Debut: MR RUMPLE AND MR. GRIMM by Echo Ishii

MR. RUMPEL & MR. GRIMM
by Echo Ishii

Hi, I'm Echo Ishii, author of romance with fantasy, SF, speculative and any other weird elements that I can think of. 

Mr. Rumpel and Mr. Grimm started because of the title. That's it. I had no idea what it would be about, but I made up mock covers and fake blurbs.

During my lunch break, I wrote in a notebook to cope with a job I hated. These stories will never see the light of day. There was an epic fantasy saga featuring psychic twin bird people; an urban fantasy with a sorceress who worked night shift at Piggly Wiggly; and a high fantasy that had something to do with elves and a haunted house. Concepts like character arc and story structure had no place in those early stories. Needless to say, they were not destined for greatness.

The common theme (other than crappiness) was fantastical worlds, magic, and magical creatures. I love to read mythology and folklore. I love to walk around a library and pick out books on history, culture, and anthropology at random. All these things fed my imagination.

I've read a fair amount of fanfic over the years, which uses male-male pairings and I was familiar with the manga use of male-male pairings as a narrative convention.　(This is different than gay romance with a different history and audience). I decided Mr. Rumpel and Mr. Grimm should be a romance.

There's a lot of talk about why so many women write and read M/M Romance. I can't tell you why because all people are different. I can say that I found an encouraging community of fellow writers. I can say that I write what pops into my head.

After a lot of workshops, editing, and generous help from fellow writers, I finally completed my novella. It also took many rejections, but Less Than Three Press (http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/) saw something in it so it became my debut.

I now have another great title that I can't let go of. So, for me, it's back to writing.

BLURB:

Claude Rumpel is a goblin turned human, living a quiet life in his little repair shop at the edge of town. He is in sore need of money to fund his inventions, and a cure for his hands, which he must keep covered at all times.

Daniel Grimm is half elf, descended from a wealthy family but now down on his luck. He is determined to restore his family's prestige and has a daring plan to do so.

The gold thread that Claude spins, and Daniel's ability to sell it, seems a perfect plan for their goals. The casual sex is a pleasant bonus. But they are constantly thwarted from all sides: Daniel's dealing with a powerful witch, the opposing magic of their lineages, and Claude's dark goblin desires... (Contains some explicit material.)

  

Join Echo on Pinterest (@mrsbookmark) and she will gladly follow anyone who pins about steampunk/deiselpunk clothes, desserts, and Alice in Wonderland or Wizard of Oz paraphernalia.

Or hang out with Echo Ishii on Goodreads because she's there a lot. There is also a blog (http://echoishiizone.wordpress.com) and Twitter (@mrsbookmark)

Her alter/ego RK contributes to the wonderful Smart Girls Love Sci Fi blog (http://smartgirlsscifi.wordpress.com/) 

and the Sci-Fi Romance Quarterly

(http://www.scifiromancequarterly.org/ ).

A True Life Fairy Tale Wedding

Once upon a time there was a family of working-class coal miners and builders.  The grandmother, Dorothy Goldsmith, decided it was high time the family improved their financial and social standing.

Dorothy encouraged her daughter Carole to aim high, and she did.  Carole became an airline hostess with all the prestige that went with the job.  At her job Carole met a dispatcher named Michael Middleton. They fell in love and married.

By the time their first born Kate arrived, Carole had started a mail order party goods company out of the house.  With the drive that had been instilled into her by her mother, Carole was able to make enough money to send her children to private school.

The business was very successful and the family became multi-millionaires.

Neither young Kate, nor her brother or sister wanted for anything.  She did encounter bullying at not one, but two different schools, and in spite of her treatment she got outstanding grades.

She grew up and was the first girl in her family to attend college.  Kate attended the University of St. Andrews.  There she met her Prince Charming, Prince William of Wales.

After a long courtship, a break up, and reuniting all in the course of ten years, 2001 till 2011, and they were married April 29, 2011, in a spectacular fairy tale wedding.

From meager beginnings to Catherine, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, the title bestowed on her by Queen Elizabeth, Kate’s grandmother-in-law, Kate emerged at the top of the social ladder.

The Middleton family has been embraced by the Queen.  She invited the Middleton's to ride with the royal family in the Diamond Jubilee Flotilla on June 3rd, 2012.

Kate has had strong women role models.  From Grandma Dorothy with her vision of a better future and social standing for her family to her new Grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who has ruled England for 60 years and is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee this year.

Now that’s staying power!  She is still loved and respected by her subjects.

Of course, Kate’s mom, Carole, was the one who made the private schools happen.  And where would Kate be if not for her mom’s drive and determination?

Who are your role models?  Who has made a difference in your life?