Caitlin Ricci's Blog, page 5

Girl Talk with E.R. Pierce and Hunter S. Jones

GIRL TALK
Thank you, Caitlin Ricci for sharing your blog today. In a show of indie author solidarity, E.R. Pierce and myself, Hunter S. Jones, will be interviewing each other and discussing our latest works. The Red Fox of New England meets the Blonde Belle of Georgia. Join us – you all know you want to take a peek.

Erika, how about a stiff one before we begin? And, would you like a drink, too? *wink*

 * winks back * Thanks, Hunter. I always enjoy a good, stiff one. Of course, I’d love a drink. Correction, I need a fucking drink. Do you have any Moscato?


Let’s try something new. Let’s ask each other a ‘Lightening Round’ of questions. Why don’t you go first, E.R. Oh, and thank you for joining me today. It’s going to be fab learning more about you. Absolute awesomeballs.



WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?


Hunter S. JonesHunter: The first thing I notice is if someone is carrying a guitar or not. After all, I am from Nashville, Tennessee.


E.R: The first thing I notice about someone is their eyes, and their overall demeanor
.

RED OR PINK?


Hunter: Red. Definitely red.


E.R: Yep, red for me too.


WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?


Hunter: My feet are big.


E.R: I overthink everything.


WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?


Hunter: My ex.


E.R: My best friend


WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?


Hunter: Black.


E.R: My feet are bare, and I'm wearing yoga pants.


E.R. PierceWHAT ARE YOU DOING TONIGHT?


Hunter: Well, thank you for asking E.R. but I already have plans to enjoy a few laughs and a few glasses of red wine with my true love.


E.R: Well, it was worth a try. I'm doing exciting things…watching The Voice with the husband


WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?


Hunter: I’m currently listening to my true love snore.


E.R: Imagine Dragons




WHAT COLOR CRAYON ARE YOU?


Hunter: Red.


E.R: White


FAVORITE SMELLS?


Hunter: Grapefruit & lime. I’ve really become a big fan of Jo Malone fragrances recently. Although, I really love the way a man smells after…


E.R: Sandalwood and Yankee candles :Christmas cookie:


WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?


Hunter: My boyfriend


E.R: My mom



FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?


Hunter: English Premier League, baby. There is nothing like it in the entire world. If those guys and all those teams don’t make you stand up and cheer, nothing will!


E.R: The NFL – Go Patriots


FAVORITE BOOK?


Well, of course I enjoy the books by Caitlin Ricci and all your works, E.R. You’ll enjoy my debut novella, Fables of the Reconstruction. Basically, it is the story of a Belgian pimp living in Victorian London with a 'magic' powder, claiming to be undead. He believes in Pomba Gira mysticisms & follows Creole Voodoo. There is a modern, surprise twist to the book's ending. Enjoy it now~only on Amazon. Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009SCXVMK/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_w0tHqb0PVYPFZ


E.R: I loved your book Hunter, and Caitlin, your books rock. My favorite Authors of all time are Ilona Andrews and J.D. Robb. However, I have a huge list of favorites, Nichelle Gregory, Benjamin Russell, Jinni James, and of course, Hunter S. Jones.


By the way, if you want to keep in touch with me, like my Facebook Fan Page ~ Author ER Pierce



Thanks again and much love to Caitlin Ricci for sharing her space with E.R. Pierce and myself today. We had a great time and hope you enjoyed the show!

NaNoWriMo and The Little Crow

I love November for a variety of reasons. One of the best though is because of NaNoWriMo. It stands for National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. When you do, you win. I've completed this goal for the past two years and am going strong this year too.

We've come to the halfway point now and I've stayed on top of it. I'm being a rebel this year and by that I mean that I've been working on a bunch of different stories all at once. But I wrote each day which is the point of all of this.

I do have something very special coming out soon. The Little Crow, a quick short that was posted on here a while ago, has been massively expanded, edited and will be available on Amazon, Smashwords and All Romance Ebooks here very soon. No exact date yet, but it will be well before the new year. So don't miss it!

My cover artist is Tabatha Heart. She's a close friend and does amazing work. I saw the first drafts of a few of my covers this morning and was extremely pleased. There were happy tears. As soon as I can release the art, I will.

But until then I'll keep writing, editing, and getting books out for you all to enjoy. Happy Wednesday!

Please welcome Christine Warner!

Just Breathe…or is it Breath?
We all have words that make us stop mid key-board stroke and wonder (or is it wander) if we are making the write—oops, I mean right—choice.
I notice when I write there are certain words that trip me up and stop me in my tracks (or do I mean treks?).  Don’t you think everyone (or should I say every one with a space between the words?) has words that give them cause to pause?  As a writer I work hard to choose words which will convey my characters moods and feelings, set the scene, bring my story to life for my reader.  Sometimes it’s hard to accept (except) that I have to stop and double check myself from time to time to make sure I’m choosing the right word to get my point across the way I mean.
This brings me to those awesome people who help me get it right.  Critique partners.  As a writer, you have to love your critiquers.  (I know I don’t mean you’re right?  You’re is the contraction for you are).  These awesome sticklers of the written word catch many a mistake, not just with plot holes or inconsistencies, but grammar, and spelling.  They are amazing and know—not no, as if in a negative response—their stuff.  Each partner is different in what they notice or catch, but they all have a flair (which means a conspicuous talent, whereas flare is either a noun meaning flame or a verb meaning to blaze or to burst in anger.) on finding those pesky mistakes and helping to make this woman get it right.  (Not women, which is a mistake my partners have caught for me hundreds of times, don’t know why, but I always seem to type the wrong one, even though I know the meaning…applause to the critique ladies).
The next time your fingers are flying across the keyboard at warp speed and your muse is talking so fast you can hardly manage to keep up, then one of those words jump out at you and your mind falls flat and your fingers curl, remember not to let those mistakes bother you to the point where you lose sleep…*gulp*, I hope I don’t mean loose.  Trust in yourself and the eagle eyes of your cp’s. 
After you get that first draft or tentative chapter out to your critiquers, you’ll be able to sit back and just breathe (I hope I don’t mean breath).
Author or not, please feel free to share any of those trip-up words that overtake your writing from time to time—or invade your thoughts.  I’d love to hear them.  And fingers crossed that I didn’t mess any of them up in my blog post today…lol…now how funny would that be?
And while I’m here, I’d love to share a blurb and excerpt from my latest release Two-Timing the Boss which is available in both print and ebook.
BLURB: Farah Smith is on a mission: secure the funds for her twin sister’s surgery.  She’ll do whatever it takes to succeed.  Even if that means putting her values aside to work for a man she finds morally bankrupt.  But when the real Farah meets her new boss, she wonders if she’ll be able to resist his sexy advances long enough to help her sister.
From the blonde wig, to the stilettos strapped around her ankles, Farah’s a clone of Keller Donovan’s harem of past assistants.  She can’t believe she’s let herself be talked into the disguise, let alone working for the man planning to demolish the hospital her sister so desperately needs, but the salary he offers is the only way she’ll be able to afford her sister’s surgery.  The moment Farah meets Keller she realizes her most daunting task isn’t typing, spreadsheets or organizing travel arrangements, but fighting the growing attraction toward a man whose ruthlessness is legendary in the boardroom as well as the bedroom.
Determined not to end up in a disastrous marriage like his divorced parents, Keller believes all relationships should have a shelf life of sixth months or less.  But when he meets Farah, all bets are off.  He not only wants her to continue as his personal assistant, but his own private bed warmer.  Unfortunately, his offer of an affair doesn’t sit well with her fairytale dreams or the strangled hold gripping his heart.
EXCERPT:
These damn shoes would be the death of her.  She could read the headlines now:  Penniless P.A. Falls to her Death while on Job Interview.Almost to her destination, with no more mishaps, her confidence surfaced.  Okay, maybe mastering this heel thing wouldn’t be such a big deal.  Her steps became light, almost bouncy.  Although she sensed Keller Donovan behind her, she didn’t let it deter her feeling of success.  She stepped onto the large black and red area rug, less than ten feet from her target.  The leather chairs. “Oh!”  Farah’s spiky heel caught on the edge of the expensive rug.  Her legs shook and she shot her arms out from her sides, circling them like a bird about to take flight.  She fought to regain balance inside the ridiculous stilts strapped to her feet.  A brawl to the death.  Over when she looked down to see the rug coming up to kiss her face.  She threw out her hands, sucked in a breath and closed her eyes, scrunching her face as she prepared for impact.But nothing happened.  There were stars all right, and a blazing jolt of electricity shot from her toes, up her legs, through her body and exited with the small gasp which escaped her lips.  Somehow Keller Donovan had grabbed her around the waist before she met the floor.  Heat burned her cheeks.  He may have saved her body from bruises, but her ego, and whatever confidence she’d walked in with had shattered.“Let’s not have an accident before your health benefits kick in.”  His breath tickled her ear from behind.  Chills hugged her backbone.His touch released an unsettling flutter in her abdomen.  She sucked in her stomach from the pressure of his strong arms wrapped around her middle, afraid to breathe.
Two-Timing the Boss is available here:

The Wild Rose Press: Print: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=4965Ebook:http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_133&products_id=4951
Barnes & Nobles:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/two-timing-the-boss-christine-warner/1112706948?ean=2940015180510
Amazon:  Print:http://www.amazon.com/Two-Timing-Boss-Christine-Warner/dp/161217342X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352408239&sr=8-2&keywords=christine+warnerEbook:http://www.amazon.com/Two-Timing-the-Boss-ebook/dp/B0091IC5BO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1352408239&sr=8-2


Author Bio:Christine Warner is living her dream in rural Michigan along with her husband, three children, one laptop and a much loved assortment of furry friends.  Besides laughing and a good round of humor, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, writing but no arithmitic.  A confessed people watcher, she finds inspiration for her stories in everyday activities.  She loves to read and write about strong heroes and determined, sometimes sassy, heroines.A girl gone wild, at least where social media is concerned, she enjoys meeting other avid readers and writers on facebook, twitter and her website at christine-warner.com.
Please look for me here:blog/website:  http://christine-warner.com/Twitter under @ChristinesWords: https://twitter.com/#!/ChristinesWordsFacebook page…stop by and give it a LIKE to stay informed of what’s coming up: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Warner/143430882396013Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5763713.Christine_WarnerI love to hear from readers and other authors 

Sexsational City

What happens when you pull four authors together to tell the stories of four couples dealing with the burdens of being an adult in today's world? SOMETHING SEXSATIONAL!

Join authors Allison Cassatta, Caitlin Ricci, DC Juris and Sara York as we bring you a weekly free read about four couples (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) dealing with everyday life, sexuality and love.

http://www.sexsationalcity.blogspot.com/ 

ANNALEE AND SHELBY by Caitlin Ricci   A childhood spent in foster care can produce very different results in people, as Annalee Christof knows all too well. Some children are more resilient, others have a harder time coming back from years of questioning the whys and hows. Annalee has long since grown out of asking why her mother gave her up when she was barely a teenager.

Now, nearly a decade later, she knows she's stronger than she was back then. She has a job, friends, and a life she's built for herself away from memories that she tells herself can no longer hurt her. The only regret she has, the one thing she wishes she could make different, would be finding her childhood best friend, a girl she might have loved once had she not been sent away one stormy afternoon. Annalee's been searching for ten years for the girl she knew as Shelby Rainne. And she's not about to give up yet.


JAKE AND MICHAEL by Sara York   Jake Burros owns his own landscaping business, Make It Grow, but he's in the red so deep he doesn't know how to get out. His long time lover took off to the islands two months ago, skipping town with a young twink and eighty thousands dollars of Jake's money. The cops think they can get the money back eventually—Well, probably not, but in the meantime Jake has to survive, pay his employees, the bills for his business, and find a new place to live. Their craftsman mansion in the upper class suburb they lived in outside of Chicago was in his lover's name, and of course the man hadn't been paying the mortgage. Jake was shit out of luck and ready to do anything to get the money, even become a boy toy, if an older man can become a toy, for a rich young thing.

Michael Spears may look like a pretty boy without brains, and sure, his seed money came from his mommy and daddy, but he's invested in a few smart businesses and he's hit it big. He downplays his wealth, but when the super sexy Jake Burros asks for an investment partner, Michael doesn't want their relationship to end on the dotted line. He asks Jake to dinner, starting the beginnings of a very twisted relationship that leaves them both wondering how far they'll take it.


JOHN AND DARLA MCKAY by Allison Cassatta  Darla and John McKay have a great life together. They have ten successful years of marriage under their belts. John is a brilliant and well-established author. Darla is quickly climbing the corporate ladder. Everything is perfect... well, almost perfect.

Their dwindling love life is a cause of concern. John, in an effort to spice things up in the bedroom, casually suggests a threesome, but he picks the worst possible time to bring the topic up--like while his wife is going down on him. Of course, Darla had a knee-jerk reaction to his request, but what John doesn't know about his dear wife is she has secret fantasies of her own, fantasies left back in the door room of her old alma mater.

Long story short... Darla's see-saw tips both ways, only her loving husband has no idea.


LINK AND HADDON by DC Juris  Link never thought Haddon, the sexy owner of Dayre - the hottest gay club in town - would ever look twice at a transman like him. But boy, was he wrong. After five years together, their relationship is rock solid. Or... is it?

2012 is turing out to be the year from hell - Link's transphobic family, Haddon's ex lover Mel, and a series of mysterious events in their new house are all conspiring to turn their lives upside down.


 HTTP://WWW.SEXSATIONALCITY.BLOGSPOT.COM/ 

Please welcome Lexi Ander to my blog!

IMPORTANT- Leave a note, a question, or just say Hi in a comment to this post for a chance to win a copy of her book, Twin Flames. The winner will be chosen at random by Lexi herself. Good luck and enjoy!

And now please welcome Lexi Ander! 
Title: Songs of the Earth, Sumeria's Sons #2Author Name: Lexi AnderRelease Date: November 10thBuy Link:  https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/products_id/1228/Author Links:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lexi.ander.9Twitter: @LexiAnder1Blog: http://lexiander.blogspot.com/Website: http://www.lexiander.comGoodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6521302.Lexi_Ander
About Lexi:  Well, let me see... something that isn't on my book bio.  Caitlin can attest to the fact than I'm very tall.  I grew up with nicknames like "Too Tall Jones" and "Goliath".  It did make dating--I won't say hard,  I guess you could say I was excruciatingly self-aware as a teenager.  LOL!  The first boy I kissed stood on a skateboard to be my height.  I still remind myself to stand up straight.
I have two dogs.  Hoover is an Akita/Austrialain Shepherd mix.  He's has long, pretty white hair with brown spots.  Hoover loves people and dogs.  He's a meet and greeter.  Dyson is the baby at 11 months old.  He's a Bernese Mountain dog/Samoan mix.  Of course, that mix means lots and lots of black hair and I have been told his markings are undesirable but I think he's beautiful.  He's scared of everything.
SHORT BLURB:
As Tristan begins a new life with Ushna, he is confronted with lies and lifelong secrets. Unexpectedly finding himself matching wits with mythical creatures and demanding Gods and Goddesses, he must quickly learn to protect those he loves or risk losing everything that's become important to him.
EXCERPT FOR SUMERIA'S SONS, BOOK 2, SONGS OF THE EARTH
Chapter One
I sat on my horse, Dancing Socks, in the middle of the river that cut through my property. We were stuck, trapped between two creatures of myth and a Goddess of the Lycan race. Behind me, trying to protect me, were six of my warriors in Lupe battle form.I was in deep, deep shit. For the life of me, I couldn't see a way out. Two Shirdals―lion-eagles also known as gryphons―one in front of me and one behind, effectively cut off any escape I'd planned to make. There was no way Socks and I could outrun these Sumerian creatures of myth. But they were the least of my problems. What had my full attention was the woman standing before me.The Goddess Ki, clothed in a long flowing gauzy dress, wore a crown of ram's horns, with a bow and quiver of arrows over her left shoulder and a cudgel hung from her waist. She was holding a lion cub's leash while watching me with stern, assessing eyes."Tristan Javed Ksathra Janick, Prince of the Enkidu, do you know who I am?"How could I or any Lycan not know her? Regardless of what had happened today, I'd believed there was a solution. There was always a way out as long as I was breathing, but this, her, I couldn't fight and win."You are the Goddess Ki, consort of Enki, Lady Life, mother of all living things, Nourisher of Kings. I greet you, Goddess. Do with me as you will."The Goddess smiled a very white smile at me from across the water. "Come to me, Tristan. We have much to discuss," she commanded.I nudged Socks with my knees and she reluctantly finished crossing the stream, rolling her eyes at the Shirdal. Once out of the water, I guided her a safe distance to the side and dismounted, removing her wet saddle and blanket. Her muscles twitched as she held still for me.For a moment, I leaned my forehead on Socks's shoulder. She reached around and nibbled at my brown hair. Not a half hour ago, I had left the ranch to go for a ride. The morning had offered many revelations and events that would change the course of my life.I hadn't expected to find happiness after breaking the bond with my Twin Flame, Theo Sullivan. I hadn't planned on falling in love with my best friend, but I had. Last night, I'd made love to Ushna, and it had been the best night of my life. This morning I'd awakened to find out I was born of royal blood, and Ushna was my chosen consort. Before I could grasp what this meant, the Magi, Caspian MacCuill and a group of Lycan warriors invaded my home and tried to kidnap Ushna and blackmail my friend, Gregori Borchetta, which led to Ushna being shot trying to protect me.All I had wanted was an hour. One single, measly hour to get my thoughts in order and figure out what the hell to do next. Instead, I was trapped with no way to escape. The only thing I could do now was try to save as many lives as I could. No one stood up to a Goddess and lived.Reluctantly, I straightened and petted Socks's velvety nose. I reached over and removed her bridle, giving her a smack on the rump to send her away. With luck, she'd make it home safely and not be eaten.I turned to Ki, ready for whatever fate awaited me at the hands of a Goddess who hadn't walked the Earth in a very, very long time. I didn't take it as good fortune that she was here now."So gloomy, Tristan? Do you think so poorly of me that you expect to be struck down by my hand?" Ki asked, head tilted to the side as she looked at me with almond-shaped black eyes.The Shirdal lay at her feet, allowing the Goddess to scratch the feathers between its ears. It was surreal seeing two things that shouldn't exist in this modern world of skyscrapers, automobiles, space shuttles, and nuclear bombs. Yes, I had an altar in my room where I left burnt offerings to the Warrior Goddess Anat and Shamash, God of Justice. I believed in the Gods and Goddesses, but I never thought one would manifest into my world and actually speak to me."I don't mean to offend, Goddess. It's… well… this has been a very unusual day."She gave me another toothy smile and looked across the water to the Lupes and the other Shirdal. "Please call your warriors to you, Tristan. The Shirdals mean you no harm. They were only playing with you."I barely held in an ugly snort. Playing with me? I could imagine them playing with me as they tossed me about with their sharp beaks. I turned toward the Lupes and without a word, they entered the water, coming toward me in a straight line.By the time they'd crossed, they'd changed back into human form. The harshness of the Lupe vanished in so smooth a transition, anyone watching would have questioned what they'd seen but moments before. The warriors quickly came to me and there was much rubbing and touching as I allowed my men to reassure themselves I wasn't harmed. I brushed and stroked them in return until their apprehension sank to a tolerable level, though it didn't go away completely. How could it? There were two lion-eagles and a Goddess here with us, but the men felt better being close to me.I turned back to the Goddess Ki. I couldn't get the men to move farther away from me than arm's length and honestly, I couldn't blame them. Ki looked at each of my warriors, and I had to fight the urge to step between her and each man she eyed. I knew I couldn't protect them from a Goddess, but my body and brain weren't on the same page."You have chosen well in your royal guard. These men have good spirits," the Goddess said approvingly."Ah, that isn't exactly what happened." These men had given me a blood oath after they had invaded my territory on false orders provided by the Magi, Caspian MacCuill. It was either that or be judged and die by my hand for committing an act of aggression against the tribal alpha. Belatedly, I wondered if I had violated some God/Goddess 'oathing' rule. It's not like I'd had an instruction book to go by.The Goddess looked at me with a sharp eye. "We will get back to that in a minute. I want to know why you and your family have hidden from Us?"My temper flared at Ki's allegation. She had accused me of perpetrating a deception regarding something I hadn't known about nor had had a hand in. I struggled to contain my anger because this was a Goddess who could strike me down. "Pardon me? Goddess, I've hidden from no one.""It was only recently your magic has called to me. I should've felt you when you were born, and yet here you are. A grown man. Explain this to me."I ground my teeth together and felt my warriors move closer in reaction. They reminded me I was responsible for more than myself at the moment. "Goddess, I truly don't understand. How can I explain something I don't know myself? It was only earlier today I found out I was of royal blood.""How is it you did not know?" Ki scrutinized me, not believing me for some reason.What else could I tell her? I didn't know I was a prince until this morning. It was Ushna who had known what the Emblem of Enki meant. My family hadn't told me we were direct descendants of Enkidu. I'd spent my life as an unremarkable Lycan. Not once was there any indication that I was anything more than average until I claimed Ushna as my lover.I lifted my shirt to reveal the black iridescent scales of the twin snakes that wound up my chest, "I woke up with this today."Ki beamed with pleasure. "So, you have found and claimed your Twin Flame?"I think I may have turned a little green. "My consort is not my Flame."A little more than seven years ago, I had broken the bond between Theo Sullivan and myself. His lack of regard for me, coupled with his deception and lies, poisoned and almost killed me. The council had warned me I could die from the Breaking, but I'd taken my chances. Anything was better than being bound to a Twin Flame who barely tolerated me.I had Ushna now. My rock, my best friend, lover, and consort. I wouldn't change a thing that I'd endured because it had brought me to Ushna and his love."Do not jest, Tristan." The horror on her face wiped away any apprehension I'd felt a moment before."I'm not. I broke with my Twin Flame several years ago." There was nothing abhorrent about the relationship between Ushna and me.

Please welcome S.A. McAuley

[image error] Title: An Immovable Solitude
Author Name: S.A. McAuley
Release Date: October 27, 2012
Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/products_id/1222/?zenid=99e5fe7440d968f865bbc78bfe93c3c7
Author Links: Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/authorsamcauley
Twitter – @AuthorSAMcAuley
Email – authorsamcauley (at) gmail.com
Kindlegraph - http://www.kindlegraph.com/authors/AuthorSAMcAuley
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/authorsamcauley
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/author/samcauley



Bio: Sam sleeps little, reads a lot. Happiest in a foreign country. Twitchy when not mentally in motion. Send her a picture and a song and she’s bound to write a story about it. And yes, that’s an invitation.

Blurb-

Erik Hash, owner of a shark diving company in South Africa, loses everything in one night--his business, partner, and his desire to live. When his partner reappears, he discovers the ocean isn't ready to let go of him yet.

Erik Hash, owner of a shark diving company in South Africa, loses everything in one night--his business, his partner, and his desire to live. The victim of a violent hate crime, he leaves South Africa and takes a job aboard a private yacht to escape.

When his partner reappears after three years, he wonders if there is something left for them to rebuild. But the ocean isn't ready to let go of him quite yet.

Here's the playlist S.A. used to write this awesome new book. Don't want to take my word for the awesomeness that it is? Look below at the excerpt.




And here's an excerpt....

Chapter One
The boat pitched from side to side as the deckhands struggled to lower the rattling cage against the hull. The sky was a cloudless indigo blue, and the stars were beginning to blink out in rings as sunrise pushed past the horizon. The air was unseasonably warm, which lowered the chances of this being a productive trip, but I wasn't going to complain. I loved summers in the Cape.The waters of Van Dyks Bay were generally erratic, consistent in their inconsistency, and there were days I wanted to ignore the weather and wave report and just chance it, setting sail for Dyer Island without planning for what to expect. But this was our boat, our company, and we had a reputation that ensured us a steady stream of tourists."Oy! Hash! We need help securing the lines out here, hey?"Abraham's voice called to me from the stern, where he and two of the deckhands pulled at ropes used to fasten the cage to the side of the boat. The waves were too strong for divers to climb in just yet, but the wind was slowly dying and soon the pitch of the boat would turn to a slow, hypnotic roll. I left the tiny wheelhouse and helped them tie off lines, relishing the salt spray that hit each time the boat bottomed out on a wave.We struggled to secure the cage, and Abraham switched to Afrikaans as we worked. It was my second language, but the mother tongue for most of our crew, and when things became tense, as they did now, the tourists wouldn't understand one word we said to each other. The cage finally settled into the grooves worn into the hull from countless trips, and we fastened it tightly. Behind us, the divers talked nervously with each other, surveying the bay with suspicion, fear, excitement, or a mix of all three. They were already clad in thick wetsuits, masks hung around their necks or gripped tightly in fists. Abraham tugged at the ropes, checking them before turning to me and nodding."Let's give it another ten," I replied to the question he hadn't asked. "I'd like it to be a bit calmer."I stopped to chat up the group of divers on my way to the wheelhouse. We had ten on board today, a full charter. As usual, it was a mix of nationalities and ages: six women and four men on an escorted tour of South Africa. The women today were especially flirtatious, and like any smart captain looking to see his business grow, I took the time to talk with each of them before moving on. Kerry liked to tease me I enjoyed this part of my job a little too much.I wore my usual blue and silver board shorts hung low on my hips, with feet and chest bare. I leant down to speak intimately to the women, my smile flashing, my laugh genuine. My blond hair, just a touch on the long side, fell into my eyes and one of the ladies looked as if she wanted to push it back. I never discouraged it if they tried. I gave my excuses, begging off with the list of duties I had to complete. I pointed at Abraham and told them my boss made me work too hard. Abraham grinned and shook his head; he'd seen this too many times. Yet he still laughed, because both of us knew who the boss really was even though at twenty-seven, I didn't look old enough to have my own company.More importantly Abraham knew I wasn't interested in any of them. No matter how free, easy, or beautiful they were. I had a gorgeous man, my partner in every sense of the word, waiting for me back at our shop.Nothing about me proclaimed my sexuality; I'd never been loud about being gay. Most days, it was the least of what defined me. But I'd never hidden it either. For some, my choice to live with my sexual orientation as secondary, like every straight person had the pleasure of doing, was unsettling. So they made assumptions when it would've been easier to ask. But for most, especially the tourists, I was little more than eye candy. Someone pleasant-looking to flirt with when away from home.The nervous anticipation of the divers relaxed as the winds died and the waves settled the boat into a gentle sway. The sun crested over the mountains to the east, chasing the rest of the stars away. Abraham gave his standard greeting and instructions before the first divers dropped into the cage. The energy of the tourists was palpable, pulling smiles from the tired crew.We'd all been up for hours already, prepping the boat and supplies, and performing equipment checks. This moment―when Abraham, with a twitch of his lips, asked the inevitable question, "Who wants to go first?"―was my second favourite part of the workday. Nervous laughter skittered between the tourists, and Dominick, our videographer, circled them, capturing their reactions for a personalised DVD we would sell to them after the trip. Today, it was an American who stepped forwards, a goofy grin plastered across his face. He immediately put the rest of the tourists at ease as he joked about who would get his wife if he didn't make it out.I leant against the helm and pulled out my cell. A green light blinked at the corner and I flipped it open to read the text.Howzit?I chuckled. Three years after his arrival in South Africa and Kerry still hadn't mastered the basic slang. He'd attempted it enough times that I knew he was asking how the charter was going, but the actual meaning of what he'd asked was "how are you?"Lekker was my one-word reply: Excellent. We both spent so much time dealing with tourists that we usually had to curb the use of slang. But when it was just the two of us, jokes about the differences between his Irish English and my South African English were common.I heard gasps and a scattering of loud curses and knew the first great white had been sighted. I peeked out of the wheelhouse to where the deckhands were tossing a fish head into the water. They dragged it back to the boat, drawing the shark closer to the cage. My cell pinged.I can't drag my ass out of bed.He was lying. I'd heard his footsteps on the wood floors, walking from the bedroom into the shower, as I'd left early this morning. He would be in the shop now, hunched over his desk, coffee cup in hand, his black hair most likely dishevelled from running his fingers through it while he reconciled the monthly accounts. His work today wouldn't be complicated, he was too organised for that, but it would be tedious and that drove Kerry mad. He needed to be constantly entertained, and I favoured the days I spent discovering new ways to keep him occupied and interested.It's right where I want it, hey? I texted back.The tourist group was all smiles now, enthralled with the gigantic beast cutting lazily through the water around them. Selling the DVDs was going to be easy today. Abraham and the deckhands had the divers taken care of, the water had calmed to a leisurely roll, and the heat from the sun was tempered by a gentle breeze from the south. Newborn seal pups barked from the island off our bow. It was the birth of these young that had attracted the great whites back to Dyer Island and Van Dyks Bay despite the warmer waters, driving larger tourist groups our way to the point where we'd added a second boat and hoped to receive government approval for a third next year.If you don't want your books to balance this month, Erik Hash was his response.He was using my full name. Not a good sign. I typed back Frustrated already?He replied before I could look up I'd rather be on the boat.I let out a low whistle. If he wanted to be on the boat more than in the shop, that meant he was more than frustrated. Kerry hated the sharks as much as I loved them. I'd met him three years ago when he'd walked onto my uncle's boat with his sister, Kelle, in tow, and I knew then I would do anything to have him. It took me one day to get him into my bed, but almost a year before I knew he loved me as much as I loved him. Kerry and Kelle were only supposed to stay in the Cape for a week, and then move on to Durban, over to Johannesburg, and eventually into Botswana. After our first night together, Kerry decided not to leave Van Dyks Bay and Kelle reluctantly stayed on.Worry lines creased my forehead as I tried to formulate a response. Kerry had been more distant than usual the last couple of days. I didn't expect him to be overtly emotional anytime; it just wasn't him. He was reserved, calm, and introverted, the opposite of me, but lately he'd been more withdrawn than usual. I knew he was joking when he said he would rather be on the boat, but I read the underlying annoyance in that statement and I doubted it had anything to do with reconciling the finances. Kerry was working through something and I couldn't shake the feeling that it was bigger than he was letting on.A collective gasp came from outside the wheelhouse and I grinned, an old joy filling me with each satisfied shriek that erupted from the deck, pulling my thoughts away from Kerry. I felt the boat pitch as the thundering footsteps of the divers followed the shark from aft to stern. It was rare I made a trip out near Dyer Island without spotting one of the apex predators, but my excitement never waned, and my admiration for their ancient power and beauty never faltered. I was seven years old again each time I connected with the black eyes of these stunning creatures.What was I doing sequestering myself in the wheelhouse? There was nothing I could do for Kerry until the charter was done. We were on the sharks. I threw my cell into my hoodie hung by the door, and stepped out onto the deck. There were two divers in the cage, three standing where it was anchored next to the boat, and two on the bow. Feet shuffled above my head on the second level of the boat where the rest of the divers were chatting happily as they clicked off pictures.Abraham sidled up next to me, put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed affectionately. His bone-white teeth stood out against the deep blackness of his skin and a jovial smile told me it was a good sighting. The silver streaks he'd developed in his hair over the last two years made him even more handsome."How big?""Almost four metres," Abraham said, pointing at the shark on the aft side. "There's a three metre juvenile creeping around as well."We made our way behind the cage, where a deckhand tossed chum into the water, bribing the sharks to stay with our boat. There were two other companies doing the same bait and view routine with their own tourists so we had to keep the sharks occupied or risk losing them to one of the boats that sat a respectable distance away. I peered into the water as I saw the large shadow draw closer. I slid my polarised glasses over my eyes to block out the glare of sun on the waves and felt my breath hitch when the larger one came into view.The sides of the shark were scarred from the number of mating seasons it had been through, the twisted patchwork of white a testament to its age. It cut gracefully through the water past the cage, ignoring the divers in the cage that were pushing as far back against the metal as possible, and yet it was obvious the shark was aware of everything happening around it. It had decided we weren't a threat long before it showed up alongside the boat. These creatures were cunning, intelligent, and ancient. I knew the black of their eyes almost as well as the green of Kerry's.The deckhand pulling the fish yanked it closer to the cage and the water surged as the juvenile crashed towards the floating fish head. The divers next to the cage jumped back with a cry of surprise, while the deckhands, Abraham, and I laughed until we were nearly crying. We'd seen the shadow underneath the water as the smaller one moved in. I put my arms around the shoulders of two of the divers at the side of the boat. The petite wife of the American man pulled me closer. Her wetsuit was soaked since she'd just exited the cage."You see that bro over there with the video camera?" I pointed them towards Dominick so he could get a good shot of their faces after the surprise. "He's much more dangerous than the juvenile softie out there."Dominick winked, and they twittered and blushed."See, I told you. Sharks are incredibly evolved predators, but you shouldn't fear them. They are shy, deliberate hunters and will rarely attack except when hunting. They will never attack the cage. Dom, on the other hand, you need to watch those teeth."Before I could slip my arms from around their shoulders, the American woman looked at me in amazement. Her teeth chattered. "I don't know whether to be frightened or amazed. You really love them don't you? The sharks?""I do. There is more to be amazed of than frightened of. Listen to Abraham. He'll sell you."I excused myself and left my co-captain to do his work. While my brain was filled with all kinds of arcane and useless trivia about sharks and their appearances on TV and in movies, Abraham had been a part of my uncle's research crew for years and could answer the important questions about shark biology and habits. Turning this part over to him was also carefully choreographed after our years of working together. I had a tendency to spout off about the evil that was TV's Shark Week if given half a chance. Okay, any chance. But it also gave me time to do what I really loved to do, which was watch the sharks.I sat in the stern with the deckhands and cut up chum. It was the perfect vantage point to watch the juvenile great white stay a deferential distance from the larger shark, which only circled back once the divers had calmed down and a fresh bucket of blood was dumped into the water. I watched the shark until I felt an itch to check on Kerry.Back in the wheelhouse, I pulled out my cell and texted Okay?I stared at the phone, waiting for a reply. I could picture him trying to think how to respond, of typing something and then erasing it. I closed my eyes and paid attention to the rolling of the waves beneath the boat, letting them rock me. The sun pouring through the wheelhouse window on to my shoulders and face, warm salt air filtering in through the open windows, and the rhythmic sound of the waves against the hull helped calm my worry over Kerry. I don't know how long I stood there, mesmerised and half asleep, before my cell pinged again.Just need more coffee. And your ass back in bed.Only a couple more hours and I would be happy to oblige him on the second part. Because getting off the boat and coming home to Kerry, even after three years, was still my favourite part of the day.

New blog story coming!

This blog story is adult in nature and should only be viewed by adults that wish to see such material. Once we begin the blog story, to view my chapters go to the blog story tab above. 

Allison Cassatta had the idea for a group of us authors to get together and write a blog story together. Each week there will be a new blog stop with a new chapter in the story. All pairings will be shown in this story and all heat levels will be  represented. We each chose a pairing and though our characters will go visit others, these are ours.

I am writing a lesbian couple, Annalee and Shelby. Her father named her after the Shelby Cobra, a car he'd always fantasized about owning.

We'll be starting this project soon so make sure to keep an eye on that tab for updates to my story and links to the other participating authors.





And just because I like giraffes I wanted to share.

Young Adult bookshelf

Last night I decided to write all of my books under one name. While I'm happy with this decision, the factors involved made the task of choosing to go this route a difficult one. But in the end I decided this would be simpler for everyone involved. So up above you'll see my adult bookshelf and my young adult one. I will continue not to post explicit material in my blog posts themselves, but my adult bookshelf has a warning on it that the books listed there are intended for a mature audience. My young adult bookshelf has no such warning but the books there will be geared toward a young adult audience. For the purposes of this post we'll say that age range is anywhere from fourteen to early twenties. I have a few young adult books coming out next year and an anthology that will be available as well so I'm excited for this next step. No series will be forgotten with this new stage in my writing life. In fact, I am writing a young adult series based on the Pine Hollow Wolves series. Hannah's books will start coming out early next year. As always, feel free to check out my In Progress page to get an idea of what I'm working on right now. Both my young adult and adult books are listed there. Also, the free reads section of this blog has been moved to the Adult Bookshelf page so please check there if you're looking for any of my free reads.



And just because I can, I've decided to post a picture of this guy. He's at the Denver Aquarium right by the little cafe area. I think he's really interesting, though I'd never want to actually get in the water with him. Though I may be taking those words back in December since I've decided that swimming with the sharks at the aquarium is what I want to do for my birthday. Luckily I've got a great fiance and a very patient best friend that have agreed to tag along with me.

Please welcome N.R. Walker talking about Three's Company!

Three’s CompanyCover Artist: Reese DanteGenres: Contemporary, Gay, Menage, Romance
ISBN: 9781614957706
Pages: 268 pp.
Word Count: 54052
Buy here: Buy Three's Company















Blurb:After news that he's gay spreads though his homophobic hometown, leaving his restaurant in trouble, Wilson Curtis goes to Key West alone. He meets Simon and Adam, and is soon invited into their bed for some vacation fun.
Once isn't enough, and they get to know each other in and out of the bedroom. Ten days is all it takes to change their lives. When Wil's vacation time is up, none of them are ready to say good-bye. They'll have to conquer misunderstandings, miscommunication, and the judgment of friends and foes alike who don't understand their relationship, but these three know that what they have is worth fighting for.



Tell us about Three’s Company:The original idea for this story came from a friend of mine, Brenda (who the novel is dedicated to) who sent me pic after pic of sexy beach/sun-kissed boys until I agreed to write it.  Originally, the concept started as some pretty cabana boys who lived a free life with little to no responsibility. Being a couple, they worked at a resort together, surfed together and partied together, and the third man was going to be a worn-out doctor or some other similar professional looking for something he didn’t know he was missing. But that’s not how this story ended up. At all.
There are some similarities to the original concept, and the basis is the same (existing couple introduce a third man into their relationship) but that’s about where the original plot outline similarities end. In Three’s Company, Wilson Curtis travels to Key West by himself to escape a not-so-pleasant life back home. His business is in tatters, he’s suddenly single and the entire town has snubbed him.  He meets Adam and Simon, who work at the hotel he’s staying at, and they invite him into their bed.
What starts out as a one night stand, soon becomes a holiday fling and like all my stories, there is a light on angst, heavy on love, kind of sweetness.  There seems to be more sex than I remember writing... and truthfully, not much happens outside of these three boys. There’s no major external drama, it’s mostly about these three men and how they adjust to being a threesome than some huge twisted plot.
Who was the inspiration for the characters?



Wilson Curtis is a small-town with a certain naivety that makes him adorable. I pictured Luke McFarlane for Wil.

Adam Preston is the always smiling, always happy, swimmer/surfer. He’s charming, and it’s impossible not to like him.  I pictured Simon Baker for Adam.


Simon Stanford is the serious, business minded one. He’s smart, independent and oh-so lovely.  I pictured a short-haired, clean-shaven Jared Leto for Simon.





Is writing m/m/m complicated?No more complicated than standard m/m. Sure, there’s more body parts, and getting the physical locations of said body parts during sex scenes can be tricky, but I think I’ve watched enough “research” to get it right. *winks*   There is of course an additional main character, and trying to get each character in equal proportions was a little tricky, particularly because I favored Simon ;) but making sure they each had enough dialogue and depth of character, as opposed to a standard secondary character, but I’d say no more than usual. 
I did find the men themselves were enough of a story without having a too-complicated plot; their back-stories, and how they dealt with the realization they needed to be a threesome as opposed to a couple, was enough to put on these poor boys. LOL
What’s next from N.R. Walker?My next release is a novel length drama titled Blind Faith, and it comes out late January 2013 with Silver. I’ve written its sequel, which I’m hoping to sub soon.  I’m also participating in NaNo this year and my aim is to complete the majority of the sequel to Point of No Return. I also have some free-reads I’m getting ready to post with Silver Publishing in the next few weeks and I can divulge more info on that when I know more.

Contact Details:Email - nrwalker2103@gmail.com
Facebook - N.r. Walker
Facebook fan page - N.R.WalkerAuthor
Twitter - @NR_Walker
Goodreads - N.R. Walker
Thanks to the lovely Caitlin Ricci for having me on her blog today! 

Review for Return to Destiny by Vona Logan

Return to Destiny by Vona Logan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've read both of Vona's books and while I enjoyed Rock Hard, I adored Return to Destiny. It was an unusual and different take on time travel and the guys were really good together. Vona gives readers a real sense of the panic Wade has when he doesn't know what's going on and Michael's desperation to figure out where he went wrong in life is very relate-able. Through pain and sacrifice these men were able to get their HEA. And I'm so happy for them both. I love that this book is the first in a series and can't wait to see what's next. This book is going on my keeper shelf as one of the ones I'm going to refer back to when I need a good, fast pick me up.

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