Antonia Aquilante
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Rainbow Snippets August 31-September 1

8/31/2019

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​​It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets. The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+.

​Today I'm sharing a snippet from The Artist's Masquerade, my opposites attract fantasy romance between Flavian, a sharp-tongued artist who's in disguise and on the run, and Cathal, an uptight, too proper duke's heir facing an arranged marriage he does not want. Plus there is magic and spies and intrigue and family.
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​“Flavian....” It was a whisper of sound, and Flavian barely heard it over his own heart beating in his ears.


He turned his head to look back at Cathal, the rest of his body staying still under Cathal’s hand. Cathal’s gold eyes were molten hot, and Flavian’s breath caught in his throat. Before he could get it back, Cathal’s lips were on his.

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Shock punched through him, followed by pleasure in a swamping wave that left him clinging to Cathal’s arms. The last time, had he noticed how soft Cathal’s lips were even as they moved firmly, purposefully over Flavian’s? No, he couldn’t have. He couldn’t have realized it, because Cathal was coaxing responses in him he had never felt before. 


If you'd like to know more about The Artist's Masquerade, you can find it here. Thanks for reading!
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Writing Updates and News

8/28/2019

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It's been a while since my last update, so I have to apologize. I never meant to go so long between them!

Progress on The Spymaster's Secret, the next Chronicles of Tournai book, is moving along well. If you've missed when I talked about it, The Spymaster's Secret is a fantasy romance between Alexander, a young flirtatious, charming royal cousin with hidden depths, and Marcus, an older, more serious widower with a mysterious job. It's an opposites attract, age gap romance about two people learning to trust themselves and each other enough to drop the masks and take a chance on falling in love. I've shared a couple of snippets during Rainbow Snippets, so check those out if you haven't yet! I just reviewed the proofreader's comments and sent the file back to my editor so it can be formatted. I've also seen a draft cover by the wonderful Natasha Snow. Hopefully, I'll have a final one I can share with you soon. It looks like we're still on track for a mid-October release date. More information as soon as I have it.

Part of the reason I haven't written an update in a while is that, honestly, writing hasn't been going so well this year. I'm sure the effect of state of the world and the state of the industry on me are at least part of it. I'm getting words out a lot slower than I usually do, which has been frustrating and upsetting because I want to get these stories written and into your hands. I was hoping to have the next Tournai book (Griffen's story) finished and submitted to NineStar about now. Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen. I'm now aiming for the end of September. Fingers crossed I can get lots of words written and meet my new goal.

I also wanted to say a few words about Dreamspinner Press, though I'm hesitant to do so. I haven't said anything about the situation publicly because honestly, I didn't want to get yelled at by others who have feelings that differ from my own, and I'm really hoping that doesn't happen now. My first four books (the first four books of the Tournai series) were published by DSP, and they remain with DSP for now. I assume most of you know the background of the situation with DSP's nonpayment/late payment of authors and other contractors. My first quarter royalties for this year were over two months late and finally paid without the promised interest. My second quarter royalties have not been paid yet. Obviously, I'm upset by this, as contractually DSP is supposed to hold my royalties for me and pay them to me quarterly (as it is obligated to do for all authors). It's just as obvious that they did not hold onto this money for us as they were supposed to. (If you want a simple explanation about small press publishing and what should happen and what happens sometimes when things go wrong, check out this post by Julia Talbot.) I'm not sure what I'll do going forward. As I said, my books are still with them. I can't afford the expense of self-publishing four books at once right now, and I don't want those books out of print for any length of time as the next book in the series comes out soon, so I've left them where they are. This might change at some point. I just don't know. I said earlier that I'm upset, and I am, but I'm also confused and tired and frustrated and a bunch of other emotions, and all of that has a horrible effect on creativity. These are my feelings, my thought process, and my decisions—everyone is entitled to their own, so please, don't go on the attack in the comments. DSP gave me my first publishing contract; they put lovely covers on my first books and sent them out into the world. They introduced me to books and authors I love as a reader. I hope very much that they can turn their situation around.

On to something more pleasant: I don't have any events currently scheduled in the near future, though that could change, and I know I don't often get to events to do signings far from home. So I was wondering if anyone would be interested in buying signed books directly from me. I'm not sure how I would do it yet—I'm just trying to get a sense of interest—but I would likely take orders for a limited period of time, and then if it goes well, maybe try it again a while later. Maybe an annual thing? Let me know what you think.

That's all from me for now. I'll try to stay more on top of updates in the future.

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Release Blitz: Noble Cause by Mickie B. Ashling

8/26/2019

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Title: A Noble Cause

Series: Legacy, Book Two

Author: Mickie B. Ashling

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: August 26, 2019

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 64500

Genre: Fantasy, NineStar Press, LGBT, fantasy, mpreg, magic, royalty, gay, age-gap, men with children, intersex, demons, wedding, kilts

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Synopsis

Having achieved his heart’s desire at a high price, Prince Colin of Sendorra and his fiancé, Nobel Prize winner Alain de Gris, find themselves at the epicenter of a twisted plot. Colin’s cousin, Drake Bradford, and his grandmother Maura, the high priestess of the Bradford Coven, have conspired for years to bring down the royal family. Resembling his cousin in features and coloring, Drake, the soulless rat, has been using their similarities—and black magic—to his advantage. Princess Charlotte, Colin’s ex-girlfriend, is unwittingly drawn into the feud, blissfully unaware she’s been sleeping with an impostor. In this anticipated sequel to A Tangled Legacy, Colin and Alain, along with their fearless group of witches, ghosts, and familiars, embark on a convoluted journey to save the people they love and ensure the royal succession.

Excerpt

A Noble Cause Mickie B. Ashling © 2019 All Rights Reserved Prologue Charlie’s head lolled back against the leather seat of the BMW as Drake Bradford, still in his disguise as Prince Colin of Sendorra, navigated the crowded streets of Biarritz before merging onto the toll road heading toward Paris. He’d cast a sleeping spell on his “fiancé” to avoid the interrogation he was sure would follow once she realized they were on their way out of town. He needed privacy to confer with Granny Maura to formulate a new plan while the royals were busy drawing up countermeasures to deal with him. Drake grew impatient as Granny’s phone rang and rang. Like many seniors, she didn’t have her mobile at her fingertips, defeating the whole purpose of instant availability. Finally, after the seventh ring, she picked up. “It’s about bloody time.” “I couldn’t find my phone,” she replied apologetically. “We’ve already talked about this on several occasions,” Drake scolded. “Put it on your kitchen counter so you know where to look.” “What’s the problem?” she asked dismissively. “I’ve managed to kill off the dowager and Colin in one fell swoop.” “You what!” “They should have stayed out of my business,” Drake defended. “Tell me exactly what happened,” Maura ordered tersely. “Plans started to unravel the minute Colin showed up unexpectedly. He wasn’t due home for another couple of days, and Charlie and I would have announced our engagement by then. There was nothing he could have done to stop us from marrying, but then it all went to shit.” “Where are you?” “Driving to Paris.” “Is Charlie with you?” “Of course she is,” Drake snapped. “She’s mine and I have every intention of marrying her. Plus, she’s carrying my child.” “Don’t come to Paris,” Maura advised. “It’s the first place they’ll look.” “What do you suggest?” “Let me find you an apartment in Prague.” “Why there?” “It’s a good place to hide in plain sight.” “Get back to me with details once you’ve made the arrangements.” “It might take a few hours.” He grunted. “Doesn’t matter, Granny. This is going to be one long-ass drive.” “All right.” Drake gunned the engine and put the car on cruise control the minute he was on the toll road. He was still seething at having been foiled—by an incompetent witch, no less—and wasn’t the least bit sorry he’d destroyed a dynasty. The only downside to this turn of events was figuring out how to deal with Charlie and her parents. He’d have to use her pregnancy and his powers of persuasion to convince her he was a far better choice than Colin could ever be. Granted, he didn’t have a kingdom to lay at her feet, but he and Charlie had great chemistry, and the girl melted into a pliant fool the minute he laid hands on her. He’d keep her so sexed up she wouldn’t dream of rejecting him. His phone rang an hour later, and he was stunned by Maura’s news. “Colin isn’t dead.” Drake slammed on the brakes, and the car fishtailed to a stop on the shoulder, narrowly avoiding a six-car pileup. “Impossible!” he thundered. “I stopped his heart.” “Isabelle Simon and her son managed to bring him back to life,” she deadpanned. “The coven has already received a lengthy email demanding retribution.” “Or what?” “We’ll have a war on our hands, Drake. I’m not sure I can get the other members to stand by our side when your actions were completely unjustified.” “Fuck the coven,” Drake snarled. “I don’t want their help. And need I remind you this was your plan all along? What about the dowager?” “She’s dead.” “So, you got what you wanted,” Drake pointed out malevolently. He sucked in air through his clenched teeth and gripped the steering wheel. “Now it’s my turn, and you’d better back me up.” “I’ll see you in Prague.”

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet the Author

Mickie B. Ashling is the pseudonym of a multifaceted woman who is a product of her upbringing in multiple cultures, having lived in Japan, the Philippines, Spain, and the Middle East. Fluent in three languages, she’s a citizen of the world and an interesting mixture of East and West. A little bit of this and a lot of that have brought a unique touch to her literary voice she could never learn from textbooks. By the time Mickie discovered her talent for writing, real life got in the way, and the business of raising four sons took priority. With the advent of e-publishing—and the inevitable emptying nest—dreams of becoming a published writer were resurrected and fulfilled in April 2009. Mickie discovered gay romance in 2002 and continues to draw inspiration from the LGBTQA community and their ongoing struggle to find equality and happiness in this oftentimes skewed and intolerant world. Her award-winning novels have been called “gut-wrenching, daring, and thought provoking.” She admits to being an angst queen and making her characters work damn hard for their happy endings.

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Rainbow Snippet August 24-25

8/24/2019

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​​It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets. The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+.

​This weekend, I'm sharing a snippet from The Sorcerer's Guardian, my opposites attract, arrogant sorcerer and loyal guard captain thrown together on a mission for the prince (and by the way, there's only one room left at the inn with only one bed) romance. This snippet comes from very early on in the book. Loriot's sister, who is a writer, is trying to get him to tell her about the sorcerer Savarin so she can use the information in a book. 
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​But wait,” she called after him as he walked toward the door. “You must know something else about Master Savarin.”


“I really don’t.” He didn’t turn.

“Is he handsome?”


Savarin’s image filled his mind—his height and broad shoulders, perfectly carved features, blond hair that looked as if it would be soft under his hands. His stride hitched, but he shook the image away and ignored Joceline calling after him. Perhaps she would forget the idea entirely if he didn’t encourage her.

He doubted it, but he could hope. The idea of Savarin as a character in a book on the shelf of a bookshop made him cringe. 


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If you'd like to know more about The Sorcerer's Guardian, you can find it here. Thanks for reading!
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Release Blitz: Coffee by Matthew J. Metzger

8/19/2019

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Title: Coffee

Series: A Cup of John, Book Two

Author: Matthew J. Metzger

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: August 19. 2019

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 69100

Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, contemporary, British, trans, gay, queer, age gap, established couple, size difference, blue collar, disability, ableism, death and grieving, family issues, dirty talk, wedding, ownvoices

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Synopsis

When Chris’s stepfather passes away and leaves Chris a house and a wedding ring, it seems like the perfect opportunity to take the next step in his relationship with John. So, they’re both in for a nasty shock when Chris’s mother is vehemently opposed to the idea. Despite three years of history to prove otherwise, she insists that John is only a temporary feature in Chris’s life, and a man like him can’t be expected to stay with someone like Chris in the long run. Can Chris persuade her that she’s wrong in time for the wedding—or will there be an empty space in the photographs?

Excerpt

Coffee Matthew J. Metzger © 2019 All Rights Reserved Rather appropriately for the occasion, it had been raining all day. Chris took in a deep lungful of smoke and exhaled it smoothly into the chilly afternoon. The memorial garden was blissful after the hustle and bustle of the funeral. The air was open and soothingly cool, not like the stuffy heat of the chapel. He could breathe again. He could gather the shards of grief around himself and try to put them back together, without having to think about his mother’s sobbing at his side, or the favourite song that had been played for Jack’s last journey, a song now stained with sadness. The gentle patter of raindrops on the umbrella calmed him, and the far-off chirping of some irate bird provided a gentle counterpoint. Life slowed. From farther off, the chattering of friends and relations had finally died away, and Chris stubbed out the remains of the cigarette as he heard the crunch of gravel. He’d never been here before, but the footsteps coming down the path were as familiar as his own. Thunderously heavy, an immense weight crushing each step into the ground even as the pace was slow and steady. That slight stress on one step, followed by lightness on the other. That dodgy knee from the rugby accident last year had left its mark in the form of a subtle limp and a tiny scar like a fish hook that made its owner go all shivery when Chris kissed it. Even the speed with which each step followed the other was familiar, like the tower of a body might collapse if the feet were spread too far apart. The hands that clasped Chris’s shoulders were as big as spades, and only one person in his life was tall enough to kiss the crown of his head without the use of a box to stand on. Chris leaned back into the wall of a man who had arrived and lifted the umbrella to let him into the shelter. “Your mum’s gone home with Lauren.” The relief was bittersweet. Mum and Lauren had always gotten along, despite one being Dad’s ex-wife and one being Dad’s girlfriend. Lauren would look after her—even if it was Chris’s job. Even if he was supposed to. “You did great.” Chris swallowed thickly. “I think it’s just sunk in.” It hadn’t been real. It had taken so long that it had never quite felt real until this moment. Jack had died a long, slow, terrible death. Weeks in the hospice. Chris would never forget the gargling way his stepfather had breathed near the end, or the clammy coolness of his skin. The way Mum had cried, soft little sniffles at the corner of the bed on that final day. The gaps between the gurgles, until finally there had been nothing but the eeriest silence. The shaking in his fingertips was over. Everything was over. The smell of cigar smoke on the tenth of March, the one day of the year Jack lit up. The shuffle of his slippers. The whirr of that deathtrap of a stairlift. The croaking way he’d chuckled, a noise that in a bigger man would have been a belly laugh. The little huff he let out when Mum was in one of her moods, followed up hastily with “Yes, dear, of course…” And Chris had never seen it, but he’d known Jack had flashed him little smirks across the table at such moments, conspiratorial understandings between the two men who were most subject to her fussing and flapping, the two men who loved her most. Gone. “Jack’s gone.” “I know.” The words were soft but firm. The hands on his shoulders rubbed down to his elbows and then back up in a long, smooth stroke. “But so is the pain and the suffering. He’s not hurting anymore. And if he was right, then he gets to see his daughter again now.” Chris coughed a shaky laugh. It bubbled out of his ribs like water overflowing. “No such thing as heaven.” “You never know.” Chris sighed and leaned his head back. He closed his eyes and hummed as a kiss was pressed into his temple. “I should go and see Mum,” he said. But his chest ached. His ribs felt like they were going to cave in, and a red-hot pain followed the scar, as if he’d been wrapped in metal wire, melting against his skin. He hurt. “I want to go home.” The hands pulled. He was turned by the shoulders and drawn into a rain-damp embrace. The arms around his back made the pain worse, but Chris clung and burrowed into the embrace anyway. The kiss on the top of his head slotted two of the jagged edges together and sealed them shut again. The grief ebbed a fraction. “Come on, then. Let’s go home.”

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet the Author

Matthew J. Metzger is an ace, trans author posing as a functional human being in the wilds of Yorkshire, England. Although mainly a writer of contemporary, working-class romance, he also strays into fantasy when the mood strikes. Whatever the genre, the focus is inevitably on queer characters and their relationships, be they familial, platonic, sexual, or romantic. When not crunching numbers at his day job, or writing books by night, Matthew can be found tweeting from the gym, being used as a pillow by his cat, or trying to keep his website in some semblance of order.

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Rainbow Snippet August 17-18

8/17/2019

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​​It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets. The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+.

Today is my birthday, so in keeping with the occasion, I decided to share a snippet from Etan's birthday party in The Scholar's Heart (unlike Etan, I will not be having a party at a palace with ballgowns and dancing and magic fireworks, which is a pity). The Scholar's Heart is my estranged friends to lovers story. Tristan and Etan were friends perhaps on the point of becoming more when Tristan married someone else to comply with his father's wishes. Etan distanced himself because of the hurt, but Tristan never knew why (poor clueless Tristan). They have a lot to work through to get to HEA. We're in Tristan's point of view in this snippet, and I'm sorry it's a bit long.
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Darkness had fallen, and the lights out on the terrace and in the garden had been extinguished at some point during the party. The moon cast silvery light over the shadowy garden and the party guests crowding the terrace. Tristan glanced around. The light was enough for him to see that the other guests shared his confusion about why they were outside.

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Etan had been ushered by his brothers and sisters and the princess up next to Amory and the prince, close to the terrace railing, which put him close to Tristan as well. Tristan heard him ask Amory what was going on and Amory answering that it had been Elodie’s idea with Meriall’s enthusiastic concurrence.

“But what is it?” Etan asked, his words nearly cut off by the first burst of color in the sky.

The guests gasped as the bursts of colorful sparks lit the sky in starbursts and spirals, exploding and dancing and spinning in ever more complicated patterns above the darkened gardens. The sorcerers creating them had to be both skilled and powerful.

Despite his interest in the magic, he found himself watching Etan more, as the different colored lights washed over Etan’s strong profile. The delight and wonder in his eyes, the slight smile playing at Etan’s lips. 

If you'd like to know more about The Scholar's Heart, you can find it here. Thanks for reading today!
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Rainbow Snippet August 10-11

8/10/2019

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​It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets. The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+.

Today I decided to share a snippet from The Spymaster's Secret, which will be out from NineStar Press this fall, since I just turned in copy edits. The Spymaster's Secret is part of my Chronicles of Tournai series but, like all the books in the series, stands alone. If you've read other books in the series, you may have met the main characters: Alexander, the young, flirty royal cousin with hidden depths, and Marcus, the older, serious widower with secrets. It was fun seeing how these two opposites fit together. Plus, there's lots of romance, family (supportive but meddling!), magic, and intrigue. And I've made it all the way through edits not hating this book!

This snippet comes from the first chapter of the book. Marcus is in the palace after meeting with the princes when he comes upon Alexander and his twin, Faelen.
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​A laugh shattered the quiet and brought Marcus’s attention fully back to his surroundings. As he approached an intersecting corridor, the two young men he’d been thinking of came around the corner. They were nearly identical in appearance with the same shade of dark hair that glowed red in the light, the same ivory skin and peridot eyes, the same delicate features, an intriguing mix of pretty and sensual. Their differences were slight, but perfectly apparent with a moment’s study. Alexander was slightly taller, and Faelen’s hair fell in loose curls while Alexander’s was a tumble of waves.

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He’d made a point of finding out which of them was which. And not because of the way Alexander had looked at him the one previous time he’d been in their presence.

The way Alexander looked at him now. Curious with a spark of something more.

I'll have more from The Spymaster's Secret soon (including, hopefully, a cover to share—I just sent in my cover spec sheet, and I'm always excited for Natasha Snow's covers!). In the meantime, you can spend some time with Alexander in his twin Faelen's book, The Merchant's Love, if you like. Thanks for reading!
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A (Slightly Belated) RWA Conference Recap

8/9/2019

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I meant to write this RWA National recap right after the conference, but copy edits for The Spymaster's Secret greeted me just as the conference ended. So, this recap is a little later than I meant for it to be. In any case, two weeks ago, I attended the RWA National conference in New York. My first RWA conference was in New York back in 2011—I knew no one and wasn't even a member yet. It was overwhelming and inspiring and so many other things. I joined just after. This year's conference was the fifth national conference I've been fortunate enough to be able to attend, and I went into it with a bit of a different mindset. In some ways, I suppose, I was searching for that inspiration and excitement of my first conference because this year has been such a difficult writing year. Between the state of the industry as a whole and the world in general, getting words down on the page has been more difficult than I can ever remember. I really hoped being surrounded by other romance writers and attending workshops would give me a little jolt. 
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​​I'm not sure if it did what I was hoping, but I did find out I'm not alone in my feelings. The first workshop I attended on Thursday was called #Tired: Wielding Your Pen When the World's on Fire, which showed me that a lot of us are in the same boat and gave me some good strategies that I hope will help me along. I went to the PAN Keynote, delivered by Jennifer Probst, next and found more of the same. She spoke about our doubts and fears in a changing industry and reminded us to protect the work because there's nothing more important than the book. That change is going to happen and we have to change with it, but we also have to commit to what we want. I came out of those two sessions feeling not so alone and a little more determined. I also went to a great workshop called Burnout: The Art and Science of Unlocking the Stress Cycle. The presenters were both really dynamic and gave me a way of looking at stress and how we treat it and our physical response to it that I hadn't thought of before. It think it's going to be really helpful.
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I went to some other fantastic workshops too, ones that will help hone my craft. Jade Lee's session on Going Deep: Exploring Core Wounds was so interesting, and Sherry Thomas's Pacing workshop really helpful. Both gave me new ways to think about character and story structure that even my more organic way of planning/writing (not an outliner, me) can work with. One of my favorite workshops turned out to be the last one I attended on Saturday: Hands on History, A Physical Experience with the Past. The presenters were both re-entactors of various historical periods as well as authors, and they gave us some great tips on historical research. They also busted some myths and brought with them so much stuff for us to look at and touch and even try on, in some cases. We saw hats and gowns and undergarments and a real document from the seventeenth century, learned about handicrafts and how to start a fire. I wish the session had been longer than an hour!
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Going into this conference, there has been much focus on diversity and inclusion in RWA and the romance-writing/reading community in general, and more, who has been excluded. Those conversations carried over at RWA, and though the conversations are difficult and I wish we didn't have to have them, they are necessary. On the first day of RWA, I attended a round table discussion called RWA Listens: Continuing the Conversation Around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The entire board was present, and the session seemed well-attended by the general membership. Many people shared both their stories of lack of inclusion, of racism and the bigoted behavior of some in organization, and their ideas for solutions, for ways to move forward. It felt productive. Like a good step. I also went to a panel called Whose Story Is It? Writing Diversely in Romance Fiction during which the conversation continued and also branched out into looking at the characters and stories we write and if we're the best ones to write them. It was another great discussion, and it sparked other conversations throughout the rest of the conference. Hopefully, we'll keep having these discussions. Hopefully, one day, we won't have to anymore.
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I went to the conference undecided about whether I was going to attend the Rita Awards Friday night. If you follow romance, you've probably seen the discussions about racism and bias in the awards over the last few years, and I just wasn't sure I wanted to support the awards as they are. However, a few NJ Romance Writer chapter mates were finalists, and I decided to go to support Nisha Sharma and Joanna Shupe. I ended up so glad I did. I went with two fellow NJ authors, Arell Rivers and Anaida Pierce, and we joined up with some other NJ authors to form our own little cheering section. The energy in the room was really fantastic, and the program was too. Presenters took us through a history of romance that made sure to highlight its trailblazers in all genres, paying particular attention to the marginalized voices that came before and are writing now. And, I was there to witness history. After 37 years—and wow, is that far too long!—two Black authors finally won Ritas: Kennedy Ryan won for Long Shot and M. Malone won for Bad Blood. The Ritas also had their first South Asian winner in Nisha Sharma, who won for her Young Adult novel My So-Called Bollywood Life. The entire room was on its feet, cheering and applauding. The energy was really amazing, and I truly hope it means even more change is coming.
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I ended my conference with a visit to the Literacy Autographing, a huge book fair, the proceeds of which are donated to literacy charities. To make it even more fun, my mom came into the city and went with me (after lunch and gelato with Dad)—and I hope she doesn't mind that her picture is here (Hi, Mom!). Mom is a big romance reader—you may have heard me say in the past that the first romance I read at the age of twelve came from her shelf—and we've been sharing books for decades now, so it really was great to get to go to the signing with her. 

I have a few regrets about the conference—not doing as much networking as I'd planned, only getting to see some friends in passing—but, overall, it was a good conference and I got a lot out of it, including some additions to my TBR. (And now that the conference is over and copy edits turned in, it's back to writing for me!)
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My July Reads

8/7/2019

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July slipped away from me in the hectic haze of writing and preparing for RWA and edits for The Spymaster's Secret, and now it's August and time to talk about books we read and loved in July. Despite what felt like a frantic month, I did do some reading. I continued a KJ Charles reread in audio with the Charm of Magpies series and its related story Rag and Bone. In print and ebook, I read:

Footsteps in the Dark anthology: I don't read a ton of anthologies because short stories don't always work for me, but this m/m romance/mystery anthology has a bunch of authors I like and some others I've been meaning to try. The stories are long enough that you can really get into them. Some worked better for me than others, but overall I really enjoyed the anthology.

Knight's Fire by SJ Himes: Knight's Fire is a lovely little fantasy with a romance between a prince/knight and a dragon shifter. It's cute and sweet and just delightful. Perfect if you want a fantasy romance that's on the lighter side. (I especially love dragon Zephyr!) I can't wait for more in this world and with these two.

Demon on the Down-Low by EJ Russell: I don't know why it took me so long to finish this trilogy! This might be my favorite book of the three. I loved the couple, especially Zeke, and it wrapped up the series nicely with appearances by the other couples and tying up what was causing all the mix ups. This is the second trilogy set in this world, but I'd love to read more in it.

Enchanting the Earl by Lily Maxton: I've read the novellas in the Townsend series, but not the novels and I decided it was time to change that. Enchanting the Earl is the first book. It gives us the oldest sibling who's back from the war with what is probably PTSD and the difficulty of adjusting to life after having a leg amputated. He's inherited a title and a remote property in Scotland and decides to isolate himself there. He doesn't count on his siblings' insistence on accompanying him or the unexpected presence of a woman already living at the property. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Kitten by Jack Harbon: I heard a pitch for this one somewhere that said it was "The Devil Wears Prada but Gay" which sounded pretty interesting. It definitely had those vibes. It's an interracial (a Black MC and an Asian MC) workplace romance with a bit of an age gap. The romance is pretty sweet, but the story has a melodramatic, soap opera feel to it. 

Nothing Gained by Macy Blake: I'm really enjoying the Chosen One series. The world building is really interesting, and the characters are fun. It brings together magic and all sorts of magical creatures—vampires, dragons, griffins, fae, shifters—in a quest to save the magical world plus a romance along the way. Definitely read this series in order.

The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite: I picked up this book at RWA (though I'd been planning to get it since it came out), and I immediately settled down to read it. This is a lovely f/f historical romance between two women who are both scarred by past relationships and rather insecure and awkward with each other to start. The romance is a slow burn and is really caring and passionate. The wider plot with an aspiring lady astronomer coming up against male bias is engaging too. I loved the scenes of female strength and solidarity that came among the characters. There's also an interesting thread about the line between art and craft and art and science.

Swallow by Piper Scott and Virginia Kelly: Swallow is a spin-off of the author's Forbidden Desires series and probably should be read after those books. But the series is so much fun anyway. Dragon shifters! Baby dragons! Adorable pets! Plus great characters and romance. This books gives Grimbold a HEA and shows us how sweet he is underneath the grumpy exterior. Can't wait for more of these!

What have you read and loved lately?

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Release Blitz: The Grim Assistant by Jodi Hutchins

8/5/2019

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Title: The Grim Assistant

Series: Tales from the Grim

Author: Jodi Hutchins

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: August 5, 2019

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Female/Female

Length: 71700

Genre: Paranormal, LGBT, romance, paranormal, friends-to-lovers, surfer, spirits, postal worker, teacher, vampires

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Synopsis

Postal carrier and amateur surfer, Samantha Diaz, lives an uncomplicated life. Well, other than helping her sister with childcare, crushing on her unavailable customer, Lauren Brennan, and catching as many waves as possible before hurricane season begins. Suffice to say, she isn’t looking for much more, but when Lauren invites her to a monthly game night at her house, Sam happily agrees. When Sam sets out on an early morning surf, the last thing she expects to do is die, but a sudden thunderstorm thrashes offshore, creating a riptide that steals Sam’s life. She awakens to a snarky woman named Margo speaking cryptic nonsense. Not only does she claim to be one of the many Grim Reapers, or Grims, in the world, Margo makes Sam an offer: she’ll bring Sam back from the dead, as long as she becomes Margo’s temporary assistant. Sam accepts but soon realizes the deal was too good to be true, and the consequences she faces may be worse than the death she dodged.

Excerpt

The Grim Assistant Jodi Hutchins © 2019 All Rights Reserved The planks of the boardwalk were hot against Samantha Diaz’s feet as she bounded up the stairs, surfboard tucked beneath her arm, water trickling over her shoulders. The calm waters and equally serene beach left her with only the early morning anglers standing out at the ocean’s edge, casting their lines along the jetty. “Same time on Friday?” her best friend, Josh Keller, asked as he ambled up the stairs after her, his bushy blond hair stuck to his face and neck. A trill from a bicycle bell filled the air, coalescing with the call of a flock of seagulls harassing a group of teens munching on breakfast. The oily aroma of freshly fried doughnuts mixed with the scent of crisp saltwater as Sam took a deep breath. She smiled broadly. “Absolutely.” Beads of seawater dripped down her dark brows, and she swept her hand across her forehead in a feeble attempt to dry it. The pair crossed the boardwalk, heading down the long ramp to the parking lot. Reaching her Jeep, Sam tossed her board in the back and grabbed a towel, drying her face and ruffling her unruly crop of black hair. People flooded the tall staircase, beach tags fastened to their large bags overflowing with colorful shovels and towels. She grabbed a dry shirt, pulling it over her head to cover her bikini top before putting her wallet in the damp pocket of her board shorts. Josh stood staring at her. “Damn, what I would do to get a tan like yours,” he mumbled sheepishly. Sam chuckled, noting the red tinge forming along his pale, freckled shoulders, and then glanced at her own tanned skin. “I don’t know, man, I’ll always be jealous of your freckles,” she joked, elbowing him in the arm. “You want to grab some breakfast?” “Sure, why not?” Sam and Josh followed the influx of people. She was determined she would get herself a fresh bagel before heading home for a shower and babysitting her nephew. Cyclists pedaled down the bicycle lane on the wood, and early morning joggers were swiftly being replaced by excited children heading to the beach or the waterpark. The tiny hole-in-the-wall bagel shop Sam frequented was set back beside one of two amusement parks on the boardwalk, and she stepped into the short line. Depending on what time she had to be in to work, Sam’s summer mornings always started the same if Josh was available. She didn’t surf without him by her side unless there were lifeguards present. The last thing she wanted was to get caught in a riptide and end up miles offshore. The two moved into the queue of people, and Josh turned to her. “How’s it going with Katie?” Sam’s stomach sank at the mention of her older sister, and she shrugged. “I don’t know. The divorce is official, but now it’s all parenting plan crap and custody issues. She’s stressed out.” Josh gave her a sympathetic grimace, causing her to wonder if he regretted asking her the question. “Yikes.” “Yeah. They had a meeting with her ex’s lawyer, and I don’t know how it went yet.” “Hey, Sam,” a voice called from behind her. Sam whipped around as her friend, Lauren Brennan, stepped into the line where Sam was already standing in wait. Lauren’s long chestnut hair hung over her shoulders, her wide smile reaching her vibrant green eyes. “Lauren.” Sam’s tone came out a lot more breathless than she intended. Josh must’ve noted the change in her demeanor, so he nudged her in the back with his elbow. “They have the best pork roll egg and cheese sandwiches,” Lauren said, curling her lips upward, a delicate dimple surfacing as she smiled. Sam nearly sighed with longing, her heart rate quickening, and she swallowed back her feelings. The blue sundress Lauren wore hugged her body, the color accentuating her lovely summer tan. She’s off limits. “They sure do. Order anything good lately?” Sam agreed. Nodding enthusiastically, Lauren said, “Actually, I did! I ordered this new lesson kit online and a few other things for the classroom.” Sam had been delivering Lauren’s mail since the science teacher moved to Ocean City from New Brunswick two years prior. “And a few new books. Speaking of books, how’d you like the one you borrowed?” “I absolutely loved it. Is it just me or is my taste in books rubbing off on you?” Sam said. Josh sighed indignantly. Sam held in a retort while she waited for Lauren to reply. Lauren blushed, and the sight had Sam nearly swooning. “I have to say your taste has rubbed off on me. My true love will always be gritty literary fiction, but you’ve got me hooked on those dark fantasies now.” “Hey, I forgot about that thing I have to do,” Josh interjected. When Sam gave him a puzzled smile, he continued, “You know, the thing? I’ll see you Friday.” “Oh, all right. Aren’t you going to get breakfast?” Sam asked. He shook his head and waggled his eyebrows, head jerking toward Lauren. His gesture wasn’t as discreet as Sam preferred, but she didn’t believe Lauren noticed. She knew he was leaving because of her interaction with Lauren. Before she could say more, Josh moved out of the line and hurried toward the ramp leading to the sidewalk. She moved forward in line, ordering her food and stepping aside while Lauren ordered hers. While they waited, Sam leaned against the railing. “I’ve got a new one I know you’d love,” she said. “A dark fantasy? You’d better bring it by the next time you work. I ordered a bunch of stuff, so I should be seeing you sometime next week,” Lauren added, pulling her purse strap over her shoulder. “Okay, I will. Maybe Boo will let me pet her this time,” Sam chuckled, referring to Lauren’s skittish cat. In the last two years, the cat only let Sam touch her four or five times. “Don’t take it personally because she doesn’t even let Bethany pet her.” Yep, there was the pesky reminder of her unavailability. Sam laughed regardless of her feelings toward Lauren’s girlfriend. It wasn’t as though she didn’t like her for the sole reason of being with Lauren; Bethany and Sam had known each other in high school and the memories were anything but fond. “Boo’s such a cutie. Maybe I’ll start bringing some cat treats again,” Sam offered. The young man behind the counter caught Sam’s attention and handed her the pork roll she ordered. “Thanks.” She grinned at Lauren, continuing their conversation. “That’s how I got Boo to let me close at first.” “School starts on Wednesday, but you should come by one night and have a drink with us, maybe play some cards. I always try to plan a game night once a month, especially when school is back in session.” Lauren took her food from the man, then faced Sam as they moved out of the way of other customers. “I’d love to,” Sam said honestly. Sam enjoyed Lauren’s friendship, despite having to tolerate Bethany in small doses. She and Bethany may have had their differences, but they were adults now. “What about, say, next Saturday night? I’m heading to Newark this weekend for a family barbeque, but I’ll be home Tuesday.” “Yeah, sounds perfect.” They stood staring at each other for longer than etiquette warranted, triggering Sam to wonder if Lauren felt the same attraction as she did. She hastily dispelled the fleeting thought and smiled. She’s simply a friend and can’t be more. “Well, I’ll let you get on with your day. I’ve got babysitting duty with my nephew, anyway.” “I’ll see you later this week, I’m sure. Don’t forget the book,” Lauren said. She turned, heading down the boardwalk. Lauren left, the sway of her hips causing her skirt to swish back and forth with each step, and once Lauren disappeared in the flowing crowd, Sam headed to her Jeep. The drive back to her house was quick and she was fortunate she missed the tourist traffic. Although Ocean City, New Jersey, was a busy tourist spot during the summer, Sam couldn’t see herself living anywhere else. The tiny seaside town was home to her and her sister, the beach and the community far too important to leave behind and live in a larger city. She parked her car on the side of the road, finding a spot relatively close to her sister’s little condo, and she ambled up the stairs, leaving her surfboard in the back of her Jeep. The steps leading to the porch creaked beneath her feet, the white paint peeling off the railing and the stucco face of the home. The three-bedroom condo was large enough for her sister and nephew to live in comfortably. Sam had been staying with Katie for a few weeks at a time to help with her nephew and to covertly keep an eye out for her sister’s mental health. The divorce was taking its toll on Katie, but Sam knew her sister would never ask for help. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve got to run and get gas before I head over to work,” Katie said as she bustled around the living room, grabbing a laundry basket full of clothing from the couch and tossing it on the kitchen counter. Already clad in blue scrubs, her black hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, Sam figured Katie must’ve been anxiously waiting for her to get there. “Sorry. I stopped to grab some breakfast. Is the little man awake yet?” Without glancing up from her task, Katie shook her head. Sam stopped, placing her keys on the island in the kitchen leading off the living room, and she really took in her sister’s appearance: red-rimmed eyes, wrinkled scrubs, head lowered. “Katie.” Her sister finally met her gaze. “How’d the hearing go yesterday?” Katie drew a breath and straightened. “Like crap. I don’t think we’re ever going to work out a parenting plan.” “He didn’t agree to your terms?” Katie scoffed, and her shoulders visibly slumped. “No. His lawyer told us he wanted more time on different days. Evidently, his schedule doesn’t work with what I offered,” she said, shaking her head and touching her fingers to her forehead. “At this rate, it’s going to go on into the new year.” “He’s lucky you don’t fight for full custody, the fucking asshat.” Sam loathed her ex-brother-in-law for how he treated his sister and wasn’t shy about speaking her feelings toward him now the divorce was official. Her sister shot her a reproachful glance before she headed to the refrigerator. Katie’s voice was low when she said, “Just because he and I didn’t work out doesn’t mean he’s a bad father. Ben has every right to know him and I don’t want to take his father away from him because John was unfaithful.” She threw a yogurt into her purse along with a package of granola before grabbing her keys from the counter. “I’ll see you tonight,” she said as she stepped out the front door. Sam lounged on the couch, kicking her feet up on the coffee table as she closed her eyes. Her muscles were sore from surfing, and all she wanted was to rest her head before her nephew woke. “Auntie Sam, Mama gone?” a little voice cut off her thoughts. Her five-year-old nephew came wandering down the hall, his little stuffed animal pig tucked under his arm, his free hand rubbing his face. “Yeah, Mama had to go off to work. Do you want some breakfast?” Sam asked. Ben eagerly bobbed his head.

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Meet the Author

Jodi Hutchins is a healthcare professional by day and fanatical writer by night. They are also an avid reader, coffee connoisseur, helpless romantic, amateur artist, enthusiastic maker-upper of things, spouse, and parent. The frequent rain of western Washington doesn’t stop Jodi and their wife from gallivanting through the next trail head with their two children.

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