Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Angels and Demons and Kindles! Oh My!

Hi! Welcome to the Angels and Demons Blog Hop. I'm Tara Lain and i'm neither one. But i do write the Beautiful Boys of Romance-- erotic romances both MM and MMF with delicious heroes who love to surprise you! As you may know, this Hop has FANTASTIC Prizes. Here's what you can win as a grand prize:

  • A Kindle Touch
  • A $60 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card
Coool beans. And there are over 100 authors participating and, you guessed it, you have a chance at over 100 prizes.

Not to disappoint, here is what you can win on this blog:
  • A $5 Amazon GC
  • A choice of any book from my backlist (choose your own Beautiful Boy--pick him out here http://www.taralain.com)
  • If you live in the US, a Spell Cat or Fire Balls T-shirt
How can you win these prizes?
  • Leave a comment. Angels or Demons? You pick
  • Leave your EMAIL!
  • If you don't want to be on my mail list, just say No in the comment
  • Follow this Blog (if you don't already)
  • Not required, but i'd love it if you would like my Facebook Page
  • If you are a fan, you could Fan me on Goodreads.
Now as for the angels or demons question. Hmmm. I guess from a reader's point of view, it's tough to beat a good demon. I've never written an angel or a demon story. Even my human characters aren't all bad or all good. But i have written a pretty fun witch. In my book, Spell Cat, i got to write a gay witch who has to marry a female witch in order to perpetuate his race. He is not happy about it. I'm writing the sequel to Spell Cat right now and hope to have it ready in time for a release in the fall. 

Here's a little nibble from Spell Cat, just for a little demony fun.

When Killian Barth, history professor, meets Blaine Genneau, quantum physicist, they ignite their own big bang. But sadly, Killian walks away because he doesn’t do physics professors. In fact, he doesn’t do humans; Killian is the most powerful male witch in 10 generations and, though gay, he’s expected to save his declining race by reproducing. Sex with humans depletes his power – or so he’s been taught. Then why can young human, Jimmy Janx, dissolve spoons with a thought? Somebody’s a lying witch. With his powerful cat familiar, Aloysius, on his shoulder, Killian brings the lightning against deceit and greed to save Blaine from danger and prove love is the greatest power of them all.
Blaine stood at the end of the counter a few feet away, staring at Killian.  How long could a witch live with his heart no longer beating?

​Oh gods. He understood. Heat…no, fire! The way he felt this moment dwarfed every emotion he’d had with Moran by a thousand. A million. The chasm between indifference and…passion. His heart beat faster, his breath caught in his chest, and his eyes never wanted to look on another sight, just Blaine. He ought to run, but whether away or straight to Blaine, he wasn’t sure. 

​“Mrwar.”

​Blaine seemed to catch the welcome in that meow. He smiled and took a step closer. “Hi, Al. Good to see you, buddy.”

​Aloysius unwrapped himself from Killian’s neck, made one bound off the tabletop, and launched himself into Blaine’s waiting arms. Oh Powers, would that Killian could do the same! He actually had to hold himself still, or he knew he’d follow the cat. 

​Blaine petted Al as the cat did his imitation of a moving fur coat; purring so loudly that Killian could hear him, even a few feet away. “You seem happy to see me, anyway.” He looked up. “Are you happy to see me, Killian?”

​Killian nodded. Correction, his head nodded. He had no power over it. 

​Blaine moved even closer. “Could I have lunch with you? Talk to you?”

​The head nodded again. 

​The human slipped into the chair beside Killian. Sweet Powers, he smelled so wonderful. ​That sweet and spice together. Killian wanted to turn himself into Aloysius so he could rub all over the man’s body. 

​“This sure is one great cat. Where did you get him?”

​Killian cleared his throat. “Guh, uh, a gift from my mother.”

​Blaine chucked Al under the chin, and the cat let him. “My mother hates cats.” He looked up, and Killian swam in the pools of deep green. “Of course, my mother hates me, so she’s not likely to give me the time of day, much less a pet.” 

​“Surely not?”

​He grinned. “That she hates me? Oh yeah. I keep defying her by choosing to be gay when her preacher has clearly cleansed me of this delusion at least ten times, so she has washed her hands of me.”

​“But you didn’t choose… Oh, you’re joking.” 

​Blaine’s grin faded. “I wish it were a joke. Then a lot of beaten up, confused kids would have parents who loved and understood them.”

​Powers. There were worse things than having a manipulative witch for a mother. “I’m so sorry, Blaine. I didn’t mean it like that.”

Blaine smiled. “I never thought you were making fun. I just have a weird sense of humor sometimes.” 

​And then he did it. He put his hand on Killian’s arm. Such a simple gesture. Flash! Heat blazed in Killian’s head, and hot steel filled his cock. Blaine started and pulled his hand away. Those green eyes widened, and he stared at Killian like he was either the answer to a dream or a cobra, and Blaine wasn’t sure which. “Holy shit!”

​Killian tried to make sense of his brain synapses and grasped at the first thought. “Uh, food, did you want food?”

​Blaine leaned over and whispered in his ear. “I want to eat with you and talk to you and sleep with you and take you home with me. But right now, I want to make love to you so badly I’m having trouble focusing.”

​There was that head nod again. Where the fuck did that come from?

​“Does that mean you want to make love to me too?”

​Killian stared at Blaine, the human physics professor whose simplest touch could drain a witch’s power until his own mother didn’t know him and his people couldn’t benefit from his great sperm and -- and all that dogma. The answer was “yes.” He did want to make love to Blaine. He wanted it more than anything. The evil witch voice piped up in his head. Yep, these humans are tempting. That’s how the witch race got so depleted. He was the strongest male witch in ten generations. That had to be worth something. He had never had a really satisfying relationship with a man, even for a short time. He wanted one. Didn’t he deserve just a little happiness before he gave his life for his people? He’d tried it the right way, the witch-stamp-of-approval way, and nearly got his back broken for his trouble. 

​Blaine was staring at Killian like he was in suspended animation; only the fingertips that scratched Al’s head moved. There. That was it. Blaine had the best possible credentials. Aloysius, who was no dumb cat, was crazy about the human…and so was Killian. Just that simple. He didn’t care if he rotted in witch oblivion, or if he lost some of his fabled power. How much damage could he do in such a little while? “Yes.”
*********************************

And now it's time to HOP! Here is the list of all the fantastic authors participating in the Angels and Demons Blog Hop. Have fun and good luck!

Monday, June 25, 2012

A Week of Events, over 100 Authors with Cool Stuff for You!

Hi everyone--
Mimi Rose won the prizes here on my site from the Hot Summer Nights Blog Hop! She selected Volley Balls as her book and should have her GC to buy another book on Amazon. Thanks to everyone who entered. BUT, if you didn't win in this hop, fear not. There are more prizes in store.

On Wednesday, i'll be chatting at Beth Wylde's Yahoo Group with fellow authors and Dirty Birdies, Viki Lyn and Lucy Feldhouse. There will be prizes and fun, so plan to stop by if only to put your name in the prize thread.

I'll be back at Beth Wylde's on Thursday for another great group chat with prizes in celebration of Pride Month. I'll be chatting with Belinda McBride and more terrific authors so come on by.

On Thursday, the Angels and Demons Blog Hop begins and you have a chance to win a Kindle Touch or a $60 Gift Card in addition to the prizes you can win on my site and the sites of 103 authors -- that is 103 giveaways!  Don't miss it. It's on this site so it's easy to find.

In addition, i'll be blogging tomorrow -- Tuesday -- at Silken Sheets and Seduction. I'm sharing the fun of writing sexy romances at the beach. Stop by and say hi.

Wednesday, i'll be doing my regular post at Dirty Birdie Authors. If you don't follow this blog, you should. You'll get great ideas and tips from out Pervs of a Feather from across the world. Come on by.

Okay, i'll be posting the Blog Hop on Thursday, but i'd love to see you before then. See you around the Web.  Thank you so much for coming by. : )

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Hot Summer Nights with Cool Naughty Toys and Books for You!

Welcome to the Hot Summer Nights Blog Hop! I'm Tara Lain and i write the Beautiful Boys of Romance. If you're here, you probably already know that this Hop includes over 100 authors and bloggers of erotica and erotic romance. You'll find all of their links listed.HERE

In this Hop,  you have a chance to win one of 2 fabulous grand prizes:

  • A digital book gift basket with over 40 books in it 
  • A $100 Gift Card to EdenFantasy's Fun Sex Toy Shop
Here on my blog, you can WIN -- 
  • A $5 GC to Amazon
  • Your choice of any of my Beautiful Boys-- ie. any ebook from my backlist (check them out here to see which one you want if you win)
Here's how you enter to WIN both the grand prizes and my prizes:

  • Leave a comment
  • Leave your email (don't forget this part)
  • Put NO on your comment if you don't want to be on my mail list (my newsletter is mostly about fun contests and chances to win stuff)
  • Please follow this Blog
  • Not required, but i'd love it if you LIKED my Facebook Page
  • If you are a fan, you could Fan me on Goodreads (not required)
It's time to get hot, naughty and sweaty! It's summer romance time. What constitutes summer romance? I think we have to have water, and at least a small amount of sand in our bathing suit. We might consider some serious kissing on the beach and maybe, just maybe we move that friskiness underwater. When i was writing the underwater hotness scene that i posted below from my new release, Beach Balls, you should have seen me sitting at my computer holding my breath and figuring out just how sexy one can reasonably get underwater. The answer?  Pretty sexy. Lots of things happen in the summer heat. Even natural enemies can become lovers. Here is an ADULT excerpt from the bestselling MM beach romance, Beach Balls:

 Excerpt Adult : Beach Balls by Tara Lain; MM Contemporary
Available  from Amazon, ARe B&N  Sony 
Adam James is so far in the closet he could find Narnia. But coming out would threaten all he’s built as the lead attorney for WMA Development, and the million dollars he can get when he finishes pushing  a big land remediation project through the City Council. Then on an early morning scuba dive, Adam meets a tall, lean rebreather diver named Sky who makes him want to live a different life. But Adam’s dreams are shattered when he walks into the council meeting and finds the fire-breathing environmentalist who’s screwing up  his chances of winning is none other than that same beautiful man. Sky Sea Mickeljohn doesn’t compromise, so how could he find himself lusting after a damned developer? And what happens when somebody open’s Adam’s closet door? These two better start telling the truth if they’re ever going to find world peace.
He swam to Sky and extended a hand. Sky shied a little, but Adam kept coming and passed his fingers through Sky’s curls floating freely in the water like an underwater flower. Sky looked up at Adam’s hand.
He touched Sky’s cheek. For a moment, Sky was still.
He pressed his cheek against Adam’s palm.
Oh, yes. That constituted a welcome.
Adam pulled his mouthpiece out and held his breath. He tapped on Sky’s mouthpiece. Sky frowned.
Just kiss me, you idiot. Adam pointed at his mouth, stuck his mouthpiece back in for some air then took it out again. Sky smiled around his mouthpiece, removed it, and leaned toward Adam.
He pressed his lips against Sky’s. Warm and cool at the same time. Sky opened his mouth and licked along Adam’s lips. Nice. Adam turned his head to the side, grabbed a hit of air, and then came back in and pushed his tongue into Sky’s mouth.
A moment later, they pulled away for a breath of air. Adam sank down to his knees. Come to Daddy… He took hold of Sky’s tight shorts and yanked. The big cock was happy to see him. He breathed deeply through his mouthpiece once, twice, three times. Mouthpiece out, cock in.
Oh, yeah. This was easier than kissing. Who knew you could suck and lick while holding your breath?
Sky started bobbing like a crazy man, shoving that cock deeper. Adam took a breath then went back to work running his tongue over the glans as he sucked. The taste of salt and feel of silk filled his mouth. Another breath, then he worked the mushroom head in and out of his lips like a candy pop. His hands began to pump, and he sucked until his cheeks tingled.. Sky’s hips pumped in slow motion, pressing his cock into Adam’s mouth along with the tang of the sea. It gave a whole new meaning to the term “deep throat.” Adam sucked as much as he could without swallowing water and could hear the echoes of Sky “shouting” around his mouthpiece.
Sky’s body began to thrash. One big thrust, and Adam tasted cum and saltwater at the same time. Thick jism floated out of his mouth. Son of a bitch. He had the best of Sky and sea.
********************************************
Hope you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for coming by. Be sure you left your email. And now visit all the wonderful authors in the HOP! Click Here for all their links: http://skyewarren.com/summerhop/ 

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Enemies to Lovers -- a Favorite Theme.

Hi everyone--


As you know, I’m celebrating the launch of my new contemporary LGBT romance, Beach Balls, which got me thinking about enemies-to-lovers stories which this book is. 

Of course, the first enemies story to come to mind from classical literature is Romeo and Juliet and the famous contemporary play which grew out of it, West Side Story. The best enemies to lovers novels or plays have a deep division between the lovers that in innate. There is something about them that makes them natural adversaries. In Romeo and Juliet it is the warring houses of Montague and Capulet who have been at odds for generations. In a book like Last of the Mohicans, the barely hinted at attraction between Cora and Uncas would have been so proscribed because of their races and cultures that Cooper was being wildly brave to even suggest it.

Enemies-to-lovers stories are notable because of their unhappy endings. Dare to cross the forbidden lines and everybody dies. That makes for a tough romance! But it is fun trying to bring the enemies together. That was my challenge in Beach Balls. My two heroes are a developer lawyer very intent on winning a development deal and the environmentalist who opposes him. Born in the blood enemies. As in most enemies-to-lovers stories, when my two guys meet they have no idea that they are natural opponents. This allows them a little space to fall in love unencumbered by their opposition. But unlike Romeo and Juliet who are torn apart by the hatred of their parents, my heroes have to find a way around their own innate animosity -- or not.

I won’t tell you how or if my guys succeed. Watching them battle it out is the fun of it. Do you have a favorite enemies-to-lovers story?

If you haven't read Beach Balls yet, you'll find it at Amazon, ARe, B&N and other retailers. 

Thank you for coming by and i'd love it if you want to follow this blog.  : )

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Favorite Gay Ads from an Ad Exec

Hi everyone--

Most people who visit the blog probably know that my day job is in advertising and PR. Every now and then i like to feature LGBT ads that i think are fun, effective, or both. This first one is charming because it defies the expected and wonderful because it shows the reality of gay families -- just like everyone else.



The second ad is a mini-masterpiece in my opinion. The tagline, "Come as you are" makes me want to go buy McDonald's and i don't eat meat or fast food! (I love the French!) Though now we can all hope the young boy has the guts to come out to his dad. Still, it shows that gay people are our friends, neighbors and our family.



And this one just says it all. : )




Thank you so much for coming by. Join my email list to stay up on all my contests and tours. And i love blog followers. : )

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Sue Swift/Suz DeMello Walks Like a Man and Tempts Us in Tartan -- With a Book for You!

Hi everyone-- Today, i'm featuring two new releases by my friend Sue Swift also know as Suz  deMello -- Walk Like a Man from Etopia Press and the sizzling Temptation in Tartan from Ellora's Cave. Sue will be giving one lucky commenter a copy of any book from her backlist. Here's a bit about Sue and a link where you can pick the book you want to win:


Best-selling, award-winning author Sue Swift, a.k.a Suz deMello, has written over fifteen novels, plus several short stories and non-fiction articles. She writes in numerous genres including romance, mystery, paranormal, historical, contemporary comedy and erotica. She’s a freelance editor who’s worked for Total-E-Bound, Ai Press, Liquid Silver Books and Etopia Press. She also takes on private clients.

Her books have been favorably reviewed in PW, Kirkus and Booklist, attained the finals of the RITA and reached the top ten on a bestseller list.

A former trial attorney, she resides in northern California. Her passion is world travel, and she’s left the US over a dozen times, including stints working overseas for many months. Right now, she's working on her next manuscript and planning her next trip.

Her blog is at http://www.fearlessfastpacedfiction.com. Find her reading picks @ReadThis4fun on Twitter, and befriend her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SueSwift).

Here is a blurb from Temptation in Tartan, a bestseller at ARe. Dare you to try to resist!  

She had to marry a monster…
Rumors had followed the chieftains of Clan Kilborn for centuries. Said to be descended from the Viking Berserkers, they were ferocious in battle, known for tearing off the heads of their enemies and drinking their blood.

But English noblewoman Lydia Swann Williston would marry Kieran, Laird Kilborn, to bring peace to the Kilborn lands after the horror of Culloden and the brutal pacification. A widow, she also brought needed wealth to Clan Kilborn. For her part, eighteen-year-old Lydia wanted children. With her husband killed at Culloden, she would make a new life in the Highlands.

The old chieftain of Clan Kilborn also died in battle, and she hoped that the new young Laird would lack his ancestors' ferocity.

She was wrong.

And returning to the contemporary world, Sue brings us Walk Like a Man. Here is a blurb:
Macho quarterback Jim Wellman meets his match in bright and sassy physical therapist Marti Solis, who goads him out of his wheelchair, pushing him to walk again. Unlike every other woman Jim has wanted, she refuses to jump into the sack with the celebrity athlete. Though attracted to his bedroom smile and rugged good looks, she's intimidated by his fame and turned off by his arrogance.
Can Jim become the lover Marti needs? Can he learn to walk like a man?
Set in California's beautiful Napa Valley, this multicultural romance delivers humor and pathos, sparkling dialogue, layered characters, a heroine to root for and a hero who's pure fantasy.


Remember,  leave a comment to win any book from Sue's award-winning backlist. Thank you so much for coming to the blog. And i love blog followers!  : )

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Renee George Brings a Vamp with a Death Wish and Incredible Goodies for YOU!

Hi everyone-- Today it's my delight to welcome a new friend, Renee George, who is a longtime friend of our pal Selena Illyria. Renee is bringing us a lot of cool stuff and she is bringing you some fabulous prizes today -- you can win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of The Beast (collection) so leave a comment with your email address. DON'T FORGET THE EMAIL! On top of that, your comments will be counted as entries in my Beach Balls Blog Tour Contest going on right now! You can win another $10 GC and a copy of Fire Balls or Volley Balls. Read all about it at Beautiful Boys Books. Here's Renee:


Hello! To get started, I'd like to introduce myself for those of you who are sitting at your computers, in your pajamas, barely working on your first cup of coffee and wondering "who in the #*%@ is this chick?"  Well, before I get to all that, I want to thank Tara Lain for allowing me to guest on her Blog today! A really fantastic author who has been super cool letting me come here and put it all out there for you, and also a big thank you to my pal and superior author, Selena Illyria, for introducing me to Tara! You're the best, baby cakes.

I'm Renee George, author of several paranormal erotic ebooks focused primarily on alpha men who love alpha men, and sometimes (when the mood is right) they invite a strong woman to join the group. My love of books and characters and rich fantasy worlds started at a very young age for me. My mother tells the story that when I was four years old, I would say, "I can't wait until I can make words." I used to pretend I was writing, stringing letters together and asking her if they spelled anything. I think my love of reading (which then turned to writing) stems from my lower income upbringing. Yep, you guessed it, I grew up poor white treasure. (Did I mention that I have 4 sisters and a brother as well?) Reading was a way to escape my circumstances that didn't involve drugs and alcohol (though who am I kidding, there was a little bit of that back in the day), but with an alcoholic father, I really didn't want to go there.

I devoured every book I could get my hands on, and determined that my life had more meaning than an accident of birth. My parents, even with all their flaws, were always encouraging (when they weren't pissed at me for being stubborn, sarcastic, and defiant), and they would tell me I could do anything I set my mind to doing. So I set my mind to writing...after a trip through the ARMY, then a trip through college to get my nursing degree, then a trip to college again to get my English degree...and while on those trips, I married (22 years now) and have a beautiful teenage son who is the biggest (pain in my ass) light in my life!

...Oh crap! I think I'm supposed to be promoting my work, but thanks for therapy session. LOL. I have my first release (Dying Room Only) in just over two years coming out in one week (June 14th)! Yay! I'm excited and nervous and thrilled. I wrote a little series called "The Beast" years ago, (a series of 5 novellas Changeling Press released as a collection) which started it all for me. It didn't start out as a MM storyline, but I loved the chemistry between the main character and the character who was originally going to be his nemesis. A kiss and cuddle later, they were going at each other, but not in the way I'd originally intended. *grin*

Since then, I've written 15 other novellas, with another -- "Bloody English" an independent title -- being set in the same world as "The Beast."  As an author, I get one question more than any other: Why do I write MM? I find the answer is super easy and difficult all at the same time. Because with most themes and genres, as a reader or a writer, you like what you like (I like what I like). I like men. I like strong men (not just in body, but in mind and spirit), and I don't want to participate, I just want to watch. *grin* Writing these stories is a perfect way to satisfy my inner voyeur. Do you have an inner voyeur? I think you might if you read erotica.

Recently, after two years of some major blockage that not even professional strength drain cleaner or hospital grade laxatives could unclog, I finally got back to doing what I really love, creating characters and giving them a story to entertain and hopefully turn on a few readers. My BFFs Dakota Cassidy, Michele Bardsley, and Emma Ray Garrett have been there with me for hand holding, scolding, the occasional beat down, and but always, they love me and encourage me to get my shit completed and out there. This year I was offered a job to teach college writing, and I took it. Seven years at home had caused me to forget what it's like to be around other adults everyday, and frankly, gave me every reason to procrastinate. The age old cliché of "too much time on my hands." 

Needless to say, teaching has really inspired me to be the writer my outer-self said I was, but my inner-self was beginning to doubt (if that makes sense). And so, my next title was born! Dying Room Only is based on a line: "A vampire, a werewolf, and a human walk into a bar...," but it evolved into much, much more.  The story is based in Kansas City, Missouri in The Beast world, but is an individual title, so no need to read the back list...unless you really want to. *grin*


Book Summary: Alex Gibbs, a new vampire -- suicidal, strung out, and blood hungry -- goes hunting at a Kansas City club known for its paranormal tolerance. Gorgeous werewolf Rafir Caras, an ex-Army Ranger who works security at the club, instantly feels drawn to Alex. The young vampire feels like "pack." Instead of killing Alex, Rafir takes him home to save him.
Rafir's plan has one major roadblock -- his lover and only other pack member, Julia Deihl. Julia had been sold into slavery to a European master vampire when she was a teenager. Twenty years later and ten years free, she hates vampires, and has vowed she will never be a blood-monkey for any of them ever again.
Alex wishes he could end it all, Rafir is determined to rescue him, while Julia is hell-bent on seeing to his demise. The three of them together are volatile, unpredictable, and erotically charged -- a sexy combination with the potential to heal the wounds of their pasts and present.
A really nice review of the Dying Room Only from author, Kate Douglas (who I love and respect so much!):
“Reneé George has taken a vampire with a death wish, a powerful yet protective werewolf and a traumatized human intent on murder and created a surprisingly sexy yet tender erotic romance. Dying Room Only was not at all what I expected—in spite of its short novella length, it’s a whole lot more. Definitely an enjoyable read for fans of erotic paranormal romance.”
Kate Douglas, best-selling author of Wolf Tales, DemonSlayers, and the upcoming Spirit Wild series, all from Kensington Publishing.


If you've stuck around the post long enough to get to this point, then you deserve a prize! I'm going to draw a name from everyone who posts a comment, and the winner will get a $10 Gift Credit for Amazon.com and a copy of my collection The Beast. (5 novellas in 1!)  I'll draw for a winner on Sunday evening.
Tell me about your inner-self or your inner-voyeur or whatever. I'd love to hear from you!
Oh! Also, I have another contest I'm running with some friends, ending June 30th, called the Love Hangover. There are a lot of very cool prizes and $50 in gift credit for the grand prize. You should check it out! http://www.romance-the-night.com/lovehangover
Just in case you would like to stalk me. *grin* (I could really use a few stalkers).

Website:
http://www.romance-the-night.com/Renee_George

Facebook:
Renee George

Twitter:
@reneegeorge2008

Newsletter:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/renee_george_news/

Author Page at Changeling Press:
http://changelingpress.com/author.php?uid=51
Email: mailto:renee@romance-the-night.com

Hugs,
Renee


If you'd like to read an excerpt from Dying Room Only, click HERE.  Thank you so much to Renee for visiting and for her wonderful prizes. Don't forget to leave a comment with your email address. If you don't want to be on my email list just say NO in the comment. Remember, your comment also enters you in my Beach Balls Blog Tour contest! How's that for a two-for-one deal? Thank you so much for visiting. : )

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Adam Lambert: We'll "Never Close Our Eyes" If We Can Watch Him

Hi everyone-- I've been an Adam Lambert fan since he first stepped on the stage at American Idol. To me he's kind of a microcosm of why and how gay men are sexy. According to Adam, he's never had a relationship with a woman, so female attraction to him is not based on the fact that he's going to cast his eyes on one of us.  But sexuality is an attitude and the man has it. He also has a wonderful edge of androgyny -- not full-on female looking at all. In fact, he's quite masculine. But the styling and the natural beauty make him a little of each. As he said in one of his songs, "Just take what you need." And his beautiful tenor caps it all off. Thank you Adam for continuing to be who you are and letting us enjoy it.

If you've somehow missed my hollering, my new release Beach Balls is now available at Amazon, Are and B&N That was a pause for a commercial announcement. Now, enjoy Adam!  : )

Sunday, June 3, 2012

I'm a Perfect 10! Uh, in Books That Is.

Hi everyone-- I was just adding and realized that my new release, Beach Balls, is my 10th published book.(Available at Amazon, Are and B&N)  The first book came out in January of 2011. My 11th book is in editing and will be released on July 24th and i'm writing the 12th, so i thought i should pause to commemorate a round number.

Only a couple years ago i could never have imagined all this would happen.As you probably know, i didn't set out to be a fiction writer. Since i write in my day job, that fulfilled the need that all writers have to write. Then a couple years ago it just occurred to me to write an erotic romance. It only took a few minutes of story creation to realize this was FUN. I thought up an older woman/younger man story idea and then magically added another man and became both a menage writer and a gay romance writer in one press of the keys. That established my pattern and i have been writing in these subgenres ever since.

Here's a little rundown on the perfect (HA!) 10:

The Genetic Attraction Series-- Runner-up for Best Series of 2011 in the LRC Awards
The Scientist and the Supermodel (MM but with some MMF overtones)-- the title says it all. A young scientist who has a huge yen for his older boss meets a beautiful male supermodel and is forced to confront his own sexual identity.
Genetic Attraction (MMF) -- (CAPA Nominee) A brilliant female scientist has a yen for her younger research partner and discovers that his girlfriend is actually a boyfriend. The two men invite her to their home for the weekend and...
Deceptive Attraction (MMF) -- A rising young soccer star (the younger brother of the scientist) yearns for a more authentic life then meets a mysterious guy as pretty as a girl and a woman who looks like a young boy and they throw both his sex life and his career into chaos.
(My next book, coming out July 24th, is the fourth book in this series. It's called Genetic Celebrity and it takes place in the world of modeling -- and food! )

The Balls to the Wall Series-- Bestsellers in Gay Romance
Volley Balls (Gay romance) -- An out and proud art dealer is harassed by two Aussie volleyballers on the beach in Laguna and ends up involved in a whole different way!
Fire Balls (Gay romance)-- A flamboyant artist who is also a black belt in karate yearns for a "straight gay" firefighter but thinks he could never have him so he sets the firefighter up with his friend.
Beach Balls (Gay romance) --  A closeted developer lawyer meets a beautiful man underwater only to discover later that they are natural enemies.
(There will be another book in this series either later this year or the beginning of 2013. This will be Jerry the surfer/firefighter's book.)

The Aloysius Tales -- Paranormal Gay Romance bestsellers
Spell Cat (Gay paranormal) -- A powerful male witch meets a handsome physics professor but humans steal the energy from witches. His black cat intervenes.
(I am currently writing the next book in this series and expect it will be released in the fall.)

The Fairy Godmother Stories -- Contemporary Fantasy
Sinders and Ash (Gay romance)-- A young guy who works in the housekeeping department meets the son of the fifth richest man in America. Can they get together? Only his fairy godmother knows for sure.
(There will be another book in this series later this year or the beginning of next year).

Stand alone books:
Golden Dancer (MMM Romantic Suspense)-- Winner of Best Book of 2011 (gay menage) in the TRR Best of 2011 Awards.  An investigative reporter falls for a beautiful male ballet dancer only to find he is already involved with a billionaire art collector that the reporter is investigating for theft.

Mistletowed (MM/MMF/MF)-- A holiday novella about seven friends who switch partners and ideas under the influence of what may or may not be magical mistletoe.

So that's what i've been doing for the last couple years. It's thrilling to be at number ten and counting. Thank you for making it possible. *giant hugs and love*  Hey, if you'll keep reading, i'll keep writing.  : )

Friday, June 1, 2012

Selena Illyria Talks Vampires and Has 3 Books for You!

Hi everyone-- Today it's my delight to welcome my good friend, Selena Illyria, to the blog. Se is sharing some wonderful memories with us and to one lucky commenter, she's giving away a copy of the first three books in her Hades Helmet Series!! So be sure to leave a comment and your email to win! Here's Selena:


Memories of My Father
                Rather than do a simple promo post I decided to do something a bit different and get a bit personal. June is my birthday month but it’s also my father’s birthday month as well. His birthday was on the 24th and mine is on the 26th. My father died a few years ago but his imprint on my inspiration is very prevalent. As a kid I wasn’t really as interested in paranormal or sci-fi and fantasy. They were passing fancies from the movies we watched. I can remember watching old, really bad sci-fi movies where you can see the zipper on the monster costume or the thin line that held up the flying saucer. But the movies I loved the most came for Disney, lol. I hated horror movies and just watched sci-fi because it was what my dad watched.
                As I kid I also wasn’t much of a reader. The books of choice were Nancy Drew, The Babysitters Club and the Sweet Valley series. It wasn’t until several years later in my late teens that I discovered the paranormal genre from a chance ad in a magazine for the YA book In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Up until then Vampires came from movies like Blade. For the first time I was hooked on paranormal and vampires in particular. Reading a recommendation on Ms. Atwater-Rhodes’ site, I checked out Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake and from there the Merry Gentry series from there I ate up other series from Mary Janice Davidson’s Betsy series and onward.
                My father enabled my reading habit, we’d take trips to Barnes & Noble when we could. The books were a comfort to me. I began to appreciate sci-fi more, horror and fantasy. My horizons broadened and I was able to finally see what he saw in all those movies he could watch over and over again and never tired of.
                Now that I’m an adult and my father’s gone I find myself thinking about all those movies. When I was younger I would never have thought I’d get excited about watching Alien vs Predator or eagerly anticipating Prometheus. I didn’t even have a lot of love for Batman as I do now. It’s both sad that I can’t share this new found appreciation for the genres he loved and yet now I can through my writing. Although, my father would probably have preferred that I didn’t write about sex or use swear words, lol. But I think he’d be proud to know that his daughter has written and wants to write more sci-fi, paranormal and fantasy.

Contest: Comment with your email and win copes of the first 3 books in my Hades Helmet series. Good Luck!

Unmask Your Desires, Satiate Your Hungers. Author, part vampire, part pixie, Selena Illyria was born with a need to write and enable. Her imagination takes her into the paranormal, sci-fi and fantasy genres and all sorts of mischief. When not writing she enjoys catching up on her TBR pile, watching some of her favorite programs and listening to her favorite music as well as teasing people with posts on decadent food and plot bunnies. To connect with you her can either go to: Her Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Selena-Illyria/100175079107?ref=nf
 

Her Amazon Central Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0075NG31K

Her Yahoo Group:


Her publishers are: Etopia Press, Loose-Id, Purple Sword Publications, Liquid Silver Books, Changeling Press, Tease Publishing

There you go. A heartfelt memory and a wonderful contest. Be sure and comment with your email to win 3 books from Selena's wonderful backlist. 

Also, the Beach Balls Blog Tour is going on at Beautiful Boys Books. Go over and enter to win a$10 GC plus MORE!! Thank you so much for visiting.  : )