My Turn To Write

Way Back Wednesday: The Cougar and Cub Club

2012-02-01T00:04:00.000-08:00

Here I revisit a post I did over at OGG in March 2010. :)

Cougars are all over pop culture in the past couple years. But the first time I noticed the phenomenon was several years ago...at my own book group, of all places.

Of course, we're one of those book groups where it's more about drinking wine, having dinner and chatting about whatever we like, rather than actually dissecting books. So when the chat one night turned to age (in the context of ourselves versus our husbands), imagine my surprise at being one of only two in the group with the "traditional" configuration of being younger than my husband.

The one other "younger" wife was really younger--by a full two decades. So, since I'm only 4 years younger than mine, I really didn't feel like I had any company in the traditional role.

A couple of the gals were only a handful of years older than theirs. But the other age differences were more significant. 9 years, 13 years, 15 years. I knew about the 9 year spread, but how did I miss the other two?

Simple. It just hadn't come up since, to the participants, it wasn't an issue. :)

******
With the 9 year spread couple, how they met was a fun story. It was New Year's Eve in San Fran, where they were both visiting at the time, one from LA and one from Boise. They ran into each other in a dark club, danced, hit it off, and at the end of the night had nothing to write phone numbers on or with to keep in touch. As they parted, he joked that all she had to do was remember his last name...he was the only guy with that name in Boise.

She called, and long story short, even in the bright light of day, all their age and differences in social situation laid bare, they each saw something special in the other. Eventually, they both moved to yet another West Coast city, sight unseen, to live together, married, and are happy owning a business together. Their ages are irrelevant, except in one aspect: When they first met, he was young and had no desire to start a family, whereas she was quickly running through her prime fertile years. When they finally did get to the point where they considered having a child, they found that nature had made that difficult to impossible.

*****

The popular tenet of cougar/cubs is that it throws together both sexes more closely balanced in their sexual prime. Another frequently trotted out observation is that the women look ridiculous "chasing" after young guys, while the men are applauded for landing a MILF. I'd love to hear readers' thoughts on these "truisms" and any others you've heard.

*****

While I usually write MM, I also have a series of MF (and one MFM) short stories out involving cougars and cubs, called Seasoned Women.

Forget about calling it May/November, these mature women and their hot, young men bring a spark to every season, all year round...

Sex On Summer Sabbatical--Who knew it would so hard to get a twenty-something man to have sex?

Forced by her employer to take a three month sabbatical, workaholic Tori Warren makes a checklist of things to accomplish which will make the time off worthwhile.
Get into the best shape of her life. Have the most fun of her life. Oh, and have the best sex of her life.

Sexy young Adam comes into her life at just the right time. A physical trainer with a loving-life personality, he should work nicely in helping her meet all three goals. He’d be especially perfect for the best sex. Now if he would only just cooperate...

EXCERPT: He purposely didn't tease, letting her calm down again as he typed the information in. "Okay, let's take your vitals for a baseline." Adam pulled the blood pressure cuff away from the wall and tried to remain dispassionate as he ran through his normal routine with half his mind on his work and other half enjoying the innocent touches and her breathless reactions to them.

Sternly warning himself to keep it under control in the workplace, he nevertheless was glad he'd worn a restraining jock as he knew what was to come. Just the thought of putting Tori through her paces, thoroughly assessing her body, was severely taxing his restraint--and he had barely started. For the first time, he doubted the wisdom of taking her on as a client.

Oh, come on, you can keep it professional here. She's just another body.

Yeah, right.

"Okay, lie back. We're going to do some range of motion so I can get an idea of where you're at."

Tori surprised him by lying back immediately, without a protest, giving herself over to his control. Swallowing at the vision she made reclined before him, he tried to get back on task, running through a typical range of motion series involving all her joints. All the while, he was hard pressed to keep his touches clinical rather than caressing. And the little minx had to know what she was doing to him, a knowing glint in her eye as she watched him manipulate her body.

Having her stand, he ran through an informal flexibility test, noticing she winced as she stretched her hamstrings.

"Are you sore from running?"

Tori grimaced slightly. "Is it obvious?"

Adam had to fight a laugh at her pout. "Just to me. It's what I do. We'll do some light stretching later, and I'll keep it in mind while we do our first workout. So what time of day do you feel at your best?"

Regarding him thoughtfully, she leant back against the table, the move thrusting her breasts forward, lovingly accentuated by her sports bra. She was either a huge tease, or she had no idea how alluring she looked. Adam's throat went dry as she responded, "Hmm, that's a tough one. I do my best work later in the day and into the evening. But physically? I guess I feel at my peak about now, around mid-morning."

"Then that's when we'll try to meet for workouts. That actually works well for me. Most of my clients work during the day, so early morning and late afternoon to evening are my busy times." Equal parts relieved and disappointed when she straightened, Adam forged ahead to the fun part. Rummaging in the drawer, he came up with a tape measure.

Tori's eyes widened with alarm. "Oh no. No, no, no. You are not measuring my butt." She began scooting along the edge of the table as if seeking safety.

Laughing aloud, Adam advanced on her. "Come on. Don't you want to see how much you've improved by the end of the summer?"

She glared at him, arms crossed. "Are you telling me my ass needs improvement?"

******

Falling For The Other Brother--Erica had been planning to break it off with Trevor—he was really too young for her after all. But it's hard to use that excuse when the man she's really interested in is Trevor's twin, Colin.

Her biological clock ticking, a chance conversation leads Erica to Trevor, a former sperm donor, who helps convince her to move ahead with her plans. But he adamantly refuses to be her donor, in fact has pulled all his past donations, for a reason he won't discuss. Their subsequent relationship, while hot, just drives home the different goals the two have.

When Colin returns from overseas, his problem with intimacy still looming large, he never dreamt he would meet his ideal partner in Erica. Only two things stand in their way: her relationship with his brother, and the fact she wants children...the one thing he can no longer provide.

EXCERPT: A cool waft of air on her shower-warm skin was the only warning Erica received before large hands cupped her bare shoulders. A smile curved her lips, but she didn't react in any other fashion as she was pulled back flush against a hard male body. Or maybe she should say, a hardening male body.

She gave a little wiggle, bringing their bodies in closer alignment as her favorite rain-shower setting softly pelted them from above, with two slightly more forceful jets massaging from each side.

A muscular and extremely tanned arm reached past her to pluck the hand-held shower head from its holder.

"Picked up a little sun? I see you've been working hard."

Trevor's deep responding chuckle reverberated in her ear. "I always make time for play. In the Caribbean especially. And the shoot was on the beach."

A popular and successful fitness model, Trevor did a lot of cover shoots and spreads for various magazines, as well as demonstrations for equipment. It had been one of these demo jobs, evidently staged on a tropical beach, he had just returned from.

"That must've been brutal." Erica gave a shudder, partly from the thought of the unrelenting sun, and partly because, as she watched, Trevor was skimming his hand along her abdomen up to cup her breast. The contrast of her red-head's pale skin with his sun-darkened fingers was startling and extremely erotic.

She felt his shrug. He never complained about the less romantic aspects of his job, but was just happy to be doing what he did. No false modesty or dissembling, he enjoyed using his fit body to make a living.

"It was fine. Not as hot as you might think, just sunny."

Erica turned within his embrace and gave him a lingering welcome-back kiss. She was torn--glad to see him home early but dreading the conversation she had finally psyched herself up to initiate.

But not yet. Like Scarlett, she'd think about that tomorrow.

******

Winter's Thaw--Sometimes in the depths of winter, warmth can force a unexpected bloom.

In shock after the death of her ex-husband, Maggie Winter gave in to her need for comfort with Nick, but immediately regretted her impulsive act.
With her young daughter to raise alone, it was time to start acting her age. But Nick isn't put off by her cool act and has no problem turning up the heat.

EXCERPT: God, I hate Muzak. Maggie switched her cell phone to the other ear and pushed her fingers through her dark, irritatingly frizzed-out hair, automatically loosening yet another snag. She normally straightened and smoothed the mop, preferring it sleek, but hadn't had time this morning, so it fell in kinky twists, framing her drawn face.

She had just spent yesterday flying halfway across the country with her nine-year-old daughter, Cassie, to her mom's farm for an extended summer visit. Then after dinner, just as they were settling in, the call had come from the hospital about her husband, Wade--well, technically, ex-husband, but one month of 'ex' versus almost fifteen years of marriage made it hard to automatically add the prefix. He was in critical condition in the ICU after a car accident, so she'd had to book a solo next-morning flight, deciding to settle Cassie in with Mom instead of dragging her right back home. Then Maggie had spent a mostly-sleepless night getting frequent updates from the nurses before driving in the bleak pre-dawn to the closest airport. The first short flight had gone fine, but the voicemail message to call the ICU had been waiting when she turned her cell phone back on after disembarking.

She glanced up automatically as an extremely tall man stepped over her stretched out legs before dropping into the seat next to her. Mouth going dry, she could only just keep from gawking. Wow, talk about the total package. She made a mental note to tell her best friend, Sam, that she had sat right next to a Total Stud. Maybe even a Fallen Angel, their highest ranking for hot uber-alpha male.

She gave him a quick, furtive once-over out of the corner of her eye, her clearest view of his body his lap, where jeans that looked older than him lovingly clung. Holy smokes. And 'package' was certainly right on the money. More than just an Angel. They might have to invent a whole new category just for him, she mused. Maybe God on Earth? She searched her imagination for a title worthy of him as she continued to wait on hold. The two friends had played this game for years, collecting and describing in detail the yummy, unattainable eye candy they ran across to one another. They were married, they always joked, not blind. And at least she had something to keep her mind occupied while she was stuck in phone purgatory.

******

Spring Training--With two diverging careers on the line, Teri and Aaron are torn between the right thing to do...and what feels so right to them.

With a son who's played since he could walk, Teri lives, eats and breathes baseball. She was almost more excited than Emery when his invitation to a minor league team's training camp came. But excited doesn't begin to describe her reaction to Em's new mentor, Aaron Reynolds. A spring fling? Just the ticket.

Fighting a chronic injury, Aaron is biding his time until he can return to the majors. Being assigned a mixed-up rookie to babysit is fine with him, especially one that come with a sassy, sexy camp follower like Teri. But he soon finds he has his hands full...trying to keep Emery on the straight and narrow...and trying to keep his liason with Teri strictly physical.

EXCERPT: Six weeks later, Teri was hauling grocery bags up to Emery's new apartment. Arms full, she kicked the door three times hard. No answer. And she'd just talked to him ten minutes ago. "C'mon, Em," she muttered, pulling her foot back for another "knock".

Instead of resistance, her foot met air as the door opened. Thrown off balance, she took a desperate step forward trying to regain her balance.

"Whoa." A hand caught her firmly by the elbow and steadied her. "You must be the 'number one fan'," the unfamiliar voice added with a touch of sarcasm. Must be Aaron, the apparently grumpy roommate. Finally stable, she looked up, expecting to see a young man around her sons' age.

Boy, was she wrong. In a good way.

Suddenly hyperaware of the strong hand still grasping her arm, she fought for composure. Her over-stimulated primary erogenous zone--i.e., her brain--was having a field day as the man in front of her tripped every trigger she possessed at once.

Tall, muscular and athletic? Check.

Tawny, sun-kissed skin and blond hair? Uh huh.

Deep celadon eyes with little laugh lines at the edges? Nice touch.

She inhaled deeply. Gads, he even smelled heavenly. Male, spicy, and a little bit like--glove oil? Rowr.

The squint lines were promising. Maybe--hopefully--he wasn't nearly as young as she'd expected. Or maybe they were just from playing ball in the sun for so many years and she was a total perv. She looked down at the elbow he still held.

"Oh damn, sorry about that." He removed the oily rag he was holding in the hand supporting her, swiping at her skin ineffectually with his thumb. At least, it was ineffective at removing the grease. It was proving pretty effective at something else though...

Her eyes narrowed as something about his face gave her a prod of recognition. Aaron? Hmm... Trying to place him, and realizing she hadn't yet said a word, she finally responded, "No problem." She was proud of how normal her voice sounded. Get a grip, Sandusky. You sooo need a man if you're lusting after your son's roommate.

Gratefully seizing upon the grounding effect of the thought of her son, she continued, "You must be Aaron. Emery here? "

"Yes." He backed in a bit reluctantly. "C'mon in, he just rolled in. I'll try to catch him before he gets in the shower."

Teri frowned, finally completely distracted from her hormonal mental wanderings. "Just rolled in? You mean, from last night?"

Aaron shifted uncomfortably, but before he could answer, Em strolled into the living room. "Mom, hey!"

"Mom?" Aaron echoed incredulously, going still...

******

Pick-up lines at Gabrielle Evans' blog, plus a chance for a copy of the His Hero antho...and maybe even a Kindle Fire!

2012-01-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

Today I'm over at Gabrielle Evans' blog, talking about opening lines and giving away a copy of the His Hero anthology to a lucky commenter!

Gabrielle is also celebrating one year of publishing by giving away a Kindle Fire this month! Just comment on any and all of her blog posts from the 2nd to the 27th--including mine--and you've earned one entry per post towards the Kindle as well.

Hop on over to Gabrielle's Blog and leave a comment by January 28th at Midnight for your chance to win!

Release Day for the His Hero Anthology, including my story, A Ring and A Promise!!

2012-01-16T02:41:00.000-08:00

Very excited about today's release of the His Hero anthology!

BLURB of A Ring and A Promise:

Careers in military service are never easy on relationships—even less so when both lovers are in different branches…and both are men.

Naval Academy graduation now under their belts, Cary Barrientos knows the reality of the upcoming separation from his roommate of the past four years. Owen is more to him than just his best friend—he is the one person Cary can see spending his life with.

Owen Marsh knew that when he became Cary’s lover, the day would come when he would have to walk away. Now that day has come, and he’s having a hard time convincing himself that it’s just sex between them. Even with DADT repealed, there is no way a Marine and a Navy flier can be together. He’s just being realistic not expecting more.

When Cary switches their Academy rings, hoping Owen won’t notice, he makes a vow—he will do whatever he has to do, including believing enough for the both of them, to make their unlikely relationship stand the test of time. But when his Marine is called up for duty overseas, can a piece of jewellery and a promise be enough to get them through?

NSFW BLURB:

He slid his hands along the sleeves of Cary’s uniform jacket down to his the cuffs then grasped his hands while he continued the heartfelt kiss. God, he loved the way Cary looked in his dress uniform. He wore it well, as though he’d been born to wear it. It was bordering on a fetish for him, and had made it damned uncomfortable this past week when they’d worn their dress uniforms for so many Commissioning Week occasions. But right now their privacy was guaranteed, and Owen wanted to indulge in a bit of fun while Cary was still so sexily attired.

It was too bad that Cary was without his hat. They’d both had fun adhering to tradition before the ceremony and had tucked an envelope with some money and a letter of advice inside both of their caps for some lucky kid to claim. Maybe they’d hear from them someday.

Cary gave him an enquiring look before tossing the bag to the ground in the direction of the dresser. When he turned back, he grinned and lowered his gaze to the front of Owen’s khakis. Cary pursed his lips briefly before giving his lower lip a quick swipe of his tongue.

Hat or not, Cary was absolutely the sexiest man he’d ever seen.

Maybe he’d fuck Cary with his new officer’s cap on someday.

Groaning, both at the mental image and the sure knowledge that that day would be far in the future—if at all—he took Cary by the biceps and firmly placed him against the wall with one last hard kiss, then knelt before him.

“Owen…”

“Mmm…” He slid the belt latch and undid the buckle, pulling the end out of the clasp. Then he unhooked and unzipped the fly. He bracketed Cary’s hips with his hands and glanced up. Cary’s blue eyes were wide and a bit wild. Holding his gaze, Owen leant forward and mouthed his hard cock, faithfully outlined by the white cotton. Cary’s lids slid closed and Owen took that as the invitation it was.

Without lowering the trousers past Cary’s hips, he pulled the tighty whities down just enough to expose Cary’s erection. After a moment’s thought, he did a bit of manoeuvring and was able to lift Cary’s balls up over the wide elastic band before letting it gently retract against his skin once again.
He stood and backed far enough away to get a good look. From the waist up, his lover was still attired according to regulation—minus the cap. Pretty much regulation, anyway, considering he was wearing his now-defunct midshipman’s uniform instead of one for the officer he now was. Still…he was all nicely turned out on the top half.

But below the belt…

Owen caught his breath at the vision of decadence that was his handiwork. Cary’s hard and reddened cock and his balls sac were protruding lewdly from above his underwear. With his pants still mostly on, still wearing his polished white shoes, he looked debauched, as though he’d been caught unawares hard at work and enticed into forbidden play.

He met Cary’s eyes once more and could see the effort it was taking Cary to hold himself there, exposed to view without the reassurance of touch. Owen suddenly had no wont to prolong the foreplay any longer.

He hit his knees then took Cary’s cock deep.

A strangled cry was his reward, enticing him to use his tongue to wet the hard length then slide down. He repeated the action, gliding with firm pressure downwards and adding suction on the way back up to the head, gradually taking Cary most of the way down to the base.

With Cary’s balls hiked up as they were, Owen could feel the hot skin of his lover’s sac on his bottom lip at the furthest point. On the next pass downwards, he opened his mouth a bit and was able to stroke his tongue across the taut skin, feeling the closest orb shift with the pressure.

“Ah! Oh fuck, Owen.”

Tasting a bit of saltiness on the way up, Owen grinned around his mouthful and looked up from under his lashes. Cary was behaving himself and letting Owen take the lead. Time for a change of scenery, though. He pulled off with a smack of his lips.

“Please tell me you brought supplies.”

“In our kits,” Cary panted.

Owen rose to his feet and pulled Cary in for a slow, involved kiss that sent an emotional wave of warmth through him. In the room they shared at the Academy, Owen rarely felt comfortable enough to take his time with simple affectionate caresses. Mostly, their physical contact had been hurried and silent, the sole purpose being coming to completion without being caught.

“Why don’t you grab the stuff and get out of that uniform?” He gave in to impulse and cupped Cary’s cheek, pulling him back in for another kiss as Cary began to move away to follow his suggestion. He didn’t want to be apart from him for a moment…

The realisation hit him like a ton of bricks, and he abruptly dropped his hand and span around to hide what had to be a shell-shocked expression. Maybe it was the emotional culmination of their schooling at the ceremony today. Maybe it was the knowledge that their separation was looming. But when he looked at Cary, when he touched him, he was finding it hard—no, impossible—to keep from turning what should be companionable sex into lovemaking.

Love…?

***

Available TODAY at Total-E-Bound! Six stories about men on men in uniform...military, fire fighters, police and paramedics... Go HERE for more info and to buy.

ALSO! In honor of this release, TEB is offering 25% off their Men In Uniform titles! So indulge yourself HERE.

My Cock & Bull Blog Stop Guest Today is Sara York! Comment to enter our giveaways!

2012-01-15T04:42:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm so pleased to have Sara York here on my blog for the Cock and Bull blog tour! Happy New Year Sara!

Speaking of fireworks...oh, weren't we? Well, I'm going to use the segue anyway. It's obvious from your story in the His Hero Anthology, Zane's Inferno, that firemen get you hot and bothered. Any reason for choosing to write about a fireman and a paramedic when you first thought about writing for this uniforms anthology?

I love firemen, they are such sweethearts. I mulled over the possibilities of which uniform I wanted to put on my guys and fireman and paramedic seemed right. Zane couldn't be anything other than the fireman he is. I love the tension between the two, both serving on the same crew, both wanting to hide their sexuality and both so hot for the other that they can't stand it.

Any close encounters of your own with men in uniform you'd like to share? We promise not to tell...

Um, the hottest place I've ever been with a fireman was actually in a burning building. Okay, so it's not sexy but it was interesting and fun. Yes, I said fun. I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time in the presence of our local firemen during a citizens fire class. We dressed up in bunker gear and went into their fire tower where they train. It was hot in there and I'm glad I haven't had to experience being in a fire without the gear on.

We can't wait to read your story! Looking forward, what are you working on now?

I'm writing a cowboy series. Texas Rough is finished and I just started on Texas Hard. I've also been busy doing edits on books I've already signed contracts on. Fire and Ice, a story with angels and demons, will be out later this year. Here's the blurb for Fire and Ice:

With Raphael’s soul ripped from his angelic body he’s forced to inhabit the demon, Lash’s ugly form until he can help Alexandria overcome her anger and forgive. Raphael’s been in love with Alexandria for decades and wants her, but he’s Lash now and despises his new body. How could anyone fall in love with him, much less the beautiful Alexandria?

Alexandria doesn’t know what’s gotten into her. Rafe, her gorgeous saviour from the mountain is the man of her dreams but when she touches Lash a firestorm of desire is unleashed in her and she has to have him. Confusion about her desires leaves her vulnerable to the evil Rafe has planed for her.

Can the angel in demon form, Lash, fight off Rafe and save not only Alexandria from hell and himself from eternal punishment of living as a demon?

A few quick questions before we get to your awesome excerpt:

Year first published? In 2008 I had my first Sara York book published. I did write under a different name and that book was published in 2007.

How many books out? Zane's Inferno will make it 9. I've also participated a charity book called Paw Prints. For more information on Paw Prints please visit my website http://sarayork.com

Coffee or tea? Coffee, I love my coffee

Lark or owl? Owl. We have one that visits our neighborhood and she is beautiful.

Laptop, desktop, or other? Laptop. I'm on the go too much to be tied to one place.

Favorite character you wrote? Jake from Working It Out. I still love Jake.

Favorite couple you wrote? Lane and Gresh from Texas Rough.

Book you can't wait to read in 2012? There are just so many that I'm waiting for I don't know if I can name them all.

Share a goal for 2012? This year is about writing a ton. I have a couple of contracts that I will be signing soon and I have four books written that haven't been signed and are at various stages in the submission process. I hope to have another four books written and submitted by the end of the year.

******

Excerpt from Zane's Inferno:

Zane didn’t want to dress in the clothes he’d worn during the fire but he had no choice. The doctor had said he seemed fine and released him earlier than anyone expected. They’d asked him to change into a robe because of the stench of smoke in his clothes. He hadn’t blamed the doctors and nurses for not liking that smell.

A few first-degree burns needed care, but he didn’t have a concussion. The IV Nick had started had kept him hydrated. All in all, he was in good shape. He called a cab after he signed the release papers, not wanting to waste any more time sitting there in the stupid hospital.

The drive over to the station was quick. Two of the fire trucks weren’t in the garage but the ambulance was right where it should be. That meant Nick and Andy were somewhere in the firehouse.

He steeled himself against any rogue feelings for Nick as he entered the building. Silence filled the air. The TV was quiet and the kitchen empty. Zane knew the captain wouldn’t allow him to continue his shift after a visit to the hospital. He’d only come back here to grab his clothes and keys. His uniform needed to be washed but he didn’t want to wear it home. He’d been able to keep his truck smoke-free so far, and he intended to keep it that way.

Zane entered the bunkroom and stripped off his shirt and pants. His undies would stink too, so he dropped them into the plastic bag he used to transport his smoky clothes. The door opened and Nick walked in, his head down as he scrolled through something on his phone. Nick glanced up, his eyes going wide when he saw Zane.

For some reason, Zane felt like he’d done something wrong the minute Nick walked in. Hell, everyone in the firehouse, including the women firefighters, had seen him naked. But Nick didn’t look away as the door shut behind him, bumping him on the rear.

Zane’s gaze connected with Nick’s and desire shot straight to Zane’s cock that hung free in the open. Soon Nick would be able to see his desire and that scared the shit out of Zane. He turned around and grabbed his clothes, moving towards the wall at the top of his bunk and behind the line of lockers that separated his bed from his neighbours. He pulled on his underwear and got his legs in his jeans but they were still at his hips when Nick cleared his throat, his footfalls closing in on Zane and his mostly naked body.

“Hey, Zane, glad you’re released.”

“Um, yeah.” Zane pulled his jeans up and zipped them before turning to face Nick. He couldn’t even look Nick in the eyes. The awkwardness needed to go away before his next shift. Hell, maybe he could switch shifts and he wouldn’t be forced to run into Nick every week.

Nick moved closer, trapping Zane between his bunk and the lockers. His breath was ragged as Nick approached, his feet stopping only inches away from Zane’s. Zane glanced up, surprised to see the heat in Nick’s eyes.

They stared at each other for a long moment, neither of them moving. Fear of being caught pinged around Zane’s brain. Was Nick just pulling his leg? He swore he’d heard Nick bragging about his conquests with women before…but that had only been when other men challenged him about dating.

“I thought you were dead when that house started to fall apart.” Nick trailed a finger down Zane’s bare chest to the waistband of his pants.

Zane glanced down at Nick’s hand and then back up to his eyes. The pleading in them shocked him. His mouth was dry and his tongue wouldn’t move. Usually he dated twinks, but those dates weren’t for real. They were really just a way for him to get off. He’d never kissed anyone he’d ever really wanted.

“When I had you in that ambulance all by myself, it was so hard not to kiss you.”

Zane’s body went still and his head swam. Oh damn, no way. “How do you know I would have let you?”

******

Zane's Inferno will be available January 16th in the His Hero Anthology, now available for pre-sale at Total-E-Bound. A single sale ebook of Zane's Inferno will also be released on February 13th.

******

Thanks Sara! And thanks to all the readers for stopping by! Make sure to comment for your chance to win $150, $100 and $50 Amazon gift cards!!

If you haven't been yet, don't forget to stop at Em Wood's place where she grilled me yesterday on Five Faves and made me give up a NSFW new excerpt...comment for another entry! :)

The Cock & Bull is moving on tomorrow to Sara York's blog, where she'll be hosting the fabulous TA Chase! :)

And don't forget to visit all the previous blog hop stops if you haven't already--you can still comment for entries to win! Visit Marie's Sexton's handy dandy web page for all the links!

Announcing our Kindle FIRE UP the New Year Contest Winners!!

2012-01-10T16:19:00.001-08:00

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Tara R

2nd PRIZE

Gabrielle J

3rd PRIZE

Kerry

Congratulations!!

We'd like to thank everyone who entered. We were thrilled at the response and are so excited. The above winners will be contacted via email and will need to respond to Jessica (jessica@jessicajarman.com) within three (3) days to claim their prize, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Congratulations to all the winners!
Jessica, Devon, Bronwyn, Gwendolyn, Kris and Suzanne

FIRE UP the New Year! Win a Kindle Fire! Enter on this post until the 10th!

2012-01-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2012! And what better way to celebrate than with a brand new Kindle Fire!

Six sexy authors are coming together with a fabulous giveaway to usher in the New Year! And entering couldn't be simpler.

Just visit each of our blogs beginning January 1st, and leave a comment on the contest post with:

your name (or user name) and contact email, and
your top two (2) choices from the author's backlist to kick-start your Kindle library should you win.

Contest will close at Noon ET on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, and a winner will be drawn from all the readers who commented on all six blogs:

Gwendolyn Cease at gwendolyncease.blogspot.com
Suzanne Graham at suzannegraham.blogspot.com
Bronwyn Green at bronwyngreenblog.blogspot.com
Jessica Jarman at jessicajarman.blogspot.com
Kris Norris at krisnorris.blogspot.com
Devon Rhodes at devonrhodes.blogspot.com

The Grand Prize winner will receive a brand new Kindle Fire and two ebooks of their choice from each author!!

Second Prize will be winner's choice of two ebooks from each author's backlist...that's 12 new books!

Third Prize will be winner's choice of ebook from each author's backlist...that's 6 new books!

More surprises and prizes at each blog, so what are you waiting for? The clock is ticking, so Fire up the New Year and you could be the winner!!

****

Just leave a comment with your email and top two choices from my backlist (see tabs at the top of the page), and then visit the other five blogs by the 10th! I'll have other prizes too, including books and swag, so enter now! :D

Happy New Year everyone! :)

Cock & Bull Blog Hop! Come along and win some huge prizes!

2012-01-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the first releases of 2012, some fellow authors and I have organized the Cock & Bull Blog Tour and we want you to come along for the ride! Up for grabs are some great prizes, including $150, $100 and $50 Amazon gift cards!

To enter, comment at any and/or all of the featured blogs for an entry each time. Here's the schedule and if you miss one along the way, just pop over there and comment on the Cock & Bull post any time before the last day!

Jan 2: TA Chase

Jan 3: Julia Knight

Jan 4: LA Witt

Jan 5th: Freddy MacKay

Jan 6th: Marie Sexton

Jan 7th: JP Bowie

Jan 8th: Megan Slayer

Jan 9th: Amber Kell

Jan 10th: JP Barnaby

Jan 11th: Sue Holston

Jan 12th: Simone Anderson

Jan 13th: Kit Sands

Jan 14th: EM Woods

Jan 15th: Devon Rhodes

Jan 16th: Sara York

Way Back Wednesday: My NSFW Version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas...E-Rom Author Style

2011-12-21T00:47:00.000-08:00

This is the third year for my naughty rendition. Enjoy, but don't show the kiddies or stick-in-the-mud co-workers. ;)

An Erotic Romance Night Before Christmas
By Devon Rhodes

'Twas the night before Christmas, when in every hut
All the authors were reading and writing their smut;

The stockings were net above killer high heels,
In hopes that St. Nichol-ass would soon cop a feel;

The kids were at Grandma’s, all snug in their beds,
While drool-worthy eye-candy danced in my head;

And I in my teddy, and watching the clock,
Had just settled down to await the Big Cock,

When on the front door there arose such a thumpin’,
I reclined on bed to wait for my pumpin’.

From outside the window, Tom opened his sash,
Tore open his raincoat and gave me a flash.

The moon on the breast of my hero's huge pecs
Gave a woody the size of his home state to Tex,

When, what should my wandering eyes watch come in,
But a hot dommy Master, and eight smokin’ hot men,

With a huge throbbing cock, so taut and so slick,
I knew in a moment I must have his dick.

He cock-ringed his buddies before they all came,
And he spanked them, and stroked them, and called them by name;

"Now, Asher! now, Derek! now, Paulie and Darin!
On, Cristoph! On, Corey! On, Donnie and Larren!

On top of the bed! Let’s show her a ball!
Now lick away! lick away! lick away all!"

He was dressed in black leather, from his head to his feet,
And his skin was all oiled, inducing great heat;

A bundle of toys he had flung on my bed,
And I knew he’d torment me before I gave head.

His abs -- how they rippled! his chest smooth, not hairy!
His ass cheeks like apples, and no way was it cherry!

His sexy wide mouth was drawn up in a smirk,
And he looked like a man who knew just how to work;

He was hot and enticing, and wanted to tame,
So he tied me right up and started his game;

An hour or so later I was limp and wrung dry,
The guys were all empty, endorphins were high;

He spoke not a word, but packed up his toys,
And wiped up the cream then zipped up his boys,

And tucked a long finger under my chin,
And giving a kiss, said, “You were a ten.”

He strode to his ride, to his guys gave a leer,
And told me for sure they’d be back here next year.

And I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Sexy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Happy Holidays everyone!! Have fun, be safe, love well and laugh often.

Way Back Wednesday: Last Year's Christmas story--Making His List

2011-12-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

I've been told by many readers that this is their favorite story of mine. It's also apparently a tear-jerker. And I'll confess...even I get teared up each time I re-read the scene where Cory's leaving a message on his sister's phone.

******

When his young niece Bailey moves in, Cory knows he needs to end his casual fling with Ken. Bailey’s had enough upheaval in her short life, and Cory doesn't want her to get attached to a “friend” who won't be sticking around. Even so, Cory finds himself continuing to let Ken into his life, but a one-night-stand gone serial isn’t what Cory wants, and so he makes The List: his requirements for the perfect partner.

Helping out during a difficult time, Ken finds himself being pulled into the family unit despite Cory’s previous emotional distance. He hopes he's finally breaking through, on the verge of convincing Cory to make their relationship more than a casual one. Then, while helping Bailey write to Santa, he finds Cory's list and takes it as his cue to bow out—just when Cory needs him the most.

******

“I threw up.”

The quavering voice brought Corbin jackknifing up out of a sound sleep, struggling to get his bearings.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake.” This in a disgruntled, groaning whisper from Ken on the other side of the bed.

Well, that helped settle who the participants were. And apparently something was going to have to be done about Ken—soon—but first things first. He pulled Bailey into a sour-smelling and unfortunately damp hug, resting his cheek against her extremely hot temple. Oh man.

“Where’s your mom?”

“Don’t know. I threw up on my bed.” The tears were starting, and God knew that wouldn’t help matters any.

“Do you want to sleep with the throw up or should I change your sheets?”

A watery giggle. “Change them.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! Uncle Corrrry….”

“Okay, okay.” He stood, glad that he’d had the foresight to put on his pajama pants after he’d fielded the booty call-turned-sleepover Ken probably now wished he hadn’t insisted on. Picking Bailey up—man she was scorching all over—he walked her into the hall bathroom, trying to remember what his mom had done for them when they were sick.

He flipped on the light, and then turned it back off again when Bailey winced and cried out. Turning the hall light on instead, he saw that there would definitely need to be a wardrobe change. He grimaced at the damp spot on his shirt. For both of us. He carefully pulled the nightie over her head backwards, taking care not to get any throw-up from the nightie into her hair or anything and tossed it in the sink for lack of a better plan.

“Do you think you could take a bath?”

“Don’t know. I’m cold.”

She was anything but cold, but she was shivering, so he wrapped a towel around her. “You sit here on the rug.” He sat her on the floor in front of the toilet. “I’m going to change your bed and get another nightie, okay? I’ll be right back.”

Becky was nowhere to be seen. Must’ve gotten a phone call of her own, he thought, and then cringed. He so did not want to think of his little sister in drunk dial terms. He hustled to strip the bed and remade it with the last sheet. Looking at it dubiously, he added a few beach towels for layers. At least if she continued to throw up, she wouldn’t get to the sheet until—he counted—the fourth time.

Arms bundled full of the abused bedding, a clean nightie dangling from his one clean finger, he almost ran into Ken coming down the hall. Fully dressed and apparently fleeing the scene.

Cory felt a swell of anger, even as he recognized it was unrealistic—after all, why would Ken stick around? Sex was obviously out for the rest of the night, and that was the sum total of their relationship to date. He ruthlessly suppressed the vulnerable twinge at being abandoned and kept walking. Good riddance. Guess now that Bailey was living here, he was going to have to add “Likes Kids” to The List.

Ken reared back to avoid the collision. “Whoa.”

Cory didn’t even stop, just veered around him. “See ya.”

“Hey! What’s your problem?” Ken actually sounded like he believed he was the injured party. Amazing.

“Just a puking kid in my bathroom, and an asshole in my hallway.”

He caught snippets of the defensive response but tuned it out, dumping his armload in the laundry room sink. A thought occurred to him, and he went back out to the hallway.

“Hey, can you go to the all-night drugstore for me?”

Ken’s jaw dropped. “Are you joking? You just called me an asshole.”

Cory ignored the hint of hurt in the other man’s eyes, defiantly covering his guilt with bravado and purpose. “What can I say? You’re acting like one. I need ginger ale and some kinda sports drink. And crackers, the soup kind. And, uh, kids’ Ibuprofen, fever reducer—whatever kind they have for a five-year old.”

Ken was just staring at him and Cory stared back for the count of three before throwing his hands up in disgust. “Fine. Would you rather stay here with her while I go?”

That jolted his guest out of his trance. “What? No. I’ll go.” He looked a bit surprised at his own response, and Cory helpfully steered him toward the front door.

“Keep your cell phone on in case I think of anything else I need. Oh, and popsicles. Hurry back.” He turned on his heel and headed back to the ominously quiet bathroom.

Poor Bailey was curled up in a ball on the bathmat, shivering under the towel. Wetting a washcloth, he gently bathed her, trying to simultaneously clean her up and cool her down. An unmistakable rumble preceded a violent heaving, and he neatly turned and supported her, holding her hair back while she emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet.

Once she quieted, tears streaking down her face, eyes glassy with fever, he sponge-bathed her once again and helped her into the sleep shirt. His phone rang in the other room. He propped a quiescent Bailey against the tub and hurried to grab it. Ken.

“I’m about at the checkout. Did you think of anything else?” At this point, the concern in his voice, while a little late in coming, was much appreciated.

“No, but thanks. Just come in when you get back, I’ll be up in Bailey’s room.”

“Okay.” There was a pause as if Ken wanted to say more, but then he said goodbye and hung up.

While he had the phone in his hand, he dialed Becky’s cell. The Black Eyed Peas started singing about tonight being a good night down the hall. Shit, why did he even pay for her cell phone? She never took it with her when it counted.

A few minutes later, he had his niece tucked back in, a big bowl by her bed—although he wasn’t sure she was of an age yet where she could reliably use it. The front door opened and closed in a hurry, followed by steps thumping quickly up the stairs.

“Hey there, sorry it took so long.” Ken was slightly out of breath and carrying two paper grocery sacks. He put them down and started rummaging. “Here’s the Tylenol. There’s some weight chart on it. Very important. Do you know how much she weighs?”

“Crap. No.” He turned to Bailey. “Honey, how much do you weigh?”

“Don’t know.” Popular response tonight.

“Okay, babe, we’re going for a short ride to my bathroom. Upsy-daisy.” Cory picked her up and amused himself trying to mentally guess her weight—how much did a bag of concrete weigh?—while he walked into his bathroom, kicking the button to turn on his digital scale with his foot.

When it zeroed itself, he stepped on, holding her and waited for it to beep.

“Two hundred and thirty two,” Ken read helpfully.

“Ack! Oh well. At least I get to lose the baby weight instantly. Here you go.” He placed Bailey into Ken’s arms, disregarding his look of alarm, and reset the scale. A bit of mental math later, and Bailey was proclaimed to be “about fifty.” Which of course was what he’d thought she’d be. Really.

Cory led the way back to Bailey’s room, leaving the tall, well-muscled Ken to carry her back in while he smoothed out the towels. Division of labor. “Hold her up for a sec while I read this.”

“See, there on the side.”

He frowned, squinting at the box in an effort to read the tiny instructions. “What if the age and weight don’t match?”

“The guy said to go by weight. Well, first he said call her doctor. But I wasn’t sure if you knew who it was, so I made him tell me the secret.” Ken sounded very proud of himself, and Cory felt himself thawing a bit toward him. He was redeeming himself nicely so far tonight, and really, who likes getting woken up by a sick kid? Ken’s reaction hadn’t been that bad.

Cory shifted uncomfortably. Truth be told, it was Cory who had overreacted. He had Ken mentally classified as an occasional, casual fuck-buddy. Yeah, a smoking hot one, and nicer about it than most, but he wasn’t really partner material—which is what Cory really wanted. It was probably past time to cut this fling off, something he’d been telling himself ever since the girls had moved in, but it was hard to walk away from the amazing sexual chemistry they shared.

Cory squared his shoulders resolutely. Sure, right now Ken was looking less like a fuck and more like a… boyfriend? But in the light of day, well, he’d be like Scarlett and think about that tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, he was going to chew his sister a new one for leaving for God-knows-where without a word and putting them all through this.

Bailey swallowed the grape medicine without complaint and then just sat there, sagging.

“Alright, Bails, tuck-a-muck time.”

“Okay,” came the dispirited response, so unlike her usual begging for a game or a story or a drink. Cory’s heart flopped over, and he gave her a light hug and kissed her heated forehead, laying the damp washcloth across it as a last measure. Standing to go, he was surprised to see Ken moving to kiss her cheek.

Aww.

In the hallway, Ken gave him an uncertain look. Cory shrugged in response to the unvoiced question and led the way back to his bedroom, trying not to care whether Ken stayed or went. The door closed and Ken hovered by the bed.

“Do you have some extra pajama bottoms I could borrow? In case we have to get up with her again.”

Cory’s heart did that floppy thing again at the “we.” Ugh. Just when he’d gone and crossed Ken off the roster, he had to go and get all chivalrous. There were no easy decisions in life. Especially when people were inconsistent.

A thought hit him, and he perked up as he tossed Ken his largest sweats. None of Cory’s pajamas would have fit his athletic ass and legs, never mind without looking like high waters.

Consistent. Another thing to add to the list. Cory smiled to himself. He’d get the qualifiers honed in on sooner or later, and then the man who met all the criteria? Viola. His perfect match.

******

You can find Making His List at Dreamspinner Press and most other ebook vendors.

Questions? Ask whatever questions you have about MHL and I'll try to answer!

Holiday Edition of Gay Day on Sunday! Tons of giveaways!

2011-12-10T21:02:00.000-08:00

Sunday, December 11^th is Gay Day at Ethan Day's Yahoo Group. Gay Day is the one day a month when the best authors in GLBT Romance stop by to post excerpts of their new and upcoming releases.

The following authors will be generously offering giveaways you can enter to win:

Josephine Myles - Winter Warmers

Tara Lain - Mistletowed

Lex Valentine - Breath of Heaven

Jambrea Jo Jones - Freedom

Stephani Hecht - Choice from Backlist

PD Singer - Maroon: Donal agus Jimmy

Devon Rhodes - Let It Snow

Andrew Grey - Love Means... Healing

KC Burn - Choice from Backlist

AKM Miles - Scarcity Holidays

Geoff Knight - Together in Electric Dreams

K.M. Mahoney - Odd Man

Justin South - Santa's Coming

Sara York - Surprise Sleep Over

Lee Rowan - TBA

Jon Treadway - Print copy of Surfer Boys OR Christmas Campaign e-book

Sloan Parker - Take Me Home

William Cooper - Christmas Gifts

EM Lynley - Wicked Good & Emerald:Rewriting History 1

JL Merrow - Wight Mischief & Camwolf

Stevie Woods - Cold Fear & First Christmas

Kimberly Gardner - Slave Master's Choice & Too Soon For Love

Ethan Day - A Summit City Christmas

The authors below were feeling particularly generous this holiday season:

ZA Maxfield

One lucky winner will receive all three of ZA's holiday themed stories: A Picture Perfect Holiday , I Heard Him Exclaim & What Child is This

JP Bowie

Is offering up his two newest releases: Christmas Wishes & He Ain't Heavy

In addition he’s also offering up to one Kindle reader a choice between Time after Time or Trip of a Lifetime in Kindle format only

Last but certainly not least

Ally Blue

Ally is giving away her Christmas short: Christmas Future

In addition she’s giving away one copy of each of the books from her Mother Earth series:

Dragon's Kiss (Mother Earth book 1), Shenandoah (Mother Earth book 2) & Convergence (Mother Earth book 3)

The amazing Authors below will be popping in and out to chat & post excerpts from their latest books:

Missy Welsh - Every Time a Bell Rings

Sara York - Working it Out

Andrea Speed - Infected

Lee Rowan - Tangled Web

Josephine Myles - Boats in the Night

Donna McIntosh - The Christmas Gift

Berengaria Brown - Perfectly Presented

Clare London - Media Naranja w/ Jordan Castillo Price

Ryssa Edwards - Rogue's Christmas

KC Burn - Cop Out

Elizabeth Noble - Strays

Lily Sawyer - Somebody to Love

Kate McMurray - Across the East River Bridge

The day will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST in the Ethan Day Yahoo Group where we’ll be posting excerpts, running contests for free books, and chatting about all the new and upcoming releases from your favorite authors.

The Twelve Gays of Christmas Video...Hey I KNOW Him!

2011-12-08T14:34:00.000-08:00

...Or as I titled it in 2009, Small Freakin' World: Hey, I KNOW Him!! Here's the post from the past two years and a video I still love!! I was going to save this story for next Way Back Wednesday, but couldn't wait to share after the OTHER video (see below). :D

(Original post 12-17-09)

Talk about my two worlds colliding!

Okay, this all started when Brynn Paulin randomly posted this great video on her blog. I watched it, loved it, and proceeded to spread the joy.

Then my friend Melia watched it and said, "Oh, it's great, and you do realize Brad's in this, right?"

HUH?

I totally spread around this video not even knowing that one of my friends "in real life" is one of the dancers! So bizarre!!

Anyway, when Brad was performing with the Rockettes' Christmas show about 5-6 years ago, the guys in the show got together and made this up as a Christmas present for the rockettes. This is their performance for the gals, who you can hear doing all the screaming throughout!

Now I see him dancing every week...at my daughters' dance academy just down the road. He brings all that enthusiasm and talent to the fore every single day working with the dancers of tomorrow, and he does a fabulous job doing it!

Melia, me and Brad--holidays 2010

Back to "now", here's me with Melia and Brad out on the town about a year ago. When you watch the video, he's towards the far end (away from the camera) with a white shirt and long dark scarf on. He's just astounded not only that this is still around but also how popular it is. LOL, why wouldn't it be? Watch and see for yourself, and give Brad and his crew some love. I'll be sure to pass it on! :D

For more Christmas smiles, here is a video Brad shared on FB today that got me in the holiday spirit!

Way Back Wednesday: An Interview with Kim and Abe from Silver & Gold

2011-12-07T00:35:00.000-08:00

Way Back Wednesday is a new, regular weekly blog feature I'm starting today. I'll either be putting up blog posts from days gone by or perhaps revisiting one of my older releases.

Today, I'm mixing the two together with a post that I originally did for another blog back in February of 2010, where I interviewed Kim and Abe from my 2009 Advent Calendar release, Silver and Gold Check it out...

An Interview with Kim and Abe

Me: Ah yes, Kim and Abe. Since they are close friends, I've decided to talk about both of them. Or rather, let them talk about themselves.

Kim: And just so we're clear, Abe and I are not together. He's into outies.

Abe: Or they're into me.

Me: Okay then. How did you guys meet?

Kim: Um. Why does he get a picture and I don't?

Abe: Sweetheart, you're a secondary character. That means you don't get on the cover. If it makes you feel better, it isn't my most flattering look. That shirt? Please. Grey is so not my color.

Kim: At least people get a visual of you! I'm just this nebulous image floating around.

Me: Would it make you feel better if I put up a picture that looks like you? I had an interviewer ask me this week if I could cast a movie of this story, which actors I would pick to play you guys.

Abe: *claps hands* Ooh, who did you pick for me?

Kim: *gasps* No you didn't. Now you want a second picture? You bitch.

Abe: Okay, okay, just curious, so shoot me. Who did you pick for Kim? There, is that better?

Kim: *pouting* Depends on who it is. Duh.

Me: Okay, here you go:

Abe: Now girlfriend, you've gotta be happy with Eva Mendes.

Kim: She'll do. But that's a bit tousled for me. I'd be into your salon like yesterday.

Me: And since we're on the topic, here's Abe. And Kim, he's the main character, so can you let the whole two-picture thing go?

Kim: You know, I hear her talking to me like I'm totally unreasonable, and I have no idea where the attitude came from.

Abe: Much better, and see? Look how much bigger yours is. And you call me the size queen.

Me: Let me give some examples of what great friends you are? Like from when Geoff still hadn't clued in to how lucky he was to have Abe fall into his lap, so to speak, and was still living in the past.

********

ABE gratefully accepted the huge latte from Kim and tried once more to convince her to leave. He had thought he’d been successful on the phone in persuading her not to come see him, but she had bribed him with an “extra” coffee that she just happened to have.

Abe, you’re such a slut for coffee, and apparently everyone knows it.

“I’m fine,” he repeated yet again. “Really.” And he smiled to emphasize how “fine” he was.

“Abe, get that ugly excuse for a smile off your face and tell me what’s wrong. What happened with you and Geoff?”

“Tenacious little thing, aren’t you?”

“Tenacious, yes. Little, hell no. Thing?” She gave him an arch look.

“Sorry, babe. You were the one who insisted upon seeing me before I’m caffeinated.”

“Meow. That actually almost sounded like the real you.” She softened her expression. “What happened, Abe?”

********

Abe: Yeah, that was a tough day. Kim about burst a blood vessel when I told her what happened with the phone call I overheard. She threatened to quit.

Kim: I knew right away that wasn't the best move. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. And, boss of ten years or not, he was so going down if he fucked you over.

********

“Well, all I can say is my former boss won’t be getting any ass from you if it takes having to duct tape you to my bedroom door.” She pulled out her phone and dialed, her eyes flashing.

“Shit, love, don’t quit on my account!” Abe was regretting ever picking up the phone this morning.

“Don’t worry, I’m not quitting. I’ve decided I’m going to stay and make his life a living hell while I run his business into the ground.” She gave Abe an evil smile and left a terse message saying that she would be using a sick day and hung up.

Abe watched her warily. “What are you doing?”

Kim smiled more naturally. “Just going to help you pack for your trip and keep you company until you leave.” She waited a beat. “And keep you from going to his office, and him from coming up here,” she admitted.

Abe gave her a hug. “You’re a good friend, my dear.”

She hugged him back. “You don’t hate me because I fixed you two up?”

********

Me: That was so sweet.

(They both look at me in horror.)

Kim: Sweet?

Abe: Let me take this one, babe. (To me) Kim doesn't do sweet. She's more scary, hell-on-wheels, true-blue. Loyal as shit, but evil. In a good way.

Me: Do you guys still hang out now that Abe and Geoff have worked through things?

Kim: Hell, yes. Closer than ever. *smiles dangerously* I've got his back, especially since I know everything that's going on with the boss.

Abe: And I've got hers. She was insultingly underpaid until I spoke up.

Me: A lot of readers want to see more of you two. Do you think there will be another book in the future?

Abe: Babe? Isn't that up to you? You're the writer.

Me: Well, yes, but I can only write the stories you guys share with me.

Kim: Oh, you want more? Abe, get us some coffee...

********

Read more about Kim and Abe in Silver & Gold, available in e-book from Dreamspinner Press.

Come again? Sometimes words work...even when they aren't credified.

2011-12-05T23:50:00.000-08:00

Made up words. Slang. Colloquialisms. Words that should be...but aren't.

To seriously rile up by-the-book proofreaders, throw a few inventively descriptive words into a manuscript (or leave them in, if you're the content editor), and watch the red markups, comments and links to thefreedictionary or allwords fly.

There have certainly been times when I've hit upon a word in a manuscript I'm editing, snorted and diplomatically commented "Word choice?" or "Different word here?", all the while thinking to myself, "Nice try." But every once in a while, the word just fits, even if you can't find it anywhere but the Urban Dictionary...and sometimes not even there.

In a near-future book I recently edited, the author used the word "technofied" as an adjective a character used to mentally describe a gadget within his POV. I left it as such, since a) it was clear what was meant, and b) the character was thinking this in his head, so who am I to say he'd word it more properly in his head? He had already been established as lacking a certain polish, and it seemed to fit the characterization. Of course, the proofreader jumped all over that with a grammatically correct example of what it "should" be. (FYI, I added my own comment to the effect that it was the author's choice before passing it along.)

In another instance, an author had a character use the term "ass-hat" to describe someone. This, while slangy, seemed to me to be a perfectly reasonable term for a character to use. I've heard it many times IRL before (not directed at me thankfully! lol). However, another editor on the manuscript had never heard the term before. In that instance, should the author switch to a more familiar insult?

Readers aren't stupid--they don't need to be bashed over the head with the obvious, and they can certainly make out non-traditional words mean, ie the above two examples, continue to read along, accept the meaning in context, and not have it detract from their enjoyment of the book. But of course, that's my take and I'm just one person. I'm really interested to see what other readers think about this. :)

So my question to all of you is, will the use of a word that is either made up or not known by you pull you out of a story? Do you appreciate an author's creativity in not sticking with the same old words? Or do you find it distracting? For authors, do you occasionally throw something different out there, or is the dictionary your best friend?

PS: I have successfully applied to have a word added to the Urban Dictionary. So maybe it's just a question of taking the words you make up as an author and credifying them... Hmm... :D

Release Day for Let It Snow, my naughty Christmas story at Dreamspinner Press! NSFW Excerpt

2011-11-30T23:13:00.000-08:00

My latest release, Let It Snow, is now available! It's my third year as part of Dreamspinner's annual Advent Calendar, and I really enjoy getting in the holiday spirit (albiet several months early!) by writing these winter-themed stories. Not only is it in the package, you can also buy it as a single e-book starting today. :)

Here is a NSFW excerpt as a disappointed Garrett settles in and prepares to face Christmas alone...

*****

By now, he was dealing with a semi-erection just thinking about Ethan and their scenes. He was just fooling himself, he thought ruefully, if he was really considering bypassing the toy at this point.

After finishing his nighttime routine, he snagged the plug and a tube of lube before he headed towards the bed. Ethan loved to see him on hands and knees… well, head down and ass up, to be precise. The sight of Garrett in the open and vulnerable position never failed to bring Ethan into a dominant mindset. But first he’d get ready.

He lay on his back and took his time prepping himself, all the while remembering the last time Ethan and he had gotten together. They usually met at Ethan’s place, and that night had been no different. They’d been out with a few friends to watch a conference championship game at a bar over a few beers. The sex had been random; there was no set pattern to when and why they would go beyond friendship and take their respective kinks out to play.

All Garrett knew was that sometime during the evening, a look had passed between the two of them—a hot, electrifying exchange that left no doubts with either man that they’d be making their excuses to the rest of their group very soon.

As soon as they’d entered Ethan’s home, Garrett had all but thrown himself against Ethan, stepping into his space in a challenge the man would be hard pressed to ignore. He’d thumped his body into the other man’s, their similar heights allowing them to fit comfortably together, in contact from chests on downward. Ethan quickly turned the tables, spinning Garrett around and pressing his upper body up against the entry wall, holding him in place with his chest, legs bracketing his.

“You’ve been wanting this all night, haven’t you?” he growled in Garrett’s ear. “I couldn’t believe it when you ordered another pitcher.”

He’d laughed, shamelessly pushing his ass back against the hard cock rocking along his backside. “I thought it would be a good peace offering since we both had to leave early because of… work.”

“Stop.” Garrett had known immediately what Ethan was referring to and reluctantly halted his movements, though he left his hips canted back in inviting contact with Ethan’s. Garrett remembered how he’d held his breath as Ethan moved his hand slowly down his abs to his waistband. His touch had lingered there for some time as if he’d been trying to decide what to do to Garrett next.

Hole slicked and ready, Garrett ran the plug down to his abdomen and let it rest there as his brain reenacted the moment of decision. He left the toy sitting on his lower abs as he ran his hand—in his mind, Ethan’s hand—up under his shirt to flick lightly at a nipple until it was taut, before giving a hard pinch that sent a bolt of sensation zinging straight to his balls.

Garrett had remained against the wall, panting for oxygen, as Ethan had leisurely tweaked and tortured first one nipple and then the other.

“One of these days I’m going to get you off with nothing more than twisting your nips. Won’t touch you anywhere else. Work them until they’re begging for mercy. You won’t make a sound, though, will you? Not until I tell you to come and you shoot for me.”

Groaning both at the time and at the memory, in both scenarios it took Garrett all the willpower he had to keep from squirming under the touch. They both knew that since Ethan had commanded him to stop moving, it would take an earthquake to get him to disobey—a fact which Ethan never failed to put to the test with upping the ante in challenge.

His pants had then been unfastened and unceremoniously shoved to his ankles. With his shirt and shoes still on, it had been a terribly slutty and debauched pose to hold, somehow making Garrett feel more naked than if he’d been completely nude.

Ethan had cupped his ass cheeks, kneading the muscles, exposing his hole repeatedly but not touching where he needed it. Garrett now flipped over, the dildo dropping to the mattress unimpeded as he replicated the pose, though on his knees on the bed rather than standing in Ethan’s foyer. He pulled his ass cheeks aside enough to feel the cool of the room on his slicked, prepared entrance.

On that night, Ethan had left him for a minute, walking deeper into the house before returning. He had then sank to his knees behind Garrett and roughly prepped his hole with lube-laden fingers until he was fucking two scissoring and twisting fingers in and out, in and out—oh, so good! Garrett had almost cried out in protest as the fingers disappeared, but he had forced himself to wait anxiously for the next touch. Surely Ethan wouldn’t leave him hanging?

Garrett reached down to grab the plug, knowing what came next. He’d been put out of his misery as Ethan ran a cool, hard object up and down the cleft of his ass over and over until it was as warm as his clenching hole. He slid the plug in just as Ethan had penetrated him with the dildo—not in increments, but in one long, inexorable slide that didn’t ask for entry, but demanded compliance.

He grunted as the plug seated itself and he breathed through the adjustment. Ethan had smoothed a hand along his lower back, then down the curve of his ass. Garrett remembered wishing fervently that the caring in his touch was that of a lover, of something more than just a friend and partner in kink….

He’d played Garrett with an expert touch, every movement bringing him closer to the point at which he’d break position or beg or… God, he loved every minute of what they did together. What a crazy, fucked-up, wonderful thing they had. They meshed like two sides of the same coin.

But Ethan wasn’t his lover. And Garrett wasn’t holding his breath that they’d become lovers anytime soon. Ethan wasn’t gay. Probably bi, if Garrett had any instincts about these things left. Ethan was just too comfortable with intimately touching another man to be completely straight. But he’d never, to Garrett’s knowledge, dated another man. In fact, Ethan and Chris and Will, their other two best friends, had cut quite a swath through the available women in the area.

Ethan and Garrett’s time together was all about an exchange of power. He would be a fool to think he could “convert” him to a boyfriend.

The dampening effect of that reminder on his emotions didn’t begin to touch the fever pitch he’d roused his body to, and he broke off from the memory. Maneuvering carefully, plug still held in place in his ass, he lay down on his back and took his uncomfortably hard cock in a rough, welcome grasp. He planted his feet and thrust up into his palm while he reached down to give the plug a nudge at just the right angle. A couple more pulls and the orgasm boiled up from his balls. He yelled as he came, the physical release so complete and consuming that it nearly made him pass out.

It took eons for his heart rate to resemble normal again, but eventually he dragged himself from bed to do some cleanup in the bathroom. He rinsed the toy and left it sitting on a towel, then headed to the bedroom again, a bit too awake to just go to bed. A good orgasm had the opposite effect on him than many other people; it enervated him, wound him up.

Remembering that the wood-burning fireplace was operative, he kindled a fire in the already-laid hearth and then sat back on the loveseat, poking at it occasionally until a decent-sized fire was going. When the yawns finally started, he made sure the screen was in place, crawled into the four-poster, and closed his eyes.

Lying in bed, the random dancing of firelight teasing at his eyelids, Garrett could almost hear the voice of his grandma, reminding him to make his Christmas wish before he went to sleep.

What I really want, Santa can’t bring, Mimi.

Flipping on his stomach and burying his head under the pillow, he wished anyway… then promptly cursed himself for his sugar-plum delusions.

You can find Let It Snow at Dreamspinner Press.

Thankful to still be a daughter...Happy transplant day, Mom!

2011-11-24T01:18:00.000-08:00

Note: I've posted a version of this the past couple years, so some of you may have read it, but this time of year will always remind me of what I'm truly thankful for and the sentiments I originally wrote two years ago on her first anniversary are just as heartfelt and relevant today. I've tweaked the time references so they are accurate for the current year, but otherwise it stands as previously written.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Fall has always been my favorite season of the year, the colors, coolness in the air, what's not to love? It was Dad's fave as well, which made it especially difficult when he passed away unexpectedly at 61 in late October 2003. Every Thanksgiving since then has been bittersweet with happy reminiscences comingled with the memories of the raw shock of that first holiday season without him.

Three years ago, my remaining parent was literally fighting for her life. She had been diagnosed with leukemia in May 2008, fought a losing battle with chemotherapy over the summer, and nothing was helping to stem the advance of the cancer in her blood and bone marrow. With the classification that she fell into, her prognosis at the time of diagnosis was less than a year.

Then a miracle happened...her doctor was able to convince the insurance company to approve a bone marrow transplant despite her age (63) being beyond their normal range. That was followed closely by a second miracle...she didn't have to wait for a donor match. Her brother, who lived 4 miles away from her and was still in good health at 65, tested to be a perfect match for donation. Sibling donations have the highest success rate, and we crossed our fingers that Mom could hold out long enough to stabilize for and undergo the god-awful pre-procedure chemo and radiation.

So on November 25th, 2008, she was given the transplant, and we waited while her body fought both the cancer and the 'invading' new bone marrow cells. That Thanksgiving was filled with worry and hope.

As December began, she started slipping away. Her counts were proceeding 'normally', but she was becoming delirious and eventually unresponsive. An unexpected allergic reaction to her anti-rejection medication sent her into a coma due to fluid buildup in the brain called PRES syndrome. Nearly 2000 miles away, I could only wait for news. She was moved to intensive care and the second week of December I received a call needing permission to place her on a ventilator as a respiratory infection set in.

At that point I could wait no longer and scheduled my flight to South Dakota. I hadn't seen her since August, and barely recognized her; her hair was gone, she was 30 pounds lighter, and all the medical support equipment... I walked into her empty house alone that night and it was the strangest sensation, as if she were already gone.

I sat by her bed for nearly a week with no response. I'd had the irrational thought that once there, she'd hear my voice and open her eyes, but that only happens in fiction I suppose. I lotioned her feet, tried to keep her bloody tears from drying on, and tried to talk. It was hard to know what to say, again where the movies and fiction have it wrong. Her hand was warm but dead in mine. During this time, her only movements were occasional gagging motions, and I asked, begged, pleaded, and finally demanded they remove the breathing tube. Their response was that she'd met every protocol except one; she had to be responsive before removal.

I was stymied by ICU staff and resp therapists at every turn until one day I finally spoke to the Pulminologist on the phone and reminded him that she's been unresponsive for days before insertion. After securing my permission to reinsert if she went south, he approved the removal, much to the dismay of the resp therapist who'd smugly handed me the phone in the first place, sure that the doc would support her instead of me.

She and the ICU nurse went through the shut-down and pulling of the tube. It was awful watching my mom's body fighting and gagging. But it was finally out.

Then her eyes opened...

After weeks in a coma, when that tube came out, she just...woke up. The nurse asked if she knew who I was, and she said in a raspy, but clearly disgusted whisper, "Of course! That's my daughter." Oh, that's my mama. Give 'em hell, Mom.

While she'd been laying there, her body had been accepting the transplant. They moved her back up to oncology the next morning (that was a jolt, coming into her ICU bay and having it be empty!). I flew home the day after, on Christmas Eve, to be with my girls for the holiday. And only two weeks later, she went home. Her mom, my grandma, who was nearly 90, moved out to the farm to spend the rest of the SD winter with her and take care of her 'little girl' during her recovery.

Tomorrow is the three year anniversary of her transplant, and she is 100% donor cells and cancer-free. She's flown out to Oregon a few times now for visits, something I never thought would happen again. She is living alone, still driving and doing for herself. Moreover, she's still herself--still Mom, still Mimi to my two girls and my brother's little boy--something that I'd almost given up hope on during my vigil that winter.

Back 'round to Thanksgiving again, I am so thankful that my small family is not one person less this year. We had every reason to expect that she could have been gone by now, but a few miracles later and I have something very real and concrete to be thankful for this year and every year...my mom's future.

Guest Blogging about "Deadlines" on OGG today...Scary Word, Isn't It?

2011-11-19T12:55:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm back at my old stomping grounds on Oh Get A Grip! talking about deadlines...from an editor's perspective! See you there!

More New Cover Art... Military Guys--check!

2011-11-16T22:23:00.000-08:00

A Ring and A Promise, my story from the His Hero anthology (which releases in January), will come out as a single e-book in February, and here is the fantabulous cover by Emmy Ellis. :P

Here is the blurb:

Careers in military service are never easy on relationships—even less so when both lovers are in different branches…and both are men.

Naval Academy graduation now under their belts, Cary Barrientos knows the reality of the upcoming separation from his roommate of the past four years. Owen is more to him than just his best friend—he is the one person Cary can see spending his life with.

Owen Marsh knew that when he became Cary’s lover, the day would come when he would have to walk away. Now that day has come, and he’s having a hard time convincing himself that it’s just sex between them. Even with DADT repealed, there is no way a Marine and a Navy flier can be together. He’s just being realistic not expecting more.

When Cary switches their Academy rings, hoping Owen won’t notice, he makes a vow—he will do whatever he has to do, including believing enough for the both of them, to make their unlikely relationship stand the test of time. But when his Marine is called up for duty overseas, can a piece of jewellery and a promise be enough to get them through?

Announcing the Winners of the GRL Swag Contest and the Answers!

2011-11-15T11:55:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Hope you had fun looking through my posts for the answers! I've put the highest scoring names in and randomized them and the winners are:

Beatrice Tan: Swag Bag of GRL goodies and signed copy of Gaymes

Michelle L.: GRL T-shirt

And since Beatrice chose TA Chase as the answer to question #11, she'll be getting some TA swag too, PLUS TA has kindly offered her a free ebook as well!!

Congratulations!! I'll be in touch with the details. :) And thanks to everyone who participated!

Here are all the answers:

1. Name two of the dancers we saw at Lafitte's. Paco, Axel...also accepted Bored Guy and Cute Twink
2. Who did I ride on the streetcar with? Jaime Samms
3. My admirer's nickname? Puppy Boy
4. Who did I chat with in the airport on the way home? Rick R. Reed
5. I shared a table at the booksigning with what author?   Marguerite Labbe
6. Which of my books made multiple readers cry?   Making His List
7. Someone who was with me on my balcony.   Amber Kell, Stephani Hecht, Trina Lane
8. Two of the bloggers I spent time with?   Janna, Kassa, Leontine, Chris, Kris, Tam, Tracy...and also accepted as answers authors who blog
9. My roommate for the retreat?     Trina Lane
10. Dates and location of NEXT year's retreat!     Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 18th-21st
11. BONUS: Your favorite author in one of my photos (no wrong answer here!).

Amber Kell Visits with Part Fourteen of her Birthday Extravaganza story, Accidental Alpha!

2011-11-14T00:39:00.000-08:00

Today I'm thrilled to welcome the amazingly talented Amber Kell on her Birthday Extravaganza story blog crawl!

Accidental Alpha #14

Stanley rushed through the door, his protective instincts screaming to protect Fenris.

Disaster. Everything in his apartment was torn apart. The couch tilted drunkenly on one wide, the cushions torn apart. Claw marks were evident on everything. His entertainment center resembled toothpicks, his television shattered, the smell of urine everywhere.

“I’m sorry, babe. You might not want to go into the bedroom.” Fenris’ calm tone helped settle some of Stanley’s panic but once the words sank in, a chill froze Stanley’s spine.

“I have to see.”

It was like being that stupid heroine in the spooky movie. Like knowing you shouldn’t go into the dark cellar of a haunted house in the middle of the night but still feeling compelled to check out the spooky noise.

Fenris slid his fingers through Stanley’s, squeezing his hand in a show of support.

Stanley gave the man a sickly smile, hoping he looked more confident than he felt.

Taking a deep breath through his mouth since his place stank, he walked down the short hall. His bedroom door hung solely by the lower hinge, long scratches scarred the surface and someone had carved the word ‘mate’ on the surface.

“What the hell?”

Pushing the door open he sucked in his breath. Someone had used red paint to cover the wall with the words. “You are mine.”

“That’s paint, right?”

Fenris gave a shaky laugh. “Yeah. I don’t think you want to sleep in your bed, though. He peed all around it.”

The bed itself looked pristine until he realized he never made his bed and he certainly never folded down the covers.

“Who did this?”

“Sebastian. It stinks of him. You might want to check with your dad about what exactly he promised the alpha. It looks to me he like he considers you as good as claimed.”

“Yeah, because I always fall for guys who trash my stuff then pee on it,” Stanley said dryly.

Fenris shrugged. “He probably figures you’d be more open to staying with him. He doesn’t expect you to have someone who recognizes the scent. Having you vulnerable and scared makes you more malleable. After all, he wants to immediately establish the power structure. If you are weaker he not only gets a strong mate but two alphas will draw stronger wolves to the pack. Sebastian wants to take over the city and you’re the man he’s chosen to help him do it.”

“It’ll be hard to take over the city with my shoe up his ass,” Stanley growled. “First I’m going to call the police and report this, then I’m going to call my mother and cry on her shoulder until she invites me to dinner where I can explain to her how I got in this situation.”

Fenris smiled. “And then?”

“Then I’m going to watch my sweet mother kick the big bad Overseer’s ass.”

To learn more about other Amber Kell releases, go to www.amberkell.com

If you need to catch up, here are the links to all of the previous parts. Make sure to comment here for an entry for Amber's daily and weekly prizes!

New Cover Art!! Gorgeous Cover for His Hero anthology

2011-11-11T14:34:00.000-08:00

Here's the cover art that landed in my inbox this morning from Emmy Ellis for the His Hero anthology, which includes my story, A Ring and A Promise.

Ain't it purdy? Thanks Emmy! This releases on January 16th from Total-E-Bound, and yes...it's all MM and all uniforms!

Free Reads, Contest Reminder and Writing Military Virgins...

2011-11-05T03:13:00.000-07:00

...Because you know they're out there. You catch them early enough in their military careers and they're typical young (horny) guys, who may not have had any manlove yet. But once you get them going...

The two guys in the book I just finished (Wed) and contracted (Thurs), A Ring and A Promise, were roommates at the Naval Academy...with benefits. So come January, you can read some Navy on Marine (and vice versa) deflowerings. I pretty much smushed all my favorite tropes together in one smexy bunch--men in uniform, first times, against all odds, roommates, friends to lovers, and a smidge of gay for you. It'll be a happy (ever after) new year for us all. ;)

I got creative (well, more so) and decided to take the plunge into the world of self-pub on All Romance ebooks. My two free short stories this year, In The Wild (The Dreamspinner Halloween short, which is One Wish #2.5), and His Last Resort (the MM group Don't Read In The Closet antho short) are both now available as free PDF downloads from ARe. The links are also on my right sidebar.

Oh, and don't laugh too hard at the covers. I have a much greater respect for cover artists than ever before! BTW, GRL attendees might want to take a close look. :D

Speaking of GRL, I'm in the middle of a voyeuristic little story set at the retreat and the bar across the street, Oz, and what one lucky attendee got to watch two hot guys doing on the balcony. More details when I'm done!

Just a reminder, don't forget to take a read back through my GRL updates and answer the ten questions I posted on Halloween for your chance to win an autographed book and swag bag. See THE CONTEST POST for details. Good luck! :)

GRL Swag Contest ...Happy Halloween!!

2011-10-31T01:18:00.000-07:00

**ENTER THRU MIDNIGHT, MONDAY, NOV 14TH**

Okay, here at last is my GayRomLit swag contest. Take a look back through my recaps, then send the correct answers to the following questions to me at devonrhodes@hotmail dot com with GRL Contest in the subject line. I will randomly draw the winner from all entries with all (or the most) correct answers. Contest runs through next Monday, November 14th at midnight, and I will announce the winners on Tuesday. Good luck!

1. Name two of the dancers we saw at Lafitte's.
2.Who did I ride on the streetcar with?
3. My admirer's nickname?
4. Who did I chat with in the airport on the way home?
5. I shared a table at the booksigning with what author?
6. Which of my books made multiple readers cry?
7. Someone who was with me on my balcony.
8. Two of the bloggers I spent time with?
9. My roommate for the retreat?
10. Dates and location of NEXT year's retreat!
11. Your favorite author in one of my photos (no wrong answer here!).

***The winner (in the US or Canada only due to shipping costs, sorry!) will receive a swag bag including a signed copy of the Gaymes anthology, a Devon travel mug, a T-shirt I specially designed for GRL, and other assorted fun stuff.***A runner up will receive the T-shirt.***

And everyone who enters and provides their snail mail addy will receive a magnet I specially designed for GRL and at least one autographed postcard. Hopefully that's enough incentive to look through my posts for the answers, and they are all right here on my blog.

Happy Halloween Hunting and good luck! :)

GayRomLit Recap, Days Three and Four

2011-10-25T00:47:00.000-07:00

Picking up a couple of short hours after I left off on Day Two...

Thanks for the java babe!

Alarm went off mega-early pour moi, but I rallied. Hauled my box o swag for the cemetery tour participants down to the bellman, and then went to go grab coffee in the lobby...only to have it run out with a gasp I echoed. This is after watching the person in front of me fill three caffeine-laden cups of bliss to the brim. Karma was with me and it turned out to be none other than Jackie (whom I didn't recognize from behind with her wet hair). She took pity on me when I began to gamely fill up with decaf and swapped cups. Not sure who in her room got the decaf later on (Steph?) but I sure appreciate your sacrifice!

Some of "The Bloggers": Leontine, Janna and Kassa (nice legs!)

Unusual since it's all metal.

Chair with footstool for the lady, tree trunk for the man.

Ended up sharing a cab to the cemetery after having heard stories about non-existent streetcars, which worked out great. (I swear, NO must have the cheapest cabs of any city I've ever visited.) After a bit of a wait, our tour guides showed up, divvied us up and we headed out. Among those in my group, I had "the bloggers"--which I loved after having such a great time with them at Laffite's the first night. Here are a few shots from the tour, which was fairly simple but hey...I still geek out over history, so I enjoyed it. Plus the weather was insanely nice.

After the tour, which included the Katrina Memorial, in the shape of a hurricane, most of us rode the streetcar back towards the hotel. I had a great time chatting with Jaime Samms on the ride and subsequent walk. I tease her about her Canadian accent (she claims they don't have one...right).

Kids got their own swag bags.

Back at the hotel, author spotlights and readings were going on, so I had a chance to peek in on those. Collected some masks from Kiernan Kelly, which were a huge hit with my girls. Took some pictures, including a top-secret photo of some brand new tattoos, one of which was in an interesting place...made more interesting when the person in question had to admit to going commando as they reason they didn't want to drop trou. Well, of course we bulldozed that objection and ended up with a great shot (which I'm still waiting for a copy of, ahem!!).

Damon Suede was tantalizing us all with his kilt--and proved to enough of us that I wonder if he doesn't have an exhibitionist side exactly what men wear under kilts. (The answer, btw, is nothing. Otherwise, it's just a skirt.)

Apparently needed a flask to deal with GRL'ers.

Had a lovely lunch al fresco with TA Chase, Stephani Hecht and VJ Summers, then dropped by some publisher spotlights in the afternoon. Had my first and only hurricane of the trip at the MLR poolside event, where I tried to make the rounds a bit, after which a group of us went out to dinner. I was signed up to take the Vampire and Ghost tour that evening and we ended up with a little old lady who was shorter than me and quite the orator. She had some fabulous performances/reenactments of events around the Quarter, and at one point stopped talking mid-sentence to run (with us trailing along like so many chicks) and join a wedding parade.

Has everyone's attention except for TA...who claims she was looking at me.

When we returned to the hotel, there was a wine/cheese reception at the pool we hit towards the end. Already, we were starting to feel like things were winding up, so I made sure to get a few photos with some authors I fangurled all over (at least in my own head).

Jackie, Damon Suede and me

With Marie Sexton, whose Coda series kept me up before I came.

Jackie and me with Ethan Day (one of my heroes later that night!)

That event flowed right into the bar crawl organized by Stormy, Joyee and Gabrielle. At the second place (Good Friends), we ran into the entertainment from the first night, all of whom were ~~utterly horrified~~ happy to see our group again. We had a nice time visiting with some locals before I looked around and realized most everyone I knew had left (and most of those remaining weren't staying at the hotel.

So by default, I ended up with Jason and Gabrielle Evans for the rest of the evening (um, early morning?), mostly dancing at Oz. It was another if-you-can't-beat-em-join-em night where I didn't get to the room until about 4:30am, took a much-needed shower, did some packing and fell into bed right about the time it started to quiet down (and get light) outside.

The next morning was all about saying au revoir. The location for next year's GRL was announced at the farewell brunch--Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 18th-21st--and rounds of goodbyes were made by all. A bit more packing and I was off to the airport. The only side note to the trip home was the fact that I ran into Rick Reed in the Atlanta airport. We had flown from New Orleans on different flights and also had different flights home--him to Seattle and me to Portland--but our gates happened to be right across from each other. I'd barely seen him at the retreat, so it was great to sit and visit with him one on one for a half hour or so until he had to board his flight.

All in all, I think it could definitely be called a successful premiere. All the organization that went into this is just staggering, and I really admire the dedication of the organizers and helpers who pulled it off. Of course there were challenges, and I do think a few things could use a bit different approach, but I really enjoyed myself. It was a big lovefest of MM. Most of us who were there have a true love of the genre and don't get that kind of unconditional support elsewhere. So it was truly unique and a great start to what will hopefully continue to grow and be an event we can all look forward to.

Hope you enjoyed my recaps! Now for the fun part!! I will be having a contest based on my three recaps, so look those pictures over and read between the lines. :) More details and contest kickoff in my next post. :)

Details on Dreamspinner Halloween Sales and Advent Calendar Bargain!

2011-10-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

2011 Advent Calendar package now on sale at its lowest price through October 31!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DREAMSPINNER PRESS!

SPECIAL RATE DETAILS

It's the most fervent dream of the holidays: to have a life full of blooming romance and enduring devotion with love, joy, and even a touch of lust to warm the cold winter nights. No matter what holidays are celebrated, the idiom holds true: home is where the heart is.

Your Christmas present to yourself! A package of 31 stories, all with holiday flair. One story a day will be placed on your bookshelf. The full set is around 1,800 pages of romantic M/M fiction selling individually for a total $92.69. Buy as a set and save!elf each day in December. Over 1,700 pages of fiction selling individually for a total $92.69. Buy as a set and save!

October - $39.99
November - $49.99*

*Sale of packages for daily delivery ends Nov. 25.

On Dec. 1, stories will be available individually or as a set for $64.99.

Check out the I'll Be Home for Christmas story list.

Includes my next release, Let It Snow!

Busy Weekend...

2011-10-23T23:23:00.000-07:00

Feeling rather scattered right now and when I've been online, I've been amazingly focused on a couple of projects. I did promise a Day Three GRL summary and I promise I'll get that up within the next day or two, along with the swag contest. In the meantime, you can enjoy the heroes from my current WIP, A Ring and A Promise: Naval Academy grads, Cary (Navy) and Owen (Marines).

GayRomLit Recap, Day Two

2011-10-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

Me and Kate getting our coffee on.

Yes, there I am with the deathgrip on my coffee, looking a bit rough next to the perky Kate McMurray as we posed for Marie Sexton. I was working on about three hours of sleep, but I did make it to the morning Cafe & Beignets thing, so I was very proud of myself. :) All of you who know me know I am not a morning person, so I sipped and smiled more than spoke.

The publishers' spotlights were scattered throughout the retreat, and two of my publishers had them overlapping that morning. So I first hit the Total-E-Bound spotlight where owner Claire and publisher Nicki were announcing winners in their lovely British accents, and mingled with some of the other great TEB authors attending, including Carol Lynne and JP Bowie, two of the organizers of the retreat.

With Poppy at the Dreamspinner spotlight.

Then I excused myself to run over to the Dreamspinner Press spotlight where Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton were holding court in lieu of actual employees. They did a fabulous job of getting everything out and everyone organized, and it was seriously hopping!! Barely room to move. I ended setting up outside in a little courtyard, where this great shot with Poppy Dennison was taken.

After the spotlights, I took four readers and went for a get-to-know-you lunch. It was great to sit and relax and have a bit less hectic visiting time with some of the attendees I might not have got to chat with otherwise. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip!

Knowing that it was going to be tight making it over to the riverboat after lunch, I had packed up what I needed for the booksigning into one of my rolling suitcases and took it along to lunch. So after we'd finished and lingered a bit, we were able to head right to the dock without going back to the hotel. Here are a few pics I had Marie Sexton take onboard.

Um, Marie? Up here...

There you go!

Sharing my table with fellow Dreamspinner authors, including the wonderful Marguerite Labbe (right).

The cruise went by so quickly. There was a constant but nicely paced flow of people by the table and I enjoyed signing postcards, books and e-reader covers and talking with readers about their favorite books. The consensus seemed to be that Making His List made everyone cry, and they all loved Paul Richmond's cover of One More Wish. I gave away a swag bag which included the black tote bag itself, a t-shirt with GRL New Orleans on the front, a travel mug, a signed copy of Gaymes, plus other assorted trinkets. Before we knew it, we were back at the dock and wheeling our stuff back to the hotel...walking, of course. It was a beautiful, sunny day in the mid-80s.

I took about a half-hour after I got back to relax and clean up a bit (and unwind...I loved visiting with everyone, but wow, sensory overload after a while! I'm a stay-at-home mom, so it was a bit of a culture shock!). Then I had a brief business meeting with the publisher I edit for...poolside with a drink of course. That turned into chatting with whomever wandered up, and then it was past dinnertime so a few of us ordered in (yummy and extremely cheap Mexican), before it was time for the TEB pretzel party hosted by Carol Lynne and TA Chase. I must admit that I got chatting with someone who shall remain nameless and so the event was more than half over by the time I made an appearance. Sorry ladies!

Time to head out for the evening and I found myself in the company of Amber Kell and her husband, and Stephani Hecht and her sister, Jackie, whom everyone was totally enamored of. Here are some shots of us wandering Bourbon Street.


Jackie and Stephani picking out just the right test-tube shots.

Bottoms up! LOL at how many drinks are in this photo.

Ah, yes. The Hand Grenade. Stephani couldn't pass by a single souvenir glass.

Without going into too much detail, it was finally decided we'd be better off letting other people do the moving around, so we grabbed a few more GRL'ers and some drinks to go and headed up to the balcony of my room...which happened to be right across from the balcony of Oz, the gay club whose nice thumpy music had lulled me to sleep the night before.

Three well-behaved couples on the balcony at Oz. The naughty ones came later.

Now, Steph and Amber and I all write MM romance. So the cute gay guys flirting and making out on the balcony across the way were getting tons of avid scrutiny and "awww"s from the three of us. At one point, Steph called her son, Cody, and was describing the scene to him. His response? "Mom, stay away from the railing." LOL!

We also had a very entertaining transgender and/or cross-dresser directing traffic in the intersection down below in a sparkly top and tight boy-shorts, with a whistle and a flogger. If people didn't move fast enough or follow directions (or if they were just saucy enough to ask for it--like Steph), she would smack their a$$ with the flogger or drape herself across the hood of the car. We watched her for hours.

Eventually everyone started drifting back to their own rooms and Trina turned in. I was about to do the same when I realized that I needed to be up and ready to head to the cemetery early...and I hadn't begun to stuff my swag bags for my attendees. So I worked on that for a bit (and really, I wasn't that sleepy anyway!), then I checked email for the first time. It was amazing to see that some of the authors and readers attending were actually posting on loops and blogs! More power to them! :)

Tomorrow I'll have Day Three for you: my cemetery tour, Damon's kilt, the vampire tour guide with the flask, and the Gay Bar Crawl...

GayRomLit Recap, Day One

2011-10-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

Where to begin? I'll skip the trip in, though driving through NOLA six years post-Katrina was very different than when I'd been there previously. It felt...empty. Not the Quarter, of course. But many buildings in outlying areas were just boarded up and abandoned, traffic seemed a lot lighter (even with all the construction) and there were notably fewer "colorful types"--the tarot readers, street musicians, etc.

The view from our corner balcony on Bourbon and Orleans.

Got to the hotel and since it was undergoing a remodel, they had put me in a single. Well, I love Trina Lane, but I don't want to sleep with her, you know what I'm sayin? After a firm refusal of a rollaway and a half-hour in the lobby, they finally came back having upgraded me to the "owner's suite", which has the corner balcony on Bourbon and Orleans, right across from Oz (more about that in a bit). :)

I was late to the opening gala due to the room thing, so got to walk in cold (and alone)--man that sounds pathetic, lol! Luckily I spotted and recognized Carol Lynne, so I went up to introduce myself and she pointed Trina Lane, my roomie for the event, out to me. Trina, in turn, pointed out a few other people, and so I eventually eased into the group. I'm not the most outgoing person in the world, especially when it come to large groups of people. Oh, I'm fine one-on-one or even in a small handful of people, but an entire roomful makes me freeze. And blush. Damned redheaded skin.

I didn't have much time to linger there since I was coming in toward the end, though I did sign my first autograph (thanks for making my night, Mary!). Then it was off to dinner with the Total-E-Bound ladies, who took all their authors out for a lovely meal on the outside terrace at Cafe Amelie. And gave us all jammies with our book covers on them. Those of you who have followed my blog (or have read Neighbors By Day, Naughty By Night) know my little thing about jammies, lol, and so I'm sure my roommate was happy for that gift. ;)

Pounce!

After the dinner wrapped up, there was the Men of MM night at Lafitte's. We (Marie Sexton and a few others) rolled in a bit late, were pointed upstairs by the helpful bouncer and lo and behold, there was the entertainment, up on the bar. Now, by this point, I'd had a couple of glasses of wine at the gala and a couple more at dinner. So when I figured out that was Chris from Stumbling Over Chaos sitting right there at the bar, I pretty much pounced on her. (My inhibitions get a bit low when I have more than one drink). Kassa ~~got the hell out of the way~~ kindly offered me the stool next to her, and they all introduced me to Jimmy the bartender and Jimmy Juice, which was the drink 'o the night.

I know if I try to list all the people I visited with that night, I'll forget someone. But some standouts were Piper and Cherie, Janna and Leontine, Kassa and Tam and Tracy, Kris and Chris, Heidi Cullinan and Vic, Ethan and Damon, Stephani and Jackie.

I think the Jimmy Juice affected my memory because try as I might, I can't seem to remember when (or why) we left Lafitte's. I did make it back to the hotel just fine and ended the evening by unpacking, which I'd had no chance to do earlier. Probably fell in bed around 4-ish that morning and listened to the last hour or so of music thumping from across the way as I drifted off. Gotta love alcohol, works even better than earplugs.

Day Two recap tomorrow! Spotlights, the riverboat cruise signing, and walking Bourbon Street with Stephani Hecht and Amber Kell.

Back from GayRomLit....

2011-10-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

And seriously exhausted...in the best possible way. I'll have to do a longer post later on because I'm just not ready to do more than a few words today. I will say I had a marvelous time, it was well worth going, I met so many fabulous people and I can't wait to share it all with you!

If you want to get a jump-start, I put up some photos on my Facebook page. More later, INCLUDING a GRL swag contest...that has to do with the pictures. So take a peek, and I'll give you more details tomorrow. :)

Two Days Till GayRomLit...

2011-10-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

I had the brilliant--yet slightly nervewracking--idea of sending the bulk of my swag and books directly from the vendors to the hotel hosting GayRomLit. Brilliant because I needn't haul it...nervewracking because I have visions of the hotel losing the boxes, or them being delayed for some reason until after I check out. Fingers crossed it all gets there and is waiting nicely for me when I arrive on Thursday!

Even so, when I began packing I soon realized that I'm going to need to take two suitcases...and the big one ain't gonna be for my clothes! Nope, still have a fair amount of goodies to haul along with me, plus some books I had here to either sell, give away...or have autographed to keep. Hey, I'm a reader and fangirl too!

All of this is, of course, good news for the attendees since I'm not likely to want to bring much of it back home with me! But no worries, I will make sure to bring at least some stuff home because I'll be having a swag bag giveaway next week on my blog! I'll also be contributing to a couple of other giveaways around the blogosphere.

I can scarcely believe it's finally here! In just a little over 48 hours, I'll be rolling out of bed and heading to the airport. Notice I say getting out of bed and not waking up, because I guarantee I'll be suffering from EFS (Early Flight Syndrome)...you know, where you can't sleep and if you do, you wake up every half-hour thinking you've missed your alarm? I need to leave the house at about 4:30am, which is about 2 hours after my usual bedtime. Pondering just staying up....might be less painful in many ways!

I'll be taking my camera along and will be posting pics either during or after the fun. :) Now, back to my pre-trip listmaking....

31 Free Short Stories! Come Trick-or-Treat at Dreamspinner Press!

2011-10-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

Halloween Howl from Dreamspinner Press

To celebrate Halloween, Dreamspinner is inviting people to come trick-or-treating at our web site. Thirty-one of our fantastic authors have donated free short stories. Search through the different pages on the web site for Gary the gargoyle. Each time you find him, click on him for a free download by the author whose page he's hiding on! And make sure to check out the end of each story for a discount code good any time in the next year.

First hint: Yes, one of the 31 stories is mine! :) So check out my pages for the gargoyle...and when you find him, you'll be rewarded with an epilogue of sorts to One More Wish...

Second hint (requested by Lacey): Since it's part of a series, you might want to check on the sequel page for One Wild Wish and One More Wish...

What do you get when you add two naked men and two dragons? Some fun In the Wild...

Let me know if you need another hint! :)

Letting my artistic side out...amazing how something that looks simple took so freaking long!

2011-09-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

So last night I sat down with about a ream of paper and started drawing. I won't tell you how many tries it took to get down to this one. I based it (sort of) on the photo on my banner up there.

Then I decided it might look better inverted, so had to frick around for a while trying to figure that out.

Ta da! LOL! So what do you think? Logo-worthy? Or back to the drawing board? Be honest! ;)

Release Day for One More Wish!

2011-09-21T01:03:00.000-07:00

Very happy to have One More Wish finally out! This one seemed as though it took forevah.

One More Wish is the sequel to One Wild Wish, and runs concurrently in parts with that book. You'll have a chance to revisit Rory and Jared, as well as get the inside scoop on Benny and Curtis. Here's the blurb and excerpt:

Benny Oshiro is having the time of his life at a private gig for his band, One Wish, until he’s assaulted and kidnapped by their former manager. When his rescue—or more accurately his rescuer—gets a little hairy, Benny knows he should reconsider their sparking attraction, but no one has ever looked at Benny with the naked want that Curtis does—want Benny can’t help but return.

Curtis Salinas knows at first sight that Benny is the only one for him. But now is not the time to test Curtis’s newly developed control. Outside forces are at work, threatening to expose his family’s secret, and when Benny is kidnapped a second time, Curtis realizes the enemy he’s searching for is only half the problem. To ensure a secure and happy future, he must also face down his doubts and claim Benny for his own.

Excerpt:

CURTIS stepped out of the side entrance and walked along the wraparound porch to the corner where it met the front. Yet another night he was unable to sleep with the mating call roiling inside him.

He’d known as soon as he met Benny that he was his mate. Or, as his uncle Jared had explained, could be his mate. Technically, there wasn’t one mate and one mate only for shifters. You could meet several possible mates over the course of a lifetime. It was whether they were available, suitable, and there at the right time in your life that determined whether you could or should act upon your pull.

Unfortunately, Benny was none of the three. He was seeing Rory, though Curtis was dubious that they were as close as they portrayed. Benny was known worldwide and a media magnet—about the worst possible person to get close to. And Curtis was in his period of celibacy prior to the solstice ceremony during which he would come into his powers. But Curtis was hard-pressed to think that he’d ever feel this way about another person in his life, ever have the same overwhelming sense of rightness. The urge to claim Benny, to keep him away from any… threat, was almost overwhelming.

Curtis frowned. Why was he thinking threat? Just then he noticed all the outside lights were off. Maybe the breaker? Before he could turn to go inside, he caught a hint of movement in the parking lot.

He inhaled. Not one of his own. It was the all-too-familiar mixed scent of Rory and Benny, but it was difficult to distinguish which man it was. After he went through the change in a week’s time and came into his powers, he would not only be able to tell which man it was, but would be able to see him clear as day. Right now, though, he was hampered by his only slightly enhanced human state.

Now movement on the porch by the front door. Even in the poor light, he could tell this one was Rory, which meant the man on the far side of the parking area was Benny. He froze in place, not wanting Rory to see him and think he was spying on Benny.

Rory walked tentatively out through the dark parking lot. Curtis could hear his low voice. “Fuck,” he whispered. “Ben?” he called in a slightly louder tone. “Benny?”

Suddenly the scent of blood overwhelmed Curtis. Benny’s blood. Rage boiled up inside him, bringing with it a burgeoning well of power. He dropped helplessly to his knees, instinctively scrabbling at the fastenings to his clothing as the rapidly submerging rational human was overtaken by the rising change. In a dim part of his mind, he knew it was too soon, that he needed to get help. But the smell of his mate’s blood colored his perception red, and he lost all will to fight what was happening within him.

Freed of his clothes, he hovered in between states for a moment before his mind seized on the image of a wolf, the shape his uncle preferred. A moment later it was so. He bounded to his feet and took off running even as he heard Rory scream. “Ben!”

Almost instantly across the darkened lot, his vision now acute, he stopped a short distance from Rory. No Benny in sight. Crouching as Rory turned, he could instantly scent the worry turn to fear when Rory saw him and froze, holding Benny’s bloody scarf loosely in his hand. Curtis sprang forward, snapping his jaws around the fabric, and pulled it from Rory’s fingers.

“Hey!” Rory’s exclamation followed him into the night as he turned all his senses toward tracking his injured mate. Whoever had him was dragging him, according to the evidence on the ground. A growl gathered in his throat, and he picked up speed. He hit a gravel road and stopped as the visual trail became more difficult to distinguish and he had to use his senses of smell and hearing.

Wheeling to the right, he arrowed down the roadway, then slowed to a silent prowl as he rounded a curve, not wanting to miss the trail if they suddenly went off the road. The trail led to a seldom-used side road opening into a clearing. His gaze narrowed on a large vehicle with a motionless figure lying on the ground behind it. Benny. He scanned for danger, but the sight of his mate quickly overcame his caution as he moved forward more quickly now. He didn’t see anyone inside the Hummer, but he was too low to the ground to get a good look.

As if in response to that thought, he felt a disorienting haze flow through him, almost as if he was on the verge of fainting; then he realized he had the rocky ground under his hands.

Hands.

He had regained his human form, but that probably wasn’t the worst thing since he would need arms to carry Benny. Rising cautiously, he peered into the Hummer and didn’t see anyone. He knew the assailant had to be around somewhere. Where could he have gone?

Then Benny groaned from beneath him, and he dropped to his knees next to him, heedless of the stones beneath his knees. The smell of his own blood was suddenly in the air, and mixed with Benny’s, it was a heady combination.

All at once, Curtis’s efforts at restraint, in holding himself back from Benny this week to protect him, didn’t seem so important anymore. Never having chanced being with a more fragile human, very conscious of his physical size coupled with his latent powers, he’d tried his damnedest to keep from touching his potential mate. Oh, he knew deep down that no matter what Benny and Rory portrayed, they weren’t in the intimately involved relationship they claimed. At least not presently, though the familiarity with which they interacted bespoke a past connection. No—when Benny looked back at Curtis, it was with a mutual interest and heat he knew was reflected in his own eyes.

An interest he couldn’t act upon at this vulnerable crossroads in his alpha training. By the time he had enough control to touch Benny, the man would be long gone.

Damn it! Of all the fucking timing.

Benny’s eyes fluttered open and slowly blinked as he appeared to try to focus on Curtis, bringing him forcibly back to their current predicament. “Curt?”

“Yeah, I’ve got you.” He began to carefully slide his hands under Benny’s shoulders and knees, kicking himself for his damned scruples. It was just wrong that the first time he touched and held Benny was when he was injured and in danger. Damn his automatic obedience to his alpha and clan laws.

A metallic click that could only be a safety disengaging froze his motion.

“Stand up!” a voice ordered from a few yards away in the depths of the tree line surrounding the clearing. Curtis slowly raised his head and stood as ordered, his newly acute vision finally spotting the man dressed in all black pointing a gun directly at him. He could just make out a smallish tent in the trees behind the man.

“Now back away from him.”

An ill-timed groan from Benny had him looking down, and he met Benny’s uncomprehending, drugged stare.

“Back up!”

He was helpless to stop the growl that bubbled up from inside at the thought of moving away from his injured mate, and he shook his head as he narrowed his gaze on the man, mentally gauging whether he could get Benny and himself behind cover of the Hummer before the lunatic could get a shot off.

The man either read his mind or had the same thought, because an instant later he heard the shot just as pain impacted his deltoid. “Uh.” He staggered back a step, trying not to tread on Benny, as his eyes went automatically to his upper shoulder. Dart.

Oh fuck.

Curtis could feel himself losing his already tentative hold on his magic, and as his head became woozy, he felt the newly discovered and disconcerting moment before the change came over him, way faster than earlier on the porch. It was as if sheer muscle memory was kicking in, because he had zero control, and it took no effort at all. When he hit the ground next to and partially atop Benny, he was already a wolf.

“Holy shit….” Benny’s voice seemed tinny and distant, but it caught Curtis’s attention, and with effort, he raised his head to look at his mate, dimly satisfied to be touching him but vaguely concerned that he was forgetting something. He felt Benny’s hand stroke him lightly and keened with pleasure deep in his throat.

Then Benny was leaving, moving away. No! He reached out and watched bemusedly as his paw changed to a hand before his eyes.

“Leave him alone!” Benny shouted. Then another sharp report, and he landed with a thud atop Curtis, whose arms instinctively went around Benny. The black-clad stranger came into his vision, and he tried to marshal a defense, but the sucking effect of the tranquilizer held him immobile as another dart plunged into his chest from a short distance away and everything went black.

One More Wish is available now at Dreamspinner Press.

Coming in October--a free short story in this world! More info soon! :)

Amazing Free Download -- Compilation of MM Authors Attending GayRomLit

2011-09-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

Now available as a free download on Goodreads!

This free ebook is a collection of 27 short stories celebrating love, sex and romance between men. It is the product of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group Hot Summer Days event and features authors attending the GayRomLit Retreat 2011 in New Orleans!

Go to the Don't Read in the Closet: GayRomLit Retreat 2011 Special Edition page then use the green download button to choose from PDF, Mobi/Kindle, Epub and Html/Zip formats.

Includes:

J. P. Barnaby – END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT = First Love
L.C. Chase – OPEN TACKLE = Friends to Lovers
Jaya Christopher – CODY AND THE HERMIT = BDSM/Cowboys
Poppy Dennison – BLINDSIDED = Hurt/Comfort
Taylor V. Donovan – HEATSTROKE = Angst
Rachel Haimowitz – JUNGLE HEAT = Military
Jambrea Jo Jones – WILD BLUE YONDER = Military
Lissa Kasey and Xara X. Xanakas – SINK OR SWIM = Established Couple
K Lee Klein – OUTFOXED = Rock Stars
Marguerite Labbe – TEARS OF THE SEA = Paranormal/Fairytales
Clare London – SAY A LITTLE PRAYER = Paranormal/Angels
Belinda McBride – FREE TO FLY = BDSM
Michele L. Montgomery – TEARS FROM ABOVE = Paranormal/Angels
Cherie Noel – KISS AND TELL = Mild Kink
Lydia Nyx – MOON OVER MONTANA = Shifter/Cowboys
M.J. O'Shea – BRIDGES = First Love
SJD Peterson - INNOCENCE TO THE MAX = Paranormal/BDSM
Devon Rhodes – HIS LAST RESORT = Coming Out
Jaime Samms – MOURNING = Hurt/Comfort
PD Singer – THE BOY NEXT DOOR = Friends to Lovers
Andrea Speed – MY BLOODY VALENTINE = Paranormal/Sorcerer
Damon Suede – SEEDY BUSINESS = Sci-Fi
VJ Summers – LIAR, LIAR = Friends to Lovers
Bryl R. Tyne – ALIPIO = Fantasy
Piper Vaughn – WANTING = First Love
Missy Welsh – YOU AND BILLION BLUE TILES = First Love
Eden Winters – SWEET DREAMS = Coming Out

Blurb for my story, His Last Resort:

The last thing transfer student Lee Carmine needs in his life right now is a wide-eyed, gorgeous gay guy for a roommate. When Trask Maitland comes out to Lee, are they doomed from the start or is it possible that "three strikes and you're out" could turn into "third time's the charm?"

Enjoy! :D

Back to School Contest on Twitter and Facebook

2011-09-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

Yes, they're back at school...which means it's only a matter of time before I get sick! Go put your guess in on Twitter or Facebook for what date I first come down with something, and the person who has chosen the right date (or the closest one) will win their choice of book from my backlist! Someone might as well benefit from my misery, lol!

Letting Go... Unfriending Happens

2011-09-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Veering a bit off topic here. Today was a good, happy day for the most part. Enjoyed our long vacation the past couple weeks...and also at the same time happy to be home. I sent my kids off to the first day of school this morning--the little one to Kindergarten (here she is waiting for the bus). All was well...except perhaps for a much earlier morning than I'm used to slowing me down a bit. And an extra coffee took care of that. It was a beautiful sunny summery day, and I was making the most of it.

Then I saw her...

Have you ever had a friend who just...went away? After several years of close friendship with this person, over the last year our contact dwindled remarkably. It honestly wasn't for lack of trying on my part. E-mailed her several times. Stopped by her house a few times--left a message with a guest once and a note the other times. Sent a Christmas card. Posted on her FB page when a status or photo caught my eye. But eventually I noticed that she wasn't reciprocating. I know... Duh. *eye roll at self*

I'm a pretty positive person, which means that when I reached out and didn't connect with her, instead of thinking oh she's mad about something, I just assumed there was something keeping her busy or whatnot. So then I'd try again...same result, but hey, maybe life threw her a curve ball.

A combination of things happened today, the result of which put me in a seriously pensive mood. I actually saw her today, walking along at a distance as I drove by (I knew it was her, but she wasn't in a position to see me). I also had a FB exchange with a mutual friend. So seeing as this person is good about posting there and keeping up to date, I checked her FB page tonight...and noticed for the first time that she's no longer my "friend". Wow.

I've been around social media enough to know that when this happens, it's a deliberate action on the part of the other person, not some glitch. So at some point, she went to my page, clicked on me and "unfriended" me. This from someone with whom I used to trade off watching our respective kids. We helped each other out when sick, did social stuff on a pretty regular basis. One of my few pop-on-over friends, if you know what I mean.

Yes. I know it's time to let go. I just can't help but wonder what it was that brought things to this, though.

I'm baffled...but I finally got the message. And it happens. Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

Coming Soon and Month-Long Discount

2011-08-31T23:36:00.000-07:00

Still on vacation. I stayed out at a remote, historic lodge at Oregon Caves last night. No Wifi, but after the fun cave tour and a lovely dinner, I sat out in the lobby in my jammies and wrote for hours. Great atmosphere.

Had a chance to check email finally and was notified that One More Wish is now up on Dreamspinner's Coming Soon page. :) Always a fun milestone to hit. Releases in three weeks.

Also noticed that Amber Quill is having a month-long storewide sale in September: 25% Off all novels, novellas and kisses. So if you haven't picked up The Swap or Stranger In Black yet, now's a good time! :)

2011--Summer of the Road Trip

2011-08-26T00:40:00.000-07:00

Heading to the beach tomorrow. And since that's not enough of a trip, we're also dipping down into CA then circling back up to Crater Lake before going back to Sunriver Resort. So...eleven nights on the road. Last blast of summer vacation before school starts after Labor Day.

Oh, and if there are any criminals out there casing my posts to make sure my house is empty, feel free to pick beans and tomatoes and help yourself to the squash.

Gay Day on Sunday! Tons of giveaways, excerpts and author chat!

2011-08-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 21st is Gay Day at Ethan Day's Yahoo Group. Gay Day is the one day a month when the best authors in GLBT Romance stop by to post excerpts of their new and upcoming releases.

The following authors will be generously offering giveaways you can enter to win:

Geoff Knight - Drive Shaft 2

Andrew Grey – Persona Training

Clare London - Just-You Eyes

Jaime Samms - Finding Home: Ageless Book 3

S.J. Frost - Readers Choice from Backlist

Devon Rhodes - One Wild Wish

Stevie Woods - More Than Chains To Bind

Angel Martinez - Fortune's Sharp Adversity

Lily Sawyer – Somebody to Love

Pia Veleno - Make You Sweat

KC Burn - Trompe L'oeil

Kate McMurray - Blind Items

Tara Lain - Volley Balls

Jambrea Jo Jones - A Fistful of Emmett

P.A. Brown – Readers Choice from Backlist

The amazing Authors below will be popping in and out to chat & post excerpts from their latest books:

P.A. Brown – Bermuda Heat

Geoff Knight - CURSE OF THE DRAGON GOD

Z.A. Maxfield - Rhapsody for Piano and Ghost

Lynn Lorenz – Cemeteries & C'est La Vie

Jambrea Jo Jones – Alliance

I hope everyone will stop by to catch up with your favorite authors and join in all the fun! See you there!

Ambitious Goal and a CONTEST!! Simple guessing game to win your choice of ebook!

2011-08-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

I took a look at my writing plans for the coming year and it wasn't pretty. In fact, it was pretty helter-skelter. SO I made the somewhat ambitious promise to myself that I would finish all my current works in progress before 2012. My reasoning is that finishing up these languishing manuscripts will get them off my mind as well as off my to-do list, making it easier to be creative and concentrate on future works.

As for the contest, it's super easy: The first person to guess how many current WIP's I have to complete, wins either their choice of ebook from my backlist OR an ebook copy of my September release, One More Wish. One guess per person, here on my blog only, please. To help narrow it down a bit, I define a WIP as something I have at least one scene written on, with main character names and a working titles. I have more than two and less than a dozen. Okay, guess away and good luck!! :) Meanwhile, I'll be writing!

Home Again and Writing Again

2011-08-05T17:02:00.000-07:00

1650 miles in two days, and we made it home Wednesday night. Grand total of 3898 miles over two and a half weeks...all driven by yours truly. We didn't degenerate into the road-trip-from-hell family portrayed to the left by any means. But it is a funny picture (thanks Melia and troops for the use of it!).

The best part about getting home was the weather. LOL! Everyone knows the horror that was Midwest weather over the past month... and we were there in the thick of it. And I do mean thick. The humidity about killed me. After living in New England, Florida, Texas and various Midwest states over the course of my life, you'd think I'd have some immunity to it. But nope. Oregon has made me wimpy. It was a lovely 78 degrees with 24% humidity when we arrived home, dropping almost into the 50s overnight. Heaven.

Rory and Benny fans: One Wish is getting two new stories this fall. Just finished the second one today. The first will be One More Wish, which is Benny and Curtis' book. I got the preliminary sketch for the Paul Richmond cover last week, and let me just say WOW! I can't wait until it's painted and I can share the finished product with you! One More Wish will release at Dreamspinner Press in mid- September. And today I finished writing a short story featuring Rory and Jared and Benny and Curtis, which will be a free read in October. It's titled In The Wild, and it's outdoor nudity, dragons and manlove all wrapped up in a sweet little package!

There will be at least one more novella in the future for One Wish, but I have a couple of other projects to finish first. Marines and pilots. Mages and weres. And sugarplums dancing in my head. :) My muse has said that's enough teasing. Time to get back to work!!

Free Read at Goodreads: His Last Resort

2011-07-28T17:59:00.000-07:00

My freebie Hot Summer Days story, His Last Resort, went up this week over at the M/M Group at Goodreads:

The last thing transfer student Lee Carmine needs in his life right now is a wide-eyed, gorgeous gay guy for a roommate. When Trask Maitland comes out to Lee, are they doomed from the start or is it possible that "three strikes and you're out" could turn into "third time's the charm?"

Click HERE for the post. Enjoy!

Road Trip Day One: Sprinklers, Stewart and Scan-Stopping Songs

2011-07-18T00:18:00.000-07:00

It occurred to me while I was driving today--and I had a LOT of time to think!--that I should post some of the random thoughts and interesting (to me) observations I make during the trip. So, I'll start off with some stats and then go from there!

DAY ONE: Drove 753 miles in 11 & 1/2 hours from near Portland, OR to Ogden, UT. (Keep in mind, it's just me and the two kids, no extra driver!) Kids were golden, my a$$ is not quite numb yet, skipped a late dinner in favor of pool time (love hotels with 24 hr pools!).

SPRINKLERS: Driving along in what could be considered the High Desert or maybe the Great Basin..not sure..but anyway, went past the town of Jerome, Idaho, and they had in-ground sprinklers going...in the big area between the interstate and the exit. WTF? What a waste of water! Weird and unnecessary. And it was kept mowed, too. Very oddly green and manicured in comparison with the normal, arid landscape around it. It stood out...in a not-so-good way. Plus watering on a hot summer day in an arid climate?? Most of it evaporated and didn't even get to the roots. Sorry...have to give you a thumbs down, Jerome town leaders, especially since it's evidently smart irrigation month this month (which I found out trolling for a photo to use here--ironic!). Turn off the water, turn under the turf and plant some native grasses already.

STEWART: Also in the middle of Idaho, I came up behind a big boxy car carrier, the whole rear end eye-catchingly painted with the Mobil logo. When I went to pass, I noticed the trailer was being pulled by a huge pickup which was also entirely painted with logos..like a race car. Probably because it was the "OFFICIAL TONY STEWART TEAM #14" truck and hauler. Presumably, the NASCAR car was tucked away inside, asleep...you know...like in the movies Cars? My kids were very excited to see a Lightening McQueen look-alike in person, so to speak. What they were doing in Idaho, I have no idea!

SCAN-STOPPING SONGS--DAY ONE: We don't iPod or Sirius or anything like that on these annual trips. Nope, we do it the old-fashioned way and scan the radio stations along the way, hoping that when one grows too fuzzy, we'll find another good one. The girls enjoy helping me decide which stations to stop on (and the oldest is keeping track with a list now..which will probably get lost before the next trip). They mostly like the dance, hip-hop and Top 40 type songs, so that's what we end up looking for. But sometime I'll hit a song that makes me stop and sing along, even if it's not quite what we were looking for. Kind of fun to "rediscover" some old favorites. Here are a couple from today:

I'll be back tomorrow with a Day Two update! Time to get some sleep before my early Skype work call. At least the kids will probably still be asleep...and there's an in-room coffee maker! Night!

Mini-Vacation... Ahhh...

2011-07-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

Off for a quick couple of nights at the coast tomorrow. I live close enough for an easy day trip (about a 90 minute drive), but over the years seem to go less and less often even though the beach really calls to me. Love the tranquil peace I always feel near the ocean. Hey, I'm a Pisces, total water baby.

The timing is a bit ironic since I'm going to be leaving on the annual trek east the day after I get back from going west to the beach. More about that in a few days.

But still...it's the coast. Totally worth going the wrong way.

My plans while soaking it all in? Other than a bit of editing, I need to write some song lyrics and a blurb for my next release, One More Wish. If the muse is willing, I plan to unearth a manuscript I've been planning to revise for some time now and actually get to it. Hopefully I'll have some good progress to report to you this weekend.

25% Off All E-Books, All Day Friday July 8th at Total-E-Bound!

2011-07-08T01:45:00.000-07:00

In celebration of their birthday, Total-E-Bound is offering 25% your entire e-book purchase at their website, all day Friday, July 8th! Take advantage of this great opportunity to buy all the TEB e-books you've been wanting!

Thanks, TEB, and Happy Birthday to you!

What I Learned On My Summer Vacation... Part One

2011-07-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

Lessons learned the first long weekend away.

It doesn't matter if you've been with someone for 18 years...you never really know a person until you play Monopoly with them.
Base tan as sun protection only works for the parts of your body that actually get sun day-to-day. The tops of my feet, tummy, and upper thighs apparently needed more than mere sunscreen after ages in the shade.
Thermostat wars also happen with hot tubs.
Hardly anyone looks great in a bathing suit, and the ones who do are either under 23 or hit the jackpot in genetics.
Going down into a cave after having seen the movie The Descent is really creepy.

Hot Summer Days...Over 100 Free M/M Stories!

2011-06-30T23:40:00.000-07:00

That's right, over 100 stories, ranging from 2,500 word short stories to over 30,000 word novellas from some of the hottest authors in the genre as well as some very talented newcomers!

Starting today, the M/M Romance Group at Goodreads will be posting around 20K worth of sexy M/M summer reading for free every day until all the stories are up. You just have to be a member of the group to view (and all you have to do to be a member is be 18 or over and ask to join HERE).

The stories all started from a photograph and a request from a reader member of the group. Authors chose the pictures that spoke to their muse and created a story to tell the photo's tale.

As for my contribution to the collection, meet Trask Maitland (the blond) and Lee Carmine (the brunet). Ahem. Don't mind them, they're a bit busy right now.

The reader who posted their picture and said, "Dear Author, The first look between them had been innocent, or so he'd thought. I'd love to see exactly how things changed and where they'll end up. Sincerely, Sara" Their short story, titled His Last Resort, will be posted sometime this summer in the Goodreads group.

The first three stories are up, and all I have to say is "Hot" definitely belongs in the title. See you there!

Announcing the Winners of our Sizzling Summer Solstice E-Reader Giveaway!!

2011-06-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!

Grand Prize: Erin Cavin wins her choice of a brand new Nook Wi Fi 3G or a Kindle 3G with Wi Fi plus the two books she chose from all six authors!

Second Prize: Theresa Angelosanto wins all the books she chose, for a total of twelve new ebooks!

Third Prize: Tracey D wins her top choice of e-book from all six authors!

Consolation Prize Winners: The following people, please contact me at devonrhodes@hotmail.com to receive your choice of e-book from my backlist!:

Erica Pike

Melanie Conrad

Darcy Pommawolf

Again, congratulations to all our winners, and thank you to everyone who entered!
Happy Soltice! Keep cool!

Enter Here for a chance to win a new Nook or Kindle with Wi Fi in our Sizzling Summer Solstice Contest!

2011-06-13T23:39:00.000-07:00

The sizzling height of summer is coming! What better way to beat the heat than with a brand new Nook Wi Fi 3G or a Kindle 3G with Wi Fi!

Six sexy authors of erotic romance are coming together with a fabulous giveaway this summer solstice! And entering couldn't be simpler. Just visit each of our blogs beginning June 14th, and leave a comment on the contest post with:

* your name (or user name) and contact email, and
* your top two (2) choices from the author's backlist to kick-start your E-Reader library should you win.

Contest will close at Noon ET on Tuesday, June 21st, 2011, and a winner will be drawn at 1:16pm ET from all the readers who commented on all six blogs:

Gwendolyn Cease at gwendolyncease.blogspot.com

Suzanne Graham at suzannegraham.blogspot.com

Bronwyn Green at bronwyngreenblog.blogspot.com

Jessica Jarman at jessicajarman.blogspot.com

Kris Norris at krisnorris.blogspot.com

Devon Rhodes at devonrhodes.blogspot.com

The Grand Prize winner will receive their choice of a brand new Nook Wi Fi 3G or a Kindle 3G with Wi Fi plus two ebooks of their choice from each author!

Second Prize will be winner's choice of two ebooks from each author's backlist...that's 12 new books!

Third Prize will be winner's choice of one ebook from each author's backlist for a total of 6 books!

More surprises and prizes at each blog, so what are you waiting for? When summer hits its height, you could be the winner!!

Details:

* In order to be eligible for the drawing, you must leave a comment at each of the six blogs with your email address and choice of two books. We're sorry, but anyone who misses a blog or forgets to leave their contact info will be disqualified.

* All comments must be posted by 12:00 Noon, ET, on June 21st.

* Valid entry comments must be in response to the official Contest post on each blog, although we also welcome comments on other posts, so feel free to poke around!

* The E-Reader will be shipped to the winner's house. Ebooks will be emailed separately to the winner.

* Winner must respond to Jessica within three days or an alternate winner will be announced.

*******

So here we go! Check out my books and decide which two you want! There are links by genre just below my blog header, which will take you to a page with all the blurbs. You can also click on the covers along my left sidebar to go to the publishers' websites for blurbs, excerpts and reviews. I'll also be drawing a few random non-winners for extra prizes after the contest is over. :D

To enter, just comment below with your name and contact email and which two of my books you would like to win! Optional to add, do you have anything you are really looking forward to this summer?? Then visit the other five blogs and cross your fingers!

GOOD LUCK!!

Sunday is Gay Day! Tons of giveaways!

2011-06-11T12:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 12th is Gay Day at Ethan Day's Yahoo Group. Gay Day is the one day a month when the best authors in GLBT Romance stop by to post excerpts of their new and upcoming releases.

The following authors will be generously offering giveaways you can enter to win:

Elizabeth Noble - Marked Yours

C. Zampa - Candy G.

Tara Lain - Volley Balls or The Scientist and the Supermodel

S.J. Frost - Natural Instincts

Belinda McBride - A signed Uncommon Whore poster

JL Merrow - Camwolf or Sex, Lies and Edelweiss

Jambrea Jo Jones - Tell Me Now & Saddle Up 'N Ride

Alan Chin - Haji's Exile

Ariel Tachna - Choice from Backlist

Pia Veleno - Man Whore

William Neale - A New Normal

Barry Brennessel - Tinseltown

Simone Anderson - To Love Again

Serena Yates - Saving Zeke

Sebastian Blade - Redeem Me

Jaime Samms - As Advertised

Kimberly Gardner - Dressed to Thrill

Lou Harper – Hanging Loose

Angel Martinez - Boots

Charlie Cochrane - An ‘I love Jonty and Orlando’ T-shirt

Devon Rhodes - Stranger In Black

Z.A. Maxfield - Rhapsody For Piano And Ghost

Gale Stanley - One Night in Bangkok

Geoff Knight & Dare Empire will be offering up FIVE books!

Winners Choice of either The Cross of Sins or Drive Shaft

The amazing Authors below will be popping in and out to chat & post excerpts from their latest books:

S.J. Frost - Black Heart Down

Alan Chin - Butterfly’s Child

Willa Okati - Make a Right

Geoff Knight - Curse of the Dragon God

Lynn Lorenz – The Hearts of New Orleans Series

Charlie Cochrane - All Lessons Learned

Z.A. Maxfield – All Stirred Up

We hope everyone will stop by to catch up with your favorite authors and join in all the fun!

Reading, Sorting and Letting Go

2011-06-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

I am a voracious reader.

Always have been and presumably will continue to be. Not only do I love to read, but I'm...good at it. I read incredibly fast and still manage to spot errors and retain what I've read. Which serves me well in the EDJ as my alter ego, The Editor.

Of course, there is only so much a person can immerse themselves in before the cup runneth over. After time spent working on writing my own stories, editing, evaluating submissions, judging, beta reading, and managing to keep up with my auto-buy authors (who, darn them, keep pumping out books I barely have time for but CAN'T miss), any time for the rest of my library, both ebook and print, has taken a hit.

The print ones just sit there nicely on the bookshelf, and I occasionally dust in front of them. But more of a problem is the fact that I have an insane number of ebooks I bought some time ago when I was more of a reader and prospective (then newbie) writer, when I was in the habit of making the rounds on release days, hitting up my favorite ebook sellers, and looking for books after reading reviews. Insane. I'm talking literally hundreds of unread ebooks, just sitting there politely in a unimaginitively titled folder called "Unread". These days, I'll dip in there once in a blue moon and pick out a book to read, but really, I just don't have the time and don't forsee a change in that anytime soon.

So now what? Well, I'm contemplating buying a new computer (yes, again). So I'd like to get my elibrary organized and streamlined...but what to do with all those hundreds of books in "Unread"? Complicating things is the fact that I have read some of them, just didn't follow through with adding them to GR and then either filing in the appropriate genre folder (for keepers), or deleting.

I've spent some precious time lately picking through them. I started a NEW folder called "Want To Read" and moved some of them into that one. I've added some read ones to GR and filed or deleted. And yes, a few I just sat and read right there on the spot. But even spending a fair amount of time on it, I've barely made a dent. A part of me just wants to wipe the slate clean. Yes, I know. It seems foolish to delete a book I paid good money for. But really...when am I going to read them? They're just taking up space on my hard drive (and bugging the heck out of me, knowing they're there). Some go back to 2008. Yeah. Haven't read them in three years. Will I ever?

So what do you guys think? Keep plugging away at sorting and reading, a bit at a time? Delete them all? Get rid of the oldest, say two years or older? Keep in mind the time it takes to do this...takes directly away from my writing time. It really goes against my grain to think of deleting them, but man, I'm really obsessing on this lately (which is also affecting my writing time!). Seeking words of wisdom!!

Writing, writing, writing...

2011-05-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

Been doing a fair amount of it lately and it feels great. Last night, I started my reader-request freebie, based on this photo. Meet my heroes--and don't mind them. They're a bit busy at the moment. *g*

The reader's setup was:
"The first look between them had been innocent, or so he'd thought. I'd love to see exactly how things changed and where they'll end up."

Got 1K written and I'm happy with how it's setting up. The trick will be keeping it from turning into a book...though I suppose that wouldn't be the worst possible outcome!

I've also made a couple thousand words worth of progress this week on Locke, Stock and Barrel, the next book in my Vampires & Mages & Weres, Oh My! series. You met Locke in Through the Red Door, and he'll be getting his mate, Aspen, in this book. But will he be able to keep him?

When my boys aren't keeping me busy, I'm in the spa...not literally (I wish!), but working on my short story Monsoon Treatment. I should make another trip to Dosha, actually, for some..um..hands-on research. You know...just to make sure everything is accurate. :D

I'm also writing a song. Not a real one, per se, but one that will be included in One More Wish, the sequel to One Wild Wish which will be coming out on September 22nd. At the time I wrote and submitted the book, I put in INSERT SONG LYRICS HERE. So at some point, I'm going to have to...insert. Which means I have to write them. I know what I want to say with them, but making it sound good is a whole 'nother thing. "Wish" me luck! ;)

I had a hilarious idea for a new M/M paranormal story while I was brainstorming for the reader request story. I'm fleshing it out now, and since it's really hitting me, I might have to bump something else from the schedule and write it first. Not sure if the idea will fit into any of the worlds I've already written or if it will be a free-standing one, or (horrors!) another series. Either way, it'll be on the fast-track! More info when I wrap something up...hopefully very soon! :)

Released Today: Stranger in Black at AQP

2011-05-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

Thrilled to announce that my latest book, Stranger in Black, is now out at Amber Quill Press.

Christian wants closure on his relationship with a closeted cheater, so he dons a disguise to see the evidence for himself. He attends the annual masquerade ball on the arm of his friend, looking for the Stranger in Black. But when he finds him, the farewell encounter in a back room doesn't quite go as planned

Jarrod goes undercover, wearing the black and gold mask to ferret out Chris--the "other woman" his best friend's fiancé is fooling around with. He isn't prepared for his reaction to the sexy vision in the white gown...especially since he's gay.

It's not the unmasking that exposes their dual deception, but the gloves...and the pants...coming off. Now Christian and Jarrod need to work together to protect the innocent party in all of this. And along the way, they just might become more than strangers...

Read an excerpt at the publisher's website HERE.

Thoughts on Love, Sex, and Humanity

2011-04-30T23:07:00.000-07:00

In many paranormal romances I've read, there is often frequent, non-monogamous sex, especially early in the book and often in the first scene. Sometimes even gratuitous sex. Complementary body parts flying around, diving into whatever orifice is readily available, because that's what shifters or vamps or demons "need".

Don't get me wrong. I love to read and write paranormals. I always get a kick out of this truism of the genre though, not only because it's sometimes fun to read a down and dirty scene without a bunch of emotional baggage, but also because it's a somewhat obvious trope. They aren't "human"--the very term human often being use as an insult in PNRs. Therefore, sex is just that...sex.

Paranormals aren't the only place you see this play out. You could also insert other genres here, including macho men occupations such as military, or ex-military special forces types (lots of those running around apparently), cops, etc, where the 'humanity' has been stripped from the heroes, the better to do their jobs, which usually involves the need to kill without qualm.

However, don't forget this is a romance. So sure, there will come a time in the story when love begins to rear its ugly head, and won't THAT be a fight for all involved. The protagonist will be disparaged by another non-human entity (or fellow macho man...or their own subconscious...or sometimes even the object of their affection) for their tender feelings, will be sneered at for being too human. Love is seen as a weakness, a failing, a vulnerability to exploit.

Ah, but love will triumph. And while the no-strings rampant sex always reads like it's on fire, there is no comparison to the incendiary sex immediately following the realization (and before the end of the story, the declaration) of love. The tenderness, the emotion, the connection between the participants is unprecedented, unparalleled, unrivaled. A satisfying completion for all involved, including the all-too-human reader...

How do you feel about the urgent sex in PNR and macho-men books? Over the top or understandable? Hot and smoking, or does it gets your eyes a-rolling?

Naked Man at the Day Spa Contest

2011-04-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

This is what I found in the aftermath of the "Pony Day Spa" in my tub one day. Those of you who frequent Ava's blog know that my kids aren't the only ones who leave their boy-toys in interesting positions.

Begs for a caption, so have at it! I'll choose my favorite caption (or comment) next week and the winner will receive their choice of ebook from my backlist. Good luck!

When Creativity Stops Flowing... Part One: Top Six Reasons Stories Hit the Brakes

2011-04-06T17:45:00.000-07:00

A good author friend of mine recently posted that she'd given up on finishing a book she'd planned to have in by the beginning of the month. She had done everything right: brainstormed ideas, given herself plenty of time to write. When she hit a snag, she reasoned through the problem and changed the setting to better fit her premise. And yet, she just wasn't able to get to the end and finally (wisely) conceded.

This happens more often than I ever would have thought before becoming an author. And now that I'm editing as well, I have a behind-the-scenes insight into the trials and unsuccessful attempts by my authors to finish works they've planned and promised. Creativity is an interesting and nebulous thing, and there are no hard and fast answers to why this happens, even to seasoned and prolific writers. There are as many reasons for muse-on-strike as there are authors. But to sum them up, here are the top six general categories I see plaguing frustrated writers:

LIFE HAPPENS: You get sick. Your family gets sick. Your computer dies. Vacation comes and goes, and despite your best hopes, you're too busy and get nothing written. Edits or rewrites come back on another manuscript. You get squirrels in your attic (literally, not figuratively...but then again, it'd work against you either way). You get busy shopping for a new house/car/washer and dryer. Point is, you have a life outside of writing, and many things in that life are out of your control. It's easy to think you can allow for or work around these things, and much more difficult to actually do so. Many muses have a very low tolerance for outside competition, including thoughts taken up by the old to-do-list, so they just shut down production until things calm down.

THE EDJ: Most writers I know have 'em, and bemoan the time they take away from their one true wuv...their stories. Whether it's office politics following you home, extra work or projects needing your creative time and attention, or even business travel, "real world" work can massacre your schedule and pull your mind off its game.

YOUR PARTNER: I absolutely love reading the grateful dedications from authors to their life partners and spouses. The love and support these lucky writers are given facilitate their ability to turn out great stories. However, not all partners are as understanding. Negative vibes or belittling comments or outright disapproval can all pull a writer out of the zone and there goes the word count. Even the oblivious partner can have an effect, planning things to do or demanding time when all you want to do is put your head down and bang out some K's.

THE BLOGOSPHERE & REVIEWS: Yes, we know we should take the bad reviews or comments with a grain of salt. Yes, we should stay out of and not dwell on blogland conflicts. But with some writers' personality types, once it's in our head, it's hard to let go of. And emotional responses can be hard to avoid. Even if the writer is smart enough to not get involved online, it can still wreck havoc in your mind.

STORY DEVELOPMENT THAT...DOESN'T: I see this a lot with authors writing series or for a collection. They have either a set of characters or a germ of an idea to start with and go ahead and commit to a story. Then the story just...doesn't happen. Maybe the characters go in a random direction. Maybe the story morphs so it doesn't work anymore. And sometimes you're just not inspired. So you stall...and wait...and try, but can't get it moving along. Very frustrating.

CHEATING: Authors who have more than one work in progress (and who doesn't?) are at great risk of having a story other than the one they should be working on spark their desire and get their creative juices flowing. That can either be a huge distraction or, if you succumb, a complete c***block for the story you've committed to.

These have been some of the greatest dangers lurking out there for writers on a deadline. Next week I'll have part two for you, where I'll talk about some suggestions to get over the hump. Meanwhile, I'd love to hear your thoughts on my breakdown of the breakdown. What have you had to fight as a writer?

Two Blurbs and Contract News

2011-03-31T01:21:00.000-07:00

No release date yet, but just signed the contract with Dreamspinner to publish One More Wish by this summer. You met my heroes, Benny and Curtis, in One Wild Wish, and they've been asking me for their own story ever since. For fans of Rory and Jared, you'll get to catch up with them as well. :) Here's the blurb:

Benny Oshiro was having the time of his life at the private gig he'd gotten for his band One Wish...up until he was assaulted and kidnapped by their former manager. When his knight in shining armor ends up turning furry during the rescue, Benny knows he should reconsider his attraction to the hunky shifter. But whatever else Curtis is, Benny has never had anyone look at him with such want before. Want he can't help but return.

Curtis Salinas knew the moment he saw Benny that he was his mate...or as his alpha put it, a possible mate. But the timing is all off, and when Curtis uncovers a long-held family secret, he finally understands that he can't possibly pursue Benny until he leashes the beast within. His first time with a human, one he loves, is not the time to test his newly developing control.

But outside forces are at work, threatening exposure of their clan and harm to their would-be mates. When Benny is kidnapped a second time, the clock is ticking, and Curtis realizes the enemy he is searching for is only half of the problem. To have a secure and happy future, he must also face down his doubts and claim Benny for his own.

********

Stranger in Black will be coming out on May 22nd at Amber Quill Press. Here's that blurb as well, hot off the presses:

Christian wants closure on his relationship with a closeted cheater, so he dons a disguise to see the evidence for himself. He attends the annual masquerade ball on the arm of his friend, looking for the Stranger in Black. But when he finds him, the farewell encounter in a back room doesn’t quite go as planned…

Jarrod goes undercover, wearing the black and gold mask to ferret out “Chris”—the “other woman” his best friend’s fiancé is fooling around with. He isn’t prepared for his reaction to the sexy vision in the white gown…especially since he’s gay.

It’s not the unmasking that exposes their dual deception, but the gloves—and the pants—coming off. Now Christian and Jarrod need to work together to protect the innocent party in all of this. And along the way, they just might become more than strangers.

Back from my trip... Cute Disney couple

2011-03-27T21:28:00.000-07:00

Back home today and missing the atmosphere and sun of So Cal already. Had an awesome time.

More later, but for now, here's an adorable couple who was cuddling and smooching in line in front of us at the Matterhorn: Eric and Nicholas, according to their matching monogrammed Mickey ears. Awww....

Destination Disney...SoCal Here We Come

2011-03-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

Off on our spring break trip tomorrow, and of course we'll have to pay a call on the Mecca that is Disneyland before heading down to San Diego. Aladdin's still enjoying its run at the Hyperion, so thought I'd get in the zone...

And I know someone will ask...yes, I'm taking my computer. :P

Hope everyone has a fun and safe spring break! Tell me, what are your plans??

I Love Pleasing My Men...

2011-03-11T19:56:00.000-08:00

...in fact, made two of my men very happy last night...

Finished the sequel to one of my books and gave the two secondary characters their own story. I'm pretty sure I'm not giving much away when I say it has a happy ending. Le sigh.

Release Day for Spring Training...Plus, Giveaway Winners Announced

2011-03-07T13:58:00.000-08:00

It's finally here, the day I've been waiting for, for over a year! Release day for the fourth (but actually first) Seasoned Women story, Spring Training. :)

This was a special one to me, dedicated to two fabulous women in my life:

Dedication~
With love to my real life inspirations:
Teresa, who showed courage, humor, and energy in raising her twins from such a young age. You did great, little mama. Hope you like my Alex and Em.
And Theresa, the biggest baseball fan I know, with a four-pack of boys and a donated kidney—endlessly positive and energetic. I’m truly blessed to have you for a sister-in-law.

Thanks to everyone who entered my contest, and without further ado, here are the winners:

Rho wins the Seasoned Women series, which includes all four ebooks: Sex On Summer Sabbatical, Falling For the Other Brother, Winter's Thaw, and Spring Training.
Leilani wins the Spring Training single ebook.

Congrats to Rho and Leilani! Contact me at devonrhodes@hotmail.com to arrange your prizes! :)

And here's a hot little excerpt from Spring Training for you all:

“I gotcha,” he promised, and found his way under her shirt. She gave a smile as he paused and sucked in a breath as he discovered her braless state. Every touch and slide of his hand against her bare skin was heavenly and her nipples were like cut diamonds, almost painful as they begged for soothing.

Humming with pleasure, she undulated against him as he plucked and teased her breasts, alternately cupping then running his palm over their curve. Surging against her ass, he met her rhythm and she finally needed to take more. She flipped halfway over, onto her back, leaving her body open to his whims while allowing her access to his own zipper.

She glanced up, arrested by the heated look on his handsome face as they worked together to open his jeans. Unimpeded by underwear—oh gads, he goes commando?—his cock sprang out into her palm as if dying for her touch. Silky warmth over steel, she closed her fingers around him as he delved into her jeans and found her slick centre.

“Ahh,” she gasped as he used her own juices to make his pass over her clit almost unbearably perfect, and she quickly licked her palm with as much spit as she could manage and returned her hand to his hot erection as he took her mouth in a torrid kiss.

Both of them were on edge from the dancing and the foreplay, and Teri knew it wouldn’t take long for him to bring her over the top, not with his knowing, demanding touch. Just what she needed. She strove for the pinnacle, working her hand over his cock as she arched into his touch. Milking pre cum from the head, using it to help her gliding grip, she writhed helplessly, wantonly and panted into his mouth.

The continuous groan emanating from his throat suddenly cut off then intensified as the length in her hand grew impossibly harder. Then the warmth spilled over her hand. She tensed and was there with him, tossing her head back as she crested and peaked. Aaron’s mouth stilled on hers but didn’t move away as they shared the moment of bliss while sharing their very breath as they floated in descent.

Teri opened her eyes—when had she closed them?—and Aaron was watching her with a pleased and utterly sated expression, his handsome face almost slack with repletion other than the slight smile quirking one corner of his luscious lips. As she held his gaze, she raised her hand and ran her tongue along the side of her finger, gathering his come for a taste. His eyebrows shot up, but he recovered quickly as he gave her tender clit one last unbearable stroke before bringing his own finger up to lave of her essence.

Then they were both laughing and kissing, and Teri burrowed into his chest, not able to get close enough. She heaved a contented sigh.

“Wow.” Aaron chest rumbled under her with his voice. “Haven’t made out on the couch like that in years. That was fun. Like being a teenager again.”

“That wasn’t that long ago for you. Wait’ll you get to my age,” she scolded, feeling a bit put out at the reference to age right that minute.

Aaron gave her a hard hug. “Hey. Quit being so hung up on age, will ya? I can’t help when I was born.”

Spring Training is now available at Total-E-Bound.

Book Giveaway Contest, and a one year wait is almost over!

2011-03-02T22:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, now those of you who have been around for a while are probably rubbing their hands together saying...oh, I've got this one! And to you, I say NO, it's not that easy--I'm not having the "name this baseball player" contest again. I'll freely admit this is Gabe Kapler. Just for the record, I think Eyre and Jase won that one last year. I wanted to put him up again because, well, look at him... Oh, and I'm setting the mood... Not for that! For my post!

You see, it was last winter after the holidays that I had a story pop into my head, about a baseball-loving mom who get involved with her son's teammate. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had more than one "older woman, younger guy" story in my mind. Thus was born my Seasoned Women series.

My first story was the baseball one, Spring Training. However, due to a scheduling snafu, it wasn't able to be released as originally planned last spring. It was written over a year ago and was edited a LONG time ago, so it was with shock that I realized, wow, it's March and ST will finally be coming out on Monday!

BLURB: With two diverging careers on the line, Teri and Aaron are torn between the right thing to do...and what feels so right to them.

With a son who's played since he could walk, Teri lives, eats and breathes baseball. She was almost more excited than Emery when his invitation to a minor league team's training camp came. But excited doesn't begin to describe her reaction to Em's new mentor, Aaron Reynolds. A spring fling? Just the ticket.

Fighting a chronic injury, Aaron is biding his time until he can return to the majors. Being assigned a mixed-up rookie to babysit is fine with him, especially one that come with a sassy, sexy camp follower like Teri. But he soon finds he has his hands full...trying to keep Emery on the straight and narrow...and trying to keep his liason with Teri strictly physical.

*********

So here's the contest: Simply comment on this post by Noon ET, Monday, March 7th, and indicate which of these two separate drawings you are interested in:

The Seasoned Women series, which includes all four ebooks: Sex On Summer Sabbatical, Falling For the Other Brother, Winter's Thaw, and Spring Training.
Spring Training single ebook.

I will draw a winner for each of the two contests on Monday afternoon, so comment with your choice now! Optional, what is your favorite thing about spring? Good luck!

Be Vewy Vewy Quiet...

2011-02-22T12:52:00.000-08:00

Um, except I'm apparently not here...

Hi everyone, did you miss me? I haven't been posting much simply because I'm super busy with both my day job and writing right now. At the day job, I'm still catching up from slacking off during the holidays followed by the flu rampage in January. Don't have anyone to do the work when I'm not around, so it's all waiting for me when I get back.

I've finished edits on Stranger In Black for Amber Allure, and now I'm working on the sequel to One Wild Wish. This one will be mostly about Benny and Curtis, though Rory and Jared will also be involved. I've tentatively titled it One More Wish. I'm trying to finish it up by next week, so wish me luck!

What's going on out there in blogland? Anyone been doing anything fun or interesting lately??

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

2011-02-14T11:24:00.000-08:00

Here are some flowers just for you. And for more Heart Day sweetness, check out the winners of my hero poll! The top seven heroes YOU voted on are up at Whipped Cream, along with "their" photos.

And at Goddess Fish, I'm talking about those wonderful, perfect first kisses. Well, maybe not perfect...

I hope everyone finds peace and happiness today. Even though it's Monday! ;)

Win Big Prizes TODAY Like A New E-Reader or $150 Gift Certificate!!

2011-02-13T05:03:00.000-08:00

I'm blogging today over at Whipped Cream Reviews and Goddess Fish, and if that's not enough enticement to click over, for every comment you leave on those two blogs today, you get an entry into the drawing for some great prizes like a brand new e-reader or $150 gift certificate, plus other prizes galore!

I'll be posting a couple of times at both blogs. At Whipped Cream I've posted up the winners of my poll! The top seven heroes YOU voted on as being the ones you'd most like to see my vision of, are being featured today, along with "their" photos. And at Goddess Fish, I'm talking about those wonderful, perfect first kisses. Well, maybe not perfect...

Be sure to pop over for sexy fun and fabulous prizes!! See you there!

I Need A Hero..Take My Poll, Who You Want To See In My "V-Day Candy"?

2011-02-11T16:23:00.000-08:00

Many times I've used photos for inspiration in writing my heroes. And just as often, I'll run into a photo afterward and say..OMG! That's exactly how I pictured Hero!

For one of my posts during Whipped Cream's huge Valentine's contest, I'll be posting up how I picture some of my heroes, and I want YOU to help me decide who you want to see!

Vote on your favorite choices from my books on the poll to the right, which includes some secondary characters, by Saturday night, and I'll do my very best to add them to my big box of V'Day "candy" for you!

New Title Releasing at Amber Quill Press--Stranger In Black

2011-02-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

In probably one of the fastest turn-arounds between finishing a book and announcing it (with cover art no less!)--see my slightly previous post--I'm very happy to announce that my book, Stranger In Black, will be released by Amber Quill on May 22nd as part of their Masquerade collection.

The challenge was posed to us authors: choose one of the gorgeous masked man photographs. Then tell the story of what happens when the hero meets the man of his dreams dressed as the man on the cover, with the setting being a masquerade ball. Well, several of us took up the challenge, and our takes on this will be released one a week by AQP this spring. The extremely punctual *g* and wonderful Shawn Lane will be leading us off with her story, The Impersonator, in late February. Visit Amber Allure's Coming Soon page for the other fantastic covers in this set.

I'll post up a blurb later this week. :) Btw, LOVE getting a new release on the schedule! Especially just a few hours after I put down the virtual pen. Nothing like instant feedback. :D

First Submission of the year!

2011-02-07T03:27:00.000-08:00

Color me thrilled! I kicked it in gear, wrote over 10k today, finished and submitted a manuscript that had been hanging over me for so long, I was beginning to think I'd never finish it! Time to celebrate! But first, I need to get some sleep and rest my claw-like hands!

Happy Groundhog's Day, Any Do-Overs For Me?--a look back at the past year

2011-02-02T15:15:00.000-08:00

I'll admit it, the movie by this name frustrates the heck out of me. Yes, he gets do-overs, but sheesh, he still has to redo all the stuff he got RIGHT too. Drives me nuts just thinking about it! Once you get something right, karma should let you move on to the next level, like playing a computer game, lol.

Not having anything else in mind to post, I thought I'd look back at the past year and see where I'd take the do-overs if I had the chance. I've linked relevant blog posts if there are any.

February 2010--Turned 40, and not entirely unhappy about it. Only do-over would be to celebrate it in a bigger fashion...well, to celebrate it period. :)

March 2010--Put my old house on the market and took a trip to Hawaii. Okay, no do-over on Hawaii (even though a longer trip would have been nice). Putting the house up for sale? I guess it helped us get in gear fixing it up but since it didn't sell and we ended up renting it out, if I could go back, I'd just go that route to begin with and save myself the "showing" hassle.

April 2010--Actually got a do-over of sorts. An early book I'd thoroughly revised, Wet Your Whistle, was offered a contract on April Fool's Day.

June 2010--Yes, skipped a couple of months, since they led up to buying a new house and renting out the old one and a big move...three miles away...in June. Pretty much consumed every waking minute, though I did manage to finish up a few manuscripts in this time. Still LOVE my new house, so no do-overs here!

July 2010--Vacation time. Both Sunriver and the annual road trip to the Midwest were great! I also started editing as a day job as opposed to just freelance. There've been some challenges along the way, mostly in juggling my time between writing and editing, but I love my authors. No do-over there so far. :)

August 2010--My first release at Amber Quill, The Swap, came out, and it's one of my favorite stories to date. I wrote it on a whim and in a rush, and I'm very glad I did. They've been a great pub and I'm almost done with another book for them. Definite keep-as-is.

September 2010--The first anniversary of my first publication. Very amazing and gratifying publishing year, and I wouldn't change a thing. :)

November 2010--Another real-life do-over with my mom's second anniversary of the bone marrow transplant that saved her life. Nothing to add to my post about it, Thankful to Still Be a Daughter.

December 2010--Had a fabulous Christmas, but got very little done in the way of writing. Rather than getting caught up in the minutae of the holidays, if I could go back, I'd use some of that time to wrap up a few writing projects.

January 2011--Kicked off the New Year in style with the big Nook giveaway, which was a smashing success and a really great time with my fellow authors. We'll be doing another giveaway of something around the Summer Solstice, so there's a good do-over!

Back to February, I've had double digit releases in the past year, so need to get some more on the docket for the coming year. Lots of ideas, just need to wrap them up! I'll also be looking to start a new blog feature with a weekly post. More on that coming soon!

How about you guys? Any do-overs you wish you could use from the past year??

Gay Day Once Agay-n

2011-01-29T21:19:00.000-08:00

Join me on Sunday, January 30th, for Gay Day at Ethan's Yahoo Group. Gay Day is the one day a month when the best authors in GLBT Romance stop by to post excerpts of their new and upcoming releases.

The following authors will be generously offering giveaways you can enter to win:

J.P. BOWIE – NOWHERE TO HIDE

J.J. SOUTH – 33 A GAY LOVE STORY

ZA MAXFIELD – PHARAOH’S CONCUBINE

SIMONE ANDERSON – SADDLE UP & RIDE

ANGEL MARTINEZ – A DIFFERENT BREED

KATE MCMURRAY – THE BOY NEXT DOOR

ANDREW GREY – LOVE MEANS…NO FEAR

ALLY BLUE – THESE HAUNTED HEIGHTS

TRINA LANE – SIMPLY PERFECTION

EM WOODS – CHOCOLATE DREAMS

JAIME SAMMS – FINDERS KEEPERS

CLARE LONDON –THREADBARE

ETHAN DAY – LIFE IN FUSION

KIMBERLY GARDNER – TOO SOON FOR LOVE – Coming Soon

JAMBREA JO JONES – STEAMY REUNION & STEALING MICHAEL

CHARLIE COCHRANE – ALL LESSONS LEARNED Print Book of Winners Choice

The amazing Authors below will be popping in and out to chat & post excerpts from their latest books:

MISSY WELCH – KLT23

STEVIE WOODS – SACRIFICE

K.C. BURN – BLOOD RELATIONS

DEVON RHODES – MAKING HIS LIST

JAMBREA JO JONES – A FISTFULL OF EMMETT

FINNMARLOWE – A THREAD OF DEEPEST BLACK

ADRIANNE BRENNAN – PISCES F/F Coming Soon

AKM MILES – FOR GOM’S SAKE – Coming Soon

TC BLUE – LIFE CHANGES EVERYTHING

LILY SAWYER – CATCH OF THE DAY

KIMBERLY GARDNER - BLUSH

EM WOODS – JACK’S WAY

SERENA YATES – THE CHAUFFEUR & REDISCOVERING ADRIAN

JAIME SAMMS – WISHING ON A BLUE STAR

ETHAN DAY – ANYTHING FOR YOU – Coming Soon

LYNN LORENZ – REMEMBER ME? – Coming Soon

I hope everyone will stop by to catch up with your favorite authors and join in all the fun!

I wrote that? Just found this little short I wrote...and forgot about.

2011-01-27T21:40:00.000-08:00

I was going back through guest blog posts I've done for some ideas on what to post (and what I've done to death), and found this little short story I wrote last Christmas. I had every intention of using it as a springboard to write Garrett's story...but I completely spaced it. Glad I went looking (and so is Garrett!)!

The Christmas Wish
By Devon Rhodes

This short story came to me when I saw this photo. For all my fans out there and my fellow authors who have become friends...Happy New Year! This one's for you!

"Oh, this is just great," Garrett muttered under his breath, although there was no one there to hear him.

That was the problem. He was alone.

Alone at Christmas, what a cliche. So sappy. Even he wouldn't write such tripe.

He gave the whirling, falling snow outside one last glare, then reluctantly gave up his vigil at the front window, conceding defeat. Mother Nature was apparently not on board with Garrett's plan to fill his home-du-jour with Christmas cheer and brotherhood. He flicked off the porch light, and the snow appeared to stop falling. He wished.

When he first accepted this house-sitting gig over the two-week holiday period, he had gone into full planning mode. A huge Victorian inn up in the mountains over the holidays? All "his"? E-mails had flown as he invited all and sundry up for some playtime in the winter wonderland.

Oh, when the weather broke, he might still get a few takers. But it was late on Christmas Eve, and even though Garrett knew it was just another night, the prospect of rattling around all by himself in this monstrosity of a retreat on Christmas Day just took his knees out from under him.

Garrett sighed and began closing down the house for the night, the unfamiliar routine of this new house momentarily distracting him from his melancholy. Steeling himself to keep from going to gaze hopefully out the window again, watching for headlights he knew wouldn't appear, he ascended the staircase, letting his hand trail along the smooth wood banister.

Lying in bed, the random dancing of firelight teasing at his eyelids, Garrett could almost hear the voice of his grandma, reminding him to make his Christmas wish. What I really want, Santa can't bring, Mimi. Burying his head under the pillow, he wished anyway, then promptly cursed himself for a fool.

Normally Garrett slept like the dead, a trait that helped him immensely in his "career" as a professional house-sitter where he seldom slept in the same bed for more than a couple weeks. That night had been no different, so the abrupt awakening confused him at first as he tried to get his bearings.

The light behind the windowshades was hard to read, and he leaned up to take a look at his old-fashioned travel alarm. After eight. Merry Christmas to me.

The house had cooled considerably overnight, and there weren't even any coals left glowing in the fireplace of his bedroom. The baseboard heater creaked and clicked at him, so he knew it had kicked on at some point, but it sure wasn't helping. Quickly dressing, he hit the stairs, lured by the thought of the woodstove in the kitchen, that real heat which seemed to penetrate more than anything man had come up with.

He thought cynically of his Christmas wish the night before and pressed his lips together, taking a deep breath. Just another day, let's just think of it that way.

Two things penetrated at roughly the same instant: the haphazard pile of discarded outerwear and bags in the foyer and the smell of...coffee?

Garrett's pace quickened and he slammed the swinging doors into the kitchen open, almost getting smacked by the rebound as he stopped short at the sight of his three best friends in the world. They looked up as one from their places sipping coffee around the table, wood stove crackling in the corner, and to a man gave him the biggest, smuggest grins he could ever hope to see.

An answering grin spread unchecked across his face even as he shook his head in wonder.

My Christmas wish came true.

Stylish Blogger Award, Passing It On

2011-01-21T23:05:00.000-08:00

Shawn Lane has very sweetly nominated me for this Stylish Blogger award in her post, and far be it from me to stop a rolling blogosphere stone. :) So here it comes:

For those who have been nominated, there are few criteria to meet:

1. Thank and link back to the person who nominated you, only do not re-nominate them.

Kisses Shawn, you classy thing you!

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

My brother just visited me at my house for the first time since we were in college. Which was a loooong time ago.
I've eaten rice every day this week. And I gave up coffee... I know. I'm shocked too.
The only pet I have is Bionic Fish (aka Sahara). He is some kind of gold Danio, is the sole survivor of dozens we've tried over the past two years, and can go two weeks without food...tho he does have lots of algae to eat. Maybe he's a vegetarian, except I suspect he ate his cellmates. Never found the bodies.
I don't have a single pastel thing in my closet. Just lots of black and jewel tones.
This winter's stretch (Dec-Mar) is the longest I've gone without a new release since I was first published.
I love water. I'd take four baths a day if I could justify it. My goal is to have a house at the beach...next to a river...with a pool...and hot tub...and maybe a waterfall...into the lake.
I once stepped on Stephen King's foot. Yes, it was an accident.

3. Pass along this nomination to recently discovered stylish and cool bloggers.

4. Contact them and tell them about their nomination.

There are so many people I'd like to thank... Oh wait, no that's my other award acceptance speech. ;) Okay, there are a lot of great bloggers out there, and after I've left off the ones I know for certain have already received a nomination (doesn't mean I love ya any less), here are a few I make a point of stopping in to see whenever I can because they are truly stylish and cool...in the best possible way:

Thorny at I'm Just Thorny

Janna at E-Romance Reader

Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos

TA Chase at No Boundaries

Bronwyn Green at Bronwyn's Blog

Salixbabylon at Pervy Slash Whore (NSFW)

Thanks for always rewarding my blog prowls. Kisses, Love ~Dev~

I Always Have To Have The Last Word

2011-01-20T00:21:00.000-08:00

I always think of the last line(s) of a book as having an echo effect, filling the empty void after it while acting as the summation of the story. So in a way they can be the most important sentences in a book. The last ones everyone reads. Can be a bit nervewracking to try to get right from the author's perspective. I do know that they are probably the ones I tweak the most.

Here are my correct final lines in all their glory. I was almost sad to take out the "Hero" and "Other Hero"s from the previous post. That was hilarious. It got me going on yet another tangent, which I'm building a new blog post around. Wait'll you see what randomness I've come up with next, lol. That's coming soon, but for now, The Last Words... (echoey sound effect)...

"Silver and gold. You didn’t have to convince me. Put them together, and now I know what they’re worth.”
~Silver and Gold

Jared winked at him. “Dragons.”
Rory’s eyes widened in delight.
Wild.
~One Wild Wish

And now, the three of them had all the time in the world.
~Neighbors By Day, Naughty By Night

“As long as I’m at the top.”
“Always.”
~Making His List

“Yeah. Teach me.” Chaz watched those bright eyes darken in delightful response as he raised his hand into view, holding one of the T-shirt strips. “Welcome home, Justin.”
~Remarkable Restraint

"Deal,” Jim whispered back, knowing with this swap, his life would never be the same. And he couldn’t be happier.
~The Swap

“I love you, mate.”
“I love you too. My mage.”
~A Pint Light

“Doesn’t matter where we are,” Cameron argued sleepily but with conviction. “You’re always home with me.”
~A Detour Home

And no Scarlett act this time. She eyed the hallway to the bedroom then sent an inviting look to both of her men.
No time like the present to get started.
~Falling For the Other Brother

At least, once he found him.
Now. Time to track a mage.
~from the epilogue of TTRD, so kinda tricky. So here are the final lines from the main part of the book:

His vengeful angel. Punishment indeed.

Let the torture begin.
~Through the Red Door

“Hmm?”
“How do you feel about camping?”
~Winter's Thaw

Joey could feel the warmth of that gaze clear down to his soul, as Vance continued, contentment radiating from him, "But I must admit, having my pride and Joey is the best of every possible world. And I'm the luckiest guy in any of them."
~Pride and Joey

Derek’s laughter rang out in the locker room. He gathered Luke even closer. “So am I, babe, so am I.”
~Rough Riders

“We did it,” she corrected. “I couldn’t have done any of them without you.” She paused, adding impishly. “Oh, and I’ve put the notebooks with my new goals in them in a much better hiding place.”
~Sex on Summer Sabbatical

With his new family all together now, he had a lot to be thankful for. And in a minute he was going to toast to his good fortune—many times over.
~Wet Your Whistle

Which of these are your faves? Any in particular you remember hitting you in a certain way when you finished the actual book (good or not)? And in general, have the final words of a book ever changed your overall opinion of the book, in either direction?

In the End... Who feels competitive??

2011-01-17T20:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, back once again with a little something to liven up the January doldrums. Not another Nook, sorry! Just a little matching game with one of two books as prizes. The "first lines" meme that I did earlier sparked a comment on Shawn Lane's blog, where I said it'd be interesting to look at last lines. Well, she jumped right on that HERE so now I feel compelled to do mine as well. With a twist.

I've put the final line(s) of all fifteen of my current releases. The first person to email the correct answers to me gets their choice of either Wet Your Whistle or Sex on Summer Sabbatical (which I figured out while doing this I hadn't done giveaways for yet). Some of them were dead giveaways with the characters' names or references to the title or something else obvious, so I've substituted to keep it ~~difficult~~ interesting. :) So without further ado, here are my closing lines:

A) "...You didn’t have to convince me. Put them together, and now I know what they’re worth.”

B) Hero winked at him. “Dragons.”
Other Hero’s eyes widened in delight.
Wild.

C) And now, the three of them had all the time in the world.

D) “As long as I’m at the top.”
“Always.”

E) “Yeah. Teach me.” Hero watched those bright eyes darken in
delightful response as he raised his hand into view, holding one of the T-shirt
strips. “Welcome home, Other Hero.”

F) “Deal,” Hero whispered back, knowing with this ____, his life
would never be the same. And he couldn’t be happier.

G) “I love you, mate.”
“I love you too. My mage.”

H) “Doesn’t matter where we are,” Hero argued sleepily but with conviction. “You’re
always home with me.”

I) And no Scarlett act this time. She eyed the hallway to the bedroom then sent an inviting look to ____ __ ___ ___.
No time like the present to get started.

J) At least, once he found him.
Now. Time to track a mage.

K) “Hmm?”
“How do you feel about camping?”

L) Hero could feel the warmth of that gaze clear down to his soul, as Other Hero continued, contentment radiating from him, "But I must admit, having my _____ ___ ____ is the best of every possible world. And I'm the luckiest guy in any of them."

M) Hero’s laughter rang out in the locker room. He gathered Other Hero even closer. “So am I,
babe, so am I.”

N) “We did it,” she corrected. “I couldn’t have done any of them without you.” She paused, adding impishly. “Oh, and I’ve put the notebooks with my new goals in them in a much better hiding place.”

O) With his new family all together now, he had a lot to be thankful for. And in a minute he was going to toast to his good fortune—many times over.

And here are the titles to match them with:

Remarkable Restraint
A Pint Light
Silver and Gold
A Detour Home
Rough Riders
Neighbors By Day, Naughty By Night
Through The Red Door
One Wild Wish
Sex On Summer Sabbatical
Falling For the Other Brother
Pride and Joey
Wet Your Whistle
The Swap
Making His List
Winter's Thaw

Simply send the answers in an email to devonrhodes @hotmail dot com with Matching Contest in the subject line. And go ahead and play for bragging rights if you already have those two titles. :) If nobody has all fifteen right by 11am ET, Saturday the 22nd, I'll choose the entrant with the highest number right (or draw a name if there's a tie).

How well do you know my lines?? And aside from the contest, any thoughts on them? :) Good luck!

Great Author Meme...What Do You Say With the First Line of Your Book?

2011-01-14T13:49:00.000-08:00

I saw this over at Val's, and she got it from Angelia, who mentions getting it from another LJ user. The gist of it is to list the first lines of your last ten fics/books and draw some conclusions.

I think most writers really try to draw the reader in with the first line, and in my case, many times the first line has come to me and I then go write a story around it. :) With most of mine, I seem to try to give you a sense of the character right off the bat and what they're doing/feeling. I couldn't decide which ten, so I did all my backlist, plus my next release and my work in progress. Here they are (in a couple instances I added the second line if the first was a thought or dialogue that didn't let you know who the speaker was):

There must be an easier way. Valerian grimaced as he retracted his fangs, sealed the punctures with a flick of his tongue, and let his inebriated, middle-aged snack slide down the wall to rest in a heap at his feet. ~A Pint Light

“What?” Luke shouted incredulously, grabbing Mario by the upper arms with no little force. ~Rough Riders

“This is going to be so cool!” Cameron exclaimed, his jaw slack with shock, eyes sparkling with surprise and growing excitement as he regarded his best friend’s smug face. ~A Detour Home

“This one really has nice kerb appeal. Beautiful landscaping, and it looks like the owner really enjoys gardening. Let’s see here.” The garish, loud real estate agent consulted the sheet on her clipboard as she minced her way up the front walkway. ~Through The Red Door

“Ohhh.” Tori couldn’t stifle a moan as the almost-pain of exerting muscles that seldom got use kicked in. ~Sex On Summer Sabbatical

A cool waft of air on her shower-warm skin was the only warning Erica received before large hands cupped her bare shoulders. ~Falling For the Other Brother

Loving the crisp, autumn smell of a distant leaf pile burning, Vance inhaled deeply, relishing the cool air carrying the scents of fall. ~Pride and Joey

Rhea leaned her forehead against the inner hatch door after she secured it against the coming MetaWave storm. ~Wet Your Whistle

God, I hate Muzak. Maggie switched her cell phone to the other ear and pushed her fingers through her dark, irritatingly frizzed-out hair, automatically loosening yet another snag. ~Winter's Thaw

GEOFFREY Radcliffe stared intently into the mirror, grimacing at the reflection, then wincing as the grimace accentuated his laugh lines. ~Silver and Gold

"I don’t know how you talked me into this,” Rory grumbled as Benny made wide, innocent eyes at him from the passenger’s seat of the SUV. ~One Wild Wish

“I threw up.” The quavering voice brought Corbin jackknifing up out of a sound sleep, struggling to get his bearings. ~Making His List

JASON surfaced from sleep gradually as usual, barely slitting his eyes open to ascertain that it was still just after dawn in the lengthening days of spring. ~Neighbors By Day, Naughty By Night

IT was after midnight, and Chaz Warren groaned with frustration as he removed his hand from his cock and gave up his fruitless quest for orgasm… yet again. ~Remarkable Restraint

Jim stopped short at the threshold of his boss’s office, his heart seizing with dread at the sight before him. ~The Swap

“Heads up, it’s a bunt! He’s putting it down!” Teri screamed, cupping her hands around her mouth. ~Spring Training (March 7th release)

This is probably the worst idea I've ever had.

"You know, I think this is the worst idea you've ever had." ~Current WIP

So what do you think? I see a trend. I've heard you aren't supposed to open with monologue/dialogue, but I do tend to do that, don't I? I think it gives a sense of immediacy and is intend to pull you in right away. But do you guys agree? Any thoughts on mine? Authors out there, I'd love to see yours as well, either in the comments or in your own blog post. Meme, anyone? :D

Nook Contest Winners!!

2011-01-11T10:26:00.000-08:00

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Terra Pennington

2nd PRIZE

Miranda (Sweet Vernal Zephyr)

3rd PRIZE

Jason (vslavetopassion)

Congratulations!!

We'd like to thank everyone who entered. We were thrilled at the response and are so excited. The above winners will be contacted via email and will need to respond to Jessica (jessica@jessicajarman.com) within three (3) days to claim their prize, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Congratulations to the winners!

Jessica, Devon, Bronwyn, Gwendolyn, Kris, and Suzanne.

*******

And a special congrats from me to the winners and to everyone who made this so much fun! To that end, I've selected two consolation prize winners for my blog:

Desi

Brad H.

Congrats Desi and Brad, I'll be contacting you to ask your choice of ebook and format!

*********

Don't forget to check the other blogs for any consolation prizes they might be handing out! :)

Happy New Year to all!! ~Dev

Enter to win a NOOK COLOR!!--Contest until Noon, January 11th!

2011-01-11T01:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2011! And what better way to celebrate than with a brand new Nook Color!

Six sexy authors of erotic romance are coming together with a fabulous giveaway to usher in the New Year! And entering couldn't be simpler.

Just visit each of our blogs beginning January 3rd, and leave a comment on the contest post with:

your name (or user name) and contact email, and
your top two (2) choices from the author's backlist to kick-start your Nook library should you win.

Contest will close at Noon ET on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, and a winner will be drawn at 1:11pm ET from all the readers who commented on all six blogs:

The Grand Prize winner will receive a brand new Nook Color and two ebooks of their choice from each author!

Second Prize will be winner's choice of ebook from each author's backlist!

Third Prize will be winner's choice of an available print book personalized and signed by the author!

More surprises and prizes at each blog, so what are you waiting for? The clock is ticking, and when it comes up all ones, you could be the winner!!

Details:

In order to be eligible for the drawing, you must leave a comment at each of the six blogs with your email address and choice of two books. We're sorry, but anyone who misses a blog or forgets to leave their contact info will be disqualified.

All comments must be posted by 12:00 Noon, ET, on January 11th.

Valid entry comments must be in response to the official Contest post on each blog, although we also welcome comments on other posts, so feel free to poke around!
The Nook will be shipped directly from the store to the winner's house. Ebooks will be emailed separately to the winner.

Winner must respond to Jessica within three days or an alternate winner will be announced.

I will also be drawing a consolation prize from non-winning entries on that day to win their choice of ebook from my backlist. And speaking of which, here are my books from which you can choose your top two in this entry comment! :) Visit the links below or hit my website for the blurbs and excerpts.

M/F Titles:
Winter's Thaw
Falling For the Other Brother (some m/f/m menage)
Sex On Summer Sabbatical

Menage Titles:
Wet Your Whistle (m/m/f menage, m/m, m/f)--futuristic, sci-fi
Falling For the Other Brother (m/f/m menage, m/f)--contemporary, older woman/younger man (uh, men)

M/M Titles:
Making His List
Rough Riders (previously in the Gaymes anthology)
Pride and Joey--paranormal
The Swap
One Wild Wish--paranormal
Through the Red Door--paranormal
A Detour Home
Silver and Gold
A Pint Light--paranormal

Anthologies:
Necking anthology--m/m/m menage
Gaymes anthology--m/m
Games in the Dark anthology--m/m, BDSM

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So here we go! Leave a comment with your first/user name, email and top two choices of my books here before heading off to the other five blogs!

Optional if you're chatty today, tell me where you heard about this contest and what you currently read your ebooks on. :)

GOOD LUCK and Happy New Year!

Tick Tock,,,48 hours left to enter the Nook Color Giveaway!!

2011-01-09T12:16:00.000-08:00

If you haven't entered, what are you waiting for?? Even if you have an e-reader, you can gift or hope for one of the books giveaways for second, third, and consolation prizes!

If you have entered, make sure you've hit all six blogs and left your contact info and choice of books! Some entrants have not left all they need to, and unless they come back, they unfortunately won't be eligible. Make sure that's not you!

Good luck, and thanks for all the kind words about my books!! :) Dev