Rick R. Reed's Blog, page 81

For Your Holiday Story Consideration--Matches

For your heartwarming holiday story consideration--Matches--my modern-day, gay take on the "The Little Match Girl".

SYNOPSIS
Christmas Eve should be a night filled with magic and love. But for Anderson, down on his luck and homeless in Chicago's frigid chill, it's a fight for survival. Whether he's sleeping on the el, or holed up in an abandoned car, all he really has are his memories to keep him warm-memories of a time when he loved a man named Welk and the world was perfect. When Anderson finds a book of discarded matches on the sidewalk, he pockets them. Later, trying to keep the cold at bay hunkered down in a church entryway, Anderson discovers the matches are the key to bringing his memories of Welk, happiness, and security to life. Within their flames, visions dance-and perhaps a reunion with the man he loved most.


Buy from MLR Press
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Nook

Licensed to Wed!

This morning, at 5:30 a.m., Bruce and I became the 279th couple in Seattle to get a marriage license! Today is the first day in Washington State's history that same-sex couples could apply to legally marry.

We are so excited to be able to take this step that neither of us, as little as a few years ago, dreamed could ever happen--and thrilled to be a small part of history.

We plan on marrying on Sunday (small, small wedding) and then having a big party late summer/early fall and are looking into options. A cruise boat? A winery tucked into a hillside? the Space Needle? Stay tuned...

Rainbow Award Winners on Sale at Dreamspinner Press

As the list below attests, Dreamspinner Press authors (myself included) made an amazing showing at this year's Rainbow Awards. Take advantage of the sale prices (just click on the link) and grab some amazing reading.

Dreamspinner Press congratulates all the winners of the 2012 Rainbow Awards!

The following titles received awards this year and will be on sale until Dec. 8.

Sidecar by Amy Lane received The William Neale Award for Best Gay Romance (First Place)
To Touch the Stars by Jeremy Pack received The William Neale Award for Best Gay Romance (Second Place)
Red+Blue by A.B. Gayle received The William Neale Award for Best Gay Romance (Tie for Third Place)
Caregiver by Rick R. Reed received The William Neale Award for Best Gay Romance (Tie for Third Place)
Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane received The William Neale Award for Best Gay Romance (Honorable Mention)
Complete Faith by Sue Brown received The William Neale Award for Best Gay Romance (Honorable Mention)
Infected: Freefall by Andrea Speed received Best Gay Paranormal/Horror (First Place)
Ink by Isabelle Rowan received Best Gay Paranormal/Horror (Honorable Mention). Ink also received Best LGBT Cover (First Place).
Wake Me Up Inside by Cardeno C. received Best Gay Paranormal/Horror (Honorable Mention)
The Zero Knot by K.Z. Snow received Best LGBT Young Adult / Coming of Age (Second Place)
The Talker Collection by Amy Lane received Best LGBT Young Adult / Coming of Age (Honorable Mention)
Seidman by James Erich received Best LGBT Young Adult / Coming of Age (Honorable Mention). Seidman also received Best Gay Debut Novel/Book (Honorable Mention).
Infected: Shift by Andrea Speed received Best Gay Sci-Fi / Fantasy (Honorable Mention).
King Perry by Edmond Manning received Best Gay Debut Novel/Book (Honorable Mention). King Perry also received Best Gay Contemporary General Fiction (Honorable Mention).
No Quarter by L.J. LaBarthe received Best Gay Debut Novel/Book (Honorable Mention)
Italian Ice by EM Lynley received Best Gay Mystery/Thriller (Honorable Mention)
Whistle Pass by KevaD received Best Gay Historical (Third Place)
Bonds of Earth by G.N. Chevalier received Best Gay Historical (Honorable Mention)
Forgotten Man by Ryan Loveless received Best Gay Historical (Honorable Mention)
The British Devil by Greg Hogben received Best LGBT Biographies and Memoirs Rainbow Awards (Third Place)
Floods and Drought by Zahra Owens received Best Gay Contemporary General Fiction (Honorable Mention).

The Dragon Tamer by Ana Bosch received Best LGBT Cover (Tie for Third)
Speechless by Kim Fielding received Best LGBT Cover (Tie for Third)
Tattoos and Teacups by Anna Martin received Best LGBT Cover (Honorable Mention)
Chasing Seth by J.R. Loveless received Best LGBT Cover (Honorable Mention)
Acrobat by Mary Calmes received Best LGBT Cover (Honorable Mention)
Technically Dead by Tia Fielding received Best LGBT Cover (Honorable Mention)

Clear Water by Amy Lane received an Honorable Mention: One Perfect Score
Together Bound by Elizabeth Noble received an Honorable Mention: One Perfect Score
Galley Proof by Eric Arvin received an Honorable Mention: One Perfect Score
The Thunder in His Head by Gene Gant received an Honorable Mention: One Perfect Score
Cop Out by K.C. Burn received an Honorable Mention: One Perfect Score
Unshakeable Faith by Lisa Worrall received an Honorable Mention: One Perfect Score
The Cool Part of His Pillow by Rodney Ross received an Honorable Mention: One Perfect Score
The Melody Thief by Shira Anthony received an Honorable Mention: One Perfect Score Dec 02, 2012 04:49PM

Gay Pride, A Father's Pride, Just Pride

I was kind of stunned to see the image below on Facebook this morning.


Then, I went into the comments and saw what my son, Nicholas, had written in response to it:

 "How come nobody asked me what I want?..." It's clear to me that no one who was involved in the creation of this BS site ever bothered to ask children of gay parents how we feel about it. Well, even though you scrupulously avoided asking (because you knew you probably wouldn't like the answer, and it certainly wouldn't be useful to this campaign of slander), let me tell you, as the son of a gay man. My father is a remarkable man, he's an accomplished artist, he was a caring and involved father and mentor, and I love him. Therefore, I'm glad he was lucky enough to find love and happiness with someone who loves him back and appreciates him. I certainly don't care what that someone has between his legs; that's your PRURIENT AND WHOLLY INAPPROPRIATE CONCERN, and I really wish you'd stop putting it on people like me. You already claim to speak for gay people ("It's a choice," "Every gay relationship is dysfunctional," "No gay person can really be a Christian," etc) is that not enough? Do you need to appropriate the speech of their children too?

His response moved me to tears. Not only did my son demonstrate love and courage, he also demonstrated a willingness to speak out against bigotry and hate. I posted his response on my own Facebook page.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE STORY.

Shortly after my post on Facebook went up, someone commented on my page, wondering where my son's post had gone; seemingly, it had disappeared. I looked and sure enough, it was gone. Then I saw this reply from Nicholas on my Facebook page, regarding the whereabouts of his comment:

They deleted my post and banned me from ever posting there again; it took all of an hour. That's why no one asked that kid what he wanted; actual concern for the experiences of the children of gay people might get in the way of using "concern" for us against gay couples.

What kind of example does this set? My son did not write a hate screed; he was not disprespectful. He simply told his truth as he knows it. I wonder why Heterosexual Awareness Month (who ever heard of such a ridiculous concept? What's next? White Awareness Month?) can't take hearing from the actual child of someone who knows first-hand what it's like to have a gay father?

I seldom ask for action, but I hope you'll consider cutting and pasting this blog (attributing it back to this URL, of course) or Tweeting about it and doing a Facebook status update. These lunatics need to be exposed for their hatred, which is really, very sad. I also encourage you to bombard them with comments on their page, shaming them. I wanted to say ask Facebook to remove them on the grounds of hate speech, but as a champion of free speech, I can't do that. Here's the URL to the Heterosexual Awareness Page: http://www.facebook.com/HeteroAwarenessMonth

CAREGIVER Wins Award as Best Gay Romance Novel of 2012

I'm very excited to announce that my novel Caregiver is one of the winners of the William Neale Award for Best Gay Romance in the 2012 Rainbow Awards, sponsored by Elisa Rolle.

I am honored and thrilled to be in the company of such fine authors and books. If you go to the link below and take a look at some of the authors in whose amazing company I find myself, you'll see that the list reads like a role call of some of today's finest writers of romantic gay fiction.

See all the winners here.

This award has special significance for me because Caregiver it represents a connection to two very special men who left a lasting imprint on my life.

The first is the man for whom the award is named, William Neale, a writer of some great romantic gay fiction who passed away all too soon, way before his potential as a foremost author of gay fiction was fulfilled. I am very proud to call Bill my friend and even more proud of the fact that I had the honor of editing his very first two published novels. Working with Bill was a joy, because he was s o dedicated to his craft and willing to do whatever it took to make his stories the best that they could be.

The second is the fact that Caregiver is highly autobiographical in that one of its main characters, and the driving force of the novel's other characters learning the importance of loving oneself before one can love others, was my friend, Jim, who became Adam in the book. Everything that happened to Adam happened to Jim in real life, back when I was his AIDS buddy as a volunteer with the Tampa AIDS Network in the early 1990s, when AIDS was truly a death sentence.

Thanks to Elisa Rolle (and the 150 judges of the Rainbow Awards), the tireless advocate of gay romance fiction, who created the awards and oversaw the months of judging and review of nearly 500 entries. In an odd twist of fate, I was fortunate enough to have had lunch with Elisa and Bill Neale both in 2011, at the first GayRomLit Retreat in New Orleans. Little did I know then that Bill would be gone less than a year later.

And thanks to Dreamspinner Press, who took a chance on a book that might have been viewed as too dark and realistic to work as a gay romance, but saw its inner core of redemption and compassion and saw that out of even tragedy can come love and happiness.

But thanks most of all to Jim, my AIDS buddy from more than twenty years ago. It was his big personality and heart that imprinted on my soul, indelibly, and from his story grew my novel, which I think is one of my best. I like to think that Jim knows about Caregiver and knows that its story is his and that he would be proud to see it recognized as it was this past weekend.

My Big Thrill

Just wanted to share the link with you for an article about my male escort romantic suspense story, RENT, which is featured this month in the International Thriller Writer's monthly magazine, THE BIG THRILL.

In the article, you can find out my favorite genre, favorite writers, and exactly how "the power of love" colors my work.

Read the article here.

SYNOPSIS
On the worst day of his life, Wren Gallagher loses his wallet, his job, and his security. Can a stranger met in a bar deliver on his promises of wealth and meeting Mr. Right?

On a day he will never forget, Wren Gallagher wants oblivion when he steps into Tricks for a drink. He's lost not only his job, but his wallet as well. When a mysterious stranger steps up to pay his tab, he also offers Wren the key to fulfilling his dreams of prosperity and true love. But appearances are not always what they seem....

His savior is the owner of the escort agency, A Louer---and he wants the young and handsome Wren to work for him. So down on his luck, Wren figures---why not? He can use the money. When he joins, though, he hadn't counted on meeting Rufus, another escort with whom he quickly falls hopelessly in love.

But their love story will have to overcome the obstacles of not only trading love for money, but A Louer's dark---and deadly---secrets.

Read an
BUY RENT:
In ebook
In paperback
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon Kindle version
 

Cyber Monday! 50% Off on Penance, My EPIC Ebook Award Finalist!

For today only, November 26, the Untreed Reads Bookstore is offering my chilling EPIC eBook Award Finalist, Penance at half-off. Grab a copy in the format of your choice and save big.

Here's what Penance is about:

Bound by misery. Marked by sin. Set free by death.

Barely into their teens, without homes, they dwell in neon shadows, the violent eddies of urban America. They trade their innocence for money, abuse their hopes, and then a monster comes...

A monster without fangs or claws, but more deadly. Because of them, he has lost everything: his wife, his family. And he vows to clean the streets of Chicago...for good.

One of the street kids and a man of the cloth form a desperate pact. Together, they will find the madman whose basement has become a chamber of horrors...

PENANCE was part of Dell Abyss' remarkable horror line, lauded by none other than Stephen King.

Visit the Untreed Reads Bookstore to read an excerpt and get your own copy of Penance.

What I'm Thankful For

I love Thanksgiving. 

Not just because I'm a shameless foodie and it's the biggest food holiday of the year, but also because I simply love the concept of the day: to reflect on what we're grateful for and the good in our lives. We would do well to remember that every day, of course, but it's nice that someone somewhere some time thought it would be a good idea to set aside a special day just for that.

Here, in no particular order is what comes to mind when I think of what I truly value.

1. My husband--Yeah, I'm jumping the gun here, because we won't be able to make it legal here in Washington until December 9 (just a few days away, really), but Bruce has grown to be everything I would ever want in a life partner. I love that he's by my side to share all the joys and sorrows of life and the knowledge that I can rely on him for that. Not only is he my best friend, he's my family too. My heart still lights up every day when he comes home from work--even after over a decade together.
2. My sons--One is by blood and one is by law, but the two young men who live as a married couple in Montreal give me some of the most profound, abiding joy a father can experience. I hate that they are so far away in terms of distance, but they are always close in my hearts and thoughts.
3. My ex-wife and mother of my son--Ellen will always be the woman I love most and, even though what we had didn't work out, she will always occupy a place of honor in my heart.
4. My family of origin--My sisters and all the nieces and nephews back in Ohio have what no one else can claim: that crazy mix of genetics that make us who we are. For better or worse, we're each other's--always.
5. My family by marriage--Bruce's family has welcomed me with open arms and have truly made me feel one of their own. How cool is that?
6. My Mom and Dad--They may both be gone now, but I know they are not truly so. They will always be with me in my heart and memories and I am grateful that, again for better or worse, they made me who I am today.
7. My dog--Lily the Boston terrier has brought joy, frustration, laughter, contentment, and loyalty into our lives for the last nine years. She is truly family and she has to be given credit for the absolute excitement she displays every time I come home, whether I've been gone five minutes or five days.
8. My friends--I won't name anyone, because I would invariably forget someone, but my closest friends (who know who they are) go beyond that appellation. You are family to me and that's says everything.
9. My readers--You are who I am up for every morning at four, pouring out the endless stories that dwell in my heart and soul. You feed my passion and for that, I am truly grateful.
10. My publishers--Thank you for having the graciousness to take on my work and packaging it for the world to see. I couldn't do it without your partnership.
11. My home--I am a true cancer and home means a lot to me. I'm happy I've landed in a comfortable nest near the water that we crabs need to have.
12. My health--I've had a few scares the past few years and I am grateful that I still have the ability and energy to enjoy all of the above.


Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

New Release: Beau & the Beast

At the heart of the classic fairy tale, "Beauty and the Beast" is a classic love story, emotional and touching, about the redemptive and transformative power of love.

That's what made me want to do a modern-day gay version of the tale, set right here in my hometown of moody, rainy Seattle...and the windswept, snowy peaks of the Cascade Mountains nearby. I used the original story as a springboard and inspiration for my tale of two lost souls whom tragedy brings together and to demonstrate how love is possible, even against the most impossible of odds.

To celebrate the release of "Beau and the Beast" from Amber Allure, I will give away an e-copy to one lucky winner. Winning is as simple as 1, 2, 3:

1. Ask me a question about the story. Here's your chance to get the inside scoop on my process and more. Can't think of a question about the story, go ahead, ask me anything.
2. Leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.
3. Gain bonus points for posting about the contest on Twitter and/or Facebook (for example, you could simply cut and paste the following: Check out Rick R. Reed's modern-day, gay take on Beauty & the Beast, BEAU & THE BEAST and be entered to win a free copy. http://bit.ly/S7q2wE )

That's it. Now, if you want to know more about the story--and how I made it my own, read the synopsis and excerpt below. And if you can't wait for the contest and want to buy your own copy at the bargain price of only $2.60 (a 35% savings--for release week only), go here.

SYNOPSIS
Inspired by the timeless tale, “Beauty and the Beast,” by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont, Rick R. Reed has crafted a new fairy tale for our times that manages to be ethereal, romantic and ripped-from-the-headlines realistic.

Beau is a down-on-his-luck street artist living on the streets of Seattle, drawing portraits of tourists to make enough money to live hand-to-mouth. He has a knack for capturing his subjects’ “very souls” on paper. One rainy night, he is accosted by a group of fag-bashing thugs, intent on robbing him of his art supplies and humiliating Beau for who he is. Beau is beaten into unconsciousness...

...And awakens in a beautiful bedroom, his head bandaged and with no memory of how he got there. Outside his window pine trees and mountain vistas beckon.

Beau’s tale grows even more mysterious when a large, muscular man begins bringing the injured Beau his food. The man says nothing—and wears a wolf mask. When he finally does speak, it’s only to tell Beau to call him “Beast.”

What secrets does the wolf mask hide? What do these two outsiders have in common? And will their odd circumstances bring them to the brink of love—or tear them apart? The answers lie in Rick R. Reed’s haunting love story that reveals that beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

EXCERPT 
...“So you brought me here? Where is here, anyway? And why didn’t you just take me to a hospital?”

“One question at a time.” The man paused, as though he were pondering which question to answer first, prioritizing them. “I thought about taking you to a hospital, but I don’t like to have much contact with other people. It’s a long story, but let’s just say I don’t have healthy memories of my time among them. I did, however, examine you, right there in the street, checking to see how severe your cuts and bumps were. I was able to determine, best I could, that while you looked like hell, nothing had happened to you that couldn’t be fixed with time and care.”

The wolf’s face turned to Beau and he could feel the man’s gaze upon him. “I still don’t know if I made the right choice. Your admission that you don’t remember what happened to you concerns me; perhaps I need to reconsider.

“In any event, I checked you over and determined that you needed help, so I brought you here, to my home. We are in a remote area east of Seattle, in the foothills of the Cascades. I had this house built for me to meet my need for solitude. I did not bring you here to keep you against your will; let me make that clear. You are free to leave whenever you like.”

Beau looked around him. He had never, in his whole life, been ensconced in such comforting and comfortable surroundings. Still, this was weird. “My things? Where are my things?”

The man put a gentle hand on Beau’s knee. “You had nothing, just the clothes on your back and those were torn and bloody.” He paused. “I had to throw them away. We’ll see that you get some new ones when you want to go.”

The man said nothing for several moments, and then went on. “I think you should stay with me for a few more days. Get yourself more properly healed and then, when you’re ready, I will not only see that you are clothed, but that you have safe transport back to Seattle. And if you need, we can also get you to a doctor. I suspect, though, you’re still in a bit of shock and that’s affected your memory.”

“Why would you do this?” Beau wondered.

“Why wouldn’t I? What kind of beast would I be if I left you all alone, bleeding and hurt, in that alley? I only did what I would want someone to do for me if the tables were turned.”

“But all of this….” Beau gestured to the room with his hand. “All of this seems above and beyond the call.”

“Perhaps for some. I suppose I could have left you at an emergency room and washed my hands of you. But that’s not me. I hope you don’t mind that I took the liberty to bring you here.”

“I don’t know what to think. I wish I could remember what happened.” But Beau wasn’t so sure he wanted that wish granted. Already, shadowy images were swirling around in his memory, hooded figures, cold—and they filled him with dread.

“You will.” The man stood. “Now, I think you should eat before everything gets totally cold. There’s roast chicken there….” He took a few steps toward the door. “In the morning, I’ll bring you some clothes and we can go outside, if you feel up to it.”

The man was closing the door behind him.

“Wait!” Beau called after him. “Who are you? You haven’t told me who you are.”

The man turned slightly and gestured toward the mask. “Just call me Beast.” He chuckled, but the sound carried no mirth, only despair. “It’s what I am, anyway.”

Before Beau could say anything else, Beast had closed the door...

***

Remember, if if you can't wait for the contest and want to buy your own copy at the bargain price of only $2.60, go here.

"Beau and the Beast" is just one of five great m/m takes on classic fairy tales. Buy the whole set--ONCE UPON A FAIRY TALE--at a special price! Go here to check out the other titles in the collection.
 

RENT is a "Recommended Read" at TwoLips Reviews!

First official review of RENT, my male escort romantic suspense novel, is a rave and "recommended read!" TwoLips Reviews says, "the emotion and the connection just about jumps off the pages..."

Read the whole review here. 

SYNOPSIS
On the worst day of his life, Wren Gallagher loses his wallet, his job, and his security. Can a stranger met in a bar deliver on his promises of wealth and meeting Mr. Right?

On a day he will never forget, Wren Gallagher wants oblivion when he steps into Tricks for a drink. He's lost not only his job, but his wallet as well. When a mysterious stranger steps up to pay his tab, he also offers Wren the key to fulfilling his dreams of prosperity and true love. But appearances are not always what they seem....

His savior is the owner of the escort agency, A Louer---and he wants the young and handsome Wren to work for him. So down on his luck, Wren figures---why not? He can use the money. When he joins, though, he hadn't counted on meeting Rufus, another escort with whom he quickly falls hopelessly in love.

But their love story will have to overcome the obstacles of not only trading love for money, but A Louer's dark---and deadly---secrets.

Read an
BUY RENT:
In ebook
In paperback
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon Kindle version