Special Guest: Jaime Samms with new release OFF STAGE: RIGHT

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm so very excited to feature a special guest here today, the lovely and talented Jaime Samms! She's here to talk about her newest release, OFF STAGE: RIGHT, a rocker story, and we all know how much I love the rocker boys. The world can never have enough of them, so it's wonderful to introduce everyone to Jaime's. And now it's my pleasure to give you Jamie Samms and her boys in the band, Firefly!

I want to thank Shannon for letting me drop by. It's especially exciting because she wrote some of my very favorite books ever and it's so awesome to be welcomed on her blog just to talk about my new book a bit. In all honesty, I think this new release is partially her fault, anyway! ;p When I was a kid growing up, I had this fascination with rock bands. I just loved watching them, and as one kid of many in a big family, growing up in the eighties was a blessing, since I couldn't afford concerts. At least I could watch lots and lots of videos. I fell in love.

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Not usually with the stars themselves, but with the whole idea of being a rock star. the lifestyle and the music and the bonding between band mates. It all looked so very glamorous from the outside. (And, well, yeah, okay, the guys were sometimes pretty cute, but that was totally beside the point.)

                                          

Later, when I was well into reading all those lovely m/m books, imagine how sweet it was to discover that whole world of glam rock resurface in my books! WOOT! And with perks! Among my favorite were S.J. Frost's Conquest and Black heart Down books. They just rock so hard. How could you not love Jesse and Even or Kyler and Robbie. Especially Kyler and Robbie. I guess I have a thing for dysfunctional bad-boy relationships, because those two remain my favorite couple of the whole series. And I think I have to admit, the series was probably at least partially to blame for the inspiration behind my own new release, Off Stage: Right.

In it, Damian and Lenny are the ultimate in dysfunctional, and playing together on stage is about the only thing they have going for them as a reason to stay together. As lovers, they're abysmal, with Lenny being a cock-tease and Damian a horny bastard. As friends, well, they do a little better there, but not much. It takes meeting Stanley and Vance, two friends who long ago figured out how to balance love, life, friendship and music on the road, to realize something is going to give, and when it does, it will be a spectacular, media circus disaster. Unless Stan and Vance can intervene before that happens and save Damian, Lenny, and their band, Firefly from themselves.

                                         

Blurb: Damian Learner and his grunge band, Firefly, are on a meteoric rise to success. If they get the right break, fame awaits. Seeking more professional management, Damian independently strikes a bargain with the best agent in the business, Stanley Krane. Unable to afford the penalty for breaking old contracts, Damian agrees when Stan’s best friend, country and Western megastar Vance Ashcroft, offers to buy him out of his old contract.

Overwhelmed by a crippling loan, secretive guilt, Stanley’s expectations, and a volatile relationship with Lenny, Firefly’s lead guitarist, Damian disintegrates. Bad habits of too much sex, booze, and drugs create a rift in the band. Finally Vance, with his understanding of Dominant/submissive behavior, sees that submissives Damian and Lenny are falling into chaos, clinging to each other to try to avoid the inevitable crash.

When the pressure to perform becomes too much and the unthinkable happens, Damian and Lenny have to decide: accept that they need something they can’t get from each other, or burn out and take Firefly with them. Vance is ready to claim Lenny, but even Stan’s hesitant agreement to give Damian the direction he needs might not be enough for Damian—or the band—if he loses Lenny.

 Buy Link: At Dreamspinner Press
Jamie's Website: http://jaime-samms.com/

I'm so very happy to have had you here today, Jaime, and I can't tell you how flattered I am to hear your sweet words about the Conquest series and the Black Heart Down boys. It means so much that they helped give you some inspiration, and I'm wishing you and your boys in Firefly all the best of luck and much success with OFF STAGE: RIGHT!

Cover art and blurb reveal: TO THE OTHER SIDE

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm beyond ecstatic to share with you all the gorgeous new cover for my upcoming release, TO THE OTHER SIDE. I can't even tell you all how much I love this cover. It was made by the very sweet and talented, Jared Rackler. When I saw it, I was absolutely floored. I think he did a fantastic job, and he's one talented man! I thank him very much for all the hard work he put into it!

I've just gotten edits back on this story last week, so that's my writing focus at the moment. I'm going to read over the full manuscript while doing the edits, then back to my lovely editor it will go. As of right now, we're still keeping our fingers crossed for a June release on it at MLR Press, but no solid date yet. I'm moving a little slow on edits, so I'm to blame if it comes out later than projected. I'll own up to that now :-) But I'm still going to work my hardest and do my best to get this story out to all of you as soon as I can! I'm super excited about it, and can't wait to share it!

And now, here's the wonderful cover by Jared, and the blurb!

BLURB:

Garrett Evergard is a finder of secrets. As a biologist and environmentalist, it’s his job to go into wild lands and uncover their mysteries in order to save them. In the Pacific Northwest, he races against logging lobbyists to save a section of temperate rainforest, but the forest seems reluctant to give up her secrets. Until a fateful meeting with a rare spirit bear opens the door to wonders beyond anything he’s ever imagine, the greatest of those being the beautiful man who comes to his rescue.

As a witch and Gatekeeper, Bryson Summers is used to living a solitary life. He lives between two worlds, Earth and Terra, feeling not fully part of either, and dreams of meeting someone who understands him. From the moment he sees Garrett, he believes – and hopes – he’s looking upon a twin soul.

Dragons, unicorns, and a witch with enchanting brown eyes, Garrett tries to make sense of a world so different from anything he’s ever known. But his mind and heart are open, and he finds himself drawn more to Bryson with each day they spend together. When Bryson and the gate that links the two worlds fall under threat, Garrett is willing to do all he can to protect them, even if it means facing down dark magic.

April Reader Appreciation Day: Prize List!

All right, ladies and gentlemen! Here's the awesome prize list for Reader Appreciation Day, which will be held this Saturday, April 20th, at The Sweet Spot! This wonderful collection of prizes has been donated by these generous authors as their way of saying "thank you" to the readers out there. To learn more about the author or book, just click their name.

• AJ Kelton - winner's choice of ebook or print copy of FAELON
• Tyler Robbins - ebook copy of BEYOND HONOR
• Marie Sexton - ebook copy of PROMOTED BY THE BILLIONAIRE anthology, including “Flowers for Him” by Marie Sexton and Rowan Speedwell
• JM Cartwright - ebook copy of BRAINY AND THE BEAST
• Lori Toland - ebook copy of DANGEROUS SUBMISSION (releases April 23rd, winner will receive their copy next week)
• Michael Mandrake - ebook copy of MON FRERE, MY TRUE LOVE
• Michael Mandrake - ebook copy of I LIKE EM PRETTY
• Skylar M. Cates - ebook copy of EXPOSED
• R.A. Padmos - print copy of RAVAGES
• Jambrea Jo Jones - ebook copy of CLAIMED
• Sloan Parker - $15 in eBook Bucks from All Romance eBooks
• S.J. Frost - ebook copy of winner's choice from backlist

To the authors who have donated a prize for RAD, your generosity is so very appreciated, and we thank you! Any author who would still like to donate a prize is more than welcomed to. All you have to do is send out an email to: thesweetspotmm@gmail.com  Please include what you'd like to donate for the April giveaway, a link, and a cover art pic. All authors are invited to spot by the Yahoo group, share excerpts, and your latest news! Readers, make sure you swing by too and see what some of your favorite authors are up to.

As usual, the prize list will be posted throughout the day at The Sweet Spot Yahoo group, starting at 8:00 am EST. Reader Appreciation Day wraps up about 8:00 pm EST, with the winners announced shortly thereafter. Authors who have donated a prize will be contacted at about the same time with their winner so they can send their prize personally. To enter in the giveaway, just reply to any of the giveaway threads on the group. The Yahoo group is open to all M/M authors to post excerpts of their work on Reader Appreciation Day.

Hope to see everyone tomorrow at The Sweet Spot!

April 20th Reader Appreciation Day and Open Excerpt Day

Hello, everyone! Over at The Sweet Spot, we're getting ready for another Reader Appreciation Day! Here's the official announcement for April's RAD!

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It's almost time for Reader Appreciation Day at The Sweet Spot, the Yahoo Group run by Sloan Parker, Jambrea Jo Jones, and me! This fun event is held on the third Saturday of every month. The list of prizes donated by generous authors will be posted this Friday.

Sloan, Jambrea, and I are thrilled to announce M/M Reader Appreciation Day at The Sweet Spot. This is one day every month for authors of M/M romance to say "thanks" to all you readers out there who support our writing efforts.

This month's Reader Appreciation Day will be held on Saturday, April 20th. On that day, we'll post a giveaway thread throughout the day featuring a full list of all prizes available in the group. Just respond to one of the giveaway threads on the Yahoo Group between 8am and 8pm EST to be included in the drawing.

Readers, stop by the Yahoo Group  to chat with authors and enter for a chance to win free books and other prizes from a variety of M/M authors.

Authors, if you're interested in participating in the giveaway, send an email to: thesweetspotmm@gmail.com
Please include what you'd like to donate for the April giveaway, a link, and a cover art pic. Gift certificates, swag, and other prizes are also welcomed to donate for prizes other than books! In the future, we'll include you in our monthly announcement for a chance to donate. You can participate as little or as often as you'd like. Reader Appreciation Day is also an Open Excerpt Day, and authors are welcomed to post to blurbs and excerpts of their work, and of course, share any other fun news you've got going on!

Hope to see you all at The Sweet Spot!

An update on TO THE OTHER SIDE

Hello, everyone! Wow, have things been busy for me lately! But it's all been a good kind of busy, so you won't hear any complaints from me. If anything, I've got nothing but good news to share!

You guys may recall me mentioning from time to time, the M/M fantasy novel I was working on and turned over to MLR Press, TO THE OTHER SIDE. Well, it looks like it's found a home there. Hooray! Edits are going to start soon on it, and from what my editor said, we're looking at around June of this year for a possible release month. Don't have a specific day yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to post it!

I know a lot of folks don't know what to expect from this novel, because it's a different genre than my contemporaries with the Conquest series, my paranormals with the Instincts series, and even my historical with OF HONOR AND LOVE. So because it's a bit different, I thought I'd talk a little bit about it, and even share some inspiration.

A dear friend on Facebook mentioned one day that I should write a story with a witch. Almost as soon as she said that, a figure stepped forward in my head and I knew exactly who he was; he was my witch. I also knew, I would write his story. Along with him came another figure, his partner, and together, their story started unfolding in my mind. When I got the chance to start working on TO THE OTHER SIDE, it actually went very quickly. Well, for me since it usually takes me months to finish a first draft. But both characters were so strong, and along with them, they brought a host of other characters, humans and otherwise, and they carried me along through their tale.

By the time I reached The End, I had a story that extended across two worlds, our own modern world and a second world called Terra (a more traditional, medieval based fantasy world), that was a love story with an interracial couple since my witch, Bryson, is also Native American, and Garrett, his love interest, is Caucasian, and along with fantasy elements, contains an underlying environmental theme. All of these elements are interwoven in the story, but throughout it all, the love story between Bryson and Garrett remains at the heart.

Like I often do, I went searching for images of guys who could fit for what I imagined Bryson and Garrett to look like. Rarely do I find any real life images who look like my characters, but I actually scored pretty well for Bryson and Garrett. Sadly, these models won't be on the cover, since these aren't stock images. I don't even know who they are, but in these particular shots of these men, they look a lot like how I envision Bryson and Garrett appearing in the story.

My witch and Gatekeeper, Bryson Summers

My biologist and environmentalist, Garrett Evergard

Not bad, huh ;-) I think they're a fun couple in the story, and I hope everyone who decides to give my first foray into writing gay fantasy, will like them, too. I've loved the fantasy genre ever since I was a little girl, so now having my first fantasy themed story getting published is very exciting for me. And I can say that this story is the first of what will probably be three books, because there's at least two supporting characters who I'd really love to write a story on.

And so, there you go! A little more info on TO THE OTHER SIDE! Hope it's all sounding good so far!