Finally!

I have spent the past month working on promotions.  I have banged out 31 blog posts, 1 free read, and I have guest spots scheduled (and posts turned in) through August.

And now I can finally get back to writing. In about 15 minutes I'll be picking a WIP and starting on it.

:-D

Announcing the birth of "Friendly Fridays"

As of 1/1/12 I'm starting a new weekly feature on my blog - "Friendly Fridays."

This will be every Friday and it's a day for guest posts. You can do any type of post you like - straight up promo, something serious, something funny - anything, any topic. Nothing is taboo. Wanna bitch about religion or politics? Go for it. Wanna talk about your bellybutton lint? Have at it. Post pictures or not. Run a contest or not. It's all up to you. This does not just apply to published authors. All industry professionals (publishers, cover artists, editors, reviewers) or readers with something to say are welcome as well.

To book a date, e-mail me at dcjuris@stny.rr.com (dcjuris at stny dot rr dot com)

As of 12/31/11, I'm booking from April 2012 on. Jan/Feb are full. I have a couple spots left in March.

Post requirements:

any word count (no min/max)
.doc or .docx preferred (but I can work with .rtf if need be)
posts must be edited for typos
posts MUST be given to me at least 24 hours in advance (If you give them to me sooner, I'll love you long time. The sooner the longer. ::wink::) Seriously, though - I have a 60+ hour a week Evil Day Job as well as 24 WIPS. I simply cannot (and will not) sit up until 2 AM on a Thursday waiting for your procrastinating ass to get your shit together. ::sweet smile::

The Obligatory End of Year Post

As 2011 comes to a close, I can't help but look back and think of how far I've come this year.

This year, I bought a house. I slashed my monthly housing costs in half, and am moving toward being out of debt by the end of 2012.

This year, I attended GayRomLit. This was my first writing retreat. My first trip to New Orleans. My first trip to a city where I knew no one. My first trip away from Hubby since we met. And only my second plane ride in my life. I hadn't flown since pre-911. Things are a little different now. You know they don't use paper tickets anymore? LOL

GayRomLit was a first for me in a lot of other ways. My first time going to public places alone. I went to the zoo, the insectarium, and the aquarium. It was also my first time on a riverboat. I did the riverboat cruise, even though I'm deathly horrified of boats and water. My first time roaming the streets of ANY town by myself and without a map. My first time getting lost on said streets...and my first time figuring out where I was. All. By. Myself. 

On the writing front, I had 15 releases this year, including m/m, transgender, and heterosexual, which is pretty damned good, I think. I also achieved something I'd been working toward - I had the very first story I'd ever written accepted, and I can now say that nothing I've turned in for publication has been declined. Everything I've submitted with the intent of serious publication has been accepted and published. Not. Too. Shabby.

On the home front, Hubby has been cleared to come off antibiotics for the first time in three years. This is a pretty big milestone for him.

I had my first surgery this year - I had my wisdom teeth out in February.  That went okay, so I followed it up with a breast reduction in August - the first thing I've seriously done to further my transgender situation. 

I reconnected with a couple people online, got closer to a couple other people and discovered...I don't like one or two of them. Sometimes, distance works in your favor. 

I learned the boundaries I need to put on my relationships with my family. My sister is great, but when she came for Thanksgiving and said, "You're (my legal name) to me, and you'll always be (my legal name) to me, no matter what you call yourself," that was a pretty eye opening experience. In listening closer to what she said during her visit, and how she said it, I've realized there needs to be an emotional boundary between us. I don't know if she'll ever fully accept who I am. All I know is that, right now, she doesn't. 

So, looking back, 2011 wasn't too bad. I learned a lot about myself, my life, and the people in it. I made some new friends, and chose to not be so close to some friends I thought I had. 

All in all - very good year! 

Winners of my Mistletoe Madness Contest!!!!

Well, all the names have been written down on tiny pieces of paper, folded 8 ways from Sunday and dumped into a hat (no, really, that's how we did it!). And the winners are....... Winner of a pdf copy of "Perfect Christmas" is Shadow_kohler and the winner of the cover art calendar is Emily Tardy!

I must apologize for not drawing the winners last night... I blame too much eggnog!!!  Emily, if you'll send me your snail mail (US Mail) address to dcjuris@stny.rr.com (dcjuris at stny dot rr dot com) I'll get the calendar off to you ASAP!

Congratulations to you both and thanks to everyone for entering!!!!!!!!!!

Mistletoe Madness!!

I'm participating in the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop!

What does this mean for you? A chance at free books, and the grand prize of a free Nook!

Leave a comment below today (12/16) through 12/23 and you'll be entered to win a free pdf copy of my sexy little m/m/m romance, "Perfect Christmas!"

Here's the blurb:

Depressed and lonely, Evan has nothing to look forward to on Christmas but his TV dinner and store-bought cookies, while his lover, Drake, spends the holiday traveling for business. But a special delivery changes everything, and Evan finds himself in the middle of a perfect Christmas. Worn out from his stocking stuffer, Evan’s not sure how he’s going to handle his present, but when Drake reveals that Evan’s gift is a threesome with none other than their hunky friend Mike, Evan summons the energy!

CLICK HERE 

to see the rest of the participating blogs & 

to enter the grand prize contest! 

GOOD LUCK!!

UPDATE!!!!!! AS OF 12/19, BECAUSE I'VE HAD SO MANY ENTRIES, I'M GOING TO SWEETEN THE POT! MY "GRAND PRIZE" WILL STILL BE THE BOOK, HOWEVER I'LL ALSO PICK A RUNNER UP FOR A DC JURIS 2012 CALENDAR CHOCK FULL OF MY BOOK COVERS AND THE MANLY MEN WHO GRACE THEM!!

Please Welcome Amber Kell!!!

Please give a warm welcome to my first ever guest blogger, Amber Kell!  Amber is here as part of her November Birthday Extravaganza, in which she's been hopping all over the place sharing bits and pieces of a free story! If you've missed any of the installments, you can find links to them all at her blog here

And now, on with the story!

Accidental Alpha #26

As it turned out the family dinner fell on the night before the 

full moon. 

“You’re father isn’t going to invite any unmentionables to dinner again, is he?” Fenris asked as he tossed aside the clothes Stanley had chosen and pulled a suit from a dry cleaning bag.

“If he did I wouldn’t be able to mention it,” Stanley teased. “And where did I get a suit? I’m pretty sure none of my other outfits were that nice.” Although he did wear a suit to his old job none of his previous suits looked like they featured in a menswear magazine.

“Consider it one of the perks of being the Alpha. You’re mate does your shopping.” Fenris gave a sniff. “From what I can see you need it.”

Stanley shrugged. “You didn’t dress up to visit with my parents.”

Fenris smiled. “I thought you’d tell me if they were formal. Besides I don’t like your father. I would’ve dressed up for your mother though. She’s my favorite new inlaw.”

Laughing, Stanley took of his sweater and jeans and dressed in the outfit Fenris brought. “Better?”

Fenris stared at him so long Stanley worried he’d done something wrong. “Huh, oh sorry I was just admiring the scenery.”

Shaking his head Stanley smiled at his mate. “If we’re going to get to this thing on time you need to get dressed too. Why did you decide to have the dinner at that new Italian place anyway? My mother would’ve loved to cook.”

“Because I know your father won’t start anything and my parents won’t argue if we’re out in public in front of the humans.”

“Why didn’t we just have dinner with your mother and then your father? Why everyone at once?” Stanley was missing something in this whole arrangement he just knew it.  “You’re holding out on me about something.”

Fenris froze in the act of tying his tie. “I think holding out is a rather strong statement.”

“You’re handling me again aren’t you?” Stanley narrowed his eyes at his mate. Over the time they’d come to be mates, Stanley had noticed Fenris’ role was to keep the alpha happy. And if Fenris thought Stanley would be happier unaware, the other wolf kept things from him.

“Now love, it isn’t a matter of keeping things from you. Just I’ve always thought my parents should get back together but there’s only a limited number of reasons you can get them in the same room.”

“So you’re using our dinner to get your parents to sit down at the same table. What about your mother’s husband?”

Fenris shrugged. “I’m sure we can find him a new wife.”

A startled laugh burst out of Stanley. “What if he doesn’t want a new wife?”

“Then he’s out of luck. Mates shouldn’t separate.” Fenris said firmly. “I’ve known this all my life but they still stay apart. I can see my father still pines for her and my mother doesn’t look happy. Now that I know what it’s like to have a mate I’m even more determined that my parents get back together.”

Stanley sighed. Wrapping an arm around Fenris he pulled his mate close. “Babe, you can’t organize other people to do what you think they should. Your parents have to choose their own paths even if you think they’ve made the wrong choices. It’s their choices and they have to live with the mistakes they make.”

Fenris patted Stanley on the chest. “My parents deserve to be together.”

“I’m not going to change your mind am I?”

“Nope.” Fenris said.

“At least make sure everyone knows it isn’t my fault when this entire thing explodes in our face.”

“Of course dear.” Fenris dressed quickly and led the way out the bedroom. “It’s my job to make sure you always look good.”

Stanley looked down at his designer suit. “So far you’re doing well in the clothing let’s hope your people sense is as good.”

Fenris gave him a wolfish smile that did nothing to reassure Stanley. “My parents won’t even know what hit them.”

Despite his mate’s cheery outlook Stanley had a feeling there was no way this night would work out. “Maybe it’s not too late to be a missing person,” he mused on his way out the door.

Guest post at Fiction with Friction!

ohhhh yay! I'm so excited about this!!

http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/2011/11/17/guest-blogger-dc-juris/