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Hello, everyone, and Happy 2022! This week, I have another seasonal offering to share - a bit of historical Christmas escapades from Ellie Thomas's new short, A Midwinter Night's Magic. Former lovers in a forced proximity situation and some Shakespeare! Come have a listen. :)  A Midwinter Night's Magic by Ellie Thomas Universal Buy Link In late 18th-century England, when Matthew Lewis accidentally accepts an invitation to a festive country house party, he vows to stay only for as long as is polite. However, not only is there a heavy snowfall to detain him but also, the guests are expected to take part in a recital of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Christmas Day. If amateur theatricals are not enough to contend with, the unexpected presence of former lover Crispin Marley is sent to try his frayed patience. The pair has had no contact since Crispin abandoned him with no explanation four years previously. Matthew is determined to feel nothing but enmity towards his lost love. But the influence of the play can change everything. Can Puck sprinkle a little fairy magic to bring this warring couple back together? About Ellie:
Ellie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical gay romance. Ellie also writes historical erotic romance as L. E. Thomas. https://elliethomasromance.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/elliethomasauthor/
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Happy Friday and Merry Christmas Eve for all our readers who celebrate! This week, I have an excerpt to read to you from a Christmas Eve story - hooray! Nell Iris brings us "The Santa Emergency" - come have a listen :)  The Santa Emergency by Nell Iris JMS Books Universal Book Link I have a Santa emergency and I desperately need your help. Sigge isn’t exactly a grinch when it comes to Christmas, but he’s not a fan of the holiday either. So when his new neighbor Kristian shows up in a panic, begging him to help by donning a Santa suit, Sigge’s gut reaction is to say no. But Kristian is cute and funny, rendering Sigge powerless against his heartfelt plea—especially after a promise of spending more time together—so he agrees. The instant connection deepens as they share mulled wine and conversation as easy as breathing. But is it just holiday magic swirling in the air, or is it something real? Something that will last into the new year and beyond? About Nell:
Nell Iris is a romantic at heart who believes everyone deserves a happy ending. She’s a bona fide bookworm (learned to read long before she started school), wouldn’t dream of going anywhere without something to read (not even the ladies room), loves music (and singing along at the top of her voice but she’s no Celine Dion), and is a real Star Trek nerd (Make it so). She loves words, bullet journals, poetry, wine, coffee-flavored kisses, and fika (a Swedish cultural thing involving coffee and pastry!) Nell believes passionately in equality for all regardless of race, gender or sexuality, and wants to make the world a better, less hateful, place. Nell is a bisexual Swedish woman married to the love of her life, a proud mama of a grown daughter, and is approaching 50 faster than she’d like. She lives in the south of Sweden where she spends her days thinking up stories about people falling in love. After dreaming about being a writer for most of her life, she finally was in a place where she could pursue her dream and released her first book in 2017. Nell Iris writes gay romance, prefers sweet over angsty, short over long, and quirky characters over alpha males. Find me on social media: Webpage/blog: http://www.nelliris.com/ Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hnEdVD Twitter: https://twitter.com/nellirisauthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nell_iris/ Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nellirisauthor/ Facebook profile: www.facebook.com/nell.iris.12 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/nelliris Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nell-iris Hooray Friday! This week, I'm giving you a little sneak peek and reading from The Anti-Quest, which is the Fourth Annual Angel Martinez Lesbian Science Fiction Humor Holiday story. Come have a listen. ;)  The Anti-Quest
(A Pudding Protocol Universe story) Coming this holiday season! It's a simple old story—princess, dragon, knight—simple unless they're all the same person. Paladin Snillek's mother was human and ruled a planet. That's about the extent of her knowledge since they didn't see each other much. When her mom dies in a freak accident, her father tells Snillek she's inherited the title, and she has to learn how to pass as the mostly human Princess Siel for a planet she never thought about much. The dresses alone are horrifying and the courtiers aggravating. In a moment of frustrated rage, Snillek's princess persona slips and frightened palace staff misinterpret what they see. Now Paladin Snillek has been called upon to rescue Princess Siel…from herself. Gruyere wants desperately to journey into the wilds of Tarribotia, but it's too dangerous to go alone and so far, everyone's laughed at her for suggesting it. When she spots a Dzedek paladin sulking in a tavern, she offers her services, hoping to pass herself off as a rogue guide. Two women with secrets and possibly opposing goals head out into the hinterlands of a planet neither one of them knows well. They might both make it back by Winterfest if nothing eats them first. Some snips and snails about Where Things Are:  Is being picked apar-- um, looked over by the content editor. Currently around 31K, final word count still to come. If you'd like to see the blurb and stuff, that's up at the publisher.
It's a simple old story--princess, dragon, knight--simple unless they're all the same person.
Laila should be finishing Safety Protocols for Human Holidays a little before schedule. So looking forward to having that out there for you! The calendar is booked out for quite a while. (2023? Something like that.) My editor has the whole list, but I find it's best to concentrate on the things in front of me so I don't run screaming into the void. So what's in front of me? Three things: By Imperial Decree (an ESTO story) This will be one of the shorter ESTO works, probably under 30K, about parts of the galaxy we haven't visited yet: a mechanic on a Galactic Hansa station and the Altairian prince who sort of falls into his lap.
 The Anti-Quest Slated as this year's lesbian science fiction humor holiday story. I'll be getting started with the actual writing as soon as Imperial Decree is finished. Snillek inherits her estranged mother's royal throne, much to her dismay. There are secrets. There is a serious misunderstanding. Shenanigans ensue. (No, that's not the real blurb. Editor would never speak to me again.) Geoffrey the Very Strange (part of the Magic Emporium collection coming out next year)
It's all the fault of the folks at Queer Sci Fi. Honestly, I can't remember how it came up, but I'd made an offhand remark about an theoretical necromancer named Geoffrey the Very Strange who proposed the use of seashells instead of blood magic. Um. Yes. Shenanigans ensue. There are notes and a general plan. This one's due out sometime in March of 2021. Hello and Happy Friday! Welcome to the final Reading Day of 2019! This week, I'm reading from the beginning of my new Lesbian Science Fiction Humor Holiday story, The Solstice Pudding. This one's for everyone who wants to know how Miteg sounds in my head.  The Solstice Pudding
When Holidays Attack by Angel Martinez Mischief Corner Books Amazon Kobo Apple Paperback: Amazon Chief Engineer Shandi Leavenworth has been crushing on Major Tyra Sur ever since she joined station staff, though the laconic customs officer doesn't give up personal information easily. A few scraps of information leads Shandi to the perfect Solstice present, until of course everything goes horribly wrong. Major Sur took the job on Onwa Station for the stability, the quiet, and out of a need to be useful. It's been all of those things up until the woman she's been quietly flirting with at the bar puts in a desperate call for help. There's no question they need to save the station, but Tyra's not so sure about saving their budding relationship. Genre: Solstice, FF Romance, Science Fiction, Humor The Solstice Pudding is here! Available at all the usual places in both ebook and paperback! Part of Mischief Corner Books holiday collection this year, When Holidays Attack, it's fitting that you'll probably recognize a couple of nods to horror tropes in this one. :D The Solstice Pudding When Holidays Attack Mischief Corner Books Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Apple Paperback: Amazon Chief Engineer Shandi Leavenworth has been crushing on Major Tyra Sur ever since she joined station staff, though the laconic customs officer doesn't give up personal information easily. A few scraps of information leads Shandi to the perfect Solstice present, until of course everything goes horribly wrong. Major Sur took the job on Onwa Station for the stability, the quiet, and out of a need to be useful. It's been all of those things up until the woman she's been quietly flirting with at the bar puts in a desperate call for help. There's no question they need to save the station, but Tyra's not so sure about saving their budding relationship.  Hello, everyone and welcome to a special Wednesday edition of Reading Day! (There'll still be Friday, too, so you get extra.) Today, I'm reading excerpts for you from the third and fourth stories in this year's Mischief Corner Books holiday collection - When Holidays Attack. The first is a YA/Middle Grade steampunk fantasy and the second is a paranormal story with a established poly triad. Come have a listen!  Wind Me Up, One More Time by Kari Trenten Mischief Corner Books Amazon Kobo Barnes & Noble Apple When their home becomes too dangerous for them, Nathalie and Grace's mothers decide that Mama Morisot will move with the girls to the city of Verity while Mama Bibi stays behind. There, they find safety and friends—Nathalie in the dashing Maia and Grace in Theodora Bear—but all is not right in Verity. The gears of industry grind on relentlessly in the city, threatening to stifle creativity and magic, seeking to end childhood. One tragic blow at a time, Grace watches as the magic and love around her dies until she also begins to give into despair. It will be up to a stuffed bear and the magic of the holidays to remind Grace how vital imagination is in keeping her family whole. Genre: Christmas, FF Romance, Fantasy/Steampunk, YA/Middle Grade  Ghosts, Gangsters and Garland
by Jana Denardo Mischief Corner Books Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Apple Zia, Dolores and Kane all possess the magic to fight monsters but all they want now is a nice Christmas break. Partners in life and at work as monster-slayers for a group known as the Clipeum, they’ve been risking life and limb keeping humanity safe. They’ve won their hard-earned vacation their boss has set up for them: a week in a small hotel in upper Wisconsin. Their boss mentioned in passing it used to be a gangster retreat in the heyday of prohibition. Married for some time, Zia and Dolores were surprised to have Kane in their life, first at work and now in their hearts. They’re looking forward to their first holiday today as a threesome and the ladies can’t wait to see their first pagan Yule celebration with Kane. All they want is some quiet relaxation. What they get is something entirely different. Gangster ghosts, would-be witches, over-enthusiastic children, animated snowmen and a century old former gangster moll who has a little spark still in her add up to a not-so-restful Christmas. Zia, Dolores and Kane trade comfy clothing and relaxation for spellcasting and ghost wrangling. Still they might just be able to rescue themselves a Merry Yule from all the chaos. Genre: Yule/Christmas, FFM Paranormal, Interracial, Ghosts Hello, Friday! And hello to all of you! This week, the lovely EJ Russell allows me to read from her new holiday short - and we get to learn a new word. :D (Or at least I do. Maybe you all knew it already.) If you'd like to know all about swants, start here :) How To Transform Woolly Sweaters Into Sassy Pants  A Swants Soiree
by EJ Russell Introverted software engineer Brent Levine struggles with the life part of work-life balance, but to hold on to his new job, he’ll have to embrace his employer’s dreaded “staff enrichment” events. This year’s annual ugly holiday sweater party will strain his ambition to remain inconspicuous: everyone has to wear sweaters converted into pants—aka “swants.” Brent’s an ace at coding, but when it comes to handcrafts, he’s definitely at the far left end of the bell curve. Luckily he encounters seriously cute theater costumer Jonathan at the Goodwill Outlet. Jonathan offers Brent both an acceptably ugly sweater and his expertise in swants conversion. Attraction sparks on Brent’s side, but can Jonathan be interested in a guy like him? A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2019 Advent Calendar "Homemade for the Holidays." Buy links: Amazon Universal Publisher About E.J. E.J. Russell—grace, mother of three, recovering actor—holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so naturally she’s spent the last three decades as a financial manager, database designer, and business intelligence consultant (as one does). She’s recently abandoned data wrangling, however, and spends her days wrestling words. Her paranormal romantic comedy, The Druid Next Door, was a 2018 RITA® finalist and the winner of the 2017 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Fantasy Romance. E.J. is married to Curmudgeonly Husband, a man who cares even less about sports than she does. Luckily, CH loves to cook, or all three of their children (Lovely Daughter and Darling Sons A and B) would have survived on nothing but Cheerios, beef jerky, and satsuma mandarins (the extent of E.J.’s culinary skill set). E.J. lives in rural Oregon, enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole. Connect with E.J.: Newsletter: https://ejrussell.com/newsletter Facebook group (Reality Optional): https://www.facebook.com/groups/reality.optional Website: https://ejrussell.com Follow E.J. on: Facebook author page: https://facebook.com/E.J.Russell.author Twitter: @EJ_Russell Instagram: @ej_russell_author Bookbub: @EJ_Russell Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/ej_russell Updated info on this year's holiday stories! Three are already available with the next one releasing this coming Tuesday. Some are also available in paperback!   Tricks, Treats, and a Spider (11/19) by Kassandra Lea (m/m contemporary, Halloween) Manny's excitement over the first Halloween in their new house deflates after vandalism and theft point to targeted homophobia. Amazon Kobo Apple Barnes &Noble Mischief Corner Books  Stealing Gifts (11/26) by Mere Rain (m/m contemporary, Thanksgiving/Christmas) Guilt over the theft of a rare book prompts Jarrell to risk returning it to its owner – and accidentally wakes him. Mischief Corner Books Amazon Apple Barnes & Noble Kobo Paperback  Wind Me Up, One More Time (12/3) by Kari Trenten (f/f fantasy/steampunk, YA) Natalie and Grace move with their mother to the city for safety, but the wheels of industry grind steadily in Verity and all may not be as safe as it seems. Mischief Corner Books Amazon Kobo Barnes & Noble Apple Paperback coming soon!  Ghosts, Gangster and Garland (12/10) by Jana Denardo (f/f/m poly paranormal, Yule/Christmas) Three monster hunters on a relaxing vacation to a lovely, snowy B&B find ghosts and dangerous hauntings waiting instead. Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Apple  The Solstice Pudding (12/17) by Angel Martinez (f/f science fiction humor, Solstice)
Shandi Leavenworth, chief of small craft engineering, makes a series of Very Bad Decisions while trying to attract the interest of her long-time crush. Links coming soon! |
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Angel writes (mostly) Science Fiction and Fantasy centered around queer heroes. Currently living part time in the hectic sprawl of northern Delaware and full time inside her head, she has one husband, one son, two cats, a love of all things beautiful and a terrible addiction to the consumption of both knowledge and chocolate. |
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