Eden Winters's Blog, page 50

Dreamspinner Books Now on Sale!

Have you had your eye on The Wish, Highway Man, or Naked Tails? Now is the time to buy. Right now Dreamspinner has all three titles marked down 20%, for ebooks and prints. They've also posted Duet for pre-order at this fabulously reduced price.

And while grabbing this link, it seems I found books I've been wanting, too, and now my TBR pile has grown even more.

Ready to shop for books? Click here!

Duet - Now on Dreamspinner's Coming Soon Page

Historical/contemporary/paranormal story Duet is now on Dreamspinner Press's Coming Soon page for preorder, and will release on February 18.


Find it here:

Coming Soon - Duet - February 18

Duet 2nd Edition will be publishing from Dreamspinner Press on February 18. I've learned a lot in the time since its first publication, and hopefully that knowledge shows in this more polished version of the tale, complete with epilogue!

And I'm loving the cover. As soon as the novel reaches Dreamspinner's Coming Soon page I'll post a link. Until then...


A conqueror’s decree can’t separate Aillil Callaghan from his Scottish heritage. He wears his clan’s forbidden plaid with pride, awaiting the day he becomes Laird, restores his family’s name, and fights to free Scotland from English tyranny. An Englishman in his home? Abomination! Yet the tutor his father engaged for Aillil’s younger brothers may have something to teach the Callaghan heir as well.

Violinist and scholar Malcolm Byerly fled Kent in fear, seeking nothing more than a quiet post, eager minds to teach, and for no one to learn his secrets. He didn’t count on his charges’ English-hating barbarian of an older brother, or on red-and-green tartan concealing a kindred soul. A shared love of music breaks down the barriers between two worlds. 

Aillil’s father threatens their love, but a far more dangerous enemy tears them apart. They vanish into legend. 

Two centuries later, concert violinist Billy Byerly arrives at Castle Callaghan—and feels strangely at home. Legends speak of a Lost Laird who haunts the fortress in wait of his lover’s return. Billy doesn’t believe in legends, ghosts, or love that outlasts life. 

But the Lost Laird knows his own.

Cover Art for Duet!

I don't have the official blurb yet, but I couldn't wait another minute to share the gorgeous new cover art for Duet, my upcoming historical/contemporary/paranormal novel.

Fabulous cover artist Anne Cain created this lovely work, and I couldn't be happier! Look for this sexy Highlander on Dreamspinner's New Releases page on February 18.

What you y'all think?

Goodreads Giveaways--A Cautionary Tale

If you post giveaways on Goodreads, or plan to, please read!
Would you send your XXX, BDSM, menage book to a twelve-year-old? Of course you wouldn't! Or... would you? If you post giveaways on Goodreads, the answer is... maybe.

I write M/M, and though I don't consider my work erotica, it does contain explicit scenes between two consenting adults—both men. My work is not for children. 

Recently I posted a giveaway at Goodreads, trusting that their rule, listed below, meant that of all the members requesting the book, only those suitable would be selected: i.e. had books of similar genre on their shelves and were over legal age to possess such material. 

"Goodreads will collect interest in the book, and select winners at our discretion. Our algorithm uses member data to match interested members with each book." 

I stand corrected. Concerned with what I'd read on the profiles of my two winners, I contacted them to ensure they knew what they were getting. One didn't and declined the book. Believing that the other might be underage, I also messaged a Goodreads spokesperson.

The spokesperson replied:

"...it is against our rules for you to contact the winners of the giveaway. It is considered SPAM and is not allowed."  

What? I can't ensure that the winner is old enough to read my book? I stated that I thought only adults were allowed to request books tagged "Gay Romance".

I received the following response: 

"I think you might misunderstand a bit about how winners are selected. We select the winners at our discretion and you have to send the books. You are welcome to put a disclaimer at the top of the giveaway description (18+ material) but once someone enters to win the giveaway they are eligible to win regardless of age. After the winners are selected you must send them the books." 

Do what?! Their policy states that I have to knowingly send adult material to a minor if they enter and win?

I wrote back: 

"My concern is this: if the winner of my book is under 18, I will be in violation of law if I send them adult material. I want to abide by your rules, but again, I misunderstood that only adults were permitted to request books tagged as mine was." I also asked how I could avoid this situation in the future. 

Here's their response: 

"The next time you list a giveaway that has adult subject manner, include a line in the description that says "Intended for adult audiences only 18+". However if someone under 18 enters and wins you have to send them the book."  

This post is not intended to bash Goodreads or their policies. Those who follow my blog know that I've met many wonderful people (and books!) there. Their existence has helped me promote my work and interact with readers. The purpose of this writing is simply to make others aware of this situation.

The bottom line for me is that providing a minor with adult material is illegal, immoral, and unethical. And I most certainly wouldn't knowingly send one of my books to a child. In this case, the winner contacted me to confirm they were adult. But what if they hadn’t? 

With no guarantees that only adult readers will get my books, I can no longer in good conscience post giveaways on Goodreads. There are sites where I offer ebooks, and again, I can't know the age of the entrant, but they have to hit an "I'm over eighteen!" button just to get into the site.

More Book Honors!

Cryselle at Cryselle's Bookshelf has announced the top books that she read in 2012. Diversion and The Wish both made the list! They're keeping good company with the likes of works from Carole Cummings, P.D. Singer, Amelia Gormley, E.M. Lynley, and many more.

Check out her full--very creatively presented, I might add--list:

She also posted a lovely review for The Wish, awarding it Five Marbles!

M/M Books of the Year Honors for Diversion!

Lucky is a card-carrying asshole with a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas and barbed wire around his heart. Yet, he spoke to me, of loniliness and loss, insisting I tell his story--a scary proposition. Did I have the writing chops to pull of a sympathetic drug trafficker?

I gavemy best shot at giving this man an HEA, or maybe HFN. To my delight, Lucky's story, Diversion, scored an honorable mention at this year's Rainbow Awards, and has five nominations for the Goodreads M/M Group's Members' Choice Awards.

Through the wonders of a Smart Phone and a kind friend, I found out today on my lunch break that reviewer Jenre at Well Read has named Diversion her top M/M Book of the Year for Mystery category! Thank you so much, Jenre! And Lucky's tale is keeping good company, with books by such talented authors such as Marshall Thornton, Jay Bell, Barry Brennessel, P.D. Singer, Andrea Speed, Jordan Castillo Price, and many more.


And... that's not all!

Guest reviewer Cryselle picked Diversion as one of her Top Picks for 2012 at Reviews by Jessewave.

Well, Lucky, you were right; your and Bo's story did need telling. Umm... you don't have to look so smug about it.

Lucky and Bo will return in Collusion, due out the weekend of March 3 at Amber Allure.

High Praise for The Wish

It's been a great week for my books in the review world. And I'm thrilled with the recent accolades for The Wish:

"The style is sometimes bouncy and sometimes solemn—it’s a strength of the writing that some very serious notions permeate the work but don’t bog it down. Aging, ill health, death, and surviving loss all play a role, but there’s more hope than gloom, and love absolutely triumphs over everything else. For a wonderful emotional journey, a reader couldn’t wish for better than this."

That's what Cryselle at Reading Reality had to say about The Wish. And she rated the story an "A"!

See full review here:

More Love Shown to Naked Tails

It's been nearly two weeks since possums shifters were released on the unsuspecting world, and it appears they've made quite an impression.

Reviewer Pixie at MM Good Book Reviews rated the story four hearts, and had this to say:

"This is a great shifter story that is quite refreshing and pretty unique." 

"I will recommend this to those who love a different kind of shifter, a possum political storm brewing, two men reconnecting after many years apart, a touch of unexpected danger, some hot loving and a very happy ending… oh and don’t forget the crickets!"

Read entire review here:

Goodreads M/M Romance Group's Member's Choice Awards

I'm late posting, but it's my great delight to have my books nominated for this year's Goodreads M/M Romance group's Member's Choice Awards

And here are the nominated stories, in no particular order:
 Bo and Lucky from Diversion
In Dreams
Diversion
Diversion
 Diversion
In Dreams
The WishThe Telling
Diversion
There's so many of my favorite novels and authors being honored this year, and a lot of tough decisions to make while casting my votes. Voting ends on December 31st, so be sure to show love to your favorite stories and authors. Link.

Oh, and to whomever nominated Diversion for Best Story That Should/Must Have a Sequel? Collusion is due out the weekend of March 3 from Amber Allure.

Thank you readers and Goodreads M/M Romance group, for this incredible honor.