Working week:

For various reasons I didn’t get much writing done in the early part of the week, but fortunately things improved and Merry Gentlemen (formerly known as Life of Riley) now stands at just under 26k. That’s a novella already, although I still have a few scenes left to write. All the big dramatic ones, of course: arguments and conflict. I always end up leaving those till last. I’m such a wuss sometimes.

Real life:

Saturday brought with it the Steampunk Extravaganza, which I’ve been looking forward to for ages. Steampunk is something I’ve only encountered online before, and it was an absolutely fascinating people-watching opportunity. Steampunks from all over the country converged on our little town, and it was surreal to see them mingling with the regular shoppers on the high street. Part of what attracts me to steampunk is the DIY philosophy, so I made my own outfits for both the afternoon market (above-which made me look a bit like a pantomime dame but never mind!), and the evening do (right).

The absolute highlight for me, though, was getting to see Professor Elemental perform. I have an extreme weakness for chap hop–hip hop with comedy lyrics about tea and Britishness, performed by men in dapper historical costume. What more could you ask for?! Also, the Prof played Fighting Trousers, which made me very happy indeed

I put a few pictures on Instagram if you’re interested. You can find one of a slightly tipsy me being hugged by Professor Elemental, and a few pictures taken at the market: scary dolls, stallholders, and tea duelling.

This week:

I’ll be finishing off the first draft of Merry Gentlemen (est 35k in total, so that’s another 9k), working on the final edits for Mad About the Boys (my MMF anthology with JL Merrow) and don’t really have any other plans. Sometimes that’s the way I like it

How was your week? Got any plans for the week ahead?

There are also some weird poses in these. Don’t know if you’ll find them sexy, but they all caught my eye just because I was thinking “what’s going on there, then?”

Enjoy!

#1: Could you live with this sofa? And has he lost his hand somewhere?

#2: Can’t say the room improves much from this angle! And he’s about to end up with his bum in the ashtray…

#3: This isn’t seriously meant to be a man’s bedroom, is it? Looks like whoever decorated it did so under the influence of some mind-bending substance. Also, another missing hand!

Which is your favourite pic, and why?

Next week: I’ve got the girls back for a change, and will be posting some gorgeous solo nudes.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1310210-may-bom-book-4—hot-floor-by-josephine-myles-spoilers

I’m not going anywhere near the thread as this is somewhere for readers to share their opinions without fear of the author butting in. Just thought I’d share it in case any of you wanted to get involved, though. I think the discussion continues just until the end of May.

The book was chosen as it was one of the twelve that received the most votes in their Member’s Choice Awards for 2012. Yay for Josh, Rai and Evan! And yay for all of you who voted!

Working week:

Didn’t get as much as I’d hoped for done as not only was there a bank holiday, but Daisy was off school with impetigo again *sighs*. Still, I’m up to almost 20k on the novella, Life of Riley, so I’m feeling positive about that. Also managed to get the UK Meet blog “Meet the Delegates” posts started, which has been fun. Can’t wait to meet everyone in person in July!

Real life:

Yeah. Not really had much time for doing anything for myself this week, apart from going to see I’m So Excited! on Monday (great fun!). I did get a dress I’d made altered to fit properly, though. Have also dug out a very old coat project I started but never finished. It’s needing to be taken in by around 4″, but I’m finding it quite simple to follow. Might have to make a jacket for this summer. I have a huge amount of aubergine corduroy lurking under the bed.

We did have glorious weather on the bank holiday, though, which is virtually unheard of!

This week:

Need to buckle down and finish the first draft of the novella (or get near to it, anyway). At the weekend there’s the steampunk fair, so I’ve got to finish my outfit for that too. Should be fun, and I’ll get to see Professor Elemental perform

How was your week? Got any plans for the week ahead?

Perhaps I’m just orally fixated…

#1: Whoa! Buttons! Not sure what it says about me that I can’t seem to take my eyes off his shirt… There’s a real sultry confidence in the way this guy stares into the camera that you don’t often see in photos this old. I’m guessing it’s a turn of the century one, judging by the clothing.

#2: This is a tough one to date, but the site I got it from claim’s it’s vintage, so who am I to argue? I’m guessing early 80s, but with an almost 50s rockabilly bad boy charm. Shame about the tattoo, but I’m loving the attitude!

#3: I adore this last picture, and wish I had a bigger version. Lighting a cigarette for someone always seems flirtatious, and when you add in the tent in his undies…

Which is your favourite pic, and why?

Next week: I think I’ll be putting together some awful sofa shenanigans pics again. 70s decor always seems to go down well with you lot

Working week:

I got stuck into writing my Christmas novella (provisionally titled Life of Riley, but this will change!) and managed 12k, which I’m really pleased with. The narrator (Riley) is mouthier than I’d expected, but he’s great fun to write. Loved that point on the second day when his voice started coming through loud and clear!

JL Merrow and I have also got an edited draft of our MMF short story anthology, Mad About the Boys, ready. If anyone’s interested in beta reading it over the next week or two, just let me know. It would be good to get another pair of eyes to look it over

I also seem to have got over my Facebook issues and actually started to enjoy using it. I think having the FB app on my phone helps hugely. I find it so much simpler to use than the main dashboard on the computer screen.

Real life:

This weekend we’ve been enjoying the sunshine, and Daisy helped me plant a load of new flowers and herbs in the garden. It’s looking so beautiful this spring, now those awful leylandii are gone from next door’s garden.

I’ve also been busy sewing, and not only made Daisy a skirt to match the one I made myself recently (the only difference being hers has an elasticated waist) but have completed some alterations on clothes that didn’t fit quite right, and nearly completed a chiffon gypsy blouse to go under my corset. My outfit for the Steampunk Extravaganza is so nearly complete! Just some jewellery to make when that blouse is finished

This week:

The bank holiday today means no writing (but lots of time spent in the sunny garden!), but I’m treating myself to a trip out with a friend to see I’m So Excited tonight. It’s been ages since I’ve seen an Almodóvar film and this one looks like great fun!

As for the rest of the week? I’ll be aiming for another 12k on the novella, and keep on top of the weeding the garden. Got to stop that bindweed from rearing its ugly head!

Has it been sunny in your part of the world? Got any plans for the week ahead?

I’d like you to rate each of these three lovely men on a scale of one to five in two different categories, with one being the least and five the best. Please feel free to add comments to explain your rating

Looks – are they hot or not? (5=scorching, 1=damp squib)

Authenticity – real cowboy, or just a model? (5=genuine article, 1=faking it)

Lets see who comes out on top in each category!

Bonus activity: if you’re inspired, feel free to christen each of them with a cowboyish name.

#1: He’s got a lawnmower, but do we believe he knows how to use it?

#2: Genuine hairy cowboy, or bear on vacation at a dude ranch?

#3: Fancy dress chaps, or does he know how to ride ‘em?

Next week: If this turns out well we’ll do the same thing with some sailor pics

If not, then I’ll just post some of my favourite outdoorsy pictures I’ve recently collected.

Working week:

It was a weird old week, in which I ended up doing lots of little things but didn’t get going on the writing instead. I had a few benefit renewal claim forms to fill in (one of my all time least favourite jobs!), blog posts to write, short stories to edit, print galley to read, inbox/in trays to clear, UK Meet planning, etc. Still, I feel in a good position now to dedicate this next week to writing

Real life:

I finished my corset! I’m insanely proud of that fact, and it’s been a huge confidence boost in my dressmaking skills. I’m now setting about clearing the mending/alterations basket so that I can then get on with more new things. Here are a couple of pics of the finished article, which is incredibly comfortable to wear as it’s all been custom fitted:

I’ll be making an overbust corset next, and getting more adventurous in terms of fabric choice. It’s been so much fun to make, and utilised so many new skills. I was surprised at how many tools were involved, too. I had to use a hammer (eyelet punching and application), tin snips (cutting steel boning), two pairs of pliers (applying end caps to steel boning), awl (making holes for busk to go through) and a screwdriver (used for pushing the bones down inside the channels). Felt more like a metalwork project at times!

If anyone’s interested I’ll do a more detailed blog post about making this, but I don’t want to turn my blog into a sewing blog. Sometimes I think I should start a separate sewing blog, but then I remember that I don’t have the time and need another blog to maintain like I need a bicycle made of cake.

This week:

I’m buckling down and starting writing my Christmas novella (provisionally titled Life of Riley, but I expect that to change). I hope to have 15k by the end of the week. Eeek!

The only other thing I have to do, though, is finish reading through the ARC of Junk to make sure there are no typos. Oh, and work on the second round of edits for the joint anthology I’m doing with JL Merrow. Uh, yeah, that’s quite a bit actually. Anyone know where I can buy more time?

How was your week? Got any plans for the week ahead?

I found the first two pics ages ago, but couldn’t seem to find any more to make up a weekly post. Then, today, I tapped in the right words to the search engine and voila! Check out the last pic. I’m always a happy bunny when I find gorgeous vintage pics like this

#1: I just adore this first picture. They’re both beautiful men and impeccably groomed, despite the fact they’re in some kind of ruin (I assume). This one fills me with questions: are they in the army? Explorers? Are they not even gay and just shaving each other because there’s no mirror available?

Also, straight razor. So much sexier than modern safety ones!

#2: Not such a beautiful picture, but worth a look for the sheer awfulness of the wall paper, and the fact that it’s the only example I’ve found so far of a vintage pube shaving pic. I’m sure there must be more of them out there! Nice tan line, and check out the hanging spider plant in the background!

#3: And to finish up, a haircut using what appear to be vintage clippers. This looks like an army setting what with the dog tags, but then why are they doing this naked? Could be a porn shoot, but I want to believe it’s a candid shot from real life. Aren’t they both gorgeous, and isn’t it a beautiful shot with the stripey sunlight falling across their bodies? Rawr!

Which is your favourite pic, and why?

Next week: You can choose between cars, cigarettes or cowboys. I’ve got ‘em all!

http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2013/04/25/in-defence-of-dirty-books-by-josephine-myles/

BTW, Jessewave’s site is loading slowly for me today. Might be worth copying your comments before posting them, as it’s a real pain when they get lost in the ether!