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

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….

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.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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:

A Melanie PreRelease Review:Hanging The Stars (Half Moon Bay #2) by Rhys Ford
A Melanie Review: Death Mask by Lexi Ander

~About This Sunday’s Contributing Authors~

About Elin Gregory:

Elin 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:

Website: http://elingregory.com/
Twitter: ElinGregory

About Joe Cosentino:

Joe Cosentino – Joe Cosentino’s books and plays

www.joecosentino.weebly.com

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 2^nd Place for Best LGBT Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015. http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com

A Stella Release Day Review: Murmuration by TJ Klune

RATING 2,75 out of 5 stars

murmuration In 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

A Free Dreamer Review: 18% Gray (Task Force Iota #1) by Anne Tenino

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

18-gray-by-anne-tenino In a future where the United States has split along party lines, Agent Matt Tennimore’s job is to get people out of the Confederated Red States, whether they’re captured special ops agents from his own country or gay CRS citizens who’ve petitioned for asylum. He never expected to have to retrieve his high school crush, aka the guy who ostracized him for being gay.
Rescuing James Ayala isn’t going to be easy: he’s crawling with tracking nanos and has a cybernetic brain implant that’s granted him psychic power he isn’t sure how to control. That’s the good news. The bad? The implant is compromising James’s mental stability.
So they’re on the run, avoiding surveillance by AI aircraft and hiding from enemy militia. Then James confesses he tormented Matt in high school because James wanted him. Matt can’t resist the temptation James offers, but he wants so much more than sex, assuming they ever make it home alive. Is James really a good bet when he’s got a ticking time bomb in his brain and there’s the question of how much he’s actually changed?

I was really looking forward to this book. I’ve wanted to read it for years, so my expectations were of course especially high. Unfortunately, “18% Gray” ultimately didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

The idea that the USA will split into conservative and liberal parts in the distant future is not something I’ve come across before. I think that’s actually somewhat realistic, though a bit more historical background as to why and how exactly that happened would have been nice.

James’ brain is essentially a ticking time bomb. The implant in his brain is acting up and giving him weird new abilities he seems to have no real control over. That part was utterly intriguing and very well written.

Matt is a badass mercenary guy who’s still hurt because James called him a fag once in high school. Too bad he now has to go and rescue James. I’m usually not too fond of the enemies-to-lovers trope but it worked here. There wasn’t a huge gulf separating the two of them, so I was much more inclined to believe they were able to overcome the hurt feelings of the past. Still, I never quite felt any real chemistry between the two of them.

What bothered me the most was the amount of sex in this book. Or maybe not exactly the amount but the moments when they chose to have sex. James and Matt are running for their lives and yet there’s a time for a quickie? Even though the enemy is hot on their heels? Even though the enemy could easily discover them if they make too much noise? They were never able to keep their hands off each other, no matter how dangerous the situation. That just seemed incredibly unrealistic and really spoiled the suspense for me.

Most of the time it felt a bit as if the plot had to take a backseat, just so the two of them could either have sex or sink into relationship angst. It was just over the top.

The supporting characters were very clichéd and sometimes pretty annoying.

Overall, I still liked some parts of the story and mostly felt entertained. There is room for improvement, though. I probably won’t read the next part of the series, even if the next couple promises to be exciting as well.

Long story short: If you like steamy romance between two badass military boys with a dash of dystopia, then this is the book for you.

If, however, you’re looking for dystopia with serious world building and a realistic romance, then keep looking.

Cover: The cover by Anne Cain shows our two heroes with a desolate landscape in the background. It fits the story and the shirtless eye-candy is also very nice to look at.

Sales Links

Book details:

ebook, 280 pages
Published August 1st 2011 by Dreamspinner Press (first published July 31st 2011)
Original Title18% Gray
ISBN 1613720793 (ISBN13: 9781613720790)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesTask Force Iota #1 settingIdaho (United States)
Oregon (United States)

An Anthology Special! Check out Contact (Gothika #5) by Kim Fielding , F.E. Feeley Jr. , Jamie Fessenden , and B.G. Thomas (guest post, special excerpt and more)

Contact (Gothika #5)
by Kim Fielding , F.E. Feeley Jr. , Jamie Fessenden , B.G. Thomas

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have F.E. Feeley, Jr. here today to talk about Contact (Gothika #5), an upcoming anthology from Dreamspinner Press. Welcome, F.E.

Hi! I’m F.E. Feeley, Jr., one of the authors in the upcoming anthology Gothika: Contact. This is the fifth installment in the Gothika series, which has featured androids, werewolves, voodoo curses, and ghosts! Contact is about encounters with extraterrestrials and alien abduction, and it includes four stories by me, Kim Fielding, Jamie Fessenden, and B.G. Thomas.

In my story, “My Final Blog,” I explored the idea of extraterrestrials establishing contact not by landing a spaceship in our backyard or making toy monkeys come to life (Why do we have those creepy things, anyway?), but by chatting with us online. We’ve already got a worldwide network where it’s possible—and expected—that people will communicate without revealing their identities. How easy would it be for an alien to establish contact with humans on social media, scope us out, and maybe even establish a form of relationship with us before revealing itself?

Here’s how I handled the idea of alien contact in “My Final Blog.”

Blurb

George is an average guy who’s led an average sort of life. Always fading in the background, he never garnered much attention. People seemed to pass him by or not notice him. Except, of course, in high school where he was tormented by his sexuality. Finding solace online, George developed a blog early on that helped him maintain his sanity. It was an anonymous link to the outside world to vent his frustrations and express his creativity. And he gathered quite an audience of similar spirits and allies who stayed with him for over the years.

Especially one commenter, Universal47. In the spirit of anonymity, George never pushed him to expose who he really was. And over a period of years, began to have feelings for this faceless person. When George finds himself in a horrible one sided relationship with an abusive and neglectful partner, Universal steps in to help George break up with him. Devastated by the outcome of his failed relationship, George threatens to withdraw from Universal47 as well unless he tells him who he really is. The answer may be more than George can handle.

Excerpt

We were wandering into dangerously choppy waters. I was defensive over my relationship. I mean, there were good times. Christmases and birthdays were great. But there were times when I could dry up and disappear and Joseph, I don’t think would have cared. As a matter of fact, it was sort of ‘go away, come back’ messages that I received from him that confused me. Which, I must say looking back, was sort of pathetic. But you know what they say about hindsight. It was always fifty/ fifty. I ended up saying goodnight and went about my evening. But his words haunted me.

Yet, fast forward to the night he told me his name, I sat staring at my computer screen as his name flashed in front of me. Elijah. I liked the name. I, of course, understood the biblical reference. Elijah was a prophet that once called down fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice to God. Or, it was the name of a really blue eyed actor who played Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings movies. I put those two things up for consideration in the chat box and was greeted with a great big LOL for my efforts.

Universal47: Neither. But that’s funny.

I tilted my head for a moment before typing: Will we ever meet?

Universal47: I believe so. Do you want to meet me?

Me: Of course.

Universal47: Why?

Me: To put a face with a name?

Universal47: Is that all?

Me: Sure. Isn’t that enough.

Universal47: And what would we do if we met.

I rolled my eyes hard at that.

Me: Well, you’re not getting laid if that’s what you mean. I could go on GRNDR for that.

Universal47: HAHAHAHA! I’m sure you could. And no, that isn’t what I’m after either.

Me: so you are after something?

Universal47: Companionship? Is that weird?

Me: No. I don’t think so. You must get lonely, too.

Universal47: You have no idea.

Me: Well, if it’s any consolation to you. At night, when I fall asleep, you’re not far from my mind.

Universal47: That’s really the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me. But you don’t know what I look like.

Me: No. I guess not.

Universal47: What do you think about when think about me before you fall asleep.

Me: Honestly? You’ve had many faces. But your arms are always the same. Strong. There. Just like you’ve been all these years. There. That’s what matters to me, Elijah.

He was quiet for a long time after that and before he could reply, I felt my eyes grow heavy. It had been a long couple of days. And since it was Friday night, I had a whole weekend’s worth of work to do. I bid him goodnight and logged out. I hoped I hadn’t said too much. I hope I hadn’t freaked him out. But my ability to bullshit was completely depleted by that time that truth sort of rolled out of me in waves. That night, as I lay in bed listening to the wind howling over the prairies it was so mournful and so lonesome sounding that I cried myself to sleep.

gothika-contact-5

Anthology Blurb

Since ancient times, humankind has looked into the night sky and wondered: Are we alone? Are there other civilizations beyond the stars? Will we ever encounter these beings? Who are they, what are they like, and what might they want with us?

These questions are about to be answered, but those who discover the truth might wish they had never asked. On the other hand, some might find salvation in visitors from other planets. For while some aliens are hostile, others are benevolent. Some have little in common with humans, but for others, the need for love and acceptance is universal. Lives will intersect and otherworldly passions will ignite as four acclaimed authors of gay romance explore first contact—and where it can lead.

Buy Links

A Paul B Review: The Beginning (Sirius Wolves #6) by Victoria Sue

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

the-beginning-by-victoria-sue The sixth book in the Sirius Wolves series opens up three months later as Marcus Flint, human alpha of the Jefferson pack, the largest werewolf pack in America, is coming home from having titanium rods fitted as his new artificial legs. Kellan, who is about four months pregnant, is not doing well and the pack doctor has advised him to return as soon as possible. His other mates, Ricoh and Nate seem to be doing better as both are alpha werewolves.

As the Supreme Alphas and Jefferson pack are dealing with the terrorist organization Winter Circle and wary of interference from the god Anubis, a strange wolf shows up on pack lands. The stranger turns out to be Nate’s father Eric. He claims that he has been searching for Nate for the last twelve years since Nate ran away but only just now found him thanks to his appearance on human television. Nate, who has no memories prior to showing up on Jefferson pack land, is not sure of this reconciliation. Marcus and the Supreme Alphas are also cautious about trusting Eric. When Nate has to postpone a meeting with Eric because he becomes tired because of his own pregnancy, Eric takes it as a slight. Eric kidnaps Kellan and says that he will return Kellan when Marcus brings Nate with him for what amounts to a prisoner exchange. Meanwhile, Nate is seeing visions of the future and is frightened by what he sees. He convinces Ricoh and the omega Aden to help rescue Kellan before his visions become prophecy. A successful mission where the mass carnage Nate envisions might yet occur as Marcus leads another mission to get Kellan. And to make matters worse, Kellan goes into premature labor, never a good sign for a werewolf pregnancy.

Each book of this series keeps drawing me in more. Marcus can now keep up with his wolves but is still fearful that as a human mate that he will cause the early death of his mates with his passing. Mates do not survive long without each other and either die themselves or go crazy. Ricoh is still processing his feelings toward his former alpha and supposed mate Hunter, which is causing some hesitation with his mates. The back story to Nate provides us with more reasons how Anubis is involved in the lives of the main characters and how the Winter Circle came to be. And as usual, a surprise or two is thrown in toward the end that some will not see coming.

The cover art by E Connors has a young shirtless man in jeans with his back toward us looking over his shoulder. This would be how I would picture a still recovering Nate would look like.

Sales Links

Book Details

EBook, 173 pages

Edition Language: English

Published: July 28, 2016 by Dark Hollows Press

ISBN: 978-1-944054-71-7

Series: Sirius Wolves

Orion’s Circle (Sirius Wolves #1)
Broken Circle (Sirius Wolves #2)
Eternal Circle (Sirius Wolves #3)
The Promise (Sirius Wolves #4)
The Dilemma (Sirius Wolves #5)

Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV! (Part III) This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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

Last week Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words finished up our reader’s thoughts on eBooks, how they use them, where they find them and the authors that write them. This week, its the authors turn. From hardback and paperback or even the graphic novel to the eBook, what does writing and publishing eBooks mean to an author? Has it helped them find an audience? Made it easier to publish a novel? Made it harder to find time to write because they are so busy promoting themselves and their stories? And is the eBook industry changing?

I know…what a lot of questions to dump onto an author already burdened with so much to do these days. But I thought it might help us understand eBooks from their perspective and maybe let us appreciate those stories that we read just a little more when we consider the author’s point of view. Maybe you as readers have questions you want to ask our authors?

That’s why we are dividing our authors blog section into two parts, one this week and into the next. If you have questions, please comment below and all week long. If we use your questions? See the contest at the end of this blog for your answer!

The authors participating this week are Parker Williams (Of Love and Corn Dogs), Wulf Francu Godgluck (Tooth, Claw, and Horn Chronicles), and Jay Northcote. Thank you all for participating and taking time away from your busy schedules to answer my questions.

~ Authors On Ebooks~

Parker Williams

✍From Parker Williams, author of Haven’s Creed, Of Love and Corn Dogs (Of Love and… Book 1),Protector of the Alpha (Shifting Needs #1) and 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?

No, I started out being published by Harmony Ink (the YA arm of Dreamspinner Press.) A friend encouraged me to try it, and even helped me get the book ready to submit. Hitting that ‘send’ button was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, because I grew up thinking that writing wasn’t for me (thank you, Dad!)

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

I’m not sure how much the industry has changed since I started in it. Self-publishing has been a terror for me, because I’m not sure what the heck I’m doing. I pay a company to format my books, because the rules for each site are wide and varied.

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

I’ve had to be more creative to get my book noticed. My saving grace was running Pride Promotions, because I had a list of bloggers who I already worked with who were willing to help me. So to them, I am exceptionally grateful.

What things would you change if you were starting over?

If I were to start over, I would be less hesitant about some things that I thought would turn people off. Haven’s Creed, for example. I was so certain no one would buy it, and even more certain that I would get pilloried for publishing it. As is the came with most books, it has some who loathed it, but surprisingly a lot of people seemed to enjoy it. It gave me the courage to explore some other things I might not have done otherwise.

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

My biggest challenge is not knowing what I’m doing with self-publishing. I wish I could understand it, or find an easier way to format, because I feel silly having to ask for help. My biggest victory? The very first letter I ever got that told me my writing made a difference to someone. Knowing that even just one person thought my story was worthwhile.

And I would *LOVE* to see the genre expand. I think too many people see M/M or F/F literature, and automatically shuffle it off to the side without even giving it a chance. There are some stellar storytellers out there that they’re missing out on.

Where do you see ebooks and yourself in the future?

I hope to be writing until the day I die. When I go, I want to have my collection of books buried with me, so I have something to read while I wait for eternity to pass.

Wulf Francu Godgluck

✍From Wulf Francu Godgluck, author of the Neon White, and the Tooth, Claw, and Horn Chronicles and 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 have self-published all my books and don’t think I would change that anytime soon, you have more freedom as a self-published author but you also have to carry the cost and the risk thereof: Publishers already have an established readership, whereas if you are an author just starting out and self-publish your first book, you need to build that readership first, you also run the risk of plagiarism and piracy, where unfortunately you don’t have a legal team to back you up. But again you would earn more royalties on each individual copy sold, you determine the price of your book but you also run the risk of loss if you do not sell enough copies to compensate for the cost of getting your book published.

I guess it all depends on where and with what you are more comfortable. The only reason I self-published in the first place is publishers tend not to like my books because of the tone of my writing, as it tends to be a bit on the dark side.

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

In my honest opinion a lot, and not for the better, new books pop up every day now and the problem is the writing of these books is becoming poorer and poorer. Because the problem we are facing today is the lack and misunderstand of literacy, I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the number of authors and readers that still does not get the concept of showing and not telling, the difference of just simply reading what is actually written and then to thinking about what was said in that sentence as to what is actually conveyed, then there’s lack of using beta readers, and yet these books still sell? And more often than not it’s self-published books. So the bigger question we need to ask ourselves is; can readers really differentiate between a well-written book and a poor one, in all honesty, it seems that the poorly written books these days are the ones selling. Why? Because readers deem this poor quality of literature acceptable.

Why readers? Because it’s a vicious endless cycle – poorly written books are read by readers- reader becomes authors- produces poorly written book because of reading poorly written books.

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

Assuming this question is based on the previous answers, yes it has made my job more difficult: anyone can tell a story, not everyone can write a novel. It took me five years to even feel ready to show my first novel to readers, and that’s not from reading a lot, that came from writing, learning how to write, learning the difference between showing and not telling a story, learning how to convey the right words in the right way to paint the picture I want to portray inside the reader’s mind and the emotions I want to invoke inside the reader’s heart. It came from endless rewrites- first drafts, second drafts, and third drafts. From taking a step back and thinking about what I am writing, and from working very closely with my beta readers and editors and mentors who have been in the industry for years. And lastly evaluating myself and my writing as to how much I, as an author, has grown from the first piece I wrote to the current piece I have published.

Now, I, and many other authors have to compete with books, that are almost in a sense mass produced and that are deemed acceptable pieces of literature. That does make an author feel a bit dejected, that does make us question ourselves and whether or not the time, effort and blood placed into a manuscript is even worth it. Reader so easily voice, that we don’t write fast enough or that a particular author is only capable of publishing a novel once a year: And there is a very good reason for that, good things take time, we want to make sure we don’t push out something that’s going to be flat, one dimensional and unemotional.

And we are in the losing side here, because I see it so often when a really good book gets bashed down and really bad one gets praised. There are so many authors out there both new and experience that does not get the praise their work deserve.

It’s like a very good friend of mine said, “good writing should be like a movie for blind people.”

But we are also pressured against reader’s demand: Am I going to risk losing readers, and take the time to produce a novel to the best of my abilities, however long that may be- or am I going to give into the demand of the industry and produce something flat, quick and easy, with no flavor or substance?

What things would you change if you were starting over?

Not a lot, I would for one spend more time establishing a readership and interacting with more readers before I released my first book, but again it comes back to time. Writing a novel takes up a lot of time, establishing a readership and maintaining that readership via social media is a whole job in itself, so where do you draw the line, where do you find the balance? Authors are still people, they still have families, jobs and responsibilities outside of the writing world. Even as a full-time author I find this very difficult to balance. So now as the industry has changed; it crucial for any new author to establish a readership before they have their first book out in the publics’ hands.

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: Making sure my next book exceeds the one before it, Good, great, I’ve written a good book I can be proud of, now comes the next novel. Reader’s expectations. This always guts me during the writing process. The fear that this new book might not live up to the hype of its predecessor. And it’s both real and healthy, it encourages me to strive for better, to work harder, not to have the plot run away with me and high-jack the story to a point where it can’t be saved, and lastly writer’s block and writer’s burn out.

Biggest victory as an author: I’m discovering who I am, learning more about myself and what I am capable of, how talented I am and recognizing myself worth, but still be able to stay humble throughout this process because trust me, it can go to your head.

Where do you see ebooks and yourself in the future?

To grow more as a writer, to one day hopefully become a full-time writer in the horror genre and be successful in it.

As for ebooks in the future, one can only hope that we find some way to better protect our work against piracy and plagiarism, as with the advance of technology, there are its disadvantages; illegal distribution of books and selfishly stealing others work is a threat to both writers and the industry. With ebooks being so easily distributed as they are in the numerous ways they can be scattered throughout the big web. It’s hard to keep track of where they end up and how to protect

them.

Jay Northcote

✍From Jay Northcote, author of Nothing Serious and the Housemates series and many more:

My first experiences in publishing were with Dreamspinner Press almost three years ago. They published in paperback and eBook format, but the vast majority of my sales were eBooks.

I made the switch to self-publishing about a year into my career as an author. With it being so easy to self-publish eBooks in particular (although it’s also easy to publish paperbacks through Createspace) I didn’t see that there was much benefit for me to stay with a publisher once I had a readership.

Even in the relatively short time that I’ve been publishing, the industry has changed a lot. The market for our genre is growing, but is also getting exponentially more crowded. It’s hard for authors to get noticed. Kindle Unlimited and the huge number of indie authors have driven prices down—which has a knock on, negative impact on author earnings. However, the rise in popularity of eBooks has allowed me to have a career as an author that I would otherwise never have had. I don’t believe that I would ever have considered writing as a full-time job if it hadn’t been for the boom in the e-book market and the subsequent growth of small presses and Indies. I count myself extremely lucky to have found my readership and to be able to do this as my job. I’m grateful to all my readers for making this possible.

It’s hard to predict the future in such a volatile and rapidly changing market. Ebooks are here to stay, and I think subscription services like KU are too. Personally, I would like to see more consistency in eBook pricing across the industry. The 99c novels that dominate the charts are making it harder for authors to earn a living. But I’m hopeful that as long as I work hard and stay focused, I will be able to keep writing full-time for the foreseeable future.

As you all can see, their experiences run the spectrum, from self publishing to working with established publishers to using both methods of getting their stories to their audience. All see the ebook as a format that’s here to stay. But how will the market change? And how will the authors and publishers have to adapt to the changing market? That remains to be seen.

More authors next week. Do you have questions for these or any authors? Send them in. I will forward them on and use them in our blog next week or the week after.

Giveaway: From the readers leaving comments I will be choosing 3 more winners to receive $10 gift certificates from Dreamspinner Press. Contest ends at midnight, November 3rd. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

And now for this week’s schedule.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, October 23:

Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV! (Part III)
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
A Paul Review: The Beginning (Sirius Wolves #6) by Victoria Sue

Monday, October 24:

Release Blitz & Review Tour – Con Riley’s Must Like Spinach
Riptide Blog Tour: Change of Address by Jordan S. Brock
Alisa Audiobook Review: Corey: The Atherton Pack 3 by Toni Griffin
A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: Changing World by Cari Z
A Paul Review: Germ by April Kelly

Tuesday, October 25:

Reclaiming Hope by Shell Taylor Tour with Guest Post
Riptide Blog Tour and Giveaway: Interborough by Santino Hassell
A Stella Review: Different Names for the Same Thing by Francis Gideon
A Caryn Review: Interborough by Santino Hassell
An Alisa Review: His Scar by Erin E. Keller

Wednesday, October 26:

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: The Closet Boy by Sean Michael
Blog Tour and Giveaway: Full Circle by Victoria Sue
Contact, Gothika Volume 5 Tour with Guest Post and Giveaway
An Alisa Review: Night Train to Orleans By Carolina Valdez
A Paul B Review: Full Circle by Victoria Sue

Thursday, October 27:

Cover Reveal – Alpha Barman by Sue Brown
In the Spotlight:On Fire by Alicia Nordwell (Guest Post)
An Alisa Review: Open Omega and His Bitter Bear By Susan Laine
A Free Dreamer Review: 18% Gray by Anne Tenino
A Release Review: Touchdown (Game Day Book 1) by T.S. McKinney

Friday, October 28:

In the Spotlight: Make Someone Happy by Hank Fielding (Guest Post)
A Stella Release Day Review: Murmuration by TJ Klune
An Alisa Review: Of Paws and Pet Rocks by J.D. Walker
A Lila Review: A Sip Of Rio by Teodora Kostova
A MelanieM Review: Too Many Cases by Julia Rancourt

Saturday, October 29:

A MelanieM Review: Shield of the Dragon by Megan Derr

About the Authors:

Parker Williams can be found at his Goodreads blog

Wulf Francu Godgluck

They come to me in the night, creeping into my head. Their voices are all different, their stories all dissimilar, but they keep saying the same thing…

“Show us, tell us to the world. Bring us into yours, and make us known.”

Then I sit and they take over. They tell their tales of love, loss and sinister misfortune, not all of them get a happy ending, but they are pleased when their part is written.

I sometimes find myself lost in my own mind; a world very similar to our own yet so different. Things don’t go bump in the night—they squeal, and crawl under your skin, making you grind your teeth, and your stomach turn over and put your nerves on edge. Then there’s the drama. Oh, the drama!

I write because I must! There is so much inside of me that needs to get out. So many stories to tell, characters that want to be heard, and hearts lost and won. Words and art are my way of bringing my world to others. I enjoy telling tales of the human condition but working in elements of the supernatural. Werewolves, Vampires, Zombies, Witches and the unexplainable all set against the human world or worlds of their own.

I was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, grew up in a working class family and enjoy writing, cooking and spending my husband’s money! Yeah I’m a cocky little brat too 🙂 (and proud of it, spankings included.)

You can find Wulf at his website

Jay Northcote

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. Jay has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and he also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

Contact Jay at:

Website http://jaynorthcote.com/
Twitter jay_northcote

A Paul B Review: The Dilemma (Sirius Wolves #5) by Victoria Sue

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

the-dilemma-by-victoria-sue Marcus Flint has recently been named Alpha of one of the largest werewolf packs. How long will they allow a crippled human to lead them, let alone keep his three werewolf mates?

Three weeks have passed since the Claiming Ceremony gone wrong. Hunter is in prison below the Supreme Alphas’ pack house. Nate is still clinging to his mates and having problems dealing with his wolf. Kellan feels that he is odd man out in the mating and isn’t feeling well, which is unusual for a werewolf. Marcus still cannot believe that the Jefferson pack picked a disabled human to lead them. However, he must attend to the needs of his mates before he can really focus on the pack.

The pack however is growing restless as their Alpha has basically not been seen in three weeks. While he attends meetings with the pack leadership and the Supreme Alphas, he has not left the pack house. When he finally starts to delve into pack business, he sees what terrible shape the pack has been in the last few years. And with the pack growing as they are closest to Orion’s Circle, the problems are just going to increase.

When the pack doctor notices the pain the Marcus is in, he suggest that he apply to a program that a friend of his knows about. It would involve robotic prostheses that would allow Marcus to run with the pack during the full moon. When he visits Dr. Seth about the program, he learns that he must spend six months in Germany for the procedure as it is not yet approved in America. Can he afford to leave his pack and more importantly his mates for such a long time in order to be a more effective leader and lover for them?

This fifth novel in the Sirius Wolves series brings us another step closer to the upcoming war between the gods that has been foreshadowed. Anubis finally makes his presence known, which unsettles Blaze, the Supreme Alpha. Marcus is still wallowing in self doubt wondering if he is really meant to lead 2300 werewolves and growing. Ricoh is dealing with Hunter’s betrayal and his feelings of guilt about Nate. Nate is slowly recovering but still relies on Marcus and Kellan for the most part for strength. Young hybrid Chris, whose white wolf is unheard of, seems to be the key to the reason why this battle is coming. The book has a few surprises which I will let you discover for yourself. As usual, I am looking forward to the next book.

The cover art by E Connors is typical for the series. It has a shirtless well build man in front of a starry night background. Again, I wish I could figure out which character it is suppose to be.

Sales Links

Book Details

EBook, 220 pages
Edition Language: English
Published: April 7, 2016 by Dark Hollows Press
ISBN: 978-1-944054-54-0

Series: Sirius Wolves – add to Goodreads here:

A Paul B Review: The Promise (Sirius Wolves #4) by Victoria Sue

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

the-promise-by-victoria-sue Marcus Flint enjoys his job as the US government’s Lupine Liaison Officer. He has been working closely with Blaze, the Supreme Alpha werewolf and his mates to deal with the Winter Circle terrorist organization that is trying to keep weres and humans apart. He admires some the characteristics of his werewolf friends like their lifetime mating and the fact that they are very tactile. Being a double amputee from the last war, Marcus believes that he will never have that, as his former lover Justin rejected him after he came home from overseas.

Kellan believes he is lupus non gratis around his pack. He was forced to help the psychopath Michael with his schemes because his mate was being threatened. Most of the wolves of the Jefferson pack cannot forgive him. Only those of Orion’s Circle seem to understand the pressure he was under to protect his mate. When it is revealed that his mate is Marcus, the human, most wolves do not believe that it is possible.

Ricoh meanwhile is having problems with his mates. Hunter, the Jefferson pack alpha, continues to ignore him. Nate is still missing after fleeing when his life is spared for killing Darric. And as he begins to be around Marcus, he is developing feeling for that man too. He does not understand how this could be as he already has his mates, or so he thought. When Nate shows up with an anti-werewolf minister looking thin and tired, the group knows that something is terribly wrong. As the group plans a rescue, Hunter goes and tries to talk to Nate, making him shut down further. The group must now recalculate their plans to save Nate while somehow not alienate the human population any further than the anti-were agitators have already done.

This fourth book in the Sirius Wolves series continues the integration of humans and werewolves that started in the previous books. Orion’s Circle (Aden, Blaze, Conner, and Darric) take more of supporting roles as Marcus, Ricoh, Nate, and Kellan drive this story. We also begin to see that not all wolves are behind the ruling council. Nate is obviously been tortured to the point where he is suffering a bit of Stockholm syndrome. Marcus thinks no one can care for him because of his physical appearance. Ricoh believes that both of his mates of basically rejected him while Kellan has been rejected by his own pack for the most part. The ending of the book takes a unique twist in the furthering of the goals of Orion’s Circle. As usual, I cannot wait to read the next in the series.

The cover by E Connors is fairly standard for the series. A well built shirtless man in jeans is set in front of a starry night sky. However, I’m not sure which character he is suppose to be though.

Sales Links

Book Details

EBook, 139 pages

Edition Language: English

Published: January 14, 2016 by Dark Hollows Press

ISBN: 978-1-944054-31-1

Series: Sirius Wolves

Orion’s Circle (Sirius Wolves #1)

Broken Circle (Sirius Wolves #2)

Here’s Reading You – Readers and Authors (Part II). This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Here’s Reading You – Readers and Authors (Part II)

Last week, we started our look at eBooks. How has the eBook changed reading, writing, and perhaps even publishing for you? Perhaps some people may share a view from the beginning, when eBooks started to flourish and others when the eBooks were already an established format as they are today. Where do we think this format might go next? I have no idea. Do you?

We’ve asked how do our readers find their stories and authors? What do you think about eBooks? How do authors feel about writing and then publishing their beloved books as ebooks? And we will be asking publishers the same questions too. How has the eBook changed publishing? And where do they see it going from here?

One reader, batchelorboy55 brought up an interesting point I’ve missed so far. Advantages of the eBook and eReaders. Normally, we talk of the amount of books we can now take with us. Some people enjoy the anonymity of it all…no covers to display, its all safely tucked away electronically. Other talk about the types of books we can now buy because the authors have a reader audience that can find them…us! But how about those other advantages? Batchelorboy55 said “I now use my ereader with a large font, and when particularly fatigued can swap across to a digital audio, or text to speech audio setting.” Yes, that’s an important point. One I should have brought up before.Whatever the reason you may be having eyesight issues, being able to have a larger font and make the books easier to read? Its beyond marvelous. Same goes for the backlit readers. It eases the eyestrain. How about being able to look up a word without having to leave to get your Websters? All that should be factored in as well. These are all terrific reasons to use a eBook and eReader. What other advantages do you think I’ve missed?

So here is some of the last of our readers comments. Is yours among them? Be sure to read all the way to the end where we start to move into our authors posts for next week (and I’ve announced the winners) ….

From Theo:

I mainly purchase books from new authors at publisher site, so authors who go independent without publishers are seldom on my radar, except when they are recommended by multiple people/authors (Jordan L Hawk was recommended by Rhys Ford and KJ Charles, River Jaymes and Leta Blake was recommended by multiple friends). However, once I like books by certain authors, I follow them on social media or subscribe to newsletters to make sure I don’t miss their new works.

From Ami:

Independent Authors: Before, I got to know independent authors from Goodreads reviews. But these days, I don’t go to GR anymore for updates. Instead, I tend to go scrounge the ‘recommendation’ section from Amazon based on books I love. I found them to be useful. I also subscribed to few author’s newsletters, diligently keep track of upcoming sections from favorite publishers and ARe, as well as checking out Netgalleys.

batchelorboy55:

One comment that often gets missed is ‘readability’.
As a librarian (45+ years) we always struggled with how technology could help readers with eyesight issues, blind, aged etc.
The ebook seems to have made that much more accessible than the clunky magnifiers collecting dust in the back corner of the library, as no-one knew how to work them, nor did many come seeking it.
Just as cumbersome were the sets of cassette tapes (some 20 tapes or more), with braille stick-ons indicating playing order.
I now use my ereader with a large font, and when particularly fatigued can swap across to a digital audio, or text to speech audio setting.
I have to admit though that Dragon Speaking still daunts me when it comes to shopping online for titles. Thankfully I’m not quite there yet, and I can guarantee that I’ll have a sizeable TBR collection to wade through first.

Jbst:

Mostly, I find them through review blog sites, known authors’ blogs whose books that I’ve enjoyed, Goodreads and Amazon reviews, Also, it may be through an ebook that I won in a contest or if the story or author was nominated and/or won awards. Sometimes, it’s just because I liked the cover, blurb, genre.

Forgot to mention about that sometimes a freebie book or MM group’s free stories have resulted in finding a new author which I’ve became a fan. Although, I’ve become much more picky about the freebies now.

mztikicat:

I get many referrals/recommendations from friends, group threads and updates at Goodreads. Also follow several m/m blogs, receive emails from Dreamspinner Press, ARe and a few other publishers. And I utilize Bookbub and Amazon, not just for the daily deals, but also for updates regarding new books being released by authors I follow.

And finally, ushering us into our blog next Sunday with the author’s point of view, someone who represents both the reader and author’s perspective:

Anna Larson:

As a reader: I don’t pick a book based on author or on publisher. If I like the Blurb and the reviews are decent, I’ll buy it. I get “recommendations” from BookBub, Amazon, Goodreads etc. I don’t check for publisher status at all so I don’t go looking for only from publisher x books. The blurb and a good cover is what will attract me to buy a book from anyone.

As an Author: My first short story was published in e-book format only from a small independent group as the publisher. My first longer book was both print and e-book, the second was e-book only for over a year. And my third is print and e-book from the start. All done independently.

Contest Winners!

I want to thank everyone for their wonderful comments. Here are our winners for the $10 gift certificate (Dreamspinner, or Amazon, or Riptide…your choice) in no particular order. Notice that there are 5 not 3 winners. I have added two more because of all the wonderful comments. I will be in contact with you about your choice of gift card.

Fehu
Tex Reader
batchelorboy55
mztikicat
Monica

New contest starts next week with our Authors Perspective on eBooks so be here with us for that too!

Now for this week’s schedule.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, October 16:

Here’s Reading You – Readers and Authors (Part II).
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
A PaulB Review: The Promise (Sirius Wolves, #4) by Victoria Sue

Monday, October 17:

Riptide’s Tour and Giveaway: Slave Hunt (The Subs Club #5) by J.A. Rock
Cover Reveal for Quarry by Elizabeth Noble
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Slave Hunt (The Subs Club #5) by J.A. Rock
A Jeri Release Day Review: Guyliner by J. Leigh Bailey
A Caryn Release Day Review: The First Act by Vanessa Mulberry
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: A Kind of Honesty by Lane Hayes

Tuesday, October 18:

Love those Spooky Boys? Check out Katey Hawthorne’s WITCHY BOYS (excerpt and giveaway)
Release Day Tour : Sirius Wolves are back in Full Circle by Victoria Sue (excerpt)
Love Wins in ‘Touchdown (Game Day Book 1)‘ by T.S. McKinney Tour (excerpt and giveaway)
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Witchy Boys by Katey Hawthorne
A Stella Review: Of Love and Corn Dogs by Parker Williams
An Ali Audiobook Review: Groomzilla by Tere Michaels and Nick J. Russo Narrator
A VVivacious Review: Gryffon Hall by Alexis Duran

Wednesday, October 19:

In the Spotlight: Riptide’s Bluewater Blues by G.B. Gordon (giveaway)
Release Tour: Tempting Tristan: Tristan Brewer (Harborside Nights #3)by Melissa Foster (giveaway)
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Bluewater Blues by GB Gordon
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Timing by Mary Calmes
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Hexmaker (Hexworld #2 ) by Jordan L. Hawk
An Alisa Release Day Review: A-Viking by Kiernan Kelly

Thursday, October 20:

In the Series Spotlight:Mockingbird Place Series Tour by Kris Cook
An Alisa Review: The Cowboy in Unit E by Kris Cook
An Alisa Review: The Doctor in Unit H by Kris Cook
A Jeri Release Day Review: Turn the World Upside Down by Nyrae Dawn
A PaulB Review: The Dilemma by Victoria Sue

Friday, October 21:

Riptide Tour and Giveaway: Friendly Fire by Cari Z
Release Blitz & Review Tour – Con Riley’s Must Like Spinach
Blog Tour and Giveaway:AF Henley’s Wolf in League
A Caryn Review: One Pulse Anthology
A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Disciple (The Wheel Mysteries #4) by Susan Laine
A VVivacious Review: My Bare Naked Heart” by David Avery

Saturday, October 22:

Review Tour – Alyson Pearce – The Viscount And The Artist
A MelanieM Review: The Viscount and The Artist by Alyson Pearce
A MelanieM Review: Dragon Detective by Mell Eight

In the Spotlight: The Captain’s Promise by T.J. Land (excerpt)

The Captain’s Promise (Adrift #4) by T.J. Land
NineStar Press

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Release Date: October 17, 2016

Purchase Links

NineStar Press | Amazon | All Romance Ebooks

COUPON CODE: Get 20% off preorder on NineStar Press website with coupon code “preorder”

* (Good until release day)

Book Blurb

Now that the crew of The Prayer have settled down on an uninhabited alien world, their captain intends for them to forge a new life for themselves. But Khurshed’s plans are interrupted when the ship receives a distress call from a nearby planet. While most of his lovers are excited by the prospect of making contact with their new neighbors, First Officer Antoine argues that responding might endanger the crew. As it turns out, his fears are well placed…

Excerpt

Dirty, panting, and sweating like a pig, Rick stood back and surveyed his greatest achievement. Ten rows of newly sown green beans, ten rows of spinach, and ten rows of zucchini; the first crops he’d planted outside the rigorously controlled and monitored confines of The Prayer’s oxygen garden in four years. The first Earth crops that had ever been planted on this planet. In this galaxy, even.

“Bitchin’,” he said to himself.

“Don’t curse in front of the baby vegetables,” said Thomas, slinking up behind him and draping his lanky arms over Rick’s shoulders. “You don’t want ’em growing up as warped and perverted as you, do you?”

“Fuck off, Meléndez,” Rick drawled, tilting his head up to accept a kiss.

“How come our first crops are fucking greens? I haven’t had a donut in close on five years. Why can’t you plant some…bread seeds?”

“Wheat, you ignorant loser. We don’t have any grain.”

When they’d first set out from Earth, they’d been equipped with everything they needed for the duration of the one-and-a-half-year journey to Pluto, including a cargo hold full of supplies for the dwarf planet’s fledgling colony. They’d had nutrient shakes, chewable protein bars, enough canned food to feed one hundred people for four years, the reliable bounty of Rick’s vegetable garden, and flour. When they were set adrift by the enemy, they’d comforted themselves with the knowledge that they’d die of boredom and cabin fever long before they starved. Even so, Rick recalled vividly the bleak looks on everyone’s faces three years ago when Echo had informed them that the last of the flour was finished.

“Besides, donuts? That shit’s bad for you. Echo’s fruity desserts aren’t doing it for you anymore?”

Thomas made his meh face. “He’s been using that weird melon-shaped thing we found a lot lately. I can’t get used to the aftertaste. It always feels like someone coated the back of my tongue in cement.”

“Don’t let Echo hear you say that. He’ll be whatever his equivalent of upset is. And he might poison your dinner.”

Their new vegetable garden had been planted in the lee of the rocky hill next to which The Prayer currently squatted, her landing gear obscured by the long grass. Being situated in the planet’s temperate zone, they wouldn’t have to worry about the periodic decades-long draughts that assailed the southern regions. Because Antoine’s current fascination was the local marine life, they were within walking distance of the beach. There was another ancient abandoned town a few miles east, though Rick wasn’t all that eager to go exploring again just yet. Not after what had almost happened to Zachery and the captain.

Khurshed, Rick reminded himself. That’s what he asked you to call him.

Thomas was resting his chin on Rick’s head, a habit he’d picked up since Rick had started shaving his scalp. The explosion that had taken his eye had also burned off a good chunk of his hair, and Zachery had said it was as good a time as any to try a new haircut. Rick had agreed. Then, stupidly, he’d given Zachery free reign to experiment on him. The result was so arrestingly hideous that he’d had no choice but to go bald. Thankfully, it turned out that all three of his boyfriends thought his new look was sexy as hell. Rick wasn’t so sure, but he couldn’t deny that having his bare scalp stroked and fondled made it feel as though someone had pumped kerosene into his dick.

“Comfortable up there, asshole?” he inquired of Thomas.

“Sorry,” he said, not sounding the least bit sorry. “It’s the price you pay for being my shortest boyfriend.”

“Okay, I’m gonna bite your nipples off for that,” said Rick, peeling off his gloves and turning around so he could get at them.

When Rick had first met Thomas, he hadn’t thought much of him. He’d come off as a bland everyday nice guy, maybe a bit of a worrywart, with unassuming good looks. Nothing special. As they’d gotten to know one another better over the course of the four years they’d been lost in space, they’d become amicable acquaintances, though not quite friends. Rick had liked him while never being one hundred percent comfortable in his presence, his feelings towards the ship’s security officer muddled by what he now recognized as a huge, unacknowledged crush. Then the captain had come along and dragged them all into bed with him, and after that, everything had worked out.

Rick wasn’t the type to rate his boyfriends; he felt as drunkenly, giddily in love with the captain and Zachery as he was with Thomas. That said, they were all vastly different people, and they each had their own place in Rick’s life. Thomas was the one Rick went to when all he wanted was someone to make him smile. When he’d emerged from the medical pod, Thomas had been the first to be allowed to see his empty eye socket, and in the weeks that followed, Rick had turned to him whenever he started thinking dark thoughts. No matter what else was going on, Thomas always made him feel good.

“Oh yeah,” Thomas said, his breath hitching as Rick settled a hand over his dick.

Rick smirked. One of the reasons Thomas always made him feel good was that making Thomas feel good was so, so damn easy.

“You’re such a whore,” he told him, rubbing the spot behind his left ear like he was a cat. As Thomas sagged against him, mumbling incoherently, Rick kissed him hard, grinding their dicks together while he moved his hand from Thomas’s ear to massage the back of his neck. As soon as Rick had learned where Thomas’s soft spots were, he’d realized that he could do pretty much anything with him.

“You like that?” he asked. Not because he had any doubt that Thomas did. It was just nice to see Thomas try and fail to make his tongue work, because sweet gentleman Thomas never ignored a question.

“Y-yeah,” he husked. “’S nice.”

Rick smirked. I have so got your number, pretty boy.

“How about we go inside?” Rick said. “Wouldn’t want to traumatize the baby beans, would we?”

Pairing: MM, MMM

Orientation: Asexual, Bi, Gay

Identity: Cis, Trans

Length: Novelette

Words: 18300

Pages: 42

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Author Bio

T.J. Land is a South African writer of erotic romance and sometimes other things. Her main inspirations right now are her plants, Emily Carroll’s art, and her seething hatred for the final season of Downton Abbey. She hopes you’re hanging in there.

Check out NineStar Press’ events calendar for information on additional blog stops for The Captain’s Promise and other upcoming releases!