Allyson Roy

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Saylor Oz is off and running

APHRODISIAC was released on September 2 and we can't help feeling a bit jittery about the fact that this baby that kept us up working through many sleepless nights is now venturing out into the world. Hard to believe the ideas and characters on our computer screen have finally become a book.

But no looking back, or as they say in boxing, "Never just stand there eyeballing your work." You're liable to get whacked upside the head. It's all about moving forward and staying active. We've just finished the copyedits for BABYDOLL, our second romantic suspense, and now it's time to write another.

We just want to take a moment to thank the readers who've already begun responding with such enthusiasm and appreciation. We hope you'll share your excitement with others who might take a chance and explore a new author.

So, we're celebrating Saylor Oz, now that she's off and running -- but we're also getting back to work.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Birds & Words

Okay, so why is there a black bird on this blog page? That's Uncle Petey, Benita's pet myna bird. He's a player in the Saylor Oz romantic suspense series. Petey likes to talk, he just isn't too aware of what he's saying. Or is he? Sometimes Benita and Saylor wonder why this talented talking myna has a penchant for what's naughty and nasty.

How could any writer not be enchanted by a creature who can actually make words? Charles Dickens was. He had a pet raven named Grip, who supposedly could speak. Some say Grip was the inspiration for Edgar Allan Poe's literary raven.

Reading about animal communication is one of my hobbies. I've always been amazed at their incredibly varied and resourceful forms of language. And aside from their own methods of communication, many animals can learn to understand and respond to human words. But very few have the capacity for speaking -- even the late, legendary chimp, Washoe, who learned to use American Sign Language.

Bird brains may be tiny, but when it comes to the structures that deal with vocal learning -- that ability to imitate and use a vocal sound -- their brains are uncannily similar to our own. Last year I was heartbroken when Alex, one of the most remarkable talking birds in the world, passed away. For many years I followed Dr. Irene Pepperberg's work with her super smart and way too adorable African Grey parrot. Alex not only understood most of the words he used, but at the time of his death he was learning the alphabet. I was sure Alex was on his way to reading. Who knows, maybe his fellow parrot friend, Griffin, will take that one on. In any case, Dr. Pepperberg's upcoming book about her work and friendship with Alex is definitely on my reading list.

Here is a link to find out more about Alex - http://www.alexfoundation.org

Or if you want to know more about Washoe - http://www.friendsofwashoe.org

And check out the myna bird on this home page - http://www.mynahbird.org

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Countdown

It's countdown to September 2, 2008 when APHRODISIAC will be released. Wow. I can hardly believe it's happening. The road has not been an easy one. Learning the craft, studying the markets, finding the right voice, researching, writing into the wee hours, then rewriting, rewriting, and rewriting. And did I mention rewriting?

For me this was also a transition from dancer-choreographer to writer. And I discovered that creating stories is a lot more like creating dances than you'd think. But that's a subject for another blog. For now I just want to share the "first book" excitement. It's a strange and wonderful process to take the seed of an idea and work with it for so long that the characters become a part of your waking and dreaming life.
--- Alice

Ditto. It's a major league thrill to have APHRODISIAC making it's way onto the shelves after such a long, hard battle. As to Alice's last sentence, as far as I'm concerned Saylor and Benita really do exist. There are times I feel as if I could just hop in my car, head up to Brooklyn and catch them standing on the sidewalk in front of Gleason's. Seeing them brings a loving smile to my face.
I call out, "Excuse me, ladies. Offer you a ride back to your place?"

They seem a bit surprised.

"Umm. No, thanks," Saylor says, smiling sweetly from her altitude of four feet eleven.

Benita adds, "Get lost, you weird pendejo."

I laugh, unfazed. "You know, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't exist."

"You saying something about my mami?"

Oops. I forgot her nickname in the ring as a boxer was Binnie 'The Bitch.' I pull away from the curb and head for the BQE. Time to go home and write the rest of this scene.

--- Roy