Calvin Westbrook's Blog, page 3

Rainbow Snippets – June 17th 2017

When I posted my last snippet, the positive reception to my upcoming book Sheltered was a wonderful surprise. For those of you who don’t know, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group where you share a set of sentences from a work that has LGBT related content. If you want to check out this great community for yourselves, be sure to check them out for yourself.

Before I reveal the latest Rainbow Snippet, I would like to share with you a picture of a character from Our Second Chance, a novella that I will be releasing sometime this year. His name is Rafius Sahir, a genie who was imprisoned in a lamp for crimes against his race. At the beginning of the story, he has only wish left to grant, and Our Second Chance focuses on the wish that he grants to complete his sentence. This picture was drawn by the deviantArt user SomDude424, and I think you will agree he is a very handsome man.

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This week’s snippet is from Sheltered, and focuses on Sam as he tries to apologise for running away from his second mate Lucas.

After a moment’s hesitation, Sam cleared his throat and tried his best to speak.

“I guess I owe you an explanation.”

The alpha shifter let go of the spoon, and walked slowly over to his future mate. Sam appreciated the gesture, because his heightened emotions were almost at fever pitch.

Lucas reached out his hand, and cupped Sam’s cheek inside it.

“You don’t owe me anything. It is me that should be apologising for the way I behaved,” the alpha said softly.

Sam took a deep breath, and then gave an remorseful smile.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. I probably would have done the same thing if I met you three years earlier.”

Lucas chuckled, and the sound of his voice made Sam’s wilting erection re-inflate at a record-breaking pace. The less dominant shifter tried his best to hide the sign of attraction, but it’s size had grown to the point where it was easier to go with the flow.

“Do you mind if I ask what happened to you?”

 

On a side note, I would like to thank every member of the group who has offered me kind words so far. Your support and friendship mean the world to me. I hope you enjoyed everyone enjoyed this little snippet, and will consider having a glimpse at the completed work.

Rainbow Snippets – June 3rd 2017

It’s been a few months since I last posted a Rainbow Snippet, as I decided to take a break after the publication of A Treasure Find. For those of you who don’t know, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group where you share a set of sentences from a work that has LGBT related content. If you want to check out this great community for yourselves, be sure to check them out for yourself.

This segment is from my upcoming book Sheltered, which I featured in my latest blog post earlier this week, along with the reveal of it’s cover, which I have featured below.

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This week’s snippet focuses on Sam as he cleans up from a storm, and hears an unexpected noise.

He had barely taken two steps when he heard a light noise on the breeze. At first he thought it might have been the sound of puddles splashing against the road, but then it made its presence known for a second time. After living in a pack of wolf shifters for twenty one years, there was no mistaking the source of the mysterious acoustics.  

It was the sound of a wolf in pain. 

Throwing the sponge to one side, Sam ran through the bushes and into the small forest area that was situated behind it. Fortunately for Sam’s ears, the noise kept permeating the air, so he would be kept on track until he could discover the scent of the wounded animal. 

“Is anyone out there?” Sam asked, hoping that he would be able to find someone who could assist him with the incident he was about to discover.

On a side note, I would like to thank every member of the group who has offered me kind words so far. Your support and friendship mean the world to me. I hope you enjoyed everyone enjoyed this little snippet, and will consider having a glimpse at the completed work.

Final Cover Reveal – Sheltered

Sorry for the radio silence over the last few weeks. I took a brief holiday from writing following the publication of A Treasured Find, but now I am back and ready to roll on once more.

The reason for my post today is that I would like to share with you the cover of my new book, which is named Sheltered. It was designed by J.C. Clarke, who runs her own shop on Etsy named The Graphics Shed. She has some great covers for sale at very reasonable prices, so be sure to check her out if you have the chance.

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As for the story in question, here is the blurb I wrote for it.

Three years ago, a wolf shifter named Samuel Wake was betrayed by a man he loved and forced out of the pack he once called home. On the anniversary of his exile, Sam comes to the rescue of an injured shifter named Connor, and discovers that the beautiful man is his soulmate. Things take an unexpected turn when Sam discovers that Connor is already claimed by an alpha shifter named Lucas Malvone, and that this powerful male shares the honour of being his fated mate.

Will Connor and Lucas be able to bring comfort to their destined partner, or will Sam’s tragic past convince him to be sheltered for the rest of his life?

As a special treat for my loyal readers, and anyone who loves supernatural fiction, here is a short sample of the beginning of this new book.

Thinking back, Sam realised how lucky he had been in the days before everything went to shit. His mother and father were both wolf shifters, and as might be expected by the laws of genetics, Sam had inherited their supernatural status. On the nights when the moon was full, he would change into an enormous blonde wolf, with a white tail that seemed to shimmer whilst under the starlit skies. At any other time, Sam could also change into his other form at will, but the full moon‘s rays did something to his animal that could never be ignored. Tragically, Sam’s parents had been slain during a dispute over territory a few months after he was born, which led him to be adopted by his musically challenged foster father almost immediately afterwards. His new parents welcomed him into the loving atmosphere of their pack, and gave him an especially warm induction when Sam’s shifter abilities awakened at the age of sixteen.

Unfortunately, Sam’s new life had not remained an idealistic existence. He had been relatively exiled from the pack after an incident that involved the first man that had won his heart. Sam had discovered that his so-called boyfriend’s true motives behind their relationship were not romantically motivated. The long and short of it was that the man had been trying to marry him to gain the small fortune that would be bequeathed to Sam on his 21st birthday from his deceased parents. Thankfully , he had discovered Gareth’s treachery a few days before his inheritance was deposited into his bank account. The discovery had shattered Sam’s heart, so he had been forced to take drastic measures and reveal the man’s treachery to the pack alpha.

Before I go, I have another important announcement I would like to make.

Thank you to everyone who has purchased A Treasured Find over the last few months. I received my first royalties for the book in the last few days, and it proved to be a wonderful surprise just how much I received.

Hope you liked this cover and snippet. I will have more information about this latest book very soon, as well as more snippets from future projects.

New Cover Reveal – Sheltered

Sorry for the radio silence over the last few weeks. I took a brief holiday from writing following the publication of A Treasured Find, but now I am back and ready to roll on once more.

The reason for my post today is that I would like to share with you the cover of my new book, which is named Sheltered. It was designed by J.C. Clarke, who runs her own shop on Etsy named The Graphics Shed. She has some great covers for sale at very reasonable prices, so be sure to check her out if you have the chance.

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As for the story in question, here is the blurb I wrote for it.

Three years ago, a wolf shifter named Samuel Wake was betrayed by a man he loved and forced out of the pack he once called home. On the anniversary of his exile, Sam comes to the rescue of an injured shifter named Connor, and discovers that the beautiful man is his soulmate. Things take an unexpected turn when Sam discovers that Connor is already claimed by an alpha shifter named Lucas Malvone, and that this powerful male shares the honour of being his fated mate.

Will Connor and Lucas be able to bring comfort to their destined partner, or will Sam’s tragic past convince him to be sheltered for the rest of his life?

As a special treat for my loyal readers, and anyone who loves supernatural fiction, here is a short sample of the beginning of this new book.

Thinking back, Sam realised how lucky he had been in the days before everything went to shit. His mother and father were both wolf shifters, and as might be expected by the laws of genetics, Sam had inherited their supernatural status. On the nights when the moon was full, he would change into an enormous blonde wolf, with a white tail that seemed to shimmer whilst under the starlit skies. At any other time, Sam could also change into his other form at will, but the full moon‘s rays did something to his animal that could never be ignored. Tragically, Sam’s parents had been slain during a dispute over territory a few months after he was born, which led him to be adopted by his musically challenged foster father almost immediately afterwards. His new parents welcomed him into the loving atmosphere of their pack, and gave him an especially warm induction when Sam’s shifter abilities awakened at the age of sixteen.

Unfortunately, Sam’s new life had not remained an idealistic existence. He had been relatively exiled from the pack after an incident that involved the first man that had won his heart. Sam had discovered that his so-called boyfriend’s true motives behind their relationship were not romantically motivated. The long and short of it was that the man had been trying to marry him to gain the small fortune that would be bequeathed to Sam on his 21st birthday from his deceased parents. Thankfully , he had discovered Gareth’s treachery a few days before his inheritance was deposited into his bank account. The discovery had shattered Sam’s heart, so he had been forced to take drastic measures and reveal the man’s treachery to the pack alpha.

Before I go, I have another important announcement I would like to make.

Thank you to everyone who has purchased A Treasured Find over the last few months. I received my first royalties for the book in the last few days, and it proved to be a wonderful surprise just how much I received.

Hope you liked this cover and snippet. I will have more information about this latest book very soon, as well as more snippets from future projects.

Rainbow Snippets – March 18th 2017

For the past few weeks I have been working on the first book in the Treasured series, and I am pleased to announce it is now available on Amazon! Coincidentally, it’s time for me to post another Rainbow Snippet, so I decided to combine the two together. For those of you who don’t know, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group where you share a set of sentences from a work that has LGBT related content. If you want to check out this great community for yourselves, be sure to check them out for yourself.

This segment is from the newly released A Treasured Find, and focuses on a dance scene which is both romantic and slightly teasing.

Just as Caleb was about to start his penultimate routine, he suddenly felt a warm hand rest itself onto his shoulder.

Worrying he had been caught out, Caleb spun around to hurriedly apologise, but the figure he saw was the one that he least expected to see.

Varron Sevarine was dressed in his usual genie attire, but had substituted his usual bare feet look with a pair of golden crystal shoes. He wore a black top hat upon his head, and was holding a rose between his perfectly formed teeth.

“Would you allow me the honour of joining you in this dance?”

Varron’s voice seemed to be echoing inside Caleb’s head for that moment, which was fortunate because of the rose that was currently situated inside of it.

Giving a smile, Caleb turned around and wrapped his left arm around the genie, and held out his hand for Varron to hold. The genie lifted the rose out of his teeth, and tucked it gently behind Caleb’s ear.

“Do you do this with every person that gives you your freedom?” Caleb asked with a faint laugh.

Varron gave him a slight grin in return.

“They might have given me freedom for mere moments, but you are the only man who has allowed me to be free to follow my heart.”

With that, Varron led his Hiraeth to the centre of the dance floor. The light changed in that moment, creating a spotlight that was focused directly on the two men. The music came slowly shifted to play a tune that was more beautiful than anything Caleb had ever heard.

Taking his cue, the genie began to guide Caleb around the room, allowing the man to dance as he felt as he could, but also bringing him close when they could perform a move that required them both. All the while, Caleb found himself looking at Varron in a way that filled him with mixed emotions.

When the witch had first released the genie from his prison, Caleb had felt an undeniable attraction to him. It was as if Varron was the centre of his world, and that he was the most handsome and beautiful man Caleb had ever seen. The more time he spent with him, the more Caleb wondered if there was a chance that the two were somehow meant to be together.

On a side note, I would like to thank every member of the group who has offered me kind words so far. Your support and friendship mean the world to me. I hope you enjoyed everyone enjoyed this little snippet, and will consider having a glimpse at the completed work.

If you want to buy the full version of A Treasured Find, use this country specific links which have been provided below.

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XPK8RCQ

USA – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPK8RCQ

Canada – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XPK8RCQ

Final Cover Reveal – A Treasured Find

You may remember a few months ago that I created a cover image for the first book in the Treasured series after finding a background image that suited the story perfectly. After hearing some feedback from some author friends who have experience with graphic design, I decided to ask one of them to help me redesign the cover to make it more visually appealing.

Without further ado, I would like to reveal to you the final cover of A Treasured Find, which has been remastered by the very gracious C.B. Archer. If you are a fan of video game based erotica, be sure to check out his works, as they are definitely some of the best examples of the genre I have ever had the fortune to read.

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Hope you liked the enhanced cover that was kindly created by C.B. Archer. If you are interesting in reading his works, you can find his WordPress blog by following this link. The book in question has almost reached completion, so I will have more information about the release of A Treasured Find within the next few weeks.

Rainbow Snippets – February 11th 2017

After a brief break, it’s time for me to post another snippet of an up and coming work on Rainbow Snippets. For those of you who don’t know, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group where you share a set of sentences from a work that has LGBT related content. If you want to check out this great community for yourselves, be sure to check them out for yourself.

This segment is from A Treasured Find series, and was co-written by AuldMisdione, the deviantArt user who helped me bring the characters of the story to life.As a special treat, here is a picture of Magnus and Ceispen, the kings of the Northern Kingdom. You can find it below, or visit the original deviantArt page where it was uploaded.

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For this Rainbow Snippet, I decided to offer you the remainder of the backstory of Varron’s parents. If you missed the first part, be sure to check the previous post.

The day finally came before Magnus’s thirtieth birthday, and although the lion shifter wanted to be with his true mate more than anything, his duty to his pride would have to come first. Besides, they would have an eternity to spend at each other’s side once this was over.

Magnus used the Grand Magister’s gifted wish to find a woman who would honour his promise to mate with Ceispen, whilst at the same time standing by his side as the Alpha Female of the pride. As Ceispen granted his Hiraeth’s wish, he gave his beloved a final kiss of farewell, and disappeared into the lamp, which vanished as soon as the prince had disappeared inside it.

Later that evening, Magnus bonded with a lioness by the name of Xelena, who was also seeking a political marriage to escape the clutches of her less than favourable pride. So from that day forward, Magnus and Xelena took over the running of the pride.

For the next hundred years, the two shifters guided, fought and shared food together, but they never consummated their desires through any sexual encounters. The day came when it was the turn of Xelena’s son, whose father had been slain by her former pride to take the position as leader.

Thanking her for her many years of loyalty, both Magnus and Xelena went their separate ways, and lived in retirement to await the beginning of the next stage of their lives.

A few months had passed, and Magnus pined for his handsome genie more than ever before. His waiting came to an end when Magnus was given a letter through the bottom of his front door one windy afternoon.

The letter read,

“Dearest Magnus,

                                I am reaching the end of my service, and I cannot wait to lay eyes upon you once more. My parents have informed me that they wish to meet your acquaintance before I return home. When you ready to do so, simply tap the wax seal three times, and you will be taken directly to the palace.

Stay strong my beloved Hiraeth, I shall be with soon.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Magnus made himself look presentable, and tapped the wax seal with a shaking hand.

When he had arrived at the palace, he had been welcomed with open arms by King Dreimos and his bride Queen Peregrine. They had shared a delicious meal, and talked about the man who would be the future king. The royal couple invited him to stay in their son’s bedroom for the night, and then he could return once the prince had come home.

As Magnus entered the prince’s chambers, he was surprised to pick up a familiar scent. Looking over at the balcony, he saw a flying carpet was headed towards him, and riding on top of it was his beloved mate. After a heart warming reunion, Magnus and Ceispen completed their mate bond, and within a week of their reunion the two men were pronounced to be married.

During the ceremony, Magnus was transformed into a genie, so he could be equal in both power and authority to all of the people of his new home. Magnus was relieved to discover that he could still become his lion after he had been changed, a fact which Ceispen had confirmed before the two men took their vows during their marriage ceremony.

After the grand event had taken place, Dreimos and Peregrine decided to abdicate, leaving Ceispen, and his beloved Magnus to ascend to become the kings of the Northern Kingdom.

On a side note, I would like to thank every member of the group who has offered me kind words so far. Your support and friendship mean the world to me. I hope you enjoyed everyone enjoyed this little snippet, and are looking forward to another brief glimpse as well as the final release.

Rainbow Snippets – January 28th 2017

For the third time in 2017, it’s time for me to post a snippet of an up and coming work on Rainbow Snippets. For those of you who don’t know, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group where you share a set of sentences from a work that has LGBT related content. If you want to check out this great community for yourselves, be sure to check them out for yourself.

This segment is from A Treasured Find series, and was co-written by AuldMisdione, the deviantArt user who helped me bring the characters of the story to life. For this Rainbow Snippet, I decided to offer you a sample from the backstory of Varron’s parents.

As Magnus entered the tent, a wonderful scent reached his nostrils, and his instincts screamed to him that he had at long last be discovering the identity of his mate. The young adult shifter entered the main body of the tent, and came face to face with Ceispen Sevarine for the very first time.

The handsome blonde genie prince had instantly sensed the connection between them, and the Grand Magister did nothing but watch the two men as their connection came into life. At the time, Magnus learned that the Grand Magister had summoned Ceispen from inside an old copper lamp he had discovered in the mines, and intended to give Magnus one of his three wishes as a gift before he could take the throne.

Sensing the connection that was brewing, the Grand Magister congratulated Magnus on finding the man he was meant to be together with. However, there was still the issue of who would lead the pride.

Ceispen explained to Magnus that he was in line for his own throne in the Northern Kingdom, and that he was merely performing his mandatory community service of three hundred wishes to complete his training to become a crown sovereign. As soon as he had granted the last of the wishes, he would no longer be the Genie of the Lamp, and then they could be together as fate intended.

For the next week, the two men spent several hours together, to build the bond that could endure the years that they would be apart. Very few people in the pride would have considered their union to anything particular, as their religion did not bar two men or women from joining together in matrimony, but Magnus and Ceispen kept their bond a secret from all but their closest family.

On a side note, I would like to thank every member of the group who has offered me kind words so far. Your support and friendship mean the world to me. I hope you enjoyed everyone enjoyed this little snippet, and are looking forward to another brief glimpse as well as the final release.

Rainbow Snippets – January 14th 2017

For the second time in 2017, it’s time for me to post a snippet of an up and coming work on Rainbow Snippets. For those of you who don’t know, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group where you share a set of sentences from a work that has LGBT related content. If you want to check out this great community for yourselves, be sure to check them out for yourself.

This segment is from A Treasured Find series, and was co-written by AuldMisdione, the deviantArt user who helped me bring the characters of the story to life. Before we get to the sample, I thought I would share another picture that was created of Caleb and Varron, the two main characters in the series. You can find it below, or visit the original deviantArt page where it was uploaded.

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For this Rainbow Snippet, we join our protagonists during a scene where Caleb and Varron are walking through the palace to get some breakfast.

As the two men walked through the corridors of the palace, Caleb was astounded at the beauty of Varron’s home. Although the majority of the architecture was typical of a Middle Eastern setting, there were several things, such as the medieval tapestries and Victorian chandeliers that were hung on several of the walls and ceilings. It was as if the entire creative history of the human race was being celebrated all at once.

On several occasions, Varron explained the layout of the palace, particularly when they passed a doorway which was slightly ajar. The many servants and nobles that wandered in their direction offered their well wishes at their prince, and he inclined his head in response to many, whilst making small conversation with those he knew on a personal level.

Eventually, they came to a set of double doors that had golden brass handles attached. The borders were made of solid silver, whilst the main body of the door was a deep blood red that seemed to gleam in the candlelight. Caleb wondered if it would considered proper to knock before entering the presence of Varron’s parents.

The genie prince chuckled, and placed a comforting hand on his Hiraeth’s shoulder.

“You don’t need to be so formal when entering the dining room sweetheart. Just place your hands around the handle and pull. “

Feeling more at ease with the man’s words, Caleb reached forward to grab the silver object, and pulled with all of his might. Slowly but surely, the door opened wide to reveal a dining room that looked like it belonged in a fairy tale castle, rather than a palace.

The main table could easily have seated twenty, and each of the place settings were furnished with the finest silverware. Away from the long piece of furniture, there was a smaller round table that could fit six people. It wasn’t surprising that the bowls and plates on the larger table were made of gold, and that several gemstones adorned on the handles of the cutlery. This must have been where the rulers of the Northern Kingdom, as well as their inner circle, had their nourishment every day.

The door closed with a gentle thump behind Varron and his mate, drawing the attention of the man who was sat alone at the relative top of the table. He gave a wide smile, and then got to his feet.

“Greeting my son, I am pleased to see that your Hiraeth is up and about.”

On a side note, I would like to thank every member of the group who has offered me kind words so far. Your support and friendship mean the world to me. I hope you enjoyed everyone enjoyed this little snippet, and are looking forward to another brief glimpse as well as the final release.

Rainbow Snippets – January 7th 2017

For the first time in 2017, it’s time for me to post a snippet of an up and coming work on Rainbow Snippets. For those of you who don’t know, Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group where you share a set of sentences from a work that has LGBT related content. If you want to check out this great community for yourselves, be sure to check them out for yourself.

This segment is from A Treasured Find series, and was co-written by AuldMisdione, the deviantArt user who helped me bring the characters of the story to life. Before we get to the sample, I thought I would share a picture that was created of Aquarius Swiftyde, one of the mermen who is a supporting character in the series. You can find it below, or visit the original deviantArt page where it was uploaded.

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For this Rainbow Snippet, we join our protagonists during a scene where Caleb is lying on a hospital bed, and Varron is sat by his bedside.

Caleb awoke some time later to the gentle sounds of a carriage clock chiming somewhere in the room. For a moment, he felt a rush of panic as he imagined that he was back in the room he shared with Michael. But to his relief, it was then that he saw the familiar face of his loving genie.

Varron was sitting on the chair next to his bed, and Caleb could tell he was watching the room intently for any sign of danger. The witch wasn’t surprised, as his involuntary passing out would probably have given the genie more reasons to worry for his safety. The instant that he saw his mate was awake; the prince leant forward and kissed Caleb on the forehead.

“Good morning to you too handsome,” Caleb said, offering a kiss on the genie’s chin in exchange. Varron smiled, and sat back down so he could give his Hiraeth some personal space.

“How are you feeling sweetheart?”

Caleb considered the question. Although he was still a little shaken from the magical feedback, his body felt more rested than it had felt in a very long time. People gave comas a bad rep, but they did wonders for giving the body a well deserved rest.

Caleb felt his hand being massaged, which broke him out of his self contemplation.

“I would be lying if I said I could take on the world, but I do feel more like my old self.”

With those few words, Varron looked instantly less concerned.

On a side note, I would like to thank every member of the group who has offered me kind words so far. Your support and friendship mean the world to me. I hope you enjoyed everyone enjoyed this little snippet, and are looking forward to another brief glimpse as well as the final release.