Anna Butler's Blog, page 4

Artificial Intelligence: Misery Ahoy!

There’s a lot of disquiet about AI writing at the moment. Jane Friedman, who writes (very good!) ‘how-to’ non-fiction works about writing, found several AI-generated titles on Amazon that used her author name and were in the same area. In other words, the scammy account had published AI-written books pretending to be more titles from Friedman, obviously to cash in on her established reputation and reader base. The unsuspecting reader would think they were buying something of hers, when they were getting, well, garbage. The reader takes a hit, Friedman’s reputation takes a hit, scammy AI account takes the money.

Amazon could not give a damn about it. Friedman hadn’t written these scammy books, they weren’t associated with her real Amazon account, so she had no right/authority to have them removed. It wasn’t until there was a public furore and the Author’s Guild got involved that Amazon back-tracked and did something about removing those particular books from their platform.

But it’s not just high-profile accounts like Friedman’s that get targeted. Small, relatively unknown authors get scammed this way too. I know this. Because my account on Amazon has similarly been targeted, as I found a few days ago. And believe me, if a well-known and respected author like Friedman gets the finger from Amazon, little unknowns like me do not fare any better.

A few days ago, I discovered three books on Amazon UK (I can’t find them on Amazon.com but I gave up about 12 pages in on the search results) that appear to be AI-generated, and which come up when I search for my author name.

These books reverse my author name to “Butler Anna“. Already a step up from using my actual author name, the way they did Friedman’s, but unmistakably a similar attempt to exploit a reader looking for my books. I can’t stress this enough – they come up when Anna Butler is put into the search box. They’re therefore becoming associated with my name, and with my brand.

They are, quite simply, dreadful. You only have to read their blurb and look at their ‘Look Inside’ sample to see that they’re AI-generated nonsense. They’re frighteningly bad.

(There’s also a load of AI generated colouring books that list Anna Butler as their author, but they’ve been there for years and I can’t get them taken down either. I’m not so worried about them, because colouring books are hardly my known genre. They don’t equate to novels. I doubt whether people looking for them will associate Taking Shield or Lancaster’s Luck with them and really think they’re anything to do with me.)

Anyhow, these three “novels”:

The Story of Two Golden Chairs – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Two-Golden…/dp/B0BWM9L2TJ

The Story of The Last Bus – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Last-Bus…/dp/B0BWMQ5TBC

The Story of Two Mango Trees – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Two-Mango…/dp/B0BWM65GPG

Let’s take a look just at one of them – believe me, you won’t want to delve any deeper – so let’s focus on Two Golden Chairs.

Note: this is listed in Education, aimed at children 9-18. It’s only 31 pages long, so quite pricey at £4.69 (that’s about $5.97). I don’t charge that much for a Shield book, and every one of those is around the 100k word mark. The blurb is very apple-y, for something that’s supposed to be about chairs and has a paramedic’s vehicle as its cover.

And the inside? This is all you get when you click on read sample:

Not an apple, or a chair, or a paramedic in sight. And looking at that contents list, I don’t think we’ll find any. (In fact, that contents list is, in itself, a thing of wonder. I am all agog to find out what Section 5’s Flying Alkaline Technique is all about. My life is likely incomplete with it.)

So I girded up my loins and went to talk to Amazon. I opted for the Chat function. I’m still debating the wisdom of that since I suspect I might have been talking to a full cousin of author Butler Anna, rather than a real person. However…

All the Chat person could tell me was
– these books are coming up when I search for my own name, because of the similarity in names. No shit, Sherlock. I would never have guessed that for myself. And then this person had me wait while he went to talk to his technical support people and yaay, his tech support repeated this pearl of wisdom.
– no, he couldn’t do anything about removing the books because I hadn’t written them and therefore couldn’t get them taken down. So sad, so outa luck.
– then he gave me the link to allow me to report rights infringement, and when I pointed out that the mere fact the scam account had reversed my name didn’t amount to actionable infringement, no matter what damage the crud was doing to my brand, he did a virtual holding up of hands and shrugging.
– so, report each book as misleading content, he said. That’s all you can do.

Totally pathetic response, Amazon. Still, am reporting the shit daily.

The books are still there.

.

This, people, is what the future holds for authors, Amazon and Artificial Intelligence.

God help us all.

__________________________________________________________________

Artifical Intelligence: Misery Ahoy!

There’s a lot of disquiet about AI writing at the moment. Jane Friedman, who writes (very good!) ‘how-to’ non-fiction works about writing, found several AI-generated titles on Amazon that used her author name and were in the same area. In other words, the scammy account had published AI-written books pretending to be more titles from Friedman, obviously to cash in on her established reputation and reader base. The unsuspecting reader would think they were buying something of hers, when they were getting, well, garbage. The reader takes a hit, Friedman’s reputation takes a hit, scammy AI account takes the money.

Amazon could not give a damn about it. Friedman hadn’t written these scammy books, they weren’t associated with her real Amazon account, so she had no right/authority to have them removed. It wasn’t until there was a public furore and the Author’s Guild got involved that Amazon back-tracked and did something about removing those particular books from their platform.

But it’s not just high-profile accounts like Friedman’s that get targeted. Small, relatively unknown authors get scammed this way too. I know this. Because my account on Amazon has similarly been targeted, as I found a few days ago. And believe me, if a well-known and respected author like Friedman gets the finger from Amazon, little unknowns like me do not fare any better.

A few days ago, I discovered three books on Amazon UK (I can’t find them on Amazon.com but I gave up about 12 pages in on the search results) that appear to be AI-generated, and which come up when I search for my author name.

These books reverse my author name to “Butler Anna“. Already a step up from using my actual author name, the way they did Friedman’s, but unmistakably a similar attempt to exploit a reader looking for my books. I can’t stress this enough – they come up when Anna Butler is put into the search box. They’re therefore becoming associated with my name, and with my brand.

They are, quite simply, dreadful. You only have to read their blurb and look at their ‘Look Inside’ sample to see that they’re AI-generated nonsense. They’re frighteningly bad.

(There’s also a load of AI generated colouring books that list Anna Butler as their author, but they’ve been there for years and I can’t get them taken down either. I’m not so worried about them, because colouring books are hardly my known genre. They don’t equate to novels. I doubt whether people looking for them will associate Taking Shield or Lancaster’s Luck with them and really think they’re anything to do with me.)

Anyhow, these three “novels”:

The Story of Two Golden Chairs – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Two-Golden…/dp/B0BWM9L2TJ

The Story of The Last Bus – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Last-Bus…/dp/B0BWMQ5TBC

The Story of Two Mango Trees – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Two-Mango…/dp/B0BWM65GPG

Let’s take a look just at one of them – believe me, you won’t want to delve any deeper – so let’s focus on Two Golden Chairs.

Note: this is listed in Education, aimed at children 9-18. It’s only 31 pages long, so quite pricey at £4.69 (that’s about $5.97). I don’t charge that much for a Shield book, and every one of those is around the 100k word mark. The blurb is very apple-y, for something that’s supposed to be about chairs and has a paramedic’s vehicle as its cover.

And the inside? This is all you get when you click on read sample:

Not an apple, or a chair, or a paramedic in sight. And looking at that contents list, I don’t think we’ll find any. (In fact, that contents list is, in itself, a thing of wonder. I am all agog to find out what Section 5’s Flying Alkaline Technique is all about. My life is likely incomplete with it.)

So I girded up my loins and went to talk to Amazon. I opted for the Chat function. I’m still debating the wisdom of that since I suspect I might have been talking to a full cousin of author Butler Anna, rather than a real person. However…

All the Chat person could tell me was
– these books are coming up when I search for my own name, because of the similarity in names. No shit, Sherlock. I would never have guessed that for myself. And then this person had me wait while he went to talk to his technical support people and yaay, his tech support repeated this pearl of wisdom.
– no, he couldn’t do anything about removing the books because I hadn’t written them and therefore couldn’t get them taken down. So sad, so outa luck.
– then he gave me the link to allow me to report rights infringement, and when I pointed out that the mere fact the scam account had reversed my name didn’t amount to actionable infringement, no matter what damage the crud was doing to my brand, he did a virtual holding up of hands and shrugging.
– so, report each book as misleading content, he said. That’s all you can do.

Totally pathetic response, Amazon. Still, am reporting the shit daily.

The books are still there.

.

This, people, is what the future holds for authors, Amazon and Artificial Intelligence.

God help us all.

__________________________________________________________________

M D Grimm’s “Jade:First and Last” – with Giveaway!

I’m almost too Wow! over that lovely cover to tell you M.D. Grimm has a new MM fantasy book out, Stones of Power book 9 – Jade: First and Last.

About the Book

Morgorth and Aishe must contend with a deadly threat that could spell disaster for their world.

Payshthas were the first of the Mother’s intelligent children. It is rare for true friendship to form between them and another species—which makes Morgorth’s bond with Enfernlo unique. And it is due to their friendship that Morgorth doesn’t hesitate to answer Enfernlo’s plea for help.

A thief has stolen something vital from Enfernlo’s colony—a stone of power.

Their hunt for the stone leads them to a war torn kingdom, and Aishe can hardly stomach what he sees. The devastation urges him to assist however he can, no matter the risk. Meanwhile, Morgorth is faced with reminders of the monster he used to be, and contemplates how far he’s come, and yet how far he still has to go. And when his estranged mentor joins them on their search, Morgorth is forced to confront his resentment and sense of betrayal, and use Master Ulezander as a tool to save the payshthas.

Forced into a deadly quest where trust is in short supply, and faced with challengers for the stone, Morgorth must put his faith in those he loves and in himself… and become a champion not just of the Mother but for Karishian itself.

Warnings: magic violence, dragon violence, war-torn country

About the Series

Lord Morgorth is a dark mage on the planet Karishian. His peers consider him a villain, but there is more to him than they choose to understand. Cursed by a dark destiny and tormented by painful memories of the past, Morgorth struggles to find his place in the world. Far from innocent, Morgorth has teetered between embracing his destiny and fighting against it his entire life. A decision that is made easier when Aishe comes into his life.

Aishe is a creature of the forest, a warrior and healer. He has the moral compass that Morgorth needs, and Morgorth gives Aishe the companionship he craves. Together, they forge ahead, weathering the storms and fighting the enemies fate puts into their paths.

However, their greatest enemy is not a living being, but gemstones infused with deadly power. They are addictive, seductive, and completely treacherous. Morgorth hates them and is determined to find and imprison all of them. But he soon realizes they are keys to a greater power. He learns his destiny is not all he thought it was. And an even greater enemy stirs in the darkness.

Universal Buy LinkGiveaway

M.D. is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card via this Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47293/?

Excerpt

Morgorth snarled a word, and his magick speed shot him like an arrow into the tunnels. I followed in his wake, focusing on the eight gVattaren who were running away. The hard sand didn’t hinder us, and I caught up with their shorter strides. I shot two in the neck before those remaining reeled around and attacked. They cursed and squealed as their blades blinded me when the sun broke the horizon. I dropped my bow and grabbed my short sword.

With my own snarl, I barreled into them. My blade sang as I swung at their arms and heads while also dodging and swerving as they tried to stick me with their knives. The six surrounded me, and while a few broke through my defenses and slashed at my legs, their blades glanced off my armored clothing. It didn’t take long for the gVattaren to realize they couldn’t puncture through the cloth to my flesh.

One sneaky fellow sliced the back of my uncovered hand while another threw a blade at my face. I ducked and hissed at the sting on my hand. I cut off their arm while slashing at the one who’d flung the knife.

“What do you hope to accomplish?” I asked, spitting mad. “Do you not see the payshtha over there? He can burn you to a crisp in an instant!”

“Then why hasn’t he?” one of them said, voice raspy and filled with dark amusement.

I turned to the mocker and found an opening to kick them in the head. They dropped like a stone and the other five hissed and snarled.

“I’m not done having fun yet,” I said.

I trusted Morgorth to recover whatever they’d thrown into the tunnel as I gradually moved them farther away from the Jesllan. The small group was vicious and quick, fueled by rage. I would have been bleeding from many shallow wounds if Morgorth hadn’t enchanted my clothing. But then they surged toward me all at once, and one leapt upon my back, trying to stab my face. I gripped their wrist and twisted sharply. With a snap and a scream, they fell off me, dropping the blade. Unfortunately, with their other hand, the stabber grabbed my wrist and used their weight to force me to drop my sword arm. Then they clung and bit my hand, turning the previous slice into torn and mangled flesh that gushed blood.

I screamed, unable to shake them off.

I dropped my sword.

Seizing the opportunity, the other four attempted to saw their way through my clothing. They clung like leeches, and their combined weight made it hard for me to move.

“Get off me!” I punched at their heads with my free hand and struggled to keep my face beyond their reach.

“Close your eyes!” Enfernlo bellowed.

I snapped them shut an instant before hot air slammed into my back and engulfed me. The gVattaren shrieked in agony as the five spasmed against me. Then all the weight vanished, and it was silent except for the roar of the wind. Then that, too, dissipated.

I swayed and fell to one knee, panting. When I opened my eyes, I grimaced. The streaks of ash against the crystallized sand told me it hadn’t been hot wind, but payshtha fire. He’d disintegrated the gVattaren, just as I’d warned them he’d do.

Payshthas, like mages, could control their fire and who it harmed. To some extent, at least. But while mages needed to retain the connection to their fire, payshthas could direct it even when the bond was severed.

I tucked my mangled hand to my chest and grabbed my sword with the other. It was no worse for the wear, much to my relief. I turned and jolted. Enfernlo stood just behind, towering over me, his teeth bared, his eyes glimmering dark with rage. His wings were unfurled to their full span, and his posture reminded me of a striking snake or diving bird.

I was grateful my bowels didn’t betray me.

“Aishe!”

I turned and Morgorth engulfed me in his arms.

“Careful,” I said, grunting.

He jerked back and swept his gaze over me before focusing on my hand. His mouth twisted and his magick flared. “I’m sorry. Right after I retrieved that bomb they threw in, another group leapt out of the sand and attacked.”

I cupped his cheek with my good hand and met his gaze. “I’m all right.”

“Show me your hand,” Enfernlo said.

He no longer looked about to attack, and I breathed easier as I held out my hand. A gentle stream of fire blew out of his mouth and landed on my wound. It seeped into the torn flesh, glowed yellow, and then vanished. The pain stopped, my hand as good as new.

“Thank you.” I touched his snout.

Then I turned to Morgorth and cupped his cheek again. “And thank you for the clothes.”

He grunted. He covered my hand on his cheek and kissed my palm.

Author Bio

M.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!). Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!).

After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier. Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.

Author Website: https://www.mdgrimmwrites.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001710645622

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4574220.M_D_Grimm

Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/

Author Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.D.-Grimm/e/B00I0KZMY6/

Try The Tofu, by Karenna Colcroft – with giveaway

Karenna Colcroft has a new MM paranormal romance out, Real Werewolves Don’t Eat Meat book 4: Try the Tofu. And there’s a giveaway.

As Alpha Tobias Rogan and his mate Kyle Slidell prepare to travel to the regional Alpha gathering, Tobias receives a threatening phone call. If he brings his mate to the gathering, Kyle will not return to Boston. But stubborn Kyle, believing the threat is actually against Tobias, refuses to stay home.

Tobias’s foreboding is proven correct when a visiting stranger challenges Zane Wolfskin, Arkhon of the Northeast Region, to a fight for rank–and wins. Tobias and his allies learn that the challenge was part of a larger plan to destroy their region, something Tobias will not allow. To prevent disaster, Tobias must challenge the new Arkhon himself. But can he survive the attempt?

Warnings: reference to past sexual abuse and trauma, PTSD, violence

About the Series

Kyle Slidell didn’t move to Boston expecting to be changed into a werewolf. But that’s what happened. He can’t control whether he shifts at the full moon, but he can damn sure continue being vegan–even in wolf form.

Tobias Rogan, Alpha of Boston North Pack, never expected to fall in love with anyone, let alone a man. A male Alpha is not supposed to have a male partner. But when he meets Kyle, he’s immediately attracted. And after Kyle is changed, Tobias realizes the truth: Kyle is not only his partner, but his mate.

The werewolf world isn’t a simple place, and Kyle and Tobias are thrown into the middle of conflict within and among the packs of the United States–a conflict that extends all the way to the top of the werewolf hierarchy. Can they and their love survive what they face?

Get It On AmazonGiveaway

Karenna is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card with this tour via a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47290/?

Excerpt

I entered our room and closed the door. Kyle flopped down on the bed again. “Sleep.”

“Food,” I said. “Plus our bags will be here any second, so you wouldn’t be able to get much sleep.” I sat on the bed beside him. “What you said earlier.”

“Yeah.” He sat up and took my hand. “I love you. Things have been rough as hell on both of us the past few months, and sometimes it’s hard not to think that they’ve been rough because of us. But we didn’t make bad things happen, and I wouldn’t have gotten through everything if it hadn’t been for you. I don’t want to lose you.”

“I love you too.” My heart melted. No matter how much I wanted to shut him out, I didn’t know whether I would ever actually be able to do it. We had been through hell, no question, with all the times I’d almost lost him, not to mention my own brush with death. But we’d faced it together. He’d brought back a part of me I hadn’t even realized existed, let alone missed, until he made me aware of how long I’d lived without it.

That didn’t mean I was ready to let go of the idea that we might be better off apart. A lot would depend on what happened over the next several days. I couldn’t stand the prospect of him being in danger, and if things went as badly as they had the last time we’d come to Zane’s, I would have some serious decisions to make.

“Tobias, don’t,” he said softly. “Please don’t think about the bad things. We’re here together in our honeymoon suite.” He chuckled. “Zane put us here for a reason, you know. I don’t know if you’ve talked to him about us or if he just figured something out the way he seems to do, but he had an ulterior motive for giving us this room.”

“Yeah, he probably did.” I had to smile at that. Zane was not only tolerant of one of his alphas having a male mate, he wholeheartedly supported the idea. In September, he’d treated Kyle and me the same as any other mated pair, and that meant more than I could express. Just as some werewolves were stuck in the past when it came to the idea of a woman being in charge, some were mired in prejudice and hatred of those who were “different.” Pretty ironic considering that werewolves were different by definition.

But for Zane, Kyle and I weren’t different. He wouldn’t accept any hatred toward us from any other attendees of the gathering, and if he suspected Kyle and I were having problems, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to try to fix them.

“There’s going to be a lot going on.” Kyle moved closer against me. “I know you’ll be busy with all the meetings and things, and I know you have a lot on your mind. But please, Tobias, while we’re here, let’s try to spend some time on us. I want things to be good again.”

“Yeah, me too.”

I put my arm around him and held him tightly. My mate. My lover. The man who had changed my life for the better, bringing me so many good things I’d been missing without even realizing it. I loved him, even if things weren’t great between us right then. He was right to have insisted on coming with me. We could spend time together and try to make things better.

Back in Boston, I had to attend to the pack’s needs. Here, even though I would have to sit in meetings that dealt with anything from changes in protocol to sorting out which pack had the right to hunt deer near the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire, I didn’t have to be in charge, and that meant I might have time to actually talk to Kyle. And to listen.

We both turned at the same time and our mouths were together before we had time to think. His tongue touched my lips, and I opened to let him in. The kiss was both tender and rough and sent heat and arousal through to my core.

Author Bio

Karenna Colcroft lives just north of Boston, Massachusetts, and has been in love with the city since childhood, though she has yet to encounter any werewolves, vampires, or other paranormal beings in her travels. At least none that she knows of. Though since in her non-writing life, under another name, she offers services as a channel and energy healing practitioner, it could be said that she herself is a paranormal being. The jury’s still out on that.

Karenna is a polyamorous, nonbinary human who splits time between the home she shares with her husband and the one she shares with her committed partner. She also has two adult children and a bonus son, three grandchildren, and two and a half cats. (Half in terms of time the cat lives with her, not in terms of the cat itself…)

Find out more about Karenna online at http://www.karennacolcroft.com or https://www.facebook.com/KarennaColcroft. You can also sign up to receive a free short story, and be added to Karenna’s mailing list, at https://karennacolcroft.com/get-your-free-short-story/.

Author Website: https://karennacolcroft.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/kimramseywinkler/

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/KarennaColcroft

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/karenna-colcroft/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karenna-Colcroft/author/B0031HAOUK

Joe Cosentino’s back – with a new Nicky and Noah novelette “Drama Daddy”

Here’s the lovely Joe, visiting to tell us all about his latest Nicky and Noah mystery, and why he wrote it…

Drama Daddy, a Nicky and Noah mystery novelette (Nicky and Noah mystery 17) by Joe Cosentino

Having written sixteen popular Nicky and Noah mystery novels, I was surprised when Nicky and Noah fans asked me for a Nicky and Noah mystery novelette. At first I resisted. Upon thinking about it further, it made total sense. We live in a fast-paced world, where we want our entertainment to be as tight as our abs. So as I sat at my computer, I was adamant that a Nicky and Noah mystery novelette had to have all the same elements as the novels: riotous humor, sweet romance, political commentary, social satire, and a crackling whodunit solved by armchair detective, or rather detective’s chair detective, Professor of Play Directing at Treemeadow College, Nicky Abbondanza. Our favorite regular characters needed to be included along with the usual array of hot and hunky new suspects. But how could I fit an entire novel into a novelette? It struck me like a light bulb hit by lightning. Instead of the usual five murders per story, there would be only one murder—and it would be a doozy! As you Nicky and Noah mystery fans know, Nicky and Noah and their theatrical troupe are always putting on a show. What would be the show for the novelette? I thought, what is it that most people want nowadays? A feeling of independence. My mind exploded like fireworks—Independence Day! I decided Nicky, Noah, and their theatrical troupe at Treemeadow College would stage an original musical production of the founding of our nation entitled, I Do Declare.

In my version of the story, it’s summer stock time at Treemeadow College. Sexy Nicky Abbondanza directs the show and takes on the leading role (What else did you expect?) of John Adams. Nicky’s gorgeous and faithful husband, Associate Professor of Acting Noah Oliver, is cast as Adam’s love interest, Thomas Jefferson. Nicky and Noah’s best friend and department chair, Martin Anderson, grabs (among other things) the plumb role of Adams’s beard Abigail. Electricity sparks fly as Martin’s long-suffering husband, Ruben Markinson, plays a frisky Benjamin Franklin. Nicky and Noah’s son, Taavi, and Martin and Ruben’s son, Ty, threaten to call Child Protective Services until Nicky casts them as the Couriers. Nicky’s nemesis, the oblivious Detective Manuello, worms his way into the cast as King George III with a roving eye for muscular male servants. Nicky’s dog, Asterisk, shows his molars until he secures the treat role of the king’s dog Georgie. New to the cast are hunky Sami Zaman, Graduate Assistant of Music, Musical Director, and Edward Rutledge, who has a yen for handsome Haku Yamato, Assistant Professor of Dance, Choreographer, and John Dick-in-son. Hot Theatre majors, Hector Alvarez and Philippe Laurent, play the father of our country George Washington and his French kiss lover Guy Raffleur III, giving new meaning to the term, “Call Me Daddy.” When the actor playing John Hand-cock finds snarky Professor of Music Hank Tobias (Caesar Rodney) murdered in the theatre wing, Nicky and Noah take flight to solve the case—before the murderer clips their wings.

For those of you who haven’t yet ventured to the land of Nicky and Noah (and you should!), it’s a gay cozy mystery comedy series, meaning the setting is warm and cozy, the clues and murders (and laughs) come fast and furious, and there are enough plot twists and turns and a surprise ending to keep the pages turning (as Nicky would say) faster than a Jehovah’s Witness heading for a new housing development. At the center is the touching relationship between Professor of Play Directing Nicky Abbondanza and Associate Professor of Acting Noah Oliver. We watch them go from courting to marrying to adopting a child, all the while head over heels in love with each other (as we fall in love with them). Reviewers called the series “hysterically funny farce,” “Murder She Wrote meets Hart to Hart meets The Hardy Boys,” and “captivating whodunits.” One reviewer wrote they are the funniest books she’s ever read! Another said I’m “a master storyteller.” Who am I to argue?

The premiere novel, Drama Queen, was voted Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award for Favorite LGBT Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Novel of the Year! The subsequent novels won many Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions and Favorite Book of the Month awards: Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle, Drama Dance, Drama Faerie, Drama Runway, Drama Christmas, Drama Pan, Drama TV, Drama Oz, Drama Prince, and Drama Merry. 

As a past professional actor and current college theatre professor/department chair, I know first-hand the hysterically funny antics, sweet romance, and captivating mystery in the worlds of theatre and academia. The Nicky and Noah mysteries are full of them! I know you’ll laugh, cry, feel romantic, and love delving into this crackling compact mystery with more plot twists and turns than, as Nicky would say, a priest chasing a new altar boy up the bell tower.

I’m more excited, as Nicky would say, than a teenager finding a new marijuana dispensary to share this novelette with you. So take your seats for the fireworks. Not only Ben Franklin’s kite will rise as the men in the Continental Congress find romance, rollicking fun, and rousing murder!

And drop me a line. I’ll share it with Nicky and Noah! http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com

Joe

About the Book

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Summer stock, romance, and murder blossom at Treemeadow College on July 4th when theatre professors and husbands Nicky and Noah and their thespian cohorts stage an original gay musical adaptation heralding the signing of the Declaration of Independence entitled, I Do Declare. Nicky and Noah need to use their drama skills to catch the killer before the frills on their collars are tied in a knot—around their throats. You will be applauding and shouting Bravo for Joe Cosentino’s fast-paced, side-splittingly funny, edge-of-your-seat entertaining first-time novelette (mystery #17) in this delightful series. Take your seats. It’s Independence Day! The curtain and fireworks are going up on an enamored John Adams and Thomas Jefferson who raise Ben Franklin’s kite, Daddy John Dick-in-son, John Hand-cock, George Washington and his French squeeze Guy Raffleur, and murder!

E-book and Paperback: 92 pages
Language: English
Genre: MM, contemporary, mystery, comedy, romance, theatre, musical theater, college, 1776, July 4, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Independence Day
Heat Level: 1
Cover Art: Jesús Da Silva
Release date: July 1, 2023

Excerpt

During a recess of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia stand under the attendance board for the thirteen states. The oldest of the trio, Benjamin Franklin, adjusts his spectacles and recalls how his kite and key led to the discovery of electricity. Then glancing over at manly Adams and handsome Jefferson, Franklin puts an arm around both men while crooning the up-tempo, “You Electrify Me.” After the three men execute a swivel hip jazz dance, Abigail Adams enters, bemoaning her fate in the torch song, “Gay Husband, Sad Life.” The song turns into a lively bump and grind number. As Abigail begins to exit in excited anticipation of a Sappho visit to Martha Jefferson, the remaining members of Congress enter hurrying toward the colonial desks and chairs. Abigail bumps into Rutledge who knocks into Dickinson as the members of Congress hit the deck like falling dominos. Abigail’s wig, hip pads, and falsies fly across the stage.

“Stop!” It’s me Nicky Abbondanza, PhD, which in my case stands for Piping Hot Daddy. All the world’s a stage to me—with me in the spotlight. I’m Professor of Play Directing in picturesque and cozy Treemeadow College in picturesque and cozy Vermont. Treemeadow was named after its gay founders, Tree and Meadow, whose bronze statues line the campus entrance. They are put to great use when pigeons or partying students need to relieve themselves. In case you haven’t read my novels, here’s a little lesson for you Nicky and Noah virgins. I’m tall with dark hair (thanks to hair dye for men), a muscular body (curtesy of the torture chamber known as the gym on campus), emerald eyes (from contact lenses), and a Roman nose (from my Italian-American family back in Kansas). Yes, I truly am a friend of Dorothy’s. Before we go any further, I need to tell you one small thing about myself. Actually, it’s not so small. To the admiration of the other men at the gym, horror of my costumers, and delight of my husband, I have a foot long penis. I mostly keep this tidbit tucked away, however, I’ll admit I’ve used it to my advantage in a couple of my past cases. You see, in addition to directing plays (Drama Queen), musicals (Drama Detective, Drama Faerie, Drama Christmas, Drama Pan), a bodybuilding competition (Drama Muscle), a murder mystery dinner theatre cruise show (Drama Cruise), a Hawaiian luau show (Drama Luau), a ballet (Drama Dance), two movies (Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle), a runway fashion show (Drama Runway), a television pilot (Drama TV), and two theme park shows (Drama Oz, Drama Prince), I’m an armchair—or in my case director’s chair—amateur sleuth. I’m not a professional detective, because unlike our local Detective Jose Manuello, I actually solve my cases. My husband, love of my life, and joy of my heart, Noah Oliver, Associate Professor of Acting (age 41), and I (age 48-grr) met here at Treemeadow College after he was a suspect in my first case. When Noah was found innocent (but not too innocent), we dated, were engaged, married on a cruise ship in Alaska, and during our honeymoon in Maui adopted a little boy (now not so little at age 19), Taavi Kapule Oliver Abbondanza. Noah became the Watson and Taavi the Baker Street Irregular (or Backstreet Boy) to my Sherlock Homo. My husband is absolutely gorgeous with blond hair, azure eyes, a creamy complexion, tall tight body, and a bubble butt like a gymnast executing a floor routine at the Gay Games. When we aren’t in a costume (onstage or off—more on that later), Noah, Taavi, and I wear dress shirts, dress slacks, and blazers. It’s a cool family thing. And our family keeps growing. After one of our cases, we adopted Asterisk, a gray and white bearded collie (age 4). Taavi’s wife Sloane, their baby Nicky Jr., and Asterisk’s husband Tag (a Yorkshire terrier), were later additions to our family, but are currently away visiting Sloane’s aunt in Philadelphia.

Which brings me to why I am wearing a ruffled white shirt, tight violet breeches, and a long waistcoat. When the college president heard Noah and I were staging summer stock shows outside of Treemeadow, he made us an offer we couldn’t refuse—if we wanted to keep our jobs and more importantly keep the honey-colored Victorian home supplied to us by the college. Since the president has a side business selling fireworks, we were ordered to put on a theme-park-like show for the college’s Fourth of July celebration. That led my department head and best friend, Martin Anderson (age ancient), to write an original one-act musical based on the signing of the Declaration of Independence called, I Do Declare, and to cast himself in the plum role of Abigail Adams. Martin cast his husband, Ruben Markinson (age equally ancient), as the aging Benjamin Franklin in addition to producer and props coordinator. When I threatened to steal Martin’s three D’s (dentures, diapers, and dildo), I was cast as John Adams and the play’s director. When my son, Taavi, and Martin and Ruben’s adopted son, Ty Wilde Anderson Markinson (age 18), heard about the show, they threatened to call the battered child’s hotline if they weren’t cast as the Couriers. Knowing that murder follows me like a priest follows a new altar boy learning to genuflect, my nemesis, Detective Jose Manuello (age who cares?), begged me to give him a role in the show. I selected King George III—the tyrant. Speaking of begging, Asterisk ran around in circles, like a member of Congress trying to pass a law, until I cast him as the king’s pet Georgie. The broke and vacationless theatre faculty and students on campus filled the remaining roles and technical positions. Professor of Music Hank Tobias (age born before Christ) was cast as old and infirm Caesar Rodney from Delaware. Hank’s daughter, Maggie (age 40 for the fourth year) agreed to do the costumes. Hank’s graduate assistant, hunky Sami Zaman, pitched in (pun intended) as musical director and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina. Adorable Assistant Professor of Dance Haku Yamato did a double timestep as choreographer and John Dickinson of Pennsylvania. Handsome theatre majors Hector Alvarez and Philippe Laurent took on the roles of George Washington and his French lover Guy Raffleur III, renaming the father of our country: a French Connection. The remaining students took on the additional roles and technical positions—including the boys in the band nestled cozily in the orchestra pit. One last note. Think of this little story as Nicky and Noah lite—in the loafers. For the full Nicky and Noah experience, you need to read the novels!

So here I am center stage at the burgundy Treemeadow College Theatre on the morning of our final technical dress rehearsal. The time when directors take notes—and valium—while putting last minutes changes into the show—and their wills. “Cast, please go over your entrances and exits. Set crew, please repair the set. Maggie, please do damage control on the costumes and set décor.” Lighting crew, please hit me over the head with a lighting instrument and put me out of my misery.

The cast and crew raced around the stage faster than Jehovah’s Witnesses at a new housing development. As I texted more notes to the cast and crew than in a Wagnerian opera score read by someone with double vision, an angel of mercy appeared behind me, wrapped his long arms around my sweaty waist, and kissed my quivering cheek. “The show is going to be fine, Nicky.”

“That’s what the Titanic’s orchestra leader said.” I spun around to face my loving husband.

“We’re always a hit, onstage and off.” Noah kissed one of my long sideburns. “How’s my John Adams?”

“In need of a hug from his Thomas Jefferson.”

After we hugged, I reached under my shirt and pulled out a gold chained locket. Opening it, I read the engraved inscription, “To John Adams, All my love, Thomas Jefferson.”

“Do you like it, Nicky?”

“I love it.” I felt my pulse lower to two hundred. “What did I ever do to deserve you, Noah?”

“A decade ago, you proved I was innocent.”

“And now I’m not so sure.”

Noah giggled. As I closed and replaced the locket, he said, “You look sexy in your John Adams suit.”

“And you’re a fetching Thomas Jefferson in soft powder blue.”

We shared a wet and wonderful kiss. I enjoyed the familiar taste of the man I love, as I ran my fingers through his long golden locks and took in the luscious scent of his strawberry shampoo. “I adore you, Noah Oliver.”

“And I adore you right back, Nicky Abbondanza.”

After sharing another kiss, I came back to reality. “Noah, the show opens tomorrow night for July 4, and we aren’t ready.”

Praise for the Nicky and Noah mysteries

“Joe Cosentino has a unique and fabulous gift. His writing is flawless, and his plot-lines will have you guessing until the very last page, which makes his books a joy to read. His books are worth their weight in gold, and if you haven’t discovered them yet you are in for a rare treat.” Divine Magazine

“a combination of Laurel and Hardy mixed with Hitchcock and Murder She Wrote… Loaded with puns and one-liners…Right to the end, you are kept guessing, and the conclusion still has a surprise in store for you…the best modern Sherlock and Watson in books today…I highly recommend this book and the entire series, it’s a pure pleasure, full of fun and love, written with talent and brio…fabulous…brilliant” Optimumm Book Reviews

“adventure, mystery, and romance with every page….Funny, clever, and sweet….I can’t find anything not to love about this series….This read had me laughing and falling in love….Nicky and Noah are my favorite gay couple.” Urban Book Reviews

“For fans of Joe Cosentino’s hilarious mysteries, this is another vintage story with more cheeky asides and sub plots right left and centre….The story is fast paced, funny and sassy. The writing is very witty with lots of tongue-in-cheek humour….Highly recommended.” Boy Meets Boy Reviews

“Every entry of the Nicky and Noah mystery series is rife with intrigue, calamity, and hilarity…Cosentino keeps us guessing – and laughing – until the end, as well as leaving us breathlessly anticipating the next Nicky and Noah thriller.” Edge Media Network

“A laugh and a murder, done in the style we have all come to love….This had me from the first paragraph….Another wonderful story with characters you know and love!” Crystals Many Reviewers

“These two are so entertaining….Their tactics in finding clues and the crazy funny interactions between characters keeps the pages turning. For most of the book if I wasn’t laughing I was grinning.” Jo and Isa Love Books

“Superb fun from start to finish, for me this series gets stronger with every book and that’s saying something because the benchmark was set so very high with book 1.” Three Books Over the Rainbow

“The Nicky and Noah Mysteries series are perfect for fans of the Cozy Mystery sub-genre. They mix tongue-in-cheek humor, over-the-top characters, a wee bit of political commentary, and suspense into a sweet little mystery solved by Nicky and Noah, theatre professors for whom all the world’s a stage.” Prism Book Alliance

“This is one hilarious series with a heart and it just keeps getting better. I highly recommend them all, and please read them in the order they were written for full blown laugh out loud reading pleasure!” Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

About Joe

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Joe Cosentino was voted Favorite MM Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine for Drama Queen, the first Nicky and Noah mystery novel. He is also the author of:

the remaining Nicky and Noah mysteries: Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle, Drama Dance, Drama Faerie, Drama Runway, Drama Christmas, Drama Pan, Drama TV, Drama Oz, Drama Prince, Drama Merry, Drama Daddy (novelette), Drama King;

the Player Piano Mysteries: The Player and The Player’s Encore;

the Jana Lane Mysteries: Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll;

the Cozzi Cove series: Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Moving Forward, Stepping Out, New Beginnings, Happy Endings; the In My Heart Anthology: An Infatuation & A Shooting Star; the Tales from Fairyland Anthology: The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland and Holiday Tales from Fairyland; and

the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Anthology: A Home for the Holidays, The Perfect Gift, The First Noel; and the Found At Last Anthology: Finding Giorgio and Finding Armando.

His books have won numerous Book of the Month awards and Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions. As an actor, Joe appeared in principal roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Jason Robards, and Holland Taylor. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Goddard College, Master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz, and is currently a happily married college theatre professor/department chair residing in New York State.

Web site: https://JoeCosentino.weebly.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino

Amazon: Author.to/JoeCosentino

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joecosentinoauthor

Steven D. Brewer’s Rewriting The Rules – with a giveaway

Steven D. Brewer has a new queer steampunk book out (trans, gay): Rewriting the Rules. And there’s a giveaway.

About the Book

When peace is no longer possible, one must either go to war or run away.

Abandoned by the nobility, everything goes wrong for Revin and he makes a run for it, ready to give up all hope. But when confronted with the choice he must make, will his heart lead him true?

Warnings: violence.

About the Series

Revin, a young man from a poor mining town, has pulled himself up by his bootstraps to become the student apprentice of a law professor. But then, everything goes wrong: their airship is captured by pirates and Revin loses his mentor. Born female, Revin must make his way in a world oriented toward men while he struggles with his own identity.

Set against the backdrop of a war between island nations, Revin must navigate a world divided between the aristocracy and the common people. And, as a promising young man, he must choose whom to align himself with — and to serve. But what does Revin’s Heart say?

Universal Buy LinkGiveaway

Steven is giving away a $10 Water Dragon Publishing gift card with this tour via this Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47287/?

Excerpt

The Queen of Belleriand approached the coast of Havelock in the pre-dawn hours at a high altitude and then turned to skirt the coast. Grip cranked down the ramp while Will helped Revin strap himself into the glider.

“Unassisted, you should have no problem reaching the coast,” Will said. “But even a small towline will probably be enough to keep you aloft until the city.”

“And you’ll be ready?” Revin asked.

“As soon as the Baron launches the assault, we will watch for your signal.”

With this assurance, Will gave Revin a pat on the shoulder and helped him out onto the ramp. Revin had worn two extra shirts for some extra insulation, but was still shivering, though not entirely from the cold. He was familiar with heights having been on airships many times. But jumping off of them was something else altogether. He pulled out the monocle he had gotten from Will and fixed it over his eye. Then, taking a deep breath, he took a running start and leapt off the ramp into open air.

At first, he panicked when it felt like he was going straight down. He struggled to get his feet up into the supports, heart racing. But once he’d picked up a little speed, he felt the glider start to gain lift and the dive flattened out into a long glide.

With the monocle, he studied the etheric flows and made an attachment to a strong flow going the right direction. He felt the glider pick up speed and it actually started to climb! He grew increasingly confident as he overflew the coast.

He had chosen to approach the city from the East, to stay well clear of the aerodrome, but it meant approaching the city from an unfamiliar direction. He strained his eyes trying to look for familiar landmarks and trying to spot Lidja’s apartment building. He was practically straight above it when he finally recognized it. He panicked for a moment feeling like he’d missed his chance. But then he just cut the towline and began turning lazy circles, dumping altitude, until he was just above the rooftops.

The building with Lidja’s apartment had a mansard roof and looked forbidding to land on. But the adjacent building had a large, long flat roof. Revin lined himself up, then realized, with the wind behind him, he was going too fast and would overshoot the building. In a panic, with the roof of Lidja’s apartment rushing at him, he found another etheric stream, and made the biggest towline he could. He squeezed his eyes shut as he started to climb and just barely cleared the roof. He climbed for a few minutes, then cut the line and looped back for another try. Heading into the wind this time, he lined up well in advance of the roof and judged the height better. As he cleared Lydia’s roof, he dropped his feet out of the supports and touched down at a run. He almost lost his balance and nearly tumbled, but just managed to stay on his feet and bring the glider to a stop. He had never wanted to kiss the ground more.

After he unstrapped himself, he ran to the edge of the building and, looking down a few feet, identified the window of Lidja’s bedroom. He pulled a few copper bits out of his pocket and threw one against her window. And then another and another, until he saw she was opening the window to look out and see what was going on. She looked up and caught sight of Revin and her face broke into a huge smile.

“Revin!” she squealed. “What are you doing here?”

“May I come in?”

“Yes, of course!”

Revin sprang across the narrow gap between the buildings and scrambled over to the window and climbed inside. Lidja seized him in a hug and pulled him down onto the bed.

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” she said, kissing his face over and over. “I’ve missed you so much! But, look at you! What happened to you?”

She put hands on both sides of his face and looked at his black eye and bruises that were finally starting to fade. She kissed his eyes very gently.

“I’m here,” Revin said. “And that’s all that matters. What’s been happening here?”

“Oh, it’s really bad, Revin,” Lidja said. “There are soldiers everywhere now. They’re stopping everyone and searching everything.”

“Are you still driving the coach for the Seneschal?” Revin asked.

“No,” Lidja said sadly. “They said that until the crisis is over I should stay home.”

“It just means I’ll have you all to myself,” Revin said. Lidja hugged him even tighter and then kissed him on his mouth when he tried to say something else.

“But there is something I want to do,” he said, when Lidja finally came up for air.

“Mmmmm,” Lidja said, giving him little kisses on his neck and throat and working her way lower.

“And it’s dangerous,” he continued as she began to unbutton his shirts.

“Mm-hmm,” she said, reaching around to unhook his chest binding.

“And I’ll need your help,” he said.

“Mm-hmm,” she agreed as she kissed him on his chest and belly.

“I’m not sure you’re taking this seriously,” Revin said.

“Hmm,” she said, loosening his trousers and working her way even lower.

Revin closed his eyes, leaned back, and gave himself over to her completely.

Author Bio

Steven D. Brewer has been a fan of science fiction and fantasy stories for as long as he can remember. He still remembers getting scolded for not reading chapter books in fourth grade because he was avidly consuming The Hobbit, late at night, by flashlight under his covers. And he probably got his copy from his older brother and most important mentor.

As an author, Brewer identifies diverse obsessions that underlie his writing. His early interest in natural history, life science, and environmentalism he learned from his father, an ecologist and ornithologist. He attributes seeing his mother study German for his abiding passion for languages that led him to major in Spanish (as well as Biology) and subsequently learn Esperanto and use it for international correspondence and travel. His fascination with Japanese culture grew from writing haiku and haibun in Esperanto. And his mania for information technology and the Internet led him back to graduate school where he earned a Masters in Earth Science and a PhD in Science Education.

His scattered interests led to an eclectic employment history. He did farm work and food service growing up in southwest Michigan. He has worked as a large-animal caretaker, an archeological faunal analyst, a hunter of the fastest lizards in the world, a gas-station attendant, a bilingual teacher’s aide for a migrant-worker education program, and an edutainer with live animals and a portable planetarium. For the past quarter century he has served as a non-tenure-system faculty member in higher education.

Brewer currently teaches scientific writing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts with his extended family.

Author Website: https://stevendbrewer.com/

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/limako

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/author.sdbrewer

Author Mastodon: https://wandering.shop/@stevendbrewer

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7883389.Steven_D_Brewer

Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/steven-d-brewer/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Steven-D.-Brewer/author/B00EEIA8MO

M. D. Grimm’s “A Priest, A Plague and a Prophecy” is out now – and there’s a giveaway

M.D. Grimm has a new MM fantasy romance out (ace, bi, demi): A Priest, a Plague, and a Prophecy (have to say that I LOVE that title!). And there’s a giveaway. 

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About the book

“Orcs are the answer but what is the question?”

Elias is a priest at the Temple of the Divine Sibyl. When he becomes lost in the woods after his brother’s hunting party abandons him, it’s just his luck that he’d stumble upon an angry orc caught in a trap. Unable to stomach the suffering of others, Elias throws self-preservation to the wind and frees the orc. Then Gurrkk—that’s a name?—ends up leading him to safety.

Gurrkk finds himself rather smitten by the sweet, awkward human. He’s always been fascinated with his people’s sworn enemy, and now he has a life debt to fulfill to maintain his honor.

Hiding an orc among the temple’s crypts wouldn’t have been Elias’s first choice but Gurrkk is stubborn about leaving. As they learn each other’s languages and spend more time together, Elias realizes they’ve become friends… and maybe more. And when the dying sibyl gives her last prophecy, Elias knows it wasn’t chance that brought them together, it was the gods.

But why?

This is a sweet, ace romance, so no sexy times, but plenty of snuggles and cuddles!

Universal Buy Links | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | SmashwordsGiveaway

M.D. is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card with this tour via this Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47285/?

Excerpt

Elias closed his eyes and clasped his hands under his chin, sending a fervent prayer to the gods, asking for a sign. Any sign that would lead him home. Seconds passed. Minutes. He cracked open one eye to look around. Seeing nothing, he glared and set his fists on his hips.

So much for divine intervention.

“I’m one of your priests, and you don’t give me the time of day,” he mumbled as he set off down the left-hand path.

He was hungry again.

Even as he was contemplating the pros and cons of eating one of his last apples, he stumbled around a thick tree before halting in shock.

An orc sat on the ground, his greenish-gold skin glistening with sweat and his coal-black eyes glaring with menace. He was almost bald, except for a spiky strip of green hair running from his forehead to the back of his skull. The lack of hair accentuated his large ears that moved independently of each other. Two pronounced fangs jutted up from his lower jaw, which was square and blunt, and more sharp teeth showed when he growled.

Elias stayed frozen, taking in the long black tunic cinched at the waist by a gold cord. The short sleeves were trimmed with gold thread, baring muscled arms. The stately garb struck Elias, making him wonder as to the status of the orc. Did they have hierarchy as humans did? The tunic ended around his knees, leaving the rest of his muscled legs bare. Also, this orc wasn’t of monstrous size, so he couldn’t be of the mountain variety. He was certainly taller and broader than Elias, but also leaner, corded with muscle, like that big cat Elias had spotted earlier. And his face was… not horrible. Brutish and sharp but not hideous or even ugly. Those illustrators of tomes really set out to depict orcs as the most horrific creatures ever to grace the earth.

The urge to run made his palms grow damp and his breath to quicken. Not that he could run for more than a few steps before wheezing because he was so damn out of shape, and why the hell didn’t he train with his brother? I’m going to die, I’m going to die….

Then his gaze traveled down to the reason the orc was sitting on the ground and not eating his face. Vicious steel jaws had the orc by the ankle, piercing deeply into his flesh. The jaws were attached to a chain that was buried into the earth. The fact the orc hadn’t freed himself meant this was one of the trick jaws. One specifically made for capturing orcs. The scoured earth around the chain proved that the orc had tried to dig himself free but clearly hadn’t succeeded. His ankle was a mess of torn flesh and caked blood, and only then did Elias notice the buzz of flies.

How long had he been sitting there, in pain? In fear?

Sympathy rose with anger not far behind. Elias and the orc stared at each other, and Elias found himself stepping closer without consciously deciding his actions. The orc growled deeper, eyes narrowed in warning. Elias stopped again, wondering what he was doing. This was an orc! The enemy! The beasts that kept trying to take their lands. Attius’s tirades whirled through his mind even as the battle songs about marauding orcs jangled in his memory.

He’d never joined in. He’d never had anything personal against orcs. He never thought one way or another about them. Fighting them wasn’t a part of his world. Most of his life had been spent ensconced in the Temple of the Divine Sibyl, which was safely behind fortified stone walls and separated from the general populace of the city.

He was sheltered and he knew it. To see such ugly pain in another living creature struck him to the core. That was one of the reasons he didn’t eat meat. He couldn’t reconcile killing just to feed himself when there were plenty of other things to consume if he simply looked.

At that moment, this orc was no different than any other wild animal caught in a trap. And would he let such a creature die so horribly? No, he would not.

Taking a deep breath, and with more courage than he would profess to have, Elias crouched before slowly pushing off his pack. He kept his eyes on the orc and opened the top flap before tilting it to show the orc that it only held medicines, plant samples, parchment, and ink.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said gently. “Can you understand me?”

The orc made no indication either way. He continued to growl and glare.

“I want to help you.” Elias took the one weapon he had, a long dagger, and showed the orc the blade before tossing it away. The orc stopped growling and blinked in apparent surprise. Elias shuffled closer on his knees, keeping his demeanor as non-threatening as possible. He almost snorted—as if a soft priest like him could be threatening. He kept speaking in low tones as he would to a frightened animal. He kept his pack held out in front of him, hoping the harmless items would convince the orc he wasn’t a hunter.

The orc’s large nostrils flared, and he squinted into the bag. He must have smelled the remaining apples, the plant samples, and the few healing ointments Elias carried with him everywhere. Elias set the bag within easy reach of the orc just in case he wanted to investigate. Then he took a good look at the steel jaws and winced.

The orc didn’t wear shoes, his sturdy, rough feet tough enough not to need them. His nails were more like claws, almost identical to those on his fingers. The trap would have been covered, and he’d stepped directly onto the triggering mechanism. The blades had barely missed his foot to cut into his ankle, probably scraping against the bones and tendons.

Elias took a moment to fight nausea.

“Damn. Once I free your leg it’s going to bleed profusely. I have to wrap it fast and tight.” He glanced up and met the orc’s eyes. Grim determination stared back at him and Elias blinked. “You do understand me.”

Author Bio

M.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!).

Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!). After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier.

Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.

Author Website: https://www.mdgrimmwrites.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001710645622

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4574220.M_D_Grimm

Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/

Author Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.D.-Grimm/e/B00I0KZMY6/

The God’s Eye in Audiobook – Released TODAY!

Big day today! The third and final audiobook in the Lancaster’s Luck series, The God’s Eye, is released, meaning the entire series is now available in audio.

When I announced the release date, I said this: “Gary Furlong is the outstanding narrator bringing you Rafe Lancaster, Ned Winter, and a host of others off on their last, greatest adventure. Gary’s a voice actor, and of course, he’s a damn good one – the best! – so I shouldn’t be surprised at how well he portrays a Victorian English gentleman adventurer. He is Rafe Lancaster now; for me, at any rate. Because whenever I reread the books, I’m going to hear Gary’s voice in my head being sardonic, kind, cynical, funny, and honourable all at once as he breathes real life into Rafe. Of all my book creations, I’m proudest of Rafe. I’m awed at how well Gary gets him.”

Now I’m having the chance to listen to the entire thing, all I can say is DITTO, DITTO, DITTO, with knobs on. Gary is wonderful as Rafe. He will, for me, always be Rafe. I can’t thank him enough for bringing Rafe to such glorious, totally Lancastrian life!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Order linksAudible US  |  Audible UK  |  Audible AU About the Book

Rafe Lancaster is reluctantly settling into his role as the First Heir of House Stravaigor. Trapped by his father’s illness and his new responsibilities, Rafe can’t go with lover Ned Winter to Aegypt for the 1902/03 archaeological digging season. Rafe’s unease at being left behind intensifies when Ned’s fascination with the strange Antikythera mechanism and its intriguing link to the Aegyptian god Thoth has Ned heading south to the remote, unexplored highlands of Abyssinia and the course of the Blue Nile.

Searching for Thoth’s deadly secrets, Ned is out of contact and far from help. When he doesn’t return at Christmas as he promised, everything points to trouble. Rafe is left with a stark choice – abandon his dying father or risk never seeing Ned again.

LinksAudiobook Audible US  |  Audible UK  |  Audible AUEbook Universal link to a digital store near youPaperbackAvailable from Amazon, or contact me for a signed copyListenThe Series

With this release, the entire series is now available in audiobook. Here’s a pretty graphic:

Find all three audiobooks here:

Audible US | Audible UK | Audible Aus

Balancing The Weave by M.W. Lee – with giveaway!

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M.W. Lee has a new MM fantasy romance out: Balancing the Weave.

For Mark, Pride weekend in Yamasee County, South Carolina, means spending the day with friends, flirting with the out-of-town men, finding a romance, drinking too much, and enjoying all of Pride. However, the Fates have arrived to address a hole which appeared in the tapestry representing Mark, his past, and his present, which will direct him to the future.

Throughout the day, the Fates confront Mark with memories both pleasant and painful about his former lover Sammy. Parcae uses her goddess tools to manipulate Mark’s thoughts so he remembers fun dates, fights, issues which make him uncomfortable, and accusations of being needy. Was it Sammy’s neediness that caused Mark to end the relationship? Or was Mark the needy companion? When Sammy once said Mark ain’t needy, what did he mean?

Can the goddesses help Mark work through these memories so his self-evaluation can lead to better relationships in the future?

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Get It At Amazon | Universal By LinkGiveaway

M.W. is giving away a $20 JMS Books gift card with this tour via this Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47283/?

Excerpt

Parcae stood to stretch her legs while allowing Mark time to reflect about what he just remembered while she strategized her next affront.

Mark refused to consider the significance of the memory, choosing instead to attempt to hide in sleep.

Parcae considered. It seems to me that if left alone, his memory inclines toward dishonesty. In lying to himself, he can’t or won’t learn. He needs to ask himself who he was in the relationship, but most importantly, who he was to Sammy. He needs to face this honestly.

She nosed about the room, acting like a nosy mother-in-law eavesdropping on the private conversation in the adjacent the next room.

“I wonder,” she spoke out loud to Mark, “why did Sammy date you?”

Mark though for a moment before replying, I liked his sense of humor.

Parcae sighed. “That’s you, not him.”

I’m good-looking.

“You going to include dick size too, shallow man?” Parcae snapped. “I asked why he—” she stressed the he “—dated you.”

I don’t know why he dated me. We never talked about it, Mark thought, matching her snappy tone.

“Yes, you did. Remember, after you’d been dating for a couple of months, he told you.”

Mark searched for the memory without finding it, so he remained still, his mind becoming blank.

Parcae ambled about the room, swishing her crinolines, which sounded like children playing in piles of dead autumn leaves. The sound cleared the air around Mark, and he felt the pinch of crisp autumn evenings, smelled the scents of autumn, burning leaves, warm cider, and funnel cakes. Mark’s memory opened and brought him back to the first Friday in October, when he and Sammy decided on an impromptu date to ride rides, play bad carnival games, and eat junk food at the Big Seven County Fair.

A smile came across Mark’s face, which Parcae noticed and approved. Instead of allowing him to rely on his own memory to show his past, she created a vivid memory so that she could observe how the memory touched him.

“Exactly,” Parcae said. “A good memory. Good memories bring clarity to past relationships.”

Mark thought, How do they do that?

“Comparison,” Parcae said. “Who you were then compared to who you were when you broke up.”

As her crinolines swished, Mark’s memory cleared. Instead of a scene being replayed as a motion picture, the memory flashed a series of slides so that Mark experienced a photo album of their date at the fair. The view was that of the gods.

Mark observed –

Mark and Sammy laughing as Mark pressed against him on the scrambler. Sammy’s wide mouth created a half joking yet half fearful expression.

Mark commented, When the ride stopped, Sammy showed me that the mechanism hadn’t closed properly.

The next slide: Mark exaggerated a baseball pitch as he attempted the Milk Bottle Toss. Sammy stood with his hands in prayer position against his mouth with an exaggerated hopeful expression.

Mark thought, I could just be silly with him, and he’d join in.

The next slide: Both of them standing in line for the Spook House. Mark noticed his arm resting on Sammy’s shoulder, as if he were leaning on Sammy.

Mark observed, I was being affectionate but unsure because of the location. Sammy never seemed bothered.

The next slide: Mark saw them sitting at a small picnic table under a canopy at the Penniless Pig, sharing a large plate of loaded fries. The slide transformed to a motion picture.

“What were you doing on the swings?” Mark asked.

“Being silly,” Sammy laughed as he devoured some fries. “In Germany, riders get the swings to spin around, and they reach for each other, and push each other back and forth. It gets harder as the ride gets faster. I was trying to do that.”

“Is that allowed?” Mark asked.

“Don’t know,” Sammy said. “since all we do is sit, either it isn’t allowed or no one’s thought of it. But … um …” Sammy paused.

Mark noticed Sammy glancing away, smiling, embarrassed, in that special kind of embarrassment when the lover admits he likes the beloved. On the sofa, Mark recognized his heart’s increase of excitement.

“Well,” Sammy continued, “Sometimes a couple would reach out and grab hands and pull each other closer. I was attempting to be romantic.”

“Did you want to hold hands?” Mark asked affectionately, without a hint of mockery.

About the Author

M.W. Lee studied English at Limestone University in South Carolina, and DePaul University in Illinois. He has led many lives, as an adjunct professor, data entry clerk, ESA teacher in Saudi Arabia. Currently, he has a new day career as an HIV case manager with the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center. His personal essay, “The Sea and Debussy” appeared in the on-line journal The Scarlet Leaf Review in October 2021.

Lee works during the day and writes at night. “Balancing the Weave” is his first published novella. He enjoys reading a wide range of fiction; however, space operas, dystopian, and post-apocalyptic fiction are his favorites. He is currently writing a crime novel.

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/Marshall.Wayne.Lee

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088125436054

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31467891.M_W_Lee

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Balancing-Weave-M-W-Lee-ebook/dp/B0BVHHCWBM/

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The God’s Eye in Audiobook – preorder available now!

I’m delighted to tell you the third and final audiobook in the Lancaster’s Luck series, The God’s Eye, will be released on 9th June, and is available right now for pre-ordering.

Just as with the first two books, Gary Furlong is the narrator bringing you Rafe Lancaster, Ned Winter, and a host of others off on their last, greatest adventure. Gary’s a voice actor, and of course, he’s a damn good one – the best! – so I shouldn’t be surprised at how well he portrays a Victorian English gentleman adventurer. He is Rafe Lancaster now; for me, at any rate. Because whenever I reread the books, I’m going to hear Gary’s voice in my head being sardonic, kind, cynical, funny, and honourable all at once as he breathes real life into Rafe. Of all my book creations, I’m proudest of Rafe. I’m awed at how well Gary gets him. 

So all thanks to Gary for a wonderful performance, and my deep gratitude to him for taking Rafe on another great adventure. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Preorder links

Audible US  |  Audible UK  |  Audible AU 

About the Book

Rafe Lancaster is reluctantly settling into his role as the First Heir of House Stravaigor. Trapped by his father’s illness and his new responsibilities, Rafe can’t go with lover Ned Winter to Aegypt for the 1902/03 archaeological digging season. Rafe’s unease at being left behind intensifies when Ned’s fascination with the strange Antikythera mechanism and its intriguing link to the Aegyptian god Thoth has Ned heading south to the remote, unexplored highlands of Abyssinia and the course of the Blue Nile.

Searching for Thoth’s deadly secrets, Ned is out of contact and far from help. When he doesn’t return at Christmas as he promised, everything points to trouble. Rafe is left with a stark choice – abandon his dying father or risk never seeing Ned again.

Links

Audiobook: Audible US  |  Audible UK  |  Audible AU

Ebook: Universal link to a digital store near you 

Paperback: Available from Amazon, or contact me for a signed copy

Listen