Thursday, June 16, 2011

Hi, I'm Kallypso Masters, but you can call me Kally


Welcome to my first blog post! Some of you probably follow my antics on Facebook and Twitter). But let me take this opportunity to tell you a little bit more about who I am and what I write. 

I was born in Louisville, Ky., in the late 1950s. Growing up, I was a very quiet person in public, but not at home, where I was the clown. I expressed myself in writing at least by the time I was in high school. (My first sale was during sophomore year when my 8th-grade sister paid me $2.50 to write a story for her for a class assignment. It was one of those tragic romances only a teenager could write/read.) I had been bitten by the writing bug and here I am.

Oh, yes, then all that life stuff happened. I met my husband by answering his ad in The Mother Earth News (TMEN—an omen perhaps?), a rural independence magazine. The next year, I moved to very rural New York State (city girl living on a dirt road!). We’ve been married 28 years this month and have two grown children. Eventually, though, I became homesick and depressed, so we moved to rural Kentucky. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism at the age of 44 and went to work as an editorial assistant at a small liberal-arts college. This year, during downsizing and restructuring, my job changed and I was made part-time. While attending an Artist’s Way workshop given by two friends, I had an epiphany. My job was a crazymaker/shadow artist and it was time for me to leave it and WRITE. Two days later, I turned in my resignation. My last day at the day job was April 15.

After taking about a week to de-stress, I started revising NOBODY’S ANGEL, which had sat untouched for nearly two years. While I had been dabbling at writing romances for 30 years, I never finished a novel—until two years ago. That’s when I discovered the new-to-me genre of erotic romance at a Romance Writers of America local chapter workshop. I went home and penned (in one month) what I thought was an erotic romance. The best part about it was that I finished it! But it will need a lot of work before it will be published.

Then I bought my first erotic romance—CLUB SHADOWLANDS, by Cherise Sinclair (www.cherisesinclair.com)—and saw the error of my ways. I’d written lots of kinky sex with a smattering of a romance, but fell short on character development and plot. So, I sat down again (I sit a lot in my new job!) and wrote NOBODY’S ANGEL (again, completed draft in a month). 

I’m now on my third revision and will send it to my editor next week, along with the prequel to the RESCUE ME series, MASTERS AT ARMS (also set to be released in August). But the prequel only hints at things to come, but in it you will meet my slave-driving Masters—Adam, Marc, and Damian—and the women who will bring them to their knees. 

The prequel is meant to 1) showcase my writing ability; 2) provide a low-cost (99 cents!) way to try out a new author; and 3) show the some major turning points in the lives of these brave and honorable men and how they came together while serving in a Marine Corps unit in Iraq. There’s a lot of emotional pain as they deal with life and the aftermath of war. Don't worry, you'll also get to see if I can write a "tittylation" scene (as a Facebook friend referred to the excerpt I posted on FB yesterday). 

I love to read and write about the hetero BDSM lifestyle and, for the foreseeable future, all of my stories will have that as an element. More important, though, I LOVE to write stories about strong, but sometimes broken and hurting people finding each other and healing/rescuing each other through the power of love. 

I hope you’ll come along for the journey by following this blog—and will follow the journeys of my characters in my books (as well as here). I love to share my works in progress (WIPs)—and will even share one or more of the Masters with you on occasion if you've been a very, very good subbie (or particularly bad). 

21 comments:

  1. Congratulations Kally, that was a brilliant first post.
    It was lovely to read about how you got into writing and the tease of what your books are about is just perfect.
    I look forward to following your blog and reading more about your progress.
    *bites n kisses*

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  2. LMFAO!!! I love that you used "tittylation". Yes I will own to the fact I said it but it was warranted! What you wrote, left me panting among other things *waggles eyebrows*

    You really do amaze me Kally and I so glad we became facebook friends. You continue to inspire me and crack me up. Oh and I love your men.

    Still waiting on my Man sandwich but chocolate and PB spread out on Master Adam will do JUST fine!

    Love ya babes! SMOOCHES!

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  3. Well, I'm so glad you owned up to it, Lizzie! Now I don't feel like a thief in the night. lol Not that you haven't been holding Master Adam ransom for days now. But thanks for loaning him back for that brief scene in the Prologue of Nobody's Angel. I probably won't need him for a while. Master Marc will have to leave Denver to find his Angelina again. Of course, she won't remember him. But he'll definitely remember where he met her. Gawd, I love that prologue and am so glad my muse revealed to me last month. It just makes the book--and I'll also add it to the end of Masters at Arms.

    Thanks, V. Dezire! (I was going to shorten it to your initials, but then thought, nah.) Hmm. Your other initials wouldn't be much better. Do you do this intentionally? lol

    Glad you all enjoyed my first effort! Think I'll post a WIP excerpt next. Hmmm. Two to choose from. Stay tuned!

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  4. I'm excited for you and all that you are doing.

    I am a in bedroom D/s only! I don't want things to be more than I can handle. I have a story I can tell you about a D/s thing that turned out badly for me.

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  5. is there any part of you in the stories you tell, or is it all fantacy , i'm not, i don't no what i'm not! but i just wonder sometimes, and then you hit the mark! do you feel any of this, is any of it real for you,i seen when or around when you said you were born, i'm 40, not had the best life i could have,and sometimes i just wonder, you know, how broken am i, you don't have to answer, i guess a part of me will, always wonder, but do you know if any of it is real, the need, to feel more, i'm so embarassed by saying this i can't even look at the screen, sometimes i think oh well, i made the wrong choice so, i should have to deal with that, i'd like to call it a day and just give up!!!! i can't that's not me, just tell me there is someone out there like me that understands, that you know of, i know your not a doctor, i have a doctor, i just need the truth!!!!!! someone who get's it!!!!!! didn't mean to go this deep, but hell i just want to know

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  6. Anonymous, I'm so sorry to see you're struggling right now. Been there, done that, hon. And it sucks. Of course, there are bits and pieces of my past in the characters, but no one character that's totally me. But I very much identify with Savannah/Savi and her abuse. No, I wasn't a sex slave or abused that way by my father, but am an incest survivor (a grandfather) and was abused my multiple adult males when I was a kid. So, I try to sort these things out--and imagine that I'm getting justice for those who didn't have to account for what they did--when I mete out my Marine justice in the upcoming Nobody's Perfect.

    One of the fascinating parts of researching the BDSM lifestyle is talking with so many people (e-mailing mostly) who have come to the lifestyle as a result of abuse, rape, incest, and other events in their life where they had no control. In BDSM, they are able to regain that control. (Those who understand the dynamic in a Dom/sub relationship understand that it is the sub who has all the control. If a Dom doesn't respect a sub's limits, then they aren't a Dom, they're an abuser. I don't mean gently stretching the boundaries of the limits, but to outright ignore a safeword or stated limits is never the action of a skillful Dom.)

    Please feel free to write to me at kallypsomasters@gmail.com any time. I'm glad you have a doctor, because I can't help there. It took me a couple decades of therapy (off an on) to get my own head on straight (well, maybe a little skewed sometimes, but more or less on straight...)

    There also is a really supportive online community called Fetlife (fetlife.com) where you will find others in the BDSM lifestyle who may have worked through the same questions and concerns. Lots of groups and discussions there. (You have to have a login, but I just call myself Kallypso there--and gave a fictitious city, so I wouldn't get hit on by locals, since I'm happily married and not interested in it for that. It's just a research tool for me, mostly.)

    {{hugs}}

    Kally

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  7. Hi Kally,

    Just wanted to stop by and let you know how much I enjoyed both Marc's and Adam's stories. I am looking forward to reading Damian's next month! I am glad that you read Cherise Sinclair's books before releasing your own as she is one of the few authors who specializes in BDSM stories that also include believable plots and well crafted characters which are lacking in so many other books of the same genre. Keep up the great work!

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  8. I am now a huge fan of your Master At Arms series...Love the way you captured the emotional aspect of this genre. I will be attending my first AAD in NOLA this August--can't wait to meet you :)

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  9. Hi Kally,
    I just found your Rescue Me series on B & N for my nook, after reading all the reviews I bought all three books!!! I LOVED THEM!!! I could not put my nook down, I read all three in two days! I really liked the character development and following the characters in the sequals. Keep up the good work!!! I can't wait for the rest of them.
    Cin

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  10. C.S., I look forward to meeing you in New Orleans!

    Cind414, glad you're enjoying the RESCUE ME series! I certainly love writing it. Can't imagine writing about any other "world" for a long time. Three more books coming to you this year, God willing! Please feel free to friend me on Facebook or like my author page there, because I love to share with readers about the writing process and what the Masters are up to in between book releases. :)

    Kally

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  11. Hi Kally

    Just wanted to say I love the Masters of arms stores can't wait for the rest of them to come out I'm not into the bdsm seen I just happend to come across you books and started to read the first one then couldn't stop had to keep going..... Have to say the nobody's hero was my fav so far I have fallin in love with adam and karla's story. so again ty for taking the time to write and look forward to more stories.....

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  12. Thanks, Jenny! So glad you're enjoying the series! Believe me, you aren't the only reader who isn't into BDSM, but is loving the series. I think it's because they aren't "BDSM" books, but romances where the love scenes and sex just happen to be into that kink. The focus is always on the characters and their journey toward happily ever after, though. The next book will be out in May--Damian and Savi, my most broken souls finally will get their happy ending.

    Kally

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  13. What wonderful books you have written for us I can't wait for the next ones. I found alot of connection to nobody's hero. I am currently in a relationship with someone who's ex has passed away. It is so difficult being the other woman. Soooo difficult you think you can't hang on sometimes. It's refreshing to see that Adam put his past behind him and chose to move forward. Something I wish and hope for everyday. See we were already together for three years before she passed but he's reverted and now I feel I'm not important anymore because of his new found feelings for his ex. It's hard to be the person Karla's mom says to be. And not settle for anything less then 100%. Anyhow thank you for the journeys you've brought me on. I am totally hooked. The stories are very inspirational and the d/s relationships are stimulating and make me pretty envious! Thank you

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  14. Hi Kally my comment above from april 12,2012 has not been replied to and i noticed you replied to the others. I keep checking back to see if there is a response. Love your books and can't wait for the next ones <3

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  15. Thanks for the prodding, Anonymous. I must have missed the e-mail notification that there was a new comment. I'm glad you're connecting with the series, but am sorry your experience isn't as fruitful as Karla's has been. Guilt and abandonment issues plague Adam still, but Karla couldn't make him change. He had to want to--and I think he realized how empty his life was going to be after she left him.

    Of course, in my series of realistic Romances, they continue to struggle with issues like this. Adam still has some issues to deal with his deep-seated abandonment issues (stemming from childhood), which will come up in an upcoming book or two.

    I hope your partner can some day move on and accept love again and lose the guilt it sounds like he's feeling. But I'm not going to offer advice, because you need to make that decision for yourself as to what is best for you.

    Now, it's much easier to engage with me in conversation via e-mail or Facebook, so feel free to send a friend request or a message (kallypsomasters@gmail.com)! Of course, I don't know your name, so I might need a heads up that it's related to this conversation. :)

    Take care!

    Kally

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  16. Hi Kally, I just wanted to say thank you for your books. I love The Masters at Arms series. The characters are so well written, I'm totally obsessed with this series and can not wait to find out what happens next in their lives. Thanks again
    Deb

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  17. I have fallen in love with this series. I'm on my sixth read of the series in 2 weeks. These guys have me on my toes even though I have read them so many times. I can't wait for the next one to be released. I have always thought there was something missing from my "vanilla" relationships and you have sparked some new interest in the BDSM lifestyle for me. I hope you enjoy writing these as much as I have enjoyed reading them.

    Heather B

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    1. Thanks so much, Heather! Glad you love them, too! And I absolutely ADORE writing about these characters (and this lifestyle). I plan to continue to do so for a very long time. :)

      Kally

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    2. I wish I could find my perfect Dom for me there are pieces from each of the guys that I love. One day I will find him and enjoy a life of happiness and the lifestyle to keep it interesting.

      Heather

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  18. Go on FetLife.com and see if there are any PUBLIC munches in your area where you can meet and greet Doms (and subs) in the local community. At least you'll know they ARE into the lifestyle, rather than meeting someone by chance in a dating situation. Just keep it to PUBLIC areas and bring a friend along, if you can. These are usually held in restaurants and involving eating and just talking about whatever. But it's a way to see if you mesh with the people before you go to their dungeon or club. (Because some of those are in people's homes, and you do NOT want to go to a stranger's house without first attending a few munches. And ask the subs what they think of particular Doms before you play. They will give you the inside scoop.

    Have fun!

    Kally

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  19. Hey Kally I just wanted to say at the age of 50 I read my first erotic romance novels of course they were 50 Shades of Grey enjoyed them very much so I sent them to my sister who has read romance novels for years in return she sent me your book. Since then I have read all of your books and have enjoyed them very much. I am patiently waiting for your next work of art. Do you know what will come when the Master At Arms Series reach it's limits what ever it is I am sure it will be very good.
    Thanks and keep writing.
    Robin

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