E.J. Russell's Blog, page 2
March 3, 2020
Silent Sin Release Day
Silent Sin Release Day!
Silent Sin, my novel set in the fledgling film industry of the early 1920s, releases today, and I couldn’t be more excited. I love these two men so much–and the gorgeous cover, by Natasha Snow, perfectly captures the time, place, and mood of the book.
The book is available in wide release now, but on March 10th, although the paperback will continue wide, the ebook will be exclusive to Amazon and enrolled in Kindle Unlimited, so if you’re a non-‘Zon reader, now’s the time to grab it!
Amazon US
Amazon (All)
Universal
When tailor Marvin Gottschalk abandoned New York City for the brash boomtown of silent-film-era Hollywood, he never imagined he’d end up on screen as Martin Brentwood, one of the fledgling film industry’s most popular actors. Five years later a cynical Martin despairs of finding anything genuine in a town where truth is defined by studio politics and publicity. Then he meets Robbie Goodman.
Robbie fled Idaho after a run-in with the law. A chance encounter leads him to the film studio where he lands a job as a chauffeur. But one look at Martin and he’s convinced he’s likely to run afoul of those same laws—laws that brand his desires indecent, deviant… sinful.
Martin and Robbie embark on a cautious relationship, cocooned in Hollywood’s clandestine gay fraternity, careful to hide from the studio boss, a rival actor, and reporters on the lookout for a juicy story. But when tragedy and scandal rock the town, igniting a morality-based witch hunt fueled by a remorseless press, the studio brass will sacrifice even the greatest careers to defend their endangered empire. Robbie and Martin stand no chance against the firestorm—unless they stand together.
January 26, 2020
Mystic Man Now in KU!
Mystic Man, my love letter to Curmudgeonly Husband’s home state of Connecticut, is now exclusively available at Amazon and enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. So if you’re a KU subscriber, you can read it for free with your subscription. If you’re not a subscriber, you can still grab it from the ‘Zon for the newly reduced price of $2.99!
Amazon US
Amazon Universal
2018-2019 Rainbow Awards Runner-up, Best Gay Contemporary Romance & Romantic Comedy
When a series of personal crises prompt risk-averse research librarian Aaron Templeton to apply for a job on the other side of the country, nobody is more surprised than he is. He nearly runs home before the final interview except for one little problem: he has no home anymore. He put his condo on the market before he left California and it’s already sold. Only an encounter with free-spirited Connecticut native Cody Brown at the Mystic Seaport Museum staves off Aaron’s incipient panic attack.
Cody loves nothing better than introducing newcomers to the great features of his beloved home state, and when the newbie in question is a rumpled professorial type with the saddest blue eyes on the planet? Score! The attraction between the two men deepens as they explore Cody’s favorite spots, but when difficulties arise and Aaron’s insecurities threaten to overwhelm him, will Cody’s love be enough to keep him in Mystic?
Mystic Man is a 32,000-word novella featuring a pertinent internal playlist, suggestive shellfish consumption, and a six-year-old who thinks history should have more girls. HEA guaranteed.
January 13, 2020
Howling on Hold Release Day!
Are you ready to howl?
It’s release day for Howling on Hold! This is book seven (or seven and a half, if you count Possession in Session, the short story that’s free to newsletter subscribers) in my Mythmatched story universe, and I had so much fun writing it. I’ll be visiting all these lovely blogs this week to celebrate. Follow along to learn more about my new adult werewolves–all commenters will be entered in a drawing for the tour prize: a $25 Riptide gift card.
Amazon
Universal
Publisher
January 13, 2020 – Love Bytes Reviews
January 13, 2020 – OMG Reads
January 14, 2020 – Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews
January 14, 2020 – Boy Meets Boy Reviews
January 15, 2020 – Real Talk Book Talk
January 16, 2020 – Joyfully Jay
January 16, 2020 – Jessie G Book Reviews
January 17, 2020 – Book Reviews and More by Kathy
January 17, 2020 – TTC Books and More
October 30, 2019
Howling on Hold Cover Reveal
Howling on Hold Cover Reveal!
Yesterday, the lovely folks at Love Bytes Reviews hosted the cover reveal for my next book, Howling on Hold, which is set in the Mythmatched story universe. The design is by the awesome L.C. Chase, who’s done so many of my covers. Isn’t it adorable? If you meander over to the Love Bytes site in the next five days and leave a comment on the reveal post, you’ll be entered in a #giveaway for an ebook copy of Single White Incubus. (Howling on Hold includes special guest appearances by other Mythmatched characters, including Ted, the cinnamon roll bear shifter from Single White Incubus!)
The book releases on January 13, 2020, and it’s available for pre-order now exclusively at the Riptide Publishing storefront.
Sometimes it’s harder to teach a young dog new tricks.
That’s why werewolves embark on a Howling: a three-year rite of passage in which they’re sent to a group residence to wrestle with their wolfy instincts and assimilate into the Wider World. But Tanner Araya’s Howling is almost over, and he could be called back to his remote pack at any moment. His twenty-first birthday might be his last chance to act on his strongest instinct and finally kiss Chase Denney.
Chase is RA at the Howling residence affectionately dubbed “the Doghouse,” and he takes his job seriously. So seriously that when he realized he was developing feelings for a resident, he forced himself to keep Tanner at a distance. But now that Tanner’s twenty-one, he’s not Chase’s charge any longer. They could be friends or—if Chase is lucky—something more. At least until they both return to their home packs for good, as tradition demands.
It would take a miracle for them to get together—especially when the other Doghouse werewolves insist on “helping.”
Warning: Many Frisbees are harmed in this story, forgiveness is not always easier than permission, and the five-second rule does not apply.
July 12, 2019
Geeklandia Snog-Marry-BFF
Back in 2015, when The Boyfriend Algorithm first hit the virtual shelves (as Lost in Geeklandia), the Keysmash blog hosted me during release week. Since both The Boyfriend Algorithm and Clickbait (the second book in the Geeklandia series) are available in KU now, I thought I’d dust off this post in all its geeky glory.
The Geeklandia gang are card-carrying members of a number of fandoms (which I might have a passing acquaintance with myself), and I mashed up Keysmash’s Snog/Marry/BFF post format with three of their main oeuvres: Star Trek, Star Wars, and Doctor Who.
The captains: Snog Solo, Marry Sisko, BFF Picard.
I like my action heroes with a side of dork, but the Solo swagger gets a little old after a while.
Sisko, now. That man is all about family. He gives world-class hugs. And he can cook. No contest–he’s definitely the marrying kind.
Picard would make the perfect BFF. We’re both private people, so he wouldn’t intrude on my space, but when we arranged to get together, the conversation would be fantastic. With tea. Earl Grey. Hot.
Note: Captain Jack Harkness isn’t on this list because I can’t even think of him without Ianto.
The officers: Snog Dax, Marry Spock, BFF Chewbacca.
You can’t count on a Trill to be around for the long haul, since they’re forbidden from contacting prior partners when they change hosts, so marriage with Jadzia is out. But for the short term, yeah, because that twinkle in her eye is irresistible.
Spock. Sigh. Marrying the quintessential Vulcan with the human heart has been my fantasy since I saw the very first broadcast episode in 1966. The dream still lives, so there.
Chewbacca is the ultimate BFF sidekick. He’ll always have your back, even if it means walking into Jabba the Hutt’s lair in handcuffs. Plus, you’d never have to worry about him borrowing your shoes.
The Doctors: Snog the Ninth, Marry the Fourth, BFF the Eleventh.
Christopher Eccleston didn’t get much Whovian love, but he was less squirrelly than the Tenth or Eleventh Doctors. He could focus – a valued trait in a snogging partner.
Tom Baker had that whole adorable Harpo Marx vibe going, which I’ve always loved. He’s tall enough to reach stuff on the top shelf, so he’s a good man to have around the house.
As for Matt Smith… Come on, who’s more fun? The way he danced at Amy and Rory’s wedding? He’d be a total kick to hang with. Plus, five words: “Amelia Pond, get your coat.” He’ll always come back for you. We’d have to talk about the bow tie thing, though.
The sidecars: Snog Martha Jones, Marry River Song, BFF Craig, father of Alfie (aka Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All)
My snogging choice is probably cheating, because it’s not based on Freema Agyeman’s stint on Dr. Who, but, OMG, have you seen Sense8? To quote Nomi: “Your lips are amazing.”
I know there’s a lot of River-haters out there, but hello, Sweetie: this a woman who Gets Shit Done. If I were to say, “Honey, the garbage disposal is on the fritz again,” she’d kick total appliance ass. Maybe she’d use the vortex manipulator to fetch an unbreakable garbage disposal or arrange with the Doctor to transport us to a time and place where garbage disposals never break. Her solution might not be the simplest or least extreme in terms of collateral damage, but at the end of the day? Problem solved.
At first blush, Craig might seem too needy for a BFF, but the guy is bone-deep loyal. Not to mention he rose above his self-confidence issues and broke out of Cyberman transformation to rescue his baby. That took serious cojones.
What about you? How do you feel about these trios? Or do you have other choices from these universes? I’d love to hear about them.
June 27, 2019
The Non-Identical Way My Twin Sons Came Out To Me
The Non-Identical Way My Twin Sons Came Out to Me
I wrote this post originally for Huffington Post Queer Voices in May of 2016, but in honor of Pride Month 2019, I decided to revisit it here (with a few minor edits)!
My identical twin sons were born nine minutes apart. They look alike, they attended the same schools all the way through college, they’re both professional dancers, they’re both gay. Personality-wise? They couldn’t be more different. During the 2004 presidential race, some pundit referred to the vice-presidential candidates as “Mr. Sunshine and Mr. Twilight.” That’s the dynamic we’ve got with Darling Sons A and B, and the way they came out to us was completely consistent.
Mind you, we’d picked up clues for years that they might not be headed for a totally heteronormative life. DS A’s decided preference for the Snow White dress-up outfit springs to mind, as does the time his sister dressed him as a bride, with the announcement that he was going to marry Frank. Or the fact that one of their favorite movies when they were in grade school was To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.
But neither of them ever broached the subject or asked any questions. DS A (aka Mr. Sunshine) even had a girlfriend for a while in eighth and ninth grade—although I think the relationship was more her idea, and he, being a kind and cheerful sort, went along with it.
But then, when they were sophomores, I witnessed a brief interaction between DS A and another boy at a dance convention. As he passed by, DS A reached up and touched the other boy’s cheek.
Hmmmm.
Still, he didn’t mention anything to me, so when the two of us were driving home from a dance rehearsal one day, I brought it up myself.
Me: “So. Are you dating Chase?”
DS A: (brief pause) “Yeah. Is that a problem?”
Me: “No.”
End of conversation.
With DS B (aka Mr. Twilight), it was a whole different story. My daughter and DS A weren’t even sure about DS B’s orientation, and he’d certainly never said anything to any of us. They speculated that he might be asexual.
Then, in the summer after the boys’ first year at NYU, DS B was finishing up the musical theater program at Jacob’s Pillow Dance in Massachusetts. The final performance was on his birthday, so Curmudgeonly Husband and I (who still live in Oregon) couldn’t call and talk to him. The following day he was traveling back to New York, but on Monday, I texted him.
Me: Can we Skype tonight?
DS B: No. I’ve got Jacob’s Pillow people coming over for dinner.
Me: What about tomorrow? Dad and I would really like to talk to you.
DS B: Is this about my Facebook status? Because I’d have thought you think enough of me that it wouldn’t matter—(There was more. I don’t entirely remember it, but it was quite the text rant.)
Me: What Facebook status? We just want to talk to you because we didn’t have a chance on your birthday.
DS B: Oh.
The Facebook status in question? He’d changed it from “Single” to “In a relationship”—with his first boyfriend.
I confess I worried about that for quite a while. Not the fact of it, but why he wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing with us earlier. Surely he couldn’t imagine we’d disapprove, could he? His brother was out. We had friends who were out—going all the way back to my best friend in high school. But I have a tendency to have “experience blinders”—simply because I didn’t think his coming out would be a big deal, didn’t mean he didn’t think so.
I chatted with him about it recently. His first response when I asked whether he was afraid that we wouldn’t have accepted him was, in the tone of deep disgust that DS B has raised to a high art: “Mo-ther. Of course not.”
But while DS B is genetically identical to his brother, he’s spiritually identical to me, and we both loathe confrontation.
He said, “I didn’t feel like dealing with it. I wasn’t interested in a relationship at the time, and then, when I was, I figured I’d just put it on Facebook and you’d see it.”
So that’s how the Big Gay Reveal happened in our family: one brief, matter-of-fact conversation, and one social media side-step.
So although I’m an author who writes primarily gay romance, a genre where coming-out stories—sometimes quite understandably angst-laden—are a stock-in-trade, I’ll probably never write one myself. Not because those stories aren’t important, or meaningful, or sometimes heartbreaking for the people involved, but because I don’t want to write about a world where it’s a big deal.
I want it to be a given: you are who you are, you don’t have to hide, and although there might still be idiots in the world who are living in the Dark Ages, you don’t have to let them into your story. I dream of—and write about—a world where admitting who you love is as devoid of drama as it was for us.
Well… except for that thirty-second text meltdown when DS B didn’t understand the question.
March 9, 2019
Rainbow Snippets, March 9-10, 2019
Rainbow Snippets, March 9 – 10, 2019
In the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group, readers, writers, and bloggers share short (six sentences) snippets of their LGBTQIA+ fiction or book recs each weekend. This week, the Snippeteers are reflecting on “good” accomplishments and/or “good” plans.
In terms of accomplishments, I’ve released two books over the last two weeks. Whew! One of them was Demon on the Down-Low, the third book in my Supernatural Selection trilogy (and I’m cautiously proud of those books because I love the characters and the world so much). The other was The Boyfriend Algorithm, the retitled re-release of Lost in Geeklandia, the second book I published (and the only M/F book currently in my list). I counted it a huge win that I finally got around to putting this book back into print. Not only that, but I managed to format the files myself and load them into Amazon KU–and in the process learned so much about Scrivener, my writing software of choice!
For this week’s accomplishment/plan snippet, I mined Tested in Fire, the second in my Art Medium series. Luke and Stefan are trying to find their feet in their renewed relationship, but Stefan’s plans don’t fit neatly into Luke’s comfort zone!
“You want to paint a full-length nude of me for your fricking show? Full frontal?”
“Weeelll . . .” Stefan squinted at his drawing. “More like three-quarters.”
Luke’s gooseflesh disappeared under a flash of heat. He would be walking around the sprawling gallery downstairs sipping a plastic cup of fucking white wine and everyone in the crowd would know what his body looked like. The twisted scars that crawled over his hip and down his leg. The patch of shiny pink skin that wrapped his ribs. “Oh, hell no.”
“Why not?”
“Have you seen my body?”
Stefan leered at him and waggled his eyebrows. “Every chance I get.”
How about you? Got any good things on the horizon as we inch closer to the vernal equinox?
Don’t forget to check out Rainbow Snippets to see what other authors have to offer!
March 6, 2019
The Boyfriend Algorithm Returns
The Boyfriend Algorithm Returns!
When I first started publishing back in 2013, I assumed I’d be splitting my books between M/F and M/M pretty much evenly. My first release (in 2013) was Northern Light (now revised and expanded as The Artist’s Touch), a M/M supernatural suspense novella. At about the same time Northern Light released, I contracted my second book with the same publisher–Lost in Geeklandia, a M/F romantic comedy, the first in what I intended to be a series that included both M/F and M/M stories. Because of changes at the publisher, the book didn’t release until 2015. They weren’t interested in the second book in the series (M/M), and passed on another M/M supernatural story, so I took those books to a different publisher, who accepted them (Clickbait and Stumptown Spirits, in case you’re wondering).
Since that second publisher specialized in queer romance, and I liked working with them, I pretty much abandoned development on any new M/F books. I got the rights back for Lost in Geeklandia, and although it’s the first in series, republishing it was never at the top of my priority list. But now, five years and eighteen M/M romances later, I’ve finally gotten around to rebirthing it as The Boyfriend Algorithm, my lone (so far) hetero love story!
The Boyfriend Algorithm introduces the Portland-based geek gang whose adventures continue in Clickbait. Three roommates (Charlie, Gideon, and Lindsay), and their enigmatic friend Toshiko, attempt (with varying degrees of success) to navigate the murky waters of romantic relationships.
The Boyfriend Algorithm is Charlie’s story. When a brilliant (but terminally awkward) computer scientist must prove the accuracy of her own matchmaking algorithm on herself, can a total system crash be far behind?
(Cover design by the awesome L.C. Chase, who also designed the Clickbait cover.)
Technology is easy. Relationships? Not so much.
When introverted computer engineer Charlie Forrester developed a passive matchmaking model for her doctoral dissertation, she never expected it to go beyond theoretical. Now, with her dream job on the line, she has thirty days to prove her program’s accuracy. The only problem? She’s the test subject, and her stupid algorithm has chosen watchdog reporter Daniel Shawn, her childhood best friend-turned-nemesis, as her perfect partner.
Notorious for his relentless pursuit of technology fraud, Daniel’s reputation tanked when he fell victim to an online matchmaking con. When he discovers evidence of a scam reboot, he’s convinced it’s the perfect story to redeem his career.
Charlie has awkwardness down to a science, but a relationship with Daniel could mean more than simple humiliation. If he discovers her algorithm uses the same concepts as the sting that ruined him, he could destroy her professional credibility forever.
But as Charlie gradually emerges from her techno-cave, she realizes that being outed as the “Love Programmer” might be less devastating than actual love.
(The Boyfriend Algorithm is a retitled and slightly expanded edition of Lost in Geeklandia.)
March 2, 2019
Rainbow Snippets, March 2-3, 2019
Rainbow Snippets, March 2 – 3, 2019
In the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group, readers, writers, and bloggers share short (six sentences or so) snippets of their LGBTQIA+ fiction or book recs each weekend. Since March 2nd is “Read Across America Day,” the Snippeteers are musing about reading. Reading has been my chief pastime pretty much since I learned how to puzzle out the words to The Cat in the Hat Came Back, the first book I remember reading on my own.
While Zeke, the demon in question from Demon on the Down-Low, has always read under America rather than across it, now that he’s in the Sheol work-release program, he has a few–a very few–more options for amusement. Hamish, however, isn’t particularly impressed by Zeke’s stellar new opportunities!
Hamish gripped the edge of the table so he wouldn’t slam his fist into the window. “So you have to pay for the privilege of not starving in a lightless cave with no music?”
“When you put it like that, it sounds like a fair trade, doesn’t it?”
“No, it bloody well doesn’t. It’s like they’re trying to create Sheol here on earth—at least where you’re concerned. What do you do in your free time?”
“Considering I don’t have any money and I’m not allowed outside, not much. Although it’s a lot easier to read in a place that’s not dark 24/7.”
“I imagine.” Hamish kept his tone dry, even though he wanted to let his rage bleed out. He wasn’t angry at Zeke, after all. But it was so bloody unfair.
“There’s cable TV, too. Although the AI doesn’t let me watch anything that it thinks is inappropriate.”
“So reruns of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and Little House on the Prairie, eh?”
Zeke’s red blotches staged a return. “No. Or not only that.” His expression turned wistful. “Although I’d like to watch Star Trek. Or maybe Dr. Who.”
(BTW, the AI Zeke mentions is an Angel Interface, a member of the angelic host encased in a pillar of light. It monitors Zeke’s activities, a requirement of the work-release program.)
Don’t forget to check out Rainbow Snippets to see what other authors have to offer!
February 25, 2019
Demon on the Down-Low Release Day!
Demon on the Down-Low is Here!
It’s release day for Demon on the Down-Low, the last book in my Supernatural Selection trilogy! After certain *ahem* issues with his last clients, Zeke, the hapless demon matchmaker-in-training, has one last chance to make a perfect match. Unfortunately, he has to accomplish it without the aid of the Supernatural Selection matchmaking spells, and his client–kangaroo shifter Hamish–doesn’t believe perfect is possible. Ruh-roh.
Here’s a sample of what readers are saying about Zeke and Hamish’s story:
“This story is hilarious, sweet, fun and sexy. I love love love it. Hamish and Zeke are amazing but so are all the supporting characters. The universe built in this series is interesting and entertaining and makes for great reading.”
“If ever a story about a demon could be described as fluffy, it’s this one. I’d recommend it for anyone looking for a cute paranormal romance to read.”
“I absolutely adored this story and recommend it heartily.”
The blog tour for the book launches today, so follow along and comment for a chance to win the tour prize: a $25 Riptide gift card and and ebook copy of your choice of Single White Incubus or Bad Boy’s Bard!
Amazon
Universal
Publisher
February 25, 2019 – My Fiction Nook
February 25, 2019 – On Top Down Under
February 26, 2020 – Bayou Book Junkie
February 26, 2022 – Erotica for All
February 27, 2024 – That’s What I’m Talking About
February 28, 2026 – Creative Deeds
February 28, 2028 – MM Good Book Reviews
March 1, 2020 –
