kate rothwell

The Misadventures Of Super Librarian: Auntie Wendy's Unsolicited Advice To Romancelandia

2018-03-13T11:09:00.001-04:00

The Misadventures Of Super Librarian: Auntie Wendy's Unsolicited Advice To Romancelandia

No snark. Bad puppy. No. (Review stuff.)

2018-03-01T10:37:00.003-05:00

A two star Amazon review on His American Detective: "Bodice ripper about gay men by a woman."

and I'm longing to comment "don't you mean a waistcoat ripper?"

God, no. Stop me.

The reviews rarely rattle me any longer -- except when I spot a truth in a bad one. When that happens, I actually lose sleep. This means I still care about writing.

Speaking of reviewers and writers:

A couple of days ago, a writer said she was tired of getting white ladies writing reviews of her books. She had an excellent point in the long run: her stories are meant for a particular audience and she wants them to resonate with those people and get more reviews from them.

But that first line was just....horribly obnoxious. I say this from my POV of course. Not a white lady who writes reviews -- but as a review grubber.

Anyone who disses any reader (especially ones that give honest reviews) deserves to be cast into the pit of being ignored.

The big phrase these days is "privilege" I argue that writers who have never experienced putting out a book to thunderous silence should understand that they operate from a position of privilege. They should understand that getting good notice on their books is something they shouldn't take for granted.

Having occupied both sides, I know this to be A Truth.

A new book out today!

2018-03-01T10:16:00.001-05:00

His Irish Detective is now on sale!

Buy it at Amazon.

Buy it at Kobo.

Buy it at Barnes and Noble

Colm Kelly, a popular constable, is happy to be a big fish in his little pond of an Irish village—until his secret sin is revealed by his best friend. Overnight, his happy life is ruined. He loses his job, and even his family, and flees to England.

Colm might get another chance in London as an inquiry agent. His first job: watch the honorable Q.R. Marrill, the next heir apparent to a fortune, who lives under a cloud of family deaths. It’s unclear if Marrill is the perpetrator or the next victim of a killer who has struck before. Colm must discover the truth, and the best way to do that is to act as the man’s valet, a menial job Colm is ill-suited for. Worse, the young gentleman is nothing like Colm’s image of an aristocrat and more like his idea of perfection. He has no desire to ruin his life again with unwelcome passion.

The bookish Quade Marrill, fourth son of a wealthy landowner, has led a contented solitary life in London separate from his family. But as his family members die one by one, he becomes heir. Even as he mourns his dead brothers, uncle, and cousin, he wonders if the deaths were more than bad luck. Someone sinister might be on the hunt, and he would be the main suspect The only way to discover the truth is to allow the alarmingly intrusive Colm Kelly into his life.

* *

This book is the second in a series. Patrick Kelly, a hero in the first His American Detective, is Colm’s annoying cousin—and now his employer.

My book is a BookBub special today!

2018-02-10T14:45:00.002-05:00

You can get a full-length award winning historical romance by me! It's featured on BookBub

Another upside to this sale? You buy the Kindle copy and pick up a discounted audio version too -- both for less than $4.

This was my first published title, put out by Kensington. It's still one of my favorites, in part because I really love Mick, the cop hero. When I wrote it, alpha heroes were the way to go. My editor took a chance on a what she called out-of-the-norm sort of hero: a guy who isn't rich or pushy.

I also had a great time doing research about the corrupt New York City police department for this book. Turns out I had too much fun -- I had to take out pages and pages of Gangs of New York non-romance sort of content.

I wrote Intrepid Heroine Who Gets into Trouble Timona soon after watching a few episodes of the Perils of Pauline--the real ones made in 1914. It shows.

Somebody Wonderful will be 99 cents until 2/17/18

here's the link at Barnes and Noble.

My Writing Day with an Unproductive Brain

2017-06-28T16:46:00.000-04:00

My coworkers hear it all the time
and are profoundly uninterested

me: Okay, this isn't going to work. I have these characters drinking tea again. They need to do something else immediately. These words are chopped. Two hundred gone. And let's see, the confrontation is coming up soon. Any suggestions?

also me: Oh. My. God. Why bother? No one reads your books. No one thinks they're anything more than adequate. You can't seem to change your style to fit what people want. You're old news. OLD. NEWS. Stale old voice. There's no point in writing yet another book that no one will wants--

me: How about if they finally talk instead of just hinting around? Yeah, and maybe that guy will say what's been on his mind since chapter two.

also me: Jesus. So boring. Talk, talk, talk. You know that your--

me: How about if they--

also me: --you know your books are worthless because people want conflict and angst. They don't want to read another book with so little at stake.

me: Good point for once. Let's get some conflict with an actual meanie for a change. I have his motivation and--

also me: Why aren't you listening to me? there is no point in doing this anymore. You have dozens of books out, no one reads them, you lame, sad lil creature.

me: Uh huh. We do this every few months. Get it alllll out. Juuuuuuust finish up the whining so I can back to the story. I really need all of me to figure out why these people aren't--

also me: Don't you get it? YOU WILL NEVER BE A SUCCESS. You sort of were but that bus dropped you off and the route is shut down and--

me: Yup, got it.

also me: Why the hell are you still bothering with this nonsense? Why don't you go do something useful in the world before you're too old and gaga?

me: Right. I don't have time for this. Maybe I'll make them drink coffee instead of tea in this scene. And some little cakes.

also me: We're hungry.

Return to routine

2017-04-20T14:35:00.000-04:00

I just noticed that Lois McMaster Bujold likes Ben Aaronovitch too. I saw that mention on her blog which shows up on her Amazon page. Which reminded me of my own blog and .... maybe this will show up on my Amazon page?

If it does, and you've clicked on the link, hello! Here it is, my new cover for a new novella -- the first new book in a while, actually.

Have you missed my writing? Whoops, never mind, not going to rub a toe in the dirt and peek over at you to see if I get some pats on the head.

I've missed it and that's going to get me cranking again

This was inspired by Bonnie Dee who wrote to me and said, hey, want to write a story about dogs and guys?

Yes please. Yes. A nice break from reality and, hoo boy, I have missed routine and fun stories.

Thank you, Bonnie. I'm going to include an excerpt to her book at the back of mine. Hers will show up May 20, I think.

HOT UNDER THE COLLAR will be out in May too -- probably May 15.

fading away...but 2 glasses of wine make it ok

2017-01-08T20:48:00.003-05:00

I don't have anything to say

2016-09-09T09:30:00.001-04:00

Isn't that nice? I think so too.
I'm not going to rant about Trump, or Clinton, or BLM anything else.

I'm going to wash out the chicken coop, make sure the ladies have enough to eat, and go about my boring life. Maybe I'll write some words in a story.

In order to maintain this mild outlook, I'm going to stay away from social media and since I'm used to yammering, I suppose I'll just have to talk to myself here. Also I'm going to open my picture page and, without paying much attention, drop a picture from there. A random picture and today we have . . .

HUBIE!

Thank goodness it isn't a picture of naked people. Just a naked dawg.

A Click-And-See-If-You-Won Amazon Giveaway of My Book!

2016-06-14T18:42:00.001-04:00

I think, I HOPE, it's easy to do.
They won't let me try it out. So why don't you? It's easy (I think) to enter.

#AmazonGiveaway for a chance to win: The Private Secretary (Kindle Edition). https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/5c35ed8f725fc1e4 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends the earlier of Jun 24, 2016 11:59 PM PDT, or when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules http://amzn.to/GArules.

A long silence and a new book

2016-06-13T12:40:00.003-04:00

I missed blathering into empty space. **
Today is a new book day and that's when I think of the blog.
Today I thought about it for that reason and because I wanted to find a post I did about rejections. I wanted to link to it to show an agent that she does excellent rejections.
The post isn't here--it was from 2005.*****
But
ANYWAY...
New book out today. The Private Secretary is a Summer Devon m/m historical, my favorite genre to write these days.

And it already has a review too! It's always great to have the first review be positive. Seriously a big relief and something to clutch to one's bosom when bad ones roll around.

Here it is at GGR-Review.

I loved it! The characters are quirky and laugh-out loud outrageous, the setting authentic, the dialog spot on, and with it all there’s a warm and humorous exploration of a time we think of as “uptight” but clearly is not when you know where to look and listen.

If you love historical fiction and a splendid cast of characters, of the upstairs/downstairs variety, then The Private Secretary will tick all your boxes—they did mine. Five stars and a recommended read.

and there's a contest at another site:
GO ENTER. Please enter. I'm begging you. Enter.

I'm staying offline mostly.

**Seriously, there's something freeing about talking into silence silence VS lots of responses from people who get angry when I get self righteous and preachy. Over at facebook, where I have 5K friends and open door policy, I get a lot of YOUR A MORAN comments. Usually the haters spell just fine but I get to mock them here because. My page.

But then again, at the moment I require a space that wasn't about the horror of what happened in Orlando. Because new book.

***** My motto when I wrote that post: Kate Rothwell/Summer Devon--Collecting Excellent Rejections Since 2004

our book is up!

2015-11-10T13:55:00.002-05:00

Read the first chapter at Heroes and Heartbreakers.

chook chook

2015-11-09T09:03:00.001-05:00

all the ladies in the yard--six at work. From far left in a circle:
SusieTCD, C3b, C3, pisspot, splotchy (duh) and Shelly

I was watching the chooks yesterday because I had work to do and nothing is more satisfying than watching chickens when you feel guilty about shirking work. Those ladies are the busiest creatures on the planet. So much scratching to do. More pecking on the agenda. They only rest for dust baths and even those are important for maintenance.

Anyway. chooks.

The pecking order seems far more complicated than I'd first noticed and it shifts all the time. Splotchy will peck anyone who comes near her. All flee as she struts past. But she doesn't get first dibs at food. So apparently aggression isn't the only hallmark of Big Bird on the Block.

And Shitheel (or Pisspot for the more refined among us) gets pecked by everyone, but she can still chase her big big big sister (big) around. Speaking of big sister, Susie the ChickenDog, she is always at the bottom of the order. That's a constant. She is the biggest one out there and the biggest coward in the yard. She makes our previous near-outcast coward, Shelly, look brave and daring. And I guess that's gone to Shelly's head, because now she's pecking at birds she used to run from.

The Red Stars are in charge. They eat first, they go where they want. But C3B doesn't peck anyone, even though she's the only new girl allowed around the old ones. Even C3 the Original, who is kind of bossy, is much less pecky than Splotchy. But when she wants food, she gets it. No one argues with her.

It's a complicated shifting world. And it's always busy, busy, busy in ChickenLand, which is comforting to observe when you have a longer-than-usual list of things to do.

Some stories come so smoothly

2015-11-04T22:30:00.001-05:00

They're practically greased up. Slick as can be.

The story simply shows up, tip its hat, maybe blows on some loaded dice--loaded in your favor of course--and politely waits for you to settle at the computer. "No, hon, don't panic. I won't slip away or suddenly make no sense. Go on, enjoy the ride for once. Get some coffee even. I'll still be here. And maybe you'll come up with some great lines while you're pouring the half-and-half."

I had one of the easy numbers last week show up and it was made even easier when Bonnie agreed to come along.

I was reading articles about the London vaudeville scene -- music halls, rather, and read about Don Leno, watched a video or two of him and . . . now we have a novella.

I love those easy stories even more than I love chocolate.

Of course there's no knowing if anyone else will like them. That's the part I don't like.

News about writing stuff

2015-10-31T11:43:00.000-04:00

Two bags of Costco candy and we're set for tonight, I hope. It's fairly trick-or-treat intensive around here. Back when my kids were younger, I used to make them stick their hands into pumpkins to pull out the seeds. They were going to need something to tell their therapists and that seemed like an easy place to start. The moosh! the cold! Argh!

PROMO time: Two books are out! Both Bonnie and Kate books.
But first -- this book is cheap for one week. Only 99 cents! And free if you're a Kindle Unlimited person.

Go on, you know you love reading about old New York and slightly corrupt cops and strong heroines. And if you don't know that, then find this truth about yourself by spending less than a dollar and getting a fun fluffy Kate Rothwell read.

I'll just wait while you buy that before springing the rest of my treats on you.

Are you back yet?

Here, quick and easy, links to a couple of Summer Devon/Bonnie Dee titles

Did you get the book that came out last month?
The Shepherd and the Solicitor

How about the one that came out last week?
The Clergyman and the Merchant

Those were both my plot bunnies (started them) so I'm particularly fond of them. I'd say the Shepherd has been my favorite book to research because of the sheep and lambs...I used my trips to English countryside during the lambing season, plus lots of articles and videos..... baaaaaah.

The one we've just finished lately, tentatively titled the Professor and The Pirate (or really smuggler) is Bonnie's plot bunny.

Now we just just have to get it beta read, edited, re-edited then proofed and final-line edited and cover-arted and . . . whatnot. Work and money go into these things, not that any of you readers asked or care. (And really, the only reason readers should care is when work does NOT go into a book).

My tone seems belligerent today. I must be practicing for the trick-or-treaters who try to grab more than a handful of candy. Or stopping the people who live here from eating the candy in the big bowl. ("No more Almond Joys, Kate." and "Andrew and Mike, back away from the Hershey bag.")

If You Want to Lose Readers, Don't Talk Politics, Religion...and what's that other one?

2015-09-30T08:35:00.002-04:00

The bumper sticker "Abortion stops a beating heart" makes no sense to me as an appeal. So does making a roast beef sandwich, except in that case the heart is beating inside something that can experience emotions, fear and pain.

Also very few people on this planet will ever ask for an abortion as easily as they would a roast beef sandwich.

I was too young to have a child and my relationship with my boyfriend was rocky. That's the reason I had an abortion: I wasn't ready. The experience was painful and horrifying (and that was just walking into the clinic past the protestors harhahar) No, really, it was a bad time for me, and I swore that I wouldn't do it again. I haven't. No matter what my past, I know I can't make that choice for anyone else.

I still think about that baby-that-wasn't, usually to think "s/he would be xx years now. Wow." I hated that experience -- and have always known it was entirely the right thing to have done.

So away from the specific, which is still odd to admit in public, and back to the general. Back to the idea that ordering a roast beef sandwich is fine and making the choice to remove an embryo isn't. I don't understand, up to a certain point, why any other people would get involved in that decision. Why isn't it standard for the public to judge the start of life with the same criteria we judge the end of life?

"A sizable contingent would assert that life begins at 25 weeks. The rationale for this starting point is based on our definition of death. The definition of death is not disputed, and is considered the time when electroencephalography (EEG) activity ceases. EEG measures brain activity and must demonstrate regular wave patterns to be considered valid. Therefore, by this rule the onset of life would be the time when fetal brain activity begins to exhibit regular wave patterns, which occurs fairly consistently around week 25. Previous to that time, the EEG only shows small bursts of activity without sustained firing of neurons." (from brainblogger.com)

After that point, I doubt few people are comfortable with abortion on demand. When could abortion possibly be appropriate after 25 weeks? danger to the mother, no fetal brain activity? ...Otherwise? The answer to that does not lie in any solution produced by vote-hungry politicians who wouldn't know gray areas or complex situations if, and when, they're smacked in the face by said complexity, I do know that. Case by case? Doctors and patients--but also probably some kind of board? Including someone trained in medical ethics?

Any other people involved in deciding for the family facing late-term abortion? No. Just be thankful you don't face a tragic, unhappy situation. Not really our business and we should be grateful for that.

Praise for Easy Action

2015-09-23T23:06:00.001-04:00

this is rambling as usual...the part about writing m/m romance isn't actually important so don't get caught in this first part, okay? Good.

I've been thinking about the whole co-opting the gay thing lately. It started when I read a few threads about how m/m romance is becoming mainstream and a bunch of straight ladies are writing it and that's creepy. The argument of how the experience of being a gay guy belongs to the gay men and using for our own profit squicks some people -- that kind of makes a bit of sense. I understand it to a degree.

I understand but I don't agree because fiction is fiction is fiction is made up stuff that we all get to play with.

BUT THAT is not what I really am thinking about. It's only the starting point. Let's get to the part where I have a DUH moment.

I have a gay kid. The fact is, his life is so much easier than it would be for a gay or lesbian my age. It's easier than it would be for his brothers -- who are only a few years older. That means, I hope, it'll be easier for the kids who come after him. Easier and easier. No one in his family immediate or extended has ever suggested that his being gay is bad, sad or even slightly off. We're lucky to live in these times.

I write historical gay romance and I wondered if anyone alive in this country could comprehend how horrible it was for the people who had to hide who they were all of their lives -- or risk blackmail or worse? Maybe my guy will get hints of it if he moves to another part of the country. I expect he'll get tastes of hatred from nasty looks and comments, but hell, we ALL get nasty looks and inappropriate comments. Just try being a fat middle aged lady and see what happens. I'm hoping he won't get even that many.

So that's what I was thinking about....
..... and then I ran across a thread on a facebook page I'm on.

This was a nice thread, a decent thread with perfectly nice people. A guy with a gay middle schooler was asking for advice about social groups for his kid. Lots of people had great ideas. But there were many more "go guy! you're great dad" comments. And "aren't we a great community" comments. These things are true. I'm not disparaging them. I like that people are saying positive things.

But would people say the same thing if a parent came on a thread and said "my daughter likes to ride horses. Any suggestions?" Of course not.

I've never before questioned this "Go, you! You're a wonderful parent!" thing--even though it really is about being a regular sort of a parent, asking for advice on something that should be normal.

The reason I haven't wondered about this enthusiastic over-response is simple. The times I've asked people for advice about raising a gay kid, and have gotten that "go you! you're wonderful!" response, I've reveled in it. Everyone likes being told they're doing a good job. (Particularly when the job is parenting because man, that shit can get tough.)

But here's the thing. The actions I've been told are extraordinary are so ... extraordinarily mundane. I'm talking about asking about a gay men's choir or looking up the mailing address of the rainbow club. I'm not talking about getting up at five am to drive a kid to practice or sitting next to a sick child's bed. Nothing I've done is heroic or strenuous. These are not worthy of pats on the back because they seem like standard things a parent would do for his/her kid under "normal" circumstances. And we get to my point (at last). Apparently being gay still doesn't fall under the normal umbrella -- and that's just sad.

The people who've most often praised my actions are adult gay guys who are over thirty. They're the ones who've effusively THANKED me for taking an interest in my kid. And that just makes me want to cry and go beat up someone. Maybe the first person to look at those men funny.

Anyway. That has nothing to do with writing gay romance. Except it's just interesting to note that even though we've come a long way and I'm complacent about my own sweet kid's future (mostly because he is so sweet) the "not normal" of being gay is still there.

A BRAND NEW BOOK OUT TODAY!

2015-07-24T10:02:00.001-04:00

I've resigned myself to just using the blog for promotion or other things, like perhaps chickens. or occasional rants. So it's a deserted zone, usually...but the fact that I'm not writing here might mean I have a life, right? **

Hey.... never mind that. It's time to pop the champagne and bring on the dancing boys and yapping puppies. I have a new book out today! Yay! Go buy it! Read it even!

For now it's at Amazon only!

Kidnapped by his own target, this crooked cop is having one bad day.

Detective Caleb Walker is foiled by his own industriousness. Determined to capture a criminal, he plants evidence—and is discovered by his higher-ups. Now blackmailed into being the strong-arm for a corrupt politician, he visits a poor widow he must convince to surrender her son. Yet something about her stirs his memory, and long-submerged desires. When she pulls a gun on him and demands he switch sides, he’s stunned, annoyed…and intrigued.

No one will take her son from Julianna. Least of all her sinister ex-father-in-law whose abuse damaged her late husband. With the handsome detective smirking in her sights, Julianna must convince him to help her keep her baby safe from the very people holding Caleb in their powerful grip. In a desperate bid, she kidnaps the cynical Caleb—and struggles to ignore the heat sparking between them.

As they pursue answers, secrets are uncovered—including Julianna’s and Caleb’s. Two imperfect hearts together may be enough to win the day. If their enemies don’t destroy them first.

A gaslight historical set in New York City. This version includes an excerpt from Powder of Sin.

**not likely

what am I doing?

2015-05-26T15:54:00.004-04:00

1. Trying to title a historical -- New York, 1880s, widow holds a policeman captive. She has her reasons, okay? Then I have to write cover copy and send descriptions off to the designer.

Anyone got any ideas? He's (slightly) corrupt and has been sent to take away her kid (at the behest of her in-laws)
Her Charming Captive
Her Clever Captive

I used to hate writing synopses but I'd rather write a dozen if it's that or come up with a single title. Ugh. Also writing back-cover copy = worst ever

2. Fretting about my little dinosaurs. No need because they are strong critters.


You shall not pass!

3. Living with all four of my men. All are men now. You go off-line for a few months and BOOM your little kids are grown up and your husband of course doesn't age at all.

4. Mourning my big pup. I miss her a lot. She was a good, good dog and a fabulous writing companion.

My post about DA*

2015-03-27T16:04:00.001-04:00

I'm a coward so I did it anonymously. But I figure, what the heck--I should be braver, and yo, this blog doesn't get a lot of traffic.

I posted this in the very long and heart-felt (hey romance writers and romance readers--what do you expect?) thread at Smart Bitches.

anon because I'm still intimidated **says:

March 27, 2015 at 8:34 am

I’ve never been attacked by Jane so I’m not taking the whole thing personally, but “attack” is definitely the word for some of the backs and forths I’ve witnessed between her and authors and publishers. Generally speaking, I think I’ve agreed with her more often than not. Yet I’ve also seen a kind of self-righteousness and holier-than-most attitude that almost made me feel sorry for the people she’d target…almost but, like I said, she was usually right. [I'd amend that to "she was often right"]

I’d hope that a purely black and white view of issues will end for her now that she’s guilty of doing the sort of thing that would have sent her into one of her usual articulate, well-reasoned attacks.

If this were fiction...There’s a trope of a proud woman humbled that I usually think is despicable. (It practically ruined the movie Philadelphia Story for me) But maybe the notion of relaxing the stiff, unbending rules of punishment would be something to strive toward. More accepting apologies without additional scolding. More good humor about mistakes, even when you call them out–because calling them out is good.

But I’m kidding myself. She’s a human under attack–a lawyer to boot– and they’re not known for opening their hearts and minds in these situations.

__________________________

* Like most posts about DA, it adds nothing. Insight isn't what this part of the process is about. In fact insight is rarely my goal because that means having answers.

**Not so much that I'd be shunned by a community but that I'd cross someone like Ann Somerville and Azteclady, two passionate arguers whose passions burn hotter than Fabio's hair on an 80s cover. Fierce frightens me almost as much as spiders in the shower do.

Not just promo, also recipes

2015-03-27T13:33:00.002-04:00

Bonnie and I have a book out next week. I started grinding the promo machine into gear (goddamn, that clutch is shot. You're never going to make it into third gear, Rothwell. Lemme help you push that thing back into the driveway. Yeah, best to stay home and read a book)

That meant I thought about this blog as a way to flog books and had a pang of no, no, that's not what I wanted. Not pure promo. That's not what I'm here for. Let's do food, shall we?**

Lovely nourishing food -- because we're still trying to be healthy around here. How about gluten-free, sugar-free cookies?**** Yes, I know that kind of "treat" frequently looks like roadkill and tastes like pious and dreary dust, but I like these. I almost invented them! Except for the fact that there are variations all over the place, I made this recipe up!

UGLY YUMMY OATMEAL BANANA DATE COOKIES

They don't have sugar (except the stuff in the fruit. Okay, and in the dark chocolate bits. FINE they have sugar but not the kind from a bag.)
Here's the recipe.
6 medjool dates
1 banana
1 cup oatmeal
1 egg
1/3 cup almond meal (Trader Joe's carries this and the dates. You can also just grind almonds up. They're stickier that way, but that works)
1/4-1/3 cup milk (I got impatient and just poured it in so measuring didn't happen)
Grind this stuff up in a food processor. I did the dates and oats longer than the rest of the stuff because I wanted them to be finer.

Also I let the goop sit in the food processor for a few minutes. That was not on purpose--but I think it helped make them more tender. (The oatmeal mellowed as it swapped stories with the banana)

Add some chocolate chips because you can--as you add the dark chocolate remind yourself that it is healthy. Add nuts if you'd rather. Or both. Or coconut. Or, if you're feeling extra trendy, ground flaxseed. Dried fruit would work--I mean on top of dates. Chop it up or throw it into the grinding stage.

These things hold together nicely so add whatever you want within reason.

Or you could add nothing but why would you pick that?

Blop them onto a tray by the spoonful and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes or so. I was going to bake them 15 minutes, but they were fine at 12 minutes.

This made 12 cookie things--more like dense little cakes. They weren't sticky or tough at all--and are pretty moist. I like them.

If you don't want them as moist, maybe leave out the milk.

**Since I'm sick of the Dear Author topic ## (except for the covers that Mrs. Giggles made)

**** but with that egg, they're not vegan. My chickens point out it's cool to eat eggs. They like theirs scrambled. [and, to be honest, I suspect the milk is unnecessary.]

## being sick of the topic didn't stop me from writing about it, see article above this one.

Just what it says -- a giveaway!

2015-03-09T19:54:00.000-04:00

I wasn't going to just use this blog for promo, but that's life, kid. And a giveaway is always fun.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Bohemian and the Banker

by Bonnie Dee

Giveaway ends March 14, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

ten favorite facebook types

2015-02-19T11:38:00.001-05:00

I just read another list of Ten People to Unfriend on Facebook. Sheesh, what downer. So many finger-shaking tsk tsk bad puppy lists. They couldn't be more annoyed if those rule-breaking facebookers actually came to their house and peed on the new carpet.

That's really the only reason I'm writing this, an anti-anti response. It's not like I actually care what you write on your facebook page. I'll read your page because it's easy to do, and something other than working, and because some of you I like and miss, even if I've never met you, Ann C.

A GOOD FACEBOOKER

1. Lets anyone post, even people who disagree. That means some good, passionate discussion can happen.

2. Shuts down the shit. Any internet thread anywhere will contain crap-o-la. Trolls happen and then there are the people who resort to ad hominem when they get angry. Good facebookers will stop that useless conversation. Or if they don't, their responses are smart-assed enough to make the nasty poster look silly.

3. Is willing to change her mind. Enough outside evidence is presented to make him rethink a long-held belief.

4. Is funny. So what if his posts are all just sharing Takei. Some of that shit is v. funny. FUNNY HAH HAHA HA.

5. Makes his or her own memes. Those might show insider jokes but that's okay. Insider jokes are fine now and again because feeling confused is good for those of us on the outside.

6. Might do vaguebooking but usually describes what's going on, eventually. Sometimes a "today sucks" is all she wrote. Hey, her page, her emotes, I got that. Go for it on occasion.

7. If he writes about the weather, it'll be funny or pithy or tragic -- or knowledgeable because she's a meteorologist. (and speaking of insider: Lyons and Drager FTW Goddamn, I love their explanations).

8. When he asks for advice he tells us what he decided to do. Because we're nosy like that.

9. Knows the Daily Currant is satire. I wasn't going to go hostile, but really, fuck you, Daily Currant. You're the only thing on the planet that makes me feel sort of sorry for Sarah Palin.

10. Warns us that the video she posted will contain an earworm. Except did you know rick-rolling is coming back? Ancient history for the internet is fresh again? Or not.

BONUS
11. Posts goats. Those rascals are still not old.

12. Also chickens.

FREE short story part one! FREE

2014-12-03T12:11:00.002-05:00

This is the novella/short story I wrote for Heroes and Heartbreakers.
You can buy it at Amazon or go to Heroes and Heartbreakers and read it free! (or do both. I won't try to stop you.)

The first half is up today, the second will be posted tomorrow.

http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/stories/2014/12/the-gentleman-and-the-lamplighter-a-short-story-part-1

Go read! And what about that cover?

happy new book day to me!

2014-11-25T07:17:00.002-05:00

"Must Loathe Norcross is small town m/m romance with a lot of hot body lusting, neighbourly nosiness, some quirky humour, and a delightfully gentle sense of love and romance."
booktopia november romance buzz

"... I really had fun with it. I love Summer/Kate's writing and it always pulls me right through from start to finish. Recommended."
five stars Eli Easton

It's out today! Right now! You can go buy a copy for less than the cost of a Barnes and Noble fancy drink that I'm planning on buying myself to celebrate release day!
buy at Samhain.
buy at Amazon
buy at barnes and noble

When it comes to love, there’s no such thing as traveling light.
Born wealthy and ambitious, Grady once worked hard and played hard—so hard, it brought him to the brink of ruin. Now, after a five-year retreat into the contemplative life, he’s dipping a toe back into the real world.

Assigned to write a series of articles about a Connecticut valley’s small towns, Grady checks into a local hotel. And meets a bellhop who seems determined to show him around…and maybe indulge in a more intimate tour later on.

When Josh’s boss half-jokingly suggests he get on a first-name basis with the writer who could make or break their town’s reputation, Josh jumps at the chance. He dreams of seeing the world, but the man he thought might be his ticket out turns out to be less influential—and more attractive—than he expected.

Together they uncover a strange plot to detour Norcross’s tourist dollars, a plot that leaves Grady bruised and angry. Now they’ll have to decide how far they’ll go to save the town…and how far they’ll fall for each other.

Product Warnings

Steaming-hot room service, delivered by a cute bellboy in uniform. Stolen towels will not be tolerated, but stolen hearts? Help yourself!

New cover! Old book!

2014-11-21T13:19:00.004-05:00

A fantasy romance, set in another world.

"This is a weird and wonderful fantasy. Very powerful--and uplifting.
--Rob Preece (Goodreads)

The revolution has swept the world, and the ancient rulers--mind-travelers who controlled others with their psychic powers--have been swept from existence. But one of the true revolutionaries must follow rumor to track down the last of the mind-travelers.

Hunting mind-travelers is what Cor does--despite the burden of guilt he carries. The cast-away, Numi had been banished from society for her powers. Beautiful and more dangerous than any other enemy Cor's encountered.

Numi will haunt her enemy the only way she knows how. . .

I wrote this a while back and published it via booksforabuck. It was never a big seller, except it did very well at fictionwise....which should tell you how long ago the book came out. (fictionwise went under in 2012.)

Last month, I got the rights back from. I had an editor go through it, and bought a new cover. The editor, who's picky, said she enjoyed it. So okay! That's great!

Now you can buy it again, but only at Amazon.