Weekend Read: First Swallow of Spring by Asta Idonea

A swallow alighting on a branch in a marsh.

“First Swallow of Spring” by Asta Idonea is sexy, smart, and surprising. I loved the worldbuilding, which was detailed enough to paint a clear picture of the fairy kingdom, but sparse enough not to weigh down this short story. … Read more

Publisher Profile: eXtasy Books seeks novels and novellas Submit anytime; pays royalties

Publisher eXtasy Books publishes erotica and erotic romance; through its Devine Destinies imprint, it also publishes non-erotic romance fiction, including the subgenres of sweet romance, young adult, and sci-fi romance. Romances can feature pairings of any and all genders. … Read more

OJ He Say! gives Sexy to Go Gay Romance 5 stars

What a lovely surprise to check into Twitter today and find myself tagged in a link to this 5-star review for Sexy to Go Gay Romance. “These nine romance stories were a joy to read. Each one had a particular flavor and experience, and really no matter what you’re into, you’ll find it here.”
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Guest Author: Proceeds from Jo Tannah’s The Way You Look Tonight help gay Chechens

I was thrilled when Jo Tannah told me last month that she wanted to participate in Books Save Lives with two titles — including one that she’d previously published with Wayward Ink, The Way You Look Tonight. Books Save Lives is a project of Readers & Writers for LGBT Chechens that raises funds for the Russian LGBT Network and other charities helping gay men escape Chechnya, where police are currently conducting a campaign of terror against anyone they suspect of being gay. Here’s an interview I did with Jo last February when The Way You Look Tonight first came out. … Read more

Chechnya: Part of ‘a global fight for our rights as queer people’

Lately, one of my favorite times of day is checking out all the blogs that are talking about ways to save the lives of LGBT Chechens. Back before the internet, few of us would have known about what’s going on in Chechnya, and fewer of us would have been in a position to help. But that’s all changed. We may not be able to change government policies or social prejudices in one fell swoop, but we can provide real, tangible assistance to many of the men who’ve been swept up in Chechnya’s anti-gay purge — men who would have had no place to turn only a few years ago. Here are a few excerpts from the blogs I visited this morning. … Read more

Guest Author: Sam Thorne, Language Architect

Sexy to Go Gay Romance book cover

If you’ve perused my blog or social media accounts, you already know that I adore Sam Thorne. We both recently had stories in the multi-author anthology Sexy to Go Gay Romance. Her contribution, “Rebuilding the Future,” was filled with the things I’ve come to love about her stories: well-intentioned but socially awkward heroes, deep characterization, and a knack for bringing out the humor of everyday situations. Oh, and adorably besotted protagonists. When Sam’s characters fall in love, they fall hard — just like in real life. … Read more

Book Review: Falling for a Pirate by Meredith Bond | Proceeds help gay Chechens

“How can I be more kind?” It’s a question at the heart of the poetry of Hafez, a Sufi mystic often quoted by pirate captain Salim al-Mandri, the beloved in this time-travel romance. And it becomes a crucial question for our hero Dylan, who’s not sure how to square his affection for Salim with his revulsion for violence. Falling for a Pirate by Meredith Bond is an adventurous romance with a philosophical soul.
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