2010 March » Lauren's Tales

What do you call it when…

Mar 312010

I call it the “discount” issue.

It works like this:

Something unhappy (but not devastating) happens to you. You know that you will feel depressed about it for a certain unknown amount of time, and then one day it won’t bother you. You want a discount on the amount of time it takes to recover, because you’ve had so much practice at feeling this way already.

Or:

Something about a situation keeps setting off terrible emotional warning bells. However, you know that you are actually safe, and that the warning bells are an old defense mechanism reacting against a problem you don’t have anymore. You know your reaction is stupid, but you can’t stop doing it. You want to return the defense mechanism to the store where you got it.

The King-Sized Bed: Chapter 3

Writing No Responses »

Mar 292010

* * * *

“When did you get so good at rubbing feet? I love how you do it now, but you didn’t always. I remember I used to get you to do it, but you never seemed to be paying attention. What changed?”

“Well… It’s kind of hard to explain. At some point my head was full of computers and software and ideas, and I didn’t notice the beautiful woman right next to me. Then, one day, you explained it all to me.”

“I did? What did I say?”

“I told you it was hard to explain. You showed me what a migraine was like, and I was much more sympathetic than when I had nothing to compare it to. And you’re so beautiful that I wanted to make you feel better.”

“I don’t remember this, but I forget a lot of stuff. What did I say? I’m curious.”

“You didn’t say anything. You showed it to me. ‘Showed’ is the wrong word. The word is like the one for when you show someone the smell of strawberries.”

“I said this?”

“It wasn’t really you.”

“I’m really confused.”

“It was like a you from the future came and explained it all, and then I couldn’t help but notice you were right there, and that I was ignoring you. And I wanted to rub your feet more than I wanted to think about computers.”

“A me from the future?”

“That’s not exactly it. But I suppose that it will have to do.”

“Were drugs involved?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, now it makes sense. That“.

* * * *

Author Chat: Lauren P. Burka April 1-3

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Mar 282010

All Circlet chats take place at Circlet Press’s LiveJournal Community.

Lauren P. Burka is Circlet Press’s second author ever. Her tarot cards told her she would never have a normal life. So far they have been one hundred percent correct. Her publication history begins in 1992 with her Circlet Press chapbook Mate: and more tales from the erotic edge of sf/fantasy. Susie Bright’s 1997′s Best Fantastic Erotica reprinted the short story “Mate.” Lauren’s science fiction story “The Secession” appeared in Absolute Magnitude #13, Spring, 2000. She is the editor of three Circlet anthologies and the author of longer works with other publishers. If you have a question about how Circlet works or why we do things, she will do her best to unperplex you.

Email notifications

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Mar 272010

For some reason known only to the gods of WordPress, the last several posts I made sent no email notifications. I’m not going to try and send them all out again, but if you’re a subscriber you might want to see what you’ve been missing.

Ads on the Tales Page

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Mar 272010

As you’ve noticed by now, I’ve hooked up with Project Wonderfulfor ads. I may some day make enough money worth writing about (though in two days I’ve got two whole cents.)

I’m also into it for the weird factor. I briefly had an add from the teabaggers and was left wondering what keyword of mine attracted them. It must has been the gay porn.

One of the ads that’s been up lately is for a book called “Norton’s Ghost.” It looks interesting, but I don’t have time to go read it. If anyone does and has something to report, please let me know.

Book Review: Wishbone by Lauren P. Burka

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Mar 252010

Wishbone, by Lauren P. Burka
$5.95 ebook
Torquere Press
BDSM m/m science fiction romance

Reviewed by Kelly Kinkaid

To describe the relationships in Lauren P. Burka’s Wishbone as intense is certainly an understatement. Wishbone, our charming titular character, is uprooted from his life of prostitution by a shih-aan. The shih-aan, an alien race who bloodily warred with and defeated humans a decade prior, are looked upon as “demons” by Wishbone’s fellow men, yet he finds himself enthralled and exhilarated by his newest client—and soon-to-be master.

The relationship between Wishbone and “Sir” delights in the intimacies wrought by the struggles of dominance and submission, with a decidedly delicious shade of sadomasochism. The power play here is more than just a cheeky nudge and wink; the heavy erotic edge to all the interactions between the two men reveals shifts in trust and intimacy, each scene unfolding a new facet to and between the characters. The pace is believable as the chemistry is scorching.
Continue reading »

The King Sized Bed: Chapter 2

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Mar 222010

We made some changes in our shared life.

When we had been accustomed to having sex twice a week, my mate had given much attention to his sexual satisfaction on days we did not have sex. As a result, his penis was a willful creature, more eager to respond to his touch than mine. After some thought and discussion, we agreed that his penis would have satisfaction only when we were together. There were to be no punishments, recrimmations, or sulking if the goal was not met. Just communication. And learning.

Slushing. You know it.

Editing 5 Responses »

Mar 172010

I have an anthology where the reading period starts April 1. I set it that far out (originally) to maintain some sanity during a busy period in my life.

I don’t actually care much what length people send me, so I put in a standard length range and tell people to query me for longer or shorter. Mostly, I want to avoid reading 10,000 word submissions with not enough sex in them.

The King-Sized Bed: Chapter 1

Writing No Responses »

Mar 142010

There’s something special about my ideas. See if this makes sense to you.

I have a terrible pain that visits me every day. No medicine or process designed to prevent the daily episode has ever worked. To discourage me from weeping myself to death, my doctors have prescribed potent narcotics. These serve not to banish the pain, but to insulate me from it. They work well in that regard. But they have another effect, which is no curse but a blessing. They’re visions. My ideas come out of the visions.

What makes my ideas so special is that they’re still good ideas when I’m not stoned.

New Tale: The King-Sized Bed

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Mar 122010

I’ve been wanting to serialize some original fiction for this site for a long time (all my friends do it. I want to too!), but I didn’t have an idea that suited.

Starting Monday, March 15, 2010, I’m going to post a piece of the tale. Every Monday thereafter I will post the next excerpt. I will be working in a new genere, neither fantasty nor science fiction. Every last bit of it will be Not Safe For Work

These stories are free for you to enjoy. If you enjoy them, please visit the PayPal tip jar I’m setting up.

See you Monday!