Ari McKay's Blog, page 13

Haunted Hotties!

This week, my third solo story, “Everything a Big Bad Wolf Could Want”, is coming out in Torquere’s Haunted Hotties vol. 2! Whimsy Hickes comes from a long line of magic users, and when his grandfather warns him of a vision that says he must connect with his true love before Halloween or risk losing his true love forever, he calls on one of his lascivious ancestors for help. Although his sexy werewolf neighbor, Harlan Edgewood, seems to be the perfect candidate, there’s one major problem: Harlan has a girlfriend. Can Whimsy convince Harlan to give love a chance or is Whimsy destined to spend all his Halloweens alone?

Torquere Press is offering a 25% discount on their books through the end of October. Just use the code “spooky15” at checkout!

If you’re looking for other spooky stories to enjoy this Halloween, Ari and I have some older works you might enjoy.

A Hundred Lonely Halloweens — a free read!

The Demon’s Door

Call of the Night Singers

Ghost of a Chance

Blood Bathory: Like the Night

Blood Bathory: Absence of the Sun

Speaking of the Blood Bathory series, we’re still working on editing the monster manuscript for book 3. It’s slow going because I’m the one who does the thorough proofreading before submission, and the last few months have been unusually busy, but my goal is to get it finished before the end of the year. Wish me luck!

More Mercs!

Herc’s Mercs: Once a Hero is now available from Torquere Press! This is the fourth installment in the Herc’s Mercs series, featuring a retired merc who learns that you can take the merc out of the fight, but you can’t take the fight out of the merc.

You can read a sample after the break!

Mason shook his head. “I wasn’t paranoid enough,” he said. “You were. You knew it could get bad. I didn’t believe it — didn’t want to believe it. It almost killed me.”

“I did not want to believe it either. I hoped I was wrong, but my instincts were telling me something bad was going to happen. Now that it has–” Ezra’s voice broke, and he brought Mason’s hand to his cheek, clinging tightly. “I cannot be objective. When I saw you there, saw all that blood…” He shook his head, and Mason thought he saw the glimmer of tears in Ezra’s eyes before Ezra looked away. “I cannot be merely an employee. I tried. If you want me to recuse myself, I will.”

“What?” Mason was confused, but he could see Ezra’s pain, and he reached over with his free hand, touching Ezra’s cheek. “Are you saying you want to leave Jamie and me?”

“No!” Ezra stared at Mason, wide-eyed. “No, I don’t want to leave. But if you want me to remain only your employee, I cannot do that any longer. I tried to maintain my professional distance, especially after I overstepped so badly, but I cannot do it after this.”

Hope flared brightly within Mason. “I don’t want you to leave, Ezra,” he said, praying he wasn’t misreading what he thought Ezra was implying. “I don’t want you to maintain a professional distance, either. You never overstepped, I overreacted. But everything I tried to do to bring you closer just seemed to push you farther away from me.”

“I thought you were angry with me for forgetting my place,” Ezra replied, searching Mason’s face intently. “But if you do not want me to keep my distance, what do you want?”

“I want you to give me a chance,” Mason said slowly, stroking Ezra’s cheek with his fingers, his heart pounding. “To woo you. To see if we could be as good together as I think we could be.”

Ezra’s eyebrows shot up as he gave Mason a startled look, but then his lips curved in a warm smile. “You want to woo me? I like the sound of that.”

Mason felt his cheeks growing hot. “I know that sounds old-fashioned, but what I feel is more than just physical attraction.” He smiled. “Not that I’m not attracted to you. I definitely am, believe me! But I’m drawn to you as well. Your strength, your kindness, your intelligence, your caring. I see how you are with Jamie, and to be honest, I’ve been a little jealous of how easy you are with him, when I wanted you to be like that with me, too. How’s that for pathetic?”

“It is not pathetic,” Ezra replied, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I have wanted to be like that with you too. If you want to woo me, you will find I am amenable to being wooed.”

Herc’s Mercs: Once a Hero

Herc’s Mercs #4, Once a Hero, is now available for preorder from Torquere Press, and it’ll be released on Wednesday! This is the fourth book in the series, and while characters from the previous three books make appearances, it’s a stand-alone work.

Ezra Levin spent years as a soldier, just as his father had wished. But after stints in the Israeli military, the Mossad, and finally as a member of Hercules Security, the man once known as “Ghost” decides to retire and pursue his own dreams of being a chef. At forty-five, he knows his yearning to have a partner and a family of his own are probably unattainable, but as a private chef for Judge Mason Whittaker and his young son, Jamie, Ezra finds some measure of fulfillment. 

Unfortunately, Mason’s past as a District Attorney has made him a lot of enemies – one of whom seems to be looking for payback. When a series of unsettling events disturbs the Whittaker household, Ezra immediately steps up, wanting to protect Mason and Jamie. He calls upon his old friend, Cade Thornton, for help, as a cunning criminal plays a game of cat and mouse that endangers Mason’s life. Ezra realizes that Mason has come to mean far more to him than just an employer, and that he’s going to have to use all his old skills to stop a killer – or else he just might wind up losing the man he loves.

Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around

My new solo story, Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around, is now available!

Landon Parker wants nothing more than to capture the attention of Craig Jeffries, a handsome regular at Mitzi’s Rainbow Room in Miami, Florida. But Craig only has eyes for the drag queens who patronize the club. Raul “Anita Daiquiri” Arcelay volunteers to be Landon’s fairy dragmother, and along the way, Landon realizes he’s hot for teacher. Now he must decide whether to continue pursuing his dream of being with Craig or take a chance on finding happiness with Raul instead.

First Timers anthology available for preorder!

I’ve got another solo story, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”, appearing in Torquere Press’ upcoming First Timers anthology, which is now available for preorder!

First Timers brings you a collection of eleven stories about first experiences. From sweet and innocent to smoking hot, these stories capture the exhilarating feeling that something wonderful is about to happen.

Humor and passion blend in Rob Rosen’s “Come Hell or High Water,” Gacy Grant treats us to a heartwarming first in “The Pickup,” long-time friends become lovers in “The King’s Guard” by Evelyn Burkhardt and “One Sneeze, a Wish, Two Sneezes, a Kiss” by Jacey Mills, and revelations abound first time away from home in Andrea Dalling’s “What a Man Wants” and Helena Maeve’s “Initiation.” “Sample and Hold” by Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese, Megan McFerren’s “Just Like That,” and Val Prozorova’s “Guitar Lesson” explore the intensity of a first coming out, first time, first kiss, while love can be found  where you least expect it in “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by McKay and “Finding Home” by Katherine Halle.

Whether contemporary or fantastical, past or present, a sweet kiss on a riverbank or reveling in the Bayou, these stories are all uplifting, fun, and did we mention hot?

As Fair Art Thou, My Bonny Lad now available!

I’m really proud of this story because it’s the first non-collaborative original work I’ve completed in years. I used to write fan fiction by myself all the time, but that slowed down a lot once Ari and I hit our collaborative groove. By the end of our time in fandom, I was writing very little on my own — maybe one or two stories a year — and once we switched over to original works, I didn’t write on my own at all.

Until now.

I started writing for the Torquere Press anthology calls because I’m going back to grad school this fall, and I needed both to practice writing on my own and to prove to myself that I still could. I figured writing for calls that required less than 10K words would be a good place to start. I flailed around for an idea for the Plaid Nights anthology because hey, men in kilts! I finally decided I wanted to write a historical piece. Then I flailed around for a plot, and then I flailed my way through writing the story itself.

It was tough! I’m used to having someone there to play off of, but there was just me this time, and the words came slowly at first. But they came. The words came, and I finished the story, and I’m so proud of myself for it. I felt like I’d achieved a significant milestone, and it bolstered my confidence that I’d be able to write what I needed to write for grad school.

I’ve written for two other calls since then, and it was much easier. The words flowed more quickly, and the end results bumped up against the 10K word limit. But this little story is like my firstborn, and I’m sending it off into the world with a proud smile. :D

As Fair Art Thou, My Bonny Lad (July 2015) – by McKay

Adie Gilchrist is satisfied with being a bachelor shopkeeper, until a handsome immigrant from Scotland arrives in the port town of Wilmington in the North Carolina Colony and begins pursuing him. Adie’s quiet life is changed in ways he’s not certain he wants. Niall McAllister wants a fresh start in the Colonies, but Adie isn’t convinced they can build a life together without consequences if their secret is discovered. When illness threatens to tear them apart forever, Adie has to decide which he wants more: safety or love.

19 pages/5100 words for $2.49

 

Plaid Nights – Anthology Book Blast, Excerpt & Giveaway!

McKay:

Here’s your chance to win a copy of the Plaid Nights anthology!

Originally posted on MM Good Book Reviews:

Hi guys we have Torquere Press and it’s newest anthology Plaid Nights popping in today so we can check out these sexy men in kilts *swoon*, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and click that Rafflecopter link ~Pixie~ 

Plaid Nights

by

Rob Rosen, Megan McFerren, Julia Talbot, Elizabeth Coldwell, Racheline Maltese & Erin McRae, Angelique Voisen, Missouri Dalton, Logan Zachary, Lila Mathews, Anna Mansel, and McKay

In Plaid Nights, men in kilts are as varied as they are hot. Whether they’re caber tossers, rugby players, Highland warriors, country dancers, or time-traveling vampires, they’re up for surprises and sexy good times.

Rob Rosen starts us off with humor in “Tossing It.” Contemporary men discover love in unexpected places in “Whiskey and Want” by Megan McFerren, “Some Like It Scot” by Julia Talbot, “Perfect Working Order” by Elizabeth Coldwell, and “Off-Kilter” by Racheline…

View original 544 more words

Plaid Nights anthology preorder

The Plaid Nights anthology is now available for preorder at Torquere Press! The anthology features short stories from twelve authors, all focusing on men in kilts. The anthology will be released on July 15, but you can preorder it here!

The contributing authors are Rob Rosen, Megan McFerren, Julia Talbot, Elizabeth Coldwell, Racheline Maltese & Erin McRae, Angelique Voisen, Missouri Dalton, Logan Zachary, Lila Mathews, Anna Mansel, and McKay (me!). The total word count for the anthology as a whole is around 65000, so that means it’ll be available both digitally and in print. The digital version is $5.49.

My story is “As Fair Art Thou, My Bonny Lad”, and it’s a historical romance that’s more on the angsty side.

Adie Gilchrist is satisfied with being a bachelor shopkeeper, but when a handsome immigrant from Scotland arrives in Wilmington and begins pursuing him, Adie’s quiet life is changed in ways he’s not certain he wants. Niall McAllister wants a fresh start in the Colonies, but Adie isn’t convinced they can build a life together without consequences if their secret is discovered. When illness threatens to tear them apart forever, Adie has to decide which he wants more: safety or love.

Excerpt: 

“I’ve seen you at the tavern often enough that you’ll soon make friends, I think,” Adie replied, unable to tear his gaze away from Niall’s intense green eyes.

“I’ve seen you as well.” Niall lowered his voice and glanced around to make certain they were alone. “Never have I seen you leave with a woman, although plenty have tried to catch your eye.”

Adie was grateful for the silvery light of the moon that would hide the blush he could feel rising in his face, and he looked away, uncertain how to respond without revealing too much. “I’ve no time for such things.”

“No time?” Niall hooked his finger under Adie’s chin and coaxed Adie to look at him again. “Or no interest?”

Adie’s breath froze in his lungs, and he stared at Niall, wide-eyed. Surely Niall wasn’t implying that he knew…? No, he couldn’t possibly know that Adie desired men, not women. He was only guessing. But if he was guessing, could that mean he shared Adie’s desires? It was a huge risk, one that Adie wasn’t certain he was prepared to take, not when the consequences could be devastating to his good standing in the community.

Niall gave a sympathetic smile, as if he understood Adie’s reticence. “Would it ease your mind if I said I’ve no interest in fair maidens, only fair lads?”

Adie released a long breath as he studied Niall, wondering how much he could trust a stranger. Then again, Niall had offered trust to him, giving him the power to accept or refuse Niall’s implied offer. Either Niall was quite certain that Adie shared his desires or he thought the risk of asking was worth any potential consequences.

“It does ease my mind at that,” Adie said at last, smiling slightly. “But I must wonder why it matters.”

“Must you indeed?” Niall arched one eyebrow, his expression one of disbelief. “If I must speak in plain words — I would bed you if you’re willing.”

Plaid Nights cover art

My first solo story, “As Fair Art Thou, My Bonny Lad”, comes out next month as part of Torquere Press’ Plaid Nights anthology. The stories were limited to 3000-10,000 word count, so it’s a short story, and it takes place in Wilmington, NC, during the Colonial Era.

The authors participating in the anthology have received their cover art, and here’s mine!

Mmm… Gotta love a man in a kilt! :D

Look for the Plaid Nights anthology at Torquere Press on July 15!

 

News!

Wow, long time, no update! Ari and I have both had a really busy spring, but we hope to get back in the groove of updating this summer.

Our first bit of news is that we have a new Herc’s Mercs book coming out in August! Herc’s Mercs: Once a Hero is a little different from the previous Herc books in that our merc starts off in retirement.

Ezra Levin formerly served in the Israeli Army and the Mossad, and he ended his career working with Cade “Herc” Thornton at Lawson and Greer and then Hercules Security. But at 45, he’s feeling the effects of a soldier’s life on his body, and he’s retired to work as a personal chef for Judge Mason Whittaker, a widower who is raising his son, Jamie. But when it appears an ex-convict is holding a grudge against the man who put him behind bars, Ezra must come out of retirement to protect Mason and Jamie — and admit the truth about his past to the man he loves.

This book is different not only because our merc is older and retired, but also because for the first time, I wrote the merc! Usually, I write the client because Ari is better with action than I am, but we decided to switch it up this time. Writing Ezra was a fun, new challenge, but for Herc 5 and 6, I’m writing the client again. ;)

Speaking of which, we’re putting the finishing touches on a draft of Herc 5 now! We need to add a couple of scenes and go through the editing process, and then we should be able to submit it within the next 2-3 weeks.

Herc’s Mercs: Once A Hero will be released on August 26 by Torquere Press.

Meanwhile, I have a solo story coming out in July! My collaboration with Ari is still going strong, and neither of us has any intention of quitting, but for various reasons, I decided to try flexing my solo writing muscles again. I submitted a short story to the Plaid Nights anthology call at Torquere Press, which was for stories from 3,000-10,000 words featuring men in kilts. My story, “As Fair Art Thou, My Bonny Lad”, was accepted, and it will be published as part of the anthology on July 15!

Currently, I’m working on another solo short story, this one for Torquere’s First Time anthology. After we finish up the draft of Herc 5, we’re going to focus on finishing Blood Bathory 3. It’s taken us a while to get to the point of being nearly finished, partly because we had two or three false starts with that story and partly because we’ve gotten derailed by hot, hunky mercs. ;) Given that this is the last book in the trilogy, we’ve taken extra care to make sure we end on a strong, solid note. That’s not to say we can’t or won’t revisit the Blood Bathory universe! The plot lines from the trilogy will be wrapped up, but there’s definitely room for us to explore other characters and conflicts, and we have a few tentative plans for what we might do.

So much writing, so little time!