Jon Michaelsen's Blog: Ramblings, Excerpts, WIPs, etc., page 35

Interview and Giveaway: Wilde City Press with Ethan Day and Geoffrey Knight

Interview and Giveaway: Wilde City Press with Ethan Day and Geoffrey Knight
May 2, 2013
Today I am very excited to welcome Geoff Knight & Ethan Day to Joyfully Jay.  Geoff and Ethan are here to talk to us more about the launch of Wilde City Press, a new publishing company they have started focusing on all genres of fiction and featuring gay male protagonists. Wilde City Press opened its… read more »

Read more to find out about my new home…

 

http://joyfullyjay.com/2013/05/interview-wilde-city-press-with-ethan-day-and-geoffrey-knight.html

 

 

Our Sexy Suspense/Thriller, SWITCH HITTER, is here!!

Switch Hitter

By

Alex Morgan & Jon Michaelsen

In baseball, a s witch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.

Blurb:

Top ranked MLB player, Jase Dockery, was having a record-breaking year until a sluggish bat threatens to derail his streak. To the world, Jase is a national hero, but the handsome MVP has a deep secret.

To rid his inner turmoil, Jase agrees to a tryst with a dominant S.W.A.T captain in a discreet location arranged by an enigmatic madam. Despite his apprehension, Jase releases himself to Cap for a night of unbridled revelry.

His mood elevated the next day at practice, all Jase can think of is another rendezvous with Cap, but a stalking fan derails the ball player’s anticipation and hides him in a lake cabin outside Atlanta.

Jase wakes gagged and bound with no idea what he’s in for. His captor, Daniel, has plans to keep the slugger that have nothing to do with money. Sure his handlers are out searching for him along with police, Jase hopes they are able to locate him in time.

Can the smitten S.W.A.T captain rescue Jase from humiliation via live webcam without risking coming out to his comrades? Or will Jase help breach that wall for him?

Excerpt:

Jase swallowed hard and counted to ten before taking a breath. Jesus Christ! He expected his subjugator to bust him over the head, take his wallet and bike, but nothing happened. “I…look, I’m sorry, man,” Jase said. “Just forget it, all right? I made a mistake.” He flinched as an arm slipped higher around his chest. “I really need to go now.”

His captor leaned in close to his ear, breathing against his neck. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay? I’m horny as hell tonight and you’re precisely what I need. Lady Velvet has never disappointed me. Anonymity is as important to me as it is to you, she assured.”

Jase didn’t answer with his lips as much as in the thickening of cock. Tendrils of lusciousness rose from the base of his balls and surged through his abdomen. He glanced down at the hand covering his left, at the thick fingers that clamped over his own. Lady Velvet had said the man was a cop, S.W.A.T. officer at that. What luck!

Fighting off fear, Jase found his voice. “I-I’m not sure this is a good idea,” he said, still feeling uneasy. The man’s hand moved up to caress his chest, fingers tweaking his hard tits. Jase held his breath, ready to drop his load right there on the bike without shedding his clothes.

“My friends call me Cap.” The tip of a moist tongue slid up the base of Jase’s neck as the man’s hand settled on his crotch and squeezed hard. “I hear you’ve been a real dick lately and need some attitude adjustment.”

Those final words sealed the deal. Concern and fear evaporated in the hotness churning between them. Jase wanted nothing more than to lose himself in the arms of this beast, captain of a S.W.A.T team.

Jase dismounted his motorcycle and faced Cap. His heart skipped and his breath caught in his throat. The mustachioed face, more handsome than any professional athlete or model, stared back at him. The brown eyes seemed to draw him in, engulfing his vision. He couldn’t look away, didn’t want to look away. Cap’s torso seemed to explode out of his narrow waist. His T-shirt stretched across a huge muscular chest.

The gorgeous specter smiled and Jase’s legs nearly buckled.

“Let’s see what Lady Velvet has in store for us.” Cap draped an arm around Jase’s shoulders and led him to the elevator.

Where sold:

http://www.loveyoudivine.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=118_114&products_id=1113

and online sites; Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, All Romance Ebooks, TLA Ebooks, Rainbow Ebooks

 

The Blue Moon Café is a horror/mystery/thriller Novel sure to pull you in and not let go!!

Reviewed by Jon Michaelsen

The Blue Moon Cafe

by

Rick R. Reed

Review by Jon Michaelsen

I usually listen to audio books (the unabridged versions); via headphones traveling on hours long plane rides or driving long trips alone. So, when a book I had my eye on was released in audio book format, I decided to take a chance to listen while in my car – which proved to quite often as I found myself finding places to go, errands needing done so I could listen to Rick R. Reed’s suspenseful, romantic thriller, The Blue Moon Café.

Taken from the blurb for both print and audio format, “Someone–or something–is killing Seattle’s gay men.” Something moves in the dark night at full moon hunting and killing gay men in the places they gather. The protagonist is Thad Matthews, a young gay man done with relationships and certainly not ready–or even willing–to take yet another dive for his perfect dream that presents in the form of a sexy, super compassionate, masculine, hairy and handsome Caecilian restaurant owner and chef, Sam Lupino.

Reed begins The Blue Moon Café with his signature terror/horror prose he is well-known for delivering, quickly ensnaring the reader–or listener in my case–with heart-racing, pulsating suspense. Vivid detail and full-moon-lit scenery ratchets up anticipation pushing the listener forward, sans trepidation. Reed tempers the heightened elements of the novel with a strong romance that provides a little distraction from the bloody killings.

Thad Matthews is unemployed and without purpose. He is every guy’s friend, the boy-next-door type you’d introduce to mother, a best friend always there to support you, even if having to take a back seat. Along with his domineering Chihuahua, Edith (don’t let the docile name fool you!), Thad fills his days looking for a new job, taking care of his neurotic friend, and pining about lost love. Edith, however, comes to the rescue in more ways than one, quickly proving dogs are excellent judges of character and man’s best friend.

Thad treats himself to a night out, which he can’t afford of course, in hopes of finding someone to spend the night with. Thad dresses to notice and sets out for The Blue Moon Café, where he meets the manly, macho, Sam Lupino.

Not only the owner and chef of The Blue Moon Café, Sam happens to be a werewolf in a family of werewolves. He becomes seduced by Thad’s naive charm, but once drawn to the young man, trouble beings. After a night of hot and heavy love-making, Sam leaves a goodbye note and disappears from Thad’s life. But, not for long as Thad can’t seem to stay away from the mysterious man who tells lies and holds secrets that prey on his insecurities.

I can’t divulge more of the story without ruining the mystery behind the killers, the betraying Thad and Sam both feel at different times throughout their rocky relationship. What I can share, is listening to the audio book version, the voice of narrator Topher Samuels is soothing, calming when he needs to be and ratcheting up the suspense with inflection that makes the reader “feel” as if we’re there, staring down the beast with yellow eyes, or making love to a most compassionate man with a wounded soul.

The Blue Moon Café is a horror/mystery/thriller and gay romance that will pull you in, scare the crap out of you and have you rooting for the unlikely relationship between human and werewolf. Non-traditional in that it strays from the modern-day romantic epics and ends with a surprise that just might break your heart.

ARE YOU READY?? Wilde City Press is here!!

http://www.wildecity.com/

 

The countdown is over! Wilde City Press is here!

So far the list of authors who have taken up residence in Wilde City in the last couple of weeks is nothing less than inspiring, including Carol Lynne, Eric Arvin, TJ Klune, Hank Edwards, Sandrine Gasq-Dion, Barry Brennessel, Jacob Z Flores, Anne Brooke, Ethan Stone, Daniel A Kaine, Jon Michaelsen and many more on the way

The question is, which neighborhood will they move into: the lusty Pink Light District, the heart-melting Boulevard of Hopeless Romantics, the knee-slapping Vaudeville Avenue, or the spooky Parisian Quarter filled with haunted mansions? You’ll find out soon in Wilde City!

 

 

Pre-Release Review of SWITCH HITTER, Releasing this Friday!

Check out this write-up writer/blogger Ryan Field posted to his blog yesterday after reading an advance copy of SWITCH HITTER, an erotic baseball/S.W.A.T kidnapping suspense short out this Friday at loveyoudivine.com

Review: Switch Hitter by Alex Morgan & Jon Michaelsen

by Ryan Field

I was thrilled when the authors, Alex Morgan and Jon Michaelsen, asked me to read a pre-release copy of Switch Hitter for several reasons. One, I’ve been a fan of Jon Michaelsen’s LGBT fiction for a long time. And two because I’ve never read anything by Alex Morgan. I also recently finished Maya Angelou’s autobiography and that’s a tough act to follow, so to speak.

I read the digital version of Switch Hitter all in one sitting last night. But it is about one hundred pages long and it can be spread out over a period of time just as nicely. I just had the time last night, so I decided to read it in full, which isn’t something I normally do. From page one the main character, Jase Dockery, drew me into the story and kept me fascinated for the rest of the evening.

Read this rest of the review by following this link to Ryan Field’s Blog:

http://ryan-field.blogspot.com/2013/04/review-switch-hitter-by-alex-morgan-jon.html

 

 

Excerpt from the Upcoming “Switch Hitter” – Releasing Next Friday, April 19th, 2013

Excerpt:

Jase swallowed hard and counted to ten before taking a breath. Jesus Christ! He expected his subjugator to bust him over the head, take his wallet and bike, but nothing happened. “I…look, I’m sorry, man,” Jase said. “Just forget it, all right? I made a mistake.” He flinched as an arm slipped higher around his chest. “I really need to go now.”
His captor leaned in close to his ear, breathing against his neck. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay? I’m horny as hell tonight and you’re precisely what I need. Lady Velvet has never disappointed me. Anonymity is as important to me as it is to you, she assured.”
Jase didn’t answer with his lips as much as in the thickening of cock. Tendrils of lusciousness rose from the base of his balls and surged through his abdomen. He glanced down at the hand covering his left, at the thick fingers that clamped over his own. Lady Velvet had said the man was a cop, a S.W.A.T. officer at that. What luck!
Fighting off fear, Jase found his voice. “I-I’m not sure this is a good idea,” he said, still feeling uneasy. The man’s hand moved up to caress his chest, fingers tweaking his hard tits. Jase held his breath, ready to drop his load right there on the bike without shedding his clothes.
“My friends call me Cap.” The tip of a moist tongue slid up the base of Jase’s neck as the man’s hand settled on his crotched and squeezed hard. “I hear you’ve been a real dick lately and need some attitude adjustment.”
Those final words sealed the deal. Concern and fear evaporated in the hotness churning between them. Jase wanted nothing more than to lose himself in the arms of this beast, captain of a S.W.A.T team.
Jase dismounted his motorcycle and faced Cap. His heart skipped and his breath caught in his throat. The mustachioed face, more handsome than any professional athlete or model, stared back at him. The brown eyes seemed to draw him in, engulfing his vision. He couldn’t look away, didn’t want to look away. Cap’s torso seemed to explode out of his narrow waist. His T-shirt stretched across a huge muscular chest.

The gorgeous specter smiled and Jase’s legs nearly buckled.

“Let’s see what Lady Velvet has in store for us.” Cap draped an arm around Jase’s shoulders and led him to the elevator.

COMING April 19th, 2013: “Switch Hitter” – an Erotic Suspense/Thriller!

COMING April 19th, 2013 from loveyoudivine Men-4-Men – SWITCH HITTER, co-authored by Alex Morgan and Jon Michaelsen

Blurb:

In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.

Top ranked MLB player, Jase Dockery, was having a record-breaking year until a sluggish bat threatens to derail his streak. To the world, Jase is a national hero, but the handsome MVP has a deep secret.

To rid his inner turmoil, Jase agrees to a tryst with a dominant S.W.A.T captain in a discreet location arranged by an enigmatic madam. Despite his apprehension Jase releases himself to Cap for a night of unbridled revelry.

His mood elevated the next day at practice, all Jase can think of is another rendezvous with Cap, but a stalking fan derails the ball player’s anticipation and hides him in a lake cabin outside Atlanta.

Jase wakes gagged and bound with no idea what he’s in for. His captor, Daniel, has plans to keep the slugger that have nothing to do with money. Sure his handlers are out searching for him along with police, Jase hopes they are able to locate him in time.

Can the smitten S.W.A.T captain rescue Jase from humiliation via live webcam without risking coming out to his comrades? Or will Jase help breach that wall for him.

http://www.loveyoudivine.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=26

 

Finalists of the 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards Announced

The 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards finalists were released today by the Lambda Literary Foundation.

 

Finalists for the Lambda Literary Awards were announced today by the Lambda Literary Foundation (LLF) in Los Angeles. Books from major mainstream publishers, from academic presses, from both long-established and new LGBT publishers, as well as from emerging publish-on-demand technologies, make up the 687 submissions for the “Lammys.” The finalists were selected from a record number of submissions, and, for the first time, the judges were encouraged to choose more finalists in those categories that drew a large number of submissions.

Continue to the Finalists list via this link: LLF Announces Finalists of the 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards | Lambda Literary

It’s That Time Again! 2013 Gaybies! Vote for Your Favorites in Multiple Categories

It’s time again to vote for your favorites for the 2013 Gaybies, hosted by TLA.

 

Per the TLA Gaybies Nominee Page:

“Welcome to the 2013 TLA GAYBIE AWARDS, where we’re honoring what we feel was the very best work in gay-themed movies and literature from the past year. And, even though we don’t have an awards “show,” per se, we’ll still attempt to be much more concise and entertaining than the Oscars® – which shouldn’t be too difficult! No need to thank us. You are very welcome.

This year’s nominees were hand-picked by our opinionated, gay-movie-obsessed staff. As for the winners, YOU get to pick them! Scroll down to vote for your favorite movies, books and actors. The winners will be announced April 15th. Don’t forget to check back with us to see if your favorites made the final cut! Happy voting!”

http://www.tlavideo.com/gaybies/a-2

 

 

 

SELF-PUBLISHING; FRIEND OR FOE?

SELF-PUBLISHING; FRIEND OR FOE?

Ever thought about self-publishing, but afraid to take the plunge? I have, as I am sure many of you writers are considering the possibility as we speak.

Cover Worthy

In the not-so-distant past, self-publishing, or “vanity publishing” as it once referred to by media, publishers, editors, etc. , has quickly emerged from an “unserious writer” who published their own work for vanity purposes – i.e., to see their name in print and hold their own printed book in their hands, to enlightened entrepreneur.My former brother-in-law, for instance, decided in the 90s to self-publish a non-fiction “How To, manual chock full of his brightest ideas of how to become very successful, ala Anthony Robbins. Problem is, he lacked the real knowledge, even successful experience in the private sector to come across as authentic to convince buyers to purchase his novel. All he actually knew how to do was to take trusting, unsuspecting investor’s money from members of his nationality (Jordanian) and invest small amounts in short-sided, irresponsible real estate investments that never profited and live life on the hog with the rest.His narcissistic deeds eventually caught up with him and suffice to say, he is now my ex-brother-in-law, has filed bankruptcy twice in fifteen years, been forced to move two three different cities for fear of reprisal from angry investors, lost his family of over twenty years and currently selling real estate out of the trunk of his car.

This tale of woe is not to scare writers from considering self-publishing as a viable alternative to traditional publishing, even the more recent trend of e-publishing with an online eBook publisher, who may or may not offer, POD (Print on Demand) to customers. Instead, my reason for mentioning this story is to warn of the potential pitfalls self-publishing can deliver to the unsuspecting, ill-informed and reluctant business person Also, I wanted to highlight a recent feature published on Bloomberg.com a few days ago titled “The Real Cost of Self-Publishing”, written by Bloomberg Rankings and Nikhil Hutheesing. You can link to the article here: Bloomberg.com.

The Bloomberg article detailed the associated “real costs” of self-publishing, which I found not only impracticable and daunting, but scary. Surprised – and noting several traditionally published authors I know have recently ventured into self-publishing, I wanted to reach out to them for their opinion of the Bloomberg piece to share with readers of my blog and to measure the facts of the article against their own experiences.

One author/friend of mine who has published numerous mysteries, both in print and eBook form, with traditional publishers companies advised me his experience in self-publishing actually proved far less costly (we’re talking less than $200, cover and all).

Another author/friend with twenty years publishing experience and over 200 novels published, both print and eBook, said that his self-published four novels completely free. He designed is own covers, edited, formatted, obtained the ASIN(eBook)/ISBN(print book) and uploaded them to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks, etc.

Another popular author, Joe Mihalic of “No More Harvard Debt”, has self-published his novels FREE, too. Don’t be daunted, the process can be done. Another first-hand account of self-publishing can be found in the online version of New York Times written my Neil Pollack; The Case For Self-Publishing.

Cover Worthy

So, the question still remains; is self-publishing your own novel super expensive? The project can be, depending on the route and method you employ.But, can self-publishing be a less-costly alternative for authors who want more control while enjoying new and exciting experience?

I leave it up to you to answer that ten-thousand dollar question for yourself based on your individual goals and needs. If you choose this route, please follow-up with me and let me know your experience. I will be thrilled to post updates. If you have already gone through the process and would like to share your experiences, pro or con, I’d welcome to share those with readers of this blog, too.