Sasha Distan

tehehehehe! I remember nights like that, not at cons, but I've been both Mikeal and Adam in those scenarios. Makes me all dizzy and snuggly thinking about it. Thank you Cassie!

The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Beatrix Potter Who couldn't love Peter and his gorgeous blue coat? I don't quite know the whole off my heart, but I adore it. Goblin loves it when I read to him, and this is a firm favourite in our house. I cannot remember the first time I ever read it, but the words are ingrained in my memory. The Enchanted Horse - Magdalen Nabb So I was a child who loved horses, and though I never understood as a child the references to God's Creatures in this slim novel, the descriptions captivated me. I had a version on tape (yes young ones, I used to have actual books on tape) and the voice of the narrator stayed with me my whole life. I can still recite entire passages by heart. Pyramids - Sir Terry Pratchett It's hard to chose one of the Discworld novels above all others, but though I adore Death, and Moist von Lipwig, and Angua, this is the only book in the whole series of 44 which is entirely stand-alone, and requires no other knowledge to work. I also love Pteppic, our reluctant King and hero, and I always empathised with him, because I've often felt like I was living a life which wasn't mine. Venus As A Boy - Luke Sutherland This was I think, the first novel I owned with a gay/bisexual main character, and I was quickly enchanted by the descriptions of Orkney, and by the strange journey the main character undertakes as he grows up. I read it over and over again, and it was the only book I took with me around the world. I read the whole thing in stages to my second boyfriend, just before we got together, and it set the tone of our relationship in a strange way. The God Eaters - Jesse Hajicek No couple in any other book have made my heart pound the way Kieran and Ashleigh do. Their world is rich and deep, their challenges enormous, the descriptions richly detailed, the conversations pithy and realistic. The blend of magic and logic is perfect, and throughout it all, their relationship makes me want to cry and laugh and shout with joy. Now Is The Hour - John Spanbauer for a long time after starting this book, I didn't understand it, or understand why I loved it so much. But John Spanbauer is the only person I've know of who has ever managed to describe the awe and majesty of Thunderbird, the hopelessness of death and betrayal, and the harshness of falling in love when it doesn't go well.

So I made a topic on this over in The Lounge, and asked people about their six Desert Island Books, the ones they couldn't live without. I wanted to keep my reply here too, for posterity, and because my top books have changed over recent years as I have re-found books from my past I am reading to my son. Here they are, in the order I first discovered them. The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Beatrix Potter Who couldn't love Peter and his gorgeous blue coat? I don't quite know the whole off my heart, but I adore it. Goblin loves it when I read to him, and this is a firm favourite in our house. I cannot remember the first time I ever read it, but the words are ingrained in my memory. The Enchanted Horse - Magdalen Nabb So I was a child who loved horses, and though I never understood as a child the references to God's Creatures in this slim novel, the descriptions captivated me. I had a version on tape (yes young ones, I used to have actual books on tape) and the voice of the narrator stayed with me my whole life. I can still recite entire passages by heart. Pyramids - Sir Terry Pratchett It's hard to chose one of the Discworld novels above all others, but though I adore Death, and Moist von Lipwig, and Angua, this is the only book in the whole series of 44 which is entirely stand-alone, and requires no other knowledge to work. I also love Pteppic, our reluctant King and hero, and I always empathised with him, because I've often felt like I was living a life which wasn't mine. Venus As A Boy - Luke Sutherland This was I think, the first novel I owned with a gay/bisexual main character, and I was quickly enchanted by the descriptions of Orkney, and by the strange journey the main character undertakes as he grows up. I read it over and over again, and it was the only book I took with me around the world. I read the whole thing in stages to my second boyfriend, just before we got together, and it set the tone of our relationship in a strange way. The God Eaters - Jesse Hajicek No couple in any other book have made my heart pound the way Kieran and Ashleigh do. Their world is rich and deep, their challenges enormous, the descriptions richly detailed, the conversations pithy and realistic. The blend of magic and logic is perfect, and throughout it all, their relationship makes me want to cry and laugh and shout with joy. Now Is The Hour - John Spanbauer for a long time after starting this book, I didn't understand it, or understand why I loved it so much. But John Spanbauer is the only person I've know of who has ever managed to describe the awe and majesty of Thunderbird, the hopelessness of death and betrayal, and the harshness of falling in love when it doesn't go well. What are your Desert Island Books?

fruit

The BBC are currently hosting a Desert Island Books series (format stolen from their incredible and long running Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs) as part of a Reading for Pleasure month. In this they are asking world famous authors (Marian Keyes, Jilly Cooper etc) to chose and talk about their 6 favourite and most influential books – the ones they would take to be stranded with on a deserted island. In the radio version you get to have The Complete Works of William Shakespeare and The Bible (for our purposes, I feel that any religious text of your choice will be an excellent substitute) gratis, but what other 6 books would you have with you? What can’t you live without? The only caveat is that they must be published printed hard copy books, there are no Kindles, Kobos, or other electronic reading devices on the island, so sorry, but you can’t have the whole of GA with you. More’s the pity. Also they cannot be collected works. You cannot have the whole of the Harry Potter series or all three books of the Lord of the Rings and only count it as one book. And you can only choose 6. So, what are your six books, and why have to you chosen them? This isn’t just for authors; editors, readers, mods, and admins are all welcome here. Please share with us, your Desert Island Books.

I hate that I know people can be so shitty. It's bollocks. I'm sorry there are bastards out there putting you through hell, it's not right, it's not fair, and in real life you know every single one of them would be snivelling wrecks by now. Just, don't give it all to the fight, save some for home. Anger is only ever going to get you so far (ain't I learning that the hard way). And don't go anywhere. clearly the people who love you and what you do are far better specimens than the few who who are making it their business to make you hurt. On an almost unrelated note, that was the best rant I've seen in a long time. Your vitriol translates well. Remind me never to have you angry at me.

clothing

so you don't think they're right for each other either? Stay tuned, I'm all about sappy endings too.

YUP! we used to dress up and go to house parties, but where is the time to create outlandish costumes?

It's too bad they couldn't channel a better direction for Fantastic Creatures and Where to Find Them. I'm told they all look like Pokemon failures. But it will, of course, make huge amounts of money. Good thing too, it keeps my best friend in a job making cool stuff. also, dude is fine.

thanks very much! I'm one of those writers who secretly loves research. But mostly because my characters usually like a lot of the same stuff I do - or when they don't, I end up liking the stuff they like. I really really want to camp in the snow too, but since we don't ever get snow here, it seems unlikely to happen Emmett, make a decision? yeahhhhhh.... you'll see! thanks hun!

nothing is predictable in SashaLand... Can your lovely neighbour come and deliver venison steaks to my house? Pretty please? Park wardens and shifters are not usually good friends.. unless park wardens turn out to BE shifters that is! Thanks for the lovely review hun

I didn't, but there's not much in there which is new. Pretty pictures though, and it's always nice when an article is accurate! Thanks Tim

I was very much a strike first teenager, so Cole is too. These days I'd get angry and shout, but I'd be less likely to punch someone. I don't think this makes us bad people, but I'm sure other's would disagree. Thanks for the review.

thanks for the review. and sorry for the late reply.

Haha! Yeah, so the time line goes like this. I started developing Emmett's character, then I went online and bought a bunch of books I thought he'd like. I read them. I've always loved the Iditarod, but after reading The Cruellest Miles, the MUSH! guys started to form up beautifully. I started writing MUSH! immediately after i finished TW, and I think I didn't give myself a big enough gap, which is why I couldn't finish it. I can always rely on you to join the dots!

Oh Renee! I hope everything is OK. Family is important, as is sleep. I hope there are no lasting repercussions for your people.

butter

We had a bit of an issue with the uploads, and at one point all the chapters which will keep you lot happy until February were up! The wonderful AJ of course sorted it all out for me. Emmett would approve, Sunday lunch coma is is favourite time of day. Didn't you just!? what was the MUSH! that you saw? Don't kick Emmett's butt. Boy ain't as strong as you think he is. He is an academic after all.

there were glimpses of MUSH!? Really? This was written and completed well before we started MUSH! that must have been accidental - do tell more. Meet me in the forum! Emmett is a great one for doubting himself, and also his perceptions of others - he is an academic after all! Even smart people can be dense at times, and stubborn. But you'll see, soon enough, you'll see.

One would think so! Emmett is as stubborn as they come though. Thanks for the review, glad you're enjoying the boys!

Head on over to the discussion forum and ask! That's what it's there for. I'm sure somebody must be on team Zeke. thank you, so much. I'm so glad you like it. I pride myself on my descriptive passages, so I'm really pleased they're hitting the mark. All that research paid off!

Emmett laid out the last piece of his winter camp bed on his bedroom floor and regarded the neat and regimented rows of his equipment with pride. Even though he wasn’t going to have to trek or carry his gear across the ice or through the woods, he still packed his expedition bags with as much precision as he would if he were going to be spending a month travelling over the frozen sea. His clothes were rolled or folded into neat rectangles; his spare socks paired up and stored in plastic sandwich

fish

You're not narrow and ignorant! I know some couples do the whole watching porn together thing (hell, I know know friends who watch porn together), and I think its kind of weird. Maybe I’m the narrow one? Private fantasy time is just that in our house - private!