Easy as 1 - 2 - 3

It's easy as 1 - 2 - 3 at Dreamspinner this weekend! 

$1 for What's in a Name? 

$2 for Redesigning Max 

$3 for Behr Facts. 

What could be easier? Click on highlighted titles to link to Dreamspinner Press.

They're all part of the Foothills Pride series at Dreamspinner.

Watch for Junior!

Back in mid-March, I read a short scene from Behr Facts at the Lavender Library here in Sacramento. In the selection, Abe Behr and the teenage son of Abe's friends Bud and Lorraine, who run the Rock Bottom Cafe, chat.

I just want to remind readers of this scene and where Junior popped up in the series before because Junior turns up in Frank at Heart, the latest Foothills Pride story that's releasing on May 31.

Don't remember Junior? Well, here's the excerpt, as told from Abe's viewpoint, to refresh your memory:

Junior and I met at Monique’s Bakery. Monique’s is my version of Nirvana. First, everything looks and smells and tastes wonderful there. I’ve been known to take a half hour to decide what to order. Not often, though, because nobody will put up with me just standing and salivating in front of the glass showcase. Second, I savor every bite at Monique’s, which means a simple lunch can last three or four hours, considering I tend to have more than one dessert.

Junior wanted to meet there, so who was I to say no?

I made an effort—I really did—to order quickly and then concentrate on what Junior wanted. It was hard because of all the lovely desserts yelling “Abe! Abe! Look at me! Me!” while I was sitting there. Finally, I moved us into the courtyard so I wouldn’t be so distracted.

“Can you start over?” I asked when the clamoring desserts were almost out of earshot.

Junior, who’d looked nervous from the get-go, now was shaking so hard, I should have been able to hear his bones rattling. He looked exactly like his father when we’d been in school together.

“I need help,” he whispered. “I just need….”

His voice trailed off as he stared at the tabletop. I was getting worried. Was he into drugs? What did I know about drugs? Nothing. I found out anybody on one of my crews used drugs and he was fired. His family complained, I suggested they get in touch with NA. The company wasn’t going to be responsible for a drug user on the job. What we did was too dangerous.

“Okay. What’s the matter? Just spit it out. I don’t bite. I won’t judge. Just tell me.”

He peeked up at me, drew a deep breath, and sat up straighter.

“I’m afraid I’m going to turn into my dad,” he said in a rush.

Huh? Okay. What did he mean?

As I nodded, I waved my fingers in a “gimme more” gesture.

“I love my dad,” he hurried to add. “I do. But I’ve seen the pictures. I mean, he started out short and skinny like me. Then he turned into the Pillsbury Doughboy.”

If he hadn’t had so much tragedy in his voice, I would have laughed. But he was serious, almost despairing.

“So you want me to…?” I couldn’t imagine. He wanted me to do a gene transplant on him? Not hardly.

“I want to work at Behr Construction. I know I’m not old enough. If I worked for you, though, I’d put on muscle, not fat. I’d learn valuable skills. You wouldn’t even have to pay me. It’d be like going to the gym, only better.” He would have kept going, only I stopped him.

“Okay. So what’s the problem?” Again, I couldn’t imagine. Why couldn’t Bud have asked me this?

“My dad doesn’t want me to work anywhere but the restaurant,” he said glumly. He sighed. “He said I get enough exercise there, and you already have more than enough guys, what with family and all.”

Yeah, he sounded just like Bud as he repeated his dad’s words.

“But, you know, he and Mom feed me all the time while I’m working. And after rush hour, they want me to study, and they expect me to eat a snack, a huge snack. I don’t go outdoors, so I’m pasty white.” He stuck out his arm and pushed up the sleeve of his hoodie. Yup, pasty white. “I work out a little bit on Saturday and Sunday, but it’s not enough to get in shape. They want me to study and get good grades. I’m okay with studying. I just wanna… I just… I want to look like you and the guys in your family.”

Big and shaggy? I almost laughed. The kid was serious, though, so I took him serious.

“Sure. I have no problem with you working after school for an hour or two.”

He brightened, but not as much as I thought he would.

“Uh, could you do one more thing?”

I just stared at him. Now what?

“Could you talk my folks into saying yes?”

From the way his eyes left my face, I could tell I was frowning. Damn. I didn’t want to get mixed up in his family business.

“Please?” he muttered without looking at me. He might as well have given me puppy eyes.

“Sure. Why not?”

He bounded up, giving me a huge grin.

“Thanks! Awesome! See you around!” I frowned. He didn’t back away. He knew me for the big pushover I am, and his smiled turned up to a thousand watts. “Oh yeah, and I’m gay. Don’t tell my folks, okay? Bye!”

I sat blinking for a few minutes before his final words hit me.

Why me? I wondered as I ordered a slice of carrot cake and another cup of coffee. Why me?

Live from the Lavender Library

I read from Behr Facts tonight while we had an evening of milk and cookies at Sacramento’s Lavender Library. Want to see my small portion of the evening? Well, here’s the video on Scott’s Facebook site.

Also reading from their books tonight were Kim Fielding, Amy Lane, D. L. Kent, LE Frank, Genevieve Wolfe, and Scott Coatsworth. It was a great evening with a small but attentive audience. We’ve consequently been asked back for a fall event and to share the Library’s booth for upcoming Pride events. So this should be a really interesting year!

By the way, the audio book version of Behr Facts is on sale at Amazon for $1.99, down from its usual price of $14.59. Quite a savings if you like audio books. (And the narrator, David Ross, reads it much better than I do!)

Behr Facts and When Adam Fell Awarded Honorable Mention

Behr Facts and When Adam Fell were awarded Honorable Mention citations for the 2016 Rainbow Awards. I'm so pleased!

Wow!

Order my books at
Amazon
Dreamspinner
ARe
Barnes & Noble

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention

I'm honored to report that both Behr Facts and When Adam Fell have been awarded Honorable Mention for the 2016 Rainbow Awards. In December 2016, the winners of the Rainbow Awards will be announced.

All Four Foothills Pride Novellas in One Paperback Edition

On August 17, Foothills Pride Stories, Vol. 1, will be released by Dreamspinner Press. The paperback volume will include What's in a Name?, Redesigning Max, Behr Facts, and When Adam Fell, the first four Foothills Pride novellas.

What’s in a Name?: Barista Jimmy Patterson falls for bartender Guy Stone. Do coffee and booze make a happy ever after?

Redesigning Max: Interior designer Fredi Zimmer remodels Max Greene’s mountain cabin and the outdoorsman himself, but everything’s not peaceful as they find love.

Behr Facts: When someone tries to scam contractor Abe Behr, accountant Jeff Mason comes to the rescue. Big, burly, bearish Abe never thought he’d come to rely on anyone else, much less handsome Jeff.

When Adam Fell: TV Chef Adam de Leon left his longtime lover in San Francisco. Now David is back saying he’s no longer a junkie and is ready for forever this time. Can David be believed?

When more information becomes available, I'll post it here. To buy the novellas individually, use the links on the titles or at the right of this post.

New Growth for Stone Acres, California

The Foothills Pride gay romance novella series set in Stone Acres, California, was never planned to be a series.

No, in fact, it was planned as a single novella, What's in a Name?

I had retired from teaching English composition part-time at City College and had always promised myself that when I retired I would become an author. I'd been a book reviewer for quite a few years and had often thought to myself, "I could have written a better book than that," which, granted, is a pretty puffed up thing to say when I hadn't even published a book before.

Notice, I didn't say I hadn't written a book before. I had. I'd written nine of them, tried to get agents for two of them, self-published one of them, and let the rest sit on a bookshelf behind my writing desk like tombstones.

But for some reason, I kept writing. It definitely wasn't because of the accolades my work was getting.

So I wrote a novella and sent it to Dreamspinner, who miraculously bought it. Their claim that they were where dreams came true was no idle boast as far as I was concerned.

Because I'm ever the optimist, I wrote a second novella, Redesigning Max, and sent it in. Was I really an author? Had I finally stepped into another writing realm? The answer was yes, yes, I had.

I just signed the contract for #5 in the Foothills Pride series: yesterday. Relative Best will release, as will a paperback edition of the first four books in an anthology edition, in late summer/early fall 2016. I'm happy, proud, and busy. I'm an author.
For those who want to know, Relative Best is the story of Ezekiel Bandy, owner and proprietor of Bandy's Finest Hotel which backs up to Stonewall Saloon in Stone Acres, California. Zeke is intrigued with Victor Longbow, who's looking for a photo of his Navajo ancestors to validate his existence. But complications at the Bandy Hotel complicate Zeke's search for love just as Vic's obsession does his.

Until then all four books (What's in a Name?, Redesigning Max, Behr Facts, and When Adam Fell) are available online wherever eBooks are sold.

Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

I answer the often-asked author question: Where do you get your ideas? today at Molly Lolly where I talk about house remodeling.

One house remodel = ideas for two books: Redesigning Max and Behr Facts.

Check it out!

10 Factoids about Me

Prism Book Alliance tells readers 10 Things about Me today as part of Pride-Promotions tour for Behr Facts.

Here's a sample:

True or False:

I was once married to a closeted gay man and interviewed Big Bird.

What do you think?  Are they true or made up?

You won't find the answer in Behr Facts, but you might want to read the book anyway.  You can buy a copy anywhere eBooks are sold.

Wonderful Review of Behr Facts Today

Melanie at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words weighed in with her review of Behr Facts.  I love her enthusiasm and am humbled by what she says about the Foothills Pride series.  Thank you, Melanie!

Also, when you go to the site to read the review, don't you just want to pet and cuddle with the dog?  I do every time!

Again, thanks for the terrific review!  If you'd like to read the book, you can buy it at the following online sites and everywhere eBooks are sold:
Dreamspinner
Amazon
Amazon UK
Kobo
Barnes& Noble
Google Play
All Romance Ebooks

As always, thanks to Pride-Promotions for making this review possible!

Crawl in Bed with Me Today

Lee Brazil has an interesting and funny blog column called "Crawl in Bed with...."  So, having been invited, I'm the one in bed today waiting for someone to crawl in with me.  Check it out at Lee's Musings.

And if you want to buy a copy of the book we're reading in bed, Behr Facts, use these links or go to any online eBook seller:

Dreamspinner
Amazon

Amazon UK
Kobo
Barnes& Noble
Google Play
All Romance Ebooks

(Oh, yeah, and I guess I should tell you that I have a cold.  So slip under the covers at your own risk.)

Thanks to Pride-Promotions for making this foray under the covers possible.

Interview Questions and Review

 

Today on Love Bytes, I answer questions like this one:

What is your favorite positive saying?
I can. When I was teaching, I told my students that when they told me “I can’t” that they really couldn’t do whatever I assigned. Until they said “I can,” they had already talked themselves out of succeeding. “I can” gave them permission to do something outside their view of themselves.

Also, read the wonderful 4-heart review at the Love Bytes website.

And finally if you'd like to read the book, you can buy it at these online retailers and anywhere eBooks are sold:

Dreamspinner
Amazon

Amazon UK
Kobo
Barnes& Noble
Google Play
All Romance Ebooks

Thanks to Pride-Promotions for making this blog stop possible.

Three Interesting and Informative Reviews of Behr Facts

Inked Rainbow Reads reviews Behr Facts three times today!  All are very interesting reviews--one of them 5-star.

Check it out at Inked Rainbow Reads!

Want to read the book?  Buy it at these online retailers and wherever eBooks are sold:

Dreamspinner
Amazon

Amazon UK
Kobo
Barnes& Noble
Google Play
All Romance Ebooks

Thanks to Pride-Promotions for making this possible!

Questions Asked and Answered Today

Jessie G Books asked me the following questions which I answer today:

1. What is the nicest thing anyone has ever said about your writing?
2. Are you a full-time or part-time writer? How does that impact your writing?
3. What interested you about the theme of this book?
4. What is the most difficult part of writing for you?
5. Name your four most important food groups.

I talk about family and being retired and all sorts of other things in answering these questions as part of the Behr Facts promotion tour.  Check it out at Jessie G Books!

If you'd like to read the book, you can buy Behr Facts wherever eBooks are sold or by using the links to the right of this blog piece.

Thanks to Pride-Promotions for making this interview possible.

Abe Behr of Behr Facts answers these interview questions at My Fiction Nook today: 

1. Now that you’ve gotten together, what comes next?
2. What was the hardest thing for you to overcome that you didn’t expect to be an issue?
3. Who or what makes you laugh out loud?
4. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
5. What movie will you watch over and over again?

Read the interview at My Fiction Nook.
If you'd like to read the book, you can buy Behr Facts wherever eBooks are sold or by using the links to the right of this blog piece.

Thanks to Pride-Promotions for making this interview possible.

Jeff Answers The Actor's Studio Questions

Instead an interview for Pride-Promotions, Jeff Mason of Behr Facts decided he'd much rather answer the ten questions James Lipton asks at the end of the Inside the Actor's Studio interviews:

1. What's your favorite word?
2. What's your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
5. What sound or noise do you love?
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

I particularly like his answer to #10 and I hope you do too!  Read Jeff's answers at Pride-Promotions.

If you'd like to read more about Jeff, he's one of the two major characters in Behr Facts.  You can buy a copy of the book at the following places or anywhere eBooks are sold:

Dreamspinner
Amazon

Amazon UK
Kobo
Barnes& Noble
Google Play
All Romance Ebooks

Vermont Is Lovely Today

We're in Stowe visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and grand-twins who recently moved to Vermont from Rome.  It's our first visit since their move, so seeing their two acres for the first time is a real treat.

Today's overcast and what those of us from California consider cold, but which our daughter assures us is merely chilly.  After taking the younger dog for a walk, we're going to do the Wednesday chore of going to the local dump where I hear the worker there is a real character.  Sizing our daughter up as a newcomer, he told her that the fee was 750 cents, which as she put it made her resort to her higher math skills.

Tomorrow or Friday we'll be taking the Ben & Jerry's tour which I'm excited to do.  I can't wait to roam around the cemetery with the dead flavors.

Today's also notable for me because my baby, Behr Facts, has released from Dreamspinner Press.  If you're following the Foothills Pride series, you can buy the third book starting today.  You can use the Amazon links to the right or buy it through Dreamspinner and everywhere eBooks are sold.

More Pre-order Links for Behr Facts

Behr Facts has being added to these eBook stores for pre-order:

Dreamspinner

Amazon
Amazon UK
Kobo
Barnes & Noble
Google Play
All Romance Ebooks

 I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I did writing it!

More Gorgeous Artwork from the Dreamspinner Design Team

I received the ad pack of graphic material from the Dreamspinner design team today for Behr Facts and think it is absolutely gorgeous.

When I think of the Foothills Pride novellas, I think of the written words, not the images.  But that's probably not how readers think of the books.  I know with a lot of my favorite authors' books, I can often see the covers in my mind as I'm telling someone about the plot or characters or other pieces that have caught my fancy.

So here's one of the images in today's pack to store in the back of your mind until the book releases on October 28.

And if you want to preorder The Behr Facts, go here.

If you want to start the series from the beginning, here are some links you can use:

What’s in a Name?
Dreamspinner Press
Amazon USA
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble

Redesigning Max

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon Canada

Kobo

Barnes& Noble

All Romance Ebooks

Runner Up at Romance Lives Forever

I'm honored to be the runner-up in Romance Lives Forever's Top Blogger contest for September 2015.

I love the gems and the site itself.

Now if only I can get a real one!

Thanks, Kayelle and everyone who helped me in!

And now for the hard sell on my books....

You can use the Amazon links to the right of this blog piece to order your copy of What's in a Name? and/or Redesigning Max. And to preorder a copy of Behr Facts go to the Dreamspinner Press store.

Happy reading, everyone!