Monday, June 25, 2012

More Coming Soon!


I've already posted about The Wish on Dreamspinner's Coming Soon page, but there's a companion short story, Valentine Wish, that stars two minor characters from the novel. Today I received the email that said it, too, is posted as coming soon. And the best part for readers? It's a free Nap Sized Dream!

Look for The Wish, and Valentine Wish, on July 20. (Both are re-releases, and have been re-edited and polished)


Isaac Lewis left the gangs behind to remake himself. He’s a street fighter turned gym rat, a thug turned honest man—only his loneliness hasn’t changed.

Success as a restaurateur hasn't erased Thierry Guillaume’s insecurities. Well-padded in a world where looks matter, he’s been grasping at crumbs of affection. Can Isaac convince him he deserves the whole cake?





Find it here:


Sunday, June 24, 2012

Coming Soon...

The Wish, 2nd Edition, will publish from Dreamspinner Press on July 20. The story hasn't changed much; however, I was able to brush it up a bit with all I've learned since first writing the book four years ago. And it has a lovely new cover by artist Christine Griffin.



At his death, Byron Sinclair left behind more than just his much older partner Alfred Anderson. The couple helped raise their respective nephews, and while Paul Sinclair and Alex Martin are now adults, they still have some growing up to do, particularly when it comes to getting along with each other.

If they refuse to be in the house at the same time, how can Alex be so sure Paul is an opportunistic suck-up with the morals of an alley cat? Paul isn’t impressed with aloof and arrogant playboy Alex, either. Both swear they know all they need to about the other--and about themselves.

Byron’s dying wish is for Alfred to help Paul and Alex see how perfect they are for each other. But when the boys stubbornly refuse to acknowledge what's right in front of them, Byron must get creative – though it’ll be difficult without hands, or a voice, or a body…. 



Find The Wish on Dreamspinner's Coming Soon page:


Ebook 


Print

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Thought Provoking Article At Lambda Literary

Lambda Literary has posted a thought-provoking article about what constitutes gay romance, and discusses this year's Lambda Literary's gay romance nominated novels and their relevance to the topic. The article features comments by such genre notables as Erik Orrantia, Josh Lanyon, and Jerry L. Wheeler.

Find it here.


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day!

I was seven years old when I last saw my father alive. A daddy's girl, it broke my heart when we dropped him off at the airport, never to see him again. At the time I didn't understand, and perhaps I never will, but I waited too long to reconnect. He died, never having met his grandchildren.

I was thirty-three the first time I met the man I now call "Dad." An acquaintance at the time had one that I borrowed and refused to give back, for isn't life as much about the family you acquire as the one you were born with? If you're a praying person, please say one for him--his health is declining.

Then there's my mother--a single parent when single-parenthood still raised eyebrows. She did the best she could to see me and my siblings raised, filling the role of both father and mother. Did we see eye to eye all the time? No, but what mother and daughter do? It's part of growing up and developing my own (slightly bizarre, if you ask my family) personality. But she's proud of me now, and I'm very proud of her.

To the three "Dads" in my life: I love you, and the role you fill in my life is precious. Happy Father's Day.


Saturday, June 16, 2012

Dark Divas Reviews Diversion

While creating Lucky Lucklighter for Diversion, I wondered at his acceptance--he does not play well with others and works very hard to be a pain in the ass.  He's not particularly good-looking, and possesses no hint of tact. He also has a less than stellar past. Would readers hate him? Would they see past the anger and walls he erects to the vulnerable man hiding inside? And what of Bo, who fights his own demons?

Yet, in all their imperfections, Lucky and Bo seemed to strike a chord with readers. Here's some of what Doug at Dark Divas Reviews had to say:
What I loved about Diversion was how both protagonists were somewhat damaged. Lucky was certainly more damaged and plagued by ghosts from his past, but Bo’s past wasn’t as boy-next-door as Lucky had originally thought. But the antagonists were also somehow relatable and had qualities which made them somewhat likable. The ability to draw characters who clearly fit the roles of good guys and bad guys, but to weave in a very real humanity into each one is a brilliant skill Ms. Eden masterfully weaves into each story.



Read entire review here:

Find Diversion at:

Amber Allure

Fictionwise

All Romance ebooks

Amazon 

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Reviews by Jessewave Weighs in on Fallen Angel

Reviewer Cryselle had this to say about Fallen Angel, the sequel to The Angel of 13th Street:


For those of you who haven’t read Angel of Thirteenth Street, go fix that right now. Okay, you’re back? Good. Now we can talk, not so much because you need all the background in the first book as because it’s just that good and this follows on. Fallen Angel stands alone but is that much richer if you’ve read the first one.
Read entire review here:

Find Fallen Angel at Torquere Books:

Amazon:

Fictionwise:

Friday, June 8, 2012

Book Giveaway at Stumbling Over Chaos

Hurry over to Stumbling Over Chaos were blogger extraordinaire, the lovely Chris, is hosting a drawing for a copy of my dear friend P.D. Singer's upcoming novel, Fire on the Mountain. Hot park rangers putting out fires, only the start a blaze of another kind burning between them.


Take a break from academics, enjoy the Colorado Rockies, fight a fire now and then. That’s all Jake Landon expected when he signed up to be a ranger. He’ll partner with some crusty old mountain man; they’ll patrol the wilderness in a tanker, speak three words a day, and Old Crusty won’t be alluring at all. A national forest is big enough to be Jake’s closet – he’ll spend his free time fishing.
Except Old Crusty turns out to be Kurt Carlson: confident, competent, and experienced. He’s also young, hot, friendly, and considers clothing optional when it’s just two guys in the wilderness. Sharing a small cabin with this walking temptation is stressing Jake’s sanity – is he sending signals, or just being Kurt? And how would Kurt react if he found out his new partner wants to start a fire of a different kind? Jake’s terrified – they have to live together for five months no matter what.
Enough sparks fly between the rangers to set the trees alight, but it takes a raging inferno to make Jake and Kurt admit to the heat between them.
First Electronic Edition published by Torquere Press (2009).
Bonus Short Story: Into the Mountains
Long before he met Jake, Kurt Carlson climbed Yosemite with his best friend, Benji. But after a storm traps them halfway up the face of El Capitan, Kurt has to accept that their friendship isn’t what he thought.


Thursday, June 7, 2012

Diversion ebook giveaway at Elisa Rolle's

Elisa Rolle at My Reviews and Ramblings is hosting giveaways of ebooks by GayRomLit authors, and today's book is Diversion by yours truly.

Haven't read it? Here's your chance!


Drug dealers aren't always on the streets; sometimes they sit in offices and board rooms, selling merchandise in official looking bottles instead of little cellophane bags.

When given a choice between eight more years in prison or using his "expertise" to assist the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau's Department of Diversion Prevention and Control, convicted drug trafficker Richmond "Lucky" Lucklighter takes the sentence with the illusion of freedom. Cynical and unwilling to admit he's begun to care about his job, he counts the days until his debt is paid. His sole obstacle to getting his life back is the rookie he's assigned to train before he leaves; a rookie who quotes pharmacy texts, hasn't paid his dues, and has the obnoxious tendency of seeing the good in everyone – including the target of their investigation.

Former Marine Bo Schollenberger dreamed of becoming a pharmacist and watched the dream turn into a nightmare of PTSD-fueled prescription drug abuse. Battling his demons daily, he wakes up every morning, wondering, "Will this be the day I give in?" To keep his license, he must now put his skills to use for a diversion control task force, deal with a crude partner with too much attitude and no brain-to-mouth filter, and take down a drug lord who reminds him of his favorite cooking show hostess.

The bad guys don't stand a chance -- if Lucky and Bo don't strangle each other first...

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Invasion of New York! Or Lambda Memories

After arriving in New York at eleven am on Sunday, June 3, I found myself promptly conned by a man posing as a cab driver, but at least he got me to the Carnegie Deli in time to meet my dear friend, D. H. Starr. The one thing I learned about the deli was that you'd better be hungry, or prepared to haul out leftovers. My omelet may have required a full dozen eggs.

Afterward Doug walked me to my hotel, The Out NYC (what an amazing place!), where we stashed my luggage and set off on foot for the station so he could catch a train back home. Had a great time, but miss him dearly. I'm hoping to see him again for Atlanta Pride, but if not at Pride, then definitely at GayRomLit. 

I checked into my room to await my friend and Lammy date, P.D. Singer. After a nice vegetarian meal we had a giggle and gossip fest, caught each other up on current projects, then managed a few hours of sleep. (Sleep is highly overrated when you're out of town hanging with freinds.)

The next morning we caught a subway and headed for the Museum of Natural History, meeting up with Pam's research partner for her NY based masterpiece, The Rare Event. Flatiron Mike is a sweetheart.


We dined at the Shake Shack, then hit the museum.


After taking tons of dinasaur pics and releasing my inner kid for a few hours, Mike took us to Strawberry Fields, John's Lennon's memorial in Central Park, and showed us where John had lived. 


We said our goodbyes and Pam and I raced back to our hotel to get ready for the Lambda Awards. The rain, wind, and cold did not work in our favor, and we had to shop for last minute sweaters to keep warm, finally locating something workable in a conveniently placed Kmart. Who visits New York and shops at Kmart? Me, apparently. 

After the red carpet moment at the Lammys (squeee!) Pam and I met fellow nominee, Barry Brennessel and his husband, Dave (they're adorable!), nominee Jay Bell and his husband, Andreas, Greg Hogben (soon to pub his first book!), Jim Provenzano, another nominee, who won a Lammy for Best Gay Romance category (congrats, Jim!), and Marshall Thornton, whose book was up for Gay Mystery. 

Hilarious Kate Clinton hosted the affair and presenters included such notables as: Ted Allen, Ross Bleckner, Frank Bruni, Charles Busch, Olympia Dukakis, Wally Lamb, Anthony Rapp, Judith Regan, Ally Sheedy, and Jacqueline Woodson.  

Honorees were: Armistead Maupin & Kate Millett. Lypsinka gave an outstanding perfomance. Our goodie bags that we received  for attenting included books, books, and more books. Yippee! I got Tales of the City, which I'd intended to buy. Sadly, I didn't get a chance to get it signed by Armistead. 

Coward that I am, I was afraid to read the four books competing against Settling the Score for Gay Romance honors, but I'd bought print copies of each, hoping to get them signed at the ceremony. I can't believe I left them at the hotel! Pam gamely braved the ride back to the hotel with me, (for a country girl, I'm getting pretty good at hailing cabs, if I do say so myself!). We made it to the after party at Slate, where Lady Bunny hosted one hell of a bash. I managed to get three of the books signed. It appears that Mel Bossa didn't attend. 

I haven't danced in twenty years but, hoping evidence never shows up on You Tube, I had a blast. I danced with anyone and everyone, and was spun around the dance floor, literally, by the fabulous Milan, of Ru Paul's Drag Race fame. (And I didn't even get a picture!)

I even met legendary reviewer Amos Lassen!

Pam and I called it a night at 1:30 am, rushed back to hotel to sleep a few hours, then dragged ourselves out of bed at 5:00. I found an honest to goodness cab driver to take up to the airport, where we said our goodbyes and returned to our lives. I read one of the four books on the flight back. I won't tell you which, but I'll be reviewing all four here on my site. 

I'm absolutely thrilled to have had a book so honored, and I'm truly grateful to Lambda Literary, the judges, my fabulous betas, my publisher, editors, proofreaders, readers, and my newfound friends, who made the evening even more special. Ya'll rock. 

Now, I'm counting the moments until GayRomLit, hoping we all meet again. 

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Highlights From the 2012 Lambda Awards

It's been an exciting few days, and now I'm back home, exhausted but happy. 

Here's a few highlights of the 2012 Lambda Literary Awards:

Photo on the red carpet, a major OMG! moment in my life:


With fellow nominees for the Gay Romance category: Jay Bell and Barry Brennessel. That's a whole lotta handsome standing there next to me, isn't it?


And the nominees are: (Jim Provenzano won. Congratulations, Jim!)


Entertainer Lypsinka


My Lammy date: P.D. Singer


Nominee for Gay Mystery category, and fellow Torquere author, the charming Marshall Thornton:


Honoree Armistead Maupin:



Saturday, June 2, 2012

Heading for the Lambda Awards!

I'm all packed and have worked myself into a panic about Monday night's Lambda Awards. My plane leaves way too early in the morning for New York, and my first stop on the journey after arriving is lunch with good friend D. H. Starr. Then I'll check in at Out - NYC, and wait for my writing partner, and incidentally, my date for the Lambdas, P.D. Singer.

Monday morning Pam and I plan to visit the Museaum of Natural History with Pam's NY information source for her latest novel, The Rare Event, and then head back to the hotel to get ready for the awards. Nominees are asked to be there at 5:30 for photos on the red carpet, the reception begins at 6:30 (booze!), and the awards start at 7:30.

The after party begins at 9:30. My flight leaves at 10 am, Tuesday morning. What a whirlwind, only to placed back down in my normally scheduled life in time for work on Wednesday.

Ya'll wish me and Settling the Score luck at the Lammys! I'm really looking forward to meeting fellow nominees  Barry Brennessel and Jay Bell as well as new Dreamspinner author Greg Hogben.


Friday, June 1, 2012

Anti-Bullying Ad

Here's a powerful anti-bullying message that brought me to tears. May we all stand up, for if we stand together, who can stand against us?


In a Retro Mood

I've always loved this song, and it took on a whole new meeting three years ago when I became a published author. Enjoy a blast from my past with Dire Straits and Lady Writer.