My Favorite Reader Groups of Facebook

July 28, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope your week is going well. As you can see, I missed last week. Eric and I took some time off to take care of some family business and to celebrate Eric’s birthday. We would have liked to have gone away and done something fun, but that wasn’t in the cards for this year. However, we have something amazing planned for next year, but no spoilers as I don’t want to jinx things.

I don’t have a lot to share this week. However, I wanted to suggest you look at some of these great Facebook Groups you might want to join (I know. I know. Facebook can be hit or miss and if I’m honest it’s not my favorite social media platform, but these are some great groups worth looking into):

Bay Area Queer Writers Association - Welcome to Bay Area Queer Writers Association. We are a group of local writers who support and encourage each other. The goal of the group is to create a strong visible writing community here in the Bay Area. We are based in Silicon Valley, but we have members from all over the Bay Area. This group is open to anyone who loves to read and wants to help support area authors. You don’t have to live in the Bay Area to be a member, you just have to love Queer books and enjoy reading. Join to meet authors and find your next favorite book.

Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/950913525288861

Queer SciFi - A page for LGBT folks who write or read sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal.

Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/queerscifi

Queer Romance Ink - This group is for discussion of queer romance and related topics.

Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/queeromanceink

The NineStar Niche - A group dedicated to the readers, reviewers, and authors of NineStar Press books. Discussions about books and tropes and characters are encouraged.

Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NineStarNiche

Paranormal Romance Guild - Where the pursuit of extraordinary love, romance and passion is first and foremost.

Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PRGgroup

Queeromance Ink - This group is for discussion of queer romance and related topics.

Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/queeromanceink

Science Fiction and Fantasy Books - This is a virtual book club of fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible (or at least non-supernatural) content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities. Exploring the consequences of scientific innovations is one purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas".

Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/scififan

Liminal Fiction - Liminal Fiction (lim fic for short) is a new, progressive, inclusive group for speculative fiction readers and writers that pushes the boundaries of what sci fi, fantasy, paranormal and horror can be, encouraging inclusion of characters and creators from across the spectrum and stories that go beyond the speculative fic of yesteryear. Perfect for Sci Fi Readers, Sci Fi Writers, Fantasy Readers, Fantasy Writers, Horror Readers, Horror Writers, and Paranormal Readers and Paranormal Writers.

Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/limfic

Book Place - A discussion group for anyone who likes books or is in any way connected with books, including readers, authors, librarians, editors, agents, publicists, illustrators, and more. This includes both print and electronic forms.

Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookplace

That’s all for now. Have a great week and see you next time.

50 Amazon Reviews

July 14, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Today I wanted to ask for your help. I’m trying to increase the number of reviews my books have on Amazon. Believe it or not, 50 reviews is a magic number for Amazon. But before I jump into that let me share a little something about book reviews and why they are so important.

Why are reviews so important to authors?

Many people believe that reviews for books (and reviews in general are not important or that no one actually cares about what you think of a product). That isn’t the case.

When you write a review, you are helping others to decide if a product, or in my case my books, are something they will be interested in. They get to hear from someone other than the author or the publisher. They may not know you, but because you took the time to sit down and take a few minutes to talk about a product, they might buy they will trust you, because you are a non-interested party. You have nothing to gain or lose by leaving the review.

Leaving reviews provides honest feedback. For good or for ill, your voice matters. Research shows that people are more likely to write a review when they’ve had an ‘extreme’ experience (negative or positive). In these moments you can take the time to provide suggestions or feedback you get to say what you loved or didn’t like and ways to improve it. That said, we shouldn’t only write reviews when we feel strongly. We should take this time to share our thoughts no matter what, because if the feedback is constructive they will appreciate the review.

Think of a review as giving the product or author some love (sometimes tough love). We all want to know if our art is enjoyed, respected and appreciated. Sometimes what we’ve created hits the mark. So, let us know. Sometimes our works are way off base. Letting us know that too is important and shows you care. The only way for us to learn what works and what doesn’t is by our reviews. The more reviews we have, the better understanding we have as to what our fans and readers want from us.

Last, when you leave a review for a product (even a lukewarm review) you help get the products noticed given the work a chance to be seen by more people, and hopefully enjoyed by more people.

Now, why 50 reviews on Amazon? Here’s the thing with Amazon they are huge and they use logarithms to promote items, in order for these logarithms to kick in books need at least 50 reviews (click here for the article from HuffPost). What I’m asking is that, if you have read any of my books, please leave a review on Amazon even if you don’t want to give my books 5-stars. The process is straightforward and makes an enormous difference. Book reviews on Amazon are essential to building my brand as an author. The more reviews my books get on Amazon, the more people potential readers will see them.

I can’t stress who important leaving a review is, so I hope you will take a minute and help me out.

To assist you in leaving a review, here is a link to each of my books. First you will need to be signed into your Amazon account. Then all you have to do is scroll down and click on ‘write a customer review’ (the button will be under the ‘Customer Reviews’ in gray). Once there, simple leave a review, save the review and you are finished. Here are the links:

A More Perfect Union click here.

Contact (A New World Book 1) click here.

Conviction (A New World Book 2) click here.

The Calling click here.

The Called (The Calling Book 2) click here.

T.A.D. (The Angel of Death) click here.

A Dragon for Christmas click here.

The Reunion click here.

I can’t offer any incentives to you for providing a review, but perhaps I will come up with a special offer in my winder newsletter if all my books each have 50 or more reviews. Also, you don’t have to write an actual review you can rate the book (give the novel stars 1–5) so that makes the reviewing process even easier. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking a moment to help me reach at least 50 reviews for each of my books. One more nugget about your reviews, they help me market my books, I will often pull customer reviews and use them as part of my marketing. I often create graphics along with the reviews, so by leaving a review you are a major part of my marketing effort, which is kind of cool.

One last note, for you this week. If you haven’t seen the news, this month Smashwords is offering 50% off on all my e-books. This is a great deal that you don’t want to miss out on, especially if you are short on cash and still need some summer reading and are missing a couple of my books. Find all my novels here.

Until next time, have a great week.

Writing Update - Summer 2021

June 30, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, for those suffering from the heatwave, I hope you are all making it through and staying safe. Today I wanted to share a quick writing update with you all, especially since I haven’t done one in a while.

What’s new and exciting? Well, this week I’ve been working on editing up Conspiracy-A New World Book 3. The novel has been under contract with NineStar Press since July 2020, but with the pandemic and everything else going on, I’m getting back to the novel and hopefully the book should come out later this year (fingers crossed). Here is the blurb for Conspiracy to wet your appetite:

A little blue world, the third planet from the sun. It’s home to 7 billion people with all manner of faiths, beliefs and customs, divided by bigotry and misunderstanding, who have been told they are not alone in the universe. Anyone watching from the outside would pass by this fractured and tumultuous world, unless they had no other choice.
It’s been a little over a year since Todd Landon’s life has been changed by the arrival of the nentraee. Continuing his duties as Special Envoy for Terran Affairs, Todd is finally feeling at home with the aliens; gaining more responsibility and influence with both races. Plans are underway for two Interplanetary spaceports and additional solar exploration. It’s an exciting time for both the humans and the nentraee.
Not everything is as it seems. Speaker General Mirtoff and Vice-Speaker Mi’ko of the nentraee are worried that Liberi Dei plot more terrorist attacks and may have inside help. Threats are clear, but who can they trust? Is it possible Todd is helping them unknowingly or worse covertly? Will these new space endeavors continue to bring the human and the nentraee together or will a conspiracy hiding in the shadows fracture an already shaky alliance?

That is the blurb for the book. As I’ve been going through the work, I’ve gotten more and more excited for people to get their hands on this next installment and see what is happening with our cast of characters. Keep your eyes posted as I’ll be sharing more information as we get close to launch day.

Also, on the burners I have finished Volaria. This book is my vampire, lycan, witch, and space mash up. The story was a lot of fun to put together and I love the characters. Currently, I’ve finished writing the book, and will send the story off to my Beta Readers for them to go through and provide feedback. Once I’ve finished with the Beta reads, I’ll be deciding how I want to release the book. There are a lot of publishing options and with this novel I may explore those options and see where they take me.

Here is a teaser for Volaria:

Tobin lives in a newly reopened district of San Jose, California. Instead of making his mandatory monthly blood donation for the vampire community, he visits Bitter, a vampire spa. The spa allows vampires to feed from humans directly. However, permitting a vampire to feed from you comes with risks, shared memories among them. Tobin’s encounter opens a window to his past and an experience he had as a child on the moon. Questions abound as he tries to unravel his past and make sense of his life.

I haven’t limited my writing to these two books. I’ve also put together two short stories: LandsEnd and The Old Road. Both stories have a creepy vibe to them, which has been fun to create. However, I’m not sure where these stories will end up. They are both finished and currently waiting for me to decide what to do with them. We’ll see. No teasers for these, since I’m not sure what will happen with them, but keep your eyes posted as you never know where they may end up.

Also, I’ve worked on some flash fiction. This isn’t typically in my wheelhouse, but I wanted to give it a go. I’m happy with how both works turned out and they hold a lot of meaning for me, but again, I’m not sure where they will land or what I will do with them.

Well, there you have it, my summer writing update. As you can see, there is a lot happening, especially with the two finished novels. I’m excited to get both works out for you, for you to soak up and enjoy.

Until next time, have a great week.

Summer 2021

June 23, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, we made it to summer. Happy Summer Solstice to you all. How wonderful to be back to a time when we can actually make summer plans and enjoy? It’s time to appreciate the warm weather and plan some summer vacations. I know there is still a lot happening in the world right now, and the weather isn’t great for many people (thanks to global warming), but I don’t want to focus on the negative. We’ve all been doing too much of that. I want to think about all the positives and getting out there and having a good time this year.

If these last sixteen months have taught us anything; it’s take nothing for granted. So, this is what I would like to recommend for the coming months. If you are of the mindset, go out and see friends, family, and neighbors. Spend some of your summer catching up with people you love face-to-face. Give them a hug (if you both are inclined) and enjoy each other’s company. You don’t have to do anything fancy, just meet up and have some quality time.

Another idea is to go away for a few days. Take a drive. Get out of the house. Get out of town. Just get out. Do something. Go somewhere. A change of scenery will do you, me, and all of us some good.

As I said, I’m not blind to what’s going on in and around us, however, we need to make the best of things and enjoy. Shut down the computer, tablet, smart phone, whatever you are connected to and disconnect. Get out of your own head, out of your own space and really take in what’s around you. See the world for all the beauty it has.

For my part, my hubby and I have gotten to meet up with some dear friends who we haven’t seen in person since COVID. We’ve actually eaten inside a restaurant again. And we’ve made plans to go away for a couple of days in July, just to get away. With each of these activities I’m feeling more like myself than I have in over a year.

Whatever you decide to do this summer, enjoy. Take a deep breath and have some fun… we deserve it.

Until next time, have a great week.

Pride 2021

June 16, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, how’s everyone doing? I hope this post finds you all in good spirits and having a wonderful week. As you may have noticed there was no blog post last week. There was a lot going on, and I ran out of time. So, instead of slapping something together, I took the week off. This week I wanted to talk to you and share some thoughts. I hope that’s okay.

It’s been strange for all of us now that life, and the world, seems to returning to some kind of new normal I feel like the flowers in our back garden, like I’m coming to life again. Over the last couple of weekends, we’ve seen some dear friends who we haven’t seen since COVID-19 started. Seeing them and hugging and chatting and being together felt amazing and I believe the togetherness did wonders for my mental health. You don’t realize how much you miss people until you see them again. We all found that by the end of the night, none of us wanted to say goodbye. That sensation is going to be, I guess, the way we all feel for a long while, because before the ‘rona’ we took spending time with friends and family for granted. We always believed there would be a ‘next time’, or a ‘see ya real soon’, but then in March 2020 that didn’t happen. Everything closed and our lives and our world such down.

To me, the sensation felt like dying. Weird, right?

How strange to think back on those first few weeks and remember who nervous and scared everyone was. You didn’t know who would get it, how bad it would be, if you would make it. Were you going to be next? Were you going to be another number on the nightly news?

Now fourteen months later we can see our family and friends again. We can eat out, go to the movies, go to concerts, museums, sporting events, all those things that were taken from us, by a virus that we can’t even see, but can feel the effects of.

Yes, people are still getting sick. Yes, people are still dying. We aren’t out of this yet, but we are close, the like the flowers in our back garden they along with the rest of us are blooming.

And now, here we are.

What a great feeling. Right?

I don’t know. Parts of me feel empty, damaged, sad, not about what happened over the last fourteen months but for what we lost during that time, time we’ll never get back. Time away from dear family and friends. Moments we are going to be missing for the rest of our lives.

Again, everything we’ve been through reminds me of when someone passes on. The time is gone, the future moments have vanished and the ‘see ya real soons’ are no more.

This month is June, and that means we are amid Pride and these last few days I find my thoughts falling on all the LGBTQIA family we’ve lost, not because of this pandemic, but because of violence, bigotry, hatred, and another pandemic that wiped out a generation of people. For those of us, over a certain age, we remember AIDS in the early days and what it did to a community of people that everyone felt were disposable and worthless. There was a time when no one cared, and still many don’t. So, many people died (as of 2018; 700,000 people have died of Aids in the US alone).

I spent several years working as a volunteer here in Santa Clara County with persons with HIV. I did nothing extraordinary: I helped plan social activities, and I volunteered as a ‘buddy’ for people who had HIV or full-blown AIDS. During that time, I went to several funerals and said last goodbyes to some amazing folks. Some of these wonderful folks were my age, a few older. Being a volunteer was rewarding and difficult and affected me greatly. I never really understood how so many people could die of some awful decease that so few understood or even cared about.

Now, like COVID-19, HIV is no longer the death sentence it once was. There are treatments and with COVID, there is a vaccine. I’m sure someday soon there will be a vaccine for HIV as well, but I have to wonder, if HIV had attacked the straight community as vehemently as it struck the LGBTQIA community would we have a vaccine by now?

I can’t say for certain, but I have a feeling the answer would be yes.

As we move forward, beyond COVID-19 and beyond HIV we need to count ourselves lucky and not take our family and friends for granted, because tomorrow is not a promise or a guarantee. Tomorrow is a hope and a dream. One that so many people will never see or get. As we all start marching our ways back to life, to family, and to our friends, remember what we lost and what we almost lost. Remember, these last fourteen months have showed us how important we all are to each other and to the greater community. We all have value and we all make the world a better pace.

Until next time, have a great week.

Happy Pride Month 2021

June 2, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, are you all having a wonderful week? This week launches World Pride Month. A time to celebrate our differences and our uniqueness. This time of year can bring joy to so many as well as uncertainty and fear for others.

Pride started as the Stonewall riots in New York back in 1969. They weren’t out dancing and celebrating; they were fighting for their lives. These pioneers fought to be recognized as humans who had a right to live and love as they chose. So much has changed since those hot summer nights. But the struggle, not only here, but worldwide, is ongoing for many on the queer spectrum.

This struggle is real for every queer person, even today.

As each generation of queer youth takes up the charge, let’s not forget all those who fought for us. They were not perfect (none of us are) remember they lived in a different world. Don’t forget that because we cannot isolate ourselves or fight amongst ourselves. There are others waiting for us to show our underbelly. We, as a queer community, need to lift each other up. Respect each other. Learn from each other. The world continues to change and grow, but casting aside those who came before us, because their views of the world might be different, or they might not fully understand the new generation of queers. Or because they might not be fashionable. No, that is wrong. Remember, these past generations lived in a world that would sooner see them dead on the street than recognize them as human. And this vile sentiment is alive and well today.

So, this year as you celebrate, remember those who came before and their sacrifice. Remember they weren’t perfect. Remember you aren’t perfect. Remember in a few years, you’re going to be seen as out of date. Out of touch. Outdated and old. The next generation of queers may even want to cast you aside. Don’t let them do that to you and don’t do that to those who fought before you. We are all one queer family. We put the ‘fun’ in ‘disfunction’. We are the light people gravitate to when the world is at its darkest because we know how to fight. We know how to love. We know how to be one family. We know what Pride means. We are strong and they all know it. Don’t be the reason for other queers to be uncertain or fearful. We fight best when we fight as one.

No matter where you land on the queer spectrum, remember you are loved, you are valued, you are beautiful, and the world wouldn’t shine as bright if you weren’t in it. Let me know in the comments below how you celebrate (or don’t celebrate Pride). Please consider sharing this post on your social media sites, it really helps, as does clicking on this little heart below. Until next time, have a great week and Happy Pride!

T.A.D.-The Angel of Death Audiobook launch

May 26, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. What a great few weeks it’s been. Today I’m excited to share with you, that my first audiobook is here; T.A.D.-The Angel of Death. The narration is done by the talented Steve Connor (find out more here). Steve does an incredible job bringing the characters to life and giving them a voice.

The Story:

Tad loves bouncing around in time and watching mankind grow and change. He loves humanity and helping when he can. However, his job isn’t conducive to helping people. He’s an Angel of Death.

Doug is fun loving and a drama queen. Despite his witty exterior, he has a dark history and is prone to self-destruction. He’s also an amazing drag queen and hairstylist with big dreams.

When Tad pushes the boundaries of his duties too far, his angel wings are stripped away from him, and he is sent to New York City to live as a human. Lost and alone he ends up meeting Doug, and the two start a friendship that will shape them both and last a lifetime. But nothing is simple when you’re dealing with a former Angel of Death and a Drag Queen. Could these two cause the fabric of our world to collapse or will they manage to keep the future as it should?

The Cover:

The Reviews:

“This was one of those books that will stay with me, marvelous characters!
Loved the ending. The narrator was excellent. Certainly makes you think!.” — Audible Review

“The friendship and the way the author portrays humanity (from the eyes of the Angel of Death: TAD) is amazing and inspirational.”— Audible Review

Where to buy your copy:

Get your audiobook from Audible US here.

Get your audiobook from Audible UK here.

Find the audiobook here on Amazon.

Have iTunes, you can get the audiobook here.

***

That’s all I have today. I hope you enjoy T.A.D.-The Angel of Death it’s a wonderful audiobook and book and I’m proud of the story and the narration. If you’ve read the book or listened to the audiobook please, I encourage you to leave a review. Reviews make a world of difference not only to us authors, but to future readers. Well, that’s it. Until next time have a great week.

The Stand, The Stand, The Stand 1994 Miniseries, and The Stand 2020 Limited Series

May 19, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, are you all having a wonderful week? How do you feel about all the changes from the CDC and of course our Federal, State, and Local Government? I can’t believe it’s been fourteen months. I’m sure we still have a ways to go, but here’s to hoping we all stay safe and healthy.

In honor (or dishonor) of our coming out of the Pandemic, this past weekend Eric and I finished watching The Stand 2020 Limited Series on Paramount Plus (formerly CBS All Access), both Eric and I have read both versions of Stephen King’s novel (including the short story for which The Stand is loosely based on) we watched the television miniseries in the 90s, and now we concluded the 2020 remake series. We spent quite a bit of time talking about the book and the shows, so today I thought I would share with you our thoughts about The Stand and its various versions.

First, lets talk about the book (actually books because there are two versions a shorter version and the ‘uncut’ version) I’m going to forego the short story that the book is loosely based on but if you want to read the short, you can find the story in Night Shift and the short story is titled Night Surf. Because the short is its own thing, there is no need to go into the story here, so I’ll leave it at that. Okay, now about the books. If you aren’t familiar with The Stand, here is the blurb:

A patient escapes from a biological testing facility, unknowingly carrying a deadly weapon: a mutated strain of super-flu that will wipe out 99 percent of the world’s population within a few weeks. Those who remain are scared, bewildered, and in need of a leader. Two emerge—Mother Abagail, the benevolent 108-year-old woman who urges them to build a peaceful community in Boulder, Colorado; and Randall Flagg, the nefarious “Dark Man,” who delights in chaos and violence. As the dark man and the peaceful woman gather power, the survivors will have to choose between them—and ultimately decide the fate of all humanity.

That is the basic blurb, and it sums up the story nicely, what the book boils down to is good verses evil, and the side we end up on has as much to do with who we are in our soul, as to the choices we make. Honestly, The Stand is a great story with several interesting ‘flawed’ characters.

The difference between The Stand and The Stand, uncut versions, is additional backstory on several characters, more character development, more details overall, and a wonderful epilog. Basically, the uncut version is what Stephen King wanted to publish originally, but his publisher told him no, believing the story would be to long and no one would read it.

When it comes to the story, like most things, you can’t go wrong with the books (yes, they are a little outdated, but mostly they hold up well). And it doesn’t matter the version you read (however I would go with the longer edition) you really get to dive into, not only the characters, but the world. It’s not an easy read as some scenes are scary as hell. If you can get past the gore and the creepiness, as you read you feel who these people in the book are and what leads them down the pass they take. You even get to spend time with Kojak, Glen Bateman’s dog (in all the adaptations dogs also die and are affected by the Super Flu) so it’s an interesting choice and makes for an interesting POV character.

Both Eric and I agree the books are far superior to the TV version, but that shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone as books are often far better than the movies and TV shows that come later.

Regarding the television versions I want to say from the start that both are well done and both have their merits. The miniseries from 1994 followed the book as presented and showed the characters, mostly, as they were outlined in the books. The best part about the miniseries was that we followed the story in chronological order and the viewers were introduced to the characters as the story progressed, as in the books. For this story, in my opinion, this is the right call for the story.

Unfortunately, for the 2020 limited series the writers and director didn’t present the show in chronological order. The writers started in the middle of the story, then did flashbacks which is frustrating and annoying as I want to get to know the world see it slowly crumble. Also, I wanted to get to know the (new) characters, especially these characters which sadly they made some big personality changes too.

When it comes to the characters from the book and translating them to television, I appreciate the desire to want to make the characters your own. I also appreciate that times change and so must these characters. You can’t simply have a ‘good guy’ or a ‘bad guy’ they need to be more nuanced especially these days. The problem is, that when you make a character and twist them so they are in the moral grey area, do that for all the characters, but with the limited series that didn’t happen, they only changed some characters, like Frannie Goldsmith, they made her nasty and a less likable character, which is a shame, because in the books and the miniseries, Frannie was a bright spot in the story much like Tom Cullen, these characters showed goodness in a world full of evil.

Stephen King did an excellent job creating a mix of characters (except for any major or interesting LGBTQIA characters) and I don’t believe the writers needed to mess with the character make-up. In the end Eric and I found few of these updated characters interesting or likable at least for the limited series.

That all said, the limited series had some wonderful characters; Tom Cullen was great (I wish we had more of him), Stu Redman, Randall Flagg, Julie Lawry, and Joe (who really had limited time in the 1994 miniseries and I don’t remember much of him from the books, however he was there). One of the biggest improvements made in the new limited series, when it came to the characters, was the level of diversity, which was an excellent choice.

That was well done and appreciated.

There were of course other updates that were addressed in the limited series. Most of these came in the form of how they treated Las Vegas. In the 1994 miniseries the writers did little. Yes, the people weren’t nice and you could tell that Vegas was not the place you wanted to be, but they avoided all the darkness. Unlike the 2020 version the writers showed Las Vegas in all its potential nastiness with gladiator battles, slaves, people doing drugs and having sex everywhere. It was debauchery at its worst (or best). One thing that was consist in both versions were people crucified on the sides of road leading into Vegas. Additionally, when it came to the virus, they made it much nastier, but that has more to do with special effects and budget. Still, the visuals in the 2020 version were impressive and nightmare inducing.

One item I enjoyed about the 2020 version was the last episode, it was written by Stephen King and the episode does something that the 1994 miniseries didn’t do (I won’t spoil it here), which I enjoyed and redeemed a lot of the 2020 version in my eyes.

Here’s the thing when it comes to The Stand. No matter whether you read the books or watch the 1994 miniseries or the 2020 limited series, they will give you chills and have you wondering who’s side you would end up on. Would you go to Mother Abagail in Hemingford Home, Nebraska (not a retirement home in Boulder… sorry that was pure sloppy/lazy writing) or would you meet up with the Walkin’ Dude himself, Randall Flagg, in Las Vegas?

The choice is yours.

Well, there you go, my thoughts on The Stand. If you have the time to spend read the longer version, it’s well worth the read. If you don’t want to read the book, but you want to see how the book would translate visually, watch the 1994 miniseries (it holds up well). If you don’t care, and want to see what all the fuss is, watch the 2020 series, because when all is said and done, all the versions tell the story and are, for the most part, enjoyable. I’m curious, have you read The Stand? Seen the adaptations? What do you think? Who is your favorite character(s)? Let me know in the comments below. Please consider sharing this post on your social media sites, it really helps, as does clicking on this little heart below. Until next time, have a great week.

P.S. Yes, I know there was a comic book adaptation, but I didn’t feel the need to dive into there here, but if you’ve read them and want to chime in, please feel free.

International Queer Authors and Readers Uniting Stories 2021

May 12, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, I hope your week is going well. Have you gotten your vaccine yet? Eric and I got ours. Thank goodness! We are Team Moderna. No side affects, only a bit sore and tired, so really nothing to complain about. If you haven’t gotten your vaccine yet, I encourage you to really think about it, and get the vaccine if it’s right for you.

As many of you know, this last weekend (May 8, 2021) was part of the International Queer Authors and Readers Uniting Stories Book Con (IQARUS for short). What a wonderful event. It was an extremely long day for many of us, but the payoff was worth it. For those of you that don’t know what IQARUS Book con is, here is a short description:

A series of author readings, discussion panels, and workshops designed to introduce, promote and support outstanding queer genre fiction and related enterprises.

If you weren’t able to attend the event, or you were watching a panel or reading and missed a discussion you really wanted to see, not to worry you can find all the panels and readings on the IQARUSbookcon YouTube channel. Click here.

Alix Starr book on floor with yellow background.png

As one of the organizers of the event (learn more about the organizers here) I hosted five panels and readings (in total). I even managed a reading in the Sci-Fi Reading. Below I’m presenting five panels and readings for you to check out. The conference presented eighteen various panels and readings covering everything from Cover Art Creation to Book Editing (for authors) and Contemporary book readings to Horror book readings (for readers). There really is something for everyone.

Here are the panels and readings I was involved with. I encourage you to check them out, not because I hosted these panels and readings, but because I found each of them engaging, diverse, enlightening, and enjoyable. Here you are:

The Trope Cake: Queer Frosting and Subverted Sprinkles, hosted by M.D. Neu | This is a conversation about creating queer stories and avoiding common tropes. Not all tropes are bad, but learning when and how to use them in writing is important. This panel is a discussion so bring your questions.

Guests: Ava Kelly, Sera Trevor, Kellie Doherty

Science Fiction and Fantasy, hosted by M.D. Neu | Come and check out our authors and their current Science Fiction and Fantasy stories. This is your opportunity to hear from some great authors who write Sci-Fi and Fantasy. After the reading there will be a Q&A with the authors.

Guests: M.D. Neu, Ava Kelly, E.D.E. Bell, Sera Trevor

Modern Works set in Modern Times: Contemporary, hosted by M.D. Neu | A set of wonderful authors sharing their contemporary works. It’s a mixed bad filled with wonderful stories set in our contemporary world. After the reading there will be a Q&A with the authors.

Guests: Hans M Hirschi, Rick R. Reed, Kevin Klehr, Petrina Binney

Podcasting and Vlogging: The Current Frontier, hosted by M.D. Neu | Want to start a Podcast or a Vlog, come and learn from those that are already doing it. Our panelists are a mix of seasoned professionals and newer content creators. They will be sharing their background and expertise, bring your questions.

Guests: The producers of WROTE, Books that Burn, DIY Writer, Queer Words, Nobody Reads Short Stories

Romance, Part II, hosted by M.D. Neu | Get cozy and prepare for all the feels as some of the best queer romance authors in the business read from their works. After the readings, there will be a brief Q&A with the authors.

Guests: Ada Maria Soto, R.L. Merrill, Erica Cameron

Keep in mind, these were the panels and readings I hosted, there are plenty more to check out, plus there is the opening and the closing of the event. The planning committee is already talking about next years con. I suggest, if you haven’t already, find IQARUS Book Con on the following and follow them:

Website: http://iqarusbookcon.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Iqarusbookcon

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IqarusC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iqarus.bookcon/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpVDTXMR9eAQseOncfPd1Ew

As I mentioned those of us who were there had a great day and I, for one, learned a lot. I managed to pop into several panels and those that I missed I will be watching them in the coming days to get all caught up. Please consider sharing this post on your social media sites, it really does help, as does clicking on this little heart below. Until next time have a great week.

IQARUS Book Con This Saturday (May 8, 2021)

May 5, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, can you believe we are in May already. Where has the time gone? Today I’m thrilled to share with you that this Saturday May 8, 2021 will be the IQARUS: International Queer Authors and Readers Uniting Stories book con that me and several other authors have been working on for the last several months. There is so such happening at the book can that I hope we’ll see you all there (well virtually speaking of course).

What is IQARUS Book Con. Let me share. IQARUS Book Con is a series of author readings, discussions panels, and workshops designed to introduce, promote and support outstanding queer genre fiction and related enterprises.

IQARUS Book Con is run by writers who want to showcase the amazing content our community has to offer.

We pledge to build an event that allows our participants to build wings and fly high. This is for fans of all ages, ethnicities, genders, abilities, and orientations in a safe, supported community.

Here is the Agenda for the Day:

As you can see we have a packed day filled with a little bit of everything. Want to learn more about the agenda click here. You can learn more about our guests here. Also, you can find out more details about out panel discussions here and our reading here.

Also, I encourage you to check out our bookstore (click here) and find some amazing new books and support the authors that are going to be participating in the con.

We also are excited to offer our registered guest a chance to win some great prizes in our scavenger hunt. learn more here.

By the way, have you met Alix Q. Star yet? They are the con mascot (and you will see them everywhere). Learn more about them here and check out all the wonderful blog posts so you can get to know our participants, readers, and panelists.

We have some wonderful sponsors, who you will want to learn more about here. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to have put on this event.

And lastly, you can register for the con here. You aren’t going to want to miss out and if you register not only can you participate in the scavenger hunt, but you get our electronic swag bag (filled with all kinds of goodies including; eBooks, discount codes, and other wonderful things), and access to our after-panel and after-reading chat rooms. Really, you don’t want to miss out.

So, there it is, the upcoming IQARUS Book Con. I hope you can make it for the day or even a session. Oh, and did I mention this is a free con? It is, but if you chose to provide a donation to one of our selected charities you’ll be eligible for some exclusive free offers. Please consider sharing this post on your social media sites, it really does help, as does clicking on this little heart below. Until next time have a great week.

Stitches and Sepsis by Liz Faraim

April 28, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday everyone this week I want to say a big hello to fellow NineStar Press Author Liz Faraim. Liz is an amazing author of Lesbian fiction and her latest novel Stitches and Sepsis (A Vivian Chastain Novel- Book 2) has just come out. Today I want to share a little about this wonderful book and author.

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Book Blurb:

Adrenaline addicted veteran, Vivian Chastain, confronts the man who has been following her for days, only to find he has a message of dire consequence for her. Spurred into action by his news, she barrels head on into a tumultuous and violent series of events. Stoic and stubborn as always, Vivian lands in the hospital, fighting for her life.

During Vivian’s lengthy recovery, her partner is released from jail and the two reconnect, stoking up the flames of their toxic union all while Vivian dives into a blossoming relationship with a new love interest who offers fulfillment and love, if only Vivian can figure out how to allow it all in.

Vivian learns that the coast is not clear as former threats return and continue to endanger her. While she cannot rest easy; friends, her work crew, and customers at the night club where she tends bar provide her with much needed fun, comradery, and support.

Vivian wrestles with her temper, her penchant for physical violence, and her overwhelming emotional baggage. Struggles from within and without threaten her existence, and in the moment when death is just a breath away, Vivian’s brother shows up and changes everything.

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There you have it, something new to add to your reading list. Also find Liz Faraim on social media and keep up to date with everything he is up to. Until next time I hope you stay safe and have a great week.

About Liz Faraim:

Liz is a recovering workaholic who has mastered multi-tasking, including balancing a day job, solo parenting, writing, and finding some semblance of a social life. In past lives she has been a soldier, a bartender, a shoe salesperson, an assistant museum curator, and even a driving instructor.

Liz lives in the East Bay Area of California, and enjoys exploring nature with her son.

Where to contact Liz Faraim:

Find her on Twitter here.

Reach her on Facebook here.

Check out her website here.

Where to buy Liz’s books:

Find them on Amazon here.

Get your copy from Ninestar Press here.

The Called - Book Launch

April 21, 2021 MD Neu

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. It’s here. Today I’m happy to share with you, that my newest book; The Called, is here. This is the highly anticipated sequel and conclusion to The Calling. So many people have been waiting for this book to come out and finally it’s here. Today I’m sharing all the details about The Called with you.