Tuesday, December 27, 2011

My Boston is the Cover Model for My New Book!

When my e-book story, "I Heart Boston Terriers" comes out next month from Amber Allure, I will be especially excited because the cover model is none other than my own Boston Terrier, Lily. The photo at the bottom of the cover was taken in a sleepy moment on our bed by my partner, Bruce Moynagh.

I think it's adorable.

And here's what the book is about:

Love at first sight can work for dogs as well as humans.

When Aaron finds Mavis, an emaciated and timid Boston terrier, at a pet adoption fair, his heart goes out to her—irrevocably.

When Christian, who is manning the adoption fair for the Humane Society that fateful autumn Saturday, finds Aaron, his heart goes out to him—irrevocably.

“I Heart Boston Terriers” is all about embracing love, whether it’s for someone who walks on four legs, or someone who walks on two. The Boston terrier Mavis’ journey back to wholeness and finding her forever home runs parallel to the story of two men discovering one another at just that perfect moment—a moment that defies logic, propriety, and common sense.

But then when do the dictates of love follow a rational course?

Come along for a journey about a man and his dog and see how that journey teaches him the truth about love and making a caring connection that just might last a lifetime.
I hope you'll come along for the ride when the book debuts in January as apart of the "Heavy Petting" series.

Bookmark and Share

Monday, December 26, 2011

New Rave for CAREGIVER


Very stoked by this review from a site I had yet to hear of, "Butterfly-o-Meter Books" (thank you Google Alerts!). The reviewer gave CAREGIVER five butterflies and said:

"I cannot begin to tell you how beautiful this novel is, it's stupendous, you just have to read it or you'll be missing out big time. Don't shy away from the difficult points it raises, be brave and read it, feel it, live it in your heart, I'm sure you will love it just as much as I did..."

Read the whole review here.

Buy CAREGIVER: In ebook In paperback
For Kindle

SYNOPSIS
It’s 1991, and Dan Calzolaio has just moved to Florida with his lover, Mark, having fled Chicago and Mark’s addictions to begin a new life on the Gulf Coast. Volunteering for the Tampa AIDS Alliance is just one part of that new beginning, and that’s how Dan meets his new buddy, Adam.

Adam Schmidt is not at all what Dan expected. The guy is an original—witty, wry, and sarcastic with a fondness for a smart black dress, Barbra Streisand, and a good mai tai. Adam doesn’t let his imminent death get him down, even through a downward spiral that sees him thrown in jail.

Each step of Adam’s journey teaches Dan new lessons about strength and resilience, but it’s Adam’s lover, Sullivan, to whom Dan feels an almost irresistible pull. Dan knows the attraction isn’t right, even after he dumps his cheating, drug-abusing boyfriend. But then Adam passes away, and it leaves Sullivan and Dan both alone to see if they can turn their love for Adam into something whole and real for each other.

Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Bring LGBT Couples Home for the Holidays


Earlier this month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered an incredible speech to the United Nations, affirming that LGBT rights are human rights, and the international community should extend more freedoms to LGBT folks.

Of course, the U.S. still has a lot of work to do on LGBT rights.

Right now, my son Nicholas Reed is among the thousands of LGBT Americans living in exile across the globe because he happened to fall in love with a non-American -- and he's had to choose between love and country. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano could actually solve that problem *tomorrow* by issuing the partners of LGBT Americans humanitarian parole -- and we're petitioning her to do just that!

Will you join my son and me in signing the petition right now?

http://bit.ly/tbsWPs

Thank you!
Bookmark and Share

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Kindle Giving

Every day it seems there's a new innovation in e-books - and here's another. If your friend, relative, or loved one reads e-books, you can purchase a specific one just for them. Both B&N and Amazon.com have "BUY AS A GIFT" options.

For instance, click here http://amzn.to/tw8UEv and you can see in the right upper corner a button for "GIVE AS A GIFT." This works on any e-book in their systems.

Just an idea for all those scrambling for last minute presents!

Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Three Dollar Bill Reviews Likes CAREGIVER


It's not often you get just as excited about a positive review as you do about the quality of the review. Not only does reviewer Indigene give CAREGIVER a very positive thumbs-up, her reviewing, writing, and analytical skills are all top-notch.

In part, Indigene said:

"...Some readers may shy away from this novel because of the subject matter of HIV/AIDS. I encourage them to not do so because they will be missing out on a beautiful story. I recommend Caregiver without hesitation as one of Mr. Reed’s most heartfelt novels and at the same time one of his most life-embracing stories."

Read the whole review here.

Buy the book: Publisher (print and ebook), All Romance eBooks, Amazon (print and ebook)
Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Just in time for the holidays! MATCHES releases today.


I've always loved the darkly beautiful fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen. "Matches" is my gay take on "The Little Match Girl".

SYNOPSIS
Christmas Eve should be a night filled with magic and love. But for Anderson, down on his luck and homeless in Chicago's frigid chill, it's a fight for survival. Whether he's sleeping on the el, or holed up in an abandoned car, all he really has are his memories to keep him warm-memories of a time when he loved a man named Welk and the world was perfect. When Anderson finds a book of discarded matches on the sidewalk, he pockets them. Later, trying to keep the cold at bay hunkered down in a church entryway, Anderson discovers the matches are the key to bringing his memories of Welk, happiness, and security to life. Within their flames, visions dance-and perhaps a reunion with the man he loved most.

EXCERPT
Anderson made his way down the stairs into the Grand Avenue subway station, the mildew smell of the station rising up as he descended. A rush of commuters passed him going up; a train must have just discharged them. People edged by, giving him as wide a berth as possible. Just as he neared the bottom, a young woman with short black hair, wearing a down coat trimmed in fur, stumbled on the concrete stairs. She dropped her purse and its contents spilled out. Anderson paused and spotted the makeup, the few dollar bills-and a CTA transit card. A part of him told him to grab it and run, that she could well afford another one. If there was enough money stored on the card, it could get him through a good part of the winter.

But no matter how cold it got, no matter how much snow fell, no matter how well the woman could afford to buy another card, Anderson couldn't do it. He just didn't have it in him to steal.

He reached down to help her gather her things and she recoiled, gasping at the sight of him and scooting back and away. "That's okay!" she said, quickly lowering her gaze to hurriedly pick up the things she had dropped.

It hurt Anderson to see the fear and disgust in her eyes.

In the station, Anderson didn't know what to do. To access the platform, you had to have a card. Sure, he could jump the turnstiles and risk getting arrested; he had seen it done. Some got away with it, more didn't.

Like stealing the woman on the stair's transit pass, it simply wasn't within Anderson to do something criminal.

Among the straggling commuters, Anderson spied an old woman who looked kindly. Perhaps she would take pity on him. With her upsweep of gray hair, her sensible wool coat, rubber boots, and hand-crocheted scarf, she appeared kindly, reminding Anderson of his own late grandmother. There was something lively and warm in her pale blue eyes.

Anderson stepped in front of her and smiled. "Excuse me, ma'am."

The woman stopped, regarding him.

"I hate to ask, but I need to get on the train and, honestly, I don't have a dime to my name." Anderson thought for a moment and came up with a small white lie. "I need to get to the south side, where my family is." He smiled again. "It's Christmas."

The woman didn't say anything.

"Do you think you could spare a couple dollars so I could ride?" Anderson gnawed at his lower lip, hating the position circumstance and the economy had put him in.

"Get the hell out of my way," the woman said quietly, edging by him. She called over her shoulder, "Get a job, why don't you?"

Anderson was taken aback by the coldness and the almost-hatred in her voice. It was so unexpected and so unnecessarily cruel.

Anderson felt the bright sting of tears at the corner of his eyes. His shoulders slumped. He was about to turn and leave the station when a young guy, about his own age, came up to him. Once upon a time, Anderson would have thought he was cute, and if he had opened the door a little, Anderson might have flirted with him. But now his only reaction was-what now?

"What a bitch," the man said, his gaze roaming over to where the old woman was mounting the stairs. He reached into the pocket of his worn denim jacket that looked too thin for the weather and pulled out a transit card. He held it out to Anderson. "Take it. There's only one ride left on there. I wish I could give you more, but I'm pretty strapped myself."

Tentatively, Anderson reached for the card. "Are you sure you can spare this?"

"I wouldn't have offered it to you if I couldn't." He wiggled the hand holding the card. "Go on."

Anderson took it, wondering if some guardian angel, or even Welk, was looking out for him.

"Thank you."

"It's nothin'. Merry Christmas."

Anderson swallowed hard, feeling a lump in his throat. "Merry Christmas to you too."

The guy turned and headed up the stairs, out into the snow.

And Anderson moved toward the turnstiles.

The card worked.

BUY From MLR Press
Kindle version coming soon!

Bookmark and Share

Monday, December 5, 2011

Coming this Wednesday, December 7, from MLR Press

Christmas Eve should be a night filled with magic and love. But for Anderson, down on his luck and homeless in Chicago's frigid chill, it's a fight for survival. Whether he's sleeping on the el, or holed up in an abandoned car, all he really has are his memories to keep him warm-memories of a time when he loved a man named Welk and the world was perfect. When Anderson finds a book of discarded matches on the sidewalk, he pockets them. Later, trying to keep the cold at bay hunkered down in a church entryway, Anderson discovers the matches are the key to bringing his memories of Welk, happiness, and security to life. Within their flames, visions dance-and perhaps a reunion with the man he loved most.

Scheduled Release Date: 12/07/2011

Bookmark and Share