When Andreas and I went to a gay film festival last year, there was only one movie on the docket that sounded interesting: Judas Kiss. I wasn’t clear on the plot, but I caught the words “time travel.” I couldn’t imagine how that would play out in a gay movie. A pink police box? Or a DeLorean blaring Lady Gaga at 88 decibels to break through the time barrier? The man who introduced the film at the festival said: “Here’s a film about very unusual events … uh … Just watch it and see what you think.” At the time, it seemed a lousy intro. Now I find myself agreeing with the guy. You really should just watch it, preferably a few times, and see what you think.

But you probably want to know more, so here we go. First the basics. Judas Kiss does have elements of science-fiction, but only in a Twilight Zone kind of way. There are indeed unusual events, namely the main character meeting his younger self. There’s no cheesy plot device or tiresome explanation of how this happens. Instead, the main character Zachary Wells takes a trip back to the university where his career as a filmmaker hit its peak. Once there, things get a little surreal when he meets his younger self, Danny Reyes (who hasn’t yet changed his name to Zachary Wells), and gets caught up in the very events he feels ruined his life. Sound convoluted? It is, but that journey of discovery makes the fist viewing of Judas Kiss such a joy.

Zachary tries to stop his younger self from making the same mistakes, which is hopeless since Danny is on top of the world and still at that age where he feels invincible. Plus he has problems of his own. The most influential guy on campus, Shane Lyons, has taken a shine to Danny and has the power to make or break him. And then there’s adorable doe-eyed Chris, Shane’s former pet project, who knows first hand how Danny will be used and discarded. Chris wants to protect Danny while stealing his heart away from Shane. Oh, the wonderful drama of it all!

That there’s so much happening in Judas Kiss makes it delightfully rewatchable. Aside from the ninety minutes stuffed with plot and the complex relationships of the major players, the secondary and sometimes silent characters also have their stories to tell if you pay attention. And while your mind is enraptured, your nether regions will be just as pleased, since the boys of Judas Kiss are very hot. Best of all, they aren’t the muscle bound clones that infest many gay films. They each have character and charm that makes them delicious to the eye. Charlie David (Zachary) is hunky, Richard Harmon (Danny) is haunting, Sean Paul Lockhart (Chris) is notoriously attractive, and then there’s Timo Descamps (Shane) who plays the bad boy to perfection. Not only do they look good, but each is a competent actor as well.

Judas Kiss has got it going on and deserves the praise it’s been getting. If you’re put off by the sci-fi elements, don’t be. There is plenty of love and romance in this film to keep you satisfied. There’s also much that is new and fresh, which I feel is long overdue in gay cinema. Give Judas Kiss a shot—really give it your full attention—and I think you’ll discover an exciting new movie that promises a successful future for the creators of the film, and many more delights for us in the audience.

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2. One of the main characters is an irresistibly sexy and charming demon. Another a scruffy Irishmen without a moral to his name. And then there’s the main character, who is searching for love and purpose, something we can all relate to.

3. Sex in the afterlife! Have you ever wondered what it would be like, or if it’s even possible?

4. The book deals with the religious beliefs of different world cultures, and presents the information in a way that’s fun to read and easily digestible. Just think how smart and worldly you’ll sound at the next party you go to!

5. Because you’ve already read tons of boy-meets-boy books, and it’s good to branch out occasionally and try something new.

6. Hell’s Pawn is an award winner, landing a Rainbow Award for Best Gay Fantasy and an honorable mention as Best Gay Novel of 2011.

7. My prices are awesome. Most gay themed books cost twice as much as mine, if not more. That doesn’t mean I skimp on the editing or presentation. You’re still getting a professional product, just at a ridiculously cheap price. Plus, buying this book will help keep me alive and fed so I can write that book you guys have been clamoring for. You know the one!

8. All the good reviews at places like Amazon, or even Forbes.

9. It may be fantasy, but the settings and characters are contemporary, and there is plenty of gay romance and hot guys involved. In a sense, it’s only fantasy because it’s such a wild tale.

10.

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Considering this, you can understand why I feel so proud to be recognized on that site. For once, Something Like Summer wasn’t the star performer. Hell’s Pawn won a Rainbow Award for Best Gay Fantasy and also won an Honorable Mention in the Best Gay Novel category. Of course the most popular kid in school didn’t go completely unnoticed. Something Like Summer scored an Honorable Mention in the Best 2011 LGBT Cover contest. My lovely husband has much to be proud of. His art was up against hundreds and hundreds (and hundreds!) of covers, with some really stunning work on display this year.

The biggest winner in the Rainbow Awards is the reader, since it’s not just the top sellers that are gaining recognition. A lot of overlooked books rise to the top through this contest, which means we can look over the list of winners and runners-up on Elisa’s site and discover great new books to read. But first, I’m off to buy some champagne!

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My Gay Book Club is a wonderful site for gay fiction that has been hibernating the last year. Now it has woken up, just in time for winter, but maybe Something Like Summer is to blame since it’s the book of the month. Head on over there, check out some of the old reviews and discussions, and visit the brand new forums. And while you’re there, share your thoughts about Ben, Tim, and Jace. They’ll be listening.

There’s a wee little store you might have heard of called Amazon, and the good folks there (that just happen to keep food on my table) chose Something Like Summer as one of 2011’s Best Gay Books. And mine just happens to be the cheapest book up there. In price I mean, not in standards.

On to other unstoppable couples, my next gay romance novel has returned from the editor covered in more red than Carrie on prom night. This is good, because it means we’re one step closer to a new release. By the time you guys are tired of sucking on your frozen digits and begging for a little spring heat, I hope to have a new book to help warm you up inside. And no, I still haven’t revealed the title yet, because I’m weird.

Andreas has been a busy boy too, creating illustrations for the Cat in the Cradle sequel From Darkness to Darkness. The cover art is complete as well as half the illustrations. This time, instead of asking him to come up with an image for each chapter, I requested a handful that help bring key scenes to life. So far all the drawings for the sequel feature hot guys. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but I’m starting to think Andreas might be gay.

As for next month… Oh my gosh! That’s all I have to say for right now.

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Something Like Summer is book of the month over on Goodread’s M/M Romance group. Readers have been chiming in on their opinions of the book, and I’ve been sharing some insights into the plot and the choices I made. If you’re not a member of Goodreads, I highly recommend it since there’s no better site to share and rank what you’re reading. The M/M Group over there is a wonderfully friendly place to chat about gay fiction.

Something Like Summer has also been the book of the month over at YAMM Books, a new site reviewing gay fiction that is young at heart. Many readers ask me for book recommendations. This site is the perfect answer. It’s a great source for books and authors you might not have discovered.

After a marathon of hunching over my laptop, I’m happy to announce the completion of a new novel. I’m not ready to release a title or synopsis yet, since this is only a first draft, but fans of Something Like Summer should be pleased as it’s another contemporary romance novel. And no, it’s not the oft requested sequel, but I think you’ll fall in love with these new characters just as much. Along with From Darkness to Darkness (The Cat in the Cradle sequel), I expect these two books to be released sometime next year.

There’s a new interview with me over at Diary of a Gay Erotica Author where I talk about satisfying myself (huh-huh-huh) and how readers have the power to make or break a book.

On a more personal note, today (September 27th) is my wedding anniversary. Andreas and I tend not to make a big deal out of it. We prefer to celebrate the day we first met, but since I love the big guy, I thought it was worth mentioning here. We plan on going out to eat to celebrate, because getting fat together is one of the coolest things about being married.

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As for the story, I did another rewrite and had the book edited again to bring it up to par with my other releases. There’s even some new content! A few scenes have been flushed out, the story matured ever-so-slightly to get away from the Young Adult taboo that causes so many adults to tremble and flee. But wait, there’s more new stuff! Andreas designed a glorious fantasy map that covers the northern portion of the Five Lands. The southern map will be included in the second book.

That’s right! Now we’re finally to the kittens reference. The Cat in the Cradle is now part of the Loka Legends series. I wrote the second book earlier this year, and rarely have I ever been so excited about a project. For those that haven’t read the first book yet, much of it has to do with Dylan and Tyjinn and the love they feel for each other. I wanted to continue Dylan’s story and see where the growth he experiences in the first book would take him. I don’t want to give anything away, but believe me—if you don’t read the first book you’ll be missing out on an amazing sequel.

As always, buying options are to the right. You’ll find them below Hell’s Pawn, which is still king right now. Or you can learn more and read free chapters on the book’s product page. I hope you guys will join me for my first series. Something tells me it won’t be my last.

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As I get older, I notice just how beautiful youth is. I mean more than just the physical. Being the terribly nostalgic person I am, when young people catch my eye I think back to how wild, stupid, dreadful, mysterious, and wonderful life was back then. For me, it also meant a lot of romantic adventures. When I look at these hot young guys, I’m not undressing them in my mind. Nor do I have any desire to see them in my bed. Instead I’m thinking of all the opportunities they have, all the fun waiting for them, and I hope they find someone their own age to experience this journey with. This is my wish for my characters too. I adore them, enjoy being in their heads or seeing them from the outside, but I want them to find their own way in the world. I love them, but they aren’t for me, so the most I can do is admire them from afar and try to guide them in the right direction.

As crazy as all of this might sound, the infatuation I feel for people that don’t exist is a good omen. If I write a joke that doesn’t make me laugh, chances are you won’t laugh either. If I don’t fall head over heels in love with my characters, then why would you? The days I’m too busy to write, I have a nagging feeling that tells me to call these characters, to check up on them and make sure they’re doing okay. With a little luck, you’ll feel the same way when you set the book down for too long. Speaking of which, just wait until you meet Connor. It’ll be awhile before you do, but believe me, you’re going to love him!

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The second can be found at Taboo Indeed. There I chat about explicit sex scenes, Something Like Summer, and famous people coming out. Leave a comment on Taboo Indeed’s site, just below the interview, for a chance to win a print or eBook copy of Something Like Summer. Have fun!

*Update* A winner has been chosen.  Congratulations Carmen, and thanks to all that left a comment!

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As fun as it was to see one of my characters come to life on the page, Andreas didn’t draw this with a cover in mind, but this piece did end up influencing the direction we took. I liked the idea of Rimmon being on the cover, since he’s not only sexy, but intriguing. I don’t like to pin Andreas down creatively, so I described Rimmon vaguely, mostly only stressing his attractiveness. The first result is below.

Yeah, that’s hot, but it’s also a lot younger than I expected. Naughty Andreas! I asked him to age Rimmon up, since his character is both mature and intelligent, which isn’t quite conveyed by such a youthful appearance. A little bit of magic, and Andreas had finally done it. We had found Rimmon.

Now that we had our centerpiece, it was time to set him on stage. In the novel, Hell isn’t depicted as fire and brimstone. Instead Hell is based on a modern European city, so the bar scene could still work. Andreas came up with this rough concept, which we were both very excited about.

The front cover would be an outside view of the bar, with Rimmon visible in the window. The back cover would wrap around to an alley, where an old Gurney steam coach is parked. Er… It makes sense if you read the story, I swear. The best part is that the book’s title could be the bar sign, an idea that I still love.

Unfortunately, this new mockup began to worry us both. If Rimmon was behind a window and realistically placed further in the interior, he wouldn’t be nearly as visible to the viewer. Besides, who stands in a bar facing the window? Andreas suggested we keep the concept but turn the entire thing inside out.

I’m pretty sure I jumped up and down in excitement at this point. Not only could we see Rimmon better, but there was now room for another character. Rimmon had someone to seduce, rather than staring forlornly out the window. In this case, I decided it should be John Grey, the novel’s protagonist. John has a rough time adjusting to the afterlife, but things get a lot more interesting for him when he meets Rimmon. John’s a sharp dressed man though, so the figure in front needed to change.

Obviously Andreas really ran with the concept at this point, turning his full attention to the background and fine detailing. Now, with a full blown piece of art, all that was left was formatting into a book cover. This means setting the title, placing the back blurb, working in the bar code and tons of other things. The end result can be seen below:

I couldn’t be happier. Andreas really outdid himself this time. Is it any wonder I’m head over heels in love with him? A proof copy of the book is winging its way to Germany right now so we can see it in the flesh. Once we do, there might be some other small changes, but we’re more or less there. Once my early readers give me the green light, Hell’s Pawn will be ready for release, hopefully by mid summer. No matter what the critics make of the insides, thanks to Andreas, I can’t imagine anyone complaining about the packaging.

If you want to see more of Andreas’s art, stop by his website or his blog.

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