Hello and Happy New Year!
To start 2022, I thought it would be fun to invite some of my author friends over to highlight some of our achievements and memories in 2021, and say what we are looking forward to in 2022.
Today, we have brief chats with Matt Converse, Fearne Hill, Glenn Quigly, Ally Lester and… who was the other? Oh yes. Me. Let me get the ball rolling by answering the same questions as I asked my friends.
An author, thinking on his birthday while in Croatia.
My 2021 highlight as a writer
For me, it was publishing ‘The Clearwater Inheritance.’
This, the 11th book in the Clearwater Mystery series, not only ties up loose ends, and takes the reader on an epic journey, it rounds off the story of Andrej (Fecker), one of my favourite characters. If you start with the prequel, ‘Banyak & Fecks’, and read all 11 books in order, you’ll see Fecker’s journey in full. This is also the longest book at 150,000 words, is partly written in diary (letter) form, which is a form I love, contains a map, and takes us to places I have visited in Europe.
Did I reach an important milestone in my author career in 2021?
I finished the Clearwater Mysteries series…. Except I didn’t. I carried the world and characters, backstories on into the Larkspur Mysteries. I also wrote from the perspective of a deaf character for the first time. A challenge to write and sometimes to read, but, for me, a first.
My favourite memory of the year (non-author related)
Christmas Day with my logical family, watching my husband open a present that looked like a bookmark, but turned out to be a token for a PADI diving course he wants to take. Oh, and my godson passed his grade one piano.
Anybody special you would like to thank for their support/help this year.
Plenty. My readers, everyone who leaves positive feedback and reviews, those who nominated me in 10 Goodreads Awards categories, my husband for looking after me and making me laugh every day, Jenine for her PA work and feeding us, my proofreaders, Anne and Maryann, the guys at Other Worlds Ink for their layout services, and my characters for their inspiration.
Do you have an author goal for 2022?
Only to continue to entertain by writing the best stories I can, and presenting them professionally, making each one better, and exploring new ideas.
And now, I’ll hand you over to my author friends…
Matt Converse
Hi Matt, tell me about your 2021 highlight as a writer.
It was the release of my first m/m sci-fi thriller 99 Days. Previously my releases were all m/m romance, horror or thriller, so I was stepping outside of my box. The reviews and reception have been better than I even hoped. I am currently writing the sequel, 99 Days Later.
Do you feel you reached an important milestone in your author career in 2021?
Yes, I think crossing over into a different genre was a big achievement for me.
What is your favourite memory from this year?
Being able to see a few of my friends in person for the first time in a long time. It was great to just hang out and relax.
Anybody special you would like to thank for their support/help this year.
Definitely, my Mom is my biggest supporter, but I give thanks to every single person who has read any of my books. I appreciate it.
Do you have an author goal for 2022?
Just to keep writing and doing what I love. I will reach further out of my comfort box with my first non-LGBTQ release on February 5th with The Four Corners of Horror, an anthology of short stories.
Leather Head Unmasked
Published October 28, 2021
#mm #horror #thriller #suspense
Gable needs a getaway with best friend Shawn, while Andrés and Tyler take a trip to the West Coast. Granger and his younger boyfriend Liam head to Palm Springs and stay at a gay resort known to be the wildest in town. Fate draws all of them together for a climactic weekend in Palm Springs. For some, it is the wild weekend they needed. For others, things turn so dark they wonder if they will get out alive.
Find Matt here:
Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/Matt-Converse/e/B00TKCCVWY/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattConverse1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.converse.39
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13495845.Matt_Converse
Leather Head Unmasked universal link https://smarturl.it/Leatherhead-Unmasked
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Fearne Hill
Welcome Fearne, tell me about your 2021 highlight as a writer.
The first book in my Rossingley series, To Hold A Hidden Pearl, was nominated in 5 categories of the Goodreads M/M Romance group awards and also received an Honourable Mention in the contemporary gay romance section of the Rainbow Awards
Do you feel you reached an important milestone in your author career in 2021?
Yes! I had four full-length romance novels published by an indie publishing company, with great feedback. And I’ve learnt an enormous amount about the whole writing process.
Anybody special you would like to thank for their support/help this year.
My wonderful editor, Elizabetta, at NineStar Press for her patience, support and kindness.
Do you have an author goal for 2022?
Yes. I have two self -pub books coming out in March and June, and another later in the year.
To Melt A Fro
zen Heart (Rossingley #3.5)
Published 14th December 2021
#contemporary #holidaynovella #mmromance #olderMC’s #british
Our only regrets are the chances we didn’t take.
Bah, humbug.
Freddie Duchamps-Avery has only one desire this Christmas: to ask his beloved Reuben to
marry him. However, with his needy father moping around, finding the perfect, romantic
moment to propose is proving tricky.
The Rt Hon. Charles Duchamps-Avery is a successful politician, a hopeless father, and a miserable divorcé. Facing the prospect of Christmas alone in London, he accepts his son Freddie’s generous invitation to join the gang at Rossingley. Yet, being surrounded by happy
couples only serves to remind of his past mistakes and a looming, lonely old age.
If only a handsome, enigmatic stranger would appear and distract him….
Social media links:
https://www.facebook.com/fearne.hill.50/
Facebook Group: Fearne Hill’s House
https://www.instagram.com/fearnehill_author
https://twitter.com/FearneHill
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Glenn Quigley
Hello Glenn, tell me about your 2021 highlight as a writer
In March I released WE CRY THE SEA, the third book in my Moth and Moon series. I never thought I’d see the day when I had a trilogy on the shelves, so that really meant a lot to me.
Do you feel you reached an important milestone in your author career in 2021?
I was a Rainbow Award runner-up in the category of Best Gay Book this year which was a huge surprise. It showed me that I must be doing something right!
What is your favourite memory from this year?
I got to walk around a lighthouse on Rathlin Island, which was great.
Anybody special you would like to thank for their support/help this year
My partner Mark, as always, for his love and support. Also, my brilliant beta readers - Tony, Christian, and Alan.
Do you have an author goal for 2022?
I have a new book and short story coming out next year. I would love to publish a collection of short stories so fingers crossed for that!
WE CRY THE SEA
Published 15 March 2021
#historicalfantasy #pirates #gay #bear #establishedcouple
After the explosive events of The Lion Lies Waiting, life has returned to normal for burly fisherman Robin Shipp. That is until the innkeeper of the ancient Moth & Moon approaches him with a surprising proposal, and an unexpected arrival brings some shocking news that sends Robin on a perilous journey alone.
While he’s away, his lover, Edwin, anxiously prepares for the birth of his first child with his friend, Iris. Her wife, Lady Eva, must travel to Blackrabbit Island for a showdown over the future of the family business. Meanwhile, Duncan nurses an injured man back to health but as the two grow close, the island’s new schoolmaster makes his amorous intentions clear.
Robin’s search for answers to the questions that have haunted his entire life will take him away from everyone he knows, across a dangerous ocean, and into the very heart of a floating pirate stronghold. Pushed to his limits, Robin’s one last chance at finding the truth will cost him more than he ever imagined.
Social media links
WEB https://www.glennquigley.com
TWITTER https://twitter.com/glennquigley
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/glennquigleyauthor
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Ally Lester
Nice to welcome you back Ally, tell me about your 2021 highlight as a writer
At the beginning of the year, I decided I’d write a trilogy with three months between each fifty thousand word book. I am nearly there! I’ve had to extend the deadline for the final one because of various #LifeThings that tripped me up, but I’m so pleased to be on track to achieving this!
Do you feel you reached an important milestone in your author career in 2021?
Yes, I do. I’ve released four short stories, a novella and two books. That’s pretty good going! I feel like I have a bit more of a grip on what I’m doing these days…back when I began in 2017 I felt like I was flailing around only just keeping my head above water.
What is your favourite memory from this year? Non-author related
Oh! We took the kids to the Swannery at Abbotsbury on the South Coast of England in the summer. Littlest, who is a twelve-year-old wheelchair user with pretty complex issues, got to feed the swans. It was extremely cool. We also took my Mama, another wheelchair user. We sat in the sun and had a picnic and it was so simple and so lovely to spend time together as a family in the midst of all the pandemic stress.
Anybody special you would like to thank for their support/help this year
A HUGE list! Mr AL, who is Team Amazon Ads, Nell Iris and Ofelia Grand who I often write with first thing in the morning, and Jude Lucens, Elin Gregory and Lillian Francis, the mods from Quiltbag Historicals, who all put up with me moaning about writing and life, and offer support!
Do you have an author goal for 2022? Or maybe an event planned that you are working towards?
I want to write more Celtic Myth short stories this year. And I’ve got a couple of stand-alone books in the works. I’m finding the trilogy thing quite stressful, so I’m giving myself a break from them this year.
Publish date: 20th November 2021
#Historical #Transgender #Gay #Mystery #Paranormal
Village nurse Walter Kennett is content with his makeshift found-family in tiny Bradfield. However one midsummer morning a body is found floating in the village duck pond, dead by magical means.
Detective Simon Frost arrives in Bradfield to investigate an inexplicable murder. The evidence seems to point to Lucille Hall-Bridges, who lives with doctor Sylvia Marks and nurse Walter Kennett at Courtfield House. Simon isn’t happy—he doesn’t believe Lucy is a murderer but he’s sure the three of them are hiding something. In the meantime, the draw he feels toward Walter takes him by surprise.
Walter is in a dilemma, concealing Sylvia and Lucy’s relationship and not knowing how much to tell Frost about the paranormal possibilities of the murder. He isn’t interested in going to bed with anyone—he’s got a complicated life and has to know someone really well before he falls between the sheets. He’s taken aback by his own attraction to Detective Frost and angry when Frost appears to twist the spark between them to something transactional in nature.
Will Walter be satisfied to stay on the periphery of Lucy and Sylvia’s love affair, a welcome friend but never quite included? Or is it time for him to strike out and embark on a relationship of his own?
Social media links:
Free story with my newsletter: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/v6xhdi5d19
Facebook group (monthly giveaways, irregular moaning about deadlines and life, a drop-in for other authors to pimp their books once a week): https://facebook.com/groups/LesterTowers
Website: https://allester.co.uk
Twitter (chatter): https://twitter.com/CogentHippo
Instagram: https://instagram.com/CogentHippo
Thank you, everyone, for your contributions and thank you for reading.
If you missed yesterday’s post, my 2021 in more detail, you can find it here. http://jacksonmarsh.com/a-year-as-an-indie-author-2021/
