Summer's not over yet...

Just in time for Labor Day! I've released Waiting For The Big One, the first book in my LA Love Lessons trilogy on Radish, the serial fiction platform.  If you like your fiction in bite-size pieces, this is the place for you!

It's been a lot of fun re-writing it to fit the serial model. What was weird, however, was creating a new cover WITHOUT ANY TEXT! I'm a writer. I want to use my words. lol But I have to admit, I think it did turn out pretty nicely. It looks like a movie poster, doesn't it? Although, again, WITHOUT A TITLE. Argggh!

In any case, I'm making this particular series available through Radish's "Freemium" pricing model, which means that if you don't mind waiting an additional week for each episode to "unlock", you can read the entire book for free. Of course, if you REALLY hate to wait--something my heroine, Gabby, would totally understand--you could just pick up the whole book right now at any of the usual vendors. But where's the fun in that? :)

Depending on how things go, I'm also looking to re-release Games We Play, Oberon, and possibly the Inked in OakTown series on Radish as well. And, as of right now, I'm planning to make those series exclusive to Radish. Tell me what you think in the comments below!

You can follow me on Radish for updates: https://radishfiction.com/users/pgforte  

I'm also hoping to revive my newsletter next month. We'll see how that goes. September is a big travel month. Again. If you want to subscribe the link can be found here:  http://www.pgforte.com/newsletter.htm

In the meantime, in case you haven't read Waiting For The Big One (or, if you have, but it's been awhile) here's an excerpt:

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It was one of those perfect mornings, the kind that only ever seems to happen on a Sunday. You know the ones I mean, don’t you? Just before noon, all lazy and warm.

The city of Los Angeles was steeped in sunshine, snuggled about as deep into the weekend as it could get. It seemed like everyone was laid back and happy, except for me and the dozens of other drivers who were trying to move west along Hollywood Blvd, headed toward Fairfax, going nowhere fast.

They’ll tell you Pisces is a patient sign, but you can’t really label the fish. We’re complex people. We combine the best and worst of all the other signs. And the truth is, I hate to wait.

So, there I was, stuck at yet another red light, when it hit me. It wasn’t just me who was waiting and it wasn’t just now. All of Los Angeles was in the same boat, all of us, all the time, waiting for the big one.

For most of us, that means our big break, our shot at seeing our name in a star on the Walk of Fame. It’s the role that’ll lift us out of obscurity. It’s the hit that’ll soar to the top of the charts. We’re all hopeful romantics--like Kathleen Turner, in Romancing the Stone. We’re always certain it’ll happen with the next deal we make, the next audition we go out on, the next person we meet.

Take me, for instance. Any day now, with just a little bit of luck, I could go from being plain old Gabby Browne, aspiring actress and dog walker, to Academy Award Winner, Gabriella Giacomo.

And if fame doesn’t get us, no doubt the earthquake will. That’s the other thing everybody’s waiting for, the big eight point, nine point, ten point shaker that scientists say is bound to occur. The one that’ll rock this town to its knees. Even hopeful romantics have to admit it seems inevitable. How could any place with this much surface glamour not be doomed?

But this morning, I was waiting for something a little more personal. I was waiting for The Big O: the elusive, G-spot, ultra orgasm, the kind I’d heard about, read about, yearned for, but had not yet experienced.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as if I’d never had an orgasm or anything. But, to date, they’d all been the standard issue, plain vanilla kind. Nice, but nothing I couldn’t give myself any day of the week if I wanted. What I was hoping for was something more life-altering, soul-searing, rock-my-world passion. I knew it was out there, waiting for me. All I needed was the right guy to help me find it.

I knew he was out there, too. He was my Twin Flame, my Split Apart, my Tantric Soul mate; the man who would love me madly, passionately, loudly. All night long. They say good things come to those who wait, and I was certainly counting on that being true, but he was taking a long time to get here, and I was growing impatient.

Finally, the light turned green and I made it to where I was trying to get—The Body Electric—for my first workout of the week, and definitely my favorite.

Power Yoga with Derek Novello was never an easy class, but with Derek calling the shots, getting whipped into shape was almost a pleasure. I hurried up the walkway toward the two-story Hollywood Deco building, smiling in anticipation, enjoying the trickle of the fountain in the courtyard, the tinkle of the wind chimes in the topiary, the sweet scent of sandalwood.

“You’re late,” a voice growled the minute I set foot inside the deserted anteroom.

I froze for an instant, heart pounding in my chest, as I recognized Derek’s dark-chocolate voice. Then I turned, making one of those slow, graceful pivots I’d been practicing.

Derek has the kind of chiseled features the camera loves. Even now, with his thick, black brows drawn into a frown that had them almost meeting over the bridge of his classically perfect nose, his face was sensual, expressive, intense.

He was looking yummier than ever today, with his two-hundred-push-ups-every-morning-before-breakfast arms folded across a tight black tank, putting all those lovely muscles on an in-your-face display. The black workout pants he wore, on the other hand, were disappointingly loose, at least in front. But experience had taught me that when he turned around...ooh, baby. They’d likely mold to his glutes in a way that would make my own pants grow damp.

Was I in a rush for him to turn around? Uh-uh. ‘Cause he’s also got the fiercest brown eyes, the most delicious looking lips and, oh, I thought with a tinge of sadness, if only we weren’t friends.

“Traffic,” I explained, trying to rein in my runaway lust, trying to resist the urge to run my fingers through the dark waves of his short hair. I’d always made it a policy never to mix sex and friendship. It was something Derek knew full well, though he continued to tempt me. “You wouldn’t believe all the cars on the road today.”

“So? There’s always traffic, that’s no excuse. Besides, you only live twelve blocks away. You jog, you hike, you exercise—give me a break, Gabe. Are you really going to tell me you couldn’t walk that far? You could get here on time if you wanted to.”

I sighed, feeling even more regretful. The truth is he looks even sexier when he gets worked up, and since he’s a Scorpio, that happens a lot. “Don’t be silly, Derek. This is LA—no one walks here.”

Derek rolled his eyes. “Go get dressed.”

Sexy or not, I hate it when anyone’s annoyed with me. It’s a Pisces thing. We want everyone to be happy. Luckily, I knew just how to make Derek’s day.

“I’m sorry, Sensei,” I murmured in my breathiest, most contrite sounding voice. I dropped my chin, laced my fingers together, and peeked up at him adoringly, like the blondest damned geisha you’ve ever seen. “Won’t you please forgive me? I promise it’ll never happen again.”

A muscle twitched at the corner of Derek’s mouth, showing me how hard he was trying not to smile. “It better not. You know the rules. Don’t expect me to make exceptions for you just because we’re friends.”

Well, that was ridiculous. Scorpios always make exceptions for their friends. That’s still the best way to tell when they’ve written you off. But as I bit my lip and took a step closer, I knew that wasn’t the case with us—yet. There was a hot, hungry look in Derek’s eyes, though he was still pretending to be indifferent to my act. ‘Course that all went to hell in an eye-popping, jaw-dropping hurry when I flashed him the twins.

“Damn,” he muttered, blinking appreciatively as I tugged my top back into place. I gave him a wink, then turned on my heel, and marched off toward the lockers.

“You still have a few minutes before class starts, Der,” I called over my shoulder. “You might want to use the time to rearrange that package of yours. It’s bulging.”

WAITING FOR THE BIG ONE is available at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo and NOW on Radish!  This title is also available as an audiobook through Audible

Angels in the Afterlife

When I wrote Edge of Heaven, I hadn't planned on growing a series around it. I probably should have known better. Stand alone stories generally leave me wanting more when I read them. When I write one, however, it's even worse. I'm never satisfied with one story in a world; I always want more. So, Edge will be getting some company. 

The newly-titled Angels in the Afterlife series has its own page on my website now:

http://www.pgforte.com/AngelsInTheAfterLife.htm

Edge is there already, with his shiny new cover and a new vendor, as well--since I finally managed to get some books loaded on iTunes. 

The other two books I have planned for the series (so far!) have blurbs and covers as well...also cleverly hidden excerpts, but those pages still need some renovation. lol

I hope you take a look and let me know what you think of my Heavenly Hotties. 

Welcome to the afterlife, where men are men and the angels are fallen.

It was a reckless act of passion that ended Edge's life and left him in Limbo--literally. Now, he's stuck here. While most of the other angels-in-training move quickly up the celestial ladder, Edge knows it can never be that simple for him. He's dealing with issues that are a lot more complicated than a simple lack of closure.

While Edge doesn't know for sure what it will take to get him into Heaven, there is one thing he's certain won't help--his latest assignment guiding angel-baby Matteo Matinucci while the newbie finds his wings.

But twenty-something Mattie--sexy, beautiful, recently departed and openly gay--could turn out to be the answer to all of Edge's prayers, as well as the fulfillment of all his fantasies, even the hot, sweaty, secret ones he's never confided to anyone.

Warning: This book contains angels in the afterlife, a host of heavenly hotties worth falling for, and man on man angel sex--so good, you'll be dying to get some.

Available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble , iBooks, and Kobo 

Edge of Heaven is told in the first person solely from Edge’s point of view. A friend of mine had put the idea in my head of writing the story again from Mattie’s point of view, but my publisher hated the idea. Now, however, since I'm the publisher, I’m pleased to say that Angel Mine is finally in the works!

You can check that out HERE

Celtic Déjà Vu

I just released two books! This is very exciting for me even though neither of the books are new. Well...the covers are new, and one of the books has a new name, and I’ve done  little editing, but for the most part, Iron and Oak are still exactly what they’ve always been:  paranormal, erotic fantasy romances set in nineteenth century Ireland.

Is that a subgenre?  It is now!

These are two of the Books of my Heart, stories that, for one reason or another, demanded to be written.

Iron, which holds the distinction of being the only one of my books that has ever finalled in a contest, is the result of a random question posed by a reader during an online chat. “What’s the most unlikely romantic pairing you can imagine?” 

Now, I can imagine a lot, but in that moment it occurred to me that there wasn't much that was more unlikely than a fae (for whom iron is an anathema) and a blacksmith, someone who works with the stuff daily, whose life and livelihood depend on it.  The idea took hold and wouldn’t let go. Add to that the fact that my grandfather had worked as a blacksmith when he was a young man living in Ireland, quite some time ago—and the book had its setting.

I’m sure my grandparents would both be utterly appalled to think that they’d been the inspiration—in any way, however tangential—for an erotic romance, but I dedicated the book to them anyway.

“Nineteenth century Ireland. Blacksmith Gavin O'Malley is a bitter man, with a heart as hard as the iron he forges. He wants his life back--the one that was stolen from him the day his wife died in childbirth--taking their firstborn son with her. 

When Aislinn Deirbhile, an immortal, shape-shifting fae, arrives on his doorstep, he knows he's in luck. For Aislinn can give Gavin everything he's been missing: A devoted-seeming wife in the image of his beloved Mairead, and children who are sure to outlive their father. Now, all he has to do is find a way to keep her--without losing his immortal soul in the process. 

But Aislinn has an agenda of her own. On the run from a vengeful fae lord who's vowed to either make her his or end her existence, she knows the iron that allows Gavin to take her captive will also keep her pursuers at bay. In order to put herself permanently beyond her enemy's reach, however, Aislinn will need something more. She'll need to win Gavin's heart and convince him to willingly part with a piece of the very soul he's trying to save.”

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo 

At one point, there was an editor who wanted to turn Iron into a sword and sorcery story with a kick-ass, warrior heroine, but that’s not what this book is about. Not that Aislinn can't or doesn't kick ass, just not on the scale she wanted. 

Iron is Gavin’s story.  The fae are immortal, and yes, Aislinn goes through some changes in the course of the tale, but it’s Gavin’s life that’s completely turned upside down. I have to admit that a few people have questioned the ending, to which I can only quote GK Chesterton: “The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad,  for all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.”

Iron is a very IRISH book, so it was going to have an element of sadness to it, that’s just the way of it—but I swear it’s still a HAPPY ending. I know Gavin and Aislinn would agree.

Oak, which was originally titled The Oak King,  is my re-framing of the Oak King and Holly King legend. I’ve made them tree spirits, and estranged lovers who fall for the same mortal woman.

I blame my mother for this one. Yes, the daughter of the grandparents who inspired Iron. 

My mom’s the one who taught me to love trees. When my parents were getting ready to build the house in which they raised their family, it was my mother who insisted that as few trees as possible were to be cut down. As a result, I grew up in a house whose backyard that was a beautiful shady grove of mostly oak trees. 

Seriously. How could I not write this story?

“This title was previously published as The Oak King.

Twice each year, Aine Murphy ventures into the woods to hold ceremonies to honor the Oak King and the Holly King, never dreaming these Lords of the Forest could be anything more than myth. When the legends spring to life in front of her, how can she help but fall for the sexy demi-gods she's loved all her life? 

From midwinter to midsummer, Fionn O'Dair rules the Greenworld as the Oak King--a role he feels is beyond his abilities, and one that dooms him to a loveless future, forever craving the one man he can never allow himself to have. How can he resist what Aine offers--the sweet devotion that soothes his aching soul, and the slim chance to live a "normal" life as her husband, if only for half a year? 

Holly King Kieran Mac Cuilenn never desired a human lover--until now. Seeing Fionn and Aine together fills him with longing for the love he threw away and awakens feelings he thought he'd buried with the last Oak King. Is there enough magic in the solstice to correct the mistakes he made years ago? Or is he doomed to be forever left out in the cold?”

Available at Amazon , Barnes & Noble, and Kobo 

And, yes, in case you're wondering, there’s a bittersweet element to Oak's ending...and to its beginning, for that matter. But, how else are you going to get wounded heroes if there were never any tragedies in their pasts? And, really, it all works out in a very satisfactory, now and forever kind of way.

At its heart, Oak is absolutely Fionn’s story. Hence the reason for the original title. The name change was necessary to bring it into line with the other books in the series—because, yes, there are two more in the works.

Selkie, which I'm working on currently, is the story of a wounded seal-shifter who is rescued by a fisherman. Flight is a bird-shifter menage involving two men who grew up together and have always loved each other, and the mysterious woman who almost comes between them.

I am super excited to be working on these books. I'm also excited about the covers, which can be seen on my website: http://www.pgforte.com/CelticLegends.htm

These four books are all stand alone stories that don't depend at all on one another. They can be read in any order you like. 

Click on this link HERE for a sneak peek at Selkie.