The obligatory end-of-year drivel.

Let me start by saying how much I loathe New Year stuff. I have many reasons for this, reasons I won't bore you with. But, since 2011 has been an interesting year for me I feel obliged to mark the occasion with some early morning, post coffee ramblings. I'll cobble a list together. Because it's early in the day and my brain isn't firing on all cylinders, I'm bound to miss stuff - it's all really random.

The High points of the year

1. 'Stolen Summer' - Who knew I'd get my mucky little book published? Guys, it seriously was a 'one-off'. I never imagined in a million years that I'd get it published and that I'd end up writing even more m/m romance. I think I might be addicted to the genre. It's like crack. O_0

What's been mind-blowing is the love from readers. I'm not one for false humility so to see praise being lavished on the book really is the proverbial cherry on the sundae. I am so grateful for reader-love. I'd love to personally smooch each and every one of you or, at the very least, give you cookies.

I'm still pinching myself over the pretty medal on the right hand corner of this blog. Three nominations - fecking brilliant, and in very illustrious company. If you're an m/m romance fan and you're not a member of the Goodreads M/M Readers group, you need to be!

2. Beautiful cover art - Both covers are posted in here. I know you've seen them before but I love them both. So I've put them up again.

3. Friends - I have amazing friends, old and new. You all know who you are and I thank you for being here/there.

4. Family - here and there. I hate that my parents and sister live across the ocean but we've all just discovered the joys of Skype so I can no longer look like an utter slob when I'm parked in front of the computer.

Lordy, this is sounding like an Oscar acceptance speech. I'd better move on.

The Crappy bits

1. Losing my job. It was a sucky, stressful job but the money helped. But, I guess, on reflection, my sanity is more important than stomach ulcers or waking up at three in the morning worrying about something I should've done or should not have done. Still, if the employment Gods are out there, I'd like a job, thanks.

That's really the only bad thing. The rest I can deal with.

I know I've missed loads of stuff but I don't want this to be a self-indulgent ramble so I'll shut up now.

Oh, one more thing. If you're a regular visitor to my blog, don't be shy. Let me know who you are. I have Statcounter so I can see you! muwahahahahaha!

Before you slip away onto Facebook, Twitter or whatever sites you frequent. Answer me this: What were your high and low points this year?

Happy New Year everyone. May you know peace, prosperity and joy.

Monday's Hottie is...a day late but not a dollar short

Sorry for the delay folks. I was suffering from the annual turkey coma yesterday and was also unsuccessfully fighting my addiction to 'Angry Birds'. As I'm currently languishing on a level where the villainous pigs are protected by stone vehicles, I've abandoned the game so I can:

(a) Post this blog
(b) Write!

Today's Hottie is the lovely, talented John Barrowman. Not only does he have lovely dimples but he can sing, dance and act. He also has excellent taste - the top picture is Mr. Barrowman with his partner Scott Gill.

Captain Jack Harkness is one of those characters I wish I'd come up with. He's an intergalactic rogue with a roaming eye and an endless supply of 'pick-up' lines. If you haven't seen it, you must watch the 'Torchwood' episode where Captain Jack meets the man whose name he 'borrowed'. Make sure you have tissues ready because it's beautiful and heartbreaking.

So, I present to you on this grey post-Christmas Tuesday - John Barrowman.

I have a pretteh!

Ahem...you may notice the shiny rainbow pretty on the right hand corner of this blog.

I can honestly say, it's made my year. The M/M Romance Group on Goodreads has put together the 2011 Members Choice Awards. I am beyond thrilled to say that 'Stolen Summer' has been nominated for three awards:

Gay/Out for You Theme
Hurt/Comfort Theme
and
the real thrill

Best Debut Book!!!

The M/M Romance Group is one of the biggest readers' groups on Goodreads so to be nominated is just the icing on the cake of a crazy writing year for me. If you're an M/M reader and you're not a member...join now!

Now, for some reason, I've lost a whole bunch of icons across the top of my blog thingie and I can't find the one for adding a link, so I'll just have to post it here. http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/20149.M_M_Romance

Thanks for the nominations! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Monday's Hottie is a little bit different

Monday again already?
We're less than a week away from Christmas and we're into that time of year best known for conspicuous consumption. You can't escape it. There's cookery shows all over the place, aimed at helping you prepare the Best Christmas Feast Ever.

In the spirit of the season, today's Hottie is the utterly adorable Adam Richman. He's the host of 'Man versus Food'. The lovely Adam visits restaurants and pretty much sets himself the challenge of eating a restaurant's Biggest or Spiciest dish. How this man is not the size of a small country or hasn't had a stomach transplant is beyond me. I love watching him. He's incredibly funny and adorable and if I wasn't married, he'd be the type of man I'd want to take home to meet my parents.

So, today, I present the cuddly, charming, hilarious...Adam Richman.

Beautiful banners, bookmarks and things

Today, I received the other artwork bits and pieces for 'Orion Rising'. Needless to say they are as stunning as the cover art and they have words on them! Hints of the story to come.

I have a stinking cold so these made me feel almost human again.

Enjoy!

Monday's Hottie is an action man.

Today's hottie hails from a Land Down Under. He's played a brooding android with a conscience and a tall blue dude in a major, major Sci-Fi pic. The second picture is taken from that film, although you may not make the connection.

I give to you that gorgeous Aussie - Sam Worthington. Now, wouldn't you like to find him under your Christmas tree?

Sunday Snog

I am a bit slow to start today, and I thought it might be fun to take part in Victoria Blisse's regular Sunday Snog event. It's extra special this week because there's a competition and a Kindle up for grabs for people who stop by her blog. You can find it here. Don't forget to stop by and read some snoggage, just the pick-me-up for this grey, gloomy winter Sunday.

My Sunday snog comes from my WIP. It's intended to be the first of a series. This bit takes place at Agra during the 1857 Sepoy Uprising in India. Jacob and Marcus and have taken refuge, along with hundreds of others in the Red Fort. Alone-time is hard to find and Marcus managed to find somewhere, a one-night-only opportunity.

*************************

I woke to silence. The rain had moved on leaving the air cooler. My arm was numb and I reluctantly eased it from beneath Marcus’ shoulders. He stirred in his sleep and reached for me.

“Jacob?”

“I’m here.” I threaded my fingers through his.

“Good. I thought I’d been dreaming.”

My body’s aches told me it certainly was no dream. “No, not a dream.”

“It seems a shame to waste time sleeping.” He nuzzled my throat, nipping at my earlobe. “Don’t you think?”

My cock rose in response to his touch. “You’re right.”

“Who knows when we may get a chance like this again. I want to remember this night for a long time.” The bedclothes rustled softly when Marcus rolled onto me.

I welcomed his weight and caressed him, committing his smooth skin and warm lips to memory. Every kiss was a languid reminder of why I loved him. Marcus moved with agonising slowness, travelling from my lips, to my throat and lower.

“I want you,” he whispered. “I refuse to let you sleep for the rest of the night.”

“There’s little chance of that.” I gasped when he traced the length of my cock with teasing fingers.

“Now the question remains, how do we pass the time?” Marcus cupped my balls in his warm palm and grinned.

“I’m sure we’ll think of something.”

“It would help if I could see you properly.” He rolled away and left the bed. He fumbled in the dark until he found matches and re-lit the lamp. The room was suddenly flushed with soft, flickering light.

I enjoyed the novelty of seeing Marcus naked and my arousal increased because I knew that, for that one night, he was entirely mine. He splashed water on his face and returned to me. “That’s better. I can see you now.” His lips brushed my brow, the tip of my nose, the corner of my mouth. “I never tire of looking at you.”

“Nor I you.”

“Now you’re just being kind. I’m a battered, tired soldier who’s spent too long in the back of beyond.” He traced a careful circle around my nipple and then repeated the action with his tongue. “You are water to a dying land. You’re rain where there should be none.”

I lifted his face to mine and kissed him. “I thought you were a soldier, not a poet.”

Marcus caught my bottom lip between his own and shifted onto me, pinning me to the bed with his weight. “You bring it out in me.” His erection pushed against mine. “You make me a better man.”

“Nonsense. You were a good man when we first met.” I tasted his skin, felt the shadow of his beard beneath my lips.

Marcus swept his hands to my hips and slid them beneath me. “All these compliments will go to my head. Be careful or I may take them to heart.”

“I want you to. I mean what I say. I never expected any of this, I never expected you. There are times when I want this siege to last forever so that I never have to leave. I don’t want to think about never seeing you again. As much as I want to go home, the price I’ll have to pay will be more than I can bear.”

“Then let’s not speak of it.” Marcus rolled over and pulled me on top of him. “Silence me with your body. Let’s use this night.”

I silenced him with a kiss. It was a good place to start.

Belated Snarkage

Running a bit late today.

I've spent a good deal of time setting up my new lap top and have finally found time to get some snarkage down.

Don't forget to check out more excellent snarkage on the lovely Marie Sexton's blog today.

This isn't so much snark as a nasty exchange because there's still not much in the way of snark in this novel-in-progress.

*******************

I looked at Harold. “Now, why don’t we go and sit on the veranda and enjoy what’s left of the cool morning. You can have a sherry to calm your temper.” I took him by the arm and marched him out of the kitchen.

“How bloody dare you,” he hissed.

“Oh shut up, Harold. It bloody serves you right for drinking rum for breakfast.”

His breath reeked of it. He glared at me with angry, bloodshot eyes. “Don’t lecture me on my drinking habits, cousin.”

I shoved him onto the veranda and pushed him into a chair. “I don’t care if you think I’ve overstepped the mark by telling you off in front of your own servants. While I’m here, and while I hold the strings to your purse, you will not abuse your staff, do you understand me?”

“By God, you can be an arrogant bastard sometimes, Jacob.”

“Do you want this money or don’t you?”

Harold’s cheeks flushed - plum clashing awkwardly with his gingery side whiskers. He swallowed and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You know I need it.”

“Then I suggest you refrain from treating your servants like slaves.” I sank into the other chair, still shaking with anger.

Harold reached for the sherry with a shaking hand but said not another word until tiffin arrived.

Cover Love

It was a very happy day for me when Total E Bound accepted 'Stolen Summer' for publication. It was an equally happy day when they picked up 'Orion Rising'. I love the cover for 'Stolen Summer' and I had high hopes for Orion's cover. I received the artwork today and I am so deliriously thrilled with it that I can't stop looking at it. Emmy Ellis, the artist and head of TEB's Art Department has done an amazing job. The characters are more or less as I'd imagined them and the cover really captures the 'essence' of the story. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you've probably already seen it but, hell, this cover is so gorgeous I have to share it far and wide.

Days like this are the best bits about being a writer, when the cover fits the story so beautifully.

Thanks, Emmy!

Monday's Hottie

Hello everyone!

The weather is getting cold, Christmas is on the way. It's time for a hottie to warm us up on this December Monday.

Today's heartwarmer is hot property in Hollywood at the moment. He's also Just.Bloody.Hot. I have Scarlett Parrish and Liz Silver to thank for drawing him to my attention. I will be eternally grateful.

Ladies (and gentlemen) I present to you...

Michael Fassbender. So hot, there's two pictures for the price of one.

The first Snark of December

Happy Saturday everyone.

I'm pleased to announce that 'Mourning Jack', my next m/m contemporary novel, will be released by Total E-Bound on 14th May...only 6 weeks after 'Orion Rising'. This makes me very happy. In the meantime, I'm about to start revisions on the first book of a proposed series.

This little bit of snark is from that book. Mind, it's not so much snark as just a bad tempered little exchange. For more snark, don't forget to check Marie Sexton's blog, for all the contributions.

*******************

I rose. “That would be best. I see nothing but anger for both of us if you stayed. I’ve accepted that I’ll have a solitary life and it’s better that way, then I won’t feel pain at moments like this.” I walked toward the door, wanting to be away from him - the brief peace already broken.

“What happened to you, Jacob?”

“You did.” I closed the door behind me, hurried down the stairs, grabbed my coat and walked out of the house.