Peter E. Fenton's Blog, page 3

Peter E. Fenton (and Scott) wish you a Happy Thanksgiving

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Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, on this Thanksgiving weekend, we are grateful for YOU.

Looking forward to the upcoming months where I will share news on the writing work, announce the name of the person from the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat who will have a character in my next book named after them, and reveal information about a rather exciting upcoming year.

Thanks for reading.

Warmest Regards,

Peter E. Fenton

Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?

Email at peterefenton@gmail.com

By Mail

PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2

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Peter E. Fenton Keeps Up Appearances

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Thanks to all those who expressed concern about my health after missing the Mississauga Literary Festival. I’m pleased to say that Scott was still able to attend, set up a table and talk to a lot of readers and authors, and I am now well-mended and ready for upcoming appearances this month.

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My next appearance will be at Word On The Street in Toronto. I will be at the Lorimer booth just north of Joseph Street signing copies of books from noon until 2 PM on Saturday September 27th. Stop by and pick up a free Not Not Normal wrist bracelet. For more information on the festival, click here.

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It is a HUGE privilege to be an attending author at the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat from October 2nd-6th. For the first two days I’ll be sharing with and learning from other authors from around the world who work in the gay romance field. I’m thrilled to be doing a panel on world-building and creating characters from an “own voice perspective” (as a male identifying writer, writing gay male romance) with Hank Edwards and Christian Baines. For VIP readers, I’ll be doing a personal meet and greet on the Friday of the conference, and for those wanting to come to the signing day, tickets are still available for only $20. I’ll be signing in the afternoon session from 2 PM to 5 PM. The event takes place at the Toronto Airport Sheraton Hotel. Get all the details by clicking here.

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The Toronto Guardian asked Scott to create a photo journal of my life as a writer. Aside from a brief bio and a number of pictures of elements of my creative life, the Guardian also asked me a few questions about where I live and what I do when I’m not writing. To find out all the answers and read the article, click here.

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Not Not Normal has been getting a terrific early response. Goodreads has over 30 reviews published, and Amazon is slowly catching up. If you haven’t had a chance to order your copy of the book, you can order here. The book is now widely available in Indigo/Chapters stores and on Amazon. And if you DO read the book, PLEASE leave a review with a few lines about what you enjoyed most. The more reviews there are, the greater interest there is in the story. To leave a review on Goodreads (if you have an account) go here. If you want to leave a review on Amazon, you can do so by clicking this link. Scroll all the way down on the left side to the review panel and join the conversation.

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Lorimer Publishing released a few other youth novels at the same time as mine, and today I want to shout out Alison Lister’s book Summer with Sunil. It is described here.

Faced with a boring vacation with their parents, a chance encounter at the beach could turn Dominic’s dull summer into an adventure of self-exploration and young love!

Sometimes love can be found in the most surprising places…

In Alison Lister’s second Real Love novel, two kids on holiday, both sure they must be the only queer people for kilometres, find each other and sparks fly.

Dominic, a trans teen, is stuck on vacation in sleepy coastal Nova Scotia with their parents, all summer, with no other company. Sunil is all alone in a rented beach house while their dad is off hanging out with his new girlfriend. A chance encounter with Sunil on the beach catches Dominic by surprise, and all of a sudden, their summer doesn’t look so bleak.

What follows is a vivid, romantic story full of self-exploration and the gauzy haze of summer love.

Lister’s dynamic, realistic characters and the authenticity of their connection are set against the vivid backdrop of Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast.

To find out how to get your own copy of the book click here.

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In October I’ll have lots to report after the conference, as well as an exciting piece of news that I’ve been holding onto for months and will FINALLY be able to release after the last day of September. What could it be? Check back and find out next month. In the meantime, thanks for your support and thanks for reading my books. Until next time.

Warmest Regards,

Peter E. Fenton

Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?

Email at peterefenton@gmail.com

By Mail

PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2

Peter E. Fenton unable to attend Mississauga Literary Festival

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My sincere apologies to all, but I have a bad cold that has settled in my chest and is being stubborn. Tests show that it isn’t COVID, but I’m still sick enough that I will have to miss my appearance tomorrow at the Mississauga Literary Conference.

I will still have my table in place and Scott will be representing my books. Another author will take my place for the spotlight reading. So if you are in the area, stop by the table and say hi to Scott. And there are a ton of great authors at the festival tomorrow, so please show up and support their work.

Hopefully I’ll be back up to speed by later next week, but I’m still very under the weather and wanted to ensure that I didn’t spread this to anyone else.

Best Regards,

-Peter

Peter E. Fenton Is Not Not Normal

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Welcome to the September edition of the Peter E. Fenton newsletter, and welcome to any new readers who may be joining for the first time.

I am thrilled that my new teen novella Not Not Normal officially launches today with Lorimer Publishing. This book has been a long time in the making and the release of the book has been challenged by everything from computer problems to a rail strike that delayed initial shipments of the book to retailers. But today the book is OUT! Click on the image above to play the OUT NOW! trailer.

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On September 3rd, a fantastic group of folks joined me at Epochal Imp for a pre-launch party. The evening included a comedy set about growing up gay by Canadian Comedy Award winner Robert Watson, then I was interviewed about what inspired Not Not Normal, followed by a short reading from the book. The evening was a great success, and I send huge thanks to all that came out to pick up their copy of Not Not Normal and get it signed.

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Some of the promotional activity connected to the book includes this 25 minute conversation with Wayne Goodman of the Queer Words Podcast. The interview focuses on what shapes my work as a gay author, and there is also a reading from the new book. The microphone on my headset turned off prior to the interview, so the sound is a bit tinny, but the interview has a lot of information about me that might surprise you. To listen to the interview click here.

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I am thrilled to be attending the Mississauga Literary Festival as a spotlight author. I will be selling and signing books at a table in the morning and doing a reading and Q & A at 1 PM along with five other amazing authors. If you are in the Mississauga, Ontario area on September 14th, come and visit me on the second floor of the library. I’m at table 206. For all of the details on locations, times and other authors, click here.

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I’m also really looking forward to the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat in October. This is a chance for authors writing gay romance from around the world to share their knowledge in a two day conference. The 4th of October is a VIP reader day where fans can spend some one-on-one time with their favourite author. On the 5th of October there is a public signing day where readers can pick up a book and get it signed or simply meet with an author they admire and pick up some free swag. I will be on a panel connected to writing characters and world-building as part of the conference, and will be at both the VIP reader day and the signing day. Want to attend? You can scan the QR code above, or keep reading below for more information.

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And I’ve got lots of free stuff I’ll be giving away including custom Declan Hunt and Charlie Watts stickers from the Declan Hunt Mysteries series, chances to win unique prizes, as well as post cards and Not Not Normal wrist bands. To find out how to attend the signing day as a reader, click here.

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I like to try and shout out at least one other author in each newsletter, and today I’d like to talk about J. Scott Coatsworth’s latest book The Death Bringer. Scott is definitely a creative author who builds imaginative worlds in speculative and science fiction. The stakes are high and his characters pull you in.

War is coming. Aik has become the Progenitor, and the Seed Mother has released him to transform the world for her alien brood. Silya and Raven, Aik’s former friends, are the only ones who can save him and the world. But what if the cure is worse than the invasion?

As Silya rushes to prepare Gullton for the battle to come, she’s determined to save as many people as she can. But new crises emerge that demand her attention.

Raven has his own hands full, keeping the dragon-like verent in line, while helping Silya to save the world. But what if the only way to do so is to sacrifice Aik, the man that he loves?

It’s the end of the world … or could it be the start of something new?

The Tharassas Cycle is a four book sci-fantasy series set on the recently colonized world of Tharassas. When humans first arrived on planet, they thought they were alone until the hencha mind made itself known. But now a new threat has arisen to challenge both humankind and their new allies on this alien world.

If this amazing world intrigues you, you can find out where to get a copy by clicking here.

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As Not Not Normal starts its journey, Pride Book Tours will be sharing the word about the new novella through the above Instagram sites who will write reviews. If you’ve read one of my books and enjoyed it, I encourage you to review the books on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, Storygraph or any other place you go to give your opinion about something you’ve just read. EVERY review makes a huge difference. Not sure where to start? Here’s a link for my Amazon author page. Once you get there, simply click on the book title and scroll down and look for the review section on the left side. EVERY review counts, as it tells other readers that there is something that they may be interested in. To review a book of mine on Amazon click here.

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I look forward to sharing more exciting news about things that are already in the works for next year. But in the meantime, THANKS so much for reading. Until next month I send warmest regards,

Peter E. Fenton

Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?

Email at peterefenton@gmail.com

By Mail

PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2

Peter E. Fenton Meets Men In Kilts and Launches Not Not Normal.

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First of all, a fond greeting to new subscribers to this newsletter. I hope you enjoy the content with updates on my latest projects, a FANTASTIC prize you can win, and maybe even a few travel photos. I’ve just gotten back from Scotland where the scenery was stunning (as you can see from the above picture). Read on to see what has been occupying my summer and what’s coming up next.

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Hoodoo House had a strong launch at the end of June, and the book is up to almost 100 reviews on Amazon.com. This second book in the Declan Hunt Mysteries picks up a few months after the first book in the series Mann Hunt. I will be spending the remainder of the fall writing on the third book in the series and will be revealing the title of the novel later in the fall.

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I’ve been doing some interviews lately, and I try to be as well prepared as I can so I put notes up all around my computer with topic headings. Here’s what it looked like last week as I prepared for an interview for the Queer Words Podcast hosted by Wayne Goodman. The interview will air on September 3rd, which is perfect timing because I’ve got a book launch on that very day for the book below.

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Not Not Normal is a special book that was commissioned through Lorimer Publishing for their Real Love series. I was so thrilled when the acquisitions editor approached me to write a book for them.

The novel’s central character Jordan is a young gay teen dealing with a lot of issues. This is not a “coming out” book but rather a book about coming of age. It’s a story about the gay teens that you don’t see depicted in mainstream media…the ones that are shy, have only a few friends and are dealing with lots of things at home.

The novel is also about a love of reading and the power of the written and spoken word.

Not Not Normal is a book for anyone who feels like nobody else understands them.

It’s a story about overcoming grief, dealing with anxiety, and the power of love when someone accepts you for who you are and gives you the strength to become the person you’ve always wanted to be.

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Robert Watson appears at the launch of Not Not Normal

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If you are in Toronto and want to celebrate the launch of the book, please join me.

The FREE launch event will take place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at Epochal Imp at 123 Danforth Avenue on Tuesday September 3rd from 7-9 PM.

The evening will feature Canadian Comedy Award winner Robert Watson with a short set connected to growing up gay, followed by an interview with Robert and me about what is the same and what has changed for gay teens since we were in school. This will be followed by a reading from the book and a chance to mix and mingle with a fun crowd. Books will be available to purchase if you wish, and Epochal Imp has tasty sandwiches, coffees and a lovely bar you can get a drink at. Please come if you are in Toronto. It promises to be a wonderful evening.

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I will also be making an appearance at the Mississauga Literary Festival.

The event will be taking place on Saturday September 14th at the Hazel McCallion Central Library at 301 Burnamthorpe Road West in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

I’ll be exhibiting my novels, and will be one of the panelists as part of the author spotlight segment of the day at 1 PM. The spotlight will feature readings from five authors and a question and answer period. If you are in the Mississauga area, come and say hello.

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I have one more conference coming up at the beginning of October. This one will feature authors from around the world who write gay romance novels. This is an amazing opportunity to present my work to international readers and interact with other authors from around the globe. I’m going to be on a panel where I’ll talk about writing characters and dialogue. For more information on the conference, click here.

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Last month I offered a chance to win a free day pass to the signing day at the NRRR conference, but nobody entered. So the conference has upped the stakes to offer you a chance to attend as a VIP. IF you are in the Toronto area and have any interest in attending, the presenters are holding a raffle for a VIP weekend reader pass that includes a VIP Swag Bag, a full day of meet and greets and the opportunity to attend panels with the authors, VIP access to the public signing day PLUS breakfast, lunch and dinner with the authors. This is a package worth $200. If this interests you, you can enter, by clicking HERE!!! (Transportation isn’t included, so you should live in the Toronto area if you plan to enter).

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I’m going to be busy between the conferences and the book launch, but I’ve got some surprises up my sleeve for the upcoming months, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

Until next time, thanks for reading.

Warmest Regards,

Peter E. Fenton

Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?

Email at peterefenton@gmail.com

By Mail

PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2

Peter E. Fenton Gives Away Free Passes to Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat

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Welcome to my monthly blog/newsletter, and a special thanks to those who have recently subscribed. This month I have exciting updates about my latest release Hoodoo House, information on my upcoming youth release Not Not Normal, and an exciting give-away for the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat in Toronto. Read all the way to the bottom, and you may be rewarded with FREE passes to the author signing day at the conference.

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Hoodoo House has had a fantastic first month with almost 85 ratings on Amazon.com and 95 ratings on Goodreads and a 4.5 (out of 5) star average. If you’ve read the book and want to join in on the review discussion feel free to add your reviews. To check out what others are saying on Amazon, click here. For reviews on Goodreads, click here.

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Did you know that my books are available at a number of libraries across the country? For instance, if you have a Toronto Public Library card, you can get digital copies of all of my books through the Toronto Public Library by clicking here.

Libraries across Canada (and a few places in the U.S.) also carry my books which provides free access for those that can’t afford to purchase a copy. Go to your local library website and search by title of by my author name, and if you can’t find the book, it is easy enough to make a request. To find out how to do this click here.

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Not Not Normal is only one month away from release, and I am thrilled that it is already tracking at #1 in pre-orders for new releases in teen and youth novels. If you are in Toronto SAVE THE DATE – September 3rd, 2024. In mid-August I will be sending out official invitations to the book launch on September 3rd, and newsletter members will be the first to receive an invitation.

Here’s what advanced readers are saying about the book.

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With his anxiety, panic attacks, and first kisses Not Not Normal’s Jordan is adorable, even when he stumbles on his journey to finding bravery and letting others in.

Nathan Burgoine, author of Stuck with You

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A heartwarming and positive tale about . . . two young men finding hope and romance amidst the disorder and disruption of a chaotic and sometimes hostile world.

Alison Lister, author of No Limit on Love and Summer with Sunil

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Not Not Normal is a sweet, compassionate, and often very funny depiction of a sudden and empowering first love.

Lisa Lambert, Tony Award winning songwriter & lyricist of The Drowsy Chaperone

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I was thrilled to be selected as the book of the month for author Richard May’s LGBTQ+ Book Club at Alibi Book Shop in Vallejo, California. If you live in the area and are interested in discussing queer books, get in touch with the store (link in title above) and they will let you know about upcoming events. Mann Hunt continues to grow in popularity among mystery readers and has over 300 reviews on Amazon.

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And now for that GIVEAWAY. I’m giving away two individual single day passes to the signing day for the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat on October 5th, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Each of these passes is valued at $20 and will give you a chance to meet with over 60 authors of gay romance. Many of the authors give away free swag, and the event is a ton of fun. For more information on the event, click here.

I will select the winners of the two passes at random. To enter all you have to do is scroll to the bottom of this screen and leave a comment that says you are interested in attending.

TWO lucky winners will be drawn at the end of August and will be contacted in early September with their free pass to attend the signing day of the conference on October 5th.

This prize only includes admission to the signing day of the event, so if you are outside of Toronto, travel expenses aren’t covered, but it’s a great chance for Toronto readers to meet an amazing new array of authors. And if you want to take in the entire conference, click the link above and find out about all the events.

Good luck to all who enter.

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I’m off to Scotland until the middle of the month, but I look forward to getting back to work on the third novel of the Declan Hunt Mysteries series when I return, as well as launching Not Not Normal and getting ready for the conference. I have some exciting news next month to share including newly booked appearances for 2025 (outside of Toronto), an upcoming podcast and maybe even a sneak peek at some of the new writing.

Until then, thanks for reading.

Warmest Regards,

Peter E. Fenton

Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?

Email at peterefenton@gmail.com

By Mail

PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2

Peter E. Fenton July Newsletter

Peter E. Fenton is interviewed by Scott White at the launch of Hoodoo House

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The past month has been very busy, and I want to thank all of you for taking an interest in my writing. Thanks to those that signed up for my newsletter this month. Thanks to those who came out to support the recent live event at Epochal Imp for the launch of Hoodoo House. And thanks to everyone who picked up a copy of the latest Declan Hunt mystery. Read on to find out all the latest news!

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Reviews for the new book have been rolling in, and I am pleased to say that a majority of the readers are enjoying Hoodoo House. Reviews make a huge impact on people finding the work among the millions of books out there, so if you’ve had a chance to pick up the novel and want to join in the conversation, you can go to the following pages and write a review. Amazon reviews sometimes require recent activity on your account and Goodreads requires a free account, but if you have either, you can review at the below links. Simply click on the name of the site. Even if you aren’t reviewing, you can click on the links to see what other people are saying about this summer’s hottest mystery.

Amazon.com

Amazon.ca

Goodreads

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My upcoming novel Not Not Normal is already gaining attention. The cover is going through a new make-over (with my middle initial in the name and the central character without a hat).

Not Not Normal is a fictional revisiting of my own experiences as a gay youth in school, but it’s also informed by talking to teachers and students who are in school in the present day. While the novel will appeal to young readers, it may also have resonance for readers of an older age who may recognize their own experience as a gay teen in school, or perhaps recognize someone they went to school with who was going through something similar.

This is not a “coming out book” but rather a book about Jordan’s coming of age as a gay teen who is coping with the loss of his mother, panic attacks, and feelings of insecurity. The novel is also about a love of reading and the power of the written and spoken word. This is a book for anyone who has ever felt like nobody else understands them. And ultimately it is about overcoming grief, dealing with anxiety and the power of love when someone accepts you for who you are, and gives you the strength to become the person you’ve always wanted to be.

The publisher has found people they trust to read an advance copy of the novel, and here’s what a few of them have to say.

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Not Not Normal is a wonderful book about friendship, love, high school and the insecurities that come along with those things. Who among us hasn’t felt outside the realm of “normal” because of our sexuality, our looks, our likes and dislikes, our eccentricities, or how we look at life?

Peter E. Fenton masterfully shows us through Jordan and his circle of friends the lessons you need to learn to get to self-acceptance.

-Colin Mochrie – Canadian actor and star of Whose Line Is It Anyway?

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Jordan, Nathan, and the X-Libris gang will make you laugh, cry, and remember that growing up means having the courage to face your fears and follow your heart.

-Allyson Bradley -educator and winner of the Prime Minister’s Teaching Award of Excellence

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If this sounds like something you would enjoy, I encourage you to pre-order your copy now. By doing so, you will ensure that the novel garners attention from distributors and retailers, which increases the chances of more schools picking up the book. Lorimer Publishing focuses on sales to schools through book catalogues, and during these challenging times, normalizing gay experience in school is important.

To pre-order a copy from Amazon click here or buy direct from the publisher by ordering here.

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I’m getting really excited about attending the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat in October. The line-up of authors from all over the world is outstanding. I am also thrilled to be one of the panelists talking about writing in the mystery genre. If you’re in the Toronto area and curious about attending a conference with gay romance writers from all over the world, check it out. Scan the QR code above for more information.

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Susan Scott Shelley’s latest sports romance is coming out July 31st and it promises to be a winner. Here’s a description of the book.

Sage Murray has spent the last three years playing for the minor league Saint Paul Slash. He’s
found a family in the teammates who share a home with him and they’ve helped him get a better handle on the anxiety he battles every day. Having the best season of his career, he hopes to receive a call up to the Minneapolis Metros and achieve his dream of playing in hockey’s top league. When a night out brings him face to face with Metros defenseman Rhys Farrell, their interaction spotlights their attraction, and Sage sees a side of Rhys that intrigues him to find out more.

Rhys Farrell has spent his career in the shadow of his Hall of Famer father. Winning the Cup
would set him apart, and he wants more than anything to win it with teammates who embraced him during his lowest moments. But an injured shoulder has kept him from the lineup, his teammates are dropping like flies, and their shot at redemption from last season’s heartbreaking loss is fading. During a two-week stint with the Slash as he readies to return to the team, he’s captivated by Sage, and for the first time in years, he’s tempted to focus on more than just hockey.

The pair are continually drawn to each other. Rhys gives Sage the warmth and acceptance he
craves, and Sage takes care of Rhys in ways he’s never experienced before. As the race to the
playoffs heats up and sees them both in the Metros lineup, what happens on the ice collides with their relationship off of it. When the gloves come off, can love find its way in?

The Games We Play is a multi-author minor league hockey romance series. All titles run concurrently through the same hockey season, and the books can be read in any order.

To pre-order your copy click here.

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I look forward to sharing more information on the launch of Not Not Normal, upcoming events, and other exciting news. Until then, thanks for reading.

Warmest Regards,

Peter E. Fenton

Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?

Email at peterefenton@gmail.com

By Mail

PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2

Peter E. Fenton Launches Hoodoo House Tomorrow

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Tomorrow, HOODOO HOUSE officially launches to the world. Getting a book out involves a lot of people, and I’d like to take a moment to thank a few of the folks who have been instrumental in making book 2 of the Declan Hunt Mysteries Series a reality.

First of all, a huge thank you to Rebecca Scott at Pride Publishing. Though she is in a time zone many hours away, she always seems to be there when I have a question.

Thanks to Claire Siemaszkiewicz, the CEO of the Totally Entwined Group for taking on the Declan Hunt Mysteries Series and for formatting the books.

A HUGE thanks to Anna Olson for her tireless work editing the novel.

Thanks to Erin Dameron-Hill at EDH Professional Services for the cover design of the book.

Thanks to Katie Phoenix of Gay Romance Reviews for publicity work to get the HOODOO HOUSE into the e-readers and hands of as many folks as possible.

Thanks to Richard, Susie and Gigi at Epochal Imp for the fantastic space for the book launch tomorrow. (And if you haven’t RSVPed for the launch, there are still a few spaces left, so feel free to drop by between 7 and 9 PM on Tuesday June 25th at 123 Danforth Avenue in Toronto).

And there aren’t enough words to express my thanks to my partner Scott for helping me through every stage of the process with a patient ear, a sharp eye and an open heart.

Finally, thanks to all of you for your support as I launch my third novel. A story can only live and breathe if it has readers to take in the words, so truly, thank you for being interested in my stories.

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In July I will share photos from the launch, some of the reviews, and comments from the blog tour. It used to be that authors travelled through book stores promoting their book one town at a time. This still happens, but to reach a wider audience, now the book is featured in over 20 blogs with international reach over the first week of the launch of the novel. This includes interviews, exclusive excerpts and and editorial reviews that will be used to forward the life of the publication after it launches.

A novel’s audience grows as reviews grow, and word of mouth spreads. Generally the first two years of a book’s life are the time when it takes hold, and then over the next five years, it slowly finds new readers. So I look forward to sharing the journey of the HOODOO HOUSE with you.

In the meantime, I have preparations to make for the launch of the youth novel Not Not Normal coming out on September 3rd with Lorimer Publishing and preparing for the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat in October.

Oh and there is the small matter of finishing the manuscript for the third book in the Declan Hunt Mysteries Series that will come out next summer. Speaking of which, I should go and do a bit of writing.

I look forward to connecting with you in July. Until then, thanks for reading.

Warmest Regards,

Peter E. Fenton

Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?

Email at peterefenton@gmail.com

By Mail

PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2

Peter E. Fenton gives away first two chapters of Hoodoo House

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Last week I got my advance shipment of Hoodoo House. For an author, getting the first copies of the book in hand is better than Christmas. After a year of writing, editing and promoting, the work comes to life. And the best part is that the launch of a book is only the very beginning of its life. After the launch, it will find its way into libraries, into the hands of thousands of readers, and the story will live and breathe.

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I must admit, I peeked inside the book, just to make sure everything looked right, and I might have read the prologue and the first chapter. And then I thought, that seems a little unfair to my readers. They should be able to get a head start too. Especially those who have subscribed to the newsletter … so here they are … JUST FOR YOU … you’re among the very first to read the FIRST TWO chapters of Hoodoo House. Start to unravel the mystery by clicking here.

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There’s one last chance to RSVP to the book launch in Toronto on March 25th that will feature readings from Hoodoo House, my partner Scott will be interviewing me including YOUR questions, and a chance to pick up a signed copy of any of my already released books including The Woodcarver’s Model or Mann Hunt. There are only 5 spots left, so RSVP by clicking here if you want to attend.

I can’t wait to see some of you in person. And for those that are a longer distance away, I hope to meet you at an upcoming conference or in my travels closer to where you live.

Until then, thanks for reading.

Warmest Regards,

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Peter E. Fenton

Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?

Email at peterefenton@gmail.com

By Mail

PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2

Peter E. Fenton Opens Up About Writing Sex Scenes

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It’s just two weeks until Hoodoo House comes out and before the novel is released I think it is time to confess something. It has to do with sex. When I started writing novels, the truth is … I hadn’t read many romances. My original objective wasn’t really to write romance as much as it was to write stories that had gay central characters. And the fact that those characters could fall for each other was a way to build stakes for the characters into the stories. Even now, my books are more in the category of romantic suspense. And my latest books are more mysteries that have a relationship at the core.

But my publisher was interested in romance, and I wondered what that meant in terms of … well … sex in the books. When I asked them, they said it varied from book to book. They put a heat rating on their books that ranges from simmer to sizzle. Most of my books come in at the lower end of the scale, with three or less descriptive scenes throughout each book.

I did some research and discovered that there are a range of approaches. Some writers write highly descriptive passages that made me blush and position their work more in the realm of erotica. Other writers take a subtler approach. And some focus on romance and leave sex out altogether.

In my first novel, I found ways to integrate the scenes where the main characters got intimate as part of the action of the plot. I learned that a majority of my scenes were dubbed “fade to black”, which meant that I set up the romantic encounter with some foreplay that is described, and then end the scene before getting too graphic, allowing the readers to use their imagination.

But what became clear is that in terms of readers, there will always be some people who want MORE sex in the books, and there will always be those that want LESS sex in the books. You can’t please everyone.

So I sat down with my partner Scott, and we had a long talk about sex in books. What is interesting? What is corny? What is too much or too little? And these are a few of the things I have learned … described in a way that is more technical than sexy. I thought it might be interesting to reveal that even when it comes to writing a sex scene, there is a lot of thought put into what happens so it serves the overall novel. And if you want to see the results of applying these ideas to the stories … well, you’ll have to read my books.

These observations are based on one-on-one encounters. I’ve never tackled a scene with more than two characters in a sex scene.

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Just putting in a hot scene to add interest to a moment in the book isn’t enough for me. For a sex scene to really have an impact, it needs to be motivated by plot, indicate a turning point in the relationship of the characters, or reveal something important about the characters. So I need to know about each character’s sex life as part of my back-story. Aside from what type of sex they like to have (Are they passive or aggressive? How often do they have sex? What do they like to do?), I realized that the greatest element of interest was WHY they want to have sex in any given moment in the book.

In Mann Hunt the sex scenes tell us quite a bit about the individuals. Without giving anything away (in case you haven’t read the book yet), for some of the characters, sex is an addiction. Some use sexual advances in order to gain status or power over another character. And some characters are drawn into having sex because it is new for them. So when I wrote those scenes, I initially worried less about the mechanics of the encounter and more about what was motivating the sex scene.

Good sex scenes in books can tell us a lot about a character, and if those characteristics are integrated into plot … the scene is earned … it has an actual purpose beyond titillation. It might surprise readers to discover that the nature of the story in Hoodoo House has fewer sex scenes, and more romantic tension than Mann Hunt.

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So once I’ve figured out WHY a scene of intimacy is appropriate for plot, or character development, then it’s time to get to writing the scene itself. Now all good burlesque dancers know that often what starts things off is the tease. The removal of clothing. So it helps to have a clear description of the character prior to the intimate encounter. What are the characters wearing? What do they look like? Are they in short shorts and a tight t-shirt, just their underwear and socks, or perhaps a suit that fits perfectly in all the right places? These descriptions help determine what is going to happen next. And who doesn’t love a character that gets slowly stripped out of their clothes, or perhaps someone who in a moment of passion has their clothes ripped off quickly?

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It is interesting to me that lots of sex scenes happen in beds. That sort of makes sense, as sex is often perceived as a bedroom activity. But there are so many other possibilities in romance novels. Intimate encounters can happen anywhere, so thinking of other locations that match up with the plot can spice up the moment. In looking back on my writing, many of my scenes happen indoors in what would be considered standard locations, but in The Woodcarver’s Model there are scenes that take place outside of the bedroom.

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Some of the least interesting sex scenes I’ve read (and attempted to write) focus on anatomy and don’t involve more than sight and touch as the senses being described. An interesting place to work from is the other senses … smell, taste, and sound. As the characters begin to interact, what do they experience beyond just what they are touching? The smell of cologne or the smell of body sweat can have very different impacts on the characters (and the readers).

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Of course, eventually it comes down to describing things in a bit more detail. I found initially that this was awkward, sort of like describing putting together IKEA furniture. Insert tab A into slot B sort of writing. I think the best sex scenes involve mechanics that are attainable (unless your central characters are acrobats … then you have a lot more flexibility in the way you write the scenes). But describing the carnal act is complex as there are only so many words for each anatomical part. Fortunately there are whole websites dedicated to ways to describe the bits and bobs of human anatomy, and good writers come up with new ways of describing human body parts.

One thing I definitely try and avoid is clinical words. For instance, I think it is much sexier to describe a character gently kissing a shoulder and working their way up the nape of the neck, then describing a character gently kissing a scapula (well, unless you are writing a clinical medical romance, in which case perhaps words like scapula, umbilicus and pelvic area may be more appropriate … well, probably not). I try and think of how the character themselves would describe the parts in their own voice.

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Ultimately, what I have learned, is that writing something that is SEXY doesn’t actually have to involve a lot of SEX. Characters that long after each other, characters that have attractive qualities, characters that have strong desires … these are the elements that make for a great novel. And if they happen to tumble together and have sex … well, I dig deep into the above techniques and see how I can make it the best possible scene that will avoid having the reader skip those pages.

Most folks know that good mysteries require suspects that have means, motive and opportunity. One could argue that for a sex scene to be at the top of its game, the bottom line is that it needs similar elements … characters with strong need and a motive to express their attraction, the ability to make something happen in the right location at the right time as the plot unfolds, and hopefully as a result, the reader finds out something interesting about the character, and maybe finds the description alluring and fun at the same time. So next time you are tempted to skip a sex scene in a book … give it a read just for fun, and see if any of the above elements come to the surface. What appeals to readers is subjective, but I assure you that when I write, I’m aiming to ensure that my readers are well taken care of.

Until next time,

Warmest Regards,

Peter E. Fenton

Hoodoo House comes out On Tuesday June 25th.

For more information on ordering a copy, click here.

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