It’s always nice when a fellow author blogs about my books. Author Jaime Samms blogs about what’s on her mind, and more…check it o out here!
http://dontkickmycane.livejournal.com/134336.html
Also, to find out more about author Jaime Samms, check out her website at:
Breathless
Corey Shaw has been trained as a paranormal detective, developing abilities such as telepathy and telekinesis. He is summoned to Provincetown during the annual Mates weekend, a huge leather gathering, when the naked body of a young man is found. The victim had been tied up before being strangled. The police say cold-blooded murder but Corey thinks it is more than that. He suspects that a BDSM scene got out of control. Touring the town’s dark dungeons, looking for a murderer preying on young men, he becomes immersed in the local scene and discovers a never before explored side of himself. In a sea of muscular leather masters and slaves, he realizes hidden urges in an environment where every fantasy can be fulfilled. He must set aside his sadomasochism desires and use his powers to locate someone who takes the bdsm to the extreme before he kills again.
Can Corey find him before becoming a victim to the ultimate BDSM fantasy of execution?
The painting was literally like nothing painted on Earth. But can the mystery behind it really save Peter’s relationship?
Peter’s an artist, but even his success can’t blot out the physical pain he has to endure. He’s sinking into despair and there’s nothing his lover, Aaron, can do except watch. But then a strange legacy from a distant Uncle on a far-off planet changes everything. As Peter pieces together the mystery behind the painting and the journal, he also uncovers a passionate love story that crosses boundaries, time and space.
Cowboys’ Christmas
By Carol McKenzie
As of today, Friday, December 19th, 2008, Cowboys’ Christmas is ranked the #1 best seller at Fictionwise for loveyoudivine, it is the #1 best seller for loveyoudivine at All Romance Ebooks and ranks #15 at AllShortStories.com
It is the first story to be released for the coming print anthology in 2009, Men On Holiday.
Ebook ISBN / Price: 978-1-60054-283-1
Length: 56 pages / 14,400 word count
Genre: M/M
Category: His and His Kisses
Rating: Shooting Star
Price: 3.75
Buy link: http://tinyurl.com/4u2yz8
Video Trailer: http://tinyurl.com/59anuw
About
Cowboys’ Christmas
The First Release from MEN II: On Holiday from Carol McKenzie - DEC 1st
It’s December and it’s cold. Blake’s back aches from busting broncs and he wants to settle down, maybe do some ranching. Blake loves his sister, who doesn’t know he’s gay. But he loves Riley, too. If he breaks the news, will his sister accept Riley into the family?
Thirty-year-old Blake finishes his obligations on the rodeo circuit for the year. It’s December and it’s cold. He calls his sister, Katy, in Rufus, Oregon, and tells her that he is getting too old to bust broncos. His back and bones ache. He mentions he may come home for Christmas. Katy ís delighted because she needs help with the Kinglsley Ranch; it’s falling apart, and her boyfriend is too much a tenderfoot to help.
Blake can’t wait to meet up with his “friend” in their usual camping area. Katy doesn’t know about his flame, Riley S. Campbell. What will she say or think when she finds he’s taken Riley, a man, as his lover? Will Riley’s family accept Blake?
Excerpt:
Blake Kingsley pulled his truck and fifth wheel into a vacant island of Huck’s Gas Mart in downtown Longview, Washington, and stopped the engine. He climbed out and put his gray Stetson on his head. Heavy, cold rain beat down on the overhang and the air smelled of gasoline. He lifted the nozzle, pressed the mid-grade button and pumped forty dollars worth of gas into his tank, mumbling his displeasure the whole time. When he finished, he put handle back and ambled toward the pay station, the soles of his boots smacking in puddles.
A sleepy-eyed, brunette attendant behind a counter looked at him over her gold-rimmed glasses and blinked long, curling lashes.
Tipping onto his toes, he drew a couple of wadded bills from his tight jeans’ pocket and placed them on the steel counter.
The attendant took them without a word.
“Thank you, Ma’am,” he said and returned to his truck.
He climbed into the cab, closed the door and within the minute, drove toward Kalama, Washington, taking the interstate north. Pangs of loneliness entered his system again. He thought about his family; those alive and dead. I need to make a call. He retrieved his cell phone from the center console. Without swerving off the road, he dialed his sister in Rufus, Oregon.
“Katy, this season’s done. Thank God.”
“I hope you come home.” Her voice sounded creaky. He imagined her soft, freckled face and auburn, curly hair. “It’s been quiet here since mom and dad’s died.”
A picture of their parent’s crumpled automobile, with blood on the seats the day after their head on collision in Medford played in his mind. The horrible call from the emergency room had come announcing their demise. He gulped air in his sadness.
His sister sighed, bringing him back to the here and now. “Things are fallin’ apart around this ol’ place. Frank’s not into ranchin’. He can’t even ride a horse.”
Blake wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and the remembrance ended. He clucked his tongue, recalling her tenderfoot boyfriend, Frank. “I’ll bet.” A misplaced smile quirked at the corners of his lips. It’s best I change the subject, or she’ll cry. “What do you want for Christmas, sis?”
“Just get here safely. We’ll have a nice holiday, if you come. I’m invitin’ you, you know.”
“I’ll spring for the turkey, if I was to come,” Blake said and placed his Stetson on the passenger seat.
“So, how are you doin’ otherwise, little brother?’”
“It’s best you not ask, ’cause right now, I’m in a piss poor mood.”
“Why’s that?”
“These friggin’ gas prices suck. They’re high as hell. It costs too much drivin’ the circuit anymore. I’m twenty-eight and gettin’ too old for bustin’ broncs.”
“Get a different job, then. Stay home, settle down. Maybe get a job as, I dunno, be a cop.”
“I’ve done ruint my back.”
“Maybe it’s time to quit.”
“I’ve got to think about it. See you.”
“Tell your buddy hi. Oh, and call when you get close.”
“Will do.”
Once he put the cell phone back in the case and closed the console lid, he took a left onto a different highway and began thinking about what Katy didn’t know—his ideas on sexual preferences. It’d shock her to death. He thought about his job situation, too. Maybe I’ll work the farm. Or become a cop. At a stoplight he lit a cigarette and slid the Bic back into the pocket of his blue western shirt. Right now, all I do is get out there and risk life and limb…for what? To give the audience thrills, and all I get is a few measly dollars. Shit. I must have rocks in my fuckin’ head. What the hell am I goin’ to do? Should I rodeo another year, or quit? Cops’ lives are always in danger. Maybe my back ain’t in good enough shape to do that kind of work.
He coughed, took another drag off his Benson & Hedges and glanced at the speedometer. The dial read he was going five miles per hour over the speed limit. He raised his foot a bit on the gas pedal until the needle stopped just over sixty-five. An elongated sigh left his lips.
He passed several dense, vast forested areas. The dark green fir trees alongside the road forked upward toward a gloomy, cloudy sky. Rain splattered on the windshield as the wipers thump-thump-thumped. When he stopped at a sign, he flicked his cigarette out the window into a mud puddle. He turned the satellite’s radio knob to a country-western station and hummed along with George Strait who sang Easy Come, Easy Go.
As he started driving, his thoughts turned to a better subject. Yeah, I’ll park this thing and take a rest. Gettin’ a mess of Riley will make me feel better. The U-Shine Car Wash caught Blake’s eye. Maybe I should unhook this thing and wash the road dust off my pickup. He decided to keep on trucking, wanting to get to his destination before dark and get a space rented. I’ll wash it tomorrow.
Mid-afternoon, driving along on I-5, he gazed out upon the sparkling Columbia River near his exit. Slow barges made their way north and west; a breathtaking sight.
Once off the interstate and in town, he drove down the main drag looking for the old, peeling sign that read Campground–Marty’s Trailer Spaces–Weekly and Monthly Rates. Blake passed the launderette and the post office. He traveled two blocks past the totem pole, the Lone Pine Cafe and made a right just like he had at previous season’s end.
I’ll rest. Maybe spend part of the winter with my ol’ buddy.
He pictured his pal, Riley S. Campbell, when he last saw him over a year earlier. He stood five ten and had a slim, strong build. Blake never thought to ask his exact age, but he guessed it to be around twenty-eight. He’d worn hand-tooled boots and a belt that sported a silver Texas longhorn buckle. Riley’s onyx gaze seemed to penetrate his soul and mind. Worn jeans, most of the time faded, encased a well-shaped ass. Blake began to feel the slide of him coming inside his body. Damn, I’ve missed him. He’ll be a sight for sore eyes.
Men, the first print anthology by loveyoudivine His & His Kisses imprint, hits #2 seller at the largest GLBTQ bookstore in Atlanta, Georgia following a joint reading/book signing by Alex Morgan and moi, Jon Michaelsen! Please join us in our celebration!!!
www.outwritebooks.com
It’s always with some trepidation that I open an e-mail from a cover artist with a subject line that indicates a JPEG of a brand-new cover is within. It’s a suspenseful moment, wrought with tension, and one in which you get to see if your baby is going to have the beautiful face it deserves…of if it’s gonna be ugly as sin, dooming it to a life of shunning and ridicule, much like my own life.
I think my baby has a beautiful face…and boy, am I relieved. Check out the cover design below for my October release, Dead End Street, my first young adult horror novel. Cover artist Trace Edward Zaber did a great job making a cover that’s simple, evocative, and creepy…all at once.
But mothers always think their babies are beautiful. What do you think?
Here’s a little “elevator speech” about Dead End Street, which will be released in October, just in time for Halloween (or the holidays, which is a heavy handed way of saying that it would make a great gift for son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandkid, or your own inner teen).
They were five misfit kids who had banded together in their small Ohio River town. Over the years, they had organized various clubs and now they had formed the Halloween Horror Club. The premise was simple: each week, each teen would spin a horrifying tale and at the end of five weeks, the scariest story won a prize. The twist: the stories had to be told in the infamous and abandoned Tuttle house, where, fifteen years earlier, an entire family had been murdered in their beds. The idea seems like a good one, until the kids begin to realize they may not be alone in the Tuttle house, which backed up against the woods. There seems to be someone—or something—watching them. Is it Paul Tuttle, the teenage son who disappeared fifteen years ago, the night his parents and sister were killed? Or is it someone even more sinister?
With each story (each a completed short, original horror tale that stands on its own), the tension mounts…and so does the anger of this mysterious inhabitant of the house. He is enraged at having his space violated. And his rage could mean a real dead end for those who dare to invade his home…
Read the first chapter of Dead End Street here:
Monday, September 8th, 2008
(Interview with Jon Michaelsen)
Reprinted with permission; copywright Dark Diva Reviews; Sept 2008 http://darkdivareviews.blogspot.com/
Hi Jon, welcome to the Divas! When did you start writing M/M fiction and which authors - M/M specifically - appealed to you the most when you started writing your stories?
I have been writing stories as long as I can recall. I began writing M/M fiction sometime in my late teens and wrote my first novel at seventeen. Authors that appealed to me at this age were Patricia Nell Warren and James Kirkwood. In my early twenties, I discovered the writings of Michael Nava, Felice Picano, Armistead Maupin and Andrew Holleran.
2. I am intrigued that you describe yourself as an author whose characters ‘just happen to be gay’. Do you see a difference between this and books that state themselves as M/M fiction?Yes and no. I guess my answer depends on the targeted audience, material or which author. Some of my favorite novels do not contain a single gay character (or perhaps they get the obligatory cameo role), yet I find that I read many stories as if the protagonist is “gay” – so what if he/she has a love interest of the opposite sex! Why limit ourselves, I ask? I’ve been gay as long as I can remember, but it took years of personal growth before I began to speak so candidly about it. I don’t think my sexuality defines who I am – so why should it define my characters?
3. You mention one of my favorite authors Felice Picano as being an influence. I only recently discovered him and was over the moon about a short story of his, The Married Man that I read in an anthology called New York Sex. I could talk to you about him all day but what is it about his work that you particularly admire?
OMG! I discovered Felice Picano about two years ago. He released Like People in History, to date my favorite novel of his. I couldn’t believe that I never came across his titles before. Perhaps because most mainstream bookstores at the time didn’t carry gay-themed titles as much as they do currently, albeit a very limited selection. I searched online and ordered four more titles of his work right away: The Lure, The Book of Lies and Onyx. What intrigues me most about Picano’s writing is his uncanny gift of absorbing the reader into his characters’ lives. You don’t ever want his stories to end! I’m also intrigued by his versatility in his writing; he doesn’t stick with one genre.
4. I must mention something here about your personal life. I know you have been with your lifelong partner for 22 years. Congratulations! How do you sustain a relationship that long in this crazy world?
(Laughs) I’m always amazed when people – even close friends – seem shocked at the number of years I have been with my partner. We got together during the mid-80s and the rage of AIDS was not yet realized by our community, and indeed the world. I’d like to say we met at the right time, the right place, but our introduction was far less dramatic. Sustain, you ask? I think any relationship takes hard work. Our partnership is no different than a marriage between a man and a woman, with exception of obvious legal exclusions.
5. What are the three things you love most about him? Quick…first things off the top of your head…
His loyalty, honesty and enduring love.
6. What is your life like in Atlanta and have you found it to be gay friendly? Do you have a writerly ritual, like a fave coffee shop hangout?
Atlanta is very gay friendly! At least, within the city limits and some of the immediate suburbs. Once you get outside the city, outside the interstate perimeter I-285 (locals called it “OTP” or outside the perimeter), acceptance and tolerance lessens the further away from town one drives, but the boundaries of acceptance keep expanding each year.
My favorite haunt to pound out a few words in my laptop while enjoying a great cup of joe, friendly staff and excellent music is Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse http://www.outwritebooks.com/ which is in the heart of Midtown, the gay mecca of Atlanta. In fact, I wrote scenes from my current e-book, Voyeur, while seated at a favorite table near to the window and glancing out at the tall buildings of Midtown. Outwrite is located at the corners of Tenth and Piedmont, a popular spot that manages to find its way into the pages of several of my stories, including my current work-in-progress; a murder/suspense novel releasing sometime early next year.
7. Have you considered getting married in California and can I come to the wedding??
No and Yes! We’ll wait for marriage to become legal in Georgia before going that route. When that happens - or we move to a state that legalizes marriage between same-sex couples, absolutely!
8. I promise not to embarrass you or spit at anybody, unless they ask me to, of course…Okay Jon, dish. You say you have three monstrous terriers. What are their names and how bad are they, really?
Have you ever owned a terrier?
AJ says: I have a golden retriever. In her puppy days when she chewed everything and tried to kill the cats, I threatened to turn her into a throw rug. The dog understood and has been a Stepford Dog ever since…but do go on…
LOL. Well, we have terrors, er terriers (!), but we love them dearly. You can’t threaten them; they’re up for the challenge! Each is unique in personality and smart as a whip. Their names in order of age are Gracie, Monte and Morgan and they are the of the same breed, Lakeland Terrier. I’m exaggerating some, but any terrier owner will tell you to keep an eye peeled in their direction at all times as they get bored and get into trouble at the drop of a dime.
9. If you were a Disney character, which one would you be, and why?
Hands down, Nemo! I love the ocean and plan to retire hear the water one day. My family lives in Florida. I would love to travel the currents and see the “underworld” like Nemo.
10. Do you read a lot? What books do you enjoy the most?
I read all the time. When I’m not writing or editing my own work, I’m reading and/or reviewing another author’s writing as part of an online writing workshop I’m involved in. I usually read two or three novels simultaneously; one sits in my car, one bedside my bed and another near where I happen to relax for the evening in the house. I love to read! In order to keep the story lines from merging, I’ll try to read different genres. For instance, currently I’m reading Rick R Reed’s psychotic serial killer thriller, IM.
AJ Says: Hold it right there. He is my new favorite author. He scares the pants off me! I loved IM!
Wow, what a thriller! Have you seen the cover of his new release set for October 2008, Dead End Street? OMG! The cover of the novel sends shivers up my spine! I can’t wait to read it. I’m also reading The Mistress and the Mouse by J.J. Giles, an erotic soap-opera that would make hardcore Dallas and Dynasty blush! The third book I’m re-reading at the moment (yes, re-reading since I read all stories prior to publication during creation) is the all male, erotic romance anthology titled, Men, from Loveyoudivine, which includes my story, Voyeur.
11. I have asked other M/M authors this and it continues to enthrall and baffle me. Why do you think so many women have become increasingly drawn to M/M fiction over the last couple of years?
I honestly do not know. No one was more shocked than me to learn that most of the people buying my e-book, Voyeur, are women. That holds true for the recently released print anthology, Men.
12. Can you personally tell if a woman (passing as a man) is writing M/M fic and what is the difference in your mind?
A difficult question to answer. I believe it can depend on the author, perhaps their experience to some degree. There is some m/m fiction where I can peg the difference on the spot, similar to if I tried writing m/f fiction – I don’t have the experience or knowledge in some areas of m/f couplings that would lend credibility to the story. I feel the same holds true in some m/m fiction written by women sometimes. But, I’m often proven wrong. Take Anastasia Rabiyah, for instance. She’s a wonderfully gifted writer who recently released, The Blindfold, another story in the Men anthology. If I’d read the story without knowing the author was a woman, I’d swear a gay guy penned it! Just goes to show, can’t judge the greatness of a novel by the gender of the author alone.
11. What are you working on now and please describe your writing process.
I’m in the editing stages of a murder/suspense novel that should go to my publisher by the end of the year centered on a closeted gay-homicide detective in Atlanta, Georgia; the first in a series. I have at least three novellas in the hopper that I hope to submit before the end of the year, and a selection to be included in Men II, which is set for release in early 2009.
My writing process? Scattered! I work on the story that I’m in the mood for at the moment, what ever jumps forward. I can move back and forth, work on a short-story or my novel based on where my muse takes me. I carry a micro-cassette recorder (remember those?) with me in the car at all times. I’m usually recording scenes, dialog or story ideas while tooling down the highway.
12. I was fascinated to see that on your website, you described Michael Crichton as a literary influence. Is this where you get your ‘twisty’ inspiration for your books?
Some, yes. Others include Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, M. Night Shamalyan, John Grisham and David Baldacci – and a recent discovery, Max Griffin.
13. I just ran your name through the Vampire Name Generator. It’s pretty cool, actually. This is what came out: The Great Archives determine you to have gone by the identity:
Emperor of Scandanavia
Known in some parts of the world as: Father of The Steely Moon
The Great Archives Record: A child of the Moon Goddess - Cold, determined, but of the light in the night.Wow, you’ve put me on the spot! How about, that I can move among the living even during daylight hours, a rarity of my heritage borne centuries ago.
Now imagine that you, Steely Moon, have just landed with a thud in Atlanta. Georgia in the gay ‘hood. What one special, unusual vampire trait do you have?
14. Cool Answer…Now, forgetting you’re not single just for a moment, if you could conjure up any outfit and any man in the world you, Steely Moon, wanted for a hot night on the town, what you wear and who would your date be? And how long would it take for you to put out?
Hands down, my date would be Christian Bale. We’d dine at the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead in formal tuxedos, before heading out for the evening later in black jeans, dark boots and t-shirts. To “put out”? Depends on when he’s called into action in his bat suit.
15. Oh you have a great sense of humor. I love it!! So, what is next after Men II?
My goal? Lots and lots of writing! Men was just released this month, and before I know it, Men II will be here. I need to finish editing my murder/suspense novel, Pretty Boy Dead, and start on the second book in the series, as well as other projects throughout next year. Also, I have an idea for a ghost story.
16. One final question while I still have you under the harsh spotlight of the interrogator’s death beam…am I the sexiest guy to ever interview you?
Well, of course!!
On behalf of Dark Diva Reviews, I would like to thank Jon Michaelsen for stopping by today…and for being such good fun!!!
Find out more about him at:
http://www.jonmichaelsen.net/
www.myspace.com/jmichaelsen
Order my current e-book
http://tinyurl.com/LYD-Voyeur
Order Men from loveyoudivine
http://tinyurl.com/LYD-MEN
order MEN from Amazon.com
http://tinyurl.com/MENwhoLOVEmen
Hey, ya’ll!
Yep, I hail from the southeastern portion of the USA; born and raised in the state of Georgia. I thought my first post should be a little about me to provide some insight for those who might not have met me or read some of my writing - and I’d like to hear about you too! So, feel free to reach out, give me a shout; ask just about anything. I’ll post a regular message on the 8th of each month, and perhaps intermittently throughout the month – so, check back often!
How long have I been writing?
Let’s see, as long as I can remember actually. Is that an answer? To put an age to my response, I’d say since I was about ten years old. I used to create characters and make-up simple story lines, often playing out scenes in my head – or acting them out for my family. Didn’t we all do this at some point? My family said I had “an active imagination.” I probably have every scrap of paper, poem, blurb, idea, character, storyline or novel I’ve ever written, piled in boxes in the attic and basement. Ironically, I didn’t get serious about publishing until last year. Growing up, school, career – life kept getting in the way, I guess. I’m a new author at Loveyoudivine His & His Kisses and very happy to be among some of the most talented, creative authors I’ve come across in a long while; imaginative, witty, creative and pushing the barriers. My recently released story, VOYEUR, deals with the obsessive depths of voyeurism and what happens when a few innocent glances can spiral into obsession that changes the protagonist’s life forever. Voyeur released Friday, June 13th this year and will also appear in Loveyoudivine’s His & His first print anthology titled, MEN, set for release August 1st, 2008.
What genre do I prefer to write the most?
I write about ideas and stories that press forward in my mind, whatever I’m feeling, what moves me, perhaps has even touched my life at some point. I’ll be driving along or waiting in line at the grocery store when a story idea or character surfaces in my thoughts. If it stays with me long enough, I’ll typically get my thoughts down on paper, or via in the computer – even recorded on a micro-cassette recorder I keep in the car. I have a boxful of scraps of paper, notes, scenes, characters – you name it. I’ll cull from this stash now and again when needing inspiration or the right look or feeling for a character. I enjoy jotting notes of description about “real people” and what it is about them that captured my attention; often guessing what may be going on in their lives at that moment by just studying a face, a body, a walk – even the clothes worn. I write gay-themed suspense/thrillers and mystery stories, often with erotic and romantic undertones.
Current work-in-progress?
I have hundreds! I always have “something” in progress. Currently, I’m writing a murder-suspense novel titled “Pretty Boy Dead”. The story focuses on a closeted Atlanta homicide detective who - upon returning to the job following a “forced” six-week sabbatical – catches a high profile case involving a young man’s suspicious death. Discovered in a popular Midtown park, the victim’s brutal murder ensnares the large metropolis and threatens to consume the embattled homicide detective, Sgt. Kendall Parker, a man of many secrets who’s battling his own inner demons. While investigating the death of the popular nude dancer, Parker must deal with an apathetic department and judging public while forced to confront her own inner demons of acceptance.
Authors that have influenced my writing…
There are many, from the time I was an impressionable teenager and discovered my love for curling up with a good book. The first author that comes to mind is S.E. Hinton (Outsiders, Rumble Fish) and Ray Bradbury. The novel I credit with pointing me toward a path to writing my own stores is Patricia Nell Warren’s, The Front Runner, to this day, one of my favorite all time authors. I’m also very fond of James Kirkwood’s, Good Times/Bad Times, John Grisham’s, A Time To Kill/The Firm, Felice Picano’s, Like People In History, and anything written by Michael Nava.
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You can contact me/find me on the web here:
http://www.jonmichaelsen.net
