Happy Valentine's Day everyone (to those who celebrate and those who don't--hi!)
You're in a special treat this Valentine's because Beaten Track Publishing is taking over today to talk about their latest anthology, Love Unlocked which is released today - 2/14/16! And not only are the eight authors (Al Stewart, Claire Davis, Caraway Carter, Dawn Sister, Debbie McGowan, J.P. Walker, Ofelia Gränd & Victoria Milne) taking over, but they're dropping by with an excerpts from The Scarlet Lock, Writer's Lock and The Weekend.
Plus, one of the authors, Caraway Carter, visits with an interview. And wait there's more...the revered G word: GIVEAWAY!
So stick around and get comfortable while Beaten Track Publishing promotes Love Unlocked anthology and let you get to their words a little better!
Love Unlocked is a collection of seven short stories and novellas - unique LGBTQ romances inspired by the Love Lock Bridge.
THE STORIES:
The Trap by Claire Davis and Al Stewart
Writer's Lock by Victoria Milne
Locked in the Moment by Dawn Sister
The Weekend by J P Walker
The Scarlet Lock by Caraway Carter
He Melted Us by Ofelia Gränd
Chain of Secrets by Debbie McGowan
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
Cover Artist: Various
* * *
THE TRAP by CLAIRE DAVIS AND AL STEWART
New job - sexy boss - fate - Art...
When Sal attends an open exam for an apprentice artist to work alongside the infamous Matthew Picard, the last thing he expects is to be the winner. But then his role is revealed and nothing is ever the same again. As he toils day and night on the unique sculpture, strange sensations begin to affect both him and the watching master artist.
Matthew Picard thought he was through with men and love. What he wanted was for Sal to help him create one final monstrous masterpiece - The Trap.
But as he observes his young apprentice, his focus shifts, and so do the very walls of the gallery.
Is it the beauty of art, or something more magical at work?
As the sculpture is created, a power is unlocked.
Can love save them, or will they be trapped forever?
* * *
WRITER'S LOCK by VICTORIA MILNE
Spending a month in Paris to write his romance novel had seemed like the perfect plan, but one week in, Phil Pearson is suffering from a severe case of writer's block. With barely a word written, he's fed up and ready to cut his trip short.
When Laurent Marceau sees Phil in his café, it sends him hurtling into the past, opening old wounds and reminding him of the love he lost. But, after watching the aspiring writer struggle for inspiration, he surprises himself by offering to show him Paris through the eyes of a true Parisian.
Finally bursting with ideas, Phil is delighted to put pen to paper, albeit badly at first. As the writer finds himself falling in love for the first time, Laurent knows he needs to decide quickly if he's strong enough to return his affections, or whether it would be better for them both if he walked away. He knows he may not have a choice, once Phil finds out the truth.
* * *
LOCKED IN THE MOMENT by DAWN SISTER
Due to a misunderstanding, the troll that lives underneath one of the most romantic bridges in Paris inadvertently unlocks every single padlock lovers have left there over the years. L'Authoritié de Fée Folklorique are up in arms. He has no idea what all the fuss is about. The noise was driving him mad. He just wanted a bit of peace and quiet.
A spell is cast, leaving the troll in a bit of a predicament. He is charged with the seemingly impossible task of fixing the locks before the spell can be reversed and he is allowed to return to his home. There are other complications, the least of which is the insistence and persistence of a fairy who is determined to help him against the wishes of his own people.
Now the troll has a dilemma. What is more important to him? The only home he has known for two thousand years, or a fairy he has just met?
* * *
THE WEEKEND by J P WALKER
Nat's been through a rough breakup and trust does not come easily. When she accompanies a group of friends to Paris for a hen weekend, she finds a connection she wasn't looking for, in the form of beautiful, passionate Morgan. They quickly fall into a wonderful weekend fling and even engrave their initials into a lock and attach it to the most romantic bridge in the world, Love Lock Bridge.
But was that weekend fling all there was, or will news of the bridge being taken down lead to something more?
* * *
THE SCARLET LOCK by CARAWAY CARTER
Brandon Marshall, in Paris for his twin sister's wedding, has a fling before the big day. At the end of a whirlwind week of discovering each other, Brandon and his lover place a scarlet lock on the Love Lock Bridge.
Follow Brandon through six years of letters - to the citizens of Paris, on everything from how to make love, to eating passionate fruit - and to the lover, who is now his brother-in-law.
The locks are being removed, the bridge refitted... What will be the fate to The Scarlet Lock?
* * *
HE MELTED US by OFELIA GRÄND
All Delron wants is to live his life with Phillipe, but when their love lock is stolen from Pont des Art, their relationship is in jeopardy. Without the lock holding them together, Delron is convinced they'll crash and burn. The only way he can save their relationship is to find the stolen lock, and that is just what he plans to do, no matter what.
Phillipe loves Delron, he really does, but it's driving him insane that Delron can't see that a padlock is simply a piece of metal. The lock has nothing to do with them, not really. Up until the night the lock was stolen, their life was great, but Del's crazy behaviour has Phillipe wondering if he has ever really known his boyfriend.
Delron's search leads him through art-filled Paris, but will a symbol of love ever be enough to soothe the mistrust his quest has planted in Phillipe? Phillipe always thought he'd spend the rest of his life with Del, but who can live with anyone willing to break the law just to find a padlock when they can buy a new one in just about any shop?
* * *
CHAIN OF SECRETS by DEBBIE MCGOWAN
Josh and George have always shared the special bond of friendship. From days in primary school, to holidays spent riding their bikes along the canal, theirs is a promise to remain best friends forever.
But can that promise withstand the trials of adolescence, and the changes in their feelings towards each other?
Release Date: February 14, 2016
Pages or Words: 156,000 words, 550 pages
Categories: Bisexual (1 story), Contemporary (7 stories), Fantasy (1 story), Gay Fiction (6 stories), Lesbian Romance (1 story), M/M Romance (6 stories), Romance (7 stories)
Buy the book:
Beaten Track (ebook): http://beatentrackpublishing.com/shop/proddetail.php?prod=loveunlocked_format
Beaten Track (paperback): http://beatentrackpublishing.com/shop/proddetail.php?prod=loveunlocked
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Unlocked-Claire-Davis-ebook/dp/B01BHBW1FM
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Unlocked-Claire-Davis-ebook/dp/B01BHBW1FM
All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loveunlocked-1978041-166.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/612682?ref=b10track
Love Unlocked Anthology – http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/loveunlocked
The Trap by Claire Davis and Al Stewart – http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/thetrap
Writer's Lock by Victoria Milne – http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/writerslock
Locked in the Moment by Dawn Sister – http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/lockedinthemoment
The Weekend by J P Walker – http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/theweekend
The Scarlet Lock by Caraway Carter – http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/thescarletlock
He Melted Us by Ofelia Gränd – http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/hemeltedus
Chain of Secrets by Debbie McGowan – http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/chainofsecrets
Excerpts from The Scarlet Lock
by Caraway Carter
Anything can happen in Paris!
That’s what Brandon Marshall told himself, as he sat drinking cappuccino in a café, on a rainy afternoon in April. His eyes caught those of an attractive man in a business suit, and he had a feeling it would be an enjoyable excursion.
He’d arrived before the rest of his family. All had been planning the trip the past six months, for the wedding of his twin sister, Bree. In a week, they’d all unite in the Parisian countryside at the Dupuis home. But, until that time, he’d enjoy his personal vacation.
The man in the business suit approached his table, stopped, and looked down at Brandon. The man’s left hand slipped deep into his pocket. Brandon stared, for a moment riveted to the emerald-green eyes. His gaze traveled down the crisp, white dress shirt, over the Hermes belt, to the growing tent in the man’s black slacks. Brandon’s pinkie fingertip reached to caress the fabric, and energy sparked between the two.
With his other hand, the man pulled a wallet from his breast pocket, deposited a bill on the table and walked away. In one fluid movement, Brandon stood and followed the man across the street to an apartment building.
***
Left in The Ritz lobby
***
Reader, are you splurging, or is this your type of hotel?
It was a splurge for my family three years ago. I only walked across the lobby once, to deposit my luggage in my room. Take the adventure this place gives you. If The Ritz is all you’ve ever known, then please leave this letter for someone who needs to experience the luxuriousness.
If you had never imagined in a million years being in this lobby, smile and feel the luxury that surrounds you. Wake up and look out the windows in your room. Before going to bed, look at the lights of the city and enjoy slipping under the cotton sheets. Slide up next to your lover, husband, wife, partner or prostitute, and make each night a night you’ll never forget.
When you understand what I have suggested, leave this letter in another place in the hotel. Hopefully people will be satiated every day for a long while.
Brandon
Excerpt from Writer’s Lock
by Victoria Milne
Phil Pearson tilted his head, contemplating the blank pages of his notebook, and a dark lock of hair skimmed his eyes. Still nothing. Yet again, his mind was totally blank—an alarmingly familiar feeling. He squinted hard, blurring the faint, ruled lines into thick, grey barriers.
So much for coming to Paris for inspiration; he’d barely written a word in the six days since his arrival. Leaning back in the rickety, wooden chair, he slammed the notebook shut, sighed and gazed out of the café window at the tourists bustling past in the warm, evening sun.
He felt like such a fraud. How could he legitimately call himself a romance writer, when he was in the city of love and still struggling to write anything of significance? His fingers trembled as he smoothed condensation from his beer glass. His inexperience of love was certainly shining through. He had to prove he could do this, for his own sanity if nothing more. Surely, it shouldn’t be this hard.
“Vous désirez…un café peut-etrê?”
Phil peered blankly at the waiter, who smiled and repeated in English.
“Can I get you anything else?”
Phil shook his head, and the waiter took a step closer—a little too close, Phil noticed—as he glanced at his notebook.
“Ideas not flowing today?”
“Or any day, it feels like.”
The waiter indicated towards the empty chair opposite, and Phil shrugged his acquiescence, catching the delicate scent of the man’s aftershave as he took his seat. “You’re a writer?”
“Trying to be,” Phil said with waning conviction.
Studying him, the waiter pursed his full lips. “You cannot wait for inspiration to come to you like this. Sometimes you have to go out there and create it for yourself.”
Phil snorted a laugh. “You really think I’m going to take advice about inspiration from a waiter?”
His companion’s chair legs noisily scraped the tiled floor as he stood and gave Phil a long, hard stare. “Perhaps you should not be so quick to judge on appearances. Most things are not as they seem at first glance. You could learn a lot about inspiration from me, if you were not so arrogant.”
Phil stared at the man as he walked away, horrified with himself. He’d been so caught up with his own woes and torments that he’d unwittingly committed the one sin he despised most in others: not only to judge someone negatively but to do so with no thought as to whether it were true, or deserved, even.
The waiter was preparing coffee behind the bar, and Phil looked at him more closely. His shoulder-length, auburn hair was tied neatly into a ponytail, and he had the physique of a long-distance runner, or perhaps a cyclist. The sleeves of his crisp, black shirt were rolled to his elbows, and a wooden beaded necklace graced his throat. The more Phil watched the man’s practised movements, the more intrigued he became, and also more embarrassed.
Draining his beer and packing up his things, he stood and walked the short distance to the bar and placed the empty glass down with a thud.
“I’m sorry about before,” he said and slid twenty euros across the bar. The waiter glanced over his shoulder and made to open the cash register, but Phil shook his head and began to walk towards the exit. “Have a drink on me.”
“Wait!”
Phil spun to look at him and was studied with a guarded smile.
“How would you like to know Paris through the eyes of a true Parisian?”
Phil eyed him cautiously, and the waiter strolled over.
“This is not true Paris,” he scoffed and waved his hand at the tables of tourists. “You will never feel inspiration here. Allow me to show you Paris, the places we Parisians go. If you cannot write afterwards, I guarantee it was never meant to be your passion.”
Phil considered his offer for a moment. “Okay, you’re on.” He scraped a lock of hair from his eyes and held out his hand. “I’m Phil, by the way.”
“Philippe, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Laurent.” He leaned forward, ignoring Phil’s outstretched hand, and kissed him on both cheeks. “But we should start right away, and I know exactly where we’ll go. I’ll get my coat and tell Luc I’m leaving.”
Phil hovered by the doorway, wondering what exactly he’d agreed to. He’d just put what felt like his entire future in the hands of a complete stranger. To his surprise, instead of feeling apprehensive, he was excited to see where this journey would take him.
Excerpt from The Weekend
by J P Walker
It’s funny how when you break up with someone, especially under awful circumstances, you realise how much was missing. When I’d first moved out of Katie’s, all I could remember were the good times but now, with Morgan, I couldn’t help but make comparisons. Those good times with Katie came nowhere near how incredible it had been to spend a day with the beautiful woman sitting across the table from me. If I’d been in any doubt before about how much I liked Morgan, I wasn’t any longer. I really did.
After dinner, we went for another stroll around Paris, appropriately dressed this time, with warm coats, and Morgan linked her arm with mine and rested her head on my shoulder. Every now and then, we stopped to look in awe at the beauty of the city around us—the buildings, the street names—Paris was quickly becoming my favourite destination, truly the most beautiful place I had ever been. Eventually, we found ourselves on the Pont des Arts bridge, surrounded by beautiful lights. I knew of the bridge, known as ‘Love Lock Bridge’, but didn’t really know of the tradition that went along with it.
We watched the lights shining from all the locks, and I felt my heart swell. Thousands of couples, all of their declarations of love and commitment…I felt overwhelmed in the presence of so much love. Without any warning at all, my eyes filled with tears. Morgan had wandered ahead, only a few steps, to look at the names on some of the locks, but she noticed my tears and within seconds was by my side and holding my hand. She looked at me questioningly.
“So beautiful,” I said and buried my face in her hair. My word, what a bloody soppy git I had become.
Morgan held me, rubbing soothing circles on my back, and I could hear the jangle of her bracelets. When we parted, she gave me an almost secret grin and reached into her pocket. I looked at her quizzically and then saw what she had in her hand: a small red padlock with a key still inside.
“It’s from my suitcase, I’d forgotten I’d shoved it in my pocket until we got here. Whaddaya say?” She winked.
I nodded and checked my pockets, to see if I had a Sharpie—I love doing crosswords on trains, don’t judge. I found one in my inside pocket. Yay!
“OK, what’s your last name?” I asked as I took the lid off with my teeth.
“Freeman.”
The pen fell out of my mouth as I gaped at her. Morgan Freeman? Seriously? Then she started laughing and swatted me on the shoulder.
“Just kidding, can you imagine? Ha! It’s Wilson,” she got out between laughs.
I shook my head at her antics. She was a riot.
“What’s yours?” she asked after I’d written ‘MW’ and ‘NB’ on the small lock and deposited my pen back in my pocket.
“Bliss,” I replied smiling.
“Really? Bliss? You’re…Nat Bliss?”
“Well…Natalie Emilia Bliss. But yeah…Bliss.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.” I was enjoying her reaction. Her eyes were shining bright, and puffs of vapour hung in the air as she breathed.
She brought her face close to mine and laid a soft, warm kiss on my mouth, immediately turning me on. I was quickly becoming addicted to her, and giving me a little fix like that left me silently begging for more. Chasing the dragon—I began to doubt if I would ever again find a high like Morgan Wilson.
The authors and where to find them:
Claire Davis and Al Stewart
Al Stewart and Claire Davis write about people who are not perfect. Claire embraces the dark side, and Al the good side of the force. Their work is there for a fusion of both, mixed often with kink and humour.
Contact and Media
Website: http://astewartcdavisbook.wix.com/author
Goodreads:
goodreads.com/author/show/8328423.Claire_Davis
goodreads.com/author/show/8510218.Al_Stewart
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Claire-Davis-and-Al-Stewart/764501920298271
Beaten Track: beatentrackpublishing.com/clairedavisandalstewart
* * *
Victoria Milne
Many years ago, Victoria chose the words ‘watch this space’ to accompany her picture in the school yearbook and had no dreams of being a writer. Sixteen years later, after someone joked that she should be an author, she began the first page of her very first novel and realised how perfect those words had been.
As a latecomer to the world of creative writing, Victoria is now making up for lost time and enjoying every second of the experience.
In the rare moments these days when she’s not writing or dreaming up new plots, she can usually be found at either the ice rink or the dojo and all of these activities are done listening to loud music.
Victoria would love to hear from anyone who shares her passion for writing; and in particular from anyone who has tips on how to tame the editing fetish she has unwittingly acquired along the way.
Contact and Media:
Goodreads: goodreads.com/VMilne
Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004591036789
Beaten Track: beatentrackpublishing.com/victoriamilne
* * *
Dawn Sister
Dawn is from the North East of England. Her life is spent juggling. The juggling balls are: children, husband, work (occasionally), voluntary work, professional knitting (notice she doesn't class this as work), and writing. When she has time she actually sleeps.
The whole point of writing for Dawn is just to get it all off her chest and out of her head. If she doesn't write it down then she ends up having long conversations with the characters out loud and her husband thinks she's crazy.
Contact and Media
* * *
J P Walker
Jem Roche-Walker was born in Norwich and moved to the Northwest in order to attend Edge Hill University, studying Social Work Studies. After studying, she began working in rehabilitation for patients with acquired brain injuries and spent seven years writing her first novel, Knights of the Sun, (2013, Beaten Track).
She lives in Burscough with her wife and baby girl and loves spending family time with them.
Contact and Media
Goodreads: goodreads.com/JPWalker
Facebook: facebook.com/jpwalkerknightsofthesun
Beaten Track: beatentrackpublishing.com/jpwalker
* * *
Caraway Carter
Caraway Carter has worn numerous hats. He’s been a furniture salesman, a dresser, a costumer, an actor/waiter, a rabble rouser, a poet and most recently a writer. He married his husband on Halloween and they are the loving parents of two rambunctious cats. He loves words and stringing them together, he loves sex and sexy men. He loves seeing how far his muse will take him and he’s looking forward to entertaining you.
Contact and Media
Website: carawaycarter.com
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/13539002.Caraway_Carter
Beaten Track: beatentrackpublishing.com/carawaycarter
* * *
Ofelia Gränd
Ofelia Gränd is Swedish, which often shines through in her stories. She likes to write about everyday people ending up in not-so-everyday situations, and hopefully also getting out of them. She writes contemporary and paranormal, and dreams about one day writing a post-apocalyptic story—if that ever happens we’ll see.
Her books are written for readers who want to take a break from their everyday life for an hour or two.
When Ofelia manages to tear herself from the screen and sneak away from husband and children, she likes to take walks in the woods. She’s recently discovered the miracle of podcasts and spends her strolls listening to wise people talk.
If you want to know more, subscribe to Ofelia's Mailing List:
http://ofeliagrand.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c080076874c9baaaee71b5ba1&id=75932554a5
* * *
Debbie McGowan
Debbie McGowan is an author and publisher based in a semi-rural corner of Lancashire, England. She writes character-driven, realist fiction, celebrating life, love and relationships. A working class girl, she ‘ran away’ to London at seventeen, was homeless, unemployed and then homeless again, interspersed with animal rights activism (all legal, honest ;)) and volunteer work as a mental health advocate. At twenty-five, she went back to college to study social science—tough with two toddlers, but they had a ‘stay at home’ dad, so it worked itself out. These days, the toddlers are young women (much to their chagrin), and Debbie teaches undergraduate students, writes novels and runs an independent publishing company, occasionally grabbing an hour of sleep where she can.
Contact and Media
Pinterest: pinterest.com/b10track
Tour Dates & Stops:
14-Feb
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Today we're very lucky to be interviewing Caraway Carter, author of The Scarlet Lock (Love Unlocked Anthology) . Hi Caraway, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.
1) What’s the best line you ever wrote? His hand unconsciously rose to his mouth, tears brimmed, and he glanced up into the beautiful face of Hubert, those green eyes, like sunlight shining through grape leaves, sparkling with tears
2) Do you listen to music while writing? I create playlists on Spotify for every book I write. There are specific songs I listen to when writing a scene, but generally I have the playlist on shuffle. If so, what kind? Everything from Hip Hop to classical. From spoken word to electronic. Top 40, C&W. It just depends on the music. One of the books I’m working on now, the playlist has Zydeco, Jazz, House, country & Top 40. Hawaiian Trunks had old Hawaiian music and jazz. It’s varied.
3) If your book were made into a movie, what actors would you like to see star? My pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/carawaycarter/the-scarlet-lock/ has people, but I can’t think of specific actors. If anything, I’d want non-stars in the film.
4) What genres do you write in? I generally write contemporary. I’m currently writing a contemporary mystery. I’ve got an idea for a cozy series, and I really want to write a historical, perhaps something in the 20s. I also have an urban fantasy on the backburner somewhere and a very unusual church porn paranormal half finished.
5) Where and when do you prefer to write? I like to write all hours of the day, sometimes I get up four hours before work to get words in, and sometimes I’m up till one in the morning to write. There is this awesome place, Ink and Bean in Downtown Anaheim, California, where a friend and I take over a table and set up laptops. We drink coffee and eat cheese from the cheese shop next door and write. She writes on her historical and I on my whatevers.
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