Welcome, Brother: Excerpt

Excerpt from Welcome, Brother:

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.

Release Day! Welcome, Brother, by Erica Pike: Sweet & Sexy Fraternity Story

I was off by four days! I thought this title wasn't supposed to release until the 27th, but it was released today ^.^ Without further ado, I present Welcome, Brother:

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.

Available at No Boundaries Press, All Romance eBooks and Amazon. Will be available at other outlets soon :)

Excerpt can be found here.

A Chance to Get a College Fun and Gays Book

Hi guys :)

I know I just did a giveaway, but this one's a different sort. My publisher, No Boundaries Press, is having a giveaway. You need to have a facebook account to enter. Here's the very simple thing you have to do:

"Get entered to win an NBP book of choice: Simply reply to THIS post and tell us who invited you. That's all...simple. We'll pick a winner on Wednesday January 16, 2013."

NBP published my College Fun and Gays works: Hot Hands, Grade-A-Sex Deal, The Walls Have Ears and Little Stalker.

My Anniversary - Want Books?

It's been a year since I was first published. Well, a few days from now. I'm doing a rundown of what I've been doing in 2012, but for now I'm doing a giveaway. I debuted on January 4th 2012 with Hot Hands, and A Life Without You was released on the 13th. Both books became ARe bestsellers and both were received well. Here's to hoping for another great year of 2013!

For this giveaway, I'm offering an e-copy of each to TWO winners (the winners get both books):

For weeks, college student Casper has been the victim of sail-by goosing and groping. The problem is that Casper would very much like to get more than groped by those wonderful, big, hot hands.

With a journal full of clues, he sets out to discover who his mystery groper is. However, he may be in serious trouble once he discovers the ominous identity, trouble that has nothing to do with the light bondage involved.

Jesse's like a bar of soap: the tighter Adam holds on, the faster Jesse slips away. Or that's how it feels to Adam. It doesn't help that Jesse has a girlfriend back home and claims to be straight, but there's no way with all the sparks and physical intimacy flying between the two roommates.

When Adam believes he has reached his ultimate happiness, the bedroom walls come crashing down with a visit from Jesse's girlfriend.

Now Jesse has to decide if he can come to terms with his sexuality, while Adam has to learn to accept that Jesse might never be able to crawl out of the closet.

Technically, my free read, In His Pocket was my very first release on January 3rd, but that doesn't count as a debut. I also have another free read out, if you want to sample my writing: Half-Baked Promises (direct download link to pdf, mobi, and ePub).

What you have to do to sign up for MY contest is to leave a comment with your email address. Please state that you're only signing up for the grand prize if you're not interested in reading gay romances, to give the others more chance to win. Though, of course, I encourage everyone to read at least one gay romance in their lifetime ^.^

If you're interested in following me, here are my hang-outs: Facebook, Twitter, Newsletter, Goodreads, and there's a blog follow button to the right. You don't have to do any of this to be counted in the contest! This is just if you're interested.

But there's more! This is a part of a larger hop with over 200 participants: New Year's Blog Hop. There's a grand prize for everyone who comments. The more blogs you comment on the better are your chances of winning any of these:

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet (International)
2nd Grand Prize: A $300 Amazon or B&N Gift Card (International)
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more! (US only)

Fantasy vs. Sci-Fi vs. Post-Apocalyptic

Those who know me know that I love Post-Apocalyptic stories. I also like the odd Sci-Fi, but it's the Post-Apoc I'm in love with. Post-Apoc stories, however, can be very hard to find. Publishers/retailers usually don't separate them from Sci-Fi/Fantasy.

First off, Sci-Fi and Fantasy just don't belong together as a genre. They very rarely bleed into each other. If there's a magical element in Sci-Fi, it's usually because of aliens, genetic enhancement, radioactive infection and whatnot. Sci-Fi almost always takes place in the future whereas Fantasy (kingdoms, elves, dwarves, dragson etc.) almost always take place in the "past" (or it's built upon Medieval times with very little modern or futuristic technology at hand). I assume the two were put together in one genre for being "otherworldly". Although this may have been the original reason when Sci-Fi and Fantasy were relatively new in literature, there are thousands upon thousands of each available today, so it's high time to separate the two. Lord of the Rings and Star Trek is NOT the same genre. 

A good example of a Sci-Fi is A Solid Core of Alpha by Amy Lane that happens in space, with holograms, space station and space travel. There are no aliens, but aliens aren't a must in Sci-Fi. A good example of Fantasy is Scorpion by Aleksandr Voinov that happens in a world that has never been our Earth, and yet it doesn't happen in space. There aren't any magical elements, which shows that Fantasy doesn't have to be about magic, but it has different sets of rules and kingdoms. A more traditional Fantasy with an elven kingdom among other things is Counterpoint by Rachel Haimowitz.

What I understand a little better is why Sci-Fi and Post-Apoc are thrown together. Both usually take place in the future. However, there's usually a difference. While the two may bleed into each other, mixing a ruined earth with space travel, Sci-Fi usually happens in space while Post-Apoc almost always focuses on Earth after a catastrophe. There may be scientific elements in Post-Apoc, but if it's a story about people on Earth struggling to live in an environment with very changed set of social rules, it's Post-Apoc (also often known as Dystopia). At least these are my definitions.  

Post-Apoc and Dystopia are very often the one and same. However, they can be different. Post-Apoc can take place thousands of years after most of humanity died and there's a new and better world. That's not a Dystopia. Dystopia is when the social rules or living conditions are negative (Dystopia is the opposite of Utopia). 

A good example of a Post-Apoc is 18% Grey by Anne Tenino where the USA has been split in half after a war, one half being accepting of GLBT; the other not (there are more differences, basically the more accepting one is more technologically advanced while the other half is deteriorating). The story has technological advancements, but it's not Sci-Fi per say, since it's just further development of our technology and not something as big as time travel or warp speed. Another is Marked Yours (Sentries series) by Elizabeth Noble, where the Earth got ruined with volcanic eruptions that killed and destroyed. The USA is split into new parts, one of which has a tradition of master/slave relationships. This is a very thought-out world Noble has crated, but instead of being technologically advanced, it's reverted back to old times with horses and such. It has paranormal elements, but that's Paranormal, not Sci-Fi, so it's a Post-Apocalyptic Dystopia/Paranormal.

Since I'm on the topic, Alternate Universe is not the same as Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Post-Apoc, or Dystopia. Alternate Universe is when something happened in our time, on our planet, that has changed something so dramatically so that our world today is different. It's also known as parallel universe. Characters are living in a world today after the Soviet Union won the Cold War back in the 1990's, or the Chinese took over the world in the 1800's and the world language is Chinese and everyone lives differently, or Kennedy was never assassinated. World hunger was resolved a hundred years ago - the world would be different today if it was. 

A good example of an Alternate Universe is The Starving Years by Jordan Castillo Price, where world hunger ended in 1960. 

Then what about Fantasy vs. Paranormal vs. Urban Fantasy? Generally, Fantasy takes place in a made-up kingdom, with kings, knights, dragons, elves, and whatever other things a fantasy kingdom needs. Paranormal takes place in our world, usually in our time. Those are vampires, werewolves, fey, angels, etc. Urban Fantasy vs. Paranormal is more difficult to differentiate, and I kind of think people are splitting hairs with this one (kind of like separating Dystopia and Post-Apoc), but a definition I heard while I was still reading YA Paranormal was that Urban Fantasy was basically Paranormal, only it happened in cities. I don't know if that's the correct definition, but it's what I heard. 

A classic example of a Paranormal is Rules are Meant to be Broken by N.J. Nielsen, a book about vampires. A good example of Urban Fantasy would be Ink by Isabelle Rowan, about a demon in the city of Melbourne, Australia. (Both of these take place in Australia, actually, but there's no big city backdrop in Rules are Meant to be Broken).

It really bothers me to have to go through Fantasy titles when I'm looking for Sci-Fi. It also bothers me to have to go through Sci-Fi titles to find Post-Apocalyptic. Come on, retailers and publishers, make it easier for us to find the books we want. 

I was lucky to stumble upon a list on Goodreads called Gay Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopic. I'm currently working my way through the titles there, but if there's a new Post-Apoc book out? I'll have to wait for it to hit that list, because I won't be able to find it on the retailer sites under a Post-Apoc listing. 

Want Purrrfect Books for Christmas? SWAG?

It's that time of year again: Christmas! I'm taking part in the Purrrfectly Giftastic Christmas Blog Hop. Don't forget to check our all the other 140+ authors, a lot of them fellow m/m authors (they're marked as such).

I'm sure you have a lot of jumping to do, so I'm keeping this short. In order to win one of prizes, just leave a comment along with your email address. If you're interested, you can follow me via Twitter, Facebook, GFC (follow button to the right) and my newsletter. This is not a must if you want to take part in the giveaway though.

Want a free read? Half-Baked Promises is available on Goodreads in pdf, mobi and ePub.

Here are my prizes:

1. SWAG pack + a Boston Boys ebook (winner's choice). SWAG includes:
- signed character cards from Erica Pike, Karenna Colcroft, and Cherie Noel.
- signed post cards from Erica Pike, AJ Kelton, Robert Moore, Kim Fielding, Silvia Violet, SA Garcia, Victor Alexander, Shira Anthony and Venona Keyes.
- signed bookmarks from Erica Pike, Ethan Stone, Robert Moore, and Deanna Wadsworth,
- other little bits and unsigned SWAG.

2. SWAG pack + Little Stalker in e-format. SWAG includes:
- signed character cards from Erica Pike, Ethan Stone, and Cat Grant.
- signed post cards from Erica Pike, JP Barnaby, Poppy Dennison, Marguerite Labbe, BA Tortuga and Julia Talbot, William Cooper, Tracie Ingersoll Loy
- signed bookmarks from Erica Pike, J.P. Barnaby, and Jeff Erno.
- other little bits and unsigned SWAG.

3. A College Fun and Gays ebook (winner's choice).

You can read about each book by clicking their pages in the bar above, or by clicking the images to the left. Here are quick summaries.

Boston Boys:

Adam is in love with this straight roommate:

Flamboyant and fabulous Eric throws chooses Mr. Right for Mr. Wrong, now he wants Mr. Right back:

College Fun and Gays:

Casper has been a victim of sail-by goosing:

Teacher Daniel doesn't want this deal with student Troy to end:

Harley has a strange arrangement with the guy on the other side of his wall:

Closet-case Coby has a cute little stalker:

Lex's 30 Days of Christmas: Little Stalker

Want a shot at winning a copy of Little Stalker? Then head over to Lex's 30 Days of Christmas party and leave a comment. This contest is for one day only and she'll announce the winner tomorrow.

A Life Without You: 4.25 Stars from Rarely Dusty Books

I don't share every single book blogger review here on my blog, even though I link them all to the book pages. However, I wanted to share this one from Rarely Dusty Books. I used to visit Goodreads every day to check for reviews, but over the past few months I only go at the end of the month to look (checked the November reviews just now, for example). Well, this review really caught me off guard and I think I must have looked a bit comical as I read it.

Rarely Dusty Books - 4.25 stars: Jaw-Dropping Review.

Absoluely Eric: Rainbow Awards

Well I was thrilled yesterday morning when I discovered that Absolutely Eric had won an honorable mention at the Rainbow Awards. I didn't really believe it would win any categories, which it didn't, because there were soooo many great books in that competition. Over 480 books were submitted and 30 of those got an honorable mention for "One Perfect Score". It's basically one or more judge's favorites. This is what the judge, who gave Absolutely Eric a perfect score, said:

Love love love this one!! Eric was sassy and adorable, Alex was charming and they way they got together was smoking hot! I've already re-read this one and no doubt will again!! –Anna

Now, excuse me while I shower this entry in Eric and pretty rainbows ^.^ He sure would have loved this if he was real.

Little Stalker: 4 Stars on Hearts on Fire Reviews

Wow, I didn't expect to get a review so fast. I sent out a few requests this morning and one's already up! Hearts on Fire Reviews gave Little Stalker 4 stars along with their excellent review. It's always exciting to see how the first reactions are. 

Release Day! Little Stalker by Erica Pike

Closet-case and college student Coby is being stalked by a cute guy...

Little Stalker (College Fun and Gays #4)

by Erica Pike

No Boundaries Press 

Blurb:

College student Coby is being stalked by a young guy and has no idea why, until someone suggests that the stalker may have a crush on him. The idea both excites and terrifies Coby, who is so deep in the closet he can barely manage to think the word “gay” without freaking out.

Excerpt:

He flinches from my touch and backs into the wall, but I follow and thread my fingers through that kitten-soft hair, pushing it aside to see the fading bruise.

Who would do that to him?

As Grayson looks down with flushed skin, his cheek brushes the inside of my palm. He jerks to a stop and holds his breath, just as I hold mine.

Without thinking about it, I lay my palm further against his skin, taking in the warm, soft feel of it. It’s like touching a girl...but still different. His skin is smooth, but there’s a thin line along his jaw that feels rougher, like a hint of stubble.

“Have you ever kissed a guy?” I ask in a low voice, shocking both him and myself with my words. But instead of trying to reel them back, I gaze down at his lowered face. Ray’s words this morning flash through my mind. ‘Just because you’d fuck him it wouldn't mean anything.’ I've been half horny all morning...

He sucks in his lower lip and licks the upper one with the tip of his tongue. It makes my whole groin twitch. The heat in my crotch is almost painful and the rest of my body feels numb.

“Yeah,” he whispers, still looking down.

“What’s it like?” I ask, my voice low and a little thicker than usual. “Is it different from kissing a girl?” It feels like there’s a vibrating rock in the pit of my stomach and its sending shocks to my rapidly beating heart. My fingers on his face tremble, and I’m breaking out in a sweat.

His gaze rises to meet mine, wide and pretty – eyes much too large for his small face. He licks his lips again, cocking his head to the side.

“ I've never kissed a girl,” he says in a low voice, chest heaving rapidly, red lips half parted.

God...

Before I can even think to stop myself, I’m lowering my head, my trembling lips touching his very, very lightly. It’s not enough to determine if it’s different, but it feels soft and wet, and oh, he smells so good. His hair is a little damp after the rain, but his own natural smell... I touch my lips to his again, a little firmer this time, lingering, savoring the wet, ticklish feel that sends all sorts of sparks through my body. My head feels so light it’s like I’m not even in my own body anymore. Yeah, it definitely feels different from kissing a girl; it feels unreal.

We kiss more, each touch experimental, hesitant. My fingers barely touch his face and he trembles less than an inch from my arm.

When I pull back, I gaze in Grayson’s dazed eyes. They mirror my own hazy brain. The warmth from his body is like a magnet, trying to pull mine closer, and I gently position my hands on his hips. I lick my lips and step closer.

He meets me halfway when I bend down to kiss him again, sliding his arms up my torso to rest on my pectorals. He moans once, his mouth opens for my tongue, and my knees go weak with all the fireworks shooting from limb to limb. God, he feels so good. His tongue is thin, nimble, and so hot against mine it burns. He grabs my shoulder when it feels like he’s about to fall, and his other hand clasps the shirt on my back for support. I grab him, holding on tightly as I kiss him with tongue twisting, teeth clashing intensity, grazing his lips with my teeth and sucking on them. I hear myself moan into his mouth and him echoing with added whimpers and sighs. He feels so good.

I break away to rest my forehead against his, just to catch my breath a little.

Available at No Boundaries Press, All Romance eBooks, Amazon, B&N (and others soon).

Little Stalker on Goodreads.

Fun Author Chat at LRC Today

I'll be at Love Romance Café today with other No Boundaries Press authors. The purpose is to promote our books, discuss future projects, answer questions, GIVEAWAYS, and just chat and have fun :) I've already answered the first round of questions. There's news of Welcome Brother there among other things.

M/M Reader Appreciation Day: The Sweet Spot

The second post from me today. I'm taking part in the M/M Reader Appreciation Day on The Sweet Spot. It's a yahoo group that you have to sign up for if you want to enter the giveaway. My prize is a copy of The Walls Have Ears, but there are more authors offering prizes and you only have to sign up in one place. I'll also be dropping by for a chat/excerpt.

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 others voices, but they have never met in person.

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

Backlist Hop - Back When I Was a Baby.

It's time to dust and revive the oldies. Of course, my oldies are only eight months old, but they still feel ancient to me. Wow, I was such a newbie back in January.

Technically, I had three releases that month. The very first was a freebie, In His Pocket. It's a very short, very fast read just to give people a taste for my writing style. Me being an Icelander, the topic really didn't seem that off-putting, but I learned fast that it didn't go down well with everyone. "Daddy kink" someone called it, which I suppose it is, but I was just coming out of my yaoi era. However, it's a fast-paced little fic.

The second was my short story Hot Hands, published by No Boundaries Press. It was the first in what will be five short stories (maybe six). I got the idea for this one when I was walking to my seat in a theater and someone accidentally brushed against my bum. I figured, hey, that would be an interesting story, and so the story of Casper being goosed and groped without catching the groper was born. It's a fun, fast, and a bit achy story. Have you already read this and thought the ending was a bit abrupt? Well, I'm currently editing the sequel, Cold Hands!

The third, and my official debut novel, was A Life Without You, published by MLR Press (came out in print, too). It's the first in a series about a group of friends in Boston. Technically, these two characters aren't a part of the group until later, but a sort of a third wheel and the sun of the group, Eric, is introduced and he's the main character in the next book. This book (ALWY) is about a gay college boy, Adam, who falls in love with his straight roommate, Jesse. Of course, like with most of these stories, Jesse isn't all that straight, just ass-deep in denial. For those who have already read this, I have a sequel in mind for this couple. It'll probably be more of a novella, but I intend to write it for next year. If you like angst, you'll probably like A Life Without You.

So, what am I offering for this backlist hop? A choice between A Life Without You or Hot Hands. Please leave a comment with your email address and your preferred format: pdf, mobi, or ePub.

But wait! Before you go, there are more people taking part in this. You can go to the main site or you can click the links below.

Oh and hey, if I'm a new-to-you author, feel free to grab a copy of my other free read, Half-Baked Promises.

Fun Facts about Lisabet Sarai

Please welcome my fellow m/m writer, Lisabet Sarai. Lisabet is doing a blog tour for her new release, Quarantine. Now, I don't know about you, but a title like that gets me curious! Plus, it's a sci-fi. *Adds to wish list.* She's giving away a title from her backlist at each stop, which means that she's giving away a title right here on my blog! Don't forget to leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win. 

Now, on with the fun facts about Lisabet Sarai! You know me...I need to comment, so my comments are in blue ;)

I was named after Queen Elizabeth the Second because I was born in the year of her coronation.

Queen Elizabeth II

So that will immediately let readers know that I'm no spring chicken, since Her Majesty the Queen is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee – sixty years on the throne – this year. Yes, I'll be hitting the big six-oh in January, and darn it, I'm hoping to have a huge party! Though perhaps not as big as the Queen's...  

(Well, you both look like queens!)

When I was in primary school, I wanted to be an astronaut.

When I watched Alan Shepard, the first American shot into space, on the black and white TV in our school cafeteria, I was overcome with wonder. I read science fiction (Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov and anyone else I could get my hands on),  watched the television show “My Favorite Martian”, and daydreamed about discovering new planets and alien races. Only when I reached junior high did I learn that astronauts had to be perfect physical specimens. With my coke-bottle glasses and flat feet, I wasn't going to pass muster. It never occurred to me that being female might be an obstacle. 

(I see where your love for sci-fi comes from ^.^)

I've always written but never considered a career as a writer.

My love affair with words began very early. Family apocrypha relate that I was talking at six months old. (My husband says that I haven't stopped since!) My writing files include some stories and poems I composed when I was seven years old. I wrote fiction, poetry and plays throughout elementary school, high school, college and grad school. Writing has always been my favorite mode of expression. And yet it never occurred to me that I might make my living as an author. I expected to be a scientist. My role models were Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklin, not Charlotte Brontë or Anne Rice (even though I loved their books).

(Kind of the same with me, only I was going to be a business woman. Studied for it and all.)

Belly dancer!

While I was in graduate school, I regularly performed as a belly dancer.

You can see a photo of (a much younger) me in the gallery on my website, wearing a costume I sewed myself. I'd been exposed to Middle Eastern music and dance in high school and fell in love with it. Later I had the chance to take lessons and workshops from professionals. I still find it hard to sit still when someone starts playing a baladi or a ciftitelli rhythm, and I miss my zils.

(I belly danced too! Probably wasn't as advanced as you though.)

I've traveled to every continent except Australia (and Antarctica).

My husband seduced me in a Burmese restaurant with his tales of foreign adventures. We've been traveling ever since, though financial constraints and work requirements mean that our trips are shorter and less frequent than we'd like. The majority of our voyages have taken us to Asia or Europe, but I've also visited Morocco, Peru, Costa Rica, and New Zealand. I should mention that I still have a long wish list of places we haven't been! 

(Ooooh! Have you been to Iceland yet?)

Yeah, that's a chocolate keyboard. Drool!

I don't like sweets and could live my whole life without chocolate.

Unbelievable as it may sound, I have very little interest in desert. I'd much rather have a second helping of the main dish. Meanwhile, chocolate makes me break out as if I were still a teenager. I don't really mind. Seriously! If all the chocolate in the world suddenly vanished, I wouldn't even notice. 

(Oh my God! I'm currently trying to quit chocolate. It's soooo hard... *craves*)

My favorite foods include tuna fish salad, fried chicken, and pot roast.

Especially when I'm the cook! 

(Yeah, I could live with that. If I'm not the cook.)

I think I lived a past life in the Victorian era. 

I guess this is more of a theory than a fact. As long as I can remember – long before the advent of steam punk - I've had a special attraction to Victorian architecture, fashion and literature. I dream of living in a gingerbread-ornamented “painted lady” in San Francisco, with a turret and a veranda. My high school photo shows a young woman with long hair, a long, tight-belted skirt and a high-necked, white-ruffled blouse with a cameo brooch. My novel Incognito features a Victorian subplot and I swear, writing Beatrice's diary entries from the 1880's felt as natural as breathing.

(Yeah, that's a very romantic era.)

Jukebox, for you younglings...

I seem to have a jukebox in my head.

I don't play any instrument but I probably can sing two hundred songs from memory – maybe more. A chance phrase that I hear or read is likely to set some song running in my mind, involuntarily. It doesn't seem to matter whether I like the song or not. Once the loop starts, the only way to interrupt it is to deliberately sing a different tune. 

(You're like my cousin there. She knows all the words. I hardly know any.)

I never expected to get married, but last month my husband and I celebrated our thirty year anniversary.

There was so much divorce in my family, I couldn't see the point of marriage. In addition, I considered it highly unlikely that I'd meet one guy who could keep me from getting bored. Turns out I was wrong, though – and believe me, I'm very grateful!

(Oh wow, congrats! Sounds like you two are happy and have lots in common.)

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My thanks to Erica for having me as her guest. This post is part of my blog tour to celebrate the release of my M/M science fiction novel Quarantine, which will run  through the 24th of July. I'll be giving away an ebook to one commenter at each stop on the tour. So leave a comment – and don't forget to include your email address so I can contact you!

I'll also be choosing one commenter from the entire tour to win the grand prize – a $50 All Romance Ebooks gift certificate. Meanwhile, all comments at my own blog Beyond Romance during the tour will also go into the drawing for the gift certificate. 

You'll find the schedule for the tour in my July newsletter.

Check out my fantastic trailer here! And if you're interested in getting your own copy of Quarantine, just go to Total-E-Bound!

Thanks so much Lisabet! Those are very interesting facts. Now excuse me while I look up Quarantine ^.^

Excerpt: The Walls Have Ears

Harley has a strange relationship with the guy on the other side of his wall...

Excerpt for The Walls Have Ears:

The walls have ears, or more like, the guy on the other side of the wall has ears…and a lovely voice. His moans are deep and sensual. They drive me nuts every time I masturbate to his grunts, like I’ve been doing almost every night since moving in.

I had been dreading going off to live with some stranger in the deep, dark forest that is Philadelphia. The rustle and bustle of city life was scary for a small-town boy like me. It didn’t help that the people I knew, who’d been to Philly, took great joy in stuffing my head full with stories of serial killers, mobsters, and nasty dorm mates. That last part scared the hell out of me, because I was a green-horned little girly-guy. I was sure I’d be pushed down and fucked by the first guy to cross my path. Of course, the idea of being fucked wasn’t all that unappealing, but I didn’t want to be made into the dorm’s butt boy or anything.

Naturally, nothing of the sort happened and I really hit the jackpot with my roommate Ryan. We don’t really run in the same circles. It’s not that he wouldn’t hang out with me if I asked; it’s just that he’s a very busy guy with his sports and other multiple after-school activities. The guy is so busy he barely stays in our small dorm apartment, so it’s almost as if I have it all to myself, which is another plus.

However, it isn’t Ryan who’s moaning so deeply on the other side of the wall. There’s a whole living room-slash-kitchen area between mine and Ryan’s rooms. No, the neighbor is one of the two smoldering hot guys who live in the apartment next to ours.

On my first night here, I was just about to fall asleep on the wooden bed, under my green comforter, when I heard these low, sexy grunts coming from the other side of the wall. He wasn’t alone. In between his deep groans were low gasps and moans coming from another guy. My cock immediately perked up at the sweet sounds. I jerked off as quietly as I could and came hard just about the time the owner of the deep voice did.

There were more nights like that. The guy had a lot of partners, and sometimes it was just him alone. Lately it’s just been him and me. See, one night, about a month ago, we were both getting off on each side of the wall. When he let out a particularly long and sensual groan, my own voice slipped with a low moan. I practically heard him stop for a few seconds, but then he continued and groaned again, only a little higher this time. I was curious, embarrassed, and thrilled all at the same time. Instead of stopping, I kept at it and let out an experimental moan. My neighbor’s voice grew louder and from the sound of things he was definitely masturbating. We ended up fisting our cocks, vocalizing our pleasures with moans, groans, grunts, and gasps until we climaxed. I hid under the comforter after that with a mind spinning like a hula hoop. I thought he’d want us to talk and that would only get me embarrassed, but he never said anything. We did, however, repeat the game every night after that.

With knees pressed in the thick mattress, I lean my head against the red wall with labored breaths. I yank on my cock so fast my vision goes blurry. He breathes equally hard on the other side. His forehead bumps against the wall, right against mine with only the thin wall between us.

“Fuck,” I whisper when the wonderful tightness in my balls gathers in a knot.

He groans deeply in response, which coaxes out a moan from me just before I cry out my groin-twisting ecstasy. His lovely voice lets out a series of deep grunts as he comes. We know each other’s voices so well now that we automatically tune in on each other’s rhythm and almost always come at the same time.

After my boneless body slumps down on the bed, I reach for tissues to wipe myself off. My neighbor runs his fingers along the wall and rustles about, maybe wiping himself off too or getting comfortable on the bed. When all is quiet again, he strokes the wall and whispers good night to me.

“Good night,” I murmur back just before curling up and dozing off.

Love in Bloom Extravaganza + Absolutely Eric Giveaway

Hi guys :)

I'm up on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews in their Love in Bloom Extravaganza where I'm giving away a copy of Absolutely Eric. If you take part, you could also win a Kindle or Nook, plus a $99 GC at Amazon or B&N, so do stop by!

Also, Absolutely Eric is now also available at Amazon. Other places will soon follow :)

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