F.A.S.T Balls - Guest author, Tara Lain!

Blurb:

F.A.S.T. — Firefighter Assist and Search Team

Firefighter and surfing champion, Jerry Wallender, looks like a hero to the world, but he can’t see it. He keeps falling for these intellectual guys who end up making him feel dumb and unneeded. On top of that, Mick Cassidy, super-gorgeous firefighter and total homophobe, makes Jerry’s life miserable with his slurs. Then one day Mick’s nice to Jerry and, at the Firefighter’s Ball, Jerry offers a helping hand and ends up with a hand-job. What the hell is going on?

Mick Cassidy is great with fighting fires and solving math problems but rotten with people. Raised by a gay-hating preacher, Mick’s carefully constructed world of gay bashing starts to crumble when he meets Jerry, the nicest, kindest man he’s ever known. Mick’s never wanted a woman and can’t stop thinking about sex with Jerry. In fact, he can’t stop doing it. Does that make him gay? And if he’s gay, what happens to his whole life? A hook-up between sweet Jerry and mean Mick might be total disaster — or the smartest idea Jerry ever had.

Read an excerpt, HERE

Buy Links:

Amazon - http://amzn.com/B00FAUSUO8

ARE - https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fastballs-1300792-149.html

Author Bio:

Tara Lain never met a beautiful boy she didn’t love – at least on paper. A writer of erotic romance, mostly male/male and MMF ménage, Tara loves all her characters, but especially her unique heroes. In fact, her readers say her tagline, Read the Beautiful Boys of Romance, about sums it up. Her first romance novel was published in January of 2011. She’s now on book 21. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards.

Some people call Tara “the Balls girl” in honor of her best-selling MM contemporary romance series, Balls to the Wall. Readers send her suggested titles for her next Balls book! Three of the Balls books, Volley Balls, Fire Balls and Snow Balls, were on the Amazon list of the top selling 100 gay romances in 2012.Tara also has a popular paranormal series called the Aloysius Tales and an award-winning ménage series titled Genetic Attraction.

In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm, and she carries her promotional instincts into her writing career as well. She lives with her soul-mate husband in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

Enjoy your link to: a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is your big chance!

All right, here it is! The chance you’ve been waiting for. 

I have a few weeks until NaNoWriMo, and I’m between projects right now. I’m working on edits, cleaning up rough drafts, and generally making a nuisance of myself before I go to both GayRomLit retreat and Bent-Con.

What do you want me to write? Every Friday I write flash fiction based on images that move me in some way I can’t really define. How about you decide for a change? Got an image you like? Got an idea you want me to pursue?

Leave a comment here at the website,  be as detailed as you want to be. Include links to images, but be sure it’s okay to use them (I go to Bing.com and search for images that are free to use and share) or send me a link to the  royalty free site where the image can be purchased and I’ll look into it. What floats your boat?

Whether the image is a person or a place or something that simply makes you happy, put the link in the comments below and for the next few weeks I’ll choose one image every Friday to agitate the little gray cells, as Hercule Poirot says.

Don’t be shy. I welcome all ideas with one caveat — We should probably keep things rated R and below (NO NC17). Even though no one under eighteen should be reading this blog, I’m not entirely sure I’m up to the task of writing  Friday Flash Fiction for really um…graphic images.

So…what do you want me to write…Operators are standing by!

This is your big chance!

Tuesday Teaser...

I did it again! I was off on a trip and forgot to post my Tuesday Teaser on Tuesday! MEA CULPA folks, I am not good at pre-scheduling posts!

Okay! Here’s how you do it! Guess the title of the Z.A. Maxfield book this teaser comes from to get an ebook copy of the book in question or any other book from my backlist. Be sure to give me a valid email address so I know where to send your ebook. The 5th person to email me with the correct title  WINS!

Email me at zamaxfield @ zamaxfield (dot) com and put Tuesday Teasers in the subject line!

Aaaaand…Pretty soon I’ll be inviting friends to join me here every Tuesday and hopefully, you’ll get a crack at winning a special guest author’s book. That will be fun, won’t it? (Seeing as how some of my friends are bestselling m/m romance authors and a chance to win one of their books would be AWESOME.) Look for something new come October. I’ll be kicking Tuesday Teasers: The Guest Factor into high gear during GRL month. We might even think of a new way to choose winners, maybe based on comments, instead of emails so you can leave your thoughts right here!

This Tuesday Teaser is another tough one. Shall we play GUESS THE BOOK?

Last Week’s Winners : Pat!

Whilst we’re at it, I’d like to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter, for free stories, exclusive contests, and all the news before anyone else gets it! Coming up, I have a cover reveal, a deleted scene, and more fun and games with cowboys!

“No beard.” I whispered, when I saw my whiskers had scratched his smooth skin.

“Not likely. My grandfather was Navajo. Diné. That’s why–”

“You have an amazing face.”

“I do?”

“I ain’t talking to ***.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s like all the happy in the world goes on exhibit there sometimes. I can see everything you think written all over your face.”

His lips curved into a small shy smile. “I guess I shouldn’t play cards.”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

“I like your face.” He raised his hand and thumbed my lower lip. “You’re face has character.”

“That another way of saying I should give up my dream of being a fashion model?”

“No.” He cuffed my arm lightly. “Not at all.”

“When I put character and cowboy together, I get Slim Pickens or those ‘after’ pictures of the Marlboro man when he was all sick.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and brought me close. “When I look at you, it’s like seeing a really great climbing tree or a or a fast horse with an attitude. Scary—maybe a little dangerous–but I can’t help wanting to climb on and just see where it takes me.”

Tuesday Teaser...

Sunday Brunch Blog - 9/22/2013

I’ve always wanted to find a way to ask a few of my favorite authors over for a nice, leisurely Sunday brunch, and that became the idea for this blog.

Each week I plan to invite a couple friends to this blog so I can ask them a question. My friends will share their answers with me and you, gentle readers, can give your answer to my question in the comment section below. I’ll choose one random person from the comments and reward them with an ebook surprise, it’s that simple! Comments are moderated, so don’t despair if you’re not posted immediately! All commenters will be entered into a drawing, so don’t be SHY!

Last week’s winner is: druuuuuuumroll please: Chris Muldoon! I’ll be sending you an  email asking which ebook you fancy pronto! Thanks for playing along.

This week I gave my authors a tough assignment. It’s actually a question you’ll find in theory of knowledge classes, and very few people who signed up for my brunches wanted to take it on! Fortunately, in the three people here I have some very awesome authors who aren’t afraid of a challenge, so without further ado, I’ll ask this weeks guests to:

Define Art.

What is Art?

 

I saw this on a medallion at the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach, CA this summer and loved it so much I just have to quote it. It comes from artist, Jennifer Yane, and considering that I write the Beautiful Boys of Romance, it seems perfect to me:

 

Art is spirituality in drag.

 

: ) – Author Tara Lain

 

Buy FAST Balls here
Amazon
All Romance Ebooks
Kobo

 Art is all about making an emotional connection. It may hit you only subliminally and you may not quite be able to put your finger on what it was about this piece of art, be it a book, painting, play, movie, musical composition or whatever, but you know that it touched you in a deep way, struck a chord in your heart, perhaps invaded your dreams, left you feeling something. Intellectual connections are fine, but for me, true art connects with your feelings in a visceral way. It speaks to you. It touches you. And if it’s truly great art, it awakens your sense of wonder.

 

That’s it. I hope this works for brunch. I can always make my famous soft scrambled eggs with green onions and cheese instead. – Author Rick Reed (editor’s note: YUM)

Buy Hungry For Love at:

Dreamspinner

Print Version

Amazon

All Romance Ebooks

Like obscenity, most people think of art as something they know when they see it. I have vivid memories of my father glancing over my various art class textbooks and commenting on Duchamp’s Fountain, “That’s not art!” The Society of Independent Artists would have agreed with him — back in 1917.

Yes, my dad is a little bit of a throwback, but he’s not unique in confusing quality with personal preference. The default position for a lot of us is, “I don’t know anything about art, but I know what I like.” So it’s probably natural that the logical thought progression would be that if you like it, it must be art.

But that’s a dangerous position: the notion that if you like something it must be quality or that if you dislike something, it must be flawed. I personally struggle with the concept that all art is subjective, and yet clearly concepts like Beauty and Good and Obscenity vary from culture to culture — and even within any given culture over a period of time.

I think the essential problem with the idea of art as subjective or personal, is that within that construct, the responsibility for what is or is not art lies with the audience — whereas I believe, by strictest definition, it actually lies with the artist. For me, whether something is, or is not, art is strictly to do with artistic intent.

The moment an act is performed deliberately in order to bring about a reaction from one’s self or another, it becomes art. Well, no. Because by that definition both murder and masturbation would be art. So I suppose I would have to qualify that to: the moment an act is deliberately performed to provoke an aesthetic — positive or negative – reaction from one’s self or another, it becomes art.

The catch is that what would be considered aesthetic at any given time is subjective. But the intent to provoke or stimulate the reaction is not subjective. – Author Josh Lanyon

Buy the Haunted Heart – Winter

Amazon

All Romance Ebooks

Smashwords

Now, Gentle Readers: Tell us how you define art HERE on my website for a chance to win an ebook from one of these fabulous authors!

 

 

 

 

Sunday Brunch Blog - 9/22/2013

Casual S*x Friday - End Of Summer

The bare wooden dock beneath Jack’s back held the warmth of the setting sun. Nick padded over and dropped down beside him, still dripping cold water from the lake.

Jack squinted.

Nick was little more than a wide black shape with the light of the sun behind him — impossible to look at without hurting Jack’s eyes.

Nick was tough to look at anyway. He’d always seemed bright and cold as a distant star. Even so, Jack’s cock twitched as he lay there, helplessly pinned by Nick’s knowing blue gaze.

“Are you still going to love me when we get back home?” Nick criss-crossed his legs, surreptitiously watching as his tanned adolescent body ripple with new muscle. Nick had power he was barely learning to wield and grace he entirely was unaware of. His feral smile promised dark adventure as he lowered his voice to a bare whisper. “Are you still going to be my boy, Jackie?”

“Y-yes.” Jack’s mouth went dry. “I’ll always–”

“Hey Nick. Heads up!”

Somebody lobbed a football their way. Nick leapt up after it, catching it effortlessly before it could fall to the dock and wobble off into the water.

“Heads up yourself, asshole.” He rifled the ball back to the shore and turned back to Jack.

“Nick.” Nick’s friend shouted. “You coming or what?”

“Be there in a second.”

“Aw.” Someone else called. “Why you gotta babysit your little girlfriend all the time, man? We’re waiting.”

Laughing, Nick flipped him off. “You can fucking wait longer, then.”

Jack turned away. “Why do you let them talk to you like that?”

“You mean why do I let them talk about you like that, don’t you?”

“It’s the same thing, isn’t it?”

Nick froze. “The hell it is.”

Jack felt Nick’s footsteps vibrate through the boards beneath his body as Nick pounded away after his friends.

 

 

Casual S*x Friday - End Of Summer

Tuesday Teaser

Okay! Here’s how you do it! Guess the title of the Z.A. Maxfield book this teaser comes from to get an ebook copy of the book in question or any other book from my backlist. Be sure to give me a valid email address so I know where to send your ebook. The 7th person to email me with the correct title  WINS!

Email me at zamaxfield @ zamaxfield (dot) com and put Tuesday Teasers in the subject line!

Aaaaand…Pretty soon I’ll be inviting friends to join me here every Tuesday and hopefully, you’ll get a crack at winning a special guest author’s book. That will be fun, won’t it? (Seeing as how some of my friends are bestselling m/m romance authors and a chance to win one of their books would be AWESOME.) Look for something new come October. I’ll be kicking Tuesday Teasers: The Guest Factor into high gear during GRL month.

This Tuesday Teaser is another tough one. Shall we play GUESS THE BOOK?

Last Week’s Winners : Karen! (It was Secret Light… kind of an obscure one, I think)

Whilst we’re at it, I’d like to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter, for free stories, exclusive contests, and all the news before anyone else gets it! Coming up, I have a cover reveal, a deleted scene, and more fun and games with cowboys!

***** pulled a large basket up next to the cot, overturning it. He thought it might hold his weight, but sat down gingerly to test it. As for speaking to this…person, this almost-man who’d caused him so much grief, now that he was here he found he had very little to say.

“I expected something more,” ***** said, mostly to himself.

Before him, the bundle of rags and skin gave up a sound that was halfway between a laugh and a deep, gut-wrenching sob. “Me too, man.”

“****.” ***** tried the name. “That’s your name, right? **********?”

“*******,” came the curt reply.

“You don’t like to be called ****?”

The boy looked away.

“How old are you?”

No answer.

“Are you in high school?”

“Twenty.”

***** glanced at the boy’s body briefly. He was lying on his side with his knees drawn to his chest. It was impossible to tell how old he was. His face, though bruised and caked with blood, was fairly smooth. “You don’t look twenty.”

“Sorry. I’m not exactly going to bring my ID to commit a crime.”

“You don’t talk like a gangbanger.”

“Again. Sorry if I’m a disappointment to you. I guess I should try to do better in the future. Not that I’ll have the chance.”

Good Luck!

Tuesday Teaser

Sunday Brunch Blog Post - 9/15/2013

One of the best things about my writing career is all the wonderful friends I’ve made over the years. Many of my internet pals have become in-person friends. We share adventures in writing, and often we have the opportunity to meet up at conventions like Romantic Times Book Lovers’ convention or GayRomLit.

I always wanted to find a way to just ask a few over for branch, and this became the idea for this blog.

Each Sunday I’ll invite a couple friends over and ask a question. My friends will share their answers with me. You, gentle readers, can give your answer to my question in the comment section below. I’ll choose one random person from the comments and reward them with an ebook surprise, it’s that simple! Comments are moderated, so don’t despair if you’re not posted immediately! No comments last week? Commenters will be entered into a drawing, so don’t be SHY!

We’ve got some of your sizzling favorites authors, right here, talking about what they’d wish for, if they were ever granted a genie’s wish…

This week’s question:

A genie grants you one wish, what is it? (Not more wishes!)

A life of sexual adventures! Doesn’t that cover it all? If a person is happily satisfied within the bedroom, it will transfer into other areas of life. Great sex equates to a positive can-do-it attitude in other areas. Plus, it provides plenty of fodder to write about. (Ahem.)

Ever have magical hotel sex? You know, sparkling soft white comforter and sheets – the kind that would never last in a home – and all the cares and the worries of the world disappear. No responsibilities. You can languish and enjoy every single moment. It’s where the enchantment happens.

And when reality slows down to be less than? Well, I pull out my favorite books. — Author Louisa Bacio

Available via Ravenous Romance, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other eRetailers.

True Colors

World peace…WAIT…no. That’s not it. It would be all well and good to have world peace, but that is not what I would wish. Nope. I wish–for just enough. I’ll elaborate. I wish for just enough of everything.

Can I do that?

I might have to spell it out more or who knows what I could end up with. I’ve watched those genie movies! So I want just enough money so I can be happy, but not outrageously rich. I could wish for riches beyond my imagination, but I don’t need that because money isn’t everything.

I know I wouldn’t wish for true love because that would just be false. You can’t wish for someone to love you, they have to do that on their own. Okay…now that I think about it…I take it back. I’ll wish for world peace. — Author Jambrea Jo Jones

True Colors, available at:
Amazon, ARE, and MLR

If a genie was to grant me one wish (and not more wishes) I would want a machine that I could hook up to my brain. It would see the same crazy stuff that I do, the stuff that inspires my erotic m/m romances, and type it out for me (edited and proofread, of course).

When I see a scene for one of my books, I literally see it play out in my head like a movie. I can see the bright vivid colors, smell the fragrances that float on the breeze, and hear what people are saying, how they say it, what tone of voices they use, everything. I try to convey that in my writing so that the reader can see and feel what I do.

This “machine” that I would wish for would help with that sooo much. I could just work the scene out in my head until I  had it just right then say “print” and the machine would type it all out on my laptop…ready to be submitted.

Alas, until this wonderful writer’s aid is invented, I must do it the old fashioned way…nap! — Author Stormy Glenn

Heart of a Mate, Scent of a Mate, Available at Bookstrand, Here

 

Sunday Brunch Blog Post - 9/15/2013