Monday, January 01, 2018
Friday, July 21, 2017
Something Cowboy
Have you ever heard Dan Seal's Everything that Glitters? The story follows that song pretty well. I've loved that song since junior high. I have. Luke Bryan sang it a few years ago at the Houston rodeo, and I cried and cried I was so happy. I miss Dan Seals..
I have a blog tour coming up for Sparkle and Shine. I'll come back and give y'all the links as they go live!
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Book news from Julia
Book news! Rerelease of MMF menage Lovers of Her Dreams is up! Saw not a dime from this from Ellora's Cave, but it's mine again and has a spiffy new cover from Kris Norris, my cover art heroine!
Tattoos, werewolves, dreamwalkers and the woman they love!
And coming Friday from Changeling Press my brand new demon lover romance, Fairweather Fiend
House flipping gets tough when demon ghost hunters get involved.
And yes, there's demon sex!
XXOO
Julia
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
So tired of defending romance
Also, a short history of M/M romance.
People have been writing slash fiction for decades. Spock and Kirk, anyone? In 2000 a group of authors who decided to stop writing fanfic and write original slash formed a following on Livejournal. In 2003, Torquere Press opened its doors. By 2005 Loose Id was accepting m/m and so was Changeling Press. In 2007 the amazing Dreamspinner Press came along and taught us old timers how to change with the times. Many others have come and gone or come and stayed, but one thing is sure. I love romance, and I'm sick to death of having to defend it. I also have lots of feels about publishing, having run a company for 12 years before I screwed up and sold to a thief, but I'll leave those alone for now.
Romance. Alive and well. Just sayin'.
XXOO
Julia
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
New release exclusive excerpt!
Packmate for Hire is out! It's the second Alpha Tales book, but it can stand alone, as well.
Brendan Gray has no idea why he stopped in at a tiny Colorado mountain town to have lunch. He's supposed to be in Wyoming, tracking wolves. The place called to him, though, and he figures out why when he realizes his old pack mate, Rand, is now an Alpha in the cutest little wolf pack ever. Then he meets Shon, who's also just passing through, and decides he might need to stay for a bit. especially since Rand seems willing to pay him to be a pack guardian.
Shon has a history of making bad decisions and is on the run from his most recent one when he meets Brendan. They're smoking hot together, but Shon wants to go slowly so they can get to know each other. He decides to hang around in Nowheresville for a while. and he hopes Brendan is staying for his benefit. Trouble follows Shon everywhere, though, and between that and Brendan's uncertainty about their relationship, they might just lose each other before they know what they have.
Leona says you’re in cabin 3. Be there at 2 to take you to lunch
Shon grinned at his phone. True to his word, Brendan had only texted last night and this morning. Last night he’d gotten a picture or two, nothing raunchy, and today he’d received, “Let’s do lunch.”
He’d sent back, “You buying?”
The notice of when he was being picked up was Brendan’s response, and Shon sniffed his pits. He had forty-five minutes to shower, and he needed it. Whoo.
Shon hopped in the shower, scrubbing up with the soap the owner had left. Very sage and sandalwood. He had to admit, the cabins were spotless, and the linens were soft. He would hang out here for a good bit if he needed to.
What a difference a day made. Yesterday, he’d found it impossible to be upbeat about anything. Today, Shon was ready to flirt. Maybe have a one or two-night stand. It could never be more than that, but Brendan was hot as hell and clearly into him, so why not play?
He dressed in jeans and white button-down shirt, a look he knew went well with his dark hair and warm skin tone. God, he was so queer.
Once he was ready, he texted Brendan. You can show up before 2 if you want
On my way
Now, that was gratifying. He would definitely be teasing. And inviting. And maybe giving out some. Maybe not. He had standards. Well, he did now, after his last break up, which was causing no end of grief. Okay, maybe he would pump the brakes a few times.
The knock on the door came maybe five minutes later, at fifteen minutes to two. Nice.
He opened the door, Brendan stepping through quickly.
“Here.” Brendan thrust a bouquet at him.
“I like carnations. Thank you.” He really did like them, with their cute, crinkly selves. They made him smile.
“Wooing, chapter one. Flowers. Check.”
“So romantic.” Shon found a big glass in the cupboard to put water and the flowers in.
“Hey, I’m a werewolf. I get most of my romance in bars at the end of the night.”
“Ew.” He winked back over one shoulder.
“I’m pickier than that.” Brendan was laughing, clearly not at all offended.
“Well, that’s good to know, since you practically jumped me in the restaurant.”
“Nah.” Brendan was pushing up behind him before he could even blink, hips against his ass, reaching around with one hand to press at his zipper placket. “This is all over you. That was nothing.”
“Oh.” He arched his back, his toes curling up. Brakes. Pumping. “That’s not allowed yet.”
“Bummer.” Brendan nipped at his neck, but then backed off. “Well, I don’t want to cross you on your rules.”
“Uh-huh. Just leave me with a hard on.”
“I can fix that.” One dark eyebrow rose. “But you keep telling me no.”
***
I hope you'll give it a look!
The first book, Alpha in Sheep's Clothing, is .99 right now!
XXOO
Julia
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Guest Post: Sultry and Sinful Box Set Release!
Soul to Capture
Info: As a Succubus, Cora thought she didn’t need love, but when the Seraph Jael opens her eyes to the possibility, all bets are off.
Book title: Wet: An erotic mermaid tale
Info: After the Sea Queen forbids the Princess to follow her heart, Marianna swears to catch Shell, the feisty water sprite.
Book title: Kiss Me Deadly
Info: When the time comes for Maggie to make one of her own, she finds out that not all vampires are created equal.
Book title: A Succubus Renewed
Info: Luciana, a Succubus, is bored of her monotonous existence until Krista Hadley—a human—walks into her club, unknowingly becoming her latest obsession.
Info: Half siren/half vampire, Jade Calistro, has zero desire to find her mate. Little does she know that she has not one, but two fated mates.
Book title: Sinful Dreams
Info: Adara Dyllvan will stop at nothing to get Senna Douglas to walk back into her life, even if it means playing dirty.
Book title: Stardust
Info: Rainey must cast a spell to destroy vampires, but her girlfriend’s been offered the opportunity of a lifetime—starring in a vampire show.
Book title: Immortal Deflagration
Info: Seychelle is a bastard. When she accidentally dreamwalks into Nova's lustful fantasy, she learns the Fates might have a reward for her after all.
Book title: The Seduction of Violette Tournaline
Info: Seduced by a handsome stranger on the eve of her debut ball, Violette must decide how far she is willing to go for love.
Giveaway
Monday, April 03, 2017
Cover teaser for Packmate for Hire, Alpha tales book 2
In the meantime, start off with An Alpha in Sheep's Clothing, Alpha Tales 1
XXOO
Julia
Thursday, March 23, 2017
WIP day! Snippet from Dragon Mesa 1
I'm writing Dragons again! I should be done. I'm not. However, I'm close.
Here's a snipped from Dragon Mesa 1, Kept.
A flash of light caught his eye, and that interloper was watching him, at least it seemed like it.
Damn it. He pressed back into the lee of a fissure in the rock, turning his back enough to protect Chaya.
Sister?
Kaya, stay down!
Bar-D?
Why? Why did Kaya have to show up now? Unlike her sister Chaya, she wasn’t bonded to Bard, and therefore didn’t always listen to him.
Sister? Sister? Kaya came swooping through the air, spinning headlong down the arroyo. Sister, is that you?
Kaya! Be good. Good. No sparkly man!
He heard her pull up, but it was too late, she crashed into the man down there, hitting him hard enough to send them both winding.
Shit. Fuck a doodle doo. Bard wasn’t sure what the hell to do, but Kaya was his Chaya’s twin. He couldn’t just leave her to be caught.
So he ran.
XXOO
Julia
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Happy Release Day! Two Cowboys and a Baby by BA Tortuga
This is my favorite line from the Stand, wherein Mainer Stephen King takes up for country folks all over who might talk slower or come to things from an angle that city folks don't think of.
That's what happens in Two Cowboys and a Baby by my amazing and talented wife, BA Tortuga.
Hoss McMasters finds a baby on his doorstep. What ensues is a tropetastic romp from a Deep east Texas perspective. Hoss is a cowboy's cowboy, just like the guys I grew up with, and I adore him. Bradley is a redneck boy who will do anything for a job, and he makes me laugh. These two are stubborn, clueless and amazing.
Read without prejudice! These boys are country, but they're a wonderful ride!
XXOO
Julia
Wednesday, March 08, 2017
Advance Review of Lickety Split, by Damon Suede
Damon Suede doesn’t write comfortable books.
Hey, don’t worry, he knows I think that. We talk about it often.
When I offered to do a review for his upcoming release Lickety Split, I wasn’t sure what I would be getting. The cover says cowboy book. The blurb says all the tropes are there: city mouse country mouse, enemies to lovers, May-December.
With Damon Suede, nothing is ever so simple.
Here’s the basic idea. Patch left deep southeast Texas years ago, out and proud and headed for New York. When his folks pass away, he returns to his hometown to sell the family farm. Complication comes in the form of Tucker, much older and proven enemy of Patch. Or is he? Tucker turns out to be on Patch’s side, and the two find some smokin’ hot reasons to be together, but can any relationship like this really work?
Now we get to the meat, so to speak. Patch Hastle might just be the living, breathing embodiment of you can never go home again. He lives the kind of life that, growing up in Southern New Mexico, I could only imagine by watching it on TV. New York dwelling, sophisticated DJ, jet setting off to Ibiza to do a gig… People only do that in movies, right? Except Damon Suede knows this guy. I think he’s been this guy. So, when Patch comes home to Texas, as readers, we can feel how much he doesn’t want to be there. At all. Not one bit.
Then there’s Tucker. He’s about as down on his luck as a guy can get, and when we first meet him, we only see what Patch wants us to see. There’s a lot of deep East Texas in Tucker, a lot of redneck. I grew up with guys like him, and in order to understand them, you have to see how they connect to the land. There’s more to him than first meets the eye, though, and that’s the best part of this story. How Patch learns to love Tucker, and through him, regains some perspective on the farm, and on how he feels about the Texas dirt.
I think Lickety Split has a lot to say about Texas, and about the people who live there, good and bad. It’s not always comfortable in that sometimes you have to fight to like Patch, and fight to believe he and Tucker will ever make it. Now, it also has the farmboy fantasy in spades, and yeah, the sex left me squirming and flushed, which is just what I want in a book.
Read it.
I bet it surprises you with how it turns all those tropes right on their heads.
It will be available March 13 2017
XXOO
Julia
Monday, January 30, 2017
Not Dead
XXOO
Julia
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Torquere still isn't closed
So, not long ago, Torquere announced to their authors list, at least, that they were closing.
All of the authors who have gone unpaid and unanswered cheered. Yay! They're doing the right thing and reverting rights.
Except they're not.
Two days ago, Kristi sent this to Torquere authors.
"We are having to change internet carriers and are without from last night until 12/27 when they can come hook it up. I can not check the TP email or use my Mac until then. I have access to my gmail and my phone during this time."
Now. I know Ms. Boulware-Talbot. She worked for me for 3 years before she took over TQ. She's had her TQ emails on her phone for all those 5 years. So even if this mysterious outage is real, why can't she answer emails.
I'm baffled, y'all. I understand wanting the weekend off, but be honest and say I'm not working from Friday to Monday. I know maybe 5 authors who actually got their reversion letters.
Why are the sales channels still up? Why is the site still up? Where is the public announcement?
More smoke and mirrors and more bullshit.
Julia
Thursday, December 15, 2016
How not to close a publishing business (Torquere Press LLC)
Here's where they announce their main point:
While we realize this announcement may not be totally unexpected to some of you I’m sure many of you will have questions. Please be patient with us as we will take some time in getting all of the hundreds of rights reversions together. The process of us wrapping up Torquere will take at minimum 90 days if not longer.
Right. Now, see, I can totally understand taking time to make sure all rights are reverted correctly.
What I can't understand is leaving sales venues up for that time. Make a public announcement so readers can download any files they've bought, give people 3 or 4 days, then shut down the website and distributor site accounts instead of stealing yet more money from your authors.
The only nod at all to the fact that they have not paid anyone since June 2016, and that was for (4th qtr distributor sales and 1st qtr TQ sales-- I did not get paid for that 2K statement thanks) was this paragraph:
We are very saddened that we have to end things this way, but we believe it is for the best for everyone involved. We will continue to support each of you in any way we can when it comes to self publication questions, or even helping you find a good new home for your current and future books if we are able. We are still looking at options on how to get everyone paid and caught up and appreciate your patience while we are dealing with this matter.
You see how they did that? We're keeping your books hostage while we slowly take down the sales areas, but we have no plan in place to pay you the 10s of 1000s of dollars you already earned and we didn't pay! But here's the kicker.
We have done everything we could to turn things around but with the saturation in the industry, the financial hardships we are in, my health in constant decline along with the negativity we have had hurdled our way. We feel like we are currently fighting an uphill battle. We have so many happy memories and will hold on to those as we make our choices for our futures in this industry. It has truly been an honor and privilege to work with each of you.
IOW, we love y'all for making us money, but it's your fault that we failed. Uh, hello! If they hadn't stolen thousands, no negativity would have come their way. No one wants to be a victim of theft. But I'll be damned if I won't expose a thief when I'm faced with one.
So again, I urge the owners, Kristi and Joanna, to do the right thing. Announce to your readers, distributors and creditors that you're closing. Give people 3 days to download any files. Turn off your payment gateway. Close accounts at Amazon and other distributors as those books will remain in people's libraries even when you take the books down. Once you are no longer making illegal money off people, you can send reversion letters over a reasonable period of time. You're done. Stop punishing authors for your mistakes.
Julia
Friday, December 02, 2016
writer beware blog re Torquere
Saturday, November 26, 2016
An open letter to Torquere Press LLC
I would like to speak out on behalf of all of the unpaid and unanswered authors of Torquere Press LLC. You may say I am no longer a Torquere author, but as long as you owe me and my wife the nearly 4K combined you owe us, I am an unsatisfied author of your company.
Therefore, I take it on myself to speak for all the authors who have not been paid, some since 3rd qtr 2015, most since June 2016. I speak out for the author you still owe $18600.00 not including the 10K you paid for a bounced check, which also has not been received. I speak out for the author you owe $35.00 for an anthology story. I'm calling you out for all the authors who have requested payment, rights reversions, or just a simple update and have remained unanswered.
I'm also writing on behalf of your staff, some of whom I hired when I was the owner of Torquere Press Inc, and therefore I feel responsible for. Those staff who worked for you for free for too long while you made promises you didn't keep, then threw them under the bus by telling the authors you paid the staff rather than author royalties. Which is not true.
So, here's my challenge to you both.
Own up to your shit. Give the authors a reversion letter. Even if you do it the cowardly way like Ellora's Cave and put it up publicly for all the authors to grab. Then close the business. Stop stealing. Stop sitting on your butts and making income off the authors you refuse to answer. Clean out your emails and give people their books back. The money is gone. We get it. While it would be a decent thing to do to pay us, you're not going to. But this is people's lives. It's their copyright, their property.
Give it back. Answer for yourself, and for once, do the right thing.
Take down the websites and the distributor accounts and stop acting like you can just walk away. You can't, and doing the right thing now might stop some of the legal actions said authors and staff are already in the act of starting.
Sincerely,
Julia Talbot
Friday, November 04, 2016
How Torquere continues to implode, or, "Good Lord and Butter"
"Sales we (sic) lower from distributors end of October than September. We are paying the editors their invoices from the books that have released. We are not ignoring the fact that we are behind on royalties and we are trying our very best to get things above water."*
Now, let's break this down, shall we?
Item the first. What does it matter to the authors who are owed money what kind of sales in there were September and October 2016? There are authors who are owed money from as early as 3rd Qtr 2015. In the thousands. The money all Amazon vendors received on Oct 29 was for August 2016. TQ still hasn't paid any author that I know of for April, May and June of 2016, and now they're using August money to pay editors rather than putting it away to pay authors? 3rd qtr 2016 royalties are due out no later than Nov 30. Do we think anyone will get paid? No, because by Torquere's own admission the money is gone!
Item second. They're not ignoring that they're behind. Except they are. By the accounts of at least 20-25 authors I've seen on social media, they've stopped answering emails. They're not giving rights back, even though they said in a public update they would. At least when they were issuing reversions they were better than other failing pubs, but now they're playing the we keep your books and your money game just like the rest.
Finally and, I think, more importantly, they're paying their editors with the recent payment from Amazon.
Goggles.
Yes, editors need to get paid for work done. However, as an LLC, it is the owner's responsibility to do that with her own money if paying the authors what they have earned ends up leaving her upside down. The onus is not on the authors to pay the businesses' bills. By contracts that the owners of TQ signed, the money earned by authors is to be paid to them no later than 60-65 days (and in some cases 30 days) after the end of the quarter. That 30-40 percent (with many at 35-45) should NEVER HAVE BEEN USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
So. Where is the money? Low sales are not to blame, because regardless of how much or little an author made, they should get paid. I know maybe 5 authors who are owed upwards of 50K all told. That doesn't count the other 100 or more authors and what they're owed for 2nd and 3rd qtr 2016. It's time for all TQ authors to stand up and demand to know where all that money went. Speak out. This needs to be stopped.
* I did remove a few more personal remarks from the email to be as fair as I can.
XXOO
Julia
Tuesday, November 01, 2016
Terrible Trick
What an awful trick. I had planned a great Halloween blog for yesterday but I got sidetracked, and I feel shady writing it today and posting it backdated...
Also I feel very grumpy today. I keep trying to honor All Saints Day and live today kindly and with a little humbleness. Instead I'm dwelling on stuff that's not worth my time, because I loathe people who make vague threats against people I love. Even when those threats are empty and meaningless, it makes me mad. So have some good thoughts for me, and send your leftover Halloween candy.
Happy Birthday to my great nephew Boo, who is 5 today, and was a Ghostbuster for Halloween. You make my day, baby boy.
Hugs, y'all
XXOO
Julia
Friday, October 21, 2016
Fall Leaves and Adult Hot Chocolate
The leaves are just starting to turn here in Albuquerque because it's been a warm fall. They cottonwoods all along the acequias and the bosque turn a bright yellow, cutting a swath across the whole Rio Grande valley. We live up on the mesa, and we get to look down on the amazing sight every time we drive down into town.
As the nights get cooler, we love to it out on the front porch or out back by the firepit and have a hot chocolate.
The best hot chocolate is an adult hot chocolate. We've had a lot of variations on this theme, with Kahlua or Baileys or something in it. The best one we've found so far is to get a really good dark chocolate mix and add whipped cream vodka. Oh, y'all, it's fall heaven. Who needs pumpkin spice?
We also bought salted caramel Bailey's to try. We'll report on that as we try!
XXOO
Julia
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Dusts off blog
Too damned bad, Julia. Get up and pull up your socks!
Hugs all the good people out there
XXOO
Julia