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RJ Jones Interview and Guest Post
As many of you know, I was recently in Melbourne for Queermance. While I was there I was able to catch up with RJ Jones, a fellow Aussie author whose first novel Out of the Blue came out at the end of March. We had a chat over coffee and I asked her a few quick questions.
First things, first. Ebooks or print?
RJ: Umm, I’ve been an ebook girl for a while but I love the smell of a fresh book. It’s like the new car smell. However, last night I was reading a print book and tapped the page to turn it. I was lucky my husband didn’t notice. I felt like a bit of an idiot.
Do you buy a book because of the cover, the blurb or another reason?
RJ: I stopped reading reviews of books because I found that if someone didn’t like it, for whatever reason, their comments would stay with me and influence my thoughts. I’ve dnf’d a couple of books just because of someone else’s opinion that’s stuck in my head, and that’s not fair, to me or the author. Now if I see a great looking cover and the blurb is interesting, I’ll read it.
Any recent reads you could recommend?
RJ: With or Without Him by Barbara Elsborg. It may just become my read of the year and it’s still early. I was sucked into the story from the first chapter. I started it late at night and was only going to read the first chapter, but I just couldn’t put it down. It’s along the lines of Pretty Woman, but it was compelling from the get-go. I need to look at her other works now.
Tell me something about yourself that I can’t find out by reading your bio.
RJ: Two years ago I had spinal surgery. They had to go through my stomach to get access to that part of the spine. The surgeon removed a disc from my lower back and fused the two vertebrae together using a small piece of bovine cartilage. Now when I say I’m a bit of a cow, you know I’m not kidding 🙂
LOL. Okay, final question. Coke or Pepsi?
RJ: Coke. I think Pepsi is an acquired taste. Like brussel sprouts.
Show us your new release, Out of the Blue
BLURB:
When everything happens Out of the Blue…
Lt Cameron Cooper has been with the San Francisco Fire Department for fifteen years. He’s seen and dealt with a lot of horrifying situations. He’s always considered himself mentally tough, but when he attends a multi-vehicle accident and sees a dead boy with features remarkably similar to his long-time boyfriend, his mental health takes a hit.
All Jake Montgomery wants is to propose to his boyfriend on their ten-year anniversary. He’s already bought the perfect rings, but when Cameron struggles to look at him after a tragic accident, he has doubts about their future. Cam is withdrawing, and Jake doesn’t know why.
With heated arguments and cold shoulders, Cam and Jake’s life starts to fall apart. Just when Cam thinks he can overcome his issues and finally talk to Jake, memories from Jake’s past threaten to push them apart forever.
Where can we find Out of the Blue, and where can readers find you?
ARe – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-outoftheblue-1720958-145.html
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/526585
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23668630-out-of-the-blue?from_search=true
Author blog – http://rjjonesauthor.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/robyn.j.jones.1711
Twitter – @rjjonesauthor
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/rjjonesauthor/
Email – rjjonesauthor@gmail.com
Your author bio:
I started as a reader and eventually made the progression to reviewing. It wasn’t until two men popped into my thoughts, insisting on telling me their story that I started to write. It started with one scene. A hot and dirty one in the shower.
My initial thought was if I could write their scene then they’d shut up and allow me to concentrate on other aspects of my day. That shower scene was 3000 words long and three hours of work. But they didn’t shut up. They told me their entire story and I didn’t sleep for days. Sometimes I couldn’t keep up with what they were telling me and I had to keep a notebook by my bed.
Whilst I was writing their story a side character decided he needed his story told too. Then other characters followed suit.
You see the problem? If I ever want to sleep again then I need to write.
I’m a wife and a mother to two boys. Even my dog is a boy.
I am surrounded by males.
Thanks for talking to me today RJ. I hope you can come back again sometime.
RJ: Thanks for having me Nic, it’s been great to catch up again. 🙂
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LGBTQ Push Back Giveaway!
I am a part of the fantastic fundraising efforts of our bloody awesome m/m community. The LGBTQ Push Back Charity Giveaway is raising money and awareness, in retaliation to recent (and very public) anti-gay money raising schemes. So let’s show them that we can do better!
But first some serious stuff.
I have used this next segment from The Diverse Reader post (links below) but I thought they were important to share:
We might work in a world of fiction, but here are some facts. LGBT people make up less than 10% of the overall population, yet 40% of homeless kids in the U.S. identify as LGBT. Of them, 68% cited family rejection for the reason they were on the streets. Studies have repeatedly shown that homeless LGBT kids are more at risk of being attacked, robbed, and raped than their heterosexual counterparts, more likely to engage in prostitution or survival sex, more likely to turn to drugs or alcohol, and more likely to attempt or commit suicide. Despite this, less than 25% of homeless shelters cater for or specifically target LGBT kids, leaving them at the mercy of individual organizations who can pick and choose who they help and who they abandon on the streets. Laws such as Indiana’s SB 101 enshrine the legality of refusing service—including such basic assistance as food and shelter—to people specifically because they’re LGBT.
This isn’t about pizza. This is about creating a climate in which LGBT individuals feel isolated from and rejected by the rest of society. It’s about creating a climate in which parents feel justified for kicking their kids out on the street. It’s about cutting off any and all support networks which might otherwise be available to prevent kids from ending up on life’s scrapheap because of how they were born.
Want to read a happier ending?
Changing laws and attitudes takes time, and right now there are LGBT people in need who can’t afford to wait. The sooner we can help them, the better, and the more resources we have, the more help we can offer.
That’s why 224 authors, review bloggers, and publishers have got together to offer something wonderful: a reward for people who do a little bit to give back to charity. Instead of spending $5 on a book in the next two weeks, give that $5 to an LGBT charity of your choice, tell us about it in the comments, and go into the draw to win a book from one of our participating donors. And because it’s not all about money, if you can’t make a donation then please take a moment to share a charity’s links and tell us about that instead.
Three fundraisers have been set up to counter the hateful effects of Indiana’s SB 101. #Pizza4Equality is aiming to match the money raised by *that* pizza parlor, with all donations going to Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund. Another fundraiser is aiming to raise $100,000 for Indiana Youth Group. Finally, Planting Peace is trying to raise $100,000 to provide beds for homeless LGBT people.
Please consider giving to one of these deserving fundraisers, or any other LGBT charity anywhere in the world. We’re not telling you where you should donate your time and money, only asking that you do. The smallest things can make the biggest difference, and together, we can do something incredible.
Meet the 224 authors, bloggers, and publishers in this awesome YT video…
To enter the giveaway:
Please check out the post on Diverse Reader HERE. Comment on THAT post, NOT THIS ONE. To simply the giveaway, given so many sites are contributing, there is a rafflecopter on the Diverse Reader post in which you can enter.
The link in full is
http://diversereader.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/lgbtq-push-back-charity-giveaway.html
The Charity Giveaway will run from the 18th of April until the 1st of May. You will be contacted by your paired up author/giver. Remember to PLEASE check your spam. Due to the high volume of donations it can take a few days to hear. Please be patient. Thank you ALL for giving. Thank you to all the 224 Givers in this charity giveaway.
It feels good to push back!
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Cronin’s Key II Cover Reveal
I am so blessed having Sara York weave her magic and bring my books to life, and the cover for Cronin’s Key II is no exception. It’s just gorgeous!!
RELEASE DATE: MAY 22ND (subject to real life and editing)
(there are no presale links yet – will post them when I have them)
BLURB:
History isn’t always what it seems.
With the battle of Egypt behind them, Alec and Cronin are enjoying the thrill of new love. Though fate doesn’t wait long before throwing them back into the world of weird.
They know Alec’s blood is special, though its true purpose still eludes them. And given Alec’s inability to be changed into a vampire, Cronin is free to drink from him at will. But the ramifications of drinking such powerful blood starts a ripple effect.
With the help of Jorge, a disturbing vampire-child with the gift of foresight, Alec and Cronin face a new kind of war. This time their investigations lead them to the borders of China and Mongolia—but it’s not what lies in the pits beneath that worries Alec.
It’s the creator behind it all.
In the underground depths of China, amidst a war with the Terracotta Army, they will find out just what the Key is, and what Alec means to the vampire world.
I’ll post some excerpts soon and share some of my writing/research experience with this book a little closer to release day. <3
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A very quick post on Cronin’s Key I & II
Just a very quick little update post from me. I was so stoked to learn Cronin’s Key won 2nd place in Love Bytes Book of the Month poll!! Thanks to all who voted!!
And I’ll be showing off the most gorgeous cover for Cronin’s Key II soon! The book is due for release on May 22nd, and I will have important, exciting stuff like blurbs and excerpts out soon, so please stay tuned!!
I’ve been in Melbourne at Queermance for a few days, talking all things books and m/m. Had a lovely time with some lovely people, met lots of fabulous people and had a great time!
I will also be sharing some news in regards to my books that are with Totally Bound very soon! I’m just waiting on a confirmation email, then I can tell all. <3
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ARe 25% Discount on April 15th on my titles!
On April 15th – US time, not Australia time 😉 – you can get 25% off my titles at All Romance eBooks!!
The link to my books is HERE
Apparently it’s tax return time in the US, so treat yourself to a little something special <3
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Going it Alone part 4: NR Walker on self-publishing
Here’s my take on self-publishing, as posted on Jay Northcote’s blog 🙂
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