Cameron D. James's Blog, page 15
January 26, 2017
My Encounters in Egypt by Samer Bo
Greetings, book lovers! Today’s feature is My Encounters in Egypt: Collection of My Gay Erotic Stories with Egyptian Men by Samer Bo. Read on for the blurb, cover, and excerpt!
Blurb:
Being Gay in Egypt might be illegal and unacceptable, but men there have sex with each other more than expected. Samer, the writer, is a young Egyptian, he had his good share of encounters with hot Arab Egyptian men from all around the country.
The book is a collection of eight short stories in different locations and different men. Samer obviously had a type, hard muscular workers. In all the encounters, he ends up enjoying a steaming sex with painters, trucker men, construction men, mechanics and others.
Purchase: Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
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Excerpt:
Samer’s first encounter was at his school with the painting crew. Talal, a large, muscular guy, with short brown hair, square facial features and hazel eyes and Aiman, a leaner build, who was not as muscular but he was quite delectable looking with longish dark hair, handsome face, and broad smile. Talal and Aiman seduced Samer after they had finished their work.
Aiman unbuttoned his clothes and slipped them and his briefs down to his knees. Samer’s jaw dropped open at the sight of his huge cock. It had to be a good eight or nine inches long and looked nice, plump and juicy as it hung heavily. Samer was on his knees in no time and fondling this huge cock. It was warm, silky and cut, with a large mushroom head just begging to get sucked.
Samer greedily worked that delicious slab of man meat. It was soon rock hard and straining for more. With a determined gulp, he slowly pressed his face forward and felt the cock head poking at the entrance to his throat. Suppressing his gag reflex, he took it in deeper. Slowly, steadily, he inched forward as that huge cock sunk down his throat.
Samer was bobbing up and down the thick, juicy cock. His mouth and throat were soon working overtime, gobbling down Aiman’s hot cock.
“Well, hope your ass is ready for some cock, too,” Talal said as Samer looked up and over his shoulder. Talal had put on the condom and was now greasing it up with a packet of lotion, he obviously also brought with him. as he knelt down behind Samer, who felt Talal’s hot cock poke up against his puckered hole.
“Open wide baby, cause here I Come,” Talal said and pressed up firmly against Samer.
With a slight grunt his cock head entered Samer’s willing ass. Aiman grabbed onto his head and began to pull him up and down on his throbbing member. Talal was, meanwhile, pushing his delectable cock inside of his other fuck hole. Within a few seconds he was being ravaged deliciously from both ends.
Talal and Aiman took turns on Samer’s ass, slamming their cock balls deep inside Samer. Samer’s head was swimming in the glow of the pleasure their hot cocks exploding up Samer’s ass, sending gobs of their warm, gooey cum into his very bowels.
Without a further word, Aiman and Talal were out the back door as Samer felt a rivulet of their mixed cum leaking out of his well-used ass. He slowly got up, cleaned up, and left the school. He never saw those studs again.
About the Author:
Samer was born in Egypt, a country where it is illegal and unacceptable to be gay. However, he was part of the gay community. Samer writes erotic stories mainly based in Egypt, either based on his own true stories or stories that he had heard from other Egyptians.
His Stories range from Romantic love erotic stories to hard core extreme erotic ones.
Follow him on Tumblr: www.samerbo.tumblr.com
Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamerBoXXX
January 21, 2017
Let Me Catch You by Kent Deron
Hi blog followers! Author Kent Deron stops by today to share a hot excerpt from his book, Let Me Catch You. I love the slow, tense build-up in the excerpt — sounds like it’s a great book! (Excuse me while I go buy my copy…)
Blurb:
Some paths in life lead us to take a leap of faith
Self-conscious, Inver Murray has come home to Clifton to bury the father he barely knew. Staying with his father’s former boss, Stephen Davis, provides a distraction from his mess of a life, and a face that continues to haunt him. Soon though, awkward interactions with Stephen, and strange happenings in the night, begin to rattle Inver who is unaware his handsome host intends to make him pay for the sins of his father.
It’s 1995 and cocky womanizer Stephen has returned to the family farm to inherit a responsibility that was never meant to be his. Feeling bored and trapped he develops an unlikely friendship with social outcast Shaun Munro. As lines between mates are crossed, Stephen begins to question what he stands for. The true spirit of their friendship betrays those around them, leading to severe consequences in a town rife with secrets, and forces Stephen to choose which path in life to take.
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Excerpt:
“There isn’t a piece of you that’s bad, no part I wouldn’t touch.” Shaun’s words lingered like a deep confession, as if he had just exposed a piece of himself.
Stephen gulped. He was nervous at where this might be going, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. He was aware of the vibe attached to this territory and, in an instant, the destination was revealed delicately by Shaun’s lips kissing him ever so gently on the nape of his neck. Stephen sat there frozen before another kiss landed, this time a little lower on his shoulder. Shaun’s mouth slipped out a faint groan as he let his hands roam over Stephen’s slick back.
Stephen closed his eyes and uttered in little more than a whisper, “Are you a fag, Shaun?”
Shaun’s hands stopped moving, cemented in place by the question. “No,” he responded stiffly before sucking in a deep breath. “Well, maybe for you I am.”
Stephen opened his eyes. “Okay…”
The heat off Shaun was radiating, spawning a potent sexual tension that demanded to be known. He placed a hand on Stephen’s bare knee, slowly raising it higher, exploring the flesh of his leg ‘till his fingers got to the fabric of Stephen’s shorts. His hand stopped moving as if waiting for permission to climb higher.
Stephen looked down at Shaun’s slender fingers resting under the hem of his shorts, waiting for Shaun’s next move, bracing himself for the impact. With no response interpreted as Stephen agreeing to its path, Shaun’s hand slowly disappeared up his shorts. The warmth of his palm glided along Stephen’s thigh ‘till his fingertips reached his groin, tickling against Stephen’s cotton briefs. Shaun’s fingers gently squished his balls through the material, evoking a doubtful breath from Stephen who looked down, unsure of what to do. Shaun rested his hand there, familiarising itself near his most private of areas. Time stood still as Stephen struggled with the obscure thought, he’s about to know what I feel like… down there.
About Kent Deron:
Kent lives in New Zealand under the shadow of a mountain where it rains… a lot. He enjoys music, sharing ghost stories, road trips and talking a wide range of effluent over coffee with friends and family.
January 1, 2017
New Year’s Mega-Sale!
It’s New Year’s Day, so it’s time for my annual mega-sale!
Like previously, I’ve teamed up Sandra Claire and Master Dominic to bring you deep discounts and free reads from all three of us! All of these deals expire on January 7, 2017, and are available exclusively at Smashwords via the coupon codes below.
Below, you’ll find MM erotic romance, gay erotica, and MF erotica — something for every reader! (Warning: The Master Dominic titles at the bottom of this post are very taboo/fetish… so… just heads up.)
With these 15 deals, you’ll save up to $52!
(If you take advantage of all of these deals, the grand total is $21, compared to the regular price of $73.)
Don’t miss out!
Deals from Cameron D. James
[image error] Erotic Love and Carnal Sins: Confessions of a Priest (Forbidden Desires #2)
Cameron D. James and Sandra Claire
Father Peter has devoted his life to the Roman Catholic Church — but not entirely because he is a man of God. For him, a life of chastity and piety is the perfect place for a closeted gay man to hide from himself.
Try as he might to live a pure life, his forbidden desires chip away at him, leading him on a path of carnal sins that starts with a simple, anonymous, and discreet online encounter. But that supposed anonymous encounter, with a man just as closeted as Peter, takes an uncomfortable turn when that same man shows up in confessional, wanting to talk with Peter in person.
Unable to lie to himself any longer, and suddenly willing to risk his entire career and life, Peter does the one thing he never dreamed he’d be able to do — he reaches out and touches another man. He can’t take back what he’s done and can’t pretend it didn’t happen, so that leaves Peter with only one option, to move forward and experience the erotic pleasures found only in the act of gay sex.
Erotic Love & Carnal Sins: Confessions of a Priest is a 29,000-word novella.
50% off on Smashwords ($2) with coupon code SB45L
[image error] Seduced By My Best Friend’s Dad (Forbidden Desires #2)
Cameron D. James and Sandra Claire
Jay has a crush on Richard, his best friend’s dad. Richard is older, very masculine, cares about Jay, and is extremely sexy. There are just the problems of Richard being straight, married, and the father of Jay’s life-long best friend.
When Richard takes his son and Jay on a camping trip to celebrate turning eighteen, becoming men, and taking their first steps into the adult world, Jay struggles to contain his lust. Hitting on Richard would ruin the camping trip and destroy his friendship.
But when his friend takes ill and Jay and Richard enjoy some bonding time alone, it becomes clear that Jay isn’t the only one in the thrall of forbidden desires. A relaxing camping trip soon turns into a series of sweaty, erotic encounters, as Jay and Richard stoke this fire burning between them.
Seduced by My Best Friend’s Dad is a 30,000-word novella.
FREE on Smashwords with coupon code CH23K
[image error]Go-Go Boys of Club 21: The Complete Series
Cameron D. James
Club 21 is known across New York City for having the hottest go-go boys. They groove to the beat, fuel fantasies, and leave you begging for more.
Liam is one of those premiere go-go boys, but even though he’s living the life he’s dreamed about, he feels something is missing. And he might have found that something when he gets into a whirlwind romance with a former porn star.
Lance is the newest go-go boy. He took the job because he’s infatuated with Liam and hoping for a chance to get to know him better, but only gets a broken heart as he watches Liam chase some guy he barely knows. As Lance pushes to get closer to Liam, he only pushes him further away.
As the beat goes on and the tempo changes, will Lance be able to win the man of his dreams? Or will Liam forever go off in search of new excitement?
Originally released as five separate stories, this volume at last collect the Go-Go Boys of Club 21 into one hot volume.
50% off on Smashwords ($3) with coupon code DS92E
[image error]Men In The Hot Room: The Complete Series
Cameron D. James
A wall of heat rolls through the hot room and sweat beads on Simon’s hard nipples. He contorts his body in all the right ways, intent on seducing his instructor, Brad. And Brad, a man twice Simon’s age, is unable to resist, no matter what the consequences might be. This simple act of seduction soon leads to weeks of scorching hot sex as Men In The Hot Room raises the mercury.
Originally released as separate stories, the bestselling Men In The Hot Room series is now available in one delicious book. Follow the steamy encounters of Simon and Brad that begin in Go Deep, continue with a hot threesome in Go Deeper, and reach a light BDSM climax in Going All The Way.
This collection will have you gasping for breath and reaching for a cold glass of water…or some tissues.
BONUS FEATURE:
Bump and Grind, the start of the Go-Go Boys of Club 21, featuring the exploits of horny young men in New York City’s coolest gay club.
75% off on Smashwords ($1) with coupon code XL65K
[image error]Gaymer
Cameron D. James
Since start of term, Carter has been secretly lusting after Zack, a quiet twink with smooth arms, geeky charm, and enticing proportions. When Zack invites himself over for retro video games, Carter waits and hopes, but the dreaded “game over” approaches. He has to do something—anything—to get a shot at tasting this delicious young man.
Out comes a strategy to save a gaming disaster. If Carter’s wrong, he might get a black eye, but if he’s right, then this session’s about to level up to something better than his wildest fantasy.
Gaymer is a 3,900-word short story.
FREE on Smashwords with coupon code BU86S
[image error]Bathhouse Nights
Cameron D. James
In the bathhouse, anything is possible, especially at night when all the studs come out to play.
For cheerleader Daniel, his dream-come-true is a football jock named Justin, but no one in the bathhouse measures up, no matter how hard he tries to play pretend.
Justin is straight, of course. Aren’t they all? There’s no reason for Daniel to expect he’ll score with him…until the night he spots him in the hot tub.
Bathhouse Nights is a 9,300-word short story.
FREE on Smashwords with coupon code RZ64S
Deals from Sandra Claire
[image error]My Black Master: Gay Erotica Bundle
Sandra Claire
This hot and sweaty bundle collects all five of Sandra Claire’s gay prison erotica stories. Each throbbing volume follows the journey of Adam as he submits, obeys, and comes to depend entirely on Tyrone, his black master.
Included in this volume are:
SUBMITTING TO MY BLACK MASTER: It’s Adam’s first day in prison and he has Tyrone, a terrifying and sexy black Dom, as his cellmate!
PLEASING MY BLACK MASTER: Adam has happily been Tyrone’s submissive for the past week, an arrangement that’s kept him sexually satisfied and physically safe in his new life in prison. Today, though, he’s lusting for some of the other men he’s seen in the showers.
MY BLACK MASTER PROTECTOR: Not everyone in prison is happy with Adam submitting to Tyrone. Paco, one of the most dangerous men in prison, is determined to steal Adam and make him his own!
SHARED BY MY BLACK MASTER: To prepare for Adam’s upcoming release from prison, his Master has a new erotic task for him.
LUSTING FOR MY BLACK MASTER: Adam’s Master is finally released from prison, but the first thing Master asks is the question Adam doesn’t want to answer: “Did you behave while we were apart?”
WARNING: This 32,000-word short story collection contains several explicit sex scenes between a submissive twink and dominating, powerful, older men, that will get you hot and bothered, and is intended for mature adults only.
50% off on Smashwords ($3) with coupon code EN74D
[image error]University Sex Encounters Bundle
Sandra Claire
This hot and sweaty bundle collects all five of Sandra Claire’s university-themed erotica stories. Each scorching entry features university students doing what they do best — getting hot and sweaty and hooking up at any chance they can get.
Included in this volume are:
SEDUCED BY MY PROFESSOR: A college jock gets seduced by his MILF professor when he asks for extra help.
SPANKED BY THE NAUGHTY LIBRARIAN: When Dale returns his books late, he gets a spanking from the naughty librarian.
SORORITY SEDUCTION: Jessica wants nothing to do with her ex, Josh, until she encounters him in his underwear.
PLEASING MY PROFESSOR: Vanessa will do anything for an A — anything.
DOING MY TUTOR: Lisa has been lusting for her math tutor for months now — and today, she’s ready to finally make the moves on this shy, timid man!
WARNING: This 22,300-word short story collection contains multiple explicit sex scenes between lustful university students, dirty professors, football stars, sorority members, and more and will get you hot and bothered, and is intended for mature adults only.
FREE on Smashwords with coupon code DC35U
[image error]Forced Encounters
Sandra Claire
This hot and sweaty bundle collects all six of Sandra Claire’s gay erotica stories. Each throbbing story features a randy young man who gets himself into a dangerous situation — a situation that quickly evolves into the most mind-blowing gay sex these young men have ever experienced.
Included in this volume are:
FORCED SUBMISSION: Matty finally understands why Scott has bullied and picked on him his whole life.
FORCED ENTRY: Desperate for money, Dylan makes the wrong choice when he breaks into a gay dom’s house.
FORCED TO TAKE IT: Christian risks it all to hit on the straight cowboy at the country bar.
FORCED IN PUBLIC: A flight to Australia lands Kyle in the Mile High Club with two older men.
TAKEN BY FORCE: Caught buying weed, Craig will do anything if the cop will let him off with just a warning.
FORCED BY MY COACH: Coach Brown has had enough of Kevin and his disrespectful attitude, and tonight he’s going to get exactly what he’s been craving.
WARNING: This 28,000-word short story collection contains multiple explicit sex scenes between dominant Alpha men and the submissive men who live to serve them and will get you hot and bothered, and is intended for mature adults only.
50% off on Smashwords ($3) with coupon code UU22A
[image error]Cougar Encounters
Sandra Claire
This hot and seductive bundle collects all five of Sandra Claire’s cougar stories. Each raunchy story follows the sexy romps of older women on the prowl for masculine and muscular younger men and shows that mature women are really what those young jocks crave.
Included in this volume are:
COUGAR ON THE PROWL: Single mom Susan is lusting after her son’s best friend and decides to embark on a risky plan to seduce the younger man.
COUGAR IN HEAT: Jesse expects his friend’s mom, Melissa, to be a buzzkill when she joins him and the guys on a ski trip, acting as a chaperone. But then she shows up naked in the sauna.
COUGAR ON PATROL: Stuck in a dead-end job and eternally single, Rachel risks it all in pursuit of the young man who’s working late in the office.
COUGAR’S CATCH: Nancy’s car breaks down on a lonely highway. When the hot young tow truck driver shows up to the rescue, her already-high libido kicks into overdrive.
COUGAR ON THE HUNT: Julian’s heard all the rumors about naughty Samantha, the cougar who works out at the college gym. Tonight, he discovers the rumors are true.
WARNING: This 21,000-word short story collection contains multiple explicit sex scenes between younger men and the mature women who crave them and will get you hot and bothered, and is intended for mature adults only.
FREE on Smashwords with coupon code KD39L
[image error]Parking Lot Hook-Up
Sandra Claire
Jay is an older man who likes his twinks—he takes them home and pounds them hard. But Chris, the cutie he’s been chatting up online, wants something a little more dangerous. Chris is into public sex and exhibitionism and talks Jay into having a hook-up in Jay’s car in the local park. Things get hot really quick, but the risk of getting discovered only adds to the thrill, especially when they’re almost caught.
WARNING: This 3.000-word short story contains an explicit oral sex scene between a younger man and an older man that will get you hot and bothered, and is intended for mature adults only.
67% off on Smashwords ($1) with coupon code RC65Q
Deals from Master Dominic
[image error]Taking My Son’s Butt Cherry
Master Dominic
Ted has always been close with his sons. When they were still children, it was just innocent affection, but as they got older, that closeness never faded. If anything, it got stronger, especially with Dylan, his youngest, when he would often spend late nights with Ted that ended with him snuggled up in his dad’s arms on the couch.
When Ted’s wife dies, that closeness with Dylan only intensifies as Dylan starts joining his father in bed, cuddling up close and leaving Ted uncomfortably aroused. The intense connection builds until finally, one night, unable to hold back anymore, Ted makes a move on his son, satisfying an urge for immediate erotic gratification. He feels guilty, but soon learns that this pleasure isn’t quite so forbidden. As it turns out, Dylan wants it just as bad as he does.
A secret affair heats up between them, but there’s only one problem: Ted’s older son, Scottie. He doesn’t know what’s going on, and if he would find out, there’s no predicting what his reaction would be. But that danger of being caught by Scottie only fuels Ted’s lusts, leading him to make daring choices—choices that will either lead to new heights of pleasure, or the ruination of everything he’s worked hard to achieve in life.
17,500-word novella
50% off on Smashwords ($2) with coupon code AM35K
[image error]Gay BDSM Club 4-Pack Bundle
Master Dominic
Daniel’s life is forever changed when he wanders into Sailor’s Knot, a gay BDSM sex club. When a powerful, older man takes Daniel on as his sub, everything he thought he knew about BDSM is turned on its head — no longer is it something Daniel considers kinky, rather, it’s now something he wants all the time. He wants it harder, deeper, and more intense. This bundle collects all four stories in Master Dominic’s hot series — perfect for some one-handed reading.
This scorching hot bundle includes:
GAY SUB INITIATION: Badly needing sex, Daniel wanders into what he thinks is a bathhouse, only to find out it’s a BDSM sex club — and now he doesn’t want to leave.
GAY SUB OBEYS: Daniel has trouble accepting his role as sub, rebelling against his Master, but a punishment soon puts Daniel back in his place.
GAY SUB CHASTITY: With Master gone for two weeks, Daniel is locked in chastity and learns a further lesson about obeying his Master.
GAY SUB FISTED: Daniel’s understanding of pleasure is stretched beyond his previous limits by Master’s fist.
24,500-word bundle
50% off on Smashwords ($3) with coupon code UH85K
[image error]Dad Son Sex Secrets 4-Pack Bundle
Master Dominic
It’s natural for a young twink to fall for his older, muscular, masculine father, but few follow through on these forbidden lusts. For the young men that do, their sexual adventures open them to new worlds of intense pleasure and taboo sex. This 4-Pack of father/son incest stories will satiate your fantasies, as these young men get to know their fathers in ways that they never dreamed possible.
This taboo bundle includes:
SPANKING MY NAUGHTY BOY: Mark’s adult son, Brendan, is acting up and getting into drugs. He pulls out the only discipline he can think of — a good, hard spanking. But that punishment forces out a sexy confession.
DAD TOOK MY VIRGINITY: Darren finally works up the courage to explore his gay side and enter the bathhouse. Unfortunately, the first person he encounters there is his father, but it soon leads to unexpected ecstasy.
SEDUCING MY SON: David is trying to suppress a crush he’s developing on his son — but after a night of drinking, he gives in to his forbidden lusts and seduces his son… and his son’s boyfriend.
SEDUCING MY DADDIES: Ryan is spending a week with his dad and his dad’s new husband, Devin. Taboo lusts and some late night urges lead Ryan to crawl into bed with his two dads… naked.
18,800-word bundle
50% off on Smashwords ($3) with coupon code MR63U
[image error]Piss-Loving Boys 4-Pack
Master Dominic
Sometimes guys like to get raunchy, wet, and messy — and given the chance, they’ll give into their dirtiest fantasies. This 4-pack of gay watersports stories will satiate your fantasies, as these boys get soaked in piss. This taboo bundle includes:
PISSED ON BY THE BULLY: Joel tries to entrap the closeted homophobic bully, Brian, but the tables turn when Joel lets loose with a golden stream.
HUMAN URINAL: Cocky and disrespectful, Andrew gets what’s coming to him when a dominating daddy ties him up in the men’s room urinal.
GOLDEN SHOWERS: Thinking he’s alone, Christopher gives into his wettest fantasies — until he’s caught by his straight roommate.
FRAT HOUSE PISS PARTY: Ian is new to the frat house and ready for initiation, until he finds out they know about his secret piss-drinking fetish.
16,700-word bundle
FREE on Smashwords with coupon code EM97N
December 30, 2016
Modern Brides and Modern Grooms — Interview with Author Mark O’Connell
Greetings, readers! Today I’m thrilled to have Mark O’Connell here to talk about his book, Modern Brides and Modern Grooms: A Guide to Planning Straight, Gay, and Other Nontraditional Twenty-First-Century Weddings! First, we’ll start with the cover and blurb, then head on into the interview with Mark!
[image error]Modern Brides and Modern Grooms
This book is for any couple—same or opposite sex—seeking a personalized wedding that dignifies the relationship and the individual self. No “new normal” here—this guide emboldens you to harness your unique, brazen, queer truth; to be creative; and to plan your wedding your way.
Every fiancé faces the question, how do I become something new without losing myself? Using his own story, author Mark O’Connell reflects on conflicts that arrive during wedding transitions, as well as various other transitions throughout your lives.
As a psychotherapist, O’Connell offers ideas to bridge relational gaps with your partner, family, and friends. As a professional actor, he also offers insight into the ways your wedding is a theatrical production and how this can help you to conceptualize the event, consolidate your efforts, and increase creative collaboration as a couple. This will serve you not only on your big day, but also for the rest of your time together.
Whether we’re straight, gay, or other, weddings inspire us to carve out more fun, freedom, recognition, life space, love space, and connubial space than we’ve ever had before.
Purchase your copy on Amazon. (Paperback edition releases January 3, 2017.)
Interview with Author Mark O’Connell
Tell us about Modern Brides & Modern Grooms.
[image error]My guiding question for this book was: Why does anyone get married anymore? Now that we can all get married in the U.S., and relationships are more gender neutral and equitable than ever before—gay or straight—why do so many of us still choose to get married and to have weddings?
I interviewed a wide variety of couples—of all ages, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and religious backgrounds—whose wedding planning journeys were each unique and distinct, but at the same time, at the core they were all after the same thing: to prepare for a life together, not just for a perfect day—with a perfect, white fluffy princess and a frilly cake at the center. And I use those very personal, idiosyncratic journeys to drive much of the book, to help inspire and encourage each individual reader.
I was also interested in how the processes of collaborative communication, negotiation, and creativity that go into wedding planning, help to decide much more than what color napkins are best and where to put the ice sculpture. More significantly the wedding planning process helps couples to practice how they will arrive at every major mutual decision they have to make down the line. (I’m a psychotherapist as well as an author). So unlike most wedding books, Modern Brides & Modern Grooms offers therapeutic advice for improving relationships with one’s partner (same or opposite sex), as well as one’s friends and family. That communication advice is based on my years of clinical experience. Whether the reader is gay or straight, this book is designed to help him or her to plan a meaningful life together, not just a day.
Modern Brides & Modern Grooms is also the only book on the wedding or marriage shelf that is truly for any DIY wedding planner, male or female, gay or straight (not just brides).
Also, as a trained, professional actor, I offer the reader a perspective on how their wedding is a theatrical event that can effectively reveal their authenticity, and how they can go about achieving that.
And there are lots of TRUE, painfully honest, sometimes hilarious, sometimes cringe-worthy, stories, from my own wedding planning, and from a wide variety other couples, to give the reader a bit of entertaining schadenfreude, and to validate and invigorate readers as they embark on their own unique marital journeys.
Why is there a need for this book? And I see that you say it is for both gay and straight couples – how would a straight couple benefit from a book targeted at same-sex couples?
The very first line of the book is “Marriage equality has arrived, and it’s not just for the gays!”
Marriage equality has liberated us all. We can all now follow the lead of same sex couples who have always favored gender neutrality and equality in our partnerships, and, creative freedom in the celebration of our unions. All couples now have the opportunity to bust out of traditional molds of marriage and weddings.
There was no single wedding or marriage book before this one that addressed how the concept of marriage equality emphasizes our likenesses more than our differences—whether we are gay, straight, or anything else. So I wrote one book to cover all those bases.
I wanted a guide to exist for the various people out there who want to celebrate their unique relationships their own way. I also wanted to inspire and empower each unique couple to reveal who they are, as opposed to conceal their individuality behind tired social norms. And I wanted the true stories I shared in the book—mine and many others—to not only help people to navigate their own wedding planning, but also the entire course of their marriages—again, based on my work as a therapist who specializes in identity, family, and relationship conflicts. I also wanted the book to be a good read, to flow, so that people could pick it up and get lost in other people’s true stories to help them make up their own minds about what to do, rather than to be told what to do.
One of the specific motivations for writing this book was the number of straight women friends of mine who had been inspired by my queer wedding, because it modeled for them a way to celebrate their individuality and the specificity of their relationships, eyes wide open and on their own terms, without having to sleepwalk through the steps of misogynistic traditions (like being given away by one man to another).
Also, I wanted to address something that gets missed in even the most modern, progressive, wedding books: wedding planning isn’t just for brides.
Men (both gay and straight) are more and more interested in helping to plan their own weddings than ever before. Especially when they are encouraged to think deeply about the specific purpose of the event. It’s the couples’ day, as a team, not just the bride’s (if there even is a bride). It’s the couple’s opportunity to tell the story of who they are as a pair. But unfortunately, most (if not all) of the wedding planning self is still aimed at women exclusively (and straight women at that). I wanted to expand what was available and to help readers to consider all the rich, meaningful, and fun, things that are at the core of any wedding, none of which have to do with the problematic, age-old, and superficial theme of “here comes the bride.” I wanted to create a resource that any couple could look to as they co-produce their own personal piece of theater, so that, when the event is performed, they will effectively and meaningfully celebrate the integration of their families with their tribes.
How does a same-sex wedding ceremony differ from a “traditional” wedding ceremony? (I’m reminded of my mom, who got married this past summer. She went very non-traditional with her wedding, almost exactly copying a same-sex wedding she had been to the previous year. Rather than being steeped in centuries of tradition, they instead allowed for freedom, creativity, and inventiveness—and just had fun!)
You answered your own question! Brilliantly.
There is no difference, really. Other than the fact that same sex couples do not have the option to sleepwalk through tired old wedding traditions, because we don’t have any. We are forced to be, as you say, “creative and individualistic, and free” to build our own, unique, events from the ground up.
But, again, as you say, the truth is that more and more straight couples are inspired by their queer peers and are refusing to perform antiquated rituals that hold no personal significance to them—as individuals or as couples—choosing instead to be just as awake, and creative and free in their celebrations, as their gay and lesbian friends and family members. So as time goes by, weddings are becoming more alike than different, no matter the genders or sexual orientations of the spouses to be.
Can you tell us a funny or cute or romantic story about your engagement and/or wedding with your husband?
[image error]Yes! Our entire relationship has been guided by Samuel Beckett’s wise words: “Try again. Fail again. Fail better,” and our wedding was no exception.
We chose a venue near the college where we first met, as awkward sixteen-year-olds. We had been fast friends (he made me laugh!). And one night he told me that he really liked me. And I told him I was *straight* (because it was 1993 and I had NO gay role models, and too much internalized homophobia). So we stopped talking. FAIL.
Then, six years later, after I had the chance to find myself sexually, I saw him on MTV’s The Real World, and heard him talking about an unrequited college love… and decided to write him a redemptive letter (on letterhead with my phone number at the top…) And he called me one night (which was wild, because I was watching him on TV, at that moment—I saw him travelling with his housemates through India as we talked on the phone). And we picked up where we left off, and became the boyfriends we never could have been at sixteen, had he gotten what he wanted. Then, six months later, we were walking, hand-in-hand, in Boston Common, and came across Ellen DeGeneres, playing frisbee with her then girlfriend. And I thought, how auspicious: I should tell him why I wrote that letter. And I said, “Remember when you were talking about me on TV?…” and he was like, “Um… That wasn’t you.” Oof. FAIL AGAIN.
Our good friend, Joy, officiated our wedding and told that story to our guests, emphasizing that Justin was not talking about me on the show. But also that he was…
[image error]And getting things wrong turned out to be a theme of our entire wedding. As beautiful as many things were—like Joy’s speech—we also failed, repeatedly, throughout the day, including and especially when we realized, too late!, that we hadn’t prepared for our first dance… FAIL BETTER.
So, after being together for 17 years, I can say there’s definitely something to be said for trying and failing, and failing better, as opposed to hiding behind the illusion of perfection. Failing keeps you connected to other people in an authentic way. And to this day, I find it meaningful that we celebrated that concept at our wedding in a variety of ways.
What is the core message of Modern Brides & Modern Grooms?
That marriage is a personal and independent choice. That each of us can make that choice with an awake, creative, and free mind; not only when we choose to get engaged or have a wedding, but again and again throughout our lives, every time we reach a major crossroads with our partner—in the form of family planning, or careers, or home-owning, or sex, or artistic goals. Weddings are opportunities to not only celebrate, but to truly prepare us to collaborate on all of those big decisions ahead, no matter who you are or whom you love.
Purchase your copy on Amazon. (Paperback edition releases January 3, 2017.)
Learn more about Modern Brides and Modern Grooms at Mark’s website.
About Mark O’Connell:
[image error]Mark O’Connell, LCSW, is a New York City-based psychotherapist in private practice, author, and public speaker on issues related to gender, identity, and relationship conflicts. As an expert on modern relationships and marriage, he is frequently interviewed by popular wedding planning sources such as Brides Magazine, The Knot, and Inside Weddings, and he is an official expert on Marriage.com. He writes for The Huffington Post, PsychologyToday, Truthdig.com, among other popular sources, and his clinical writing has been published by The Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. His website is www.markoconnelltherapist.com.
Twitter: @MarkOTherapist
December 18, 2016
Being His Bitch by Clay Anderson (Book Blitz)
Greetings book lovers! Today I have Clay Anderson as my guest, to help promote his new book, Being His Bitch! Read on for the blurb, cover, and excerpt! (I LOVE the cover!)
Blurb:
When a young gay virgin finally plucks up the courage to slip on his favorite panties and go cruising for a one night stand, he meets James – beautiful, tanned, toned and experienced, and ready to make sure his first time exceeds his wildest expectations.
A first time anal story with nipple play, facials and hardcore fucking, Clay Anderson’s Being His Bitch is a delicious adventure into the wonders of gay sex, which will have you desperate for more. Don’t miss it.
Purchase on: Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
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Excerpt:
James ran his hands along my arms to my shaven armpits, then gently traced his fingers to my pecs. He rocked his hips slowly, rubbing the underside of my panty covered cock with his ass as his fingers drew lazy circles around my pecs. I found myself breathing in ragged, sharp breaths as he drew closer and closer… until he squeezed both nipples at once. I cried out and arched my back, causing James to roll my nipples in his tight grip.
I writhed on the bed, moaning, until James paused and I felt my body relax – only for him to lean forward and dragged is tongue around my areola and nipple bud, causing waves of pleasure to crash over me. I was moaning now, almost wailing as James held my arms above my head and sucked and tongued my nipples, moving from one to the other in torturous rhythm and pausing only to blow on them, causing them to tighten ever further. I was nearly thrashing on the bed, my arms pinned over my head, my body bucking beneath him. I thought my cock was going to burst, that I would climax without being touched.
James relented, letting me cool down for just a moment.
“You’re ready, hm? You’re ready to pop right now. God, you’re a hot one,” James grinned.
He kissed one nipple and suckled it again, causing my hips to twitch, and then dragged his tongue lower. As his tongue headed to my abs, he slid his body torturously along my cock until he was resting on my calves.
As he slipped his fingers into my panties and pulled them down, I was completely at his mercy. My cock stood proudly aroused and erect, clearly throbbing and leaking precum. James smiled appreciatively as my lean, nude form was laid out for his enjoyment. He slid his hands around my pubic bone and inner thighs, before finally taking my shaft in hand. I moaned and gasped as his hands caressed my throbbing dick, gently rubbing my cock head.
About the Author:
Clay Anderson is an up-and-coming gay erotica author writing from the UK. A jack of all kinks, he likes to try his hand at everything going – his debut erotic short, Mark of the Wolf, was a paranormal romance, while his newest work, Being His Bitch, is a sizzling hot gay first time story without a werewolf in sight. You can follow Clay on Twitter and Instagram @AndersAssmaster for news on future books and deals, and more general hot gay goodness.
December 8, 2016
Sexy Descriptions — Sex For Money, Post #19
Sex For Money is a semi-regular blog series about my experiences in writing, publishing, and marketing gay erotica and M/M erotic romance. All of this information is from my own experience, so your experience may differ. It’s hoped that sharing this information might be helpful to new and aspiring erotica and erotic romance authors, as I see a lot of questions and a lot of misinformation out there. To read more Sex For Money posts, click here.
If you find these posts handy, or you’re looking for more information on the business of writing, publishing, and selling gay erotica and M/M erotic romance, check out my in-depth book, Sex For Money.
As I’ve mentioned a few times here on the blog, I’ve recently helped co-found an erotica and erotic romance publishing house, Deep Desires Press. Part of being a publisher involves reading through the submissions that come our way — and I’ve come across some very, uh… interesting ways to describe body parts and the act of sex.
I won’t use any actual quotes here because I don’t want to publicly shame anyone and I also don’t have permission to do so. Instead, I’ll give examples that are reasonably similar to some of the body part descriptions I’ve come across.
When writing erotica or erotic romance, you want to paint a very sexy picture of your hero(s) and/or heroine(s), and one way this is done is by using metaphors and similes, saying that the body part resembles something. However, if you do this, make sure that the comparison is sexy and appropriate.
I’ll start off with something I’ve actually done that was quickly killed by my editor. Back when I was writing the Go-Go Boys of Club 21 series, I tried describing a twink’s bubble butt as a pair of melons. You know, they’re nice and firm and round. But when my editor told me to take a step back, I realized that “melons” is a slang term for breasts and it would seem really out of place to describe a man’s ass.
And if you’re going to use a food comparison–which seems to be a somewhat common practice–make sure it actually makes sense. I came across a submission where the narrator described a woman’s breasts as being like a food item that’s not even breast-shaped.
For the most part, I’d advise staying away from food comparisons. For me, I often find myself distracted by imagining what, say, a hunk would look like with a cucumber instead of a dick. You’ll get more bang for your buck if you describe the body part using adjectives rather than through comparison.
On the subject of adjectives, you also need to make sure you pick sexy ones. Describing the inside of a person’s vagina or anus as “slimy” or “greasy” are a bit of a turn off. (The only case where I can see “greasy” working is in more hardcore fetish erotica, such as a fisting story, where a thicker lube is often used.) For the most part, that also means your characters should be more or less clean (as in freshly-showered), with a few exceptions. Sweaty characters can be appealing, or a hard-working character with the grit and grime of a long-day’s labor can be very sexy. But describing bad odours and stained underwear is not a good idea (unless, again, you’re into some niche fetish).
One way you can determine if the description is a bit off or it’s okay is to read it to someone and gauge their reaction–but assess their first, instinctual reaction, not necessarily what they tell you after a few moments have passed (as they might not want to hurt your feelings). If you’re uncomfortable reading it out to someone, then another strategy would be to think of if someone were to describe your body in this way… would it be sexy or would you think they were odd? If someone were to say I have a dick like a zucchini, I wouldn’t know how to take it–a much better description would be “long and thick.”
Really, the simpler the words, sometimes, the better. It’s like using the word “said.” Sure, there are so many variations and options to avoid re-using “said,” but the word “said” allows us to very quickly read the story and not get caught up in fancy language. Apparently, our brains don’t even register the word “said,” but we still use that information to help guide our understanding of text. I suspect that description is similar. Calling a dick “long and thick” gets us to the point right away and we probably don’t even really register that the language was plain. But if we see “zucchini-like dick,” then we’re caught up in unusual language that draws attention to itself.
Appropriate language for description is best. If it’s simple language, that’s even better.
November 15, 2016
Erotic Love and Carnal Sins: Confessions of a Priest
My latest scorching hot novella — co-written with Sandra Claire — is now on Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and Smashwords! (It will appear on B&N, Excitica, iBooks, and Kobo soon!)
Father Peter has devoted his life to the Roman Catholic Church — but not entirely because he is a man of God. For him, a life of chastity and piety is the perfect place for a closeted gay man to hide from himself.
Try as he might to live a pure life, his forbidden desires chip away at him, leading him on a path of carnal sins that starts with a simple, anonymous, and discreet online encounter. But that supposed anonymous encounter, with a man just as closeted as Peter, takes an uncomfortable turn when that same man shows up in confessional, wanting to talk with Peter in person.
Unable to lie to himself any longer, and suddenly willing to risk his entire career and life, Peter does the one thing he never dreamed he’d be able to do — he reaches out and touches another man. He can’t take back what he’s done and can’t pretend it didn’t happen, so that leaves Peter with only one option, to move forward and experience the erotic pleasures found only in the act of gay sex.
Erotic Love & Carnal Sins: Confessions of a Priest is a 29,000-word novella.
Buy Now
October 19, 2016
Dubious Desire by Zane Menzy (Book Blitz)
Greetings, blog followers! Today we have Zane Menzy stopping by to share the hot cover and sexy excerpt from his new book, Dubious Desire!
Blurb:
Laid back Keegan Andrews loves his family and his friends but he hates conflict. So when his Mum and best mate, Liam, plan a big event for his eighteenth birthday against his wishes, he doesn’t argue.
Keegan warms to the idea when he discovers his girlfriend Tess is gifting him the best present ever. Sex! Finally, he will be able to “join the club” and leave his virgin status behind. Keegan secretly hopes this will cure him of a recently discovered side to himself. A side that wants nothing more than to see what the sexy jock Liam looks like underneath his clothes.
The night goes well ‘till his father’s best friend Damon arrives. The handsome womanizer ruins everything by robbing Keegan of his present.
As if that isn’t bad enough, Keegan finds out the next day he is going on a mini-getaway with Damon—alone. Biting his tongue and confused with feelings, Keegan begins to wonder how he can get even without it becoming a family dispute. Keegan decides maybe there is a way to get even… and join the club at the same time.
Excerpt (Chapter Two):
Keegan sat in his bedroom, in front of his computer with his pants down around his ankles. The screen was lit up with sex, a porn video he had just been watching now on pause. The woman’s face had been frozen at the funniest time, her mouth opened wide in unflattering fashion, right in front of a fat, veiny cock that was spurting streaks of cum like bullets in her direction.
Keegan had been beating off most of the morning. He had just taken a break after blowing his second load. He wiped his hand clean of his spunk with a tissue he’d grabbed from a box of Kleenex beside him. He screwed up the soiled paper up, throwing it in a plastic bag at his feet, or as he liked to call it, “the cum dump.”
He let his mind wander to his birthday that was only a few days away. It fell on a Saturday this year so if he fancied—after having a few drinks at home with his mates— he could go to town to go clubbing, finally able to see what all the fuss was about. Being born in December, he was the youngest of his school friends and as each month passed by during the year they would come to class raving about how much fun they were having in the bars. Keegan hadn’t been overly jealous but he was curious to know what all this fun was. However, school had wrapped up for the year a few weeks ago now, so he wasn’t going to have the chance to go to class and share any wacky tales of nights out.
Keegan knew he should be filling out hostel accommodation for university next year, but he kept putting it off, unsure if he really wanted to go anymore. His reason for what his mum called a strange change of heart was his biggest secret in the world, one he didn’t even know he had ‘till six months ago. He looked down at his sticky soft cock and imagined his secret sucking it clean.
His girlfriend of two years, Tess, certainly had no intention of doing it. They had been dating for two years and still she hadn’t put out. No fuck, no blow job. All they ever did on the rare occasion was frisky foreplay. Sticky fingers were the full extent of their love life. She would let him finger her pussy while she stroked his dick, giving him a hand job which always felt a bit too rough for his liking. They saw each other on weekends and Keegan had begun to view them not so much as a couple but each other’s reliable plus one to any parties they were invited to. Keegan had given up on Tess ever letting him fuck her. He just lived through porn and imagining fun times with his secret. He felt doomed to die a virgin and never actually join the club.
The Club was the term his best mate, Liam, had coined when he lost his virginity at fifteen. He crowed with pride how he had cycled fifteen kilometers to visit Sadie Wallace and fucked her for five hours. Liam did like to tell tall tales. Still, he wasn’t lying that he had sex—that part was true.
“I can’t wait for you boys to join the club too and see what it’s all about,” Liam had spouted.
Keegan, Skippy and Tony who made up Liam’s inner circle of friends, each sat listening, bitterly jealous. All of them dying to join the club. It wasn’t a surprise to any of them it was Liam who reached this milestone first. He was the best looking of the group and extremely popular. The other three all sort of rode his coat tails. If it were based on looks then Keegan assumed he would be next, although the late bloomer of the group thanks to puberty’s late arrival he was the next best looking. Thanks to his mother, he had inherited her attractive features. He had honey blonde hair that when left too long without a haircut grew caramel-colored curls which dropped across his forehead accentuating his soft, brown eyes. His slim, smooth body—although not decked out with abs like Liam—was naturally toned and all round he figured he was a pretty good catch.
But it wasn’t him who joined the club next. It was Skippy. The stupidly tall Australian lad had a pimply face and long, gangly limbs. He wasn’t exactly ugly but he wasn’t beautiful either. Still, his height led to rumors that he had a monster cock and one night at a party six months after Liam established the club, Skippy joined when Marie Thompson cornered him in the bathroom and demanded to know if the rumors were true.
This left Keegan and Tony left outside the invisible club doors, waiting to be let in. By now Keegan had started dating Tess so it seemed obvious it would be him. Little did he realize he was dating someone reluctant to let go of their virginal virtues and while he waited patiently the freckle faced, ginger haired Tony beat him to it. For his eighteenth birthday his older brother shouted him a trip to the whore parlor where he got to join the club with an overpriced ten minutes’ worth of loving. Tony had laughed about how pitiful his performance had been but it didn’t change the fact he still joined the club and now only one of the four remained on the outside. Keegan.
Keegan looked down at his drooping dick, he ran a finger up his smooth inner thighs and tugged gently on his hairy balls. He went to close the video down and look for some lesbian porn but before he could click away from the website his bedroom door burst wide open and in walked his secret.
“Oh, fuck, man. Not again,” Liam said loudly. He keeled over laughing at Keegan quickly pulling his pants back up.
“Well, maybe if you learned to knock you wouldn’t keep walking in on me when I’m… busy,” Keegan said, his neck beginning to redden. It was times like this he was grateful to be so naturally tanned.
“Is busy what the kids are calling it these days?” Liam grinned.
Keegan dismissed the comment and rolled his eyes.
Liam jumped in the air and landed on Keegan’s unmade bed, laying down on his stomach. “You been watching ‘Two Girls, One Cup’ again?” He cocked his eyebrows, giggling at Keegan who sat back down flustered.
“Eww, gross no. I can’t believe you even showed me that video.” Just thinking of it made Keegan want to vomit.
Liam laughed. “Yea, pretty feral, aye.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. Keegan loved how it was the perfect contrast to his mate’s pale skin and bright blue eyes. He was wearing a black singlet that showed off his broad shoulders. Keegan tried not to stare too much at his friend’s muscles. “Anyway I came to tell you there’s been a change of plans with your birthday,” Liam said. He looked around at Keegan’s dirty clothes strewn across the floor.
“What do you mean a change of plans?” Keegan frowned, not liking where this was heading.
Liam lifted his face, meeting Keegan’s stare. “Your mum told me about your lame plans to have a quiet night, so I have come to tell you me and her have made an executive decision and you’re going to be having a big piss up at your grandparent’s farm.”
Keegan shook his head. “But I don’t want a big party.”
“What you want and what you get are two different things, buddy.” Liam smiled, showing off his sexy teeth. “Keegan, you’re my best mate and you deserve… you need a proper celebration of your life on your day of days.”
Keegan laughed. “You just want an excuse to invite some chick you’re after.”
Liam nodded. “Five actually. Figure I’d cover my bases.” He gave Keegan a wink.
“Is it too late for me to tell you both to cancel it,” Keegan asked.
“Far too late, I’ve already text everyone.”
Keegan groaned. “Lucky me, a huge party I never wanted.” He threw his hands up in the air mockingly.
Liam climbed off his bed and walked over to where Keegan was sitting. “Move over, there’s something I want to show you,” he said, motioning for Keegan to get out from the chair. Keegan stood up to let Liam have his seat, before he could step away Liam grabbed his shoulder. “Stay still.” He stepped in towards Keegan, their face only inches apart. He opened his mouth and his breath rolled over Keegan’s face giving him chills. “I swear you have gotten taller again, we’re nearly the same height.”
Keegan nodded. “Almost.” Liam was just on six-feet and Keegan was now only an inch shorter. Our similar heights would make us perfect kissing partners, Keegan thought to himself.
Liam gently shoved him aside and sat down in front of the computer. His feet rustled the plastic bag. “Oh gross, Keegan.” He laughed and kicked the bag with his foot.
Keegan shrugged. “You make it sound like you never wank.”
“Of course I do. That is what I’m about to show you.”
Keegan felt wishful at the statement. “You’re about to show me you wanking?”
“You wish,” Liam replied.
I do actually.
Liam began typing in a new search bar. “I’m about to show you this new site I’ve been using. It’s got some seriously hot shit on it.” Keegan leaned over Liam’s shoulder to get a better look. “It’s called Crashing Hearts, I found it last week.”
“Sounds like a mills and boon site,” Keegan muttered.
“I know right, but trust me, it definitely isn’t!” Liam clicked into the website. A pink main page displayed with a content warning and an invitation to enter if you were over eighteen. “Well you aren’t allowed in here ‘till Saturday and become of age, but since I’m eighteen I guess we can go in,” Liam joked.
“What would I do if I didn’t have a real adult,” Keegan joked.
“Yep, you’d be lost without me,” Liam said, never taking his eyes off the screen. When he clicked enter the screen turned black and soon images of cages appeared, naked men and women trapped inside. In other images people were tied down, or strung from wooden beams, being whipped.
“This looks a bit fucking heavy for my liking,” Keegan said.
“Nar man, it’s hot as some of these videos. Like there’s a mix of professional and amateur vids uploaded on here.” Liam scrolled through a list of videos and clicked on one that featured a red headed women dressed head to toe in a PVC suit. The video soon uploaded and it didn’t take long to establish this women was a dominatrix, she had a male and female tied together who she walked around taunting with sex toys and threats.
“Are you into this sort of stuff?” Keegan asked, curious for an answer.
“I dunno, maybe?” He turned his head around, staring at Keegan and smiled. “But hey, who doesn’t have their kinks and secrets, right?”
You’re not wrong there.
Keegan nodded. He looked down and saw Liam adjusting himself. “Would you like me to leave you alone to sort yourself out,” Keegan teased.
Liam shrugged. “I wouldn’t care if you were here or not.” He stretched his arms out in and yawned.
Keegan felt his loins tingle at what was no doubt a comment Liam didn’t really mean.
Liam got to his feet. “Anyway I only dropped by quickly to tell you about your party. I’ve gotta head home and get ready for work. Mum wants me to go in to work and help out this afternoon.” Liam’s mum owned her own book store along the main street, she often relied on Liam to cover any sick staff on weekends. Something Keegan found hilarious, he doubted Liam had ever read a book that didn’t have pictures in it.
Keegan’s face dropped, his disappointment sprinkled the room at news of his secret departing. “Okay, well I guess I will see you on Saturday.”
Liam headed towards the door. “You’ll see me before then I’m sure. I’ll call you later after work and go through arrangements for your birthday.” He threw a hand up to wave goodbye without looking back.
Keegan went to his window and watch Liam walk out the drive. His secret who had given him the peculiar dilemma. What am I? Keegan no longer knew if he were straight, gay, bi, curious or just screwed up. He closed his eyes and took his mind back to how these inconvenient feelings had started.
Purchase this book on Amazon
About the Author:
Zane lives way, way down under in New Zealand. He is a fan of reading, movies, music, sport and nights out that usually lead to his head hanging in a bucket the next morning. Zane also enjoys writing sexy tales with hot characters who find themselves in unique situations.
Follow Zane on Twitter.
October 13, 2016
Call For Submissions – Erotica and Erotic Romance
Deep Desires Press, the new publisher I cofounded, which will feature erotica and high-heat-level erotic romance, in all romantic pairings (MM, MF, FF, menage, and inclusive of trans characters), is looking for submissions to fill our publishing schedule.
We launch in January, 2017, and we’ve already got a number of great titles by talented authors ready to go.
If you’re a writer, read on for the Call For Submissions. If you’re a reader, check out our website (www.deepdesirespress.com) and sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the page.
Call for Submissions
Deep Desires Press
Deep Desires Press is a new publisher of erotica and high-heat-level erotic romance. We focus on quality rather than quantity – we would much rather have a handful of top-notch stories than a full catalogue of mediocre books. Our main goal is to excite the reader, to take their imagination into the most erotic of scenarios. We expect to launch in the winter of 2016/2017 and are currently seeking submissions in the categories listed below.
Authors will earn 50% royalties (after the vendor takes its cut) and will receive full editing, cover art, and marketing support from Deep Desires Press. Submissions are expected to be well-written, well-edited, and reasonably error-free.
First, a few general details:
Genres: We are seeking all genres and subgenres of erotica and erotic romance. This includes contemporary, paranormal, LGBTQ+, BDSM, historical, sci-fi, fantasy, etc.
Pairings: We are seeking stories featuring any pairing – MF, MM, FF, group/ménage/multiple partner, and we are inclusive of trans*-identified characters.
Wish List: While we are open to any and all submissions that meet the criteria of this Call For Submissions, we are particularly keen on submissions that reflect real life, including, but not limited to, multi-racial casts of characters, accurate depictions of LGBTQ+ relationships and sex, and settings outside of Canada and USA.
Banned Content: We will not accept submissions containing underage characters in sexual situations, bestiality, necrophilia, yellow play, brown play, incest, pseudo-incest, non-con, dub-con, or rel-con.
Social Media and Self-Promotion: Authors are expected to have at least two mediums for self-promotion, such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, newsletter, Pinterest, blog, website, Google+, etc. When submitting, please include relevant links in your query letter. In the case of a newsletter, please include the current number of subscribers.
Rights: Deep Desires Press will seek ebook, print, and audio rights from the author. However, at present, we are expecting to publish in ebook-format only. Contracts are for three years from publication, renewed on an annual basis thereafter.
New Content: We are primarily looking for new works only. However, if your work has been previously published and you currently hold full rights, we will consider these works on a case-by-case basis.
What we’re looking for:
Length: Short Stories (5,000 – 10,000 words)
Genre: Erotica
Need: High
Details: We are seeking erotica short stories that feature at least one intense sex scene, as well as an engaging framing story. In particular, we are looking for stories that contain series potential from authors who can maintain a fairly regular output. If your story has series potential and you know where subsequent stories will venture, please include this in your query letter.
Length: Novellas (10,001 – 25,000 words)
Genre: Erotica, Erotic Romance
Need: High
Details: We are seeking novellas that feature multiple sex scenes with an engaging storyline. Erotic romance novellas must have a “happily ever after” or “happy for now” ending. While we would prefer stories with series potential, this is not necessary.
Length: Novels (25,001 words and up)
Genre: Erotica, Erotic Romance
Need: Low
Details: We are primarily focusing on short stories and novellas, but we are always open to a novel-length manuscript that catches our attention. Erotic romance novels must have a “happily ever after” or “happy for now” ending.
How to submit:
Please query via email to submissions@deepdesirespress.com, following the guidelines below:
In the body of your email, please include a brief query letter outlining who you are, what your book is about, the length of your book, your plans for sequels (if any), and relevant social media links. For novellas and novels, please also include a synopsis of your work in the body of your email, below your letter.
Please attach your story, novella, or novel to the email as a Word file (doc or docx). Documents should be double-spaced with one-inch margins and in Times New Roman 12-point font.
At present, response time is within one to two weeks.
For more information:
For more information on Deep Desires Press, please visit our website at www.deepdesirespress.com or email us at submissions@deepdesirespress.com.
Thank you for your interest.
October 6, 2016
Settling the Score by Eden Winters (Book Blitz)
Greetings book lovers! Today we have a book blitz for Settling the Score by Eden Winters! Read on for the blurb, cover, excerpt, and giveaway!
Blurb:
Outed and dumped on national television by his rising star boyfriend, Joey Nichols must face the bigotry of the locals in his small Southern town alone. His dreams of a happy ever after lie crushed at his feet.
Novelist Troy Steele has an axe to grind against Hollywood heartbreaker types. Transforming Joey into a gorgeous, unobtainable hunk would be payback worthy of Troy’s poison pen. It’s a brilliant way to get back at Joey’s image-obsessed ex-boyfriend and the movie producer who’s mutilating Troy’s novels.
What begins as simple revenge may tangle them together in something far more complicated. Living well may be the best revenge, but Troy and Joey could rewrite that to loving well.
Purchase: Rocky Ridge Books | Amazon | All Romance eBooks
Excerpt:
The Nichols’ dining room table could easily seat six people if it weren’t covered with business records, homework, and car parts. Instead of clearing it off, the family assembled in the living room, parents on the couch, Joey and his sisters on the floor. Overloaded plates balanced on each lap.
“Hush, it’s starting,” Joey’s mom warned, mostly to thirteen-year-old Stacey.
“Oops! Gotta go!” Stacey disconnected her call and dropped her phone onto the floor.
Joey and Jackie were quiet already, Joey afraid he’d miss something important if he so much as blinked.
Ten years separated him and his twin from Stacey. Mom often joked that it had taken her that long to forget the horrors of giving birth enough to try again.
Dad blamed his cousin’s homebrew.
“Good evening, I’m Evelyn Hugh. Welcome to Hollywood Seen. Tonight’s hottie, err, I mean, hot story”—the show’s hostess began, grin unapologetic—“is a young man who’s got all of Hollywood talking. Riker Sanderson has what it takes to survive in this town: looks, talent, and a legion of screaming fans.”
On cue, the camera focused on the audience, where the legion, mostly young and female, chanted, “Riker! Riker!”
“Sorry to disappoint you girls. Rumor has it that Mr. Sanderson is taken.” Evelyn pouted for the camera. “Or is he? Joining me tonight is none other than Riker Sanderson, star of the action thriller, Something to Die For.”
Taken? Joey swallowed hard. Surely she couldn’t mean…
The camera zoomed out, showing the beautiful man who’d stolen his heart and who’d shared his apartment up until a few months ago. Riker, more muscled thanks to a heavy training routine for the movie, sported gold highlights in his now much shorter hair. He looked downright sinful in tight-fitting T-shirt and jeans.
Joey idly toyed with the silver band on his middle finger, a nervous habit, before noticing its mate missing from Riker’s hand. Maybe he’d taken it off for the movie. It didn’t mean anything. No, nothing at all.
All worries disappeared when Riker slowly raised a simmering gaze to the camera. Something clenched deep in Joey’s insides. Those dark eyes hypnotized him, even if they were on a TV screen and not actually in the room. Bedroom eyes intense enough to cause instant paralysis. How many times had Joey lost himself in them, lying in a sweaty, satisfied tangle with Riker?
“Thank you for joining us,” the bleached-blonde hostess gushed, a woman Big Joe said gave him gout.
“Why does she do that to her hair?” Mom asked. “She’s ruined it.” She added the tried and true statement guaranteed to grant forgiveness for any unkindness spoken by a Southerner: “Bless her heart.”
With her whiney voice and constant fawning, Evelyn Hugh reminded Joey of one of the teenaged fans. “I can call you Riker, can’t I?”
“Sure, if I can call you Evelyn.” Her ordinary name sounded exotic when spoken in Riker’s deep tones. That was his gift. He could make anyone feel like the most important person on the planet just by talking to them. Joey had warmed himself by Riker’s fire on many a cold winter’s night.
“I loved you in the romantic comedy, Trying the Knot, filmed in your home state of Georgia. Although only a minor supporting role, your portrayal of the obnoxious cousin at the wedding turned out to be a real scene-stealer and resulted in your big break, didn’t it?”
Riker hadn’t really wanted the cousin role that required him to wear a fat suit and play a backwoods redneck, even if he’d had to beat out a lot of other hopefuls for the part.
“Well, Evelyn,”—Riker turned puppy dog eyes on the hostess—“I’d originally auditioned for the role of Chuck.”
“The pain-in-the-ass playboy who seduced several bridesmaids? Oh, you’re too sweet to play such a cad.”
“You’re too kind.”
A better-known actor had won the honors of playing asshole Chuck. Riker had stormed around the apartment for days.
Riker smiled like he’d hit the jackpot by missing the role. “Actually, I found the cousin part more intriguing. I mean, it stretched my acting skills to play someone so unlike myself.”
“Oh, please, I’m trying to eat here,” Jackie spat.
Joey flashed her a quick evil eye and went back to watching TV.
What a tantrum Riker had thrown about “playing a hick nobody.” In the end he took the money, and assurances from his agent of appearing with a few big stars being a good career move and a way to get noticed.
But he’d done the part enough justice to bring Hollywood knocking.
“What an amazing experience,” the man of Joey’s dreams replied, though that’s not what he’d called it to friends. “It really helped me grow as an actor.” He’d privately referred to the part as beneath someone of his talent and his own personal hell.
“What’s it like working with powerhouse actress Clair Clancy?”
Joey lost the battle to keep a straight face. He’d gotten more earfuls about “Clair, the air-headed bitch.” She’d only spoken to Riker twice during filming when their roles overlapped.
Onscreen, Riker described her as, “An amazing actress. A true professional.” He waved at the camera. “Congrats on the birth of your little girl, Clair. You’ll be an amazing mother.” This from the man who’d wanted to pass a law making it illegal for the woman to breed. Wow, what a good actor. For a moment even Joey believed him.
“In a real-life Cinderella story, a relatively unknown actor is chosen for the lead role of Mitchell Keller in the biggest film of the year. How’s that working out for you?” Evelyn leaned her head on Riker’s shoulder, eyeing him through batting lashes. How dare she? She needed to back off.
A punch to the shoulder brought Joey back to reality, breathing hard and fingernails digging into the palms of his clenched fists.
“She does that with everybody,” Jackie murmured. “What’s your problem, anyway?”
Joey took a deep breath and let it out slowly, a flush creeping up his cheeks.
After what could have been two years, or more probably, two seconds, Riker answered, “It’s really amazing.”
“Doesn’t he know any adjectives besides amazing?” Stacey cut in. “I mean, really! He’s an actor, he’s supposed to be good with words.” Oops, the last holdout in the family swayed to the “We don’t like Riker” side.
Joey ignored her. He’d show them. Soon he’d be living the good life, basking in the California sun. He and Riker had even talked about getting married.
“…and my producer, Ian Hagan, is amazing,” Riker was saying.
Stacey made an “I told you so” face.
Their mother swatted her arm, nipping in the bud whatever sarcastic remark she’d been about to sling.
Riker plowed on. “He took a huge chance in hiring an unknown for such a major role, and I’m grateful he believes in me. I’ve done everything I can to make sure he doesn’t regret taking a risk. We’ve wrapped up the final scenes. Now it’s in post-production, where they’ll add the Hollywood magic.”
What? Riker said a few hours ago that they were still shooting. Well, maybe they had to reshoot some parts.
“Oh, that’s fabulous.” Evelyn’s fake smile lost its battle to look sincere.
Joey knew how she felt. The standing local rule: Never mention acting around Riker unless you had a least an hour and didn’t mind listening. Folks in town phrased their words very carefully.
“Now, Riker, I know you’ve heard the rumors and seen the pictures posted on the Internet of yourself with someone who is apparently very close to you.”
Joey’s heart pounded and his ears rang. Rumors? Pictures? He peeped over at Jackie, who sat up straighter and put her plate down on the floor.
The smile fled Riker’s face, and he wore the same pleading expression he’d used to get out of cooking. “Yes, I have. For the record, I’d like to state that my personal life isn’t anyone else’s business.”
Oh, shit! What had they found out?
“Breathe, Joey,” Jackie urged.
No matter how he tried, Joey couldn’t, because Evelyn dropped a bomb. “Are you gay?”
Oh, my God! They’d been careful since Riker signed the movie deal. How had anyone suspected? Sure, in a few months maybe, when they were ready. Not now!
Jackie stiffened and Joey held his breath.
“Yes, Evelyn, I am.” Riker sighed, his anguished eyes filling with tears. Joey had never seen anyone who could cry on demand quite so convincingly, not even Stacey. “I’m not ashamed of being a gay American, and I don’t see how my orientation has any bearing on my acting ability.”
“I knew it!” Stacey shrieked. Jackie shushed her. Joey ignored her again.
Evelyn scented blood and went for the throat—her trademark. “The man shown with you in the pictures, is he your boyfriend?”
Man in the pictures? Boyfriend? Surely it couldn’t be… Who the hell were they talking about? If it wouldn’t have given too much away, Joey would have made a mad dash to his parent’s aging computer to find out. Evelyn Hugh moved much too slowly. Stomach too queasy to eat, Joey plopped his uneaten meal down on the coffee table.
Riker sat quietly gazing into the camera and Joey almost heard the wheels turning under that mop of highlighted hair. Finally, his lover became his ex-lover with the casually spoken, “I guess you could say we were in a relationship at the time. Nothing serious. We’ve decided to cool things down while I focus on my career.”
What!? Nothing really serious?! Joey gaped at the screen, a flash fire creeping up his cheeks all the way to his ears. Did Riker mean him? A boulder formed in his throat.
They’d talked about forever. He gasped for breath, unable to turn away from the train wreck of his life unfolding on national television.
“Yes, it’s true.” Riker used the same sorrowful tone the hick cousin had during a big scene in Trying the Knot. “I mean, he’s back home, I’m here. It wouldn’t work out.”
Jackie might have snapped, “Oh, cry me a river!” Joey was too caught up in his own personal drama to know for sure.
He knows I’m watching! He knows I’m seeing this! Why is he coming out now? Why couldn’t he tell the nosy woman it’s none of her damned business?
Riker focused directly on the camera, as if seeking Joey out. “Yeah, we kind of grew out of each other. It’s time to move on.”
“I certainly appreciate your candor, and I’m sure there’s plenty of people around town willing to keep you company.” Evelyn sat up, patting at her hair. “We all look forward to your upcoming movie. It’s sure to be a blockbuster. Thank you for joining us.”
Joey dared not dart out of the room like he wanted to and give too much away. At the moment the family only knew that he’d had a gay roommate. Should he act surprised?
The camera left Riker and zoomed in on the hostess. Joey saw her through a glaze of tears and fears. “Remember that you heard it first on Hollywood Seen.” Her goofy grin dimmed a few watts. “Now, here’s another Hollywood Seen exclusive, the photographs that started it all. Last month they began circling the Internet. Until tonight, spokesmen for Mr. Sanderson firmly denied their authenticity. A pity, really. They made such a handsome couple, don’t you agree?”
Joey’s reality crumbled, replaced by a nightmare. The TV screen filled completely with an image of Riker and himself dancing at the club in Atlanta, Riker’s leg wedged between Joey’s, Joey’s mouth locked to his lover’s neck and his crotch pressed against Riker’s denim-covered thigh.
Oh dear God! He looked like a humping vampire!
The image lasted forever. Enough already, take it down! He’d been stripped naked. Laid bare, all his deepest, darkest secrets exposed.
Calm down, no one can tell it’s you. Maybe they’ll think it’s someone out in Hollywood. That hope dashed to pieces with another picture, probably taken shortly after the first. In it, Joey and Riker both faced the camera. The hostess delivered the killing blow. “Our sources tell us that the man in the picture with Riker Sanderson is Joseph Nichols, Jr., with whom Riker lived in Georgia before moving to California.”
Joey fumbled his cell phone out of his pocket and barely managed to hit the right number. Instead of one of the ever-changing heavy-metal ringtones Riker used, a recorded message stated flatly, “The number you have dialed has been disconnected…”
About the Author:
You will know Eden Winters by her distinctive white plumage and exuberant cry of “Hey, y’all!” in a Southern US drawl so thick it renders even the simplest of words unrecognizable. Watch out, she hugs!
Driven by insatiable curiosity, she possibly holds the world’s record for curriculum changes to the point that she’s never quite earned a degree but is a force to be reckoned with at Trivial Pursuit.
She’s trudged down hallways with police detectives, learned to disarm knife-wielding bad guys, and witnessed the correct way to blow doors off buildings. Her e-mail contains various snippets of forensic wisdom, such as “What would a dead body left in a Mexican drug tunnel look like after six months?” In the process of her adventures she has written sixteen m/m romance novels, has won several Rainbow Awards, was a Lambda Awards Finalist, and lives in terror of authorities showing up at her door to question her Internet searches.
When not putting characters in dangerous situations she’s a mild-mannered business executive, mother, grandmother, vegetarian, and PFLAG activist.
Her natural habitats are airports, coffee shops, and on the backs of motorcycles.
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