Hi, it’s Lou Sylvre, up here in the Pacific Northwest where it has turned a bit chilly and damp, and leaves are falling. That means read-in-the-sun outside season is drawing to a close, and read-cozied-up-with-tea-and-a-blanket season begins. I’ve just finished a book, and I’m starting C F White’s Hide to Seek, book 2 in the London Lights series. Taking recommendations below for what to queue up next (besides book 3).

It always feels to me like fall comes early here, but that’s because whatever kind these trees on my street are, they turn golden and shed their leaves much earlier than most others in the area. It’s glorious while it lasts, though. Here’s a snapshots of the street, to give you an idea, and also one of the pretty colors as the vine maple outside my window starts to turn. And, since I’m sharing photos, here also is one of my assistant/cat/friend, Boudreau, taken from outside looking up to my second story window. The cool cat shape is courtesy the cat himself; the strange effects are courtesy the lighting. No, my room is not bright yellow.

But you probably want to hear about book stuff. Ignoring all politics (because… damn) I can sum up this past month in my career with a few words. You know the hobbitt song, “The Road Goes Ever On and On? Well, The writer’s road goes ever up and down. Here’s this about that:

To my disappointment, A Shot in Darkness (working title of Vasquez Inc series book 7), which should have been out late this month, is not on the publisher’s schedule until January. I’m told it may get pulled for earlier release if others cancel. We’ll see, but it can’t happen until it tops my priority list for finalizing the manuscript again. I moved other things ahead on the list because of the schedule change.

What have I got cooking for right now?

I’m going to self-pub one or two dark, dark short stories that will seem very strange to readers of Lou Sylvre romance. They aren’t romance, in fact, but with their demon and serial killer characters, I think they are fine for the Halloween season. These are old stories, published in 2009 and 2011, before I started publishing MM romance. I’m doing it to kick-start my learning about all the tools I need to use for self-publishing, but also because dark and scary things are right for the times. Over the next few months, I might release a few more of these old works. (Just because.)

I haven’t abandoned romance, though!

Secret surprise maybe coming in November: a tiny very erotic short about what didn’t happen in Glasgow, starring Jackie and Brian, of Vasquez Inc. This is seriously an out-take from A Shot in Darkness. Hint: it’s what didn’t happen in the book the night they spent the night with Jesse Douglas in his studio apartment, where they have the following conversation:

The bed was huge—plenty of room for three men even though two of them had more than a little height and muscle. Brian and Jesse both wanted Jackie in the middle simply because he took up less space.
“It’s way easier for me to get in and out of the bed with one leg if I’m on the outside.”
Jesse—innocently—said, “One of us will help you.”
“I don’t want help. I want to sleep on the outside.”
Brian accepted that high-toned statement as a reminder of two ultimate truths in his life: First, a one-legged man can put his foot down as hard as anyone else. And, for him, anyway, being the Dom didn’t translate to being in charge.

Heh. No promises on the short, yet. I’ll accept words of encouragement or caution as to why I should or should not write what a threesome would have been like for Brian, Jackie, and Jesse if it had happened in the story, though it didn’t. Comment below…

Also in the romance arena: I’m going to re-release Falling Snow on Snow, this time it will be available in all markets, and… drumroll… I’ve got Benjamin Getz narrating it for audio! I’m excited, as it will be my first audiobook release, and I couldn’t ask for a better narrator. Ben is an actor as well as a narrator, and you can find out a little about him here on his IMDb page.

While we’re on the subject of holiday romance, what’s your favorite? I ask this question in a survey in my newsletter, but if you’re not subscribed there, I’m asking here—just comment with your favorite holiday romance book, title and author. I’m going to publish the list of them in my November Sylvre Linings Newsletter.

I’ll come back and check for comments, since I’ve asked a few questions above. I hope to hear from you. That’s all I’ve got for this month! Thanks for reading!