Paul Richmond and his LGBT Artists of Pride Month. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Paul Richmond and his LGBT Artists of Pride Month.

Pride Month continues and this week I wanted to highlight something that Paul Richmond, an amazing artist some of you may recognize only through his covers for Dreamspinner Press or other of it’s houses, is doing this month. Over at his facebook page Paul Richmond Studio every day this month, Paul has taken a different LGBT artist, past or present. Highlighted their works, talked about why this artist has meant so much to him, or perhaps the struggles this artist has had to go through. The journey through different eras, artistic lives and styles has been a revelation!

Some of these artists I have known about (I was a art major in college a stone age ago). But the majority? An astonishing collection of LGBT beauty, pain, and rawness that art can deliver in so many forms.

Paul and his husband are in San Francisco this weekend for Pride at the Harvey Milk Photo Center where Paul’s work is part of the Stonewall 50 Years celebration going on. The artists Paul has highlighted this month have crossed eras, genders, borders and countries. Their art and passion flows out from watercolor , from oils, from photography, from every medium you can think of. Sometimes the juxtaposition of time and styles is startling. A painting simple, modern, and powerfully elegant yet painted in the early 1900’s. A photograph so haunting and dark it feels ancient and yet taken so recently. So many discoveries here at Paul’s Paul Richmond Studio FB page this month.

Here is just a small roll call of the artists Pau is featuring:

Kevin Peterson, Caravaggio, Drew Riley, Jay Elizondo, Kim Leutwyler, Robert Sherer, Grant Wood (who painted the well known American Gothic), Ryan J. Stephens, Lisa McLymont, Briden Cole Schueren, Andrew Salgado, Zanele Muholi, Michael Breyette, Lotte Laserstein,and more.

To see them all and their works each day, head on other to Paul Richmond Studio FB page. Along with their stories, Paul offers up his own remarkable journey from small town boy dreaming of Dolly Parton to successful artist.

Because we are talking about artists, let’s do a Artists Recommendations List. It can feature Artists that are Photographers or Painters! Let’s see what you all come up with! How about potters?

Now about our Novel Recommendations! Last week was Drag Queen Week!

We added quite a few more stories to last week’s list of Drag Queen book recommendations. Thank you to our readers and my reviewers to filled in with so many great stories. Here is the updated list:

Drag Queen M/M Recommendations

The Belladonna Arms (5 books)by John Inman

Queens of the Apocalypse by Rob Rosen

Mary, Queen of Scotch by Rob Rosen

The Queen & the Homo Jock King (At First Sight #2) by T.J. Klune

Bad Dogs and Drag Queens (Rose and Thorne #1) by Julie Lynn Hayes

Kev Series by Liam Livings (from Suze)

Freak (The F-Word 2) by E. Davies (all recs from HB)
A Dirty Drag Collection (Dirty Drag 1, 2, 3) by Kyle Adams
What The Lady Wants by D.C. Juris
Sylver and Steele series by Mimi Riser
Le Jazz Hot by Clancy Nacht & Thursday Euclid
Appearing Nightly (Icon Men 2) by Cat Grant
Max & Skyler Series by Acer Adamson
Dressed to Thrill by Kimberly Gardner
Rayne’s Wild Ride by Jambrea Jo Jones
Leather+Lace (Opposites Attract 2) by A.B. Gayle

Embraced in Gold by T.A. Chase (also know by these titles Embrace My Reflection/ Bring Him Gold)
Lucky Starflowers (Steel City 5) by Kate Pavelle
Hearts and Flour by Tara Lain
Finally Fallen (The Dark Angels 3) by Z. Allora
A King’s Ransom by Aislinn Kerry
My Girl (Captivated Lovers 3) by Stormy Glenn
Chyna Doll (Horizons 4) by Mickie B. Ashling

Lola Dances by Victor J. Banis — no longer on MLR, but can get a paperback from Amazon and BnN

Who We Are by Nicola Haken

Let’s Hear It for the Boy by T.A. Webb (all from our reviewer Chaos Moondrawn)

Did I still leave any of your recommendations out? Please help me fill in that list. Send me the books and stories I’ve left out and lets see those drag queens represented!

Special Note: Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is looking for Reviewers! We are looking for reviewers for our blog. If you love to read or listen to LGBT stories and share your thoughts about them with others, consider reviewing with Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Please send all inquiries to scatteredthoughtsandroguewords@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you. We are very flexible about how many reviews each reviewer takes on. That’s entirely up to each reviewer’s own schedule.

And now onto our week ahead.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, June 23:

Paul Richmond and his LGBT Artists of Pride Month.
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
BOOK BLITZ – VARIOUS AUTHORS – HOT SUMMER NIGHTS
A MelanieM Review:Love in Every Season by Charlie Cochrane

Monday, June 24:

BLOG TOUR Shatterproof Bond series by Isobel Starling
BLOG TOUR Finding Alexander by Pandora Pine
An Alisa Review: Malachite (Brotherhood of Ormarr #4) by Michele Notaro & Sammi Cee
A MelanieM Review A Dance Too Far (Too Far #1) by H.L. Day
A Barb the Zany Old Lady: Audio Review Diplomatic Relations (The Sci-Regency #4) by J.L. Langley and KC Kelly (Narrator)

Tuesday, June 25

Tour:”The Demon of Hagermarsh” by Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus
BLOG TOUR Another Dance by L. A. Ashton
A Melanie Review A Step too Far (Too Far #2) by H.L. Day
An Alisa Audio Review : Prophesy (The King & Alpha #1) by A.E. Via
A Lila Review The Demon of Hagermarsh (Virasana Empire: Sir Yaden #1) by Beryll Brackhaus and Osiris Brackhaus

Wednesday, June 26:

Blog tour Surviving the Shadows by Miranda Turner
I Wished for You by Collette Davison Audio BLITZ
An Alisa Review: Surviving the Shadows (The Bearer of Truth #2) by Miranda Turner
A Lucy Prerelease Review : Love & Tea Bags (Pink Rock Series #1) by C.F. White
A Barb Audio Review : Will & Patrick Wake Up Married Series (Episodes 1-3) by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths /John Solo (Narrator)

Thursday, June 27:

Tour: Breaking Ground by Megan Lowe
BOOK BLITZ – VARIOUS AUTHORS – HOT SUMMER NIGHTS
A VVivacious Review Change of Heart” by KM Neuhold
A Melanie Review Another Dance by LA Ashton
A Lucy Review: Who We Used to Be (Do-Over #1) by Dara J. Nelson

Friday, June 28:

Release Blitz Signal – Ari McKay – Recipe For Romance
DSP PROMO Heidi Cullinan
BLOG TOUR Waited So Long by JM Dabney
A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Ledgers and Rent Boys (Ore 5 #2) by Meraki P. Lyhne
A MelanieM Review:The Doctor’s Date (Copper Point Medical #2) by Heidi Cullinan

Saturday, June 29:

COVER REVEAL Treasure Trail by Morgan Brice
Release Blitz – Love’s Glory by Janice Jarrell
Release Blitz Lily – Bernard’s Diary by S. L. Danielson
A MelanieM Review – Love’s Glory (Revolutionary Heart #3) by Janice Jarrell

Location as a Main Character. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Location as a Main Character

I may have talked on this topic before but once again it struck me as I read several stories this past couple of weeks how impactful a location can be in a novel. When done in a certain manner, well researched and folded into the story in a way that feels natural and powerful, the setting of a novel can become almost another main character. It asserts a strong personality over the characters, their burgeoning relationship, and sometimes even their ending.

The setting can contain not only geographical limitations or expanse, barriers or doors to freedom for the couple. In some locations is can be full of cultural or religious overlays along with family implications that will play out throughout the storyline. All that can come from setting your novel at a certain destination. Like say South Korea, or Japan, or any place in the Middle East Or how about Alaska or parts of the outback in Australia? Or planting trees in parts of the wilderness in Canada? Or maybe a vineyard in Brazil? All those All of those are settings in novels that I have read.

In a recent case, the location and use of culture in the storyline saved the novel for me as I was less invested in the main couple and more committed to the secondary characters and the people around them. Creating a setting that feels real, authentic is key to pulling in your readers and giving your characters a firm foundation for their lives and new romance.

Off the top of my head I can think of authors who gift of the vernacular and ties to certain locations have made an indelible impression on me with their characters, and stories, in some cases series. There’s Neil S. Plakcy with his incredible Mahu series (Hawaii), BA Tortuga (any of her Texas series), NR Walker’s Red Dirt Heart series (Australia), Amy Tasukada’s brilliant The Yakusa’s Path (Japan), Marshall Thornton’s Boystown (Chicago), and that’s just for starters. As soon as I hit post, I’m sure my brain will be flooded with a ton more along with a bunch of personal smh’s.

That’s not including the amazing historical novels of Elin Gregory or Charlie Cochrane, among others who bring eras along with towns vibrantly alive.

Through these stories I have walked through places and towns in Iceland I can’t pronounce and always hoped to see. The authors have made me see them. I’ve visited temples of the Sun in Mexico and walked in the burning heat to amazing places in the outback in Australia. I’ve witnessed the Southern Star and the Aurora Borealis up in the Arctic Circle. All thanks to authors who made me feel as though I’ve been there, through great details, gorgeous descriptions, and fantastic writing.

What stories or authors have done that for you? Taken you places, made you see them, feel them, along with the characters and their relationship?

Tell us, and let us go along for the journey as well.

The most recent books were:

The Yuchae Blossom (World of Love) by Asher Quinn – South Korea

Arctic Sun (Frozen Hearts #1) by Annabeth Albert – Alaska

So, again what are yours? I can’t wait to find out…..

Now for this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words….it’s Cherry Blossom Festival time here so that’s what I’m leaving you all with…

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, April 7:

Location as a Main Character.
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, April 8:

PROMO Hunter by Dez Schwartz
PROMO Sean Michael
An Alisa Audio Review Model Investigator (Haven Investigations #3) by Lissa Kasey and Brian Hutchison (Narrator)
A MelanieM Review: Royal Rescue by A. Alex Logan
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Wicked Games (Queen City Rogues #2) by Aimee Nicole Walker
A Lila Audio Review: Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

Tuesday, April 9:

PROMO BA Tortuga
BLOG TOUR Laws of Attraction by JP Sayle
PROMO Royal Rescue by A. Alex
A Stella Review : Cowboy Seeks Husband by Leta Blake & Indra Vaughn
An Alisa Review: Perilous Hearts (Deviant Hearts #3) by A.E. Ryecart
A Chaos Moondrawn Release Day Review: Inked Music by Sean Michael

Wednesday, April 10:

Review Tour – Marina Vivancos – Honeythorn
PROMO Andrew Grey
Book Blast Chasing Chance (Gilcrest University Guys #1) by M.E. Parker
An Ashlez Review: Chasing Chance (Gilcrest University Guys #1) y M.E. Parker
A Stella Review : Honeythorn by Marina Vivancos
A Stella Release Day Review: Soft Place to Fall by BA Tortuga
A Free Dreamer Review: Soulstealers by Jacqueline Rohrbach

Thursday, April 11:

TOUR THE DOCTOR TAKES A DETOUR by Bren Christopher
PROMO Mickie B. Ashling
Release Blitz – Trusting Him by L M Somerton
An Ali Review: Trusting Him by L M Somerton
A MelanieM Review: The Doctor Takes a Detour by Bren Christopher
A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Fracture (Unbreakable Bonds #6) by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
A Lila Audio Review:Trick Roller (Seven of Spades #2) by Cordelia Kingsbridge, Wyatt Baker (narrator)

Friday, April 12:

Review Tour – Garrett Leigh – Jude
Book Blast – Always Ours: An MMM Menage Romance by J.P. James
BLITZ Moonstruck by Aleksandr Voinov
An Ali Review : Jude by Garrett Leigh
A MelanieM Review: Moonstruck by Aleksandr Voinov
A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Impacted! (Bay Area Professionals) by Mickie B. Ashling

Saturday, April 13:

PROMO Starting From Zero by Lane Hayes
A MelanieM Review:For The Win (#lovehim #2.5) by S.M. James

Weather Themed Stories and Spring.This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Weather Themed Stories and Spring.

Stories written about wild weather and romance just seem to go together. People stranded in cabins by storms, snowy or otherwise. Men tested by nature at her most tumultous, high winds, floods…even wildfires. I’ve read novels with those as themes. Avalanches too. Several publishers, MLR Press and JMS Books LLC actually have series that are weather themed if you aren’t already aware of them.

For JMS Books, just search Snowed In and 17 books pop up, all by different authors, all with the same theme. Why? Because using one weather related topic works. Authors can take one overall theme and run with it in their own way as these did. As far as I know this is the first year they did this.

But MLR Press has been doing it for years with their Storming Love series with different topic series like Blizzards and Hurricanes. Plus authors that run their own group of stories with seasonal topics like this one (they also have a winter, fall, and summer story as well) :

Spring Leaves by A.J. Llewellyn and D.J. Manly

I won’t go into winter stories. Those blend into the holiday stories too easily.

But Summer and Spring? Yes, maybe not because of the weather but definitely because of the season.

Can you name some weather or season named or themed stories?

Send them into us…..let’s see how many we can end up with. There just might be a gift certificate for the person who sends in sthe most names.

Next week? Back to our narrator questionnaire!

Happy Reading and Listening!

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 24:

99c Book Blast – Distant Cousins by Eric Huffbind
Weather Themed Stories and Spring.This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, March 25:

Series Review Tour – The Speakeasy Series – Books 1 and 2 by K. Evan
Retro Review Tour – On Hands and Knees by Sai Fox
BLOG TOUR Red Zone by TS McKinney & Shannon West
A MelanieM Review: On Hands and Knees (The Valentino Family) by Sai Fox
A Lucy Review: Cameron & Rylan (A Chance Meeting #1) by Valerie Ullmer
A Free Dreamer Review: Horizon Points (The Galactic Captains #3) by Harry F. Rey
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Heated Rivalry (Game Changers #2) by Rachel Reid

Tuesday, March 26:

Release Blitz (ANT)OFF THE ICE by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn
Blog Tour ALL SOULS NEAR & NIGH (SOULBOUND #2) by Hailey Turner
Blog Tour – Black by Quin Perin
An Alisa Review Pros & Cons of Deception (Pros & Cons #2) by A.E. Wasp
A Stella Review: How Not to Break (Lovestrong #3) by Susan Hawke
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Better Be Sure (Harrison Campus #1) by Andy Gallo
A Chaos Moondrawn Release Day Review: Extra Dirty (The Speakeasy #2) by K. Evan Coles and Brigham Vaughn

Wednesday, March 27:

Review Tour Request – Elin Gregory – Midnight Flit
Release Blitz Cameron & Rylan (A Chance Meeting Novel Book)
Release Blitz – Scott by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey
BLOG TOUR Wicked Games by Aimee Nicole Walker
An Alisa Review Cameron & Rylan (A Chance Meeting #1) by Valerie Ullmer
An Ali Review: Loose Lips & Relationships (Flaming, MO #1) by A.J. Rose and Kate Aaron
A Caryn Release Day Review: Modern Gladiator (Modern Gladiator #1) by S.A. Stovall
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: A Party to Murder by John Inman

Thursday, March 28:

Uncomplicated by KM Neuhold Blog Tour
Blog Post Request – The Demon Lord of California – Jeanne Marcella
Release Blitz – Quinn Ward’s Kiss Me, Daddy
DSP PROMO Sean Michael
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: A Chip and a Chair by Cordelia Kingsbridge
A MelanieM Review: Uncomplicated (Inked #2) by K.M. Neuhold
A Free Dreamer Review: Time Taken (Out of Time #3) by C.B. Lewis
An Alisa Review An Extra Alpha (Pine Wood Falls #2) by Sarah Havan

Friday, March 29

Cover Reveal – Bryan T. Clark – Escaping Camp Roosevelt
BLITZ Fracture by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
PROMO S.A. Stovall
A VVivacious Review Red Zone by TS McKinney & Shannon West
A MelanieM Release Day Review: His Kindred Spirit (States of Love) by Sloan Johnson
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Review: Wanted – Bad Boyfriend (Island Classifieds #1) by T.A. Moore

Saturday, March 30:

Release Blitz Signal Tour – Garrett Leigh – Jude
Book Blast – The Handyman’s History by Nick Poff
A MelanieM Review: The Ghost Had An Early Checkout by Josh Lanyon

My Thankful List? Great Editors! This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

On My Thankful List? Great Editors!

As we countdown to Thanksgiving, I start thinking about things I’m grateful for. It’s not always the usual things on everyone else’s lists. The oddest or not so odd things pop up every day that can make me grateful for various and sundry items that might not get mentioned around the turkey table come Thanksgiving. So I thought I might bring up a few starting with a doozy that struck me yesterday (and almost every day at this blog).

Editors!

I’m absolutely, stupendously, over the moon grateful to every great editor out there still squinting at every submitted manuscript and soon to be released books they have before them, working furiously to make sure that what is finally accepted/or released, if that, is worthy of both the author and publisher as well as the reader’s emotional (and monetary) input. Someone who throughout the process with their red pen/pencil/marker/sword of blood/ cuts a swath through any writer’s purple prose, dense narrative, self involved point of view (goddess help me, the “I, I, I, I, I’s”), the love of tricks over substance, and cliche over depth. That’s without even getting a start on spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Damn why is the umlaut there? I know wherefore art thou umlaut and it’s not (insert curse word) there!

Don’t even get me started on word choice! Argh! The help some writers have needed here! There’s apparently a whole bunch of people out there with nary of clue about words and their definitions, just picking them willy nilly out of the air! Miss Malaprops Indeed!

Poor overworked editors! In the larger publishing houses, jobs are broken down into smaller sections, some of which I listed below:

Developmental editor—As detailed above, the developmental editor helps the writer from the idea stage through the final draft. He may suggest topics, help with research, verify facts, and plan the structure of the manuscript. He works through successive drafts with the writer. He’s as concerned with the structure of a manuscript as much as he is the words and meaning.*

Substantive editor—Helps a writer improve his fiction manuscript by focusing on story elements, plot, characterization, dialogue, order of scenes, point of view, voice, setting, word choice, sentence construction and syntax, and pace—anything that could improve the strength of the manuscript.

And Copy Editors that do fact checking as well as all the other things I listed above, line item elements such as spelling, etc..

But for smaller publishers and Editing services (proofreaders and copy editors), how many of those are rolled into one or two people?

I sometimes cringe when I read an acknowledgement or forward from a writer that talks about friends that read the manuscript and told them to publish it. The writer thanks them for their loving support and encouragement. I mentally think “that’s terrific”, and then hope that author also found a editor too. Sigh. Oh the perils of self publishing. Or even a publishing house as well. A editor doesn’t always mean a good or great editor. Again my kudos to all you great ones out there!

Some err towards being a friend and middling copy checker. Nuh uh. And trust me, that can do far more harm once that book hits release time.

How many reviews have you all read that said needed a editor or better editor? Yep! So true. There’s a reason for that.

What exactly is the role of an editor anyway? Well, here is a definition I found repeated several blogs:

An editor polishes and refines, [they] direct the focus of the story or article or movie along a particular course. [They] cut out what doesn’t fit, what is nonessential to the purpose of the story. They enhance the major points, drawing attention to places where the audience should focus.

Some of that is almost guaranteed to make a writer gnash their teeth, weep tears, and pull out some hairs. No one wants to cut words, sentences, characters, or even whole parts of plots to have a book make sense. Yet that’s an editor’s job if that’s what it takes to make the story cleaner, polished, and substantially a finer story. And the author a better writer. It’s a process.

Again, when you say you hired a editor, what did you hire? Or did you hire a Proofreader? Not the same as any good or great editor will tell you. Each and everyone has a job to do. Hire the right one for the right job.

Really someone should have stopped these headers, right? Or placement?

One of my favorite blogs is called the Blood Red Pencil which focus’ on writing and, of course, editing. If you are as fond of the subject as I am check out the link below:

Blood-Red Pencil: Do Editors Use Red Pencils?

https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2011/08/do-editors-use-red-pencils.html

As to what launched this week’s post, well, it’s Thanksgiving. I’m just going to say I’m so grateful to each and everyone one of you overworked, gorgeous, and absolutely fabulous editors who have provided such incredible help to the authors and their stories I’ve read all through the years! I appreciate your hard work, I hope if you’re in the States you have a great Thanksgiving, or weekend if you’re abroad. Kudos to you all! A big Mwah!

Thoughts anyone?

Now onto this week’s books and tours.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, November 18:

RELEASE BLITZ – Comply by Lee Manarte
Review Tour and Giveaway for Heat For Sale by Blake Moreno
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Heat for Sale by Blake Moreno
My Thankful List? Great Editors!
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, November 19:

Release Blitz To Be Honest by S. M. James
Sale Blitz for 2 Robert Winter Titles
BLOG TOUR Secrets Revealed (Dragon War Chronicles Book 2) by AG Carothers
An Alisa Review: Date from Hell by Gareth Vaughn
An Alisa Review: Lost and Found (Dave&Carter) by Quin Perin
A Free Dreamer Review: Secrets Revealed (Dragon War Chronicles #2) by A.G. Carothers
A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Finn by Angel Martinez

Tuesday, November 20:

Kaje Harper on Fair Isn’t Life
BLOG TOUR The Billionaire’s Wish by Geoffrey Knight
Release Blitz – Garrett Leigh – Crossroads (Skins #4)
A MelanieM Review The Burning Magus (Blue Unicorn #3) by Don Allmon
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Quenched in Blood (Asheville Arcana #3) by Ari McKay
A Caryn Review:Semper Fae (Endangered Fae #3) by Angel Martinez
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: His Consort by Mary Calmes

Wednesday, November 21:

Review Tour Leta Blake – Alpha Heat
BLOG TOUR Broken Halos by Aimee Nicole Walker
Release Blitz – Joanna Chambers – Mr Winterbourne’s
A Lucy Review: His Christmas Sweater by CM VAlencourt
An Ashlez Review : Walking In A Winter Wonderland by Claire Castle
A Stella Review: Accidentally On Purpose by JM Snyder
An Alisa Audio Review: Alpha Heat (Heat of Love #2) by Leta Blake and Michael Ferraiuolo (Narrator)

Thursday, November 22: Happy Thanksgiving!

Book Blast – Polyamory on Trial by Jude Tresswell
In the Spotlight Tour and Giveaway: The Burning Magus by Don Allmon
An Alisa Review: A Fated Bond by T.L. West
A MelanieM Review: Blackwood (Perth Shifters #1) by Pia Foxhall
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Rabi and Matthew by L.A. Witt

Friday, November 23:

Review Tour – LA Witt – The Husband Gambit
Release Blitz – Pia Foxhall – Blackwood (Perth Shifters #1)
Release Blitz Tour – Jay Northcote – Stuck With You
An Ali Release Day Review: My Regelence Rake (The Sci-Regency #3) by J.L. Langley
A MelanieM Review: The Husband Gambit by L.A. Witt
A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Diego (Endangered Fae #2) by Angel Martinez

Saturday, November 24:

Tour The Cub Club by Ardy Kelly
Release Blitz with ARC Reviews – Lost and Found by Quin Perin
Judith/Oz by Lily Morton Release Blitz and Review
A MelanieM Review: Best in Show by Kelly Jensen

*The Editor’s Blog

What Are Romance Don’ts For You? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

What Are Romance Don’ts For You…in Stories of course?

I’m always interested in what turns readers on, makes them keep searching out certain authors, certain types of stories and series. The reverse is also true. I’m curious to know whats the turnoff for readers. What will kill a story faster than a full moon can make a were all fluffy?

I’m not talking about simple bad writing, paroxysms of purple prose (I sorta love those…I giggle away), and cardboard characters and unintelligible plots. No I’m talking about something that while you are reading along, the book is going fine and all of a sudden, there it is. The thing that has you going “nope, not reading further”, and you are done.

I have to admit the one I hear the most is that people don’t want their main characters to cheat. At all. It doesn’t matter whether they haven’t even met the guy they are going to have their HFN or HEA yet. They don’t want to see them with anyone else in the story.

These are readers who place a strict moral behavior line on their mcs and expect it to be adhered to.

Some readers want light, sweet romances (which does not necessarily exclude depth in storyline or characters). Others place a limit on the amount of violence or types of sex or kink they may want in the novels. Do you exclude anything other than a typical M/M coupling from your reading lists? Not judging, just curious.

And how much sex is too much?

I actually went to a couple of How to Write Romance sites to see if they addressed any of this and the answer is not really.One said not to have a sex scene in every chapter. Many recommended no instant love but to build it up gradually. Many said to learn how to write “good” sex scenes. Under one site with 5 Mistakes to Avoid with Romance novels:1

: Avoid immediate, total attraction between your story’s lovers (guess they never met Grindr or instant lust) Really

But specifics like cheating never come up. That they leave up to each individual author and their tastes.

I personally avoid novels that kill off the pets and other animals. That’s one of my things (looking at you and that horse, Amy Lane).

One recent story that I gave low ratings to didn’t even introduce the one main character’s “true love” until the last couple of pages of the story. For most of the book he was involved with a lovely intelligent man who most readers, including myself thought he would end up with, until surprise! He runs off back to Canada leaving the nice guy in Scotland and us with our jaws on the floor. Because there was no set up in the narrative and we had no idea who this person was. Stunningly awful.

So while the mc’s don’t have to be together (letters written, two povs), I must actually know who he is. Smh.

And finally, if you have a narrative bugaboo, is there a author or book that convinced you or was so well written that they made you overlook it?

Write in and let me know….there might be gifts ahead for those that chime in.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, June 24:

Book Blast Witchbane by Morgan Brice
A MelanieM Review: A Time For Secrets (Boystown #4) by Marshall Thornton
What Are Romance Don’ts For You? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, June 25:

RELEASE BLITZ Daniel (The Third Legacy) by RJ Scott
Release Blitz – JM Snyder – Commanding Officer Thomas
Release Blitz – Speed Dating the Boss by Sue Brown
DSP Promo EJ Russell
An Alisa Review: Commanding Officer Thomas by J.M. Snyder
A Jeri Review: Something About You by Riley Hart
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Cash Plays (Seven of Spades #3) by Cordelia Kingsbridge

Tuesday, June 26

Release Blitz – Spark by Posy Roberts
Release Blitz – Nic Starr’s Lies & Deception
My Crunchy Life by Mia Kerick Release Blitz
Release Blitz and Exclusive Guest Post forJanice Jarrell’s Love’s Magic
An Ali Release Day Review: Lies & Deception by Nic Starr (
An Alisa Release Day Review: Speed Dating the Boss (Cowboys and Angels #1) by Sue Brown
A MelanieM Releases Day Review: All That Glitters by Kate Sherwood

Wednesday, June 27:

Cover Reveal for Second Chance Ranch (Montana #5) by RJ Scott
Kate Sherwood on All That Glitters (guest post)
Review Tour – Tarian PS – That’s My Ethan
Series Recap Blitz/Tour – RJ Scott – Montana Series
A Caryn Review: Cinderella Boy by Kristina Meister
A Stella Review Home Skillet (Culinary Kings #1) by Cate Ashwood & Sandra Damien
A MelanieM Audiobook Review: Love Me Tomorrow by Ethan Day and Jason Frazier (Narrator)

Thursday, June 28:

Release Blitz – Believe (Skins #3) by Garrett Leigh
Release Blitz – Day Of Wrath (Taking Shield #5) – Anna Butler
Release Blitz for Date Discovery by Quinn Ward
DSP Promo Nic Starr on LIes & Deception
A Free Dreamer Review: Amberlough (The Amberlough Dossier #1) by Lara Elena Donnelly
An Alisa Review: Jordan and the Secret Pack by Sam Magna
A MelanieM Review Learn with Me by Kris Jacen

Friday, June 29:

Review Tour – Love’s Magic by Janice Jarrell
Release Blitz – Sam Burn’s Stag and the Ash
DSP Promo Louise Collins
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Unfit to Print by KJ Charles
A Caryn Review: Fourteen Summers by Quinn Anderson
A MelanieM Review: Love’s Magic by Janice Jarrell
A Lucy Audiobook Review: A Full Plate by Kim Fielding and Narrator: Kenneth Obi

Saturday, June 30:

RELEASE BLITZ Love Me Louder by Christina Lee
Release Blitz + Giveaway – A Dance For Two by Colette Davison
A Lucy Review A Dance For Two by Colette Davison

Fresh Starts and Into April We Go. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Fresh Starts and into April We Go

Here it is April 1st and I’m full of plans and hopeful for fresh starts as I sip on my coffee as gaze out into the disaster that’s my backyard. That’s right you heard me, a mess of a backyard. So why so hopeful? Because now instead of dwelling on that huge old white pine that crashed during that last Nor’easter, taking down fences, crushing gardens and things, I’m looking at planning new ones, planting new storm resistant trees, and having a ball. I’ve got a clean slate to start over. Do things differently, better hopefully. Maybe try new plants that are more in accordance with my changing climate and planting schedule. Who knows? It will be fun figuring things out and seeing what my blank slate brings….

Same with reading. Of my last ten books, most of the the authors have been new to me. I have liked that. Not all have sowed roots in my library garden of books. Some I will gladly return to because I thoroughly enjoyed their stories, others showed promise even though I thought their books more outline than finished product. I like finding authors with a fresh approach to writing and stories. I like finding new authors period. Several of them I will be reviewing this week. So many of our reviewers are wonderful about bringing new authors to my attention. I love it when that happens. There can never be too many books or too many new authors to my mind.

That’s why I’m so happy to announce we are adding a new reviewer here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Please be on the look out for review from Lucy. Here’s an introduction:

Lucy

HI! My name is Lucy and I’ve been an avid reader since I was a kid. I was the one taking a book everywhere and then missing what I was supposed to be doing. Still that way, I think. My iPad is always in my purse and my commute to work as a teacher resource specialist is filled with audiobooks. I read a variety of works but MM remains my favorite. I am a big fan of super sweet and gooey and I love novellas and short stories. I am sort of wimpy when it comes to heavy angst – reading is my escape. I live in the Midwest, where we have two seasons – hockey and baseball!

Welcome, Lucy!

**************

And with everything that went on during the last few months that opened up much needed dialog about racism, books featuring POC and change within the publishing community, I would like to think we are moving forward here as well. A fresh outlook, a fresh perspective on publishing, covers, and even widening our own outlook on books we read, myself included.

Several of our readers chimed in with suggestions which I’m including here. I have linked all the story suggestions for you. Plenty of time to get your own suggestions in:

From Steve Wroten:

Thanks, so true about how spring has sprung.
Nice way to bring in spring. Sorry for this long comment, and I don’t know if this is what you had in mind for “What’s New,” but it spurred these thots:
After the previous two weeks of high winds, I took a week off and didn’t respond to last week’s post yet, but wanted to. And this week’s topic is a nice segue. I had previously given my thots in your Mar 11 post; and just wanted to say I appreciate your keeping that, while some other bloggers deleted my similar posts. I think it’s improving that we can talk about these issues. As another example, I think I see increased representation of people of color, and I thought I’d suggest some recent books I found to be good stories:
– A Love Like Blood, by Victor Yates (powerful YA that won Lambda debut novel)
– Nobody’s Son, by Shae Connor (two strong black leading men)
– Asylum, by Robert Winter (just finished ARC, about illegal immigrant from El Salvador finding love)
– Cut Hand series, by Mark Wildyr (nice Native American perspective)
– Southernmost Murder, by C.S. Poe (I’m becoming a fan of Poe – Asian FBI agent helps soon-to-be boyfriend with a cozy mystery)

From jen:

I think there are more books with diverse characters – sexuality, ethnicity, culture etc. And I hope that trend continues, both because these types of stories are needed and because I like them. 🙂 Some of my recs from recent reads are:
Wildflowers by Suki Fleet (the love interest is mute & middle-eastern)
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue (audiobook) by Mackenzi Lee (historical adventure/love story with a theme about race, class & a person’s “worth”; plus awesome narration)
Throwing Stones (Glasgow Lads on Ice #1) by Avery Cockburn (One of the MCs is demi-sexual, the other one has ADHD and there is curling)
The Long Past & Other Stories by Ginn Hale (Cool steampunk AU with an ex-slave MC & the love interest is an amputee plus there is magic)
I second the rec for Southernmost Murder by C.S. Poe.

Soooooo……

What new things have you all noticed, if anything? New issues that the authors have incorporated? New ways in which they’ve kept it real (if contemporary) and fresh (no matter the genre). So this is the start of ….

What’s New In LGBT Romance Fiction Giveaway?

Give us your thoughts. Maybe tell us ways in which you think it can be improved or that it has improved over the last few years. What stories have made you think? Stopped you with elements so current and relevant that it resonated with you? Leave your comments with you email address. Giveaway will continue until April 14th. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Meanwhile, happy April, happy Eostre or Easter, whatever you may celebrate. Spring is here and with it new beginnings. Let’s celebrate that. I’m a true gardener and forever hopeful and yet pragmatic. Garden catalogs and new stories await me. What’s waiting for you? Have a wonderful week. Here’s what’s ahead for you here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, April 1:

A Free Read Alert from Jay Northcote ~ International Transgender Day of Visibility and Starting from Scratch
Fresh Starts and Into April We Go. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, April 2:

Harmony Promo Julie Aitcheson on First Girl
BLITZ Bank Run by Alli Reshi
Release Blitz – Garrett Leigh – Soul To Keep (RH #2)
A Caryn Review: The Moth and Moon by Glenn Quigley
A Lila Review: Promise Me We’ll Be Okay by Nell Iris
A MelanieM PreRelease Review: Magic Runs Deep by Alex Whitehall

Tuesday, April 3:

BLITZ On a Summer Night by Gabriel D. Vidrine
BLOG TOUR Nobody’s Prince Charming by Aimee Nicole Walker
Eyes Wide Open by V.M. Sanford Blog Tour
A MelanieM Release Day Review: No Tears for Darcy by Vicki Reese
An Alisa Release Day Review: Kiss Me Forever by M.J. O’Shea
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Sweet Nothings (Amuse Bouche #1) by T. Neilson

Wednesday, April 4:

Release Blitz: Midnight Twist by Rian Durant
TOUR Tested in Fire (Art Medium #2) by EJ Russell
A Caryn Review: Tested in Fire (Art Medium #2) by EJ Russell
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Vice Enforcer (Vice City #2) by S.A. Stovall
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: The Ballerino and the Biker (The Hedonist #1) by Rebecca James

Thursday, April 5:

BLOG TOUR Syncopation by Anna Zabo
DSP Dreamspun Promo T. Neilson on Sweet Nothings
RELEASE BLITZ for Omega Shadow (Book 3 of the Pine Creek Lake Den series) by Quinn Michaels
A Stella Review :Wheels and Heels (Stories from the Hen and Hog #1) by Jaime Samms
An Alisa Review: Kept in the Dark by H.L Day
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Heart Unheard (Hearts Entwined #2) by Andrew Grey and Greg Tremblay ((Narrator)

Friday, April 6:

DSP Publications Promo S.A. Stovall on Vice Enforcer
Inked in Vegas by K.M. Neuhold Release Blitz and Giveaway
Release Blitz and Giveaway for Captain Merric by Rebecca Cohen
A Jeri Release Day Review: Roses in the Devil’s Garden (Fallen Rose #1) by Charlie Cochet
A Stella Review: The Little Library by Kim Fielding
A Lila Release Day Review: Roses in the Devil’s Garden (Fallen Rose #1) by Charlie Cochet

Saturday, April 7:

Austin by Felice Stevens Release Day Blitz
Campus Life by TC Orton Blog Tour
A MelanieM Review: Murder Takes the High Road by Josh Lanyon

The Time is Right for Gay Superheroes. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

The Time is Right for Gay Superheroes

Does Black Panther’s Success

Open the Door for a Queer Superhero?

Hollywood is celebrating the remarkable breakthrough box office performance of Marvel’s Black Panther, the first entry in the popular Marvel Cinematic Universe to feature a black leading character, and indeed, a mostly-black cast. Part of the shock and awe felt within the industry when it comes to Black Panther comes from the history of black superheroes in films: There just aren’t very many, …

Clearly, others were thinking along the same lines. My friend and author J. Scott Coatsworth posted this story at his terrific site QueerSciFi (David Reddish – Full Story at LGBTQ Nation)

From your recommendations, finds and links, yes, there are gay superheroes out there in many forms and formats, yet few have made it through to the mainstream media yet as did Black Panther this year. The Pride, the picture at the top of the page is from The Pride comic by Joe Glass. It’s a small press comic series based in based in Treorchy, Wales. Started in 2011, the first 8 page story formed about a superhero team consisting of FabMan, Angel, Bear, Frost, Sapphire, Twink, White Trash, Wolf and Cub. I’ll let you guess who is who. Published sporadically through the years, it’s returning this year with Issue five of The Pride Adventures. Look for more information here.

Just as Black Panther , and the call #WakandaForever has become an affirmation of self, the beginning of a movement. Of joy, of recognition, of belief, of strength. If one movie…one comic has had, and continues to have the power to do all that for people of color. What would gay comic heroes be able to do for the LGBT nation?

Clearly, we need our gay superheroes just as badly as Black Panther and Wakanda is needed and is now being treasured and loved everywhere. Netflix series Jessica Jones comes to mind, but that’s hardly mainstream, although I love it so. Where will it come from and when? I have no idea but with Black Panther I hope I’m seeing a sea change, one that’s already brought us Wonder Woman and now will bring us a LGBT superhero where we can see a representation like no other before…#LGBTsuperhero #PrideForever.

LGBT Superhero Giveaway

Further Recommendations from our Readers and Winner Announcement:

HB:

don’t think I’ve read many stories with actual superheroes (the ones with super powers and a suit) would be:
Love for the Cold-Blooded Or: The Part-Time Evil Minion’s Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero by Alex Gabriel.

Purple Reader:

Thanks for the links and other recs, especially the reference to graphics. I remembered a few more, including one graphic. Most are on those links, but these are the ones I’ve read and enjoyed:
– EARTH 2, VOL 1 by James Robinson, et al – graphic, simple plot, but a visual thrill w gay Green Lantern.
– LOVESICK GODS by Amanda Meuwissen – new one, framed around greek mythology.
– THE DIVISION by C.C. Bridges – part-time superheroes (one closeted, other has a crush) team up against alien invasion.
– EDDIE & SHADOW series by Skylar Jaye – heck, why not a son of superheroes being sub to a Dom supervillain.
– and it’s been mentioned, but I liked it too – LOVE FOR THE COLD-BLOODED, OR THE PART-TIME EVIL MINION’S GUIDE TO ACCIDENTALLY DATING A SUPERHERO by Alex Gabriel – yep, that’s the title, nuf said.

Jessica:

Superheroes are some of my favorite reading. Definitely Skylar Jaye’s Eddie and its sequel Shadow. Cari Z’s Panopolis series, Where’s There’s Smoke, Where There’s Fire, and Where There’s a Will are wonderful reading. Alexis Hall has a superb short in the Winter Rain anthology, Behind the Masks. Dreamspinner had a really nice anthology, Men of Steel, that has since gone out of print sadly. In YA, Hero by Perry Moore is on my keeper shelf. Also, Superior by Jessica Lack is a novella that delighted me. Refraction by Hayden Scott is another YA that I really enjoyed.

Thank you all for some great links and recs. You all rock as always. This is a topic close to my heart as if you all haven’t guessed already. A huge geek I always had stacks of comic books at home (guess who’s mother tossed them..something I’ve never recovered from), seeing the resurgence of Black Panther and its impact has brought me to tears more than once. The thought of what a gay superhero could do for the LGBT youth and well, all the LGBT community? Leaves me speechless….

Happy March. Our winners are Purple Reader and Carolyn. Please contact Stella at scatteredthoughtsandrogueword@gmail.com and she will help to get your gift certs to you. Congratulations. New giveaway coming up soon!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 4:

Cover Reveal for Lost Souls Found by Kris T. Bethke (giveaway)
BG Thomas on One NIght Stands, Writing and his new release Orange (guest post)
The Time is Right for Gay Superheroes. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, March 5

DSP Promo Laura Lascarso
Hard To Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn Blog Tour
Release Blitz – Promise Me We’ll Be Okay by Nell Iris
A Jeri Review: The Time of My Life by Nora Phoenix
A MelanieM Review: A Matter of Justice (Hong Kong Nights Book 3) by J.C. Long
A Stella Review: If Ever I Cease to Love You by Shawn Bailey
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Chief’s Mess (Anchor Point #3) by L.A. Witt and (Narrated by Nick J. Russo)

Tuesday, March 6:

COVER REVEAL BLITZ Invitation to The Blues (Small Change #2) by Roan
BLOG TOUR Unraveled by K.M. Neuhold
Livingston (Trenton Security #1) by J.M. Dabney Release Day Blog Tour
VLOG TOUR The Time of My Life by Nora Phoenix
A Caryn Release Day Review: When Everything is Blue by Laura Lascarso
A Free Dreamer Review:Finding Sanctuary (The Hampton Road Club #6) by Morticia Knight
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Cowboy in the Crosshairs (Turquoise, New Mexico #1) by B.A. Tortuga

Wednesday, March 7:

BLOG TOUR – Skater Boy by A.E. Wasp
RELEASE BLITZ Off-Campus Setup by Maria Vickers
Review Tour for Winter Cowboy (Whisper Ridge, Wyoming #1) by R.J. Scott
Riptide Publishing Tour and Giveaway: The Pick Up by Allison Temple
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review:Winter Cowboy (Whisper Ridge, Wyoming #1) by R.J. Scott
A MelanieM Review: The Calling by MD Neu
An Alisa Review: Switching Places By Morticia Knight

Thursday, March 8:

DSP Dreamspun Promo BA Tortuga
Harmony Promo Russell J. Sanders on Titanic Summer
INDIGO BLITZ Leaning Into the Fall (Audio) by Lane Hayes
A MelanieM Audiobook Review: Runner by Parker Williams
A MelanieM Review: Hard to Let Go (Haven’s Cove #1) by Jaclyn Quinn
An Ali Review: Closer by F.E. Feeley Jr.

Friday, March 9:

INDIGO TOUR Waking Oisin by Grace Kilian Delaney
Release Blitz: Art by Adonis by Kris Sawyer
Review Tour for Annabelle Jacobs’ Bitten By The Alpha
A Caryn Review: Room for Recovery (Hearts and Health #4) by D.J. Jamison
A MelanieM Review : Bitten By The Alpha (Regent’s Park Pack #4) by Annabelle Jacobs
An Alisa Release Day Review: Heart of Glass (Lawyers in Love #3) by Ari McKay

Saturday, March 10:

A MelanieM Review Art by Adonis by KRIS SAWYER

Black Panther, Superheroes, and LGBT Fiction. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Black Panther, Superheroes, and LGBT Fiction

So we are taking a little sideslip this week away from the topics I had meant to talk about (like that’s ever happened before lol) because of a opening of a spectacular movie last night. That’s right Black Panther opened Thursday night to accolades everywhere! Kids, parents, teens, tweens, millennials, any age, and yes, any race, said this movie has it all. Yes it does. But to many, it’s much, much more.

Importantly, released during Black History Month, for the first time ever, a certified big budget blockbuster with a black superhero (not sidekick mind you, but the main hero), an almost all black cast, and a black director is rushing to break box office attendance records and looking to become a movement as the hashtag “WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe” has been trending.

Yes, it’s all about representation.

That’s something we have always known. It’s why Wonder Woman (directed by a woman) is so important to women and little girls everywhere. And why LGBTQIA fiction and yes comics are equally important to the LGBTQIA community.

Right now, Black Panther comics are flying off the shelves. Black Panther first appeared in Marvel Comic’s Fantastic 4 in 1966 and got his own comic in 1977. Here’s an article on the history of the Black Panther comics and serial…check it out.

The Black Panther comic of today is drawn a little differently. But all this got me thinking. What about gay superheros? I know Roan of Infected first popped into my mind (Andrea Speed) but how about others? What about graphic novels? What LGBTQIA Superheroes can we name? How about stories? Yes, that your cue….let’s find and name stories and LGBT superheroes! Include graphic novels if you can find them! We’re on a hunt and a mission!

It’s our LGBTQIA Superhero Hunt Giveaway! Find stories and LGBTQIA Superheroes! We will give you all the entire month that’s left. Must be superhero stories, can be graphic novels (comics). Giveaway ends March 3 at midnight. Gift certificates will be given away! Must be 18 years of age or older. Let the hunt begin!

Now onto this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. And go see Black Panther. It’s amazing! Plus you know people will be shipping those hot actors like crazy! lol

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, February 18:

Black Panther, Superheroes, and LGBT Fiction
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, February 19:

DSP Dreamspun Desires Promo Liv Olteano on Lover, Lover
Hard To Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn Release Day Blitz
Release Blitz – Loving Kit by L.M. Brown
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review : Seth & Casey by RJ Scott
A Lila Audiobook Review: How To Bang a Billionaire by Alexis Hall and Joel Leslie (Narrator)
An Alisa Audiobook Review: The Soldati Prince (Soldati Hearts #1) by Charlie Cochet and Narrator: Manuel Pombo

Tuesday, February 20:

Blitz Sign-Up: Love on a Battlefield by Posy Roberts
DSP Promo BA Tortuga
Riptide Tour and Giveaway: Losing It by Christine d’Abo
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Lover, Lover ( Dreamcatchers story) by Liv Olteano
An Alisa Release Day Review: Teaching Ben by Shae Connor

Wednesday, February 21:

Review Tour for Poke Check (Harrisburg Railers #4) by RJ Scott & VL Locey
Harmony Ink Promo Annabelle Jay on Luminosity
Release Blitz: Break Down (Dublin Rugby #4) by Rebecca Norinne
An Alisa Review: Manic Pixie Dream Boy (Underdogs #1) by KA Merikan
A MelanieM Review:Poke Check (Harrisburg Railers #4) by R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey

Thursday, February 22:

Release Blitz Jay Northcote – Pretty In Pink
Second Wind by Aimee Nicole Walker Blog Tour and Giveaway
DSP Promo KA Mitchell on Bad Boyfriend
A MelanieM Review: Second Wind by Aimee Nicole Walker
An Alisa Review: Jingle Bears (The Bears of Falcon’s Ridge, #2.5) by Susan E. Scott
A Lila Audiobook Review: Ante Up by Kim Fielding and Narrator: Andrew McFerrin

Friday, February 23:

BOOK BLAST for As You Wish by Isobel Starling
Heart2Heart Anthology Blog Tour
Found by Annabella Michaels Tour
A Stella Review: New Heights by Quinn Anderson
An Alisa Review: Just Here For The Pain (Underdogs #2) by KA Merikan

Saturday, February 24:

RELEASE BLITZ for Dead Camp #5 (The End Game part 2) by Sean Kerr
Book Blitz – Penny Brandon’s Blind Passion
A MelanieM Review: Point of Contact by Melanie Hansen

Release Tour and Giveaway: Not Your Villain (Sidekick Squad #2) by C.B. Lee

Not Your Villain (Sidekick Squad #2) byC.B. Lee

Publisher: Duet, the Young Adult imprint of Interlude Press
Cover Design: CB Messer
Release Date: October 5, 2017

Purchase Links:

Book Depository | Indiebound

SUMMARY

Bells Broussard thought he had it made when his superpowers manifested early. Being a shapeshifter is awesome. He can change his hair whenever he wants and, if putting on a binder for the day is too much, he’s got it covered. But that was before he became the country’s most wanted villain.

After discovering a massive cover-up by the Heroes’ League of Heroes, Bells and his friends Jess, Emma, and Abby set off on a secret mission to find the Resistance. Meanwhile, power-hungry former hero Captain Orion is on the loose with a dangerous serum that renders meta-humans powerless, and a new militarized robotic threat emerges.

Sometimes, to do a hero’s job, you need to be a villain.

SBN (Trade) 978-1-945053-25-2

ISBN (eBook) 978-1-945053-43-6

Pages: 320 (79,500 words)

Price: $16.99 print/$6.99 multi-format eBook

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.B. Lee is a bisexual writer based in California. She is a first-generation Asian American and holds a BA in sociology and environmental science, which occasionally comes in handy in her chosen career, but not usually. Lee enjoys reading, hiking, rock climbing and other outdoor pursuits.

Not Your Sidekick (2016) was named a finalist for both the Lambda Literary Awards and the Bisexual Book Awards. Lee’s first novel, Seven Tears at High Tide (2015), was also a Bisexual Book Awards finalist. She is a Lambda Literary Emerging LGBTQ Voices Fellow.

Giveaway

Book Tour Rafflecopter Giveaway:
Grand Prize $25 IP Gift Card + Multi-format eBook of Not Your Villain // Five winners receive the multi-format eBook
Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Sean Michael on the Ghostly Twists and Turns of Writing ‘The Supers (The Supers #1)’ (guest blog)

The Supers (The Supers #1) by Sean Michael
A Dreamspun Beyond Title
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson

Release Date: October 15th 2017

Buy links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Sean Michael here today on his tour for his latest story The Supers. Welcome, Sean.

✒︎

First off, thank you to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue words for hosting me today!

Every now and then I find myself watching a ghost hunting show, but I never thought I’d be writing a book about ghost hunters! The Supernatural Explorers – The Supers for short – are a band of gay men who go ghost hunting. They’re searching for their big break – they want a TV show of their own.

I wasn’t sure when I started writing this book what the conflict was going to be – I guess you could say that I was doing some ghost hunting of my own! I thought maybe it was going to be the whole trying to get a TV show thing and that their success would be the big finish. True to form, though, these guys who appeared in my head, had their own agenda (or at least the ghosts they were hunting did) and as I wrote, the whole plotline unravelled in front of me and suddenly I had a story that was so much more than just trying to get a show. That’s all I’m going to say, though – I wouldn’t want to spoil anyone.

I had a lot of fun writing the book (even the gross parts) and I hope you enjoy reading it!

Sean Michael
Smut fixes everything

About The Supers

Hunting ghosts and finding more than they bargained for.

Blaine Franks is a member of the paranormal research group the Supernatural Explorers. When the group loses their techie to a cross-country move, newly graduated Flynn Huntington gets the job. Flynn fits in with the guys right off the bat, but when it comes to him and Blaine, it’s more than just getting along.

Things heat up between Blaine and Flynn as they explore their first haunted building together, an abandoned hospital. Their relationship isn’t all that progresses, though, and soon it seems that an odd bite on Blaine’s neck has become much more.

Hitchhiking ghosts, a tragic love story forgotten by time, and the mystery of room 204 round out a romance where the things that go bump in the night are real.

About the Author

Best-selling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used book stores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic Beaver Tail.
Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.

Sean Michael on the web:

WEBSITE: http://www.seanmichaelwrites.com
BLOG: http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites/
TWITTER: seanmichael09
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelpics/