Yaoi-con 2012 Preview

Go to: http://yaoicon.com for information.

Next weekend, October 12-14, I will be at Yaoi-con! I am very excited to be getting my Bishonen fix in my own back yard. This year, Yaoi-con will be at The Westin Long Beach 333 East Ocean Blvd
Long Beach, CA 9080. There are some fantastic industry guests that include the mighty Hamlet Machine from Starfighter Web Comic, Jo Chen from Guilt/Pleasure , Alex Woolfson from Yaoi911 and Artifice and the great guys from Bent-con http://Bent-con.org. The Guest of Honor is Uki Ogasawara , mangaka of the Yaoi classic, Black Sun.

Panels, Panels, Panels

I have three and most likely four at Yaoi-con this year. I am pleased to be representing localizers from the Digital Manga Guild (DMG) on a panel called Localizing for the Digital Manga Guild for Fun and Profit. The Guild needs many more translators, editors and letterers for its growing catalog of licensed titles. I'm going to make a strong case for joining up. I will have a fun power point presentation and hopefully a lively Q&A session toward the end.

Yes, he is. But that's the least of his issues.

Of course, if it's me, there must be some BDSM. My first panel of the convention is Exploring Dark Fantasy: BDSM in Yaoi. That will involve a scary fun power point presentation and props that are even scarier. Those props haven't been used in a convention since the one where I collared and palled a naughty Klingon and had Battlestar Galatica's Richard Hatch on his knees. That was a fun one. Where was I? I will take the bdsm presented in various manga and light novels on its on terms. However, I will be drawing a distinction between what the mangaka and authors describe and what is reality in the lifestyle, including how rare it is that actual consent is given from the uke or submissive (nope, not letting that go). And I will get a little bit literary on everyone with a discussion of what it means that so many major authors and mangaka choose bdsm as a theme rather than a vanilla gay relationship.

The third panel stems from an amusing aspect of many manga the localizers have completed. It is unusual when vanilla sex in a bedroom at night happens between Seme and uke. The Panel Anywhere, Anytime, Anyhow explores the many places and strange implements involved in Yaoi hook ups. Have a mentioned the bud vase with water AND a flower??? And don't get me started on the school Nurse's Office! There will be a power point presentation of some of the manga pages for illustration.

The fourth panel that I may be a part of is the Bent-con panel. It is a really cool convention that covers anything an attendee would find at a comic-con only gayer! All geeks are welcome. I will be talking about the incredible panels I attended there and the amazing people in the industry fans got to have near one on one contact with. This year's convention will be even better!

I really hope that my gentle readers in the Southland and beyond can visit. Tickets are still available at the door. Aside from my panels, there are so many wonderful industry and attendee panels. Beyond that, there is merchandise for every yaoi fandom out there. There are people in astonishing cosplay outfits. And there is a great feeling of connection that comes from finding out that you aren't by yourself in this niche. Last year was my first Yaoi-con ever. I felt such a great vibe there in general and from the folks at Digital Manga in particular, that I joined the guild. That has been a great experience for me personally and professionally. I am beyond excited that the company is running the convention.

For those who can't make it, I will be doing videos based on the power point presentations. But I hope you can make it!

Book Updates

As I posted in my last blog, there is a three chapter preview of A Soldier's Destiny available on this site. Click on the link at the top of the menu on the right called A Soldier's Destiny Preview Chapters. Meanwhile, The next installment of Ensnared is in my brain and wanting to get out. I'm hoping to have excepts of that by the end of the year when we release A Soldier's Destiny. Thank you for all the notes of encouragement. I'm even thankful for the notes yelling at me to write faster.

The next blog will be all about Yaoi-con. My Hubs and I have a new camera, so we'll get lots of photos of everything. I hope to give full coverage like a news feature. It's been some years since I've covered anything as a reporter, but I thought I'd give it a try.

For my next regular blog – Insane Semes and Why We Love Them.

Belated Yaoi Day Prezzie -- Fiction with Pretty Pictures

Andreas didn't think of himself as enslaved. After all, he had begged for the collar the first time while in the throes of a lust so strong, he truly believed he would die if he was not allowed to come. The heaviness of the collar and the bite of the ear tag were the price he willingly paid to feel that big, warm hand grasp his erection and work it until his mind and body exploded with hot, shimmering pleasure. The collar and the tag were the price he paid to see that angelically beautiful face in the throes of ecstasy. It was well worth the price.

Andreas demanded the collar and tag the second time. He had been fighting his body and his heart against the incredible magnetism of his beautiful Owner. Those vibrant, blue eyes could be as cold as a clear, winter sky, but when they turned on him, all Andreas could feel was heat. His body vividly recalled how those big hands felt on his skin. He could feel the strength in that embrace and the weight of that hard muscled body in his dreams. He still wanted his enigmatic Owner. His body craved that skillful, sinful touch like it needed air, but Andreas could not give in to those desires. Andreas would not give in until he had the collar back around his neck and the tag attached tho his ear. He needed to be owned once again. He wanted to be certain that he would never be without that touch again.

Darius knew that Andreas was fighting his own body. He could see the conflict in those amazing green-gold eyes. He could hear the slight tremble in his voice. That Andreas was his was without question. If Darius decided to press the issue, all of those struggles could be ended with one long, hot kiss. Andreas would fight for a little while. He would probably call him a bastard in that exasperated way Darius enjoyed hearing. However, he would have given in to his body if Darius pressed him. But he would not. It was not enough for him to know that Andreas was still his body, mind and will. Everyone in their worlds needed to know that all the beauty and charms his cheeky Dami – trained plaything – possessed belonged to Darius alone. It had to be publicly known once again that any trespass upon what was his could mean death.

To Darius, the wait was worth all of the restless nights without Andreas in his bed. During that sinful, open mouthed kiss after he placed the new collar and tag upon his Dami, Darius felt Andreas' knees buckle with great satisfaction. It was a simple matter then to carry that lean, lithe body to his bed. There, Darius quickly stripped Andreas but took his time just looking at him as he lay shackled to the headboard. Andreas did not fight being restrained. He was, in fact, erect as he watched Darius undress with hunger and anticipation in those beautiful eyes. How he had missed just looking at that sleekly muscled body. It pleased Darius to no end that Andreas still wore the gold body chains even after the collar was removed. They made him look like the wanton, sensual Dami that he was. That body deserved to be worshiped, so Darius took his time relearning that firm, sweet, tawny flesh with his hands and his lips and his tongue. Andreas' moans and cries were music to Darius' ears. He held him down as he drew out the torment long promised when they were separated. There was much that Darius planned for that first encounter in such a long time. He was determined to draw that time out as long as possible, but Andreas was more enticing than he imagined. One word said in such a lust drenched moan was enough to derail all of Darius' well thought out plans.

“Please...”

It was the word he wanted most to hear from Andreas. Darius couldn't bear one more second without taking the body struggling against him. His Dami ceased his struggles during a long, deep kiss. He used that heated exchanged to move one of Andreas' long legs to hook around his waist. Andreas moaned loudly as Darius pushed his thick length into that long missed, tight heat. It was in his head to draw that out as well, but that was impossible. Once Darius was surrounded by that throbbing tightness, he was driven to ride hard toward completion for them both. Andreas tore his mouth away from the kiss to cry out Darius' name and to see his in the throes of near painful pleasure. The expression on his Dami's beloved face struck him to the core.

“Mine!” Darius exclaimed.

Andreas gasped. His face flushed. Slowly, he raised a trembling hand to push the long blond hair back to better see his expression. The bliss of their joining was still on that beautiful face. His eyes were nearly black with desire as he gazed down. Andreas smiled and drew a shaky breath.

“Yes, Darius. I'm yours.”

Darius smiled his most angelic smile. He released the shackles then turned onto his back with Andreas in his arms. With that, Andreas finally found himself where he had longed to be after all those lonely nights – draped across that powerful body and held by powerful arms heading to sleep.

No matter what was said by those in both of his worlds, Andreas knew he wasn't enslaved. He was, however, totally enthralled and thoroughly ensnared.

To read more from Ensnared Volumes One and Two, there are free chapters in the Menu on the right. To purchase, Now in print on Amazon.com HERE
Ebooks for all types of players available on Smashwords HERE
Kindle Ebook Available HERE

Keep checking in for the PRINT VERSION this week! 

Check out full chapter excerpts under Hot Links in the Menu on the right side of this page!

Flame Wars, The Forever War and Ai No Kusabi

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Non-Con Again, Scary Semes and Twisted Views

I thought this blog would be about the next Cook Like a Uke Video. The last few days have been spent doing strange research like finding lingerie – specifically teddys – that fit muscular guys. My Hubs looked over my shoulder, exclaimed 'whatever you're planning, count me out!' Then, he fled to the study. Silly Billy! It's nearly time for a new video shoot on Cook Like a Uke. Meanwhile, the latest edited video will go up by Friday. It's a real like Misaki from Junjou Romantica. However, I didn't get as far in my planning as I had hope. Instead, I'll talk about something that keeps coming up in reader e-mails.

Despite previous blogs like the one on Power Exchange, I've had some emails from those kind souls who've taken the time to read the sample chapters of Ensnared and some of my blogs. They raise some interesting points – even the ones that kind of called me a hypocrite. I have blogged against and have often spoken out against the continuing use of non-consensual relationships in yaoi (I hope to have an even bigger panel on this subject at upcoming conventions this year). It paints a picture to the outside world that all yaoi is about rape and torture. These opinions have become really important of late as companies like Amazon and Apple have banned yaoi. And, for a short time, Smashwords was going to ban erotica with such themes. It could be argued that it wasn't non-con that got those books banned, but why give anyone that ammunition when it isn't necessary? These perceptions can impact where we can buy yaoi or even if we can buy yaoi. I am a publisher as well as a writer who doesn't want a tired trope impacting my bottom line. I'm not trying to be provocative in saying it's a tired trope. I think times have changed in the decades since Yaoi was young. The general public know a lot more about gay men and their relationships. It isn't looked upon as something to be ashamed of. Thus, there is no need to have these pairings begin with an act of force or blackmail or any kind of coercion.

And as I mentioned in the Power Exchange blog, I think there is often a fundamental misunderstanding of how dominant/submissive relationships work. I plan on revamping my Primer on Writing BDSM and offering it for free as an e-book later this summer. I love D/s fiction! I adore strong, even overbearing Semes. Who doesn't love Usagi-san in Junjou Romantica or Al from Ikoku Irokoi Romantan? They are a tad pushier than I like, but overall, they are loving and protective and devoted to their exasperated ukes. They are irresistible in their arrogance. I'm with you all with regard to this type of Seme. I want yaoi to remain as sizzling hot and sexy as always!

The gentle readers who wrote were asking how the scenario I set up between Lord Darius Galatea and underworld gang leader, Andreas Hesper was not a non-con relationship. I admit that it looks like a duck and even quacks like a duck. But it isn't a duck. It's more like a platypus. Part of my point in creating that couple was that I wanted to prove that there could be all the tension and drama between the Seme and Uke that there is in a non-consensual pair while being a consensual relationship.

But readers of the excerpts point out that it seems that Andreas is being pressured to stop hanging out with his childhood friend and second in command, Viktor. This situation is not at all what it seems. I'm glad that the sample chapters intrigued readers enough to write me with these observations. I will respond to them as best I can; however, the best way to see that this story is not the usual trope but one that turns that trope on its ear is to read the entire story over the two volumes. I will answer what I can without revealing too much if only for the sake of not having readers think I am being a hypocrite. I must first give a little background.

Early in the existence of Zed Crew, a couple of members who held powerful positions were either booted from the Crew or, in one case, killed over love affairs that went very badly (in that, a jealous lover killed the Crew Member). These unfortunate events caused Andreas to issue a decree that none of Zed Crew was to be involved in high drama relationships. Further, there were restrictions on how much drinking and partying was allowed. The new rule suited Viktor as he was secretly in love with Andreas and didn't want anyone else closer to him than he was. This rule also coincided with the opening of Club Zero, a nightspot popular with almost all strata of that society and their Crew's base of operation. Thus, no one who frequented that club, including those who lusted after Andreas, ever saw him party hard or show a romantic interest in anyone. Viktor had spent years at Andreas' side and never saw him show an interest in another man or woman.

To Viktor and the others who wanted Andreas, Darius seemed to be able to waltz into the building and take what they all wanted. Despite everything they witnessed with their own eyes to the contrary, they couldn't accept that Andreas was the one who initiated the first encounter between him and Darius. So there is jealousy from those who want Andreas. Coupled with those intense and dangerous feelings, there is a plot to remove Darius from power by forcing him to take an outrageous action against those who want to trespass into his relationship with Andreas. This is the backdrop to what appears to be irrational possessiveness on the part of Darius. The only danger for Andreas and his freedom is the very real possibility that Darius will deem it unsafe for Andreas to live his life as he has. There are real physical dangers to this uke as those who lust after him grow more and more frustrated that their feelings are not returned. It is Darius' prerogative to determine how best to keep Andreas safe. Under the terms of their contract, Andreas must obey – even if that means being locked away or chained to Darius' bed. This is not a non-con relationship, because Andreas agreed to accept the terms of their contract without hesitation and without coercion. The fun of reading the book is finding out whether or not Andreas can find a way to stand up to such a powerful being and keep his freedom while keeping his Owner happy. And, if this is possible, how he manages to pull it off without triggering Darius' world famous temper.

To get the answers, you will have to start reading!

Cook Like a Uke February Update

The next Cook Like a Uke episode will be up early next week. I've been delayed again by my various real life obligations. One of them, as I mentioned last week, is an editor for Digital Manga. My localizing team, Heaven's Blade, was putting our first title to bed. Again Tomorrow by Nabako Kamo was as fun to do as it was challenging. I wrote a brief blog about the Semes in the book and their tendency toward really public and explicit public displays of affection HERE.

I have managed to shoot most of the video while juggling my other work. I just have one scene to re-shoot. I'm doing my version of the perfect breakfast from Junjou Romantica episode 2. I've added and deleted some dishes. I'll explain that more fully when I post the video. The one after that will be the Pork Tonjiu recipe from episode 1 of Junjou Romantica. What can I say? Misaki Takahashi is adorable, and he really loves to cook for his Seme, Akhiko Usami or Usagi. I should have a more consistent shooting schedule now that I have a stable routine for the rest of my work. Meanwhile, I'll be posting a regular cooking video that is a response to video posted by one of my favorite Japanese chef's online, Ochikeron. If you're interested in Kara Age Style Buffalo Wings, subscribe to my channel or just check in there early next week.

Thank you for your patience and encouragement. 

 Ensnared Volume One, the Paperback is now  on Amazon.com HERE

 Ensnared Volume Two is LIVE on Kindle HERE
The paperback is available HERE
Ebooks for all types of players available on Smashwords HERE  
Ensnared Volume One Kindle Ebook Available HERE 
Check out full chapter excerpts for Volume One and Volume Two under Hot Links in the Menu on the right side of this page!

Ensnared Volume 2 Ebook is LIVE!

Ensnared Volume Two is available in most forms of ebook at Smashwords!
Click HERE to preview 20 percent of this book!
Kindle and Paperback versions are coming soon!
An incredible twist of fate means a drastic change in fortune for Andreas. This change also tears Darius and Andreas apart. While they both cope with being apart, Andreas is faced with all manner of unexpected dilemmas. He has to find a way to be a success in his new role to have a chance at returning to Darius. Andreas also must fend off sexual advances from all manner of surprising people -- including another, very determined Cosi. He must also watch with dread as those close to Darius once again seek his favor, including an infamous ex-lover. Meanwhile, Darius has found that not only is any future relationship with Andreas in jeopardy, his rule as a Cosi may also be in peril. Both men’s freedom and their lives are at stake. Neither can afford the slightest misstep. Passion, however, will not be denied. Darius and Andreas are determined to find a way back to each other no matter what the cost!