While on a mission, the last thing the crew of the Sovereignty expects is to gain an addition crewmember, but when an unknown assailant attacks, Axel has no choice but beam the stranger on board the spacecraft. Already in a sexual relationship with “Snake” who is a rare species of alien, Axel certainly isn’t looking for another person to complicate his already challenging existence. The trouble is he cannot deny his growing attraction for the newcomer, who happens to be a very striking and intelligent woman. She’s so intelligent she’s already worked out that Snake is an alien and that the two men are in a somewhat turbulent relationship. Still, Axel isn’t the only one who likes Sela. Snake likes her too, and Sela doesn’t seem to mind the idea that Axel and Snake are lovers, especially after she sees them together…

Of course, in the meantime they’ve got to fight a corrupt government and deal with a zealot of a leader, but if the three can put their differences and natural inclination to distrust aside, they might just find peace…with each other.

One man, one woman, and one alien; two male and one female, all fighting a corrupt Government as well as their personal inclinations to distrust, to want, to need, to feel desire. Sometimes giving in is not the same thing as giving up. Sometimes it’s cosmic!

Available now from Loose-Id!

Firstly, a warning. For any out there who use the yahoo groups, please avoid “Grouply”. At first glance this is supposed to make your use of the groups easier, particularly for those such as authors who are likely registered with many. What many people are concerned with is the threat of identity fraud. Grouply asks for your password, which is an alarm bell for anyone. Even if its intentions are honest, ever heard the phrase rogue employee before? And even if there’s no danger, apparently the site effectively raids your mailbox and spams out invites to all your acquaintances, so if you’ve received any invites, it could be it wasn’t even from the person you believe sent it, and probably came from Grouply itself. I’ve received invites and when I’ve contacted the authors they swear they sent out no such thing. Now, if this isn’t enough to worry you, some of the group owners have sworn to ban anyone trying to add their group to Grouply, or actively advertising it on the loops. If you use the loops, don’t get yourself banned. Whatever the truth behind Grouply, I’d rather be safe than sorry.

And another word of caution, which many authors have been discussing recently: Ever read the copyright notice in a book, especially an ebook? You should. Please note: it is ILLEGAL to share ebooks! You cannot lend one to a friend. You cannot make copies. You cannot resell. You must not set up a file database online with ebooks and give them out to others. It doesn’t matter if you charge or give them away for free. If you pass on an ebook in any manner, you are breaking the law and are open to prosecution. I’m mentioning this because many readers innocently do not realise what damage they are doing. My publishers sell directly through their own sites and subsidiary outlets such as Fictionwise. If you see any books on sale by outlets you are unsure of, please ask the publishers or the authors if these outlets are genuine. Trust me, they won’t mind you asking.

For those of you worrying about me, thanks for the well wishes and I’m okay. Truly, it’s just a pulled muscle. I’m uncomfortable but healing. I actually managed to lie on my back for a short while this morning. Bliss! I don’t usually lie on my back but when you can’t it’s the one thing you wish you could do!

Edits have just arrived on my doorstep, or rather I should say my inbox. This is the proof for “Cosmic” and has to be done like yesterday. This is still on schedule for a release date of November 25th. I have a fab cover for it, which I’ll reveal in the next few days. *g*

I’ve also got first round edits for “A Swithin Spin: A Queen’s Move.” This is my first Swithin Spin-off book from the trilogy and was originally entitled “A Queen’s Rule” but so as to avoid confusion with another series by the same publisher many of you will know I had to opt for a change. We all liked this suggestion due to the chess implication, which also fits the story. Right now, we’re looking at a January release. I’ll keep you posted.

I’m currently working on other Swithin Spins, or at least I was until edits interrupted me. LOL.

On a great note, Loose-Id wish to renew the contract on “Snow Angel” which was due to run out in December. This book continues to sell well and I’ve plans to write more contemporary m/m so I’m happy to renew the contract for the foreseeable future.

And in a small announcement, Shifting Perspectives 2 in out now at Aspen Mountain Press (read on below in another post). Unfortunately, the initial copies of this book went out with some production errors beyond the authors’ control. In my case, a paragraph that should have been moved was repeated. I have informed the publisher. To anyone who purchases this book and receives this error I can only offer my sincere apologies. However, I do hope it doesn’t detract from your overall enjoyment of the story.

The Comet Cometh

This time the Comet’s unleashed…

Markis Shaver is now the Swithin King. He has the love of his life, Uly, as well as his best friend and personal guard at his side, Ryanac. It’s the perfect sandwich but for some reason he’s feeling the squeeze. Ryanac and Uly have yet to fully give in to their lust … as well as trust each other entirely. Until they do, they will never be complete.

There’s also someone out there who wants to put an end to their union and they’re at least prepared to kill Uly to do it. He has to make Uly a prisoner in the palace for his safety but that’s no life for someone who once used to roam the streets.

Then there’s Tressa, his wife who isn’t acting at all queenly. She’s trying to overcome her restrictive upbringing but even she had thought three men would be enough to satisfy her. Apparently not, for she’s looking for something softer, more feminine. Not that he minds — it’s even a relief — but his life is currently complicated enough. Maybe a few toys will please her for now.

He has to keep Tressa happy, keep Uly safe, stand helplessly by waiting while Ryanac and Uly try to form a lasting relationship and in the meantime he needs to locate their enemies. All this while ruling a kingdom and still learning the power of the comet. Even now, he’s still unaware just how much power the comet holds but someone out there is trying to take those he loves away from him and soon everyone is going to find out just how destructive a comet can be, particularly when it’s angry, especially when it’s in love.

This time the power isn’t out to threaten a nation. It will focus on one man. That man will be sorry. The comet is waiting. It wants to be free in the worse way. It’s on its way. It’s coming…

***

“Memories?” a warm female voice asked at his back

Markis jumped. Ryanac’s mother had caught him staring at the barn. She came down the wooden steps of the porch and sat down beside him. It occurred to him that his father would never have approved.

This was their third visit in as many months. It would be nice if they could keep coming to dinner like this. Markis knew how much Ditta appreciated her son coming home even if it were only once a month, even if he was only a few miles away living in the palace. He had kept her son from her long enough. Besides, he liked these visits as much as Ryanac did.

“I’m sorry about your father,” she said.

So was he, but not in any simple way. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Markis closed his eyes tight for a moment, and then let that train of thought go. That chapter in his life was over with and done. He and his father had not parted as friends, but neither had they been enemies. It was less than he had hoped for, more than he had expected. “Thank you,” Markis muttered.

“I hope you’re taking care of my son.”

The comment made him bark out a laugh, and then he looked at her, aware his eyes were a little too wide. He had been away from the farm too long himself. He had forgotten how much Ditta could surprise him. The uncanny feeling that they were talking about something he would rather not discuss with Ryanac’s mother made Markis look away again. Her deportment was calm, and her face looked serene enough, but she had meant what she said and not in any one way. She meant Ryanac’s general welfare, but she meant something else too. There was no reason, as Swithin, for them not to be open about such things, but Ditta was not the type of woman you wronged even if you were the king.

“He’s taken well care of.” His tone sounded neutral enough. From the corner of his eye, Markis watched a smile play about her lips. She sat as he did now, her hands clasped, her arms encircling her knees with her feet on a lower step down from the one on which she sat. The setting sun sent a reddish glow across the ground.

“That Uly’s a one,” she said suddenly. “He’s brighter than he looks, but he’s used to hiding it. He loves you to bits, but he also likes and admires my son. I can’t make out what he thinks of that Tressa, though.” Her eyes shifted towards him, but she dragged her gaze away again before it settled. “Not that I know what to make of Tressa myself.”

It lay on the tip of Markis’s tongue to remind the woman that she spoke of the Swithin queen. He didn’t for all of the reasons he had already thought of and because it amused him to listen to her. “She’s had a restrictive upbringing. I’m sorry she wasn’t hungry –”

“Hungry, my arse. She doesn’t like my food, but that doesn’t bother me. Besides, Ryanac said she’s had problems adjusting to some of the plain food as well as some of the spicy stuff we serve here. Azulite dishes seem to be somewhere in between.”

“That’s true,” Markis admitted.

“What does Uly think of the more spicy stuff?” Ditta asked, as though it had only just occurred to her.

“He loves it.”

She sniffed and smiled, looking pleased. “I knew he would. He’s hot under the skin, that one.”

Out today at Loose-Id

Sharon Maria Bidwell
aonia – where the muses live

http://www.sharonbidwell.co.uk

http://www.myspace.com/aonia