JmFrey

UPDATES WEDS & SAT - Twenty-four is one year too young for a quarter-life crisis, but hey, Colin's always been an overachiever. He's got a degree in Sustainable Tourism, which he's wasting as a barista, an annoying anxiety disorder, and no freaking idea what to do with his life. The only thing going his way is the cute coffee shop regular, a homo draconis named Dav (who, in his humanshape, is a total hottie.) Still, it'd be easier if Dav didn't have a habit of accidentally setting things on fire when he's startled. Like the café kitchen. When Dav breaks draconic taboo and volunteers as a replacement bean-roaster to apologize for the inferno meet-ugly, sparks really fly. Everything's finally happening for Colin, until he learns that hooking up with Dav means that under dragon law, Colin is absorbed into Dav's hoard. Possession may be nine-tenths of the law, but becoming his boyfriend's property does not make this whole identity crisis thing easier. Especially now that Colin must navigate politics, paparazzi, and legal questions about his personhood. Colin's still angling for his Happily Ever After, but the growing scrutiny on his relationship with Dav threatens their budding romance. And if he's not careful, Colin's fight for agency may just destroy symbiotic human/dragon relationships worldwide.* A sassy, queer, alternate universe romance from Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2011 author J.M. Frey. Wrapped in discussions of autonomy and colonialism, Nine-Tenths meets in the middle between "Red, White & Royal Blue" and the "Temeraire" series.*Cover Art by SeanceFemme…

JmFrey

2019 WATTY AWARD WINNER | TO BE PUBLISHED BY 'W BY WATTPAD' IN FALL 2024Jessie is a twenty first century kinda gal stuck in the Regency Era. Armed with a new university degree and a plane ticket to Paris, the plan was to celebrate graduation in the City of Love, kissing as many drunk French girls (or boys, she's not picky) as she can. Only, she never makes it. Mid-Atlantic, a mysterious accident sends Jessie hurtling to what should be a watery grave. Rescued from the ocean, Jessie is lucky to be alive. Only problem? The crew of the ship she's on is convinced it's a sailing vessel that just narrowly missed out on participating in the Battle of Trafalgar.Stuck in Regency-era England, Jessie is left with no choice but to enter into the services of as a maid and companion in return for what shelter her new employer can provide, and resign herself to a life of quiet servitude and forever hiding her sexuality.What she didn't count on was that her new boss would be Margaret Goodenough - the world famous authoress whose yet-to-be-completed novel was the first lesbian kiss in the history of British Literature, and a clever woman. Clever enough to know her new servant has a secret.Now Jessie is caught. Margaret's own perception of her place in society is transforming, the text of her novel is slowly changing, and Margaret herself is finally unafraid to embrace her own Sapphic desires. Margaret - and her main characters - are turning into irresistibly headstrong and modern women.Jessie must tread the tenuous line between finding her own happiness in a world where she is alone, and accidentally changing the course of history. Should Jessie suppress the manuscript, or is her duty to the woman she's learning to love?What is a twenty first century gal to do?*Cover Photo: Jenn LeBlanc & Getty ImagesOriginal Cover by: @RodneyVSmith…

JmFrey

THE UNTOLD TALE follows Pip, who is pulled against her will into the epic fantasy novel series she's loved since she was a teenager. However, the world is darker, and far more dangerous than she could have ever predicted, especially when it turns out the hero is a much bigger jerk than she expected him to be. Pip knows how to circumnavigate the Hero's Journey and the pitfalls and loopholes of this particular world - but what will happen to her beloved characters outside of the comfort of the fantasy they were written for? And what happens when it's not the hero, but the hero's overlooked and bullied little brother who proves to be her biggest champion? *Cover by Ruthanne ReidYou can find out about the rest of the series at http://www.jmfrey.net/books…

JmFrey

In the near future, humankind has mastered the arts of peace, tolerance, and acceptance. At least, that's what we claim. But then they arrive. Aliens--the last of a dead race. Suffering culture shock of the worst kind, they must take refuge on a world they cannot understand; one which cannot comprehend the scope of their loss. Taciturn Gwen Pierson and super-geek Basil Grey are Specialists for the Institute--an organization set up to help alien integration into our societies. They take in Kalp, a widower who escaped his dying world with nothing but his own life and the unfinished toy he was making for a child that will never be born. But on the aliens' world, family units come in threes, and when Kalp turns to them for comfort, they unintentionally, but happily, find themselves Kalp's lovers. And then aliens--and the Specialists who have been most accepting of them--start dying, picked off by assassins. The people of Earth, it seems, are not quite as tolerant as they proclaim.…

JmFrey

A Saskwyan flight mechanic with uncanny luck, seventeen-year-old Robin Arianhod grew up in the shadow of a decade-long war. But the skies are stalked by the Coyote-a ruthless Klonn pilot who picks off crippled airships and retreating soldiers. And as the only person to have survived an aerial dance with Saskwya's greatest scourge, Robin has earned his attention.As a pilot, Robin is good. But the Coyote is better. When he shoots her down and takes her prisoner, Robin finds herself locked into a new kind of dance. The possibility of genuine affection from a man who should be her enemy has left her with a choice: accept the Coyote's offer of freedom and romance in exchange for repairing a strange rocket pack that could spell Saskwya's defeat, but become a traitor to her county. Or betray her own heart and escape. If she takes the rocket pack and flees, she could end the war from the inside.All she has to do is fly.Filled with intrigue, forbidden romance, and a touch of steampunk, The Skylark's Song soars in this new duology from the award-winning author of The Accidental Turn Series.*This is book one of The Skylark's Saga: http://jmfrey.net/the-skylarks-saga/…

JmFrey

He calls himself the Prince. He is humanoid but not human--fascinating, sensual, at the cusp of maturity, and accustomed to getting what he wants. And Lydia has awoken in his world to find that she has been given to him--as a pet, a plaything, and, if he so desires, a lover.As Lydia comes to realize that the Prince is as much a prisoner to his culture's ways as she is, her resentment slowly unfurls into pity, understanding, curiosity, and a deep, unpredictable, consuming lust. She wants him too, on her own terms. But in a world fraught with hidden dangers, her terms are not open for discussion, not when their thirst for one another could doom them both. In a court where monarchs are obeyed and sexual hierarchies are strict, one wrong move could end the Prince for ever... and what would happen to Lydia then?*This novel was originally published by Circlet Press in 2015 under the pseudonym Peggy Barnett. This novel is erotica, so please read at your own discretion.Visit www.jmfrey.net for more of my work.Cover by Archia.…

JmFrey

Worldbuilding is more than just maps! Culture is the WHY we think, believe, and behave the way we do.Creating a believable secondary world, with consistent internal logic, idioms, taboos, and politics can be tricky. Luckily, I'm here to help you devise the best possible setting for your story! Filled with thought exercises, explanations, and question lists, I encourage you to grab your prettiest notebook, pick out your favorite pen, and start following along.If you'd like a paperback version of this workbook, so you can scribble directly on the pages, please visit jmfrey . net / books.…

JmFrey

J.M. Frey's decade-long advice column is now on Wattpad. Have a question about the craft or business of writing? Find your answers - and ask your questions - here.J.M. Frey is an author, screenwriter, and lapsed academic. Her novels have won Watty Awards, been nominated for the Lambdas, taught on university syllabuses, optioned for an animated television series, and won Best Book of the Year from Publisher's weekly.New chapters will be posted on Wednesdays.…

JmFrey

This is a story about Mary, number one fan of the hottest cult vampire detective TV show, City By Night... until it becomes all too real. An accident with the Craft Services truck sends her hurtling into the world of the show, and Mary is thrilled - who wouldn't want to live alongside their favorite TV characters? Unfortunately, living in TV-land isn't all that Mary thought it would be. Not only is Mary disillusioned with what she thought was a lush world until she had to try to maneuver in it, now she's about to be murdered by one of the stupidest clichés in the history of television in a world that, pardon the pun, totally sucks. A loving satire of the Toronto film industry, vampire-cop television, and what it really means to be a "fan"."Funny, light-hearted, and full of cracks about the tropes of genre television, CITY BY NIGHT is an awesome read--and the ending is amazing!"--Sam Maggs, author of The Geek Girl's Guide to the Galaxy…

JmFrey

Robin Arianhod is on the run. Trapped behind enemy lines, her only choice is to lose herself in the sprawling capital of Klonn. But hiding in the shadows is a disservice to the rocket pack she escaped with, and to the man she once considered foe. Instead, she'll enact his plan, harness the incredible power of the pack, and stop the war from the inside.Wanted posters stalk her every move as rumor fuels the Skylark's rise, and her attempts at vigilantism attract the attention of more than just the city guards. Robin finds herself embroiled in the machinations of a mysterious underground rebellion-Klonnish citizens as tired of the war as she is. But are they really her allies, or are they using the Skylark as bait? And can she really trust that her former arch-nemesis turned his coat? Or will the secret of his true identity lead Robin, and her newfound friends, to their deaths?Rife with high-flying action, subterfuge, and deception, The Skylark's Sacrifice is the explosive conclusion to the saga of war-torn Saskwya, and the one pilot who can change it all.*This is an excerpt of book two of The Skylark's Saga: http://jmfrey.net/the-skylarks-saga/…

JmFrey

In February of 2017 I had the great pleasure of addressing the Grant MacEwan University English Department with a keynote speech titled "Your Voice is Valid." This speech was all about Mary Sues, fandom, and marginalized voices, and is a direct response to the negative reactions that media texts receive when they announce a protagonist that is deemed to be a "Mary Sue".In the intervening years I think the message of my talk has become even more vital to creators, so I thought I'd record a new video of the speech to share with a wider audience.I had the great fortune of being able to publish the text in it's entirety in issue one of Blanket Magazine (http://blanketmagazine.blogspot.com/), and I read my text from this book.Find more of my writing advice at http://jmfrey.net/words-for-writers/…

JmFrey

Good and Evil. Two sides of the same coin? Or something less defined, something more liminal? Entertaining and always thought-provoking, author J.M. Frey offers a collection of remarkable short stories that explore the grey area of the hero/villain dichotomy in this debut short story collection. Heroes. Villains. Monsters. Fairy Tales. Myths. Legends. Who is the good guy, who the bad, and who gets to decide which is which? After all, 'hero' is just another four letter word.*This is just a sample of the collection. For the full book, please head to www.jmfrey.net/books…

JmFrey

For seventeen years, Bevel Dom has been the author of his own story. Or, rather, he's been the author of The Tales of Kintyre Turn, the illustrated scrolls chronicling his adventures as first the squire, then the colleague, and then finally the friend of legendary hero Kintyre Turn. But there are some stories that Bevel doesn't write down, doesn't tell to eager audiences of bright-eyed boys and sighing bar wenches in taverns. Some he simply folds into his heart and keeps. This is one of those tales.*This excerpt is part of The Accidental Turn Series:http://jmfrey.net/the-accidental-turn-series/ In this prequel novella, fans of The Accidental Turn Series are offered a glimpse into the lives of Bevel Dom and Kintyre Turn shortly before their arrival at Turn Hall and the events that follow, further expanding upon the world and characters seen in The Untold Tale and the the upcoming sequel, The Forgotten Tale, coming Summer 2016.…

JmFrey

Forsyth Turn tells his daughter a bedtime story.*This free short story is part of The Accidental Turn Series:http://jmfrey.net/the-accidental-turn-series/…

JmFrey

Forsyth Turn has finally become a hero-however reluctantly. But now that Lucy Piper has married him and they've started a family in her world, his adventuring days are behind him. Yet not all is as it should be. Beloved novels are disappearing at an alarming rate, not just from the minds of readers like Pip, but from bookshelves as well. Almost as if they had never been. Almost like magic.Forsyth fears that it is his fault-that Pip's childhood tales are vanishing because he, a book character, has escaped his pages. But when he and Pip are sucked back into The Tales of Kintyre Turn against their will, they realize that something much more deadly and dire is happening. The stories are vanishing from Forsyth's world too. So Forsyth sets out on a desperate journey across Hain to discover how, and why, the stories are disappearing... before their own world vanishes forever.In this clever follow-up to The Untold Tale, The Forgotten Tale questions what it means to create a legacy, and what we owe to those who come after us.*This excerpt is part of The Accidental Turn Series:http://jmfrey.net/the-accidental-turn-series/…

JmFrey

Forsyth Turn helps his daughter to bed after a long adventure.*This free short story is part of The Accidental Turn Series:http://jmfrey.net/the-accidental-turn-series/…

JmFrey

After seventeen years of adventuring, Bevel Dom and Kintyre Turn are finally returning home.Forsyth Turn-brother to Bevel's long-time questing partner and newly Paired lover-has left both Hain and a hell of a lot of responsibility behind. He's bequeathed the Shadow's Mask and position of the king's spymaster to Bevel, and the seat of Lysse Chipping to Kintyre. It's a lot to take on, and it will mean an end to questing forever if they do. But it might also mean a chance for Bevel and Kintyre to find a Happily Ever After of their own.Unfortunately, Turn Hall seems to be infested with eligible young maidens out to snatch away the freshly returned Lord of Lysse, determined to destroy the fragile happiness that Bevel has built. Faced with more decisions than he was prepared for, Bevel battles with foes unfamiliar, making him wonder if life on the road really wasn't all that bad. But if there's one thing Bevel Dom isn't afraid to do, it's fight for the man he loves.An Accidental Turn novella set between The Untold Tale and The Forgotten Tale, Arrivals follows Kintyre Turn and Bevel Dom as they step into Forsyth's vacated life and face the surprising responsibilities he's left in his wake.*This excerpt is part of The Accidental Turn Series:http://jmfrey.net/the-accidental-turn-series/…

JmFrey

Forsyth Turn never wanted to be a hero. And yet, even in the Overrealm, a hero is what he'll be.After their last adventure in Hain, Forsyth expected to return to the life he'd built with Pip and Alis, his days of magic and heroics behind him. But then Pip starts suffering night terrors laced with images of glowing ivy and Elgar Reed calls with fears of bizarre threats and a man garbed all in black.But there is no magic in the Overrealm. Forsyth refuses to believe that anything other than mundane coincidence is at work-until Elgar's stalker leaves him a message too eerie and specific to ignore. Now, he has to face the possibility that Pip's dreams and Elgar's fears are connected . . . and that maybe they weren't the only ones to escape the pages of The Tales of Kintyre Turn.And if that's the case, it's going to take more than a handful of heroes to save the day this time. It's going to take an army. Luckily, Reed fans are legion.A stunning conclusion to the series, The Silenced Tale is a genre-bending whirlwind that breathes life into the idea that the power of story lies not just with the creator, but with the fans who love it."The Silenced Tale" is available from Reuts Publications:http://www.reuts.com/product-category/adult/ Add to your GoodReads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25024498-the-silenced-tale…

JmFrey

Alis wants a bedtime story, and only one from her Uncle Bev will do.*This free short story is part of The Accidental Turn Series:http://jmfrey.net/the-accidental-turn-series/…

JmFrey

"I don't know how I feel about being an international queer icon," Kin says as I carefully paint a blue-purple-pink trio of stripes on his cheek. I peck a kiss off the tip of my husband's nose. "Tough. There's no putting that djinn back in its lamp."ORKintyre Turn and Bevel Dom attend their first Pride Parade in the Overrealm.*This free short story is part of The Accidental Turn Series:http://jmfrey.net/the-accidental-turn-series/…