Erica Pike's Blog, page 27

18% Gray Review

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If you're looking for a sappy romance - this is not it. If you're looking for a book that contains two rough men fighting through the enemy's territory, running for their lives - this is it! 
What I love about 18% Gray is how naturally the "romance" develops between the two guys. The bits where they did connect on their journey were touching and heartfelt without being overly so. I loved the beginning, so funny. I also admire the way Anne Tenino writes; fluent and clever. 
The name of the book is great, but other than a very brief mention of 18% gray, I really don't see the relevance. Except maybe that the gays in the Red zone have to hide and use symbols to get lucky. 
I also don't see the purpose of Benigna, unless she has something to do with the other books. The one part I can see her moving the plot along (after the brush incident) would have been solvable without her. I don't know if she was for comic relief. The little "nunette (love that word) frustrated me more than anything else.. 
There's obviously going to be a second book and I can't wait to read it :) 
Definitely 5 out of 5 - heck, make it 10 out of 10!

Author Chat, Giveaways and More

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There's an author chat at No Boundaries Press facebook pageand a chance to win Hot Hands.
Another m/m title to win isKharisma Rayne's Bound by Temptation (thecover is so cool!).
They're only for today, so be quick :)
I shared the blurb for myFebruary NBP title on the author chat. It's called A Grade-A-Sex-Deal:


For weeks,college student Casper has been the victim of sail-by goosing and groping. Theproblem is that Casper would very much like to get more than groped by thosewonderful, big, hot hands. With a journal full of clues, he sets out todiscover who his mystery groper is. However, he may be in serious trouble oncehe discovers the ominous identity, trouble that has nothing to do with thelight bondage involved.


That's right, it's a student/teacher relationship ;) There's no cover yet, but you can expect me squeeing over it soon.


Finally, a little reading status.I'm 50% in 18% Gray and I loooove it so far. I love dystopians.
Oh one more thing! Hot Hands got a B+ review from Brief Encounters. I'm not exactly sure what that's in stars, probably 4. 

February Reading

ImageI'm ashamed to say that I've known a bunch of m/m authors for almost a year now but I haven't read a single work by most of them. I feel that's something I should change this year, so here are my reading goals for 2012:
-- Read two books a month by an author I'm personally familiar with / friends with. -- Read at least one book a month by an author I haven't read before (doesn't have to be someone I know).-- Read 60 books this year (slow reader! I like to sink into the books and read them at leisure).
That's two books a month. I start by chopping down what I already have on my Kindle, then I'll start buying more. Since January has already passed I'll read 4 and 2:
J.P. Bowie - Frontier MenSue Brown - Nothing Ever HappensZ.A. Maxfield - Drawn TogetherT.A. Chase - Why I Love Geeks
Freefall - Andrea Speed18% Gray - Anne Tenino
It's just embarrassing talking to these authors when I haven't read their work! I'll make a status report by the end of the month so you can kick my bum if I've been slacking.

February Battle Plan

ImageI nearly managed to get everything out of the way before February. MLR edits for Absolutely Eric (Boston Boys #2) has been sent. As has a bunch of formality letters (via snail-mail) and I've sent a bunch of review requests. 
Leftover work from January: Little Stalker and Welcome Brother (CFaG #4 and 5) edits.
This leaves February open for two things: Writing and Hopping.
After using January to tackle my to-do list, I feel like I can finally breathe and that gets my creativity flowing.  I've been trying to choose between the stories I plan to write and have chosen Boston Boys #1.5. It's about Adam and Jesse when they go to see Jesse's mom and it'll be told from Jesse's PoV. For those who hated him after ALWY, perhaps you'll get to like him a little bit better after this (or at least understand him better). There will be Anne to keep the tension going and even someone from Adam's past. The story takes place in Jesse's little hometown (on the farm, to be specific) and yes, there will be some rolling around in hay. I can't promise it'll be devoid of drama - there's always drama around these two, but it'll be less than ALWY. 
I'm calling the book: Mom, I'm Gay.
M/M Only!But there's more! Norma, K-lee and I are organizing a blog hop that'll take place on May 17th (International Day Against Homophobia). We're calling it Hop Against Homophobia and it's a m/m only hop. That means that the only prices are m/m related things (mostly books, I'm guessing). This also means that if you're an m/m lover, you won't have to swim through f/m blogs to find what you're looking for! More on this later :)

10 Facts About NJ Nielsen

I'd like to introduce one of my favorite authors of gay romance: NJ Nielsen. Most of you probably already know this spunky little ball of energy. She has two amazing works out with loads more coming. I got to pick her brains for my blog, but instead of doing traditional interview questions I decided to go for fun-facts:
1) I was named after a race horse.
(EP: That explains so much!)

2) My hero is David Bowie - I still find the guy as interesting today as I did when I was a kid.
(EP: I had a thing for him in The Labyrinth - hey, maybe that's where I developed a thing for goths...)

3) My favourite book of all time is The Host by Stephanie Meyers, & I cry each time I read it.
(EP: One of my favourites as well)

4) I am the youngest child in my Family - I have an older brother and then three sisters older than him.

5) I draw (pencil sketches) and write twisted poetry - poetry note book is called: My book of Twisted Thoughts.
(EP: The beautiful picture is below the 10th fact. I still can't believe you can draw like that!)

Image6) My first pet was a dog called Andy Capp (Yes, named after the cartoon. I wanted to name him Dwayne after the guy down the road but my parents said no.)

7) I am terrified of spiders.
(EP: I refuse to post a picture of one *shudder*)

Image8) I love the Muppets - Gonzo & Rizzo are my favourites (Yes, I did just go and see the new movie - so worth it for Fozzie & his fart shoes.)
(EP: We're cool as long as it's not Beaker *double shudder*)

9) I love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - I am a Raphael fan.
(EP: Hey! Now I know why you love Angsty-Adam so much!)

10) I collect Dragon's and Roosters. (Stop laughing I know they are at opposite ends of the scale.)
(EP: Mom collects chicken things. I still don't get it.)
Early sketch of Michael and Christian from
Rules Are Meant To Be Broken. Artist: NJ Nielsen
Thank you, NJ, for letting us get to know the lesser known-sides of you ^.^ 
NJ's very first published story came out as part of the Hot Summer Days and is called Shadows on the Heart. I highly recommend it. NJ's writing style is very unique and you never know what's going to happen next. I'm beginning to suspect it's an Aussie thing (it's the same with Zathyn Priest's books). 
NJ's first MLR Press release was published in December last year and bears the brilliant name Angels on Top. Hunting for Clay (the story following Angels on Top) will be out from MLR Press on Valentines, and she's working with MLR Press to get the first book in her wicket vampire series published, Lines of Marsden: Rules Are Meant To Be Broken.
But there's more! Or more coming. I've often called NJ a work-horse privately (now I have pockets full of ammo after her racehorse confession). The girl writes two blog stories and has her fingers in tons of other things. She's a master of series-creation with at least eight (yes, that's 8) different series in the works - one of which is in 18 parts (Lines of Marsden). Needless to say, I feel more than a little inadequate in her presence. I'd just die with all that going on in my head, lol. I do envy her the amazing titles she comes up with. If there's anything I struggle with it's titles.
Want more? Here's her blog ;)

Fun Facts About Erica Pike

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I've been trying to come up with ideas about what to write on my blog. I couldn't come up with anything clever (my creativity took a hike for the day), so I decided to share some pretty pointless information about myself. I might even ask other authors for fun facts about themselves instead of doing author interviews.

I'm a Geek:

ImageI love Chuck Norris facts. They're facts - not jokes.

I used to be a gamer...which could explain my love of Chuck Norris facts. I still have a weakness for games, but they suck away my writing time.

I've seen every episode of Stargate Atlantis (loooove it), and I'm a big fan of Firefly. You don't really have to be a geek to enjoy these two series. Just look at the picture to the right! They're oooozing sex and the humor is to die for.

You may have to be a geek to enjoy watching Star Trek Voyager...but come on, Tuvok's a total hottie - looks, personality and humor (or lack there of).


ImageI'm a Good Girl - Bad Girl:

Most people who know me outside the internet would be shocked to know I write adult content, and if they read it they'd be even more shocked.

I've never tasted alcohol in my life. It has nothing to do with religious reasons or alcoholism in the family (there isn't any). I simply didn't start drinking and am not about to start now (try all you want at GRL 2012 - it's futile).

I've never smoked anything either.

I wanted to be a priest when I gew up. A priest!

I can also be a bad-ass. I own my very own pair of nunchucks and I have a black belt in Taekwondo. I'm a proud member of the World Taekwondo Federation (yes, that does spell 'WTF').


I'm an Animal:

ImageWhen I scroll through lol-cat pictures I usually end up laughing so hard I cry.

I've only ever owned black pets: two black poodles, a black cat, and a black hamster. No, I did not own these pets at the same time - except the dogs.

I can't wear socks while I write, no matter how cold it is. Okay, this one has nothing to do with animals, except that some of my socks are made from wool. In fact, none of these indicate that I, myself, am an animal, but what the hey ;)

Yar!

Image credits
First off, If you want to get a chance to win a copy of A Life Without You, Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos was kind to agree to host it for a giveaway :) Thanks Chris! All you have to do is leave a little comment saying you want to be added.
Winning a copy is one way to get the book, buying it is another, and stealing it is a third. Yup, A Life Without You has mysteriously found its way to a pirate site. Last I saw, 104 people had downloaded (this was yesterday). I knew this would happen and I was prepared, so it didn't come as a shock to me. What surprised me was that it was out there two days after the release. Thieves work fast!
Anyway, I'm against it. I don't do it myself. I don't even own an ill-gained mp3 song. However, there's very little I can do about it, so all I ask in return is for those who are dishonest enough to deprive me of money is to be decent enough to leave a proper review - any site is good. I'll even make it easy for you: Goodreads (but there's also Amazon, etc.). Those who are buying their copies, you have my deepest gratitude ^.^

Beginner's Mistake in Marketing

ImageIt's been roughly two weeks since Hot Hands released, and five days since A Life Without You came out and I've been busy promoting. My contracts, after all, requires me to do what I can to promote, so it's part of my job. I have a degree in marketing and the subject has always fascinated me, so I tend to look at what other people are doing. Seeing what others are doing, however, and doing the same can be risky without careful consideration first. I'm guessing that most new authors go through a period of trial and error when it comes to promoting and I can only hope the readers bear with it.  
So here I am, posting my own errors in hope that other new authors will learn from my mistakes.
I've made two monumental ones on Goodreads: I rated my own work and I put them on lists. I didn't see the harm in either back when I was a reader. It also made perfect sense from a marketing perspective now. I begun by putting my work on lists like "Best Gay Virginal Characters" and "Best Gay Romance Featuring Characters Attending High School/College" so people who had interest in those kind of stories would be able to find mine (Goodreads doesn't have genre search). But I also put them on other lists. This, however, is frowned upon and ever since it was pointed out to me I've done a little online research and see that it's considered embarrassing, tacky, and desperate by a lot of readers. In fact, some boycott authors who do this. 
I may have made another mistake in a Goodreads Group as well, but I'm not entirely sure. It has to do with 'book of the month' and nominations. In another group, authors are specifically told they aren't allowed to nominate their own books, but in this group there is no such restriction. Out of eight nominations, four were authors nominating their own books. The books to be nominated were to be by new authors, so it may very well be that the moderators are giving new authors a chance to get their own work out there, I don't know. But I'm hesitant about nominating my own book again.
Facebook: There's a delicate line between promoting and spamming and it takes a great deal of thought to figure out where the boundaries lie. I'm hesitant to post on my facebook page every time I get a good review, and yet I'm required by contract to get my work noticed. In the future, should it occur, do I post whenever I'm nominated for an award? It makes sense to let the people who like your work know about it, so they can give you their votes, but it can also be considered tacky and spammy. Do I post whenever I win an award? It's important to let people know that your work is valued by a mass of people to get more readers, but it can also be considered bragging. So what's a poor, striving author to do?
The only way I can see around this one is to make an Author Page and keep most of the updates there. People can choose if they want to follow it or not. Since facebook only lets you message 20 people at a time, I went in a very roundabout way to invite the people on my friends list, with a polite message, promising they'd never receive such a thing from me again. A number responded, so I figure those are the ones who'd like to keep track of the status of my work. That doesn't mean I won't mention the works at all on my timeline. I want to share some of the excitement with my friends, but I'll try to keep it to a bare minimum. 
More to come as I learn...

'A Life Without You' Out Now!

My debut novel was released today! I'm both nervous and excited about it. I suppose every new author feels that way when they see their work baby-walk into the literary world. Don't you just love the cover???
I just got a contract from MLR Press for the next book in this independent series (Boston Boys), called Absolutely Eric. It features Eric Wesley, a secondary character in A Life Without You (he'd scowl and bitch if he ever heard anyone refer to him as "secondary").
The blurb for A Life Without You is as follows:
Jesse's like a bar of soap: the tighter Adamholds on, the faster Jesse slips away. Or that's how it feels to Adam. It doesn't help that Jesse has a girlfriend back home and claims to be straight,but there's no way with all the sparks and physical intimacy flying between thetwo roommates.When Adam believes he has reached his ultimatehappiness, the walls come crashing down with a visit from Jesse's girlfriend.Now Jesse has to decide if he can come toterms with his sexuality, while Adam has to learn to accept that Jesse mightnever be able to crawl out of the closet.
Here's the purchase link, if you're interested: MLR Press. It will be for sale in the major stores very soon.
Here's the Goodreads link.

Hot Hands Purchase Links

Hot Hands has been out for about a week and things are doing well :) I was very excited to see a four star review on Goodreads, and then a five star review (!)...that wasn't written by me. Super exciting for a new author, fresh out of her packaging ^.^
I wanted to list the Hot Hands purchase sites in one blog post, so I won't spam my own blog. No one likes spam, though these promo posts are beginning to feel a little spammy. I need to get my butt in gear and post other things here too!
No Boundaries Press (publisher)All Romance e-BooksAmazon.comBarnes & NobleBookstrand
I'm told there will be more :)
Just one more thing. I'm not dissuading anyone from buying from Amazon.com, but many international countries are charged extra $2.50 per e-book and sometimes even more (for me in Iceland, my short story costs $5.34 - which is just ridiculous). If international buyers want to avoid these costs but still get a Kindle version, buying from someone like All Romance e-books, Bookstrand, or from the publisher's store is a good option. Most sales sites have Kindle compatible formats for download (.mobi and .prc). The only difference is that you'll have to download the book (one click), and then manually transfer it to your Kindle (drag and drop into the "documents" folder on the Kindle). It's easy and less expensive. You're not doing the author harm by buying the book for less in this instance - we don't see a dime from that extra cost.