Xio Axelrod's Blog, page 2

Coastal Magic Wrap-Up and a Fun Chat with the Big Gay Fiction Podcast!

Happy Monday, my lovelies! Thank you for all of the birthday wishes last week. You sure make a girl feel special.

It’s My Birthday Party x 2!

Hello my lovelies! It’s a very special day for me. Frankie and Johnny: Let the Music Play is out in the world.
Not only is it their book birthday, it’s also MY birthday. Yay!

As my gift to you, here is an excerpt!

“It’s not much,” I say as
we step into my flat. “The girls went to a club and won’t be home ’til the wee
hours.”

“You have roommates?”
John’s eyes scan the living room, which is unusually tidy.

Okay, yes. I’d tidied it
up before I left home. Just in case.

My style could be called dormitory
chic, my flat furnished with a collection of mismatched pieces acquired over
the life of my residency. Some of it, like the tiny kitchen table and chair
set, have been here since before I ever arrived. But the parlor has high
ceilings, which gives it the impression of space and makes the collection seem
eclectic rather than haphazard.

“They sublet the front
bedroom from me,” I explain, flicking on lights as I go. It takes six lamps to
fill the room, one of the downsides of its twelve-foot ceilings. Even with
white walls, the light barely reflects. “They do their thing, and I do mine.”

“So, not close, then?”
John settles on the couch and looks up at me.

“Not at all. Wine?” I
offer. “Beer?”

“Beer, if you have an
IPA.”

“I do.” I grin. “Be right
back.”

The large, overstuffed
couch is the primary source for seating. Along the opposite wall is where I
keep my personal collection. LPs, CDs, and rare box sets, both vinyl and
digital. My Technics turntable occupies the place of honor where a television
might sit. I have a telly, but it’s in my room. I didn’t want to have to argue
with the girls, or anyone else, about what to watch.

When I return with two
cold bottles of brew, I find John flipping through my record collection.

“I hope you don’t mind,”
he says, reading the back cover of a Police album.

“Not at all,” I say. I’ve
never been one of those people that doesn’t
let others touch their prized possessions. As long as they’re gentle, it
doesn’t bother me.

 “You have a lot of eighties music here,” John
observes. “I guess you weren’t kidding about the whole birthright thing.”

“I was not.” I hand John
his beer and take a look at the record in his hand. “God, I love that album.”
It’s Zenyatta Mondatta, one of the most underrated albums of that
decade.

“I don’t think I’ve heard
it,” John admits. “The only Police songs I know are Roxanne and Every Breath You
Take, which is super fucking creepy if you ask me.”

“Right?” I smack my thigh. “Totally mental! It’s downright stalkerish. Wherever you go, I’ll be watching you. Really sick shit.” I take a pull from my beer as John nods in agreement.

“I think my parents had
that as the first dance when they renewed their vows.”

“Fuck,” I mutter. “Did they not read the lyrics?”

John laughs, his hot,
malty breath filling my lungs when I inhale. “I doubt it. My mom had dubious
taste in music.”

“What were they like,
your parents?”

John looks thoughtful for
a moment. “Kind,” he says. “Not nice, I mean of course they were nice, but
being kind is different than being nice. Does that make sense?”

“It does,” I reply,
recognizing the trait in their son. John is kind.
And nice. More than that, he is genuine. “Do you want to hear it?”

“What?” My question
brings John back to the present.

I nod toward the album in
his hand. “The best fucking record you’ve never heard.”

He grins, handing it to
me. “Blow my mind, Frankie.”

It takes me no time to
cue up the first song, Don’t Stand So
Close to Me.

We talk through most of
the track as I explain how the band hated the record
and were rushed to get it done it before their next tour.

“Of course, it won two
Grammys,” I tell him. “Shows what the fuck they knew.”

“Yeah, really.”

We go quiet as the album progresses, content to be in
each other’s company, sharing a beer and a sofa. I love this, sharing music
like this, and there are few people on the planet with which I can do it.

John really digs the
second song, Driven to Tears.

“One of my favorite
political songs,” I tell him.

The following track has
one of the fattest grooves I’ve ever heard on a rock record, but I don’t say
anything to John when it begins.

“Damn,” he says, when the bass line kicks in and looks
over at me.

I nod. “I know.”

He grins, his expression
softening as he studies me.

“Fuck,” he exhales the
word.

“What?”

Someone left a bolt of
cotton fabric at my place long ago, and it’s found new life as a tablecloth,
though it actually only covers a diamond-shaped
area of the surface. Very shabby chic, the girls tell me. It almost looks like
I did it on purpose.

This is what runs through
my mind as John puts his bottle on the red and white patterned cloth. He turns
to me, pulling his knee up so he can face me.

“What?” I practically squirm under his gaze.

“Nothing, I just…” He
exhales slowly and takes my hand. “I really like you, Frankie.”

I grin. “I really like
you too, Johnny. Wanna go steady?”

I laugh, but John
doesn’t. “Yeah, I think… I think I kinda do.”

Whew! What do you think, are you dying to know how they get along? I hope you’ll celebrate my 21st (wink, wink) birthday with me, and show my boys some love.

John Burton has Franklin Llewellyn humming a new tune.

After a messy break-up, Frankie thought he’d never find someone that really got him, especially his unique relationship with music. His ex called it an obsession, but it goes well beyond that. Music is Frankie’s lifeblood, and he’s always struggled to explain it.

Then John Burton crash-landed into Frankie’s world. Attentive, curious, and supportive, he’s everything Frankie’s ever wanted.

Frankie doesn’t know what it is about Johnny, but that he can’t stay away. Being with him is like listening to his favorite album on repeat. Johnny becomes as much of an addiction as Frankie’s beloved vinyl collection, but their budding relationship proves to be just as fragile.

When things between the pair shift from friendship into something more, Frankie finds himself overwhelmed by emotions he’s never experienced. He worries he’s in over his head, but it doesn’t stop him from taking whatever Johnny is willing to give.

As wonderful as Johnny is, he’s clearly hiding something. It’s an errant note in an otherwise perfect melody. The late-night texts and phone calls that Johnny won’t fully explain leave Frankie feeling adrift. Alone in an emotional freefall.

When Frankie discovers a secret from Johnny’s past, it’s a record-scratch moment. Can Frankie look past it and continue their duet? Or is he destined to go solo?

Grab a copy of Frankie and Johnny: Let the Music Play at:
Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, or Kobo (coming soon)!

I’m heading down to Florida this week for the
Coastal Magic Convention Beachside Reader Weekend.
Hope to see you there!

A Valentine Surprise!

Happy Valentine’s Day, my lovelies! I hope you’re surrounded by the people you love, eating delicious food, warm and happy.

I have a surprise for you! Check out the cover for Frankie and Johnny: Let the Music Play!

In When Frankie Meets Johnny, the pair circled around each other in a delightful dance. What started off as a tentative friendship blossomed into something much deeper. Their story continues in Frankie and Johnny: Let the Music Play, as Frankie finds himself falling hard and fast for the sweet, tender John Burton.

Here’s the official blurb!

John Burton has Franklin Llewellyn humming a new tune.

After a messy break-up, Frankie thought he’d never find someone that really got him, especially his unique relationship with music. His ex called it an obsession, but it goes well beyond that. Music is Frankie’s lifeblood, and he’s always struggled to explain it.

Then John Burton crash-landed into Frankie’s world. Attentive, curious, and supportive, he’s everything Frankie’s ever wanted.

Frankie doesn’t know what it is about Johnny, but that he can’t stay away. Being with him is like listening to his favorite album on repeat. Johnny becomes as much of an addiction as Frankie’s beloved vinyl collection, but their budding relationship proves to be just as fragile.

When things between the pair shift from friendship into something more, Frankie finds himself overwhelmed by emotions he’s never experienced. He worries he’s in over his head, but it doesn’t stop him from taking whatever Johnny is willing to give.

As wonderful as Johnny is, he’s clearly hiding something. It’s an errant note in an otherwise perfect melody. The late-night texts and phone calls that Johnny won’t fully explain leave Frankie feeling adrift. Alone in an emotional freefall.

When Frankie discovers a secret from Johnny’s past, it’s a record-scratch moment. Can Frankie look past it and continue their duet? Or is he destined to go solo?

Squee! I’m so happy to bring the conclusion of Frankie and Johnny’s story to you. When, you ask? How about Monday, 17 February! That’s right! Let the Music Play will be on your e-readers next week! ZOMG!

If you’re in Philadelphia tomorrow, Saturday the 15th, join me at Romancing the Library! Some of my romance author friends and I are taking over the Parkway branch of the Free Library to bring you cookies, trivia, swag, and Blind Date with a Book!

Sending you lots of love!
Xio xox

Happy (Belated) New Year!

Happy 2020, my darlings!

Can you believe we’re almost a month into the new decade? I know for some of us, January has already felt like an entire year. (cough*romancelandia*cough) I hope the rest of 2020 goes more smoothly, and is filled with nothing but love and baby animals.

Back By Popular Demand!

Hello my lovelies!

It’s been a minute since I reached out to you. The summer was a busy one, and autumn looks much to be the same. All good things, though. Lots of new characters and worlds for you to fall in love with.

In the meantime, I’ve received quite a few messages about When Frankie Meets Johnny and whether or not it would be made available as a standalone. Wonder no more!

Originally published in volume two of the Love Is All anthology, When Frankie Meets Johnny will be available on October 1st!

Scottish ex-pat Frankie Llewellyn lives and breathes music. Working late nights at WKMP, a radio station in suburban Philadelphia, he can play what he wants, sleep in every morning, and no one gives him any grief. No one but his most recent ex-boyfriend. Frankie is a serial monogamist, but after this latest break-up, he’s worried he’ll end up alone with nothing but his records to keep him warm at night.

When the station hires someone to do some much-needed renovations, Frankie is horrified to find out the work will be done during his overnight shift. But it makes the most sense, so he’s resolved to take one for the team. After he meets the mysterious contractor, a gorgeous, lumberjack of a man named John Burton, Frankie decides it may not be such a hardship after all.

John is reserved, and a bit mysterious. Quite the contrast to Frankie’s drama-filled life. But, as their friendship grows, John’s quiet presence has Frankie singing a new song.

Pre-Order When Frankie Meets Johnny now on:

Amazon – http://bit.ly/AmazonWFMJ

Kobo – http://bit.ly/KoboWFMJ

Barnes & Noble – http://bit.ly/BarnesWFMJ

and Apple Books – http://bit.ly/XioWFMJ

Don’t forget, Xio will be at the EAST COAST AUTHOR CONVENTION next weekend, October 4th-6th, in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. A limited amount of tickets are still available!

Love Is All is here, and it’s only 99 cents (for now)!

Hello, my lovelies!

One year ago, I put together an anthology to celebrate Pride month and to raise money for a worthy LGBT+ organization. I had such a great group of authors, who all donated amazing stories. It was such a wonderful experience that I decided to do it again!

LOVE IS ALL – VOLUME TWO is out in the world, and it is 99 cents for a very limited time!

The anthology includes novellas and short stories from USA Today Bestselling and award-winning authors, including Meg Bonney, Susan Scott Shelley, R.L. Merrill, Connor Peterson, Sophia Soames, Cole McCade, and Mary Calmes, plus an absolutely stunning foreword by Roan Parrish .

My contribution, When Frankie Meets Johnny, is a peek into the mind of a character that I’ve been living with for a couple of years, now. And, yes, I will be expanding the story later on but I hope you fall in love with Frankie as I have. His voice is a departure for me, to be certain.

Proceeds from this year’s anthology will be donated to an LGBT community center in Philadelphia.

Featuring:

Sugar Crush by Susan Scott Shelley

When horror novelist Jack Kramer is guilted into joining his best friend’s softball team, he’s not expecting to come face to face with the inspiration for his next novel. But one look at Gabriel Spencer, and his muse is off and running.

Bakery assistant Gabriel abhors anything with blood and gore, but he’s intrigued by Jack and agrees to help the sexy author. He’s not expecting the white hot attraction that builds every moment they are together, or how to handle dating someone who pushes him so far outside his comfort zone.

Happiness versus horror, sunlight versus shadows, early riser versus night owl, the men couldn’t be more different. Opposites attract, but are they too dissimilar to write their own happy ever after?

_____

What if it all goes right? by Sophia Soames

Carl Morelli has landed his dream job as airline crew, and should be perfectly content with his life. If it wasn’t for the fact that he’s in love with his best friend’s girlfriend.

Pup Armitage is in love with his best friend. He tried to tell him and it ended up costing him their friendship.

And Mila Naesvik just shakes her head at the two men she loves more than anything else in the world. It’s a risk to try to get this mess they have landed themselves in all straightened out, but then, what if it all goes right?

An MMF novella set in the airline world where lines are blurred and feelings are more confusing than they should be.

________

Pinups and Puppies by R.L. Merrill

Marianne Cross has lived a life of structure and purpose for the past twenty-four years. Now reluctantly retired from the Air Force, her life is missing those two things that have always defined her. As she struggles to decide where her future lies, she finds peace and solitude flying her vintage airplane. When an opportunity with the organization Pawsitive Flight comes along, allowing her to combine flying with a purpose, she’s interested in the possibilities—especially those concerning the owner of Goth Dog Rescue, Dinah Shaw. She’s tough, beautiful, and she makes Marianne want things she hasn’t allowed herself to want in a long time.

Flying rescue dogs to their furever homes may give Marianne new purpose, and even a home of her own in the process…if she’s willing to risk her heart on a little fly-by-night romance.

________

When Frankie Meets Johnny by Xio Axelrod

Scottish ex-pat Frankie Llewellyn lives and breathes music. Working late nights at WKMP, a radio station in suburban Philadelphia, he can play what he wants, sleep in every morning, and no one gives him any grief. No one but his most recent ex-boyfriend. Frankie is a serial monogamist, but after this latest break-up, he’s worried he’ll end up alone with nothing but his records to keep him warm at night.

When the station hires someone to do some much-needed renovations, Frankie is horrified to find out the work will be done during his overnight shift. But it makes the most sense, so he’s resolved to take one for the team. After he meets the mysterious contractor, a gorgeous, lumberjack of a man named John Burton, Frankie decides it may not be such a hardship after all.

John is reserved, and a bit mysterious. Quite the contrast to Frankie’s drama-filled life. But, as their friendship grows, John’s quiet presence has Frankie singing a new song.

________

Just One Look by Mary Calmes

At forty-four, Rick Warner called it quits on love. Nothing sticks, and after the last disaster, he’s decided to focus on the family and friends that love him, flaws and all. Why ask for trouble when he’s settled into a comfortable rut?

Dash Ruston is an actor shooting towards superstardom when a freak meeting in the woods knocks him off kilter. He knows a knight in shining armor when he meets one even one with some salt in his pepper…Their differences can’t hide the possibility of a blockbuster happy ending.

________

The Gentleman Attraction by Connor Peterson

Emerson Mallory never mixes business and pleasure. His eyes might wander but he certainly wouldn’t risk his professional reputation over a tryst. Not even for a silver haired scoundrel who clearly knows his way around a bedroom and makes his heart race with just one look.

When a flirtatious train ride turns into a weekend in close quarters, Bennet Clarke doesn’t agree that it would be best to leave their attraction at the door. He gave up worrying about human sensibilities the night he became a vampire centuries ago, and right now he wants more than one taste of Emerson’s charm and unnerving ability to see past his cavalier masks.

Their host has a few secrets of their own and a madcap plan that requires Emerson to enlist Bennet’s help. When the inevitable happens, Emerson begins to think that maybe Bennet’s way of looking at things isn’t so bad. Bennet, however, is faced with a dilemma. Keep up the ruse, or confess that Emerson has no idea who he’s gotten involved with.

Amidst the flurry of activity surrounding their host, the two men will have to keep their affair secret, plan a successful party, and decide if forever is too much to ask.

_________

Tell Me More by Meg Bonney

In this modern retelling of Grease, Adam and Chase try to turn their summer love story into a fall relationship, because love like theirs only comes once in a blue moon!

Adam Daniels just had the best summer. When he wasn’t belting out showtunes to the adoring resort guests, he was in the arms of Chase Sanders, the boy who fixed the cars at that the seasonal lakeside resort. They were hopelessly devoted from day one.

As the world’s most perfect summer came to an end, Chase got on a plane to go home and Adam went back to school with a broken heart and tears on his pillow. What the couple didn’t know was that a change in plans would put Chase at the very same school as Adam that fall!

Adam and Chase’s perfect summer romance will be put to the test as they realize that summer nights and school days are vastly different things in the world of young love.

And

Criminal Intentions: In Bloom by Cole McCade

________

Buy LOVE IS ALL: Volume Two while it’s still only 99 cents!

Available at: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, or iBooks.

Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loveisallromance/

Add LIA to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46116300-love-is-all

Say Goodbye to Mixtape and Hello to Apollycon 2020!

Hello my darlings! First, the sad news – MIXTAPE: A Love Song Anthology will disappear next week. BUT, until then, you can grab it for only 99 cents, or check it out in Kindle Unlimited.

In happier news, tickets for Apollycon 2020 are now officially on sale. Grab yours now, this event sells out super fast!

ApollyCon 2020 will be a 3-day reader event which will include two author signings, panels, multiple social events, and more!

This event features 150+ authors across YA, NA, and Adult romance genres, and is open to readers of all ages.

It will kick off with a Thursday Meet & Greet.

Friday will feature panel programming (in the morning), a 3-hour signing session (open to Titan pass holders), a Sparkler event sponsored by my friends at 1,001 Dark Nights, and a movie night hosted by my good friend, author Damon Suede (open to Titan and Apollyon pass holders).

On Saturday, there will be two general signing sessions (open to all ticket holders) with a break in between, and a PAJAMA PARTY to round out the evening.

Sunday will feature a closing keynote Q&A session with #1 New York Times Best Selling Authors J.R. Ward and Jennifer L. Armentrout!

For the most current author lineup, head over to apollyconevent.com/lineup.

See you there!

Xio xoxo

Paris Bound!

Bonjour, my lovelies!

As you read this, I am winging my way to the lovely city of Paris, France where I will check out my very first RARE event. If you’re not familiar with RARE, it is an amazing gathering of romance readers and romance authors that happens in several different locations. While I’m not there officially as an attending author, I’ll still be available to you. So, please, come say hi. You’ll likely find me at my dear friend Roan Parrish‘s table, helping to greet her legions of readers. Be sure to come buy one of her books (or three). You’ve heard me rec her work before. The Remaking of Corbin Wale was one of my Best of 2017. I am a HUGE fan of her writing, especially the Middle of Somewhere series! Swoony angst galore, y’all.

Later this month, I’ll be in the Boston area the TGIFor Literacy Author Signing, hosted by NECRWA. The event is free to the public and takes place Friday, 26 April, from 6p to 8p. I’ll have a few copies of the limited-edition Mixtape Anthology with me. So, come and get ’em.

More news about even more appearances and releases next time. Hope to see you soon.

FoX Friday with Meika Usher!

Happy International Women’s Day, my lovelies! It’s a chilly one, here in Philadelphia. Winter has been a bear this year, but we’re in the home stretch. And I have just the thing to warm you up. A brand new FoX! The delightful Meika Usher joins me today with Ready to Run, book three in her Breakaway series. Before we learn more about the book, let’s get to know Meika!

How long have you been writing?

I wrote my first poem when I was five or so. It was about my dog, and it was terrible. I haven’t stopped writing since, though. When I was eleven, I discovered my mother’s collection of romance novels, and a life-long obsession was born. I wrote my first romance novel when I was fourteen, and never looked back.

Wow, that’s amazing. Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what else did you want to do?

When I was a kid, I was under the mistaken impression that I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then, I realized that blood and guts and…math were involved. Math and I are NOT friends.

Ha! Same.

Then, I wanted to be a singer. When it became clear that I was not vocally gifted, I decided I wanted to write songs.  I LOVE love songs. Alas, I am not musically gifted, either. And so I landed on romance novels. After all, a romance novel is basically a REALLY long love song, right?

Absolutely. It took some time for me to transition from songwriting to poetry to prose. Once I did, I wondered why I’d taken so long. How do you celebrate each book release?

I…don’t? I basically hide from the world and pretend it’s not happening. If I think too long about the fact that strangers are probably—hopefully!—reading my books, I get all kinds of barfy. Inevitably, though, I DO think about it. And then I have a beer.

Aww, well at least you eventually get there. Celebrate!

Holy boom box. MIXTAPE is a USA TODAY Bestseller!

My lovely, lovely people!
Thanks to you, Mixtape: A Love Song Anthology is a USA TODAY Bestseller!
You guys are amazing. Thank you so much for your support.