Dawn Flemington ~ Blah Humbug

Release date: December 1, 2013

Available: Dreamspinner Press

Genre: M/M contemporary holiday

Dreamspinner Press BUY LINK

Find Dawn Here

Christmas? Blah, humbug…

Not everyone is happy during the holidays. I happen to be one of those people.

It drives me crazy to see everyone so blasted merry around me two months out of 365 days. Why just this time of year? Why not spread the joy though out the twelve months?

Oh, I have plenty of warm, fuzzy seasonal memories during childhood, but since becoming an adult, I can only think of four years where the holidays were not marred by death, employment loss, lack of money or soured relationships. Some years, the depression is so bad that I don’t even celebrate it at all.

I guess that is why I wrote this story. I wanted someone who disliked the season, to magically find happiness. I am a Haven Marley, waiting for a reason to believe in Christmas again.

Who knows? Maybe my Sander Klaus will visit me this year.

BLURB:

Haven Marley’s having the worst December ever. Work was terrible, his car wouldn’t start… and then it gets even worse. His Christmas is awfully blue until he meets Sander Klaus. They quickly discover that when it comes to celebrating, they are total opposites: Haven hates the holidays, while Sander –a mall Santa- embraces everything about the season. Haven may be a Scrooge, but with Sander, he’ll learn more about the joys of being in the Christmas spirit than he ever imagined.

EXCERPT (PG):

Haven’s eyes fluttered open. He found himself resting on a sofa bed in a candle lit room with a delectable aroma of apples and cinnamon. Noticing he lay naked under a blanket, he jolted up. This caused his head to swim and he placed his hand over the source of pain to find his temple bandaged.

“Ho Ho Ho… you’re awake. Had me worried there for a moment.”

Haven glared in the general direction of where the voice came from. “Who are you? What am I doing here? Why is it dark in here? Where are my clothes?”

“Whoa there, buddy. One question at a time.” The candle flame floated closer. A man in a red Santa suit stood next to the sofa bed. “You’re here because you were in the street and I almost hit you. We were heading to the hospital, but the storm blocked the roads. It also has knocked out the power, hence the candles. As for your clothes, they’re soaked. I didn’t want ya to catch hypothermia, so I stripped you and shoved you under the covers.” He sat on the corner of the bed and touched the bandage. “You got a nasty gash. What where ya doing out in the middle of a blizzard without a coat?”

“My car wouldn’t start. I started walking and was mugged. Lost my cell phone and car keys as well as cash and my jacket.”

“Bastards!” The man sat the candle on an end table, adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses and took off his hat. “Whatta Christmas present.”

Haven peered at the white bearded man in the candle light and pulled the blankets tighter to him. “You still haven’t told me who you are.”

The man threw his hand out to shake. “Sander Klaus at your service.”

Haven gave him a sour look. The man reeked of perkiness. “You seriously don’t expect me to believe you’re Santa Claus.”

“No, my name is Sander Klaus.” He pulled off the white wig and fake beard, revealing a head of dark, wavy hair. “A construction worker by trade, a mall Santa during the holidays to bring in extra cash while the season is slow. I was on my way home from work when I found you in the street.” He stood up, slipped his red jacket and extra padding off, and tossed the items aside. “And who may you be?”

“Haven. Haven Marley.” Aware of his naked state, he pulled the blankets closer.

APOLOGIES FIRST!!!

I would like to say sorry for falling behind on my December postings... 

I have no excuses except to say family needed me.

Been busy & then some...

Okay, so I have been busy as fuck since last Thursday. My eldest sister (Saff) is in hospital so I have been running around doing errands for her. Also with trading in my car I've had to do stuff for that (so much fricken drama). Then I went to the Chiropractors with my kiddo - mainly because I wanted to go shopping - I picked up a dress to wear when I go out to dinner with Z Allora, her hubs, & my kiddo.

This what the dress looks like (model so isn't me). Em picked it out for me to wear. It feels really nice on. I have a coffin hand bag that I will use. All that's left is to decide on what shoes to wear with it. Should I go chunky heels or delicate heels? Mind you I am more the chunky type of girl. I'll also be wearing black stocking under the dress as my legs are so white you need sunglasses to look at them. I just don't want to be held responsible for blinding some poor innocent human being.

Em and I are excited to be seeing Z and her hubs again - also we've never been to Dracula's so  it should be loads of fun. Hopefully will have the new car by then.

This is the handbag I was talking about. My sister in-law gave it to me a couple of years ago. When not in use it's an ornament in my office. It looks right at home sitting amongst all my Gargoyle ornaments/statues.

Though in between times I have been organising to have some wonderful authors on my blog during the month of December.

Also: The talented and amazing Kris J, has let me know Experimentals: Blessed With A Curse has been given a release date - you will know when I do.

Dawn Flemington ~ Hometown Secrets

Find Dawn Here

Hometown Secrets is my first published book. I got the idea by piecing together some of my past, sprinkled with a little of my present. Originally titled Dirty Little Secret, it started out in 2011 as a story for an anthology – but the characters wouldn’t let me cut their story short, and so I wrote past the 12,000 word limit with my eyes set on a novel.

Then, my tranquil writer’s life became out of control and I stopped doing everything I loved. Though I had plenty of encouragement to continue writing, it wasn’t until 2013 that I found myself in a frame of mind to be able to sit down and finish Pete and Asher’s story.

It was both thrilling and sad to type ‘THE END”. At last, I had something completed to submit to a publisher, yet Pete, Asher, and the whole town of Delton felt like family to me and I didn’t want to say good-bye.

I hope someday to write a couple more stories with other characters based out of Hometown Secrets.

Tag = a small town explodes when secret gay lovers must unite for a church event

Genre = M/M contemporary romance

Publisher Buy Link = Loose Id Publishing

Release date = November 19, 2013

Blurb:

An old secret. A new secret. A surprising secret. A dirty secret.

Coming to terms with his sexuality, Pete Stubbs has found his ‘Mr. Wonderful’ and wants to celebrate his happiness by coming out. Yet admitting he is gay to his family is taking a bit more courage than he originally thought, especially when his mother stuns him with her unexpected homophobic hatred. He starts to wonder if his coming out will be more selfish than freeing.

Out and proud Asher Gilford is tired of always being the ‘throw away boy’ in past hush-hush liaisons. He feels he deserves to be loved by a man who is not ashamed to be with him. Though his current lover reassures him ‘a little more time is needed’ before they can go public, Asher is beginning to fear he is becoming someone’s ‘dirty little secret’ and vows it will not happen to him again.

When a church sponsors Pete and Asher for a charity event, it becomes the catalyst for a series of startling secrets to explode within the community. In his silent confusion, Pete watches life crumble and realizes that by remaining in the closet, he could lose his nephew, his best friend and most important, Asher.

Excerpt: 396 words, PG rating.

Pete’s thoughts drifted, and he became uncomfortably warm. Yes, it was an honor to represent the church in the cowboy games, but to do it with Asher Gilford? Did he really want to chance an association between them, no matter how benign? The two of them together in public could draw too many questions he did not want to think about, let alone answer. 

Brother Billy thumped Pete’s back, “We are pleased both young men agreed.” 

“Peter hasn’t signed the contract yet.” His mother sipped at her coffee. “And I doubt he’s going to now. Too much of his valuable time will be spent in training a novice, and as for Mr. Gilford? My son has a reputation to think about.” 

“Sister Stubbs.” Brother Billy frowned, his manner noticeably more formal in tone and gesture. “The events require teamwork, and all the participants who enter the games take the time to train together, regardless if they grew up with the skills or not. And as far as Asher is concerned, he’s a virtuous congregational member of good moral standing.” 

“And you can’t get any more of a straight moral compass than Pete and Asher.” Agnes leaned back in her chair. “Oh, they’ll make a wonderful pair, those two.” 

Pete winced, wishing Sister Agnes had kept her opinion to herself. 

“Agnes Klotz! Don’t you understand?” his mother shot through pursed lips. “Asher Gilford is an outright, unrepentant homosexual.” 

“Judge not lest ye be judged, Sister Stubbs.” The quiet comment flowed from Brother Billy’s lips. 

At Brother Billy’s words, his mother simmered down and regained her composure. “I’m not judging here. I’m full of love and compassion and concern for the church.” 

“Hey, you.” Lucy nudged Pete with her elbow. “You’re being awful quiet about this. How do you feel?” 

Chirp-chirp-chirp. 

Pete jumped and sought out the cell phone in his pocket. 

Brother Billy rose from his chair. “Yes, what do you have to say? Are we still in agreement that you’ll represent the church for the cowboy games, even with Asher Gilford?” 

Pete hesitated. He loathed being in positions like this. Yes, he wanted to be a part of the team. Yes, he waffled at the thought of being with Asher in public. Yes, it bothered him that his mother was expecting him to do what she believed was right. But what was right for Peter Stubbs?

Catching up!!!

Trying desperately to catch up on my NaNoWriMo - Sons of Evenmore: Blood To Blood. If I stick to my own personal schedule I figure I can pull it off. the story may not be finished but I should be able to reach the required 50K - So keep you fingers crossed for me.

On other news: Experimentals: Blessed With A Curse has finally been sent to Formatting. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Also The Lines of Marsden: Living in Shadows is in first edits with the wonderful Christie N - I hate first edits as it shows how many punctuation errors I've made - I've said it before and I'll more than likely say it again - I totally suck at punctuation.

Looking at buying a new car

This is the car I'm thinking about buying. I'm going to check them out this arvo.

What's up...

Saw this picture on Face book and instantly had new story ideas running through my head.

I'm not sure if the plot line is even plausible so at  the moment I have just jotted it down so that I can come back to it at some later date in time.

I'm supposed to be caught up in NaNoWriMo but in all honesty I have fricken writers block... So Sons of Evenmore: Blood to Blood is slow going.

I have so much going on in my home life that I don't have enough time in the day to get everything done - & doesn't that just suck.

We are also experiencing some freaky-arsed storms lately. The roar of the wind before the rain comes sounds like a huge river rushing towards us... The bad part is I know it's just the beginning of our storm season so we will have worse to come - fingers crossed we don't flood again this year.