On Thursday 16 February 2012, the Selection Committee asked the Committee to inquire into and report on the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 and the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012. One of the things being considered are the views of the community–and as such, every one of us needs to speak up and share our stories and views. As my friend Dan Whitthaus found on his national tour of Australia, homophobia is a very real concern for Australia as a society, and the benefits of combating it are backed up by scientific research. Not only would it decrease the amount we spend on mental health, it would also have a marked impact on bullying, boost our economy–and possibly tourism–and perhaps most importantly, stop Canadians being able to call us a country of backwards homophobic bigots.
Of course, the first people to jump on board have been everyone from the homophobic right, and for the sake of our collective mental health, we all need to take action now. So if you do nothing else, please take 5 minutes to go and take the online survey and give your feedback to the committee and tell them why equality is so important. So stop reading my site and go on over. Go. Now. Right now.
Mass Effect 3, Bioware’s (alleged) finale to the Mass Effect Trilogy hit the shelves this March as one of the year’s most anticipated games. It has been lauded for it’s improved action sequences, branching narrative and there’s also currently a petition out there demanding that the ending be changed–after it already was changed due to a furious reaction when the original ending was leaked onto the internet.
Design and Aesthetic
Mass Effect 3 is stunning visually, with both environments and characters rendered in gorgeous detail which far surpasses those from Mass Effect 2 or 1. Frankly, I’m a bit amazed the aging Xbox can cope with the rendering, even across two discs. There is still some texture pop, but overall the graphics make the game feel like an interactive movie, and the addition of an additional combat-minimalist, narrative style of gameplay gives that option additional weight. The locations are also a far cry from the repetitive interiors of Mass Effects past (do not talk to me about Dragon Age 2), with every location that you visit unique in design and flavour–even the N7 side missions take you to uniquely designed levels that may have a cohesive design style, but are a far cry from the ‘same base, different filling’ that was hidden behind the old ‘pre-fab building’ excuse in earlier games.
Musically, the Mass Effect Soundtrack is a joy, although at some times it pushes to the forefront in a rather intrusive ‘here’s the soundtrack’ moment, most notably in the early cutscenes with Kaiden/Ashley. Still, the sound design in Mass Effect 3 is generally supurb, swelling beneath the action or drawing away to heighten the impact of the story.
Gameplay
Perhaps the area that has received the most tweaks since ME2, Mass Effect 3’s combat is generally a faster paced experience, with a better variety of enemies, and improved AI that makes the battles just that little bit more difficult. It’s also worth noting that squad powers have been tweaked in unexpected ways beyond the multiple evolution options provided, so it’s worth double checking before sinking points into the very familiar warp ammo, which now combines with biotics rather than being the go to for bypassing enemy defenses. Despite the AI improvements, I still find one of the best tactics for dealing with combat is biotic crowd control, as sinking points into fast power recharge means you can donate singularities left right and centre do deal with most threats, and the new ability of all classes to carry all weapons has made the sniper rifle a weapon of choice for just about any situation.
There are also notable absences in gameplay–no hacking code, no memory games with circuit boards and a much streamlines scanning system. Bioware has also added a mechanic that makes scanning both more rewarding, and something that you have to stagger out over the course of the game, rather than a tedious chore, which is a nice change.
Narratively, the early game is a lot of fun, with the game delivering both the complex choices, emotional gut wrenching moments of joy and horror, and the resulting consequences of your ME1 and ME2 actions in all their glory. Tiny, insignificant moments from the first game will jump out at you, and of course, the characters who survived both games will show up to make your game easier or harder. Actually, they mostly make it easier.
In terms of your squad, Bioware promised a tighter squad experience with much more banter, and they have certainly delivered. No longer confined to one room, your companions (with the notable exception of Shadow Broker Liara, who leaves her room only rarely) will wander around the ship from mission to mission, and talk to themselves as much as to yourself. They will also take shore leave and chat to you on the Citadel, amongst other places, which gives them a much greater dynamism than previously experienced.
Of course, depending on how you play, it’s possible to go through the game with a total of three potential squaddies–a restrictive playstyle that might just impact on the game’s outcome.
***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD***
Bioware has a tendency to create darker narratives where you have choices between being nice and nasty, and the path of being nice typically reaps the greatest rewards, and this is true of the Mass Effect series. Playing generally nice certainly provided me with one of the better outcomes, although there were a number of noble and idealistic choices that come back to bite you in the ass.
Unfortunately however, the story seemed to unravel just a bit at the end of the day. Mass Effect 3 came with the promise of epic confrontations, with Shepard recruiting armies across the galaxy for a final battle at earth–only the player sees no direct results of their recruitment. It has since been revealed that there is indirect results dependent on a military strength score, but there are no story based interactions or consequences once you have your various allies on side–at best you see a cut scene of space ships flying into battle, but past that–nothing. In Mass Effect 2, the upgrades to your ship and the loyalty of your crew had a direct impact on whether or not you lived or died in the Collector base–you knew that if you hadn’t put on new shielding someone would have died, or if you sent the wrong squadmate into the ventilation shafts someone would die–someone did die. If you arrived to late people died. There were experiential consequences. In Mass Effect 3 we don’t see those consequences. You don’t get any game changing experiences in the final battles from getting the geth on side along with the quarians, you don’t see Krogan assaulting reaper forces on earth if you cure the genophage, and at the end of the day, no matter how big a damn hero you are, Shepard either dies or gets separated from his crew and loved one(s)–there’s no chance of a heroic victory or happy ending for Shepard and his partner (if he or she has one). There’s also no climactic final battle (i.e. no boss fight) on the scale of Saren or the Human Reaper. You talk to the illusive man and toddle off to whatever form of death or unhappiness awaits you. And that…was a bit of a let down.
The Human Reaper AKA final ME2 Boss
Bioware has always been about great narratives, and the gameplay in ME3 has certainly lent itself to fantastic narrative stories, but it almost seems as if gameplay was sacrificed for this. In the final mission, I powered through a series of urban streetfights around earth, got cut up by reaper weaponry and…nothing. I didn’t get to fight a reaper. I didn’t get to take down a reaper. I didn’t get to cut through Harbinger like a hot knife through butter. I didn’t get to see my combined fleets make Harbinger cry in defeat. I didn’t get to *feel* like I’d earned an ending, or done anything heroic. And while the ending was certainly noble sacrifice and noble sacrifice and noble sacrifice (with a dose of near noble sacrifice), I didn’t get a chance to savour victory. For all the promises of universe changing endings and a grand finale to the end of Shepard’s journey, Bioware really failed to deliver. We’ve since been told that of the team of 15 writers, two locked themselves away and worked on the ‘ending’ without revealing it to anyone, resulting in the choice of red green and blue light that currently exists (with nothing else). The problem is the ending works as a story ending–if Mass Effect was a novel, the ending would be fantastic. As a Hollywood movie the ending is a little disappointing, but as a game, it’s terrible. I’m a firm believer that the story must fit the medium, and in this case, I believe Bioware has missed the mark. There’s just no agency for the player, and despite the background game mechanics, it feels as though you have failed, regardless of what you do. In short, Bioware has crafted a game series where players invest a minimum of 100 hours to save the universe–only to feel like they haven`t saved the universae at all. And regardless of the intended plotline, or the explanation of that plotline, evoking that feeling in a player is a failure in game terms. Even in Dragon Age 2, where you couldn’t bring peace, you could at least battle to save what you could and achieve a victory of sorts.
Personally I feel most gypped by the collectors edition, which included a number of substandard weapons, a Doctor Who reference in the form of a useless Kei-9 mechanical dog–who literally does nothing except wander around your armoury–and the day one DLC already included. Seriously, aside from the metal tin and artbook (which I didn’t really buy the collector’s edition for), I could probably have got the same gaming experience if I’d purchased a standard edition and bought the DLC separately, and it would have cost a hell of a lot less.
The GLBT Experience
After 2 games, you can finally get some man on man love. Although not in the picture, also note that ME3 sees the return of Dragon Age’s BiowareUnderwear(TM)
So it’s been a long time coming, from claims that sex with monogendered aliens was not lesbian sex per se, and that the lack of a man on man romance was due to a lack of gay men in the development team (while one of the sound engineers was apparently a monogendered alien), through revelations that both Kaiden and Ashley were orginally intended to be romanced by Shepards of either gender, to claims this would be addressed in ME2 (and never was), to hearing that it would NOT be addressed in ME3, to that it WOULD be addressed in ME3, there’s been a lot of hullaballoo about whether or not Bioware allowed latent (or blatant) homophobia on behalf of their perceived audience to self censor same sex content in the game–viewed by many as a step back after the inclusion of it in Dragon Age: Origins (albiet in a fairly camp, stereotyped fashion). However, after posts such as this started appearing online, Bioware went back to the more inclusive representation of life, indeed going one step further and including two NPC romances that are specifically same sex only, with characters who are well rounded and non-stereotypical of current media portrayals. In this at least, I’m happy to say Bioware got it right, although I’m quite certain that some straight homophobic schlub is probably going to complain that he’s not comfortable with the fact that gay people exist in his playthrough, but well, I consider that a life lesson. Gay people exist. Sometimes they help you get Galaxy at War assets. Deal with it.
That said, Mass Effect 3 is still a good game, and we have been advised that further DLC to continue playing AFTER the end of the game is being created, which lends credence to the idea that there’s at least more to this game if not another game in the works–after all, you do get told in the epilogue that just one more story of Commander Shepard will be told. Apparently, that initial ending I mentioned? Could still be the ending, coming via DLC in a month or so according to one internet leak. I have to admit I hope this is the case, as I kind of feel that Mass Effect 3 really needs an expansion–like a Tales of the Sword Coast or Throne of Bhaal.
So with that still up in the air, here’s a few thoughts on the game that didn’t fall into any category above in the main review. Expect more spoilers.
Garrus/Tali was awesome. And damn funny.
Drunk!Tali was even better.
Where was the mission to Palavan? The leadup to ME3 stated we’d get to visit it as a location, but it never showed up in a quest.
The take back Omega quest hinted at in the Dark Horse Comic in the collector’s edition was notably missing as well. Can we get that as DLC please? That would be awesome.
The Citadel Defence Force. You spend a game building it up and then when you finally get to the Citadel in battle…nothing happens. I’m sorry, but what?
Kei-9: Can the dog be more than an extra bad pet that wanders around the room please? Can we get to use it’s bomb sniffing capabilities? Also the security to the war room, which probably disguises a loading screen a la ME1 elevators, with banter from the two soldiers guarding it, seemed to be a lead up to the Normandy being attacked in the fashion of the collector attack. Will that also be coming in DLC?
Tuchanka was awesome. Now where can I get more Thresher Maws?
It’s interesting that importing a save where your male Shepard was romancing Kaiden via the ME1 hack, does give you some different dialogue (partially voiced) with Kaiden.
It is currently uncertain if it possible to achieve the so called ‘best’ ending on a first playthrough without playing multiplayer. I’ll be crunching numbers at some point, but it currently appears to not be possible without hacking the game, which would belie Bioware’s claim that the Single Player Experience is truly stand alone, and that the ‘best’ possible ending is achievable in Single Player alone. Of course, if the above rumours of DLC are proved accurate, then this could all change, but we’ll have to wait and see. If the rumours are not true and the end is the end is the end, then I won’t be particularly happy as a gamer.
All in all, I try to view each piece of work in the light of the medium it is created in. As I said, if Mass Effect was a book series, I’d have been happy with the ending (although I’d have written an epilogue for it), but as a game, I was vastly disappointed, and as a game becoming a movie, I question its viability. Still, Mass Effect is and remains one of the richest stories out there in the gaming world, and as a game supporting visibility of three dimensional queer characters, I’m happy to pay for it.
Just maybe not the collectors edition next time.
This just in: Disappointed ME3 players are now getting refunds for the game, which is going to hurt Bioware’s profits. So the question is: would you go so far as to get a refund? If a new DLC ending comes out will you get it? Would you get it even if you had to pay for it?
On Tuesday March 13th, we lost one of the MLR family, and well loved author, William Neale, who passed away after a heart attack in the home he shared with his partner of many years. I never met William (better known as Bill) personally–as a fairly recent entrant into the game I only knew him virtually, as a presence on the other side of the emails of encouragement, advise and wisdom. My thoughts are with his partner on this day.
William was the author of 6 books, including the novel Home, winner of the 2010 SensualReads reviewers’ choice award.
God I feel like I haven’t sat down to write properly in ages. It’s probably the whole Midsumma festival thing. Having recently moved back into the inner suburbs I was not only able to make my first Midsumma appearance as an author at Hares & Hyenas‘ Word is Out festival–well okay, second counting the banQuetPress Anthology launch, but first appearance as an Official Festival Guest (capitals not optional), and also got to go to a lot of events I would otherwise have missed out on. So to all my writing, geeky, queer, Canadian and just plain awesome friends I’ve spent time with over the past month: thank you, I love you all. It’s almost sad to wind down and notice the weather changing away from the blistering hot days of sunburning intensity, but it’s also been a joy to be able to sit down and crack open my Prophecy file and start writing again. I will conquer you yet elusive second book!
Also, I have recently been asked to do a reading at the brand new, extra funky, literary bar/cafe, The Moat, as part of a Meet The Residents night hosted by SPUNC (Small Press Underground Networking Community), and Writers Victoria. It’s a free night, and an opportunity to meet fellow writers and publishers in Melbourne’s Indie Press scene, and looks like it’ll be the start of a fun night–and an awesome series of happenings at The Moat. Details below–hope you can make it!
When: Thursday 16th of February, 5 PM Where: The Moat Bar & Cafe, Basement 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Price: Free More Information Writers Victoria
Matthew Lang will be live on blog talk Radio’s Other Worlds of Romance net radio show on the 16th of January @ 11 PM(American Eastern Standard time), or the 17th of January @3 PM Australian Eastern Standard time. He’ll be reading an excerpt from The Secret of Talmor Manor, and will also be available for questions. He’ll also be giving away an ebook copy of the novel to one lucky listener.
So if you’d like to hear him read live, win a book, or just ask a really embarrassing question, tune in and chat to one of the hottest young authors on the m/m scene!
Technical details: You can listen live at the the show’s website, call in to the show (see webpage) to lodge a question or head to the show’s chatroom. Basically, come hang out and immerse yourself in mystery.
It’s hard to believe, but it’s that time of the year again–the weather is starting to get hot and sweltering, and it’s looking like the heavens will bucket down on us for another wet year, but you have to make gay while the sun shines, and Midsumma is back for another season of art, culture, and just plain partying fun–and while you might find Matthew at any of the other events (except the naked camping one, as he doesn’t do that sort of camping to well), you’ll definitely find him at the following events, so grab a ticket, come on down to Hares and Hyenas and say hi.
A Word is Out favourite makes a welcome return, as we present five authors of recent Australian fiction reading a section of their choice, with an open Q&A to follow.
Authors include Andrea Goldsmith, award-winning writer of Reunion, The Prosperous Thief and Under the Knife, among others; Geoffrey Knight, author of erotic adventure novels including The Curse of the Dragon King, The Cross of Sins and Riddle of the Sands; Matthew Lang, author of modern gay gothic novel, The Secret of Talmor Manor; and Steve Dow, ex-Melbourne, now Sydney-based journalist and author, who will read from his satirical e-novel paean to Sydney, All Sorts (available from Amazonand iTunes); and speculative, genre-defying writer Kim Westwood, author of The Daughters of Moab and The Courier’s New Bicycle.
Hosted by Crusader Hillis and including a public Q&A at the end of the session.
banQuetpress is thrilled to launch two new collections of stories, poetry and art which showcase sensual, edgy and sweat-inducing tales of GLBTIQ desire, romance and erotica. These contemporary collections are brimming with provocative queer protagonists who push all the hot buttons and shove all the boundaries of sex and sexuality!
Enjoy an evening of spoken word performances from contributors and pick up your signed copies. Bookings essential – limited capacity.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite ready to give up on Christmas–I’m stuffed, probably a few kilos heavier than I was this time last month, and still have leftovers in the fridge. So for the final touch of Christmas this year, please welcome the amazing Karenna Colcroft, who’s new book, Tofurkey and Yams, is now out at MLR Press.
Story 3 in the to Real Werewolves Don’t Eat Meat series, I asked Karenna what the story behind the story was.
It’s part of my Real Werewolves Don’t Eat Meat series. Book one in the series, Salad on the Side, which MLR Press released in June, introduced us to Kyle Slidell, vegan turned werewolf (who still refuses to eat meat, even in wolf form) and his mate, Tobias Rogan, the too-serious pack alpha who’s afraid to be seen as weak. Book 2 in the series, Veggie Burgers to Go, will be out soon. When I saw Kris Jacen talking about Christmas stories that some MLR authors were doing, I said I wanted to write a story about Kyle and Tobias’s first Christmas together, and she told me to go for it. So here we are.
For those who are curious, Tofurkey and Yams takes place about three months after Veggie Burgers to Go, or about six months after Salad on the Side.
Does this mean you can give us a sneak preview of Veggie Burgers to Go?
A member of the Boston North Pack is attacked by humans who say they were hired by a shifter. The same night, Melia, the wolf who changed Kyle Slidell, returns to Boston. The pack suspects Melia of arranging the attack, but Kyle believes someone else is behind it. He just doesn’t know who.
The next day at the regional alpha meeting in Pennsylvania, Kyle finds his answer. Saul Hughes, another alpha, has a long-standing grudge against Tobias. Saul claims Tobias is too weak to control a pack and makes it clear that he wants control of Boston North. But no one suspects how far he’ll go to get it.
So, aside from your books—which everyone should buy—what do you think is a failsafe Christmas Gift?
I think you can’t go wrong with a gift card. I know a lot of people think those cards are impersonal, but honestly if you don’t know what to buy for someone, what’s wrong with letting them choose for themselves? You don’t have to buy a card for a specific store; you can get them a prepaid “credit card” gift card that they can spend wherever and however they want.
What do you love best about this time of year?
The way my younger daughter enjoys getting ready for the holiday. I’m kind of a humbug myself; if you read Tofurkey and Yams, the way Tobias views Christmas is pretty much my viewpoint. But my daughter still gets excited about it and loves to decorate the house and talk about all the presents she’s giving people—and pets—and that makes the holiday better for me.
What’s your best Christmas Recipe for dinner party success?
Make hubby take care of it. He’s a great cook!
What the heck is Tofurkey? Does it really exist? Is it yummy?
Tofurkey is tofu “turkey”. It does really exist; it’s a vegan alternative to turkey. I used to have a friend who was vegan, and tofurkey was his Thanksgiving dinner of choice, as well as his usual Christmas dinner. I’ve never tasted it, so I don’t know if it’s yummy or not.
After an autumn spent recovering from the deaths of two friends, Kyle is ready for the Christmas spirit to make everything better. His grand plans to make his and Tobias’s first Christmas together a special one crash down when Tobias rejects them and then leaves town. Kyle follows him to the pack’s hunt site, where he tries to bring back the joy of the holiday to Tobias’s life.
Do you have any tips for post Christmas recovery? I don’t know about you, but I’ve eaten far too much!
The best tip I can give is to exercise. Whether it’s taking a walk outside (if you’re someplace warm enough to do that), visiting the gym, or walking in place in your living room, try to get at least 15 minutes or so of exercise a day, more if you’re a regular exerciser. It will take care of that extra holiday food, plus help battle post-holiday let-down.
All good advice, and given that I’m in summer right now, I might have to try for that walking thing.
Christmas is just around the corner, and in celebration of the festive season, I’m very happy to introduce the fantastic Charlie Cochrane, author of Wolves of the Westand one I owe a great debt to for the fantastic advice she gave me when I was first starting out. She does, of course have a fantastic new story out, entitled What You Will, which is out right now, but I started by asking her what the funniest Christmas Memory she had that she’d like to share with you all.
So many to choose from. The year the younger Cochranes ate so much they had to lie on the dining room floor? The Christmas Mr C put so much sage in the stuffing it tasted like disinfectant? The year I ended up buying two lots of pressies because I’d misplaced the ones I bought earlier in the year and put “somewhere safe”? The Christmas people sat sending each other blackberry messages from settee to settee as they didn’t like what was on telly? The year I had to label all the food so it wasn’t eaten before the appointed day? Oh, hold on – that’s every year!
Aside from What You Will—which everyone should buy—what do you think is a failsafe Christmas Gift?
Boring answer – Amazon vouchers. Then everyone can get exactly what they want. More interesting answer – something linked to a particular family/friendship event. Specially made mugs with holiday pictures and catchphrases. Personalised calendars or cards. There are loads of companies producing them and they’re really cost effective.
Shakespeare himself. He’s got two plays – Merchant of Venice and Twelfth Night – both of which feature guys called Antonio, both of whom seem to be in love with younger men. And both the younger men are pretty ungrateful wretches. They take Antonio’s money, let him risk his neck for them, then run off with women! I’ve often wondered if the based the character on someone he knew, who’d been taken for a similar ride. Anyhow, I’ve always wanted to write a “fix it” version of the Twelfth Night story – especially after seeing the wonderful version of Twelfth Night at Chichester (Patrick Stewart as Malvolio) in which the gender complications were accentuated). When this series of stories came up, I knew my idea had found a potential home, especially when i added a bit of steampunk (another thing I’ve long fancied dabbling in).
What’s your best Christmas Recipe for dinner party success?
Best recipe is not to try anything too OTT and fiddly, especially if that a) courts disaster and b) risks you not spending enough time with your guests. They’ve come to you for your company, not to be waited on by Michel Roux, so be with them, chat with them, marinate them with wine. If you must be in the kitchen, take them in there too, while you cook. Don’t sacrifice the social to the culinary – there are plenty of great recipes which taste spectacular although they’re really easy to prepare and serve. Try looking on the Waitrose site – here’s a starter: Mushroom and Chestnut Pudding with Rich Red Wine Sauce.
You say you only write (occasionally) about respectable gay werewolves. What’s the difference between a respectable gay werewolf, and a gay werewolf of disrepute?
Respectable gay werewolves hold jobs in such places as the Natural History Museum or the V&A. They convene in the hallowed halls of one of these on the night of the full moon so that any shifting can be undergone in a decent manner and in salubrious surroundings. They don’t howl at the moon, just bay politely. Nor do they look for human prey, preferring a fox or a feral squirrel. Or rooting around the bins at the back of the Indian restaurant. They listen to frighteningly intellectual lectures related to lycanthropy, lectures involving mitochondrial DNA or cross species breeding in the Red wolf. They watch rugby, not football. Generally, they’re the sort of werewolf you wouldn’t mind as your neighbour and who you’d vote in for membership of the golf club.
So I can’t confirm Werewolves, but I can confirm an homage to the great Shakespeare himself (or themselves, if you believe certain theories out there in literary circles). And a Charlie Cochrane (TM) take on Twelfth Night? Do yourself a favour and get your copy now:
They say there’s no fool like an old fool. Antonio didn’t count himself as old but he was more fool than any man ought to be who’s flown around the world and back again so often he might as well have just been going from Deptford to Dartford. There was a lad involved. There’s always a lad in the tale, for such as him.
And was there a happy ending? Now that depends on whether you believe what a certain playwright wrote, or whether you want the real story.
With the huge and continual emphasis on Christmas happenings in the world–at least the western world–it’s very easy to forget that not everyone follows the cult of the jolly fat gift giving man, and there are a lot of other traditions out there, one of the more prominent ones being, of course, Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. It falls somewhere between late November and late December, and this year is on the 20th.
In honour of the festival I’d like to introduce author Keira Andrews, who’s Hanukkah Story, Eight Nights, is available from Loose Id. I started by asking her what her funniest Hannukah (or Christmas) memory was.
A Christmas memory that always makes me laugh is the year I went snooping and found an Atari game system in my parents’ closet. I was so excited, and because I was eight years old and couldn’t keep a secret to save my life, my mom found out. She casually mentioned the next day that they were hiding an Atari for my cousins. I was heartbroken! When my sister and I opened up the Atari on Christmas morning, we were absolutely ecstatic. My parents said we were very lucky they didn’t return it after what I pulled, and I learned to never hunt for gifts again!
Aside from your book—which everyone should buy—what do you think is a failsafe Christmas gift?
You can’t go wrong with fruitcake. Kidding, kidding! In my experience, electronic devices never miss – especially if it’s a luxury item the person can’t justify buying for themselves (iPod, camera, Blu-ray player, etc.).
What inspired Eight Nights?
I was inspired to write Eight Nights after spending Hanukkah with a friend and her family. I really enjoyed learning about different holiday traditions – and eating new kinds of holiday food!
What’s your best Christmas recipe for dinner party success?
The key to holiday dinner party success? Lots of alcohol. 😀 Also, my mom’s curry dip is always a hit. Serve with fresh veggies for an easy and delicious appetizer.
CURRY DIP
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise (can be low-fat if you prefer)
2 tbs Ketchup (tomato sauce)
2 tbs honey
2 tbs onion power/onion flakes
1 tbs lemon juice
1 tsp curry powder
6 drops Tobasco sauce/to taste
Salt
Mix all ingredients and serve.
I know you don’t believe in guilty pleasures, so what’s your most obscure guilt-free pleasure?
Hmm, that would probably be watching figure skating. Most people only pay attention to the sport every four years, but I’m an avid follower year in and year out.
So get into the Hannukah Spirit this year, and grab yourself a copy of Eight Nights.
Lucas McKenzie figures spending the holidays with his annoying roommate’s family is better than being alone on campus. The last thing he expects is to lust over Sam’s brother — or for Nate to actually want him back.
They hide their attraction during Hanukkah celebrations, but behind closed doors, Lucas and Nate can’t keep their hands (or mouths) off each other. Nate’s only looking for a bit of holiday fun, and amazing sex with a hot virgin definitely fits the bill.
Yet as the candles burn, Nate and Lucas begin to realize eight nights will never be enough.
Want more Keira Andrews? Check out her website, find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.
Today I’d like to introduce author Cherie Noel, here to share some Christmas cheer and some stories to stuff in your stocking…or for stuffing inspiration anyway. She has not one, but two Christmas stories out at the moment and I caught up with her to grill her about life, writing, and holiday silliness.
What do you love best about this time of year?
Huh. The twinkling lights. No, really. They make me think of every single magical moment in my life.
What inspired your new story?
*blinks* Which one?Christmas Rum Balls was inspired by Tony, Neil, and Kevin, the main characters, who were originally inspired by a picture chosen by a reader from the M/M romance group on Goodreads. Thanks Heather C. for giving me the boys…Or, I also have Cuddle Time Chicken Soup…and that was inspired by Robert and Christie of The Soldier and the State Trooper…hmm. My characters seem to love Christmas and food as much as I do.
Have you got any funny tales from the holiday season you’d like to share?
Hmmm. I dunno. Funny? Not so much. Maybe the story of the time I burned the Thanksgiving turkey…well, it was more a case of broiling rather than baking. The poor bird looked golden and beautiful on the outside but was still bloody on the inside.
Well, if not funny, what’s the most meaningful Christmas Memory you’d like to share?
The best Christmas memory ever? Waking up early…my sisters and I had been sleeping in the living room, and woke to find a gingerbread tree under the tree. So magical.
Aside from your books—which everyone should buy—what do you think is a failsafe Christmas Gift?
The gift of self. In my family, we take little slips of paper and write out little gifts of service we can give to one another. Foot rubs. Cups of tea. Doing a chore. Stuff like that, just—little things…and then we roll the paper up, tie a ribbon around it, write the person’s name on the outside and hang it from the tree. How fun is that?
What’s your best Christmas Recipe for dinner party success?
Lots and lots of Dancing Bull Merlot. That way if I burn the roast, I’m too toasted to care.
You write a lot about soldiers. What draws you to them as characters?
I come from a long line of military people. I myself served as a soldier during Operation Enduring Freedom. I…geez, I guess I really believe one should write what one knows. And I know soldiers. I love men in uniform, and I was damn proud to be a dragon soldier. That’s Chemical Operations to you civilians, lol.
Keep reading for a very special excerpt from Cuddle Time Chicken Soup.
~*~
“Cuddle Time Chicken Soup? You’re kidding, right?”
Christie rolled his eyes.
“Evans, does anything I’ve ever told you about my Aunt Cate give you any reason—any reason whatsoever—to expect her to just call the damn recipe something normal? I call it Cheesy Chicken Soup. You can call it that most of the time too. But Cate—bless her crunchy granola, tie-dyed heart—is flying in tomorrow to spend the holidays with us. You’re gonna be at the house. You’d better know what she calls the damn soup, or she’s liable to explain her reasoning to you.”
Christie took in a slow breath.
Back when he’d lost his parents to a drunk driver at the tender age of fifteen, Cate had spent many, many moments shoving steaming mugs of her famous—infamous?—Cuddle Time Chicken Soup at him. In the foggy cold of a San Francisco summer she’d plied him with enough of the damn stuff to fill the bay. Every cup came with an extra-large helping of touchyfeely snuggling. Christie could recite the accompanying lecture verbatim. He could even—Christie rubbed his fingers together as a tactile memory of that time swept through him. The blanket she wrapped him in back then was still on the back of Cate’s couch. Mocha, tan, and creamy white; to this day Christie needed only to press his fingers together to feel the nubbly soft texture. Cate told him years later that she’d knitted that particular blanket
just after Christie was born in response to a dream she’d had of his parents deaths.
Christie’s throat grew thick, clogged with a thousand things left unsaid.
He blinked, hard.
The damned florescent lights in the recreation center stung his eyes.
Muscles between his shoulder blades tightened, right in the spot which had acted up ever since his most recent deployment. He rolled his shoulders forward. The good hurt of stretching muscles distracted Christie. The raw heat burning just behind his eyes eased for a moment. Christie sucked in a scrap more air and then blew the air out slowly. The urge to tell Evans to just fucking get the name of the soup right beat in his throat like a second heartbeat. Christie circled back to the same damn thought.
How hard could it be to remember to call Cate’s soup what she wanted the damn stuff called? Really? Because the woman would just be looking for an excuse. Christie shook himself. Okay, yeah. She was coming for Christmas.
Still?
The house at Harrah’s would take the odds she’d had a dream or some crazy premonition about the mailroom bombing the day after Christie had enlisted. Shit, most likely she’d booked her ticket for this trip then. She never missed a trick either. Her having a chat with Christie about how much he needed to spend some time snuggled up with Robert was a foregone conclusion anyone who’d spent more than two minutes around Cate would reach.
Christie shook his head.
Christ on a cracker, he really couldn’t take hearing about how important touch was. He didn’t want to cuddle with anyone right now. He just—everything closed in too quickly these days. And anyway, he’d heard his aunt’s damn “cuddle speech” more times than he could count.
Christie shuddered.
No. Just fucking no.
He concentrated on pulling in a few more slow breaths before continuing.
“Please, man. Call the stuff by the name Cate uses while she’s here. I can’t bear to hear the ‘Cuddle Time is Important Time’ speech again.”
Evans stood, his mouth slightly open, staring at Christie without blinking. Christie lifted his hand to press two fingers against his friend’s neck. Evans jerked back.
“What are you doing?”
Christie put a hand on his hip.
“Checking your pulse, Evans; what did you think I was doing?”
Evans held up a hand, the palm facing Christie.
“Shun, Collins, shun. Trooper Gigantic over there just got to the point where he doesn’t bare his teeth and growl when you and I are in the same freaking zip code. That man is not over our…um, my lapse of judgment when we were deployed. I kinda like hanging out with you outside of work again, and if your trooper sees you touching me all he’s gonna see is me trying to get in your pants. Christie. Don’t fuck up my bff time, man. You know how I get when I start jonesing for a hit of home, and right now? Dude, you’re the closest I got to home with my dads off on their damn ‘world tour’ for the past few months.”
Evans thrust one hip to the side, hands up to make quotation marks in the air before him.
Christie grinned.
Evans waving his hands in the air to talk equaled Evans needing to talk to his dads pronto. He only got this campy when he was missing them.
Christie turned his head to look across the room to where his husband Robert stood, deep in conversation with Christie’s former platoon sergeant.
Sergeant Tarans nodded, one of his characteristic grunts moving visibly up from his abdomen to lift his chest. From the corner of his eye Christie caught the motion of Evans turning to look as well. Robert looked up. A vertical line appeared above the bridge of the tall blond’s nose as he took in Christie’s proximity to Evans. His brows drew together. Impossibly blue eyes flicked a glacial look over Christie’s shoulder. Robert’s chest heaved once before his eyes drooped shut. Two more breaths lifted the wide expanse of his chest before his eyelids rose to unveil the same startling cerulean-color orbs locked on Christie, burning into him like the very heart of the hottest sort of fire.
Christie’s lungs stopped working, and his tongue flicked out to swipe once across his upper lip. Christ on a cracker, he could practically taste the salty goodness of Robert’s cock on his tongue when the man looked at him that way.
A tiny smile tipped the corners of Robert’s mouth up, and he gave a barely perceptible dip of his head. A wave of heat rushed upward from low in Christie’s gut until his cheeks and forehead blazed with warmth. Like a tsunami after a huge offshore earthquake, the heat Christie felt built and built to mammoth proportions.
Then the wave crested, blood crashing back down through Christie’s body. His cock flipped up faster than the top of a PEZ dispenser at a diabetic’s convention.
Story 3 in the to Real Werewolves Don’t Eat Meat series, I asked Karenna what the story behind the story was.
The next day at the regional alpha meeting in Pennsylvania, Kyle finds his answer. Saul Hughes, another alpha, has a long-standing grudge against Tobias. Saul claims Tobias is too weak to control a pack and makes it clear that he wants control of Boston North. But no one suspects how far he’ll go to get it.
What’s your best Christmas Recipe for dinner party success?