Sunday, October 30, 2011

Four and a Half Divas for Galen and the Forest Lord at Dark Divas Reviews

Dark Divas' reviewer Crys had this to say about Galen and the Forest Lord:
I’ve learned to read Eden Winters’ stories with a box of tissues nearby, because either I’m going to cry or snort my drink. When I read Galen and the Forest Lord, I should have put my ice tea down.

Read entire review here:

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Saturday Snark

Okay, this is the first time I'm trying this, so I hope it goes well, but Troy Steele (aka Oren Keller) of Settling the Score begged me to join Marie Sexton's Saturday Snark blog hop. Here's Troy's unfortunate (and unsuccessful) attempt to thwart his PA in her bid for him to shed a few pounds

***

"Hmmm..." Erica moaned, tasting her salad, "arugula." Her eyes, blue today, swept from the head of the table to the end, taking in the difference between Troy and Joey's meals. They narrowed at Troy's. "Why do you get Italian and he gets a protein smoothie?" The temperature in the room dropped a good ten degrees from the chill in her voice alone. He'd loved his grandmother dearly, both admiring and fearing the way she'd ruled her home. She couldn't hold a candle to Erica.

"He's on a diet; I'm not." Troy stated the obvious, on the defensive.
                                                                                        
"Why aren't you?" Erica retorted, icy tones turning to acid.

Troy fought the urge to hug his plate. "Because his character is on one," he wavered, adding a glare he meant to be intimidating. How useless. Bearing the alpha-male name of Troy didn't mean he stood a snowball's chance in hell of living up to it. Oren Keller was, and always would be, a beta-male. Erica, alpha-female extraordinaire, was fully aware of that fact and not above exploiting it.

The demurely lowered lashes and pretty pout probably turned straight men to putty. Troy wasn't fooled for an instant. Like most dangerous creatures, the one sitting at his table appeared deceptively benign. "Isn't it you who told me the best way to capture an event is to experience it for yourself?" she purred.

Damn. He hated having his own words used against him. A battle of wills engaged. He deliberately raised a sizable forkful of pasta to his lips, chewing with gusto.

Joey sat quietly sipping his protein shake, attention bouncing from one antagonist to the other, reminding Troy of a spectator at Wimbledon. If it were him, he'd be running by now. "I don't see why I have to endure... I mean, experience a diet. I'm sure Joey will explain intimately what it feels like," Troy answered weakly. "Won't you, Joey?"



Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Free Read

Last year I had the priveledge of participating in Torquere Press' Charity Sips Blitz to benefit Doctors Without Borders. My story fell a bit into the "write what you know" category, drawing on my own experiences of being in El Salvador in January and February of 2001, when that poor country was hit by two horrific earthquakes and innumerable aftershocks. I had hoped with "What You Can't Live Without" to convey not only the danger, but also the beauty of El Salvador and the unbeatable spirit of her people.

Now that the charity campaign has officially ended, I'd like to share the story with any reader who enjoys M/M and would like to read Mitch and Nulfo's tale.

Here's the link. Just click "Download Ebook" and select your desired format. Many thanks to Cole for getting the file adapted and posted for me. You rock, Cole!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Lovely review for Galen and the Forest Lord at Reviews by Jessewave

Raine, at Reviews by Jessewave, had this to say about Galen and the Forest Lord:
Both Galen and the Forest Lord Erik are enjoyable characters, with their own mix of the heroic and unheroic; they display outright stupidity, but also kindness, honesty, bravery and unexpected cunning. However when push comes to shove they show they are meant to be together in this quirky and funny fable.

Read entire review here:

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Affaire de Coeur rated The Angel of 13th Street five stars!

The Angel of 13th Street received five stars today from Affaire de Coeur. Their reviewer had this to say:



From the first line, readers' blood will race in step with young Jeremy Kincaid. The story opens with him running from a pack of thugs led by Jeremy's ex‑boyfriend who is determined to force Jeremy into prostitution by any means necessary. Jeremy is the archetype of the romance heroine: orphaned, homeless, proud, fiercely determined, struggling to keep body and soul (and virtue) intact. Noah is the perfect counterpart: heroic, battling inner demons, lonely, loyal, strong, scarred and protective. He literally sweeps the injured youth into his arms and carries him up the stairs to his apartment the night they meet! Reader, flutter your fan here. This is a story that hits every note right. It follows a traditional outline, but is transformed into a gritty contemporary urban love story. It is passionate and doesn't shy away from hard issues.
Read entire review here: 



Sunday, October 16, 2011

From New Orleans back to the trailer park...

Well, I'm back from GayRomLit and had a blast. I met so many wonderful people that I wanted to bring home and keep forever, but the trailer just isn't that big, ya know? Maybe I should think about getting a doublewide.

Anyhoo, I'll be adding details as the week progresses, but I learned some very important facts during the con:

1) I'd happily pay Anel Viz good money to read to me.
2) The best place in the whole wide world to be is in a group hug with GayRomLit folks.
3) GayRomLit folks are into group hugs.
4) There's folks out there as crazy about Adam Lambert as I am and they better call me the next time they go to a concert.
5) There are a lot of people in this genre,  writers, readers, and reveiwers, who totally rock.
6) P.D. Singer and I should not be allowed to venture out on our own without a guide. We took a lot of scenic routes.
7) I really shouldn't ingest massive amounts of powdered sugar early in the morning if I hope to be capable of shutting up by noon.
8) True to his promise, the chocolate chip mint drink really did make the bartender look better.
9) A gay romance literature convention is not a good place to score if you're a woman. Especially if you're now considered a regular at three separate gay bars.
10) I love gay bars.
11) The packages in the little baskets at gay bars are not peanuts.
12) The motormouth of the south is incapable of coherent speech within ten feet of Damon Suede. Mom wishes he were our neighbor when I was a kid. I can't come close to his energy level even when OD'd on beignets.
13) I haven't lost my inner fangirl, and can still squee with the best of them, though at my age it's not very pretty.
14) When an author vaults the table at a book signing to squee, "Oh my God, it's ____" at a reader, it has a tendency to frighten the reader.
15) When attending GayRomLit, you'll need to make arrangements beforehand to ship your massive amounts of purchased  books home.
16) Neriah and Pam are fabulous roomates.
17) Michele, Librarian Kate, Aurora, Nikyta, Heather, Amy, Will, Chris, Krys, Blackraven, Jeff, Angela, Laura, Kassa, Jo, Belinda, M.L. .... oh heck, a WHOLE LOT of people I met are unbelievably awesome!
18) D.H. Starr is freaking adorable.
19) John from Texas has his own fan club and I wanna be president of it.
20) Leaving Bourbon Street and returning to Possum Kingdom may be the world's ultimate culture shock. I may need therapy.
21) I can drink more than I thought I could.
22) If you've passed the same landmark three times in a row, it's best to admit you're vodkally challenged and ask for directions.
23) You will see some weird-a--ed sh-- on Bourbon Street.
24) When someone hands you an autograph book, they generaly intend for you to sign the whole page. It's not like a group birthday card when you gotta write real tiny in one corner to allow twenty-some-odd other people to sign.
25) Book readings and jackhammers are not good combinations. Neither are foods fried in a lot of butter and alchoholic beverages.
26) Somewhere out there is a really cute guy named Jason, and I wish I had a brother like Trey. Sis, you are  lucky. But then so is Trey.
27) If I were still a kid I'd wanna grow up to be M.L Rhodes.
28) Angela Benedetti is always always happy. Always.
29) Carry disks of your free reads around at all times when at GayRomLit. You never know when you'll get an opportunity to gain a new reader.
30) Before allowing pictures or videos to be taken after you have a few, it's best to have an agreement in place for the picture taker not to post on YouTube or Facebook.

Tune in next time when I offer photographic evidence of most of the above.


Thursday, October 13, 2011

Top 2 Bottom Reviews showers love and 5 kisses on Galen and the Forest Lord

Lisa at Top 2 Bottom Reviews rated my novella Galen and the Forest Lord five kisses, and had this to say:
Galen and the Forest Lord is a departure for Eden Winters, whose stories are always perfectly angsty, sometimes heartbreaking, always touching. This sweet and funny fantasy will introduce readers to a new side of Eden’s talent. The story is a fast paced, single sitting read that introduces a hero in Lord Erik, who is anything but your run-of-the mill alpha male. He’s charming, handsome, perhaps not the sharpest nail in the box, and a little bit clumsy at times, but entirely appealing, no matter what he says or does.
This was such a fun and entertaining story I can only say I hope Eden will stray this way again from time to time.
Read entire review here: 

I'm in New Orleans!

Pam (P.D. Singer) and I arrived yesterday and are staying at a hotel two blocks away from the convention, meaning we walk down Bourbon Street to get there. I have officially seen it all now, pictures to follow. Neriah arrived later and now that we've slept, we're planning how to fill our day until registration time at 4:30.

Pam a I helped stuff goodie bags for attendees last night, and let me tell you, the recipeints are in for a real treat! Talk about some serious swag! I met some fabulous people, and look forward to meeting many more. And I discovered a drink that involves Godiva chocolates!

Had drinks and some excellent coversation (okay, I met fellow Adam Lambert fans and we engaged in some serious fangirl squeeing). Fabulous time, and I can't wait to get back out there. Now to find some of that famous Louisiana Community Coffee.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Sing it with me! "My bags are packed and I'm ready to go... "

I'm am twirling through the house like Taz, the Tasmanian Devil, tucking things into my suitcase and backpack, and hoping I don't forget anything. Bright and early tomorrow I'll be leaving for New Orleans, for my first ever convention as a published author. *Bounces up and down, which could be dangerous for a woman my age* I can't wait to meet everybody, and talk about thinks that make folks 'round here suddenly remember something else they needed to do, 'cause I'll talk writing, hot m/m loving, betas, etc., all day long! (Longer if you buy me beer!)

If you're attending GayRomLit, I hope to see you there!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Halloween Story and a Sale

In the mood for some m/m lovin' of the ghostly kind? Check out my Halloween short story, Same Time Next Year, at Torquere Press.

***
Jerome and Greg played on the dirt road halfway between their homes when they were kids, and found much better games to play there when they grew older. It's their special spot, the perfect place for Greg to propose, and the worst place possible for the accident that takes his life.

Devastated by the loss, Jerome visits that lonely road on the anniversary of Greg's death, only to discover that not all endings are permanent.


***


Find it here: 


Not only is the tale in keeping with the season, TQ's latest sale means it's the right time to buy and save 20%,

Paranormal Month Sale!
October is Paranormal Month! So we're offering 20% off your purchases from now through the end of day Monday! Just put 'para2011' in the coupon code box any time you check out at Torquere Books (www.torquerebooks.com) before Monday at midnight to get 20% off your order.
Sale good now through Monday October 10 at Midnight (est).
Celebrate Paranormal Month with a book from Torquere Press today!