What Genres Do You Think Get Overlooked? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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What Genres Do You Think Get Overlooked?

When thinking of genres in that LGBTQIA stories can fall into, the ones that most quickly fall into mind are contemporary, supernatural, fantasy, SciFy, paranormal, action adventure, mystery, romance, all sorts of combinations thereof and somewhere down the line comes historical and western.  And I’m not sure why.

Contemporary romance with cowboys?  Yes, and lots of them.  But historical romances, and those with cowboys? Maybe not so many…

And I absolutely adore them.  When they are done right.  That’s a spectacularly hard thing to do.  Between the language, the feel of the times and locations, and the rules and  laws that changes by crossing a river…well the challenge to a author is daunting to say the least.

And yet  there are those writers that can bring you into the hills and times of our past and bring them alive in ways that make history and their characters sing to your heart.  Is or was it possible for men to have a happy ending in the past or was every story a Brokeback Mountain?  Hmmmm…..write me and let me know your opinion.

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This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

 

Sunday,  May 15:

  • What Genres Do You Think Get Overlooked?This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, May 16:

  • Stumptown Spirits by EJ Russell – Riptide Tour and Contest
  • A Lila Review: Enemies of the State by Tal Bauer
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Rhythm & Blues by Shae Connor
  • A MelanieM Review: Locked by Anyta Sunday

Tuesday, May 17:

  • In the Spotlight:  Dusk Peterson ‘The Balance’ (excerpt and contest)
  • A MelanieM Review:  Sweet William by Dianne Hartsock
  • A Lila Review: The Servant by Mary Calmes
  • A VVivacious Review: Five Times My Best Friend Kissed Me by Anna Martin
  • An Ali Review: Violated by Jamie Fessenden

Wednesday, May 18

  • A Stella Review: Risk Aware by Anita Gormley
  • A Paul B Review: First Omega by Rebecca James
  •  A Lila Review:  Werewolves of Chernobyl by LA Witt
  • A MelanieM Review:  The Cattle Baron’s Bogus Boyfriend by Nicki Bennett

Thursday, May 19

  • Blog Tour – Eli Easton book: How to Wish Upon a Moon
  • ON HIGHER GROUND BY MELISSA COLLINS: Release and review tour information 🙂
  • New book blast: AE Ryecart ‘The Story of Love’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Pre-release Celebration for The Debt by K.C. Wells (tour and giveaway)
  • A Jeri Review:  On Higher Ground by Melissa Collins
  • A Paul B Review: Second Alpha by Rebecca James

Friday, May 20

  • Coffee Sip and Book Break with Carrie Pack’s ‘In The Present Tense’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A BJ Review:  Audio Review – Tackling the Tight End by Tara Lain
  • A MelanieM Review:  A Place to Call Their Own by Dean Pace-Frech
  • A Lila Review: Prince of the Seas by Emily Carrington

Saturday, May 21

  • In the Spotlight: AC Katt ‘Alexi’s Mouse’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A Stella Review:  What Remains by Garrett Leigh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author ReDiscoveries and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words blog Badge

Author ReDiscoveries and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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Its a week of reviews and one Author Rediscovery as I look back on a author I dearly love whose books deserve a second and perhaps even a third look by readers  everywhere.

Surely we all have authors like those.  Writers whose books we’ve read and we’ve wondered why they just haven’t caught on  for some reason.  We’ve adored their prose, their characters, the way the plot just came together and caught our hearts and minds.  And then looked around to see that maybe no one else was reading along with us.

So I thought why not start a column to bring back some of the authors that we felt that way about or books we want to highlight once more.

This week I’m going to highlight a favorite author of mine, Sara Black and her books.  To me, her style, her wounded soldiers and yes, even her mysticism, just stood out and left me marveling long after her stories were over.  More about her later on in the week.

What authors or books make you feel that way?  Write us and let us know….

Now on to this week’s schedule…

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, May 8:

  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, May 9:

  • Riptide Tour: Risk Aware by Amelia C. Gormley
  • A Jeri Review: The Sweet Spot (Homeruns #4) By Sloan Johnson
  • An Ali Audio Review: Starstruck by LA Wit

 

Tuesday, May 10:

  • A Stella Review: Neon White Episode 5 by Wulf Francu Godgluck
  • A BJ Audio Review: Never a Hero by Marie Sexton
  • A Lila Review:  Tiny House by Charley Descoteaux

Wednesday, May 11:

  • A BJ Audio Review: To the Highest Bidder by Caitlin Ricci
  • A MelanieM Review:  Kellen’s Awakening by Angel Martinez and Bellora Quinn
  • A Paul B Review: Signed with a Heart by AJ Marcus

Thursday, May 12:

  • A Free Dreamer Review: Yesterday by Mickie B. Ashling
  • A VVivacious Review: Bad Dogs and Drag Queens by Julie Lynn Hayes
  • STRW Author ReDiscovery:  Sarah Black
  • A MelanieM Review Redux:  The General and the Horse-Lord by Sarah Black

 

Friday, May 13:

  • A MelanieM Review: Brandywine Investigations: Open for Business (Brandywine Investigations #1-3)
    by Angel Martinez
  • An Ali Review: Bored, Stroked and Blueprinted
  • A Stella Review: Black Dust by Lynn Charles
  • A Paul B Review: For the Love of a Wolf by Charlie Richards

Saturday, May 14:

  • A Jeri Review – Pop Life by Ryan Loveless

 

Its May and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Its May and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Its the first of May and things are changing. We are  streamlining things here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words, internally.  And while these changes are going on, all to make this blog better for all our readers, authors and booklovers, we have paired down our schedule for the moment.  Hang in there with us.  We will be back up to speed shortly.

One change?  A new email address.  Please send all requests for book reviews, and any correspondence for that matter to ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords@gmail.com.  Don’t worry about the caps. Those are mine.

In the meantime….here is our schedule for the upcoming week.

Sunday, May 1:

  • This Week  at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • Wolf, en Garde – Guest Post Request – Blog Tour by AF Henley

Monday, May 2:

  • The Case of The Thwarted Lovers by L.G. Fabbo-Gonnella Blog Tour and Giveaway
  • Website Reveal (Promo) for Anyta Sunday (giveaway)
  • A Jeri Review: Believing Rory by SC Wynne

 

Tuesday, May 3:

  • Release Day for Blackfrost by Jaye McKenna – guest post and giveaway
  • Mini Blog Tour and Giveaway – Sweet William by Dianne Hartsock
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Lost Souls by Barbara Sheridan
  • A BJ Review: Blackfrost by Jaye McKenna

Wednesday, May 4:

  • A Stella Review: Between Ghosts by Garrett Leigh
  • A MelanieM Review: The Infected Holiday Special by Andrea Speed
  • A Melanie M Review: Infected Series by Andrea Speed

 

Thursday, May 5:

  • Bellora Quinn and Angel Martinez’s ‘Kellen’s Awakening’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • WHERE THERE’S A WILL by Cari Z. –  Riptide Tour and Giveaway
  • A Paul B Review. Amended Soul by Kate Steele
  • A MelanieM Review: Will and Patrick’s Happy Ending (Wake Up Married #6)
    by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths

Friday, May 6:

  • New Cover Reveal: Deanna Wadsworth ‘Naughty Cupid’
  • A BJ Audio Review: Tempest by Lisa Rock & J.A. Rock
  • A MelanieM Review: MCB Quarterly Vol. 4

 

Saturday, May 7:

  • A Free Dreamer YA Review: Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love Wolf Shifters? A.F. Henley is Here Talking Wolf, en Garde (Wolf #2) (guest post, special teaser and giveaway)

Wolf en Garde Front Cover

Wolf, en Garde (Wolf #2) by A.F. Henley
L
ess Than Three Press
Release Date May 17

Cover Artist: Raphael (website https://boysininkandcolour.com/ )

Pre Purchase/Buy Link/Read a Full Excerpt Here

 

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is thrilled to have A.F.Henley here to talk about the sequel to Wolf.  Welcome, A.F., tell  us more about Wolf, en Garde and what we can expect from this amazing series.

***********

 

So, here we are again! I’m crazy excited to be joining you here on Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words to introduce (or, in some cases reintroduce) the characters and places of my newest release, Wolf en Garde. For those who joined me months ago with the Wolf, WY tour: welcome back; I’ve missed you! For those who are meeting the friends and villains of Wolf for the first time—hello, it’s great to meet you!

I’ve said it before, but I’ve never been a series writer. When I wrote “The End” I meant it. I left the characters with their HEA or HFN, and that was that: farewell, amen, good luck. However, with Wolf, WY there was an entire story brewing underneath the romance of Randy and Vaughn. I could see it trying to bubble up through the rest of the words and it intrigued me to no end. Had it been just a case of, “Okay, but what happened to Lyle? Or Isaac or Hannah?” I probably wouldn’t have bothered. Not because I didn’t care, but simply because there are a million stories in the naked city (or however that goes) and my head always seems to be swimming with them. Wolf had something it wanted to say to me, to you, and it wasn’t about to let me stop.

And here with are… with Lyle’s story, and the next “chapter” of the Wolf series.

I’d like to take you on a bit of a journey with this blog tour; give you a chance to meet the new characters and to shake hands with the ones you already know, explain the settings and the locations, and hopefully pique your interest in the “what comes next” of the Wolf series with some tiny teasers from the novel. But I won’t ask you to hop on board without a thank you for showing up. Follow through to the end of the post to learn how you could win your very own signed, print copy of Wolf en Garde, a sterling silver (nickel and lead-free) Howling Wolf Bangle, and a $20 gift certificate to the Less Than Three Press book market. After all, your time is valuable, and I can’t thank you enough for being here.

But first, the teaser. And what better way to start than with our main character: Lyle O’Connell. When we met Lyle, he was a young man going through the kind of change that we’ve all experienced but with a whole heck of a lot of extra… uh… fun?… thrown in for good measure. Let’s hope it made him a better man…

Tiny Teaser: Introducing – Lyle O’Connell

For all the times Lyle had ever included the words “teeming with” in a thought or statement—which, when he considered it, were actually few and far between—none had been as accurate as his thought that the airport was teeming with people. From the smallest shrieking infant to the tallest ear-budded man, from the casual vacationer in their comfy travel clothes to the business people in their suits and skirts, every shape, size and ethnicity was represented. It was the largest, loudest, most chaotic group of people that Lyle had ever been part of in his life. And it was fucking amazing.

He’d felt the buzz of the terminal before he’d been halfway across the jet bridge that brought him from the small plane that had carried him, his father, his siblings, and Randy, his father’s—partner, Lyle thought, and instantly diminished the word to friend—from the airport in Casper to their current stop in Denver. They wouldn’t be there for long, a mere hour before they’d step back onto a (hopefully) much bigger plane and finish their journey up to D.C., and Lyle intended to enjoy every single second of it. The smells were intense and copious: hormones heavy with fear, anxiety, grief, and excitement; fast food, restaurant food, alcohol; cologne over sweat and perfume over fabric softeners. If he could have done it without consequence, Lyle would have forced himself into a shift right then and there. The thought of experiencing all those scents with a nose more educated than the one he wore at that moment was almost too seductive.

His father wasn’t doing quite so well, which meant that, through proximity alone, neither was Randy. That fact was more amusing than it probably should have been, though Lyle was doing his best not to let his amusement show. His father, Vaughn, wouldn’t be impressed in the least if Lyle made those feelings obvious. Respect and subservience to the normal majority of their world was not just expected, it was insisted upon—to the point that when Lyle had wandered a little too deep into instinctual territory over dominating those around him, Lyle had been shipped off and brainwashed by the fucking committee until he’d sworn up and down that he was wrong and was going to live within their rules. It had been a bullshit season for Lyle, that winter and early spring he’d spent in the clutches of the GDBCG (the Genetics Development and Biological Connectivity Group, who worked for the Committee with respect to research and rehabilitation), and Lyle had no intention of ending back there. Besides, the next time it might not just be a few months of parroting back rules and expectations. Next time, they just might decide Lyle wasn’t worth the effort and put a bullet in his head. They could do it, too. Without anybody ever lifting an eyebrow over what had happened.

Wolf, en Garde Excerpt
© AF Henley, 2016

Wolf Animation GIF Header

Blurb

Wolf, en Garde

Three years ago Lyle made a mistake that cost him his freedom, and almost his life. Now, sick to death of watching his father love the man that Lyle wanted, Lyle accepts an offer to leave Wolf, WY behind and see what life in Washington, D.C. can do for him instead.

When Lyle comes across a seductive, attractive stranger with a fascinating yet terrifying view of humanity, he’s more than intrigued. It doesn’t take Lyle long to realize that Arius isn’t just playing games, though, and when Lyle runs across a secret in Arius’ lair he has no choice but to flee, even knowing his actions will enrage Arius.

On the run, with only a psychic’s second sight and his own instinct to help him, Lyle has nowhere to go but home. The only question is, will they have him when he shows up.

Genre: Gay, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Notes: Wolf, WY contains some explicit and violent content
Book 2 in the Wolf series

Purchasing Link above – save 15% by preordering your copy today! Discount available until May 17th

 

The Giveaway

On behalf of the tour, please join the giveaway by taking part in the Rafflecopter below. The prize consists of a sterling silver (nickel and lead-free) Howling Wolf charm bangle, a $20 Gift Certificate to the Less Than Three Press book market (free books!), and a signed, print copy of Wolf, WY.

For all the terms and conditions, please check out the t’s and c’s posted on the Rafflecopter.

** Please note that this giveaway is being offered tour-wide and there will be one winner awarded for the entire event.

Wolf en Garde Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

As always, my heartfelt thanks to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for having me today. It is an honour and a pleasure to be back and I can’t stress enough that authors like myself could never pull it off without sites like yours.

And a huge thanks to you, my friends, for reading and joining me. Best of luck with the giveaway and I hope you enjoyed the post!

Until next time,

AF Henley ❤

AF Henley_Avatar cropped

About the Author

Henley was born with a full-blown passion for run-on sentences, a zealous indulgence in all words descriptive, and the endearing tendency to overuse punctuation. Since the early years Henley has been an enthusiastic writer, from the first few I-love-my-dog stories to the current leap into erotica.

A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for ‘research purposes’ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, tend to flourish.

Henley has been proudly publishing with Less Than Three Press since 2012.

For more information, please stop by for a visit at afhenley.com.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, April 17:

  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, April 18:

  • Return to Bluewater Bay with Selfie by Amy Lane (Riptide Tour and Contest
  • RJ Scott’s Love’s Design Tour and Giveaway
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Selfie by Amy Lane
  • A Lila Audiobook Review: Buchanan House by Charley Descoteaux

Tuesday, April 19:

  • A.M. Arthur ‘The Heart As He Hears It’ book blast and giveaway
  • L.J. LaBarthe’s Book, Line, and Sinker  Dreamspinner Author Tour
  • T.J. Klune’s Guest Blog for Withered + Sere (Release Day Author Spotlight)
  • A BJ Review:  Withered + Sere Review by TJ Klune

Wednesday, April 20:

  • Lord of the Hearth, Lord of the Hollow by Sara Kane Guest Blog
  • A MelanieM Review: Lord of the Hearth, Lord of the Hollow by Sara Kane
  • A Stella Review: Old Town New by BA Tortuga release day review
  • A MelanieM Review: Professional Distance by Silvia Violet

Thursday, April 21:

  • Old Town New by BA Tortuga Author Blog
  • In the Spotlight: Tali Spencer ‘Victory Portrait’ (Excerpt and giveaway)
  • A MelanieM Review: Hidden Wings by Ana Raine
  • An Alisa Audiobook Review:  Pulling Leather by L.C. Chase

Friday, April 22:

  • COZZI COVE: MOVING FORWARD by Joe Cosentino, guest blog
  • A Lila Review: Pride Weekend (A Buchanan House Love Story )Charley Descoteaux
  • A Paul B Review: A New Alpha in Town by A J Marcus
  • A BJ Audiobook Review: The Two Gentlemen of Altona by Lisa Henry and J.A. Rock

Saturday, April 23:

 

  • A Free Dreamer. YA Review: “Boy Meets Boy” by David Levithan

 

Cloudy with a Chance of What? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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Cloudy with a Chance of What?

As I sit here in my big chair, Kindle in hand, dogs clustered about, I’m looking out the window and watching snow flakes fly by.  In April.  In Maryland.  In a yard that has hyacinths blooming, not to mention a few scarce cherry blossoms struggling to hold on after all the fierce winds we’ve had lately. There are violets out like mad, and a pollen count off the charts enough to keep Winston sneezing along with everyone else, now we have snow, frigid temperatures and more on the horizon.

Not just the expected frosts, but actual snow.  Sigh.

And only a few days ago it was in the 80’s, thoughts of flowers, plantings, bar-b-ques and flip flops were in my head or actually walking down the street.  My winter coat was tucked away, along with gloves, hats, and, my ever present scarves.

Now all are back and I can’t tell you for how long and neither can the meteorologists.

From day to day I never know what to expect from the weather these days. Snow, heat, torrential downpours, light rains, gale force winds to gentle lovely breezes that stir the air…we’ve had them all recently, and sometimes within a manner of a week or two.

Life feels a lot like that in many respects.  Whether its health or family issues or things like a computer who doesn’t feel like upgrading this morning and just shuts down,  the unexpected seems to rise up and then wait to see how well you deal (or don’t) with the results.   I’m still working on those.  How about you?

For now, I’m still looking out the window as the snow appears to be giving up…for now.  I do know that Spring is coming, the weather will eventually turn, finally, for the better and then we’ll all be complaining about the heat.  But for now? The forecast by looking at our skies is cloudy with a  chance of  what exactly?  Mother Nature’s not telling.  It’s a toss up here.   So I’m returning to the chair, the dogs and my Kindle for the rest of the day.  Seems like a reasonable course of action.  But here is our schedule for the upcoming week.  There is something wonderful for everyone.  Check it all out.

☁♢☁♢☁♢☁♢☁

 

 This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, April 10:

  • Cloudy with a Chance of What? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, April 11:

  • Our Author & Book Spotlight: Meg Harding on Inspiration and ‘The Last Favor’
  • Mary Newman’s ‘A Prince’s Ransom’ Book Blast and giveaway
  • Determined Mate (Holland Brothers #2) by Toni Griffin  Audiobook Tour and giveaway
  • ‏Black Dust by Lynn Charles Book Blast and giveaway
  • An Alisa Review: Planting His Dream by Andrew Grey
  • A Stella Review: Ravel by R. Phoenix

Tuesday, April 12:

  • Cover reveal: Elizabeth Noble ‘Code Name Jack Rabbit (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Up Close and Personal with AJ Marcus on her release Moose Fever and more (Guest Post)
  • Coffee Sip and Book Break with Knit Tight’ by Annabeth Albert (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A MelanieM Review:  Knit Tight by Annabeth Albert
  • An Ali Review: Moose Fever by AJ Marcus

Wednesday, April 13:

  • Bad Magic (Spell Slave #1) by Evelyn Elliott  – excerpt and  giveaway
  • J. Scott Coatsworth’s Myths Untold- Faery Anthology  Release and Guest Blog
  • In the Spotlight: The Case of The Thwarted Lovers by L.G. Fabbo-Gonnella (excerpt and contest)
  • A Jeri Review: Pop LIfe by Ryan Loveless (a release day review)

Thursday, April 14:

  • In the Spotlight: The Dilemma by Victoria Sue (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Cornelia Grey’s Devilish Circus is back with ‘The Empty Hourglass’ by Cornelia Grey (giveaway and guest blog)
  • You’ve Never Been Hurt by Jaime Samms  (tour and contest)
  • A Paul B Review: Enemies of the State by Tal Bauer
  • An Ali Review: Better Than Safe by Lane Hayes Audiobook Review

Friday, April 15:

  • Cover reveal for North to Zombieville by Meg Bawden
  • Jay Northcote ‘Imperfect Harmony’ Book Tour and contest
  • Second Skin by Alex Whitehall. Riptide Tour and contest
  • An Ali Review: Grizzly Discovery(Mountain Spirits Mysteries book 2)‏ by AJ Marcus
  • A MelanieM Review:  Hidden Wings by Ana Raine

Saturday, April 16:

  • A MelanieM Review:  Professional Distance by Silvia Violet

 

 

 

 

April’s Fools and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

April’s Fools

Oh what a cluttered day and week its been.  The joke’s been on me.  No time to write or even think so here is another short schedule for the week ahead. 

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, April 3:

  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • A VVivacious Review:  Chasing Sunrise by Lex Chase

Monday, April 4:

  • Talk Dirty to Me by Jessie G. Keep Me In Mind tour and  giveaway
  • In the Spotlight: A.M. Leibowitz ‘What Once Was Lost’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady: Big Love by Rick R Reed release day review
  • A Lila Review: Prince of the Playhouse by Tara Lain release day review
  • A PaulB review: Marking Kane by A C Katt

Tuesday, April 5:

  • Manties in a Twist‏ Riptide Tour and Contest
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Manties in a Twist by JA Rock
  • A BJ Review: The 13th Hex by Jordan Hawk
  • A F.D. Review: Earthshatter by Adam Nothlit
  • A VVivacious Review:  Chasing Sunrise by Lex Chase

Wednesday, April 6:

  • Miranda Macleod ‘A Road Through Mountains’ (F/F book) on April 6‏
  • A Stella Review: the Last Favor by Meg Harding
  • A Stella Review: The Kitchen Boy by August Li
  • A MelanieM Review:  Jeremy and Mike by Laura Baumbach

Thursday, April 7:

  • Cover Reveal for Blackfrost by Jaye McKenna
  • Silvia Violet ‘Paws on Me’ excerpt tour and giveaway
  • Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Dinner at Fiorello’s by Rick R. Reed ~ Audiobook narrated by Joel Leslie
  • A MelanieM Review: Champagne Kisses by Lynda Aicher

Friday, April 8

  • RJ Scott’s Undercover Lover: Enticing Journey  (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A BJ Review:  Lost and Found by Z. A Maxfield

Saturday, April 9:

  • An Aurora YA Review: The Sun Dragon by Annabelle Jay

 

A New List of LGBTQIA Stories in the Making and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

A New List of LGBTQIA Stories in the Making

Here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words we love our lists.  We are especially fond of our favorite  covers and best books, favorite shifters, best science fiction…well, you get the idea.  With all the discussions flying about, we will be adding a new list as a starting point, one that we would love your input as we will have missed some to be sure.  Its a list of your recommended Stories with Asexual/Pansexual Main Characters.  Here is just a few already suggested:

How To Be A Normal Person by T.J. Klune
The Coffee Cake series (2 books) by Michaela Grey
Ace by Jack Byrne
Blood and Clockwork by Katey Hawthorne
Blue Eyed Stranger (Trowchester Blues, #2) by Alex Beecroft

And that’s just for starters.  Have a few books to suggest we add to our list?  Comment below or  send them to us.  It won’t be a static list, keep sending them to us with each new book you find.  The more the merrier!

And now for this week’s schedule.

Spring Beauties

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

 

Sunday, March 2o:

  • A New List of LGBTQIA Stories in the Making and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday,  March 21:

  • Jury of One by Charlie Cochrane tour and giveaway
  • Under a Sky of Ash by Brandon Witt — author guest post
  • A Jeri Review: Under a Sky of Ash by Brandon Witt
  • A Melanie M Review: Dirty Heart by Rhys Ford (release day review)
  • A Stella Review: Trailer Trash by Marie Sexton

Tuesday, March 22:

  • In the Spotlight: Trailer Trash‏ by Marie Sexton (giveaway)
  • Nicola Haken “Broken” Author Guest Spot
  • Moriah Gemel ‘Ceili’, Virtual tour and giveaway
  • A MelanieM Review:  Jury of One by Charlie Cochrane
  • A Jeri Review: It’s a Long Way to the Top (Acts of Insanity Book 1) by Cherry Cox

Wednesday, March 23:

  • Dusk Peterson ‘Rebirth’ Tour and Giveaway
  • The Worst Bad Thing by J.E. Birk –  Dreamspinner Author guest post
  • In Our Audiobook Spotlight: Toni Griffin ‘Determined Mate’ (audiobook) (giveaway)
  • A MelanieM Review: The Worst Bad Thing by J.E. Birk
  • A F.D. Review: The Empty Hourglass by Cornelia Gray

Thursday, March 24:

  • Chris Quinton’s ‘Tawny’ book blast and giveaway
  • Irrefutable by Jennifer Rose Blog Tour and Giveaway
  • A Jeri Review: Broken by Nicola Haken
  • A Lila Review: The Assasin’s Pet by NaNa G
  •  BJ Review: F.I.S.T.S. Handbook For Individual Survival in Hostile Environments by Bey Deckard

Friday, March 25:

  • Amelia Bishop ‘More Than Love’ book blast and giveaway
  • Bankers’ Hours by Wade Kelly – author guest post and giveaway
  • Release Day Guest Post: Waking Jamal by Amberly Smith
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Bankers’ Hours by Wade Kelly
  • A Stella Review: Fire of the Heart by Lee Brazil and Havan Fellows

Saturday, March 26:

A MelanieM Review: Fish and Ghosts by Rhys Ford

 

 

 

Melanie M Thoughts On Labeling – Isn’t It Time to Put Away GFY?

Melanie M Thoughts On Labeling – Isn’t It Time to Put Away GFY?

Funny isn’t it when all lines of thought lead to a convergence of minds?  That seems to have happened this past week or two.  But I’ve been thinking of it for some time.  And it seems to come down to this.

Labels.

A simple word that applies to so many people that can be so very hurtful when used or misused, intentionally, unintentionally,  or just because thats a pattern that everyone has fallen into over time.  The M/M romance community has been very vocal of late about one author’s latest release and whether its a GFY or bisexual or what have you. More on that later.  But that’s not a new argument, trust me. She is but the latest target which is unfortunate and undeserved.

We should be  long past such  discussions.  I had sort of hoped that we were.

When LGBT enlarged to embrace more of the sexual spectrum to become LGBTQIA, I was encouraged.  It made me hopeful that I would see a change in outlook on people and in our ability to become more open in our perspectives on not only romance but relationships, people, in every aspect would follow.  And to a degree, that’s happened.

But only to a degree as these past weeks have born witness.

Labels and peoples unwillingness to see beyond certain rigid character/sexual definitions still continue to amaze me.  Do you know I still read/hear people say?  That bisexuality is still a stop over on the road to gaytown.  As though it has no legitimacy, no validity of its own.  Its as though people cannot imagine being attracted to both sexes so obviously they are in denial and therefore, not bisexual at all.  And yes, from the discussions held from friends and strangers on the subject, that amount of dismissal and outright contempt that attitude shows hurts.

There’s another issue here.  That’s the GFY label.  That’s the one that holds so many awful connotations, ones I don’t think people have thought about.  We are long overdue to put that label aside for good.

GFY.  Gay For You. How cutsey.  How not.  What?  Someone can wave a magic wand and make that person gay?  Just for them?  People?  Have you not heard enough rightwingers or conservative religious believers spout that at you already?  Why on earth would you want to perpetuate that as a label?  No, you can’t make someone gay for you.  Look at the science.  We know enough about the sexual spectrum.  We are past this. Long, rainbow colored, unicorn, flag waving, past this.

People are pansexual, bisexual, asexual, asexual romantic, omnisexual, lesbian, gay, every wonderful sexual or non-sexual out there. But they aren’t fucking gay for you! Now having said that, it doesn’t mean that LGBTQIA and non fiction isn’t having an impact in the world, even, sigh, the so-called GFY labeled novels.  Here is part of a wonderful FB post from TJ Klune about the current GFY dustup and a email he received:

So, here’s the thing.

I see drama crap in this genre again, people saying what an author can or cannot write about, if GFY is an acceptable trope or if it’s erasure.

Here’s some perspective to make you think if we’re truly arguing about something petty, or if there is something bigger we could (and should) be focusing on.

Part of an email I received from a reader:

“I live in the most homophobic place on earth where you get stoned to death if you’re discovered as a homosexual. I am from Iraq.

You made me laugh and cry, fall in love, be heart broken and be angry and make stupid mistakes with them. your books are my haven from a prejudiced, blood thirsty reality. you made me believe that there’s beauty in who we are. Paul and Sandy’s friendship? Bear and Creed’s? God, what wouldn’t I do to have that. Paul’s family, his parents, his Nana and even johnny Depp. They’re hope shining and bright and something I wish my family was, something I wish I would be in hopefully a long time.

This has become too long and you may never read it. But, I had to tell you that reading your books is a necessity for me, a drug that keeps me sane when I’m pushed to my breaking point for simple silly things like not wearing a head scarf or wearing makeup. You showed me love in all it’s capacity, in all it’s craziness. I know I may never find something like that but at least I’ll feel it through your characters, through you and your power I won’t say ability no it’s your power to channel emotions.”

 

 

That’s heartbreaking and very powerful stuff.  It made me cry and made me more determined to get this out in the right way. Enough to give you pause, right?

And from another literary corner, author Amy Lane, with many terrific thoughts too on the subject, chiming in here from her blog: http://writerslane.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-drug-of-trope.html?m=1&zx=aab514f9a1daa573.  She talks a little about the history, science and authors viewpoint.  It works but perhaps again doesn’t take in enough of the impact.

Yes, GFY is a literary trope, one that has a history behind it, one that authors themselves may not even use.  But if the ones that write the reviews use it, if the ones that read the reviews use it, then it still continues to have power. Power it shouldn’t have.

Maybe I’m not looking at the wider view yet.  Does this label have an impact on those who are fighting for their lives in third world countries because of who they love?  No, it doesn’t.   Maybe.  But its a perception of love that has a power that carries through populations that might surprise you for such a tiny label that I’m fighting for here.

GFY.   Gay For You.

On the back of that  small three letter label stands centers that think they can change a person’s sexuality, people that think being gay is a disease that can be cured, politicians with banners of hate and a sexuality that’s like magic that can come and go with the wave of a magic wand.

Too strong?  Maybe.

Or maybe not.

So if its not the writers, maybe it time for us  reviewers and readers to ditch the GFY, from our reviews, vocabularies, our tagging, and our minds. Let’s take the first step together.  Really its not as big a step as you think.

On our next reviews, instead of GFY, how about pansexual if it applies, omnisexual, bisexual or, even asexual romantic or somewhere along the sexual spectrum wherever that character may stand.  There is a host of applicable terms…lets use them.  Let’s talk to the author, open up a discussion on sexuality.  This could be an amazing opportunity.  Let’s not lose it to get lost in negativity but use to to move forward once more.

How do you all feel about this?  I want to know.  Are you ready to give up your old labels and move forward?  Let’s put GFY behind us and move forward towards the diversity that LGBTQIA stands for in everyway.

 

 

 

 

A MelanieM Review: Blood and Clockwork by Katey Hawthorne

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Blood and ClockworkAlistair Click set out to lay to rest the superstitious fears about the Mad Prince’s clockwork tower. If that meant he might bring the ghost city of Avalonia back to economic life, connecting the western kingdoms once again, so much the better. So what if no adventurer who’d entered the tower in the last century of desolation had ever re-emerged? They didn’t have his skill and wit. He could do better.

The tower turns out to be far more than Alistair expected, however. Not only are there clockwork puzzles to open every door, but one of them drops a boy from a strange world into his lap–figuratively speaking, if only just. Marco Murphy was just gaming in his New Jersey apartment, and now he’s stuck in what feels like a never ending LARP nightmare.

The deeper they delve into the Mad Prince’s tower, the darker the secrets they uncover. They’re not entirely sure they’ll ever be able to get out again, either. It’ll take all Marco’s charm and Alistair’s cleverness, plus the strange bond growing between them, to get them out together… and alive.

When I finished Katey Hawthorne’s Blood and Clockwork, several things popped immediately to mind.  First?  What a spectacular world and engrossing plot! That Mad Prince’s clockwork tower?  Spellbinding…literally. Step by step, I was peering over the shoulders of those wonderful characters, Alistair and Marco as they carefully maneuvered their way thru the mechanisms the Mad Prince has laid out before them.  Be prepared to hold your breath.

And right on the heels of that thought?  More, there needs to be more.

From the moment I meet brave, enterprising Alistair entering the deserted town of Avalonia, the reader comprehends he is someone special.  How special emerges as the story unfolds.   He wants the secrets to the Mad Prince’s clockwork tower that never seems to wind down, even centuries later in the middle of a city devoid of life.  Others have tried and never returned.  Alistair is determined to be the first.  Be prepared to fall deeply in loved with this character.  He’s intelligent, non-judgmental and open to life’s possibilities.  Also very brave which helps with what’s about to come.

Surprisingly, the tower has another occupant.  A visitor from another dimension.  Marco, an artist from our world.  Charming, easy going, intelligent and a perfect match for Alistair in ways that Alistair is not prepared for, this includes sexually.  For Alistair is asexual and the discussion had between them is thoughtful, easy and open,  another wonderful element here.  Marco is stuck in the tower and has no way home.  Together they must work as a team to solve the tower’s puzzles in order to send Marco home and let Alistair solve the riddle of the tower.

Sounds simple but its anything but as the terrific narrative will show.  Marco will pull in some of his skills from his home world, Alistair will use his, and the combination is lovely, imaginative, occasionally funny, and heartwarming.

When the story finished, I was happy yes, but not completely satisfied.  I wasn’t done with these two or their world.  I felt as though we had just gotten started with each  other.  Surely this was but the first in many adventures right?  Katey Hawthorne?  Are you listening?  With their combination of talents, surely  more stories and adventures are to follow?  Just let me know.  I’ll be ready to join in the fun or horror or both.

Cover art is beautiful yet horrific and works within the framework of the story.

Sales links:  Less Than Three Press | ARe | Amazon link coming

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: March 16th 2016 by Less Than Three Press
ISBN139781620047392
Edition LanguageEnglish