For the first time, Mischief Corner Books is releasing a month-long collection of holiday-themed tales:
Traditional Winter Holidays can be tough for a variety of reasons—family pressures, finding the right gift, homesick longing, and haunting memories to name a few. This collection showcases eleven queer short stories, from tender contemporaries to sweet paranormal to far-flung space tales, all designed to make you want to reach for your hot cocoa and your favorite snuggly spot. Come join us for A Holiday To Remember.
Giveaway:
For this tour, Mischief Corner Books is giving away two $25 gift certificates to their eBook store, and two rainbow beanies. To enter, just use the rafflecopter here, or below:
Story Blurbs & Info
Watermelon Kissesby Freddy McKay
11/29/2017
Life hasn't been easy for Amir since he fled Iran after a brutal imprisonment. The trauma experienced at the hands of the guards left a dark spot on his soul. The one constant in his life since relocating to Chicago has been his lover—now husband—Esmail, whose steadfast love and support has soothed his wounded heart.
But this Shab-e Yalda, Amir wants to be the one giving his husband something special, because even after the darkest nights, the sun will rise again.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/watermelon-kisses.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07767LJM2
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/watermelon-kisses/id1307937583?mt=11
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/watermelon-kisses
Freddy grew up in the Midwest, playing sports and running around outside. And honestly, that much has not changed since Freddy was small and throwing worms at other kids, except worm throwing has been replaced with a healthy geocaching addiction. Freddy enjoys traveling and holds the view a person should continually to learn about new things and people whenever possible.
Freddy's contemporary LGBTQ book, Incubation: Finding Peace 2, won 3rd Place - Best Gay Erotic Fiction in the 2012 Rainbow Awards. In 2013, Freddy's story, Internment, tied for 3rd Place - Best Gay Fantasy in the Rainbow Awards. Freddy's steampunk/SF story, Feel Me, was a Finalist and honorable mention in the 2014 Rainbow Awards for SF. And in 2015, Freddy's urban fantasy Snow on Spirit Bridge was also a Finalist and honorable mention.
For more information on Freddy's work, please visit or email:
Website: Freddy's Stereograph
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/FreddyMacKay
Email: freddy.m.mackay@gmail.com
But To Love MoreF.B. Cassidy
12/2/17
Mel finally gets to go home for Christmas. In his absence, his hometown has changed, and Carlos, his best friend’s little brother, is all grown up and interested in a relationship. But Carlos has his work cut out for him since Mel's having trouble seeing past the little brother part and his big brother, Aldo's determined to keep them apart.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/but-to-love-more.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07767LHRH
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/but-to-love-more/id1308019216?mt=11
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/but-to-love-more
Foster Bridget Cassidy is a rare, native Phoenician who enjoys hot desert air and likes to wear jackets in summer. She has wanted to be a fiction writer since becoming addicted to epic fantasy during high school. Since then, she’s studied the craft academically—at Arizona State University—and as a hobby—attending conventions and workshops around the country. A million ideas float in her head, but it seems like there’s never enough time to get them all down on paper.
Website: https://fosterbridgetcassidy.wordpress.com/
Exclusive Excerpt
Someone pounded on the
door as I spit toothpaste into the sink.
"Hurry up,
Mel!" Brian, my youngest brother, bellowed from the hallway.
"Almost
done," I called out. I turned on the tap and rinsed my mouth. After
washing the toothbrush and putting it in an overly crowded holder, I opened the
door.
Instead of Brian
bum-rushing me, Sue, our sister, entered.
"Hey, I was
next!" Brian yelled, following her into the room.
"Age before
beauty," I told them as I passed.
Sue squawked and Brian
smirked.
I left them to their
petty bickering. Mom would have to separate them before it came to blows. Not
my problem.
I went down the hallway
to my old room. Becky, my sister-in-law, was sitting on my bed with the
littlest one, Lyla, on her lap.
"Just need to grab
my socks," I told her, bending over my suitcase.
She nodded and finished
tying a bow in Lyla's miniature braid. "There," she said, setting the
two-year-old down. Lyla waddled from side to side, trying to get her balance.
"Now go find Grandma. I bet she's making pancakes."
The child giggled and
ran ungracefully from the room.
Becky stood and
followed.
I grabbed my socks and
retreated after them. I pulled my socks on before turning down the tile hallway
toward the kitchen. I hated the cold on my feet. "Morning," Mom called
out happily as we entered the kitchen. "Breakfast is ready." Her hair
pulled back into a mostly gray bun, my mom beamed. All her kids under one roof
again—plus the two grandkids. She was likely high on the familial fumes.
"Smells good,
Ma."
I went to the cupboard
and pulled out a mug, ready to start the day with a surge of caffeine. Except
the coffee pot was empty.
"Dad!" I spun
to face my father, who sat at the head of the table. "You know you're
supposed to refill if you have the last cup."
"I didn't have the
last cup. Chris did."
Scanning the area,
Chris was nowhere in sight. The bastard. I was forced to change the filter, add
the ground beans, and refill the water tank. Not a big deal in the grand scheme
of things, but everyone in the family knew to refill the pot. Even Becky
understood that, and she only joined three years ago.
While the coffee
brewed, I surveyed the kitchen. Becky was sitting with Lyla and Liv; both of
the little girls were already covered in maple syrup. Dad scanned his
newspaper, his fork held in place a few inches from his mouth. Rocket, the
goldendoodle, thumped his tail on the ground in a rhythmic beat. He'd always
knew that Dad would drop a few pieces.
"Where's the
coffee?" Mindy asked. She leaned against the counter next to me, her
protruding stomach looking out of place on her still-thin frame.
"Chris didn't
refill."
Mindy let out a string
of curses.
"Hey, hey,"
said her boyfriend, Patrick, putting his arms around her from behind. He patted
her stomach. "You'll have to watch that language around the baby."
She turned and let him
have a few choice words. She only stopped when the coffee finished.
I poured a cup and sat
at the table. The large plate in the middle had a pile of pancakes plus saucers
of sausage and bacon to either side. The girls had a monopoly on the syrup, so
I grabbed the tub of butter instead.
Mindy sat next to me
and forked several pancakes onto her plate.
"Can Patrick and I
come see you soon?" she asked, then took a large bite of her food.
"Course you can. Just
let me know when."
"One last hurrah
before I pop."
"I've never been
to Arizona," Patrick said, leaning over my sister to speak to me.
"The weather's nice about this time, right?"
"Really nice. It's
summers you want to avoid."
"Maybe we should
have Christmas out there next year," Mindy said. "Mild and sunny is
so much better than gray and snowy."
"Speak for
yourself. I'm sick of all the sunshine. These clouds are refreshing."
"Only ‘cause you
don't have to shovel snow," Mindy retorted.
"Neither do
you," Patrick said.
She gestured to her
stomach. "Well, obviously not in this state. You want me to hurt the
baby?"
As those two escalated,
Brian and Sue entered, still yelling at one another. Their loud voices added to
the cacophony of the chaos in the kitchen. I couldn't even hear my own
thoughts. It was just a constant stream of chatter, most of it snippy or
sarcastic.
Finally, Chris entered,
slipping a cellphone into his pants pocket. He took the last chair tucked
between his wife and Dad.
"Why didn't you refill
the coffee?" I asked as soon as he sat.
"I got a phone
call. Important."
"You could have
done it while on the phone. I mean, there's nine of us. We need coffee."
"Right, there's
nine of us. I'm sure at least one of you knows how to make coffee."
And then we were
going at it, adding to the dissonance of everyone around us.
At the other end of the
table, Mom smiled happily.
Corey's Christmas Bundle (Atherton Pack 5)Toni Griffin
12/6/2017
Being pregnant is not all it’s cracked up to be, especially when you’re male and a shifter. Even though the world now knows about wolf shifters, their male’s ability to bare young is still a closely guarded secret. Since Corey's pregnancy is now visible, he's been stuck at home working on code and waiting for company to drop by. Problem is, though, the human government wants to know where Corey is.
As Christmas and Corey’s due date draw ever nearer, Ben devises a plan that will not only get Corey out of the house, but allows the wolves of Atherton Pack to give the community some Christmas cheer.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/coreys-christmas-bundle.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07767KDTR
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/coreys-christmas-bundle/id1308017697?mt=11
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/corey-s-christmas-bundle
Toni Griffin lives in Darwin, the smallest of Australia’s capital cities. Born and raised in the state she’s a Territorian through and through. Growing up Toni hated English with a passion (as her editors can probably attest to) and found her strength lies with numbers.
Now, though, she loves escaping to the worlds she creates and hopes to continue to do so for many years to come. She’s a single mother of one and works full time. When she’s not writing you can just about guarantee that she will be reading one of the many MM authors she loves. Feel free to drop her a line at info@tonigriffin.net anytime.
For more information about Toni's work, please visit:
Website: http://tonigriffin.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/toni.griffin.author
Safety Protocols For Human HolidaysAngel Martinez
12/9/2017
As a security officer on an interspecies ship, Growlan Raskli's experienced in heading off species-specific aberrant behaviors in order to keep the peace. But when her captain asks her to find out what's bothering their sole human crew member, Raskli's out of her depths. She hardly knows anything about humans and she's not a psych doctor.
Something's definitely upset Human Jen, something to do with human holidays. The more time Raskli spends studying humans and interacting with the intriguing Human Jen, the more personal the assignment becomes. Determined to lift the dark cloud from Human Jen, Raskli will do whatever it takes—within safe parameters, of course.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/saftey-protocols-for-human-holidays.htmlhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776H1DZM/
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/safety-protocols-for-human-holidayshttps://itunes.apple.com/us/book/safety-protocols-for-human-holidays/id1308094310?mt=11
While Angel Martinez is the erotic fiction pen name of a writer of several genres, she writes both kinds of queer fiction – Science Fiction and Fantasy. Currently living part time in the hectic sprawl of northern Delaware, (and full time inside the author's head) Angel has one husband, one son, two cats, a changing variety of other furred and scaled companions, a love of all things beautiful and a terrible addiction to the consumption of both knowledge and chocolate.
For more information on Angel’s work, please visit:
Website: Erotic Fiction for the Hungry Mind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Angel.Martinez.author
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1010469.Angel_Martinez
Email: angelmartinezauthor@gmail.com
Secrets & SilkNicole Dennis
12/13/2017
Quiet, strait-laced David Appleton thinks he’s going to have a problem at work. A new co-worker discovered his secret in the locker room. Unable to confront someone, David let him walk away. Now he worries everyone will know his deepest held secret. A secret hidden under his signature vest, tie, and trousers.
Since walking in on his co-worker, CJ O’Connell tries to get a moment to speak with the shy David, but nothing works. His last hope—the Secret Santa Gift Exchange party. Perhaps a special gift can peel away the secrets.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/secrets--silk.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07767S6XC
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/secrets-silk
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/secrets-silk/id1308018662?mt=11
A quiet one, Nicole Dennis curled up with the latest book of a favorite author. Since the beginning, there were these characters in her head, worlds wanting to be built on paper, and stories wanting to be told. She began writing during class and continues to this day. Now she can let others into her imagination and worlds that always celebrate the love between two or more people within LGBT, paranormal, and fantasy.
During the day, she works in a quiet office in Central Florida, where she also makes her home, and enjoys the down time to slip into her imagination. She is owned by a semi-demonic tortie calico, affectionately known as Fat Cat. For more information on Nicole, please visit:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NicoleDennis.Author
Blog: http://nicoledennisauthor.blogspot.com
Website: http://nicoledennisauthor.com
Email: nicoledennis.author@gmail.com
GoodreadsQ&A with Nicole Dennis: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/50397-q-a-with-nicole-dennis
Goodreads Profile: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2791975.Nicole_Dennis
Winter HomeKassandra Lea
12/16/17
It's Christmastime and the snow is falling. Restoring an old Victorian manor has been keeping contractor Brett Hawkins busy. The project's meant to be complete by Christmas, but there's no way he can get it done in time, especially with the big day right around the corner.
Meanwhile, his beloved Manuel Aguilar is grappling with depression, and he's consumed by guilt that it's kept him from putting up the decorations. But his biggest concern is that he may be ruining the holiday for Brett. As Manny struggles, unable to recognize his own courage in every small gain, Brett has a surprise that may help break depression's hold.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/winter-home.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07769VJ4T
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/winter-home
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/winter-home/id1308019153?mt=11
I have my mom to thank for so much. First of all, she fostered a love of reading. According to her I've been reading since I could hold a book and I got my first library card at age 3. Growing up I used to read 100 books a year, but of course, that doesn't happen as often since there's writing to do and a day job.
Secondly, I have to thank her for always pushing me to keep chasing my dream of being an author. Who else am I going to bounce ideas off of, and she helps me when I get stuck. Suppose you could say she's my biggest fan.
When I'm not writing I enjoy time with my dog, tending my garden, baking sweet treats, walking through crunchy fall leaves and blankets of cold snow, playing video games, and reading! I've a fondness for horses and blankets (is it possible to own too many?)
And yes, some days I still wish I was Batman. For more information about Kassandra and her work, please visit:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cheddarsgal
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7369580.Kassandra_Lea
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leakassie/
Christmas Eve Craigslist KillerJill Wexler
12/18/17
The public library's computer geek, aka Travis, is content skirting the edges of social interaction. He's fully committed to being a boring, twenty-something IT guy who likes his office more than people, a guy someone like Connor would never fall for. Connor, who works on the library floor as a page, is outgoing, social, and charming and everything else that stands for "fun."
An interaction between the two at the library on Christmas Eve has Travis accidentally mentioning that he failed to find this year's hottest toy for his nephew. Immediately, Connor goes on a quick hunt online, and finds one. The only problem is that the Craigslist seller is hours away and Travis is sure spending hours in a car with quirky, handsome Connor can only end badly.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/the-christmas-eve-craigslist-killer.html
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Eve-Cragislist-Killer-Remember-ebook/dp/B077CRWTT1
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-christmas-eve-craigslist-killer
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1312656296
Jill started writing back in the day of notebook paper and erasable pens (blue ink is best), when her mom’s typewriter was out of ribbon. Then she graduated to a word processing program in MS-DOS, then WordPerfect. Her computer sadly caught the Blue Screen of Death and all was lost. She stopped writing for an extremely long time, because “life.”
She lives in the upper Bible Belt, rolls her eyes a lot and drinks enough wine to consider it a sacrifice to the gods that her kids won’t need too much therapy down the road.
A while back, Jill picked up writing again with a woman’s site and the writing fever spiked. But she’s actually new to publishing, so there may or may not have been more wine involved recently (only one glass was harmed in the making of this story and it was a mason jar so…bygones).
Articles: http://suburbanmisfitmom.com/writer/jill-wexler/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jill.Wexler73Email: Jillwexler73@gmail.com
New BeginningsJayne Lockwood
12/20/17
Nick is not looking forward to his second Christmas without Sammi, his gorgeous ex-fiancee. She left him on New Year’s Eve, a week after their engagement, and he still doesn’t know why.
A chance meeting whilst out Christmas shopping reveals that Sammi is now Sam, a transgender man. As the reasons behind their break-up become clearer, Nick cannot make sense of his new feelings. He is shocked by the deep attraction he still has to Sam, and what that says about himself.
It will take Nick's straight-talking family, and Sam’s guiding hand, to help him discover that gender is no barrier to love.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/new-beginnings.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077GK88WH
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/new-beginnings-117
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1313603446
Jayne Lockwood has been writing for most of her life, starting with really bad poetry as a teenager, usually railing against nuclear war (it was the 1970's.) There followed a couple of novels, long since consigned to flames (probably just as well, TBH,) and the hazy idea that maybe one day, she would get something published. Her first successful writing assignment was for the college newspaper of the County College of Morris, in Randolph, New Jersey, where she studied Journalism.
Since then, Jayne has been involved in projects closer to home, working closely with other authors to continue to develop their writing. Two pieces of her prose can be found in Chalk Road, a collaborative anthology from local writers, sponsored by Wycombe District Council, and she has invariably been involved in a writing group, as well as running a local book group.
She has also had five Black Lace titles published by Virgin Books, under the pseudonym, Savannah Smythe, and has collaborated with glamour celebrity, Abi Titmuss, to produce 10 Fantasies, Abi's collection of short stories.
Jayne has also published three M/M erotica stories, Lexington Black, Docklands Diamond and My Boyfriend Is A Dog, under S A Smythe. In addition to that, she writes book reviews for WROTE Podcast, a forum for LGBTQ readers and writers. She helped set up the podcast in 2015 with fellow writers, S A Collins (sacollins.com) and Vance Bastian (vancebastian.com) and is proud to say the podcast is going from strength to strength.
The Cloud Seeker is Jayne's first mainstream novel, and draws upon her background as a Chilterns woman and her affection for the US, where she lived for two years.
Soon after, she rediscovered the very first manuscript she started back in 1996. After many hours of updating, it was finally published on Amazon. Closer Than Blood is a tale of hit men, blackmail and forbidden passion, set in Manhattan. Both novels are currently available as ebook and paperback, from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and many on-line book retailers.
She always has at least one novel in the background, and at the present time she is working on her first science fiction novel, working title Euphoria, based on the nuclear bunker near where she lives.
For more information about Jayne and her work, please visit:
Website: https://hollowhillspublishing.blogspot.com/
A Piece Of OurselvesTray Ellis
12/23/2017
Balancing holidays between two families can make cheerful celebrations into chores. Carson Benedetti's mom has overscheduled the Christmas holidays and she's more than insistent that boyfriend Tynan Harris come into the family fold. There's so much to do Tynan can't find time to bring Carson over to his own family and he feels like they are being left in the dust.
After dating for nine months, and with their relationship becoming more serious, Tynan's patience is sorely tested by the multitude of Benedetti family traditions keeping them busy. Tynan needs to figure out how to find some breathing room, split their time more fairly, and make Christmas more than just tradition by rote.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/a-piece-of-ourselves.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077L6Z9SZ/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-piece-of-ourselves/id1315340653
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077L6Z9SZ/
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-piece-of-ourselves
Tray Ellis grew up across from an empty field, where she spun a lot of imaginary adventures, helping to prepare her for a lifetime of writing. When she isn’t writing, she stays active by hiking, cooking, stacking the odd cord of wood in the shed, baking, and being too busy to keep her home in any semblance of order. Currently she tries to find a balance between the logical way she thinks and the flights of fancy she often daydreams about. Mostly, the daydreams are winning. For more information about Tray, please visit:
Website: https://trayellis.dreamwidth.org
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6564767.Tray_Ellis
I Only Want to Be With YouScott Coatsworth
12/27/2017
Derrek is dealing with the recent, unexpected death of his mother. He’s been alone for five year since his husband Will died, and he’s ready to find someone new and to start living again. Ryan lost his partner, David, in an auto accident, and is dating Alex, who doesn’t treat him right.
Derrek can’t figure out why Ryan won’t see what’s right in front of his face. Why does Ryan come to him to talk about all his hopes, dreams, and fears, then go home to Alex?
If Derrek can figure that out, they might just have a shot.
Buy Links:
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/i-only-want-to-be-with-you.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077NG49G1
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-only-want-to-be-with-you
Scott is the admin for the Queer Sci Fi site. He has been writing since elementary school, when he and won a University of Arizona writing contest in 4th grade for his first sci fi story (with illustrations!). He finished his first novel in his mid twenties, but after seeing it rejected by ten publishers, he gave up on writing for a while.
Over the ensuing years, he came back to it periodically, but it never stuck. Then one day, he was complaining to Mark, his husband, early last year about how he had been derailed yet again by the death of a family member, and Mark said to him "the only one stopping you from writing is you."
Since then, Scott has gone back to writing in a big way, finishing more than a dozen short stories – some new, some that he had started years before – and seeing his first sale. He's embarking on a new trilogy, and also runs a support group for writers of gay sci fi, fantasy, and supernatural fiction.
Website: http://www.jscottcoatsworth.com/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/jscottcoatsworth/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jscoatsworth
A New Year On Vega IIISiri Paulson
12/30/2017
On the colony planet Vega III, everyone knows Beck—outgoing, fabulous, and genderqueer—and nobody notices Anil, the quiet plant biologist. But when Anil finds Beck hiding in his greenhouse, lonely and missing Earth, it's Anil who is able to comfort Beck by letting them talk about what they miss most—the feeling that comes with celebrating the holidays with loved ones, especially New Year's Eve.
The two of them are drawn to one another, but both of them are hiding secrets about their sexuality. With trust between them already on shaky ground, Anil's elaborate plans to cheer Beck may well backfire.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/a-new-year-on-vega-iii.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077RZ6YZQ
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-new-year-on-vega-iii
I write all over the fantasy and science fiction spectrum, including (so far) secondary-world fantasy, urban fantasy, steampunk, Gothic, historical paranormal, spaceships, and various unholy mashups of these.
I grew up in Alberta, Canada, but now live in an old house in Toronto. My other current passion is contra dance, a social/folk dance done to live Celtic and roots music. My favourite places in the world are the Canadian Rocky Mountains and a little valley in Norway. In my other life, I edit non-fiction for the government.
For more information, please visit or email:
Website: https://siripaulson.wordpress.com/Email: s_l_paulson@yahoo.ca
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