 |
|
Well, it's here!!!! Or more specifically THERE.
And "it" is MAGIC UNIVERSITY, the erotic fantasy novel I have been talking about forever! The one I was writing every single night between midnight and 3 a.m. because that was the only time in my schedule I could find to write!
I worked so hard on this book. It's the first of a four book series, so a lot of things had to be planned out, considered, and weighed, but like just about everything I've written, part of the magic was in how things I hadn't realized were important took important turns in bringing it all together.
I had lots of support from my friends in HP fandom. It's no secret that this book is, in many ways, my take on a Harry-Potter-ish scenario. J. K. Rowling didn't invent the trope of the neglected orphan who suddenly discovers previously unknown magic either in himself, in his heritage, or in the world (thank you Cinderella, Frodo, et. al.), nor did she invent magic wands, spells, flying brooms, or even the concept of a magic school (precedents too many to name, but I'll give a nod here to Wizard's Hall by Jane Yolen) or learning magic as a metaphor for coming of age (tip of the hat to A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin, which was one of my favorite childhood books).
MAGIC UNIVERSITY is the book (series) I've been wanting to write to satisfy the cravings that the Harry Potter books brought up in this adult reader, but which couldn't be satisfied in a "book for kids." So I get have my openly gay characters, my sex magic, and my moral ambiguity. Magic does not come as easy in my universe, either; wands cannot be used like guns.
As the marketing copy goes: "Kyle Wadsworth arrives at Harvard eager to start his new life as a college student away from the cold and distant great-aunt who has raised him. But he walks into a building that only magical people can see, confusing both himself and the administrators of Veritas, the secret magical university hidden inside Harvard. There he first sees a beautiful girl who seems magical to him in every way.
Soon Jess is tutoring Kyle in the ways of magic, sex, and love. But trouble is afoot at Veritas. Rumors abound that a siren is haunting the library, and when Kyle's best friend is attacked, Kyle is determined to use his newly learned skills in erotic magic to catch the culprit. But which is more important, his quest for justice or his search for true love?"
Without further ado, here's the first chapter, for your reading enjoyment! And I sincerely hope that you do enjoy it!
Title: Magic University, Book One: The Siren and the Sword. Chapter One.
Author: Ravenna C. Tan, writing as Cecilia Tan (LOL)
Rating:: Adult
Pairing(s): Original Male Character/Original Female Character, OMC/OMC
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. (And the characters are MINE ALL MINE!! Mwahaha!)
Warnings: Het. Also, riddled with shout-outs to the fantasy books I love. (There are lots of 'em.)
Beta-readers: ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
gatewaygirl, clauclauclaudia, jordangrant, and miraba, with additional kibbitizing and reality-checking from laurenpburka, cluegirl, amanuensis1, and octoberland.
Author's Note: If this segment is too het for your tastes, feel free to write some slash, eh? You didn't really think I'd be such a hypocrite as to get upset if fanfic writers had their wicked way with my characters, did you?
( Read more... )
12 Comments | Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
When we sat down to dinner the other night at my "let's use up some farm share stuff" meal with my Baitcon widow friends, it was the first time I've had the urge to say grace over a meal ever. The connection of the food to the land and to my own health and happiness had never been clearer. I didn't end up saying anything (though we did toast), but here's what I was thinking:
Dear creative force of the universe, serious thanks for making such wonderful and amazing forms of sustenance for me and my species. Thank you for caring for our animals and the people who care for them, and for this planet and the bounty that it provides. It took weather and soil and human effort to bring all this to my table and for that I am grateful.
Since several people have asked, here are the details on the farms and how to join the CSAs:
( Read more... )
14 Comments | Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
|
|
My posts on Twitter yesterday as I was cooking what I deemed the "Baitcon Widows dinner" prompted many people begging for the recipes.
See, me and two friends got together partly because our spouses are all off at this annual private party in the woods where about 100-150 of our closest friends camp out together and make a lot of ice cream.
My goal was to use up some of the stuff I got from our two farm shares. We're in a meat CSA and a vegetable CSA, and we get veg every week! And I'm the only one here most of this week so it's a challenge to eat it all up. And we've been falling behind on our meat consumption, too, meaning we have like 15 steaks to eat up in the freezer.
So, it went something like this.
( Salad with Wasabi Cucumber Chive Goddess Dressing )
Now, I may have mentioned ice cream. It's a fairly classic technique to make a vanilla custard first, cool it, and then run that through your ice cream maker. Here's what I did instead.
( Honey Black Tea Rose Vanilla Ice Cream )
( and the rest )
10 Comments | Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
|
|
Maybe I should stop posting these as they come and just compile all the blurbs...
Whipped Cream Reviews just gave Mind Games “five cherries”!
http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/2009/06/mind-games-by-cecilia-tan.html?zx=61c55b3ed69fd3cf
A few choice bits:
“Mind Games is brisk, fast-paced, ironic and completely sexy. The writing is crisp and concise with characters any reader can easily identify with. The point of view never jumps, and the scenes are well described and packed with delicious adjectives. Writing premonitions, visions or even telepathy is a challenge for any author while maintaining the story flow and not confusing the reader. Mind Games pulls this off beautifully. There is never any uncertainty for the reader and I must award the author “TWO THUMBS” way up on a job well done!”
and
“Ms. Tan is a talented story-teller. This is my first story I have read by her, but I know it will not be my last. Wonderful job for a writer who is definitely a must keep in the business. Don’t miss out on this yummy, naughty novel.”
6 Comments | Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
|
|
Cecilia Tan San Francisco Events!
EROTIC HARRY POTTER NIGHT
Friday, July 17, 2009
6pm - 8pm
@ Center for Sex & Culture
1519 Mission
Admission: $3-$10 suggested donation, sliding scale. Zines will be for sale.
Open to the public, 18+
Multiple readers hosted by Cecilia Tan
( Read more... )
MAKING THE JUMP FROM FAN WRITER TO PRO
by Ravenna C. Tan (aka Cecilia Tan)
Sunday, July 19th, 2pm
Azkatraz convention event, Parc 55 hotel
Open to attendees of the Azkatraz convention. Register at http://www.hp2009.org
( Read more... )
A NIGHT OF EROTIC FANTASY
with writers Cecilia Tan and D. M Atkins
Tuesday, July 21st, 7pm - 9pm
Borderlands Bookstore
866 Valencia Street (@ 19th)
Co-sponsored by the Center for Sex & Culture!
Donations accepted.
( Read more... )
Followed by a meetup of Ravenous Romance and other erotic romance cohort of mine. We'll scamper off after the reading to have dinner together.
SUBMISSIVE SELF-SAFETY: A Workshop
presented by Cecilia Tan
Thursday, July 23rd
Center for Sex & Culture
1519 Mission, San Francisco
Admission; $20-$35 sliding scale
( Read more... )
( yet another bio of me )
4 Comments | Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
