Claimings

[lit_gal]

This is the story of how bad reviews, my mother's health, and a pair of homophobic parents conspired (and failed) to stop the Claimings sequel

Well, the Claimings sequel is done and off to the betas. In two weeks, I will be turning that puppy in to Loose Id.

I’ve titled this one Assimilation, Wars, and Other Human Oddities, but we’ll see what the publisher calls it.

The first novel flew out of me as fast as I could write it, but this new one… oy! If I hadn’t promised fans of the first book that I was working on a sequel, I would have walked away. READ MORE

And an update on my mother...
She is doing really well. She's still weak and walking is limited, but she has recovered all speech, and she insists that she feels sharper and smarter than she did before the stroke--that might have something to do with the doctor removing a 90% blockage in her carotid artery. But long story short--she's on track for a full recovery.

Comments

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

My heart hurts for your student. Sadly, that's a story you can find in every school in America, I'm sure, but that does not lessen the tragedy of it. Thank you for being you and being awesome. Because you are.


Gabrielle

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Also need to add that I am so glad to hear that your mom is doing better!

Gabrielle

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

I'm really proud of her for how well she's fighting her way back.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Oh I know. This is hardly the first time I've seen this story, and I know it exists more than I really want to think about.

[chaoskir.livejournal.com]

OMG!! I'm so happy for you and your Mom. *dancethehappydanceforyourMomandforyoU* Great news. And thanks for the story. I'll read it asap.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I hope the story didn't suffer for all the start-stopping

[skeptic7.livejournal.com]

I am so glad that your mother is doing better.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Thank you. She's a fighter.

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

I'm so very glad to hear how well your mom is doing. THank God. Take good care of her and find time for yourself, too. Hugs to both of you.

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Writing is time for myself. It lets me escape into other worlds, and I'm just so grateful that Mom feels well enough that I can slip back into the worlds I love.

[kris-t-p.livejournal.com]

I hope that your mom continues to improve, and I'm so excited about both the Claimings sequel and Dallin's story.

[saphicwicca.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear your mom is on the road to recovery.

It physically pains me to hear about such tails (as your student) even though I know such things happen every day all over the country. It's so heartbreaking nonetheless.

Thankfully there are people like you who are there to help ::hugs::

[hawk-soaring.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear your mom is doing so well. \o/ And thank you. Thank you for being you and caring enough to help that student. You're the best. :)

Can't wait to start in on the story.

[finlaure.livejournal.com]

It is SOOO good to hear that your Mom is doing soo good!
and I soooo understand about not being able to write, going on two years now and the muse has not come back from hiding!! I can't seem to him out of the cave that something happens and back he goes. I am so glad you can write out your emotions. Mine are still bottled and I don't know when they will get out.
Hugs and take care

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

First, great news about your mom! I'm so happy for you and her.

So that's where Two Steps Back comes from. Classic, turning rage into art. :) Too bad the gene donors will never know. People like that give Christians a bad name. I can only hope they got prosecuted for their idiocy. Poor kid. And grades are so important at that stage too. He's so lucky to have a fabulous, caring teacher like you.

And I'm very glad you got your sequel! Yeah!

[twicet.livejournal.com]

That is good news about your Mom:)

When my kids were in high school, we had a few kids live here off and on, two for the reason you talked about. One set of parents realized how much they didn't want to lose their son. The other set never did. I am sorry for your student, it is horrible to know at fifteen your parents don't want you.

[xandrabelle.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear your mom making good progress. It's amazing how resilient the human body can be.

Also glad that you're helping out the poor boy in your class. I just don't understand how some parents could just let religion blind them to loving and accepting their own children.

[strangefen.livejournal.com]

Looks like I need a LooseId account:)

Congratulations on your Mom, your books and finding a solution for your student. Well done, you!

Cross-posted from/to your wordpress site

[(Anonymous)]

Lyn


Whew - lot to talk about in this post! :-)

First, and just to get something quickly in at the top of the post( more below ) - as somebody from a conservative, evangelical background, let me just say right. effing. here. that the word you're looking for for that boy's parents - at least as you present the situation - is NOT, in any way shape or form, 'religious' or Christian; it's Pharissee, otherwise known as legalism or works( not grace ) centered faith - and while Evangelicals may often have a light trigger re. vice and 'family values', and sometimes make with the sloppy cattegorization, such 'believers' as these are the 'other' bane of 'spirit breathing', Bible studying 'thumpers'' existence. It's vital to understand; if their theology and hermeneutics' are worth their salt, they hate that kind of so-called faith.

*Ahem* Anyways - Oh goody, oh goody, it's finally done! :-) I've been counting the days 'till we could see a bigger and more 'full-fledged' revisit to the 'Claimings' 'verse. No put-down on the first work, but you have to admit that the first novella was a little...unballanced for it's length. Though I do admit, as you well know, that I'm far from the target audience( strokes non-youthfull beard )! ;-P Definitely looking forward to the buy. :-)

That boys' parents make me angry too, though perhaps for more and different reasons than you. If they understood jack about the beliefs they profess, there are any number of courses they could have taken in accord with them without withdrawing ine ounce of personal love and support for their son( their son! ). In addition to their own or other ministers or religious leaders, there are psychologists both accredited and Evangellical in outlook. There's prayer - NOT to 'pray the gay away', but for the grace to overcome 'fleshly' things, and in God's time crowd them out ever more fully with His desires and wishes for his life. All, however helpfull or harmfull one considers them to be, done with love and support for their effing SON. Always.

Pathetic.

Some mental spitballing on one possible way to work out the frustration that as far as I'm aware hasn't harmed no one yet? Write a fic centered around a sympathetic Enangelical 'antihero', who comes through beliefs intact, and is not judged firmly wanting by the fic for doing so( I need not state that the story ITSELF need not take such a stance, or any stance). There's no dearth of themes to work with: For example, the dessolation in our culture - in fact and understanding both - of PLATONIC intimacy; the shared experiences of soldiers eho saw action together. Mentorship. The atmosphere and intent behind Christian groups as 'Promise Keepers'( 'Irin sharpens iron' ). This even extends to the physical; Rallies such as for the above-mentioned Promise Keepers iften have no shortage cathartic, emotional embracing. And I hear that asian countries often have much broader boundaries regarding PLATONIC touching between members of the same gender. Then, there is the whole 'anthropological' aspect of the belief system's perspective on sin( it starts with how the individual perverts their own desires, first ), the relationship of the created order to the spiritual, humanity's relationships amongst itself as related to it's nature as a reflection of the creator and and uniwue capacity for relationship with same - you get the idea.... ( also ow, my tired fingers. ) :-)


Would you be at all surprised to learn that reading convincingly done fics like 'Falls Chance'' give me frequent moments if 'gut-level' de ja vu'? :-D (speaking of which - had some more time recently for some casual reading? Poke, poke._____*wibble* . :-D ).

SO glad to hear how well your mother is doing. Hugs and positive thoughts.

Joel

[xanthe.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear the news about your mom! That's great :-)

Your mum

[adrienne elly (from livejournal.com)]

Hi Lyn,

Glad to hear your mum is doing so much better! :-)

Adrienne

[aayesha-r.livejournal.com]

It's great how much progress your mom has made and how she is doing now. As the caregiver who has seen my elderly aunt through surgery, treatment, and recovery twice for two forms of cancer, I have the utmost respect for you and your sister's devotion to your mom and the support you have given her and still do. I'm sure your love has aided in your mom's recovery.

Your love also shows in your righteous rage toward your student's parents and the way you found help for him. I hope he is able to continue living with his friend and that he doesn't get processed into the system and away from his school and your support.

I'm very excited about the news of a sequel to Claimings. I loved that book for the original world building and the cross species relationship that wasn't instant sex. I'll definitely be buying the new book as soon as it comes out.