We are go for launch!

All 'Ships May Sail, is now available for immediate download!

Torquere Books /Amazon US / Amazon CA

All 'Ships May Sail by Maia Strong

Lori is new in town and looking to make friends, and maybe more. Hoping to meet people who share her interest in cosplay, she attends a local sci-fi/fantasy convention. Kara is a cosplayer who enjoys moderating costuming panels and hooking up for a con-weekend fling with a sexy fellow geek girl. They connect in their fandoms and in bed, but do the two share enough chemistry to take their relationship into real life?

Excerpt:

They strolled through the corridors of artwork, but Kara noticed very little of it. She was far more interested in her companion than in the semi-pornographic fairy paintings that seemed to be the focus of the current section they were in.
Lori stopped in front of a particularly evocative image. “Oh my. That’s...bendy.” She tipped her head to one side, leaning almost past horizontal.
Kara examined the picture in question. “Yeah it is.” She turned her head the opposite direction. It was like the artist had channeled Wendy Pini’s art and applied it to the Kama Sutra. “Is that physically possible?”
“Maybe if one actually had wings? I think we’d have to try it to find out for sure.”
***
What had she done? Lori scrambled to find other words. Correct her faux pas and quickly. “I mean, not we, per se. I meant, one. You know. Generic. I mean-- Unless you wanted-- We could-- Shit. Sorry. I’ll stop talking.”
To her astonishment, Kara laughed. “Let me help with that.”
Suddenly Kara’s lips were on hers in a kiss that swiftly grew more passionate than was strictly appropriate for the public setting.
Lori brought her hands up to Kara’s shoulders and pushed her off. Not far. She didn’t want to be misunderstood. She just wanted not to be caught snogging next to a bunch of erotic fairy art. Just in time, too, as a trio of tweens in steampunky Girl Genius outfits came around the corner at that moment. The three girls stopped in front of the display and immediately began to point at the artwork, giggling and whispering.
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist,” said Kara in a low voice, and Lori couldn’t help noticing the flush in her cheeks and desire in her eyes.
She pulled Kara around the next corner and then another. “It’s all right. I’m glad you did it. I just think...we should maybe find a quieter spot?”

***

Want the whole Theory of Love anthology? Of course you do! Here are places to find it!
Torquere Books / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon DE
 

New cover art + excerpt

I've finalized the new cover for my re-release of Compass Hearts. Whaddaya think?

I'm super pleased with it!

My friend and critique partner is playing FLE for me on this manuscript. Making sure the small changes I made work and that I haven't missed any typos. (Serious fingers crossed there. I was not happy about the number of typos that were in there even after I, my editor, and the original FLE went over it. We're only human, but geez!)

Look for the re-release in the next week or so! In the meantime, here's an excerpt:

He barely recognized his own voice as he went on. "The human body is... fascinating." There was a question, an invitation, underlying his statement. He hoped Ash would hear it and understand. Despite this sudden swell of bravery, he knew he couldn't say that out loud.

A slow smile spread across Ash's face. Matthew grinned back, guessing his message had gotten through. His guess was confirmed when Ash asked, "Have you ever had a live model?"

"No." Matthew's cock strained at his breeches. He yearned to draw Ash, see him stripped and posed. He couldn't remember ever wanting anything so much or so urgently in his life.

Then reality crashed down on him. His face fell. "My materials are at my apartment." In the time it took to get there and back, the moment would be beyond lost. And there was no way he was taking Ash back to his flat. He didn't want Ash to see it. It was so unbearably grim, lacking in any charm or comfort, especially when compared to Ash's quirky and inviting room upstairs.

"What do you need?" Ash asked.

"Charcoal pencils, largish paper."

"I have that."

"You do?" Matthew perked up at this spark of hope. It was almost too good to believe. "How? Why?"

"Botany class. We do a lot of plant sketching. I not only have charcoal pencils, I have pressed pigment pencils."

Matthew's eyes lit up and Ash grinned and grabbed his hand. "Come on." Ash pulled him to his feet and toward the stairs.

Matthew's practical side asserted itself and, still clinging to sense, he asked, "What about our books?"

"No one will bother them. Come on!" He practically dragged Matthew from the parlor. By the time their feet hit the stairs, though, Matthew was plenty willing to follow him up.

Inside the cozy comfort of the little attic room, Ash went immediately to the window seat. He opened it and fished around inside, coming up a moment later with a large tablet and a tin box. "Here." He handed the box to Matthew who opened it and looked in wonder at the myriad colored pencils within.

"Where did you get these?" he asked, awed and envious.

"Some of them I bought in town. Some of them my dad gave me before I came here." Ash flipped through the tablet of his botany drawings, Matthew looking over his shoulder. The plants were barely recognizable, and then only because he'd labeled them. "They're awful, I know," said Ash. He pulled a disgusted face. "It's all right to say so."

"I just have one question," said Matthew.

"Yes?" Ash turned and looked up at him. "What?"

"Are you actually passing botany?"

Ash burst out laughing. "All right, Master Critical." He flipped to a blank sheet and shoved the tablet at Matthew. "Let's see you do better."

"That much I can guarantee."

"I've never been an artist's model." Ash's eyes shone deep blue in the lantern light and his voice was husky. "Tell me what to do."

Matthew swallowed hard once. The heat and tightness in his groin were intense, and he was glad for the tablet he held in front of him. What was he thinking? He'd never get through this! Panic began to rise in him, quelling his arousal. No. I want to do this, damn it! Steeling himself and taking control of his fear, he said with as much authority as he could muster, "Strip."

Client Privileges now for NOOK!

For those of you who are on Nook from Barnes & Noble, I have good news. My re-release of Client Privileges is now available for you! Just follow the link below to buy your copy today!

Client Privileges by Maia Strong - now on Nook!

And for those of you who want to know a little more about the book before you buy it. You can read an excerpt over on my website. One warning: You might not want to read it at work. I wouldn't want you to get into trouble. ;->

Client Privileges Excerpt

Go forth, read, and buy! Then read some more!

Happy Friday, everyone!