Eden Winters's Blog, page 72

The Pirate's Gamble rides again, February 19, 2012

My very first published short story, The Pirate's Gamble, has been out of publication for some time now. I'm happy to report that soon Captain Ian will once more terrorize the high seas, thanks to JMS Books. The story has a pretty new cover too!


Here's the blurb:

One man, two lives. In modern day Jamaica, Ian Lewis enjoys a well-earned reputation as a shining star of the archaeology world. However, in the eighteenth century, he's notorious for other reasons: being the captain a rag-tag crew aboard the pirate ship The Naughty Maid. With the help of a mysterious talisman and his knowledge of ancient treasures, he travels back in time to save priceless artifacts otherwise doomed to be lost forever.

His greatest treasure, however, wants to stay lost ... or rather, deeply in the closet. Tired of the hiding the true nature of the relationship he shares with fellow archaeologist David Kane, Ian employs his pirate cunning in a gamble that just may cost him his everything -- including his life.

Watch for the re-release of The Pirate's Gamble, February 19, 2012. 

Highway Man chosen as a Top Pick of 2011 by Top 2 Bottom Reviews

Lisa at Top 2 Bottom Reviews selected my short story, Highway Man, as one of her Top Picks of 2011. My pal, P.D. Singer's, Maroon: Donal agus Jimmy, also made the list. What a great way to end the year!

Find the entire list here:

Happy New Year!

Well folks, it's that time of year again, when I normally sit around sipping wine and reflecting on the past year. All things considered, 2011 was a very good year for me. I published one novel, Settling the Score; three novellas: Fanning the Flames, Galen and the Forest Lord, and A Lie I Can Live With; and two shorter works: Highway Man and Summer Boys. I attended GayRomLit and had an awesome time, not to mention got to hang out at some awesome bars! And Settling the Score won an honorable mention at the Rainbow Awards.

All assorted family members are doing well, and the evil day job holds steady. Yeah, a very good year.

So I raise my glass and toast you all.  May your 2012 rock.

Eden

Merry Christmas Everyone!

If Santa doesn't make it to your house this year, it's 'cause he's... um... tied up at mine!

Happy Holidays

In our diverse world there are many holidays celebrated at this time of year, and I'd like to wish you Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, or any other joyous occasions you may be observing. It's been an eventful year, and I count myself blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family members, some family given to me by nature, others adopted along the way. Here's to continued good times in 2012.

Those of you who have met me in person know that my signature of "Hugs, Eden" is more than simply a way to sign books and emails -- it's a personal philosophy.

So Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!

Hugs,
Eden

Contest for The Match Before Christmas Series

The contest for the Match Before Christmas series is up at Mrs. Condit Reads Books, and she  had some lovely things to say about the first installement.

Find the contest and review here:

Kind Words for A Lie I Can Live With

Review Feliz had this to say about A Lie I Can Live With at Reviews by Jessewave:

I loved watching those two men slowly getting to know each other. Although the story is told from Otis's POV, I felt like I got to know Garrett very well, too. He's not at all a shallow beauty queen, but has depths and personality and his own set of hang-ups (and the most adorable parents, by the way!) Garret literally turns Otis's head with a good, old-fashioned courtship, which in turn brings out the very best in Otis. Those two made so much sense together and were two so likeable guys, I simply had to take them to my heart. Warmly recommended.

Read entire review here:

A Chance to Win The Match Before Christmas Series

Right in time for Christmas, Mrs. Condit Reads Books is reviewing and hosting a giveaway of all three stories in The Match Before Christmas series:

Reviews:

Dec 21 - The Match Before Christmas

Dec 22 - Fanning the Flames 

Dec 23 - A Lie I Can Live With 


Want to know more about how this series came to be and my own dating misadventures while researching? On December 23, watch for an interview with yours truly and the chance to win all three books just for leaving a comment on the contest post (random drawing).

Happy Holidays, ya'll!

Eden Winters - The Fiftieth Anniversary Edition

Okay, so it's actually a birthday, which is an anniversary, if you think about it. Today marks the moment in time when I officially become a half century old. And you know what? I wouldn't change it for the world. In fact, I boast that I'm going to make fifty look so good that everyone will want to be fifty. My young-un co-workers say they believe me too.

What's so special about turning fifty? Well, for one, I now can spout little tidbits of wisdom like these:

1)      While having your heart broken hurts like hell, you'll survive.

2)      Love doesn't cure all ills. And you have to work at it.

3)      Don't believe those new-lover-every-week celebrities. A person is perfectly capable of being happy on their own.

4)      If someone says they'll give up something for you when you didn't ask them to, they're actually telling you the one thing that you can never compete with.

5)      If someone close to you doesn't bring something positive into your life, they shouldn't be in it. (Boy, I wish I'd known that at twenty!)

6)      Sometimes people are bad, and you can't do anything to change them. But you can pray for them. And aggravate them by being nauseatingly nice. (That really pisses them off!)

7)      There are three kinds of people: those who like you, those who don't, and those who don't really care one way of the other. Expending time and energy on the last two groups will get you no where. Treasure your friends.

8)      You have ultimate control over your decisions. And let me tell you, it took the full fifty years for me to figure that out.

9)      Be kinder than you have to, for the person you're talking to may be on the edge and needing one kind word to pull them back.

10)  Hugs cost nothing, but feel really good.

11)  Sacrificing lunch breaks and working while you should be at your kid's school function isn't actually going to impress your company, isn't going to get you that promotion, and isn't going to get you a raise. What it will get you is a resentful kid who didn't have a parent cheering them on at the school play. I'm not saying ditch your job all the time, but for important events in your family's lives – be there.

12)  If you think your lover is cheating, they probably are. And no, it's not your fault. They are responsible for their own behavior.

13)  As in point twelve, no one can make you angry, hurt, or disgusted. You do that yourself.

14)  Parents get old and won't always be there. Spend time with them now. They still have so much left to teach you. And you will miss them when they're gone and say,"Why didn't I go to see them more?"

15)  Everyone has something valuable to teach you, even if it's just to stay the hell away from them.

16)  You don't have to have kids to go to "kid movies."

While there may more, these are the ones that stand out in my mind on this day. I used to think fifty was ancient, now I realize I'm merely getting started. Here's to the best years of my life.

Love shown to A Lie I Can Live With at Brief Encounters Reviews

Cole at Brief Encounters Reviews rated A Lie I Can Live With an "A" and had this to say about the story:

There's so much to say about this story, and I'm sure that I'll find other things when I read this again and again, as I know I will. Otis has now made my list of my all time favorite characters, right next to Barry. For the happiness this story gave me alone, I have to give it an A, and recommend it highly to everyone I know!

Read full review here:

Find it here: