anna J. Linden, Taylor Lochland, Amylea Lyn, EM Lynley, D.W. Marchwell, Rowan McAllister, Brooke McKinley, Kate McMurray, JL Merrow, Patric Michael, Margaret Mills, Ellie Moonwater, Emily Moreton, Maggie Morton, Josephine Myles, Mallory Path, J.R. Patrick, Jeff Pearce, Devon Rhodes, G.R. Richards, Kate Roman, Persephone Roth, Linda Reilly, Lily Sawyer, RJ Scott, Rosina Scott, Marie Sexton, Barbara Sheridan, Aundrea Singer, K.Z. Snow, Jillian Snyder, Rowan Speedwell, Jay Starre, Rowena Sudbury, Lori Toland, Carolyn Levine Topol, Jonathan Treadway, Bryl R. Tyne, Matthew Vandrew, Anel Viz, Aleksandr Voinov, Edward von Behrer, Ashleigh Walton, Tedy Ward, Nessa L. Warin, Sarah Ann Watts, Rachel West, Ellen Whitehall, A. Willingham, L.A. Witt, Serena Yates, Cari Z., J.A. Zecca.

To help you out, click the cover of Blue Moon to be taken directly to my page :)

This weekend as part of our 5th anniversary, we're having an extra sale on all our translated titles. They're 20% off unless they were already discounted for our second year authors, at which point they're 35% off.

Go check it out today!

May 6-12, we will offer a 35% discount off all books (including in-stock paperbacks) by authors who signed with us during our second year of business: M. Jules Aedin, Maria Albert, Mickie B. Ashling, Sienna Bishop, S. Blaise, Steven Blue-Williams, Bethany Brown, Janey Chapel, J.M. Colail, Jaymz Connelly, Lisa Marie Davis, Remmy Duchene, Réve Garrison, Aly Graham, Andrew Grey, Ashlyn Kane, Sean Kennedy, J.M. McLaughlin, Michael Powers, Angela Romano, Isabelle Rowan, Steve Sampson, Ian Sentelik, Jane Seville, Alexi Silversmith, Jenna Hilary Sinclair, Dan Skinner, Sasha Skye, Jaxx Steele, Jaelyn Storm, and G.S. Wiley.

Visit the DSP website to check the titles being offered this week!

My weekend blog is a day early this time. I have a lot on the plate for the weekend, including the planting of a garden! Tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, and herbs. It's going to be a lot of work, but in the summer when I'm enjoying a fresh salad, I'll appreciate the work I put in now.

I've been attempting to update this journal every weekend, so this is the weekend post a few days early.

Next week is Spring Break, but luckily we get an extra day off this year. My husband and I are heading out of town on family business combined with a short trip through the wine country.  We're lucky in California, we have so many different places to try. We're going to a new spot this time.

So, just some random thoughts this time.

The other day I was looking at the DSP website, and watching a scroll of my books. For some reason when I saw the cover for The King's Tale I had a mini-mark out moment. It was like, in that moment the history of the book flashed through my mind, from the giddy start when I wrote it as a short story, through to the long process of making it into a novel, to the acceptance of the manuscript, to the publishing. In that one brief moment I felt intense joy and pride. I know that's a goofy thing, but sometimes I'm a goofy person.

The good news is, a few days ago I got the request for the blurb from DSP for The King's Heart. I'm so very happy that this one is finally seeing the light of day. I'm as excited for it as I was The King's Tale, and I can't wait to hold the finished product in my hot little hands.

And finally, I'm very happy with the progress on Red Sunset, the sequel for Blue Moon. Those two characters seem very alive in my head. I spent a rather fun few hours last weekend researching Brad's trip to Japan, trying to see it through his eyes. I also had a lot of fun trying to see if the rock quarry I remember swimming in as a kid is still around. Apparently the "lake" is still there, but the swim club is closed down. Trying to figure out a work-around for that.

Hope everyone has a great weekend, and a good week ahead!

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No one has tagged me, but I'm giving this a shot because it intrigues me.

1. Go to page 77 (or 7th) of your current ms
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines – sentences or paragraphs – and post them as they’re written. No cheating.

The rules are confusing, so I'm doing it the way I've seen others do it (ie: it sounds like you're supposed to copy lines w/o breaking them into sentences, but I'm going to copy sentences).

My current WIP is 21 pages long (a multiple of 7!) but, the sentences that would get copied from that are super rough, and will likely be changed the next time I work on it...so I'm opting to use The King's Heart instead. It is still in the unedited state.

Aside: The contract for The King's Heart says published in May or June 2012, but since I haven't even gotten it back for the first run-through yet I'm suspecting it is delayed. Okay with me, because The King's Tale published in July, it would be cool if the sequel also published in July.

The way I have the manuscript formatted, page 77 only has 5 lines, so I went on to page 78, and here are the 7 sentences after line 7:

Although he was loath to admit it to his trusted advisors, Christopher felt some sense of relief that his kingdom would be left in the good hands of his oldest friend.

It was a somber party that departed in the gloom of early morning.

Although peace reigned within Lysnowydh, and all of Cornwall, it was not seemly for the King to travel with only his body servant.

The men selected to accompany them were well seasoned, and all were well known to Dafydd.

It was not Christopher's intent to come upon him with a regiment, and drag him back to the keep, as such he made it clear to all that it was a friendly party that rode the countryside, e'en though in his own heart he became more desperate with each passing day.


This trip differed from Christopher's summer journey through his kingdom in more than one way.

During summer months, the group frequently dallied between stops, camping out and sleeping beneath the stars.

When inspiration strikes, it's hard to ignore it.

The nature of my writing is that, for the most part, I can only write when there are no other immediate distractions. Like, oh say for example, my day job ;)

So, when an image forms in my head in a split second, it's really difficult to suffer through the rest of the week until I have time to actually write anything.

Here's the chain of events from this week.

Tuesday was a difficult day. At one point, I leaned on a counter with the idea of just taking a half-minute breather. I've been working on the sequel for Blue Moon, and in a flash there in my mind's eye was Brad brushing his teeth after a shower. I've reached a point in the story where Brad is making a big decision, and though Scott understands the reasons for the decision, he really struggles against the idea.

This little flash the two of them showed me was brief, yet intense. I'm sure I blushed. I'm sure that if anyone had the power to read my mind at that moment I'd have been fired on the spot.

I managed to keep the image of this scene between them locked away, and let it play out further that night as I was trying to sleep. The next day, it was in my thoughts again most of the day.

By Thursday Scott supplied the end of the scene, and again I felt light-headed from the intensity. I had a brief 15 minutes after work before I ran off the the eye doctor, and I jotted all the nuances of the scene in my notebook, even thought I knew I wouldn't forget any of them. I still had another day to struggle through until today, when I can actually spend time writing it.

Today I do have other irons in the fire. Saturday chores, a mountain of laundry, and taxes to start looking at. But I'm bound and determined to write this scene first.

I'm always amazed at how inspiration strikes in a flash like that. I still remember a day when I was at a seminar most of the day on a Saturday. When I came home, I decided I needed a half an hour on the couch before I could get up and make dinner. I took off my earrings, tucked them in the palm of my hand, and put my head down. Within in 2 minutes a whole story played out in my head, the center of which was earrings in someone's hand. 

In closing...don't forget, Dreamspinner Press is celebrating their 1,000th book over the next several weeks. From now until the 20th of March, all eBook novels are 20% off. The 21st through the 27th will feature eBook novellas being discounted 20%. 

Stop by and check them out today!

In celebration of the publication of our 1000th title, we're discounting all our books over the next five weeks!

March 14-20 - All eBook novels will be discounted 20%.
Including

• The King's Tale
  
• Promises and Lies

March 21-27 - All eBook novellas will be discounted 20%.
Including

• Blue Moon

March 28-April 3 - All short fiction (daydreams and nap-size dreams) will be discounted 20%.
April 4-10 - All eBook anthologies discounted 20%.
April 11-17 - All paperbacks will be discounted 20%.
Including

• The King's Tale
  
• Promises and Lies

I've been working on a sequel for Blue Moon. So far I have about 5300 words written.

As I post updates, I post pictures of a sunset over water. The reason for this is that I am again using one of my own memories for the closing scene in this story.

Blue Moon ended with a pool of silvery moonlight from a blue moon, Red Sunset will end with a glowing sunset over a rock quarry somewhere in Kentucky.

I lived in Kentucky for six years when I was young. My whole family liked to swim, and we had access to a swimming hole at a rock quarry. There was a floating dock out in the center of it, and we loved to swim out to it and lie in the sun.

The place was beautiful, and I remember my family and I changing the lyrics to a popular song of the day, Red Rubber Ball. Instead of the morning sun shining like a red rubber ball, we said it was setting like a red rubber ball.

I intend to use that image for the final scene of my novella.

And if it doesn't turn out long enough for a novella, I'll submit it as a long short story.

I'm really enjoying these characters immensely. 

Facebook


I selected winners in my Timeline Cover Contest. Luckily, just as I started the contest I found out I was able to have a cover on my fan page, therefore I ended up with two winners!

chrysalis_1975 picked the slogan used on my fan page: http://www.facebook.com/RowenaSudbury

The other good news on that page is that I finally managed to get the user name set the way I wanted it! Sometimes Facebook is a confusing place, and I'd apparently used that name for my main FB page. I got that user name changed, but then I had to wait several weeks until "RowenaSudbury" was available again. But, now it is, and I'm hoping it will generate a few more fans, since it will be easier to find now.

The second winner was Jerry Wolf, and he picked the slogan used on my main page: http://www.facebook.com/rowenasudburyauthor 

I'm happy with the way both covers turned out, and believe me when I say I'm looking forward to updating both of them within a few months when I get the cover for The King's Heart!

Red Sunset

Yesterday I managed to write about a thousand words on "Red Sunset" (sequel for "Blue Moon"). Happy with the results.

Dreamspinner Press

I'm proud to be affiliated with Dreamspinner Press, and I will always be thankful for the way they support their authors. Recently there were accusations flung at a DSP author, and somehow it ended up painting all the rest of us with the same brush. I'm pleased at how DSP handled the situation, and my heart goes out to the author in question. As a result of the situation, you can visit the DSP homepage and download Bear, Otter, and the Kid for free until March 7, 2012.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/

Happy Reading, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

I'm sure the stages of writing are different for every writer, but these are the stages I go through as I write...

The first stage is Writing of course.

Writing is, or can be, a very lonely process. I've long had the habit of writing by myself, and it's rare when I share my writing as I go along. In the early days, I used to write with a black marker, on lined notebook paper, and keep the sheets in a binder. That way I never had to delete any of my words, and more importantly it was not easy to share. Of course, this was in the days before the internet and easy sharing, but it was my comfort zone to write that way.

Eventually I made the switch over to writing on a computer, but I could never fully get rid of my black marker. So, I ended up getting a series of blank journal books to keep notes in. Now when I write, I need my journals, but again, they are too difficult to share.

Writing is a joy, at least for me anyway. I love immersing myself in the world of my characters. At times, I become so involved with them that I feel their emotions almost as though they are my own. When this happens I become very protective of them, and that comes into play later on in the journey when reviews start coming in...but more on that later.

Sometimes during this stage I get impatient. This usually happens when I get to a portion of the story that is difficult to write. Like a kid on Christmas morning, I want to get to the good part. The hell with shopping and wrapping, let me see my loot! In other words, I don't want to write about the strife, let me skip to the part where they make up!

In the end, however, the writing phase is one of my favorite parts of the process. Once the story is past the first chapter, and the ideas start coming fast and furious, I feel very invigorated. I especially love it when I can leave the day job behind for a few weeks, and just concentrate on the writing.

When the writing phase is over, there's the self-editing, the revising, the final gnashing of teeth before the next phase. During this part I turn my baby over to my most trusted reader. She can be quite ruthless, which is why I trust her so much. Although we are friends, she picks over my manuscript with a fine tooth comb.


The next stage is the Waiting.

Of course, first I have to sit with the email open, all the i's dotted, and all the t's crossed. Sometimes it's like a game, should I or shouldn't I? Once the button is pushed though, the manuscript goes out in the world, and I'm left sitting by the mailbox waiting. Honestly, I don't know how writers did it long ago when they had to physically box up a hard copy of a manuscript and send it through U.S. mail. That kind of waiting would have done me in I suspect.

I was lucky the first time I submitted a manuscript, The King's Tale was accepted by Dreamspinner Press roughly three weeks after I sent it. Although I knew this had to be an exception to the rule, I was very glad it happened this way the first time. I liken it to when my son was born. I'd heard the stories of having to wait hours and hours, sometimes days through the labor process. My son was born 12 hours after my first labor pain, he must have known I can be impatient. Every manuscript I've sent since that first one has taken much longer to hear about.

I'll admit, I can be quite sensitive. The waiting process is quite hard on me. With both Promises and Lies, and The King's Heart I got to the point in the waiting process where I was convinced they would be rejected. Perhaps with my next submission I won't suffer quite as much, but that remains to be seen. I make my best effort to keep this agony of waiting to myself, but I'm not always successful with that.

When the waiting period ends, there is either a rejection, or an acceptance. Believe me, I've been through both. Promises and Lies was rejected the first time I sent it, as was Blue Moon. Instead of focusing on the negative though, I'll move on to the positive...at the end of the waiting period is acceptance, and then more waiting.

The next step in the process is Editing.

When I went through this process with The King's Tale, it was relatively painless, and I'll admit I didn't spend a lot of time reviewing the edited manuscript. I was new to everything, and I think I was under the impression that the publisher would notify me of all the changes they had made. Turns out that wasn't the case, and now the final copy says "bed springs" in several places, where I meant "bed strings." I'm much more careful now, but then again, so is my publisher.

The editing phase usually has three parts. There is the first phase where I have to explain myself, compromise, read the whole story again multiple times. This part usually is relatively painless.

One big problem I always have is that I like my characters to speak softly. Yes, I'm a dreaded adverb user! I love my adverbs! I guess my cross to bear is that I'd much rather use an adverb than a vivid verb. One time an editor counted the number of times I used the word "softly"....wow.

When the first stage of editing is over there's another period of waiting. I am the kind of writer that freezes up during these waiting periods. If I have other works in progress, it's hard for me to tackle them because I'm still waiting on the one I know is accepted. I don't work well with lots of irons in the fire!

Eventually the manuscript is sent back, and this second stage of editing becomes more painful. In this stage the rules of style, or whatever they're called, come into play. There's not as much room to groove with the second edit. My mantra during this stage is, these edits make the work stronger. It's reminiscent of the writing stage, when I pass the work by my friend. Harsh realities are revealed, and my fragile writer's ego has to take a backseat.

Next comes another round of waiting, and then the final stage of editing, the galley proof. This stage is exciting, it's like getting a little peek at the final product.



The next stage, Publishing, encompasses a lot of things. A lot.

It starts with all the little things, writing a dedication, approving a blurb, filling out the cover spec sheet. The dedications are the easy part. I'm always amazed when I read the blurb, the whole book narrowed down to two paragraphs!

There's another stretch of waiting here...waiting for the cover. I've been lucky with my covers. The King's Tale has my dream cover. It's almost exactly how I described it. Promises and Lies has a wistful cover, to fit the mood of the character portrayed. I tried something new with Blue Moon, and was extremely pleased with the results. It's difficult to find pictures of the men I see in my head, but the two on that cover are very close!

Once the release date is set there's more nervous waiting. During that time I will regularly go to the publisher's website to see the book on the coming soon page.

And then, at long last, it's release day! I'm so goofy, I'll admit I have trouble sleeping the night before release day. Maybe it's back to that ego thing again, but seeing your name in print is a thrill. Knowing your baby is out there in the world is really something, nerve-wracking and exciting all at the same time.

In the early days after one of my books is published, and remember, I admitted to being goofy, I make the rounds more than once a day. I look at Amazon, I look at the publisher's website, I look at ARe. Then I start looking at Good Reads. There's a lot of ups and downs in the early stages. I may never be a New York Times bestseller, but I know I've been an Amazon bestseller! And for some reason, I covet the gray bestseller star at ARe. I have two of them now, and I'm proud of both of them!

It is my dream one day to find one of my books in an actual bookstore. I know they're out there, but I don't know where. One of these days I'll muster up some gumption and take my book to a bookstore, see if I can interest them in ordering a few copies. Or not, since that goes against my shy nature.




The final stage in this adventure is getting Reviews.

This is the part I still struggle with. This isn't friends gushing over my book, because I really have a small amount of that. It isn't that I don't have a lot of friends, I do. But, most of them don't read gay romance novels. They're thrilled for me that I have books published, but they are probably never going to read or review my books. The few I have that do read them just tell me personally if they like or dislike the books.

I've been fortunate in that most of the review sites who take the time to read my work give it good reviews. When The King's Tale got its first reviews I remember having the sensation that I was going to pass out as I read them. A similar thing has happened with Blue Moon. 

One of the things I like the most about reading these reviews is that many times the reviewer sees things from a different angle. I think maybe I am too immersed in the characters to see them clearly from the outside the way reviewers do. I treasure all these comments, and it does help me become a stronger writer. I was particularly blown away with the observations that Blue Moon had strong character development. I was so afraid, after I played my should I or shouldn't I game when submitting the novella, that I'd failed with developing the characters. I was on pins and needles, expecting the same reaction that Promises and Lies had received, which was not much. Happily, the response was more like what The King's Tale had received.

Reviewing is hard work, and I truly appreciate all the reviews I've ever received. As well, I appreciate the reviews I have not received. If a reviewer has read my work, and determined the review would be less than favorable, then I am glad the review is not written.

Then of course, there are reader reviews. I know better than to confront readers over their reviews, and so I would never dream of doing it. I guess the only thing I would say is that I read them, and I have feelings. Some things people have said really hurt my feelings. It's especially distressing to me when I am misunderstood. As I mentioned earlier, I get very protective of my characters, and that makes it even harder for me when they are misunderstood This is all part of the process though, and I embrace every part of it.

When all stages of this process have been met for a book, there is a period of let-down, much like the feeling one gets at the end of vacation, or when leaving Disneyland. To counteract this feeling I usually start all over again with a new project. I don't write for a living, so I don't have several works in progress bubbling along at the same time. At this moment in time I have a tentative start on a novel, I have ideas for 2 novellas, and I have a few short story ideas. With two works being published this year, I'm not sure when any of these projects will be completed since usually this process cuts into new writing, and I'm about to continue the process with The King's Heart in a month or two when I get it to the editing stage.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and if you have a comment, don't hesitate to leave it!

Images purchased by author at http://www.bigstockphoto.com/

This post is early because tomorrow promises to be a rather long day. If you had another question for any of my characters, you can leave it here, and I'll try to post the answers sometime tomorrow....late most likely.



There's good news from Dreamspinner Press! It's all about the romance, so tomorrow (starting with EST) everything on the DSP site will be 20% off! Again I urge you, it's a good time to pick up The King's Tale in preparation for the sequel, due out in May or June.

In addition, we will have a Hearts and Flowers scavenger hunt, with a heart graphic hidden in various places around the web site. Each time a person finds the graphic and clicks on it, they get a code for 20% off all the publications by the author whose page the graphic is hidden on. The graphics will go up tonight and will be up for the rest of the month. Have fun searching!

And now, on to the interview with my characters....




Didn't get as many questions as I was hoping for, but here they are.

From anne_barwell. She directed this question at Dafydd and Christopher (The King's Tale), but I decided to get answers from Brad and Scott (Blue Moon) as well.

What exactly made you realize that he was the one you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? ie the defining moment?

Dafydd

There was no defining moment, Christopher was my destiny, my steps were long ordained that I would walk them until we two met.

When I was quite young, I began to have dreams in which a golden haired being kept me company. As I grew older, I realized the being was a man, and it never troubled me that I felt such an affinity with this man. He was everything I admired, wanted, and loved rolled into one. The being was strong, oft times fierce and brutal, yet he possessed a softer side that only I could see. I began to refer to this being as a sprite, a dream sprite.

When I left Wales, I believed this sprite guided my journeys. Each night, as I rested, he came to me, and in those dreams I saw the landmarks that guided the path I would take. Once I was near to Lysnowydh that first time I began to feel settled. The first time I glimpsed Christopher in the flesh I knew he was the man who haunted my dreams. I cast about for a reason to stay close, and settled on taking up for the woodsman who had recently departed. In the early days I only watched him, and though 'twould be reality to think we should never have congress betwixt us, I knew in mine own heart that we would.

He claimed to feel love nearly the instant we met, and e'en though I knew he was my destiny, I held back. The emotion of love crystallized for me on a sojourn we took together after I had lived in his keep for six months. He presented me with a shell, tinged with pink inside, and I knew at that moment that it was safe for me to unlock my heart, that he would not cast me aside.


Christopher

'Tis hard to put words to what I have long known belonged to me. Aye, I had seen Dafydd many times ere we met face to face. Though he melded into the background, part of the fabric of mine kingdom, the image of him wafted through my thoughts as smoke wafts from the Beltane fire at dawn. Mayhaps 'twas the moment I realized he had shared full half of his meal with me the first night I sought refuge in his cottage. Mayhaps 'twas the night I claimed him for mine own. In honesty, I am not sure.

What I am sure of now is that he holds me bound tightly to him, and were I to lose him, mine own heart would shatter. Though I know that many believe I have enslaved him, I also know 'tis the reverse that is true. Dafydd has invaded my being, and without him, I would of necessity cease to exist.


Brad

I didn't set out to 'spend the rest of my life' with Scott. Hell, I never thought in those kinds of terms. I didn't think I needed or wanted anyone for all of the time. I was fucked up in the beginning, and you know he kind of, I don't know, saved me from myself.

I don't really know when the defining moment came. Things just kind of eased from one stage to the next. But, if you held a gun to my head and made me pick one, I'd say that magic night when blue moonlight flooded the room. I ain't a romantic kind of guy at all, but that night was something special.


Scott

I never allowed myself to think about Bradley as a forever thing. In the beginning it was just an opportunity. He was attractive and vulnerable, and I used him, plain and simple. The way things go in the business, I expected he'd be here today and gone tomorrow.

But, as the weeks turned into months, I realized I wanted more from him. Putting an exact moment on when I realized that though, fuck if I know. I guess I could get all sappy for Valentine's Day and say it was when that fucking moonlight made him glow, but that's bullshit and everyone knows it. Reality is, shit happen when you least expect it.

New Questions Added!

From chrysalis_1975

In the time period of your lives, were you not afraid of censure due to the sex of your intended? I apologize if my question causes strife or offense.

Christopher

When I was a young man, I dallied with both men and women, it mattered not which, as long as they were willing. As time went on, I yearned to find a soul mate, someone to spend the rest of my life with. 'Twas my intention to find this mate ere I needed to take over reins of the kingdom from my sire, but alas that was not to be. 'Twas told to me most straightly that I must needs find a suitable mate, and find one quickly.

When I met Dafydd, I knew he was the one, the soul mate I craved. I also knew he would not serve, not where my council was concerned, yet I cared not for what they thought. I knew that I must needs have him.

I was granted leave, so I thought, from King Henry for this liaison, and thought to provide the heir, thus my kingdom would be settled. Lo it came to pass that I was told that the dispensation granted would not hold true anywhere besides in mine own kingdom. When this fact was presented to me, 'twas not fear of censure that I felt, 'twas outright rage. I knew, in mine own heart, that Dafydd and I were meant for one another, and it angered me greatly to find that 'twas not accepted.

Dafydd

Aye, mayhaps I feared censure. Mayhaps what I feared the more was being the cause of any strife or censure for King Christopher. I knew, I know, that the love we share is right, and have trouble understanding how it can not be considered right. But as it is, the bond Christopher and I share is unbroken, and I feel sorrow for any who attempts to break that bond, or any who attempts to express their disdain for the bond. Christopher has granted me the serenity of my still room, yet I would of a necessity ride to war to protect what is sacred betwixt us.


My own questions:

What is the most endearing feature about your mate?

Scott

The fact that he never gives up. Bradley never lets anyone box him in with stereotypes. I've heard guys tell him he's too small to make it as a pro-wrestler, and I've seen him take them down a peg or two next time they hit the ring together. When guys taunt him about things they would never dream of taunting me about, he gives them his patented "I don't give a fuck what you think" stare until they back down.


Christopher

His gentle nature. Aye, I did long to glorify my name by forcing him to put his trauma in the past and resume a role I forced him into in the first place, marshal to my troops. I have, however, seen the error of my ways, and revel in seeing peace radiate from within him as he tends to his garden, prepares his herbals, and tends to the ill. That is what does my heart good, seeing him in his glory.


What is the most romantic thing your mate has ever done for you?

Brad

Scott O'Doul would knock you flat if you ever accused him of being romantic. Hell, if you asked him this question he'd say he's flat out not romantic at all. But, I know different. I see romance in gestures he takes for granted. Like when he fixes me a meal, steak is his specialty. Or when we come home beat up and tired from the road, and he holds me while we watch a movie, stealing little kisses, and giving me what I can only classify as gentle caresses.


Dafydd

The very things I perceive in Christopher as romantic are the very things others damn him for. The manner in which he chased me across his kingdom, and put right a deep wrong, I see naught but deep seated love in the gesture, where others, when the story is told, will see a cruel man.


From knowmefirst, she says she likes my "dreaded S" characters, and since I haven't asked Sean any questions yet, I'll ask one for her.

What prompted you to talk to Jeff in the first place?

Sean

Well, he caught my attention as he walked into the park that first day, and the god's honest truth is that I wasn't looking for anything other than to just talk to him, he wasn't my type. He looked so dejected, for some reason I felt like I wanted to find out why. I guess we had an instant bond form when that plastic soldier fell out of his pocket. I suspected it was just a toy to him, but when Jesse started talking shit to him about it that just kicked my need to befriend him into overdrive. Figured I'd give him something to hold on to, some defense against the rigid hold Jesse had on him.

Over time, the more I got to know him, the more I knew I needed to take what we had to the next level. When he was ready.


heart graphics from www.icondrawer.com made into banners by me

Whee! and THANK YOU knowmefirst for the wonderful Valentine's v-gift!