Suddenly Yours by Jacob Z. Flores, guest post and giveaway

Suddenly Yours

by Jacob Z. Flores

Blurb: 

"What Happens in Vegas Doesn't Always Stay in Vegas"

Cody Hayes is having one epic morning-after. The hangover following a Vegas bachelor party is nothing new to him, and neither is the naked man in his bed.

His apparent marriage is a different story.

Carefully plotting every detail of his life carried Julian Canales to a senate seat as an openly gay man. A drunken night of Truth or Dare isn’t like him… and neither is marrying a man he just met. He’d get an annulment, but the media has gotten wind of his hasty nuptials. If Julian’s political career is going to survive, he has to stay married to a man who’s his opposite in every way.

Now he must convince Cody that all they need to do is survive a conservative political rival, a heartbroken ex, their painful pasts… and an attraction neither man can fight.

         

Jacob's Top 3 favorite 

Sandra Bullock Movies

Hi, everyone! I’m Jacob Z. Flores, and I’m so glad to be here promoting my October 15 release Suddenly Yours, the second book in my One Fine Day series.

Some of you may already know that the books in this series all center on the theme of marriage. In fact, a wedding/marriage is the common thread in all the books in the series. The characters in each book will be different and so will their situations. This will allow readers to pick up the series at any point without feeling as if they have missed out on something covered in the first book.

Now that you know a little about the series itself, I’d like to introduce you to Julian Canales, one of the main characters in Suddenly Yours, the second book in the series.

Julian is a member of the U.S. Senate, where he hopes to affect positive change in the country and for his California constituents. Naturally, he’s ambitious and driven, which are wonderful qualities, but for Julian those positives also lead to a major negative—he’s far too serious all the time. Constantly worried about scandal, Julian lives an extremely controlled life, which makes him sometimes seem cold, aloof, and well, a major party pooper. However, when Julian does need to cut loose, he kicks back on his couch and indulges in one of his guilty pleasures—watching a Sandra Bullock movie.

So what better way is there to get to know Julian than by letting him share the Sandra Bullock movies he loves the most? Without further ado, I’d like all of you to meet Unites States Senator Julian Canales.

Good afternoon, everyone. I’m extremely honored to be here with you today. I must admit conversing with an audience through a blog post is quite a departure from my routine of campaign speeches or speaking on the Senate floor. I’m used to the smiling faces of my supporters or the snarling visages of my opponents across the aisle as I try to get the immigration laws in this country changed. It’s rather bizarre but also a bit freeing to step outside of the box, which is something my campaign manager Adria tries to get me to do all the time.

But enough about that. I’m here today to speak with you about my favorite Sandra Bullock movies, a topic I wasn’t too keen on discussing with anyone if I’m being frank. While I do enjoy a good Sandra Bullock movie, it’s not a subject I really discuss, considering most of my colleagues prefer independent films and documentaries. But now, well, I suppose the cat is out of the bag.

One of the reasons I love Sandra Bullock’s movies is because her characters are often quirky and typically act outside what is expected. Her characters are strong women, who defy whatever conventions are imposed upon them, and I admire Bullock for choosing those types of roles. Her movies give me hope that perhaps one day the women in my own family might follow suit.

So in honor of strong women everywhere and the hope they bring us all, here are the Sandra Bullock movies that made my top 3.

#3—The Proposal 

This movie is one of my all time favorites, and it’s not just because we get to see Ryan Reynolds, well, in almost his birthday suit. Sure, that is a nice draw to this movie as well as Betty White’s performance. Who doesn’t love our favorite Golden Girl? But in this movie Bullock plays tough-as-nails book editor Margaret who runs her office with an iron fist. That’s definitely something I can relate to, but what I find endearing about this film is how Bullock manages to soften Margaret’s hardened exterior as she faces deportation (back to Canada) and the loss of the career she has worked hard to build. In her desperation to remain in the country, Margaret “blackmails” her assistant played by Reynolds to marry her. What follows is a wonderful story about how the tough Margaret changes into the women she was always meant to be without losing any of the character’s fierceness. That’s definitely inspiring to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--ljzIzyrfM 

#2—The Blind Side

This movie is all kinds of wonderful and definitely deserves its second place ranking on my list. In this movie, Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, a strong southern woman and mother who basically adopts Michael Ohr, a young black man who has lived an extremely tough life. She takes him from the streets into her affluent home and lifestyle and doesn’t bat an eye at the sideways glances her family receives for opening their home to him. Bullock delivers a wonderful performance as her character treats Michael as if he is one of her own and loves him just as unconditionally. It’s a truly inspiring tale of the power of a mother’s love and devotion. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76nhIfp9gr0

#1—Miss Congeniality 

While this movie didn’t win an Academy Award, it still remains my favorite Sandra Bullock movie of all. Bullock plays FBI agent Gracie Hart, who is good at her job and doesn’t give two cents about how she looks. In fact, she goes to extreme measures to be just like one of the boys. Well, at least until a terrorist threatens the Miss Universe pageant, which sends Gracie undercover as one of the contestants. While Bullock’s character gets a major makeover, Bullock makes sure that her character doesn’t lose any of her strength or intelligence to the makeup and form-fitting dresses. This movies is so much fun from beginning to end, and that’s why it takes the number one spot on this list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97JIFQzw8NM

That brings me to the end of my list of Top 3 Favorite Sandra Bullock movies of all time. What did you think about my list? Did your favorite movie make the top 3? If not, let me know which one is your favorite. I’d love to talk about it. 

Excerpt

Cody Hayes had had some epic hangovers in his life. In college he’d woken up naked in front of his fraternity house after his brothers had decided to draw obscene pictures in Magic Marker all over his skin. It had taken him a week to finally scrub the many penises off his flesh. Then there was his twenty-first birthday, when his best friend, Sam Judd, convinced him he’d look good without eyebrows, or the time he’d sung “I Will Always Love You” to his college crush, the star quarterback for the Texas Longhorns. That had been a fun night of trying not to get his ass kicked.
There had been other moments like that throughout the thirty years of his life, but this one… well, this one took the cake.
He’d never woken up married before.
“We’re what?” his new husband asked before glancing at Cody’s hand. Cody quit fiddling with the wedding band and pointed to his finger.
“Married.”
Julian, his gasping groom, fixed his gaze on his own left hand. “Is this a joke?”
If only this was a prank cooked up by his scheming best friends, but neither of them was that lucky. Although Cody couldn’t quite remember everything at the moment thanks to the alcohol-induced fog that clouded his memories, he distinctly recalled walking into the twenty-four-hour chapel hand in hand with Julian and laughing all the way down the aisle. They certainly weren’t laughing now. “Nope. We’re hitched.”
“This—this can’t be happening,” Julian groaned, a look of panic seizing his dark, handsome features as he glanced at the white sheets wrapped around their bodies. “Am I—? Are we—? Did we—?”
Cody didn’t need Julian to finish his questions to know what he was asking. Clearly they’d been married long enough already for Cody to finish his thoughts. “Yes, yes, and—” He reached under the blankets. The head of his cock was raw, and when he cupped his balls, they ached as if he’d been slamming them hard against something all night. “Yes.”
Julian covered his mouth with his hand, and a second later he was a naked blur heading for the bathroom. Shortly after the door slammed, the magical sounds of violent retching echoed off the tiled walls.
Not exactly a stellar way to start off their lives together.

One Fine Day Series 

Undercover Boyfriend 

(One Fine Day Series #1)

Available in paperback

            

About The Author

Jacob Z. Flores lives a double life. During the day, he is a respected college English professor and mid-level administrator. At night and during his summer vacation, he loosens the tie and tosses aside the trendy sports coat to write man on man fiction, where the hard ass assessor of freshmen level composition turns his attention to the firm posteriors and other rigid appendages of the characters in his fictional world.

 Summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, provide Jacob with inspiration for his fiction. The abundance of barely clothed man flesh and daily debauchery stimulates his personal muse.

When he isn’t stroking the keyboard, Jacob spends time with his daughter. They both represent a bright blue blip in an otherwise predominantly red swath in south Texas.

You can find Jacob at 

            

 Giveaway



$50 Amazon Gift Card for the grand prize and 5 winners will win free copies from Author’s Dreamspinner back list.

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Presented By

Complexity by Harper Miller, with guest post and giveaway

Welcome, Harper Miller! She's here with her new book, Complexity, which I can tell you lives up to its name. My review will post shortly, but for now, I'd like to give the floor to Harper.

Writing While Black (Part 1)

 Harper Miller

Before we get down to it, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Harper. I’m a new kid on the M/M block. Complexity is my first foray into M/M romance, however; I pen erotic stories featuring interracial and multicultural protagonists. *waves diversity flag* 

My characters also have very particular sexual interests hence the title of the series, the Kinky Connect Chronicles. *waves freak flag* Oh, Heyyyyyy!

Check out the bottom of this post for links to the goodness!

The stories are all standalones, and you don’t need to read previous installments to understand the characters who appear in the series. You can jump right in at any point. Whew, now that we’ve dealt with formal introductions can we talk, dear reader? Like really dish? Okay? Good. 

I had grand plans. Grand! My vacation started on June 30 and would end on July 10th. Ten days of bliss and writing was sure to be awesome, right? Wrong. My vacation week has been shitty and probably one of the hardest weeks on my psyche in a very long time.

For those of you who haven’t been watching the news, or been on the Internet, or you happen to live in countries where this hasn’t been a news story, let me quickly fill you in. Earlier this week (last week by the time you read this post), two black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, were stopped by police and subsequently killed. Murdered. These were not accidental shootings. In response to the shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota, peaceful protesters for the Black Lives Matter movement gathered in Texas and mayhem ensued. A former military veteran took it upon himself to mar a peaceful gathering by shooting at police officers in retaliation for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile’s murders. From the mayhem, five officers ultimately lost their lives. 

Maybe you’ve seen the footage, perhaps not. I’ve viewed the footage of all the incidents and cried my eyes out. Now, before I continue with this post, I want to say, words make a difference. I think with tensions being high, people have neglected to realize the power of their words. 

I am a woman, and I am black. These two things factor into my life experiences and my writing.

We have a problem in the book world. 

A lack of diversity, particularly in Contemporary Romance. While we live in a society which consists of a melting pot of races, ethnicities, cultures, you’d never know that looking at mainstream Contemporary Romance. 

You go into B&N (since it’s one of the only chains still standing after Amazon pushed everyone else out of business), and you walk past the romance section, you’ll see white women and men, or white heterosexual couples on book covers. If you see bodies at all, you might get a torso, but still, you get where I’m going with this. 

Displaying monochromatic couples is perfectly acceptable to some readers and some publishers, but to see heroes and heroines of color, I’d have to go to the “African American” section, which is only for black and brown heroes and heroines. It’s so difficult to come across other people of color in romance who are not black or brown! My MCs in Complexity are Puerto Rican and white and in 2016, the fact that I’d never find them on a book cover in the romance section of B&N is a bit absurd. 

Why do the shelves not display a variety of couplings? Why do readers have to go to the “Gay/LGBT’ section to read about couples in same-sex relationships? Publishers are partly responsible, but you dear readers, you control what you’d like to see with your dollars. 

If you believe that everyone deserves an HEA, then you have the power to ensure that that happens by the authors you choose to read, refer, pimp, etc. Word of mouth is powerful. If you’ve read a book and you enjoyed it, and it was written by an author of color, an author who falls under the LGBTIQA spectrum, an author who happens to have Autism, an author who practices Islam, tell someone. Tell many someones. Nominate it for your online book club or your offline book club. If you’re a champion of diversity, these are things that you’ve probably already done but if not, it’s never too late to begin. 

There are authors who write romance comprised of differing races, cultures, sexualities, genders, ableness, religions and they’re penning spectacular books, but we don’t see the representation as much in mainstream Contemporary Romance. The tide is turning, but we need your help to make it happen. 

There is a disparity when it comes to race, and I get some people want to read with colorblindness in mind, but in many ways that is more harmful than it is helpful. Not only in the book world but in real world as well. 

Color is an issue for many Americans, and when you say that you don’t see it, you’re admitting to not wanting to understand the plights of others and their experiences. In a beautiful utopia, we are all human beings who are created equal, and are treated fairly and with dignity, but sadly this is not the case. Books provide an escape, but books are also tools for learning. Stick with me dear reader; the heartfelt dialogue is just beginning.

You can catch Part Two of Writing While Black on 3 Chicks After Dark on July 14

Book One, Ironic (M/F dynamic) in the Kinky Connect Chronicles is free until July 29th on All Romance eBooks and Kobo.

You can purchase your copy of Book Four, Complexity at the following eBook retailers below:

Amazon US: http://ow.ly/qMZz301726F

Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/ViAs30172cn

All Romance: http://ow.ly/RG0F30171R8 

B&N: http://ow.ly/Xwsq3023dcV

Kobo: http://ow.ly/nBay30171VS

Title: Complexity

Author: Harper Miller

Series Title and Number: The Kinky Connect Chronicles Book 4.

Publisher: Self-Published

Cover Artist: Taria Reed Digital Artist

Release Date: July 8, 2016

Heat Level: 5

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: Novella

Genre/Tags: Kink, Erotic Romance, Bisexual Romance, Multi-Cultural, M/M Romance, Contemporary Romance

Add To Goodreads

Synopsis

Fairy tale endings weren’t made for people like me. Happy for now usually ain’t in the cards, either.

The dents on my wall from where my headboard kept knockin’ against the same spot was the first clue that I needed to calm my ass down. At the rate I was racking up notches and plowing through hookups, I wasn’t ever gonna find nothing real. Guess I kinda jinxed myself. I created my circumstances. You can’t get what you want if you keep falling back into the same pattern of bad habits. But then things changed. I stumbled onto somethin’ I never in a million years expected to happen. You gotta understand, I’m never the guy who wins. It was supposed to be just sex, but that shifty, rhyming and scheming bastard, Cupid, pulled a fast one.

I may have changed some stuff to protect a couple of people. But before you go believing the tabloids, make sure you understand that you’re gettin’ the lowdown straight from the source.

I needed to get this off my chest and it’s only fair that you at least get my side of it all. At some point, I might regret telling you any of this, but for now, you need to know.

*Disclaimer* This is a novella. Not a short story, novelette, or novel. This tale features an M/M pairing. If gay erotica/erotic romance is not your cup of tea and you are offended by same-sex relationships or crass language, you should bypass this story. Content is intended for a mature audience, 18+.

Complexity is the fourth installment in The Kinky Connect Chronicles. The Kinky Connect Chronicles are short erotic stories/novelettes all wrapped up in neat little bows. These stories are standalones. No cliffhangers in the lot!

Playlist

Excerpt

“Ain’t no easy way to say this, so I’m just gonna say it. You can ask me whatever you want after. Cool?”

Marisol looks up from the phone, and Juan shifts her on his lap, asking, “What’s up, Emmanuel?”

I take a deep breath and let ’er rip.

“I wasn’t seeing a girl, a woman. I was um . . . dating a guy. His name is Chris. I’m bisexual, and we were involved for a bit before things got too serious and I . . . we . . . called it off.”

Both Marisol and Juan stare at me, stunned. Juan’s mouth is parted in an O, but he quickly closes it.

He scratches the back of his head with this goofy-ass look on his face, and Marisol looks down at the tablecloth, her cheeks flushing. Moms and Lucia are quiet.

“Now’s the time to speak up if you got some shit to say, Juan. Let it out.”

Moms frowns at me. She hates when I curse.

“I-I had no idea you were gay, um, bi.”

“Not something I go around shouting since who I fu . . . uh, have sex with is nobody’s business.”

“Moms, you and Titi Lucia are quiet. Too quiet. You knew?” he asks.

Moms nods at Juan. “Sí.”

My mother grabs my brother’s hand and gives it a little squeeze. “Juan, I love you both no matter what. Manny is an adult and he’s living his life. He knows I care about him protecting himself and being safe more than anything. Doesn’t matter if he’s with a woman or a man. A mi no me corresponde, ni es mi derecho, juzgar a alguien a base de su orientación sexual.”

Moms is saying that judging me, or anybody, on the grounds of their sexual orientation isn’t her business nor her right. I’ve never loved my mother more than I do in this moment. She let everyone in the room know that her job is to love me, and never judge. Moms displayed exactly what unconditional love is.

Titi Lucia chimes in, “He’s your brother. Nothing about him has changed. He’s the same guy you grew up with. The one who made you breakfast, helped you with your homework when your mother was working, washed your pissy sheets when you wet the bed, taught you how to fight and how to shoot a basketball. He was the father you should’ve had if yours wasn’t a deadbeat loser. Manny loves you no matter what, and you’d better feel the same, Juan.” Lucia’s voice is threatening as she wags a finger at my brother.

“Okay, okay, let’s chill out and let Juan process this for a sec. We cool or what?” I ask, staring at him. Marisol lifts off his lap and excuses herself. Lucia follows her and Moms takes a seat at the table.

Purchase

Amazon | All Romance eBooks

Meet the Author

Harper Miller is a thirty-something native New Yorker. She's traveled the world and lived in a variety of places but always finds her way back to the Big Apple. A lackluster love life leaves time to explore new interests, for Harper it is writing. The Sweetest Taboo: An Unconventional Romance is her debut novel. In her mind, the perfect Alpha male possesses intellect, humor, and a kinky streak that rivals the size of California.

When she isn't writing, Harper utilizes her graduate degree in the field of medical research. She enjoys fitness-related activities, drinking copious amounts of wine and going on bad dates.

I love hearing from readers! Follow me on social media to stay connected.

Email ➝ authorharpermiller@gmail.com
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Tour Stops

July 11 - Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter
July 12 - Cryselle's Bookshelf
July 13 - Back Porch Reader
July 14 - Prism Book Alliance
July 14 - 3 Chicks After Dark
July 15 - Gay Guy Reading
July 16 - Love Bytes Reviews
July 17 - Dirk Greyson's Blog
July 18 - Romance in Color
July 19 - Boy Meets Boy Reviews
July 20 - Andrew Grey's Blog
July 21 - Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Minds
July 22 - Attention is Arbitrary
July 23 - Alpha Book Club
July 24 - Bayou Book Junkie

Giveaway

Rafflecopter Prize: One winner will be selected to win eBook copies of Kinky Connect Chronicles series and an Amazon gift card.

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Cover Capers with Kate Pavelle

Cryselle: I’ve invited author Kate Pavelle to chat with us regarding some aspects of being the publisher. Anyone who ever ran a business knows that business plans don’t survive contact with reality, that's partly what happened to her protagonist Theo in Lucky Starflowers, which I will be reviewing shortly. [Loved it!]  So what is an author with a really good novel to do? (disclaimer, I’ve been reading the Steel City series, and they just keep getting better. Lucky Starflowers stands alone, but it’s so fun to meet familiar faces in cameo roles. Reviews for the others here  here and here.)

Kate, tell us about this adventure.

Kate: Hi everyone, I’m Kate Pavelle and I wrote “Lucky Starflowers.” There’s a blurb below, and I won’t go into it other than to say that it’s a gay romance adventure with a happy ending and without any inconvenient cliff-hangers.

Today I’d like to lift the curtain and let you have a peek at the Self-Publishing Witch. The SPW (pronounced “spew”) is wont to promise books and stories to her readers, but she’s horrible at sticking to deadlines. This isn’t because of any kind of a writer’s block or lack of inspiration – nah, writing’s the relatively smooth part of the process. The snags come in form of beta reads, getting around to processing edits while already writing something else, arranging for a reliable proof-reader, launching blog-tours for existing releases, and making book covers.

Today is mostly about book covers. I’ve read that a book cover can either make or break a book, and I sort of got that, but I didn’t grok it until I had experienced my own screw-up. See, I took an online course on how to make basic book covers in InDesign, and how to brand them to the appropriate genre. It gave me a good start. Then I learned some Photoshop, and I got cocky. With manipulating layers and using the eraser and the liquify tool, you can do so much, right? Well... you can do a LOT, but you also need to have the aesthetic sensitivity to pull off a good graphic design. That takes experience and talent and an eye for proportion. Which I sadly lack. But I don’t lack enthusiasm and the willingness to try something new, so here is my first book cover for “Lucky Starflowers:”

I figured the italics, together with the keywords, would indicate the genre, but... no cigar. Sales were so low I won’t even tell you how low. By now, however, I’d put the book out on Audible. Within two days I received an audition recording by Kevin Chandler, and he worked his magic on “Lucky Starflowers,” and now we have a wonderful audiobook. And I thought, “Since we are splitting the royalties, I have to make sure the sales are high enough so he comes out of this on top, too. Which means I have to make a better book cover!”

Cryselle: **eyes that cover**   Wait, a narrator? There’s an audiobook?

Kate: Yes! ~happy dance~

Cryselle: What was the hardest part about producing an audiobook?

Kate: I didn’t know this until I started receiving other audition recordings, but I really struck gold by meeting Kevin. Finding the right narrator is hard, and I got lucky. Other than that, waiting to get the new chapters uploaded was an exercise in patience. I really loved listening to them and see how they came across!

After doing some reading, I figured out that M/M romance books which feature two guys on the cover do a lot better than “concept designs.” I resigned myself to having two guys on the cover, something I almost never allow, but I wanted the new design to tie in with the old one. Which might’ve been a mistake, but whatever... After learning more about how hard it is to find a suitable stock photo model when you need one, and after I bit my lip and conceded that they’ll have to be half-naked because everyone else is staring right into the camera, I came up with this:

Don’t you just love those guys? Don’t you love their hair? And the flowers make it so romantic.

Cryselle: Haven’t I seen that dude around? So? Did it work?

Kate: Well, sort of. The cover told people what to expect, and the sales went up. However, when I shared the cover with Kevin, he responded by, very politely, commending me on my effort. And he proposed a cover of his own:

Cryselle: Oh, my. That belt buckle. Does that say ‘I’m from Montana’ or what? For the record, there are no characters from Montana in Lucky Starflowers.

Kevin: Well…

Kate: Yeah, seriously. I’d love to know exactly what his thoughts have been when he saw my cover at first!

Kevin: Well I knew you’d put a lot of work into it so I didn’t want to crush your spirit, but I was confident that the cover appeared too outdated to appeal my friends. I could tell that you were including certain elements, but to be honest I thought the overexposed flowers and 90s haircuts/fashion made it rather terrible (plus I liked your original font better!).

Kate: I suppose you don’t remember the glory days of Fabio.

Cryselle: I don’t remember Fabio hugging on another guy.

Kevin: You know, I get him and Yanni mixed up all the time! :-D No, I’m afraid Fabio was before my time but I’m sure he was a hottie back then. Anyhow, I showed your cover to a gay friend of mine and told him I didn’t know what to do or how to bring it up to you without hurting your feelings. He said to just tell you exactly that…and so I did! I’m glad I did and I’m much happier with the new new cover! I think it has all the important elements and is very appealing!

Kate: Banter aside, I hate to admit to this, but I really love his cover. Of course I resented the fact that I liked his better than my own! I was downright envious. Which is not, you might notice, very constructive. So I bounced the story of two covers off P.D. Singer, who wasn’t going to say anything. But since I asked, she suggested I scrap both. And, also being constructive, she recommended a professional cover designer who won’t break the bank. (I love the way people in this genre help each other!)

The cover below is what you’ll see when you go on Amazon to buy either the book or the audiobook – designed by Emma at www.hardcandiespublishing.com. We are all happy with it, and she’s fast and easy to work with!

So there you have it. Book covers are the bane of my indie existence, and if you see a lousy one on one of my titles, you can bet I decided to flex my Photoshop muscle once again! Will I stop trying to design my own book covers? Probably not. It’s too much fun. However, from now on, I promise not to stress over a book cover and just “hire it done” if I’m having a hard time.

Cryselle: Aside from the cover story, who else contributed to this book?

Kate: My beta reader, Jackie Keswick, was the voice of reason and spotted more than just a thing or two. My friend Sardonicista Imperfecta, who commits fan fiction with me when she isn’t practicing medicine, advised me on the nature, treatment, and healing time of various injuries. Jonathan Penn was a fabulously meticulous and timely proof-reader.

Cryselle: So what’s next?

Go buy an audiobook! Audible has a nice special going, and you can get it free if you are a new Audible user. Here is the link.

The book is available wherever fine e-books are sold.

As for other books, I’m finishing the SwimBikeRun trilogy, where the boys are giving me a very hard time. I have enough material for at least two more books. I won’t be turning it into a quintology (or a sextology, and get your mind out of the gutter!), but there will be a few stand-alones tied to this world.

My glassmaker suspense/romance “Flux” is in editing, and the cover has been commissioned and paid for (See? I may be stubborn, but I’m not unreasonable.) As long as I can keep from launching into new and shiny projects, my publishing schedule should hum along just fine.

Newsletter alert: I publish a newsletter every so often. Every issue contains a free story, or a free book, plus news of my latest release. Come sign up at www.katepavelle.com and join the fun!

“Lucky Starflowers” BLURB:

Theodore inherited Starflowers. The flower shop gives Theodore’s life meaning after a depressing breakup. Focusing on work is easy when he’s absolutely sure there’s no space for a man in his life. If he did allow for a boyfriend, it would be someone boring and everyday. Someone unlike the exotic Attila. He’d have a cubicle job, wear a cheap suit, and drive a Kia.

Sam Grey is a professional gambler who got caught counting cards one too many times, and consequences can be severe. He got beaten up, robbed, injured, and ends up homeless in Pittsburgh, living out of his Porsche. His temporary job helping with the Valentine’s Day craze makes him yearn not only for the perky florist, but for a slower, friendlier way of life. When the shop runs into financial trouble, Sam’s dangerous and exotic skills might be just the thing to help Theodore and show him he’s not just a deadbeat moocher who’s “just passing through.”

Cryselle: Just for the record, I read and LOVED Lucky Starflowers, review to follow shortly.

Guest post from Eden Winters: Not your Grandma's opera

Eden Winters joins us for a few thoughts on music and nommy men (and it isn't a spoiler that she gets their clothes off in her book, is it?)

What comes to mind when you think of opera? Barrel-chested men and comfortably padded women belting out shrill notes in another language?

In my latest novel, A Matter of When, bad boy rocker Henri Lafontaine meets his match in shy, unassuming opera tenor Sebastian Unger. But while Seb might idolize the likes of Pavarotti and Domingo, he’s of the new breed of opera singer, who are just as competitive about their appearances as the average movie star. And the competition is steep.

And while he definitely wouldn’t pass down a role in tried and true operas like La Boheme and The Wedding of Figaro, he and his ilk are equally likely to belt out popular music as well.

I give you exhibit A: Il Divo. Young, handsome, gifted. And not a barrel-chest among them. Here they are singing Unbreak My Heart (and looking spectacular while doing so).

I'll take two of those, Eden! And the music is fine too! ;)

Eden's been watching more than a little opera lately, and maybe listening to some rock and roll, because her latest book has a hot romance and both kinds of singers. Five marble read, folks.


Wealth. Fame. Gold record. Hookers and Cocaine front man Henri Lafontaine has it all…including a control freak manager, band members who smile as they sharpen blades for his back, and last but damn well not least, a fan out to steal his heart. Literally. Trying to write hit songs and plan a comeback in the midst of the hi-fi white noise of LA feels more like watching his world implode, until he’s offered a month in the Colorado Rockies for vocal coaching.

Sebastian Unger’s rich, classically trained tenor inspires wicked thoughts. More than a pretty choir boy, he cracks the whip without hesitation to drive tattooed bad-boy Henri to give his all to his music. Working, fighting, and finally establishing a fragile peace, they find inspiration and perhaps more in each other. But the clock is ticking. Time will pull Henri back to the grit and gold of LA’s mean streets and fame machine, while Sebastian must return to the opera circuit, where a mysterious man known as “the patron” holds far too much sway. Only the trust they've built on a handful of notes bridges their two worlds...and shields them from malice.

A Matter of When is now available at:
Dreamspinner Press
Amazon
All Romance eBooks

What happens in Bali stays in books with Z. Allora

Thank you, Cryselle, for having me to your blog. I thought I’d do a little picture show since With Wings takes place mostly on the Indonesian island of Bali. I wanted to share some of my pictures.

I happened to go to Bali the same time my two main characters (Angel Luv & Darius Stone) visited. Bali can be upward of 98 degrees and extremely humid because it is right on the equator…. Which is why I have very few pictures of me in Bali 89% humidity doesn’t look good on me!

One of the things I noticed was there seemed to be two parts of Bali: the touristy part, Nusa Dua, which was clean and sanitized, and the other is where people lived, worked and writers are chased down alleyways of an artisan village by angry dogs (who luckily weren’t that fast and got bored easily).

Dare and Angel go to one of the temple dances in Ubud, which differ greatly from the temple celebrations in the big Western hotels in ‘tourist’ Bali, which lacked devotion. In Ubud, I witnessed about a hundred men varying in age from 8 to 90 stomp in making music with their mouths (pop pop click pop pop click) and with their feet. These men with a few instruments (drums and strings) accompanied the dancers as they retold an ancient story.

Near Ubud there are artisan villages specializing in: silver work, stone carving, woodcarving, and painting. By visiting the villages you can meet and deal directly with the artists so you can be assured everyone is getting a better price. This is picture is of my favorite mask maker in the woodcarving village. I purchased the three masks he’s posing with. He hand selects the wood, carves it, and has applied 300 coats of paint and glaze on each of them. The masks are made to actually be worn in the temple dances. When he put one on to demonstrate it came to life.

Barong is the keeper of order. Some of the temple dances include Barong winning a battle of wills over Rangda (pictured below), which represents chaos.

Bali is a magical and mystical place but well worth the journey.

***************

The lights go down and stage lights up. The Dark Angels have arrived. With his come-hither voice and body made for sin, lead singer Angel Luv draws lovers like a magnet. And when he caresses and taunts shy guitarist Darius Stone on stage, well…it’s an act, right? But every touch lights a fire, and every flirtatious glance chips away at Dare’s certainty that he’s straight. No one else has so captured his imagination.

Temptation beckons. It’s hard not to notice the want in Dare’s eyes, the way he stares when he thinks Angel’s not watching. One wrong move might scare him away, but a work trip to exotic Bali might be the perfect place to let Dare explore his sexuality, with none to be the wiser. But their “friends with benefits” pact has an expiration date, that just might sour their friendship.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 1

The drunks in the hole-in-the wall bar were there to get laid, not to listen to Darius Stone play guitar with a gloried cover band. Fuck it, he didn’t care. He pretended his twist on another band’s musical hits was the reason a major fight hadn’t broken out in over a week and the police hadn’t intervened in over a month. It didn’t matter that the bar owner tried to cheat the band out of their take of the door. He was playing in New York City, and that helped block out the negative dialogue still powerful enough to slip around his wall of defense.

His father’s words nagged, questioning Dare’s sanity and his moral compass for following his rock and roll dreams. He’d heard the slurs and skewed stereotypes a thousand times, but each insult still stung. Musicians are nothing but a bunch of druggies and sex-depraved homos. If you’re going to play at being a musician, at least play a respectable instrument like the piano. You’re going to wind up in some alley OD’ed.

Not even the abusive words Darius carried in his heart could dissuade him from his love for the guitar. While his buddies had saved up to buy cars, he’d put his pennies away to buy a Fender American Standard Stratocaster electric guitar in ebony burst black. Every performance convinced Darius he’d made the right decision. The guitar was his first and only love.

When his eyes adjusted to the stage lights, he raised his head and was jolted by an instant connection. The guy from last night was back. Dressed in all black, he sat in the same seat, his amber eyes seeming to Dare’s fingers as they played each note. Guitar wails bridged the gap, joining them. He’d never felt so drawn to a fan, and remained captivated by the stranger throughout the entire set.

He closed his eyes and bent his fingers over the guitar’s strings, stroking out one last vibrato. Fuck, he was on fire tonight. The music injected a burst of love, mixed with lust, and the most incredible satisfaction imaginable, with an adrenalin chaser into his blood. All made better by the unique link he’d forged with the amber-eyed stranger. The connection nourished something in his soul. Nothing else came close to this kind of ecstasy—not even sex.

Fucking A, that was awesome. He opened his eyes, but now, with the music done, he avoided the stranger’s gaze and jumped off the tiny stage. It was weird to have been so deeply connected with a member of the audience. He hoped the guy didn’t get the wrong idea about him.

His gaze skated over to the guy in black, still there. He never socialized, and waved off anyone who approached. The guy’s focus remained on Darius, quite a feat since the outlandish lead singer, Paul Martin, usually demanded everyone’s attention. The shirt Paul had torn from his body, now in tatters littering the stage, was evidence that he’d do anything to get the audience’s love.

Darius hated most of the members of this lazy-assed band he’d fallen in with as a temporary replacement three years ago. On a daily basis he questioned why he’d agreed to play with a bunch of losers who thought the name “Doesn’t Matter” ironic.

But holy hell, he flew tonight. Until he found another band, he couldn’t walk away from this feeling. When it was good, there was no better high. He’d read somewhere that intermittent reinforcement was the strongest form—he’d have to agree.

He tipped his head so a lock of hair would hide his eyes while on stage fell forward. The same move worked offstage as well, allowing him to stare back at the man who appeared to be eye-fucking him.

The guy’s cool confidence could be experienced across the room. His black-polished nails ran through his hair, and he licked his full lips as if savoring something delicious. An odd sensation spread through Darius, but he refused to name it. If he were interested in guys, yeah, this would be the one for him. But Darius was straight.

As if on cue, Paige Rimsky, college student, fan, and his current fuck buddy, bounced over, reinforcing the simple fact of his heterosexuality. The celebration in her voice almost erased his unease. “I told you sitting in on the master’s class would up your game. Your phrasing was flawless tonight. I…”

She followed his line of sight. “Oh, were you showing off for tall, dark, and yummy?”

“What? No!” Maybe a little, no, the connection was just so... Why was the guy here again?

Paige put her hands up and laughed, drawing his attention. “Don’t get defensive, Dare. I’m just asking. Hell, I’d do him.”

Dare pushed his hair out of his eyes and focused on his maybe friend.

Her teasing smile turned into a dirty giggle. “I’d do you both.”

Fuck, rolling around in the sheets with the man in black and Paige wasn’t the image he needed in his head. He let his hair fall back to hide his eyes and fumbled with releasing his guitar strap. Since he’d forgotten to unplug the instrument before jumping off the stage, the wire tangled with his strap.

His sometimes bed partner snorted inelegantly, standing by waiting for him to de-wire himself. “So, who is Mr. Hotness Intensified? You think he’s as emo and sensitive as he appears?”

“No clue.” Best not to dwell on the answer to her questions, and he didn’t want to analyze why he’d love to know the guy. Untangled from the lead he’d failed to unplug earlier, he reached back to put his guitar on its stand.

“Well, he’s gorgeous. I’d fuck him.” Her voice was probably louder than she intended, and carried to their least favorite person.

Ace Starr, the asshole drummer of the band, came up and groped her. “You’d fuck anyone.”

“Anyone but you. Now take your goddamned hand off my ass or I’m going to put my fist in your fucking face.” She leaned into him and he winced.

Ouch! Damn, crunching the asshole’s foot with her heel must have hurt like hell. Paige had grown up in the foster care system and could take care of herself, but Dare was sorry she had to be on guard. If he jumped to her defense, though, she’d eviscerate him. All he could do was keep an eye out to make sure Ace and all the other assholes that crossed her path, in a bad way, were put in their places.

Ace released her ass and attempted an apologetic look. “Sorry, baby cakes. Hey, why don’t you come home with a real man tonight and not some demented elf?”

“Fuck off.” She wrapped an arm around Darius and continued to glare at numb nuts.

“Oh, honey, I would fuck you till the sun came up.” Ace used what he probably considered a sexy purr on her.

“Eww… Why would I want to do that?” Her beautiful face scrunched up, like screwing Ace was the worst possible fate.

Darius couldn’t hold in his laughter. Paige could be a real bitch when the situation called for it. Damn, he was just glad she liked him.

His gaze traveled back to the man in black. The stranger sipped a liquid with a crooked smile on his face. His expression sparkled with a little too much glee, making Darius wonder if the guy heard more than Paige’s outburst. Fuck. He didn’t need this right now.

Ace slunk away to search for a bed partner with lower standards than Paige’s. She nudged Darius. “So, my demented elf, you wanna get laid?”

Dare returned to the stage to buy time. When he twisted back around, the guy in black was gone, vanished. Fuck! Why did regret replace the nervous butterflies dancing in Dare’s belly? So what if he never got the chance to speak to the stranger?

Paige cleared her throat. She’d never had to ask twice. “So?”

No. Yes. No. “Not tonight.” He hated himself for putting a frown on her face.

“Got a headache?” She mocked him until she glanced over at the empty table. “Ah, say what you want, but I think you’re crushing on him.”

“I’m straight,” Dare protested.

“Whatever. Everyone is fluid. Some people just acknowledge it easier than others.” Spoken like a true pansexual, she was convinced everyone would be happier being gender blind and following attraction wherever it led. Paige taunted him, “Darius has a boy crush.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Get your copy of With Wings at Amazon.

About Z. Allora: Every one deserves a happy ending... (and I make sure they get one). I have written about hot rockers, sexy zombies, and Thailand club performers. My stories are about love, romance and are tied together with erotic sex. I utilize my time overseas and my travels to bring you to places you've yet to visit. I introduce you to cultures you've yet to explore. But with every word I write I hope to convey love is love. I look forward to hearing from you, my Pretties!

E-mail: Z.Allora@ yahoo.com

Facebook: Z Allora Allora

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for telling us more about your books background! Reading With Wings was a great way to spend an evening. (See the review here.) Cryselle

Lori Toland's Dangerous Submission, with giveaway!

Welcome, Lori Toland! Lori's here to tell us a little about her new release, Dangerous Submission, now out from Loose Id. I thought the whole setting was very intriguing, and just had to find out more. 

She'll be popping in and out today to answer questions, and Lori's even giving away some fabulous prizes! Be sure to sign up below for your chance to win one $50 gift card of the winner’s choice to Loose Id, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or ARe, and one $25 gift card of the winner’s choice to Loose Id, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or ARe.

Is SOCA a real agency or based on a real agency? How did you decide how to place your agent?

Lori: This is such an awesome question! 

SOCA, which stands for Serious Organised Crime Agency, is a real UK agency that focuses on organized crime in the UK. They cover everything from smuggling, such as animals, people and counterfeit items, to illegal drugs, mainly anything that involves organized crime, such as the business that gangs of criminals run to fund their crimes. They have been in the news several times regarding drug busts in UK waters. 

The true problem lies in researching their organization, which has been like trying to catch a unicorn. Because of their secretive nature and undercover work, they’re not very forthcoming with their ideas and methodology on solving their crimes, much like other government agencies around the world that fight crime.

That also gave me a very open playground to do whatever I want. SOCA has wide sweeping powers inside the UK and probably works with Interpol on solving crimes. In this day of international travel and information traveling faster than a heartbeat, the authorities have their hands full with terrorism and agencies do work together across borders to stop crime.

In Dangerous Submission, I do have a representative from Interpol working with Drake and Robbie on their mission in Prague, where they go undercover at a BDSM party to make contact with Stefan Zuliani, one of the big players in a crime ring that stretches across Europe. In this wealthy world, appearances are everything. Drake and Robbie go all out to fit the bill but not everyone is exactly what they seem.

And here's more about this steamy adventure:

British Agent Drake Steele never thought when he was hired on at the Serious Organised Crime Agency that his job would involve spanking a co-worker. But when the colleague is Lord Robbie Covington, the sexy red-headed computer hacker for SOCA and MI-6, Drake can't agree fast enough to pop Robbie's cherry and pull him into the sensual world of BDSM.

Now they are caught up in a web of lies as they pose as members of the jet-setting crowd. Drake and Robbie have to race against the clock to stop a weapons haul that could threaten the safety of all Europe. As their covers begin to fade and danger is closing in, protecting Robbie is Drake’s most important task, but neither man is ready for the moment when their hearts are put on the line.

Of course we need a sample, which I have to park behind the cut, because, well, you know... ;) It's a bit naughty. Go on, read, and then sign up for a chance to win.



His eagerness to get started made me smile. I grabbed his shoulder and stopped. “Maybe you should take your shirt off before you get strapped in.”

He glanced down at it and took off his black thick-framed glasses. The apology he gave was muffled as he pulled his polo shirt off. Pale skin without a freckle anywhere on his slender frame made my mouth water. Unlike me, he had very little hair on his chest, just a tuft in the middle and a few stray hairs circling his flat brown nipples.

Encircling his slender wrist, I noticed how big my fingers appeared next to him. I guided his arms up and snapped the cuffs in place one by one. Once he was secure, I pulled on his bonds to make sure he couldn’t move too much.

Robbie pulled on them as well before he looked over his shoulder at me. “Why do you need to tie me down?”

“Because I’m not going to have you endanger yourself if you decide to move midstrike.”

Satisfied with my answer, he nodded, but as he turned away, he swallowed hard. He needed compassion but also needed to be aware of my competency.

I leaned in, placing my hand on his bare back to bring his attention to me. “Let’s get something straight right now. I won’t be questioned by you. You will do as I say, or I will turn you over my knee and spank you, regardless of where we are or who is in front of us.”

He flushed. “Anywhere, anytime?”

“Yes.” I punctuated the word with a crack of my whip.

He jerked, startled by the sound. “I’ll remember that, Sir,” he said.

As close as I was, the heat coming off him soaked through my clothes and into my body. He shivered, and it reverberated through every inch of my body. “Are you cold?” I asked.

“I’m fine, Sir.” The underlying tremor in his voice belied his calm demeanor, and he stayed tensed in anticipation of my next move. With him bound and waiting for my next touch, a heady thrill of power flowed through me.

If I stepped directly behind him, I was almost tall enough to notch my chin on the top of his head. The cologne he wore wafted up to me, and the dark scent beckoned me to come in closer.

Unable to resist temptation, I bowed my head to press my lips against his shoulder. He tasted salty from the light sheen of sweat, and the smell of his cologne mixing with his musk pushed me past the point of intelligent thought.

Without taking my mouth away from his delectable skin, I whispered, “These chains are also good for keeping you at my mercy. I can do anything I want, and there’s not much you can do to stop me.”

I expected him to stiffen against me in protest, but his eager cry came as a shock. “God, Drake, yes!” He shoved his hips back against me, the cleft of his arse sliding down my rock-hard prick.

******
Whoo! So who is this writer of hot stuff?


CEO by day, erotic romance writer by night, Lori Toland lives in Orlando where the summers are hot but the romance between her characters is even hotter. Writing since the tender age of 13, Lori somehow finds time to play video games and watch movies while taking care of her beloved cats and a husband who will forever be her hero.

Find Lori at her Website, Twitter, or Facebook page.

Dangerous Submission is available at Loose Id, Amazon, and All Romance eBooks.

Click here to enter Lori's drawing for one $50 gift card of the winner’s choice to Loose Id, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or ARe, and one $25 gift card of the winner’s choice to Loose Id, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or ARe.

Cryselle, thank you for having me by!

You're welcome, and here's where else Lori will be soon:

The Risque Redhead Reads
Smardy Pants Book Blog


5/2/13
Italian Brat's Obsessions
Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews


5/3/13
Momma's Books
Blackraven's Erotic Cafe


5/6/13
Harlie Williams, Writer
Cryselle's Bookshelf


5/7/13
Kinky Book Reviews
A Little Fiction of Every Flavour


5/8/13
What's On the Bookshelf
Michelle Graham, Erotic Romance


5/9/13
Guilty Pleasures
Scorching Book Reviews


5/10/13
Seductive Musings
Ramblings From This Chick


5/13/13
Erzabet's Enchantments
Regina May Ross's Blog


5/14/13
Sunset Reader Reviews
Mrs Condit & Friends Read Books


5/15/13
Passionate About Books
Shh Moms Reading

Guest Blogger Angela Benedetti on Serials

Please welcome Angela Benedetti, who has graciously allowed me to repost her well reasoned discussion of serial fiction, originally on her blog, Angie's Desk. This was timely for me because I have serial fiction in my review queue, some offered well, some offered poorly.

*************

Can we talk about serials for a minute?

I know serialization is supposed to be the hot new way of sucking extra money out of readers. (Oops, was I not supposed to say that out loud?) But you know, most readers can actually do the, like, second grade math required to figure out how much the whole story cost them. If your short novel is coming out in five two-dollar parts, or your normal sized novel is coming out in ten two-dollar parts, a lot of people are going to do the above-mentioned math and figure out that you're ripping them off. 'Cause seriously, ten bucks for a short novel in electronic form is ludicrous. So is twenty bucks for a regular sized e-novel. If this is how you price your "serial," then you (either the writer or the publisher, whoever came up with the scheme in any given case) has absolutely no moral ground to stand on when readers start complaining, in print, on their blogs or on Goodreads or wherever else. Because that? [points up] That's a major rip-off.


Better yet is when the writer/publisher/whoever fails to let readers know up front that a story is, indeed, a serial. When a reader has bought what they think is a short story or a novelette and is reading along only to find that the story cuts off abruptly at the end, leaving them hanging, needing to wait..wait...wait for the next installment, and fork over another chunk of cash to get it? Yeah, you're going to get complaints about that, too. And again, you'll have no grounds whatsoever to whine about those complaints, even when they're made publicly. The reader who posts to their blog or leaves a comment on a vendor site or a social reader's site to complain about your stealth-serial isn't being mean or sabotaging you or whatever. They're making a legitimate complaint about your lack of up-front disclosure that you were selling them a fraction of a story.

Let's look at an example. I don't usually call out specifics when I'm writing about a general trend, but this one's unfortunately perfect.

Monty Gets Arrested is up on Goodreads with four ratings and a 3.0 average. This isn't a lot of ratings, and the average might improve with time. But what's significant here are the comments. One commenter, who left a one-star rating, says, "It's not even half a story." Another, who left two stars, says, "Not bad, just .. way too short. More like a chapter than a book." A third said:

Ok I am not rating this right now cause I'm mad. I didn't realize that this was a short story to be continued.... And not continued soon, but a whole month away. I just read Anitra Lynn McLeod series Seven Brothers for McBride and I had to wait a whole 7 seven days for the next installment. And let me tell you that was a raging 7 days and each Saturday Anitra came through with the story. Now I have to wait a month for the next installment? This was ok but I don't know that I care enough to 'post-it note myself' 30 days out.


Wow, great marketing strategy this turned out to be.

Someone came along and commented to one of the reviews, explaining that Monty is a five-part  series, with parts to be released once a month. I'm assuming this person knows the writer, or works for the publisher, or whatever. Okay, that's good information to have. Why didn't the publisher give it to us? Because this good information should've been given to the readers before they spent their money.

Monty's page on ARe (a popular e-book vendor site specializing in romance) says nothing at all about the book being the first part of a serial. The full title is Monty Gets Arrested (Marshall's Park #1), but that's also how series books are often titled; it looks to a savvy reader like there are going to be more books about Marshall's Park. Which is fine; if you like Monty, you'll probably be interested in  reading more books set in the same place, by the same writer. But nowhere on this page does it say "Serial," or "Story to be continued," or anything similar. The reader (potential customer at this point) is given no hint that they're not buying a complete product, or that they'll have to pay more money to get the rest of the story.

Obligatory statement that I'm not writing this to rag on the author. I have three of her books on my to-buy shelf on Goodreads, which means at the very least she can write good summary blurbs. Her total average rating on Goodreads is 3.82, which is very good; she can clearly write stories that readers enjoy, and I expect to enjoy a few of them when I get around to it. For that matter, the summary blurb on Monty makes it sound like a fun story. I'm betting the problem here is with a publisher who thought they could make an eventual $9.95 for a 57K word novel (assuming all five parts cost the same and are about the same length) instead of the more usual $4-5.99 a novel that length would bring in if sold as one book, and who apparently hoped no one would notice or complain about their shenanigans.

I'm not going to say that serialization is a bad concept entirely. Rather, I'll say I've never seen it implemented well, in e-book form. Serialization goes back to the days when newsstands were full of magazines carrying fiction (heck, it goes back to the days when there were newsstands) and many of those magazines serialized novels a chapter at a time, or a chunk of chapters at a time. Purchasing the magazine got you a lot more than that issue's serial, though. Even if the serial was the major selling point of the magazine (as magazines with Dickens's work often were, as I understand) the fact is that there was still more to read once you were done with the serial installment. Even if the only effect was psychological, it's the psychological effect of realizing that you just paid money for a fifth or a tenth or a fifteenth of a story that I'm talking about here. A reader who'll pay $2.99 for a 12K-word novelette -- a complete story -- might well balk at paying $2.99 for a 12K-word chunk of a longer novel, when they realize that the whole novel is going to cost them $15, and that they're used to paying $5.99 at most for a single (complete story) e-book of that length. The psychological effect is exactly the problem, and saying it shouldn't be that way doesn't make it vanish.

What it comes down to is that serializing a longer work and selling the parts individually is a sales and marketing strategy. The publisher is trying to make more money selling the parts separately than they'd make selling the work as a whole. Wanting to make money isn't a problem -- everyone who doesn't consider this a hobby wants to make money. The problem is when you're doing it so blatantly that your customer can't help noticing your hand rooting around in their pocket.

Some readers like serials, and are maybe even willing to pay more to get each chunk of story as soon as possible. Okay, that's great; selling serials to people who like them is a good idea. If you're targetting readers who like serials, then let the readers know up front that you're publishing a serial. There's no excuse for letting someone buy what they think is a complete short story or novelette, only to spring the surprise on them at the end that the story is incomplete. Announce in the marketing material -- within the summary blurb would be a good place -- that this is part of a serial, with more parts to come (and previous parts if it's not the first). Give the readers the information they need to make a valid decision whether to hand you money for your product. Some people will decide not to buy, yes. But the alternative is to deal in bad faith, and have people complaining about you in public afterwards. This kind of behavior might make you a few more dollars now, but it'll lose you customers in the long run.

If you're going to sell a serial, act in good faith. Let people know what they're buying before they give you money, and then see how many do. However much money you make when everyone knows what they're buying? That's the measure of whether serials are successful.