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Archive for the ‘Excerpt’ Category

New Release – Foolish Encounters from Wilde City Press

Posted in Excerpt, Guests, New Release, tagged , , on April 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Foolish Encounters Anthology

So here it is – the banner above links to the page on Wilde City Press where, by the wonders of modern technology, the books are stored.

This is the blurb:

An accident, a chance encounter, a thought blurted out, a boat blown off course, a change in direction that suddenly runs into the line of fire – the smallest misstep can change everything. These foolish encounters are the moments around which lives pivot and sometimes spin out of control. Join us for tales of imprudent choices and bad decisions that can lead just as easily to hilarity as they can to tragedy.

Over the past week I’ve been delighted to have the company of Angel Martinez, Freddy MacKay, JC Wallace, Tali Spencer, Tinnean and Amy Lane for a series of interviews. Click on those links and comment to the posts for a chance to win books of your own choice.

I haven’t done an interview of my own – seems a bit daft really – but here’s an excerpt of my story The Lunar Imperative, which is a about werewolfs in spaaaaaace!

Haken leaned back, pressing his head into the padded rest as the expected vibration of re-entry began. The seat, built to conform to Galactic standard, creaked under his weight, and a sharper jolt set his teeth on edge. Raimi’s shoulder nudged his, a warm pressure against the barely healed scars on his upper arm, but he didn’t have a chance to enjoy it before Raimi leaned away again.
“Sorry Sarge.” Raimi’s voice could barely be heard over the scream of the engines. “I didn’t expect it to be so rough.”
The pod ship lurched. Haken peered down the cabin to the helm where the pilot busied himself at the console. Occam could fly anything, deep space or atmospheric. He didn’t smell concerned, so Haken figured they could all relax. He leaned a little to look back into the body of the pod.
“Everyone all right?” he asked. “If you’re going to hurl do it in a bag. I might be able to explain one stinking pile of vomit away but not two or three.” That drew the expected sounds of derision and Haken settled again, confident that the rest of his men were calm. But Raimi was still tense, craning his neck to look out the view port. He was bright, willing, and could think for himself. He matched the rest of them in fitness and held up well under pressure, so well that Haken sometimes forgot how inexperienced he was in comparison with the rest of the team.
The tiny window to his right flashed bright with atmospheric lightning. Raimi groaned, and then glanced towards Haken as though fearing he had been heard or requesting reassurance. He often did that, Haken reflected. And if they had been of the same rank, Haken would have been delighted to offer more than reassurance. It would be no chore to offer comfort, companionship, and, he suspected, a great deal of mutual pleasure. Instead, he knuckled Raimi in the thigh.
“Occam knows what he’s doing,” he said.
“Damn right I do.” How Occam had heard him, Haken had no idea. “We’re going to have a bumpy ride, lads. Time to buckle in.”

Intrigued? Oh I do hope so.

Foolish Encounters – just the thing for April 1st, and that’s no joke.

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Guest Post – Groom of Convenience by Vicktor Alexander

Posted in Excerpt, Guests, New Release on December 19, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Breeches, Cravats, and Greatcoats

First of all, I want to thank Elin for having me on her blog. It’s so great to be here! I want to talk to you all about the sexy attire that the men wore during the Regency period that I used in my book Groom Of Convenience book one of The Scandalous Whispers of the Remmington Realm from Dreamspinner Press.

When I first started to do the research for GoC, I had to first distinguish between a few things. I essentially had four different genders:

Male Men
Male Women
Female Men
Female Women

So I had to figure out the differences in attire when it came to what they would all wear. Would the Male Women all be walking around in dresses? Would the female men be walking around in breeches, waistcoats and greatcoats?

How the hell would that work?

Well I realized that it was all a matter of gender versus sexuality.

“Sex refers to a person’s biological status and is typically categorized as male, female, or intersex (i.e., atypical combinations of features that usually distinguish male from female). There are a number of indicators of biological sex, including sex chromosomes, gonads, internal reproductive organs, and external genitalia.

Gender refers to the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex. Behavior that is compatible with cultural expectations is referred to as gender-normative; behaviors that are viewed as incompatible with these expectations constitute gender non-conformity.
Gender identity refers to “one’s sense of oneself as male, female, or transgender” (American Psychological Association, 2006). When one’s gender identity and biological sex are not congruent, the individual may identify as transsexual or as another transgender category (cf. Gainor, 2000).

Gender expression refers to the “…way in which a person acts to communicate gender within a given culture; for example, in terms of clothing, communication patterns and interests. A person’s gender expression may or may not be consistent with socially prescribed gender roles, and may or may not reflect his or her gender identity” (American Psychological Association, 2008, p. 28).”

So using this definition from the American Psychological Association I used it to determine how each individual character would dress, act, and be referred to. So some male women would dress in the male attire, and be called by their male titles, and some would dress in the female dress and be referred to by their female titles.

Confused yet? LOL.

But the really fun part came in with dressing each character.

Heathcliff is a very masculine, alpha, male man.

He struts around Angland wearing a cravat, button down dress shirt, waistcoat, tight breeches or trousers, a pair of Hessian boots, carrying a cane in honor of his friend Orley Garrick who has to use one, wearing a greatcoat when the weather calls for it. His black hair is always pulled back in a queue at the nape of his neck, even though it puts the scar on his face in broad display and scares the delicate ladies, but Heathcliff Eddington, III, the Duke of Pompinshire, cares not one whit for the delicate constitution of these simpering misses, he wants a lady made of tougher stock than that.

There were skirted coats or waistcoats with tails on them as we know them. They had high collars. Breeches and trousers were also worn by gentlemen, pantaloons were usually worn by dandies to show off their… wares.
“Shirts and drawers were considered “undergarments” and the drawers were cut like breeches and made of linen or cotton. They fasten with a combination of drawstrings and buttons. Shirts were linen or cotton and blousy, with buttons at the neck and wrists. The collars are high and worn turned up to cover the neck, and often the jaw-line as well.

Coats were single or double-breasted, although double-breasted coats predominate by about four or five to one. They descend in front only to the natural waistline (i.e., about to the navel). They are uniformly cut so that the tails descend directly from the back panels; that is, there is no waist seam at the back, unlike modern tailcoats. Collars and lapels can be of moderate width or very wide. Especially early in the Regency, they are often arranged to stand up around the face and neck, but tend to lie flatter as time goes on. Sleeves are long, and the cuffs cover the base of the hand nearly as far as the thumb-joint. Earlier coats have scooped waistlines, in which the tails curve downward from a horizontal or slightly curved front edge.
Waistcoats are sleeveless but have collars and, usually, lapels. Early-Regency examples are likely to have standing collars, but later the collars are turned down. The body descends just below the natural waist, so that it projects an inch or two below the front of the coat; and, like the coat, it has a straight waistline (unlike the points on most modern vests). It should cover the waistband of the trousers or breeches. There may be lacing or an attached belt at the center back to ensure a close fit. Waistcoats may be single or double-breasted; the numbers of each style seem to be about equal. Any combination of single or double-breasted coat and waistcoat may be worn. Since double-breasted coats greatly outnumber single-breasted ones, the combination of either a single-breasted or double-breasted waistcoat with a double-breasted coat is most common, but both single and double-breasted waistcoats can also be worn with single-breasted coats. Earlier waistcoats are often striped, vertically or horizontally, or patterned, but grow plainer with time. Fabrics can be silks, wools, or linens. The buttons can match the fabric, particularly if it is fancy, or be of smooth metal.

Breeches are prescribed for evening wear. They are close-fitting, with much less fullness in the seat than earlier eighteenth-century examples (although, especially early, the crotch can be just as tight), and with higher waistlines, which should come to the natural waist or just above it. The waistband and top of the fall should be hidden by the waistcoat. The back of the waistband may have laces for a precise fit. The legs descend to just below the knees and are buttoned. There may be supplemental ribbon ties or straps with knee-buckles. The front is closed with a flap called a fall, rather than a fly as in modern trousers, which is not fashionable at this time. Falls are commonly narrow (as opposed to the broad-fall fronts of the late eighteenth century), with the fall covering about half the breeches’ front width. The fall may be set quite high, so that only the bottom corners of the opening appear below the waistcoat. Falls get narrower over time. Trousers initially resemble breeches, being tight through the thighs and knees, and continuing into close-fitting lower legs, almost as if the idea were to make breeches with attached stockings. Stirrup-straps are common on narrow trousers meant to be worn inside boots. Later in the Regency, trousers get wider, and can be quite full by the end of the period. Trousers worn with shoes commonly fall only to the ankles, rather than resting on the shoe-tops as modern examples do. Cuffs are not worn.

The cravat, a long strip of white linen, frequently starched, is the almost universal neckwear for Regency gentlemen. It is wound around the neck over the shirt collar (which should project above it) and tied in front. The cravat typically covers the entire neck up to the jaw-line. Beau Brummel is supposed to have ruined, on average, more than half a dozen neck-cloths a day before managing to arrange one to his satisfaction, but he was a famously fastidious dresser.”

The above is some of the research that I used from the website The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers while writing Groom Of Convenience along with a number of different sites. I think the pictures that I’ve sent will also give you a great sense of what the men looked like. While Lucien dressed just like Heathcliff much of the time, the only time he didn’t was when they got married and tradition dictated he wear a gown and what a gown it was, he was gorgeous and completely took Heathcliff’s breath away, though Heath couldn’t wait to take to rip it off of Lucien’s body as soon as they were alone, for more than one reason.
What did it look like?

Well, I guess you’ll just have to buy Groom Of Convenience to find out.

Thanks for having me, Elin! It was great to be here.

-Vicktor Alexander

~~~

Thanks for visiting Vicktor and thanks for the terrific blog post. Readers, you can click the link for a chance to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10 Gift Card

In an alternate universe, in the country of Angland, 1814, the gentry live lives of culture and class. It is a time of courtships, marriages of convenience, and titles, where scandal can ruin an entire family. Gender lines are blurred, and making a good match is of utmost importance. Children are born to men and women, which has led to the acceptance of same-sex marriages.

Lady Lucien Timothy Hawthorne is shocked and angry when he is betrothed against his will to Lord Heathcliff Eddington, III, the Duke of Pompinshire. While drowning his frustration at a popular gentleman’s club, he meets “Robert,” a gorgeous older man whom he sleeps with as “Timmy,” regardless of the potential damage to his reputation.

After their liaison, Lucien corresponds with Robert via letters left at Remmington, and they decide to elope. Before they can get away, Lucien meets his betrothed, Heathcliff, who he is surprised to discover is also his beloved, Robert. Both men desire a marriage of the heart, but they find out that sometimes a marriage of convenience can turn into love under the right circumstances. But Lucien has a secret, and Tlondon isn’t as safe as they once thought.

Categories: Alternative Universe, Gay Fiction, Historical, M/M Romance, Romance, *Trans
Words: 108,811
Pages: 300

Buy Links:
Dreamspinner
Amazon UK
Amazon US

Excerpt:

Lucien inhaled deeply and then began to softly sing “Ae Fond Kiss,” a popular Tscottish ballad written twenty years prior, sliding his eyelids closed, afraid of any negative reaction from his betrothed. His mother used to sing it to him every night before leaving for a ball or party she was obligated to attend. Rosemary would sing the song and then kiss the top of his head. Annabelle would be waiting at the door, and when Rosemary finished, thinking that Lucien was asleep, she would meet Annabelle at the door, and the two of them would share a sweet kiss and then leave. Lucien loved those late-night lullabies by his mother, cherished them, and when he went to bed, even at his advanced age, he would sing the song to himself until he would fall asleep.
Finishing the last note of the song, Lucien opened his eyes and looked at Heathcliff, expecting to find him asleep, only to find him looking at him in wonder. “What?” he asked. “You have a beautiful voice, Lucien,” Heathcliff told him. Lucien blushed and ducked his head. “Thank you,” he whispered. Heathcliff’s fingers under his chin brought his face back up, and he found himself looking into Heathcliff’s eyes. “Don’t do that. Don’t hide from me. Never hide from me,” Heathcliff told him. “You have a beautiful voice. One that has obviously been handcrafted by the very touch of God. The beauty of your voice is rivaled only by the beauty of your face, which does not compare to the beauty of your spirit.”

Author Bio:
Vicktor “Vic” Alexander wrote his first story at the age of ten and hasn’t stopped writing since. He loves reading about anything and everything and is a proud member of the little known U.N. group (Undercover Nerds) because while he lives, eats, breathes, and sleeps sports, he also breathes history and science fiction and grew up a Trekkie. But don’t ask him about Dungeons & Dragons, because he has no idea how to play that game. When it comes to writing he loves everything from paranormal to contemporary to fantasy to historical and is known not only for being the Epilogue King but also for writing stories that cross lines and boundaries that he doesn’t know are there. Vic is a proud father of two daughters one of whom watches over him from Heaven with his deceased partner Christopher. Vic is a proud trans* and gay man, and when he is not writing, he is hanging out with his friends, or being distracted by videos of John Barrowman, Scott Hoying, and Shemar Moore. Vicktor has published numerous bestselling novels and has a WIP list that makes him exhausted just thinking about. He knows that he will be still be writing about hot men falling in love with each other, long after he is living in an assisted living facility, flirting with the hot, male nurses.

Author Contact:
http://www.facebook.com/VicktorAlexanderB
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorVicktorAlexander

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New Release – A Taste of Copper by me!

Posted in contest, Excerpt, History, New Release, tagged , , , , , on September 26, 2014| 7 Comments »

A Taste of Copper by Elin Gregory

Your master has the field for today, but his name, whatever it might be, is without honour.

Olivier the squire worships the Black Knight and takes a fierce joy in his prowess as he defends a bridge against all comers. Olivier only wishes that his master loved him as much in return instead of treating him as a servant and occasional plaything.

Then word comes that the King desires to cross the bridge. With an army approaching, a bright eyed archer enticing Olivier to desert and the first cracks beginning to show in the Black Knight’s gruff demeanour, Olivier is left wondering if his honour is worth more than a chance for happiness.

Word count: 25,900
Cover Art: Meredith Russell
Editor: Erika Orrick
Copyright: Elin Gregory

Excerpt:

Laden with a steaming bucket in one hand and a platter bearing bread, sausage and a jug of wine in the other, Olivier shouldered aside the entrance flap to enter the pavilion. Sir Maheris was still armoured but had removed his helmet and pushed back his coif. His short cap of black hair had spiked up with sweat, and deep lines bracketed his full lips. Maheris had fierce black eyes beneath frowning brows, but Olivier had seen his scowl ease into a gentle smile when he slept. Olivier wondered what dream could put that soft vulnerability on Maheris’s face and prayed one day to see such a smile turned towards him.

But now Sir Maheris was glowering. “You were delayed? Perhaps the horses ran off? Undo these buckles.”

“Sir?” Olivier put his burdens down and hurried to his side. “Did I fasten them too tightly? Your pardon, sir, I…”

Maheris grunted and raised his left hand, ungauntleted now, to show it bright with blood. “A lucky stroke,” he said. “Reihershof’s point caught a chink in my brassard.”

Olivier’s heart thumped fast as he assisted Maheris. Blood was still dripping, the sharp scent of it mingling with the stench of iron and old sweat from the padded doublet. He set the pieces of armour aside to clean later and eased the doublet over Maheris’s head. The left sleeve of it weighed heavy with blood, and the shirt beneath was sodden. Olivier bit his lip as he eased the clotted fabric away and saw the bright trickle that followed.

“That will do,” Maheris said once he was bare to the waist. His heavy shoulders and chest gleamed with sweat, his skin goosefleshing in the chill air, but he waved Olivier away when he brought Maheris a towel. “Time for that when the wound is sealed,” he said as he took a seat. “You know what to do.”

The wound in his bicep gaped like a hot, wet mouth.

“Is it clean?” Maheris demanded. “Get on with it, boy.”

Read the whole of the first chapter here.

Buy Links

Many thanks to Love Lane Books for organising a Rafflecopter giveaway with a very generous prize. Check it out!

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One of those days

Posted in Excerpt on September 12, 2014| 5 Comments »

I won’t go into detail but it’s a day when I need the comfort of writing about sun sea and shenanigans. also I miss Kit and Griffin quite a lot, so here’s a bit of story that may or may not end up in Lee Shore 2.

The eerie moan carried well on the still air. Even at this distance – a good hundred paces away over rocks and a strip of still azure sea – Griffin winced at the sound.
“I’m sorry.” Kit didn’t look as though he knew whether to laugh or be apprehensive. “I didn’t realise how single minded he would be.”
“You could have asked.” Griffin stretched out on the sand, his arm under his head, his hat pulled down to shade his eyes. The Cycladean sun warmed him even through his clothing. If there were better places than this little island to anchor while waiting for their passenger, Griffin couldn’t think of one. But in retrospect it had been a mistake to allow Kit and Denny to go and buy supplies alone. Kit could be relied upon to be sensible and efficient with anything nautical or tactical but Denny, surely the oldest and oddest cabin boy ever to sail the seven seas, could talk Kit into almost anything.
“You could have bought Denny a drum. A small one. It would have taken him a day to master the intricacies and he would have lost interest but Kit – dear God, Kit. Bagpipes!”
“When he asked me for a groat to buy a tsampouna I thought he was hungry.”
“I thought you knew Greek.”
“I thought I did. Maybe Homer and his bunch didn’t have them.”
“Oh I bet they did, they just kept quiet about it.”
The moaning from the ketch rose to a sharp squeal and ceased.
“Benedigaidd Duw.” The other three crew members were also ashore, as far away from the awful noise as they could get. Lewis raised his head from Protheroe’s belly and glowered across the water.
“Don’t get your hopes up.” Saunders turned another page in his book. “I would put money on that last squeak having startled our intrepid musician. In a moment he’ll see if he can do it again. There – I told you so. I’m afraid, dear gentlemen – and Kit, because sometimes, dear boy, your stupidity astounds – we will have to wait until Denny gets hungry before we can ask him to put the instrument away. Has anyone got any wine left?”
Kit leaned to pass him a bottle and Griffin’s glance rested with affection on his lover’s back, shirtless and brown as a nut. Unable to resist, he lay his hand on Kit’s waist, enjoying the play of muscle under his palm, and slipped his smallest finger below the waist band of his breeches, where Kit’s skin, he knew, was just as smooth and muscular but of a far paler hue. Kit turned his head and fixed him with an amused and tolerant stare that warmed Griffin’s heart. Once Kit would have checked to see if any of the others had noticed first.
“I think I’ll swim.” Griffin patted the sun warmed flesh. “If you took those off you could join me.”
“I could.” Kit grinned and got up, extending a hand to help Griffin to his feet. “There’s a spot at the end of the headland where we could dive.”
And a spot, just beyond, out of sight of the rest of the crew, Griffin reflected as he tugged his shirt over his head. But he wasn’t sure whether Kit had remembered that.

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New Release – Project Fierce Chicago

Posted in Excerpt, New Release, tagged , , , on July 16, 2014| 2 Comments »

I’m very excited by the release of Project Fierce Chicago from Less Than Three Press and absolutely deighted that Dianne Hartock has agreed to answer some questions about it and about her writing process.

Welcome, Dianne, thanks for being here today.

Project Fierce is an excellent title, who came up with the idea for the anthology?

Isn’t this just an amazing title? Really catches one’s attention. It’s the name of the charity organization hoping to build a safe home for LGBTQ youth living on the streets of Chicago. Less Than Three Press has decided to raise money for this effort by putting out an anthology of stories donated by various authors. All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to Project Fierce Chicago.
Less Than Three Press is a strong rising presence in the LGBTQ romance community, a labor of love between three women who wanted to write and publish books, but wanted to do it their way—with other people who love what they do, for people who love to read great romance, with high-quality, well-edited stories that are also affordable, engaging, and always come with that famous happy end.

Can you tell me a bit about the project it is supporting?

Project Fierce Chicago will provide transitional housing for LGBTQ young people ages 18-25, for an initial term of one year. In addition to living space, food and hygiene products, residents will have access to services aimed at a successful transition to independence, including case management, professional and living skills training and educational support. These services will primarily be provided by dedicated volunteers.

PFC’s aim is to become a largely self-sustaining community through the maintenance of a community garden and an in-house workshop in which staff, volunteers and residents create daily living items such as soap, lotion and household cleaning products with natural ingredients. The house will also have a space in which to showcase the art and creative projects of residents and community members.

I understand your story is about a young man who is homeless, could you please tell me a little more about him?

Sammy is a darling, and one of the countless homeless GLBT youth surviving on the streets in Portland, Oregon. At fifteen he inadvertently came out to his parents, and instead of the support he’d hoped for, they sent him to live with his uncle. Unfortunately, the man was even less tolerant of his penchant for wearing women’s dresses. Rather than change to please his family, feeling unwanted and misunderstood, he ran away to find a better life.

He spent three months living under bridges, hungry and lonely, until he meets Tad, a young man who gives him a spot on his floor to sleep when he needs one and shows him that by flashing a bit of thigh and his pretty smile at the local businessmen, he could make enough money to keep his stomach full and maybe hide away a little for his own apartment. He doesn’t dare dream of attending college one day.

When this story opens, Sam has been on the streets for several years when one of his ‘regulars’ begins to take more than a business interest in him. For the first time Sammy dreams of more than a bleak lonely future, but does he dare hope that someone like him could find their happily ever after?

I know that you are working all the time. How is this story different from your other recent releases?

While all my stories are fiction, with SAMMY I paid extra attention to my facts. Homelessness is one of the sadder aspects of society and I wanted to make sure I portrayed Sam’s life as realistically as possible.

That’s not to say I don’t research my other stories. For my recently released novel THE SHED, the sequel to my psychological thriller ALEX, I had police procedure and Colorado state law and the schooling my hero Scott Reid needed as a certified counselor and mental health specialist. But from there I wandered into fiction. You see, Alex is a psychic who sometimes works with the police on murder investigations. Scott is his therapist. In this story I could I could tweak the facts a bit where in SAMMY I stuck with the reality of life on the streets.

In THE SHED, Alex is surrounded by a group of friends and professionals who believe in him, where that’s not always the case in real life and certainly not in Sam’s. But there is one thing all my stories have in common, a happy ending. Again, something that doesn’t always happen in reality but is a must with my stories.

I’m currently having problems balancing my work/life and writing commitments. Have you any advice?

Wish I had a secret recipe to share with you, but the answer is that I work hard at it. I’m up an hour early for work every day to get some writing time in, then try for two hours in the evening to write, promote, and the millions of tiny details involved with having a published story.

Sundays are for family and friends, and though I might get a little writing in, it’s mostly spent doing things with them. Oh, and every evening I spend with the family before I get to my writing.

Thursdays, my other day off, is strictly for writing. I need that day to just immerse myself in a story or I’d never get anything done! What it comes down to is that I love writing and so make time for it, wherever I can.

What next from the pen/typewriter/wordprocessor of Dianne Hartsock? Do you have WIP you can talk about?

I am currently and STILL working on my contemporary Christmas story. I say still because, though I’ve only been working on it since April, it seems to be taking me forever to make any progress. Lots of interruptions with other stories/editing/promoting/writing guest blogs, etc. But I’m almost caught up with my obligations and can really sink my teeth into it.

I’m really excited about this one. I’ve been rolling it around in my head for about a year now, waiting for the change to get started on it. I have it all plotted out, who my heroes are, are they naughty or nice? Who my wicked but lovely villain is and the terrible things he puts my men through. At the moment I have only one more big scene to write then my thrilling conclusion. Then I get to my favorite part, going back through it and fleshing out all the scenes. Looking forward to getting back into it.

Could we please have a short excerpt of your story SAMMY in Project Fierce?

A soft sob floated on the night air and plunged straight into John’s heart. He hurried over to Sam, then stood biting his lips, not sure what to say.

“What do you want?” Sammy’s voice sounded tired, rough with tears.

“Do you need help? Can I do anything?”

Sam raised his head, blue eyes shimmering at him through wet lashes. Recognition sparked in the beautiful depths, then they widened. “You.” Sam struggled to his feet, hugging his bare arms across his chest against the chill creeping up from the river. “Sorry, I have to cancel on you. I’m closed for the night. Try again tomorrow.”

He brushed past John and started down the bike path. John’s heart thumped painfully. “Sam?”

The young man stopped and swiveled abruptly. The lamplight caught his expression, a hint of fear, anger; the light clearly showing a cut lip and the dark swelling of a bruise on his ivory cheek. John clamped his lips shut on a murmur of pity, noting he held his left arm as if it hurt.

Helplessness swept through John. “Let me help you. I can make you a cup of coffee at least. And dinner, if you’re interested. I make a great spaghetti.”

Doubt crossed Sam’s pretty face and the end of his pink tongue nudged the cut on his lip, twisting John’s heart.

Impulsively, he touched Sam’s arm. “Did someone hurt you?”

Sam stared at his hand, not answering. John was grateful he didn’t yank his arm away. Finally Sam nodded.


Project Fierce

Nobody deserves to be without a home

In collaboration with several authors, Less Than Three Press offers up an anthology of stories about young people who find that home and family are not always where you expect to find them.

All proceeds from this charity anthology will be donated to Project Fierce Chicago.

Project Fierce Chicago’s mission is to reduce LGBTQ youth homelessness in Chicago by providing affirming, no-cost transitional housing and comprehensive support services to homeless LGBTQ young adults. PFC also aims to encourage community-building and civic engagement through cooperative living and youth leadership development.

LT3’s Project Fierce Chicago charity anthology includes 20 short stories from Aeris, Vicktor Alexander, Talya Andor, C.J. Anthony, Blaine D. Arden, Kayla Bain-Vrba, Sophie Bonaste, Kenzie Cade, Jana Denardo, Alessandra Ebulu, Dianne Hartsock, Leta Hutchins, Caitlin Ricci, Lor Rose, B. Snow, Rin Sparrow, Andrea Speed, Piper Vaughn, Layla M. Wier, and Xara X. Xanakas.

Pairings: M/M, F/F, genderqueer
Content: Contains no explicit content.

Buy link: Less Than Three Press: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_bookx_info&cPath=78&products_id=632

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Not Quite Shakespeare – Chris Quinton

Posted in contest, Excerpt, Guests, Uncategorized, tagged , , , on May 12, 2014| 3 Comments »

Here we are again with another interview from an author contributing to the Not Quite Shakespeare anthology from Dreamspinner Press. Don’t forget to comment because I plan to buy two copies and will give one away to a lucky commenter.

My guest today is a favourite author so my welcome is tinged with a bit of fangirliness 🙂 Hi Chris Quinton, how are you doing?

Have you always lived in the UK? If not what drew you back?

Well, apart from a year in Aden when I was really young – was four when I came home – and a couple of years in South Wales in the mid 1960’s, I’ve always lived in England.

Is there any place that is a must-see for any visitor to the UK?

OMG, so many! In my home county alone there’s Stonehenge, Avebury, Wilton House, Salisbury Cathedral, Stourhead House with its wonderful gardens, and that’s off the top of my head without thinking about it. There’s so much packed into this collection of islands, whether you’re a history/archaeology fan or a lover of grand houses and their gardens. Then there’s the wonderfully varied coastline, the lakes and forests.

In how many counties have you lived? Cosmopolitan or rural?

Born and bred in Salisbury, Wiltshire. When I was first married, we lived for a couple of years close to Cwmbran in Monmouthshire, South Wales, then for about six months we were in Botley, Hampshire before moving back to Salisbury – where I’ve been ever since. Although Salisbury is a city, it’s no bigger than a small market town – but its history spans about three thousand years, give or take *g*. I’d class it as rural living rather than cosmopolitan. Half an hour’s walk and you’re among fields. It’s lovely here…

What inspired you to write your story for the anthology?

Well, we were walking the dogs, and my daughter in law was chatting about a friend and her rescue greyhounds, and what characters they were. I wanted to write something quintessentially English, and greyhound racing fitted the bill. Then the title popped into my head – In The Dog House. I mulled it over a bit, and Jerry appeared and started talking about his trials and tribulations, and his old crush. So I basically took notes and ended up with just under 10K of 1st person narration.

Could you tell me a little about it?

Jerry Thorne is looking after a racing greyhound for his uncle, and is in hiding from men out to drug Spot, aka Edie’s Lightning, before a big race. Mike Brown is an ex-crush [unreciprocated] who moved away and joined the Avon & Somerset Police. Jerry had a huge crush on Mike from his early teens. The one time he acted on it and kissed him, Mike rebuffed him, saying he wasn’t gay. Soon after he left the area and Jerry didn’t see him for years. Uncle George tells Jerry to stay away while he negotiates with the crooks, and Jerry ends up on Mike’s doorstep…

Could you please tell me about your other work?

I’ve just had Caravaggio’s Angel published by Totally Bound – it’s a contempory paranormal set on the island of Malta – https://www.totallybound.com/caravaggios-angel. Also, having had a handful of titles revert to me from the currently rather troubled Silver Publishing, I’ve reedited them, found new covers and self-published them. Details can be found on my website http://chrisquinton.com …

What are you working on at the moment?

Oh, goodness. My Work in Progress folder is stupidly long. Well, I’m co-writing Heat with RJ Scott, co-writing Against the Tide with Terri Beckett, working on Melusine’s Cats #1 Greymalkin, and I have edits to do on Undercover Blues for Manifold Press. Those are at the top of the list. Below them are at least half a dozen stories waiting to be worked on, all with titles and some with covers ready for self-publishing.

Please could we have an excerpt?

With pleasure *g*. Here’s a short clip from In The Dog House…

I pulled over at the first lay-by I saw, and after I’d let Spot out to stretch his legs and we’d taken it in turns to pee against the same tree, I got out my mobile phone, and was shocked to see it was gone ten o’clock. First I called Uncle George, to let him know where we were and that we’d lost our tail. He had news as well. Pete Mullins, Joe’s dad, had paid him a visit, told him he had two choices.
“Two? That was generous. Not. Is one option the same his thug of a son gave me?”
“Yup. Spot has to compete. But I sell him to them—for a sodding fiver, no less—and keep my mouth shut, or else.”
“What? The bastards! They can’t have him, Uncle!” Then caution set in. “Or else, what?”
“He didn’t say, but it doesn’t matter. You keep our Spot safe, you hear me? I’m taking him out of the race first thing in the morning.”
“But they want him to run,” I protested. “You’re taking a hell of a risk! You’re not going to give him to them, are you?”
“Don’t be daft! Of course not! Just lie low with him for a while—and keep your mouth shut! I think I can get us out of this as long as we don’t involve anyone else.”
“Meaning the police?”
“Exactly. I’ve got a plan,” he continued with a confidence I didn’t feel. “I saw it on a TV cop show and it’ll work for us. Just lay low and leave this to me.”

~~~ Chris Quinton ~ Writing Romance … Where Men Fall In Love With Men ~~~

My website is here http://chrisquinton.com/
and I’m on FaceBook here https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000894893197
Here is my Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/chrisquinton

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Not Quite Shakespeare – Jules Jones

Posted in contest, Excerpt, Guests, tagged , , , on May 11, 2014| 9 Comments »

Are you having a good weekend?

Well just in case you need something to read here’s the next interview from authors contributing to the Not Quite Shakespeare anthology from Dreamspinner Press, that will be published in June just in time for the UK Meet. I am very much looking forward to getting a copy and have decided to buy two, one of which I am offering here as a giveaway. Comment below or to any or the other interviews for your name to go in the hat.

My guest today is Jules Jones. Hi Jules.

Have you always lived in the UK? If not what drew you back?

I’ve lived in several different countries, and long-time readers will probably remember that I was living in the US when I sold my first few novels. But I’m originally from the UK, and currently living in northern England.

Is there any place that is a must-see for any visitor to the UK?

Too many for any one visitor to see, and of course it depends on what you like to look at. My current local favourite is the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, because I like steam engines and early computers, and so do a lot of my visitors. 🙂

In how many counties have you lived? Cosmopolitan or rural?

Four so far. Always in a town or city, although usually with the countryside within easy distance. For several years I lived right in the middle of a conurbation, but with a view of the North Yorkshire Moors.

What inspired you to write your story for the anthology?

It’s actually a story I wrote some years ago, and never found a suitable home for until now. It came from a remark on a tv show years ago about missing toast badly enough to grow the wheat to make the bread. My lead character doesn’t go quite that far, but he does like making bread from scratch.

Could you tell me a little about it?

What better way to get to know a shy new flatmate than offering to share freshly baked bread? And all that dough kneading leads to nice strong hands, which is useful if you also know how to give a good massage.

Could you please tell me about your other work?

Most of my commercially published fiction is m/m romance, and a lot of it’s cross-genre science fiction and fantasy. I wandered in from the sf&f side of cross-genre, which is why my “which authors are you influenced by” list includes writers like Andre Norton and Lois McMaster Bujold. But I also write a fair bit of contemporary romance, including my recently released novel “Nice Tie”. The contemporary romance is all set in the UK, as is some of the cross-genre romance. My silkie novel Spindrift is set on the west coast of Scotland, and my shapeshifter novel Dolphin Dreams is set on the Purbeck coast in Dorset. And for science fiction, there’s First Footer, which is a first contact story set in England. (Never park your spaceship on a peat bog…) The rest of the cross-genre is basically Brits In Space. (No, not Brits In Spaaaaace. Except for The Syndicate.) You can find my full bibliography on my website, along with a lot of excerpts and some free reads.

What are you working on at the moment?

Two very different pieces. One’s a very gentle contemporary short story idea I got from the submission call for the Dreamspinner anthology “Random Acts of Kindness”. The other is a contemporary office romance with caning on one side, bondage on the other, and in-house fraud to investigate for both of them. That one will probably be heading in the direction of my editor at Loose Id once it’s finished. And every so often I poke at my urban fantasy novel.

Please could we have an excerpt?

My story in the anthology is fairly short, so not really suitable for an excerpt. Instead, have an excerpt from the WIP. Alas, you’ll have to wait a while before this one’s out. 🙂 The guys have just met for the first time, in the bar of the hotel they both happen to be staying in.

~~~

They’d been quiet enough to be discreet, but Chris could understand why Jason might want to leave anything more detailed than “we’re having sex” to somewhere more private than the corridor. Only when they were inside, with the door safely shut behind them, did he ask, “Just vanilla, or something more?” He looked around the suite. It didn’t run to a four-poster bed, but there were other possibilities. “There’s always the dressing gown belt for impromptu bondage.”

Jason laughed softly. “You’re a sweet-looking young thing, but I’m still not letting a complete stranger tie me up in an anonymous hotel room. Besides, it’s not my kink.”

“So what is?”

“I’m old enough to have been educated at an expensive fee-paid school, at a time when one of the things parents were paying their fees for was firm discipline in the shape of corporal punishment.”

Chris was speechless for a few seconds. Not at the idea that Jason liked being caned, but at why. Then he decided that it was none of his damned business. “Okay. Not sure how practical that is at short notice.” He looked around the room. “Unless you carry something with you on the off-chance?”

“No.” Jason crossed his arms and looked at him. “Not when I was planning to have a quiet drink and then go to bed early.” Then he grinned. “Though I’m rather regretting it now. You’re game for it, and it’s not even really your thing, is it?”

~~~

Jules Jones is a materials scientist with a degree in maths and physics, and as such should really be writing hard sf. The output is in fact more along the lines of political sf, erotica and romance, often all at the same time. The longer examples are mostly published by Loose Id; short stories have appeared in a variety of venues. You can find Jules online at her website, blog, Twitter, Library Thing and Goodreads or you can email her at jules.jones@gmail.com!

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Humpday Hook

Posted in Excerpt on October 23, 2013| 4 Comments »

How the heck did it get to be Wednesday? I’ve been vaguely aware of time passing but it hasn’t meant much. So Wednesday and I haven’t signed up for HDH. Never mind I can still post and can still provide links to the other authors. Just click on the picture and the magic of the internet will whisk you away to a magical realm … okay to Blog Spot but the principle’s the same. I’ve been awake since 2 am so don’t expect sense, right.

So excerpts. Yes, posting excerpts is what it’s all about and I’ve been posting excerpts of an ancient Regency romance that I have no idea what to do with.

This week Patrick and his cousin Gerald continue the conversation begun here with Patrick being less than concerned about his dear old Dad.

~

I’m still hoping to find out who made this terrific image.

“What’s the old rat-bag complaining about now?” Patrick asked.
“Did you know that he is in London?”
“No, why should I?”
“So, he read the paper this morning. Patrick, he’s furious. Not even a FitzRoy can get away with putting an entry like that in the public press for a joke. The Stanton-Rivers will be after your blood!”
“They’ll have to join the queue, then.”
“But think of the scandal. What if they call you out? Or take you to court?” Pat grinned and shrugged. Gerald sighed and laid the book aside. “Are you going to publish a rebuttal, then?” he asked.
“No.”
“I just don’t understand you!”
“Too many long words, is it, Gerald?” Pat laughed and tugged Aubrey’s letter out of his pocket with a flourish. “The Stanton-Rivers are well content. I am invited to take tea with them tomorrow. Tea at three, Gerald, not pistols at dawn, so the old man can rest easy and mind his own bloody business.”
“But it is his business,” Gerald protested. “He is anxious to make the best possible match for you and – may I speak frankly, Patrick?”
“Go ahead,” Patrick invited.
“There has always been a special relationship between our families,” Gerald said, leaning forward and placing a cousinly hand upon Patrick’s knee. “It was the fondest wish of both our fathers that the relationship should become closer still.”
“Christ, Gerry, are you proposing?”
~
More next time.

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Humpday Hook

Posted in Excerpt on October 16, 2013| 9 Comments »

I forgot to post again and may well have forgotten to sign up as well. I have a tooth abcess – owie! – and am not even as inefficient as I am normally.

But anyway – it’s Wedneasday so time for Humpday Hook and time for another bit of Regency stuff ‘n’ nonsense.

Last week Patrick was told that a family member had come to visit. I’ve skipped a bit describing Pat’s house because, I’m reliably informed, readers don’t care about descriptions. They prefer to imagine things for themselves. But in case anyone out there is a bit short of time, here’s a picture:

Pat flung open the library door and ducked beneath the lintel. He stifled a laugh as the figure by the fire jumped and exclaimed at the four hounds advancing, hackles raised, towards him. Pat whistled them away and greeted his cousin.
“Stop looking at the pictures, Gerald,” he ordered, pausing at a side table to fill two glasses.
“Patrick, you devil.” Cheeks aflame, Gerald stared up from the heavy volume on his lap. He was also a big man but lacked an inch or so of Pat’s height and his splendid physique. His elegance of dress and deportment worked hard, and with moderate success, to conceal such deficiencies as a short neck and a slight paunch, but his exquisitely arranged neck cloth and artfully brushed hair could do little to improve his face with its heavy features and lines of temper.
“Where did you get this book?” he demanded, his sneer deepening.
“Put it back on the shelf if it disgusts you so much,” Pat suggested, dropping into a wing chair and extending his boots towards the fire. “It’s a religious work of great antiquity, though the binding is more recent and I took it in part exchange for a load of Brummagem tin ware. I still wonder who had the better on that deal.”
“There’s little doubt in my mind,” Gerald told him. “I obviously went to all the wrong places on my Grand Tour.”
“You wanted to go on yours,” Pat reminded him cheerfully, “I had no choice. Just a one way ticket on an east bound merchantman and a message from the old man to say he didn’t want to see me again until I’d made something of myself.”
“Well, you’ve certainly done that,” declared Gerald. “You have made the FitzRoy name a byword for outrageous behaviour. The Earl is not pleased.
“Pleasing Father is one of the least of my concerns,” said Pat, his jaw hardening momentarily.

~

More next week.

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Humpday Hook

Posted in Excerpt, tagged , on October 9, 2013| 10 Comments »

Happy Wednesday and welcome to another session of Humpday Hooks!

Humpday Hook is a weekly blog hop where authors get together to post excerpts of their work. Just click on the picture to be taken to the Master List! You should find something there to enjoy.

Alternatively stay here for a bit and read my excerpt first.

It’s another bit of my untitled unfinished heterosexual Regency romance [though all bets are off if I ever resume it.] Aubrey has written to Sir Patrick, or maybe it should be Lord Patrick, I don’t believe I ever consulted Debretts for the correct form of address, at Cicely’s dictation and the letter has arrived.

~~~

Is this your manip? If so you’re brill and I’d love to credit you

Aubrey’s letter was placed in Pat’s hands that evening as he sat in the lonely magnificence of his dining room. He pushed aside the scant remains of an excellent beef and oyster pie and read the single, uncrossed sheet with a wry smile, then glanced up as the door opened and Yacoub Khan entered.
“Congratulations are in order, Yacoub,” he said. “It appears that I am to take a wife.”
“Indeed, sahib, you deserve congratulations if all I have heard is the truth,” Yacoub agreed, his respectful tone at odds with his derisive smile. “I am sure that that is why your cousin Gerald is here. I have put him in the library.”
Pat eyed his henchman apprehensively. “What the devil does he want? He is alone isn’t he?”
Yacoub inclined his immaculately turbaned head gracefully in assent.
“That’s a relief. He’s not worth running down the back stairs for but Euphemia, now … Thank you, Yacoub.”

~~~

Cousin Gerald and someone called Euphemia. Cast of thousands!

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