The End of So Much For Me

Yesterday was the end of Amber Quill Press. It still fills me with a lot of sorrow to write out those words. 

Back in 2007/2008 when I took a chance and entered their then publishing contest I never expected to get anywhere. I'd been writing for years and at that time had no success getting a publisher.  I used to write hetero romances but one day started reading gay romances, sometimes called M/M, and my love affair began. 

The story I submitted to the contest was called The Squire. It combined my new found love of M/M with my love of medieval romances. 

I officially sent my entry for the "Heat Wave" contest on January 01, 2008. 

What a shock it was to me when on February 29, 2008, I received the following:

It is my pleasure to inform you that the manuscript you recently submitted into our 5th Annual Heat Wave Contest, THE SQUIRE, has been selected to receive an e-publishing contract with Amber Quill Press.  Congratulations!  With more than 200 entries this year, the competition proved fierce, so pat yourself on the back for a job well done!  

I surely read that email a hundred times certain it was a mistake. It wasn't. The Squire was published in June of that year and thus began a long history of publishing with them. I released more than 20 titles with them over the years, many of them, like The Squire, very good sellers for me.  Car Wash, Most Likely to Succeed, At Long Last, the Only Series, Sutter's Bay, man, I could go on. 

Those early years were especially fond ones for me and it was a pleasure working with my editor, Catherine, and all the others at AQ, especially Trace who was always phenomenal.

I have no idea what the future holds for me and all my orphaned books other than the ones I have already noted here but I'll always remember my time with Amber Quill as a happy and successful time.

At Long Last and Until the End of Time Update

Well now that the contracts have been signed and officially acknowledged I can mention that I have sold the rights to At Long Last and it's sequel, Until the End of Time, to be re-released by Loose Id sometime later this year. Since Scott and Preston hold a special place in my heart this is good news that they will be out in the publishing world again once the closing of Amber Quill concludes later this month. There will be some edits on At Long Last and Until the End of Time but not sure to what extent at this point. I do know the plan is to package them together when the time comes.

At this point I have no other news on the fate of my other Amber Quill work including Most Likely to Succeed or Car Wash. When I do I will post here.

The Closing of Amber Quill Press

Well, I think it’s pretty much coming out on social networking that Amber Quill is closing its doors as of March 31, 2016. The official announcement comes on Monday, January 04, 2016. This was sad news for its many authors, but at least they made the decision wisely as it was becoming clearer their business model could not compete in today’s market and all authors will be getting their rights back.

I have been releasing stories with Amber Quill since 2008 when I won what was to be their last contest to award contracts with them. I entered the contest on a whim with the story, The Squire, and was frankly stunned when I was one of the winners.

I have since released many titles there and I am proud of my stories there, some of which did very well for me in their heyday. Car Wash, At Long Last, the Only series. Well, so many, really.

What will become of them? I am not yet sure but I am sure I will do something with some of them anyway.

To be honest I had made the decision that Making a Wish would be the last story I sent there due to declining sales there for the last couple of years. I did not agree with the way they handled releasing stories on Amazon and I honestly believed the way they handled it hurt my sales for those stories. I had agreed to write stories as part of an obligation though and Making a Wish was that last story.

It makes me sad nevertheless because they were always kind, professional and paid on time. Something I cannot say for Ellora’s Cave, one of my other former publishers.

So onward, I suppose.

Making a Wish is Available for Purchase (Pre-Order)

Making a Wish is available for Pre-Order over at Amber Quill.  

Here is the official blurb

As a kid, Astronomy professor Marty Brooks kept in touch with a pen pal who lived on the other side of the country. Eventually that pen pal stopped responding to Marty’s letters, which always ended with “Making a Wish” for Marty’s love of space.

Now, as adults, Marty and his brother are big fans of a series of famous Sci-Fi movies. They head to a convention for the movie franchise where they hope to meet the hot actors. Marty is especially interested in meeting an actor he knows is openly gay, but instead he bumps into the star of the movies, Sebastian Lookinland, who is gorgeous and not at all the snob Marty anticipated. They instantly connect and it’s obvious the attraction is mutual.

Before long, Marty learns the world really is small when Sebastian reveals he is actually the pen pal from all those years ago. The men instantly begin an affair, although Marty knows it will end when the convention does. But Sebastian isn’t ready to say goodbye and suggests they stay connected through texts, emails, and weekend get-togethers.

Marty can hardly refuse the offer since his heart is already engaged. Will he make a wish for the relationship to last for more than a few weeks?

Making a Wish Cover

You'll see over there on the sidebar I got my cover today for Making a Wish. It will be released later this month (11/22/15) from Amber Quill

That's Marty Brooks on the cover, the hero of my story. He's a nerdy astronomy professor who has an affair with a super hot Hollywood star. It was a fun story to write and I hope you enjoy reading it.

Making a Wish finished and turned in

I finished and turned in, Making a Wish, for the Getting Connected Pax, for Amber Quill. This was the last Pax I signed up to be a part of, so my obligations there have ceased.

Here is a very rough blurb for the story:

As a kid Astronomy professor, Marty Brooks, kept in touch for years with a pen pal who lived on the other side of the country. Eventually that pen pal stopped responding to Marty’s letters, which always ended with “Making a Wish” for Marty’s love of space.

Years later, Marty and his brother, big fans of a series of famous Sci-Fi movies, head to a convention for their mutual interests, especially meeting the hot actors that play the roles. Marty is interested in meeting an actor he knows is openly gay, but instead he bumps into the star of the movies, Sebastian Lookinland, who is gorgeous and not at all the snob Marty thought he was. They instantly connect and it’s obvious the attraction is mutual.

Before long Marty learns the world really is small when Sebastian reveals he is actually the pen pal from all those years ago. Marty and Sebastian begin an affair, Marty knowing it will end when the convention does. But Sebastian isn’t ready to say goodbye and suggests they stay connected through texts, emails, and weekend get-togethers. Marty can hardly refuse. Before long his heart is engaged. Will he make a wish for it to last for more than a few weeks?

This is going to be my last story for Amber Quill for the foreseeable future as I intend to be focusing on material for other publishers. 

Right now I have November 22, 2015 as the release date for Making a Wish.

May Update

I've submitted, Unobtainable, to Amber Quill, with a week to spare as it was due June 01. Once it has a firm release date, I will update the site.

Here is the blurb (tentative) for anyone who might be interested:

Scott O'Hara and Edgar Lopez have been partners in the homicide unit of Haydon Cliff’s Police Department for the last couple of years. Edgar is openly gay and a bit of a player. Though Scott is also gay he keeps it to himself. Even from Edgar. Until one night, a slightly drunk Scott initiates sex between them. Scott doesn't expect the sex to be repeated. He doesn't do one-night stands or fuck-buddies. But Edgar has other ideas and Scott can’t seem to resist his sexy partner.

While they try to solve the mystery of who is murdering Haydon Cliff’s homeless, they also try to solve the mystery of whether Edgar’s heart can really be obtainable.  

Next up I have one more Pax story due by September 01, and this one is supposed to be involved in "Stayed Connected"(dating sites, email, chat rooms, etc) My idea is just taking shape now but the tentative title is Making a Wish. This is subject to change.

What comes after that? I don't know. Maybe an extended writing break for me. We shall see..

In the meantime, Just His is available from Amber Quill and All Romance eBooks. To my knowledge it has yet to make it to Amazon.

Writing News - Updates

So I completed and turned in to Amber Quill, Just His, which is part of a PAX tentatively titled The Second Time Around, basically reunited lovers. That’s definitely the case with my story starring former lovers, Geoff Spencer and Adrian Michels. Geoff makes brief appearances in two previous His stories, Hopefully His and Impossibly His, but this story, Just His, is all well…his. I don’t yet have any release date information for the story.


I step away from the His series with my next story I am working on called, Unobtainable. This one will be for a PAX due June 01 involving police officers and this one will also be multicultural as one of my officers is Mexican and named Edgar Lopez. I haven’t found a partner yet for Edgar but I’m working on it.

Amber Quill Shawn Lane Sale

I have been informed that beginnng July 30, 2014 my titles at Amber Quill Press will be on sale (50% off) until August 05. So, if you are missing any of my books from Amber Quill, check it out. http://www.amberquill.com/

Beyond the Norm coming March 09, 2014

My reissue of Beyond the Norm has been moved up from March 30th to March 09th with Amber Allure.

Dave Johnson is closing up his bar in the early hours of the morning when he rescues a young Goth who identifies himself only as Kyle. When Dave realizes Kyle has nowhere to go, he offers to let the young man stay at his place.

Kyle is sexy and surrounded by mystery, and rather tight-lipped about it all. But he soon worms his way into Dave's life and heart. Yet dark secrets have a way of coming out at the most inopportune times, and Kyle's past life may catch up to the men sooner than either of them expected. 

Updates

Loving the Boss is no longer featured and on sale at Evernight, so I hope you got yours when you could.

In other news, I've sold another Romance on the Go story to Evernight, Figuring it Out, which will be out the beginning of March.It's not related to the Loving series.

Next up for releases is Admiring Jesse, my Valentine's Day story with Amber Quill. I am currently writing a sort of related story to that called Needing Seth. Seth is a secondary character in Admiring Jesse and for some reason I decided Seth needed his own happy ending. If all goes well I'm thinking it will be out in April.

I am also still working on my Regency romance of a Lord and his butler called Irresistible. And also on the first of my trilogy of stories that I still have no title for. Busy, busy. So as soon as I have more news I'll let you know.   

Gratefully His Released

Available now at Amber Quill Press for the sale price of $2.60 for one week only.
Gratefully His.

It's also available at Amazon and ARe now for your convenience.

Reflecting on 2012

As we end 2012 it's time for me to reflect where the writing world has taken me this year.

This year I released the following stories:

Amber Quill

Eternally His
Finally His
Finding Forever
Maybe This Time
Waking the Prince

Loose ID

One More Time

Evernight Publishing

Getting Wade (part of the Manlove antho)
Loving the Boss
Loving the Assistant
Loving the Partner

MLR Press 

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays 

I believe that brings the total for this year to 11 stories.

As for 2013, I currently have Gratefully His scheduled for January and Admiring Jesse scheduled for February. Both are are from Amber Quill. I am working on Irresistible and should have that off to a publisher sometime in January. Than I am working on an as yet untitled story that is the first of a trilogy. 2012 was a good year for me writing wise and I hope readers enjoyed my stories. Here's to an equally productive and fun 2013.  

New Release Waking the Prince

Waking the Prince is out!

Taking a Break

I have finished my fairytale Sleeping Beauty story, Waking the Prince, a month early. Go me! This is part of a group of MM fairytales with four other writers so I am not sure of the exact release date at this time.

I started this story, to be honest, a long time ago. Probably years ago,with a particular publisher in mind who was going to do a theme of fairytales. I never finished it and it languished on my hard drive. In all honesty I am not sure I would have ever finished it except that Amber Quill decided to do a fairytale pax and I remembered my Waking the Prince story and volunteered for it. I'm glad I did now because I really love Prince Roland and his warrior, Magnus.

Now with my having finished Waking the Prince and turned it in (release date to be determined later), that is the last of my stories that will release in 2012. And so begins my basically two month writing vacation. Yes, you read that right. From now until October 01, I am on a writing vacation.

Here's the thing. Though release-wise I am still down from other years I have been writing a lot. I worked on One More Time coming from Loose Id this month for the first part of the year. Then I saw the antho call from Evernight and decided to do a story for that, Getting Wade. Then I saw the submission call from MLR Press for a Christmas story. I'd been wanting to submit there for a while and that seemed the perfect opportunity, so I wrote There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays. Then I remembered I really needed to write Leo's story in the Sutter's Bay series and so I wrote Finding Forever. And then out of the blue I decided to write Maybe This Time.

I've been writing, writing, writing, and my brain is tired. It needs a recharge. Which is hard for me. Because I have other stories I need to write, including more Sutter's Bay stories, maybe more His stories, definitely a trilogy, my cop story, and other stories that come to me all the time. I can't turn them off. And I can't really say I won't write anything during those two months, but I'm going to do my best not to get crazy.

I have a couple of real vacations in that time and so the timing is perfect for me to relax. I plan to read, watch movies, play in paradise, play in sin city, play some role playing video games (used to love these but don’t have much time these days), just all kinds of lovely things. I am greatly looking forward to not feeling like I just have to have something done. I deserve this break.

When October 01 arrives I will begin work on my planned trilogy in earnest as well as something else I have in the back of my constantly spinning mind. Anything written from October on will of course be released sometime in 2013.

This has been a very interesting year for me writing wise. While I’m still writing and producing work for Amber Quill I also expanded to include being published with Loose Id, MLR Press, and Evernight Publishing. Since I no longer publish with EC, Silver or DSP, I felt the need to branch out rather than have all my stories with one publisher. I look forward to a happy relationship with all my publishers in 2013.

I'll be checking in here of course as needed for information and releases and contests, etc.

Devotedly His - New Release

For years, Spencer Lyons has been a devoted best friend to Max Ramirez, helping him through break up after break up. And also for years, Spencer has never let Max know his true feelings—he’s been in love with his best friend.

It doesn’t occur to Max that club-hopping Spencer has deeper feelings for him. Yet when he finally learns of Spencer’s love, Max begins to wonder...should he admit to the love he also feels toward Spencer and risk losing his friend if the relationship ends in yet another break up? And whether or not he voices his feelings, will Spencer always be devotedly his?

Genres: Gay / Contemporary / The Arts / Interracial / Multicultural / Series


Heat Level: 3


Length: Extended Amber Kiss (12k words)

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/DevotedlyHis.html

My First Audio Story

And maybe my only? Not sure.

Anyway, a couple of months ago I learned last year's Christmas story with Silver, The Naughty Ones, would be produced as an audio story. I didn't hear anything else for a while but found in my email box this morning a link to listen to it and approve the audio copy. It will be interesting to hear someone else read my words. I'm guessing this is fairly common for that particular publisher.

So, besides, that, there's still time to send me an email should you wish to win a free copy of my short story, next in the His series, Can't Be His.

July Best Sellers for Amber Quill Press

1. Clay's Challenge

- Cassandra Gold

(Gay / Contemporary)

2. Lucky

- K. M. Mahoney

(Gay / Shapeshifter)

3. The Truth About Al

- M. L. Rhodes

(Gay / Contemporary)

4. Under My Bed

- T. A. Chase

(Gay / Paranormal)

5. Trust Me

- B. G. Thomas

(Gay / Contemp. / Western)

6. Cemeteries

- Lynn Lorenz

(Gay / Paranormal)

7. Lost Between

- Shawn Lane

(Gay / Paranormal)

8. Hellish Twist In Tinseltown

- Lee Avalone

(Gay / Paranormal)

9. Echoes

- Rick R. Reed

(Gay / Paranormal)

10. For One Night Only

- Anne Brooke

(Gay / Contemp. / BDSM)


There I am at number 7. Considering I hoped to get out of writing that story altogether, I have nothing to complain about!

May Best Seller List for Amber Quill

AMBER ALLURE / May 2011


1. Kissed By God - T. A. Chase (Gay / Contemporary)

2. Between Sinners And Saints - Marie Sexton (Gay / Contemporary)

3. Between The Moon And The Deep Blue Sea - KC Kendricks (Gay / Contemporary)

4. Galaxy's Heart - Shawn Lane (Gay / Contemporary)

5. Infinity Pools - L. A. Witt (Gay / Contemporary)

6. Homeless In Heaven - Deirdre O'Dare (Gay / Contemporary)

7. Catch Me If I Fall - Riley Knox (Gay / Contemporary)

8. Crossing The Line - Christiane France (Gay / Contemporary)

9. Class Distinctions - Rick R. Reed (Gay / Contemporary)

10. Four Days With Jack - Kelli A. Wilkins (Gay / Contemporary)

February 2011 Best Sellers at Amber Allure

Woo hoo, there I am at #8. Considering what else released in February I am pleased to be included.

1. Embrace My Reflection

- T. A. Chase

(Gay / Contemporary)

2. Remember Me

- Lynn Lorenz

(Gay / Contemporary)


3. December Promise

- KC Kendricks

(Gay / Contemporary)


4. In From The Cold

- Carolina Valdez

(Gay / Contemporary)


5. Chance Encounter

- Christiane France

(Gay / Contemporary)


6. Into The Woods

- M. L. Rhodes

(Gay / Shapeshifter)


7. Long-Term

- Angelia Sparrow

& Naomi Brooks

(Gay / Contemporary)


8. The Impersonator

- Shawn Lane

(Gay / Contemporary)


9. How The Other Half Lives

- Clare London

(Gay / Contemporary)


10. (Boys Of The Zodiac)

Pisces: From Behind That

Black Door

- Pepper Espinoza

(Gay / Contemporary)