Tempeste O'Riley's Blog, page 33
December 31, 2013
New update from Tj Klune on Eric Arvin, 2013 and 2014
You both amaze me daily
Bring on the recovery and love, guys!!!
Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go!!!
Eric is doing good, having had a couple of restful days in a row, something his body sorely needs in order to begin to heal itself. I am continually surprised by his resilience to everything thrown at him. Not only is his breathing good, he responded to tests designed to detect sensation in his appendages. They are called pain tests, and the object is to have the foot or hand pull away from pressing lightly against a nerve in the finger or toes. Both hands and both feet pulled away. I get a little more hopeful each day. He’s strong, that one is.
I got to speak to him on the phone this morning. The nurse called me, saying he wanted to hear my voice. I spoke and he listened because he can’t really vocalize around the trach as of yet. I can’t wait to hear his voice again, clear of tubes and pain.
2013 did not end the way I wanted it too. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. But rather than focus on just that, I have to remember that while it ended terribly, the first 11 1/2 months were the best of my life. Even though the last few weeks have been dark, I have found that not only is Eric the strongest man I know, I have the best of friends who have our backs no matter what. And it turns out that while I may crack, I will not be broken.
2014 is going to be tough, but you know what? Fuck it. Bring it on. I can take it.
Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.
December 30, 2013
New in Audio…
Today I have three new audiobooks to share with you! All are great stories and you can even sample them below. Now, without further ado, I’m so happy to introduce you to “Stranded,” “After Ben,” and “Billy’s Bones”
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Stranded
by Andrew Grey
Narrated by Max Lehnen
Sample
Kendall Monroe is handcuffed to a car in the desert.
Is this life imitating art or art imitating life? The only thing he’s sure of is that the situation he finds himself in is a copy of a scene he filmed earlier, only this time, there is no director yelling “cut” and no crew to rescue him. Terrified for his life, Kendall takes comfort remembering happier times with his longtime lover, Johnny. He hasn’t seen Johnny in weeks since Johnny stayed behind to finish his latest best-selling novel.
As he attempts to survive scorching-hot days and freezing nights, Kendall tries to figure out who did this to him. Could it be Johnny, or the research assistant he suspects Johnny is having an affair with? Both options fill him with bitterness. Or is it a more likely suspect? Kendall has a stalker who sends him flowers and always seems to know where he is. But what does this stranger have to gain by leaving Kendall stranded in the middle of nowhere?
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After Ben
Seattle Stories, #1
by Con Riley
Narrated by JP Handler
Sample
A year after the sudden death of his longtime partner, Ben, Theo Anderson is still grieving. The last thing he’s looking for is a new lover. But as Theo soon discovers, sometimes life has other plans.
While Theo experiences a powerful physical attraction to fellow gym member Peter, it’s his new online friend, Morgan, who provides the intellectual challenge to make him come alive. Morgan is witty, brave, and irreverent, and Theo is ready to take the plunge…until he discovers Morgan might be half his age.
Theo’s late partner was significantly older – enough to strain Theo’s relationship with his family – and the potential of another relationship being cut short leaves him gun shy. Theo needs to lay Ben’s memory to rest, reconcile with his family, and rekindle neglected friendships if he’s to start afresh with a new lover. But Theo isn’t the only one with a past. His biggest challenge, in living after Ben, might not be his to face.
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Billy’s Bones
by Jamie Fessenden
Narrated by Gary Roelofs
Sample
Kevin Derocher was thirty-two when he walked into Tom’s office, newly married, a baby on the way, and the collar of his red flannel shirt pulled up to hide the bruises around his throat from when he hanged himself in his garage. After his initial consult, therapist Tom Langois believes he’ll never see Kevin again-but Kevin turns up three years later to make repairs on Tom’s new house.
Kevin and Tom become fast friends, and Tom begins to suspect Kevin may be interested in more than friendship. However, Kevin remains haunted by something from his childhood-something so terrible he blocked it from his mind. These suppressed memories make it impossible for Kevin to get close to anyone without panicking and lashing out, sometimes violently. But as his past begins to surface, it becomes apparent that Kevin may hold the key to a twenty-five-year-old mystery: what happened to Billy?
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December 29, 2013
Newest Review on Designs of Desire (Audible edition)
![Designs of Desire | [Tempeste O'Riley]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1388439671i/7835541.jpg)
If you could sum up Designs of Desire in three words, what would they be?
Sexy, thriller, touching
Who was your favorite character and why?
I like Seth as he was a ‘take charge’ kind of guy. I thought James whined a bit too much.
What about Max Lehnen’s performance did you like?
VERY sexy, engaging voice… What I like about listening to books, is that I get to imagine what the narrator looks like 
I see someone gave him 1 start here, but I don’t get that at all. I would definitely listen to another book by him
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Seth helping James through his panic attacks (I can relate).
Any additional comments?
I wish there was more sex in the book… or I should say, less sex that is soft and sensitive and more sex with abandon!
December 25, 2013
Guest Author Wednesdays ♥ Antonio
Hello everyone! I’m ecstatic to have M/M author Antonio with me today. He shares a bit about himself and he even brought a guest… Please say hi and leave a comment or two below.
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Antonio was called to write at various times in his life. When he was young, the writing consisted of plays and short stories. Then he explored the fine arts and literature, earning a bachelor’s degree in the latter, while minoring in art history. In his studies he was fascinated by and enjoyed analyzing characters, their personalities and motivations. To him it’s always been the characters that make a story special. Once again, writing has taken hold of him. In the past it was just an amusement, but now—for Antonio—writing is a passion to live, eat, and breathe.
♥ Blog ♥ ♥ Dreamspinner Press ♥ ♥ Goodreads ♥
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About me
I am a 45 yr old Puerto Rican male. I’ve lived in Florida since I was five.
What do I find the hardest part of being an author?
The editing stage is always hard because I’m not a great typist and make some embarrassing typing mistakes.
What’s my favorite thing about writing?
I enjoy creating a world or sharing parts of the world I know, and then populating it with my own creations. It can be empowering and fun.
Just how h.o.t. are most of my books?
For some readers they are a little too hot and for others not hot enough. It varies from book to book, I go where the story and characters lead me. In a lot of ways I’m a voyeur reporting back on what I see.
Do I have a specific writing style?
My style is direct and not flowery.
How sweet or romantic do they tend to be?
The romance happens naturally in my books as it would in real life. In Dueling Divas the main characters are thrust together under unusual and funny circumstances which I don’t want to give away. That romance is sweet, but in Dead Men Tell Tales it’s very different. In Dead Men Tell Tales I wanted to create a main character that people wouldn’t necessarily bond with or like right away. So the romance in that story is not typical. While it does have a sweet side it’s more surprising, strong, and passionate. Being a Latin male my characters tend to reflect my more passionate nature.
What is my favorite storyline/angst situation and why? What inspired me to write about it?
I try not to write angst, it’s overdone and boring. Nobody likes being around angst-ridden people in real life so why should they like reading about them. For those of you still reading this after that, I’ll continue. Each book is like a child, impossible to choose a favorite. I like them all for what they bring to the table. One of my favorite films, Agatha Christie’s: Evil Under the Sun with Diana Rigg inspired Dueling Divas. I liked the way the film was more about the characters and how they interacted, than the actual mystery. In Dueling Divas it’s all about the characters, how they relate to one another while dealing with murder, and their reactions to one of the characters coming out and finding love. Another thing I loved in Evil Under the Sun was the campiness and the glamour. In Dueling Divas there’s a singing contest involving male contestants in drag (and one slightly confused married female housewife with small kids) which provides plenty of fun, slightly campy scenes filled with glamour. I loved the book and the ideas of family it explores.
After writing Dueling Divas, I needed a change. I wanted to challenge myself and write a book featuring characters that were slightly darker than people might expect. Some people may even dislike the main character—at first. But why write the same goody, goody types? Thus Dead Men Tell Tales was born. And I enjoyed the process of writing a story and throwing everything in it but the kitchen sink (LOL). There are ghosts, prostitutes, threesomes, twosomes—you name it. I think true love even rears its head.
So to answer the question all my books are my favorites. I don’t write any that I don’t absolutely love.
Boxers or briefs?
Briefs during the day and absolutely nothing at all in bed at night.
Favorite author?
Myself—if I don’t say it who will?
Favorite quote
From Auntie Mame—“Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death”
What’s next for me?
I’ll be talking about my newest book which I published on Smashwords.com: Blue Light by Night on Jan 11th for guest author Saturday. I’m currently finishing up my first YA novel and next year I will be attending the Rainbow conference for writers, readers and artists which will be held in Tampa, Fl. April 17th–20th.
My blog has all up to date information plus a free blog exclusive story with a new chapter every Monday. There’s also a preview of Blue Light by Night.
My blog: http://antoniosstories.blogspot.com/
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Dead Men Tell Tales
a New Eden Tale
Mason Kincaid’s life is about to change. He’s adjusting to being alone a year after the death of his lover when a call from his wayward sister sends him out west to New Eden to bring not only her, but her twin sons and a stepson home.
On the outskirts of New Eden, Mason secures a room in the last place his sister’s abusive boyfriend would expect: an adult motel where an eccentric madam allows the children to stay for a price. Despite her warnings about a resident ghost, after one night, Mason’s sure that fending off groping apparitions and violent johns will be his biggest problems. But when he meets Officer Ken Cannon for the second time, it’s at the scene of a double murder.
With possibility of romance looming in the background, bodies start piling up around Mason. While learning who he can trust, he must deal with a lovesick teenager, a ghost with a message for him, and becoming the owner of a hotel that once belonged to his “friendly” ghost. A hotel someone’s willing to kill for.
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Mason Kincaid from Dead Men Tell Tales
How did you first meet your writer?
I met him when he saw a picture of me taking a bath in a steel drum in the middle of the desert.
Did you ever think your life would end up being in a book?
Hell, yes! After everything that happened to me when I got to New Eden how could it not be in a book. First I had to deal with murder, then I had a ghost trying to f*** my ass—sorry I’m working on the language. Anyway I had to deal with a couple of ghosts, and a lot of crap. But I will say being in the desert and dealing with that heat go ta lot of things stirring besides ghosts. Hell, the romance part alone could fill a freaking book!
Do you like the way the book ended?
Yeah. You can’t beat a happy ending in every sense of the word (LOL).
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Dueling Divas
an Avondale Story
The Next Club Superstar contest is just the venue Nash Argento needs to further his career as a singer. There’s only one problem: he has to dress in drag.
With the help of his best female friend, Nash negotiates the challenges of becoming a drag queen in order to compete. But his troubles are far from over. His key competitor is Stacey—a biological woman. Incensed, Nash tries to get her disqualified, but Stacey is desperate for the money, and with the help of her quirky divorcée best friend and the best friend’s lawyer, she manages to stay in the contest.
Bobby Carter is a lonely librarian looking for Mr. Right—and he’s looking in Nash’s direction. Nash seems to be everything Bobby needs… and then he brings Nash home for dinner and discovers Nash is his sister’s main competition. Nash and Stacey get to know each other and even become friends—and just in time. Someone is murdering the contestants one by one, and Nash and Stacey will need all the help they can get to escape the cruel fate the murderer has planned for them.
Interview with Stacey from Dueling Divas
How did you first meet your writer?
Apparently I came to mind when Antonio, the writer, was dragged out to a gay nightclub by his brother and a cousin. He’s not fond of clubs and pictured someone else who might be out of their element there. Thus I came into the world.
Did you ever think your life would end up being in a book?
Lets just say I’m not surprised. When my crazy divorcee friend Arlena pushed me to enter The Next Club Superstar contest I thought my life had taken a turn toward crazy. I’m the mother of three small children and there I was—the only female in a contest full of men in drag. But that was just the beginning, not only do I get in a fight with one man in ugly drag, who is my biggest competition, but he ends up dating my brother. Not to mention we didn’t even know my brother was gay. Let’s see now: dealing with a singing contest, a brother coming out of the closet and lets not forget a serial killer too. Some of us barely escaped with our lives. If all those things aren’t perfect ingredients for a book I don’t know what is.
Do you like the way the book ended?
Yes, I do. It ended the right way. The journey was an interesting one for me, too. I discovered a world I never knew existed, and met people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. My world expanded in a good way, though I may not have realized that at first.
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Blue Light by Night
a Layton Shayne Mystery
Detective, and ex-military man, Layton Shayne’s newest case has taken him from his home out west into the dark and ominous swamplands of Louisiana. His client Leticia Carter has only told him that the case is simple and involves three siblings with the last name of Kennedy. Layton’s job is to discover who should inherit the old family estate located in Shelby, a town so small it doesn’t even show up on most maps. Immediately after he entered Shelby, the detective met some colorful and mysterious characters. It wasn’t long before he discovered that there was an ancient supernatural element which held the citizens of the town in fear.
Soon after meeting the Kennedy sisters and their handsome brother Alex, Layton noticed that the old southern veneer of the town was thin and disintegrating by the minute. He’d need to depend on his military training to learn not just who to trust, but in order to survive. Somehow in the middle of all this, love comes to the lovelorn detective from more than one direction. Layton knows that work comes first and the case he is there to solve, which sounded so simple, is anything but that. If Layton manages to survive night treks through the swamp, an impromptu trip to New Orleans, some wise-cracking kids, and the lusty inhabitants of Shelby, he still has to come up against supernatural forces and mysterious blue light orbs with the power to kill.
No matter what the outcome, Layton Shayne’s life will never be the same.
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Also check my blog for up to date information and a free blog exclusive story, Haunted. A new chapter of Haunted is posted every Monday.
My blog:
http://antoniosstories.blogspot.com/?zx=911257c1a4ce915d
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December 23, 2013
December 22, 2013
Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go…
Post by Tempe O'Riley.
I know some of you might not know these two wonderful men, but they are total sweethearts. Both are fellow authors. If you can, please help us raise money to support them through Eric’s surgery, hospital stay, and the recovery. We all hope and pray he’ll be home and in Tj Klune’s arms again soon. :c)
December 21, 2013
Eric Arvin–Dangerous Operation Update…
Tj Klune has just shared that Eric Arvin will not survive long without a dangerous operation on his brain stem. The highest hope would be to preserve how Eric is now, with a traech or attached to a ventilator for the rest of his life.
Please send these wonderful men thoughts, prayers, energy, hopes, and wishes! TJ’s holding it together but he’s terrified for his beloved!
Don’t forget, you can help support them with a donation also! I have. Have you? Eric Arvin Care Support Fund
December 20, 2013
What’s New in Audio…
Today I want to share what’s new in Audio from one of my favorite authors, Andrew Grey! (Don’t worry, I’ll be bringing you other great audios as they come out!)
ANDREW GREY grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.
Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
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Love Comes Silently
Senses series, #1
by Andrew Grey
Narrated by Max Lehnen
Caring for a loved one with cancer is tough. Doing it alone is overwhelming – especially when that loved one is a child. But ever since Ken Brighton’s partner left him, Ken has spent his days at the hospital with his daughter, Hanna, hoping for a miracle. Maybe the mysterious care packages that appear for Hanna don’t qualify, but they bring a spark of hope into his and Hanna’s tired life – and so does Ken’s neighbor, former singer Patrick Flaherty.
For two years Patrick hasn’t been able to focus on anything but the life he should have had. An injury robbed him of his voice, and the idea of introducing himself to new people intimidates him. But over the past months, he’s watched as his neighbor nursed his sick child, and once he meets Ken, Patrick starts to crave a life with him-a life he isn’t sure he can have.
Ken doesn’t realize he’s fallen in love until the doctors send Hanna home, saying there’s nothing more they can do: Hanna will either recover or succumb. Ken’s heart is set on a new beginning – with both Patrick and Hanna. But Patrick’s silence leaves Ken wondering what Patrick wants.
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Love Comes in Darkness
Senses series, #2
by Andrew Grey
Narrated by Max Lehnen
Howard Justinian has always had to fight for his freedom. Because he was born blind, everyone is always trying to shelter him, but he’s determined to live his life on his own terms.
When an argument with his boyfriend over that hard-won self-reliance leaves Howard stranded by the side of the road, assistance arrives in the form of Gordy Jarrett. Gordy is a missionary’s son, so helping others is second nature – and he does it in such an unassuming manner that Howard can’t say no.
Life is barely back on track when Howard receives shocking news: his sister died, leaving him her daughter to care for. Howard now faces his greatest challenge yet: for Sophia’s safety, he’ll need to accept help, but will he learn to accept it from Gordy, the one man who will not curb his independence?
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December 18, 2013
Guest Author Wednesdays ♥ Charley Descoteaux
Hello everyone! I’m ecstatic to have M/M author Charley Descoteaux with me today. She shares a bit about herself and some of her stories. (Oh, and both stories contained within are on SALE today) Please say hi and leave a comment or two below.
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Charley Descoteaux has always heard voices. She was relieved to learn they were fictional characters, and started writing when they insisted daydreaming just wasn’t good enough. In exchange, they let her sleep once in a while. Every guy deserves a beautiful love story even, or maybe especially, the ones who would usually be in the supporting cast. Home is Portland, Oregon, where the weather is like your favorite hard-case writing buddy who won’t let you get away with taking too many days off, and in some places you can be as weird as you are without fear. As an out and proud bisexual and life-long weird-o, she thinks that last part is pretty cool.
Rattle Charley’s cages—she’d love to hear from you!
♥ Blog ♥ Twitter ♥ Dreamspinner Press ♥ Facebook ♥ Goodreads ♥
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Curious Sustenance
Ross Jenson is looking forward to a little midmorning delight to celebrate making Lifetime in Weight Watchers, but after he spent eight months losing ninety-eight pounds, what his lover gets him is a triple-layer chocolate cake. When Ross refuses to eat it, the newly minted ex leaves the country and dumps him via e-mail, with three sentences and a link to a chubby chasers web site. A few days later, Ross’s best friend and workout buddy takes him to her favorite club for drinks. Ross is shocked when he realizes it’s a sex club but warms to the idea in record time when a mysterious Japanese man and his silken ropes sweep him off his feet. Ross has never thought of himself as adventurous, but he can’t stop thinking about the man who makes his bones feel like gummy worms.
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Thanks for having me!
What do you find the hardest part of being an author?
This is a hard question—on any given day of the week it could have a very different answer! Right now, though, with two recent releases and three stories in process—the hard part is making time for everything I want to do. I want to chat with readers and other authors—that’s one of the best parts of this gig for me—but there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all.
What’s your favorite thing about writing?
I love it when my characters surprise me, when a book takes a curve that’s better than the one I envisioned. When I’m smart, I hold on tight and go along for the ride because my characters usually know what they’re doing. Besides, I’ve learned the hard way that if I try to make them do things they’re not comfortable with they just may decide to bug-out entirely.
Just how H.O.T. are most of your books?
One of my favorite parts about this genre is keeping the bedroom door open. It’s hard to hide who you are and how you feel about someone when you’re nude, and that goes double for characters. Since I’m a character-driven kinda gal, I tend to follow them everywhere—closely. Those scenes don’t always lead to the same type of climax, but they always reveal more than just skin.
Hot sweet or romantic do they tend to be?
I like it when the romance is the center of the book—that’s usually what I read a Romance for, so that’s usually what I write. Whether my stories are overtly sweet depends on the characters. Some of my guys are very demonstrative and romantic, and others barely want to speak. Deep feelings can be conveyed with gestures that might seem commonplace, but in the right circumstances can be the “sweep you off your feet” moments we all crave.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Not sure about that—I think it’s for the readers to judge. Every POV character brings his or her own voice into play and I try to stay out of it as much as possible. I guess I’m on the minimalist side—I aim for short descriptions that pack a wallop. I want to make the reader feel something, though, so I’ll try just about anything a story calls for.
Which is your favorite storyline/angst situation and why? What inspired you to write about it?
I’ve always felt like an outsider—different and strange, not special and unique—so I love it when two characters seem to have nothing in common but are very much alike underneath it all. I love the way it feels to discover a new layer, peel it away and watch the characters discover what they have in common and how to make a happy life for themselves.
Boxers or Briefs? I know which I prefer . . . *wink*
Commando isn’t a choice?
Of course it is! Nothing in the way of all that yumminess? Oh, so there!
Favorite author?
The only way to go and not feel guilty is to say Shakespeare. I can’t choose just one author in ERom any more than I could choose, say, Holly Black over Stephen King. It depends on what I’m looking for on a given day; it could be a tear-jerker or something that’ll make me sleep with the lights on or just about anything in between.
Favorite quote?
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.
I love Shakespeare’s tragedies and poetry. Every time I read one I see something new—even the ones I read a few times a year.
What’s next for you?
Right now I’m working on three novels: an angsty male-male contemporary Romance, a paranormal, and a YA. I’m really excited about the YA—the idea for this spec fic started with a few scribbled pages when I was in junior high school and I’m hoping to have it submitted to Harmony Ink by Christmas. If you see a Charli Green (or a greencharli) lurking around, that’s the part of me that never grew up. When I write as Charli Green my protagonists are usually young ladies, and someone will be bisexual. When I was growing up I would’ve loved to see myself in a book, but never did, so I’m writing them myself.
Thanks again for having me, Tempe—it’s been a blast!
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Former physical therapist and reluctant loner Ian Bowen has spent the three years since his grandfather’s death searching for a man to inspire him to park his Harley for a while—without much hope of finding him. On a whim, he shows up for a Toy Run and meets Ed Gonzalez, another loner with a pile of toys lashed to his bike. A few beers at the end-of-the-run party turn into an invite to Ed’s for homebrew. But instead of a night of fun, the unseasonable cold renders Ed immobile with pain. When he tells Ian he just needs meds, Ian does one of the things he does best—he massages Ed’s pain away, allowing him a rare restful night’s sleep and creating intimacy neither wants to lose. Ian thinks two men have to follow certain rules to be together, but Ed’s prepared to show him how wrong he is.
A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar package "Heartwarming".
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