The Beginning of Knowledge

Book News:

My literary gay erotic story The Beginning of Knowledge is now available at Wilde City Press as part of the black-label erotica Charlie Harding Presents line. Here's the blurb:

When University administrator Alan Castleton meets temporary worker and talented pianist Luke Milton, he doesn't expect to become obsessed with the handsome young blond. But soon he is heavily involved in a passionate and angry affair, and exploring the dark shadows of his own personality in a way he's never encountered before.

The more Alan tries to break free from his obsession, the deeper it entangles him. The dangerous split between his reason and his sexual desires threatens his peace of mind and, when the crisis point comes, he must decide once and for all the kind of life he should lead.

Here's what Charlie himself says:

When two people meet for the first time sometimes there are sparks, sometimes irritation and sometimes the connection can't be defined. When personalities collide, restraint can go out the window, with darkest desires and sexual tension forcing us all to do things we never thought we would. This is one of those stories. Be careful, this tale might awaken things inside yourself that you never even knew existed.

Already the book has gained one 5-star review at On Top Down Under Reviews, where the lovely Karen says:

"I want more. The characterisations were terrific, the chemistry, for what it was, perfect, the sex was dark, nasty, erotic as sin … and I LOVED it. The Beginning of Knowledge is the most perfect title … This is one of my favourite Anne Brooke reads. I loved the dark eroticism and the excellent development of the characters. In such a short word count I felt like I knew both men well."

It also has a 4-star review at Goodreads. Many thanks indeed to both reviewers for their comments.

In addition, gay thriller Maloney's Law also gained a 4-star review at MM Good Book Reviews this week. They say:

"Wow, just wow! The more I read Ms. Brooke's books, the more I'm coming to the conclusion that this author picks her characters right from the corner of the street. In this book too, she has made an extremely great job with her protagonists. But it's not just them. Every single character here is unique. I couldn't stop thinking while reading this story that each and every one of them pulses with life. They are true if not real and able to evoke too many emotions from the reader."

Gosh, thank you!

I'm also utterly thrilled to say that, after years and years (aeons, I tell you!) of being out with a variety of small publishers, bisexual thriller Thorn in The Flesh has finally received its first official review from Open Book Reviews, who say:

"The plot twist is off the charts! I can't say more or it would be too obvious. I will say this, Thorn in the Flesh is emotionally stirring, dealing with circumstances that most of us will never understand. I began the story not having much respect for Kate. By the end of the book, I felt as if I'd been to hell and back with her. Despite never having been in Kate's circumstances, the story made me think about my own life and where I am currently. I recommend the book to everyone."

Thank you and thank you again!

And, not to be outdone, my biblical short story collection The Betrayal of Birds was briefly at No 61 in the Amazon US Christian short story charts, so that was all very jolly.

Life News:

The BIG news of this week is that my lovely husband was mentioned by name in the review of the Elstead play performed a couple of weeks ago, in one of our local papers, the Farnham Herald. The lovely Helen Riddy who wrote the review said he gave "a thoughtful, understated and comedic performance." Hurrah! Naturally, I am now the world's biggest and loudest Husband FanGirl Wife and doing a heck of a lot of shrieking, while poor K hides in the garden and tries to ignore me. I'm already planning his world tour, don't you know ...

This week, Spring is continuing to get well and truly settled in. We've seen a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Nuthatch on the bird feeder, along all the other usual visitors, so that was wonderful. Plus we've also seen our first Orange Tip butterfly of the season in the garden, where we've been planting out our foxgloves, poppies and petunias. I'm hoping for a lot of colour this year, that's for sure. And there's still plenty to be done.

Yesterday, I baked a Chocolate Sponge Cake, which has turned out rather well - probably because I had to use my special Husband Food Mixer (and no, that's NOT rude - steady on, people ...), as my electric mixer is still broken. So it's really more him than me, I must say. I could get used to having these helpful kitchen servants, you know ...

Anne Brooke
Gay Reads UK
Biblical Fiction UK
Lori Olding Children's Author

Hallsfoot's Battle: Fantasy Rediscovered

Hello, all! Thought you might like to know more about my latest fantasy novel, Hallsfoot's Battle, so here's a quick interview!

1. What is the title of your book(s)?

Hallsfoot’s Battle.

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

It’s the second book in the Gathandrian Trilogy, so is a follow-up to The Gifting, also published by Bluewood Publishing. I’ve always been fascinated in how someone who’s a loner by nature responds to social and cultural demands, as my main character, Simon Hartstongue, has to do in the series. I’ve also always loved the thought of being able to read minds, so that’s an important part of Simon’s character and culture too!

3: What genre does your book come under?

Epic fantasy.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Loner and scribe Simon would definitely be played by Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd, but he’d have to dye his hair blond! I’d love Colin Firth to play the mysterious Ralph Tregannon, Simon’s enemy and some-time lover. As for the people of Gathandria, lovely redhaired Karen Gillan – who played Amy Pond in the recent Dr Who series – is a must for feisty redhead and would-be elder, Annyeke Hallsfoot. Finally, I mustn’t forget the powerful and dangerous enemy of them all, Duncan Gelahn; the only actor who can do evil and threatening well enough for that role – as well as being very sexy indeed – just has to be Alan Rickman. So there you go – the perfect casting all round!

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

When your whole country is under threat of destruction, just where can you look for a saviour?

6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

The trilogy is published by independent press, Bluewood Publishing.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It’s taken me about 18 months or so to write and edit each book of the series, although that’s a flexible estimate, especially as work and life often get in the way.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

The first book in the trilogy, The Gifting, has been compared to the fantasy work of Stephen R Donaldson, especially his books involving the chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Unbeliever. There are definitely echoes between the two stories, for instance in the inclusion of a damaged loner (in my case, Simon Hallsfoot) and the epic journeys to other lands. I’m definitely thrilled to be compared to such a writer, that’s for sure!

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?

See above – Stephen R Donaldson’s work is a definite inspiration! I devoured the Covenant stories when I was younger, and they’ve always stayed with me.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The trilogy has a strong spiritual theme, where the characters are searching for salvation and a sense of identity – as a long-term Christian, I find religious or spiritual themes often appear in my fiction in some form or other. I also keep returning to the themes of love in all its guises, and how that can be a force for good or bad. There are two couples in the series – Annyeke and her companion Johan, and the far more difficult relationship between Simon and Ralph – and it’s been interesting to see how these two relationships have developed. And the psychology of revenge is always fascinating too, as evidenced by the actions and state of mind of Duncan Gelahn. A good enemy is always vital! I do hope readers enjoy the story as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

While you're here, don't forget to catch up on the latest information about two Bluewood Publishing stalwarts - David Bowman and Paulette Rae. Happy reading!


Anne Brooke
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy

Signs of springtime amidst the sickness

Book News:

Later this year, all six erotic menage Delaney stories will be published in a paperback collection, The Dangerous Delaneys and Me. It will be available sometime around May, but I'll keep you posted.

And romantic comedy, Pink Champagne and Apple Juice, will be republished by Musa Publishing later this year, so that's something to look forward to also.

This week, I finally finished my BDSM story, Training Timothy, and have submitted it to Riptide Publishing to see if they like it. For the first time ever, I submitted actually on the day that particular anthology call was closing, so that was a bit scary, I can tell you. Usually, I plan way in advance, but I have the excuses of yet more illness (for which see below) and also lack of inspiration until very late on indeed to blame, hey ho.

I've also completed an interview for the Lambda Literary organisation focusing on Christian writers of erotic gay romance, but I'm not sure yet when or even if they'll use it. Still, always lovely to be asked (thank you, Richard!). And I've slowly begun thoroughly ripping apart and severely editing a literary gay short story I wrote last year, The Beginning of Knowledge. So far that means I've cut it from 19,000 words down to 5,000 words, so that leaves me with the sex scenes at least. I just have to work a rather different story around them and all will be well. I am indeed the Queen of the Scalpel ...

Life News:

Earlier this week, I succumbed with some sense of drama to the Winter Vomiting Bug. My dears, I really cannot recommend this, at any level (Squeamishness Alert!). Sunday night and most of Monday was therefore spent being gloriously sick every two or three hours and wondering if death might be the kinder option. The factor that utterly felled me was the fact that being sick also involved fainting (something I rarely do), so I had no idea where either I or the ... um ... err ... product would end up at any given session. All I can say is thank goodness we don't have carpets downstairs, toilet water is very cold indeed and blankets wash out very nicely, hurrah. Ho hum.

I tell you, every day I bless the fact that one of my mother's wedding presents to me was the huge and very tough plastic bowl I was always ill into as a child (well, I was very delicate, you know ...) and I swear I have had the most use of it over the last twenty years of married life than any other present I received on the day. How well my mother knows me indeed ...

So that was two days off work but back in on Wednesday, where I just about survived the day but felt extremely delicate. Eating commenced again on Thursday, however, which was great news as it was Valentine's Day, and so a definite Champagne moment.

K's presents included (a) The Piano Player Book 3 (and I've not yet had the courage to start Book 2 yet, yikes!), (b) The Pumpkin Muffin Murder (a novel of crime and baking - what could be nicer?...), and (c) a pair of fingerless gloves that I can attach to the memory stick ports on my keyboard and they heat up and keep my hands warm. Bliss indeed! I am indeed the archetypal icon of fashion here in the Surrey outback. The only thing I have to remember is the wires aren't long enough for me to reach for my dictionary so I have to unplug myself from my personal heating system if I want to look up a word or risk taking the whole computer to the shelf with me, ah well ...

So, this weekend, I've been well enough to bake Orange and Almond Cake, which is horrendously easy and tastes pretty good too. And it's been warm enough to sit in the garden, heavens above. There, we've been admiring the glorious crocuses across the front lawn, and also the honey bees browsing through the winter heather. Oh, and there was a pair of goldfinches flitting about yesterday, so spring must at last be sprung, even if only temporarily.

However, over at The Angry Anglican, I fear I am growing increasingly disenchanted with my lot. Hmm, perhaps we can blame the weather ...

Anne Brooke
Gay Reads UK
The Gathandria Fantasy Trilogy
Biblical Fiction UK
Lori Olding Children's Author