My Novels

OMG You Guys – My Book Just Dropped Today!

Hey friends! I’m literally bouncing in my chair right now because I have THE BEST news to share! My book “The Golem’s Guardian” just released today and I am freaking out with excitement! It’s available at all the online bookstores as we speak (paperback should be out in the next few days), and trust me, you’re gonna want to snag a copy ASAP.

I’ve been stressing over this manuscript for what feels like forever, and now it’s finally out in the world! I’ve been refreshing my notifications all morning, and I’m absolutely vibrating with nervous energy. You know that feeling when something you’ve poured your heart into finally gets shared? That’s what I’m experiencing right now.

So what’s my book about? Picture this: David Rosen is just your average Brooklyn librarian (which, like, already makes me happy because who doesn’t adore a bookish protagonist?). His life is pretty chill until—plot twist!—he accidentally brings a tiny clay figure to life in his apartment. Not your typical Tuesday night, am I right? Turns out, our guy David has inherited this wild ability from his Jewish ancestors to create golems, which are these magical clay protectors. How cool is that?

The world-building in my novel is something I really focused on. It takes place in modern Brooklyn, but with this hidden layer of ancient mysticism woven throughout. I’m such a sucker for urban fantasy that takes place in real locations you can actually visit. Makes you look at every corner of the city differently, wondering what magic might be happening when nobody’s looking.

As for the characters, David is this reluctant hero type who’s just trying to figure out his powers while also falling for Jacob, who I absolutely adore. Jacob’s this super charming social worker who gets pulled into David’s magical drama. Their relationship develops so naturally against this backdrop of supernatural chaos, and I’m totally here for it. The LGBTQ+ representation was super important to me—I wanted it seamlessly integrated into the story rather than feeling like an afterthought.

The villain—only known as “the Shadow”—was genuinely creepy and a lot of fun to write. They’re causing all sorts of supernatural problems across Brooklyn, and the stakes keep getting higher throughout the book. There’s this whole thing with a rare celestial alignment that’s coming, which will amp up everyone’s powers, good and bad. Talk about deadline pressure!

What really interested me as I wrote was how David’s power comes with a price. Every time he uses his golem to fight, it physically hurts him. I wanted a magic system that has real consequences. Did you know that the concept of golems dates back to medieval Jewish mysticism? According to the Jewish Virtual Library, the most famous golem story involves the Maharal of Prague, who allegedly created a golem to protect the Jewish community in the 16th century. You can read more about it here: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-golem

I don’t want to give away too much (no spoilers!), but let’s just say there’s this scene near the end involving the golem and the Shadow that I hope will have you holding your breath. I literally had to take a walk after writing it because I couldn’t handle the tension!

I put so much research into the Jewish mystical elements, and I hope it shows. I spent months reading about golems and Kabbalistic traditions to get the details right. That authenticity was really important to me throughout the writing process.

So yeah, if you’re into urban fantasy with Jewish mythology, LGBTQ+ romance, and magical battles with actual consequences, you need to check out “The Golem’s Guardian” right this second. Grab a copy today!

Has anyone ordered it yet? I’m dying to hear what you think! Drop your thoughts in the comments because I need people to obsess over this book with me! The cover is below:

Golems guardian.

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Nick’s Destiny is out!

Okay, I’ve got some good, no, INCREDIBLE news that I’ve been dying to share with you all—Nick’s Destiny is FINALLY out! 🎉 Yep, the grand finale to the Ghost Oracle series is officially out in the wild, ready to be devoured by all you book-loving ghouls and gals out there. 👻

Nick's Destiny book cover

I honestly can’t believe how wild this journey has been—both for me as a writer and for Nick as a character. I mean, who knew that my caffeine-fueled late-night writing sessions yakking away at my keyboard would lead here? But here we are, standing on the precipice (ugh, did I just use ‘precipice’ in a sentence? 😂) with Nick, ready to face down the darkness of Gallowspine Mountains.

For those wondering what they’re getting into, here’s the deal with Nick’s Destiny: Nick Michelson finds himself smack dab in the middle of a prophecy, and you KNOW how well those tend to go. Demons, soul-hunting, and a town that’s hanging on by a spectral thread—oh yeah, the stakes are sky-high. And let’s not forget that he’s got Gabe and a posse of psychics by his side. But when you’re basically the chosen one (or The Light One, as they call him), you know things are bound to get messy.

But don’t just take my word for it—check it out for yourself! I’m not joking when I say it’s heart-pounding, soul-searching, and probably has way too many cliffhangers. You can grab it here:

It should be available at other retailers soon!

Honestly, it feels like wrapping up a long, long chapter of my life—and I’m not just talking about the time spent in front of the computer screen. Writing this book meant diving deep into the cracks of my brain-pan, and there were moments when I wasn’t sure if I’d make it out the other side with all my marbles intact. But Nick’s story was rattling around in there, refusing to let me go until it was unleashed upon the world—and trust me, I tried to procrastinate, but Nick was having none of it.

I couldn’t be more excited for you all to read this last book and see how Nick faces what’s ahead—betrayals, sacrifices, and all. I hope you all think that the payoff will be worth the journey, so buckle up and dive in.

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Returning to Writing: A Year in the Rearview

Pexels dziana hasanbekava 7063763It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly a year since I last put my thoughts into words on this platform. It feels both like a blink of an eye and a lifetime. The white page in front of me seems more intimidating than it did a year ago, but as I type, the familiar rhythm is returning, reminding me of the joy and solace I find in writing.

Life has a way of throwing curveballs, doesn’t it? For those who have been with me for a while, you’d recall the frequency and enthusiasm with which I used to share my thoughts, musings, and stories. It was as much a passion project as it was a form of therapy. But, as with every journey, there come detours and pauses.

A New Chapter in a New Condo

One of the most significant changes in my life was the decision to sell my house and move into a new condo. Anyone who has ever moved residences knows the magnitude of this undertaking – the endless packing, decluttering, the emotional heaviness of parting with memories tied to a place, and the simultaneous thrill of crafting new ones. This transition, though an exciting one, was certainly more time-consuming and draining than I had imagined.

Health First

Amidst the chaos of moving, my health decided to chime in. Without delving too deep into the specifics, the past year saw me grappling with health issues that demanded both my physical and emotional bandwidth. It was an eye-opener, a period of introspection, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Writing, though my solace, took a backseat as I navigated this unfamiliar terrain.

Looking Forward

With all that said, I find myself in calmer waters now. The health storm has passed, and the new condo feels more like home every day. With these hurdles behind me, I am elated to announce that I will be returning to regular blogging.

To my ardent readers, here’s a little treat to look forward to: Over the hiatus, while my blogging ceased, my writing in the background did not. I’m thrilled to reveal that there’s a completed book in the editing stages — a gay Christmas romance novel. More details will follow in due time but know that it’s a piece of my heart and soul that I can’t wait to share with all of you.

And for those who have been patiently waiting, I have some exhilarating news to share: the final installment of the Ghost Oracle Series is nearing completion! It’s been a profound adventure, crafting this tale and sharing it with all of you. Every twist, every character, and every spectral encounter has been leading us to this culminating moment. I’m as excited as you are to see how the story concludes and to share that experience with each of you. Stay tuned for further announcements, cover reveals, and release dates.

Here’s to the grand finale of our ghostly adventures (though Nick and the gang may return for future adventures)!

Gratitude

Before signing off, I’d like to express my deep gratitude. To those who sent messages, checking in, offering support, or merely sharing their stories – thank you. Your warmth and understanding served as a comforting balm during challenging times.

As I embark on this new chapter (pun intended), I hope you’ll join me. Whether it’s life updates, thoughts on the world, or snippets from my upcoming book, the journey promises to be an enriching one.

Photo by Dziana Hasanbekava

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Goodreads Giveaway for Keeping Corey

Keeping Corey Book CoverI’m very excited to inform you that I just created a Goodreads Giveaway for my upcoming book “Keeping Corey,” a Young Adult LGBT contemporary that takes place at a hockey academy. I’m giving away 20 Kindle copies of the book. If you like to enter for a chance to win, you can enter here: Enter Giveaway. The giveaway only goes through February 4th so you’ll want to enter as soon as possible. The book will be published on February 6th.

Good luck!

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Keeping Corey is Available for Preorder!

Keeping Corey book cover. Young man in hockey gear stands behind seocnd young man with red hair.I am so excited! My latest book, Keeping Corey, is now available for preorder from online retailers. It’s a YA gay romance that takes place at a hockey academy and will be released on February 6, 2023. The synopsis is below:

After being outed at his last high school, Devin O’Hanlon’s parents enrolled Devin at the Grovesburg Hockey Academy, his father’s alma mater. Never mind that Devin doesn’t have an athletic bone in his body, nor has any interest in sports. The academy was supposed to be a fresh start for Devin — a clean slate where nobody knows him as the gay kid. Unfortunately, being a red-headed non-athlete singled him out with the bullies, and he found himself in the same predicament as his last school. Things only get worse when he learns that his new roommate, a transfer from another school, is a star hockey player—an incredibly hot star hockey player.

Corey Harper has been expelled from two schools. Grovesburg Academy is his last chance; if this doesn’t work out, his father has threatened to send him to military school. But Corey has no intentions of getting expelled again. This school is a new start for him — a place where nobody knows him or about his past. Despite a rough start, Corey and his new roommate Devin find they have a lot in common and soon become inseparable. But Corey doesn’t allow himself to get too close to Devin because he has a secret that nobody here must uncover—and Corey has mastered hiding his feelings. His plan is to keep his head down, do what’s required of him, and bring his academy to the championship. Can Corey juggle his junior year, hockey, a hostile coach, and his friendship with Devin, all the while keeping his secret hidden from everyone?

But when Corey’s secret is threatened to be exposed, he is forced to make a difficult choice—a choice that goes against his heart and his soul.

I had a blast writing it, and I hope you love it as much as I do. You can preorder from the following online stores:

Amazon Preorder

Smashwords Preorder

Barnes & Noble Preorder

Apple Books Preorder

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My Newest Book is Live

Pushed under the mistletoe print AmazonI am so excited to write this – finally! My latest novel, “Pushed Under the Mistletoe” is now live at online retailers. It’s a heartwarming, small-town Christmas Novel coming in at about 47,000 words. The blurb is below:

Danny Latham is a highly sought-after wedding photographer who has just gone through the worst breakup ever — and right before Christmas. Danny was supposed to have taken his boyfriend home with him to Torch Lake, Florida, for Christmas, but that wasn’t going to happen now. Heartbroken, he instead asks his best friend, Joey to accompany him home for Christmas.

Reluctantly, Joey accepts. Little does Danny know that Joey has been in love with him for as long as Joey can remember. It doesn’t help that Danny’s family keeps trying to get them together, believing that Joey and Danny are perfect for each other.

Will Joey’s heart be able to handle a Christmas with Danny and his meddling family? Or will this be the year Joey finally comes clean and tells Danny how he really feels?

If you’d like a heartwarming friends-to-lovers Christmas romance with a couple of lovable but clueless characters, a meddling family and plenty of Christmas cheer, you’ll want to check out Pushed Under the Mistletoe.

Click to purchase Under the Mistletoe from your favorite online retailer

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Newsletter & Book Announcement

Typically, my weekly newsletter is only available to newsletter subscribers.  But this week, I decided to post it to my blog as well, to give people an idea of what it contains and to see if they might be interested in subscribing. The entire contents of the newsletter are below.

Weekly roundup

To everyone new here to the list: Welcome to my newsletter! In the newsletter, I’ll share a link to some of the things I shared on social media that I thought were interesting. I’ll also include book news, cover reveals, and more goodies.

I have some exciting news this week: the fifth book in my Ghost Oracle series is now available at your favorite online retailerIt’s entitled “Camping with a Ghost” and here is the blurb:

Nick is out camping with his friends, and the last thing he expected was to encounter the ghost of someone he knows from school. After the trip, the spirit continues to appear to Nick, leaving him no choice but to investigate his classmate’s disappearance and attempt to discover what happened to him.

As he zeros in on the mystery surrounding his missing classmate, Nick uncovers several secrets surrounding the ghost’s demise, which attracts some unwanted attention from the murderer. As Nick gets closer to uncovering the truth—and finding his dead classmate’s body—the threats become increasingly more severe, and Nick soon finds himself in a deadly situation.

Meanwhile, the Shadow Demon has upped its game, and Nick has another encounter with the creature. This time, the demon has made its intentions clear to Nick, which means Nick must do everything in his power to not only protect himself and his boyfriend Gabe but his family as well.

Camping with a ghost

This was such a fun book to write! The last and final book in the series will be forthcoming. If you haven’t read the other books in the series, you can check them out at my website here:

If you enjoyed this newsletter, feel free to share it with your friends, and family. I would really appreciate it.

Okay, enough book chat. On to this week’s roundup!

Weekly Round-Up – Some Things I Thought Were Worth Sharing

  1. I love time travel stories so I may have to watch this: ‘The Adam Project’ review: A flashy time travel adventure with an all-star cast I also haven’t heard of this animated time travel series before – will definitely have to check it out as well – Undone: Season 2, Prime Video This April
  2. For my writer friends: Short Story Tips: 3 Successful Strategies to Write a Short Story. There’s also this: If You Want to Write a Novel, Start with a Plan: Stephanie Gangi on Writing Her Debut in Her Late 50s
  3. I stumbled across this article by Chris Guillebeau entitled “36 Ways to Live Differently” Lot’s of great wisdom here.
  4. Right now books are in danger – one can go a step further and say that imagination and ideas are in danger: The Power—and Necessity—of Reading Dangerously. Speaking of danger, here’s an article entitled, Why Stories Are Dangerous — And Why We Need Them Anyway. You might also be interested in this article about book banning: Brad Meltzer on how a community fought a school book ban in Pennsylvania and won: My book was banned. Here’s how we fought back
  5. Eye Candy – some of these are amazing! The Winners of Sony World Photography Awards for 2022. Oh, and let’s not forget about The Winners of the 11th Annual Mobile Photography Awards
  6. Well this sucks: HBO hit with class action lawsuit for allegedly sharing subscriber data with Facebook.
  7. Here are 10 women photographers and organizations that use their art to raise awareness and make a difference where they can.
  8. How a viral tweet turned into a queer coming-of-age graphic novel. Also, three authors recently targeted by the religious right and Republicans spoke out about being at the center of controversy: LGBTQ authors of banned books speak out on why their stories matter.
  9. Crime writers talking writing routines, research, putting in the work, and keeping caffeine levels: David Heska Wanbli Weiden Takes His Craft Seriously and His Coffee Very Strong
  10. Privacy Watch: 5 Easy Ways to Improve Privacy on Your iPhone Right Now
  11. Some writing tips: How to Pitch a Story: 10 Killer Pitch Tips. There’s also this article which some writers may find helpful: Don’t Overthink It: The Argument For Just Starting to Write. And if you suffer from self-doubt, then this may help: Dealing With Self-Doubt And Writer’s Block With Dharma Kelleher.
  12. Just for fun (and cuteness) 20 Photos Of Pets Proving That Nature Has A Great Sense Of Humor. And if you’re looking for something funny to read, here’s a breakdown of The Best Comedy Books of 2022 (So Far).
  13. Interesting article about the internet’s relentless deluge of images: The Empire of the Archive: On the Relentless Contemporary Deluge of Images
  14. A new series of Dr. Seuss-inspired books will feature diverse authors and illustrators.
  15. The Books Will Keep You Warm – A celebration of small-town libraries and retro mysteries.

Oh, and in case you missed it, Ernest Shackleton’s Ship Found After 106 Years

Camping with a ghost 2

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