Saturday, August 25, 2012

The Rainbow Book Reviews Blog Hop!


Hi guys :)

I'm taking part in the Rainbow Book Reviews Blog Hop over the weekend. I'm a day late, so I'll let my part of the contest run through August 25th-27th. I hope that's okay with the organizers.

The reason for this hop is to celebrate the launch of a new review site: Rainbow Book Reviews. They're doing a very generous giveaway on their own site, but there are also over 70 GLBT authors giving away individual prizes. Just click the link - but first, read on for my contest:

Now, what does writing GLBTQ literature mean to me?

A hell of a lot. Not only has it helped me open my eyes to the many issues regarding the GLBTQ community, but has also urged me to help in any way I can. I was never a homophobe. Granted, I didn't understand it when I was a teen, but I was never against GLBTQ people. In my twenties I'd scowl at people who spoke against homosexuality, because I felt that they were being idiotic. In my thirties I started writing and reading m/m stories, and now I understand that things won't change by staying silent. I'm a member of Iceland's GLBTQ organization and a proud supporter. I also take it upon myself to attempt to "correct" people when they're unknowingly sounding homophobic (with jokes, generalizations, comments and such that aren't necessarily meant in a demeaning way - as would be the case with most Icelanders). But there's more. I've also discovered new things about myself after I started reading GLBTQ lit, things I'm still figuring out. This literature has also brought me close to new people, friends I now find are invaluable, so I owe this category a lot.

Now, for my contest. I'm giving away an e-copy of The Walls Have Ears. If you already own it, you can choose from the other College Fun and Gays stories (just got the cover for the next one, will reveal it soon!). All you have to do is leave a comment with a way for me to each you :)

Short and scrawny college student Harley Santos has a strange relationship with the guy on the other side of his bedroom wall. For weeks, the two have been masturbating to each other’s voices, but they have never met in person.

When Harley’s roommate (Ryan) is asked out on a date by one of his neighbors, Harley is devastated that his wall-mate mistook not-hot Harley for super-hot Ryan. Helping Harley through his heartache is Tasha Novokov, the other neighbor, who is tall, dark, and impossibly handsome.

When Harley’s affections shift to Tasha, his heartache hits an all time high because with all the girls hanging around, Tasha has to be straight.

52 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for the chance and for being a part of a wonderful blog hop!!

    Kassandra
    sionedkla@gmail.com

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  2. Oh, I've been wanting to read this one! I feel like the characters and plots are so much more varied and interesting in GLBTQ romance, because it doesn't go for the cliches I see in het romance so often.

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. I agree :) There's just so much potential in m/m ^.^

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  3. Wow, Erica, that is some header image!! Holy...let me catch my breath... :-D Thanks for joining in the hop and sharing your thoughts!
    madisonparklove@gmail.com

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    1. Haha. That's a very hot, very sizzling Dan Skinner photo ^.^ (Same guy who took the Absolutely Eric photo).

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  4. Thank you for doing the hop.

    MFierydrgn@aol.com

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  5. I'm glad I was able to discover your blog through the Hop. I'm always excited to find new-to-me authors, I look forward to reading your work ;)

    kezia.rawr@gmail.com

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    1. Yeah, that's what I love about hops. I managed to discover two new-to-me m/m authors during this hop alone :)

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  6. Loved your post. Thanks for participating in the Hop.

    gisu29(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. Hi, Erica.

    I enjoyed your post; it was a great read.

    I look forward in reading your works.

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    booklover0226 at gmail dot com

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  8. I know I should be commenting on your post, but The Walls Have Ears - oh my god, that's fantastic. Love it.

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    1. Hehe, trust me, I do enjoy people commenting on my books more than on my posts ;)

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  9. Intriguing post. I love reading the author's posts.
    debby236 at gmail dot com

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  10. Great post! It's often that I see and hear negative words about GLBTQ. Sadly, a lot of those don't really understand what they are saying or how much hurt they cause. Good for you for standing up in such a positive and profound way!

    I love the blurb for The Walls Have Ears!!! I so want :cD

    Tempe
    tempeste.oriley@gmail.com

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    1. Yeah, I'm sure I've made such careless comments in the past, like laughing at "gay jokes" my ex made etc. He's not homophobic, so he never meant anything bad by it, but if I were to compare it to sexist jokes I wouldn't be so quick to laugh (well...my humor is a bit twisted, so maybe I would, but I would also understand how downright hurtful the joke could be to some people).

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  11. Thanks for participating in the Hop and your posting.

    strive4bst(At) yahoo(Dot) com

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  12. I loved your LiAW Half Baked Promises. Can't wait until the sequel is written :)

    penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. Great post - already know you slightly as fellow MLRPer. Same here - both on our white horses riding out to change the world. Stirrup to stirrup then?

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  14. Count me in please, i have the first two books in this series, so I'd love to win this one!

    lyra.lucky7 at gmail dot com

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  15. Wonderful post! Count me in please. I have The Walls Have Ears and loved it...
    Yvette
    yratpatrol@aol.com

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    1. You already have the book? Well, if you win, you can choose from one of the other titles in the series :)

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  16. Erica, you just about killed me with the banner to your blog. *mops brow*
    Please add me to the list to win one of your books :)
    I've already got Walls Have Ears, but I know you've written some more yummy stuff on the same kind of subject.

    Sue

    corieltauviqueen at yahoo dot co dot uk

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    1. Yup, since you already have it, I'll let you choose from some of the others if you win ;)

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  17. I've also discovered new things about myself after I started reading GLBTQ lit, things I'm still figuring out.

    It's funny how that works, isn't it? When I write from a male POV, I'm able to explore all kinds of issues and aspects of my personality that would never have surfaced if I'd been writing as a woman--even if it was part of the character!

    I once misread a prompt and wrote a mammoth story I called the Lesbian Vampire Fic. When I finished, I realized that it was all wrong for the prompt and that there were very few markets for it. I was already established as a M/M writer. No problem, I thought. I'll just change the genders.

    What an eye-opening experience THAT was. Not a simply matter of finding and replacing words. Every line had to be re-written because men think and speak and move differently from women. And I find that very freeing to write. :-)

    The Walls Have Ears has a fascinating premise! You've got me wanting to know more now...

    akasarahmadison at gmail dot com

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    1. Hehe, exactly. People keep saying that us m/m authors just replace "she" with a "he" for one of the characters, but it's not that easy. If you want to do it right, you have to write a man as a man, not a women (and by this I'm not saying that men can't be emotional/oversharing - I'm just saying that even if they are emotional/oversharing, they're still different from women).

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  18. Great Post Erica

    Sarah S

    Sarahs7836(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. Thanks for participating I would love to read The Walls Have Ears!

    lilly
    lillywriting@gmail.com

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  20. I write because it makes me happy and I think everyone deserves a happily-ever-after. :)
    Hugs
    K-lee
    kleemoon66 at gmail dot com

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  21. Thanks for joining the hop!
    seritzko AT verizon DOT net

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  22. Thanks for being part of the blog hop.

    beckerjo at verizon dot net

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  23. Great post! People don't realize that silence can hurt just as much homophobia can. Thanks for sharing and participating!

    tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  24. Great post; several years ago, I made myself a promise that I wouldn't sit by quietly when someone made an off color joke or said something hurtful based on religion, ethnicity, or sexuality. It's taken some guts to live up to that (I'm that quiet girl hiding in the corner at parties ;-)

    The Walls Have Ears sounds like a great read; even if I don't win a copy, it's definitely going on my "to read" list ;-)

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    1. Hehe, I'm that type of girl, too. You're right, it does take guts to speak out like that *gives us a pat on the back*.

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  25. Thank you for taking part in the hop! :)

    kimberlyFDR@yahoo.com

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