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Angel’s Bits: Little Things Add Up – Monetizing Your Blog

It’s Friday and time for another little installment of Angel’s Bits. This week, Scott and I have been talking about a subject that might be new to some of you and concerning which some of you will be old and experienced hands – monetizing your blog. Sounds like an odd bit of corporate market-speak, I know, but it boils down to how your blog can make money for you. Tons of money? Probably not, unless you have a wildly well-visited site. But you know what? All those nickles and dimes add up. Little bits can help you fund marketing and … Read more

Announcement: Blue, by Ashlyn Forge

Blue, by Ashlyn Forge

QSFer Ashlyn Forge has a new Sci Fi book out: One year sober, Galen’s trying to start over again. He has a new job, a new lease on life, and nobody to share it with. Then a message arrives—his old lover is in a bad way. Couple that with a number of other unforeseen and unwanted comings and goings and things start looking familiarly bleak. Midge is barely coherent when Galen finds him. Because he’s unable to take care of himself, Galen takes him in despite the strain of the arrangement. After so long, Galen is looking to forgive and … Read more

“The Lightning-Struck Heart” by T. J. Klune

Genre: Gay Fantasy Length: Novel   SAM HAVERSFORD is a great and powerful wizard! Okay, not really. He’s just a wizard’s apprentice. But he is powerful! And one day he’ll be King’s Wizard to the heir apparent, Prince Justin. The only problem? Prince Justin is kind of a dick, and is marrying the super dreamy Ryan Foxheart… the same super dreamy Ryan Foxheart that Sam’s had a crush on since forever. Too bad Justin’s a dick. Too bad Ryan swore an oath to serve him. Under normal circumstances, Sam wouldn’t be too upset that Justin then gets kidnapped by a … Read more

Announcement: Rooks and Romanticide, by J.I. Radke

Rooks and Romanticide

DSPP author J.I. Radke has a new Fantasy book out: In an alternate world, Romeo and Juliet are gunslingers. Verona gives way to a steampunk Victorian London. The victims of turf wars are dumped in an alley they call Lovers’ Lane, and the moment the son of his family’s enemy touches his face, Cain’s revenge is poisoned by love. Fate would have it no other way. Levi Ruslaniv is the heir to the Ruslaniv family gang, but ridiculous ancient feuds do not interest him. Cain Dietrich’s vengeful hatred for the Ruslaniv family is rooted deep, since he believes the Ruslanivs … Read more

Discussion: Where Do the Cover Boys and Girls Come From?

Firestorm full size

Today’s topic comes from QSFer Hank T. Cannon: One question that has been burning at me. Where do the sexy pictures for the book covers come from? How are they licensed? It’s a great question. I’ve just started playing around with covers myself, and got some good advice from a cover “panel” at Rainbow Con – there are a number of sites that sell stock art, and the licenses for each site (and often for each piece of art) can vary, so you need to check these when you buy. I just put together three covers for some serial free … Read more

Article: one YA writer’s response to fan who complains about gay characters

Article: one YA writer’s response to fan who complains about gay characters In an open letter titled “Dear Guy Who Is Mad Because I Wrote A Gay Character In A Book,” Wendig attacks every angle of the homophobic argument, starting with, “I suppose the more pleasing alternative to you would be for the characters to suffer in loveless abandonment,” and, “why weren’t you mad that [another] character’s straightness didn’t matter and affect the story?” See full article here

Announcement: The Homecoming, by J. Scott Coatsworth

The Homecoming

QSFer J. Scott Coatsworth has a new Sci Fi book out: When his own world is destroyed, Aldiss and his crew barely manage to escape, leaving friends and lovers behind. What was meant to be an exploratory trip back to the home world turns into a mad dash for survival. When they awaken from stasis on Earth, which was abandoned by humanity five centuries before, they must quickly learn about their new home. While exploring the region around the ship, Aldiss meets Hari, a shape-changer, whose people harbor secrets that might cost the crew their lives. Excerpt Hari reached the … Read more

Discussion: Upcoming Special Topic Weeks

Young Protectors

Hey all, We have not one, not two, but three special weeks coming up in the next three months: GRAPHIC NOVEL WEEK: (August 25th-30th) – This is a brand new one we are just pencilling in now. We’d like to cover manga, yaoi and yuri, comic books, graphic novels, and much more. We’ve already locked in Alex Woolfson and Adam DeKraker, creators of the gay comic The Young Protectors. WORLDBUILDING WEEK (September 15th-20th) – We’ll talk about all aspects of building a world for your story, including languages; alien/magical races; history and timelines; culture and politics; sex, marriage and reproduction; … Read more

The Midweek Mingle: Top 3 Convention Tips

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve been here. Or on any blog, for that matter. Eastern Washington’s been on fire for the past month (including my neighborhood), my roommate scurried away to New York for a week (RAW Nationals), and I’m in charge of my family reunion again… and it’s impossible to get my family to do anything in a timely fashion. But I’m back, and that’s what’s important, after all. We can get back to our Midweek Mingle and (hopefully) I won’t disappear without notice again. So grab a cup of coffee (mine’s empty at current, but help … Read more

TUNE TUNE TUESDAY – ALMOST WEDNESDAY!

I’ve been remiss in posting my Subversive Queer column and my TUNE TUNE TUESDAY posts -sorry to anyone who missed them. I’ve been overwhelmed with shit at my day job plus scrambling to finish the last book in a trilogy (almost there), so I’ve been out of it for the last few weeks. But music still informs my writing – as I’m sure it does yours. Rediscovered a wonderful song today as I wait for my husband to return from a two and a half month sojourn to Italy: On My Way to You, by Barbra Streisand. A great title … Read more