Astrid Amara

2010 Projects

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:37:53 GMT

Happy New Year!

I confess, it feels good to have all the festivities over, and I'm optimistic about this decade. And may 2010 be the year we discover the secrets of teleportation and alchemy!

First off, thanks to Lily at Rainbow Reviews for a nice review of Carol of the Bellskis!

Thanks also to All About Romance's website which gave Holiday Outing a B. B is for blintzes! Thanks Katie Mack!

So what's the plan for 2010? I have several books in progress or waiting in the stuffy, overcrowded lobby of my mind....

A contemporary mystery romance complete with horses, hot Brazilians, and would-be murderers.
A "space opera" collaborative work with the amazing Ginn Hale and Nicole Kimberling. It's not certain, but we've been working on another anthology, although this time it will be set around a space station and a carbon dioxide-breathing population. My story will of course have terrorists, crying, torture, hot Brazilians (oh wait no sorry wrong novel), hot SPIES, and perhaps miniature desktop elephants.
An AU medical mystery story set in a homesteader community suffering a terrible plague. Vague description, I know, but its a work in progress and I'm still not 100% sure where it's going to go.
Fire, the sequel to Water, which will follow the development of the supernatural beings, the Valde, as they struggle to break free of their human body prisons and finish the war they started so long ago.

And of course, something will probably peak my interest halfway through the year and I'll write that story instead and abandon all hope of maintaining any sort of writing schedule, which is why I can give you no guarantees, other than this: MORE TO COME.

Hope you all are as hopefully about 2010 as I am! May the teleportation to our gold reserves begin!

GLOBAL WARMING SOLVED: AMARA'S NEW BOOK GENERATES OZONE

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:39:48 GMT

Copenhagen, Denmark (AP) - Scientists present at the Global Warming talks in Copenhagen today revealed their solution to the global warming issue plaguing the world; it is Astrid Amara's new book, Carol of the Bellskis.

"This book has enough heat to allow readers to turn off their wood-burning stoves, enough metaphorical and physical icy conditions to halt the retreat of the oceans, and an ability to generate its own atmosphere," says top scientist, Dr. Rathbone Factlover. He added, "And the atmosphere not only comes with ozone, but with nearly insipid holiday cheer!"

Early readers of the book have been astounded by the warm, cozy feelings they had after the experience, and the fact that the author chose to set a Chanukah story in Whistler, British Columbia.

"There are Jews in Whister?" asked a woman on a street.

Author Amara is pleased with the results.

"I always knew that my writing would one day save polar bears," she said while eating a third fast food cheesewhopper and standing next to 14,000 kilowatts of baseboard heating without sealed windows. After taking another sip of her spotted-owl juice, she throws a piece of plastic in her back yard, barely missing her Hummer. "I'm just glad that I'm making a difference."

Carol of the Bellskis is for sale as of today at Loose Id.

Day 4 of Chanukah: In Which I Force Friends to Drive Me Through the Snow to Shop.

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:57:45 GMT

Snow!
It's still a pretty rare and magical experience in the Pacific Northwest, so it's exciting. And dangerous. Because this is a place where people have no practice driving on ice, and also big egos, and also large hills, and also no snow removal or sanding equipment.

Therefore, I am forcing friend, fellow author, and editor Nicole Kimberling to drive me over the ice into another country where I may procure the last of my holiday shopping items. She lived in Colorado. She knows snow. And Richmond, British Columbia has a Daiso!

And maybe we can even catch a showing of Red Cliff, because something about snow makes me want to watch two hours of combat on horseback! Yes!

Congratulations to bittermint for being the first to answer yesterday's question, and winning a copy of Holiday Outing!

Since I've been writing a lot this weekend, I've been thinking about music, and decided to make an imix as my gift for Day 4. I tend to listen to one song on repeat over and over while writing a novel. The song lyrics rarely have anything to do with the story itself - it's more about an ambiance created by the song style.

And since I'm always curious about what songs are running through author's heads when they write a scene, I thought I'd share mine. Here's a breakdown by novel (you'll note the longer the book, the more songs I need to go through!). Yeah, sorry about the huge amount of Muse. Can't help it though, since they're my favorite band.

You can listen to the list on itunes here:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=346501100

The Archer’s Heart
1. City of Delusion, Muse
2. I Fought the Angels, The Delgados
3. Doctor Blind, Emily Haines
4. Micro Cuts, Muse
5. Helicopter, Bloc Party
Intimate Traitors
1. 2+2=5, Radiohead
2. Fools in Love, Inara George
A Policy of Lies
1. Starlight, Muse
Hell Cop
1. Nobody Loves You, Garbage
Holiday Outing
1. Soft Rock Star, Metric
2. Heaven Adores You, Earlimart
Water
1. Bachelorette, Bjork
Hell Cop 2
1. Lovesong, Snake River Conspiracy
2. Wake Up, Rage Against the Machine
Carol of the Bellskis
1. Easily, Muse
2. La Realite, Amadou & Mariam
3. Aftermath, Adam Lambert
Spite & Malice (Work-in-Progress)
1. Fury, Muse
2. Dark Blue, Jack’s Mannequin
Space Story (Work-in-Progress)
1. Yes Please, Muse
2. Dead Meat, Sean Lennon
Fantasy story (Work-in-Progress)
1. Nothing In My Way, Keane
2. Apocalypse Please, Muse

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Day 3 of Chanukah: Praise, Presents, Peace on Earth

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:06:21 GMT

Happy Chanukah!

Day three, and I got my own present this year... the book I co-authored with Nicole Kimberling and Ginn Hale, Hell Cop, won third place in the 2009 Rainbow Awards for best futuristic novel!

Winners are listed here.

Thanks, Elisa, for organizing the competition, and thanks to everyone who voted.

Okay, now a present for someone else... a free copy of Holiday Outing, my 2008 Chanukah romance. Just drop me a line at: astrid at astridamara dot com and tell me what you like best in holiday romances, and I'll give a copy of Holiday Outing to you!

An excerpt from Holiday Outing is online here.

Happy holidays, stay warm, stay cheerful, and most of all, hope for peace on earth because, while extremely unlikely, would certainly be cool.

Day 2 of Chanukah: Another Gift

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:08:22 GMT

Happy Saturday, Shabbat, Chanukah! There were 6 individual flakes of snow in the air on my way to my coffee stand this morning, which means it could turn very snowy here soon. But I'm nicely tucked inside, reading and drinking coffee.

And since I'm offering a small gift every day leading to the release of my new Chanukah novel Carol of the Bellskis, I thought I'd offer the kind of gift NO ONE WANTS. Yes. This is the internet-equivalent of Christmas fruitcake, or a sweater-vest.

It's a map! A map of Parmas City, the fantastical setting of the novellas written by Nicole Kimberling, Ginn Hale, and myself in our Hell Cop series! Oh joy! I bet you've always wanted to know where Ben Moran lives in comparison to Jay Yervant. I've bet you've sat back and said to yourself, "self, why oh why can't I visualize whether or not these characters are walking north to the gay district or east to the beach?" Well, worry no more. This sketchy and unprofessional-looking map will clarify your vision of Parmas City like butter hardened on a pair of goggles.

A Map of Parmas City.

Enjoy!

And Happy Holidays! Bring on the snow!

HAPPY CHANUKAH ROMANCE!

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:29:07 GMT

Happy Chanukah! The holiday begins at sundown today, so as a first present, I would like to share an excerpt from my upcoming 2010 Hanukkah romance novel, Carol of the Bellskis!

Paralegal Seth Bellski finally calls it quits on his clandestine relationship with his boss, Lars Varga, tired of being his dirty secret. Yet despite being in the middle of a bad breakup, the two of them are forced to run a kosher B&B until Seth's relatives are found. But more than just candles re-ignite over Chanukah, and Seth is left wondering if maybe Lars IS the guy of his dreams. After all, if they can survive this holiday, surely their relationship can survive anything.

Read an excerpt (PDF).

Have a great night everyone, and best wishes!

Hanukkah Humor! Plus Gay Sex!

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:36:35 GMT

Oh, me.

Why must I combine the loving, innocent values of a time-honored holiday tradition with, as one of my ESL students once said, "the intercourses"?

I don't know, but I sure as hell enjoy doing it. I get concerned looks from the dogs when I maniacally giggle as I tear my characters asunder and then fling them back together so they may "proceed with caution." The cheerful clacking of my computer keys accompanies a the low mumble of me talking to myself like a madwoman, cackling demented as I dangerously combine blintzes with blizzards and jerky ex-boyfriends with icy staircases and - worse - a theatre director. I may have gone too far this time. I don't care. Hanukkah is almost here and I feel the holiday joy upon me.

So here to kick off the week in which Hanukkah will begin (this Friday at sundown), I thought I'd share my new banner for The Carol of the Bellskis, which is coming next Tuesday, December 15! And every day of Hanukkah, starting Friday night, I'll be sharing an excerpt here on the website. Another way to keep warm through the night. :) Happy near-holidays, everyone!

Celebrate Chanukah the right way - ROMANCE STYLE!

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:22:42 GMT

The Holiday Season is upon us! At least it feels like it, weather-wise.

And since no one writes de hot m/m Jewish romance no mo, it's up to me!

The Carol of the Bellskis is my newest title, and will be available from Loose Id on December 15, smack dab in the middle of Chanukah!
So pull up a chair, light a candle, eat a latke, and get ready for some light-hearted holiday romance.

Here's the unofficial blurb:

Paralegal Seth Bellski is tired of being the secret lover of his boss, Lars Varga, founding partner of Finch, Varga & Vale Law. So when he asks Lars to spend Chanukah with Seth's family at their kosher B&B in Whistler, B.C., and Lars refuses, Seth realizes he will never get his self-conscious boss out of the closet.

So Seth prepares to spend his Chanukah holiday alone in the B&B. Instead he finds himself running the place, as his aunt and uncle are missing, and nine demanding, peculiar, and danger-prone guests have arrived. To make matters worse, Lars shows up, begging forgiveness. Lars's touches remind Seth of why he put up with his boss's behavior in the first place. If only the words that came out of that beautiful mouth were as sweet as his kisses.

But how can Seth find time to fix his broken relationship when the guests are demanding kosher, gluten-free diets, losing their pet terriers, and hitting their heads on the ice?

Seth and Lars find themselves put through the paces of being a married couple, all while still broken up. But then again, if they can survive this Chanukah, surely their relationship can withstand anything?

More info coming soon.

Happy pre-holidays, everyone!

Back from Yaoi-con!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:27:58 GMT

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Blind Eye Books table at Yaoi-con this last weekend! Ginn Hale, Nicole Kimberling, and I had a blast. All in all, a good trip despite the fact that I ruined my computer by getting water on it, and after the glory that is California weather, returning to THIS:

Honestly, who cares if its "showers" or "rain"???

California-bound

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:21:13 GMT

Hey all!

Just wanted to let people know I will be at the Blind Eye Books booth in the dealers room at Yaoi-con this weekend! Woo! So if you are in the San Mateo area and swing by the convention, make sure to stop by and say hello to me and fellow Hell Cop author Ginn Hale. We'll be busy doing what we usually do... reading, writing, doodling, and making inappropriate jokes.

See you there!

Hello, rainy writing season!

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:06:52 GMT

Well, it's torrential rain-time here in the Pacific Northwest, but I can't complain. We had an amazing summer. And I had a lovely summer goofing around in that sun, playing outside, and not writing.

But now that the weather has turned, it's time to return to Babs (my laptop) and get to work on a new novel!

I have a Hanukah story coming out this December from Loose Id. At the moment it's called The Carol of the Bellskis. It's a fun story to write, although hard to visualize snow when there's nothing but rain outside.

I also read a great book this weekend, The City & the City by China Mieville. No, not m/m romance (although two pretty awesome detectives I really enjoyed), but a great example of how speculative fiction and mystery can merge in a creative, enveloping way. Yess! I love reading!

As soon as I have some excerpts and more materials on Carol of the Bellskis, I'll share. Until then, I wish you all a lovely autumn and the start of a great Writing Season!

It's October! That means it's Yaoi-Con Season!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:42:34 GMT

I'm excited! October has always been my favorite month, and I have so many reasons to already love it....

October = a new website for one of my publishers, Blind Eye Books, that has a beautiful illustration of my character Keshan from The Archer's Heart. Hooray! check it out at www.blindeyebooks.com.

Also,

October = Astrid trying to write two books at once! I'm forcing myself to be excited about this, because otherwise I might cry! But it will be good. Both stories have a lot of potential. More soon about them...

And

October = Thrill the World! The Guiness Book of Record's record for largest spontaneous dance across the world is happening Oct 24, and I've got all my Michael Jackson's Thriller moves memorized! I'm SO zombie. Zombie romance? Hm...

And of course,

October = Yaoi-con! I'll be at the convention in San Mateo, CA at the end of October, hanging around the Blind Eye Books table, trying to pick up anyone looking like Yuki Eiri from Gravitation. Stop by and say hello if you're in the area!

So yay October! Screw you, September! You brought me nothing but procrastinating writing schedules, an overabundance of plums, and the resurgence of the skinny jean!

Some new reviews of Hell Cop

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:22:04 GMT

valkovalin has posted two wonderful new reviews of Hell Cop and Hell Cop 2. Read them on her website Obsidian Bookshelf:

Hell Cop Review

Hell Cop 2 Review

Thanks so much!

My turn at bat!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:19:36 GMT

Hey, it's August 25! That means I'm blogging over at Rainbow Reviews today, and giving away a free book to whoever can answer my *extremely tricky* question!

Here's the link: http://rainbow-reviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/author-extravaganza-astrid-amara.html?zx=75b7bdf704dbb0bf

Hope you can join us!

Wonderful Ways to Waste One's Time

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:13:15 GMT

TIME WASTER #1:

Blog reading, prezzie competition entering!

Just a reminder, Rainbow Reviews is having it's author extravaganza this month, and giving away prezzies left and right. Plus some pretty interesting interviews with a whole bunch of great gay fiction authors. Check them out!

http://rainbow-reviews.com/?page_id=1542

TIME WASTER #2:

Pygmy goats.

I don't have them yet. But I really. Really. REALLY. Want two pygmy goats.

I mean, seriously. How can I NOT have them already? They hit you with their tiny lil heads and will eat your blackberries! Damn, I need to write more books... soon I'll be supporting more than just myself, my geriatric dogs, and a sadistic pony. Pygmy Goat Future Now!

Review round-up for Hell Cop 2

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:35:34 GMT

I'd like to pass on my appreciation to those who have read and reviewed Hell Cop 2! A few new ones to report:

Rain on the Roof review -- thank you Sarah!

Literary Nymphs review -- thank you Scandalous Minx!

Rainbow Reviews -- thanks to Nikki!

Despite staging our scenes in the bellies of large animals, on waterbeds in sleazy rock band RVs, and near nests of exotic, stinky birds, we have managed to so far get positive reviews. Hooray!

We interrupt this blog for a public screeching announcement.

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:33:04 GMT

GODDAMN YOU WRITERS OF TORCHWOOD! GODDAMN YOU!!!!

That's all.

Love,

Astrid.

Rainbow Reviews 2009 Author Extravaganza

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:38:08 GMT

Hey all!
Check out Rainbow Review's 2009 Author Extravaganza if you're interested in getting some free books in August! There will be a competition every day, and the month features a wide range of authors writing LGBT stories (including me on August 25). More info is on their site:
http://rainbow-reviews.com/?page_id=1542

Free books! Wee!

First review of Hell Cop 2 in!

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:57:03 GMT

Kris has a review of Hell Cop 2 over at Reviews by Jessewave. Read the full review here:

http://reviewsbyjessewave.blogspot.com/2009/06/hell-cop-2.html

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing, Kris!

Hell Cop 2 now available!

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:56:59 GMT

Hooray! Hell Cop 2, the sequel to Hell Cop, is now for sale at Loose Id! This anthology contains three novellas.

Title: Hell Cop 2
Authors: Astrid Amara, Nicole Kimberling, and Ginn Hale
Price: $7.99
Buy now link: http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=966

Read the blurbs below!

Trust Me, by Astrid Amara
Brian Day's no longer the naïve country boy Jay Yervant fell in love with. A hardened hell cop with dangerous powers, Brian's osmotic abilities are growing out of control. When two men are found dead, killed by an osmotic, Jay wants to clear Brian's name. But Brian's erratic powers threaten even Jay's survival, and he's left wondering if his lover is as innocent as he claims.

Dark Waters, by Nicole Kimberling
After a year of seeing Detective Argent, Michael Gold is uncertain about the future of their relationship. Can a liberal university professor and a Hell Cop find a happily ever after? When Michael invites Argent on an anthropological study, he thinks they're performing an experiment in domesticity. But when a dead body appears, Michael and Argent end up playing detective instead of playing house.

Such Heights, by Ginn Hale
Photojournalist James Sparks fled to the exotic Storm Palace to escape his relationship troubles. But soon he's witness to a murder, and the man he least wants to deal with -- his lover, Detective Ben Moran -- is on the case.

Excerpts are available on the Loose Id website.

Hope you enjoy!

The Archer's Heart Book Reading - Village Books, June 26

Tue, 26 May 2009 02:36:14 GMT

Hello all!
Well, it's another gorgeous day in the Pacific Northwest! And if you live in the area please join Nicole Kimberling and I for an evening at Village Books in Bellingham, Washington on June 26. More details on the bookstore website. Mark your calendars!

I have no idea what I'm going to read from it. Maybe I should read one of the sex scenes. Just to see what happens.

Do NOT turn your back on a Hell Cop!

Wed, 20 May 2009 18:14:22 GMT

Ha! Check out the new Hell Cop 2 cover! Baby's got burning back!

And while I'm posting things on the internet tubes, I thought I'd also post the blurb for the new anthology written by myself, Nicole Kimberling, and Ginn Hale. Read and... weep? Cheer? It's your call!

Hell Cops have to do more than just serve and protect the humans, sorcerers, and demons of Parmas City. They also have to fight to keep their romances alive.
Trust Me by Astrid Amara
Brian Day is no longer the naïve country boy Jay Yervant fell in love with. A hardened hell cop with dangerous powers, Brian's osmotic abilities are growing out of control. When two men are found dead, killed by an osmotic, Jay wants to clear Brian's name. But Brian's erratic powers threaten even Jay's survival, and he's left wondering if his lover is as innocent as he claims.
Dark Waters by Nicole Kimberling
After a year of seeing Detective Argent, Michael Gold is uncertain about the future of their relationship. Can a liberal university professor and a Hell Cop find a happily ever after? When Michael invites Argent on an anthropological study, he thinks they're performing an experiment in domesticity. But when a dead body appears, Michael and Argent end up playing detective instead of playing house.
Such Heights by Ginn Hale
Photojournalist James Sparks fled to the exotic Storm Palace to escape his relationship troubles. But soon he's witness to a murder, and the man he least wants to deal with -- his lover, Detective Ben Moran -- is on the case.

More details will be posted shortly on my website.

Now I'm going to go off and secretly count the days until that new Sherlock Holmes movies comes out....

What the Hell Cop is going on around here?

Thu, 07 May 2009 19:20:14 GMT

Hell Cop 2 is done. DONE!

So get your demon-loving / demon-beating pants on and be ready to rumble Parmas City-style June 23 from Loose Id! I'll share some blurbs and excerpts in the next few weeks. And maybe the subway system map I made for the city (no. NO. NERD!)

Stay tuned....

Reviews, Not Watered Down

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:58:30 GMT

Initial reviews for The Valde: Water are in, and it’s been interesting – a real mix of “heck yeah!” and “…what?” which, despite the fact that it isn’t 100% glowing, is actually quite helpful for me. This book was a challenge, coming up with a completely new mythology as it were, and so I am grateful for the reviews, both good and bad, to help me understand what is working and what isn’t as I craft the rest of the series.

Being still somewhat new to the world of publishing and romance, I must say that I find the fact that a lot of official reviews sites give nothing BUT rave reviews a little surprising. Not that I don’t grin and stand a little taller when I get positive feedback… but when everyone gets the same review, it has a tendency to make me feel like… hey… maybe they didn’t mean it when they said they loved it!

Which is one reason why I really enjoy reviews on individuals’ blogs so much. Because I trust they’re going to give me the “real scoop,” for better or for worse.

So, to all those out there who not only voraciously read yum-yum gay sci-fi/fantasy, but take the time to share your thoughts with others… THANK YOU! :)

Anyway, here’s the round up of The Valde: Water reviews so far!

Literary Nymphs – Thank you Scandalous Minx!

Emmyjag –Thanks for reading and honestly reviewing!

Rain on the Roof – Hey, where are the accompanying nekked man pictures, Sarah? :) Thanks!

Elisa Rolle’s Review – Thanks so much… your description is far more eloquent than the book itself! :)

Well-Read – Thank you Jenre! I appreciate honest feedback.

Madame Butterfly – MB (Leah) … heh… “commando” rating cracks me up…

More info on The Valde: Water is at Loose Id

I'M INSANE ON A DESERT ISLAND

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:00:43 GMT

The fine ladies over at the Desert Island Keepers site have me trapped with a menacing robot who is forcing me to reveal things I don't feel comfortable revealing! Evil, evil robots!

Come join me, Nicole Kimberling, and Ginn Hale this week as we guest blog on DIK! We'll be sharing excerpts, prizes, and the unrevealing interview responses only a mechanoid can generate.

http://dikladiesrule.blogspot.com/2009/04/interview-with-astrid-amara.html

And thanks for the invitation, Sarah!