A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Pansies (Spires Universe) by Alexis Hall

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

pansies-by-alexis-hallWhew!  I’m emotionally exhausted from following just a few weeks in the lives of Alfie and Fen as they rediscover each other and move their relationship forward from enemies to lovers.

When Alfie leaves his posh London apartment, secured with money he’s made while working as a financial guru for the past seven years, he drives in his equally posh sports car back to his hometown of South Shields in Northern England where nothing is posh.  It’s rundown and depressing, and yet he feels hopeful and renewed by getting in touch with his roots.  A night out has an unexpected result—he spies a hot twink with long hair and a gorgeous ass in the local bar, but when the two end up in bed together he learns this isn’t a stranger at all.  It’s the guy he knew as James in high school—a guy who he bullied and tortured to the point where James’s life was so miserable he went by his middle name, instead of his real name of Fenimore, nicknamed Fen.  And Fen is shocked when he learns Alfie doesn’t recognize him at all, but he sets Alfie straight when he gives him the tongue-lashing he deserves—and not the kind of tongue Alfie may have been hoping for.

Though the story was long, I enjoyed the fact that the author took the time to explore each man’s personality and psyche individually and then together, weaving memories of their pasts with the present, unfurling Alfie’s feelings of his discovery of being gay, and then of falling in love, and finally, of realizing what love really means and of coming to terms with who he is.  At times heartbreaking, at times infused with humor, each man’s story is unique, and yet the stories are easily intertwined to bring the couple to the present where they discover a love neither had envisioned and neither is willing to give up.

I was swept up in their story, at times rooting for Alfie, at times crying for Fen, and once—wanting to smack Alfie upside the head for listening to advice from Fen’s father.  Thankfully, the story ended with a HEA—always the best ending in my opinion.  I recommend this to those who enjoy MM romance, especially a romance that takes the time to fully develop between two men who were at odds previously and now learn to appreciate the best and worst in each other’s lives.

The cover by Simoné is fantastic!  In fact, I chose the book based on the cover. It clearly depicts Pansies, the flower shop around which the story is based, and it shows the couple in a joyous moment—big, muscular Alfie, holding a smaller, lithe Fen as they laugh together in front of the shop.

Sales Links

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Riptide Publishing

All Romance | iBooks | Kobo

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 376 pages
Published October 8th 2016 by Riptide Publishing
Original TitlePansies
ASINB01M8FV8RB
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesSpires Universe

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Romancing the Wrong Twin by Clare London

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

romancing-the-wrong-twinHow tangled can a romantic web get?

When gruff mountaineer Dominic Hartington-George seeks sponsorship for his latest expedition, his London PA insists on a more media-friendly profile—like dating celebrity supermodel Zeb Z.

Zeb can’t make the date, so he asks his identical twin, Aidan, to stand in for just one evening. Aidan, a struggling playwright, shuns the limelight to the extent people don’t even know Zeb has a sibling, but he reluctantly agrees.

When the deception has to continue beyond the first date, Aidan fights to keep up the pretense. Dominic likes his sassy, intelligent companion, and Aidan starts falling for the forthright explorer. But how long can Aidan’s conscience cope as confusion abounds? Will coming clean as “the other twin” destroy the trust they’ve built?

I am so hooked on these Dreamspun Romances from Dreamspinner that I can’t wait to get my hands on them as the pop up.  Each one gives our old romance novels  (aka Silhouette or whatever brand you may have gobbled up)and their well used, often loved themes a LGBTQIA twist.

In Romancing the Wrong Twin, Clare London uses, yes, that delicious plot of switched identity and twins.    One twin?  A famous male model, fabulous, sexy,  and a serial dater.  His brother?  Quiet, in the theatre, a writer and director in need of money for his play.  The stage is definitely set for fun and romance and London makes the most of the format by adding in a bear of a mountaineer, Dom, in need of a backer for his climb up Mt. Eiger.  Why not have the famous mountaineer “date” the famous model? After all they share a ad agency…should be a cat walk.  Or not when one famous brother asks the not so famous one to be his Stand-in.

I had a bit of difficulty the first couple of pages.  A case of too much description of extraneous things getting in the way of connecting me to the characters but once I met the irascible Dom and his crew the story started to click.  It got better when Aidan and his theatre troupe came into the story.  You could see how much Aidan was struggling to make it and the affection that all his actors/friends had for him.  That background gave substance (as well as his feelings for his twin) to the reason behind the switch that was pulled.  It wasn’t a lark.  London established a foundation for her plot and it made the story viable.

Aidan and Dom made a great couple.  London gave them the right amount of chemistry and sexy scenes.  I adored them.  And there was just enough  anticipatory angst built into the plot to make you wonder close to the end of the story how the revelation would be handled.  Nicely done.

But one other thing surprised me.  Zeb, Aidan’s brother.  There’s a plot twist here.  I don’t know if I missed his story or if London (please say yes) has his story coming out.  We need to know Zeb’s story too.  How about a Romancing the Right Twin?  Surely that’s in the works?  I’ll be on the lookout, but in the meantime grab up Romancing the Wrong Twin by Clare London.  Its a fun, sweet romance in the Dreamspun Desires series from Dreamspinner Press.  Its one I recommend.

Cover art by  Paul Richmond continues to work well to brand the series and the story.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, Dreamspun Desires #21, 256 pages
Expected publication: November 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleRomancing the Wrong Twin
ISBN 1634773721 (ISBN13: 9781634773720)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Release Blitz and Review Tour – Romancing The Wrong Twin by Clare London (excerpt and giveaway)

Clare London – Romancing The Wrong Twin

Author: Clare London
 
Release Date: November 1 2016
 
Length: 59,000 words
 
 

Blurb:
How tangled can a romantic web get?When gruff mountaineer Dominic Hartington-George seeks sponsorship for his latest expedition, his London PA insists on a more media-friendly profile—like dating celebrity supermodel Zeb Z.Zeb can’t make the date, so he asks his identical twin, Aidan, to stand in for just one evening. Aidan, a struggling playwright, shuns the limelight to the extent people don’t even know Zeb has a sibling, but he reluctantly agrees.When the deception has to continue beyond the first date, Aidan fights to keep up the pretense. Dominic likes his sassy, intelligent companion, and Aidan starts falling for the forthright explorer. But how long can Aidan’s conscience cope as confusion abounds? Will coming clean as “the other twin” destroy the trust they’ve built?

Excerpt

The pretty young woman who met Aidan at the door smiled warmly. “I’m Tanya, Mr. Hartington-George’s personal assistant. I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Z. I’m quite a fan.”
“Zeb,” Aidan said, hoping he hadn’t hesitated for too long. “Please just call me Zeb. And… yes. Thanks.”
“Come on through.” She gestured him into the hallway. “You’re on time.”
Aidan wondered why she sounded surprised at that. He repitched his natural voice a little higher to Zeb’s teasing tone and smiled brightly in return. “Of course.”
A sneaked look in the hallway mirror had him rolling his eyes. Mission accomplished, Zeb! He barely recognized himself. Usually he was most comfortable in a sweatshirt and jeans, but now he was dressed in what Zeb Z would wear on a daily basis: a pair of skintight, distressed-denim jeans with inexplicable splits across the knees; high-top boots in soft purple leather that screamed expensive yet were surprisingly comfortable; and two lightweight T-shirts under an off-the-shoulder, electric blue sweater. Admittedly the blue brought out the color of his eyes—no one ever said Zeb didn’t have a well-developed sense of personal style—but the rest of it made him look like an overaged member of a boy band.
A younger man darted out from what must have been the living room, clutching a leather jacket to his chest as if in protection. He saw Aidan, glanced at Tanya with widening eyes, then back at Aidan. Then he thrust out his hand and said perfectly cheerily, “I’m Eric. He threatens to kill me on a daily basis.”
Aidan just shook hands and nodded. He had no idea what to say to that, or even what it meant.
Tanya frowned at Eric. “Whatever. We’re just going. The car will come for you at seven. In the meantime, if you’d like a drink?”
But Eric took her arm and guided her toward the front door. “They can cope with that themselves, Tanya. Come on.”
And Aidan was left on his own in the hallway.
He took a deep breath to center himself. The house wasn’t huge, but it was in a very fashionable area of Ladbroke Grove and far more luxurious than his own small flat. That said, there wasn’t much furniture and the decoration wasn’t modern. The hallway walls were painted in plain, cool colors. No pictures hung on the walls, and there was only a single bureau and hat stand, albeit in quality wood. Eric had left the living room door ajar behind him, and Aidan took a quick peek inside before announcing himself. From what he could see, again the walls were plain and the furniture sparse. It was as if the owner was in the process of moving out—or had never really settled in.
A male figure paused in front of the half-open door. He was distracted by something on the other side of the room, so Aidan got a first secret glimpse of the man he’d been told so much about.
H-G.
He was much more handsome in real life than on TV, though in most of the documentaries, H-G was wrapped up in furry parkas or oilskins with his face more than half-hidden with a scarf and balaclava. Today he was wearing a very smart pair of dark trousers, a startlingly white dress shirt—which had to be brand-new to still have that sheen—and a well-cut suit jacket that settled comfortably across an impressive set of shoulders. H-G’s hair was a fabulous thatch of dark curls, and he had a dark beard and mustache to match. Guiltily Aidan recalled Zeb’s mischievous nickname: Hairy Guy. But that conjured up a Wild Man of Borneo kind of image, and H-G was far from that. The hair was naturally unruly but had been styled to a level just off his shoulders, and the beard was well trimmed.
Aidan had never been attracted to hairy bears, not that he’d ever had much of a choice. As Zeb had gleefully pointed out more than once, Aidan seemed to attract needy and spiteful wankers who got off on bleeding him dry of any compassion and care. Oh, and his money too.
Okay. Self-pity over, right now. I’m not Loser Aidan now. I’m the charismatic and disgustingly fascinating Zeb Z.
For the first time in this bizarre performance, Aidan felt the tickle of mischief. This just might be fun after all. He pushed the door fully open, walked into the room, and cleared his throat.
H-G turned slowly around to face Aidan fully. His gaze ranged over Aidan’s body, and his eyes widened. “Well. They didn’t lie.”
“Who didn’t? What about?”
H-G raised his eyebrows. “Well, firstly, they said you were a bit feisty.”
Feisty? Aidan hadn’t heard that word outside of romance-novel blurbs.
“And you wouldn’t be fazed by… you know.”
“No, I don’t know. By what?” Aidan bit his lip to stop a laugh escaping.
“My celebrity.”
Jesus. Zeb was right. The man was one big blob of arrogance. “No,” Aidan said coolly. “I’m not.”
“That’s from working in the business, I suppose.”
“Business?” Oh, right, he was meant to be Zeb. “Yes, of course. When you’ve seen so many guys without the spray tan and makeup,” he gabbled without thinking first, “you soon realize they’ve got the same equipment under it all.”
H-G blinked twice, hard. And then he laughed—a loud, bold sound, echoing warmly in the bleak room.
Aidan wanted to laugh with him, but maintained his cool stare. “What’s so funny?” Had he blown it already? He hadn’t even left the house with the man yet.
“They didn’t tell me you were witty, Zeb. I may call you Zeb?”
Why? “Oh yes, right. Of course.”
Dom’s language was quaintly old-fashioned, but Aidan found it rather charming, especially after the theatrical bickering of the Dreamweavers and his brother’s exuberant and affected chatter.
“And secondly?” Aidan prompted.
“I’m sorry?” H-G frowned at him.
God, what a scowl he has. “You said they didn’t lie, and then you gave the first reason.”
H-G raised his eyebrows. “You have a good memory.”
Yes, he does have lovely eyes. “Yes, I do. Especially when I’m listening.”
H-G’s mouth twisted as if he were trying not to smirk. “Secondly, they didn’t lie about your looks, and that you were even better-looking in real life. I concur. You’re bloody gorgeous.”

 



November 1 – BooksLaidBareBoys, The Way She Reads, Hearts On Fire Reviews, From Top To Bottom Reviews, My Fiction Nook, Joyfully Jay
November 3- Sinfully MM Book Reviews, Sexy Erotic Xciting, Carly’s Book Reviews
November 4 – Love Bytes
November 5 – VampryreLady’s All Things Bookish, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
November 7 – The Geekery Book Reviews, Bonkers About Books, Book Lovers 4Ever, Making It Happen, Wicked Faerie’s Tales And Reviews
November 9 – Diverse Reader, Naughty Book Eden, MM Good Book Reviews
November 11- Tara Lain

Author Bio

Clare London took her pen name from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with her other day job as an accountant.


She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with award-winning novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic, and sexy characters. 


Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter three stage and plenty of other projects in mind… she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home. 

 

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

A Lila Audiobook Review: Running Wild by SE Jakes and Narrated by Dorian Bane

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

runningwild_audiobookSean Rush is an adrenaline junkie. That’s why he was in the Army, why he steals and races classic muscle cars… and why he can’t stay away from bad boy Ryker, a Havoc Motorcycle Club lieutenant. Fortunately, Ryker can’t seem to stay away from Sean—he’s spent the last eight months breaking into Sean’s apartment and stealing into his bed, leaving Sean physically satisfied but increasingly restless.

Sean has always avoided relationships. He likes to come and go without being controlled. And Ryker is possibly the most controlling man he’s ever known. Still, he finds that he wants more from Ryker than their silent nighttime encounters.

Then one of Sean’s thefts goes bad, and Ryker’s protective instincts kick into overdrive. He takes Sean to the Havoc compound, determined to keep him safe. But Sean’s past threatens the safety of Havoc—and everything Ryker holds dear. Worse, Ryker’s hiding secrets of his own. Soon it’s obvious that the adrenaline rush can’t keep them together anymore. But maybe love can.

Running Wild is another good book by this author. It isn’t as detailed as others in her series, but it’s interesting enough to carry a new series. The concept was good, but the delivery fell short. It became predictable and cliché at parts.

I love Ryker, but Sean needed to grow up. Their relationship started strong, but then it turned more into an MF motorcycle book. Some of the scenes and the way Sean acted were easy to gender swap. I wanted Ryker and Sean to actually sit down and talk. Not pretend they were listening to each other, and not putting the club before their relationship.

One of my favorite parts was during the MCs’ separation. Perhaps because we saw another side of Sean—a more mature man trying to put his life back together and taking control. For me, the friendship between the rival motorcycle club president and Ryker stole the show. I wanted to know more about them. Maybe with Sean in the mix.

Overall, an entertaining story with likable enough characters. It lacks the emotional connection from other books from this author, but it’s a good one to start a somehow related story.

Narrator: The narration was pleasant but not remarkable. Dorian Bane did a good job getting the characters’ voices to differentiate from each other. For some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about MSNBC reporter Craig Melvin. I felt as if he was narrating the story, and I didn’t mind. 🙂

The cover for the audiobook is an adaptation of the e-book version created by L.C. Chase. It’s interesting, and let the reader see the road from the rider’s perspective.

Sales Links:  Riptide | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Dorian Bane
Length: 7 hours and 15 minutes

Published:  September 26, 2016 (Audio Edition) by Riptide Publishing
ASIN: B01LXXFCMM
Edition Language: English

Series: Havoc

Book #1: Running Wild

 

Alisa Release Day Review: Spell Cat (The Aloysius Tales #1) by Tara Lain

Rating:  4.5 stars out of 5

 

96c54-spellcat400x600When Killian Barth, history professor, meets Blaine Genneau, quantum physicist, they ignite their own big bang. But Killian can’t pursue a physics professor—or a human. As the most powerful male witch in ten generations, Killian must bolster his dying race by reproducing—despite the fact that he’s gay.

 

Even a fling with Blaine is out of the question, because Killian has been told sex with humans drains his power. But if that’s true, why can young human Jimmy Janx dissolve spoons with the power of his mind? If Killian can sort through the lies he’s been fed, he’ll still face his biggest obstacle—convincing rational scientist Blaine to believe in magic.

 

With his ancient and powerful cat familiar, Aloysius, on his shoulder, Killian brings the lightning against deceit and greed to save Blaine from danger and prove love is the greatest power of them all.

 

I have wanted to read this story for awhile now, but kept putting it off.  When I saw it was being re-published I jumped at the chance to read it and I loved it as much as I thought I would.  Killian has resigned himself to a life of duty to save his race, but knows he will never be happy with a woman.

 

Killian is drawn to Blaine from the first time they meet, but tries to deny it.  Blaine gets confused with Killian’s hot and cold actions, but isn’t easily deterred.  With everything going on around them it seems they may not have to stay apart forever.

 

In this story I could feel how frustrated and desperate Killian felt about his situation.  The more he learns about Jimmy the more confused he becomes about what he has been taught about witches and humans.  Killian becomes so desperate for a real connection with someone he gives in to his feeling for Blaine, but the result isn’t what he thinks will happen.  Jimmy is connected to Killian much more than just student and teacher and seeing the struggles of Jimmy and other characters in this story helps understanding the setting a bit more.  I enjoyed all of the characters and can’t wait to see them in more stories in this series.

 

Cover art by Reese Dante is wonderful and gives us a great visual of Killian.

 

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | ARe

 

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages

Published: 2nd Edition, October 31, 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781634776745

Edition Language: English

Series: The Aloysius Tale

Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV (Part IV) and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

ereader-on-a-bookshelf

Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV (Part IV)

Today, we are going to finish up our authors perspective on writing and publishing eBooks with two authors familiar to readers here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.  Elin Gregory, author of wonderful M/M historical novels and Joe Cosentino, author of the Cozzi Cove and Nicky and Noah Mysteries among others.  They kindly consented to answering our questions about writing, writing eBooks and publishing.

Reflecting back,  while many authors see the eBook format as one that’s here to stay, other points of view vary widely.  Here are two more to add to our picture of the eBook as it matures into an established book format and method of getting one’s  story heard and out to readers world wide.  

Elin Gregory

✍From Elin Gregory, author of On a Lee Shore, A Taste Of Copper, and many more:

  • As an author, what has your experience been publishing ebooks?  Especially self published ebooks?  Did you start off that way?  Was a traditional publishing house not the answer?  Or if it was, why? 

I’ve been writing fiction for as long as I can remember but very much took on board the message that proper books were written by ‘posh folk’. Impressions that you form as a child can be very difficult to shake off as an adult so, although I wrote many novels, it was always as a cheap form of amusement rather than with any intent. In my thirties I did show a friend what I had written. She was a deeply thoughtful and serious reader and a rollicking Regency romance with a bisexual hero really wasn’t her thing. Her reaction was so negative that I went back into the writing closet. It wasn’t until the rise of the internet and online writing fora that I tried sharing things again, to a much better response, and a friend who was a published author encouraged me to try ebooks. This was in the early 2000s before ebooks were widely available and I didn’t follow it up at the time. I wish I had.

  • How has the ebook industry changed since you started publishing?  How do you view these changes?

It hasn’t actually changed that much other than fewer publishers, more opportunities to self publish and OMG huge numbers of authors. The consequence of this is that I think it’s getting harder to be published by one of the ebook houses – which isn’t bad. As a reader I appreciate feeling that publishers are striving for excellence. But as an author, whether with a little house or as a self pubber, it’s very hard to be ‘seen’ when there are hundreds of new books each month.

  • Have you as an author benefited, are indifferent, or has it made your job more difficult to get your books out there?

I’ve benefitted in that I don’t believe I’d have ever been picked up by an agent. The competition is FIERCE. So ebooks have given me a terrific opportunity to share my work. The difficulty is in writing books that don’t properly fit the main categories so never really being sure how to describe them. Tagging them M/M won’t work because M/M is, in many readers’ minds, synonymous with erotic romance.  They aren’t really romance, lacking that focus on the relationship. I can’t describe them as gay fiction because that, to me, specifically refers to books written by gay authors. I can’t call them LGBT+ fiction because they mostly only cover the G. Tagging is really important in order to allow readers to find you.

  • What things would you change if you were starting over?

I wish I had been braver and had submitted the short novel I finished in 2005. It might have sunk without a trace but people might have liked it. Who knows?

If I was starting now – probably not much. I don’t think I have the steely core of self esteem you need to be a successful self publisher/self promoter. When ones natural style is to say  “Oh by the way, there’s this book I wrote … no, forget it. You probably wouldn’t like it” you’re not going to sell much.

  • What has been your biggest challenge?  And biggest victory as an author – other than publishing that is? Is it see your genre  expand?

Biggest challenge – LOL marketing! Biggest victory – ummmm, not sure. I’ve had a few lovely reviews and when you’ve been doing something for well over 50 years and someone thanks you for it, oh, how the heart lifts!

But expanding the genre is happening and it’s FANTASTIC. I can buy books that are genre first now – sci fi, thriller, historical, kitchen sink drama and all the rest – with amazing, complex characters and deeply interwoven plots. Books to really sink my teeth into by authors I just want to cheer, authors I aspire to emulate! More choice has to be a good thing.

  • Where do you see ebooks and yourself in the future?

I think we will carry on a pleasant low key association, like the type of friend you might not see for a couple of years but the relationship picks up where you left off. I would like to publish a bit more frequently but one does what one can and if nobody wants it – well markets change. No point worrying about it until it happens. I’ll be writing anyway.

Joe Cosentino

✍From Joe Cosentino, author of the Nicky and Noah Mysteries, the Cozzi Cove series, The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland, and many more

  •     From being touted as the death of the printed format to the savior of reading to everything in between.  As an author, what has your experience been publishing ebooks?  Especially self-published ebooks?  Did you start off that way?  Was a traditional publishing house not the answer?  Or if it was, why?

 

As an actor and playwright, I did the happy dance on my desk when Dreamspinner Press agreed to publish my novella adaptation of my one-act play, AN INFATUATION, loosely based on my high school years and high school reunion. That inspired me to write another novella, A SHOOTING STAR, loosely based on my years as a theatre major in college. The staff at Dreamspinner Press was amazing. I received a main editor, four assistant editors, a cover artist, and a publicity manager. The head of the company, Elizabeth North, answered my emails quickly, cordially, and completely. We even shared a hilarious late-night email exchange about my funny Italian family. The two novellas started out as e-books. They did so well that Dreamspinner Press gave me my own paperback anthology of the two novellas, which just recently won a Rainbow Award Honorable Mention. We are now planning an audiobook for those. We are also planning audiobooks for my other two novellas: THE NAKED PRINCE AND OTHER TALES FROM FAIRYLAND (my gay take on my favorite fairytales like Cinderella, Pinocchio, Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, and The Snow Queen) and A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (my romantic novella set on the gorgeous and magical island of Capri, Italy), both being performed by the amazing and versatile actor Joel Leslie and releasing in November and December respectively. In addition to the things I have already mentioned, the benefit of having a publisher is the assurance that your books are getting out into the market, and that you are part of a family of authors who support you. I’ve met so many generous authors who have given me advice, featured me on their blogs, and read my books. The advantage of publishing an e-book is the lower price and easy availability, though some readers prefer the paperback and/or audiobook. I assume the e-books are less expensive to publish, though print on demand has greatly reduced the cost and need for bookstore returns for publishers of paperbacks.

 

  •   How has the ebook industry changed since you started publishing?  How do you view these changes? Have you as an author benefited, are indifferent, or has it made your job more difficult to get your books out there?

 

Though I have eleven published novels and four more written and being released over the next several months, I’ve only been writing novels for two years. As my mother says, “Don’t you have anything better to do than write novels?” Hm. I wonder if Stephen King’s mother asked him that. In any case, during the short time I’ve been writing, the only change I’ve seen is the increased number of readers in all venues. Some swear by ebooks. Others want to hold the paperbook in their hands. And the rest want to hear the book performed by a skilled narrator while they exercise, drive, or rest. The more formats available for a book, the easier it is to promote.

 

  •  What things would you change if you were starting over?

 

I wouldn’t worry so much about whether or not my books would be published. I’ve been lucky enough to find the right publisher for each of my series. For example, Lethe Press publishes my comedy mystery series, the Nicky and Noah mystery novels, loosely based on my life as a college theatre professor (though thankfully nobody has been murdered at my college). DRAMA QUEEN (Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll winner of Favorite LGBT Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Novel of 2015) is available as an ebook, paperback, and audiobook performed by the amazing Michael Gilboe. DRAMA MUSCLE (Rainbow Award Honorable Mention) is available as an ebook and paperback. An audiobook is in the works. DRAMA CRUISE releases in ebook and paperback on December 1. Steve Berman of Lethe Press sees the value in offering his customers ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks. He also enjoys humor and a good mystery with a surprise ending.

 

  •  What has been your biggest challenge?  And biggest victory as an author – other than publishing that is? Is it to see your genre expand?

 

My biggest challenge has been working as a college professor/department head while I write and help promote so many books. My biggest victory is receiving so many wonderful messages from readers who tell me my books made them laugh, cry, feel romantic, and see their lives differently. For example, I created the Jana Lane mystery novels with straight leading characters and gay supporting characters, and found many straight people loving the gay characters as their favorites, and claiming that thanks to those books their positions changed on equality. The series about an ex-child star making a comeback while she solves murder mysteries on sets is published by The Wild Rose Press in ebooks and paperbacks: PAPER DOLL, PORCELAIN DOLL, SATIN DOLL, CHINA DOLL, and RAG DOLL which releases on November 13. Since the series takes place in the 1980’s, the beginnings of AIDS is featured in the novels, and also Jana’s best friend and agent are gay and partnered. The series attracts a different readership to my other novels. I am delighted to expand in that way. I also love shocking the readers each time with the surprise endings.

 

  •  Where do you see ebooks and yourself in the future?

 

I think ebooks are here to stay. However, I also believe paperbacks and audiobooks aren’t going anywhere, as I’ve witnessed many readers who continue to prefer them. As for me. I spent part of the summer writing teleplays of some of my books. I think they would all make terrific television series, especially my Cozzi Cove series published by NineStar Press as ebooks and paperbacks: COZZI COVE: BOUNCING BACK, (Divine Magazine Honorable Mention and TBR Pile Book of the Month), COZZI COVE: MOVING FORWARD, and COZZI COVE: STEPPING OUT which releases in January. The stories of ex-football player Cal Cozzi and his guest bungalows in a gay resort on a gorgeous cove on the New Jersey Shore is ripe for television. Hear that producers. Make me an offer!

 

Looking back over all our wonderful authors interviews, I begin to see certain similarities stand out.  All expect the eBook format to continue, as well as all forms of printed formats and audiobooks.  Most wish they had been braver, started to write or publish sooner. Wish they had listened more to their own voices instead of perhaps someone else telling them that what they were writing wasn’t what would sell or that the public wanted to read.

Its been wonderful to have all these authors opinions for the last two weeks.  My thanks to Parker Williams (Of Love and Corn Dogs), Wulf Francu Godgluck (Tooth, Claw, and Horn Chronicles), and Jay Northcote (Housemates, Nothing Serious ), Elin Gregory, and Joe Cosentino for appearing in this series.  Your participation has been invaluable.

Have you learned something from our authors?  Still have a question or two to ask?  We have a giveaway for our readers below.  Leave a comment or question to be entered.

And Happy Halloween and Samhain everyone!

We will be  switching things up for November as we start to roll into the holiday seasons.  We will get back to our publishers at a later date.  Thanksgiving is coming here in the States.  Hmmm…what will be our topic next? Only a wild turkey might tell….

spooky-treehouse

Giveaway

Elin Gregory is giving away a eBook copy (pdf format) of her M/M historical novel, A Taste of Copper, as well as our own giveaway of $10 of Dreamspinner gift certificates to 4 lucky readers.  To win, leave a comment and an email address where you can be reached on how reading eBooks has impacted you.  Could be the amount of books you buy, what type of books, where you buy them.  Anything.  Winners will get to choose their prize, first come first served.  Contest ends November 8th at midnight.  Must be 18 years of age or older.

 

ebook-and-printed-book-together

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

love-on-location-audiobookthe-senators-secret-audiobooklightscameracupid_audiobook-1julios-wolf-by-ac-katt

Sunday, October 30:

  • Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV (Part IV)
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • A Paul Review: The Wolves of Daos 5 by Rebecca James

Monday, October 31 (Happy Halloween – Happy Samhain):

  • In the Spotlight: The Queer and the Restless by Kris Ripper (Riptide  Publishing Tour/Giveaway)
  • Alisa Release Day Review: Spell Cat (The Aloysius Tales #1) by Tara Lain
  • A Caryn Review: Faded Into You by Remmy Duchene
  • A Lila Audiobook Review  Running Wild by SE Jakes and Narrated by Dorian Bane
  • A Stella Review: Coffee Boy by Austin Chant

Tuesday, November 1:

  • Quinn Anderson on the Challenges of Writing and her latest release, Hotline (Riptide tour/giveaway)
  • Release Blitz & Review Tour – Romancing The Wrong Twin – Clare London
  • A MelanieM Review: Romancing The Wrong Twin by Clare London
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Pansies by Alexis Hall
  • An Alisa Review: Crashing Waves by CJ Baty

Wednesday, November 2:

  • L. Rockwood Talks Dark Fantasy and “Defiant Revival” (Author Guest Blog/Book Release)
  • Tara’s “Spell Cat” Book Blast and Review (linked to the post)
  • A Melanie Releases Day Review: After the Sunset (Timing #2) by Mary Calmes
  • A Paul Review: Julio’s Wolf (Werewolves of Manhattan #6) by A.C. Katt
  • Alisa Release Day Review: Private Dances by BA Tortuga

Thursday, November 3:

  • Summer Season from Series Recap Tour – Treading The Boards Series – Rebecca Cohen
  • In the Spotlight:  Posy Roberts on her latest release Stroke of Luck (author guest post, excerpt )
  • A Melanie Release Day Review: Summer Season by Rebecca Cohen
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Love on Location by Lucy Felthouse and Joel Leslie (Narrator)
  • A Lila Audiobook Review: The Senator’s Secret by K.C. Wells and John Solo (Narrator)
  • An Alisa Audiobook Review: Lights, Camera, Cupid, the Bluewater Bay Anthology

Friday, November 4:

  • Cover Reveal  for Nobody’s Home by Dev Bentham
  • Honeymoon Their Way by Morticia Knight Blog Tour and Giveaway
  • Black Snow by EAB (Dreamspinner Author Guest Post)
  • A Lila Review: Twice in a Lifetime by Shawn Lane
  • A Stella Release Day Review: Mapping the Forest by Brandon Witt

Saturday, November 5:

hanging-the-stars

after-the-sunset-by-mary-calmes-ii96c54-spellcat400x600mapping-the-forest-by-brandon-witt

 ebook-images

~About This Sunday’s Contributing Authors~

About Elin Gregory:

Taste of copper 400x600Elin Gregory lives in South Wales and has been making stuff up since 1958. Writing has always had to take second place to work and family but now the kids are grown up it’s possible she might finish one of the many novels on her hard drive and actually DO something useful with it.

Historical subjects predominate. She has written about ancient Greek sculptors, 18th century seafarers but also about modern men who change shape at will and how echoes of the past can be heard in the present. Heroes tend to be hard as nails but capable of tenderness when circumstances allow.

There are always new works on the go and she is currently editing a novel about spies in the 1920s, finishing one set in 6th century AD England and contemplating one about the Second World War. Any excuse to buy more books!

You can reach  Elin at:

About Joe Cosentino:joe-cosentino

Bestselling author Joe Cosentino won Divine Magazine’s awards for best mystery novel, best humorous novel, and best contemporary novel of 2015.

Amazon Bestselling author Joe Cosentino’s books were voted Favorite LGBT Mystery Novel, Favorite LGBT Humorous Novel, Favorite LGBT Contemporary Novel, and Second Favorite LGBT Romance Novel in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll. Many of his books have won Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions, and one was voted TBR Pile Book of the Month. Joe wrote In My Heart: An Infatuation, A Shooting Star, A Home for the Holidays, and the Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press); Drama Queen, Drama Muscle,  and Drama Cruise Nicky and Noah mysteries (Lethe Press); Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, and Rag Doll Jana Lane mysteries (The Wild Rose Press); andCozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, and Cozzi Cove: Stepping  Out Cozzi Cove beach novels. He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, Charles Keating, and Jason Robards. Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. Joe was voted 2nd Place for Best LGBT Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015. http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com

A MelanieM Review: Shield of the Dragon (Dance with the Devil #6) by Megan Derr

Ratings: 4.5 stars out of 5

shield-of-the-dragonIf the aftermath of destroying two powerful syndicates and joining league with the last person he expected, all Ken wants is a chance to catch his breath, and maybe regain the attention of the man who said he wanted Ken as more than just a Steward but now seems to have lost interest. But every other day bring a new crop of people wanting to kill them, and it’s only a matter of time before they succeed.

All Amr wants is time—time to move his clan and settle them into their new home, time with the dragon he never thought he’d own, and most of all he wants time for his Steward, to see the man rest and recover and stop getting himself almost killed every week. He wouldn’t mind a chance to rekindle their fragile relationship either.

Diamond wants a life that feels worth living. The one he left behind wasn’t all that great, but it beat waking up to the nasty results of a curse that should have killed him and working as a hitman for the Cambry Syndicate. Then he goes to fetch someone for his boss, and gets dragged even deeper into the strange paranormal world he’s still learning to call home.

Note: contains poly

Another story in one of Megan Derr’s Dance with the Devil series is always cause for rejoicing.  Its a huge universe of stories she’s built, full of worlds and characters and their mates.  They are intertwined of course, sometimes loosely, or sometimes the threads that hold them together are tight, knotty, a balled up mess of relationships and politics and genetics.  Dragon genetics.  But whatever the story, its always compelling. The plots and world building so weirdly captivating and the couples a mesmerizing blend of beings that sometimes has you blinking in disbelief and delight at the same time.

Some of the couples even bleed (literally) into each others novels, as they do here.  For those who are loving followers of the series…I won’t spoil the surprise, just be prepared to see a couple from a previous novel play a major role here.  It also sent me running to read their story all over again.   Truly, this is a series that keeps on giving from one story to the next. It keeps reigniting your interest in all the past novels you’ve already read as well as launching your imagination anew for the next book to come.

I haven’t even gotten to Shield of the Dragon (Dance with the Devil #6) yet.  If you haven’t read the other stories that included the Dragons and the Dragon shifters in the Dance with the Devils series, you can still read this novel.  Derr does a wonderful job of explaining the culture, the genetic history just enough to engage a new reader’s imagination and connect them immediately to the story.  Those of us who have been with the series all along,  well, its a lovely quick refresher course.  But as always, its the characters who pull us into the drama and the plot lines here.

As with any Derr story there are layered story threads running parallel to each other, intertwining throughout the novel.  One is the tale of Amr who is moving his clan during a time of upheaval. Amr has been claimed by a dragon that’s the key to power and therefore much sought after.  His own life is in just as much turmoil as he seeks the companionship of Ken, his Steward.  Ken, a person of action instead of words is confused by the one person he wants and now thinks has rejected him.  And still their  clan must be settled into hostile territory and their dragons kept safe.  Little do they know of the plans being hatched against them.

Diamond is an unusual hitman/thug for the Cambry Syndicate.  Who and what he is makes him all the more deadly to everyone around him..and it brings him no peace.  His latest mission is about to change everything.  For himself, for the Syndicate, for all he knows.  In Diamond, Derr has created another memorable character.  A cursed being, done in by his own brother, with more of his history waiting to be revealed later in the plot, the revelations that flow from this character’s plot thread are extraordinary.  From his lover to those that he meets, Diamond is the key of the Shield of the Dragon in so many ways.  Derr has layered him in such a way that its a delight to watch him grow and change, especially  when one event occurs.

Ken is probably as close as they come to being Diamond’s twin.  And when the plot works in tandem, their threads twisting together, the book explodes with power.

One thing that should be mentioned is that the dragons are able to shift into human form, while remaining dragons in thought.  Part of the bonding process is sex and it continues to be part of their relationship.  So there is sex, not only between couples but between their dragons and the couples, as neither can be excluded from the others relationship, naturally.  This includes female dragons too.  So don’t be surprised to have a M/M/M/M/F/M…I think I left a M out of there somewhere… pairing at the end.  But it all felt very natural  given the relationships between each other and the couples.  Really with the dragons, its all about who they choose.

By the time the novel comes  to its HFN conclusion I was so deep into this world once more that I was shocked to see it was time to leave again.  Hate it when that happens.  Derr always does  it to me.  I’m never ready.  And of course, seeing that other couple again made me ready to pull out their story for round 2.

I loved this story.  If you are a fan of Megan Derr, you probably have already grabbed this up.  You don’t need my recommendation.  But for everyone else, if you love fantasy, dragons, dragon shifters, outstanding world building and all of the above, here’s a series to sink your teeth into.  Very sharp teeth!  And a book you will love.  You can start here or go back to the beginning.  I have listed them all at the bottom of the review.  I’ll be waiting for the next to arrive.  Meet me here.

Cover art is dark and is hard to make out but helps brand the series.

Sales Links

Less Than Three Press

7104e-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

6f71e-all2bromance2bbutton

 

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 197 pages
Published September 12th 2016
ASINB01LZG7V02
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series Dance with the Devil – add to your Goodreads shelf:

Dance with the Devil (Dance with the Devil, #1)
The Glass Coffin (Dance with the Dev #2
Dance in the Dark (Dance with the Devil, #3)
Midnight (Dance with the Devil, #3)
Dance Only for Me (Dance with the Devil, #4)
Risk it All (Dance with the Devil #4.5)
Sword of the King (Dance with the Devil, #5)
Shield of the Dragon (Dance with the Devil #6)
Twilight (Dance with the Devil #7)

A MelanieM Review: Too Many Cases by Julia Rancourt

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

too-many-casesJo is a man of multiple worlds. He was born in the mundane world, but while working as a private detective, he inadvertently chased his quarry into Otheropolis, a parallel world filled with magic. Deciding to stay, Jo is joined by Simone Of Hecate, his partner in more ways than one, and resumes his private detective work in his strange new home.

But when his private life in the mundane world comes under assault, on top of three new cases, and multiple attempts on his life, Jo starts to wonder if maybe mundane was better than magical after all.

Too Many Cases was a neat little story by Julia Rancourt.  Full of a delicious setting called Otheropolis that joined  with our mundane  parellel world, its main character is a detective called Jo trying to fit in in a world where he feels more at home than he ever did in the world where he was born.  And there the clues start falling immediately for your first twist in the story.  That of gender.  Its wonderful and I loved Jo even more  for it being unexpected.  Jo has some of his  own obstacles to overcome in this story as well as mysteries to solve.  Jo is joined by his partner Simone of Hecate, a witch.

I was expecting this to be a M/M story, its not.  I mistook Simone for Simon (face palm).  I’m going to leave the pairing off.  It’s a LGBTQIA story, there’s no sex, well little sex with heat to it. and it revolves around the mysteries which I really enjoyed. But yes gender does come into it and I like the way the author handled it for our main character and for the story.

What I did want was more of Otheropolis.  The concepts that Rancourt lays down for  her world  are intrequeing. I  want to know how the families  rule, more on the weather and how its all laid out.  It sounds  fascinating and all this story did was wet my taste for more.

Looking for something a little different?  With mysteries and main characters to grab at your interest and perhaps your heart too?  Give Too Many Cases by Julia Rancourt a try.

Cover art was interesting and I liked it, just like the book.

Sales Links

Less Than Three Press

7104e-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

6f71e-all2bromance2bbutton

 

Book Details:

Kindle Edition
Published October 10th 2016 by Less Than Three Press, LLC
ASINB01MCS3F95
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Stella Release Day Review: Murmuration by TJ Klune

RATING 2,75 out of 5 stars

murmurationIn the small mountain town of Amorea, it’s stretching toward autumn of 1954. The memories of a world at war are fading in the face of a prosperous future. Doors are left unlocked at night, and neighbors are always there to give each other a helping hand.

The people here know certain things as fact:

Amorea is the best little town there is.

The only good Commie is a dead Commie.

The Women’s Club of Amorea runs the town with an immaculately gloved fist.

And bookstore owner Mike Frazier loves that boy down at the diner, Sean Mellgard. Why they haven’t gotten their acts together is anybody’s guess. It may be the world’s longest courtship, but no one can deny the way they look at each other.

Slow and steady wins the race, or so they say.

But something’s wrong with Mike. He hears voices in his house late at night. There are shadows crawling along the walls, and great clouds of birds overhead that only he can see.

Something’s happening in Amorea. And Mike will do whatever he can to keep the man he loves.

My review on Murmuration by TJ Klune will be brief. You want the truth? I don’t have a lot to say. I could have given it 5 stars because in a way it deserves the highest rating but I can’t and I’ll try to explain why without spoiling it. Basically I’m not sure what to make of the plot. I found the relationship between Mike and Sean sweet and cute.  I liked the story.  I found it mysterious, it intrigued me since I read the blurb and it kept my interest through a long part of it. I had no idea what was going to happen, where the author was going to take the MCs,  but I wasn’t worried because I knew I would have an HEA.

I liked the writing, it’s easy and great and brought me to Amorea and its sceneries and habitants. It brought me on a balcony, it brought me on a sterile room. I appreciate the author’s talent, his invention, he loves words and he knows how to use them to create unique and awesome sentences.  I have to give it to TJ. The book is amazingly written and well done, really really well done. Unexpected as everything TJ writes.  I’m blown away but still not in a good way.

That said I can’t give it 3 stars. The problem is I’m so disappointed and angry. This story was hard to take to me and I can’t overcome  the bitter taste if left on my heart. I could have so loved Murmuration but TJ ruined everything. He destroyed what I loved, who I loved, all the people I met in Amorea, in the last part of the book. And to me is unecceptable. And the ending? That was supposed to be a HEA? It wasn’t.

The cover art by  Reese Dante is amazing, one of the best covers I saw this year.

Sales Links

        

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 324 pages

Publication  date October 28th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN 1634774558 (ISBN13: 9781634774550)

Edition Language English

Love Urban Fantasy? Hank Fielder Shares Inspiration and More Behind ‘Make Someone Happy’! (Author Guest Blog)

makesomeonehappyfs_v1

Make Someone Happy by Hank Fielder
D
reamspinner Press
Release Date: October 26, 2016
Cover artist: Paul Richmond

Sales Links

0dbe2-dreamspinner2blogo

 

 

  • Where do you normally draw your inspiration for a book from?  A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal?

Hank Fielder: Hi everyone!  I’m privileged to be talking to you today about my new book, called “Make Someone Happy.” Inspiration is a great topic to start out with. I love that inspiration can be drawn from anywhere — from memories, personal experiences, from other stories, from dreams, from places and journeys.  Even from thin air. 

For my new novella, called “Make Someone Happy,” I started getting the idea based on a place: a modest little day spa.  A friend gave me a gift certificate for a massage.  I was excited and nervous at the same time.  After all, someone you don’t know is rubbing you all over, in a good way!  It’s not sexual, but it’s pretty intimate.

I started thinking, what if two massage therapists working together started to feel more than simple friendship for one another?  What if one was experienced and self-assured? That’s Andre.  What if the other guy was new to the job, not as good at it yet — and secretly falling hard for his friend and co-worker?   This is Joe, the main character. I decided it would be fun to throw in a little magic and help our inexperienced hero Joe with a magic wish: to have a magic touch.  The massage he gives Andre leads them both on a journey of intimacy, passion and desire — and trouble.

Magic can lead to unforeseen consequences, in love and in fortune.  At the center of the story is the love shared between Joe and Andre, and the test of true love is the story’s main conflict.     

  • Contemporary, supernatural, fantasy, or science fiction narratives or something else?  Does any genre draw you more than another when writing it or reading it and why does it do so?

HF: It’s great that MM romance offers a chance to explore so many different genres.  I’d always wanted to write an urban fantasy.  I knew I wanted to try a light touch in a fantasy story of genuine passion, with real stakes involved. 

In “Make Someone Happy,” Joe is skeptical about magic; he’s never thought about it much.  But when a beautiful “good” witch, who happens to be giving up white magic because of its unforeseen consequences, offers Joe a single wish, he plays along.  He’s done the witch a great favor — he rescued her kitten, named Angel. We’re off and running.

I’ve tried to keep the story urban, contemporary and real, with real life problems.  And that’s what I love about urban fantasy.  If the story works, it opens our eyes to the “real” magic all around us.  The miracles of falling in love, of crisp autumn nights, of the deep bonds we can share with another person — that puts the sparkle in your day.  Or put another way, playing with the urban fantasy genre is simply another way of enjoying the fun of story itself, of entering a magical world.

  • Can an author have favorites among their characters and do you have them?

HF: I think so, yes.  Even baddies can be reader favorites, right?  Who doesn’t “like” Dracula, for example?  So timelessly wrought, so impeccably evil.  Or the Wicked Witch of the West.  We don’t want her to win, but we have a blast rooting against a worthy antagonist.

But I like my good guys best.  I can’t help but like Joe Wells, the hero of “Make Someone Happy.”  Andre is gorgeous and kind, but Joe is such an everyday guy, keeping his spirits up even when he thinks he’s going to lose his job; even when he wonders how he’s going to win the love of Andre.  I relate to his struggles, and his joys.

Nick Davanger from my novel “Emerald Idol” is another favorite of mine.  (Well, you asked!)  He faces up to his demons and triumphs.

  • How early in your life did you begin writing?

HF: I used to draw heaps of primitive little comic strips when I was a kid.  I actually hear of lots of adult authors who started this way.  I tried to write seriously when I was in school and I just kept at it.  I’m always reading and can barely remember when I wasn’t.  Anyone reading this knows the love of which I speak.    

  • Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?

HF: We always had a lot of books and I took to fairy tales like an ugly duckling to water.  Hans Christian Andersen, Roald Dahl and Charles Dickens wrote the kinds of stories I and millions of others remember so fondly.  I see no reason to stop reading them now or ever, even if I’m lucky and live to be 100.  Who could forget James and his giant peach, or the Snow Queen, or the Little Match Girl?  These storytellers are the giants I look up to.    

  • Anything else you’d like to say about “Make Someone Happy”?

Just that I hope readers will enjoy it and find a little magic in a simple urban tale.  And that they laugh at the funny parts!

About Make Someone Happy

Massage therapist Joe Wells is in a little over his head with his first job at the posh Magic Touch Sports Spa. He’s also secretly falling for his friendly, sexy coworker, the top-notch masseur Andre Swift.  All the clients clamor for Andre, and so far none have taken to Joe. 

On the verge of being fired, Joe saves the life of a mysterious kitten belonging to a white witch, who grants him a wish: a magic touch that could save his job and maybe even win him Andre’s love and respect. As Joe’s stock at the spa rises to crazy and barely manageable levels of success, demand for Andre’s services drops off. Will Joe lose Andre to an out-of-control spell?  Or worse—Andre’s love might prove to be only a result of the magic, just like Joe’s sudden talent.    

 

makesomeonehappy_fbbanner_dsp

About the Author ~ Hank Fielder

Hank Fielder is from Wisconsin and has lived in London and California. A passionate devotee of soulful romantic music, he has worked a variety of jobs, but his favorite occupation is storyteller. He counts his blessings every night before bed.   His published books and stories include MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY, EMERALD IDOL, WHEN WE PICKED APPLES LAST AUTUMN, and CHRISTMAS IN THE JOINT

> Visit him online at http://www.authorhankfielder.blogspot.com and on Twitter at @HankFielder http://www.twitter.com/HankFielder.