Guest Blogging with Rob Colton and a Good Reads Giveaway

Today I'm visiting with fellow author Rob Colton at his blog, talking about my new release, my revised Leonardo DiCaprio is a Vampire. Come on over and visit!

Also, I'm having a Good Reads giveaway! I'm giving away three print copies of Revelation! You have until my birthday, November 19th, to enter. Just go here and do what it says!  Good luck to you all!

Guest blogging and a great review for Revelations!

Today I'm guest blogging at fellow author and friend Chris T. Kat's blog, talking about Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, that just released yesterday at MuseitUp Publishing. Talking about horror, in general, and my story in particular. Stop by and say hello!

Also, yesterday I got the most amazing review of Revelations from The Book Maven.

"Revelations...is an imaginative and quite controversial read."

"It will challenge what you have always believed..."

"Revelations is written in such a way that you fall into the story..."

To read the entire review, go here

If you like the review, feel free to share it!

Have a great day!
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A New Cover and a little bit of disappointment

Happy Friday! TGIF, right? From what I can see, it's sunny here, maybe chilly (I'll know better when I go shopping later).  I am happy to report that M.A. Church and I have our cover for our first joint venture, Be My Alien, which is being released by Dreamspinner Press in May/June of this year. Things are moving quickly on that front, so probably May. But before I reveal that, I just have a couple of other things I wish to mention first.

I am visiting with Lexi Ander today, at her blog, and talking about Revelations, so please stop by and say hello!

Secondly, I'm in a bit of a slump right now. It's amazing how much of a writer's life consists of waiting to hear from people, particularly publishers. Waiting is the hardest part, once you've finished polishing your work/heart and sent it out for inspection. But sometimes receiving an answer is harder than not receiving one.

As you may know, I've recently re-acquired the rights to most of the works I had published with Silver (and that is a whole other can of worms that I won't go into). Like many other former Silver authors, I am trying to get them back into circulation with other publishers. I succeeded with A Special Christmas, which is being published by Torquere Press in December, and about which I am very excited. Still others are in the waiting stages. But one in particular, that I subbed to a publisher who shall be nameless, was rejected because the publisher said they had too many resubs and couldn't take it. I thought that was reasonable, considering how much Silver material must be out there, and probably Noble Romance too. But then the same publisher turned down an original book, as well as a book by a friend, and we put it down to they don't want paranormal right now.

Until yet another friend received contracts - and not just any contracts, but for resubs that are also paranormal.

So I was lied to. For what purpose? I have no idea. She could have told me anything else - the truth would have been nice - and I wouldn't have thought anything of it. Disappointed, sure. But now I'm pissed and I'm hurt, and I have to ask myself do I want anything to do with a publisher who would lie in such a way when it wasn't necessary? How cold and callous is this publisher? What else is she capable of?

Needless to say, I'm in a tizzy, and a writer in a tizzy isn't in the best frame of mind in which to write. Self-doubts creep in - those nasty little things that linger just beneath the surface at the best of times and come out when a writer is at her lowest.

I'll get over this and I know it. But it leaves me with a poor taste in my mouth, for I realized that so far, all of the publishers I've worked with have disappointed in some way - some worse than others. I hope this isn't the norm, and I pray that in the future I'll find out differently. But for now, color me jaded

Enough of that. On to the cover reveal. And a little bit about Be My Alien, the first book in the Moonlit Skies series by M.A. and myself.

What’s an alien to do? Dumped at the Empire State Building by the very male he’s been trying to get a date with forever, Taz is stranded on a backwater planet called Earth with no money, no idea where the motel they rented is located, and… he’s starving to boot! The lovely moonlit skies he had admired no longer hold any appeal for him.

Where can he go, what can he do? The answer comes in the form of a human named Reed… and a love that will travel across the universe. 

Blurb:

A man too busy for love…

Reed owns an upscale men’s boutique with a naughty back room. While making a late delivery to a client, he runs into Taz.

A man on a disastrous date…

When Taz agreed to come to Earth on a date, he didn’t expect to be dumped and left with no way home. Then he falls into Reed’s arms—literally.

A coffee date soon becomes a trip back to Reed’s apartment. But when Taz’s stripes begin to show, Reed discovers Taz comes from a planet far, far away.

Reed never believed aliens existed, but he’s facing one now. What in the world is he going to do?

Excerpt:

“Are you okay? Hello?”

Reed dragged his mind away from those sexy green eyes. “Ah, huh? What?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall on top of you like that. You see, it was like this. I was pushed, and you just happened to be there and….” The stranger grinned at Reed. “And down we went.”

Reed shifted under the body lying so contentedly on top of him. Hell’s bells, the guy fit against him perfectly. From the feel of things, they were both close to the same height. Which also meant certain things were… aligned. “Oh yeah, I’m okay. Banged my head a little, but I’m fine.”

The stranger bit his bottom lip, his teeth worrying the tender skin. Reed debated slamming his head against the floor a few more times in the hopes of rattling his brain back to normal as the stranger rolled off him.

“I really am sorry.”

“No harm done.” Reed sat up and looked at the guy once again. Well, not much harm, anyway. His libido just had to pick now to perk up, didn’t it? But damn, this guy was sexy. Reed struggled to his feet and held his hand out to the man still on the floor, looking up at him. The guy took his hand and let Reed pull him up. “Name’s Reed. Are you okay?”

“Hi, Reed!” The guy hopped to his feet in a single, lithe movement, as if it was the most….world. “My name is Taz. Nice to meet you, and yes, I am.”

For a moment there was a flash in the guy’s eyes that belied his statement. “Good, that’s good. Glad to hear it. Well, I guess I’d better be going—”

A forlorn expression crossed Taz’s face and his pretty eyes clouded. “Oh.” 

Reed hesitated. There was something about the guy that pulled at him. When was the last time he’d felt that pull? Way too long ago. Taz was cute, sure. But there was this look of hurt. Dammit, Taz just looked so lost. Insane as it was, he wanted to make it all better.

A little bit about the authors:

Author bio:

M.A. Church

M.A. Church lives in the southern United States and spent many years in the elementary education sector. She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have two children. Her hobbies are gardening, walking, attending flea markets, watching professional football, racing, and spending time with her family on the lake.

But her most beloved hobby is reading. From an early age, she can remember hunting for books at the library. Later nonhuman and science fiction genres captured her attention and drew her into the worlds the authors had created. But always at the back of her mind was the thought that one day, when the kids were older and she had more time, she would write a book.

By sheer chance she stumbled across a gay male romance story on the web and was hooked. A new world opened up and she fell in love. Thus the journey started. When not writing or researching, she enjoys reading the latest erotic and mainstream romance novels.

My links:

Blog http://machurch00.blogspot.com

Twitter @nomoretears00

Facebook: M.A. Church http://www.facebook.com/pages/MA-Chur...

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5141393.M_A_Church

Publishers:

Dreamspinner: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_650

Romance First Publishing: www.rfppublishing.com

Changeling Press: http://www.changelingpress.com/author.php?uid=177

Storm Moon: http://www.stormmoonpress.com/authors/MA-Church.aspx

Author bio:

Julie Lynn Hayes

Julie Lynn Hayes was reading at the age of two and writing by the age of nine and always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Two marriages, five children, and more than forty years later, that is still her dream. She blames her younger daughters for introducing her to yaoi and the world of M/M love, a world which has captured her imagination and her heart and fueled her writing in ways she'd never dreamed of before. She especially loves stories of two men finding true love and happiness in one another's arms and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and two cats, loves books and movies, and hopes to be a world traveler some day. While working a temporary day job, she continues to write her books and stories and reviews, which she posts in various places on the internet. Her family thinks she is a bit off, but she doesn't mind. Marching to the beat of one's own drummer is a good thing, after all.  Her other published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, MuseitUp Publishing, and No Boundaries Press and she has also begun to self-publish at various places on the Internet.  

My Links:

My blog:  http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com

My Twitter: @ShelleyRunyon

My facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=527332074

My Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3442231.Julie_Lynn_Hayes

My Publishers:

Museit Up Publishing:  http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php

Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_222

M.A. and I are hard at work on the second book in the series, which will be full-length. As of yet, it has no title. We hope you enjoyed this glimpse into Be My Alien! Have a great weekend!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Six Sentence Sunday and Guest Blogging with M.A. Church

Good morning and Happy Sunday! As you may or may not know, Six Sentence Sunday is scheduled to end this month. Perhaps someone else will resurrect it, but I do not know. So I'm going to try to participate as much as I can. Also, after my six sentences, something that is actually related, so don't forget to keep reading. For more Six Sentence goodness, go here.

Today's six sentences come from Revelations, which is being released by Museit Up Publishing in February. Poor Judas is - if you'll forgive the expression - being bedeviled by Lucifer. Enjoy! This excerpt is not PG, btw.

            Until I hear a throaty voice whispering directly into my ear, a warm arm wrapping itself securely about my waist.

            “Judas, you pretty thing, when will you allow me to fuck your delectable body and show you what true ecstasy is?”

             Ladies and gentlemen—the devil does not wear Prada. He prefers Armani, if the truth be told. And here he is behind me now, pressed up against me with a raging erection—not that I haven’t felt that before, many times—and he’s whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

            And it’s taking all my self-control not to elbow him in his gut.

Today, I'm guest blogging with M.A. Church, and we have the second part of the interview with Judas and Jesus. So head on over and see what the boys have to say. M.A. made hot chocolate. See you there!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Guest blogging at Fifty States

This week, I'm guest blogging at Annette Snyder's Fifty States blog, and I'm talking about Missouri. Come on by and see what makes this a great state! And enter to win a copy of my book, To the Max!

Guest Blogging With Victoria Blisse

Good morning and Happy Friday to everyone! Today I'm over at my friend Victoria Blisse's blog - talking about the battle between the sexes in romance novels, and the Bigger Briefs anthology. Stop by and say hello, one lucky person will win a copy of the Bigger Briefs anthology of their choice!

Guest Blogging with Sara York

I hear voices in my head. Come over to Sara York's blog, where I'm helping her to celebrate 50,000 hits, and you'll find out why!

Sara is one of our Wednesday Briefers! It'll be a lot of fun! And she has prizes, including some of my books!

In the meantime, I'll just leave someone yummy here to look at!

Ain't he purty?

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!

On Censorship, Justice, and Irony - and sandwiches!

By now a lot of you know about the escalating PayPal brouhaha. This financial institution has taken upon itself the position of moral arbiter and are strong arming sites such as Bookstrand and others to comply with their fascist demands - or else. I'm blogging on that subject today at my friend Margaret West's blog - if you want join in the fray, go there. I'm going to discuss other things here.

Top Chef Texas is down to the final three, but I've been too disheartened to blog about it since the show before last when two bad things happened - as I feared, Bev was brought back into the competition via the Last Chef Standing showdown. And the chef that was eliminated was Edward. I was so pissed, especially as I felt that Last Chef second chance deal was bogus.Bev was eliminated, she should have stayed that way. But Karma came back last week and bit her in the ass, eliminating her for a second time.  Lindsay won the quick fire challenge and was passed into the last show. Then Paul secured a spot, and it came down to Bev and Sarah. Sarah came through, and Bev's gone and she'll stay gone this time. That leaves the final three - Paul, Lindsay, Sarah. I like all three chefs, so I won't be disappointed, no matter who wins, but I think I'm leaning toward Paul as the winner. In the meantime, I'm mourning Edward's loss. He should have been there too.

A brief Vampire Diaries note - the show is off again until March. I don't really care. I'm sick to death of Klaus and his family, and if it weren't for Damon, I wouldn't care if I never saw the show again. Tired of martyr Stefan - yeah, we all knew that he's being a hardass for Elena. Not that I wanted her with Damon, 'cause I don't. But I want to see him happy. Paradox.

Poor Hank! He keeps getting blamed for stuff he didn't even do! Trying to protect Karen's new hubby by claiming the stripper Richard banged as his own girlfriend just didn't work out so well. Now Karen and Becca are mad at him without reason, and he was forced to agree to read the first ten pages of Becca's handsome but no-good boyfriend's screenplay. One good thing - at least Mia isn't in the picture any more. *quickly throws salt over my shoulder*  I'm really loving the fifth season, things are always happening, and you gotta love Hank Moody, right?

In other news, the Sandwich King is back! The second season of Jeff Mauro's show premiered Sunday, and this season is already off to a good start. In the first episode, Jeff visited a deli there in Chicago, and showed us how to make grilled cheese two ways - one for children, one for adults, along with a hearty tomato soup, and then he made a meat loaf sandwich. Everything looked delicious! All the recipes can be found at the Food Network site, and I for one intend to grab them. I'm glad Jeff's back. I think he's more self-assured in front of the camera, and I really enjoy this show.



**SPOILERS AHEAD**

Things are heating up in The Walking Dead, which came back after a brief hiatus. There is growing dissension, and hard decisions are being made. When Herschel disappears, they find they need him for a girl who's gone into shock, so Rick and Glenn track him to the bar in town, where he's tying on one. While there, two men show up, one of whom is Raymond Michael James, late of Terriers and True Blood. The two draw first, and Rick has to shoot them. Unfortunately, they weren't alone, and they end up taking a wounded young man back to the farm. Now they fear to release him because he might give away their location. Shane is more and more unhappy with the way things are going, and Lori suspects he had something to do with Otis' death. Which he did. She tells Rick that Shane is obsessed with her, and is convinced the baby is his, but that she says it's Rick's regardless. That tells me it might be Shane's and she's just not going to deal with the possibility. Their son Carl is growing up far too fast, seen things he should never have seen. When Shane blurts out about the baby in front of him, he asks that if it's a girl, she be named Sophia, after his late friend.

Out of everyone, the character that is developing the most is Glenn. He's come a long way from the innocent young nerd he was at the beginning of the series, and I think there is a definite chance for him and Maggie to forge a lasting a alliance. I really do not like Lori, and the best thing would be if she and Shane ran off, but I don't see that happening, as she's starting to see him as a psycho. It's a really rough world, and I'm not sure things will ever get better, at least not in the foreseeable future.

Alcatraz keeps on delivering, this week's episode involving Johnny McKee, a guy who specialized in poison. In order to learn something about him, Rebecca wants to talk to the prisoner who occupied the cell next to his - Jack Sylvane. When she wants to go to the prison where he's being held, Hauser stalls, and says he'll bring him to her, which he does. There's a lot that she and Diego don't know about what's going on, but I predict someday it'll come out. It's coming closer all the time. For one thing, the fact that Lucy comes from the same time as the prisoners. They know Hauser worked at The Rock then, but not about her, not to mention she looks the same as she did then. Hauser has moved her from the hospital where she was at to the facility where the prisoners are housed. Rebecca is trying to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding her grandfather, but Hauser seems determined to keep her from up. Keep up the good work.

All for now, gotta get back to editing and writing. I have an idea for an open call at DSP, but I don't want to jinx it by talking about it!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Guest Blogging today at Jana Down's place, and other stuff

Happy President's Day, to those of you in the US! Being unemployed, holidays don't have quite the same feel. In fact, this one's keeping me from going to the post office as well as the unemployment office! Oh well, tomorrow's another day.

Today I'm visiting at Jana Down's blog, talking about historical crushes. Why don't y'all join me there?

Then mosey on over to Ginger Simpson's blog, 'cause my friend Lorrie Struiff is talking about a monkey named Beggar, who's quite the handful, as well as her upcoming release, A Heap of Trouble. I'm here to tell you it's one heck of a good book. I know, because I had the honor and privilege of editing it. So stop on by and say howdy to Beggar and Lorrie.

What are my President's Day plans?

Started the day by making Snickerdoodle Muffins as a surprise for Sarah. I'm working on a flash fiction for the Bigger Briefs anthology. Have I mentioned that before? It's like an offshoot of the Wednesday Briefs, except the stories run from 2 to 3k, and they're going to be assembled and published by a publisher in the UK. How awesome is that? I'll keep you updated on it as it progresses. Actually, there will be anthologies - one m/m and one m/f. I've already written a story for the m/f, now working on the other. The theme for the first anthology is voyeurism.

I'm also considering an open sub for Dreamspinner, we'll see how that works out. And editing a book for Muse. So quite the full day ahead.

Tomorrow I'll probably discuss stuff like The Walking Dead, Californication, and the return of The Sandwich King. Going to do some writing now!  Have a great day!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

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!

Guest Blogging with Rawiya

Today I'm not home. Where am I? Visiting with my good friend Rawiya at her blog, and talking about my novel Dark Love - and my love of vampires. Come say hello to me there! Win a copy of the e-book! All you have to do is comment!

Guest Blogging today at Shannon Leigh's Place

Today you'll be able to find me on Shannon Leigh's blog. She interviewed me about my writing, its influences and other things about what makes this crazy writer tick. Come on over and take a gander, while I put together the contest I promised!

http://authorshannonleigh.blogspot.com/

Guest blogging with Pia Valeno

I'm over at Pia Veleno's site, talking about Raylan Givens and Justified instead of my upcoming release Leonardo Di Caprio is a Vampire.  Can you blame me?

Come on by and say hello and see what I have to say about this sexy US Marshal!

http://piaveleno.com/2011/04/28/guest-blog-julie-lynn-hayes/

Guest blogging today at Taboo Indeed

I'm over at Taboo Indeed, talking about Leonardo di Caprio is a Vampire. Stop by and say hello!

http://tabooindeed.blogspot.com/2011/04/welcome-jule-lynn-hayes.html?zx=fad6b8efeedae12f

Guest Blogging at Realmantic Moments with Lila Munro

Today you can find me talking about my love for vampires over at Realmantic Moments.  Who doesn't love them, right?

Join me there! http://lilamunro.weebly.com/1/post/2011/04/welcome-julie-hayes.html

Guest blogging today at Catriana Sommer's place

Don't I wish it was summer?  Hell yeah! But with kinder gentler temperatures!  Spring is cool and all, and the emergence of life thing is great, but it can also be quite volatile, and it's tornado season. So give me some temperatures in the 70's, with cool breezes and hot men and ...

Oh, I digress.  Today is a day for a summer of a different sort - Catriana Sommer! I'm guest blogging at her place, talking about the voices in my head! Come join in the fun!

http://catrianasmuse.blogspot.com/2011/04/045-welcome-julie-lynn-hayes.html

A day late

I meant to post this yesterday. Larion Willis is having a month of Jimmy Thomas covers at her blog, and yesterday one of my covers was featured  - the one for Captivations 2: All that Jazz.  Go by and check it out, and say hello!

Larion Musing