More Sweden pics

Last month I showed you some pics from my Midsummer spent in Sweden. I thought you might like to see some more pics from the three weeks I spent there? Yes? Okay, let’s go.

A lot of our time was spent in Norrköping where my daughter lives. We had lovely weather almost our entire visit and went for lots of walks. Norrköping is lovely with the river running through it and an old industrial area that I love walking through.

Since we are Swedes, a lot of our time was spent at cafés. Fika is a Swedish national sport after all! 🙂 Brödernas Kafé is my favorite coffee shop in Norrköping, especially during summer when I can sit outside.

I spent a lot of time looking at the sky, because there isn’t a more beautiful piece of art than the sky.

My family (i.e. husband, daughter, and daughter’s partner) are all craft beer fans (I’m more of a wine gal myself) so we went to craft beer bars where they waxed poetically about the characteristics of the different beers, while I rolled my eyes and ordered a glass of wine instead after that initial beer.

What would life be without food? 🙂 I made my excellent spaghetti Bolognese for the family because that’s their favorite meal. We also made homemade pizza with dairy-free cheese for me who can’t eat dairy. And pineapple, because pineapple belongs on pizza! And finally, on my son-in-law’s birthday, my daughter made a fabulous cheese cake (again dairy free cheese for my sake!) with passion fruit. It was sooooo good!

We also went to Karlskoga, our old hometown, to visit parents and brothers. I lived there for 39 years of my life (before moving to Malaysia) and I really really don’t ever want to move back. When I get there, it’s like a hand reaches into my chest and squeezes my heart and I just want to turn around and leave. The empty streets give me anxiety, and I fear that someone will force me to stay and go back to my old life. It’s an irrational fear, I know, but I can’t help it.

My mother-in-law lives in the countryside though, and spending time at her house is always nice. I literally step outside, walk around her house, and leave civilization. But it makes for nice walks through the forests in the warm weather. And you also get lovely company on the walks, of the horsey kind 🙂

And visiting old friends in their summer house by Lake Möckeln is always nice, having fika in the garden, and watching the boats going by.

Another thing I love doing in summer, that I’ve done since I was a kid, is driving the less than 20 miles to Kristinehamn, buy ice cream, and look at the ginormous Picasso sculpture standing on the shore of Lake Vänern. On the way there, you pass through a marina, and when I was a kid, my parents loved taking us on road trips and look at all the boats and stop by the sculpture. I hated it then, but now I love it. It’s such a weird sight and when I was young I didn’t get it, but I do now.

I picked all the ripe strawberries from my brother’s garden (I was allowed!) and ate them because there’s nothing more delicious than sun-ripened Swedish strawberries.

I tried some odd alcohol: Mansinthe, i.e. Marilyn Manson absinthe, 66.6% proof of course 😂 (wasn’t a fan) and porn star rum (was a fan)

Then we took a train to Malmö in the south of Sweden, where we hung out with a few friends, drank more of that blasted craft beer everyone loves so much except me, wandered on Lilla Torg, an ancient market square dated back to 1590 (in the picture), and enjoyed ourselves before it was time to go back to Malaysia again.

 

New release: Forever Nine by Kris T. Bethke

My publisher, JMS Books, celebrate their ninth anniversary this summer, so they invited their authors to write a story that is somehow related to the number nine. Which was how I came up with my bunny shifter story, 9 Willow Street, and which is why you’ll find several stories with nine as the theme (either in the title or playing a big part in the story) now at JMS Books.

And one of those books are Forever Nine by my dear friend Kris T. Bethke. So join me in wishing Kris a happy belated release day, and if you’re in the mood for a BDSM story, this is for you!!

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When Jesse Reid needs emergency surgery, he calls his neighbor to come pick him up instead of one of his many family members. As the youngest of nine, Jesse is used to feeling like a leftover, and he doesn’t need their coddling.

Holden McRae is a big, beautiful man, everything Jesse wants. But Holden has made it clear he doesn’t want Jesse as a submissive.

Under the influence of Holden’s care, Jesse becomes bolder and makes Holden see what he’s been missing. The two men’s interests line up, and the attraction that has always been there is something they can finally act on. As Jesse heals, he shares parts of his life with Holden, and Holden helps him see he’s so much more than #9. Their love might not be the most conventional, but maybe it’s exactly what both men need.

M/M BDSM erotic romance 25910 words 

Buy link: JMS Books | Amazon

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Excerpt: 

“Hey, wait. I live over there.” I gestured sloppily to the left.

“Jesse, do you really think I’m going to let you stay by yourself tonight?”

I squinted up at him. “Um yes. Yes I do.”

He scowled, which I shouldn’t find hot, but I totally did. “Nope. Try again. You had surgery, Jess. You need help.”

“It was little surgery. Not big surgery. It’s fine. I’ll be fine.” I tried to pull away, but he was much stronger than I was, and if I fought too hard, I might hurt myself.

“It was major abdominal surgery,” he corrected, a hint of frustration in his voice. “Even if it was, what did you call it, ‘minimally invasive.’ I have the instruction sheets right here, and you’re gonna be seriously hurting for at least a couple of days. Someone needs to help. So unless you want to call one of your siblings or your parents, you’re stuck with me.”

I shuddered. “God, no. Don’t want to call them. But I don’t want to be a burden.” I frowned. “Well, any more than I already have been. Asking you to come get me. I didn’t expect you to take care of me afterward.”

“Yeah, well. That’s what I do. So can you just let me?”

I was going to argue. I was. But the fact was, I’d called him for a reason. I wanted him to be there for me. I wanted him to care for me. And even though taking care of me after surgery wasn’t what I had in mind, I’d take it. At least for a day or two. Just to see what it was like. Until I could convince him I was fine on my own.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Don’t say that if you don’t mean it,” he muttered, his voice very low. He probably hadn’t meant for me to hear it, but I was practically smooshed against his chest. There was no way I couldn’t hear it.

“I mean it. I’ve always meant it. You just don’t believe me.”

He froze halfway in the house, and looked down at me with shock all over his face. It didn’t last long. After only a few seconds, that neutral mask was back in place. He shook his head.

“It must be time for another pain pill. You shouldn’t be this coherent.”

“They aren’t that strong. At least, not enough to really get me high. Which is a shame, really.” I laughed at the look he shot me. “I’m kidding, Holden. I don’t do drugs. I barely even drink. You know that.”

Holden didn’t seem to think that required a comment and he resumed our trek into the house, down the hall, and into a bedroom.

I knew it was Holden’s room the moment we walked in. Not only did it smell like him — citrus and smoky — but it felt like him. Warm and dominating. The furniture was big, and everything was done in dark browns with splashes of color — in the art on the walls, in the red sheets, and in the throw rug on the hardwood floor. My body relaxed as I took it all in, and it wasn’t until he was trying to settle me on the huge bed that my brain kicked in.

“No, this is your room and I can’t take your bed,” I protested.

He looked at me with a placating smile. “It’s the only bed in the house. The guest room is used for … other things.”

I had an idea what those other things were, but I wasn’t going to bring it up now. I knew he’d just shut me down.

“Then I’ll take the couch.”

“Like hell you will.” I saw a hint of anger rising and part of me felt awful at displeasing him. But most of me was gearing up for a fight.

“Then I’ll go home. I’m not taking your bed.” I tried to sit up, but he placed a firm, warm hand on my chest. I could have moved, he wasn’t holding me down exactly, but it would have been a struggle and that could tear my brand new stitches.

“It’s not taking if I give it to you. Now lie down, or I’ll tie you down.”

I sighed heavily, giving in. But only because I was suddenly too tired to do anything else. “Empty promise, that.”

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Author Bio

Kris T. Bethke has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long. An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, or knitting / crocheting her latest project. Her biggest desire is to find a way to accomplish all three tasks at one time. A classic muscle car will always turn her head, and naps on the weekend are one of her greatest guilty pleasures. She lives in a converted attic with a way too fluffy cat and the voices in her head. She’ll tell you she thinks that’s a pretty good deal. Kris believes that love is love, no matter the gender of people involved, and that all love deserves to be celebrated.

Find her on her site https://kristbethke.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Kris-T-Bethke/100014524539852
or on Twitter https://twitter.com/kristbethke

Writing update

Hi everyone! Time for another writing update; it was a while since my last one (May 27). Usually I try to update you guys once a month, but last month I was in Sweden and was too busy hanging out with my daughter and her partner, the rest of my family, and my friends to update the blog regularly. Heck, I was even too busy to write, which I’ve had to work hard to catch up for since I got back home.

Enough moaning about that, now, on with the update.

I’m in the final stages of writing a story for a JMS Books submission call, about a Pegasus shifter. It’s tentatively named In My Arms Again, but don’t be surprised if I change my  mind (I’ve already done it once). The deadline for this story is August 1, and it will be published some time in October.

The story is a M/M historical fantasy about a hunter named Oxen and a Pegasus shifter, who can’t shift, named Vinge. Vinge shows up at Oxen’s cabin one cold and rainy night, collapses on Oxen’s doorstep, and Oxen nurses him back to health. The connection between them is instant, but is it more to it than it seems? 🙂

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Since I got home from Sweden, my ass has more or less been glued to my office chair, and I’ve been writing until my fingers were bleeding and my keyboard was on fire because of two reasons. First, because of my deadline (August 1), and second because I signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo this month and wanted to win it. And I did. On Saturday, I wrote “The End,” and it took me about 12 days to write 20K words. That’s hella fast for me, so I’m giving myself a pat on the back.

Above, I’m presenting you with this proof, cut and paste from the stats page on their website. Unfortunately, there’s something wrong with the winner’s goodies page, so I can’t access the official winner stuff yet (I’m not the only one with the problem according to the forum), so this pic will have to do.

Official pics or not, I’m very proud of this accomplishment!

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I’ve already told you about my upcoming short story Team Luker, but here’s a reminder if you’ve missed it. It’s available for pre-order at these stores:

PRE-ORDER NOW: JMS BOOKS (20% OFF UNTIL AUGUST 9) | AMAZON | Amazon UK | Kobo | itunes | B&N

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Oh, and on my last writing update back in May, I told you about the project I was working on at that time, for the JMS Books Autumn Love submission call, meaning the characters had to be 40+. Since then I’ve named it (which was a huge problem when I last wrote about it) and submitted it, and it will be published some time in September. But until I have more information, I thought you might want the blurb?

OF AUTUMN LEAVES AND NEW BEGINNINGS

Sometimes love finds you even when you’re not looking for it.

At 47, Oren Walker isn’t looking for love. When he knocks on Pete Higgins’ door, all he wants is to thank him for helping his mom after she broke her femur. He never expected that one look at the man would make his knees weak and heart flutter.

Pete is happy—albeit a bit lonely—after divorcing his wife of 20 years and isn’t looking to replace her. But when Oren shows up, all grateful and handsome and in that fancy suit, the longing for the deep connection of a relationship flares up inside him.

As the leaves turn yellow, Oren and Pete spend a lot of time in honest conversations. Their attraction grows. Will the two men recognize the promise of new beginnings, and take the chance to find the happiness they both deserve?

Team Luker: pre-order and excerpt

Not even two weeks until the Team Luker release day (13 days, but who’s counting?)! Are you excited? I am.

So here’s a pre-order link and an emotional excerpt for you, this fine Sunday! Have a great rest of the weekend! 🙂

Pre-order now: JMS Books (20% off until August 9) | Amazon

Excerpt: 

I can’t live without you, my brain screams in panic, but I bite down the words, lock them away in the back of my mind. I need to be strong for him — I can’t crumble at his feet when it’s he who has the health issues — but at the moment, I don’t know how.

Not saying the words out loud doesn’t help; he can read me even in darkness. Even when I don’t say a word and with my back turned to him.

“And if it is what we fear, Ellery, I fight. I fight like hell, because I’m not leaving you, you hear?”

I nod, uncertain that I’ll be able to keep the panic out of my voice.

He presses a kiss to my nape. “I need you. You’re my rock. My strength. I can’t do this alone.” The raspiness — the worry? — in his voice prompts me to speak.

“We’re a team,” I say, proud that my voice isn’t cracking. “We’ll always be a team.”

“Go Team Luker!” His exclamation coaxes a smile from me, like he knew it would. He peppers more kisses at my nape. Featherlight and soft, until a shiver racks my body. He hums, his chest vibrating against my back, and he rubs his leg against mine.

Being surrounded by him makes me feel safe and cherished, and it loosens my tongue. “I can’t lose you, Jools. I can’t.” It’s a trembling whisper but I’m sure he can hear me in the otherwise silent room. “Not now that I finally get to call you my husband. Not ever. We’re supposed to grow old and gray together. We’re supposed to live happily ever after. I can’t … I can’t …” I bite down on my tongue to stop the frantic blabbering. He doesn’t need this from me.

Be strong, Ellery. At least try.

“Hey.” He rolls me onto my back, climb on top of me and straddles my thighs. Leaning forward, he cups my face with warm, caring palms, and he rests his forehead against mine. “I’m not leaving you. I’m not.”

I throw my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist and cling to him like a monkey. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry …”

He cuts me off with a kiss; his full lips against mine, his hands on my face, and his groin pushing into mine curl my toes and take the edge off the piercing worry. When his tongue begs to be let into my mouth, I gasp, and he slips inside. He’s licking the roof of my mouth, curling his tongue around mine. Devouring me, loving me. Distracting me from my panicked thoughts.

I slacken under him as he rubs his chest and stomach against me, using his entire body to tell me how much I mean to him. Trying to reassure me.

Do you think I want to leave you? his movements say. You’re mine as much as I’m yours, his lips say as he brushes them against my skin. I’ll fight to my last breath to stay with you, his caressing fingers say.

Jools is eloquent and well-spoken, but we communicate best skin to skin. Body to body.

Breath to breath.

JMS Books sale, July 15-16

As one of my favorite writers, K.L. Noone tweeted: “If you’re looking for a good sale that supports a lovely small queer press” – may I suggest you take advantage of the fabulous sale at JMS Books?

All my books are 50% off, which means you could buy all my solo published ebooks for only 24 bucks if you wanted. How’s that for a sale? (Or come to think of it, you can buy all my solo published ebooks for 21 bucks, because Finding The One is a collection and if you buy all the others you don’t need to buy that one too. Unless you love me a lot, that is 😀 )

Here’s a link to my author page at JMS Books. Clickety-click and go wild! Or you know, as wild as you can afford 🙂

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If you need suggestions on what to buy (except for my books, he-he), here’s a handy list:

• Preorder Forever Nine by the lovely Kris T. Bethke. I’ve read it, you’ll like it, and you won’t have to wait long either, it will be released on Saturday.
• I raved about Prince Marcelo yesterday, so now’s the time to buy his books if you haven’t already. I’m talking about The Contingency Plan and The Best-Laid Plans by Addison Albright of course. For only $3, you’ll get a fantastic adventure and the story of my current favorite character, how’s that for a bargain? 🙂
• If you haven’t read the wonderful K.L. Noone, you really should. Everything I’ve read that she’s written has been good, so take your pick here.
• Promises by Ruby Moone, and not only because the cover model is haaaaawt, but it sure doesn’t hurt! 🙂
• If you want really good value for money, try a box set: several stories collected in one yummy package, what’s not to like? Granted, I haven’t read all of these, but everyone loves a good bargain, right?