New Release and Contest! - Other Side of the Line - And a Sale!

Caleb Hudson and Hal Zimmer became best friends the day they stood up against the schoolyard bully together. Life’s complicated enough with their friendship crossing racial lines in 1960s Charleston, South Carolina, but as time passes, they realize it’s more than their friendship that sets them apart from other kids. At first, Caleb denies his feelings for Hal could be more than companionship. He supports his friend when Hal admits he’s gay, but Caleb isn’t ready to face his own truth.

Hal becomes a staunch antiwar protester, and the divide between them widens after Caleb is drafted. But when Caleb returns from Vietnam, the time for denial is over. His homecoming sets off a series of events that force Caleb and Hal to confront their desires and what lines they’re willing to cross to get what they truly want out of life.

"Other Side of the Line" is out at Dreamspinner Press today! Leave a comment about what you liked about the story, or a favorite character, or a memorable moment that made you laugh, cry, or get mad and be entered in a contest to win a beautiful sweetgrass basket from the Charleston Market! The contest will run for the next 30 days. You can leave the comment here on the blog, or on my Facebook or Twitter. All comments count as an entry.

And from the 18th-20 "All Bets are Off" (including French & Italian translations), "Ghosts in the Wind" and "Make Me Whole" are only $0.99 at Dreamspinner. Enjoy!

Rainbow Awards and Reviews

Hello everybody, I'm so excited it's not even funny. I can't believe that both Ghosts in the Wind and Make Me Whole are finalists in the 2013 Rainbow Awards!

There are so many other wonderful books that are listed and I am so honored to be among them.

Now if only I could find the patience to wait till December. It's not my strongest suit, but GRL is around the corner and I'm so excited. This year I get to introduce my husband to some of the madness. Since we're going to be near his family, he's coming with me.

On other notes, I've received some fabulous reviews for Make Me Whole. I'm so happy, I fell in love with Galen and Nick, but I wondered if them working through their relationship issues would get to be tiresome, because they do work and then talk about it often. But I like to write about relationships that feel real to me and sometimes that means hashing it out.

So if you're of a mind to check it out and hear a little more about the boys, check them out.

Life Your Life, Buy the Book
Jessewave
Joyfully Jay

Giveaways and Appearances Oh My!

There's been so much going on lately that I don't know if I'm coming or going. First I had edits for Make Me Whole then for Wild Pitch, then back to the first story and so on. Plus July is the busiest month of the year for me at the EDJ. No kidding, it's been crazy. But July is over and August is here. I've turned 39 and managed to lose a few more pounds so I feel like celebrating.

I have two giveaways going on at Goodreads, one for my old book Ghosts in the Wind, which is one of my all time favorites and the other for Make Me Whole since it's going to be released from Dreampsinner Press at the end of the month. Here's the link: Make Me Whole. I'm pretty excited. On top of all of that I'm doing my first public reading this weekend at the Outwrite Book Festival in DC. The reading and panel are taking place on Friday night and the Book Fair is on Saturday.

So if you're interested in a signed print copy of either book here are the links:

Make Me Whole
Ghosts in the Wind

 

More later.

Love,

Margie

Contests and Excerpts

Today I'm blogging at Book Brew with the Coffee Crew with a whole bunch of other authors. This month's theme is cops and detectives. The Coffee Crew at is giving away a $25 gift certificate to one random commenter and other authors are giving away a few prizes as well.

I'm posting two excerpts from Ghosts in the Wind and giving away some copies of the book. Stop by at http://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts and read all the fun stuff going on. If you're interested in winning a copy of my ghost story, the first post I put up is titled "Ghosts and Detectives" the other one that I'll upload before I leave work today is "Love Stories."

I hope you enjoy and good luck!

Love,

Margie

Excerpt - Ghosts in the Wind

Ghosts in the Wind was nominated in the Pre-editors and Editors Reading Poll, and voting ended a few days ago. I can’t believe it was nominated, I do love that story. So in honor of that occasion I decided to post an excerpt. This is from when Dean first wakes up after he was shot. Enjoy.

Wednesday Updates - Review of "All I Want Is You" and "Ghosts in the Wind"

Melanie M. posted a lovely review of All I Want Is You at her blog, Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:  http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com/2013/01/10/all-i-want-is-you-mountain-boys-1-5-by-marguerite-labbe/. She writes several reviews each week and also posts fun things like recipes, so check her out.
This is so much more than your typical Christmas story where the holidays themselves are central to the story but rather another step forward in Eli and Ash’s relationship.

Sammy, a guest reviewer at Jessewave, posted a wonderful review of Ghosts in the Wind. Now you all know how close that story is to my heart & I'm very glad that I went with my gut.  Check it out at: http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2013/01/15/ghosts-in-the-wind/
Here was a smart, thought-provoking paranormal story the likes of which I had not seen in a long time.

Happy Halloween - New Release

Ghosts in the Wind

 

Cover Art - Reese Dante

Andrei Cuza and Dean Marshall celebrated their tenth anniversary only to have their happiness shattered by a random, insane event: On his way home from closing a business deal, Dean stops on the parkway to help a young mother with her flat tire, and her ex arrives, murders them, and takes off with his two kids.

Ghosts have haunted Andrei all his life. He bears the guilt for his sister being stuck in limbo, because ghosts are frozen at the moment they died, unable to adapt to the changes in their living loved ones. When Dean returns to Andrei as a ghost, the double punch of losing him and having to watch him founder if he doesn’t move on is almost more than Andrei can bear.

Despite dangers in limbo—Jackal Wraiths that devour souls are hunting him—Dean isn’t going anywhere until he helps Andrei track down the missing children. Andrei is in danger as well when he pays dearly to feel Dean’s touch one last time. Time is slowly running out as Dean and Andrei try to say good-bye while they track a killer who’s more than happy to kill again.

A Bittersweet Dreams title: It's an unfortunate truth: love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.

 

 

It's 25% off today for Dreamspinner's Happy Halloween sale. 

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3323

Plus, see an excerpt and a picture drawn by my husband of the monsters at Paranormal Paradigms: http://pparadigms.blogspot.com/2012/10/inventing-creepy-crawlies-meet-jackal.html

"Ghosts in the Wind" Excerpt

This is from the opening chapter.  I was in love with Dean and Andrei from the outset.  I just loved the way they were together, friends as well as long time partners.  The edits aren't completely done so if there are any mistakes, I apologize.  I hope you enjoy.

* * * * *

Dean tugged on a pair of track pants and paused in the bathroom long enough to pull back the curtain and land a satisfying, wet smack on Andrei’s ass. He danced out of the way laughing as Andrei spun with an indignant squawk to take a retaliatory swipe at him. “Ever vigilant! Dude, after all these years you’d think you’d have learned. Be happy I didn’t toss in cold water this time.”

Andrei jerked the shower curtain closed again. “You should be happy I’ve got too much shampoo in my hair to chase you down and beat your ass.”

Dean snickered and paused at the mirror to run a comb over his cropped hair. “Got me shaking there, babe. Seriously, I’m terrified.”

Coming Soon

It’s so exciting to say this, but I have an upcoming release in the works.  I signed a new contract last week with Dreamspinner Press for my ghost story.  Ghosts in the Wind will be part of their Halloween line up.  Here’s the unofficial blurb:

Andrei Cuza and Dean Marshall just celebrated the ten year anniversary of their commitment ceremony only to have their happiness shattered.  On his way home from closing a business deal, Dean stops on the side of the parkway to help a young mother with her flat tire when her ex catches up with her.  Blake Olsen murders her and Dean and takes off with his two kids.

Andrei has been haunted by ghosts all of his life and bears the guilt for his younger sister Ileana being stuck in limbo.  When Dean returns to him as a ghost the double-punch of losing him and now having to watch him founder if he doesn’t move on is almost more than Andrei can bear.  Ghosts are stuck at the moment they died, unable to adapt to the changes in their living loved ones.

Dean has made a promise though and until he helps Andrei track down the missing kids, he isn’t going anywhere.  There are dangers in limbo that Andrei doesn’t know about, hounds that devour souls who succumb to their anger and they’re hunting Dean.  And dangers to Andrei as well, who pays a price so he can have Dean’s touch one more time.  Time is slowly running out as Dean and Andrei try to figure out how to say goodbye while they track down a killer who’d be more than happy to kill again.

Keep checking in and as I go through the editing process I’ll share more snippets and tidbits about Andrei and Dean.