Show of hands: How many readers of MM Romance have picked up a speculative fiction (Sci-fi/Fantasy/Paranormal etc) ‘romance’ novel and thought, ‘hmm, nice story, but you call that romance?’ C’mon, you know you’ve done it, put em up and be counted. It’s happened to all of us and not every time you’ve said that have you been disappointed. Confused by the romance tag maybe, but not necessarily disappointed.

There’s no real mystery involved, ask most authors about sub-genres and sales and it’s inevitable that the phrase, ‘Romance Sells,’ will be uttered. And small, indie publishers have taken this to heart, because the vast majority of LGBT books published are Romance books. But that begs the question, what is romance? Clearly if the main plot is boy meets boy, boy falls for boy, problems arise that boy and boy must overcome to be together and they overcome those problems, that’s a romance. Does anyone else here Dean Martin singing “That’s Amore?” (Other than the bit about ‘when boy meets girl.)

But what about those books where the romance takes a back seat—sometimes a way back seat—to the other parts of the plot. And I’m not talking about a love story between two shifters, or a vampire and a werewolf. No, I mean those stories where the dragon needs to be defeated and the good guys fall in love along the way and then go about beating the dragon.  Or where there is an impending alien invasion and the captain falls for the dashing young first officer amidst the space battles and quest for a quantum super flux capacitor doohickey that will send the Aliens screams home with wet pants and wide eyes.  Those aren’t romances. They are high fantasy or science fiction with a romance sub-plot. But for years those books have been sprinkled in amongst the pure romance novels.

Late last year, Dreamspinner Press launched DSP Publications to give LGBTQ fiction that was basically a fantasy, sci-fi, horror, thriller, mystery, historical, etc, novel with a romance subplot, a new home. I’ve been truly fortunate that DSP Publications has agreed to re-release The Last Grand Master on February 10, 2015 as a prelude to the release of Book 2 The Eye and the Arm.  To give back a bit, I wrote a short prequel that DSP Publications and I are giving away free. (That makes it a frequel I suppose.) It was released yesterday and is available for download now.  There is also a gift card and eBook giveaway as part of the release.

So if you get a chance, get a copy of the frequel, and while you’re there check out the other new releases from DSP Publications to show your support of them and the authors they work with.

First Love; by Andrew Q. Gordon:

A Champion of the Gods Story – Prequel to The Last Grand Master.

On a visit to Yar-del with Grand Master Heminaltose to celebrate his age of majority birthday, Farrell catches the eye of Lieutenant Cameron, a handsome young officer in the Queenʼs Guard. But having spent most of his life cooped up at Heminaltoseʼs school for wizards, Farrell is clueless as to palace intrigue. He is unaware that his access to the queen is something others would greatly prize. When the queen points out that his suitor is the son of a social climbing minor noble, Farrell must decide whether to heed the warning or meet with Cameron anyway.

“Buy” Links:

DSP Publications:

ARe:

Amazon:

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Click the Rafflecopter code below for a chance to win the following gift pack:

• $15 DSP Gift Card
• An E-copy of “Third Eye” by Rick R. Reed
• An E-copy of “Ghost” by Carole Cummings
• An E-copy of “Greenwoode” by J. Tullos Hennig

Contest Runs from January 27 thru February 9th.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Andrew Q. Gordon wrote his first story back when yellow legal pads, ball point pens were common and a Smith Corona correctable typewriter was considered high tech. Adapting with technology, he now takes his MacBook somewhere quiet when he wants to write.

He currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his partner of nineteen years, their young daughter and dog. In addition to dodging some very self-important D.C. ‘insiders’, Andrew uses his commute to catch up on his reading. When not working or writing, he enjoys soccer, high fantasy, baseball and seeing how much coffee he can drink in a day.

Follow Andrew:

On his website: www.andrewqgordon.com,

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/andrewqugordon,

On Twitter: @andrewqgordon,

Or just email him: andrewqgordon@gmail.com

Books:

From Wayward Ink Publishing:

A Closed Door

From DSP Publications:

The Last Grand Master: (Champion of the Gods – Book 1)

The Eye and the Arm: (Champion of the Gods – Book 2 – Coming April ’15)

From Dreamspinner Press:

Purpose:

(Un)Masked

Self published:

Ashes of Life