Hello, Delilah! Thank you for welcoming me here to share my new release! Gideon’s Gratitude is the fifth book in my Love in Mission City world.
This book is special to my heart and has a story. I mean, all my books have stories behind them – why the writer wrote that story at that moment. But this one is a bit unique. In October 2020, I attended a virtual romance writer conference. One of the editors taking pitches was from Harlequin. I had just learned they were accepting manuscripts with gay couples. I had already written Ginger Snapping All the Way, as well as two novellas. Ginger hadn’t been published yet, but I had confidence it was a good book. I messaged back and forth with a friend who wrote for that line, and she helped me craft a pitch.
I made the pitch. I might’ve implied the book was almost finished and just needed some polishing. Well, I had notes…
The editor loved the pitch. Loved the tropes I had chosen. He gave me his email to send the manuscript.
I spent the next month writing like a demon. I finished the book with five words to spare (there was a specific word count). I paid my freelance editor to polish it, and I sent it off. I admit, I had visions of finally achieving my dream. A contract with a Big 5 publisher!
Now, the year before, I’d had an editor say the same thing for a different book. I sent it to her and, while the manuscript sat on her desk, she left the company. She didn’t give my book to anyone, and that publisher requires an agent. I hadn’t been able to land an agent, so having that editor leave without doing something with my precious manuscript really hurt. Still, I sent it to the Wild Rose Press, and they acquired it—as well as the rest of the trilogy. Working with a small press is awesome, and I’m happy those books found a home.
Back to my current book. I’d named it Gideon’s Second Chance Christmas. I thought I had something special. I mean, I’m supposed to say that about all my books, but this one…there was a lot of me in the book. The book is very raw, full of angst.
Four months later, my friend who had helped me create the pitch told me the editor had left. Clearly, he hadn’t forwarded my manuscript to anyone either. I was devastated, but that press had a way to submit books without an agent. I raced over there, only to discover that line had just — and I mean just — started requiring an agent. In other words, if I’d sent it through the system and not to the editor directly, I still would’ve had a shot. Now, I had jack.
I was heartbroken. My dream felt out of reach. They had another line that published queer books. I knew my book wouldn’t fit, though.
By that time, I’d written a follow up to Ginger – Stanley’s Christmas Redemption. I was publishing another novella and then another novel with the Wild Rose Press. I signed up for a multi-author series. I kept moving forward.
And yet, Gideon sat. Now, the book was written in third person past tense. All my recent queer books were first person past tense. (I did rather than he did).
Still Gideon sat. I published more books, novellas, and a ton of short stories.
I couldn’t face Gideon.
Then I decided the time had come. I’d published my third Love in Mission City book – Sleigh Bells and Second Chances, and my fourth, Rayne’s Return was to be released shortly. I’d had the notion of making Gideon book 4, but Everett and Rayne insisted they go next.
Finally, I picked up Gideon. I’m not going to lie — changing 60k words from third person to first is BRUTAL. I can confidently say that after my changes and a self-editing pass, two passes by my editor, my proofreader taking her turn, as well as my narrator, we still found more things to fix. When I was proofing the audio, I found another three. Now I can confidently say there are probably at least two or more POV slips that we all missed. Yes, those buggers are stubborn.
So Gideon’s Gratitude is out in the world today. For those of you who read my Love in Mission City series, you’ll find it takes place at the same time as Sleigh Bells and four other stories. Why? Because it’s a Christmas book, and I didn’t want to jump a year. I have more books to write, and I didn’t want to advance previous couples too far. I can also confidently say that having five stories take place at the same time is NUTS. But it is what it is.
That’s the story. I’m still trying for a contract with a Big 5. I would still love to see my book on a shelf in a bookstore. In the meantime, I’ll keep writing books and self-publishing (and sending things to my small press publisher as well…)
Okay. Thanks for letting me visit today, Delilah!
Contest: I want to give a prize to one lucky commentor. When you see a series and you’re considering reading it, what makes you take the risk and pick up book 1? Are there such things as too many books in a series and that turns you off? Curious minds want to know! One lucky commentor, chosen by Random, will win a copy of my romantic suspense Rayne’s Return as well as the short prequel to Gideon, Archer’s Awakening. Archer is not required reading to enjoy Gideon, but it does explain an anecdote in the book. Good luck!
Gideon’s Gratitude
Gideon
When my marriage fell apart, and I lost custody of my kids, my world shattered. My own fault, all of it, from the pills I was taking to how badly I handled the court case. I retreated to my grandparents’ old home, shut the door, and hunkered down with my Labrador Retriever, Lucky. Life is rough, and the constant construction noise from the mansion going up next door will truly be the end of me.
Archer
I’d never met the man living next door until a storm forces me to take refuge with him. Gideon’s skittish, generous, and oddly endearing. I’m dismayed the construction of my post-divorce home has been so upsetting for him, but there’s little I can do to ease that distress. What I can do, though, is use my skills as a talented divorce attorney to help with the most painful part of his life, the unfair custody arrangement that keeps him from being with his kids.
Gideon’s Gratitude is a small-town, opposites attract, hurt-comfort gay romance about a former longshoreman who believes he’s broken and the lawyer who believes there’s life after divorce.
Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Gideons-Gratitude-Love-Mission-City-ebook/dp/B0F4NRFQZJ
Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/GideonsGratitude
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231327764-gideon-s-gratitude
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.
Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
