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A Summer’s Day anthology – author interview #10 – J L Merrow

Posted in Guests, New Release on August 15, 2016| 2 Comments »

Elin’s Qs [notes in brackets won’t appear in the post]My guest today is J L Merrow, a favourite author and a favourite person so I’m delighted to be playing host.

Welcome JL, and thanks for answering my questions.

What led you to pick your source material for your story?

This isn’t the first time I’ve done a Shakespeare based story – my novel Played! is heavily based on/around an amateur production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But for this anthology I wanted to do something a little different—and that’s just what Sonnet 130 is: different. Starting with the famous words, My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun. It’s a love poem that parodies love poems, lampooning the usual flights of purple prose praising the writer’s beloved. But the turn in the last two lines switches the sentiment from satire to sweetness. In essence the writer is saying he sees his mistress clearly, rather than through the rose-tinted spectacles of love: she is a real woman to him, not some remote goddess possessing superlative beauty. And he loves her as she is.
That’s what I think true love really is: loving the person who exists, warts and all, rather than some idealised fantasy of them. In Nothing Like the Sun, both Jerome and Sam have their flaws, both in looks and personality—some more glaring than others. And neither of them is blind to the other’s faults. But true love transcends imperfections.

Shakespeare definitely has a way with words. What is your favourite insult/endearment/inspiring passage/? Which bit do you wish you had written?

picture: Ferdinand Lured by Ariel, by John Everett Millais, 1852

Gawd, where to start? There are just so many choice turns of phrase in Shakespeare’s works.

One passage that’s stuck with me is Ariel’s song to Ferdinand in The Tempest. Background information: Ferdinand has just been shipwrecked and his father drowned. Ariel’s taunts show a grisly inventiveness that is breathtakingly creepy:

Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.

I love the rhythm of this short passage, as well as its (horribly) intense visual qualities.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently dividing my time between promoting my recent release Blow Down, the fourth in my Plumber’s Mate Mysteries featuring Phil the private investigator and Tom the slightly psychic plumber, and writing the second of my forthcoming Porthkennack novels for Riptide. One Under (provisional title) is a contemporary m/m romance set in Cornwall, between two men who have very different backgrounds, but turn out to have more in common than they at first realise.

Could we please have an excerpt?

Here’s a short excerpt from Nothing Like the Sun:

I’d been ignoring my laptop all morning. Well, I had so little to look forward to these days; why not build a little anticipation for one of my few remaining pleasures?
There was a message in my inbox. Dead_Pool_Ringer, you have a new message from BoyNextDoor. It was time stamped only three minutes ago.
Heart thumping in ridiculously clichéd fashion, I clicked. How are you? I read.
I typed, Still hideous. Just before hitting send I hesitated. Deleted it. Typed in Okay, I guess, and sent that instead.
He knew what I looked like. Not that I’d posted a photo, but I’d been entirely upfront about my appearance in my profile when I set up the account on the dating site. I’d also been upfront about the fact that a meeting was out of the question.
Why bother, then?
Because this was the reason I could manage without therapy.
Bad morning? BoyNextDoor typed.
Had a friend visit, I typed. Because Sam was a friend, as well as an employee. We’d been at school together from the age of seven—enough history to keep us together despite very different career paths.
I’d had the caretaking role, back in those early days. Short and tubby, with National Health Service spectacles and a stutter, Sam had been every bully’s dream. I was never entirely sure why I’d taken his side over theirs. Perhaps something about him had meshed with a part of me I hadn’t yet learned to recognise. Or perhaps it was simply that even then, I yearned for the role of hero. At any rate, I fought his battles and waited for him to worship me for it.
In a shocking twist—at least to my seven-year-old self—he rounded on me angrily and insisted he didn’t need my help.
It was my first failed audition: the role of Sam’s friend.
What did I do then? I cheated, of course.

Bio:

JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and mysteries, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy, and her novella Muscling Through and novel Relief Valve were both EPIC Awards finalists.
JL Merrow is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, International Thriller Writers, Verulam Writers’ Circle and the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.

Find JL Merrow online at: http://www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow

A-Summers-Day-Customdesign-JayAheer2016-finalcover

Release Date: 12th of August

Cover Art: Jay Aheer Simply Defined Art

Genre: MM Mixed*

We have modern retelling of some plays, interpretations of others and one of the sonnets, and delightful referencing of anything Shakespeare.

There is gentle YA romance next to very hot 18+ stories and all kinds of relationships – first love, May/December, interracial, second chances, happy endings and even a tragic one.

We’re travelling from Ancient Rome through Renaissance England to modern day UK, Venice Beach and other places in USA, Vancouver and Havana.

There’s fun, drama, tears, angst, joy and, above all, lots of true love.

Note: All proceeds of this collection go to the It Gets Better Project™.

Buy Links:
amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.co.uk:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.de: https://www.amazon.de/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-English-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.com.au: https://www.amazon.com.au/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/655310
A-Summers-Day-Customdesign-JayAheer2016-banner2

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New Release – Dawn to Dusk by Alina Popescu

Posted in contest, New Release, tagged contest, new release on August 11, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Dawn to Dusk Tour Banner

Title: Dawn to Dusk
Series: Lover’s Journey, Book One
Author: Alina Popescu
Genre: Gay Romance, Contemporary
Length: Novel (over 50000 words)

Synopsis

That first encounter with Robert in rural Romania at eleven. A summer spent together in the same setting a year later. Their first text exchange in high school. The first sexual experience. The first heartbreak—the second and third and fourth chance. The point of total breakdown and the despair of failing. More love than anyone could have warned him about.

No matter how much time passes, no matter how different their paths, every meeting brings Edi and Robert closer together. Those stolen moments shine brighter than any. Yet loving Robert is not easy, not when Edi wants to be true to himself and is met with dishonesty. Or when Robert keeps parading new conquests and ignores Edi more often than not.

Edi has always loved Robert, but he must decide if his journey leads to or away from his childhood friend. Is it true love or is Edi just unable to let go?

Dawn to Dusk Cover

Buy Links

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I8FG8P4
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01I8FG8P4
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01I8FG8P4
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01I8FG8P4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dawntodusk-2048734-149.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/649340

Giveaway

Prizes: 1 x $10 WIP Gift Card, 1 x $5 WIP Gift Card, 1 x ecopy of Br0th3rly (Famous on the Inernet, Book One).

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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About the author

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and she has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm. Born and raised in Romania, she finds her inspiration in books of all genres, in movies, and the occasional manga comic book. She is a proud geek who needs her fast Internet and gadgets more than she needs air.

Social Links

Site & Blog: http://alina-popescu.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralinapopescu
Twitter: http://twitter.com/alina_popescu
Instagram: http://instagram.com/alinapopescuwriter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/alina-popescu
Google+: https://www.google.com/+AlinaPopescu
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/alinapopescu

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A Summer’s Day – author interview #4 – Nephy Heart

Posted in Excerpt, Guests, New Release on August 9, 2016| 1 Comment »

Today, I’m delighted to welcome the next author to be featured in the A Summer’s Day anthology – Nephy Heart who is not only a fantastic writer but also a lovely person.

Welcome, Nephy, and thanks for answering my questions.

What led you to pick your source material for your story?

I chose to write about The Taming of the Shrew. Why? Because I have a bee in my bonnet about the way Petruchio treats Katherine. When this anthology was suggested, I first thought about my three favourites – Macbeth, Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest, but I kept coming back to Taming of the Shrew and wondering how Petruchio’s actions would translate to today’s society. At first I was intending to make Petruchio (Pete) the bad guy by exploring his actions in a modern context but the more I wrote, the more the story and characters took over and the story went in a different direction. This often happens to me as my stories are character led and they lead me in all kinds of unexpected directions. The title comes from the 1950’s Hollywood version of the story (With Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson) Kiss me Kate

Shakespeare definitely has a way with words. What is your favourite insult/endearment/inspiring passage/? Which bit do you wish you had written?

I have a particular liking for Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. I love his banter and how rude he is. Of course, we’ve lost a lot of meaning now of some of his lewd comments because we don’t recognize them in the language. This is one of my favourites when he and Benvolio are looking for Romeo when he’s gone lusting after Juliet. Mercutio is not impressed with Romeo’s posturing over his love for Rosaline and teases him mercilessly. He is even less impressed with the speed Romeo switches from Rosaline to Juliet.

I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes,
By her high forehead and her scarlet lip,
By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh
And the demesnes that there adjacent lie,
That in thy likeness thou appear to us!

Sticking with Mercutio, the bit I wish I had written was his Queen Mab speech which is so imaginative and rich in language, and also innuendo 😀

What are you working on now?

This year I have two books out with Wayward Ink (at least I hope so as the second one is only tentatively accepted). I am also trying to promote my back catalogue. I am terrible at promotion which is reflected in sales figures I’m afraid. Still, my publishers seem to be putting up with me 😀

My writing is extremely diverse and is suffering, I think, because it isn’t romance. Although there are romantic pairings in my stories there is very little (or no) sex and they are pretty much all YA/NA. My latest, “Lab Rat”, is about a young man who, at fourteen, was forcibly experimented on in a government experiment to release latent psychic talent. The experiment was a failure and Gabriel finds himself let loose without ceremony (dumped on his parents’ doorstep)

Angry and bitter, with bad memories, disastrous and deadly relationships behind him and increasing intrusive voices in his head Gabriel really doesn’t want a relationship. When he meets a sexy stranger in a bar Laurie has other ideas and relentlessly pursues Gabriel until he relents.

When he becomes aware the government are trying to track him down he first tries to run from Laurie then runs with Laurie but he can’t escape what’s inside his head.

When the scientist catch him what ensues is dangerous and deadly but with Laurie and Elena, one of the scientists) at his side he struggles the come to terms with what has been unlocked inside his head also his growing feelings for Laurie which prevent him from doing what he really wants to do – walk into the lake and let the water close over his head.

When he’s taken again he finds out the true extent of what the scientists are trying to achieve and blows the whole thing apart with shattering consequences.

That’s quite a lengthy summary but it’s quite a complex book. It’s also angsty, inspirational and tugs at the heartstrings.

Ohe two books coming out this year

One is about a rent boy with heart troubles on the run from a murderer being protected by a cop with an attitude who seems to hate him.

The other is about the coming together of two boys, one from an ultra conservative background, one from a very unconventional one (four children with four fathers all of whom share each other and the mother in a curious relationship that transcends the norm) and what happens when a third is added to the mix, against a background of rock stardom, mental health issues and a madman who will stop at nothing to protect his political career

Could we please have an excerpt?

From Kiss me Kade, my Summer’s Day story

Before he could say a word, Pete had sunk into the chair next to him and started eating his chips.
“Hey. Those are mine.”
Pete grinned. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist. You can share mine when they get here.”
“I don’t want to share yours,” Kade growled.
Pete shrugged and helped himself to another handful of chips. “Suit yourself. Go hungry if you want.”
A yell tore Kade’s eyes away from Pete, and his thieving hands. His heart fell when he spotted the rest of the crowd from the play. Bea was already surrounded by boys. Kade was torn. Should he get up and go to her? Should they leave? But she seemed so happy, practically glowing under all the attention.
“Chill,” Pete said, around a mouthful of Kade’s burger. “It’s not as if they’re going to get up to anything here.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Kade snatched the burger from Pete, and drew the remainder of the chips protectively close to his body.
“I’m doing you a favour. I’m stopping you getting fat.”
“I’m not going to get fat. I’m hungry. Why are you here? Go away and leave me alone.”
“News flash! I don’t spend my time following you around. Some lunatic stopped the rehearsal early so the boys decided to grab a Maccy D. Nothing to do with me.”
Kade’s cheeks warmed, and he turned his face away, leaving Pete an opening to snatch more chips.
“Stop it,” Kade snapped, slapping Pete’s hand. Half his meal had gone already and that in itself was enough to bring tears to his eyes.

Bio

Nephy Hart was born into a poor mining family in the South Wales Valleys. Until she was 16, the toilet was at the bottom of the garden and the bath hung on the wall. Her refrigerator was a stone slab in the pantry and there was a black lead fireplace in the kitchen. They look lovely in a museum but aren’t so much fun to clean.
Nephy has always been a storyteller. As a child, she’d make up stories for her nieces, nephews and cousin and they’d explore the imaginary worlds she created, in play.
Later in life, Nephy became the storyteller for a re enactment group who travelled widely, giving a taste of life in the Iron Age. As well as having an opportunity to run around hitting people with a sword, she had an opportunity to tell stories of all kinds, sometimes of her own making, to all kinds of people. The criticism was sometimes harsh, especially from the children, but the reward enormous.
It was here she began to appreciate the power of stories and the primal need to hear them. In ancient times, the wandering bard was the only source of news, and the storyteller the heart of the village, keeping the lore and the magic alive. Although much of the magic has been lost, the stories still provide a link to the part of us that still wants to believe that it’s still there, somewhere.
In present times, Nephy lives in a terraced house in the valleys with her son, dog, bearded dragon (called Smaug of course) and three cats. Her daughter has deserted her for the big city, but they’re still close. She’s never been happier since she was made redundant and is able to devote herself entirely to her twin loves of writing and art

A-Summers-Day-Customdesign-JayAheer2016-finalcover

Release Date: 12th of August

Cover Art: Jay Aheer Simply Defined Art

Genre: MM Mixed*

We have modern retelling of some plays, interpretations of others and one of the sonnets, and delightful referencing of anything Shakespeare.

There is gentle YA romance next to very hot 18+ stories and all kinds of relationships – first love, May/December, interracial, second chances, happy endings and even a tragic one.

We’re travelling from Ancient Rome through Renaissance England to modern day UK, Venice Beach and other places in USA, Vancouver and Havana.

There’s fun, drama, tears, angst, joy and, above all, lots of true love.

Note: All proceeds of this collection go to the It Gets Better Project™.

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A Summer’s Day – author interview #2 – Louise Lyons

Posted in Guests, New Release, tagged anthology, brit author, new release on August 7, 2016| 1 Comment »

Here is the second of my author interviews with authors who have contributed to the fantastic anthology, A Summer’s Day – Shakespearean stories with a twist.

My guest today is Louise Lyons, a fellow Brits whose previous works I have really enjoyed.

Welcome Louise.

What led you to pick your source material for your story?

The first Shakespeare play I studied in school was Romeo & Juliet, which I loved, and I also love the movie, Letters To Juliet, so this was the first idea to pop into my head when I heard about the anthology. Why not write a modern-day Romeo and “Julian” story? I’m usually a pantser when it comes to writing, although I make a timeline as I write to try and avoid continuity errors. I had the idea of the two young men having parents who hated each other, with a bit of a twist as to the reason. But when Romeo is forced to rescue Julian from drowning, the pair consider why they’ve been conditioned to hate each other, and realise actually, they find each other very attractive indeed! I threw in a few vague events from the original storyline – parents trying to keep them apart, etc, but of course my star-crossed lovers don’t die. They do get their happy ending eventually.

Shakespeare definitely has a way with words. What is your favourite insult/endearment/inspiring passage? Which bit do you wish you had written?

Well, that would have to be Hamlet’s famous soliloquy. I studied Hamlet at school as well, and my class went to see the play at the theatre. I memorised the soliloquy from beginning to end, but the only part I can remember now is: “To be or not to be, that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune…” Actually, I’m amazed I can remember that much after 25 years, haha.

What are you working on now?

A couple of things. I’m working on a new novel, of which I’ve written about 10,000 words so far. It’s called The Power of Will and is a paranormal love story, about a young guy called Tyler Marsden, newly broken up from a three-year relationship, who moves to a new town to escape the memories of his ex. In the ancient tumble-down cottage he moves to, he finds a journal written a century earlier, by a young gay man, William Bartlett, who was shunned by everyone, including his lover, when his secret was discovered. The last year of William’s life is detailed in the journal and as Tyler reads his story, strange things happen and he becomes convinced William is more than just a memory.

I’m also writing a light-hearted rock band story called Thirteen Black Cats, which I’m publishing weekly in the Wednesday Briefs group. It’s written from the point of view of singer, Ash, who reluctantly admits to his band mates that he’s gay, which does not surprise them at all. However, sleazy manager Jackson is less than impressed that his efforts to get Ash to “entertain” groupies to sell records won’t work. Ash and drummer Billy pretend to be in a relationship together to lend authenticity to Ash’s claims that he’s seeing someone, but he fights his growing attraction to Billy the whole time, not realising that Billy actually thinks he’s bisexual and wants to use the opportunity to test this out with a friend he trusts. You can read the short chapters on my blog each week.

Can we have an excerpt?

This little teaser is from my latest novel, Cervena, released July 22nd. Main character Joel Jones joint-owns a Prague nightclub with business partner Karel. When homeless Russian Sasha stumbles across his doorstep, soft-hearted Joel offers him a job as a dancer and home, and falls for him along the way. But their budding relationship is fraught with problems when Joel returns to London because of a death in his family, and later has to deal with his business partner gambling away the clubs profits, leaving him in a precarious position and in danger when the men Karel gambles with come after Joel for the debt. The excerpt is from Chapter 3, when Joel blurts out what he’s thinking and is surprised by the response.

I wondered what his answer would be if I asked him on a date the way I’d thought of doing a hundred times. I imagined trying to sound casual as I blurted out what was in my head: “Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow?” Would it really be so bad if I tried dating him? My excuses about the age difference, Sasha perhaps feeling obligated to say yes, and my previous failed relationship with a dancer had worn thin. Sasha wasn’t a child. He’d be twenty-one in a few weeks and was perfectly capable of making his own decisions. As long as I could control my jealousy when he was on the podium, it could all be fine. Then again, it was more likely he wasn’t interested in me in the slightest and would say no. Too long on my own had made me think I wasn’t much of a catch.
“Yes. That would be great. Thank you for asking.”
“Huh?” My mouth dropped open and I snapped it shut.
“I said yes, thank you. I’d like to go to dinner.”
Fuck, I said it out loud. It took me a moment to register that he’d accepted my invitation. I blinked and pulled myself together. “Good. What type of food do you like?”
“Anything is fine. Why don’t you choose what you like?”
“All right. Italian, then. We’ll go to my favorite restaurant. Do you have something smart but casual to wear? A shirt and pants?”
“Yes.” Sasha nodded and smiled.
“I’ll meet you here at seven.” I shouldn’t have been so excited over a dinner date. Although I’d known him a month, I knew very little about him. But the evening would be an opportunity to learn and I couldn’t wait.

AUTHOR BIO

Louise Lyons comes from a family of writers. Her mother has a number of poems published in poetry anthologies, her aunt wrote poems for the church, and her grandmother sparked her inspiration with tales of fantasy.

Louise first ventured into writing short stories at the grand old age of eight, mostly about little girls and ponies. She branched into romance in her teens, and MM romance a few years later, but none of her work saw the light of day until she discovered FanFiction in her late twenties. Posting stories based on some of her favorite movies, provoked a surprisingly positive response from readers. This gave Louise the confidence to submit some of her work to publishers, and made her take her writing “hobby” more seriously.

Louise lives in the UK, about an hour north of London, with a collection of tropical fish and tarantulas. She works in the insurance industry by day, and spends every spare minute writing. She is a keen horse-rider, and loves to run long-distance. Some of her best writing inspiration comes to her, when her feet are pounding the open road. She often races home afterward, and grabs pen and paper to make notes.

Louise has always been a bit of a tomboy, and one of her other great loves is cars and motorcycles. Her car and bike are her pride and job, and she loves to exhibit the car at shows, and take off for long days out on the bike, with no one for company but herself.

LINKS

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/louiselyonsauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/louiselyons013
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/louiselyons013
Website: http://www.louiselyonsauthor.com

A-Summers-Day-Customdesign-JayAheer2016-finalcover

Release Date: 12th of August

Cover Art: Jay Aheer Simply Defined Art

Genre: MM Mixed*

We have modern retelling of some plays, interpretations of others and one of the sonnets, and delightful referencing of anything Shakespeare.

There is gentle YA romance next to very hot 18+ stories and all kinds of relationships – first love, May/December, interracial, second chances, happy endings and even a tragic one.

We’re travelling from Ancient Rome through Renaissance England to modern day UK, Venice Beach and other places in USA, Vancouver and Havana.

There’s fun, drama, tears, angst, joy and, above all, lots of true love.

Note: All proceeds of this collection go to the It Gets Better Project™.

A-Summers-Day-Customdesign-JayAheer2016-banner2

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A Summer’s Day author interviews #1 Rory Ni Coileain

Posted in Guests, New Release, tagged anthology, author interview on August 6, 2016| 1 Comment »

I absolutely love Shakespeare and am always pleased when his work is taken as a starting point for other fiction. So this week and next I’m delighted to be hosting th authors who contributed stories to A Summer’s Day, an anthology of Shakespearean stories with a bit of a twist. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, all the profits from sales of this book will go to the It Gets Better project!

I’ll be taking the authors in the order in which their stories appear in the book so today I’m pleased to welcome Rory Ni Coileain who penned “Deeper Than Did Ever Plummet Sound”

Good morning, Rory. Can you tell me what led you to pick your source material for your story?

I have always loved The Tempest. Apart from being a fascinating glimpse into a magickal mythos created entirely by Shakespeare (as opposed to, say, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which borrows a number of characters), it’s an incredibly malleable story. I’m in love with a two-novel set by Dan Simmons (one of the most literate authors out there), Ilium and Olympos; the main story is based on the Iliad and the Odyssey, but there’s a major subplot based on The Tempest. And I’ve never tried a May/December romance, but Prospero and Ariel were a natural combination!

Shakespeare definitely has a way with words. What is your favourite insult/endearment/inspiring passage/? Which bit do you wish you had written?

I lifted my favorite tirade and gave it to Clarence in “Deeper” – it’s from King Lear. And Clarence is based on Sir Ian McKellen, and oh, can I ever hear it in his voice: “Thou’rt a knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, action-taking knave, a whoreson, glass-gazing, super-serviceable finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a bawd, in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch: one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deniest the least syllable of thy addition.”

What are you working on now?

UNDERTOW, number seven in my SoulShares series, just came out on July 19th, so I’m still doing publicity for that, and working on STONE COLD, number eight in the series. The SoulShares are urban fantasy – or paranormal, depending on your definition, I suppose – the world of the Fae split off from the human world more than 2,300 years ago, but every once in a while a Fae leaves the Realm voluntarily (rare) or involuntarily (much more common). And his soul is split in half, with half going through the Pattern and out into the human world, scattered at random through space and time to be reborn in a human. So if the Fae ever wants to be whole again, he has to find his SoulShare and join with him. Trouble is, Fae don’t believe in love… oh, and there’s a world-killing monster that was exiled from the Realm when the worlds split, and it’s ever so eager to get back and finish what it started…

Could we please have an excerpt?

Here’s a bit of a conversation between Clarence and his old school chum Jeremy, the director of the story’s production of The Tempest, the subject of which conversation is Troy, an actor who is doing his best to ruin the production out of sheer jealousy:

“Clarence.” Jeremy set down his bottle and extended his hands, palms down, patting the air as if he were trying to calm a possibly-but-maybe-not-harmless lunatic. “Are you saying you’re… not happy? With the production?”
Clarence snorted. He couldn’t help it. “Jeremy. My dear. Old. Friend.” He shook his head, setting the glass down and pushing it aside, hoping the bartender would notice and send over a replacement. “I cannot recall the last time I was happy with any production. I would be delighted to simply be not unhappy.”
“Would you give me a hint, at least?”
“Oh, for God’s sake. Troy sodding Miller.” That sounded marginally better than admitting he was pining after Jaymes.
Jeremy made a sound that reminded Clarence of a wet bladder being stepped on. “You would have to notice, damn it. My hands are tied.”
Clarence rested his chin on the heel of his hand with a sigh. “Let me guess. He’s connected.”
“How did you know?”
“There were three possibilities, dear boy. One was that he was outrageously talented and you simply couldn’t mount the production without him. Having been in a position to observe him over the last several weeks, I was able to rule out that option the moment you opened your mouth.”
Jeremy’s eyeroll was highly enjoyable. Clarence picked up his glass and shook it gently, setting the ice cubes clattering. Unfortunately, the bartender appeared to be preoccupied.
“The second possibility was that he was sleeping with the director.”
Perhaps it had been wicked of him to wait to deliver option number two until Jeremy had started to drain the last of his Guinness. However, wickedness was one of the perquisites of age he quite enjoyed.

Author Bio

Rory Ni Coileain majored in creative writing, back when Respectable Colleges didn’t offer such a major, so she had to design it herself, at a university which boasted one professor willing to teach creative writing, he being a British surrealist who went nuts over students writing dancing bananas in the snow but did not take well to the sort of high fantasy she wanted to write. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa at the age of nineteen, sent off her first short story to an anthology being assembled by an author she idolized, received one of those rejection letters that puts therapists’ kids through college (Ivy League), and found other things to do, such as going to law school, ballet dancing (at more or less the same time), and nightclub singing, for the next thirty years or so, until her stories started whispering to her. Now she’s a lawyer and a legal editor, and the proud mother of an about-to-graduate filmmaker, and is busily wedding her love of myth and legend to her passion for m/m romance.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Soulshares/
Twitter: @RoryNi
Blog: http://www.rorynicoileain.com

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Release Date: 12th of August

Cover Art: Jay Aheer Simply Defined Art

Genre: MM Mixed*

We have modern retelling of some plays, interpretations of others and one of the sonnets, and delightful referencing of anything Shakespeare.

There is gentle YA romance next to very hot 18+ stories and all kinds of relationships – first love, May/December, interracial, second chances, happy endings and even a tragic one.

We’re travelling from Ancient Rome through Renaissance England to modern day UK, Venice Beach and other places in USA, Vancouver and Havana.

There’s fun, drama, tears, angst, joy and, above all, lots of true love.

Note: All proceeds of this collection go to the It Gets Better Project™.

Buy Links
amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.co.uk:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.de: https://www.amazon.de/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-English-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.com.au: https://www.amazon.com.au/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/655310

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OMG – Eleventh Hour is out today

Posted in New Release, tagged eleventh hour, new release on August 1, 2016| 9 Comments »

This is the book I thought I’d never finish! It’s one I REALLY wanted to write about someone I really wanted to write about but when I started it I’d never actually heard the term gender fluid, I just honestly felt there ought to be such a thing. Anyway, here it is and I honestly hope I haven’t got Miles too wrong. Neither of us intend to offend. If I did, please let me know and I’ll promise to do better another time. But I hope you enjoy it too.

ELEVENTH HOUR

Borrowed from the Secret Intelligence Service cipher department to assist Briers Allerdale – a field agent returning to 1920s London with news of a dangerous anarchist plot – Miles Siward moves into a ‘couples only’ boarding house, posing as Allerdale’s ‘wife’. Miles relishes the opportunity to allow his alter ego, Millie, to spread her wings but if Miles wants the other agent’s respect he can never betray how much he enjoys being Millie nor how attractive he finds Allerdale.

Pursuing a ruthless enemy who wants to throw Europe back into the horrors of the Great War, Briers and Miles are helped and hindered by nosy landladies, water board officials, suave gentlemen representing foreign powers and their own increasing attraction to each other.

Will they catch their quarry? Will they find love? Could they hope for both?

The clock is ticking.

68,000 words/ 248 pages
$5.95

Publication 1 August 2016

Blog Tour – The Pinkerton Man by C J Baty

Posted in New Release on July 6, 2016| Leave a Comment »

The Pinkerton Man Series Banner

Title: The Pinkerton Man Series
Author: C.J. Baty
Genre: Gay Romance, Historical/Western
Length: Short story + Novella
Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing

Book One Synopsis

THE PINKERTON MAN

Stiles Langberry leaves England under the dark cloud of blackmail.

He resettles in America with a new name, becoming a Pinkerton Agent.

His new employer sends him undercover to a brothel that serves homosexual men, where prostitutes are being murdered. In the course of his investigation, he becomes involved with Paul, one of the prostitutes. Complicating matters, one of the suspects draws Stiles like no man before him. Stiles knows he must stop the killer before he strikes again.

ThePinkertonMan_Cover

Book Two Synopsis

HOME ON THE RANGE

Pinkerton Agent Stiles Long is sent to the Circle W Ranch to uncover who is killing the ranch’s cattle. In order to discover the truth about the goings on at the ranch, Stiles has to prove to the ranchers he’s more than a good-looking city slicker.

Savage Beare, the head ranch foreman, is far from happy that Stiles is there to check things out. He has secrets of his own.

Stiles finds Savage incredibly good-looking, but cold and aloof.

He’s also a suspect. One of many.

When Stiles’ best friend and partner, Lizzie Ferguson, is kidnapped things begin to shake apart.

Stiles doesn’t trust anyone and he needs to find Lizzie before it’s too late.

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Buy Links

WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/pinkerton-man-series-by-cj-baty/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-pinkertonmanseries-2058762-158.html
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Pinkerton-Man-Books-One-Two-ebook/dp/B01H1ZCQTE/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pinkerton-Man-Books-One-Two-ebook/dp/B01H1ZCQTE/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Pinkerton-Man-Books-One-Two-ebook/dp/B01H1ZCQTE/
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/Pinkerton-Man-Books-One-Two-ebook/dp/B01H1ZCQTE/

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Book Trailer

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Giveaway

Prizes: $4.99 WIP Gift Card, 1 ebook copy of Drifting Sands, 1 ebook copy of Island Paradise and 1 ebook copy of Whispers, Rumors, & Lies

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

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Excerpt:

“Close the door, Paul, and undress,” Stiles said, without breaking eye contact with O’Leary. Paul did as he was bidden. Stiles waited for the other man in the room to say something… anything, but he didn’t. He didn’t watch Paul undress, either. O’Leary kept the constant eye connection between the two of them.
Stiles spoke softly. It felt like he was talking to an injured animal, and he didn’t want to say or do anything to frighten him away.
“Would you like Paul to undress you?”
He didn’t dare speak the other man’s name for fear of him making a quick escape. And Stiles wanted this. He wanted to see this man naked, his cock hard and dripping, and he wanted to touch. No, he wanted to worship the man’s body with his hands and his tongue.
O’Leary still hadn’t spoken, but he began to remove his clothes. First, he removed his coat and placed it on the chair he was standing beside. He folded it neatly though he never actually looked at it. Stiles watched O’Leary’s long fingers undo the buttons of his vest and place it on top of the coat.
The only sound up to that point had been the rhythmic breathing of all three men. O’Leary’s voice broke the intimacy of the moment and replaced it with desire. “Paul.” O’Leary motioned for Paul to come to him. The younger man must have known what O’Leary wanted, because he immediately came forward and continued undressing O’Leary.
Stiles could not move. He was frozen to the spot, watching every inch of pale, muscled skin that Paul revealed as he removed O’Leary’s shirt. There was a fine dusting of reddish brown hair across O’Leary’s chest. Stiles followed Paul’s motions with his eyes, his lust growing with every look he took at O’Leary’s body. Just above his navel, hair a lighter shade of red thickened and formed a trail that dipped lower. Paul knelt to remove O’Leary’s shoes and socks next, then stood to undo the buttons of his trousers.

~~~

About the author

CJ BATY lives in southwest Ohio with her very patient husband and two encouraging children. Her heart however, lives in the mountains of Tennessee where she hopes to retire some day. The mountains have always provided her with inspiration and a soothing balm to the stresses of everyday life.

The dream of writing her own stories started in high school but was left on the back burner of life until her son introduced her to Fan Fiction and encouraged her to give it a try. She found that her passion for telling a story was still there and writing them down to share with others was much more thrilling than she had ever expected.

One thing she has learned from life and she is often heard to say is, “You are never too old to follow your dream!”

C.J. BATY can be found at:

Website: http://cjbaty.blogspot.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=344242482358480&fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbaty

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New Release – Junk Mage by Elliot Cooper

Posted in New Release, tagged cyberpunk, fantasy, new release, sci fi on July 4, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Available NOW

Author: Elliot Cooper

Title: Junk Mage

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: July 4, 2016

Genre: Sci-fi/Cyberpunk

Category: Romance

Pairing: MM

Sex Content: NA

Length: 17400 words

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

Purchase Links:

NineStar Press: http://ninestarpress.com/product/junk-mage/

Email: Raevyn@ninestarpress.com | Website: www.NineStarPress.com

Facebook: NineStar Press | Twitter: @NineStarPress

Book Blurb

When technomancer Quillian Defote crash-lands on remote planet Marutuk, he has limited time to repair his ship and get off world. If he fails, he’ll forfeit his position as professor of mechanical transmutation at the prestigious Ivy Arcanarium and ruin his employment prospects in yet another sector.

Hunter, a cyborg guarding a junkyard that holds what Quill needs, is charmed by the wayward mage and wants to help him. But Hunter is bound by honor to dutifully guard his mistress and her possessions, no matter how cruelly she treats him.

Together Quill and Hunter stand a chance of starting a new life together if carnivorous wildlife, a violent necromancer, and stubborn pride don’t keep them apart.

Author Bio

Elliot Cooper is a creativity addict who enjoys writing stories that embody adventure, a hint of the taboo, and shadows that are deeper than they appear at first glance. He also enjoys video games and knitting, and lives in the southern US with his human and feline family.

Website: http://www.elliotcooperwrites.com

Twitter: @elliotwrites

Excerpt

I fiddled with the controls on my binocular goggles, one of my own handy creations, and panned the tree line beyond the open, greeneryilled expanse stretching out on the other side of the road. Nothing caught my eye, even at higher magnification. I went left, following the road, jetbike blowing dirt and gravel up into a chalky cloud behind me.

The road curved around a section of deep, dark forest, and I saw my savior. Like a beacon of rusting hope, the hulking bodies of old ships, bikes, boats, and wheeled vehicles hunkered in a huge, fencedff ring at the end of the road.

It was the most beautiful pile of junk I’d ever seen.

A lone figure moved among the wreckage, and I knew I had no time to lose. If I played this right, I could cut a deal, get some parts to work with, and be back to old Lemon before sunset. The bug-eyed critters liked to ease out of the forests, slow and sloth-like, as soon as the light began to fade. No way did I want to figure out why they made those creepy chittering, gnashing noises all night.

I parked my bike and hopped off near the gate, flipping my goggles up and wiping my forehead with my sleeve as I went. It was never a good idea to sneak up on someone who was openly armed, and I definitely wanted the guy’s full attention. I waved in greeting and smiled with all the warmth and excitement I could muster.

“Hey! Hi! You there! With the gun!”

He marched over—huge, bald, and muscled—the brown coveralls tied at his waist and his tight tank top leaving very little to the imagination. It looked like he’d been given hand-me-downs from a scrawnier brother.

“State your business,” he demanded in a rich voice, his rifle in sight but lowered. Half of the hand beside the trigger was polished silver metal.

“I’m interested in buying some parts. Are you the owner?” His expression turned quizzical. Armed guard, then. “D’you guys take universal credits? Please say you take them.” I didn’t have anything else. I hadn’t intended to take a side trip to a backwater thieves’ den that didn’t even seem to have any thieves in it. But here was captain beefcake, potential business partner, hero, and temporary social life. If he didn’t shoot me.

“Nothing’s for sale. Move along.” He gestured with his gun.

“I can’t interest you in a barter? Something?”

He stood there like a human wall. He didn’t even blink.

“Go away.”

“Look, I crashed on the beach. I just want to get what I need and… well, go away. From this whole weird planet. But to do that, I need some parts. Please.”

“In ten seconds, if you’re still standing there, I’ll shoot.” The cyborg raised his rifle and peered down the sight.

I wondered if he had bionic eyes, too. I wondered if the fence was electrified. I wondered what I could say to change his mind. Whatever it was, it’d take more than ten seconds to work out.

My hands up defensively, I motioned—thoughts working the gun’s barrel up at a ninety-degree angle with a loud creak. The cyborg jerked his head up and stared at the gun, then at me.

“I’m sure we can work out a deal, mister,” I said and put on another of my charming smiles. It usually worked, but this guy was a tough nut to crack. “You have to need something. Everybody needs something or other.”

“Another junk mage.” His brows furrowed over his deep set eyes. It wasn’t a good look for him. His face went impassive again as he tossed his rifle aside and reached behind his back with one hand. There had to be a pistol or some other weapon tucked into his coveralls, but he was smart enough to know if I couldn’t see it, I couldn’t easily ruin it.

“Huh. I’ve never been called that before,” I told him, even though he’d been talking to himself. Maybe that’d get Ry to crack a smile on our next call. Quillian Defote: junk mage extraordinaire. “Is your boss a technomancer? Can I talk to them? Mage to mage?”

“She doesn’t like strangers I don’t shoot.”

Buy links to follow when available!

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Cover Reveal for Cervena by Louise Lyons

Posted in Excerpt, New Release on June 22, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Cervena cover Blurb:

When Joel Jones finds homeless Russian, Sasha, outside his gay nightclub in Prague, he cannot find it in his heart to turn him away, so he offers him a home and a job as a dancer and stripper.
Despite a fifteen-year age gap, romance develops between them, but is interrupted when Joel has to return to England for many weeks to deal with a death in the family.
Upon Joel’s return, he is horrified to discover his business partner, Karel, has gambled away the club’s money and put them all at risk. Joel buys him out of the club, but when Karel continues to gamble, the people he owes pursue Joel for the debt instead—and they’ll stop at nothing to get paid.
Suddenly Joel and those he cares about—especially Sasha—are in danger, and Joel finds himself with no choice but to seek the help of known criminal, Vincenc Jankovic. Ensuring a happy future for himself and Sasha will mean a struggle and some difficult decisions, but Joel is determined to protect what they’ve built together.

Excerpt:

“Who is that guy?” Karel hooked one ankle over his other knee as we waited for Sasha’s “dress rehearsal.” He’d been with us a week and that night he would take to the podium in front of hundreds of clubbers for the first time. Why did I dislike the idea of it so much?
“What do you mean? You know who he is.”
“His name’s not Sasha. I looked at the file.”
“It’s a pet name his sister gave him.”
Karel raised an eyebrow. “How well do you know him, Joel?”
“Not as well as you got to know Bohdan and Marek when they joined us.”
Karel snorted. “Have you not heard of ‘try before you buy’?”
“They audition to dance, not fuck.” I grimaced, but Karel laughed.
“They weren’t complaining.”
“Well, keep your hands off Sasha,” I snapped.
“Someone’s possessive.”
“No, I just don’t want to see you mess with him. He’s a sweet kid.”
“Right.”
I stopped talking and turned my attention to Sasha as he climbed onto the podium. He’d had his hair cut in a short crop that suited him perfectly. He’d gained three or four pounds and looked much healthier than he had when I’d found him scavenging in the yard. It was difficult to believe only a week had passed. He seemed to be fitting in well with the other boys. All five of the dancers had welcomed him with open arms, and Tomáš and Fran had taken on the role of “tutors.” They’d reported Sasha was good, but neither Karel nor I had seen him dance yet.
Sasha bit his lip and clenched his slender hands into fists as he waited for the music to start. His nervousness was obvious and I hoped he’d be okay when he got going. It wasn’t a job for everyone. We’d had two young men try out for us in the summer and neither of them had the balls when it came down to it.
Pavel started the music—a fast dance track. Sasha closed his eyes for a moment and his chest heaved as he took a breath. Then he began to move. He had perfect rhythm, swaying, bucking, and grinding with the beat, turning slowly so he’d be seen from all sides of the podium when he was doing it for real. He kept his eyes half-closed, lips parted, and gradually his face relaxed into an expression of pleasure.

Buy Links when available.

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New Release – The Pinkerton Man by C J Baty

Posted in New Release, tagged historical romance, new release, series on June 16, 2016| Leave a Comment »

PinkertonManSeries_Banner

Book One Synopsis

THE PINKERTON MAN

Stiles Langberry leaves England under the dark cloud of blackmail.

He resettles in America with a new name, becoming a Pinkerton Agent.

ThePinkertonMan_Cover

Book One Synopsis

HOME ON THE RANGE

Savage Beare, the head ranch foreman, is far from happy that Stiles is there to check things out. He has secrets of his own.

Stiles finds Savage incredibly good-looking, but cold and aloof.

He’s also a suspect. One of many.

When Stiles’ best friend and partner, Lizzie Ferguson, is kidnapped things begin to shake apart.

Stiles doesn’t trust anyone and he needs to find Lizzie before it’s too late.

HomeOnTheRange_Cover

Buy Links

Don’t miss the discounted pre-order and buy prices until 48 hours after release!

PinkertonManSeries_600x956

Excerpt

STILES LANGBERRY HAD thought his world was perfect. He was considered handsome by most women and men. His father had graciously left him a very tidy sum upon his death, to do with as he pleased. His position of constable at Scotland Yard was one he enjoyed, mostly because he didn’t have to work for a living. And most importantly of all, he had the perfect discreet lover in the winsome Viscount Harold Crosby. Life was good, until…

Several months ago, the first letter had come. A blackmailer’s letter. It was descriptive, citing times and places he and Harry had enjoyed each other’s company. He ignored it. He told Harry to ignore the one he received as well. But Viscount Crosby turned out to be a coward wrapped up in a beautiful package.

Harry paid the requested amount and, by doing so, admitted his relationship with Stiles and opened the door to more letters. They came more frequently, demanding larger and larger sums of money.

Stiles refused to pay the demands and, since Harry was filling the filthy blackmailer’s pockets, the fiend had left him somewhat alone. That is, until poor Harry offed himself and the vile beast’s money stream dried up.

He still refused to pay, and shortly the letters stopped as suddenly as they had begun. Stiles hoped that whoever the blackmailer was, he’d given up or, more than likely, switched to some other poor sod for his pennies. He soon found out that wasn’t the case.