Rainbow Snippets - From the Ashes

From the Ashes is a Cinderfella set roughly in 16th century France, taking us back to the origins of the popular fairy tale. One should not expect historical accuracy in any tale that includes a fairy godmother.

This is not my typical historical. But efforts have been made to at least keep the feel of the era and make sure all elements are contemporaneous.

While Cinder digested her claim to be his fairy godmother, she pulled out a wand and waved the slender rod at him. His dress grew suddenly weightier. Cinder glanced down and gasped. He was now encased in a frothy, airy confection of blue satin, lace and pearls. When he took a step back in shock, Cinder almost fell, owing to the glass slippers on his feet. Glass? Whose crazy idea was that?


For more Rainbow Snippets drop by the Facebook group.
From the Ashes on Amazon.
The playlist for From the Ashes.

Rainbow Snippet - From the Ashes

From the Ashes is a Cinderfella that I intend to rerelease after the New Year.

Cinder never thought that he could rise from the ashes of his life, but an unexpected encounter with a woman claiming to be be his fairy godmother may be just what he needs. Finding himself flung into his own fairy tale, she sends him off to meet his Prince Charming. But was the gown really necessary?

Midnight? What was so special about midnight? He had no intention of going, much less staying that late.

A soft hand at the small of his back coaxed him into motion, urging him toward the front of the manor. Every time Cinder opened his mouth to protest, she prattled right over him without even pausing for breath.

"But I don't want to go. I don't need a prince. I am a man!"

My Latest Purchases

 I am now the proud owner of my very first book covers. Breathless Press was kind enough to offer to sell them to me once their logos had been removed.

It feels strange to go to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or ARe and only see one or two covers instead of the half dozen that used to grace my author's page on those site.

Breathless Press was not only my very first publisher, but the owner Justyn Perry encouraged me to write and offered me a place with his publishing company.

I feel as if a large chunk of my "authorly" presence has been amputated. I'm going to miss Breathless Press tremendously.

Mina Carter designed both book-covers for me and she did such a wonderful job with them. I've always loved these covers.

Soon, I hope to have From the Ashes available once more.

Alexios' Fate may take a bit longer as I'm looking to rework the first story in the Apollo's Men series before re-releasing it.

Breathless Press Sale

All of my Breathless Press titles are currently on sale for 49 cents. YES! You read that correctly. But I'm not sure how much longer they will be available.

Breathless Press will be closing its doors May 1st and I don't think Alexios' Fate, From the Ashes, or Legends will be available anywhere after that.

So if you want to get your hands on any of those titles, NOW is the time.

Don't Throw Stones at Glass Shoes

Naughty Nursery Rhymes Rule #1

Don't throw stones at glass shoes. - Cinder

Cinder is the main character in From the Ashes.

From the Ashes is a Cinderfella (m/m version of Cinderella) roughly set in 16th century France.

Roughly? you ask. It's a fairy tale, all of which are roughly set in a previous era. What does this mean? It means that magic and a fairy godmother exist in my story, but probably not in real 16th century France.

Unfortunately if you were looking for a story about a 16th century laundress, you will have to look elsewhere.

If you were looking for a cute, heartwarming m/m fairy tale, look no farther.

Excerpt:

Dancing couples parted effortlessly around them as the elegant man escorted him to the center of the floor. Cinder's cumbersome skirts swayed and swept the floor, threatening to entangle his feet past any hope of grace.

Fighting down panic, Cinder frantically searched his memories for how to waltz. He could do this. He had to do this. He couldn't risk discovery. He quailed at the punishment meted out to servants impersonating nobility. If anyone guessed, he would be beaten or worse.

Fumbling as he tried to remember which hand went where, Cinder placed his right hand on a broad velvet-covered shoulder. Strong, warm fingers enfolded his other hand and gave a reassuring squeeze. The man seemed to sense his unease. The awkward way he held himself, all tense and tight, had to be unmistakable.

Cinder corrected himself several times as he either stepped off with the wrong foot or tried to lead. How was he supposed to do this without harming either one of them? Why couldn't it have been a pavane?

The blasted slippers were so slick that Cinder had to hang on to the other man more than he wanted to just to remain on his feet. He had the distinct impression that the noble got the wrong idea from that.

The man caught his eye and smiled, somewhat more predatorily than Cinder was entirely comfortable with. What was going through the aristocrat's mind? Cinder began to feel like one of the small cakes the footmen carried on silver trays.

Did he want this man to gaze on him in that fashion? Cinder blushed and turned his face awkwardly away. He needed to concentrate on the dance. He didn't have the luxury of sharing soulful glances and chattering like a magpie.

He needed to find some way to extricate himself before he made a mistake and gave himself away. He didn’t normally have to worry so much because everyone already knew he was a girl and would ignore anything he did. But this man saw him with fresh eyes unhampered by the fiction of Cinderella. He would recognize any misstep.

The longer they were together, the more his risk increased. If he could escape quickly enough, the other man might never realize the deception. The noble might not care about an awkward woman he shared one dance with, but as the lie grew ever bigger, the duped man’s anger, if Cinder were discovered, would too.

Buy Links:
Amazon
Breathless Press

From the Ashes Virtual Book Tour

I'm just finishing up my blog posts and interviews for my upcoming From the Ashes book tour. There is an ARe gift certificate up for grabs so be sure to comment along the way.





Schedule of events:
May 14 - Long and Short Reviews
May 14 - Bad Barb's Reviews
May 15 - Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess
May 16 - Full Moon Dreaming
May 17 - Kay Berrisford

ARe's Number 1 Historical Medieval Romance

From the Ashes is number one in ARe's paid Historical Medieval Romances! It's the little story that could.

Cinder and his prince have been in the top ten for the past three weeks and steadily climbing. I was beginning to think he wouldn't get any higher than two, but he's finally done it. I couldn't be more pleased.

Getting to Know Me

Last week, I took a little "Getting to know you" questionnaire over at LRC. I don't think many people read it, but it occurred to me that my friends and fans might be interested in my replies. So here it is.

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.
What if I'm a good mother and like them all?
* Galen from Alexios' Fate is a real sweetie. He's put up with so much and is now trying to come to terms with his freedom.
* Cinder in From the Ashes is another sweet guy, but he's coming into his own as a young man.
* Andreas from A Spartan Love is a lonely young man, learning to trust.There lovers are princes and/or warriors.
I guess that means I root for the underdogs.

Tell us about your current release.
My current release is From the Ashes. It is a Cinderfella, an m/m Cinderella, set in 16th century France.
Blurb: Cinder never thought that he could rise from the ashes of his life, but an unexpected encounter with a woman claiming to be his fairy godmother may be just what he needs. Finding himself flung into his very own fairy tale, she sends him off to meet his Prince Charming. But was the gown really necessary?

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?
I do most of my writing during the week after the kids have gone to bed. One the weekends, I write in the morning while the kids play games. I would say I write anywhere from one to five hours, depending on the day and if the muse is talking to me.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?
Finding the time to do it. I have some of my best ideas while I'm driving to and from work, but I can't stop and get it down on paper. Then I get home and while I have the ideas, the really good words have already disappeared. :(

What does your family think of your writing career?
They don't really know about it.

What do you think makes a good story?
Engaging characters are a must. If I don't like the characters, I find it hard to keep pushing on. But I think my pet peeve is when the logic is lacking or the information is just plain wrong. Research, people! I love research.

Plotter or Pantser? Why?
Pantser. I have the basic idea, and some times it's really basic, and then I let my characters tell their stories. My best stuff happens when one of my character takes the bit in their teeth and runs with it.

How do you develop your plots and your characters? Do you use any set formula?
I get the basic idea and then while I'm driving to work, I do my best to make it both logical and plausible. It's kind of like solving a puzzle. How do I get from point A to point B?

What book are you reading now? Any favorite authors/books you want to do a shout out for?
I'm not reading anything right at this moment. Maybe later today, I'll start a new book, if I get my writing and other chores done first.
I did recently beta read two wonderful stories: Leather+Lace by AB Gayle and Easy Ryder by Deanna Wadsworth. You will want to get your hands on both once they are released.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
Cuddle up in my recliner with a blanket and a good book. Frequently, I also have a child in my lap. Good times!

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? If so, what are they?
If you enjoy writing, write for fun. Don't get discouraged. It's also a good idea to start at one of the fanfiction sites to hone your skills. Write about something you enjoy.

What hobbies do you actively pursue?
Cross-stitch and writing.

Morning Person? Or Night Person?
Morning person. I pop right out of bed, often before the alarm goes off.

Coffee, tea or other drink to get you moving in the morning?
I post photos of hotties labeled "Morning cup of Joe" and "Double espresso", but I despise coffee! I rarely drink anything first thing in the morning. I do like a cup of tea when it's cold out. Doesn't happen too often in Houston, TX.

It's a new year so do you do resolutions or goals for the upcoming year?
I've got a few WIPs going right now. I intend to get at least half of them published. The Apollo's Men series first and anything after that is a bonus.

What is coming up from you in 2013? Anything you want to tease us with?
* I have an Alexios/Galen (Alexios' Fate 1.5) short story entitled 496 BC coming out in an anthology.
* I am also working on the continuation of Alexios and Galen's story, as well as another novel in the series called A Spartan Love.
* The first section of A Spartan Love I am calling Taming Theron, in which our young hero Andreas learns that food is indeed the way to a man's heart.

Early Reviews for From the Ashes

I am flattered and extremely gratified at how fast From the Ashes is garnering reviews. And such wonderful reviews at that.

Five out of Five Stars on January 4th
"This is a sweet twist on the well known fairytale. This isn't a story about escaping from rags to riches. I thought the author pulled off a clever twist in the way she solved the HEA aspect." - AB Gayle at Goodreads

Five out of Five Stars on January 5th
"Beautifully written and very imaginative. A must read for anyone into retelling of fairy tales, M/M Romances or good tales, in general." - Christopher Hammel at Goodreads

Four out of Five Stars on January 6th
"Ms Jameth did a wonderful job turning this classic fairy tale into its gay counterpart.The HEA was perfectly worked out for this well crafted short story." - Don Bradshaw at Hearts on Fire Reviews

Three out of Five stars on January 6th
"Adorable, sweet, cute and romantic  with a nice twist on how the prince finally works out how to find his sweetheart." - Vio on Goodreads

Five out of Five Stars on January 7th
"It was a beautiful read and Kayla has earned herself a new reader." - Jenny Steel at Goodreads

Four out of Five Stars on January 8th
Cinder is adorable and the prince is perfect. Very sweet. - Dianne Hartsock at Goodreads

Three out of Five Stars on January 9th
"A unique retelling of a classic fairy tale. Enjoyable, light reading with a guaranteed HEA." - TessaKate at ARe

Five out of Five stars on January 12th
"loved it really enjoy reading it" - Davina Phillips on Goodreads

From the Ashes is also a silver star, number 1 best seller, and number 6 overall--make that number 5, now number 4, and number 3, oh my heavens! it's number 2--on ARe's Historical Medieval Romance category.

Thank you to everyone who has purchased a copy and especially those who are taking the time to write a review or even just give it a rating. You are making my day!

Release Day - From the Ashes

Today is the day I've been waiting for, my chance to introduce Cinder and his prince to the world. Or at least the m/m romance reading world.


Come with me as I transport you to 16th century France. A time when fairy godmothers were real and a boy could hope for his very own happily ever after.

From the Ashes is now available from Breathless Press.

From the Ashes Blog Tour

Tomorrow kicks off my From the Ashes promo blog tour. I am currently scheduled to appear on a dozen blogs. There will be interviews, book spotlights, and giveaways in preparation for the January 4th release of From the Ashes. Be sure and drop by to comment for a chance to win.

From the Ashes is a Cinderfella (m/m retelling of the classic Cinderella story--boy meets prince) set in 16th century France.

Blurb:
Cinder never thought that he could rise from the ashes of his life, but an unexpected encounter with a woman claiming to be his fairy godmother may be just what he needs. Finding himself flung into his very own fairy tale, she sends him off to to meet his Prince Charming. But was the gown really necessary?


When, where, why, and how:
December 14: Amara's Place
     The source of my inspiration for From the Ashes and giveaway - winner: Loveless3173
December 15: Kharisma Rhayne
     Christmas interview
December 20: Deanna Wadsworth
     The Twelve Days of Sex-mas and giveaway - winner: Jim Evans
December 27: AB Gayle
     Interview the Next Big Thing style and giveaway - winner: Christopher Hammel
December 31 - January 1: Kay Berrisford
     New Year's Kisses Party and giveaway
January 1: Zara Stoneley
     Interview
January 3: Rebecca Leigh
     Inspiration for From the Ashes and giveaway - winner: Faberge Nostromo
January 4: Leona Bushman
     Book spotlight
January 8: Doris O'Connor
     Book spotlight
January 9: Micheala Rhua
     Book spotlight
January 10: Megan D. Martin
     Author spotlight
January 17: Allie A. Burrow
     Interview
January 18: Raven McAllan
     Ten things about my heroes

Hope to see everyone there!

Cinder Takes Wing

I've finished my content editing and have sent Cinder and his prince off to the proof reader and then the line editor. My boy is all grown up and no longer in my hands.

That is always the strange part for me. It's like the first time you put your child on the school bus and realize that someone else has a say in their life now. And after they are finished with him, I have to turn him loose in the big wide world where I hope everyone is nice to him.

From the Ashes Cover

Mina Carter outdid herself on my new cover for From the Ashes. Henri is sexy, sensual. And Cinder? Cinder is exactly how I and his godmothers pictured him.

From the Ashes is a Cinderfella. A m/m Cinderella story. Cinder's grasping stepmother forced him into a dress when his father died a decade earlier. Since then he has been a servant in his father's house, known as Cinderella. But soon his stepmother will be unable to continue the charade. What will be his fate then?

Blurb:

Cinder never thought that he could rise from the ashes of his life, but an unexpected encounter with a woman claiming to be his fairy godmother may be just what he needs. Finding himself flung into his very own fairy tale, she sends him off to meet his Prince Charming. But was the gown really necessary?

Excerpt:

Cinder glanced around. Paper lanterns floated in the trees, lined the walks, and graced the gazebo near the reflecting pool, giving the grounds a mystical air. Their warm glow caught the dancing jets of the fountain splashing merrily to his right. The musical, crystalline tones carried on the night wind’s breath. He was reminded of the enchanted gardens in the fairy tales his father had read to him when he was a child. What would happen to him if he dared walk there?

Henri led him toward the gazebo. Soon he would find out.

The cool breeze caressed his uncovered neck. Cinder shivered at the ethereal touch. Henri turned to him, the question clear in his eyes, but he didn't know how to answer. Instead he breathed in the tangible scent of rich earth and flowing water, hoping to calm his bounding heart.

Henri lightly stroked his arm. Cinder’s breath caught at the silky brush of the other man’s fingers. He drew another shaky breath. Henri may have meant to soothe him, instead his touch set Cinder’s wayward body aflame.

They left the last of the courtiers behind as they entered the dim interior of the fanciful pavilion. Vines climbed its intricately carved posts, perfuming the air within. The music and voices of the aristocrats faded away. Only a single intrepid nightingale could be heard over the cheerful babbling of the fountain. Hidden from the rest of the court, an unworldly sense of peace filled him. Was his very own fairy tale about to come true?

Bespelled and bemused, he could feel the magic in every beat of his heart, in every trembling breath he drew.

Once inside the bower, Henri reached to cup Cinder's cheek. Unused to being touched, he nearly flinched away but managed to still, heart pounding, before giving himself away. The older man's thumb slid across his cheekbone and came to rest lightly on his mouth. Why did he want to lean into that caress?

The other man's warm, slightly musky scent filled his nostrils, drowning his senses.

Henri's other hand wrapped around his waist and drew him close while tipping his face upwards. Cinder's breath left him in a rush, stirring the noble’s hair. Henri was all that he could see, his mouth slowly, carefully descending toward Cinder’s. If he allowed this, the other man might discover his deception. He couldn’t risk that, so why then did he ache to feel Henri’s kiss? Their lips brushed, light as thistle down.

Surprisingly, Henri's mouth was soft and warm upon his own. After a moment, Henri's pressed more firmly against his. Something fluttered in his chest, trying to get out.

Cinder didn't think to pull away until he felt Henri's tongue seeking entrance. The hand on his face slipped to his nape and held firm. He froze in shock, not even daring to breathe, as flames rushed through his body. The very beat of his heart betrayed him.

The questing tongue stroked his lips and pushed between them. It slid over his teeth, seeking to enter. When he protested, Henri's tongue swept in and began a lazy, sensuous exploration that left him breathless.

Soon he found himself stroking Henri's tongue with his own. Henri responded to his fledgling attempts by pulling him closer and moaning into his mouth. He had never experienced anything so deeply sensual and erotic. He fed his own needy pleas to the other man one at a time.

Finally they separated slightly, Cinder panting heavily, trying to catch his breath. Was Henri as affected by their kiss as he was? A quick glance confirmed Cinder was not alone in his arousal. Flushed and gasping, Henri gazed at him with eyes full of wonder and something unnamed smoldering in their depths.

The 777 Challenge

Seven lines from the 7th page of each manuscript, starting with the seventh line.

Apollo's Men #1, Alexios' Fate:

Lykos wore an intricately patterned chiton. Black and green Greek keys meandered along the selvages of the crimson linen. The folds of cloth fell from where the garment was pinned over his left shoulder with a bright bronze fibula to below his knees, leaving his right shoulder bare. A wide ox hide girdle supported a sheathed sword at his waist. Soft leather sandals encased his feet, supple sheepskin laces winding up calves like tree trunks. Alexios half expected him to wear a laurel wreath at his brow.

Even if his clothing hadn't marked him as the king, Alexios would have known by the way the older man held himself. Confidence and raw power spilled outward from him in an irresistible current, his authority clear for all to see. Gray touched his wind-tossed hair and beard and showed in the wiry curls on the side of his chest the chiton left bare. Lykos' broad shoulders and the corded muscles of his exposed arms and legs told the story of a life spent defending his kingdom.

Apollo's Men #2:

With a discomfited growl, he threw himself down on the pillows. Changing his mind, Alexios grabbed the drinking vessel and downed the contents in one long pull. Even then he couldn't swallow the knot in his throat no matter how he tried. A trickle escaped his mouth and ran down his chin.

He set the kylix down with a clatter, breathing heavily. He could feel the thick wine moving sluggishly through his blood. Maybe that would calm him some.

Lykos gazed at him, unspeaking. Speculation and some kind of understanding crossed his strong features.

From the Ashes:

"I don't need to go to the ball," Cinder started to say when she interrupted him.

"Oh, nonsense, dear. I promised to see you happy, and I won't let a little shyness on your part keep you from meeting your prince. He's been waiting for you, you know." She gently shooed him toward the front courtyard.

Prince? He didn't need a prince. He was a man. A princess would be nice, but what would he do with one of those?

"I really can't go..."

Morning Star:

Opening his mouth, Mark took Adonis' cock to the back of his throat, burying his nose in the nest of curls at its base. The sound that ripped from the other man's throat sounded almost painful. Knowing what it would do to the other man, Mark moaned his own appreciation as the cock in his mouth throbbed and twitched. More precum flooded his mouth.

Sucking hard enough to hollow his cheeks, Mark pulled back up. He swirled his tongue around the edge of the crown before pressing into the inverted v on the underside. The fingers in his hair clenched and pulled him down again. He repeated this several times before Adonis reverted to form and began fucking his face.

From the Pen of...

Just finished editing Morning Star, the story inspired by this photo. It will appear in the Breathless Press birthday bash freebie collection releasing in August.

On another front, From the Ashes has a tentative release date of January 4th, 2013. I'm looking forward to editing and seeing how my story changes along the way.

Book two of the Apollo's Men series is about half way through the first rough draft. As usual, I'm spending as much, if not more, time on research than the actual writing. I guess it's a very good thing I love the research!

Finally, I have a story line called Fan Service that the owner of Breathless Press and I are discussing making available in an unique format that I thing fanfic readers will enjoy. More on that later if we hit upon a good format for doing it.

Cinder Has a Home!

The manuscript I've been calling Cinder now has a home with Breathless Press. I don't have a release date yet, but will post it as soon as I have one.

From the Ashes
Cinder never thought that he could rise from the ashes of his life, but an unexpected encounter with a woman claiming to be his fairy godmother may be just what he needs. Finding himself flung into his very own fairy tale, she sends him off to meet his Prince Charming. But was the gown really necessary?