First Paragraph: "The Rest Is Illusion"

A coming of age story with a supernatural bent, set on the campus of Verona College. The story centers on five students whose lives are further complicated by an unseen force that surrounds the college, changing them forever.

"Mingled Destinies" Gets Rainbow Recognition

The Mingled Destinies of Crocodiles & Men did very well at the Rainbow Awards and I couldn't be happier! It placed second in the Gay Fantasy category, and was a runner-up for Best Gay Novel overall. My sister Amy Morrison's cover was also a runner-up. AND our anthology Crack the Darkest Sky Wide Open was a runner-up in the General Fiction category. God bless us! Every one!! You can see all the winners HERE.

First Paragraph: "Kid Christmas Rides Again"

These are the epic adventures of Kid Christmas! The unthinkable has happened: the Jolly Old Elf himself keeled over, and the Committee to Oversee the Christening of Kringle (COCK) had to find a replacement. Enter the Kid: a lot more fit, a little less clumsy, and quite a sight in that tight red uniform. His mission to deliver Christmas around the world is threatened as he fights the evil Snow Globes, but all is not lost as he escapes traps, finds love (and more love, and more love) with Johnny Longjohns, and stops at a disco on his quest to reclaim his magic sled, the Claus 3000. Hold on tight: this humorous romp may have you spitting your eggnog!

Available at Amazon and Dreamspinner Press

The TJ & Eric Show: Season 2 Premiere!

First Paragraph: "Ghoul's Gym"

Board up the windows, push an old dresser against the door and load your shotgun. A zombie apocalypse is about to hit Wilde City, and if you want the best survival tips, six of Wilde City’s boys are here to help.

You’ll never want to exercise again as Eric Arvin and TJ Klune turn a gym full of hunks into a smorgasbord of terror in GHOUL’S GYM.

Gather your friends and fight for the man you love, as Ethan Stone and Daniel A Kaine turn Vegas into a zombie nightmare in SURVIVING SIN CITY.

And bring a date to dinner to celebrate Grumpy Grampy’s 90th birthday and introduce your family to your new zombie boyfriend in Geoffrey Knight and Ethan Day’s GUESS WHO’S COMING AT DINNER.

You’ll scream with terror and howl with laughter as Wilde City’s boys bring you our first undead anthology ZOMBIE BOYZ.

Available at Amazon and Wilde City Press

First Paragraph(s): "The Demon of Jericho"

Of humanity there are darker tales. Stories that take some squinting to see through. Unconventional stories. Tales that threaten to break the heart by cruel twists of fate, the dogs of war, or demons that are all too real; whether they be of unrequited love or a karmic slap in the face. Happy endings take a time in coming, and some never arrive. But through all the darkness there is light, a glimmer of hope and wonder…if one has the will to see it.

Available at Amazon

First Paragraph: "Tater n Purgatory"

A collection of short stories from one of today's most talented and challenging new writers. Eric Arvin covers everything from college love to mystical river sprites, from deep tragedy to bawdy sex comedy, in this collection that takes the everyday and finds the adventure within. It's a read sure to keep you guessing.

Available at Amazon or Dreamspinner Press

First Paragraph: "Subsurdity"

Jasper Lane is a well-off neighborhood, not much different in appearance than most, with a tree-lined drive, manicured lawns, and crystal clear ponds. But underneath the pleasantry, a completely different world lurks. 

Cassie Bloom, the grand dame of Jasper Lane, has a missing son and husband and throws gay porn parties that are the social events of the year. Her best friend, a transsexual named Vera, owns a nightclub. Melinda Gold is the resident religious fanatic whose views clash with that of her son Patrick. Sandy and Steve Jones are the stereotypical all-American couple (except Steve acts in gay-for-pay porn unbeknownst to his pregnant wife). 

Rick Cooper just moved in, and despite his qualms about another relationship (having literally lost an eye in the previous one), he falls for ex-soldier, James. And David and Cliff are the most “normal” couple on the block... never mind that David helped Cassie with some past nefarious deed and that Cliff is the biggest gay porn star in the biz. Throw a dog named Gayhound and a dead body into the mix, and Jasper Lane may just be the gayest neighborhood in town!

Available at Amazon & Dreamspinner

First Paragraph(s): "Galley Proof"

Fiction writer Logan Brandish is perfectly happy in his peaceful small-town routine with his best friend, his cat, and his boyfriend-until he meets the editor of his next book, the handsome Brock Kimble, and the lazy quiet of everyday living goes flying out the window. Faced with real passion for the first time, Logan becomes restless and agitated, and soon his life and his new manuscript-a work in progress he'd always thought would be completed-are in a shambles. But as Logan is learning, you can't always get what you want... at least not right away. To take his mind off the mess, he takes a trip, but even the beautiful Italian, um, scenery can't keep his thoughts from his erstwhile editor for long. Logan just might have to admit there are some things you can't run from.

Available at Amazon & Dreamspinner

Jezza Smilez: Nathan & The Adonai

My friend Jezza Smilez - a very talented illustrator and comic artist - has a new graphic novel, Nathan & The Adonai, set to premiere at Bent-Con in a few weeks. (Jezza is an awesome guy and will also soon be illustrating a new version of my filthy little short story Roids Rumps & Revenge (Seventh Window).) I've seen a copy of this new work and it's a lot of fun. Sexy and playful. Check it out!

Here's the premise: 

   Nathan isn't your ordinary hero. Actually, he's not a hero at all - but that's not going to stop him from trying to be. Recent events have put him on his first quest to seek out a great sage renown for training some of the world's greatest heroes. 
Nathan's just begun his quest and it's already been derailed. Before Nathan can get on with his quest, he has to save someone - a task littered with all of the classic hurdles that face new adventurers. 

TJ's Proposal to Eric

It's not every day you get mentioned in USA TODAY. The lovely Mary Grzesik talks about Teej's proposal at the end of her piece on GRL, HERE. And below is the proposal itself. Notice my squiggy face. I'm an ugly cryer. Thanks to Abi Roux for putting this together.

Goin' to the Chapel

So, um, I got engaged this past weekend to Mr. Tj Klune.

On Top Down Under's One Year Anniversary Interview

The big ol' epic interview I did with On Top Down Under for their one year anniversary.

Sunday on the Net with Eric

New Video Interview at On Top Down Under

On Top Down Under Book Reviews is celebrating one year on the net and have interviewed me via video. SUPASTAH!! Go HERE and check what I'm droning on about and comment to win copies of BOTH The Mingled Destinies of Crocodiles & Men and Azrael & The Light Bringer. 

Wilde City Press Presents "Gay History Month"

Please join us, Wilde City Press, WCP authors, respected bloggers and reviewers, in highlighting pioneers and milestones throughout the LGBT community. Posts will include a variety of topics sure to entertain and educate. 

Wilde City Press will be having various posts all month long for Gay History Month, so be certain to go to their site and check. There are gonna be some very interesting stories and reminisces...reminiscenses...remi... memories. Yesterday, Elisa Rolle talked about Denmark being the first country to legally recognize same-sex marriage. Today, I speak on Bisbee, Arizona - the first town in that state to go Denmark's route.

Rainbow Award Finalists!

Very exciting! The Mingled Destinies of Crocodiles & Men is a finalist in the Best Gay Fantasy category, and...

Crack the Darkest Sky Wide Open is a finalist in the Best Contemporary General Fiction category!

Sunday on the Net with Eric

"Hey, everybody!"

Awesome

my nightmares look like this

his crime is being too sexy

little bastard made a mess of my backyard 

homoerotic monster tales are the best

Woo Dun (NSFW) is the artist; I want this guy to do a cover for me

just sayin'...

First Paragraph(s): "Honeysuckle Sycamore"

BLURB:

I don't think I've ever written a blurb for this piece, being that it's a novella in my anthology Slight Details & Random Events.The story takes place in the very same valley as The Mingled Destinies of Crocodiles & Men and Azrael & The Light Bringer, and focuses on the Passions, spirits of the valley and the forest.

EXCERPT:

In certain places of the world Passions manifest themselves into physical form. These are the whispering places, the in-betweens. They are neither here nor there, neither truly seen nor unseen. The River Valley, as it was simply known, was one of these places. The folk who lived there knew of the valley's power and, for the most part, lived in harmony with it. For the Passions when given form were in the least playful diversions and at most mischievous jokers, using a pumpkin patch for a night’s sleep or stealing the clothes from a scarecrow.

            Once every so often, however, there came a Passion into existence that was so dire, so hateful and belligerent, that it would cause much pain and upheaval. To this point, many of the river folk would leave the valley to its battle. This is the story of one such battle. This is how a fairytale grows up.

            There was a young Passion of immeasurable beauty named Honeysuckle Sycamore. He was named this because he had been manifested under a honeysuckle-adorned sycamore tree while two young lovers consummated their adoration for one another beneath it. Born of their love, he was christened by the dew of the early morning. He stretched, yawned, and hopped to his feet as naked as a newborn. From his head hung a garland of honeysuckles and from his glittering skin came the scent of the sweet flower.

Available at Dreamspinner Press or Amazon, or any other place that's super terrific.

Sunday on the Net with Eric

Mmmm...nekkid barbarian in the snow

What I envision my ancestor Spicy Rose to have looked like

What I envision my animal spirit to look like

Fun times on Endor

Mae West loved her muscle men

Yo!

I think something extra was in that protein shake

First Paragraph(s): She's Come Undone (short story...NOT the Wally Lamb book)

BLURB:

Julie is a woman on the edge. The strain of raising a handicapped child and the pressures a small town rumor mill creates have taken their toll.

All her life she has been ridiculed or, even worse, ignored.

But that stops today.

EXCERPT:

Julie Morton had been wounded on the battlefield. Her reputation was gone. Shot out from beneath her. Most in the hill town of East Madison thought she was “absolute crazies.” She was certain that’s how the kids spoke these days. “Bonkers” and “crazies” and “nutzoid.”

That wasn’t always so, though. She wasn’t always fruit looped. She was once a teacher at the high school. Seventh and eighth grade English. (The junior high was connected to the high school by a large gymnasium that kind of bubbled up between them like a red brick tumor.) She had taught English for a good ten years before she was kicked to the curb. And before that, she had grown up here. She never thought to leave. Well, maybe once or twice, but that was hardly grounds for wanderlust.

It wasn’t until recently that she started to crack from the pressure of the rumors and the daily torments from the townsfolk. Her hair was turning white for it, and that did nothing to alleviate the jokes. And too, there was the difficulty of raising a handicapped – sorry…a differently-abled daughter, all by herself. Well, kind of by herself. Principal Noyle was always there monetarily, he being Betty Morton’s dad.

Aimee Jean, Betty Morton’s only friend, rode her bike to the Mortons every day that summer. The summer of the Fall. She had kept in touch with Betty through Julie while she was away at college. Because of her paralysis, Betty didn’t say a thing, but she could make herself understood just fine. There was a mean streak in that girl that smelled like rubber on asphalt. Betty became bitter early on in life. In fact, that was her nickname in school: Bitter Betty. She had been a very pretty young girl. It’s amazing what one wrong move on a monkey bar can do to you.

Available at UNTREED READS and AMAZON .

Yearbook: From There to Here

We start at GRL 2012....

...on to GRL 2013 AND THEN, VIRGINIA!