L.E. Franks's Blog, page 4
January 10, 2016
Working, Writing, Not Wondering
It’s raining here… has been for weeks it seems. Not that we’re complaining – oh no. Our water supply comes from a series of reservoirs around Mt Tam and we can’t wait to lose the taste of dust when we brush our teeth.So rain is welcome.
The change in weather also appears to have had rejuvenative effect on me [Fuck off spell check]. I’m still ensconced in my house for both my “real life” job as well as everything else I’m working on – that hasn’t changed – but now it doesn’t feel as oppressive and confining. With the cold and rain and the soft white fog that accompanies both, I’m more content to just be.
With the rain came the words… soaking into the cracked earth of inspiration, refilling the font of imagination, slaking the parch afflicting my muse – (cranky bitch that she is).
I have stepped away from the angsty wallowing of ‘who am I’ and ‘is there value in my work’ and ‘what can I possible achieve with the time I have left’. (I’m leaving off the ‘?’ purposefully.)
I no longer consider these to be valid questions so I’m stepping away, stepping over them like they’re simply unruly two year olds throwing a tantrum…(which they kind of are as I look over my shoulder at my publishing calendar and note the date). I’ve stopped caring about it, stopped wondering, stopped judging myself. And with indifference came liberation.
A change of weather and changing year accompanied my changing heart – and with the rain, came the words… soaking into the cracked earth of inspiration, refilling the font of imagination, slaking the parch of my muse – cranky bitch that she is.
I am once more filled with character voices, with scenes – dialogue dogs my heels, and I’m yearning to write so I do. And through it all I’m having fun.
Crazy. Stupid. Fun.
Squirrelly fun.
So here’s to us all. I Hope you have one hell of a great 2016. Come back, join in the fun and I’ll keep sharing as I go.
Happy New Everything.
-LE
LE Franks lives in the SF Bay area and writes M/M Romance in a unique mix of humor and drama with enough suspense to produce fast paced stories filled with emotion and passion and featuring characters that are quirky and complicated and sometimes a little bit dark. LE Franks is a best selling author Published through MLR Press, Dreamspinner Press and Wilde City Press and is a a 2014 Rainbow Awards Finalist for Can This Be Real, and a 2013 Rainbow Awards Finalist for Prodigal Wolf co-written with Sara York, available at MLR Press, Amazon and online bookstores.
December 3, 2015
NEW RELEASE: How to Deal blog tour – TM Smith
How to Deal
An All Cocks Story book 3
Jon Brennan comes from a long line of men in uniform; all born and bred to both bleed and wear blue. His family and the majority of his co-workers support him every step of the way, so he doesnt need to hide the fact that he prefers men over women. Between the job and his larger than life, loud and rowdy half Irish, half Italian family, there isnt much time for dating, much less finding a guy that can deal with the stress and demands placed on the shoulders of an NYPD Detective.
Kory White is cocky and abrasive with most people, but it is all a mirage, a facade he hides behind to keep his heart safe. As a child, Kory lost his mother to an act of violence. Soon after, he and his baby sister Kassandra were separated by the system. Kassandra was immediately adopted, but Kory spent the next ten years cycling through foster homes before moving to the Big Apple. In an effort to keep everyone at a distance, Kory has meticulously built himself an alter ego: Hayden Cox, All Cocks cockiest model.
These two strong willed men definitely prove opposites do attract. Both are stubborn and hard headed to a fault, Kory more so than Jon. But Jon is used to being in control, the one calling the shots, and Kory fights him at every turn. Just when it seems they have found a way to navigate the unchartered territory that is love, tragedy knocks on Korys door yet again. Volatile and strong, even in the face of adversity, both men refuse to give up on each other – or their love.
Excerpt from: How to Deal
“Oh my god, is that a smile?” Jordan smirked at Kory over the rim of his coffee cup.
“Fuck off, Jordan.” Kory muttered, shoving him out of the way and grabbing a mug out of the cabinet.
“Play nice, boys!” Andrew shouted from the den.
“Careful Kory, people might actually start to believe you have a personality.” Jordan continued to poke fun at him.
“Kiss my ass,” Kory growled, shoving past Jordan as he headed back upstairs with his steaming cup of coffee.
“At least we’ve moved past fuck off. Dating Jon is working wonders for your vocabulary!” Jordan yelled after him.
Buy Your Copy Here:Amazon: http://amzn.to/1kUYAp6
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Deal-Cocks-Story-Stories-ebook/dp/B017YB4ILE
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/How-Deal-Cocks-Story-Stories-ebook/dp/B017YB4ILE
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/How-Deal-Cocks-Stories-English-ebook/dp/B017YB4ILE
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-howtodeal-1928167-351.html
A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia; Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer. She now calls Texas home from her small town on the outskirts of the DFW Metroplex. Most days you can find her curled up with her kindle and a good 
book alongside a glass of something aged and red or a steaming cup of coffee!
At 44 years young, she’s decided to enter the next phase of her life by adding the title of “author” to her list of accomplishments. Smith is a single mom of three disturbingly outspoken and decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic. Besides her writing, Smith is passionate about Autism advocacy and LGBT rights.
SNOW GLOBE : For Your Holiday Reading & Listening Pleasure at Amazon & Audible.com.
LE Franks lives in the SF Bay area and writes M/M Romance in a unique mix of humor and drama with enough suspense to produce fast paced stories filled with emotion and passion and featuring characters that are quirky and complicated and sometimes a little bit dark. LE Franks is a best selling author Published through MLR Press, Dreamspinner Press and Wilde City Press and is a a 2014 Rainbow Awards Finalist for Can This Be Real, and a 2013 Rainbow Awards Finalist for Prodigal Wolf co-written with Sara York, available at MLR Press, Amazon and online bookstores.
October 1, 2015
Morticia Knight’s Dirty (Dozen) Little Secrets & Blog Hop (with prezzies)
It’s that time of year! GRL2015 is panting hot, sweaty breaths on our collective necks. As we scurry around trying to prepare for it, we’d like to take a slight break in our regularly scheduled panicking to bring you the 2015 Dirty Dozen Blog Hop. Again. Yep – we had so much fun last year, airing out our deepest and darkest for you, that we decided to give it another go this year. With prizes! Woot!
[Check out the bottom of this post for details. You must leave a comment with valid email addy to enter to win the BIG KAHUNA of Prizes. Seriously. BIG. And we’re not just ‘compensating’ when I say that…]
Today is my turn to host MORTICIA KNIGHT!!! Who is sick as a dog. Which is allowing me to take some liberties with her post. Get better soon Morticia! LE
Dirty Dozen blog hop schedule and Q&A
September 24th | AE Via is hosting Wade Kelly
September 25th | Aisling Mancy is hosting Tempeste O’Riley
September 28th | Alexa Land is hosting TM Smith
September 29th | Carter Quinn is hosting Nicole Dennis
September 30th | Jeff Adams is hosting Nic Starr
October 1st | LE Franks is hosting Morticia Knight
October 2nd | Morticia Knight is hosting LE Franks
October 5th | Nic Starr is hosting Jeff Adams
October 6th | Nicole Dennis is hosting Carter Quinn
October 7th | TM Smith is hosting Alexa Land
October 8th | Tempeste O’Riley is hosting Aisling Mancy
October 9th | Wade Kelly is hosting AE Via
Now, without any further delays….. Here’s Morty!
Questions:
AE: Do you fully outline a book? Or do you sit and let the thoughts flow as you type?
Morticia: All of the above. I fully outline then once I get going, my characters do whatever the hell they want.
Aisling: Describe your writing style in five words and what about that style sets you apart from other authors in your genre(s)?
Morticia: Emotional, humorous, erotic, sweet, salty.
I suppose every author’s voice is what sets them apart. I think there’s a certain dichotomy in my writing that’s unique. I love the dark side, but what usually comes out is super sweet.
Alexa: What are you currently working on, and what can we expect from you in 2016?
Morticia: Kiss of Leather 2. More KOL and Sin City. I only have one Hampton Road Club on deck as of now, but I will be starting a post-apocolyptic/sci-fi/paranormal MMM BDSM series in the fall. I was feeling ambitious.
Carter: What’s the answer to the one question no interviewer has ever asked? (You don’t have to supply the question.)
Morticia: Pop rocks.
Jeff: When you’re stuck on a story, what do you do to get the words flowing again?
Morticia: Skip to the easier parts. I learned that from my math teacher.
LE: What’s your favorite scene from your own work and the one that’s lingered longest from someone else’s. (Not genre specific.)
Morticia: In my own, it would have to be the end to Tarnished Glitter (Gin & Jazz 3) Can’t spoiler it, but it gutted me.
There’ve been several in many books, but if I were to pick most recently, it would be the answer to Jon’s question of Baltsaros as to whether or not he loves him in Sacrificed of the Baal’s Heart series by Bey Deckard. I yelled and cried.
Morticia: What is your favorite genre to read? Least favorite?
Morticia: Did I ask this? Hmm. Guess I’m stuck with it now. Within MM romance my favorite is BDSM or historical and least would be shifter and cowboy – although there have been several exceptions. Everyone hates me now.
Nic: Tell us about your writing environment and where your writing time fits into your daily or weekly schedule.
Morticia: That’s an ever-changing world for me. I’ve had a lot of upheaval in my life this year, so I’m only now getting back to something resembling normal. Once GRL is over, I’ll be moving into my office (finally) and setting up a regular schedule there so that I can keep the writing apart from my personal space. Then my goal is for the environment to be filled with peace and quiet! It could happen.
Nicole: How do you manage all of your new plot bunnies and what is your process to work on one?
Morticia: They are completely out of control – there is no managing them. I have scraps of paper – some of mysterious origin – scattered about me as I write this. If I’m lucky, they eventually get typed into the computer and placed somewhere where I might remember to find them. That’s how I stumbled across the post-apocalyptic/sci-fi/paranormal BDSM MMM series. I had the first book outlined with so much detail, it was practically written already. Apparently this happened back in 2013, but I have no memory of it.
TM: What keeps you focused when writing?
Morticia: Music. Only thing that works. Specifically, EDM and soundtracks.
Tempe: In a perfect world, would you write full time? If so, would it ll be mm/LGBT or would there be some mf in there too? (I love a mix for reading, personally.)
Morticia: I did begin writing full time this year, and let me warn you, it’s not a perfect world. However, I agree about having a mix when reading, although MM is my primary love. I’m also working on a YA dystopian sci-fi that’s MF. Or F/Alien. Depends on how you look at it. I’ll be pubbing that under another name.
Wade: What influenced your decision to write in this genre?
Morticia: I started out in erotic romance writing BDSM with poly characters and contemporary menage. I’ve always believed love is love and most of my closest friends are LGBT. Eventually in my menages, the boys got all the action and I was happy to leave it that way! Plus, my gay friends began telling me what I should write about. That’s how the Gin & Jazz series was born. My best friend is in my dedication for the first book, Hollywood Bound. He’s very proud of that.
Giveaway…AE: Winner’s choice, one book from the Nothing Special series
Aisling: Joyeaux Noel by Aisling Mancy (adult) Or Safe by C. Kennedy (young adult)
Alexa: One ebook copy of Coming Home, or reader’s choice from my backlist.
Carter: One ebook from Carter’s backlist, winners choice
Jeff: One ebook from Jeff’s backlist, winners choice.
LE: EBook copy of 6 Days to Valentine or Can This be Real
Morticia: one ebook from Morticia’s backlist, winners choice
Nic: eBook copy of Andrew’s Promise or More Than a Friend
Nicole: one ebook from Nicole’s backlist, winners choice
TM: Any book off my backlist (ONE book)
Tempe: One eBook of choice from my back list (see http://tempesteoriley.com for full list)
Wade: e-book from Wade’s backlist, winners choice
HTML for a basic post with the schedule and links:
“Dirty Dozen”
blog hop
12 GRL Authors | 12 Question Q&A | 12 book Giveaway
Gearing up for GRL in San Diego so its time for another ‘Dirty Dozen’ blog hop and giveaway event. Same as last year, I’ve collected twelve different Featured and Supporting Authors and we will all be answering the same twelve questions for the hop. Each Author is donating an e-book to the giveaway, so one lucky person will walk away with a dozen books for their enjoyment!
Here’s who is hosting whom and when…
September 24th | AE Via is hosting Wade Kelly
September 25th | Aisling Mancy is hosting Tempeste O’Riley
September 28th | Alexa Land is hosting TM Smith
September 29th | Carter Quinn is hosting Nicole Dennis
September 30th | Jeff Adams is hosting Nic Starr
October 1st | LE Franks is hosting Morticia Knight
October 2nd | Morticia Knight is hosting LE Franks
October 5th | Nic Starr is hosting Jeff Adams
October 6th | Nicole Dennis is hosting Carter Quinn
October 7th | TM Smith is hosting Alexa Land
October 8th | Tempeste O’Riley is hosting Aisling Mancy
October 9th | Wade Kelly is hosting AE Via
The Q&A list each Author will be answering for their post…
{each Author submitted a question and all 12 Authors answer, including their own}
AE Via:
Do you fully outline a book? Or do you sit and let the thoughts flow as you
type?
Aisling Mancy:
Describe your writing style in five words and what about that style sets you
apart from other authors in your genre(s)?
Alexa Land:
What are you currently working on, and what can we expect from you in 2016?
Carter Quinn:
What’s the answer to the one question no interviewer has ever asked?
Jeff Adams:
When you’re stuck on a story, what do you do to get the words flowing again?
LE Frank:
What’s your favorite scene from your own work, and the one that’s lingered
longest from someone else’s?
Morticia Knight: What is your favorite genre to read? Least favorite?
Nic Starr:
Tell us about your writing environment and where your writing time fits into
your daily or weekly schedule?
Nicole Dennis:
How do you manage all of your new plot bunnies and what is your process to work
on one?
TM Smith:
What keeps you focused when writing?
Tempeste O’Riley:
In a perfect world, would you write full time? If so, would it ll be mm/LGBT or
would there be some mf in there too?
Wade Kelly: What influenced your decision to write
in this genre?
“Dirty Dozen” e-book extravaganza giveaway…
ONE lucky winner will receive an e-book from each Author on the hop. Most Author’s have submitted winner’s choice from their backlist, but a few have listed a specific title.
AE Via:
Winner’s choice, one book from the Nothing Special series
Aisling Mancy:
Joyeaux Noel by Aisling Mancy (adult) or Safe by C. Kennedy (young adult)
Alexa Land:
One ebook copy from the ‘Coming Home’ series, or Winner’s choice from my backlist.
Carter Quinn: Winner’s choice, one book from Carter’s backlist
Jeff Adams: Winner’s choice, one book from Jeff’s backlist
LE Frank:
Winner’s choice, copy of 6 Days to Valentine or Can This be Real
Morticia Knight: Winner’s choice, one book from Morticia’s backlist
Nic Starr:
Winner’s choice, copy of Andrew’s Promise or More Than a Friend
Nicole Dennis: Winner’s choice, one book from Nicole’s backlist
TM Smith: Winner’s choice, one book from TM’s backlist
Tempeste O’Riley: Winner’s choice, one book from Tempeste’s backlist
Wade Kelly: Winner’s choice, one book from Wade’s backlist
Just think, you could have every book you see pictured above on your e-reader. That should keep you busy for a while!
Be sure to follow the hop and see how all 12 questions might be the same, but the answers will be wildly different. And show your support by sharing each days post on your social media accounts!
Good luck everyone, see you in San Diego!!
**** to enter the giveaway leave a comment below – you can visit EACH stop on the hop via the links above by their name, and leave a comment at EACH stop for additional entries. At the end of the hop I will put EVERY comment from EACH stop into a hat and draw ONE lucky winner ****
REMEMBER TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL WHEN YOU COMMENT SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN. NO EMAIL, YOU FORFEIT
March 19, 2015
What I’ve been up to….
I Just posted a guest blog that describes the strange journey I’ve been taking over the last few months…. http://lovebytesreviews.com/2015/03/19/nocturnally-yours/ .
January 9, 2015
Rhys Ford is Ringing in The New Year with Prezzies for You!
So a funny thing happened on the way to a tweet, Greg Tremblay, the fantastic narrator of my Dirty series, texted me and said… hey, you should giveaway a custom ringtone. Or something to that effect. There was some discussion. A few emails and then well, long story short—there may have been some pixilated shots of whiskey and banter but a plan was formed. A plan so cunning I could have stuck a tail on it and called it a weasel.
Mostly, it involved Greg. And your phone. But it was still a plan!
After a furious, intense process of queries, eliminations, debating on who said what, we came up with a set of phrases from Cole, Bobby, Jae, Claudia, Scarlet and one from Maddy then Greg went to work. And returned to me with a brilliant sound bites forged by a narrative master—in the style of the characters’ voices.
So dear reader, as a thank you for everything you’ve done for Greg and me, I’d like to present the entire set of ringtones—twenty one in total—FREE, as a gift to you.
Available in Android (MP3) and iPhone (formats for Android and Apple phones, Greg has also graciously included the WAV files if that’s your thing. Download links to the zipped files are provided below.*
A great humongous thank you to all of the blogs who helped me with this guerilla gifting. This swirled up on Tuesday and Greg just MADE it happen. He is the voice of the series and I am forever grateful for his talent.
Love you all, and really, Thank You.
Rhys Ford
If you’ve not tried out Greg Tremblay’s narrations, please do so. He makes audiobooks fun and damn, he brings Cole and the others to life.
Greg Tremblay’s body of work can be found here—and yes, the Dirty series is there but so are many other lovely audio books. I highly recommend one of Greg’s audiobooks, a comfy chair, a pair of headphones and a nice hot cup of coffee… or tea… with or without whisky.
* These are copyrighted and available free for individual use. The files included in the zip cannot be sold by third parties nor can they be altered in anyway as to destroy the integrity of the original work. Animals were test subjects for these sound files and while the cat could not have given less of a shit, the dog seemed mighty interested. Please note, neither own nor use a phone or a computer so results may vary.
In case the full links are needed:
Dirty Rings Android MP3
https://www.hightail.com/download/UlRUbUpkdENoMlZDaDhUQw
Dirty Rings Apple M4a
https://www.hightail.com/download/UlRUbUpkdENoMlZjR01UQw
Dirty Rings Apple M4r
https://www.hightail.com/download/UlRUbUpkdENvQnU5TE5Vag
Dirty Rings Wav
https://www.hightail.com/download/UlRUbUpkdENvQnNsYzhUQw
Greg Tremblay link: http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_1_srNarr?searchNarrator=Greg+Tremblay&qid=1420696618&sr=1-1
December 31, 2014
Make Mine Meat – A New Year’s Progressive Dinner Entree for Friends
New Year’s Eve…. okay, I’m usually rushing around clearing away the last of the Christmas…(debris?) gifts and decorations and okay, I’ll admit it – clutter. This year it’s the pile we unloaded from the car the other day. We’ve managed to retrieve the candy from our stockings but otherwise it’s a tangle of dirty clothes, and gift boxes. If it’s just us – we’ll skip dinner and head to the junk food aisle to stock up before flopping on the floor in front of the t.v. – yeah, kids change things. For the better, I must say as I think back to all the glittery frocks I’ve owned (and worn) in this lifetime.
But now that we’re having Company in the form of all these glorious authors, well… I’m afraid a bag of Doritos with the Dr. Pepper chaser won’t do, so it’s time to brush off a holiday favorite for this time of year… Beef and Guinness Pie.
Beef and Guiness Pie (a riff off a Jamie Oliver recipe)
Preheat oven 350 degrees
Filling:
3-4 onions carmelized in a couple tsp of olive oil
two sprigs of rosemary
4 large cloves of garlic
stew meat – aprox. 1 1/2 lbs
8-12 oz of Fresh Crimini/Brown/Portobello Mushrooms
Stout Beer – aprox 1 pint
nob of butter (2 tbsp-ish)
2 cups of extra sharp white cheddar cheese
1 Package Puff Pastry or Pie Crust for Deep Dish 9-10″ Pie
Step one: slice and well caramelize onions in a dutch oven or other oven safe pan w/lid. These melt into the beer to make a glorious sauce. Don’t be shy, the more the merrier.
When dark brown add in the other aromatics – strip rosemary leaves and finely mince (if you don’t want to pick needles out of your teeth) stir into onions along with 4 large cloves of garlic… now if you have patience (which I sometimes do) grate the garlic over the pan… otherwise finely dice, throw in, mix well.
Step two: on to the beef (well seasoned in salt & pepper, excess fat trimmed)… I toss in 2 tablespoons flour also heavily seasoned with salt and freshly ground pepper… The meat is not browned completely, though I push the veg aside add another teaspoon or so of oil to brown the beef and cook off some of the raw flourness as I go. Please note, other than the onions, the goal is not to cook anything stove top…
Step three: I add crimini mushrooms in an amount approximately equal to the beef. For this quantity probably 8-12 oz cut into similarly sized chunks. This adds flavor and extends the meat. You can sub portobello mushrooms here prepared in a large dice.
Step four: mix all the above and toss in a generous nob of butter and add a pint of stout to the pan… just until it barely reaches the top of the Veg & meat… you can add stock, or more stout if need be… we don’t bother with anything but the stout… but, well… that’s the point, right? **** don’t over liquify! the idea is for it to reduce greatly in the two hours to have a thick glossy filling which we will be using as a pie filling… less is more, just drink any excess you have, use restraint!)
Into a 350 degree oven (in my convection I also select “roast” to activate the elements, it’s just better…) If you find that after an hour of cooking your ingredients are still swimming, take the lid off and watch it. The filling should be thick not loose at all.
Should smell great already. after two hours, it should have thickened… take out of oven
while you prepare crust… (commercial puff pastry works well… I make the best crust by hand, comes out halfway bewteen puff pastry and regular crust… but again, that’s me…. find an oven proof bowl, casserole, deep dish pie plate… something the right size for the filling – use plenty of crust – this is a rustic dish, no neat sides here…
Step five: Before you fill the crust, stir in aprox 1 cup of good white cheddar cheese – grated… I use a cabot extra sharp from vermont (inexpensive at Trader Joes, with great flavor) stir it in, then fill the crust… just before adding top crust, add another cup of the shredded cheese to the top of the filling, and top with the crust.
back in the oven… for another 40 – 45 minutes until bubbly and golden.. (don’t forget docking/slitting the crust to release steam…)
Ironically, being a vegetarian I’ve never actually eaten this dish, though the people around tend to lick my hand in gratitiude once they’ve tried it… It might be in one of Oliver’s books somewhere… LE
Okay it’s now time to continue on to the next stop on this year’s progressive dinner. Don’t forget to leave a comment (let me know what your favorite New Year’s Eve guilty pleasure is…I’d love to know) and enter for a drawing for a $35 gift card for something new and wonderful to read over your plates of leftovers. Happy New Year. With love, LE Franks
November 21, 2014
The Next by Rafe Haze
I love this book. Edgy and well done.
Originally posted on MM Good Book Reviews:
Title: The Next
Series: N/A
Author: Rafe Haze
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: Novel ( 257 Pages)
Publisher: Wilde City Press (April 26, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Heaerts
Blurb: He never thought he’d become one of the agoraphobic sludges of New York City—trapped with one view of a courtyard and a head full of wrenching memories. Dumped, disconnected, and depressed, he surrenders to spying on the neighbors as his only entertainment.
Until one day, without warning, the lascivious and suspicious behavior of the closeted lawyer in the huge apartment across the courtyard leads him to a spine-tingling conclusion… his neighbor is a murderer.
Perhaps collaborating with the beautiful and fierce Detective Marzoli to catch the killer can finally breathe life back into a man suffocated by the stranglehold of a tragic past. Unless the killer across the way decides to make him… The Next.
Product Link: http://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-mainstream/the-next/#.U3n_WnaA-So
View original 439 more words
October 15, 2014
Fortune Cookie #8: “The fingers lying on top of mine suddenly curled inward, sliding against the tender skin in between; it wasn’t until Henry was holding my hand that I noticed the shaking and I couldn’t tell which one of us was to blame.”
LE FRANKS’ GRL FORTUNE COOKIE GAME
In celebration of my attendance at this year’s Gay Romance Literary Retreat outside of Chicago, IL -I’ve brought swag for everyone in the form of fortune cookies. Inside each cookie is a quote from one of my books. The trick is to identify which book of mine the quote belongs to. Once you have the answer you can come by my swag table, see me at the supporting author signing, or the Thursday edition of the author lounge and fill out your raffle ticket for a chance at walking away with an amazon gift card and some cool swag.
If you’d like to play along at home comment below and tell me what your favorite fortune cookie moment is. I’ll randomly select one person from all the entries left here. 8 Quotes, 8 chances to win from the comfort of your bunny slippers.
THE ANSWERS
Quote No. 8 – Last First KissWorking the tie again, I tried to block out the sounds around me before they filled my mouth, my nose, my ears, even my eyes, sealing the words off inside me, burying me alive like a human sacrifice to my grief.
Henry peeled my fingers from around the mangled polyester, moving my hand away from my body and pressing it flat against his leg. It was warm and hard.
I could feel the muscles shift under the pressure, and it reminded me of the horse we’d rented together when we were fifteen, all three of us sitting bareback atop the dun-colored gelding. Since I was the smallest, Henry had slung me over the poor beast’s neck first, and I sat perched on its bony shoulders while the two of them scrambled to find their places.
Henry, as usual, finally sat back on the rump, his long arms wrapping around the two of us, keeping us together—holding us in place was always Henry’s job.
No wonder he was falling apart.
Humpty-Dumpty had left the building, and there’d be no picking up the pieces this time—Danny had made sure of that.
Fucking bastard.
The fingers lying on top of mine suddenly curled inward, sliding against the tender skin in between. It wasn’t until Henry was holding my hand that I noticed the shaking, and I couldn’t tell which one of us was to blame.
Grand Adventures a Dreamspinner Press anthology
Description:
On September 1, 2011, TJ Klune wrote, “…it’s not about the ending, it’s about the journey…” in a review of Eric Arvin’s Woke Up in a Strange Place.
With those words, two men began a journey of love and invited us to ride along. TJ and Eric have shared so much with us: their wonderful books, their smiles, their humor, their lives, and their inspiring devotion to each other. In December of 2013, their journey took a detour when Eric was taken to the emergency room. He survived the surgery to remove a cavernous hemangioma from his brain stem, but the challenges TJ and Eric face are far from over.
The authors in this anthology donated their talent as a way to support Eric’s continued recovery, to help bring strength to TJ, and to show both of them just how much love surrounds them. Grand Adventures is a diverse range of stories about the journey of love. We’re going on some grand adventures for a great cause. Thank you for joining us.
One hundred percent of the income from this volume goes directly to TJ and Eric.
Fortune Cookie #7: “Seeing Christian again quenched some deep thirst in his soul, like a cool drink of water after a hot dusty trek across the Sahara.”
LE FRANKS’ GRL FORTUNE COOKIE GAME
In celebration of my attendance at this year’s Gay Romance Literary Retreat outside of Chicago, IL -I’ve brought swag for everyone in the form of fortune cookies. Inside each cookie is a quote from one of my books. The trick is to identify which book of mine the quote belongs to. Once you have the answer you can come by my swag table, see me at the supporting author signing, or the Thursday edition of the author lounge and fill out your raffle ticket for a chance at walking away with an amazon gift card and some cool swag.
If you’d like to play along at home comment below and tell me what your favorite fortune cookie moment is. I’ll randomly select one person from all the entries left here. 8 Quotes, 8 chances to win from the comfort of your bunny slippers.
THE ANSWERS
Exiting the park, he jogged the last few blocks to Christian’s street—turning the corner he stuttered to a halt at the sight of the man in question standing outside his building.
The chef was beautiful. There was no denying it. Seeing Christian again quenched some deep thirst in his soul, like a cool drink of water after a hot dusty trek across the Sahara. He should have been suspicious when the man approached with a large woven basket in one hand and a canvas bag slung across his shoulder, though the details were lost in the face of Christian’s grin and happy wave.
“Come on, Andy, we’re late as it is but I wasn’t sure I could get you to come any earlier.” His smile was brilliant. There was joy radiating from him and Andy could only hope it was due to his presence. How he’d lasted this long without seeing Christian again was a mystery. And now, to be strolling along in the late summer sunshine next to the man haunting his nights—a cloudless blue sky providing an idyllic backdrop to their reunion—well, it was enough to send him into a romantic coma.
“So I’ve been thinking about your problem…” Christian wrapped a hand around his bicep, sliding in next to him, their pace settling into an easy, matched gait. “It’s like a foreign language, you just need the key to translate it.”
Not again… A chill settled over Andy and he prayed he was wrong. Please, please, please, please…
“…so I figured I’d take you with me to the market and we could try it.” Christian’s face was so earnest. Earnest, hopeful, and fucking overstepping. Andy tried to stave off the anger that nipped at his heels. The hounds of outrage bayed so loudly in his head that he almost couldn’t hear the rest of Christian’s plan. It was enough that in the chef’s mind Andy was still a problem to be solved. Fuck, fuck, fuckity, fuck.
LE Franks. Can This Be Real (Kindle Locations 102-120). MLR Press LLC.
Fortune Cookie #6: “I’d been dumped. Twice in the space of ten minutes, from relationships I didn’t even know I had.”
LE FRANKS’ GRL FORTUNE COOKIE GAME
In celebration of my attendance at this year’s Gay Romance Literary Retreat outside of Chicago, IL -I’ve brought swag for everyone in the form of fortune cookies. Inside each cookie is a quote from one of my books. The trick is to identify which book of mine the quote belongs to. Once you have the answer you can come by my swag table, see me at the supporting author signing, or the Thursday edition of the author lounge and fill out your raffle ticket for a chance at walking away with an amazon gift card and some cool swag.
If you’d like to play along at home comment below and tell me what your favorite fortune cookie moment is. I’ll randomly select one person from all the entries left here. 8 Quotes, 8 chances to win from the comfort of your bunny slippers.
THE ANSWERS
“I wanted you to have something from me. I wanted to see it wrapping around you. If it couldn’t be me… I wanted it to be something. I wanted to watch you across the room and know that some small part of me belonged to you.” He closed his eyes and turned away. It wasn’t the whole story I could tell, but apparently it was all he’d share with me.
“It’s beautiful, thank you.” He nodded but still wouldn’t look at me. I reached out for him, but missed, the door providing cover as he yanked it open leaving without another word.
I’d been dumped. Twice in the space of ten minutes, from relationships I didn’t even know I had.
LE Franks. 6 Days To Valentine Wilde City Press
