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Pre Order Excitement!

Oh!  So.  Now, you can pre order Love at Roades End in any flavor you want!  It releases February 9th, so just over 2 weeks from now, and if you want it ready and waiting for you, you can follow one of these links:

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

ARe

Kobo

LoveAtRoadesEndFS

Sean Newvine is looking forward to his weekend at Roades End Inn so he can review his stay there for inclusion on his travel website. What he never expects is for the owner, Hunter Roades, to capture his attention from the very start.

The only problem is Hunter thinks Sean’s been sent by his brother on a blind date so that Hunter doesn’t have to spend Valentine’s Day alone. Once the awkward misunderstanding is resolved, Sean is charmed by Hunter’s formality and hospitality. And when they have a chance to really talk, sparks fly.

A passion-filled night has them both wanting more, but Hunter pulls away knowing Sean doesn’t live in town and the distance might be more than they can overcome. Sean and Hunter must figure out if they can make it work for longer than one night, or if their chance at love will end at Roades End Inn before it can begin.

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Noted

I have atrocious handwriting. Especially when I’m going fast. But that doesn’t keep me from writing story notes out longhand. Sometimes I just have to get the idea down or I’ll lose it. Sometimes pen and paper is the only medium available to me. And sometimes it’s just cathartic to write things out and get it down on the page. (Even if I can’t always read what I wrote and I end up sending pics to people who know me well, asking what it says)

Yesterday at work I had some, er well ahem, downtime. And so I made some notes. A lot of notes. I detailed the next three chapters in scene snippets. And wrote a couple sentences about the two chapter after that, just so I would know the main plot point of those chapters. And when all was said and done I felt pretty good about where this story is going.

The thing is, I see it very clearly. About where these guys are going and how they are falling in love. But I’m not quite to the halfway point in the story and I’m struggling with the internal drive to sit down and write. Everything else seems to take precedence. And I let it.

Truth is, there about seven chapters and 16k words to go (roughly guessing by my past style) and I know, I know, that if I just sat down and got to it, I could get it done.

I’m thinking a sequester is in my near future. And that would be awesome.

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Haters Gonna Hate

It’s the thing we all know, right?

I mean, we all say it.  It’s a truth.  No matter what, there are going to be people that hate something, and they are going to be vocal about it.  There’s nothing we can do about that.  We can’t stop them from voicing their opinion, much less from having one.  So it’s something we all need to accept.

I recently saw a meme that said something along the lines of “if you can’t handle criticism, then being a published author is not the job for you.”

Okay, to be clear, I haven’t seen a whole lot of bad criticism for my work. (Not to say that it’s not out there, it may be.  I just haven’t seen it.)  Sure, there have been some less than favorable reviews.  But mostly, it’s been pretty good.  And no, I don’t handle criticism well.  My skin is sometimes not thick enough and it hurts.

But the truth is, no matter what I write, someone out there isn’t going to like it.  Hands down, no matter what, there is absolutely going to be at least one person that reads it (and maybe more) and they are going to hate it.  There is no way on this earth I can write something that will please everyone who reads it.  That is completely impossible.

I’m also in a position where writing is not my full time gig.  Sure, I’d love it to be, but it’s not, and I can’t make a living at it.  It’s my side job, my joy, but it’s not my main source of income.

With those two truths combined, I’ve come to the conclusion that, for the first time since I started this journey, I actually and completely believe: I’m going to write the story I want to write.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.

Okay, yes, there’s something to be said about writing what will sell.  I mean, people are going to have to want to buy it.  That’s the only way a publisher will pick it up, and that’s the only way I’ll make any money at all.  But!  And here’s the beautiful part; I know that there are readers out there who’s brains work like mine.  Who want to read the same things I do, and therefore, will want to read what I write.

So the haters can hate.  I’m not going to stop them and I’m not going to try to change their minds.   I’m not writing for them anyway.

Flash Fic Friday

Flash Fic Friday

**How about a visit with Dan and Vincent?  I love these guys, I really do.  I hope you do too.  Also a little bit NSFW!**

“Does Vincent have a problem with the speculation?”

“Who? What?” I asked Aaron absently.  My mind was on searching for my  e-reader.  I knew I had brought it to set, and I wanted to shove it in my bag and get home.  My boyfriend was waiting for me.

“Vincent,” Aaron repeated patiently from where he was leaning against the door to my dressing room.  He’d wandered by a few minutes ago and casually shut the door behind him.  I hadn’t thought anything of it because he did that all the time.  “Does he have a problem with all the tabloids and gossip sites and fan forums talking about how you and I are so very in love?”

The last was said with a heavy dose of sarcasm that made me laugh.  “Nope.  He doesn’t pay attention to that shit.  And even if he did, he knows better than to believe any of it.”

I didn’t register the few beats of heavy silence until Aaron spoke, his voice laced with hurt.  “My boyfriend knows better than to believe it, too.”

Ah crap.

“I’m sorry, Aaron,” I said sincerely.  “I didn’t mean to imply anything with that.  I know you’d never cheat on him.  You’re not built that way.”

Aaron’s quick smile let me know I was forgiven.  “Sorry.  Touchy subject.”  He let out a deep sigh.  “He’s always going on about it.  So grumpy and pissed off that people are talking about it.  And I don’t always handle it well, so I was hoping you had some advice.”

I thought about that a moment, finally finding what I was looking for and shoving it into my bag.

“Knowing you and him?” We were both careful not to say Lucas’s name, even though we were in the privacy of my dressing room.  It wasn’t exactly a secret they were dating, because they weren’t as subtle as they thought, but they didn’t advertise and Lucas wasn’t out.  “You just need to let him be possessive and rant.  He’s frustrated because he can’t claim you publicly.  But if you let him get that out, and then remind him that you’re his, he’ll be fine.”

Aaron’s grin was wicked.  “Oh I can remind him all right.”  He let out a dirty chuckle, and then turned to leave.  “Thanks, D.”

“Anytime, A.”

As soon he was gone, I grabbed my stuff and headed out the door.  Vincent had come in from Oak Harbor early that morning, but I’d already left for makeup call by the time he arrived. He’d let me know he and Valentine were safely ensconced in my duplex, and it had made the day all the much harder to get through.  I hadn’t seen him for three weeks and four days, and I was desperate to get my hands on him.

I didn’t speed on the way home, but it was a near thing.  I was anxious to get home to him.  Being apart just plain sucked, and I wished we could do something about that.  But right now it wasn’t possible.  At least he was still working on the movie and not traipsing around the country directing.  With him only a few hours away, we could see each other more often than if he was farther away.  Still, I missed him.

The minute I had the car parked, I turned off the engine, grabbed my bag, and ran into the house, barely remembering to hit the button on the key fob to lock the car.  I heard it chirp as I pushed open the front door, and with all the flair of a 60’s sitcom, yelled out, “Honey, I’m home!”

Valentine came running, tail wagging furiously and gave a happy bark before he barreled into my thighs and demanded pets.  I rubbed his silky red fur absently, looking around for Vincent, expecting him to be right behind his dog.  But he was nowhere to be seen.  I didn’t get nervous when this happened anymore.  At least not much.  But I still had expected him to be as anxious to see me as I was to see him.  When another minute passed and he still hadn’t appeared, I gently nudged Valentine to the side and went in search of him.

“Vincent?” I called.

“In here,” he responded from the direction of the kitchen.  He sounded tense to me, and when I stepped through the doorway, and saw his mottled red face and clenched jaw, my heart started to pound.  There was no mistaking the anger and I had to bite my tongue to remind him to keep calm.  Whatever was on the screen in front of him was pissing him off royally.

“Whatcha doin?” I asked softly, making my tone light and playful.

“Oh, you know,” he said, the anger evident in his tone.  “Just checking out these links Lucas sent me.”

It took a second for the dots to connect but when they did, I closed my eyes and stifled a groan.  Ever since Lucas had played assistant director on Vincent’s movie, they’d enjoyed a closer friendship.  It helped because Lucas was my closest friend and I was glad he and my lover got along.  But I never expected Lucas to bother Vincent with these kinds of things.  Of course, I’d also thought Vincent didn’t care about who said what.  Apparently, I was wrong.

“Vincent,” I began, trying to soothe.

He turned his turbulent brown eyes on me.  “Where the fuck do they get off, saying these things?  These people talk like they know you and Aaron.  Some swear they have inside information.”

“Honey,” I tried to interrupt when he drew a breath.

“This one!” Vincent jabbed at the screen.  “This one says that the times we’ve been seen together were a front!  That it was a carefully designed marketing ploy to throw the public off so that you could continue your secret affair.”

I could see that there was no talking to him.  Not when he was in this state.  So I did the only thing I could do.  I strode across the kitchen, pushed his chair back from the table, dropped to my knees in front of him, and started undoing his pants.

“Dan?” he choked out, a little bit shocked.

“It’s all lies,” I said simply as I got his zipper open and reached in to fish out his dick.  It was half hard and getting harder.  I pumped with my hand, then swiped the head with my tongue before looking up at him.  His pupils were blown, and he was breathing hard, but I knew now it was all from lust and not from anger. “You know that.  I know that.  So does Lucas.  Why do we give a fuck what people say?  I could be doing this in a stadium full of people, and there would still be eye witnesses claiming it was faked.”

He grabbed my head, and pulled my mouth over his cock, though he didn’t force it in.  “You will not do this where anyone but me can see.”

I didn’t bother to answer.  My mouth was full.  Besides,the taste of him was as intoxicating as ever and I wouldn’t be satisfied until he came down my throat.  I went to work, sucking, laving, licking, kissing, until he was boneless in the chair and panting raggedly.  I kept glancing up so I could see his face, and then he clutched my head tightly and groaned my name.  I relaxed my throat and tapped his hip.  That was all he needed to fuck my mouth hard.  And it only took him a few thrusts before he was pouring cum down my throat.

When he was done, I pulled back and tried not to smirk smugly at his sated expression.  He rolled his eyes, then grabbed my face and bent at the same time he pulled me forward.  He kissed me long and thoroughly, his tongue sweeping through all the recesses of my mouth.  He loved to kiss me after I blew him.  He said he loved the taste of himself in my mouth.  I was just as happy to oblige him.

He finally pulled back.  I grinned and held onto his wrists.

“I’m yours,” I said firmly.  “Fuck everybody else.”

Vincent’s grin was huge.  “Yep.  Love you, too.  Now get up and get your ass to the bedroom.  By the time I make you a desperate, gibbering mess, I’ll be ready to fuck you so hard you’ll see stars.”

I scrambled to comply, and loved the sound of his deep chuckle following me.  He was all I needed, and he knew it.  I couldn’t be happier.

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Coming Soon!

Releasing February 9th and now available for pre-order!  Love at Roades End 

I kind of adore the crap out of this story, and it’s just a sweet little Valentine’s Day short.  But I love these guys and I hope, when you’re looking for a little Valentine’s Day reading, you’ll consider picking this one up.

LoveAtRoadesEndFSSean Newvine is looking forward to his weekend at Roades End Inn so he can review his stay there for inclusion on his travel website. What he never expects is for the owner, Hunter Roades, to capture his attention from the very start.

The only problem is Hunter thinks Sean’s been sent by his brother on a blind date so that Hunter doesn’t have to spend Valentine’s Day alone. Once the awkward misunderstanding is resolved, Sean is charmed by Hunter’s formality and hospitality. And when they have a chance to really talk, sparks fly.

A passion-filled night has them both wanting more, but Hunter pulls away knowing Sean doesn’t live in town and the distance might be more than they can overcome. Sean and Hunter must figure out if they can make it work for longer than one night, or if their chance at love will end at Roades End Inn before it can begin.

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The New Year

Okay, so I had a pretty good year last year, writing wise.  And after having taken a break at the end of last year, I was pumped and excited for this year.

Well, so far, all 11 days of it, has been a mixed bag.

I’ve gotten some good words down on the page, and just last night, I broke 10k on my WIP.  I started it a few weeks ago, right at the end of the year, and it’s been going in fits and starts.  I’m really liking it though, and already in love with my boys, so you know how that goes.  I’m aiming for a December release with this one, since it’s holiday themed.  But I’m totally enjoying Travis and Noah, and my excitement to be with them and get their story told is ever growing.

After that, I have the next two stories in the writing queue already planned.  One of which is the fourth book in the Something Like series.  I have plans for that series, but I’m not going to talk about them quite yet.  Watch this space in the coming months for news!

And the sad news to mix in this beginning of the year is, of course, the closing of Amber Quill.  Not only do I lose the home of my series, and the opportunity to work with great people, but the industry as a whole is losing a great publisher.  I’m not going to rehash everything here, but it’s still a blow that I’m reeling from and can’t quite believe it’s happening.

But despite that news, the year is off to a promising start, and while I’m not quite at my peak of writing excitement and motivation, I’m certainly getting there. Writing brings me joy, and I’m going to keep doing it as long as I can.

And!  Love at Roades End, a Valentine’s Day short story, will be released next month!  Details coming soon.

Flash Fic Friday

Flash Fic Friday

**Enjoy a little snippet out of Dan and Vincent’s life.  They are settling in well together, but that doesn’t mean the physical distance between them doesn’t take it’s toll.**

I’d had a lot of men in my life.  Some for just a night.  Some for longer.  One I’d even had for six years, before he decided he wanted to live the life of a celibate monk.  And I’d always been content with that, enjoying my boyfriend of the moment, until life pulled us apart.  I didn’t need to promise forever.  I didn’t need a companion.  That’s why I got a dog, and Valentine was my biggest love anyway.

Until Dan.

The first time I saw him, I was taken aback by just how gorgeous he was.  Big, brawny, beautiful, he pushed every one of my buttons.  I also knew he was straight, so I never allowed myself to even entertain the thought of having him.  Until that day in the conference room, when his inattention had landed him in hot water.  I’d called him in to ream him out because that never happened on my set.  But he’d pushed back, and when he kissed me, I was lost.  From that moment on, he was mine, even if it took us both some time to realize it.  When it got to the point where I was done playing games, ready for forever, I was fairly certain he was ready too.  Didn’t matter if he wasn’t, because I wasn’t letting him go.  Fortunately, when I’d put myself on the line, he’d been right there with me.

I tried to show him these days how much he meant to me.  But I knew he was feeling the separation.  After spending New Year’s together, Dan had to head back to Seattle to start filming.  And since I was still painstakingly editing the film I was trying to produce, I was taking a hiatus from directing and living full time in the house in Oak Harbor.  Dan hadn’t said it out loud, but I knew he wanted me to come back to Seattle with him.  At least for a bit.  But I’d purposefully ignored the hints, and he’d headed back to the mainland.  And I’d barely heard from him since.

It wasn’t like Dan to completely shut me out.  We argued like any normal couple.  There were things we were going to disagree about.  It was inevitable.  And there were times when it carried over, and Dan gave me the silent treatment.  But only when we were in the same house.  When we were apart, both of us made the effort to stay connected.  So the sporadic phone calls were starting to get concerning.  Especially since I hadn’t heard from since last night.  I’d left him three messages, and he hadn’t bothered to acknowledge one all day.  I was equal parts angry and worried, and I was going to chew him out once I finally got a hold of him.

I called him yet again, my fingers drumming impatiently on my thigh.  He answered on the second ring.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he said, his voice ragged like he’d been gargling gravel.  “Every time I thought I’d get a break today, that little fucker interrupted and I just now got home.”

He sounded wrecked, and my anger started dissipating.  I tried for soothing.  “What happened?”

“Avery fucking Lang, that’s what happened.”  I heard a thump that sounded suspiciously like a fist into the wall.  “He’s so fucking full of himself and this is the third fucking time this season he’s been in to direct.  Since someone decided to take a few months off, we’ve had to make do with directors we don’t usually have to deal with too often.  But oh no.  Lang is taking every episode he can, and running us fucking ragged in the mean time.  We went over by four fucking hours today, because he had us doing, and I’m not even joking, a hundred and seventeen takes of the same fucking scene.  I just now got home and walked in the door.  I swear to God, that man is on a goddamn ego trip and I fucking hate working with him.”

He took a deep breath, and I knew his rant was over.  “So you had a pretty bad day huh?”

“The worst,” Dan said, with a small chuckle.  Then he gave a soft sigh. “Wish you were here.”

“I am.”

There was a beat of silence, and then an incredulous snort.  “What?”

“Come into the bedroom.”

I heard him running, and then he burst through the doorway before stopping dead and staring at me.  I turned off my phone and tossed it on the bedside table.  Dan continued to stare.  I stood up and opened my arms.  It broke the spell, and he was suddenly there, gathering me into his arms and pressing my face against his neck.  I loved that he was bigger than I was, but that he let me have control over him.  I kissed him long and hard, until he was panting and then I pulled back to give him a soft smile.

“Strip and get on the bed,” I commanded quietly.

His face fell, and he took a step back.  “Vincent, I’m sorry but I just don’t think…I mean right now…later I’ll–”

I cut him off with a hard kiss.  “I’m not going to fuck your beautiful ass right now.  We’ll save that for the morning.  But that doesn’t mean I can’t make you feel better.  Strip and get on the bed.”

He did, all the while shooting me curious glances.  Once he was face down, I slid out of my clothes quickly and then grabbed the bottle of warming lube from the bedside table and straddled his ass.  My dick perked up, because I had my gorgeous boyfriend underneath me, but I was old enough to ignore it.  Instead, I spread some of the slick stuff between my palms, and then started at his lower back, rubbing and pressing hard to work out the tight knots.  After a few minutes, Dan breathed out a harsh breath.  And then his groans and grunts filled the air as I massaged all the tension out of his back and shoulders until he was a pile of content goo below me.

I kissed his nape, and then bit his shoulder lightly, before I rolled off him.

“Feel better?” I whispered.

“Mmmm.  Yes,” he mumurmed.  One of those dark brown eyes cracked open.  “You’re the awesomest boyfriend ever.”

I smirked.  “I really am.  I’ll order us some pizza, and we’ll eat.  Then we’ll see how your ass feels about greeting my cock properly.”

Dan’s chuckle was low and wicked.  But all he said was “Pizza isn’t very heart healthy.”

“Maybe not.  But sex is excellent exercise.”  I grinned, and then added, a little more seriously, “You always take care of my heart.”

His smile was beautiful and sweet.  “Love you too.”

Yeah, I knew he did.

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The News

As you may or may not have heard, Amber Quill has decided to close it’s doors.  As of midnight on March 31, 2016, they will no longer be in business.

I’m sad to hear the news.  They have been a staple in this genre for a long time.  More than that, I’ve truly enjoyed working with them for the last eight months or so.  It’s been a great experience, and I was looking forward to working with them in the future.  It’s a blow, but I respect that they’ve gone about this in a considerate and professional manner.  We’ve all seen publishers stop paying royalties to their authors, and then make false promises, before disappearing and/or declaring bankruptcy.  Amber Quill is being proactive and professional, doing this responsibly and with respect to everyone involved.

Amber Allure is the publisher of my Something Like series.  As an author who has worked with them, it means that my books will no longer be available after March 30th.   The books will, however, continue to be available for sale throughout the next three months.  After that time, the rights will revert to me and I can rerelease them in any manner of ways.  As I’m still reeling from the announcement, I’ve made no decisions about what I’m personally going to do with my work.  I have a lot of options to wade through, and time to make those choices and decisions.

What does this mean for you as a reader?  Well, if you have an account with Amber Quill, make sure you hop over and download anything on your bookshelf.  Use any credits or promos you have.  On March 31st, the website will no longer be accessible.  Any books they have up through third party sellers will continue to be there for purchase until that date, if you prefer Amazon or ARe or similar. However, anything by Amber Quill and it’s house lines will be removed on that date as well.

It’s sad news, and I’m certain we will feel their loss greatly.  But also I can do nothing more than wish them all well and thank them for an amazing experience.

Flash Fic Friday

Flash Fic Friday

**Dan and Vincent have stopped by to show what happens next!  You can find buy links in the book tab, if you haven’t read their story yet. Of course, you can probably enjoy this story anyway whether you’ve read Something Like Peace or not :D**

The house in Oak Harbor was one of my favorite places in the world. Filming had kept me busy, so even though I was close, I hadn’t seen Vincent in weeks. I was anxious for the break in shooting, and even more eager to see my boyfriend.

The phone, a toy, and Vincent’s commanding voice only went so far.

The moment I crossed over Deception Pass bridge, I started to relax as the peace suffused my body. It was always better on the island, and I knew I wasn’t far from the west beach and Vincent’s home. By the time I pulled into the driveway, the tension that had been coiling in my muscles for weeks was gone. I grabbed my duffle and practically sprinted onto the porch. I used my key in the lock, and called for Vincent the moment I stepped into the house.

I was answered with complete silence. There wasn’t even a bark.  No Vincent. No Valentine.

I took a deep breath and tried to ward off any panic. Maybe they were out for a walk. I ignored that part of my brain telling me that Valentine was very particular and regular as clockwork, and that this wasn’t the usual time for his walk. I stamped down the fear and headed straight for the office at the back of the house.

And nearly wept with relief when I saw Vincent completly absorbed at his computer, working on the movie.

His headphones were on and he didn’t even notice me. He was completely engrossed with what was on the screen. He’d been working on the film for months, editing and producing himself. He’d even collaborated with an old friend to score it. Talking With Ghosts was still months away from completion, but he was making progress.

I didn’t care how long it took. He looked better than he ever had. A healthy glow seemed to permeate his skin, and he was happier and smiling more than he ever had. Even the stressors he experienced were less and easily dealt with. Vincent was in a good, healthy place and that made me happier than anything in the world.

Carefully I backed out of the room. I wanted hugs and kisses, more if I were honest, but I knew we had time. We’d spent Christmas apart and with our respective families, because we both felt it was best. We’d only truly been together for a couple of months. But even though I’d rushed back to be with him the moment he returned to Oak Harbor, we had a couple of weeks before I needed to return to set. I’d still be getting my kiss at midnight.

I found Valentine on the sun porch, and he, at least, was thrilled to see me. Dog kisses couldn’t replace human ones, but they were welcome nonetheless.

I wasn’t even aware I’d fallen asleep on the wicker lounge until a very human body covered my own, and warm, passionate kisses stole me from sleep. I was hugging Vincent to me before I was even fully awake.

“How long have you been here?” He asked, kissing along my jaw to my ear. I was prepared for the nip on the lobe, but I couldn’t stop the shiver.

“No idea,” I answered. I arched my chin back to give him better access. “A while.”

Suddenly, Vincent grabbed my wrists and pinned them beside my head. He ground his hips against me, and I writhed in his hold. I loved it when he got like this.

“Next time you interrupt.” It was a commanded and I agreed fast.

Vincent grinned wolffishly, then kissed me long and hard. I was panting by the time he pulled back, and when he stood and held out his hand, I was quick to take it. I wanted him more now than I ever had before, and it was easy to follow him to the bedroom that I now thought of as ours.

Later, pleasantly sore and sated, wrapped around Vincent’s warm body, I remembered to look at the clock. We still had about an hour to go, but I thought I could say it anyway.

I kissed the nape of his neck then whispeeeed into his skin, “Happy new year, sweetheart.”

Vincent grunted and rolled over, and I saw the quirk to his lips. But all he said was “I love you.”

It was all I needed to hear.