GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ I Smell Sheep: LGBT
Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Six totally odd facts about PNR Author Lucinda Wicked + excerpt

Six totally odd facts about Lucinda Wicked

I have a rabbit! She’s a bit of a celebrity in the Horror Circuit for her attendance

If its dark, spooky, morbid or mystic I am fully invested no questions asked. Bonus points if its spicy!

I can’t stand Ghostface and I think he’s really one of the stupidest horror icons. I will die on this hill.

Sam from Trick R’ Treat and Michael from Halloween are besties. Fight me. I will prove my theory.

Highly Motivated by pure spite and piping hot tea. Let’s be real, I'm always down to spill the tea.

Mothman is Real

Cosmic Requiem Circle (Book One)
by Lucinda Wicked
January 13, 2024
Genre: LGBT, Paranormal, Dark Romance
ISBN: 979-8872258339
ASIN: ‎B0CQKNLLF5
Number of pages: 236
Word Count: 51,097 words
Cover Artist: Lucinda Wicked

Where shadows dance, and echoes of demise intertwine, Lady Death and Mistress Misery conduct the cosmic requiem, orchestrating the symphony of eternal darkness.

Slice, butcher, kill

Misery has lived the last eon by their code. Hunting everything with and without breath for the right price. Unfeeling, without mercy. A greedy overlord makes Misery an offer they can't refuse. All they have to do is kill the silver ghost

Except this ghost is not really a ghost…

Collect, collect, collect

Death has learned the hard way that solitude is the only way to safeguard her heart. Cold, ruthless and without compassion, the universe has learnt to be terrified of death. Deserting at the mention of her name.

Until there was one who wasn't terrified. One who dared hold a knife to her throat.

Death is curious…

The universe has thrown death and Misery together and an ancient force looms in the background…

Death is about to find out that there are more twisted things in the universe and that perhaps…Death doesn't have to walk alone.

Amazon
Book Trailer: https://shorturl.at/eAHIN

Excerpt:
Death was finally able to take a nap, she rested, moving to a beach in her dreams. As she sunbathed, she felt a ripple through her dream. An odious black thing streaking the sky. She felt a subtle tremor in the cosmic threads, a disturbance that distrusted her sleep, bathing her dream world in darkness.

“Oh for fuck’s sake.” She said, stretching her hand for her scythe. She got up and took off the sarong, slipping her arms through the sleeves of a satin robe.

With the sharp edge of her scythe, she ripped through the fabric of the dream world.

“I actually put a lot of work into creating this one. This better be worth it.” Death murmured, stepping out of the dream and entering a black void.

She found herself standing within the threading—a vast expanse where the fabric of existence intertwined.

Threads stretched in every direction, touching each other in a complex web of interconnections. Each thread was connected to another. They revolved around a small spool in the center.

She found herself, a small piece of black lopping around each thread.

“What is it this time?” She said into the endless void, her voice echoing.

Tainted threads manifested before her, the red threads had clumps of black glue choking it. Her face contorted in a grimace.

“Damn. That’s a lot of dirt. What has this soul done?” She asked. “Come. Let’s go find them. Someone has to die.” She sighed.

She stepped into Misery’s dream. She was lying awake in a dark space.

“Really? You have the ability to think of anything and this is what you choose?” She said, scoffing. “You’re unbelievable. I don’t know why I bother.” Death finished.

Deathless eyes stare back at her.

“The dark is comforting. You should know that better than anyone else. It is home to vile twisted things like us. Come lay with me.”

“Would love to but this is a bye bye text. I’m too lazy to reach for my phone. I’m killing two birds with one scythe.”“That’s not how the saying goes.”

“Who cares.”

“Where are you headed?”

“Somewhere terrible. " Death said.

Misery sat up, the shadows binding her to the black space falling away. “Where are you going?”

Death looked up, trying to convince her eyes to unsee Misery soft, white, naked, eyes open in ecstasy.

“To hunt a tainted thread.” Death said mindlessly.

“I’m coming with.” Misery said.

“You’re not. You’re busted up. Why are you naked?”

“I sleep naked.” Misery said, brows scrunching in confusion.

“I did not need to know that.” Death said, making a strangled noise. “Why do you insist on coming with me, Misery?” Death questioned, her mood souring. She looked at Misery with cold emotionless eyes.

Misery, undeterred, responded, “I’m connected to the balance as much as you are. I’m connected to you. It’s a roundabout thing. won’t stay idle when darkness threatens.”

“Everybody is connected to me, little psycho. Try again. I’ll be the last to leave this universe when it ceases endless existence. I’ll turn the lights out behind me. I’ll escort your soul to the after life too. Try again, Mise.”

“I have no soul.” Misery grinned, cracking open her chest to reveal a black empty space.

Death scowled. “You’re still not coming along.”

“Yes I am. I’m coming to cover your ass.”

“Literally or figuratively.” Said Death, her lids lowering. Misery flushed, disappearing into the shadows.

“Well. I’ll see you when I’m back.” Death said.

“I’ll be downstairs in five minutes. We both need to get dressed and you take ten years to change your clothes.” Misery said at the same time, wrinkling her nose.

They looked at each other, both frowning.

“I’m coming. The End.” Said Misery, disappearing into the shadows. Death cursed, opening her eyes.

She stood up, heading to her closet. She yanked out a long flowing lace vest and a pair of leather pants. She wore a silk shirt under the vest, the lace vest on it and a corset on the whole ensemble.

The lace looked like it was sewed to the corset. She slipped on a pair of black studded six inch stilettos and raced outside, sliding down the railing to the foyer.

She rushed outside, opening her Mercedes and taking a seat in the driver’s side. She pulled out of the castle, doing a victory dance.

She dialed Misery’s number, tapping her acrylics on the screen joyfully. The phone rang from inside the car.

She looked back to see a grinning Misery lounging in the back seat.

“You have to be shitting me.” Death said, shaking her head.

“I wish. You’re not supposed to leave people you’re going out with at home.” She said, laughing. She smoothly maneuvered herself from the back seat to the passenger’s side.

About the Author:
Website-FB-Instagram
TikTok-YouTube
Amazon-Goodreads
Meet Lucinda Wicked – a seasoned cosplayer with over a decade of experience. When she's not donning epic costumes, Luci runs her own gig catering to the spooky souls out there. Stickers, sweaters, and more – she's got your eerie cravings covered. Luci's love for all things spooky is practically woven into the fabric of her creations.

But Luci is not just a business owner; she's a proud member of the LGBT+, BIPOC, and Neurodivergent communities. Embracing diversity and uniqueness is not just a trend for her – it's a way of life.

You can snag Luci's otherworldly wares at Luminous Moon Swag, whether you prefer the virtual aisles of Etsy or the online realm at luminousmoonswag.com. And if you're in the mood for a quick cosmic escape, check out her TikTok micro-episodes featuring the Cosmic Requiem Circle.

In her spare time, you'll find Luci immersed in the magical realms of her own creation, embracing the spooky, and spreading a cosmic vibe. This is Lucinda Wicked – crafting dreams and bringing a touch of the supernatural to your everyday life.

Tweet:
Dive into the cosmic chaos of Cosmic Requiem: Circle of Death. Misery, a relentless hunter, faces an offer they can't refuse – kill the silver ghost. But this ghost isn't a mere apparition. Death, feared by all, finds herself intrigued. Together, they navigate an ancient force that challenges their solitary existence. Join the journey: #LGBTQ+ #BIPOC #DiverseAuthors #NeuroDivergent #SciFi #Fantasy #BookBuzz https://amzn.to/3SVeoKn


Tuesday, September 12, 2023

This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin

Fake dating gets a magical twist in this enchanting queer romantic comedy where a witch worries that the real feelings brewing between her and her crush were sparked by an accidental love potion, and the only way out of the disastrous spell is a healthy dose of the truth—drink up, witches.

This Spells Disaster

by Tori Anne Martin
September 12, 2023
Genre: paranormal romance, LGBTQ+, feel-good fiction
Publisher:  Berkley
Morgan Greenwood may be an incredible potion maker, but she’s convinced she was hexed at birth. A self-proclaimed “messy witch,” it comes as no surprise when she finds herself drunkenly offering to fake date the woman of her dreams for the biennial New England Witches’ festival. Enter Rory Sandler, a spellcasting champion and brilliant elemental witch, who just so happens to accept the offer for reasons unbeknownst to Morgan.

All those good luck spells must have worked after all!

But as Morgan and Rory prepare to fool everyone at the festival, their relationship starts to feel very real—that is until Morgan realizes she might have screwed up the common relaxation potion she made for Rory and given her a love potion instead, breaking one of the most sacred Witch Council Laws.

To fulfill her promise to Rory, Morgan must somehow keep playing pretend while under the watchful eyes of Rory’s family and legion of fans. But to break the love potion, she’ll also have to prove how incompatible she and Rory really are. For a screwup like herself, ruining their relationship should be easy—except every day, Morgan is becoming more bewitched by Rory herself.

Praise for This Spells Disaster
“This Spell Disaster is the queer witchy romcom of my heart! I loved the small town setting, the magic system, the feel-good humor of the story, but above all I loved Rory and Morgan's transition from friends into lovers, and the way they constantly made each better! Teen Witch meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days in this delightfully heartwarming, enchanted romance.”—Ali Hazelwood, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"There's a special kind of magic to falling in love, and in This Spells Disaster, Rory and Morgan have to figure out what's real and what's an illusion. The Witch Council, the festival, the cleverly named potion shop—I lost myself in this world and found myself wishing it were real! This sapphic witchy romance from Tori Anne Martin totally had me under its spell."—
Alicia Thompson, national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers

"This Spells Disaster hits every bewitching element I could ever want in a rom-com! Morgan is the perfectly-relatable messy witch, and Rory F*cking Sandler is Every F*cking Thing. This book casts one hell of a charming spell and I never wanted it to end."—
Lynn Painter, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Wager

"This Spells Disaster is the witchy romance of my dreams....Hilarious and angsty in turns, this book has rich worldbuilding, lovable characters, and a nuanced approach to issues of consent, trauma, and the burden of expectations. This queer, magically sweet and sexy romance is an absolute joy."—
Sarah Hawley, author of A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon

“This Spells Disaster is literary magic! With their sizzling chemistry, relatable flaws, and escapist thrill of a world, Morgan and Rory had me enchanted from page one. Tori Anne Martin crafts paranormal romance at its best, and this steamy, sapphic delight is about to become your new obsession.”—
Courtney Kae, author of In the Event of Love

“A cozy, magic-laced queer contemporary that crackles with wit and heart.”—
Publishers Weekly

"Martin's delightful debut feels like a party, but it has a deeper layer as Morgan and Rory learn that success doesn’t always mean fame and fortune. Martin's romance is an enjoyable romp for readers looking for queer love stories and who like a little witchy magic with a sweet romance."—
Booklist

About the Author

Website-Instagram-Twitter
Tori Anne Martin lives in New England, where she collects pen names, tattoos, and hoodies in shades of gray and black. Previously, she collected degrees, including a doctorate in psychology, where she studied interpersonal power, consent, and sexual assault. She much prefers writing romance. If you can't find her online, it's because she's lost in the woods.


Monday, July 10, 2023

Horror: Morphosis by AJ Saxsma

Welcome to the book tour for AJSaxsma's eerie novel Morphosis! Read on for more details!

Morphosis

by AJ Saxsma
March 31, 2023
Genre: Horror/ LGBTQ2+
*Warnings* Disturbing; Highly stylized

“It may be early in the year, but I have a good feeling AJ has just delivered one of my favorite books of 2023!”
– independentbookreview.com

“That ending–perfection!”
– Kirkus

Ollie, his romantic partner Dwayne, and Ollie’s two children, Sam and Jodi Lee, have left their old lives behind for a farm outside of Larton, a small & simple farming community, where Ollie takes employment with the local Sheriff’s Department as a deputy and the promise of a new beginning for his family feels within reach.

But as the family tries to settle in to routine, they are met with bigotry, complications with Dwayne’s chronic illness, and the unnerving discovery that a serial killer, nicknamed “The Visitor”, is on the loose, stalking teens in the area.

Against Dwayne’s struggle to gain the children’s approval and balance care for his own health, & Jodi Lee’s immersion into the company of a religious family whose beliefs incite hatred, Morphosis traverses the intricate nature of familial connections and the exhausting pressures that can squeeze them to their breaking point.

Adding to the turmoil, Ollie’s growing obsession to catch “The Visitor” keeps him out of the house for nights on end, leaving his family to unravel without support.

In the runaway narrative that follows, Saxsma drags readers into an ocean of unease and refuses to let go. Morphosis is perfect for readers looking for their next must-read novel!

Available on Amazon and Free for KU

About the Author
Website-Twitter-Instagram
Aj Saxsma, born in Illinois in 1987, is a queer writer. He lives in Los Angeles with his husky. His literary work has earned awards from Almond Press UK, and has been published in The Danse Macabre, and has appeared in Under The Bed Magazine. As a screenwriter, his work has been an official selection for the Independent Horror Film Awards, Hollywood Screen Film Festival, Los Angeles Cinefest, and Los Angeles Horror Competition. He’s also written the narrative scripts for four video game projects produced by Oculus for the Oculus VR system.

Twitter: @AJ_Saxsma @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours

IG: @ajsaxsma @rrbooktours #rrbooktours #morphosis #horrorbooks #queerhorror #queerbooks #lgbtqbooks #horrorbookstagram #queerbookstagram

Book Tour Schedule
July 10th

July 11th

July 12th

July 13th

July 14th
Book Tour Organized By:

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

The Nine: Zane by Elle Arroyo + giveaway

The Nine: Zane
by Elle Arroyo
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
January 25th 2023
Genres: Adult, LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
Zane is Anunnaki, one of the nine immortals subjugated to walk the earth for eternity while tasked with protecting humankind from the malice. He must bind himself to an heir before the demons secured within his vessel burst free. Except that Zane is not interested in the female chosen for him. Instead, his desire lies in the man he met five years ago and shared an innocent, heartfelt night with. Eric Diaz had left Zane wanting.

Before they force Zane to bind himself with the female, he seeks Eric and shares one night of passion, hoping to satisfy his hunger for the man. But it doesn’t work, and Zane does everything in his power to keep Eric by his side, even risking the human realm and unleashing hell on earth.


About the Author:
Elle is the author of Dark Fantasy MM Romance. She writes about alpha males fighting their demons, saving the world, and falling in love. And not necessarily in that order.



Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (INT)
$15 Amazon gift card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, March 13, 2022

Cat Johnson Chronicles #1-3 boxset by Katerina Degratte

Cat Johnson Chronicles #1-3 boxset
by Katerina Degratte


Dr. Susan’s Reign (Cat Johnson Chronicles #1)
by Katerina Degratte
August 2021
Genre: Sci-Fi/ Fantasy/ LGBTQ2+
When a mad scientist swipes her chatty pet, she’ll claw her way through any danger to get her back…

Cat Johnson just wants a quiet life. Living paycheck to paycheck, the soft-spoken game-store clerk prefers to spend her nights home alone in the company of her sassy, talking kitty, Maori. But when a beautiful woman lures her out on a date, she’s devastated to discover it was a ruse to abduct her beloved feline friend.

Forcing the duplicitous dame to show her where Maori was taken, Cat races to a secret research lab to rescue her bestie. But she’s horrified when her snarky pal has been transformed into a giant killing machine.

Can Cat free Maori from a terrifying fate?

Dr. Susan’s Reign is the electrifying first book in the Cat Johnson Chronicles LGBTQ science fiction series. If you like strong female characters, sarcastic four-footed heroines, and non-stop action, then you’ll love Katerina Degratte’s meowsome tale.


The Ones You Love #2
Cat Johnson needs a break. With her former lover dead and her beloved pet giant-sized, the beleaguered game-store clerk desperately seeks some way to return to normal life. But with her special-needs brother moving in and an old enemy looking to eliminate her, the geek-girl’s stressors might just be fatal.

Forced to meet with a man she knows she can’t trust, Cat chases down leads to undoing the genetic manipulation of her feline friend. But when her sibling starts acting suspiciously and someone tries to kill her, the sharp-witted woman finds herself at the center of a sinister conspiracy.

Can Cat unravel a murderous mystery before she’s clawed to ribbons?

The Ones You Love is the exciting second book in the Cat Johnson Chronicles LGTBQ science fiction series. If you like determined heroines, gargantuan kitties, and page-turning thrills, then you’ll love Katerina Degratte’s rip-roaring read.

A Cat-tastrophy #3
Cat Johnson didn’t want her name to be literal. After the strange experiments at Dr. Susan’s lab left the weary game-store clerk a human-feline hybrid, she’s desperate for the damage to be undone. But when she discovers the amoral shapeshifter who impersonated her brother is now working with the scientist purporting to help, the frightened young woman doesn’t know whom she can trust.

Missing her giant, talking tuxedo kitty, Cat yearns for life to somehow return to normal. But when she uncovers a plot to resurrect the treacherous Dr. Susan, she fears she’ll never claw free from her former lover’s sinister machinations.

Surrounded by enemies, can the mutated girl reclaim her life … or her humanity?

A Cat-tastrophy is the thrilling third book in the Cat Johnson Chronicles LGBTQ science fiction series. If you like determined female leads, scheming madmen, and plenty of feline fraternization, then you’ll love Katerina Degratte’s paw-some tale


About the Author:

Twitter Tags: @KDegratte @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours #BlogTour

Book Tour Schedule
March 14th
R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com
Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com
I Smell Sheep (Spotlight) http://www.ismellsheep.com/
March 15th
B is for Book Review (Spotlight) https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
Bunny’s Book Reviews (Review) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/
Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com
@fle_d (Spotlight)https://www.instagram.com/fle_d
March 16th
Nonbinary Knight Reads (Review) https://nonbinaryknight-reads.blogspot.com/
@gryffindorbookishnerd (Review) https://www.instagram.com/gryffindorbookishnerd/
Jessica Belmont (Review) https://jessicabelmont.com/
March 17th
Sadie’s Spotlights (Spotlight) http://sadiesspotlight.com/
The Faerie Review (Review) http://www.thefaeriereview.com
Liliyana Shadowlyn (Spotlight) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

Book Tour Organized By:
R&R Book Tours

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Interview: LGBTQ+ Weird West Author: Julie Bozza (Writ in Blood) + giveaway

What are the pitfalls of basing your characters on real people?
Well… Where do I even start? Obviously I am drawing on real, if historical, people here, with the main characters being John Ringo, Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. Not to mention the cast of hundreds that take part in their stories. There are only a handful of entirely fictional characters in my novel; the rest were living breathing people who deserve to be treated with respect.

I sincerely believe that an author must make the effort to earn the… I was going to say “right”, but perhaps that’s better as “opportunity”. You must work hard to earn the opportunity to work with real people as characters. It’s not enough to simply use a well-known name or public figure as a one-dimensional cipher, and move them about at your will with no regard to their own lived realities.

Complicating that, of course, is the fact that we can never really pin down a historical figure’s “realities”. We are still debating over who these people might have been, and widely recognized names such as Wyatt Earp still generate heated discussion about whether he was a hero or a villain. Even where a scholar, author or reader has a less black-and-white take on who Wyatt was, they will still have a complex view of him which probably won’t be a neat fit for anyone else’s view let alone mine.

Added to which, a lot of the historical record is blatantly partisan and/or self-serving. Wyatt himself avoided telling his own story until quite late in his long life – and frankly, the resulting works from Forrestine Hooker, John Flood, and Stuart Lake often only add to the confusions.

And then there’s the question of the sensibilities of their family descendants who are alive today and naturally protective of their ancestors’ honor. None of my three main characters had children of their own – or not that we know of (which is a pity because, you know, that means no Wynonna Earp). They all had siblings and/or cousins, though, who did continue the family line – and those families are interested in and no doubt proud of their great-x-uncles and cousins-x-removed.

While my story is ultimately a result of my imagination, I did try to honor the historical people involved. Not everyone’s going to like how the characters are portrayed, of course, but I always worked with respect and made my choices as carefully as possible.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?
This is one of those “how long is a piece of string” questions… The book of mine that took the shortest time to write is Butterfly Hunter. That might not surprise anyone! It was a gift from the Muse. A chance remark from a reader happened to gel with some ideas already floating through my head – and suddenly the game was on! It required further work and editing, of course, but the first draft poured out of me in less than two months. I wish it always happened that way!

In contrast, Writ in Blood has taken the longest time to write, by far. Going by the “created” dates in my earliest documents, I began making notes in September 1994, and started writing in March 1995. That sounds about right! But then I gave up at the end of Chapter 9, in about September 1995. I just wasn’t ready yet to deal with all the complexities of Tombstone. I saved everything, as always, but put it aside thinking that there was a good chance I’d never come back to it.

Fast-forward to late January 2020. We’d come through the stresses of that summer’s bushfires, and the disruption of my previous few years which included a move from the UK back to Australia. I was thinking about which of my five works-in-progress I should pick up and run with – and it wasn’t a hard decision. I already had 49,000 words of Writ in Blood, and I was keen to work on it. So off I went! And when the pandemic anxieties hit, I was determined that they’d not get in the way of me writing, like the bushfire anxieties had. I persevered, and ended up with a good first draft in September 2020. And here we are, a year and several rewrites later, finally about to publish!

Or, in total, 27 years later! Golly gosh. Definitely my longest project to date. And given that the years ahead of me are definitely fewer than the years behind, I’d say it will hold that record for aye.


What other artistic pursuits do you indulge in apart from writing?
It’s more a craft than an art, but I do a lot of knitting. Most of what else I do is on the computer, so it’s really good to instead actually make something with my hands. I wouldn’t call it relaxing, as it requires time and effort, and it presents its own challenges, but I enjoy it very much.

The only real downside of knitting is that I only need so many sweaters and shawls and throws, and there are only so many knitted things I can foist on family and friends as gifts. I’m not keen on making things for no purpose… So, thank heavens for knitting for charity! I made crochet nests for a local woman who rescues birds, so that’s a thrill. I’m currently knitting little teddy bears which are given as part of a care package to people who have survived or been bereaved by suicide (the idea being that it’s a cuddly symbol of the community’s care and support). And I’m about to launch into baby gear and blankets for an Indigenous maternity ward.

I’ve also started attending a local art group, along with my sister, which is a low-pressure and supportive environment in which to practice my rusty skills. I was never great at it, but oh boy I would love to be able to draw properly, and perhaps get into watercolor. Maybe one day! For now, it’s a social and experimental thing…

Star Trek or Star Wars? Why?
This is an interesting question, because I’ve changed from one to the other lately. I’d been a Star Wars fan since I saw the first screening of the first film in Canberra. I was 15 years old, and fell hard in love with Luke Skywalker. And as I came to know Carrie Fisher over the years, I just adored her. (I can’t even tell you of the crying I did that day when I watched Rogue One at the cinema and then came home to the news that Carrie had died. “Hope.”)

I am the loyal sort, though I didn’t avoid Star Trek. Impossible to, really, in my circles! I loved and admired Spock, and Jean-Luc Picard. The first real fanfic I wrote was Kirk/Spock, as is traditional. I can’t say that I’ve actually seen all the original series episodes – a lack which I should remedy someday.

But then along came Star Trek: Discovery. I fell hard. This was what I’d always been waiting for! The motley mix of characters, the values, the diversity and representation, (most of) the storylines, the cast, the aesthetics. Fantastic stuff. Then my sister prompted us to watch Star Trek: Voyager during lockdown, and I fell in love with that, too. Captain Janeway was awesome, and I love Chakotay so damned much.

Anyway! The great thing about Star Trek is that it is full of hope, and it takes an optimistic view of our ingenuity and our willingness to work together for the common good. I didn’t used to appreciate that so much, but in the direness of recent years – due to politics and pandemics – I have been very much in need of that optimism.


What are you working on now, and when can we expect it?
One of my works-in-progress is an Arthurian novel, set in an alternate version of Elizabethan times. I have been an Arthurian fan since my early teens. It probably started with T.H. White’s Once and Future King, and the musical Camelot, but I basically devoured anything Arthurian I could get my hands on. I always knew that if I was ever lucky enough to become a writer, then I would have to write my own take on the tales. And one day I will!

I know the story I want to tell, but I need to do lots of research before I get started. This is the one project I absolutely must finish… otherwise my ghost will be haunting you, trying to get you to take dictation for me.

Writ in Blood
by Julie Bozza
October 26 2021
Publisher: LIBRAtiger
ISBN: 9781925869293
ASN: B09GV1TKWB
Word Count: 110,000
Cover Artist: Magdalena Kulbicka (illustrator), Lyrical Lines (designer)
Genres: LGBTQ+, Western, Speculative, Historical, Weird West
Courage. Honor. Loyalty. All fine things, but they’ve led John Ringo to kill a man. He was raised right and he knows he’s not a murderer, but otherwise he’s a mystery even to himself. Doc Holliday claims to have some insights, but Doc is too devoted to Wyatt Earp to spare much attention for the man who’s already lost his soul.

Which leaves Johnny Ringo prey to the distractions of a demon. Imaginary or not, if this creature abandons him, too, then surely his sanity is forfeit – and what will his life be worth then?

This Queer Weird West novel follows these three along the complex trails that lead into and out of Tombstone, Arizona in 1881.


Excerpt:
“And baths,” Doc Holliday was saying, standing tall in the center of their hotel room. “We are in desperate need of baths, and I apologize if you are already aware of that fact. Can you arrange that for us, my dear?”

“Of course, sir,” the girl replied, apparently awed by all this to-do. Holliday was behaving as if he were royalty. “The bathing room’s down the hall on the right, sir. There’s some water heating already, but if you can wait half an hour, sir, there’ll be plenty for both of you, and I’ll build the fire up. I can bring the pot of coffee you wanted right away.”

“Half an hour it is, then,” he declared, handing her a generous gratuity and ushering her out the door. Holliday turned to John. “What do you think, pilgrim? A fine room, considering its surroundings. Though I do believe this town will prove quite a rich lode. I can smell money in the air, and fools waiting to part with it.”

John let his saddlebags drop to the floor, looked around him at the lace curtains, at the porcelain jug and bowl standing before the mirror. At the wide bed with green padded silken spread. Everything looked fragile and ridiculously expensive and dangerously seductive. “And you reckon they won’t care about us both in the same bed?”

“Of course not, people do it all the time. There is a distinct shortage of beds out here in the West, especially in new towns such as this. We were lucky this room was available.”

“I guess I always figured if they said I’d have to share a room they were politely telling me to get lost.” It felt foolish now, having taken umbrage at something that was apparently quite accepted.

Holliday, in the midst of unpacking, cast a look at John. “Are you really one of those half-wild people who rarely visit a town?”

“No, but… maybe I’m more myself out there,” John said, indicating the world stretching beyond the outcropping of humanity. “This is... small –”

“I don’t find it so.”

“– and my earnings have been pretty irregular lately.”

“Don’t fret about that,” the man murmured.

“Who the hell are you, Holliday?” John demanded. “Is this your world? Because you sure seemed comfortable out in the wilderness last night.”

“You like that about me, that I belong in both?” He waited until John shrugged, then continued, “Well, if you do, why don’t you learn to belong here as well, and then you can like yourself for it, too. Share the luxury with me, Johnny. As you said, I shared the darkness with you last night.” The man smiled, walked over to stand before John, reached up to run a hand back through John’s hair. “There’s a handsome face hiding behind that long hair and the trail-dirt, I’ve already worked that out. Now, take your clothes off, pilgrim, and bathe with me. I want to see what those rags hide.” He leaned in close and whispered, “I’m sure you’re quite beautiful naked.” There was a knock at the door – and Holliday stole a kiss from John’s mouth.

John pushed the man away, glaring fury. Holliday let the girl in, and John waited impatiently as she arranged a tray of coffee and cups and a whole lot of unnecessary fixings, waited as Holliday chattered inanely with her. “You’re crazy,” John said once they were finally alone again. The man just laughed, at ease. In fact, it seemed he was enjoying himself immensely. “Are you always like this?” John asked, wondering how long he could suffer it.

“Oh yes,” Holliday said airily. “Well, actually I suppose I’m in unusually high spirits. I promised myself, for these couple of months, complete abandonment. And you do seem to be the kind of fellow I can completely abandon myself to...”

“Don’t talk like that, maybe people can hear us. And – what you did before she came in – if she caught us we’d get run out of town, if they didn’t hang us first.”

“Now there’s an ambition: to be so absolutely debauched we get thrown out of every town we visit. What’s the matter, pilgrim? With your reputation, you must be used to finding yourself unwelcome.”

“Yes, but for gunfights, not for something like that.”

“You don’t care about them, do you? Surely it doesn’t matter to you what they think.”

“No, but it’s personal, it’s private.” Under Holliday’s interested gaze John shrugged again, uncomfortable.

Smart enough to change the subject at last, Holliday headed for the coffee and began pouring two cups. “How do you want it, pilgrim? Let me guess... you like it just as it is. Now, I like coffee with cream and sugar – though they only have milk here, I’m afraid – but that’s too civilized for you, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” he said. Holliday brought one of the cups over, and John eyed it dubiously. The thing looked so delicate it might shatter in his hands, though of course it looked quite safe in Holliday’s fine fingers.

“Take it, pilgrim. It’s either this lovely little cup, or drink straight from the pot.” Holliday laughed. “But you would, wouldn’t you? Don’t let me give you ideas.”

John quickly swallowed the coffee, felt the heat of it spread through his chest and the strength of it clear his head. He poured himself another cup, then sat cross-legged on the floor, pointedly ignoring the chair opposite the one Holliday sat in – avoiding even the rugs. The wooden floorboards, though polished, were the most natural part of the room.

They sat in silence for a while, finishing the pot of coffee between them. Then Holliday asked, “Where were you from before Texas? You don’t speak like a Texan.”

“California before that. We traveled west from Missouri. Before that, Indiana.”

“And before that?”

“My family?” John shrugged – but such things had mattered in Mason County, when it was the newer German immigrants versus the longer-settled Americans. “The Dutch part of Belgium, if you go back far enough, but that never made no difference to me.”

“I see…” was the response. However, Holliday didn’t ponder on it long. Instead he sat up as if about to stand, saying, “Let’s inspect the bathing room. I haven’t felt clean for a couple of weeks now, and tonight I want to make the best possible impression.” Perhaps he saw John’s reluctance, for he said, “I suppose from the look of you, my dear, that your ablutions involve jumping in a river once a year whether you need it or not. But would you indulge me? I like that you are so vivid to all five of my senses, that you assault me so thoroughly, but I’d like to see your handsomeness as well as your wildness.”

“Don’t call me ‘dear’,” John said sullenly. “I’m not made for words like that. I don’t know what you want from me, Holliday, but I’m not your dear.”

“We just fuck, yes, and keep each other company between our amorous bouts. But don’t mind me if I treat you affectionately.” The man confided, “Most of the time, I promise you I don’t mean a word of it.”

About the Author:
Ordinary people are extraordinary. We can all aspire to decency, generosity, respect, honesty – and the power of love (all kinds of love!) can help us grow into our best selves.

I write stories about ‘ordinary’ people finding their answers in themselves and each other. I write about friends and lovers, and the families we create for ourselves. I explore the depth and the meaning, the fun and the possibilities, in ‘everyday’ experiences and relationships. I believe that embodying these things is how we can live our lives more fully.

Creative works help us each find our own clarity and our own joy. Readers bring their hearts and souls to reading, just as authors bring their hearts and souls to writing – and together we make a whole.

And that’s me! Julie Bozza. Quirky. Queer. Sincere.

Giveaway:
Julie is giving away an Amazon gift card with this tour

Monday, October 4, 2021

Double Book Review: Payback’s a Witch (Thistle Grove Witches #1) by Lana Harper

Payback’s a Witch (Thistle Grove Witches #1)
by Lana Harper
October 5, 2021
Genre: paranormal romance, LGBTQ+, 
Berkley
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling rom-com by Lana Harper.

Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one—in part because she hasn't been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams.

But when a spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition (or the truly impressive parental guilt trip that comes with it) is strong enough to bring Emmy back. She's determined to do her familial duty; spend some quality time with her best friend, Linden Thorn; and get back to her real life in Chicago.

On her first night home, Emmy runs into Talia Avramov—an all-around badass adept in the darker magical arts—who is fresh off a bad breakup . . . with Gareth Blackmoore. Talia had let herself be charmed, only to discover that Gareth was also seeing Linden—unbeknownst to either of them. And now she and Linden want revenge. Only one question stands: Is Emmy in?

But most concerning of all: Why can't she stop thinking about the terrifyingly competent, devastatingly gorgeous, wickedly charming Talia Avramov?

Reviewer: Bianca Greenwood
Four Sheep
Independent twenty-something Emmy Harlow has forged a private and professional life in Chicago, a virtual world away from her mystical hometown of Thistle Grove. Yearning to be something more than a Harlow witch, Emmy has rejected her magical heritage for years. When her father beckons her home to temporarily resume her position as Harlow scion, her sense of duty ignites. Emmy’s role as arbiter in the town’s sacred, high-stakes magical tournament is quickly complicated when she joins forces with a couple old friends to tip the scales away from a shared nemesis Gareth Blackmoore. Emmy, her best friend Linden Thorn, and edgy/sexy/cool Talia Avramov round out a trio of women scorned by privileged pretty boy Gareth. Soon, Emmy is forced to confront her abandonment of friends and family as well as a burgeoning attraction to elusive Talia.

Payback’s a Witch is full of sumptuous descriptions of a quaint town steeped in magical tradition. Harper’s writing is sensual and stylish. I loved the abundant descriptions of fashion, food, drinks, and local establishments. Readers will enjoy a vivid sense of Thistle Grove and its varied residents. The book reads like a primer to hipster millennial culture, especially in dialogue. I found this less appealing as an older reader and didn’t quite connect with Emmy as a main character. Overall, however, the story is an easy read with a perfect balance of action, intrigue, and romance. It’s a great fall weekend read.

Payback’s a Witch is the first in the Thistle Grove Witches series. From Bad to Cursed, book two in the series, is previewed at the end of the book and has a 2022 publication date.

Reviewer: Midu Reads*
3 perfectly happy frolicking sheep
The prodigal daughter returns home to a town of supernaturals, where she'll be the arbiter of a magical tournament. The champions hail from the three witchier families while she belongs to the fourth bloodline through which flows a much-diluted strain of the same magic--or so she thinks. 

The Pluses
1. The lead couple. I mean H.A.W.T. with each of the two women having their individual identities and behaving like total adults. What more could I have asked for?
2. A very Triwizard-like tournament takes place that the author turned into her own thing. I loved all of it.
3. How the author highlighted the importance of other relationships in the protagonist's life, such as that with her mother, BFF, and cousin, and how those were affected when she just upped and left. 

The Minuses
1. Like most reviewers, I also had an issue with the pacing of this book. That was a major turnoff for me. 
2. I couldn't get a feel for the other characters. 
3. Unsatisfactory origins of the magic that makes the town so special. Maybe we'll find out more in the upcoming books?
4. So, a fun read? Yes! A hawt lead? Yes!! Spooky enough for Halloween? Nope!

*Most of my go-to series are 3 starrers
No rating - wasn't my genre/dnf'd so rating it would be unfair
1 sheep - won't be picking up another book in a series again
2 sheep - average read with overused tropes and cliches. Will give the author another try/only continuing because of OCD, so must finish a series
2.5 sheep - liked the book but was put off because it was overly long/ill-treatment of a character the author had me invest in and so on.
3 sheep - enjoyed the book but have reservations because I expected to be wowed and wasn't
4 sheep - was unputdownable
5 sheep - formed an emotional connection, will read the heck outta this series

About the Author:
Lana studied psychology and literature at Yale University and law at Boston University. She is a graduate of the Emerson College publishing and writing program and the author of YA novels Wicked Like a Wildfire, Fierce Like a Firestorm, Blood Countess, the forthcoming Poison Priestess, and the forthcoming adult rom-com, Payback's A Witch, from Berkley Books (10/5/21).  Lana was born in Serbia and lived in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania before moving to the United States. She lives in Chicago with her family. 

You can follow Lana on Goodreads, and you can talk to her here!

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

MM Author Morgan Brice: Inkwell - One writer's process explained for the reader + giveaway

If you ask any two writers about their process, you’ll get three answers. We’ve all got our own ways of doing things, and as long as it works for us, that’s all that matters. There’s no wrong way as long as you get words on page and tell the story you want to tell.

My process has evolved over the years, not just with gaining more experience as I’ve written more books, but also from adapting to writing multiple books a year. But for what it’s worth, here’s a peek behind the curtain.

I usually start with a vague idea of where the story is going, and a very loose outline of the main plot points. If it’s an existing series (like adding Blink to the Treasure Trail world), I already know the names of the main and supporting characters, key locations, and some history. The fun of existing series, especially with romance, is to get to know all the characters a little better in each book, give them some new insights into themselves, and move the relationship along to a new level. So I’ll make notes to myself about those elements—either ideas I’ve already had or reminders that I need to address later.

Next is usually research. I try to base the hauntings, magic, monsters and historic elements on something real, and then take some authorial liberties to adjust for the story. If possible, I love to find things that actually happened in the book’s location, but I’ll also ‘relocate’ a good element from elsewhere if it suits the plot. This is where I get ideas for the subplots and flesh those out. Sometimes, I’ll find something that is so good I’ll change a main plot element to be able to use it!

I try to set books/series in places that I’m familiar with so I can do a better job of capturing the location’s ‘vibe’. Since I can’t always plan a trip to do additional research, I’ve learned to use what I can find on Google images and YouTube, plus Google Earth. Those are amazing resources that help me see locations so I can get the details right.

Telling the story requires thinking about pacing as well as plot, so I try to plan out chapters and the sequence of what happens so that there’s a mix of action and discussion. If I know what’s going to happen in the next book (the big pieces, anyhow) I will drop some hints.

Once all those things are done, I write a detailed outline so I can see how the story flows, balance action and dialogue, and make sure I know what needs to happen in each chapter. I also need to make sure that I’ve dropped enough hints (foreshadowing) that things happening later in the book don’t just show up out of nowhere. The outline often changes as I get into the writing and move things around, but it’s an essential way for me to gather my thoughts and avoid needing massive revisions later.

Then I put my butt in my chair and write.


by Morgan Brice
August 31, 2021
Genre: MM Supernatural Suspense
Ghosts always remember. Mobsters never forget.

Erik Mitchell helped Interpol bust cartels, oligarchs, and spoiled billionaires for art fraud. As an undercover cop, Ben Nolan helped bring down a Newark crime family. Now Erik and Ben have started over in Cape May, leaving their danger-filled jobs behind them, excited about a fresh start and their new relationship.

Plans to renovate a historic old theater stir up dangerous ghosts and revive interest in unsolved Mob hits. The curse of a murdered witch strikes a close friend, old movie props reveal clues to long-ago crimes, and a shakedown scheme sends Ben’s cousin running for cover.

Time is running out to lift the curse. The Russian Mob wants revenge on Erik, and the Newark Mob is gunning for Ben. A grieving ghost seeks justice. Secrets, lies, and deception unravel in the blink of an eye.

Erik and Ben were planning for happily ever after. But unless they can outwit witches, wraiths, and wise guys, they could go down in a hail of gunfire and a blast of dark magic—and see their plans go up in smoke.

Blink is a suspenseful MM paranormal romance mystery-adventure filled with second chance love, hurt/comfort, true soulmates, awesome food trucks, dangerous secrets, restless ghosts, psychic visions, powerful witches, angry mobsters, and a very haunted theater.

Book Two in the Treasure Trail series.


Join us over on Instagram for more of Blink!

Excerpt:
Ben hadn’t been sure he’d last longer than the summer until he met Erik.

After the fiasco of his previous relationship, Ben had doubted the “right one” was out there. He and Erik had hit it off, then managed to solve a long-ago murder, piss off the Mob, and nearly get themselves killed. Through all that, the spark between them burned hotter than ever. If that isn’t true love, I don’t know what is.

Ben shuffled the papers on his desk, mostly bids from contractors for renovation projects on several units now that the peak season was over. He was looking forward to the slow months, and at the same time, felt a little queasy.

Over the summer, he and Erik had been so busy settling into their new businesses that their relationship was built on dates and dinners out. There hadn’t been time for spending long hours together, having deep or difficult conversations—the kind of things that needed to happen to build a lasting relationship.

Fall brought with it more free time, and that scared Ben. What if I’m not really what Erik wants or needs once he really has a chance to think about it? He handled international art theft, worked with Interpol, traveled the world. I’m a Newark ex-cop with issues. I know he loves me, and I love him. Will it be enough?

Alessia Mason had said she sensed Erik and Ben were soulmates. Ben had never believed in that kind of thing before now, but after how quickly he and Erik had formed a bond, Ben was reconsidering that belief. Even if that’s true—and God, I want it to be—we’re going to have to work at it. Make it good; keep it strong. I’m not going to fuck this up by taking anything for granted.

He pulled himself out of his thoughts and focused on a more pressing concern. Cafaro’s name triggered bad memories. While he and Erik had solved one mystery about a long-ago murder, doing so had unearthed information about other crimes some people preferred remain forgotten. They’d nearly ended up dead, and part of the fallout was discovering that old Mob ties were alive and well in Cape May.

While they had solved a murder from the 1970s, Ben had acciden‐ tally found incriminating evidence implicating Vincente Cafaro in another killing. Cafaro had owned the grand, cursed Commodore Wilson Hotel and had connections to a lot of other enterprises.

Cafaro himself was long dead, but as Ben and Erik had learned the hard way, old crimes could reveal a web of secrets and lies that threat‐ ened the living, who would go to deadly lengths to keep the past buried.

For his own peace of mind, Ben had created a program to scan the web for any mention of known Mob players he’d had a role in arrest‐ ing. He wanted to keep tabs on where they were and what they were doing—and whether they were anywhere near Cape May. Ben consid‐ ered the tracking program to be an early warning system. Having one of the mobsters he had tangled with in the past show up might not mean anything—but just in case, Ben didn’t want to be caught by surprise.

He’d checked the program every couple of days when he first moved to Cape May. Ben might have left his former home, but the undercover bust that had gone wrong had Mob ties—and Newark wasn’t that far away. When no one showed up, Ben had relaxed a little —until the Seventies murder case flushed out a local cop who didn’t want old organized crime ties to come to light.


by Morgan Brice 
June 26, 2019
Erik Mitchell traveled the world uncovering art fraud and relic theft, which pitted him against spoiled billionaires, unscrupulous collectors, mobsters, and cartels. He worked with law enforcement across the U.S. and Europe, but then a sting goes wrong, Erik ends up injured and returns to find his partner cheating. He decides to stop globetrotting and buy an antique shop in scenic Cape May, NJ, rebuild his life, and nurse his broken heart.

Undercover Newark cop Ben Nolan went down in a hail of bullets when a bust went sideways, after a tip-off from a traitor inside the department. When he recovers, he spends a couple of years as a private investigator, only to tire of seeing the worst of human nature. So when his aunt offers him the chance to take over her rental real estate business in Cape May, it seems too good to be true. Now if he could just believe he could ever be lucky again in love.

Sparks fly when Erik and Ben meet. But when a cursed hotel’s long-ago scandals resurface, the two men are pulled into a web of lies, danger, and deception that will test their bond—and might make them Cape May’s newest ghosts!

Treasure Trail contains sexually explicit material intended for adults 18 and over. This is book #1 in the Treasure Trail series.

About the Author:

Facebook Group-BookBub
Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail)
Twitter: @MorganBriceBook
Newsletter-
Instagram
Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Characters from her Gail books make frequent appearances in secondary roles in her Morgan books, and vice versa.

On the rare occasions Morgan isn’t writing, she’s either reading, cooking, or spoiling two very pampered dogs.

Series include Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!

GIVEAWAY
You can also enter the giveaway on our Instagram post or click here for your chance to win an ecopy of your choice from Morgan or Gail's backlist!
a Rafflecopter giveaway