Frost and Frontiers Cover Reveal!

So remember how once upon a time I had a few F/F stories but then the publisher went out and they vanished? Well, now they've found a home! I'm so glad these stories are no longer just sitting around with no one to read them. As you can probably guess from the title, the stories range from fantasy to science fiction, two of my favorite genres (although I admittedly have many favorite genres). And I should probably say more about them but I just can't wait to show you this cover. I love it, it's so gorgeously blue!

Ahh didn't I tell you it was gorgeous? Frost and Frontiers will be out on December 9th and collects together "Frost and Ice," "Unexpected Dilemmas," and "Orbits." Just a few short, sweet, sexy tales of women loving women. I hope you enjoy!

Cheers!

Wind and Stone Cover Reveal!

Here is is! The sequel to Flame and Snow, another chunky fantasy adventure. Fantasy is definitely one of my favorite story types (along with science fiction and mystery, surprising!) and it was wonderful to continue on with the characters from the previous novel. Unfortunately for Akton and Talfryn, they don't really get to settle into life before the next crisis happens.

It was important to me to build a fantasy world where being all sorts of queer was normal and real, and I enjoyed writing all the characters so much. I'm kind of sad that this second book is the last, but hopefully there's enough adventure to make up for that! And Akton and Talfryn find even more love, so if you want to see the rest of their journey unfold, you can get Wind and Stone now!

Oh right, the cover! I think it pairs well with the first book, don't you?

As always, since this is a novel you can grab yourself a paperback copy here, if that's your preferred way to read.

Cheers!

New Reality Cover Reveal!

I think I mentioned earlier I have a lot coming out in this last bit of the year. There's a bit of variety, too, I hope! It's been difficult to write for months, something I've been finding is common with a lot of writers at the moment. But, I'm getting back into the writing flow, and want to share with you my next story coming out (after Sweeter Than Honey, of course!).

New Reality is a science fiction story about love a little later in life, even after great loss. I know I tend to come back to this theme now and then--there's just something about love at an unexpected time, about getting a reset or a new chance at finding someone. It's not exactly as fun or light as some of my other stories--Connell's long-term lover and partner just died unexpectedly, and Wystan's been completely isolated for almost two decades, so there's some healing to be done. There's the added difficulty that they're apart, but still these men find a way to be there for each other.

Anyway, I hope it's satisfying. It will be out on November 8 from Dreamspinner Press. And now, the cover!

Thanks for reading! Cheers!
 

Sweeter Than Honey Cover Reveal!

If you're like me you just can't quite let summer go yet...Well, I wrote a short, sweet story for that! Set at the end of summer, Sweeter Than Honey is about endings and sweet beginnings. There's a little bit of beekeeping, a little bit of reporting, and definitely a little fun with honey!

These characters were fun to write and I'd babble on about them but the story's short and I don't want to give too much away. It's a little break from my fantasy novels (the next one will be coming soon, I promise!), back to contemporary set in a little town. Look for it from JMS Books on October 21!

Ready for the cover?

Cheers!

Flame and Snow Cover Reveal!

Ahhh! It's been a long time and I'm sure no one wants to hear about my busy life--but!--I'm still writing! And I've got a new project coming out very soon. This one is totally different, too. No longer am I writing cozy mysteries! (I might go back someday though.) This new novel is a paranomal fantasy. Think shifters with magic powers in a second-world fantasy setting.

A little bit about it...It definitely has a strong fantasy flavor to it. I had a lot of fun describing the world and the places in it, and how the main characters related to it all. Because of course they're from the middle of nowhere, just trying to get by in their lives and not be discovered as shifters. Only...there's obviously a shifter nemesis with devious plots, and who could possibly stop him?

Probably the main characters. Probably. Check out the blurb:

Generations ago, shifters -- many with magic powers -- were accepted throughout Emylnor. But a war with the nearby dragon nation bred concern, and though Emylnor's forces beat back the invasion, the shifters retreated into hiding.

Akton is a weasel shifter who seems to have no magical talents. When he is hunted, Talfryn joins the fight, finally able to flex his salamander flame powers. But while they make a good team, the thrill quickly wears off when they uncover recruitment orders. A shifter named Basil is building an army.

Someone has to warn Queen Ylenia before Basil can launch Emylnor into another war. When Akton and Talfryn volunteer to deliver the information to her, they have no intention of getting deeply involved with the fight -- or each other. But to stop Basil, they need to learn to trust each other completely, and fast. Or all of Emylnor will burn ...

And now for the cover!

Perfect for a fantasy, right? You can preorder the ebook (which will be out on May 20th!) here, and the paperback (out on May 31) here.

Cheers!

Yolks on You Box Set

The mysteries have all been cracked, the perps have all been apprehended, and the heroes have stumbled upon an egg-filled ever after, so what's next? A box set, of course! I'm very egg-cited to announce that all five of the Yolks on You mysteries are going to be available as a box set! Just look at that bright, happy cover.

I had so much fun with Kiko and Dom and the ridiculousness of their town, Mount Angus, that it's been hard to leave them and move on. But I was running out of people to murder! I hope you've enjoyed following along with them yourself, and if you were interested but didn't know where to start...try the beginning! The box set is available here, and hopefully you'll find it all it's cracked up to be!

Happy reading and cheers!

Eggs and Kisses Bonus Recipe

I don't even know how to begin this post--today's the release of the last Yolks on You book! I've had so much fun writing about Kiko and Dom's mystery solving and watching how their relationship develops that it's hard to let them go. But alas, it was time to tie their storyline up in a nice little bow, and I think this is a good place to end the series.

I hope you've had as much fun reading about them as I've had writing about them! As usual, you can find an ecopy of Eggs and Kisses at the JMS Books site (they have reward points now!) or you can get a print copy. Find out what sorts of chaos they get themselves into over Valentine's Day!

The recipe this time is an easy way to make a sweet breakfast! I give you: Nutella Cherry Heart Pies!

Nutella Cherry Heart Pies

1 15 oz box pie crusts (two crusts)
1 21 oz can cherry pie filling
nutella
cold water
powdered sugar (for serving)

1. Preheat oven to 450F. Roll out crusts and cut into quarters (like cutting a pizza).

2. Place one quarter over another (see picture below) to make four pairs. If some are slightly bigger, place the bigger ones over the small ones.

3. To make the pies heart shaped, cut out a little triangle from the middle of the curved part of the crust, and cut each of the side corners off (see picture below).

4. Flip the top crust up and add nutella and cherry pie filling, leaving space at the edges for pressing the pies shut.

5. Dip your finger in the cold water and run it around the edges of the crust (this will help seal the pies). Flip the top crust down and pinch the edges shut with a fork. Poke a few holes in the top (so your pies won't explode in the oven!).

6. Bake for 10 minutes or until edges of crust are golden brown. Serve with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and enjoy!

Easy to make (even if you can't cut hearts!) and definitely tasty enough to impress! (Plus, if you don't have a valentine, you have them all to yourself! I see no downside.)

Cheers!

Yolks on You #5 Cover Reveal!

It's time to announce the fifth--and last--Yolks on You mystery! I don't know how to feel or what to say. I've had a great time writing Kiko and Dom, getting to know them and watching them solve mysteries in their weird little town, but here was the natural ending point, so end it must. I'm going to miss them!

Thanks for following along with them, and I hope you enjoy their last case. It's a sweet end to the series. So before I break down in tears as I wave good-bye to them, here's the cover:

And of course it's going to be arriving in time for Valentine's Day! You can pre-order Eggs and Kisses now and it'll be available on February 11th. Oh, and if you didn't already know this, JMS Books now has reward points! Just another egg-cellent reason to pick up a good book.

Cheers!

Egg the Halls Bonus Recipe

It's that time of the year already, and the Christmas-themed Yolks on You book is out! You can crack open Egg the Halls for a little escapism from the chaos, or you can wait for all that gift-return money to come in and treat yourself to the paperback. Kiko and Dom are certainly trying to dodge the stress of their holiday commitments in their preferred way--by getting tangled up in a mystery!

As usual I've got a bonus recipe for you--hot chocolate! This makes a brief appearance in the book and is so rich it's like drinking liquid truffles. Enjoy!

Hot Chocolate

7 cups milk
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 12 oz bag semisweet chocolate chips
2 cinnamon sticks
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, to taste

1. In a large pot, bring milk to a boil, then reduce to simmer.

2. Add sweetened condensed milk and stir until dissolved.

3. Add chocolate chips and stir until dissolved.

4. Add cinnamon and cayenne and simmer 5-10 minutes.

I'm sipping my own mug of this as I type to you, and I'm still trying to determine if all this richness is worth it. Seriously, if it's too much feel free to add more milk and dilute it some. And if you're interested in more recipes from Egg the Halls, as always there are five more at the back of the book!

Cheers!
 

December Releases -- And Snow!

Look at that beautiful snowfall! After a very warm start to the winter we finally got a little here, and I'm hoping it'll stick around a while for that cozy holiday atmosphere. Hot chocolate just isn't the same without snow out the window, is it?

Now that I'm finally in the spirit of things, I figured I ought to mention what I have coming out this month--all holiday themed! What else is December for? First up is a short story I have coming out in Dreamspinner's Bah Humbug collection:

This isn't a particularly happy story, although the ending might make up for that. First New Year's After the Apocalypse is a near-future science fiction about a couple struggling to find love together after global chaos erupts. There's a lot of time-jumping as we follow Wade's journey across the country and he looks back on the past year, but in the end he comes home.

And of course next up is the fourth book in the Yolks on You series from JMS:

Because I can't stop writing about these two cute guys solving small town crimes! It's winter now in Mount Angus, and the family drama is happening all over town. If you know Kiko and Dom you know they can't say no to a request to help solve who egged a local business--especially if it gets them out of thinking about dealing with family visiting! You don't even have to wait until Christmas for this one: Egg the Halls will be out this weekend already! And I'll definitely be dropping by again to share at least one bonus recipe with you. Or you could get yourself a paperback copy if that's more your thing!

Sending you warm wishes from finally-snowy Wisconsin! Cheers!

Yolks on You #4 Cover Reveal!

I know I only just unveiled the last Yolks on You book, but I really couldn't pass up writing a Christmas holiday mystery for Kiko and Dom! After everything they've been through together during Halloween, I had to give them a chance to have a less-deadly mystery. Can their relationship--and detective skills--withstand the most wonderful time of the year?

I'm giving nothing away but the cover!

Already in the mood for Christmas? You can preorder Egg the Halls now, in ebook or print! Which reminds me I still have holiday shopping to do...

Cheers!

Yolks on You #3 Cover Reveal!

Very excited here to announce that the next Yolks on You mystery will be Halloween themed! Who doesn't like Halloween, right? Fair warning, though--this will be the scariest mystery Kiko and Dom will face yet. There will be multiple murders, a terrible roommate, and a deadly corn maze.

And so, without further description, the cover:

That pumpkin means business. You know what's really scary? You can already preorder Deal with the Deviled Eggs--even in print!--and get yourself a treat just in time for Halloween.

Cheers!

Egg Whites and Blue Novel Announcement

So did everyone see the strawberry moon last night? I'm a bit like Kiko in that I get nerdy about those sorts of things. I'm also a bit like Dom in that I put off showing you all this great cover for the next Yolks on You mystery until now...So here it is in all its patriotic glory!

Yes, I know there was just a book out over Easter, but I can't help myself--I have too much fun writing these guys solving mysteries together. And the Fourth of July seemed like a great setting with so much heat and sweat and excitement. Of course there's a lot of cooking involved too, so you get to see Kiko grill some delicious burgers and Dom make a valiant attempt at a pie.

Obviously someone's cooking up murder, there's a pesky ex involved, and Kiko and Dom are still figuring out where their relationship stands. Just the kind of high spirits that make for a memorable holiday even before the fireworks come out. And don't worry--Mother is back, and there are even some presidential pigs you might spot.

If you want it--and you know you do--Egg Whites and Blue is available for preorder now and will be out right before the Fourth so you'll have just the book to pull out to avoid those awkward family conversations!

Cheers!

Rainy Day + Bookmarks

Today has been a rainy day here, with off and on thunder and lightning. It seems we finally have our first good storm of the year! Personally I think it's the universe conspiring against me, trying to force me to stay inside and edit. It knows I have so much to edit. It knows I've been avoiding.

So I've been inside, frenziedly working on the recipes for the third Yolks on You book. It's so weird to try to make dishes with the flavors of a particular time of year when you're not actually in that time of year, but I think they turned out well, and even the ones I was less sure about got thumbs-up from my totally-certified taste-tester. Success!

And another excitement: I now have bookmarks for Shell Shocked! Don't they look great? I'm pleased how they turned out, and am eager to find them all new homes. Can't wait to stick one of these suckers into a physical copy of the book!

Cheers!

What's in the Cards Next

So this is me right now. Or part of me! It's been a while since I did a reading, and little novice me ended up with something pretty good. Turns out the cards say I'm mostly on the right path with this writing thing, although my personal life could use a few tweaks...
 

But! My cards were awash in disks, and the good news is this: Shell Shocked is going to print! I'm so excited I will be using more exclamation marks than is strictly necessary. This is really happening! A real, live (okay, it won't be living), physical book you can hold in your hands is now available to purchase.
 

If you're the kind of person who likes to read print copies, go ahead and check out Shell Shocked for a belated basket stuffer. And start getting excited for the next in the series, Egg Whites and Blue, which will be making an appearance over 4th of July weekend. This one is going to be even better! Trust me--would the author lie to you?
 

I'm off to find a glass of wine to celebrate. Cheers!

Spring Update

Well, spring is officially here a bit early this year and I'm just waiting for my cherry trees to blossom. Excitement for all that is new is in the air, and with that in mind, I thought I'd mention what's in the cards for the next couple months.

Expect short stories. Expect science fiction. Expect women loving women. Doesn't that just make your nerdy little heart beat faster? I'll be coming out with two short stories from Torquere, one in their Theory of Love anthology, another in their Time of Your Life anthology. Both were fun to write--and hard to prevent myself from overdoing the worldbuilding! I do have a weakness for extensive worldbuilding...

"Unexpected Dilemmas" is a tale of love weathering catastrophe and appears in Theory of Love. "Orbits" is a story about a long-overdue happily-ever-after on a space station and will be in Time of Your Life. Happy reading!

Cheers!

A Pie for Pi Day

I hope everyone is having an excellent Pi Day! Unfortunately I have to confess that I am not participating this year, even though it's such a great reason to eat all the pie. But I can blog about pie, and so I will.

Recently I've been spending a lot of time working on the sequel to my upcoming novel, and I wanted to keep offering recipes like I did in the first (spoiler: there will be recipes!). Which of course means I have to develop the recipes. It's delicious work, but somebody's gotta do it.

What all this means it that I ended up making two whole pies last month to get a couple of good recipes for more summery dishes, and I just really wasn't about to make yet another pie to celebrate today. I will just have to let the memory of pie suffice.

This pie was a really fun (and easy!) one to make--it's supposed to be Dom's recipe. He's not a good cook. And really, the pie itself doesn't look that great, but trust me, it tastes like summer. Which is just what I was going for.

I guess I'll have to live pie-cariously through it for now.

Cheers!

A Healthy Obsession

Recently the cards have been indicating I need to focus on my health. Annoying but true--my exercise over the summer had more or less ground to a halt. I had to take the message as a kick-in-the-pants, so I did!

I had been eyeing trying out geocaching for a while now, but a book I recently read put it back in my mind again. I figured now was as good a time as any to try out something I'd been meaning to do. (And as an aside, has anyone else ever taken up a hobby or tried something after reading about it? Funny how inspiring a good story can be.)

Surprise surprise, I am perhaps slightly obsessed. Geocaching is like a tremendous scavenger hunt played over the entire world. Not only did it serve its purpose in getting me out from behind my computer and into the world, I've found I'm seeing places in my town I would have never even known existed. There are far more little parks, wooded nature trails, and beautiful scenic overlooks than I would have imagined. Now it's becoming fun not only finding the cache, but seeing something new, too.

I've learned so much about the community, from info about geological formations to history. Recently I stopped at a cache in a cemetery for the old county mental health facility, which was fascinating. But I think my favorite discovery so far was the lock on the bridge, not part of geocaching, but a wonderful little find nevertheless. Someone had fastened a lock on a bridge, the words "when she said yes" written on its front. That had me smiling the rest of the day, and inventing little stories about this mystery couple.

My main concern is that this will be difficult to do in the winter--but winter is not yet here, and I'll deal with that when I get to it. For now, I'll let the community inspire me. And try not to get too obsessed with my new hobby (doesn't help that it counts on my day zero list!).

Cheers!

Sunflowers

I meant to post about this ages ago...The summer just flew by here!

I first saw the sunflowers when I was out riding along my favorite bike path near the river. There were these gorgeous stretches of sunflowers, all golden and happy in the morning sunlight. I had no idea why this year there were suddenly sunflowers in the fields, until I saw someone sharing this Buzzfeed article.

The first thing I thought was that I really need to keep up with the local news better!

But beyond that I was touched...I went back not long after to get a good picture, but the sunflowers were already bending and the weather was not in my favor. It's been a rainy summer here!

If you're in the area and interested about where you can buy any of these sunflowers, Babbettes Seeds of Hope has a list on their site. 

Cheers!