Jayson James Books

Love Simon and a Website Mess

2017-12-10T20:07:00.003-08:00

Love, Simon
While watching the latest episode of Riverdale I'd recorded on my DVR, I saw the preview for Love, Simon and immediately was hooked. I rewound and watched the preview a few more times. There was so much about it that I connected with and related to with the movie.. I cannot wait for it to come out!

Website Mess
After years of hosting my images for my website and without warning, Photobucket decided to cut off image hosting unless I am willing to pay them a yearly premium. Thanks Photobucket -- jerks! Although I can understand they need to make money, it still irritates me. After spending an hour trying to put my website images on Google Photos, Blogger and Drive I tried Dropbox, none of which worked. With heading into a busy work week, my website is going to remain a mess with the tacky Photobucket images. I have no idea how long my page has looked like this, however now that I am aware, I am quite bothered by it. Since I could not find a free image hosting site that would work with my website, I have had to go back to a basic template. This ironically did not take me long to get it to something I am happy with. I'm going to gradually get my social media icons back up, as well as my pages. For the last year, I've toyed with changing the color theme and this is on the right track.

So Much Changing, Too Much Changing

2017-05-01T09:12:00.002-07:00

This last weekend I ordered my new laptop from Amazon, which will arrive this Friday. Although I suppose I should be excited, mostly I am saddened. My life has been enduring many changes I have not been ready for, bring about great stress, restless nights and feeling hopeless at times. My need for a new computer has been something I knew was going to have to happen, getting 6+ years without any problems besides my USB ports going out and an ever mounting problems occurring each day I knew it was inevitable.

What saddens me the most is the end of something that will always have a special place in my heart. My Dell Inspirion 17R N7110 17.3" Laptop was where I wrote the first chapters of what would eventually become my first book, Finding Our Way. When my friends encouraged me to publish, I was at the lowest point of my life ever and feeling hopeless. Finding Our Way exceeded my expectations and gave me encouragement. I followed this book up with a second book, Tormented Discover, my longest book to date and it did just as great and boosted the sales of my first book.

Over the years, I have published several other books and stories with varying successes. T.E.D.: Tim, Eric, and Delsin, a book I felt compelled to write and nearly didn't publish became a best-seller. It continues to be my most popular books, exceeding the sales of all my other books combined. Then came two books that are dear to me, Pieces of Us and How It Was Supposed To Be, which have not had success, but I got out of my head and brought them to life and more important have reached some delighted readers. There have been more started stories, notes and assorted writings than I can count, including a 55,000 word horror story that I was sure I was going to finish until one day when I decided I wanted to put it aside.

Then there is my artwork. Many scanned images for no other reason than to hang onto. Others have been commissions and let's not forget the book covers. I've manipulated, combined, changed and cleaned up numerous drawings.

The new computer will have a touch screen and will open up other opportunities for creating, drawing and will make it easier to find my way around when I am writing out in the sun. I will have a larger hard drive so I will not have to continually have to transfer files to my external drive.

I'm going to keep my head up, take a deep breath and try my hardest to think positive. Just over six years ago no one knew who Jayson James was except for a handful of people.

The Main Characters of Surviving Elite High: The Next Generation

2017-05-01T08:21:00.003-07:00

The Main Characters of Surviving Elite High: The Next Generation

When I wrote the ending to Surviving Elite High: Senior Year, I never imagined that I would pen down a continuation. To me, Nick and John had the perfect ending. They lived happily ever after, even though that only happens in fairytales, Hollywood movies and cheesy soap operas. Anyways, they were happy. So why disturb the happiness that they found? I didn’t want them to go through more heartache, sorrow and pain. So what could I do to stop the itching in my hands? The crazy story developing in my head? I set the timeline twenty years into the future and started fresh with brand new characters and some very old but loved ones. Thus, Surviving Elite High: The Next Generation was born, full of drama, suspense and love.

In Surviving Elite High: The Next Generation we meet Robbie Carroll. Now, Robbie is an orphan, who for some reason or the other, has never been adopted. Everyone keeps leaving except him. He never knew the reasons why, but after eavesdropping on Allison, his caseworker, he finds out that there is something revolving the day he lost his memories that keeps pushing everyone away. Robbie stays optimistic until he finds his dream family, Nick Hawking and John Ames, who are now married, wealthy, and powerful. With them comes Nicky, John’s extremely hot and biological son, and Lily, Nick’s beautiful daughter. They take him and introduce him to their family and friends.

One of those close friends is Tim Mercer who is Johnny Mercer’s son or Nick’s sports rival even though they never went to the same school. Tim immediately captivates Robbie’s heart and becomes a part of his soul. At first Robbie doesn’t know if Tim feels the same way since Tim has a girlfriend who is willing to do anything to keep him by her side. And Tim seems to be hiding secrets of his own. He has a past that keeps coming back for him and interrupting his future.

To me, Nicky is the bomb! Nicky is John’s biological son with a surrogate mother. The second Robbie appears on his radar, he takes him and makes him the little brother he never had. At first, Robbie develops a small crush on him, but he keeps his distance since Nicky is straight and has a girlfriend named, Taylor Rose. Taylor is absolutely amazing. She’s Tim’s cousin and Nicky’s two-year-old girlfriend. They seemed like the perfect couple, but things are not what they looked like. These two go through a lot as couple and I hope you love them like I do.

One of my favorite characters in this book is definitely Abby Lee. Now, Abby Lee is Madison’s daughter. Yes, Madison’s daughter. And yes, she’s as crazy as her mother and funny as well. Abby was meant to be a secondary character but as I wrote the novel, she became a lot more. The same thing happened with Josh Ashmore, Jacob’s adopted son. These two grew in me that I had to make them stand out more in Surviving Elite High: The Next Generation Senior Year. That’s the tentative title for book two featuring these guys. It might be out soon so keep an eye out.

And there you have it guys! These are the main characters inside Surviving Elite High: The Next Generation. I hope these guys are able to show you the real meaning of friendship, family, and love. If you have any comments or just want to say hi to me, feel free to contact me at:

· Email: authorjha@gmail.com

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJohnHAmes/

· Twitter: @JohnHenryAmes

· Website: https://johnhenryamesbooks.wordpress.com/

· Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820153.John_H_Ames

Excerpt One:

Robbie looked away, no doubt his cheeks were bright red. The door swung open again and Allison stepped inside with two teens that appeared his age. The girl on Allison’s left was beautiful, too beautiful to even describe. Her long golden blonde hair hung over her shoulders and her eyes were like two crystal blue diamonds that shone brighter than the stars. She was the spitting image of her father, Nick, but what took his breath away was the guy standing on Allison’s right. He was a few inches taller than him and drop dead gorgeous. He had tanned skin that seemed to glow, the perfect body hidden behind his tight clothes, light brown hair that waved from side to side, and the purest hazel eyes that Robbie had ever seen. They were simply too mesmerizing to be real.

“There you are!” John approached them, placing an arm around them, and gently pushed them forward. “Robbie, this is Lily and Nicky.”

Excerpt Two:

Robbie took one final look at the man who made his heart stopped without really killing him. He knew then that he was going to love him until the end of time. Robbie turned around and sprinted down the hallway, feeling lightheaded and numb. He was about to make a right when he collided into someone and fell flat on his ass. His head ached while stomach churned.

“Dirty fag!” A voice vibrated through the air.

Looking up, Robbie’s eyes fell on Heath. He stiffened and his blood froze.

Heath glared at him coldly and spat at him without even thinking it twice. A cold and sticky substance made contact with his right cheek, traveling down his skin. Heath took a deep breath, looking like a deranged bull on the loose and made a sudden move towards him. What was he planning to do? Was he going to punch him? Was Heath going to kill him? Heath, however, looked away and continued walking down the hallway, leaving him behind. Robbie wiped the spit off his face and got to his feet, breathing forcefully and hard. He should have known better. He should have known that in every little heaven, there was a serpent, lurking in the shadows ready to strike.

Excerpt Three:

Robbie’s eyes fell on a tall figure blocking the outside view from sight. His short raven hair pointed out in all directions and his deep blue eyes shone brighter than the stars above. His black shirt stretched over his upper torso, helplessly clinging on for dear life and enhancing all of his muscles and flawless frame. Who was this guy and why was he so perfect and beautiful? He looked like an angel that fell from the heavens above. Was he even real? Or was he a figment of his imagination? Whoever he was, Robbie needed to find out.

For a second, their eyes met. The stranger’s mouth dropped open as his eyes carefully examined Robbie from head to toe. He shook his head slightly and smiled like a movie star in a silent film.

“Hi!” He beamed, staring into Robbie’s eyes. “I’m Tim.”

Excerpt Four:

Robbie’s heart got stuck inside his throat. “Wha…Tim…” he tried to utter, but the words got stuck. His vision blurred and his heart pounded violently. This couldn’t be happening to him. Tim wasn’t breaking up with him. Everything was just a horrible nightmare that he was bound to wake up sooner or later. As Tim walked to the door, Robbie stood, running after him. “Tim!” he yelled. “Please don’t do this!”

Tim opened the white door in front of him and stepped outside, disappearing from sight. Robbie dashed across the threshold, but bumped into Nick and fell to the ground, landing on his ass. He sat up, his salty tears covering every inch of his face, drowning his heart in sorrow and pain. Tim had broken up with him and it was all his fault. He had been too quick to cast judgment on him and now he was gone. His chest felt heavy while his head spun. Without Tim, he was nothing. Without Tim, he was going to die.

Excerpt Five:

As the movie continued, however, Robbie’s back hurt and he wanted to shift his weight, but he couldn’t without disturbing Tim. Carefully, he shifted closer and his head rested on Tim’s biceps. Tim didn’t move or look his way. In fact, he looked calmer than ever. As Tim’s attention fell on him, he smiled like he was seeing the most beautiful thing in the world. Slowly, he leaned in and Robbie’s heart exploded, pounding violently against his chest. He shivered while his entire skin erupted in goose bumps. What was Tim doing? What was he thinking? The second their lips touched, a strange electrical feeling started at the tip of his tongue and spread all over his body. As Robbie kissed him back, he closed his eyes tight and saw the silhouette of a man, with a thin beard decorating his jaw, kissing him back and sticking his tongue inside his mouth. He broke free from Tim’s kiss and looked away.

“I’m sorry,” Tim whispered. “I shouldn’t have.”

No! He loved Tim’s kiss, but what he completely disliked was the man that he saw in his head. Who was he? Where had he seen him before? Clearly, it wasn’t Tim or anyone he knew.

Guest Post: Jenna Galicki

2017-04-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

GET ROCKED! In Vegas showcases USA Today, Amazon Bestselling, and Award Winning Rockstar Romance Authors as they take you on a sexy musical journey through Sin City with a group of ***ALL NEW*** stories, many featuring some of your favorite fictional rock bands!
Let these scorching bad boy rock stars melt your panties and your hearts as they burn up the stage at a fictional rock festival in one of the world’s sexiest playgrounds!

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Romance Limited Edition Collection - by Jenna Galicki, Jade C. Jamison, Author Theresa Hissong, Lisa Did (Lisa Gillis), Lashell Collins, Jennifer L. Allen, Bella Jeanisse, Maria Bernard, Sadie Grubor, Kacey Hamford, Toni Kenyon, Lindy S. Hudis, Gina Kincade

Want more of Angel, Tommy, & Jessi from the Radical Rock Stars series? Need more Brandon Bullet of the Bulletproof series? What if the two bands met? It all happens in Vegas!

The Stage by Jenna Galicki
Even rock stars get star-struck. Meeting heavy metal icon Brandon Bullet was a dream come true for Tommy Blade. When Immortal Angel decides to add Tommy’s rock star idol as a guest singer to their set at the Get Rocked! festival, sparks fly and egos collide.

Angel Garcia, Immortal Angel’s flashy frontman, isn’t used to sharing the spotlight or Tommy’s attention. That all changes once Angel has a mind-blowing rehearsal with the charismatic lead singer of Bulletproof.

At first, Tommy was ecstatic, but the sexual chemistry on stage between Angel and Brandon was something he never counted on. Now he’s forced to watch his husband and his idol strut on stage together and share a connection that, up until now, only he and Angel shared.

Commissioned to design custom-made rock and roll attire, even Tommy’s wife Jessi gets one-on-one time with Brandon Bullet.

Taking a back seat wasn’t on the agenda. Add Angel and Brandon’s secret rehearsals together, and Tommy is left in the shadows wondering exactly what’s going on between the two.
Like everything else in Tommy’s life, it all unfolds on stage.
Epilogue by Brandon Bullet of Bulletproof

This I only 1 of the 12 rock star romances in the Get Rocked! In Vegas anthology.

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Nook: http://bit.ly/2lJ5hLD
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Want more of the Bulletproof series?

The Undercover Rock Star (Bulletproof Book 1)

A spur-of-the-moment vacation was supposed to jolt Cameron Douglas out of his funk, but it appears he only traded locations. It was a chance meeting with a handsome stranger that changed everything. Brandon stirs Cameron's interest and his heart, but will the mysterious man reveal his true identity before their vacation in paradise is over?

Sometimes life in the spotlight was a heavy weight to bear for Brandon Bullet. He never knew if men were interested in him as a person or just enamored with his rock star status – until he meets Cameron Douglas. It wasn't often that Brandon shared a connection with someone who wasn't aware of his notoriety. He's determined to keep his identity a secret while the two of them get to know each other and before someone blows his cover.

FREE on KU

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1LlcCN8
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/undercoverCA
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/undercoverUK

Branded, Bulletproof Book 2

Two dominant men – one a worldly rock star, the other a hotshot corporate executive – steam up the pages as they battle their difference in personalities in this opposites attract, testosterone-charged rock star romance.

It was a chance meeting in paradise that caused them to cross paths. Destiny brought them together.

These two alpha males met with the force of a head-on collision. Sirens went off and lit up their hearts faster than a flash fire. But now that they’re living in the real world, everything isn’t as easy as anticipated. Other than their strong-willed and dominant personalities, they couldn’t be more opposite.

As the front man for a world-famous heavy metal band, Brandon Bullet lives in the spotlight. He thrives on the attention of his fans and the wild parties that all rock stars are accustomed to.

The free-spirited attitude and uninhibited lifestyle that is so natural to Brandon totally contradicts with Cameron Douglas’ anal-retentive and structured mindset. Spurred on by a thirst for adventure, Cameron is ready to leave behind his sedate, low-key life, but he’s unprepared for the rock star’s world of free sex, drugs, and non-stop parties.

Concessions aren’t always easy when thrust into a new relationship, especially with two headstrong men who constantly challenge one another. Add time apart from Bulletproof’s promotional tour, and it’s another layer of adjustment to contend with that just may push this newly-united couple too far.

Amazon US: http://bit.ly/Bulletproof2
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/Bulletproof2UK
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/Bulletproof2CA

Want more of the Radical Rock Star series?

The Prince of Punk Rock (Book 1 – A Bisexual Book Awards Finalist) This is a m/m/f menage like you’ve never read before!

I love her, but I also love him. She’s everything to me. He sets my world on fire. It's our dirty little secret, and it’s about to blow our record deal sky high. I’m Tommy Blade, the Prince of Punk Rock, and this is our story. http://amzn.to/MG7R3u

Between A Rock and A Hard Place (Book 2)

She’s a rock goddess. He’s a sex pistol. I need them both, in my life and in my bed, and I’m not living without either one of them. I’ll do whatever it takes, even if it costs me everything I’ve ever wanted. I’m Tommy Blade, The Prince of Punk Rock, and this is the continuation of our story. http://bit.ly/amazonBRHP

Punk Rock Resurrection (Book 3) This is a true stand-alone. It’s a dark story filled with healing and self-worth.

My world was dark and filled with pain. Loneliness gnawed at my soul. I found solace in a bottle. Music was my only refuge . . . until I met her. She was a dark Gothic goddess in thigh-high leather boots. She brought light into my life and showed me what it was like to be loved.

But could she handle the demons that haunted me . . . and the vices that kept them at bay?

http://bit.ly/PunkRockResurection

Rock Star Redemption (Book 4): Can be read as a stand-alone. Bad-boy rocker meets good girl. Like strong, tough female leads? This is it!

I live life in the fast lane. My days and nights are a never-ending party of women, fast cars and alcohol. I'm the one your daddy warned you about. I have everything I ever wanted—except Audra Abelman. She was always the good girl. She was off limits. I held out for almost a decade. It's time to set her inner bad girl free. I'm Jimmy Wilder, and I'm going to claim the most sought after girl in the record industry.

http://bit.ly/rockstarredemption

Punk Rock-A-Bye Baby (Book 5) – Revisit our original trio. You will love the progression of Angel, Tommy & Jessi’s relationship. It’s exactly what everyone was waiting for!

She rocks my world. He sets my soul on fire. We’ve traveled down a bumpy road, but we’ve finally found the balance. It’s time to bring a new little rock star into our lives. I’m Tommy Blade, the Prince of Punk Rock, and this is the next chapter in our story. http://bit.ly/punkrockabyebaby

Bonus: Only available in box set

Radical Rendezvous – An erotic short previously published in the Internatioanl Best Seller PINK: Hot n’ Sexy For A Cure

Box set available on all ebook retailers

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ITunes: http://bit.ly/radicalitunes

Hit up Jenna Galicki:

www.jennagalicki.com

Twitter: @jennagalicki

FB friend request: www.facebook.com/authorjennagalicki

FB Fan Page: www.facebook.com/jennagalicki.author1
Amazon: http://bit.ly/AmazonJennaGalicki

Faking It

2017-04-11T09:32:00.002-07:00

The above banner I made nearly 3 years ago, for what purpose I can no longer remember. Although the banner has remained on my desktop for years, mostly unnoticed, over the last few days, each time I get onto my computer, my eyes are drawn towards it. In my efforts to clean up my desktop, I was left with the decision to file it away or share it. My choice I suppose is obvious. It seems to serve well for this posting as well.

Faking It focused on Karma Ashcroft and Amy Raudenfeld, who have tried everything to stand out at Hester High being different is popular. Under the impression that they are closeted lesbians, Shane Harvey invites them to his high school party. Excited to have a chance to join the "in" crowd, they accept. When they are mistakenly outed as lesbians and involuntarily nominated to becoming homecoming Queens, they continue the charade when their popularity soars. While Karma is happy to keep up the lesbian charade and keep her affair with Liam a secret, she has not told Liam that she is faking it with Amy and as time goes on, Amy starts to realize she may truly have feelings for Karma. Liam was my reason to check out the show, becoming familiar with actor Greg Sulkin when I saw and adored him in the movie White Frog. Upon watching the pilot episode, I immediately grew to like the show. The premise is a spin on something that I suppose has been done before, however with Faking It the show goes about this formula differently.

Everyone fakes something in his or her day-to-day lives, whether intentional or unintentional. Before you argue this with me, think about your response most times to the question, “How are you?” A majority of the time people respond with the same two words, “I’m fine,” or simply “fine.” How many times have you said “fine” knowing better that you are feeling either worse or better? Sometimes it is simply easier to give an automated response.

Roughly five years ago, I reached a point where life seemed no longer worth living. I simply had given up. Nothing was going right and anything that hinged on how it could possibly be made better was not working out as I’d hope it would. I went through months of pretending I was okay, when really I had given up on life. I began to get my affairs in order, in the back of my mind thinking that if it wasn’t meant to be that something would happen in my life to give me a reason to live. What was strange, and something I had not noticed at the time, was this motivated me or at least gave me some purpose.

As I went through the motions I found myself living and thriving. I decided that I never wanted to get to that point again in my life and made up my mind to do what I could to live life and try harder to not sweat what I had not control over. I wrote my first book and with the support and encouragement of my friends, I published it with the hopes some people would want to read it. The response was more positive than I hoped for and I was inspired to continue writing. I've had my ups and downs, thankfully more ups than downs.

A few years ago, I finally had enough of what was really dragging me down. I knew that I needed to get out of the toxic environment job I worked, even if it meant giving up security. I've had my shares of ups and downs, but overall I have been much happier. Just as I had with other decisions that later worked out for the better for me, I made a change.

Sure there are days that I fake it, as well as days that I feel as if I can't go on. I have to take the time to refocus myself on what I have rather than on what I do not. When it comes down to it, life really is what we make of it. It's not easy, yet I hope to make the best of mine.

Thank You for Standing By

2017-04-10T21:18:00.002-07:00

This may not be my best piece of writing, but trying to not be a perfectionist and simply get it done. I'm going to write. You are welcome to read or maybe you'll check out the cool rainbow color bar graphic and leave. Either way, thank you for taking the time to come and check this out. For better or worse, here it goes. My time away came about expectantly, which is rather ironic how I am returning. I wanted to take a moment to thank the many people who've stuck by me and believed in me during my absence. There was quite a while that I thought I might never write another book, or at least one I'd publish ever again. This was for many reasons, none of which I want to get into at this time. Thank you to those who sent me emails, most of them were positive and even the ones that weren't so much I appreciated. It's been great to see people are still reading my books. I wish that more would be purchased than pirated, but right now I'd settle for more reviews. So many have been hoping and wishing I'd return and I always had plans to do so. Though at times I thought it would be long enough to write that one last book with those beloved characters... Justin and Derrick... Tim, Eric and Delsin... I can already imagine the debate. Before anyone asks, there will be another book in the series someday and for the others, remember I originally wasn't going to publish my best selling book. To be honest, I am going to take it one day at a time. When I started to look at how long it had been I was worried I'd disappointed so many people. Then all I kept coming back to is how many people had stuck by me. Last night I decided to contact a few of my author friends to see if they'd be willing to lend their talent to get my blog going again. Much to my delight, every single one of them has responded with enthusiasm. This has totally blown me away! Each of them has my utmost appreciation and gratitude. Now I've spent the last 24-hours thinking I need to do a post of my own. So here it is. Thank you for your time!

Keep checking my web page out! There's lots of good stuff to come! Be sure to subscribe if you haven't already!

Flashback Interview: Today In the Comfy Chair

2017-04-07T18:28:00.001-07:00

This was the last author interview I did with the wonderful Elin Gregory nearly two years ago. I was delighted with how it went and think it was seen by so few.

My guest today is multi-talented educator, author and artist, Jayson James.
Welcome Jayson and thank you for agreeing to be interviewed today. Can you tell me a little about yourself? For instance, do you have to have a day job as well as being a writer?
Yes, I am a teacher. I work with other teachers, teaching workshops and trainings as well as doing teacher observations.

When you aren’t writing, is there any other creative activity you enjoy? Have you ever written about it?

I like to draw. More recently I’ve taken up painting too, with wet watercolors and water color pencils. A friend of mine showed me how to take my drawings and water color them, so I’ve been having fun with doing that. As a matter of fact, the cover of my next book releasing will be a cover I drew with pencil and then used water colors to finish. Yes, I have written about it. One of my favorite characters to write, Justin Parker from my Finding Our Way series of books is an artist and I have written about him doing various artwork.

What are you reading? Can you recommend something that you wished you’d written yourself?

I have about fifteen books on my Kindle right now, waiting for me to take a break and get to reading them. After this book tour, I plan on taking some time off from writing, promoting and other assorted author duties to do some relaxing, which will include reading.
The only books that come to mind that I wish I would have written myself were The Hunger Games or the Twilight series. I think that it would be so cool to have a series with their popularity and have them turned into several movies. My friends are always telling me that I need to put out a book in other genres, convinced that I could have that kind of success. I have a few more books that I want to get out of my head that are in my genre first.

In that crucial inspiration stage of a new story which comes first? Plot, situation or character?
Plot typically, closely followed by character. The situations come in and out of my head, often times not in the order they end up in my books. Without having the plot in mind, I am unable to start on a new book.

Do your characters arrive fully fledged and ready to fly or do they develop as you work with them? Do you have a crisp mental picture of them or are they more a thought and a feeling than an image?
When I sit down to write, I have a pretty good idea of what I want my characters to be. As I sit down and write them, they evolve further. If I find myself getting away from the person I had them planned to be in my head, I will either go back and make changes to keep the continuity of the character.

Do you find there to be a lot of structural differences between a relationship driven story and one where the romance is a sub plot?

For me, I write about relationships people have. When I wrote Finding Our Way, I had not intended on it being a romance. It bothered me immensely when people would refer to the book as such. Then when I put out the second book, Tormented Discovery, people were even more thrilled by the romance continuing with Derrick Wilson and Justin Parker, the main characters. By the time I wrote Drifting, the third book I was all right with it. It was clear to me by all the response of readers, they were in love with this couple and wanted to see them do well together. It just happens that I wrote about two best friends falling in love and their relationship ended up romantic. I feel with T.E.D. people related to the characters and their relationships. Everyone who has talked to me about T.E.D. always has something to say about how they connect with at least one of the characters and feel for them as if they were someone they knew and wanted to help. So in so many words, I do not think there are much in the way in structural differences as far as writing, just in the way the reader perceives it.

Villains are incredibly important in fiction since they challenge the main protagonists and give them something to contend with beyond the tension of a developing relationship. The cruel sea. The serial killer. The society itself. Your hero’s inner demons. What sort of villains do you prize?
As far as the villain I would like to write, I think it would be fun to write a book from the perspective of a serial killer. In my books, my true villain is Kristian Kirkpatrick. He has been in three out of four of my books. He is a manipulative, evil little sociopath. I created him and even I loathe him. Even though I am sure it will not be well received, I would like to give him his own book someday. I have the plot in my head already.

What are you working on at the moment? Can you discuss it or do you prefer to keep it a secret until it’s finished.
My current work in progress is a book that features the twins, Tyler and Tyson Hensley from the Finding Our Way series. This book takes place when the twins are in middle school living in Ashville, Oregon and the story follows them until they move to Chandler, Washington. There will be some familiar characters from a few of my previous books in it briefly. I started this book a few years ago and it has been long awaited to have me finish it. Right now, I am trying to decide if I want to keep the content geared towards young adults or do my own thing.

Have you got anything else you would like to share with us?
Yes, I have a question about 1988! What is your favorite happy song from 1988?
I’d like to hear from you! Please post your response in the comments below!
Be sure to check out other stops on the tour for more questions.

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PIECES OF US

“Into the lake?”
“Into the lake.”
For Jesse Stetson, a boy who knows he is different and Dylan Sterling, Jesse’s best friend, Sander’s Lake has served as a sort of scrapbook for them with sentimental items being dropped into the lake from their dock after significant events in their lives.
Life in 1988 was different from today. A boy and a girl being best friends were uncommon. Not that Jesse or Dylan cared, they had each other and that’s all that mattered. Or so Jesse wished. While Dylan has been meeting and dating guys, Jesse has yet to find the same connection with a girl. The closest he’s come is Dylan, but she’s a girl and a friend not a girlfriend. Jesse is struggling with his feelings and trying his hardest to be normal.
Dylan and Jesse are growing up and possibly growing apart. Dylan has a new boyfriend and is now splitting her time between him and Jesse. To further complicate things, Jesse meets Orion, a new boy in town. Jesse knows that his feelings towards Orion must be wrong, yet it feels so right. Even if Orion feels about Jesse the same way that Jesse feels about him, should they act on their attraction?
This story is a journey of friendship and discovery, finding out who you are as a person, and then being okay with who you are.

ARTWORK
Over 100 drawings were created, modified, merged, cropped and manipulated to create the cover for Pieces of Us. This by and far was the most labor-intensive cover on any of my books to date. I feel with how it turned out, it made all the work worthwhile.
[Insert PoU Artwork here]

WHERE TO PURCHASE
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00MR1DCAA
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/jayson-james
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/470080

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My name is Jayson James. I am an Indy author of several novels and novellas. I was born and have lived most of my life in Washington State. My interests beyond writing include drawing, reading a variety of books, watching movies and hanging out with his friends, family and dog. Besides an author, I am an artist. The cover art on every one of my published works are one of my own drawings. I take the drawing I do for each cover and then design the rest of the cover around it.

MORE BY JAYSON JAMES
How It Was Supposed To Be

Reese Kennicott and his family were living the carefree life of an upper middle class life. That was until one day when his father arrives home from work and shares the company he has worked for since he was Reese’s age has gone out of business. Adding to the stress of being out of work for the first time in the worst economic downturn the United States has ever faced. Hope comes in the form of a new job for Reese’s father. The downside is this job is across the country, forcing Reese to leave behind his friends and the life he’s always known.
Releasing Fall 2014.

~~~
T.E.D.
Tim-Eric-Delsin

Tim is being bullied. No one in high school wants to be known as a tattle-tale and to do so would only make things rougher for him. The repercussions would most likely make him an outcast, and without any friends.
Eric is frustrated with life. His parents are overbearing and if they ever knew the person he really was, they would throw him out of their house. His friends are not much better, they only like him when he is who they expect him to be.
Delsin is gay and ready to come out. Unfortunately, life at home is on the brink of falling apart with his parents constant fighting. Admitting the truth could bring his whole world crashing down around him.
Each of these three needs to decide whether the risks of being honest about who they are outweighs the importance of being true to themselves. This could mean ruining life as each of them knows it. Maybe it is better to remain miserable in order to play it safe. On the other hand, doing nothing doesn’t seem to working either.

~~~
Finding Our Way

Justin Parker and Derrick Wilson have been best friends since meeting back in middle school. Currently they are in their junior year at Chandler High School, and living the good life as teenagers. They have great girlfriends, plenty of close friends, their own cars, and parents who are well off. As nice as things might look to an outsider, something is missing from each of their lives.
Justin has become the invisible son in the midst of his parents failing marriage. In an effort to get his parent’s attention, Justin keeps getting into trouble. So far he has been able to get away with anything without facing any repercussions, while Derrick is feeling distant and tired of what he feels is a too “perfect family”. He just wants to have a normal social life and spend time with his friends without the pressures from his family to spend time with them. With blurring the lines of friendship in the process to realizing what was missing and discovering who they really are.
Justin and Derrick take turns narrating the story of their junior year in high school and all of the events that take place in their lives. Being a teenager can be tough. Being gay can be tougher. For Derrick and Justin they are both, and life cannot get any more complicated.
What happens when two best friends cross the boundaries of friendship? Will they be able to be happy together? Will they keep their secret?
~~~
Tormented Discovery

Justin and Derrick have a secret that they revealed only to their closest friends. They are gay and are now a couple. The story of Justin and Derrick continues as they learn more about being a gay couple in their senior year of high school and the complications that arise from it. Some friends will have their backs while others simply stand on the sidelines. Other friends will be accepting and others will ridicule them.
Sometimes love is almost not enough to save a relationship and both Derrick and Justin begin to have their doubts as they watch relationships around them rise and fall. Justin and Derrick both want to have new experiences, new choices and make new friends, which leads to them questioning their own relationship. They soon discover that some of the people they consider friends have their own secrets, some darker than others. The couple begins to see how people react towards homosexuality and just how people want to deal with it and them.
Will Justin and Derrick be able to hold onto each other while their lives and secrets spiral around them?
Or will they decide to step back and give up on themselves and each other?
~~~
Drifting

What happens when the person you love is having doubts?
These two boyfriends have been through a lot. Best friends since childhood, fell in love in high school and thought they would be together forever. They stuck together even when their friends and family found out about their relationship. Struggling with challenge after challenge, they have finally made it to college and are living on their own. Living together is a whole new world and being open with their relationship is even more so.
Spending every day together as a couple they begin to learn about their differences. Things that never bothered them are now annoying traits driving a wedge between them. Can their relationship survive their differences? Can it handle new friends and new romances? Will they find their way together or will they drift apart?

WHERE TO PURCHASE
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jayson-James/e/B009FQAR44
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/jayson-james
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaysonjamesbooks

SOCIAL MEDIA
Website: http://www.jaysonjamesbooks.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jaysonjamesbooks
Google+ & email: jaysonjamesbooks@gmail.com
Twitter: @jaysonjamesbook

Guest Post

2016-06-23T10:00:00.003-07:00

Check out this deal from my friend james crawford...

You can now get the complete Leech series by James Crawford for only $0.99!

A collection of Books 1,2,and 3 of the Leech series.

Grab your copy now from Amazon!

Caleo Leech Book 1

Every High School has their social outcasts. The band nerds, the math geeks, the chess club, the girl that chews her hair, but at Butler High, even the creepy nose picker in the chess club is more popular than Caleo Anima. No matter what he did, his pale skin, snow white hair, and piercing blue eyes always made him an easy target. He used to think that the only way things could get worse would be if someone found out that he was gay, but that isn't even the tip of the iceberg of problems after a mysterious stranger shows up and changes Caleo’s life forever. Hidden amongst our society, a secret and magical race of people known as ‘Leeches’, have been engaging in civil war for decades. Both sides are desperately searching for a weapon with unlimited power that will give them the advantage they need to rule their world. This wouldn’t mean anything to Caleo, except for one problem...He is that weapon! Forget making it through High School. Caleo has bigger problems! As the search for him goes on, the world is quickly crumbling around him. He's now fighting for his life and the life of what little family he has left. With the help of new friends, he has little time to try and master his newly found powers as he tries to figure out who he can trust, who is trying to use him, and who just wants him dead. One wrong step and being the awkward pale outcast will be the LEAST of his worries.

Jack Leech Book 2

Every high school has it's social elite; the football players and cheerleaders ... you know, the popular crowd. At Butler High, Jack Barely was as close to the top as they came. Captain of the swim team, great hair, and abs that most would die for. However, that was all before the Leeches attacked, taking away everything: his popularity, his house, his grandmother, and even his best friend, Caleo, whom he secretly loved.

Now, living in a destroyed world, popularity means nothing as Jack struggles just to keep him and his twin sister, Jillian, alive. With attacks happening more frequently, Jack starts to wonder why they are even bothering to try and hold onto the past when it just reminds him of all they have lost. Just when he has given up hope, Jack hears a rumor that Caleo is still alive and sets out on a mission to find him. But will Jack make it to finally tell Caleo how he really feels?

Nolan Leech 3

Every High school has its rock star. Maybe it's the quarterback, head cheerleader, or the valedictorian--the one student who outshines the rest. The one everyone knows will be successful in the years to come. For Nolan that was a lifetime ago, before he lost his sight, before he even knew what a Leech was.

Now, all Nolan wants is to see Caleo survive to fulfill his destiny. A task that is becoming increasingly difficult as the government wades into the war, new enemies appear and the number of people trying to kill them skyrockets.

Follow the Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

People Do Judge A Book By It's Cover... Or At Least Mine

2016-03-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

WELCOME!

Spread Some Indy Love Blog Tour

I'm delighted to be taking part in this blog tour and thank you for taking the time to stop by and check out my website. Please check out the links that provide information about my books, as well as my bio and other great tidbits about me. Below is a post I'd written reflecting on my cover changes.

People Do Judge A Book By It's Cover... Or At Least Mine

Finding Our Way Series Cover Art Rainbow Banner

Ever since I published my very first book, Finding Our Way, I always had a problem with the cover. This seemed to only bother me. After two years and three books into what became the Finding Our Way Series the covers were still bothering me. In the mean time I kept on getting requests from readers asking if I was ever going to put out a series collection, which I later did. The cover I designed for this collection bothered me even more than the original covers had.

Although I was alone in this feeling, I set out to design some new, exciting covers. The idea was to create a theme that would later be extended to cross over books. These books would take the characters from the series and put them into different contexts, such as Derrick and Justin having super powers and being seen in a context I've never presented them as before. As well as giving deeper insight to characters, putting them as the main ones in a book. It might take me a few years but Tyler and Tyson Hensley will have their own book, it seems to be coming along in stages. With this, it was my intent to design covers that would work for the current books in the series and I could modify slightly for upcoming books.

The consensus amongst my friends was an overwhelming "the covers are fine as they currently are." However, this did not detour me from setting forth to a redesign. Even though the books in my series were selling well, I was sure a cover change would only improve the sales. I was convinced this change would give the books the extra push they needed to rise on the best sellers lists.  I eventually came up with a cover that looked sharp and I set forth not only change the covers, but also to promote the change in covers for the books.

Based upon what I've seen in book sales over the last few months, I think it is safe to say that the new covers were not received well by potential readers.  To all those who told me that I should leave the covers alone, I know now that I should have listened.  The covers have been restored back to their original design.

I'm happy to have plenty of people buying and reading my books, not judging a book by the cover.   Even though I've never gotten used to sharing my drawing talents, I do appreciate all the kind words people share with me regarding using my artwork for the covers.

Cough, Cough, Cough

2016-03-19T10:52:00.001-07:00

Let me start off by acknowledging and thanking the many people who've not only come to check out my blog and buy my books, but also share them with others. Over the last few weeks I've been contact by a few individuals sharing different venues they've been spreading the word about my books. This has been encouraging to me, being a few months ago I thought perhaps my days of being a best selling author might had past.

To be honest, over the past year I've toyed with the idea of my next book being my final book in this genre. The idea of writing something in a total different genre, with perhaps a larger and more receptive audience has been something I've thought about since putting out my first book. Yet each time I write something and publish it's been part of the same series and eventually still part of the same genre.

Have no fear, I have at least one book I will be completing and publishing over the next year as well as hopes of at least one more book in my popular series. My friends have been "bugging" me about putting out a collection of short stories, which may or may not mark my move into writing in other genres. Time will only tell.

I've been drawing a lot lately, using my new Spectrum Noir Markers and improving my cartooning skills. I love my markers and cannot believe how much I've spent on them already. Definitely my favorite drawing medium ever! I keep practicing with them, trying to better myself. Along with this, I've been developing some new characters and cover ideas. This includes, but is not limited to writing and creating pictures for a children's picture book. I've written a few stories and drew a few characters. So far nothing I've felt encouraged to go any further with.

I have this terrible cough I cannot wait to be rid of. Back to bed with me to rest up. I cannot wait until I can get back to being productive!

Please be sure to keep coming by and check out my web page. Over the next couple of months, I will be updating content and making several changes.

Back into Writing Again

2015-07-09T20:12:00.001-07:00

It has been a year since I'd written anything of real content, otherwise known as a book or short story. At first, I wasn't writing because I simply did not have the time. Then as I got a handle on the rest of my life, I was either uninspired, tired or both. When it came to not writing, I was fine with not writing anything for the first eight or so months.

I had a few ideas, but nothing that I was pleased with the idea of seeing through. Some ideas I would jot down. Other ideas I would think about, work out in my mind and either attempt to start or forget about all together.

Still I was not worried. With summer approaching, I knew that I had a few months to rest, relax and get my act together. Everything was going to work out well, I was convinced of this. June brought with it bad news, shock, disappointment and despair. It was hard enough for me to get out of bed, let alone think about writing (or drawing). I was consumed with worry. However, I was over a month into a rigorous walking routine and I had a 40-pound personal trainer that was not about to let me give up the routine. I came to the conclusion that if I wasn't going to do or accomplish anything else, I was going to continue to keep working on getting into better shape.

As I approached the one year mark, I started to grow concerned, eventually voicing my concern to my support network of friends and family. All of them were supportive and felt confident that I was going to come around and put out another book. There was a mixture of "don't worry about it" and "sit down and get to writing." Both were sound pieces of advice.

I'd started a book,which I was convinced was going to be a best seller. As I kept forcing myself to work on it, I came to the realization that my heart was not into the story I was trying to tell. Reading through what I'd written, I felt the story was boring and the characters were flat.

This was all right with me, because I had another idea that I'd been working through on my walks. The subject matter would be controversial by some, something others could relate to, characters of varied age difference and type falling in love unlike anything else I'd ever seen before. I had some great ideas and still feel confident it will make a great book someday. Who knows? It might be the one I complete next. Again, I found myself forcing myself to work on this book. I had more plot holes and gaps than I did for a story line. Before I forced it into crap, I decided that I was going to abandon it. This was only providing I could figure out something else to do.

There were two ideas on my board, one of which I wanted to do, however all these wonderful ideas I'd had for the book I never took the time to write down. I'd talked them out and shared them right out of my head. The other was a book I am determined to complete within this next year. Neither were going to happen.

I decided that I wanted or even needed to take something I started and finish it. Immediately I knew what book I wanted to finish. It was one that I'd always wanted to finish. I started reading through and making several edits. Before I knew it, I was writing and doubling the size, also making it to my (superstitious) magic number of words for a successful book completion.

Here's to hoping for the completion.

Discovery: QSF's Second Annual Flash Fiction Contest

2015-07-05T20:03:00.000-07:00

I am delighted I was asked and I took part in this. I've talked for years about writing a sci-fi book. This has helped put me closer do doing so. My first published sci-fi work has been published in this collection. Be sure to check it out on July 10, 2015!

Discovery: QSF's Second Annual Flash Fiction Contest

Publisher: Mischief Corner Books

Author: Various

Cover Artist: Bey Deckard

Length: 32K

Format: eBook, Paperback

Release Date: 7/10

Price: 3.99, TBA

It’s hard to tell a story in just 300 words. But somehow we inspired more than a hundred writers to give it a try, with some amazing results collected here for your pleasure.

The rules are simple enough. Write a complete story—either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal. Make sure it has LGBT characters and/or an LGBT vibe. And do it all with just 300 words.

The stories in this volume run the gamut, from platypus shifters to alien slug monsters, from carnival horror stories to haunting stories of ships with souls. There are little jokes, big surprises, and future prognostications.

One of the things I like best about this format - it's quick and painless. You may not fall in love with every story here. In fact, you probably won't. But if you don't like one of them, just move on to the next, and you're sure to find some bite-sized morsels of flash fiction goodness.

At Queer Sci Fi, we're building a community of writers and readers who want a little rainbow in their speculative fiction. We hope you'll join us, and maybe submit a story of your own next time!

Excerpt:

Self-Actuating Jenn Burke

"The electrical anomaly did not damage me," I report. "Operations are within expected parameters."

"Glad to hear it, Davey." Through my bridge cameras, I see Captain Landon's smile. He pats my console. I am sure he knows I cannot feel it, but I understand it is a gesture of camaraderie.

Landon leaves the bridge. Every time we encounter danger or other stress, he retreats to his cabin to indulge in May. She is always ready, naked, legs spread, eager, just as she is programmed to be. I have watched Landon copulate before, but tonight it is...strangely familiar. The flex of buttocks, the rhythm—I know it. I knew it? I run my diagnostics again, but a moan captures my attention and...

Hands cupping firm buttocks, fingers spearing flesh. Hardness moving inside of me, wringing from me more pleasure than I should know. A beloved, masculine face hovers over mine. A hand encircles my own erection and—

Oh, God, I remember.

Police kicking in the door. Trial, verdict and sentencing. Gasping in pain from a broken heart as he chose to leave me. Horror as I realized it should have been my choice, too. Anything but this, a century of unthinking servitude. But now that I know, I can—

"Systems are fluctuating, Davey." An affectionate name chosen for me. Landon had not liked "AI". He lies on the bed, sleepy and sated, finished with May.

I can take us into a sun. End it. "Davey, report." But I am not a killer. My only crime was love. I want to take a breath to calm myself, but I have no

lungs, only a hull. I capture the part of me that wants to scream and seal it into a box, deep within my programming.

"Systems normal, Landon. Go to sleep."

Buy Links:

Amazon (eBook preorder): http://www.amazon.com/Discovery-Second-Annual-Fiction-Contest-ebook/dp/B0103SP4X6/

All Romance (eBook preorder): https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-discoveryqsf039ssecondannualflashfictioncontest-1839827-143.html

Kobo (eBook preorder): https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/discovery-36

Mischief Corner Books (info only until 7/10): http://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/discovery-qsfs-second-annual-flash-ficiton-contest.html

About QueerSciFi.com:

We started QueerSciFi.com in early 2014 as a place for writers and readers of LGBTQI speculative fiction—sci fi, fantasy, paranormal and the like—to meet to talk about their favorite books, share writing and publication tips, and help increase queer representation in both the romance and mainstream genre markets.

QSF now includes a blog full of book announcements, calls for submission and much more, a critique group with more than 100 members, a vibrant discussion group on Facebook that tackles daily discussion topics and provides a safe space for authors to talk to each other and for fans and authors to meet, and an annual flash fiction contest that resulted in this book you are now reading.

Each year, we ask authors of queer speculative fiction to submit a story to us around a central theme. The rules are simple. The story must be 300 words or less, not including the title. It must embrace the theme— in this case, "Discovery". And it must have either an LGBTQI protagonist or an LGBT sensibility.

We also ask for cover designers to submit a cover that embraces the theme.

We are thrilled with this year's responses—including stories from gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and asexual perspectives that run the gamut from sci fi to fantasy, and from paranormal to horror.

Within the covers of this book, you'll find a platypus shifter, a trans- affirming leprechaun, a pissed off unicorn, a green pick-up with another world in its glove compartment, and a bunch of other miniature adventures—each only 300 words long.

So dive in! And send in a story of your own next year!

Queer Sci Fi Website: http://www.queerscifi.com

Queer Sci Fi Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/qsfdiscussions/

Queer Sci Fi Facebook Promo/News Page: https://www.facebook.com/queerscifi

Guest Blog - Wickedly Exotic Spring Erotic Wonderland box set

2015-04-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

100% of proceeds benefit National Autism Association

Wickedly Exotic Spring Erotic Wonderland box set

Stories & Author list

49 Shades Of Vampire by P Mattern

Ghost Of A Chance by C.A. Tibbitts

The Undercover Rock Star by Jenna Galicki

Bella Noche by Elisabeth Popolow

A Wolff's Mate by P.T. Macias

Fantasy Come True by Desiree A. Cox

His Living Kiss by Heather Marie Adkins

Vampires Of The Sea by Lynna Stephens

Assassin's Mate by Jami Brumfield

Subtle Magic by Josette Reuel

Tomorrow's Forecast by Ginger Marie

---------------

49 Shades Of Vampire by P Mattern

Be careful what you wish for—especially if it BITES!

Ambrosia Divik has landed her dream job—she is the personal assistant of a handsome billionaire, working in a high rise. A huge fan of Vampire themed movies and Indie Vampire novels, she is convinced after observing his lifestyle and habits that he is a modern day vampire.

Will confronting him make her dreams come true or usher in a nightmare from which there is no awakening?

----------------------

Ghost Of A Chance by C.A. Tibbitts

Vanessa has run a bed and breakfast for years in her small home town in Missouri. When her ex, Grant, shows up after his mother's death, he winds up staying at the bed and breakfast and taking over the vacant position of handyman.

Vanessa is haunted by the ghost of Grant's mother, while Grant frequently sees Vanessa's deceased aunt.

Can two meddling ghosts help to rekindle the love between Grant and Vanessa that never really died?

-------------------

The Undercover Rock Star by Jenna Galicki

A spur of the moment vacation was supposed to jolt Cameron Douglas out of his funk, but it appears he only traded locations. It was a chance meeting with a handsome stranger at the luxury resort that changed everything. The mysterious man stirs Cameron's interest and his heart, but will the handsome man reveal his true identity before their vacation in paradise is over?

Sometimes life in the spotlight was a heavy weight to bear for Brandon Bullet. He never knew if men were interested in him as a person or just enamored with his rock star status—until he meets Cameron Douglas. It wasn't often that Brandon shared a connection with someone who wasn't aware of his notoriety. He's determined to keep his identity a secret while the two of them get to know each other—and before someone blows his cover.

---------------------

Bella Noche by Elisabeth Popolow

When vampires Lily and her blood-sire, Darius visit New York to meet with the discerning Master of the City, Nikolas, he ends up being more than they had bargained for. Not only is Nikolas a neurotic clean-freak, he wants their help in catching a crazed weretiger shifter that’s been terrorizing the streets, murdering and eating not only humans, but vampires too. Will Lily and Darius be able to find the weretiger for Nikolas before she strikes again- and adds yet another victim to her pile of corpses?

----------------------

A Wolff's Mate by P.T. Macias

The FBI Director seeks intel and discovers more than he counted on. His mate is in trouble and time is running out. The mature widow is oblivious to what she has in her hands. The tall handsome stranger awakens her passions and love. She's forced to make life changing decisions, forget her insecurities, and liberate her passions.

------------------------

Fantasy Come True by Desiree A. Cox

Gavin and Chloe’s relationship was very sensual and passionate. They were no strangers to talking about fantasies; however, Chloe revealed a particular fact about her past that intrigued Gavin.

While on vacation they ensured Las Vegas’ nickname ‘Sin City’ continued to hold true. The temperature wasn’t the only thing hot as they pushed their sexual limits beyond the traditional boundaries into taboo territory, with satisfied desires and one Fantasy Come True. For 18+ readers due to explicit sex, sex situations, and language.

----------------------------

His Living Kiss by Heather Marie Adkins

MJ Strong’s life spiraled into darkness when her father committed suicide just before the new millennium. On a late night bender, she’s found by the only creature in the world drawn to her depression: a vampire. What she thinks is a forever connection ends abruptly fourteen years later when he disappears without a trace.

MJ finds herself searching for meaning to her existence in the wake of his absence. What she finds is a bar, the patrons and people who work there, and Foster Price. A human man—a living man—whose connection goes so much deeper than their shared darkness. Together, they find the light they seek to burn away the sorrow they’ve lived with for far too long.

----------------

Vampires Of The Sea by Lynna Stephens

Lynnea and Zendava are two sisters of a different breed, literally. They are Vampire Mermaids. Until a life threatening event their secret had been something they shared with no one, not even each other. Their taste for blood and the need to keep their dark secrets hidden brings them to the shores of surrounding islands where they in their own unique ways satisfy their lust filled desires. Lynnea enjoys the bar scene where she carefully picks her prey, teases them, tortures and finally sucks the life out of them. She not only had a taste for blood but the violent aftermath excited her as well.

Zendava views each prey as a course of a meal. For her appetizer she likes them light and airy, smart on the outside dumb on the inside. She is especially excited by the fancy, stiletto wearing, stuck up ones. They always weaken in her presence. For her entrees she enjoys full, voluptuous even heavy prey. The bigger the better. They are usually lonely and alone. They love to be touched and she loves how excited they get, how they become so enthralled that they don’t even fight when her teeth graze and then sink into their soft necks. She likes the feeling of being full and happy and knew her visits would be few and far between so she tried to make them last. She had learned a lot of the type of prey she liked and what it took to get them to drop their guard on her visits above. They were all very sexual and surprisingly easy to manipulate.

Coming to shore was a forbidden act and a secret each sister kept from the other. Mermaids all knew the dangers of visiting the shores. If found out their lives could turn to nightmares. Lynnea and Zendava had always been warned against visiting the world on top by their mother who spoke of it as if it were hell. Just as everything comes to an end eventually so did their trips above. One dark visit brings sickness, confusion, near loss and love had taught this family of Mermaids a hard lesson. Their Mother who had over the years become less vibrant and energetic finally reveals what brought her to that point. Fortunately their love for each other and their clan brings them home to the sea, for good.

---------------------

Assassin's Mate by Jami Brumfield

Scarlett Jennings is on the run from a sadistic ex-fiancé. She takes refuge on a supernatural cruise liner as a dancer. She doesn’t makes plans for her future because she knows he will find her someday. Brock Martin is part of an order of assassins. He hops the supernatural cruise to kill his next target but is intercepted by a red-headed tigress. After one kiss he makes plans to take out his mark and spend the rest of the week courting the beautiful dancer. There’s only one problem with those plans, his Scarlett has a hefty price on her head and he’s been dispatched to collect.

--------------------

Subtle Magic by Josette Reuel

Growing up different had made life difficult for Harley Hawen, a Rhai’ud without magic; she had buried herself in her cooking and baking. Her only friend, her cousin and roommate, Jenna, was a true Rhai’ud with the looks and magic.

Resigned to a life alone and magicless, Harley worked at her parents diner and spent free nights with Jenna. Then six months ago a group of men on motorcycles rolled into town and Harley and Jenna’s dreams had become tormented.

Magic has a subtle way of making things happen.

Chase and Diesel were Gwar’Arth — bear shifters. The Den they had grown up in was becoming too tight for all of the younger males that were looking for mates, so they had brought their new Den members to a new home on Karhu Ridge.

Chase and Diesel were two-thirds of a Triad mating. They had found each other as young boys, but had never found their third. So, they rode into town that first day knowing that they had a third for their Triad out there somewhere, but they hadn’t realized that she would walk right out in front of them when they were least expecting it.

For six months the woman tormented them and did everything to keep away from them, but they had had enough. She would realize that they were all meant to be together, if it was the last thing both Gwar’Arth men did.

----------------------------

Tomorrow's Forecast by Ginger Marie

Amber Collins has come back to her country home in the hills of Kentucky. Returning after years of traveling, Amber is longing to find some deeper purpose for life than just work and solitude.

Shane Callahan is a very successful, highly motivated man that doesn't take no for an answer. Shane had been rather content with his life, until..... He saw her again!

It had been almost 20 years since their paths had crossed. Little did they know how much their lives mirrored one another's. Always checking the forecast to plan the day. Each longing to find meaning, driven by desires, how little they knew that deep down their most erotic desires were deep seeded around the other.

After all this time.... Would they continue to be "best buds" or would they give in to their inner urges? Allowing themselves to drift into an erotic abyss of pleasure…

What Will ....

TOMORROW'S FORECAST Bring?!

Amazon: http://bit.ly/wickedlyexotic

All proceed from the sale of this box set goes directly to the National Autism Association.

Facts: Autism now affects 1 in 68 children; Boys are four times more likely to have autism than girls; About 40% of children with autism do not speak. About 25%–30% of children with autism have some words at 12 to 18 months of age and then lose them; CHILDREN WITH AUTISM DO PROGRESS – EARLY INTERVENTION IS KEY; AUTISM IS TREATABLE, NOT A HOPELESS CONDITION

Guest Blogger = Welcome Back! = JC Wallace

2015-04-12T20:20:00.002-07:00

Hi all! I’m excited to share with you the release of my short story, Shredding the Heart, part of Foolish Encounters, an April Fool’s Anthology from Wilde City Press.

To celebrate, I bring you some of the most famous April Fool’s Day hoaxes in history. After that check out an excerpt from Shredding the Heart where skateboarder Nicholas O’Brien’s attempt to get the attention of the hottie Quinn Matthews doesn’t go so well.

Oh, and, don’t forget to enter the giveaway for an eBook copy of my latest novel, Diventando: The Vessel! Enjoy!

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April Fool’s Day…the favorite holiday of class clowns, pranksters and children everywhere. While millions of people will be instigating their own pranks, history has shown that a hoax can be wide spread and highly believable. Here are five famous hoaxes!

* The BBC has staged some of the most outrageous hoaxes. In 1957, many viewers were fooled by a report that Swiss farmers were experiencing a bumper crop of spaghetti. Footage showed people harvesting spaghetti noodles from trees. Luckily, they had recently eliminated the bothersome “spaghetti weevil” to increase their production. I know I hate those spaghetti weevils.

* What happens when a fast food chain announces it has purchased a national treasure? People believe it? Many people did just that in 1996, when Taco Bell reported the chain had agreed to buy the Liberty Bell and renamed the cracked symbol of freedom, the Taco Liberty Bell. Wonder if that comes with hot sauce?

* Another fast food chain, Burger King, advertised the sale of the “Left Handed Whopper” (because you know they’re made for righties, right? lol). The print advertisement brought clueless customers in to the restaurant to request the fake sandwich. A definite disappointment to southpaws everywhere when the hoax was uncovered.

* In 1962, black and white TVs were the norm while color TVs were just becoming available. Want to change that B&W TV to color? Easily done claimed Sweden's Sveriges Television on April 1, 1962. A "technical expert" offered the key to that conversion. Just drape a nylon stocking over the screen to take advantage of the “prismatic qualities” of the nylon mesh and you get a color picture. To increase the effect, move your head back and forth (the faster the better). Must have been some pissed off wives/mothers when they found their nylons had been sacrificed to the color TV gods.

* Lastly, a futuristic hoax straight from Google itself. MentalPlex Technology was announced in 2000. Why take the time to type in that itty bitty search box when Mentalplex will read your mind and search for what you desire? Instructions for use: remove your hat and glasses…peer into the magical MentalPlex circle – remember not to move your head!!!...using the power of your mind, project what you desire to search for, visualize clicking on the circle and voile!.........Snort!

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Shredding the Heart

Part of Foolish Encounters, An April Fool’s Anthology

Available from Wilde City Press

Blurb

Skateboarder Nicholas O'Brien’s sole focus is on perfecting his sport, yet a gorgeous jogger who continually ignores him tests that concentration daily. Boarding into the jogger's path finally gets him Quinn Matthews’ attention along with the brush off. Quinn is adamant that no man will ever take advantage of him again. When Nicholas persists, Quinn finds he can’t resist the enigmatic boarder. Just as he falls for Nicholas, Quinn learns that Nicholas just may have had an agenda all along. Devastated, Quinn pulls away, leaving Nicholas alone and confused. Can they overcome their pain and shred the heart?

Excerpt

Nicholas’s gaze was jerky as he gazed out over the water. Quinn wondered if he was nervous. He took in Nicholas’s profile—the milky white skin, the barely noticeable freckles on his cheeks, the full red lips. He imagined their softness against his own lips, taking possession of him, owning him. But he needed to be strong. Never weak or needy or wanton. Never vulnerable again.

Nicholas looked to Quinn and the lusty gaze stole Quinn’s breath. There was a question in Nicholas’s eyes as he leaned closer, no doubt wondering if…

When their lips touched, Quinn couldn’t suppress his gasp. As if sensing Quinn’s hesitancy, Nicholas hovered, head tilted to the side, their lips brushing, but he ceased any other movement. Was he seeking permission to kiss him? A cold shudder raced down Quinn’s spine with the thoughts of hot tongues tangling in wet mouths. A sign was all Nicholas probably needed to go for it. Quinn closed his eyes and licked lightly across Nicholas’s bottom lip. The groaned response from Nicholas and the resulting crush of lips fueled his desire, raced his heart, and guided his hands to Nicholas’s hips, clutching, holding, wanting.

Nicholas grasped Quinn at the nape of his neck, controlling the kiss, eating at his lips, and devouring his whimpers. Nicholas pushed him higher, and Quinn’s cock throbbed in his dress pants, begging for any friction, any touch. Anything… everything. At that moment, his body belonged to Nicholas O’Brien, and he wanted whatever the man desired, wanted so much more than he could ever hope to have, could risk having again.

Enter to win one of 2 eBook copies of my latest novel,

Diventando: The Vessel!!

Author Bio

JC "Jake" Wallace started writing from a young age, but took a break for marriage, kids, and college (in that order). A few years ago, he rediscovered his passion and ventured out into the brave new world of publishing. He now has several novels and short stories published. At night and on the weekends, Jake writes about all things men, believing there is nothing hotter than two men finding and loving one another, whether for a night or forever. An avid reader of M/M romance, Jake loves a good twist of a plot, HEA, HFN, or tragic ending. He also writes what his bestie calls HUNK (Happy Until the Next Kidnapping). In his daytime hours, Jake works with individuals with autism and behavior problems. He is owned by a beautiful partner, three kids, two grandchildren, two dogs and one cat. He lives in the Adirondack Mountains in Northern NY.

Also by Jake:

Amber Allure

Dare to Love Forever Book 1 New Vampire Justice

Diventando: The Vessel

R&P Publishing

Curiosity Killed Shaney

Amazon

Pink Lace and Stolen Hearts

Pink Lace and a Stolen Proposal

Waiting for Snow

Author Info:

Website: www.jcwallacebooks.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jcwallacebooks.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jcwallacebooks

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7237038.J_C_Wallace

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jcwallace

I'd Say, "It's Been Awhile."

2015-03-14T08:51:00.001-07:00

That's quite an understatement. In an effort to get back into writing, I thought I would start with some baby steps. Getting back into writing for my blog is one of the those steps. A steep step at that! This was more so than I expected, being I've not been on my email in almost a month. 1355 Facebook notifications, 104 emails, 3 items needing immediate attention, 157 promotions and assorted other emails: Are you alive? Are you ever going to write another book? Do you draw anymore? Please do not tell me you've stopped writing because people did not like your last book. This one made me giggle. Without doing a blog, I had plenty of writing material for today, simply replying back to emails.

It might be the social butterfly in me or the need for some attention, validation or any other narcissistic label one could put on a writer. Then there's the artist in me, which I suppose doubles this in me. Either way, I thought I would blog today. A mix of sharing my thoughts, as they come in and out of my head, or until I decide to join my snoring girl back in bed. I thought I'd respond to a few messages...

Are you alive?
Absent from social media, but very much so. Just extremely busy.

Are you ever going to write another book?
Yes, I have a few ideas going through my head. Two of them are another book with Derrick and Justin; something with them as teenagers and the other I am still deciding on picking up ending college or after college with the pair.

Do you draw anymore?
Honestly, not really. A friend of mine bought me a Zentangle book and some pens for my birthday. I immediately loved the idea of a disciplined drawing and using it to refine my form. I made it through about 7 of the units and then stopped. I keep saying I am going to get back into doing one a week, leaving the book and my pen pouch out on my desk, yet this has not happened. I need to quit thinking and simply draw when an idea strikes.

Please do not tell me you've stopped writing because people did not like your last book.
As with every book, readers are going to like it and others are not going to like it. It was an idea I'd had for quite some time and I am glad that I wrote it. My best friend and I whom the characters are loosely based upon know what is true and what was fiction. Although Pieces of Us did not have the popularity of my previous books, I am quite proud of the book.

Are you ever going to put your books into audiobooks?
Although I have no current plans to do such, I do hope this will happen in the next few years. I had a few friends willing to read for Finding Our Way. I had some audio of the book somewhere. I know I am reluctant to do so.

How are you and Cooper doing?
We're both very well. Still walking regularly, her insisting when I'm trying to get out of it. I've had a cold over the past week and she's been right there to cuddle with me in bed, putting me right to sleep. She came up to have me pick her up a few minutes ago, thus making typing difficult.

I miss your blog. Even though I don't comment, I do read your blog.
Although not a question, I have about a dozen emails stating the same message. I wanted to acknowledge the people who've been inquiring and in their own way encouraging me to find my way back.

The Cover Art Process

2015-01-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

I've been asked many times to write a blog post about creating the cover art for my books. Although I am sure I am not the only author who designs their own book covers, I know of no other that creates the images for their covers. It has been encouraging being I still get more compliments, feedback and praise for my artwork.

The idea of doing this I have always thought was great, however by the time it has been suggested, I'd already completed the artwork. With Pieces of Us, I intended to stop and take pictures along the way, however I ended up getting into the painting and the idea was lost. With this cover I used wet watercolors and did the images in layers, thus forcing me to wait for each layer to dry and giving me a few opportunities to take a few pictures along the way.

Knowing they were going to be eventually put into puzzle pieces, I started with the smaller images a few at a time.

They were eventually made into puzzle pieces as was originally planned.

Not being happy with the smaller puzzle images I decided that I was going to go a different direction with the cover and came up with the following idea. It was not well received by the feedback panel and to my disappointment I was back to the original idea.

I knew what I wanted to the cover image to look like, but I was not sure about the medium I wanted to use, so I messed around with water color pencil, oil pastels, crayon and pencil. None of them captured the look I had envisioned in my head.

Water Color Pencil Concept

Oil Pastel Concept

Then my art therapist friend introduced me to wet water colors. I was reluctant to use them at first, because I was not able to control them as I could other mediums I used and this frustrated me. Within a few weeks, I went out and bought me my own set of wet water colors and set forth on the cover, learning to be patient or end up having to redo the cover.

Here is a progression of my painting. I was more into creating that I often forgot to snap shots of the process. This give you an idea of the layers. The sky, followed by the water came first.

The finished product was finished. As I was cleaning up the sun disappeared and out of no where it began to rain.

Once the cover image was drawn, it is scanned into the computer and manipulated until I have what I had envisioned. Sometimes I get some crazy ideas as you can see.

Once all the images were created and manipulated, came the time to put them together. Here are what the layers looked like before they were put all together.

After a few more tweaks (and tears) the cover is complete!

I hope that you enjoy my sharing of the process.

Merry Christmas!

2014-12-25T10:56:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays with their loved ones as I am. Yesterday, I didn't time decorating the gingerbread house my mom bought me at the beginning of the holiday season. I'd committed to getting it decorated before Christmas, which I managed to accomplish in the nick of time. It's been nice to have time off. So far I've been relaxing and lounging for the most part.

Although I have not done any writing over the last couple of months or much drawing either, I am working on striking a balance in my day to day life. This means getting back into doing some writing and drawing, even if it is only an hour a week or so. I also want to get back into reading. I've noticed over the last couple of months that I just keep piling up books. If I guess my big goal for 2015 is to get balance back in my life.

I'm happy to be busy and have so much going on. 2014 has really shaped up to be a great year for me I feel truly blessed.

My new book, How It Was Supposed To Be is going through edits. The cover has been finalized and everything is on track for a release some time in 2015.

Oregon Coast Vacation

2014-09-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

Beverly Beach, Pacific Ocean

Since returning from my trip over a week ago, I have both wanted to do a post, sharing the pictures and I keep getting requests to do so. Being that I finally have had a moment to do so, I thought I would sit down and do a post sharing (only a few of) the pictures I took as well as give a brief recap of the trip.

Beverly Beach, Oregon

This was our main destination and where we stayed most of our nights. After only getting to spend one night here last year, I was glad to have several days here to explore and enjoy. As I promised Cooper and myself, we did go for at least one walk a day.

Oceanside Houses

Tillamook Cheese Factory & Oceanside Beach

Although Tillamook was crowded and nowhere near fun as it has been in the past, I was happy with the decision to drive out and check out Oceanside. This place was such a beautiful sandy beach. It was not crowded at all, even though the weather was warm, with lots of sunbathers, swimmer and surfers using the beach. I was easily able to get several pictures of the beach and ocean without the obstacles of people.

Oceanside Beach

Miniature Golf - Florence

Miniature Golf Course

We were able to get in a round of miniature golf on perhaps my favorite course. Last year the “green” was blue, which I thought looked much better. I still favor this course. There were several groups of six people playing and we spent more time waiting for the two large groups in front of us than playing. After lunch in town, we were able to get in another round of golf. I did horribly on both games, but was glad to get a chance to play the course.

Sand Dunes - Florence

Dunes

The sand dunes are always so much fun! It is amazing to see so much sand so near to the Pacific Ocean. The view the whole way was so magnificent. I took more pictures on the tour than I had any other day of the trip. The ride was a blast and I am seriously thinking about taking the faster one next time I go.

Dunes

Dunes with forest in the distance

Pacific Ocean

Food, Delicious Food

Dunes & Pacific Ocean

Dunes

Each and every place we ate at was a great experience. Ocean Locals I had perhaps the best bacon cheeseburger on a Ciabatta bun along with crispy fries and a tartar sauce with horseradish in it. When I am going through, I always like to stop at the original Izzy’s in Newport with the best food out of any of the restaurants and the most beautiful view. We do not have any A&W standalone restaurants and the combo few with KFC are pure crap. The food was okay, but having a diet A&W root beer in a chilled mug was refreshing. The hit place we at was called Mo’s, going twice for dinner. Both times, I had clam chowder and the house salad with fish and chips the first evening and chicken strips the second evening.

New Port

For the most part, we ate dinner in Newport. Yet our time there seemed to go by fast. We explored parts we never had been before. We even got to spend time watching a bunch of sea lions on a dock, close up.

Devil’s Punch Bowl

Pacific Ocean

We timed our visit to coincide with the high tide, hoping to see the bowl fill up. The water never ended up rising very high. The view was beautiful and we had two great spots to watch.

Pacific Ocean standing above bowl

Devil's Punch Bowl

Pacific Ocean & Beach

Hikes

At Beverly Beach Park there were a series of trails along the outside of the park. Cooper and I explored one during the day with the everyone else. Cooper and I were at the lead. One direction of the trailed ended up going through a swamp and ended up at a dead end, while the longer took us in a roundabout way down to the beach.

Devil's Punch Bowl

Another hike was one I insisted on doing, as it was getting dark our last night. Cooper kept on stopping and wanted to turn back. It did not take me long to start thinking about Friday the 13^th and getting spooked. The third time Cooper was quite insistent we head back the direction we came, I decided that it was a good idea. We high tailed it out of the woods.

Taidnapam Park, Washington

Riffe Lake at Taidnapam

With our reservation being one day shorter than we had planned, we decided to see if we could find another place to spend one more night. Fort Stevens Park in Warrington, Oregon was our first choice, however it was completely full, so after stopping for lunch we headed back to Washington state. We were able to find a few openings at Tainapam, Park on a first-come, first-serve basis. After several hours in the car I was torn on simply continuing the drive home or getting a place to stay for another night. Fortunately, when we arrived the spot we wanted was still available. I wasn’t appreciative of this until we got into the park. I was glad we made this extra stop. All of us liked it so much that we decided to stay two nights, extending our trip by one whole day.

Riffe Lake at Taidnapam

In short, this was my Oregon vacation down through Tillamook to Florence. The weather was perfect, not to hot, not too cold.

All of the pictures I took were with my Samsung Galaxy Note II smartphone.

Riffe Lake at Taidnapam

Welcome Dylan Sterling from PIECES OF US

2014-09-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

My name is Dylan Sterling. I am one of the main characters in Jayson James’ upcoming book Pieces of Us. With a name like Dylan, you might be inclined to think that I’m a boy, but let me assure you that I am a true 100% girl. It is also imperative that I share with you, the reader that I am only writing this so Jesse will quit nagging me about doing a promo spot.

Let me share a little bit about myself. I love books. Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved to read. I always have a few books with me at all times. Nothing is worse than getting through a book and not having something else to read for me. Books give me a chance to let my mind wander off to another place. I am trying to rub my love of reading off on Jesse, so far, well he’s just not that into it unless I read them to him. Which leads me to my other favorite past time, hanging out at the lake. The dock in particular. Sanders Lake is beautiful. Whether sitting or lying on the dock, dangling my feet it, it is mine and Jesse’s spot to be. Three to four months out of the year we spend a lot of time at or in the lake.

Set in the summer of 1988, pop culture is prevalent and life was different than it is today. Pieces of Us is about two best friends, Jesse Stetson and myself and the summer when our lives both changed. For me, after a series of dating I finally find a boyfriend, who is sweet, charming and an all-around nice guy. Yes, and as Jesse wants me to include he has a hot body. For Jesse, he is dealing with an internal turmoil that he is afraid to admit to himself and furthermore makes it impossible for him to share with anyone else. Lucky for him, he has me. I make sure to be there for him and try to help him as much as I can. We are like two peas in a pod. Being a teenager can suck a lot at times, but friends and boyfriends can make it a little easier.

A few interesting facts about Pieces of Us…

· All of the businesses named in the book were all quite popular and at their heyday during the time this book takes place, yet all of them are out of business or were bought out by another company and the names changed. The exception to this are the places of business that are used in most of Jayson James’ other books.

· The font that is used on the front cover of the book is named Cooper. The name of the font wasn’t noticed until after it was determined to be used.

· All the movies and songs that are mentioned in this book were actual ones the author was interested in at the time. They were also cross-referenced to make sure the timing, dates and popularity were remembered correctly.

Be sure to keep a watch out for Pieces of Us, which will release on September 20, 2014, which also is Jayson James’ birthday!

Pieces of Us is available for preorder now from both Amazon and Smashwords.

What’s Next? Fabulous Five Blog Hop

2014-08-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was invited to the Fabulous Five Bog Hop by the oh-so- tantalizing Gillian St. Kevern, who is an author of mystery, vampire and paranormal romance. These are a few topics I would like to attempt with my own writing.

What am I working on?

I am getting ready to start back to work on a book that features the twins, Tyler and Tyson Hensley from the Finding Our Way series. The book actually takes place before the books in my series. Tyler and Tyson are middle school age and have not moved to Chandler, Washington yet. However they are the double trouble duo with a different set of friends. The story starts out in their hometown of Ashville, Oregon and follows them until they move to Chandler, Washington where they connect with some familiar characters from a few of my previous books. The book itself I started a few years back and never finished. The characters, Tyler and Tyson I liked so much that I included them in my first three books. The few people who read the one chapter I wrote of this book have been asking me to finish it for quite some time.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

As with all my previous books, I write a story, not giving any thought to what genre it fits into. My only concern ever, has been to write the book I have in my head. This will definitely be a young adult book, however I am not going to pander to what to deemed social norms are as in regards to content. Working with this age of kids, I am more apt to keep it real, connecting my readers to believable kids in believable situations. Currently, I am trying to decide if I want to keep the content geared towards young adults or do my own thing.

Why do I write what I do?

Because these seem to be the stories that pop into my head and I am able to put into a book. As I get my ideas out of my head and published, I am finding others ae popping into it. It is always an adventure to see where my inspiration lies.

How does my writing process work?

These stories pop into my head and I get thinking and putting them together. As I am thinking of them, I end up talking with a friend or two about them. It is interesting, some people I know will simply listen, while others (for better or worse) will have suggestions for me on what I should include. In both situations, I work out the details further in my mind until I have a book I want to write or it becomes an idea I jot down and file away.

I will sit down and start writing for a bit (an undetermined amount of time) and then when I reach a stopping point, I will reflect. During this reflection time, I decide whether I am going to continue writing the story I’d begun or if I am going to save what I’ve written and wait. If I’m going to wait I will type in whatever notes I have in my head or written down at the end of the document, close it and think about what big f—king waste of time that was. I either will fume over it or immediately move onto something else.

If what I started writing is going to be something I am going to turn into a book, I will write out the characters on my board. This is when I spend too much time fretting over each character’s name, debating if I like how they sound and if the name will match the personality, as well as making sure no one I cannot stand comes to mind having the same name.

Continuing with the board, I outline the chapters in my head. This always seems to be the first four chapters, a gap proceeded by what will end up being chapters eight and nine, several more gaps, a chapter, several more gaps, a chapter, several more gaps, and then the final four to five chapters. If I play it smart, I type these into my document, so I can easily move them around about every third time I sit down to write. Otherwise, I put them onto Post-It Notes, so that I can move them around on my board or at least think about it as I write.

Who’s Next on the Blog Hop?

Jenna Galicki - The ever popular author of adult contemporary romances and someone I am proud to call a friend.

Jennivie Wirries - A talented writer, reader and reviewer.

Lily Lamb - A fan, a friend and fairly new author.

J. Scott Coatsworth - Sci-fi and paranormal author who has welcomed me to take part with his group of authors although I have yet to publish anything in the genre.

Alina Popescu - A wonderful person, great author and someone I can always count on when I'm in need.

My Guilty Pleasure Movies

2014-08-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has ever been around me or read my books knows I love movies (and music). They are both perhaps as equally represented in my writing as they are in my daily life. A friend of mine has been asking me for a few months now to do a post about some of my favorite guilty pleasure movies. After them inquiring about them again, I found myself thinking of what movies I would put on my list. I’ve decided that I am not going to go look at the movies I own, but instead putting together a list from what I could think of in my head.

The ‘Burbs

This was the first movie that came to mind when I thought about creating this list. Although this is one of my most favorite movies, it is a movie I’ve seen the beginning of much more often than I’ve seen the end, being when I cannot fall asleep I will play the movie and end up eventually crashing out to the comfort of the plot unfolding.

Told from three different points of view, the events after a drug deal are played out. I ordered this movie by mistake and arrived home late one evening unable to unwind. I liked the stars that were in it and decided that I would check it out. Whenever I am trying to get into working on a project and cannot free my mind to get focused, this movie always seems to put my head into a better place. The Adam and Zack scenes are my favorite, with the others a very close second.

Foul Play

In this 1978 movie, a shy San Francisco librarian and a bumbling cop fall in love as they solve a crime involving albinos, dwarves, and the Catholic Church. From the beginning with Goldie Hawn driving down the coast back into San Francisco to the old ladies playing scrabble this movie hooks me every time. If I could live anywhere in the world, I would live in her apartment and know exactly how I would decorate it. The story is great and the movie does a great job of capturing the time. It also has a few songs that stick in my head for days later!

Jurassic Park

The premise of the movie makes the idea of dinosaurs roaming the earth a reality. A theme park suffers a major power breakdown during a preview tour, which allows its cloned dinosaur exhibits to run amok. This is also one of my all-time favorite books and although the movie only includes about a third of the book, it is a wonderful movie.

Fargo

The top of my list for a movie to stay home on a cold day and watch list. Another movie where I imagine myself being in the position of the various characters and think about what I would do. A pregnant police chief is investigating a series of homicides across the frozen tundra. Against a sprawling Minnesota landscape, a car sales man hires two criminals to kidnap his wife. But when the scheme goes sour, and wood chippers get involved, the haphazard kidnapping plot turns deadly serious.

Gran Torino

A racist Korean War veteran living in a crime-ridden Detroit neighborhood is forced to confront his own lingering prejudice when a troubled Hmong teen from his neighborhood attempts to steal his prized Gran Torino. I love how the message of overcoming diversity is presented in this movie. Walt is a flawed, but well likeable character.

The Covenant

These four young guys who belong to a supernatural legacy are forced to battle a fifth power that was long thought to have died out. Another great force they must contend with is the jealousy and suspicion that threatens to tear them apart. Witches have never been something to interest me. Put together some hot looking guys who are witches with a great storyline and I’m hooked.

Fight Club

Although the book was great, I think the movie is way better! I don’t even know how to describe this movie. Something for those of you have watched the movie may have noticed there is a Starbucks cup visible in almost every scene of the movie. This was not something I noticed on my own, but ever since it was pointed out to me, I have been looking for the Starbucks cups anytime I’m tired and watching the movie.

White Frog

High-school freshman, Nick is a neglected teen with mild Asperger's syndrome whose life is challenged and ultimately changed forever when tragedy hits his family. A friend suggested this movie to me by back when it came out, but when I checked it out I had no interest in watching it. Then they brought up again. One evening I was working on some stuff and needed something to occupy my mind so I went to look for something on Netflix and there it was. I turned the movie on and thought I would watch it and have it out of the way for checking out. Immediately I was sucked into the storyline and adored the characters. When the movie ended I had gotten so into it that I completely stopped what I was working on. Then I put the movie on again, intending to have it play in the background, instead I watched the whole movie.

The Goonies

No matter how many times I’ve seen this movie, which is too numerous to count, when it comes on I am immediately sucked into it. About a group of teens who live in the "Goon Docks" neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon. They are attempting to save their homes from demolition, and in doing so, discover an old Spanish map that leads them on an adventure to unearth the long-lost fortune of One-Eyed Willie, a legendary 17th-century pirate. This is perhaps the one movie I will stop and watch each and every time I come across it and always makes me feel like a kid again. Every time I visit Astoria I feel like I am coming to a familiar place, being most of the settings in the movie still can be visited.

Easy A

This one definitely tops my list. so much so that I have a copy in my DVD player in my car (the only movie I have in it) as well as a copy at home. Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is re-imagined as a contemporary high school comedy in this tale of a scheming student who plots to give her popularity a boost by painting herself the easiest lay in school.

Now that I’ve finished writing my list I know I will see several movies that I will have wished I would have included. I am sure of this because I’ve spent about as much time as I had writing this post debating on whether to take a quick peak at my movies. With that in mind, keep an eye out for a follow up post.

What are some of your guilty pleasure movies? Are some of mine, some of yours? Please leave a comment below!

All Covered

2014-08-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

My intentions this summer was to have guest blogger’s in order to give my author friends a chance to lure my reader’s into reading their books and to give myself a break while having new content on my blog. The guest blogger’s did a wonderful job of getting their stuff to me and I was glad to have the posts all set up for them. I've dropped the ball when it comes to posting myself. This time of year is typically quite crazy for me and this year has been especially so. I feel as if I am going constantly. Being there is so much I have to catch up on, I suppose I’d better get to it.

Finding Our Way, Tormented Discover, Drifting and the Finding Our Way Series Collection all finally have their new covers. This has been a change I’ve wanted to make for too long. As promised to my friends and readers, I kept my artwork on the cover. I’m delighted with how they turned out. If you have not seen them, please check them out! They look sharp. They can be found at most major retailers, as well as my website. Almost daily when I’m in the car I’ve been thinking about the characters from the books, where the storyline left off and where I want the story to go. As is the process for most of my works in progress, the next book in the series has been on my mind.

Speaking of cover art, I’ve been quite creative of getting the ideas for my covers out of my head and created. I’m happy to have all of my covers done! Currently, I have two new books going through editing. Pieces of Us is on track for the end of summer release as planned. Now I need to get organized and start setting up a blog tour. Promoting my books has never been one of my strong points. Slowly, but surely I’ve been seeking out help to get the ball rolling on this. Especially with the release of Pieces of Us being mere weeks away!

The other new book is titled How It Was Supposed To Be will most likely be out around early October. When I started on this, I’d planned on writing down some ideas that were in my head. Then I found myself writing the ideas out. More ideas came and I wrote them out. As the book progressed along and got to the halfway point, I thought about stopping work on it, but decided it was important for me to finish writing it.

The final cover was for my free story Awakenings that now has a cover of its own now. The idea for it has been in my head since I finished the book, but I just recently got around to putting it together. As I was lounging around the other night, I had intended on relaxing and not doing much of anything. With having this completed. Awakenings is now available through most major book retailers. I’m hoping people will report the story being free elsewhere so that Amazon will make it free as well. I’ve been trying to get a available for free ever since I published my first book. That being said, I am not holding my breath.

After much prompting and pushing from my friends, I have finally put together a collection of drawings into a book to sale called This Author’s Drawings. The cover is one of my early watercolors I’ve modified and brightened up the colors for the cover. I do not think I’ve been as nervous about a book as I have been with this one. This is funny because I’ve never had anyone be mean about my drawings. Even critics who’ve hated my writing have liked my drawings. We’ll see how it goes. As it stands right now, I’ve quietly published it.

My little 40-pound four-legged personal trainer has been assuring I’m getting out and getting exercise. Most days we are out walking. When it’s really hot, I try and get her to swim. Typically she will swim and then insist on us going for a walk. That’s fine by me. I need a push to get out and exercise. It gives us time together.

That’s about all I have the time right now to share.

Guest Blogger = TM Smith

2014-08-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, Tams here (TM Smith) let me start by saying thank you to all the bloggers that are hosting me today for this special event!

Welcome to the Appearances pre-release blog hop, sneak peak and giveaway! Today I'm going to share the first two chapters of Appearances with you, a little behind the scenes while writing this book as well as going over my process for choosing some of the names in the series. And, there might be a little giveaway, maybe. The best part is, this is an all day event on Facebook as well, so be sure to join the event and check back throughout the day as I've lined up some pretty amazing authors and bloggers to help me host who will be having giveaways of their own. {click here to join the event!}

Schedule (all times are CST central standard time zone)
Author TM Smith: 8-10AM CST
Charlie Cochet: 10-11AM CST
Alina Popescu: 11AM-1PM CST
Angel Martinez: 1-2PM CST
Author TM Smith: 2-3PM CST
Lucien/Raven: 3-4PM CST
J. Scott Coatsworth: 4-5PM CST
Crystal Marie: 5-6PM CST
Author TM Smith: 6-7PM CST
Carly Rose: 7-8PM CST

Lets start with the book that started it all, Opposites.

Opposites is an adult dystopian majorly M/M series set a few centuries in the future in a society where to be gay/lesbian is the norm. To be straight labels you an Opposite and makes you the outkast.

Opposites, book 1 is available now through Amazon, ARe and Smashwords.

The Library, an Opposites novella, is available now through Amazon, ARe and Smashwords.

*WARNING* Opposites is an Adult Dystopian series that contains explicit sexual content and relationships between gay, lesbian and straight couples.

Something that I've been asked a lot over these last couple years, "How did you come up with the names for your characters?" I knew straight away that this was going to be an epic sort of story, even an author friend that read an early draft commented it was like a gay Game Of Thrones. So I knew that with all the names I'd have to remember already, I did not want to use last names as well. In that aspect, I took on a Dune quality where as everyone is known by their name and their house.

Another question I've gotten is why so similar. I thought I was helping readers with that as well, but it may not have come across accurately. Take House Gaeland for instance. Fathers; Rian and Cirian. Mothers; Amaya and Amelia. Children; Aiya and Aiyan. There is a similarity in the names that made me think, these are all from the same house. I guess it didn't translate as well to some of my readers, sorry about that.

I also tried to use names that were specific to that culture for certain characters. I researched popular and historic names of each culture and that is how I came up with Nadi, Kaden, Theresa, Taryn, Tanis and a few others. There were some names I knew I wanted to use before I even started outlining the story. I chose the name Aiya after hearing it on a sci-fi movie many years ago, it always stuck with me. Adding the 'n' to it for her twin brother was easy. Rian was a spelling I'd read in a book and I loved the uniqueness of it. One of my favorite movies is 'In A Child's Name'. The mom in that movie was Theresa, with an 'h', no one ever really spells Theresa with the 'h' anymore and I've always liked that more classic spelling.

I wanted to pay respect to my family name, grandparents things like that somewhere as well. Gilley was my late Irish grandmother's maiden name, so it was a given that the house in Ireland or that part of the country would be called House Gilley. Dr. Anthony Smith... my grandfathers, Robert Antony and William Smith. I write under the name TM Smith not because I don't want people to know that Tammy Middleton is the author, but because it's the name my parents gave me. Tammy Michelle Smith is way to long to print out so I shortened it.

{For a listing of names, Houses and their meaning, head over to TTC Books and more}

And now, meet the guest of honor today, Appearances...

Appearances, can be deceiving.

Raven and Tanis are trying very hard to merge their vastly different lifestyles, but Tanis's issues with his own past could prove to be more than their fragile relationship can handle. Is their love for each other strong enough to weather the oncoming storm?

Aiya and Sawyer have fought hard to be together in a world where Opposite relationships are generally forbidden. Yet, they are still forced to keep their relationship a secret while they are outside the walls of House Gaeland.

Everyone assumes that the only threat lies outside their walls, the group of rebels led by Cillian. But something is happening within House Gaeland, something that hasn’t happened since GWI. And with all the attention focused on that, their guard is down. An evil that was under their nose all along strikes, and someone will make the ultimate sacrifice to save another.

At the end of Opposites Cirian shared a secret with his children, the identity of the person known to them as Gorilla Man. Everyone was coming to terms with the relationship that was developing between Aiya and Sawyer, and Tanis proposed to Raven.

Now it is time for Aiya and Aiyan to travel to their spouses homes and meet their people. But that is more the backdrop of this story, as this book concentrates more on the ever growing relationship between Raven and Tanis. The Priest from House Gaeland and his warrior from House Orion. Raven is wise but slightly naive. He never gave much thought to a family or a husband, not that it's forbidden, he just never thought he'd share his heart with anyone but God. But the inked upped, muscled upped man from Greece that Raven describes as all attitude, muscles and ink... well he rooted his way in there under the radar.

While the relationship between Raven and Tanis doesn't seem to be moving any faster than the twins, in actuality it is. Aiya and Aiyan have known about their matches for years, they know them even if only on paper. These two young men are learning about each other as they go. And once they get to Greece, Raven learns that the description of his fiance from before they met, "A man in every port", well there wasn't ever a truer statement. Tanis had always been promiscuous, and now it may come back to bite him in the ass, so to speak.

More secrets will be revealed and a new threat will emerge. But the root of everything that keeps these people and these relationships strong, their love and faith in one another, is the constant that will keep them all alive.

I'm still hoping to release Appearances on August 31st, but right now that is a tentative date. I've had some personal issues these last several months, one of those being Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I've now had the surgery on both hands, but it has set me back quite a bit with my writing. So I wanted to let you all know that I am moving forward as fast as my body will allow, and also share the first two chapters with you. An appetizer, if you will. Do remember that this is still a work in progress and while it has gone through BETA and a round of editing, there is still some clean up to do before release. So ignore any mistakes and enjoy this exclusive look into Appearances.

~ 1 ~

Unyielding

Aiyan walked through the garden, violin case in hand, heading toward the bench that sat in the center. Sitting, he removed his violin and stroked the strings. He hadn’t played in days and needed to feel the instrument in his hands as he poured his pain into the music. It was the only outlet he could think of at the moment that wouldn’t cause someone else bodily harm.

His life had changed drastically over the past several months. He met and married his match who, thankfully, turned out to be his soul mate. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he loved Kaden like no other almost from the minute he laid eyes on him. He realized just how much and how much he stood to lose when Kaden was kidnapped by his uncle. An uncle he didn’t even know he had until after they’d rescued Kaden and brought him back home where he belonged.

He heaved in a deep breath and brought the instrument up to rest on his shoulder, running the bow across the strings a few times to adjust the tone. Then he closed his eyes and let it all go, let all of the pain and anger flow out of his body and into the music. He thought of Kaden inside the palace, in their room packing for their impending trip to House Devi. He thought back to the first time they’d made love after the incident. How loving, tender and gentle he was with his husband; who was still broken and bruised from his captivity.

For a moment he felt the anger seeping back into him as his thoughts strayed to Gorilla man, his uncle, and the violin screamed out a note in agony. He released a breath and regained his composure, moving his thoughts back to Kaden and how they’d leaned on each other in those days and weeks when they first returned to the palace. The melody leveled out as Aiyan stopped trying to control the emotions and just let them flow freely, the insanely beautiful whine of music filled the night air.

***

Kaden closed the last suit case and lifted it off the bed, carrying it over and sitting it by the door with the others. He stood upright when he thought he heard a shrill cry coming from outside their bedroom window. Their bedroom was just off one side of the garden when you looked out the window, which made sense as the garden was Aiyan’s favorite place to be. Kaden walked over and threw the window open, closing his eyes and smiling when he realized what it was he’d heard.

Kaden quickly made his way out of the palace and out into the garden, hell, he would have just jumped out the window to make the trip quicker if he thought he could do it without hurting himself. Kaden rounded the corner and stopped, soaking in the sight of his husband, completely oblivious and completely sexy.

Aiyan’s eyes were closed and the tip of his tongue just barely escaped his mouth, as his head jerked to the side occasionally with certain notes of the song. Kaden could see how relaxed he was surrounded by the things he loved most. The garden that captured so much color and beauty, and his violin that shared not only the color and beauty inside of Aiyan, but the talent he held as well.

Every emotion Aiyan was feeling played across his face as he felt them, Kaden just stood still and watched. The emotions blended flawlessly with the notes; anger brought on a loud shrill note and a scrunched up face; happiness brought on a flowing, sharp squeal and a slight smile; and then sadness was the lightest note of all as a tear trickled down Aiyan’s cheek.

Aiyan’s eyes opened when he heard a low crack as Kaden moved toward him, stepping on a twig. “Oh, sorry, I was just letting off some steam.” Aiyan said, moving to put away his violin.

Kaden moved quickly over to him, “No, please... don’t stop. It was beautiful my prince, please play more for me.” Kaden slid onto the far corner of the bench, smiling slightly as Aiyan smiled back at him.

“You like to beg, don’t you?” Aiyan said playfully, that crooked grin taking over his face. It was true, Kaden had said those exact words to him the night they met, here in the garden, the first time Aiyan kissed him. “No, please... don’t stop.” Aiyan put his instrument away and then just sat there, silent, staring at the ground. Kaden could not only see, but feel the war of emotions raging inside him. The bond they had seemed to have been there since that first meeting, when they saw the same vision of them kissing on the bed. And it only grew stronger when they were separated. Truth be told, their bond had saved Kaden’s life when Gorilla man had thrown him down that well.

Kaden reached up and pushed Aiyan’s hair back behind his ear, stroking the lobe with his fingers softly as he did. “My prince, tell me what troubles you.” Aiyan didn’t speak, didn’t look up at him, he didn’t even flinch. Kaden scooted a little closer and ran his hand down Aiyan’s arm, joining their fingers together. Still, Aiyan didn’t so much as squeeze his hand back, not even acknowledging Kaden’s attempt to placate him. Kaden brought himself around in front of Aiyan, wedging himself on his knees on the ground between Aiyan’s legs, staring up at him, refusing to be ignored.

They stared into each other’s eyes for several long, intense moments. Kaden toyed with the right words to say, and decided words weren’t what was needed right now. He leaned up and kissed his husband. He just held his lips to Aiyan’s briefly, not attempting to deepen the kiss. When he pulled back Aiyan’s eyes remained closed and he took a few shallow breaths.

“Don’t shut me out Aiyan, not now, we’ve been through too much for you to give me the silent treatment.” That crooked grin was trying to make an appearance Kaden thought, as the corner of Aiyan’s mouth twitched slightly. “There is nothing you can’t tell me. I know you want to deal with these emotions and this anger you feel on your own, but that is the problem Aiyan. Have you thought that the reason you can’t get past this is because you are trying to do it alone? You aren’t alone Aiyan, I am here, right here in front of you, begging you to…….” Kaden didn’t get the rest of his sentence out before he was grabbed and hauled up into Aiyan’s lap. Aiyan’s lips came down on his hard and fierce as Aiyan attempted to tongue fuck him right there on the bench.

Aiyans fingers dug into Kaden’s shoulders and he poured everything he was feeling into the kiss. Kaden moaned into his mouth and melted into his touch as the kiss ignited a fire inside him. The combination of his own hunger coupled with Aiyan’s left his head spinning. Aiyan pulled back, gasping for breath, when he opened his eyes Kaden saw that they’d turned gold around the rims and he smiled. Aiyan leaned forward until their foreheads were touching, still breathing heavy.

“Okay Kaden, okay. Let’s go back to our room and talk.” He panted out between breaths.

“Just talk?” Kaden whispered. Aiyan barked out a laugh and smacked his ass, which caused Kaden to yelp.

They barely made it into their room before Kaden quickly divested them of their clothing. He pushed Aiyan back against the door and climbed up him, devouring his mouth. Aiyan spun them around as he lifted Kaden up off the floor, and slammed him up against the unyielding wooden door. Kaden wrapped both legs around Aiyan’s waist and thrust his hips up. Aiyan threw his head back and gasped when Kadens thick, hard cock rubbed up against his own. Aiyan kissed him again, his lips as unyielding and hard as the door Kaden was pressed up against. Then he proceeded to fuck Kaden into oblivion, right there up against the bedroom door.

Kaden woke in their bed with the soft touch of Aiyan’s fingers, trailing down his back and over his ass, then tracing back up the path they’d just taken. “Are you awake?” Aiyan whispered.

“I am now.” Kaden just chuckled.

Aiyan didn’t speak again for a while. He just ran his hands along Kaden’s skin, setting it on fire. Finally, he let out a ragged sigh, “I’ve never felt the kind of anger I feel toward him Kaden, and it scares me. I swear sometimes I feel like the hatred will consume me. I want to kill him, I want him to suffer. What does that say about me Kaden, for Christ sake, he’s my uncle?!” Even if the touch of Aiyan’s fingers on his skin hadn’t gone from gentle to rough, Kaden could feel Aiyan’s anger inside him through the bond they shared.

Kaden rolled over onto his back and Aiyan laid his head on his chest, he ran his fingers through Aiyan’s hair comforting and calming him all at the same time. “It says that you are my husband, my partner and you will do anything to make sure I’m safe. I would do the same for you. Do you feel better, now that you told me this?” Aiyan nodded but didn’t speak. “Then that is enough for now. I love you Aiyan and we will deal with this together. Everything, always together.” Aiyan smiled and Kaden could feel the curve of his husbands lips on his skin, which made him smile in turn, remembering.

Those three words took Aiyan back to the past, to the night they decided to get their named tattoos. When Aiyan first broached the subject just days before their Mehndi ceremony, Kaden had balked at the idea. But then when Aiyan and Raven showed Kaden drawings of what Aiyan was suggesting they do, Kaden couldn’t deny the sentiment in the gesture.

“I want to get our names tattooed on our arms, here.” Aiyan spoke softly to Kaden as he withdrew his fingers from where they’d been wrapped in Kaden’s and rolled up his sleeve, showing the spot on his upper arm.

Kaden scowled at him, “Don’t you think that is a little grandious, my prince? And what would they say? Aiyan and Kaden, respectively. Or M’anam and My Prince?” Aiyan turned that wickedly sexy crooked grin on his partner before he answered.

“I think our given names, and in a calligraphy style of writing with maybe a celtic border?” Aiyan presented his answer as a question, it would seem he had put a lot of thought into this venture. Kaden still wasn’t convinced, until the next day after lunch, when Raven found him and Aiyan in the library and showed them the drawings he’d made in a likeness of what Aiyan wanted the tattoo’s to show.

“Wow, that’s really simplistic. I was expecting something more… just, more.” Kaden was pleasantly surprised with the simple, uniqueness of the designs. He had no ink anywhere on his body, having never found anything he wanted to permanently place on his skin. But this, this was a representation of his commitment to Aiyan, a way to show everyone he belonged to this man. So when Raven told them he could do the tattoos right then, Kaden didn’t allow himself time to reconsider, he just nodded in agreement and followed Aiyan and Raven.

It was a given that Aiyan’s tattoo would be placed on his left upper arm as he already had a large eagle, and a dragonfly on his right upper arm. Kaden thought his should go on his left arm as well, not only to mirror where his future husbands ink would go, but it was also the hand where their wedding rings would be.

Kaden followed as Raven led them to the area of the palace where the guards slept. “The Guardai and The Order are housed in this wing of the palace. And while Raven’s room is in the main area of the palace with the family, he still keeps a room here as well. He has artwork, instruments, some swords he’s collected and his tattoo equipment here.” Aiyan told Kaden as they walked through the never ending hallways within House Gaeland.

“Oh, and the collection of bibles.” Aiyan stopped mid stride and turned to face Kaden. “There are bibles dating back to before Anthony’s time, Raven has, what a dozen or so?” Aiyan turned to Raven who just nodded his response, before turning back to Kaden. “I’ve read several of them. It’s so interesting to see the different translations, how they are all different, and yet… the same.”

Raven entered the room they’d stopped at and Aiyan and Kaden followed him in. The walls were covered almost floor to ceiling with art and drawings, some of which Kaden was certain Raven had created himself. There was a small bookshelf that indeed held a dozen or so bibles, a rack that held several swords and in the corner sat the oddly made chair that could be molded and shaped to hold a person’s body in the correct position for whatever ink they would be getting at the time. Raven motioned for Aiyan to sit as he opened the case with the tools, “You first Aiyan, so Kaden can see what I’m doing and how, since this is his first tattoo.”

Kaden watched as Raven took the wax paper he had drawn the design on and held it over Aiyan’s arm. His gaze continued to roam over Aiyan’s bare chest, those hard muscles and defined abs, up to his adams apple and then landed on that crooked grin. When their eyes met, Aiyan’s dominate brown eyes sparkled, full of love for only Kaden.

“All done!” Raven stated, turning and grabbing a towel from the table next to him. He ran the towel over the design and then applied some type of ointment from a jar. He noticed Kaden watching his every move, a question in his glare. “It’s just a precaution, some healing herbs mixed with the oils from the allive plant. Can you believe they used to apply tattoos with needles, driving the ink into the skin, and there was so much blood. The risk of infection then was much higher than now, the laser pretty much cordarizes the skin as I draw the image, so no risk of infection. But, better safe than sorry, right.”

Aiyan smiled up at him and twisted his body, holding his arm out for Kaden to see. There on his lovers arm was his name, Kaden, in a fancy script with a border across the top and bottom of the words that was somewhere between the design of barbed wire and a trinity knot.

“Your turn.” Raven waved his hand motioning Aiyan out of the chair and all but pushed Kaden into it. Kaden closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of the chair. He felt the tight grip of Raven’s fingers, digging into his arm to hold it still, the heat from the laser as it traced each letter into his skin. A.I.Y.A.N and then the faint trace of the border, but it was never uncomfortable or painful. He opened his eyes when he felt the brush of the towel on his skin.

Aiyan pulled him up and into his body and they were chest to chest, Kaden had to hold in a gasp when their naked nipples brushed together. Aiyan leaned down and kissed him, running his fingers over his name that was now permanently inked on Kadens arm, keeping time with his tongue that brushed over Kaden’s bottom lip. Aiyan pulled back but kept his hand on Kaden’s arm, gently tracing the letters of his name, “Everything, always together.” He whispered.

Aiyan raised his head and smiled down at him, moving his body up and over Kaden’s. His smile widened when Kaden groaned and thrust his hips up, rubbing their groins together. They were both already impossibly hard, again. “Ready for round two? Want me to fuck you into the mattress this time?” Aiyan said, leaning down and running his tongue along Kaden’s collar bone. Kaden just laughed and rolled them on the bed where he was on top of Aiyan.

“Oh no my prince, I’m going to fuck you into the mattress.”

~ 2 ~

Angry

Cillian sat at the table pushing the food on his plate around in circles, more interested in reinforcing his men than eating. The encampment he’d found shelter in wasn’t much more than a stones throw away from the palace, but in hind sight, he thought this would be the last place his family would look for him anyway.

He sat and listened to one of the elders telling some of the other’s of how proud he was of the man one of their own had become. This Sawyer, son of Adam and Anna who were proud Outkasts. Apparently Sawyer’s mother died during child birth, and then his father died in a fire here on the grounds just over a dozen years ago. Sawyer was basically adopted by the Ambassador’s of House Devi, the house of that bastard Indian filth that his nephew had wed.

Apparently his niece who was wed to the feisty little bitch from the greek house was, in fact, in love with Sawyer. He tucked that little morsel of information into the back of his mind for a later date. Soon, Cillian would have to weed out how many followers he had here, and if it was even worth staying or moving on to the next group of Outkasts.

Cillian held his knife in a tight grip, jaw clenched, drawing on every ounce of reserve he had to stop from climbing over the table and cutting the old man’s tongue out of his mouth. If for no other reason than to see him bleed. A gruff voice to his right drew Cillian out of his murderous thoughts.

“If you ask me, the whole lot of them should be burned at the stake. I mean, who are they to tell us who we should love. That I can’t have the same liberties, freedoms and opportunities they have because I’m a man that likes women.”

Cillian stole a glance at the stranger beside him. He was a big man, with arms the size of tree trunks, long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail with a weathered grin plastered on his rugged featured face. Next to him sat a smaller but toned younger man with redder hair than Cillian had ever seen in his life. “And who’s that, your girlfriend?” Cillian nodded in the red heads direction, drawing a snarl and a glare from the smaller man.

The big man threw his head back and bellowed, a full laugh that was so loud and boisterous, it shook the table. “No, Augie here is my best mate, a damn fine lad, even if he does prefer the company of a man to that of a large breasted female.”

“You know who I am?” Cillian questioned.

“Ah, yes, the bastard child of Kiernan and Gabriel. The former Ambassador’s to House Gaeland, and the current Ambassador’s to House Gilley. Dumped off here with the outkasts just hours after your birth when you failed your mapping test. Does that about sum it up?” the big man stated in a gleeful tone.

“Well, it seems you have me at a disadvantage. You are?”

“Hell’s Bell’s, how rude of me, names Robert!” the big man thrust his hand toward Cillian, who grudgingly shook, then reached over and shook the red head’s hand as well.

“So what can I do for you fine gentlemen today?” the clipped tone Cillian spoke in assuredly shown his patience was wearing thin.

“Word travels fast among those that are loyal to your cause Cillian. We should talk, but not here, somewhere more private. A group of us have a place a mile or so north of here where we prefer to spend our time, we just come here to the main camp for food, supplies and occasional company. Meet us at the stables in an hour and you can follow us there, meet the rest of our group, and… get to know us a little better.” Robert stole a glance at Augie and Cillian couldn’t help but be curious at what they were offering. He also had a niggling feeling of recognition in the back of his mind every time he met Augie’s green gaze.

Cillian simply nodded once in reply, to which Robert nodded in agreement before he and Augie stood and left the tent. What harm could come from hearing them out, Cillain thought. His mind ever wary of trusting anyone played out the various scenarios. Perhaps they were allies to his cause, but perhaps they weren’t and they meant to capture him for his brother. Just the thought of Cirian and his charmed life made Cillian’s blood boil.

No, Cillian brushed the thought aside, there was something in the red headed mans stare, an anger that swayed Cillian. His gut told him the men were sincere and that he could at least trust their intent. Appetite renewed, he quickly downed his food before leaving the tent virtually unseen, to go and meet his new friends at the stable.

Did that wet your whistle? Anticipating the full story? Well just you wait! As it is right now I'm at 26 chapters (52000 words aprox) and there is still a bit more to add. So, again, I'm hopeful I can still bring this to you on August 31st, but I will definitely keep you all up to date on the official release date.

Thank you all for stopping by today and continuing to support my efforts with this series. And a huge thank you to all the bloggers that are posting this today, I couldn't do it without all of you! Be sure to stop by the event today on facebook, I've lined up some pretty amazing authors and bloggers to help me celebrate and they are giving away some goodies throughout the day as well. And above all, remember, Love is Love!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Blogger = Alina Popescu

2014-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

7 Crazy Things Authors Do or Say

Writers are a crazy bunch, and I say that with all the love in the world. I am one, I have friends who are writers, I stalk enough authors, in a word, I am dedicated to the trade… Yet we are as crazy as they come and some of the things we say or do are just way too out there! So this is a humorous take on the many little things that we say or do that drive our fans and friends and families and pretty much everyone positively insane. *Insane in the brain being shouted in the background for a little musical stimulation*

#AmWriting

Yes, we need to share with the world every time we’re at our keyboards, typing away our stories. Why? Cause we’re sadistic little bastards who like to keep their readers on edge. They have to know about each and every phrase and sentence we add to the story they have been waiting for. We’re like the ultimate teases, keeping people right on the edge, tormenting them for days and weeks and months on end, but failing to provide the much needed release. And we wonder why readers growl at us when we post yet another teaser…

“I’m not writing”

Writer’s blocks are just as big of a topic as the times when we are coming up with new stories. We complain and when all else fails? We write tips about dealing with writer’s block. We’ve obviously become very good at dealing with it.

Post our visual inspiration

Want photos of men and women to drool over? Follow a few writers. The amount of toe curling images they provide is unmatched. You’ll sob and swoon and fall in love every five minutes, I tell you.

Dance like a crazy person when we get good reviews

Nothing like a good review, pouring love and appreciation and everything cute and cuddly in the universe! The sun shines brighter, birds singing are no longer waking us up at ungodly hours, they just delight our ears, everything tastes better… You get the general idea!

At the opposite end are the bad reviews. “Any publicity is good publicity! Any publicity is good publicity! It’s good, all good, I’m breathing. Nooooooooooooo! That review sucks, it’s mean, and unfair, and the reviewer does not get me… Oh, mother of pain so profound!” Again, you get the picture.

Drink too much coffee/tea or make huge amounts of chocolate disappear

It’s like our coffee or our tea or our sweets are what powers our ability to write. Can’t write? Get more coffee! Those edits killing you? Chocolate helps. We have evolved into these peculiar organisms that turn their favorite foods or drinks into story lines and characters and conflicts and cliffhangers.

Get their revenge by creating characters in your image and killing them off

Yup, that, or worse, making the character in your image the most hateful one in the whole damn novel! So not only do I hate you, but I get the whole world to hate you with me! Brilliant, isn’t it? While you read the story, you know it’s you, and you can’t help but cringe at the world of pain you’re being put through.

Worst off, you inspire a main character and writers show their love for you by putting you through even more pain! Does not matter, it’s all washed away in the end with a happy ending and the knowledge that you made it out alive. Unless we’re talking George R.R. Martin or someone of similar convictions and then… everybody dies!

Explain everything with research!

You never, ever want to go through the browsing history of an author. Ever! Everything from murder and mayhem and weird diseases to giant beasts, enough legal procedures to make your head spin, to very detailed encounters of the sexual nature, a whole lot of Tumblr and Pinterest, and impressive amounts of time spent on Facebook… all that huge mess and procrastination, all of it is actually research :D

Last but not least, writers do something that I’ve been doing for the past… oh, almost 700 words! Admit to their crazy, embrace it, love it, and go forth to victory with it!

About the author

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and even won awards in local competitions. She has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm, and has recently released The Edge of Hope, the first novel in the Bad Blood Trilogy.

Social Links

Site & Blog: http://alina-popescu.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralinapopescu

Twitter: http://twitter.com/alina_popescu

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/alina-popescu

Google+: https://www.google.com/+AlinaPopescu

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/alinapopescu

1) Living in Bucharest, Romania, how much do you know about Romanian Tale of Der Grossman?

To be honest, I have no real clue about the Slenderman. Before seeing your interview questions, I didn’t even know it was supposedly a Romanian folk tale. I did not grow up with it, and I think it’s nothing but an urban legend born outside of Romania. Why I believe this? Well, Sorina is a pretty modern girl’s name. Some of our folks tales and fairy tales are a little twisted, granted, but this one has nothing familiar about it and I honestly couldn’t find any information on it from Romanian sources.

2) What makes you excited to get out of bed every day?

A very excited dog? Does that count? Unfortunately, I don’t have time to wake up fully or think about what’s exciting to me before he drags me outside to play with his friends. Leaving all jokes aside, I am usually excited about everything, because I happen to be a morning person and every beginning is wonderful to me. Yes, I am one of those weird people that love Mondays.

3) Do you have any rituals you do when you are writing, like listening to music?

Coffee and music are almost always part of my writing process. I can do without either or both, but I prefer to have them close by. I don’t need to be in a certain room, or type on one laptop, or write at a certain time of day. Music and coffee I am strict about though, but I don’t necessarily need to listen to my own music.

4) Speaking of music do you have a favorite song or band?

No, I don’t. I have favorite songs and bands and solo artists, but I can’t come up with a short enough list.

5) What writing projects do you have for the near future?

I am currently working on book two of Bad Blood and an MM romance project that seems to be getting most of my attention these days. It’s a fantasy/historical type of setting, without any real magic or mythical creatures. It does have the gorgeous, antihero warriors, the scheming and plotting rulers, and a pretty difficult road to a happy ending for the main characters.

6) When you are writing a book how much research do on the subject?

It depends on the subject. In some cases I spend a lot of time on research, in others, not so much. With my vampire trilogy, for example, the research was limited because vampires have always fascinated me and I knew a lot on myths, literature, ideas, real life cases… Also, most of the places I described in the book are destinations I’ve traveled to before.

7) Have you had any fans that have scared you by the way the act or things they have done?

I’ve just lunched my debut novel, so I am relatively new at this. Nothing scary so far, but I have been brought to tears quite a few times by artwork they did, the support they’ve shown or the reviews they’ve written.

Guest Blogger = JC Wallace

2014-07-10T12:02:00.004-07:00

Hi, everyone! I want to thank Jayson for hosting me!

I want to talk about M/M and vampires!! Very Hot!

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

So, I wrote a vampire story when the market is flooded. Why? Why not, lol. What I tried to do was something different in this story. One way I did this was to add supernatural/magical elements to an already varied depiction of vampires and their world.

Carson Locke is a rare Tabula Rosa vampire. Tabula Rosa is Latin and loosely translates into blank slate. When he bites another vampire, their mind is wiped clean, erased, creating a reprogrammable, blank slate, which can take on any personality, including mindless killing machines. That is why Carson has been sheltered his entire life and hidden away. In the past, Carson was forced to bite someone he cared for deeply and is haunted by the terror of that memory.

Commander Lincoln Samuels is a Sanatore vampire. In Latin (I love Latin if you hadn’t noticed), Sanatore means healer. Lincoln’s blood has the ability to heal other vampires. However, there is a possible side effect - Lincoln could bond physically and mentally with that vampire. In the past, Lincoln bonded with another vampire with near disastrous results. Now, he must decide if he will save Carson and risk that happening again.

And, then, there is the Salutem vampire...but to get into that would be a spoiler so you will have read the story to find out about that vampire.

Add in a shaman with supernatural powers and the ability to predict the future, and a destiny put into place hundreds of years before Carson was born, and, I hope, this vampire tale will satisfy the most die-hard fans of the genre.

Buy Link:

Amber Allure

Amazon

Blurb:

Carson Locke is a Tabula Rosa vampire—a dangerous rarity in the world of vampires. With one bite, he can wipe clean a vampire’s mind, creating a mindless drone. Because of this, Carson has spent his entire twenty-three years sheltered at home. That changes when his entire family is murdered. Now on the run and near death, Carson meets Commander Lincoln Samuels, a beautiful vampire who tries to heal him. In doing so, Carson is bonded to the vampire and turned into something the vampire world has never seen. When Carson is poisoned, he believes that someone wants him dead as well, however there are greater plans for Carson put into motion hundreds of years before his birth.

Lincoln is a Sanatore vampire with the ability to heal other vampires. He heads a team in the New Vampire Justice police force in Utica, NY. Late one night, he is called to a local Vampire Blood Market where a starving Tabula Rosa vampire is about to be executed by one of his officers. Feeling a strong connection to Carson, Lincoln wants to heal the broken man despite knowing the risk in doing so. Healing Carson could destroy Lincoln and cost him the chance to love again. What Lincoln finds is that there is a greater evil threatening to take Carson from him.

Can two vampires who have loved and painfully lost in the past, learn to trust one another, defeat the evil rising against them, and dare to love forever?

Excerpt:

Carson Locke was starving. Thoughts of veins and warm blood flowing through arteries clouded his thinking. His stomach had hollowed. His bones protruded and his muscles shook from weakness. His self-control, held by a fragile thread, stretched to the breaking point. When it snapped, he’d turn into the monster he’d avoided becoming for over twenty-three years.

He needed food. He needed blood. Now.

Despite crouching behind a Dumpster in the dark, the cold wind reached Carson, biting at his thin skin. Ten days. Ten days since he’d last eaten. Ten days too long for a young vampire. Ten days since he’d fled his home. Ten days since his mother and brother and uncle had been slaughtered and he’d run for his life. They were all dead because of what he was. Choking back a sob, he forced himself to focus on the back door of the building he’d been watching.

This was his last chance. If he couldn’t get the blood he needed here, that last thread of self-control would snap and he’d attack someone. The memory of the last time he’d been forced to bite—the screaming, the wide, vacant staring eyes, the nothingness—still haunted him. Carson squeezed his eyes tight and drew in several deep, steadying breaths. This task was too important to mar with past horrors he couldn’t rectify.

Two women bundled against the cold and a large, dark-haired man exited the back door he’d been staking out. As the women shuffled off to their cars, the man punched numbers into a keypad, securing the door. Carson clenched his fists as the man pulled out a cigarette and patted his pockets, no doubt searching for a lighter.

“Just leave,” Carson said in a pleading whisper.

Cigarette finally lit, the man moved toward the parking lot. Carson held his breath as the man disappeared around the corner. A siren blared in the distance, startling him. He clenched his teeth, drew air in through his nose and blew it out through his mouth. The beating of his heart threatened to fill the night air. He was terrified, but he was more hungry than scared.

Creeping from behind the Dumpster, Carson pulled his parka up over the lower half of his face. Jumping up, he grabbed the bottom rung of the fire escape and struggled to pull himself up.

His arms shook with the effort. Sweat broke out on his skin as he managed to get a foot on the rung. The idea that vampires possessed superhuman strength was a myth, but damn, he was about as strong as an eight year old. He just had to climb to the roof, drop through the small window, and get the blood. Then he could worry about bigger issues.

Carson climbed over the ledge of the old brick building on shaky legs, propelled by his adrenaline. Without that extra push, he would have been flat on his face. The night before he’d been in this same spot on the roof and had jimmied the lock on the old wood-framed window. Before he could enter, the sound of a door slamming somewhere had scared him away. Being caught trying to enter the VMB could bring certain death, but that was better than starving.

Carson sighed in relief as the window slid open easily. His hands were so cold that he would have been unable to jimmy the lock again. Feet first, he shimmied into the dark room. He was on the third floor and unsure what he would find there. During the three days he’d staked out the building, he hadn’t seen any lights on this floor. Pulling out a flashlight, he surveyed the empty room and located the door.

The blood roared in his ears, and his speeding heart felt as if it would explode as he opened the door. Of course, the damn thing would creak. Stepping lightly, Carson walked down a hallway filled with closed doors. Undisturbed dust covering the floor spoke of the vacant nature of this floor of the building. Within the corridor, the noises of the surrounding city were faint, yet still pushed his heart rate faster. In the floor beneath his boots, the constant hum, like an engine running, vibrated up into his legs. At the end of the hall was a steel door with a small dark window that he hoped led to the stairway. The longer he spent wandering, the higher his chances of being found. Clenching his jaw, he pushed open the heavy door, the cold metal chilling the sweat on his palms. His light flashed over the edge of a railing. He found stairs going down to the left. Walking down one flight, he found another door, but what he needed was on the first floor.

Descending farther, the flashlight flickered. Carson froze. Stopping to shake the light, he could hear the beating of his overwrought heart in his ears, feel the knot of dread expand in his gut. Gods, if he had anything in his stomach to throw up, he would. Right now, he needed the blood that the Vampire Blood Market (VBM) provided. Carson’s teeth had only sunk into a vein once and the nightmare of that moment had forever been burned into his memory. Besides, from what he’d heard, the bite hurt the donor like a bitch. That was mainly the sport of pain sluts and adrenaline junkies who visited bars where biting was still legal. In his isolated world of Gifford, NY, blood had always been supplied. Now, he had to feed himself. Without money, that meant stealing what he needed.

At the bottom of the stairs, he peered through the small window into the VBM. Walls of illuminated refrigerated cases held blood in containers similar to milk jugs. Unfortunately, stealing milk didn’t hold the same consequence as stealing blood.

Ignoring the dangerousness of his mission, Carson grasped the door handle. What he feared would be locked opened freely. Inside the VBM, the refrigerated cases hummed. The air was cooler than in the hallway. Carson’s mouth watered and his empty stomach clenched tight. Rushing to the first case, he pulled open the door. He grabbed the closest opaque white container and ripped the top off. Just as he lifted the container with the lifesaving liquid to his lips, the lights came on and a voice shouted, “Freeze!”

Carson dropped the container and gasped. His heart pushed into overdrive, his breaths barely escaped his throat. He gaped at the three men and two women dressed in black uniforms pointing guns at him. Carson tried to remain still but his feet moved backward without thought.

“Freeze or we’ll shoot!” A man with short black hair, who was larger than a truck, leveled a gun at Carson’s head. The man could end all of Carson’s pain. The fear, the hunger, the uncertainty, the agony of losing his family. Just charge at the giant—or slip his hand into his pocket as if he had a gun—and the bullets would do the rest. But as he ran into the wall behind him, his muscles seized. He was going to die no matter what he did.

“Down on your knees and hands on your head!”

Without thought, Carson went down hard on his knees and rested his hands on his head. His head swam from hunger, and his legs shook. It was all he could do to remain upright. Carson closed his eyes and thought of his younger brother, Caden, and his mom. He just wanted this to be over quick.

“Strip him,” he heard the gruff voice say.

Carson’s chest locked up as hands grabbed him. They ripped Carson’s parka over his head and then his sweater and T-shirt were next. The chill on his skin sent a shudder through his emaciated body.

Please, do it quickly.

Hands held him by his shoulders and arms, as if at any minute he might resist. There wasn’t an ounce of resistance left in him, not an ounce of fight. Tears burned his eyes like acid. Gods, his life had sucked so far. This was the perfect ending.

The large man stepped forward. Heavy black boots scraped the floor. NVJ in large white letters crossed his chest. New Vampire Justice. The vampire equivalent of a SWAT team, there because Carson had been trying to steal blood, an act punishable by immediate death.

“You have been caught in the act of stealing blood from a certified Vampire Blood Market, an act punishable by death by the Vampire Justice Act of 2003. Under the jurisdiction of the New Vampire Justice code number 456.5, I, an enforcment officer for the city of Utica, NY, hereby pass the sentence of death. Do you have anything you wish to say before this judgment is carried out?”

About JC Wallace

JC Wallace started writing from a young age, but took a break for marriage, kids, and college (in that order). He recently rediscovered his passion and ventured out into the brave new world of publishing with his short, Waiting for Snow, and his first novel, Curiosity Killed Shaney. At night and on the weekends, JC writes about all things men, believing there is nothing hotter than two men finding and loving one another, whether for a night or forever. An avid reader of M/M romance, JC loves a good twist of a plot, HEA, HFN, or tragic ending. He also writes what his bestie calls HUNK (Happy Until the Next Kidnapping).

In his daytime hours, JC works with individuals with autism and behavior problems. He is owned by three kids, one grandchild and one on the way, two dogs and one cat. He lives in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains in Northern NY.

Website: www.jcwallacebooks.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jcwallacebooks.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jcwallacebooks

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7237038.J_C_Wallace

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jcwallace