I'm just hopping on quickly to say the NEW SITE is nearly ready! Jacs has been busy working on it for the past few months, and it's almost ready to unveil. For the new site, we've gone over to Wordpress from E-fic - there are some compromises either way, but we decided Wordpress was better for what we want to achieve here.

When we unveil the new xanthe.org, you'll have the facility to download all the stories in epub formats, navigation should be much easier, and the title displays will show if a story has been translated or made into a podfic, with easy access options from there. Where a story has multiple graphics, we've displayed them in a nifty little gallery on the title page, so they're easy to see and click on to enlarge. Signing up to the site will be easier, with no messy logins required to switch between the site and the forum. There's a much better and prettier newsletter option as well, so I can keep you informed of any updates.

It's all been designed to make this, according to Jacs *g*, the most ninja, kickass Wordpress fanfic site out there! It's got lots of other nifty little features and a complete redesign, too. I'm not saying what colour/s it'll be, but you know me so guessing shouldn't be too hard *g*.

We aim to unveil the new look site some time in June, so keep checking back in!

In the meantime, as part of the redesign process, we tallied up how many words I've written in my fanfic career, including Ricochet. Can you guess how many it is... poll over on the right, and I'll announce the answer on Launch Day!

Hello! Sorry I've been quiet - my working life has been very hectic so far this year, which has given me less online time. However, I have finally managed to find some writing time and am happy to announce the new novel is now nearly 40,000 words long. Woot! I think people will like this one a lot - it's a sci-fi, murder mystery gay romance, set in London in the future.

You can find out more in my new blog entry, together with my chunterings about TV shows and my cats :-).

I've just posted a new, 9000 word story in the Suits fandom. It's Harvey/Mike, and it's called The Cat That Walked By Himself.

Summary

Everyone has a soul animal, but the ability to see them has faded. Harvey possesses not only the ability to see them but also to transform into his own soul animal. Harvey likes to think of himself as the cat that walks by himself, but that changes when he meets Mike Ross, and comes face to face with the rarest soul animal of all…

Extract

If Harvey hadn’t had the Specter gift for seeing into a person’s soul and glimpsing the true self within, then he would have sent Mike Ross packing the minute he showed up for a job interview carrying a bag full of weed. The reason he didn’t was because he looked into Mike’s soul and saw something he’d never seen before - and it shocked him to his core.

He’d heard the legends, of course. His grandmother used to hold him between her forelegs and wash his furry kitten head with little rasps of her iguana tongue when he was only a child. It was she who had showed him how one could love a soul very different to oneself.

When they both changed back into human form, she would hold him close, rock him in her armchair, and tell him stories about the world that hardly anyone else had ever heard.

“People with this kind of soul animal are very rare,” she told him. “I’ve never seen one, but I hear they do exist. There are maybe a handful of them out there, with a new one born only every generation.”

“But I don’t understand.” Harvey turned curious eyes to gaze up at her. “How is it even possible? And how does it work?”

“Like I said, I have no idea. I’ve never met one. Maybe you will, one day, and if you do, it will be a remarkable thing. People with these souls are as special as they are rare. They often achieve great things - and those things can be terrible or beautiful, or sometimes both.”

Harvey had dismissed all this as simply myth and folklore, until he met Mike Ross.

Mike had stumbled into his room, all boyish charm, bad suit, and messy hair, and dropped his suitcase of weed all over the floor, and Harvey had been about kick him out when Mike had suddenly looked at him with those bright blue eyes, and Harvey had seen his soul animal… and stopped dead in astonishment.

This scruffy kid was one of those his grandmother had told him about, one of those with the rare, special souls, with the capacity to do great harm or great good.

For Mike Ross’s soul animal was… Find out here!

I managed to get this done a day earlier than expected, so I just posted Silent Night, my Christmas fanfic offering for this year! It's a multi-fandom story, set primarily in the Suits fandom, but with lots of different fandom couples, old and new, making guest appearances. It's a crossover between my Possession, 24/7 and Two Masters story-verses so some of the pairings will be obvious - and some rather more surprising...

It's 21,500 words long, so that's a nice long read. I hope you enjoy my Christmas present to you all - a little comment would be lovely if you do!

I've also posted a little poll over in the box on the right hand side of this page, where you can vote for your favourite Xanthe Christmas fic - best read Silent Night first so you can judge! And if you want to revisit all the old Christmas fics, you can find them here.

Merry Christmas!

I know a few people have been waiting for this, so I'm delighted to announce that the paperback version of Ricochet is now available on Amazon - YAY! So there's still time to order it for a Christmas pressie, either for yourself or someone else! LOL!

Here are the links to all the places where you can buy the paperback:

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.de Amazon.fr Amazon.es Amazon.it Createspace

And here are the links to all the places where you can buy the e-book. As I've added a few, I thought it'd be useful to have a post where they're all in one place:

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.de Amazon.fr Amazon.es Amazon.it Amazon.jp Amazon.br Amazon.ca Smashwords Sony Kobo

I'm sure you're all bored of me chuntering on about Ricochet now. I'm hoping to start a new novel in the New Year, but in the meantime, I can say I've started a fanfic Xmas story that I'm having a huge amount of fun with so far... ;-). I've done about 5,000 words of it, and I thought it might be about 10,000 in all, but you know me, so I suspect it'll grow a bit more than that! I don't want to say anything more just yet, but I hope to post it by Xmas Eve at the latest.

I had a conversation on my Facebook page recently about who I'd cast to play the character from Ricochet in a movie version of my novel (because yes, obviously it's very likely that a movie will be made of my gay BDSM novel!). I also answered the question on the recent blog hop I participated in.

I must admit, I floundered a bit about who would play Rick and Matt. I didn't really have a strong sense of any actor playing them when I was writing them. They felt very real to me in my head, but I didn't have a physical avatar for them.

So I eventually decided that a slightly younger Patrick J Adams would be a perfect Matt...but was stumped with Rick. Then Georgie Smith made me this (below) and it all fell into place! I have NO idea why I didn't think of this perfect casting before! Anyway, I LOVE this pic and think they both look just right in the roles :-). That's JUST how I see them (only Rick has longer hair *g*). Matt is completely spot on! Thanks SO much to Georgie. I love this!

I've created a Ricochet Forum Page on this site for discussions, fanfic, fanart, questions, news etc about Ricochet. Please come along and join in :-). The latest news is that I've had the proof for the paperback edition, so once I've read it, and assuming there are no vast changes to be made, then I'll be able to offer that for purchase on Amazon too - hopefully in time for Christmas!

Just to let you know that I've created a Ricochet page on the site, and uploaded the first fourteen chapters of the novel, which amounts to a whopping 34,000 ish words. So if you want to do a little 'try before you buy', then go and check it out :-).

Ricochet is my 173,000 word original character slash novel set in the BDSM universe. It's available to buy from on Smashwords and Amazon for only $5.99.

I hope you're all ready for the publication of Ricochet on Monday - and not as nervous as I am! LOL!

Read part six of my writing blog about the final process of getting the novel ready. It's worth it - there are bears there!

Once upon a time, many years ago, I wrote a story in the SGA fandom called General and Doctor Sheppard, where a married John and Rodney were zapped into our universe from their own, where bisexuality and BDSM relationships are the norm. The story dealt with the resulting culture clash and it's fair to say it caused a bit of controversy in the fandom ;-).

I then went on to write Coming Home, a story set entirely in the BDSM universe, showing how the AU John and Rodney first got together, and Hiding in Plain Sight, a massive crossover story in the BDSM universe, featuring characters from NCIS. I followed that with The First Collar, telling the story of how Tony first met Gibbs in the BDSM universe.

As I'm shortly going to be publishing Ricochet, which is also set in the BDSM universe, my website manager, Jacci, had the fantastic idea of launching the BDSM Universe Wiki Project. The goal is to create a complete resource of my BDSM Universe stories.

The first basic ideas include:

• Glossary of terms


• Timeline


• History


• List and explanation of traditions and customs


• Values and norms


• Legal system and procedures


• Character histories within this 'verse


• Kinks


• Taboos


• Popular culture: Movies/Songs/TV shows


• Procreation


• Anything else anybody can think of!

Jacci's created a page on my forum especially for the project, here: BDSM Universe Wiki Project. Please feel free to join in and help! Everyone who has read and enjoyed the stories is welcome! You have to sign up to the forum first but that only takes a second and after that you can join in the fun :-). Incidentally, for various e-fic reasons you have to be a member of the forum, not the site to join in. Sorry about that - we're thinking of taking the whole site over to Wordpress to get rid of that kind of annoyance.

BDSM Universe Wiki Project BDSM Universe Wiki Project BDSM Universe Wiki Project

And, seeing as we're talking about the BDSM Universe, I thought a little poll on it might be fun :-). Look over to your right at the polls section and vote for which of my BDSM Universe stories is your favourite!

I've already posted the new cover art, summary and extract for Ricochet on my Xanthe Walter website, but for those who haven't seen it there, I'm posting it here too. The cover art was done by the wonderful bluespirit_star.

I also have a tentative date for publication - Monday November 5th. If that changes, I'll let you know.

When the right dom is all wrong!

Even in a BDSM universe, where everyone identifies as dom or sub, finding the right partner isn’t always easy.

Matt is a big star on the hit TV show, Collar Crime, and he’s looking for a dom who ticks all the right boxes, including being as tidy and organised as himself.

That definitely isn’t his chaotic co-star, Rick, with his spanking fetish and habit of tying a different sub to his bed every night.

When Matt meets the perfect dom he’s swept off his feet, but he soon discovers that being pursued by a handsome, controlling billionaire isn’t the erotic fantasy he’d imagined.

Maybe the right dom for him is the one he thought was all wrong…

Extract

Matt wrapped a towel around his waist and emerged into the spare bedroom to see a clean tee shirt lying on the bed. He pulled it on to find it more or less fitted him. He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed as he saw the words emblazoned on it:

You want to spank me, and you know it!

They were the words of an infuriatingly catchy pop song that everyone had been singing a few months ago.  Still, it was better than his liquor-stained shirt, so he decided to go with it.

He walked down the stairs and found Rick in the kitchen, brewing some coffee. He had showered and dressed too – in a pair of black jeans and a tight crimson shirt that hugged his body almost obscenely. There was the usual assortment of leather bracelets around his wrists, and he was wearing his favourite thumb ring. A gold ear cuff clung to his left ear, attached by a chain to a ruby ear stud with a long scarlet crystal spike hanging from it. As usual, Matt felt decidedly under-dressed beside him.

“Thanks – shit I need this!” Matt said, taking the mug of black coffee that Rick handed to him.

“You’re welcome, and you’re right; I do.” Rick winked at him, nodding his head at the slogan emblazoned on his chest.

“Hah hah hah hah hah.” Matt glared at him. “Was this really the only spare tee shirt you had?”

“Nah, but I liked the idea of you wearing that slogan.” Rick grinned. “Also, it’s a great shade of blue on you; brings out the colour of your eyes. Plus, it actually fits.” He stood back and surveyed Matt critically. “It’s not mine – some sub left it here a few months ago.”

Matt took a deep sip of his coffee. “And they never came back for it?”

“Nah – I never invite subs back; it complicates things.”

“Really? Never?” Matt glanced at him over the rim of his mug, startled. “I mean, I know you get through a lot of subs, but you never see them again after?”

"I try not to. Once is fun, but twice starts to feel like we’re dating, and I don’t date.”

“Why not?”

“Why?” Rick countered with a grin.

“I don’t know – lots of reasons: Intimacy, friendship, affection… love?”

“I’ve got friends for that. Relationships just complicate things.”

“Wow – those are some massive commitment issues you’ve got there, O’Shea.”

“I freely admit it. Now, if you’ve finished guzzling that coffee – take this.” Rick handed him a motorcycle helmet.

Matt stared at it blankly. “Uh… why?”

“Because I don’t trust that you’re sober enough to drive yet, so you’ll be my passenger on the bike.”

“I’m not sober enough to drive, but you are?” Matt raised an eyebrow.

“I only had one glass of wine. You were knocking it back.”

“I’m fine. There is no way I’m getting on that stupid bike with you.”

“Tough.” Rick’s expression changed, and he folded his arms across his chest. “Because there is no way I’m letting you get behind the wheel of a car right now.”

Rick was usually very easy-going, so Matt had expected him to shrug and give in, but it seemed that he really did mean it about him not driving. He might have a point – Matt had drunk a lot only a few hours ago; it probably wasn’t entirely safe for him to drive yet.

“Why don’t you drive my car then?” Matt held up the keys.

“What’s the matter…? Oh wait!” Rick rolled his eyes. “You’ve never been on a motorcycle before, have you?”

“Well… no,” Matt admitted. “They always seem noisy and dangerous, and… ”

“Fun and exciting?” Rick raised an eyebrow. “You know, I don’t think there’s nearly enough fun and excitement in your ordered little life.”

“And I don’t think there’s nearly enough order and routine in your freewheeling existence,” Matt retorted.

Rick laughed. “You could be right, but we can’t all be as perfect as you. C’mon – let’s get moving. I can’t be late for work after Petra's dressing down yesterday.”

Matt took the helmet and followed Rick to the front door. Rick opened it… and they both froze as a dozen camera light bulbs flashed at them.

“Rick, Rick – any comment about what happened down the Justice Hall last night?” a reporter yelled.

Matt stood there, open-mouthed, taking in the sight of the dozen or so journalists camped out on Rick’s front drive, complete with brightly flashing cameras.

“Damn it – I forgot to lock the gates when I got home last night,” Rick muttered.

“Are you worried about your job, Rick?” someone called.

“Do you think Petra Davies will fire you over this?”

“Rick – are you and Matthew Lake having an affair?"

“What?” Matt exploded.

The journalist who’d yelled that out grinned at him. “Well, you stayed over last night, and that isn’t the shirt you were wearing when you arrived.”

“How did you…?”

“Forget it, Matt. They just want to get a quote out of you,” Rick told him quietly. He took hold of Matt’s hand and dragged him across the driveway towards his Harley. “Have you never dealt with the paparazzi before?” Rick asked as they walked.

“Well… not like this, no. Have you?” Matt asked, shocked.

“Plenty of times, but that’s because I’m always doing stupid things and drawing attention to myself, whereas the most gossip you’ve ever given them is going out for a meal with your boring accountant dom, followed by a quiet night in.”

“That is not… ” Matt began, and then he sighed. “Okay, that is true.”

“Matt! Does this mean you’ve split up from Emily Campanillo? Or doesn’t she know that you’re sleeping with Rick?”

“What the hell business is that of yours? And I am NOT sleeping with Rick!” Matt rounded on the journalist angrily. Rick took Matt’s helmet out of his hand, placed it on his head, and began buckling it up under his chin.

“Is it true she offered you her collar, but you turned her down because you’re secretly in love with Rick?”

“No! Where on earth do you get this shit?”

“Matty – I’ve told you, just stay calm and say nothing,” Rick hissed, fastening the helmet a little too tight, in what felt like an effort to gag him.

“No way! I am not letting them get away with making up stuff about me!”

“Matt – how does it feel to be another notch on Rick O’Shea’s bedpost?” someone yelled. “Do you feel cheap and dirty now? He’s had just about every other sub in town, after all!”

Matt saw red. He jerked away from Rick and stormed across the driveway… only to find himself suddenly walking on air, his feet kicking out uselessly beneath him as a strong arm latched around his body and swung him off the ground.

“What the hell…?” Matt hollered, as Rick threw him over his shoulder, cave-dom style, and carried him back to the bike.

He plonked Matt on it, got on behind him, and put his arms around Matt to grab the handlebars, trapping Matt there. “Now shut up and stay still,” Rick ordered, revving up the bike.

“But I – ”

“Quiet!” Rick thundered. He stamped his foot down on the pedal, and the bike roared out of the driveway and onto the road, leaving a trail of scattered journalists in its wake.

I want to give a massive shoutout to Ceruleanscarab who has just finished recording General & Doctor Sheppard as a podfic. She has been amazing, recording several long stories over the past year, including Coming Home, Hiding in Plain Sight, and Soul Deep. Now that G&DS have been recorded, ALL my BDSM universe stories are available as podfics, thanks to Ceruleanscarab and Naurel Greenleaf. This is just wonderful. Ceruleanscarab is going to start work on Damage next :-). You can find all the podfics of my stories here.

My original character novel has now been sent to my betas, so I finally feel able to do the first teaser post. Squee! I'll do more of these in the next few weeks and hope to include some graphics too as we go along. This one is just a little introduction. So much happens in the 165,000 words of the novel that I had to just concentrate on some basics here! LOL!

The novel is called Ricochet, it's set in the BDSM universe, and you can find the summary and extract in my blog post here.

Come on over and party with me there - I'm very excited about it!

Expect lots more soon!