S.E. Harmon on Writing, Characters, and her latest novel “The Blueprint” (author interview)

The Blueprint (The Game #1) by S.E. Harmon
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Kanaxa

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Kobo | B&N

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have SE Harmon here today talking about writing, characters, and her latest novel, The Blueprint. Welcome, SE!

♦︎

~ Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with SE Harmon ~

Has your choice of childhood or teenage reading genres carried into your own choices for writing?

I was banned from reading romances as a kid…my mother called them “love books” and told me I was too young to read such things. That only led to me coming up with more and more creative ways to sneak and read them. At one point, I was actually reading in the shower (with my back turned to the spray). I think this career choice was pretty much inevitable.

How do you feel about the ebook format and where do you see it going?

I was a hold-out on ebooks. I love a good paperback book in my hands–the look of them, the feel of them, even smell them…sublime. One of my favorite days of the publishing process is when my author copies arrive in the mail and I can hold the book in my hands. Rub it on my face a little. Dance with…okay, nevermind, this is getting a little weird.

At one point, I ran out of space for my paperbacks and actually rented a storage unit for them. An actual storage unit. I defended myself to friends and family and claimed it was for other things, but we all knew the truth. I lost the majority of my book collection when spiders took over my storage unit…but that’s another story, one that involves me running away from the unit with bug spray—a can of Raid that might as well have been air freshener for all the good it did.

Now that I’ve thoroughly established my long-standing love affair with books, I must admit I truly appreciate the convenience of ebooks. My ereader is with me at all times and ebooks are definitely here to stay.

How much of yourself goes into a character?

Little bits here and there, but mainly a sense of humor–I wouldn’t be able to relate to the character otherwise. I don’t know how to relate to pod people who can answer questions without a nice, piping hot side of sarcasm.

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

HEA, always. Real life is full of HFNs. I want the fairy tale in my fiction. If you’ve read The Blueprint, you may notice that it is a bit of a HFN, but don’t fear. Kelly and Blue get their HEA in the sequel, Darker Blue.

Blurb

Kelly Cannon is generally satisfied with his life—he has a great job that he loves, friends, and a wonderful family. But his love life has reached a new level of pitiful. Why? Well, his heart decided to break all the rules. Don’t fall in love with a straight guy. And definitely don’t fall in love with your best friend.

NFL standout Britton “Blue” Montgomery has pressure coming at him from all sides. From his father, who’s only interested in Blue’s football career. From his coaches, who just want him to play without getting injured again. The fans. His agent. His mother, who popped back up on the radar after leaving his family years ago. Now his relationship with Kelly is on shaky ground, and that frightens Blue more than anything.

When Kelly admits he’s in love with Blue, bonds are tested, and Blue has to decide what’s really important. He doesn’t want to lose the number one person in his life, but the cost to keep Kelly close might be more than he’s willing to pay.

It’s a good thing his nickname is the Blueprint—it’s time to draft a new set of plans.

Release Date: March 13 2018

Edition/Formats Available: ebook & Print

Excerpt

My phone rang for the third time, and I swore and dug in my pocket. “Yeah?”

“Wow.” Blue’s deep voice sounded vaguely impressed. “You only made me call three times.”

“I figured answering was the polite thing to do.”

“And since when do you do the polite thing?” His chuckle was warm and soft. “I figured I’d call and congratulate you. It didn’t seem like the type of thing to leave on voicemail.”

Congratulate me. It bothered me that he wasn’t bothered that I was possibly getting engaged to someone else. I felt a little… deflated.

I cleared my throat. It was hard to hear him clearly over the din in the background—a hip-hop beat, loud voices, and the occasional raucous laughter. “Where are you, anyway? I thought you had a game.”

“I did. One of the players wanted to show off his new boat, and it turned into a thing. I thought I’d swing by after—”

“There is no after. We’re pretty much wrapping things up over here.” The fact that his party sounded a thousand times more fun than mine didn’t improve my mood. “Sounds like you guys are having a good time. You must’ve won.”

“Of course. I can’t think of a better way to kick off a season than winning our last preseason game.” At my lack of response, he went on. “So where’s Robert?”

Probably at a witch doctor’s house asking him to construct a skinny, black-haired, gray-eyed voodoo doll named Kelly.

“Gone,” I said shortly. “I told him no. Well, to be perfectly accurate, I said yes, and then I said no.”

“Fuck, Kel.” Even over the noise in the background, I could hear the exasperation. “I thought you liked Robert.”

“I did. Just not enough to marry him.”

“Wow.” He seemed nonplussed for a moment. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

“It is what it is.”

Somewhere in the background, a feminine voice murmured something. She sounded close. Like almost in his ear. Something… flirty? Blue murmured something back, and then she giggled. Giggled. I tightened my hand on the phone. I couldn’t lie—I wanted to hurt him right then, even though I had absolutely no right to be angry, no right to expect his exclusive attention.

This.

This was why I’d been pulling away from Blue. Because he had no idea how hard it was to be just friends. But the more I pulled away, the harder Blue pushed for things to remain just the way they were.

“I have to go,” I said shortly.

“Maybe I could drop by sometime this week. I know things have been kind of crazy lately, but we could hang out. Catch a movie? I know I could stand to watch something other than game film.” The smile in his voice invited me to laugh along, but I wasn’t in the mood.

“I’m going to be pretty busy this week.”

I heard the question in his voice. “The entire week?”

“Yes. I have a job, you know.” Defensiveness made my voice sharp, and I couldn’t seem to stop myself. “I can’t just drop everything every time you decide to stop by.”

“I’m not asking you to. If you’re busy, you’re busy.” He paused. “Are you sure you’re okay? You sound weird.”

“I’m fine. Call me later, okay?”

“Sure. As long as you’re really all right.”

Why wouldn’t I be? Did I sound pissed? Annoyed? Irritated that I couldn’t have his undivided attention for two minutes? I was feeling pretty raw. Alone. Jealous that he was somewhere with some woman having a perfectly good time. I was ready to curse out whoever said love should be multiplied, not divided. I wanted Blue’s love all to myself, and that was… well, ridiculous. I had to hang up before I said some shit I probably shouldn’t say.

“Of course I’ll help you with that,” I said loudly, pretending to talk to someone else. “Blue, I’ve got to go.” I jabbed the end button and sent the phone to sleep. He called right back, and I put the ringer on silent.

I honestly didn’t know what else there was to say.

About the Author

S.E. Harmon has had a lifelong love affair with writing. It’s been both wonderful and rocky (they’ve divorced several times), but they always manage to come back together. She’s a native Floridian with a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters in Fine Arts, and now splits her days between voraciously reading romance novels and squirreling away someplace to write them. Her current beta reader is a nosy American Eskimo who begrudgingly accepts payment in the form of dog biscuits.

Website: http://seharmon.weebly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seharmonbooks/

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Permanent Ink (Art & Soul #1) by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn /Kirt Graves (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

At twenty-three, Poe Montgomery is going nowhere. He still lives in his father’s basement and spends most of his time tagging with his friends. When an arrest lands him in debt, Poe accepts the front desk job at Permanent Ink, the tattoo shop owned by his father’s best friend, Jericho McAslan. Jericho is nearly twice Poe’s age, but with his ink and prematurely graying hair, he quickly takes the starring role in Poe’s hottest fantasies.

Jericho is known for his ability to transform poorly designed tattoos into works of art, but he was once as aimless and misdirected as Poe. Wanting to pay it forward the way someone once did for him, Jericho makes Poe his apprentice and is determined to keep things strictly professional. Easier said than done when Poe makes his interest—and his daddy kink—abundantly clear.

Jericho can’t resist Poe or their intense chemistry for long. But between the age gap, tension with Poe’s father, and Poe’s best friend calling him a sellout, they’ll need to ensure they’re both on the same page before they can rewrite their rocky start into something permanent.

I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while and was excited to get the chance to review it. For the most part there wasn’t a big amount of drama in this story but that was fine with me. Poe hasn’t found any real direction for his life but Jericho gives him the chance to find one or at least clean up his life.

Poe is a bit resistant to finding another outlet for his art but soon finds how much he can really do with tattooing. Jericho was rescued by someone when he was in trouble when he was younger and thinks that’s what he’s doing with Poe. I loved seeing these two work through their feelings while trying to navigate their current friendships. It was great to be able to see how both of these characters felt about each other and how they are willing to compromise. I look forward to reading more in this series.

This is the first story I have listened to by Kirt Graves and he did a great job narrating this story. He did a wonderful job of portraying the characters’ emotions and feelings. The different voices he used for the characters helped me to keep track of what was going on and the characters’ personality.

Cover art by Natasha Snow is great and I love the visual of Jericho.

Sales Links: Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 7hrs 7min
Published February 20, 2018 (ebook first published August 7, 2017) by Riptide Publishing
Edition Language: English

Julia Talbot on her new release The Wolf’s Man Friday (Nose to Tail Inc. #2) (guest blog)

The Wolf’s Man Friday (Nose to Tail Inc. #2) by Julia Talbot
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Christine Griffin

Sales LInks: Dreamspinner Press

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Julia Talbot here today to talk about her latest release,The Wolf’s Man Friday (Nose to Tail Inc. #2). Welcome, Julia.

♦︎

Hey y’all!

My name is Julia Talbot, and I’m here to chat about my upcoming release, Well, actually I’m here to talk about a super cool question the blog sent me to answer, because I can always talk about process!

If you could imagine the best possible place for you to write, where would that be and why?

OMG y’all. So many answers to this.

I mean really. When I turned thirty, I went to London for the first time. I really thought I wanted to rent a garret there and write for days on end. In fact, I went home and wrote an erotica piece about a man who could only sleep on the Tube… It was published, but that was so long ago I can’t recall where. Maybe travelrotica? At any rate, that was what I wanted. When I was 35, I had been to Venice, and I wanted to rent an apartment in the Castello and go to the market every day for food and write my heart out.

I’ve been to NOLA and thought, we should have a writer’s retreat here! I want to go to Estes Park and sit I the lobby of the very haunted Stanley hotel and write ghost stories.

The thing is, I would love to write in all of these places, but these days it’s hard to travel. The wife is not well, and long air trips are right out.

I’ve realized as I’ve hit forty something, that what I really need as an ideal place to write is pretty simple.

I need the wife, my two basset hounds, a decent computer, and a good internet connection. I write a lot in Google Docs because it’s easier to access than Dropbox often times, and I can switch computers with reckless abandon.

Sadly, internet is kind crap and our house due to no cable, just DSL, and I’m struggling with a poopy Dell laptop I just bought so I can’t get rid of it.

Still, those are first world problems. The thing is, inspiration can strike anywhere, but home is where the heart is, and where the word count really flows…

XXOO

Julia Talbot

Blurb:

The last thing Sebastian Zeller wants is to be pack Alpha. But when the pack leader, his uncle Ron, is attacked, he has no cho ice but to leave his beloved Colorado mountains and fulfill his duty as Ron’s heir—at least until his uncle recovers. In the meantime, he intends to lure the attacker out… and make them pay.

When Ron gets wind of Sebastian’s plan to catch the attacker, he doesn’t like the idea of risking his heir. That’s where Jaxon Reedis comes in—he’ll balance protecting the dark and sexy werewolf with pretending to be his personal assistant. He’s walking a fine line that requires all his foxy wit and craftiness… and that’s on top of the inescapable feeling that he and Sebastian are meant for each other. When the attacker returns, will they be able to maintain their deepening bond when danger threatens to tear down everything they’re building?

About the Author

Stories that leave a mark. Julia Talbot loves romance across all the genders and genres, and loves to write about people working to see past the skin they’re in to love what lies beneath. Julia Talbot lives in the great mountain and high desert Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been published by Dreamspinner, All Romance Ebooks, and Changeling Press. She believes that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved. She also writes BDSM and erotic romance as Minerva Howe. Find Julia at @juliatalbot on Twitter, or at http://www.juliatalbot.com “The mountains are calling, and I must go”

Julia Talbot: http://www.juliatalbot.com

Minerva Howe: http://www.minervahowe.com

Julia’s Blog: http://juliatalbot.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliatalbotauthor

A MelanieM Review: Mage of Inconvenience by Parker Foye

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Can they find the magic in a practical union?

West is on the run from his werewolf pack, but if he cannot renew his magical defenses, he won’t get far. What he needs is a mage….

Julian is part of a wealthy and ancient family, and one day, his legacy will include his mother’s vast library of spell books—and the knowledge he needs to correct his past mistakes. But his inheritance comes with a stipulation: he has to be married before he can collect. What he needs is a husband….

West and Julian can help each other, and at first they don’t want anything further. But as they dodge meddling cousins, jealous rivals, and an insidious drug, it becomes clear that their lives are entwined in ways they never imagined—and they’re in greater danger than they thought possible.

Parker Foye developed a sizable agenda for themselves with Mage of Inconvenience. Foye had to develop a large enough universe to contain both witches and werewolf societies (I’m talking extended families, cultures, laws, set across a sprawling geographical map), then start to tunnel it down to encapsulate the two men at the heart of Mage of Inconvenience, West and Julian. We get alternating povs that let’s us see the desperate situation that each man or being find’s himself in that leads up to their marriage of convenience. A great job in all cases with the world building.

Of particular note is the creation of the drug Rabid that’s spreading through the shifter population with devastating effect. You see this drug through West’s eyes as he observes addicted shifters and through bits and pieces of his memories. It pulls on your emotions as you will make direct ties to today’s drug problems. Julian’s needs seem completely separate and different…at first. He wants to inherit his mother’s estate and keep it out of the hands of greedy relatives. To do that he needs to marry and soon. West fits the bill nicely. Of course there is much more to it than that.

The characterizations are nicely layered, the plot has a great many twists and turns that will keep you suitably shocked and surprised, and, it’s still suspenseful enough to keep you on the edge of your seat right up until the edge of the seat. While it did get a little soft around the middle, I still thought the writing was smooth and flowed all the way to the end.

I liked the slow build to trust and romance here and in some cases, it has the feel of a much larger story.

Love the supernatural? And romance? How about both together? Dreamspinner Press’ Dreamspun Beyond is doing a fantastic job of combining both and Mage of Inconvenience by Parker Foye is a perfect example why. Pick it up and try it out today.

Cover art: Aaron Anderson. Love the cover. Great Job.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 212 pages
Expected publication: March 20th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781640802469
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: A Wild Ride (The Bullriders #1) by Andrew Grey and John Solo (Narrator)

Rating 4.5 stars out of 5

Typical of Andrew Grey, this story had an underlying sweetness to it, even though the MC was a macho bull rider. Dante was a great character who snagged my heart with his need to let go of control to the young man he meets at a bar the night he loses first place at the championship event. Ryan, a financial advisor, was there that night simply because he accompanied his friend Jacky, and little did he know that the good-looking cowboy he takes to his bed is famous.

Ryan gets Dante to give up his control, to submit to the more dominant man, and Dante is shocked that he enjoys it. Of course, later he’s embarrassed and does what he can to put miles between the men. And then Ryan shows up at his ranch to meet with Dante’s grandfather about financial issues his granddad wants kept private, and Dante is thrown for a loss.

The push pull of this romance was spiced up with a little D/s and a lot of rodeo. There was also the hurt-comfort theme as Dante’s grandfather’s health deteriorated rapidly and Dante was committed to his care. And there’s the surprise reveal that the Ryan is advising his grandfather about his desire to sell the ranch and the resulting backlash from that—all of which fans the drama. And last but not least, there’s the fact that Dante being gay has been confirmed in the media and he’s in danger of losing his major sponsor.

There’s a lot to this story and it’s very well-paced. Both characters were likable and perfect for each other. Narrator John Solo did an outstanding job with the voices, including the frail, old man, and made it easy to follow the story. In fact, this one was so interesting that I devoured it in two days—not my usual pattern for an audiobook but it was fun to listen to so I found excuses to keep my wireless earphones in. It was a definite treat.

I recommend this to lovers of mild BDSM, rodeo lovers, and simply those who enjoy a great audiobook that ends with a sweet HEA for two men in love.

Cover art: L.C. Chase has the perfect cover for this story. Love the characters and the composition.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Published February 27th 2018 (first published April 1st 2013)
Original TitleA Wild Ride
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Bullriders #1

In the Spotlight: Cutie Pies by Barbara Bell (giveaway)

Cutie Pies by Barbara Bell

Riptide Publishing
Cover Art: L.C. Chase

Release Date: March 19, 2018

Purchase Link: Riptide Publishing | Amazon

Hi, I’m Barbara Bell, romance author extraordinaire, and welcome to the blog tour for my debut novella Cutie Pies! Over the next week I will be travelling the internet sharing some thoughts on my book. Follow along and join the discussion!

About Cutie Pies

Joey works at Cutie Pies, the smallest adult store in Sydney. After his parents kicked him out years ago, the haphazard shop became his home away from home and is the only place where he can embrace his queer, quirky, and—okay—sometimes a little awkward self.

When Mick, a new-to-town customer, walks in asking for a dildo, Joey thinks it’s all a part of the day’s work. Except Mick’s large dark eyes, shy smile, and kissable lips—along with the ten-inch dildo he bought—quickly win him a starring role in Joey’s nightly fantasies.

Joey can’t stop thinking about him, and Mick’s continued visits to the store make him even harder to forget. Mick is shy and sweet, but also secretive and uncertain. As the two grow closer together, Joey starts to wonder what Mick really wants from him, and whether he can risk falling in love with someone who might not be free to love him back.

About Barbara Bell

Barbara Bell grew up on a sheep farm in rural Australia, moved to Brisbane when she was nineteen to study film, and now lives in Sydney with an ever changing cast of housemates and a colony of bees.

She is an avid traveller, a proud geek, and loves telling stories about human relationships and how strange and silly (but also beautiful) they can be. She began writing when she was eleven years old and believes it’s probably too late to break the habit now.

Giveaway

To celebrate this release, one lucky winner will receive a copy of Cutie Pies! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on March 24, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries

A Stella Review: Cutie Pies by Barbara Bell

RATING 3,5 out of 5 stars

Cutie Pies is the first book I read by this author, I was curious as soon as I saw the cover and the title, too cute to pass on. This story was very lovely, easy and quick, especially well written. Sure, there is nothing too deep or developed in the plot, just two guys, Joey and Mick, that met in the sexy shop where Joey was working and liked each other. So they decided to see if more could begin between them. I liked how cute (absolutely the key word!) the characters were, how they were shy and scared sometimes. And then I loved the epilogue, it gave me a glimpse of what happened after their HEA. But it’s not just this, there were important second characters, which I so hope will get their own story, and some basic background on the MCs that showed how a good job the author did with this release.

Although I liked the story a lot and it was exactly what I was looking for in that moment, I gave it a little lower rating, because in my opinion having only Joey’s POV wasn’t enough, I missed knowing what was going on in Mick’s mind. I think with a book not so long like this one, the double POV works better and gives a completeness I didn’t find here. Still I will definitely keep my eyes open for the author’s upcoming releases.

If you’re looking for a light story, give Cutie Pies a chance, truly adorable.

The cover art by L.C. Chase is perfect, in the style and in the colors. I love it.

SALE LINKS: Riptide Publishing | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 116 pages

Published March 19th 2018 by Riptide Publishing (first published March 17th 2018)

ISBN 162649746X (ISBN13: 9781626497467)

Edition Language English

Sarah Black on Screwing Up, Moving On and her new release ‘American Road Trip’ (guest blog)

American Road Trip by Sarah Black
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Tiferet Design

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Sarah Black talking about her latest release, which we highly recommend, American Road Trip. Welcome, Sarah.

♦︎

After You Fall on Your Face

Sarah Black

When you fall on your face, drive off a cliff, stand clueless holding a bomb while it ticks down, like Wile E Coyote while Roadrunner speeds safely away- how do you recover from the massive and irretrievable disasters that strike your life?

Hey, this part is easy. We stagger back to our bloody hands and knees and start down the road to recovery, step by brutally painful step. You know what the worst part of the whole deal is? Deciding it was all your fault. And being right. Because when the screw-up is your fault, there is no place to put your pissed-off except squarely between your own two eyes.

It’s so much easier, isn’t it, when someone else screws up? Then we can sit on top of our high horses and explain to them exactly where they went wrong, and what they should have done. But when we are the culprits in our own lives, all we can do is slink off in shame, muttering, ‘what the fuck is wrong with you?’ over and over again. Not really helpful, but it is a classic.

Some people, and I have to include myself in this group, have become experts in studying personal screw-ups. I remember when I was a kid, thinking that adulthood was when people knew what to do in most situations and stopped messing up all the time. Apparently for some of us, adulthood never comes!

But that isn’t really the point. We know we screw up. Everyone does. The real question for me is how do we deal with it, how do we move on, how do we learn to forgive ourselves? That’s what I was interested in, and why I wanted to write this story. I don’t know if other writers have this experience, but I don’t always know or understand how my characters are going to react. If I ignore things like what the market says, or what the genre says I need, then characters start doing things that I only half-understand, but that strike me as genuine and real. Maybe later it will come to me that this motivation or that issue was behind a character’s actions.

My point of view character, James Lee Hooker, started growing his hair long after the Army, and he used his grandmother’s hairbrush and braided his hair over his shoulder, like she had done. It was a small gesture, but it was something he would do—to feel closer to her, like an unconscious memorial. He did all sorts of small things like this when I was getting to know him. But the bigger issue for me and for him, as a character, was how he was going to punish himself for screwing up. Because he did screw up, a number of times.

I kept trying to make him more heroic, stronger. I didn’t want him to appear in a bad light. I was trying to save him from the consequences of his screw-up. He just sat and stared at me, wouldn’t open his mouth. Wouldn’t move. I finally gave it up and gave him his head. When I decided I wasn’t going to try and write him as a good guy, a hero, strong and brave, then he suddenly became more real to me, and more interesting. And his actions became believable.

I think mostly when we screw up, we try to punish ourselves. And we can usually devise tortures that are particularly brutal and painful, because they are so on-target. We embrace our self-punishments, because we deserve them and they define us. The really tough thing, I’m starting to think, is learning when to say that it’s time to move on. That we’ve punished ourselves enough, and it’s time to move on and enter the world again. Go out into the world again, where our next screw up is waiting. Or maybe not!

Here’s a scene from American Road Trip:

“I’m sorry I didn’t come and find you. Austin too. I’d done something I couldn’t take back. Just that one moment, you know? I couldn’t live it over again. And once it was done, it was done. And I could never fix it. He was hurt. The damage was done. I felt like I had to atone. Put myself in limbo or something.”

Easy stared over at me. “Limbo? Is that some Catholic thing? What the hell does that even mean? James Lee, you didn’t lay the IED in the road. You didn’t tell your spotter to get out of the vehicle, start jumping up and down on the spot where he’d seen a wire buried.”

“That’s what got him hurt. Once you’ve got an injury to the brain, it’s probably for a lifetime. That’s what TBI is, right?”

“Yeah, he’s got a TBI, but that wasn’t what got him hurt. What got him hurt was he had feelings for you, had a big thumping heart of an adolescent crush on you. And you knew it and didn’t do anything to stop it. He was acting like an idiot to impress you. That’s what got him hurt.”

I stared out the window again.

“You did the wrong thing with me, pushing me away. I was a man, and we were lovers. We were in love. We could have made it work, and fuck the Army. It was real. Austin was just a kid. He depended on you, looked up to you. You were his captain, and you got a kick out of all those young boys crushing on you. Big black eyes, ripped muscles, silky black hair. You looked like some vid star, and they would have followed you into hell. Not because you were their leader. Because you were you.”

I closed my eyes. I wanted to be anywhere but inside this truck, with this man shoving his angry truth in my face. Did I really do that? Did I take advantage of those kids, play them when I should have been thinking how to keep them safe?

“I loved you then, Jamie, and I still do. But that doesn’t mean I don’t see you. I see who you are. And if you even think about trying to walk away again in the fucking middle of this, I’m going to break you into pieces. I won’t let you do it to me again.”

That’s exactly what I was thinking, about walking away. I was picturing walking down this road, my thumb out, anonymous, no history, drifting across America with the truckers, listening to them talk, and meditating. Not doing anyone any good and not doing anyone any harm. Was that the balance I was looking for, between harm and good? Was it a worthy goal for a life, to try to stop hurting other people? Or did I have a tendency to leave when things got too hard and too real?

“I have about said all I’m going to say on this. Oh, one more thing. We had peanut butter and jelly for supper and donuts for breakfast. I’m hungry. I’m stopping at the first diner I see that has burgers on the grill. And you can stop crying anytime.”

“I’m not crying,” I said, wiping my eyes with the heel of my hand. “I’m allergic to the dog.”

American Road Trip, by Sarah Black, out March 16 from Dreamspinner Press

A single moment—or a single mistake—can change everything.

When Captain James Lee Hooker and his lover, Sergeant Easy Jacobs, were in the Army, they made a mistake that got a young soldier hurt. Three years later, they’re civilians again, living far apart, haunted by what they lost. Now that young soldier needs their help.

With his grandmother’s one-eyed Chihuahua riding shotgun, James Lee climbs into Easy’s pickup for a trip across the American Southwest. They set out to rescue a friend, but their journey transforms them with the power of forgiveness.

Author Bio: Sarah Black is a writer, artist, veteran, and mother. She is a Lambda finalist.

American Road Trip has an epilogue! “Tino Takes the Cake” is offered free on Dreamspinner’s blog on March 16, and tells the story of the main characters’wedding!

You can find it here:

Dreamspinner blog- Dreamspinner Press Blog | Gay Romance

Dreamspinner Press Blog | Gay Romance

Where Dreamspinners Express

Trying Times and Scattered Thoughts. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Trying Times and Scattered Thoughts

This week I’m still trying to wrap my head around several thoughts this week, none of which is actually coming together into an cohesive post. That’s the impact of all the events of the last week is having on me I guess.

Without even knowing the people involved, I’m hurting for them. And our LGBTQIA community. I don’t know why I would think that the harm to the community would always come from outside. Several times that’s proven not to be the case. Santino Hassell is not the first case of catfishing, but he has also hurt others in far worse ways. That story is still unraveling.

Then there is the deeply disturbing events that lead to Riptide Publishing cutting all ties to Sarah Lyon, ex Editoral Director, and Kate DeGroot, ex freelance editor and regrouping. So many elements there to occupy my mind, but floating to the top have been things like “POC can’t be on book covers because they won’t sell. ” And the obvious racism that existed at every corner there for some personnel/authors. In an age of diversity, when we are talking about Quiltbag fiction…how can we still be facing such blatant racism?

Any why was it allowed to continue?

I get the power imbalance. How could any of those authors speak up? It would cost them their stories and perhaps their livelihood. Or the artists who design covers they authors get to choose from. I bet they got the message loud and clear to begin with. But truly? Now, here? Isn’t it time for us to be done with this?

But then I started to look through all the stories, catalogs, tons of covers…and noticed a dearth of yes, POC. I began to wonder….are there more people like Sarah out there telling artists and authors in our community …”don’t put POC on the cover, it won’t sell…”. What an insidious, mean, racist sentence. Guaranteed to make someone without power stop and think, and perhaps pull back.

I think it’s becoming clear..yes racism is with us…even in the LGBTQIA community. We just need to choose to recognize it. And then deal with it in a positive manner. Help support those authors and publishers going forward towards diversity across the spectrum in every way.

What are your thoughts on this and this whole sorry week. Mine clearly are still coming together….

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 18:

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, March 19:

DSP Promo Sarah Black on American Road Trip
BLITZ Tomboy by Janelle Reston
Livingston (Trenton Security #1) by J.M. Dabney Release Day Blog
A MelanieM Review:Livingston (Trenton Security #1) by J.M. Dabney
A Stella Review One Under by JL Merrow
An Alisa Review: No Rulebook for Flirting by Laura Bailo

Tuesday, March 20:

Blog Tour Jace’s Trial by JM Wolf
BLITZ The Moth and Moon by Glenn Quigley
TOUR Cutie Pies by Barbara Bell
A MelanieM Review: Mage of Inconvenience by Parker Foye
An Alisa Review: Captive Hearts (Deviant Hearts #1) by A E Ryecart
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: A Wild Ride (The Bullriders #1) by Andrew Grey and John Solo (Narrator)

Wednesday, March 21:

DSP Promo Julia Talbot
BLITZ The Vampire’s Angel by Damian Serbu
Release Blitz – Breaking the Rules by C.J. Lynne
A Caryn Review The Weekend Bucket List by Mia Kerick
An Alisa Review: The Paramedic Who Hated Jazz by Stephani Hecht
A Stella Review: Jace’s Trial (Trials in Abingdon #1) by J.M. Wolf (

Thursday, March 22:

DSP Promo S.E. Harmon
TOUR The Vampire’s Angel by Damian Serbu
RELEASE DAY BLITZ Moon Illusion by Michelle Osgood
An Ali Review: Oskar Blows a Gasket by Al Stewart
A MelanieM Review: Partner with Benefits (Kolar Creek Tales) by Val Francis
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: How to Bang a Billionaire (Arden St. Ives #1) by Alexis Hall and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

Friday, March 23:

DSP PROMO SJD Peterson on Going Of Grid
Release Day Blitz for Leaning into the Look by Lane Hayes
Tour and Giveaway: One Under by JL Merrow
A Lila Release Day Review: Going Off Grid by SJD Peterson
A MelanieM Review: One Under by JL Merrow
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Permanent Ink (Art & Soul #1) by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn /Kirt Graves (Narrator)

Saturday, March 24:

A MelanieM Review: Murder Takes the High Road by Josh Lanyon

A MelanieM Release Day Review: American Road Trip by Sarah Black

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

A single moment—or a single mistake—can change everything.

Hallelujah, that spare, rare , totally wonderful literary voice known as Sarah Black is back in American Road Trip. How I’ve missed her unique perspective. Her narrative so powerfully evocative in rendering the American West and US veterans so vividly alive and haunting have stayed with me story after story. Now comes another.

Told in alternating time frames, we get the past that has framed the current circumstances under which Captain James Lee Hooker now finds himself. Adrift after being discharged from the Army, he was sent to look after his grandmother in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he ends up staying after she dies, looking after her house and dog Tino.

Sergeant Easy Jacobs is sent on a mission. Go look for his cousin, Austin. The very same young soldier from their troop injured in the IED blast in Afghanistan, a blast that left lasting reverberations on Easy and James Lee. It sends him looking for his Captain and a long overdue meeting with his ex-lover.

American Road Trip pulls out all the convoluted feelings between these two in one memorable road trip across America, in small cabins and motels with Tino, a one-eyed Chihuahua, who they keep telling the people they encountered different stories as to how he came to lose that eye. Each tale more more hysterical than the previous one and just as unbelievable. All the while the men reconnecting, exploring their past, their present, and just perhaps seeing if they have a future again together.

I read it twice.

This particularly american rite of passage was so sweet, touching, and yes, hilarious in sections. How I loved that dog. I also found out he was based on Sarah’s rescue dog, a Chihuahua also named Tino, made it all the more heartwarming.

This is a HFN, which is as it should be given their past, this road trip, and their recent reconnection. I would love for Sarah to bring them back later for us to see how it all works out, Austin included. So many stories on that road. I feel they were just getting started.

If you are expecting a lot of erotica, this is probably not the book for you. This is all about characterizations, the past and where our current paths will take us. It’s about forgiveness and redemption. And the beauty that can be found in the small out of the way places along the road if you only stop to look.

Yes, I highly recommend this and the author. Welcome back, Sarah Black. You’ve been missed.

Cover Artist: Tiferet Design. I liked that cover. It has the colors I think of when I t hink of the desert and the American West. And yes that’s James Lee rocking that ponytail and yoga pants all right. Ok, I love it.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

book, 86 pages
Expected publication: March 16th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781640802582
Edition LanguageEnglish

The Blueprint (The Game #1) by S.E. Harmon Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Kanaxa

~ Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with SE Harmon ~

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The Wolf’s Man Friday (Nose to Tail Inc. #2) by Julia Talbot Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Christine Griffin

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Cutie Pies by Barbara Bell

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American Road Trip by Sarah Black Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Tiferet Design

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After You Fall on Your Face

Sarah Black

Dreamspinner Press Blog | Gay Romance

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Trying Times and Scattered Thoughts

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 18:

Monday, March 19:

Tuesday, March 20:

Wednesday, March 21:

Thursday, March 22:

Friday, March 23:

Saturday, March 24:

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The Blueprint (The Game #1) by S.E. Harmon
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Kanaxa

The Wolf’s Man Friday (Nose to Tail Inc. #2) by Julia Talbot
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Christine Griffin

American Road Trip by Sarah Black
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Tiferet Design