Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Sleepers
Instead of wrapping my brain around the concept of actually getting some writing done today, I've been playing. Or is it procrastinating? Maybe both. I have a mental "to do" list for the day and I think I need to scrap it in favor of fun pursuits. I feel like I've had my fingers to the keyboard without ceasing for far too long.
Or maybe I've allowed a conversation with my man to discourage me. Which would be my fault, not his. He's a pretty good cheerleader (as long as he doesn't wave his pom-poms and make a mess on the floor).
Being published is hard on a person's psyche. Those big pieces of yourself that you carved off and planted in a story are out there for the world to see. Most of the time all that comes back to us are the words of "reviewers," and recently the trend seems to be for really
While the willingness to bleed out all over the page is a prerequisite to writing, it doesn't guarantee any given book will be well received. Some very well-written books become "sleepers" in the author's backlist, and it was this topic my partner and I discussed over shared a glass of wine.
Up until this point, my backlist contained one true sleeper - Passion's Victory. I believe this is due to the fact it garnered a 2008 CAPA nomination. Those sort of things can be like the kiss of death to a book. But from the emails I've received from readers over the years, Passion's Victory has been loved by everyone who didn't let the CAPA nod scare them off.
But now I think I have another sleeper on my hands - Double Deuce. Rather after the fact, the head guru at Amber Allure came along and said anything with a mystery tag didn't sell. Sure wish I'd known that when the concept was discussed. Of course, the problem is that Double Deuce is first and foremost a KC Kendricks romance and the "mystery" is the crime solving elements of the plot. I'm sure big name mystery writers would laugh like hyenas at the mystery tag being applied to Double Deuce. Live and learn.
What's discouraging is I've planned a neat little story arc for the two main characters in Double Deuce to carry through what I'd hoped to be a trilogy and if the sales don't back it up, I can't spend six months writing it any time soon. And that's a shame if I do say so myself, because I think readers who love romance would love, love, love what would have happened at the end of book three.
So thinking out loud here, so to blog, what do I do? Do I write stories the majority of my readers want and will make my publisher keep on accepting my stories, or do I take my own advice and write the story I want to write and to hell with worrying about it?
I guess the answer will come some morning when I put my fingers on the keyboard and the words start to flow. Stay tuned.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com/
blog: ttp://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com
Twitter: ttp://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
DOUBLE DEUCE
Contemporary gay romance mystery
available now Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
The Unique Us
November 27, 2011
I’ve been remiss in my blogging duties this November. It’s not for lack of things to say. No, it’s more because I can barely move these days.
Remember those lovely pictures of the October 29, 2011, freak snow I posted? Remember all the damage to my beautiful trees? Scroll on down in the blog to see them. Anyway, SOMEONE had to clean up all that mess and that someone was me. My honey has a debilitating neuropathy from the two years of chemotherapy it took to save his life and suffice it to say that, physically, he’s not a lot of help. (Yes, you’re correct - he’s just FULL of ADVICE on how to do things, which he offers freely.)
Thankfully, the bulk of the work is finished. Last weekend we finally cut our way through all the downed limbs behind the shed to loop a heavy logging chain between the sizeable branch that fell on the shed and our trusty Chevy Silverado. It took a few tries, but the branch finally slid off the roof. To my relief, the shingles on the shed roof are intact.
If you’re one of those people who wonder why in the hell the world needs four-wheel drive pickups, live on a mountain for a year without one, baby. I dare ya.
It’s been a lot of hard, physical work this past month, and I’m not twenty any longer. All the brush, limbs and branches that fell needed to be cut, dragged, stacked to be split for firewood next fall, or burned. It’s been great to get outside, and who doesn’t like sitting beside a roaring fire watching brush burn? Believe me, after getting the brush to the burn ring, it was wonderful to sit a spell and rest by the fire.
As exhausting as the work has been, I have an enormous sense of accomplishment. I’m pathetically pleased this old girl hasn’t lost her country living survival skills. The sore muscles and stiffs joints have convinced me I need yoga, or at least some sort of stretching routine.
There’s a harmony in the blending all the facets of ourselves into the whole person. I’m a country girl, born and bred, but I can put on a beaded dress and enjoy an evening with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. I am woman, wife, daughter, friend. I’m an administrative assistant and a writer. I like rock music and I sing hymns. I won’t talk on a cell phone in my car, but I’ve never met a speed limit I didn’t exceed.
Thanksgiving weekend is a time to remember to give thanks. Family and friends come together to share good food and good times. We take stock of our blessings, and we share with others who are in need. The season of Advent begins and we set our thoughts to gift giving, and to that end many go shopping.
I am thankful for my health and for all people in my life. But I think I am most grateful for all the contradictions that make me who I am. I look forward and make gift-giving plans knowing that no Christmas trinket ever given will be more than what each of us has already received.
We are each unique in this universe, and that is quite a gift to be thankful for.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.comblog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.comTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricksmailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
I’ve been remiss in my blogging duties this November. It’s not for lack of things to say. No, it’s more because I can barely move these days.
Remember those lovely pictures of the October 29, 2011, freak snow I posted? Remember all the damage to my beautiful trees? Scroll on down in the blog to see them. Anyway, SOMEONE had to clean up all that mess and that someone was me. My honey has a debilitating neuropathy from the two years of chemotherapy it took to save his life and suffice it to say that, physically, he’s not a lot of help. (Yes, you’re correct - he’s just FULL of ADVICE on how to do things, which he offers freely.)
Thankfully, the bulk of the work is finished. Last weekend we finally cut our way through all the downed limbs behind the shed to loop a heavy logging chain between the sizeable branch that fell on the shed and our trusty Chevy Silverado. It took a few tries, but the branch finally slid off the roof. To my relief, the shingles on the shed roof are intact.
If you’re one of those people who wonder why in the hell the world needs four-wheel drive pickups, live on a mountain for a year without one, baby. I dare ya.
It’s been a lot of hard, physical work this past month, and I’m not twenty any longer. All the brush, limbs and branches that fell needed to be cut, dragged, stacked to be split for firewood next fall, or burned. It’s been great to get outside, and who doesn’t like sitting beside a roaring fire watching brush burn? Believe me, after getting the brush to the burn ring, it was wonderful to sit a spell and rest by the fire.
As exhausting as the work has been, I have an enormous sense of accomplishment. I’m pathetically pleased this old girl hasn’t lost her country living survival skills. The sore muscles and stiffs joints have convinced me I need yoga, or at least some sort of stretching routine.
There’s a harmony in the blending all the facets of ourselves into the whole person. I’m a country girl, born and bred, but I can put on a beaded dress and enjoy an evening with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. I am woman, wife, daughter, friend. I’m an administrative assistant and a writer. I like rock music and I sing hymns. I won’t talk on a cell phone in my car, but I’ve never met a speed limit I didn’t exceed.
Thanksgiving weekend is a time to remember to give thanks. Family and friends come together to share good food and good times. We take stock of our blessings, and we share with others who are in need. The season of Advent begins and we set our thoughts to gift giving, and to that end many go shopping.
I am thankful for my health and for all people in my life. But I think I am most grateful for all the contradictions that make me who I am. I look forward and make gift-giving plans knowing that no Christmas trinket ever given will be more than what each of us has already received.
We are each unique in this universe, and that is quite a gift to be thankful for.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.comblog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.comTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricksmailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Days to Minutes; Minutes to Memories
November 8, 2011
November 8th comes around every year whether I want it to or not. The day brings myriad memories to my door, complete with the accompanying emotions. Some years I’m weepy, which I don’t like since I’m not really a “girly-girl.” Some years I’m weepy because the memories are about something stupid and I can’t stop giggling. I don’t like that for the same reason. Too girly.
November 8th comes around every year whether I want it to or not. The day brings myriad memories to my door, complete with the accompanying emotions. Some years I’m weepy, which I don’t like since I’m not really a “girly-girl.” Some years I’m weepy because the memories are about something stupid and I can’t stop giggling. I don’t like that for the same reason. Too girly.
Then there are the years when I’ve been too numb with fear for the losses of the future to deal with the losses of the past. I’ve lived through too many of those in the last decade as my partner battled for his life against the same disease that took my father.
This year, as I mark the twenty-eighth anniversary of my father’s death, I’m struck by the fact that in two weeks, I will have lived on this earth longer than he did. It’s a very strange feeling.
My father is still close to me in memory. I can pause and recall the ups - and downs - of the father/daughter relationship. I wish I hadn’t taken him for granted, but who knew he’d leave us when he was still a young man. I remember my grandfather saying it wasn’t fair that a young man should be taken when there he was, an old, dried up man, still alive. My grandfather lived another twenty-two years beyond my father, but that’s for another day.
Are my memories clear? They are. Do I remember some events as they really happened? I do hope so, but I will not discount the passing of time applying a rosy hue to them. I can accept that because it’s not as if I can strip it off now that it's on.
So what do I remember this November 8th?
- Dad always had a camera pointed at someone - so no one could get a picture of him. (But I did.)
- Being told I could NOT keep the stray dog that wandered in - and him suggesting we name her Reba. (So I did.)
- Dad slipping me a twenty before my first official date with a boy who had a car - and he let me keep it when I got home safely.
- Me and Dad crashing into the wall at the skating rink and laughing too hard to get to our feet. (I finally taught him to skate.)
- Riding in the Mack truck with him - and learning to drive it.
- Dad standing on the roof of my 1969 Camaro to cut a tree limb that hung over the driveway. (You can guess my screeching reaction.)
- Being Dad’s “remote control” for the television. (Every kid was one, back in the day.)
- Never Coke, always Pepsi, unless there was Royal Crown Cola to be had.
Dad was a handsome man in a Daniel Boone/Fess Parker/Davy Crockett sort of way. A six feet tall, blue-eyed, broad-shouldered American truck driving man. He had presence in a room, but of all the things I remember about Dad, it’s his quiet sense of humor I miss the most. He understood that just because you have to take something seriously doesn’t mean it’s not funny. Of all the things he taught me, I hope that’s the lesson I learned best.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Mother Nature's Trick
October 31, 2011
You may have heard about this..... It snowed on October 29th! Seriously.
Very serious. Thank God for the person who invented the Honda generator and made it possible to create this blog entry.
Seriously. We've been without power since 2:30 PM on Saturday, October 29, 2011, and Allegheny Power says it will be midnight, Wednesday, November 2, 2011 - at the earliest - until our service is restored. Say...what? I've not seen any evidence at all Allegheny Power even has a crew working in the entire county. People all around us have power, but we're orphaned. How do you say IMPENDNG SOLAR INSTALLATION?
I've lived in the woods my entire life, so I know the drill. We're luckier than most. We have a woodstove and we keep a healthy supply of firewood at the ready. A clear spring-fed mountain stream provides fresh water. Sure, we have to drop a bucket on a rope into the dip hole, but at least I've got water. Wish I had water for a HOT SHOWER but since Mr. Home Improvement installed a whole-house surge protector, the generator doesn't power the water heater -a fuck-up an oversight my honey will fix at the first opportunity if he wants to keep his happy home.
All my bitching aside, we were lucky. No trees or brances fell on our house or our vehicles. The shed took a hit, but the roof held firm. We have a massive cleanup ahead of us, but it will help supply our woodpile for next year. I'm grateful everything in the refrigator is fine and we're warm and dry.
It's time to close this entry with a few pictures. Even with generator power and a battery backup on my computer, I prefer to be cautious. I want to shut down the computer for safety's sake. And I need to dress like a lumberjack and get to work cleaning up the mess in the backyard.
Happy Halloween!
KC Kendricks
http://www.kckendricks.com
You may have heard about this..... It snowed on October 29th! Seriously.
Very serious. Thank God for the person who invented the Honda generator and made it possible to create this blog entry.
Seriously. We've been without power since 2:30 PM on Saturday, October 29, 2011, and Allegheny Power says it will be midnight, Wednesday, November 2, 2011 - at the earliest - until our service is restored. Say...what? I've not seen any evidence at all Allegheny Power even has a crew working in the entire county. People all around us have power, but we're orphaned. How do you say IMPENDNG SOLAR INSTALLATION?
I've lived in the woods my entire life, so I know the drill. We're luckier than most. We have a woodstove and we keep a healthy supply of firewood at the ready. A clear spring-fed mountain stream provides fresh water. Sure, we have to drop a bucket on a rope into the dip hole, but at least I've got water. Wish I had water for a HOT SHOWER but since Mr. Home Improvement installed a whole-house surge protector, the generator doesn't power the water heater -
All my bitching aside, we were lucky. No trees or brances fell on our house or our vehicles. The shed took a hit, but the roof held firm. We have a massive cleanup ahead of us, but it will help supply our woodpile for next year. I'm grateful everything in the refrigator is fine and we're warm and dry.
It's time to close this entry with a few pictures. Even with generator power and a battery backup on my computer, I prefer to be cautious. I want to shut down the computer for safety's sake. And I need to dress like a lumberjack and get to work cleaning up the mess in the backyard.
Happy Halloween!
KC Kendricks
http://www.kckendricks.com
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Double Deuce reviewed by Literary Nymphs - 4 Nymphs
It's a 4-Nymph review from Literary Nymphs for Double Deuce. Reviews are always subjective to the reviewer's personal likes and dislikes, but I think the staff at Literary Nymphs understand all forms of the romance novel.
Here's a snippet from the review:
Double Deuce is an intriguing suspense, blended with humor, as well as a friends-with-benefits relationship...KC Kendricks has a distinctive writing style. The characters are amusing and the plot is delightfully unexpected. I fully enjoyed Double Deuce. - Chocolate Minx, 4 Nymphs
Read the entire review at http://literarynymphsreviewsonly.blogspot.com/2011/10/double-deuce.html
Thank you!
DOUBLE DEUCE
Contemporary gay romance mystery
available now Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com/
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Double Deuce gets its first review
I don't think I've ever gotten a review on a book this quickly. When I saw the email in the que I thought it had to be on Highway Nights, or maybe Beneath Dark Stars, but it was indeed for Double Deuce. A five day turn? Unheard of from where I sit. But hey...We go with the flow.
Thanks to Pixie at MM Good Book Reviews for giving Double Deuce 4 Hearts. Here's a snippet from the review. Click the link to read it in its entirety.
[Double Deuce]is a well written story that has a strong plot and although this is from Ian’s POV you don’t feel like it’s just all about him...The sex scenes are hot and there is a spark between them that you know could turn into an inferno if they fed it. I recommend this to those that love hot men, hot sex, mystery, a good storyline [that] leaves you with a warm feeling. - MM Good Book Reviews
Look for Ian to work another case in 2012.
DOUBLE DEUCE
Contemporary gay romance mystery
available now Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys:
Visit my bookshelf at:
Social media links:
My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Double Deuce is live!
Every new release brings something different to the author. For me, it freezes a moment of my life in my memory. I can look back to, let's say The Back Stairs, and still hear the air compressor's endless drone as the patio roof was under construction. That might lead you to believe my recollection of that time is one of annoyance, but it's not. I had to wait until the mortgage was paid to be able to afford that roof - almost thirty years! It was a time of excitement on many levels.
Double Deuce will always remind me of achievement. During the last few days I've been deeply involved with hosting a conference through the day job. It was incredibly successful, beyond anything we'd hoped for. While it was going on, the impending release of DOUBLE DEUCE was always in the back of my mind. I think I outdid myself on both ventures.
I hope you'll enjoy Double Deuce. It's the first story in the Amethyst Cove mysteries series. And now - on to the new release promo!
DOUBLE DEUCE
Contemporary gay romance mystery
available now Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
Free-spirited Ian Coulter works hard and plays harder. An ex-cop turned private investigator, Ian enjoys meeting new men and making new friends. A night out ends up with one man on the floor at his feet, and another asking for his help. Big trouble’s brewing in little Amethyst Cove and Ian’s a step behind. He’s quick to see Rick Mohr is the man holding the flare at the end a long, dark tunnel.
Undercover agent Rick Mohr walks a fine line, serving two masters. Insider trading, counterfeit printing plates, and a blown-up yacht have Rick stuck between two Federal agencies, one of which has been compromised. Rick has to discover the mole before it’s too late. When Ian Coulter walks into his life, Rick grabs the chance to salvage his assignment with both hands.
It doesn’t take Ian and Rick long to discover joining forces and sharing resources has definite perks - ones not found in any departmental manual.
INTRO:
“And yet, here you sit across from me.”
“For one thing, this is the first time I’ve actually gotten a look at you. No one ever said you were so…” He paused and blinked at me.
I helped him out. “Hot?”
Rick grinned. “The very word I was searching for.”
“You’re full of shit, Rick Mohr. What do you really want?”
“I’ve heard you like to have fun—safe fun. Was I misinformed?”
And they called me a slut. Rick had me beat for moving in on a guy fast. “I love to have ‘fun—safe fun,’ but I don’t know you. I haven’t seen you around at any of the local haunts.”
“Well, you know how it is. Boy meets boy. Boy falls in love. Boy gets dumped after eleven years and has to work hard to get back into the swing of things.”
I tapped the wide silver band he wore on his left ring finger. “Hmm. I’ve heard of that. Some weird word that starts with an ‘R.’”
“Relationship?”
I snapped my fingers. “That’s the one! Can’t say as I have any first-hand experience with it.”
Rick sighed. “I actually liked it, although I thought it would have a longer shelf-life.”
I sipped the lemony drink I’d had such a craving for. That craving, and another stronger one, was about to land me in trouble, I just knew it.
“I’ll tell you something, Rick. I don’t like men who cheat on their partners.”
His level gaze met mine. “I don’t have a partner. I have an ex-partner.”
“Why not take off the ring?”
“Truth? I’m not quite ready to have guys hitting on me. Maybe you can help me get over the hump.”
Years of cruising men, of reading their body language and looking into lots of pretty eyes gave me a good read on him. He wasn’t being honest with me about something, but it had nothing to do with the ring, the ex-partner, or the fact he liked to have control of the situation. The little voice inside, the one that never steered me wrong when it was time to cut and run, was silent, and I wanted to learn more about him.
The bottom line was we both wanted to get laid, no strings attached. I could do that for him. Call me Dr. Love or whatever. He wanted over the hump, and I was more than happy to help him out with that.
“So, Rick, why don’t we finish our drinks, then blow this joint and go find a more private place?”
EXCERPT
The intensity of Rick’s gaze slammed into me.
“What if I told you I could give you something concrete?”
Cold sweat broke out under my arms and across my back. I shivered and sucked in a deep breath. “This isn’t the place to discuss business, Mr. Mohr.”
Comprehension flickered in his pretty eyes. He reached across the table and covered my hands with his. My skin prickled with a new awareness of him. I had the sudden urge to give him about eight inches of concrete, regardless of how bad an idea it had become.
“You’re right, of course.” I got another shock as he raised my knuckles to his lips. “How about a little stroll on the beach? We can kick off our shoes and roll up our pant legs and get our feet wet. Get comfortable with each other. Whataya say?”
A walk outside was better than a hook-up inside. For all I knew, he worked for Earl Fox and had on a wire. This could be a set-up. That’s how paranoid I was about Foxy. I pulled away from the warmth of his touch and kept my voice pitched to where only Rick could hear me.
“We’ll take my car. I’ll bring you back later. And I want you to put your cell phone in your car and leave it.”
“I understand your caution, but it’s unnecessary.”
“I’ll be the judge of that, thank you.” I set my hat back on my head, slid off the bench seat, and held my hand out to him. He took it and uncurled his long, lean body out of the booth. I had to look up at him, and I’m no little fellow at five-eleven and one hundred seventy-nine pounds of carefully crafted muscle.
His arms came around me and I realized just how big a man he really was. His lips brushed my ear as he whispered to me, “I’m going to enjoy this.”
Before I could think, much less ask him what the fuck he was talking about, his mouth covered mine. I opened my lips to protest, and his tongue slipped past my poor defenses. Little stars danced behind my closed eyes. My arms slid around his neck.
Familiar heat coiled low in my belly when his tongue danced over mine. My balls tingled as my over-eager cock hardened, swelling relentlessly to an aching fullness. I inhaled, and, under the warm, spicy scent of his cologne, breathed in the rich, earthy tang of an aroused male.
Rick’s big hand cupped my left ass cheek and pressed me tightly to his pelvis. The hard ridge of his dick met mine and I hazed on the rush of testosterone flooding into my blood. I needed to sink my root deep in this man and hear him beg for more.
What was left of my sanity shouted I was in big trouble when his lips trailed fire along my jaw line and down my neck. I ignored it and cupped his balls in front of all witnesses, covering his bulging zipper with my palm. At least eight inches.
His big hands stroked up my back, then down my sides. I leaned over into the booth and grabbed my drink with shaking hands.
What the fuck had I just allowed to happen?
DOUBLE DEUCE
Contemporary gay romance mystery
available now Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys:
Visit my bookshelf at:
Social media links:
My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com
Life through the eyes of Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com
Thursday, October 6, 2011
September 2011 Top Ten- Highway Nights slides into #5
October 6, 2011
**updated 5/17/2016, 4/1/21**
Amber Allure has closed but it doesn't negate the fact Highway Nights was on the publisher's best seller list that month.
I've commented previously about my connection to the number five. It's everywhere in my life. September 2011 continues the trend with Highway Nights claiming the number five spot on the Amber Allure Top Ten List.
**updated 5/17/2016, 4/1/21**
Amber Allure has closed but it doesn't negate the fact Highway Nights was on the publisher's best seller list that month.
I've commented previously about my connection to the number five. It's everywhere in my life. September 2011 continues the trend with Highway Nights claiming the number five spot on the Amber Allure Top Ten List.
1. Ex Equals - L. A. Witt (Gay / Contemporary)
2. Acting Out - Mia Watts (Gay / Contemporary)
3. Under A Rock - India Harper (Gay / Contemporary / Western)
4. Can't Be His - Shawn Lane (Gay / Contemporary)
5. Highway Nights - KC Kendricks (Gay / Contemporary / Suspense)
6. Pushing The Envelope 1: For The Attention Of - Kim Dare (Gay / Contemp. / BDSM)
7. Cowboy Obsession - Sineth Killiri (Gay / Contemporary / Western)
8. The Wild Bunch: Casa - Deirdre O'Dare (Gay / Contemporary / Western)
9. Amor Prohibido - Ellis Carrington (Gay / Paranormal)
10. On The List - L. A. Witt (Gay / Contemporary)
Congratulations to everyone for a banner month! A special "atta-girl" to Sineth Killiri for making the Top Ten list two months running with her very first gay romance.
Also available:
DOUBLE DEUCE
Free-spirited Ian Coulter works hard and plays harder. An ex-cop turned private investigator, Ian enjoys meeting new men and making new friends. A night out ends up with one man on the floor at his feet, and another asking for his help. Big trouble’s brewing in little Amethyst Cove, and Ian’s a step behind. He’s quick to see Rick Mohr is the man holding the flare at the end of a long, dark tunnel.
Undercover agent Rick Mohr walks a fine line, serving two masters. Insider trading, counterfeit printing plates, and a blown-up yacht have Rick stuck between two Federal agencies, one of which has been compromised. Rick has to discover the mole before it’s too late. When Ian Coulter walks into his life, Rick grabs the chance to salvage his assignment with both hands.
It doesn’t take Ian and Rick long to discover joining forces, and sharing resources, have definite perks, ones not found in any departmental manual...
I hope you'll enjoy Double Deuce, An Amethyst Cove Mystery.
2. Acting Out - Mia Watts (Gay / Contemporary)
3. Under A Rock - India Harper (Gay / Contemporary / Western)
4. Can't Be His - Shawn Lane (Gay / Contemporary)
5. Highway Nights - KC Kendricks (Gay / Contemporary / Suspense)
6. Pushing The Envelope 1: For The Attention Of - Kim Dare (Gay / Contemp. / BDSM)
7. Cowboy Obsession - Sineth Killiri (Gay / Contemporary / Western)
8. The Wild Bunch: Casa - Deirdre O'Dare (Gay / Contemporary / Western)
9. Amor Prohibido - Ellis Carrington (Gay / Paranormal)
10. On The List - L. A. Witt (Gay / Contemporary)
Congratulations to everyone for a banner month! A special "atta-girl" to Sineth Killiri for making the Top Ten list two months running with her very first gay romance.
Also available:
DOUBLE DEUCE
Undercover agent Rick Mohr walks a fine line, serving two masters. Insider trading, counterfeit printing plates, and a blown-up yacht have Rick stuck between two Federal agencies, one of which has been compromised. Rick has to discover the mole before it’s too late. When Ian Coulter walks into his life, Rick grabs the chance to salvage his assignment with both hands.
It doesn’t take Ian and Rick long to discover joining forces, and sharing resources, have definite perks, ones not found in any departmental manual...
I hope you'll enjoy Double Deuce, An Amethyst Cove Mystery.
KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys:
Visit my bookshelf at:
Social media links:
My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Highway Nights has been reviewed by The Romance Studio
September 15, 2011
**updated 5/17/2016, 4/1/21**
Having compared notes with many other writers, it seems to be a fact of life that the longer one writes the less often one gets reviewed. I'm not complaining, honest. It's not a negative reflection on the established author who continually produces work that garners 4 and 5 point reviews. It's more that the reviewers are already familiar with our work, and they're looking at the *new* writers. What can be done?
Well, I could be a reviewer hound if it really mattered, and annoy the living crap out of all the review sites begging for reviews, but that's not me. I prefer to have reviews happen organically, without any intervention from me. They mean a lot more that way.
I was very pleased to learn that my new release, Highway Nights, has already been reviewed by The Romance Studio. It's only been out since September third. That's pretty darn fast!
With thanks to the reviewer and TRS, here's a snippet from the review with a link for those who want to read the whole thing.
... I liked the realistic feel to this story. It's an honest portrayal of hard working men making their way in life, just like men we know in our own lives. When love catches them unaware, their reaction to it is the crux of the story. ... The sex scenes are good and steamy, these two really like each other. An unforeseen occurrence adds to the drama and kicks it up a notch. Highway Nights is a nicely paced story with a satisfying ending. I liked it a lot.
Here's the link to read the entire Highway Nights review at TRS.
About Highway Nights:
Having compared notes with many other writers, it seems to be a fact of life that the longer one writes the less often one gets reviewed. I'm not complaining, honest. It's not a negative reflection on the established author who continually produces work that garners 4 and 5 point reviews. It's more that the reviewers are already familiar with our work, and they're looking at the *new* writers. What can be done?
Well, I could be a reviewer hound if it really mattered, and annoy the living crap out of all the review sites begging for reviews, but that's not me. I prefer to have reviews happen organically, without any intervention from me. They mean a lot more that way.
I was very pleased to learn that my new release, Highway Nights, has already been reviewed by The Romance Studio. It's only been out since September third. That's pretty darn fast!
With thanks to the reviewer and TRS, here's a snippet from the review with a link for those who want to read the whole thing.
... I liked the realistic feel to this story. It's an honest portrayal of hard working men making their way in life, just like men we know in our own lives. When love catches them unaware, their reaction to it is the crux of the story. ... The sex scenes are good and steamy, these two really like each other. An unforeseen occurrence adds to the drama and kicks it up a notch. Highway Nights is a nicely paced story with a satisfying ending. I liked it a lot.
Here's the link to read the entire Highway Nights review at TRS.
Garrett Webb has a five-point plan for starting his own business. To keep it on track, he takes a second job and settles into the evening delivery run between Owensville and Mt. Franklin. The solitude of being on the road clears his head and enables him to chart a better future for himself. When a foggy night sends him to the safety of The Downshift Diner and its owner, Oliver Sanderson, that future takes an unforeseen turn.
Oliver Sanderson enjoys a quiet life along the lonely stretch of highway that’s home to his diner. The road brings all manner of interesting souls to his door. When Garrett Webb steps out of the fog seeking shelter, his openness and honesty draw Oliver’s interest. He’s ready to take the next step but needs to be cautious. Trouble is coming to the diner, and Oliver wants Garrett clear of it.
Good intentions can’t hold out against their budding attraction. Garrett makes the diner a regular stop during his nightly run, and the men get better acquainted. But Garrett’s past isn’t done with him. In a single heart-stopping moment, Garrett is forced to a decision that risks Oliver’s life – one that could forever end their highway nights.
Oliver Sanderson enjoys a quiet life along the lonely stretch of highway that’s home to his diner. The road brings all manner of interesting souls to his door. When Garrett Webb steps out of the fog seeking shelter, his openness and honesty draw Oliver’s interest. He’s ready to take the next step but needs to be cautious. Trouble is coming to the diner, and Oliver wants Garrett clear of it.
Good intentions can’t hold out against their budding attraction. Garrett makes the diner a regular stop during his nightly run, and the men get better acquainted. But Garrett’s past isn’t done with him. In a single heart-stopping moment, Garrett is forced to a decision that risks Oliver’s life – one that could forever end their highway nights.
HIGHWAY NIGHTS
Available at:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F4F7GX4
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01F4F7GX4
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01F4F7GX4
iTunes/Apple: itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1107349490
Barnes and Noble/NOOK: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highway-nights-kc-kendricks/1109557517?ean=2940153170350
Rakuten/KOBO: www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/highway-nights-1
Universal link to additional booksellers: https://books2read.com/u/4NYRNm
Highway Nights webpage: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/highway-nights-by-kc-kendricks.html
KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys:
Visit my bookshelf at:
My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Remember
September 11, 2011
Is there any among us who do not remember when they first learned a plane had struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center?
I was at my place of employment, blissfully planning and plotting my first trip to Myrtle Beach instead of working. A friend from a sister agency strolled in and told me the news.
Did we think for one nanosecond The United States of America had just been attacked? Of course not. Who would? We thought it was a terrible accident. We quickly learned how wrong we were.
Is there any among us whose life was not changed that day?
In my world, we still seek understanding and personal healing.
We seek.
We remember.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Highway Nights is now available
September 4, 2011
**updated 5/17/2016 and April 1, 2021**
Just released! Highway Nights!
Highway Nights goes way back in my stack of idea folders and stems from one of my youthful adventures. I used to keep company with a fellow a few years my junior, and we liked to trip down the Interstate to a little place by the river for a late-night snack and a few rounds of pool. I was quite fond of that little out-of-the-way place with its welcoming proprietor and friendly bartender. (At least they were to me, but I always smiled and never gave them any grief.) So The Downshift Diner is a little nod to that time in my life.
Here's the blurb and excerpts from HIGHWAY NIGHTS, now available. Thanks for reading!
* * *
HIGHWAY NIGHTS
Contemporary gay romance
Garrett Webb has a five-point plan for starting his own business. To keep it on track, he takes a second job and settles into the evening delivery run between Owensville and Mt. Franklin. The solitude of being on the road clears his head and enables him to chart a better future for himself. When a foggy night sends him to the safety of The Downshift Diner and its owner, Oliver Sanderson, that future takes an unforeseen turn.
Oliver Sanderson enjoys a quiet life along the lonely stretch of highway that’s home to his diner. The road brings all manner of interesting souls to his door. When Garrett Webb steps out of the fog seeking shelter, his openness and honesty draw Oliver’s interest. He’s ready to take the next step but needs to be cautious. Trouble is coming to the diner, and Oliver wants Garrett clear of it.
Good intentions can’t hold out against their budding attraction. Garrett makes the diner a regular stop during his nightly run, and the men get better acquainted. But Garrett’s past isn’t done with him. In a single heart-stopping moment, Garrett is forced to a decision that risks Oliver’s life – one that could forever end their highway nights.
INTRO:
Oliver settled in the booth and stared across the table. “You gonna tell me why you’re really here?”
“I told you. Food and conversation.”
The young man didn’t bat an eye. Oliver had a good sense about men, and it said Garrett was interested in a lot more than talk. He saw no point in calling the fellow on it, not yet. It could be Garrett didn’t consciously realize what he wanted. Life handed you moments like that, and Oliver had had his fair share of them. But if the lad wanted talk, he’d be glad to get the ball rolling.
“All right, then. I’ll be nosey and start our chat. So why are you working two jobs? A young fellow like you should be out clubbing every night.”
“My five-point plan suffered a setback. I’m working to recoup some losses.”
“Boyfriend?”
Garrett sighed. “Not any longer.”
And, no doubt, the ex-boyfriend was the reason the five-point plan had been derailed. It usually was. Oliver could say he’d been there and done that, too, but he’d wait to see if Garrett asked first. He didn’t, so Oliver tried another topic.
“Nice jeans.”
“Thanks. I got a great deal on them. Twenty bucks at a yard sale.”
Yard sale? No wonder Garrett dressed like a prince. Oliver could, too, if he had the patience to treasure hunt, because that’s what a yard sale really was.
“Good looking, hard working and frugal. You don’t find that combination every day.”
Garrett sipped his cola, his blue gaze fastened on Oliver’s. “That’s me. Do you like the back pockets of my pants?”
“Ah, a flaw. Vanity.” Oliver leaned back, unable to refrain from grinning at Garrett. “I noticed. I’ll say it since your ego appears to need it.” He leaned forward and kept his voice down. “Nice ass.”
EXCERPT:
Oliver grinned and stopped in front of him.
“Happy to see me?”
Garrett glanced down. “As happy as you appear to be. Can a guy get a soda to go in this joint?”
Oliver shook his head. “I’ve better at the house. Let me tell Shirl and Billy not to call me unless it’s an emergency.” He disappeared into the kitchen, and sauntered back out in less than thirty seconds. Oliver motioned at the front entrance. “Let’s go.”
Garrett turned and held the door open for Oliver. “What constitutes an emergency?”
“Someone is bleeding, choking, or keels over all the way to the floor.” He placed his hand on the small of Garrett’s back and guided him around the corner of the building.
Garrett leaned closer to the warmth of Oliver’s body. “Not fire?”
“That’s what the firemen are for. Call ‘em. Besides, I like firemen. Don’t you?”
“Sure. Big, burly men turn me on.” Garrett stroked Oliver’s well-formed bicep. Oliver laughed softly and backed Garrett against the rear wall of the diner, out of sight from the clientele and staff.
“To each, their own.”
Garrett grasped Oliver’s hips and yanked him against him. He held him there and soaked up the heat from Oliver’s body. The corner of his mouth quirked in a small smile.
“So, am I going to have to beg you to kiss me again?”
Oliver ran his thumb over Garrett’s lower lip. He swallowed, the muscles in his throat moving. “Garrett. Be sure you want this. Don’t lead me on then tell me to stop.”
“I came for this, Oliver.”
Something dark and unsettled sparked in Oliver’s eyes. “Don’t get too attached to me, either, boy.”
“I’m horny. I want to fuck you, not marry you.”
Oliver leaned in, his breath warm on Garrett’s moist lips. In the back of his mind, Garrett registered surprise at Oliver’s reticence but he’d ponder it later. He shifted forward and touched his lips to Oliver’s.
Need burst through him, a siren song in his blood that built as Oliver’s tongue licked into his in a bold stroke. The larger man pressed his body to the sun-warmed bricks, pinning him, his pelvis grinding against Garrett’s in a mock taking. Garrett thrust his tongue into the heat of Oliver’s mouth. Back and forth they tested, well matched, as the world spun behind his closed eyes. Suddenly breathless, Garrett tore his lips from Oliver’s. Oliver rested his forehead to his, breathing hard.
“You should go home, Garrett.”
“I don’t think so. Why are you afraid of me?” He ran his fingers through Oliver’s short hair.
Oliver brushed a kiss to his lips. “I’m too old for someone in his twenties, Garrett.”
“I’m going to surprise you. I’m thirty-two.” He laughed as the man’s eyebrows shot up. “Told you I was older than I look.”
Oliver’s eyes darkened. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am, but I still feel like a dirty old pervert chasing chickens.” He levered off the wall, grabbed Garrett’s hand, and pulled him along the flagstone path to the bungalow-style house.
Garrett fell into step beside him and slipped their linked hands behind Oliver’s back. There was one sure way he knew to find out Oliver’s age—give him a little dig.
“You can’t be that old. What are you? Fifty?”
“Fifty! No, smart-ass, I’m forty-four. Happy to know that?” Oliver eased his hand free as they climbed the steps to the wide veranda. He pulled keys out of his pocket and unlocked the front door. “I should spank you for that.”
Garrett stepped into the foyer and patted his butt. “A spanking might be fun sometime, but not tonight...”
Highway Nights goes way back in my stack of idea folders and stems from one of my youthful adventures. I used to keep company with a fellow a few years my junior, and we liked to trip down the Interstate to a little place by the river for a late-night snack and a few rounds of pool. I was quite fond of that little out-of-the-way place with its welcoming proprietor and friendly bartender. (At least they were to me, but I always smiled and never gave them any grief.) So The Downshift Diner is a little nod to that time in my life.
Here's the blurb and excerpts from HIGHWAY NIGHTS, now available. Thanks for reading!
* * *
HIGHWAY NIGHTS
Contemporary gay romance
Garrett Webb has a five-point plan for starting his own business. To keep it on track, he takes a second job and settles into the evening delivery run between Owensville and Mt. Franklin. The solitude of being on the road clears his head and enables him to chart a better future for himself. When a foggy night sends him to the safety of The Downshift Diner and its owner, Oliver Sanderson, that future takes an unforeseen turn.
Oliver Sanderson enjoys a quiet life along the lonely stretch of highway that’s home to his diner. The road brings all manner of interesting souls to his door. When Garrett Webb steps out of the fog seeking shelter, his openness and honesty draw Oliver’s interest. He’s ready to take the next step but needs to be cautious. Trouble is coming to the diner, and Oliver wants Garrett clear of it.
Good intentions can’t hold out against their budding attraction. Garrett makes the diner a regular stop during his nightly run, and the men get better acquainted. But Garrett’s past isn’t done with him. In a single heart-stopping moment, Garrett is forced to a decision that risks Oliver’s life – one that could forever end their highway nights.
INTRO:
Oliver settled in the booth and stared across the table. “You gonna tell me why you’re really here?”
“I told you. Food and conversation.”
The young man didn’t bat an eye. Oliver had a good sense about men, and it said Garrett was interested in a lot more than talk. He saw no point in calling the fellow on it, not yet. It could be Garrett didn’t consciously realize what he wanted. Life handed you moments like that, and Oliver had had his fair share of them. But if the lad wanted talk, he’d be glad to get the ball rolling.
“All right, then. I’ll be nosey and start our chat. So why are you working two jobs? A young fellow like you should be out clubbing every night.”
“My five-point plan suffered a setback. I’m working to recoup some losses.”
“Boyfriend?”
Garrett sighed. “Not any longer.”
And, no doubt, the ex-boyfriend was the reason the five-point plan had been derailed. It usually was. Oliver could say he’d been there and done that, too, but he’d wait to see if Garrett asked first. He didn’t, so Oliver tried another topic.
“Nice jeans.”
“Thanks. I got a great deal on them. Twenty bucks at a yard sale.”
Yard sale? No wonder Garrett dressed like a prince. Oliver could, too, if he had the patience to treasure hunt, because that’s what a yard sale really was.
“Good looking, hard working and frugal. You don’t find that combination every day.”
Garrett sipped his cola, his blue gaze fastened on Oliver’s. “That’s me. Do you like the back pockets of my pants?”
“Ah, a flaw. Vanity.” Oliver leaned back, unable to refrain from grinning at Garrett. “I noticed. I’ll say it since your ego appears to need it.” He leaned forward and kept his voice down. “Nice ass.”
EXCERPT:
Oliver grinned and stopped in front of him.
“Happy to see me?”
Garrett glanced down. “As happy as you appear to be. Can a guy get a soda to go in this joint?”
Oliver shook his head. “I’ve better at the house. Let me tell Shirl and Billy not to call me unless it’s an emergency.” He disappeared into the kitchen, and sauntered back out in less than thirty seconds. Oliver motioned at the front entrance. “Let’s go.”
Garrett turned and held the door open for Oliver. “What constitutes an emergency?”
“Someone is bleeding, choking, or keels over all the way to the floor.” He placed his hand on the small of Garrett’s back and guided him around the corner of the building.
Garrett leaned closer to the warmth of Oliver’s body. “Not fire?”
“That’s what the firemen are for. Call ‘em. Besides, I like firemen. Don’t you?”
“Sure. Big, burly men turn me on.” Garrett stroked Oliver’s well-formed bicep. Oliver laughed softly and backed Garrett against the rear wall of the diner, out of sight from the clientele and staff.
“To each, their own.”
Garrett grasped Oliver’s hips and yanked him against him. He held him there and soaked up the heat from Oliver’s body. The corner of his mouth quirked in a small smile.
“So, am I going to have to beg you to kiss me again?”
Oliver ran his thumb over Garrett’s lower lip. He swallowed, the muscles in his throat moving. “Garrett. Be sure you want this. Don’t lead me on then tell me to stop.”
“I came for this, Oliver.”
Something dark and unsettled sparked in Oliver’s eyes. “Don’t get too attached to me, either, boy.”
“I’m horny. I want to fuck you, not marry you.”
Oliver leaned in, his breath warm on Garrett’s moist lips. In the back of his mind, Garrett registered surprise at Oliver’s reticence but he’d ponder it later. He shifted forward and touched his lips to Oliver’s.
Need burst through him, a siren song in his blood that built as Oliver’s tongue licked into his in a bold stroke. The larger man pressed his body to the sun-warmed bricks, pinning him, his pelvis grinding against Garrett’s in a mock taking. Garrett thrust his tongue into the heat of Oliver’s mouth. Back and forth they tested, well matched, as the world spun behind his closed eyes. Suddenly breathless, Garrett tore his lips from Oliver’s. Oliver rested his forehead to his, breathing hard.
“You should go home, Garrett.”
“I don’t think so. Why are you afraid of me?” He ran his fingers through Oliver’s short hair.
Oliver brushed a kiss to his lips. “I’m too old for someone in his twenties, Garrett.”
“I’m going to surprise you. I’m thirty-two.” He laughed as the man’s eyebrows shot up. “Told you I was older than I look.”
Oliver’s eyes darkened. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am, but I still feel like a dirty old pervert chasing chickens.” He levered off the wall, grabbed Garrett’s hand, and pulled him along the flagstone path to the bungalow-style house.
Garrett fell into step beside him and slipped their linked hands behind Oliver’s back. There was one sure way he knew to find out Oliver’s age—give him a little dig.
“You can’t be that old. What are you? Fifty?”
“Fifty! No, smart-ass, I’m forty-four. Happy to know that?” Oliver eased his hand free as they climbed the steps to the wide veranda. He pulled keys out of his pocket and unlocked the front door. “I should spank you for that.”
Garrett stepped into the foyer and patted his butt. “A spanking might be fun sometime, but not tonight...”
HIGHWAY NIGHTS
Available at:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F4F7GX4
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01F4F7GX4
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01F4F7GX4
iTunes/Apple: itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1107349490
Barnes and Noble/NOOK: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highway-nights-kc-kendricks/1109557517?ean=2940153170350
Rakuten/KOBO: www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/highway-nights-1
Universal link to additional booksellers: https://books2read.com/u/4NYRNm
Highway Nights webpage: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/highway-nights-by-kc-kendricks.html
KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys:
Visit my bookshelf at:
My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com
Friday, September 2, 2011
Amber Allure August Top Ten List - and the prerequisite mention for Highway Nights
September 2, 2011
**updated 5/16/2016, and April 1, 2021**
Congratulations to everyone at Amber Allure who had the joy of an August 2011 release. Try as I certainly did, I couldn't get Highway Nights ready in time for a slot in the August schedule.
The good news - and the bad news - is Highway Nights is set to release this Labor Day weekend. Good news because it's a new release and bad news because it's a holiday weekend. Well, it will be as it will be, eh?
Stay tuned to Between the Keys. Highway Nights will be available September 4, 2011 (or whenever the head guru at Amber Allure pushes the button this weekend). I've got an excerpt posted on my website, but still need to do all the other links. Website work never ends. Can you hear me sigh?
So if you're needing some new reading material, check out any of the books listed above. Just reserve a few dollars for Highway Night, okay?
HIGHWAY NIGHTS
Available at:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F4F7GX4
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01F4F7GX4
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01F4F7GX4
iTunes/Apple: itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1107349490
Barnes and Noble/NOOK: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highway-nights-kc-kendricks/1109557517?ean=2940153170350
Rakuten/KOBO: www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/highway-nights-1
Universal link to additional booksellers: https://books2read.com/u/4NYRNm
Highway Nights webpage: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/highway-nights-by-kc-kendricks.html
_*_*_*_*_
KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys:
Visit my bookshelf at:
My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com
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