Please Welcome Michael Rupured! Guest Post

 Good morning, y'all (evening, etcetera). Please welcome Michael Rupured to the blog, for a preview of his upcoming novel, Happy Independence Day, and a giveaway. Hi, Michael!Thanks, Eden, for allowing me to show off the cover for my upcoming release from Dreamspinner Press here on your blog. By far, the most exciting part of the publishing process—at least for me—is seeing the cover for the first time. For my next novel, to be released August 20th, artist Christy Caughie created a gorgeous cover. To celebrate, I’m conducting a giveaway. Keep reading for details.  The Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village is the setting for much of the action in Happy Independence Day. What made the Stonewall Inn a magnet for homosexuals?Despite a high cover charge ($1 during the week and $3 on weekends), pricey watered down drinks, and deplorable conditions, the Stonewall Inn was a popular gathering place for homosexuals. Why? As a private club, the Stonewall Inn was the first establishment in New York where homosexuals could dance together. Two dance floors catered to different crowds. The jukebox in the front room played mainstream hits and show tunes for the older set and the jukebox in the backroom played more R&B and soul for a younger, edgier crowd. Around the time of the 1969 uprising, the Stonewall Inn was believed to be the biggest and most popular gay bar in the United States.GIVEAWAY!!!!To give you a reason to visit the other blogs helping me celebrate my new cover, I’ve come up with a Giveaway and a quiz about the Stonewall Inn and the 1969 uprising that made it famous. Find the answers on the blogs participating in my cover reveal and giveaway (links below). Comment on my post on any of the participating blogs by midnight, July 31, 2014 for a chance to win a signed copy of the prequel, After Christmas Eve (U.S. residents only; ebook available for international winners—one winner per blog). What is the Stonewall Inn?What was the legal environment in 1969 for NYC homosexuals?Who owned the Stonewall Inn?What happened at the Stonewall Inn on the night of June 28, 1969 to cause the uprising?Who/what started the Stonewall riots?How long did the Stonewall Uprising last?•    Tali Spencer's Brilliant Disguise•    MA Church's Decadent Delights•    Charlie Cochet's Purple Rose Tea House•    Eden Winters' Magnolias and Men•    Shira Anthony•     Chris Koehler•     Prism Book Alliance
Find out what Michael’s up to by visiting his web site (http://rupured.com), following him on Twitter (@crotchetyman), or by email (mrupured@gmail.com).