Z.A. Maxfield

The crazy thing is, I was looking for someone else’s review and put my own name in for giggles and found not one, but two reviews from Literary Nymphs that I never even saw when they came out!  

This one, for St. Nacho’s which you can read here.  Scandalous Minx said, “This is a fantastic story and I have definitely added Z.A. Maxfield to my must read list. St. Nacho’s will touch on your emotions and with characters that will make you smile, laugh, dance, and cry.”

Wow, thank you very much.

And this one for The Long Way Home, which you can read here, In which Critter Nymph says, “The way that the author handles the criminal aspects of the story, while at the same time allowing the men to express both humor and their growing love for each other keeps what otherwise could be too heavy of a story enjoyable. The Long Way Home is an exceptional book and should be on everyone’s to-be-read list.”

Wow!!!  Thank you very much too!  I can’t believe I never saw these before.

Wow, January has shaped up to be a busy month for me.  I’ve been working on the edits for Drawn Together, for Loose Id, a road comedy about a young man who travels across the country to meet the woman of his dreams, a manga artist with whom he is certain he is in love, only to realize that sometimes things don’t go the way you plan.  That one has a planned March 10th release date.

Next is Notturno, for MLR press, about Adin Tredeger, an expert in antique documents who has just researched and purchased the find of his life–a five-hundred-year-old homoerotic journal which he is certain will cement his reputation forever–if he can keep the vampire who says he wrote it from taking it back.  (That one’s just gone up on the MLR Press upcoming release website and the date so far is TBA)

And finally, I’m very excited to announce that I’ll be working with Samhain Publishing for the release in July of ePistols At Dawn, about a tabloid reporter who stalks a reclusive writer from anonymity to love on the World Wide Web…

In the meantime, here’s that uber cool slide show of what is already available, and the books and links can be found in the books section of this website…

I just found out that my book, Crossing Borders, has that “Look Inside” function on Amazon, here where you can read before you buy.  I’ve always thought this was kind of cool, and I don’t know when they did this or who did it, but I really got a kick out of finding it that way!

See me, see me squee!  *twirls*

About the Artistically Yours Taste Test from Erastes, at Speak Its Name, HERE.  It includes this graphic, 

Which I find simply charming!

has gotten a teriffic review from Obsidian Bookshelf here, and I feel especially gratified because it mentions ‘Tango and Temptation’ specifically (and I’m an egomaniac).  ;-)  (Sorry.)  This really is about overturning Proposition 8 in California for me, but as an author I can’t help it if I love seeing a nice word or two about the product, can I?

You can find the “I Do” Anthology at so many fine retailers I would be crazy to try to name them all here.  You can buy this in ebook format at All Romance eBooks, and in print at Amazon.

I can’t tell you how much fun it was to be a part of this.  Everyday we emailed each other back and forth, giving each other pep talks, and worrying about whether our stories would be chosen. Whether they would fit the scope and intention.  Then so many terrific authors came forward that space got limited… We were truly blessed.  

I feel also that I’ve made lasting cyber-friends, and I know that I’ve had the opportunity to be counted among a number of really first-rate creative people.  (Shhh… don’t tell them I’m Z.A. Average…)  Egos were checked at the door, if there were any, and the effort became more about creating the best possible product, committing to take the time and have the patience to collaborate on that, more than any individual’s contribution. This is how it’s supposed to be done, and I’m very proud to have been a part of it.

“The Artist’s Model”, can now be found in the “Artistically Yours” Taste Test Anthology at Torquere press.  I like writing short stories, but find that I’ve never met a word count I couldn’t exceed.  

The story “The Artist’s Model” is the only historical I’ve ever done.  It’s about Emil, who at six, catches a glimpse of his father’s artist friend, Fournier, and becomes fascinated by him.  

Now all grown up and in Paris as an artist and model, his dreams of finding Fournier and working for him become a reality.  Emil is insouciant and reckless. Fournier is repressed to the point of self-loathing. This is my ‘pining away in a parisian garrett for love’ story.  It’s one fantasy I always dreamed of living, but seriously, pining away?  Living off bits of bread and red wine and dying for love?  Not bloody likely.  

You can purchase “Artistically Yours” here, at Torquere Press.

From CK2’s Kwips and Kritiques, where The Long Way Home earned five clovers and was designated a “Recommended Read”, here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMDolalpi4Y[/youtube]

Ya know?  Just when you’re squeeing about stuff you think is cool?  More cool stuff happens!  Here’s a Review of The Long Way Home at Fallen Angel Reviews, by Hayley.  To my delight, she’s given it 5 Angels and called it a “Recommended Read”.  They have such a lovely website, all that very nice black and red… Pretty angels…

And okay, yes!  I admit Sunday just might be my day for Google-Wanking, but honestly, today has been a very, very good day.  **twirls a little**

Yet another very kind person, JenB, who reviewed Crossing Borders when it first came out, took the time out to review it for Amazon here, and I have to say that Tristan seems to inspire that kind of thing!  (I think it’s the red hair!)

Thanks JenB for letting people know you liked the book!