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Saturday, March 2, 2013

BelindaPalooza Day 2: An Uncommon Way to Compose



When I began to write for publication, my first contract was for a bi-menage called 'Imperative: Missing You.' I still adore that lovely little story and its still for sale over at Changeling Press. Anyhow, I started with a m/m/f story because in my RL world, I have a lot of bisexual friends and they often feel that they're kind of the red-headed stepchild...not gay, not straight and generally not taken seriously. (Its a phase, you're in denial, you're still in the closet...etc) So when I started writing, I wasn't unfamiliar with writing manlove. I also wasn't really planning to write m/m. In fact, I was reluctant to because it was the hot new thing and many writers were jumping on it for a quick buck. I vowed not to write it because I didn't want to be perceived as someone who would do that. 

Well, I make a lot of vows...no werewolves, no vampires...we can see how that worked out. Bottom line is, I'm a writer and I write the story that's aching to be told. The gender of my characters is relevant only within the context of the story. If my hero is gay, he's gay and I will tell his story the best I can. Otherwise, I am not happy within my writing.

So one summer, I decided to hone my skills writing first person and I'm busy with this little story I'd been playing with. My heroine is a spoiled priestess/princess and her hero is a one-eyed, one-balled rapscallion with a lot of secrets. The thing was, this hero was supposed to be a bit snarky and talkative, but when I'd write from his POV, he just clammed up. And when I tried to write from the heroine's POV, she babbled. It wasn't pretty.

Instead of abandoning the whole thing, I took the "turn it upside down" approach to writing and decided to shake up the story. I turned the princess into a prince. The first line that hit the paper was,

"A Whore is a whore is a whore. Unless he's something else completely."

And Helios Dayspring was born.
And Griffin Hawke was very happy. 
And I'd just written my first m/m romance.

I can honestly say, I've never written a character who spoke so easily, and took over the story so completely as Helios. I just gave him the reins and went with it, stepping in only to nudge him in the direction of a plot. Griffin was a more challenging character because things are always more complicated with him...my humorous rapscallion was really a dark, rather tragic character and is the anchor of the story. They were a beautiful pair of opposites and no sooner had I written "The End" than I was working on the next book because I knew their story was much bigger than the simple "Boy meets Boy" scenario in the first book.

In case you're wondering...yes, they'll be back.

Today's BelindaPalooza drawing is for two PL Nunn Uncommon posters! (signed by me) Leave me a comment and you will be entered in the drawing. 

Happy Tails!

Belinda



18 comments:

ayliss72 said...

I think I'm going to search for this book. I'm Italian and etero, I discover so late M/M, F/F or M/F/M , here in Italy this books are rare, not very publicized or the kind of book people discuss about freely. I think having here the Pope is a real burden in a lot of things.
I read them in English and I found beautiful stories, touching, hot, funny. Love is love, in everyway, and I'm very happy to discover you too as author.
Cinzia

felinewyvern said...

So glad you said there are more Griffin and Helios stories to come. I really love that pair.

ilona
felinewyvern at googlemail dot com

Debby said...

I love the covers. I just bought a MAnga book.
debby236 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Belinda, so glad you changed your mind. I have enjoyed all your books. :) Please keep on doing what you do best!! Loved your Uncommon Whore series. Glad your writing another one. Thank you.
dragonwolfe42@hotmail.com

Urb said...

I'm glad a third book is on the way. The PL Nunn covers are amazing. Thanks!

Urb
brendurbanist at gmail dot com

PaulaL said...

"Being bi means getting turned down twice as much." -- Kate Worley, who did scripting on e.g. Omaha the Cat Dancer. She -was- depressed when she said that, though, she was suffering from chronic pain and depression after being rear-ended in a car crash.

PaulaL said...

oops, that "much" should be "often"

Laurie P said...

I love m/m stories after I found them.
goaliemom0049 (at) gmail.com

CJ said...

The Imperative series were the first books I ever read of yours. Wonderful series. Uncommon Whore, blew me away! Fell in love with Helios and Griffin and their love story. Can't wait to read more!!

Lexi said...

An Uncommon Whore was my first whore/slave book. I remember biting my fingernails while reading. It had been recommended and way out of my comfort zoned at the time. I loved it! And it was excruciating because I didn't have many people to gush about the book with at the time. This is still one of my favorite reads.

Sabrina Luna said...

Hi Belinda! I'm intrigued now & looking forward to reading your stories!

Thx & Good Luck!
Sabrina )O(

thebellaluna2@yahoo.com

Gus said...

I love this series and of course the artwork is gorgeous!

Gus

Pamela said...

They sound fascinating. And it's always good to hear there are more. Pamela

bn100 said...

looks interesting

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Gabrielle Lee said...

What a great giveaway! I love the poster

Unknown said...

I rarely leave comments on blog posts but I met Belinda at GRL last year and told her personally just how much I loved book One, when I hosted her on my blog more than a year ago. Rarely does an author entice me to buy a book, even sci-fi, which I don't ever read, but I told her I loved the excerpt so much that I would buy and read the book and I did. I loved it. I wish you all success with book two and I can't wait to read it!

Belinda M. said...

You guys, thanks so much for participating! And Sue, thanks so much for your kind words, it means a lot. :)

I drew a winner, its CJ and I've sent her an email.

Come back tomorrow...I'm giving away e-books!

Belinda

Anonymous said...

I love the covers.

Sally

halliday.sally@yahoo.co.uk