Accomplishment is subjective, right? 2023 was just as full of challenges for me as for anyone else, despite my many privileges. So when I look back and remind myself that after a decade of self-publishing, I’ve cemented a relationship with a publisher, and on top of that made it into two charity anthologies, I have to say:
2023 was a good writing year.
All titles available on multiple platforms!
What can I tell you about all these? Here’s a few words from reviewers:
“Whilst there are definitely sad bits in the story the overall feeling of the book is one of love and found family. It’s a happy book that will leave you feeling warm inside.” – Love Bytes Reviews on DRAMA QUEEN
“I love these characters so much I hate to say goodbye. I’m very impressed and most definitely will recommend this book to all my friends, especially those of us who appreciate a romance featuring personable and mature characters.” – Rainbow Book Reviews on OUR REVELS NOW
“Enjoying my Christmas reading this week. Started with “Mistletango” by Alexandra Caluen and loved it, loved the Buenos Aires setting and the milongas, and above all the wonderfully sensible MCs who see the life they want and work out how to get it. So delightfully refreshing.” - a reader on MISTLETANGO
What else? Well, all titles are M/M contemporary romances, you can click the highlighted titles for publisher links (all titles are available on additional platforms), and here’s what they’re about:
MISTLETANGO: holiday vacation romance featuring an accountant and a dance instructor who meet by chance in Buenos Aires, spend a week together, and decide that’s not enough. (novel)
IN TUNE: second-chance co-workers romance featuring a music producer and a clarinetist who knew each other in college but never stepped outside friendship until they meet again, twenty years later, on a job in Las Vegas. (novelette)
OUR REVELS NOW: a math teacher and an engineer who’ve been eyeing each other for years finally take the plunge when their marketplace booths at a Renaissance festival are placed side by side. (novella)
DRAMA QUEEN: a skilled background actor / stunt performer and a set medic fall in love while dealing with personal loss and a career-changing acting role. (novel)
FISHNETS & TINSEL: two drag queens in Las Vegas go from hookups to lovers after coming clean about their issues. (novelette)
WE CAME TO DANCE: this fundraiser anthology for survivors of the Club Q shooting includes my story Speaking of Happiness, featuring a legal assistant and a music teacher. (short story)
QUEER CHEER: this fundraiser anthology for the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, California includes my story View From The Bridge, featuring two ex-Navy men in their 50s who meet before Christmas in San Francisco. (short story)