The 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards finalists were released today by the Lambda Literary Foundation.

Finalists for the Lambda Literary Awards were announced today by the Lambda Literary Foundation (LLF) in Los Angeles. Books from major mainstream publishers, from academic presses, from both long-established and new LGBT publishers, as well as from emerging publish-on-demand technologies, make up the 687 submissions for the “Lammys.” The finalists were selected from a record number of submissions, and, for the first time, the judges were encouraged to choose more finalists in those categories that drew a large number of submissions.

Continue to the Finalists list via this link: LLF Announces Finalists of the 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards | Lambda Literary

It’s time again to vote for your favorites for the 2013 Gaybies, hosted by TLA.

Per the TLA Gaybies Nominee Page:

“Welcome to the 2013 TLA GAYBIE AWARDS, where we’re honoring what we feel was the very best work in gay-themed movies and literature from the past year. And, even though we don’t have an awards “show,” per se, we’ll still attempt to be much more concise and entertaining than the Oscars® – which shouldn’t be too difficult! No need to thank us. You are very welcome.

This year’s nominees were hand-picked by our opinionated, gay-movie-obsessed staff. As for the winners, YOU get to pick them! Scroll down to vote for your favorite movies, books and actors. The winners will be announced April 15th. Don’t forget to check back with us to see if your favorites made the final cut! Happy voting!”

http://www.tlavideo.com/gaybies/a-2

SELF-PUBLISHING; FRIEND OR FOE?

Ever thought about self-publishing, but afraid to take the plunge? I have, as I am sure many of you writers are considering the possibility as we speak.

Cover Worthy

In the not-so-distant past, self-publishing, or “vanity publishing” as it once referred to by media, publishers, editors, etc. , has quickly emerged from an “unserious writer” who published their own work for vanity purposes – i.e., to see their name in print and hold their own printed book in their hands, to enlightened entrepreneur.My former brother-in-law, for instance, decided in the 90s to self-publish a non-fiction “How To, manual chock full of his brightest ideas of how to become very successful, ala Anthony Robbins. Problem is, he lacked the real knowledge, even successful experience in the private sector to come across as authentic to convince buyers to purchase his novel. All he actually knew how to do was to take trusting, unsuspecting investor’s money from members of his nationality (Jordanian) and invest small amounts in short-sided, irresponsible real estate investments that never profited and live life on the hog with the rest.His narcissistic deeds eventually caught up with him and suffice to say, he is now my ex-brother-in-law, has filed bankruptcy twice in fifteen years, been forced to move two three different cities for fear of reprisal from angry investors, lost his family of over twenty years and currently selling real estate out of the trunk of his car.

This tale of woe is not to scare writers from considering self-publishing as a viable alternative to traditional publishing, even the more recent trend of e-publishing with an online eBook publisher, who may or may not offer, POD (Print on Demand) to customers. Instead, my reason for mentioning this story is to warn of the potential pitfalls self-publishing can deliver to the unsuspecting, ill-informed and reluctant business person Also, I wanted to highlight a recent feature published on Bloomberg.com a few days ago titled “The Real Cost of Self-Publishing”, written by Bloomberg Rankings and Nikhil Hutheesing. You can link to the article here: Bloomberg.com.

The Bloomberg article detailed the associated “real costs” of self-publishing, which I found not only impracticable and daunting, but scary. Surprised – and noting several traditionally published authors I know have recently ventured into self-publishing, I wanted to reach out to them for their opinion of the Bloomberg piece to share with readers of my blog and to measure the facts of the article against their own experiences.

One author/friend of mine who has published numerous mysteries, both in print and eBook form, with traditional publishers companies advised me his experience in self-publishing actually proved far less costly (we’re talking less than $200, cover and all).

Another author/friend with twenty years publishing experience and over 200 novels published, both print and eBook, said that his self-published four novels completely free. He designed is own covers, edited, formatted, obtained the ASIN(eBook)/ISBN(print book) and uploaded them to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks, etc.

Another popular author, Joe Mihalic of “No More Harvard Debt”, has self-published his novels FREE, too. Don’t be daunted, the process can be done. Another first-hand account of self-publishing can be found in the online version of New York Times written my Neil Pollack; The Case For Self-Publishing.

Cover Worthy

So, the question still remains; is self-publishing your own novel super expensive? The project can be, depending on the route and method you employ.But, can self-publishing be a less-costly alternative for authors who want more control while enjoying new and exciting experience?

I leave it up to you to answer that ten-thousand dollar question for yourself based on your individual goals and needs. If you choose this route, please follow-up with me and let me know your experience. I will be thrilled to post updates. If you have already gone through the process and would like to share your experiences, pro or con, I’d welcome to share those with readers of this blog, too.

Much discussion has been happening the last few days involving this year’s GayRomLit retreat in Atlanta since the newly revised rules were released; you can view them here:

http://www.facebook.com/GayRomLit#!/notes/gay-rom-lit-retreat/grl-2013-new-policy/588407547854197

I am excited because GRL 2013 is being hosted in Atlanta this year at the Melia Hotel in Midtown (awesome location; you can walk all around the Midtown area, which is very gay-friendly, and frankly once the Gay Mecca of Atlanta).

For more information on the conference and how to participate as a fan or an author, check out this link:

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2f9594b419e354dd7c4130b97&id=6e12844973

Author Jon Michaelsen

Hearts On Fire Reviews interviewed me this month for their online book review site:

Check out my interview here:

http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=17901

One of the goals I have for 2013 is to post more personal blog postings about my writing, ideas, thoughs, what’s happening with me and how I feel about current events. In other words, I want to create more of a Blog via the Home Page. Not to worry, I plan to continue posting reviews of novels published by other writers which will now appear in the page, “Reviews of Novels I’ve Read.

So, join me as I venture into new territory, open up more than I have in the past of my personal life, discussions of published stories/novellas/novels, what current project(s) I am working on, what makes me tick, what motives me, and what makes me laugh, happy, sad or cry…

I hope you’ll join me as I look to make 2013 the best ever!

Jon Michaelsen

And hopefully, meet new people

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop
Guest Blogger: David Sullivan

This week, I welcome author David Sullivan, a long-time friend and beta-reader for me. I tagged him a couple weeks ago, so he’s graciously offered to participate in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop via my blog!

These are David’s answers to the Blog Hop questions:

What is the working title of your book?

Defending Domestic Discipline

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Many people into kink, or ‘beyond vanilla’ sexual conduct, suffer from a bit of guilt for their interests. In conversation with authors and publishers on the subject of domestic discipline (DD), many authors write in the past where it was more acceptable to spank, paddle and belt errant spouses or others. This is because of domestic discipline being dumped into the vat of abuse we know as domestic violence. I love a challenge and am writing a modern story where DD is publicly exposed (pun intended) as a valid, acceptable, safe & consensual conduct.

What genre does your book fall under?

Contemporary, hetero spanking.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Leonardo DeCaprio for the male lead; Jennifer Lopez for the female lead.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

High-spirited but oft errant Micki is spanked by her husband, having inherited the duty from Micki’s dad.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

A publisher who’s accepted two other stories is ‘very interested’.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

3 weeks
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I’m not aware of any others that directly tackle the acceptance of Domestic Discipline in society.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I’m inspired by the old concept of denying common issues in society, such as the fact that we all use the toilet, get serious illnesses, and have sex. Further along is the issue of any kink beyond vanilla and gay, lesbian and other issues that society blushes over. I want to talk about the ‘elephant in the room’.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The main character is a police officer, yet he engages in spanking his wife for misdeeds. There are many stereotypes about police officers, but as a retired officer, people might be interested to realize cops are real people! In this story the main character is arrested for domestic violence due to spanking his wife, and there’s a public trial on the hidden world of Domestic Discipline.

Jon, THANK YOU so much for this opportunity. I’m continually amazed at the energy you have to post and promote! My hat is off to you.
Sincerely,
David

My blog is at:

http://biwriter.wordpress.com/

Stories can be found at:

http://www.loveyoudivine.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=68&zenid=bb70f86486c38726bf76343f65bb870a

and
http://stormynightpublications.com/a-unique-arrangement-by-david-sullivan/

Last week I was tagged by the prolific author of (among many other genres) gay romance novels, Rick R. Reed Reality

Many, many writers are participating. I have tagged, Ryan Field, Kase J Reed Blog – Under Dragon’s Wing and David Sullivan (here next week via my blog Jon Michaelsen).  Just clink on their hyperlink and see what they are currently writing next Wednesday, January 2, 2013!

We all answer the same questions:

What is the working title of your book?

Prince of the Sea

Where did the idea come from for the book?

When in college years ago, I would travel to the closest beach with my friends near Savannah, Georgia, a little known island called Tybee Island, Georgia. It has one of the oldest, if not the oldest lighthouses in the U.S. Unspoiled by commercialism, I fell in love with the quaint little beachside town, the dark sandy beach, the lighthouse, the pier – not to mention the seafood. I have always wanted to write a story central to Tybee Island and for years, I played with various ideas. Considering the rich history of the island – and with a little artistic license.

What genre does your book fall under?

I created a speculative gay love story set in among the dunes of the island paradise with an expansion of old island lore of sea-folk.

Protogonist; Jonathan Lemke would be best played by gay actor, Steve Callahan.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Old Friend: Lucius; the sensual, alluring; childhood friend of Jonathan, played by Gilles Marini.

Conniving partner; Paul,would be played by gay actor, Cheyenne Jackson.

The recluse; Frances “Fannie” Madrigal would be played by the iconic, Maggie Smith

The villain, Billy Wayne Koots, would be cast as Billy Bob Thornton.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Can a broken heart find love in the depths of the ocean?

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I do not have an agency; but I do have a publisher in mind.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Combined, about five-six months. I began working on the story a couple years ago, but got distracted when the novel wasn’t coming together and moved on to writing my current gay sexy thriller, False Evidence: Murder Most Deadly 1. I returned to Prince of the Sea a couple months ago.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

None come to mind. I personally feel each writer has his own voice, so it’s hard to compare.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Being a native of Georgia, the unspoiled beauty of Tybee Island, Georgia has always called to me to write a story set in the small island town. Its loveliness and tranquility commanded an unconventional gay love story.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I’ll leave you with this brief excerpt:

That feeling again.

Goosebumps spread across Jonathan’s chest and snaked along his arms.

“The stars shine bright tonight, no?”

Startled by a voice, deep and melodic to his ears, Jonathan turned, but the dunes stood bare. A sudden awareness, perhaps a sense of déjà vu engulfed him. The hair on his arms stood on end as he searched around. Seeing nobody, he shrugged off the feeling as having too much scotch. He turned and headed back toward the cottage.

“Jonathan.”

He spun around like a frightened squirrel. Syllables drifted through his mind forming words like inner thoughts, only the sound not his, but the voice of a long lost childhood friend.

Jonathan saw no one on the beach with him. “Who’s there?”

“It is I, your old friend, Lucius.”

The voice caused his heart to flutter, a flush to his cheeks. “Lucius, is that really you?” Jonathan called out. “Where are you? I can hear your voice, but I don’t see you.”

Please visit the many other writer’s participating in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop posting currently and authors I’ve tagged for positing January 2, 13. And stay turned for more excerpts and the release date of Prince Of The Sea in earlyer 2013!!!

My sexy thriller, False Evidence has been chosen as one of author Ryan Field’s Top Ten Gay Books of 2012.

http://ryan-field.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-top-ten-gay-books-this-year.html?spref

Blurb:

What begins as a cursory glance at the high–rise apartment opposite soon becomes something much darker and far more dangerous.

For bored accountant, Kevin Mitchell, lusting after gorgeous, muscular, Tony, in the adjacent building, builds into a life changing obsession. When Tony shows up at Kevin’s apartment, bloody and bruised, Kevin offers him instant refuge…and a place in his bed. However, all is not what it seems and the police draw a different conclusion in their hunt for a violent killer. Will Kevin’s plea of false evidence save him from the horror of a life behind bars?

Excerpt:

Seized by the moment, Kevin thrust his laptop aside and rushed to get the binoculars. In his bedroom, he peered through the slats of the mini-blinds and watched as the stranger moved away from the window, only to emerge moments later onto his rooftop terrace with a towel in hand. The guy glanced up at the sky as though measuring the sun’s intensity or the right angle to position his body to catch the best rays. After spreading the towel across a chaise lounge, he set a bottle of tanning oil atop a short table next to the chair. Reaching over his head with one hand, he tugged the shirt off with a quick jerk before tossing it onto an adjoining chair. Both thumbs hooked beneath his waistband of his shorts, and he slid them down over muscular thighs, revealing little more than a patch of baby-blue cloth concealing his manhood. He sat with his back turned to Kevin, and removed each leg from the garment like he had all the time in the world.

Kevin’s heart pounded in his chest and his mouth went dry. The man in the scopes pivoted his frame and straddled the chaise. The binoculars revealed every ridge and cord of muscle as the stud began lathering his body, from the tops of his wide, football-player shoulders, to his lightly feathered chest, and further down to a washboard stomach few young men managed these days. Each twist and turn, indeed, every movement, revealed sculpted lines and curves that caused Kevin’s breath to catch.

The guy poured oil on his hands and began covering his lower legs, working up to his calves and thighs with precision. Kevin licked his lips and tried to swallow without blinking. He watched the guy’s big hands slip inside smooth thighs and up to his crotch, one of his hands darting beneath the Lycra fabric for a quick adjustment.

Kevin’s cock strained beneath his shorts, begging for release.

Are you insane?

He didn’t avert his eyes, regardless how much he chastised himself. Had his life become so lonely and desperate he’d reduced himself to spying on unsuspecting, male sunbathers?

Whatever the case, Kevin couldn’t seem to pull himself away from the window. The feeling he sensed was akin to asking a child to hand over chocolate ice-cream, or an aging siren to forego another round of Botox. He remained fascinated with his idol who leaned back against the chaise to apply oil to his face and neck, across his wide chest, and finally, to his abdomen.

For the next couple hours, Kevin stared through the blinds, his arms growing tired and weak. He strained to keep the lenses steady and his view unobstructed as he watched beads of sweat build on the man’s chest in the valley of muscle and across his abs. Kevin took a break when his subject took time out of the sun. He lunched when the stranger grabbed a bite to eat. Only when the guy left the terrace for the day did Kevin finally relax his shoulders, hoping, praying the stud would reappear naked in the bedroom.

He didn’t have to wait long. Some minutes later, the object of his affection entered his bedroom wearing a white towel riding low across his waist. Kevin focused the scopes, willing his arms to fight against the strain in order to make out the thick oblique muscles that framed his perfect “V” shape above the cloth.

Oh, what I wouldn’t give.