Cover for Take Me Home

Thanks to artist Marci Gass for a beautiful representation of this story.

Take Me Home releases next week on December 13, 2011 (you can usually pick up a copy at Loose Id just after midnight EST).

Aspiring television writer Evan Walker has been in love with his best friend since high school, but Kyle doesn’t do boyfriends. Never has. Never will. Evan knows it’s a bad idea to give in to desire when he wants more than a friend with benefits. He has a new dream job. Now all he needs is the dream partner.

Kyle Bennett is a mystery novelist with a severe case of writer’s block. He needs a change. He has three days on their cross-country train trip home for the holidays to figure out how to tell Evan he’s staying there for good. He also has to write the overdue pages for his editor. Only, he’s a little too distracted by the close quarters in their sleeper compartment—and Evan’s ass—to get much done.

The sparks that fly between them are hotter than ever. Good thing they have a real-life mystery to focus on: why people all around them, including Evan’s new boss, want to get their hands on a journal that once belonged to Kyle’s grandfather.

When a blizzard traps them in the mountains, Kyle and Evan steam up the train’s windows and must finally face their true desires.

You can read an excerpt of their first kiss in 10 years and the first 2 chapters on my site.

More Than Just a Good Book Part 3 is now available

Sorry I didn’t get anything posted yesterday. It was a crazy Monday, but a good kind of crazy. Today I’m going through the line edits for Take Me Home. Should be getting cover art in the next few weeks. I’ll share the art and a new excerpt as soon as I can. It’s getting closer!

I’m thrilled to share that part 3 of More Than Just a Good Book is now available. You can read the opening of it below. I’ve also updated the cover art based on tips I learned in a publishing class. A special thank-you to Connie and Rosie for critiquing the story.

If you check it out, I hope you enjoy this next installment of Mark and Scott’s story.

More Than Just a Good Book: Part Three

Mark had no words. He just stared down at Scott. He couldn’t help himself. Never had he met anyone this smart and sexy, so utterly inspiring. “You’re pretty cool, you know that?”

Scott met his stare. “Me?”

“Hell yeah, you.”

“Oh.” Scott searched Mark’s eyes. “Have you…” He looked away and shifted his ass between Mark’s thighs.

“What?”

Scott stilled and met his gaze again. “Have you done this a lot?”

“Done what?” Mark moved to lie on his side beside Scott again, and Scott followed until they were face-to-face. The intimacy of being in bed with a guy long after the sex washed over him. This was crazy. He was usually the one coming on strong. Now it was Scott, with his curiosity and quiet, nervous charm, who was the one slamming into Mark’s resolve to take this slow. To keep his emotions in check. Or else he’d push Scott too far too fast. He didn’t want to scare Scott off. He could come on strong, could be too intense for most guys.

Scott said, “Bring men home you barely know.”

“Sometimes.” None of them had been this interesting, this meaningful, not on a first date. He kept that to himself.

Scott’s brow furrowed, and then, in a swift move, he turned onto his back.

Shit. That look. Hurt? Confused? Mark didn’t want Scott to misunderstand. What they’d done at the library and again at his apartment was special—damn special. But yet again, he held back from saying too much. Not now. Not yet. He sat up and leaned against the headboard. “I’m not all about getting laid. It’s just sometimes I meet someone, and I bring him home.”

“Of course.” Scott sat up and turned away, his legs swinging off the side of the bed. “I get it. I mean, I know I’m weird. Not going out that much…not sleeping around…”

“That’s not weird.” He couldn’t hold back on all of it. “It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted anyone to stay in bed with me. Since I’ve wanted to talk with a guy.”

Scott turned and met Mark’s gaze. “But you’re talking to me.”

“Yeah. That’s the difference with you.”

Scott cocked his head to the side, not as animated as before, but he was still staring with an openness that called to Mark. “Difference?”

“I want to get to know you. I’d like to see you again.”

Scott pulled one leg onto the bed and turned toward him. “Yeah?”

Mark hesitated. This could be more than he’d let himself hope for with any man. More than he was ready to put himself on the line for. So far Scott was proving he was worth the chance. Even with only the possibility of four months. “Yeah.”

“That…that would be—” Scott stood. “I don’t know how to—I should go.” He glanced around the room, his head jerking side to side so quickly he’d give himself whiplash if he didn’t let up. “Where are my pants?”

Mark sat up. “Living room. Scott, what’s wrong?”

Read more

Who’s Going to GayRomLit?

GayRomLit is just over a week away. I won’t be in attendance, but someone (who shall remain nameless in order to protect their super secret identity) shared some info with me about a scavenger hunt taking place at the event.

For those of you who haven’t heard of it, GayRomLit is a new retreat for readers and writers of GLBT romances organized by J.P. Bowie, Ethan Day, Lynn Lorenz, Carol Lynne, and Amanda Young. This is the first year for the retreat, which is being held in New Orleans on October 13 – 16. My publisher, Loose Id, along with several others and many authors of m/m romance will be there. It should be a great time for authors and readers to mingle and talk about male/male romances. I can only imagine some of the conversations that will take place over those four days. ;)

For those of you attending, I was given a preview of the Scavenger Hunt that a group of the authors have planned. Here’s how it works:

  • 17 authors are participating in the scavenger hunt.
  • The retreat’s registration bags will contain a clue sheet and empty bracelet for all attending the retreat.
  • Attendees who want to participate in the scavenger hunt will solve gay romance riddles to find out which authors are part of the game.
  • You collect beads from the authors and there are more raffle prizes at the end.

I can’t tell you who the 17 authors are, but I’ve seen the game and it’ll definitely be an entertaining way to break the ice and meet some of the well-known and newer m/m authors at the retreat.

So who’s all going? Anyone who follows the blog? I hope you guys have fun! Don’t get too crazy. Ah forget that. It’s a once-a-year event with fellow lovers of m/m romances all in one place. Have a wicked good time!!

Take Me Home Officially Coming 12/13

It’s official. I’ve signed a contract for TAKE ME HOME, my love story about two friends finding their way to what started 10 years before with one passionate night that ended too quickly. Tentative release date is December 13, 2011 from Loose Id. Sometimes Loose Id will adjust their schedule closer to the release date, but I’ll keep you posted if that happens.

Thanks to all who commented on the blog, sent an email, or have chatted with me on Facebook, Twitter, and elsewhere for your support while I was working on this manuscript.

When Will MORE Be Available in Print & Other FAQs

I finally got the FAQ page added to my website. It includes questions like When will More be available in print, When is your next book due out, and others.

I’ll keep adding the most common questions I get asked by readers as I have time.

Drop me a line if you have a question that isn’t answered on the FAQ page.