New Stories Available

Greetings all! Sorry for not posting sooner, but I’ve actually been writing for a change instead of goofing off online. I’m pleased to announce that I have not one, but TWO stories appearing in Dreamspinner’s e-anthology, To Have and To Hold. This is a wedding-themed collection that is available as a “daily dose” — that is, a story a day delivered to your mailbox every day in June. You also have the option of buying stories individually. For details, check out Dreamspinner’s site at http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/tohaveandtohold.htm. Here are descriptions of my stories, both of which I really enjoyed writing.

Wedding Favors by D.G. Parker

Bobby is a gay man stuck in a het wedding world. Time after time he watches others get hitched while he satisfies himself with one-night stands… until he notices the same blond hottie three weddings in a row.

Larry Fletcher Checks Out of the Heartbreak Hotel by D.G. Parker

Jaded and hurting from a recent breakup, Larry’s not exactly having the time of his life in Vegas for his best friend’s wedding. But his luck begins to change at the Love Me Tender Wedding Chapel, where The King not only marries his friends, but takes on the challenge of teaching Larry to Viva Las Vegas and enjoy some Burning Love.

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In Service to the King

This was a short story published by Dreamspinner and offered exclusively as an eFiction download. It took me forever to come up with a real title for it, but the working title was “Brokeback RenFaire.” It’s a series of moments in the lives of Nerom, a struggling peasant, and the discontented royal Janus. They become lovers as youths on a stormy night and their paths continue to cross throughout their lives.

I enjoyed writing this little series of vignettes. You can download the story here.

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Greeks Bearing Gifts

“Greeks Bearing Gifts” was published in Dreamspinner’s anthology Sandals and Sodomy. I enjoyed writing this story as I’ve always been a fan of the great Greek epics. Homer rocks. I particularly love The Odyssey and its wily hero, but I resisted the urge to base my story around him. Turns out that was a good call, since another author did so in S&S.

My story was about Antenor, a young survivor of the siege of Troy. After the city’s fallen, any men who don’t escape are put to death. Antenor catches the eye of cruel Greek Endymion, and it seems the young Trojan is destined for a short life of sexual torment. Enter Calchas, an older Greek warrior who hesitantly takes Antenor as a slave. Their relationship is off to a rocky start, but slowly the develop a trust that carries them through many differences and dangers.

There was one web review, and besides praising the book for its beautiful appearance (I agree), it had good things to say about “Greeks Bearing Gifts.” The website Speak Its Name called it “a great little story, sweet and surprising in turns.”

There’s a funny coda to this adventure. When Dreamspinner cuts their checks, they print the anthology and story names right on the check face. So yes, I had to go to the bank and deposit a check for sodomy.

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Back in the Saddle

The first story I actually got paid to write was “Back in the Saddle.” I submitted it for Dreamspinner’s cowboys and gamblers anthology, Know When to Hold ‘Em, and crossed my fingers. I was over the moon when I found out it had been accepted. This was in April of 2008.

The story follows young Obie Watson, a drifter and gambler who finds himself stuck when his horse goes lame. His ticket out of town is the Bar Jay Ranch, which will heal his horse in exchange for a few months’ work. Reluctantly taking up the hard life of a ranch hand, Obie finds himself drawn to the handsome but distant owner, Ben Johnson. As his relationship with the older man grows and he himself starts changing, Obie must decide whether to return to his familiar, lonely life or to take a chance at something more.

Being published was thrilling, and then I actually got a review! Connie at JoyfullyReviewed.com declared “Back in the Saddle” one of her favorite stories in the anthology, calling it “an emotional and satisfying tale and well worth a read.” All in all, a very satsifying way to begin my writing career.

Months later, my friends threw me a surprise “book signing party.” They’d all bought copies of my published books and demanded I sign them. And they’d made the most amazing (and delicious) cake…

It was probably the best part of the experience, realizing I had friends who understood just how important a milestone it was to me. It was a hell of a party.

Know When to Hold ‘Em is available through Dreamspinner Press, linked to the right.

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The Inaugural

Ah, the first post of a new blog! For a writer, there’s nothing scarier than a blank page waiting to be filled. The possibilities! The pressure!

The purpose of these particular pages is to update anyone interested in my current writing projects. Here you’ll be able to keep up with my work — published, in progress, and under consideration. I might even vent some frustrations and moan theatrically about my writing process, though I’ll try to keep the authorly angst to a minimum. In the next few days, I’ll do short write-ups about the items I’ve published courtesy of Dreamspinner Press (see link on the right) and offer a sneak peek on my current project, Fairies. Watch these pages for excerpts!

Welcome to the blog, and please feel free to leave a comment if you’re so inclined.

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