Archive for the ‘This and that…’ Category

Woot! Yup, I’ve finally thawed out and not feeling the heat as much as I was when I first came home. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still blazing but I’m down from too many showers per day to two. lol

Looking back fondly at the cold, here are a few pics from places I’ve lived/visited that were cold as a witch’s tit.

I went to visit a friend in Calgary one March and she insisted we go up to the mountains–she loves them. We did and I had a great time. My camera button froze it was so cold but it was awesome!

No, there’s no snow on the ground but man, it was freezing! I lived in South Germany at the time and stupidly, I dressed for the weather there, thinking Berlin would be the same. I had to buy a sweater to wear under my windbreaker post-haste. I remember because the sales clerk asked me the word for “receipt” so we had a mini Englisch tutorial and she can now say, “Your receipt is in the bag.” I was thrilled that my English wasn’t a hindrance for once. lol

The city that obliterated my heat immunity by building my immunity to cold. lol

Have a great weekend everyone!

Not yummy sexual heat that we read about. Nope, just hot, blazing sun. I’ve been back home in lovely Barbados for one week and I’ve taken no less than 20 showers. And as I’m writing this, I feel the urge to take another one. lol

My navel string is buried here (local speak for this is where I was born) but my body chemistry (funny how I can’t leave that word alone. hehe) adapted to cold weather and it seems determined to stay that way.

I would go to the beach to cool off but I bought three fabulous swimsuits that didn’t arrive when I did. I refuse to go the the beach without one of them when I’ve been looking forward to it all year. My delayed baggage should arrive on the flight today, so I’ll be hitting beach this weekend.

I’ll probably take a dip in one of the tide pools on the East Coast after a walk on the sand.

Or maybe a beach on the West Coast…

It’s an island. The choices are multiple. Fingers crossed I get my bag!

Kathy K said some wonderful things about Only Yours over at her blog.

I vaguely remember promising a moratorium on the word “first” but dude! My first review *sniffle*

What a way to start my morning. I’ve been grinning ever since. I should tell you that my writing vs reading is about a 1:100 ratio. I know! Bad J.R. In my defense, I’ve been reading forever; writing is still new to me and authors keep releasing books that I want to read. Dammit. But I digress. The point is that when I get positive reader feedback about Dre and Nate, my initial reaction is shock. Then, OMG! Then, Really? Then, OMG. Usually, I’m the one squeeing, emailing authors with “when’s the next book?!” demands, and the like. To be on the receiving end of even a fraction of that is surreal.

Thanks to all the readers who took the time to tell me what they thought of Only Yours or even to wish me congratulations on having a story out. You rock!

Yeah, I don’t have personal experience with them per se but that didn’t stop me from yapping. lol Come see International Heat

I’m working on three stories. They have titles but in my head, I always refer to them by the names of the main characters—I still think of Only Yours as Dre and Nate. So, there’s Lucas and Zachary, Rick and Malachi, and Joshua and Roman.

Joshua and Roman’s story is one I’m co-writing with Jambrea Jo Jones. Josh and Rome are an established couple about to embark on the next stage of their relationship—marriage. Or are they? We still have quite a ways to go but I’m thrilled with what we have so far.

Rick and Malachi story brings back Rick from Only Yours. S.J. plays a role as well and Dre and Nate make cameos. That’s about all I can say right now.

Lucas and Zachary’s story is set on a university campus (my favorite places on Earth to work). Luc is one really smart dude. But they’re things he misses. Thank goodness Zach is more than happy to point them out. This will be a short one and might be finished before Rick but I’ll see how it goes.

And that’s all folks.

Anyone who’s seen Patric on the various yahoo loops will agree that if they had to describe him in one word, it would be easy.

Hilarious!

But Patric isn’t just sparkling wit and a pretty face. Nope, he’s so much more. When a newbie author emailed him with question after question, he never hesitated to answer. And with email subject lines like “Me. Again.”, it’s a wonder he didn’t lose patience and direct me to his spam folder. At least I don’t think he did… Hmmm. Nah, I think I’m safe.

Don’t believe me? Try emailing Patric at patr—I jest! But you can find Patric on the web here and here

Other than making myself a pest on email, I’ve had the pleasure of reading Patric’s work. Most recently, The Santa Mug, a truly exquisite story about lost love and new love found. Below is the description from Dreamspinner…

When Marlon died on Christmas Eve, Darren withdrew from the holidays, and life in general, until Max, the man who introduced him to Marlon, invites Darren to his parents’ house for Thanksgiving.  Darren agrees and is immediately overwhelmed by Max’s large, boisterous family. He tries to retreat behind familiar barriers, but Max has other ideas for the reclusive young man. It’s not until Max delivers Marlon’s last Christmas gift, four years late, that Darren truly understands that love is the greatest gift of all.

The road to publication has been exciting (yes, that word again) and all the more so thanks to the awesome online community of authors and readers. With Patric’s advice of “Don’t be an asshole author!”, I hope to be part of the club for a long time to come.

I’ll be over at Ethan Day’s Yahoo Group today participation in Gay Day. Ethan explains about Gay Day below.

Sunday, February 28th is Gay Day at my Yahoo Group.  Gay Day is the one day a month when the best authors in GLBT Romance stop by to post excerpts of their new and upcoming releases.

The following authors will be generously offering giveaways you can enter to win:

Z.A. Maxfield  is offering up winners choice of an e-book from her backlist

AKM Miles – Too Keen

Willa Okati – Tomcat Jones

M. Jules Aedin – Can’t Hurry Love – 2 copies are up for grabs!!

A.J. Llewellyn - Wanted

Ethan Day – an autographed Print copy of Dreaming of You

Kate McMurray – In Hot Pursuit

Trina Lane – Taking the Chance

J.R. Patrick – Only Yours

S.J. Frost – Midnight Dalliance

Jambrea Jo Jones – Stealing My Heart

Sophia Titheniel – King of Damon’s

Charlie Cochrane – an autographed Print copy of Past Shadows

The amazing Authors below will be popping in and out to chat & post excerpts from their latest books:

Lynn Lorenz – Baymore’s Heir & Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Carol Lynne – Ice Water in Hell

Z.A. Maxfield – Family Unit

Lex Valentine – Where There’s Smoke

Nix Winter – Kai Stubborn

P.A. Brown – L.A. Bytes

Sloan Parker – More

M. Jules Aedin – Windows In Time

T.C. Blue – A Game of Chances

Kimberly Gardner – Bound to Please

Andrew Gray – Love Means No Boundaries

Adrianne Brennan – My Big Fat Greek Pagan Lesbian Wedding

A.J. Llewellyn – Fawnskin w/ DJ Manly & Stephani Hecht Stealing My Heart the Anti-piracy Antho

The day will begin from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST in the Ethan Day Yahoo Group where we’ll be posting excerpts, running contests for free books, and chatting about all the new and upcoming releases from your favorite authors.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. CST we’ll be hosting another LIVE Chat which is pretty much a free for all, anything-goes-chat that’ll inevitably have you uttering the phrase, “What the f**k?” : )

***You will need to have Downloaded Skype in order to take part in the Live Chat.***

Once you’ve downloaded the FREE software, simply add me as a contact: ethandayonline — and I’ll be able to add you to the chat room!

I hope everyone will stop by to catch up with your favorite authors and join in all the fun!