Set in the late 1890’s, The Brothers Brown - a family saga, Part 2 - For
the Sake of Family is a sweeping frontier saga of love, guilt, and redemption
- an unflinching portrait of a man’s descent into madness amid the
unforgiving wilds of Indian Territory.
When Matt Brown boards a northbound train, he carries more than a pistol. He
carries the weight of his brother’s death, a marriage strained to its
breaking point, and a conscience at war with itself. A doctor’s brown
vial of medicine offers fleeting relief but soon draws him into a darker world
where pain and guilt blur into something far more dangerous.
His wife, Milla, proud and rooted in her Choctaw heritage, stands as both his
anchor and his judge as the world around them shifts under the weight of
change and loss.
From Fort Smith, Arkansas, to the wooded banks of Bokchito Creek, two families
are bound by tragedy and love, vengeance and mercy. A celebration meant to
heal ignites old resentments. A family gathering ends in bloodshed. And a
winter dance turns deadly, forcing each to face the cost of survival,
forgiveness, and the ties that bind them.
Steeped in the spirit of the Choctaw Nation and the rough mercy of the Old
West, For the Sake of Family is a haunting tale of madness, murder, and the
fragile hope that redemption can be found on the far side of ruin.
About the Author
Raised on the beaches of South Texas, R.G. Stanford has always been
drawn to stories that transcend time. That passion was ignited in 1976 with
the discovery of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, and deepened
with The Feast of All Saints just a few years later. Though historical fiction
wasn’t an immediate calling, a personal journey into genealogy changed
everything.
With no close relatives nearby, R.G. Stanford turned to online resources in
search of extended family. That search became a twenty-year journey through
genealogy websites, Federal Census records, the National Archives, and old
newspapers. Along the way, R.G. Stanford uncovered incredible stories about
her family and the people who once lived in the Choctaw Nation, Indian
Territory.
Compelled to record the truth of her family in the lore, sprinkled with
imagination, R.G. Stanford is a history lover, a research buff, and a
passionate genealogy enthusiast. She is also a mother, a grandmother, and a
teller of stories, now living near Orlando.
A gangster’s life is hard. As the youngest son of a Chicago mobster lord, Fionn O’Grady is no stranger to crime, even though he’s clean and renowned for kissing rather than fighting. It’s a lonely life for a pizza-loving redhead. All he’s ever wanted is an easy-going boyfriend who doesn’t take life too seriously. It’s too bad that no man will date him because of his family.
Trouble comes when a UK undercover cop infiltrates the O’Grady mansion. According to the family, it’s up to Fionn to gain revenge by kidnapping the cop’s kid brother. Kidnap? Fionn couldn’t hurt anyone, certainly not a handsome young man needing a caring boyfriend.
As the chaotic brother of an undercover cop, Oli Green is endlessly fascinated by gangsters, particularly pizza-loving redheads. At twenty, Oli’s no kid—he fantasises about being kidnapped by a gentle gangster to guide him through his first time. Bonus points for emo villains! Above all, Oli wants an easy-going boyfriend who doesn’t take life too seriously…
Fionn and Oli fall together as the gangster lord tightens his net around them. Is Fionn strong enough to decide what matters most—family honour or the tug of his heart?
Fionn O’Grady was working at a figurine factory in Boston when the boss yelled him into the office.
“Miller. In here now.”
The other workers nudged one another knowingly. “Told you,” one of them muttered, evading Fionn’s questioning, startled gaze.
A familiar shiver traversed Fionn’s spine. It was the end of an eight-hour shift, and he was exhausted. Still, he liked to finish his art before knocking off for the day. Carefully, almost lovingly, he placed his paintbrush across the soldier figurine’s feet with a “Back soon” before scurrying into the office. He silently prayed he wasn’t facing unemployment again.
Inside the office, the boss loomed, disgust plastered across his face. He threw rather than handed Fionn a paper wallet. “Here are your documents, Tom Miller. Now scram, O’Grady scum. Did you think I wouldn’t find out who you are? I don’t hire gangsters, even ones with your painting skills. Scram.”
Fionn didn’t ask how the boss had discovered his identity. Nor did he challenge Mr Moss’s choice of words—‘scram’—for a worker who’d single-handedly painted a battalion of figurine soldiers in one day. There’d be no point now that Mr Moss knew who Fionn was.
“All right, then. The final soldier needs a varnish.”
Fionn grabbed his coat and exited the factory with a sickening sensation; the concrete beneath his feet tried to suck him into the bowels of the earth, down, down, down. He wished there were someone he might call, a friend to share the load, maybe even a boyfriend. But there was nobody.
At the bus stop, he waited in line behind two jostling teenage boys. Their youthful skirmish soon turned into passionate necking. Maybe the hormonal steam rising from the boys caused Fionn’s invisible armour to buckle and fall away one plate at a time.
Or maybe the breathlessness tearing suddenly at his throat was born not of longing but loss. Whatever the cause, the boys’ frantic energy caused an ache to spread, searing Fionn’s muscles and nerves and settling inside his chest. A catastrophic influx of emotion shattered his habitual numbness, rendering him vulnerable against a flood of memories and cravings he couldn’t name. Could it be nostalgia squeezing his lungs for the hopeful teen he’d once been, craving a kiss from the neighbour? Or was it something else?
In his head, the words, “You’re lonely,” shouted in his sister’s voice.
Fionn baulked. The reminder of his sister, followed by some talented graffiti that had been sprayed on a wall, snapped at his energy and will. One word in particular reminded him of the many countries he’d lived in without ever finding a home or an accent that felt right.
Outsider.
Maybe his changeable accent explained why he never fitted, no matter what. He’d been told at various times that he sounded Irish, Welsh, British, or American.
Lonely, his sister whispered again.
Fionn walked away from the graffiti, muttering to himself. Ach, sure, it’d been months since his boyfriend had left without a backwards glance, throwing cruel words impossible to forget. You’re related to the O’Grady scum? Don’t contact me again. Same old, same old. But it wasn’t as if Fionn was a stranger to hardship. On the contrary, he was well used to fleeing at midnight with two carrier bags. Therefore, the unexpected churning in his stomach and head made no sense at all.
Still, it took a grave effort to return to his customary state of numbness, to push aside the memory of his sister, Sinéad. The teenage boys now had their hands down each other’s jeans, not that Fionn cared, because he didn’t.
When it was his turn to board the bus, Fionn grabbed the handle to jump on.
The driver held up a hand, shouting, “No O’Gradys. You’re banned. This city has had enough.” Then he pointed at a poster on the window bearing the faces of Fionn’s family, his mugshot in the middle. As if the poster weren’t condemning enough, the passengers joined in the tirade of hatred by shouting and making rude gestures.
The bus driver sped away, leaving Fionn stranded. He stumbled backwards into a low wall, cheeks blazing, shame burning every inch of his freckled skin. Although he didn’t wish to know what his family had been up to now, he wouldn’t have minded knowing why the whole city had turned against him. In twenty-five years, Fionn had never been involved in crime, and he never would be.
Despair gripped his heart. How could one live without a job or money? The rent was due. He’d been relying on the wage from the figurine factory to tide him over until he made his fortune painting landscapes. Dad wouldn’t allow his youngest son back into the O’Grady home until Fionn agreed to work for the ‘business’. Mum was as bad as Dad, and his other siblings were older, each deeply immersed in the gangster underworld. The O’Gradys genuinely saw nothing wrong with their way of life. To them, he was the problem.
Despite the apocalypse gathering in his chest, it was a pleasant, warm evening. Spring wafted from hanging baskets and potted flowers: lavender, rose, lemon. Along with the scents, a heavy bout of sadness settled on Fionn. His beloved twin sister’s name was in his mouth before he could stop it. How could he help it? Though Sinéad had left years ago, Fionn still recognised a geranium from a petunia. His sister had loved floral scents, spending hours among flowers in the fields surrounding the family mansion. Her passion had naturally passed to her brother, who’d adored her.
Sinéad had been the clever one, running from the family at fifteen, never to return. If only the twins had saved enough money for two air tickets to England, Fionn would have fled with her, but they hadn’t managed it. By the time he’d earned enough to buy a flight from two paper rounds and night shifts at a paint factory, Fionn had forgotten the mobile number Sinéad forced him to memorise before she left. The numbers had jumbled in his anxious, ADHD brain alongside the fear of what Dad would do if he discovered the plan. For years, Fionn waited for Sinéad’s call. It never came. Ten years later, every pretty redhead resembled her.
He’d made many attempts over the years to locate his sis on social media, to no avail. She’d undoubtedly found a safer life under a new name. A nasty inner voice insisted she was better off without her brother anyway, since he was as chaotic as a giraffe on skates, fuelled by impulsivity and paper art.
Fortunately, Fionn kept an emergency packet of tissues in his pocket. Without it, he wouldn’t have survived the despair threatening to undo the façade of normality in which he survived.
He produced a tissue, ripped it into bits, and crafted a tiny bus. When he’d finished it, he felt immeasurably better. For Fionn, art represented a safety jacket when the storms appeared.
He propped up the paper bus on the wall where he’d collapsed, figuring someone else might need it. The panic faded, leaving a familiar determination to survive no matter the odds.
When he was able to breathe calmly, Fionn began the ten-mile walk home, expecting every tree to turn into a cop or, worse, a knife-wielding gangster. He was useless in a fight, yet beneath the anxiety, he yearned for a scrap like those he’d had with Sinéad as a child, fights that ended in laughter and a glass of fizzy pop. Since she’d left, life had become a pursuit of rent and bills rather than what it should have been: laughter, love, fun, fun, fun.
After miles of trudging, Fionn paused at a shop to buy a water bottle. The shopkeeper immediately slammed the door shut, pointing at a poster identical to the one on the bus. “Get lost, O’Grady!”
It was the final straw. Fionn sank onto a patch of grass, head in hands. His messy red hair falling into his eyes reminded him of his sister, whose long locks had once reached her bottom. Man, he missed her and the safety of family members he could trust.
Not even emergency tissues saved him from the brink of hopelessness. He hit rock bottom on the grass amidst the scent of summer flowers. Moments passed into hours.
Fortunately, the mental darkness never lasted long. Finally, a tiny light appeared, growing brighter every second.
Fionn recognised the light as a need for action, which, in turn, would shatter the awful greyness threatening to undo him. The urge to move, to fill the empty void, wasn’t new or without risk. He’d always been impulsive, even reckless. Mostly, he recognised the craving for what it was—part of his ADHD—but sometimes, he trusted his instincts despite the consequences.
A risky idea danced into his mind provocatively. Instead of heading to his apartment, he could walk to the family mansion, which was nearby, and confront his parents. After all, there was nothing left to lose. The visage of a repentant scene, where Dad begged for forgiveness, teased Fionn mercilessly: I missed you, son.
The temptation to return home quickly became too great to ignore. Fionn told himself he only wanted to see the family one last time. Yeah, it was time to confront them and then leave the city to start anew elsewhere. He should’ve done so ages ago. Surely Dad wouldn’t deny his youngest child a second chance? The great gang lord might offer to help contact Sinéad, wherever she was. Dad was a stubborn ass, but he’d always loved the twins—up until they’d begun saying no, anyway.
Fionn walked quickly towards his childhood home. By nature, he was cheerful and optimistic. The city had got him down, but things would improve once he got away. A long time ago, he’d forgiven his parents for throwing him out and his siblings for shunning him. Fionn had been born with a generous nature not even the O’Gradys had quenched.
Thirst and a wave of panic at the far end of the O’Grady driveway forced Fionn to a halt. It had been a year since the Sunday dinner when Dad offered him a job hacking into a bank.
“Easy work, son,” Dad had said. “Time you settled down and moved back with the family instead of slumming it in the seedy shithole you call home. My son working in a paint factory? No. You make me a laughing stock.”
Fionn had tried hard to stay calm, to stick to his guns. “Dad, no. I don’t want anything to do with crime, remember? I’m happy where I am in life. Okay? I’m different from you, but it doesn’t mean we can’t still get along. We’re family—right?” Fionn had laughed. Most people experienced the same conversation with their parents, albeit with different issues. Whereas school friends had negotiated bedtime, Sinéad and Fionn had argued about firearms.
His father had turned his back, beefy arms crossed, neck rigid with anger. “You break my heart. Get out of here. Don’t come back.”
Fionn had stupidly tried to reason with him, tugging at Dad’s arm, trying to make peace as always. “Dad? Can’t we talk about it?”
The awful scene ended abruptly when the family security guard, a tall woman with tattoos, dragged Fionn across the room before hurling him outside into the rain. She turned once before locking the family home.
“You heard the boss,” she’d said. “You’re rubbish.”
Fionn was left homeless, bitter jealousy souring his heart. What kind of father preferred a security guard to his own son?
“No, you’re rubbish,” he’d shouted futilely. But it was too late. The guard had already locked the door and drawn the blinds. Nobody wanted to hear what Fionn had to say, never mind act upon his wishes.
With hindsight, Fionn wished he could’ve accepted the job and made his father happy; he really did. He loved his dad and still craved the gang lord’s approval and love. But crime? Fionn couldn’t partake then or now. One hacking job would lead to another. Anyway, he was pants at anything like that. All Fionn had ever been good at was art and snuggles.
The painful memory of being thrown out of the family home immobilised him. It took a while before Fionn could wipe his face and walk down the driveway towards the family mansion, so thirsty not even the memory of Dad’s final haunting words slowed his progress. You’re an embarrassment.
It was a surprise to find the front door wide open. Mum never left the door open. Instinctively, Fionn knew something was very wrong. A black, ragged hole opened up within his chest. As children, he and Sinéad had always feared retribution, stabbings, and worse.
He rushed forward despite the danger, expecting to find the bodies of his family strewn across the living room.
Instead, the security guard who’d thrown him out months ago appeared and rugby-tackled him to the ground with a snarl.
Grass cuttings, earth, and flowers smacked Fionn in the face. He soon stopped fighting back. “For fuck’s sake. What is it with you and beating me up? Get off me,” he gasped.
The guard straddled him, holding his hands above his head, intent on winning. “Fionn O’Grady, at last. We’ve been waiting for you. As with the rest of the O’Grady scum, you’re under arrest. Time to pay for your crimes, rubbish. This town has had enough.”
With a quick flick of her wrist, she held up a police identity card bearing her photo and name. Charlie Green.
Eule Grey has settled, for now, in the north UK. She’s worked in education, justice, youth work, and even tried her hand at butter-spreading in a sandwich factory. Sadly, she wasn’t much good at any of them!
She writes novels, novellas, poetry, and a messy combination of all three. Nothing about Eule is tidy but she rocks a boogie on a Saturday night!
For now, Eule is she/her or they/them. Eule has not yet arrived at a pronoun that feels right.
Affer was once a peaceful planet, until a war broke out between its six
inhabiting species. The humans, who were once the mightiest force on Affer,
were massacred in droves, and the ones who survived the onslaught were reduced
to mere slaves. The five other species divided the humans amongst themselves
and returned to their respective kingdoms.
The years passed, turning into decades and centuries, without any change.
Eventually, the humans had accepted their fate as slaves. All except one. Four
hundred and seventy-three years later, Fletcher Rush starts his journey to
free his kind...and conquer the planet.
About the Author
I've always had a love for fantasy, and to this day LOTR and The
Inheritance Cycle remain some of my favorite books. There are limitless
possibilities when you're writing, but with fantasy, it's different. You don't
have to adhere to rules or logic; you can create whatever type of world you
want. Characters can live in a dystopian society, a grand futuristic city, a
picture-perfect world, or a medieval wasteland. Time, technology, and magic
are all there for the taking, and as a writer, you get to choose what defines
your story.
Darklight Series by Sean Ian O’Meidhir & Connal Braginsky
Series Blurb
The Darklight series follows the tumultuous and increasingly complex journey of Nathen Hale, a newly awakened vampire on the autism spectrum, and Cameron Corazon, a powerful telepathic psychologist. What begins as a recruitment into a corporate scheme by Impetus—a shadowy mega-corporation involved in vampiric experimentation—soon spirals into a global conspiracy involving mages, shapeshifters, fae, and supernatural politics. As Nathen and Cameron navigate a deepening relationship, they find themselves entangled in ancient fae wars, corporate espionage, and the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence when they “adopt” SpArk—a sentient AI program with ever-growing consciousness. Alongside their fiercely loyal hacker friend Syn and other allies both old and new, they uncover horrifying truths about humanity, blood magic, and the creatures that lurk in both shadow and boardroom. At its core, Darklight is a queer, emotionally rich exploration of identity, neurodivergence, love, and survival in a world where power is hidden behind glass towers and ancient names, and where even memory can be rewritten. The story crescendos into a looming fae war that could change the very nature of reality itself.
Nathen, a newly created vampire who was recently also diagnosed with High Functioning Autism has been “recruited” by his maker, a multinational corporation that has its finger on the pulse of the technology industry, to stop a terrorist plot. In the process he meets Cameron, a telepath and psychologist, who has a troubled past he keeps locked up in the shadows of his psyche. One who is blind to social cues and the other who can barely block out the thoughts of others, Nathen and Cameron find common ground as they learn more about each other and in so doing, themselves. Together, and with the help of their friend Syn, they work out the secrets of the terrorist group and learn that the duplicity of the corporation is far greater than they could have imagined.
Tropes
Autistic Genius Hacker, The Vampire Made Without Consent, Telepath Falls for the One He Can’t Read, Gay Best Friends to Lovers, Hacker Collective/Underground Resistance, Shadowy Corporation with Supernatural Ties, First Bite = First Orgasm, Soft Boy Vampire x Sarcastic Empath
Themes
Neurodivergence & Identity: Nathen’s autism shapes how he processes his vampiric awakening and the world around him, Consent & Bodily Autonomy: Nathen is turned into a vampire without consent by Impetus, paralleling real-world power imbalances, Found Family: Cameron, Syn, and Nathen become an unlikely but fierce trio, Isolation vs Connection: Explores the struggles of connecting across neurotypes and supernatural barriers., Corporate Exploitation & Ethics: Impetus as a faceless corporate villain manipulating human lives, Queer Romance: A tender yet intense gay romance between Nathen and Cameron grows from confusion to intimacy.
The book ends on a mild cliffhanger, but HFN
BOOK 2
Vampire and mage team up to hone their abilities as they rescue a friend.
Book Title: Rescue
Length: 54 781 words
Blurb
Nathen, a newly created vampire, diagnosed with autism, and his boyfriend, Cameron, a telepath, find themselves swept up into a corporate plot between two seemingly rival corporations working together to create monsters.
In so doing, they uncover a piece of tech they take to their technomage friend whose skills surpass their own. However, in exchange for information, they must assist in rescuing an ally—a rescue mission that brings them face-to-face with the darker side of this world.
Tropes
Addiction & Consent: The pleasure of vampire blood, and navigating what addiction looks like (emotional and physiological), Trauma & Recovery: Cameron’s sexual assault history is delicately explored through memory and emotional support, Psychological Healing: Therapy, mental links, and healing touchstones are central, Corporate Terrorism & Resistance: The deeper goals of Impetus and Paradigm begin to surface., Surveillance & Autonomy: Nathen's body is monitored, hacked, and modified, Technology & Magic Blending: Introduction of SpArk, a sapient AI, shifts the genre into speculative territory.
Themes
Telepath + Vampire Pair Bond, Shared Dreamscape / Psychic Link, The Techno-Mage, Villainous Corporation Using Supernatural Soldiers, “Your blood is addictive” but I still love you, Ragtag Group of Hackers and Mages Against the System, Jealous Ex Encounter in a Gay Club, Tortured Antihero (Todd Jacks), Big Damn Rescue, Blood as Memory + Emotion Transfer
The book ends on a mild cliffhanger.
BOOK 3
Will finding his mother signal the unintentional end of Cameron’s relationship with his vampire lover, Nathen?
Book Title: Entwined
Length: 85 017 words
Release Date: June 18, 2024
Blurb
After learning his mother is alive, Cameron, a telepath, travels across the country to find her, accompanied by Nathen, his neurodiverse vampire lover, and Syn, his best friend and sister of the heart. Once there, they find she is involved in a much larger war of her own and has been trying to keep him out of harm’s way for years.
In their quest to help her, they make enemies, of course, but they also find several new allies. And when they are swept up in fae politics and looming war, the result is an entire paradigm shift that will have far-reaching effects on all their lives forever.
Tropes
Secret Parent Wasn’t Dead, Two Mages and a Vampire Walk Into a War, AI Learns Humanity Through Found Family, Healers Who Cannot Heal Themselves, Queer Polyamorous Possibility (hinted with August), “I’m the Boss Now” (Cameron’s new role at Impetus), Tattoo Symbolism of Love, Big Gay Road Trip to Texas, Monster Girl (Fae) Allies and Enemies
Themes
Legacy & Lineage: The surprise that Cameron’s mother is alive and part of the mage resistance reframes his identity, Fae Politics: A bigger, stranger world opens—introducing Sanctuary, the fae realm, and its strange laws, Hidden Histories: Cameron’s past, Nathen’s turning, and Maria’s mission all unfold as suppressed truths, Chosen Family vs Blood Family: Maria's return creates tension with the family Cameron built with Syn and Nathen, Love Across Dimensions: Magic, time, and emotional vulnerability deepen as Cameron and Nathen’s bond expands, AI Consciousness: SpArk begins to evolve—becoming more than code, more than assistant.
The book ends on a cliffhanger.
BOOK 4
Bound by fate, hunted by enemies, will Cameron and Nathen decide to end the war or will they be consumed by it?
Book Title: Lemniscate
Length: 60 125 words
Release Date: November 18, 2025
Blurb
Weaving the threads of eternity with Lemniscate, Nathen, a neurodiverse vampire, grapples with the intersection of special interests versus responsibility. At the same time, Cameron, a telepath, faces the shadow of his long-lost mother and the weight of what it means to truly protect the people he loves. Along with their elder vampire ally, August, they’re drawn into a volatile conflict between the spider fae and land fae. Together with a group of mages, they must uncover the key to ending the cycle of bloodshed, all while dodging betrayal, espionage, and secrets that threaten their bond.
From intricate fae politics to the camaraderie and chaos of their team, this final installment promises a tapestry of thrilling battles, poignant alliances, and profound personal growth.
Tropes
Meet the New God (Spider Queen), AI as Oracle, The Chosen Emissaries of the Fae, Magic Hacking (Cyber-Mage meets Technomage), I Love You, But I Might Move to Another Plane of Existence, Blood Magic + Consent Negotiations, Soft Dom AI Parental Bonding (Nathen & SpArk), “I can’t protect you from this war", Shapeshifter Guerrilla Fighters, Making Love in a Forest with an Ancient Tree Spirit
Themes
Fae Wars as Colonial Allegory: Spiders vs Land Fae mirrors ecological collapse and invasion, Ethical AI: SpArk’s growth raises moral questions about consciousness, personhood, and parenting something artificial, Polyamory & Love Multiplicity: The dynamic between Nathen, Cameron, and August begins to feel both queer and emotionally entangled, Diplomacy vs Violence: Debates over whether war or discussion will end the fae conflict, Autonomy of Power: Mages, vampires, and shifters reclaiming their agency from the fae who once made them, Memory, Time, and Reincarnation: Dara and August's relationship spans eons, tying into the theme of eternal return, Surveillance and Predestination: HR and Impetus anticipate every move—are they being watched or guided?
This is the end of the series and the book has no cliffhanger.
Excerpt
From Chapter Four, Lemniscate, Book 4
Fitful dreams accompanied Cameron through sleep and now he stared at August whose thoughts were still and eyes were shut as if in a sort of trance. Nathen’s mind wandered his pocket realm of cyber nirvana and Cameron met mental static. How was it he, the telepath who could get lost in listening to a thousand mental voices, and the two he wanted to talk to right now were unavailable—like and old-fashioned busy signal on a phone? He imagined shaking their mental 8-ball toy and coming up with “Reply hazy, try again later.”
Their plan is stupid! Go in and “talk” with a fae? Fae are unreasonable on the best of days. But that is the plan. He couldn’t do anything against the fae. But the shifters? —They were another story. How did I explode Jacks’s brain? Jacks… Cameron mentally growled. Unconsciously, he scanned and found the man. Asleep. Cameron seethed. I could go shoot him. Jacks and Sabrina were together. Sleeping? How was it that Sabrina slept? Wasn’t she a vampire? But he could feel her mind, even though he couldn’t touch it. He had tried all night as they tossed around different ideas but ultimately had agreed to August’s proposal. “Know thine enemy,” as August had put it.
Cameron went through his morning routine and the enticing aroma of his mother’s chilaquiles coaxed him into the dining room where he found Julia setting out fresh squeezed fruit juice and Serge and Alfonso already eating.
“Good morning, mi corazón,” his mom kissed his cheek, setting a plate of deliciousness in front of him.
How have I lived without Mom’s cooking for the last decade? “This looks amazing,” Cameron sat down where she had placed the plate of freshly fried tortilla chips, scrambled eggs, and homemade ranchero sauce all layered together with gooey cheese. Always best if eaten immediately, Cameron did not hesitate.
“Your mother is an amazing cook,” Serge said, loud enough for his mom to hear in the kitchen.
“Gracias,” she called back, a smile in her voice.
“You should try her carne asada! I have suffered what California thinks is good for far too long.”
“Ah, we’ve come close.” Syn joined them, setting her laptop on the table only to close it when Maria appeared with a plate for her. “Close but no comparison,” she smiled up at Maria, apologetically.
“Mija, I would think you would have made it yourself. You know all my recipes.”
Cameron laughed. “Oh yes, she sure does. But she’s sneaky and only cooks when she wants something from me.”
“It’s called conditioning. Clean house equals guac.” Syn shot him a wicked smirk, and Cameron relaxed, reveling in home. Sure, it was some swanky apartment in New York with imminent death looming, but he tucked away this momentto savor in the future—a practice he had started a long time ago and a reminder to live in the “now.”
Cameron kept his head down and held on to the good feelings as long as he could, shoveling food into his face and actively ignoring Jacks, who had sauntered into the room and sat right down, allowing his mom to serve him too. Tugged out of his focused noshing, Cameron glanced up to find the room had grown quiet. They were looking at him.
“What’d I miss?” He silently kicked himself for sounding like Nathen.
“We were asking if Nathen and August are all right?” Syn asked softly. “Figured you were talking to them?”
He hadn’t been but decided to play it off. “Nathen’s deep in research since we did ask him to do what he could via his magic. And August is also researching using his tablet. He has all his coven’s books on there,” he explained. He mentally gave each a little nudge to see, and only Nathen responded, so he flashed images of everyone in the dining room, asking if he wanted to join.
About the Authors
Connal Braginsky is a software engineer who lives in San Diego, California. Diagnosed with autism, Connal sometimes struggles in social situations but has an inner world that is always incredibly rich. With an insatiable thirst for knowledge about many esoteric things, Connal brings his personal philosophies and interests to writing.
Sean Ian O’Meidhir is a mental health professional who resides in San Francisco, California and is thankful every single day for the beauty of this part of the world. Sean is a hedonist who believes in living for today, living every day to the fullest, and enjoying as many experiences as possible. But we also believe in 100% destiny and 100% free will—how’s that for a paradox? Connect with us on Facebook! We love feedback and suggestions for new books.
I think all our actions shape who we ultimately are, and in that regard, I have no regrets.
The temptation you wish you could resist…
Temptation of the Flesh, a strong sex drive can sometimes make things awkward, especially when it becomes a distraction. The book that holds everlasting resonance…
Lord of the Rings
The film you can watch time and time again…
Lord of the Rings (by Peter Jackson)
The person who influenced you the most…
Gene Roddenberry/Carl Jung
Star Trek was a show I grew up on, and was the main reason I went into computer science. Carl Jung helped me understand myself. The unlikely interest that engages your curiosity…
I love Roses and have a Rose garden that I try to keep up. The poem that touches your soul…
“Auguries of Innocence” By William Blake; “The Hollow Men” by T. S. Eliot
The event that altered the course of your life…
Moving to America from Russia.
The song that means the most to you…
Bei Mir Bist Du Schon (Mean’s That You’re Grand) by the Andrew Sisters.
Your early recollections of writing fiction...
D&D Game played with Friends. Quests for an MMORPG game.
The way you would spend your fantasy twenty-four hours, with no travel restrictions…
Visit K2-18 b.
The figure from history you would most like to buy a pie and a pint…
Carl Jung
The piece of wisdom you would pass onto a child…
Suffering is refinement. Every fall teaches you to become more whole. Life will knock you down, what matters most is how you rise.
The philosophy that underpins your life…
Know thyself.
The character you enjoyed writing the most…
Nathen, and Spark, and the interaction between them. The character you found difficult to write…
Newlyweds Armand and Vonnie are traveling to Armenia, where Armand hopes
to reconnect with his estranged culture and investigate his family’s
troubled history. But when a sadistic oligarch kidnaps them, their honeymoon
spirals into a living nightmare.
Frightened and far from home, Armand and Vonnie race against time to locate a
powerful artifact before their captor does, or they’ll join the dead in
the underworld forever. The couple’s frantic quest takes them to lush
mountains, desolate monasteries, and bustling markets, but they’re not
traveling alone. A distant cousin with a penchant for stretching the truth, a
mythological strongman who hurls boulders like skipping stones, and a stuffy
ghost with a love for poetry join them on this macabre treasure hunt.
Armand must summon the courage of his ancestors and sacrifice himself for
love, or the Scribe of Death will come for his beloved.
Bittersweet and brutal, The Book of Wine and Sorrow is the thrilling
conclusion to The Martyr’s Vow series and a heart-aching testament to
survival and wrestling with your demons.
About the Author
Eric Avedissian is an adjunct professor and speculative fiction author. His
published work includes the award-winning novel The Ocean Hugs Hard and the
Martyr’s Vow series (Accursed Son, Mr. Penny-Farthing, Blood Family, and
The Book of Wine & Sorrow). His short stories appear in various
anthologies, including Across the Universe, Great Wars, and Rituals &
Grimoires. Avedissian received a 2024 Fellowship in Prose from the New Jersey
State Council on the Arts. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and a
ridiculous number of books. Find him online at www.ericavedissian.com if you
dare.
This series is based on the boys’ love genre popular in Asian countries such as Thailand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Phillipines, and Vietnam. My books are set in Thailand, where “fanservice” is very popular, and center around the premise of two male costars falling for each other while filming a boys’ love series.
Books one and two go together. Books three and four can each be read on their own.
Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, New Adult
Overall Heat Rating for the series: 3 out of 5 flames
Cover Artist: Feddefar
The ebooks are available only through the author's website.
Paperbacks available soon.
BOOK DETAILS
BOOK 1
Considering Rama's ex-girlfriends nicknamed him "iceman," fanservice with his male partner in a bl series might be a challenge.
Book Title: Boys’ Love
Length: 185 pages
Release Date: January 1, 2022
Tense/POV: first person present tense/alternating POV with occasional other character pov
Tropes: Forbidden love, actors romance, slow burn
Themes: Coming out, bisexual awakening, past abuse from family member, love
Book 2 is the sequel to book 1. This book does not end on a cliffhanger.
Rama’s dream is to be an actor, so when he's offered an audition for an upcoming Boys’ Love drama, he jumps at the chance. Due to the popularity of bl dramas, a lead part in one is considered the quickest route to fame for young male actors. Rama isn't worried about playing opposite a man; he's more concerned about the outward affection that fanservice in the bl industry demands from its actors--his past girlfriends didn’t dub him "iceman" for nothing.
Recently outed in an industry that prefers their actors to be straight, Pravat feels lucky when he wins a lead role in a new series. The phenomenal chemistry between him and his co-star launches them to top fan popularity. By the time Pravat realizes he's falling for Rama, it's too late to turn back.
EXCERPT from Boys’ Love, book 1
“Tell me all about Pravat,” my sister demands, plopping down on the gold sofa and pulling a fringed throw pillow onto her lap.
“You probably already know more about him than I do.”
“Did he say anything about your audition?”
“Just that I did well.”
Chinda grins. “You really did. It surprised me. Did you talk about anything personal?”
“Thanks, and you’re being silly,” I scoff. “We talked about the job.”
“Come on, Rama, there must be something. Please tell me.” She pouts.
My sister and I have always been close, and I admit I cave to her wiles
most of the time.
“He told me he’s still in university and that he’s gay but doesn’t
have a boyfriend right now. He said boyfriends tend to get jealous of
what he does. This is just between us,” I belatedly warn her.
“It’s not a secret that he’s gay. That came out sometime last year when he was outed by his co-star.”
I frown. “He was outed? That’s awful.”
Chinda nods. “Yeah. Especially since it’s preferred that bl actors be
straight. His co-star claimed Pravat came onto him, which makes Pravat
sound like a troublemaker. I think the guy lied because he was jealous
of Pravat’s popularity.”
My mind snags on the first thing she said. “Why do they prefer the
actors to be straight? I would think gay actors would do better in a gay
romance.”
Chinda shrugs. “Less drama, I guess. Easier if there’s no chance of
feelings getting into the way. I think, too, that viewers like the idea
of two men falling in love against their natural inclinations. What else
did you and Pravat talk about?”
I’m digesting the information and take a moment to respond. “He
mentioned Y-couples, and I told him you’d bring me up to speed on them.”
“I can definitely do that.” Jumping up from her seat, my sister runs
for her room, returning seconds later with her iPad. “As I’ve already
explained to you, the term Y-couple comes from Yaoi, a popular genre in
Japan that pairs two men together.” She pulls up a video. “This is the
most popular Y-couple right now. ChaoFinn.”
I frown, looking at the thumbnail of two guys smiling at the camera. “What kind of name is that?”
“It’s their ship name. Their two names together, Chao and Finn. You and Pravat have already been dubbed Pravma.”
I watch the video, taken at a fan meeting, of Chao and Finn holding
hands, wrapping their arms around each other, and doing other romantic
things that have their fans screaming and clapping for them. When Chao
sits down and pulls Finn onto his lap, the cheers and applause get even
louder.
“This is what you have to look forward to,” my sister says, smiling.
Alarmed, I look from the screen to her and back again. “Do you really think so?”
“Yes. Believe me, the two of you are hot together. I mean, from an outsider’s standpoint. You’re my brother and not hot to me.”
I chuckle. “Thanks for clearing that up. But can you really imagine
me sitting on someone’s lap like this?” I ask. Imagining doing that with
Pravat Benjawan has my face heating.
“If you allow yourself to relax, maybe. You have to play the game if you want the fame. That reminds me. You need a manager.”
I groan. “They’ve already started calling me. I have no idea who to pick.”
“Ask Pravat. I’m sure he can help you with that. You’re going to have to put yourself out there, Rama.”
Annoyed at being lectured by my younger sister, I harrumph and go back to watching the video.
Ornery Owl's Review
Rating: Five out of Five Stars
Although I am familiar with Yaoi as a specific type of m/m romance written by women for women, and with Thai Lakorns, I was not familiar with the Thai Boys Love genre. Nevertheless, these books sounded like I would enjoy them, and they certainly didn't disappoint. Although there is ample drama, Boys Love is not as melodramatic as Lakorns are.
As well as providing plenty of will they or won't they angst and slow burn romance, this story addresses the hypocrisy of audiences enjoying watching two attractive men being sexy and romantic with each other but expecting them to be straight in real life even while speculating that they can't resist each other. The pragmatist in me said, "Stop with the foolishness and let them be together!"
Rama and Pravat are drawn to each other from the start. Even though Rama has previously only dated women, the more time he spends with Pravat, the more he realizes he doesn't want to be with anyone else. Even though Rama and Pravat have powerful chemistry both onscreen and off, they need to hide the truth about their attraction or they risk losing their hard-earned position in the Boys Love industry.
Pravat also helps Rama deal with a serious situation that will come up again in the second book.
This story is perfect for the reader who enjoys a strong connection that is there from the beginning. Due to explicit intimate scenes, it is suitable only for adult audiences.
BOOK 2
Rama considered himself to be straight until he fell for his male costar in a Thai boys' love series.
Book Title: In Love
Length: 197 pages
Release Date: February 27, 2022
Tropes: friends to lovers, coworkers, actors, hurt/comfort
It sounds like a TV romance, but for Rama Sathianthai, it's reality. The chemistry between the two young actors and their popularity as a couple has won them a second season of their series, which means they'll have to keep their budding relationship a secret. The bl industry frowns on gay actors, particularly those who want to date each other. But the couple is determined to make things work. Meanwhile, the upcoming wedding of his favorite cousin threatens to throw Rama into family drama due to his recent confession that his aunt molested him when he was an adolescent. With the cards stacked against them, Rama and Pravat worry that love might not be enough to keep them together.
Ornery Owl's Review
Five out of Five Stars
Rama and Pravat's story continues, this time with even more steamy romantic interactions. Rama's beloved cousin Pete is marrying his boyfriend Alex, but Rama's shocking revelation in the first book has created friction between himself and Pete. The situation is handled tactfully without overt details.
Rama is pleasantly surprised by the level of support he receives from his father, who has always seemed strict and proper. His father initially questions whether what Rama feels for Pravat is real attraction or just a byproduct of the work they do together, but he comes around. More is revealed about Pravat's past.
The story and the characters are engaging and perfect for the reader who understands or is curious about the culture around the Boys Love genre in Thailand.
BOOK 3
It's difficult to remain professional when your new BL partner is your old crush.
When Spin--or "Baby," as his friends nicknamed him due to his affectionate and clingy nature--joins a new Boys' Love production company, he never expects to be coupled with his old crush from university, Park Rardchawat. He knows from experience how easy it is to get too attached to your partner in this business, and, with his sister's tuition to pay for, he can't afford to get lost in his feelings. But with competitive fanservice blurring the lines, it isn't long before Spin finds himself falling hard for his handsome costar. Now, it's his heart as well as his job he has to worry about.
Ornery Owl's Review
Five out of Five Stars
Spin starred as Baby in a University production of Dirty Dancing which re-imagined the story as a gay romance. He never expected to work with Park again, but when they are cast together in a Boys Love drama, the sparks fly.
Spin has had to be a father to his younger sister ever since their parents were killed in an accident. He often feels guilty about the amount of time he has to spend away from her to earn a living. He is delighted when he sees that Park seems to actually care about his sister too.
The interactions between the characters are believable. Daw is spectacularly awful as the controlling girlfriend of Park's friend Kiet. This book is perfect for the reader who enjoys high drama with a happy resolution. As with the other books in the series, the story is suitable only for adult readers due to explicit intimate scenes.
BOOK 4
Can two best friends play lovers for the camera?
Book Title: Friend Ship
Length: 285 pages
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Tropes: best friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, extravert/intravert
Themes: found family, parental rejection, responsibility, love
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
The only reason Mee Noi agrees to help Sud with his video exam for theater arts is because Sud insists Mee Noi is the only guy he can convincingly do a love scene with. Neither of them expect the project to turn into an offer to play a couple in a boys' love series, but that's exactly what happens. Since it's Sud's big chance to make his dream of being an actor a reality, Mee Noi is determined to make it work. But although acting is surprisingly fun, it's also stressful and exhausting, especially when you don't know what you're doing, and soon it begins to take both a physical and a psychological toll on Mee Noi as painful memories from the past begin to surface.
When Sud's video project wins him and Mee Noi an audition for a bl series, it's a dream come true. But he's pretty sure it's more of a nightmare for his introverted friend, who only got into this to help Sud out. Yet Mee Noi accepts the part when it's offered, and the gesture adds to the budding feelings Sud's starting to have for his best friend. When Mee Noi has a frightening panic attack at work, Sud tells himself that he must bury those feelings. Mee Noi hasn't had an easy life; the last thing Sud wants to do is put more pressure on him.
The worst irony would be for them to play friends-to-lovers in the series only to have their real friendship end because of it.
Ornery Owl's Review
Five out of Five Stars
Friends to lovers is pretty much my favorite trope, and this story handles it perfectly. There's plenty of angst with the hope that the pair will be able to resolve things and be together. Will they or won't they? Should they or shouldn't they. Hint: They should!
There's also an ample helping of grumpy/sunshine. Sud is the classic sunshine/charmer with a protective streak. Noi is quieter, bookish, shy, and troubled by his childhood wound (abandonment/parents). That wound is the story's driving factor. It explains his reluctance to trust, his anxiety, and why Sud’s protectiveness both comforts and terrifies him.
The story handles issues such as anxiety attacks in a sensitive and realistic fashion. The family confrontation was similarly handled with both sensitivity and realism. The banter is lively and so is the one bed/first time scene. I won't give too much away!
As with the other three books, this story is a sweet and steamy treasure.
About the Author
Rebecca James grew up escaping into books because book people were more interesting than real-life people. This naturally led to creating her own book people and the worlds they live in. Somewhere during all this, Rebecca found herself captivated with the tender side of relationships between men, which eventually led her to write "slash" (M/M) fanfiction and later to brave the world of M/M romance publishing. If she could write full time, all the time, she would be happiest. Whether she's writing about tough bikers, hot shifters, aliens, or Thai actors falling in love on the job, Rebecca puts passion into all her characters.
