Publishing update

PUBLISHER UPDATE:

Unfortunately, I'm still none the wiser about when my stories will be available again. At this point, it looks like there will be quite a wait :(

I've sent them all off to one particular publisher and still haven't heard. I'm hoping they'll love me and take all of them... *crosses fingers and wishes really hard*

So, for the record, the titles I'm waiting to hear about are:

* Taxes and TARDIS
* Point of No Return
* Three's Company
* Breaking Point (have to wait to see if they want PoNR 1 first)
* The Thomas Elkin Series (three-part novella series)

Technically it's seven titles, so believe me, I'm checking my inbox ALL the time... 

I'm trying to stay positive, and keeping up with the writing, but to be honest, it's disheartening.  To have books released is such a high, and to have them taken down is just as equally depressing, not to mention stressful. 

But in all that, I have created Tom and Cooper and I adore them. As in, seriously LOVE them.  I'm about one third through the third and final novella, Sense of Place, and I can't wait to see them published.  

Also, I'd like to thank everyone for the love and support for Blind Faith!  I've done the first-round edits on the sequel, Through These Eyes, and I've changed the ending. It now opens up an avenue for Mark to have a short story of his own. :)  No promises, and seriously NO clue when it can be written, but the idea is there. 

Finally, I'd like to thank everyone for the emails and pm's asking where they can get my books. Hopefully I will have good news soon!!

Publishing news...

I have some news...


Yes, I'm aware that today is the release day of Blind Faith. I was hoping this news would wait until next week, but apparently it's all happening today.

My three books, Taxes and TARDIS, Point of No Return, and Three's Company will be temporarily unavailable for purchase from today.

I'm hoping to find a new home for them soon, and will let you all know as soon as I know where you can get them from.

Blind Faith is released today through Silver Publishing and you can expect the sequel in March to be released through Silver as well. :)

Blind Faith will be available through the usual channels (Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc) in the usual 2-7 days after today. 

Thank you all for your understanding and patience in what has been a stressful time. 

I'm also hoping to have news on my new series soon, so I expect there will be busy times ahead. 

*mwah*

BLIND FAITH

It's almost release day for Blind Faith!  

So, to celebrate I'm giving away TWO copies!

I know it's common for all authors to say they fell in love with their characters. I know, I've done it. I've said it. 

These boys were no different. 

I adore them. I love Carter's ability to love so completely. I love Isaac and his defensive arrogance. I love Brady's loyalty.

*sigh*

But I adored Isaac the most. He's flawed, not by his blindness, but by his reluctance to let himself be loved. 

Carter has the patience of a saint, but by the same token, he takes no crap from Isaac. He refuses to let Isaac's inability to see stop them from having a normal relationship. 

Blind Faith is the story of how these two men meet in the middle, and how Carter can get Isaac to see what's in front of him before it's too late.

The story is told in first person, from Carter's POV, but it's Isaac who I fell in love with.

He's arrogant, short-fused and foul-tempered. This character has flaws, and he'd rather push people away than risk being hurt.

There is a song that I listened to while writing Isaac. And every time I've heard this song since, it makes me smile. 

The song is Better Than I Know Myself by Adam Lambert.

Copyright of RCA Records, a division of Sony Music 2012.

Here's an excerpt...

My next house call to Isaac's didn't exactly go as planned. I certainly didn't go there with the intent of asking him out, but that's exactly what happened.

 It was a Thursday, and since Isaac worked later on Thursdays, it was already getting dark. He and Hannah had only gotten home about ten minutes before I arrived. Isaac was in a good mood, he even smiled at me when I walked in.

He was just finishing up on a phone call on his cell, so he walked into another room, giving himself some privacy. I greeted Brady with a good pat and when I looked up, Hannah was grinning at me. She pointed toward the room where Isaac had gone, and whispered, "I have to whisper, because he has impeccable hearing, but I think he likes you."

Before I could respond, or even turn her words over in my head, Isaac walked into the room. "Sorry about that," he said, putting his phone back in his pocket. "Just sorting out details for work next week."

I was almost glad he couldn't see me, because I was still staring, open-mouthed, at his sister.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

Hannah giggled, and I recovered quickly. "Oh, sure. Everything's just fine."

Isaac turned his face toward me. "Did she say something to you?"

Jesus.

Isaac was blind, yes. But he didn't miss a thing.

He turned his face in my direction. "Silences, pauses in conversation… you'd be surprised at how the lack of sight improves other areas of interpretation."

Hannah rolled her eyes and changed the subject. "Isaac, I'll just be finishing up in the laundry, okay?" and with that, she left us alone.

So I checked Brady over, just as Dr Fields had told me to, asking a few questions about his diet and his behavior, which seemed to please Isaac. I noticed he was wearing another well-fitted suit like the one he wore the other day, and I wondered where he worked. So while everything was still going well, I decided to ask him some questions.

"Okay, my turn," I said.

"Your turn for what?" he asked quietly, hesitantly.

"For Twenty Questions."

Isaac sighed, and after a few seconds, he frowned. "Okay."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "We don't have to if you don't want to."

"Is that one of your twenty questions?"

"No," I replied. "Should I start again?"

"Jeez, Carter, that's eighteen to go."

I smiled, and with a laugh, I asked, "Okay, where do you work?"

"Hawkins School for the Blind."

"How long have you worked there?"

"I went there as a student," he explained. "Now I work there."

"What do you do?"

"I teach English, and I'm on the Board."

"Are all the students you teach blind?"

"To some degree."

"That's excellent," I told him. He turned his face toward me quickly, and I realized how my words might have sounded. "No, I mean your job is excellent, not that the students are blind."

"Oh," he said quietly.

Shit. Okay, next question. "How do you get around your house so well? You walk around like you can see."

He almost smiled. "I know where everything is. My mind has this house mapped out."

"That's pretty cool."

He gave me a half smile. "That's not a question."

I found myself smiling back at him. "How do you buy clothes? I mean, you're always impeccably dressed, and… and… "

"…and what?" he finished. "Everything matches?"

I laughed. "Well, yes. Do you just call Bloomingdale's and order their season collection?"

Isaac tried not to smile. "Hannah."

"Hannah what?"

"Hannah orders my clothes for me. She knows what I like, what suits me."

"Um, I don't mean to sound rude, but how do you know what suits you?"

Isaac smiled, but then he shrugged indifferently. "I don't. I can tell which fabrics are which by feeling them, and the quality, but as for color… or what's written on them."

"As in written on your clothes?"

Isaac nodded. "A few years ago, there were a few occasions where I'd, well, I'd pissed Hannah off, and she paid me back."

"Paid you back with what?"

"Well, apparently I've worn Sesame Street and Disney to school."

I looked at Isaac. "Really, Isaac? She did that to you?"

Isaac nodded. "Apparently. Of course I didn't know until I got to school and someone told me the Big Bird shirt I was wearing was so yellow even they could see it, and they only had ten percent vision." Then he added, "She hasn't done it in years though. Well, not that I've known."

I laughed incredulously. And then I laughed some more because it was funny.

Isaac scowled at me. "It's not that funny."

"Oh, yes it is," I told him. "What else does she do to you for payback?"

Isaac sighed. "She'll put broccoli on my plate and not tell me."

"And that's bad?"

He screwed his nose up. "Anything that tastes like broccoli is bad."

I laughed again, but he just shook his head and smiled. "You're really not very good at twenty questions, Carter. You've used up nineteen of your twenty and haven't really asked me anything."

"Oh, come on!" I said. "We were having a conversation! That's not fair!"

He smiled victoriously. "You have one more question, Carter. Better make it a good one."

I wanted to ask a lot of things. I wanted to know about Rosie, his guide dog before Brady. I wanted to know what he did for fun, if he had a girlfriend, or preferably a boyfriend. I had no clue if he was gay, and I realized, even if he wasn't, I wanted to know a lot of things about this man. So instead, I asked something else entirely.

"What are you doing on Saturday?"

* * * * 

Eeeeep!!  Aren't they gorgeous? lol

Don't forget, the sequel to Blind Faith, titled Through These Eyes, has a release date of March 30th 2013.  So there's more of these boys to come! :)

So for my give away, to celebrate the release of a story about two men and a remarkable dog, I'm giving away two copies.

All you need to do is leave a comment below.

Oh, and I'll be back next week with some big news!! 

New Years Non-Resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Don't worry, this isn't drivel about making resolutions. I don't make them. I'm far too lazy for that.

I'd just like to wish all my readers and followers a very happy New Year and I hope 2013 brings you all your heart desires!

2012 was a busy year for me. I have met some amazing people, and am now a published author! 

2013 will be even busier!

I have three releases so far and am working on a three-part series, which will make six releases all up so far, and it's only January 1st!!  

I'm hoping to offer some quick short reads, some long novels and maybe even some more freebies!  

I also have a lot happening in my real life... we've sold our house, so we'll be moving soon into a rental while we build our new home!  It's very exciting!  So, not only will we be moving TWICE, I also have changed schools for my daughter so we have that adjustment to make this year as well, plus the ever-draining EDJ which I hate. 

Yeah, yeah, I know... take a number...

And so the fun of a new year begins. Hope you all have a happy and healthy 2013 and may there be pretty boys who kiss and fall in love... 

Stay safe and for the love of God, read m/m. 

Blind Faith Cover Art

Here it is!!

Reese Dante has done it again... It's gorgeous, and really captures Isaac and Brady. It couldn't be any more perfect. I just adore it. :) 

And an excerpt to celebrate the amazing cover:

“So, Carter,” Hannah said, smiling at me when I finally drew my eyes off her brother. “How’s the patient?” she asked, looking to the dog between my legs.

I looked Brady over, feeling his spine, his hips, ribs, legs and fetlocks. I looked at his eyes, his gums, his teeth, though I really didn’t need to.  He was a picture of health. But before I could say so, Dr Fields answered. “Brady’s what? Nearly three years old now?”

It was a little odd. He wasn’t giving any kind of diagnosis.  He was steering the conversation.  I looked at him quizzically, but he gave a quick but subtle shake of his head and I knew not to question him.  But I had to say something. If I wanted Isaac to trust my professional opinion on anything in the future, I had to ask something.  So, instead, I asked, “Isaac, how’s his appetite?”

It wasn’t an invasive question, more of a general observation.

Isaac, who was now again sitting next to Dr Fields, seemed surprised at my question. “He would eat until he exploded if you let him.”

I chuckled.  Most Labradors, even well-trained guide dogs, would eat until they exploded if you let them, but I didn’t say this out loud. “And how many days per week on average does he work?”  I wasn’t an expert on guide dogs but I knew some. I knew when they were harnessed with their human half of the team, it was called working.

Isaac was still, no expression, no movement, and I wondered if I’d asked a wrong question.  But then he answered, “That depends. Sometimes five, sometimes seven days a week.”  He opened his mouth to say something else, but then obviously thought better of it. He cocked his head in my general direction. “Why?”

“Just getting to know the patient,” I answered, hoping he’d hear the nonchalance in my tone. “That’s all. I’m sure Dr Fields will fill me in on any particulars if needed.”

Dr Fields, my boss for the next two weeks, jumped in on the conversation. “Dr Reece, could you go out to the car and grab the bag of dried dog food? There’s a five pound bag in the trunk. I forgot to bring it in.”

I could read my cues. He wanted some alone time with Isaac.  “Sure.” 

And as I stood to leave, Hannah joined me. “I’ll walk you out.”

As we walked out into the warm summer sun, she sighed. “Isaac can be difficult,” she said softly. “So don’t feel bad. He and Max have known each other a lot of years.”

I popped the trunk, collected the bag of dog food and closed the station wagon’s rear door. I looked at her and smiled.  “I can see that.”

She smiled back at me. “You can see which one? That Isaac can be difficult, or that he’s good friends with Max?”

I wisely chose not to answer, which was in itself an answer.

Hannah smiled and nodded. “Just don’t let him bother you too much. He loves Brady, he does. It’s just some days are better than others…”

Before I could ask her what she meant, she looked to the bag in my arms and she brightened. “Come on, I’ll show you where you can put that.”

We walked back into the house, through the living room where Isaac and Dr Fields were still talking, and into the kitchen.  I sat the bag of Brady’s dry food on the counter and not a second later, the two men in the living room stood, their conversation drawing to a close.

When we were saying goodbye, Dr Fields had taken Isaac’s hand, patting it the way a grandfather would his grandson’s. “It’s not goodbye. I’ll call in and see how you’re doing from time to time.”

Isaac snorted. “If you can drag yourself off the golf course.”

Dr Fields laughed.  “Well, there’s that.”  But then he was serious and patted the younger man’s hand. “You can expect the same service from Dr Reece, Isaac. He’ll look after you.”

Isaac had nodded but not said anything, and when we’d driven out onto the road, heading back to the clinic, Dr Fields sighed.  “Isaac doesn’t take change very well,” he explained.  “He never has.”

I thought about that, and what certain changes would mean to a blind man. He’s familiar with Dr Fields, he trusts him. Not just in his treatment of his guide dog, but trusts his judgment and also, more importantly, trusts him in his house.  His safe haven.  Any kind of significant change must be an ordeal. I looked at the older man and agreed with a nod.  “No, I don’t suppose he would.”

I had questions about Isaac Brannigan, but figured the older man had just basically said goodbye to an old friend, so I decided it could wait another day. We made the rest of the drive back to the clinic in silence and went straight back to appointments.  It wasn’t until later that evening the questions I had couldn’t wait.

I’d finished my daily appointments and was catching up on paperwork when I’d opened the Brannigan file. So I knocked lightly on Dr Fields’ office door, and when he looked up, I held up the thick file so he’d know who I was referring to and asked, “Is there any reason why we run every imaginable test on a healthy dog?  Just what exactly are we trying to find wrong with this dog?”

Dr Fields put down his pen and closed the folder in front of him. He took off his reading glasses, rubbed his thumb and index finger into his eyes and sighed loudly. “Come in and sit down, Carter,” he said, resigned. “Let me tell you about Isaac Brannigan.”

* * * * 

Blind Faith is available January 26th. I'll post links when I have them. :) 

Meet the Blind Faith boys...

Blind Faith, the first of the two-part series, is scheduled to be released on January 26th!


Blurb:

Starting a new job in a new town, veterinarian Carter Reece, makes a house call to a very special client. 

Arrogant, moody and totally gorgeous, Isaac Brannigan has been blind since he was eight.  After the death of his guide dog and best friend, Rosie, his partnership with his new guide dog, Brady, isn't going well. 

Carter tries to help both man and canine through this initiation phase, but just who is leading who?

Here are some inspiration pics...

This is Brady

Brady

Hiking 

I Love You in Braille

Carter

 Carter 

Isaac

Isaac

Brady

I can't wait for you all to meet these boys. I adored writing them (and the sequel!) and I hope you love them too!!

The Next Big Thing: Breaking Point and Blind Faith

So I've been tagged by the ever so lovely Bella Leone, in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop.  Her blog is HERE Please drop by and say hello. She is all kinds of awesome! 

Anyway, now about what's been happening with me...

<Insert usual rant about real life being busy>

I know, I've been incredibly slow on updating my blog... *hangs head in shame*  I've been a mind-boggling kind of busy, but I'm taking a breather to share some news...

First, let me tell you about my Point of No Return boys... 

Matt and Kira now have a sequel. 

It has a tentative title of Breaking Point, and I've only just finished the first draft.  It's a long 79K and I'm half way through doing a first round edit, before I send it off to my betas and pre-readers. Then I can submit it and keep my fingers crossed that it is accepted for publication. I will of course, keep you all posted on updates of that.

All I will say is that it's different from PoNR, in that Matt and Kira are no longer falling in love per se, but in a long-term relationship. They're dealing with the ramifications of the Tomic ordeal that saw Kira taken and beaten at the end of PoNR.  Each man deals differently, and Matt in particular is struggling to reconcile his guilt with Kira's love for him. 

It's a lot grittier than PoNR, and it's violent. It involves MMA (cage fighting) and a certain level of brutal physicality. But my readers who know my work, know there is a HEA, right?   ;)

Now, speaking of fluff and stuff, it brings me to my Blind Faith boys.

Wow... these two I just adored.  Carter and Isaac will always hold a special place in my heart, and may just be two of my favourite characters I've ever written.

I don't have the cover yet - and believe me, I'm DYING to see it. But the release date is January 26th 2013. 

I simply can not wait for the world to meet these two boys. Their story is sweet, fluffy, adorable and did I mention sweet?   It's a boy-meets-boy story with a little angst here and there, but it's really all about the art of falling of love.  

*dreamy sigh*

Now, my Blind Faith boys have a sequel too!!  Through These Eyes has been accepted for publication, but I don't have the release date for this one yet. 

I'll be posting some inspiration pictures and an excerpt soon of Blind Faith, in the lead up to release day.  

And now in some very exciting news for me...

The Goodreads M/M Awards are up for voting!

Point of No Return as SEVEN nominations, and Taxes and TARDIS is up for Best Title! 

The link to the voting page is  HERE!! 

Thanks to whomever nominated me, and to those who vote!!

Okay, that's all my news so far... or that I can think of right now.  I'll keep you posted on the Blind Faith update, cover and excerpt when I can. 

Now, for the tagging...

I tag RJ Scott, Lexi Ander, Caitlin Ricci and Casey Holloway  

Be sure to click on their names to check out their amazing sites!