Launch party for Bristlecone Pine Press!

[Leslie]

Hi everyone,

This is an exciting week. My publishing imprint, Bristlecone Pine Press, is having a collaborative launch party with Cheyenne Publishing to announce the release of several new titles. Cheyenne publishes the print version; Bristlecone is in charge of the ebooks. All of the books are up live at Amazon, Mobipocket and All Romance eBooks -- the latter in a variety of formats, including ePub for the Sony reader. We are having a bunch of events, contests, interviews and so on which I will be cross posting here so everyone can join in the fun. Please check out the books and have fun! Let me know if you have questions or need more information.

I'll post covers of the books and the synopsis of each one in the next few posts.

L

[EllenR]

Congrats Leslie. That's very exciting!

EllenR

[Leslie]

First book for your reading pleasure: Frost Fair by Erastes



In 1814, the River Thames froze solid in one of the coldest winters on record; tradesmen and society all flocked to the Frost Fair – the last ever to be held on the ice. Against this chilly backdrop, the printer, engraver and fiercely independent Gideon Frost struggles; not only to keep his business afloat, selling his body to men when he must, but also to hide his growing attraction to a wealthy customer: the gentleman Joshua Redfern. Redfern is a man out of Gideon's class and very much out of his reach.

When disaster strikes, Gideon is forced to make a decision which will affect his future: will he choose love, or independence? Frost Fair evokes a bitterly cold London winter as Gideon tries to find the heat of love in his heart and his life.

Written by Erastes, author of the widely acclaimed Standish and Trangressions, the latter the first in a new line of m/m historical romances published by Running Press.

Reviews

"The research behind Frost Fair is impressive indeed ... and the depiction of the winter carnival taking place on the frozen Thames is a delight." Mel Keegan
   
“...The nature of the characters and times is set in every nuance, every line, and in the very lush setting of the story itself. It imbeds itself deep until you can actually visualize in your mind the time and place, and the people (s)he immortalizes...” Romance at Heart Magazine

“...This story has exciting intrigue, suspenseful plot twists, and layers of character revelation and evolution that will keep any reader riveted. Set against a richly detailed and finely researched historical backdrop, the trials and travails of Gideon, Joshua, and Gideon's young employee, street urchin Mordecai, will thrill and entrance readers.” Rainbow Reviews

[Leslie]

Congrats Leslie. That's very exciting!

EllenR

Thanks, Ellen! It is exciting!

L

[drenee]

Congratulations, Leslie.  What an exciting event. 
deb

[Leslie]

Next in line, Ransom by Lee Rowan



An officer, a gentleman... and a sodomite. The first two earn honor and respect. The third, a noose.

Even as he finds himself falling in love with his shipmate, William Marshall, David Archer realizes it is a hopeless passion. Not only is Will the son of a minister, his first act aboard ship was to take pistol in hand and dispatch an older midshipman who made offensive advances. Davy realizes that Will would probably not shoot him if he expressed his feelings, but their affectionate friendship would surely end, once Marshall learned of Archer’s “unnatural” yearnings.

William Marshall has never given much thought to any feelings beyond duty, loyalty, and honor. For a young Englishman in 1796, the Navy is a way to move beyond his humble origins and seek a chance at greatness. While others spend shore leave carousing with willing wenches, Marshall is more likely to be curled up with a navigation text.

Captured by accident when their Captain is abducted, Archer and Marshall become pawns in a renegade pirate’s sadistic game. To protect the man he loves, David Archer compromises himself—trading his honor and his body for Marshall’s safety. When Will learns of his friend’s sacrifice, he also discovers that what he feels for Davy is stronger and deeper than friendship.

The first challenge: escape their prison. The second: find a way to preserve their love without losing their lives.

Ransom, the first book in the Royal Navy Series by Lee Rowan, introduces readers to the appealing characters of Lieutenants Marshall and Archer. Become part of the story as they discover their shared love against a backdrop of intrigue, mystery, and danger.

Reviews

“Rich, historical detail, engaging characters, and tightly written scenes of action — both nautical and romantic — set this Age of Sail tale of love and lust on the high seas far ahead of the rest of the fleet.” Josh Lanyon

“Rowan brought every scene to life so vividly and kept the pace of the plotting tight enough that I felt fully immersed in the story, which was a true joy.” Rainbow Reviews
    
“Ransom is a book that holds the reader’s attention...” Fallen Angel Reviews

[Leslie]

Congratulations, Leslie.  What an exciting event. 
deb

It is! Thank you, Deb. I hope you'll sample some of the books. They are all terrific.

L

[Leslie]

And our third offering: Winds of Change, second in the Royal Navy Series by Lee Rowan



In 1802, a love worth dying for is more than just a romantic notion.

Lieutenants William Marshall and David Archer, of His Majesty’s frigate Calypso, have been lovers for more than a year. Courage, devotion, and extreme discretion have kept them from the hangman’s noose—the price they must pay if their relationship is discovered. The occasional night of passion ashore is all the more precious to them for its rarity.

But in the Royal Navy, nothing lasts forever. A transfer to a new ship brings with it a bizarre turn of events: their Captain orders them to behave as though they are involved in an illicit relationship in order to smoke out a suspected traitor, blackmailer, and saboteur.

Their masquerade proves dangerously effective. In the midst of a battle with the French, the traitor strikes, leaving Davy seriously — perhaps fatally — wounded, while Will must return to duty, guilt-ridden and fearful that their luck has finally run out.

Winds of Change, the second in the Royal Navy Series by Lee Rowan, travels from England to Jamaica and points beyond. Join Will and Davy on the journey as they confront their deepest fears and find out if their shared love is able to transcend all that separates them.

Reviews

“Winds of Change combines heart wrenching, happily-ever-after romance with gripping mystery and settings so real you can practically taste the salt spray.” Ally Blue

[drenee]

I'm sure I will be reading some of them.  I hate passing up any good authors.  At this rate I'm never going to be able to die.  There's just too many good books in my TBR pile. 
deb

[Leslie]

The covers were all designed by the very talented Alex Beecroft, another one of my favorite authors (the woman can write and is great at graphic design, too!). She very kindly gave me permission to post this from her Facebook page:


Join us today at Speak Its Name (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpeakItsName/) for a celebration of the relaunch of some popular m/m historical titles and a sneak preview of a new m/m historical anthology. We'll have interviews, chats, excerpts, and prizes!  If you don't want to join another egroup, the interviews are also mirrored on the Macaronis blog here: http://historicromance.wordpress.com/

After Linden Bay Romance's buy-out by Samhain, some authors decided to take their books to a smaller press that focuses more exclusively on GLBT fiction.

Cheyenne Publications, helmed by publisher and author Mark Probst, will be publishing the print versions of Erastes' Frost Fair, Lee Rowan's Royal Navy series (formerly the Articles of War series), and Speak its Name, a trilogy that includes Charlie Cochrane's first published work, Aftermath. Leslie Nicoll, head of Bristlecone Pine Press, will handle the e-book editions. Both publishers will be on hand to answer questions, so if you have questions about the nuts-and-bolts, here's your chance!

I got to do the cover art for all of these, so I'm as proud as if they were my own books.  It's not often you get the chance to make your favourite novels look pretty   And Cheyenne Publishing is going down the unusual road of not having any ubiquitous naked torsos in its cover art!  This is actually proving to be quite a challenge!

Tuesday Publisher interviews, Author chats with Erastes and Lee Rowan and excerpts from the three releases: Frost Fair, Ransom, and Winds of Change.

Wednesday Spotlights on Eye of the Storm, and Speak Its Name Trilogy, coming September 14 and October 26.

Friday What else is coming from Cheyenne Publishing and Bristlecone Pine Press -- Hidden Conflict: Tales of Lost Voices from Battle.

* * * *

The lineup from Cheyenne and BCPP (and yes, print and e-books on the same schedule!)

August 1, 2009: Frost Fair, Ransom and Winds of Change (Royal Navy series)

September 14, 2009 Eye of the Storm (Royal Navy series)

October 26 2009 Speak Its Name Trilogy

November 11: Hidden Conflict: Tales of Lost Voices from Battle

December 7, 2009 Walking Wounded

January 1, 2010 Home is the Sailor (NEW Royal Navy novel!)

March 1, 2010 Sail Away (anthology, Royal Navy series)

[telracs]

Leslie,

Can you let me know how explicit the books are?

[Leslie]

Leslie,

Can you let me know how explicit the books are?

This would be my rating:

Sensual, somewhat explicit love scenes, and some, but not all, language is graphic and direct. I think each book has about 3 love scenes (going off the top of my head).

L

[telracs]

This would be my rating:

Sensual, somewhat explicit love scenes, and some, but not all, language is graphic and direct. I think each book has about 3 love scenes (going off the top of my head).

L

Thanks.  You're going to make me break my vow not to buy anything else!

[Leslie]

Here's an excerpt from Frost Fair, courtesy of Erastes:


Gideon had a thought and turned around and rummaged through his papers. When he turned around, he was holding one of the charcoal sketches and he held it out to Redfern. "I am sorry to discommode you. To come all this way just to be disappointed." Redfern seemed embarrassed by Gideon's words and blustered that, truly, he had been in the vicinity. Gideon doubted it, especially in this weather but he continued to hold the drawing out. "Please, it's not good enough for display, but enough to get an idea of the finished piece. I'd like you to have it."

"Then I will." Gideon watched Redfern looking at the paper. Then the big man pointed to the paper. "You've put me in here. I wasn't even standing there at the time."

Feeling himself color again, Gideon turned away, abruptly. He hadn't meant to give Redfern that particular sketch. It was fairly obvious to anyone that a great deal more detail had been put into the figure at the gates than had been spent on the house. People might wonder at that, and worse, they might look at the rather hurried work on the house and doubt the artist's skill. "I like to add details to bring a little flavor...I find myself putting things in that aren't there. An artistic foible, if you wish. I assure you, you won't be in the finished piece. Unless you wish it."

"Oh." To Gideon's ears, Redfern sounded a little perturbed. Perhaps he didn't like people to add artistic foibles; some people were put off by art, he knew. Well, it was too late for the engraving. What was done was done. He changed the subject.

"Perhaps your friend Mr. Thouless may be buying property in town?"

"I doubt it." Redfern was frowning and his eyes kept returning to the paper in his hands. "When will you be done?"

"On time," Gideon said. "By the end of next week." He could easily have finished it in a very few days, but Redfern seemed to have no idea of that. "Let me give you something to carry that in." He pulled a tube from a shelf and moved to take the sketch from Redfern. As he took the awkward thing from the man's hands, his fingers brushed against the back of Redfern's and the man jumped as sharply as if Gideon had grabbed his prick. Their eyes met and Gideon saw something like fear in Redfern's eyes. Ah, well, he thought, better to know now, rather than live in any sort of hope. He backed away as if nothing had happened, rolled the paper expertly and handed it back to Redfern in the carrying tube.

"No need to collect, of course, sir," he said, dropping carefully into his place as a shopkeeper, as trade. "I will bring the framed print around--and the plate--as promised."

He retreated behind his counter, keeping himself under control as Redfern gave a short nod, made a strange guttural noise and swept out of the door. Icy wind flooded the shop, and Gideon let himself relax. He knew he had been stupid-insane to allow himself to harbor feelings for Redfern but he hadn't been able to help himself. He'd rarely met anyone with such vitality, with such presence. Gruff and taciturn
he certainly was, but to Gideon it seemed like everything was warmer, more real, more colorful, when he was near.

Just a few more days¸ he thought as he sat down, picked up his burin and started to work the copper with tiny, delicate movements. Just a few more days and I'll see him again. Perhaps he'll be so pleased with the work he'll want something else. Gideon had little hope of that, but he clung to it. It was the only relationship they could have, and Gideon knew it. It wasn't as if he could call on Redfern as if he were an acquaintance. A friend.

When Mord came back, his arms filled with packages, he found his master hard at work and humming tunelessly, a small smile on his handsome face.

~~~

And what did that achieve? Redfern berated himself mercilessly as he marched through the narrow streets. Nothing. Nothing except to make yourself uncomfortable. His cock was hard, and he was grateful for his redingote which hid a multitude of sins, literally. He cursed himself for not having been able to strike up the simplest of conversations with Frost, and even more so for jumping like a nervous virgin when their skin had touched. It had taken just about every ounce of willpower not to grab Frost's hand and draw him closer and d*mn and blast it to hell, he'd wanted to. But he knew that would never do; he'd only approached those he'd been sure of, and the surest way to exile and a ruined reputation was to make advances to a man who was likely to reject them.

So he went home, to his newly renovated mausoleum that shouted of his status, but that, in its echoing halls, also whispered of his loneliness. He spent a solitary evening with his fantasies of Gideon Frost, got very drunk and his butler eventually put him into bed, as he'd sacked his valet the day before. The next morning he sat moodily in his breakfast room, staring blankly out of the window, thinking of a certain lieutenant, how good he'd looked in his breeches and gold-frogged coat-and how sordid he'd looked dangling from a rope.

[Leslie]

Again, since I am mirroring events from the launch party here, here's a quiz from Erastes. Your chance to win a free book or something else! So far she hasn't had a single reponse to the quiz, so your chances of winning something are pretty good!


I have some goodies. Frost Fair tee shirts, 2 copies of the print book, and various Macaronis goodies, such as hats, keyrings, teeshirts. I may be able to wangle a couple of downloads for the ebook, but I haven't asked yet. (note from Leslie: yes, she can wangle them! LOL)

So here's a quiz.

First FIVE Correct answers will win a random selection of goodies. The results will be drawn by "THE HAT" (a computer programme that randomly chooses names) from the correct entries and a screencap will be posted on my LJ for verification. (I'll announce the winners here on Friday too, so you have plenty of time.)

EMAIL your answers to:

ERASTES AT ERASTES DOT COM

*DO NOT REPLY HERE!!!!!!!*

Most answers you can probably get from the excerpts I give out today, or by going to my website (www.erastes.com) but also with a little judicious Googling.

1. What year is Frost Fair set in?
2. What is significant about that particular Frost Fair?
3. What are the names of the main couple?
4. Who is the villain?
5. What year was the old London Bridge demolished?
6. What was led across the ice to prove to the people it was safe?
7. In the famous print of the Frost Fair of 1814, who designed the church
that can be seen in the distance?
8. Why does ice float?
9. Who designed the cover of the relaunched copy of Frost Fair?
10. Which other book of mine also features a character from Frost Fair?

Please indicate if you'd like to win an ebook copy, so I know the interest when I speak to the publisher.

Erastes/Leslie

[telracs]

All three have been boughten....

[Leslie]

All three have been boughten....

Oh, wow, thank you! I know Erastes and Lee will be thrilled, and I am too! Thanks for your support.

L

[telracs]

Oh, wow, thank you! I know Erastes and Lee will be thrilled, and I am too! Thanks for your support.

L

There goes my lunch money for the week.....

[Leslie]

My webguy, Jeromy, has been working on this for at least a month -- he keeps apologizing for taking so long. But really, the wait was worth it! What a great site and just in time for our launch party to feature the three new books.

Check it out and be sure to check out the dynamic catalog which is really cool...(give it time to load, it takes a minute or two).

http://bcpinepress.com/bcpp_home.php

Leslie
Bristlecone Pine Press

[telracs]

My webguy, Jeromy, has been working on this for at least a month -- he keeps apologizing for taking so long. But really, the wait was worth it! What a great site and just in time for our launch party to feature the three new books.

Check it out and be sure to check out the dynamic catalog which is really cool...(give it time to load, it takes a minute or two).

http://bcpinepress.com/bcpp_home.php

Leslie
Bristlecone Pine Press

Tell him he did a great job!

[Steph H]

Haven't been to the website yet, but congrats on all the great news, Leslie!

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Leslie, it's so good to see you expanding and growing.  You deserve all the best. 

Gertie

[CS]

Thanks, Leslie. I just entered. Some of those questions were tough - I hope I got them all right.

[Susan in VA]

What exciting news  --  congratulations, Leslie!

[Leslie]

Things were a little bit quieter today for the launch party but hopefully they'll pick up again tomorrow. I think we may have some excerpts from upcoming works. Stay tuned!

L