Welcome Weekend Warriors – RainbowCon 2015

That's right. Weekend warriors. Sometimes, there are just too many reasons that you can't extend your con­going fun into the weekdays. Hey, we understand! Most people have jobs, families, summer school, or a hundred other pulls on their time and energy over those hot, summer months. That's why RainbowCon has day passes available!
 
But wait, wait. I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's introduce you to RainbowCon first. Then, those day passes will make a lot more sense and hopefully sound appealing!
 

Art Courtesy of Guests of Honor Adam DeKraker & Alex Woolfson

 
RainbowCon is a four­day conference filled with nothing but GLBTQ content. Four days of panels, workshops, activities, and a few nighttime events that celebrate the GLBTQ presence across various media in our varied artistic community. Our first RainbowCon was held in April 2014 and was a resounding success, but where 2014's con was centered around primarily GLBTQ fiction, 2015's content has been expanded to encompass television, movies, theatre, comics, fiction, and fandom. The con is very inclusive, and we hope that there's a little something for everyone, whether you're looking for fandom fun or to learn a little more about QUILTBAG content in our media and pop culture. The conference is for anyone and everyone who loves art with an emphasis on GLBTQ themes and characters!
 
Now, back to the weekend warriors! I'm happy to report that, while you can get a general registration to RainbowCon 2015 for just $75 (registration is STILL OPEN!), it's not the only option out there for you. The con will run July 16th through 19th just next month, so we know there are often a lot of things going on in the heat of summer. If you're planning on making your way down to Tampa, Florida for the conference but can't afford to take too many days off from your job, family, or other equally important obligations, we have day and (*gasp*) weekend passes!
 
Pre­Registration: $75 (four­day pass)
Day Passes (purchased at door):

• Thursday (July 16th) ­ $30
• Friday (July 17th) ­ $35
• Saturday (July 18th) ­ $35

Weekend Pass: $50 (Sat/Sun July 18th/19th)
 
I can hear you now. "Well, that's great. The price looks nice and all, but... what does that actually get me if I just grab a weekend pass?" Good question! Here are a few highlights from our weekend programming!
 
Panels:

• Fiction – Our fiction panels cover a broad range of topics throughout the con. On Saturday, you can sit in on craft­based panels about social media, handling criticism, or moving from hobby to career, or you can choose panels on paranormal romance, polyamorous fiction, LGBTQ ­punk fiction, or series/serials (This is the Story that Never Ends). Sunday is a half day at the con, but you can still find offerings on lesbian fiction, religion in fiction, historicals, and YA genre fiction.
• Fandom – Doctor Who, subtext, queer furries, supernatural characters, femslash, and even a fun panel aptly titled When Poly Would Have Solved Everything. All these and more can be found in our fandom panel offerings Saturday and Sunday!
• Multi­media – These panels address topics across various media. From LGBTQ in advertisements, the appeal of fairy tale retellings, LGBTQ on the CW, and LGBTQ & parenting in pop culture to everything about bad guys, 50 shades of fantasy, and pushing LGBTQ into the Mainstream. There's plenty to choose from.
• Educational – We pride ourselves on offering some educational topics throughout the con in addition to all the typical fun. On the weekend, we have panels about YA dystopian fiction, genderqueer identity and themes, how to be an ally, queerbaiting, and how to get kids reading LGBTQ­positive books.

Workshops: We have a couple rooms dedicated to workshops for new and seasoned writers alike! The following topics are available on the weekend (space will be limited)!

• Perspective and POV
• Queries, Synopses, and Blurbs
• Writing Believable Sex
• Integrating Kink
• Writing YA Fiction

Guests of Honor: Our Guests of Honor for 2015 are the incomparable pair of Alex Woolfson and Adam DeKraker, the creator and illustrator of The Young Protectors, an online comic mixing GLBTQ themes in with classic superhero/supervillain content. Never heard of them before? You can keep up with their comic online for free (start reading HERE)! Saturday is the day this pair will be featured with a panel or two about the craft of online comics as well as their Q&A session. They're also offering a special dinner opportunity to their supporters on Kickstarter/Patreon who are attending, and that's slated for Saturday night as well. You won't want to miss it!
 

 
Games & Activities: These are just for fun, the places you can hide out for a little quiet time or fun crafting to rest your brain during the conference. For Games, we have Book Title BINGO, Loaded Questions, QUILTBAG Memory, Cards Against Humanity, and Euphemism BINGO. On the activity side, you can enjoy an hour of bookmark making, painting rainbow pendants, or crafting a Masquerade Mask, which leads to our next section...
 
Main Events: On Saturday night, we'll be holding a themed ball, the Call of the Wild Masquerade, where guests are allowed to come in costume or simply show up for some light snacks and fun music and dancing. The ball is a premium event that has a surcharge to help offset the catering costs, but it's completely optional, so if you don't wish to attend, you don't end up paying a cent. ^_^ Raffle tickets will also be available for our charity raffle to benefit the Tampa Bay Big Cat Rescue, thus the theme of the event. On Sunday, our Closing Ceremonies will also be partnered with an informal Ice Cream Social, so be sure to stop by for some ice cream, raffle drawings, and fond farewells!
 

 
Whew! See? There's so much to experience, even if you can only make it to the con for the weekend! You can check out more about RainbowCon by visiting our website or keep up with current happenings by following our Facebook or our Twitter. We hope you'll consider heading down to Tampa next month to join us in celebrating artistic diversity!

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia

Today is an important day. It's the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia. I wanted to share my thoughts with you on this today.

It's hard to put words down on how something important makes you feel sometimes. We are raised in a world where we are encouraged to keep our thoughts to ourselves. Don't upset the balance of how things have always been. But how things have been is wrong. There's so much hate, discrimination and persecution out there, just for being an individual. Parents pass down their anger and hatred on to their children and the cycle continues. When does it stop?

We have to make a choice. We have to make the decision to stop the cycle. To teach our children love and understanding for ALL. Not just for the people we like. You can't say I want everyone to be equals and then cut someone down because they piss you off. You have to agree to love everyone, to show that love and to teach it to others.

Growing up I was judged a lot. I grew up with two brothers. I was a Tom boy. I didn't want to be the girly girl in dresses and make up. I wanted to stuff my face with burgers and pizza and watch cartoons. In high school I was one of the guys, I wasn't the girl guys looked at. And no one ever came out as gay or bi or anything that wasn't just normal. Now as an adult I'm still not in to girly things. I don't care for dresses. I don't want diamonds.  I get more excited going camping or going to the zoo. I got the cutest cactus for mother's day. I loved it.

I was raised Christian in a loving family. I understand that sounds really great but as much as they preached love and understanding.  They only understand you if you stay in their bubble of acceptance. The only person who truly gets me is my younger brother. We're both cut from the same cloth of awesome weirdness. I tell you this because it's not always hate that spews out on us, destroying who we are. Sometimes it's quiet disapproval or a blind eye. They simply refuse to accept you they way you are despite the preachings of love and understanding. I sometimes feel like I'd rather have the hate and spewed words because at least you can take a stand and fight back. It's hard to fight against a blind eye.

We all deserve love and acceptance. We all deserve to be who we feel we are in our hearts. I won't tell you I don't care who you love. I do care. I care because it matters and I'm happy for you. I care that you decided to take the steps to transition because you will feel complete that way. I care that you found your soul mate, no matter the gender. I care that you are perfectly happy by yourself in your own skin because that's who you are. I hope as the days go on to the rest of the year, not just today that you will at least remember, I care.

We are better than the hate, than the judgement and the lies. We are better and we deserve to be loved. Love each other for everyone is beautiful. No matter what. Be better.

Share your love,

Jenny

Weekly Shout Out to New Releases!!

Hey I'd like to start something new here on Book Whores every Friday by doing a shout out to the new books out this week. If you have a new release feel free to shoot it over to us and we'll pimp them out every Friday! Here's what's out this week! Look at all the beautiful covers!!

Living a New Song by CR Guiliano

Triple Beat (Big Easy Book 5) by Mari Carr

Adored: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella (1001 Dark Nights) by Lexi Blake

The Caravan Club by Edward Tailor and Kassandra Cox

Bringing It Home (Up-Ending Tad: A Journey of Erotic Discovery Book 5) by Kora Knight

Black Balled by Andrea Smith and Eva Lenoir

Fae For All (Cloverleah Pack Series #6) by Lisa Oliver

ARC Review! Spell Bound by Jacob Flores

Spell Bound by Jacob Z. Flores

The Warlock Brothers of Havenbridge: Book One

Mason Blackmoor just can’t compete with his brothers, much less his father. They represent the epitome of black magic, strong, dark, and wicked, and though Mason tries to live up to his respected lineage, most of the spells he casts go awry. To make matters worse, his active power has yet to kick in. While his brothers wield lightning and harness the cold, Mason sits on the sidelines, waiting for the moment when he can finally enter the magical game.

When a dead body is discovered on the football field of his high school, Mason meets Drake Carpenter, the new kid in town. Drake’s confident demeanor and quick wit rub Mason the wrong way. Drake is far too self-assured for someone without an ounce of magical blood in his body, and Mason aims to teach him a lesson—like turn him into a roach. And if he’s lucky, maybe this time Mason won’t be the one turned into an insect.

Not surprisingly, the dislike is mutual, and Drake does nothing to dispel Mason’s suspicion that the sexy boy with a southern drawl is somehow connected to the murder.

If only Mason didn’t find himself inexplicably spell bound whenever they are together, they might actually find out what danger hides in the shadows.

So I was lucky enough to get a request to review this in my email. Once I read the description I had to have it. Let me tell you, you want this. This is the first time I've read a book by this author and I'm totally hooked. I love paranormal books to begin with and he did an awesome job bringing you into a magical world that isn't the standard ones we end up with. 

Now I can't give too much away because it's not out yet! I'll come back and update once it is. Mason is is the baby of the Blackmoor family who isn't quite the awesome black magic spell caster the rest of his family is. Drake is the new guy at school and is throwing Mason off his dark brooding tough guy routine. I love the dynamics between our two guys. No insta hearts in your eyes, a dangerous murderer abouts and secrets to keep. Plus you made me cry. I really loved this book. I can't wait to see how the story continues in book two. Down side of getting a book before it's out is that means you have to wait that much longer for book two! 

I'm looking forward not only to the rest of this series but also to other books by this author. You're on the list sir!

Back in the saddle!

So as some of you may have noticed. Last year we pretty much dropped off the whole review writing. I moved from Tennessee back to AZ. Then was in a horrible car accident. Then had my baby. Needless to say it was a smidge busy. Now as things settle back into a semi normal rhythm I'd really like to get back into writing reviews. So to make up for that I'm going to try to do some reviews on books I read over the past many moons and some more recent ones as well. If you're an author looking for reviews, feel free to hit us up. I'd have you email the bookwhores email but I forgot the password lol. So feel free to write me at steelstories@gmail.com. Happy reading!

Jenny <3

Welcome Guest Author - Michael Kudo

Please welcome our guest Michael Kudo today! We're so glad he could stop by today!

I’m here with BWU today to discuss my writing process – the what, when, where, and how.

I can’t even calculate the amount of times I’ve had friends come up to me and say things like: “Wow, you actually sat down and wrote a WHOLE novel?!” or “I love to write, but it’s so hard staying focused” or even, my personal favorite: “You wrote over fifty-thousand words on a single topic/subject? You must have incredible willpower!”

So after I laugh internally, I smile and shake my head and assure them it isn’t as easy as it sounds. They seldom believe me. I think in their minds, I’m just a godless charlatan who wants to horde the secrets of writing all to myself so I can build an empire and rule the world! A bit dramatic, but you catch my drift.

The point being, it isn’t as easy as they think and to prove it, I’m going to break my writing process down in ten simplified steps.

(1)    Actively decide to write – it may seem like a no brainer, but you’d be surprised how hard it is to make that decision. The way writers work (or most of us, anyway) is that we need inspiration to hit in order to write our stories. Inspiration can be anything from memories, a normal, everyday experience, or our characters whispering sweet nothings in our ear. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen every day and if we actually waited for inspiration to hit every single time we sat down to write, we’d never get anything done. Generally, it’s a good rule of thumb to get SOMETHING down. Anything. Even if it’s just a few fragmented sentences. If you’re writing, you’re winning.

(2)    Free myself from distractions – It could be just me, but I’m easily distracted. I’m like an ADHD kid on 7 grams of cocaine, 2 boxes of cookies, and a shot of hard liquor. So that being said, in order to write, my environment needs to be PERFECT if I’m going to get anything done. I need to have white noise of some kind, whether it’s rain (rainymood.com) or the soundtrack to one of my favorite videogames (Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6, Legend of Zelda: Windwaker, or Super Mario RPG, for those who are curious) I just need something to help silence the unhelpful background noises and coax out my creativity. Speaking of videogames, I’m a huge gaming geek. I love playing video games and sometimes it’s hard to stop myself from getting in that extra battleground or playing that extra round of Hearthstone.

(3)    Sum up the chapters – I used to be able to just write as I went along but I’m finding it harder and harder to write that way as of late. I now open a wordpad document and write out the chapters and add 3-5 brief sentences about the key scenes in each chapter I want to touch on. This helps me because I now have a goal to strive towards.

(4)    Write – Yay, I’m writing! How much fun is this? LOOK MA, I’M A WRITER!

(5)    Become distracted…by something – Oh, look, is that a unicorn? Or better yet; well, I’ve written a couple hundred (or thousand) words…I deserve a break. Maybe fifteen minutes of browsing the Internet (read: 1 hour) or a quick match in a video game (read: 2-3 hours)

(6)    Cry and regret life choices – Okay, so maybe it wasn’t a good idea to spend all my free time playing video games and browsing the Internet. My bad.

(7)    Drink and eat chocolate – You know what they say: write drunk, edit sober. And in the middle of a potential emotional breakdown consuming more chocolate that previously thought possible by a human.

(8)    Seek Reassurance – I’m only human. Sometimes it’s nice to be told you’re not a failure and that no matter what, you can do it. For me, my fiancé takes care of that role. =)

(9)    New Resolve – I can do this. I can get this story done.

(10) Finish – After much struggling and mental turmoil, I usually have a novel completed at this point. Tada!

And that’s my writing process.

Blurb:

“I don’t like to be called an Assassin, I prefer the term problem solver.”

My name’s Alex. I’m an average guy. I kill people for a living. But don’t judge me.

I don’t take jobs on just anybody though. I only kill the really annoying people, like cheaters or abusers. So if you think about it, I’m actually doing God’s work—okay, maybe that’s stretching things a bit.

Other than the whole committing murder and trying to get away with it thing, my life is simple.

Well… except for the fact I’m in love with a fellow assassin who happens to be my mentor. I also have to make sure I’m careful when I’m on the job because if I ever fail a hit, I’ll be considered a “liability” and be executed promptly. Oh, and there’s a small chance someone in the organization is trying to have me killed. But I’ll figure that out, eventually. Did I mention I’m gay?

Okay, maybe my life isn’t so simple.

Buy Links:

http://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-mainstream/red-rose-blood-the-deadly-rose-series/

Author Bio:

Michael was born and raised on the Jersey Shore – the geographical location, not the TV show. As such, he cannot boast having tanned skin, a rock-hard body, or being BFFs with Snooki. His version of GTL is gaming, Tumblr, and Lounging. He didn’t know what to do for a living until he wrote a couple of fun short stories as an English class project and made people laugh, something he’s always enjoyed doing and decided that’s what he wanted in his future.

A self-described “Otaku” (person with obsessive interests in manga, anime, and/or video games) Michael spends most of his time enjoying those things, becoming emotionally attached to fictional characters and collecting every bit of My Little Pony merchandise available.

He lives with his fiancé of five years in the heart of NJ.

Find out more about Michael on his blog (http://michaelmeeps.blogspot.com/) on Twitter (https://twitter.com/MichaelMeeps), and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/michael.meeps)!

Guest Post - Chris T Kat

Five things you didn't know about Robin Evans

Thanks a lot for the chance to be a guest on your blog. Dreamspinner Press will publish my new release, Secret Energy, on August 29th. Secret Energy is a shape-shifter story, and the sequel to Secret Chemistry (http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3520).

The main protagonist in Secret Energy is Robin Evans, a 19-year-old wolf shifter. If you've read Secret Chemistry, you'll probably know some of the things I listed below, but if not, you'll know him better afterward. ;-)

ñ  Most of Robin's family members shift into wolves with gray coats. Only his father, Ralf Evans, and one of his brothers, Tim, have black coats. Robin and his mother have pristine white fur in their shifted forms, which makes them exceptionally beautiful.

ñ  Even as a 19-year-old man, Robin holds dear a stuffed animal he calls 'Mr. Bear'. ;-)

ñ  Robin is a senser, which means he's a gentle soul and rather affectionate. That doesn't mean he'll take any crap from anyone. On the contrary, he fears to be seen as weak and struggles with his identity as a senser.

ñ  Not only is Robin a senser, he's also a healer. He's not as powerful as Jay is, but if they combine their powers, they can heal almost any injury.

ñ  Robin's mate, Peter Brannigan, isn't who Robin expected. Neither did he expect such a big age gap.

In case you've read Secret Chemistry, what appealed to you about Robin? I'm a sucker for guys with deep dimples, which is why Robin has those. ;-)

[COVER HERE]

Buy links:

e-book: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5368

paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5369

All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-secretenergy-1602038-145.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Energy-Shifters-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00MX242QG 

Blurb:

When wolf shifter Robin agreed to cover for his older brother Tim and Tim’s lover Jay, he never imagined feeling so stifled. Tim's overprotective attitude suffocates him. Pressure from within—the urge to find his own mate—mounts daily. With a little help from Jay, Robin finally convinces Tim to let him go for a run alone, but he has no inkling that his life will change forever as a result.

Unexpectedly, he finds his mate Peter Brannigan, an old and special soul, and the one shifter who can bring balance to Robin’s life. The new couple spend days together, developing their bond as mates. Yet even as they explore and cement their relationship, crisis looms just ahead when an old enemy of the pack shows up and kills someone Robin loves.

Excerpt:

The scent called to Robin, setting something free within him—something unfamiliar and primal in nature. Robin’s mood alternated between exhilarated and scared, the combination and sheer intensity of both feelings troubling him.

Robin stopped near a small creek and carefully stepped inside the stream, the cool water soothing his paws and ankles. He took a few swallows of the clear water while his heartbeat slowed down.

The scent was strong around the creek, but Robin was unable to pinpoint it. After raising his snout high in the air, he inhaled the smell deeply, hoping it would infuse his lungs and from there spread to every part of his body, because whatever it was, it had a highly arousing but also calming effect on him. A long, high-pitched yowl broke free from his throat, announcing his longing.

Robin waited before he swept his gaze around. High pines surrounded the small creek, casting shadows on the water’s surface. The creek flowed slowly and smoothly, only occasionally hindered by rocks strewn in its bed. The water swirled around them, creating small vortices that gurgled.

Would anyone answer his plea? What would he do if someone did? Why was he even expecting someone to answer? It couldn’t be his mate—it just couldn’t—although everything would make sense, then.

No one answered Robin. In fact, he couldn’t even hear the usual cacophony of animal noises, just the water lapping at his feet. Robin pricked his ears, concentrating hard on what he could hear—the purling of the creek, the wind whipping through the treetops, and sometimes branches creaking. His breathing sounded harsh, closer to panting. Something wasn’t right, not at all.

Robin walked over to the other side of the stream, the earlier exhilaration dwindling. He shifted from foot to foot, darting his gaze around. An uncomfortable sense of isolation nestled into his insides. Maybe he should have listened to Tim after all?

Shivering, he stood there, not sure whether he wanted to go on with his search or go back to Tim, Jay, and Walter. Going back meant safety, whereas going after his potential mate—or whatever it was he was following—could mean anything.

Robin tucked his tail between his hind legs. He had never heard of a wolf being afraid of his mate. Wouldn’t that mean the scent didn’t belong to his mate? Or maybe his mate was nuts and he somehow recognized it? Whatever the scent was—or to whomever it belonged—it didn’t smell like a wolf.

What if his mate was female?  How would that work? He had never been into girls. He liked them as friends, but any kind of advances had him running for the hills. Robin was gay, period. No, the scent had to belong to a male wolf.

No, wait. He’d already ruled out another wolf.

The darkness settling around him didn’t help the queasy feeling in his stomach. Whichever direction he turned his head, something moved in the shadows, leaving him vulnerable and scared. The moon remained partially hidden behind the clouds, but even if the sky had been clear, the moonlight wouldn’t have been able to illuminate the forest ground properly. Or at least not in a way Robin wanted.

Suddenly he started. The moon? Oh hell! Shouldn’t he have been back hours ago? Surely Tim was already looking for him. Why hadn’t he realized hours had passed? Had his wolf taken over without him noticing? His father obviously had a point with not wanting Robin to go anywhere alone in his wolf form.

Robin threw his head back and closed his eyes before he howled at the moon, the sound of his voice echoing through the forest, silencing every other animal in his vicinity. This time someone answered him. Robin jumped at the sound of a roar at the other side of the creek.

The roar didn’t sound like a wolf; it was too guttural for that. After his initial jump, Robin stood frozen, shock waves rolling through his entire body.

Chris T. Kat

Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there's any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.

Links:

Blog: http://christikat.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/christi_kat

GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/ChrisTKat

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChrisTKat

Special guest & Giveaway from Leigh Ellwood!

Please welcome guest author Leigh Ellwood to our blog today :-)

Thanks for coming to see me today. I have a great giveaway below, be sure to enter.

I am thrilled to be here to talk about my latest book release, Sugar Rush. Not only is this part of the Ellora’s Cave Hot Pink line of lesbian romance, but it’s also my first Ellora’s Cave book. I have been reading EC romances for years – starting with earlier works by Jaid Black and Cheyenne McCray, and I am happy to be part of the EC family.

I’m coming to Ellora’s Cave after ten years of being published, and after dabbling a bit in self-publishing. With so many authors going “indie” you might wonder why, after I’ve done, why I would submit to a publisher again. Well, while indie is the rage not all authors are doing it. I know several who are content to work with publishers at every stage. There are others who consider themselves “hybrid” authors in that they self-pub and submit. I suppose I am one of those.

I had been kicking around the idea for Sugar Rush long before I considered submitting it anywhere. I had thought at first I might put it out myself, as I’ve had success self-pubbing my lesbian stories. When I saw on Twitter that EC was acquiring F/F stories for Hot Pink, I gave it serious thought. Ellora’s Cave has history in the romance industry, and I’ve enjoyed going to their parties at RT conventions. I know authors with EC books, and I’ve seen their books in stores.

I know, too, that I love to write and enjoy looking for more options with regards to my writings. I decided then I’d give the line a shot. If they liked Sugar Rush, I’d roll with it and have fun working with an editor and cover artist. As it turned out, Kelli at EC loved my story and now I have a new book release!

If you are looking for something new to read, I hope you’ll look for Sugar Rush and the other great F/F stories from Ellora’s Cave!

About Sugar Rush by Leigh Ellwood

Buy Now! Kindle ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Ellora’s Cave

Baker Neve Rush is surprised to receive social media attention, both the good and bad varieties, after agreeing to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. She cares about people’s tastes in pastries, not sexual partners. The newfound fame has gained her new customers—as well as one resurfaced ex. Gianna stirs up memories Neve would rather forget, and an impromptu flirtation with a client might just do the trick.

Judy Goldsmith finds Neve’s open-mindedness refreshing and attractive, and isn’t above a little scheming to get to know her better. As Neve and Judy satisfy each other’s sweet tooth in the most pleasurable ways possible, feelings begin to blossom. But their deepening attraction may not survive a little white lie…and an even bigger, darker secret.

A Romantica® GLBT erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

About Leigh Ellwood

I am Leigh Ellwood. I write smutty stories about people who like getting naked and having sex. Some have more sex than others, some have sex with people of the same gender, some have sex with more than one person, and still others have sex with toys and things that require the use of batteries. My stories range from a few thousand words to well past 70k. My books are available at Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, Kobo, and ARe. Really, just type my name in any bookstore site and something is bound to show up.

Please stalk me online for news about my books and crazy adventures.

http://www.leighellwood.com
http://leighwantsfood.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/LeighEllwood
http://www.facebook.com/leighellwoodauthor

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Writing Rules and Goose Poo with Rhys Ford!

Please join one of our favorite authors Rhys Ford as she tells us about writing rules, the lack of care and of course, goose-poo. You know you're curious! Check it out.

My coffee is too hot and there’s a cat hair on my tongue. I can feel it. But for the life of me, I can’t get it off my tongue.

That’s kind of what writing feels like. You want more of something but you can have it AND you know something is there on the tip of your tongue.. on the tip of your mind… but you can’t get it out.

Totally like that.

It’s an exercise in frustration and pain. Rarely do I finish something and say; God that was good. Mostly I say, okay that didn’t suck. No really I say God that sucked why can’t I—

Make emotions out of words. To go from a piece of paper and with a few folds, create a crane—then a thousand cranes to hang from a central point for blessings and beauty. Why can’t I origami the words into that crane?

And if I do make something resembling a bird, it certainly isn’t perfect.

But sometimes perfect isn’t all it is cracked up to be.

There’s lots of advice on how to write. How to be a writer. What to do as a writer. We hear it all the time. Show don’t tell. Active not passive voice. Eliminate the ‘had’ and the ‘that’ as often as you can. Put in actions not smirked, replied, snorted or said. Don’t introduce someone only to kill them in the next paragraph. Don’t put a name to a face unless that is an important character. If you mention the gun on the mantle, it better be an important part of the plot.

Lots of advice.

Thing is—I’m not really good at taking advice. Oh sure, if it is well meaning—and much of it is—I will certainly take it into consideration. However my first instinct is to mutter under my breath, “Fuck you all. I do what I want.”

Mostly about the murder because really, I love a good murdering.

Did I mention I’m not really that great at the whole rule following thing? It’s gotten me into trouble more than a few times and well, if you’re a writer, it’s not always the best course of action. Because really grammar and punctuation are important. Very important. But the rest of it? Loosey-Goosey. Or however that looks. Anyway, pretty much over-guavaed geese on parade. Much like penguins, our geesey friends become supersoakers of poo when they eat too much fruit.

Long story on how I know that—both about the penguins and geese—but let’s just assume I know what I’m talking about. Writing is also about holding a supersoaker of goose-poo.

Okay mostly it’s about knowing when to break the rules.

I do admit to breaking them. Mostly about storylines and plot. I like writing fantastical things. I write close to true life but the rule breaking lies in the close. Very close. Okay sometimes not so close. When to douse the rules with goose-poo? That’s a fine balance…and I’m not so sure I’ve mastered it it.

But I shall try.

The Devil’s Brew was a bit of rule-breaking for me. A novella—in a genre where novellas aren’t the most beloved of things—but more importantly, it’s meant to be sweet. Not a drop of blood in sight. Not a scream. No body parts. No shadowy figures in the window. Just sweet, a bit poignant but mostly, a visit with friends.

Because sometimes, the rules I break are my own. *grins*

Hope you all enjoy the novella.

And damn it, my coffee is still too hot.

ANNOUNCING:

The Devil’s Brew by Rhys Ford (Book 2.5 in the Sinners Series)

Miki St. John’s life has been turned upside down but it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

His best friend, Damien Mitchell, is back from the dead. He has a dog named Dude. And more importantly, he and his lover, SFPD Inspector Kane Morgan, now share Miki’s converted warehouse.

For the first time ever, Miki’s living a happy and normal-ish life but when Valentine’s Day rolls around, Miki realizes he knows next to nothing about being domestic or domesticated. Nothing about the traditional lover’s holiday makes sense to him but Miki wants to give Kane a Valentine’s Day the man will never forget.

Can he pull off a day of wine and roses? Or will his screwed up childhood come back and bite Miki in the ass?

Again.

Rhys Ford’s The Devil’s Brew may be purchased at: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4991

Also at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Devils-Brew-Sinners-Series-ebook/dp/B00KH4YEPG/

About Rhys Ford

Rhys  admits to sharing the house with three cats of varying degrees of black fur, a black Pomeranian puffball and a ginger cairn terrorist. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird, a Toshiba laptop, and an overworked red coffee maker.

My Blog: www.rhysford.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhys.ford.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhys_Ford

And at the Starbucks down the street. No really, they’re 24/7. And a drive-thru. It’s like heaven.

My books can be purchased, folded and first chapters read at Dreamspinner Press. http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Can This Be Real Blog Tour!

We have LE Franks on our blog today on her Can This Be Real Blog Tour! Come hear about what spawned the story and enter to win the giveaway!

My Love of a Chef – And Why I’d Never Want to Be in Christian De Guisse’s Shoes

When I saw MLR Press’s submission call for a “Foodie” themed story I leapt at the chance. I love to write about food. It’s everywhere in my books. It’s 100% relatable for the reader since everyone eats. It’s a great hook into the meat of any story.

And because I used to cater private parties and weddings in my twenties, I’m comfortable writing about cooking. I know how a well-balanced chef’s knife feels in my hand, I know the bustle of a popular restaurant, and I've always had a highly developed sense of smell and therefore taste, so I have an easier time describing the food presented in my stories.

So when I throw my perfectly lovely chef’s life into turmoil—he’s cheated on, his career in NYC is trashed, and he’s exiled to a place (to him) that is likened to the wilds of Siberia—instead of giving him a comfortable landing, I send him straight into the orbit of a detective who couldn't care less about his gift.

Personally, cooking—bringing people into my home to host them—is an intimate expression of my love and care. It’s a deep part of my pathology…the need to bring people to my table, to feed them. And so I know for my chef Christian, he has that need as well. A large part of his identity is expressing himself through his food.

So to meet a man that he’s instantly attracted to but who is completely indifferent to food is a blow to Christian’s ego, and that conflict makes writing this story fun.

-LE

Blurb:

Chef Christian De Guisse can't trust a man who doesn't love his food, while Detective Andrew Simmons won't let any man close who thinks he's broken---somewhere between these two points, love is possible, but only if they get real.

When Chef Christian De Guisse accidently outs Celebrity Chef Jordan Slayer during a fight in front of The Times entertainment reporter---it only gets Christian ex-boyfriend status and a one-way plane ticket to culinary exile in Oregon. But a fortuitous meeting with Detective Andrew Simmons at the Portland airport keeps Christian and his collection of exotic herbs out of the hands of Homeland Security, starting the chemistry simmering between them. Andy isn't much of a foodie and for a chef who communicates love through his cooking this may be one hurdle too high...until they're finally ready to get real.

Buy Links:

MLR Press: http://www.mlrbooks.com/Bookstore.php?bookid=LEF_CTBR

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00JXRCPDG

ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-canthisbereal-1489668-149.html?referrer=509531de39c1c

Coming soon from LE Franks and MLR Press: Can This Be Real?

Look for the Can This Be Real blog tour on a blog near you!

April 24^th – Grace Duncan

April 25^th – The Novel Approach

April 26^th – Prism Book Alliance

April 27^th – The Kimi-Chan Experience

April 28^th – Book Whores United

April 29^th – Pants Off Reviews

Each day you’ll be given the opportunity to enter to win fabulous prizes! An LE Franks tote bag, a Can This Be Real notebook, and other swag will be up for grabs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AUTHOR BIO: > LE Franks

LE Franks lives in the SF Bay Area, surrounded by inspiration everywhere. After years of ignoring the voices in her head, LE is finally taking off the filters and giving the stories free rein. These days, she can be found frequently writing about sexy men who desperately need a happily ever.

LE writes M/M Romance in a unique mix of humor and drama with enough suspense to produce fast paced stories filled with emotion and passion and featuring characters that are quirky and complicated. LE’s men are living in the margins--they're in the middle of their journey, doing the best they can while searching for a connection to something bigger than themselves. With a little effort and a lot of luck they may actually find their happily-ever-afters.

Published by MLR, DreamSpinner, and WildeCity Presses.

Web: http://www.lefranks.com

Twitter: @Boxtersushi

Blog: LEFranks.wordpress.com

FB: LE Franks

Butt Ninjas From Hell!

Good morning book whores! We have Ally Blue on our blog today sharing a little bit of her piece in the Butt Ninjas From Hell anthology! Make sure you check it out and don't forget to enter the rafflecopter for a chance to win a $50 gift card!!

Butt Ninjas from Hell

They move like shadows through the night... when they aren't tripping over the furniture. Porn stars, holy emissaries, demons, and even just plain humans—ninjas come in all forms and from all kinds of Hell in this erotically charged comedic Wilde City anthology. Whether it’s the world of second-rate television, fluttering ninja stars, obsessions over a bronzy-olive toned soldier, or magic backsides, your authorial guides will take you where few readers have ever dared to go… without protection.

Butt Ninjas from Hell: You’ll Never Hear Them Coming!

Featuring…

Clean Up on Aisle Me! by Shae Connor

Sheathing His Sword by JP Barnaby

Twink Ninja Tiger, Flaxen Buns Of Fury by Kage Alan

Twerk It by Ally Blue

Hell Is Where The Heart Is by Eden Winters

Ninja, Vanish! by Kiernan Kelly

The Soldier And The Vagabond by Jevocas Green

A Ninja Walks Into A Bar by T.C. Blue

Release date: April 16, 2014

Buy link: http://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-mainstream/butt-ninjas-from-hell/

Hi all! Ally Blue here, with a snippet from my contribution to the Butt Ninjas from Hell anthology. My story is called Twerk It, and it’s a fun, sexy, silly love story between a demon slayer and a minor demon with a magic ass. Because I took the term “butt ninja” pretty literally :)

Read on for blurbage and an excerpt. Enjoy!


© Copyright 2014 Ally Blue

What happens when a demon slayer goes hunting in Hell? Twerk it, baby.

L’lousche is a minor sex demon with short-shorts, tall boots, a Hell Kitty t-shirt and a magic backside. When he shakes that ass, no soul in Hell or on Earth can resist the urge to sin. Not even the demon slayer who’s supposed to kill him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He’d swallowed the last delicious bite and was sipping the special satanic brew—orders of magnitude better than anything you could get up top, which was just all kinds of wrong—when a vision of twinky sexiness swayed over to his table on thigh-high black leather platform boots with red flames up the sides and leaned on the closest chair, one slender hip popped sideways.

“Well, hi there, beautiful stranger. Mind if I sit?”

Hugo stared the demon up and down, from the long black and red striped bangs hanging over his ruby red eyes, down the slim dancer’s body clad in a glittering red cropped top with a demonic cartoon cat’s head on it, to the red and black short-shorts barely covering his groin. In fact, now that he looked closer, Hugo saw the shorts were made entirely of mesh, except for a strip of leather cradling the demon-twink’s privates.

The shirt said Hell Kitty.

Rawr.

Hugo smiled wide. “Pretty thing, you can sit wherever you want.”

Those gorgeous lips curved into a smile Hugo wanted to lick. “Oh. Thank you very much indeed.” Pushing away from the chair, Hell Kitty skirted the table and settled his pert rear right on Hugo’s lap.

Hugo figured he shouldn’t have been surprised. Demons loved to pull shit like that.

Not that he was complaining. That was one sweet ass right there. Besides, maybe this little hottie would be willing to help him find L’lousche. As long as he didn’t say why he wanted him, of course. Satan’s minions tended to be protective of each other. Another surprising thing about the netherworld.

Hell Kitty cocked his head sideways and examined Hugo’s face. “I haven’t seen you here before. Believe me, I would’ve noticed.” He touched both tips of his naturally forked tongue to his top lip, eyes gleaming with all sorts of sinful promises.

Goddamn. When he was done with this job, Hugo was definitely fucking this one. Demons were usually, well, demons in the sack, and Hugo was willing to bet Hell Kitty here would be better than most.

“It’s my first time here.” Hugo caressed one round, firm ass cheek with his free hand, resulting in a low hum and an eye-crossing butt wiggle. “I think I like it, though.” He grinned and gave Twinky-Demon’s bottom a squeeze.

The gem-red eyes staring into his went to half-mast. Kitty’s voice dropped low. “I guarantee you’ll like it, handsome.” He rested one almost-too-hot palm on Hugo’s cheek and swooped in for a kiss.

Hugo had never kissed a demon before. Fucked them once or twice. Let them suck him off more times than he could count. Those forked tongues? Oh, Mama. But this was the first time he’d kissed one.

Won’t be the last, he swore to himself as Twinky’s tongue wound around his in ways no human’s could while that luscious bubble butt rocked against his swelling dick.

Christ, he was gonna come right here if they didn’t stop. Lucky for him, you didn’t get in trouble for that in this neck of the woods. Still, coming with his cock up Hell Kitty’s ass would be way more fun than jizzing his pants.

Later, said the part of his brain that wanted the other half of his twenty grand. Work first. Sex later.

Regretfully, he broke the kiss and pulled away enough to meet the sexy little devil’s fuck-me gaze. “Hey, can you help me find somebody that’s supposed to be here? I need to give him a message. Then maybe you and I can find someplace private, huh?”

Demon Kitty smiled a smile busting at the seams with marvelously evil things. “I’m sure I can help you, hot stuff. I know everybody.” He tilted his head and used his devil tongue to tickle the inside and outside of Hugo’s ear at the same time. “Who’re you looking for?”

“A minor demon of sex and mischief.” Hugo ran his hand up kitty boy’s slender back. The heat of the demon’s skin radiated through the thin shirt. “His name’s L’lousche.”

For a second, Hell Kitty’s spine tensed, and Hugo wondered—too late, of course—who exactly he was talking to. Then the crowd erupted into cheers and screams, and Hugo leaned around the sexy thing on his lap to see what the deal was.

A tall, curvy, stunning woman with black hair striped in orange curling down to her black-leather-clad ass stood beside the DJ, surveying the room as if it were her personal kingdom. Which of course it was.

The DJ grabbed his mic in one gilded claw and shouted over the noise. “All right all right all right, demons and damned ones, monsters and ghosts and heavenly hosts, humans and aliens and creatures of all kinds, welcome to Hell’s Belles. Hope y’all’re having the time of your afterlife!”

The throng wooed. Some said yeah. Others hollered no, though they sounded pretty drunk. Hugo kept quiet and enjoyed the show.

The DJ laughed. “We have a very special guest tonight, folks. Satan herself has come to party with us!” He swept a lobster-like appendage toward Satan, who smiled and bowed for the screaming crowd. “And now, we’re gonna play some dance music, ‘cause guess what? Satan said dance y’all!”

A roar like nothing Hugo had ever heard before shook the walls. A dance song several years old thumped from the speakers. It took Hugo a moment to recognize it.

He laughed. Satan Said Dance. Funny.

Hell Kitty swiveled toward him, red eyes glowing in the black lights the DJ seemed to like. “Let’s dance. C’mon.” He hopped off Hugo’s lap and held out a hand.

Hugo knew he ought to say no. He ought to demand that his new friend tell him where to find his mark, then get the hit out of the way before he took this thing any further. But he was starting to get a sinking feeling about this whole business, and dammit, what was wrong with having a damn dance first?

Grinning, he took Hell Kitty’s hand. “We gotta. Satan said.”

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