Bey’s Summer Sales and Giveaways – Hurry! Ending soon.

summer-sales

I thought I'd give a list of what's on sale and what's in a giveaway in one place.


Giveaways

Giveaway of Caged: Love and Treachery on the High Seas at Goodreads -> Enter now! Ends August 18, 2016 11:59PM

Giveaway of Kestrel's Talon at Goodreads -> Enter now! Ends August 01, 2016 11:59PM


Summer Sale at Smashwords -> Buy now! Last day of sale: July 31st, 2016

Caged, Sacrificed, Fated, F.I.S.T.S. Handbook, The Last Nights of the Frangipani Hotel -> use code SSW50 at checkout for 50% off

Sarge, Murphy, The Complications of T -> use code SSW25 at checkout for 25% off


Baal's Heart Summer Sale at All Romance eBooks - Last day of sale: July 31st, 2016

Caged, Sacrificed, and Fated -> 50% off


Hotter than Hell Sale  -  Last day of Sale: July 31st, 2016

Better the Devil You Know is $2 at All Romance eBooks and Payhip


ON SALE STARTING AUGUST 1

Kestrel's Talon

Amazon Kindle Countdown Sale (US/UK) - August 1-7 starting at 99¢/£0.99

Note: After August 21, Kestrel's Talon will be available for purchase at All Romance eBooks, Smashwords, and other resellers.

Review of Grif’s Toy by Joseph Lance Tonlet

This is definitely not my normal sort of read.

How the hell do I rate this? I have no real experience with romances, and this is definitely romantic.

Yet, here I sit here with a grin on my face, heart hammering, feeling a little dazed and in need of a very stiff drink.

I’m going to rate this according to my gut (and, I suppose, other parts of my anatomy) and go with five stars.

On one hand, it’s incredibly hot, full of some of my very favourite things. The fact that Wes and Grif are such an ideal match makes their D/s relationship intensely satisfying (and envying) to read about.

[Am I greedy for wanting more Chocolate?]

On the other hand? Well, it’s one hell of a great fantasy—the kind that is crafted from a deep well of desires, each detail lovingly chosen before it’s polished like a prized possession and placed in just the right sequence to make for a really gratifying story. I found it all terribly attractive, both in plot and execution. A lot of care went into it, and a lot of soul.

As much as the relationship between Grif and Tate was bittersweet… well, what Wes and Grif forge between them is like finding home. And, before I get too sentimental, let me wrap this up:

The truth is, I had a hard time putting Grif’s Toy down, and that felt damn great.

I am eagerly looking forward to the next one.

Good job, Joseph.

Order it here and then add it to your TBR on Goodreads

Varian Krylov – Author

Today we have Varian Krylov, author of Dangerously Happy and the recently published and highly-acclaimed Bad Things

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Howdy Varian and welcome to my blog!

Why don't you describe yourself as a writer in ten words or less.

Intuitive, selfish, indulgent, seeking, probing, hopeful, despairing, provocative, problematic, improving.

 

Why do you write?

I've always written, because I've always felt the urge to write. Well, I shouldn't exaggerate—I started when I was five or six. There always seems to be a seed of a story sprouting in my head, and once I feel it tickling my brain, writing it down is like scratching an itch.

I also love playing with language. There were a few years where I wrote nothing but poetry, and those notebooks fill up two copy paper boxes in my storage unit.

But I also write my novels because I enjoy exploring my ideas about relationships and sexuality through the characters I dream up. More and more, I realize that in some ways I'm two people, sexually, and there's a side of my sexual psyche that can only be satisfied through fiction. That side of me absolutely thrives on dynamics and practices that I don't really enjoy in my personal life. And even though it's infinitely more laborious, I enjoy writing these kinds of stories more than reading them.

 

Have you ever hated one of your characters?

Not any of my main characters, but there are a few secondary characters—especially in After—that I'd like to put in an iron maiden.

 

Any thoughts about the occasional and surprising vitriol when there’s a little F inserted into M/M?

Haha, it's a perplexing phenomenon. When I wrote my first three novels, I was always anxious readers were going to stone me for spicing up a primarily hetero romance with a side serving of manlove, but I never heard a word of complaint. I confess I was startled when I got schooled in the dangers of letting a lady in on the action in a gay romance. It's not so surprising to me that a gay man wouldn't want to read that, but what caught me off guard was how many female readers of m/m are adamant about not wanting any sex scenes to include women. Personally, I'm very drawn to menage stories, and I find a three way dynamic not only exciting, but in many ways it feels like the ideal balance, at least in fiction. And I write a lot of M/M/F menage. But as sexual beings and as readers, we all have things that repel us, emotionally and erotically, and I've come to understand better that for a lot of readers of M/M, the appearance of a vagina destroys the fantasy they're immersed in.

 

What made you go indie instead of going through a traditional publishing model?

I had a brief brush with a publisher, who approached me years ago, before self-publishing was so accessible, about publishing Abduction. But during the negotiation of the contract, I came to feel that I was being left with too much of the risk, for how much share in the reward I was handing over to the publisher, so ultimately I declined their offer.

Nowadays, it seems to me that if you're willing to do a bit of tedious work, like formatting your manuscript and hiring an editor and someone to do a decent cover design, you're better off self-publishing and keeping all your royalties. Because publishers seem to do very little, considering what a huge percentage of your royalties you're giving up.

 

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers on how to cope with bad reviews?

Be professional. Event the best writers in the world have critics, and no book is going to be universally liked. Let it sting for a second, then think about it calmly, and see if there's anything in the review that can help you be a better writer.

My first novel, Abduction, is one I still get long and heartfelt notes about; something about that story really struck some people. But a couple reviewers were pretty brutal in criticizing it as being wordy, redundant, and way too long. I was so in love with my story that for years I shrugged off those critiques. But recently I went back and read it, and had to admit they were dead right. So I edited the hell out of it, and I think it's a much better book, now.

 

Since this is for National M/M month, what do you feel you bring to the genre?

Enthusiasm! Haha.

I'd say a distinguishing characteristic of all my novels is that the central characters confront and overcome their fears through sex. I think I'm a bit notorious for how extensive and explicit the sexual encounters are in my writing, and they're always twined up with the characters coming to terms with something that's holding them back from fulfillment and happiness. My novels are all dark, to different degrees and in different ways; they express my perspective that in life, on both the individual and societal level, fear is omnipresent and corrosive. So I thrive on exploring people struggling through their fear, taking terrible, beautiful risks, and clawing their way to joy.

 

What are you working on now?

I have a massive three-novel work in progress: these three new novels will be set in the same world—a fictional, present-day region in the chaos of civil war. So, it's a dangerous, complex story world, with high-stakes conflict that will go far beyond the perilous dance of eroticism and romance.

 

Thank you, Varian!

Joseph Lance Tonlet – M/M Author

Today's interview is with Joseph Lance Tonlet, up and coming author of Grif’s Toy (November, 2014)

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Hi Bey. Hi everyone.

Let me start of by saying what a privilege it is to be here. I’m throughly humbled; not only from the fledgling writer perspective, but also being interviewed by someone whose work and creativity I so fervently admire. Yeah, Bey, I consider your invitation a true honor…thanks!

*Grin* My pleasure, Joseph, and thank you!

Why don't you describe yourself as a writer in ten words or less.

Okay, right out of the gate, I’m gonna be a rebel. I hope you’ll indulge me *naughty smile*. Stephen King is quoted as saying, “The road to hell is paved with adjectives.” He, along with many other successful writers/editors/etc. have voiced an extreme dislike of adjectives. I, on the other hand, adore them. So, rather than describing myself in ten words, I’m going to instead share the ten adjectives which best describe me as a writer.

01. Indefatigable
02. Passionate
03. Empathetic
04. Inexpert
05. Sensitive
06. Enthusiastic
07. Appreciative
08. Provocative
09. Erotic
10. Twisted

What prompted you to start writing?

As with many M/M writers, I’m an M/M reader first. I started out in my early teens reading Gordon Merrick, and continue to enjoy the genre with works by contemporary writers such as yourself, Kol Anderson, Jack L. Pyke, Rhys Ford, and countless others.

As for how I started writing. A friend and I were doing a buddy read of Brook McKinley's Shades of Gray. One night we sat at dinner, talking about the book, and he asked, “Do you ever think about writing a novel of your own?” The truth was, I’d been pondering doing just that—for years. I love writing, I love reading, and writing a book had been a dream of mine since high school. With my friend’s unwavering encouragement, I finally put pen to paper and wrote Grif’s Toy.

What character was/is the hardest for you to write and why?

Without a doubt, this would be Alex. Alex is one of the main characters of Brothers; my current work in progress. Alex is systematically, and repeatedly abused—from early childhood through young adulthood—by his sadistic, elder brother, Miah. (Note: Brothers, with its heavy non-con storyline, will cater to a niche M/M readership.) Telling Alex and Miah’s complex, and oftentimes disturbing, story has kept me up more than a few nights. And that, in and of itself, has been difficult; not being able to sleep simply because the story isn’t fully written yet.

Do you write every day? When do you find is the best time to write?

When I’m writing, I do write everyday. However, there are countless aspects of being ‘an author’ that, unfortunately, have very little to do with the actual ‘fun’ part of writing. When I am writing, I tend to be most inspired in the early morning (before 6AM) [Bey: way too early] or in the late evening (after 9PM). The quietness which accompanies these times of day strokes my inner creativity in a unique way.

Since this is for National M/M Month, what do you think you bring to the genre in particular?

Wow, that’s a tough one. Well, I believe every writer brings their own distinctive style to the genre. But, more importantly, writing is an incredibly personal endeavor—perhaps one of the most personal of all art forms—and the end result can be astonishingly intimate. My first and second books, to a large extent, detail my personal journey; they contain my innermost fears, hopes, setbacks, and triumphs. Will other authors have similar life experiences? Sure. Without question. Will anyone else tell the same story—in the same way? I don’t think that’s even remotely possible. All of us, every writer, tells his or her stories in their own beautiful and unique way. That, more than anything, is why I return to the genre over and over again; I enjoy reading those one-of-a-kind narratives which only that single author is able to tell.

How much of yourself do you put into your work?

Grif’s Toy (due out later this year) and the followup, Wes’ Denial (slated for summer of next year) are both incredibly personal. Thus, there is a lot of ‘me’ in those books. However, that said, they are works of fiction and not strictly autobiographical—not by any means. Not to mention, I write erotica and my personal life doesn’t compare to the escapades of Grif and Wes.

Everyone gets bad reviews… how do you think you’ll react?

Oh, this is the easiest one so far; I’ll cry! Next question?

We’ve talked about how a little whiskey gets the creative juices flowing. What else does it for you?

Ahh, if that’s an offer, I’ll take a couple of fingers of scotch—on the rocks, please! And, Bey, since you seem to know everyone, I’m wondering if there’s any chance of procuring Logan McCree as tonight’s waiter? Yep, good company, scotch, and tattoos—the perfect evening! Seriously though, I find a bit of scotch does do tremendous things when writing particular scenes *wink, wink*. I feel a bit freer and looser, the characters seem to talk (or not, as the case may be) more, and my fingers almost move across the keyboard of their own volition. I recently read an interesting article about great authors who were also alcoholics. While my writing (and alcohol consumption) are light years from those listed, I do appreciate the liberation a cocktail offers when it comes to getting the ‘creative juices flowing.’ Aside from the occasional grain based spirit, what entices me to write most is the calmness of utter quiet—and muses of course. The afore mentioned Logan McCree, Colby Keller, and many others. Thank you men, for your selfless devotion and your steadfast dedication to all of us who find our muses in you *grin*

Again, sincere thanks for having me, Bey…and I can’t wait to read Sacrificed: Heart Beyond the Spires.

JLT =)

Thanks for stopping by, Joseph!

Jamie Lake – M/M Author

This month I'm doing something a little different! Let's do some interviews, shall we?

First off is Jamie Lake, author of The TrainerBoyfriend for Rent, and the new Bad Boy series

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Welcome!

As a writer of M/M novels, what challenges do you face? Though it is growing, the popularity of M/M novels is still in its infancy. How does that affect marketing, expectations, frustrations?

I think my greatest challenge right now is writing the best book I can write. M/M readers are real connoisseurs of the genre. They can be very picky about what they expect and if you don't don't write up to their standards, they're very vocal about it. I'd love to see a more concentrated effort of the M/M community, coming out of the closet and introducing the books to people who are first time readers.  But I love writing gay romance books. The fans have been my life-savers and have been incredibly supportive and kind and generous.

Can you talk a little about your novels? Which are your favourites, and do your fans tend to like those more?

Well, of course each of my novels is like my baby but right now, I just finished the 5th book in the BAD BOY: Naughty at Night series. It's about a kindergarten teacher who needs money so bad that he decides to become an erotic massage at night. He's juggling this double life, while dating a cop and is under the control of a mafia-esque type of character.  Readers really seem to like the concept.

What do you prefer writing: standalone or series?

Definitely series because you get to explore every asset of the characters lives and the readers always ask for more.

What sort of criticism have you faced? Have you specifically faced criticism because of your portrayal of gay relationships? 

Well, I don't get that kind of criticism from M/M readers. I'm a guy writing in a genre that is predominately female writers, which is ironic but it gives me some advantages because I know the intricacies of a real life M/M relationship. At the same time, most of my readers are female so sometimes female authors have an advantage over me.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors of the M/M genre?

I think read as many M/M books as possible. Know that no matter how great of a story you tell, not everyone is going to like your books and that's okay.  There's something for everyone in this genre and there are more than enough readers to to support everyone.  Most M/M authors are very supportive of each other so if this is the genre you're passionate about, you'll be very welcome.

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Thank you for stopping by Jamie!

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Wondering which retailer pays me the most?

#1 is Payhip. Not a retailer, but an online shop that I've set up myself. This is where I make the most return on my books.

Then after that it gets a little complicated, but these are the three best choices:

At Eden Books*, I make 70% royalties for all titles.

At Smashwords, I make 60% royalties for all titles.

At Amazon, for books OVER $2.99 (USD) I make 70% royalties and for books UNDER $2.99 I make 35%

So... if the book is under $2.99, buy from Eden Books or Smashwords.

If the books is over $2.99, buy from Eden Books or Amazon.

But best of all, buy from my Payhip store :)

Questions? Contact Me!

*Not all my titles are available at Eden yet as of 25/09/23 - I'm working on it.

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