Eden Winters's Blog, page 63

Book Review and Giveaway for Fallen Angel

Mrs. Condit and Friends Read Books gave Fallen Angel four and a half sweet peas (thanks, guys!) and are hosting a giveaway for a copy.

Simply leave a comment on the review post to get your name in the hat for the drawing.

Hop Against Homophobia

As I'm a bit older than a lot of folks participating in the Hop Against Homophobia, I'm taking a historical look at predjudices in the US's not so distant history.

In 1967, about 72% were opposed to interracial marriage and 48% felt that marrying a person of another race should be prosecuted as a criminal act.Sean Robert Cahill, "Same-sex marriage in the United States: Focus on the facts," Lexington Books, (2004), Page 12.

Althought federal law changed in 1967, my sister's 1977 marriage was deemed illegal  -- interracial marriage was against state law. That law remained on the books until 1998 (can you believe it?), though it (thankfully) wasn't applied. Her family faced riducule and desertion by friends. So many people I talk to did not know about the illegality of interracial marriage during that time in our history, for no one bats an eye at it today. Thankfully, that law crumbled and fell, as should any law that denies a citizen their basic rights. In the future, the same will be said of marriage inequality laws, bullying, and homophobia in general. I simply do not understand the arguments that prop up ill-concealed attempts to destroy human rights, or how anyone can blindly hate or bring harm to another simply because they're different.

I'm a student of human nature, and see the pattern of how each generation repeats the mistakes of the one gone before. For some reason, folks feel the need to push down another group to make themselves look better. Anyone remember what N.I.N.A stood for? It meant "No Irish Need Apply." Yes, at one time, the Irish were the group to be discriminated against. Then Italians. I wonder what criticism my Native American great-grandmother endured when she married a "white man." One by one, those prejudices weakened and disappeared. When are we going to stop applying labels to each other? We're people, dammit. 'Nuff said.

Now, I'm not college educated, don't have degrees to brag about, hell -- I live in the trailer park for crying out loud. But I do know that judging a person based on anything other than who they actually are is dumb. Right now shunning someone for being from Ireland seems ridiculous, doesn't it, in this great melting pot of the USA where most folks can claim many nationalities among their ancestors? Yet it happened, and not too terribly long ago.

Now in 2012 my friends can't legally marry. In thirty years, if it takes that long (hopefully not), the current homophobia and prejudice will seem just as absurd a the country's previous biases. Our descendants will feel shame when they see pictures in history books of folks bearing hate-slogan banners. Why not discriminate against blue eyes, or brown hair? Overbites? Freckles? Of course, left handers were once targets of bias, too. 


We are each who and how we were meant to be. If you find that special someone who makes your world a better place, regardless of race, religion, gender, or crazy relatives, hang on for dear life. If we all focus on love we won't have time to hate. You don't have to carry signs or scream in anger, just quietly lead by example. One by one we can make a difference by setting a positive example, in our homes, schools, and workplaces. Do not tolerate bigotry or turn a blind eye to injustice. 

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Visitors to my site, welcome to the Hop Against Homophobia. Below are other participants that I hope you'll visit in support of ending homophobia and predjudice for good. If you look on the right sidebar, you'll see several free reads that I offer; all I ask is that by downloading you're confirming that you're over eighteen. The Telling is a full-length novel; the rest are shorter works. All comments on this post from today until midnight EST May 20 will get your name in the drawing for a print copy of one book of your choice: The Angel of 13th Street, Settling the Score, or Diversion. You can ask for my latest release, Fallen Angel, but you might have to wait a few days until I can get my hands on a copy. Thank you, and let's all be a little kinder to each other, okay? Now why don't you go visit these nice folks, register for prizes, and show your support for ending homophobia.

1. Erica Pike  78. L. A. Witt  155. Randy's Book Bag Reviews  2. K-Lee Klein  79. Sui Lynn  156. Becky Condit  3. Zathyn Priest  80. RANDALL WIGGINS  157. Jessica Lee  4. Andi Anderson  81. Haley Walsh  158. M.L. Rhodes  5. Kayla Jameth  82. Nephylim  159. Amanda Corlies  6. Dani Alexander  83. Marie Sexton  160. A.M. Burns  7. S.J. Frost  84. Kayelle Allen  161. Sue K.  8. Tara Lain  85. Anne Barwell  162. Angela S. Stone  9. West Thornhill  86. SJD Peterson  163. Amber Quill Press LLC  10. Vicktor Alexander  87. Rick R. Reed  164. Elin Gregory  11. L.M. Brown  88. Kracken  165. Rowan McBride  12. Embry Carlysle  89. Erato  166. Marie Dees  13. Michael Mandrake  90. H.L. Holston  167. B.G. Thomas  14. Lori Toland  91. Johnny Miles  168. Lissa Matthews  15. Carolyn Gray  92. H.A Caine  169. Jessie Lansdel  16. Diana DeRicci  93. Kit Sands  170. Barbara Elsborg  17. J P Bowie  94. Andrea Speed  171. Katey Hawthorne  18. Lily Sawyer  95. AJ Jarrett  172. JL Merrow  19. Kerry Freeman  96. S. L. Danielson  173. DARK HAVEN BOOK REVIEWS  20. Kaje Harper  97. Blaine D. Arden  174. Full Moon Bites  21. Shae Connor  98. Anne Brooke  175. Zahra Owens  22. L.C. Chase  99. Em Woods  176. Caroline Stephens  23. Piper Vaughn & M.J. O'Shea  100. Karenna Colcroft  177. J.A. Rock  24. Zach Sweets  101. Stevie Woods  178. Hunter Raines  25. Charlie Cochet  102. Jambrea Jo Jones  179. Stormy Glenn  26. Jaime Samms  103. Tana  180. Sue Roebuck  27. Taylor V. Donovan & Anne Tenino  104. TanaRaeReads  181. Makayla's Book Reviews  28. DC Juris  105. William Neale  182. Evelyn Shepherd  29. Top2Bottom Reviews  106. S.A. Reid  183. J.R. Loveless  30. Silvia Violet  107. Cherie Noel  184. Kate Hill  31. Sara York  108. Dustin Adrian Rhodes  185. Saloni Quinby  32. Pants Off Reviews  109. Havan Fellows  186. The Jeep Diva  33. Dawn Roberto  110. Tami Veldura  187. The Story Orgy  34. Matthew  111. PD Singer  188. Miho Li  35. Storm Moon Press  112. Well Read  189. Harper Kingsley  36. S.L. Armstrong  113. Brief Encounters Reviews  190. Breathless Press  37. Jessica Freely  114. Rarely Dusty Books  191. Z.A. Maxfield  38. Sue Brown  115. Ally Blue  192. Viki Lyn  39. Megan Derr  116. Elizabeth Lister  193. L.E. Harner  40. Samantha Derr  117. K.M. Mahoney  194. CR Guiliano  41. Sasha L. Miller  118. H.B. Pattskyn  195. Erastes  42. Less Than Three Press  119. Stephani Hecht  196. 

Tomorrow is the Big Day - Hop Against Homophobia

From May 17-20 participating authors, reviewers, and other bloggers will be posting their thoughts on homophobia, along with prizes. Be sure to visit for my post on the evils of bigotry, a contest for a print copy from my backlist, and a listing of other participants. Just click the links to hop to the next blog.

"Beyond Excellent" review for Diversion!

Jenre at Well Read was the first reviewer to ever comment on my work way back when The Pirate's Gamble first released late in 2009. I admired her critique and took it to heart, which makes her latest review of my work all the more thrilling. She's been there to see the gradual growth and, apparently, noticed progress. 
She had this to say about my March release, Diversion:

If you're looking for a strong character based book which is heavy on romance, action, plot; if you want a pair of opposites attract characters who are wholly sympathetic and consistently behave true to character; if you want a book you can hardly bear to put down; then I can highly, highly recommend this book.  I can see it being one of my top reads of the year.  Grade: Beyond Excellent!

See entire review at Well Read.

And a big sigh of relief for Fallen Angel

I've been so worried about the reception of Fallen Angel, the sequel to The Angel of 13th Street. Some folks don't like it when their heroes stumble and fall. Well today I read a fantastic review from The Novel Approach. Review Lisa had this to say:

Eden Winters once again delivers an emotional and moving story, a wonderful continuation to Noah and Jeremy’s May/December romance and all the trials they face, returning with some favorite friends who are more like family, and introducing new characters who brought with them their own challenges.

Read entire review here:

Find Fallen Angel at Torquere Books:


And yes, Lisa. A third novel is in the works, Broken Wing, featuring Lark and Sam with Noah and Jeremy as secondary characters.

Happy Places Part II -- Sanctuary

I'm a big Paul Richmond fan and hope one day to have one of his creations gracing the cover of my book. He's done many gorgeous covers for Dreamspinner Press, and that connection is how I first learned of his work. I joined his newsletter and was priviledged to watch his updates as he created "Sanctuary" a painting that spoke to my heart from the first time I saw it. It depicts a young man in the safe haven he's devised for himself, away from the outside world. This painting became one of my "happy places", and when I'd had a rough day, I could go to Paul's site and see what new he'd added.

Without going into too much detail, an earth-shattering event happened to me five years ago, and I desperately need my own sanctuary in which to recover. A result of that time is that, possession-wise, I started over. Completely. Each dish, each vase, each knick-knack in my home was bought by me, for me (with the odd Christmas gift from family thrown in here and there, but they know, and accept, my eclectic tastes.) Now, visitors to my home often exclaim, "You have the neatest stuff!" Yes, I do, for none of it is accidental, every piece was chosen special, and therefore carries meaning.

Now, I tried to convince myself that I didn't need that print, had nowhere to put it, it wouldn't match, etc. And then I met Paul Richmond in NY. What an amazing, friendly, wonderful man. Upon returning home, I bought a print. I took it to the local Hobby Lobby for framing, and though I was a bit skeptical about the framer's choices, I couldn't have chosen without her help. The results are spectacular, don't you agree?



Here's a link to Paul Richmond's studio, in case you'd like your own "Sanctuary" or any of his other works. 

 If you'd like to know more about this amazing artist, here's a link to his blog. 



The author meets the artist. ( When I sign my emails and books "Hugs, Eden" it's not merely a closing, it's a warning. If you don't back away fast enough, you will be hugged.)

I am now redecorating an entire room to match the print. 

Fallen Angel is Now Available from Torquere Books

Fallen Angel, the sequel to The Angel of 13th Street, is now available from Torquere Books.

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Ten years of rescuing lost youth from the streets wear a man out, and Noah Everett buckles under the pressure of being "The Angel." What began as a two-man mission is now going corporate, meaning rules, regulations and inexperienced volunteers needing guidance in a field Noah makes up as he goes along. On top of this, his latest prospective rescue doesn’t seem to go to plan. Is he losing his touch? Normally he’d turn to his mentor, Doc, in times of trouble, but the old man's strength isn't what it used to be. Noah’s lover would be the next most obvious choice to share this burden with, but Jeremy Kincaid is about to leave for college. After all Jeremy's endured to achieve this goal, Noah won’t stand in his way, even though he fears losing the man to the joys of student life. 

Jeremy may be young and caught up in his own fights, but he's not blind to Noah’s plight, and now questions his own choices. Four years at State with a full ride will launch his future, but his present includes Noah--and a meth addict who’s become Jeremy’s own personal mission. 

When a physical attack sends Noah spinning out of control, Jeremy must reevaluate his life and plans before the man he knows and loves disappears forever.


Find it here:

The Countdown is On! With Giveaways!

Just two days until Fallen Angel releases from Torquere. I'm nervous, excited, and scared to death of the glaring error that cleverly hides and jumps out yelling, "Boo!" on pub day. 

There's also less than twenty-four hours to get in on the drawing for an ebook copy from Stumbling Over Chaos. 

Another drawing will take place sometime this week at Reviews by Jessewave, so watch for that contest to be posted. 

A third and final drawing will be held on the Torquere Livejournal on Saturday, May 12, where I'll be playing hostess. Stop by and visit and get your name tossed in the hat. 

Kind Words for Highway Man

It's been a year since Highway Man released at Dreamspinner, so I was delightfully surprised to find a lovely review at Brief Encounters.

Here's a little of what reviewer Jenre had to say:

"Overall, this was a sad, but ultimately uplifting story about a man with a dark and troubled past, and how a random stranger helps him on the road to recovery. I enjoyed it and would recommend."

Visit Brief Encounters to read entire review. 

Fallen Angel Giveaway!

I've got a book due out next week, and the lovely Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos is hosting a contest for an ebook copy.


Ten years of rescuing lost youth from the streets wear a man out, and Noah Everett buckles under the pressure of being "The Angel." What began as a two-man mission is now going corporate, meaning rules, regulations and inexperienced volunteers needing guidance in a field Noah makes up as he goes along. On top of this, his latest prospective rescue doesn’t seem to go to plan. Is he losing his touch? Normally he’d turn to his mentor, Doc, in times of trouble, but the old man's strength isn't what it used to be. Noah’s lover would be the next most obvious choice to share this burden with, but Jeremy Kincaid is about to leave for college. After all Jeremy's endured to achieve this goal, Noah won’t stand in his way, even though he fears losing the man to the joys of student life.

Jeremy may be young and caught up in his own fights, but he's not blind to Noah’s plight, and now questions his own choices. Four years at State with a full ride will launch his future, but his present includes Noah--and a meth addict who’s become Jeremy’s own personal mission.

When a physical attack sends Noah spinning out of control, Jeremy must reevaluate his life and plans before the man he knows and loves disappears forever.

Visit Chris and enter the contest! Say "Hi" to the adorable Chaos and Mayhem while you're there, check out some linkety, or Misadventures in Stock Photography!