Jay Bell's Blog, page 3

Very soon I will be pulling the entire Something Like… series from all retailers except for Amazon. I do so with mixed feelings. The way we consume media has changed drastically over the past decade. Most of us have discovered the irresistible convenience of subscription-based services. For one flat price (usually around ten bucks) we get to stay home and enjoy an all-you-can-consume buffet of content. In my household, that’s how we listen to music (Spotify!) and how we watch movies and TV (Netflix, Hulu, etc.). Considering the state the economy is in, I can only imagine that these price-friendly services will become even more popular. That includes books. Kindle Unlimited is Amazon’s subscription service for eBooks, and I’ve been willingly ignoring it for most of my career. Why? Because they demand exclusivity.

That means, if I want my books to be included in the Kindle Unlimited program, they can’t be sold on iBooks, Google Play, Barnes & Noble Nook, or anywhere else. This makes me uncomfortable. I’ve always wanted my stories to reach the widest audience possible… while still making money. If I didn’t have to worry about paying the bills, I’d be happy to give my books away. I can’t do that though, and each year I’ve seen sales from other retailers shrink while my Amazon sales represent a bigger slice of the pie. The writing is on the wall, and I feel I at least need to try Kindle Unlimited once to see how it goes. Here’s what you need to know:

-If you’ve bought an eBook from me on any platform, you will still have access to that book. You own it. That won’t change.
-If you are in the middle of reading the Something Like… series on any platform except for Amazon Kindle, you might want to buy the others before the end of this week, if you don’t like using the Kindle app.
-Paperbacks will remain exactly as they are. You can still buy them wherever you can find them. The exclusivity only applies to eBooks.
-If this becomes a successful model for me, I’ll still release new books to all platforms first. I’ll only enroll new books in Kindle Unlimited once people have a reasonable opportunity to get them through their preferred method.

I think that covers everything. I only have to commit to three months of Kindle Unlimited. If it isn’t profitable, I’ll bail and things will go back to how they were. I’m hoping it’s successful though. If I score new readers while still getting paid, I’ll be happy. If my books become more accessible to those of us who have less money to spend—and let’s face it, we’re all in that boat now—then hopefully you’ll be happy too. I only wish that Amazon would allow me to do both. Maybe someday. For now, I’ll play ball in the hopes of making it to the major leagues.

If you’d like to check my back catalog to see which books of mine you might be missing, you can do so here.

Earlier in the year, I decided to do some heavy rewrites on Kamikaze Boys. That seems a little crazy in retrospect, because the original version had always been received well. The reviews were good and it’s the only book of mine to win a Lambda Literary award. So if it’s not broke, why fix it? The answer is simple: I wanted there to be an audiobook version. That’s a significant financial investment, so it seemed prudent to reacquaint myself with the contents before sending them along to the narrator. When I did, I wasn’t happy with what I saw. I’ve written over a dozen books since first publishing Kamikaze Boys. I’ve learned a trick or two while honing my craft. When I started rereading the book, I could see way too many imperfections. Clumsy phrasing, awkward pacing, jokes I didn’t quite manage to sell or emotional moments I neared without quite reaching… I also saw plenty in the story that I still liked, which made me eager to jump back in and put what I had learned to good use. Not only did I give everything a much needed polish, but there’s extended content, additional scenes, and a brand new cover to wrap it all up in.

I’m especially pleased about that last bit. The previous cover was created under serious time constraints and far from ideal circumstances. That’s a story in itself which I’ll save for another day. I’ve been wanting to give this book a facelift for a long time though, and I’m thrilled with what Andreas came up with this time around. Even though I added nearly 20,000 words to this new version, I also strived to keep the original story intact. I didn’t rewrite history. I only did a better job of representing events. So if you’d like to revisit my favorite self-destructive teenagers, you can find the second edition of Kamikaze Boys at Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, and my personal shop.

As for that audiobook, it’ll be out early next year. Kirt Graves, who worked with me on Straight Boy, has agreed to narrate Connor and David’s story. I can’t wait to hear his take on these characters! If you’d like to be notified when the audiobook is out, please consider signing up for my newsletter at the link below. I promise I won’t pester you too much. For now, no matter your format of choice, I hope you enjoy revisiting a book that is near and dear to my heart.

Kamikaze Boys is making its audiobook debut in early 2020. To be alerted when it’s out, please sign up for our newsletter:.

Name*



First




Last


Email*

EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Back when we used to live in Germany, I’d often find something I wanted to import, only to discover there was no international shipping option. I haven’t forgotten how frustrating that could feel. The good news is that everything I create is now available through my store and is ready to be shipped to just about anywhere! (Sorry Antarctica) Not only have we beefed up our inventory with new things like gift cards and my entire catalog of paperbacks and eBooks, but we’re giving everyone 20% off when you use the code JACE20 – Act quick! The sale only lasts until November 12th, midnight Chicago time. We humbly invite you to start browsing here.

I know Amazon is more convenient in many regards. They’re rich enough though. I am not. If you’re in the UK and order the new Something Like Summer graphic novel from Amazon.com, once shipping is added, you’ll pay the same price that you do when buying it from my store. If you’re in other parts of Europe, it’s a buck less! Big deal, right? It makes a big difference to me. Amazon hits its sellers with tons of fees for just about everything you can imagine. They even charge me for bandwidth each time an eBook is sold. No kidding. When you buy direct from me, it doubles the royalties I receive. Filthy-rich Amazon doesn’t need more money. I could certainly use it fund future projects or keep the current ones going. So you’ll also get a warm sense of contentment knowing you’ve helped support the arts. I don’t just mean myself. I pay other people to help me create these delightfully gay stories. If that’s not motivation enough, I’ve also lowered prices on a few items and have cheaper shipping options for those of us in the USA. It’s risk free to take a look, so Why not browse the merchandise? Thanks for stopping by!

I have a new novella out today, and despite the shorter length, it manages to deliver all the elements you would expect from a Jay Bell story. A heart is divided, a former flame returns from the past, and unexpected connections are revealed. Laughs, sighs, and maybe a tear or two are also included. I’ll include the synopsis below, but if you’re already sold, you can pick it from all the usual places like Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play.  Or if you’re only after the pdf/epub/mobi files, you can get those directly from my shop, which is good for me, since I don’t have to share the profits with a mega-rich corporation. I’m cool with whatever option works best for you. No matter where you read it, be sure to let me know what you think!

 

Synopsis:

Sometimes dreams come true, whether you’re ready for them or not.

Shane was only fourteen when found a photo of a boy his age and became obsessed with it. Now, thirteen years later, he has a chance encounter with a man who bears a striking resemblance. Already in a happy relationship, Shane must keep his fantasies in check while attempting to solve the mystery, but little does he realize just how many connections they share. The Boy at the Bottom of the Fountain is a heartwarming short story about love in its many forms, be they real or imagined.

Comics combine the written word with visual art. They’re one of the most satisfying ways to experience any story, which is why I’ve been a lifelong fan of them. I’ve often dreamt of adapting the Something Like… series for this medium, and two years ago, that process began. Today I am proud to announce that the first volume of those comics is now available, presented as a stunningly beautiful graphic novel. So exactly what is contained within? This first volume of comics collects the entire story arc of Ben and Tim’s high school years. This isn’t a simple retelling though. There are exciting new plot twists to discover, but you’ll also find plenty that is comfortingly familiar. I have quite the master plan for this project, and this is where it all begins. The graphic novel also includes a bonus gallery of art both sexy and sweet, which you won’t find anywhere else!

If you’re into eBooks, you can also get it for the Kindle app, which includes guided view. Or you can download it directly from my new store as a high-quality PDF. We also have some super cool merchandise over there, such as magnetic Ben and Tim dress-up dolls. They’re like paper dolls, except you can slap them on your fridge and enjoy creating new outfits or just have the boys hang out in their undies.

If you’re already a fan of the comic, please considering supporting it by purchasing a copy. This is truly a project that is supported solely by good people such as yourself. If you’ve never read a comic geared toward adults, I think you’re in for a treat. We have so many crazy plans for this new version of the story, and this is where it all begins. Thank you for getting us this far!

Get the printed graphic novel from:

My store – I get the biggest cut this way!

Amazon – They ship to international destinations.

Get the eBook from:

My store – This PDF offers the highest image quality possible!

Amazon – Great if you like using the “Guided View” feature of the Kindle app.

Boy, that was one long cold season! I spent most of the
winter bundled up inside, but I was far from idle. Here’s a summary of what
I’ve been up to:

I released a new short story called The Boy at the Bottom of the Fountain. Like so many of my stories, it deals with having feelings for multiple people, the pull of nostalgia, seeing events through multiple perspectives, and oh yeah, gay love. It’s a tight little story that’s currently up on Patreon, although I would like to give it a wider release this year.

I also wrote a few new Something Like… short stories for Patreon. They include Something Like Goodbye, which focuses on Marcello, his past, and a some of his secrets. This one takes place at a much later date than even the books! I also wrote Something Like Me, which allows us to spend time in Emma Trout’s head. Remember her? Greg and Michelle’s daughter? Jason’s best friend? At one time, I had planned to write an entire book from her perspective, so it felt good to at least give her a shorter outing. Something Like Then is a really quick tale from an era of Ben’s life that we haven’t visited much. That’s all I’ll say about that one, but it does get emotional. At this point, I believe I have enough material to fill a third volume of Something Like Stories. I’m still deciding if I want to do that. Let me know what you think. For now, it’s all up there on Patreon.

I also wrote Icarus
and Apollo, which is a retelling of the famous myth. We all know that
Icarus flew too close to the sun, but why? The Greeks tended to personify and
deify all aspects of nature, the sun included, so this seemed like a love story
waiting to happen. I had tremendous fun writing this one. If you’re drawn to my
weirder or more experimental stories, you’ll likely enjoy it.

Speaking of which, I finished work on a book called Switch. It’s a lot of things, but a love story it is not. Switch takes that cheesy old body-swapping trope and runs with it, resulting in an adventure that is fun but never silly. There are high stakes and some serious emotions mixed in with one hell of a journey. I absolutely plan on releasing this one to the masses, but like most things I’m working on, you can already read the current draft on Patreon.

A couple of new audiobooks came out over the winter, including Straight Boy and Something Like Hail. I have plans for more too. I’m currently rewriting Kamikaze Boys in preparation of having an audio version produced. This will result in a second edition of that book, similar to what I did with Something Like Summer a couple years back. Because of that, I’m pulling Kamikaze Boys from stores at the end of the month. If for whatever reason you want a copy of the first edition, now is the time to grab it. Otherwise, the book will be available again later this year with revised content and a brand new cover.

The Something Like Summer comic is doing well. More and more people are reading it, and the first volume of printed comics is currently in production and due for release this summer. As always, you can read the comics for free online at the gaywebcomics site or over on Tapas if you prefer a mobile experience. We just began Volume Two: Autumn, which means that Jace is now part of the story. Cassy has been knocking it out of the park with the her art, so be sure to check it out.

And finally, the elusive Something
Like Summer movie is still happening. I promise. I know frustration is at
an all-time high right now, due to the grueling wait. I’m right there with you.
I’ve become more involved with the process recently, trying to help anywhere I
can to help bring the movie closer to fruition. There still isn’t a release
date, I’m afraid. We’re working to meet the last couple of legal obligations.
After that, we should be in the clear, but I don’t dare make any predictions as
to when. Not after so many delays. I can only assure you that the to-do list is
slowly getting shorter. So please hang in there just a little longer.

Looking at the list above, I can see that I’ve been doing
more writing than publishing. I hope to change that this year and release a
bunch of stuff to get everyone swept up in the feels again. For now, thank you
for continuing to make room in your lives for my characters and their stories.
Much love to you all!

You can now get the audiobook of Straight Boy from Audible, iTunes, and Amazon!

If you’ve ever had a crush, or fallen in love with someone, and wondered if they could return your feelings, then Straight Boy is a story that will shake you to your bones. Andrew Evans has just moved to Chicago at the start of his senior year in high school, and he’s feeling pretty bummed about having to make new friends. Until he meets Carter King, a handsome young guy who is also new to the area. It quickly becomes apparent to Andrew that they have a lot of potential together, even if Carter claims to be straight. Is he really though?

I’m very pleased with how this book turned out. The audio version especially. Since this book represents a fresh start for me, I wanted to try a different narrator and really give the book its own feel. What I didn’t expect was to enjoy the audio version even more than the written one. I love the new guy’s voice that much. Kirt Graves really captures the essence of each character while delivering emotion to all the most crucial scenes. Rest assured, this story has all the feels, and Kirt really capitalizes on that with a heartfelt performance. I adore the end result and urge you to at least listen to a sample of this book, even if you’re not the audio type. I never was before, but I think Kirt may have converted me. So if you haven’t already, please head over to Audible, iTunes, or Amazon and check out Straight Boy for yourself.

If you’d like to own a print version of the Something Like Summer comic, or if you want to ensure that the comic will continue, I’ve set up a Kickstarter campaign to make that happen. Click here for all the details. Need more info before you decide? Please keep reading.

For nearly two years, Cassy and I have been cranking out a page a week of the Something Like Summer comic. Now we’ve finally reached a milestone. Page 100 marks the end of the first story arc. Ben and Tim’s relationship has reached a critical point and well… this is the part where I need your help. I want to collect those pages, bundle them together with a gallery of amazing bonus art, and get it all into print. Just imagine holding a graphic novel with nice glossy pages, the contents filled to the brim with Ben and Tim being adorable. Or think of a young gay person, or even an adult, finding this comic at their library and having something to identify with. I want that to happen, but this isn’t as simple as self-publishing a novel. To do this right, the book will need to be printed overseas, shipped to me in a ton of boxes, and then I’ll have to mail each copy to you by hand. No problem! I’m willing to take on that task, but of course nothing happens for free in this world. The initial expense will be over eight thousand dollars. Yikes!

I’m not asking for handouts though. Over on Kickstarter, you can preorder the graphic novel and help fund its production at the same time. There are a number of additional perks available for those who are interested. Would you like an autographed copy of the Something Like Summer novel? You know, the original one that’s all words. I never offer autographed copies anymore. I haven’t for the past two years, so this is your chance! Or, if you’re feeling hardcore, we’re down to our last twenty-five sets of character art cards that Andreas dreamed up long ago. How about a Ben and Jace holiday greeting card? It’s up there too. Or if you’ve begun your journey as a writer and want my feedback on your project, that’s also an option. I’ve tried to make the prices as reasonable as possible, so please take a gander.

As you probably know, the Something Like Summer comic is published weekly for free. I want people to discover this story, so that won’t change. My wonderful Patreon supporters have enabled me to pay Cassy for her gorgeous art, but I haven’t earned a cent from making this comic. That isn’t not the best business decision, especially since writing the scripts, editing the files, and publishing/promoting each page takes time. I’m basically working for free. This is the stage where I can potentially be compensated for my efforts. What’s even more important to me is seeing this vision through. I have three volumes of comics planned, so that means another two hundred pages to go. The potential for more is there, if people demand it, but that’s my minimum for the master plan. And what a plan it is! Despite the story being set in a different decade, and even though events are going to diverge further and further from the books, the comic is still canon and ties in with the series. How? You’ll find out, but only if we get there. So please, if you can, consider chipping in for the digital version at least, which is only five bucks. Every little bit helps!

Audio listeners! Are you ready to dive back into the Something Like… series? I sure hope so, because a new book, Something Like Hail, is out today. “But wait,” you might exclaim while clutching your hard-earned money to your chest, “wasn’t Something Like Forever the final book?” You’d be correct there. Hail isn’t the grand finale. It’s a side adventure that introduces us to Noah Westwood and his struggle to find a better life for himself. Naturally this involves love, a few tears, and appearances from friends we’ve made in the previous books. Just how does this story tie in with the rest of the series? You’ll have to discover that for yourself. You can get started now at Audible, iTunes, or Amazon. I hope you enjoy the new adventure. Even though the Something Like… series is now officially over, I’m still cranking out stories. My latest, Straight Boy, should be out on audio in the next couple of months. Please come back and see me!

Straight Boy is now out! No pun intended, because despite the title, poor Andrew Evans isn’t sure if his new friend is actually straight or not. It could be that Carter King needs to come out of the closet. Or maybe Andrew is only deluding himself. If you’ve ever been in a situation where you loved someone, but weren’t sure if they were capable of loving you back, then this is the book for you. You can get your copy of Straight Boy from Amazon as a paperback, or the eBook is available for Kindle, iBooks, Nook, and other formats at Google Play and Smashwords. Once you’ve finished the story, be sure to let me know what you think! The back-cover blurb is below. Happy reading!

I love him. And I’m pretty sure he loves me back… even though he’s straight.

When I first met Carter King, I knew he was something special. I imagined us being together, and we are, but only as friends. Best friends! I’m trying to be cool with that, even though I know he has secrets, and there have definitely been mixed signals. I don’t want a crush to ruin what we already have. Then again, if there’s any chance that we can be together, it’s worth the risk, because Carter could be the love of my life. Or he might be the boy who breaks my heart.

Straight Boy is Jay Bell’s emotional successor to his critically acclaimed Something Like… series. This full-length novel tells a story of friendship and love while skating the blurry line that often divides the two.