Writing | Jeff Adams Writes

“Dancer & Sexy Big Man” Goes Into Editing

September 18, 2010Jeff

At the end of July I signed a contract with Dreamspinner Press for the short story “Dancer & Sexy Big Man.” I’d worked on this story on and off since last December and was thrilled when Dreamspinner said they waned it about a month after I submitted it. This past week I got notification that the story was headed into the editing queue, which gets it that much closer to publication. I don’t have a date yet, but I imagine it will be out sometime this fall.

The story is a romance set inside a So You Think You Can Dance type show. After publishing a hockey-themed story last year it was only a matter of time before I did something around dancing. In this story it’s not two dancers who make a connection, but a dancer and one of the show’s technicians. It was fun to write and I’m excited it publishes soon, especially with Dreamspinner because I had such a good experience with “Rivals.”

Besides this story coming out, the plan is to spend the fall working hardcore on Neutral Zone and getting some serious revision work done. The spring and summer was mostly about prepping for the Braking the Cycle ride so the fall and winter are going to be about novel revisions.

/ via JeffandWill.com /

Two Stories Looking for Homes…and Other Updates

July 20, 2010Jeff

It’s been way too long since I’ve posted here. It’s been way too long since I’ve been working on writing projects too. Time got away from me as I started training more for the September Braking the Cycle ride, which benefits the HIV/AIDS services and the LGBT Center in NYC (you can read more about the ride over in the right column). The writing time became riding time and over the past couple weeks I’ve been striving to balance the two a little better.

I did put a couple of stories out into the marketplace.

1) “Friday Night Snacking,” which I originally wrote trying to get into the Dreamspinner Necking anthology is out to another publisher who is doing a Halloween-themed anthology. This vampire/werewolf/human story seems like a good fit so we’ll see what they say. I just submitted that this morning so I expect it will be a few weeks before I hear anything.

2) The story set with a dance competition show as its background is being reviewed now with a publisher. I like this story a lot so I’m hopeful it will make its way into print.

I recently got a couple of nice comments on “Rivals.” RJ Scott, a great author you should check out, gave “Rivals” five-stars on Goodreads (Thanks RJ!). Clare London, another fab author worthy of your time, also took a moment to tell me that she enjoyed the story and that was great to hear.

I’ve recently discovered a great YA review site (I hope to end up on this site one day once I get my own YA novel revised and published). Dreaming in Books covers a vast array of YA and is run by John who says on the site that he started it “to make a difference in the reading lives of teenage and adult readers alike.” I’ve been reading the site for a couple weeks now and have added some books to my wish list based on his reviews. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does next.

An Afternoon with Dreamspinner Press Authors

March 28, 2010Jeff

I had a great time yesterday at the Rainbow Book Fair. I spent most of the day at the Dreamspinner Press table with the other Dreamspinner authors (from left to right that’s Clare London, Andrew Grey, Carolyn LeVine Topol, Marguerite Labbe, Felicitas Ivey and me). It was a good learning experience watching the authors work the table and the crowd. I handed out some of the free things we had, such as CDs with book excerpts and coupons for discounts on the website.

I kicked myself Friday night because I could’ve planned better and had something on the table for Rivals, which couldn’t be with the rest of the books becuase Rivals is only in e-book format. Around 11pm, the idea struck that I could’ve done a postcard or a pamphlet that used the cover art, offered a summary or brief excerpt as well as the link to the buy the story. Unfortunately I didn’t have the materials in the house to print those up. A lesson learned for next time.

Besides watching the authors interact with the crowd, it was great hearing how they approach their writing–from when they get it squeezed into their day to how many things they work on at one time, where inspiration comes from and what the people around them think of their writing.

I also attended some of the fair’s readings and a went to the panel on the young adult/kids market. Of course, way too many books were purchased, but with the sale prices offered at the fair Will and I couldn’t help but shop. After all, it’s important to support LGBT literature!

Rainbow Book Fair in NYC

March 23, 2010Jeff

This coming Saturday I’m attending the Rainbow Book Fair and will spend the majority of the day at the Dreamspinner Press table with fellow Dreamspinner authors Andrew Grey, Felicitas Ivey, Marguerite Labbe, Carolyn Topol, and Clare London (they are currently scheduled to be there, and maybe some others too).

There’s a lot going on at the fair with panels (including one with Martin Wilson, one of my favorite YA writers), readings (Andrew Grey is reading from one his books, among other LGBT authors) and of course there’s the exhibit space where authors and publishers will offer of their books.

Last year I just went to browse and meet some authors, so I’m excited to attend as an author this year. If you’re in the neighborhood on Saturday please drop by.

No “Necking” and Other News

March 23, 2010Jeff

The story I did for Necking did not get accepted so the hunt is on for another publisher that is looking for similar stories. I believe the story is solid, so I am going to work to find it a good home.

Meanwhile, I’m working on something for Dreamspinner’s Making Contact anthology, which focuses on sci-fi stories. I haven’t tried sci-fi in years so I think it will be fun to give it a whirl. I’ve got an idea already and two months to write it so I should something to show by then.

I haven’t talked about it in a while, but the dance competition story is still in the works. It’s gone on the back burner for a bit while I’ve worked on stories that have deadlines associated with them. This story is coming together quite well though and I just got new comments from Will that I’m going to work on to solidify it further.