Sunday, August 30, 2009

Where's Rowan? (Dragon*Con '09 Edition)

It's the return of the hat! Yeah!



Like it? Made it m'self—It's based on Urahara's bucket hat, and the first place I ever wore it for this game was an anime convention called Katsucon.

Been a very, very long time since we've played Where's Rowan. I think I was somewhat disheartened by the fact that no one ever found me, but really that's no reason to stop playing, right? So at this year's Dragon*Con (http://www.dragoncon.org/), it's going to be be game on once again.

The rules are pretty much the same as that time. If you'll be in the Atlanta area (specifically Dragon*Con, since it's highly unlikely that I'll be leaving the convention) over Labor Day weekend (September 4th - 7th, 2009), and you see someone wearing this hat—



—Then walk up to that person and ask, "Are you Rowan McBride?"

If it is me, I'll flash you a big goofy grin and give you a prize. Now, the prizes are a little different this time around, so listing them below:

  • 8x10 print of my Boy Meets Bishie logo, designed by the fab Anne Cain.
  • Autographed copy of Want Me.
  • Your choice of any one of my ebooks that are currently available (to be delivered via email after I get home from the convention).
  • An update to the serial of your choice. (Apparently waiting for new installments is torture for some people. Who knew?) A list of most of the serials can be found here. However, if you want, you can also request Michael Finally Grows Up.

Last we played, that hat was on my head the ENTIRE TIME. This round, it'll either be on my head, or hooked to the back of my laptop bag, so you'll really need to keep an eye out. I know, the game actually sounds harder, but there is one big advantage.

I'll be tweeting my locations in real time. My page is located at http://twitter.com/RowanMcBride. Follow me (easiest) or check in frequently at the page (effective, if you're dedicated).

Got all that? Sounds like fun, yeah? I would really, really like to be found this year, so let's the flash that hat one more time:



If you know people who dig my stories, tell them it's game on. Let's play!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Things that keep writers up at night.

I go through a lot of revisions. Before even submitting a story to a publisher, it’s quite possible that I’ve combed through it at least ten times before sending it in. This does not include the rather complex system of beta readers I have, each with their specific purpose in vetting my story. Does the concept make sense? How are the characters? Does everyone remember to take their shoes off with the rest of their clothes during sex? Did I use that semicolon correctly?


Overkill. I know this.


Yet there are still errors.


My editors at all my publishing houses are excellent. They find stuff that no one before them found. They spot plot holes I hadn’t even considered. I may grumble and grouse about how they want me to butcher my work of art, but after the first few minutes I get over it because they’re usually right. I make those edits. I start to feel good. Comfortable, even.


Yet…


Below are two short passages from two different novels. Non spoiler, but both containing pretty horrifying typos. Typos that were caught in the late stages of editing--in the case of Lone, the final pass before the manuscript was set to go to the printers.


From Lone:


He grinned and walked around to the side of the house, where an older man was shopping wood. He had the same Dirisio jet-black hair, with shocks of white at his temples.


Should have been:


He grinned and walked around to the side of the house, where an older man was chopping wood. He had the same Dirisio jet-black hair, with shocks of white at his temples.



From One Shot my upcoming novella:


Riley touched our noses together. “And, for the record, I don’t think you’re sexier than me.”


Should have been:


Riley touched our noses together. “And, for the record, I don’t think I’m sexier than you.”


Two TOTALLY different meanings there, gaw.


Now, let me just say that I like to think of myself as pretty good at catching my own mistakes. I know my beta readers rock, and my editors are amazing. Still, though it was no one’s fault, the above errors were a last minute catch, and every time something like that happens I ask myself compulsively “What if we hadn’t…?”


Which, of course, inevitably leads to “I wonder what else we didn’t…?”


And suddenly I’m staring up at my ceiling fan at four in the morning.


Part of being a writer is letting your cherished story go. For me, “letting go” means not looking at the book months (if not a full year) after it’s out there. Even now I suspect there’s a spelling error in Lone but I refuse to look. At this point there’s nothing I can do about it and who needs the stress?


By the time a story of mine goes to publication, I’m so sick at the mere mention of the title that my stomach twists. But eventually I always go back, read through it again. I can honestly say that even though I sometimes cringe at a turn of phrase or grammar error, I’ve never been ashamed of any of my stories. Now that I’ve gone through this process with five releases, it’s a comforting thought, despite my tendency to freak out.


So that’s one of the things that keeps me up at night. I’d wager I’m not the only writer out there who goes through it. As usual, there’s no real point to this post. Just thought I’d share that a part of me lives in a constant state of fear. :)

Friday, August 21, 2009

"One Shot" has a cover!

The art was done by P.L. Nunn. :)



Click here to learn more about One Shot

Friday, August 7, 2009

Feed the Fetish – Megane

I must admit, I do have a thing for guys with glasses. I associate the look with intelligence, even though there’s no actual correlation between the two (I should know—I wear glasses and there are days I’m as dumb as a brick). At any rate, smart is sexy.



And let’s not forget the anime/manga factor. There, if you have a bishie wearing glasses, chances are he’s pure sadistic seme when he takes them off, and I live for that moment. In western pop culture, the nearest thing I can liken it to is the Superman/Clark Kent example. Everyone knows that Clark is a mild mannered reporter, but a crime-fighting ass-kicking reporter-macking super hero when he takes his glasses off.



So, without further ado, here are a few hot guys with glasses:



Innocent Bird Cover

Karasu remains a good guy (more or less) whether he's wearing his glasses or not. When he takes them off he sprouts wings and kicks ass, so hawt.



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Haruhiko - Is Frikking Here by ~TheRedLightning on deviantART

I don't think I've seen Haruhiko from Junjo Romantica take off his glasses yet, but I have a feeling that the day he does is going to be a good day.



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CHARLEY by *Ecthelian on deviantART

Charley, from Vassalord. Vampire. Cyborg. Works for the Vatican. The glasses are just icing, really. :)



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Kyoya by *poisondanny on deviantART

Mmm. Kyouya. Shadow king from the Ouran High School Host Club. He's definitely a sadistic seme when the glasses come off. :)



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