Book Day Wednesday

Today I'm sharing someone else's book instead of my own! This is one of the most adorable covers I have ever seen, btw.

Land of Enchantment

East meets west. City meets country. Though there’s no denying opposites attract, can a college kid from New Jersey and a New Mexican cowboy learn to speak the same language, let alone trust each other?

When Mason Wild heads west to escape his past, he doesn’t have a plan or a penny to his name. Luckily he finds a job with a roofing company run by a rodeo cowboy who’s kind, easy to work for, and even with his jaw wired shut, hotter than July in the high desert.

Bull rider Levi Yost knows what it’s like to be down on his luck. He’s not much older than Mason, but he’s been around the block a few times, or at least around the rodeo arena. He takes a chance on the kid, giving him a job and a place to live on his ranch. The two of them discover a surprising amount of common ground, but trouble has a way of finding each of them. Mason has to learn to be fully honest with Levi, who in turn has to realize he’s not just riding out for himself anymore.

Find the book here

Find Jodi here:
jodipayne.net
https://linktr.ee/jodipayne

Find BA here:
batortuga.com
https://linktr.ee/batortuga

Sean
smut fixes everything

Book Day Wednesday

All the novels are $4 at Dreamspinner Press today in honor of July 4! This includes my two latest releases, The Eager Boy - from the Iron Eagle Gym series, and Personal Best - a reprint of the first novel in Mike and Jessy`s story.

Personal Best

Mike Gauliet could be a world-class swimmer if he took better care of himself. He’s too good to let go, so his team coach calls in a private trainer, up-and-coming hardass Jessy Turner. Jessy locks Mike down, putting him on a strict regimen of diet and exercise that Mike resents a lot until he realizes the changes are making him a better swimmer.

Jessy finds Mike all but irresistible but keeps his distance and remains professional, focusing all his attention on what’s best for Mike and his career. The two of them resist their attraction to each other for as long as they can, but eventually they have to give into the heat between them.

When things go wrong, though, can they, and their sports careers, survive the strain?

Personal Best is just $4 today at Dreamspinner Press.

The Eager Boy

Eight months ago Robin Secoya left his lover and master, Stack Lobond, because he didn’t believe Stack really cared about him. He was sure that for Stack, any warm body would do, and Robin wasn’t willing to be just a warm body anymore.

A chance meeting at the Iron Eagle Gym brings them back together, and old feelings aren’t far from the surface. They decide they can’t pass up a second chance at romance. But this time, it isn’t just Stack’s demanding career as a big-cat vet putting strain on their relationship. Robin also has a new job that takes up a lot of his time.

Will their kinky love affair crash and burn a second time, or can they find the balance that will allow the passion between them to flourish?

The Eager Boy is just $4 today at Dreamspinner Press. As are all the Iron Eagle Gym novels.


Sean
smut fixes everything

Book Day Wednesday - Once You Go Demon

I'd like to thank Changeling Press for republishing Once You Go Demon for me. The novel had only been out a couple months when the whole ARE mess happened. Hopefully you hadn't had a chance to pick it up yet!

Once You Go Demon

There's a shift of power happening in Hell, and nothing will ever be the same.

Kerr has been with High Demon Horatio's household since his age of majority. A natural submissive pleasure demon, for the last seven years he has been untouched by his master Horatio and his job has morphed into a more managerial role. Still, it's a shock when goons from Master Belial's house arrive at his doorstep to inform him he's been sold and his new master expects him to come immediately.

Lost by Horatio in a card game, Kerr finds himself in the Belial household, where Ceris, Master of the Harem, takes Kerr under his wing. Kerr is not only honored and used as he was made to be, but he is given a newly acquired demon, Harmony, as his own to train. The three pleasure demons have a rocky start, but they have all the time in Hell to figure out how to work together, and it isn't long before they begin to care for one another.

Meanwhile, Belial has waited for thousands of years for Horatio to admit he's actually a submissive. When it appears that's never going to happen, Belial arranges for his best friend to lose a card game in which he's offered himself as the prize. Horatio can't believe Belial would do this for him, but the council puts their seal of approval on the bet, and he has no choice but to offer himself to Belial, who immediately gets to work convincing Horatio that he'll be so much happier as Belial's sub.

Will Kerr and Horatio find joy in their places in the Belial household? Only time will tell.

It'll be available on Friday at Changeling Press!

Excerpt:

Kerr stared at the paper the incredibly well dressed goons at the door handed him.
Sold?

Him?

He'd been sold into Horatio Liverage's house to act as the man's submissive since he was of maturity, and now, after so long, Horatio had sold him without a word? Without a note?

Nonsense.

Utter nonsense.

"There must be a mistake."

The goon pointed one clawed finger at the insignia at the bottom of the page. "What does that signify?"

"Horatio Liverage." He couldn't deny it was his master's seal.

"Then there isn't a mistake. Bring us Kerr, and we'll be on our way." The teeth on the guy doing the talking brooked no argument. Neither did the tufts of smoke coming out of Silent and Scary's ears.

"I'm Kerr. I have to gather my things, make arrangements..." Right? Didn't he get that much at least?

The lower demon looked at the contract again. "It doesn't say anything about belongings here. Let's go."

"I have precious things that hold my family name, and it doesn't say that I can't bring them. I am not resisting, simply gathering my stuff." He could bargain with the best of them. He knew he had to convince them, though, as either one of them could pick him up and toss him over a shoulder without even trying.

Henchman One turned to Henchman Two, who shrugged.

"Is your master here? He can decide."

"He is not. He's away. As such, I am second in charge of the household." He held no illusions that he was beloved or even a lover, but he was well trusted with finances and with all aspects of Horatio's life. "I shall return in moments."

He began to pack -- the stash of jewels he had been collecting for years, his few precious books, his favorite clothes, and the music and computer that were his. He grabbed his toiletries, the hologram of his sire and dam, and the fragile glass orb that throbbed with a sweet, gentle light.

Both goons were frowning when he came back, pushing the pallet of his things.

"We won't be party to you stealing from your master."

"I haven't stolen a thing. These things are my own and now go with me to my new master." Fuckers. Horatio might be able to sell him on a whim, but these were his possessions and they were going with him.

They looked at each other again, shrugged, and turned, heading down the walk toward the truck at the end of it. "We're not toting anything," the talker called back over his shoulder.

"Not yet," Kerr muttered.

He wasn't some pointless goon. He was a highly trained, highly useful sexual submissive and house servant. Soon he would find a place with whomever the fuck the asshole prick that never made love to him anyway, dickhead, had sold his papers to, and then this mouth breather would do what Kerr said.

The goon opened the back door and just stood there, watching him putting his things in. "You're riding back there, too."

"Thank you so much." He rolled his eyes, pushed his hair behind his ears, and climbed in, telling himself that he wasn't hurt, that he was nothing but property, that he shouldn't cry. One day, that might even work.

The door closed with a loud clang, leaving him in the dark, the engine starting up moments later. The truck lurched forward, sending him falling onto his ass.

He did cry then, silently, heartbroken. He'd lost his home, his job, his master, and no one had so much as warned him. Someone had written up that paperwork, someone had made the arrangements, and someone had thrown him away.

He couldn't believe Horatio had done this to him, and without any warning at all, not a word to him.

The truck stopped abruptly, the brakes squeaking loudly. The door opened again, the dull grey sky seeming bright after the darkness of the truck.

Two little slaves popped up into the back and began grabbing his stuff.

He lifted his chin and firmed his lips. He was well trained, valuable. Special in his own right. Men begged to be wealthy enough to own him.

"Come, come," murmured one boy, motioning for him to get down from the truck and follow. He couldn't see the two goons. "You're going to be in the salle, honored one. Your groom is Ceris, and he is the Salle Master."

Finally, someone realized how important he was, what his stature was, even if he was a slave. He followed the lad through a side door and along a winding hall of stone. This place was much brighter than his mast -- than his former master's, more marble than rock on the columns and floors, white and light blue shot through with silver and gold.

When they arrived at the harem, the whole place still felt luxurious and gilded, as if the master lived back here as well as the front of the house. Well, his new master was very rich, there was no denying that.

A huge bald man stood as he walked in, bowing to him solemnly. "Honored one. I am Ceris, your groom. Boy, put the things in the gold room, then call for tea."

The lad who'd guided him here bowed and went running with Kerr's things, deeper into the harem.

"Welcome to Lord Belial's harem. We were very excited to learn he won you and that you would be joining us."

Lord Belial? Bel? Horatio had sold him to his best friend? Seriously?

"Thank you for your welcome." He bowed automatically, his training taking over immediately.

"Tea is coming. After that, I imagine you'd like a bath. Perhaps something light to eat."

Ceris was a handsome demon. The bald head exposed the little horns completely, and they glowed in the light. His bare chest was beautifully muscled, the gauzy pants exposing strong legs and hinting at a heavy cock. There was a heavy spiky gold tattoo covering Ceris' ridged belly, marking him as Master Bel's, Kerr was sure. Marked, but lovely.

"I... Yes, of course." He was developing the world's worst headache.

A lad, different than the first two, he thought, came in with a tray holding a teapot and two teacups. He left them on a low table, bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Totz. You can go."

The boy did, hurrying off like he had somewhere to be.

"Please. Sit." Ceris waved toward the benches that surrounded the table.

"Thank you, Ceris." He and Ceris were equals, and he refused to treat the man with less respect than he deserved. "I was not aware I was to be transferred. Not until the papers arrived at the door."

Transferred. Traded. Discarded.

"That's unfortunate. Were you able to collect all your things?" Ceris asked, pouring out the tea.

"I brought the things that were special that I could carry. What will my duties be here? In my former home, I acted as valet and head of household -- finances, staff management, that sort of thing."

Ceris shot him a confused look. "I was led to believe you were a trained submissive, honored one."

"Yes, I was. My former master chose not to use me in that regard." Not for many years and not often when he had.

"Perhaps that's why he wagered you in the game of chance he played with our master last night." Ceris leaned forward and spoke quietly, confidentially. "He's still here, sleeping it off. It got very loud and much was imbibed. I'm very sorry for the way it happened, but maybe it's for the better. There is no where else in all of Hell that I would rather be."

"I will thrive wherever they wish me to be." He hoped. He had no choice.

Ceris looked him up and down, gaze almost like a physical touch. "I'm sure you will."


Sean
smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day - Making it Work

Making it Work

Parker has been Manny to Grif and Blue’s kids ever since the twins were first born. Fourteen years later, he’s caring for five kids and Grif is now a widower. Everything is about to change again for Park and his charges, though, as Grif is marrying a man with three girls of his own and the new family is moving to a big house they’ve built just outside of Ottawa.

Rand has been with his family since fifteen-year-old Josie was little, and he now finds himself transplanted from Austin, Texas to Ottawa, Canada when his charges’ father, Mike, marries Grif. Coming to a new house in a new country with a new blended family, he’s determined to make sure that even though they’ve been uprooted, his girls still have everything they want and need.

What could go wrong?

Park and Rand’s styles as mannies couldn’t be more different, the kids all hate each other on sight, and the newlywed fathers are busy honeymooning. It seems pretty clear the whole situation is a recipe for disaster. Can everyone find their place in this brand new family, including both mannies? And will Park and Rand ever see eye to eye on anything? The answer surprises even them.

This is currently available at Amazon.


Interested in the first four books in the Mannies Incorporated series? Here they are:

Mannies Incorporated

A Family of His Own

And Manny Makes Seven

Three to Get Ready

Sean
smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

I've got two different Christmas stories that I'm self-pubbing this December.

The brand new Hammer book - Twas the Night, which features Marcus and Jim, and Billy and Tanny. Simon and Jeremy, Bellamy and Kerry, Oliver and Jack, Treat and Killian as well as Gordon and Frank are all there as well, at least at the beginning of the evening!

And a reprint - Wicked Gift - which features a couple who invite their best friend over for a week to play Top. Pretty soon, though, no one is just playing and it's very hot.


Twas the Night

The men of the Hammer come together to celebrate the holidays on Christmas Eve, sharing a meal and a toy-filled game of White Elephant. The gifts are as naughty as the men, each one chosen with care. Will everyone go home with exactly what they want?

Featuring Marcus and Jim, and Billy and Montana, along with other Hammer couples.

buy links:
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon





Wicked Gift

Alec has the perfect gift for his lover Kono this year -- his best friend Swan.

Kono has a lot of fantasies about being a submissive, while Alec likes to watch and Swan is the best Dom he knows, so a week together fulfilling Kono's fantasies seems like just the ticket.

Of course, he hasn't taken into account that maybe there are stronger feelings at play here between all of them. Will these three men turn out to be exactly what they each need for Christmas this year?

buy links:
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon - link coming soon


I think these need some smutty excerpts... we'll have to see what Smutterday brings!


Sean
smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

Love in G Minor has just gone live at the distributors! This is a  reprint and thank you to Pride Publishing for re-releasing it for me. It has been out of print for a number of years at this point and I'm really glad to have it available again!

Sometimes a third is exactly what a pair needs.

Stephen and Jack play a lot. These long-time lovers are constantly testing boundaries, fighting a delicious battle for control. When they meet young waiter Benji, they’re both intrigued. Such innocence doesn’t come along often and they decide Benji is the best thing on the menu.

Benji feels like he’s in over his head with this sophisticated pair, but it might be Stephen’s musical and artistic temperament that makes three a crowd. Can Jack and Stephen hit just the right note? Or will Benji end up out in the cold?

buy links:
Pride Publishing
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo

Excerpt:

Rehearsal went well, the Mozart as natural as breathing, once the idiot oboe player finally got her head screwed on straight
.
The sun was setting, there was a chill in the air, he looked beautiful—white turtleneck and slacks, hair down—and he was meeting his Jack for drinks at the Sevens Club.

Luscious.

Stephen hailed a cab—once upon a time he would have walked, but the violin in his hand was worth a small fortune and hell, he could afford it these days—and called Jack, making sure their plans were still on.

“Richardson.” Jack’s voice was short, hurried, curt.

“Jack?” Damn it to hell—that never meant anything good. “I’m on my way to the club.”

“Stevie.” His lover’s voice relaxed a little. “I’m wrapping things up here. We had a stock bottom out and there’s a bit of damage control to be done. I’ll be about fifteen minutes late, all right?”

Oh, now. That wasn’t bad. “Sounds good. You want a Martini, lover?”

“Yeah. And something to nibble on. I had to skip lunch. Love you.” By the time the conversation was over, Jack’s voice was already distracted again and the phone clicked off.

Stephen relaxed. If Jack said fifteen, it would be an hour and he had time to play, to explore a little.

The Sevens Club was gold and classy—a little dance floor, a class A menu and Bry, the bartender, made a perfect Cosmopolitan.

Perfect.

He slid into the booth in the back, making sure he was under the lights, shown off to the best advantage.

“Can I get you something to drink?” The voice was low, soft, gentle and it was only that fact that kept him from snapping. After all, it was a fucking bar. Well, the fact that the kid was cute and puppyish with wide green eyes and brown curls and a mouth that begged to be fucked didn’t hurt either.

“A Cosmopolitan, please.”

“I’ll be right back with that. I’m Benji. If you need anything else, just holler.”

A blow job, please, and then you can blow Jack while I do unspeakable things to your ass. “Thank you.”

He got a smile and a nod and the opportunity to watch that ass wiggle to the bar.

The drink was perfect, Benji attentive and pretty and managing not to annoy him. When it had been closer to forty-five minutes than half an hour, he ordered a dry Martini along with another Cosmo and an order of potato skins.

“Will you need another place setting?” Oh, clever. Cute and clever.

He nodded. “For my lover, yes.”

“And that would be me.” Jack stood behind the little waiter, towering over him.

The wee thing jumped about twenty feet in the air, dropping his pad. Oh, too cute.

“Hello, Jack.”

“Hey, Stevie.” Jack looked good, if tired, in his dark gray suit and light gray tie.

“I… I’ll be right back with your order.” The waiter-baby scrambled and Stephen reached for his lover.

“Long day?”

Jack nodded, mouth quirked in a half smile. “It’s looking up, though.” Bending, Jack kissed him softly, teeth dragging along the inside of his bottom lip as the kiss ended. Jack eased back, sitting across from him.

He preened, legs stretching to rub against Jack’s. “I got you an order of potato skins. It’s not caviar, but it’s something.”

“I want something so I don’t faint on you. It’s been a bear of a day.” Jack shook his head and Stephen could almost see his lover turning work off. “How was your day?”

“Luscious. The oboe player must have gotten laid—she was in tune.” He winked and took one of Jack’s hands and started massaging it.

Jack sat back, eyes softening. “Oh, that’s nice. You spoil me.”

“I do my best.” He rubbed harder, working the tense spots.

“So who’s the cute little muffin serving us this evening?”

“Benji. He’s a doll-baby, all wide-eyed and trembly.” His voice lowered. “He’d bruise beautifully.”
Jack grinned at him. “I noticed his skin was rather pale. I noticed his lips, too. And his ass.”

He grinned back. “Can you imagine it?”

“I can.” The heat in Jack’s eyes was intense. “You always find the best toys.”

“I don’t know if he’ll play, yet…”

The he in question came up, drinks in hand. “Here you go. Your food will be ready shortly.”

“Thank you,” Jack murmured, turning those eyes on Benji. “I’m sorry if I startled you earlier.”

The slender cheeks pinked, eyes dropping a second. “I… Thank you.”

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” Oh, Jack was interested, pouring on the charm, blue eyes warm.

“Yes. I came in for college.” Those eyes were so pretty, gentle.

“College? Cute and smart,” Jack teased. “What are you majoring in?”

“Vocal performance and education.”

Oh, a singer and a teacher. The kids in this city would eat him alive.

“My Stevie here is a violinist.” Jack nodded at him, eyes twinkling. Asshole knew he hated being called Stevie.

“Oh? Wow.” He got a smile, a shy look. “You look like an artist.”

He chuckled. “Thank you, I think.”

“Oh, it was a compliment, Stephen. Wasn’t it? I’m sorry where are my manners? I’m Jack.” His lover held out a solid hand.

“Hello, Jack. I’m Benji. Well, the manager here says I should be Ben, but my name’s really Benji.”

Oh, God. They could eat him with a spoon. “And I’m Stephen.”

Jack was practically purring. “Oh, Benji is a fine name.”

Benji turned bright pink. “Thank you, Jack. I should go get your food. I’ll be right back.”

Jack watched the little ass as Benji hurried away before turning back to him. “Oh, Stevie, it’s not even my birthday!”

He laughed. “Singers are high maintenance, Jack.”

“Higher maintenance than violinists?” his lover asked, one eyebrow raised.

“Never.”

Jack laughed, socked foot sliding along his calf. “I want to watch you seduce him, Stephen. I want to watch him kiss you with those beautiful lips, sexy body trembling at his boldness.”

“He’s got eyes for you. You have him entranced.” He spread his legs, moaning.

“I’m the main course, Stephen. That doesn’t make the appetizer any less appealing.”


Sean
smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

I've got two books to talk about this week, both of them reprints. One is an early download from Pride Publishing, the other is a self-pub. The second one is even Halloween themed.

Love in G Minor hasn't been available for quite a while and I'm very happy to have it out once again! While this is a couple bringing in a third like Three of a Kind, it is nonetheless a very different story. It's fun exploring that dynamic in varied ways.

Sometimes a third is exactly what a pair needs.

Stephen and Jack play a lot. These long-time lovers are constantly testing boundaries, fighting a delicious battle for control. When they meet young waiter Benji, they’re both intrigued. Such innocence doesn’t come along often and they decide Benji is the best thing on the menu.

Benji feels like he’s in over his head with this sophisticated pair, but it might be Stephen’s musical and artistic temperament that makes three a crowd. Can Jack and Stephen hit just the right note? Or will Benji end up out in the cold?

buy link:
Pride Publishing


The Law of the Jungle was written a while ago - it was in the Fur and Fang anthology. I do love a black Jaguar with green eyes, the black just makes the green so much more.

Captain Marco is delighted with his crew's gift of a big, emerald-eyed cat. He's astounded and even more happy when he finds that the cat is also beautiful as Abrigio - a man. For his part, Abrigio is used to being caged and abused and trust is not easily given. But will danger end any chance of a relationship between these two men before it can even begin?

buy links:
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon

Sean

smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

I just re-released a novel from 2006 (10 years ago!) called Broken Road. It was a joy to write Ardie and West, and if you haven't already read their story, I hope you'll give them a try.

Broken Road

Can lifelong best friends find their happily ever after in each other?

Ardie and West have been friends since the second grade. They’ve been through a lot together: homework, broken bones, the death of a parent, and dreading high school dances. Through Ardie working the family farm and taking care of his siblings, and West chasing his college boy dreams, their friendship never falters, even with the gap of years and lifestyles.

West goes through a series of boyfriends, making Ardie wish his friend could find someone who loves him as much as Ardie does himself. Waiting for the right time to tell West he’s gay, Ardie figures he’s lost his chance when West finally meets someone who seems just right for him.

When the bottom falls out for West, there’s only one person he thinks to call. Ardie is there for him when he does. A little vacation seems to be the right thing, not just to ease West’s mind, but for Ardie to slide into West’s life again, finally letting his friend know how deeply he cares.

Will these two bet friends realize there might be more between them than just friendship? Find out if their Broken Road lead to happiness in this heartwarming read.

buy links:
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon


Excerpt:

Ardie took a cab from the airport straight to the hospital. He figured if he needed a hotel, he could get one later. It was late afternoon and he just hoped he hadn't missed visiting hours. It was already a day since West's call and he didn't want any other delays. He was really worried. Less by the fact that West was in the hospital, than by the fact that West had called him and asked him to come, his voice so defeated.

He hurried to the main nurses' station, overnight bag in his hand.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he said, taking his hat off. "Could you tell me where I might find West Moreland?"

She smiled, looked something up, and then asked his name. She called West's room, got permission, and then sent him up to room 224.

He had his hat in one hand, his bag in the other, and went in, calling out quietly. "West?"

"Ard?" He heard West, walked over to the second bed. West had one leg up in a cast, bandages covering one shoulder. "You came."

"Of course I came, West." He put down his bag and his hat and pulled a chair over to the bed. "What happened?"

"He got pissed off because I wanted to leave. Shot me twice."

"What? West! Jesus." He jumped up. "Where is he?"

"The police are looking. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called. I was scared."

"The hell you shouldn't have." He settled back down, sitting on the edge of West's bed. "Why don't they have somebody posted at your door?"

He was going to have a hard time finding this guy and beating the shit out of him with the cops already looking. And of course there was the fact he hadn't a clue what the fucker looked like.

"There's security. The cops think he skipped town. He..." West sighed. "He's high maintenance."

"High maintenance? No, West, Aggie's high maintenance. This guy's an asshole who shot you."

"He said he loved me. Said he couldn't bear to lose me."

"That's not love, West." He took West's good hand and squeezed.

"I know. It... it hasn't been. He... It's been bad, Ard." West wouldn't meet his eyes.

"West..." God, it broke his heart. West deserved better than this. "Come home with me, West. Come be with the people who care about you."

"I... I want to."

"Well, then, come on. As soon as they let you out of here, I'm taking you home." He didn't need West to be in love with him; he did need West to be healthy, happy, whole.

"I can't. You've got kids there. A family. He'll come back." West sighed, closed his eyes. "Let's start over. H...how was your flight?"

He let West get away with it for now. Hell, he figured he had some time to work on the man. "Long. And the food? Damn. I've never missed Mabel's cooking more."

West chuckled. "Yeah. I hear you. Scary cardboard eggs."

"I bet it beats the hell out of what they feed you here," he teased.

"Yeah. They did surgery on my leg. I'm not even on real food yet." West looked old, scared, hurt. It made him ache inside.

"You will be soon enough. Bitching about the food and being stuck in bed. You remember when you broke your leg playing baseball? God, we drove your momma crazy."

"Yeah. Other leg this time." West's eyes filled with tears and he closed them. "Where are you staying?"

"Don't know. I just got here." He squeezed West's hand, feeling damned helpless to do anything to help.

"Stay here for a while? I know he won't come back. I do. But I can't sleep."

"I'll stay until they kick me out, West. And they're going to have to be pretty damned insistent if they expect me to go before I can spring you." It would be for the best. He couldn't roam the streets of Seattle looking for someone to beat the tar out of if he was here with West.

"Thank you. You could stay at my apartment but it's a crime scene. I'm... God, Ard. Things are so utterly fucked." The tears did come then, silent and horrible.

He wanted to hug West, hold him, but West was all banged up. So he just squeezed West's hand hard and petted the lean belly. "It's going to be all right, West. Everything's going to work out just fine."

"Is the nurse coming soon? My leg hurts."

He had no clue so he leaned forward and rang the bell. "She'll be here soon, West."

"'Kay. I'm sorry, Ardie."

"For what, West?" He wasn't going to have West apologizing for getting shot.

"For everything. For this."

"Not your fault you got shot, West." He growled a little, frustrated, angry at the world for not caring for his West properly.

"I shouldn't have made him mad..."

Ardie snorted. "No, West. He shouldn't have shot you. It doesn't matter what you did. He made the choice to pick up a damned gun and use it!"

"I... I should have..."

"Come home," he teased. "Seriously, West. The only thing I can think of that would make me shoot another man is if he did something like what Lee just did to you."

West nodded, sighed. "I know. You're a decent man."

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. A real saint to put up with you. Come on, West. I don't want to have this argument all over again. Especially not while you're down."

West nodded again, then the nurse came in and shooed him out so they could do whatever they needed to do.

He paced unhappily, wanting a doctor to tell him what the deal was, how soon he could get West out of here and home. There was no doubt in his mind he was bringing West home. Even if it was only until the man was healed.

A young, tall nurse came over, smiled at him. "Is there anything we can help you with?"

"Actually, yes, ma'am, there is. I'd like to know when I can take my friend home."

"He'll probably be released tomorrow afternoon or Monday morning." She smiled. "He's in good health and is healing well."

Oh, that was good news. The further away from here he got West, the better. "Will he be able to travel, ma'am?"

"He'll be on crutches for six to eight weeks. Need to visit a physician to get the stitches out, but medically, I would think so. You'll have to ask the doctor."

And likely the police, but he just nodded. "Thank you, ma'am, I appreciate it."

"If you need anything, let us know."

"Could I bother you for a blanket, ma'am? I'd really like to spend the night in the chair in West's room, keep an eye on him, you know?"

"No problem. The big chair unfolds into a bed. They're actually comfortable."

Well, now, he was thinking it was time the hospital back home invested in some of those. "Thank you again."

He nodded at her and went and knocked at West's door, not wanting to interrupt if they were still doing stuff to him.

The nurse let him in, West covered again, face a little pale. "We've given him a strong sedative. He needs to sleep."

Ard nodded. "I won't disturb him, I promise."

He went over to West, settling back down in the chair. "Hey, there, West. They tell me they've given you the good stuff."

"Yeah." West blinked over. "I needed you here. He's going to kill me and I thought... I thought I'd want that. But I'm not ready to go."

"You wanted to die? West..." Lord help him, he wanted to take West and shake some sense into him. "It's okay, buddy. You just get better. I'll take you home, and you'll see."

"You don't have room for me there."

"The hell we don't."

Sean

smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

I'm still excited about the release of Underground: Emergency Services so today I'm sharing an excerpt with you - not a smutty one, I'll do a smutty one on Saturday :)

Underground: Emergency Services

Can love truly conquer all?

Jet Wannabi has been working undercover for over a year with nothing more than the odd furtive phone call to his lover and master, Blaze Swanson. All that’s about to change, though, as a year’s worth of work is coming to a head in the biggest bust Jet has ever been a part of. When the SWAT and Narcotics teams roll in early, Jet gets trapped between them and the bad guys, with disastrous results.

Firefighter Blaze Swanson is more than ready to have his lover and sub home with him when he finds out that Jet’s been hurt in the bust. He gets to the hospital as fast as humanly possible, only to find out that Jet has banned Blaze from seeing him. Jet believes he’s ruined and that letting Blaze go to live his life is the right thing to do.

Blaze is going to have to call on all of his stubbornness, love, patience and abilities as a Dom to convince Jet that not only do they need each other, but the lifestyle they’ve enjoyed in the past is not out of reach, not if Jet puts his trust in his master to take care of him.

Join Blaze and Jet on their journey to rediscover how they fit together.

buy links:
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon


Excerpt:

Jet floated, caught in a haze of pain and exhaustion and one dream after another. Nothing wanted to move, nothing felt good or solid or right. His heart tugged at him, wanting Blaze in the worst way. His head knew better, though.

His left side was… trashed. He’d been through nine surgeries already, and the doctors said there were more to come. His knee had been replaced, his shattered arm stitched and unstitched and restitched. And his face. God. He hadn’t even looked, but there was nothing but bandages when he explored.

He was broken. His jaw was wired shut. He wasn’t going to be able to go home for weeks. From here, he was going to a nursing facility. He didn’t want to see anyone.

Especially Blaze.

How could face his handsome stud of his lover like this?

“Jet? Jet, honey?” His mom knocked on the door and opened it, all smiles. “I brought you a coffee milkshake and a soft blanket. I hate the blankets here.”

She didn’t flinch away from him, she didn’t wince. She met him head-on.

He was fucking grateful for that and he mustered up what he hoped was a smile for her.

“You’re the best. I don’t suppose you brought something for me to do?” Hopefully she understood him through his wired teeth.

“I brought you your iPad and the charger and this neat thing that I have to figure out, but it holds the tablet up.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

She put the iPad on the tray table and swung it over in front of him.

“Blaze called me last night,” she told him as she opened up the tablet holder.

“Yeah?” Just hearing Blaze’s name hurt.

“He doesn’t understand why you won’t let him come.” She looked up at him. “I don’t understand myself.”

“You know why. Look at me.” His nickname had been Hollywood. He was the one with the pretty-boy face, the lean muscles, skin like coffee.

Now he was hamburger meat.

Blaze wouldn’t want him; Blaze would be sorry for him. He’d rather just go out in a… well, in a blaze of glory.

“You think that’s going to matter? That man loves you.”

“And I love him.” So he was doing the right thing. He wasn’t going to go back to work now. They’d already put him on disability. They didn’t know if he was going to walk, if his hand was going to work. What? Blaze was going to play hard with this body?

Christ, he’d die before he had to watch Blaze cheat on him, find someone else. Or worse, just become a sexless thing like him. No. No, if he got better, if he got whole, he’d go win Blaze back.

She clucked and began fussing with his pillows. “You’re being a stubborn ass.”

“Surprise, surprise. When are you heading home?”

“I can go now if you want to be alone.” She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow at him.

“I meant for good. I know you can’t just… stay here forever.”

“I’ll stay as long as you need me, son.” She pulled the chair over next to his bed and pulled out her knitting.

He closed his eyes against the wave of hysteria that hit him.

“You need anything, honey?”

Blaze.

For it to be ten days ago.

A hamburger he could chew.

“Just the shake, please.”

She put a straw in it and set it on the table, moving it closer to him. “You need me to put the straw in your mouth?”

He grabbed the straw with his lips and pulled gently, the wires on his teeth got cold fast.

God, he hated this. Every fucking second of it.

“Blaze offered to let me stay at your house instead of a hotel,” Mom told him.

“I thought you said he called you last night?”

She nodded. “He did. From the firehouse. He was on a shift.”

“Oh.” His beautiful, strong lover. Master. Best friend. Taking care of his mother. That was Blaze all over again.

He closed his eyes, tears sliding down his cheeks, and he hit the morphine button again. He hurt. He hurt all the way down to his soul.

Sean

smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day - Cover Edition

I believe I shared one of these already, but the other two are new. Three out of print books that All Romance Ebooks have been kind enough to take and make available again. I think my favorite is The Moon, but they're all quite yummy!

Sean

smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

Usually I talk about books in general and reading on Wednesday Book Days, but today I've got a self-pub of a brand new book out and I'm excited about it and want to share!

I've started a new series called Modifications. The premise is that there are these two demons who have set up a way of making men's fantasies come true - for a small price where small means they get all the money and all the power the men wielded. The guys don't care because they're in an alternate dimension where no matter what their fantasy was it can come true.

The first book explores Pony Play and I was so pleased to be able to spend more time on the subject than I have in the past. Both books that I have featuring it are much shorter. SWAK: Pony Play is a little less than half as long as this new one, and Velvet Stables which is a collection of short stories exploring both Pony and Puppy Play.

This time I got to really explore it from the beginning to training to spending time performing as a pony. It was great fun to write and Hot as well, if I do say so myself. It's also got a wonderful cover by Kris Norris on it!

Modifications: Mane and Tail

Eric Martin is a successful businessman, but he’s lonely, he’s stressed, and there’s something missing from his life. At least that is, until he meets Daryus at a conference. Daryus promises he can offer Eric all his fantasies come true. A second meeting at a bar one night, leads Eric through a door into a world where he suddenly finds himself as the ‘pony’ of groom Soren.

Soren is a groom of human ponies who is working off his debt to a demon by training men in pony play. He enjoys his work a lot and one day hopes to have a pony of his own as a reward for all the good work he’s done and to celebrate the payment of his debt. When Eric appears in his stall, Soren believes that day has finally come.

Eric can’t believe the stables he finds himself in are real. His pony fantasies are just that – fantasies. Not only that, he’s never shared them with anyone, so how could Daryus have known? Between Eric’s confusion and lack of experience, Soren has his work cut out not only training Eric, but convincing him that this is real and that Eric doesn’t ever need to go back to his old world.

With a little demon magic and a lot of care, Eric and Soren just might find everything they need to be both happy and together.

Buy links:
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon 

Sean
smut fixes everything

Between Friends series

I've put the Between Friends books back up in ebook on Amazon and All Romance Ebooks. And I love both the logo that Kris Norris made me for the series, along with the new covers for the books.

To celebrate, I'm giving away the last print copy I have from the series -- Sammy's Place. Just send me an email to seanmichaelwrites @ gmail . com (without the spaces) with BF in the subject line before Saturday morning and I'll randomly draw a winner on the weekend. I am happy to mail stuff around the world, so don't let living far away keep you from entering :)

When a frat party goes bad, just-graduated Jason ends up more than just drunk, but police officer Harry shows up in the nick of time, policing the party and taking Jason home. It's the start of something neither one of them can deny, a relationship that Harry wants to take slow, while Jason would like to go in fast forward.

The party starts something for Jason's best friend Sammy, too, something not so great. He's been hurt, and is being stalked to boot, which makes Jason hesitant to leave Sammy alone to pursue Harry.

As Harry and Jason become closer and closer, Sammy's stalker get more and more violent, until finally something has to break. Can Harry and Jason keep Sammy safe and fall in love all at the same time? Find out in this first book of the Between Friends series.

Buy links:

All Romance Ebooks

Amazon

The boys from the Between Friends series are back!

Sammy has the worst luck with men, and too often it shows on his face, or his body. His best friend Jason worries about him, and finally convinces Sammy to come stay with him and his lover, Harry. Sammy hates feeling like a failure, but he doesn't know what else to do.

Peter has been Harry's best friend for a lot of years, but somehow he's never managed to meet Sammy. When he does, he knows just what Sammy needs, and he's surprised to find that he wants to be the one to give it to the beautiful young man.

Sammy's not so sure. He likes Peter, a lot, but he's messed up every relationship he's ever had, except for his friendship with Jason. Peter's pretty convincing, though, especially when he ramps up the BDSM lifestyle that Sammy craves.

Between Harry, who's worried that his old friend Peter is no better than Sammy's other men, and Sammy's ex-boyfriend, who isn't willing to let go, Sammy and Peter face one challenge after another. Can they find a way to make their love work, or will Sammy walk away from the best thing he's ever found?

Buy links:

All Romance Ebooks

Amazon

In this third installment of the Between Friends series, Harry is not just Jason's hero. He's a cop who wants to help people, who wants to make a difference. The thing is that Harry isn't so sure that moving from Homicide to Vice is such a great idea. He hardly ever sees Jason anymore, and he doesn't get to hang out with their best friends Sammy and Peter much, either.

Jason isn't thrilled with Harry's new position, either. The job is far more dangerous than it used to be, and the drug dealers Harry is trying to catch red-handed might just be too hard to handle.

Meanwhile, Sammy is wearing himself out trying to look after everything, from his best friend Jason to the shop he runs to his lover, Peter. He's worried about Harry, too, because Jase is keeping him up late at night with frantic phone calls. Peter knows that Sammy needs a little mastering to keep him from wearing himself out, but when the worst happens and Harry is put in terrible danger, nothing goes right. In fact, the boys aren't sure that anything will ever be the same again.

Buy links:

All Romance Ebook

Amazon

Two very different couples. Two very different lives. Yet somehow they manage to keep things between friends.

Jason and Harry have settled back into life together after Harry was nearly killed when kidnapped on the job. But when Harry starts acting strangely, withdrawing from Jason and displaying bouts of mysterious anger, Jason starts to wonder if he’s losing his hold on what he and Harry share.

He turns to his friend Sammy, for a little moral support. Antique dealer Samuel has enough on his plate, though, buying a new house with his lover, Peter, and keeping up with their inventive love life. But when Peter hears about the troubles between Harry and Jason, he forces Harry to confront his demons, and to give Jason the chance to help.

Can Harry and Jason come to terms with secrets that might change their lives forever? With Samuel and Peter’s help, they just might, as they truly find out what friends are for, and what it means to let someone help share the load.

This final book in the Between Friends series tells the tale of a finely woven web of friendship, where two couples and two sets of friends become family, and where the intricate dance of everyday life comes alive in the most beautiful way.

Buy links
All Romance Ebooks

Amazon

Sean

smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

I can remember being in high school - I don't remember what year it was only I know it wasn't 11th grade, because I remember exactly what books we did that year. My 11th grade teacher told us he picked the easiest book from the list (The Lord of the Flies) and he picked the hardest (Heart of Darkness). So it was 10th or earlier and we were doing Canadian fiction that year.

The first book we did was Roughing it in the Bush by Suzanna Moodie. It was the fictionalized story of her life as an earlier Canadian settler. She settled fairly near to where I now live, which is actually pretty cool. The book isn't gripping, but it is interesting (and I bet I'd get a lot more out of it now than I did as a teenager.)

The next book we did was The Stone Angel by Margaret Lawrence, which was a much easier to read book than the first. The material was less dry, but it still wasn't super gripping. But honestly, I don't remember much about it except that we did it.

I'm not sure why we didn't do anything by Timothy Findley, Farley Mowat, Margaret Atwood or Michael Ondatje (just to name a few who are favorites of mine). Let's not forget Robertson Davies, Stephen Leacock, Mordicai Richler, Alice Munro...

I had to catch those on my own -- The Handmaid's Tale, which I picked up on my because it was near future sci-fi and almost everything Farley Mowat wrote while I was an early teen starting with Never Cry Wolf., or  discover them in University - Timothy Findlay's Famous Last Words led me to Not Wanted on the Voyage and The Butterfly Plague, and Michael Ondatje's Coming Through Slaughter forever changed how I looked at fiction. All these books made me excited to read them, they made me excited about writing. The whole premise of Famous Last Words was so cool, while the narrative of Coming Through Slaughter taught me that voice doesn't need grammar, and that you can tell so much about your character simply through their voice. Not to mention the unreliable narrator...

It's too bad some of these books weren't what was on the curriculum in high school, because if it had been, I would have discovered all these amazing authors a lot sooner.

As an aside, I also did Heart of Darkness in my first year of CEGEP (high school goes to 11th grade in Quebec, then you do two years of CEGEP if you're going into University or a trade school if you aren't) and in two different classes my first year of University. After four readings and dissections in three years, I was (and remain) dead sick of the book.



Sean
smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

Today I'm going to talk about  A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. (And this time I was able to find the cover that I remember being on the version that I read.)

I loved this book when I read it and I loved it way more than the movie (although the movie was cultish and actually did a fairly decent job of re-telling the book and movies based on books would be another great post for a Wednesday...)

Anyway.

First of all, I have to talk about the invented language in this book. Because here is one of the places where Burgess excels, where he proves just how good he is at his craft. There are a large amount of made up words in this book, and there is a handy glossary included. You can go to the end of the book, look up the word and find out what it means in English. Only, you don't really have to. Because while you read the book, the context tells you what each of these new/invented words means. And soon, you're reading along and the rhythm of the new words, especially the oft-repeated ones really works for the narrative.

The book is violent (to fit in with my gross factor of the horror movies from yesterday's post - ha, look at that, tying in without even meaning too!) but the violence is important to the book, it isn't violence for violence's sake. There's a reason why the protagonist and his friends are like they are and the rehabilitation the authorities try to visit on him is pretty extreme in and of itself, too.

It's set in our world just a few years into the future from when it was written (1962) - and it's a dystopian future, which is the stepbrother of my favorite post-apocalyptic fiction -- is it any wonder I loved the book? Between the dystopian angle and the language it was bound to get me!


Sean
smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

Growing up, reading books was just something we did. My parents put books in my crib in the mornings so when I woke up at some ungodly hour, I would be entertained for a while, so they got to sleep in. My mother tells a story of a neighbour being amazed that I was sitting in the yard and reading at such a young age (I was around two at the time). My mom didn't have the heart to tell the neighbour that I had memorized all the words because the book had been read to me about five million times.

We only had a tiny black and white TV until I left home - my parents only went to colour when it their old black and white finally broke down and it was going to be way more to replace the tubes in it than to buy a brand new one. Our activity in the evening after supper, once homework was complete was to sit in the living room, each of us absorbed in our own books rather than watch anything on our old black and white no cable television.

My parents were not fantasy and science fiction readers (they still aren't), so that wasn't the kind of books I had on hand. Growing up I devoured the Agatha Christies and the contemporary fiction they had, and of course went often to the library. I don't know how old I was when I discovered Z for Zachariah, but at that point I was hooked. And post-apocalyptic fic is still my number 1 favorite. The Hobbit was my first fantasy book followed by Lord of the Rings and then a host of Piers Anthony books and then everything I could lay my hands on.

All through my teen years and beyond fantasy and sci-fi were my bread and butter books, the ones I took out from the library, the ones I bought at the store, the ones I devoured.

It makes me wonder, though, if I had never read Z for Zachariah or the Hobbit, would mysteries still be my favorite genre? How much of an influence do the books that we read in our younger years have over us as adults? I know one of my favorite TV genres are the cop shows. Is that because I grew up with Encyclopedia Brown and Agatha Christie?

My folks didn't read as much horror as other genres (or maybe they just didn't let me find those to read until I was older) but I found my first Stephen King while working as a shelver at the library and checked out everything they had by him. A lot of the books I read in my later teens were picked up while shelving at the library. I was supposed to be emptying my cart by putting the books away where they belonged on the shelves, but a lot of them wound up in my own personal check it out pile.

I have about forty boxes full of books in the basement that I know I should probably go through and keep only the ones I love the most or haven't read yet and give the rest away, but just the thought of giving away books makes my stomach clench. I have always dreamed of having a room as a library in my home, with wall to wall to wall to wall shelves where I could put all my books. And while I'm an avid TV watcher (I blame the fact that we watched next to no television growing up) if you pushed me and said I had to choose between television and books, I would have to go with books.

This rambling post about reading in general is brought to you by the letter R and the fact that I couldn't think of a specific book or books that I wanted to chat about. I need summer to be over, then I should have a brain again.

Happy Humping Day!
Sean
smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

On a recent Cafe Risque blog post, we listed our top ten books. Well, I couldn't possibly narrow it down to just ten (I am not good at choosing favorites) so I cut it down to genres and came up with my ten favorite post-apocalyptic books.

Among them was Nevil Shute's On The Beach,which I haven't been able to get out of my mind since I made my list. This wasn't the first post-apocalyptic story I read - that honor goes to Z for Zachariah, but it was either the second or the third one. And it affected me greatly.

The father in this story makes a decision for his entire family that is born out of utter hopelessness and I, a young teenager at the time, couldn't imagine being that desperately hopeless that death was the only answer. I know how lucky I was that suicide was never a solution to my problems that I contemplated -- hell, I knew it then. I had a family who loved me. I had dreams and aspirations and while things sometimes were bad, I always wanted to see what was waiting for me as I got older.

What's funny is that I can picture the cover in my head, but when I looked to see if I could find it to add to this post, I was able to find a whole bunch of images but none of them match the picture in my head. I'm guessing I'm not remembering it correctly, I just find it interesting that it's very clear in my head, but clearly not an actual memory.

From On the Beach, I searched out more books and found A Town Like Alice. This book also affected me a lot and from the moment I read that book, I wanted to go to Australia. I wanted to visit Alice Springs. Seeing a TV show on the Royal Flying Doctors only increased that desire, as did the Crocodile Dundee movies and the Mad Max movies, Gallipoli, every Peter Weir movie, even those not set in Australia...

And I did it - I spent six months travelling around in New Zealand and Australia and I loved it. We went to the Royal Flying Doctors headquarters in Alice Springs and we visited some of the caves where parts of Mad Max were filmed, among a lot of other things. That visit is still a big part of who I am and that all happened because I read a book.


Sean
smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

The first 'grown up' books I can remember reading were my parents' Agatha Christie books. I loved these! Ms. Marple and Hercule Poirot were my heroes. They're a great place for young people to start in the genre of mystery - they're not graphic, they're not violent and they make you think as you try to work out who the killer is right along with Marple and Poirot. So they're appropriate for a younger audience. I think that's why I basically skipped over the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys type of books - I went from Encyclopidia Brown to Agatha Christie.

If I remember correctly, And Then There Were None was my first Agatha Christie and I quickly devoured the rest. If they weren't in the house, I would scour the library for them. You've got to love those "other books" listing at the front of the paperbacks.

Do you remember the way we used to find books in a library? There were these banks of little boxes that contained index cards. They were filled alphabetically and you'd look through them for your book (so if you didn't know the actual title you were kind of screwed,) and the card would give you the Dewey decimal number of the book and then you'd go find it. Or if you were just browsing, you'd go to the mystery section, for instance, where they were all filed and look at the books themselves, titles on all the spines... I haven't been inside a library in a dog's age. You can even get your electronic books at the library online these days.

So I was a real mystery buff and then I read The Hobbit and fantasy and sci-fi overtook mystery in my reading. Not that I gave the mystery up - I still enjoyed those, but they weren't at the top of my list anymore.

Maybe I ought to investigate - I know there's a bunch of Martha Grimes and PD James books that I haven't read yet... it'd be a great place to pick up again.


Sean
smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

I read The Hobbit when I was about twelve and subsequently picked up the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I made it through the first 200 pages or so and put the book down in disgust. I didn't want to switch characters - I wanted to stay with the same ones I'd been reading about for 200 pages! It took a couple of years before I had forgiven Tolkien for how he did his narrative and picked the books back up, devouring them this time.

I think Tolkien was where my love of Fantasy truly began.

Frank Herbert's Dune was where my love of Sci-Fi joined in.

I think Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality were my first Urban Fantasy. I devoured the Xanth books as fast as I could find them, too. I discovered Piers Anthony by coming across The Blue Adept while I was shelving books at the library - being a shelver was a totally awesome way of discovering new authors to read.

I have an enormous collection of Sci-Fi and Fantasy paperbacks in boxes in the basement. And while I know most of them I won't re-read and I should go through them and donate them, I'm loathe to do so. Books were my gateways to new worlds, they were my friends, they filled a lot of my spare time growing up. Besies, I have this fantasy that I'm going to move the country and I want a room that's a library, shelves lining every wall. Then the only question will be - do I file them by genre then title, or simply alphabetically by title? Decisions, decision...


Sean
smut fixes everything

Wednesday Book Day

I thought I'd pick a day to talk about reading and books that I've read/loved/hated/been changed by. Just talk reading and books in general. It'll probably wind up being fairly random. I know this post is going to be, but I'll try and focus on specific books in the future.

My folks like to tell the story of how my love of reading started. Once upon a time, I was an early riser (yeah, times change and so do people because I am so very much not a morning person anymore). So there I was, up before six am on a regular basis and nothing seemed to keep me entertained until my mother started leaving a book in my crib after I'd fallen asleep. Suddenly, instead of being woken up by crying, she'd be woken up by the sound of me 'reading' to myself. I'd look at the pictures and blather away in baby talk as I read the book.

As a toddler, people would see me reading books and be amazed because I was quite young. Apparently, I had the books memorized and knew what words were written on which pages because I'd make my folks read the books over and over to me.

While I can't remember that, I can remember always having a book by my bed and reading was the last thing I did before going to bed and the first thing I did when I got up.

I can remember trips to the library from pretty early on - I remember when the Curious George books were my favorite. I loved that monkey and the man in the yellow hat.

I remember when I discovered that the Wizard of Oz was in books! And there was more than just one of them.

Encyclopedia Brown! Do you remember those? I loved them and devoured every book in the series that the library had.

Many an evening as I was growing up was spent as a family, not in front of the TV, but each in their own spot, reading a book. When I hit high school and had to read, it was so much fun. I never had a problem getting the books read for my classes because it was what I loved to do.

Books were always there. Whether it was nice outside or too hot or too cold or too rainy. They were there if I was happy or sad or lonely or in a great mood. I read everything I could get my hands on.

My first job was as a shelver at the library when I was sixteen. (I'd tried to apply the year before but they weren't allowed to hire you until you were sixteen, I showed up the week after my birthday to apply.) Hell, I was there every couple of days anyway, might as well do a few hours work (with books!) and get paid for it, right?

Books take you away to another world, they can inspire and they can make you feel things. I have always loved books and reading. Always. Now that so much of my time is taken up with writing and all the accouterments that go along with being published, I don't get to read nearly as much as I used to. I am, however, slowly getting back into the habit and I'm glad. Because I still love reading. Whether it's with a paper book in hand, or an electronic one, books are awesome and reading is one of my favorite things in the world.

Sean
smut fixes everything