Inhuman Beings By Richard May

Title: Inhuman Beings

Author: Richard May

Release Date: June 15th 2017

Genre: Gay Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Erotic

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Fall in love with a shapeshifter in San Francisco, a ghost in Scotland, or a vampire in Russia. Time travel to 1920s Mesopotamia, 1600's Africa, or to ancient Greece before time even existed. Find yourself on a distant planet, in love with a creature whose very being can destroy you, or in a post-apocalyptic world, drawn to a mutation created by the destruction of Earth.

Enjoy these 18 erotic stories about romantic encounters between men and not men--monsters and myths, gods and demons, science fiction and fantasy. Each story is the stuff of nightmares--and of dreams.

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Paperback Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK *The paperback version has 3 new stories*

Ebook Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK | MLR Press

REVIEWS

“With Inhuman Beings, May seductively crosses the boundaries of time and space, the real and the imaginary, in these spellbinding tales of love and lust and things that go bump, not to mention hump, in the night.”

– Rob Rosen, editor of the Best Gay Erotica series

“Inhuman Beings is an enormously imaginative, genre-crossing work in the tradition of Peter Cashorali’s groundbreaking Fairy Tales but with greater breadth and franker eroticism; an impres­sive achievement.”

– Michael Nava, author of the Henry Rios novels

“Inhuman Beings represents a seminal work in gay male erotic literature that draws on the threads and yarns of our cultures and civiliza­tions. Tales from many countries and eras transport you across the globe and through the years, making this book one that will stand the test of time.”

– Wayne Goodman, author of Better Angels

“Richard May’s new collection of short fiction contains an international menagerie of legendary creatures. There’s a Hindu god, a Native American cyclone spirit, a Chinese rain dragon, a moody Jewish golem, a sadistic Iraqi jinn, and more. Fans of the homoerotic melded with the speculative and the paranormal will savor every page of Inhuman Beings.”

—Jeff Mann, author of Country and Consent

"The beauty of this collection lies in its imagination – May is doing nothing less than writing a gay mythology, complete with monsters and fairy tales, imagined futures and refreshed pasts. His bold infusion of desire into mythology and encounters with the paranormal is unique, bracing and insightful. Inhuman Beings is full of a kind of sacred frivolity.”

—Trebor Healey, author of Faun and Eros & Dust

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT 

from Shen Lung and the Old Farmer

When I felt the first drops of rain, I turned the tractor around and headed back to the shed. There was lightning and thunder and the sky opened. Rain pummeled me. The damn tractor stalled and I got off the seat to see what I could do. Part of me wanted to run for the house, but it wouldn’t be good for the tractor to sit in a downpour. The rain was warm anyway. 

While I tinkered under the hood, the sky seemed to get steadily darker and strong wind gusts began to blow. Oddly, they came straight down. I heard the wind screech wildly and looked up. 

A huge blue dragon filled the sky above me, hovering. Steam came from its enormous nostrils; its large yellow eyes focused unswervingly on me. Wings feathered in sky blue beat the air. Its scaly azure body undulated over me, casting a spell.

I woke from it though when the dragon screeched again, sapphire tongue showing in its wide indigo mouth. I screamed and ran but talons caught me. One set of yellowed nails gripped my shoulder; the second tore at my clothing. 

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About the Author

Richard May’s short fiction has been published in his collections Inhuman Beings and Ginger Snaps: Photos & Stories (with photographer David Sweet), his series Gay All Year on Amazon Kindle, in anthologies like Never Too Late, Best Gay Erotica, and the Lambda Literary nominated Outer Voices Inner Lives, and in literary journals, including Bay Laurel, Chelsea Station, and Hyacinth Noir.

Rick also organizes the monthly Perfectly Queer book reading series with his partner Wayne Goodman in Oakland CA at Nomadic Press: Uptown and in San Francisco at Dog Eared Books Castro, individual LGBTQ Pride Readings for visiting authors, the annual literary festival Word Week in Noe Valley CA, and an online book club Reading Queer Authors Lost to AIDS.

Rick is from Sacramento CA and Brooklyn NY and now lives in San Francisco. He has red hair and truly believes in all things ginger. Another genetic stunner: he is 19th cousin to Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

Please follow him on social media at facebook.com/richardmaywriter, @rickmaywritr on Twitter, and richard.may1313 on Instagram.

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Taste on My Tongue Buy Beth Bolden

Title: Taste on My Tongue

Author: Beth Bolden

Release Date: August 15th 2017

Genre: MM Contemporary Romance

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Almost pop-star Landon Patton has just turned a corner on the worst two years of his life: dropped by his label and dumped by his ungrateful ex-boyfriend. However, his new agent's brilliant plan for Landon's superstardom doesn’t have anything to do with his music – it’s called Kitchen Wars, and it’s the hottest new reality show on TV.

Landon wishes he could have nothing to do with it.

Since the first morning he mixed flour and water, Quentin Maxwell knew he wanted to be a baker. After becoming the pastry chef at a popular LA bakery, anyone else might be satisfied. But Quen wants to call his own shots. Going on Kitchen Wars to win the money for his own bakery seems like a huge risk, but maybe it's worth it.

They’re an unlikely pair. Landon can’t even figure out how to turn an oven on, while Quentin makes his living with one. But with each passing week on Kitchen Wars, they discover what a great team they make – on set, off set, and between the sheets. 

Winning should be everything, but what happens when the tastiest pairing is their own?

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Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

Landon takes a deep, unsteady breath and focuses. “Okay. What do I need to do first?”

Quentin leads him through cutting the brie into chunks, then forming the ground beef around the cheese. The ground beef feels gross, and Landon can’t bear to look down at his hands. Out his periphery he can see the cameras looming down on them as he makes one disgusted face after another, giggling through the slime sliding between his fingers and the responding fondness in Quentin’s eyes as he leans down to get closer to Landon.

Landon hopes the cameras catch how sweet Quentin’s smile is as he runs to the sinks to wash his hands the literal second the last burger patty is finished.

When Landon returns to their station, Quentin’s waiting there with an expectant expression. “Ready to chop?” he asks with a sly twist to his lips.

Landon makes a face. “I hate chopping.”

“Chop, chop, baby,” Quentin teases. And Landon is pretty sure at least one of the cameras has been focused almost exclusively on them since the thirty minute countdown started. He knows they’re cute, knows they’re flirting with each other, almost unconsciously at this point, and realizes they are making really excellent television.

So it’s not like he plays up the flirting for extra effect, but well, if he bats his eyelashes a moment longer while he wipes and carefully chops the mushrooms and washes the arugula, then nobody can really blame him. The public isn’t actually voting for them, but Landon knows how this all really works. If they become crowd favorites, the producers will make sure they stick around.

Quentin cottons on as he moves to set the burgers carefully onto the stovetop grill. “What are you doing?” he asks quietly, leaning in and letting the sizzling of the cooking meat prevent the cameras from picking up on his words.

Landon leans in further. If the cameras catch any of this, it’ll just look like two boys who seem very much into each other—which is technically true. “What I can to make sure we win,” he says and rises up on his tiptoes and presses a quick, fleeting kiss to Quentin’s cheek.

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About the Author

Beth Bolden lives in Portland, Oregon with her supportive husband and their beloved cat. She wholly believes in Keeping Portland Weird, but wishes she didn't have to make the yearly pilgrimage up to Seattle to watch her Boston Red Sox play baseball. She's a fan of fandoms, and spends too much of her free time on tumblr.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn't a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She's published two novels, The Lucky Charm and Getting Lucky, and a short story, Eye of the Storm. Her next novel, Summer Attractions, will be released in August 2016.

Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads | Amazon

Releasing Chaos By Lexi Ander

Title: Releasing Chaos

Author: Lexi Ander

Series: Sumeria's Sons #6

Release Date: August 1, 2017

Categories: Gay, Paranormal, Poly, Urban Fantasy

Word Count: 132,000 words

Cover Artist: Kirby Crow

BLURB

Everything Tristan, Ushna, and Brian have fought for comes down to the moment they face Inanna and Marduk. Before then, Ushna must embrace his destiny and be transformed by Tiamat. But he returns with a fractured mind and will need the help of the new firebird or he'll be lost to the insanity of a primordial God. If he's lost, so is the balance Brian and Tristan sorely need.

Tristan has vowed to care for his ex-Flame, Theo Sullivan, who is doomed to forget more and more with each use of his new ability. When not dealing with his stubborn ex, Tristan must free the warriors stolen by the government and devise a trap for Inanna.

And that's only the start of the challenges, and everything that can still go wrong.

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Find Sumeria’s Sons series on Goodreads

EXCERPT

Prologue

~The Nameless

We Nameless had been running hard for many days. Something crawled under our ruff, beckoning us to go southeast. The part of us that was once human cowered in the back of our minds, pleading with us to stay in our dens, but we could not. The pull was strong, and we responded to the urgent need that seeped into our paws from the ground.

"Hurry," The Earth Mother whispered to us.

Months ago, our alpha freed us from the vileness of our human side, locking away the corruption so we could teach our humans the lessons they had either forgotten or were never taught. We shared the joys of running on four paws, of being family, of supporting each other through the hunt. We gave them our love for the land, the sky, the water, and for each other. We showed them how to work together and yet still be individuals. For we were wolf. Hunter. Predator. Mother. Father. Family.

Now as they proclaimed their fear, we would teach them how to stand together, to use their instincts to discern right from wrong. The Earth Mother called us to the alpha's aid. Though he made us Nameless, he had shown us mercy and set us free. He would forever be our alpha and we his tribe, his people.

As we loped, closing the distance between us and the one who needed us, the Earth Mother pushed healing through our paws, fortifying our energy and curbing our hunger. We stopped briefly alongside a stream to drink our fill before once again we hurried on. The urgency rode us as we ran across fields, through sleepy towns, over grassy plains, and entered foreign woods. We were close now and we hoped we would arrive in time.

As one, we threw our voices into the wind. "We come to stand by your side. To be your shield. To hunt with you and take down your prey. To protect our people. We come, our Alpha, we come."

*~*~*

~Jory Swaine

I didn't know what disturbed me from a sound sleep, but an itch between my shoulders forced me from my room to prowl the dark house. For a couple of days now, I'd been sensing… I pushed out the back door, barely catching the screen before it slapped noisily against the frame, waking the whole house.

Before tragedy had taken Tristan away from us for half a year, he'd entrusted into my care the wolf forms of the traitors who'd attempted to murder him. Members of Tribe Uras collaborated with the rogue, Craig Stoiler, and invaded Tristan's ranch. I would've had them killed for their treachery, but Tristan had another idea. He'd stripped the people of their human form, giving their wolf dominion. The demonstration of his power as the supreme alpha and prince of our people proved his lineage to the doubting members of the Council of Five, but there was an additional reason for his action. He'd given them a second chance, of sorts, and ordered some twenty-eight wolves to follow my commands as their handler.

Whatever type of transformation magic Tristan performed had a lasting effect. With the events that had transpired following his return, I didn't have a chance to relay to him I could still feel those wolves. He'd tied them to me that fate-filled day, not that I was upset. What I sensed of them was harmless, a simple awareness nestled in the back of my mind, telling me their state of being and general welfare… until now.

The stars shone sharp and bright overhead, the sky a virtual blanket of diamonds. The sight still made my breath catch, especially after spending so many years in California cities, where the light was muted. My eyes were drawn to the northwest. The string attaching me to them pulled with their sense of urgency. They were coming. Perhaps it was time to tell Tristan about my relationship with them. Something caused the pack to leave their dens in the Canadian tundra. I wasn't sure if this sense of urgency coming from them was a portent of good or evil. For Tristan's sake, I hoped the banished members of Tribe Uras didn't intend to attack him a second time. I'd grown quite fond of the playfulness of their wolves in the corner of my mind, and I'd hate to be the one who sent them on to their next reincarnation.

Review: 

This series should be read in order, but it's a very good series. I love the fantasy aspects that incorporate old mythology as well as wolf shifters and Dragons. This book is longer than most of the rest of the series, but it wraps up all of the dangling ends from the rest of the books. 

I don't want to get much into spoilers for those who haven't read the series, so lets just say; if you like fantasy, read this entire series. 


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 About the Author

Lexi has always been an avid reader, and at a young age started reading (secretly) her mother’s romances (the ones she was told not to touch). She was the only teenager she knew of who would be grounded from reading. Later, with a pencil and a note book, she wrote her own stories and shared them with friends because she loved to see their reactions. A Texas transplant, Lexi now kicks her boots up in the Midwest with her Yankee husband and her eighty-pound puppies named after vacuum cleaners.

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