Leta Blake

author. human. working hard to become stellar at life.

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For Leelah Alcorn — Sail On

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For Leelah Alcorn who took her own life in Ohio on December 28, 2014.

This is her suicide note. It isn’t pretty and it’s not sweet but read it anyway. Please. I hope her message is heard and I pray no one else follows her example in sending one of their own. Please let Leelah’s life be enough to begin to fix this world.

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Cold night, strange dreams
Memory stuck like glue
Her face, her voice
Sail across the seas with you
Can you hear all the angels?

When you feel like you’re out there on your own
Know there is someone watching over you
When out at sea, feels love can let go
Oh sailor, we will blow the wind right
But if you die out there, tearing you into two
I hope you know that you could sail right on
I hope you know you got the ocean blue

No sound worse than silence
A curse that grows
Big words kept in
Whispers of dreams untold
Just don’t fight all the angels

When you feel like you’re out there on your own
Know there is someone watching over you
When out at sea, feels love can let go
Oh sailor, we will blow the wind right
But if you die out there, tearing you into two
I hope you know that you could sail right on
I hope you know you got the ocean blue

Guest Post and Giveaway: Smoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake — Joyfully Jay

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“We’ve all made ‘em. We’ve all broken ‘em. New Year’s  Resolutions.I thought it would be fun today to talk to the characters of the books I’ll be giving away, as well as the characters of my latest book, Smoky Mountain Dreams, which spent over a week at #1 on the Gay & Lesbian Romance charts at Amazon and three weeks in the top ten! Color me gobsmacked!”

Head on over to see what Matty & Rob, Zach & Leith, and Jesse and Christopher have made as New Year’s Resolutions! As well as my own! —>  Guest Post and Giveaway: Smoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake — Joyfully Jay.

Santa Wishes from Characters – Zach & Leith – The River Leith #christmas #gay

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In our second installment of Santa Wishes from Characters, we’ll hear from Zach and Leith from The River Leith.

As I reported the other day, I saw the following quote on All About the Writing:

It’s that glorious time of year when everyone whispers sweet nothings in Santa’s ear, hoping for a little extra something in their Christmas stocking. Fictional characters are no different.

So this is what I posed to my writer friends:

One of your characters is sitting on Santa’s lap, and whispers something in Santa’s ear. Who is it, and what did they say to ole Saint Nick?

(- See more at: http://www.allaboutthewriting.com/donna_j_cummings/2014/12/santa-baby.html#sthash.yzR7PW7c.dpuf)

Leith: Well, Santa,  I’ve been a pretty good guy this year. And, all in all, I’m not sure what to ask for. Maybe Daggi’s cheese in my stocking and Zach in my bed. Otherwise, I’m pretty good right now. There was a time I would have asked for my memory back but I don’t know if I really want that. Part of me would like to remember the boxing championships and meeting Zach the first time, but another part of me is happy with how things are now and doesn’t want to rock the boat. What if remembering everything about boxing made me miss it more than I already do? What if remembering meeting Zach the first time somehow made our coming together again despite the odds less beautiful? If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s how to let go of the past. So I guess I’ll just keep moving forward. Oh, I know! I’d like to have a good idea for a career I’d love. If you’d drop that down my stocking along with that cheese, I’d be grateful. I’m not really into my studies and I feel like there’s something I should do instead. Maybe psychology? I could help people like Dr. Thakur helped me. Oh! And a puppy. I’d like a puppy, too. Just convince Zach that it won’t piddle in the house, okay?

Leith’s idea of a perfect Christmas.

Zach: Hello Santa! Aren’t you looking dashing all in red like that? *waggles brows* Now, let’s get down to business. *counts off on fingers* First, I’d like Leith in a sexy Santa suit, reclining back in my bed, surrounded by candles and fake snow. Second, I’d love to have a little extra time off to write a novel. I’ve been thinking about telling the story of when Leith and I first met. He’s wanted to know the details for awhile now and what better way? So could you drop an extra three hundred hours into the year for me? I’d absolutely love that! And lastly I’d love it if you convinced Leith that a puppy is a bad idea. Though the one he showed me from that rescue site was awfully cute…still, it’s an awful idea. Maybe talk him into a slightly older dog instead–one that’s already housetrained. And that’s all I’ve got! Signing off, Santa! Talk to you next year!

Zach’s idea of an ideal Christmas Evening with Leith. He’s a little ridiculous and over the top at times.

The River Leith is available now at:

AMAZON
B&N
SMASHWORDS
iTUNES
SCRIBD
OYSTER

And now at KOBO.

Memory is everything. After an injury in the ring, amateur boxer Leith Wenz wakes to discover his most recent memories are three years out of date. Unmoored and struggling to face his new reality, Leith must cope anew with painful revelations about his family. His brother is there to support him, but it’s the unfamiliar face of Zach, a man introduced as his best friend, that provides the calm he craves. Until Zach’s presence begins to stir up feelings Leith can’t explain. For Zach, being forgotten by his lover is excruciating. He carefully hides the truth from Leith to protect them both from additional pain. His bottled-up turmoil finds release through vlogging, where he confesses his fears and grief to the faceless Internet. But after Leith begins to open up to him, Zach's choices may come back to haunt him. Ultimately, Leith must ask his heart the questions memory can no longer answer.
Memory is everything.
After an injury in the ring, amateur boxer Leith Wenz wakes to discover his most recent memories are three years out of date. Unmoored and struggling to face his new reality, Leith must cope anew with painful revelations about his family. His brother is there to support him, but it’s the unfamiliar face of Zach, a man introduced as his best friend, that provides the calm he craves. Until Zach’s presence begins to stir up feelings Leith can’t explain.
For Zach, being forgotten by his lover is excruciating. He carefully hides the truth from Leith to protect them both from additional pain. His bottled-up turmoil finds release through vlogging, where he confesses his fears and grief to the faceless Internet. But after Leith begins to open up to him, Zach’s choices may come back to haunt him.
Ultimately, Leith must ask his heart the questions memory can no longer answer.

Reasons Why Leta Blake Hates Winter, A Whiny-Butt List #ugh #hate #cold

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So, if you love winter, this is probably not the post for you. I absolutely believe in everyone’s right to love whatever seasons they want to love, so this is not meant to be a list of reasons why you should hate winter. It simply reflects my own state of mind on this particular winter day (and, frankly, most winter days).

1) In the winter my four dogs (yes, four because of I’m nuts, apparently) can’t just go wander around in our fenced back yard, enjoying the outside, eating worms, digging holes for me to trip in, playing with sticks, or just go running around in happy loops around the fence. No, in winter my dogs are inside, bored, restless, and not happy. The new puppy is not getting enough exercise because two walks a day aren’t cutting it for her, so at this very moment she is working on chewing up her brand-new dog bed and I’m not stopping her because then she’ll whine and bark with boredom. (She already chewed up all of her latest toys. Need to buy stronger toys that will withstand the teeth of her giant maw.)

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Puppy. Dog #4. 6 mos.
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Dog #3. Age 9.

 

2) In winter it is cold. I hate being cold. I’d rather be sweaty and overheated any day of the week. Cold is sheer hell. Misery. Completely impossible to think sort of misery that leaves me almost ragey. This is one reason the walks aren’t good enough for the puppy because I can’t really stand being cold long enough to walk far enough to wear her out. Also the cold is bad for my lungs which aren’t awesome after multiple bouts of pneumonia (I sound like an old lady) and it’s awful for my rosacea which ends up getting super-inflamed after a walk in anything lower than, say, 50F.

Aside: the puppy officially ruined part of her bed while I just sat here and watched. I’m an awesome dog owner. *eyeroll* That’s why we’ve got four. Argh.

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Dog #2. Age 11.

 

3) Winter means sickness which, for me, can mean pneumonia. Right now kiddo is home sick with a fever/headache/cough thing that kept me up monitoring her temperature much of the night. It got up to 103.7. I was pretty fretful and had a near panic attack that I’d fall asleep before her fever went down I’d wake up and she’d be dead from spiking to 106 or something. I have a very active imagination. So, yes, winter sucks because winter is germ vector kiddie time.

The old lady. Dog #1.
The old lady. Age 15. Dog #1.

4) I HATE WINTER CLOTHES. On other people they are mostly fine, but I hate them on me. They are often itchy, uncomfortable, and ugly. I don’t like sweaters since most of the pretty ones are made of wool (I’m allergic) and most of the others are shaped in some hugely unflattering way. I don’t like tights because they are itchy. Even my favorite winter shoes are problematic due to my high (and somehow damaged) arches. My most comfortable (and awesome) new boots are too cool to ruin and I am reluctant to wear them in the rain, and its rained most every day lately.

5) Socks. They are the worst. There are never enough clean ones that match and they are uncomfortable and I hate them. Give me a summer-bare foot any and every day. Florida, can I please be allowed to move to you?

6) Gray sticks and brown mud. That’s what winter looks like where I live. It doesn’t snow much (THANK GOD), so it’s not white and fluffy and frozen. It’s sticks and mud until spring. Not very gorgeous. Though I admit I love the gray fuzziness of the winter mountains. Or I would if I had on comfortable clothes and no one was sick and puppies weren’t bored and I wasn’t cold. But they’re pretty in a grungy, funky sort of fuzzy-brown-winter way.

I have more reasons but I’ve got to entertain this puppy before…well, before something. I’m not sure what. Probably before she starts up the attention barking which is maddening. You’d think the other dogs would entertain her, but they are all curled up in their beds sleeping.

This grumpy post was brought to you by WINTER which can get the eff out asap. 😛 I do like Christmas, though. I like Christmas trees and lights. I like Christmas carols. I like hot coffee on a cold morning. I like cozy blankets. I like…um, well, other Christmassy stuff, but that’s about it.

Spring, please be on your way. I’ll sing for you even. Baby, I need your lovin’, got to have all your lovin’.

Wah-wah-wah over now. Adios. Attention barking has begun. SHOOT ME.

ETA: It’s interesting, though, that I set almost all my books in winter. Maybe I’m trying to work out my winter issues.

Review: Smoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake

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“While technically not a Christmas story, Smoky Mountain Dreams takes place from Halloween right through to Christmas, so it’s a perfect addition to your holiday story lineup!! It’s a fabulous read for any time of year, though, and one I highly recommend!”

Casting Smoky Mountain Dreams #bonusmaterial #gayromance

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I don’t always cast my books, though sometimes it does help me to get a handle on a character if I have a very clear view of what they look like. While I absolutely love and am entirely satisfied with the cover of Smoky Mountain Dreams, the guys don’t fit the image I had in my head for Christopher or Jesse, nor do they fit the almost-good-enough attempts I made at casting them with photographs. I thought it might be fun to show readers the closest, but not quite right, approximations I’ve got for a few of the characters in the book.

First, let’s talk about Christopher. The inspiration for Christopher was originally a real human being that I saw performing at Dollywood. He was handsome enough, but not stunning, thin enough but not cut, cute but not amazing, and his singing talent was well beyond my own but he’d never be famous. I have no idea what his name was, but I decided then and there to write a book about him. Well, eventually, I wanted to describe Christopher in more detail and I set about trying to find a photo that captured what I’d found so compelling about this performer at Dollywood. I finally settled on this picture of Jesse Spencer. Though I feel compelled to say that not every picture of Jesse Spencer works for Christopher, in fact, this may be the only one. But I returned to this one time and again to try to capture the feeling the character of Christopher gave to me.

chrstipoher

Now, Jesse was a lot harder. I had a couple of pictures I referred to for him, actually. One that mainly just captured the body confidence I thought Jesse had. But this one is probably the closest in terms of the face. Only, uh, without that full, messy beard .Jesse just had scruff, and the hair is shorter by a bit, and his eyes are tired here because of the burdens of his life (and maybe the sex he had with Christopher all night long), but, yes, this was the closest I could find…probably. It’s still not just right, but whatcha gonna do? 😀

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More pictures of that model (Maximilio Pantane) that I used as references for Jesse:

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Both of these were my references for Young Jesse:
Maximiliano_Patane youngjesse

 

Now, Gareth. Yes, he was pretty easy. I saw this picture one day and was like, “Holy crap, what is Gareth doing on Pinterest??” So, yes, this is what I think Gareth looks like.

gareth

Every reader obviously has their own idea of what the characters look like and I hope seeing my thoughts doesn’t taint your own. I also hope it was fun to see these! 😀 If you’ve got ideas of what Christopher and Jesse look like and pics to go along with that, please to be sharing in comments below!

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Smoky Mountain Dreams is available now at:

AMAZON
B&N
SMASHWORDS
iTUNES
SCRIBD
OYSTER

And now at KOBO.

ETA: I just saw this yesterday and he would make an acceptable Jesse too, I think.
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