Monthly Archives for September 2014

Double Trouble: Chapter 14

Wednesday Briefs

Trent gets a lesson is raising a kid. For more free flash reading check out the list of authors at the bottom of this post.

Chapter 14

Trent stood in the lacy pattern of locust branches while the twins zoomed by on their new bikes. Between Sammy’s squeals and Danny’s motor noises it was obvious they were having fun.

“Hey, Danny. Get that helmet on right. You know the rules,” Trent said.

“Hard ass,” Mitch said in a low voice.

“Damn straight. I had good teachers.”

“Yeah, like you ever listened.”

“Oh, I listened. I just didn’t want you to know I was paying attention.”

Continue reading →

Guest Post – Chris T. Kat

The Holy Grail of Promotion, Part II – Reviews

Jon, thank you very much for the opportunity to be a guest on your blog—again. I’m getting very comfortable here. 😉

Dreamspinner Press published my new release, Tidal Change, on September 17th. Tidal Change is a shape-shifter story, but it also has fantasy/fairy tale elements because the main character, Marty, is a merman.

During my last blog tour for Secret Energy, which isn’t long ago since I suck at spreading out my releases in a way that’s beneficial to my sanity, I wrote a post about “The Holy Grail of Promotion”. No, unfortunately I still haven’t found it. I’m probably searching in the wrong places…

For today, I thought I’d talk about reviews, since they’re so important for the success of a book. Here are some of my thoughts on the topic:

  • When I started doing blog tours, I more or less only blogged on other authors’ websites. Nowadays, I mix it up and ask review sites if I can do a guest post on their sites. This always gives me nightmares… Okay, not literally, but I’m always cringing and squirming until I finally send the damn e-mail.
  • I’ve been in the publishing business for two and a half years now. I still don’t get how some social media platforms work, or who would most likely be approachable if I ask for a review, but now I know at least a few reviewers. Also, now I have an idea which reviewers generally like my books, which makes it so much easier to ask. 🙂
  • I hope that some of the review sites pick up my book for review. What? I’m a very hopeful person. 🙂 That, and I hate asking for anything.
  • After receiving e-mails from other authors in which they asked me if I could review their books, I’m considering doing the same. Like I said, this thought is in the considering stage, and there probably won’t come much of it.

Do you read reviews before you buy a book? Or do you prefer to go into a book without knowing anyone’s opinion?

TidalChangeFS

Buy link:

Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5446

 

Blurb:

Something draws history teacher Rick Grady across the school hall to German teacher Marty Lindson. Maybe it’s their shared love of the ocean. Maybe it’s just that Marty is so hot, but maybe it’s something more—something mysterious. All Rick knows is that every time he gets close, Marty pulls away. After another cancelled date, Rick goes to Marty’s apartment to demand an explanation. And what Rick discovers blows his mind.

The ocean calls to Marty because he’s a merman. He’s been afraid to get close to Rick, not just to keep his world a secret, but because Rick is his mate. And to claim his mate would change everything about Marty. No matter how much he loves Rick, he doesn’t know if he’s ready to alter his entire life.

 

Excerpt:

They explored the aquarium, petting the rough skin of the sharks and watching the displays of multicolored fishes. Once in a while, Rick gave Marty an uneasy glance. Was that a light humming sound emanating from him? Or maybe he was suffering from some sort of hallucinations? Hell, at one point he could have sworn Marty’s arm vibrated. But when he stared at him, Marty simply smiled and pulled him toward another exhibit, and the moment passed.

As they stood in front of the clownfish exhibit, Rick observed, “Flashy little things.”

Marty nodded but he didn’t comment on Rick’s remark. Surprised, Rick turned to his usually chatty companion and frowned. Marty’s gaze was fixed on the orange bodies striped with white as they flashed through the water, sometimes seeking shelter behind an anemone.

He nudged Marty. “Hey, what’s the wistful look for?”

Marty flinched and then tried to hide his reaction. Before Rick could address it, Marty said, “They’re pretty, aren’t they?”

“Yes, and interesting too. Did you know that all clownfish are born as males and that they’re able to change their gender to female?” Rick had been fascinated by the information he’d read on these unusual fish.

“Ah, yes, fascinating. How about getting something to eat? I’m starving.”

Rick’s stomach rumbled. He linked arms with Marty. “That’s fine. I need to sit down anyway.”

“Just no seafood,” Marty said as they made their way to the restaurant.

Rick shook his head. “Not even a bite of crab?”

Marty grimaced and pretended to retch. “Stop teasing me about it!”

“I’m not teasing you. I want to help you expand your culinary horizon.”

Marty shot him a smile. “I really appreciate your kindness, but my culinary horizon can’t take an expansion. It’s very narrow-minded and wants to stay that way.”

They had to wait to get past a crowd of people and Rick seized the moment to whisper, “How about expanding another horizon instead?”

Heat rose in Marty’s cheeks and his eyes gleamed silvery. All the sound around them receded into the background, and Rick became aware of the same odd humming he’d noted earlier. Rick bent his head, intent on kissing Marty, but Marty broke the moment with a jerk of his head.

“The restaurant is calling my name… and now there’s actually room for us to get there,” he said in a hoarse voice.

Rick sighed. He still allowed Marty to lead him through the aisles, even though his engorged cock pressed against his jeans, demanding attention. Why did Marty play hot and cold all the time? It always went like this, always. He hated that.

 

Chris T. Kat

Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there’s any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.

 

Links:

Blog: http://christikat.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/christi_kat

GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/ChrisTKat

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChrisTKat

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Chris-T.-Kat/e/B008FQQH2Q

Double Trouble: Chapter 13

Wednesday Briefs

Setting up for the twins third birthday and Mitch can’t resist. For more free flash reading check out the list of authors at the bottom of this post.

Chapter 13

Darrin stood looking out the window at the brown and grey landscape. Fall had finally arrived, or at least what passed for fall in this part of Oklahoma. The few trees had went from green to brown with little fanfare and the grass had eased itself into it’s winter mantle of shades of tan. Continue reading →

Double Trouble: Chapter 12

Wednesday Briefs

Benji has to make a choice. For more free flash reading check out the list of authors at the bottom of this post.

Chapter 12

Trent stood in the doorway and studied Benji. The expression on the kid’s face was not one of a happy homecoming. Trent could relate, his own time on the streets weren’t something he liked to recall. The way Benji was acting was far too familiar to Trent.

“Have you decided where you want us to drop you off?”

Benji paused, his hands frozen in mid air. After a few moments he let them drop. “Anywhere downtown will be fine, I guess. I can walk to wherever.” Continue reading →