Rob Colton's Blog, page 14

"An American Lamb in Europe" Giveaway!

I’m over at the Wednesday Briefs web site today promoting my latest release, An American Lamb in Europe.

Head on over and leave a comment for a chance to win a free ebook!

http://wedbriefsfic.com/2014/02/18/toss-up-tuesday-an-american-lamb-in-europe-by-rob-colton/

New Release: "An American Lamb in Europe" now available

Noah and Eli are taking a break this week so that we can celebrate my brand new release.

My new paranormal novella, An American Lamb in Europe, is now available for purchase! You can purchase it through one of the links below.

I’ll add additional links as they become active.

 

Links:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4693

 

Blurb:

Jamie Anderson knows you need to look before you leap, but he forgets it often enough to land in trouble. When his brother and only remaining family member disappears, he doesn’t think twice about quitting his job as a dental hygienist to travel to the Czech Republic to search for him.

Rescued by the sexy, mysterious Tomas in a small city near the German border, Jamie enlists his help in locating Rudy. Soon Jamie realizes the man knows more than he’s sharing. When Jamie demands Tomas tell him the truth, Tomas reveals he’s a vampire. Horrified the man he’s fantasized about is a monster, Jamie struggles with the fact he still needs Tomas’s help to find Rudy. 

Jamie never expects their search will land him in the middle of a vampire turf war.

Cover:

Preview and Contest

Come visit me at M. A. Church’s blog for an exclusive excerpt from my new novella, An American Lamb in Europe — plus a chance to win a free copy!

http://machurch00.blogspot.com/2014/02/welcome-rob-colton-american-lamb-in.html?spref=tw

Guest Post: Lane Hayes

Please welcome Lane Hayes back to my site! Lane’s here to talk about her brand new release, Better Than Chance, the sequel to Better Than Good.

Thank you for having me here today, Rob!  Better Than Chance was just released a couple of weeks ago and I’m over the moon with the response so far!  This is the second book in the Better Than series. Those who’ve read my first novel, Better Than Good will recognize Jay and Peter as Aaron’s best friend and his long-time partner.   Aaron makes a point of describing the couple as having a relationship he admires.  “In the land of gay, they are what I would wish for one day…. they just seem to get each other.”  But it wasn’t always so simple for Jay and Peter.

When Jay first meets Peter, he’s excited to be working with the guy he’s had a major office crush on for a couple of years.  However, the long hours, stress and pressure soon turn his infatuation upside down.  Peter is not only difficult to work for but Jay is sure he’s homophobic as well.  But then… he’s not so sure.  Jay is forced to concede he may have misread Peter all along, which makes it difficult to hide the fact he’s still wildly attracted to him.  When Peter admits he feels the same, things get fun but they also get complicated.  Jay and Peter are complete opposites.  Jay is easy going with an open friendly nature while Peter is intense, driven and extremely private.  He tells Jay he isn’t “boyfriend material” but Jay knows “friends with benefits” isn’t a title he’s going to be fine with for long.  Especially when he knows he’s falling for his gorgeous boss. 

How characters interact is what always interests the reader in me.  I want my Happy Ever After, but I also want to be a part of the action from the start.  I’m greedy that way!  The voyeur in me wants to know about the small ways we tend to overthink and assume we understand what we later have to admit may not be so clear.  At one point later in the story, Jay realizes he may never know or understand everything about Peter.  Some things are left to faith and to chance.

I hope you love Jay and Peter!  Their story is the second in the Better Than series, but not to worry… it is a standalone book.  So if you missed Better Than Good, don’t worry, you won’t be lost.  Hopefully you’ll be curious to go back and read about Aaron and Matt too!

Happy Reading!

Lane Hayes

Blurb: Better Than Chance by Lane Hayes:

Jay Reynolds has a crush on his project leader at work, but an office romance with Peter Morgan isn’t likely to happen since Peter is straight. Worse, Jay soon fears Peter is homophobic, and his initial infatuation turns to loathing. But one fateful night, Jay is forced to acknowledge things aren’t quite as they seem with Peter. Suddenly, his crush is back and unbelievably, Peter is interested too.

They begin a “friends with benefits” arrangement, which becomes difficult for Jay when he starts falling for his sexy boss. Peter’s past issues keep him from committing, and Jay has to decide if he can be satisfied with friendship if Peter isn’t ready to take a chance on anything more.

 

Excerpt from Better Than Chance by Lane Hayes:

“Close the door, Reynolds.”  His tone was sharp and concise.  No argument was expected or welcomed.  I obeyed and waited for him to speak.

He didn’t say a word.  He pointed to a chair and directed me to sit with a simple wave of his hand as he began a slow pace around the perimeter of the small round table.  It was like being stalked by a tiger.  There was an electric air of danger in this tiny space and I had set it in motion.  I clung to my anger.  I wasn’t wrong.  Was I?

Peter suddenly stopped.  He stood at the other end of the table with his arms crossed over his broad chest.  As usual he was impeccably dressed in a gorgeous dark suit tailored to perfection.  His dark wavy hair seemed a little longer.  I absently wondered if he was growing it out.  But his dark furrowed brow and intense stare told me to keep my ponderings to myself.  He wasn’t in the mood to chat about hair.  He looked pissed.

“Explain yourself.” 

I blinked twice.   I was almost afraid of him, but I knew that was irrational.  I had a legitimate reason for my outburst.  I just wished I had been a bit more professional about it. 

“Fine.  I will.”  Professional, I cautioned myself.  Don’t get personal.  “You have given me rather baffling critiques, Mr. Morgan that I frankly find ridiculous and almost contrived in a way that suggests you want to point out the negative whether or not it has any bearing whatsoever to the project at hand.”  Good, well said, I thought.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”  He looked genuinely perplexed.

“You know what I’m talking about!”  I exploded.  “Correct paragraph two, sentence one…. that’s one example!  What was today’s going to be?  Change the use of my pronoun from direct to indirect?  Or is it an adjective that you want me to reconsider?  Or…”

I had become so worked up that I didn’t register that he’d moved until he was three short feet away from me.  He wore the strangest expression.  It was a cross between tempered fury and frustration.  He held up his hand in that authoritative way of his, demanding that I stop.   Stop everything.  Don’t talk.  Don’t move.  I waited like a deer in headlights to see what he’d do.

A fresh wave of adrenaline rushed through my veins as I found myself literally shoved up against the conference room wall with Peter’s large hand at my throat.  I swallowed hard and looked into his dark angry eyes, his face was two short inches away from mine.  His breath was warm against my cheek.  He pulled back and shook his head as though puzzled by his own actions before he tightened his hold at my neck and covered my mouth with his own. 

I could barely breath.  There was nowhere to hide, no retreat possible so I gave in.  My mouth melted underneath his allowing the lip lock to become a kiss.  A fiery passionate joining.  Our tongues fought for dominance, licking and sucking.  Peter’s hands trapped my head as he plunged even further into my mouth taking every last bit of control away from me.  He ran his tongue over my lips before tracing a path along my jaw and biting my earlobes.  I nudged him back with my nose and heard his low groan as he once again fused his mouth over mine.

I wrapped my arms around him and pulled his body close to mine.  My hands kneaded his perfect ass through the fine fabric of his pants as I sent my hips forward to meet his.  We gasped at the first feel of friction as our hardened cocks pressed together through our suits.  It was electrifying and wickedly carnal.  A mere glimpse into how intensely hot the real thing could be if we let ourselves go there.  Peter stopped abruptly, straightening his arms on either side of my head.  Our heavy breathing was the only sound in the room. 

“I want you.”  He growled, resting his forehead against mine.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Better-Than-Chance-Stories-ebook/dp/B00HZOKLXK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390505685&sr=8-2&keywords=better+than+chance+kindle

Dreamspinner Press:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4614

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/better-than-chance-lane-hayes/1118167051?ean=2940148281894

 

5 Star Reviews for Better Than Chance!:

Sinfully Sexy Books:

http://sinfullysexybooks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/better-than-chance-by-lane-hayes.html

Sidlove Book Reviews:

http://sidlove.com/2014/01/22/release-day-review-better-than-chance-by-lane-hayes/

 

Author Bio:

Lane Hayes is a designer by trade, but is spending more time these days doing what she loves best. Writing! An avid reader from an early age, Lane has always been drawn to romance novels. She truly believes there is nothing more inspiring than a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her first novel was a finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Awards. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband, three teenage kids, and Rex, the coolest yellow lab ever.

 

Contact Info:

Website:  www.lanehayes.wordpress.com

Twitter:  @LaneHayes3

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Lane-Hayes

Email:  lanehayes@ymail.com

Noah's New Plan: Chapter 22

Here is chapter 22 of my free Wednesday Briefs story, Noah’s New Plan.

Next Wednesday is the release day for my new novella, An American Lamb in Europe. I won’t be posting a Wednesday Briefs chapter next week, but I’ll be hosting a fun contest to celebrate the release.

"I love you, Noah."

Now that Eli had actually gone and said the words aloud, Noah was trying not to freak out. Especially given the fact that the bigger man was on top of him, ready to slide into his body. There was nowhere to run. He didn’t know how to respond. Should he say it back, despite the fact that the thought of telling another man he loved him was terrifying? And if he didn’t say it, would Eli be upset?

One of Eli’s hands moved around Noah’s head. Using his thumb, he began to massage between Noah’s brows. “No pressure, baby,” he said quietly. “I just needed you to know how I feel about you.”

Noah grabbed Eli’s head and pulled it down. Using all of the feelings he wasn’t yet able to express in words, he kissed his man.

Eli began sucking under Noah’s ear and Noah shuddered. “I want you so bad,” he said with a moan as he began pulling at Eli’s back.

"Gonna make love to you so damn good."

Noah let out a soft whimper. “You always do.”

And then Eli was inside him.

Noah pulled his knees back toward his chest. He locked them around Eli’s waist. His hands gripped Eli’s broad back, pulling his lover down.

Eli cradled Noah’s head in his hands. His elbows and knees bore the bulk of his weight. Muscular thighs and hips snapped forward, sending Eli’s cock into Noah’s body.

He began a slow grind, rolling his hips, moving in and out. Noah pushed his hips up, pressing his cock against Eli’s hairy abdomen, craving the friction.

Eli’s mouth hovered over his, painting his face with hot breath.

The room was filled with the sound of their breathing, the sound of their bodies coming together. Noah held him tightly, loving the feel of the bigger, heavier man on top of him.

It was a slow build, but as he always did, Eli expertly drove Noah to the brink. Sex had never been this good. Never.

The open emotions in Eli’s eyes took Noah’s breath.

And in that moment, Noah knew.

He drew in a breath and held it as his body went tight.

Noah came.

"Noah…"

Eli immediately followed Noah over the edge. His body shuddered and jerked as he filled the condom with his load.

As they came down from their orgasm, the two men shared a slow, leisurely kiss.

* * * *

The day started out great. Eli absolutely loved waking up with Noah in his bed.

He’d told Noah how he felt the night before. Noah didn’t return the words, but it didn’t bother Eli. He could tell that Noah was starting to freak out. His little man was probably building one of his lists in his mind.

Eli talked him down, though. He was getting good at recognizing Noah’s moods. It actually wasn’t hard. Noah was easy to read.

And damn, when they made love… It was fucking amazing. And maybe Noah didn’t say the words, but there was absolutely no doubt the man had feelings for him.

Unfortunately, they had to go to work. Eli would’ve loved to have stayed in bed all day. Instead, he had a full day with his day job, then he was bouncing at the Buckle.

No matter… At the end of his long day, he was heading to Noah’s to spend the night with his man.

* * * *

"So, what are you and Eli doing for Valentine’s Day?"

Noah looked up from the computer to stare at Leslie. “Valentine’s Day?”

"Yeah. It’s only a couple of weeks away."

"Oh… I don’t know."

Leslie leaned against the counter and sighed. “I bet he plans something really romantic.”

Noah couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah. Probably.”

Of course Eli would. He was the most attentive boyfriend ever. Even working two jobs, he seemed to always have time for Noah. He always felt like he was “first” in Eli’s life.

When he thought back on the last few years of his life, it seemed there was no one who had put him first. He certainly wasn’t a priority in Derek’s life. Derek’s job took priority. Not to mention the young boy toys.

Last Valentine’s Day, Derek had to work late on a case, so they didn’t go out to dinner.

Noah winced.

For someone so smart, he was stupid. It didn’t occur to him until now that Derek had probably taken one of his twinks out to dinner, not to mention…

"Stop it."

Noah blinked, then focused on the young library clerk. “Stop what?”

"You’re over-analyzing something."

"No… I was just thinking about last year’s Valentine’s Day."

Leslie gagged. “Ugh.”

Well, that was last year; this year would be different. Maybe he would plan something. He could show Eli that he could be romantic too…

* * * *

Check out the new Wednesday Briefs web site. Read a snippet of all of the free Wednesday Briefs stories in one place, then jump to each author’s site to read the entire post. Check out all the free stories!

http://wedbriefsfic.com/

Preview: An American Lamb in Europe

Today I’m sharing an excerpt from my upcoming novella, An American Lamb in Europe. In this excerpt, Jamie first encounters the mysterious stranger, Tomas.

An American Lamb in Europe is coming next Wednesday, February 12, 2014. It can be pre-ordered directly through Dreamspinner’s web site.

 

Blurb:

Jamie Anderson knows you need to look before you leap, but he forgets it often enough to land in trouble. When his brother and only remaining family member disappears, he doesn’t think twice about quitting his job as a dental hygienist to travel to the Czech Republic to search for him.

Rescued by the sexy, mysterious Tomas in a small city near the German border, Jamie enlists his help in locating Rudy. Soon Jamie realizes the man knows more than he’s sharing. When Jamie demands Tomas tell him the truth, Tomas reveals he’s a vampire. Horrified the man he’s fantasized about is a monster, Jamie struggles with the fact he still needs Tomas’s help to find Rudy. 

Jamie never expects their search will land him in the middle of a vampire turf war.

 

Excerpt:

Hefting my pack onto my shoulders, I walked back toward the train station. I knew I’d passed a couple of inns on the way there. Hopefully, one of them would have a vacancy by the time I made it back.

I was lost in my thoughts, formulating my plan, when I became aware of approaching footsteps and whispers behind me. I quickened my pace, trying to do so without looking like I was running. Truth is, I was terrified. When I began to move faster, I could hear them keeping pace and then gaining. I didn’t dare look back, but I could tell by the voices there were three men and they were getting closer.

I was suddenly surrounded by the three young men. They pawed and pushed at me, grabbing my backpack while cursing at me in Czech. A pain ripped through my gut as one of the thugs punched me so hard it knocked the wind out of me. I cried out and dropped to my knees, scared for my life as I tried to draw in air. One of the men kicked me, and I sprawled out onto the pavement. He reached into my back pocket and yanked my wallet from my jeans. One of them tugged at my backpack while I struggled to keep hold of my belongings.

“Stop.”

The command in the stranger’s deep voice made everyone freeze, including me. I turned my head to see a man step from the shadows. He was dressed like a skinhead, complete with shaved head, bomber jacket, blue jeans, and black combat boots. He spoke low and quiet in Czech, not yelling or even raising his voice. I don’t know what he said, but it seemed to scare the crap out of my would-be attackers. They dropped my wallet and backpack, then ran.

I looked back at my “hero”, who was watching the thugs flee.

Maybe it wasn’t what he said, but how he said it. He seemed so calm, but there was something very powerful about him I couldn’t quite place my finger on. He turned, and his icy blue eyes locked onto mine. Damn, he was absolutely gorgeous. Pouty-lipped, two-day stubble, smoking-hot gorgeousness with a body to die for. He had this rough and dangerous Tom Hardy thing going on, and despite the danger, I found myself getting turned on.

But the look on his face rapidly doused my arousal. That look he gave the muggers was now directed at me. He was now scaring the crap out of me. I swallowed the lump in my throat and resisted the urge to get up and run myself. For a second, I thought he might finish the job the others had started until his face softened ever so slightly.

I tried to break the tension by stuttering my gratitude. “I… uh… thank you. Děkuju.”

“You don’t belong here, American. Go home,” he said in accented English. I sat there staring at him while he stared back. His eyes bored into mine, straight into my soul, as he repeated firmly, “Go home.”

He finally made the first move when he turned and disappeared into the dark of the alleyway.

“Wait.” I scrambled to gather my belongings and get to my feet. But by the time I got to the mouth of the alleyway, my “hero” had vanished into the fog.

The street had become eerily quiet, and now that my adrenaline was starting to wear off, I grew increasingly uncomfortable and more than a little bit scared. I clutched my backpack to my body and took off at a quick pace. I managed to make it to one of the inns before I was completely out of steam.

By the time my head hit the pillow, I was dead asleep. The night’s “excitement” combined with jet lag had really done me in.

 

Links:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4693

Cover:

 

Guest Post: Christopher Hawthorne Moss

Please welcome Christopher Hawthorne Moss to my site! Christopher is here to talk about his new release, the second edition of Beloved Pilgrim, a new Young Adult transgender title, published by Harmony Ink (an imprint of Dreamspinner Press).

How I Performed a Sex Change on a Novel and Why I Won’t Do It Again

By Christopher Hawthorne Moss, author of BELOVED PILGRIM and WHERE MY LOVE LIES DREAMING

Well, you see, it’s like this.  I published a novel in 2011 titled BELOVED PILGRIM about a young noblewoman who disguises herself as a man and goes to the Crusades as a knight.  I have told every Tom, Dick and Mary that I wrote it for the chance to write a female character with other concerns in her life than what particular shade of purple brocade she would wear to the ball.  Even more than that I did not want to write about a woman who did, in fact, wear armor and fight but winds up giving it all up for her Knight in Shining Armor. He’s going to want that armor back, without the breastplate stretched out all funny like you did his football jersey.   Since Shaw already handle Saint Joan, I came up with Elisabeth von Winterkirche.  Thanks to portraying her as a lesbian, I was able to accomplish two thing, to make sure no knights in shining armor would make her trade her Crusader’s capa for an apron and to make my lesbian friends happy.  Though not a lesbian myself, I was pretty pleased with the result, the first edition of BELOVED PILGRIM.  I had written a female character I could.. mostly… relate to.

Chapter Two – January of 2012 found me going through a most confusing period full of anxiety and depression and even agoraphobia.   I had started reading virtually nothing but gay romance, historical to be exact, which is a prescription for depression all by itself.  I mean, you can’t fall in love with these characters and then daily see their most essential happiness threatened, pretty much the standard plot of all gay historical fiction.  The key moment in this period was watching the film version of E. M. Forster’s MAURICE.  It fell neatly into that same depressing pattern, but not more than usual.  Until that one scene at the end, where Maurice waves goodbye to Clive and runs to join Alex in the boathouse, and Clive stands in the window gazing after him.  In that moment I froze and didn’t come out of my funk until seven months later when I came out as transgender at a monthly PFLAG meeting.  I had come to realize that what I had been experiencing was gender dysphoria, a highly painful feeling of being in the wrong sex body.  When I saw Clive’s face, you see, I saw myself, a man, gazing at a life I had not realized.  That though born with a female body, my heart and mind were and always had been male.  No real surprise, if you had watched me grow up.  I was never a tomboy, but as I once told the Peppermint Patty in our small town, I was a Thomas Gentleman. 

Don’t worry, there is beginning to be all kinds of science about this.  I didn’t make it up.

To make a long story short, it occurred to me now that the female character I could relate to in BELOVED PILGRIM was actually a woman who was really a man.  A female bodied man, a transman, and FTM.  So, I wondered, should I rewrite my novel to allow Elisabeth to be Elias? What a job!  Maybe I should just drop it.  But I was no more going to drop that than my own gender transition, as hard as that is. 

I should say at this point that I used the expression “sex change” in the title of this article with tongue firmly planted in cheek.  The expression is not used any more.  The expression for taking hormones and having your bits reengineered is SRS, sexual reassignment surgery.  It sounds like when I showed up in the registrar’s office they accidentally assigned me to the wrong classes or workplace.  Now it was up to me to go back there and either demand my money back or for a more suitable assignment.  Since both my parents are dead, it made more sense to avoid probate and just get the right sex assignment.

Changing what gender you are is a misnomer.  You have come to recognize that while the bits are female, the noggin is male.  The ticker too.  It’s as if your brain had been implanted in someone else’s body.  It’s still you, even though you look like Mrs. Somethingorother, or in a transwoman’s case, Mr. Somethignoteother.  What you are doing in your new assignment is trying to make the bod and brain match.  You take hormones.  You might have your breasts lopped off, or in the other case, something else situated lower.  You change your name and clothing and pronouns. 

Speaking of pronouns, it is high time we got back to the book, you know, the one I wrote about the lesbian.  How was I going to take an already quite complete and coherent, IMHO, novel.  How to change Elisabeth into a dude.  Could it be as easy as using my nifty little technique of “Find and Replace”?!  All I needed to do was use “Find” to locate every incident of “she” and with an S-ectomy turn them into “he”?  You are probably way ahead of me here.  What happens if you do this without specifying “Whole Words Only”?  You get a lot of words that start with “she-” losing the S even when it appears in the middle of the word: “sheet” is “heet”, “disheveled” is “disheveled”,   Once you start over and make sure only the simple “she” is selected, you suddenly remember that the female character you changing into a transman was not the only female character in the book.. now suddenly they are all male.  Back to the drawing board.  Don’t forget “she” included in contractions, or other pronouns like “her” and “hers”.  Then you start on the easy stuff, names.  But wait, Elisabeth takes her brother’s name, and in the book you only know it’s the former female called Elias because of all the female pronouns used fr her, um, him, and you just changed them all.

Lest you imagine this takes care of the problem, at least eventually, there is the issue of certain terms that imply that the formerly-female Elias is somehow masquerading.  You know, like “masquerade”, “disguise”, that sort of thing.  I just noticed one “guise” slipped in, or rather stayed stuck in.  By all rights Elias should have ripped Albrecht a new one for insinuating, by the use of that term, that she , um, he is not actually a man…  Even saying “swearing like a  man” would be offensive.  Yes, even in the 12th century.  Of course, this leads to the realization, at long last, that changing gender is no easy task.  I did not start my transition with a simple “Find and Replace”.

The subtler aspects are an education unto themselves.  You learn your own engrained biases when you look through a novel about a woman and change it to a man.  You discover plenty of ways you interpreted what is female, even if you meant the character to be more enlightened.  That is, incidentally, why, in part, that it took me 60 years to get to the understanding of myself that I did.  I kept insisting to myself and anyone else who would hold still for the harangue that deep down inside there was no difference between men and women.  It was all cultural.  So why then did insisting I was 100% enlightened female didn’t stop me from freaking out at the dysphoria?  You learn quickly how you sculpt your cultural biases into your story.  C’mon, admit it, at least in other people’s books.  Only with them you can call it literary criticism.

In sum, it was a real bear to make BELOVED PILGRIM into a novel about a transgender character.  I’ve noticed in other novels about transmen or transwoman that it is very hard to either understand or communicate that those years of being in the wrong body mean that you can’t just change your pronouns.. and you can’t write a story about a transgender person by doing no more than writing a character who behaves like one gender but obliquely refers to the dissonance of having the wrong body.  You still have that body and the world will still relate to you based on that body.  And you will know that every second of the rest of your life unless you had an amazing plastic surgeon.  Even then you will have a tough time.  As I like to reassure people, no one seeks to live as “the other” sex on a whim.  Why do we still do it?  We don’t all.  Just those of us who feel our gender is to large a Truth to try to hide.

Why won’t I ever perform a “sex change” on a book?  You might think it’s because it was a hairy lot of labor, but that’s not it.  It’s because I don’t intend to write any more books about women who really are, down deep inside, dudes.  Period.

 

BELOVED PILGRIM
http://harmonyinkpress.com/coming-soon-beloved-pilgrim-by-christopher-hawthorne-moss/

 

WHERE MY LOVE LIES DREAMING
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4126

 

CHRISTOPHER HAWTHORNE MOSS
http://www.shield-wall.com
email: christopherhmoss@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitmoss2012

 

OUR STORY GLBTQ HISTORICAL FICTION
http://bookworld.editme.com/Our-Story-GLBTQ-Historical-Fiction-Edited-by-Nan-Hawthorne-0

 

 

Guest Post: Alicia Nordwell

First off, let me thank Rob for inviting me to his blog again! This time I am featuring my newest novel release, The Experiment. Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered to win my contest! I’ll be offering a $10 Amazon gift card to one commenter! But don’t forget to leave your email, because if I can’t contact you, you can’t win!

Creating a World

Make believe! Who knew I could actually earn money by making shit up? Trust me, I didn’t. Certainly not when, as kids, I would whisper stories in the dark to my younger siblings in defiance of a ‘way too early’ bedtime that was sooo not fair! LOL. I had this whole family of goo goo monsters that had an oozing, multi-colored skin who had various adventures but always came home and hugged at the end of the day.

Okay, so I was a sucker for a happy ending even back then!

Nowadays my stories are a tad more refined. Sometimes. But I’m still using my imagination! Like when I force Ryker to try mae fruit, even though it looks like black fish eggs. Mmmm! Nummer fruit choice, right? Of course I made up the appearance with the flavor. For a human on an alien world, it’s fun to take what seems familiar and make it totally different! It’s a way to relate it in a way readers can understand, but twist it how I’d like to have fruit, or meat, or even that nasty breakfast offering, oatmeal, really taste like.

And water that looks looks like flowing mercury, thick and silver.

Or a bowl of gemstones you can eat.

The creative process is a fun one. That’s why I like fantasy and sci-fi so much. I can mix and match things from ‘the real world’ and make them completely different. Or come up with something totally new.

And people actually like it enough to buy the story! Trust me, that was a real shocker. Now, if only I could find the time to write ALL the worlds that exist in my head. LOL

Buy Now! Dreamspinner Press  All Romance eBooks  Amazon

Synopsis:

In the distant future, humans wage war against the alien planet Caeorleia, with no tactic off-limits if it will help the humans get their hands on Caeorleia’s resources. Ask Ryker. He thought he volunteered for a simple experiment that would help his government in the war. He didn’t realize sadistic doctors would turn him into the experiment—by injecting him with blood from a captured Caeorleian, Seral Iorflas.

Nor did Ryker realize he’d be sent to sabotage a planet full of the very beings his world is battling, beings who kill humans on sight. But then, thanks to the experiment that irrevocably changed him, he isn’t exactly human any longer—and with each passing day, as his blood bond with Seral strengthens, he’s less and less sure as to whose side he’s on.

Excerpt:

I wrapped my arms around my chest, and grimaced at the feel of my ribs.

I looked like a skeleton.

I hurried out of the bathroom and rummaged around by the bed until I found the robe Seral had given me, and slid it on. The sound of the door opening startled me. I gasped and spun around.

“Oh! It’s just you. You scared me.”

Seral smiled. He went over to the table and set down the tray in his hands. He walked over to me.

“Good morning.” The move to pull me into his arms was slow. I knew he was giving me a chance to pull away, but I let him wrap his arms around me and leaned against him.

“I’m sorry I scared you, tziu. The door scans will only open to my handprint. I’ll get yours added this afternoon.”

He rubbed his chin on the top of my head, then dropped a kiss on it. “You were sleeping so well I thought I’d get us a morning meal before I woke you. Would you care to join me at the table?”

His hands rubbed up and down my back before he pulled away. “I got an assortment of things for you to try.”

I sat down at the table, inching my chair in. It was remarkably light, and I wanted to look more closely at the material it was made of, but the smell that rose on the steam from one of the bowls on the tray distracted me. My stomach rumbled.

“What is that?” I asked.

Seral picked up the bowl and slid it in front of me. I inhaled the richly scented steam. It had a strong smell, a little sweet but spicy.

“Peppit. Try it. It’s one of my favorites.”

I leaned close to the bowl, stirring it with the spoon Seral handed me. I could see small chunks in it, but overall it looked a lot like oatmeal. The savory scent made my mouth water.

The taste was even better. It was nothing like the bland oats I’d eaten before. This invited me to chew it slowly, really enjoy it. It wasn’t as sweet as I expected. The chunks turned out to be some sort of meat combined with spices that reminded me of ginger, and the hint of sweetness was sort of like maple syrup. None of those ingredients really described the flavors, but it was as close as I could come to Earth food to describe the medley.

“Hmm.” I licked the spoon. “This is good.”

Seral beamed. He had a bowl in front of him too. “It is my favorite too. To drink there’s some juice from the mae fruit you liked so much.” He poured a glass of green juice and handed it to me. The fizz was absent, but the sweet flavor made me smile.

“Thanks.”

We started eating, and I ate as much of the peppit as I could hold. I sampled a few of the other fruits and some crispy circles that looked like toast but tasted like a nutty cheese.

I sat back with a groan. My stomach felt hard as a rock. I looked regretfully at the half-full tray in front of us.

“I wish I could eat more, but I’m stuffed.”

Seral raised an eyebrow. “Stuffed?”

“I mean I’m full.”

Understanding dawned on his face, and his eyes wandered down my torso. I pulled the robe closer together, covering my jutting collarbones. His eyes slid back up to my face.

“Good. You need to eat plenty of good food. You’re too thin.”

I stood up abruptly and walked away, my face burning a little. “I know how bad I look. You don’t need to keep saying stuff about it.”

Author Bio:

Alicia Nordwell is one of those not so rare creatures, a reader turned writer. Striving to find something interesting to read one day, she decided to write what she wanted instead. Then the voices started… Yep, not only does she talk about herself in the third person for bios, she has voices in her head constantly clamoring to get out. Fortunately for readers, with the encouragement of her family and friends, she decided for her own sanity to keep writing. Now you can find her stories both free and e-published! Oh yeah, she’s a wife, mom of two, and lives in the dreary, yet ideal for her redhead complexion, Pacific Northwest. Except for when she disappears into one of the many worlds in her head, of course! 

BLOG  *  FACEBOOK  *  GOODREADS  *  TWITTER: @AliciaNordwell

Noah's New Plan: Chapter 21

Here’s Chapter 21 of my free Wednesday Briefs story, Noah’s New Plan. The prompt I used this week was ”Make yourself at home”.

Dinner with Eli’s parents was quite nice. After cutting himself with a knife, Noah thought the evening couldn’t get any worse. He was right. With dinner plans abandoned, they had enough fried chicken delivered to serve an army. Maybe that helped, because once they sat down for dinner, things became a lot more casual.

Noah liked Eli’s parents. His mother was outgoing and chatted constantly throughout dinner. While his father was a quiet man, he did have a dry sense of humor. Noah could see aspects of both of them in Eli’s personality.

The rumbling of Eli’s truck nearly lulled him into sleep, but he couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened before dinner.

Just after John had tended to his cut, he’d been left alone with Eli. Something passed between the two men. Even thinking about it now made Noah’s stomach flutter. He was almost positive that Eli was going to tell Noah that he loved him, but the moment was cut short when Eli’s mom walked into the room.

Noah should have been running away from any sort of declarations of love, but instead he found himself himself disappointed by the interruption. He wanted to hear Eli say the words.

He’d been deluding himself into thinking what they had was casual. Casual had been thrown out the window some time ago. Maybe it had been so long since someone had told him he was loved—and really meant the words—that he was just desperate to hear someone say it.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when the truck turned into Eli’s neighborhood.

Located in the historic part of the city, the neighborhood was a mixture of renovated homes and houses that were in need of TLC. When Eli pulled into the driveway, Noah’s mouth fell open.

The craftsman style home was amazing. Noah really shouldn’t have been surprised. Eli was a constant source of unexpected surprises. The man obviously spent a lot of time and effort remodeling the home. He wasn’t sure how he held down two jobs and managed to do all of this.

Eli snagged Noah’s bag from behind his seat, then climbed out of the truck. Noah got out and followed him to the front door, and waited for Eli to unlock it.

"I got this place for a steal," Eli explained as he turned the key. "A guy bought it and started to flip it, but went into foreclosure. Come on in."

Eli led Noah inside, turned on the light, and shut the door behind them.

"Your home is very nice," Noah said as he looked around the room. The place was definitely a bachelor pad—the gigantic flat screen TV in the living room seemed to take up the entire wall. Leather, wood, and earth tones dominated the rooms. The whole place could use a pop of color, but still, it was nice.

"Thanks. Make yourself at home."

"It must have taken forever to fix it up."

"I had a lot of help from my dad and brother. There’s still some stuff I want to do, but for the most part, I’m happy with it. I got some ‘before’ pictures I’ll have to show you some time."

"So, give me the tour."

* * * *

Eli ended the tour of his home with the master bedroom. Yeah, it wasn’t exactly subtle, but he was horny. His cock had been half-hard the entire night and he was ready to get Noah in his bed.

"Eli…" Noah’s voice was soft, filled with need. He walked up to Eli and hooked his fingers into the bigger man’s belt. Leaning into Eli’s body, Noah nuzzled his nose into Eli’s neck.

Eli’s eyes slid closed as Noah rubbed his nose across Eli’s beard. Noah’s breath was warm against his skin. It sent tingles down his spine. They settled in his groin, making his cock throb.

"Fuck."

That Noah was coming onto him was so fucking sexy. His little librarian was usually reserved, and to have him initiate sex was hot. When Noah began to rub and squeeze his cock over the top of his jeans, Eli pushed his hips forward, needing the contact of his man.

"I want it," Noah whispered.

"You’re gonna get it, baby."

Eli dipped his head and kissed Noah. Noah’s mouth automatically opened, and Eli slipped his tongue inside. Deep and passionate, their kiss escalated until they were practically devouring each other.

Eli’s hands cupped Noah’s ass cheeks. He squeezed and kneaded them, using the grip to pull Noah close, and they ground their cocks against each other.

Damn, that felt so fucking good. Eli couldn’t wait to bury his cock deep inside Noah’s tight little ass.

They took their time undressing each other, then Eli led Noah to his bed.

Noah lay down on his back, spreading his legs automatically to allow Eli to settle between them, right where he belonged. His hands moved around Eli’s back as he pulled his knees up.

Eli’s cock nudged underneath Noah’s balls, and he pushed the head into Noah’s taint. They’d fucked so many times, Eli lost count, but not for the first time, he wondered what it would be like to take Noah bareback.

Man, he needed to slow things down or he was going to shoot his load into the crack of Noah’s ass.

Eli cradled Noah’s head in his hands.

They gazed in each other’s eyes, and time stopped.

There was that connection again.

Eli knew he was taking a risk, but before he could stop himself, he said the words.

"I love you, Noah."

Guest Post: Julie Lynn Hayes

Please welcome Julie Lynn Hayes, the leader of my group of Wednesday  Briefs bloggers! She’s here to promote her new paranormal release, When Will I See You Again. Today we have a special interview with the characters, along with an excerpt. Enjoy!

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/WhenWillISeeYouAgain.html

Today I’ve traveled to Crescent Bay, a seaside town whose biggest claim to fame lies with its supernatural inhabitants. I’ll be interviewing two of the residents today, to get their take on life in Crescent Bay from both sides of the railroad tracks, so to speak.

My first stop is the infamous night club, Charisma. Anyone who knows of the town knows about Charisma, and the man who draws people to it like a magnet. What could be more fitting than I should interview the crown prince himself, Raoul Marchand. This wasn’t easy to do, believe me. I had to pull a few strings to get his agreement to this.  Let’s hope he’s in a good mood and willing to talk.

It’s still fairly early when I arrive. Hopefully, I can avoid most of the crowds. I hear people line up just to get into this place, to witness the phenomenon that is Raoul Marchand. Well, I’m ready to be wowed. There is only a short line, luckily, when I arrive, and when I reach the head of the line and start to pull out my ID, the bouncer waves me in. I’m not sure if I should be glad or insulted.

Another bouncer greets me inside. “Good evening, I’m Paolo. You must be Julie?” I nod. “Raoul is waiting for you. Right this way.” I follow him down a hallway, which opens up into a very bright and shining place indeed.

Flashing colored lights bounce off platinum and chrome surfaces, exuding a certain energy. A large circular bar dominates the room like a command post. It’s covered in mirror tiles streaked with dark blue veins the color of night.

“Right down there.” My guide points to the end of the bar, and I spot him. It’s hard to miss him, even at this distance. He has a most commanding presence.

“Thanks, Paolo.” I give him a smile and proceed. As I approach, the man stands, and I tell myself to please not drool when I’m speaking to him, but I know it won’t be easy. He’s tall, dark, and hunkalicious. His dark hair falls down his back—to his ass, I hazard a hopeful guess—and his eyes glitter with a fierce intensity. He is very well put together, and he doesn’t dress to hide it. He’s a veritable god.

“Thank you for agreeing to this, Mr. Marchand,” I say as I reach out my hand. He takes it for just a moment before returning it to me, gesturing toward a leather and chrome bar stool beside his own.

He shrugs. “My father thought it was a good idea.” Does that mean Raoul doesn’t? I wonder.

“What would you like to drink?” he asks.

I think a moment before ordering an amaretto sour. He relays that to the bartender, and orders himself a marguerita. The bartender seems friendly enough. He quickly brings our drinks then leaves us to our own devices.

“What would you like to know?”

Well, that’s… to the point, isn’t it? Good thing I borrowed Sarah’s voice recorder. Otherwise, I might not remember a thing.

“Mr. Marchand… may I call you Raoul?”

I hear a low growl and I wonder if someone brought a dog into the bar before I realize it’s my host. Then the sound is gone as he replies. “If you wish.”

“So…” I think I’ll skirt the name thing for now. “How long have you been running Charisma?”

“About twenty years.”

“That’s a long time for someone so young. How old are you, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“Of course I don’t mind. Age doesn’t make a difference. I’m forty.”

“So you started in the business pretty young?”

“My father gave it to me to run, so it was pretty well laid in my lap.” He gives me an enigmatic look as he picks up his glass and drinks.

I think for a moment. “Let’s see, your father is Philippe Marchand, right? So he started Charisma? When was that?”

“About fifty years ago. But it wasn’t a night club, it was a restaurant.”

“Oh, I see. Did he close the restaurant?”

“No, he moved it across town and gave me the night club.”

“That was nice of him. Why did he do that?” I’m thinking maybe a graduation present or something. Must be nice, right?

I think I said something wrong. He gets this look I can’t describe… like he’s just assumed a mask of indifference. He pulls a phone from his pocket, glances at it and then at me.

I think I’m living on borrowed time, so I cast about in my mind for another subject.

“The Marchands are the largest and most well known supernaturals in this part of the country, aren’t they?”

“Yes.”

Short and sweet.

“I know that with drugs, lycanthropes don’t have to suffer through the change any more. What a blessing that must be for you and your family.”

“Yes it is.” 

Hmm, not getting anywhere there. Try something else.

“Tell me, Raoul, is there a special someone in your life?” That has to be good, get him to talk about his girlfriend. Or boyfriend. Whichever.

Suddenly he rises, slams his glass onto the bar. “I’m done,” he announces. “Find your own way out.” And before I can respond, he’s flounced off, toward the dance floor. Ooh, I hate to see him go, but I love to watch him leave.

Wait, he’s picking someone out of the crowd, and all the people around him are going nuts, trying to gain his attention. I watch as he selects a young man and leads him away. Ah, it was fun while it lasted. Guess I’ll get some rest at the hotel and go to my next interview tomorrow.

I’m sure there’s a story there, one he’s not ready to share.

The next day, I’m up bright and early. My next interviewee is meeting me at my hotel on his way to work, and he said he doesn’t have long. I can live with that.

I take the elevator down and make my way to the restaurant, which is sparsely populated. He’s already there, and looking rather chipper for so early in the day. He waves me to the table he’s at, and as I join him a very kindhearted waitress brings a cup and a pot of nectar of the gods. Good, I’ll be able to think.

I add sweetener and cream and smile at the young man. He has thick red hair and bright blue eyes and a very energetic smile. “You must be Alexx Jameson?” I hazard a guess.

“I am. And you’re Julie?”

“Right the first time.”

Okay, down to business, since he doesn’t have very long.

“I’m flattered you called me,” he says, “but I can’t imagine anyone wants to read about me, you know? I’m no one special. Just a guy who works for the Chronicle.”

“Everyone is someone,” I reassure him. “So, what do you do there, Alexx?”

“I’m a go-fer, I guess. I work in the mail room, but I do whatever they need me to do. Like get their morning coffees, which is my next stop.”

“How long have you worked at the Chronicle?” The Crescent Bay Chronicle is the town’s one newspaper, owned by Joseph Levine, head of a family that is second in size and position to the Marchands.

“About two years now.”

“Were you born here?”

“No, I wasn’t. I lived in another state entirely. Chance brought me to Crescent Bay and got me a job at the paper.”

“Chance or fate?” I can’t help but smile. He sips at his coffee and grins back. He seems like a very nice young man, very easygoing.

“So where do you see yourself in a few years?” I ask.

“Hopefully as a reporter at the Chronicle,” he confesses, a faint blush rising up his cheeks, as if he isn’t used to speaking about his dreams.

“What kind of reporter do you have in mind to be? Sports, fashion, general news?”

“Crime,” he admits. “Something there isn’t really a lot of in Crescent Bay. But it would be a start. Who knows what after that?’

“The sky’s the limit. And if it’s meant to be, you know… maybe something is just around the corner for you?”

“I hope so.” He finished the rest of his cup and rises. “I’m sorry to drink and run, but there are people who will be very upset with me if I don’t get their morning coffees and stuff.” He rolls his eyes in a playful way. “Save us from divas.”

I can’t help but laugh. “I’ve met a few of those in my time.” I rise and hold out my hand. He takes it. “Nice to meet you, Alexx, thanks for talking to me. I’ll send you a copy of the interview when it comes out.”

“Nice to meet you too, Julie.” He gives me another smile and quickly hurries out of the restaurant. I, on the other hand, am starved, so I sit back down and glance at the menu. Might as well eat while I’m here. Then go home and put these interviews together.

So, there you are. Two different men, two different stories.

Hmmm, wonder if their worlds will ever collide?

 

Blurb:

Raoul Marchand is the crown prince of Charisma, the infamous night club in Crescent Bay, renowned for its supernatural clientele. He has the pick of any and all men, but he cares for none. He uses them and throws them away again, and has done so for some twenty years, in the aftermath of a tragedy that robbed him of what he loved most in the world.

Alexx Jameson is an idealistic young would-be reporter with the Crescent Bay Chronicle. Presented with an opportunity to write a story on the Marchands, he eagerly grasps the chance to be a real reporter. His friend, Chronicle receptionist Miller Fenwick, suggests they go to Charisma to do a little research. Alexx isn’t sure that’s such a great idea. After all, he’s still under age, being only twenty. No problem, Miller can fix that! Added bonus, there’s a full moon tonight.

When Alexx first encounters Raoul, it isn’t exactly in the way he dreamed of, and he’s sure he made a terrible first impression. But Fate throws them together under unforeseen circumstances, and the attraction between them can’t be denied. Can Raoul let go of the past long enough to find his future with Alexx, or is he doomed to repeat past mistakes?

 

Excerpt:

Alexx drew in his breath in dismay. This wasn’t going well. Even so, he could not stop staring at Raoul. His eyes met the other man’s. Raoul’s were very golden; he wasn’t aware such colors even existed in the spectrum of the human eye. But then again, he didn’t have any friends that were werewolves either. He wondered if this was a sign that perhaps this man was about to change, right here and now?

The thought was both exhilarating and frightening.

Alexx’s vision telescoped until he wasn’t aware of anything but this gorgeous man in front of him. Blood pounded in his ears and his mouth felt suddenly dry. Having lost all sense of the others in the room, he was surprised when he felt his chair yanked out from under him. Before he could fall, a hand grabbed the scruff of his neck, propelling him to his feet. He glanced at his companion; Miller was being subjected to the same surly treatment.

“You waste my time for this?” Raoul’s upper lip curled back in a snarl. Alexx found himself wildly attracted to him. “I have somewhere I need to be. Paolo, please show these gentlemen out.” Sarcastic much? He turned and reached for the door, but it opened before he touched it.

A shaggy blond with hazel eyes and a cheerful countenance stuck his head inside. “Hey Paolo—” He interrupted himself at the sight of the occupants of the room.

Alexx heard Miller’s sigh of relief, even as he too recognized the newcomer. He’d seen him around the Chronicle often enough, although he’d never really spoken to him. Foster Levine, son of the Chronicle’s owner—heir apparent and future newspaper magnate.

Alexx’s relief quickly changed to anxiety. What if Foster knew how old he really was? He couldn’t be sure one way or the other, but for the sake of argument, he had to assume he did. Would he out him to Raoul Marchand and his burly minion? Had they simply jumped from the frying pan to be scorched by the fire?

 

Author Bio:

Julie Lynn Hayes was reading at the age of two and writing by the age of nine and always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Two marriages, five children, and more than forty years later, that is still her dream. She blames her younger daughters for introducing her to yaoi and the world of M/M love, a world which has captured her imagination and her heart and fueled her writing in ways she’d never dreamed of before. She especially loves stories of two men finding true love and happiness in one another’s arms and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and two cats, loves books and movies, and hopes to be a world traveler some day. She enjoys crafts, such as crocheting and cross stitch, knitting and needlepoint and loves to cook. While working a temporary day job, she continues to write her books and stories and reviews, which she posts in various places on the internet. Her family thinks she is a bit off, but she doesn’t mind. Marching to the beat of one’s own drummer is a good thing, after all.  Her published works can be found at Amber Quill Press, Dreamspinner Press, MuseitUp Publishing, Torquere Press, and eXtasy Books. She is also an editor at MuseitUp.  

 

My links:

Blog  http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com

Twitter @Shelley_runyon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.l.hayes.7?ref=tn_tnmn

My Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3442231.Julie_Lynn_Hayes

Email: tothewolf.max@gmail.com