Andrew Q. Gordon's Blog, page 23
June 5, 2015
Release Day for Speedy Rewards; by Jeff Erno
Synopsis
Phil Mitchell pours his heart and soul into his job as manager of Speedy Mart, a local convenience store. He loves his work and he loves his fellow employees, but when it comes to his personal life, Phil is lonely and depressed and still pining for his long-departed ex.
He embarks upon the week from hell where anything that can go wrong does. It begins with a truck crashing into his outdoor sign and only goes downhill from there.
Add an asshole homophobic boss hell bent on seeing him fired and Phil realizes he needs to put into place a plan to save himself and his job.
First step in his plan… do something about his love life.
Meanwhile, Ezra, one of Phil’s team members, is dealing with his own roller coaster ride of a week.
As is Brandon, the local cop…
And Mark, the homophobic boss…
Perhaps, with a little… luck, the next week will be better.
Buy Links
Don’t miss the 1 Year Anniversary 40% Off Sale on Wayward Ink’s Publishing’s site
Book trailer
Excerpt
Phil had started out in retail back in high school, working as a bag boy at the local supermarket. He took some community college classes but did not complete his degree. It didn’t matter, though. Back then, a college degree wasn’t required, especially not for retail management. He rose quickly in the company, advancing to a management position.
Finally, when the company he’d worked at for ten years went belly-up, he found himself in the unemployment line. At age twenty-five, his mom had just died and he found himself completely alone, unemployed. He decided to go back to school to complete his degree. He signed up for online classes and continued with them even after he landed the job managing the convenience store. He received his diploma right around the time he met Darren online.
Looking back on his life, he realized that period, though difficult, had been perhaps the most hopeful he could remember. Though still grieving the loss of his mother, he felt like life had begun anew. He had a new career, a man he genuinely loved, and even a college degree. That was also when he began learning Spanish.
But the honeymoon stage of his relationship with Darren didn’t last long, and when it became obvious Darren was far more interested in spending his free time with a bottle of booze than with Phil, they started to grow apart. Phil devoted most of his energy to the store, and when he wasn’t working, he spent a good deal of time online. The relationship withered on the vine, until one day, Darren was gone.
“You work hard,” Humberto said. “You’re always working, no?”
“Sí,” Phil said, laughing. “Yes, I’m always working.”
“Every day I see you. You no have days off? You work too hard, man.”
“Well, it seems to me you work pretty hard, too, Humberto. You’re in here every day, on your way to work. Come on down to this register. I’ll ring you up.” Phil stepped over to the check stand on the far end, the one Janine had just vacated.
“Gracias,” Humberto said, stepping up to the counter with an armload of junk food. He placed the bags of chips and the Hostess snack cakes on the counter.
“What do you do?” Humberto stared at him, smiling, and Phil wondered if maybe he didn’t understand the question. “¿Cual es tu trabajo?”
“Oh… oh. Soy un manitas.”
“¿Manitas?” Phil had heard the word, but couldn’t immediately remember the meaning. “Oh, you’re a handyman. You fix things.”
“Sí, sí.”
“Wow, like, do you do plumbing work?”
“Oh yes, yes of course. Por supuesto.”
“Hm. Ya know, I need to find someone to come fix my sink. At home, I mean. At my house. Do you have a card?”
Humberto cocked his head to the side, as if thinking.
“¿Una tarjeta? A business card.”
“Oh, yes. Yes!” He reached into his shirt pocket and removed a business card, handing it to Phil. “Call me and I’ll come fix you up.” He winked, and as Phil looked into the man’s eyes, a lump formed in his throat. “I have all the right tools for the job.”
Phil quickly looked down at the touch screen on his register, trying to focus on the task of completing the transaction. “Uh, yeah. Um, do you want a bag for this?”
“Una bolsa,” Humberto said, laughing. “Sí.”
Phil placed the business card next to his register and tore off a plastic bag from the dispenser. Then he began filling it with Humberto’s items.
“I’ll let you see my big hammer,” Humberto said, lowering his voice.
About the author
JEFF ERNO began writing LGBT fiction in the late 1990s. Although an avid reader and amateur writer from a very young age, Jeff pursued a career as a retail store manager in Northern Michigan. When his first gay-themed novel was published, he was shocked that anyone would even want to read it. So far, he’s published over thirty novels. Jeff lives in Southern Michigan, where he works part time at a convenience store.
Jeff’s writing credits include a variety of themes and sub-genres including male romance, Young Adult, Science Fiction, erotica, and BDSM. He is the winner of a 2012 Rainbow Award and an Honorable Mention in 2011. His style is unpretentious and focused upon emotionally-driven, character-based stories that touch the heart. Jeff is especially passionate about young adult literature and combating teen bullying and youth suicide.
Email: jeffaerno@gmail.com
Website: http://www.jefferno.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jefferno
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffErno
June 4, 2015
Cover Reveal: Ari; by Cheryl Headford
Synopsis
After having known each other online for some time, writers, Benji and Ari meet at a convention.
Their attraction is both immediate and mutual.
But all is not straightforward—Ari is intersex and Benji transgender.
Together they embark on a journey.
A journey that unites families, and heals old wounds.
But not everyone is happy with the blossoming love between these two unique and special individuals.
Will an act of aggression crush the flower before it can bloom?
Book trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUntf_SzFDA
Pre-order Links
Excerpt
I was wandering aimlessly, in the vague direction of the exit, sipping a reasonably nice coffee from a cardboard cup when I heard someone yelling. It was odd. The voice was quite soft, but very clear, and it seemed to fill the air. I realized, with some shock, it was calling my name. Why the hell was someone calling my name in Bristol train station?
I turned toward the sound and barely had the chance to register a small, running figure before it was on me. The coffee flew out of my hand and hit the floor.
I froze. For a moment my brain ground to a halt in the face of such a surreal situation. I’m not the person who drops coffee on the floor, or gets hugged in stations.
The person—whoever he or she was—threw slender arms around me and held on tight. My face was full of long black hair which smelled of lemon and utterly blinded me. What the hell was going on?
I stiffened for a moment but didn’t have much choice but to return the hug. The person definitely seemed to know me, so I could only go along for the ride. I’d find out who it was soon enough.
After what seemed like an age, the person let go and pulled back a little. Bright emerald-green eyes sparkled in an almost inhumanly beautiful face.
“Benji, you’re so beautiful. I didn’t think you’d be so beautiful. I love your hair so much. Are those your real eyes?”
“Um, well… yeah, they’re my real eyes, just not the real colour.”
Ari laughed. Yeah, it was him. It was really him—maybe. I mean, I still wasn’t sure if Ari was… a him. He was slender and small, at least two inches shorter than my five-feet-seven, and his face was entirely free from hair, in a way that suggested natural absence rather than shaving. He also seemed to have kind of feminine curves, but there was something masculine in his voice and sometimes, when he turned his head—I just don’t know what. He didn’t seem to have breasts, and he’d pressed his chest pretty hard against me, yet a furtive glance didn’t show any kind of package in his jeans. The mystery continued.
I suddenly realized Ari was still talking. I don’t think he even expected me to answer as he chatted with breathless enthusiasm.
“And I nearly didn’t catch the train. You’re taller than I thought you’d be, but did I mention how beautiful you are? We have to take a new photo for your avatar. You’re going to have to be less modest. Come on, let’s go. Do you want to share a taxi? Where are you staying? I’m in the hotel. I keep forgetting what it’s called. Oh, be careful, there’s coffee all over the floor.”
When I looked down, the first thing I noticed was Ari’s boots. They were so pretty, with silver tips on the pointed purple toes. It wasn’t the shape or colour that caught my attention as much as the absolutely killer heels. He was even smaller than I’d thought. My impression as to his gender shifted again.
“It’s mine,” I managed to stammer.
“Did you drop it?”
“Kind of. When you—”
“Oh my goodness. Did I make you drop it? I’m so sorry.”
Before I could say a word, Ari had dragged me to the nearest counter, ordered more coffee, and charmed the barista into cleaning up the spill. Then he linked our arms and guided me away.
About the author
CHERYL HEADFORD was born into a poor mining family in the South Wales Valleys. Until she was 16, the toilet was at the bottom of the garden and the bath hung on the wall. Her refrigerator was a stone slab in the pantry and there was a black lead fireplace in the kitchen. They look lovely in a museum but aren’t so much fun to clean.
Cheryl has always been a storyteller. As a child, she’d make up stories for her nieces, nephews and cousin and they’d explore the imaginary worlds she created, in play.
Later in life, Cheryl became the storyteller for a re-enactment group who traveled widely, giving a taste of life in the Iron Age. As well as having an opportunity to run around hitting people with a sword, she had an opportunity to tell stories of all kinds, sometimes of her own making, to all kinds of people. The criticism was sometimes harsh, especially from the children, but the reward enormous.
It was here she began to appreciate the power of stories and the primal need to hear them. In ancient times, the wandering bard was the only source of news, and the storyteller the heart of the village, keeping the lore and the magic alive. Although much of the magic has been lost, the stories still provide a link to the part of us that still wants to believe that it’s still there, somewhere.
In present times, Cheryl lives in a terraced house in the valleys with her son and her two cats. Her daughter has deserted her for the big city, but they’re still close. The part of her that needs to earn money is a lawyer, but the deepest, and most important part of her is a storyteller and artist, and always will be.
Website: Nephylim-author.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.headford
Twitter: @SevenPointStar
June 3, 2015
Cover Reveal: Vampire Rising; by Larry Benjamin
It’s the mid twenty-first century. Anti-Semitism, racism, sexism and homophobia have been consigned to the dustbin of history. The world is run by “the state,” and Christian zealots, whose chief governing tools are fear and oppression. It’s a wonderful time to be alive—unless you’re a Vampire. Vampires are despised, and feared, and subjected to discrimination and unspeakable violence.
Considered undead, unholy, without basic human rights, Gatsby Calloway lives on the fringes of society, avoiding humanity. Until he meets Barnabas, a young encaustic painter.
When Barnabas is mortally wounded during an anti-Vampire attack, Gatsby must forget everything he has known, and learn to trust.
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Excerpt:
“This here coming up is the stop for Chicksand Street,” the bus driver called out.
Barnabas stood and walked to the front of the bus. He peered out the windshield into the dark, then looked at the driver. “The schedule said you stopped at Chicksand Street,” Barnabas said.
“Not after dark I don’t,” the driver shot back. “This here is as far as I’m going tonight!”
Barnabas shrugged and moved to the door. The Mexican woman he’d noticed earlier touched his arm. As he turned to her, she drew a silver crucifix attached to rosary beads from around her neck and, muttering a prayer in Spanish, pressed it into his hands. He closed his hand around the offering still warm from her bosom and said, “Thank you.”
The bus slowed and the driver said, “This here road, about a mile on, becomes Chicksand Street.” He opened the door, barely stopping long enough for Barnabas to disembark. As soon as his feet touched the curb, the driver closed the door and sped away as fast as the bus’ ancient diesel engine would allow. As the bus passed him he saw the passengers with their foreheads and palms pressed against the windows, their eyes wide, and their mouths forming tiny “O”s of fright.
Sales Links:
Beaten Track Publishing (eBook):
Beaten Track Publishing (paperback):
About the author:
Bronx-born wordsmith, Larry Benjamin considers himself less a writer than an artist whose chosen medium is the written word rather than clay or paint or bronze. His debut novel, the gay romance What Binds Us was released by Carina Press in March 2012. His second book, Damaged Angels, a collection of short stories, is a 2013 Rainbow Award Runner-Up in the Gay Contemporary General Fiction category. His third book, Unbroken, was a 2014 Lambda Literary finalist, and a 2014 IPPY (Independent Publishers Book Award) Gold medalist.
He lives in Philadelphia with his husband and their two dogs.
Where to find the author:
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLarryBenjamin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WriterLarry
Website: www.larrybenjamin.com
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5723405.Larry_Benjamin
Tour Stops:
Parker Williams, Multitasking Mommas, Divine Magazine, Bayou Book Junkie, Andrew Q. Gordon, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Inked Rainbow Reads, TTC Books and More, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Rainbow Gold Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Molly Lolly, Happily Ever Chapter, My Fiction Nook, BFD Book Blog, Mikky’s World of Books, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Havan Fellows, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Hearts on Fire, Michael Mandrake, Elin Gregory
Giveaway:
Click the Rafflecopter Link to win 3 books from Larry’s backlist.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Unbroken
My parents, unable to change me, had instead, silenced me. When they’d stilled my hands, they’d taken my words, made me lower my voice to a whisper. Later I remained silent in defense, refusing to acknowledge the hateful words: Brainiac. Sissy. Antiman. Faggot.
Lincoln de Chabert’s life is pretty unremarkable until he comes home from kindergarten and announces he will marry his best friend, Orlando, when he grows up. His parents spring into immediate action, determined to fix him―his father takes him to baseball games and the movie “Patton”―igniting an epic battle of wills as Lincoln is determined to remain himself, and marry whom he chooses, at all costs.
What Binds Us
When 17 year old Thomas Edward meets the man of his dreams, he assumes they’ll be together forever. When their relationship ends abruptly, he learns that sometimes it’s in an ending that we find our beginning.
At 17 Thomas-Edward escapes southern New Jersey and the tyranny of his parents love thinking he is ready for his life to begin, thinking he is ready for anything. Anything quickly arrives in the form of one Donovan Dion “Dondi” Whyte, his freshman roommate at the University of Pennsylvania. Dondi, who is like no one he has ever met before, in his own words: “Dondi became my guide, my Virgil, on my personal odyssey of self-discovery.”
Dondi introduces Thomas him into “a looking-glass world in which everything was familiar yet larger, more exquisite, more precious than anything he had ever known.” Dondi is stunningly wealthy, sophisticated, passionate, urbane—everything Thomas has dreamed of loving. They fall in love but the relationship fails. They remain uneasy friends. Their fragile relationship is threatened when Thomas falls in love with Matthew, Dondi’s younger brother.
Damaged Angels
Damaged Angels is the first collection of short fiction by Larry Benjamin. The 13 stories in this collection give voice to the invisible, the damaged: the drug addicts and hustlers, the mentally ill, the confused, and the men who fall in love with them, all of them bravely trying to make a place for themselves in the world of unbroken men. Their worlds are sometimes the mean streets of decaying cities, sometimes the great beyond and, once, the earth itself. Often dark, always evocative and lyrical, these stories delve into the lives of men clearly less-than-perfect and explore love in the context of disease and oncoming death as in “The Cross,” drug addiction, as in “The Seduction of the Angel Gabriel,” and mental illness in “2 Rivers.” These stories explore the possibility that less-than-perfect is sometimes perfect.
June 2, 2015
Despite The Odds; by Chris T. Kat—Book Blast and Giveaway
Blurb:
Never judge a book by its cover.
Michael Campbell can’t hold a job for more than a few days. He’s lucky his foreman is giving him another chance with the solar panel project at a primary school in Atlantic City. When he spies a man walking strangely in front of the school, Michael laughs, assuming he’s drunk or high. Little does he realize that Joshua Stone, a teaching assistant, has cerebral palsy, and he’s having a bad muscle control day. Taking a tumble right in front of the handsome construction worker is just his luck.
When Michael learns the truth, he feels badly for his cruel behavior. He offers to give Joshua—and his tricycle, the Racing Rhonda—a lift. Joshua accepts the help, and suddenly there’s a gorgeous man breezing into his life, turning his world upside down. But Michael has more issues than his inability to hold down a job, and neither man is sure if they’ll be able to overcome their fears in order to be together.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs
Release Date: June 3, 2015
Excerpt:
Henderson bulldozed right into Michael’s personal space, surprising him with the action. “You stupid son of a bitch!”
“Hey! No calling my mother names, okay?” Michael tried to joke. He’d never seen Henderson this angry. Neither did he care to have all this anger directed at him. Sure, he could hold his own if necessary, but he was more a run-away-if-there’s-trouble kind of guy.
“Do you know who that was?”
“A drunk who shouldn’t set foot on school property?” Michael hazarded.
Henderson’s eyes narrowed to small slits when he replied, “His name is Joshua Stone, and he isn’t drunk. He’s a teaching assistant who works here.”
“He looked drunk to me.”
Henderson closed his eyes, obviously trying to rein in his temper, before he put a bit more distance between them. “Mr. Stone is disabled, hence the way he walks. It’s not always that obvious, but he was carrying books, a lot of books, which threw off his balance. He’s a very good teaching assistant. He doesn’t deserve to be laughed at by someone like you, who can’t even take care of himself.”
That stung.
Sales Links:
Amazon:
About the author:
Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there’s any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.
Where to find the author:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChrisTKat
Twitter: http://twitter.com/christi_kat
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/ChrisTKat
Blog: http://christikat.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Chris-T.-Kat/e/B008FQQH2Q
Tour Stops:
Parker Williams, Divine Magazine, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, MM Good Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Multitasking Mommas, Full Moon Dreaming, Molly Lolly, Andrew Q. Gordon, Amanda C. Stone, 3 Chicks After Dark, Inked Rainbow Reads, Velvet Panic, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Bike Book Reviews, Cate Ashwood, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bayou Book Junkie, Mikky’s World of Books, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, The Hat Party, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Charley Descoteaux, Chris McHart, Nephylim, Kristy’s Brain Food, Butterfly-O-Meter, Decadent Delights
Giveaway:
Click the Rafflecopter Link for a chance to win Chris T. Kat’s Jeff Woods Mystery collection, a three-book set:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 1, 2015
Author Interview: Alex A. Akira. Dojo Boys: Dragon and Crow Blog Tour and Giveaway
Today please welcome Alex Akira. As part of the Dragon and Crow blog tour, Alex agreed to let me interview him. He’s definitely not your cookie cutter MM Romance novelist, so take a moment to read the interview and then be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of three (3) $25.00 gift cards and seven (7) copies of the series.
Author Interview: Alex A. Akira, Author of Dojo Boys.
Welcome Alex, please tell everyone a bit about yourself.
Hi Andrew, thank you for this opportunity. Um, I’m not used to talking about myself, but I’ll give it a shot. I’m Native American. I’m an artist, and have drawn and written pretty much all of my life, but never wrote to publish until my Dojo Boys series. I’m an orphan, no living family, but I am lucky to have a tight group of intimate friends who lend me support when I need it. I’m passionate about anything creative and love learning and as a result I am a jack-of-all-trades creative-wise. For most of my life I’ve worked in the creative design industry. Let’s move to the next question because I am starting to bore myself.
You like martial arts. What discipline do you practice and how long have you been doing them?
Shotokan karate is my central martial art, but I’ve been in the game a while, so have picked up some other disciplines as well; some judo and jujitsu. For me the metaphysics behind martial practice, the discipline of strengthening ones emotions and chi though meditation and observation, are the most applicable part of martial study. As a rule, no one gets in a physical fight every day, but you do face conflict and choices daily. The practice of observing and confronting mental and emotional conflict truthfully, coupled with the physical movement of the sport is the discipline needed to win a fight without ever throwing a punch. If a physical fight becomes unavoidable, the fight is very short. That said I have physical practice daily, I am in fact married to my sensei.
Before we discuss Dojo Boys, let’s start with what is yaoi and what drew you to it?
Yaoi is a sexually explicit form of Japanese manga (comic book) or anime, (animated film) which focuses upon beautiful, troubled young men who are attracted to other beautiful men. You’ll notice I’m not using the words “gay” here, and that is because the characters in yaoi are not necessarily gay. In fact the idea of homosexuality was foreign to Japan until its interaction with Western concepts in in the mid 1800’s. The principal figure in yaoi is the bishōunen (beautiful boy), who has long represented the epitome of male beauty in Japanese culture.
Yaoi stories generally feature a “seme”, a pursuer or top and a “uke”, a shy or reluctant bottom who is the object of the chase. The narratives of yaoi stories can vary from contemporary to the fantastic, including the paranormal. Its characters can be schoolboys, salarymen, crimefighters, actors, dancers, spies, demon hunters, well pretty much anyone. While yaoi may appear to be simply raunchy stories with erotic images, the history behind its central figure, the bishōunen and the practice of romanticized male/male sex has a long history in Japan. I’ve written a series of posts on the subject for the Dragon & Crow blog hop and invite anyone whose interest is sparked by this topic to follow those posts.
I became interested in the yaoi genre when I stumbled across the anime “My Sexual Harassment” which relays the sexual relationship between a male boss and his young male employee. I loved with this stylish anime and afterwards discovered yaoi manga, then slash and yaoi fan fiction. From there it was a short jump from reading yaoi to writing it.
Talk about Dojo Boys. How many books are in the series and are there more planned?
Dojo Boys is a yaoi romance action-adventure series. The books relay the story of a vigilante-founded espionage agency and the love lives of its agents. In writing the series I strived to capture the simple/complex nuances that appear in Japanese yaoi, but also maintain the parameters of the American male/male romance fiction genre.
Currently there are five books, 3 of which are published and 2 volumes, which will be released in September. I’m also working on an anthology of short Dojo Boys stories, which I’ve temporarily named Dojo Boys: The Lost Chapters. That book will includes stories inspired by my fans questions. In fact the 2 volumes to be released in September were written in response to readers wanting to know more about one of the supporting characters in Dragon and Crow. After the anthology there will be another full 2-volume story that will escalate the action seen in the previous books; a “big mission” which will involve all the players from the previous books.
I understand Dragon and the Crow is newly revised and re-released as a 2-volume box set with your illustrations included. Tell us about the story and your main characters Michael Black and Kiyoshi Kimura.
Yes, the initial 2–volumes in the series, Dragon and Crow and its prequel, The First Misunderstanding, have both been rewritten from my original manuscript of several years ago. I’ve grown as a writer and wanted the books to reflect that growth, but also there are entire new parts included in the current books.
Ah, Michael and Kiyoshi are the main love interests in Dragon and Crow. It’s two Volumes relay Michael Black’s story; how in doing a favor for his sensei his life gets turned on its end. He’s just turned twenty-three and falls in love with a mysterious stranger, Kiyoshi Kimura, who he met because they had a fight in Michael’s dojo one night. Kiyoshi is a beautiful, gifted, nineteen-year-old of Japanese and Korean descent, but it soon becomes apparent that he’s got some major mental and emotional baggage. In trying to help both his sensei and Kiyoshi, Michael ends up involved in a war between the Japanese Yakuza, the Kimura family and a vigilante organization known as the Tanaka Group.
There is also a second couple in this story, Michael’s sensei, Ichiro Kimura and his ex lover, Detective Masato Takahashi struggle to overcome their past as they work together with Michael to bring down the Yakuza crime lord who is semi-responsible for Kiyoshi’s problems. The ten-chapter prequel, The First Misunderstanding, reveals how Sensei Kimura and Detective Takahashi first met while attending high school, in Japan.
What inspired you to write this book?
At its core, Dragon and Crow is a “jock falls in love” story. Kyudo (archery), judo and karate are Japan’s traditional sports not, say … golf and baseball which were imported to Japan’s culture. In yaoi schoolboy tales you find the underclassmen eyeing the practitioners of Kyudo (archery) and judo much like the American high school nerd gazes at the quarterback of the school’s football team. I wanted to explore this type of relationship… what is the life of a student of martial arts like. How do they approach love and the lovestruck?
I was also I was inspired by yaoi manga like Asami Tohjoh’s ‘Only You’, where a high school judo captain must recruit new members or his judo club will be shut down. He tries to recruit another top judo player and sex becomes the only bribe that entices the other player to join the club. Plus, I’m a martial artist with a dojo of karate players, we share stories and so the imagination runs and I write.
Tell us something not in the blurb.
The story is situated in America, Connecticut actually, but the action, especially in Volume two, covers a lot of locations, the dojo, theaters, nightclubs, casinos, New York, Japan and Argentina and more.
Since there is always another story to tell, what are you working on now?
Besides the Dojo Boys series, I’m writing a yaoi android book, Doll Drone, a drug dealer-college student action-romance called Sweet and I’ve got a department store-company VP romance on my back burner. Oh I almost forgot Smithy, my webepisode series about a yahoo from the Midwest who gets scouted by a modeling agency. He discovers his mother, who raised him, is in a witness protection program. Smithy’s modeling job unintentially exposes his mother and soon he is using his international modeling gigs to track down her killers. This series of short stories will be appearing monthly on my website starting in September.
What do you like to read?
I’ll try pretty much anything that is fiction; I like to go where an author takes me. But I love the mythical heroic fantasy of David Gemmell and vigilante/assassin crime thrillers like Andrew Vachss’ Burke series and even Barry Eisler’s “Rain” series.
What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
The initial pouring out of the story and the deep editing of word choice … you know, finding the exact word to capture what you are trying to convey.
What’s your least favorite?
Outlining, because it is still difficult for me to place the story in this form and resist writing the scene… I try to write a sentence and my fingers just keep tapping the keyboard…
What have you read lately that most people haven’t read but should?
I just reread Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings for like the tenth time, and recommend it highly, even if a reader isn’t into martial arts.
If you could meet any writer, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
David Gemmell or Andrew Vachss, they are wonderful at capturing atmosphere and character. I love their style and would love to meet them. Sadly David has passed.
Besides reading and writing, what else do you enjoy?
Drawing and painting, running, martial arts, rock climbing and sex… once in a while I cook.
Last question is all yours – feel free to talk about anything you want your readers to know about you, your book, anything at all.
I hope you read and enjoy my books and thank you for reading this interview.
Thanks for hosting me Andrew it’s been a pleasure.
Title: Dragon and Crow – Deluxe 2 Volume Set
Series: Dojo Boys
Author: Alex A Akira
Publisher: Triple A Press
Cover Artist: Alex A Akira
Length: Volume 1 – 275 Pages; Volume 2 – 390 Pages
Release Date: 25th May, 2015
Blurb: Twenty-three-year-old, Native American, Michael Black’s well-ordered life is disrupted one evening when he is ambushed at the dojo he frequents by a mysterious Japanese youth who goes by the name of Kiyoshi.
Soon circumstances have the gorgeous teen staying with Michael at his apartment. The gifted nineteen-year-old is an intriguing mix of angst, innocence and crafty intelligence, but Michael is honor bound by a promise to his sensei to keep his distance. Michael tries to keep his desire in check, but what can he do if the exquisite teen keeps kissing him?
Volume two finds Michael in deep water when, in trying to help Kiyoshi, he is persuaded by his sensei to participate in a joint government undercover operation to bring down a Yakuza lord.
Before long Michael is immersed in beautiful men, martial arts and espionage all to gain the trust and love of Kiyoshi. Secrets, lies, sex and action combine in this racy, romantic, adventure of two men, Michael Black and his sensei, Ichiro Kimura, navigating a dangerous path for true love.
Michael groped for the light switch, a smile of triumph playing at his lips. Damn, I did it! I beat him! Flicking the switch, he turned, eager to view his skilled opponent and to bask in the accolades that he was sure to receive from Sensei Kimura.
His triumph descended to dismay in a flash. Who the hell is this?
A slight figure lay crumpled at the center of the practice room. Cautiously approaching the limp form, Michael’s heart sank even further. Lying unconscious on the gleaming bamboo floor was a Japanese boy. He looked to be about five-foot-seven, was very pale, and quite young.
“A kid? I beat up a kid?” Quickening his pace, Michael knelt beside the slim figure. Jesus, he’s like fourteen, fifteen? Beautiful. He looks like Ichiro. Better, actually, Michael admitted, surprised at his internal betrayal of his long-held crush on his sensei. He continued to stare down at the slight, fragile boy, eyeing the long blue-black hair that trailed sensuously around the figure’s unfamiliar gray karategi.
Who the hell is he? Why would they have me beat up a kid for my test? Puzzled, he glanced around the room, noting that he and the boy were alone. Ignoring his impending alarm, he gazed back to the unconscious figure.
The youth’s face was truly beautiful. Michael’s inner artist drank in the smooth, pearly skin, the long, sooty lashes, and the pale apricot color blushed across the boy’s delicate cheekbones. God… An aching hunger preceded the lurch of Michael’s cock, which nudged his lower abdomen telegraphing its interest. Get it together. He’s like … twelve! Suddenly realizing that the boy showed no sign of regaining consciousness, Michael snapped from his trance and shook his opponent’s shoulder.
“Hey!” He leaned over the placid body, hand stretching toward the longish neck for a pulse. The telltale thump throbbed beneath his fingers, but his proximity to the boy’s face had him pausing to stare at the youth’s sculpted lips. Christ, get away from him before you do something you’ll regret. Frowning, he started to shift upright when a relentless grip clutched his hair.
Caught off guard, Michael fumbled helplessly as his head was tugged abruptly toward the face beneath him. The beautiful mouth claimed his lips, stealing his breath and muffling his gasp as a hot tongue invaded his mouth. The agile member eagerly caressed its counterpart, igniting Michael’s senses. The tantalizing scent of ripe apricots surrounded him, dizzying him with sensual promises, and urging him to surrender.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/DOJO-BOYS-DRAGO...
Alex A. Akira is the author of the yaoi romance series Dojo Boys, racy tales of young, male martial artists navigating some unorthodox and adventurous paths to find love. The prequel of the e-book series, The First Misunderstanding and the first two-volume box set of Dragon and Crow are available at Amazon:
DOJO BOYS: THE FIRST MISUNDERSTANDING
Find Alex A. Akira here:
FACEBOOK: DOJO BOYS: DRAGON & CROW
WEBSITE: ALEXAAKIRA.ORG
TWITTER: ALEX A. AKIRA TWITTER
G+: ALEX A. AKIRA G+
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June 1: Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
June 2: Andrew Q. Gordon
June 3: A Celebration of Books
June 4: Joyfully Jay
June 5: Elisa – My reviews and Ramblings
June 7: Wicked Faeries Tales And Reviews
June 8: The Novel Approach
June 9: Drops of Ink || LeAnn’s Book Reviews
June 10: Eyes on Books
June 11: Prism Book Alliance
June 12: Nephy’s World
June 14: Love Bytes Reviews
June 15: Cia’s Stories
June 16: The Purple Rose Tea House
June 17: MM Good Book Reviews
June 18: Nessa’s Book Reviews
June 19: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
June 21: Rainbow Gold Reviews
June 22: Man2ManTastic
June 23: The Fuzzy, Fuzzy World of Chris T. Kat
June 24: Lynley Wayne – Wordsmith Wednesday
June 25: Diverse Reader
June 26: Mickie B. Ashling
June 28: Bayou Book Junkie
June 29: BFD Book Blog
June 30: Bike Book Reviews
July 1: Multitasking Mommas Book Reviews
July 2: Nautical Star Books || Divine Magazine
July 3: Gay.Guy.Reading And Friends
May 29, 2015
New Release—KAGE; by Maris Black: Guest Post and Giveaway
Blurb:
ROUND 1 of the KAGE Trilogy
My name is Jamie Atwood, and I’m an addict. I never thought I’d say such a thing. Never had a problem being overly-attached to anything in my life. I came from a perfectly middle-class family, made good grades, and had a hot cheerleader girlfriend. But the truth is, nothing ever really moved me. So how did a guy like me become an addict?
I met Michael Kage.
Kage is an MMA fighter. A famous one. I like to think I helped him get that way.
He’s charming as hell, with looks to rival any movie star and talent to back it up. So why did he need to hire me as an intern Publicist? Simple. He has a darkness in him– like a black hole so deep it could swallow him, and me, and everyone we know– and that’s not good for business.
The first time I met him, I felt the pull. I think the addiction began at that very moment. And even if I’d known then what I know now, I would have fallen for him. How could I not?
For me, Kage is everything.
Buy Links:
Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA Amazon AU Amazon DE Amazon FR AllRomance
Maris Black Books on Barnes & Noble
EXCERPT
“What is it that you don’t want me to see?”
“I guess I just don’t want you to see me differently.” He didn’t look me in the eye as he spoke, just kept watching his finger tracing that figure eight, which seemed to have literally become an infinity sign. “You don’t know how brutal it can get in there, Jamie. How brutal I can get. I kinda like the way you look at me now.”
“Like I want to eat you alive? You like how I’ve got the cannibal thing going on, huh?”
He laughed quietly. “Yeah, I like that.”
“So what makes you think that will change?”
“Fighting is different when it’s someone you know.” He finally met my eyes, and there was a haunted look in his. “You want to see me get punched in the face so hard my knees buckle? Or kicked in the kidney so hard I can’t stand up straight?”
I stared at him, my eyes wide, imagining the things he was describing. He was right. I wasn’t sure if I could sit on the other side of a chain link fence and watch Kage get hurt.
“What, no comment?” he asked.
There was a change in his voice, and in his demeanor. That little light his eyes had when he looked at me— the one that made me believe he might see something special— was gone. Snuffed out and replaced by a cold darkness. Then the barest hint of a sneer tipped one corner of his lips, and I pulled away.
“Think you can handle watching me bend a gown man’s arm backward, hearing the bone snap before he has a chance to tap out? How about punching a man in the face until there’s blood spewing everywhere and he’s lying there limp like a rag doll, head flopping as I bash his fucking head into the mat? Have you ever seen a guy kicked in the face so hard you think his neck snapped? How about seeing me choke a man unconscious and wondering for the next sixty seconds if he’s ever going to wake up again?”
“Kage—”
“That’s what I do, Jamie. I hurt people. Do you know what they call me in there?” He gave me a smile that was one part sarcastic, two parts cruel. “They call me the Machine. Do you think you can have feelings for a machine?”
Feelings? Did he want me to have feelings for him? Because I was pretty sure I already did.
AUTHOR BIO
My name is Maris Black (sort of), and I’m a Southern Girl through and through.
In college, I majored in English and discovered the joys of creative writing and literary interpretation. After honing my skills discovering hidden meanings authors probably never intended, I collected my near-worthless English degree and got a job at a newspaper making minimum wage. But I soon had to admit that small town reporting was not going to pay the bills, so I went back to school and joined the medical field. Logical progression, right? But no matter what I did, my school notebooks and journals would not stop filling up with fiction. I was constantly plotting, constantly jotting prose, constantly casting the people I met as characters in the secret novels in my head.
Yep. I can blame my creative mother for that one!
When I finally started writing fiction for a living, I surprised myself with my choice of genre. I’d always known I wanted to write romance, but the first story that popped out was about a couple of guys finding love during a threesome with a woman. Then I wrote about more guys, and more guys, and more guys. I was never a reader of gay fiction, and I’d never planned to write it. The only excuse I have for myself is: Hey, it’s just what comes out!
AUTHOR CONTACT LINKS:
Facebook Profile: http://facebook.com/maris.black.7
Facebook Fan Page: http://facebook.com/marisblackbooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/marisblackbooks
Website: http://marisblack.com
Giveaway
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TOURSHEDULE:
5/25/2015 Cia’s Stories
5/25/2015 Rainbow Gold Reviews
5/26/2015 Love Bytes
5/26/2015 Sue Brown
5/27/2015 Multitaskingmommas Book Reviews
5/27/2015 Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
5/28/2015 RJ Scott
5/28/2015 Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews
5/29/2015 Diverse Reader
5/29/2015 Joyfully Jay
5/30/2015 Nessa’s Book Reviews
5/30/2015 The Land of Make Believe
5/30/2015 Foxylutely Books
5/31/2015 Man2ManTastic
5/31/2015 Cravin “I” Candy
6/1/2015 MM Good Book Reviews
6/1/2015 Sid Love Writes
6/2/2015 Bayou Book Junkie
6/2/2015 Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
6/3/2015 Drops of Ink
6/3/2015 BFD Book Blog
6/4/2015 The Novel Approach
6/4/2015 Two chicks obsessed
6/5/2015 Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
6/5/2015 Hearts On Fire Reviews
May 27, 2015
The Hidden Wolf; by Sue Brown—Blog Tour
Sue Brown returns today to talk about her love of shifter in connection with newest book, The Hidden Wolf.
Guest Post:
One of the first books I read in the M/M Romance genre was With Caution, J.L. Langley’s second book in the With or Without series. It sealed my love for MM shifter books. I fell in love with Remi and Jake, and Sterling (sweet heaven when is our Sterling getting his own story??) and all the other wonderful wolves and humans of her universe.
I have read many shifter books since. Kim Dare’s Pack series, Bailey Bradford’s Southwestern series, Amber Kell’s many shifter series to name but a few I’ve read and loved. I’m addicted to them. They all bring their own take on what is a well-trod genre. I couldn’t say it’s this book above all others. It’s this book in that series.
Recently I read Turnskin by Nicole Kimberling which is one of the most original and complex shifter books I’ve read in a long time. Her world is dark and political with many twists and turns in the story.
What I love most is that shifter means so much more than werewolf. There are as many variations as there are authors and each one is new and savoured – at least by this reader.
What is your favourite shifter book or series?
Title: The Hidden Wolf
Series: Sapphire Ranch Wolves – Book Two
Author: Sue Brown
Publisher: Love Lane Books
Cover Artist: Meredith Russell
Length: 32,700 words
Release Date: 22nd May, 2015
Blurb: Sheriff Milo Clarke has met his mate, Eli Watkins, and now they’re conducting a long distance relationship while Eli runs Cavalry, the security firm protecting Joe and Cal at the Sapphire Ranch from the hunters.
The long distance loving is hard on all three of them, Eli, Clarke and Clarke’s wolf, who is becoming more restless as Clarke refuses to shift. When Clarke going to give into the other side of him and how will Clarke and Eli resolve the distance between their lives?
Sheriff Milo Clarke leaned against the kitchen cabinets as he watched Eli Watkins and his team, the Calvary, remove the remains of Randy Streerson from the kitchen of Sapphire Ranch. He’d offered to help and been told firmly to stay the hell out of their way as they committed a felony.
Staying to one side was a damned sensible move. What used to be Randy Streerson, the head of a group of hunters that pursued and killed shifters, now covered the kitchen walls, floor, and dripped from the ceiling after young shifter Callum Pope shot him with one of the hunter’s bullets.
Cal was a distant shifter relative of Milo’s. His father had been related to Milo’s mother. Cal’s father and two elder brothers had been killed by a band of hunters led by the Streerson family. The pack had splintered in an effort to survive, and Cal had turned up on Sapphire Ranch after running hundreds of miles to get away from the hunters, only to discover the owner of the ranch was his mate. A lot had happened in a few days. Eli’s men took away what remained of the body and now they scrubbed the kitchen, surprisingly efficient. Milo didn’t have to be a cop to know this wasn’t the first time the Cavalry had cleaned away evidence that a murder had taken place.
He was stuck between duty and likely survival. On one hand he’d witnessed the struggle between Cal and Streerson for control of the gun before Cal had pulled the trigger. On the other…
How the hell would he explain to his deputies what had just taken place? They would want to know where he’d been hiding for the past few days, why he’d been lying to them, who the victim—who was no fucking victim—was, and what the hell was a shifter?
He was a shifter. At least a half-shifter. His mother had been a werewolf and Milo could change, he just chose not to. Instead he lived among the humans as a sheriff and hadn’t given in to that side of him for over five years except for one glorious moment a few days ago. Milo tried not to think about it even as his wolf grumbled inside.
Milo watched the team—at least he watched Eli. His whole attention was focused on the dark-haired man. Just watching him made his mouth dry and his dick hard. From the second Milo had shifted to prove the existence of werewolves to Eli and his assistant Ross, he’d realized that Eli was his mate.
Unable to resist, he’d trotted up to Eli and laid his head on his lap. Tentatively Eli had stroked his head, and Milo leaned into the caress, wanting Eli to touch him more. Eli filled his wolf senses. He smelled woodsy with a touch of citrus. He smelled good.
“Good doggy,” Eli had murmured.
Doggy? Milo gave a low growl at the insult, grinning in wolfy satisfaction as Eli snatched his hand back. He wouldn’t have hurt him—much.
And Eli had seemed equally drawn to him, finding it hard to take his eyes off Milo, even as they’d talked strategy with Joe, Cal’s mate and the owner of Sapphire Ranch.
But they hadn’t gone near each other, hadn’t touched each other at all beyond that one brief contact. Milo had been relieved because they had needed to focus their minds, not their dicks, to defeat the hunters. Relieved—and frustrated beyond belief to have his mate so close and not be able to touch him.
There was another issue. They hadn’t connected telepathically.
Milo had thought that happened immediately. But he was only a half-shifter, with limited shifter abilities in his human form, and Eli was a human. What would happen if they didn’t connect? Could they walk away from each other? It would make life so much simpler.
Milo caught Eli frowning at him, and he looked away, feeling guilty. Eli didn’t need to know. They hadn’t connected. He need never know. Milo’s wolf howled inside him at the thought of walking away from his mate, and for once Milo didn’t try to hush him. The thought hurt his human side just as much. But Milo had spent his whole life hiding his true nature, and now, through no fault of his own, everything he’d worked to hide was liable to be exposed. Among humans he hid the fact he was half-shifter. Around shifters he tried hard to fit in, even though his human side affected his wolf senses. And with both communities he hid the fact he was gay.
Milo had spent his whole life in hiding and with one phone call Joe had exposed him to humans—both as shifter and as gay. He wasn’t fucking ready for it. And didn’t that suck?
Sue Brown is owned by her dog and two children. When she isn’t following their orders, she can be found plotting at her laptop. In fact she hides so she can plot and has gotten expert at ignoring the orders.
Sue discovered M/M erotica at the time she woke up to find two men kissing on her favorite television series. The series was boring; the kissing was not. She may be late to the party, but she’s made up for it since, writing fan fiction until she was brave enough to venture out into the world of original fiction.
AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suebrownstories
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SueBrownsSto...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/suebrownstories
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+SueBrownstor...
Blog: http://suebrownsstories.blogspot.co.uk/
Website: http://www.suebrownstories.com/
Email ID: suebrown.stories@gmail.com
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May 25: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words || RJ Scott
May 26: Elisa – My reviews and Ramblings || Wicked Faeries Tales & Reviews
May 27: Hearts on Fire || MM Good Book Reviews
May 28: Andrew Q. Gordon || Elin Gregory
May 29: Cia’s Stories || Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
June 1: Man2ManTastic || Daydream Believer Book
June 2: The Purple Rose Tea House
June 3: Nessa’s Book Reviews || Lynley Wayne – Wordsmith Wednesday
June 4: Prism Book Alliance
June 5: The Novel Approach
June 8: Love Bytes Reviews
June 9: Gay Media Reviews || Diverse Reader
June 10: Molly Lolly: Reader, Reviewer, Lover of Words || Rainbow Book Reviews
June 11: Rainbow Gold Reviews
June 12: Drops of Ink || Bayou Book Junkie
May 25, 2015
Cover Reveal For The Right Time; by Lane Hayes
Workaholic Nate Erickson is a successful real estate developer who thrives on long hours and stress. When a Los Angeles project prompts him to relocate to Santa Monica, he welcomes the change of scenery. Nate has always considered romantic entanglements trouble, but his sexy next-door neighbor isn’t easy to ignore. Which makes no sense, because Nate is straight… or so he’s always thought.
Alex Reyes is a retired professional soccer player turned West Hollywood business owner with an insatiable lust for life. He loves his family, friends, and work. But there’s one life challenge left to accomplish: coming out publically. Respect for traditional Latino values has kept him in the closet, but Alex begins to think he and his new neighbor might help one another combat their fears. As Alex and Nate forge a strong friendship, they soon realize facing their personal demons will take more courage than either man bargained. The reward is immeasurable… if the timing is right.
The Right Time; by Lane Hayes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson
Release Date: June 26, 2015
Excerpt:
I hadn’t worked out with a professional in years, and it felt foreign to wait for someone else’s direction.
“Any issues with your shoulders or arms? Any injuries I should know about?” he asked, handing me the weights.
“No, I’m good.”
“Great. Start with your palms facing your thighs, lift them both over your chest, then lower the left. Good. And now the right.”
He stood over me diligently, making slight corrections when needed. My supine position gave me an interesting perspective. When I looked up, I noted how his strong brow offset his twinkling eyes. I swallowed uncomfortably and turned my head, only to find myself staring at his crotch. His dark shorts seemed to hint they were covering a generous package.
Holy fuck.
“You doing okay?”
“Uh yeah. Hey, weren’t you going to tell me about your Friday night?” I needed him to talk. I didn’t trust my thoughts anymore, and I was stuck in my current position crazily aware of a man in a way I hadn’t been in over fifteen fucking years. Diversion in any form was welcome.
Alex snorted. “I already told you. I went dancing, and oh yeah, I did get lucky.”
He added the last part with a hearty chuckle, no doubt catching my wide-eyed expression. I hadn’t expected that.
“Oh.”
“You asked.”
“Right.” I did? The strong flash of jealousy took me by surprise, but I pressed on. “Did you go back to the beach to get those girls’ numbers last weekend?”
He looked confused for a second, but a slow cocky grin soon spread across his handsome features as he crouched so his face was close to mine.
“No, I told you they weren’t my type.”
I gulped and watched his eyes lower to my throat. He licked his top lip and reached out to adjust my wrist.
“Lift ’em both at the same time, Nate. That’s it. Push it. Harder.”
I sent up a quick prayer I wasn’t sporting a tent in my shorts. Alex’s voice, touch, and yeah, the unintentional innuendos were making me nuts. And horny. I felt terribly out of my element. I wasn’t sure what we were talking about anymore, but the potent silence made me more uncomfortable than speech. Keep talking, I thought.
“So a dance partner?”
“What? Oh. Yeah, I think so. I can’t remember. It was just one of those things, you know? Sit up. Let’s give your arms a break.”
“Just one of those things?”
“Yeah. One night. No numbers exchanged. No hassle, no fuss.”
I had no words. Literally.
Alex chuckled gleefully as he led the way to a leg machine. He gave instructions and stood back to observe me for a moment.
“It’s not necessarily my favorite kind of sex, but hey….” He shrugged his shoulders with his hands outstretched as if to say “what’s a guy to do?”
I recognized this cue. It was my opportunity to commiserate about the trials and tribulations of being a single man with a healthy sexual appetite. Now was my chance to admit it was nice every once in a while to have sex of the nonsolo variety with someone who knew the score. But I was tongue-tied and equally aware of a completely different undercurrent. One I wasn’t brave enough to explore.
“You can stop having fun at my expense any time.”
Alex squeezed my shoulder and smirked playfully. “You’re easily rattled.”
“How so?”
“You seem like someone who has a place for everything and likes everything in its place. You have a routine, and you don’t appreciate any deviation. I should be flattered you came to the gym with me at the spur of the moment.” He paused, running his tongue over his plump bottom lip. “If you’re not careful, I’m gonna think you like me.”
The air between us crackled. Alex leaned forward so his handsome face was mere inches from mine. His proximity alone seemed to issue a challenge. Daring me to confess I was more than I appeared to be. I doubt he expected any revelations, but his intent was certainly to… how had he put it, rattle me. And damn, it was working.
About the Author:
Lane Hayes is finally doing what she loves best. Writing! An avid reader from an early age, Lane has always been drawn to romance novels. She truly believes there is nothing more inspiring than a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Lane discovered the M/M genre a fews ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel, Better Than Good, was a 2013 Rainbow Awards finalist. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and their very old dog in an almost empty nest.
Where to find the author:
Facebook: Lane Hayes
Facebook Author Page: Lane Hayes Author
Twitter: @LaneHayes3
Tour Stops:
Parker Williams, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, BFD Book Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, Carly’s Book Reviews, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, 3 Chicks After Dark, Andrew Q. Gordon, Chris McHart, Cate Ashwood, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Love Bytes, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, TTC Books and More, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Molly Lolly, Charley Descoteaux, Divine Magazine, Velvet Panic, The Hat Party, Mikky’s World of Books, My Fiction Nook, Carly’s Book Reviews
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The Eye And The Arm On Sale For A Limited Time
First let me say to all authors, if you want to work with the best, submit to DSP Publications and Dreamspinner Press. Everyone loves their publishers and honestly, you should. But this is special. In the world of writing, I’m still relatively new—just don’t tell them that. They treat me like royalty and always have.
Now, I can hear the skeptics out there; “anyone can say their publisher is good, tell me why.” I’m glad you asked. One of the so called pro’s of self-publishing is the ability to give away your first book or cut the price of another to build readers. I wanted to do both with the first two books of the Champion of the Gods series. Having a publisher, I can’t do that. But they can—and they did!
So, as you’ve seen in my previous post, I’m going to do a monthly update email group and as an incentive for people to join, I’m giving away a copy of The Last Grand Master for free to anyone who signs up.
(⇓If you missed it, click the link below⇓)
And, if that wasn’t enough, they’ve agreed to cut the price of Book 2 – The Eye and the Arm, to encourage folks who’ve read The Last Grand Master to buy book two. I don’t know how long it will last, so get it while it’s only $3.99.
(⇓ Click the Banner Below ⇓ For Where To Buy Links ⇓)
May 24, 2015
Sign Up For Monthly Updates And Get A Free eBook
Now that Kings of Lore and Legend, Book Three of Champion of the Gods is finished and submitted, I feel like I have a body of work worth promoting. I know, authors always think their work is worth promoting, but now that Books One & Two are available for sale, Three is done, and I’m working on Four and beyond, I’ve reached a point where I can do more with the world without spoiling things (well at least not for loyal readers. I’ll post warnings for those who’ve just started reading.)
Everyone who signs up will get a free eCopy of The Last Grand Master.
↓Click the banner below ↓ to sign up for the updates and get your free eBook. ↓
In addition to the Champion series, I’ve got the release of Purpose coming out in October, the follow on Novella to Purpose I’m going to title Redemption, and if I can get to it, a couple contemporary stories. All told, I’ll actually have something to talk about going forward.
As with so much else, I’ve grand plans on what I’m going to do, so the devil will be in the execution. But with just a monthly update, I think I can manage that. For those on the fence about signing up, I’m going to do a few things that will can only be posted in the mailing list updates. Those include giveaways, deleted scenes and some sneak previews. The regular updates will still be posted on my website.
For those of you that missed it, here’s the link to sign up.
↓Click the banner below ↓ to sign up for the updates and get your free eBook. ↓
(Yes, I know, it’s a different graphic, I made a few and am seeing which people like most.)
As always, thanks for reading and all your support.
Enjoy the Journey
AQG
