Writing in Tandem

New Blog Location

2008-11-25T13:27:00.001-08:00

In order to make our blogging and lfe easier, we're moving Writing In Tandem to livejournal. You can Follow it here.

Updates and Thoughts from Twitter

2008-11-21T16:05:00.001-08:00

* 15:11 Watching Private Practice. Alexis Denisof is guest starring. I love him. He is so pretty. #
* 12:29 You know, real life can stop getting in the way of writing any time now... #

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Jamie Craig Interview with Jessewave

2008-10-29T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hi all! Long time no post. That's my bad. But to make up for it, I bring an interview. Here's our interview--read and learn something new about us, comment and have a shot at winning one of three books!

Long time no see!

2008-08-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we're really bad about blogging. More like, we suck at it. The fact is, I'm lazy and inclined to focus on writing and other projects. Blogging is not a priority for me. Which means I forget about it for weeks at a time. But we have developments!

First, though I haven't remembered to post weekly updates, we've finished the novel formally referred to "Spence/Rebecca." It's called Cowboy Blues now, and we decided to query agents with it. At first we were going to submit it to Kensington directly, but honestly, I want to establish a relationship with an agent now. It's a little scary, and more than a little tempting to just sit back with be happy with the tiny little space we've carved out for ourselves. But we're capable of bigger and better things, and this is the logical next step.

We're working on the sequel to A Renaissance in Blood. It's called The Age of Retribution and we're cutting things pretty close. It was a last minute addition to the Master Chronicles series, which means it was going to be slotted into the schedule without disrupting the other two planned books. But unfortunately, Vivien has been feeling ill. On the bright side, we're a little over half-way completed. But we don't know if it'll still be released in October or pushed off to November. Once we finish The Age of Retribution, we've got to work on the final two stories for The Calendar Boys and then hopefully we can get to 10,000 Kisses. Though we still have to finish the final two books of The Master Chronicles and start our new series for 2009 Triple Sin (Six m/m/f short novels set in Las Vegas). So a lot to do, but school starts in a few weeks, which means Vivien and I should have more time to work. And I even found a job that won't take my attention away from writing!

We had a new m/m/f release this weekend. His Very Own which is just a sweet little novella with some m/m/f, m/f/m, m/f, and m/m. You can read the excerpt and blurb here.

Vivien's first gay erotic romance release!

2008-07-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

I'm on vacation so I'm going to make this short and sweet. The very first gay erotic romance I've written all by myself came out this weekend at Amber Allure. It's called Bridge Over Troubled Water, and I went for what I've written most - vampires. I'm really happy with how it turned out, though, and it's most definitely not my last one...

Detective Brady Lindstrom deals in death, and not just because he’s a homicide cop with the slaughter of a century to solve. Ten years ago, vampires murdered his lover. Ever since, he’s looked over his shoulder, ready for vampires to strike again. Or maybe just the one he loved.

Exhausted and angry about the needless deaths he has to investigate, Brady worries that the killers he’s looking for aren’t even human. Those fears are compounded by an unexpected visitor, the battered and nearly broken Cole Singer, the lover he’d long ago given up for dead. When Cole offers to trade information on the killers in exchange for sanctuary, Brady realizes he doesn’t have a choice. He just can’t turn his back on the face of the only man he’s ever loved. Even if he’s a vampire...

And now for an excerpt not seen anywhere else...

They remained quiet as Brady shot down the road. He kept alert, checking all his mirrors repeatedly, watching for any sign that they were being followed. Only when he was completely sure they weren't did he angle toward the highway.

He glanced across to the other seat. Cole was out cold. No wonder it had been so quiet.

Brady had a whole shopping list of questions he wanted to ask, questions about who the vampires were, how Cole knew them. They would have to wait. Rather than torture himself with the unknown, he focused on the road and getting home as quickly and safely as possible. None of it would make a difference if they didn't make it.

He parked illegally in the handicapped spot nearest his house. Cole hadn't moved or made a sound for the entire journey, and blood had soaked through into Brady's car seat. Brady took his coat off and threw it over Cole's shoulders, hefting him out with an arm around his waist. He kicked the door shut and took the shortest path possible to his front door.

Inside, he was at a momentary loss as to what to do with him. Cole was a mess; he needed to be cleaned up. Bathroom then, he decided grimly. Blood trailed slightly over the carpet, but that was something else Brady ignored. He couldn't do anything about it anyway.

Leaving Cole slumped in the tub, he hurried back and moved his car, his gaze jumping from shadow to shadow the entire time. His exhalation when he finally locked his apartment door behind him was as much relief as it was weariness. Nobody had followed him. They would be safe. He'd get Cole taken care of, then call in to Webster and see what steps were being taken, what Brady could do next.

He came to a dead halt in the bathroom doorway. An unconscious Cole couldn't bathe himself. He couldn't even undress himself. But Brady couldn't do anything about bandaging him up while he was such a mess.

Swallowing the sudden lump in his throat, he stripped out of his shoes and shirt before kneeling at the side of the tub. The bloodstained gauze he'd taped over the injuries was a wreck, unusable. So was the shirt he'd given to Cole. Keeping his gaze from the worst of the injuries, he scooped an arm behind Cole's back in order to pull the shirt over his head.

He froze. Scars mottled Cole's shoulder blades. Skinny, thick, long, short. Most were white with age, but there were a couple still pink from newness. There were even a few puncture marks. Fangs. Unmistakably.

He wished Cole was awake. He wanted to know what the hell had happened to him. If this had something to do with the pair at the frat house.

Somehow, he got the rest of Cole's clothes off, and still, Cole wasn't moving. Brady sat back on his heels and debated his options. A bath was out of the question. Cole might not drown, but...he couldn't do it. A shower? There was still the question of how he'd get clean. Brady could do it, but he'd get wet.

For the first time since putting him in the tub, he looked at Cole's face.

The smooth skin. Bruises blued one side of his jaw.

The dark lashes. Cole could have been sleeping.

That mouth. Blood had dried at the corner where his lower lip split. Brady reached forward and rubbed it gently away.

He's a vampire.

He's hurt.

He deserved it.

He saved my life.

Brady scrubbed at his face, wishing at least one of the little voices in his head would shut the other one up. The scent of Cole's blood clinging to his fingers settled his decision.

He undressed in record time. Angling the showerhead so that it hit farther down Cole's body, he started the water, deliberately opting for as hot a temperature as he could stand. It was harder to slide into the tub with Cole already in it; it wasn't exactly built for two. But Cole had always been narrower than him, and by spreading his legs farther apart, Brady slipped Cole carefully in between them, leaning him back against his chest.

He immediately closed his eyes and shuddered. Memories like sharp glass rained down on him, too many to avoid getting cut. Falling asleep on the couch with Cole stretched out on top of him, watching TV. Clinging to Cole after his father's funeral, when everyone had already left, when the only thing that made sense was having Cole in his embrace.

His arms stole around Cole's body, holding him even closer. Resting his head against Cole's, Brady ran his hands up and down over the lean body he'd once known so well, tenderly, gently, washing away the blood that marred its pale perfection. His fingertips barely touched the rough edges of the cuts; he didn't want the moment ruined by more of the reality he loathed so much.

It wouldn't hurt to pretend. Not for a few minutes. Pretend Cole had never died. Pretend that they were together, that everything was fine, that there was nothing to mourn except the loss of their youth.

The water stung where it pelted against his skin, but Brady welcomed it. It made him feel alive. The heat soaked into Cole's flesh, too, which just made it easier to pretend. Except then he remembered that he was pretending, that none of this was real, that Cole rested ravaged in his arms and would never be that innocent, carefree young man no matter how much Brady wanted him back, and the loss hit him all over again.

The sob caught in his throat. He felt like he was choking.

Maybe if he just held him a little bit tighter...

Another New Release! Time In a Bottle

2008-07-07T18:26:00.000-07:00

Vivien selected the title Time In a Bottle when we signed up for this pax, and honestly, we struggled for an idea. We struggled a lot. I don't even remember exactly who struck on the idea of setting it at a music festival and featuring the romance between two musicians--opposites in every way. I might have, but Vivien threw herself into it enthusiastically and Wendy and Macaulay were born (and we fell in love with them).

Opposites in temperament, success, and genre, two artists find they literally make beautiful music together...

The Hoolabaloo Musical Festival is one of the summer’s biggest events, but country artist Macaulay Jensen isn’t there for the much-needed career exposure. He’s there to see one woman—rock and roll superstar Wendy DeMartino. Beautiful, wild, and wildly successful, Wendy is out of his league. So Macaulay is shocked when she agrees to an after-concert date.

Wendy has always been attracted to Macaulay, and she’s thrilled when he asks her out on a date. But the reality of their lives is too pressing to ignore, and the most she hopes for is one perfect day...

Genres: Contemporary / The Arts / Exhibitionism / Public Places
Heat Level: 2
Length: Novella (24k words)

And now a never before seen excerpt.

“I need to write that down,” she said when the last note faded away. Twisting, she grabbed her notebook from the table and flipped past page after page of scribbled music and lyrics. “Maybe we should call that one ‘Ten Thousand Kisses’.”

Macaulay nodded. “I like that a lot. It’d be great to perform it live. If we ever end up in the same venue and the same city at the same time.”

Her pen paused in its scratching. “You know, you say it like that, and I start to think we need to steal the bus and not look back.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just…frustrating because there was a time, not too long ago, when I could have just shifted directions and followed you across the country.” Macaulay shook his head. “And that sounds really creepy.”

“Not any creepier than me wishing I could do the same.”

“You’d think, being musicians and all, we’d be better at timing.”

She grinned and resumed her writing. “You’d think.”

Macaulay drew his thumbs over the strings. “What would be good timing for you?”

Wendy didn’t respond until after she closed her notebook and set it aside. “Remember that sense of being trapped? It’s because there’s no end in sight. Today’s probably going to be it for awhile.”

“Yeah. I thought that might be the answer.” Macaulay couldn’t hide his disappointment, though he wasn’t in the least bit surprised. They both had to work hard for what they had. He needed to work hard to get a bit of success, and she needed to work twice as much to sustain it. “I guess something like this was bound to happen with my lifestyle. I finally find a girl I really like, and she’s the one
girl who doesn’t have the time.”

Her hand settled over his, stopping his playing. “Don’t think it’s because I don’t want it. I do. It’s just…”

Macaulay met her gaze, stunned, as always, by the vivid color of her eyes. “I know. I understand. Believe me, I understand. It’s not like I’ve got the time, either.” He leaned over, brushing his knuckles against her cheek. “But we do have time right now to finish this great song. And after today….well, we can work something out.”

“And we have tonight.” She smiled, pure mischief. “I can sleep on the bus tomorrow. We can have hours and hours, just the two of us.”

His groin tightened at the promise in her words. Normally, he would not sleep with a girl he liked on the first date. But it felt like this relationship needed to be accelerated. They had an awful lot to fit into one day, even if Wendy claimed they had hours and hours.

“And Jill can’t up and leave if she can’t find me.” He couldn’t resist the urge to run his thumb over her full, bottom lip. He leaned back before he was tempted to do more, and settled his guitar more firmly on his leg. “Do you want to take it from the top?”

Her gaze raked deliberately down his body, her head tilting in order to peer around the obstruction in his lap. “Well, I’m more interested in your bottom, but I guess we have to start somewhere.” Grabbing her guitar, she started playing the melody she had picked out earlier, waiting until he joined in before adding, “So if we’re going with that title, does that mean the lyrics should focus on what one lover wants from another?”

“I think so. Do you want it to be a duet?”

New Release Day! Calender Boys--July: Vintage

2008-07-07T18:19:00.000-07:00

This month we're releasing Vintage. I wanted to write a story about two older gentlemen--silver foxes, if you will. Because, let's face it, older gentlemen are hot. Just take a look at Patrick Stewart if you don't believe me.

Friends or lovers—or is it possible to be both?

For more than a decade, renowned chef Alain Tiessart has been married to his restaurant, driven to make it one of the finest in Paris. But time is slipping away. Lonely and ready for a change, he packs up his bags on one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year and drives into the French countryside.

Retired Brit Simon Hastings is prepared to spend Bastille Day as he always does—quietly and alone. When his oldest friend Alain arrives on his doorstep prepared to spend the next few days together, Simon is surprised but welcomes him in. He’s even more surprised when Alain suggests they move their relationship to a deeper one. Unwilling to jeopardize their friendship, Simon turns him down, a decision Alain accepts gracefully...

Until a friendly bet and an eager young man cast Alain in a new light. Now, Simon doesn’t know what he wants.

Or who...

Genres: Gay / Contemporary / Ménage (M/M/M) / Group Sex / Multicultural / Series
Heat Level: 3
Length: Novella (25k words)

And a never before seen excerpt

“No, I’m sure it won’t be. You’ll be utterly charmed by the shops. This is why I always walk to the village. Then I won’t be tempted to bring home more than I can carry.”

“Except now you have me to carry things for you.”

Simon smiled at him. “No, I’ll probably end up carrying things for you. Which is fine with me. I don’t mind being your faithful servant.”

“You say that now. But will you say as much if I ask for other sundries during my stay?”

“It depends on the other sundries, I suppose.”

Something about his tone made Alain pause. They hadn’t discussed the events of the previous night, even after they had occurred. Once the matter had been dropped, that was it. Now, he wondered if he was wrong to ignore it, but until Simon did or said something a tad more overt, he would remain wary of ruining what was already the best relationship he had.

“Oh, I wouldn’t ask anything I wouldn’t be more than happy to do in kind,” Alain teased. “Though Claude will likely tell you I’m a slave driver, so perhaps saying you’ll be my servant isn’t in your best interest.” He smiled and winked. “Even if it
is in mine.”

“I’ve seen the way you treat poor Claude. He’s right to call you a slave driver. But I don’t think you’d be quite so hard on me. For one thing, I suspect you like me more than you like Claude.”

Alain roared with laughter. “This is true. I can honestly say I’ve never propositioned Claude, or even entertained the thought. It would be like fucking one of those Ewoks.” He chortled at the image. “Those big eyes staring at me? I’d have to bend him over to even consider it.”

Simon snorted. “Well, thank you for introducing the image of you fucking an Ewok. That’s the sort of thing that could haunt my nightmares.”

“Then we’ll both be haunted. And I thoroughly blame you for it. You’re the one who put the thought in my head.”

“I wouldn’t have mentioned anything if I knew you were going to bring up Ewoks. And now the next time I go to Paris, I won’t be able to look at Claude without laughing.”

Alain waved it off. “Half of Paris already can’t look at Claude without laughing.
That’s why I keep him in the kitchen. Lucky for me, he’s a fantastic cook.”

“Have you ever propositioned any of your cooks? The ones who didn’t look like Ewoks?”

“Cooks? No. Waiters? Yes. Once.” Better to be honest. Simon would know if he was lying. “But in my defense, the boy wore pants to work that were painted on. A monk wouldn’t have been able to resist his cock.”

“And nobody’s ever confused you with a monk,” Simon said dryly.

“Exactly. I’m a man of carnal pleasures. Anyone who’s eaten at Rêver should know that.”

“True. The first meal I ever had at Rêver was the first one I could ever describe as truly sensual. I think that’s why I wanted to meet you.”

A car rumbled behind them, driving them off the road and onto the edge, out of its way in order for it to pass. Alain’s arm brushed against Simon’s, his skin firm and warm, and his body reacted automatically. He gritted his teeth. Did Simon even know what he did to a man? Did he have any idea just how appealing he really was?

“Lucky for me, you’re a man who can appreciate the truly sensual then. Which only proves my point. You wouldn’t have been able to resist Gilles either.”

“I might have been able to. I have excellent self-control if I have the proper motivation.”

His words from the night before drifted back, but Alain resisted the urge to remind Simon of them. No point in firming his resolve in that matter. In fact…

“How about a wager on that?”

Simon’s regular stride faltered for a moment, and then he was walking at the normal pace again. “What sort of wager?”

“I’ll find the most irresistible young man I can. Here or in one of the larger towns, perhaps. If you manage to resist him, I’ll cook every meal for you until I leave. And you’ll never have to pay for another meal at Rêver again. Is that motivation enough?”

“What if I can’t resist him?”

He hadn’t considered that. Simon seemed too proud of his restraint. “Then…” His mouth curved. “You promise to share him with me.”

And we already got a review from the lovely Elisa Rolle

The story is very interesting: two almost fifty years old friends who finally have the courage to admit that, if for so many years they manage to stay friends, when all the other men in their life disappear, maybe is since they have something more than friendship between them. But two "old" wolves are hard to lose their vices... Even if Simon seems the more steady and quite of the two, he is also a little grumpy, he is content with his quite country life and above all he fears to lose the only real friend he has: love could be a fleeting feeling, instead their friendship is very strong. But Alain has had a lot of time to re-think his life and he is sure that Simon is the right man for him, and his seductive powers are very good.

A very good story which manage to rebuild the right atmosphere of the lazy and wealthy life of a retired English business man in the lustful French countryside; it seems like you can savor the wines and the good foods Alain used to vow Simon, and you can also smell the flavor of their relationship; the setting is idyllic and the two characters really original.

More reviews!

2008-07-05T07:46:00.000-07:00

Dee Dailey at The Romance Studio gives Fortune's Return 4 hearts

This is a great romance, well done gay eroticism. Many of us will envy the understanding and acceptance of a family like Ryan’s but they’re as real as the all too often penned homophobic families. The story moves well with enough action to keep me reading without wanting to put it down.

Lisa at Joyfully Reviewed reviews Keeping Time

Keeping Time is a smart May-December romance with a lovely twist: the guy is significantly younger than the lady. Clever dialogue and sizzling hot sex with solid secondary characters puts Keeping Time at the top!

Dee Dailey at The Romance Studio gives Unclose Me 5 hearts

The author shares all of their doubts and insecurities with us throughout the tale. Then, in a way only someone who understands relationships can, she shows them how important communication is to a love that will last. Their conversations are excellent, filled with humor and teasing most of the time. The eroticism is very well done with some mild bondage thrown in to show their versatility as lovers who are well suited in every way. I really enjoyed this book and the authors’ gift for keeping realism in fiction.

Dee Dailey at The Romance Studio gives Fortune's Honor 5 hearts

Great dialogue, scenery and interactions make this a powerful story. It’s easy to read, naturally flowing from scene to scene.

Monday News Roundup

2008-06-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

We have a few covers and reviews today!

Christina reviewed Fortune's Return at Romance Junkies

Jamie Craig always seems to write heroes that I can’t resist and Teo is no exception. I instantly fell in love with him. He is a strong alpha male who isn’t afraid to let his gentler side show. The secondary characters are also very well drawn. Teo’s son Antonio is a lot of fun and Ryan’s interactions with him are very endearing. These two cowboys and their relationship feel very real to me. FORTUNE’S RETURN is definitely a keeper!

Teresa gave Commencement four angels at FAR

Ms. Craig has created a story about two very strong men who are willing to put everything on the line to reach for what they want most in life, a love to last a lifetime. Almost every student at one time or another has feelings for a teacher, but never get to live out their dreams. Levi is a man with strong beliefs in what is right and wrong. Andrew loves this about him even though those ideas made them wait to explore their feelings for one another for four years. Andrew appears to be a cocky young man, but underneath he knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to wait for it. Together they create a love that is poignant and very erotic. Thanks go to Ms. Craig for a fun read.

Commencement also got 3 stars from Rainbow Reviews.

Craig gives us a realistic portrait of two men who have held back for four years, so no wonder they go a little wild when the breaks come off. The sex is hot and those who like plenty of it will be well satisfied.

I was particularly grateful to see that the author has given these two more in common than just physical attraction. It makes me think they stand a good chance of making it long-term. I’m a sucker for happy-ever-after endings.

Valerie gave My Masked Mistress 3.5 hearts at Love Romances & More

This is a very hot story that will certainly leave lovers of the BDSM lifestyle panting for more. Jamie Craig graphically portrays the ways of a Dominatrix with her sub. Now, I don’t mind a bit of BDSM in my erotic stories. Some spanking, tying up and such, but when it comes to outright pain, which the characters enjoy, then for me this is going just a tad too far. But, having said that, I appreciate that there are many people who do live this lifestyle and will definately enjoy this story. The characters are charming, alive and believable, the plot is a page turner and the relationship between Dante and Noelle is hot! More than just the enjoyment of their BDSM sessions blooms between them and finally, Noelle has to come clean about why she approached him in the first place.

Sabella reviewed A Hidden Beauty for Joyfully Reviewed

A Hidden Beauty is a timeless romance that skillfully weaves the love of poetry through its pages until it becomes almost a language of its own between the characters. Jamie Craig wrote a spectacular and lyrical tale of love between two men who must battle their socially-ingrained repellence to the feelings they incite in each other. Micah is a young, naïve, and exuberant young man who has pursued his love of poetry against his family’s objections. When he unexpectedly finds a kindred soul in Jefferson, he is overjoyed, even if a little confused by his reaction to the man. Jefferson is a mature man who has been burned in the past for pursuing his desires, but he nonetheless is swept away by Micah’s charm. A Hidden Beauty is not a story for the casual, laidback reader. Its prose is very complex and deep, requiring the reader’s undivided attention to fully capture the characters' flavors and emotions. Also, there is a substantial build-up to the culmination of the relationship between Micah and Jefferson, which I felt was resolved rather quickly and simply, given the length of the book. A Hidden Beauty is not a light or short read, but it is well worth the time and attention for those readers who enjoy the emotional courtship aspect of romance!

Unclose Me got a 2nd, 5-Cupid review at Cupid's Library.

This is definitely a realistic story. The characters could be any one of a thousand couples facing these problems. The way in which Elliot tries to resolve the issues is typical male and the way Jude faces them is typical female, thusly in the beginning there is no resolution just further pain. In the end, this book is full of truths and communication between Jude and Elliot which every successful relationship needs and, well, a lot of very hot, sweaty sex. This is an excellent contemporary, erotic read that has a great message in it yet demonstrates it in a believable and unforgettable way with smoking' hot sex scenes.

Film Review: Indiana Jones at the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

2008-06-27T13:19:00.000-07:00

I actually have several movies I could review, and three movies I got from Netflix with the intent of reviewing, but I thought I'd get back in the saddle after my inexplicable absence on Fridays by talking about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Yeah, I'm a month late. I honestly don't get out of the house that often, and when I do, I don't like driving to the theater and spending all that money. As a result, even the movies I really want to see I end up putting off for weeks at a time. Well, onward!

I love Indiana Jones. That hardly makes me unique. I recently rewatched the first three movies, and I realized some things about the series. For one thing, by most objective standards, they're not good films. Honestly, the plots are nonsensical, and the action scenes are completely over the top. In Raiders and Last Crusade, Indiana could have stayed home and none of the bad stuff would have happened. Well, his father might have eventually died at the hands of the Nazis, but he seemed okay with that fate as long as the Nazis didn't get the grail. Anyway, that didn't make me love the movies any less. I just recognize them for what they are, accept that, and enjoy them (mainly because of Harrison Ford, I'll admit).

Having said that, I believe The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a pretty good installment in the series. There were a few things I didn't like. For example, I think there were too many new characters that didn't have the time/space they needed to become fully formed characters. This isn't a problem the other movies had. It felt like there were a lot of faces we never saw before and had even less reason to care about.

From here on in, there are going to be some minor spoilers. be warned if you haven't seen the film.

I like the parts of the movie that deal with characters and names we already know. Marian and Abner Ravenwood (and Mutt). I can deal with the introduction of John Hurt's character (and he did a great job). I feel like everything to do with spies and spying and double crossing should be removed. The more I think about it, the more I think Mac and all that had no place in the movie. Indiana Jones isn't a spy, and we never needed the added element of double-crossing to make the movies interesting. I know that thematically it played into the paranoia and fear during the Fifties, but hell, we already had Cate Blanchett's character for that, and her motivations. Having Mac just felt like lazy writing, which shouldn't surprise me said George Lucas is the laziest man alive and he did the story and produced the thing (as an aside, thank God for Steven Spielburg. I don't like all his movies, but at least he can keep a leash (and muzzle) on Lucas or George Mucus as I call him).

The action scenes were way, way over the top, even for Indiana Jones. I'm torn on them. I felt like they just went a little too far, but then, that's what Indiana Jones is all about.

I know lots of people didn't like the alien aspect, but I honestly don't find those any more ridiculous than a radio to God, a grail that grants supposedly eternal life, and a religion that includes tearing somebody's still beating heart and then showing it to him before he dies by fire. My husband and sister thought it was a little heavy on the "knowledge is power" theme, but isn't that the other point of Indiana Jones? He's not stronger than the bad guy. He's not bigger than the bad guy. He's not even faster than the bad guy. But he is smarter.

Overall, I give it a B. I think in the future people won't be as dismissive of it as Temple of Doom (which I actually love) but they won't love it as much as Raiders of the Lost Ark or even The Last Crusade.

WIP Tuesdays

2008-06-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

We have a few more titles this week because we had two WIPs in different stages of completion that we have gone back to. I also just finished the galleys for Calendar Boys--August: Scorched and Vivien is working on the print galleys for Trinity Broken.

Title: The Master Chronicles VII: A Renaissance in Blood
Publisher: Amber Allure
Length: 78,600 words
Date Started: 3/29/08
Date Completed: 6/20/08
Summary: Jesse Madding wakes up one morning to discover everything has changed and he is completely alone, both Emma and Gideon gone. Betrayed by the last person he’d expect, the life he once had is over, and a new existence must somehow be forged. Aching with the loss, Jesse vows to do everything he can to overcome the lies, return home, and find the vampire that makes his life worth living.

Title: An Innocent Proposition
Publisher: Amber Heat
Length: 35,000
Date Started: 11/20/07
Date Completed: 6/18/08
Summary: At twenty-two, Amanda Stevenson is tired of being treated like a child. Unfortunately, her parents are devoted to controlling her life, and they’re not above using blackmail to get their way. Their greatest weapon is the final two years of her college education, which they wield against her without remorse. Amanda’s choices are limited. But her former professor, and current friend, Jack Navis, has a suggestion—marry him and take advantage of the university’s tuition remission policy.

Jack is sure he can keep everything between them platonic. Especially since he’s a fetishist—he needs to watch people to get off and he doesn’t enjoy participating. He’s sure of that until he kisses her. And their world is thrown into chaos with new emotions, unexpected needs, and driving hunger.

Working Title: Spence/Rebecca
Publisher: Targeting Kensington
Length: Full Novel
Words Completed 20,000
Date Started: 5/21/2007
Date Due: No Deadline
Summary: Spencer Cole risks his life every night on the backs of the world’s most dangerous bulls, and that’s the way he likes it. A rising star on the professional rodeo circuit, he is poised to be one of the most elite bull riders in America. Until he sustains a devastating injury—a concussion that brings his future as a bull rider into sharp question, and a torn shoulder that requires major surgery. He is forced to turn to the only friend he has in town, Rebecca Rankin.

Rebecca’s annual trysts with Spencer Cole are the high point of her Independence Day Celebration, but it never occurs to her to seek out from their relationship. And she is not prepared to be thrust into the role of nurse-maid for a bitter, angry cowboy. She is obliged to put her own blossoming career as a photographer on hold, but vows it will just be until Spencer can take care of himself—or hire a real nurse to take care of him

But Spencer doesn't just need a nurse. He needs somebody to show him his life didn't end when his career did.

Title: 10,000 Kisses
Publisher: Targeting Kensington
Length: Full novel
Words Completed: 2,000
Date Started: 5/3/08
Date Due: No deadline
Summary: Macaulay Jensen and Wendy DeMartino come from two different worlds. He's alt-country and she's a hardcore rocker. Their chemistry and passion is undeniable, but their careers have always come first. If they want a shot together, they've got to learn how to break old habits. M/F, M/F/M content.

Inspirations--Paul McCartney!

2008-06-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

Today is 6/18/08. It is significant to me for two reasons. First, it's Paul McCartney's 66th birthday. It's hard to overstate just how much I love Paul McCartney, and have done for the past eleven years. But to give you an idea, today is also my 7th anniversary. No, that's not a coincidence. I chose to get married on Paul's birthday (and walk down the aisle to Here, There, and Everywhere).

WIP Tuesdays

2008-06-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

Title: The Master Chronicles VII: A Renaissance in Blood
Publisher: Amber Allure
Length: 80,000 words
Words Completed: 64,716
Date Started: 3/29/08
Date Due: 6/30/08
Summary: Jesse Madding wakes up one morning to discover everything has changed and he is alone. The life he once had is over, and a new life must be forged, but only after he finds the vampire that makes life worth living. M/M content.

Title: 10,000 Kisses
Publisher: Targeting Kensington
Length: Full novel
Words Completed: 2,000
Date Started: 5/3/08
Date Due: No deadline
Summary: Macaulay Jensen and Wendy DeMartino come from two different worlds. He's alt-country and she's a hardcore rocker. Their chemistry and passion is undeniable, but their careers have always come first. If they want a shot together, they've got to learn how to break old habits. M/F, M/F/M content.

No edits this week. It is the calm before the "galley storm".

Oodles of reviews

2008-06-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

There have been a lot of reviews coming in the past few weeks, but we'll share them in pieces in order not to make your eyes blur, lol.

First up, Ley over at Joyfully Reviewed read and reviewed three different Jamie Craig titles...

Ley from Joyfully Reviewed reviews Out of the Storm...

I really enjoyed this book. Out Of The Storm was sweet, hot, sexy, and plain ol’ cute! Poor Nick was so disappointed and heartbroken, Jay was exactly what he needed to perk things up again. These two didn’t get off on the right foot when they first met, but a little bit of wine did the trick to get them to start opening up. Jay couldn’t resist Nick’s charm and Nick was a slave to Jay’s beautiful sexiness. I just loved these guys.

Ley at Joyfully Reviewed reviewed Corazon

As the story progresses, the chemistry and passion between the two become stronger and more desperate. It also becomes clear that Miguel and Mason’s relationship is nothing more than the need of companionship. Corazón fittingly touched my heart mostly because of Anton. He’s the big, strong silent type who only wants acceptance and love and luckily he finds it with Mason.

Ley at Joyfully Reviewed reviews Fortune's Honor...

This story is so great! I loved, loved, loved Clay, he is a beautiful and honorable man inside and out and Paige was made for him. Paige and Clay took time getting to know each other and the love blossomed naturally, of course neither one was looking for it or expecting it but that’s when you know it’s real. Fortune’s Honor is such a sweet and enjoyable story and I know many readers will just love it.

And a couple other Jamie Craig titles...

Pam from My Book Cravings gives Mosaic Moon 4 flowers...

Mosaic Moon is the third book in The Master Chronicles and the first that I have read. I was afraid that in a book containing continuing characters that I would be lost, but the story contains just enough back-story to allow readers unfamiliar with the previous books to follow the complex plotline. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book can easily be read as a stand alone and still be thoroughly enjoyed. It also includes a well thought out and plotted suspense portion revolving around the stealing of magical powers from a mage friend of Jesse’s. So along with love, passion and sex, the reader gets a nice dose of deceit, magic, suspense and grave robbing.

The relationship between Gideon and Jesse is enduring, devoted and happy, with lots of blistering hot sex, and with the addition of lovely Emma it just gets hotter. Through it all the men stay totally committed to each other, and their love. Some readers might be uncomfortable with the stronger sexually explicit scenes that involve BDSM, but within the content of the story and the relationship of the characters it seemed well done, believable and very erotic. Once these three get past their misunderstandings and fear, watch out!

Carmen at The Romance Studio gives Double Down 4 1/2 hearts...

I thought the author did a great job handling a potentially explosive situation. To say that I felt badly for their respective partners is an understatement as I would hate to be in their shoes, but Cass and Patrick had wonderful chemistry. At first, the main goal appeared to be sex, but I saw a progression in their relationship as they truly seemed to care about each other. Even though they were aware of the dangers of getting caught, they couldn't seem to stay away from each other. This was a fast paced and easy read and I was anxious to see where Patrick and Cass were headed. Do they get their happily ever after or do they suffer the consequences of their actions? I highly recommend reading Double Down to find out.

And finally, FAR gave my Ellora's Cave release its highest rating!

Missy at Fallen Angel Reviews gives As It Should Be 5 Angels and a Recommended Read...

Ms. Dean touched my heart, my soul and my very being with this inspirational story. I must admit that I’ve never read an erotic inspirational love story before but this one fits that bill. To be in Nora’s shoes, knowing that her husband that she loved with everything in her is back and she can tell him good-bye one more time means the world to her. This is something that I think we would all do if given the chance and this author captures that storyline perfectly. The time that the characters spend together is erotic and the love shines through in their behavior. This story is one of the most unforgettable ones that I’ve ever read, and after you read the love story between Nora and Marshall I’m sure that you’ll agree with me that it deserves to be a Recommended Read.

Look at all the pretty covers!

2008-06-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

July is going to be a very busy month for us, with 8 releases between the two of us. Amber Quill announced song paxes last winter, which we jumped on, both separately and together. Now, we've already shown the cover of Querida, but we have 5 of the song pax covers ready to share, as well as the cover for my August release, Walk Among Us.

First are our Jamie Craig titles...

The Hoolabaloo Musical Festival is one of the summer's biggest rock concerts, but Macaulay Jensen isn't there for the much-needed exposure. He's there to see a girl--rock and roll superstar Wendy DeMartino. Beautiful, wild, and wildly successful, Wendy is out of his league. So he is shocked when she agrees to an after-concert date.

Wendy has always been attracted to Macaulay, and she's thrilled when he asks her out on a date. But the reality of their lives is too pressing to ignore, and the most she hopes for is one perfect day…

* * *
Bobby Kendrick has idolized reclusive author, Dr. Parley Taylor, since he was a teenager. The only problem is, Dr. Taylor has disappeared. He finally finds Dr. Taylor in a tiny basement apartment in Kansas City, and the first thing Bobby learns about his idol is that Parley Taylor doesn’t want to talk to anybody. Especially his fans. But Bobby wants to show Taylor that the world is waiting for him, and he is not going to give up on his Nowhere Man.

* * *Then come the Pepper Espinoza titles...

Malachi Hawkins left his home to move west as soon as he was old enough. Running from a family secret that he can never escape, he takes a job on the ranch of an old family friend, Lee Rose. The first night he’s there, he meets Christian, Lee’s foster daughter, a young woman of mixed Comanche blood. They call her a savage and treat her like the family slave, but Mal doesn’t see a savage. He sees a woman of unbelievable strength and a kindred spirit. But his secret is bound to catch up with him, and when it does, it could destroy both of them forever.

* * *
After a horrible car accident, Guillermo “Guy” Rivera doesn’t even remember who he is. Suffering from amnesia, bound to a wheelchair with a broken arm and a broken leg, he relies on his in-home caregiver, Dane Mathis, to help him with everything from bathing to eating. Guy wants Dane to be more than just a caregiver, but Dane keeps his distance.

Six months after their relationship ends, Dane Mathis dropped everything to help Guy put his life back together. It is difficult to treat Guy like a stranger, but he knows he must not give in to his deep desires. He won’t risk Guy’s anger by revealing the true nature of their relationship. Or the reality of their past together.

Even so, Dane can’t help but hope that this is the second chance they have both longed for.

* * *Then there are the Vivien Dean titles...

Detective Brady Lindstrom deals in death, and not just because he’s a homicide cop with the slaughter of a century to solve. Ten years ago, vampires murdered his lover. Ever since, he’s looked over his shoulder, ready for vampires to strike again. Or maybe just the one he loved.

Exhausted and angry about the needless deaths he has to investigate, Brady worries that the killers he’s looking for aren’t even human. Those fears are compounded by an unexpected visitor, the battered and nearly broken Cole Singer, the lover he’d long ago given up for dead. When Cole offers to trade information on the killers in exchange for sanctuary, Brady realizes he doesn’t have a choice. He just can’t turn his back on the face of the only man he’s ever loved. Even if he’s a vampire…

* * *

As an artist in New York City, Calvin Shumacher finally has the life he’s always wanted. In fact, only one thing can get him to come back to Illinois—his father’s funeral. All he wants is to bury his dad and hightail it back to New York, but a sniper at the graveyard puts those plans on indefinite hold.

So does Matthew Soto. The gorgeous gunman who speaks of monsters wearing human faces. And predicts there won’t be a body for police to find.

Calvin doesn’t know what to think when Matthew claims he didn’t do anything wrong. All he knows is that this man’s haunted eyes seem to pierce right into his soul.

But as each of Matthew’s assertions comes true, Calvin slowly realizes this killer could be the only thing standing between him and an unspeakable evil…

Forsaken - final chapter

2008-06-12T11:02:00.001-07:00

The final chapter of our free serial, Forsaken, is up at Bam's blog.

If you've been waiting to read it in one swoop to avoid our cliffhanger chapter endings, now's the time to do it!

Inspirations - Firemen

2008-06-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

Since we just finished our August Calendar Boys story about two firemen, Pepper and I have them on the brain. So to help with the heat of the approaching summer, we give you sexy firemen...
One of the things that makes firemen sexy? The thought of all that water washing over all those muscles...

We love this guy so much, we used him as the model for a new character who gets introduced in book 7 of the Master Chronicles...

WIP Tuesdays

2008-06-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

Title: Calendar Boys--August: Scorched
Publisher: Amber Allure
Length: 31K
Date Started: 5/29/08
Date Completed: 6/4/08
Summary: Fires are blazing across southern Utah, and Aaron Meyers, volunteer firefighter, knows he should be concentrating on the flames. Unfortunately, he's too distracted by former crush, and current New York City fireman, Xander Wescott. Xander returns to Utah to help battle the flames threatening his hometown. He remembers Aaron as the gangly kid who used to follow him around, and he's unprepared for just how much he wants to know the man Aaron has become. M/M content

Title: The Master Chronicles VII: A Renaissance in Blood
Publisher: Amber Allure
Length: 80,000 words
Words Completed: 43,340
Date Started: 3/29/08
Date Due: 6/30/08
Summary: Jesse Madding wakes up one morning to discover everything has changed and he is alone. The life he once had is over, and a new life must be forged, but only after he finds the vampire that makes life worth living. M/M content.

Title: 10,000 Kisses
Publisher: Targeting Kensington
Length: Full novel
Words Completed: 2,000
Date Started: 5/3/08
Date Due: No deadline
Summary: Macaulay Jensen and Wendy DeMartino come from two different worlds. He's alt-country and she's a hardcore rocker. Their chemistry and passion is undeniable, but their careers have always come first. If they want a shot together, they've got to learn how to break old habits. M/F, M/F/M content.

We also have the edits for Scorched and Stealing West, as well as the galleys for The Calendar Boys Vol II: April-June, which is the paperback collection getting released in July.

New Release: Fortune's Return

2008-06-09T12:39:00.001-07:00

Rather than clog everything up last Monday with our new releases, we decided to wait until today to announce our latest release at Liquid Silver, Fortune's Return. If you recognize a similarity to a het release we had earlier this year, that's deliberate. This story takes place in the same world as Fortune's Honor, because we just loved the quiet, honest atmosphere the Putnams evoked for us.

Ryan Putnam has lost everything. Laid off from teaching high school and dumped by his lawyer boyfriend, he has nowhere else to go but his childhood home - the Good Fortune ranch. He plans to take the summer to regroup and start over. He never expects to be smitten with a cowboy. Especially not a cowboy like Teo Mendez, who is everything Ryan's ex-boyfriend is not.

Four years after his wife's death, Teo Mendez has returned to what he loves the most - working the land. He believes the Good Fortune ranch is the perfect place to build a new life for his son, Antonio. When his boss's brother Ryan shows up to work, the other man's haunted eyes reminds Teo of everything he has lost as well. So he offers the only thing he can - his friendship. But it doesn't take long for Ryan to reawaken long dormant emotions and desires.

Ryan doesn't intend to find a relationship. Teo doesn't want to complicate his life with a fling. What they have between them, however, is too powerful to ignore.

Contains graphic m/m interaction, including oral and anal sex.

And now for an excerpt you can't find anywhere else:

******

The floor was wet, all right. The cupboard doors beneath the sink were thrown wide open, and Teo was on his back with his head poked beneath the plumbing, much like a mechanic underneath a car. His feet were bare, and instead of his usual long-sleeved shirt he wore for work, his chest was bare, covered only by a fine dusting of dark hair that did nothing to hide the sculptured muscles.

He looked up as soon as Ryan entered. For a moment, their eyes locked, Teo’s body going utterly still at Ryan’s entrance. He imagined he saw something flicker in the black depths, but just as quickly, it was gone.

“Be careful,” Teo said, repeating Tony’s earlier warning. “The floor’s wet.”

The wet floor was the least of his problems. He was more concerned about the way his cock was responding to the sight of Teo, half-naked and on the floor.

“Dad says the pipes are old,” Tony informed him from the doorway, and the sound of the child’s voice gave him the cold dose of reality he needed.

“They are old,” Ryan agreed, setting the toolbox down beside the sink and crouching down. “What do you need?”

“Got a basin wrench in there?”

Ryan had to dig around and hold up a couple tools before finding the exact one Teo was referring to. He handed it over, aware of the water dripping down the back of Teo’s hand, but it was Tony speaking up behind him that distracted him from lustier thoughts.

“Does this mean no bath tonight?”

“No.”

“But the water’s busted.”

“Only in here. Bathroom’s still working.” Something creaked and Teo muttered a curse. “Go get me another towel, Antonio.”

Tony ran out of the room, and Ryan took advantage of his absence to stare shamelessly at the boy’s father again. He knew Teo was broad, of course, with wide shoulders, but the man could probably crush him. Ryan supposed he was naturally a big guy, but being adept at hard, physical labor no doubt helped to sculpt those delicious muscles.

Tony hurried back into the room and slipped when he tried to stop. Ryan reacted automatically, reaching out to catch Tony before he could fall. Tony looked at him with big eyes, and Ryan gently took the towel from his hand.

“Why don’t you go sit on the couch for now, okay? That way, you won’t slip again.”

Before Tony could voice a complaint, Teo spoke up. “You heard him, Antonio. Go.”

The boy sulked as he extricated himself from Ryan’s grasp. He looked like he wanted to argue, but he backed up dutifully until he was gone.

“Sorry you had to come all the way out here. If you want to drop the chest, you could go back to the house if you want.”

“No, that’s fine. I wasn’t doing anything tonight.” Except thinking about you. “It looks like you’re going to need an extra set of hands to clean up this mess anyway. Here’s your towel.”

Teo took it without glancing away from his work. “I think I’m going to have to run into town for some parts for this. Some of these threads are completely stripped.”

“If you can get it to stop leaking for now, I’d be happy to run to the hardware store tomorrow.” Ryan didn’t quite know why he was volunteering. It wasn’t as though running Teo’s errands would increase the time he could spend in Teo’s company. “And talk to Clay about seeing to renovations. If he’s going to be using these cottages again, he should make sure they’re up to code.”

“This one’s my fault. I told Clay I’d take care of the smaller jobs, and I’ve been too distracted with other stuff to get to it.” Another squeak came from the old pipes. “No reason for you to go in alone, though. I need to get some other stuff anyway. If you don’t mind driving, we can go together.”

The thought of spending most of the day in Teo’s company made him feel a little giddy. It wasn’t a word Ryan would ever use to describe himself, except what other word could be used? He was a little lightheaded, and grinning like a fool, and...he was actually acting like a few of his students when they finally got a date to the Prom. That thought was more than a little sobering.

“I don’t mind driving at all. Of course, you realize that Paige and Clay are both going to have lists of additional items to pick up.”

“Yeah.” He thought he caught a glimpse of a smile. “They’ll just have to make up for it by watching Antonio.”

“I’m sure Paige will be happy to.” Ryan ducked his head to try to see exactly what was going on with the pipes. Teo had a flashlight shining on the busted connection, and the water was down to a mere trickle.

“And you?” Water beaded Teo’s brow, and there was a smear of oil across the sharp line of his jaw. “Think you can handle being stuck with me all day?”

“That’s a good question. But I think it won’t be too bad.” This was the understatement of the century, but the best response for Teo. “I think the real question is whether or not you can handle being stuck with me. You’ve probably already noticed, but I’m the talker in the Putnam clan.”

Teo gave the washer one last twist. Handing Ryan the wrench, he used the towel to wrap around the joint before sliding out of the cupboard. “I like your talking. Reminds me I’m not alone.”

Ryan straightened and stepped out of the way, his boots slick on the wet linoleum floor. “Actually, I thought that might be the reason you wouldn’t like my talking.”

Teo frowned. “If I wanted to be alone, I wouldn’t have invited you along for my morning rides.”

“Good point.” And the companionship was probably the only reason Teo invited him along. Ryan decided it was a good idea not to lose sight of that. “Do you have a mop?”

“You’re a guest. You’re not cleaning my house.” Rising to his feet, Teo seemed completely oblivious to the way his jeans were wet across the seat, outlining the curve of his ass even more than usual. “If you want to do something, go keep Antonio busy while I get this mess taken care of. Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes. You like chili dogs?”

“Yeah, chili dogs are great.”

Ryan would have rather helped straighten up the kitchen, but he ducked out of the room without protest. He had been trained since he could walk to pitch in and help clean up after any catastrophe, great or small. It didn’t matter who the mess belonged to. But that was with family, he supposed. Teo clearly had boundaries, and Ryan knew he shouldn’t be so eager to completely ignore them. He wasn’t family. Ryan wasn’t even sure he was a friend.

Tony was on the couch, exactly where Ryan told him to wait. Ryan sat down beside him and stretched his legs out. “The leak is taken care of. Your dad says dinner will be done in about twenty minutes.”

“You’re staying?” There was no denying the way his eyes lit up. “So you can play a game with me while we wait?”

Ryan smiled. “I sure can. What do you want to play?”

Tony eagerly jumped from the couch and pulled a board game from beneath the coffee table. Ryan slid down to the floor, awkwardly folding his legs beneath him, and listened as Tony explained the rules of checkers...

*****

For more information, visit Liquid Silver Books.

WIP Tuesdays

2008-06-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Title: Calendar Boys--August
Publisher: Amber Quill Allure
Length: 30-35K
Words Completed: 20,874
Date Started: 5/29/08
Date Due: ASAP
Summary: Fires are blazing across southern Utah, and Aaron Meyers knows he should be concentrating on the flames, but he's too distracted by former crush, and current New York City fireman, Xander Wescott. Xander returns to Utah to help battle the flames, side by side with Aaron, who is a volunteer firefighter. He remembers Aaron as the gangly kid who used to follow him around, and he's unprepared for just how much he wants to know the man Aaron has become.

Title: 10,000 Kisses
Publisher: Targeting Kensington
Length: Full novel
Words Completed: 2,000
Date Started: 5/3/08
Date Due: No deadline
Summary: Macaulay Jensen and Wendy DeMartino come from two different worlds. He's alt-country and she's a hardcore rocker. Their chemistry and passion is undeniable, but their careers have always come first. If they want a shot together, they've got to learn how to break old habits. M/F, M/F/M content.

New Release: Dominion

2008-06-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

Dominion is the sixth book in The Master Chronicles. We had three basic desires when we began plotting this one. First, I love stories about haunted buildings, and I wanted our own twist on the haunted house. Second, everybody loves dangerous Gideon, and what could be more dangerous than a vampire who doesn't remember his ties to humanity? Third, we needed to set up the final arc in the series. Honestly, this basic premise had been kicking around for a very long time. I think it was one of the first bunnies we came up with for this series, honestly.

Arson forces Gideon Keel and his human lovers, Jesse Madding and Emma Coolidge, to find a new home after all their possessions are destroyed. Jesse and Emma are drawn to a decaying mansion that once served as a boarding school, but has long since sat abandoned. With its winding halls and haphazard wings, its private chapel, and its two-story library, the house is too fascinating to refuse.

But something sinister lurks in those winding halls. Something violent and dark. Something that locks the house, steals Gideon’s memories, possesses Emma’s body, and threatens Jesse’s life on the evening of their housewarming party. As the night progresses and the body count increases, Jesse must find a way to stop Gideon from killing their friends. Even harder, Jesse must convince the vampire who doesn’t remember him, or the love the three of them share, to fight for their lives.

Genres: Gay / Ménage (M/M/F) / Bisexuality (M/M) / Dark Fantasy / Vampire / BDSM / Series
Heat Level: 3

And now here's an excerpt!

“The cage,” she whispered. “Please.”

Jesse’s pulse jumped. Gideon could almost feel it. “You’re going to put me in the cage? What are you going to do with me there?”

Emma pushed him back. The lust rolling through the room made the hair stand up on Gideon’s arms.

“Anything I want.”

Jesse didn’t fight as she guided him backward to the cages Gideon had placed in the opposite corner. There were two, tall and narrow with just enough room for a single person to stand inside. Jesse’s had a heated plate floor, while Emma’s had shackles both dangling from the ceiling and at neck and waist levels. She didn’t like the pain as much as Jesse, but when it came to being bound, she was just as eager.

Emma didn’t give Jesse the chance to undress first, a fact that brought a small smile to Gideon’s lips. Given the option, Jesse would shed his clothes every time. Jesse obediently stepped into the cage, but he didn’t let Emma go immediately. With a hand on the back of her head, he pulled her into a long kiss. One that sent the
temperature of the room up another ten degrees.

The sound of the cage door slamming shut echoed off the concrete walls, and Jesse watched Emma with heavy eyes as she stepped backward, completely out of reach. With a playful smile, she toyed with the button at the top of her blouse.

“I guess anything you want includes teasing me?”

“Of course.”

Her fingers danced along the buttons, the flimsy fabric falling open to reveal the full swells of her breasts. Gideon’s gaze fixed on the tight points of her nipples, visible through her bra, and ran his tongue along the edge of his teeth as he contemplated how they felt in his mouth. He’d had a thing for her tits since the first night he’d seen her; time had only taught him just how delectable they could be.

“Isn’t this what you meant?” Emma let the shirt float to the floor behind her, her gaze unwavering where she fixed on Jesse. “If it’s not, I could probably go see if Gideon wants to play instead. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.”

Jesse grinned. “I don’t know if Gideon would let you torment him the way I let you torment me.” That must not have been the answer she wanted to hear, because she turned away from the cage. Jesse put his hands through the bar. “That wasn’t a challenge. I love the way you tease me.”

Emma’s hair fell across her cheek as she glanced back at Jesse. “You don’t think this is torture for me, too?” Her hands skimmed along the sides of her breasts, cupping the soft flesh. When she squeezed, a slight moan came from her parted lips, a moan that echoed through Gideon’s body. “I touch myself, and I imagine it’s you and Gideon. And it makes me feel like I’m going to jump out of my own skin wishing it was.”

Jesse didn’t pull his hand back, even though Emma was still out of his reach. That, coupled with the way he talked back, would have garnered a punishment from Gideon, but Emma seemed content to let him reach for her. She ran her fingertips over her nipples until the thin material of her bra pulled tight across her pebbled flesh.

“So why not come closer?” Jesse suggested.

“Because you’re not the only one enjoying the show.” Her head swiveled back, and though Gideon was concealed by shadows, their eyes locked. “Aren’t you going to come in and play, too, Gideon?”

With a half-smile, he took the step necessary to walk into the doorway, stopping to lean against the jamb. Thrusting his hands into his pockets drew both sets of eyes to the thick outline of his cock, but Gideon did nothing but stand there.

“Something tells me that’s exactly what you want. Since when am I that cooperative?”
Jesse put both hands down at his side. “Please come in and play, too.”

“Nah. I think I’m good right here for now.” He nodded to Emma. “Carry on. I think you were in the middle of torturing Jesse. Something about not letting him touch? Personally, I think that’s an excellent idea.”

Her hands went to her waist, slowly popping the button on her jeans. Without looking away from Gideon, she unzipped and slid her fingers inside the denim to push it slowly over the swell of her bottom.

He nodded again.

“So who touches me?” Her voice was rough with desire, and she bent over to push the
jeans down the rest of the way, proudly displaying the creamy skin of her half-bare ass to Jesse’s view.

“Stop.”

Emma froze, her hands on her ankles. Jesse’s pulse accelerated a few more beats.
Gideon smiled. “I think I like this position. What about you, boy? Does it work for you?”

Jesse dragged his gaze from Emma’s figure to meet Gideon’s eyes. Emma remained still, her bra holding the globes of her breasts together, creating the perfect line for Gideon’s tongue to follow.

“Yes, Sir.” Jesse’s thick words were more gratifying than his prompt answer.

“Even if I didn’t let you fuck her? Or let her touch you?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Slowly, Gideon pushed off the wall to saunter into the room. His lazy strides ate up the distance, and he circled around Emma, feeling their eyes follow his every step.

“Can you smell her?” He ran his hand over her ass. The heat was already scorching. “I can. She’s soaking wet.”

“No, Sir.”

Even if Jesse couldn’t smell her, Gideon had no doubt he could feel the strong wave of desire coming from her. Given the connection between his two human lovers, he had no doubt that Jesse felt it with much more intensity. He heard the cage rattle a bit behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to see Jesse pressed against the bars, but he still had his hands down at his side.

Drawing a single fingertip up her spine, Gideon traced over each bump, along each valley, until he came to a halt at the clasp of her bra. A quick flick, and the lacy material fell down Emma’s arms.

“Oh, God,” she gasped. When she let go of one of her ankles to toss the bra away, Gideon snapped his foot over the fabric, trapping it to the floor.

“Did I say you could let go, slut?”

Her sharp intake of breath was echoed in Jesse’s. Slowly, Emma released the strap tangled in her fingers and curled her hand back around ankle.

Gideon circled to the front of Emma’s body. Her long hair hung over her face and shoulders in a soft curtain. He brushed his fingers over the strands to test the silken texture. When he glanced up, Jesse’s attention was still riveted to her body, and his pants were stretched tight across his erection. Gideon lifted the corner of his mouth as his hand went to his fly, and he very deliberately freed the top button. The zipper was loud in the nearly silent room—loud enough to be heard over Jesse’s and Emma’s quickened breaths—and Jesse’s eyes widened as Gideon freed his cock.

Find out more information here!

New Release: Commencement

2008-06-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

Andrew Parish has waited four years to tell Dr. Levi McCrea how he feels about him. Four years of sparring in his classroom. Four years of challenging the brilliant older man. Now, on the eve of graduating from UC Berkeley, he can’t wait any longer.

When his most provocative student shows up on his doorstep, Levi isn’t sure what to think, especially when Andrew asks him out on a date. The fact that Levi doesn’t go out with students, however, doesn’t dissuade Andrew. He simply vows to come back the next day after he has his diploma in hand.

After all, Andrew has waited four long years. One more day won’t matter...

And now a new excerpt:

The chair wasn’t big enough for both of them, but that didn’t stop Andrew from squirming against Levi’s lap. He felt the hard length of his cock immediately and smiled. “I’m guessing your paper can’t be a dissection of which room in your house is most conducive to fucking me, huh?”

“No, unfortunately.” Levi ran his fingers over the back of Andrew’s thighs. “Though at least now when thoughts of you drive me to distraction, I can do something about it.”

Andrew ran the tip of his tongue over Levi’s lower lip, breathing in his scent. “So you finally admit you wanted to fuck me all along. It’s about time.”

“You never really doubted it, did you?”

“No, but it’s always good to hear.”

He kissed him, slow and almost sweet. It shouldn’t have felt like the first time, but somehow, whenever they came back together after being apart for a day or two, kissing Levi always felt like the first time.

Levi opened to the kiss, his hand going to the back of Andrew’s neck. They kissed until Andrew was breathless, and even then, Levi didn’t release him. His lips were pliant and warm, his breath warm and a little sour. When Andrew finally lifted his head, Levi’s eyes were dark. “We shouldn’t be doing this in my office.”

Andrew’s mouth tilted. “Shouldn’t isn’t the same as won’t. Or don’t want to.” His fingertips roamed over Levi’s face as he drank him in. He loved being this close to him. He saw the history of the man’s life in every line. “The building’s deserted. No students. No faculty. No interruptions. It’s the perfect time to indulge in one or two of our fantasies.”

Levi skimmed his mouth over Andrew’s lips, and then his jaw. “Not that I’m making any promises about indulging, but which fantasies, exactly?”

He closed his eyes, drowning in the soft assault. “Oh, there’s the blowing you under the desk fantasy. And the blowing you on top of the desk fantasy. And the you fucking me on your desk fantasy.” He chuckled. “Maybe it’s not you I’m interested in. Clearly, it’s your desk I’m obsessed with.”

“It’s a good, solid desk. Worth being obsessed with.” He pulled at Andrew’s shirt, then caressed the exposed band of skin. “Tell me more about fucking you on my desk.”

“There’s not much to tell.” Tilting his head back gave Levi more room to taste. Andrew gripped his arms as each bite sent a new frisson down his spine. “You. Me. Pounding. Once, I dreamt that you had me cuffed to it to use as your fucktoy whenever the mood took you. Which, luckily for me, was often.”

Levi moaned, his breath fanning across Andrew’s throat. “And me without my cuffs. Do you have a condom?”

“Don’t leave home without it.”

“I always knew you were a smart boy.” Levi’s tongue moved up the column of his throat, and then he sought out Andrew’s mouth again. This kiss was much harder, his lips demanding, his teeth scraping against Andrew’s mouth. “I’ve got to admit. I’ve thought about bending you over the edge of my desk and fucking you until you can’t even remember my name.”

Andrew slipped a hand between their bodies to grip Levi’s erection. “I’d like to see you try. It would take a lot to make me forget anything about you.”

Levi gripped Andrew’s waist, lifting him to the desk as he stood from the chair. “I think I’d like to try that right now. Unless you have any objection to that?”

“Object to you in my ass?” He wriggled against his arousal, grinning when Levi
groaned. “I might be a brat, but I’m not stupid.”

Elisa Rolle has already posted her review of this one:

The story is not very long, 60 pages, but it is charming. Actually the story is good, the sex joyous and the characters nice, so nice that I'd like to read more. Andrew has a pull and push relationship with his parents, so it would be interesting to read how would they react if he brings home a older man that could be his father. Levi has two separate life: in and out the college; he never mingles this tow side of his life... why? does he have some hidden reason?

Andrew and Levi have just began a very promising relationship and they are in that phase in which they spend almost all the time together and alone, but they almost don't interact with the outside world. How will they be? How will Levi manage having a so young lover? What will be the reaction of his colleagues and friends? Does he have friends? Actually we read very few things about him and his life, he remains almost an intrigue.

So in the end the story is very good but it seems like a prequel of a very promising future longer novel.

Be sure to stay caught up on the Calendar Boy series! More information here.

Internet Highlights

2008-05-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

Berlin puts up monument to Nazis' gay victims. Some 50,000 gay men were executed by the Nazis, and another 10,000-15,000 were sent to concentration camps--few of which survived.

New York to recognize gay marriages performed elsewhere.

ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada.

In a directive issued on May 14, the governor’s legal counsel, David Nocenti, instructed the agencies that gay couples married elsewhere “should be afforded the same recognition as any other legally performed union.”

The revisions are most likely to involve as many as 1,300 statutes and regulations in New York governing everything from joint filing of income tax returns to transferring fishing licenses between spouses.

Abi Sutherland writes about Austrian physicist and mathematician Lise Meitner at Making Light. I just thought it was very interesting about a woman I knew little about.

Scientific American writes about the neurological roots of sexual pleasure. Some of it's not so new, but some of the other findings are very interesting.

OK, this is shameless of Vivien, but her entry in EREC's first line contest tied for 2nd place. Hers is the one about walking through the snow. The details aren't up yet, but it's the first line from her erotica short story, The Ice Butterfly.

In celebration of California's overturning the same-sex marriage ban, one of Vivien's favorite gay erotic artists, Michael Breyette, is having a sale on all prints in his couples gallery. Even if you don't buy, go and enjoy the pretty!

Finally, the Heat Wave contest will be held open all week over at Erotic Muses. All you have to do is leave a comment on each of the 4 entries. Easy peasy!

Thursday 13: 13 WIPS

2008-05-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

Vivien: Since 2008 is half over, and Pepper is done with her graduate program, we've been taking stock of our obligations and evaluating what we need to do versus what we want to do. So today, our Thursday Thirteen is all about the 13 stories we're going to write in the latter half of 2008.

1. August Calendar Boys story. We chose to do a monthly series for Amber Quill of gay novellas, called "Calendar Boys." The story we're just now starting - after a crazy weekend of oodles of editing - is August. Let's face it, nothing happens in August. So we went astrological. We've got a lion shapeshifter who's forced to take a virgin sacrifice on the cusp, only to discover that he doesn't want to kill this particular virgin.

Pepper: After we finish the August story, we're returning to the Master Chronicles. Book 7 is Renaissance in Blood and we already finished 30k before we were forced to take a break. I would provide a summary but I'm not sure how to do so without spoiling it. Suffice it to say, things are going to change for Jesse and Gideon.

Vivien: 3. It's back to the het after Renaissance. The AQ pax, "As You Like It," is all about fetishes, and we're submitting a story, An Innocent Proposition, about a voyeur and his virgin wife who discovers her exhibitionist side.

Pepper: 4. As soon as we finish An Innocent Proposition we must return to our Calendar Boys. September is about a Labor Day BBQ, and the single father who really hopes his hot neighbor could be interested in him as more than just a friend.

Vivien: 5. Then it's Book 8 of the Master Chronicles. This is slotted for an October 1 release, and marks the beginning of the end for us. The book is as yet untitled, and I can't reveal too much without spoiling 7 even more, but I can tell you it's going to be uber hot. And Gideon and Jesse get groupies!

Pepper: 6. Back to the Calendar Boys for the October Installment! We, uh, don't have a real bunny for this yet. We're thinking maybe a goofy Halloween story (since scary Halloween is so obvious). Or maybe a hunting trip at a lodge with a big fire? What else happens in Oct? Columbus Day? Yeah, it'll probably be a Halloween story.

Vivien: 7. Another Calendar Boy story, this time for November. Another one we haven't decided, lol. But we try to subvert major holidays, like the vampire Valentine's in February, so I imagine we'll end up doing something for Thanksgiving. Oh! Except Veteran's Day is in November, too. We could do something with ex-soldiers. That could be hot...

Pepper: Ex-soldiers WOULD be hot! 8. Is Book 9 of the Master Chronicles, as yet untitled. I would go into it, but honestly, the fact that we plan to end the series at book 9 depresses me too much. On the one hand, we don't want Jesse and Gideon to overstay their welcome. On the other hand, I'll miss Jesse so much! But we have a few surprises and tricks up our sleeves that I don't think anybody will expect.

Vivien: 9. Our last Calendar Boy story then. December. Will it be a bloody Christmas? A winter solstice that's hotter than it is cold? We're not likely to know until we get there...

Pepper: 10. AQP's "First Time Around" pax. This is just on the list of things to do we. We don't have an idea, or a title. The premise of the pax is that it is the first gay relationship of at least 1 character. I'm looking forward to writing a story about self-discovery and self-acceptance in the context of hot gay sex, but I think we're going to rue the fact that we only have 40K words to work with.

Vivien: 11. Those are our actual obligations out of the way. Which leaves us three slots of stories we choose to do just because we want to. Stories without homes at the moment. The first of those is 10,000 Kisses. We've actually already started this one, and have just over 2k so far. It takes characters we introduce in one of our summer releases and sees just what happens to them. Macaulay Jensen and Wendy DeMartino come from two different worlds. He's alt-country and she's a hardcore rocker. Their chemistry and passion is undeniable, but their careers have always come first. If they want a shot together, they've got to learn how to break old habits.

Pepper: 12. A story we simply call "Spence/Becca". Unfortunately, we don't have a title. We do, however, have 17,000 words. And for some reason, I really don't know why, I already have a blurb for it.

Spencer Cole risks his life every night on the backs of the world’s most dangerous bulls, and that’s the way he likes it. A rising star on the professional rodeo circuit, he is poised to be one of the most elite bull riders in America. Until he sustains a devastating injury—a concussion that brings his future as a bull rider into sharp question, and a torn shoulder that requires major surgery. He is forced to turn to the only friend he has in town, Rebecca Rankin.

Rebecca’s annual trysts with Spencer Cole are the high point of her Independence Day Celebration, but it never occurs to her to seek out from their relationship. And she is not prepared to be thrust into the role of nurse-maid for a bitter, angry cowboy. She is obliged to put her own blossoming career as a photographer on hold, but vows it will just be until Spencer can take care of himself—or hire a real nurse to take care of him

Spencer and Rebecca have always shared a strong attraction, but their thin emotional bond is almost destroyed by Spencer’s fear and anger. They gradually rebuild it as Rebecca shows Spencer that his life didn’t end when his career did.

Vivien: 13. There's a lot of possibilities for this last spot, but since Pepper and I hate to have stories started and languishing on our computers - which thankfully doesn't happen too often - there's only one other that we need to finish in order to wipe that clean. It's a story we actually started nearly a year ago for the vampire pax sold at AQ this past January. It's called Runaway Red and we hit 7k on it and realized it was going to be longer than 40k. That's what happened with Spence and Rebecca, too. The stories we started for pax commitments announced they wouldn't be satisfied with just 40k and so we had to temporarily shelve them. But this one is about a female vampire on the run, and the antiquities shop owner she kidnaps to help her. Hot, hot, hot, and I'm sure they'll appreciate us getting back to them.

Forsaken - new chapter

2008-05-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday! Which means that Bam has posted Chapter 6 at her blog.

There's 2 more chapters after this one. And this is one people have probably been waiting for. Where did all the time go?!?

WIP Tuesdays

2008-05-27T22:18:00.000-07:00

Better late than never!

Title: Stealing West
Publisher: Amber Allure's Gay Cowboy Pax
Length: 35,600 words
Words Completed: Complete
Date Started: 5/15/2008
Date Submitted: 5/27/2008
Summary: Leon Stroud accompanies his best friend and partner in crime, Kenneth, to his new life with his new family in California. But when he sees the famous bounty hunter, Thomas Grady, on the same train, he knows he needs to create a diversion. He flees the train, knowing Thomas will give chase, but nothing can prepare Leon for what it means to be caught. M/M Content

Title: 10,000 Kisses
Publisher: Targeting Kensington
Length: Full novel
Words Completed: 2,000
Date Started: 5/3/08
Date Due: No deadline
Summary: Macaulay Jensen and Wendy DeMartino come from two different worlds. He's alt-country and she's a hardcore rocker. Their chemistry and passion is undeniable, but their careers have always come first. If they want a shot together, they've got to learn how to break old habits. M/F, M/F/M content.

We have the edits for If All the Sand Were Pearl, Walk Among Us, No Fear in Love, and Stealing Northe, as well as the galleys for June: Commencement and Dominion. We also just finished the final line edits for Fortune's Return.

News roundup

2008-05-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

Top of the news this week is a contest! The authors involved in the Samhain print anthology, Heat Wave: A Midsummer's Night Steam, are blogging and running a contest all week over at Erotic Muses. Details are here, so head over and take a look!

Next up is the cover art for our July release, Querida!

LT Blue at JERR gives Fortune's Honor 4 1/2 stars!

What a beautiful love story! Ms. Craig created a beautiful world filled with the trials and tribulations of a big ranch family in Fortune’s Honor. Clay’s character is full of hope of family and a will to do what is right by the woman he finds himself in love with and his little brother. Paige is just as committed to stand by her word to Ty ignoring the growing affection she has for his older brother. The chemistry between Clay and Paige is constantly simmering to the breaking point but the restraint they have just makes it hotter. When they finally have sex, it is a sensual coming together that provides that climax that lingers for a day. AWESOME! While the sex isn’t as hot and orgasmic as I normally like, the sensuality is a perfect blend for this story. The secondary characters play an important role in the story and I hope to read more about them in a spin-off. I highly recommend Fortune’s Honor.

Mystical Nymph at Literary Nymph Reviews gives Corazon 4.5 Nymphs...

Corazon is the May release in the ongoing Calendar Boys series by the duo writing under the pen name of Jamie Craig. It’s another well written and plotted story I thoroughly enjoyed. While the plot vehicle of both Mason and Anton cheating on their respective significant others generally would have turned me off immediately, the manner in which the author(s) expressed the unhappiness and uncertainty of both men allowed me to overcome my usual unforgiving reaction. So imagine my surprise when I found myself rooting for the success of their new and growing relationship. What can I say? I’m a sucker for two guys in love.

Ley from Joyfully Reviewed reviews Seduction in Black & White

I was hooked and drawn into Seduction in Black and White from the first page. I really liked Jess and Emma, but Gideon had to grow on me. My initial impression of him was not very likeable. My feelings were solely based on his actions toward Jesse during their sex scenes, but after a while I was able to see the Gideon that Jesse and Emma loved. I was not aware that this story was part of a series and not being familiar with the previous books I was floored by some of the graphic BDSM scenes and the villainess torture scenes. They were harsh, brutal, gory and so well written that I couldn’t stop reading them. I give props to the talent of Jamie Craig, writing such an intensely suspenseful and complicated story that holds a readers interest such as this one has held mine can’t be easy. And for the record, jumping into this series in their 4th installment is not something I would recommend, even though I was able to grasp the storyline, there were names, events and little nuisances of significance that escaped me. I most definitely would have gotten more satisfaction from the story if I read the prequels first. Be warned Seduction in Black and White doesn’t hold back on anything, this is a very graphic story, but also an enjoyable one.

Film Friday: She Done Him Wrong

2008-05-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

She Done Him Wrong stars Mae West and yes, Cary Grant. I recently purchased this movie because even though it is now in the public domain, and thus available free through various outlets, because I love this film.

Based on a play called Diamond Lil, when Paramount Pictures purchased the film rights the censorship office sent a memo that basically said You will not be turning Diamond Lil into a movie. It was extremely racy and raunchy--I guess it was too much, even in the pre-Code days. So Mae West rewrote the script to make it more subtle--when I learned this, I was shocked. Because this movie isn't exactly subtle.

I had two thoughts while watching this movie. First, I would ride Cary Grant like I stole him. Seriously, he looks amazing in that film--of course, he was only 29 in 1933. Still young and very handsome. Plus, he looked amazing in that uniform. And as for Mae West? I would totally go gay for her--and then thank her for the opportunity. Oddly enough, I respond to real (almost aggressive) displays of femininity. And I also like men who are almost too pretty to be men. But this isn't the time or the place to get into that.

This film is only an hour long, but there's a lot happening in just sixty minutes. First there's the romance between Lou and Captain Cummings, but there's also several subplots that all get tied together rather deftly at the end. Not to mention that the script is hilarious and I had several laugh-out-loud moments. I think the later movies, after the Code, do a great job of being subtle and remaining funny, but you know, there's something to be said for the real bawdy stuff that leaves very little to the imagination.

There's also something to be said for a woman who knows her own sexuality and clearly enjoys having sex.

Captain Cummings: Haven't you ever met a man who made you happy?
Lou: Sure, I did. Lots of times.

She doesn't apologize for it. She doesn't act like she's doing anything wrong. She's not a martyr. Diamonds are her business and the choir lost. I think, ultimately, that's my favorite thing about the movie. Yes, Cary Grant is hot, but Mae West is sexual and she doesn't make any excuses for that. I don't know if I could ever be like her, but I'd sure like to write a few characters that would make her proud.

Forsaken - 2 new chapters

2008-05-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

I think our cliffhangers are proving too screamworthy; Bam has posted two new chapters this week, though I don't necessarily think the ending of the second chapter is any less frustrating than the first, lol.

Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 are both up at Bam's blog.

Only 3 more chapters after these...

Inspirations - Western cowboys

2008-05-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

This week, Pepper and I have been working on our story for the gay cowboy themed pax due out in September at Amber Quill. It's about a bounty hunter and a stagecoach robber in the old west, and our growing love for these two characters has us thinking about all the men we've fallen for in westerns. So, in celebration of that, a few of our favorites!

Bale and Crowe as Dan Evans and Ben Wade in 3:10 to Yuma. Pepper and I both love this movie sooooooooooo much. It's got everything we love about westerns in it.

The quintessential western anti-hero. No list would be completely without at least one shot from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Bruce Campbell as Brisco County, Jr., One of Pepper's loves. I have to confess to never seeing this show. She's probably going to shoot me when she finds out.

Kilmer and Russell as Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp in Tombstone I'll bet Pepper can't even count how many times she's seen this movie. ;)

Ah, Newman and Redford. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. When I'm not about the gritty, I'm about the funny, and this movie has one of my all-time favorite lines ever in it.

WIP Tuesdays

2008-05-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

Title: Stealing Northe
Publisher: Amber Heat's Seasons Pax
Length: 31,000
Words completed: 31,000
Date started: 5/4/08
Date Completed: 5/15/08
Summary: Widow Amy Northe hasn’t known a man’s company in the six years since her husband died. That all changes the night her son comes in from chores with two strangers in tow. Kenneth and Leon are seeking shelter, and though Amy wants to turn them away, she can’t. There’s a blizzard moving through the Utah mountains, and Leon’s busted ankle has him teetering on the edge of consciousness. She does the only thing she can and takes them in, unaware of the secrets these young men hide.

Kenneth doesn’t want to take advantage of the older woman’s hospitality, even though she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. But Leon needs help and Amy is a nurse. If he has to satisfy his desire for her with covert trysts with Leon, then that’s what he’ll do, especially since he’s too much of a gentleman to ever think of making advances.

Until she makes one herself. Then everything changes. For all of them.
M/F, M/M, M/F/M content.

Title: Stealing West
Publisher: Amber Allure's Gay Cowboy Pax
Length: 35,000 words
Words Completed: 9,100
Date Started: 5/15/2008
Date Due: 5/31/2008
Summary: Leon Stroud accompanies his best friend and partner in crime, Kenneth, to his new life with his new family in California. But when he sees the famous bounty hunter, Thomas Grady, on the same train, he knows he needs to create a diversion. He flees the train, knowing Thomas will give chase, but nothing can prepare Leon for what it means to be caught. M/M Content

Title: 10,000 Kisses
Publisher: Targeting Kensington
Length: Full novel
Words Completed: 2,000
Date Started: 5/3/08
Date Due: No deadline
Summary: Macaulay Jensen and Wendy DeMartino come from two different worlds. He's alt-country and she's a hardcore rocker. Their chemistry and passion is undeniable, but their careers have always come first. If they want a shot together, they've got to learn how to break old habits. M/F, M/F/M content.

I finished the edits for our M/M novella Star Attraction and will finish the galleys for Commencement, the June installment of our Calendar Boys.

News roundup

2008-05-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

First of all, we're on Facebook! Head on over and friend us!

We're hoping to have a new cover to show you next week, but in the interim, we've got a whole slew of reviews to share. The Jamie Craig ones first...

Ley from Joyfully Reviewed reviews Chaos & Communion

Chaos & Communion is fascinating. The story opens with a sad, broken and confused Jesse. He’s nothing like the full of life man of the previous installments of this series. Marcus Brooker broke him and left a man who barely ate and was afraid to sleep for fear of reliving the hell he went through. I hurt for him, as well as Emma and even Gideon, who is not one of my favorite people but he loves Jesse and Emma and that is honestly the greatest reason of the short list as to why I care for him. Every time I read one of these books the talent of Jamie Craig amazes me. Chaos & Communion is a rather complicated story of alternate universes and altering lives to change the outcome of future events. Ms. Craig did a fantastic job with this complex story.

Christina from Romance Junkies gives A Hidden Beauty 5 blue ribbons

HIDDEN BEAUTY by Jamie Craig is a fascinating and incredibly moving novel. This is one of the most romantic stories I have ever read. This story is calm and soothing but it is also full of passion and intense emotion. The combination is very powerful. Micah and Jefferson’s relationship develops quietly and slowly so that the reader has ample time to get to know the characters and become invested in them. I read this story slowly savoring the beautiful prose. I can see myself reading this book again and again. I hope that there will be a sequel.

Frost's Fancy at Rainbow Reviews gives Corazon 4 stars

Author Jamie Craig (the writing duo of Pepper Espinoza and Vivien Dean) spin an excitingly romantic and sensual story of four individuals webbed together by tradition, expectations, romance, and lust. Battling their way through a situation that seems destined to hurt somebody no matter what action is taken, the characters evolve each in their own way. Eventually the protagonists come to understand that sometimes the deepest character change comes through the most difficult decisions.

Pepper got a number of reviews from Joyfully Reviewed...

Sabella reviewed My Only Home

...the romance between Noah and Lucas is sweet and the passion steamy when they finally come together. My Only Home is an entertaining read for a careless afternoon.

Nannette reviewed Fumble Recovery

I needed a minute to recover while reading Fumble Recovery, the story is sizzling hot! Derek and Melanie are explosive together. The romantic in me wanted more romance afterwards, but as far as sexy short stories go, Fumble Recovery is as hot as it gets!

And Barb reviewed Surrender's Edge

Surrender’s Edge was an interesting story. The characters were all looking out for each other and their futures. The feelings between everyone was of a natural and good feel.

And I got two new reviews this week...

Tanya from Joyfully Reviewed reviewed A Sentry's Touch

Iris and Avi are well-matched as a pair, though Iris doesn’t believe it at first, but the author does a wonderful job of showing not only their destiny but why they are meant for each other. A Sentry’s Touch takes place in an alternate universe, in the same timeframe as today. The author did a fantastic job in creating this realm and I hope the author will be continuing the stories in this realm. There is a wonderful plot line, as well as sensual loving scenes and fast-paced plot in A Sentry’s Touch that many will enjoy.

Stephanie from Simply Romance Reviews gives As It Should Be an A and an Outstanding Read

As It Should Be ask the age old question if you could go back and change one thing in your past, would you? It also delivers a hot and sentimental read that leaves the reader satisfied and hopeful. Nora is conviction that she is dreaming yet she is still determined to change the events of the day leave the reader hoping that she is successful. If you’re looking for a feel good sexy romance As It Should Be is the book you’re looking for.

Internet Highlights

2008-05-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

California Supreme Court Overturns Gay Marriage Ban

Find out what heroes your favorite authors would like on the desert island.

I often find ways to waste time when I should be working. Here are a few of my favorite places to read.

The Pioneer Woman's "Black Heels and Tractor Wheels". It's the multi-part saga of how the Pioneer Woman married the Marlboro Man. Trust me, it's one of the best romances you'll ever read.

The Comics Curmudgeon. Thanks to this blog, I'm all wrapped up in the drama of Apartment 3-G and More zippers, mule! is my favorite line ever. Lots of other fun stuff, too.

Judge a Book By It's Cover. Who doesn't love cover snark?

A Perfect World cartoons. You need to start on #16 and read straight through. It's the last line of each chapter of James Patterson's You Were Warned. A few literally made me laugh-out-loud.

My favorite webisode posted its final episode of its first season the week. If you've ever been involved in online game at all, you'll think The Guild is hysterically funny.

Film Friday: I Was a Male War Bride

2008-05-16T13:29:00.001-07:00

The Cary Grant parade continues. I recently bought about ten Cary Grant movies, so this isn't going to end any time soon. Meanwhile, I got two more through Netflix I had never seen. Today's offering is I Was a Male War Bride, directed by Howard Hawks and released in 1949, starring Cary Grant and and Ann Sheridan.

Now, three of my favorite words in the English language are Cary + Grant + Drag. As a result, it's a surprise I haven't seen this movie sooner. Grant's Henry is a French officer in Germany (I appreciate the fact that they didn't do anything to make Cary Grant French) and he's got a very flinty relationship with Sheridan's Catherine Gates, a lieutenant in the US Army. After they go on a mission together, they decide they're in love and they get married. The zaniness is amped up a few notches when it feels like the whole world is conspiring to keep the newlyweds apart--permanently, it seems, when Catherine is sent back Stateside.

The movie starts out very strong with Grant and Sheridan playing off each other. I can't tell if he's her worthy adversary, or if she's his. But it seems like she knows just how to play him, and of course, in typical Cary Grant fashion, he knows just how to handle somebody as smart and capable as Catherine. Here's the thing I really appreciate about the screwball comedies--the women are genuinely "sassy" and "spunky" and "intelligent." They don't do stupid shit that a smart woman would never do. Yes, they are reduced to tears occasionally, but women cry for lots of reasons, including anger and frustration. So I don't hold that against them.

Anyway, after all the fun of the first part, they decide to get married. Henry in love isn't too different from Henry out of love, and there's even the occasional threat of violence against her. At one point, he reaches for his hat, and she ducks! Still, I got the sense that if he had crossed that line and hit her, she would have hit him back. Probably would have popped him in the nose. There's minor conflict over getting married, but it gets worked out quickly.

The third act--the one that the title really refers to--is when things start getting uncomfortable for me. It is an endless period of trials and jerks. Their honeymoon is interrupted, she's transferred, she can't sleep in his quarters, they can't sleep in hers. They can't get him a visa to America. They have to declare him a male war bride. But that just makes things more complicated. Ultimately, it began to feel like some sort of existential nightmare. I think it went beyond comedy to some sort of commentary on the futility of...well, existence. Seriously, it may seem like I'm overstating this, but by the time I reached the end of the movie, I was extremely relieved. I wonder of Hawks was trying to convey the increasing sexual frustration, so the end is a climax for the viewer and the characters?

Ultimately, though, I love the movie. It made me laugh out loud more than once, and I think Ann Sheridan is my new hero. Cary Grant was hot as always--and oh yeah, there's all kinds of gay subtext! The only thing I love more than Cary Grant in drag is Cary Grant in drag with the appropriate amount of gay subtext.

Forsaken - new chapter

2008-05-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

Bam has posted chapter three of our m/m cop serial, Forsaken, over at her blog. Head on over and take a look!

Inspirations--Johnny Depp Part 2

2008-05-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

Last week, Vivien posted several pictures of Johnny Depp, and they were good. But she didn't post any caps from some of my favorite movies!

First up, Wade "Crybaby" Walker from Crybaby.

Gilbert Grape from What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

William Blake from Dead Man

Ed Wood from Ed Wood

And two of Sands from Once Upon A Time In Mexico

WIP Report

2008-05-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

With Mother's Day, Pepper gone for her Wilco concert, and various family obligations, this wasn't the most productive week for us. Hopefully, today will mark a swing back in the right direction for us.

Title: Untitled May/December
Publisher: Amber Heat's Seasons Pax
Length: 35,000, though it'll probably end up being closer to 40,000
Words completed: 22,000 words
Date started: 5/4/08
Date Due: May 30, 2008
Summary: A widow lives in northern Utah in 1876 with her young son. Two strangers come to her cabin, looking for medical aid and a place to hole up during a very bad blizzard. At first, she thinks the younger of the two, Kenneth, is just a boy, but it doesn't take long for her to think he is just the man for her. M/F, M/M, M/F/M content.

Title: 10,000 Kisses
Publisher: Targeting Kensington
Length: Full novel
Words Completed: 2,000
Date Started: 5/3/08
Date Due: No deadline
Summary: Macaulay Jensen and Wendy DeMartino come from two different worlds. He's alt-country and she's a hardcore rocker. Their chemistry and passion is undeniable, but their careers have always come first. If they want a shot together, they've got to learn how to break old habits. M/F, M/F/M content.

I also finished the edits on Fortune's Return last week, so that is off. And I did the edits for the July calendar boys story yesterday.

On the solo front, Pepper did her edits on her het song pax due out in July and submitted an m/m/m story to Samhain for its call for menages. Me? Well, I didn't get much writing done with the editing I was doing. But I did manage to write another 3k on a het vampire story I'd started eons ago. So it's better than nothing.

News roundup

2008-05-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

Some bits and pieces to share this week...

First of all, Pepper and I have new contracts with Samhain! We wrote a trilogy of novellas - she wrote one on her own, I wrote one on my own, and then we wrote one together - that Samhain has accepted for publication. Together, they're called A Calling of Souls, and they are all gay erotic romances with one of the leads with a tie to the priesthood. Pepper's is called If All the Sand Were Pearl, a fantasy erotic romance about a young man who was going to enter into service to their Goddess, only to be married off to an older man. Our collaborative story is No Fear in Love, a contemporary erotic romance about an Anglican priest whose longtime best friend comes back to town with specific plans in mind. My story is called Walk Among Us, and is a paranormal erotic romance about an ex-priest who sees demons. So a wide variety of stuff! These will be released individually in August and September, and then collected into a paperback anthology for release in 2009.

We've also got some reviews this week...

Sabella from Joyfully Reviewed reviews Mosaic Moon

...a wonderful book that skillfully weaves in magic, vampires, love and intrigue while plunging us back into the hectic lives of Gideon and Jesse. In this new adventure Gideon and Jesse continue to explore the boundaries of their relationship while continuing to play their games in the bedroom with the added spice of including Emma in their lives. The dynamics of Gideon and Jesse are interesting and fun to read about as we get to know them better and realize that the bondage games that they play reflect some of their needs but do not necessarily encompass the entirety of what they feel and need from one another. Emma, on the other hand, as an empath is a great window into the feelings of both men and serves to balance their relationship while adding the softer touch that Jesse craves. When Gideon, Jesse and Emma come together they will set fire to your screen and have you sweating in no time.

Indy from Joyfully Reviewed reviews Trinity Broken

...readers who enjoy emotionally heavy storylines and are patient enough to understand the trials and tribulations that need to be conquered first will be pleased with Trinity Broken.

And finally, I had my very first story come out with Ellora's Cave on Friday! It's a short het erotic romance, as part of their Emerald line, called As It Should Be...

For fifty years, Nora Ensley has mourned the premature death of her husband. Now, on the day of what would have been their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary, she receives a surprise gift from her best friend. When Nora falls asleep wearing the emerald pendant, she isn't all that surprised to slip into the most realistic dreams of her life. The day Marshall died.

Nora takes charge and changes circumstances, forcing him to stay home so the fatal crash never happens. But dreams can't last forever. Eventually, she is going to wake up...

For more information and an excerpt, visit Ellora's Cave.

Internet Highlights of the Week

2008-05-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

Since we are obviously addicted to the Internet, we've decided to devote Sundays to sharing some of the links that caught our eye the previous week. Seven new links we encourage you to take a look at!

1. In the spirit of giving, Ann Aguirre is sponsoring a charity fundraiser to help raise money for the children hit by the cyclone in Myanmar. She is offering to give away free books if you make a donation.

2. EREC is sponsoring a first line contest. Head over and vote for your favorite first line!

3. In the interest of the pretty, artist Michael Breyette finished new works this week called Restraint: Caged, Fenced, Walled. He specializes in erotic gay art, so please be warned, these are NSFW.

4. Hostage, an anthology from MLR Press, feature Josh Lanyon, Laura Baumbach, and Sarah Black is Now available at Barnes and Noble. It looks super hot.

5. A New-Found Species of Spiders is named after Neil Young. No lie.

A sneaky spider has been named in honor of rock musician Neil Young.

Jason Bond, a biologist at East Carolina University, named a newly discovered arachnid, Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi. It is also known as a trapdoor spider.

"There are rather strict rules about how you name new species," Bond said. "As long as these rules are followed you can give a new species just about any name you please."

6. If you enjoy alt-country (Wilco, Ryan Adams, Sun Volt, Uncle Tupelo, etc), then you should check out Atherton. I met a few of the members at a Wilco concert when one of them offered to take my picture with Jeff Tweedy. Anyway, their album Skyline Motel is great. You can hear samples of their tracks here.

7. Bam has posted Part 2 of Forsaken.

Film Friday--"Bringing up Baby"

2008-05-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

I've recently discovered Cary Grant, and my love for Cary Grant movies. I've seen several at this point, and I love them all for different reasons. My favorites are the "screwball comedies" and so I'll be talking about those for the next several weeks. The first is Bringing Up Baby. I'm sure y'all have probably seen this movie--I'm a late comer. I'm also woefully uneducated when it comes to classic movies, as Vivien can tell you. But much to her delight, I'm currently doing my best to rectify that.

I love Bringing Up Baby for several reasons. First, Cary Grant is just wonderfully hot in this film. I love a smart, slightly distracted, geeky, flustered man in thick glasses, I really do. I also love how Grant's character, David, changes throughout the film. As Kate Hepburn shakes up his life he becomes more confident and more assertive without losing that sweetness and sincerity that makes him so attractive.

The second, of course, is Kate Hepburn. Susan is the smart and independent woman you'd expect from Hepburn, but she's also playful and funny and oddly vulnerable. I immediately believe that she could fall in love with David so quickly, and I believe that David never had a choice but to fall in love with her.

Third is the sharp dialogue. I've seen this movie described as "sparkling" and that's a perfect description. This whole movie does sparkle. There are many laugh-out-loud moments, and I can't help but smile through the whole thing.

This movie differs from other screwball comedies in that David and Susan were not previously married. But it follows other genre conventions almost exactly. A marriage is central to the plot, as David is engaged and ultimately misses his wedding. It revolves around wealthy, upper-class people. In fact, the plot wouldn't work for lower class people. There's not a broader plot conflict than the relationship, though the movie does turn into a sort of "chase" movie, when they seek the bone and Baby. I think this movie (and the next move I plan to discuss, Holiday) are wonderful examples of the actual variety present in "screwball comedies." I think they're good analogues for romance novels. There are some standard rules for the genre (or sub-genre) but ultimately, the pleasure is in how the creators can work within the confines of genre to make something new and engaging.

Favorite Quote: "You're so good looking without your glasses."

This movie is available on DVD and through Netflix--you can watch it streaming if you have an account there. If you haven't seen the film, I highly, highly recommend it. It's like sitting down with a warm, cuddly blanket and a bowl of ice cream. If you have seen it, I suggest another viewing. You might be surprised by how much fun it is.

Forsaken - a new serial

2008-05-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, Pepper and I noticed that Bam was looking for authors to contribute to her serial feature. Since we can't ignore the chance to write new stuff, we decided to give it a go. The result was Forsaken, a m/m cop erotic romance. And today, Bam has started posting it!

Five years since Detective Xavier Landis walked away from the man who loved him.

Four weeks looking for the stalker nobody but he believed existed.

Three years of his life Detective Jeff Keyes wishes he could get back.

Two cops, both brilliant, both determined, trying to move on from a past neither can forget.

One dead girl.

A good friend of mine, Kate, created the fantastic cover.

The story is going to be posted every Thursday for the next 8 weeks. So head on over to read and let us know what you think!

Inspirations - Johnny Depp

2008-05-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

When I went to visit Pepper, I took along my brand new copy of Sweeney Todd. Neither one of us got to see it in the theater, so we decided to experience it together. And what did it do? It cemented our Johnny Depp love.

I've loved Johnny for years. Not quite all the way back to 21 Jump Street, but certainly from Edward Scissorhands. While he was very poignant in that, the first movie that made me go "guh" over the man was Benny & Joon:

That Proclaimers song still makes me melt when I hear it.

Then there was What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, though honestly, I love that movie for how wonderful Leonardo DiCaprio is in it. But Johnny has a wide slew of roles that just make me love him...

Don Juan in Don Juan DeMarco
Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow
Roux in Chocolat
Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean
James Barrie in Finding Neverland
I could probably do this all day, lol. And I'll probably love his next role, too.

WIP Report

2008-05-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

Today is our very first WIP report. A WIP is a Work-In-Progress, so these posts will be dedicated to what we're currently working on right this second, and maybe what we just finished.

We're very productive when we're in the same room, so it should come as no surprise that we wrote 9,000 words yesterday on our current untitled novella.
Title: Untitled May/December
Publisher: Amber Heat's Seasons Pax
Length: 35,000
Words completed: 9,700 words
Date started: 5/4/08
Date Due: May 30, 2008
Summary: A widow lives in northern Utah in 1876 with her young son. Two strangers come to her cabin, looking for medical aid and a place to hole up during a very bad blizzard. At first, she thinks the younger of the two, Kenneth, is just a boy, but it doesn't take long for her to think he is just the man for her. M/F, M/M, M/F/M content.

Title: 10,000 Kisses
Publisher: Targeting Kensington
Length: Full novel
Words Completed: 2,000
Date Started: 5/3/08
Date Due: No deadline
Summary: Macaulay Jensen and Wendy DeMartino come from two different worlds. He's alt-country and she's a hardcore rocker. Their chemistry and passion is undeniable, but their careers have always come first. If they want a shot together, they've got to learn how to break old habits. M/F, M/F/M content.

Title: Fortune's Return
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Length: 74,000 words
Status: Beginning edits this week
Release Date: Unknown
SummaryRyan Putnam has lost everything. Laid off from teaching high school and dumped by his lawyer boyfriend, he has nowhere else to go but his childhood home – the Good Fortune ranch. He plans to take the summer to regroup and start over. He never expects to be smitten with a cowboy. Especially not a cowboy like Teo Mendez, who is everything Ryan’s ex-boyfriend is not.

Four years after his wife's death, Teo Mendez has returned to what he loves the most – working the land. He believes the Good Fortune ranch is the perfect place to build a new life for his son, Antonio. When his boss's brother Ryan shows up to work, the other man’s haunted eyes reminds Teo of everything he has lost as well. So he offers the only thing he can—his friendship. But it doesn't take long for Ryan to reawaken long dormant emotions and desires.

Ryan doesn’t intend to find a relationship. Teo doesn’t want to complicate his life with a fling. What they have between them, however, is too powerful to ignore.

Things are going to change around here....

2008-05-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

We haven't updated the blog in two weeks. That's very bad. The first week, I had an excuse because I was finishing up school. This last week, though, I was just lazy. Vivien has been staying with me since Wednesday, and after much discussion, we realized we were getting a bit bored with this blog, and blogging in general. So I thought we could do what we always do when we get bored--try something new.

Mondays will remain new releases/news round-up days. Wednesdays will remain Inspirational day--or Really Hot Boys day, as I call it. But on Tuesdays we'll post about our current WIPs, editing, and projects we're about to begin. Thursdays will be Character Days. Friday will be Film Friday. Saturday will be miscellaneous. Sunday will be Interesting Links/Internet Round-Up Day.

I just hope that we've still got some readers checking in here after we maintained radio silence for two weeks.

Tomorrow I'll be posting about a novel called 10,000 Kisses an untitled western/menage/may-december story, and the novella we just finished Calendar Boys--July: Vintage.

Happy Cinco De Mayo! New Release--Corazón

2008-05-05T07:39:00.001-07:00

The fifth of May is the single date that could change the course of one man’s life.

Mason Ritter does not want to go to Puebla, Mexico, with his long-time boyfriend, Miguel. He claims he does not want to deal with the hassle of traveling from San Antonio to Puebla. He doesn’t like the way Miguel pretends Mason is just his good friend when they’re around Miguel’s father. He doesn’t want to take the time off work...

But in reality, Mason has only one reason to avoid the Cinco de Mayo fiesta in Puebla—Anton Rocha.

Anton Rocha is engaged to Miguel’s sister, Pedra. Anton Rocha is off-limits. Anton Rocha is also the most desirable, intoxicating man Mason has ever met. And before the end of the fiesta, Mason is in serious danger of losing his heart...

I know the issue of cheating and adulterous relationships is a sore point for some people. Our other books that have featured one or two cheating people have gotten mixed reviews, to say the least. So if you're wary of reading Corazón see what Elisa Rolle had to say.

Can I rename this book "How to pick up two unlikeable characters and make you like them"? Yes, cause in Corazon, we have not one but two cheating man, a thing I find almost unforgivable in a man, and one of the two is also unrepentant, cause he justifies the cheating since he doesn't love his current partner...

In the end I supported Mason and Anton. I still felt a little sad for Miguel (not so more for Petra), but between Mason and Miguel there wasn't the real love that there is with Anton.

And now, a never-before-seen-excerpt

“The other night. At the pool. I saw what you said.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Having you here lets me pretend.”

The part of Mason that hadn’t given itself over to this newfound masochism encouraged him to just let the subject drop. But he couldn’t.

“I thought we agreed to pretend the wish wasn’t there at all.”

“We did. Out there.” Anton tested his work before setting down the screwdriver and turning around to lean against the edge of the workbench. “It’s easier to pretend the other way when we’re in here. Every time I come in here, I think about kissing you.”

“I was pretending at the pool. That it was just the two of us.”

“I know.” Unsmiling, Anton lifted a careful hand to trace the line of Mason’s damp collar on his T-shirt, his rough fingertip just barely touching his bare skin. “So was I.”

“Tell me you’re tired of pretending, too.” Mason swayed forward slightly, trying to encourage more contact. “Or let’s pretend a different game right now.”

“A different game?” His warm breath came with warmer touches. “Like what?”

“We’ll start small. Maybe we can pretend it’s okay to finally kiss you like I’ve been dying to do since the moment I arrived in Puebla.”

“That wouldn’t be right.” Maybe not, but Anton slid his fingers around Mason’s neck anyway, the tender caresses enough to make his chest tighten. “We have others.”

“I know.” Emboldened by Anton’s light touch, he rested his hand on Anton’s hip. He could taste Anton already, the memory of their first kiss in the shed a physical presence between them. “Does…anybody usually bother you in here?”

“Only you. But then you bother my thoughts everywhere I am.”

If there had been a serious risk of somebody barging in on them, Mason might have released Anton and stepped back. But there wasn’t a serious risk, and his body ached. He knew without a doubt that the only thing to relieve this ache would be to finally give in and kiss Anton.

“You’ve consumed mine,” Mason murmured, tilting his head. “Completely.”

And then their lips were finally touching. Anton felt just like he had remembered. The first brush of contact was like a fist to his chest. He lost his breath, but instead of pulling away to gasp for more, he tried to steal Anton’s.

He had an inch on Anton in height, but the other man’s broader shoulders, his wider hands made Mason feel like he was being surrounded. The feeling was exacerbated when Anton slid his arm around the small of his back, circling him into an embrace that was as overwhelming as it was gentle. Anton never tried to hurry the caress. His lips remained soft and exploratory, barely parted as they learned each other’s shape again. But it was the way they quivered, the smallest of oscillations, that betrayed how deeply Anton’s desire ran.

“I can pretend there is only you when we’re in here,” Anton breathed in between kisses. “I don’t know why.”

“Just don’t stop pretending,” Mason pleaded, his tongue nudging Anton’s lips. “Not yet.”

He barely had a chance to finish speaking before the kiss deepened again. Mason didn’t have to pretend there was only Anton. As soon as they touched, everything outside the shed’s four walls fell away. He knew this would end, that these moments were fleeting and probably wouldn’t be captured again. He committed each second to memory—the taste of Anton’s mouth, the texture of his lips, the sound of his moans, and the way each moan rolled down Mason’s spine, making him shake.

Find out more information here.

Massive Review Post

2008-05-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Speak It's Name reviews A Hidden Beauty.

The slow and careful development of the relationship also allowed time for the forces of society to be amply ranged against the two men. I enjoyed – in a sort of masochistic way – the feeling that, slowly but surely, the jaws of intolerance were closing on the burgeoning love story. By the end I was on tenterhooks as to which force would come to the point of action first. The slow but sure build up of tension almost certainly contributed to the fact that the sex scenes in the book are some of the best I’ve read. By this time we know exactly how much they mean to both men, and some of that awe and wonder comes across, making these scenes truly intimate rather than merely voyeuristic.

Literary Nymphs gives A Hidden Beauty 4.5 stars!

A Hidden Beauty is beautifully written and the story is finely crafted. The language is “olde worlde” and is appropriate for the period in which the story appears to take place. I thought the pace of the love affair between the two characters was quite fitting given the era, but it seemed to me that Micah’s character was very juvenile and ordinary and maybe this was intentional on the part of the author. However, Jamie Craig does a good job on Jefferson in his role of seducer and experienced older lover.

Uniquely Pleasurable reviews A Hidden Beauty

There are some moments worthy of Wharton here, as when Jefferson is riveted by Micah removing his jacket in a warm room, then dismayed when he covers himself up again for a walk outside. Micah’s hero-worship of Jefferson is well-played, as is Jefferson’s reluctant yearning for the younger man. Their histories and personalities are well-developed, which makes their interest in each other convincing (and justifies the reader’s interest in them getting together and prevailing over convention and that pesky ghost. If their dialogue is a bit overwritten at times well, an eager student and a reclusive poet might well dress their language up a bit as a way to mask desire they fear may be unrequited (in Micah’s case) or disastrous (in Jefferson’s). An example: “The trick is to decide what is truly important. If I discover a pursuit worthy of my time, I’ll do what I must in order to accommodate it.” “I know you will.” Jefferson never took his gaze from Micah as he moved. “You probably aren’t accustomed to abandoning a worthy pursuit.” His inspection brought him closer and closer to where Jefferson sat. “That’s probably safe to surmise.” The passionate restraint of the two main characters is on better display in the charming epistolary romance they begin upon Micah’s return to Boston. When the two finally come together sexually, Craig gives us a consummation both satisfying and absorbing, with Micah’s inexperienced zeal a foil for Jefferson’s combined relief and fear.

FAR makes At the Advent of Dusk a Recommended Read and gives it five angels!

Jamie Craig delivers a fantastic tale in At the Advent of Dusk. The story was well balanced with the perfect blend of suspense, action and toe curling sex. Mary is strong in character and of mind. She is willing to do what is necessary to keep those she loves safe and out of harm’s way. Gideon has a will of steel, but found it bending to what would make Mary happy. I know some of his actions surprised not only Mary, but himself. Watching the two come to terms with a budding relationship was something to behold. Each knew that no matter how hard they tried to fight their attraction destiny would not be denied. This was my introduction to Jamie Craig and I’m elated with what I’ve discovered. I am looking forward to reading the sequel series to this incredible book.

Two Lips makes Out of the Storm a Recommended Read and gives it 5 lips!

Jamie Craig does it again, bringing drama, angst, and hot male sex, into one steamy, blow-your-socks-off novel. This story rocks! Actually, Jamie Craig is the collaborative efforts of two awesome writers: Pepper Espinoza and Vivian Dean. Together they write amazing stories. Nick is an outdoorsman that loves to be active. And Jay’s concern for Nick goes way beyond the call of duty. There are a lot of bedroom antics that you won’t want to miss! Out Of The Storm is a read that is sure to keep you very warm at night. This is part of the Calendar Boys series, but it can be read alone. I suggest getting them all for full enjoyment.

Literary Nymphs gives Out of the Storm 4.5 stars!

The writing team that makes up Jamie Craig has done it again with their light hearted, fun and sexy April offering in their ongoing Calendar Boys series, Out of the Storm. They have come up with another interesting meeting premise, witty dialogue that often had me chuckling, great characters and enough hot physical attraction to set the cabin on fire. Best of all it gave the men and their new relationship hope for the future. This well written and plotted gay romance is another of those books designated as a keeper to be re-read again in the future. Nothing about this series disappoints, so give it a try and enjoy!

JERR gives My Masked Mistress 5 stars and an O rating!

My Masked Mistress is a wonderful story of love and redemption. I didn’t like Noelle much at first. While I felt she was justified about being passed over for promotion, I couldn’t agree with how she went about venting her anger. Noelle knowingly prayed upon Dante’s sexual proclivities, becoming a dominatrix in order to make him fall madly in love with her. She was the perfect Domme for him because she used her erotic research, which is shown through carefully orchestrated scenes, giving them both maximum sexual fulfillment. Noelle teases and tantalizes Dante so well that I couldn’t help but envy him. I needed to take several toy breaks during their play because their interaction was so steamy! After some time with Dante, Noelle finds her elaborate scheme has backfired. What a man Dante was- waiting for many years, hiding his submissive tendencies, until the right Domme came along. Noelle made him happy until the truth comes out. In my estimation, it takes an extraordinary person to forgive such an egregious fault. My Masked Mistress hooked me from its opening word to its most satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed Noelle and Dante’s story and look forward to reading more from the wicked pen of Ms. Craig.

News roundup

2008-04-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

New reviews! Woo hoo!

Lisabea and Sula posted a very fun and interesting dueling and (dual!) review for Master of Obsidian. Go check it out. Also, we're answering questions in the comments, so go participate in the discussion.

Mystical Nymph at Literary Nymphs reviewed our March Calendar Boys story, Kiss Me, and gave it 4 nymphs:

The writing team that makes up Jamie Craig has crafted a tender and well plotted romance with March: Kiss Me that’s perfect for an afternoon read. It’s well written with two main characters that are not only interesting and well-rounded but likable. Mal and Alejandro are perfect together, even if they are both more than a little apprehensive about starting a relationship. Mal is afraid that he wouldn’t measure up physically and Alejandro just wants to be a normal guy…one who has a boyfriend willing to stay home and cuddle with him. While he might make his living in front of a camera that doesn’t mean he likes being on display when not working. I also loved that Alejandro was jealous and possessive of the plainer looking Mal, making certain that others knew he was taken. If these two guys can get over a few minor misunderstandings, they have a good chance at long term happiness, and I wish them well.

Book Fetish gave Chasing Silver 4 stars and said:

Very good, and very frequent, sex scenes. If this novel wasn’t so predominantly set in the sci-fi genre, I would have thought it a good candidate for the paranormal romance genre. It's a quick read with a fast moving story-line. Issac’s character is very well written, the perfectly protective best friend and ex-partner, current cop … just the right mix of support and suspicion.

Flashback Friday - Under a Rogue Moon

2008-04-18T23:15:00.000-07:00

Way back when I was first starting out in e-publishing, I looked around at some of the pubs to see if anyone had a submission line they were looking specifically for. One pub was doing twisted fairy tales - I think it was Whiskey Creek - and since I was looking for an idea for my second book, I thought I'd give it a try. 20k into it, I realized that my idea would be too big and the notion of sticking to the original fairy tale too limiting. So I gave up on trying for that and just wrote the story.

The result was Under a Rogue Moon.

If you look closely, you still see remnants of the fairy tale I chose to twist (Little Red Riding Hood). Flanna has red hair instead of a cloak, lives with her grandmother, and the big bad guy is a werewolf. The family business is a bakery, too. But my hero, Jason, broke the mold for me. To date, he is still one of my favorite heroes that I've ever written.

BLURB

All it takes is one bad night for hunter to become prey.

When werewolf hunter Flanna McRae allows a single wolf to escape from her monthly hunt, the last thing she expects is for him to come after her. But fellow hunter Jason Randolph is convinced otherwise. His months-long hunt of the Romm pack has led him straight to the doorstep of her quiet English home. He doesn’t care that his quick-witted charm seems to get under Flanna’s skin. All he wants is to finally get his kill.

Until Flanna manages to get under his skin as well.

Their explosive affair is inevitable, but with the full moon less than three weeks away, Flanna’s convinced they are living on borrowed time. Romm is deadly and relentless, and it’s going to take more than the passion Jason inspires to stop the werewolf from destroying everything she cares about. Or is it finally enough?

EXCERPT

With his new Nissan parked in the drive, the house looked older somehow, more worn around the eaves. Flanna saw the way he looked at everything, not missing a single detail, and yet, Jason never commented on the property, choosing instead to continue with his light gibes that kept her slightly on edge. She took him around the side of the house and showed him the range she used for shooting practice, and then trekked further onto the grounds to take him to the old barn that had been converted into her training room.

“Nice,” he said, standing in the doorway.

The entire space was devoted to the hunt, whether it was weapons preparation or fitness-related. Her father did all his metalworks in the far corner, and most of his silvers were arrayed along the wall behind it, sparking against the aged brick. There was a boxing ring in the opposite corner, and various ropes and punching bags were scattered throughout the barn, giving Flanna ample opportunity to hone any one of her skills.

She watched Jason carefully, trying to best gauge his reaction. He sounded like he meant it, but she got the distinct impression that he was used to more affluent ventures.

He probably saw their whole set-up as antiquated, but then again, he hadn’t made a joke about the space either. Knowing what she knew of him already, that said a lot.

“Did your father train you?”

“Yeah,” she admitted. “He picked this house especially because it had the barn he could use for his weapons and the like. What about you? Is hunting a family thing for you, too?”

Jason chuckled. “Only if it’s got money at the end of the trail.” He was suddenly standing right in front of her, blocking the way out of the barn. “I’ve gotta ask because I’m dying to know, and it’s probably going to make things worse, but what the hell. Why is it you don’t like me?”

Nobody could leave her speechless quite like Jason Randolph. Her mouth opened, closed, open again as her mind searched desperately for some kind of response that didn’t make her sound even more foolish than she already felt. In the end, the best she the best she could manage was, “Excuse me?”

“It’s not that that’s not OK,” he went on. His eyes were twinkling, and his mouth was twisted into a half-smile, but underlying his joviality was a note of disappointment. “It’s just … well, that’s kind of a new one for me. I mean, people don’t usually start disliking me until they’ve had a chance to really get to know what a jerk I can be, and I haven’t been around here long enough for that to happen with you. So, I’m asking. What is it about me that rubs you the wrong way? My devilish good looks, or my sparkling personality maybe?”

The question bothered her. Not because he was asking, but because she suddenly felt like she’d been caught out on something, a child with a shameful secret forced to share it when she really didn’t want to. Her cheeks blazed in embarrassment, and her hair seemed suddenly too heavy down her back. But Jason wasn’t moving from her path. If she wanted to get by him, she would have to resort to being physical, and that would just be wrong on far too many levels. She didn’t have much of a choice but to give him some kind of answer.

“You joke too much,” she said bluntly.

His head cocked in amusement, his eyes narrowing slightly as they regarded her. “So … you have a phobia for funny?”

Her flush deepened. “I just don’t think it’s always appropriate,” Flanna said. “You make light of things that I wouldn’t. What we do … it’s serious business, and it looks like you treat it like it’s not. I don’t care if my father or Guillaume or Tony Blair himself thinks you’re God’s gift, but I think you’re going to get yourself killed. And … enough people die already.”

“What you’re saying, then, is that you’d miss me if I wasn’t around.”

“What? No! Stop twisting my words!” Whirling away, Flanna began to pace the length of the wall, doing everything she could to keep from looking at him. “This is exactly why I don’t like you. You always say just the wrong thing, and it’s … it’s…”

“Sexy as hell?”

“Infuriating!”

She hadn’t realized she was moving so close to him until his hand shot out and
curled around her bicep, forcing her to a halt.

“You accused me last night of being emotionally invested in getting Romm,” he said. Something dark flickered behind his eyes. “You were right. But if I went at all this with the same seriousness you do, I would’ve slit my wrists a long time ago. This is who I am, Flanna. This is how I don’t explode.” He paused, and she felt the slightest of caresses along her arm where his thumb began to stroke it. “Kind of like how you go to places like Rage.”

Her skin was burning beneath her sleeve where he was touching her, and her throat was dry, refusing to work properly in the face of his casual reference to her night in New York. “You don’t know anything about why I went there,” she whispered.

Jason shook his head, the strokes along her bicep growing stronger in tiny, almost imperceptible fractions. “I think I know a lot more than you’re willing to admit.”

When he let her go and took a step away, Flanna stumbled, not expecting to lose the balance he’d been giving her. Already he was heading back up to the house, whistling under his breath. Apparently their conversation was over. Part of her wanted to thank him for dropping it, but another, almost equally vocal part wanted to chase after Jason and make him finish what he’d started. She wanted to know why he cared so much about getting Romm, and she needed him to understand that he wasn’t nearly as astute as he seemed to think he was.

“I’m hungry,” she heard him call out. She glanced up to see him looking back at her over his shoulder, that damnable grin on his face again. “What does a guy have to do to get a hot breakfast around here?”

For more information, visit Liquid Silver Books.

Writer's Block: Time travel

2008-04-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

Question: If you could travel in time, which era would you visit and why?

I love time travel stories, which is weird because I'm not really that keen on historicals, lol. But I think it's because of my fascination of the theme of stranger in a strange land. Feeling like a fish out of water and learning to adjust. Then there's the whole issue of time manipulation. I hate to think about the science of it because it gives me a headache, but the notion of getting to go back and relive parts of your life, or visit a new era, just makes me want to pull out my wallet and buy blindly.

Where would I go if I could? I'm torn, actually. I love the romance of the 30s and 40s, but I would have hated to be a war widow. I love the music and the arts and the way of thinking, but then there's that whole American Depression thing. Still, I think even with all the cons, a major city like New York in the 30's would be my first choice.

Second choice...Scotland before the 1745 Jacobite revolution. I love the Scottish Highlands, so much so that it's probably the only truly cold place I'd consider settling down. I've always felt an affinity for them, most likely because of my love for rolling mountains. To get to experience the wild highlands and the simplicity of life before the Battle of Culloden would be amazing. I'd even be okay with the lack of a lot of modern conveniences. Going back to that time and place just feels...right. Who knows? Maybe I was a Scottish lass in a previous life. ;)

Where would you like to go?

Inspirations - James Marsters

2008-04-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

OK, so last weekend, I was at a convention. A sci-fi convention. Where I got to ogle pretty men and fangirl with online buddies for four days. But here's a confession. While I adore Brent Spiner and Leonard Nimoy is an icon, I really went for one other person.

James Marsters.

For those not in the know, he played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I had never gotten obsessed with a TV show before, or really since, but Buffy was it for me. I absolutely adored that show. Still do. While I love the entire cast and the ensemble aspect of it, my love for vampires - especially ones dragged into being good - meant I fell hook, line, and sinker for Spike.

It wasn't just the leather pants and the British accent and the attitude...okay, it was a lot of that. But James Marsters in the real world had his own appeal...

But it's probably no surprise that the hair isn't natural. Even now, years after the show is over, he's still a gorgeous man...

Do I read or do I listen?

2008-04-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, on my way back from Los Angeles, I stopped in at Barnes & Noble and bought two copies of the same book. Why? Because one is hardcover and the other is the audio book. The book in question is "Small Favor" by Jim Butcher.

I'm very much a fan of the Dresden novels, from devouring all the books to watching the short-lived TV series. But buying the audio books isn't about wanting more Dresden, because ultimately, I've already read the book. No, I buy them for two other reasons. One, they're read by James Marsters, who I adore, but two - and this is the bigger reason these days - it's the only way I can get my husband to share my love for Dresden.

My husband has never read a Dresden novel, but he's listened to all three of the other unabridged audio books and enjoyed them immensely. He loves to listen to them on long trips, and we've had the chance to talk about them, laugh together, get wrapped up in the stories. However, no matter how much he likes them, I can't get him to read the ones that don't have audio books. It's not that he doesn't like to read. He just doesn't have a lot of time for casual reading, even though I've told him time and time again that the Dresden books are fast reads.

I do like audio books, but frankly, they'll never replace a real book for me. What about you? What are your thoughts on audio books?

Monday News Roundup

2008-04-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Prisilla Alston at JERR reviewed Chaos & Communion and gave it 4 1/2 stars:

This is the fifth book in a series from this author, but without having read the other four books, this one can definitely stand on its own. The theory of the book made sense, and I was able to follow along with where the author was going with these engrossing characters. Clearly, Emma and Gideon are in the relationship for the long haul as they work diligently to heal the man they both love. They see he's not the same, and so do we, as he struggles to come to terms with what happened in his life. There are other secondary characters that are eager to fill us in on the entire novel. While we feel the love as it surrounds us by the main characters, this is not a "cutesy" romance. The sex scenes were strong and pulsing page turners that easily drew me into their erotic web. As this is a story about a dominant vampire and his submissives, I fully expected to see some blood play, and it definitely didn't turn me off. In fact, those not into the lifestyle may be surprised at how turned on you are by some of the sexual acts. The book was very well-written and I didn't have a problem until I got to the very end. It wasn't a bad ending, but somehow seemed incomplete. Perhaps there is a plan for another book, causing things to seem unfinished. To find out if Jesse gets healed and some of the things he experiences through the process, I encourage you to read The Master Chronicles V: Chaos & Communion. Despite my disappointment with the unclear ending, I highly recommend this book.

Elisa Rolle reviews Out of the Storm

Jay Archer is a park rancher who needs to evacuate a flood zone full of tourist. Nick Lau is a television weather man who has not foretold the bad weather and chose to spend a romantic weekend with his lover in an isolated cabin. But he was dumped soon after his arrival to the cabin and now is mourning and trying to get drunk. And he has no intention to leave the cabin.

At first Jay is all to leave Nick to his depression, but the flood caughts him to the cabin and very near to Nick. Nick all in all is a very handsome and cute guy, and Jay is not the type to deny a man, if he asks and is enough sober to understand what he is asking. So Jay and Nick spend a sexy weekend, but when the rain stops, Jay has to return to his work and Nick to his city... can they find a common path?

Out of the Storm is a sexy little story. Jay and Nick are two characters without inhibitions, and they have no problem to try the boundaries of sex. There is a bit of pleasure/pain game and D/S on both part. Nor Jay or Nick are totally dom or sub, but I think that Nick is the more fragile, he needs reassurance and a man near him who is enough independent to not rely on Nick for everything, but also enough self-conscious to leave sometime the upper hand to Nick.

This is a rather short book, less than 60 pages, and it also spans for only a weekend in Jay and Nick's life, but for me is very enjoyable, and the two characters are deeply enough to allow me to understand them and their reasons.

She also reviewed A Hidden Beauty

The story is very long and it's peaceful and quiet, it flows like a placid river. It starts slow and continues with a almost straight course. But it's very beautiful and romantic. The paranormal event is only a second line aspect, and this is for sure an historical romance. Reading it I remember some biography I have read of poets who chose to live alone far from the so-said civil society, to enjoy the nature and the simple life of the country. In this case there is also the matter of homosexuality, and Jefferson chooses a self-imposed exile to avoid the consequences of a sexual scandal in the scholar Harvard community.

Almost all the story is setting in Jefferson's cottage, and in a very small village, and both Micah than Jefferson come from wealthy family who provide for them, and so they live in comfort. But more than the historical accuracy of the setting, it's the sensuality between the two men that draws me, the poetry that becomes love stimulation, the words that become sex toys...

Beautiful cover that enlights you in one of the sexual game they play... you should read it!

Tina at Two Lips Reviews gave Mine 5 Lips and a Recommended Read!

Jamie Craig gives you sex, more sex, and intrigue in Mine. There are a lot of twists and turns in this story that are sure to keep you guessing. There are also a lot of things at play in this book, you might not realize at first. The surprises will leave you wondering until the very last page is turned. Eric is dominating, endearing, and completely not what you would expect. Is he really a stranger? Or is there more to this? Travis also has his secrets. Is he the lover in this story? Or a mad man carefully in disguise?

This story has many levels of mind games, as well as body games. I loved how it is written. It keeps you wondering and completely off guard the whole time. You won’t be disappointed in this book. But just to let you know, it’s not for the faint of heart. There are extreme sex scenes in Mine, as well as extreme violence and extreme blood. But it’s well worth it! This is part of the Calendar Boys series. Mine is a great read. Ms. Craig gives you everything you could want in a story: sex, intrigue, and true love, with a final twist that makes you want more!

Flashback Friday--The Streets of Florence

2008-04-11T18:04:00.001-07:00

Given yesterday's post about Italy, I thought I would post today about The Streets of Florence. I'm really fond of this story for two reasons--first, because I wrote it while I was in Florence and tried to pack as much of the atmosphere and details as I could and second, because it was the beginning of a so far very happy and lucrative relationship with Amber Quill Press. It was the Heatwave Winner in 2006, and AQP is a by-invitation only publisher. Also, the cover incorporates a photo I took in Florence--the building, not the man.

Anthony has spent his entire adult life chasing Christine, but she never allows herself to be caught. Once he finally stops searching for her, he runs into her on a business trip to Florence. He knows it can only end as it always does, with her walking out and him heartbroken. Nevertheless, he follows her back to her hotel, where he learns a shocking secret that can turn their entire relationship upside down...

And an excerpt.

Christine stopped outside room 207 and unlocked the door. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and unusually naked—unusually vulnerable. Those eyes stung his heart. He’d been driven through the streets of Florence by lust and the memories of it. But now he saw the girl he’d fallen in love with twenty years ago on a bright Sunday morning, and she was all he could see.

Anthony took her hand, gently bringing it up to his mouth. He kissed the knuckle of each finger, barely touching his lips against her skin. Still holding her hand, he opened the door. He inhaled deeply as she brushed against him, intoxicated by the sweetly familiar scent of her hair.

They stood in the room silently, within touching distance, but not making any contact. A purple past swirled between them, almost thick enough to touch, almost thick enough to keep them from touching.

“I missed you,” she finally whispered.

The small concession was enough to make Anthony move. He folded his arms around her, holding her tightly against him, and kissed her deeply. It was like kissing a completely different woman. She didn’t resist him at all, didn’t fight him. She melted beneath him, wrapping her arms around him, responding to his mouth with passionate sincerity.

“Say you missed me, too,” she said against her mouth.

“I missed you,” he breathed, pulling the coat from her shoulders. They let it fall to the floor without a second glance. His hands worked frantically, desperate to get beneath her clothes and touch her soft skin. He pulled her sweater over her head and unsnapped her bra. “I missed you, I missed you.”

They tumbled backward to the bed, Anthony still undressing her as they moved. Christine stretched out in front of him, as sleek and smooth as a cat in the filtered sunlight. He pulled her lacy thong down her thighs, following the path of his fingers with his lips.

“I missed you,” he murmured against her thighs like a prayer. “I missed you.” He licked the sensitive skin of her inner-thigh, tasting the salt-sweet spice of her skin. “I missed you.” What he meant was I love you, and they were the last words he could speak now.

Writer's Block: If you were independently wealthy...

2008-04-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

If you were independently wealthy, where in the world would you live and how would you spend your time?

This is easy. I currently live in Utah for various reasons (education, work, family), though I don't necessarily love it here. I mean, I grew up here. I have roots here. A lot of who I am and what I believe stems from my years in Utah, but I don't really love it here. The winters are long and sucktastic. There are strange liquor laws. Once you venture out of Salt Lake City, you're entering a strange no-man's land, where everything closes at 8 on the weeknights, and nothing is open at all on Sunday. Of course, there are good things, too. But I usually joke that I hope my exile is temporary.

Due to that joke, most people probably think I would live in California if I could live anywhere. That makes sense. I love Los Angeles. Vivien lives in California. My husband is from California, and a good number of my family lives in California, too. I love the convenience, I love the variety, I love the sheer number of, well, everything and anything. Not that California is perfect. It's too hot half the year. The freeway system and traffic is really frightening. Oh, and it's expensive. Everything is expensive.

But I don't want to live in California.

I want to go back to Rome.

I spent three weeks there three years ago. For about six months after I returned, Rome was all I could talk about. I love every single thing about that place. Yeah, I nearly got mugged there. Yeah, sometimes I got lost and it was scary. But it was so beautiful. So perfect. And I felt like I really, really belonged. I periodically get "Rome sick." I want to go back there with my sister next year, and we've discussed the logistics of living there for a few months, because she feels the same way I do. Watching movies set in Rome is difficult--I had a hard time with Roman Holiday!

As for what I'd do there, I would write. I would visit churches. I would watch the sun set from the Spanish Steps. I would go to museums. I would sit in cafes and drink cappuccinos and smoke Camels. I would go to concerts at the Coliseum. I would go out and walk every morning at 6, so I could watch the city wake up. I would take the train to Florence and Napoli. I'd go to Venice and Tuscany. I'd drink wine with every meal. I would absorb the history of Rome through my skin and my tongue. I'd get by on a little bit of Spanish and learn Italian. I'd watch MTV Europe, and movies dubbed in Italian. I'd take trips to Spain, to France, maybe even Greece. I would eat McDonalds when I got homesick, and have pizza every day for lunch. I'd take a nap every afternoon during siesta. I'd go out on Saturday nights and risk the pickpockets to wander the streets with the rest of Rome. I'd go to soccer games. I'd buy cheap sunglasses and cheaper purses from street vendors.

Incidentally, I wrote The Streets of Florence while I was staying in Florence. I'm not good with photographs or journaling. It's the postcard I wrote to myself.

Insipration--Toys

2008-04-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

I was looking through Extreme Restraints, as I'm sure most people do when they're bored, and I came across two, well, favorites of mine. I mean, I don't own them and I never used them, but I sure like the way they look! The first is The Back Stockade (NSFW) and the second is The Gates of Hell (very NSFW!). I was so inspired by these items, I had to write something using them!

Check out Jesse's latest blog to find out just how Gideon would use those two toys on a very eager, and very willing, Jesse.

Why, yes, those are my pointy ears...

2008-04-08T08:29:00.000-07:00

In two days, I leave behind my family to drive 6 hours to LA for a weekend of fangirly fun. I'm not driving alone, thank goodness. A very good friend is driving the couple hours to my house and then I'm taking both of us down. Thursday night, we're parking our butts in seats to watch Wicked, and then on Friday, we go check in at the Grand Slam Sci-Fi Summit. What's this? A sci-fi convention? Yep. A weekend of sanctioned celebrity staring.

I started going to cons after I got hooked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. At first, it was about the excitement of seeing the actors I adored so much in person, but now, four years on, it's about a weekend of just letting loose and hanging out with the friends I've made in the fandom.

This weekend, I'm crashing at a friend's apartment, along with half a dozen other women who have been brought together by this love for a TV show. I only get to see most of them once a year, but honestly, these are some of the most wonderful people I've ever met. For four days, we hang out, fangirl over gorgeous men, dish on all the things we loved and hated about our cancelled show, and just let loose. I don't get to do that very often. I've got two kids, 8 and 6, which means lots of little things always demanding my attention. Getting to escape for this weekend means a few days of letting those responsibilities go. Recharging. Relaxing.

Of course, Pepper isn't thrilled because our writing time gets cut into. But I'm flying to Utah at the end of the month to stay with her for a week for her graduation, so I figure it all shakes out in the end.

Besides, I know for a fact that if she lived closer, she'd go with me. Leonard Nimoy? Brent Spiner? James Marsters? All in one place? In a heartbeat.

So what do you do to recharge?

New Release: A Hidden Beauty

2008-04-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

I love poets. I love Romantic poets. I love Romantic poets that were gay, had gay experiences, or rumored to be gay. My very real fascination with Romantic poets led to this novel. Vivien indulged me in my desire for hot gay poets, hoping it would help me get it out of my system. Of course, it didn't because hot gay poets are hot! And our gay poets, Jefferson Dering and Micah Yardley, are super hot.

Poetry drew them together. Forbidden love bound their hearts.

A student of letters, Micah Yardley wants one thing: To meet Jefferson Dering, a poet he’s long admired from afar. After hearing his idol speak at Harvard, Micah travels to Jefferson’s home in Wroxham, entertaining visions of discussing poetry over dinner and drinks. What he experiences exceeds anything he ever anticipated.

Jefferson finds Micah mesmerizing, passionate, everything he has ever wanted. But ten years earlier, caught in a compromising position with another young man, he exiled himself from Boston and proper society. Now Jefferson represses his desire out of respect for Micah, but his tumultuous emotions stir the restless ghost of Wroxham church—with deadly consequences.

Amid denial, desire, and the villagers rising panic, a single kiss is enough to change the course of their lives…and ignite the flame that could fulfill a generations-old promise.

Warning: Contains explicit male/male sex, men who love poetry, and unrestrained love letters.

And now an excerpt.

Turning on his heel, he grabbed his coat, ignoring Ewan’s frown. “I’m going for a walk. Don’t wait up for me.”
After Ewan’s earlier assessments, Micah half expected to be stopped. But Ewan let the door click shut behind him without argument, and Micah fled the inn for the welcoming night.

Micah went directly to Jefferson’s home, though he suspected it would be a fruitless journey. The windows were dark, and nothing, not even a hint of smoke, rose from the chimney. The house didn’t look empty. It looked abandoned. Micah shook his head and tried to tell himself he was being ridiculous. Jefferson hadn’t fled Wroxham.

Micah narrowed his eyes and surveyed the area. Every window in the village blazed with light, as though nobody wanted to be alone in the dark. Every building seemed brimming with life, with smoke from the fire, with the smells of supper. Every building except Jefferson’s cottage and the church.

Micah didn’t hesitate. He crossed the small town square with long strides. A full moon sat, fat and white, just over the horizon, allowing enough light to move with ease. Even from a distance he could see the church door was not shut all the way. Had the hinges been damaged earlier? Micah certainly wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case.

Jefferson’s voice drifted from the dark shadows. “Not tonight, Micah.”

Though he paused on the threshold, Micah squinted in order to find his friend. “Why
not? Would you really send me away?”

“I would. You should go back to your room.” The rising moon cast more light through the church windows, and he saw Jefferson’s familiar form in the middle of the aisle.

“Perhaps we can meet tomorrow.”

“I don’t want to meet tomorrow. I wish to see you tonight.” Even to his ears, he sounded like a petulant child. Micah cursed his impatience and took a step into the church. “You’re my friend, Jefferson. As such, I refuse to look away simply because you wish to shield me from whatever is troubling you.”

Jefferson took a step back, maintaining the same distance between them. “Micah, if you are my friend, you’ll accept my wishes.” After a week of listening to Jefferson speak, he was intimately aware of each nuance in speech and tone. Each word seemed to come with great effort. “My wish is for privacy.”

“Then you would have stayed locked up in your home.” He pushed the door shut behind them, blocking out the moon. “I know you. I know you come here when you seek solace. Why is it so difficult for you to accept my solace instead of a cold, empty church?”
Jefferson made a short, strangled sound that might have been an aborted laugh. “You really have no idea what’s going on, do you?”

At least he wasn’t insisting Micah leave anymore. That was a good start.

“No.” Micah ventured further into the church, until he stood at the end of the aisle. It was then that he realized he’d been mistaken. The church wasn’t cold. It was as hot as an August day at noon, and he had to unbutton his coat in order to relieve the sudden discomfort. “Why don’t you tell me, Jefferson? Why did you flee this morning?”

“Because if I stayed, it would only get worse.” He walked to the front of the church, putting the length of the building between them. “There’s a spirit here, Micah, and I don’t understand how, but he…he responds to me.”

“A spirit?” More than one theory that day had posited such an option, but Micah had dismissed it as foolhardy. It was inexplicable that Jefferson would subscribe to the same theory. “Surely, you jest.”

“Do I look like I’m laughing?”

Since Jefferson still faced the altar, Micah couldn’t discern what exactly he was doing, though the harsh tone of his voice made it clear that laughing was not it. But he still didn’t understand how a rational man such as Jefferson could believe in spirits.

“Does he haunt you then?” Micah edged to the far right aisle. Jefferson might insist on keeping the distance between them, but he couldn’t hide from him completely. “How can you even be sure your spirit is male?”

“He doesn’t haunt me.” Jefferson seemed too distracted to notice him, and Micah inched closer to him. “He haunts the church, but he only manifests himself to me. Usually. I know who it is. His name is…was…Joseph Mather. He was a traveling minister. He helped build this church.”

“You said your grandfather built this church.”

“He did. They built it together. Joseph had been an apprentice to a carpenter before he decided to preach the Word. He died here. Before it was finished. He took his last breath over there.” Jefferson gestured at the pew—their pew as Micah was beginning to think of it. “I found letters of his once, tucked into the Bible my grandfather kept. They…Joseph and my grandfather…were very close.”

The ache in Jefferson’s voice drew Micah irresistibly closer. “Like us.”

“Yes,” Jefferson said hoarsely. “Exactly like us. Perhaps that’s why…”

Micah waited for Jefferson to finish the sentence, but it never came. Pain tore through him. He hated seeing his friend like this, in such obvious torment.

“Is the spirit hurting you somehow?” he asked, hoping to prompt more details.

“No, but I am likely causing him a good deal of pain.” Jefferson looked up and blinked. He moved to take another step back, but he didn’t have anywhere else to go. “And you…Micah, please, just stop. Don’t come any closer. Please.”

And the link with more information.

New Release: My Masked Mistress

2008-04-07T16:01:00.000-07:00

In one sense, this book is not a departure for us at all. In the other sense, it is a huge departure. This is our first book (though hopefully not our last!) that features a BDSM relationship with a female dom and a male submissive. It is part of Amber Quill's Masquerade collection, and it begins at a literal masquerade party, but it's all about the masks we wear...

Nobody can hide their secret desires behind a mask for long...

Dante Frost is a very powerful man. The young CEO of Foster and Howe, he is forced to make several sacrifices in his public and private life. First and foremost, he can no longer frequent the BDSM club Switch, where he is a devoted and well-trained sub. Dante thinks that life is completely behind him. Until the night of the annual Halloween masquerade party, when he meets a most captivating Mistress.

Noelle Farinas is a very driven young woman. When she is passed up for a much-deserved promotion at Foster and Howe, she immediately begins looking for ways to prove to Dante Frost that he made a mistake when he overlooked her. Her research leads her to Switch, where she learns of Dante’s history at the club. She hatches a plan to lure Dante to her at the annual masquerade party, but she never counts on enjoying her session with him.

And she certainly doesn’t expect Dante Frost to ask for a more permanent arrangement between the two of them...

Genres: Contemporary / BDSM / Rubenesque
Heat Level: 3
Length: Extended Novella (34k words)

Here's an NC-17 excerpt. A little taste...

“Don’t you look pretty…” And he did. The natural pout of his lower lip glistened from where he’d licked it recently, and the bend of his shoulders delineated the sharp lines of his chest. Noelle stepped in front of him, savoring his warm breath fanning across her thighs, and let the whip trail over his thick erection. “It’s too bad we don’t have any of my toys. You’d look even prettier with one of my spiked cock rings on.”

His cock jerked against the whip, and she knew he was responding to the image she had planted in his brain. Now she wished she had other toys, as well. A weight for his balls, a collar to fit around his neck with a short leash, chains for his wrists and ankles. His gaze dropped from her face to the whip, and his lips parted, his body already tensing in anticipation.

“Oh, you like that, don’t you?” Lifting her leg, Noelle rested her foot on Dante’s
shoulder, her sharp heel digging into muscle above his nipple, and pushed him back so that his shoulders were braced against the edge of the bed. “When was the last time you had a whipping, boy?”

“Years, Mistress. Four years.”

Four years. The lapse coincided with his promotion to CEO, the last time he’d visited Switch. In all that time since, he hadn’t taken another lover who’d satisfied his submissive streak. Probably out of fear of risking his new position. And yet, here he was, willingly offering himself to Noelle. It had even been his idea to invite her up to his suite, though she knew she had done everything she could to entice him. Part of her had always feared, though, that she wouldn’t be his type. The few women he’d been seen with since taking over Foster & Howe were all petite. With her generous size sixteen curves on her five-nine frame, petite was the last word that could ever be used to describe Noelle Farinas.

“Do you want to rectify that tonight?”

“Yes, Mistress.” The answer was immediate and measured. Despite the years, Dante hadn’t forgotten his training, it seemed. And she was a little surprised at how easy it was for him to slip back into this role. Four years was a long time, and he was a powerful man, but apparently, none of that mattered. “Please.”

“Wonderful…” she breathed. Tilting her head, she regarded the sculpture of his torso, the slim hips, the wet tip of his arousal. Her pussy clenched, and she wondered what it would feel like to sink down on its thick length. “I’d usually give out a harsher punishment for ogling me without permission, but considering how long it’s been for you, I won’t whip your cock. Yet.” Noelle dropped her foot and stepped back, giving him room to move again. “On your hands and knees. Head down, ass up.”

Dante dropped forward as soon as she finished speaking, bending until his brow touched the thick carpet. She dragged the tip of the whip up the slope of his back slowly, then down the crack of his ass until she reached his balls. He didn’t make a sound, but his body was tense, and she thought she saw a small tremor in his thighs.
Noelle swallowed. As excited as she was, this was the true test. She had been Mistress Rosalind’s apprentice for months now, and while she’d had several subs at Switch, it had always been under her Mistress’s watchful eye. The inexplicable desire to do this right—to do this well—surged inside her.

“I expect gratitude, boy. For each and every stroke.”

And with her final command, she swung the whip, electricity shooting up her arm as the leather made contact with the lower swell of his ass.

Dante cried out, his body jerking forward. The sound of the whip against his bare skin was almost as loud as his shout. “Yes, Mistress, thank you.” She pulled back and let the whip come down in the same spot. His skin was already turning pink, and a few more blows like that would make the skin red. “Thank you, Mistress.”

Never had the words been so intoxicating. It wasn’t just that they were testimony to what she was doing to him, how hard and hungry for this he was; it was that this was Dante Frost who was thanking her, getting off on her power for a change and not his.
Noelle struggled to keep her breathing under control as she let the whip fly again and again. She needed her strokes smooth and even, but just when his cries started to take on a raw edge of pain, she stopped.

“You look good enough to eat like this,” she purred. Bending over, she smoothed her palm over the enflamed skin, gasping at the fiery heat that jumped between them. His last shout faded into a moan, and he pushed back against her hand, encouraging her to continue. “Or maybe it would be better to fuck you.” Sliding her hand over, she scratched her long nails between the cheeks of his ass, stopping at the tight pucker. “Ever been ploughed by a strap-on, boy?”

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New Release: Out of the Storm

2008-04-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

This is the fourth in our Calendar Boys series. April, believe it or not, is a difficult month to fit into our theme! And then Vivien remembered that simple rhyme April showers bring May flowers. Unfortunately, in Utah, April showers means "April snow showers" so we didn't set the story in Utah!

When it rains, it pours...

Television weatherman Nick Lau’s romantic weekend with his boyfriend, Austin, ends in disaster before it even has the chance to begin. Austin dumps him and leaves their cabin just as the heavens open, and soon, the mountain is awash in dangerous flash floods.

Park ranger Jay Archer just wants to escort the tourists off the mountain and to safety. But instead, he finds himself stranded in a small cabin with the very attractive Nick Lau. He seeks sanctuary with Nick, who returns the favor by seeking a different kind of sanctuary in Jay’s arms.

And now, as per usual, a never before posted excerpt.

The first thing Jay had become aware of earlier that morning was how warm Nick’s body was pressed against his. The second thing was the ache in his groin. He couldn’t remember the last time he woke up next to somebody so unsatisfied. The worst part was, Nick probably would have let Jay fuck him, if he had tried. But Jay had a little more self-respect than to force himself onto a heart-broken, drunk, confused, needy stranger.

With that in mind, he did his level best to keep his distance from Nick throughout the day. Even so, it was one of the best days Jay had spent in recent memory. Well, one of the best days he spent indoors, with another person. He liked watching movies with Nick. He loved eating dinner with Nick. And as their flirtation intensified, he remembered the way he had felt that morning. Hard. Throbbing. Hungry for more contact. Cold everywhere Nick wasn’t touching him, and scorched everywhere they had contact.

Now that Nick was sober, he didn’t mind kissing him until they were both winded, and Nick’s arousal was pressed against his thigh. He pulled Nick towards the loft, and when the other man didn’t resist at all, his mouth ran dry. But when they reached the top of the ladder, Jay hesitated. He didn’t know if Nick wanted to be in charge, or if Jay should take the upper-hand. And it seemed very important that Nick get exactly what he wanted—and what he needed—out of their time together.

“What’s wrong?” The fingers they had entwined loosened slightly, and Nick’s dark eyes were solemn where they tilted up at him. “If you’re changing your mind…”

“I’m not changing my mind. I just…” Jay studied Nick’s face in the shadows. They hadn’t bothered turning on the light, and the rain made the evening artificially dark. He didn’t think there was any point in explaining himself, or asking for help. Instead of speaking, he took Nick by the shoulders and slammed his mouth against Nick’s, kissing him with more force than he had used before.

Nick whimpered, but rather than pull away, his arms locked around Jay’s back. His tongue answered every assault, and he invited even more by biting at Jay’s lips. Everything about him was deceptive. In spite of his slighter frame, there was a wiry strength in his body as he latched onto Jay, kneading the muscles in his back, grinding against his thigh.

“Thank God,” he breathed when Jay finally let his mouth go. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how good you felt this morning.”

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, either.” Jay pushed him back to the bed, and wished he had more hands. Besides his own sharp desire, he remembered how smooth Nick’s skin was, how it had warmed him. He remembered how well Nick’s body fit against his. But if he wanted to feel Nick’s skin, Jay would have to release him, and he wasn’t ready for that. “I didn’t even want to let you out of bed this morning.”

“So let’s get back in it.”

Nick leaned back, redistributing his weight so that they toppled onto the blankets. Jay grunted as he landed atop him, but Nick’s attack at the sinew of his neck, biting and licking at the tense muscles, erasing any sense of worry. Moaning, he tilted his head to give Nick more room to explore, his eyes drifting shut as sparks shot down his spine.

Nick wasn’t the sort of person Jay typically found attractive. He liked larger guys. Guys who didn’t look like they were carefully groomed and prepared to be on television every night. But as Nick used his teeth and fingernails on his skin, finding sensitive spots to agitate and sooth, Jay realized he was never going to look at potential partners the same way again. Because there wasn’t anything about Nick that didn’t feel amazing.

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News roundup

2008-04-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

Since we have new releases, we'll be talking about those on Monday, which makes today all about our good news from the past week.

Romantic Times reviewed Mosaic Moon in its May issue and gave it 4 1/2 stars:

Vivien Dean and Pepper Espinoza, writing as Craig, bring back all the dark magic, passion and hardcore sex that readers expect in The Masters Chronicles series. There's a good mystery, but the best part of the story is the erotic and sensual relationship between Jesse and his vampire lover, Gideon. The addition of a woman to the mix only heats it up more. BDSM, torture, blood play, M/M and M/F/M sex scenes may make some readers uncomfortable, but those who enjoy dark sensuality will be enthralled. --—Gail Pruszkowski

But the bounty doesn't stop there. At Joyfully Reviewed, Lisa reviewed our February Calendar Boys story, Mine, and made it a recommended read!

February: Mine is a scorching hot slice of m/m BDSM heaven. Talented author Jamie Craig once again gives readers another sure-fire winner with February: Mine, a part of the Calendar Boys series, and a stand-alone hit. Fast paced, great characters and blistering hot sexual encounters made me glad it’s winter because you need cold temperatures to cool off after reading February: Mine. This may be too explicit for some but for those who enjoy a powerful m/m BDSM story February: Mine is definitely for you, plus I would love to hear more from Erik and Joel, please. I joyfully recommend February: Mine a hot hit!

The comments to our post the other day about what readers might want have made us do a lot of thinking, but one idea jumped out as soon both Pepper and I saw it. Maggie mentioned a character blog that another author does, and we knew right away we had to try this.

So now, Jesse Madding from The Master Chronicles is officially on MySpace! Go over and friend him, leave a comment, interact to your heart's content. We want this to be fun for all of us.

Flashback Fridays--The Zebra Wore...

2008-04-04T10:33:00.001-07:00

After the success of The Zebra Wore Fishnets, I became interested in Aden and Kevin's back story. They were clearly very passionate about each other, and they had been together for a long time. Kevin even went to law school because of Aden! So I ended up writing two short stories, The Zebra Wore Black Leather and The Zebra Wore Blue Jeans, and published them with Whiskey Creek Press as a Torrid Teasers collection.

Kevin needs a nude, male model to finish an art project. Aden is the last person he expects to knock on his door. Handsome, charming, and a little dangerous, it's lust at first sight for Kevin. But this lust has the potential to grow into something much more powerful.

And now, a new excerpt.

Kevin studied the sketch in the early morning light, his body tingling at the memory of Aden naked just feet away from him. The image of Aden’s nude body was seared on his memory—all he had to do was close his eyes. He knew he wouldn’t be able to move onto a new project until he finished this portrait, and he suspected that Aden would somehow affect all his future work.

A sharp rap on the door pulled Kevin from his thoughts. “Yeah, coming.”

Aden was leaning against the wall, an unlit cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. “Mind if I smoke?”

“Aden? I thought…I didn’t think you’d be here today.”

“We have a project to finish, right? Also, I still need that cash. Do you have a light?”

“Come in…I…no, I don’t. I don’t smoke,” Kevin said, shutting the door behind him. His heart was lodged in his throat, his breath caught in his lungs.

“Oh.” He tossed the cigarette away before pulling his shirt off. “Same position as before?”

“No…I mean, yes, but the lighting is different, see? We’ll have to wait until this afternoon. You can come back if you want…”

“Well, maybe we can find a way to kill a few hours,” Aden said, sitting on the couch. Grinning, he put his feet up on the table. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s best if you come back after lunch,” Kevin said, handing Aden his discarded shirt.

Aden took it from him, but he didn’t put it on. “Why don’t you like me, Kevin?”

Kevin blinked. “What? I…what? No, I like you. Why do you think I don’t?”

“Well, you beat a pretty hasty retreat last night, didn’t you? And you look less than thrilled now.” Aden stood up, still clutching his shirt. “I guess I read this wrong.”

Kevin’s tongue felt thick and heavy in his mouth. He reached for Aden without
thinking, stopping him before he could turn to the door. “I left last night because I was a little surprised. I mean, I…” Kevin took a deep breath, deciding to tell the truth and damn the consequences. “Tamara is really amazing, and I feel like a fool for turning it all down, I do, but I…”

“What?”

Kevin looked up into Aden’s eyes, knowing that if he did, he wouldn’t be able to lie to him, or turn away. “I want you.”

Aden smiled, stepping closer until only an inch separated them. Kevin looked down at Aden’s bare skin, itching to touch him, kiss him, lick him. It was a physical need, like eating, and the need was accompanied with a physical pain. If Aden stayed, Kevin didn’t think he could control himself. He already felt a little drunk, a little dizzy, just from the close proximity.

“Why didn’t you just say so last night?” Aden asked, his breath warm against Kevin’s mouth.

Kevin’s self-control reached its breaking point and snapped. He grabbed Aden’s shoulder, his fingers digging into Aden’s skin as he crushed Aden’s mouth beneath his, kissing the blond with all the lust roaring through his body. He ran his other hand down Aden’s chest, finally touching the firm skin that had haunted his dreams the night before. Aden kissed him back with as much ferocity, not holding anything back, grabbing the back of Kevin’s head to hold him in place.

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Give us your ideas!

2008-04-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

Well, three months in, and our new blogging schedule is starting to shake out a little. Because of some of the things we've learned, we're going to start some new things in the near future, like spending a day a week talking about our current writing project.

What we're curious is what you would like to see. One of the things we've considered is character interviews. We've seen this a couple places around the web and it always looks like fun. And it's not like we don't have a ton of characters to choose from. But what else might be fun? What else would you want to read?

Make a suggestion in comments! If we end up using your idea, we'll give you a free book of your choosing, a title from any of our three author names.

Inspirations - A Hidden Beauty

2008-04-02T08:20:00.001-07:00

Yesterday saw the release of our Samhain title, A Hidden Beauty, so in honor of that, we're posting pictures of two men who inspired the physical characterizations of our heroes.

First up is Jefferson. Now, Jefferson is the older of our two poets, the more mature, the more jaded. Pepper had a very definite idea about who she wanted - Damian Lewis. He's a British actor who starred in Band of Brothers and Life.

Yes, that's red hair. We love it. He's not sexy in a conventional sense, but there's a magnetism about him that we adore. On Valentine's Day, Pepper posted a video of him reciting To His Coy Mistress. I have no idea how to embed the video, so follow the link and watch. It's amazing.

For Micah, we knew we wanted someone earthier, though Micah is from an upper class family. He's also younger than Jefferson by a decade, so that someone had to look a little more carefree, a little sweeter. We found the inspiration in someone we never expected, gay porn star Rafael Alencar. Believe it or not, this is the first picture I ever saw of the man, but it was finding this one that made us seek out his work.
It was the tousled hair, the bright clear eyes, that really captivated us. It wasn't until later that we saw just how good he looked without his clothes on, lol.

Thinking of these two just makes me smile, but then I have to admit, this one probably ranks as one of my all-time favorites of what we've written. It's one of the most romantic stories we've ever done. Hopefully one day, we'll be able to go back to them.

Not my favorite day

2008-04-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

I have a confession. I absolutely, positively loathe April Fool's Day. Maybe this makes me a grump. I don't know. What I do know is that I am the best possible target for pranksters today. Because I'm one of those people who almost always get fooled.

I'm gullible. There, I admitted it. I tend not to look for duplicity in people or things, and invariably, I completely forget that it's April Fool's Day at all. I fall prey to the slightest of misleads, more than should be humanly possible. And then I get annoyed because I fell for them. Both with myself and the people who trick me.

That doesn't mean some of them aren't funny. I'd probably be laughing my head off at some of them if they happened to other people, lol.

What about you? Are you one of the victims like me? Or are you one of the pranksters who pride themselves on being so clever every year?

News roundup

2008-03-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

Bad Vivien! I got so bogged down in work late last week and on the weekend that I totally forgot about Flashback Friday until Pepper mentioned yesterday needing something to blog about. So the fact that our flashback showed up on Sunday is totally my fault. Hopefully, this week will be better.

We have a new cover to brag about! Our upcoming release for Liquid Silver, Fortune's Return, is about a man who returns to his childhood home after a bad break-up, only to fall for his brother's new ranch hand. Pepper asked that we request David, who did all her solo titles there, because he creates original canvases that then get scanned in rather than using stock photography. The end result is quite evocative, we think:

On the review front, it's been good.

At Romance Junkies, Robin Snodgrass reviewed Chasing Silver and gave it 5 blue ribbons:

Jamie Craig has penned a thrilling adventure in CHASING SILVER. This time-travel romance is filled to the brim with non-stop action, sexy dialogue, and sensual love scenes. Remy is a sassy, street-smart heroine who refuses to give up, no matter what the obstacles. In my opinion, Nathan is the perfect hero for her. He is strong and protective toward Remy even though she is a strong woman who does not need coddling. They work exceptionally well together whether tracking leads, dodging bullets, or just having fun in the bedroom. CHASING SILVER is an inventive and exhilarating adventure that you do not want to miss. The explosive conclusion left me breathless! I cannot wait to see what Craig has in store for these remarkable characters in the future.

Natasha Smith at the same site reviewed Trinity Broken and gave it 4.5 blue ribbons:

TRINITY BROKEN by Jamie Craig took me on a rollercoaster ride like none other. I could not stop reading this book and while I winced, cried, and even got angry at the turn of events in the storyline, I relished and cherished the end result which was a truly magnificent story of love, forgiveness and the ability to overcome horrendous odds to find true love. Quite simply, it was glorious. Sara and Cameron are mates and while they love each other, their ability to love and accept Josh into their lives is very beautiful. Josh had never experienced anything as profound as Sara and Cam’s love and his ability to accept them as well is realistic and often times steamy! The trinity that is Cam, Sara, and Josh is written in such a way that unconditional love is endless – and to me, that is the way it should be.

We've also gotten an early review for our new release tomorrow at Samhain, A Hidden Beauty. Mrs. Giggles gave it an 83 and called it a "romantic gay story." She especially liked Jefferson: Jefferson has that nice tortured artist vibe about him that is most attractive. He doesn't overdo his whining or self-pity, in fact, he's an adorable woobie who is hurt and in need of some TLC.

Last but not least, we have a new contract with Samhain! The story we were working on last week, actually, at our editor's request. Querida is a May/December het novella and is scheduled for a July 22 release.

Flashback Friday on Sunday--Mosaic Moon

2008-03-30T17:09:00.000-07:00

The third book of the Master Chronicles is Mosaic Moon. It's the first menage in the series, as Jesse and Emma finally come to terms with the fact that they really, really like each other a lot...oh, let's not be coy. They love each other.

Emma Coolidge is accustomed to isolation. Born with the ability to read emotions, Emma reached adulthood without learning how to control her special gift, leading to a life of self-imposed seclusion. Until she meets Gideon Keel and Jesse Madding, a vampire fighting for good and his human lover. Both men befriend her and introduce her to people who can help her create a normal life for herself. Everything is great for Emma for the first time in her life—except for one small problem. She longs to be part of Jesse and Gideon’s lives, and their darker games involving bondage and sadism, but believes her desire can be nothing but a private fantasy.

Gideon adores Jesse and wants nothing more than to give him everything he wants. When Gideon realizes Jesse wants Emma, as well, he decides to invite Emma into their games. But a disturbing new crime distracts Gideon from his goal. Jesse and Gideon are forced to investigate a string of grave desecrations that are somehow siphoning power from the most powerful mage in Chicago. They must unravel the mystery of who is stealing Black John’s power, why, and how to reverse it before they can devote their time and energy to their mutual desire for a third in their bed.

Genres: Gay / Ménage (M/M/F) / Bisexuality (M/M) / Dark Fantasy / Vampire / BDSM / Fantasy / Witchcraft / Magic / Mystery / Detective / Series
Heat Level: 3
Advisory: This book contains graphic violence, hardcore bondage and punishment, and blood play. May not be suitable for the more sensitive reader.

And now, for a never-before-posted excerpt.

Emma laughed. "I think you've even got Jimmy Hoffa in there." Her attention returned to Jesse, and she caught her lower lip between her teeth for a moment before adding, "Why don't you come with us? You can see how much a fool I make of myself live and in person then."

A night in Ethan's company, even if it meant spending time with Emma, was not his idea of a good time. He'd probably punch the other man in the face, for one thing. Gideon would approve, no doubt, but Jesse knew he shouldn't put himself in the path of temptation.

"I can't tonight," he said with genuine regret. "We don't really have the time to spare."

"White might be too young for him," Ethan said.

Jesse frowned. He knew the popular dance club, though he really never got the chance to go. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." Emma shot Ethan a small frown. "Ethan just doesn't know you like I do."

"I'll take you dancing, Emma, as soon as we take care of John's case. How does that sound?"

The suggestion was out of Jesse's mouth before he thought to stop it, but the delighted smile she turned in his direction banished any residual anxiety he had about making it. "I think that's a great idea," she said. "We've never had a chance to do that before now. Well, there was Sangre, but..." For a moment, her eyes flickered to his neck, and he knew she was remembering the leash and collar he'd worn the first time they'd met. Her blush deepened, but there was a twinkle in her eye when their gazes met again. "You can handle wearing clothes at a club, right?"

Jesse's lips twitched. "I don't know. I never tried." With a smirk he added, "I guess what I used to go dancing in could generously be called clothes."

"You used to go clubbing?" It was genuine surprise in Gideon's voice. "You never told me that."

Jesse looked up, tearing his attention away from Emma for the first time. "I guess it never came up. But, yeah, I used to go all the time." He smiled a little sheepishly.
"My whole first year at Cambridge is more or less a blur."

"A blur?" Gideon cocked a brow. "I don't believe you."

Emma laughed. "Why would he lie about something like that?"

"Because Jesse never likes to do anything halfway," came Gideon's amused response. "He just wants us to think he was the biggest clubber ever."

"Maybe he was." She turned to Jess, taking a step closer. Her breasts just barely brushed his arm. "Are you sure you can't come tonight? We need to prove Gideon wrong."

Jesse was very tempted to take her up on her offer. The thought of her on the dance floor made him throb. But Ethan shuffled his feet at the door and cleared his throat, bringing Jesse back to reality. But there were other ways to prove Gideon wrong.

"You don't believe me? I have proof."

Gideon leaned against the jamb. "This ought to be interesting."

"Don't move," Jesse ordered before turning to the stairs. He couldn't believe he was doing this. He had never mentioned his clubbing days to Gideon because they were hardly the bright point of his life. And the pictures that remained of those days were private, and probably more than a little silly. Was it some misplaced sense of pride? Was he trying to impress the woman he had already decided would never be more than a friend?

Maybe he just felt like showing off.

He found a half-dozen photos stashed away in an old picture album that he kept in the closet. Each one featured him and one or two other young men--the faces changed from photo to photo, and he had been fucking most of them. Which might have been one reason why he never showed them to Gideon before. His own youth surprised him, and he was half-naked in all of them, his leather pants hanging low on his hips. His eyes and lips were heavily accented with make-up.

He returned to the office and presented them to Gideon. "That's all that still survives."

"No way he gets to see and I don't," Emma announced.

She bounded around the desk to slip past Jesse, into the narrow space left in the doorway at Gideon's side. Her face was bright with expectation, but as her dark eyes settled on the pictures in Gideon's hand, they widened, her smile fading into something more lax. When Gideon slid the top to the bottom of the stack, her full mouth made an o shape, and stayed like that for the duration of the slide show.

She took them from Gideon when he'd gone through all six, flipping through them again more slowly, deliberately, as if she didn't want to miss a single detail.

When she started a third rotation through the pictures, Jesse reached for them and gently pried them from her fingers, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. He pulled the top drawer of his desk open and slipped them inside. "I suppose Gideon could argue that those pictures were posed and don't really prove anything at all," he joked lamely.

"They prove you look hot in eyeliner," Emma offered.

Jesse smiled self-consciously. It was the same smile he always offered when Gideon complimented him. "That's what they used to tell me."

"They also prove you don't have nearly enough leather in your wardrobe." As Gideon shifted his weight, Jesse noticed his definite bulge. "I'm going to have to fix that."

"Yes, I'm sure he looks great in eyeliner and leather," Ethan said from the door. "Emma, didn't you want to get dinner before we went to the club?"

Emma jerked at Ethan's voice, and a flush of satisfaction coursed through Jesse when he realized she'd momentarily forgotten about Ethan's presence. It dissipated quickly, however, when she hurried to his side, slipping into his arm before glancing back at Jess and Gideon in apology.

"Call me about when you want me to help you with this grave robber thing," she said.

Jesse nodded. "I will. Have fun tonight."

She waved and the door clicked behind them. His gaze remained on the empty space she left behind, as though he could conjure her back if he concentrated hard enough. The room seemed empty without her in it. Until he looked over his shoulder and noticed Gideon was watching him--staring at him.

"Well, that was a brilliant move, Einstein," Gideon said dryly.

"What?"

"Getting the girl all worked up and then letting her just walk out of here. I'll bet Ethan thanks you in the morning."

Jesse frowned. "I didn't."

"And you didn't have to pry those photos--those fucking hot photos--out of her greedy little hands, either, right?"

Jesse sat down heavily. "Was she flirting with me, too?"

"She asked you to go out with them. Twice. You do the math."

The math said he might have to admit that Gideon was right. "Was she really worked up? I mean, could you tell she was...aroused?"

The question was the first thing to draw Gideon from his office doorway, coming to the desk to perch on the corner. "Jess, I've been telling you this for days now. Yes, she was excited. It started when you offered to take her dancing yourself, but the second she saw those pictures..." He shook his head. "You never listen to me."

"Oh, my God, and we let her go out with Ethan."

"And you know he's going to take advantage of the situation."

Jesse grimaced. "I can't stand the thought of him touching her."

"Then don't let him." Gideon rested his foot on the chair between Jesse's legs, nudging his aching balls with his toe. "Let's get dressed and go to White."

Jesse looked at him through his lashes. "You do realize I won't be wearing a collar there, right? And I don't own any leather pants any more."

"Trust me. You don't need to get glammed up to get Emma's attention. You walk in there, you ask her to dance, there is no way in hell she is saying no." Grabbing Jesse's hand, he pulled him to his feet, standing at the same time. He grasped his hips, rubbing their hard cocks together with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Do you think you'll be hard like this when you dance with her?"

"Oh, yes." Jesse sighed. There would be no hiding his arousal from her then. The thought sent a hot jolt straight to his groin. He had gone out of his way to hide any sign that he thought of her sexually for the past several months, but knowing he was going to be honest left him relieved. And very excited. "Will you dance with us, too?"

"I think I'd rather watch this first time." Gideon leaned in and licked along Jesse's jaw, ending at his ear. "I'll save my dance for when we get her home tonight."

Jesse shivered. All of his fantasies were so close, almost within his grasp. Could he be just a few hours away from everything he wanted? "I do love it when you watch." He turned his head and kissed Gideon's neck. "Come on, let's get dressed before I change my mind."

Thursday 13--13 Greatest Love Stories

2008-03-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Vivien and I decided to do the 13 Greatest Love Stories. Keep in mind though, these are love stories, not necessarily romances.

Pepper: My first favorite love story is Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara. He knew her, through and through. And I still believe that they found their way back to each other (I'm ignoring the so-called sequel, though).

Vivien: 2.Jamie and Claire from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books. What I love about them, other than the whole transcending time thing, was that it was a relationship that didn't stop when they got older. Jamie and Claire are just as much in love, just as sexy, at 50 as they were at 25.

Pepper: 3. Spike and Buffy Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It didn't end well, but maybe the really great ones never do. I don't know. But she made him want to be a better man, and that always hit me squarely in the chest.

Vivien: 4. Queen Victoria and John Brown. Oh, sure, this could just as easily be Victoria and Albert, because she loved and mourned him the rest of her life. But for me, Victoria and John are even more poignant. Separated by class, they could never acknowledge their relationship in public. Which means, yes, another one not ending well. Wow, we're really depressing, aren't we, lol?

Pepper: 5. Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully from The X-Files. He trusted her. As he said in one of my favorite scenes "You're the only one I trust." He was completely credulous, she was a skeptic, but paradoxically, he was an atheist, and she was a devout Catholic. But despite their differences, they never betrayed each other. I know some people were unhappy with the final episode, but whatever. They kissed and rode off into the sunset together. That's all I ever wanted for them. (Yay, this one isn't depressing!)

Vivien: 6. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. A real life love story. Proof that you can be just as much in love fifty years later. Proof that even in Hollywood, if it's real, it'll last.

Pepper: 7. The Boy and Girl in Once. I was really devastated at the end of the movie the first time I saw it, but they created something beautiful together. Something that will be timeless. I'm not sure if there is a purer sort of expression of love.

Vivien: 8. Harry and Sally. For a long time, When Harry Met Sally was my favorite movie. I love the notion of friends lasting forever, and I love it even more now that I'm married to my best friend.

Pepper: 9. Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock. Regardless of if you "slash" these two men, I think it's clear that they shared a very deep and abiding love. They trusted each other without hesitation. They relied on each other in moments of extreme duress and fear. Kirk made Spock more human. And I dare anybody not to cry when Spock says "I have been and always shall be your friend." I'm feeling a little misty right now. I'd count any relationship successful that had the sort of respect, devotion, and love that those two shared.

Vivien: 10. Navarre and Isabeau from Ladyhawke. Yes,another movie love story. But it's classic! She's a hawk by day; he's a wolf by night. An evil bishop in love with her conspires to keep them forever apart, and yet, they stay together, determined to find a way to break the curse.

Pepper: 11. Beatrice and Benedict in Much Ado About Nothing. Shakespeare's women have a difficult sexual destiny, to say the least. Olivia was clearly in love with Viola in Twelfth Night, but settled for Sebastian out of necessity. Kate was starved and kept in the closet until she started behaving in Taming of the Shrew. Cressida turns into a Greek whore about 2 seconds after she arrives in the Greek camp in Troilus and Cressida. And these are the comedies! But Beatrice...she's different. She's strong and she's smart. She wanted to cut Claudio's heart out and eat it when he wrong Hero! Benedict loved her so much, he was willing to fight his best friend to the death. I think that's the one relationship in all of Shakespeare that actually doesn't creep me out or make me sad.

Vivien: 12. Luke and Laura. I know it's a soap opera. I know it's not considered PC these days to admit to liking them. But Luke and Laura started my love affair with romance. It was all about the adventure, and the epic-ness, and the bad boy with a good girl dynamic. She was spunky enough to stand up to him, yet soft enough to show him he could be better than he ever expected. And he literally saved the world, just for her.

Pepper: 13. Sgt. Nicholas Angel and Constable Danny Butterman in Hot Fuzz. I know, it seems kind of weird. But at one point, somebody in the movie says the following line: Knock down all the little people, and you get to waltz away with the cuddly monkey. Danny is Nick's cuddly monkey--that line is basically a summation of the movie. Throughout the film, we learn that Nick doesn't know how to "stop thinking." He doesn't relate well with people. He's never had a good relationship. But Danny gets through to him. Danny makes him happy. Danny makes him better and he's already a pretty good guy. The best part is that the "subtext" of this film is actually text. Danny is the buddy and the romantic lead.

And they lived happily ever after.

Inspirations - Querida

2008-03-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Since I brought up the book we're currently editing yesterday, I thought I'd share pictures of the model who inspired our 24 y/o Tonio Herrera. His name is Gianni, though I have no idea what his last name is. Of course, I forget my own last name after looking at some of his pictures.

Because two is definitely better than one, in this instance.

This model is a tad more intense than our Tonio. Our Tonio smiles a lot, and is a bit more playful. But still, brooding definitely works for this model.

I cheated and put Tonio in a pair of jeans like this, but can you blame me? Look at this guy!

Because hot men partially dressed in water is always good...

An Age Old Question

2008-03-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

We're in the process of editing a younger man/older woman story (ages 24 and 40), which has me thinking about May/December romances (which is hugely misleading since December implies we're in the last throes of our lives, lol). I have never considered these kind of things very risque or taboo (well, as long as the guy is legal). I'll read them because the leads are hot or because the story sounds interesting, but even though I'm at an age where this should probably be one of my fantasies, it's not.

I think it's primarily because my mother always dated younger men. My parents split up when I was only 7 and though she never remarried, she did date and have several long-term relationships. Every single one of them was with a man younger than her. When I was in college, she was the same age as the heroine we're writing now, and her boyfriend was 25. They were together for nearly 4 years. The boyfriend that came after was slightly older, but then so was my mother, so proportionally, it was the same.

I don't see anything wrong or unusual with these kind of relationships. At all. To me, it's as normal as seeing people of comparable age or a younger woman/older man. It's about compatibility. So what's the appeal? Is it wanting to feel young and attractive? My husband already does that for me. And frankly, any guy can make you feel like that if he's a keeper. So why do readers like this particular type of story?

News roundup

2008-03-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

No new releases today, which means you get week's news instead. We got a new cover last week for our April Calendar Boys story, but since that's coming out this coming weekend, we figured we won't inundate our blog two weeks running with it. We did, however, finish our het song pax, Time in a Bottle, and totally messed up our upcoming writing schedule with a new bunny. We're just pathetic. But it's not our fault. We're blaming Macaulay and Wendy from the pax.

There were two new reviews, too, both from Romance Junkies. The first is for Chasing Silver. Robin Snodgrass gave it 5 ribbons, and said:

Jamie Craig has penned a thrilling adventure in CHASING SILVER. This time-travel romance is filled to the brim with non-stop action, sexy dialogue, and sensual love scenes. Remy is a sassy, street-smart heroine who refuses to give up, no matter what the obstacles. In my opinion, Nathan is the perfect hero for her. He is strong and protective toward Remy even though she is a strong woman who does not need coddling. They work exceptionally well together whether tracking leads, dodging bullets, or just having fun in the bedroom. CHASING SILVER is an inventive and exhilarating adventure that you do not want to miss. The explosive conclusion left me breathless! I cannot wait to see what Craig has in store for these remarkable characters in the future.

The second is for Trinity Broken. Natasha Smith gave it 4.5 ribbons and said:

TRINITY BROKEN by Jamie Craig took me on a rollercoaster ride like none other. I could not stop reading this book and while I winced, cried, and even got angry at the turn of events in the storyline, I relished and cherished the end result which was a truly magnificent story of love, forgiveness and the ability to overcome horrendous odds to find true love. Quite simply, it was glorious. Sara and Cameron are mates and while they love each other, their ability to love and accept Josh into their lives is very beautiful. Josh had never experienced anything as profound as Sara and Cam’s love and his ability to accept them as well is realistic and often times steamy! The trinity that is Cam, Sara, and Josh is written in such a way that unconditional love is endless – and to me, that is the way it should be.

Flashback Friday - Two Lives in Waltz Time

2008-03-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

I am in love with the 30's and 40's. I think it's my favorite time period, in regards to history. If I could just get more people to love it as much as I do - and buy stories about it - I'd write a hell of a lot more set in that time period, that's for sure.

The one story I do have is Two Lives in Waltz Time. It's the longest of all my novels, and probably the most romance-y. I was lucky enough, too, for it to be a 2006 RT Award Nominee. But I got to play in that playground, which made me happy, and ultimately, that's what it's all about.

Art restorer Maddy Cardinale loves her job. In fact, the only downside to working the night shift at her prestigious New York museum is fellow restorer Cash Vinci. As charismatic as they come, Cash is the most confident man she has ever known. He’s also handsome, sexy as hell, and determined to get under her skin, no matter what the cost.

When an unusual painting arrives at the museum, neither of them anticipates the magic unleashed by a fleeting touch of the canvas. Suddenly, Cash and Maddy aren’t in their workshop any more. They are both dressed to kill, plunged into the alternate reality of the posh 1940’s nightclub portrayed in the painting. Even worse, the couple learns all too quickly that the club sells more than drinks, and the only reason Maddy doesn’t have to offer more than a dance to the male clientele is because everyone believes she is engaged to Cash.

Dependent on one another as never before, the pair must work together in order to unravel the spell that has them trapped. Vengeful ex-girlfriends, jealous mobsters, and surprise enemies drive the couple into each other’s beds and hearts, sharing secrets as well as passions. The only question is, will they survive long enough to admit their true feelings to each other? Or will their dance be cut short?

EXCERPT

“What is it you think you’re going to do for the rest of the day?” he asked as she headed straight for her bedroom.

She hadn’t given it much thought. Her only plan had been to get as far away from him as possible.

“Can I make a suggestion then?” he continued when she didn’t bother to reply.

Maddy paused at her door, glancing back to see Cash walk to the large unit along the wall. When he opened it, she saw an antiquated record player tucked inside, complete with records lined up next to it. “What’re you doing?” she asked.

He ignored her query, flipping through the record sleeves before extracting one to place on the table. The quiet strains of something her grandmother used to listen to filled the room, its jazzy undertones warming her with familiarity.

“You don’t know how to dance, do you?” He didn’t pose the question with animosity. It was more of a statement of fact; he’d witnessed her feeble attempts firsthand. “So, unless you want to continue with the barfly routine, maybe I should show you a few steps.”

“You know how to dance?”

The incredulity in her voice earned her a brilliant smile. “You really think I’m going to pass on a way to pull beautiful women?”

When he put it that way… “I thought I was doing fine last night.”

“You were. And you have the hangover to prove it.”

She stood there silently, long enough for the first song to end and the second to begin. Cash never made a move, waiting patiently by the record player, dancing eyes watching her with growing amusement.

“You know this only works if you’re actually within touching distance, don’t you?” he asked when the second song ended as well.

“I’m still thinking about it.”

“Think a little bit closer then.” With a long step, he marched forward and took her hand, leading her back to the open space in the middle of the room. “You didn’t have this much of a problem dancing with me last night.”

Maddy colored at the reminder. “I was drunk, remember?”

The song was a slow waltz, and Cash settled his hand at the small of her back to pull her gently against his body. He didn’t start moving his feet right away, though. Instead, he leaned in, his mouth hovering just next to her ear. “Don’t tell me you can only dance with me when you’re drunk,” he murmured. “Because something tells me you’d feel even better in my arms stone cold sober.”

Then they were gliding, feet shifting those few inches as the music coaxed them into a familiar pattern, torsos melding in a sinuous grace that was pure instinct. She didn’t respond to his playful taunt; there was nothing she could say that wouldn’t incriminate her further.

But as he led her through that first lesson, Maddy hid away her pleased smile. He was right about one thing.

It definitely worked best when they were touching.

For more information, visit Linden Bay Romance.

Writer's Block: You Never Stop Learning

2008-03-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I had to edit the galley for the July print release of our Samhain title, Craving Kismet. Pepper and I wrote CK in August 2006, and it was the second professional title we wrote together. It didn't get released in e-book until 9/07, however, due to our editor leaving at Samhain and our release getting delayed. But in reviewing the galley, I learned one thing.

Pepper and I have come a long way in a year and a half.

Any writer worth her salt will learn with each publication. Editors are wonderful for this. Going through the editorial process, you are exposed to all your flaws in all their glory. The more you do it, the more you see them. The trick, then, is to learn from those. Take what you did wrong and fix it - or at least try to improve it - while you're writing the next manuscript. Not when you're in editing. When you're actually writing. Do this over and over and over, because honestly, you will never be perfect. There will always be something to learn.

When there's two of you, that means you're both bringing unique flaws and crutches to the table. While a second set of eyes might be able to point them out, they might also be blind to them. There are a lot of things in CK I wish I could change, because Pepper and I have strengthened our skills to overcome some weaker elements in our writing. We've also learned what words we favor. For instance, in a lot of our early stories, our characters murmur. A lot. As a result of being exposed to that repetition, we've learned to be far more frugal with our dialog tags.

If we didn't try and take something new from each editorial experience, we'd stagnate, and really, nobody wants that. We always want our work to get better. So don't be fooled into thinking having another person there means you improve twice as fast. But it does mean you don't have to learn how to do so alone.

Inspiration--The British Isles!

2008-03-18T23:50:00.000-07:00

Today is Vivien's day, but she's feeling poorly, so I said I would take over. This is a group project because I have my sisters searching for hot guys. Vivien requested Christian Bale, Jude Law, Gary Oldman, and Gordan Ramsey, and I'm adding a special Ewan McGregor bonus.

To RT or Not to RT

2008-03-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

Last year, I went to my very first RT. I'm not a hugely social person, so I didn't experience the parties and all that. I was there mostly to get a feel for things. I got to meet a ton of people, most of whom I even liked, and I had my very first fan experience when someone early on in the autograph room walked up with a print copy of Two Lives in Waltz Time - her copy - and asked for an autograph and picture. Surreal, to say the least.

This year, in spite of having a mass market paperback out, I'm not going. I probably could, but I'm actually in LA the previous weekend, and to go would mean driving home to San Francisco on Monday, then getting on a flight Tuesday morning and being gone for another week. I decided against it, that I didn't want to go to RT already tired since it's a draining experience anyway.

But I'm curious. Do you go to RT? Why? Do you go as a reader or a writer? Is it honestly worth the expense to you?

News roundup

2008-03-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

So let's see...what's happened in the past week?

Well, we got a new cover for our April release, My Masked Mistress:

Isn't it pretty? We really like this one.

We got some reviews, too. Signey E. Scott at JERR reviewed A Little Bit Bewitched, and gave it 4 stars:

A Little Bit Bewitched is a captivating love story between one woman and two men. At times, I thought the story was slowing down, but the next paragraph threw me right back into the thick of the action. There is a lot of sexual action in this book, including M/F/M ménage, M/M bisexuality, group sex, voyeurism, and exhibitionism. The sexual elements of the story interlocked perfectly with the plot. There wasn’t a tug-of-war between the three because each was the object of the other two characters’ desire. They meshed so well and that in turn made the story enjoyable and worth reading. Daniel is the beta male in the relationship and he seemed to be the one that the others had to walk on eggshells around. Lucy is the mediator of the three. She is their voice and their motivator. Charles is the alpha male. He is the voice of experience and the more dominate to the others’ submissiveness. This book is a story of people being open to other eye-opening experiences and I highly recommend reading.

Pam S. at My Book Cravings reviewed two of our titles.

Brindisi Bedfellows received 5 flowers:

...rough around the edges Tripp had an insecure and uncertain interior that I wasn’t expecting, and his fear almost vibrates off the page. I loved watching Christian grow and become surer of himself under the encouragement and attention of Tripp. When these two men get together, watch out for fiery passion and heat equal to the Italian sun.

I can’t say enough good things about this well written and plotted gem. Between the likable characters, exciting locale, witty dialogue and a villain in Andrew that you love to hate, there isn’t anything about this story that I didn’t like.

Seduction in Black and White received 4 flowers:

Seduction in Black and White takes up where the last book in this interesting and intriguing series, Mosaic Moon, left off. Like others in this dark fantasy series, the sexual encounters between Gideon and Jesse are filled with intense and often painful scenes from their BDSM lifestyle. Yet even amongst the pain and blood, it’s very clear that these two men love and depend on each other like no other, and adding Emma to the mix just gives another layer of depth of tenderness and love to their ongoing relationship.

This author, Jamie Craig, composed of Pepper Espinoza and Vivien Dean, uses rich and vivid details when describing not only the BDSM scenes of our threesome, but the kidnapping and torture of Jesse. You can almost feel the pain and suffering he experiences as he waits for his lover to rescue him, all the while never giving up hope. If this type of material bothers you in any way, then this might not be the book for you, but if you like dark cutting-edge fantasy, then this new keeper will definitely find a home with you. This reader is looking for to the next book in this series, Chaos and Communion.

And an oldie, but a goodie...Unclose Me got 3 cupids from Cupid's Library Reviews:

Jude and Elliot work through the realistic issues revolving around demanding careers and past failed attempts at love to establish a future with each other. Although Jude is an accomplished modern day woman, she still has insecurity issues that she must confront and overcome if she is to find happiness with Elliot. I like the fact that Elliot was willing to commit to fighting for Jude's love and not give up on her. The couple's struggles are very contemporary and the problems they face are believable. The story is very fast moving within a very sweet romantic plot. The characters are likable and written well. The romance and sex in the story are sensual and at times very erotic. Actually, some of the sex in the book are very intense and can be considered unique.

Pepper and I finished and submitted the June installment of the Calendar Boys last night, which means today we're starting a short het novella about a rocker and a folk singer for release in July. Then we've got a gay fantasy we're excited about starting. Full-length novel on that one. You'll probably have to put up with us talking about that one a lot later on.

Have a great Monday!

Just a short update...

2008-03-16T17:13:00.000-07:00

So here I am at Vivien's, and we're trying to finish up the sixth installment in the Calendar Boys series, a little novella called Commencement. Vivien's kids are playing video games with my sisters. And we're all completely stuffed with food. It's actually one of the best days I've had this entire year. It's just really freaking nice to relax, to enjoy the warm California weather, and to do the thing I love to do more than anything--write with Vivien.

Not that this is a good time for me to take a break from reality. I've got my MA exams in 12 days, and I've got to do a conference, and I've got to work on papers. I know that the timing could have been better. But sometimes, you've just go to take a break, you know? Recharge the batteries. In a lot of ways, Vivien's house is becoming the haven I run to when I'm beat from school and the rest of the world. So where do you go when it's time to recharge? It could be a real, physical place, like a house in CA, or just an imaginary space, like a good book, or an X-Box 360 game.

Have a good Saturday!

2008-03-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

Since we don't have a new release this week, we're saving our news roundup for Monday. But Pepper is on her way to my house as I type, and I have cakes to pop in the oven for dessert tonight in celebration. She lets me fuss over her, which is always appreciated, lol.

So everybody enjoy this Saturday, wherever you are, and tomorrow, when I make Pepper blog for her day because she'll be in my living room and can't escape my nagging, she can tell you how awesome my cakes turned out. ;)

Flashback Fridays--Brindisi Bedfellows

2008-03-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

A long, long time ago, when Vivien and I first began writing together (for fun, not profit) we came up with a "bunny" about two jilted men, going off to find comfort and revenge against the one guy who hurt them both. We really liked this idea. In fact, we bonded over it a little. But we never wrote it! Then one day we were discussing submitting something to Liquid Silver because we like to keep a steady release schedule with all our publishers, and I said "Remember this idea..."

My good friend Ann helped us with the title, though Vivien always knew she wanted the word bedfellows involved. My sister had lived in Italy for three months (I've been there too, but only for three weeks) and so she helped us a lot with pictures and details she remembered. All our books are special, of course, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for this project.

Getting dumped is never fun.

Getting dumped by your boyfriend on the eve of your first vacation in six years because he decides to reconcile with his ex-wife is agony.

Heartbroken Christian Davis is drowning his sorrows when his ex-lover’s best friend swoops in and throws his world into chaos. Trip Watson is gorgeous and gregarious and everything Chris doesn’t need right now. But none of that seems to matter when Trip finds out what Andrew did to him. Appalled by Andrew’s callous treatment, Trip announces the best way to get over the break-up – and to rub Andrew’s face in it – is to go to Italy as planned and spend the next three weeks having the time of his life. With Trip.

Mutual lust drives them together. Andrew could very well push them apart. Especially if the truth about Trip’s relationship with him ever comes to light.

The following four days were a blur, mostly because, in the end, Trip and Christian didn’t venture too far from their hotel room for any length of time. Chris seemed more than content to allow Trip to make up for what he was already thinking of as “the Andrew incident,” encouraging long hours spent sprawled atop their bed, mouths and hands doing nothing but exploring the other’s body. That worked for Trip. That more than worked for Trip. It was his favorite method of distraction, and frankly, both of them needed it now. Andrew was being an absolute ass about the entire situation, with the piece de resistance, his nasty closing comment to Trip on the phone.

It hurt. There was no denying it. And Trip meant it when he’d told Chris he was done with Andrew. Not even Trip was that big of a masochist.

It helped to have Christian in his corner. Trip felt more than a little guilty that Chris had found out as he had, but better the truth get out now than later, he realized. It wasn’t like Andrew was even emotionally committed to Trip. Everything he had was saved for Lexie, and it was now them against her and Andrew.

Trip was slowly realizing he liked that arrangement.

At the end of their week in Rome, they boarded the Eurostar to Lecce, ready to begin the second leg of their holiday. All Christian could talk about was the architecture he’d read about, but Trip was looking forward to spiriting him away to the beach. At some point, he wanted to get some photos of Chris, something to remember the trip by after they returned to London. Seeing him lying on the white sand felt like the best opportunity to show Chris that, yes, there was life after Andrew, and yes, he was more than attractive enough to pull somebody more deserving of his company. It would be a shot in the arm for him, Trip thought. And a hot reminder for himself.

After they were seated and had their wine, Trip stretched out his legs so his feet were entangled with Christian’s opposite him. “So six hours until we get there, huh?” he said with a smirk. “Whatever are we going to do for six whole hours?”

Christian smiled. “Nothing that’ll get us kicked off the train, I hope.”

Trip pretended to pout. “Well, that’s no fun. Haven’t I taught you better than that yet?”

Christian sipped from his wine, and Trip couldn’t help but notice the stray drop of liquid that clung to the corner of his lip. “You haven’t taught me anything about the proper way to fool around on a train.”

“We’ll save that lesson for the tube in London. If you can shag on the Underground, you can shag just about anywhere.”

Chris chuckled. “How many times have you shagged on the Underground?”

“Enough to know when the bill are least likely to catch you,” he shot back.

As they laughed together, it dawned on Trip that while he had spent a week with Christian already, he actually knew very little about the other man’s life in London, other than the unfortunate parts that included Andrew. If pressed, he wasn’t even sure what Chris did for a living, and suddenly, the desire to find out was all-consuming. He wanted to know about it all.

“So how long have you lived in London?” he asked. Might as well start off with an easy question.

“Oh, most of my life. Grew up there, then moved back after university. What about you?”

“Moved there after I dropped out of uni. All my family’s back in Southend or thereabouts, so wasn’t too far of a go for me. Only place to be for what I wanted to do, though.”

Christian looked at him thoughtfully. “Shoot for fashion? Or was that supposed to be the job that held you over until you could do what you really wanted?”

Trip didn’t talk about his aspirations much. The people who tended to surround him didn’t much care about art and beauty so much as fashion and parties. But Christian’s positive response to his portfolio gave him courage, and he ducked his head in embarrassment as he made the confession.

“I wasn’t even twenty. I was green enough to think a few professional credits under my belt would mean I could write my own ticket. And in London, if you’re a photographer, you’re either covering the fashion world or part of the stalkerazzi.” He shrugged. “Lurking about in bushes for hours on end wasn’t my idea of a good time.”

“Given your options, you clearly made the right decision. I doubt you’d have the patience to lurk in bushes for hours, anyway.” Chris paused. “It’s worked out, though, hasn’t it? I mean, even I knew your name. And that was before I met Andrew.”

“It has its ups and downs. Didn’t convince Paolo to look at my folio, for instance.” This was going down a path he didn’t care for, and Trip searched for a way to redirect the conversation. “What about you? Bit ashamed to admit it, but I don’t even know what you do to pay the bills.”

“Don’t be ashamed. I haven’t mentioned it because I didn’t think hip photographers would want to be seen with what amounts to a customer service rep.”

Somehow, it didn’t surprise Trip. The way Chris had reacted when they’d first met was indication enough that Trip’s way of life was foreign to him. It was probably why he got the impression Christian thought he was this exotic creature, and while that was a fantasy Trip cultivated for most of the people he met, it didn’t feel right to foster that with this one.

“I’d never see anybody in my family, if that was the case,” Trip replied. Absently, he tilted his foot to run his toes along the back of Christian’s calf. “Nothin’ wrong in bein’ a suit. There’s something to be said for having some stability in your life.”

“What some call stability, others would call bloody boring.” Chris glanced out the window. “Not that I’m bored. I’m mostly not. I was getting a bit burned out, though. You know when you call the bank over a mistake, and the first two people you speak to can’t help? So they kick you up to the manager and by then you’re furious and ready to take it out on anybody, regardless of how innocent they are? I’m the guy who gets that abuse.”

The look on his face made Trip want to close the distance between them and smother him in kisses. He settled for toeing off his boot and sliding his foot up into Christian’s lap, caressing his thigh in long strokes that grazed across his crotch.

“Then it sounds to me like you needed this holiday,” he said. “Trick will be, not to forget how you feel now when you’re back on the job.”

“It’ll be some trick,” Chris said, sliding lower in his seat. “Do you think I’ll be able to find somebody willing to come over to the office every day to play footsie?”

Trip felt Christian’s cock thickening with every stroke along his thigh. “You could have anybody you wanted to, mate. Look at how you pulled that pretty boy our first night in Rome.”

Chris ran his fingers over the top of Trip’s foot. “That was just a fluke,” he said dryly. “Some people are attracted to desperation wrapped in leather.”

Trip regarded him with a thoughtful tilt of his head. “Don’t know about that. You had me long before I got to see you in those trousers.”

Christian offered a wry smile. “So you’re just attracted to desperation wrapped in denim?”

“You don’t seem all that desperate to me now.”

“Only because I’m drinking less,” Chris said lightly, his fingers still dancing over Trip’s foot. Sobering, he added, “Last week I thought, well, not too sound overwrought, but I thought I lost the love of my life.” He grimaced. “Christ, that does sound too overwrought.”

Trip grinned to ease his discomfort. “Look at who you’re talking to. If it’s not melodramatic in my world, it doesn’t get looked at. There’s nothin’ wrong with having feelings. Especially since I know they don’t just go away ‘cause you want them to.”

“No, they don’t. But they do start to fade eventually. Now I’m beginning to feel more like I just lost a year of my life.”

“You didn’t lose a year. You were happy, weren’t you?”

Christian hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. “As much as I’ve tried to convince myself otherwise, it was one of the happier years of my life. Guess that’s why it hit me where I live.” He squeezed Trip’s foot. “Though as far as happy weeks go, this last one is surprisingly close to the top of the list.”

The admission startled Trip with how quickly it warmed his gut, and he had to duck his head to hide his pleased smile. It wasn’t just that it had been a great week for him; it was that someone like Chris, someone without anything to gain, would reciprocate even a fraction of his current contentment. Because that’s what he was. Content. And it was shocking how good it felt.

We all have a special, free bonus scene on the website.

Writer's Block: What's the biggest leap of faith you've ever had to take?

2008-03-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this question, and I've decided i can't narrow it down to just one answer. There were 3 huge leaps of faith I made, and to me, they're all equally big.

The first is graduate school. I still don't know how this will work out for me. I mean, it's not like getting an MA in British and American Literature is a guarantee for a future career. Not even an academic career, because you have to have a PhD to be a full time English professor. I worry about it, because I know what I'm learning in grad school is not just literature. I'm learning to analyze text. I'm learning to teach. I'm sharpening my skills as a writer. These are good skills to have, especially if I don't want to just work in academia. So hopefully, this leap of faith is a good one.

The second is marriage. I got married when I was eighteen, just ten days after I graduated high school. Everybody was against this union. Everybody. People thought I wouldn't go to college. People thought the marriage would fall apart in the first year. People thought I was too young/stupid to know what I was doing. I met my husband when I was fifteen, so I knew him for three years when we got married. But I never really had any doubts that it was the right thing to do. He has always been just what I needed and wanted in a life partner. He supports me in every way possible. He put me through school. He does what I can so I can focus on my writing. He agreed to disrupt our entire lives and move from CA to Utah so I could go to grad school. If I need something, he makes it happen. Yeah, marriage isn't easy. But we've known each other for ten years now, and he's never, ever made me regret my decision for a second.

The third leap of faith I took was when I began selling books with Vivien. Of course, we already knew we wrote well together. We were writing for months before we started submitting our books. But this is my career, you know? I had to have implicit trust in her--in her style, in the way she works, that she won't leave me high and dry when we have contracts to fulfill. In theory, it's a huge risk. But I never really felt like it was a huge risk. Like my wedding, I had faith that it was the right thing to do. And Vivien has never, ever made me regret that decision. In fact, every day I find new reasons to be thankful that we took this leap together. On every level. I never would have met my beloved characters without her--and honestly, a life without Nathan (from Chasing Silver) and Jesse (from The Master Chronicles) is not a life I want to know. We've had more success together than we have separately. And more fulfilling than that, I've found my best friend, the other half of my brain, and somebody who just makes my life better.

So, those were my leaps of faith. Sometimes, you just got to go for it. Though I know that all in all, I am very fortunate (and maybe even blessed) person.

What's the biggest leap of faith you ever took?

Inspirations - Brindisi Bedfellows

2008-03-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

This Friday, we're flashbacking on one of our favorite stories, Brindisi Bedfellows, so Pepper and I thought today, we'd write about our physical models for the characters Trip and Christian. We've mentioned our model for Trip before, actually. It's gay porn actor, Johnny Hazzard.

He's not a big guy and he's adorably New Age-y on his blog, and has absolutely nothing in common with Trip other than his physicality, but we love him anyway.

But when it came to Christian, well, here's a confession. Pepper has a deep and undying love for actor Alexis Denisof.

I don't think it's possible to document just how much she adores him. If I'd let her do this blog, she would have forgotten completely about showing pictures of Johnny, in favor of giving it all to Alexis. In fact, I think the only two people who can possibly compete with Alexis are Jeff Tweedy and her husband.

And there you have 'em. Trip and Christian. And if Pepper doesn't like the pictures I chose for Alexis, well, she'll just have to share her favorites on one of her inspiration days. ;)

In lieu of actual content...

2008-03-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

It's my turn to blog today, but I'm fighting off being sick, and I have about zero interesting creative juice in my right now. I have to take care of myself; Pepper arrives on Saturday and I have to be well for her week visiting me.

But I do have a couple admin things to note. As you might have noticed, our book giveaway guidelines are gone from the sidebar. We tried doing it as a means to encourage people to get involved with the blog, but outside of making a few new friends, it just hasn't seemed to work as well as we hoped. So we're going to discontinue it for the timebeing. Beginning in April, we might try it again as a monthly thing, but Pepper and I are still talking about that.

In the meantime, we'd like to give away two final books, in thanks of continued support, to Cathy and Maggie. Email us at jamiecraigbooks (at) gmail.com in order to collect your prizes. :)

News roundup

2008-03-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

With Pepper under the weather and then trying to catch up this week, we didn't get a lot of writing done. We were, however, blessed with a lot of wonderful reviews.

At the Advent of Dusk received 5 nymphs from Literary Nymph Reviews:

Two different worlds met, merged and made me melt in The Advent of Dusk. The pull between Gideon and Mary conjured up so many emotions I am still reading their story in my head. I love the fact that you see Gideon wrestling between doing what is right and what he feels compelled to do as a vampire. Mary is the kind of character who is hard enough to be viewed as a leader, but still soft enough to represent every woman. Thank you Craig for the passionate trip into your world. Now that I’m here, I plan to apply for residency.

Speaking of Literary Nymphs, they also reviewed a couple other stories, including Mine. Mystical Nymph gave it 4.5 nymphs, and said:

This novella is only 60 pages, but the author has packed a great deal of story into its length, making it a fast paced and enthralling read. At first I wasn’t certain that I cared much for Erik’s character, but I wasn’t long into the book before I understood why he was acting as he was, and I was racing to the end to see what happened next. This vampire has more than enough bad-boy attitude to scare a smart man into running in the other direction…and obviously Travis isn’t as smart as he thinks he is, or he wouldn’t have tried to drug Erik. Erik is willing to do whatever it takes to remove the man he loves from a position of submission and take him back to their home and in doing so will gladly kill Travis.

Joel isn’t much of main character in the first portion of the story. He’s more of a prop that has sexual acts forced on him. It’s only after Erik starts to bleed and feed him, that he returns more to his normal self and the reader sees what kind of a ‘vampire’ he really is. This is the point where he shares equally in the story with Erik, and when their true partnership and love comes to light.

There’s an interesting twist with Travis’s personality at the end which leads to a totally unexpected conclusion regarding his fate that I truly appreciated.

Then, there's the 4 nymphs review I got for Ruby Red Rebels:

I loved the twist of having a vampire peacekeeper as our story’s hero, and the level of personal integrity that he had. This guy is sizzling hot and when he and Serena get together, the sparks fly. He wants her, he needs her and if the only way he can have her is to keep his fangs to himself…them our boy is willing to not bite and tell. I also thought that the idea of having loan sharks that were actually vampires to be rather unique and interesting, especially when Serena and Max used them against Ruby in their quest for the bracelet. That part was pure genius. The secondary characters such as Serena’s father and cousin were few and far between, but adding them in as background information during conversation, still added another level to the story keeping it from being flat and boring.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced and well-plotted story and the witty bantering dialogue between Serena and Max was so much fun that I often found myself chuckling as I raced from page to page. These two are good together and if they can get past some incorrect perceptions, they just might have a chance at long term happiness.

And finally, our first review for March: Kiss Me from Elisa Rolle:

It's obvious that the main character of this story is Alejandro: he is the object of Mal's fantasies and the director of their story, but also Mal has a very lovely role; Mal accepts Alejandro for what he is, and don't put a tantrum when Alejandro has to do his work: in the end it's only sex, and what they have together could be love...

A very interesting story, I loved to read of Alejandro and how he faces his day-to-day "work"; don't know if it's a realistic attitude, and problaby the porn movie market is not so nice and "clear", but nevertheless, Alejandro is a quite original character, and I feel his moves and actions enough "realistic".

Flashback Fridays--Mad World

2008-03-07T16:46:00.002-08:00

On July 5, 2003, I wrote a little short story about a fateful meeting between a cop and prostitute, and I shared it with some friends. On November 10, 2003, that short story was turned into the first chapter of Mad World. The title and the inspiration came from the song Mad World, originally by Tears for Fears, but the version I was listening to was the Gary Jules version at the end of Donnie Darko. I started with the line I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad, the dreams in which I'm dying, are the best I ever had.

I don't write with outlines. I rarely write with themes in mind. Jason and Daisy are hard, scary characters. And the more I explored of their world, the more I fell in love with them. This book is the least romantic thing I have ever written (and yet, I think it's a great love story, I really do), and when I reached the end of the first draft, I understood the theme, or the conflict. What happens when your soul mate is the person most likely to destroy you.

I can honestly say, without exaggeration, that there is more of myself in that book than any other I've written. It went through approximately six drafts and revisions. I worried about every single word, every single moment, every single kiss, every single fight. Not that the book isn't flawed. It is. But I still love it.

For all my hard work (and I never worked so hard in my life) nobody wanted to buy this book. Every publisher I submitted to rejected it because it wasn't romantic enough, because there's too much sex, because Jason is not a likable hero. He isn't. He's an asshole. And Daisy is damaged to the point that she can't be fixed. They fuck, and they fight, and they bleed each other literally and metaphorically, and they're cruel, and they fall in love out of spite.

Though it is now published with Whiskey Creek, it barely has any sales. And I think that's always going to hurt me. I have other books that didn't sell well and will never sell well, but I barely give those a second thought. I don't have any other book that feels so much like it is my baby.

Anyway, here's the blurb:

Mutilated corpses litter Pomona, California, and Detective Jason Squires is pressured to find a killer who leaves no evidence. His private life is a nightmare as well. Estranged from his wife after the death of their infant son, he finds himself in the grip of growing obsession with young prostitute Daisy Winters.

As Jason and the killer dance around each other, Jason is increasingly distracted and frustrated by Daisy, who never loses control in their mercurial, passionate, and violent relationship. When the killer closes in on Jason—first murdering his wife, then targeting Daisy—the detective discovers that his lover doesn't need his protection.

Daisy is willing to do whatever it takes to protect herself and her interests, and she will take down anyone who gets in her way...including Jason himself.

Mad World is the story of Jason and Daisy. Their lives are tied together forever by an agonizing love and intense passion, and neither will escape the situation unchanged.

Here's an excerpt:

One eye was swollen, as well as her lip. A bruise had blossomed across her cheek. Her other bruises had just started to fade, and now her face was fucked up again. As fresh rage washed through her, she grabbed her purse. Inside was Warren’s wallet.Just the sight of the faded and used leather made her feel better. She needed some new clothes, and furniture, and he had several credit cards. She’d max them out before he even knew they were gone. He also had several hundred dollars in cash, and that made
her smile, though it hurt her lip.

Daisy tried not to think about what Jason would do to her when he saw the evidence of what had happened. Draco would have devised clever schemes to punish her without adding more marks and bruises to her body. She didn’t want him to see how angry
and helpless she felt either. She didn’t want him to know that she was so weak…didn’t want him to think that she had any weaknesses.

Because he would be wrong.

Finally, over an hour after she stepped into the shower, she felt like she could face Jason. He’d take what he wanted from her, and hopefully that would be enough to make him leave. She’d just close her eyes and think about the fact that she was at least six hundred dollars richer. In a few days, she would have enough to get the fuck out of Dodge. A small part of her hoped that he would just want to take care of her, but she squashed that thought as soon as she had it. It would be stupid and ridiculous to think for even a second that Jason would have any sort of gentle or benevolent feelings for her.

She wasn’t in the least surprised to see Jason stretched out in her bed, like he owned it. His brow was creased, and he was tapping his fingers nervously. It looked as though he was deep in thought. Without speaking, Daisy laid out on the bed, still unable to really look at him.

He quietly hooked his finger around her chin and forced her to look up. Jason examined her face and then stood up. It wasn’t long before he returned with ice, wrapped in a towel. He sat down on the bed again, and gently placed the ice on her eye. Daisy waited for several minutes, but Jason didn’t make another move
towards her.

Daisy didn’t know how to react. Should she thank him?

Should she tell him it wasn’t necessary and to get the fuck out of her house? Should she give in to the rage that still threatened to overtake her and take it out on him? She could scream and punch and kick and claw and lose herself in his familiar, known violence. He could take it. But he wouldn’t.

Blackness welled up inside of her, and all she could see and feel was coated in it. The resolution that she had made in the bathroom to make Warren pay was lost. The joy over the money and credit cards slipped away. She closed her eyes and imagined putting an end to the constant pain with one final bang of fury and passion.
She could push Jason and push him and push him. Every button, every sore spot, everything he didn’t want her to touch. Then all her problems would be solved.

Daisy could see it clearly. It flashed in her mind like a bright Technicolor movie, everything sharply in focus. He’d pound into her and she’d sneer and laugh and mock him until his strong fingers wrapped around her neck and squeezed, until the world turned fuzzy, then gray, then black. Just like that.

“Jason?” Her voice was soft so she wouldn’t betray her emotions.

“Hmm?” Jason moved the bundle of ice to the other side of her face.

“I’m…tired.”

“Okay.”

“I mean…” Daisy paused and shook her head. “Look, if you want to fuck me, can we just get it out of the way? I want to go to sleep.”

Jason pulled the ice from her face, and set the towel on the floor. “It’s a chore, then?”

“It’s always a chore. Everything…” Daisy sighed and turned her head. “I just want to sleep.”

“Then go to sleep,” Jason replied indifferently.

“You don’t want to…”

“Go to sleep Daisy.”

“Are you staying here?”

“Do you want me to?”

The question seemed genuine and sincere. In her mind, she felt his hand on her throat. In reality, it fluttered above her face, the tips of his fingers barely touching her. Daisy didn’t speak immediately. Instead she turned on her side away from him and flipped off the light. When the darkness had safely fallen over them
and obscured her face, she answered softly, “If you want to.”

Jason did.

More information here.

Writer's Block: So far in 2008

2008-03-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I was looking at the schedule for my kids' school, trying to determine if a playdate was going to interfere with something. Lo and behold, there's the reminder that spring break is at the end of this month. Only a little over 2 weeks away. My first thought was, "Where did 2008 go?!?"

Seriously, I find it very hard to believe it's March already. My daughter started softball practice last night, even. The weather is nice enough here in the Bay Area that she wore shorts. Spring is right around the corner.

It all makes me wonder what I've accomplished in 2008 so far. Writing has been a little slow because of Pepper's school. So far, we've submitted only 4 Jamie Craig stories, though we've written 5 - 2 Calendar Boys stories, Fortune's Return, and the next Master book. I haven't actually finished any of my solo titles, though I've been chipping away at those when I can. But we have been keeping mostly up on the blog, and I've done a lot of editing, so it's not like we haven't been working.

I've managed to stick with my guns in re-organizing my house, too, so I'm feeling good about that. My guitar lessons are back in full swing, and my teacher tells me that I don't suck, which is always reassuring to hear, lol. I finally managed to return those movies back to Netflix, and I signed up for Freecycle in my area to clear even more unneeded stuff out of my life.

So while I wonder where 2008 is already flying by, taking stock reminds me that I'm not letting it slip by without care. I really am getting stuff done in 2008.

What about you?

Inspirations--Wilco

2008-03-05T10:43:00.001-08:00

I'm still feeling under the weather. My fever broke, but my throat is sore, my sinuses are sore, my back is sore, and I'm exhausted. But, time stops for no man, and I have a lot of work to do! So I rejoined the land of the living, and I'm hoping to get through my classes without passing out. In the mean time, I thought I'd blog about a source of inspiration who is not exactly a pretty face---Jeff Tweedy, the singer-songwriter-frontman for the band Wilco. Hey, I'm sick. I can blog about what makes me happy.

I'm in love with Jeff Tweedy. My husband understands. I think he's in love with him, too.

Here's Jeff, looking thoughtful in his jean jacket.

Here's Jeff, looking thoughtful with his guitar.

This is Jeff, proving that not only is freaking brilliant, he's a fan of The Colbert Report, which automatically makes him about 100x cooler.

This is Jeff on one of his solo shows. I saw Jeff when he was doing his most recent solo tour. He played in San Diego in a really small venue. It was an amazing experience.

This is Jeff when he was very young and played in the very influential band, Uncle Tupelo.

Jeff is also a very cool guy. He's the coolest guy I ever heard of. You can get a sense of just how cool he is by looking at his wardrobe.

Finally, here is a track from Wilco's latest album, Sky Blue Sky. It's my favorite track. It's also brilliant live. I got a chance to see Wilco for the fifth time in August, in Berkeley. But only because Vivien agreed to go with me and let me stay in her house. See how much she loves me? She even caters to my Wilco addiction. Anyway, here it is, Impossible Germany.

Best Friends

2008-03-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

This is a very weird week for me. Pepper is sick and in bed, under both my orders and her family's. She's probably been online for a total of half an hour in the past three days. I finished my editing (with only a galley due by 3/14 so I'm taking a little break) on Sunday, so yesterday, I picked up my gay vampire story for Amber Quill (which is frightening me a little because I'm already at 12k and these two haven't even kissed, and I think I added an extra layer of complexity to the plot last night, oops). So it's been productive.

But when Pepper isn't around, something feels off. It doesn't matter how productive I'm being, or how busy I am. If I go hours without saying something to her, I get antsy. I even borrowed my husband's blackberry on the night we went out to a concert because I was bored by the opening act (and he wasn't), and I hadn't spoken to Pepper in...drumroll...9 hours!

I know how she feels now. I traveled a lot last year when I wasn't accessible. A car trip across the country, flights to England from California...she always says she's bored when I'm not around. We don't need to be writing. I just need to be able to talk to her. She's my best friend. The one person in this world where there is literally no topic that's taboo. (Of course, she's learned that I don't give a flying fig about football, or a couple other topics, so she doesn't even bother with those anymore, lol.)

I'm missing her today because she's still under the weather. I wish more than anything that I could magic away her flu. Even if being sick is bad enough, this is a really crappy time for it to happen.

Do you have a friend or someone who's like your right arm? How do you deal with missing them?

New Releases

2008-03-03T09:40:00.000-08:00

First of all, Pepper has been flattened by the flu, hence the reason why she didn't post yesterday. Please think happy, healing thoughts that she gets better soon!

Secondly, we had two new releases this weekend! The latest installment to The Master Chronicles, Chaos & Communion, is now available.

Stopping a murder that happened forty years earlier may be the only way to heal a tortured mind...

Six months after Jesse Madding is brutally tortured by Marcus Brooker, he is still experiencing flashbacks, panic attacks, and jumping at his own shadow. His lovers, Gideon Keel and Emma Coolidge, would do anything to help him, but Jesse cannot tolerate the thought of being alone, and refuses to be hospitalized for treatment. Desperate for a change, Gideon and Emma suggest a radical solution.

Jesse wants to fix his life. More than anything, he wants to be normal again. He doesn't want to live in fear. He doesn't want to be ashamed of his scarred and mutilated body. He doesn't want to shy away from Gideon's touch. Certain that the holding pattern will kill him, he agrees to Gideon and Emma's proposed solution: travel to an alternative dimension and save Marcus Brooker from witnessing Mary's grisly murder...in order to save Brooker's soul.

EXCERPT

...Hoping that the door would be locked—though not knowing why a church would be locked at all—he marched up the steps. But the knob turned easily in his hand, and he slipped out of the noon sun and into the church’s cool recesses, the door shutting softly behind him. At first, he thought he was alone, but as his eyes began to adjust, he saw the figure of a woman standing near the altar.

Though her back was to him and he’d only had the picture in his possession for a few days, Jesse would have recognized Mary Straughn anywhere. She haunted his nightmares, the specter of everything that had gone wrong and everything that could have been. The sole reason he had the life he had. But the picture hadn’t prepared him for how dark and smooth her skin really was, or the fact that she was nearly as tall as him, or how penetrating her eyes were when she glanced back to notice him, frozen in the entry.

“Hello. Can I help you with something?”

“No…I…I was just…” He hadn’t been prepared to meet her now, and his brain refused to supply any sort of adequate response. He didn’t know if he wanted to hate her or love her. Somehow, the thought of hating her seemed blasphemous. “I didn’t mean to…bother you.”

Something in her face softened, but it didn’t lessen the force of her gaze. “I’ll only be bothered if I scare you off.” She stepped down into the aisle, her hand outstretched. “I’m Mary.”

Jesse took her hand politely, and was immediately struck by the warmth of her smooth skin, the firmness of her grip. He knew he needed to pull himself together and begin behaving like a civilized person, but all he could think was I’m shaking hands with a dead woman.

But she wasn’t dead. And she wouldn’t be. At least, not that night.

“I’m Jesse.” Suddenly, the details of the cover story he planned to tell came back to him. “I’m new to town, and I’m looking for a new church. A few friends suggested I come here.”

A smile curved her wide mouth. He wouldn’t have thought it possible, but it made her even more arresting. It reflected sincerity and intelligence, an even better welcome than her greeting.

“It’s good to know the word is spreading,” she said. “I’m probably biased, but I don’t think you’ll find a better place to call home than right here.”

Jesse looked around the building for the first time. It was smaller than he expected. He imagined the pews full of people, tried to imagine Gideon shouldering his way in and terrorizing them just because he could.

“It looks like a fine place to call home. When is the next meeting?”

“Tonight. Who’re your friends? Maybe I know them.”

“Michelle.” It was the only name that occurred to him, though he wasn’t even sure Mary would know her. “Michelle. She owns a bookstore.”

But Mary nodded, like Michelle referred people to her church every day of the week. “Meetings usually start at seven, but if you’d rather not have to come after sunset, Pastor Brooker always opens the doors early. He’s here, if you’d like to meet him.” Before Jesse could stop her, Mary turned and called for him, her voice filling the small space.

Before the other man even stepped into the room, Jesse knew he couldn’t deal with this. He wished Emma were there. He wanted Gideon. Brooker’s not the same. He’s not the same man. And he believed that. He believed the man who acted as pastor in this church wouldn’t harm him. But the past six months hadn’t been dictated by logic, by what he believed. The past six months had been dictated by the physical memory of violation. A memory that seeped into flesh and went to his bones.

Marcus stepped out of the rectory, smiling pleasantly. But it was the same face. And Marcus had smiled at him often. Why shouldn’t he? He had thoroughly enjoyed every second of the torture. Everything went cold.

The greeting died on Brooker’s lips as concern darkened his tawny eyes. His gaze flickered to Mary, who turned back to see the perspiration beading on Jesse’s forehead, the way all the color had suddenly leeched from his skin.

“Are you all right?” she asked. She stepped forward and took his arm without waiting for an answer, her grip surprisingly strong as she guided him into a pew. “Put your head between your knees. You look like you’re going to be sick.”

He was going to be sick. Please, no, not here. Not here. Please. But his silent prayer evaporated as the first wave of images crashed over him..

~~~~~~~

Our second release is the March installment of our Calendar Boys series, Kiss Me.

Can a gay porn star find love reflected in Irish eyes?

As a freelance photographer, Mal Donnelly is a complete professional, and doesn’t bat a lash at any assignment. Even the special St. Patrick’s Day photo-shoot on the set of a gay pornographic film. But just the sight of the film’s star, Alejandro Marroquin, is enough to turn him into a tongue-tied fool. When Alejandro asks him to dinner, Mal knows it truly is his lucky day.

Alejandro doesn’t date. With his career, it is difficult to have any sort of real relationship. But Mal, the soft-spoken, talented photographer, had captivated Alejandro from the moment they met six months prior to the St. Patrick’s Day shoot. Still covered in green paint from the photo-shoot, he gathers up his courage and asks Mal to dinner. Alejandro can only hope that their mutual desire will overcome the obstacle of his career. After all, it isn’t easy being with the hottest porn star in town...

EXCERPT

...“So I like nice things.” He set down his glass and edged a little closer. “Why does that mean I can’t like the way you smile? Or notice how strong your hands are?” Before Mal could protest, Alejandro reached out and captured the one not holding the wine. He spread the fingers out, then caressed the back of them, lingering for a moment on the firm knuckles. “You sell yourself short. I would never have asked you out if I didn’t want to spend time with you.”

Mal watched Alejandro’s fingers as they continued to move across the back of his hand. “I can’t help but believe you when you touch me like that.”

“I guess that means I shouldn’t stop, or you’ll walk out on our date.”

“I don’t think I’ll walk out, but maybe it’s best not to risk it.”

With a smile, Alejandro laced their fingers together, dropping their hands to rest between them. “It’ll be awfully hard to drive like this,” he teased.

“I have an automatic. I can drive with one hand. But…if you’re worried about my ability to drive like this, I don’t mind staying in.”

Bonita was expecting them, but after all his nervous calls to her that day, he didn’t think she would be surprised if he didn’t show up. And he rather liked the idea of having a quiet night in. It told him a lot about Mal; it said he wasn’t interested in parading Alejandro like a trophy.

“I think I’d like that,” Mal said softly. “A lot. Not that I’m not looking forward to eating at Bonita’s. I am. But…” He brought their linked hands up to his face and brushed his lips across Alejandro’s knuckles. “I’d like to keep you to myself, too.”

His cock jerked at the slight contact. “You know, if you brought that poetry, I’m pretty much a goner here.”

“Damn. I left the poetry and the portfolio at home.” He kept his mouth close to Alejandro’s hand, letting his lips brush against the skin as he spoke. “Do you do anything like that? Anything creative?”

His answer came automatically, though his gaze was riveted by the sight of Mal’s lips on his skin. “I draw a little bit, but nothing serious.”

“What do you draw?” Mal’s breath was impossibly warm. “People? Still life? Landscapes?”

“People. Parts of them, at least. Hands. Ears. Mouths.” He had to swallow. His throat had never felt so dry before. “I’m not good at putting them all together.”

Mal’s mouth traveled farther down Alejandro’s hand. “When I first started taking photos, I stuck with pictures of my dog, Sparky. I think he was the most photographed dog of all time.” He slid over on the couch, closing the inches between them. “Can I see your sketches…later?”

On a set, it would have been the perfect segue into sex, and Alejandro would have dropped to his knees, pulled out the guy’s package, and gone to town.

This wasn’t a set. But that didn’t mean every inch of him wasn’t aching to climb between Mal’s legs and devour everywhere his mouth could reach.

He settled for lifting his free hand and skimming a fingertip across Mal’s lower lip. “I’m really not very good,” he repeated.

Mal caught his finger between his lips, and his tongue darted out to lick the tip before he released him. He set his glass of wine on the coffee table, then ran his free hand up Alejandro’s arm. “Trust me. Nothing you draw can be worse than Sparky: A Study in Black and White, Part Two. But if you’d rather not, I’ll understand.”

He would, too. That was part of what Alejandro liked about Mal. That, and the sinuous glide of his palm over Alejandro’s biceps. Even though his shirt was lightweight, beads of sweat were already beginning to drip down the back of his collar, made worse by the obvious bulge in Mal’s crotch. He felt like he was going to jump out of his own skin, and all Mal had done was touch him. What would it be like if they were in bed? Skin to skin. Cock to cock. His legs wrapped around Mal’s hips as Mal slowly pumped in and out of his ass.

He shuddered at the imagery. The darkening of Mal’s eyes said that the tremor had not gone unnoticed.

“We should probably order some dinner, if we’re going to stay in,” Alejandro said in a vain attempt to regain control.

Mal nodded, though he didn’t release Alejandro’s hand right away, and Alejandro didn’t really want him to. “Are you in the mood for anything in particular?”

You...

For more information on both titles, visit Amber Allure.

Saturday's News Roundup

2008-03-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

ETA: Amber Quill's best sellers for February were posted today. Calendar Boys--February: Mine was number 6 for the month, and A Little Bit Bewitched was number 3! WOO!

Some good reviews this week. It's an embarrassment of riches.

First, Ms. Vivien got a 4 Angel review from FAR for her Ruby Red Rebels.

Ruby Red Rebels by Vivian (sic) Dean has two of my favorite things, vampires and cowboys! Max is both and he is a sexy and charming hero. He proves that vampires don’t need to be dark and brooding. Every scene with him makes me smile and wish I had him all for myself. Serena is a plus to the story as well. She is a strong character who doesn’t wait around to be rescued. She dives right in to help out, and once she gets over her distrust of vampires, she takes what she wants with Max. These are two characters I would love to learn more about, and I definitely want to explore the world Vivian (sic) Dean has created.

Speaking of vampires, At the Advent of Dusk got a 4 Star review from JERR.

Reviewer: Suni Farrar
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Heat level: H

The year was 1952 and a vampire by the name of Gideon Keel ran Chicago. Humans and vampires alike quaked in his presence, all except for one. Mary Straugh was a charismatic and rebellious young woman. She needed help finding the vampires that killed two young girls who belonged to her church. If she had the get that help from another vampire, then so be it. She was not afraid of Gideon and one night with him would not kill her . . . at least she hoped it did not.

I had the honor of reviewing the first novel in this great series, Master of Obsidian, and I must say that At The Advent of Dusk lived up to the high standards set by the original. I would venture to say that At The Advent of Dusk was not as dark as its predecessor was, but it did have its moments. Take for instance the opening line of the novel. I have read nothing more powerful and depraved. Gideon remained a contradiction throughout the tale. One instance he was a blood hungry vampire without many morals. The next moment he would care and protect Mary with his whole heart.

It was something about her that brought out the gentleness in Gideon. She was one human that he did not see as food. It could have had something to do with her gumption but Mary was not a fragile woman. She fought for what she believed in and Gideon respected her for that. The magnetism between the lead characters combined with the dark plot sent the sexual tension soaring. I read the story straight through and then headed upstairs. Luckily, for me the pages went by quickly. I adored At The Advent of Dusk. Brava, Ms. Craig.

Trinity Broken got some love from RRTErotic

A provocative tale about being true to yourself, and the ones you love, TRINITY BROKEN is an intense and complex romance. The characters are written with such depth that at times I felt like I was intruding on their most intimate moments as all three struggle to become the loving, happy family they were before all this madness entered their lives. They all suffer from their fractured relationship, and Jamie Craig's book is a journey of rediscovery as Cam, Sara and Josh search not only for those who mutilated Sara, but for the one thing that can bring them back together. The only quibble I had is that this story starts off in the present, with flashbacks to much more carefree times sprinkled within chapters, which became a bit confusing at times.

There are parts of the story that are pretty graphic, not only with violence, but with the sex scenes as well, which involved all three parties, or just Cam and Josh. But if you're looking for something a bit darker, a bit more raw, then TRINITY BROKEN is perfect.

Courtney Michelle

And last, but not least, Fresh Fiction reviewed Chasing Silver.

Jamie Craig has written a heart thumping tale with evil villains and a time travel romance where the sex between Nathan and Remy is beyond hot. These two are attracted to each other right away and that doesn't stop them from acting on their feelings for each other. Even though a future between them may not be possible, they grab what happiness whenever they can. CHASING SILVER has excellent written chase scenes along with mind numbing fights. Nathan is one incredible and sexy hero who won't back down from getting what he wants and protecting those around him. Remy in turn may act tough, but she is soft when she needs to be, and that means when she is with Nathan.

Kristen is the worst kind of villain, a very amoral character who will kill without any reason. Remy is the total opposite of her but she has a sharp mind and will try her best to come on top. Isaac also rounds out the good guys with his wit and observations. For anyone who likes stories that will keep them on the edge of their seat, CHASING SILVER is the one to read.

We also finished up the fifth book in our Calendar Boys series. May's Corazón. Corazón is Spanish for heart, and I think this might be our most complex novella yet for the series. It's certainly the longest, at over 30K.

Next up, our novella Time In a Bottle. I'm excited about this one. It's an insert for the Master Chronicles. Jesse is hopping dimensions again, but with a much different purpose!