Serena Yates's Blog - Posts Tagged "serena-yates"

Now available at Silver Publishing


Could the stability-loving carpenter, Tom, be just what Matt needs to settle down? Could the adventurous safari guide, Matt, be exactly what is lacking in Tom’s life?

The Sins of Summer now available at Total-E-Bound


Book one in The Seven Deadly Sins Series

The seven deadly sins: lust, wrath, greed, gluttony, envy, pride and sloth.

The Sins of Summer weaves a general thread of deception loosely tying these tales together. Envy, lust and wrath are explored in these scorching m/m tales involving action, burning hot sex and sinful adventures that will have you cranking up the Air Conditioning.


'Mayze' by D.J. Manly
D.J. Manly tackles the sin of lust in his paranormal tale

Jas’s joy of being reunited with his sister is short lived when one night she is murdered by a madman, a madman his foster brother claims is a vampire. Sent out on a mission to find a monster, Jas meets Mayze, and he’s like no one he’s ever met before. Is he the monster who killed his sister, or could he just be the answer to his prayers?


'Burnt Island' by A.J. Llewellyn
A.J. Llewellyn tackles the sin of jealousy in Burnt Island

Manhattan-based private investigator, Leo Gannet, accepts an assignment to tail his father’s boyfriend, theater director Thane Covey on a clandestine trip to a tiny Greek island. With only three hundred inhabitants and four miles to cover, Leo worries about pulling off his mission. He soon discovers he's got bigger problems: Thane Covey is the sexiest man he's ever seen. And he's not alone. Leo soon becomes insanely jealous, then very worried. To top it off, Thane also seems to have somebody else's attention...a hitman's.


'Summer Escape' by Serena Yates
In Summer Escape, Serena Yates tackles the sin of wrath

New York banker Carlton Jaymes Pearce receives an ultimatum from his doctor: accept a lifestyle change and early retirement to reduce his astronomical stress levels or be prepared to have a heart attack - soon. Being only thirty-eight, Carlton isn't ready to die and decides to finally learn how to sail. Neither he nor his private sailing instructor, Troy Nicholls, are ready for the almost instant attraction that leads to a hot and heavy summer fling. But all is not well because someone from Carlton's past appears on the scene to exact revenge for a perceived injustice. Carlton and Troy are kidnapped and left on a deserted island. Will the mysterious man's wrath cost them their lives?

Today, my blog at the Total-E-Bound author Hot-Spot is about the signifiance of anniversaries. Come on over and have a look, if you want:

So, what IS the significance of anniversaries?

Sam's New Family


Today, on September 17, I am proud to announce the release of Sam's New Family, a short story I wrote for the annual Torquere Charity Sip Blitz. All the proceeds will be donated to the It Gets Better Project, matched by Torquere Press. Rainbow eBooks have agreed to sponsor the sale on their site, without taking profits.

I'm very excited to take part in this - what better reason for writing a book for charity can there be than knowing its sale will help improve the lives of GLBT youths, who so often have to suffer injustice and even physical deprivation and pain - just because they are deeemed 'different'? Although, what is that different about wanting to love and share your life with another human being, just becaue they happen to be the same sex, still escapes me.

Please check out the entire series on your preferred site - and remember, every book from the collection you buy will help make someone's life a little better.

...I got word from Silver Publishing that my Christmas book from 2010, Araton's Destiny, will be available as audio book on December 10, 2011!!! Narrated by the incomparable J.P. Bowie, it is a true treat for anyone who loves m/m, hot angels grappling with the purpose of their existence, and those who want to close their eyes while following the developments of the first Celestial Justice book.

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What if you're a guardian angel and fail to do your job?

Araton has been a guardian angel for less than a century when a moment of distraction causes his human charge to be hit by a car. He expects to be punished - and is surprised to find out there is room for leniency - and even a new job. Will he be any better at being a Christmas angel?

Jake is a former pro-football player whose knee injury has prevented him from fulfilling a lifelong dream. He turns his attention to extreme sports instead. When he falls into an ice cave during a solitary trip just before Christmas he believes it is the end of the road for him. Nothing short of a miracle will save him...


Available for pre-order at Silver Publishing right now!!!

The Cellar Hand



Out on Saturday, February 4, this is the newest volume in my Workplace Encounters series. It is not only available for pre-order at Silver Publishing, but has also been chosen as prize for the Silver Publishing eBook Friday Frenzy Giveaway.

If you're interested, all you need to do is enter your name, email address and answer a simple question (hint: the answer can be found in the blurb). Click here to enter the contest. Contest ends February 3 at 11:59 pm EST.

Good luck!!!!!

Fighting for Hope



Published today, on March 3, 2012 at Silver Publishing, Fighting for Hope is a very special book for me.

It was the very first full-length novel I ever finished - 5 years ago. I still remember the relief I felt when I typed 'The End' - I had atually done it, finshed a book. The frustration when I received rejection after rejection was depressing, but honestly? Now I am relieved no publisher took it on. It needed a lot of work!!!! Took me 5 years of writing experience to understad that, and I finally felt ready to tackle the rewrites late in 2011.

Now that Grayson and James will finally see the light of day I am beyond excited!!! Their story has been with me for a very long time - and so has the one about Grayson's best friend, Danny. Hi book will be next and is called Fighting for Love. :-)

I hope you will enjoy Fighting for Hope. Please check here for an excerpt.

There are as many reasons for celebrating December as I suspect there are to ignore the whole thing. Some of us celebrate winter holidays of a religious nature, some decide to go for the "end of year" variation. Whatever your reason, I am offering a chance for you two win one of two prizes (winner's choice).

Bear with me, while I explain.

I have two Christmas books in my collection, both of which you may be familiar with. If not: what are you waiting for? :-)


The Mistletoe Phenomenon This is the beginning of Magnus and Lance's story which takes them, and Magnus's nephew Jakob, from the fictional town of Mistletoe, Wyoming all the way to Sweden.


Prize Option 1: A print copy of the entire series, which contains all 3 novellas describing their adventures.




Araton's Destiny
This is the first book in my Celestial Justice series, featuring somewhat unusual and slightly irreverent angels as they battle 'middle management" in Heaven.


Prize Option 2: The e-book OR the print OR the audio book version of this fantasy novella.



All you need to do to participate is leave a comment, your choice of prize, and your e-mail here, or on RJ Scott's Christmas blog hop - which features a TON of prizes from a variety of authors. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/Sk9IsL. End of the giveaway is December 31, 2012 and the winner will be announced by January 5, 2013.


Good luck, and enjoy your December 2012 - for whatever reason.


Serena
www.serenayates.com

This year, I am happy to participate in RJ Scott's blog hop to raise awareness for autism. Each post contains a fact about autism, many of which were new to me. Just reading through that list alone is an education, but I can also recommend the various articles that go with each of those facts.

Here is the fact I was given: According to a 2012 survey, 27% of children with autism have been excluded from school.

I am shocked! One in 3 children with autism has experienced a level of exclusion that is normally reserved for severe transgressions against school rules. One in 3 children from an already vulnerable group have been made to feel even more vulnerable by the very people who should be teaching and protecting them.

And why?

I suspect the biggest reasons to be fear and uncertainty - about the correct way to handle things, incompetence - in the face of a condition that can be difficult to manage, and prejudice - against those who are different from the "norm".

Indeed, you could argue that some form of prejudice is behind all of them. And I speak from personal experience. As a physically handicapped person (Thalidomide) with shorter arms and no thumbs, I have faced prejudice all my life.

It started small.

When I was maybe four, I wasn't yet in school, I asked my mother for a pair of scissors because I wanted to cut a picture out of a magazine so I could add it to my scrap book. My mother told me I couldn't have them, they were too dangerous for me. I didn't get it. I did everything else the other kids in the neighborhood did, why not use scissors? Much later I asked my mother why she denied me those scissors (she couldn't believe I remembered it), and she said she thought I wouldn't be able to handle them. Translation: she didn't know how to teach me and couldn't imagine how I'd manage, so she assumed I was incapable. Needless to say, it was totally unjustified prejudice and I can handle scissors just fine.

Then it got more noticeable.

People in the streets have always stared at me. Sometimes they still do. Many of them have no idea how to deal with me. Needless to say, these days I stare back until they're embarrassed and look away. Back then, many of them started to laugh when they saw me. Adults as well as children (who learned it from their parents). Some even pointed at me and laughed. Why? Because they didn't know how to react to someone who was so obviously different.

As for the exclusion from school?

While I have never actually been excluded, there were discussions. All from well-meaning adults who thought they "knew better" and decided I'd be better off in a "special school" for my own protection. Translation: they didn't want to deal with me. Yes, they may have thought of it as "in the kid's best interest". But you know what? Even back then that kid, me, knew that I had to make them face the difference. Get them used to the fact I was perfectly able to cope. Fight for my right to be seen and accepted, and not pushed away into a convenient "corner" so I didn't remind them of their own inadequacies or didn't make their lives more difficult.

And even if I hadn't been able to cope, and even if some of those autistic children need more attention or a different kind of approach than the majority? Who says it is right to just push them away? They are a part of society just like everyone else and all of us are better off having them around and learning that diversity is a good thing. It opens up new perspectives, makes us think about ourselves, and helps us become better, more educated people.


To celebrate autism awareness, and the differences in all of us, I'll give away an e-copy of

Garnets of Destiny 1, or one of my other published books if you prefer. Leave a comment here by April 30, and I'll announce the winner on May 1.

To celebrate the re-release of Fighting for Hope, I am giving away 2 paperback copies right here on Goodreads.

Click this link and enter (if your country is on the list) for your chance to win by August 31, 2013:
http://bit.ly/16PHo7L


Good luck!

Serena