Kaje Harper's Blog, page 20

"Rejoice, Dammit" released

I'm pleased to let you know that "Rejoice, Dammit" is now available :)

Can real love happen twice in a lifetime?

"Rejoice, dammit!" — I could hear my husband Thom's voice as clearly as when he was alive, telling me that four years were enough. That this year, I needed to stop avoiding the joys of the season, and get my solitary, colorless life out of its rut. But it took seeing Colin standing in an ice storm, waiting for a bus that wasn't coming, to convince me to take a chance on opening my life, and maybe my heart, a second time around.

Buy links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1U96RB/

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...

Coming soon on Smashwords and their distribution to B&N, Apple, Kobo

I hope readers will have fun watching Derrick find his way forward, in the season of comfort and joy.

Holiday cover reveal - "Rejoice, Dammit"

Earlier this month, I wrote a little flash fiction for Boy Meets Boy Reviews called "You Were." It was supposed to be a one-off story. But the main characters in it didn't want me to leave Derrick there, at the end, still waiting for the rest of his life. So it grew into a 30,000 word holiday story.



Rejoice, Dammit

Blurb:

"Rejoice, dammit!" — I could hear my husband Thom's voice as clearly as when he was alive, telling me that four years were enough. That this year, I needed to stop avoiding the joys of the season, and get my solitary, colorless life out of its rut. But it took seeing Colin standing in an ice storm, waiting for a bus that wasn't coming, to convince me to take a chance on opening my life, and maybe my heart, a second time around.

~~~

I'm hoping to release it next week. Fingers crossed all the bits come together. :)

Awards: the ups, the downs, and coming together

I'm blogging today on Love Bytes about all the 2016 Best-of awards coming out, and about community.

http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/12/1...

LGBT Fantasy Weekend

As a weekend promo, Olivia Helling has put together links for 25 LGBT Fanstasy stories that are either free or 99 cents.

Some, like mine, are permanent freebies, others are discounted just for this event - see all the books with download/buy links here:

http://oliviahelling.com/promo/

Tracefinder: Contact is a Rainbow Award winner (and here's the full list)

I'm really excited that Tracefinder: Contact was the 2016 Rainbow Awards winner for: Best Gay Mystery Thriller (The Dorien Grey Award) and also second place for 2016 "Best Gay Book".

A lot of people helped make this book happen, from beta readers to my editor Jonathan Penn, my cover artist and the photographer, my formatter, and of course all the readers who give me the confidence to put my stories out there. The Rainbow Awards are run by Elisa Rolle, who puts a ton of work into showing us how much great LGBTQ fiction is out there to be enjoyed.

The 2016 Rainbow Awards go to:

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Cover
Winners:
1. Broken, Author: Nicola Haken, Artist: Reese Dante
2. Witches of London, Author: Aleksandr Voinov, Artist: Anna Tiferet Sikorska
3. Scardust, Author: Suzanne van Rooyen, Artist: Louisa Maggio
Runners Up:
4. Under a Sky of Ash, Author: Brandon Witt, Artist: Anne Cain
Full Domain, Author: Kindle Alexander, Artist: Reese Dante
5. Mirror’s Gaze, Author: Rae D. Magdon, Artist: Rachel George
6. The Mystery of Nevermore, Author: C.S. Poe, Artist: Reese Dante
7. Starless Night, Author: Rae D. Magdon & Michelle Magly, Artist: Rachel George
8. Captive, Author: Jex Lane, Artist: Jay Aheer
9. What Remains, Author: Garrett Leigh, Artist: Garrett Leigh/L.C. Chase
10. A Mended Man, Author: Jaime Reese, Artist: Reese Dante

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Lesbian Fantasy
Winners:
1. The Beast That Never Was by Caren J. Werlinger - Genre: Fantasy
2. The Mirror’s Gaze (Amendyr Series #4) by Rae D. Magdon - Genre: Fantasy
3. The Broken Coil (The Glass Pantheon #1) by Sy Itha - Genre: Fantasy
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Bisexual Fiction
Winners:
1. Enemies of the State by Tal Bauer - Genre: Romantic Suspence
2. For the Clan by Archer Kay Leah - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
3. Midnight at the Orpheus by Alyssa Linn Palmer - Genre: Historical
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Lesbian Romantic Comedy & Suspence
Winners:
1. Love Bites by Lila Bruce - Genre: Romantic Comedy
2. Love's Redemption by Donna K. Ford - Genre: Romantic Suspence
3. The Wrong Kind of Woman by Voss Porter - Genre: Romantic Comedy
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best LGBT Non Fiction & Poetry (The Dirk Vanden Award)
Winners:
1. What Does "Queer" Mean Anyway: The Quick and Dirty Guide to LGBTQIA+ Vocabulary by Chris Bartlett - Gender: LGBT - Genre: Non Fiction
2. The Short and Long Of It: Expand, Adapt, and Publish Your Short Fiction by Paul Alan Fahey - Gender: LGBT - Genre: Non Fiction
3. Archer's Omnibus of Oddities, Mischievous Exploits & Sundry Tales of Insubordination: A Queer Collection of Essays by Jesse Archer - Gender: Gay - Genre: Non Fiction

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best LGBT Alternative Universe/Reality
Winners:
1. Risk (Dark Light #2) by Dusk Peterson - Gender: LGBT - Genre: Anthology / Collection / Alternative Universe/Reality
2. The Servant Duchess Of Whitcomb (Scandalous Whispers Of the Remmington Realm #2) by Vicktor Alexander - Gender: Transgender - Genre: Alternative Universe/Reality
3. Staged by Kim Fielding - Gender: Gay - Genre: Alternative Universe/Reality

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Lesbian Fantasy Romance
Winners:
1. Thrall: Beyond Gold and Glory by Barbara Ann Wright
2. Beauty and Cruelty by Meredith Katz
3. Glove of Satin, Glove of Bone by Rachel White
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Lesbian Sci-fi / Futuristic
Winners:
1. Starless Nights (Dark Horizons #2) by Rae D. Magdon & Michelle Magly
2. Paladins of the Storm Lord by Barbara Ann Wright
3. A Quantum Convergence (Nexus Trilogy #1) by C.A. Farlow
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Fantasy
Winners:
1. Tournament of Losers by Megan Derr
2. Malachite by Kirby Crow
3. The Necromancer's Dance and The Necromancer's Dilemma (2 books as 1 submission) by S.J. Himes
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Transgender Romance
Winners:
1. What It Looks Like by Matthew J. Metzger - Genre: Contemporary Romance
2. The Complete Horse Mistress Collection by R.A. Steffan - Genre: Fantasy Romance
3. The Gift of Gravity by Sage C. Holloway - Genre: Contemporary Romance
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Bisexual Historical & Paranormal Romance
Winners:
1. Knight of Flames (Inheritance #2) by Amelia Faulkner -Genre: Paranormal Romance
2. For Never and Always by Ana J. Phoenix -Genre: Paranormal Romance
3. Thorns and Fangs by Gillian St. Kevern - Genre: Paranormal Romance
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Lesbian Contemporary General Fiction & Young Adult
Winners:
1. Backcast by Ann McMan - Genre: Contemporary General Fiction
2. From Third to Home by Chris Paynter - Genre: Contemporary General Fiction
3. It Pours by C.D. Cain - Genre: Contemporary General Fiction
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Bisexual Fantasy & Fantasy Romance
Winners:
1. Enchanted Soles by Sasha L. Miller - Genre: Anthology / Collection / Fantasy Romance
2. The High King's Golden Tongue by Megan Derr - Genre: Fantasy Romance
3. Seven Tears at High Tide by CB Lee - Genre: Fantasy YA
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Lesbian Historical & Paranormal Romance (The Cate Culpepper Award and The Sandra Moran Award)
Winners:
1. Ex-Wives of Dracula by Georgette Kaplan - Genre: Paranormal Romance
2. The Strange Case of the Big Sur Benefactor by Jess Faraday - Genre: Historical
3. Shaken to the Core by Jae - Genre: Historical Romance
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Transgender Fiction & Biography / Memoir
Winners:
1. Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart - Genre: Young Adult
2. Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings - Genre: Biography / Memoir
3. Perihelion by Tami Veldura - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best LGBT Anthology / Collection / Contemporary Romance & Fiction
Winners:
1. Leather Wishes – The Adventures of the Fancy Man by Julian Keys - Gender: Gay - Genre: Anthology / Collection / Contemporary Romance
2. Sweet & Sexy (4 novellas as 1 submission) by Jeff Adams - Gender: Gay - Genre: Anthology / Collection / Contemporary Romance
3. Love Unlocked by Claire Davis and Al Stewart, Victoria Milne, Dawn Sister, J P Walker, Caraway Carter, Ofelia Gränd, Debbie McGowan - Gender: LGBT - Genre: Anthology / Collection / Contemporary Romance

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Historical
Winners:
1. Across Your Dreams by Jay Lewis Taylor
2. Games of Rome (Dominus #2) by J. P. Kenwood
3. Lessons for Sleeping Dogs by Charlie Cochrane
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Lesbian Mystery / Thriller
Winners:
1. Cold to the Touch by Cari Hunter
2. Death Wears Yellow Garters by Rae D. Magdon
3. Requiem for Immortals by Lee Winter
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Contemporary General Fiction & Humor
Winners:
1. Two Natures by Jendi Reiter
2. King of the Kitchen by Bru Baker
3. Deluge by Vincent Meis
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Romantic Comedy
Winners:
1. Winter Ball by Amy Lane
2. Loving Djinni by Beryll & Osiris Brackhaus
3. Femme by Marshall Thornton
Groomzilla & Groomzilla Does Vegas by Tere Michaels
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Young Adult
Winners:
1. Foxes by Suki Fleet
2. The Italian Word for Kisses by Matthew J. Metzger
3. Private by Matthew J. Metzger
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Romantic Suspence
Winners:
1. The Edge of Control by Lou Kelly
2. The Art of Hero Worship by Mia Kerick
3. Tackling the Tight End by Tara Lain
Runners Up:
4. Time: Wounds All Heal by Princess S.O.
5. Broken Soldier by Jamie Lynn Miller

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Bisexual Contemporary Romance & Fiction
Winners:
1. The Worst Bad Thing by J.E. Birk
2. What Remains by Garrett Leigh
3. Two Man Advantage, Game Misconduct, Full Strength (3 novellas as 1 submission) by V.L. Locey
Runners Up:
4. Between Ghosts by Garrett Leigh
5. The Art House by Scarlett Knight

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Fantasy Romance
Winners:
1. Tempest by Cari Z.
2. Ringed Love (Sentries #6) by Elizabeth Noble
3. Rag and Bone by K.J. Charles
Runners Up:
4. Beauty, Inc. by Tara Lain
5. Ravenhearth by Lotus Oakes

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Historical Romance
Winners:
1. Broken Blades by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt
2. The Innocent Betrayal by Victoria Sue
3. Beloved Unmasked by Brita Addams
Runners Up:
4. A Seditious Affair by K.J. Charles
5. Eleventh Hour by Elin Gregory
Other Side of the Line by Marguerite Labbe

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Mystery Thriller (The Dorien Grey Award)
Winners:
1. Tracefinder: Contact (Tracefinder #1) by Kaje Harper
2. Blow Down (The Plumber's Mate #4) by J.L. Merrow
3. A Solitary Man by Aisling Mancy & Shira Anthony
Runners Up:
4. In Deep by Adam Fitzroy
5. It's a Sin by Steve Burford

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Sci-fi / Futuristic
Winners:
1. Insurrection (Interscission Project #3) by Arshad Ahsanuddin
Scardust by Suzanne van Rooyen
2. Makepeace (Taking Shield #3) by Anna Butler
Where There's A Will by Cari Z.
3. Checkmate Ever After by Lex Chase - Genre: Anthology / Collection
Runners Up:
4. The Avian Emperor by Pelaam
5. Risking the Wild Places by Shannon West
6. Whipping Boy by Jordan Brewer
7. The Forbidden Zone by Victoria Zagar
8. Inherent Cost by Alicia Cameron
9. In Pain by Caethes Faron
10. Cardinal Sins by Lissa Kasey

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Erotic Romance & Erotica (The Bobby Michaels Awards)
Winners:
1. A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes
2. Come Back To Me by Edmond Manning
3. Better Than Safe by Lane Hayes
Runners Up:
4. A Kind of Truth by Lane Hayes
5. Quillon’s Covert by Joseph Lance Tonlet & Louis Stevens
6. The Arrangement by Felice Stevens
7. The Biggest Lover by R. Jackson Genre: Anthology / Collection / Erotica
Lock and Key by Z. Allora
8. Building Bonds + Safe Limits (2 novellas as 1 submission) by Morticia Knight
9. Second to None by Felice Stevens
10. Kestrel's Talon (The Stonewatchers #1) by Bey Deckard
Not Just Another Pretty Face by Louis Flint Ceci - Genre: Anthology / Collection / Erotica

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Lesbian Contemporary & Erotic Romance
Winners:
1. Poppy Jenkins by Clare Ashton
2. A Kiss Before Dawn by Laurie Salzler
3. Just Physical by Jae
Embracing the Dawn by Jeannie Levig
Runners Up:
4. Heartwood by Catherine Lane
5. Slow Burn in Tuscany by Giselle Fox
A Touch of Temptation by Julie Blair
6. Deal-Breaker by Siri Caldwell
7. Built to Last by Aurora Rey
8. Nothing To Lose by Clare Lydon
9. Capturing Forever by Erin Dutton
Whirlwind Romance by Kris Bryant
10. Stuck Landing by Lauren Gallagher

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Paranormal Romance
Winners:
1. Hexbreaker by Jordan L. Hawk
2. A Frost of Cares by Amy Rae Durreson
3. Some Assembly Required by Bru Baker and Lex Chase
Runners Up:
4. The Tenth Muse by Belinda McBride
How to Walk like a Man by Eli Easton
5. Witches of London: Lars by Aleksandr Voinov
6. Devil's Gamble by Tess Barnett
7. Supernatural Consultant, Vol 1 by Mell Eight
8. Priddy's Tale by Harper Fox
Truth and Consequences by Sarah Madison
9. Candy Land by Lissa Kasey
Love is for the Living by Nicholas Kinsley
10. Dragon Dreams & Fairy Wings by Bailey Bradford

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Contemporary Romance (The William Neale Award)
Winners:
1. A Second Harvest by Eli Easton
2. The Heart As He Hears It by A.M. Arthur
3. Once Upon A Haunted Moor, Tinsel Fish, Don’t Let Go, Kitto, Guardians Of The Haunted Moor, Third Solstice (The Tyack & Frayne Mystery Series, 6 novellas as 1 submission) by Harper Fox
Runners Up:
4. Selfie by Amy Lane
A Fortunate Blizzard by L.C. Chase
Lord of a Thousand Steps by Tara Lain
5. The World As He Sees It by A.M. Arthur
’Til Death Do Us Part by Addison Albright
Lollipop by Amy Lane
Strong Medicine by J.K. Hogan
6. Under the Knife by Laurin Kelly
7. Signs of Life by Melanie Hansen
8. Come What May by A.M. Arthur
9. Under a Sky of Ash by Brandon Witt
Tumbled by E.E. Grey
Unquiet by Melanie Hansen
10. Moment of Silence by Karen Stivali
Farm Fresh by Posy Roberts
11. Love Can't Conquer by Kim Fielding
12. Small Steps by Chris McHart
13. Wyatt’s Recipes for Wooing Rock Stars by Clancy Nacht & Thursday Euclid
Fool's Gold by Sarah Madison
14. Rain Shadow by L.A. Witt
15. Red Envelope & Herc and Pyotr (two novellas as 1 submission) by Atom Yang
Restitution: A Love Story by Aubrey Cullens
Prince of the Playhouse by Tara Lain
16. Falling by Sierra Riley
Island Doctor by Sue Brown
17. Snakes Among Sweet Flowers by Jason Huffman-Black
18. Someday by Sierra Riley
Penalty Shot (Hat Trick #3) by Jeff Adams
Unguarded by Lou Kelly
19. Nobody’s Son by Shae Connor
20. Hawaiian Orchid by Meg Amor
Indigo Road by R.J. Jones
Delicious by Sierra Riley

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Debut Asexual Book
Winners:
1. Alexey Dyed in Red by A.M. Valenza - Genre: Fantasy
2. To Terminator, With Love by Wes Kennedy - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
3. We Go Forward by Alison Evans - Genre: Contemporary Romance
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Debut Bisexual, Transgender and LGBT Book
Winners:
1. What Does "Queer" Mean Anyway: The Quick and Dirty Guide to LGBTQIA+ Vocabulary by Chris Bartlett - Gender: LGBT - Genre: Non Fiction
2. Perihelion by Tami Veldura - Gender: Transgender - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
3. Paralian: Not Just Transgender by Liam Klenk - Gender: Transgender - Genre: Biography / Memoir
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Debut Lesbian Book
Winners:
1. Beauty and Cruelty by Meredith Katz - Genre: Fantasy Romance
2. Slow Burn in Tuscany by Giselle Fox - Genre: Contemporary Romance
3. A Quantum Convergence (Nexus Trilogy #1) by C.A. Farlow - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
Runners Up:
4. Hurricane Season by B.J. Phillips - Genre: Contemporary Romance
5. Winter's Harbor by Aurora Rey - Genre: Contemporary Romance
Love on The Red Rocks by Lisa Moreau - Genre: Contemporary Romance
The Broken Coil (The Glass Pantheon #1) by Sy Itha - Genre: Fantasy

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Debut Gay Book
Winners:
1. The Edge of Control by Lou Kelly - Genre: Romantic Suspence
2. Under the Knife by Laurin Kelly - Genre: Contemporary Romance
3. It's a Sin by Steve Burford - Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Runners Up:
4. Two Natures by Jendi Reiter -Genre: Contemporary General Fiction
5. Small Steps by Chris McHart - Genre: Contemporary Romance

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best LGBT Book
Winners:
1. What Does "Queer" Mean Anyway: The Quick and Dirty Guide to LGBTQIA+ Vocabulary by Chris Bartlett - Gender: LGBT - Genre: Non Fiction
2. The Short and Long Of It: Expand, Adapt, and Publish Your Short Fiction by Paul Alan Fahey - Gender: LGBT - Genre: Non Fiction
3. Risk (Dark Light #2) by Dusk Peterson - Gender: LGBT - Genre: Anthology / Collection / Alternative Universe/Reality
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Asexual Book
Winners:
1. For Promise Yet Unbroken by Tygati - Genre: Fantasy Romance
2. Alexey Dyed in Red by A.M. Valenza - Genre: Fantasy
3. To Terminator, With Love by Wes Kennedy - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
.

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Transgender Book
Winners:
1. Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart Genre: Young Adult
2. Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings - Genre: Biography / Memoir
3. Perihelion by Tami Veldura - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
Runners Up:
4. Transformed: San Francisco by Suzanne Falter & Jack Harvey -Genre: Humor
5. Spy Stuff by Matthew J. Metzger - Genre: Young Adult
What It Looks Like by Matthew J. Metzger - Genre: Contemporary Romance

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Bisexual Book
Winners:
1. Enchanted Soles by Sasha L. Miller - Genre: Anthology / Collection / Fantasy Romance
2. The Worst Bad Thing by J.E. Birk - Genre: Contemporary Romance
3. Knight of Flames (Inheritance #2) by Amelia Faulkner - Genre: Paranormal Romance
Runners Up:
4. For Never and Always by Ana J. Phoenix - Genre: Paranormal Romance
5. What Remains by Garrett Leigh - Genre: Contemporary Romance
6. Enemies of the State by Tal Bauer - Genre: Romantic Suspence
7. The High King's Golden Tongue by Megan Derr - Genre: Fantasy Romance
8. For the Clan by Archer Kay Leah - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
Two Man Advantage, Game Misconduct, Full Strength (3 novellas as 1 submission) by V.L. Locey - Genre: Erotic Romance
9. Between Ghosts by Garrett Leigh - Genre: Contemporary Romance
10. The Art House by Scarlett Knight - Genre: Erotic Romance
Thorns and Fangs by Gillian St. Kevern - Genre: Paranormal Romance

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Lesbian Book
Winners:
1. Backcast by Ann McMan - Genre: Contemporary General Fiction
2. Poppy Jenkins by Clare Ashton - Genre: Contemporary Romance
3. Cold to the Touch by Cari Hunter - Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Runners Up:
4. From Third to Home by Chris Paynter - Genre: Contemporary General Fiction
5. Death Wears Yellow Garters by Rae D. Magdon - Genre: Mystery / Thriller
6. The Beast That Never Was by Caren J. Werlinger - Genre: Fantasy
7. Thrall: Beyond Gold and Glory by Barbara Ann Wright - Genre: Fantasy Romance
Requiem for Immortals by Lee Winter - Genre: Mystery / Thriller
8. A Kiss Before Dawn by Laurie Salzler - Genre: Contemporary Romance
9. It Pours by C.D. Cain - Genre: Contemporary General Fiction
10. Cast Me Gently by Caren J. Werlinger - Genre: Contemporary General Fiction
Just Physical by Jae - Genre: Contemporary Romance
Embracing the Dawn by Jeannie Levig - Genre: Contemporary Romance
11. Love Bites by Lila Bruce - Genre: Romantic Comedy
12. Going Coastal by Jane DiLucchio - Genre: Mystery / Thriller
The Songbird Thief by Skye Allen - Genre: Young Adult
13. Heartwood by Catherine Lane - Genre: Contemporary Romance
14. Ex-Wives of Dracula by Georgette Kaplan - Genre: Paranormal Romance
15. The XYZ Mysteries by Iza Moreau - Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Beauty and Cruelty by Meredith Katz - Genre: Fantasy Romance
16. Slow Burn in Tuscany by Giselle Fox Genre: Contemporary Romance
A Touch of Temptation by Julie Blair - Genre: Erotic Romance
17. Deal-Breaker by Siri Caldwell - Genre: Contemporary Romance
18. Starless Nights (Dark Horizons #2) by Rae D. Magdon & Michelle Magly - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
19. The Dance by Suzie Carr - Genre: Contemporary General Fiction
20. Paladins of the Storm Lord by Barbara Ann Wright - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
The Mirror’s Gaze (Amendyr Series #4) by Rae D. Magdon - Genre: Fantasy

2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Book
Winners:
1. Broken Blades by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt - Genre: Historical Romance
2. Tracefinder: Contact (Tracefinder #1) by Kaje Harper - Genre: Mystery / Thriller
3. Tournament of Losers by Megan Derr - Genre: Fantasy
The Innocent Betrayal by Victoria Sue - Genre: Historical Romance
Runners Up:
4. A Second Harvest by Eli Easton - Genre: Contemporary Romance
Across Your Dreams by Jay Lewis Taylor - Genre: Historical
5. Beloved Unmasked by Brita Addams - Genre: Historical Romance
Blow Down by J.L. Merrow - Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Hexbreaker by Jordan L. Hawk - Genre: Paranormal Romance
The Edge of Control by Lou Kelly - Genre: Romantic Suspence
6. A Seditious Affair by K.J. Charles - Genre: Historical Romance
7. A Frost of Cares by Amy Rae Durreson - - Genre: Paranormal Romance
Eleventh Hour by Elin Gregory - Genre: Historical Romance
Malachite by Kirby Crow -Genre: Fantasy
Other Side of the Line by Marguerite Labbe - Genre: Historical Romance
8. The Heart As He Hears It by A.M. Arthur - Genre: Contemporary Romance
9. Insurrection (Interscission Project #3) by Arshad Ahsanuddin - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
Scardust by Suzanne van Rooyen - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
10. Foxes by Suki Fleet - Genre: Young Adult
11. Some Assembly Required by Bru Baker and Lex Chase - Genre: Paranormal Romance
Unnatural by Joanna Chambers - Genre: Historical Romance
A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes - Genre: Erotic Romance
12. A Gentleman's Position by K.J. Charles - Genre: Historical Romance
The Innocent Auction by Victoria Sue - Genre: Historical Romance
13. The Italian Word for Kisses by Matthew J. Metzger - Genre: Young Adult
14. A Solitary Man by Aisling Mancy & Shira Anthony - Genre: Mystery / Thriller
The Tenth Muse by Belinda McBride - Genre: Paranormal Romance
How to Walk like a Man by Eli Easton - Genre: Paranormal Romance
15. To Love a Traitor by J.L. Merrow - Genre: Historical Romance
16. Tempest by Cari Z. - Genre: Fantasy Romance
Come Back To Me by Edmond Manning - Genre: Erotic Romance
Once Upon A Haunted Moor, Tinsel Fish, Don’t Let Go, Kitto, Guardians Of The Haunted Moor, Third Solstice (The Tyack & Frayne Mystery Series, 6 novellas as 1 submission) by Harper Fox - Genre: Contemporary Romance
17. Private by Matthew J. Metzger - Genre: Young Adult
The Necromancer's Dance and The Necromancer's Dilemma (2 books as 1 submission) by S.J. Himes - Genre: Fantasy
18. Witches of London: Lars by Aleksandr Voinov - Genre: Paranormal Romance
Winter Ball by Amy Lane - Genre: Romantic Comedy
Selfie by Amy Lane - Genre: Contemporary Romance
A Fortunate Blizzard by L.C. Chase - Genre: Contemporary Romance
Better Than Safe by Lane Hayes - Genre: Erotic Romance
Lord of a Thousand Steps by Tara Lain - Genre: Contemporary Romance
19. The World As He Sees It by A.M. Arthur - Genre: Contemporary Romance
In Deep by Adam Fitzroy - Genre: Mystery / Thriller
’Til Death Do Us Part by Addison Albright - Genre: Contemporary Romance
Lollipop by Amy Lane - Genre: Contemporary Romance
Makepeace (Taking Shield #3) by Anna Butler - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
Where There's A Will by Cari Z. - Genre: Sci-fi / Futuristic
Ringed Love (Sentries #6) by Elizabeth Noble - Genre: Fantasy Romance
Strong Medicine by J.K. Hogan - Genre: Contemporary Romance
The Art of Hero Worship by Mia Kerick - Genre: Romantic Suspence
20. Resistance by Amy Rae Durreson - Genre: Fantasy
Rag and Bone by K.J. Charles - Genre: Fantasy Romance
Sire by Kate Pavelle - Genre: Young Adult
Under the Knife by Laurin Kelly - Genre: Contemporary Romance
Yesterday by Mickie B. Ashling - Genre: Historical Romance
Devil's Gamble by Tess Barnett - Genre: Paranormal Romance

Congratulations to all the authors, editors, cover artists, and everyone who helps bring great stories to life on our pages and screens.

Anniversary Shenanigans flash fiction at Boy Meets Boy

It's my turn to join in the Anniversary Shenanigans at Boy Meets Boy Reviews. I have a flash fiction posted, and there's a chance to win an ebook copy of Tracefinder: Changes (and I'll throw in a copy of Book 1, if you win book 2 - "Changes" and haven't read "Contact".) https://boymeetsboyreviews.blogspot.c...

They gave me some lovely pictures for flash fiction inspiration - this one brought up a little story that's warm but bittersweet.

Big Gay Fiction Giveaway

I'm joining with 80 other M/M authors in "The Big Gay Fiction Giveaway" - a promotion event to offer free M/M novels, novellas and short stories for one week only, Nov 20-27. My book in the event is a regular freebie novel - Nor Iron Bars a Cage - but many of the books are free this week only, and some are books I've paid for, read, and given five stars. Lots and lots of goodies available - mystery, contemporary, fantasy, SciFi, historical M/M, and more. All you have to do is...

Check out the page, and click on the books you're interested in from instaFreebie. In most cases, you'll be asked to sign up for the author's mailing list in exchange for the book. (Unless, like me, the author doesn't have a mailing list...) Then you'll be emailed a free copy. Here's the link to Jeff and Will's Big Gay Fiction Podcast page. You can also find the book list on Michael Jensen's author blog. Thanks, guys, for all the hard work setting this up.

What do we do now...

So that happened.
I've spent the last two hours holding my genderqueer kid, as they shook with fear. And with loss. Because that's what this election result means to them - loss of a hope, that we might see America - our nation - affirm our diversity and commitment to accept and support citizens like my child. And real fear of what that may mean, in the coming years, for physical and emotional safety in bathrooms and streets and hallways, for rights, to live and love.
And my kid asked, "Mom, what do we do now?"
What do we do now?

First we mourn, because this was a loss not just of an election, but of a belief in our fellow Americans.

But then... we pull together.

Those of us who can, donate - to groups like The Trevor Project and Trans Lifeline, because there are kids out there crying and afraid, who don't have me or you to hold onto.

The Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386
Trans Lifeline US: (877) 565-8860
Canada: (877) 330-6366

We speak up - especially those of us who are white and cis and het. The next two years at least, the next four, we don't get to hide or walk away or take the easy path. If you see something, say something. Represent, protest, whatever it takes. I have rainbow bumper stickers. I wear a rainbow pendant to work, and to the store. When I hear something that hurts others, I'm going to make a bigger effort not to let it slide. We as individuals can and will still make a difference.

We teach, and guide, and show the way. We write books with our rainbow of characters, our trans and people of color characters too. We make them as real, and as beloved, as we always have. We promote each other. We build community, helping each other to get it right. And we share our joy in the wonder of diversity. We share love. We build up, not tear down. We make of our vision of the world something that people want to join and share.

We hug. We laugh, tomorrow, or a week from now. We find the good in everyone we can, and try to help it grow. We even tell those whose votes brought this about that we see the good in them. That their fear and anger and frustration scares us, but that the answer to that is to talk, and teach.

We try to build bridges. Many of those who voted for Trump did it, not because they are homophobic or want to see trans people or Hispanics destroyed - they were frustrated with government as is, they were convinced by specific anti-Hillary propaganda, they have a single hot-button topic like abortion... many of them do not want us to be afraid. So as best we can, without hate and blame, we approach them and tell them our fears. We ask them for support. Some will laugh, or call names, or take the chance to bully. But some will join us in protecting essential liberties.

And we plan. We find great candidates for 2018, and 2020. We have learned that what we did this year was not enough. So we start earlier and work harder, volunteering and supporting for change.

I remember when Bush was elected for the second time, in 2004. After our invasion of Iraq, and the Patriot Act, with a platform that reduced environmental protections and civil rights. I remember the shock I felt, that Americans could fall for his line again. It was not the shock I feel now, but it had that same doomsday fear in it. And yet, we survived. And LGBTQ rights progressed.

This is hard. This is scary. This is sad. But we shall overcome this setback. One day, we will say not "gay marriage" but "marriage." One day, gender will be a write-in box on a few forms, and not even listed on the rest. One day, we will share in caring for those Americans who need it. Not as soon as I hoped, but I believe in us.

My love to all of you. My hugs. My tears, tonight. But also my hope and work, tomorrow.

GayRomLit afterglow...

It's Monday, and I'm back home after a five-day trip to GayRomLit in Kansas City, MO. *sigh*

For those who don't know it, GayRomLit is an annual retreat and convention for those who love M/M romance - 400 readers and writers and voice actors and cover artists and friends. This year was my fifth and the event's sixth year. And next year will be in Denver, Colorado, in mid-October. Just sayin'.

I was able to drive this year, which was so much nicer than flying, where I stared at my stuffed almost-50-pounds suitcase, deciding "one more T-shirt, or one more book...?" In the car I could bring... everything. But I still ran out of shirts and not books. :)

The fall color was amazing driving south. Such a pretty time of year. And listening to Walter Mosley's mystery on my speakers reminded me why audiobooks are the fastest growing medium.

The hotel in Kansas City, MO was the best venue yet - the hardworking volunteer organizers hit a sweet spot this time. Great views, plenty of elevators (vs Albuquerque where one was a bottleneck), fast Internet (vs Atlanta), meeting and bookselling rooms in a nice small convenient area (vs Chicago), and author lounges that worked great as a chance to chat to people. I hope that meant less stress for them. Every year these amazing volunteers have done their best to create this event and smooth out its running. I'm going to list them by name at the end of this post. They deserve huge, huge thanks and credit.

Highlights for me:

Personal - having three people I have loved meeting online come find me, and give a bunch of their limited time to hang out, talk and get acquainted, and they even bought me meals. Big hugs to authors Eric Alan Westfall, Michael Jensen, and Atom Yang! Twice we ate inside (and once walked through) this amazing renovated train station space, with a great restaurant in one corner.

And I finally got my editor and friend Jonathan Penn to come along and hang out with me. There's nothing like the fun of watching friends like him and Edmond meet for the first time, and sharing GRL through new eyes.

Professional - this is such a great rejuvenator for my writing enthusiasm. Not just talking about plots, and characters, and the craft, but especially connecting with readers. There is something extra special about having someone come up in person and say that my books meant a lot to them. When I get lost in the "why bother" blues, as I was prior to this trip, their joy in my stories makes me eager to share more of my work with readers. My deep appreciation to everyone who stopped by to encourage me (and author Sheena Himes, that means you in particular. <3 )

GRLish - Ethan Stone and Carter Quinn (who could not attend at the last minute) invited me to share a spotlight with them. I've gotten comfortable with Q&A sessions, so I decided to spread my wings and said yes. There are few things more scary for a major introvert than doing improv with someone you don't know well for 45 minutes in front of an audience. We had the early 9 am slot Saturday, after the Friday night dance party, and still had a great audience (with coffee cups in hand,) who joined in the discussion of Broken Men: Avoiding the Magic Healing Peen. It was excellent fun, once I stopped shaking. In fact, moderator Brandilyn Carpenter had to verbally nudge me once or twice to let Ethan talk. (Oops.) Brandilyn was just great too. I might do that again...maybe. Someday.

My kid made me some really cute little ornaments of my books with rainbow covers. They were apparently popular, as were my Nick Rugo screen cleaners. I guess folk were not averse to rubbing Nick's face all over their screens.

The Cock Walk fund raiser is always a highlight. Authors Edmond Manning and Anne Tenino created 90 minutes of group improv comedy, and raised a thousand dollars for a Pulse charity. Many people brought crafts and artwork, sending the lucky winners home with cock-shaped book-ends and needlepoint and chapstick covers. Those who did not win went home with sore ribs from laughing so much.

The costume party was resplendent with "Over the Rainbow" costumes from Joel's body paint Tin Man to Mike's very tall and probably-not-Cowardly Lion, and all the creativity in between. (I don't have pictures, but if you search other GRL 2016 posts you'll see what I mean.)

**

On the drive home, with emptier boxes and a fuller heart, I almost ran out of gas. I blame Walter Mosey for keeping my attention on his story and off the gas guage, with a nod to Iowa for "no services at this exit." And "no services at this exit either." But I was saved by a very Iowa station - Kum & Go. I want to say I admire the people who work this chain for putting up with the stream of jokes they no doubt hear a thousand times.

I arrived home to husband, creative kid, and a dog who insisted that I couldn't take his comfy lap away again any time soon. A great trip - I hope to meet more of you in Denver, CO in 2017.

**

And I want to give a big shout out to the GRL all-volunteer! organizers:

Carol Lynne - an early reader favorite whose first Cattle Valley book in 2007 began a widely known series - she now has over 200 books in several genres.

Ethan Day - energy in constant motion and author of books like Sno Ho and At Piper's Point.

Teresa Emil - librarian by day, and organizer extraordinaire for an event with logistic headaches in triplicate.

Reese Dante - excellent cover artist and writer (as "Jaime Reese.")

Web developer Mark Koester

and all the volunteers especially Randy Gresham who seemed to be everywhere doing everything to make it run smoothly.

You guys rock more than I can possibly say, giving up hours of what should be your productive writing and professional time to create ever better GRL experiences for our community. <3 <3 <3

And thanks to Karrie Jax for a rush job to create my new logo:

Keeping characters distinct

I'm guest blogging on Love Bytes, about creating character voices.
Check it out here:
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/10/1...