Ari McKay's Blog, page 23

One Year Anniversary Giveaway!

On June 1, 2012, our first original short story, “Once and Future Love”, was published as part of Dreamspinner’s Daily Dose anthology. The theme was time travel, and the word count limit was 18,000 words.

This year, the June Daily Dose theme is sports, and the word count limit is still 18,000 words. We’re proud to have another story in the collection this year, “Love’s Cabers Tossed”, which will be published on June 1, 2013.

To celebrate the first anniversary of becoming professional, published authors, we’re holding another giveaway! This time, the prizes will be a copy of “Love’s Cabers Tossed”  and a copy of “Once and Future Love”. The giveaway will begin tomorrow (May 19) and will run through May 31 with the winner being chosen on June 1, when the Daily Dose stories become available.

To enter, please go here on Facebook or here!

 

Love’s Cabers Tossed - 

At the Coastal Carolina Highland Games, baker Martin Fletcher receives an unexpected visitor in the form of Fergus, Lyall McLannan’s escaped sheltie. When Fergus accidentally causes Martin to sprain his ankle, Lyall comes to the rescue, helping Martin run his booth at the Games. Unfortunately, Lyall doesn’t know a thing about baking, but he manages to avoid both disaster and Martin’s wrath by attracting patrons with his and Fergus’s showmanship.

Martin accepts Lyall’s invitation to stay in his RV during the fair, getting to know the lawyer-turned-Highlander he’s watched from afar. Martin is captivated by Lyall’s charm… and the tantalizing view of him in a kilt. Entranced by Martin’s dedication to his work and love for Fergus, Lyall sets out to woo him with starlight and bagpipe music, because he’s discovered opposites can attract and love can be found in the most unexpected circumstances.

Once and Future Love - 

Anthony Davis, A-list Hollywood star, is adored by millions for his talent and striking good looks. Approaching fifty and feeling the pressure of competing with younger stars, he realizes that despite all he’s achieved, he’s alone and lonely. Then Anthony encounters Rob Harrison, who tutored him in college, at a fundraiser. Despite the chemistry between them back then, Anthony chose his career over love, and he recognizes the mistake he made at last. As he leaves the fundraiser, he glimpses a shooting star and makes a hopeless wish… asking for another chance with Rob.

Coming Soon!

The release of Heart of Stone is fast approaching! Would anyone be interested in a contest to win a free autographed hard copy?

New Release!

Fennel and Forgiveness is out today! Check it out at: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_110&products_id=3878

We’ll be posting the results of the Recipe for Romance giveaway later today! Thanks so everyone who participated!

Heart of Stone pre-order

We’ve received a release date from Dreamspinner Press for our historical Western novel! Heart of Stone will be released on June 3, and it’s now available for pre-order in e-book and paperback format!

 

Stone Harrison never knew he had an aunt; he certainly never expected her to bequeath him one of the largest spreads in central Nevada. But something about Copper Lake Ranch and its foreman, Luke Reynolds, speaks to him, offering a chance for the home he’s never really had.

Luke wants Stone to succeed as a rancher and put the legacy of his shiftless father behind him, but he’d also like Stone to share his bed. Unfortunately, Stone is convinced that the world is a harsh place that will never accept two men sharing their lives. Much to Luke’s dismay, he refuses to risk Luke’s life despite the intense attraction they share.

The tension between them escalates when a series of calamities strikes Copper Lake. An unexpected and unwelcome visit from Stone’s dandified cousin, James, only makes things worse. Stone’s ability to run the ranch comes into question, but the threat of losing it means less to Stone than the threat to Luke’s life. Stone will do anything it takes to protect the man he loves—even if it makes him a murderer.

Recipe for Romance giveaway!

To celebrate the new release of our next novella in the Recipe for Romance series, we’re giving away a copy of Bay Leaves & Bachelors and Fennel and Forgiveness, which will be published on May 8! The giveaway will begin on April 29 and run through May 7, and copies of the two Recipe novellas will be emailed to one lucky winner on May 8.

To enter, please go HERE on Rafflecopter or HERE on Facebook starting Monday morning!

 

Darius Cooper, Maitre d’ of upscale Montgomery House, isn’t entirely pleased when owner Rhys Montgomery decides to allow the Gourmet Network to use the restaurant for an episode of a reality show. But if he thought that was bad, discovering the show’s director is his former lover, Max Boyd, is nearly catastrophic. Max is the only man Dare has ever loved, and he’s spent seven years fruitlessly trying to erase Max from his mind and heart.

Max was young and immature when he and Dare were together, but now he’s a different man, and ready to settle down into the kind of relationship he wasn’t prepared for back then. He’s never found anyone else who affects him the way Dare does, and he wants Dare back in his life, but the only problem is Dare isn’t the forgiving sort. Between dealing with bridezillas and Executive Chef Stephen Pierce, Max has his hands full. Fortunately he has a ninja-Cupid in the form of Stephen’s PA Robert Logan on his side – but Max still isn’t certain if Dare will forgive him, or if he’s blown his only chance at true love after all.

Closet Capers!!!

Closet Capers is out today, which includes our story, “The Whole Kit and Kaboodle”!   Please check it out at Dreamspinner Press — http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3769

Daily Dose Available for Preorder!

Dreamspinner Press has added Daily Dose: Make A Play to their Coming Soon list! The anthology is now available for preorder, and we’ve got a story in it!

Love’s Cabers Tossed (June, 2013), part of Dreamspinner Press’ Daily Dose anthology.

At the Coastal Carolina Highland Games, baker Martin Fletcher receives an unexpected visitor in the form of Fergus, Lyall McLannan’s escaped sheltie. When Fergus accidentally causes Martin to sprain his ankle, Lyall comes to the rescue, helping Martin run his booth at the Games. Unfortunately, Lyall doesn’t know a thing about baking, but he manages to avoid both disaster and Martin’s wrath by attracting patrons with his and Fergus’s showmanship.

Martin accepts Lyall’s invitation to stay in his RV during the fair, getting to know the lawyer-turned-Highlander he’s watched from afar. Martin is captivated by Lyall’s charm… and the tantalizing view of him in a kilt. Entranced by Martin’s dedication to his work and love for Fergus, Lyall sets out to woo him with starlight and bagpipe music, because he’s discovered opposites can attract and love can be found in the most unexpected circumstances.

Progress

Making somewhat slow but definite progress on Blood Bathory: Absence of the Sun. Action stuff takes a lot longer to write than relationship material, at least in my opinion! Probably because there’s less dialogue — our boys have never had a lack of things to say! When we get this finished, it’ll be time for Cinnamon and Seduction, the fourth of the Recipe for Romance stories, and then back to Blood Bathory for the third novel, Into Nothingness. Somewhere in there will be at least one Halloween story and probably two for Christmas, although it’s hard to imagine, with it only being the beginning of April! It’s a blessing that we never lack for plot bunnies!

Cover Art for Heart of Stone

Cover Art for Heart of Stone!

Novel progress!

Not only have we gotten the edits (or at least the first set) back from Dreamspinner for our historical Western, “Heart of Stone”, but yesterday we received the prospective covers from the artist. Wow! She did an AMAZING job, and one of the covers was PERFECT for what we wanted. I’m almost vibrating (shaddup!) with anticipation to hold the book in my hands and see it for real! We haven’t received the actual publication date yet, but the edits were pretty clean (just long, since the story is much longer than anything else we’ve had published to date!), so hopefully that means it won’t take too much longer through the production process. Fingers crossed! It’s going to be a reality at last!