Thursday, November 28, 2013

Excerpt from Corruption

Mention was made in Diversion and Collusion that protagonist Lucky enjoyed fantasy and role playing. In this excerpt from Corruption, the third book in the Diversion series, Lucky and his partner, Bo, get to combine a little fun and games with an assignment from an undercover class.



Darkness and shadows, the perfect concealment for mischief in the making. A group of teens huddled together on a street corner, plotting how to get into juvenile detention, no doubt. “Don’t you kids have a curfew?” Lucky growled in passing, tuning out their clumsy comebacks. No matter what they said, he’d heard it before. He turned up the collar of his jacket and rammed his hands into the pockets. If things didn’t turn out quite like he hoped tonight, he might be calling his boss to get him out of jail. Would Walter buy the excuse of homework?
The teens’ laughter and taunting faded with each footstep, replaced by the thrum of a bass guitar and the rat-tat-tat of drums from the bar, slightly off-tempo. Amateur night, by the sounds of it. Extremely amateur.  Lucky rounded the next corner into a concealed alleyway, the neon of the Spencer’s Bar sign casting a rainbow glow. A dead end. Not good. And two doors opening on either side. A perfect ambush spot. Or a good place to hide.
Shuffling footsteps and a quiet “Uh-hmm” brought him back to the here and now. Oh yeah. The reason he braved a cold night without a proper jacket waited ahead. A shadowy figure leaned against a wall at the back of the alley, eyes glittering in the low light. A streetlight illuminated the fog of breath the man exhaled.
Fuck me! Lucky froze. Damn but he’d dreamed something like this before. Tousled hair, a come-out-and-play-I-know-you-want-to smile. A pair of tight jeans emphasized a bulging crotch, and the man turned to allow Lucky a peek at a perfectly shaped ass. A denim jacket gaped open in front to reveal a bare chest, sparsely covered in a dusting of dark hair. The glimmer of a wallet chain led from belt to hip pocket. I’m hot and I know it radiated from the tip of the man’s gelled-up hair to the soles of his boots. Holy fuck! Lucky’s cock began to fill.
Unable to resist, he ran his fingers through the enticing wisps of chest hair. The man flinched back, biting down on a laugh. “Cold!” he complained.
“I’ll keep you warm,” Lucky replied, stepping close enough to share some body heat. Oh, yeah, he’d light a fire to warm them both for days.
“It’ll cost you.” Bo reclined back against a brick wall, grin gleaming in the semi-darkness. Oh fuck, yeah.
Lucky reached down to rearrange his highly interested cock. “How much?”
“Depends on what you want.” Bo ran a hand under his open jacket and slid it slowly down his body.
“What’re you offering?”
“Everything.” The barest tips of Bo’s fingers dipped under his waistband.
“What’s everything?” And did it involve getting naked in a filthy alley?
“You know. Ev-er-y-thiiiiing.” Bo plunged his hand into jeans so tight it was a wonder anything besides the man’s ample package fit.
Two could play that game. Lucky leaned in and wafted a breath across Bo’s jaw. “No, I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?” A tongue flick elicited a gasp. Lucky grabbed Bo’s wrist and forcibly removed the hand from his jeans, then palmed the fascinating, denim-covered firmness he found there. Oh yeah, the little hellcat enjoyed this too. Undercover Cop and the Rent Boy became Lucky’s new favorite fantasy.
“Tell me what you want,” Bo murmured.


Corruption, now available from Rocky Ridge Books.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

A "Wow!" Review

There are reviews, and then there are reviews like the one Corruption received at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Wow! Just...wow! Five stars and "Highly recommended!"

Here's some of what reviewer Melanie had to say:

"I love the complexities that Eden Winters continues to build into this series as well as her main characters.  In each new book, she adds new layers and textures to their relationship while revealing more of the depths to each man’s character and past.  Lucky has to be one of the most unusual main characters in  recent m/m romance or any romance for that matter." 
Read entire review here:


Just in Time for the Holidays: A Thanksgiving Day Story

A Lie I Can Live With has been polished up with all I've learned over the years and has been sent back out into the world with a lovely new cover from P.D. Singer. Isn't it lovely? And just in time for Thanksgiving, around which the story is based.

This is the story of Otis, a secondary character who won readers' hearts in The Match Before Christmas and Fanning the Flames. I received so many requests for Otis' story! How could I refuse to give him his onscreen HEA?

 A Lie I Can Live With


A dating site profile faked up to make geeky gamer Otis Tucker more alluring hasn’t done much for his social life, so what does he have to lose by putting his real picture and honest interests online? His pal Barry swears there’s someone out there who will love Otis for himself, extra pounds and all.

Handsome Garret Mims sends “I’d love to meet you!” but takes things so slow Otis is quite sure they’re stopped. Is it really a date if there’s not so much as a kiss between them? Maybe he shouldn’t worry about Garret’s intentions and just enjoy every platonic moment. Instead, Otis could work on finding the missing ingredient for his pumpkin pies before Thanksgiving.

Garret’s upfront in every way but one, and Otis may have found a lie he can live with.



Find A Lie I Can Live With 2nd Edition at

All Romance 

Amazon

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Guest Post Today on The Face of Gay

Hey, y'all. Today I'm at Kage Alan's blog, posting for his Face of Gay series. My installment? What About Our Young People?

Come join me!


Friday, November 15, 2013

Blog Hop and Guest Post by Charlie Cochet

CCBlogTourBanner

Johnnie here. Once again. Welcome to the final stop on my personal guided tour, thank heavens. Not that it hasn't been real swell, but a fella’s got things to do, which may or may not involve a certain doctor. I don't like leaving Henry on his own for two long, especially about London. Too many folks giving him the up and down. Speaking of London, the joint ain't half bad, as far as cities go.

Believe it or not, I like places with history, and yeah, it doesn't hurt that usually Henry is the one giving the history lesson. To be honest, it don't matter what he's yammering on about as long as he's the one doing the talking. I usually accompany him up to London when he's in need of medical supplies or the latest equipment. Sometimes it's just nice to get away from the manor and have him to myself. Then there are the days when Henry asks me to join him and Elliot on their special days out. Our first stop is always the same: The Furry Hat Man.
Palace Guard
[Attribution: By The Lloyd family (Family pictures) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons]

Who's the furry hat man? That’s what Elliot refers to those fellas as. Elliot loves going up to London just so he can see them. They stand still for a really long time and I admit, despite the hat, they’re pretty hardboiled. I wouldn't last a day in their shiny shoes. One prod from a tourist and I’d end in the hoosegow for sure. Usually it's a challenged trying to keep Elliot from attempting to get their attention. He's always wanting to see how soft their furry hats are.

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA[Attribution: By Karrackoo (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons]

This is a big clock. Actually, it's called Ben, Big Ben. Why they named a clock Ben is something else I don't know. What's so great about Ben? Of course it don't have anything to do with the other Ben. You need to keep minding your potatoes, pal. What? Ben's the name of the bell? Who the hell name's a bell Ben? The English have funny names for things, like boot and bonnet for parts of an automobile. As far as I'm concerned, a bonnet's one of them frilly things ladies used to wear on their heads, and a boot goes on your foot, or if Chance is around, he’s probably threatening your backside with it.

Eight years and sometimes I still don't know what folks are blathering on about. Henry likes to tease me, always looking for new words I might not have come across just so he can see 'the look'. I ain't exactly sure what look I get when he suddenly stops making sense, but he seems to find it extraordinarily amusing. Back to London. There's lots of places to go, including plenty of apartment parties and even some places known to cater fellas like us. Mostly, I just like getting to walk around London with Henry and Elliot. We always stop for tea and cake. Sometimes when Henry's holding Elliot while the little squirt looks at ducks or flowers or something, I like to watch them and wonder what it'd be like if were a family, the three of us. Well, I'm starting to get all sappy, so that means it's the end of my tour. If you learned something, good for you. If you didn't, that's what libraries are for. Next up, you'll hear from the Brats. Good luck there, pal.
Blurb:


IAJW200

Eight years after leaving the deserts of Africa and the French Foreign Legion behind, Jonathan Wolfe has settled into life at Hawthorne Manor in the English countryside. Johnnie helps his adopted family run the manor and provide a safe, loving home for a new generation of “brats”: boys mistreated and discarded for their homosexuality—something all too familiar to Johnnie.
Although no longer an unruly youngster, Johnnie is as stubborn, foul-mouthed, and troublesome as ever. His recent rash behavior becomes a concern for those closest to him, especially Dr. Henry Young, the only man ever to capture Johnnie's heart. Instead of soothing him, their closeness brings Johnnie’s insecurities from an unsettling past to the surface, and leads to an explosive situation that threatens to tear them apart. Then Henry’s past catches up to them….


Excerpts are in the form of a serial.

Read Part 5 on Andrew Q. Gordon's blog here.



Excerpt Part 6
Fenton was going to have my hide. As grounds-keeper to the east side of the gardens, the man was rightfully growing weary of my crushing his flowerbeds.
I hit the unsuspecting plants with an “oomf”; and with a groan, I got to my feet. Leaves, petals, and tiny branches poked out everywhere. Smoothing down my hair, I snatched up my hat and huffed my way around the back toward the south gardens. By now, I knew Henry would have finished his session with Jacky, and if I found Henry, I’d find the little ragamuffin who seemed to be under the impression I was some sort of damsel who needed to be locked away in her tower waiting to be rescued by Prince Charming.
“Henry!”
Henry gave a start, his sudden impulse to hide the book in his hands telling me it was another romance novel, which I would have to remember to have a gander at next time I wasn’t in a lather. He looked me over, his mouth dropping open. “Good gad, man, what’s happened to you now?” Leaving the stone bench, he stood beside me and started picking flower petals from my hair until I swatted his hand away.
“Stop that. Is he here?” I looked around, not seeing the little squirt. He couldn’t be far.
“Who?” Henry looked around us, puzzled.
“You know who, and you know what.”
“Oh.” With a sigh, Henry turned, talking to the large tree across from us. “Come on out.”
Wispy brown hair edged out from behind the tree, followed by big green eyes, flushed cheeks, and an intense pout.
“Come now, Elliot,” Henry said gently, though there was enough sternness to get the six-year-old to come out from his hiding spot and run over to Henry—or at least hide behind him—teddy bear clutched in one arm. I kneeled down in front of Henry, my gaze on the innocent-looking cherub who I knew better than to believe was innocent.
“Ellie, why did you lock me in my room again?”
I was met with silence and a stern frown. Elliot came out from behind Henry to take my hand and put it in Henry’s. Awkward was what saps felt. I was settled in nicely between mortified and someone please shoot me where I stand.
The blog tour & excerpts continue with the Brats on Nov 18th over at Michael Rupured's blog.
***
Available in ebook and print from Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4362
***
Comment Prompt: What's been your favorite place to visit?




About the Author:
CCochet100

Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.
Website: http://www.charliecochet.com
Blog: http://www.charliecochet.com/blog
Email: charlie@charliecochet.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charliecochet
Twitter: @charliecochet | http://www.twitter.com/charliecochet


Giveaway
1st Prize: $15 Amazon gift card + Impetuous Afflictions signed swag pack + signed 8x10 art print.
2nd & 3rd Prize: Impetuous Afflictions swag pack + signed 8x10 art print.
***
To Enter
Just leave a comment on any of the blog posts along the tour, along with a contact email address. **If you would still like to enter the contest but don't wish to leave your email address in the comment, you can also enter by emailing charlie@charliecochet.com.
Winners will be chosen at random and posted on Charlie's blog at http://www.charliecochet.com/blog on Monday, December 2nd. Winners will then be notified via email.
***
Contest ends
Sunday, December 1st at midnight, Eastern Time.



Tour stops:
11/9 - Welcome to Hawthorne Manor [Excerpt 1] - The Novel Approach
11/11 - Billiard Room Brouhaha [Excerpt 2] - Author Sue Brown
11/12 - A Trip to the Town of Aylesbury [Excerpt 3] - Author Kim Fielding
11/13 - Time for Tea [Excerpt 4] - Author Lex Chase
11/14 - Stopping for a Pint [Excerpt 5] - Author Andrew Q. Gordon
11/15 - Visiting the Furry Hat Man [Excerpt 6] - Author Eden Winters
11/18 - Meet Gideon Brooks [Excerpt 7] - Author Michael Rupured
11/19 - Meet Rori Curti [Excerpt 8]s - Author Shira Anthony
11/20 - Meet Aubrey Jepson [Excerpt 9] - Attention is Arbitrary
11/21 - Meet Oliver Darling [Excerpt 10] - Hearts on Fire
11/22 - Meet Elliot Young [Excerpt 11] - Author Elin Gregory
11/25 - Meet Connor & Edmund Grey [Excerpt 12]- Joyfully Jay
11/26 - The Devilish Duo [Finale] - Mrs. Condit & Friends

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Congratulations, Bruce!


I met Bruce a few years ago after he contacted me about my novel The Telling. We chatted, exchanged viewpoints, I read his work and he read mine. We grew to be friends. And now, due to a recent change in the laws of his state, he and his partner can finally be legally wed.

Today, on his wedding day, Bruce has agreed to tell us what it’s been like living without the protection a marriage license offers, and what marriage equality means for him and his family.

Our situation is probably different than most. I was married before with three children when I met my husband almost twenty years ago. I was separated from my ex-wife and ready to start my life anew with a whole entourage of suitcases... Along the way it has been a struggle both financially and legally that a straight couple wouldn't have had to go through. Since we (my new partner and I) weren't married we feared that if anything should happen to me, my ex would be entitled to my estate, not my partner.

I couldn't have life insurance that made him the beneficiary. Our state had passed civil unions as their compensation for marriage, but in a world where the word "marriage" means everything, civil union mean nothing and was a poor consolation prize. When I was laid off from my company, until I found a new job I went without health insurance, because while I could have been added free from my partner’s policy, the government, both state and federal, required me to pay them as they considered this imputed income. So I went without and prayed...

Then there were doctors and hospitals who wouldn't talk to me when my partner went in for open heart surgery even though we had powers of attorney, both financial and medical, for each other. We’d been together nine years. They would rather talk to his 84 year old mother who was scared at losing her son.  She finally told them to talk to me because I had the right, not her. They would only take her word, despite the swarm of legal papers which, by the way, we have stashed all over the house and cars. Just in case. We have to carry them with us at all times to make sure that we don't go through that again.

We decided to adopt a baby. That was the only time we didn't reach a hurdle. We were treated as equals with other married couples. Maybe that was because the state was overloaded with unwanted children. But the hurdles re-appeared when we tried to enroll our son in school when he started 1st grade (we had him in preschool and kindergarten in a private school). Even though we had birth certificates, adoption papers, all the legal papers that no straight couple needed to have, we were treated as criminals. All the papers were questioned in detail until I threatened to have our lawyer take the school board to court for discrimination.

Then there is the financial end. We could have joint accounts for both banking and CCs but we had to keep separate records for tax purposes since now, even though we owned a house together, both the state and federal government treated us as individuals. Whereas a husband and wife could declare "X" amount of deductions, we had to make sure we had documented proof because “we were bound to be audited,” our accountant told us. Then there is the Patriot Act which came about as a result of 911. Again, armed with all kinds of paperwork, we could not do any kind of banking for the other, which a normal husband and wife could do. Because we weren't married. The civil union law which came into effect helped a little but not much. While I could still go on his health insurance, I was taxed at a much different rate than had we not, but I still had to pay for imputed income on our tax returns.

Now with the marriage laws into play, we do not have to carry around "ALL" the paperwork, just the marriage license. But that didn't come about without some of its own hassles. Our town is very Republican, so to get back at this new law which they came out and said they were against in public meetings, they sent the only registrar on vacation for a week. They couldn't stop marriage equality but they could delay it. Oh, and we have a marriage certificate that says husband and husband (with the second husband typed in and the word WIFE "XXXXXX" out). That looks real official. They are hoping one day to have gender non-specific licenses, but until then this will have to do. So with our marriage license that looks like it was created in an Easy Bake Oven and a stack of paperwork that we will have to have at the ready just in case we 1) have to go to the bank, 2) get in an accident, 3) go to the doctor, 4) apply for Social Security, 5) buy any property, 6) end up in the hospital, 7) have to make any decisions for either of us, not to mention our son, that any straight couple does not have to carry around with them. The woman just says, “He is my husband” or he says “She is my wife”, no proof needed. They don't even have to have the same last name, and things are just accepted.

***
Having known Bruce a few years now, and hearing of his family’s struggles, I can only say that I hope they finally get the equal treatment they deserve, and “New Jersey, what took you so long?” I also would like a few words with the folks who planned that inconvenient “vacation.”

Congratulations on your marriage, Bruce. I wish you and your family all the happiness in the world. 



Monday, November 11, 2013

Veterans Day/Remembrance Day

Words cannot express my deep debt of gratutude for all of our armed forces, past and present, for serving our country. God bless you all.


Celebrate Mrs. Condit's Blogoversary!

Today marks the second anniversary of Mrs. Condit and Friends Read Books review blog, and they're marking the occasion with a giveaway. Enter to win a $100 gift card here:

I have the honor of having written the first book to be reviewed on that site with The Telling. She contacted me, we chatted, and I thrilled to call her friend. Another first: The Telling was the first M/M book Parker Williams ever read. He contacted me, we became friends, and now he's published works of his own. (The Telling has brought many wonderful people into my life.) In light of these firsts, Parker and I have teamed up with an exclusive story to celebrate the day. And since today is Veterans Day in the US, and Remembrance Day in Canada, he and I have chosen Veterans Day as the theme of our collaboration. Jay and Michael from The Telling meet Jace and Mark from Parker's short story 500 Miles. One chapter will be released each day, from today until Thursday, when the entire story will be available for download. Read today's chapter here:

Also in honor of the day, Mrs Condit and Friends Read Books is donating $100 to the Wounded Warriors project. So stop by the site, say hello, enter to win, and check out the free story.


Monday, November 4, 2013

Rainbow Book Reviews on Corruption





What a wonderful way to wrap up a Monday! It seems that reviewer Lena Grey at Rainbow Book Reviews enjoyed reading Bo and Lucky's continued adventures in Corruption, part 3 of my Diversion series. Here's some of what she had to say:

"Fans of the 'Diversion' series will not be disappointed by this third book and, with all its twists and turns, will surely want to read the next one. Thanks, Eden, for continuing this exciting, educational, stimulating, passionate, and loving story. I'm looking forward to the next volume."
 Read the entire review at Rainbow Book Reviews.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

The GayRomLit 2013 Report - Part 1

It's taken me awhile, but I've finally downloaded all my pictures (far too many came out black, I'm afraid) and I'm ready to report on my time in Atlanta at GayRomLit 2013.

First off, last year I suffered a serious case of burnout, trying to be everywhere at the same time, so this year I had a better game plan (that still went out the window when a bad back sent me hobbling to the room to lie down on more than one occasion.) This year was so very special in that three people who were with me when I took my first author baby steps on a fanfiction site were in attendance: Jared Rackler, P.D. Singer, and T.D. O'Malley. Hard to believe that was eight years ago!


Let's talk about swag! I kinda overdid it this year, as I picked up several new items that caught my eye, then, while moving, found more in a box in the closet. I barely had room on my table to put it all:
Pens, Post-it notes, mini sewing kits (I'd needed one desperately at last year's GRL), Diversion, Collusion, and Duet playing cards, purse mirrors, calculators and, for those who dropped by my book signing table, free print copies of my novellas The Match Before Christmas and Fanning the Flames. Thankfully, all of it was claimed and I didn't have to bring any home. 

The Telling was my very first novel, and was a lifechanging event for me. It also brought a lot of wonderful people into my life, and I was proud to hand some of those folks a personalized copy. Several years ago a young man wrote to me about that book, told me about his own writing, then disappeared, only to return with his own novel in hand. I so loved meeting Will Parkenson face to face. 

The folks I met and hung out with are too numerous to name, and if I tried, I'm afraid I'd leave someone out. Trust me, every word we exchanged, every neck I hugged, every wave across a room, every smile, is dear to me. 

I would like to single out a few folks, though. Feliz Faber has been a good friend and beta for years now, and I finally got to meet her face to face. What a lovely soul she is. Doesn't she make an awesome owl at the masquerade ball? 


Speaking of the ball, I returned to my fanfiction roots for my costume. I'd planned to go as Belle Morte, from Laurel K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. Since I can't manage a French accent to save my life, have a novel about possum shifters, and am decidedly Southern, I went at "Belle Mor-tay, Master of the City of Possum Kingdom, Georgia. How's yo maker and dem?" A stuffed possum rode on my shoulder--my animal to call. Two bad I lost my fangs twenty minutes into the party. But not before snacking on good friend, Doug Starr. 


Although I'm an author, I'm also a major fangirl, and got to squee to my heart's content:

Shae Connor

With the stunning ladies of Mrs. Condit and Friends Read Books: Landry Breaux and Francis Bickford McNeal.

E.M. Lynley (on couch), reviewer/blogger Elisa Rolle (looking elegant in her gown) and Librarian Kate (side view.)

Dear friend P.D. Singer, pinning a possum to my wrist. (Don't ask.)


Michael Rupured, Charlie Cochet (love her look!) and my roomie, T.D. O'Malley.

Over the next few weeks I'll be posting more rememberances as I find the time. Just know that I had a great time, learned a lot in the writer's workshops, enjoyed reconnecting with old friends, and meeting new ones. 

New Release from Rocky Ridge Books - Spokes by P.D. Singer

I don't read many sports-type novels, for many assume I already know the rules about football, baseball, etc., and I find myself hopelessy lost and unable to unravel key plot elements. However, I've just finished one that manages to expertly weave details about competitive bicycle racing in with a gripping story of two men from completely different backgrounds meeting and trying to find common ground. There is love, there is loss, there are edge-of-your-seat moments, all encompassed in a beautifully written story. No infodump here, though a handly glossary of racing terms is included.

My favorite passage in the whole book, one that can make me cry just recalling the words, appears below. By the time you reach these words in the book, you'll know that, when racing, a group that breaks away from the rest of the racers is called the fuga bidone. The peloton is the main body of riders that the fuga bidone leaves behind. The words are a touching tribute to fallen comrades.

“They are the fuga bidone, Christopher. They broke away. They’re too far ahead to reel in,” Luca whispered, his voice breaking into the wind that licked the mountain top. “We are the peloton.”
“We’ll see them again at the finish line.”
From the gorgeous Colorado Rockies, to the trecherous Italian Alps, we ride along with Christopher and Luca, in pursuit of their dreams. With this novel I laughed, I cried (boy, how I cried!), and in the end, was left with the warm, fuzzy desire to read this book again, to reconnect with our two heroes. And a vastly greater knowledge of bicycling.


Pro cyclist Luca Biondi lives for the race. For the star of Team Antano-Clark, victory lies within his grasp—if he can outdistance 200 other hopefuls, avoid suspicion from race officials, and keep his lieutenant more friend than foe. Luca also has secrets, and eyes for amateur cyclist and journalist Christopher Nye.

Christopher understands Luca’s need to keep their relationship under wraps, but chafes at hiding in the shadows of his lover’s career. He’s ready to cheer Luca’s victories, but he knows too well how triumph can turn to tears. While Christopher’s heart sees Luca the man, his inner journalist—and his editor—sees the cycling world’s biggest scoop.

From the jagged curves of the Colorado Rockies to the viciously steep Belgian hills, Luca can ride out any bumps—except rumors.

A few words in the wrong ear could crash everything. With miles between them, hints of scandal, and Luca’s fierce need to guard his reputation, a journalist might have to let go of the biggest story of his career or risk forcing his lover to abandon the race. Christopher and Luca face a path more treacherous than any road to the summit in the Italian Alps.

Available now from Rocky Ridge Books.