UPDATE: The winner is…Diane Sallans!
*~*~*

A friend introduced me to gay romances, and I was hooked.  As time progressed, I immersed myself in the stories out there.  I gobbled up audiobooks like there was no tomorrow.  I also read eBooks, haunted Facebook, and got to know members of the LGBTQ writing community.

Next, I turned my hand to writing a story.  A story I believed in.  A story I felt needed to be told. Then, one random day, I managed to sell that book.  A gay romance. I have to tell you, that felt pretty monumental.  By the time that novella was published, I’d written the next story.  And soon I had the one after that.  Now I’m up to more than a dozen stories published.

But I still, at times, feel like I’m on the outside looking in.

All groups have the cool kids.  The ones other kids envy or look up to or admire or just want to be like. Some of the authors I avidly follow, and whose books I gobble up, are who I consider the cool kids.  Some are prolific and well-known, while others are just steady and have been around forever.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever not feel like an outsider until I was approached to do this charity anthology last year.  At the time, this was my fourth charity anthology — but I’d sought out the others.  On this occasion, someone contacted me.  Invited me.  That felt…special.  Most especially because I’m a huge supporter of LGBTQ rights.  This anthology, for me, is a way to give back.

Last year’s story was fun to write and I enjoyed being part of the group of authors releasing their stories into the world.  To be invited back for a second year was pretty fricking awesome.  Again, I was happy to contribute a novella set in my fictional world of Mission City, British Columbia.

Our organizers have picked amazing charities for this year’s proceeds.  My fellow writers and I have put together 10 pretty great stories.  I’m hoping everyone will run out and grab a copy of this anthology!

Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me today.  I’d like to give away a $5 Amazon GC to one random lucky commenter.  Tell me: what makes you choose to buy an anthology?  Drop a comment and you might win a prize! ~GG

Love Is All, Volume 6

The sixth edition of LOVE IS ALL features ten brand new stories from bestselling and award-winning authors, including BL Maxwell, Chantal Mer & Susan Scott Shelley, Connor Peterson, Gabbi Grey, Nic Starr, Sean Michael, Lee Blair, Xio Axelrod, RJ Scott & V.L. Locey, and Piper Malone. They celebrate the universal human right that is to love and be loved.

All proceeds will go to three organizations that support and defend LGBTQIA+ rights: the Unity Coalition, Out Memphis, and Lucie’s Place.

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/LIAV6
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6B81B65
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-is-all-xio-axelrod/1143550964
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-is-all-volume-6
Apple: https://books.apple.com/…/love-is-all…/id6449547111
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/162407970-love-is-all

The Charities

https://www.unitycoalition.org/ is a Latinx and indigenous organization in Florida that organizes and supports several LGBTQ+ arts, leadership, and awareness programs across Florida, including the Miami Gay Chorus and the “Saber es Poder” campaign for HIV education and testing.

https://www.outmemphis.org/ offers direct aid and support programs to queer and trans people in Tennessee. Regular events at the center’s main facility include free HIV testing, trans ID workshops and financial aid for name changes, community meals, and peer support and social groups for both teens and adults. The organization also runs The Metamorphosis Project, a program providing emergency support and transitional housing to unhoused LGBTQ+ youth.

And http://www.luciesplace.org/ named for Lucie Marie Hamilton, a young trans woman who died in 2009 — is a nonprofit in Arkansas that provides services to unhoused LGBTQ+ young adults, including transitioning resources and grocery and rental assistance. The group also runs a drop-in center with shower facilities and a community closet for all members who have completed an intake form.

About the Authors

Xio Axelrod

Xio Axelrod is a USA Today bestselling author of different flavours of contemporary romance. She also writes what she likes to call strange, twisted tales. Xio grew up in the music industry and began recording at a young age. When she isn’t writing stories, she can be found in the studio, writing songs, or performing on international stages (under a different, no-so-secret name). She lives in Philadelphia with one full-time husband and several part-time cats.

RJ Scott

RJ Scott is a USA TODAY bestselling author of over 140 romance and suspense novels. From bodyguards to hockey stars, princes to millionaires, cowboys to military, she believes that love is love and every man deserves their own happy ending.

VL Locey

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, Dr. Who, Torchwood, belly laughs, yoga, reading and writing lusty tales, walking, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.)

She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.

When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, fresh cup of java in hand.

Chantal Mer

Chantal Mer is an author and optimist. Her stories explore relationships and what it means to be family. When she’s not writing about strong women, strong men, and strong love, she can be found walking her adorable dog, volunteering at her kids’ school (in the library, of course), teaching at the local university, and reading.

Chantal lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband, kids, Toffee the Wonder Dog, and vicious cat, Gracie.

Susan Scott Shelley

USA Today bestselling author Susan Scott Shelley writes stories with heat and heart, where love always wins. Her romances give readers lighthearted and emotionally satisfying escapes into happily ever after. In addition to crafting stories, she is also a professional voiceover artist and enjoys lending her voice to a wide range of projects.

She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and is an avid fan of her hometown sports teams. Her favorite things include running (honestly, it’s more like jogging), sports (especially hockey), hard rock (but will listen to anything from heavy metal to show tunes), and writing about people from all walks of life finding their special someone.

Lee Blair

Lee Blair is a queer author from Oregon who writes low angst, funny, M/M contemporary romance. She’s constantly amused by the antics of her two ginger cats, considers daydreaming about future trips to Scotland a part-time job, and is obsessed with Schitt’s Creek to an alarming degree.

Sean Michael

Often referred to as “Space Cowboy” and “Gangsta of Love” while still striving for the moniker of “Maurice,” Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to “Chicago.”

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He’ll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Connor Peterson

Connor Peterson is a USA Today bestselling author of LGBTQ+ urban fantasy and dark, paranormal romance, local to the Philadelphia, PA area. The madman behind Deathspell and Temptation in Neon, Connor has also contributed to the story cycle Red Phone Box – published by Ghostwoods Books – and the anthology Nocturnal Embers – published by Crimson Melodies Publishing. He is also an active participant in the Philadelphia writing community, and volunteers as a municipal liaison for National Novel Writing Month.

Nic Starr

Nic Starr lives in Australia where she tries to squeeze as much into her busy life as possible. Balancing the demands of a corporate career with raising a family and writing can be challenging but she wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Always a reader, the lure of m/m romance was strong and she devoured hundreds of wonderful m/m romance books before eventually realising she had some stories of her own that needed to be told!

When not writing or reading, she loves to spend time with her family–an understanding husband and two beautiful daughters–and is often found indulging in her love of cooking and planning her dream home in the country.

Piper Malone

Piper Malone is an award-winning author of sweet and sexy romance.

Dog lover. Reader. Foodie. Coffee, please.

BL Maxwell

BL Maxwell grew up in a small town listening to her grandfather spin tales about his childhood. Later she became an avid reader and after a certain vampire series she became obsessed with fanfiction. She soon discovered Slash fanfiction and later discovered the MM genre and was hooked.

Many years later, she decided to take the plunge and write down some of the stories that seem to run through her head late at night when she’s trying to sleep.

BL Maxwell writes MM Paranormal, Contemporary, Thriller, and Paranormal Fantasy.

Gabbi Grey

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

About Gabbi Grey’s novella inside Love is All: Big Sky Boyfriend…

Wyatt

I’m living comfortably on my family farm in Mission City, British Columbia, when the man who broke my heart fifteen years ago waltzes back into my life.  I’ve told myself I’m over Tate, but one look at the grown man has me rethinking my anger with him.  Except Tate’s hiding something, something that shadows his eyes and makes him back away from my attempts to get closer.  If he won’t come clean with me, do we even stand a chance?

Tate

I blew town at eighteen, wanting to be as far away from our small town as possible. I started in Canada’s largest city and soon moved to London. I lived a high life in finance until it all came crashing down.  When I came back to Canada, with my tail tucked between my legs, I promptly dove into a horrible relationship. Now I’m back to living in my parents’ basement and pining over the man whose heart I broke all those years ago. Pathetic, right?  If Wyatt won’t forgive me, what’s the point of trying to move forward?

Big Sky Boyfriend is a 24k word gay romance second-chance novella with a small-town farm boy, a big-city fancy boy, and a puppy named Winnie.

UPDATE: The winner is…Ellen Wulf!
*~*~*

I know… Silver Soldiers released less than a month ago (and I hope you’ve all read it!), but it’s time for me to think about the next one because these things take time to pull together.

Last week, I asked for you all to offer up ideas for the theme for the next volume of sexy Boys Behaving Badly short stories. Below, I have a poll with some of those ideas listed. I’m not married to any of them, although some already have ideas percolating in my head…

I need themes that authors can take and run with. Themes that are broad enough that authors won’t be writing the same stories—meaning, something that would lend itself to different genres (contemporary, historical, sci-fi, paranormal) and settings (earthly places, outer space).

Not only do I need to appeal to readers, but I also have to attract writers to the project. So, help me out as I consider which themes will intrigue both readers and writers.

The Poll

Vote for your favorite themes. You can choose up to three. For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, let me know which appealed the most and if you can “see” possible stories! Also, if there’s a theme not mentioned here, but that you think might work, tell me about it!

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UPDATE: The winner is…Eileen Airey!
*~*~*

Tomorrow, I’m going to post a poll as I try to narrow down possible themes for my next Boys Behaving Badly Anthology. I still have an open contest where you can add a theme for me to think about here: https://www.delilahdevlin.com/blog/2023/05/30/contest-help-me-find-my-next-boys-behaving-badly-theme/

So, if you have any more ideas add them to that post or add them here. I need your ideas and to know your preferences. The puzzle is for your enjoyment, and maybe you can think about themes we hadn’t considered while you play! Comment for a chance to win a $5 Amazon GC!

UPDATE: The winner is…Laura!
*~*~*

The past month, since the release of the latest Boys Behaving Badly collection, has been a whirlwind of activities! Today, I posted the last in the series of “In One Picture” blogs, so if you want to see inside the authors’ minds and want a chance to win prizes, head on over to the Delilah’s Collections website to check them out!

But back to today’s challenge. I have to start thinking about what I want to do next. Plus, I want to know what readers want to read and what authors would love to do next. So…

Below are the covers for the seven BBB anthologies we’ve already published. All are nice sized volumes of multiple sexy short stories, offered for only $0.99 each (for the eBook versions, anyway) and written by some authors you know and some you get to read for the first time. You can see we’ve already had a variety of themes from naughty rogues, blue collar hotties, pirates, heroes coming to the rescue, first responders, cowboys, and silver fox ex-military types. What would you like to see us do next?

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me what you’d love to read or write! This will start me thinking, and later I’ll do a poll to try to narrow down the options. For now, throw out some ideas!

UPDATE: The winner on the Collections website is…flchen!
*~*~*

If you didn’t know, we’ve been running nearly daily contests over on my Delilah’s Collections website to celebrate the release of the latest Boys Behaving Badly anthology. I invite you to head over there and enter as many of the contests as you can! Many are still open, some of the older ones, not for much longer—and be sure to read the snippets from the Silver Soldiers stories! You’ll be hooked!

And remember, I also have my newest book—Book #1 of the WE ARE DEAD HORSE, MT series—ready for you to read: COLD HARD CASH!

Star Diplomacy by Kimberly Dean
With the threat of an interplanetary war looming, a hardened military negotiator must find a way to connect with the enemy’s beautiful ambassador.

When I saw Delilah’s call for proposals, I’d just finished a sci-fi space opera romance titled FALLING STARS. It was a new genre for me and so much fun to write. I conceptualized a whole galaxy with alien (yet very human-like) races. One of the planets was Terrene. It had a patriarchal society, and its inhabitants were known for their physical rigor, determination, and adherence to rules and order. Their unique trait was striped skin. Another planet was Maelstrom, the water planet with an egalitarian society. Inhabitants were known for their empathy, foresight, and adaptability. The galaxy was on the verge of war throughout the book as the alien races struggled to coexist.

Delilah’s theme of SILVER SOLDIERS fit right in with that world. I immediately knew what I wanted to write, and it was also my chance to fix a loose thread I hadn’t been able to tie up in the original book!

So, my picture is of Colonel Stone Evren, a former Terrene soldier turned negotiator. (Do you like my mad Photoshop skills with those stripes? 😊) He’s looking up at the planet of Maelstrom, getting ready to “negotiate” with the beautiful enemy ambassador.

A snippet from “Star Diplomacy”…

These talks weren’t going to be easy.

He gave a nod, and the soldier opened the door.

The guard on point entered first, automatically evaluating the room for threats. He did the same, even though the all-clear had been given. Old soldier, old habits. They were meeting in a hotel conference room, and the Maelstromian contingent was already present. He mapped out the personnel in his head and finally focused on his counterpart.

He’d known where she was the moment he’d stepped into the room.

“Colonel Evren,” the facilitator said, announcing his arrival.

The ambassador flinched as if caught by surprise. She turned swiftly, and her colorful skirt flared. Her eyes were wide when they locked with his, and Stone stopped where he stood.

Beautiful. He’d gotten that right.

The material of her dress swung like a pendulum against her legs before settling into place, but the look in her eyes lasted a split-second longer. He frowned. What was that? Resolve? Uncertainty? Fear? Instinctively, he took a step forward, but the emotion quickly cleared.

He dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “Ambassador Nova.”

Of course, she was on edge. They were adversaries.

Order your Ebook here: Kindle | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play
Order the print version here: Amazon

About the Author

Kimberly Dean has been published by Avon, Black Lace, Ellora’s Cave, HarperCollins: Mischief, and Samhain Publishing. She’s known for creating strong emotional connections and sizzling chemistry between her characters. She’s the author of over forty published stories including the Storm Chaser Alliance sci-fi alien romance series.

Follow Kimberly at: Website | Newsletter | BookBub | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Contest

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, head to DELILAH’S COLLECTIONS to post!

And I can’t be more excited! This has been a labor of love from start to finish. Silver Soldiers is the 7th BBB anthology, featuring authors you know well and authors you’re going to love meeting for the first time. What’s more exciting? This 81,000–word book is only $0.99! We want as many people as possible to read it, so we’re making it accessible and affordable to all. If you haven’t already picked up your copy, all the links to your favorite online shops are below.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who contributed stories to this collection, as well as to the authors who submitted but didn’t make it into this book. Thank you for the privilege of letting me read your stories! Well done, all!

Take a peek below to see why I’m so excited! There is truly something to suit everyone’s tastes. Heat levels vary but all stories are explicit. The genres are varied—historical, science fiction, contemporary, and paranormal. And every one of the tales has a happily ever after or at least a happy for now/hint of happy in the future.

If you read the collection, please tell someone else what you enjoyed. Write a review. That’s the best reward a reader can give an author (or group of authors) for their hard work.

Happy reading! ~DD

SILVER SOLDIERS: A BOYS BEHAVING BADLY ANTHOLOGY will satisfy the reader who craves stories with older alpha male heroes—those salt-and-pepper hotties with crow’s feet earned through rugged training and years of combat. Former soldiers finding their footing after their first careers, or current soldiers nearing the end of their military careers. They’re ready to find the right partner to put down roots, ones who aren’t afraid of scars and rough edges.

Fight Like Cats and Wolves by A.J. Harris – After their helicopter is forced down by a rogue war machine, an Army veteran must use wits and fangs to survive with his mysterious pilot

Handfasted to the Highlander Warrior by Aurora Russell – A hardened warrior reluctantly prepares to release his vivacious bride from their handfasted union…until a sweet, sexy surprise changes everything.

SNAFU—Situation Normal, All F***ed Up by Ava Cuvay – A sidelined Army cyborg’s only joy is the dimpled smile of a curvy Pentagon admin until she offers him a proposition he should refuse

Operation Purple Sparkle Diamond by Brenda Margriet – A resolute Afghan veteran deploys on his most desperate mission yet—wooing the hesitant heart of his daughter’s kindergarten teacher

Ripples by Delilah Devlin – A former Special Forces soldier, looking forward to the peace and quiet of his new houseboat, finds his solitude shattered by the arrival of his neighbor and her kid.

SEAL in Distress by Denise De Marco – While dealing with an unwanted inheritance, a former SEAL confronts his toughest battle yet against an unexpected woman

Storm on the Bayou by Elle James – A retired Navy SEAL and a pretty parish deputy hole up in a bayou fishing shack, weathering a violent meteorological and unexpectedly passionate storm

Star Diplomacy by Kimberly Dean – With the threat of an interplanetary war looming, a hardened military negotiator must find a way to connect with the enemy’s beautiful ambassador

Take Me to the Water by Michal Scott – An unexpected dare holds the key to a second chance with the disgraced Buffalo soldier she’s never stopped loving

This Time Forever by N.J. Walters – A retired Delta Force operator thwarts a holdup, saving the life of the woman he left behind twenty-seven years ago

Weathering the Storm by Natasha Moore – During a violent storm, a stranger walks into a woman’s bar who reminds her of the lover she lost who died behind enemy lines years ago

Sarge in Charge by Reina Torres – When lowlifes threaten the curvy bar owner in his Arizona town, the president of the Broken Arrow MC proves he’s the sarge in charge

Broken Trust by Rhonda Lee Carver – A retired SEAL must protect an old flame who’s feisty and more dangerous than any criminal—and dead if he can’t earn her trust

Clear to Engage by Sukie Chapin – One struggling bookshop owner, one hot-as-hell former SEAL-turned-carpenter, one line drawn in the sand—until the job is done, they’re not clear to engage

UPDATE: The winner is…Mary Preston!
*~*~*

Silver Solders: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology will release late tonight after midnight, so I thought it might be fun to play a game. I do love puzzles! And this one was so much fun coming up with one word to describe a particular story. Okay, three stories shared the same clue, but that’s okay. I didn’t want you searching forever. No, I want you to be intrigued and decide that Silver Soldiers is a book you can’t ignore.

So, solve the puzzle. Then let me know if any of the word clues I used in the puzzle made you wonder what the story could possibly be about. Comment below for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!