Lex Chase's Blog, page 23

Brandon Witt and GRL Pandemonium!

Three weeks until my first GRL conference.  Three weeks!!!  I swore I was going to lose forty pounds so that I could slut it up at the time-period gala.  Well, I might as well have added grow six inches to reach six foot tall and get a tan to that to-do list.  Both of those things were about as likely to happen as the weight loss.  But, let me tell you, the huge plate of chicken cannelloni from Maggiano’s I had at dinner tonight was delicious!  And I didn’t think about the forty pounds I’d wanted to lose once in the middle of all that cream and cheese.

I might not have met my physical goals for my virgin voyage into GRL, but I met all of my other ones!  I’ve been welcomed with open arms by fellow authors and MM readers alike.  I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it a million more times.  I have never met such a loving, supportive, and uplifting group!  Every author I’ve encountered has had the philosophy of ‘If-you-succeed-I-succeed.’  How wonderfully rare that is!  I have friends who I’ve only met on facebook that I get to see face-to-face in a few short days!

I have two books coming out between now and GRL.  I was invited to move up to a featured author spot, and since I’m a GRL newbie, I still don’t really understand what that means, but I’m about to find out.  I set out with low expectations to find an artist I could talk into doing some GRL swag for me, and I somehow landed in the lap of the illustrious Catherine Dair, an amazing artist who quickly became a friend! And wait until you see all she has done!  I’ve had my nerves spike about being around so many people all at once so many times (I don’t love crowds) that I might have reached a state of euphoria where I’m miraculously excited to be around ‘like’ people!

I will admit, seeing the GRL schedule this week was a bit terrifying!  There is so much happening.  So much to do.  So much to choose from.  But a wonderful dilemma to have when there’s not a bad choice to be made!

In considering what to write for this GRL blog, I’ve been all over the map.  And, while I may not have landed on the most sellable topic, I just wanted to express how excited I am to be with you all there and how very grateful I am to have been welcomed into such a lovely family!  I cannot wait to embark on this wonderful Chicago journey with you!

As a reminder, this Wednesday, the 24th Authors Gone Wild is being released.  It is an anthology of erotic stories set at a gay writing convention that five of us schemed up to help celebrate GRL.  And, on the 29th, my contemporary novel, Then the Stars Fall, will enter the world.  You can expect a couple of cute corgis on some swag in honor of that particular release.

Can’t wait to meet all of you in a few short weeks!  And between now and then, I’ll pretend to be losing weight while eating lots of Ben & Jerry’s.  I won’t tell if you won’t.  Or, better yet, join me in a pint of cookie dough when we see each other!

LAST CHANCE! 60% Off Lex Chase Paperbacks!

Hey guys! Dreamspinner Press has 35% off paperbacks until MIDNIGHT EDT/9PM PDT

But on top of that use my personal code of Chase0920 (case sensitive) for an EXTRA 25% off all of my Dreamspinner titles! What does this mean?

You get 60% off t he Chasing Sunrise AND Americana Fairy Tale paperbacks!

The code does not qualify for free shipping to GRL so you will have to bring them with you to Chicago. But that is A-OK because I will happily sign them and shower you with love and squee!

So hurry while the getting is good!

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=784

 

Hit the Road with the Americana Fairy Tale Blog Tour!

Hit the Road!

Follow the Americana Fairy Tale Blog Tour as we head into the woods and find our destiny through looking glass and then do battle with lions, tigers, and bears! Oh my!

Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore. It looks more like Minnesota… Or is that Texas? Florida? I knew I should have taken a left at Albuquerque…

So sit back, relax, as we enjoy the ride to the second star to the right and straight on till morning.

Americana Fairy Tale Tour Stops:

9/11 – Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews

9/12 – Americana Fairy Tale Release Day!

9/15 – The Novel Approach

9/18 – The Purple Rose Tea House

9/20 – Americana Fairy Tale Chat at the Dreamspinner Press Facebook Page

9/21 – Tali Spencer

9/23 – DSP Twitter Takeover with Charlie Cochet

9/26 – Gay List Book Reviews

9/30 – Sarah Madison

10/3 – The Hat Party

 

Genre: Urban Fantasy Fairy Tale

Series: Fairy Tales of the Open Road

Length: Novel

Published: September 12, 2014

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

ISBN:978-1-63216-207-6

Buy: Paperback or eBook

Blurb:

Modern fairy-tale princess Taylor Hatfield has problems. One: he’s a guy. Two: his perfect brother Atticus is the reincarnation of Snow White. Three: Taylor has no idea which princess he is supposed to be. Four: Taylor just left his prince (a girl) at the altar. Despite his enchanted lineage, Taylor is desperate to find his Happily Ever After away from magic, witches, and stuffy traditions. Regrettably, destiny has other plans for him. Dammit.

When word reaches Taylor that Idi the Witchking has captured Atticus, Taylor is determined to save his brother. He enlists the help of rakish and insufferable Corentin Devereaux, likewise of enchanted lineage. A malicious spell sends Taylor and Corentin on a road trip through the kitschy nostalgia of roadside Americana. To save Atticus, they must solve the puzzles put forth by Idi the Witchking. As they struggle, Taylor and Corentin’s volatile partnership sparks a flash of something more. But princesses have many enemies, and Taylor must keep his wits about him because there’s nothing worse than losing your heart… or your head.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

GRL For Introverts by Edmond Manning

GRL for Introverts

 

So you’re super excited about going to the Gay Romance Lit conference and um…you’re also a little bit terrified? Afraid of being overwhelmed by the confetti-colored squeeeeeeeee energy swirling everywhere in the air?

It’s okay. You’re alright.

You might just be an introvert when it comes to socializing.

A lot of us are.

So let’s review some tips.

 

Swim like a child.

Remember swimming as a kid and the obsession with getting to the next swimming pool? Get to a pool. Get to a pool. I remember diving in and staying in that water for five hours, until mom’s ninth warning to GET OUT. But my memory is skewed. As an adult, it’s funny when to watch kids swim. They run and jump in the deep end and splash around for thirty minutes, demanding you “Look at me! Look at me!” Then they swim for another five minutes and get out. Dry off. Eat nachos and lie in the sun. Then they race to the pool and start all over again.

Don’t plan on socializing for five hours.

Make strategic cannon balls into the socializing pool and stay for a while. Set an alarm on your phone to go off every hour on the hour and tell everyone around you, “I have to answer this text. Back in 10.” Go upstairs, go to the hotel parking lot, go hang out in a hallway on a floor different from your own (so that you are less likely to run into people you know). Go somewhere. Dry off and have some nachos.

The times when I end up completely overwhelmed at GRL are those times when I did not take socializing breaks. I thought, “Well, this is no big deal. I’ll just talk non-stop with 400 people for five hours and I’ll be fine.” This is not a good plan.

 

Plan your hiding spot

The first point suggests taking a break. This second point suggests you plan a location. Could be your room, obviously. (Probably not, if you have four roommates.) On your first day at GRL, go scout out a place in this hotel where you can be alone. Suggestions: the gym, the laundry room, a long hallway. Ask the front desk staff for a suggestion. Maybe a basement area, an unused conference room, or the stairs leading to roof access. Name it as your quiet zone destination. You can even take an introverted friend as long as you both agree on a certain amount of time without talking.

I’ve stayed in this hotel once before. I felt like I was staying in a freaky beehive with little cubbyholes and strange corners. I bet there are a million little places to hide.

But not the hot tub.

The first and only time I stayed at the Indian Lakes Resort, I was teaching a two-day intensive class in my profession. There were about fifteen students in class. Most of us didn’t have rental cars, so for meals and non-class time, we just kinda hung out in the hotel. After that first long day of teaching and facilitating group problem-solving, I decided to sit in the beehive hot tub.

Within ten minutes, five of my students were in the hot tub with me and honestly, I didn’t want to see them while I was mostly naked. It’s weird, professionally, right? Then a few more students showed up. Students with weird tattoos and overly-revealing swim suits, and just…no. I’m sure it was no treat for them to watch their chunky instructor scratchy his pale, hairy stomach. After a few work-related questions, suddenly, I was teaching class again, but this time mostly naked from a hot tub while eleven people stood around and listened, asking clarifying questions.

So, yeah. Not the hot tub. Everyone else will head there to be alone as well. Find a better spot.

If you can’t find alone-space at the hotel, go walking on the grounds. October is a gorgeous time of year in Illinois, so take a walk.

 

Music works

Listen to something that restores your soul. Close your eyes. The easiest way to shut out the world for a few minutes is to close your eyes and listen to The Pointer Sisters. As a treat for yourself, buy five new songs before going to GRL so there’s something fun on your phone.

 

Claim an introvert buddy

It does help to talk things out. Find an introvert buddy on Day One and agree to help each other process how big this conference feels. You’d be surprised how healing it is to say to someone, “I’m overwhelmed. I’m not sure I can do this.” Or, “Take a deep breath with me and remind me I’m okay.” Or, “We’ve got to hurry up and get to the next event before Anne Tenino eats all the spring rolls.”

You might also consider going to some of the big parties on the buddy system. You don’t have to agree to walk around as a pair all night, but agree to check in with each other every half-hour or so. Meet near the bar or a certain corner and take a few deep breaths together. Most people don’t realize they need a few deep breaths or a minute of downtime until after they’re already overwhelmed. If you plan with an introvert buddy, you can avoid getting to that place of feeling overwhelmed. Plus, one of you can distract Anne Tenino while the other loads up your appetizer plate with spring rolls.

 

Get a massage

Did you know Indian Lakes Resort has a spa? It’s true. (Apologies if this next part reads like a Dr. Seuss poem.) Massages aplenty, like Swedish and Sports and Kinks from the Links! Strawberries & Cream for your toeses and Aroma Therapy for your noses. They’ve got Scalp Rejuvenators and a Lavender Foot Massage! Renewal Peels, Skin Resonance, and Action Sublime! http://indianlakesresort.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Menu-081114.pdf

Sure, some are overpriced but you know a great way to take care of your inner introvert? Care for your body. Give yourself a massage. If you think $114 is expensive (gratuity included) for an hour massage, find a local massage therapist who you can visit or a professional willing to come to your room. With several weeks before GRL, you have time to find a reputable massage therapist. If you’re concerned about inviting a stranger to your hotel room to give you a massage, find a pal and the two of you might buy two hours of time with this person, each of you getting an hour. Most hotel-room-killers are less likely to murder you if you’re with a friend. (Wow…that sounded less dark in my head.)

At the Atlanta GRL, I scheduled a room massage for myself. He showed up and I groaned while he worked every muscle. I’ll be doing that every year now. Pampering myself physically allowed me to mentally relax myself for late night parties and three-hour laughing conversations. Who knew socializing was such physically draining work?

 

Eat well and hydrate

If you were going to run a race, you’d prepare: eat well, hydrate, stretch out your muscles. A large conference weekend is no different than a big race. (Well, except for the burning calories, strengthening your heart, and runner endorphins. Still. They’re basically the same thing.) To feel alert, ready, and buoyant, take care of your body. Drink water instead of another Diet Coke. Sure, partake from the lovely buffets, but don’t forget something green on your plate. A four-day intensive socializing conference is a marathon. Marathon runners plan for taxing their body.

You know that ‘conference crud,’ the snot-drenched cold people complain about the week after a conference? It’s not a requirement you take it home. But it’s so common to physically run down your body at a conference, the sniffles feel inevitable. It’s not inevitable. Bring Vitamin C and take some three times a day. Get fresh air every day. Bring some favorite, healthy snacks from home for your hotel room that don’t require refrigeration, like cherry tomatoes or pea pods.

 

Read

Seems silly to suggest this to a conference of readers and writers, but we all know one of our favorite escapes is reading. So read! Take a little time every day to read a book. Maybe not your traditional three-hour reading binge, but at least a half-hour. And not just right before bed. Do it in the middle of the day! Get lost in someone else’s world and it may help prepare you to deal with ours.

 

And finally, a note to extraverts

Our extraverted friends who stumble upon this post might wonder ‘what’s the big deal?’ This is mostly non-stop partying with people who are already online friends and you already know you like the same kinds of books…so why is this so hard?

Well…we’re different from you. We take energy in from quiet times and one-on-one conversations. We’re thrilled to be here—we’ve been looking forward to this just like you have—and it exacts a toll on us. Please be patient when we leave the room abruptly, suddenly realizing we’re overwhelmed. If you could just be okay with us suddenly getting quiet for fifteen minutes as our conversation software reboots, that would be great.

We love having extraverted friends. You are an absolute joy to us.

And we need a little downtime at big conferences so that we can return the favor and be an absolute joy to you, too.

***

Edmond Manning is the author of King Perry, Filthy Acquisitions, and more. At this year’s GRL, you can find him in the hotel laundry room dancing with headphones on.

Americana Fairy Tale Release Day Blitz + Giveaway

 Americana Fairy Tale 

(Fairy Tales of the Open Road #1)

by 

Lex Chase




Blurb:

Modern fairy-tale princess Taylor Hatfield has problems. One: He’s a guy. Two: His perfect brother Atticus is the reincarnation of Snow White. Three: Taylor has no idea which princess he is supposed to be. Four: Taylor just left his prince (a girl) at the altar. Despite his enchanted lineage, Taylor is desperate to find his Happily Ever After away from magic, witches, and stuffy traditions. Regrettably, destiny has other plans for him. Dammit.



When word reaches Taylor that Idi the Witchking has captured Atticus, Taylor is determined to save his brother. He enlists the help of rakish and insufferable Corentin Devereaux, likewise of enchanted lineage. A malicious spell sends Taylor and Corentin on a road trip through the kitschy nostalgia of roadside Americana. To save Atticus, they must solve the puzzles put forth by Idi the Witchking. As they struggle, Taylor and Corentin’s volatile partnership sparks a flash of something more. But princesses have many enemies, and Taylor must keep his wits about him because there’s nothing worse than losing your heart… or your head.











Available to purchase 

Excerpt

“I’m getting a shower,” Taylor said and quickly shuffled into the

bathroom. In the silence, Taylor pressed his back to the door and slid to the

floor. He clamped both hands around the crotch of his shorts and hissed through

clenched teeth, “Stop, stop, stop, please, stop.”

He had to stop thinking

about his dream. And thinking about Corentin in that way. Corentin wasn’t even

his type! And Corentin’s type was clearly

not a raging homo-sheckshual. By all of Taylor’s understanding, Corentin’s breed

of redneck was of the misogynistic racist variety. Taylor paused. Was he just

telling himself that? Taylor mentally felt around the edges of the dream. He

flinched with the dirty feeling.

Shower. He needed a shower. Now.

He picked himself up off the floor, then staggered to the tub. The

enamel had seen better days, with that lovely rusty ring around it. The shower

curtain seemed to be a repository for all assorted natures of DNA. Taylor

gingerly touched it in an effort to move it just out of the way enough to turn

the faucet. Scuffed up and mottled with rust, even the faucet made him wince.

He ripped off a sheaf of cheap toilet paper to use to turn the faucet on. First

the water belched into the tub, then after a few rude bubbling gurgles, ran in

a steady stream. It wasn’t particularly warm, however. Taylor surmised he

didn’t really need a hot shower anyway.

He disrobed, dropping his clothes in a heap on the floor. But on

second consideration, he didn’t have anything else to change into. What he had

on his back was it. Like his cum-stained cargo shorts. Yuck. He scooped his clothes off the floor and hung up his shirt on

the towel rack. He’d have to do something about his shorts, because they’d

smell and get uncomfortably crusty. He chuckled. He would never have predicted

how contentious he’d become about cleanliness until he only had one change of

clothes for the foreseeable future.

As the tub faucet ran to get some marginable level of lukewarm, he

cranked the faucet in the sink. He let the water run over the crotch of his new

shorts and scrubbed them as best he could with the questionable cracked soap

bar.

Corentin knocked once on the door. “Come on, man. Gotta pee.”

“Hold your horses,” Taylor huffed. “Let me get in the shower first.

Great Storyteller Almighty.”

Taylor hustled and wrung out his shorts. He hung them also on the

towel rack and finally hopped into the shower before poor pitiful Corentin

could have an accident on the floor. Some self-reliant huntsman he was.

Couldn’t he go out back and take a piss on a tree? Of course, there would

likely need to be some nature of tree on the premises.

Taylor jerked the curtain across the tub for privacy and instantly

regretted taking a fistful of it in such haste. “Okay! It’s safe.”

“I heard princesses were prissy, but I didn’t think it applied to

male princesses,” Corentin said as he walked in.

Taylor could see the outline of his body through the haze of the

shower curtain. He pushed himself back against the far wall to gain some

distance. A small gap remained between the curtain and the shower wall, and he

carefully peeked. With a familiar clanking of a belt buckle followed by a

zipper, Taylor instead sent his gaze upward to Corentin’s face and his bare

shoulders. Corentin had done away with his shirt, and Taylor’s face heated with

the view. Corentin was lean, like a panther, his tattooed skin pulled tight

over his biceps and hard abs. He finished, flushed, and turned away to zip his

pants. Taylor pressed his fingers to his lips at the sight of the rise of Corentin’s

tight rear as he shifted to the sink and washed his hands.

He studied himself in the mirror while Taylor stared through the

shower curtain.

Corentin swung open the door and called behind him, “Don’t use all

the hot water.”

“O-oh-okay,” Taylor croaked, his face hot from gawking.

The door shut with a click, and Taylor sighed with the relief. He looked down at himself in

disappointment. Taylor was filthy from dirt, sweat, and whatever else was

lurking in Corentin’s disgusting truck. He turned, reaching for the cracked

soap bar. The blacked grooves in the soap made him reconsider. He reached for

the mini Johnson & Johnson shampoo bottle and uncapped it. After a careful

sniff, he tried to make sure it wasn’t rancid and questioned if it was possible

for shampoo to go rancid. Figuring he would chance it, he scrubbed himself down

with the terrible No More Tears formula.

He breathed one more time, trying to cope with the lukewarm water,

and then decided it was time to face the reality of a nasty motel room with a

man he didn’t trust who made him blush. He shut off the water and carefully

maneuvered out of the shower without touching the petri dish that served as a

curtain.

Taylor considered his clothes. His shirt could use airing out, and

his shorts were a definite no. His only option was a towel around the waist. He

didn’t even like that option in high

school, let alone in the middle of nowhere with the current company. Ringo

was there, though. That made it better. Ringo would save him.

Covering himself, Taylor took a breath. On a mental count of three,

he turned the doorknob.

And the chill of the overworked window unit hit him square in the

bare chest.

“Fuck,” Taylor gasped and

scuttled to the bed. He immediately wrapped himself in the threadbare blanket,

which didn’t help at all. He had a string of curses on his tongue when he

finally glanced up and saw Corentin.

More specifically, saw Corentin’s tattooed torso.

Corentin, on the other hand, busied himself with making notes in

his monstrosity of a book. His brow would furrow every time he underlined

something with a determined gesture across the page. He seemed not to notice

Taylor’s open staring at the intricate black ink of an oak tree drawn in the

style of Gustave Doré. The trunk of the tree was a full sleeve with the roots

growing from Corentin’s left wrist, and at his shoulder, the branches twisted

in a windblown manner across his collarbone, shoulder blade, and a few branches

even curled at the base of his neck.

Taylor swallowed. At least it explained why Corentin was so covered

up for June weather. But something was strange about the tattoo. There were

seven boughs, but only one had leaves.

Corentin kept making notes and didn’t look up. His brow furrowed

into an even angrier contortion, and he wrote faster. When he apparently ran

out of space, he flipped his book to sit horizontally and wrote in tiny print

in the margins. He hesitated, tapping his pen on the paper.

Taylor pulled the blanket higher on his shoulders. The steam from

his body captured under the blanket helped in making the chill of the room

bearable.

Corentin scribbled again in his book. He frowned and scribbled in a

repeated gesture. He shook his pen with a flick of the wrist and tried again.

He grunted and threw the pen. “Fuck,” he said and went fishing in his messenger

bag. He feverishly reached around, looked in, and then reached around again. He

puffed a sigh and upturned the bag onto the carpet.

A palm sized bottle of liquid bounced across the floor and Corentin

scrambled to snatch it midtumble. He glanced at Taylor and offered a smile.

“Hand sanitizer. Can’t go anywhere without it.” He quickly shoved the bottle

into a side pocket of his bag.

Taylor said nothing, merely watching the bizarre display as

Corentin poked through the crumpled receipts, hair ties, old cracker wrappers,

and various unidentifiable crumbs and wadded-up trash. He also flipped through a

collection of condoms in shiny magenta wrappers and printed with hearts and

lips. Taylor tightened his grip on the comforter and his face heated. Well, at

least they were cherry flavored or something?

Corentin shook the bag again, and Taylor remained silent.

As a roll of duct tape tumbled out.

And then zip ties.

Taylor’s eyes snapped wide. Corentin had fucking huntsman death

tools on him at all times. He shivered and scooted back on the bed. He judged

the distance from the bed to the door in case he needed to run at a moment’s

notice. Obviously a naked guy running down the interstate would get some

attention. But he hadn’t seen any cars on the interstate since they ended up

here. He nibbled at his lip. Maybe if he stole Corentin’s truck? That seemed

like a good idea.

“Ah!” Corentin said, clearly relieved he apparently found a pen,

and ignored the zip ties and duct tape. He resumed his furious scribbling.

About the Author












Lex Chase once heard Stephen King say in a commercial, “We’re all going to die, I’m just trying to make it a little more interesting.” She knew then she wanted to make the world a little more interesting too. 




Weaving tales of cinematic, sweeping adventure and epic love—and depending on how she feels that day—Lex sprinkles in high-speed chases, shower scenes, and more explosions than a Hollywood blockbuster. She loves tales of men who kiss as much as they kick ass. She believes if you’re going to going to march into the depths of hell, it better be beside the one you love. 




Lex is a pop culture diva and her DVR is constantly backlogged. She wouldn’t last five minutes without technology in the event of the apocalypse and has nightmares about refusing to leave her cats behind. She is incredibly sentimental, to the point that she gets choked up at holiday commercials. But like the lovers driven to extreme measures to get home for the holidays, Lex believes everyone deserves a happy ending. 




Lex also has a knack for sarcasm, never takes herself seriously, and has been nicknamed “The Next Alan Moore” by her friends for all the pain and suffering she inflicts on her characters. She is a Damned Yankee hailing from the frozen backwoods of Maine now residing in the burbs of Northwest Florida, where it could be 80F and she’d still be a popsicle. 




She is grateful for and humbled by all the readers. She knows very well she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them and welcomes feedback.

You can find Lex at

                   

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway




















Presented By

Vote For Chasing Sunrise!

Do you love Chasing Sunrise? Do you love Reese Dante’s amazing cover and manipulation to create Sevon?

Then cast your vote for the Chasing Sunrise cover by Reese Dante in the 2014 Rainbow Awards!

Click here to vote!

Vote at Elisa Rolle’s Dreamwidth poll only! If you do not have a Live Journal or Dreamwidth account, leave a comment on herpoll with your email address! You may vote for as many covers as you’d like!

Poll ends September 20th!

 

 

 

Dreamspinner Press Labor Day Sale!

Hey guys! Letting you know Dreamspinner Press is having a super awesome Labor Day Sale!

From now until September 5th, you can save 25% off site-wide! No code necessary!

To top that off, if you’re going to GayRomLit this year, you can still get free shipping on paperbacks to the event for pickup with code GRL2014

As always, the GRL code is good for multiple uses but only if you’re going to GRL. So no cheating into free shipping to your house, guys. ;D

Pick up Chasing Sunrise in ebook or paperback!

Blurb:

Darkmore Saga: Book One

On the Coastal Bend of Texas, a hidden kingdom called Darkmore lies in ruins, and King Sevon Maraté is trapped. Using Sevon as a mouthpiece and a scapegoat, Lord Dominic rules from the shadows. Sevon copes with the unrelenting abuse by dressing in women’s finery and casting an image of graceful nobility. Born of royal verkolai blood and as beautiful as he is lethal, he possesses the ability to part the Veil separating his world from hundreds of others. His gift is his chance to escape, but Dominic refuses to relinquish his tool for power. Dominic forges an ambitious plan to invade the prosperous land of Priagust. Only a select few know the mythic kingdom of shifters exists. Sevon is out of options for his people’s survival, and cooperating with Dominic is his only chance.

On their foray into Priagust, Dominic’s men kidnap and interrogate a shifter named Jack. Even under torture, Jack’s loyalty to his kind never wavers. But as Jack’s knowledge about Darkmore’s king and its history unsettles Sevon, a curious bond begins to form. Despite Sevon’s mistrust, Jack is determined to tame Sevon’s wild heart and perhaps earn his freedom. As invasion looms, Sevon wonders if trusting Jack will lead him into another trap or if he should forget about chasing the sunrise and remain Dominic’s compliant prisoner.

Or Americana Fairy Tale in ebook or paperback!

Blurb:

Modern fairy-tale princess Taylor Hatfield has problems. One: he’s a guy. Two: his perfect brother Atticus is the reincarnation of Snow White. Three: Taylor has no idea which princess he is supposed to be. Four: Taylor just left his prince (a girl) at the altar. Despite his enchanted lineage, Taylor is desperate to find his Happily Ever After away from magic, witches, and stuffy traditions. Regrettably, destiny has other plans for him. Dammit.

When word reaches Taylor that Idi the Witchking has captured Atticus, Taylor is determined to save his brother. He enlists the help of rakish and insufferable Corentin Devereaux, likewise of enchanted lineage. A malicious spell sends Taylor and Corentin on a road trip through the kitschy nostalgia of roadside Americana. To save Atticus, they must solve the puzzles put forth by Idi the Witchking. As they struggle, Taylor and Corentin’s volatile partnership sparks a flash of something more. But princesses have many enemies, and Taylor must keep his wits about him because there’s nothing worse than losing your heart… or your head.

 

Or how about the entire Checkmate series!

Fabulous Five Blog Hop

Hello, Internet! I’ve been tagged by the amazeballs Charlie Cochet for the Fabulous Five Blog Hop. She’s been a huge inspiration to me by working like a fiend on her THIRDS series for Dreamspinner Press. You should seriously look into it. Like for realsies.

1. What am I working on?

I’m currently finishing up the sequel to Chasing Sunrise, called Glass Moon. It’s book 2 of the Darkmore Saga. Sevon and Jack face new perils as they face an ancient foe. The also face more developments as a couple, and who they are and where they stand with each other. For Sevon it’s about trusting and relinquishing his control. For Jack it’s about learning he is indeed strong enough to care for those he loves.

After that, it’s full speed ahead on Bayou Fairy Tale, the followup to Americana Fairy Tale. Taylor, Corentin, and Ringo face more mayhem, chaos, and hijinks down on the bayou of Corentin’s old stomping grounds of New Orleans. There’s more magic, and wickedness to be found on the Muddy Mississip and more secrets of Corentin’s origins come to light. Keep your scorecards handy of the disturbing things Corentin says! We could tick them off like bingo numbers!

We’ll both see Glass Moon and Bayou Fairy Tale in 2015.

2. How does my work differ from others in its genre?

It’s been a running gag between my writer buddies, but I like to make stuff explode. At the core of my stories, they’re all action adventure despite the setting. I love writing stories of epic sweeping battles, cinematic adventure, and that the choices we make have irrevocable consequences.

Ironically, I used to detest writing all out fight scenes. Because they are hard as balls. Now they’re my favorite part. I call them my ‘Candy Bar Scenes.’ The only problems I have with doing them is amping myself up to do justice to getting my ideas down.

3. Why do I write what I do?

Instead of growing up reading classic literature as most writers do, I read comic books. In turn, it inspired me to be a comic artist. It took decades that I just liked telling stories instead. I played tabletop role playing games like D&D (which had too much math for my math disabled brain), RIFTS (which you needed a fucking slide rule for that much math), Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Vampire: The Masquerade, and my personal all time favorite Cyberpunk 2020.

I love creating characters in these worlds, also logically trying to figure out how to make beings that wouldn’t fit in the setting to fit in the setting. Like immortals or vampires in Cyperpunk in particular. Let’s just say it involved a lot of cyberware.

A lot of the campaigns I had played in with friends ended up becoming the basis of my stories. The way the vampire-like aisa are set up in Chasing Sunrise came from gaming. Jack’s homeland of Javel is a direct reference to campaign me and my friends came up with. As well as many of the physics of the shifters.

4. How does my writing process work?

I am a huge advocate of you can write anytime, anywhere, on anything.

I get highly annoyed at people that maintain they can only write at their laptops, and then proceed to play World of Warcraft for ten hours, get nothing done, and complain how they’re so behind on the book. That’s bullshit.

The rule to my method is my tools have to be lightweight, small, and portable. Also less need for electricity the better. None is optimal.

I carry a Moleskine journal in my bag along with a handful of pens, earbuds, my iPod, as well as my phone, wallet, car keys and water bottle. I take it everywhere. I write scenes in doctors offices, waiting in restaurants, sitting in bookstores, hanging out in my Mom’s hair salon (even times when I’m under the dryer!), waiting while my family runs errands, and on and on.

Not only that, I use my Moleskine at home. Writing during commercial breaks on TV, or in the kitchen while something is baking in the oven. The possibilities are endless.

On top of that. I make progress, a lot of progress.

5. Who’s next on the blog hop?

Since everyone as pretty much beat me to it, I’m tagging Lily Velden, and Skye Allen!

 

[GUEST POST] Welcome Louise Lyons!

LOUISE INTERVIEWS CHARACTER, PAUL APPLETON

Louise Lyons:- A big welcome to Paul, the main protagonist from Conflicted. How are you doing, Paul?

Paul Appleton:- Not bad.

LL:- You initially said no when I asked for an interview. What changed your mind?

PA:- I realized refusing was probably just making me look like a muppet. As a rule, I don’t care what people think, but I don’t want your readers to dislike me completely. They probably will anyway, when they read how I behave in the first few chapters of the book. *grimaces*

LL:- Do you regret anything you’ve done in the past?

PA:- *laughs* Where do I start? The biggest one would be punching Greg. The trouble with me is, I always act or speak first, and think later. It was the same with scratching Jamie’s car. He forgave me, but I would take that back if I could. I was acting like a stupid kid that day.

LL:- How did you feel about getting arrested?

PA:- I’m used to it! But on that occasion…well, all I could think about was my best friend, Skip, and how I should have been there for him, instead of locked up in a cell.

LL:- I know how hard that was for you. Let’s move on to a lighter topic. I asked Greg this question too, when I interviewed him at my blog release party on Dreamspinner Press’s blog on August 20th. What happened when you saw Greg in the gay bar?

PA:- I was about to hook up with some guy I liked the look of. I saw Greg, and I veered off to the toilets. I was thinking, damn, everyone probably knows Greg’s gay and he’ll go home and tell people he saw me in here. He came over to the bar and asked me about it, and I ended up joking. Not like me at all! *laughs* It turned out that Greg was in the closet as much as I was. We talked for a couple of minutes and he said sorry about what happened to Skip. I knew it wasn’t his fault, but I was upset when he brought it up, so I came across like I was angry, and walked out.

LL:- You were pretty determined not to get involved with him to start with.

PA:- Yeah. I didn’t want to be in a relationship. They always ended in tears for me, whatever kind they were. I’d never actually had a relationship with a bloke, unless you count Skip, but he was my friend more than anything. Somehow I ended up wanting Greg more than I wanted to keep away from him, if that makes sense.

LL:- What was it that attracted you to Greg in the beginning?

PA:- Are you kidding? Have you seen the dude? *coughs* Blond, blue-gray eyes, muscles everywhere…um…let’s just leave it at that.

LL:- How did you feel about telling your friends? Both about being gay, and being with Greg?

PA:- *shrugs* I didn’t care by then. If they didn’t like it, too bad. I had Sharon’s support, and Skip would have loved it. I was surprised by some of their reactions – Sharon’s little brother, Shane, in particular.

LL:- Why do you think Shane behaved the way he did? He’s normally such a sweet, caring person.

PA:- Let’s leave people to find that out for themselves. *fidgets and looks at wristwatch*

LL:- Good idea. We don’t want to give too much away. I won’t take up anymore of your time. You look as if you have somewhere else to be.

PA:- Yeah. Good luck with it all. *heads briskly for the door*

LL:- Thanks, Paul.

 

 

 

Blurb

Two competing gangs of car and drag racing enthusiasts with a shared history of pain and rivalry leading to outright hatred. Two men from opposite sides of the tracks, yet more in common than they’d like to admit.

Paul Appleton is a troubled man who has never been in a relationship, having lost everyone he cared for in his life. His mother died when he was very young and subsequently, he lost his brother and his best friend. Now Paul is convinced love will always end in tears.

Greg was living on the streets after his parents died and was stabbed by a junkie, ending up in hospital. The Buchanans took Greg under their wing while doing charity work, and Greg joined their loving family when he was adopted. He and his siblings are also car enthusiasts with much more money and therefore better cars than Paul Appleton’s gang.

When they eventually find a connection, Paul fights his feelings and tries to convince himself his lover is only a temporary bit of fun, but Greg has other ideas.

 

Bio

Louise Lyons comes from a family of writers. Her mother has a number of poems published in poetry anthologies, her aunt wrote poems for the church, and her grandmother sparked her inspiration with tales of fantasy. Louise first ventured into writing short stories at the grand old age of eight, mostly about little girls and ponies. She branched into romance in her teens, and MM romance a few years later, but none of her work saw the light of day until she discovered FanFiction in her late twenties.

Posting stories based on some of her favorite movies, provoked a surprisingly positive response from readers. This gave Louise the confidence to submit some of her work to publishers, and made her take her writing “hobby” more seriously.

Louise lives in the UK, about an hour north of London, with a mad Dobermann, and a collection of tropical fish and tarantulas. She works in the insurance industry by day, and spends every spare minute writing. She is a keen horse-rider, and loves to run long-distance. Some of her best writing inspiration comes to her, when her feet are pounding the open road. She often races into the house afterward, and grabs pen and paper to make notes.

Louise has always been a bit of a tomboy, and one of her other great loves is cars and motorcycles. Her car and bike are her pride and joy, and she loves to exhibit the car at shows, and take off for long days out on the bike, with no one for company but herself.

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Sign Up! Americana Fairy Tale Reviews!

Do you have a review blog? Do you love fairy tales? Do you love boys who kiss as well as kick ass? Well! Have I got the book for you!

On September 12th, Americana Fairy Tale, Book #1 of Fairy Tales of the Open Road, will go into wide release. And I’m looking for reviews! You know the drill, honest opinions only, and standard ethics apply as in don’t pirate the book.

As summed up before, it’s an M/M Urban Fantasy Fairy Tale featuring a fuckup fairy tale princess dude, a redneck huntsman, and a reject fairy godfather on a wacky road trip to save the world.

We are so fucked.

Sign up in this little handy form here! Looking forward to spreading love, luck, and pixie dust… and beer cans. Wait what?

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