Tease Me Thursday #27: Forbidden

Happy Thursday, and welcome to Tease Me Thursday! It's almost Friday, you can feel it, right? So let's have some fun before the weekend arrives with a little bit of teasing!

Today, I'm going to tease you with a little bit of an old WIP of mine called Forbidden. At one time, it was running once a month, as a series. Now it waits for my return.

Forbidden takes place in the future, to a time when the birth rate is alarmingly low, and infant mortality too high, and children are too precious to risk. The church has finally relented their stance against priests marrying and having families, although homosexuality is still a crime. The United States is now the Alliance of States, and includes Canada. The country is working to rebuild itself, after a devastating war, and prisons are scary places to be. Jerico James is the spoiled son of a wealthy man who's pushed his luck and must be punished. He'd being sent to Sanctum, one of the government help centers, located in the Midwest.  In this snippet, he's arrived at a bus station, waiting for his ride to Sanctum. Enjoy!

The bus ride had been long, boring, and utterly without merit. Part of the reason for the longevity of the ride was the condition of the roads. Some arterial highways were little traveled and had yet to be repaired; sometimes detours were tricky and time consuming. Although Jerico had spent a little time with the two young admiring females who sat across from him, their company had quickly grown tepid, and he had retired to the solitude of his own thoughts, instead. The future seemed bleak and dismal, at least from his perspective, filled with toil, labor and hard work.  That was no way for a man to live.

The town where he’d been finally dropped off, along with his luggage, was nothing in comparison to the one he’d left the day before, but it wasn’t like he’d a say-so in the matter, and he knew Sanctum would be even smaller than this. To his surprise, there was no one there waiting to meet him. He was given instructions by the officer who met the bus: where to sit, and what would happen if he didn’t do so. He shrugged and did as he was told, taking a seat on a bench in the bus terminal. The man had let him know in no uncertain terms that he was being watched, what else could he do?

This terminal was not as busy as the other. It wasn’t like he could slip into the crowd and make good his escape; he’d be too obvious. So he tapped his foot and waited. Suddenly, his attention was drawn by the tittering and giggling of a group of passing young ladies, by their sighs of deep admiration and adulation—sounds which were not aimed at him. He turned his head and saw the most gorgeous man he’d ever seen in his life, coming toward him.

He could see why the sighs for this beauty— he was ready to release one himself over this veritable god. To his surprise, the man stopped in front of him, looking directly at him.

“Jerico James?” he asked, “I’m here to take you to Sanctum.”

Jerico smiled. Maybe this was his lucky day after all.  Maybe Sanctum would be more interesting than he’d imagined it would.

One could hope.

Guest blogging today at Bee-yond Midnight!

Today you can find me over at Bee-yond Midnight! I was interviewed by Honey Bee Promotions, and I'm talking about Fugitive, the newest in my Forbidden series.  I'd love to have everyone stop by and say hello!

And the winner is...

Yes, I'm late in declaring a winner in my No Place Like Home contest, and for that I do apologize. But I have a winner now, and will be announcing that person in just a few.

First, I'd just like to do a mini-rant. A reviewer, who shall be nameless, went on a rant in her review of a book about the book's anti-infringement/copyright policy! Seriously? You let this upset you? How many people even look at that. Not even the pirates they're aimed at do that. And yet someone who claims to have gotten a legitimate copy of a book gets all hot and bothered about the warning by the publisher against theft? What the hell? She ranted on it in the review and at her blog, and I have to say that I think it colored her review. That is some seriously irrational shit, I'm here to tell you. Can we all say anal?

Anyway, nuff said about that.

Tomorrow, the fourth part of my Forbidden series will be released. It's called Fugitive.  So let me share a little bit of that, if I may. It can be pre-ordered at ARe now.

Blurb:

A jubilant Jerico James has just given Father Sergio the slip in the barn, and he’s feeling rather fine. All he has to do now is find a phone, call one of his friends, and prepare to leave the sticks behind. But that’s far from a done deal when he finds himself unexpectedly engaged in a struggle against nature. Is this city boy prepared to rough it in the wild until he can reach civilization again?  What’s lurking in the woods?

Excerpt:

He hesitated for a moment, gazing intently at where Sergio lay, barely able to make out his form in the darkness. A twinge of regret suffused him—regret for what might have been, if he only had time. The fun they could have had together… But that fun would have come at the cost of his continued incarceration, and that was a price he was unwilling to pay.

Arrivederci, bella. Touching his fingers to his lips, he blew a kiss in Sergio’s general direction, then headed for the door. He reached for the door handle, but there was none.  Instead he found a vertical pull and an intricate latching mechanism, neither of which he was familiar with in any way. He spent a good five minutes standing in the darkness, his fingers feeling their way around the latch. The doors were on rollers suspended from above. He hadn’t paid any attention to them the night before during the mad dash through the storm, but he remembered Sergio sliding the door closed.

Finally he found the latch release and sighed in relief. A snort from the darkness froze him in place. He held his breath. Any moment he expected the priest’s hand to clinch around his neck and a sexy voice to ask where he thought he was going. Another snort was followed by a soft whinny. He released his pent-up breath feeling very foolish.  He had to get out of here.

 The latch unfastened with a click, the hardware creaking as the heavy door sprung free. He glanced up at the sky—no rain. Thank heaven for small favors; maybe there really was a God.  Clouds concealed the moon in layers of dark cotton. He hesitated in the doorway, thinking how useful it would be to have the lantern.  Then he decided against it. Let the poor people keep it. They had little enough as it was, and none of it was worth taking.

Jerico glanced over his shoulder, and then rolled the wooden door open until he could just slip through. He squeezed through the narrow aperture and took a deep breath. He was free, but he wasn’t gone. Not yet. Pulling the door closed, he allowed some positive thoughts to creep into his brain. Things might just be going his way at last. Is that a sign, Father Sergio? Is your God on my side for once?

The sun wasn’t up, but he figured he didn’t have long before hayseeds would pop out of every house, barn and field for fifty miles. He wished he had his cell phone.  Any of his friends would be willing to rescue him from Backwater America.  It didn’t matter. He’d get another phone once he got back to civilization and away from this rural nightmare

And now for the winner...

Congratulations goes to Mel B!  You get your choice of my books, I'll be emailing you shortly! Thanks to everyone who entered, and keep trying. There'll be another contest soon, as well as blog hops!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

New review for Unexpected Storm: Forbidden 3

I don't usually post reviews on my writing here, but I just got this one for Unexpected Storm: Forbidden 3, and it couldn't have come at a better time, when RL is running rampant, and I'm trying to focus on my writing and keep on truckin'. So thanks to Hearts on Fire Reviews for keeping that fire burning inside, may it never go out.

Hearts on Fire Reviews

Winners and a new release!

As promised, here are the winners of my Backlist Friday contest. I decided to pick two. Congratulations to Debby and PaParanormal Fan! I'll be getting in touch with you both!

Yesterday, the third installment of my Forbidden series released. Let me tell you a bit about it.

Blurb:   Jerico’s wish to be alone with sexy Father Sergio comes true when an unexpected storm traps them in a farm on their journey to Sanctum. Jerico lays his plans for a night of seduction, while Sergio’s assistant, Valencia, is left to explain to a very wealthy and influential man why his son isn’t where he should be.

Things are heating up out on the farm, and they promise to get even hotter…

Excerpt:

“How will you see where you’re going?” Sergio asked. The question was practical, but Jerico was way ahead of the priest.

“Couldn’t you guide me?”  Jerico tried to make the request guileless but figured by the look on Sergio’s face that he hadn’t been successful. Oh well.

“Come on, let’s do this.” Sergio took Jerico’s wrist in a strong grip. Jerico practically lit up inside at his touch.

“Let’s go,” he agreed, and followed the priest from the house. He heard Sergio shut the door behind them. Keeping his head down as instructed, he held the blankets tightly against his body. Sergio led him down the steps and across the yard. The rain fell in a steady deluge.

“God’s wrath,” Jerico murmured.

The listing van loomed in the darkness.  Head down and eyes focused on the muddy ground, he caught a glimpse of the ruined tires outlined in silhouette when a streak of lightning lit the area. He blessed Mother Nature and the priest’s apparent inability to perform routine vehicle repairs. Jerico had never had that problem. Not like he knew one end of a wrench from the other, or anything else having to do with his car.  The James Family employed a mechanic, and when that gentleman asked a few too many questions, Jerico found a mechanic of his own. Hopefully, he’d be back behind the wheel and home before he needed to learn any new skills.

Sergio’s grip was firm and comforting, despite the drizzle that engulfed them. All too soon, they quickly traversed the distance between the house and the barn. One moment they were in the rain, the next they were inside the darkened structure. It smelled suspiciously like wet wood. Jerico sneezed. Sergio released his hand to his disappointment and closed the door.

“Bless you.”

Jerico sneezed again and sniffled. What was that smell? He glanced warily about him, but that didn’t help. The lantern had its limits, one of them being a small range of visibility, but it was better than complete darkness. Noises outside the circle of light startled him so badly he almost ran right back out into the storm. What the hell was in here with them?

As if reading his mind, Sergio supplied the answer. “Their animals.”

“They have animals?”

Sergio’s laughter traveled straight down Jerico’s spine to his cock.

If you want to read more, Unexpected Storm: Forbidden 3 is now available!

Guest Blogging with RC Bonitz

Today I'm visiting with RC Bonitz on his blog, and talking about hookers and blow. Er, I mean book titles. Drop by and you'll see what I mean.

The newest installment in my Forbidden series came out on February 1st, at Romance First Publishing. Never fear, I am hard at work on the third part of the story. In order to beat the winter chill, RFP is having a contest, and part of the prize is a copy of the first and second chapters of Forbidden! Stop by and enter to win! Better hurry, the contest ends tomorrow!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Guest Blogging With Gabrielle Evans

While RC is taking care of things here, I'm over at Gabrielle Evan's blog, talking about crushes. The romantic kind. And having a contest - stop on by for a chance to win a copy of both Forbidden I and II!

Secret Blessings: Forbidden II comes out February 1st!

Guest Blogging with Victoria Blisse and having a contest!

Today is Friends Friday over at Victoria Blisse's place! Come on by, I'm talking about a priest in a m/m romance novel. Intrigued? Then join us there and enter my contest for a chance to win a copy of Sanctum: Forbidden One!  See y'all there!

My thoughts on the coming year

Happy New Year to one and all! I'm feeling better today, so it's time to begin again, and plunge into 2012!

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.


This year my goal is to focus on what is to come, not on what was. The past is gone. It's the past for a reason. I shall try to follow this mantra to the best of my ability. To live for today, with an eye toward tomorrow. I cannot change some things, and some people, and there's no sense in beating my head against a brick wall.


As I mentioned before, there has been a change in the Flash Fiction. Silver no longer supports us and has forbidden us to use their name or their badge. They've decided to run their own free fiction on the Silver site, and to reward those with contracts for 2012 with the right to join in on their little venture. So be it. However, we aren't rolling over and playing dead by any means. The flash fiction will continue, under a new name, with a new badge. This week we shall probably be nameless. In fact, suggestions for a new name are quite welcome. Also, we welcome other authors who'd like to join us in our flash fiction fun. No longer will we be restricted to one publisher - we welcome all writers, all genres, published or not. You are welcome here.


Moving on.


I am still seeking a job and shall continue to do so. I have my editing and my writing as well, which mean everything to me. And working at conventions. For 2012, right now I have only one convention scheduled - KawaKon, which is in March, here in St. Louis. It's going to be awesome. If you like anime, or Japanese culture. If you are interested in having fun, and dressing up and seeing other people cosplay. If you like to dance the Time Warp, KawaKon is for you! This year we'll be at the Sheraton Westport - a great location with more room! I am co-chairing a panel on Alice in Wonderland, besides running Registration, and I'm running the Rocky Horror, Dr. Horrible and Repo! the Genetic Opera events. Did I mention it'll be fun? It'll be great fun!

I just started to run my Forbidden series at Romance First Publishing. I only had two chapters out before, so soon, there will be new ones. I am working on the third book in my To the Max series, as well as various other WIP's. And still looking for a home for Revelations.


No problem is insurmountable. If you want to, you can do anything. 2012 is going to be a great year. I want to work hard, and still have time for fun and family and friends. I want to be a friend, and help other people as much as I am able. We're all in this together, so let's help one another, shall we?


Thanks for taking the ride with me! It'll be a great one!


Until next time, take care!


♥ Julie

Starting the New Year with a new release!

After Wicked Nights folded, my series Forbidden, which was still in its infancy, was left rather stranded. But it has found a new home with Romance First Publishing! Just released today, in fact!

Blurb:

The year is 2056 AD. The place—the Alliance of States, once the United States of America. The country is struggling to come back after the Armageddon which took place in the year 2032, under the leadership of President Alistair Boothe. Life is hard but not impossible. The church and the state have been closely woven together, for the good of the people. Infant mortality has risen, the birth rate has declined. Recognizing the futility of imposing celibracy, the church now allows its priests to marry women. Homosexuality is still forbidden, and pedophilia is punishable by death.

Jerico James is handsome, spoiled and willful—a rich boy with too much time on his hands. When he steps out of line once too often, he finds himself sent to one of the nation’s help centers to serve his community service, under the guidance of its director, Father Sergio de Basco. The moment he sees Sergio, Jerico is struck by the priest’s beauty—and determined to have him, no matter what the cost.

Excerpt:

Jerico didn’t want to go to Sanctum.  He didn’t want to become no more than an unpaid overworked laborer, a servant of the state, toiling for the betterment of the poor and downtrodden, the huddled unwashed masses. But the alternative undoubtedly involved serving time in one of the federally mandated prisons. No one wanted that.  Conditions had become so harsh, at least from the stories which had been gleaned from former inmates, that the mere threat of penal incarceration had become an actual deterrent to crime. There were whispers of punishments carried out within the high prison walls that went far beyond any treatment ever mandated by civilized nations, of tortures not seen since the days of the Inquisition. But no proof existed, and the stories were denied as being the tales of criminals. It was better to play safe than sorry. Money did still have its privileges.

“Dru.” He changed tactics, switching to his wheedling voice, the one which usually got him anything he desired from any woman he desired it from, even his sister. When Jerico was little, he couldn’t quite manage to say Jerusha, and his childish lips had run all the syllables into one—Dru he’d called her, and Dru she stayed, especially in moments such as this. “Dru, can’t Micah do something about it? Isn’t that why I pay him all that money, to handle these things?”

“Father pays him all that money, you mean,” she replied without batting an eye or giving an inch, “and he’s doing what he can.” Micah Caulfield was Jerusha’s handsome older husband. A close associate of their father, he was one of the best attorneys working for the government of what was now known as the Alliance of States. Or more precisely for its President, Alistair Boothe. Micah was also the one that pulled Jerico out of the trouble he invariably got himself into.  His lifeline, as it were. But this time, Jerico had embroiled himself too far for even Micah to extract him.

They threaded their way through the roiling masses of humanity, too focused on their own destinations to pay attention to the brother and sister in their midst. Wherever they were heading, Jerico was pretty sure it wasn’t where he was going.  Not very likely, anyway.

It would be so easy to just skip out. To get on another bus, go to another place, and once there to lose himself in the crowds of that new city, become someone else and forget all this bullshit. But there were reasons why that couldn’t be. One was that he’d never supported himself in his entire life, and would be somewhat at a loss to do so. The second reason was that although he was walking side by side with Jerusha, he was more than aware that he had an escort just a few paces behind them. Someone whose sole purpose in being there was to make sure that Jerico James boarded the bus to Sanctum. The third reason was the chip which had been implanted in his left wrist by the court. If he were to go somewhere outside of the help center, he would set off alarms whenever he passed by any of the government sensors. And since no one knew exactly where those were located, just that there were an unknown number of them, the chances of being caught were pretty good.

All in all, Jerico had to admit he was pretty well screwed and without any choice in the matter—apparently he was going to Sanctum.

Thoughts on celibacy and other topics

Yesterday I posted about my new series Forbidden which begins Friday at Wicked Nights, and which stars a very hot priest, Father Sergio,  who is going to be lusted after by the other main character, Jerico. It should be interesting to see how that dynamic plays out. I tend to leave that up to the characters to work out, although I have my suspicions.

Also, yesterday I watched the season finale of The Borgias. Luckily I know it's already been renewed for another season, so I have much to look forward to - particularly Cardinal Cesare Borgia, who is such a hunk!


Cesare's father is Rodrigo Borgia, aka Pope Alexander VI. Wait, his father is a pope? How did that happen? Didn't they have celibacy vows back then? Of course they did. Even before he was Pope, Borgia must have gone through the rank and file of the Church - at the time of his election to the papacy, he was a Cardinal.  He had a number of mistresses and several children. So much for celibacy.

Now let's think about that. Celibacy, that is. It isn't mandatory in all churches. Some ministers are allowed to marry and have children, to lead more normal lives. Am I saying that celibate priests don't lead normal lives? Yes, I guess I am, because celibacy is not a natural state for most people. True, there are some who have low sex drives and don't care, but on the whole, priests are no different than anyone else, and celibacy has to be hard on them. Well, you know it is, because see what happens when you force men to deny themselves the pleasures of the body?  Things that aren't very pretty.

What about the argument that by being celibate they put more time and energy into the Church and into serving God and helping their fellow man?  I think that's a crock of shit. First off, how much do you get done when you're horny a lot and can't do anything about it? Secondly, if that were true, I think there would be a lot less people in miserable straits in the world, with that much energy being devoted to their welfare. Personally, I think someone who has a happy home life, no matter if they are straight or gay, will be better suited to helping other people.

You know what I don't understand? How priests offer marriage and/or sex counseling. With what experience? A book? Might as well shove a manual at the couple and say here, read. I drive a car, I sure wouldn't begin to suggest I can fix it. The priests don't even drive the car, they have to give longing glances from afar. And yet they tell people how to drive?  It's crazy.

In Forbidden, because of the declining birth rate, the Church has taken a step forward and removed the vows of celibacy for two main reasons - one, in order to get the priests married and reproducing, and the second reason is that it wasn't really working and caused far more harm than good. But they still don't allow homosexuality because it doesn't produce children. So that will have to be a factor between our two heroes and what happens to them. You gotta throw monkey wrenches at your characters, right? Add some drama to their lives. Or who wants to read about them?

I obviously like themes involving the Church. Forbidden isn't my first such foray, actually. I wrote a novel called Revelations and I am seeking a publisher for it, even now. It's in NY, with Tor books, I'm waiting to hear from them. I've subbed it to a few publishers who liked it but wouldn't take a chance on publishing it because the subject matter is controversial.

Wait, you mean more controversial than a priest possibly breaking his vows of celibacy?

Yeah, I guess I do mean that.

I'll tell you a little about it. It's a contemporary Biblical story. I know, that's a contradiction in terms, right? But it is. It asks the question - what if there has already been a Second Coming? And a Third and Fourth? And many more?  In my version of the story, God sends Jesus, and Mary, and Mary Magdalene and the Apostles to do his bidding, try to teach mankind, but unannounced. Like they're testing mankind to see if he can be taught without being threatened. Sometimes people do better than others, but sometimes, they don't do well. Revelations takes place in modern times. And it's primarily about Judas and Jesus.  So yeah, maybe a little controversial. But those who've read it have loved it. I'm hopeful that I'll find a home for it.

There is a Mr. Mister song that I love a lot, that reminds me of Revelations. It's called Kyrie, check it out.

What do you think of celibacy - good or bad? Or don't care? I'd love to hear!


♥  Julie

Behind my new series, Forbidden

I have a new series releasing with Wicked Nights on Friday, May 27th. This will be my second with them, and will also release on a monthly basis, fourth Friday of the month. This series is a little different for me in that it's a sci fi/futuristic drama, which takes place in 2056 AD. Life as we know it has changed a little bit.

Blurb:   The year is 2056 AD. The place—the Alliance of States, once the United States of America. The country is struggling to come back after the Armageddon which took place in the year 2032, under the leadership of President Alistair Boothe. Life is hard but not impossible. The church and the state have been closely woven together, for the good of the people. Infant mortality has risen, the birth rate has declined. Recognizing the futility of imposing celibracy, the church now allows its priests to marry women. Homosexuality is still forbidden, and pedophilia is punishable by death.

Jerico James is handsome, spoiled and willful—a rich boy with too much time on his hands. When he steps out of line once too often, he finds himself sent to one of the nation’s help centers to serve his community service, under the guidance of its director, Father Sergio de Basco. The moment he sees Sergio, Jerico is struck by the priest’s beauty—and determined to have him, no matter what the cost.

Here is the cover for the first volume, Sanctum:  

I am hard at work on volume 2, even as we speak. But I'd like to talk a little about this and give you a feel for the characters.  First, I'd like to show you the inspiration for my two main characters:

Father Sergio  de Basco

Jerico James   

As the story begins, it is 2056 AD and the United States is now the Alliance of States, after the addition of Canada. The people are still recovering from the Armageddon of 2032. Some things have changed, people are just trying to survive.

Jerico James is rich and spoiled, a 30 year old playboy with no real purpose other than having fun. His father is a close friend and advisor of President Alistair Boothe. But Jerico learns the hard way that he can't get away with everything. At least he isn't being put into prison - the stories that came out of the prisons are frightening. Instead, he is to do community service at the National Help Center known as Sanctum, under the 

directorship of Father Sergio de Basco. Jerico leaves behind his pregnant twin sister, Jerusha. She is the only person he truly cares about.

When he sees Sergio, it's lust at first sight. Due to a declining birth rate, and due to the scandals which tore apart the Church in the 20th and 21st centuries, the Church has reversed its stance on priest celibacy and now allows them to marry - women. Homosexuality is still forbidden, and pedophilia is a capital offense.

Will Jerico disrupt the even tenor of Father Sergio's life at Sanctum? Will Sergio be able to tame the wild child? And what will they do about their attraction to and feelings for one another?

Read Forbidden 1: Sanctum - the journey begins on Friday!

As I said, this is different for me, as it's a bit of sci fi and it's futuristic and there are no paranormal elements to it - no vampires, werewolves, or anything of the sort. Just people, trying to live their lives.

Do you find this interesting? What would you like to see happen? I'd love to hear from you!  I'll be posting the winner of my Captivations contest a little later - stay tuned!