The First Step
A Coastal Carolina Novel
by Shira Anthony

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Dreamspinner Press

The first step is the hardest. After a scandal, New York political reporter Reed Barfield is lying low at the North Carolina coast, writing a story about the seafood industry. But it’s the harbor pilots on the Cape Fear River who capture his interest—men who jump across ten feet of open ocean to grab a rope ladder and guide huge container ships into port. Men like sexy but prickly Justin Vance. 

After surviving an abusive childhood and a tour in the Navy, Justin isn’t fazed by his dangerous job—it’s certainly easier to face than Reed’s annoying questions. Justin isn’t out at work, and he doesn’t need Reed digging into his personal life or his past. 

But Reed’s no stranger to using his considerable charm to get what he wants, and as he wears Justin down, they realize they have a lot in common—and that they like spending time together. Moving beyond that, though, will mean Justin confessing his sexuality and learning to trust Reed with his secrets—if Reed even decides to stay. Both men want a future together, but can they find the courage to take the first step?

About Shira:

Shira Anthony was a professional opera singer in her last incarnation, performing roles in such operas as Tosca, i Pagliacci, and La Traviata, among others. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle. You can hear Shira singing "Vissi d'arte" from Puccini's Tosca by clicking here: Shira's Singing

Shira loves a great happily-ever-after and never writes a story without one. She's happy to write what her muse tells her, whether it's fantasy, sci fi, paranormal, or contemporary romance. She particularly loves writing series, because she thinks of her characters as old friends and she wants to visit them even after their stories are told.

In real life, Shira sang professionally for 14 years, and she currently works as a public sector attorney advocating for children. She's happy to have made writing her second full-time job, even if it means she rarely has time to watch TV or go to the movies. Shira writes about the things she knows and loves, whether it's music and musicians, the ocean, or the places she's lived or traveled to. She spent her middle school years living in France, and tries to visit as often as she can.

Shira and her husband spend as many weekends as they can aboard their 38' catamaran sailboat, Prelude, at the Carolina Coast. Not only has sailing inspired her to write about pirates and mermen, her sailboat is her favorite place to write. And although the only mermen she's found to date are in her own imagination, she keeps a sharp lookout for them when she's on the water.

Shira Anthony: http://www.shiraanthony.com    
Twitter: @WriterShira

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! The Hunt for Red Fluffy is done. The End. She's now with the faithful beta readers and it shouldn't be too much longer before we see a release date.

This is the longest Brimstone yet, at about 39K before edits. Huh. My little novella series is trying to turn into novels.

We're counting down now - less than a month before the release of The Mage on the Hill - eeeeee! I have blog posts to write and things to do, but I'm very excited to announce that Mage will also be launching in German. :D

Der Magier auf dem Berg should be available on or about the English language release date. 

Friday is here once more! This week I'm reading a bit for you from the start of The Mage on the Hill. I know some folks are curious - so here's an appetizer :)

Also, the first Brimstone Journals collection has launched in French :D

Les Registres de La Soufrière 1

​Amazon 

La Soufrière : vaisseau de transport, centre de commandes de contrebande et de mercantilisme. Mené par un prince démoniaque à la tête d’un équipage pouvant faire honte à n’importe quelle bande de marginaux. Après une cargaison de vaches anti-gravitation et une autre de pommes de terre couleurs joyaux. Après les horreurs des grenouilles et des cauchemars. Il est temps de découvrir d’autres moments, plus calmes, au sein de La Soufrière, de petits bouts d’histoires récupérées parmi les différentes vies de l’équipage, que ce soit l’enfance de Shax et Verin en Enfer, ou la suite de leurs aventures après « Le Lac noir ».
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Le tome 1 des Registres de La Soufrière contient également une nouvelle festive que Shax aurait préféré ne jamais voir publiée... tant pis pour lui.

People ask me a lot of questions, but most of them are along the lines of Have you seen my keys? or Where's the cat? so I'll try to stick to questions relevant to current writing work and related items:
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• How's the next Lijun coming?

We're humming along. Should be making serious progress this week.

• Where's our Brimstone Journals?

Honestly, I had to take a break. I've been writing the Journals for three years now and I don't want them to get tired and stale for you all.

• Are you going to GRL 2019?

I'll know more after registration. Always a little tricky.

• Where else might you be this year?

Right now, it's looking like Anime North in May (Toronto), Flamecon in August (Manhattan), and possibly Philcon in November (Cherry Hill, NJ) if I keep an eye on the vendor signup.

• Where's the Goodreads link for The Mage on the Hill?

I'm so glad you asked. :) The Mage on the Hill 

• Is that your real hair?

Yes. Yes, it is. Such hair that's left these days is all mine. :)