JL Merrow

Something to warm you up in all this snowy weather:

Light the Fire

Learning to live—and love—again

Two years after the death of his lover at the hands of bigots, Kurt’s still not looking for another relationship, even though the big old house he bought with Raoul seems cold and empty these days. But there’s a perky kid at his gym who just won’t take no for an answer.
Matt can tell there’s more to Kurt than just a great set of pecs. He’s drawn to the big guy’s caring, protective attitude as much as to his muscles. But when push comes to shove, can Matt show Kurt he’s not just a big mouth in a small package?

Out today in ebook from JMS Books.
This short story first appeared in the Someplace in this World anthology, now out of print.

Reviews:
‘Light the Fire’ by J L Merrow was intensely romantic and I adored the way that Kurt dealt with Matt’s flirting and the outcome. This story left me feeling deeply moved and satisfied. Hot, poignant, romantic, it hit all the right notes –Jane Davitt’s review of Someplace in this World anthology.

a funny love story with a serious side – Lena Grey, QMO

And I’ll be over on the JMS Books blog later on today, talking about my fascination with the gym.

A lover from another time
When Ted Ennis steps out the doors of the Criterion Theatre for a cigarette and finds himself in Victorian London, he begins to doubt his sanity. At first he thinks it’s all a film set, and is sure that the strikingly handsome young man leaning against a lamppost must be the leading man…
What starts as a sordid transaction with a beautiful rent boy quickly turns into something much deeper, drawing him back again and again as he gets to know Jem and craves meaningful encounters with him.
But Ted doesn’t understand the exact conditions necessary for his trips through time—and for Jem, time may actually be running out. Now Ted has one last shot to get back to Jem and save their relationship, before it’s too late…

Trick of Time is due out in ebook from Carina 28th January 2013, and is available to pre-order from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, but the lovely Chris over at Stumbling Over Chaos is giving you a chance to win a copy – just leave a comment on the giveaway post. Good luck!

(And there’s still time – just – to enter for a copy of Light the Fire, due out on the 20th. Giveaway post here.)

Just to let you know, A Calling for Pleasure and its sequel, A Wish Too Far, will, for a while, no longer be available to purchase. I’ve today asked for copies of A Calling for Pleasure to be removed from distribution, and my contract with Torquere for A Wish Too Far has come to an end, so that should be disappearing any day now.

HOWEVER, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend you dash out and buy them!

They and the currently out-of-print A Blast from the Past will reappear in June 2013, suitably well-rested, re-edited and expanded, and alongside a completely new novella about Rael and Lars—the longest yet—all brought to you both singly and in one volume (ebook and print) from those lovely people at Riptide Publishing.

Things move fast for Jem and Ted during the first encounter, leaving Ted with his mind blown… The rest is their journey to be together and I have to say we are on edge toward the end wondering if it will all work out – Kristy, 3 Chicks after Dark

Trick of Time is due out from Carina Press on 28th January, 2013.

Blurb:

A lover from another time
When Ted Ennis steps out the doors of the Criterion Theatre for a cigarette and finds himself in Victorian London, he begins to doubt his sanity. At first he thinks it’s all a film set, and is sure that the strikingly handsome young man leaning against a lamppost must be the leading man…
What starts as a sordid transaction with a beautiful rent boy quickly turns into something much deeper, drawing him back again and again as he gets to know Jem and craves meaningful encounters with him.
But Ted doesn’t understand the exact conditions necessary for his trips through time—and for Jem, time may actually be running out. Now Ted has one last shot to get back to Jem and save their relationship, before it’s too late…

Carina Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Learning to live—and love—again

Two years after the death of his lover at the hands of bigots, Kurt’s still not looking for another relationship, even though the big old house he bought with Raoul seems cold and empty these days. But there’s a perky kid at his gym who just won’t take no for an answer.
Matt can tell there’s more to Kurt than just a great set of pecs. He’s drawn to the big guy’s caring, protective attitude as much as to his muscles. But when push comes to shove, can Matt show Kurt he’s not just a big mouth in a small package?

This story first appeared in the Someplace in this World anthology, now out of print.

Light the Fire is due out 20th January 2013 from JMS Books, but there’s a chance to win a free copy over at Stumbling Over Chaos. Just leave a comment to enter. Good luck!  

Light the Fire’ by J L Merrow was intensely romantic and I adored the way that Kurt dealt with Matt’s flirting and the outcome. This story left me feeling deeply moved and satisfied. Hot, poignant, romantic, it hit all the right notes –Jane Davitt’s review of Someplace in this World anthology. 
a funny love story with a serious side – Lena Grey, QMO

2013 UK MEET-ERS ARE GO!

We’re delighted to announce that the UK meet website has been updated, road tested and is in business for the 2013 event. You can see the draft programme, read what’s on offer for the various delegates we cater for and, most importantly, book your place! We’ve got various packages to offer best value for your needs, including an early booking discount.

We know you’ll have questions and have tried to answer many FAQs HERE. If that doesn’t give you the answer you need, then contact us.

While we’re about it, our intrepid Jo Myles is getting the blog on the website up and running with regular posts.Anyone who wants to contribute to the blog can contact her direct on josephine_myles@yahoo.co.uk . We’re looking for these sorts of things: a short blog post about the Meet in 2012 and/or what you’re hoping to get out of 2013; something relating to GLBTQ fiction in the UK; a piece of GLBTQ flash fiction. Or maybe you’ve got an idea about what you’d like to see on the blog? Tell us!

From the UK Meet team – Charlie, Clare, Jamie, Jo and Liam

I’m finally back from the annual round of visiting relatives, just in time to wish you all a very happy 2013!  Hope everyone had a good time over the holiday period and is now suitably stuffed/hungover/wondering what on earth they’re going to do with all those well-meant but mind-boggling presents.

I would tell you all my New Year’s resolutions, except that I resolved many years ago never to make any, and have managed to keep to that faithfully. However, I can tell you I’m hoping over the course of the year to finish the novel set in Iceland (Paul and Viggo meet by chance in the party food aisle, and bond over their shared love of cheap canapes and Atomic Kitten) and to write a sequel to Pressure Head.

And just in case you’ve got Christmas money burning a hole in your pockets, I thought I’d just point out that Midnight in Berlin is now available in paperback.

The lovely and talented Lou Harper did this ad for the current issue of Icarus, where you’ll also find a haunting little story of mine, Et in Orcadia.

THANKS to everyone who joined the authors of Winter Warmers this week on our Toe-Tingling, Finger-unFrosting, Neck-Nuzzling, Sofa-Snuggling Blog Tour – all for the purpose of keeping you warm, you understand!

Thanks for sharing your winter season chat and cheer, and we’re pleased to announce the WINNER of the free download of the book:

brenopa

Congratualations! Clare will be contacting you re your preferred format. And to everyone else, thanks for playing!

Hope you all have a sizzling hot Christmas!  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
And if you want to catch up on all our posts and continue to admire our Christmas baubles *g* (artwork courtesy of the talented Lou Harper) …
Clare London

Jo Myles
Lou Harper
Chrissy Munder
JL Merrow
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WINTER WARMERS – a seasonal anthology
Mulled wine. Butterscotch kisses. Hideous sweaters. Candy at the beach, or a
trip to a sex shop in Amsterdam. And the man of your dreams, wrapped around
you…
Winter warmers come in many shapes and sizes, from the tongue-in-cheek to
the hot-as-hell. Enjoy a quintet of heart-warming tales of men loving men from
Clare London, Chrissy Munder, JL Merrow, Josephine Myles, and Lou Harper that are guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face.
One thing’s for sure—it’s going to be a red-hot Christmas!

Here on Amazon UK, Amazon US, and All Romance Ebooks.

Yes, the latest edition of Lethe Press’s magazine of gay speculative fiction is now available to purchase in your choice of digital or dead tree form.  It’s not only looking seasonally frosty, it’s got a story by me in it!

Winter has arrived with Icarus 15 and with it ghosts and doppelgangers.

The Magazine of Gay Speculative Fiction welcomes stories by our old friends Peter Dube and Lambda Literary Award winning author Richard Bowes (the latter interviewed by author Christopher Barzak who also contributes his own neo-goth story, and new friends: a disturbing tale by acclaimed author Stephen Graham Jones; a fantastical romance of the sea by JL Merrow.

Because winter is a season of visual spectaculars, we have included the whimsical and homoerotic illustrations of young Fedini. Plus, new reviews of the latest gay books of fantasy and horror, gossip and news, everything you would want to see to make life a bit more breathtaking during forthcoming cold months.

For purchase details, see here.

…to see I’m up for one or two of those Goodreads 2012 M/M Romance Group members’ choice awards!

4. Favorite All Time M/M Author

5. Favorite All Time M/M Character(s): Al Fletcher – Muscling Through

7. Best Cover: Pressure Head

15. Hottest Shifter Character: Leon – Midnight in Berlin

19. Best Story that Should/Must have a Sequel: Pressure Head

23. Best Anthology: Lashings of Sauce

27. Best Contemporary Story: Hard Tail

29. Best Enemies to Lovers Story: Pressure Head

31. Best Gay/Out for You Story: Hard Tail

35. Best Story Featuring Law Enforcement/PI/Firemen/Military Professionals: Pressure Head

38. Best Story with a Mystery/Whodunit Theme: Pressure Head

I’d be absolutely delighted if you saw fit to vote for me in any of those (apparently you don’t have to be a Goodreads M/M group member), but even if you don’t want to vote, it’s well worth checking out the lists of nominations to pick up some tips for your next read!