D. M. Kannapan has a new YA fantasy cli-fi book out: Fire's Ally. For most of her life, Eleg has been obsessed with the eerie, persistent, wildfire claiming parts of her home. No amount of rain seems to be able to put it out. She belongs to a gentle, bookish society, and her people have been fighting the fire back for decades. But they are not ready for the turmoil it is about to unleash. Eleg understands the fire better than most. She has already once failed to protect the innocent in its path. Though she would rather be alone with her charts and graphs, Eleg must become the unlikely hero her people need, and bring the continent together in an ambitious technological endeavor to save their home. Fire's Ally is a YA fantasy climate-fiction with queer characters, sci fi elements, and coming of age themes. It is cozy-adjacent but has high stakes. You'll like it if you like deep, immersive worldbuilding and political intrigue. Warnings: natural disasters, high control groups Universal Buy LinkExcerpt Eleg followed Aizl and Ovvet, glad to be in motion, and glad to be walking with Aizl. She wondered how much Ovvet had intuited about her desire to see the fire. For Eleg, insight came in short flashes and incomplete information. It was probably the same for Ovvet. He didn’t act worried about Eleg wanting to observe the fire, though, as she suspected most adults would. Her cousin Zott skipped beside her. The Pavilion Plateau touched the front of Urmetten, their village, and the hill it was built into, from the north. From there, the children followed an eastward path into a narrow ravine. It was filled with towerlike rock formations that Aizl loved to climb. As they approached the ravine from above, they had a view of its twin stony walls zigzagging into the distance, and between them, irregular rock pillars growing like stalks out of the ground. Another few steps, and they were in the cool, craggy depths with the clear sky above and a network of paths ahead, among the bases of towers. The quiet dialect of the ravine creatures surrounded them. Eleg should come here more often. Maybe with Aizl. There wasn’t usually much reason to come to the ravine. Its hardy denizens survived without any particular tending from the Urmettians. Nearly everywhere else, the villagers studied the soil, rock, and the water, gleaned insight about the health of their continent, Ervu, and offered whatever service a plant may want from their human hands. And the gatherer parties didn’t favor the canyon for foraging when richer groves were a short walk away. Gathering for the kitchens was one of the few activities that pulled Eleg away from her hiding places. “This is the best place to practice climbing!” Aizl said. She dashed ahead, her wavy hair bobbing, pointing out towers she’d scaled and the challenges each posed to even a skilled climber. Eleg smiled at her enthusiasm and quietly hoped there weren’t too many good climbing towers ahead of their destination. The shapes in the fire wouldn’t wait for Aizl, even if Eleg wanted to. Ovvet walked more slowly, his long robes dragging on the rocks, and looked back to check that Eleg and Zott were keeping up. “This is the one!” Aizl rested her hand on an imposing tower, both taller and wider than its neighbors. Its lumpy shape formed natural steps. “Best to climb from this side.” They scrabbled up with Aizl’s supportive guidance. Ovvet boosted Zott the first step. Eleg stopped on the second to adjust the drawing materials strapped to her side. After a short but invigorating climb, they sat on the smooth top and gazed out across the expanse. Aizl spread her arms. “Isn’t it marvelous?” They were above the surrounding stone pillars, and each was sliced cleanly by the early-afternoon sunlight into a bright section and a deep shadow cast by the canyon walls. Behind them were the vast hill ranges, with decorative stonework marking the entrances of the carved rooms that made up Urmetten. On the Pavilion Plateau, which abutted it, small figures were still hanging art. The sacred river of Paclellic, lined with chirp-filled amber-and-yellow foliage, meandered into the valley. Along its banks, groups of visitors to the village made their camps, resting before entering the pavilion for the feast. A distant herd of goats made its way across the grassland, rippling the green around it. And beyond it all, that fire, looming over so many lives with its tower of black smoke and stark flames. It was partially obscured by the mountain range that it intertwined. Where it wasn’t obscured, its base was ringed with dead earth and black ash, and gray and yellow liquid leached into the earth in fine rivulets. In the flames, the jagged shape Eleg had seen was still there, unlike in any of her previous sketches. She unrolled her drawing paper and looked over her shoulder at the others. They were looking the other way, toward the village. Eleg followed their gaze. The air that filled the canyon was shimmering and changing. Thin tendrils formed, like corn silk blowing in the wind, but made of light or mist. The tendrils drew closer to each other in a bundle and began to cohere in an image. “Look, it’s Puvvel!” said Ovvet, pointing out the image to Zott. The tendrils formed a cloud with a faintly recognizable expression—not quite a face, and yet it left the sense of looking at one. The expression was of playful excitement. Zott took a look. “He looks like a cactus today!” Eleg gave Zott some of her paper and charcoal to draw what he saw. Ervu’s Messengers looked a bit different to everyone, but Zott was still learning his plants and probably hadn’t actually meant a cactus. Aizl reached out a hand toward Puvvel, as if coaxing a butterfly to land on it. Eleg took a deep breath. The visible presence of Puvvel must mean Ervu’s patterns were especially understandable to humans now—a brief moment of clarity, insight, and connection. More often, when a Messenger didn’t appear, the land’s signals were mixed. Even then, the village scholars’ gentle lives of peace and study sharpened their ears, trained their eyes, and deepened their understanding, creating a sensitive perception that reached across Ervu and into her perennial workings—through the vibration of the earth, the ripples of the river, and the currents of the air. It fell to the Urmettians to use their understanding to tend to the ailing land. They led the efforts of Ervu’s many peoples to beat back the fire and evade its effects, to replan their walking routes so they weren’t choked with smoke, and to heal landscapes when they were ravaged by ash. The village youths had years of study ahead of them to develop their perceptual reach. But Eleg couldn’t wait that long—not when there were questions to be answered about the fire now. Author Bio D. M. Kannapan is a writer, engineer, and climate activist in the Los Angeles area. Apart from books, she works on space technology, paintings, and cartoons. She gave a TEDx talk in 2023 titled The Climate Movement Needs Your Creativity, Not Your Guilt. Author Website: https://www.deeptikannapan.com/ 
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 “What do you mean no?” Kyle shouted. “How many letters does no have? How hard is it to get the meaning?” Daniel stood on the opposite side of their apartment, shouting back. “I’ve worked hard, for weeks, nothing but work, and I’ve learned everything. Frankly, I’ve learned it damn well.” “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Kyle! You’re barely out of the shooting yourself in the foot phase. A mission is out of the question. You’re not ready!” “If it were up to you, I’d never be ready,” Kyle shot back. Daniel had no comeback, since it was true. “No,” he ground out. “Yes!” Kyle stepped up into his space, fists clenched. “What am I supposed to do, sit here and wonder if you’ll come back?” “You know how to use the locks.” He was losing this argument and he knew it. “How am I supposed to get experience if I stay here or in the barracks forever?” “Kyle—” “Keller didn’t have a problem with me going.” “He said it was up to me.” The thought of Kyle in harm’s way made Daniel’s blood run cold. Yet he had no real argument for him not going on this mission. “I have to start somewhere. I want to help and learn. You promised to teach me.” Kyle’s voice had softened to that tone that simply made Daniel’s insides want to melt. Taking a few steps forward, Kyle brushed his fingertips from Daniel’s shoulder to the back of his hand. “Nothing bad will happen to me. You’ve been too good a teacher. I’ll listen to you.” Pulling away, Daniel turned his back on Kyle and walked to the door. He should have never told Kyle about how a friend—his best friend back then, another kid off the street—long ago hadn’t listened and died. “I’m safe with you. I want to give some of that back, repay you and all the others who’ve helped me.” Drawing in a deep breath, Daniel’s chin dropped to his chest. Turning on his heel he lifted his chin and glared at Kyle. “Fine. But there are rules and you will follow them to the letter.” Damn annoying kid was smiling. “Of course.” “You do everything I say, when I say it, and no backtalk.” Extending his arm at Kyle, he went on. “See this, how long my arm is? You get more than an inch farther from me than the length of my arm and so help me, I’ll—” “Yeah, yeah, I know, you’ll damn well shoot me yourself… twice.” Kyle rolled his eyes, crossed both arms over his chest, and smiled. Daniel ground his teeth. Gaze dropping to below Daniel’s belt, Kyle added, “What is it with you and the guns anyway? Is it some kind of compensation thing? ’Cause, seriously, dude, I’ve shared a bed with you since I got here. Not much a guy can keep secret. Really, you don’t have anything to worry about.” Daniel opened his mouth, shut it, and squinted at Kyle. He huffed and grabbed his pack. “I mean it, Kyle. Don’t cross me on this.” He stalked to the door, stopping with his hand resting on the knob. “See, you already can’t follow simple directions.” Storming back to Kyle, he fisted the boy’s shirt and yanked him along. “No… farther… than… my arm!” Dragging Kyle to the door, he opened it and shoved the kid out. Whooping, Kyle sprinted down the stairs three at a time. Daniel Shanks didn’t pick up strays off the street. He really didn’t let them move in with him and take over his life. What he certainly didn’t do was fall in love with them. Except he totally had. Strays is available in eBook, through Kindle Unlimited and your local library digital catalog.      My snippet this week is from Strays, a scifi MM romance.  Tied to a chair with lights shining in his eyes, Kyle never saw the faces of any of those who’d taken him from the Militia barracks; they wore the government riot gear he disliked so much. He didn’t understand the charges being leveled against him, that he was a spy and had given the government agents information, dates, times, places where the Militia planned to take action. Despite his protests which rapidly turned to pleas, he was taken to a government office and placed under arrest. He’d done nothing but work hard for the Militia, given them every bit of information he’d had; he’d done nothing wrong. There are more snippets to be read in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. Strays is available in eBook, through Kindle Unlimited and your local library's digital catalog.     Forge laughed. He moved his fingertips so he gently stroked Blair’s shoulder and biceps. “What that man—the one in the bar, who turned you—what he did was beyond wrong. Being turned and left is something I know about, but not that sort of abuse. I’d like nothing more than to track him down and kill him.” “How’d you…? You saw things from me?” Blair sat up. Forge nodded. “He took advantage of his power. It’s called thrall. It’s a way to make a human do what you want for a short time.” “That man with the dark hair who threw you in the water? He tried to drown you.” Forge laughed. “No, I just hadn’t had a bath in, well, a long time. I imagine I smelled pretty bad. It’s been pointed out that my odor was the reason no wild animal ate me. I’ll tell you the story, but not right now,” Forge said. “C’mon, get some sleep.” “Don’t put me off by trying to change the subject.” Forge pushed up on his elbows. “Blair, I’m not. But I’m also not ready to have this conversation.” “Who is he?” Blair knew he was being irrational. It wasn’t like they had been together years. A second thought came to him right on the heels of the first, if they were some kind of soulmates, Blair had every right to know anything he wanted to about Forge. “What was that I saw? Memories?” Forge nodded, looking miserable. “You saw mine and I saw yours. I saw the same man, over and over—different clothes, various hair styles—but it was the same guy.” Forge swung around and sat on the edge of the bed, not facing Blair. “It doesn’t matter. You and I bond, nothing else, no one else, is important. Neither of us will want another partner until one of us dies.” “It matters to me! Who the hell was he? No, not was, is. Who is he?” Blair waited, but Forge said nothing. It was impossible to miss how his back and shoulders tensed. Forge pushed off the bed and grabbed his jeans, pulling them on. “You practically screwed me blind. I have a right to know.” “His name is Declan, and I’ve known him for nearly two centuries. It was just the two of us for most of those years.” Forge turned and looked at Blair. All the pieces clicked in Blair’s mind. Everyone telling Blair how strange Forge was acting, how one minute he was charming and kind, and the next snarky and flustered. “You’re in love with him!” When Forge said nothing, Blair shouted at him, “You tell me I’m forced into some goddamn arranged marriage neither of us has a choice with, and you’re in love with some other guy! You say what that asshole in the bar did to me was wrong? You fuck me and love him? Then tell me we don’t have a choice and have to do this bonding thing?” “I’m not exactly happy about this either!” Forge shouted back. “I don’t have a choice or get what I want.” Blair was off the bed, stomping to the bathroom and his clothes. “Go to hell!” “Blair, wait.” Forge’s voice changed to a hoarse whisper. He darted forward, grabbing Blair’s arm. “It’s complicated and—” Blair didn’t mean to. It was a knee-jerk reaction, and he couldn’t help himself. Snarling loudly, Blair’s fangs dropped. He felt his eyes change to completely gray-green. Forge didn’t back up, but he didn’t try to follow Blair when he stalked to the bathroom and yanked on his shorts. He couldn’t stop his mouth and knew he should’ve tried harder, hating himself when he heard what he was shouting, “You’re worse than that guy! At least he never lied to me!” Blair stormed out the suite door, slamming it behind him so hard, he thought it would splinter and shatter. Even furious and feeling betrayed, he still hoped Forge would try to stop him from leaving.  Electric Candle is available in eBook, paperback and through Kindle Unlimited.     Val found a spot for the litter box where he hoped his dogs wouldn’t get into it, then took a shower. He’d go in the morning to retrieve Janelle, and the day after that, she’d be on her own while he was at work. As he got out of the shower, toweling his hair off and thinking it needed a trim, he was nearly knocked on his ass by three dogs scampering through the house. “Hey, don’t chase the—” Val stopped short. Janelle’s cat was sprawled on the couch, flipping his tail side to side. His dogs were standing at the front door, staring up at it with ears cocked, tails wagging. That’s when he realized there was someone on the other side, knocking. In a hurry, Val dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, then pulled aside a curtain that hung on the window in the door. A man standing outside gave him a nod and lifted one hand in a greeting. He looked like a salesman. He was probably around fifty and about the same height as Val, with a solid build, short salt-and-pepper hair, and piercing black eyes. He looked like the sort of man it was unwise to cross. “There’s no soliciting. How the hell did you get back here anyway?” Val opened the door but left the screen door shut and locked. The man took a deep breath and suddenly looked uncomfortable. Val resisted the urge to glance sideways at the baseball bat he kept against the wall near the door. “I’m not selling anything,” the man said. “Can I come in, please?” “No.” Val started to shut the door. The man put one hand on the frame of the screen door. “I’m Janelle’s father. They told me at the main office up front to come back here. Someone tried to call but got your voice mail.” Val held up one finger, turned, and retrieved his phone. There was a call from the farm’s main number, no message left. “I was in the shower,” he said. “Wyatt Harig. Is Janelle here?” “You’re pretty tall,” Val blurted out and felt his face heat up. Wyatt glanced down and grinned at the same time. He was nice looking when he smiled. Obviously he’d heard that more than once. “Janelle is adopted. And yes, she knows.” He put his hands in his pants pockets and sighed. “Do we have to do this through the door?” “I… uh… don’t really….” “I’m an investigator, and I work in antiquities. I’m not a mob hit man.” “You do sort of look like one,” Val said. Wyatt chuckled. “Nah, they spend much more on their clothes.” Val unlocked the door and stepped back so Wyatt could enter. He was impressed that Wyatt wasn’t bothered by three big dogs dancing around at his feet. Instead he put one hand out for them to sniff and walked between them. Wyatt held out his hand and smiled. “Let’s try again. I’m Janelle’s father, Wyatt Harig. You and your entourage are…?” Val shook the offered hand. Wyatt’s hand was strong, his handshake firm. His hand was as warm as his smile. “Vladimir Mihalic. Val. They’re Cooper, Bear, and Titan.” He pointed to each dog as he said their name. “Good-looking crew you have. Trained to kill on command?” Wyatt asked. “Y-yes.” “Uh-huh.” Wyatt tilted his head to one side and leaned down far enough to pat the dogs. “Not buying it, huh?” “Not in the least,” Wyatt said. “I can tell they’re incredibly vicious.” “I guess the hand licking blew their cover.” Val glanced at the floor for a second and scratched at his forearm. “Would it be alright…? I mean, is Janelle here?” Wyatt had his hands back in his pockets again and was rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. Val straightened his spine and crossed both arms over his chest, blocking Wyatt from getting farther into the house. “She doesn’t come home till tomorrow. What took you so long to get here?” “I do a lot of fieldwork, and sometimes I’m not in the same place for more than a few nights. Between that and the fact Janelle and I have different last names, it took a while for the message to get to me. I came as fast as I could. A coworker actually contacted me about the accident. He has her name on a list of Internet searches, so I can keep track of her racing career,” Wyatt said. He rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “I just got off a fifteen-hour flight, rented a car, and came here.” Val took a closer look at Wyatt. He didn’t look as if he’d had much sleep, and dark circles underscored his eyes. His clothes were wrinkled in places that made Val think he’d been sitting long hours, and dusty and scuffed shoes completed the picture. “I’d really like to see my daughter,” Wyatt said in a soft voice. “I’ll tell her you’re in town. No promises.” Val walked to the door, opened it, and stood with one hand resting on the handle. Run for the Roses is available in eBook, paperback, through Kindle Unlimited and your local library digital catelog.     My snippet for this week is from Electric Candle, book 2 of The Sleepless City. (series cowritten with Anne Barwell). The instant Blair’s tongue coursed across the pale, white blemishes, flames erupted in his mind’s eye. Forge was bound to something Blair couldn’t make out. Silver bindings twisted around his wrists. Though he was weak, Forge writhed and struggled, his screams eventually turning to low moans. Simon burst through the fire along with the man Blair repeatedly saw with Forge. They ran to Forge. Terror turned to relief at the sight of the stranger. “Who’s that…?” Blair’s words were cut off by Forge’s tongue in his mouth.  There are more diverse snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. Electric Candle is available in eBook, paperback and through Kindle Unlimited.     Daniel stepped back up to Kyle, pulled him close, and pressed his mouth to Kyle’s, tongue sliding inside with ease. His other hand wormed between them, found one of Kyle’s nipples, and circled it with light, teasing strokes. “Not the only reason,” he exhaled as he broke their kiss. He released Kyle, who was breathing hard and leaning into him. Grinning, Daniel slipped out the door before the kid came up with any other distractions. He was almost immediately hit with cold, crisp air. Walking out to the fencing surrounding his, their, building, Daniel stuck his hands in his pockets and nearly doubled over laughing. One pocket had a half-eaten chocolate bar wrapped in foil. No doubt put in there by Kyle. Three months ago, when he’d accidentally found Kyle while on a routine patrol, Daniel was the guy who had no attachments, lived his life alone, and wanted no one close. Then he’d brought Kyle here and the guy who was half-man, half-child had ingrained himself into every fiber of Daniel’s being and every tiny bit of his life. Listening to the sounds of the lake water slapping the shore, Daniel checked the gates, grabbing hold and giving them a rattle to convince himself they were securely locked. His orderly life had been upended by Kyle; there were signs of him all over the building, in his Jeep, even in his pockets. Lately he wondered how he’d gotten along without Kyle before. Walking slowly to the back of the building, he double checked the security system, ensuring it was functioning properly while replaying their most recent mission in his mind. He and Kyle had gone out with a team on a mission, returning early since it appeared to be a bust. They’d found their targeted facility, gotten in and out without incident or the data they’d been sent to retrieve. Their entire team was puzzled. Daniel sighed and leaned against the fencing, gazing out at the choppy lake. The whole thing had been off. At least Kyle had stopped pestering to be included on assault teams and was content to be part of the surveillance team. Daniel had enough pull that they were always on the same missions. Some couples preferred to work separate missions, some did not. He rubbed at the back of his neck when he realized he was now and had been for a while thinking of Kyle in terms of his partner; they were a couple. As he’d gained Kyle’s trust, he learned more of his background. The plague had hit around the same time Kyle’d been born, and as a result he, like so many of his age group, had been taken from his parents to be raised in a secure location, educated as needed, and tested for reproductive abilities, though sterility was always the answer to the tests. Daniel, when he thought about it, chalked Kyle’s almost immediate attachment to him up to the fact he’d saved Kyle from a situation completely alien to anything he’d experienced before. Daniel had likely been the first person to really care about Kyle, offer him friendship and affection. Not that Daniel minded. In fact he was damn happy about it. What Kyle had discovered proved he wasn’t among the youngest generation of humans left and that the population hadn’t become entirely sterile. Daniel could still see, quite clearly, the pictures Kyle had given him in those first few days. Compounds with playgrounds, schools—children. Young children, most less than age ten, he’d guessed. Dozens of them. They’d come from somewhere, so Daniel was betting reproducing couples were being kept in secret locations as well. Everything their government had told the general population for at least the past decade was a lie, or at least a half-truth. It explained why they wanted Kyle dead. Daniel was also willing to bet the compound they had pictures of wasn’t the only one. Daniel’s initial desire to simply protect this young man and prepare him for life outside a government facility, teach him to fight and survive, had turned into a deep, powerful love between them. If it’d been someone else, he’d have told them to stop thinking the kid would hang around very long, that Kyle was feeling nothing but a crush for someone who’d saved him one cold night. That wasn’t what had happened, however. Kyle seemed to grow warmer, more loving, and more attached every passing day. If he’d have to suffer a life without Kyle, Daniel knew now he’d have no life at all. Strays is available in eBook, through Kindle Unlimited and from your local library digital catalog.   Forge took off his sunglasses and carefully scrutinized the body. Wasn’t it his luck an alleged soulmate showed up in Boggslake to disrupt Forge’s life but, judging from how he felt right then, was also possibly hanging around a murder scene? “I hope it’s not starting up again,” he grumbled. The thought that Forge’s soulmate could be a killer was shoved away. “You know we’ve never tied any of the missing persons or unsolved murders together.” Stewie leaned over Forge’s shoulder. “Uh-huh.” Forge stood and moved out of the way of Lucas’s team. “They must be connected. This isn’t the first victim found like this.” Stewie and Lucas nodded. “I’m betting Lucas will find no sign of a struggle and that he had sex not long before he died.” Forge wasn’t sure why, or what caused it, but the hair along the back of his neck rose, and there was a slight tingle across his scalp. He took a careful look around the area. Partway down the street, standing in the space between two homes, a man was watching them. A man who reminded him of Declan and was everything Forge found alluring. The second he saw Forge watching him, the man ducked behind the farthest house. “What?” Stewie asked. “See something?” “Maybe. I’m going to check it out.” Forge jogged toward the spot where he’d seen the guy. The same young man showing up in front of the bookstore and now here in less than an hour and at a murder scene was too much of a coincidence. Forge had some questions to ask. Forge glanced over his shoulder. No one was paying attention to him. Everyone was occupied with the body. He covered the distance to where the young man had been in less than half the time it would have taken the fastest human runner. The backyards on this street overlooked Lake Erie and all of them had steps going down to the water’s edge. The lush green carpet of grass was sprinkled with what remained of flower and vegetable gardens. There was an assortment of lawn furniture, and one nearby yard had a child’s play area. He kept to the yards without fencing around them and headed toward the closest set of steps. “He must have gone down here,” Forge said and rubbed the back of his head. It was possible the guy had darted into a garage or house, but Forge’s gut was telling him no. Moving as quickly as possible without slipping on the stone steps and ending up going down on his ass, Forge made his way to the beach. Declan had been a fur trapper when he’d first come to the New World and later passed on his considerable tracking skills to Forge. In a way, it was Declan who’d taught Forge many of the skills he used as a detective. This day, he was an irritated detective. He was already feeling he’d lost track of a possible suspect. No one was there, yet Forge couldn’t shake the feeling he wasn’t alone. He wandered down the beach a few yards. Water splashing against the shore and spraying up made him go closer for a better look. The lake’s edge here wasn’t gently sloping sand but a sharp lip of concrete. Hunkering on the ledge, Forge leaned over for a look. The wall ran a good half mile in either direction. He could see large spots that were darker than the surrounding area. Forge had read about the secret rooms constructed all along Lake Erie during Prohibition. At one time illegal booze and guns were stashed in them. One could only access the rooms by going under water. At high tide, many of the outer parts of the rooms were completely submerged. He’d never been in one. More than likely he’d have to get wet to justify the expense of divers. Forge was still contemplating getting a dive team when he heard shouting. “Stop. Wait!” The voice sounded familiar, but Forge couldn’t place it. That always annoyed him. Turning, he looked up at the top of the stairs. Then he squinted and shook his head. The voice’s owner made Forge stare in a type of horrified wonder, like one looked at a train wreck. The fact his cock picked then to persistently remind him of its presence with a few twitches and throbs didn’t help. It was a man, though the dread Forge was feeling might have been less if it’d been a woman. The guy wore what appeared to be homemade steampunk goggles with dark lenses, a long-sleeved black shirt, and black jeans. “Sweet mother of God, is that a cape?” Forge muttered and took a few steps forward. “No, stop, don’t—” His warning was too late. The oddly dressed man began to run down the steps—the slippery, wet steps, waving his arms. He’d gone about three steps when his feet slid out from under him and his rear hit the stone stairs. The man yelped, and Forge’s cock gave another twitch. He had the fleeting thought of how disturbing on several levels that was. “What the hell?” Forge ran to the bottom of the stairs. Bouncing head over heels down the steps, the guy finally flopped to one side and rolled the remainder of the way down, finishing his descent with a hearty splash in the chilly lake water. Floundering and shouting, the man slapped the lake’s surface, went under, bobbed up, and spit water out of his mouth, and garbled, “Can’t… swim.” Throwing his arms wide, Forge grumbled, “It’s not as if vampires drown.” The guy went under, the water churned, but he didn’t come to the surface. Jerking his jacket off and dropping it to the ground, Forge made sure his phone was with the garment. “This has got to be a joke. A really bad joke.” Forge ran to the edge and dove in. The only thing that prevented him from ejaculating the second his fingers touched the man was the cold water. He shuddered when he pulled the guy against his chest and wrapped one arm around him, using the other to help propel them to the surface. When he got to the concrete edge, he hefted the guy over and onto the ground. Forge hoisted himself out of the water and hit the guy, who looked to be in his twenties, between the shoulder blades to expel lake water. A shiver and spark of electricity ran from Forge’s palm and coursed down his spine to settle in his groin. This couldn’t be his soulmate. Yet even as he finished that thought, he knew, and there was no denying what his body was telling him. The fool dressed as some superhero wannabe in a really bad outfit was Jonas Forge’s mate for eternity. Forge wondered if other vampires would penalize him for killing his soulmate. Electric Candle is book 2 of The Sleepless City, series cowritten with Anne Barwell. It's available in eBook, paperback and through Kindle Unlimited.   NEW RELEASE 
Book Title: Save The Date Author/Publisher/Cover Artist: Sophia Soames Release Date: May 1 2026 Tense/POV: first person/alternating POV Genres: Contemporary MM Romance Tropes: Bi awakening, age gap, forced proximity, only one bed, hurt-comfort, single Dad Themes: TV Married at first sight style show Heat Rating: 4 flames Length: 100k words/350 pages It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited 
Blurb Peter Felton If there was a meme for being a total cliché? That would be me. It wouldn’t even need a description, just a pathetic snapshot of me in my threadbare pyjamas standing at my filthy kitchen table staring into the wall like a loser. Because that is exactly who I am. The middle-aged widower caught up in his very own hell of a midlife crisis. The guy who isn’t over his dead wife. The single dad. Pathetic, Peter. Utterly pathetic. The guy who thought… I don’t know what I’d been thinking. Because if someone had told me that at forty-five, I’d willingly go on a reality TV dating show? Yeah. You get the picture. The memes were brutal. Every single one of them was bouncing around the internet like a contagious super-virus. The internet was forever. And so was love. It’s not who I am, this… this joke of a man I’ve become. It never was, and now? Now I’m standing here wondering how I will ever leave the house again. Oliver Jacobs When I was a kid, I thought I was invincible. Turns out… sometimes I was. Sometimes my confidence took me places, and anyway. When you fall? You get up. Make a plan, organize your options and run with the obvious solution. I was good like that. But I hadn’t counted on… this one plan going so very very wrong. So terribly awfully wrong. Because my requests had been simple and easy. Youngish, around my age. No facial hair. Nice. No kids, no baggage. Also gay. And then? They'd gifted me… Peter Fenton. Everything I hadn’t asked for. And now he is all I want. So… should I... Save the date? Or just swallow down the fact that Oliver Jacobs… is about to make the biggest mistake of his life. Save the Date is a standalone novel set in the Square Mile Rogues universe. Content warnings for having lost your partner, violent grief and finding out that love… really matters. Excerpt “Oh god,” he groaned, rolling over on the bed where he’d simply thrown himself down on top of the covers. To be honest? I wanted to do the same, tea and all. But thankfully he sat himself back up and received the teacup from my outstretched hands. “The cups are from Darcie Blush. Gorgeous design.” “You have to stop with the product promotions. You’re making me look bad!” “I’m saving your arse here, Peter. Now, Anne. What do we think?” “She’s with Jorge, and he says she’s pleasant enough, but she’s a good two feet taller than him and he’s as intimidated as anything. His words.” “Oh. Good gossip. I didn’t think you had it in you.” “It’s all gossip.” The groans coming from him, as sipped the tea, were almost hilarious. But I got it. We were both wrung out and I did… surprisingly… make a good cup of tea. “And it will all be public gossip. ”I agreed. “Did you read the call sheet? The first episode will air in two weeks. Two! They don’t hang around here, the editing team is working 24/7, so no wonder they’re all shouting at us to say the right things.” “Instead we’re all gossiping and name-dropping.” He rolled his shoulders, again loudly sipping his tea. “And drinking tea like two little grannies.” “Granddads.” I laughed. “Well, you’re the Granddad.” “Which makes you what? What was it you called yourself? A hot twink?” I liked that he was so easy to get on with. Just simple conversation and ready smiles. He had no idea how much I had needed just this. Something un-complicated. Straightforward. “I thought you were straight, Peter.” “Labels are for jam, at least that’s what Wren was saying. But I am starting to question everything. Is every single couple on this show awfully mismatched or what?” “I think that’s the whole point of the show. One of the production team was talking to someone else, Gina was talking to Jorge I think, I was waiting to film with her so I kind of eavesdropped, that when the first episode goes live, the voting will start. The viewing public will matchmake and then on the Friday, we will all get recoupled. I am assuming that’s why. Someone in here is the perfect match for us, but we don’t know who yet. And I suppose…” “So… I will be moving in with someone else?” “What do I know?” “Oh.” He looked genuinely shocked. “It’s only been a day, but I like being… with you.” He suddenly looked embarrassed, his cheeks blushing under an awkward smile. “I don’t mean like that. You know. I was just settling into that fact, and now…this?” “I’m trying to figure out who was meant for who. I mean, you have options. We have Diane, who fancies you, and Anne who kept trying to talk to you. Then there was Xanthe.” “Xanthe is trans. And only interested in men her age. I’m too old.” “Well, who’s prejudiced now?” “I’m not, I had a quick chat with her, her teeth are fantastic. Done locally, and I know her dentist. I’m just being sensible here. I can’t see anyone else being an option for me, but Xanthe? No. She’s as confused as we are as to why she’s with… Gerald.” “Chloe-Catherine doesn’t seem confused?” I was just kidding, and his eyeroll made me laugh. “Thank you, but no. I have no intention of becoming Chloe-Catherine’s sugar-daddy.” He said quietly, staring me down. I’d noticed that earlier, he could be a little intense at times. I didn’t think I minded. “What even is that?” Tea. I rarely drank tea, but I think I liked it. Calming. I needed to be calm. Don't panic. “The double-barrelled thing. She’s obsessed.” “A brand…” he rolled his eyes. I think I liked him. Funny. Normal. “No I meant, thank you. To you.” “I’ve done nothing. Just tea.” “For doing this with me. You could have walked out.” Strangely, I smiled. A warmth filling in my chest. I was rarely… appreciated. And this somehow felt just like that. “Not giving up yet.” I gulped out, trying to swallow another mouthful of hot liquid. ”But, at least you have options. There’s only Bi-sexual-Ben left for me, and he scares me. And to be honest? I don’t think I’m his type at all.” “What makes you say that?” “He gave off those vibes. I mean, you meet people, and you kind of know. Straight away, virtual thorns out, all prickly.” “Like me.” “Just like you”. I smiled. I wasn’t being rude, but he got that. Got me. The relief was like another welcome balm to my soul. “Tell me about that.” He continued, getting comfortable on the bed. “These sheets are from Donna Truham’s private luxury range. Did you know that, Oliver?” “I did not know that, Peter. And are they available to purchase from her website?” He was holding that laughter in, as I smiled at the camera attached to the wall. “They are indeed, Oliver. Donna Truham dot com. Use the code Save the date for your exclusive ten percent off!” “That is such a good deal!” I squealed. Then I rolled my eyes. “That’s enough of that stuff. Tell me about your work.” “Nahahahah… I asked first. Tell me about this instant vibe. In my days, we used to go out and meet girls. You had to compliment them on their hair, their dress, and how nice they smelled. Then you had to ask them to dance. It was really simple because they could just say no and then you knew and moved on. Dignity intact. These days?” “It’s not that complicated. You meet someone. Stare at them. They stare back. If they hold eye contact, you might, you know? Clink glasses. Have a little snog.” “I wouldn’t dare.” “Well, you have to kind of… be in a gay club if you wanna kiss boys. So I have no idea how it works for women…” “You’ve never been with a woman I assume?” “Absolutely not. I’m a gold star gay me.” “Fair enough. Wait… Gold star?” “A gay guy who's never been with a woman. Never been inside a vagina.” “Okay?” “Not a Platinum star gay though sadly. That’s a…“ I leaned over and whispered into his ear. “A platinum star gay is a gay guy who's never been inside a vagina at all. C-section baby.” I pulled back slowly for effect, laughing out loud as his face bloomed red. “I’ve never met someone who blushes as much as you.” “I’m a sheltered middle aged dentist, mate!” He shrieked, but he was laughing. Good for him. “I think you just made yourself another meme there.” I declared, boldly throwing my arms out. “Well. I’m ticking them off one by one. Here’s the next one. What if you’re just an ordinary bloke who suddenly has a male partner? What are you then? A brick gay or something?” “I don’t think that’s a thing.” I smiled. “It’s just human, isn’t it. We like who we like.” Peter was a nice guy. I had to admit it. “It’s just who we are, isn’t it? I just always knew. Never hid it. Life can be stupid that way, I mean, what’s the point of hiding what you are? What you’re into?” “Very true. And I mean, my darling wife was a staunch defender of everyone’s right to love whomever they wanted to love. She… sorry. I shouldn’t talk about my wife.” “You should. Because she is still important to you?” “She is. Her name was Mary.” “Mary. And how did you meet Mary?” I had no idea where the questions were coming from, but now I was lying down on the bed next to him, still fiddling with my empty cup, listening to stories from his university days, and laughing at his… plain naivety with all of this. “I like that you don’t care.” Came out of my mouth in the middle of some rant about the pitfalls of fame. Because apparently he’d been… some kind of celebrity. And he was honestly as far away from what I assumed a celebrity would be. He was… ”You’re like the most normal person I’ve ever met.” “Careful, you’ll end up a meme on the interweb too.” he grinned. “Nah, no more space on that internet, you’ve already taken them all. I mean, I want to meet someone, but they have to accept that I’m still a married man.” “Yeah. Probably not the greatest catchphrase.” He admitted. About the Author Sophia Soames should be old enough to know better but has barely grown up. She has been known to fangirl over TV shows, has fallen in and out of love with more popstars than she dares to remember, and has a ridiculously high-flying (un-) glamourous real-life job. Her long-suffering husband just laughs at her antics. Their children are feral. The dogs are too. She lives in a creaky old house in rural London, although her heart is still in her native Scandinavia. Discovering that the stories in her head make sense when written down has been part of the most hilarious midlife crisis ever, and she hopes it may long continue. Author Links https://linktr.ee/sophiasoames 
In honor of the Kentucky Derby, my Rainbow Snippet this week is from Run for the Roses, book 1 of Circles romantic thriller series.  “Well, funny you should ask. Carol and Marcus’s mother had a small Thoroughbred breeding farm. She wasn’t involved so much in racing, but did do some showing and judging of dressage horses. She had a couple good horses from good bloodlines. Small operation—cleaned the stalls herself and gave riding lessons to kids.” Wyatt paused and Val heard him move around, and swallow. “Not unheard of,” Val said. “The filly that was stolen and then killed traced her bloodlines to a stallion Mom owned.” “Wow, that’s a helluva coincidence,” Val said. Wyatt snorted. “Tell me about it. I’m not sure how this fits in with whoever is running around killing people. Yet. And I’m not sure it’s important. Yet.” “But there’s more,” Val said. There are more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group! Run for the Roses is available in eBook, paperback, through Kindle Unlimited and your local library digital catalog. |
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