🌈 MM Romance Instagram Event 🌈

Does Working Men conjure up thoughts of hot sweaty builders or thick thighed cowboys? You'll be sure to find something like that in this collection. But I'm concentrating on teachers. Hard working. Dedicated. Shitty pay. Enforced holiday dates. And stroppy teens. Who'd be a teacher? Check out Drew and Nathan's story for a job that is as rewarding as it is infuriating.

18 authors are taking part in this 'working man' instagram event.


Two random winners will receive a book from my backlist list. How to make it happen? Simple:


🍀 Follow me for one entry

🍀  Like and save my post for another entry

🍀 Tag a friend in the comments (you can tag multiple people, each in a separate comment, to increase your chances of winning) lots of extra entries

Enter the competition here.


And… That’s it! The giveaway closes 21 June 09:00 London ⏰. The winners will be chosen randomly from all entries.



GOOD LUCK! 😘 🍀


Other authors taking part in the event include: @adellisauthor, @anytasunday, @batortuga, @authorbeccaseymour, @bethlaycockwrites, @caradeewrites, @charleydescoteaux, @emycalirel, @jackienorth_author, @jayhoganauthor, @jodipayne1800, @k.evan.coles, @kasiabacon, @rjscott_author, @susanscottshelley, @vl_locey, @victoriasueauthor

Expand your TBR with these books about hard-working men

 

Men who work hard for a living... 

I've joined up with 27 other gay romance authors to celebrate the working man. 

Sometimes you read a book and the main characters' jobs are incidental to the plot, just background noise. Not in these recommendations. These men are hard-working, dedicated to their jobs. Or their jobs play an important role in the plot. 

This collection of  bestselling authors have teamed up to offer a selection of wonderful books featuring working men - cowboys & ranchers, first responders, blue-collar, white-collar, rent boys, MC gangs... and in my case, teachers. 

Hard working. Dedicated. Shitty pay. Enforced holiday dates. And stroppy teens. Who'd be a teacher? Ask Drew and Nathan.

All the books in this promo are here: https://books.bookfunnel.com/working_man/hwtcnuq996

I'm focusing on Lesson Learned. It's set in a Welsh secondary school and both characters are teachers. And their jobs play a large part in the plot and their developing relationship. There's teen drama, misunderstandings, pining, oblivious idiots, hurt/comfort, and someone is quite literally stuck in the (supply) closet. But as always there's a HEA.

Tired of running, has Drew finally found someone worth staying in one place for?

Drew Jackson is sick of constantly being on the move, running away from his mistakes, his desires, and a secret-filled past. He's decided his new teaching job in Cardiff is his chance to finally settle down. Perhaps here he can have a home, and even friendships that won't end in disaster. Like his growing rapport with history teacher Nathan Morgan.

Nathan has been careful to keep his sexuality a secret at work. He doesn't want that kind of attention from the student body. There's one body he would like attention from, though—the new science teacher, Drew. But it's much too risky to let Drew know how he feels. He won't gamble their fledgling friendship on an awkward confession of lust. And Drew's probably straight anyway.

Their friendship is derailed when a student's accusation forces a reluctant confession. Drew is tempted to run again until he comes face to face with the inescapable realisation that flight has ruined every relationship he's ever had.

But maybe he's finally found someone worth staying in one place for.

"A light and easy read with the entertaining comfort of a classic British comedy (well, with a dash more drama). (Lillian Francis) draws characters with a crisp, clean precision, creates stories with a full palette of memorable details, and moves the plot along with a clear sense of structure and rhythm. Her sense of wit is given room to play in Lesson Learned, with funny bits of dialogue running throughout, providing a counterpoint to a serious plot point in the second half. It's a breezy, comfortable book that can make an intense day feel lighter." - Amazon reviewer Feb 2020

What's happening in the writing cave

It’s been a while since I did a round-up of what I’m planning and the start (ish) of the year is as good a time as any.

Let’s recap on last year first. I had four releases, three new and one re-release.

Renaissance was released in April
Just Hanging Out was released in June
Calamine & Christmas Cake was released in December
And Lesson Learned was re-released in August

Not bad for someone who only writes part time, and slowly.

This year I’ve got off to a slow start, the mad rush to get Calamine & Christmas Cake out in time for a Christmas release and several beta reading projects taking its toll. Plus I find I can get sucked into reading and dragging myself away from my TBR to produce something to add to someone else’s can be hard.

This year I plan to finish a manuscript that’s been hanging about in one form or another for nearly a decade. Under the Radar is set in a submarine during WW2 and I started revisions last week. It’s a slow process but I’m definitely going to get it to the stage where I can send it out for submission.

The other story I definitely want to write this year is Village Love #3. This will be Trevor’s story, there was a hint at the end of Renaissance as to where Trevor’s love life was heading and some strong hints of his past relationship and both of these will hopefully be explored more thoroughly in his own story. I say hopefully because I’m a pantser and I’m never quite certain what might happen. I’m looking at starting that about April with hopefully a September/October release date.

Barefoot, my story from the Taste of Honey, will be re-released this year. It’s more or less ready to go if you don’t want smut but I’m being goaded by one of my beta readers to stop teasing and put my money where my mouth is, or something similar. I certainly want to revisit these guys for Christmas this year, so I may save the smut for then.

As for anything else, well that would be a bonus. I’m currently collating all my scrappy notes in various notebooks into one large ideas notebook so that I can find everything easily. The effort writing these notes longhand is making these ideas start to take root in my mind again, so who knows whether one of these may germinate into my next manuscript.

End of Year Sale

Smashwords are having an end of year sale from today until the 1st January 2018.

Most of my self-published books are 25% off during the sale. 

You can find a list of all my self-published titles here.

Lesson Learned review

 A great 4 star review from Bayou Book Junkie.

"It's a slow progression from friends to lovers and it felt natural. I really enjoyed the interactions between Drew and Nathan both as friends and later as lovers."

"This was a well-written story with lovable characters you could really root for to get their HEA. The chemistry and sexual tension between Drew snd Nathan was off the charts. The story is filled with friendship, family, love, a little angst and some steam as well."

Read the full review here.

Buy Links

Universal Amazon link: myBook.to/LessonLearned_LF

Buy Links: Kobo // Payhip // B&N // Smashwords

Add it to your Goodreads bookshelf here.

Release Day - Lesson Learned

The 2nd edition of Lesson Learned is released today.

Cover by Meredith Russell

It will be $2.99 for the first two weeks. After this it will revert to the regular price of $3.99.

The Book

Drew Jackson is sick of constantly being on the move, running away from his mistakes, his desires, and a secret-filled past. He's decided his new teaching job in Cardiff is his chance to finally settle down. Perhaps here he can have a home, and even friendships that won't end in disaster. Like his growing rapport with history teacher Nathan Morgan.

Nathan has been careful to keep his sexuality a secret at work. He doesn't want that kind of attention from the student body. There's one body he would like attention from, though—the new science teacher, Drew. But it's much too risky to let Drew know how he feels. He won't gamble their fledgling friendship on an awkward confession of lust. And Drew's probably straight anyway.

Their friendship is derailed when a student's accusation forces a reluctant confession. Drew is tempted to run again until he comes face to face with the inescapable realisation that flight has ruined every relationship he's ever had.

But maybe he's finally found someone worth staying in one place for.


Buy Links

Universal Amazon link: myBook.to/LessonLearned_LF

Buy Links: Kobo // Payhip // B&N // Smashwords


Add it to your Goodreads bookshelf here.

Cover reveal

The re-release of Lesson Learned is almost here. (Finally! I've had the rights back for well over a year and this cover for about 9 months.) I promise I will have it out before the end of August.

Anyway, I'm sure you all remember the cover that graced the first edition of the book. Nothing wrong with it per se but nothing whatsoever to do with the content inside the cover. They even gave Nathan a massive tattoo for some reason. But it was my first book and my editor told me not to argue with the art dept because they never changed anything. And so I didn't.

Fast forward five years and I've met the lovely Meredith Russell, who has already done several covers for me (Theory Unproven, Lovers Entwined). Just the person to see into my head and pull out the perfect cover for Lesson Learned. (Because she really has that ability, I'm telling you. It's a superpower. The TU cover is exactly as I imagined it.)

Yes, yes, I know I'm blathering when all you want is a glimpse of the cover. Okay then...

Maybe moving forward means staying still, once you’ve finally found someone worth putting down roots for.

Drew Jackson is sick of constantly being on the move, running away from his mistakes, his desires, and a secret-filled past. He's decided his new teaching job in Cardiff is his chance to finally settle down. Perhaps here he can have a home, and even friendships that won't end in disaster. Like his growing rapport with history teacher Nathan Morgan.

Nathan has been careful to keep his sexuality a secret at work. He doesn't want that kind of attention from the student body. There's one body he would like attention from, though—the new science teacher, Drew. But it's much too risky to let Drew know how he feels. He won't gamble their fledgling friendship on an awkward confession of lust. And Drew's probably straight anyway.

Their friendship is derailed when a student's accusation forces a reluctant confession. Drew is tempted to run again until he comes face to face with the inescapable realisation that flight has ruined every relationship he's ever had.

But maybe he's finally found someone worth staying in one place for.



Add to your Goodreads page here

I know this is supposed to be Fiction friday...

but I forgot to prep the post.

Instead have a quick round up of what's happening in my quiet corner of the publishing world.

The first newsletter went out, only a week late and with only one formatting issue that I've had reported back to me (which I had caught when it was too late, and didn't see the point of reissuing). I'd hoped giving away a free book would generate some reviews for said sadly neglected short but it was not to be. Still, it's good to have Waiting for a Spark back on the virtual bookshelves.

Talking of returning to the shelves, I managed to get Theory Unproven re-released just days before my self-imposed deadline. I also flirted with sending out ARC copies. I've had a few reviews from that but I'm not sure how much impact that has had on sales.

This month I intend to re-release Lesson Learned, my very first book from back in 2012. In fact it was originally released 5 years ago yesterday. I'll be sharing the cover in a week or so. This one has had a bit of a rewrite and has taken more work to get it back on the shelves. Thanks to Clare London, Alex Jane, and Katherine Halle for helping with this. I WILL have this on sale by the end of the month.

I've signed all my books up to Payhip. But I've yet to have any sales there. I think there is a post here but I'll save it for another time.

Anyway, that's just a quick catch-up on what's happening with me. Oh, and my hair is purple.
I'll leave you with a banner for Theory Unproven, because who can resist looking at those boys...and Eric and Tyaan aren't bad to look at either.

Universal Amazon link: myBook.to/TheoryUnproven_LF

The best laid plans

The best laid plans have a tendency to go awry when life throws you a curve ball. Consequently I think it's best I talk in plans for the rest of the year rather than this week or month. It's not like I've ever been any good at sticking to my plans anyway.


I've had the rights back to Lesson Learned for a while now. A conversation with Meredith Russell at the UK Meet has kickstarted the design process for a new cover. Plans are underway to get that back out in circulation before Christmas.

Waiting for a Spark has recently reached the end of its contract with JMS. I'll be sorting out a new cover for that in the coming months.

The second book in the Village Love story is well underway. I've had the first draft back from two of my betas. Another of the things I need to get on with.

That curve ball has stopped me in my writing tracks. I've not written new words in more than 6 weeks, but never fear they are all still in there, I just need to find the oomph to get them out.

Something's missing

I don't know if you've noticed, but Lesson Learned has disappeared from the book shelves of all the normal retailers.

Basically I got my rights back from Ellora's Cave in mid December. Getting this book back out on sale is one of my solid plans for 2016. 

So for now Nathan and Drew will be taking a break but I promise they will definitely be returning under my own Finally Love Press imprint. 

Hopefully this time their story will have a cover that actually has a connection to the story!

Rebate

Ellora's Cave are offering a 25% rebate on all their books at All Romance ebooks. So, you can pick up both of my novel length stories there and get money to spend on other books.


In other news, alien pod plants found in Kent. 

copyright Lillian Francis

Maybe I've discovered the place where all those perfect fellas that populate the pages of our favourite gay romances are grown.

Look what arrived in the post today

When a picture is worth a thousand words. 

In fact, thousands and thousands of words.





Click if you want your own copy.

Lesson Learned - now available in paperback

The title of this post says it all really.

Lesson Learned is now available in paperback through the Ellora's Cave website.


I'm ridiculously excited by this news *grins*

Lesson Learned

Tired of having been constantly on the move, Drew is determined to make Cardiff his home.  When Drew starts his new job as teacher in Cardiff, he strikes up an immediate friendship with Nathan Morgan, a young History teacher.

Nathan is instantly attracted to Drew, but doesn’t want to risk their fledgling friendship by declaring the extent of his desire. Completely oblivious to Nathan’s quandary, Drew doesn’t realize the true nature of his own feelings for Nathan until accusations from a student force both men’s hands.

But Drew has spent his life running away.  Running away from his mistakes, his desires and a secret-filled past. Drew is forced to choose between running away once more and a possible future with Nathan.

First Blog of the Year

and I guess I should start by wishing everybody a Happy New Year.

Colourful 2014 in fiery sparklers (christmasstockimages.com) / CC BY 3.0

I noticed that many of my favourite authors are posting their resolutions. I don't do resolutions, or at least I try not to but unfortunately it is too easy to be swept away by the good intentions of others. I do have a couple of goals for the year as far as my writing goes.

Blog more often. Once a month at least. Last year I set myself an unrealistic blogging target considering how much free time I get.

Try to post articles on other people's blogs. I'm well aware how little foot traffic this blog gets. Posting elsewhere will help get other people to see me. (I'm the author in the corner, too self conscious and unsure to come and play with the cool kids)

Get at least one book published this year. Maybe I'm being too picky with...everything. My writing. The publishers I submit to. The stories I tell. Why can't I write a series? Or short stories? Or about shifters, or men in uniform, or men with kids? Hell, if I could only write a series about a cop werewolf finding his mate, who has a small and adorable child in tow, and manage to keep the stories under 60K. Oh well, each to their own, you can only be true to the voices inside your head.

And just to contradict the statement I have just made about being too picky.
It's your story. Tell it the way you want it told. If you don't agree with the changes you've been asked to make, then don't change it. Is it worth making changes just to get the story published? For some I know it is. Me, I don't do it for the money (thank goodness or we would be living in the gutter), so if it doesn't feel right don't change it.

Get more people to buy Lovers Entwined. It's a better book than my sales figures give it credit for, I know it is.

To that end, did you know that All Romance ebooks are offering a 30% rebate on all Ellora's Cave books during January. And who publishes both Lovers Entwined and Lesson Learned? Yep, you've guessed it. So pop over there, read the blurb and see what you think. If you buy, then you can earn yourself credit to spend on other books. Win win.

And of course, let me know what you think, I'm always around on Goodreads, where you can rate and review (and I promise not to take any comments personally).

Happy New Year, my friends. Let's make it a good one.

Read all about it

Or at least learn a little more about me.

I've answered a few questions over at UK Gay Romance, just by way of an introduction.

Want to know how I got started writing gay romance? 

Or the first published gay romance I read?

How about finding out what I'm working on now?

Or read an excerpt of one of my novels?

All of the above can be found in my interview.

Lesson Learned Giveaway

Head over to Stumbling over chaos where I'm offering a chance to win a copy of Lesson Learned.

http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/archives/17605

Lesson Learned - Now available from Amazon

So the title pretty much says it all and really I should have posted this ages ago.

Lesson Learned is now available to buy from other vendors.

Here at Amazon UK

Here at Amazon.com

Here at Barnes & Noble

And from All Romance ebooks where it is hugely expensive.

If you like you can leave a review at these sites to encourage others to enjoy it.

Lesson Learned

Published by Ellora's Cave

Now Available to buy from Ellora's Cave. Click the link to buy.

Blush sensuality level: This is a sensual romance (may have explicit love scenes, but not erotic in frequency or type).

Tired of having been constantly on the move, Drew is determined to make Cardiff his home.  When Drew starts his new job as teacher in Cardiff, he strikes up an immediate friendship with Nathan Morgan, a young History teacher.

Nathan is instantly attracted to Drew, but doesn’t want to risk their fledgling friendship by declaring the extent of his desire. Completely oblivious to Nathan’s quandary, Drew doesn’t realize the true nature of his own feelings for Nathan until accusations from a student force both men’s hands.

But Drew has spent his life running away.  Running away from his mistakes, his desires and a secret-filled past. Drew is forced to choose between running away once more and a possible future with Nathan.

Book Length: Novel

Book Type: eBook


This is the first m/m book to be published by Ellora's Cave in their Blush range!


It also available to buy from other vendors.
Here at Amazon UK

Here at Amazon.com

Here at Barnes & Noble

And from All Romance ebooks.

New Release

My first book, Lesson Learned, will be available from Ellora's Cave on 2nd February 2012.

Lesson Learned

Tired of having been constantly on the move, Drew is determined to make Cardiff his home.  When Drew starts his new job as teacher in Cardiff, he strikes up an immediate friendship with Nathan Morgan, a young History teacher.

Nathan is instantly attracted to Drew, but doesn’t want to risk their fledgling friendship by declaring the extent of his desire. Completely oblivious to Nathan’s quandary, Drew doesn’t realize the true nature of his own feelings for Nathan until accusations from a student force both men’s hands.

But Drew has spent his life running away.  Running away from his mistakes, his desires and a secret-filled past. Drew is forced to choose between running away once more and a possible future with Nathan.

Read an excerpt here.