An interview at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

I got to do some deep thinking and some introspective sharing for an author interview I did at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Interviews are funny things, you really have to chase down the thoughts and opinions that run freely around and around your head and get them written down. It's different from writing fiction because you're seeking the truth of what you think!

Here's the short link:

http://wp.me/p220KL-aVZ

And the long link:

https://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com/2017/06/30/tray-ellis-on-writing-books-and-her-latest-release-pyresnakes-author-guest-blog-and-excerpt/

Another Blog post, this time at Love Bytes

I have another blog post up today in celebration of my story Pyresnakes being released.

http://lovebytesreviews.com/2017/06/29/spotlight-incl-excerpt-tray-ellis-pyresnakes/

And I'm talking about snakes. Snaaaakkkkkeesss!

Blog Post at Dreamspinner

With my release today I also had a co-ordinated blog post!

I used it to talk about family love as well as romantic love. Aran's grandmother plays a big part in the story and I had some insight into that.

Go read: http://blog.dreamspinnerpress.com/2017/06/28/family-love-w-tray-ellis/

Pyresnakes is released!

Pyresnakes is now released and available!! Please check it out!

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/pyresnakes-by-tray-ellis-8608-b

Story summary:
There is another world existing alongside the one most see everyday, and although it is a place of magic and wonder, the dangers are very real.

Aran, an artist, grew up on his grandmother’s tales of the Side-by-Side world. He never expected his knowledge of folklore would aid his boyfriend, Brandon, in an arson investigation, but the snakes that burst into flames when agitated are something he recalls from those childhood stories.

When Aran vanishes, Brandon knows his time as a state trooper won’t help find him, so he enlists the aid of Aran’s grandmother, Ruth, and they venture into the Side-by-Side world.

But Aran has no memory of his life prior to crossing between worlds, and he’s enjoying the company of his handsome new companion, Ren. Even if Brandon and Ruth reach him, convincing him to return to his former home won’t be easy. In a contemporary fairy-tale adventure set among forests and trails, Aran must choose between a mystical fantasy world and the man he loves.

hiking

I was hiking the other day and this spot seemed so picturesque, and very like some of the paths I imagined in Pyresnakes. The pine needles might look slippery, but they really aren't. When the sun hits them and they warm up, they can be very fragrant.

first in line!

Pyresnakes is the first book in the queue on the Upcoming page for Dreamspinner! I feel like I'm at the starting gate of a race and just waiting to get running! This is a thrill!

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

Blog Post at Divine Magazine

And today I have a blog post up at Divine Magazine talking about Pyresnakes!

https://www.divinemagazine.biz/pyresnakes-by-tray-ellis/

Today I talk about falling in love and being in love and how that element plays out in my story.

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/pyresnakes-by-tray-ellis-8608-b

above the cut line

Time is going by so fast! June 28th is right around the corner and this means my novella Pyresnakes has moved from below the cut to above the cut on the Upcoming page at Dreamspinner!

Small things make writers so happy. ;)

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

Rainbow Snippets for Sunday

With my novella Pyresnakes being released on June 28th, it makes perfect sense to bring out my 6 sentences from it for Rainbow Snippets this weekend.

Here are the 6:

He pressed soft kisses against Brandon’s hairline. “You smell like a campfire,” Aran whispered. “I kind of like it.”

Brandon rocked forward so he could encircle his arms around Aran and tipped his head back. He had to press up a little, given Aran’s tall and lanky build, but they’d done this a thousand times before, and it was easy to melt into the kiss. The sun-warmed scent of cedar and wood chips drifted over him again, and for a long moment Brandon lost himself in the pleasure of holding Aran, plundering the gift of his affections and building a promising heat between them.

~~

And here's the link back to Rainbow Snippets: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets


~~

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/pyresnakes-by-tray-ellis-8608-b

erratic -- a geological term

In Pyresnakes I very briefly mention erratics -- a word somewhat obscure enough that my spellchecker doesn't like it -- but in this instance it is a noun and can be made plural.

It's a heck of a big boulder that got brought somewhere out of place by the slow movement of a glacier a very long time ago and left there. When you come upon them, you stare at them and think "wow, that's big and out of place", and you realize how puny you are and how powerful nature can be.

Here are links to two interesting erratics. The photos don't do them justice in terms of scale. I've been to one of them myself and it is astounding to stand next to one and gaze upon it and realize it is solid stone and it is *massive*.

https://whitemountainsojourn.blogspot.com/2008/12/glen-boulder-famous-glacial-erratic-on.html
http://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/madison-boulder-natural-area.aspx

MM GoodBook Reviews Blog Post

Here's the first of my blog posts regarding Pyresnakes!
https://mmgoodbookblogtours.wordpress.com/2017/06/21/pyresnakes-by-tray-ellis-guest-post-excerpt/

MM Good Book Reviews graciously allowed me to post some thoughts about Pyresnakes and I touch upon romance, fantasy elements, the landscape, and the relationship between the two main characters, Brandon and Aran.

Go read!

And the link to the book for pre-order: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/pyresnakes-by-tray-ellis-8608-b

new story started

The goal is at least 15k words and I'm already up to 11k. It's been a real pleasure writing this one -- I figured out the entire plot prior to even starting to write and now it is just a matter of hitting the marks as I work through it. A few things have surprised me as I've worked on it, for instance, I didn't anticipate the structure that it would take, or that I'd chose a more limited POV.

It's back to the grindstone tomorrow, though, and I hope I will be able to finish this story next weekend!

sticky post updated

Over at my Dreamwidth blog I maintain a sticky post with my up-to-date links for what is available. I usually get it updated once or twice a year because writing can be a slow-moving business, so I don't have a lot of changes.

Except for this time!

I had changes! Lots of changes!

I have THREE new things available:

Pyresnakes, which is coming available on June 28th! (male/male)
Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/pyresnakes-by-tray-ellis-8608-b

"Full of the Wild Life", a story in the Blue Collar Anthology (het)

and

"In Anger Blooming", a short, free read that I have up at smashwords (male/male)

Here is the link to the sticky post:
https://trayellis.dreamwidth.org/49808.html

upcoming blog posts for Pyresnakes

I've been working diligently behind the scenes to create some very interesting blog posts about content within Pyresnakes (how do I feel about snakes? what about the very strong secondary grandmother character? what genres got all mixed into the story?) and coming up in about 10 days, those posts will go public.

I will be pointing them out and giving links as they go live!

In the meantime, here's the pre-order link to Pyresnakes at Dreamspinner:

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/pyresnakes-by-tray-ellis-8608-b

And I'm excited to see my story creeping up the rows on the upcoming tab:
https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/
I'm on the third line which is juuuuuust below the cut. That sort of thing is important to authors, you know. ;)


Just to re-cap, here's the story teaser:

There is another world existing alongside the one most see everyday, and although it is a place of magic and wonder, the dangers are very real.

Aran, an artist, grew up on his grandmother’s tales of the Side-by-Side world. He never expected his knowledge of folklore would aid his boyfriend, Brandon, in an arson investigation, but the snakes that burst into flames when agitated are something he recalls from those childhood stories.

When Aran vanishes, Brandon knows his time as a State Trooper won’t help find him, so he enlists the aid of Aran’s grandmother, Ruth, and they venture into the Side-by-Side world.

But Aran has no memory of his life prior to crossing between worlds, and he’s enjoying the company of his handsome new companion, Ren. Even if Brandon and Ruth reach him, convincing him to return to his former home won’t be easy. In a contemporary fairy-tale adventure set among forests and trails, Aran must choose between a mystical fantasy world and the man he loves.

Blue Collar party tonight

The Blue Collar party on Facebook is ongoing now! Come join us! I'll be posting a little later tonight.
https://www.facebook.com/events/433163940393207/437426279966973/

And Adele Downs did a marvelous post about the Anthology and her story in it, go look:
http://delilahscollections.com/2017/06/12/falling-in-love-upside-down-by-adele-downs/

Belinda LaPage has a great contest available for her story, go see here:
http://delilahscollections.com/2017/06/15/shearers-meet-cutes-and-a-contest/

Blue Collar is now available!

Blue Collar (A Boys behaving Badly Anthology) is now available! Here's the amazon link; https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Collar-Behaving-Badly-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0722XRLPM/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

There are some really great authors that I'm pleased to be included with.

We're planning a Facebook party tomorrow, which you can visit with the authors:
https://www.facebook.com/events/433163940393207

It's from 3 until 10 pm CDT, and I'll be there a little later in the evening!

Full of the Wild Life

I've got a short story in the Blue Collar Anthology: Boys Behaving Badly
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Collar-Behaving-Badly-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0722XRLPM/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

I'm one of 16 stories, and they are all fabulous!

I have a teaser for my story:

The other teasers are just as hot, and I'll share them at some point soon!

(For those readers of mine that come for the m/m, please note that sometimes I do dabble in m/f, and this is one of those times. It's still a story about a really attractive guy who works out in the Alaskan wilderness!)

story accepted to the SciFi Renewal Anthology!

My story "Fresh Start" is among those selected to be included in the Queer SciFi Anthology, this year's theme being 'Renewal'. This is very exciting!

I have two other big things being published this month (Pyresnakes, and also a story in the second Boys Behaving Badly Anthology) so I'm feeling very much on top of the world.

Here's the link to the announcement on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/qsfdiscussions/permalink/704804602999820/