FEBRUARY 2012 M/M ROMANCE NEWSLETTER
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Welcome to our newsletter. We hope the content on this page is both informative and entertaining. We welcome feedback; you can send it to the Newsletter Editor. Also, please visit the Dreamspinner Press blog! Follow the blog to see author posts, book excerpts, contests, and other news from the press about M/M romance. Enjoy!
Ariel Tachna, Social Networking Coordinator, Dreamspinner Press
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - PAPERBACK SALES |
Paperback sales will be limited to a set number of signed copies through our website starting this spring. All our paperback orders will be routed to Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and other affiliates. More information will be posted on our web site and in a special newsletter blast before this change takes effect. To accommodate our international customers, if anyone knows of a good retailer in their country, please e-mail a link to our Newsletter Editor so we can begin building a list of resources by country. We are also working with an established independent GLBT bookstore to take over both US and international orders by early summer.
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NOW ACCEPTING YOUNG ADULT SUBMISSIONS FOR TWO STEPS UP |
Dreamspinner Press is proud to announce its new Young Adult line, Two Steps Up. Books will be released on the first and fifteenth of each month, starting on March 15. The books will not be listed on our web site, but will be for sale through ARe, Amazon, the IBookstore, Rainbow eBooks, and other retail outlets. Information and buy links will be available in our newsletter.
Submissions inquiries of gay-themed Young Adult fiction can be sent to our Submissions e-mail. Please indicate Young Adult in the subject line so the submission is given to the appropriate editor for review. Follow the standard Guidelines for Submission.
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW |
Why did you decide to write romance stories?
Regardless of what I say on the subject, no matter how cynical I sound at times, I am a
big old softie at heart. Especially given the current climate in the US right now, where
the gay marriage debate is more prevalent than ever. I want to show how normal it is for
two guys to fall in love, and that they have the right to do so like anyone else. We in the
GLBT community do have that right and it is only a matter of time before the rest of the
world realizes it.
You've written two dramatically different stories with Bear, Otter, and the Kid and now
with Burn. Where do the different ideas come from?
I decided very early on that I didn't want to be pigeon-holed into a specific genre in the
M/M writing world. With Bear, Otter, and the Kid, I wanted to not just tell a love story
between two men, but a love story about brothers, and friends, and family. With Burn,
I wanted to tell a story that blurred the lines between good and evil, making it a shade of
gray as opposed to black and white. Bear, Otter, and the Kid was small-town. Burn is
global. I really do want to try and write everything: horror, romantic drama, a screwball
comedy, a steampunk novel with zombies and unicorns (okay, that last might not be in
the works, but how epic would that be?).
How were you introduced to M/M fiction?
In a roundabout way. I am a bit of a fantasy nut and I had heard about a fantasy series
with gay main characters. I ordered the first couple of books in the Nightrunner series by
Lynn Flewelling and then proceeded to devour them all in a few days. I kept looking for
more and more books like the series and this led to me finding this whole world of M/M
books that I hadn't read from fantasy to contemporary.
What are five of your favorite books/series?
It by Stephen King
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Heart Of Darkness by William Golding
A Boy's Life by Robert McCammon
The Front Runner by Patricia Nell Warren
Why did you decide to try to publish your stories?
I thought it possible that I had stories to tell that were unlike any other out there. I
promised myself that if I started the story, I would see it through to the end and that I
would attempt to get it published. Bear, Otter, and the Kid was that first story I wrote
with complete sincerity and focus, the Kid's voice always at the back of my mind. Once
I finished, I thought it rough, but a good first attempt. A draft or two later, I submitted
it first to Dreamspinner who picked it up a few weeks after that. I haven’t looked back
since!
When TJ Klune was eight, he picked up a pen and paper and began to write his first story (which turned out to be his own sweeping epic version of the video game Super Metroid—he didn't think the game ended very well and wanted to offer his own take on it. He never heard back from the video game company, much to his chagrin). Now, two decades later, the cast of characters in his head have only gotten louder, wondering why he has to go to work as a claims examiner for an insurance company during the day when he could just stay home and write.
He lives with a neurotic cat in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. It's hot there, but he doesn't mind. He dreams about one day standing at Stonehenge, just so he can say he did.
TJ can be found on Facebook under TJ Klune.
His blog is tjklunebooks.blogspot.com.
You can email him at tjklunebooks@yahoo.com.
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Win an eBook copy of your choice of one of this author's works. Clues are available in author bios on our web site.
This new Dreamspinner author has Charles Dickens and Armistead Maupin as his literary heros.
E-mail the Newsletter Editor with your answer. A winner will be chosen randomly from the correct answers. Contest ends the last day of the month.
The correct answers to last month's question: This author was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, but now lives in a sleepy Mississippi town. Allison Cassatta
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Wills and I walked into the Dolley Madison Room, the largest of the ballrooms in the Madison Arms.
We were late, but there were still a couple of hours until the New Year.
Our first New Year together. I squeezed his hand.
For this occasion, the draperies hanging from the windows were silver and blue.
A twink dressed in a pure white loincloth and a blue top hat, his sash saying 2003, represented the New Year, while the man at his side carried a scythe and wore a tunic that stopped just above his knees. He was supposed to represent the old year, but he was probably in his early twenties at most, and the tunic was sheer. Anyone interested would be able to see he was in excellent shape and very well hung.
A live band was playing, and couples moved across the dance floor, smooth and elegant.
"Let's say hello to Charlemagne." I felt I could afford to be gracious to the man I'd had a one night stand with all those years ago.
"And then we can dance?"
"Sure, babe."
As we made our way around the perimeter of the dance floor, one of the escorts bumped into us.
"Sorry." It was Jay. He blinked, then stared at Wills. "You're new. I don't remember seeing you at any of the balls."
"We were at the Halloween party."
"Damn. I was a little wasted that night."
"A little?" I snorted.
He ignored me, intent on running his eyes over Wills in a way that stripped off my lover's clothes. "We can make up for lost time, though, doll baby. Why don't you ditch what's-his-face here and spend the evening with me? I'm very good." His voice was heavy with innuendo. "I can show you things, teach you things, make you feel things—"
"I've had it with you, Jay." My hands bunched into fists, and I took a step toward him. "I'm gonna—"
Wills's hand on my arm stopped me. "It's okay, babe." His eyes, cold and flat, looked over Jay in a way that made it obvious he wasn't impressed by what he saw. "You're Jay."
"My reputation precedes me, I see." He smirked archly, oblivious to that stare.
If Wills ever looked at me the way he was looking at Jay, I'd want to curl up in a corner and die.
"I didn't recognize you without the werewolf mask. You were trying to ram your tongue down My. Lover's. Throat."
"Big fucking whoop. It didn't mean anything. He's a whore, just like the rest of us."
Wills reacted so quickly I didn't even see him move.
"By dose! By dose!" Jay was sprawled on the floor, gingerly cupping his nose. It wasn't bleeding, but it was starting to swell.
"Did you hurt your hand, baby?" I took it and stroked his knuckles.
He flexed his fingers. "No, I'm good."
"I'll hab you trown out!"
"We don't think so." Two security men, a blond and a brunet, appeared out of nowhere. "His majesty regrets you have to leave so early, Jay."
"I don' hab to leab! I don' wanna leab!" Abruptly Jay gasped and turned pale, and a grimace of pain twisted his features.
"I think you do." The brunet's words were gentle. The two men nodded at us and frog-walked Jay out of the ballroom.
I looked around, spotted Le Roi's table, and we started to walk toward it. "We'll get our obligatory chitchat with Chuck out of the way, and then we can—"
"Sweets, haven't I asked you to please not call me that?" Charlemagne's words were pained.
"Sorry." I bit back a grin. It wouldn't do to show I was pleased that I'd scored points off Le Roi.
Even though I was willing to forego hostilities, I'd never claimed to be an angel.
He turned to Wills. "Well, well, well. Who have we here? Someone new, Sweets? Tsk. I'm surprised at you. You do seem to be going through them rather quickly." He turned his head, and his eyes bored into mine; he lowered his voice. "But then you had a tendency to do that, didn't you?"
Wills looked from me to Charlemagne and back, his eyebrow raised.
"Surely he's told you we have a... history?"
"You don't want to know, babe. It's a boring story. Very short. Very boring."
His expression told me he was interested. Maybe if I told him it was too painful to talk about? No, because then he'd think I was carrying a torch for Charlemagne. Defeated, I nodded.
"A long time ago, Chuck and I spent one night together. Afterwards, I—" Charlemagne tensed and cast a surreptitious glance around. I could afford to cut him some slack, and I changed my words. "We realized it would never work out. Rent boys and happily ever after don't mix. So we parted."
"Ah." Wills turned back to Le Roi and offered his hand. "Well, I'm the one who'll be giving Theo his happily ever after. I'm William Matheson."
The blond and the brunet had returned and taken up their place on either side of Charlemagne. The blond leaned forward and whispered in his ear.
"You were at the Halloween Ball?"
"Yes. We had to leave before the unmasking—"
"You're the Lone Ranger!"
"That was me."
"Sweetcheeks monopolized you at the last Ball." He ignored my growl and Wills's frown at the use of my professional name. "I trust you'll save a dance for me?"
"On the condition you stop calling Theo Sweetcheeks."
"Why? Does it bother you?"
"Let's just say I don't like it."
"Oh, very well, if you're going to be tiresome." Charlemagne had a sharp tongue and liked nothing better than to cross swords with the unsuspecting; I was surprised he'd backed down. "Theo, take him away. I have better things to do than trade barbs with your boyfriend."
"Yeah, come on, Theo, take me away. They're playing our song."
I couldn't resist sending a smirk Chuck's way. Then I took Wills's hand and led him toward the dance floor.
Out of everyone in the ballroom—in the world—
I was the one he chose.
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WHAT I'M READING Julianne Bentley, Senior Editor |
True Blue by Connie Bailey
It wasn't the first time Heydn Case had to transfer to a new school, but Acton-Pierce Academy was the prep school of choice for people with a lot more money than he had. As always, the good-natured Texan was hoping to find a friend; his assigned roommate was hoping to be left alone and said so rather bluntly.
Heydn had never met anyone quite like Blue Barclay, the campus's resident eccentric loner, but the two young men soon find they have more in common than they might have imagined. Friendship quickly takes on a new dimension of physical intimacy accompanied by bewildering new feelings. However, Blue and Heydn are given little time to explore and understand what is growing between them before they're pulled apart.
Heydn is chosen for the track team and befriended by a popular senior. Fearing, rightly, that their relationship would cost him the place he's won at Acton, Heydn turns his back on Blue. He feels he's made the right choice for his future, but when Blue finds a new friend, Heydn realizes he's made a terrible mistake. Is it too late for him to try to win Blue's heart again?
Julianne's thoughts: Why in the world did it take me so long to get around to reading True Blue by Connie Bailey? I started it on an airplane and quite literally didn't want to stop reading when I arrived at my destination. I even went back to reading it while waiting for my baggage! Teenage love triangles may not be anything unique, but the honesty of this story is. Blue is one of the most real, engaging young men I've had the pleasure of meeting on the page, naive but not your stereotypical blameless and perfect young hero. The love interests all make mistakes, some of which can be forgiven and some not. The drama never becomes melodramatic, but stays just as real as the characters. It's a perfect balancing act in every way, and liberally spiced with Connie Bailey's trademark blend of humor and hotness. - Julianne Bentley, Senior Editor
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NEWS |
The following authors will host Meet the Author events at Dreamspinner Press's Goodreads group this month. All Meet the Author events are from 1 to 6 pm EST unless otherwise noted:
Sue Brown - Feb. 4, Lee James - Feb. 11, Andrew Grey - Feb. 18
The following authors will host Meet the Author events at Dreamspinner Press's Facebook page this month. All Meet the Author events are from 1 to 6 pm EST unless otherwise noted:
Ana Bosch - Feb. 4, Lorraine Ulrich - Feb. 11, SJD Peterson - Feb. 18
The authors of the Two Tickets to Paradise anthology will host a chat at the Literary Nymphs Yahoo! group on Saturday, February 25. Come by for a chance to find out more about the anthology and maybe to win one of the prizes being given away!
CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS
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In order to give all our potential authors the best service and attention, Dreamspinner Press no longer accepts simultaneous submissions.
See the Open Calls for Submissions page for further details.
Limited Calls for 2012
Time Is Eternity
2012 Daily Dose
Edited by Lynn West
"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity."
-Henry Van Dyke
Millennia, centuries, decades, years, months, days, hours, minutes, seconds... if it's a love for the ages, then past, present, or future has no meaning. In these stories, time travel—forward or backward, for an instant or for a lifetime—is the way to fulfilling romance.
Editor's Note: Contemporary and Historical settings only. No Bittersweet Dreams. Because of the packaged nature of the set, all stories need to stand alone. No sequels to or spin-offs of previously published works, please.
Submission Deadline: March 1, 2012
Animal Magnetism
Edited by Anne Regan
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Whether it's a dog, cat, horse, snake, hamster, bird, ferret, goldfish, or something more exotic, owning a pet or working with animals has been proven to make people happier. In these stories, animals of all sorts should serve as the catalyst for bringing lovers together. Bonus points for working unusual or exotic animals into the story.
Editor's Note: No paranormal, no bestiality.
Submission Deadline: May 21, 2012
Don't Try This at Home
Edited by Julianne Bentley
Bonked heads. Rough carpet. Burned dinner. Awkward silence. Bitten lips. Startling length. Spilled wax. Pinched fingers. Shattered wineglass. Closet quickie. Flat souffle. Broken bedframe. Shower sex. Overzealous spanking. Embarrassing ex. Lost wallet. Terrible taste. Sore shoulders. Noxious odor. Absent date. Unbelievable girth. Kitchen canoodling. New toy. Stained sheets. Backward compliment. Stifling pillow. Locked handcuffs. Aching ass. Missing keys. Torn seams. Wrenched back. Angry cat. Overeager pass. Uncooperative zipper.
Something always goes wrong in real life. Fortunately, love blunts the edges so that romance trumps adversity.
Editor's Note: Humor a plus, no rape/nonconsensual situations, contemporary genre only.
Submission Deadline: July 16, 2012
Evergreen
2012 Advent Calendar - A Story a Day in the Month of December
Edited by Lynn West
When it comes to romance, ageless images are carried forever in your heart: A candle in the window burning bright. Warmth billowing from an old stone hearth. Snowflakes falling from the night sky under a full moon. Twinkle lights glinting in a lover's eyes. Romance during the winter holidays is evergreen, and these stories will get you in the mood for love. Your Christmas present to yourself!
Editor's Note: Because of the packaged nature of the set, all stories need to stand alone. No sequels to or spin-offs of previously published works, please.
Submission Deadline: Sept. 1, 2012
Snow on the Roof
Edited by Anne Regan
"Just because there's snow on the roof, doesn't mean the fire's gone out in the furnace." There's something to be said for maturity and experience, and in all of these relationships, at least one of the lovers is over forty. Whether it's a May/December romance, a second chance at love, or finding a soul mate later in life, these stories prove that it's never too late for love.
Editor's Note: At least one of the couple must be age 40+.
Submission Deadline: Nov. 19, 2012
Continuous Call
Dreamspinner Press is accepting submissions for our in-house genre Timeless Dreams, romantic M/M historical fiction with happy endings. While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma. You can visit the rough and tumble Old West, travel the ancient kingdoms of desert sheikhs, see the black and red lacquer of the Far East, or dance in dramatic Regency England. No matter where or when, in the romantic worlds of Timeless Dreams, our heroes always live happily ever after.
Manuscripts of any story length may be submitted. You must follow general submission guidelines for short stories for proper consideration. Please list "Timeless Dreams" in the subject line of your submission.
Dreamspinner Press is accepting submissions for our in-house genre, Bittersweet Dreams, stories of M/M romance with nontraditional endings. It's an unfortunate truth: love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.
Manuscripts of any story length may be submitted. You must follow general submission guidelines for short stories for proper consideration. Please list "Bittersweet Dreams" in the subject line of your submission.
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Woke Up in a Strange Place
By Eric Arvin
"...As a reflection of his life quest to obtain Lou's love, Joe is undergoing another quest, but this time the happily ever after will be forever, and nothing, not even death, would be able to ruin it.
For sure this is not an happy and light tale, I feel a lot of pain and sadness, in the tale but also in the author, but at the same time, I feel also hope, hope that despite everything, there will be always an happily ever after for everyone, just waiting behind the corner, not matter how good or bad you were in this life, Heaven or its equivalent doesn't discriminate, it's for everyone."
Elisa at Live Journal
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DREAMSPINNER PRESS |
Launched in May 2007, Dreamspinner Press offers quiet romance, supernatural passion, out-of-this-world lovers, kinky explorations, and heated dreams—a little taste to whet your appetite for romantic homoerotica. We hope you take a little time to be enchanted, romanced, and loved by enjoying the publications of Dreamspinner Press.
We appreciate your patronage! If you have feedback, please e-mail to contact@dreamspinnerpress.com or mail to Dreamspinner Press, 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034, USA. Thank you!
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