book tour

Author: Dusk Peterson

Title: The Balance

Series: The Eternal Dungeon

Book: Three (Can be read as a standalone)

Release Date: April 11, 2016 (reissue)

Length: 90,000 words

Categories: Alternate Universe, Gay Fiction, Historical, Adventure, Genderqueer

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29909931-the-balance

Publisher:  Love In Dark Settings Press

Cover Artist: Dusk Peterson

“The Eternal Dungeon is my home now,” the High Seeker said. But as he spoke, he lifted his face and looked at the Vovimian carving, as a man might look at a beloved he must leave forever.

The Seekers (torturers) in the Eternal Dungeon have always expressed contempt toward the Hidden Dungeon in the neighboring kingdom of Vovim, whose torturers abuse prisoners without restraint. But the balance between mercy and hell is not so clear as might be thought in either dungeon, and now that balance is about to tip. Only the strength of love and integrity will determine the paths of two Seekers whose fortunes are bound together.

A winner of the 2011 Rainbow Awards (within the “Eternal Dungeon” omnibus), this tale of love and adventure can be read on its own or as the third volume in The Eternal Dungeon, a speculative fiction series set in a nineteenth-century prison where the psychologists wield whips.

The Eternal Dungeon series is part of Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, a cycle of alternate history series (Young Toughs, Waterman, Life Prison, Commando, Michael’s House, The Eternal Dungeon, and Dark Light) about adults and youths on the margins of society, and the people who love them. Set in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the novels and stories take place in an alternative version of America that was settled by inhabitants of the Old World in ancient times. As a result, the New World retains certain classical and medieval customs.

Buy the book:  http://duskpeterson.com/eternaldungeon/#thebalance

Universal / Global Amazon – myBook.to/TheBalance_DPeterson

BN – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-balance-dusk-peterson/1115247368

kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-balance-the-eternal-dungeon-volume-3

iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/balance-eternal-dungeon-volume/id1102706878?mt=11

smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/629188

He had awoken, on that day after, to find himself lying alone in bed.

It had all been a dreaming, then: the promise of everlasting love, the passion that had followed upon that promise, the warmth of Elsdon’s body – and more importantly, the warmth of his companionship. Layle had expected it to happen one day: his dreamings had become so real that he had begun to believe them.

The bedsprings creaked.

He reacted automatically, which meant he reacted violently. Reaching toward the only loose object at hand – the night-table next to the bed – he grasped it by its leg, wrenched it from the floor, and had begun to swing it toward the intruder before he checked himself in time.

He opened his eyes. Elsdon, fully clothed and hooded but with his face-cloth raised, sat beside him. He looked, Layle realized with amazement, more amused than fearful.

“By all that is sacred,” Elsdon said, speaking the mildest of oaths, “is this how you always greet your love-mates upon awakening?”

Layle slowly lowered the night-table, feeling the blood thunder within his body. “I’ve never had a love-mate before who slept with me.”

“I can see why, if this is how you wake from your sleep.”

Layle slowly raised himself into a sitting position. Elsdon was still smiling, he noted with growing incredulity. The Seeker-in-Training had made a joke about the fact that Layle was a killer born.

Honored in the Rainbow Awards, Dusk Peterson writes historical adventure tales that are speculative fiction: alternate history, historical fantasy, and retrofuture science fiction, including lgbtq novels and young adult fiction. Friendship, family affection, faithful service, and romance often occur in the stories. A resident of Maryland, Mx. Peterson lives with an apprentice and several thousand books.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/loveindarksettings

Twitter: http://twitter.com/duskpeterson

Website: http://duskpeterson.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2072858.Dusk_Peterson

Tumblr: http://duskpeterson.tumblr.com

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Author: Ann Anderson

Title: No Secrets Needed

Series: New Beginnings

Book: Two (Should be read in order for maximum enjoyment)

Release Date: May 11, 2016

Length: 67,000 words

Categories: Fantasy, Gay Fiction, Romance

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6550681.Ann_Anderson

Publisher: Less Than Three Press

Cover Artist: London Calling

After bidding farewell to his family and Trint, the man he’s come to care for, Rafe heads out to sea, free to be himself for the first time in his life—free to learn himself, away from the constraints and trials of his mother, away from the terrible person he believed himself to be while forced to live with her.

When Rafe returns home his family is waiting for him—but there’s no sign of Trint. With a little push from his ward, Rafe decides to be bold and go after what he wants, though he fears in the end that all his efforts might still not be good enough to overcome the past and the secrets that have controlled so much of his life.

https://lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_bookx_info&cPath=92&products_id=1118

Rafe rose and stood beside his bed, the dagger clutched tight as he waited for some indication that they were searching his ship. Who they might be, he wasn’t sure. They shouldn’t have been too far into unclaimed water, and as far as he knew, no pirate or enemy to their kingdom would attack so close to claimed water, but he could be wrong. There was always a chance for some war to crop up, even in these peaceful times.

The fighting sounded to have stopped not long after he woke, but Rafe waited until there was a knock at his door, and Captain Manis poked his head into the room, before moving, following him onto the deck to take stock of the damage.

“This shouldn’t have happened,” one of the men whispered as he hefted a body and placed it into a pile near the bow of the boat.

Rafe didn’t say anything as he cast a glance at Captain Manis. His mouth was pinched, eyes hard as he led Rafe to a group of men, no older than boys, and stopped, arms crossed as he scowled at the defiant figures. Rafe waited, but when Captain Manis didn’t say anything, he stepped forward.

“Why have you attacked our ship?” His gaze skimmed the group before him, taking in the trembling forms. After a quick perusal, he settled on one of the men whose eyes darted from side to side. Rafe knelt before the man, clasping his jaw in a firm hand. “Why have you attacked our ship?”

The man glanced from side to side again, but none of his fellows would look at him or speak up. With a deep breath, the man spoke in a small, childlike voice. “It’s our right.”

Rafe lifted an eyebrow. He must not have heard correctly. “Excuse me?”

Ann Anderson enjoys long walks through wooded areas, hunting zombies, and stealing treasure from space pirates. Only the first happens in real life. Besides allowing her imagination to run rampant, Ann loves editing and is glad she’s been able to make a small career of it while following through with her other passion of writing. Her cats can attest to both passions as they enjoy knocking the laptop from her lap and claiming the space as their own whenever Illinois weather drops to a reasonable degree.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008249014563

Ann enjoys hearing from people and can be contacted at author_ann_anderson@yahoo.com

Today I’m welcoming Ann Anderson to chat about writing, life, and their current project. Welcome! Let’s talk a little about No Secrets Needed, New Beginnings #2.

What inspired you to write this story?

I wrote the first book in the series and realized there had to be a second. And I wrote the first because I really wanted to try my hand at re-working a fairytale.

Is there a character you feel especially connected to? Why?

I tend to feel connected with all my characters because I put a bit of myself in each one, but for this story I’m rather connected to the main character, Rafe, since he’s a lot like me in some ways and both of us are rather awkward and roundabout in the way we fall in love.

What was the hardest part of writing this?

There was this one scene that I knew was needed, but I couldn’t, for some reason, write it. I had my beta reader look it over, but they had no suggestions and I cursed and swore and cried before finally caving and sending it off to my editor without the scene I knew was needed. My editor pointed out that the scene was needed and I swore and cursed and tried not to cry then talked with my cat (they’re very good for talking at when you don’t want a response) and I slowly figured it out. It ended up being a lot longer than I thought it would be, but it was needed and the hardest part just because it took so long to work out.

Choose a favorite line or short passage. What do you like about it?

Soon, his future would be before him, and he intended to take it.

This line happens about halfway through the story, at the end of a chapter, and I think it’s one of my favorites because while Rafe worries about his future, and the futures of those around him, he still has conviction, this underlying steel that refuses to bend or break because of his past or his present.

Tell us a little about any upcoming projects.

I have the third book in the series written and am working through some heavy edits since a certain plot I thought worked turned out not to and there are little things that need to be changed throughout. I have three short stories out for submission, am working on another short story for a call with Less Than Three Press, and have a few rough ideas for two other novels I want to have written by the end of the year.

Are there any types of scene you find hard to write (action, love, death, etc.)?

More often than not it’s love scenes. I think it’s because love is such a personal thing, with so many different emotions attached to it that I want to keep true to my characters even more than if I were writing an action scene.

What do you do when you feel stuck (writer’s block)?

I do a lot of things. One is to switch up the music I’m listening to, another is to set it aside for a bit and read or write something else, and other times I talk either with my younger sister or at one of my cats, because thinking out loud, for whatever reason, makes it a lot harder to push what I’m focused on away or let other thoughts overpower it.

How do you handle a story that doesn’t go as you planned?

I learned long ago that my stories go better if I don’t really plan them (this is why I’m more of a pantser than a plotter) and kind of trust in my characters. Usually my characters take me on a nice little journey and while I might not have planned it, or I didn’t plan for what occurred to happen until much later, I let them go where they will and usually everything circles back and I find the story back on the vague plan I’d thought of in the beginning. If nothing else, I tell myself that editing is where I’m in control and can change what went awry.

Word Sprints!

1. Cats or dogs? Cats!
2. What’s your favorite book? Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
3. Do you write full-time or part-time? Part-time
4. Do you have any pets? Five cats
5. What’s your favorite season? Winter

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Title: Hector and Anatolius

Author: Vanessa Mulberry

Series: Trojan Men #1

Length: 29688 words

Release Date: May 9th 2016

Genre: Historical MM Romance, Paranormal

Goodreads Link:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29759539-hector-and-anatolius?from_new_nav=true&ac=1&from_search=true

Hector has been a dutiful son and prince his whole life until his father orders him to marry. The Trojan was meant for no woman, and when he meets a handsome youth named Anatolius, he is more determined than ever to rule one day with a man at his side. However, after he is betrayed by his brother Paris his fate seems unavoidable. Hector needs all the courage he has learned in battle, and the assistance of a goddess, to win the hand of the man he loves.

This is a gay (MM) romance novel set prior to the events of the Trojan War. It depicts romantic and sexual love between two men in a broadly tolerant society.

Hector and Anatolius is the debut novel of British author, Vanessa Mulberry.

Amazon US | Amazon UK

After the meal, Hector drew the lad to him, and they relaxed on the shared kline to talk about their histories and their beliefs. Both drank strong wine, but Hector watched Anatolius carefully, mindful of its dizzying effects. “Just a little,” he said when Anatolius asked one of the servants for a third cup. “I won’t touch you if you’re sotted, and you will have to wait another day for my attentions.”

Anatolius appeared embarrassed, but when the servant stepped away, he whispered, “Thank you. I don’t want to wait.”

When the conversation lulled, Hector scooped his guest up and carried him from the room.

Anatolius put his arm around Hector’s neck and rested his head against the prince’s powerful shoulder. He laughed and said, “I will walk to your bedroom if that is where we are going. I’ll run if you like.”

Hector strengthened his grip, pulling him a little closer. “You may race me there another day, but tonight you go in my arms.”

“Don’t you think you can beat me?”

“It wouldn’t worry me if you did. I carry you because I want it to be known I will be your man tonight. Tomorrow I will follow you to the bed if you wish.”

Soon they reached his private apartment. It was a magnificent space: large and airy, with room on one side for cozier entertaining than the andron permitted and a soft bed for afterward. It led onto a terrace, which looked down over the city, and, as the night was warm, the imposing doors to it stood open, their silver casings glowing faintly in the moonlight.

The lamps were already lit, illuminating murals dedicated to Eros. Hector set Anatolius down and saw the lad’s eyes widen as he looked around at the walls. “Gods,” he murmured, “is this a shrine or a bedchamber?”

Hector had worshiped a lot of men in that room, but he didn’t think the pictures so unusual. He reminded himself that Anatolius hadn’t been in as many beds as him.

“Do you want to pray? I don’t usually conduct rituals in the palace, but we can if you like.”

Anatolius continued to stare at the walls. Hector saw his eyes rest on an image of two men making love. One was bent over, being penetrated by the other who kissed his back.

“Do you think we should? I want my first time to be pleasurable.”

“You needn’t ask Eros for such a blessing. I will ensure that.”

Vanessa Mulberry lives in England with her husband and daughter.  Her achievements are numerous and of no interest to anyone reading this. Her hobbies include cheap alcohol and romance novels.  Growing up, Vanessa dreamed of becoming Mr. T, but the position has not yet fallen vacant.  She has settled for being a romance novelist instead.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Author: Heloise West

Title: Send Lawyers, Guns, and Roses

Series: Heart and Haven

Book: Two

Release Date: April 19, 2016

Length: 83,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Crime Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Mystery, Romance, Thriller

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8188216.Heloise_West

Publisher: Loose ID

Cover Artist: Syneca Featherstone

When Hunter and Alex are given the vacation of a lifetime, it’s a chance for them to pay attention to romance and get out of the path of danger. The tiny Caribbean island of Saba is gorgeous, the first to have marriage equality, and the Sabans are the nicest people on earth.

There’s lots of rum poolside for relaxing and a room with a mirror on the ceiling for passion. Hot karaoke nights, cold beer, and new friends.

But their new friends Orfeo and Max, and Max’s sister Talisha, share a troubling secret. Alex and Hunter want to help. As a hurricane bears down on them, a dead body surfaces, and a purple backpack loaded with stolen jewels leads a pair of dangerous men to the island.

Alex would rather poke his own eyes out with a pointy stick than call on his old enemy Nick Truman for help; he’d also do anything to keep Hunter out of danger. But even his nemesis can’t reach them now.

Once again, they only have each other to depend on as their paradise is about to become hell on earth.

http://www.loose-id.com/send-lawyers-guns-and-roses.html

http://www.amazon.com/Send-Lawyers-Roses-Heart-Haven-ebook/dp/B01EII2I36/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1461101311&sr=1-1

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“Ready? Take the beach bag. I’ll grab the chairs,” Alex said. “Did you get enough to eat?”

“Yeah. What’s the time?” Hunter slung the bag over his shoulder.

Alex shrugged. “Who cares? Have a cocktail. You know, to hydrate and pace yourself for a long day in the sun.”

“Let’s set up camp. Maybe a nap first.”

Their bare feet slapped against the sun-bleached boards of the footbridge, some of the flowering rainforest clinging to its edges for the hundred or so feet from the breakfast patio to the pool. The beach chairs were striped canvas and wood, chaise-style. Alex had grabbed a matching umbrella for when the sun was directly overhead. He left it closed, as they had a few hours yet before noon, by the arc of the sun in the unbelievably blue sky. The poolside held a half dozen chaise lounges and couples of various ages. They returned languorous, sun-soaked greetings in English, Dutch, and French as Alex led them to a spot he deemed worthy for their day in the sun. When the chairs were side by side, the canvas beach bag between them, Hunter sighed with pleasure, though he was soaked with sweat. He pulled off his T-shirt. “Do you want to swim first?”

“I’m dying to.” With a wicked grin, Alex slid his shorts down, the T-shirt hem falling to below his hips.

“Tell me you didn’t get a thing-thong!” God, they’d laughed together at the online models wearing bathing suits with pockets for their cocks.

Alex laughed. “No, a Speedo. For you.” He shrugged out of his T-shirt with an elegant, mouth-watering play of muscles and skin, and some of the lounging women whistled and clapped for the navy-and-white-striped Speedo he revealed. Hunter mock-growled and reached out to grab Alex, but he dashed away and ran along the side of the pool, blond hair streaming, long, muscular legs eating up the distance to the deep end. He dived like a happy dolphin into the water. Hunter ran after him and followed with a hurried, sloppy dive, shocked at the sensation of water as warm as bathwater. He wanted to melt into it. When he came up for air, hands beneath the water gripped his calves, and he grabbed a breath before Alex yanked him under. They wrestled briefly, then surfaced.

“Fantastic!” Alex shook his head briskly to whip the water from his hair.

Hunter shoved him, threw himself on top of him, and they went under again.

When they surfaced, Alex said, “We can rent a sailboat. Or a rowboat and paddle around in the bay. Or fish if you want. Do you think your leg will hold up to snorkeling?”

“Snorkeling, maybe even scuba.” He’d swim to the moon to keep Alex happy.

“I was born underwater,” Alex said, surprising him. “I even had those infant swim lessons.”

“You’re a natural,” Hunter replied. “Aqua Boy.”

Alex shoved him again; Hunter let himself fall backward into the water with a huge splash.

They swam for a while, joined by the other sunbathers when the heat got too intense. Hunter pulled himself from the pool and sat on the edge, watching Alex do laps. He shaded his eyes against the fierce touch of the sun. It pressed against his skin despite the water-resistant sunblock, and he splashed water up and down his arms, chest, and neck to cool off. Maybe he should have gone tanning like Alex had, because it hurt to touch his skin already. The water reflected and intensified the sun. He wasn’t that kind of redhead, but the tropical sun made him feel like one. Tanning had seemed kind of frou-frou…not for him…but he didn’t want to look like a strip of bacon at the end of the day either. Sucked it up and endured the tanning bed.

Alex swam over and pulled his gorgeous body out of the pool to sit on the edge beside Hunter. “I’m ready for some reading and napping. Lunch buffet is open until four… What are you laughing at?”

“We must be on vacation if we’re planning the day around the next meal.”

Alex smiled. “It’s about ten now. We can eat something light at eleven when they open.” He leaned in close. “If we go up to the room by noon, we’ll have time to screw our brains out until about two and have lunch again.”

Hunter nodded. It was all he could do.

“So it’s not meal times we’re planning for, right?” The sparkle in Alex’s eyes wasn’t about ham sandwiches and fruit salad. “Did you see the awesome mirror on the ceiling?”

Heloise West, when not hunched over the keyboard plotting love and mayhem, dreams about moving to a villa in Tuscany. She loves history, mysteries, and romance of all flavors. She travels and gardens with her partner of 10 years, and their home overflows with books, cats, art, and red wine.

Blog: https://velvetpanic2.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heloise.west.1

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Email: heloise_67@hotmail.com

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Author: Tali Spencer

Title: Victory Portrait

Series: Pride of Uttor

Book: Four

Release Date: April 6, 2016

Pages or Words: 78,600 words

Categories: Alternate Universe, Fantasy, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29851588-victory-portrait

Publisher: Resplendence Publishing

Cover Artist: Melody Pond

Imperial captive and former Sebboyan prince Peta Kordeun has one great wish: to meet Darius Arrento, conqueror of his country and a man he has idolized since childhood. That wish comes true the day the Uttoran emperor assigns Peta to assist the artist who will be painting the great general’s official portrait.

General Darius Arrento would rather take a crossbow bolt through his flesh than sit for a portrait, until his friend the emperor forces his hand. The notorious artist, Brazzi, uses semen and other sexual fluids to bind his colors—and Arrento is captivated by the artist’s pretty helper. Before long he is driven to possess the gorgeous young man who draws battle maps and whose naïve charm has won more hearts in Uttor than Arrento has won battles.

When Arrento learns that Peta, the slave he covets and wants for his own, is one of the despised Kordeun princes, he storms from Uttor toward a far corner of the empire—where he quickly finds himself embroiled in a plot to tear Uttor’s empire apart. His emotions and loyalties frayed, the great Arrento is in the battle of his life…and Peta may hold the key to his survival.

Resplendence Publishing: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/816-201-119-942-5–victory-portrait-pride-of-uttor-book-four-by-tali-spencer.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Victory-Portrait-Fantasy-Romance-Spencer-ebook/dp/B01E1I7GX0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1460397555&sr=1-1&keywords=victory+portrait+tali+spencer

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-victoryportraitprideofuttorbookfour-2017021-340.html

“You want me to assist the painter. Only that?” Peta asked.

“Yes. I just want you to understand you will be naked and…Brazzi will want you to be sexually aroused.”

“What?”

“It’s what Brazzi does. Not for himself—not unless you’re a woman—but for his method. He was tried three years ago on charges of obscenity because he uses…sexual fluids for mixing his paint. He truly is a genius. His colors are astonishing.”

“And you want Arrento to see me like that? Naked and…being used?”

“No.” Gaspar was being firm. “I want a portrait of my general. And I happen to think that the sight of you will keep his ass firmly planted for whatever sittings the painter requires. You see, Darius has one weakness—only one. He cannot resist a thing of beauty—and you, my pretty slave, are the most breathtaking young man I have ever had the privilege to look upon.”

Peta flushed. Gaspar wasn’t smiling. The man was serious.

Could he do it? Did he want to do it? Peta knew he was pretty. His looks had blessed and cursed him all his life. His beauty had attracted Kesme as a fellow cadet and was what Kesme had praised that last night when they’d made love…and Peta’s face was what Lukacz, his own father, had sought to destroy, thinking that doing so would release him from predation and unnatural desires. And now Gaspar, too, wanted only one thing…

“Just sit there and look pretty,” he said, heart sinking as he grasped what Gaspar was asking him to do.

“Only if you’re willing. I’m not completely oblivious to what this sort of service might entail. It could be rather…awkward. On the other hand, it might not be for long. Darius can be stubborn. It’s possible he won’t show up.”

And just as possible that he would.

Peta wanted to say no but he could not get his mouth to form the word. He might never get another chance to see Arrento, perhaps hear his voice. Be in the same room with him.

He’d be silent…naked…terribly exposed even in his utter worship.

But he would at least be able to say he had seen the great man.

“I’ll do it,” he said.

Tali Spencer delights in erotic fantasy and adventure, creating worlds where she can explore the heights and shadows of sexual passion. A hopeful romantic and lover of all things exotic, she also writes high fantasy and science fiction. If you would like to see inspiration pictures for her characters, or glimpse how she envisions her worlds, check out her Pinterest boards.

Thanks to a restless father, she grew up as a bit of a nomad and still loves to travel whenever she can. Her longest stint in one place was Milwaukee where she went to college, enjoyed a series of interesting careers, and raised three surprisingly well-adjusted sons. She later married her true love and put down new roots in Philadelphia, where she lives in an ongoing Italian American family sitcom. At least she’s learned how make good pasta. When not writing, Tali reads everything from sweet goofy romances to medical research, manages her fantasy football team—go Gekkos!—and takes long walks with her loving, if slightly neurotic, poodle.

Tali’s other books include the three preceding Uttor books: Captive Heart, Dangerous Beauty, and Adored, all with Resplendence. Her gay male high fantasy stories, Thick as Thieves, Sorcerer’s Knot, and The Prince of Winds, are published by Dreamspinner Press. She often posts free stories and excerpts on her blog.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tali.spencer

Twitter: @tali_spencer

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/talispencer/

Blog: http://talismania-brilliantdisguise.blogspot.com

Science Fiction and Fantasy: My Great Escape

Thanks so much for letting me visit and talk about my great love for fantasy and science fiction.

Though I write the occasional contemporary (The Last Cannoli), almost all of my stories fall squarely into the realm of speculative fiction. And yes, it is because I like making up things. I’m not a natural liar—to be honest, I’m terrible at it and fail dismally at all games requiring me to bluff—but I’m an enthusiastic inventor, and what I love most to invent are other worlds.

When I was a child, making up worlds was a form of escape from my not completely stable family life. My father moved us around; every other year I was in a different part of the country—Massachusetts one year, Texas the next, that kind of thing—so I was always the new kid in school. I had no friends. The geography kept changing. People talked differently, thought differently, and I had no control over any of it.

I was in complete control of the worlds in my head, though, and I began writing them down. One of my schoolteachers took pity on me and pointed me toward The Lord of the Rings trilogy. What fun! A whole world of adventure and great characters! After reading it, at age 13, I was hooked. Though I still read every kind of fiction, epic high fantasy has been my main love.

I’ve been a published science fiction and fantasy author for a long time. My first published book was a mass market paperback under a different name from this one. I went to cons and became a member of Science Fiction Writers of America. It was fun, but I stopped submitting my work for publication for a long while for personal reasons. When I started writing again, I immediately dove back into creating new worlds.

Uttor, the world of my newest release, Victory Portrait, is home to a series of alternate world fantasy romances. Two of the books feature M/F couples and the other two are M/M. Some readers won’t read the Uttor books because of this, and I respect that. In the case of this world, if I only wrote one type of pairing or the other, I wouldn’t be telling the whole story. Or rather, I would be telling a very different story, one in which other gender pairings are invisible and unnecessary to the complete picture. So I tell it this way and hope the readers who do find the series will enjoy the ride. This is the only series I write this way.

Most of my current work is M/M, like my sword and sorcery romp, Thick as Thieves. I had such fun writing that book! In what other genre could I frolic with a giant barbarian with an even bigger heart, a much-put-upon male witch, and a baby basilisk? How about a story with spider shifters? I wrote one. I have a story coming out in November that re-invents the American Wild West with elemental cowboys. In speculative fiction, a writer can do anything as long as the story has its own internal logic and integrity.

All authors have the entire world as their playground. I have multiple universes. There’s always somewhere new to go and explore—and every time I do, I hope I can take readers with me.

What’s this? You want to know more about me? You got it…I have very few secrets.

What are some of the jobs besides writer that you’ve held?

Oh gosh, have I worn a lot of hats! I’ve been a bakery clerk, respiratory therapist, homemaker, wife, and mother of three (don’t tell me those aren’t jobs!), medical writer, writing instructor in college, grant writer, English as a Second Language instructor, legislative assistant, and airport public relations coordinator. As you can see, most of my later jobs had writing components.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

I raised three headstrong, wonderful boys to adulthood. They’re smart, funny, and successful in their fields. Two are married and have infants of their own now, and the third is definitely in the running to becoming The Most Interesting Man in the World. They are my best work.

What do you see yourself doing in another 1, 5, and/or 10 years?

Writing. My one-year goal is to produce two more novel. My five-year goal is to have my epic high fantasy series (finished, just looking for a home) published. In ten years I would love to be writing thrillers or screenplays with my talented husband. I can see myself in a nursing home someday, writing up a storm.

18-Apr: Prism Book Alliance

19-Apr: Decadent Delights

20-Apr: Bonkers About Books, Full Moon Dreaming

21-Apr: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

22-Apr: Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

25-Apr: The Novel Approach, Happily Ever Chapter

26-Apr: BFD Book Blog

27-Apr: My Fiction Nook

28-Apr: Bayou Book Junkie, V’s Reads

29-Apr: Oh My Shelves

2-May: Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Book Lovers 4Ever

3-May: Kirsty Loves Books, Open Skye Book Reviews

4-May: Alpha Book Club

5-May: Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

6-May: Molly Lolly

9-May: A.M. Leibowitz

10-May: Divine Magazine

11-May: Love Bytes, Man2ManTastic, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat

12-May: Andrew Q. Gordon, Nephy Hart, Rebecca Cohen Writes

13-May: Louise Lyons, MM Good Book Reviews

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Author: Bellora Quinn and Angel Martinez

Title: Kellen’s Awakening

Series: AURA

Book: Three (Series should be read in order)

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Pages or Words: 69,000 words

Categories: Alternate Universe, Contemporary, Gay Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29245467-kellen-s-awakening

Publisher: Pride Publishing

Cover Artist: Emmy Ellis

The staff at AURA has had a busy summer. Between chronic understaffing, dealing with warring goblin factions and an unusual number of hazardous Events, everyone is overworked. Sinistrus the incubus, newly hired as an AURA medic, actually enjoys his busy new life of responsible employee and faithful lover to his gorgeous police sergeant, Ness the centaur. Life would be perfect, except for a niggling suspicion about a colleague. Everyone else seems to disagree, but Sin’s certain something’s not right with that pixie.

Kellen, a pixie crossover, loves his job working in AURA medical, even if he is something of an outsider. His job and the friends he manages to make are happy spots in an otherwise dark and secretive life. As the rest of AURA tries to discover the root of the inexplicable rise in violence and large scale Events, Kellen fights to preserve his own life and what dignity he has left.

These two unlikely heroes must put their differences aside and navigate tragedy and ever-escalating disaster together in order to stop the sinister forces that hold Kellen in thrall.

Buy the book: https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/kellens-awakening

“Before Kai gets lost in regaling you with wedding details…” Tenzin settled, then grunted as several flower fairies immediately popped into view around his head to land on his shoulders. “Our lovely Sin, now that we’re among friends and not at work, can you tell me why you insist on tormenting Kellen so terribly?”

“Oh, I dunno.” Sin picked up a spicy fried mushroom with his claws and popped it in his mouth. “I think I’m pretty good at tormenting him.”

Ness nudged him. “Be serious, love. Why do you pick on him? Even I’ve seen it.”

“Look, I just don’t like everyone, okay?” Sin spread his hands when everyone gave him side eyes. “Took me a bit to warm up to Val, right?”

“You had good reason to be angry with Val,” Ness said as he reached for an oat muffin. “I don’t think Kellen ever actually caused you harm.”

Sin heaved a dramatic sigh. “Fine. He’s absolutely useless as a paramedic.”

“Not everyone is suited for emergency field medicine,” Tenzin said gently.

Ness leaned over to kiss the top of Sin’s head. “You are because you’re brave and don’t stop to think.”

“Hey!” Sin swatted at an equine flank.

“Oh, dear. I didn’t mean it that way.” Ness flushed darkly while the others laughed. “You don’t overthink. When someone needs help, you just do instead of overanalyzing. Not everyone can be that sort of heroic.”

“Good recovery.” Sin grinned up at his flustered lover. “Yeah, I get it. He’s not the first responder kind. But the little guy’s just sneaky. He doesn’t look people in the eye. He flinches at the weirdest times. I don’t trust him.”

Tenzin frowned as he ladled vegetable panang onto a plate and set it in front of Kai. “Eat, beloved, before you waste away. About Kellen. I believe it’s deep-seated trauma, something so terrible that he doesn’t want to have to talk about it, since that would mean acknowledging it.”

“Tenzi’s so often right about these sorts of things.” Kai took up his fork, toying with his food rather than eating yet. “But this time, I have to disagree. There is something uneasy about him. Something beyond old fears.”

“You hardly see him thirty seconds out of any week,” Tenzin protested. “What could you possibly base this on?”

“Ah, love. A drow knows deception. There’s something not quite right about that pixie.”

Angel Martinez

The unlikely black sheep of an ivory tower intellectual family, Angel Martinez has managed to make her way through life reasonably unscathed. Despite a wildly misspent youth, she snagged a degree in English Lit, married once and did it right the first time, (same husband for almost twenty-four years) gave birth to one amazing son, (now in college) and realized at some point that she could get paid for writing.

Published since 2006, Angel’s cynical heart cloaks a desperate romantic. You’ll find drama and humor given equal weight in her writing and don’t expect sad endings. Life is sad enough.

She currently lives in Delaware in a drinking town with a college problem and writes Science Fiction and Fantasy centered around gay heroes.

Bellora Quinn

Originally hailing from Detroit Michigan, Bellora now resides on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida where a herd of Dachshunds keeps her entertained. She got her start in writing at the dawn of the internet when she discovered PbEMs (Play by email) and found a passion for collaborative writing and steamy hot erotica. Soap Opera like blogs soon followed and eventually full novels.

The majority of her stories are in the M/M genre with urban fantasy or paranormal settings and many with a strong BDSM flavour.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/amartinez2

https://www.facebook.com/groups/angelmartinez/

https://www.facebook.com/bellora.quinn

Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Angel.Martinez.author

Twitter:

@BelloraQ

@AngelMartinezrr

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/angelwritesmm

Today I’m welcoming Bellora Quinn to chat about writing, life, and their current project. Welcome! Let’s talk a little about Kellen’s Awakening.

What inspired you to write this story?

When Angel Martinez and I wrote the first book in the AURA series we didn’t have a series in mind, but by the time we got to the end, we were already seeing possibilities. One of those possibilities was Sinistrus. I wanted to know more about him and what made him tick, and he had to have his own story. While we were thinking about what Sin had to say, I stumbled across Kellen, our Pixie crossover.

Is there a character you feel especially connected to? Why?

I suppose saying all of them is a cop out. I do love how Kellen grows throughout this book. At the start he’s just doing what he has to do to survive, and by the end he’s decided he needs to do the right thing, and I think that’s when we really start to see who he is.

What was the hardest part of writing this?

I can’t say too much here without getting into spoilers, but this story is very much about grief and loss and how we see the characters overcome those tragedies. Writing a big action sequence where not everything turns out happy was challenging.

Choose a favorite line or short passage. What do you like about it?

There’s a part where Kellen is talking to Flax, who’s shocked that a troll lives in Kellen’s building. Kellen tells him that Tok is a reformed troll, he likes to fix things rather than be destructive, and the only thing he won’t do is put WiFi in the building. I love this little play on Internet trolls and real trolls.

Tell us a little about any upcoming projects.

Right now Angel and I are working on ideas for book 4 in the AURA series and I also have a book coming out written with another Co-Author, Sadie Rose Bermingham. It’s a detective series based in London and the main characters have certain psychic abilities. The first book in the Elemental Evidence series is called Breathing Betrayal and comes out June 7^th 2016.

Are there any types of scene you find hard to write (action, love, death, etc.)?

I find fight scenes difficult sometimes. I get caught up in the outcome and rush to get there, so I have to slow down and make sure I’ve remembered to write who’s doing what and where. I find it kind of stressful.

What do you do when you feel stuck (writer’s block)?

Eat cheese puffs and berate myself while promising my co-writers not to be such a slacker.

How do you handle a story that doesn’t go as you planned?

I don’t think I’ve ever written one that went ‘as planned’. They all sort of do their own thing. I start with a general idea, sometimes even an outline and plans for certain scenes but half the fun of writing is going down little unexpected paths. I don’t force myself to adhere to anything too rigid while I’m writing or I think my creativity would go on vacation without me.

Word Sprints!

1. Coffee or tea? Tea – Chai Latte
2. What’s your favorite ice cream? Chunky Monkey
3. What’s your favorite movie? Aliens
4. What genre (other than your own) do you like to read? Horror
5. Do you have any pets? 2 goofy Dachshunds, an elderly Cocker Spaniel, and a kitty

3-May: Oh My Shelves, The Novel Approach

4-May: Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Molly Lolly, My Fiction Nook

5-May: Love Bytes, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, A.M. Leibowitz

6-May: Havan Fellows. MM Good Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog

9-May: Prism Book Alliance, Bayou Book Junkie, Nephy Hart

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