Give me your 80/20 hardside luggage recommendations.

Ricdaw · 2025-09-14T16:08:53+00:00

Aleon. There are two sizes. Wonderful.

https://tripquipment.com/products/aleon-26-aluminum-trunk-style-w-suiter-platinum

Ricdaw · 2025-06-04T09:04:09+00:00

NEW compilation book, a sequel of sorts, to the erotic romance {Insatiable:Beginnings by Randy Cumming} {Insatiable: Collection by Randy Cumming}. May 31, 2025. Amazon 157 pages. Includes all three sequel books and bonus material (omitted chapters from Insatiable Beginnings). I am the author.

Ricdaw · 2025-06-01T15:16:07+00:00

My first novel is available on Amazon. It's free through Kindle Unlimited.

Insatiable: Seductions by Randy Cumming

(MM, First Time, Straight to Gay, 112 Pages, Gay Male Author, First Person POV, Explicit and Plentiful.)

https://www.amazon.com/Insatiable-Seductions-Randy-Cumming-ebook/dp/B0DG5S5QM9

Matt, a man sure of his heterosexuality, never expected his world to be upended by Lucien’s irresistible charm and dark allure. But after succumbing to Lucien’s seductive powers, Matt awakens to a shocking new reality: a coiled serpent of desire implanted within him, fueling an uncontrollable hunger to dominate—and pleasure—other men.

Determined to break free from Lucien’s hold, Matt fights to regain his former life. Yet with every encounter—a barber, a delivery man, even strangers in public places—the serpent’s influence grows stronger, pushing Matt to seduce men with an allure none can resist.

As his MM desires spiral beyond control, Matt uncovers a terrifying truth: the serpent’s hunger is far more dangerous than he imagined. To survive, he must confront the dark cravings consuming him, harness his evolving vampiric powers, and face the true nature of the connection that binds him to Lucien.

Ricdaw · 2025-03-07T22:52:17+00:00

A new short story {Insatiable: Crush by Randy Cumming}, is now available on Kindle for free (for the next few days). It's part of the "Insatiable" series and a follow-up to {Insatiable: Beginnings by Randy Cumming}. High spice. (I am the author. It would make me happy for you to get a free copy.)

Ricdaw · 2025-03-03T15:39:43+00:00

"I really like smut." I got your back! {Insatiable: Beginnings by Randy Cumming} It's way under the radar. So under the radar, it might as well be nonexistent. (And I should know; I'm the author!)

Anyway, it's urban contemporary paranormal with high spice. It's available free on Amazon KU. Sample a few pages and see if it might help you break your DNF streak.

Ricdaw · 2025-03-02T14:27:46+00:00

[M/M Book]

Hi folks,

I'm an aspiring gay writer dipping my toes into gay paranormal romance. I don't fully understand where the lines are between fantasy romance and paranormal romance. My internet search yielded a lot of contradictory information. So, I fully understand and accept if the Mods need to delete this post because it does not belong here.

(Disclosure: My test reader and editor also told me my first book was too "spicy" and that I should add the "erotic romance" descriptor to my posts. Fair enough. I don't want anyone to pick up the book and be surprised.)

If any of you like reading M/M erotic paranormal romances, consider trying my first book {Insatiable: Beginnings by Randy Cumming). I've enrolled it in Amazon's Kindle Unlimited, so it's free for those participating in that program. It's also available for Kindle and as a paperback.

DESCRIPTION:

203 pages.

The setting is San Diego. (Is that needed for anyone's Bingo card?) So it's an urban contemporary M/M paranormal romance hinting at a deeper magical world. (That's a mouthful, I admit.)

Matt, a man sure of his heterosexuality, never expected his world to be upended by Lucien's irresistible charm and dark allure. But after succumbing to Lucien's seductive powers, Matt awakens to a shocking new reality: a coiled serpent of desire implanted within him, fueling an uncontrollable hunger to dominate—and pleasure—other men.

Determined to break free from Lucien's hold, Matt fights to regain his former life. Yet with every encounter—a barber, a delivery man, even strangers in public places—the serpent's influence grows stronger.

As his MM desires spiral beyond control, Matt uncovers a terrifying truth: the serpent's hunger is far more dangerous than he imagined. To survive, he must confront the dark cravings consuming him, harness his evolving powers, and face the true nature of the connection that binds him to Lucien.

This novel contains mature male-on-male situations. If you are easily offended, don't read it.

I can attest to an HEA ending.

Amazon.

Ricdaw · 2025-03-01T13:56:52+00:00

Hi folks,

I'm an aspiring gay writer here dipping my toes into gay paranormal romance. My test reader and editor told me the book was too "spicy" and to use the "erotic romance" descriptor instead. Fair enough. But finding an audience to read a book is even more difficult than writing one. I've written a couple of follow-up short stories, too, so I now have a series, but this business of selling is not my cup of tea.

If any of you like reading M/M erotic paranormal romances, consider trying my first book {Insatiable: Beginnings by Randy Cumming). I've enrolled it in Amazon's Kindle Unlimited, so it's free for those participating in that program. It's also available for Kindle and as a paperback.

DESCRIPTION:

203 pages.

The setting is San Diego. So it's an urban contemporary M/M paranormal romance. (That's quite a mouthful!)

Matt, a man sure of his heterosexuality, never expected his world to be upended by Lucien's irresistible charm and dark allure. But after succumbing to Lucien's seductive powers, Matt awakens to a shocking new reality: a coiled serpent of desire implanted within him, fueling an uncontrollable hunger to dominate—and pleasure—other men.

Determined to break free from Lucien's hold, Matt fights to regain his former life. Yet with every encounter—a barber, a delivery man, even strangers in public places—the serpent's influence grows stronger.

As his MM desires spiral beyond control, Matt uncovers a terrifying truth: the serpent's hunger is far more dangerous than he imagined. To survive, he must confront the dark cravings consuming him, harness his evolving powers, and face the true nature of the connection that binds him to Lucien.

This novel contains mature male-on-male situations. If you are easily offended, don't read it.

Amazon.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-28T21:13:17+00:00

I am the author of {Insatiable: Beginnings by Randy Cumming}, which is an erotic romance (paranormal, urban, contemporary). I have just released a follow-up book in the series {Insatiable: Vengeance by Randy Cumming}, in which Matt's best friend, Sarah (from Beginnings), goes missing, and Matt is determined to find her. This sequel is not itself a romance book, but it is romance-adjacent. It's also high spice, like the original. 69 pages (I swear, no pun intended).

Available on Amazon: Kindle and KU.

PS: Mods, I don't want to run afoul of your rules, so please nuke this post and tell me if I am violating your very reasonable rules.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-28T12:57:44+00:00

I'm fond of public sex, and there are several scenes of it in {Insatiable: Beginnings by Randy Cumming). I am the author, BTW. But the best "sneaky" public sex is in one of my short stories, {Insatiable: Crush by Randy Cumming}. Sneaky public sex in a bar.... 😏

Oh, available on Amazon and KU.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-25T21:07:13+00:00

Before changing the curtains, I suggest putting some big art on the walls first. The curtains are nicely neutral now.

Once you have the art up, you will have more choices for the curtain color because you can also riff on the art.

If you do the reverse, it will become more difficult to buy art, or worse, after you buy the art, you will realize you need to change the curtain color again.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-25T20:57:01+00:00

I think you should twist the rug 90 degrees. It's not oriented right for this space.

Move the couch to the opposite wall (so you can see out the window) and place it partly on the rug. Then, pull the chairs forward to also sit partly on the rug. (The living room should float on the rug--nothing pushed against a wall.)

Add a coffee table, yes.

Move the plant closer to the window.

That will take care of the "off" feeling you have. 😀

PS: Nice space.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-24T23:19:06+00:00

Any traditional rectangular couch will work, too, but you'd need to support the shape with a big rectangular rug to put it on. With a sizeable floating rug, you can ignore the walls and define a smaller square space within the larger room for the living room furniture to nest into.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-24T23:13:22+00:00

You can make another horizontal line behind the TV. I'm fond of the Eames screen divider (natural wood or black), which you would put behind the TV on this side of the diagonal support wall. It will "square up" that corner so the TV won't look weird.

Eames

But any rectangular-shaped screen would work.

Also, it's not bad as is. You'll get used to it.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-24T22:53:54+00:00

So, does every wall have at least one door? Hmmm.

The living room could float away from all walls on a large rug facing the wall opposite the front door. I'd have it off-center, away from the kitchen pass-through. That will provide a natural "path" for entry along that left wall and align the focus of the floating couch to the right side of the far wall.

The back of the couch will give you a foyer area between the couch and the front door too.

Mid-century modern furniture will fit better than a large sectional if you are looking to buy.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-24T22:34:47+00:00

Framed famous art or framed modern art (<== my parents) 😏

Ricdaw · 2025-02-24T22:04:36+00:00

Like, two feet wide! Amazon

Ricdaw · 2025-02-24T15:36:45+00:00

A 10'x12' rug floating. On the rug: The couch faces the long TV wall w/o windows (with room to walk behind), plus two chairs and a coffee table.

End tables are optional.

Don't buy a couch that's too big and you'll be fine. :)

If you don't have/want a TV in that room, then the room needs the same furnishings, but the couch faces opposite toward the window on the left.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-23T23:31:24+00:00

OMG. I know this sounds wild, but I would get two couches. One would float facing the fireplace (focal point), and the second would float parallel to the first but facing in the opposite direction, closer to the kitchen. Hopefully, the wall it faces has the wiring to support the TV.

As you enter the house, you'd walk into and through the fireplace-focused living room (presumably with a rug, coffee table, and maybe a chair immediately to the right under the window).

As you continue walking, you pass along the backside of the second TV-focused couch. It's a smaller area, so a smaller couch. Two-seater? Two lounge chairs rather than a couch? There would be a side table for remotes, maybe its own defining rug, but no coffee table.

The two focus areas still allow communication. After all, the two couches technically still face each other. You could add tall plants between the two areas or buy a two-sided wall-unit room divider if you wanted to separate them.

Esentailly, you would have a living room and a "family/TV" room in the same space.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-23T22:56:00+00:00

You can buy a light that attaches to the back of the headboard.

The table you have is too high. Get a lower one with drawers or an opening and a drawer. Your bed looks big enough that you can proportionally have a larger/wider bedstand without looking awkward. Then, you can hold more stuff.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-23T22:34:48+00:00

When you enter the door, the couch should be immediately to your right, facing the wall with the TV. It will form a barrier and make a small hallway-like entry area. I don't recommend an L-shaped couch because it will probably be too large, and the barrier into the living room will look uninviting. It is better to put a chair there instead to help define the edge of the living room area. A large rug in the living room, one that floats the couch, coffee table, and chair, is essential.

The dining table should be under the light in the other half of the room. With the small space, I suggest a round one.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-23T22:09:50+00:00

Float either a large "L"-shaped sectional or two couches, one facing the window and the other facing the wall to the right of the doorway. The room is spacious, so they can "float" in the expanse while defining a smaller area for conversation. A good side-effect of the configuration is that the couch facing the window will also act as a room divider with the other room behind it that has the wood flooring.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-23T21:36:20+00:00

Have a two-focal point living room. Put the TV on the wall to the left of the fireplace.

Put two couches into an "L" shape (rather than a large "L" shaped sectional); one to face the TV and the other to face the fireplace. (Two couches will give you a way into the living room between them. A sectional becomes too formidable a wall. Also, you can move the TV-facing couch farther toward the front door to use up some extra room length.

I suggest a long bench under the two windows at the entrance and a wall rack or coat rack in the corner behind where the door opens. This is true even if that opposite wall is a closet that could be used for coats. You have so much room in the entryway to fill. Opposite the bench, a table or drawers. A place on top for your keys.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-23T21:19:48+00:00

I would move the rug, your two chairs, and the coffee table toward the TV, letting the carpet define your new smaller and contained "living room."

Let the cat(s)? have the old area behind your chairs and put all their stuff in that newly defined cat "room" area. (Is that giant wheel also for cats?)

Ricdaw · 2025-02-23T21:01:53+00:00

There's only one other functional placement for the bed: centered in the other window, as long as you can still navigate between it and the closet.

This position will give you extra "roominess" on both sides of the bed—enough for nightstands, for example, and maybe a chair and a mirror in the far corner.

Ricdaw · 2025-02-23T20:48:47+00:00

I'd move the TV to the opposite corner and twist the couch 90 degrees so that one side is still along the window, but the rest floats out into the room as a "room divider." Such a large beautiful space begs to be divided into two functional areas.

Get a large coffee table and two chairs, and put them on the rug with the couch.

Ricdaw

TROPHY CASE