B.A. Tortuga's Blog, page 18
September 27, 2016
Guest Post: J. Scott Coatworth
A 300-word story should be easy, right?
Many of our entrants say it’s the hardest thing they’ve ever written.
Queer Sci Fi's Annual Flash Fiction Contest challenges authors to write a complete LGBTQ speculative fiction micro-story on a specific theme. "Flight" leaves much for the authors to interpret—winged creatures, flight and space vehicles, or fleeing from dire circumstances.
Some astonishing stories were submitted—from horrific, bloodcurdling pieces to sweet, contemplative ones—and all LGBTQ speculative fiction. The stories in this anthology include AI’s and angels, winged lions and wayward aliens. Smart, snappy slice of life pieces written for entertainment or for social commentary. Join us for brief and often surprising trips into 110 speculative fiction authors’ minds.
Excerpt:
Smoke, by Zev de Valera
He rubbed his temples and squinted at the soft light of his surroundings through the fans of his thick eyelashes. The last drink had been a mistake.
Was that a shaker he'd felt, or the onset of a hangover?
He clutched a silken pillow and waited.
Suddenly, he felt his home tremble; a few pieces of glass and ceramic ware teetered and then fell to their demise.
Shit. This is the real thing.
With an effort, he hauled himself from his bed. How many years had it been since the last one? Sixty? Seventy?
The shaking ceased, and he looked around his small dwelling. A model unit when he'd purchased it. Now filled with the result of years of collecting: a gramophone, a first generation television set, a water clock. And much more. All of it all had sentimental value—as did the photos of the various men that sat atop or alongside the items in his collection. Some of these men had loved him. All of them had once owned him. Now he owned their memories. That was the bargain.
Another shake. Followed by several unnerving tilts. He willed his cherished possessions to remain in place and willed himself into sobriety and a more becoming appearance as he prepared himself for work.
What to wear?
He selected a red brocade tunic and pants. A classic look always worked best for the initial consultation.
A resounding thud.
He peered up into the small shaftway at the center of the ceiling.
A pop.
Then a small circle of light at the end of the shaft.
He sighed, folded his arms, and transformed into a cloud of red smoke.
Up and away to meet his new master.
Judge's Choice — J. Scott Coatsworth
Buy Links Etc:
Publisher (info only, no buy link yet): https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/the-pill-bugs-of-time
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L0R0JRK
Apple: Coming soon
Barnes & Noble: Coming soon
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/flight-49
Smashwords: Coming soon
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31686600-flight
Goodreads Series Page: https://www.goodreads.com/series/187509-qsf-flash-fiction
Author Bio:
In the first year of the Queer Sci Fi Flash Fiction contest, we received about 15 entries for the theme “Endings”. In the second year, it was 115 for “Discovery”. This year, we had more than 170 entries from people around the world, and from all parts of the LGBTIQA rainbow. “Flight” represents 110 of those people and their stories.
September 26, 2016
Guest Post: Sean Michael
Thank you to my bestie, BA, for hosting an Emergency Services blog post for me today!
Once I’d finished the first Underground book, Special Teams, I was ready to write another one. This is a fun and hot series for me. However. There were deadlines. Lots of deadlines. And the next book in this series didn’t have a deadline. So time moved as it does (at the speed of light – please slow down a little time, I am always running behind and I blame time’s zippiness for it!) And before I knew it a year had passed since the release of Special Teams. So it had to be time to get the next one stared, right?
There were however, still deadlines. Not the same deadlines, mind you – those had all passed by already. Now there were new deadlines for new books. And so I couldn’t start book two in the Underground series. Finally, it was the new year and I said I want to put out a new Underground this year! Not next year or the year after or never, but this year. I love the concept, and I know I have many more couples left in me for this series. Many, many more.
So I finally said screw it and started writing. And Jet and Blaze were hot to go and I got their story three quarters done before the deadlines and life in general reared their heads again. So around May, I said screw this, I’m going to start putting deadlines on the self-pubbed work as well. And ha! I finished the book in time to have it go through cover, editing, formatting, etc, and be ready to be out this month – the two year anniversary of the first book.
So, I love that this book has taught me to put a deadline on the self-pubbed books, too. But the real reason I love it is because of Jet and Blaze. And I hope you love them too.
SeanSmut fixes everything
Emergency Services Blurb
Can love truly conquer all?
Jet Wannabi has been working undercover for over a year with nothing more than the odd furtive phone call to his lover and master, Blaze Swanson. All that’s about to change, though, as a year’s worth of work is coming to a head in the biggest bust Jet has ever been a part of. When the SWAT and Narcotics teams roll in early, Jet gets trapped between them and the bad guys, with disastrous results.
Firefighter Blaze Swanson is more than ready to have his lover and sub home with him when he finds out that Jet’s been hurt in the bust. He gets to the hospital as fast as humanly possible, only to find out that Jet has banned Blaze from seeing him. Jet believes he’s ruined and that letting Blaze go to live his life is the right thing to do.
Blaze is going to have to call on all of his stubbornness, love, patience and abilities as a Dom to convince Jet that not only do they need each other, but the lifestyle they’ve enjoyed in the past is not out of reach, not if Jet puts his trust in his master to take care of him.
Join Blaze and Jet on their journey to rediscover how they fit together.
Buy links:
All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-undergroundemergencyservices-2097514-147.html
To celebrate the release of Emergency Services, the first book in the Underground series – Special Teams is marked down to $3.99 until the end of September!
Special Teams blurb:
When Hunter Simms goes undercover at an underground BDSM party, the last thing he expects to see is SWAT’s leading shooter Keifer Magnessen bound, gagged, plugged and very bare. He is immediately drawn to Keifer, and wants to get to know his fellow cop better. Much better.
With such a high stress job, Keifer needs to give up control on his down time in order to decompress, but it’s a secret he holds close to his vest. So, when Hunter walks into his chosen place to submit, he tries to cut and run. Lucky for him, Hunter is shrewd, persistent and quite possibly just the Dom that Keifer needs.
Can these two strong men find a way to make their personal lives mesh?
Buy links:
All Romance Ebooks https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-specialteams-2003159-147.html
Sean Michael Bio:
Best-selling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used book stores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic Beaver Tail. Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.
Sean Michael on the web:
WEBSITE: http://www.seanmichaelwrites.com
BLOG: http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites/
TWITTER: seanmichael09
September 13, 2016
World, Meet Stoney and Ford. Boys, the World.
So, y’all meet Stoney and Ford. Stoney and Ford, the world.
I have to tell you, I was pondering another idea altogether when the Leaning N Ranch was born. There’s this song by Alan Jackson, Monday Morning Church, that came on and I was sitting there going, oh. Oh, that’s sad. I had this widower and he’s mourning his husband and...
Boom.
That’s when Stoney and Ford said, “How do you feel about a dude ranch in the Aspen area that becomes a gay destination?"
I admit, I always choose joy over sorrow.
Always.
I can’t wait for y’all to meet the boys and Quartz and Geoff and and and...
Yeah.
I can’t wait.
Official Commitment Ranch Blurb:
Leaning N
A fist fight, a snowstorm, a stolen kiss in the barn... and a second chance at love.
Ford Nixel has two law offices, two fancy condominiums, and all the right connections. In short, he has everything he wants.
The last thing he needs is his Uncle Ty’s stake in the Leaning N, a ranch that’s been in the family for generations. Ford hasn’t even been to the ranch in over a decade, not since he left his boyfriend Stoney behind and headed back to college alone.
Ford arrives at the Leaning N to find Stoney, now a single father, right where he left him. A fist fight, a snowstorm, and a stolen kiss in the barn later—Ford knows none of the heat between them has dissipated.
Buy Links:
Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/commitment-ranch-by-ba-tortuga-7433-b
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Commitment-Ran...
All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-commitmentranch-2092477-149.html
Much love, y’all.
BA
September 12, 2016
What I'm Doing This Week
August 31, 2016
August 24, 2016
August 23, 2016
Cover Reveal! Commitment Ranch
Grins. 1st in a new series. Cowboys. Horses. A dude ranch. Fistfights. Second chances! Coming September 15!
