Book Excerpts

Gender Fluidity in Transgression

June 20, 2014 By Brandon 20 Comments

Friend and author Theo Fenraven stopped by to give us the scoop on his latest book Transgression. You can also read his original short story The Elevator only on this blog.

Last I heard, Facebook offers fifty-seven different gender choices when you sign up for an account. This change went into effect after I opened mine, so I went back and checked “gender fluid.” You’ve heard the saying, right? “Sex is between the legs, gender is between the ears.”

Most days, I am happily male, but there are others when I want to celebrate my female side by putting on something girly or painting my nails. There is makeup in my bathroom cabinet, and I enjoy wearing it. I can walk in heels, but I don’t like them and currently don’t own any. I do like how skirts let the air circulate between my legs. I’d wear them more often if society didn’t frown on it so much. Well, “frown on it” is putting it mildly, isn’t it? I’d get the shit beat out of me if I went out in public like that. [Read more…] about Gender Fluidity in Transgression

Saugatuck Summer

May 21, 2014 By Brandon 5 Comments

Hi, and welcome to the Saugatuck Summer blog tour! First of all, I want to thank Brandon for hosting me again. One of my best memories of RainbowCon last month was the few minutes we got to talk when he extended the invitation. It’s been a while since I’ve appeared on his blog and I’m so happy to be back!

For those of you who have seen me talking about it on social media for the last nearly year and a half, you know that Saugatuck Summer was a labor of love far beyond what I would normally claim for one of my books. Of course I love them all, but Saugatuck Summer came from my very soul. Actually, I’m not certain it came from me at all.

Basically, here’s what happened: One day I was driving along, running errands, and Topher Carlisle whispered one line of dialogue in my ear. Just one. When I asked him what I was supposed to do with that, he promptly took over my brain for fifteen absolutely insane days and at the end I had the first draft of Saugatuck Summer.

Topher’s story of recovery, hope, making mistakes, and growing up just told itself, and the experience of being the conduit for that was at times grueling and heartbreaking, but also euphoric and wonderful. It was one of those experiences that, as a creator of some form of art, be it musical, visual, or literary, you have once or twice in a lifetime if you’re extraordinarily lucky, when you know you’re creating something magical. I’m not sure it will ever happen to me again, but I feel absolutely blessed that this book has come of it. [Read more…] about Saugatuck Summer

How I Accidentally Fell Into Writing

January 17, 2014 By Brandon

Welcome John T. Fuller to the blog. John has the distinction to be the first author we’re bringing to you this year for the Hidden Gems blog series. In a nutshell, this series of posts is about helping you find books that you may not have found, but that others have raved about. They come from all facets of LGBTQ lit, so if you know of a book that you think needs to be spotlighted, let us know. I hope you’ll enjoy the blog series! Now, everyone say welcome to John. ~B

When Brandon approached me and asked if I’d like to take part in his 2014 guest blog theme of ‘Hidden Gems’ I was very honoured and incredibly surprised to be contacted by such a prolific and respected author. Just as surprised, in fact, as I’ve been at how my debut (and currently only!) novella When the Music Stops has been received by readers.

You see, I never really intended it to be published. I’ve written on and off as a hobby for most of my adult life, everything from erotica to horror, historical to sci-fi, but none of it ever saw the light of day – in fact a lot of it never even got finished. It was always just a hobby to me, a nice creative outlet when I came home from the (depressingly factual) desk-job. When I wrote When the Music Stops it was the longest piece I’d written to date and I wasn’t thinking about an audience or what readers might think – possibly this was a good thing, as I’d perhaps not have tackled such an emotive and divisive subject if I’d been worried about how it would be received. [Read more…] about How I Accidentally Fell Into Writing

Exclusive Excerpt from Guardians of the Pattern: Psi Hunter

January 10, 2014 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Welcome Jaye McKenna to the blog with a cover reveal and an excerpt from book one of her new science fiction series: Guardians of the Pattern.

Overview:

In my new sci fi series, Guardians of the Pattern, the line between science and magic blurs. In the Federation, psions are hunted down and murdered because the public fears their psychic talents. But when ancient weapons of mass destruction are unearthed on a planet populated by primitive nomads who still believe in magic, psions may be the Federation’s only hope for survival.

Can the people of these two very different cultures come together to prevent disaster? Or will the Federation’s hunger for power trigger a psionic chain-reaction that has the potential to threaten all of humanity?

Each novel in the five-book series features sci fi action and adventure, and a romance for a different couple. The first novel in the series, Psi Hunter, will be available in March of 2014. [Read more…] about Exclusive Excerpt from Guardians of the Pattern: Psi Hunter

Hidden Gems and Other Bookish Treasures

January 6, 2014 By Brandon

I thought we’d do something a bit different on the blog this year. Last year, we had authors talking about the books they wrote and why one in particular was their favorite. Every author has a fav and I’ve always found their reasons fascinating.

This year, I’m flipping that upside down. We’re scouring the interwebs looking for hidden gems. Books that have made ‘must read’ lists but, for one reason or another, never got much attention. I’ll be contacting the authors and inviting them to the blog so you can learn about them too. I already have a full lineup on the way with some great books and fantastic authors. If you know of such a book, let me know. I may profile it here on the blog.

One of the other new themes on the blog this year will be LGBT science fiction and fantasy. I have been a huge fan of both genres since I was a kid and thought it was about time we brought the genre more exposure. Watch for the posts, and again, if you have a nominee you’d like us to take a look at, let me know.

HoT Blog Tour – Excerpt and Giveaway

November 22, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Welcome to the blog tour for Heart of Timber, Book 2 of the Cold gay romance series!

It’s the last day of the Heart of Timber blog tour. Today I’m over at Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews with an exclusive excerpt. And don’t forget that you have until the end of today to put your name in for a FREE copy of Heart of Timber from 3 Chicks After Dark.

Did you miss the other HoT blog-hop stops?

Boys in our Books (Excerpt)

Jessewave (Exclusive Interview)

Attention is Arbitrary (Spotlight)

Live Your Life, Buy the Book (Spotlight)

Joyfully Jay (Guest Post)