Join me and the Ladies of LAW starting tomorrow and going for all of August at the Coffee Time Romance Reader's Retreat forum.
Friday, July 31, 2009
The League's Month at Coffee Time Reader's Retreat
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/the-leagues-month-at-coffee-time-readers-retreat/)
Join me and the Ladies of LAW starting tomorrow and going for all of August at the Coffee Time Romance Reader's Retreat forum.
Join me and the Ladies of LAW starting tomorrow and going for all of August at the Coffee Time Romance Reader's Retreat forum.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Available Now - Heaven Sent: Revelations
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/available-now-heaven-sent-revelations/)
The link is live. You can now find out about Gretchen and her boys.
Available at Loose Id
The link is live. You can now find out about Gretchen and her boys.Available at Loose Id
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Summer Fun
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/summer-fun/)
Thanks, Katrina!
Fun stuff, having Katrina here. She and I seem to share the same tastes in books. At least books about hot men doing other men. The excerpt for Off the Beaten Path certainly has me wanting to read more! Katrina and I have even both recently been into steampunk type stories. I wrote Sursein Judgment and Katrina's written Slight of Hand. I know both of us are looking to do more steampunk or -- as Ciar Cullen recently dubbed the softer side of steampunk -- "softsteam". Maybe sometime in the future the stars will align and we can be in an anthology or a series together.
Ah summer. Time of heat. Since I live in southern California and have all of my life, I'm well acquainted with the beast. I just realized that I don't have many stories that deal much with the season or time of year. Oh, I mention the passing of time in the Heaven Sent books, sure, but I've not dealt much with it. Revelations, though, does a little. Gretchen is on summer vacation, you see. The boys in the band are on a break and she decides she deserves one too. In her new house. She's even got a pool. Mmmm, yes, take a look at the cover for Revelations then think of Archer in the pool. That's in the book. It's actually great fun and I'm very happy with how it turned out.
I know there are some Heaven Sent fans who won't be checking out Revelations because it's menage and not pure m/m. I'm saddened by this, but I guess I understand. I hadn't meant to write a Heaven Sent story with girl cooties, I really hadn't. But then Owen cropped up and attached himself to Gretchen and the two of them just weren't complete without Archer. It was all quite organic. Okay, well, the coming up with the premise was organic. The actual writing bit me in the butt some. Gretchen and Owen were rather good to me. Unlike some *cough*Brent*cough* And what can I say? I just LIKE the menage dynamic. The thought that you and I are okay together, but put him/her in the mix and together we all just fit. After all, a triangle is much more substantial than a single line, yeah? Also, much as I enjoy m/m, I do still like to read and write stories with women in them. I went straight from Revelations into Dark Elves 6: Awakening and boy was that a culture shock!
My lastest three manuscripts were titled "awakening", "revelations" and "judgment". Jeez! Where has my mind been lately?
Next for me is a short story sequel to About Something for MLR Press, then the m/m sequel to One For The Team called Team Player. Then... well, I'm not entirely sure. I've got a few things to choose from. I guess it'll depend on which characters tackle me when the time is right.
But, anyway, I'm babbling. I hope if you get Revelations you enjoy Gretchen, Owen and Archer's summer of fun, as well as the visit with the boys. All of them -- including their significant others -- show up for at least a cameo.
Thanks, Katrina!
Fun stuff, having Katrina here. She and I seem to share the same tastes in books. At least books about hot men doing other men. The excerpt for Off the Beaten Path certainly has me wanting to read more! Katrina and I have even both recently been into steampunk type stories. I wrote Sursein Judgment and Katrina's written Slight of Hand. I know both of us are looking to do more steampunk or -- as Ciar Cullen recently dubbed the softer side of steampunk -- "softsteam". Maybe sometime in the future the stars will align and we can be in an anthology or a series together.
Ah summer. Time of heat. Since I live in southern California and have all of my life, I'm well acquainted with the beast. I just realized that I don't have many stories that deal much with the season or time of year. Oh, I mention the passing of time in the Heaven Sent books, sure, but I've not dealt much with it. Revelations, though, does a little. Gretchen is on summer vacation, you see. The boys in the band are on a break and she decides she deserves one too. In her new house. She's even got a pool. Mmmm, yes, take a look at the cover for Revelations then think of Archer in the pool. That's in the book. It's actually great fun and I'm very happy with how it turned out.
I know there are some Heaven Sent fans who won't be checking out Revelations because it's menage and not pure m/m. I'm saddened by this, but I guess I understand. I hadn't meant to write a Heaven Sent story with girl cooties, I really hadn't. But then Owen cropped up and attached himself to Gretchen and the two of them just weren't complete without Archer. It was all quite organic. Okay, well, the coming up with the premise was organic. The actual writing bit me in the butt some. Gretchen and Owen were rather good to me. Unlike some *cough*Brent*cough* And what can I say? I just LIKE the menage dynamic. The thought that you and I are okay together, but put him/her in the mix and together we all just fit. After all, a triangle is much more substantial than a single line, yeah? Also, much as I enjoy m/m, I do still like to read and write stories with women in them. I went straight from Revelations into Dark Elves 6: Awakening and boy was that a culture shock!
My lastest three manuscripts were titled "awakening", "revelations" and "judgment". Jeez! Where has my mind been lately?
Next for me is a short story sequel to About Something for MLR Press, then the m/m sequel to One For The Team called Team Player. Then... well, I'm not entirely sure. I've got a few things to choose from. I guess it'll depend on which characters tackle me when the time is right.
But, anyway, I'm babbling. I hope if you get Revelations you enjoy Gretchen, Owen and Archer's summer of fun, as well as the visit with the boys. All of them -- including their significant others -- show up for at least a cameo.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Guest Blogger - Katrina Strauss - Summer is hot, but volunteerism is hotter!
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/guest-blogger-katrina-strauss/)
Good day from Katrina Strauss! No, don't adjust your monitors -- you're at the right place! Many thanks to Jet for inviting me to play at her blog today. There are some sizzling men to be found here at ComputErotika, so I thought I’d bring two hotties of my own! That’s Travis and Kyle to your left. They’re the stars of my next m/m release, Off the Beaten Path, coming this Tuesday, July 28th from Loose Id.
As you might guess from the cover, Off the Beaten Path centers on a camping trip. Well, okay, besides the double whammy of sexy man chest, it involves camping! To be more precise, Travis and Kyle are thrown together on what’s called a “volunteer vacation” at a wilderness state park. A volunteer vacation can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Here are some opportunities begging to be taken advantage of:
** Constructing an inner city playground from recycled goods.
** Building or maintaining pedestrian and bike trails on former railroad beds.
** Wilderness trail maintenance at state and national parks.
** Working for a day at a local soup kitchen or food bank.
** Mentoring at-risk youth enrolled in summer programs.
** Planting trees with the Nature Conservancy.
** Building houses with Habitat for Humanity.
And that’s just a few! As you can see from the above list, volunteer vacations can range from day trip to out-of-town adventure, urban outing to wilderness escape. When volunteering at state and national parks, participants can receive a discount on guest fees with meals, housing, and/or camping equipment provided. (Volunteers are also often granted access to parts of the park that are closed to the public!) If you’re a high school student planning for college, or a college student seeking an internship, a volunteer vacation can count toward service points. Best of all, a volunteer vacation can be enjoyed by friends, families, youth organizations, church groups, etc, with crew size numbering from a few to several members depending on the task at hand.
Or as Kyle’s friend Mac explains to Travis, a volunteer vacation is “a nice alternative to the usual Vegas trip or overpriced ocean cruise, plus you do something that helps others.” If you’re looking to enjoy an affordable vacation that’s a little different, and serving a worthwhile purpose while you’re at it, you may want to consider one of the volunteer variety! Simply Google “volunteer vacation” to learn more!
Back to Travis and Kyle, I’ll leave you with the blurb and a teaser from their own excursion off the beaten path:
**********
BLURB:
Travis Bell is openly gay to family and friends, but as a college athlete, he chooses not to be defined by his sexuality. When he covers for a friend’s misdeed, he’s forced to negotiate his future without losing his lacrosse scholarship.
The last thing he plans on is a “volunteer vacation” in the remote wilderness with Omega Beta Pi, aka Off the Beaten Path, a fraternity devoted to gay rights and environmental causes. Worse, Travis must share a tent with Kyle, an opinionated activist who also happens to be the hottest guy Travis has ever met.
A proud activist, Kyle Schafer disapproves of Travis’s indifference toward issues affecting the environment and gay community. To his even greater annoyance, Kyle finds himself attracted to his shallow tentmate on a purely physical level. Travis goes against everything Kyle believes in, but that doesn’t dampen the chemistry that sparks between them.
In a battle of wits and libido, Travis and Kyle venture into the uncharted territory of their deepest desires... and learn the path less traveled can lead straight to the heart.
**********
EXCERPT -- Copyright 2008 by Katrina Strauss
Coming July 28th from Loose Id at:
http://www.loose-id.com/prod-Off_the_Beaten_Path-982.aspx
Kyle wiped the sweat from his brow, tucking the strands that loosed from his ponytail behind his ear. He’d slipped out of his flannel overshirt at some point and tied it around his waist above his shorts, his T-shirt clinging to him in spite of the moderate eighty-degree temperature.
Leaning on the rake with one arm, he reached out and accepted a bottle of water from Travis. The fact that they both wore work gloves did little to insulate the jolt of current that sparked between them when their fingers brushed. Thoughts of how things might have gone in the tent that morning inadvertently played through Kyle’s mind again.
Taking a sip, he stole a glimpse as Travis bent over to get another bottle from the small cooler they’d brought along. He tried not to stare as Travis tilted his head back and took a hearty swig of water. The other man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, sweat dripping down the corded sinews of his throat, every muscle of his torso clearly outlined through the stretched cotton of the white tank top. His six-pack abs crunched in where he’d followed Kyle’s lead and knotted his hoodie at the waist.
With a satisfied sigh, Travis pulled the bottle away from his lips, giving them a lick before pouring the remaining water over his head. Eyes closed, he shook his head, slinging the water from his ruffled hair.
Kyle nearly fell over as the rake gave under his weight. Catching himself, he turned away and set back to work. Between the athlete’s stamina and Kyle’s determination not to be outdone, they’d hacked away several feet of overgrown vegetation in the past two hours. They’d done such an effective job, Lance had instructed Kyle and Travis to pick their way a quarter of a mile up the path, then work their way back down to the remaining team.
Kyle had initially experienced discomfort at being alone with Travis for the first time since their awkward awakening in the tent that morning, but they’d soon fallen into comfortable, silent tandem as they worked side by side, their movements in rhythm to the buzz of locusts from the trees. Kyle couldn’t help but notice that so long as they weren’t talking, they made a pretty good team. He supposed that if they were going to get along, however, small talk was inevitable.
He just wished he could form a coherent sentence whenever Travis’s well-sculpted body filled his view.
**********
Talk about battling the summer heat, eh? Thanks again to Jet for having me today! You may now return to your regularly scheduled blog. I can’t wait to learn more about Jet’s next Heaven Sent installment, Revelations, which also releases July 28th. Something tells me we’re due for a scorcher!
Good day from Katrina Strauss! No, don't adjust your monitors -- you're at the right place! Many thanks to Jet for inviting me to play at her blog today. There are some sizzling men to be found here at ComputErotika, so I thought I’d bring two hotties of my own! That’s Travis and Kyle to your left. They’re the stars of my next m/m release, Off the Beaten Path, coming this Tuesday, July 28th from Loose Id.As you might guess from the cover, Off the Beaten Path centers on a camping trip. Well, okay, besides the double whammy of sexy man chest, it involves camping! To be more precise, Travis and Kyle are thrown together on what’s called a “volunteer vacation” at a wilderness state park. A volunteer vacation can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Here are some opportunities begging to be taken advantage of:
** Constructing an inner city playground from recycled goods.
** Building or maintaining pedestrian and bike trails on former railroad beds.
** Wilderness trail maintenance at state and national parks.
** Working for a day at a local soup kitchen or food bank.
** Mentoring at-risk youth enrolled in summer programs.
** Planting trees with the Nature Conservancy.
** Building houses with Habitat for Humanity.
And that’s just a few! As you can see from the above list, volunteer vacations can range from day trip to out-of-town adventure, urban outing to wilderness escape. When volunteering at state and national parks, participants can receive a discount on guest fees with meals, housing, and/or camping equipment provided. (Volunteers are also often granted access to parts of the park that are closed to the public!) If you’re a high school student planning for college, or a college student seeking an internship, a volunteer vacation can count toward service points. Best of all, a volunteer vacation can be enjoyed by friends, families, youth organizations, church groups, etc, with crew size numbering from a few to several members depending on the task at hand.
Or as Kyle’s friend Mac explains to Travis, a volunteer vacation is “a nice alternative to the usual Vegas trip or overpriced ocean cruise, plus you do something that helps others.” If you’re looking to enjoy an affordable vacation that’s a little different, and serving a worthwhile purpose while you’re at it, you may want to consider one of the volunteer variety! Simply Google “volunteer vacation” to learn more!
Back to Travis and Kyle, I’ll leave you with the blurb and a teaser from their own excursion off the beaten path:
**********
BLURB:
Travis Bell is openly gay to family and friends, but as a college athlete, he chooses not to be defined by his sexuality. When he covers for a friend’s misdeed, he’s forced to negotiate his future without losing his lacrosse scholarship.
The last thing he plans on is a “volunteer vacation” in the remote wilderness with Omega Beta Pi, aka Off the Beaten Path, a fraternity devoted to gay rights and environmental causes. Worse, Travis must share a tent with Kyle, an opinionated activist who also happens to be the hottest guy Travis has ever met.
A proud activist, Kyle Schafer disapproves of Travis’s indifference toward issues affecting the environment and gay community. To his even greater annoyance, Kyle finds himself attracted to his shallow tentmate on a purely physical level. Travis goes against everything Kyle believes in, but that doesn’t dampen the chemistry that sparks between them.
In a battle of wits and libido, Travis and Kyle venture into the uncharted territory of their deepest desires... and learn the path less traveled can lead straight to the heart.
**********
EXCERPT -- Copyright 2008 by Katrina Strauss
Coming July 28th from Loose Id at:
http://www.loose-id.com/prod-Off_the_Beaten_Path-982.aspx
Kyle wiped the sweat from his brow, tucking the strands that loosed from his ponytail behind his ear. He’d slipped out of his flannel overshirt at some point and tied it around his waist above his shorts, his T-shirt clinging to him in spite of the moderate eighty-degree temperature.
Leaning on the rake with one arm, he reached out and accepted a bottle of water from Travis. The fact that they both wore work gloves did little to insulate the jolt of current that sparked between them when their fingers brushed. Thoughts of how things might have gone in the tent that morning inadvertently played through Kyle’s mind again.
Taking a sip, he stole a glimpse as Travis bent over to get another bottle from the small cooler they’d brought along. He tried not to stare as Travis tilted his head back and took a hearty swig of water. The other man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, sweat dripping down the corded sinews of his throat, every muscle of his torso clearly outlined through the stretched cotton of the white tank top. His six-pack abs crunched in where he’d followed Kyle’s lead and knotted his hoodie at the waist.
With a satisfied sigh, Travis pulled the bottle away from his lips, giving them a lick before pouring the remaining water over his head. Eyes closed, he shook his head, slinging the water from his ruffled hair.
Kyle nearly fell over as the rake gave under his weight. Catching himself, he turned away and set back to work. Between the athlete’s stamina and Kyle’s determination not to be outdone, they’d hacked away several feet of overgrown vegetation in the past two hours. They’d done such an effective job, Lance had instructed Kyle and Travis to pick their way a quarter of a mile up the path, then work their way back down to the remaining team.
Kyle had initially experienced discomfort at being alone with Travis for the first time since their awkward awakening in the tent that morning, but they’d soon fallen into comfortable, silent tandem as they worked side by side, their movements in rhythm to the buzz of locusts from the trees. Kyle couldn’t help but notice that so long as they weren’t talking, they made a pretty good team. He supposed that if they were going to get along, however, small talk was inevitable.
He just wished he could form a coherent sentence whenever Travis’s well-sculpted body filled his view.
**********
Talk about battling the summer heat, eh? Thanks again to Jet for having me today! You may now return to your regularly scheduled blog. I can’t wait to learn more about Jet’s next Heaven Sent installment, Revelations, which also releases July 28th. Something tells me we’re due for a scorcher!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Conference is over
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/conference-is-over/)
And I think it went well. I, personally, wasn't terribly productive but I'm pretty sure others were.
Jade Buchanan kicked ass as the Rainbow Romance Writer president. She met everyone -- or so it seemed to me -- and made sure she touched base with all the members she could. Looks like RRW weathered its first RWA pretty well. And Jade made lots of contacts for herself, of course, which is all good.
Ally Blue met the president (or equivalent) of the local Lamda chapter at a restaurant down the street from the hotel, so that was pretty cool.
I finally met Anne Cain. That was cool! I finally have a face to put with the excellent artwork. Talked to Treva Harte and a bunch of cool Loose Id authors at a delicious Lebanese restaurant. Met LB Gregg aka Lisabea and we had some good laughs. I met a lot of other great people and (if you're reading) I'm so sorry I don't remember all the names. I must admit to being a tad spacy during much of this weekend. Must be the bright purple hair *sage nod*
All in all, good fun even if I didn't do the networking I was supposed to. Ally and I discovered that DC -- at least the part we were in -- is crawling with gorgeous men! OMG, there were too many of them to properly process the hottness. Eye candy all over the place and, I've been assured by someone who lives here, probably most of them are gay *dies*
Not sure if I'll go to Nashville next year but who knows? I wasn't going to go to this one either. We'll have to see what happens between now and then.
And I think it went well. I, personally, wasn't terribly productive but I'm pretty sure others were.
Jade Buchanan kicked ass as the Rainbow Romance Writer president. She met everyone -- or so it seemed to me -- and made sure she touched base with all the members she could. Looks like RRW weathered its first RWA pretty well. And Jade made lots of contacts for herself, of course, which is all good.
Ally Blue met the president (or equivalent) of the local Lamda chapter at a restaurant down the street from the hotel, so that was pretty cool.
I finally met Anne Cain. That was cool! I finally have a face to put with the excellent artwork. Talked to Treva Harte and a bunch of cool Loose Id authors at a delicious Lebanese restaurant. Met LB Gregg aka Lisabea and we had some good laughs. I met a lot of other great people and (if you're reading) I'm so sorry I don't remember all the names. I must admit to being a tad spacy during much of this weekend. Must be the bright purple hair *sage nod*
All in all, good fun even if I didn't do the networking I was supposed to. Ally and I discovered that DC -- at least the part we were in -- is crawling with gorgeous men! OMG, there were too many of them to properly process the hottness. Eye candy all over the place and, I've been assured by someone who lives here, probably most of them are gay *dies*
Not sure if I'll go to Nashville next year but who knows? I wasn't going to go to this one either. We'll have to see what happens between now and then.
Friday, July 17, 2009
EXCERPT - Heaven Sent: Revelations
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/excerpt-heaven-sent-revelations/)
To be released July 28, 2009 by Loose Id
Pairing: m/m/f
Available soon in ebook at Loose Id
A woman in Heaven Sent?! Well, yeah, she's been with them the entire time. Gretchen deserves her HEA!
BLURB:
For years, Gretchen’s main objective has been taking care of the boys of Heaven Sent. When her boys decide to take a year-long hiatus, she decides to do the same.
Before she can begin her summer off, Gretchen has one last public commitment. There, she meets tall, mysterious, and wickedly handsome Archer Thanos. Archer’s company has a video game based on Heaven Sent and he’s has been trying to get in touch with her to discuss it. Their first meeting quickly turns into a discussion of another type … in a nearby hotel room, sending Gretchen headlong into a whirlwind summer affair she hadn’t anticipated.
Only, someone isn’t exactly thrilled about Gretchen and Archer’s romance. Gretchen’s adorable new assistant, Owen, has been pining for his boss since he started working for her but he hasn’t had the courage to assert himself and tell her he wants her. The result, Gretchen is completely blind to his feelings for her. To make matters worse, after meeting Archer, Owen knows he has no chance against the handsome devil. His own attraction to the older man is instant and overwhelming, the bisexual urges he hasn’t divulged to Gretchen fully awakening.
Owen thinks he’s not enough for Gretchen. Gretchen thinks Owen is far too young for her. Archer thinks they’re both ridiculous. He knows the three of them are just right for each other, if they can survive the miscommunications and trials ahead.
*****************************
©2009 Jet Mykles, all rights reserved
“Palm Springs?”
Owen stared at his monitor. “Yeah.”
Jane sighed and perched on the far edge of his desk. “And she just met him this last week?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn. What a life.”
“Yeah.”
“Oh God, would you stop mooning already?”
Scowling, he checked that the office door was closed. “Be a little louder, why don’t you?”
She reached up to smooth a hand over her short, straight black hair. “Oh, no one’s going to hear. Just about everyone’s gone home.”
He turned back to his monitor and tried to ignore her.
He’d known it wouldn’t work. She sat up further on his desk, leaning toward him. “Owen, you know you don’t have a chance with her, right?”
At times like this, he deeply regretted confiding in Jane. But they’d become good friends in the past few months, and he’d needed someone to talk to. Someone who understood. All his other friends were back in Atlanta, and they were too far removed from the business to get it. The only other person was his cousin Ellen. She was way too close to Gretchen for him to tell her anything.
When he didn’t answer her, Jane shook his shoulder.
“Hey.” He scowled up at her.
Her blue eyes narrowed. “She spends most of her time with rockstars, Owen. Gorgeous ones. She eats up handsome, successful men for lunch. She’s got guys like this Archer taking her away on expensive weekends. What could you possibly offer her other than your boyish charm?”
He gave her a mocking sweet smile. “Gee, thanks.”
She smoothed a hand over his hair. “I’m just trying to help you, honey. Mooning over the boss lady is just going to keep you distracted when a girl you can have and should be with comes along.”
He snatched his head away. Women were always petting him, he was used to it, but that didn’t stop it from being annoying when he was peeved. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Okay, okay. Let’s talk about this Saturday.” She clapped her hands like a giddy schoolgirl. “I’ll have to go out shopping for a new dress. You want to come with?”
“Oh yeah, that’s just what I want to do.”
She grimaced. “You know, darling, I have to say that you’re the strangest gay man I’ve ever met.”
That demanded that he give her the look. “I think you’d have to call me bisexual. I like girls too, remember.”
“Yeah. I guess it’s not so outlandish since you work for Heaven Sent after all. Well, once removed.”
Was she trying to depress him more? “Don’t you have a job to do?”
She batted her heavily mascaraed eyes at him, undeterred. “Bored with my company already?”
“Just the topic of conversation.”
“Fine.” She jumped off his desk and patted the folders she’d left in his inbox. “Make sure she sees those. There’s a new director whose work she should look at.”
“Will do.”
“See you later. We’ll make shopping plans.” Giggling at his scowl, she opened the door and left.
Once the door had clicked shut after her, he gave up the pretense of working. Staring morosely at his desk blotter, he began his favorite task since Monday: trying to figure out a way to make Gretchen not go away with this Archer creep for the weekend. So far, no dice. He wasn’t going to do anything drastic, and no one from Heaven Sent had jumped in to demand her attention. The closest was when Chris Faith called for her, but he’d ended up calling her cell and getting his answer. Meantime, he’d had to hear about all her preparations for the trip. He’d even made calls to reserve a private table at a very chic restaurant for her and Archer.
Depressed, he tried to make himself see things a different way. This was a new thing. She hadn’t dated in a long time. She’d barely talked about Archer as more than a sex toy. Maybe that’s all it was. Sex. Still not something Owen wanted to dwell on, but if it was just sex, that meant it would likely blow over soon. He’d heard about her so-called relationships in the past. Nothing that lasted very long. Her career always got in the way. Maybe all Owen had to do was tough it out for a month or so; then she’d get sick of this guy and move on. Yeah, that was a better slant on it.
But it didn’t change the fact that she was going away to get fucked, repeatedly, by this Archer guy.
What did this bozo look like anyway? Owen turned toward his computer and brought up a Web browser. He’d just typed the man’s name in the image browser when a knock sounded. He had enough time to switch windows so that his e-mail was in front before he turned to greet the newcomer.
Whoa. The guy who walked in was movie-star gorgeous. The epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. His golden brown skin set off jet-black hair and matching brows that matched a classy, trimmed Vandyke beard. He wore a casual burgundy shirt unbuttoned just enough to show a hint of chest hair and black slacks over endless legs.
Owen wasn’t sure his own legs would support him if he stood, so he just turned toward the vision. “Hello. May I help you?”
“This is Gretchen Hobbes’s office?”
“Yes. I’m Owen, Ms. Hobbes’s assistant.”
The man stopped in front of his desk and held out his hand. “Owen. Nice to meet you. My name is Archer Thanos.”
Owen’s hand was folded in a warm grip before the name was spoken. He was unable to hide his jump of surprise. “A-archer Thanos?”
“That’s me.”
“I, uh, Gretchen’s told me about you. She said you…” He dropped his gaze to the package in the man’s hand, only to realize that his own hand was still held. He blinked, confused and entranced by the sight of his light tan in contrast to the deep gold-brown of this man’s skin. Yum. He tugged his fingers away so he could reach for the package. The angle made sure that he could check out the man’s other package, a slight bulge in the loose slacks. Yum. “She said you’d be dropping something off.”
Archer held the thick envelope up, just out of Owen’s reach. “Yes. This. It’s a prospectus for a video game.” That smile was just killer. Teeth blinding white in all that darkness. “You play?”
“Huh?”
“Do you game?”
“I’ve, uh, some, but I’m not… Well, that is. Not much.”
The gorgeous man twisted to the side so he could hitch his ass up on the edge of Owen’s desk. He leaned companionably toward Owen as he set the envelope down on the desk blotter. “If you’re interested, I’d be happy to send you some samples.” Hands now free, he dipped two fingers into his chest pocket to extract a slim metal business-card case. A gold ring flashed on his finger as he flipped the case open and extracted a card.
Not until the card was hovering before him, held by two longer fingers, did Owen realize he’d just been watching the man move. Instinctively, he reached for the card. “Oh, I… There’s no reason to give me games. I mean, I wouldn’t be making a decision about this.” Jeez, Owen, get a grip! He’d handled plenty of other people with far more class than this. Why did this man have him rattled? Because this guy's been inside Gretchen. Strangely, with said man sitting before him, the thought turned him on far more than it pissed him off.
“Oh no, my pleasure. No strings attached. Gretchen made that one perfectly clear this past weekend.”
Owen swallowed, dropping his gaze as he took exaggerated care in setting the man’s card down on top of the folder that was already there. “And you’ll be seeing her this weekend as well.” He heard the words before he could take them back.
“She told you about that, did she?”
“She tells me everything.”
When there was too much silence, he braved a glance up. Another speculative look pointed at him. He seemed to be getting a heck of a lot of those lately. This one, however, made his guts quiver into jelly. “As well she should.”
Owen stared into deep brown eyes, getting lost in the silent heat. He didn’t know what to say, and the man didn’t seem in a hurry to leave or break the silence. Finally, Owen cracked. “Actually, Mr. Thanos…”
“Please. Call me Archer.”
Owen nodded as he turned toward his monitor. “Archer. Gretchen wasn’t sure where you’d be going this weekend. Could you give me a location, just in case?”
The man amiably supplied not only the name of the resort, he pulled out his iPhone and forwarded the reservation information to Owen right on the spot. “Will you need anything else?”
Owen shook his head, trying to make his fingers stop trembling. “No. I think that’s more than enough. Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome.”
He needed to be polite. Garnering his courage, Owen turned back and spread his hand over the folder on the desk. “I’ll make sure she gets that.”
“Thank you. Please call if you need any more information. And I mean it about the games. Take a look at our Web site. Any games you want, they’re yours for the asking.” He leaned forward on the desk, fingers steepled to support his weight. “You call me personally.”
Owen stared at his fingers, far too frightened of what might happen if he got lost in that smoldering gaze again. He might just have to throw himself at the man. “Thank you.”
“Well, then. I’ll see you later. Owen.”
Owen nodded and smiled, managing to raise his gaze to the man’s collarbone. It was high enough for him to see the smirk. No shit, you're acting like a simpering schmuck. But it was the best he could manage.
Once Archer left, Owen just sat there, staring at the door, relearning how to breathe. The man was…ungh. No wonder Gretchen was so taken. Owen was afraid he was going to have to make use of the private bathroom in Gretchen’s office unless he could get control of the hard-on in his pants. He sat back and kept breathing until he brought his heart and groin under control enough to reach over to his keyboard to bring up the image search that he’d started before the man himself had come through the door.
“There’s no way,” he whispered, gazing at a smiling photograph of the man. “There’s no way you’ve got a chance in hell against this guy.”
To be released July 28, 2009 by Loose IdPairing: m/m/f
Available soon in ebook at Loose Id
A woman in Heaven Sent?! Well, yeah, she's been with them the entire time. Gretchen deserves her HEA!
BLURB:
For years, Gretchen’s main objective has been taking care of the boys of Heaven Sent. When her boys decide to take a year-long hiatus, she decides to do the same.
Before she can begin her summer off, Gretchen has one last public commitment. There, she meets tall, mysterious, and wickedly handsome Archer Thanos. Archer’s company has a video game based on Heaven Sent and he’s has been trying to get in touch with her to discuss it. Their first meeting quickly turns into a discussion of another type … in a nearby hotel room, sending Gretchen headlong into a whirlwind summer affair she hadn’t anticipated.
Only, someone isn’t exactly thrilled about Gretchen and Archer’s romance. Gretchen’s adorable new assistant, Owen, has been pining for his boss since he started working for her but he hasn’t had the courage to assert himself and tell her he wants her. The result, Gretchen is completely blind to his feelings for her. To make matters worse, after meeting Archer, Owen knows he has no chance against the handsome devil. His own attraction to the older man is instant and overwhelming, the bisexual urges he hasn’t divulged to Gretchen fully awakening.
Owen thinks he’s not enough for Gretchen. Gretchen thinks Owen is far too young for her. Archer thinks they’re both ridiculous. He knows the three of them are just right for each other, if they can survive the miscommunications and trials ahead.
*****************************
©2009 Jet Mykles, all rights reserved
“Palm Springs?”
Owen stared at his monitor. “Yeah.”
Jane sighed and perched on the far edge of his desk. “And she just met him this last week?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn. What a life.”
“Yeah.”
“Oh God, would you stop mooning already?”
Scowling, he checked that the office door was closed. “Be a little louder, why don’t you?”
She reached up to smooth a hand over her short, straight black hair. “Oh, no one’s going to hear. Just about everyone’s gone home.”
He turned back to his monitor and tried to ignore her.
He’d known it wouldn’t work. She sat up further on his desk, leaning toward him. “Owen, you know you don’t have a chance with her, right?”
At times like this, he deeply regretted confiding in Jane. But they’d become good friends in the past few months, and he’d needed someone to talk to. Someone who understood. All his other friends were back in Atlanta, and they were too far removed from the business to get it. The only other person was his cousin Ellen. She was way too close to Gretchen for him to tell her anything.
When he didn’t answer her, Jane shook his shoulder.
“Hey.” He scowled up at her.
Her blue eyes narrowed. “She spends most of her time with rockstars, Owen. Gorgeous ones. She eats up handsome, successful men for lunch. She’s got guys like this Archer taking her away on expensive weekends. What could you possibly offer her other than your boyish charm?”
He gave her a mocking sweet smile. “Gee, thanks.”
She smoothed a hand over his hair. “I’m just trying to help you, honey. Mooning over the boss lady is just going to keep you distracted when a girl you can have and should be with comes along.”
He snatched his head away. Women were always petting him, he was used to it, but that didn’t stop it from being annoying when he was peeved. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Okay, okay. Let’s talk about this Saturday.” She clapped her hands like a giddy schoolgirl. “I’ll have to go out shopping for a new dress. You want to come with?”
“Oh yeah, that’s just what I want to do.”
She grimaced. “You know, darling, I have to say that you’re the strangest gay man I’ve ever met.”
That demanded that he give her the look. “I think you’d have to call me bisexual. I like girls too, remember.”
“Yeah. I guess it’s not so outlandish since you work for Heaven Sent after all. Well, once removed.”
Was she trying to depress him more? “Don’t you have a job to do?”
She batted her heavily mascaraed eyes at him, undeterred. “Bored with my company already?”
“Just the topic of conversation.”
“Fine.” She jumped off his desk and patted the folders she’d left in his inbox. “Make sure she sees those. There’s a new director whose work she should look at.”
“Will do.”
“See you later. We’ll make shopping plans.” Giggling at his scowl, she opened the door and left.
Once the door had clicked shut after her, he gave up the pretense of working. Staring morosely at his desk blotter, he began his favorite task since Monday: trying to figure out a way to make Gretchen not go away with this Archer creep for the weekend. So far, no dice. He wasn’t going to do anything drastic, and no one from Heaven Sent had jumped in to demand her attention. The closest was when Chris Faith called for her, but he’d ended up calling her cell and getting his answer. Meantime, he’d had to hear about all her preparations for the trip. He’d even made calls to reserve a private table at a very chic restaurant for her and Archer.
Depressed, he tried to make himself see things a different way. This was a new thing. She hadn’t dated in a long time. She’d barely talked about Archer as more than a sex toy. Maybe that’s all it was. Sex. Still not something Owen wanted to dwell on, but if it was just sex, that meant it would likely blow over soon. He’d heard about her so-called relationships in the past. Nothing that lasted very long. Her career always got in the way. Maybe all Owen had to do was tough it out for a month or so; then she’d get sick of this guy and move on. Yeah, that was a better slant on it.
But it didn’t change the fact that she was going away to get fucked, repeatedly, by this Archer guy.
What did this bozo look like anyway? Owen turned toward his computer and brought up a Web browser. He’d just typed the man’s name in the image browser when a knock sounded. He had enough time to switch windows so that his e-mail was in front before he turned to greet the newcomer.
Whoa. The guy who walked in was movie-star gorgeous. The epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. His golden brown skin set off jet-black hair and matching brows that matched a classy, trimmed Vandyke beard. He wore a casual burgundy shirt unbuttoned just enough to show a hint of chest hair and black slacks over endless legs.
Owen wasn’t sure his own legs would support him if he stood, so he just turned toward the vision. “Hello. May I help you?”
“This is Gretchen Hobbes’s office?”
“Yes. I’m Owen, Ms. Hobbes’s assistant.”
The man stopped in front of his desk and held out his hand. “Owen. Nice to meet you. My name is Archer Thanos.”
Owen’s hand was folded in a warm grip before the name was spoken. He was unable to hide his jump of surprise. “A-archer Thanos?”
“That’s me.”
“I, uh, Gretchen’s told me about you. She said you…” He dropped his gaze to the package in the man’s hand, only to realize that his own hand was still held. He blinked, confused and entranced by the sight of his light tan in contrast to the deep gold-brown of this man’s skin. Yum. He tugged his fingers away so he could reach for the package. The angle made sure that he could check out the man’s other package, a slight bulge in the loose slacks. Yum. “She said you’d be dropping something off.”
Archer held the thick envelope up, just out of Owen’s reach. “Yes. This. It’s a prospectus for a video game.” That smile was just killer. Teeth blinding white in all that darkness. “You play?”
“Huh?”
“Do you game?”
“I’ve, uh, some, but I’m not… Well, that is. Not much.”
The gorgeous man twisted to the side so he could hitch his ass up on the edge of Owen’s desk. He leaned companionably toward Owen as he set the envelope down on the desk blotter. “If you’re interested, I’d be happy to send you some samples.” Hands now free, he dipped two fingers into his chest pocket to extract a slim metal business-card case. A gold ring flashed on his finger as he flipped the case open and extracted a card.
Not until the card was hovering before him, held by two longer fingers, did Owen realize he’d just been watching the man move. Instinctively, he reached for the card. “Oh, I… There’s no reason to give me games. I mean, I wouldn’t be making a decision about this.” Jeez, Owen, get a grip! He’d handled plenty of other people with far more class than this. Why did this man have him rattled? Because this guy's been inside Gretchen. Strangely, with said man sitting before him, the thought turned him on far more than it pissed him off.
“Oh no, my pleasure. No strings attached. Gretchen made that one perfectly clear this past weekend.”
Owen swallowed, dropping his gaze as he took exaggerated care in setting the man’s card down on top of the folder that was already there. “And you’ll be seeing her this weekend as well.” He heard the words before he could take them back.
“She told you about that, did she?”
“She tells me everything.”
When there was too much silence, he braved a glance up. Another speculative look pointed at him. He seemed to be getting a heck of a lot of those lately. This one, however, made his guts quiver into jelly. “As well she should.”
Owen stared into deep brown eyes, getting lost in the silent heat. He didn’t know what to say, and the man didn’t seem in a hurry to leave or break the silence. Finally, Owen cracked. “Actually, Mr. Thanos…”
“Please. Call me Archer.”
Owen nodded as he turned toward his monitor. “Archer. Gretchen wasn’t sure where you’d be going this weekend. Could you give me a location, just in case?”
The man amiably supplied not only the name of the resort, he pulled out his iPhone and forwarded the reservation information to Owen right on the spot. “Will you need anything else?”
Owen shook his head, trying to make his fingers stop trembling. “No. I think that’s more than enough. Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome.”
He needed to be polite. Garnering his courage, Owen turned back and spread his hand over the folder on the desk. “I’ll make sure she gets that.”
“Thank you. Please call if you need any more information. And I mean it about the games. Take a look at our Web site. Any games you want, they’re yours for the asking.” He leaned forward on the desk, fingers steepled to support his weight. “You call me personally.”
Owen stared at his fingers, far too frightened of what might happen if he got lost in that smoldering gaze again. He might just have to throw himself at the man. “Thank you.”
“Well, then. I’ll see you later. Owen.”
Owen nodded and smiled, managing to raise his gaze to the man’s collarbone. It was high enough for him to see the smirk. No shit, you're acting like a simpering schmuck. But it was the best he could manage.
Once Archer left, Owen just sat there, staring at the door, relearning how to breathe. The man was…ungh. No wonder Gretchen was so taken. Owen was afraid he was going to have to make use of the private bathroom in Gretchen’s office unless he could get control of the hard-on in his pants. He sat back and kept breathing until he brought his heart and groin under control enough to reach over to his keyboard to bring up the image search that he’d started before the man himself had come through the door.
“There’s no way,” he whispered, gazing at a smiling photograph of the man. “There’s no way you’ve got a chance in hell against this guy.”
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Reminder - Romance Divas
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/reminder-romance-divas/)
Hey, Josh Lanyon's posted some good stuff a this Romance Diva's forum thing. Come join us this week
http://forums.romancedivas.com//index.php?showtopic=53543&st=0
I believe you have to be signed up to get the above link to work.
Hey, Josh Lanyon's posted some good stuff a this Romance Diva's forum thing. Come join us this week
http://forums.romancedivas.com//index.php?showtopic=53543&st=0
I believe you have to be signed up to get the above link to work.
Now on Twitter
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/now-on-twitter/)
OK, I took the plunge. I'm on twitter now
http://twitter.com/jetmykles
Bear with me as I get used to it. I'll try to keep up to date on at least my story news. Although this week might be weird since I'm off to RWA in DC in a few hours.
OK, I took the plunge. I'm on twitter now
http://twitter.com/jetmykles
Bear with me as I get used to it. I'll try to keep up to date on at least my story news. Although this week might be weird since I'm off to RWA in DC in a few hours.
Monday, July 13, 2009
My first guest here at ComputErotika
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/my-first-guest-here-at-computerotika/)
Stay tuned. On July 25th I'll be hosting my first guest blogger. Katrina Strauss and I share a Loose Id release date on July 28th so I've asked her to stop by and talk about her book Off The Beaten Path. I've read the excerpts. Oh yum! Talk about "summer fun"...
Stay tuned. On July 25th I'll be hosting my first guest blogger. Katrina Strauss and I share a Loose Id release date on July 28th so I've asked her to stop by and talk about her book Off The Beaten Path. I've read the excerpts. Oh yum! Talk about "summer fun"...
Saturday, July 04, 2009
RWA National conference
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/rwa-national-conference/)
I guess since I mentioned Romance Divas not going to the conference, I should mention that I AM going to the RWA conference in Washington DC from the 15th to the 18th.
I wasn't goint to go initially but then decided I wanted to be there for the Rainbow Romance Writers' first official conference. Plus a lot of my buddies are going to be there and it looks like it'll be the only event that I attend this year.
I guess since I mentioned Romance Divas not going to the conference, I should mention that I AM going to the RWA conference in Washington DC from the 15th to the 18th.
I wasn't goint to go initially but then decided I wanted to be there for the Rainbow Romance Writers' first official conference. Plus a lot of my buddies are going to be there and it looks like it'll be the only event that I attend this year.
The Not Going To Conference Conference at Romance Divas
(Original Blog Post: http://www.jetmykles.com/2009/07/the-not-going-to-conference-conference-at-romance-divas/)
July 15 through 18th, Romance Divas is having a Not Going to the Conference Conference at their site's forums. I'll be there along with a few other authors, but I'll be there less. Initially, it was supposed to be authors who aren't going to the RWA conference. Well, I decided to go at kind of the last minute. So I'll be checking in from the conference.
I should have a link for the actual posts in the forums closer to the actual time.
July 15 through 18th, Romance Divas is having a Not Going to the Conference Conference at their site's forums. I'll be there along with a few other authors, but I'll be there less. Initially, it was supposed to be authors who aren't going to the RWA conference. Well, I decided to go at kind of the last minute. So I'll be checking in from the conference.
I should have a link for the actual posts in the forums closer to the actual time.
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