Boys and Girls: The Survey

Hi there!

Well, if you made it here, it means that your curiosity was piqued enough for you to come have a look at this little survey of mine!:-)

The reason behind this survey is that pre-production has begun for my third novel (fourth if you consider that I have another one under way). The working title is Love Bytes. I wasn't supposed to work on this project just yet, but sometimes stories just beg to be written down.

When I finished my second novel, Time of your Life, I realized just how much -- to my dismay --I enjoyed writing about the traveling romance between two of the main characters. Those of you who have had the chance to read it know how that love story ended up being the heart of the novel. Heck, it made a few girls cry, so I knew I was up to something!;-) Anyway, when I completed the epilogue and brought Time of your Life to a close, even before the positive feedback from my test readers started to come in, I was acutely aware that I really wanted to work on something which would explore love and the relationships it spawns. The basic idea has been fermenting in my mind for over a year now, and the little voice inside my head has been chiming (more and more often of late) that it's about time to let it out!

But what about The Celestial Dragon, the sequel to The Eye of the Serpent, the fantasy manuscript that Matt Bialer at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates is shopping around on my behalf? Well, we're still waiting to hear from a couple of editors, but my agent feels that the manuscript needs to be "trimmed down." Weighing in at about 1000 pages, I'm afraid that we'll need to do a complete overhaul. Which, considering its size, will require months of work.

While we're taking it back into the shop, I nevertheless feel the need to write something fresh. Rewriting and editing an existing project just isn't the same. I'm working on a short story titled Fall from Grace for a future SFF anthology, and the first draft should be done soon. With that out of the way, inspiration is urging me to begin a new writing endeavor.

I've got a few ideas swirling inside my brain, but so far Love Bytes clamors to be, if not written, then at least planned out. Hence the pre-production stage I'm at.

Those who've read parts or the entire Time of your Life manuscript will not be surprised by the fact that Love Bytes will be written with my usual witty, sarcastic and ironic sense of humor. The narrative will follow the adventures and misadventures of two POV characters, one guy and one gal, from the moment they meet as university students in a karaoke bar till the birth of their first child a few years later. Told from the points of view of both the male and female perspectives, the potential for fun scenes appears endless!

In a nutshell, the story will explore how men and women can't live with one another, yet they have no choice, for they simply cannot live without each other. Likely God's biggest irony, no doubt!;-) As they say: Can't live with them, can't live without them!

Which brings us to this survey. Just as Time of your Life was based on all my traveling experiences and those of my friends, so will Love Bytes look into the good and not-so-good sides of all relationships, in what will hopefully be a thoughtful yet hilarious manner.:-) I've been plumbing people for funny and quirky anecdotes for a while now, and it dawned upon me that you can never have too many good stories that might inspire you!

If you're up to it, copy-and-paste the survey below and answer any and all questions therein. Email your answers to lovebytessurvey(no spam)@gmail.com. Please remove the (no spam) thingy. As a matter of course, the survey is anonymous. If you are concerned that your email address might give you away, you can always post your answers in the comment section below, but know that they can then be read by anyone.

Boys and girls, this is your chance to unload and vent your annoyance on the other sex! Remember that this is meant to be a fun exercise! Feel free to invite your boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, and friends to do the same. The more the merrier!!!

Have at it!:p

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GIRLS (Chivalry never got me anywhere, but it's still ladies first!)

- Best date you have ever been on?

- Most romantic date/moment in your experience?

- Weirdest date you have ever been on?

- Love is. . . (Fill in the dots)

- Biggest turn-offs?

- Quirky facts about current or former lovers?

- Worst pick-up lines ever used on you?

- Memorable "I can't believe I fell for this" moments?

- Sweetest thing a guy ever told you?

- Most annoying habits your current or former lovers had?

- What can a guy do to almost immediately win you over?

- What can a guy do to almost instantly make you lose it?

- Nicest things someone ever did for you?

- A kiss means. . .

- Weirdest thing a guy ever told/did to you?

- What every man should know?

- It's 2008: Why can't men understand. . . ?

- Sex is. . .

- Major party foul/faux pas that a guy can make and make you lose interest?

- If I'm into a guy, I. . .

- Have you ever asked a guy out? Why won't most women take the initiative?

- What are your rules in the dating game?

- The difference between men and boys is. . .

- It's 2008: Why are we still arguing about the fucking toilet seat!?!

- What do guys want?

- Have Glamour and other such magazines ever truly thought you something about men and relationships?

- "I have to get up early" is getting old. What are the lamest excuses a guy ever gave you before making a quick exit?

- Weirdest break-up stories?

- When do you know that you have something special?

- Here's your chance to finish this survey in style! Anything you wish to add (concerning guys, of course)!?!


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BOYS

- Best date you have ever been on?

- Most romantic date/moment in your experience?

- Weirdest date you have ever been on?

- Love is. . . (Fill in the dots)

- Biggest turn-offs?

- Quirky facts about current or former lovers?

- Your best pick-up lines ever?

- Sweetest thing a girl ever told you?

- Most annoying habits your current or former lovers had?

- What can a girl do to almost immediately win you over?

- What can a girl do to almost instantly make you lose it?

- Nicest things someone ever did for you?

- A kiss means. . .

- Weirdest thing a girl ever told/did to you?

- What every woman should know?

- It's 2008: Why can't women understand. . . ?

- Lamest excuses you ever got when a girl stood you up?

- Sex is. . .

- Major party foul/faux pas that a girl can make and make you lose interest?

- If I'm into a girl, I. . .

- What are your rules in the dating game?

- It's 2008: Why are we still arguing about the fucking toilet seat!?!

- What do girls want?

- Most colorful lies you ever told a woman in an attempt to woo or charm her?

- Weirdest break-up stories?

- When do you know that you have something special?

- Why is it that women show no appreciation whatsoever when a man goes to great lengths to make her happy (go see a sleep-inducing play, or those stupid salsa lessons, etc)?

- Here's your chance to finish this survey in style! Anything you wish to add (concerning girls, of course)!?!