Fiducia Ciece, the Italian translation of Blind Faith, is on Amazon now!

Where can you buy it?

On Amazon HERE

From the Publisher HERE

It is truly a gorgeous cover, and my experience with this Italian publisher, Triskell Edizioni, has been STELLAR.  So helpful, professional, honest and lovely. I can’t sing their praises enough. 

Look at what they did to the chapter pages!!  Aren’t they the cutest thing ever?

Hoping to have more news on Red Dirt Heart 2 soon. Will post more when I can. <3

72,000 words later, and Red Dirt Heart 2 is done!!   Charlie and Travis’ latest story is with my pre-readers before I send it to my editor, so I guess now I can share the gorgeous cover!!

The incredibly talented and lovely Sara York made it, and I just LOVE it  <3 

The (unedited, not-final) blurb:

Up until Travis arrived on his doorstep, Charlie had lived a very solitary life. He had surrounded himself with isolation; a couple million acres of red dirt, scorching sun and loneliness.

Six months on, winter has settled over the desert, and Charlie has the life he never dreamed possible. But living and working together, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, for six months straight starts to take its toll.

Charlie is a stubborn, stubborn man, who tends to have more conversations in his head than what comes out his mouth, whereas Travis has no problem saying what’s on his mind. And even as they both struggle to communicate, struggle to make sense of need versus want, Charlie can see that he’s pushing Travis away yet seems helpless to stop it.

When it all boils down to whether Travis should stay or go, maybe the decision won’t be theirs to make.

Release date?

Still not sure, hoping for late July. I will keep you updated though. 

Charlie and Travis pics?

What a good idea!! 😀

Yummy, huh? 😉

I’ve been the slackest blogger on the planet. It’s true. If there was some universal award for being the most inconsistent, crappiest blogger in the world, I’m pretty sure I’d get it. 

But I have some news on a few things to share 🙂

Fiducia Cieca 

The first being news on the Italian translation of Blind Faith!!

Look at the gorgeous cover! <3 

I can’t wait for this story to reach a broader market and I hope the Italian people love Isaac, Carter and Brady as much as I do. The estimated release date is July 20th, and I will  post more details and links when I have them 🙂  

What I’ve been doing

In other news, in case you didn’t know, is that I’m writing full-time now. 🙂   There’s been a few minor adjustment issues, as expected with a career change, but all is going well.  So, in three weeks I’ve written over 40K and you know what that means???  

At approx 70K words in total, Red Dirt Heart 2 is almost complete!!   

I’m very excited about this story, and I hope you all love what Charlie and Travis get up to 🙂   I am hoping to have a release date confirmed soon, but I’m thinking it will be approx the end of July. 😀

Menage news

I was also very excited to hear that Three’s Company was voted at June Book of the Month in the Goodreads Menage Readers Group!  It’s very exciting for my boys!  I’m just happy that people are still enjoying Wil, Adam and Sy as much as me LOL 🙂

So if menage is your thing, you can check out this group   https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/42800-menage-readers  It’s a private group and you’ll need to ask to join, but there’s a TON of stuff to check out once you’re in 🙂

Facebook Page 

Now, if you didn’t know, there is a little fan-based group on Facebook where I post snippets and pics and sneak peeks on covers and all that fun stuff, before I show the rest of the world. If you would like to join, please visit here https://www.facebook.com/groups/524674590970385/   and we’ll get you joined in <3

So, that’s all for now. I promise to be back soon with a cover reveal and a blurb for Red Dirt Heart 2!  

I have been tagged by the very lovely, and awesome Aussie writer, L.J. Harris.  I have known L.J. for years, through the love of m/m. We met in fanfiction-land and both trudged forward into original fiction around the same time. She has a new release, Just Like Pulling Teeth, which is due out in the Bollocks Anthology, with Wayward Ink Publishing on June 6th.

You can read L.J’s blog  HERE to find out more.

Now, on to the question side of my post…

What am I working on?

I am currently working on Red Dirt Heart 2.   Charlie and Travis are learning to adjust to their new life together, now that the whirlwind romance has landed and real life has set in.  They’re living together, working together, playing together. And after Charlie’s life of solitude, and with Travis being so far from home, there are bound to hiccups.

Continuing on from a first book can always be a little daunting. Will I get the character’s voices right? Will it live up to expectation? Will I do the boys justice?  And so far, this story – or should I say, Charlie – has been indecisive, trying to branch out in too many different directions.  I think I’ve changed the general plot arc about six times, and I’m only 25K words into it. But I think I have it all sorted out now. Sometimes I just need to stop over thinking it, and just bloody write it. LOL

How does my work differ from others in my genre?

Well, tbh, I don’t know if it does. There are some fantastic writers in the m/m genre, and I’m just happy to be kicking along with the crowd 🙂    My stories will always have a HEA. That’s no spoiler; if you read one of my books, be prepared for fluff and rainbows. There is always a dash of angst (otherwise it’d be classified as confectionery lol).

I do always have positive reviews on the flow and smooth simplicity of my writing.  Most of my readers get that “warm blanket” feeling when they start one of my books, and that’s a wonderful compliment.

Why do I write what I do?

Because the characters in my head are male, they’re gay, and they have stories to tell. It really is that simple.

I love what I do. I love giving these characters a voice, and if people enjoy reading them, it’s an added bonus.

How does my writing process work?

Well, my writing process is just about to change. Dramatically.  I have spent the last four years writing between 10pm and 1am, while working during the day, and being a mum/wife in the evenings.  Only very recently, it looks like I’ll be able to hang up the EDJ (evil day job lol) and write full time. 😀  This means a lot of changes for us as a family, but positive ones.  I’ll be able to write during the day, spend family time in the evenings, and possibly even learn to sleep more than 4 hours a night.

Who am I tagging??

The supercool YA author, Winter Sandberg!  You can check her out here  http://wintersandberg.wordpress.com/

And don’t forget to check out Winter’s answers to the above questions on the 9th June!

Winter’s Private Display of Affection can be found HERE

Now for something a little different…

Some reading recommendations:

 RECOVERY by CON RILEY

Salvage Stories: Book Two 

San Diego is a city of second chances for Jamie Carlson. His new career as a photographer is taking off, and with the support of a loving surrogate family, he’s finally putting his party years behind him. The Bailey family helped him solve his drinking problem, but there’s no easy solution to staying sober now that Belle Bailey’s dying. Her last wish is a challenge Jamie can’t overcome without help. 

Solving problems is Daniel Priest’s specialty. More than twenty years older than Jamie, he’s successful and experienced. He makes his living resolving corporate crises—but his personal life has been far from perfect. Now that his marriage is over, Daniel’s determined to make up for lost time. One night with Jamie isn’t nearly enough for him. 

Daniel’s honest offer of help is more than Jamie expects from a one-time hookup. Even so, fulfilling Belle’s last wish is a tall order. Repairing her damaged family as she requests proves difficult when Jamie has to face his own past as well. Jamie could risk his hard-won recovery by admitting why he hit rock bottom in the first place. If he wants a future with Daniel, he’ll have to address those reasons head-on.

You can buy Recovery on Amazon HERE

Recovery is the second book in the series. The first book, Salvage, can be found HERE

NOT JUST FRIENDS by JAY NORTHCOTE

Leaving home to go to university is an exciting phase in anyone’s life. One that’s full of new places, new friends, and new experiences. But Lewis is not prepared for the sudden and intense crush he develops on his out-and-proud flatmate, Max—given that Lewis had always assumed he was straight. Max starts dating another guy, and Lewis’s jealousy at seeing them together forces him to confront his growing attraction. 

When Max’s relationship goes awry, Lewis is the one to comfort him and one thing leads to another. But after a night together, Lewis is devastated that Max wants to go back to being just friends. Lewis tries his best to move on and their friendship survives, but the feelings he has for Max don’t go away. He faces other challenges as he deals with coming out to his parents and needs Max’s support more than ever. But Lewis isn’t the only one who’s conflicted. When Max finally admits he cares for Lewis too, Lewis must decide whether he dares risk his heart again on being more than just friends.

You can buy it HERE

POWERLESS by S.A. MCAULEY

This is one of my favourite series EVER. I am one of S.A’s biggest fans. Lover her work, and I just adore Merq and Armise <3 

Book Three in the The Borders War series 

He was built to be invincible. 

Merq and Armise return to the States after their mission to assassinate the remaining Committee members only to find the leadership of the Revolution isn’t as stable as they had thought. 

Outside forces come crashing down on a Revolution stronghold, leaving two of their soldiers gravely wounded. Merq’s history with his brothers in arms Simion and Neveed forces him into making decisions that will impact his future with the Revolution. 

Merq has always identified as a soldier first. Always known who deserved his loyalty and who didn’t. But with the uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the Revolution, the mysterious disappearance of the jacquerie and increased activity with the PsychHAgs, Merq knows there are few people he can trust. 

The only man Merq wants or needs at his side is Armise Darcan. But his reliance on his former enemy may be a miscalculation that will threaten everything Merq stands for.

You can buy it HERE

 <3 <3

Hope you enjoyed something a little different from me this time. Happy reading!

I know it’s been a while since I posted anything. I’ve been incredibly busy (doing RL things), I’ve missed a LOT of social media happenings and I apologise for being absent. 

But I come bearing news. 

You may or may not have been aware that I have a job in real life. It really is no surprise, or great shock to anyone who knows me, that I loathed it. It was stressful and the money was crap, but for seven years I put up with it because it was, well… a job.

Well, it is no more.

Next Friday (May 30th – 7 working days from now, not that I’m counting) will be my last day.

I will be writing full-time, and I fucking can not wait. 

I am truly blessed to have a hubs who believes, and encourages me to follow my dreams.  I had said I would find another job that suited better, and he told me not to. “Give the writing gig a go,” he said.  Just. Like. That.

Soooo, that being said, I have writerly-stuff to do!   I will be busy making this work – failure is just not an option. 🙂  In other news, I’m also in the process of setting up a website where you can buy my self-published books directly.  I have a new cover (and WIP news) to share soon, but you’ll have to wait a little longer for those (until it’s all finalised, that is) and once this major shift in careers is done and I get myself organised and settled, I’ll be writing, writing, writing…

And, despite sounding like a rehearsed Oscar winner, I would sincerely like to thank the amazing people who have supported me over the last few years, who have bought, read and reviewed (and kept me sane) because without you, I couldn’t make this happen. 

Starting Point is available now on Totally Bound!

https://www.totallybound.com/starting-point

(It will be another four weeks before it’s available on Amazon and other third party sites.)

EXCERPT:

I walked in through the front door and found Kira in the kitchen. He was wearing cargos and a black T-shirt, which matched the color of his hair perfectly. “Hey,” I said, putting down the brown paper bag of groceries so I could kiss his cheek.
“Hey,” he said, leaning his cheek out for me to kiss. Then he looked up from the chopping board at me for a moment. “You look happy.”
“I am happy.”
“How was your appointment with Tamara?”
“Good,” I answered, then told him how it had taken the shine off my day for a short while, but I was smiling again by the time I left. “She said she’d discuss it in more depth on Thursday when we go in.”
Kira nodded and continued chopping the bell peppers. “No worries,” he said.
It was great to see him smile again so freely. He had such a beautiful smile and for a long while, I was the reason he didn’t. But in the last six months, since we’d been working through our problems, he’d been smiling more and more often. It still warmed my chest to see it.
“What do you need me to do?” I asked. “Your mom and dad will be here soon.”
“Did you get the pie?” he asked, eyeing the paper bag.
“I did. And everything else you asked for.”
“Then you can set the table,” he said. “I just have to finish this salad, and we’re done.”
When I was almost done setting the dining table, there was a knock at the door. Before Kira could leave the kitchen to let his parents in, I stopped him. “I’ll get it.” Then as I turned and walked two steps toward the door, the room tilted, my head spun and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor.
Fucking vertigo.
The floor was on an angle and even with my face pressed against it, it still wasn’t where it should be.
Then strong hands were on my shoulders, and Kira pulled me onto the sofa. There was another knock on the door, and Yumi’s voice followed, “Boys? You there? Why you make us wait? You better be dressed in there. I not want to see that.”
I smiled, despite the buzz in my head and the queasy feeling in my stomach. Kira was kneeling in front of me. “One sec, Mom!” he called out. He looked at my face, concerned. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I must have turned too quickly or something. Sorry.”
He kissed my forehead as he stood up. “Don’t apologize.”
Kira let his parents in, and when Yumi and Sal saw me sitting on the sofa, they knew straight away what was wrong.
“Oh, Matty,” Yumi said, rushing over to sit beside me. “You okay? You look pale. Did you fall?”
“I just turned too quick, that’s all,” I said quietly. “I’m fine.”
This was the part I hated. Fucking vertigo from my middle ear injury which I’d received from fighting in unsanctioned, underground cage fighting. I’d almost lost Kira—I’d treated him so badly—and yet, he was nothing but concerned and attentive. The vertigo was a direct consequence of my actions, a physical reminder of what I had done, as was the deafness in my right ear. And every time I had a dizzy spell or a fall, Kira and his parents doted on me.
But this time, I refused to let the guilt eat at me.
I wouldn’t let it fester. I wouldn’t let it control me. I wouldn’t let it come between me and Kira again.
I hated the fact that it served as a reminder, for me and Kira, that I’d betrayed his trust. And I did feel as though every time he helped me through an episode it was like a step backward.
But still, I knew it would hurt him more if I allowed the guilt to consume me again.
Yumi put her hand to my face. “You sure you’re okay?”
I smiled at her. “I am. It wasn’t a full-blown vertigo episode, just a bit dizzy, that’s all. I just need to sit for a minute, then I’ll be right as rain.”
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll just go see Kira in the kitchen.” With a pat on my leg, the tiny woman jumped up then darted through the door.
Sal sat down across from me. He raised his hands and spoke in sign language, “Did you fall?”
I nodded, and signed back to him, “Yes. I went to get the door, and the ground wasn’t where it should have been.”
Sal frowned. “Are you hurt?”
I shook my head slowly. “No. I’m fine, really,” I signed. Then something occurred to me, something I should have thought about long before now. Oh, dear God.
Sal was adept at reading people and when my eyes met his, I could tell he knew something was up. “What’s wrong?” he signed quickly.
I swallowed hard, and with a quick glance over my shoulder to double check we were still alone, I turned back to him. “I need to ask you something,” I signed, then kind of laughed at just how nervous I was.
He narrowed his eyes, curious. “Yes?”
“I should have asked before now, and I’m very sorry I didn’t,” I signed quickly, probably getting a word or two wrong. “I guess I’m not asking permission, but I’m asking if you’d mind terribly if Kira and I got married?”
He laughed then signed slowly, “You must be nervous, because that didn’t make sense.” Sal’s reaction was not one I had been expecting.
I barked out a laugh and nodded. I didn’t think I’d got the words right. I wiped the palms of my hands on my thighs. I exhaled through puffed cheeks. “I am nervous, yes.”
Sal grinned at me, then his smile slowly faded and his eyes widened. I could almost see the pieces coming together in his mind. “Married?” he signed. “You and Kira?”
Before I could answer, Yumi and Kira walked into the room. “Dinner’s ready,” Kira said, then looked slowly between me and his father.
Yumi picked up on the mood in the room too. “What you two talk about?”
I stood up slowly, making sure my head didn’t spin. “I just had to ask Sal something,” I told them, knowing Sal would read my lips.
Sal stood up, and as his gaze fell on Kira, he grinned.
Kira glanced at me and raised one eyebrow in question. So I told him, “I was trying to do this properly, but my sign language isn’t as good as I thought.”
“What you ask him?” Yumi asked, looking up at the three men who towered over her. “Why you not ask me?”
My eyes darted to Kira’s, realizing this conversation was about to happen right now. “I wanted it to be a surprise…”
Kira looked genuinely shocked, even a little emotional. “Did you just ask my dad?”
“I tried—”
“Tried what?” Yumi interrupted. “Ugh, you boys!”
Kira stepped in beside me and put his hand on my lower back. “Mom, we were thinking blue and silver as a color scheme.”
Yumi stared at us blankly. “For what?” Then she glanced round the living room, trying to find a clue of what we were talking about.
Kira smiled at his mom. “For the wedding invitations.” Then he turned to his dad. “Matt asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”
I guess in my head, I’d imagined Yumi throwing herself at us, or at Kira at least. But she didn’t. She just stood there, as though she’d not heard what Kira had just said. Or, that she wasn’t too pleased with what she had heard.
“It’s okay, Yumi,” I started. “I know I haven’t been perfect, and I’m really working on being a better person for Kira, but I love him and I know I hurt him and you and Sal, but I promise—”
My words stopped cold with the first of her tears. “Oh, please don’t cry,” I whispered, not really meaning to say it out loud.
Kira left my side and wrapped his arms around his mom’s tiny shoulders, and I was about to panic at her reaction when Kira turned to face me. He was smiling.
I looked at Sal then, who was also smiling. “Speechless?” he signed.
Kira nodded.

MATT’S PHOTO ALBUM

Early release for Starting Point is just two days away.  So in light of Matt and Kira’s story coming to a close, I thought I’d share the character pics I’ve had for these people since day one.

Each person in Matt’s life has helped shape him into the man he is. Each character has played their part, and I thought it was about time I showed you Matt’s photo album. 

Let’s start with the man himself, Matthew Elliott…

And Kira…

Yumi

Sal

(Not exactly who I picture for Sal, but very close)

Claude (Claudia)

Reuben (Ruby)

Arizona and Cody

Ross Berkman

LOL Yeah, I’m not even kidding… 😛

Tamara

The police boys

Berkman, Mitch, Kurt and Tony

Boss

I hope you’ve enjoyed this character album, and I hope you enjoy Starting Point!

Where can you buy it?

From Friday 25th April, you can buy Starting Point at  https://www.totallybound.com/starting-point

BLURB:

After going past the point of no return and finally reaching breaking point, the only thing Matthew Elliott can do now is start over.

Matthew Elliott is a recovering man. As an ex-cop and ex-fighter, his new job teaching kids at the local community gym about drug awareness and self-defense, is a little bit of both. His new focus on helping street kids is helping him heal, and with Kira by his side, he’s making strides.

Brother and sister, Rueben and Claudia, are homeless kids and they’re very much alone. As they strike a chord with Matt, he does everything in his power to help them.

But when Ruby and Claude need more help than he bargained for, it stops being about work, and starts being about home.

The day he met Kira, Matt’s life changed direction, and it’s only now he realises that everything he’s been through led up to this moment. It was never about endings. His life, his purpose, was just beginning.

Reader Advisory: This book contains reference to the death of a child.

Today is a busy day!

First I have the ongoing giveaway contest for an awesome stash of books.  Winners will be drawn on the 24th, so there are still 3 days to enter!  There are 18 books (2 paperbacks, 16 ebooks) in total to be won.

If you’re only just reading about this birthday contest now and you want to be in with a chance to win, the link is:

https://www.facebook.com/N.R.WalkerAuthor/app_228910107186452

Another awesome thing happening today is the re-release of THREE’S COMPANY.

The Totally Bound buy link for Three’s Company is 

https://www.totallybound.com/threes-company#about

*sigh*

For me, it means the very last of my withdrawn-from-my-old-publisher-books are now available again.

Speaking of which, today also marks the day that Taxes and TARDIS (Another one of my re-releases) hits Amazon and ARe.   

It’s been a long 15 months to get to this point. I know, it’s taken longer than I’d originally thought or hoped it would. I had to fight to get these books back, and it hasn’t been easy, but this day is finally here.  

So it’s a rather special day. 

Oh, and it’s my birthday too.   😀

Now if I could just convince the hubs to take the kids out tonight, leaving me to enjoy an hour or two of peace and quiet (with calorie-free pizza and non-hangover-inducing wine), it just might be the perfect day. 

Whose birthday is it??

MINE !!

(Okay, so technically my birthday is the 21st…)

But it’s only natural that I celebrate said birthday with some giveaways!  Check out these amazing prizes!!!

There are:

2 x paperback copies of Red Dirt Heart
5 x digital copies of Red Dirt Heart
3 x digital copies of Three’s Company (released March 21st)
3 x digital copies of Taxes and TARDIS
5 x Your choice of my catalogue (five lucky separate winners)

WordPress is being a twat and won’t load the widget, so I’ve added the helicopter pic and linked the URL.  You can also visit my Facebook Author page and click on the widget link there 🙂

How do you enter??

USING THE RAFFLECOPTER (click on the helicopter picture),

Or click on this link –>  https://www.facebook.com/N.R.WalkerAuthor/app_228910107186452

Either like my Facebook Author page, or

Follow me on Twitter, or

Post a comment below, on this blog.   

You must click on the little rafflecopter button that will link you straight to whichever option you’d prefer 🙂   It really is that simple!

Even though my birthday is the 21st, this bundle of awesomeness starts TOMORROW and will run until the 24th March!