C.S. Poe is joining in the fun today and she's talking about the evolution of her 2017 Advent holiday short, "New Game, Start". She's also offering 3 ecopies of it! Take it away, C.S.!
Hello, friends! I’m C.S. Poe—mystery, romance, and paranormal author. I’m here today to help celebrate Boy Meets Boy’s blogversary with some “deleted scenes!”
I’ve been asked before about my writing process, and that would be: I don’t do drafts. The product I write is the first and only version sent to my publisher. (This method involves a lot of staring at the wall.) I tend to completely delete projects anywhere from the first paragraph to the fiftieth page, depending upon when I realize the story simply isn’t right. And because I’m a deleter, not a saver, I rarely have outtakes to share because in my mind, I deleted for good reason.
However, I did recently stumble across saved files of the first versions of my 2017 short holiday story, New Game, Start. Those cast aside beginnings actually weren’t that bad, they simply didn’t have the oomph I was looking for. But I decided these were pieces I was comfortable sharing, so here is the progression of Walter and Edgar’s romance and characterizations! The first attempt had them in an established relationship, but I hadn’t a clue who Edgar was. The second was much more interesting but wasn’t cooperating with the prompt I had to follow as part of the anthology. Ultimately, the third version was what was published.
First Take:
“Walter!” I called, bursting into our tiny apartment like an out-of-control freight train. The heat instantly warmed my flushed skin and fogged my thick glasses. I juggled my thermos and dropped a book as I tried to close the door behind me. “Walter, are you home?” I tried again.
I heard a creak from the loft and then steps descending the steep stairs.
I crouched to retrieve my text book, in turn spilling some papers that needed grading. “The bodega downstairs has the most perfect, stumpy little Christmas tree for sale! It’ll fit into the corner of the room, and it doesn’t even look like something Charlie Brown would own!” I continued, picking up my mess.
“Edgar.”
Still on my knees, I raised my head and shoved my glasses up my nose. As the fog dissipated, I saw Walter was standing beside his wheeled suitcase, holding his passport in one hand. And just like that— the mirth was gone. I dropped my belongings onto the floor again.
“Ed,” he murmured.
“You’re leaving?”
Walter tapped his passport against the palm of his hand. “One of the senior advisors backed out of the trip at the last minute and chose me to go in her place.”
“You’ve worked overseas every year.”
“I can’t not go,” Walter continued.
“But—Christmas,” I murmured.
“This sort of opportunity is what leads to promotions,” Walter answered. “Then I’ll have the power to turn down trips during the holidays.”
“The stumpy tree,” I tried.
“Pumpkin….”
The strap of my messenger bag slid off my shoulder and it toppled to the floor beside me.
Second Take:
“Get him a nice sweater.”
“A sweater does not say, I love you,” I answered.
“It does if it’s cashmere.”
I shoved my sliding glasses back up the bridge of my nose and stared at fellow grad student, Owen Michaels. “It just sounds like you’re telling me what you want for Christmas.”
“I wear a medium.”
“In your dreams.” I stuffed as many books and papers to grade as I could into my messenger bag, but still had a small mountain sitting on the table. I took everything back out and started another game of Tetris to get it all inside. “Walter pays for everything. I’m not going to use his money to buy you a sweater.”
Owen sighed and leaned his elbows on the table. “I need to get myself a rich, financial advisor boyfriend.”
“He’s not rich.”
“Edgar, everyone is rich when you compare them to a couple of astronomy grads surviving on nothing but dreams of working for NASA and a cupboard full of ramen noodles.”
“I guess so.”
But Owen was right. I’d met my boyfriend, Walter Armstrong, when I was an undergrad at Columbia University. I had been a fulltime student and waiter, barely scraping by in New York City. And at exactly 2:43 p.m. on November 13th, I’d tripped and spilled a bowl full of pasta on Walter’s lap during a lunch meeting of his with a client. At 6:21 p.m. that same day, we were on our first date.
Fast forward— I was now working toward obtaining my PhD in astronomy. I still studied fulltime, but now on top of working as a lab assistant and teacher as means of paying back the fellowship supporting my housing, books, and tuition. There was no way I could have managed an additional job outside of the college when I’d otherwise have needed it. It literally would have worked me to death. That’s when Walter offered to move us in together and pay for anything I needed so I could focus on my grades.
So yeah. I was definitely a poor college kid with nothing but a fellowship and my NASA dream. But at least I ate better than Owen.
Final Take:
There was this guy…. Shit. That was how it always started, right?
Walter Chase.
He was better known by his online gaming persona, Waldere, which was actually the name of the fragments of an otherwise long-lost Old English epic poem about the legendary Walter of Aquitaine. I didn’t think Walter’s typical fans realized that, but I had a PhD in medieval studies and languages, so the fact that Walter Chase had even a rudimentary knowledge of Waldere made him even more endearing to me.
Here was the thing, though.
Walter Chase didn’t even know I existed.
Because I was only one of his subscribers out of millions—just another adoring fan of his mad video-game skills, hilarious commentary, and humble personality. Walter was also an out-and-proud gay man. He was completely unapologetic and shut down homophobia on his channel quicker than the Addams Family could snap in unison. It was empowering to watch him succeed and be respected.
But seriously, I had no chance. I wasn’t some famous video gamer. I didn’t even play much beyond what would be considered casual gaming. I only watched playthroughs because I found them relaxing. I was a horribly insecure scholar and freelance translator, getting by in the big, bad city of New York, and pining after a gorgeous, wonderful, amazing stranger who had guys a thousand times hotter than myself asking in the comment threads of his videos to hook up at conventions.
So there was this guy… and I guess you could say it was pretty one-sided.
New Game, Start blurb:
Reclusive medieval scholar, Edgar Royal, has a crush. On a guy. Not a big deal, except that said guy, Walter Chase, is a famous online gamer who has no idea Edgar even exists. Edgar has harbored these feelings for nearly a year, and when Walter announces on Twitter that he’ll be visiting New York City as a guest at the GamerOn convention, Edgar decides he’ll be one of the thousands of fans who responds to the message.
He definitely doesn’t expect to be singled out by the humble, gorgeous, out-and-proud heartthrob. And when it comes to dealing with people, Edgar’s skills are pretty nonexistent. Even with Walter giving all the right signals, Edgar lacks the courage do anything about the mutual attraction growing through their online courtship. He’s always been better with the written word, so maybe the perfect Christmas gift will say what he cannot. But if Edgar can’t get the present to Walter before the convention ends, he may miss out on the boyfriend of a lifetime.
Author bio:
C.S. Poe is a Lambda Literary and EPIC award finalist author of gay mystery, romance, and paranormal books.
She is a reluctant mover and has called many places home in her lifetime. C.S. has lived in New York City, Key West, and Ibaraki, Japan, to name a few. She misses the cleanliness, convenience, and limited-edition gachapon of Japan, but she was never very good at riding bikes to get around.
She has an affinity for all things cute and colorful and a major weakness for toys. C.S. is an avid fan of coffee, reading, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best on a daily basis to sidetrack her from work.
C.S. is a member of the International Thriller Writers organization.
Her debut novel, The Mystery of Nevermore, was published by DSP Publications, 2016.
Enter to win an ecopy of "New Game, Start". 3 Winners will be chosen. The giveaway is open until 12:00AM (EST) 11/21/18. Shortly thereafter, we will contact a winner!
Please respond to the winning notification within 48 hours or we will choose another winner. Good luck!
Don't miss entering in our month long unicorn giveaway HERE! It ends 12/1/18!
Love your series,so well written!
ReplyDeleteI finally found out what the deal with the octopus was! I would hide the cup with sexy squids too! LOL Loved Aubrey and Jun! Love Seb and Calvin! I wish there were more books than 4! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely check this one out!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I loved the three drafts... all of them!
ReplyDeletedeleted scenes are always interesting!
ReplyDeleteTis the season for holiday shorts. I can't wait to read this one!
ReplyDeleteInteresting insight into your process. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI liked the drafts and can't wait to read this story
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