Birthday Bash Day 28 - Amber Kell

For the first guest of the day, here's Amber Kell!

Amber, thanks so much for stopping by. So, how did you get started writing?

I’ve always been a writer.  As a child I would sit in my room reading and writing stories.


Now, most of your books are paranormal romances. What drew you to writing about paranormals?

I’ve always liked to play what if. What if that person really turned into a werewolf? What if that dog turned into a person? What if magic was real?

What is your greatest inspiration?

I don’t know that I have one inspiration. I get ideas from all kinds of things I encounter in everyday life.

What’s the one genre you haven’t written in yet that you’d like to?

Steampunk. I’ve always thought it a fun genre but I haven’t written it yet.

Are there any genres you won’t read or write in? Why?

I won’t write hardcore BDSM. I don’t understand the mindset and culture enough to give it proper respect.

So, what are you working on right now? Got any releases planned, or still writing?

I’m working on a lot of things right now. My next Thresl book, the next in my Banded Brother series and of course several new projects.

Alright, one last question. Do you have a favorite memory from your 21st birthday?

Nope. I can’t say I had a particularly memorable 21st birthday but I’m always thankful to make it another year.

Prince Claimed

Book two in The Thresl Chronicles Series.

When fate spins two lives into turmoil, rising above their issues may be the only way to find true love.

Prince Bleine always had female mates before. As a Thresl he’d never been given a choice. The animal within chose who it chose. However when his brother-in-law Kreslan mates Bleine to a man in order to save his life, Bleine quickly learns to adapt and that what he's always thought he wanted isn’t exactly what he needs.

Sarler left his home planet to escape their restrictive ways. Interested in pursuing his interest in men, he had been unsure how to start. When he is inadvertently bonded to Prince Bleine, he is struck by how little he understands about handsome princes or life at court.

Secrets and mysteries surround them. Can they discover everything about each other while keeping their enemies at bay? When Sarler is injured, he realises he has to take a chance if he ever hopes to find love with the prince of his dreams. Can he convince Bleine that he sincerely wants to give their relationship a try, or has he waited until it’s too late?

Excerpt:

Bleine bit his lip to hold back a shout as his orgasm tore through him. Cum splattered across the sheets and dripped down his fist in long, sticky strands as the stench of sex filled the room without the happy afterglow of a partner to cuddle with afterwards.

While gulping in air in fast desperate breaths, Bleine blinked to clear his vision. He grabbed for the box of tissues he now kept on his bedside table. His nightly releases had ruined more than one washcloth so he’d moved on to disposables. Tendrils of dream memories wafted through his mind. Bleine licked his lips, trying to recapture the lingering, imaginary taste of his mate. The sweet flavour of honey still coated his tongue as if he’d just kissed his mate Sarler after eating a sticky bun. His heart, empty and aching, beat sluggishly as the hollow feeling expanded to wrap him completely in despair. Without his bonded, it was almost as if he’d ceased to exist and wandered as a shadowy figure in his own life.

A peek at the wall clock revealed it was still several hours before morning. He wondered if Sarler was sleeping well. The process of bonding to mates went easier when going from Thresl to human form. Since Bleine had been human when he’d met his bonded, the process of joining souls had taken longer. It might take forever if he couldn’t coax Sarler to stay the night in his bed. Three days had passed since they’d bonded and already he could feel his mind beginning to unravel. If they didn’t have sex soon, without a human to anchor him, Bleine would descend into madness. No one knew how close he skated to losing his identity. He wouldn’t pressure Sarler into a deeper bond or reveal his troubles to his brother.

Vohne had enough issues trying to arrange a bonding ceremony with his fractious mate. Already they’d pushed back the wedding a month in order to get everything together and allow time for guests to arrive from around and outside the galaxy. A coveted invitation to the Thresl king’s wedding could make a political career, so invitees had to be chosen with care.

During his waking hours, Bleine spent his time focused on finding the betrayers—the group of people plotting against his brother, the king. Only when sleeping did images of Sarler haunt him. Beautiful Sarler. With his pale hair and sweet grey eyes, he reminded Bleine of the picture of a wood sprite he’d seen in a storybook as a child. His mother had used to read to him stories of forest dwellers who bonded with the wildlife and lived in peace. He’d been enchanted with the idea as a boy and had often searched for sprites when he had gone camping.

He’d never found one, of course. Sarler was the closest he’d ever come. Unfortunately, he was having as much luck capturing him as he had done catching a forest sprite as a child.

"Fuck!" he growled. Discontent radiated through him. He wanted to wake up beside Sarler, not all alone with no one for company but his own hand.

Damn Kreslan.

Bleine sighed. As much as he wanted to blame his brother’s mate, he couldn’t. If Kreslan hadn’t interfered… Hell, he’d be dead. Kres had saved Bleine’s life by finding him a bondmate as soon as Bleine had broken free from the cryo-pod. The scheming bitch who’d shattered his tube hadn’t counted on Kres’ quick action to find him a fast replacement.

Fortunately, unlike his brother, Bleine could re-bond. If Kres died, Vohne would quickly follow. A cryo-chamber couldn’t save the king if his one and only mate lost his life. The same as hundreds of years before, Kres and Vohne would reincarnate together.

One advantage to not being the true king was that Bleine’s mates didn’t reincarnate. Sadly, it also led to him choosing the wrong people to bond with. Unlike Vohne, Bleine’s choices weren’t fated to be his perfect match. His first bonded had died in the Great Purge, killed by a fanatic while Bleine had been out fighting. His second bonded had tried to kill Vohne…and now his third didn’t want him. So far, his record hadn’t been stellar.

Sarler, his current bonded, was actively avoiding Bleine.

He didn’t know what to do to get his bondmate’s attention. Even though his patience was failing, becoming a stalker wasn’t on his ‘to do’ list.

The fact that Sarler had never had sex with a male added to their complications. Although Bleine had always bonded with females, the Thresls as a species didn’t discriminate between male and female partners. They chose the person, not their sex. Bleine worried that Sarler didn’t have the same outlook. Humans sometimes weren’t as flexible with their sexuality. If Sarler fixated on Bleine being a male instead of a preferred female, they wouldn’t ever become closer.

He didn’t know if it was because he had bonded with an empath, but Bleine woke up every morning coated with his own spunk and aching for the touch of someone he barely knew. He had hoped that Sarler’s empathic powers might make it harder for him to resist the bond, to resist Bleine. So far that hadn’t proved to be the case.

For more information about my books visit:

http://www.amberkell.wordpress.com

Amber is giving away a $25.00 GC. Leave your email with your comment by Friday, May 3 to enter.

Also, don’t forget to enter the grand prize giveaway!

Birthday Bash Day 27 - Erica Pike

Erica is here today with her new book in her series, College Fun and Gays, Welcome Brother.

Blurb:

When arts student Kyler Morris applies for membership to The Nova Britannia Brotherhood, he's immediately floored by their intimidating leader, Hunter Kingsley. Fellow arts student Hunter, however, isn't the bad-ass he's made out to be and takes Kyler under his wing.

While Kyler struggles to keep his crush under control and his sexuality hidden from the Brothers, Hunter battles daemons of his own in the form of two Brothers who aren't playing by the rules.

Excerpt:

It’s a Friday night and the first Brotherhood private party – no outsiders allowed – will be held on the ground floor. I’m nervous as hell, not knowing what to expect. Will they make us do something?

The house is already pumping with a beat from downstairs and I can hear muffled voices and laughter coming from the hallway. I’m ready to go in tight black jeans and green t-shirt, but I’m still delaying my trip to join the others. Instead, I flip through some random book on my bed. It probably won’t be long before Liu comes knocking on the door.

As if on cue, the door is opened, but instead of Liu, Hunter steps in. He casts me a casual smile and closes the door.

“You’re not going?” he asks as he walks to his side of the room and pulls the white t-shirt over his head. Those lovely muscles I’ve been salivating over for the past week stretch and bunch under the beautifully tanned skin.

“Uh, yeah. I was going in a minute,” I say and avert my eyes when he looks at me.

Hunter crumbles up the t-shirt and tosses it in a basket, eyes on me as he walks to his dresser.

“Were you waiting for me?”

Yes.

“No,” I say, with a dangerous stirring in my pants. I casually cover it with the book. “Or maybe. I don’t really know anyone except for you and Liu.”

Hunter stops with a black button-up shirt in his hands.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I should’ve introduced you to everyone by now. I’ll fix that tonight.”

Instead of an answer, I just give him a quivering smile.

Five minutes later, we’re being swallowed by the sea of guys at the foot of the stairs. I recognize a couple of the initiates standing huddled by a wall while others are mingling or being introduced by their masters. Some Brothers seem very hands-on, touching while talking, though it doesn't seem to be sexual. It still looks weird to me, as I’m not used to being a part of a group of guys and would've thought touching was a taboo. At least, the guys back in high school didn't seem okay with too much touching. A punch in the shoulder, a little bit of roughhousing, and those athlete pats on the butt maybe, but I never saw them hugging, resting a hand on each other’s chests or even holding hands. Here, no one seems to care or even notice.

A light touch to the small of my back sends swirling heat to my stomach. Hunter smiles at me and steers me through the crowd, introducing me to so many guys that I forget most of their names. They seem pretty cool. Just regular guys who joke around and laugh. Some of them make me fidget under assessing looks, but others just take one glance, offer me beer and try to involve me in whatever they’re doing. Hunter takes his time, not leaving me alone for a moment, and that’s when I realize that this party is probably some sort of vassal-master thing to make the initiates feel welcome. It’s a tad disappointing as Hunter’s spending time with me because he has to, not because he wants to.

“Kyler, Hunter,” Liu calls from the doorway to the lounge. “We’re playing a game.”

Hunter grabs my hand and pulls me through the throng of boys. His skin is dry and soft and makes me so nervous I can hardly feel the touch. When we’re in the lounge, a bunch of guys sit on the couches, chairs, and some on the floor. A space is cleared for Hunter on a three-seater that’s already seating five guys, and I sit squished in a stuffed chair next to a grinning Liu.

“What are we playing?” asks Hunter from opposite me.

“I Never,” says a round boy I think is named Danny or Dale. “Everybody know it?” he asks, looking at me and the other two vassals in the group. I’m the only one who shakes his head.

“I say something like ‘I never got a speeding ticket’”-a bunch of guys snicker and take a sip of their beers-“and those who have got speeding tickets take a swig of beer while the others don’t. Then the next person comes up with something. It’s a neat game to get to know you newbies.”

“Okay,” I say, nursing my still untouched can of beer between my hands.

“I never went camping,” the guy next to Danny (or Dale) says. I don’t bring the can to my lips, because I've never gone camping. Hunter and a whole lot of other guys take a sip. Liu doesn't.

“I never masturbated,” says the next guy, which causes a round of laughter as everyone takes a swig – me, with a flushed face, included.

“I never kissed a guy,” says the next one.

I freeze up, but glance around when some guys take a drink while some don’t. It surprises the hell out of me that they’d admit it, just like that. Hunter, I notice, doesn't take a drink and neither do I since I've never been kissed. Damn, he’s straight. Well, I didn't really think he wasn't  Or maybe he’s never been kissed either.

“I never kissed a girl,” says the next guy, and again there’s a mix of some drinking and some not. Hunter, eyeing me, takes a sip. I look down at my can and trace my finger along the rim. Damn…

“I never saw RoboCop,” says the guy next to Hunter. Most of the guys take a drink while I don’t. I was never into futuristic robot movies.

“I never wore high heels,” says Hunter, earning himself some laughter – mostly from guys who take a drink.

“Does it count when you’re a toddler?” one of the vassals asks. When Hunter nods, I take a drink. Hey, I was two and mom managed to snap a picture as evidence.

We continue and I learn that Hunter played basketball, ate Captain Crunch, and went skinny dipping while he never went to Sunday school, had a pet, or stole money. Liu was guilty of the last offence.

For the past four I Never’s, I’d been dreading my turn. 'I never wanted a boyfriend', would be a nice way to see if Hunter’s one of those who likes guys but has only kissed girls. Or maybe likes both girls and boys. I seem to be clinging to some fruitless fantasy. Who’s to say he’d even want me if he was gay?

“I never… went… um, fishing,” I sputter lamely. I don’t even know where it came from. Hunter smiles at me as he takes a drink while Liu and I don’t. Looks like Liu’s family is about as big on the outdoors as mom and I are.

“I never played with dolls,” says Liu and takes a sip.

I grudgingly take a drink along with a few others. Like I said, I've really only had female friends.

Liu and I are well beyond tipsy when the game is over. Hunter seems to hold alcohol better, because he took more drinks than I did. Liu drags us off to the kitchen to get cold beers.

“You never kissed anyone?” asks Hunter from behind me as we walk.

“Does mom count?” I ask, glad he can’t see the blush on my face.

Hunter chuckles. “Just figured that someone like you would've been popular with girls.”

“I was,” I say while we push through the doorway. “As a friend.”

I always got to play the dad, or the baby, or the groom as a kid. Then I got to listen to boyfriend troubles and gush about guys with my friends as a teen. I knew there were girls who had crushes on me, but I made myself unavailable by hanging out with my friends all the time. Friends who knew about me, but never told anyone. By the ninth grade, though, most kids probably suspected.

“Boys, then?” he continues as we stop. Liu opens the fridge to dig out some cold beers while I stand with my back to the counter, facing Hunter but not really looking at him.

No Boundaries Press

ARe

Amazon

Erica is giving away one copy of Welcome Brother to a lucky commenter. Don’t forget to leave your email address in your comment. Contest ends May 7.

Also, don’t forget to enter the grand prize giveaway!

Author Bio:

Erica lives in Iceland with her adorable little twin boys. She often says that her real name sounds like Klingon to foreigners. Seriously, if “Eyjafjallajokull” (you know, the volcano that stopped international air travel) looks like someone fell asleep at the keyboard, Erica’s real name could leave a non-Icelander in a zombie-like stupor for days.

She’s been writing for several years, or ever since reading became an obsession. Aside from a business degree, Erica has taken English courses at the University of Iceland and gulped down anything that might help her in her career as an author. She takes great interest in English, but will break every single grammar rule for the sake of The Voice.

Erica loves hearing from her readers. She’s a friendly, easy-going (if a bit silly) person who doesn't mind talking about herself in third person.

You can find her at http://www.ericapike.com

Birthday Bash Day 26 - Eressë

Eressë, thanks so much for stopping by. So, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?
Before anything else, Happy Birthday, Emily!

I live in Southeast Asia with my husband of twenty-plus years, three sons ranging in age from teenager to young adult, and one beloved Shih Tzu who’s treated like a member of the family. Consequently, she believes she’s not a dog, but a four-legged human.

My professional writing career got its start when I worked as an advertising copywriter. I met my husband at the ad agency and, in true romance novel fashion, fell in love even though we were pretty much opposites in just about everything from our personalities to preferences. I eventually left advertising, but continued freelance writing such as brochure copy, corporate reports and feature articles for local publications.

I also enjoy cooking and baking. I’m partial to Asian, French and Italian cuisine and my sons’ favorite baked goodies are my Apple Meringue Torte, Cream Cheese Brownies and Pastel de Tres Leches, a sponge cake that’s soaked in a mixture of three kinds of milk and frosted with whipped cream.

How did you get started writing?

I’ve always enjoyed writing. I wrote for the sheer pleasure of it way back in high school. Writing is also a wonderful stress-buster, as well as an efficient way to stimulate the imagination. Curiously enough, a good number of my stories turned into homoerotic romances because my male characters had more chemistry with each other than with the female leads. But I kept these stories to myself—I couldn’t imagine letting anyone else read them.

Then I discovered fan fiction, started writing The Lord of the Rings stories, and posted them on random LotR fanfic sites. I suppose it’s very telling that the first fanfic I put out was a multi-part epic called Greenleaf and Imladris that paired two male canon characters. Looking back, I can’t believe I wrote such a long and involved piece for my first fanfic attempt.

Eventually, I discovered digital books and wondered if I had what it took to get something published. I did have a story percolating in my mind that I thought it was too much outside the box. But I decided to give it a try anyway. That story was accepted by Liquid Silver Books and became my first published work—Sacred Fate or Book One of the Chronicles of Ylandre series. Three more books followed: Hallowed Bond, By Chance Met and Heartstrings. A fifth is slated for release in mid-July.

I love the world of Ylandre that you’ve created. Was it difficult creating a different world and language?

Thank you! No, it wasn’t too difficult creating Ylandre. I got a lot of practice when I wrote LotR fanfic. What I find harder is keeping all my characters’ personalities distinct and consistent, maintaining an accurate timeline and not deviating from the rules I established for this universe, which can be quite tempting when I want to write myself out of a corner. But that would be cheating, not to mention lazy, so I resist the temptation.

What was your inspiration for the Ylandre series?

Aside from romance, I also read a lot of fantasy (JRR Tolkien’s books top this genre for me) and historical fiction, romantic or not. The Chronicles of Ylandre series is something of a blend of my favorite elements from these genres.

So, I’m a huge fan of mpreg, which for those of you who don’t know, is male pregnancy. How did you discover mpreg and why did you decide to write about such an unusual subject?

I didn’t exactly “discover” mpreg—I didn’t even know there was such a term the first time I wrote it. This was for a short sequel to Greenleaf and Imladris wherein I had one of the protagonists (a male Elf) making a wish for children and unexpectedly getting it granted when TPTB allow his mate (also a male Elf) to get pregnant. It was a tongue-in-cheek romp intended to lighten my readers’ moods after all the sturm und drang of G&I. Surprisingly, a lot of readers liked it and some even expressed frustration that there were very few mpreg stories out there!

That first time I wrote mpreg was for the humor. But then the idea stuck and my fascination with it grew over time. I did worry that a fantasy story featuring hermaphrodites wouldn’t be accepted or even considered m/m. But the idea refused to go away and took on a life of its own even before I set down anything in writing.

What’s the one genre you haven’t written in yet that you’d like to?

I write whatever inspires me so I haven’t any specific preference at the moment.

Are there any genres you won’t read or write in? Why?

I avoid horror stories. I once read a compilation of Edgar Allan Poe stories. I couldn’t sleep that night. As for writing horror, I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. I can’t write erotica either. I have to incorporate a love relationship somehow, which eventually edges out or tempers the sex and I wind up with erotic romance or whatever instead. Consequently, I also won’t write ménages. I can read a ménage story if it's done well, but I’m too uncomfortable with the concept to write about it convincingly.

So, what are you working on right now? Got any releases planned, or still writing?

My latest book Cross Purposes is now in edits and is slated for release in mid July. It’s Book Five of the Chronicles of Ylandre series.

Alright, one last question. Do you have a favorite memory

from your 21st birthday?

My first trip to Europe. It was my parents’ graduation and 21st birthday gift to me. I toured the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, Great Britain and Austria in the space of six fantastic weeks.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by!

Thank you for allowing me to help you celebrate your birthday. It was a great pleasure.

The Chronicles of Ylandre:

Book One: Sacred Fate

Most bonds evolve with time. But a precious few begin even before birth.

In the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, the great divide between the high-born True Bloods and the lower-ranked Half Bloods is deemed impassable by most. Rohyr Essendri dared to cross it when he took young Lassen Idana from his provincial town and made him his paramour.

Lassen perforce learned how to navigate the intricate byways of life at court. What he never expected, however, was to fall in love with Rohyr, a most inadvisable and impractical thing to do when one’s lover is sovereign ruler of the land. But anything worth having is worth fighting for, both figuratively and, as Lassen discovers, literally speaking.   

Excerpt

Book Two: Hallowed Bond

Time and circumstances may force true lovers apart but the tie that binds them can never be fully severed.

When Dylen Teris and Riodan Leyhar meet one harsh winter in the

dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, neither expects the encounter to lead to a fast friendship and abiding love. The chasm of vastly dissimilar social stations lies between them and not all Deira could imagine, let alone accept such a relationship.

Circumstances eventually separate them for what seems forever only to conspire to bring them together once more in the most unlikely of places—at the court of Rohyr Essendri, Ylandre’s powerful monarch. Complicating their situation is the attraction that still lingers between them, waiting to flare once more into love. But when one is unwilling to venture his heart again or wholly forgive its breaker, it may take a king’s interference to reunite these star-crossed lovers for good.  

Excerpt

Book Three: By Chance Met

A chance meeting heralds the convergence of two heretofore wildly divergent fates.

From the moment he laid eyes on the handsome Lord of Ilmaren, Naeth Orosse fell head over heels in infatuation with him. And after that first meeting in the middle of a tavern brawl in the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, Reijir Arthanna did not forget the orphaned youth who came to his aid unasked. When fate brings them together anew, Reijir becomes Naeth’s guardian, which proves both blessing and bane when their mutual attraction is guilelessly nursed by one and distrustfully downplayed by the other.

Between attempting to ignore Naeth’s artless overtures and suppressing feelings he had long disavowed, Reijir has his hands full. But more than a title and duty were forced on this enigmatic cousin of Ylandre’s king. A less than benevolent past has left its imprint on Reijir who is as known for his cynical outlook on life as he is for his exotic features and proficiency between the sheets. Convincing him to risk his heart in love is a battle more experienced Deira than Naeth have waged and invariably lost.

Excerpt

Book Four: Heartstrings

When all else comes to naught, a steadfast heart is the only thing that stands between hope and despair.

Scions of the most powerful House in Ylandre, Ashrian Mithani and Eiren Sarvan were more than just cousins. Lovers of long standing, theirs was a bond that would have been the envy of all were it not for one glaring flaw—Ashrian’s inability to commit himself wholeheartedly to Eiren. Despite the dismay of some and the derision of others, Eiren bore his inconstancy; displaying a loyalty Ashrian seemed incapable of returning. That is, until Ashrian crossed a line and the transgression proved one Eiren could not forgive.

In the wake of grief and remorse, Ashrian seeks to make amends and win Eiren back. But something stands in his way. Or rather someone. And the irony of it all is that Ashrian can neither hate nor help befriending the Deir who is his rival for the heart of Ylandre’s most beloved physician.

Excerpt

Book Five: Cross Purposes (to be released in July)

With love, the line between happiness and heartache is all too easy to cross.

One of Ylandre's most prominent nobles, Keosqe Deilen may have had it all in terms of wealth, power and social rank. But in matters of the heart, he was nigh impoverished. Such was the consequence of falling in unrequited love. But though he hides that love and his sorrow well, a few inevitably see through his masquerade.

Young Tristen Marante is quick to discern Keosqe’s pain. His blunt sympathy is a balm to Keosqe’s wounded heart as much as his beauty is an effective distraction from the noble’s hopeless yearning. But Tristen is a skittish would-be lover whose reluctance to express his affection is as much an impediment as the lack of reciprocation from Keosqe’s first love had been. Whereas Keosqe seeks intimacy, Tristen shies from it, suspicious of the motives behind his pursuit and unwilling to yield his heart so easily or soon.

With such different perspectives toward lust and love, is it any wonder their path to a common goal is strewn with stumbling blocks and paved with false impressions?

Eressë is giving away one copy each of a backlist / coming soon title of their choice (pdf, mobi or epub) to two commenters. Don’t forget to leave your email with your comment. Contest ends May 7.

Also, don’t forget to enter the grand prize giveaway!

Author Bio:

As far back as her college days, Eressë enjoyed writing historical fantasy. A good number turned into homoerotic romances because many of her male characters wound up having more chemistry with each other than with the female leads.

Whether Eressë subconsciously wrote them that way even she does not know. In any case, this penchant for fantasy M/M romance became the wellspring of her ongoing series Chronicles of Ylandre.

Eressë lives in Southeast Asia with her husband, three sons and one dog. She started her writing career as an advertising copywriter and is now a freelance writer and contributor to a number of publications. She also enjoys cooking and baking and is a professed chocoholic. But her first love is and always will be writing stories.

Find out more about Eressë at her Website and Live Journal. Her books are available at all the typical distributors as well as at Liquid Silver Books.