Rainbow Snippets/ NaNoWriMo

Hi Everyone,

I haven’t posted for quite some time due to various things in real life.

I’m taking part in NaNoWriMo this month so thought I’d get back into regular posting and use that as a way of staying on track with NaNo.

For those of you who don’t know, NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is an international online event where writers attempt to write 50,000 words in a month. For the mathematicians out there that works out at 1,667 words per day. This will be my thirteenth year taking part and I’ve managed to succeed, sometimes by the skin of my teeth, each time.

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction, a WIP, or a finished work, or even a 6 sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please).

My snippet this week comes from my NaNo project which is a sequel to my Rainbow Advent Calendar story A Frosty Tail. It features a character from that story, with a cameo appearance from Jack and Liam, the main characters from A Frosty Tail.

This new story will be available for free as part of the Rainbow Advent Calendar event online in December. I can’t tell you when, because that’s a secret but I will be posting about it soon, so you can join the event and get a free seasonal themed story every day from some amazing authors.

The blurb is yet to be written, because, let’s face it, we all hate blurbing. No doubt I’ll wake up one night near to my submission deadline with the perfect blurb fully formed in my head, and then I’ll go back to sleep and promptly forget it all and have to make something up that doesn’t sound nearly as good.

Meanwhile, here is my snippet:

“You were looking for me?” Raphael asked with a degree of surprise that distracted him from the fact that there a was a naked stranger in his kitchen.

“‘Course I was.” The young man grinned, showing a pair of sharp white incisors that made him look very cat-like. “I’ve been looking for you all night. Ever since…y’know…”

He waved his hands about as if that was some sort of explanation before standing up and stretching languidly. The display sharply reminded Raphael that the man was very much naked and he backed away until he hit the opposite bench, his eyes looking everywhere but at the man’s lithe, sinewy body. This might be a dream, but that still didn’t give Raphael the right to be a creep.

To find out what others hav posted in the Rainbow Snippets Group click here.

To find out more about NaNoWriMo click here. If you are already taking part in NaNo you can add me as a writing buddie I’m Dawn Sister on there as well.

If you would like to read A Frosty Tail before my new Rainbow Advent Calendar story is released in December, then you can do so for free on Smashwords. Just click here.

 

When I First Saw Elves

My first introduction to and the beginning of my obsession with Elves and anything fantasy came in the form of a neat little Ladybird book named “The Elves and the Shoemaker”. I have fond childhood memories of reading and rereading this book and enjoying the gorgeous illustrations of industrious little Elves making shoes for fun. I loved sharing their joy when they were gifted a set of new clothes and shoes made especially for them in return.

Of course, these images of Elves are just one artist’s idea of what these ephemeral creatures look like. Our own imaginings are inspired by many artist’s renditions, and they are all as individual and unique as the people who create them.

Of course, I cannot write about Elves without mentioning Tolkien. His Elves have influenced entire generations of writers and artists. His legacy and influence is strong and difficult to forget. It takes a strength of character and imagination for an author to veer away from Tolkien’s influence in order to create their own Elf imagery, culture and world.

Given Tolkien’s Elvish legacy I do find myself wondering, in a good way, how I went from this:

To this:

It’s an easy transition for me. I mean look at them.

Just. Look. At. Them.

This poster sits on my bedroom wall and features Ervyn (fair hair) and Lochan (dark hair) from Kasia Bacon’s most excellent Order Universe.

There are currently nine stories written in the Order Universe, three of which feature Ervyn and Lochan as main characters. This world created by Kasia is so rich, well developed and colourful that I find it difficult to believe it doesn’t exist somewhere, through some magical portal. I live in hope that one day Kasia will give me the key so I can visit. I already have a map.

Ervyn and Lochan occupy space in my brain that should probably be focused on real life but isn’t, because: Just look at the poster. That is in no small part due to Kasia’s most excellent storytelling, world building and character development.

If your idea of Elves is in need of a refresh, then I recommend the worship of these stories. The order of service is in the graphic below. Feast your eyes on the gorgeous cover art by MAREK FRANKOWSKI

They don’t just look good, they are excellent stories full of colour, fun, endearing characters, emotion, heat and romance. The other stories in Kasia’s expansive world are just as amazing. I have reread them all several times.

Here is the blurb for Kasia’s newest release featuring my favourite Elves.

_{Lochan and Ervyn—an assassin and a sharpshooter—remain in service to the queen as part of an elite reconnaissance unit.}

_{The Scouts are ghostlike. Elusive. Deadly.}

_{They strike at enemies of the Crown without mercy. They get the job done, leaving no loose ends or witnesses. When Magic Supremacists threaten the safety of Elven Country, they do their duty—whatever it takes.}

_{Lochan and Ervyn belong to each other, but will serving together as comrades-in-arms strengthen their bond as lovers or tear them apart?}

_{The Scouts is the third book in the Order Series. In this volume, Ervyn loses control, Lochan stops fighting his feelings and Verhan… well, remains Verhan.}

_{Recommended reading order: The Mutt, The Highlander, Twenty-One Arrow Salute, The Scouts.}

_TAGS:

_{Military, Special Ops, Soulmates, Hurt/Comfort, Lust-to-Love, Humour, Snark, Banter, Moody vs Possessive, Mine-Mine-Mine, We-Belong-Together, Magic, Action & Adventure, Fantasy Romance.}

Kasia Bacon

The Scouts is available at the following link:

The Scouts (UK) The Scouts (US)

Don’t forget the first three books in the series: The Mutt, The Highlander and Twenty One Arrow Salute, are also available from Amazon. The Mutt is available free for the next few days.

Kasia is hosting a release day party over in her Facebook group: Bacon and Elves. Join her over there, along with a whole menagerie of amazing authors all with incredible giveaways. Don’t miss out. I’ll be there, with a giveaway of my own.

LGBT Fantasy Romance with Pointy Ears and Snark!

A linguist and an avid reader with a particular fondness for fantasy and paranormal genres, KASIA BACON lives in London with her husband. When not tearing her hair out over a translating project, she writes stories about the shenanigans of emotionally constipated assassins and sexy Elves. Otherwise, she can be found shaking her loins at a Zumba class, binging on anime or admiring throwing knives on Pinterest. A lover of MMA and Muay Thai, she also enjoys nature and the great outdoors. She dreams of becoming independently wealthy, leaving the city and moving into her wooden mini-manor—located in the heart of stunning forests resembling those of the Elven Country depicted in her tales.

Find Kasia online:

Website

Amazon

Audible

BookBub

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

For excerpts, free stories and updates about new projects, sign up for Kasia’s newsletter.

Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Book Birthday, Love Unlocked

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. I know it’s likely that most of us aren’t celebrating the way we’d wish to. Someone pointed out to me that St Valentine is also the patron saint of plague, so he seems to have all bases covered today.

Today is also a reminder that Beaten Track’s Anthology “Love Unlocked” celebrates its fourth Book Birthday. Has it really been four years? It seems to have flown by.

“Locked in the Moment”, included in the anthology, was my first published book. I’d written and shared stories before that, but this was the first that I could actually hold in my hand. So you can imagine that it holds a special place in my heart.

I thought I’d share a snippet to mark it’s fourth anniversary. The entire anthology is amazing. Why not give it all some love.

Available from Beaten Track, Smashwords and all the other usual places. The links can be found below.

Before I share a snippet, here is the blurb.

Due to a misunderstanding, the troll that lives underneath one of the most romantic bridges in Paris inadvertently unlocks every single padlock lovers have left there over the years. L’Authoritié de Fée Folklorique are up in arms. He has no idea what all the fuss is about.

The noise was driving him mad. He just wanted a bit of peace and quiet.

A spell is cast, leaving the troll in a bit of a predicament. He is charged with the seemingly impossible task of fixing the locks before the spell can be reversed and he is allowed to return to his home. There are other complications, the least of which is the insistence and persistence of a fairy who is determined to help him against the wishes of his own people.

Now the troll has a dilemma. What is more important to him? The only home he has known for two thousand years, or a fairy he has just met?

And now here is a snippet

I’m always discreet. Humans tend to freak out when they see a seven-foot-tall, black hairy troll walking about in the open, so I keep to the shadows, but a bloke has to eat. No one ever sees me, except the fairy on guard, that is.

“Bonjour, Monsieur Troll.” My eyes are assaulted by a mess of flaming auburn curls and pink, flushed cheeks. My fairy stalker.

He’s tiny, compared to me. He’s probably small by human standards as well, but I wouldn’t know. I just know that he’s small, annoying and perched on one of the bridge posts, grinning at me smugly. His tiny legs are crossed at the ankles while he casually eats pink-coloured ice cream with a spoon. It’s the middle of the bloody night. Where did he get ice cream?

This one’s pretty determined. I’ve seen him around before. He doesn’t just sit and watch; he tries to bloody speak to me as well. All I ever do is grunt at him, but he never seems to give up and he always sounds so bloody cheerful. Bloody fairies.

“How are you this fine evening, Monsieur?” His very blue eyes regard me with interest.

Ha! The only interest he has in me is whether or not I’m up to no good. This time, I’m up here to do something about the noise. He doesn’t know that, though. Let him try and stop me.

“Is there anything I can help you with, Monsieur Troll?” He just won’t give up.

“Nuffing, fanks.” I grunt and then turn my back. He’ll get the message.

He doesn’t get the message.

“Ah, but I am forgetting my manners.” He rolls his sparkling eyes that are framed by thick auburn lashes. “Allow me to introduce myself. Je m’appelle Lucien.” And now he’s speaking to me in French. This is going to be interesting. “Would you like some of my ice cream?”

Locked in the Moment and all the other stories from the Love Unlocked Anthology are available to buy separately or all together in the anthology. Link below:

Locked in the Moment, Love Unlocked

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

Click here to find out what others have shared this week.

Happy Holiday Freebies

It’s that time of year again folks, when all the halls are decked, sugar plums are dancing around in our dreams and Smashwords have their annual sale.

All of my books are either discounted or free over on the Smashwords site. All of my Christmas stories are available for free until 31st December. I’ve included Not a Word in this group. It isn’t technically a Christmas story, but it has a bonus Christmas Epilogue.

If you want to know more about these stories find them on my Smashwords profile.

Beaten Track Publishing has many more discounted or free titles in the Smashwords sale. To browse their list click here.

Have a lovely holiday. I know many of us can’t celebrate the way we wanted, with friends and family. I feel for every single person who has had their Christmas plans shattered by the new UK restrictions. Hang in there, everyone. We’ll get through it.

Rainbow Snippets 06/07

Hi, it’s been a month since I last posted a snippet, so I thought I’d better get my a*se in gear.

There’s not been much writing done since I last posted, but things are gradually beginning to move. My characters are speaking to me again. Sometimes all at once, which can be a bit confusing and frustrating. Maybe it’s because they’ve been quiet for so long and they’ve got a lot to say.

I’m sharing a snippet from my WIP “Live a Little”, featuring Jules, a headteacher, and Tristan, an English and Drama teacher in the same school.

In this snippet, we see Jules, who feels he has just made a complete fool of himself whilst conducting an interview, Deputy Head Suzy trying to find out what is wrong with him, and Jules’s daughter, Amy, colluding with her father to get him off the hook.

“Jules, you’re still here, good.” Suzy steps into my office without knocking and I suppress a groan. She did warn me that she would be speaking to me later. I might still be able to head her off at the pass if I keep my cool.

“Suzy. Amy and I were just about to leave. Amy has somewhere she needs to be in an hour.”

“I do?” Amy asks in surprise before she sees my expression and quickly changes the question to a statement. “I do, yes, that’s right, I’m off to…the theatre.”

“…swimming.”

We both add a different event to which Suzy reacts with understandable disbelief whilst I give Amy a helpless look.

“It’s a theatre production at the swimming pool.” Amy adds.

“Theatre at the pool?” Suzy raises her eyebrows, her tone suspicious.

“It’s a synchronised swimming production by the local amateur operatic society.” Amy embellishes. “At the pool, obviously, because they couldn’t get a big enough tank onto the stage.” After a pause for dramatic effect, Amy tugs at my sleeve. “Come on, Dad, if we don’t leave now, we’ll end up sitting in the splash zone.”

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

To Find out what people have posted this week click here. This will take you to the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group.

This weekend I’m taking part in a book release party over on Bacon and Elves which is Kasia Bacon’s Facebook group. Her new release “When I First Saw Red” was released on Friday and takes place in her Order Series world. Here is the link for her Amazon profile where you will find all of her books.

Find my books on Smashwords, Beaten Track Publishing and on Amazon.

If you want to follow me on any of my other social media here are some links.

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Pintrest

Feel free to join me in my facebook group “Love Inside the Rainbow”.

 

 

 

 

 

Rainbow Snippets 05/10

I feel like I haven’t posted in an age. I haven’t done much writing either, due to various reasons. One of which was a bad case of Covid-19 that I’m only just beginning to shake after five weeks. I’m hoping Rainbow Snippets and some other posts will get me back on track.

I’ve got a giveaway going on over on RJ Scott’s Facebook Group. She’s been celebrating her 10 year Publiversary with a Group party involving lots of awesome authors all offering giveaways and freebies. Here’s the link if you want to have a look. Mine is in there somewhere, under my facebook profile: Jo Moon Willow Rose. Just to confuse everyone.

This week’s snippet comes from a story I feel like I’ve been writing forever. I hope to finish it soon. I looked it over again and see where it’s going.

First, here’s the blurb (also a WIP):

“Live a Little.”

Jules McPherson has those words ringing in his ears every time his newest teaching colleague, Tristan Gilman, repeats them: sometimes loudly from the branches of the sycamore tree that separates their back gardens; sometimes with laughter in his eyes as he urges Jules to follow him along a dark, muddy track when they take a short cut home from the pub; and sometimes whispered, in his ear, as they get cosy on the sofa for a night in with popcorn and a movie.

But Tristan isn’t his boyfriend. Jules is head teacher and Tristan is the English teacher he just employed and definitely should not be getting involved with. They’re work colleagues, there’s a significant age gap, and Tristan is far too reckless and easy going for Jules’ ordered, organised life.

Jules is determined to keep their relationship purely professional, but that proves very difficult every time Tristan flutters his thick, dark lashes and murmurs: “Come on, Jules, live a little”.

And here is the snippet:

I was just stepping out of the shower and into my bedroom as the door opened and Tristan walked in. I froze, because I wasn’t even wearing a smile.

“Jules, Amy said you were….” He stopped, initial shock at my lack of attire replaced by amusement. “…you were working.” He smirked.

“Well, obviously, I’ve finished,” I huffed. “I did tell her I was taking a shower. She mustn’t have heard me.”

This was awkward, but the longer I just stood there completely naked, the more difficult it was to cover up. He’d already seen everything I had to offer, not that I was offering anything at all, but covering up would be a bit like closing the barn door so to speak.

Tristan looked me up and down, that ever present smirk firmly in place.

“Want me to, erm, get you a towel?” He asked, his tongue running along his top teeth as he leaned against the door frame flicking his eyebrows.

“No thanks.” I raised my eyebrows in disapproval of his continued presence and amusement. I know I’m not that much to look at. I’m not exactly well endowed, nor am I well muscled. I’m fifty two with a fifty two year old body. “I prefer to air dry.”

“Oh.” Tristan’s bluer than blue eyes widened and sparkled with mirth. “Can I—erm—watch?”

“No, Tristan.” I snapped. “I’m naked. Get out. Please.” I added the please because I felt bad snapping at him but what the hell?

He snorted as he ducked out of my bedroom and I could hear him laughing all the way along the landing.

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

To see what others are posting this week follow this link to the Rainbow Snippets Facebook Group.

If you want to find out more about my books find my profile at Beaten Track, Smashwords, Goodreads and Amazon.

Follow me on Twitter, Instagram and my facebook group: Love Inside the Rainbow

 

 

Release Day Review for Third One

Roe Horvat’s new book, Third One, is released today and it’s steaming hot. I mean, get out your fans and start fanning.

I had the pleasure of beta reading this, and the other books in “Those Other Books” series. My review is up on Goodreads, but I thought I’d share it here as well. This was a well-deserved five stars.

I love Roe’s books and when he started Those Other Books series I jumped at the chance to help with beta reading and arcs. Of course, it was his intention to write only one book to prove he could. Third One is the third novel in this series (there are shorts in between the other books). It is also, cleverly, about a third person joining an established relationship.

As with the other “Other Books”, there is plenty of hot, messy sex, because that was the whole point of writing this series.

What you also get with these books, and what I’ve come to expect from all of Roe’s stories, are fabulous, three dimensional characters, amazing stories and genuine connection between the main characters. Not to mention all the secondary characters. Which is why these stories just keep coming because we meet these guys and we want to know more.

The Third One follows Marcus and Liam as they welcome a third: Luke, into their already well established and stable relationship. Marcus has had feelings for Luke for some time and vice versa, but Marcus’s loyalty to Liam and Luke’s sense of morality has kept them from acting on those feelings despite them working together every day.

Something is about to change, though, as dancer Luke is coming to the end of his dancing career and is ready to retire and move on with his life, albeit reluctantly. He’s accepted that no matter how much pain it will cause him to leave Marcus behind he needs to get on with his life.

Marcus is not quite ready to let go, however, and Liam is amenable to Luke joining them in their relationship. Now they just have to persuade him that this is what they all want and need.

This is a beautiful story, and yes, it is definitely not safe for work. It’s not even safe to read anywhere in a public place. There’s a lot, and I mean, a lot of sex. But there’s a wonderful story as well, with beautiful characters, amazing atmosphere and it’s all handled with such incredible warmth, sensitivity and heart.

Third One can be read as a stand alone, but it does feature characters from previous stories that might intrigue readers enough to go back and find out their back stories. All of the Other Books are wonderfully written. Go on, try them on for size.

Over on Roe’s Facebook Group Roemantics & Antics, There is some release day fun and a giveaway with a bonus story. Go on over there and join in the fun.

Third One can be found on Amazon. Click your link below.

Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon AU, and Amazon CA

 

 

Rainbow Snippets 03/15

Hello and welcome to another Rainbow Snippet.

I made a promise over on my Facebook group, after seeing a gif of a Raccoon washing its paws, that I would share an excerpt of that actual scene in my romantic comedy “Eagle Man and Mister Hawk”.

Blurb:

Ethan isn’t good at first impressions. His job gets in the way. His chosen career isn’t conducive to forming meaningful relationships either and it hasn’t really bothered him until now. Then Alex appears on the scene. Bookish and shy, but gorgeous Alex, who might be put off by bad first impressions and who Ethan just might want to form a meaningful relationship with.

Here is the snippet with a link to the longer excerpt beneath.

“Yogi, BooBoo, go and wash your hands!” I order my two wayward raccoons.

They immediately slink along the bench and fight for space around the sink in order to wash their hands while Alex looks on in bemusement.

He turns to look at me. “Seriously?”

I nod. “Seriously! They dig for worms in the garden and eat grubs out of rotten stuff, Hawk. They wash their hands before they sit at the table.”

“They sit at the table?” He looks even more bemused.

“Where else are they going to eat?”

If you want to read the longer excerpt you can find it here along with links to get the story for free.

And just in case the thought of a Raccoon washing their hands sounded a little far-fetched, here’s the evidence.

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

To find out what others are sharing this week click here to find the Rainbow Snippets Group and this week’s post.

Rainbow Snippets 03/01

Hey guys, what did you all do with your extra leap day yesterday?

Me? I spent it making and adjusting costumes for a visit to one of our local comic cons. I even managed to make a set of teeth.

My snippet this week comes from my WIP with the working title: “Live a Little”.

A sort of blurb:

Jules is the headteacher of a busy high school. Tristan is the newest member of the teaching staff and twenty years younger than Jules but proving difficult to keep at arm’s length. However hard Jules tries to not get involved with Tristan, the man keeps finding himself in situations that Jules feels obliged to bail him out of.

In this snippet, Tristan has managed to get punched in the face whilst trying to break up a fight between two students in the school foyer. Jules is trying to manage the chaos and prevent the situation from getting worse.

“Go up to my office and wait there, Tristan.” I tell him. “Don’t deviate from the route and don’t do anything when you get there. Just—sit, on the sofa. Don’t even twiddle your thumbs, because knowing your luck you’d probably dislocate one of them.”

“But Jules, don’t you want me to…”

“No!” I shout, loud enough to silence the dwindling but still significant crowd in the foyer. “You’re bleeding all over the floor. Just do as I say, Tristan. I’ll be up just as soon as I’ve sorted out this mess. I’d rather not have to sort you out at the same time.”

Tristan looks as if he is going to protest. He takes a breath to speak, but then lets it out, his shoulders slumping in defeat and what also appears to be dejection.

“Okay, fine.” He says, sounding unhappy and not much older than the surly adolescents I’m about to discipline for fighting. He spins on his heel and marches off towards the stairs that lead to my mezzanine level office, holding his hand over his still bleeding nose.

I watch him leave with a sigh. I didn’t mean to be so short with him, but did he really think he could do any good down here when his nose looks like it’s exploded across his face? I’ll apologise to him later; explain why I’ve basically acted like an arse.

Now to sort out the situation down here. As I turn back to face the two would be wrestlers, I see Rory intercept Tristan at the bottom of my office stairs. He has a first aid kit in his hand and looks very eager to help.

Why, of all people, did it have to be him? Was he just waiting for an opportunity to jump in and play nurse? I’ve seen the way he eyes Tristan when he thinks no one is watching.

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

To find out what others have shared this weekend click here.

Over on Smashwords it is Read an Ebook Week. My story: A Frosty Tail, is available 50% of until 8th March. If you fancy a story that is a little bit Christmassy, a bit wintery, with a splash of every other season and a lot of frosty magic, then click here to check it out.

 

 

 

 

Rainbow Snippets 02/15

Here’s another snippet from my WIP, a direct carry on from last week’s which you can find here.

As you might recall, Tristan has just burst into Jules’ kitchen wearing nothing but boxer briefs, stating he locked himself out of his apartment. Jules quickly finds him something to wear.

I grab the first thing I can find, which is my fleece dressing gown that’s still on the radiator where I left it after my shower. Thankfully it’s dry and warm now.

“Here.” I hand it to Tristan, trying my best not to stare because he doesn’t need me ogling his body.

“Thanks, Jules.” He wraps it around his shoulders, giving a shudder of delight. “Oh, it’s so warm.”

“Yes, it’s been on the radiator,” I tell him, a little distracted by the fact he’s covered his face with the sleeve of the robe and is taking a deep breath through his nose, his eyes closed in contentment. “It’s, er, mine.”

He opens his eyes, his nose and mouth still covered, but I can tell he’s smiling. “Oh, I know it’s yours,” his voice is muffled by the dressing gown sleeve, “it smells of your shower gel.”

The WIP has a working title of “Live a Little”. It’s an age gap romance, Jules being the older of the two.

I have written a couple of age gap romances, one of which is free. If anyone is interested in discovering them, they’re available here:

See You Smile (free story)

Not a Word (from Beaten Track Publishing)

Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).

To find out what others are sharing this week go over to the Facebook group here.