K-lee Klein's Blog: Chaos in the Moonlight , page 7

HAHAT post - music videos for the cause

Being a writer, words are very important to me, but images and videos can be just as inspirational and moving. I thought I'd share a few videos I've picked up here and there that fit with the HAHAT. I'm a self-proclaimed music video whore - have been since they first appeared in the 80's.

I also fancy myself a bit of a closet poet and a few of my books have lyrics I've written - I'm not saying they're any good but they are lyrics nonetheless. I find the process of putting words to music then music to pictures and video just completes the cycle and can produce such lasting impressions of thoughts and feelings.

Please leave a comment and enter the giveaway. I hope you enjoy these and they provide some emotional connection to the theme we're all supporting. Cheers.

LINK TO MY FIRST HAHAT 2014 POST WITH BENNY MORECOCK
~*~*~
Andrew Hozier-Byrne is an Irish musician.His voice & this song itself give me chills, & the video is so powerful. 
 
Andrew Garfield from Spiderman fame played a transexual in this music video by Arcade Fire. It tells a story and it's both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.
(SEE AN ARTICLE ABOUT IT HERE) 


Probably the most widely-known video of the lot. Fabulous.



This one tells an even more complete story. It's gritty and stars Tyra Sanchez
from RuPaul's Drag Race as a transgender single mother.
In real life Tyra is also a single father.
It's strong and not prettied-up. It's someone's reality.



Country music has stepped into the LGBLTQ spotlight with
this video from openly gay star Steve Grand.

Eli Lieb is a 30 year-old singer/songwriter.
His lyrics are sweet but powerful, as is this video.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
This link will take you to the Hop Against Homophobia & Transphobia main page OR you can click one of the links below to go to another blog. Keep on hopping.

HOP AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA & TRANSPHOBIA

It's Release Day! And here's a 24 hour Tabby's Pride give-away

Greetings all. My life has pretty much run off the tracks between this blog tour, the Hop Against Homophobia & Transphobia (check out my post here
--> HAHAT & BENNY MORECOCK IN THE HOUSE), and my knee issues, but I can't forget release day, can I. I'm doing a twenty-four hour give-away just for this post so leave your name and email address, and you know I love comments too. :)

I've already received one review that made me very happy. 10/10 pots of gold from Rainbow Gold Reviews. Here's the link for the review. Check it out. :)

Bethany Gives 10 pots of gold to Tabby's Pride

"From the beginning I wanted to know Levi’s secret, and I wanted to know right that second.  Yet she keeps you guessing, makes you work for it.  When Levi tries out for Lions Pride and comes face to face with Xan you know that instant that they have a past, a connection.  I loved the history they shared, it was sweet and heartbreaking at the same time.  It makes them comfortable with each other, yet Xan knows Levi is keeping something hidden."

And it included some beautiful fan art.



~*~*~
TABBY'S PRIDE – Lion's Pride 1Available: May 18 from Amber Quill PressGenres: Gay / M/M / Romance / Paranormal / Shapeshifter / The Arts / Series 
Heat Level: 3 
Length: Extended Novella (34k words)Buyer's Link: http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/196...
Blurb
Levi is ready to do anything to make his rock star—and hopefully, personal—dreams come true.
Levi Tabberton has dreamed of being a rock star ever since his brother's best friend, Alexander, showed him his guitar when he was young. But becoming a member of his boyhood crush's band, Lion's Pride, is even more important.
Growing up, Levi emulated Alexander Morrison and, years later, his feelings remain unchanged when he auditions for the band. Xan is laid-back, caring, gorgeous, and takes Levi under his wing—paw. But Levi's guilt and insecurity hold him back from letting Xan see the real him.
Levi needs to prove himself worthy of the band and deserving of Xan's attention, but the lengths he's gone to have left him reeling with anxiety and exhaustion. Levi's not sure how much longer he can pull off the charade he's been acting out to reach his goals and to keep Xan's affections.
Has he made the right choice or will his dreams fade in a catastrophe of lies and uncertainty?
~*~*~
Excerpt:
The venue for the charity show wasn’t big, but it was far larger than any of the ones Levi had played before. It was scary and important, and his heart raced like a runaway train. He kept to himself, clutching his guitar like it was his last possession in the world.
The other guys huddled together just before they were due on stage, encouraging Levi to join their circle of three. He stood with Xan on one side and Kevin on the other, reveling in the warmth and companionship of being part of something special. It was a feeling of inclusion that sent tingles up his spine and unbelievable calm to the nerves that had been wreaking havoc on his body.
When they were finally announced, Xan dragged Levi into his arms for a powerful embrace. “Knock ’em dead, babe. You’re gonna be awesome.” He kissed the side of Levi’s head, whispering against his ear before he released him, “See you on the other side.”
Levi was the first to take the stage, head held high as his knees wobbled and threatened to toss him to the floor. The crowd reacted in a positive way despite the others taking their sweet time following behind him. He was thankful for the bright lights and the tiny monitor tucked in his ear, both enabling him to slip inside his head before he threw-up on his shoes.
Lion’s Pride kicked ass, and Levi soared to new heights of jubilation and self-confidence. His solos rocked the house, his vocals were spot on even if he did say so himself, and Xan’s half-naked body had stayed in his peripheral vision for the whole night.
No one had been more surprised with his sudden shifting than Levi—especially after Xan’s kind assurance that he didn’t have to do it for the first show if he wasn’t ready. But the excitement of the crowd, the glowing accolades in the form of clapping and hooting and cheering were so exhilarating, were so validating, and exactly what he’d always dreamed of. The band had moved to the back of the stage, huddling just beyond the viewing of the audience, high-fiving each other for an amazing show while the audience screamed for an encore.
Levi’s fatal error began with glowing awe and overpowering love as he watched Xan strip off the rest of his clothes, the happiest smile slapped on his face as he laughed and celebrated. He handed his things to Marv, winking before he flashed Levi a wide grin. The golden gaze swallowed Levi’s heart as Xan splayed his hand over his chest then tapped his fist over his own heart. He mouthed, “All yours,” and Levi was doomed.
It was like some sappy old-fashioned love story his mom had made him sit through when he was young, as she wept and smiled beside him. It was crappy romantic drivel and it was all Xan. Then before Levi had a chance to question or even reply in any way, Xan was shifting and changing. He fell to his knees, the sounds of popping and grinding only partially disguised by his groans and whimpers, and those of Kevin and Don. His body lengthened, muscles elongating, twisting, squirming under the pale skin that quickly turned to coarse white fur.
Levi struggled for breath when three larger-than-life lions stared back at him—majestic, regal, beautiful but distinctive in their own ways. Kevin was light gold, his mane even paler than his body, smaller in stature than the others but with his head held high just as he always did in his human form. He even seemed to retain the sarcastic smirk that was his trademark.
Don was more golden brown, his color darkening from mid-body to his hind legs and tail with the same chestnut as his mane. He was bigger, too, tall and wide, and Levi could clearly make out the rustling and repositioning of muscles beneath his fur as he completed his change.
But Xan…Xan was a white lion, a beautiful creature that still retained the deep emerald of his human eyes, gold now rimming the vibrant green like the setting of a beautiful gem. Levi had seen him in his lion form before, had seen them all, but close up he could barely breathe. When Xan stepped toward him, his gaze never leaving Levi’s, it was a struggle to just stay standing.
Unfortunately, in the end, standing hadn’t been the problem because with one of nudge of Xan’s warm lion nose against his palm, Levi’s cat ignored every fiber of resistance and sent him sprawling to the floor in a whoosh of biting pain and waving nausea. His clothes were suddenly too big, forming a puddle beneath his tiny feet as he yowled out the steely pain that accompanied his shift.
For barely a moment, his vision blurred and reddened, quickly resolving itself as he briskly shook his head. When he could focus and function again, Xan was the first thing he saw. He looked up into stunning turquoise eyes, beautiful in their wideness, but heartbreaking in their confusion. Xan moved a little closer, his scent surrounding Levi—musky but sweet, wild but familiar, intimate and possessive in its intensity.
Seconds felt like minutes, then minutes like hours as Levi stood fearfully still, all four paws glued to the floor. Movement behind Xan startled Levi, and he was certain he’d jumped and hissed. Kevin and Don joined Xan, a fortified line of defense beside their leader—then Levi ran.

Link to main Tabby's Pride blog tour post:

HAHAT and Benny Morecock are here

Greetings my friends and welcome to my first post for the 2014 Hop Against Homophobia & Transphobia. As one of the organizers, I want to thank you for joining us in our third year. If you recall, we began this journey in conjunction with the International Day Against Homophobia and there are a lot of useful links and information over there. Give them a looksee when you have a moment.
I hope you find interesting, thought-provoking posts that you feel the need to share with family and friends. Remember, word of mouth is the best way to pass along understanding and encourage change.
Before I go any further and because I have more than one post in mind for the next week or so, this will page will act as my master post to the HAHAT. So check back with it if you think you've missed something. There will also be a list of links for all the participants in the HAHAT at the end of all my posts.
I have a few topics in mind this year, including one on LGBT athletes in professional team sports. I'll also run a couple of interviews—which I really enjoy organizing because then I get to sit back and let others introduce and speculate about themselves, and the world around them.
My first topic is mentoring which I believe is very important in any community, but especially one so encased with so much negativity and rejection. Mentorship is "defined as a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. However, true mentoring is more than just answering occasional questions or providing ad hoc help. It is about an ongoing relationship of learning, dialogue, and challenge."
My belief is that mentoring is key tool in validating the feelings and overall well-being of our youth. I live in a city of over a million people, and though we're considered a "cowtown" and not very forward thinking in gay issues as some others may be, we do have mentoring programs including a Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity. I encourage you to check out your local mentoring programs and offer them your support.
To help me in my first post of the HAHAT and to give you his views on what mentoring means to him, please welcome a familiar face to my blog. Benjamine Heath—or Benny Morecock, he answers to both. He was kind enough to do an interview with me last year, along with his partners Jake Jaxson and RJ Sebastian, and he's back this time around. If you haven't read the interview from last year, it just so happens I have a link.
Hop Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2013 - Cockyboys in da house

Jake and RJ will (hopefully) be doing their own interviews later in the week but for now, let's concentrate on Benny.~*~*~Benny's bio:If I'm the brains at CockyBoys, Jake Jaxson is the vision and RJ Sebastian is the body. I handle all the technical website work, and I curate the images and content of the site so you see our most beautiful work. I try to incorporate healthy living into my work and personal life, through yoga, meditation, and compassion, so that we can create safe and loving environments for ourselves, our employees, models and fans.
~*~*~
Thanks for being here again, Benny. Since we did a pretty insightful interview last time, I thought we'd concentrate on something specific this time around. From my intro, you can see I've chosen mentoring as my topic de jour. Here we go.
First of all, what does mentoring mean to you?
Mentoring to me – it’s about being guided through the journey and obstacles of life. It’s about when you come across a situation that you don’t quite know how to navigate, that you can have someone that’s already been there and done that—and maybe even made the mistakes that you’re about to make—and knowing that you have a guide with a map to gently point you in the right direction.
Did you have any specific mentors when you were growing up? Were you more apt to look up to people you knew and had actual contact with or were your mentors public figures that you looked up to? Do you still have mentors or is that something people outgrow?
I didn’t have a lot of mentors or role models growing up—so I had difficulty finding my own way to becoming a good, responsible person. The only person that I can remember as a mentor was one of my stepfathers. I remember distinctly that he was the first person in my life that ever taught me table manners, responsibility, dedication, being truthful. He was only with my mom for about a year, but I still remember his guidance as having one of the largest impacts of my childhood. It would have made growing up much easier had he been around longer.
Now that I’m older, I still have many mentors. The difference now is that I know the importance of having mentors, and that we have the power to cultivate healthy relationships in our lives. I feel lucky in that I have the privilege of knowing many amazing people with depths of experience that I can tap into.

In your opinion, why is mentoring important in general, and more specifically in the gay community?
Because life is difficult. We’ll make right choices, we’ll make wrong choices, and more often we’ll have no idea what choice to make—especially within the gay community, where we can sometimes be surrounded by hate, or become engaged in unhealthy lifestyles. So often, especially in our youth, we make bad life decisions and mistakes because we haven’t recognized that fact, “Hey, maybe I don’t know all the answers.” And most importantly, making the choice to surround yourself by healthy people.
There are a lot of online support groups that could be considered mentoring programs. Do you think such programs or even just individual online contact in a mentoring relationship, are as effective as meeting someone in person? Is sharing your private life with the public, for example the dynamic of your relationship, a form of mentoring as well?
There’s nothing more powerful than having a face-to-face connection with someone. However, if you don’t have that ability, for instance if you’re in a community where it’s harder to find mentors, then I think online contact can be just as helpful and making you feel connected. However, I think too many people think of social media—especially Twitter and Facebook—as replacements for this. People think they can be a mentor to someone with 140 characters, and that’s just not the case.
I've read statements by some of the young men you employ who consider you, Jake & Rj to be mentors to them. How does that make you feel? Do you consider yourselves mentors in that capacity or is all just part of caring for others?
It’s just part of how we do business. Our business is so integrated with our personal lives in that we can never really unplug from it. Because of that, we can only do business the same way that we live our lives—ethically, making sure our models are making the right, healthy choices for themselves, and creating a safe environment for everyone involved. Otherwise, we just wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
This question isn't asked from my personal views, but even good deeds breed negativity so I'm going to put it forward. Have you received any negative feedback about being called role models considering the work you do?
Of course. Even with the people that feel we’re their mentors—it’s so easy to become resentful of someone that you’ve come to see as your “father figure”, because we also won’t put up with or engage bad behavior, whereas maybe their friends enable the behavior because it’s “fun”.
However, it’s absolutely important for me to say: we never actively look to become the role as “mentor” to people. Actually, if we were smart, we’d steer very clear of it. However, it’s just the way that some relationships develop.
Finally, do you have any words of wisdom about mentoring? What can people do to help and support gay youth?
Just be compassionate, be genuine, and be loving. If everyone took a moment to embody these qualities, the world would be a beautiful place.
Thanks so much for being here, but just like last time, you're not quite done. How about a few choices to lighten the mood a bit? PS – one of these is a repeat, I want to see if your answers have changed – no cheating. ;)
Books or films? – Turning the Mind into an Ally by Sakyong Mipham
Black & white or colour? (I spelled it the Canadian way – did you notice that?) – Colour!
Yoga or running? – Yoga is an absolute must for me, but actually I want to get into running more. I’m reading a phenomenal book called Running with the Mind of Meditation, also by Sakyong Mipham.
Cher or Beyonce? – Can I say neither? They’re cool and revolutionary within pop culture and what-not, but I don’t get the big deal.
Beach or mountains? - Mountains!
Tattoos or piercings? – Tattoos.
The sun or the moon?Sun during the day, moon during the night.
Kisses or hugs? – Hugs.
Romeo & Juliet or Hamlet? – Romeo & Juliet.
Thank you, Benny! Now as in other years, I'm offering a giveaway during the HAHAT and using Rafflecopter to do my ultimate choosing of winners. There are a few ways to enter and I'd really love it if you left a comment here as well. Everyone likes and needs feedback, right? And I'm sure Ben would appreciate it, too.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This link will take you to the Hop Against Homophobia & Transphobia main page OR you can click one of the links below to go to another blog. 
HOP AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA & TRANSPHOBIA

First post for HAHAT and Benny Morecock is here

Greetings my friends and welcome to my first post for the Hop Against Homophobia & Transphobia. As one of the organizers, I want to thank you for joining us in our third year. If you recall, we began this journey in conjunction with the International Day Against Homophobia and there are a lot of useful links and information over there. Give them a looksee when you have a moment.
I hope you find interesting, thought-provoking posts that you feel the need to share with family and friends. Remember, word of mouth is the best way to pass along understanding and encourage change.
Before I go any further and because I have more than one post in mind for the next week or so, this will page will act as my master post to the HAHAT. So check back with it if you think you've missed something. There will also be a list of links for all the participants in the HAHAT at the end of all my posts.
I have a few topics in mind this year, including one on LGBT athletes in professional team sports. I'll also run a couple of interviews—which I really enjoy organizing because then I get to sit back and let others introduce and speculate about themselves, and the world around them.
My first topic is mentoring which I believe is very important in any community, but especially one so encased with so much negativity and rejection. Mentorship is "defined as a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. However, true mentoring is more than just answering occasional questions or providing ad hoc help. It is about an ongoing relationship of learning, dialogue, and challenge."
My belief is that mentoring is key tool in validating the feelings and overall well-being of our youth. I live in a city of over a million people, and though we're considered a "cowtown" and not very forward thinking in gay issues as some others may be, we do have mentoring programs including a Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity. I encourage you to check out your local mentoring programs and offer them your support.
To help me in my first post of the HAHAT and to give you his views on what mentoring means to him, please welcome a familiar face to my blog. Benjamine Heath—or Benny Morecock, he answers to both. He was kind enough to do an interview with me last year, along with his partners Jake Jaxson and RJ Sebastian, and he's back this time around. If you haven't read the interview from last year, it just so happens I have a link.
Hop Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2013 - Cockyboys in da house

Jake and RJ will (hopefully) be doing their own interviews later in the week but for now, let's concentrate on Benny.~*~*~Benny's bio:If I'm the brains at CockyBoys, Jake Jaxson is the vision and RJ Sebastian is the body. I handle all the technical website work, and I curate the images and content of the site so you see our most beautiful work. I try to incorporate healthy living into my work and personal life, through yoga, meditation, and compassion, so that we can create safe and loving environments for ourselves, our employees, models and fans.
~*~*~
Thanks for being here again, Benny. Since we did a pretty insightful interview last time, I thought we'd concentrate on something specific this time around. From my intro, you can see I've chosen mentoring as my topic de jour. Here we go.
First of all, what does mentoring mean to you?
Mentoring to me – it’s about being guided through the journey and obstacles of life. It’s about when you come across a situation that you don’t quite know how to navigate, that you can have someone that’s already been there and done that—and maybe even made the mistakes that you’re about to make—and knowing that you have a guide with a map to gently point you in the right direction.
Did you have any specific mentors when you were growing up? Were you more apt to look up to people you knew and had actual contact with or were your mentors public figures that you looked up to? Do you still have mentors or is that something people outgrow?
I didn’t have a lot of mentors or role models growing up—so I had difficulty finding my own way to becoming a good, responsible person. The only person that I can remember as a mentor was one of my stepfathers. I remember distinctly that he was the first person in my life that ever taught me table manners, responsibility, dedication, being truthful. He was only with my mom for about a year, but I still remember his guidance as having one of the largest impacts of my childhood. It would have made growing up much easier had he been around longer.
Now that I’m older, I still have many mentors. The difference now is that I know the importance of having mentors, and that we have the power to cultivate healthy relationships in our lives. I feel lucky in that I have the privilege of knowing many amazing people with depths of experience that I can tap into.

In your opinion, why is mentoring important in general, and more specifically in the gay community?
Because life is difficult. We’ll make right choices, we’ll make wrong choices, and more often we’ll have no idea what choice to make—especially within the gay community, where we can sometimes be surrounded by hate, or become engaged in unhealthy lifestyles. So often, especially in our youth, we make bad life decisions and mistakes because we haven’t recognized that fact, “Hey, maybe I don’t know all the answers.” And most importantly, making the choice to surround yourself by healthy people.
There are a lot of online support groups that could be considered mentoring programs. Do you think such programs or even just individual online contact in a mentoring relationship, are as effective as meeting someone in person? Is sharing your private life with the public, for example the dynamic of your relationship, a form of mentoring as well?
There’s nothing more powerful than having a face-to-face connection with someone. However, if you don’t have that ability, for instance if you’re in a community where it’s harder to find mentors, then I think online contact can be just as helpful and making you feel connected. However, I think too many people think of social media—especially Twitter and Facebook—as replacements for this. People think they can be a mentor to someone with 140 characters, and that’s just not the case.
I've read statements by some of the young men you employ who consider you, Jake & Rj to be mentors to them. How does that make you feel? Do you consider yourselves mentors in that capacity or is all just part of caring for others?
It’s just part of how we do business. Our business is so integrated with our personal lives in that we can never really unplug from it. Because of that, we can only do business the same way that we live our lives—ethically, making sure our models are making the right, healthy choices for themselves, and creating a safe environment for everyone involved. Otherwise, we just wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
This question isn't asked from my personal views, but even good deeds breed negativity so I'm going to put it forward. Have you received any negative feedback about being called role models considering the work you do?
Of course. Even with the people that feel we’re their mentors—it’s so easy to become resentful of someone that you’ve come to see as your “father figure”, because we also won’t put up with or engage bad behavior, whereas maybe their friends enable the behavior because it’s “fun”.
However, it’s absolutely important for me to say: we never actively look to become the role as “mentor” to people. Actually, if we were smart, we’d steer very clear of it. However, it’s just the way that some relationships develop.
Finally, do you have any words of wisdom about mentoring? What can people do to help and support gay youth?
Just be compassionate, be genuine, and be loving. If everyone took a moment to embody these qualities, the world would be a beautiful place.
Thanks so much for being here, but just like last time, you're not quite done. How about a few choices to lighten the mood a bit? PS – one of these is a repeat, I want to see if your answers have changed – no cheating. ;)
Books or films? – Turning the Mind into an Ally by Sakyong Mipham
Black & white or colour? (I spelled it the Canadian way – did you notice that?) – Colour!
Yoga or running? – Yoga is an absolute must for me, but actually I want to get into running more. I’m reading a phenomenal book called Running with the Mind of Meditation, also by Sakyong Mipham.
Cher or Beyonce? – Can I say neither? They’re cool and revolutionary within pop culture and what-not, but I don’t get the big deal.
Beach or mountains? - Mountains!
Tattoos or piercings? – Tattoos.
The sun or the moon?Sun during the day, moon during the night.
Kisses or hugs? – Hugs.
Romeo & Juliet or Hamlet? – Romeo & Juliet.
Thank you, Benny! Now as in other years, I'm offering a giveaway during the HAHAT and using Rafflecopter to do my ultimate choosing of winners. There are a few ways to enter and I'd really love it if you left a comment here as well. Everyone likes and needs feedback, right? And I'm sure Ben would appreciate it, too.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This link will take you to the Hop Against Homophobia & Transphobia main page OR you can click one of the links below to go to another blog. 
HOP AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA & TRANSPHOBIA

Tabby's Pride blog tour & giveaway UPDATE

Hi guys. 
I'm updating the stops in the tour 
and letting you know what you may have missed. :) 
So far I've talked about ~emotion & writing (Dean) ~done a fun interview for Jade~squeed over rock stars & shifters (Jay)~and released a new excerpt over at Piper's pad. 

Still to come are posts about ~why I write m/m~the deviousness of my ADHD muse~and my pictorial inspiration for Tabby's Pride. 
Check out the links below if you missed anything and you can enter the giveaway each time you do. Cheers.
Links for tour stops(to be filled in as available)
May 12 - Chaos in the MoonlightMay 13 - L.Dean Pace-FrechMay 14 - Jade CrystalMay 15 - Joyfully JayMay 16 - Piper VaughnMay 17 - Cheekypee Reads & ReviewsMAY 18 - RELEASE DAY!May 18 - Rainbow Gold ReviewsMay 19 - Parker WilliamsMay 19 - Sue's Reveals & PromotionsMay 20 - GGR Reviews

And don't forget the 
Hop Against Homophobia & Transphobia
starts tomorrow and runs until the 24th. 

Tabby's Pride blog tour & giveaway master post

Links for tour stops(to be filled in as available)
May 12 - Chaos in the MoonlightMay 13 - L.Dean Pace-FrechMay 14 - Jade CrystalMay 15 - Joyfully JayMay 16 - Piper VaughnMay 17 - Cheekypee Reads & ReviewsMAY 18 - RELEASE DAY!May 18 - Rainbow Gold ReviewsMay 19 - Parker WilliamsMay 19 - Sue's Reveals & PromotionsMay 20 - GGR Reviews

Tabby's Pride blog tour stop #2 - L. Dean Pace-Frech

The Tabby's Pride blog tour & giveawaystop number 2 is at L. Dean Pace-Frech's house today.Drop by and see what I have to say about getting inside mycharacters' heads & hearts.
STOP NUMBER 2
Links for other stops(to be filled in as available)
May 13 - L.Dean Pace-FrechMay 14 - Jade CrystalMay 15 - Joyfully JayMay 16 - Piper VaughnMay 17 - Cheekypee Reads & ReviewsMAY 18 - RELEASE DAY!May 18 - Rainbow Gold ReviewsMay 19 - Parker WilliamsMay 19 - Sue's Reveals & PromotionsMay 20 - GGR Reviews

Tabby's Pride blog tour and giveaway starts here!

Hi and welcome to the first stop in my Tabby's Pride blog tour. Tabby comes out on May 18 from Amber Quill so I thought I'd make the rounds before I set him free.

This will be my first release that is part of a PAX collection with Amber Quill—that means you can buy all 5 titles in the Purrfect Tales Collection for a reduced price. 

I'm feeling a little humbled at being associated with the other authors in this group of cat shifter stories - Sean Michael, Deirdre O'Dare, A.J. Llewelyn, D.J. Manly, and Carolyn Valdez. They're all fabulous authors. Make sure you check them out. If you click the Purrfect Tales link, it will take you to the collection.


~*~*~

Now back to Tabby's Pride - here's the blurb. 
Levi is ready to do anything to make his rock star—and hopefully, personal—dreams come true.
Levi Tabberton has dreamed of being a rock star ever since his brother's best friend, Alexander, showed him his guitar when he was young. But becoming a member of his boyhood crush's band, Lion's Pride, is even more important.
Growing up, Levi emulated Alexander Morrison and, years later, his feelings remain unchanged when he auditions for the band. Xan is laid-back, caring, gorgeous, and takes Levi under his wing—paw. But Levi's guilt and insecurity hold him back from letting Xan see the real him.
Levi needs to prove himself worthy of the band and deserving of Xan's attention, but the lengths he's gone to have left him reeling with anxiety and exhaustion. Levi's not sure how much longer he can pull off the charade he's been acting out to reach his goals and to keep Xan's affections.
Has he made the right choice or will his dreams fade in a catastrophe of lies and uncertainty?

~~Buy Link—All ebook formats will be available at a sale price on May 18th from Amber Quill. It will be available later through Amazon on other third party sites. ~~

~*~*~
This will be the main page and I'll link all the other stops here once they've become live. Some of those posts will find me talking about rock stars and shifters, waxing poetic about being an emotional writer, talking about photo inspiration, and answering very in-depth interview questions. And you can enter the giveaway at each one as well. So make sure you come along for the ride. I'll see you there. ;)


The tour runs from May 12-20 and I'm offering three prizes—2 ebook copies of Tabby's Pride, as well as a $10.00 gift card from Amazon. You can enter by clicking the Rafflecopter link, plus earn extra entries by commenting on this post—make sure you comment with your email address. Thanks for stopping by.
~*~*~Excerpt from Tabby's Pride
Levi inhaled a big breath through his nose and leaned back against the cool concrete wall. The advertisement hadn’t been anything special, but it was very specific: Lead guitarist with panthera-leo mutator tendencies wanted. Levi knew the shifter classification, but he also knew he had no intention of making the band send him home before they heard what he could do. At least he hoped not.
“Okay, Levi. You’re on. Break a leg, dude.”
Levi was unceremoniously shoved through the intimidating black door. It banged shut behind him with a resounding echo that could have woken the dead, figuratively of course. The point was, it was fucking loud. He took a few steps, then another big inhale before he turned to face the table in the middle of the room.
“Hey. Levi, right?”
He couldn’t believe he was there, couldn’t believe he was standing in front of goddamn Lion’s Pride. The three hotter-than-hell members sat in a row behind the table, the top cluttered with papers, pens and water bottles—all of them staring directly at Levi.
Don Jorgensen was first, his spiky, platinum hair painted in a multitude of funky splashes of color that Levi knew glowed in the dark when he was behind his drum kit. He was over six feet and built, with a plethora of piercings dotting his face, many matching the strange silver-hue of his eyes.
At the other end of the table, Kevin Brown leaned back in his chair. He was Australian with the sexiest accent ever, a head of wild blond hair, and he was a damn good bass player, too. Levi had memorized the list of songs he’d co-written for Lion’s Pride, as well as all the instruments he could play and the A-list celebrities he escorted around town—both female and male. Kevin wasn’t the most popular band member, but he was the one most widely known for his sexual appetite. Had Levi not already been totally gone on another, he would have had strong images of Kevin on his knees, even stronger than the ones trying to push through right now.
The middle seat was taken up by the heart and soul of the band, Alexander—Xan—Morrison. Levi snuck a peek from under the brim of his hat, letting the image of the lead singer settle in his brain. Xan’s hair was longer than his bass player’s, almost identical in its golden color with streaks of dark here and there. It fell in sexy roped braids around his face and over his shoulders.
Just being in the same room as him made everything that much more real for Levi.
Xan was a god among gods, at least in all of Levi’s fantasies. He wasn’t as tall as his buddies, but he was broader across the shoulders. His body wasn’t overly muscled, but he filled out his pale blue T-shirt in ways that jolted Levi’s dick inside his pants.
He nearly bent double when waves of anxiety and fear twisted and turned his gut inside out in a tangent of nauseating movement. He watched, waited, as Xan tilted his head, tapping a pen against his full lips, the determined yet tired look in his eyes a silent, shouting question in Levi’s head. “Don’t I know you?”
Levi forced his gaze away before adjusting his hat and setting his guitar case on the floor beside him. He shuffled his feet in hopes of soothing the electric nerves zapping him from head to toe, and even more so, to adjust the sudden tightness in his pants. He’d swear his dick had gone from zero to eighty in the time it took to walk across the room. It pulsed and pressed against the uncomfortable zipper of the denim as aching desire took up residence with all his other current maladies. Talk about the perfect day to not go commando.
What the hell were they waiting for? Was torture an actual part of the audition or did the band just take some sick pleasure from seeing people sweat and crumble? And for God’s sake, why was it so damn hot in there?
“Levi, right? Cool name, bro.” He was drawn from his impatient internal rant by the smooth Australian accent. “But what’s with the hat, man? Bad hair day?” Laughter followed and Levi had to admit the bass player’s voice was sexy even when it was making fun of him.
“Um, yeah. Sorry about that.”
Xan smiled up at Levi, his startling turquoise eyes lined expertly with black kohl. He looked amused, but a little tired. “I hope you’ve brought your A-game, kid, because we’ve had a long day.” Levi buzzed with his words, his voice so familiar yet so far removed from memory he couldn’t be entirely sure it was a memory at all.
Don spoke next, his voice a booming echo in the empty rectangular room. “Just ignore the grumpy bastard. Tell us about yourself, Levi.”
“I um…” He paused to clear his throat, forcing his voice down an octave. It wasn’t comfortable on his throat, but felt necessary. “I’m from Bakersfield. Been playing since I was ten years old.”
“You with a band now?”
“Until four months ago.”
“Fired?”Levi quickly shook his head. “Mutual break-up. Too many egos fighting over too much crap.” Levi bit his tongue when he realized he might have said too much. “Sorry.”
Xan leaned forward on the table, his head cocked to the right as he stared unblinkingly at Levi. His braids fell perfectly around his face as he frowned.
Levi lowered his head again, tugging on his cap until he could barely see anything.
Dammit. Everything was going to hell. Levi could just feel it in the rolling stress of his muscles, the muddled flailing of his thoughts, and the rapidly growing haste of the blood running through his veins.
“Levi?” Kevin was talking to him again and Levi recognized that he was acting like a big dumb idiot. “I asked if you were one of those egos.”
“Um, no. I’m good with just going with the flow.” What a stupid thing to say.
“You look really familiar to me. Have we met before?” Xan gazed unblinkingly at him.
Levi shifted a little more in his stance, shaking his head and licking across his suddenly parched lips.
“Can you take the hat off, man?”
Kevin’s accent interrupted the flow of Xan’s words. “Since when are we basing this on looks, Xan? It’s an audition, not goddamn Grindr.”
Xan whispered in his ear, but it was loud enough for Levi to hear as well. “There’s just something about him.”
“Okay,” Kevin said through clenched teeth. “How about taking the hat off for a sec, mate? That okay?”
Levi’s heart dropped into his stomach and the menagerie settled there, immediately attacking. Raising a hand to his head, he gripped the brim between two fingers and tugged it off. His long, black bangs slipped over his eyes, and he habitually pushed them aside.
“You look just like…”

~*~*~
(Please know if you choose the Leave Comment option on the Rafflecopterbut don't leave a comment, that entry will be deleted. Thanks.)a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sneak peek at K.C. Well's upcoming release, A Dance with Domination

The fabulous K.C. Wells has a new release going live on May 23. Today she's been nice enough to share the blurb and first chapter with us. Here we go. 

~~Recently returned to the UK after living in the States since he was eleven, Andrew Barrett is determined to keep busy and make a new life for himself. He works full time as a copywriter and strips at a club on Canal Street on weekends. But it still leaves him too much time to think. Then he finds the BDSM club, Collars & Cuffs, where at twenty-nine, he is their youngest Dom. Young doesn't mean inexperienced, however. All this activity keeps him focused with no time to dwell on the past. But the past has a way of intruding on the present. 

It's been four long years since Gareth Michaels last set foot inside Collars & Cuffs. But when he finally summons his courage and steps back into his former world, he finds the man who drove him away is still a member, and what’s more, he wants Gareth back. Two men in pain need the freedom they find in each other, but it takes another man's horrific plans to make them see it.~~

A Dance with Domination pre-order link

Chapter One

Andrew took a long drink from his lager and gazed around the club from his seat at the
bar. Okay, so it was only eight in the evening, and the place had just opened, but the strip
club was dead. Large TV screens displayed images of gorgeous, hot guys and what looked
like a vintage porn film. There was one lone customer, sitting at a table near the stage nursing a pint and casting the odd glance at the dancer who was performing. And the less said about
him, the better….

The mirrors around the back of the stage didn’t enhance his performance either. His
dancing could have been more polished, in Andrew’s opinion, but it wasn’t that which was
putting him off. “Barry” was far too “in your face.” There was no subtlety to his act
whatsoever. This was only the first of his three songs, and already he had his dick out,
waving it at his one and only patron. Yeah, about as subtle as a train wreck.

“You don’t seem that impressed by our Barry.”

Andrew turned from his perusal of the stage to look at the barman, and then he smiled.
The guy behind the bar sure was cute. Petite, with big eyes and a sexy smile.

“Sorry if I gave that impression,” Andrew said carefully. The direction his thoughts
were going in right now, he wanted to keep on the right side of the staff. It might prove
useful. “His act is… interesting.”

The barman snorted. “That’s one word for it.”

Andrew’s smile widened. “Look, I was trying to be polite, all right?”

His confidant grinned. “Appreciated.” He tilted his head. “Are you from the States?”

Andrew groaned. Not another person who could hear that damned inflection. One of his
Facebook friends, Kathy, who lived in Dorset, had told him the first time they’d Skyped that
he definitely had this American twang to his accent. He hadn’t heard it. But then a week later,
during a conference call to London, someone else had told him the same thing.

“I’m originally from Bristol,” he said with a quick smile, “but I’ve been living in the
States for quite a few years. I’ve just moved back here from Atlanta.”

The barman frowned. “Why on earth would you want to leave Atlanta to come to
Manchester, of all places? I mean, I hear they have this huge gay community over there.” He
looked around the club with a smirk. “And there had to be better strip clubs than this.”

Andrew laughed. “Well, now that you mention it….”

The barman extended his hand. “The name’s Kurt, by the way.”

Andrew shook it. “Andrew Barrett.”

Kurt’s eyes gleamed appreciatively as he looked Andrew up and down. “Very pleased
to meet you, babe.” Andrew arched his eyebrows, and Kurt reddened. “Okay, so you’re easy
on the eye. Sue me, as they say over there,” he said gruffly. Andrew chuckled. “How long
have you been in Manchester?”

“Two weeks.” Two long, dull weeks. It had been primarily boredom that had driven
Andrew from his flat. A week into the new job, and things were going well. The McCann
Manchester branch was going to be a challenge but nothing Andrew couldn’t handle. Right
now he was feeling antsy, and the discovery of a strip club on Canal Street in the heart of
Manchester’s gay village was too great an opportunity to pass up. His gaze went back to
Barry, who had by now removed his long shorts and T-shirt and was swinging from the pole,
center stage.

“God, he needs to work on using the music better,” Andrew muttered to himself.

Movement behind the bar dragged his attention back to Kurt, who was staring at him.

“You’re a stripper.” It wasn’t a question.

Andrew was impressed. “How did you know?”

Kurt shrugged. “Just a feeling. And besides, I work with enough of them. You get a feel
for the good ones.” There was that deliberate inspection again. “And I get the feeling you’re
very good at what you do.” He winked.

Andrew grinned. “You never know, you might get to see me in action one of these
days.” Kurt’s eyes lit up. Andrew took another drink from his lager and gave Kurt his full
attention. He cleared his throat. “So tell me, is Canal Street a good place to work?”

Kurt nodded. “It’s quieter during the week, but Fridays and Saturdays can get pretty
manic. There are loads of clubs and bars, but so far, we’re the only strip club. If you like
dancing, I can recommend Babel. They get a good crowd, and it’s always lively in there, no
matter what day it is.”

Andrew filed that tidbit away for future reference. He studied his glass before posing
his next question. “What do you know of a club called Collars & Cuffs?” He kept his manner
nonchalant.

Kurt became still. “Oh, honey. Is that what you’re into?” Andrew said nothing. Kurt
shrugged once more. “I’ve never been there—although I have been tempted, on occasion—
but I know it’s a fairly exclusive BDSM club, gay men only.”

“That much I picked up online,” Andrew admitted. “Does it have a good reputation? If I
believe what I read, then yes. But I want to know from someone who lives here, works here.”

Kurt gave a slow nod. “I’ve heard nothing but good stuff, to be honest. The two guys
who own it apparently run a tight ship. I know fees are stiff, but they don’t let just anyone in.
I know a few mates who’ve tried to get in and haven’t made it past their vetting procedures.”

That was music to Andrew’s ears and exactly what he’d hoped to hear. Looks like a
visit to Collars & Cuffs is on the cards, then. “I did see a few other clubs for the Manchester
area, but this one had the best ratings.”

Kurt met his gaze. “Yeah, well, one club shut down fairly recently. That was a bad
business.” Andrew tilted his head, and Kurt scowled. “Just don’t ask. Those bastards needed
to be shut down. That’s all you need to know.”

Before Andrew could say another word, he heard the sound of high heels clicking
across the laminate flooring, followed by a low female voice beside him. “Is Barry still up
there?” She sounded exasperated.

Kurt chuckled. “About to finish, he’s on his third number now.” He gave a nod toward
Andrew. “Someone here I think you should meet, boss.”

Andrew quirked his eyebrows but turned on his chair to face the speaker. He came face
to face with a tall woman in a gray suit, blond hair immaculately set and perfectly applied
makeup. She was regarding him quizzically. “Oh, really?”

Andrew held out his hand. “Andrew Barrett, new arrival to these shores.”

She took his hand, her grip firm. “Always nice to meet a new customer.”

Kurt chuckled. “Ah, but this is no ordinary customer. Andrew’s a stripper.”

There was a definite look of interest in those cool blue eyes. ”Indeed,” she said, holding
onto Andrew’s hand. “DeeDee Walker. I own Bliss.” She gave him a speculative look.

“Where have you worked, Mr. Barrett?” She relinquished his hand.

“In a few different places. My last job was in a bar in Atlanta.”

Oh, yeah, DeeDee definitely seemed interested. She squared her shoulders. “Do you
need a job?”

Andrew laughed. “You don’t mess around, do you?”

She shrugged. “Nope. Don’t see the point.” She narrowed her gaze. “Well, do you?”

Andrew thought about it. If he were being totally truthful, he’d wandered into the club
with the faintest hope that he’d have just such an offer. Okay, so the money he earned as a
copywriter was good, but having a little extra income wouldn’t hurt. And of course, there was
the fact that he loved stripping. And God, he’d missed it.

He met DeeDee’s forthright gaze. “Yes. Yes, I do. Maybe just weekends, though.” He
could manage two nights a week without it taking over his life. He intended to pursue other…
interests for another couple of nights.

DeeDee lifted her eyebrows. “Seems I’m not the only one who doesn’t mess about.”

She glanced around the club. “Seeing as it’s still quiet, why don’t you get up there and show
me what you’ve got?”

Well, he hadn’t expected that. Andrew hid his surprise and got to his feet slowly,
masking his excitement. “Okay, no problem.”

DeeDee pointed to the booth at the back of the stage, where Andrew could just about
make out the head of the club’s DJ. “Give Jim your choice of songs. He’s got a pretty eclectic
mix back there, so I guarantee if you want something, he’ll have it.”

If he has all three of what I have in mind, I’ll be seriously impressed, Andrew thought
with a wry smile. He gave DeeDee a nod and went up onto the stage to talk to Jim. Barry had
finished his set and had gone backstage, leaving the solitary customer watching the
proceedings with interest. Apart from DeeDee, Kurt, and the lone guy, there was no one else
in the club. Strike that, Andrew thought as he caught sight of a shadowy figure in the
doorway which led into the club. A slim silhouette stood there, lit from behind so Andrew
couldn’t make out any features. He dragged himself back into the moment. Shadowy figure in a doorway be damned—he had a club owner to impress.

He leaned on the sill to talk to Jim, who turned out to be a very hot guy. Andrew smiled
appreciatively as he gave his requests. Jim didn’t bat an eyelid.

“Yeah, no problem. We got all those. Just give me a sec to set ’em up.” He winked.

“And then go dazzle DeeDee.”

Andrew beamed. God, I hope this comes off. He got a good feeling about this place, and
he liked DeeDee’s no-nonsense air. As he waited for Jim to queue up his numbers, Andrew
kicked off his boots, shucked off his jeans and T-shirt, and then replaced his Doc Martens,
adorned in only them and his royal blue Andrew Christian briefs. Good thing I was wearing
some decent underwear. He piled his clothing on the ornate throne which sat at the back of
the stage. Over the arm was a towel. Andrew took it to wipe down the pole, making sure that
he leaped up to the top and slid down slowly. Even cleaning the pole had an art to it. He
straightened and looked out toward his single customer, who was to be his sole focus for the
performance. He watched DeeDee lean back against the bar, her gaze fixed on him. Kurt was standing next to her, and Andrew had to smile when he gave a thumbs-up.

The tinkling opening notes of “Destination Unknown” by Missing Persons came over
the speaker system, and Andrew took a deep breath, focusing on what was to come. A few
bars in, he leaped up once more to grab the pole at its highest point and then held his body
rigid, legs spread wide, before sliding down to the floor and landing in the splits. Even above
the music he caught the gasps from his tiny audience. Fluidly, he got to his feet and began to
twist his body around the pole, adopting position after position which showed off his
flexibility. When he held himself upside down on the pole while doing the splits, he caught
more gasps. He kept his movements flowing and sensual, never straying from his familiar
routine but ensuring every motion was smooth and precise.

The music faded into the pulsing drumbeat and heavy guitar riff of “Pure Morning” by
Placebo. Andrew lowered himself to the floor and undulated his body in a sensual parody of
sex, nothing too over the top, before moving smoothly onto his back and hooking his legs
behind his head.

“Bloody ’ell,” his customer swore quietly, still audible above the soundtrack. Andrew
smiled as he grabbed hold of his briefs and pulled them slowly over his arse and down his
long legs, to where he held his now freed ankles above his head. As he removed the
underwear completely, he flipped onto his front and performed a one-handed handstand, legs and arms held perfectly still as he grasped the edge of the stage and kept his muscles taut. He allowed his body to move with fluid grace, focused on giving his best performance. As he moved into a proper handstand, doing the splits in midair, he was conscious of a faint rippleof applause. When the strains of “Cities in Dust” by Siouxsie and the Banshees heralded the end of his set, Andrew rose to his feet to gyrate around the pole, his movements sinuous and flexible. He threw everything he had into those last few minutes of music, arching his back as he focused his gaze on his solitary customer, who watched him, gaping. Andrew mouthed the words, running his hands over his body and smiling at the lone client. When the music finally ended and silence descended upon the club, he was panting softly but grinning, the burst of applause which filled the room sweet music to his ears.

DeeDee crossed the floor to stand before the stage, her face split in a broad smile as she
looked up at him. “Grab your clothes and come backstage when you’re dressed. That door to
the left of the stage.” She walked off toward it. Andrew hastily collected his clothes as
another dancer appeared on the stage, a tall young man with a fashionably stubbled face,
wearing jeans, a black leather jacket, and numerous chains around his neck. He gave Andrew a brief nod as they passed. Andrew heard Jim’s voice over the PA system as he introduced Madison. Andrew got dressed as quickly as he could, allowing for removal and replacement of his boots, and then hurried to the stage door. He found himself in a brightly lit office, but
beyond it he could see a locker room, from whence came the chatter of male voices. Outside
in the club, the strains of Katy Perry rose up to accompany Madison’s set.

DeeDee sat at a cluttered desk, cautiously tasting a half mug of coffee which she
replaced on the desk with a grimace. She smiled at him. “Sit down, Andrew.” She motioned
to a seat against the wall. The office was tiny, with shelves full of folders above her head.
DeeDee inclined her head toward the locker room and raised her voice. “If anyone’s making
a coffee in the next five minutes, I’ll have one.” A couple of voices floated back in reply.
Satisfied, DeeDee sat back in her chair and regarded Andrew keenly.

Andrew held himself upright, back straight. “So, did you like what you saw?” He could
play the no-nonsense game too.

DeeDee’s smile was more businesslike this time. “Yes, I did. And if you want the job,
you’ve got it. I believe you said you can do weekends?” He nodded. “That works for me.
We’re closed Sundays and Mondays, although sometimes I open up the club for those who
want to practice their routines with the pole.” That keen expression was back. “I don’t know
what you were used to in the States, but here, the only money you make is what those guys
out there place in your little armband, or in the receptacle on stage for coins.”

Andrew nodded once more. “That’s how it was in Atlanta at my last club.”

She cocked her head. “What about lap dances? Did you do those?”

He’d had a feeling this was going to crop up. “Yes. I’m assuming your dancers do those
too?” It was DeeDee’s turn to nod. “What are the going rates?”

She handed him a small flier. “The customers purchase a VIP wristband from the club. Those are five pounds. No band, no lap dance. Then we have three different levels. For ten
pounds, you can dance at their table. Of course, they don’t get to touch. This would also be a
good time to point out that the customers shouldn’t touch you when they come up to the
stage.”

“Got it.” So far there were no surprises.

DeeDee went on. “The next stage is a lap dance in the Sky Box. That’s the area up the
stairs on either side of the entrance. There are padded seats there. You can be viewed by
anyone, of course, but generally, customers can see when a dance is taking place up there.
Those are twenty pounds, and they last for one song.”

Andrew nodded. What he was interested in, however, were the four boxes he could see
with obscured glass. “I’m guessing your final level would be a VIP Box.”

“Yes,” she acknowledged, “but the price for those differs according to how long the
customer wants you for. They pay ninety pounds for fifteen minutes, and you get to keep
sixty-five of that. Thirty minutes for £165, of which you keep £120. And £340 for an hour, of
which you keep £245.”

He did some swift mental calculations. The prices were in keeping with the States, more
or less. “And are there restrictions on what can or can’t be done in there?” He awaited her
response with bated breath.

“What you choose to do in the VIP Boxes is entirely down to your discretion,” DeeDee
said at last. “But I should also point out that while women are allowed in the club and the Sky
Boxes, they are not permitted in the VIP Boxes.” Andrew quirked an eyebrow. It wasn’t as if
he’d never danced for women at his last club. He knew of clubs who only allowed
accompanied women inside, and that was as long as they conformed to a dress code.

DeeDee sighed. “Let’s just say we’ve learned our lessons from mistakes other clubs
have made. The last thing we want is a woman crying rape after she’s been alone in a VIP
Box with one of the boys. That doesn’t mean I don’t trust my boys—I trust them implicitly—
but it’s for their protection.”

“Understood.” Andrew liked DeeDee’s practical manner and matter-of-fact way of
speaking.

“You’ll also be expected to do a Shower Show as part of your sets. I don’t know if
you’ve ever done one of those in your act.”

Now that was new. “A shower?”

DeeDee grinned. “Didn’t see the shower cubicle, huh?” He shook his head. “To the left
of Kurt’s main bar is a glassed-in shower. Two boys go in there and have a shower, and
sometimes boys do a solo shower scene. End of story.” She smirked. “Just as long as you’re
giving a good show while you do it, and if you’ve got a partner in there with you, you’re
careful not to touch his genitals. Other than that, you can make it as wholesome or as
downright steamy as you like.” She chuckled. “Wait ’til you see Ryder and Madison. Why
the glass always gets fogged up whenever those two take a shower is beyond me. But there’s usually a crowd when they get in there.”

Andrew grinned. He could understand why the punters would want to look at Madison.
Even on a brief glimpse, the tall stripper was drop-dead gorgeous.

DeeDee leaned forward. “And now for the all-important question—when can you
start?” She glanced at a time sheet on her desk and sighed. “I only ask because I’m three
dancers down for tonight.”

Andrew was about to laugh when he saw she was deadly earnest. He thought quickly. It
was Saturday, and his only plan for the evening so far had been takeaway Chinese and a film on TV. And it would definitely get me some good karma. Starting a new job in an unfamiliar city, after years of living in America, a new stripping job—not to mention a planned visit to check out a BDSM club, which he fervently hoped would be an important part of his life—yeah, Andrew needed all the good karma he could get.

“Give me an hour to go home and collect some gear, and I’ll start tonight.”

DeeDee’s smile was so wide, it almost split her face in two. “I think you and I are going
to get along.” She tilted her head. “Do you have a stage name?”

Andrew nodded. “Blair.”

She held out her hand, and Andrew shook it firmly. “Welcome to the family, Blair.”

God, he had such a good feeling about this. Now all he needed was for Collars & Cuffs
to turn out to be every bit as good as others painted it, and he was in business.


Life was definitely looking good.

Guest post: Terry Millien's Iron Will blog tour

Please welcome the fabulously talented, and I'm proud to say, one of my best friends, Terry Millian, to the blog. Terry is hopping around from blog to blog to promote his new release, Iron Will. I was lucky enough to beta on this one and I can assure it's truly a creative and interesting mecha story - my first in fact, and I enjoyed immensely. Make sure you check out the links at the end.Ripples in the Water
Rick, who you meet a few chapters in, is one of those characters that, once you’ve outlined the whole story, pops up out of nowhere as soon as you sit yourself down to start the actual writing and messes the entire plot, like a pebble making ripples in water.Eventually, though, the water surface will be smooth again, won’t it, but the pebble will still be somewhere underneath, and after much grumbling and bitching, I soon came to realize I simply could not get rid of him and return to the old plot, no matter how hard I tried to. It was like the pebble had always been meant to be there, at the bottom of the pond, had just been removed at some point and had now resumed its rightful place.I couldn’t tell you much about him, however and because of that, since he is so intricately woven into the plot that anything I could say about him would basically spoil one thing or another.Anyway, thanks for joining and you can read my ramblings about idioms and made-up swear words at Piper's blog (include link), and you can even enter a giveaway at my own site ~~ Terry Millienl).Don't let your gears rust. :-)
Iron Will blurb

Gael has never believed in “Steel Giants” and magic; they’re just stories told to captivate children and remind everyone of the power of the Corporation. Those beliefs fall prey to doubt, however, when he abruptly finds himself enemy number one and being hunted down by those who are supposed to protect…

Rating - m/m/m/m

Iron Will was released from Less Than Three Press on April 9, 2014. For links and information about Iron Will, please go to 
IRON WILL

BIO - Terry Millien

Terry has always loved making up stories. Even before he could write or read, he could be found changing around Disney's stories after he'd watched the movies. The youngest of five, the odd one out, he grew up constantly bored because his siblings were "too old to play", so making up stories was really a necessity. At 11 he was hooked by the Harry Potter phenomenon, and by 16 he really couldn't wait for the damn translations to be made so he decided to go for the original versions. Since then he mostly writes, reads and watches TV in English.