Regency Romances on Tour #mmromance #blogtour #giveaway

 ON TOUR

Hey there! I'm heading out on tour. Courtesy of Will Parkinson and the fabulous Pride Promotions, every Tuesday for the next two months you'll find me hanging with the cool kids and sharing...probably over sharing... stuff. I can't be more specific yet, because I don't know exactly what they're asking of me.

I promise to be congenial, and you'll have ample opportunity to win a $25 All Romance Gift Card.

Here's the schedule:

Tour Dates/Stops:

9/9: Havan Fellows, Parker Williams

9/16: Fallen Angel Reviews, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings

9/23: Jade Crystal, Cate Ashwood

9/30: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, EE Montgomery

10/7: Hearts on Fire, Love Bytes

10/14: Amanda C. Stone, Book Reviews and More by Kathy

10/21: 3 Chicks After Dark, The Novel Approach

10/28: MM Good Book Reviews, Regular Guys, Hot Romance

And the give away link

a Rafflecopter giveaway

50% Off @Breathless Press #mmromance #birthday #discount

Just a final notice that the Breathless Press Birthday Month Sale is coming to a close. 

For just a few more days, you can save 50% on all purchases (except paperbacks) made on their website. 

Sale ends August 31, 2014.

I have twenty or so stories over there, and all of them are on sale. Some for as little as $1. 

Lee Brazil 

at 

Breathless Press 

Beat the Heat #mmromance #FREE

Always complaining about the weather aren't I? Just wait till the snow falls again! 

Just in case in your neck of the woods, like here, it's to effing hot to do anything outside, 

Here's a little Hump Day pick up 

Click on over to 

Chances Are at Smashwords 

and get your copy today. 

Five Articles & One Meme(y) Type Thing For Writers Interested in Improving Their Self-Editing Skills #writerstuff #selfedit

Editing. E.D.I.T.I.N.G.

We all have to do it. I've even heard there are some out there who enjoy it. I don't. Enjoy  it, that is. I do it. I try not to complain too much about it, but the fact of the matter is, I'm not all that good at it.

Most publishers however require that you self-edit to a certain degree before you submit. If you self-publish, then you have to self-edit even more rigorously. Yes, you can pay for editing services, and I do, but...

I'm always looking for ways to make it easier, or quick tips to improve what I'm sending to my editor. Hours upon hours of reading and rereading in the hopes of finding a flaw aren't effective for me. I find that if I search for specific errors, I do a lot better.

For instance, I always do a search for the word "form". I do that because I have some weird typing dyslexia thing and almost always type "form" when I mean "from". Then I do the same thing for the word by. Not because I misspell it perpetually, but because I use it a lot and I know its a key sign of passive voice. (Learned that one in high school. One of the few things I never forgot. lol)

Each weekend, after I've spent my week pouring forth words onto the page, I search Google for articles and advice on self editing. This week, I found a few articles, and yes, a lot of their advice is repeated, that were quite helpful.

In no particular order: 

Promised Meme
Download at http://thewritelife.com/25-editing-tips-checklist-form/

Six Easy Tips for Self-Editing Your Fiction

25 Steps to Edit the Unmerciful Suck Out of Your Story (If you only have time to read one article this week? Make it this one. It's a riot - but full of truth.)

How to Revise, Edit, and Proofread Your Writing

How to Edit Your Own Writing

Eight Tips to Help You Edit Your Short Story or Novel

Not all of these are by writers, for writers. Some of them aren't even geared for fiction. But I found something useful in each one, and hope you do too. 

Welcome Angel Martinez #mmromance #serioustopics

Hi, Lee and thanks for having me! I’ve probably written as many humorous stories as I have serious, and even the more serious stories usually have lighter moments.

Restoration is not a funny story. It’s not in any way a funny subject. But talking about male rape can be tricky since it’s one of the most under-reported crimes in the US. We’re not comfortable talking about it and so the myths people have spouted for years are perpetuated. In perpetuating the myths, we minimize the seriousness of the crime and often the credibility of the victim while we also minimize the responsibility of the rapist.

I wrote this story, originally titled Aftermath as a reaction to one of these myths being spouted on the radio. This is not a story about rape – it’s a story about a survivor and his partner and how they put the pieces back together. All cases of rape, male or female, have myths attached to them, but there are some myths specific to male rape.

The biggest one? It’s one I’m surprised to still be hearing, but it’s still out there:

Myth – Men can’t be raped.

Of course they can. A man’s strength, his appearance, and his sexuality have nothing to do with it. It has nothing to do with engaging in behaviors or dressing in a way that “asked for it.” Rape, no matter the gender, is not a sexual crime. It’s a violent crime designed to exert power and control.

But male rape so often goes unreported because the victim blames himself. From the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault: “Another major concern facing male rape victims is society's belief that men should be able to protect themselves and, therefore, it is somehow their fault that they were raped.” This, coupled with the fear of dismissal and disbelief that many male victims experience contribute to non-reporting.

If you are a survivor, only you can make that decision. No one should try to compel you in either direction. If you do report, please take support with you—a friend, an advocate. Reach out. Don’t feel you have to get through this alone.

National Sexual Assault Hotline
800-656-HOPE


Restoration
by Angel Martinez
Mischief Corner Books
All Romance
Amazon

Victor and Cody have the American dream - a house, two cars, upwardly mobile income, and each other - but all is not well in paradise. Cody's trust in other people’s goodwill led to one recent assault. A few months later, a friend’s betrayal leads to another. Battered every waking moment by fear and shame, all his joyful creative energy transforms into brittle, aggressive lashing out.

Victor, wracked by guilt and shackled to a grueling, time-devouring career, must find a way to help Cody back from the darkness and to keep him safe from his self-destructive behavior. With the help of a common-sense therapist, some loyal friends and Cody's own impetuous nature, their recovery and their relationship might even stand a chance.

Please Note: This is a re-edited third edition with expanded content. (Formerly titled Aftermath)


About Angel:

Angel Martinez is the erotic fiction pen name of a writer of several genres who writes mainly Science Fiction and Fantasy with gay heroes. Currently living part time in the hectic sprawl of northern Delaware, (and full time inside the author's head) Angel has one husband, one son, two cats, a changing variety of other furred and scaled companions, a love of all things beautiful and a terrible addiction to the consumption of both knowledge and chocolate.

For more information on Angel’s work, please visit:

Website: Erotic Fiction for the Hungry Mind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Angel.Martinez.author
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1010469.Angel_Martinez
Email: ravenesperanza@yahoo.com

Dangerous Wish Blog Tour #giveaway #contest

My sincere apologies for missing this blog post. I think yahoo ate it. That seems to happen to a lot of my emails lately. Anyway, better late than never? Here goes:

Cover Artist: Posh Gosh

Publisher: Totally Bound

Blurb(s):

Love is a dangerous emotion that EMT Jared won’t risk. But it looks as though a sweet and sexy National Guardsman is about to make him wish for that—and much more.
EMT Jared Li loves his job, his friends and clubbing. There’s nothing like a night of fun getting glammed up, throwing on some heels and shaking his ass to the latest Britney tune. Life is all about having a good time with as many hot guys as possible.
Dan Harrison has been in the National Guard for about six months and out for not much longer than that. At twenty-two, he’s somewhat innocent, a little shy and not interested in meaningless hook-ups. One night at a karaoke bar changes everything for him when his fellow Guardsman Joseph introduces him to his friend Jared. Dan’s never met anyone like the luscious twink who’s filled with so much life and laughter.
A night of passion shakes them to their very cores. Jared really likes Dan, but doesn’t want to get caught up in any type of exclusive thing. Dan wishes there could be more between them, but is willing just to be friends in order to remain near the androgynous stunner.

Hanging out strictly as friends proves to be almost impossible for them both. Not only does Jared continuously lust after the muscular soldier, but he’s also falling for the caring and compassionate man. Dan’s every sex fantasy stars Jared in one of his daring club outfits, but his heart is what really matters and it’s already been lost to Jared.
A traumatic event breaks down the barriers between them and gives them the chance to be together the way they both want. But after Dan is called up by the Guard to assist at a natural disaster, the same bravery that Jared admires in Dan might be the final thing that separates them forever. 

Dangerous Wish Fact:  Fact #4 - EMT Jared Li loves karaoke, but can’t get the boring host to add Britney Spears’ Work Bitch on the system.


EXCERPT

“Sam, I swear to all that is holy, don’t you ever get shot again. I thought I was going to faint.”

Sam smiled at him feebly, the painkillers the hospital had given him likely making him a bit groggy.

“It wasn’t exactly on my list of things to do yesterday. Plus, nothing in the field could ever make you faint. That’s something I can always count on.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a whole helluva lot different when it’s someone you care about. Which reminds me, ahem… When were you planning on sharing with me that you and Laura were having the romance of the century, hmmm?”

Jared had waited for almost an hour to give Sam and Laura some time alone. It was much more than obvious the two were an item.

“Don’t get all butt hurt, Jared. We didn’t want to start announcing it everywhere until we were sure we were in it for the long haul.”

Jared’s gut clenched unexpectedly. He frowned, not sure why Dan’s smile and the way he’d looked at him when they’d made love the night before would suddenly pop into his mind.

Made love?

He shook his head, trying to avoid getting cranky. “So I guess this whole thing outed you guys?”

Sam gave a weak chuckle. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“And?”

“And what?”

Jared sighed in frustration. “And are we excited or what?”

A look passed over Sam’s face that reminded Jared of pure contentment. “Yeah. We are.”

Jared felt exposed, like someone had called ‘shenanigans’ on him. He decided he was cranky after all. One good fuck and a moony-eyed partner in love didn’t mean it was time for him to take a trip to the sentimental fairy.

I hardly even know the guy. And I don’t want to get all tied down into a situation anyway.

He was so distracted by his own internal arguing that he didn’t notice Sam was asking him something, until his partner poked at him with his finger.

“Huh?”

“You could at least pay attention to me when you come and visit. I know I’m not the most fascinating thing around, but man, you were nowhere near here just then.”

Jared winced. “Sorry. I’m a little tired, too much drinking and dancing last night.”

Among other things.

“Usual crowd?”

“For the most part.” He cleared his throat a bit too loudly.

Sam raised his eyebrows. “Oh really? Now things are getting interesting. Who is this guy?”

“No one. Wait, that came out wrong. He’s someone, but I mean, we’re not… It’s nothing like that.”

“Nothing like what?”

Sam’s tone was teasing the way it normally was when they baited each other, but Jared wasn’t taking it the way he normally did. He was irritated. He didn’t want anyone to talk about Dan as if he were some casual hook-up that didn’t mean anything.

Shit. Fuck.

Sales Links: Totally Bound    Amazon US     Amazon UK

Rafflecopter Prize: Signed copy of Dangerous Wish

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE SERIES 

Set Ablaze (Uniform Encounters 1)

Hunky fire chief Eric is out of the closet after twenty years of marriage. Can he find true love, or will a spate of arson fires destroy his chances with Tom, the sexy young firefighter?

Arresting Behaviour (Uniform Encounters 2)

Native American Quinn and Detective Jake come from two opposing worlds. But when opposites attract, the result is explosive.

Lust Emergency (Uniform Encounters 3)

The new ER doctor is smoking hot, and the exotic African American paramedic can't keep his eyes off of him. Tricky relationships and subterfuge at a Phoenix sex club almost drive a permanent wedge between the two, but a bombing at City Hall changes the endgame.

Guarded Desires (Uniform Encounters 4)

A sexy young National Guardsman, a snarky bear of a DEA Agent and a vicious Mexican drug cartel. Someone’s going to be sorry.

Secret Fire (Uniform Encounters 5)

Police officer Zach and Fire Marshal Daryl would be perfect together—if they would ever quit fighting long enough to find out. A devastating fire and the secret behind it almost keeps them from getting what they really need—each other.

Although part of a series, all installments can be read as standalones. For more information, visit Morticia Knight’s author page at Totally Bound: https://www.totallybound.com/author/morticia-knight#books

The Author 

M/M Erotic Romance author Morticia Knight enjoys a good saucy tale – after all, who doesn’t? Since she loves several genres, you may find your heroes in a contemporary, historical, paranormal or sci-fi setting. One of her passions is bringing people's fantasies to life on the page, because life is too short for even one boring moment. Her stories are volcanic in heat, deep in emotion, and sprinkled with doses of humor.
When not indulging in her obsession for books, she loves the outdoors, film and music. The Pacific Northwest is the ideal spot to enjoy both hiking and beachcombing. Once upon a time she was the singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She now resides on the northern coast of Oregon, where the constant rain and fog remind her of visits to family in England and Scotland when she was a child.

She is currently working on a new series about men in uniform entitled Sin City Uniforms and a BDSM spin-off to the Gin & Jazz series entitled The Hampton Road Club.

Tour Dates/Stops:

August 8: Kimi-Chan, Rainbow Gold Reviews

August 11: Hearts on Fire, MM Good Book Reviews

August 12: Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Love Bytes

August 13: The Hat Party

August 14: Prism Book Alliance

August 15: Tara Lain

August 18: Parker Williams, The Blogger Girls

August 19: Emotion in Motion

August 20: My Fiction Nook

August 21: Decadent Delights, Lee Brazil

August 22: Smoocher’s Voice

August 25: Amanda C. Stone

August 26: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

August 27: LeAnn’s Book Reviews

August 28: Reviews and Ramblings

August 29:  Nephylim

Never thought of that... #writerstuff #characterbuilding

Every time I had to do something I didn't want, or complained that life wasn't fair, or I don't even remember what, my dad told me the same thing. 

"It builds character."

Well, by the time I sat down to write, you'd think I'd have a whole slew of experience at building characters, what with all that practice I had growing up. 

We all love characters who are characters. Quirky, flawed, and recognizably human heroes and villains that live on in our memories after the last page has been turned. 

Those are the men I want to create in the pages of my stories. 

Men to make readers sigh, and chuckle, and blush, and say "Oh my god, he didn't...he did."

But how?

The other day I received an email that I admit I still haven't completely read- mostly because many parts of it needed to be mulled over. 

99 Essential Quotes on Character Creation

So far these are my favorites:

Even if you find the bad guy generally repulsive, you need to be able to put yourself so thoroughly into his shoes while you’re writing him that, just for those moments, you almost believe his slant yourself.— K.M. Weiland, quote from Maybe Your Bad Guy Is RIGHT! 

 Great fiction is fueled by bad decisions and human weakness.— Kristen Lamb, quote from Great Characters–The Beating Heart of Great Fiction 

 Don’t just use visual details, but also include kinesthetic details, or how the character moves. Graceful, limping, stutter-step, lumbers, waddles, stomps.—Darcy Pattison, quote from 5 Tips on Character Descriptions 

What about you? Do you have any favorite advice for creating great characters?

I'm going to keep reading the article, but I just wanted to pause and share - and I admit, I'm making notes for how I can improve my characters in my current WIP.

Cover Reveal: Wet Paint by Will Parkinson #yammromance #sweet

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Publisher: Harmony Ink Pres

Book Name: Wet Paint

Author Name: Will Parkinson

Author Bio:

WILL PARKINSON believes that no matter what obstacles are thrown in the path of young love, it will always find a way to win in the end. He wants his characters to have their happily ever after, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to come easily.

                None of this would have happened if he had followed the advice he was given many years ago. “What are you wasting your time on that for? It’s never going to amount to anything.” He believed it for the longest time, abandoning characters he’d created in his childhood.

                He picked up his very first m/m story by a writer named Eden Winters, who was an absolute joy when they corresponded. She asked him if he wrote and he told her the story. Eden explained to Will that the voices in his head would never go away and how he needed to let them out. With that thought in mind, Will put e-pen to e-paper once more. It was truly a liberating experience and one he has no intention of giving up again.

                 

Author Contact:

Website: http://www.willparkinson.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WillParkinsonau

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/will.parkinson.520

E-mail: will@willparkinson.com

Blurb(s):

Although Addy’s heart and body bear the scars from his life before he was adopted by the Deans, he’s ached for something he thought he would never find. Until he met Benny. He isn’t sure how anyone can care for someone as broken as he is, even though he wants it desperately.

High school senior Benny Peters has his whole life planned out for him, until a chaste kiss at summer camp opens a new world of possibilities. Determined to erase Addy’s insecurities, Benny works to take away his boyfriend’s pain and replace it with love.

When Addy’s past intrudes on their future, it’s going to take everything Benny can muster to show that no matter what – or who – they face, they belong together.

Excerpt:

Benny cast a glance at Addy, noticing how his eyes kept darting to him and then to the floor. He seemed troubled, unsure.

“Addy? Is there something wrong?”

Addy heaved a deep sigh, then was quiet for a moment. “Do I embarrass you?” he finally asked.

“What? No, of course not. Why would you even think that?” Benny was genuinely perplexed.

“Jackson and Taylor don’t seem to have any problem touching each other, but you act like I’ve got germs or something and won’t come anywhere near me when there’s other people around. I have to wonder if you’re ashamed to be seen with someone like... me.”

“Oh God, no,” Benny replied sharply. “Please don’t ever think that. You know what? C’mere.”

He grabbed Addy’s arm and dragged him into the lounge.

“Listen to me, little man. I am not now, nor have I ever been, nor will I ever be ashamed of you. If anything, you should be ashamed of me.”

Addy looked puzzled. “Why?”

Benny slid his fingers through his stubbly hair, then rubbed the back of his neck before he spoke. “I’m not really comfortable with being... like this. I really do care for you, but I’ve never felt this way about a guy— well, about anyone—before, and I don’t know how to handle it. So no, I’m not ashamed or embarrassed of you at all. I’m just not sure how to deal with everything.”

Addy took Benny by the hand and peered into his eyes. “That’s all I needed to know. I don’t want to rush you. If you need time, you’ve got to know I’ll give it to you. I just wanted to be sure that you wanted me.”

Benny regarded his boyfriend. Yeah, his boyfriend. Benny had never been afraid to stand up for anyone in his life. Why should he be ashamed to stand up for himself now?

“C’mere, little man,” he growled, putting his hand on Addy’s neck, pulling him in close.

Addy’s eyes went wide, excitement dancing in them. Benny licked his lips and then pressed them to Addy’s in a deep, thrilling kiss. Someone whimpered. Benny wasn’t really sure which one of them it had been. He felt his synapses fry. It was the most incredible thing he’d ever experienced. A voice called out, startling them both.

“Benny? Is there something you’d like to tell me?”

Benny looked up and stared for a moment at Taylor, who had a wide smile across his face. Benny could feel his cheeks heat up. This wasn’t the way he wanted this to go, but damn, right now he needed Addy in the worst way.

“No, Taylor, not right now,” he replied quietly.
Then he went back in for another one of those amazing kisses.

Tour Dates: 8/18/14

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Angel Martinez, Hearts on Fire, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Cate Ashwood, Amanda C. Stone, SA McAuley, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, Love Bytes, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Prism Book Alliance, Havan Fellows, Emotion in Motion, My Fiction Nook, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Charli Green, Jade Crystal, Lee Brazil, Trisha Harrington’s Blog, Will Parkinson, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wake Up Your Wild Side, EE Montgomery, Inked Rainbow Reads, Full Moon Dreaming, Top2Bottom, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Fallen Angel Reviews, Sinfully Sexy, Iyana Jenna, Andrew Q. Gordon

Rafflecopter Prize: One of two $10 gift card to Amazon or ARe

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rain Got You Down? #free #mmromance #PulpFRiction

I'm terribly affected by bad weather, so I'll be fighting the urge to hole up while the skies are cloudy. I thought it was a good day to stay in bed and read. 

How about you?

Chances Are

Meet Chance:

"I'm Chance, this is my place. You want me; this is where you can find me."

The problem with that, of course, was that it wasn't my name. My name was actually Aaron Dumont. 

I picked up the name Chance as a kid when my grandma kept telling me "Chances are you'll come to no good, just like your pa." She had said it so often, it just kind of stuck. I've been Chance ever since. When she passed away and left me the remains of her estate, I sold everything but a few special items then invested it all in a nest egg for a rainy day. 

I figured that's what she'd intended it for anyway. She'd said as soon as I joined the police force back in the eighties. "Chances are you'll come to no good there. It's a dangerous job and you're an accident waiting to happen."
She was right too. 

FYI: This is book 1 of Pulp Friction 2015- part of an intricate web of interconnected stories by four authors that just might prove addictive.

Out Visiting Today: #giveaway

Good day friends! I'm over at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue words today with a blog about childhood ambitions and a giveaway to make reading it worth your while. *blinks innocently*

Want to win a $10 ARE gift card?

Check it out! 

http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com/2014/08/15/in-our-author-spotlight-lee-brazil-on-writing-pulp-friction-and-growing-up-contest/

*Contest begins Friday Aug. 15th and ends Friday August 22. One entry per person, winner selected by random number designation and notified via email. (Must provide valid email with comment). Winner will be selected Saturday-Sunday Aug. 23/24 and notified/announced Monday Aug. 25th.