Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

published two books with Dreamspinner Press , Blue Notes , and The Dream of a Thousand Nights . The second book in her Blue Notes series, The Melody Thief , will be released in August of 2012. Her next book, The Trust , a gay spy thriller co-authored with Venona Keyes, will be released by Dreamspinner Press in June, 2012.
    Shira is married with two children and two insane dogs, and when she's not writing, she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children. When she's not working, she can be found aboard a 30' catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel.
    Links: Shira can be found on Facebook , Goodreads , Twitter , or on her website
    You can also email her at [email protected] .
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LAOCH RUDADH (RED WARRIOR)
    by K. Mason

    Wearing only a red tartan kilt, held up by a silver belt, the young man, born in 1987 from the tattoo drawn across his chest, waits for the nightclub to open.

    Dear Author,
    He was just hanging out before the club opened when all of a sudden he found himself transported to medieval Scotland (anytime between 400 and 1750). How was he received? How did he get there? Does he find someone who wants to make him stay in the past? Someone who wants to go back to the present with him? What happens to this kilted club boy when he gets sent back to when a kilt was the regular daily wear? And author whilst I don't mind if there is sex, please give me more plot than sex.
    Thanks!
    Kathleen
    P.S. ETA – if you could somehow give me an HEA that would make me really happy.

    genre: historical
    tags: time slip; Viking; Scotland; enemies to lovers
    word count: 15,814
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    Disclaimer:
    The historical record of the Viking period that most of us know, that of the raping, pillaging barbarian, was mainly written by some 300 – 500 years after the fact, when the Scandinavian and Icelandic countries had been converted to Christianity. Homosexuality was wholly unacceptable to the historians of the time; however, the sagas, myths and legends indicate that both the gods and heroes of their society were believed to have taken part in homosexual acts. This may indicate that there was in fact more tolerance within their society than the official records allow and I have chosen to reflect this within the story. I make absolutely no claims to historical accuracy. The title is given in Gaelic, but certain words in the story are given in Old Norse and a glossary is provided at the end of the story.
     
     

    LAOCH RUDADH (RED WARRIOR)
    by K. Mason
    The heavy beat of electronic dance music from inside the building was loud enough to be heard by the queue of impatient clubbers waiting for entry on the pavement outside. The whole town was livelier than usual. The university's final graduation ceremony had taken place earlier in the day bringing people out to enjoy the long sunlit June evening. Many of them were already, at least partially, buzzed on alcohol.
    Here and there in the crowd outside Cheerz, the town's only gay nightclub, the swish of different patterned tartans mixed with the more familiar club clothes.
    "Wanna check if I'm a true Scotsman?" Alex asked suggestively as he rubbed his partially clothed body against his best friends. In one hand he held a half drunk bottle of Lager, whilst he ran the other over his bare chest. He'd had just enough to drink to kill most of his inhibitions, and Stuart was always good for a reaction when he flirted.
    "Jeez, no!" Stuart pushed him away, causing him to stagger into the group next to them in the queue.
    "Watch it," one of the men turned and growled at him.
    "Sorry, my friend's a little unsteady on his feet. He's not really Scottish, can't hold his drink." Alex apologised mockingly. The man turned away with a shake of his head.
    "I can't believe you're actually doing this Al."
    "Come on," Alex shrugged, the movement of his muscles making the numbers of the large black tattoo across his chest ripple. "I'm not the only one, and free entry is free entry. Besides which, I look damn good in this kilt." He turned slowly, wiggling his hips as he did so. The kilt, held in place by a thin metal belt that crossed around the top of his hips, swung above his knees.
    "Oh, you definitely do." Stuart cast a long look up and down Alex's body from the short cropped fire engine red dyed hair to the oxblood Doc Marten boots; then licking his lips he winked, before bursting out laughing. "Sorry," he apologised.