De-blog

It's New Year's Eve, so it is! Not my favourite time of year, I must admit. I don't make resolutions, and I have a psychological aversion to fireworks and 'Auld Lang Syne'. But never mind all that. On Christmas Day, Raine O'Tierney and I released a Christmas story - Christmas Craic and Mistletoe - which is, in fact, two Christmas stories rolled into one. The second story - Tom and Michael - has a rather lovely chapter entitled 'What are you doing...' The inspiration for that chapter (aside from the characters themselves, of course) was the song 'What are you doing New Year's Eve', as recorded by Harry Connick Jr. So I thought I'd post a little teaser from the chapter, along with a link to the song, to help get you in a smoooth romantic mood! Whatever you're doing this New Year's Eve, have a good one! :) Deb x  * * * * * Excerpt from Christmas Craic and Mistletoe - 'What are you doing...' Tom rubb...

It's a terrible state of affairs that it's taken me TWO DAYS to post about the newest story co-authored by the wonderful award-winning Raine O'Tierney and little ole me. The reason? It's inexplicable, unfathomable and my own bloody fault. I decided we should put out this story on Christmas Day, and near-killed the pair of us doing it. So, two days of collapsy-coma-sleep and the mother of all headaches later, here I am, telling you about our latest story. It's a Christmas story (really, Deb? Yeah) and it's part of our amazing Seeds of Tyrone series . And yes, I do get to call it amazing, because...did I mention award-winning authors? Also, if we don't like our own stories, there's no hope for anyone else liking them. The best bit of collaboration is that we get to read and write at the same time, so my praise, really, isn't arrogance. It's praise for my co-author. Do you like Two-for-Ones? Because that's what you get with Christmas Cr...

Rainbow Book Award Runner Up: When Skies Have Fallen When Skies Have Fallen - my historic romance - was fourth runner-up in the Rainbow Book Awards, which is a wonderful thing. It made me take stock and reflect on why I wrote the story. There is a history hidden behind the glamour and excitement of the swashbuckling heroes and flying aces whose exploits litter fictional accounts of the Second World War. To reach it took hour upon hour of research, reading first-person accounts of what it was like on the home front. This was the story I set out to tell. For many in war-torn 1944, love blossoms in the dance hall, and airman Arty Clarke is no exception. He's a thinker and a dreamer; however, it's not the beautiful, talented dancer in his arms - his best friend Jean - who inspires his dreams. For when his gaze meets that of Technical Sergeant Jim Johnson, Arty dares to imagine a different dance. Their love is forbidden, by both the armed forces and the law, but w...

When Skies Have Fallen received an honourable mention in the 2015 Rainbow Awards! What the judges said: "Exceptional historical accuracy and sense of setting: the novel rings with authenticity. The characters are strong and the plot tension comes not just from the war but their own desires and the demand for secrecy. Pacing is sometimes a bit slow. Extremely strong historical romance overall." (http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwidth.org/4656033.html) When Skies Have Fallen is available as a free ebook - also available as a paperback (not free): beatentrackpublishing.com/whenskieshavefallen For many in war-torn 1944, love blossoms in the dance hall, and airman Arty Clarke is no exception. He's a thinker and a dreamer; however, it's not the beautiful, talented dancer in his arms-his best friend Jean-who inspires his dreams. For when his gaze meets that of Technical Sergeant Jim Johnson, Arty dares to imagine a different dance. Their love is forb...

  BIKE BOOK REVIEWS!!: BIKE & THE BABES HOLIDAY BOOK REVIEW BLITZ DAY 2!!... :  HEY GUYS, FOR DAY 2 OF OUR HOLIDAY BOOK REVIEW BLITZ I HAVE DECIDED TO BRING OUT A POST I DID LAST YEAR! AS EVERYONE KNOWS DEBBIE McGOWAN IS ONE OF MY FAVES, AND I LOVE HER BOOKS! HERE ARE MY REVIEWS ( MY HOW THEY HAVE CHANGED :p) OF THREE OF HER HOLIDAY STORIES I DID LAST YEAR! I HAVE SPRUCED UP THE QUOTE AND RATING PICS, BUT THE REVIEWS ARE THE SAME! LET'S GET TO IT.

Crying in the Rain is through to round two of the Rainbow Book Awards Cover Competition! You can still vote here: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/covers.php (vote for three) Cover design by Natasha Snow www.beatentrackpublishing.com/cryingintherain

Spanish Bay by Hans M Hirschi Spanish Bay by Hans M Hirschi Published by Beaten Track Publishing Genres: Romance, LGBT Cover Design: Natasha Snow 196 pages   Release Date: October 10, 2015 Synopsis Spanish Bay is a feel-good novel about two young men who, despite having the odds stacked against them, never give up, always see the silver lining, work hard, and are committed to their families, come what may. Chris, a Texan native who recently moved to Carmel, rescues wheelchair-bound Neil from bullies. Neither question the love that develops between them, although their life together is not without challenges. When Chris’s parents die in a car accident, their young love faces the ultimate test. Will they be able to cope with the additional responsibility of raising Chris’s baby brother Frank, who is also confined to a wheelchair? Spanish Bay is about love overcoming obstacles, and finding happiness, wherever you are. * * * * * Check out th...

BIKE BOOK REVIEWS!!: MY FABULOUS FIVE DAY 1; BEC'S PICKS!!   HELLO GUYS, MY GIRLS AND I ARE GONNA EACH TAKE A DAY ON THE BLOG AND TELL YOU OUR 5 BOOKS YOU JUST CAN'T MISS! WE WILL LIST THE BOOKS... Includes my (free) story, Checking Him Out ! :) Also in the Checking Him Out Series...   Checking Him Out for The Holidays Hiding Out   Taking Him On    

So there I was, in the midst of responding to Q&As for our* Where the Grass is Greener ** blog tour when my co-author just chucks in an answer that leads to this blog post. * 'our' being the delectable and awesomely talented Raine O'Tierney and my adequate self **  Out today! 28th September, 2015 - Where the Grass is Greener The short version of a very long (two months) journey... I wanted a cover for my novel, When Skies Have Fallen , which was appropriate to the era in which the story is based. The story begins in 1944, when RAF corporal Arty Clarke meets USAAF technical sergeant Jim Johnson at a local dance hall. The novel follows their romance from 1944 through to 1967, against the social backdrop of war, post-war, persecution of homosexuals and decriminalisation of homosexuals in 1967 (in England). Now, there are a lot of old black and white photos of men being affectionate with each other—some of whom are definitely men who love men—around the internet,...

Sooooo... I posted an excerpt of Taking Him On , and people asked for more, haha. Who am I to refuse? Excerpt #2 is below. You can read excerpt #1 here: www.debbiemcgowan.co.uk (Some preordering up and running now - visit www.beatentrackpublishing.com/takinghimon ). * * * * * "Bloody hell, that boy can talk," my dad said. "Have you asked him to marry you or something?" I nearly choked on my fries. "Don't be mean, love," Mum beseeched on my behalf. "They're only kids." Dad picked up his burger and tore a huge chunk out of it, and then continued with his mouth full. "What are you gonna do when he goes to London, son? Go with him?" I closed one eye so I couldn't see the food sloshing around. "I can't, Dad. I don't finish uni for another year." "Go to a different one then." "You can't just change university like you can school." "I don't see why not....

Publisher: MLR Press (May 30, 2014) Category: GLBT Romance, Hollywood ISBN: 978-1608209415 Tour Date: June/July, 2015 Available in: Print & ebook, 285 Pages Fame is fickle, and stardom's flip side harbors and reflects darkness. Stardom on a network situation comedy had been Grant Jackson's lifelong dream. Ambitious, young, sexy, and willing to do almost anything, Grant makes his dream come true at age twenty-three. When we meet him, in 2004, Grant Jackson is a star of NBC-TV's "Our House". The reality of television stardom is heady and intoxicating. As a songwriter once put it, "The sound of applause is delicious, it's a thrill to have the world at your feet." And Grant's newfound celebrity lives up to his expectations: The money, the recognition, striving for creative excellence and rating numbers every week. But stardom's flip side harbors and reflects darkness. The knives are always out. One of Grant's co-stars harbors a ...

My new novel, When Skies Have Fallen is out today - 8th July, 2015. It's  free!  I'll explain why in a moment, and just mention that there is also a paperback edition available (for £8.99) - you can order it from Beaten Track directly now. It will appear on other retailer sites in due course. Buy When Skies Have Fallen Paperback (£8.99): Beaten Track  •  Amazon UK  •  Amazon US Waterstones Download When Skies Have Fallen eBook (free): MMRomanceGroup  •  Beaten Track  •  ARe  •  Smashwords (it will be available on Kindle soon) Story Post on Goodreads (MM Romance Group members only) Also available: Checking Him Out Paperback! Buy  Checking Him Out  Paperback (£6.99):   Beaten Track  •  Amazon UK  •  Amazon US B&N  •  Waterstones Download  Checking Him Out  eBook (free): MMRomanceGroup  •  Beaten Track  •  ARe  •...

[I've never posted as part of a blog tour before, so I'm hoping this will in some way explain why my post is a day later than scheduled...] The world we know is gone, destroyed by greed and ignorance. On a post-apocalyptic Earth, centuries into the future, few have survived the Great War. Some have taken refuge deep inside a mountain. One of them, Willem, is exiled to the surface... Alone and struggling to survive, Willem embarks on an epic journey, making a discovery that could once again alter the future of humanity. Willem of the Tafel is an epic tale of survival, second chances, hope and undying love.   * * * * * Today on my blog I'm talking to Hans M Hirschi about his newest release, Willem of the Tafel . This is Hans' fifth novel, and if he hadn't thrown me a curve ball, I'd be telling you he writes contemporary gay fiction with strong romantic elements, along with frequent explorations of the meaning of family, and the effects of abuse a...

For many in war-torn 1944, love blossoms in the dance hall, and airman Arty Clarke is no exception. He's a thinker and a dreamer; however, it's not the beautiful, talented dancer in his arms - his best friend Jean - who inspires his dreams. For when his gaze meets that of Technical Sergeant Jim Johnson, Arty dares to imagine a different dance. Their love is forbidden, by both the armed forces and the law, but with Jean's cunning and support, Arty and Jim try to bridge the distance between them and find true love despite the danger and a life-threatening disaster that could destroy Arty's dreams for good. Can the pair stand strong together, no matter how many skies have fallen? * * * * * When Skies Have Fallen is a novel, written as part of the Love is an Open Road Anthology (Don't Read in the Closet, 2015). In This Blog Post: About Love is an Open Road Research and Video Clips Excerpt from When Skies Have Fallen * * * * * About Love is ...