JL Merrow

As you may well have seen from posts by m’colleagues, we now have publication dates for both the UK meet related anthologies, along with a list of the confirmed contributors so far.  As a member of the selection committee I’m delighted to tell you that both anthologies have got a fantastic line-up of stories, all exploring different aspects of what it means to be British – and we were thrilled to see that some of our favourites were by newer authors.

British Flash – to be published on 16th June as a free ebook, this will contain flash fiction stories of up to 1,000 words.

Contributing authors: Alex Beecroft, Stevie Carroll, Charlie Cochrane,
Erastes, Elin Gregory, Sandra Lindsey, Clare London, JL Merrow,
Josephine Myles, Zahra Owens, Caroline Stephens, Lisa Worrall and
Serena Yates.

Tea & Crumpet (cover pending) – to be published by JMS Books on 3rd July as an ebook. Print copies should be available in time for the Meet on 23rd July. All profits to future UK meets.

Contributing authors: Alex Beecroft, Stevie Carroll, Jennie Caldwell,
Charlie Cochrane, Elin Gregory, Clare London, Anna Marie May, JL
Merrow, Josephine Myles, Zahra Owens, Jay Rookwood, Chris Smith, Lisa
Worrall and Serena Yates.

We’re still expecting more stories in for both anthologies – further contributors tbc.

My story in Tea & Crumpet, Good Breeding, is about that most British of subjects, class.  In my British Flash stories, Worst Pub in London (m/m) and Like a Girl (f/f), I’ve tried to reflect the multicultural makeup of Britain today.

Other contributors have explored themes including cricket, the royal wedding, freezing cold beaches and punting on the Cam, and there are some welcome reappearances by already-published characters.  As Josephine Myles said, raise your rainbow brollies high and celebrate!

If you’ve read Stroke to His Cox – or even if you haven’t, as the story is intended to stand alone – and would like to read a little bit more about Dave and Archie, head on over to Cryselle’s blog, where you’ll find a rather lovely picture of some strapping young men in a boat, and the story they inspired.

You can find Firm Pressure here.

(And incidentally, Cryselle posts a picture every Thursday, so check out past fics of up to a thousand words by other authors while you’re there!)

Stroke to His Cox, by the way, is up for Book of the Week at Whipped Cream Reviews – I’m told a poll will appear here sometime today, should any of you feel minded to vote.

Just received the cover art for my Amber Allure summer holiday novella, Sex, Lies and Edelweiss:

And now I’m homesick for Austria… *sigh*

It’s due out on June 19th.

…look so much like regency gentlemen, strutting around the fields? 

And why does a bluebell wood look so heavenly?

Answers on a postcard, pls. 

In other news: have broken 25k on Feathers (subtitle now officially “An American Werewolf in Berlin” due to popular demand).  This pleases me nearly as much as the bluebells.

Well, not me personally – but Cornelia Grey spotted my name in one of the anthologies at the Xcite stall!  I feel like I’ve arrived!

(I know, I know… little things please little minds… *g*)

Thanks to PD Singer for alerting me to a fantastic review from Cryselle!

Long on humor, perfect on romance, this short story is a lovely pick-me-up for a sour mood. If Steve and Tip get further adventures, I want to be first in line. 5 marbles

You can read the full review here.

Yes, Muscling Through (which some of you may remember under the working title of Breaking Eggs) is now available to pre-order on Amazon!  Release date is July 19th. 

Here’s the blurb:

The bigger they come, the harder they fall… in love.

Cambridge art professor Larry Morton takes one, alcohol-glazed look at the huge, tattooed man looming in a dark alley, and assumes he’s done for. Moments later he finds himself disarmed—literally and figuratively. And, the next morning, he can’t rest until he offers an apology to the man who turned out to be more gentle than giant.
Larry’s intrigued to find there’s more to Al Fletcher than meets the eye; he possesses a natural artistic talent that shines through untutored technique. Unfortunately, no one else seems to see the sensitive soul beneath Al’s imposing, scarred, undeniably sexy exterior. Least of all Larry’s class-conscious family, who would like nothing better than to split up this mismatched pair.
Is it physical? Oh, yes, it’s deliciously physical, and so much more—which makes Larry’s next task so daunting. Not just convincing his colleagues, friends and family that their relationship is more than skin deep. It’s convincing Al.

Contains comic misunderstandings, misuse of art materials, and unexpected poignancy. 

Spurred on by the lovely and tech-savvy Josephine Myles, I’m trying out Windows Live Writer.  It’s supposed to be posting this to LJ and to WordPress, but I’m not holding my breath!

So please ignore this post, unless by any chance you happen to be possessed of a link to an idiot’s guide to all this sort of stuff, in which case I shall be biting your hand off shortly…

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