A love letter to Gizmo Guy

Dear Gizmo Guy

I can’t believe it’s been thirty three years since we said our “I do”s. I still feel like we should be celebrating our fifth anniversary, the years have gone by so quickly. (Except for the two boys in their twenties who tower over me of course.)

Heaven knows life has thrown a lot at us in the last thirty-three years–health issues, both our families and our own; the birth of our two boys and raising them with all the worries parenting brings; issues dealing with our own aging parents.  We’ve both gone through layoffs and uncertainties about where our next rent or mortgage payment was going to be found. We’ve had our share of arguments which of course ended with a make-up sessions–which is probably why we’ve lasted thirty-three years. So thank you for being there for me at every twist and turn our life has taken. Thank you for being a determined, practical man who faces challenges by meeting them head-on without a lot of drama, and for putting up with me who knows only drama.

You’ve taught me a lot about dealing with life. So many nights I’d lie in bed staring at the ceiling replaying the events of the day, wondering how I’d get through the next, frustrated because you could roll over and drop straight to sleep. I always knew that I could turn over and wake you up (yes, I apologize for those nights I did) and get even more frustrated because you would simply ask “is staying up worrying about it going to change anything? Is it going to make the money appear in the bank to pay the rent/mortgage/bill?” Of course the answer was no, but it took me years–all right, decades–to figure that out. I still stare at the ceiling a lot at night, but now it’s to let those characters in my stories keep me awake, not the bills and other issues. (I’m sure a psychiatrist could say it’s a method of avoidance or something, I don’t care. Those characters are helping me pay the bills 😉 )

Thank you for always letting me know you’re thinking of me even when you’ve been thousands of miles away–not only from the phone calls you’d make or later the IM sessions, but for all those presents you’ve brought back, that show me you’ve scoured the stores wherever you were to find whatever whim I’m following at the moment. Thank you for going into that sewing shop in Minneapolis and buying me a tiny pair of stork scissors for my embroidery. For my collection of angels that you’d add to every time you went away because you knew I needed to be surrounded by goodness because bad things hovered on the periphery of our life.

You are always so darned even tempered — I had no idea how to argue with someone so quiet-spoken after living with the fiery tempers of my parents’ marriage. How could you fight if it wasn’t at the top of your lungs? Well, you taught me how. I thank you for teaching me that.

Thank you for being such a great example of what a real man is like to our sons–  you’re a great Dad, and with your patience and quiet manner, you’re a great example of how a man can be a great husband.

And I know I’ve influenced you too–like that first year when I’d curl up on the couch with a book or sink into a tub for an hour at a time with my book, and you thought I was angry with you and avoiding you, not realizing the pleasure that could be found in reading. Now you bring home books for me, and even have your own Kobo reader and devour almost as many books as I do.

When I finally confessed that I wrote,  you’d listen to me endlessly natter on about passive voice and showing not telling. And you proved that you listened to me–I mean really listened to me–by sending me a document and asking me to read it. You knocked me for a loop when I realized you’d written a story too. As I sat reading it that day, hearing your voice in my head telling the story, laughing at your subtle humour (and not so subtle sometimes) as you fictionalized some of the things that we’d done, I was both laughing with joy and crying with happiness. How many women, let alone authors, have such proof that their husbands do indeed listen to them?

Thank you for putting up with my muttering and my flights of fancy as I chased this dream and that. And thank you for listening to me talk about how I needed to go back to work in 2006 then for telling me to go after my dreams of getting published, that somehow despite all the trouble we’d been through in the previous few years, that we’d get by on just the one salary. Because if you hadn’t encouraged me to keep writing, I doubt this blog would exist. I know of few other women who have husbands who so actively support their writing–some even have husbands who ask when they’ll give up on their dreams. Without knowing you supported me, I doubt any of my books would have been written, let alone submitted or published.

So you’ll have to wait for a month to get your present, but for the first time in a very long time, I’m buying your present with my very own money. I hope you really enjoy New York and I hope you’ll show me all your favorite things about that great city.

I love you, Gizmo Guy. I hope we see another thirty-three years together…

I Slept with Leah Braemel!

Gizmo Guy is not a big talker; he prefers to let his actions speak louder than words. Often times we’ll each be sitting in our chairs in the family room typing into our laptops and I’ll get an email he’s sent me — yes, from only 5 feet away. Usually they’re little jokes or links to pictures that he knows will make me laugh. Tuesday afternoon was no different. Except when I opened his latest email. He mentioned he’d read my blog on Tuesday saying I was looking for guest bloggers and wanted to reserve a date. He even enclosed his blog post. When I opened the doc … well, I just had to share it with you. No, I didn’t edit it. These are all completely his original words. Yes, I was sniffling by the end of it. I’m not the only romantic in this family.

Gizmo Guy Speaks

I slept with Leah Braemel – just don’t tell my wife!

Gizmo Guy, Vancouver Island, 2006

I have for more years then either of us would like to admit, shared a bed with the famous Leah Braemel. And a house, two kids, and at times various animals – a budgie, a cockatiel, a wonderful lab-mix dog, and the current master of the house a tuxedo-cat named Spike.

Yes I am Mr. Braemel, or Gizmo Guy as I get referred to in these pages. I am Husband, sometime critique partner, research assistant (one of the perks), sounding wall, and firm supporter of Ms. Braemel.

The worlds and the words Ms. Braemel create are glorious, but perhaps I am coming from a biased view. I have watched her mature through the years, starting as a twenty-something young girl scribbling her words in small notebooks, hiding them from curious eyes.

Then she realized the characters in her mind demanded to be let loose, their stories had to be told. She was amazed when people actually read her early fan-fiction works – and demanded more.

You see I am a product of the Canadian Education system – although a graduate of community college in a technical field I had not read, for purely entertainment purposes, a novel until my mid twenties. I was a television junkie – the boob-tube was on twenty-three hours a day in the house I grew up in. Meals were consumed in front of it. Conversations took place over its din. My mother even managed to time her cat-naps around the commercials – waking herself up just in time to turn the sound back up.

So I was confused when Leah would disappear into another room for hours at a time ‘reading’. Why read when they will act it out in front of you – and you don’t have to think… A typical male I imagined I had done something wrong – that she was mad at me. I just didn’t understand.

Then one day I was in a used book store with Leah – did you know that some of the movies I watch on my glorious TV were books originally. Who Knew! Tom Clancy actually wrote ‘Red October’ as a book before it was made into a ‘blockbuster’ film.

And you know what – the book was better.

Well it was all downhill from there – Clancy, Steven Coonts, Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Series, along with the wildly popular Grisham novels amongst others. Piles of paperbacks grew in the bathroom (still my preferred place to read). I was hooked. This woman was a terrible influence on me.

But the people that wrote those stories, they were not mere mortals. They must be gods sent from the heavens to entertain us. Surely one of us could not ascend to such heights.

Then the magic happened. Leah scrunched up enough courage, and egged on by some close friends, to expose herself as openly as anyone can. She put herself out on display. She took one of those worlds that she created, and sent it off to one of those dreaded people – the Editor.

The rest is shall I say history. Three books out there being received well beyond her dreams. Accolades coming in from all sides.

I was sitting in my chair the other day, watching golf on my glorious TV (yeah I’m still hooked) when I noticed Leah smiling to herself. I inquired to find she was following two people talking on Twitter as they read her latest novel. It was like watching a little girl at Christmas. In the famous words of Sally Fields at the Oscars ‘They like me – they really like me’.

Leah – get used to it – you have talent. You have stories to tell. You have – dare I say it – fans!

I won’t say that living with a writer is always fun – many a night I have rolled over only to find the other side of the bed vacant – “the characters started talking to me… I had to let them work it out…” I think there is a very fine line sometimes between the creative and the insane…

But her influence has once again hit me. I put pen to paper (actually finger to keyboard) myself and wrote a comedic attempt at a very short story about a modern plight – the failure to launch syndrome. This was based mostly on our own home life – and the fact the two very grown children still lived in our house well past the norm. Sitting again in front of the TV with my laptop in my lap I read it over for the hundredth time. Finally I screwed up the courage and sent it in an email to Leah – who was sitting all of five feet away from me.

“What’s this,” Leah asked.

“Um, something I wrote…” I mumbled.

Between the tears and the laughter she gave me something that I will never forget – encouragement. “She liked it – she really liked it.” This woman has indeed been a terrible influence on me.

Leah – the twelve hour days – the constant research and work – the edits – the promotion – the endless novels, good and bad you read – are worth it. You have arrived. Your words and worlds are out there for all to see.

Congratulations – and know this – you are loved – and not just by your fans….

More reviews in for Texas Tangle

Having a book you’ve worked on for ages finally release, it’s not only exciting, it’s a little scary.  Will readers like it? Will they hate it? Did I miss … something that everyone else will catch and think WTF?

Or maybe it’s just me…

Anyway, each time I see a tweet or an email coming talking about a review for one of my books, I go through this mental debate–“should I look at it?” Maybe I should get someone else to read it first and give me a thumbs up or down. (I do know other authors who take this route.)  But inevitably I end up clicking on the link or opening the email and reading it myself. So I was thrilled to open the email to read Lea’s review of Texas Tangle over at Blackraven’s Reviews:

…how many synonyms are there for tremendous, enjoyable, fabulous and awesome? If you’re looking for an emotional, sensual, heartwarming story, this is it. I will definitely be recommending all of Leah Braemel’s books to my friends, and Texas Tangle will be a birthday gift to my sister.

Just go get Texas Tangle and you’ll see what I mean! This book is a must read.

Rated 5 Ravens and a Recommended Read by Lea!

Then two days ago I opened my email and found another note saying that the lovely ladies of Whipped Cream Reviews (That’s the Long and Short of It’s erotic site) have left me a review too. Tiger Lilly said:

I closed this book, having laughed, cried, sighed and smiled. Plus the three of them together is really hot. I had to check the screen for singe marks. If you want a story that will stick with you long after the last page, then you need to read Texas Tangle. I give it 4 cherries.

And today? I just received an email from Night Owl Romance. Chris had just posted her review — it’s another Top Pick review, folks!

This story was totally different from other ménages I’ve read in the past….Dillon’s grandmother stole the show when she gave her opinion at the dining room table. I about lost it. A very emotional story that explores how a ménage can develop, and it’s not just for the thrill of kink. We watch all three parties change, grow and make discoveries that help them mature and realize what they really want.

Can I once again express my appreciation to all reviewers, no matter whether they liked Texas Tangle or not–I find it exceedingly difficult to define what it is that I liked about a book (or what I didn’t) and summarize a book the way they do.  So here’s a huge thanks to them all for taking the time, and making the effort.

More reviews of Texas Tangle

Phew! Did I wear you out with all those guest bloggers? Now we’re getting back to the regular schedule of guest blogging on Wednesdays only and you’ll be stuck with me on the other days.

So what’s been happening at the Braemel household?  Well, Guitar Hero got a full-time job working for a local electrical firm so he can continue his apprenticeship. He’s working hard tearing out and rebuilding his old elementary school as it gets turned into a new campus for a local university.  Curly is done school and has been working almost full time at the grocery story. He’s decided to take a year off as he tries to decide “what he wants to be when he grows up.” Gizmo Guy is chugging along doing well after last year’s health scare.

And me? Well, I’m exhausted from all the promo for Texas Tangle but it seems to have paid off — Texas Tangle reached #4 on Barnes & Noble’s Best Selling Erotica’s list, and #20 and perhaps lower on Amazon’s Best Selling Erotic list (not just the Kindle list but amongst their regular list that includes paperbacks as well).  Reviews have been pouring in from Book Junkie, Night Owl Romance (there are two reviews over there, one of which gave TT Top Pick status!) Romance Junkies, Bitten by Paranormal Romance, Strictly Reviews, Ramblings of a Book Bitch, Bad Barb’s Reviews, Smexy Books and Dear Author (ok, so to be honest, DA didn’t like it so much but gave it a C+ rating).  There’s another one that’s still in the editing phase from Blackraven Reviews–the reviewer gave me a heads up that one would be on its way. I’ll share it when it goes live.

Speaking of Blackraven Reviews, Lea recently reviewed Private Property and gave it 5 Ravens and a Recommended Read. Woot! I love that a book that’s been out for 18 months can still garner attention.

People have been asking what’s next–I’m finishing up edits on the next in the Hauberk series. And I’ve outlined a synopsis and am preparing a proposal to submit to my editor at Carina for a prequel to Texas Tangle that follows Dillon’s great-great-grandparents (think that’s the right number of greats) in a story referred to by Dillon’s grandmother in a scene that seems to have captured a lot of people’s attention. (Grandma Barnett is mentioned in a lot of tweets and reviews as being a larger than life character.)  And I’m also playing around with an outline for a sequel to Texas Tangle, this one following Dillon’s brother Griffin that will also feature some of the fallout the Barnett family must deal with following Dillon’s unconventional lifestyle choice.

So I’m definitely taking on a lot of projects. Which means my blog may not get the attention it deserves, and my Twitter usage has fallen off, but I’m around.

Well, I’ll be around after today — I’m heading into Toronto today since Gizmo Guy got us tickets to Mike Weir’s Charity Classic golf event which is the lead up to the Canadian Open. (You do know who Mike Weir is, right?) So I’ll be hanging out with Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Dillon, along with Tom Cochrane and a bunch of hockey players (I’m sorry, I know I’m Canadian but I don’t follow hockey. Yes, I’m a bad bad Canadian, aren’t I?) But I’ll be back at my desk and hard at work tomorrow.

Gizmo Guy Strikes Again

She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.

On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things.

On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candle-light, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of spring-water.

When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar into the hollow of the curtain rods.

She then cleaned up the kitchen and left… When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days.

Then slowly, the house began to smell.

They tried everything; cleaning, mopping and airing the place out.

Vents were checked for dead rodents and carpets were steam cleaned.

Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting.

Nothing worked!!!

People stopped coming over to visit..

Repairmen refused to work in the house.

The maid quit.

Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move.
A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house.

Word got out and eventually even the local realtors refused to return their calls.

Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place.

The ex-wife called the man and asked how things were going.

He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely and said that she missed her old home terribly and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house

Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day.

She agreed and within the hour his lawyers delivered the paperwork.

A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home……..

And to spite the ex-wife, they even took the curtain rods.

That is really a happy ending, don’t you think so?

Texas Tangle’s a Top Pick!

Squeee!! I just got an email from Night Owl Reviews. They have given Texas Tangle 5 stars, and named it a Top Pick!  That’s right, the tears were flowing again as I read the review out to Gizmo Guy. It’s too long for me to copy here, head on over to Night Owl Reviews and read the whole review. But huge huge thanks to Night Owl’s reviewer, Terri.

Sexual, sensual, loving, caring, unique are just a few of the adjectives I could use to describe this book. The sex is hot yet caring. It’s adventurous but loving. Shocking truths are shared and others are discovered. This is just a fantastic romance that stretches the boundaries.