Monday, November 30, 2015

~Paperback/Yankee Candle giveaway for Trouble and Eight Ball~



Hey guys! Who's up for a contest lol? 
(open to US residents only, but read on... there will be ebooks offered later!!!)

Contest ends Dec 15th. Stuff will be mailed out on the 16th. Unless something crazy happens. And it's Christmas season to boot lol. 





Winner #1 - Paperback copy of Trouble Comes in Threes and Behind the Eight Ball along with a personalized candle Yankee Candle. The candle will have the cover of Trouble on it. (Well, part of the cover. It's a small candle lol.)













Winner #2 - Paperback copy of Trouble Comes in Threes and Behind the Eight Ball. This also will have a personalized candle from Yankee Candle with the cover of Eight Ball on it. (Well, part of the cover. It's a small candle lol.)









The only difference in the prize packs are the covers on the candles. They actually have the same scent, which happens to be my favorite. The scent is called Buttercream. I like it because it isn't very strong and doesn't set off my allergies. My son is asthmatic, and it didn't bother him either- which is actually how we found the candle, lol. He gave it to me as a Mother's Day gift years ago.

How to enter: I'm not going to make it hard. Just leave your name and email address. I'll contact you via email to get your home address so I can send the stuff to you. Just so we're clear, lol -- you *will* have to give me your home address. If you're uncomfortable doing that, don't enter *this contest.

This is only open to people who live in US. 


*Now, after this contest is over, I'm going to do another giveaway for the e-books of Trouble and Eight Ball. If you're uncomfortable giving me your home address, or you live out of the states, this is a contest you most definitely want to enter! January is my birth month, so I'll be doing plenty of things. :-)

~M

Friday, November 27, 2015

Trouble Comes in Threes Audiobook Buy Links and Tour Stops



Blurb(s):

A snowstorm in the South—on New Year’s Eve—is a perfect recipe for a catastrophe. After two soul-crushing bad breaks, Kirk’s waiting for disaster number three to strike when naturally, two stray cats arrive on his doorstep during the storm and decide to make themselves at home. Tenderhearted Kirk lets them stay even though there’s something decidedly odd about his overly friendly felines.


Out of the punishing weather, and full of tuna, Dolf and Tal are happy to be snug in Kirk’s house. But then their human goes outside for firewood and suffers a nasty fall that leaves him unconscious. Now the two cats have no choice but to reveal themselves.


Kirk wakes up to find the two kitties are actually Dolf and Tal. They’re cat shifters—and his destined mates. Being part of a feline threesome is enough for Kirk to grapple with, but soon he learns they come from a clowder that doesn’t believe humans and shifters should mix. Kirk knew those two cats would be trouble. Little does he know the real trouble lies ahead.



Tour Stops:

Parker Williams, The Hat Party, Full Moon DreamingHavan Fellows, Bayou Book Junkie, Inked Rainbow Reads, Open Skye Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog,MM Good Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Velvet Panic, Happily Ever Chapter,The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, V’s Reads, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Alpha Book Club


The Giveaway!

Thursday, November 26, 2015



Hope everyone has a great day and for the stuffing, did y'all remember to...





and once that was stuffed, you gotta...





Have a good one lol!
~M

Monday, November 23, 2015

RRW stands against plagiarism, by Deanna Wadsworth

*The post was written by Deanna Wadsworth, and I'm just sharing it. I am also a member of both RWA and RRW.

~M




“Notice of Disciplinary Action from RWA for Plagiarism

The RWA Ethics Committee reviewed the complaint of plagiarism brought by Becky McGraw against Laura Harner. After examining and assessing all corresponding documents, Laura Harner received lifetime expulsion from membership in Romance Writers of America due to plagiarism, which includes a permanent ban from participating in or attending any RWA-sponsored events or activities including conferences, workshops, classes, and any chapter activities. Ms. Harner was notified on November 16, 2015.”




Now that the RWA Ethics Committee has made this official decision, Rainbow Romance Writers wants our members and the public to know that these incidents have not gone unnoticed nor have they been taken lightly. We are grateful RWA acted swiftly to protect its members and we fully support the ruling.

Plagiarism is an immoral act and a betrayal of everything we stand for, therefore, RRW has also revoked Ms. Harner’s membership and banned her for life.

Stealing books from other authors is copyright infringement and that is a serious crime. Ms. Harner’s actions cast a bad light on the romance genre as a whole, especially the gay romance and self-published books. Authors of gay romance and indy authors face enough obstacles. To have one of our own betray us and damage the positive reputation we’ve worked so hard to build is simply unacceptable and unforgivable.

RRW would like to extend our deepest condolences to Becky McGraw and Opal Carew for the blatant theft perpetrated against you. No author should be betrayed by one of their own and we hope you will find justice. Please don’t allow this duplicity to discourage you from writing. The romance community and your fans have your back!

We also wish to express our sympathy to the readers who have been deceived by Ms. Harner’s theft. Thank you for your love of romance and your devotion to the genre. Without you, we would not be able to do what we do, and for that we are eternally grateful. Romance fans are the best!

On a personal note, I was flabbergasted that plagiarism on this level could happen. College term papers get plagiarized all the time, but copying entire books? Inconceivable! But it did happen, and that made me think, “How can I protect my books from plagiarism?”

First, don't panic.

Your book is already copyrighted and protected by the US Government. The following are five of the frequently asked questions from the US copyright website, http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/



What is copyright?
Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.



When is my work protected?
Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device.



Do I have to register with your office to be protected?
No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration.



Why should I register my work if copyright protection is automatic?
Registration is recommended for a number of reasons. Many choose to register their works because they wish to have the facts of their copyright on the public record and have a certificate of registration. Registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees in successful litigation. Finally, if registration occurs within five years of publication, it is consideredprima facie evidence in a court of law. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration” and Circular 38b, Highlights of Copyright Amendments Contained in the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA), on non-U.S. works.



Is my copyright good in other countries?
The United States has copyright relations with most countries throughout the world, and as a result of these agreements, we honor each other's citizens' copyrights. However, the United States does not have such copyright relationships with every country. For a listing of countries and the nature of their copyright relations with the United States, see Circular 38a, International Copyright Relations of the United States.



For decades, the honor system among authors, publishers, editors etc. has always been dependable. I believe it still is. But in light of recent events, you may feel that registering your book is the right decision for you. "Registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees in successful litigation." That is obviously an important detail, because without the registration, you can't get back the money someone else made on your book if it is stolen. If you are already published, first check with your publisher to see if they registered the copyright, though more than likely they did not. If you are unpublished, you may also feel that a registration is a wise decision to fully protect your work.

There is no right or wrong answer here, but as my Grandma Helen always said, “It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.”

For a more comprehensive explanation of copyright laws, check out this link:http://copyright.gov/circs/circ01.pdf


The romance writing community cannot dismiss an admitted act of plagiarism as mere online mudslinging, something to be quickly forgotten until the next time our Twitter feeds blow up with the latest drama. But we will come out stronger and wiser in the wake of this incident. The reminder to educate ourselves about our rights as authors is already a positive outcome to take away.

Remember: one person’s actions cannot reflect who we are as writers, nor can it define our genre in any way shape or form. RRW is a strong community full of supportive and wonderful people. We are proud of our members and the original books they create every day. Romance writers of all genres stand together because we are a community of friends who support one another. Stay positive, stay proud, and keep writing!

Thank you for taking the time to read and share this post.

~Deanna


Deanna Wadsworth might be a bestselling erotica author, but she leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her wonderful husband and a couple adorable cocker spaniels. She has served multiple board positions at her local RWA chapter and is currently the Social Media Coordinator and Secretary of Rainbow Romance Writers of America and will be President-elect of RRW in 2016.

WebsiteFacebookTwitterPinterestgoodreads


You can also find her young adult alter ego, K.D. Worth FacebookTwitter

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Trouble Comes in Threes audiobook on sale now!





OMG guess what's up at DsP??? Trouble Comes in Threes in Audio!!! Yup, Kirk and the werecats are now an audiobook! It just hit DsP New Product page. :)

Click on the buy link and that will take you to my author page. You can get it from iTunes, Audible, and Amazon. This is also my first audiobook and I'm very excited. :) It also won Honorable Mention in the Rainbow Awards!

~M



Friday, November 20, 2015

Pride Promotions presents 959 Brenton Street by Thianna Durston and a Giveaway



Author Name: Thianna Durston

Book Name: 959 Brenton Street
Series: Men of Falcon Pointe
Book: One

Release Date: November 20, 2015

Blurb:
Trent Farnsworth moves to Falcon Pointe to get as far away from his controlling family and religion as he can. While his conservative upbringing makes it hard for Trent to admit he’s gay, he accidentally outs himself in front of his four new roommates. None of the men living at 959 Brenton Street are what the world would consider normal, but all four accept him for who he is. And when Trent falls for his much older landlord, Dr. Cory Venerin, he’s as surprised as anyone, but discovering Cory feels the same makes Trent realize he’s truly in the right place at the right time.

Until he tells his family he’s gay. His father uses any resource at his disposal to destroy him, including Trent’s love for Cory. As his father schemes to send Trent to a hospital whose sole purpose is to rip the gay out of him, Cory battles to save not only Trent—but also the possibility of a future together.


Pages or Words:200 pages

Categories:Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt:
Cory stood up and left the room, his footfalls a staccato beat on the stairs.
“Damn,” David said, grimacing. “I was kind of hoping to let you know about this later on. I mean, hell, you’ve just come out today. That should be enough of a shock.”
“What?” he asked nervously, beginning to wonder what they hadn’t told him. What the hell could they be covering up?
“Uh, this house is….” Alan said.
“Discipline based,” Greg filled in, handing him another muffin.
“What does that mean?” he asked. He took the sweet confection and nibbled on the corner.
“It means we keep to the rules or we come to a meeting with a very hard paddle,” David said wryly as Cory came down the stairs carrying in his hand what looked like a small breadboard. “Meet the enemy.”
They couldn’t possibly mean what he thought they meant. They were all grown men. Surely nobody paddled anyone else. That was… barbaric. He widened his eyes as he crossed one leg over the other. And a turn-on apparently. What kind of freak was he, anyway?






Meet the author:

Thianna likes to say she’s eclectic, fun, and just a bit naughty. She can also add, subtract, multiply, and divide in her head, but if people ask her to do it at parties, she isn’t impressed. While she would love to say there wasn’t a genre she had read that she didn’t enjoy, it would be a lie. For some reason, she keeps skipping to the ends of mystery books to find out who done it.

The creator and acquisition editor for the Corbin’s Bend Romance series, she wants to know: Who else wants to be safe, secure, and spanked in Colorado?

Where to find the author:



Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist:Catt Ford

Tour Dates& Stops:

Rafflecopter Prize: $5.00 Amazon gift card

Rafflecopter Code:

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Welcome to the MM Veterans Day Scavenger Hunt and a Giveaway~





Welcome to the MM Veterans Day Scavenger Hunt

~Today I'm hosting Gigi from Gay Book Review~



My Favorite Vet by Gigi



My favorite veteran is my husband. He is strong and brave and constantly thinks of others over himself. One of the many reasons I feel in love with him!

When we met in 1994 he had already been in the Army for 6 years. He served in the Iraqi war as a military police officer and was overseas for 9 months. He and his until spent their time in the desert making sure others were safe and enforcing the law, no matter who's side you were on. He was miserable and hated every minute being away from his family, but he did his duty and did it well. I didn't know him them, but I already loved him.

Yes, this is short, but my husband doesn't like to talk about his time overseas. We've been married for 21 years and I've heard more from friends from his unit then him. He is also very private so I'm not going to name name here. I am sending one picture along, taken in 1991.

Support our veterans!

~Gigi
 



Gigi's Rapid Fire Q&A answers:

Chocolate/Vanilla Vanilla: I know it is strange, but I've never been a chocolate fanatic like most people. I think that's a good thing for my waistline!

Coke/Pepsi Coke: I just can't eat a burger without being able to wash it down with a real sugar-laced Coke. 
 
Morning/Night Night: Getting up early is something I never did get used to after college. Hate morning. 

Coffee/Tea Coffee: 2 cups a day (LARGE cups!) or I can't function.
Summer/Winter Summer: I live in Minnesota so our summers are disgustingly short. I crave it 9 months of the year!


More from Gigi and Gay Book Review:


Follow the Scavenger Hunt for more chances to win!


11/11 - Jessie G Books, N.R. Walker, Talon P.S. & Princess S.O., Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy

The Sacrifice and Other Stories by Kim Fielding - all royalties donated to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontiers and a Giveaway!


** Hey everyone! Today I have the fabulous Kim Fielding on the blog.  Please note that all royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontiers**




The Sacrifice and Other Stories
by Kim Fielding

A sickly man seeks recovery in a seaside cottage.

A temple slave tends a man due to be sacrificed.

A soldier releases a genie.

In seven fantasy short stories and novellas, men find passion with other men in the most unexpected places, and even the gravest circumstances may open the door to hope and love.

This anthology includes two brand-new short stories. In “The Sacrifice,” Rylo is a temple slave tasked with comforting a man who is scheduled to be killed in the morning. In “Chasing Away Cold,” Daku builds an ice sculpture of the god Jarli in order to ensure the end of winter. The collection also includes three novellas and two additional short stories, gathered for the first time in a single volume. “Treasure” introduces Jules, a young man who travels to the quirky seaside town of Urchin Cove to regain his health—and finds an unexpected treasure washed up on the beach. Xolani, a soldier in “Three Wishes,” picks up a small glass bottle and unleashes a surprise. Another soldier, Volos in “Guarded,” will risk everything to save Prince Berhanu. In the sequel, “Mato’s Tale,” an unassuming innkeeper gets a chance for adventure. And in “The Downs,” Enitan is unjustly banished and comes to discover that the demons he must face aren’t the ones he expected.

Join Kim Fielding on journeys through imagined worlds where magic is commonplace and romance lies just around the next bend. All royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontiers.

***

Available now for preorder from Amazon. Releases November 27.

***

Kim Fielding is the bestselling author of numerous m/m romance novels, novellas, and short stories. Like Kim herself, her work is eclectic, spanning genres such as contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and historical. Her stories are set in alternate worlds, in 15th century Bosnia, in modern-day Oregon. Her heroes are hipster architect werewolves, housekeepers, maimed giants, and conflicted graduate students. They’re usually flawed, they often encounter terrible obstacles, but they always find love.

After having migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States, Kim calls the boring part of California home. She lives there with her husband, her two daughters, and her day job as a university professor, but escapes as often as possible via car, train, plane, or boat. This may explain why her characters often seem to be in transit as well. She dreams of traveling and writing full-time.

You can find Kim
On Twitter: @KFieldingWrites

***

For more on Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontiers or to donate directly to them: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

***

Excerpt (from “Chasing Away Cold”):

She knelt, scooped a handful of snow, and stood to hold it before her. “This is nothing special—simply water that has frozen and melted and frozen again. But sometimes something very important may come from nothing at all. It depends on the heart of the maker.” She dropped the snow and pressed her hand against Daku’s chest. “The contents of a heart can change everything.”
Although he didn’t understand, he nodded. Then he gave her the cup and turned to complete the ice man.
He took particular care over the face: a narrow chin and broad cheekbones, far-set eyes with a slight downward tilt at the outside, a strong nose, and lips stretched in a wide smile. The ice man’s hair was straight, falling well below his shoulders.
“You’ve made him beautiful,” Yalamay said. Daku couldn’t say whether she’d gone and returned or had been standing there the entire time.
“He is beautiful. I only… I only tried to show that.”
Yalamay nodded as if this made perfect sense. “I knew you were the right one for this.”
Aside from Daku’s mother, people rarely praised him, and Yalamay was always sparing with her commendations. Daku should have preened under her rare words. But he was too preoccupied with what he had created. The ice man looked so real, so joyful. And in a few short hours he would be destroyed.
Daku swallowed with difficulty, but he managed a small smile when Yalamay patted his back. “Thank you for letting me do this,” he said.
“I won’t always be here, my boy. And none in the tribe but you could make Jarli so well.”
“Don’t go!” Daku cried, as if she could somehow stop death.
She chuckled. “I am pleased to be appreciated. But Daku, everything changes eventually. Winter becomes spring becomes summer becomes autumn becomes winter. Youngsters grow old and babies are born. Even hard stone is worn away”—she gestured at the rock on which the ice man stood—“but new plants grow.” She gestured toward the forest. “Someday this world will see changes that are so far beyond the tribe’s dreaming. But a few things remain unaltered. Do you know what those things are?”
“The gods?”
Her laughter startled a nearby crow from its branch. “Oh no, my boy. Gods and goddesses change too. More slowly than humans, perhaps, but no less inevitably. But the world contains magics even more powerful than gods, and the strength of those magics never changes. What are they?”
At first his mind was as blank as a fresh layer of snow. But Yalamay looked at him expectantly, and Daku remembered the conversation he’d had with his mother earlier in the day. “Love and courage.”
“Very good! There are others too, but I think those are an excellent start.”

***





Monday, November 16, 2015

Pride Promotions presents Negotiating Love by Morticia Knight and a Giveaway!


Author Name: Morticia Knight 
Book Name: Negotiating Love
Series: Sin City Uniforms
Book: Five 
Release Date:  October 27, 2015


Blurb(s):
Can the kinky billionaire owner of Dark Fantasy Resort Casino capture the heart of a muscled SWAT officer with a secret fetish?

SWAT Team Hostage Negotiator, Steve, wonders why he can’t stay away from the spoiled rich Allistair, owner of Dark Fantasy Resort Casino. They have mutual kinks - ones Steve can’t find with other lovers—but there’s something else about the emotionally detached, beautiful man that calls to him.

Billionaire Allistair stays alone in his luxury penthouse apartment at the top of Dark Fantasy, terrified of the real world and of opening himself up to genuine emotions. He takes lover after lover, all of them allowing him to do whatever he wants to their bodies, in the hopes that they can scam something from him.

One night is all he ever shares with a plaything—he knows they only want the money and luxury he can offer them and nothing more. But the down to earth Steve is different. They share the same kinks and are explosive when together. But could the muscled law officer ever want more than the lust-filled encounters that have become such an addiction?

As they grow closer, they discover they also have to find a balance between Steve’s everyday world and Allistair’s entitled world before they can truly find an ever after. They also have to make sure Allistair stays safe. Filthy rich playboys are too tempting to those who seek the ultimate payday—and who aren’t afraid of hurting someone to get it.

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of BDSM and fetishism.  

Pages or Words: 50,851 words

Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, Crime Fiction, Erotica, M/M Romance, Mystery



Excerpt:
After Kenny exited the apartment, Allistair flopped down on the sofa, sprawling across it. “What a perfectly gruesome day.” He glanced up at Steve. “Do you have to go back to work right now?”

“No. I asked if I could leave early. Fortunately, I wasn’t on patrol today. We had to…

Well, there were still some things that needed to be wrapped up from the mall shooting.”

Allistair shot up, his legs still spread out. “Oh my God. I’m such a selfish bitch. It’s your first day back. Are you okay? Would you like to talk about it?”

Steve lowered himself on the couch, lifting Allistair’s limbs as he did. He draped them over his lap, then eased Allistair’s slippers off. He rubbed his lover’s feet, gratified the moment the tension left Allistair and he groaned, melting against a fluffy throw pillow.

“You’re scrambling my brains.”

“Just relax, gorgeous. This has been a stressful day for you.”

He was treated to Allistair’s pouty lip again. “But what about you? It’s been all about me.”

Steve dug his thumbs in Allistair’s instep then moved his way up to the ball of his foot. Allistair’s head lolled back. His plan of relaxing Allistair appeared to be working.

“I want it to be all about you right now. We can worry about me later.”

Allistair jerked his head up again. “I know! It can be all about the both of us.”

Steve brought Allistair’s foot to his mouth then kissed his big toe before setting it down again. “Okay. Both of us it is.”

Allistair eased back on the cushion, closing his eyes, a peaceful smile on his lips. “Good.”



Buy the book: 






Meet the author:
Morticia Knight spends most of her nights writing about men loving men forever after.

If there happens to be some friendly bondage or floggings involved, she doesn’t begrudge her characters whatever their filthy little heart’s desire. Even though she’s been crafting her naughty tales for more years than she’d like to share – her adventures as a published author began in 2011.

Once upon a time she was the lead singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern Oregon coast and when she’s not fantasizing about hot men she takes walks along the ocean and annoys the local Karaoke bar patrons.


Where to find the author:

Publisher: Pride Publishing
Cover Artist: Posh Gosh

9-Nov: Love Bytes
15-Nov: The Hat Party
19-Nov: BFD Book Blog
20-Nov: Molly Lolly


9. Lately, Steve has been questioning his job as a hostage negotiator.


Rafflecopter Prize: Signed paperback and a Halloween goodie bag

Rafflecopter Code:

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Tap, tap, tap...

 


PSSSSST... 


I'm back! Haahahahahaha!! 

Okay, I have to say, being without my laptop for the past week was a huge PIA. I have it back now, and I'm still not really sure what exactly happened. I do know that the Geek Squad about caused me to lose my ever lovin' mind.

Thursday my comp suddenly stopped working. I could get to my startup screen, but I couldn't open any tabs. I could open it in safe mode, but I still could not get on the Internet. Well off the Geek Squad we went. I told the guy  what it was doing and they told me that it sounded like my operating system had crashed. I brought my recovery disk up there, and they said that should be sufficient. Well obviously it wasn't. 

I get a phone call telling me that I need to buy a disk with an operating system on it. So I buy Windows 7, wait for it to come in then take it back up there. A few days later it's supposedly fixed again. I go pick it up. I get home that night and I cannot get on the Internet 

YET

AGAIN.

Back to the Geek Squad. This time I wasn't quite as nice. So here we go again… this time when I got it back it was working. Now here's the funny thing. Remember that new OS disk I bought that they said I needed? Well it hadn't been opened. 

I know it hasn't been open because it's still sealed shut. So basically, best I can tell, they just set my computer back to the factory settings. Which of course meant I had to download Chrome again and Spotify... and a lot of other stuff I'd lost. Fortunately I had all my documents and pictures backed up so I didn't lose any of my WIPs. 

And Best Buy, bless their little pointed heads, sent me a survey to fill out. Bad idea. *shakes head* They really don't want to know what I think about their customer service. And I still don't have a answer as to what caused my operating system to crash to begin with. 

~M

*oh, and they lost my charger too.