Thursday, September 19, 2019

End of an Era: Dreamspinner Press and Me

Today, I'm grateful for the decade I spent as a Dreamspinner Press author.

Yesterday was bittersweet, as the 20 titles I requested the rights back for were returned to me. Signing that contract felt like signing divorce papers.

During the time we were together, Dreamspinner was a tireless advocate of my work, shepherding not only traditional publishing routes of digital and paperback books, but also getting my work translated and sold in Spanish, Italian, French, and German. They produced many audiobooks of my work. They got my work reviewed in places like Entertainment Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and Publisher's Weekly.

But...nothing in life lasts forever. It's saddening to see us come to the end of the road like this (details: https://accrispin.blogspot.com/2019/09/authors-concern-grows-over-late-royalty.html). I hope, more than anything, that Dreamspinner can right their ship.

In the coming months, you will see many of my books disappear from sales outlets. Rest assured, everything is in place to bring them back to new and exciting life. All of the books should be back for sale at the usual outlets by early-to-mid 2020.

And, I'm grateful to you, my readers, who conspire with me to bring my stories to life. I promise to continue to write with the purpose of engaging you, entertaining you, and touching your heart.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

New Release: THE SECRETS WE KEEP


It's release day and I'm grateful that my 37th novel is now out. Hope you'll give it a read!

Gay Book Reviews says, "The Secrets We Keep is deep and light at the same time. We become emotionally attached to Jazz, Lacy and Rob – as well as their friends and family. We get full servings of mystery, passion and angst."

★★★★THE SECRETS WE KEEP★★★★
Jasper Warren is a happy-go-lucky young man in spite of the tragedy that’s marred his life. He’s on a road to nowhere with his roommate, Lacy, whom he adores, and a dead-end retail job in Chicago.

And then everything changes in a single night. Though Jasper doesn’t know it, his road is going somewhere after all. This time when tragedy strikes, it brings with it Lacy’s older, wealthy, sexy uncle Rob. Despite the heart-wrenching circumstances, an immediate connection forms between the two men.

But the secrets between them test their attraction. Will their revelations destroy the bloom of new love... or encourage it to grow?

BUY
Amazon Kindle
Amazon paperback
(Also available at Dreamspinner Press, B & N, Apple, Kobo, and other booksellers)

Friday, September 13, 2019

Dreamspinner Press: A Sad Situation


I wasn't going to say anything about the situation I find myself in with my publisher, Dreamspinner Press, but felt the need to clarify my position because things are getting divisive and emotional regarding the problems Dreamspinner is currently experiencing, especially on social media.

Just so my readers know, I've requested back rights to most of my books.

That reversion of rights is in process. I already have plans in place for all of the books. They may disappear from the market for a bit, but each title will return in a relatively short period of time.

If you want to know what's been going on with Dreamspinner, author Rj Scott gives an excellent summary of events here.

There is NO blaming from me toward other authors (no matter what your decision is regarding whether to stay with Dreamspinner--I support you in making the best career decision for YOU) and certainly not toward readers.

This is a heartbreaking situation. The one thing I tell myself: none of this is my fault. I was a faithful, loyal author with them for almost a decade and planned on continuing to be the same for many more years and books. I say that only to remind you, whoever you are, that you are NOT to blame for the current crisis, no matter what you might hear.


Thursday, September 5, 2019

First Review of the Upcoming THE SECRETS WE KEEP



It's not out officially until 9/17, but my next novel, THE SECRETS WE KEEP, just got its first review (a rave and a recommended read!) from Gay Book Reviews.

"This is a wonderful book! That’s what Mr Reed usually gives us readers. But this review is a bitch to write.

First, to the extent that The Secrets We Keep is heavily character driven, and dependent on a fine limning of each of the leads, telling too much about them here risks diminishing the readers’ (hopefully) pleasurable experience in discovering all about them at the author’s fine hand. Next, as there is much about Secrets We Keep which falls into the noir genre, this reviewer should be stingy in the over-exposure of plot facts.

So, where does that leave us? We have a story heavily reliant on the timed revelation of the main characters’ difficult backgrounds. As a prolific author, Mr Reed excels in this technique, often using a person’s internal thoughts in clever and enlightening contrast to the spoken dialog. Ex. “Rob looked up . . . he shouted ‘Can I come up?’ Jasper sighed. He wanted to shout back down, ‘What for? Everything that needs to be said has already been said.’ But you know that is rarely the case. So he called, ‘I’ll buzz you in.’”

In the Prologue, Mr Reed inventively opens with a coup de foudre – a sudden and unexpected event. And then he proceeds, ignoring its weight, until he needs to return and rationalize it. After this opening, we meed Jasper (“Jazz”), a 25-year-old man disconnected to any particular life path – his “career” is re-folding clothes in a department store. Occasionally he cruises the local gay bars, and (stereo typically) Jazz knows all the words to Send in the Clowns! And even though he has been “in love” more times than he could count, he was lacking confidence and seemingly is lost in the world’s shuffle. He rooms with very supportive Lacy, who, a little older than Jasper, is totally Goth in her style. She, too, seems a disconnected soul, merely floating through existence. While Jazz and Lacy don’t seem the rich fodder for literary enchantment, Mr Reed shows us better.

Just when this plot’s forward movement might otherwise dead-end into a wall at high speed – changes are at hand (or, as my Jewish grandma might say, “more with the coup de foudre?” which also can refer to love or attraction at first sight). We now meet Rob, Lacy’s uncle – a middle-aged, gay, silver fox, and a best-selling novelist. Jazz is lit up by both Rob’s talent and his physicality. For Jazz, this time may be difference, and they exercise patience – as they (and we) get to know each other better. “He discovered he enjoyed getting to know a man’s heart and brain before what his dick felt like inside of him.”

That’s enough of plot and character. The Secrets We Keep is deep and light at the same time. We become emotionally attached to Jazz, Lacy and Rob – as well as their friends and family. We get full servings of mystery, passion and angst. And, saluting reality, even in a sad saga, Mr Reed remembers to throw in sufficient humor: “The dog eyes him with what Jasper thought was disdain. Even a Yorkshire terrier found him out of place.”

You won’t be disappointed to read this fine story."

PREORDER
Kindle
Paperback

BLURB
Jasper Warren is a happy-go-lucky young man in spite of the tragedy that’s marred his life. He’s on a road to nowhere with his roommate, Lacy, whom he adores, and a dead-end retail job in Chicago.

And then everything changes in a single night. Though Jasper doesn’t know it, his road is going somewhere after all. This time when tragedy strikes, it brings with it Lacy’s older, wealthy, sexy uncle Rob. Despite the heart-wrenching circumstances, an immediate connection forms between the two men.

But the secrets between them test their attraction. Will their revelations destroy the bloom of new love... or encourage it to grow?