The Gift of Education

It's been almost a year since I was first able to call myself part of the Evernight family. 

Evernight Publishing picked up my second short story, A Secret Love, and released it in July 2013. It was a pleasure working with them (I hope to do it again soon!) and I've met some great authors who are also part of the family (some of them have even popped over to this humble little blog to say hello) but this week I am even more proud to be associated with Evernight. 

From the 14th of July to the 21st, Evernight Publishing are donating the full amount from each book purchased from their website to World Vision's Education for Girls Fund. You can click on the link above to learn more about this really important cause. 

Basically, it means that if there's a book released by Evernight that you've been thinking of buying, this is a great week to take the plunge. Instead of buying through another online retailer, go to the Evernight website and pick your format of choice. You get the book you've been wanting to read (and I know my list of 'books I want to buy' is getting ridiculously long) and the money you pay goes to help primary-school aged girls all over the world get the chance to receive an education. 

There's not much to complain about there, is there? 

Evernight Publishing

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Hello everyone!

It's been an unusually warm few weeks here in bonnie Scotland and unfortunately I've been stuck in my office, writing away like a good one. I say unfortunately, but I don't really mean that. I love what I do, but when I see the sunshine beating down outside I do start to wish I had an outside office instead of an indoor one. Maybe I need to work on that...

Anyway, I haven't been sunning myself despite an almost overwhelming temptation to do so. Instead, I've been working and that means I have some very exciting news to share with you all soon. 

A big announcement (my 'something wicked') is headed this way. ETA is Sunday evening. I can't wait to share my secrets with you all!

Who He Used To Be - A Bestseller!

Hello everyone!

It's a beautiful, sunny Friday morning here in bonnie Scotland and I have just received some lovely news that I want to share with you all.

My latest short story Who He Used To Be was recently published by Secret Cravings Publishing. 

I am delighted to announce that Who He Used To Be has just made it onto All Romance Ebooks' bestsellers list. 

Who He Used To Be is an ARe Bestseller!

I am so excited to hear this. I've never been on their bestsellers list before so this feels like a great achievement. I'm very proud of this little short story so thank you to everyone who has purchased a copy so far, and for those of you who haven't, it is only $0.99!!

Thanks again everyone. You have all made me one very happy Douglas! Enjoy your weekend. 

Get Your Copy Here!

Who He Used To Be

Tomorrow, Saturday May 3rd, is the release day of my new short story. 

Who He Used To Be is a 10,000 word short which will be available at the very reasonable price of $0.99!!

Who He Used To Be tells tells the story of Connor, a young Glaswegian living in Florida. Connor moved to Florida several years earlier to be with his boyfriend, Jeff. Connor thought that he and Jeff were going to spend the rest of their lives together, which is why he wasn't expecting Jeff to announce, out-of-the-blue, that the relationship just wasn't working for him anymore. 

Even more of a shock than Jeff's announcement is how little Connor finds he truly cares about his relationship ending. He should at least feel upset, or angry, or confused, surely? At the very least he should feel something other than concern at the loss of security his relationship with Jeff provided. 

Connor used to be a very different person back home in Glasgow. He had a successful career as a tattoo artist and he was confident and sure of who he was. Looking at himself in the mirror after Jeff's announcement, Connor realises he has lost sight of that person completely. Now when he looks in the mirror he sees an insurance salesman, hiding his tattoos under the fabric of a cheap suit. 

One Friday night Connor leaves work and decides he doesn't want to go home. Despite having been the one to bring about their break-up, Jeff is still living in their apartment and he seems to be spoiling for a fight. 

Connor decides to go to a bar instead. After all, if he's now single, what could be the harm in a few drinks? At the bar he meets Parker, a man who reminds Connor a lot of who he used to be. After one whirl-wind weekend romance, Connor has all, but forgotten about Jeff and his tantrums, but when he walks out of work early on Tuesday afternoon Jeff demands that they meet for lunch. 

Although he doesn't really want to meet Jeff, Connor goes along anyway. Over lunch, Jeff drops a bombshell and Connor finds himself with a decision to make. Choose to take Jeff at his word and go back to the comfort and familiarity of a relationship he is used to, or take a chance on Parker after only one weekend together. It's a decision that might just have been hard enough without Parker being an unintended witness to his lunch 'date' with Jeff...

'Who He Used To Be' is being released by Secret Cravings Publishing. If, like me, your weekend's weather forecast has been a disappointment, it might just be what you need to brighten up (or should that be heat up!) a rainy afternoon. 

Check out the link below for an excerpt from the story!

Secret Cravings Publishing

I never really left, but I'm back now...

Hello everybody!

Apologies for my rather sporadic attendance on this blog throughout September. I've been working very hard, as I know we all must these days, but I return with good news. Not exciting news - not yet anyway! - but definitely good news. 

As I have stated before I've been working on a number of different stories over the last few months and recently I've made some really good progress. I hope to get a couple of shorts submitted to publishers during October, and I'm looking forward to finishing some of my longer stories before Christmas. I'm at the wrapping up and polishing stage on those now which is always a nice feeling. Also, October promises to bring an exciting new project - more on that later - which I can't wait to sink my teeth into. 

Also, also, I will be reopening my blog to some more lovely guest bloggers in the coming weeks so stay tuned for more updates from your favourite M/M authors, as well as from yours truly. 

Have a great weekend everyone, and stay tuned for exciting things to come. 

Douglas

An Idea Out Of Nowhere

At half six this morning I was trundling around the country roads of my little corner of Scotland, making my leisurely way home when an idea came to me. I didn't have any plans for today, and I had dropped my boyfriend at work so I could have the car for the day, but my real intention was to carry on working on my current WIP The Flower Farm. Then, as I was driving a new idea came to me. An idea that I thought would be perfect for a short story. 

And alas, here I sit twelve hours later with 10,500 words worth of first draft for a new short story, and precious little added to The Flower Farm. 

Still, today's idea was one that I just didn't want to let get away. It's very simple (and very sexy) and I can really visualise the finished product which is nice. I'm a little annoyed that I'm lagging further and further behind on my other stories, but this little gem just had to be told. 

As a working title I'm calling it A Really Bad Idea, but as usual that will probably change. It's a short story essentially about a young man who goes to a nightclub with the intention of showing his ex just what he's missing, and then ends up meeting someone who makes him forget his ex entirely. Of course it's more complicated than that (I'll post more under my WIPs section) but that's the basic premise. 

So there you are. Another day and a completely unexpected new story is sitting saved away in the Graveyard folder on my laptop. I hope, although this may be ambitious, to spend tomorrow working on A Really Bad Idea. I think if I work really hard I could end up with a quick turn around on this story which would be lovely. As I said I can really visualise this one and I'm happy with my work so far so we'll keep all things crossed and see what tomorrow things. 

Writing is truly a wonderful, and very surprising, job!

I didn't mean to ignore you all, but...

I have been rather busy lately! 

In addition to trying to write every day (a habit I was in, but sadly let slide) I have been trying to finish work on my house. Regular stalkers  followers will know by now that my boyfriend and I have been in the process of completing a total redecoration of our house. And I mean total. Unfortunately, although that process has been in itself very rewarding, it has also been time and energy consuming. Now the end is in sight (except for heating. I still have no bloody central heating!) and my attention is turning once more to writing. 

I am still slaving away with a new novel (the one I am referring to as The Flower Farm) and I'm also trying to finish No Other. No Other has a Christmas theme so I am hoping to get it done and dusted soon so it can be winging its way to a publisher by the end of September. Fingers crossed that happens!

Anyway, I wanted to check in with you all and let you know where I'm at. By way of stats, I am focussing the majority of my attention at present on a second rewrite of The Flower Farm and am currently 30,000 words through my 100,000 word manuscript. Tomorrow, I hope to make an even bigger dent in that. 

BUT tomorrow is also barbecue day! 

Every Sunday when there is a race on during the Grand Prix season, my boyfriend and I invite over some friends and try to have a barbecue. Tomorrow will be no different (weather permitting!) So my writing will need to be done in the morning. Boyfriend will be working on finishing off the trim for our new wood flooring and our skirting boards leaving me with time to work. So we'll see...

Anyway. I hope all you lovely people are well. I don't want to take up too much of your time as you really should be out enjoying your weekend and not hanging around on the internet (!) I hope to have more releases to share with you all soon. Things are finally getting back to normal...

Fingers Crossed!