Shira Anthony's Blog - Posts Tagged "shira-anthony"

Today I have with me a very special guest blogger, and one of the folks I nominated for the Kreative Blogger Award, Carson Douglas. Carson runs the terrific Guys Like Romance, Too blog which promotes gay romance.

So a warm welcome to Carson. And be sure to check out his blog! -Shira

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Hello followers of Shira Anthony!

I want to her for inviting me to her blog. For the record, it’s a nice looking place. I have come to share a little about myself, so here goes.

My name is Carson Douglas. I grew up in NYC and now live in ATL. I write for a popular magazine that circulates my city. I’m not going to mention which one because Carson is my real name and I don’t want them knowing this much about me. I know they are all over blogger and word press because they told me about it. LOL

I love to read and have always loved romance, the whole chase thing set my blood on fire every time. I kept passion a secret for many years reading my many Thea Devine and Bertrice Small books with a magazine covering them. I was plagued by that whole macho thing. Seriously, how macho can an ex college football player be with a spicy romance in his hand? In recent years, however, I’ve adopted a motto a friend my friend Jaxx has had for years. Want to know what it is?

Fuck em! If they don’t like me as is, it’s there loss. J

There you go.

In 2006 I picked up my first M/M and was absolutely hooked. Unfortunately I had to hunt for books. Over time it got easier, but geez! It really was work and I had to have them!

To feed my reading addiction I came up with my blog Guys Like Romance, Too! It is a place where gay romance writers are allowed to pimp their work. To keep the blogs different and exciting I have given each month a different theme so all genres have a chance to be spotlighted. The only things I ask, rules if you will, is that they tell the reader how they came to write the book and how the book fits the theme and those who have the first date of the month introduce the readers to the new theme. That’s it!

Guys Like Romance, Too! has lots of openings from June until December. Stop by the site and check the theme schedule if you’d like a spot. It is located on the November, 2011 post. May is dedicated to lesbian lit. So if you know any authors that write lesbian romance send them my way to blog on the site for May. No specific them just as long as he main characters are females in an intimate relationship they’re good!

Here are 7 things about Carson Douglas that you might be surprised to know.

1. I was born on leap year, 1968 (that makes me 11 years old for those who are counting)

2. I am a semi-vegetarian. I don’t eat land animals at all, only sea creatures.

3. I did nudie shots in college to help pay the bills LOL

4. I take pictures of strange, weird or interesting everywhere I go and send the pics to my friend Jaxx Steele. They sometimes inspire book ideas for him.

5. I stole cars to teach myself how to drive when I was a teenager. LOL

6. I like drink my water room temp and my alcohol ice cold.

7. I am participating in a blog called It may be new to you. (launches April 1st). There will be 4 of us blogging about our experience on trying 52 weeks of new things. Every week we will try a new food, drink or activity then blog on our day about how we liked or hated it giving people a firsthand look so that they may try it too. J

Thanks again for having me, Shira.

The Blog Hop Spot's 2012 Easter Blog Hop begins Friday, April 6th and runs through Sunday, April 8th! Leave a comment on my Wordpress blog, http://wp.me/p1ldWQ-63, and you will be entered to win a free ebook copy (format of your choice) of my latest Dreamspinner Press release, "Blue Notes" (or, if you already have that one, of my novella, "The Dream of a Thousand Nights").

I'll be posting an excerpt from the second book in my "Blue Notes" series, "The Melody Thief" for everyone to check out.

Be sure to check out all the other wonderful blogs who have signed up (and all the goodies they are giving away) on the Blog Hop Spot here: http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/

Happy Easter, Happy Passover, and Happy Spring, everyone! -Shira

Thanks to everyone who stopped by for the Easter Blog Hop and a special thanks to Drea Becraft for setting up the Hop! I'm so happy you all enjoyed the excerpt of "The Melody Thief," (Blue Notes, Book #2) which will be published in August. I'll be posting excerpts from two other upcoming releases of mine, "The Trust," a gay spy thriller with an unusual romantic twist, and "Aria," Book #3 in the Blue Notes series (tentative publication December 2012). All from Dreamspinner Press!

The winner of the free ebook for the blog hop contest is Krysykat! Thanks again to everyone who commented. And if you're interested in reading Blue Notes #1, it's available from Dreamspinner Press, AllRomanceEbooks and Amazon in ebook and paperback.

Happy Easter, happy Passover and happy spring to all! -Shira

I had one of the most roller-coaster weeks of my life, but I feel very fortunate and thankful. My husband, Bob, was hit by a minivan on Tuesday night while on a five-mile run (he's been preparing for a triathlon this weekend). He was crossing the street with the light, and someone turned and hit him. Fortunately, he came away with just a concussion and some bruises. I don't even want to think about what might have happened had the driver been going even a few miles faster. So I have a huge "thank you" to send up to whatever diety or power was looking out for him that night, as well as the fire department and EMS. And thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers! Believe it or not, Bob will be competing in the tri as planned (and with the doctors' blessings!).

This week was also the beginning of the editing process for my next release, "The Trust," a gay spy thriller/mystery with a romantic twist, to be published in May or June by Dreamspinner Press. I can't wait to see the beautiful cover I know Dreamspinner's artists will work up for the book! So, as promised, I thought I'd share an excerpt of the prepublication version with you and give you a taste of the novel, which I co-authored with my good friend, Venona Keyes. You can read Chapter 1 in its entirety on my blog: http://shiraanthonydotcom.wordpress.com/

Here's a short blurb for the story: Eight years ago, Trace Michelson recruited Jake Anders into "The Trust," whose "executives" are responsible for identifying and eliminating rogue biotechnology operations under the auspices of the CIA. After Trace is assassinated, Jake is given a "Sim" chip which contains all the memories and experiences of his former mentor. But when Sim becomes reality six years after Trace's death, Jake begins to wonder if Trace is alive.

Jake embarks upon a dangerous journey of self-discovery to learn the truth about Trace and the Sim chip with whom he shares his mind. But will Jake discover the truth before Trace's enemies kill him for the technology implanted in his body? And will Jake finally admit to himself that he is still in love with his long-dead teacher?

Enjoy! -Shira

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The power of dreams... "Blue Notes" and "The Dream of a Thousand Nights" on Dreamspinner Press

www.shiraanthony.com

I’m working hard on edits for my upcoming Dreamspinner Press releases, “The Trust” (June, 2012) and “Blue Notes #2: The Melody Thief” (August, 2012). In the meantime, I thought I’d leave you all with Chapter 3 of “Stealing the Wind,” my paranormal pirate novella. You can find the entire story to date on my website, www.shiraanthony.com. Special thanks to Thea for her beta help! -Shira

Here's the link to Chapter Three: http://shiraanthonydotcom.wordpress.c...

Today is the first day of the Hop Against Homophobia! Please stop by my blog, http://www.shiraanthonydotcom.wordpre.... You can read my rant about North Carolina's new constitutional amendment banning gay marriage) and enter to win a copy of your choice of my Dreamspinner Press titles in ebook format.

Be sure to check out all the other wonderful blogs participating -there are more than 200! -Shira

Day two of the Hop Against Homophobia! If you haven’t already, be sure to leave a comment below with an email address where I can contact you if you win the prize (your choice of one of my Dreamspinner Press titles, including the upcoming “The Trust“).

Today, I thought I’d share an amazing and heart-warming story I read in our Raleigh, North Carolina paper, The News and Observer. Diane Daniel was together with her husband, Wessel, for two years before they got married. But barely two months after they married, Wessell confided to Diane that he wanted to be Diane’s wife, not her husband.

How would you react to something like that? I’d love to say I would be completely fine with it, supportive, and not feel as though it was somehow my fault that my husband wanted to become a woman. But that’d be a lie. Diane, naturally, felt terrible. Sad, guilty, angry — all the things you might imagine. And then, as she describes it, she “opened her heart” to the man who would later become a woman.

Diane and Lina are still together, seven years later, now a same-sex couple. This story just amazed and touched me, and made me consider how, even though we may think we are open-minded and loving, it takes true strength to confront the hidden prejudices and fears that live within each of us.

Please check out the wonderful story from the N&O: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/02/1... And spread the word. Hearts can open, mindsets can be changed. It just takes one person to turn another person’s heart. -Shira

Thanks to everyone who stopped by for the Hop Against Homophobia! I will be contacting the winner of the giveaway today. It was really a joy to share my rants and know that there are people out there listening! What a great way to raise awareness and encourage those of us in “the choir” to go out into the world and spread the word that homophobia is hatred, pure and simple. If each of us just reaches one person and makes him/her think about it, then it was worth it! -Shira

I just got the final artwork from Dreamspinner Press for my upcoming release, “The Trust,” and it rocks! Cover design is by Catt Ford at Dreamspinner. Release date is set for June 18th, and I’ll be running some giveaways and posting excerpts over the next 3 weeks or so. You can also enter the Goodreads giveaway to win a paperback copy of the book here: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho....

The Trust is an M/M suspense/romance, featuring a pair of sexy secret agents, Trace Michelson and Jake Anders. And yes, in case you were wondering after reading the blurb, it DOES have a happily-ever-after (that’s a requirement for any of my books!). You can link to an excerpt from the book here: http://shiraanthonydotcom.wordpress.c....

I hope you enjoy the excerpt. Here’s the blurb:

Eight years ago, Jake Anders was a college kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Then Trace Michelson recruited him into The Trust, a CIA-backed agency whose “executives” eliminate rogue biotechnology operations. Trace was everything Jake ever wanted in a man: powerful, brilliant, and gorgeous. But Jake never admitted his attraction to his mentor, and Trace always kept Jake at arm’s length.

Now Trace is dead and Jake is one of The Trust’s best operatives, highly skilled and loyal to the organization. But the secret agent has his own secret: six years ago, before he was assassinated, Trace designed a Sim chip containing his memories and experiences—and now that chip is part of Jake. It’s just data, designed to augment Jake’s knowledge, but when Sim becomes reality, Jake wonders if Trace is still alive or if Jake really is going crazy like everyone claims. He doesn’t know if he can trust himself, let alone anyone else.

To learn the truth about Trace and the chip, Jake embarks on a dangerous mission—except he’s not the only one looking for the information. Some of the answers are locked in his head, and unless he finds the key, he’ll be killed for the technology that’s become a part of him.

Now, more than ever, Jake wishes Trace were here to guide him. Too bad he’s dead… right?

I've just posted a second excerpt of my upcoming release, The Trust, which I co-authored with Venona Keyes. "The Trust" is a gay spy romance/suspense thriller with a sci fi twist (and yes, it does have a HEA, in case you were wondering).

This excerpt's a bit hotter than the first! http://shiraanthonydotcom.wordpress.c...

Don't forget to enter the Goodreads giveaway: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho... to win a paperback copy.

Enjoy! -Shira