And Beyond the Norm is released

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/newreleases.htm

Beyond the Norm Winner

Winner of the free ebook of Beyond the Norm is Kathleen.
Kathleen, please email me at authorshawnlane@gmail.com with your information so I'll be able to send you the book tomorrow.

There were 11 items in your list. Here they are in random order:
Kathleen
Lori
EH
Eva
Eyre
Sandy
Nancy
Shayne
Barbara
The Falconer
Devon

Contest Ends Tonight

Okay so far these are the names I have listed for the contest. I will choose the winner (or randomizer will later today and the winner will receive the book tomorrow)




Lori

Eyre

EH

Barbara

Nancy

Devon

Shayne

Kathleen

Eva

Sandy

The Falconer



Hopefully I didn't miss anyone. You'll have time to let me know before 8PM PDT. And you can still enter up until that time as well. Then I will announce the winner shortly after.



Thanks for entering.

A New Beyond the Norm Excerpt

Okay, just to whet your whistle, I have decided to post one more excerpt from next week's release. Last one though. So enjoy.


DAVE bent over to peer into the refrigerator to see what he could feed his guest. He’d changed into sweats and a thin white muscle T-shirt, and he’d taken out his contacts and replaced them with his gold wire-framed glasses. He had some leftover Chinese food he’d picked up a couple of days ago. He opened the little white package and sniffed. Smelled okay. He set the container on the counter and reached into the cabinet for two plates.

"Hey, cool glasses."

Dave turned to see Kyle standing just inside the kitchen doorway. "Thanks."

"Dude, don’t you have anything in black?" Earlier when he’d brought him the clothes, Dave had resisted taking a peek while the young man showered. He hadn’t even glanced in the direction of the steamy shower glass. But now it was hard to keep his gaze off Kyle. Kyle had pulled on the navy blue shorts and pumpkin orange T-shirt Dave had left in the bathroom. They were way too big for him and hung rather awkwardly on his slim body. And he had reapplied his eyeliner.

Damn, the man was just adorable. Not at all Dave’s usual type. If he had one. Did he? He didn’t know. Maybe guys like himself. Whatever. But not pretty boys with black eyeliner and pouty, kissable lips. He sure hoped his sweatpants hid his obvious erection. But damn, the kid was hot.

"No, the navy shorts were as close as I could find," Dave said. "I threw your clothes in the washer. There was some blood on them. You okay?"

He noticed Kyle’s left cheek was already turning a bit purple, and there was a small cut there too. There was a bruise developing by his mouth. Dave suspected his ribs were probably bruised, too, if they weren’t broken. He wondered if Kyle had any head injuries. He really should have insisted on taking the kid to the hospital.

"Yeah, I’m all right. Just a bit banged up." Kyle smiled crookedly. "Maybe a bit sore, but I’ve had worse."

Dave nodded."You working the streets?"

"You mean selling my body or something?"

"Yeah."

Kyle shrugged. "I’ve done it before, but it’s been a while. A couple years, at least. And I only did it for a short time."

Dave spooned Chinese food on to the plates. "Drug habit?"

"Is this the Spanish Inquisition or what?"

Beyond the Norm Giveaway Begins

After closing his bar one night, Dave Johnson rescues Kyle, who is on the run after witnessing the murder of a federal agent in San Francisco. Dave knows Kyle is trouble but can't help falling in love; Kyle loses his heart but fears he's bringing danger to Dave's doorstep. When Kyle's pursuers close in, the two men are at an impasse. They can either separate and live in safety and loneliness, or find a way to stay alive and together.



Beyond the Norm is released next Thursday, September 3rd, and that means a giveaway. I'm starting it now. Just leave a comment and you will be entered. I'll let the randomizer thing choose the winner next Wednesday.

As you can likely tell from the cover, Kyle is Goth. Seems like a long time ago I originally started this story and for a while I let it just sit there unfinished until this past spring I forced myself to finish it and sent it off. Dreamspinner Press offered me a contract for it in June. So here is an excerpt if you want to see what you'd be getting (hopefully it won't prevent you from entering, lol):

Dave stood and reached down to help the kid up. He swayed a bit, and Dave held him. "You don’t think anything’s broken?"

"Nah," the guy said, feeling his ribs under his trench coat. "Just a little unsteady."

He had a slight lilt to his voice, but it was so faint, Dave couldn’t quite place it. Lightning flashed overhead and was followed quickly by a very large clap of thunder. "Look, we’d better get out of here. You got any place to go?"

The kid bit his plump, sensual lip pensively, and he shook his head. "Not really."

Dave hesitated. He knew nothing about this young man. For all he knew he could be an axe murderer. He might regret this, but…. "I don’t live far. Let’s get you dry and look at your injuries and maybe get you some food."

The younger man assessed him for a moment and then nodded. "Sounds good."

"Can you make it? Or do you want me to bring the truck over here?" Dave asked. The kid took a step but wobbled. "Stay here. I’ll be back."

Dave ran back to his truck, got in and started it, and drove across the parking lot to stop next to the kid, who opened the door and climbed in the passenger side. He leaned his head back on the seat and closed his eyes.

"What’s your name?" Dave asked.

"Kyle."

"Kyle what?"

Kyle stared at Dave. His mouth curved up at the corners just a bit. "Just Kyle."

Dave pulled out of the parking lot, switching on the windshield wipers. "Mine is Dave Johnson."

"Thanks, Dave Johnson."


Dave nodded and turned down the street that led to the block his house was on. He wasn’t kidding when he’d said he didn’t live far. His house was literally about two streets over from the bar. He’d chosen it for that very reason. "So why were those guys beating the crap out of you? Were they friends of yours?"

"Did they seem like friends?"

"No. So, then?"

Kyle sighed and ran his long pale fingers through his wet black hair. "Could be one of two reasons, I guess. I’m Goth, and for some reason that annoys certain people."

"And the other?"

"I’m gay. That seems to annoy guys like that even more." Kyle shrugged. "Maybe it was some of each."

Dave’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. Okay, so Kyle was gay. He was probably too young anyway, and Dave was supposed to be rescuing him from a bad situation. Not lusting after him. But, God, did he have to be gay? Because Dave’s cock had certainly perked up at the news.

Saturday Updates

I'm at the stage now where I am reviewing the galleys for Beyond the Norm so that is pretty exciting. Book comes out in less than two weeks now as it comes out on September 03. I will be doing a giveaway of a copy of course. I'll probably post about the giveaway next week.

I know I mentioned my submission of my Christmas story, The Best Gift, but the deadline for the Christmas stories has been extended so I will be waiting a few more weeks for the decision than I originally thought. So, some time in September I should know.

And speaking of Christmas stories, I'll be posting more about this as the holidays approach but look for some free Christmas stories on here featuring Kevin and Michael from Car Wash and Noah and Charlie from Pulling Away. These will be sexy stories, I promise.

Just recently, one of my publishers showed us some covers up for grabs for possible inspiration of a story for them. Though many of them were very tempting, I am trying to resist. I really have too many stories I must write now. Really. So I am remaining strong.

Beyond the Norm Release Date

Got a release date of September 03, 2009 for Beyond the Norm.

Also made the coming soon pages

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/comingsoon.htm

Ordinary Updates

First, I want to thank all those who so far have entered to receive the print anthology. I really appreciate it. Contest ends Friday and then Randomizer will choose a winner Saturday. I've caught all your entries even if I don't say so.

Second, I finished my short story for Christmas, The Best Gift. I am going to be sending to Dreamspinner Press in the very near future. It's quite short, under 10,000 words. I need to do some last minute polishing and a dreaded synopsis and then I can get it sent off. If Dreamspinner does not want it, I will probably offer it as a free story at Christmas time. I'll keep everyone posted.

I need to get back to Ticket to Ride, my m/m romantic suspense due September 01, but first I have received my edits for Sweet Reunion and since that book is already contracted it takes precedence. Hopefully I can get back to Ticket to Ride in about a week. That still gives me almost the entire month of August to complete it.

After that...it's any body's guess which story I will tackle next. Might possibly be the lord's son and butler story set in the Regency period, Undeniable. Several people have been bugging me about that one.

Beyond the Norm Cover and Blurb

After closing his bar one night, Dave Johnson rescues Kyle, who is on the run after witnessing the murder of a federal agent in San Francisco. Dave knows Kyle is trouble but can't help falling in love; Kyle loses his heart but fears he's bringing danger to Dave's doorstep. When Kyle's pursuers close in, the two men are at an impasse. They can either separate and live in safety and loneliness, or find a way to stay alive and together.

Coming in September 2009 from Dreamspinner Press

Shawn's Boring Life

Haven't had much to say as you can see. Just working on Ticket to Ride.

Hope to be able to post my cover for Beyond the Norm from Dreamspinner Press soon, but until then, I really am left with nothing to say.

Anyway, enjoy the eye candy and hope everyone else is having more excitement in their life.

Just Some Updates

Two guys kissing, sigh. Something so sexy about that.

Things are going along fine with Beyond the Norm coming from Dreamspinner. Got my draft cover and I think the final product will be great. They took my request for Kyle to appear Goth on the cover to heart which really pleases me. The blurb for the book is also done. I cannot wait for the book to make its debut later this summer.

Sweet Reunion is coming along well, too. I'm past the first two chapters and about to cross the 5,000 word mark. I submitted the forms to Amber Quill for it, too. I still intend to be finished with it by next Sunday, July 5, 2oo9.

Once Sweet Reunion is done I will return to full time work on Ticket to Ride so I can get that obligation (due September 01) out of the way and I can move on to something else.

Beyond the Norm finds a home

I have been offered a contract for Beyond the Norm by Dreamspinner Press. If all goes as planned it should be released early autumn.

So, I can't wait to see what the cover will be like and will post it when I get it which I am guessing won't be for a while.