My publisher agreed to modify the cover for my book rather than give me a brand new cover, but at least it no longer gives the impression of menage. I have no idea if it's too late to get noticed by all the readers who originally passed it by, but I guess I'll just have to keep doing promo with the new cover and maybe that will help.

Original

What do you think?

I rewrote the blurb as well since the other one mentioned the woman and might have reinforced the original misconceptions.

SEX, LIES & WEDDING BELLS

Kieran Quinn is a Texas native transplanted to Manhattan and working as a columnist for a national magazine. He's famous for his snarky, sardonic columns, but deep down he's more interested in what makes people tick than his editor would like. He keeps his desire to find his own Mr. Right hidden under a sexy, carefree persona that favors champagne and underwear models of the male variety.

When Kieran goes to Texas to cover the latest wedding of a real-life "runaway bride," he falls hard for the gorgeous—and straight—groom. Jaxon Lang is the handsome, confident high school principal in a tiny Texas town, where he relocated from Dallas to pursue his relationship with a woman he thinks he wants to settle down with, despite the fact she's left three men at the altar before him.

Kieran's charm and unique attitudes about sex and attraction soon challenge Jaxon's concept of what–and who–he wants. Will anything change when Kieran discovers the bride's been keeping a shocking secret?

Excerpts, reviews and chapter one online!
Buy here

Word Counts - Today: 0 | March: 10,000 | 2009: 68,046

My short "A Heat.Seeking.Missile" releases today from Torquere!

This started out as something just quick and dirty and fun, but I fleshed it out and I'm really happy with the final result.

A Heat.Seeking.Missile

by EM Lynley
from Torquere Press, $1.29

Nate and Cory are good friends and co-workers, but Nate wishes there was more to it. On a blistering hot Sunday, as the two are 'keeping hydrated' with plenty of beer, Nate hears the words: "…Heat. Seeking. Missile." Nate daydreams that's what Cory's hiding in those shorts often enough, but he's also sure Cory would never say something like that. Nate tries to cool down but his imagination keeps heating up. Is it wishful  thinking or does Cory really have Nate in his sights?

"My cock is a heat. Seeking. Missile," Cory said, pausing between the words for maximum effect.

Nate's eyes flew open and he looked at Cory, who sat shirtless on the couch next to him, tiny rivulets of sweat dripping between the well-defined muscles on Cory's chest while damp, dark-blond bangs clung to his forehead.

Cory had a huge grin on his face and one hand in his lap, rubbing himself, but his face was still turned towards the television in front of them. Nate could see the outline of Cory's hardening cock through the thin green fabric of his gym shorts and blinked. This was not happening.

"And you are fucking hot, Nate." Cory's voice was low and sexy, and full of unsaid promises. Nate wasn't sure how many times he'd imagined Cory saying something like that to him. Hundreds? That might cover it, Nate thought with some embarrassment. It really wasn't cool to have such a crush on your closest friend.

Nate closed his eyes again for a few seconds, maybe a minute. When he opened them again Cory was still on the couch, with the newspaper in his lap, working on the Sunday crossword puzzle with a red felt-tip pen.

"What did you just say?" Nate asked, still pretty sure it had all been a mirage, or a hallucination, or something. He and Cory were just friends, had been since they day they'd met six months earlier in the cafeteria of the software company they both worked for — two Texas boys transplanted into what seemed like alien territory for them. They were pretty close — but regretfully, not that kind of friends.

Of course, Nate would have liked it to be more. Half the time they were together, Nate had to keep himself from imagining what it would be like to run his hands along Cory's muscular chest, feel the powerful arms around him, the soft pink lips crushing his. He just didn't get any vibes from Cory that he wanted to be anything more than friends, and Nate wasn't about to make the first move. Nate wasn't in the closet, but he didn't make a habit of sharing his sex life with co-workers, and while he was almost certain Cory was gay, too, their conversations had somehow never touched on dating.

"I said it's fucking hot and what's a 6-letter word for 'type of missile'?" Cory replied, eyes on the newspaper rather than Nate. "Oh, and we're almost out of beer."

Buy Now, only $1.29!

Word Counts - Today: 0 | March: 10,000 | 2009: 68,046

My flist is such a fountain of useful information, so I'm asking for your opinions on anthologies today!

I've got questions for readers and for writers… I'm in discussions with a publisher about signing on to edit a couple of anthologies, and before I finalize anything, I'd love some feedback.

Readers: I'm hoping to make the anthos LGBT only, but the pub might want some het stories in there, too. Would m/m readers buy an antho that had half het stories in it? 25% het stories? If you don't like LGBT would those stories keep you from buying an anthology? I want to appeal to a lot of readers but I don't want either group to feel they are being short-changed if they don't get enough of the content they most enjoy reading. Would you buy an antho if you like the subject, even if it's not filled with authors you already know and love?

Writers: What determines if you will sub to an anthology? The topic, editor, publisher, payment? The payment looks to be pretty small, but will include royalites, rather than just inital payment. Does that appeal to you? I'm honestly concerned about being able to attract quality stories given the budget but would kick in part of my share to get some good stuff.

Word Counts - Today: 0 | March: 10,000 | 2009: 68,046

I'm so thrilled about this exciting news! When it first got contracted, I knew the publisher wasn't planning a print program, so I'd given up the idea of ever holding my first published book in my hands. But last week my editor told me SEX, LIES & WEDDING BELLS is one of a dozen titles chosen for the print program, based on its fantastic sales figures and that m/m titles are selling so well there!

 I don't have a print release date yet, but of course, as soon as I know I'll be posting about it! I'm also getting a new edit and a new cover that shouldn't even hint at ménage.

 For now, it's available in all e-formats, from the publisher, Amazon, Fictionwise and ARe!
Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells — a fun, sexy m/m twist on Runaway Bride, without the bride!

Read excerpts
Read Chapter one online!

Word Counts - Today: 0 | March: 10,000 | 2009: 68,046

I'm trying to work on a piece that's supposed to be about 5000 words. At 3500 words it's not half finished, so clearly it will go over the length limit. It's not a disaster for this piece, but I still can't quite figure out how to keep my story line pared back to know that when it's finished it will be a particular length.

Is there a trick method for this? How does everyone else do it?

I usually come up with a story idea for a particular theme or topic, based on a call for subs. Then I sort of hope that I can finish within the guidelines while doing justice to the story. So far, I've failed trying to use only 30k on what should have been 35-40k story just to hit a target for a particular editor. It didn't work and I need to go back and flesh it back out before subbing again.

In general, should I outline it first, and then figure an average scene length to come up with approx finished word count, then leave out scene(s) that won't fit?

I have a few shorter pieces I need to write and I'm worried my ideas are just too complicated to fit into the length requirements and I need to either come up with simpler ideas or completely new ideas. Any help here is greatly appreciated!

Word Counts - Today: 0 | March: 10,000 | 2009: 68,046

I'll be joining AJ Llewellyn and other GLBT authors chatting on the Amethyst Winters group from 2-6 pm EDT.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmethystWinters_and_Company/

If you're a fan of m/m, or thinking about checking it out, come by and chat with us, ask some questions and read some hot excerpts! You'll be glad you did!

Hope to see you there!

Word Counts - Today: 0 | March: 10,000 | 2009: 68,046

How on earth did I forget to mention that here?
Come on over and enter my contest… and chat! 

torquere_social

Word Counts - Today: 0 | March: 10,000 | 2009: 68,046

I've been trying not to overwhelm LJ with reviews, but I really am excited about this one. Jessewave is one of the most-read and -respected m/m review blogs around, so it's a huge deal for me!

First off, reviewer Aunt Lynn dispelled the menage concerns that the cover clearly gave a huge portion of m/m readers. (Hence my post the other day). Comments indicated a lot of people skipped right over this, so the review went a long way toward letting people know it's m/m and not menage.

Some of her comments:

Word Counts - Today: 0 | March: 10,000 | 2009: 68,046

Today I'm blogging about guest blogging. This is a new concept for me. Authors are going around writing on other people's blogs to bring in traffic or to meet a new group of readers. Is this successful from the point of view of writers or readers? What's your opinion or experience?

Readers: do you like seeing guest bloggers on your favorite blogs or does it distract from the main people you go there to visit? Or does it depend on who the guests are?
More general question for readers: Do you like to see blogs that are promo-oriented or would you rather just read something random about writing or reading?

Writers: Do you think you are reaching a bigger audience, getting more fans and selling more books that if you didn't guest blog? Is blogging in general a good use of your time, or would it be better spent writing? I'd love to hear any other issues you want to mention or experiences you've had.

I was going to do a poll but I'll see if we get any comments first. I know people are more likely to take polls, but in this case comments are going to be much more informative.

Thanks!

Word Counts - Today: 0 | March: 10,000 | 2009: 68,046

First off, thanks to everyone who voted/commented on my cover art poll yesterday! My publisher is going to reconsider the art for the cover and maybe change the cropping. I don't want to lose the superhunk and hope they don't re-shoot it with a different model!  One of the pub's owners is a pro photog and he shoots all the covers, so I expect he has other images from the shoot that could be used instead. I'm still interested in comments and poll votes, so go ahead and add to the discussion on yesterday's post.

Even though I'm so behind on word count, my TBR pile is calling me to dig in.  Here's what I'm reading now, and next on the list:

Techno Thrall by

storm_grant

 

The first time I saw this blurb and heard the concept I was hooked. It's not a romance, though it's hot and sexy. Lately I find myself more and more drawn to futuristic storylines… this one will grab you too:

This man's too hard, this man's too soft, this man's just…a robot?

Detective Deyla Reckard lives in a time of communication implants and spray-on condoms. Robots are common as workers, soldiers, and pleasure-toys. And sometimes as criminals. A case of an e-companion attacking its owner makes Deyla question her firm belief that humans are good and robots are bad. Then she meets the man of her wet dreams and begins to fall in love, although who's human and who's robot, she's not sure.

Warning, this title contains explicit sex, graphic language, and dark themes.

Not into m/f, check out her GYM DANDY, m/m romance that's been getting some awesome reviews lately!

On deck: Ripping the Bodice by Inara Lavey. Normally I don't read m/f but look, a whole bunch of m/f suddenly got my attention. This one is a comedy, so take the title with more than a grain of salt!

Word Counts - Today: 10,000 | March: 10,000 | 2009: 68,046