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FAQ
If you have a question you'd like to ask or that you'd
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Last Update: 2007/11/10
Personal
Characters
Soul Mates - The Series
Target Series
Reading
Miscellaneous
Works in Progress
Writing
Personal
I'm in my 30's.
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He's very supportive... to the point of helping me do some brainstorming when I'm stuck.
He's my go-to guy for weapons :-D
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It's mixed.
I have family members who are supportive and encouraging, no matter what I'm writing. But
I also have family members who wish I'd write something a little (okay, a lot) less erotic
and a lot more inspirational. Nothing wrong with inspirational, but... not for me.
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For as long as I can remember, I've had this great love for vampires. What better to write
about than something you love?
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Just one day? Oh, that'll never do ;-)
One of these days, I want to travel to Scotland and just stay there for as long as
possible, seeing the sights, taking in the atmosphere, and feeling the ghosts of the past.
I have a dear friend over there and no doubt I'd drag him away from work to beg him to
show me *everything*.
I'd love to live there someday.
Of course, there's that money thing... so I'm SO glad money's no option.
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Oh, no... I tell most everyone who asks what I write *exactly* what I write.
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It was a progression for me. It wasn't what I started out to write, I just sort of ended
up writing it. My male characters all had this great chemistry and the more chemistry they
had, the more I wanted them together.
... And then I started dealing with my own identity and who I am inside... and well, it
just made even more sense to me.
I get my inspiration from everywhere. Music, commercials, a word, a thought, strangers on
the street...
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Characters
Oh, wow. That's like having to choose between friends and/or my kids. All of my characters
have a place in my heart, but for different reasons. So, let's say I list some characters
and say why I love and cherish them. I'll come back to add more characters as time allows.
From Target:
Richard -- he's most like me and his hurt is my own.
Ryan -- he's been hurt, but he doesn't let that past hurt control his future
Stefan -- because he loves with his whole heart and he can look past your faults and
failures and love you anyway.
From the Soul Mates series:
Nikolas -- we both have issues with trust.
Peter -- a shining example (to me) how we can learn to adapt and deal with change.
Simon -- he's hurt and he's damaged, but you'd never know it by looking at him or talking
to him. how hard it must be to wear such an armor day in and day out and not let anyone
truly in. He's quiet, but he's strong.
Lucien -- he knows what he wants and he goes for it.
Caleb -- he knows the pain of losing the person you love the most -- and being hurt more
than any human should. And that hurt that he's experienced makes me want to protect him.
Sabaan -- because he never gives up.
From short stories:
Brandt and Dale (from Surrender in Cowboy Up) -- these two? Oh man, they owned my heart
from the very first word on the page. Two men who love each other so much, but who
couldn't get past their own pride and stupidity to actually TELL each other how they felt.
Sometimes? We just need to get out of our own way.
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In Target? Richard is most modeled after myself and his father is based on someone I know.
There are some characters that have aspects of people I know or have seen in real life,
but I've never based any other characters after another person. Or, at least without
realizing it.
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Sometimes the characters come to me with names. When they don't, I hit some online sites
or baby books looking for something that fits the character's personality.
A few of my character's names have meaning, but I can't find my notebook at the moment so
I'll have to come back to finish this question later.
This may be a spoiler for those who haven't read the 2nd and 3rd Soul Mates books (so skip
to the next question if you don't want any sort of spoiler!)...
.....but Simon's given name is Symael -- which means "in the company of God".
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Soul Mates - The Series
I sure do! At present, there are three books out in the Soul Mates series.
Soul Mates: Bound by Blood
Soul Mates: Deceptions
Soul Mates: Sacrifice
Book 4 (tentatively titled, Soul Mates: Ascension) is currently in progress. I don't have
a firm publication date for it yet, but I'm hoping it will be some time in 2008.
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Thanks so much!
Soul Mates: Bound by Blood was followed by Soul Mates: Deceptions (March 2007) and Soul
Mates: Sacrifice (August 2007).
You can find them over at Torquere Press. http://www.torquerepress.com
Book 4 is currently in progress and I hope to have a date for publication soon :-)
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Oh, that's a hard question. I've got so many characters that I've yet to find
actors/models for. I do have a few images that I found after writing for Peter, Xander,
Caleb, and Nikolas...
I'll see if I can't get them uploaded somewhere soon :-)
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Many people aren't aware that there are three books in the Soul Mates world prior to the
ones that have been published with Torquere Press. They are a mix of m/f and m/f/m (with
m/m content) and are titled:
Eternally Yours
In the Shadows
Enforcers (unfinished)
Lucien was a supporting character in In the Shadows/Enforcers, and Christopher and Antoine
are main/supporting characters from all three who made a cameo appearance in the m/m Soul
Mates books. I wrote these novels in the mid-90's, but didn't come across any of Laurell
K. Hamilton's work until I'd already finished In the Shadows.
So, no. While I have read the Anita Blake series (and will continue to read it in the
future), it had no part whatsoever in my creation of the Soul Mates world/characters.
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I did... and they're loosely tied to the Soul Mates world, too :-)
Eternally Yours -- m/m/f
In the Shadows -- m/f/m with m/m content
Enforcer -- m/f for the most part.
There are some VERY rough drafts (so rough they're embarassing now!) of two of the novels
in my Yahoo group, but I'll be taking them down December 31, 2007. I'm going to be doing
some heavy revisions on them, getting them ready to send off to a publisher.
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Target Series
"Target" was always my work in progress title. I honestly can't remember where I
came up with it.
As for "On the Edge"... I wanted something that didn't resemble the store
(Target), so I started trying to think up a different title. Richard's life and emotions
are pretty much on the edge by the time the case starts and I think I wanted some sort of
analogy to that.
That said, the moment I think up a really cool title that outshines both of these? It may
change again ;-)
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Yes, it will be. However, it often gets pushed aside in favor of contracted deadlines for
other works with a publisher.
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Yes, I did. The progress on it is pretty slow at the moment. Right now, research is the
main thing slowing me down. I want everything to be correct in terms of the procedures and
the case -- as well as a change in setting -- but it's slowly, slowly coming along.
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It won't be showing up online. The full manuscript and the outline for the rest of the
series will be going to a publisher for consideration.
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Hopefully in an ebook and in print off Amazon within the next year. 2008 is my target goal
of getting this thing published, but that also depends on publisher's schedules if the
series is accepted.
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Reading
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Miscellaneous
I now have several works/stories in print.
Short Stories (Alyson Publications):
"The Ticket" -- Ultimate Gay Erotica 2006 edited by Jesse Grant
"On the Job" -- Ultimate Gay Erotica 2005 edited by Jesse Grant
Novellas (in multi-author anthologies at Torquere Press):
"Instinct" -- The Call -- edited by Rob Knight
"Surrender" -- Cowboy Up -- edited by Rob Knight
Novels (at Torquere Press):
Soul Mates: Bound by Blood
Soul Mates: Deceptions
Soul Mates: Sacrifice
*Purchase links can be found here: http://www.jourdanlane.com/books.htm
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Oh, I do! And I respond to every one of them, though sometimes it can take me months to
get my email answered. I'm very, very slow so I appreciate the patience in that regard.
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It varies, really.
In the age of ebooks, it's taking far less time to get the novel from acceptance to
publication. Constant work between the editor and the author with revisions and edits can
see the book published in 4 to 6 months. Sometimes, if the book needs more work, it can be
up to a year, or even longer.
The book also has to have adequate time to go through proofreading and production, so in
my opinion, it never hurts to take your time and get everything right.
That said, it does have a lot to do with the publisher's schedule, too. If they're full
for a calendar year when you get your acceptance, you won't see your book published until
the next year.
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Works in Progress
It varies.
At this time, I have around 6 novels in progress. Three of them are parts of series that
are at least 3 - 4 books long, so sometimes it seems like I have a whole lot more in the
queue.
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Not currently. Everything I'm working on right now is contracted work and/or revisions for
work I'm about to submit for publication.
In the future, I hope to have some stories/novellas up on the site for readers to enjoy.
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Oh wow... Do you really want to know? I've got stories that have got stories, LOL!
But hey, you asked, so let me see what I can tell you about some of them....
In Progress and Rough Draft and/or Outline:
***Under the Gun - Jaime Carr is on the run for a crime he didn't commit. The only thing
he was guilty of was being in the wrong place (bed) at the wrong time. He's convinced that
his short-time lover has set him up – and worse, that he's trying to kill him –
and knows that staying in town and showing up in court is the worst thing to do.
Gunnar (Gun) Yates has a job to do: find escaped convicts and bail jumpers and bring them
back for trial. 'But, I didn't do it' is a common phrase in this line of work and Gun has
learned to laugh it off. When he gets the job of tracking down a certain jumped bond, he's
eager to catch the little tease that's been evading his hunters for the last six months.
But this time it could be different; the guy really could be innocent. Or maybe it's just
the attraction Gun feels for Jaime that's clouding his way of thinking. Soon, Gun has no
choice but to at least listen to Jaime's plea for help as they all find themselves under
the gun.
***Shattered --- A man, broken by years of abuse at the hands of his lover, escapes and
returns home to try to build some sort of life -- and unexpectedly finds someone from his
past who is willing to help him through it. The only problem is that his former lover
isn't quite happy to let him go.
***Matters of the Heart - Eric and Cole have been partners - both personal and business -
for several years. They have an open relationship, but lately it's been more open than
Cole is comfortable with. Eric has become distant, making no secret of his preference of
partners. But what do you do when you're so tied to the person who hurts you the most?
What happens when it's not just your relationship at stake--but your livelihood?
***A Rumor Of Angels --- Currently working on character/plot outlines for this story.
***And then I have a super secret military-based series that I'm outlining, but I don't
feel comfortable discussing it at this point.
***Another super secret series that's m/f... Yes, I know... Please don't pass out in shock
;-)
***A werewolf novel/novella set in Scotland. Whole different world from that of my Soul
Mates series.
***A story about a nightmare demon.
***A series based on my Sip (short story) titled "Marked" over at Torquere Press
-- About an established couple that runs a paranormal investigation firm in Texas. Lots of
ghosties and other things that go bump in the night!
In Revisions/Rewrites:
***On The Edge (which had the working title of "Target") - Hard rewrites begin
January 1st, 2008. After rewrites, it will be submitted to a publisher for consideration.
In research mode as of October 1st, 2007.
***Eternally Yours --- ( M/F/M with M/M - Vampire) Awaiting rewrites.
Lukas Dumond has found the woman of his dreams. There is only one catch....she doesn't
want him. Or so she would like him to believe.
Catherine Randall is pursued by the man of her dreams, but is too afraid to let him know
it. For to acknowledge her feelings, is to open a door. The door to her heart. Will she
give in? Will she surrender to him for eternity?
***In The Shadows --- (M/F w/some M/M & M/F/M - Vampire) Awaiting rewrites.
Antoine Chavarria is running away from his past. A man with a heavy burden of guilt, he
just wants to forget everything. Until... He is awakened years too early from his sleep of
the dead and finds a woman that promises to fulfill his every desire. But when a master
vampire makes his threats known, Antoine receives a time
Melanie Garrett is hiding. Hiding from her abusive husband while she files for divorce.
Things aren't easy, especially living in an abandoned cabin in the Wyoming mountains.
Things get interesting though when she meets the owner of the cabin an her life suddenly
takes a turn for the interesting...
Shown that all men aren't all the same, Melanie finds that her heart cannot say no an
offer of life, love, and eternity. But, another master vampire has plans for Antoine.
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Writing
Yep, it sure is. I don't do anything other than write. But it doesn't change the fact that
I'm a very slow writer :D
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I started writing in the mid-90's, so for about 10 years. My husband and I moved to the
middle of nowhere and I needed something to occupy my time while he was at work. We had no
phone, no neighbors, no interruptions... Ah, those were the days :D
I didn't start writing professionally, however, until about 5 years ago.
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Nope, just this one.
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I've always been told that the more you write, the easier it becomes.
From my experience, it's a mix of both.
It's much easier for me now to look at a piece (whether it's just started or in revisions)
and know what needs to go where and what the story needs to be considered complete. I've
gone from being quite rambly (think 300K stories, lol) to more succinct with a clear plot
and resolution in sight. That doesn't mean the characters don't change their minds on me
and lead me in different directions, but it's manageable.
One of the hard things is knowing what a piece needs, trying to get it incorporated, and
it not working out the way you need it to. Sometimes it's back to the drawing board and
loosing a few hundred or thousand words, or it's a matter of stepping away from the piece
for a while to not force the story to go in the way I think it should.
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All the time!
I've normally got five or six windows open on Firefox and the same on IE, going back and
forth between sites and comparing information. And... there's never a shortage of books
and printouts on my desk.
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There are a couple of writers I was interested in collaborating with at one time, but we
sort of missed our "golden opportunity" to do so. At this point, I think my
answer would have to be no.
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I think it takes different things for different people.
For me? Persistence, perserverance, and work...lots and lots of hard work. Some people
don't understand just how hard it is to craft a novel. All they see is that you're sitting
at your desk and staring off into a void.
How hard could writing be, right?
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Because I'd read all of the books I had in my house and I still wasn't satisfied. I wanted
something more out of the stories I'd read, so I wrote what I wanted to read instead. And
I still do.
I think one of the things I get out of writing... is escape. From life, from the mudane. I
can throw myself into another world and just let the characters lead me on a journey of
new and different. I can't think of anything else I'd rather do.
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Gay fiction is just where I am most comfortable. I might have a female body, but my brain
is 100% male.
Oh, God, yes. Gay fiction is definitely easier for me. It's more personal.
Straight fiction -- I've written it in the past and have more of it in my future.
Hopefully I'll get more comfortable with it as time goes on.
I tried to write a lesbian story once. It SO didn't work out!
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I think it depends on the particular story line. My inspiration comes from all over the
place ;-)
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I used to be a night owl, writing 10K words a night. And then I got a little older and
that just didn't work out anymore. Now, I consider my writing like it's my day job and I
get up in the morning, check mail, get caught up on LJ, then start opening up files.
Sometimes the writing comes, but most of the time I spend my time outlining and drafting.
The afternoon is when my Muse and I seem to be the most productive.
I have an office and I love working there because it's MY space. Unfortunately, it's
ungodly hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. I work there for as long as I
can and then usually move to either the living room or my bedroom (which gets a better
wireless signal). I have a few pictures of my office and I'll see if I can find them. When
I do, I'll upload them.
*** -- 11/28/07 -- And I found some of them. I'll try to take some new, updated ones
after the holidays.
http://www.jourdanlane.com/office.htm
-- The page IS image heavy, as I don't have the time/software/know-how to make them
smaller.
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Oh, thank you. Honestly, I can't say. They seem to find me more than I find them :-)
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Above all, I hope they enjoy my work and that they have a sense of satisfaction when they
reach the end. I hope the characters are well-drawn and memorable.
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