Hide and Seek

Here’s a situation to make even the nicest author fume. My books haven’t been doing well on Amazon lately, so I did a simple check to see how accessible they are. I went on Amazon blind (did not sign in), typed “J. J. Collins” under the Kindle section, hit Enter, and—

Well. What popped up were books by J. L. Collins, a couple books by Joel C. Rosenberg whose character’s name is Collins, several Sponsored selections, and books that had nothing at all in their titles or bylines that had anything to do with Collins or the initials J. J. This situation persisted for page after page. After page. After page. It wasn’t until around page 23 that I finally found one of my own books. That’s twenty-three pages of other people’s books, most of which were written by authors whose names are nothing at all like J. J. Collins.

Excuse me? I was under the impression when you type something into Search, that’s what it searches for and that’s what it gives you. If you type “Joan Smith,” shouldn’t that be the first thing, not the twenty-first thing, that comes up?

At least that explains why I’m getting more sales from Barnes and Noble all of a sudden. When I type in “J. J. Collins” over there, my books come up on pages two and three, after the works of “John J. Collins”—a JJ with more sales than me, so that’s understandable. But I’m not going to get more sales if Amazon keeps burying my books under a pile of bylines that look nothing at all like mine.

So, to help out, here are the pages for my books on Amazon. Just plug these in and you’ll be fine:

 https://www.amazon.com/Horsepower-J-J-Collins-ebook/dp/B01KYQ4P00/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=J.+J.+Collins+Horsepower&qid=1580155454&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Found-J-J-Collins-ebook/dp/B0160IPL9A/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=J.+J.+Collins+Lost+and+Found&qid=1580155503&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/Priceless-J-J-Collins-ebook/dp/B01AIFPZU6/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=J.+J.+Collins+Priceless&qid=1580155552&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/Speed-Dating-Romance-Go-Book-ebook/dp/B07657N533/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=J.+J.+Collins+Speed+Dating&qid=1580155587&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/His-Super-Neighbor-J-J-Collins-ebook/dp/B07KYRZG7T/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=J.+J.+Collins+His+Super+Neighbor&qid=1580155633&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Cock-Bull-Story-J-J-Collins-ebook/dp/B07RL5ZQBY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=J.+J.+Collins+Cock+and+Bull+Story&qid=1580155669&sr=8-1

Or type “J. J. Collins” and the title of the book you’re looking for. It’ll come right up. Maybe.

Better still, shop on the Evernight Publishing site, where you can find all sorts of great romance novels for all tastes and budgets without having to wade through page after page of things you’re not  interested in. Plus if you buy directly from the publisher, we writers get a bigger percentage of the royalties. That way we can afford to keep writing the books you want to read. Happy hunting!

Bully for Everybody!

Cock and Bull Story, my latest M/M shapeshifter romance, will be available from Evernight Publishing on Wednesday, May 8. Here's a blurb, and a sneak peek:

Tauro is a bull shifter. Forced to leave the pro wrestling ring, he works off his aggressions as a street fighter. Gallano is a cockerel shifter from a family of famous luchadores. When the irresistible cock meets the immovable bull, sparks are bound to fly … but only if they can fight their way past their own mutual stubbornness.

Contains M/M sex

www.evernightpublishing.com

EXCERPT

He had nearly dozed off when he realized the raking claws had at some point turned into fingers. He peered one-eyed over his shoulder. Gallano’s human face grinned back at him. “Ah, there you are. Care to join me? There’s a lot less of you to pamper in your human form.” He danced his fingers down Tauro’s spine. “Though not by much.”

Tauro hesitated. In bull form, he had a definite size and weight advantage over a human Gallano. He could drive the man off his farm and settle the matter for good. But those hands were hard to argue with. Against his better judgment, he nevertheless morphed himself back into his human self.

Immediately Gallano moved his hands upward, to knead his neck and shoulders. The smaller man cooed at him, pleased. “Yes. So very much better.”

Of course they both were naked now. Tauro stole a glance at him, and was surprised to discover the cockerel bore a mighty fine spear—bigger than he’d expected, with a cap like an arrowhead and mouth-tempting thickness. Perhaps he wouldn’t need to look for a stallion after all.

No. He dare not encourage the pushy little bird. What was he thinking?

He was thinking it had been a long time since a man had stirred his desires. His own great bullish beast began to inflate beneath him, as if it sensed the opportunity.

Unexpectedly, Gallano moved and rolled Tauro onto his back. Taken by surprise, he had no chance to resist. Gallano crowed in excitement. “Ah! There’s the beauty I spoke of last night. So huge! Are all bulls hung so magnificently? I’ve been missing out.” He reached for Tauro’s dick.

Tauro slapped his hand away. “Behave yourself. Are all you chickens so grabby?”

“He who hesitates loses the worm. Or something like that.” He folded his arms on Tauro’s belly, rested his chin on them and stared wistfully at Tauro’s rigid member. “That’s no worm. That’s an anaconda. I know bears who would weep and gnash their teeth to own a dick like that.” He sighed. “And you won’t let me touch it. Such a loss. I suppose I must kill myself now.” He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye with a finger.

“Don’t be so melodramatic. It’s only a bit of flesh.”

“That’s far more than a bit.”

“Still only flesh.” Tauro fought to keep a devil’s grin off his face. “Nine thick inches of sweet, randy meat that would split you like a chicken breast. You couldn’t even swallow the head without choking. Perhaps you’d rather try one of the goats. They’re closer to you in size.” And get chased from the field by Billzebub. That would be something to see.

Gallano made a disgusted face at him. “Hump animals? Are you mad? What do you take me for? It won’t split my hand if I touch it.”

“You couldn’t wrap your fingers around it.”

“That sounds like an invitation.” He reached again for Tauro’s cock, this time with his eyes on Tauro’s, waiting for a no or go ahead.

Tauro found the urge to stop him waning. He had to admit he was curious—what the man’s hand would feel like, whether he actually could get his fingers around it. What Gallano’s tongue and lips could do to his eager beef stick. How it would feel to have Gallano’s surprisingly hefty cock spearing his mouth, or his ass. Would he taste like chicken?

I Can't Believe This Slipped My Mind...

... especially with Avengers: Endgame breaking box-office records left and right, and Free Comic Book Day happening on May 4, which was also Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you!). But my tribute to comic books and their creators, His Super Neighbor, has been picking up excellent reviews over on Goodreads. It's an M/M romance about finding true love right in your backyard. Or front yard, especially if the hot guy across the street is outside mowing his lawn. No actual superfolk, but there's a man who creates magic with a pencil and paper, and true heroics abound. You can find it here at

  https://www.evernightpublishing.com/his-super-neighbor-by-j-j-collins/

Coming Wednesday: the release of Cock and Bull Story! I'll post an excerpt tomorrow.

Publication Day!

It's here! His Super Neighbor is now available at Evernight Publishing, Amazon, Bookstrand, and probably Barnes and Noble. I didn't look over there yet. Hope you like it! And hope Lon doesn't sue me over his portrayal in the scene set at the comic book store. I got everybody's permission first, honest.

Cullen Braithwaite has two obsessions—a massive crush on Grant Guthrie, his handsome neighbor across the street, and drawing comic books. Grant has one obsession—protecting his ten-year-old nephew from his sister’s abusive ex. The two meet and romance blossoms. Then Cullen draws Grant into a comic book story, publicly exposing him to a dangerous stalker. With real-life evil closing in, one of them will have to learn to unleash his inner hero.

Be Warned: m/m sex

you can get it here

It's a Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's New Cover Art!

Check it out! The cover art for His Super Neighbor is here! I love the comic book aspects of it, totally in keeping with the story, and the fact the guys finally have heads. The book itself will be out either November 30 or December 4. I'll be sure to keep you posted!

For those of you expecting another fantasy/paranormal/shapeshifter story from me, I want to warn you ahead of time this is a contemporary. No real superheroes, mutants, metas, or strange beings from another planet here. Just two men living across the street from each other in suburban New Jersey. There is a real hero in the book, and you'll see who at the end.

The only thing that worries me is that little cartoon guy in the corner looks a bit too much like Superman. Nobody let on to DC Comics, m'kay?

Why I Love Writing

Thank you to everyone who bought, or even just viewed, Speed Dating last week. It's already received a stellar review on Goodreads. I had no idea I'd put all that subtext in there! My goal is to tell an entertaining story in the best way I possibly can. The reactions I get in the upcoming months will tell me how I did.

Meanwhile, life, and writing, goes on. I'm thinking about attempting NaNoWriMo yet again. Maybe this time I'll last more than two or three days. I'm also thinking about stretching my writing muscles into something outside the romance genre. I've written in other genres before, but this would be all new territory. I'm hoping it inspires me enough to stick with it for the whole thirty days. If I get stuck, I do have another M/M I could switch over to so I can keep going. After all, the rules don't say the 50K words have to be used on only one story. As long as you write 50,000 words in a month, it's all good. No excuses!

Outside of NaNoWriMo, I'm working on another paranormal/shapeshifter M/M romance. This one's also a stretch for me, as it's my first attempt at a BDSM story. I've already run into a snag. The sub is a horse shifter, and he likes to be disciplined in his horse form. Which made me realize: does this count as animal abuse? It shouldn't, because he's a sentient being and he gives consent beforehand, but outsiders wouldn't know that. They'd just see some big guy beating on a tied-up horse. What's the sub going to do? Change shape? Reveal himself to a human? Shifters get killed for things like that in these books. The poor little horsie just wants to be whipped, and he's found someone who'll do that for him. Neither of them should be judged for it.

But what about the readers? Will readers stand still for a horse getting whipped, even if I make it clear the horse requested it? It's not like his Dom is drawing blood or tearing off strips of hide or anything. The horse draws the line at that. But people who'll happily read about women getting tied up and beaten (but only if she consented) might throw fits if it's an animal getting the BDSM treatment. I'm going to have to figure something out. I may even have to talk to my publisher.

This is why I love writing. Tell me one other job in the world where things like this come up. Every day is a whole new adventure. You wake up in the morning looking forward to it. What kind of challenge will I face today? How will I meet it? How will others respond? Like the time I had to ask an editor the difference between "come" and "cum." There's something you never have to deal with in a secretarial job. If you do, get the heck out of there. Trust me.

There's never a dull moment in writing, and there'd better not be any on the page. It's the best job ever, although ... I do wish it paid a little faster. I won't be getting a check from my publisher for another three months, and payment from secondary markets like Amazon won't come in for over three months after that. Time to start looking for "pay on acceptance" markets, I suppose.

It's Here!

Sometimes love comes at you fast. Answering an old friend’s call for help, hunter Dillon Royce comes to Arizona to stop a shapeshifter who’s targeting gay men. He finds himself falling for the prime suspect, cheetah shifter Kaz Genovese. Kaz insists they’re fated mates. Or is he just trying to get close to his latest victim? Dillon needs to solve this one fast, before he totally loses his heart … or his life.

EXCERPT

“Sorry, speedy. I can’t take any chances. You’re going into a holding cell until we get this resolved. If you want to call a lawyer—”

“That won’t be necessary.” Kaz shifted. The bonds meant to restrain a human fell loose on the cheetah’s form. He slid his paws free and bit through what he couldn’t slip out of.

Then he leaped at Dillon.

They fell backward, onto the narrow bed. Kaz shifted back. His teeth grazed Dillon’s throat, just a tease, before he crashed his mouth against Dillon’s in another of those soul-blasting kisses.

Dillon had his knife. One thrust and it would be over.

Instead, he accepted the kiss. How had he gone his entire life without being kissed like this? Like Kaz intended to swallow his soul. As if he already had.

His hands moved as if with minds of their own, exploring, groping Kaz. Not an inch of him was still. Every speck of Kaz’s naked body seemed in constant frantic motion. Holding him was like holding on to a primal life force. His body was the desert, spare and barren at first glance but harboring unexpected bursts of color and flavor and life. An entire ecosystem of fiery desire, all of it focused on Dillon.

So long. Too long since he’d had any relief, or so desperately wanted it.

Only when he realized Kaz was tearing at his fly did Dillon come back to his senses. This was all happening too fast.

Somehow, he got his eyes to focus. “Don’t I even get dinner first?”

“What? Oh.” Kaz slumped, all over. Even then his body still vibrated with speed. “You humans and your stupid rituals. What a waste of time. You’re my mate. We were born for each other. Isn’t that enough for you?”

“Sorry, no. I don’t have the luxury of instinct. Right now, I’ve got a set of murders to solve. That’s my first priority. You and your mating urges—” Our mating urges, he couldn’t help thinking. “—Are going to have to wait.”

“Go slow?” Kaz tested the concept and, from the lift of his lip, clearly found it distasteful. “I don’t know if I can do that. Though it would be an interesting test.”

“You’re going to have to. And you’re going to have to sit in a cell for a while. You’re the prime suspect. Can’t be helped.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Kaz said firmly. “Tell you what. I’ll go do some investigating on my own. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow night and we’ll have that dinner. And then I’m claiming you. That’s as slow as I can go.” He palmed Dillon’s cheek. “We’re going to be spending our lives together. I suppose I should ask you your name.”

“It’s Dillon. Dillon Royce.”

“Dillon.” His name sighed off Kaz’s tongue. “Until tomorrow night, my love.” He captured Dillon’s mouth again and sent his senses spinning. When Dillon opened his eyes, those delightful lips were gone, the hand at the back of his neck was gone, the scent of cat was a fading memory, and the door to his room stood open.

He went to the open doorway, although he knew it was pointless. Of course, Kaz was nowhere in sight. The ache in his groin was now joined by a more poignant ache in his soul, its one true mate discovered and abruptly torn away. Maybe there was something to the mate bond after all, even where humans were concerned.

Or maybe that was guilt he felt, that in spite of everything he was falling hard for his number-one suspect. That he’d let a possible killer go free.

Available from Evernight

Cover Art!

Just got my cover art for my latest book, Speed Dating. It's scheduled for release on October 4. I'll be back then with the blurb, an excerpt, and the Evernight link. See you then!

Getting to Know You

Hello! And welcome to my blog!

I'm Jen Collins, and I write M/M short stories for Evernight Publishing. This is my first post and I'm groping for words here.

Let's see, background ... I grew up reading Marvel Comics and Wendy Pini's Elfquest and started writing at an early age because I wanted to tell stories like that, with love and adventure and action and superpowers and love. Did I mention love? Good, because I love to write romantic stories. Where's the fun in saving the world if there's nobody there to hug you at the end?

Where I'm at ... I live in northern New Jersey with the hubster, Chuck, and a tortoise who lives in our back yard. I tend the garden, he mows the lawn and cleans out the gutters. It works.

What I write ... paranormal romance with a touch of humor. It was going to be M/F until Chuck pointed out all my favorite fan fictions were slash. Then there's those two cute guys on my favorite TV show so I decided, why not have some fun? Evernight published my first paranormal M/M ,Lost and Found. They're the greatest! This should give you an idea of what goes through my head while I'm writing:

Right now I'm doing a lot of shorter paranormal stories, but I might write a longer work soon. The story decides how long it wants to be. There isn't much I can do about it. I might try a contemporary someday too. I have a couple ideas. Regular people are heroes too. There are lots of ways to save the world.

Thanks for stopping in. I hope you like my books!