Rick R. Reed's Blog, page 46

A Face without a Heart Re-releases TODAY!

I'm excited to announce that DSP Publications is coming out today with a brand-new edition of A Face without a Heart, my award-winning modern-day and Chicago-set retelling of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Isn't the cover--by the hugely talented Aaron Anderson--gorgeous? Not only that, it really beautifully shows the duality of our main character.

BLURB
A modern-day and thought-provoking retelling of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray that esteemed horror magazine Fangoria called “…a book that is brutally honest with its reader and doesn’t flinch in the areas where Wilde had to look away…. A rarity: a really well-done update that’s as good as its source material.”

A beautiful young man bargains his soul away to remain young and handsome forever, while his holographic portrait mirrors his aging and decay and reflects every sin and each nightmarish step deeper into depravity… even cold-blooded murder. Prepare yourself for a compelling tour of the darkest sides of greed, lust, addiction, and violence.

EXCERPT
He was beautiful. Beauty is so seldom ascribed to men, too often incorrectly attributed to men with feminine features—wavy blond hair, fine cheekbones, teeth cut from porcelain. But I’ve always thought of beauty as a quality that went deeper than the corporeal… something dark, dense, inexplicable, capable of stirring longings primal, longings one would be powerless to resist.

He was beautiful. I sat on a Red Line “L” train, headed downtown, bags of heavy camera equipment heaped at my side, one arm resting protectively over them. I watched the young man, unable to train my thoughts on anything other than this man who had blotted out the reality of the day, magical and transforming. Beauty, especially so rare a beauty, can do that. The young man was an eclipse, his presence coming between myself and the reality of the day hurtling by outside train windows.

He had come in behind three foreign people, a bright counterpoint to their drab clothes, colorless, already wilting in the August humidity. They chattered to one another in a language unrecognizable, Polish maybe, and I was annoyed at their yammering, unable to block it out sufficiently enough to concentrate on the book I was reading, a biography of William Blake.

I almost didn’t notice him. It wasn’t like me to pay much attention to what went on around me, especially when I was preparing for a shoot. Usually I used the time on the train to set up the photographs I would take, the way I would manipulate light and shadow and how it fell on my models, to arrange the props, set up and test the lighting.

But something caused me to look up when the doors opened—perhaps I was struck by the dissonance created by the unknown language—and I saw him. Close-cropped brown hair, a bit of stubble framing full lips, a bruise fading to dull below his right eye. The bruise did not detract from the man’s beauty but served to enhance it, making of the rough features something more vulnerable. The bruise was the embodiment of a yearning for the touch of a finger, the whisper of a kiss. He wore an old, faded T-shirt with a Bulls logo, black denim cut off just above his knees, and a pair of work boots, the seam on the left beginning to separate. In spite of the workman’s garb, there was something intellectual about the man, an intensity in his aquamarine eyes that portended deeper thought.

At that moment, I made a decision. I don’t know what caprice seized me. I have always led an orderly life, completely without surprise. But when the train pulled to a stop and the young man stood, I acted on an impulse that was as sudden as it was uncontrollable.


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Letting Go of Your Books

Letting Go

It takes two to tango. And it takes at least two to make a book. Just like a play needs an audience to fully come alive, a book needs a reader for precisely the same reason.
One thing I have to constantly remind myself as a writer is that, once I have written the words, ‘the end’ to a story is that I must let go. As much as I labored over the book, dreamed about it, had conversations with myself about it, agonized over word choice, character hair color, continuity, repetitive words and phrasing, the time comes when the book meets the public which signals that it’s time for me to step aside.
A book is a conspiracy between a reader and a writer. The reader has to bring it to life through his or her imagination. The wonderful thing about that whole process is that my story can become so many different stories when filtered through each reader’s unique frame of reference. I have no doubt that no matter the care I take in describing characters and setting, each reader sees them differently because each of them come to the table with different experiences, biases, and memories. All of those things have a bearing on the triggers my words pull in a reader’s mind.
It’s really quite a lovely process when you think about it. And maybe the readers out there reading this blog never really considered the vital work they play in every book’s success or failure. Writers provide a roadmap, signposts, but it’s really up to the reader to run with it, to make of it something real, a mind movie for one.
What’s my point? I guess it’s to share with you a little of what motivates me as a writer and what, for me is both a blessing and a curse. See, when I am working on a book, which is almost always, I am alone with those characters, immersed in their little world, consumed by their passions, their fears, their desires, their comedies of errors. I have never been one for sharing much of my unfinished work with anyone else. That would somehow be wrong, at least for me. In order to create, I need to be able to slip into a world inhabited only by my characters and me. It’s always a bittersweet moment when I write the words, ‘the end’ and know I am moving on. Sure, there will be editing, the thrill of seeing the cover design, the agony of trying to help craft the blurb, but once you type ‘the end’ it means just that. You’re giving your characters and their world away.
I think it’s very difficult for some writers to realize that once they’ve ‘given birth’ to a book that it really no longer belongs to them. It belongs to the readers, the reviewers, the world. If you create with publishing in mind, it’s a harsh reality to accept—your book no longer belongs to you alone, but it’s gone off into the world, much like a child finally moving out of the house. Once you let go, you also must let go of trying to control what happens (same for books, same for kids).
And that’s hard. You hate to see your book suffer at the hands of people who don’t understand it, you celebrate it when someone ‘gets’ what you were trying to say.
But you must let go. The book is a piece of the world now and takes on a life of its own. Remember what I said earlier? A book is a conspiracy between a writer and a reader and the reader, each in his or her own way, makes the story his or her own.
I guess what prompted all this was a discussion recently at one of my publishers’ forums wherein authors were discussing, once again, how to respond to negative reviews and downright nasty ones, and the prevailing wisdom, at least to my mind, was with silence. I agree.

It’s harsh but true: writers must let go. Your stories are no longer your stories. If you’re very, very lucky, they are many people’s. Take comfort in that.

10 Silly Questions with Joe Cosentino, Author of the Cozzi Cove Series

10 Silly Questions with Joe Cosentino,Author of the Cozzi Cove Series
Rick: Hi, Joe. Thank you for being my guest today.
Joe: It’s my pleasure, Rick!
Rick: First, if you could invite any famous person, dead or alive, for dinner, what would you eat?
Joe: Buckwheat blueberry pancakes. If Gillian St. Kevern is reading this, she’s smiling. Gillian told me she really enjoyed my Cozzi Cove series of novels (NineStar Press). However, she asked me why the owners of Cozzi Cove (a gay resort on the New Jersey Shore), Cal and Michael, often eat buckwheat blueberry pancakes. As I explained to Gillian, my spouse makes them for me and I love them. Buckwheat is good for you. I also think buckwheat sounds very butch, like you Rick. Since Gillian often writes about vampires, and since nothing is what it seems in Cozzi Cove, I created a vampire character in book four, Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings (releasing March 27). That should give Gillian something to live for. Okay, I know I just put in a shameless plug when all you asked me about was dinner. Sorry, but please keep in mind some of us aren’t rich and famous like you, Rick.
Rick: Who do you think you are?
Joe: I’m definitely an entertainer and storyteller. It all started when my older sister and male cousin wrapped old sheets around us and charged neighbors a nickel to see our Nativity play. When I realized the story was about me, I was hooked! That morphed into full scale musicals created by my sister and me in our neighbor’s garage. After college, I became an actor in film, television, and theatre, working opposite stars like Bruce Willis (A Midsummer Night’s Dreamonstage), Nathan Lane (The Roar of the Greasepaint on stage), Rosie O’Donnell (AT&T Industrial), Holland Taylor (My Mother Was Never a Kid, ABC-TV movie), Charles Keating (Another World, NBC-TV), David Paymer (Ruffles Potato Chip commercial), and Jason Robards (Commercial Credit commercial). It occurred to me that acting and writing are storytelling, so I decided to give writing a try. After writing some plays, I moved on to writing novels. My mother’s response was, “Don’t you have anything better to do at night than write novels?” Hm, I wonder if she’d prefer that I use the time to check out nursing homes?
Rick: What’s your problem?
People who demean and attack the rights and self-worth of others, including those who hide behind their religious or political beliefs to do so. Religious freedom means freedom to practice your religion, not to discriminate against others. How sad that so many people have forgotten the old Bible stories where Jesus served and loved everyone, especially the outcasts. And how terrifying that some people in our country are using their vast wealth and high positions in an attempt to take away people’s rights. That’s become a theme in some of my books.
Rick: I agree. So if you could have one wish, would you give it to me?
Joe: Of course! You’re Rick R. Reed, the author of so many dark and romantic novels I loved reading! The guy who travels all over the US eating in exotic restaurants. However, I would whisper in your ear a request to make your wish all about me.
Rick: I had the feeling. So let’s talk more about you. Where you at?
Joe: Unlike you, I don’t live in a condo overlooking a beautiful lake. But my spouse and I did build our own house (actually a contractor built it) upstate New York. Given what’s going on in the country right now, I’m happy to say I live in a blue state. I’m a department head/Professor of Theatre like Martin Anderson in my Nicky and Noah comedy mystery series (Lethe Press). Unlike adorable couple Nicky and Noah, I don’t impersonate others to solve crimes, however, like Martin, I have a beautiful cherry wood home study with a fireplace, huge desk, bookcases, and window seat overlooking the woods. I know. Another shameless plug for one of my series.
Rick: I think I caught that.
Joe: Sorry, it’s become a vice.
Rick: Speaking of which, if you had to choose only one vice, what would it be?
Joe: Taking vitamins. I’m a total vitaminaholic, like Nicky Abbondanza in my Nicky and Noah mystery novels. If there’s a vitamin, mineral, herb, or amino acid on the market, I’ll take it after breakfast.
Rick: Speaking of breakfast—
Joe: Are you going to invite me to have eggs benedict with you in Key West?
Rick: No. I was going to ask what’s your favorite brand of cereal for breakfast?
Joe: Believe it or not, I don’t eat cereal. My body is a temple. Though nobody wants to worship at it.
Rick: Good one.
Joe: Thanks. It’s copyrighted. My typical breakfast is oatmeal and fruit (no pun intended) or of course buckwheat blueberry pancakes in honor of Gillian.
Rick: Of course. When you wake up in the morning, what celebrity do you most resemble?
Joe: If you invite me for a vacation in your spiffy condo on the lake, you can find out first hand.
Rick: I’m booked up with guests through 2030.
Joe: Okay, I resemble Kermit the Frog. And that’s pretty much during the rest of the day and night too.
Rick: Here’s a strange question.
Joe: And the others weren’t strange?
Rick: I’ll ignore that. Do you know your ass from a hole in the ground? And if so, how do you tell the difference?
When I ask my students to stop texting in class, they’ll tell you that I don’t know much about anything. Actually, my sharpest time seems to be in the middle of the night. I generally leap out of bed at about 3am with an amazing idea for a new novel. I then jot notes on my nightstand. The next day, if I can read my notes, I write a biography for each character and eventually a plot summary. Then the fun happens as I let the characters talk in my head and type what they say. I show the second draft to my spouse for his notes. After we argue and then I finally admit he was right, the third draft goes to the publisher. The fourth draft is after notes from the publisher’s editor.
Rick: Okay, now’s the time. Do you have anything you’d like to plug?
Joe: Haven’t I been doing that all along?
Rick: I hadn’t noticed. (guffaws)
Joe: I’m told my Dreamspinner Press novellas make readers laugh, cry, and feel romantic. My In My Heart: An Infatuation& A Shooting Star (Rainbow Award Honorable Mention) are loosely based on my high school and college years respectively experiencing first love. A Home for the Holidays is about an American law student who, as I did, takes a trip to the romantic and gorgeous island of Capri, Italy, where he embarks on a relationship with his captivating third cousin. The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland is my comical gay take on my favorite beloved fairytales like Cinderella, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, Pinocchio, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Snow Queen.
Rick: Congratulations.
Joe: But I’m not here to talk about them.
Rick: No?
Joe: No. My Nicky and Noah series from Lethe Press are hysterically funny, gay, cozy, who-dun-its set in the world of theatre academia and beyond. Drama Queenwon Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Mystery, Best Crime, Best Humorous, and Best Contemporary novel of 2015.  Drama Muscle received a Rainbow Award Honorable Mention. Drama Cruise released last month. This year Drama Luau and Drama Detective are set for release.
Rick: They sound like fun.
Joe: They are. But I’m not here to talk about them.
Rick: No?
Joe: No. My Jana Lane mysteries (the Wild Rose Press), with straight leading characters and gay supporting characters, are set in the 1980’s world of television, film, and theatre. They are Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, and Rag Doll.
Rick: I’m afraid to ask.
Joe: I’m not here to talk about them.
Rick: Joe, what in the hell are you here to talk about?
Joe: I thought you would never ask. As a kid, I spent my summers in my aunt’s bungalow at the New Jersey Shore. In honor of those wonderful times, I created the Cozzi Cove series (NineStar Press) featuring handsome and sexy ex-professional football player Cal Cozzi managing his family’s gay resort on the New Jersey Shore. Each novel offers us Cal’s story with his partner, family, and friends, as well as intertwining stories about his bungalow guests. After Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back (Rainbow Award Honorable Mention/TBR Pile Book of the Month) and Cozzi Cove: Moving Forwardreleased, readers and reviewers praised their romantic, humorous, dramatic, and mysterious style. So I wrote Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out, which just released. As with the first two books, romance is everywhere on Cozzi Cove, and nothing is what it seems. It was like visiting good old friends to further develop the characters in book three.
Rick: Something tells me you’d to tell us a bit more about your leading characters?
Joe: You twisted my arm. In book three, Cal and his partner Michael reach a plateau in their relationship. Connor, the musclebound houseboy with a roving sponge, becomes the subject of a handsome young psychologist’s/guest’s study on human sexuality with unexpected results. Tommy (the bald, muscular, tattooed resident of Cozzi Cove who owns the local bar) and George (Cal’s half-brother) both meet someone from their pasts and are off to wild adventures. We learn something shocking about Cal’s sister’s past. Lucky for Taylor her best friend, Cozzi restauranteur Carla Mangione, is there for support. And a guest, Bill (a disbelieving pastor), sees a vision of two sexy male angels on the cove, which leads him to start a new life. What secrets, humor, tragedy, mysteries, and passions lie in the magical place called Cozzi Cove? And we’re not done yet! Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings releases on March 27.
Rick: So you said, already. Nice book covers by the way.
Joe: Thanks.
Rick: Who’s on them?
Joe: Me, of course. Kidding! Cal is on the cover of book one, Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back. Book two, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, highlights Cal and Michael. Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out, book three, has George. The fourth book, Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings, will feature a brand new character to Cozzi Cove, Billy Dean. I can tell you he’s quite the looker, and he’s an amazing character as well.
Rick: Do you see Cozzi Cove as a movie or television series?
Joe: I sure do! I can see Matt Bomer as Cal. Actually, I can see Matt Bomer in anything. And I want to play Bill in this story. So let me know when you’d like to produce it!
Rick: On that note, I’ll say thank you for being intimate with me today, Joe.
Joe: It was even more fun than I had anticipated.
Rick: It was certainly…unusual. And best wishes with Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out, book three in the Cozzi Cove series published by NineStar Press.
Joe: And all the best wishes with your amazing books too, Rick. I’ll read yours, if you’ll read mine. And I love hearing from readers. They can contact me at: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com. So grab your Speedos, suntan lotion, and shades and head back to Cozzi Cove. Cal Cozzi has a bungalow waiting just for you. I hope to see you there, Rick. Until next time.
Rick: Next time?!
COZZI COVE: STEPPING OUT the third novel in the Cozzi Cove series by JOE COSENTINO, published by NineStar Press
BUY FROM NINESTAR PRESS
BUY FROM MY BOOK
BUY FROM BARNES AND NOBLE


It’s time for another summer of sun, sand, suntan lotion, sandals, and Speedos on Cozzi Cove at the New Jersey Shore. Cal Cozzi’s seven bungalows are once again open for love. This summer, sexy Cal welcomes back his brother and sister, who are confronted with people from their pasts. Connor, the maid packed with muscle and mayhem, becomes the subject of a handsome young psychologist’s study on human sexuality. Tommy, the strapping, bald and tattooed local bartender, is captivated with guest Cory Magnum, a police officer with a secret. Another guest, Bill, a disbelieving pastor, is inspired by a vision of two sexy male angels on the cove. And Cal and Michael reach a plateau in their relationship. What secrets, humor, tragedies, mysteries, and passions lie waiting to unfold in this magical place called Cozzi Cove?
ABOUT THE AUTHORBestselling author Joe Cosentino wrote Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back (Rainbow Award Honorable Mention), Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out, and Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings (NineStar Press); Drama Queen (Divine Magazine Readers’ Favorite LGBT Mystery Novel and Humorous Novel), Drama Muscle (Rainbow Award Honorable Mention), Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective Nicky and Noah mysteries (Lethe Press); In My Heart/An Infatuation & A Shooting Star (Rainbow Award Honorable Mention), The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Open Skye Book Reviews Favorite Audiobook of the Month), and A Home for the Holidays (Dreamspinner Press); and Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll (The Wild Rose Press) Jana Lane mysteries. He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. He was voted 2nd Place for Favorite MM Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards, and his books have received numerous awards.
Web site: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosenGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_CosentinoAmazon: Author.to/JoeCosentino
Excerpt of Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out by Joe Cosentino, published by NineStar Press
A soaring golden orb turned the violet, pink, and tangerine sky into a canvas of blue. Early morning was Cal Cozzi’s favorite time. Treading water in the cove that had boasted his family name for generations, Cal felt as if his blood was the bay water, his flesh was the sand, and his soul was the sun. And Michael Rodgers was his heart. Michael swam over to him and wrapped his stocky arms around Cal’s neck. Cal cupped Michael’s firm bottom and squeezed him in closer. As Michael caressed Cal’s muscled back, they shared a salty wet kiss.
Cal looked up at a seagull gliding to the lighthouse in the distance. He pondered having the freedom to fly away from Cozzi Cove, but there was no place he’d rather be than in the confines of his legacy with the man he loved.
Cal’s great-grandfather, Calvin Cozzi I, had built everything in the sleepy town on the New Jersey shore, including the eight bungalows on the cove. This beautiful spot was the result of sun and salt water wearing away softer rocks more quickly than the harder rocks surrounding them.
Cal’s legacy was passed down to him from his great-grandfather through his grandfather, Calvin Cozzi II, and finally by his father, Calvin Cozzi III. Cal’s father, sensing his son’s sexual orientation as a boy, had opened Cozzi Cove as a gay resort.
Though Cal had dabbled briefly as a professional football player, and then as a restaurant owner, neither was a good fit. It wasn’t until after the unfortunate death of his parents in an automobile accident that he found his true calling: managing Cozzi Cove. The previous summer, Cal had been united with his half-brother, George, an architect, and the two of them had recently completed renovations on the bungalows, expanding them to add modern amenities while maintaining their grandfather’s nautical theme.
The tip of his head only reached Cal’s chin, so Michael had to stretch up to kiss his nose. Cal’s Italian and Scottish heritage had given him height, auburn hair, emerald-green eyes, an olive complexion, a strapping build, and a wide nose, which, as noted, Michael liked to kiss. “Should we be skinny-dipping at the start of a new summer season?”
“Probably not.” Cal ran a strong hand through Michael’s chestnut hair and gazed into his exotic eyes.
“What if a guest comes early?”
“He can get his own boyfriend.” Cal pressed his tongue inside Michael’s welcoming mouth. It felt warm, and Cal wanted more. As Michael stroked Cal’s broad shoulders and round pectoral muscles, prominent from working out at Cozzi’s gym, Cal pressed his nose against Michael’s thick neck and enjoyed the scent of vanilla. Michael’s African-American and Swedish heritage awarded him smooth golden skin that Cal loved to caress. Cal thought about the eleven-year difference in their ages, how they had met when Michael, still in the closet, tried to gay bash him in an alley, and the year Michael still had left to finish college. It was illogical and improbable for Cal and Michael to be together, yet it felt incredibly right. At that moment, he couldn’t be more in love with Michael.
George Valis, wearing a violet polo shirt and white shorts that accentuated his muscular legs, stepped out of Bungalow Seven and met them at the cove. “Hey, my ex back in Maine dumped me, remember? Stop rubbing in your happiness, you two.”
“Have breakfast with us.” Michael’s dimples appeared. “Cal is making a feast.”
“And Michael is cleaning up after me.”
“As usual.” George winked at Michael.
They got out of the water and put on the terrycloth robes they’d left on a rock at the water’s edge. Cal smiled at the sight of his brother’s height and eye color, which was exactly the same as his own. Cal and George shared the same father, with George being the result of Cal Cozzi II’s infidelity. They had met for the first time last summer when George looked Cal up, and Cal couldn’t have been happier to have a brother like George. He mussed George’s dark hair affectionately. “After breakfast, I’ll pack a lunch for your ride back to Maine.”
Michael’s shoulders slumped. “Do you have to go?”
Cal put his arm around Michael, recalling the brother Michael had lost two summers ago to suicide. “Bungalow Seven is always here for George.”
“Good.” George grinned like a kid with a secret. “It looks like I’ll be staying for a while longer.”
“Yeah!” Michael gave George a hug. “Cal will make a special celebration dinner tonight.” He kissed Cal’s cheek. “My favorite is surf and turf.”
“How about I leave my turf and throw you in the surf at the main beach instead?” Cal kissed Michael’s neck and then turned to his younger brother. “What’s up, bro?”
George looked at them and giggled. “Clearly you two, just before I arrived.”
Cal moved in and placed George in a playful headlock. “Look, little brother, the guests will be here soon. If you want breakfast, spill it.”

A Scary Scene from BIG LOVE

Big Love is about accepting yourself for who you are. And that lesson can be very, very hard-won, especially for those of us who are “different.” This scene illustrates how hopeless that acceptance can seem:
“He’s up there!” Betsy pointed to Truman on the roof ledge, her voice high with hysteria. “You have to do something, Dane!”
Dane peered up, squinting. For a moment he could see nothing. Although the day was bitter cold, with the temperature in the single digits and, with the wind chill factored in, most likely below zero, the sun was blinding and bright. The sky was a brilliant cerulean blue. The anxiousness and terror in Betsy’s voice ramped up his own terror, making him feel like an animal being plunged into nightmare.
Quickly, his eyes adjusted to the sun’s glare, and he could make out a silhouette on top of one of the two towers that fronted the school, one on either side, like a castle. A small figure with its legs dangling casually over the ledge flung Dane’s heart into his throat. Out of the corner of his mouth, he whispered desperately to Betsy, “Who is it?”
“It’s Truman Reid.”
“Oh God. Of course it is.” Dane flashed back to only a short time ago and what he had witnessed on the school’s central bulletin board. He must have seen. The kid was desperate. Dane recollected that it seemed like almost every week, maybe even every day, the boy was the punching bag for a bully, the butt of a joke, or a target for derision. Dane tried to step in when he could, but he couldn’t be everywhere at once. With staff cutbacks and growing class sizes, it had become harder and harder for Dane to concentrate on individual students, no matter how compassionate he wanted to be or how much they needed him.
And today, right now, Truman Reid needed someone.
He let out a shuddering breath and reached for Betsy’s hand, clutching it for a moment and squeezing for courage. “What do I say to him? What do I say?” Dane felt on the verge of tears. There was a quivering in his gut that made him feel dizzy, as though it were he and not the boy dangling over the edge of that rooftop. His next few words could, quite literally, mean the difference between life and death.
Betsy Wagner, teacher of social studies and human sexuality, could be relied upon for her well of knowledge in a desperate situation. She leaned in and whispered, “Hell if I know.”
Dane turned away from Truman for a moment to glare at her.
“But you’ll think of something. All the kids trust you,” she said, and Dane was sure the smile she gave him was meant to be reassuring, if not inspiring.
Like Truman, Dane once again found himself alone. Betsy stepped back and away from him, presumably to give him more space to conjure up just the right words, the magic speech that would coerce the kid into swinging his legs back slowly off the ledge and then to retrace his steps back inside the school, where he could get the help he needed.
Dane put a hand up to shield his eyes from the sun. “Truman?” he yelled. “Truman? Can I just talk to you, man?”
A shadow fell across the ground to Dane’s left as someone stepped up next to him. He turned quickly and saw it was Seth Wolcott, the new teacher. Seth’s hazel eyes, behind his glasses, seemed darker with concern. He handed Dane a bullhorn. “We had this in the theater department. Thought you could use it.” Seth clamped a hand on Dane’s shoulder and squeezed. The simple touch gave Dane courage.Dane lifted the bullhorn to his mouth, grateful for the amplification. He only hoped he could hear if and when Truman responded.
“Truman?” he repeated. “I just want to talk to you. Okay?” He glanced behind him, stunned to see a massive crowd had formed. It appeared the whole school stood outside now, behind him. It was both a comfort, a horror, and eerie, because there was no sound from any of them. Dane hadn’t even heard them assemble.
He whispered to Seth, “Has anyone called 911?” Dane longed for official help. He also feared it—the sound of a siren could startle poor Truman right off the roof.
Seth answered, “Betsy called a few minutes ago from her cell. Someone should be here soon.”
For now, though, silence prevailed. Dane lifted the bullhorn to his lips once more. “Listen, son, whatever’s got you up there is something bad. I’m not gonna kid around with you or insult your intelligence by pretending otherwise. Life has dealt you a raw hand, and that really sucks.”
Oh God. This is terrible. I can’t make this speech. I can’t. Where are all the wise words from the books I teach?
Dane drew in a quivering breath and called up, “But whatever it is, the one thing I know, and I think you know too, deep in your heart, is that nothing stays the same. Nothing, Truman. There’s no one on God’s green earth who can say what’s gonna happen tomorrow. Or even a few minutes from now. We just don’t know.” Dane looked up at the boy’s silhouette, unmoving, above. Was he getting through at all?“Truman? Can you just throw me a bone and let me know that you hear me, son?”
Dane waited, figuring he’d give the boy some space in which to reply. The wait seemed to go on for hours, when Dane’s rational mind told him it was only seconds until he heard the boy’s high and thin voice filter down.
“I hear you.”
Dane shut his eyes for a moment, feeling immense gratitude for such a small gift. “I’m glad you can hear. But can you listen?”
“I’m not going anywhere… yet,” Truman called down.
Dane was relieved to see the tiny trace of humor in his response. Gallows humor, but it was better than nothing.
“Then listen to me. What you’re thinking of is an end. There’ll be no coming back. What you’re doing is taking hope out of the equation. What you’d be doing, if you jump or even accidentally slide off that roof, is removing any chance at all for things getting better.”
“They always say ‘It gets better,’ but they lie,” Truman screamed. “Nothing ever changes!”
“Truman, you’re too young to be so pessimistic. Everythingchanges. Constantly. Whether we want it to or not. Things go from bad to worse, from good to better, and everywhere in between. And most of the time, none of it makes sense.”
BLURBTeacher Dane Bernard is a gentle giant, loved by all at Summitville High School. He has a beautiful wife, two kids, and an easy rapport with staff and students alike. But Dane has a secret, one he expects to keep hidden for the rest of his life—he’s gay.
But when he loses his wife, Dane finally confronts his attraction to men. And a new teacher, Seth Wolcott, immediately catches his eye. Seth himself is starting over, licking his wounds from a breakup. The last thing Seth wants is another relationship—but when he spies Dane on his first day at Summitville High, his attraction is immediate and electric.
As the two men enter into a dance of discovery and new love, they’re called upon to come to the aid of bullied gay student Truman Reid. Truman is out and proud, which not everyone at his small-town high school approves of. As the two men work to help Truman ignore the bullies and love himself without reservation, they all learn life-changing lessons about coming out, coming to terms, acceptance, heartbreak, and falling in love.
BUYDreamspinner Press ebook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7583Dreamspinner Press paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7584Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Big-Love-Rick-R-Reed-ebook/dp/B01D4ZCQ3QAmazon paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Big-Love-Rick-R-Reed/dp/1634769767All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-biglove-2001166-149.html

CHASER Trailer

One of my favorite book trailers for one of my favorite (of my own) books, CHASER. Video by Winterheart Design (Lex Valentine). 

Caden DeSarro is what they call a chubby chaser. He likes his guys with a few extra pounds on them. So when he meets Kevin Dodge in a bar bathroom, he can't help but stare, even if he does make an ass of himself. As far as Caden is concerned, Kevin is physically perfect: a stocky bearded blond with a dick that's just right. (They met in the bathroom—of course he looked!) But Caden gets tongue-tied and misses his chance. 

When Caden runs into Kevin one night on the El train, he figures it's fate offering him a second shot. Caden manages to get invited back to Kevin's place for a one-night stand that turns into the kind of relationship he's dreamed about. 

But the course of true love never did run smooth, and Kevin and Caden's romance is no exception. When Caden returns from a few weeks away on business, Kevin surprises him with a new and "improved" body—one that fits Caden's shallow friend Bobby's ideal, not Caden's. Caden doesn't know what to do, and his hesitation is just the opportunity Bobby was looking for. This isn't the same Kevin he fell in love with... is it?

BUY
 https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/sto... (ebook) https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/sto... (paperback) or at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Chaser-Rick-R-Reed-ebook/dp/B0091USG8I (ebook) or https://www.amazon.com/Chaser-Rick-R-Reed/dp/1613725841 (paperback) or https://www.amazon.com/Chaser/dp/B00MQ29CT0 (audiobook)

My Weirdest--and Funniest--Story Ever, MAN-AMORPHOSIS, is Now Out!

I've written nothing else like it! With a big nod to Mr. Franz Kafka, I give you Man-Amorphosis (re-released from JMS Books; originally published by Amber Quill Press).  You'll laugh, you'll groan, you'll clutch your private parts with fear and trembling...and you will never look at me the same way again.

BLURB
I awoke one morning from uneasy dreams to find my penis had transformed itself into a vagina ...

Thus begins the story of a very unusual day in the life of one utterly baffled gay man. After the shock wears off about his new genitalia, this promiscuous, fun-loving gay man wonders how he can take advantage of his bizarre gift. Bagging a straight man is the first thing that comes to mind. Well, actually bagging whole battalions of straight men ...

There's only one problem: while he now has his very own love taco, he has none of the customary toppings to go with it. Enter Pete Thickwhistle, friend and drag artist extraordinaire.

Pete quickly sets about making his friend's appearance go from butch man to convincing female as fast as you can say "Max Factor." Rick, now Rickie, sets off on his quest for straight-man flesh. Little does he know that what awaits is not his lust's desire, but his heart's. Rickie finds that when you go out looking just for sex, you may end up with something a lot more substantial ...

BUY
JMS Books (On sale for only $1.59 through January 21)
Amazon Kindle (for only $1.99)

Read NSFW EXCERPT here.

Kelly Jensen Tells Us All About her New Book and...Pie

Pie = LoveA Guest Post by Kelly JensenThey say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. In Block and Strike, Jake sets out to prove this is true. The very first thing he does for Max—after from delivering him to and from the ER—is make chicken soup. From there, he lures Max out of his shell, bit by bit, stopping by with pie on Sundays and taking him out to eat something other than Hungry Man frozen dinners. Block and Strike isn't really a foodie book, but my love of good food and feeding people shines through Jake. When people come to my house, I feed them. Jake is the same. When he’s not feeding Max, he’s teaching him to stand up for himself—and to like himself. The way Jake sees Max, the inner strength and quiet fortitude, is one of my favourite aspects of the book. The other is all the pie.(I like all the kissing too, but… pie.)The recipe I’d like to share is Max’s favorite—and mine. It comes from a book called Pie by Ken Haedrich. This book is Jay’s (my husband) bible. It’s torn and stained. The spine is broken. Twenty of the pages are loose and sandwiched between others. It’s how all well used cookbooks should look.   The following recipe isn’t word for word. Over the years we’ve changed it a bit, making it our own.
Fruits of the Forest Pie1 recipe basic shortening pie pastry, double crust, refrigerated*The secret to a good pie is in the crust. If the crust fails, it doesn’t really matter what you fill it with. Jay and I have had hour long discussions about crust. It’s a bit nerdy, but when you’re really into pie, it can take that long to really get into why a crust did or didn’t work. ;)Briefly, there are two ways to match your crust to your pie: flavour and moisture content. If you’re planning a fairly wet pie, go for the shortening crust. If you’re somewhere in the middle, mix shortening and butter for a flaky crust. If you’re blind baking your crust first and really need that buttery flavour, go with the butter. For instance, I always use a butter crust for my quiche because I want that extra flavour.
DOUBLE CRUST2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour1 tablespoon sugar1 teaspoon salt1 cup cold vegetable shortening, cut into pieces6 to 8 tablespoons cold water
Mixer method: Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the shortening, breaking it into smaller pieces and tossing it with the flour. With the mixer on low speed, blend the shortening into the flour until you have what looks like coarse, damp meal, with both large and small clumps. Sprinkle on half of the water. Turning the machine on and off, mix briefly on low speed. Add the remaining water in 2 stages, mixing slowly until the dough starts to form large clumps. Getting the amount of water right is one of those practice things and will also depend on the weather and how carefully you measured the shortening. If you’re using a stand mixer, stop periodically to stir the mixture up from the bottom of the bowl. Do not overmix.Dust your work surface with flour and turn the dough out onto it. If you’re making a double crust, divide the dough into 2 pieces, one—the piece you’ll using for the bottom pastry—a bit larger than the other. Place each piece on a sheet of plastic wrap. With floured hands, flatten the dough into disks about ¾ inch thick. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight before rolling. We usually make our dough the day before.
FILLING2 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced*The easiest way to peel a ripe peach without tearing all the flesh away is to blanch it. Instructions here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-ubq6fyVD4 1 ripe pear, peeled, cored and sliced1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and sliced1 cup fresh blueberries1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced½ pineapple (fresh or canned), chopped*We’ve never used the pineapple. We think it’s weird. We’ve substituted a sweet apple, an extra peach, canned apricots, mango (which was also weird) and an extra pear. My favourite is the sweet apple, something like a Gala or Fuji, which still has a little tartness. You could also use some rhubarb or any other combination of berries.½ cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar½ teaspoon ground ginger¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice3 tablespoons cornstarch
1.     On a sheet of lightly floured waxed paper, roll the larger portion of the pastry into a 10-inch circle with a floured rolling pin. Invert the pastry over a 9 ½-inch deep-dish pie pan, center and peel off the paper. Gently tuck the pastry into the pan without stretching it. Let the overhang drape over the edge. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.2.     In a large bowl, combine the fruit, ½ cup of the granulated sugar, the ginger, nutmeg and lemon juice. Toss well to mix, then set aside for ten minutes. Mix the remaining 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar and the cornstarch together in a small bowl, then stir this into the fruit. Preheat the oven to 400° F.3.     On another sheet of lightly floured waxed paper, roll the other half of the pastry into an 11-inch circle. Turn the filling into the chilled pie shell, smoothing the fruit with a spoon. Lightly moisten the rim of the pie shell. Invert the top pastry over the filling, center and peel off the paper. Press the top and bottom pastries together along the dampened edge. Trim the pastry with scissors or a paring knife, leaving an even ½-inch overhang all around, then sculpt the overhang into an upstanding ridge. Poke several steam vents into the top of the pie with a fork or paring knife. Put a couple of the vents near the edge of the crust so you can check the juices there later. 4.     To glaze the pie, lightly brush the pastry with milk and sprinkle with coarse sugar. 5.     Place the pie on the center oven rack* and bake for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375° F and rotate the pie 180 degrees. Put a foil lined cookie sheet on the rack underneath the pie to catch any drips! Bake until the juices bubble thickly at the steam vents and the top is golden brown—about 35 to 45 minutes. If the top of the pie starts to get too dark, cover with loosely tented foil during the last 10-15 minutes.6.     Set pie dish on a trivet (or wire rack) and let cool for at least 2 hours before serving. The fruit has to set.
Thanks for following my tour! At the end of every post, I’ll be asking a question. Leave a comment with your answer (and your email address). Every comment throughout the tour counts as an entry in my giveaway. Two winners will each receive $25 (US or equivalent) to spend at the Dreamspinner Press store. Question: What’s your favorite pie?

BLURB
Jacob Kendricks is three months out of prison, estranged from his daughter, and ready to get his life on track. Taking care of the bum curled up on his doorstep isn’t part of the plan. When he realizes the man has been assaulted, Jake takes him to the hospital, where he learns that Max is his downstairs neighbor… and that he could really use a friend. Keeping Max in the friend-zone would be easier if he wasn’t so damned cute.Maxwell Wilson has been bullied for years and the only person who ever cared lives too far away to come to his rescue. Now his upstairs neighbor is offering support. Max remains cautious, suspecting he is little more than a project for the handsome Jake. When he learns Jake has had boyfriends as well as girlfriends, Max has to reevaluate his priorities—and muster the courage to take a chance at love.Just when a happy future is within their grasp, life knocks them back down. A devastating blow leaves Max lower than ever and Jake wrestling with regret. They both have to find the strength to stand on their own before they can stand together.BUYAmazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Dreamspinner PressABOUT THE AUTHORIf aliens ever do land on Earth, Kelly will not be prepared, despite having read over a hundred stories of the apocalypse. Still, she will pack her precious books into a box and carry them with her as she strives to survive. It’s what bibliophiles do.Kelly is the author of a number of novels, novellas and short stories, including the Chaos Station series, co-written with Jenn Burke. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need. Connect with Kelly: Twitter | Facebook | WebsiteGIVEAWAYThanks for following my tour! At the end of every post, I’ll be asking a question. Leave a comment with your answer (and your email address). Every comment throughout the tour counts as an entry in my giveaway. Two winners will each receive $25 (US or equivalent) to spend at the Dreamspinner Press store.FOLLOW THE TOUR1/6       The Novel Approach   “Behind the Book”1/6       Just Love: Queer Book Reviews“Jake’s Book”1/9       Sinfully Gay Romance “Writing Kids and Family”1/9       MM Good Book Reviews “Character Casting”1/10     Joyfully Jay “The Max and Jake Playlist”1/10     Boy Meets Boy Reviews“Chatting with Jake and Max”1/11     Love Bytes “Martial Arts Movies”1/11     Prism Book Alliance “Driving Movies”1/12     Gay Book Reviews “Learning to Make Noise – Why I Study Self Defense”1/12     Diverse Reader “Hobbies”1/13     Rick R. Reed “Fruit of the Forest Pie”

I Read to You: HUNGRY FOR LOVE

I hope you enjoy this little excerpt...and my voice. Point of interest: I am reading at the same desk and in the same room, and on the same computer where I originally wrote Hungry for Love .

 

Blurb
Nate Tippie and Brandon Wilde are gay, single, and both hoping to meet that special man, even though fate has not yet delivered him to their doorstep. Nate’s sister, Hannah, and her kooky best friend, Marilyn, are about to help fate with that task by creating a profile on the gay dating site, OpenHeartOpenMind. The two women are only exploring, but when they need a face and body for the persona they create, they use Nate as the model.

When Brandon comes across the false profile, he falls for the guy he sees online. Keeping up the charade, Hannah begins corresponding with him, posing as Nate. Real complications begin when Brandon wants to meet Nate, but Nate doesn’t even know he’s being used in the online dating ruse. Hannah and Marilyn concoct another story and send Nate out to let the guy down gently. But when Nate and Brandon meet, the two men feel an instant and powerful pull toward each other. Cupid seems to have shot his bow, but how do Nate and Brandon climb out from under a mountain of deceit without letting go of their chance at love?

Buy from Dreamspinner Press in ebook or in paperback
Amazon Kindle

Today is Mom's Birthday

Today is my mom's birthday.

She passed away nine years ago from cancer in October of 2007.

I still miss her every day, but I've learned to live with the world-changing upset loss of a mother can cause. I do that by being grateful for having had her for 49 years, 49 years of being loved and made to feel like everything I said or did mattered so much to her, 49 years of caring, 49 years of laughter, 49 years of love. I count my blessings and don't despair.

Lambda Literary Condemns Milo Yiannopolous Book Deal

Lambda Literary Condemns Milo Yiannopolous Book Deal   Los Angeles, CA - Last week, the white supremacist Milo Yiannopolous, notorious for his misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and racist rants, announced he had signed a $250,000 book deal with the Simon and Schuster imprint Threshold Editions.

While publishers undeniably have the right to acquire and profit from any book they wish, they also bear an essential responsibility to promote civil discourse and reject hate speech that is often a precursor to violence. Even as publishers tout the diversity of voices they publish, they should not enable the work of a writer whose diatribes bludgeon women, transgender people, queer people, people of color, or anyone else.

We at Lambda Literary stand with the diverse writers and readers who believe that for a publisher to give this writer money and a megaphone is an affront to the values we all share. Furthermore, if Yiannopolous's forthcoming book, Dangerous, contains the same hateful rhetoric that got him banned from Twitter and earned him widespread censure---including from the LGBTQ community he claims to be part of--then Lambda Literary will have to condemn the work as hostile to our mission of advocacy for LGBTQ literature and affirmation of LGBTQ lives.
Lambda Literary calls on readers and reviewers to ignore his book. Instead we encourage everyone to read these recently released and forthcoming books that illuminate the LGBTQ experience with intelligence and compassion:The Angel of History by Rabih Alameddine (Atlantic Monthly Press, October 2016)Anybody by Ari Banias (Norton, September 2016)When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities by Chen Chen (BOA Editions Ltd, April 2017)Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn (Liveright, July 2016) Abandon Me by Melissa Febos (Bloomsbury, February 2017)Difficult Women by Roxane Gay (Grove Press, January 2017)Guapa by Saleem Haddad (Other Press, March 2016)Reacquainted with Life by Kokumo (Topside Press, September 2016)Since I Laid My Burden Down by Brontez Purnell (Feminist Press, June 2017)America by Gabby Rivera (writer) and Joe Quinones (illustrator) (Marvel Comics, March 2017)Constellarium by Jordan Rice (Orison Books, April 2016)The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Clarion Books, March 2017)You're The Most Beautiful Thing That Happened by Arisa White (Augury Books, October 2016)Small Beauty by jia qing wilson-yang (Metonymy Press, May 2016)***
Lambda Literary believes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer literature is fundamental to the preservation of our culture, and that LGBTQ lives are affirmed when our stories are written, published and read. Our programs include: the Lambda Literary Awards, the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices, LGBTQ Writers in Schools, and our comprehensive website, www.LambdaLiterary.org. For more information call (323) 643-4281.