Equal Rights Blog Hop and Giveaway

Hey there, everyone! I've got a fun event going on here for the next few days. I'm taking part in the Equal Rights Blog Hop hosted by Queer Town Abbey. Several very talented authors are also taking part, so do be sure to visit Queer Town Abbey's site, see all the participating authors, and pay them a visit on their blogs.

For the theme of this hop, each participating author is to write what it means to be a part of the GLBT community, and also include a question at the end for everyone to answer. You can then take that answer to Queer Town Abbey's site and enter to win one of the Grand Prizes. The answer to my question will be in this post, so be on the lookout ;-) 

In addition, I'm also giving away a copy of one of my books, in ebook, winner's choice of title. Just leave a comment on this post (be sure to include your email address) to be entered in my giveaway.

So, what does it mean for me to be included in the GLBT community? Well, for me, I'm a heterosexual woman. I've never made any secret of that since becoming an author of gay romance. I hope it's not a surprise to anyone now! So while I may not be homosexual, bisexual, or transgender, I am a straight ally, and I do feel welcomed by the GLBT community because of that and my writing. Having that acceptance and support means more than I can ever adequately express.

I wrote my first gay erotic romance book, CONQUEST, back in 2005, and finally started submitting it to publishers in 2008. After all this time, it's still my favorite book out of all the stories I've written :-) I remember back when I wrote it, I didn't know about the M/M genre, which was much smaller then, so I submitted it to general romance publishers, because...well, the book was romance. It just happened to have two men falling in love rather than a man and a woman. 

I didn't think much of that difference, because in my eyes, love is love. I received quite the wake-up call that some of those romance publishers, at that time, didn't view it the same way. But those rejections only fueled my determination to get the story published. I felt it was even more important to put out a book featuring a strong, loving relationship between two men. That determination led me to find my current publisher, MLR Press, and my goal continues to be putting out positive stories featuring gay men.

I'm proud to support equal rights and write the stories that I do. It's about supporting all individuals, of all identities and sexualities, and working together to make the world a more positive and beautiful place.

Now for your question that you can take the answer of over to QTA's site and use for entering in the Grand Prize giveaway! What is my favorite book that I've written?

My thanks to everyone who's stopped by today, and to Queer Town Abbey for organizing the hop! Good luck to all in the giveaways!

Howloween Blog Hop Giveaway!

Hey, guys and girls! Yep, it's giveaway time again! Woo hoo! I'm taking part in the Howloween Blog Hop, organized by the lovely, Drea Becraft, with 300 other talented authors, and I'm offering up a free ebook, winner's choice of title. If you'd like to check out the other authors' giveaway, just click the button below to be taken to a list.

To be entered in my giveaway, just leave a comment on this post. In your post, please an email address where I can contact you if you win. Also, if for any reason Blogger won't let you post a comment, you can email me your entry at s.j.frost3@gmail.com, or catch me on Facebook or Twitter. The giveaway runs from the 26th - the 29th, and I'll be announcing my winner on the 30th!

I gotta admit, I love Halloween. Which is surprising since I'm about the biggest chicken you'd ever meet. I watch the scary parts of horror movies peeking through my fingers, and if you were to ever go to a haunted house with me, it's guaranteed I'll make you go in first. I'd have to! How else would I be able to scream in your ear and jump on your back to make you carry me back out? Okay, those are slight exaggerations ..very slight, but that's what makes this holiday so much fun! I do enjoy a good scare :-)

On a final note, unfortunately, the winner from the GLBT Madness hasn't gotten back with me, so I paid Random.org another visit and have a new winner from that contest. Congratulations, Tina! I'll be getting in touch with you soon! And I've yet to hear from the winner of my second giveaway, but I'll give them through the weekend, then will select a new winner if I don't hear from them by Monday the 29th . I just wanted to give a head's up to those of you who entered in that contest.

Thanks so much to everyone who's stopped by for this giveaway! Much good luck to all! Here's wishing you a happy, spooky, and safe Halloween!

GLBT Madness Blog Hop Giveaway

Hey there, ladies and gentlemen! I'm taking part in the very fun GLBT Madness Blog Hop, hosted by The Romance Reviews (TRR). I'm excited to be in on the fun, and for my prize, I'm offering up winner's choice of a free title from my backlist, in ebook. To be entered for a chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. The hop runs from September 27th until the September 30th, and I'll be announcing my winner on October 1st, that way it gives everyone in all different time zones a chance to enter.

Those of us who are taking part in this hop are showcasing one GLBT title that we love. Not an easy task! As an author of gay erotic romance, I've read so many titles in the genre, I didn't know where to begin. There are so many beautifully talented authors who write GLBT stories, and the list of authors whose talent and books I admire goes on and on. So I had to really sit down and think of all the books I've read, which has impacted me the most. The answer came in the very first book I ever read which featured a homosexual character, Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey.

I first read this book and the trilogy that it's part of...do I dare say it?...nearly twenty years ago. And wow, now I feel old! Yet despite all the time that's passed, the books have stayed with me. The trilogy is called The Last Herald Mage, and the three books, in order, are; Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise, and Magic's Price.
                                                                                         


I was young when I first came across these books, about thirteen, but I've since re-read them as an adult and they struck me in the same way. Same as when I was a young girl, I cried and cried reading the stories, and once again, the main character, Vanyel Ashkevron, grabbed my heart with just as much force, if not more, because as an adult, I was able to fully understand him and empathize with him.

The books aren't light, fluffy reads. They're fantasy, not romance, so Happily Ever After isn't a requirement for the characters. Vanyel faces constant challenges, hardships, tragedies, and heartbreak. The series starts out with him as a young man, only just discovering his sexuality, and soon, the incredible power that exists within him. Throughout the series he grows, both in his power and in character. No matter the challenge or his personal pain, Vanyel continues to rise, fight for those in need, and make sacrifices for the greater good.

Back when these books were published (Magic's Pawn was published in 1983), gay characters in mainstream novels wasn't the most common thing. And when they were presented, so often it was in a negative light or as stereotypes, or they were secondary characters that got glossed over. And that's what makes the Last Herald Mage trilogy special. Mercedes Lackey pushed the boundaries of mainstream fiction at the time to present an openly gay hero who was layered, real, and flawed like any person, caring, brave, noble, honorable, and self-sacrificing. And for me, after being on Vanyel's journey with him through the three books, I was so emotionally invested in that him I've carried him in my heart for all these years. Now that's the mark of incredible story telling.

While the stories I write are different are different in themes - rock stars, vampires, samurai - I can say without doubt that Vanyel and the Last Herald Mage trilogy certainly influenced me as an author. So if you like fantasy and don't mind shedding a few tears, I very highly recommend the books.

And for other great books and authors, be sure to check out the other awesome blogs taking part in this hop! If you have an account at TRR and are logged in, all you have to do is click the button below to be taken to the next blog! You can also see all the participating blogs HERE.

I hope all who stop by my humble little blog enjoy it! And good luck to everyone who enters the giveaway!