Carter Quinn's Blog

Smashwords is hosting their Summer/Winter sale for the entire month of July--and I'm playing! Everything is 25% to 50% off, just for you! Check it out here.

They say time flies when you're having fun. That must explain how it's been 5 years since The Way Back was first published. Can you believe it? My confused little "Riley-ho." I do love him. The greatest surprise of my life is that a lot of you loved him too--even if you wanted to slap him down for being such a dumbass. :) 

One of my inspirations for Riley. That stomach!For those of you who haven't read The Way Back or its sequel Fire & Rain...


I'm celebrating the anniversary with 50% off both titles until June 17, only at Smashwords and PayHip. The Smashwords coupons are public, so they'll automagically load. The PayHip coupons are:

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00KQFU5Z9HJust for fun, here's a bit of a guest post I wrote to celebrate the one-year anniversary:

Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I’m a little bit…quirky. Hey, you try having a bunch of hot gay men in your head, jostling with each other to tell their stories and see how quirky you become! One of the quirks that I fully embrace is my love for, and the influence upon me of, music.

My older sisters like to tell the story about how, as a three-year-old who couldn’t read, I could unerringly bring them the 45 RPM records they requested. Somehow I could distinguish between “Island Girls,” “Running on Empty,” and “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart.” I’d like to think I was a boy genius, but if that’s true, what the hell happened to me?

As Trisha Yearwood sang in 1993, the song remembers when. So it shouldn’t come as any shock that the writing of The Way Back was greatly assisted by music. You know that one scene where Jason does that thing he didn’t mean to do? Thank Melissa Etheridge’s “Similar Features.” Or that lunchtime [censored]?

Have you ever had one of those days/weeks/months when you just can't catch up because--SHINY!? Yeah, I'm having one of those, which is why this post is late. (I know, I know. I'm not good at using this site anyway. Sorry.) Anyway, the point is this (after the jump, because I've watched enough Fixer Upper to know you do the break before the Big Reveal lol):




I'm participating in the Read an eBook Week sale at Smashwords! All of my books are on sale from March 5-11. The Bridge is actually free. Click the photo for the link!

I'm sure you've heard the sordid story of All Romance eBooks' post-Christmas implosion. Instead of allowing myself to be consumed with anger over that (because let's face it, I'm still on fire over that rape of an election), I went out and signed up for 2 new vendors.

People have been talking about Payhip for a while, but I hadn't paid any attention because the last thing I needed was the headache of setting up and monitoring yet another vendor. Shockingly, the website made it incredibly easy to create my "store" or whatever you wish to call it. Bonus, they pay artists immediately, so there shouldn't be a replay of ARe's fucknuttery. I've added a coupon code there for 30% off all the books, so give it a whirl. The Code is VAVRMLBK3U. It expires January 31st or when 50 have been redeemed.

Also, I noticed the iBooks distribution channel was not open in my Smashwords account, so I opened that yesterday. As of now, only Vanished 1 has populated on the site, but look for the others soon.

I think that's about it for the moment. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you haven't already. I'm trying something new this issue. Not sure how it's going to work exactly, but it's fun and frustrating to figure it out!

 With that, I wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2017. Stay tuned for more!

Hello, everyone. I hope all my American friends had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I can't believe this year is almost over. It has gone by so quickly (which I guess happens when you sleep through most of it!). Thankfully, that problem seems to be almost conquered. Things are looking up! (If I can manage to stop thinking about the disastrous freaking election.)

The third edition of my newsletter went out to subscribers the other day. If you haven't already, please do subscribe. It's chock full of fun, games, prizes, and interesting people (yes, more interesting than me!).




The next issue will arrive in January. Until then, please feel free to check out the first three issues. As always, if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or requests for content, please feel free to email me at the address provided in the letter.

I know this is late notice, but All Romance eBooks is having a Halloween sale. Well, it's a 50% Rebate Event. It ends at Midnight CT tonight (10/31/16). You need to getcha some!




If you didn't get to this in time for the ARe sale, I still have good news! I have created a few coupons at Smashwords. Get them while supplies last.


The Way Back - Originally $4.99, 40% off ($2.99) with code NF85A
Fire & Rain - Originally $4.99, 20% off ($3.99) with code AN65Z
Out of the Blackness - Originally $6.99, 20% off ($5.59) with code XA25G
Vanished: The Complete Trilogy - Originally $7.49, 20% off ($5.99) with code JW26F

I love autumn.

Snehitdesigns

Well it's that time again. Past that time, actually. I wanted to create a bi-monthly newsletter to keep you all up to date with what was happening in my world, plus to create some content just for you. I haven't been as successful as I wanted to in getting issues out on time. I'm considering the three 2016 newsletters to be sort of my trial-and-error phase. That said, the second issue went out to subscribers yesterday. If you haven't done so yet, please sign up.


Gay Rom Lit will be starting tomorrow. I'm incredibly sad I wasn't able to make it. Instead, on Friday, I'll be undergoing a full-sedation MRI. The hospital sent me links to "training" videos talking about Advance Directives and Do Not Resuscitate orders. Nothing like freaking me out unduly. Anyway, I wish you all a fantastic time in fair Kansas City.



To celebrate the arrival of Autumn, I've selected a few titles to put on sale at Smashwords. (CQB Newsletter subscribers got exclusive discounts!)
Save 20% on Fire & Rain with coupon code AN65Z.
Save 20% on Out of the Blackness with coupon code XA25G
Save 20% on Vanished: The Complete Trilogy with coupon code JW26F
Click here to be redirected to Smashwords.

Last time I gave you all a peek behind the scenes at what was in the premiere newsletter. Today I'm going to give you access to the whole thing. Click here to access it. If you like what you see, sign up in time to get the Xmas issue. If you have suggestions or concerns, please feel free to email me at carterquinnbooks @ live.com

When I announced I would be missing GRL this year, I said I'd give more details in the newsletter. I've decided to share that here too.

Those of you who have followed me closely know I don't usually talk about myself. Oh, I'll post about my acroBRATic dog or my Liberal Lefty politics. I'll trade funny lines with Marilyn or with one of my sisters or nieces, if they're online. But I don't talk about myself, not the deep down, true me.
The truth is, I'm not fabulous. I'm actually quite boring. I know. It's shocking. I have had rare moments of fabulousness. I mean, I've thrown shade--and even glitter--on occasion, but I'm mostly Ethan Green (only less than half as cute as Daniel Letterle). When I was 12 or 13, I read or saw something that convinced me that I'd be dead before age 43 ever raised its ugly head. At that time, 1985, all indications pointed toward HIV/AIDS. It scared the hell out of me enough that I'm still negative. Throughout my twenties, I was fairly convinced my death would be from suicide, actually (because It's My Party). Regardless, dead by 42 was a certainty I could live by.
Except here I am, a few weeks past my 44th birthday, battling an illness the doctors can't seem to figure out. See, all my tests show I'm medically "normal," which isn't at all helpful. The whole thing started out innocuously enough, with a bit of swelling in my legs. Then it became that I couldn't stay awake but I couldn't stay asleep. All day long I would nod off. All night long, I would pray for the relief of sleep, but it wouldn't come. It's been progressively worsening, with severe dizziness and falling being the latest symptoms. My best moment may be my forehead leaving a dent in the dog's wire cage. (That'll teach it to sit there looking all benign.) It's been frightening as hell lately, but I'm persevering. That's why I wasn't able to attend GRL this year and why there hasn't been a real release from me in ages. (The Vanished Trilogy doesn't count as new, IMHO.)
In the middle of all this, I took an at-home sleep study. That was the one test that didn't come out "normal." On this company's scale, 0-4.9 are normal. The graph ends at ">30." I scored a 59.20. I've always been an over-achiever. lol

The good news is, I have a new doctor who seems to love/hate a good mystery. He's been aggressively trying to solve the issue. I can feel things slowly starting to get better. So wish me luck, ask everyone you know to buy my books (so I can pay the rent while falling down!), and keep the faith. I'll be back soon. After all, you can't keep a good bitch down.  -- CQ

 And with that, I bid you adieu until next time.

Due to circumstances, some beyond my control, some not, the release of Ashes to Embers will be delayed until October 29. Thank you for your patience and understanding. I can't wait for you to read it!

In the meantime, sign up for the damn newsletter already. :)

I know newsletters aren't everyone's cup of tea. Usually because once you sign up for one, you start getting 7000 emails a day pushing something "all new! greatly improved!" at you. That's why I don't play those games either. I think I subscribe to four newsletters total. But here I am, asking you to subscribe to mine. It takes brass ones, right? LOL




Here's why I think you should subscribe. I'll make a list. I'm good at making lists. (Not so good at completing the items on them!)
1. There will be only 6 newsletters per year, so I won't be constantly bombarding you with information you couldn't care less about.

2. There will be games and contests in each one! :O

3. Subscribers will get sneak peek looks at my newest projects--long before they're published.

4. I will occasionally be providing subscribers with discount codes for new or existing books.

5. It's not all about me! As Stephen Amell would say, "Sinceriously!" As proof, I'll post one of the fun sections from the premiere newsletter, which came out a few days ago.

6. In the New Year, you'll get to tell me who you want to star in my first Christmas Story, due November 2017! I'll include a poll to make things simple.

7. I'm thinking about creating a story to serialize exclusively in the newsletter. Would you be interested in that?

Okay, if any of those seven reasons sounds like something you can't live without, please take a moment to sign up for the newsletter in the right-hand column.


Without further ado, here is a sample from my interview with Mark, a reviewer at Sinfully Gay Romance Book Reviews.



1.      What brought you to this genre? When?A: HAHA, long version or short version, Carter? To be honest it was something I sort of fell into. I had always read a lot of historical novels, crime or thrillers and had never given M/M Romance a second thought. Didn’t even know it existed as a genre. Until one day, browsing Amazon looking for my next read, one book caught my eye. Although skeptical at first, thinking that any romance has the potential to be trashy, let alone not knowing there were gay romances out there, hadn’t been interested in that genre to that point. But the Amazon cookie that suggests books you might be interested in based on what you had bought before had a hiccup I reckon and coughed up a book that shouldn’t even have been on my recommendations list technically, but it still caught my attention. Upon seeing it I thought before dismissing it out of hand then give it a go. Nothing to lose and if it lives up to my already prejudiced expectations of romances then at least I’ll only feel vindicated. My, how wrong I was! This book rocked my literary world forever. The rest, as they say, is history.
2.      What was the first book you ever reviewed? Have you read it recently? Would you rate it differently today?A: Well, we’re obviously talking about that one book above that changed my literary landscape in a permanent way. That book is…………wait for it (drum roll)………….. Between Sinners and Saints by Marie Sexton. Knowing the genre like I do now then my first book in this genre couldn’t have come from a better author. An author who even today still wows me with her stories, her writing style and gives me the warm fuzzies at the end of the book after putting her MCs through hell and back. I haven’t read it recently but I know that my rating would not change due to it because the story touched me so deeply it’ll stay with me forever as a milestone and turning point in my literary world.
3.      Headless bare torsos. Yes or no?A: HAHA  - are you asking me whether I’m a cover whore or not? I’m afraid you’re not going to get a one word answer out of me on this one – lol! Well, I’ll be the first to admit that a well-designed cover and interesting title goes a long way in getting my or anyone else’s attention. It will get me then to take a look at the blurb which will clinch the issue whether I take a chance on the book or not. That said once I know and like the author then the cover is secondary. There are a number of authors I would read without noticing the cover. As for the bare, naked, headless torsos? Well, if you’re going to use a bare torso then put a head on it! But using hunky, half naked men for me personally isn’t necessary to attract my attention to a book.
4.      What do you look for in your next read? A: Oooh, difficult question! I’m quite eclectic when it comes to sub-genres in the M/M world. I suppose I’m looking for something that not only carries a romance but also plot. I don’t like books that are just page after page of sex scenes. For that I can watch a porno and don’t necessarily have to read it – lol! For me the plot and its development is the most important whether it be a crime / thriller, historical or contemporary. Something that does not just revolve around the bedroom scenes. The romance for me is at best seen like a satellite around the main story that brings the MCs together, I get lots more out of a romance that is plot driven rather than one that just exists for the smut only.
Thanks, Mark!
If you wanna see more, you gotta subscribe! Thank you!

Elton John sang about the Circle of Life. It was a great song with lyrics that encouraged us to think about the interconnectivity of all us creatures on this little blue dot. It also recognized and, at least to me, seemed to celebrate the essential impermanence of life, the ebb and flow of all things.

For writers, this undulation often includes our characters. They call to us from the mists. We learn to love them as they tell us their stories. Then they fade back into the ether, directing their friends to us. But they never entirely leave us, not if they're truly special.

Each of my guys is special to me in his own way, but none have quite the place in my heart that Avery does. That's why it's so hard to believe we're approaching the 3rd anniversary of the publication of Out of the Blackness.


I know. Fives and Zeroes are always considered the important dates. So, you may be asking yourself, who cares about a third anniversary? Well, I do. I care about everything that pertains to Avery. It also means that next month will be five years since my little Whisper Boy first tentatively reached out to me.
OotB was a Finalist for Best Contemporary Novel 2013
To celebrate, I've decided to put Out of the Blackness on sale at select sites.
For 45% off paperbacks, go to CreateSpace and enter code DTRPT4RG.
This sale lasts until July 17.

All-Romance eBooks has Mobi, PDF, and Epub versions on sale for $3.99 now.
Kobo will start a sale in the next 48 hours or so for $3.99 or your local approximation (around 43% off).
The ebook sale lasts until July 9.

Also, this is your last chance to get in on the premiere issue of the CQB Newsletter. Sign up today so you don't miss anything! (See the top right of the page for sign-up.)