Kimberly Gardner

In these days of such desperate need in our nation’s military, it is critically important that we revisit the travesty of don’t-ask-don’t-tell. What kind of government maintains an official policy that prevents brave and patriotic men and women from serving their nation simply because of their sexual orientation? It’s absurd and insulting

So in celebration of Veterans’ Day and in tribute to all our veterans, particularly those forced to serve in silence, I’m posting a link to this speech given by a retired navy man, a patriot and one of those to whom we owe our undying gratitude and to whom the government owes an apology.

Thank you, Captain Rankin, for everything.

http://www.thegaymilitarytimes.com/060815Rankin.html

This weekend I really kicked it on my NANO project. I wrote 5,136 words in just two days which for me is pretty damn impressive. *g*

Today things will get even more challenging since I have a story that I need to finish and get turned into my editor by the end of the week. And that will be in addition to keeping up my 2k a day word count for NANO. So it’s back to work I go.

Yeah, I’m still alive. *g*

And I’m getting ready to participate in NANOWRIMO, or National Novel Writing Month. I need to get some serious wordage down on my next novel-length project and I’m thinking NANO is the way to do it.

What is NANO, you may ask. Well, it’s a national (and now international) event in which writers, both published and not, pledge to write a 50k novel during the month of November.

There’s a lot more to it than that, but that’s the gist. If you really want to know more, go to the NANO web site and you can read all about it. And maybe even sign up yourself, if you’re bent that way. *g*

Anyway, my plan is to write 2,000 words every day during November, no exceptions, not even Thanksgiving, until at the end of the month I have 60k toward my next project.

So wish me luck.

I’ll be checking in here throughout the month to let you know how I’m doing, so check back often and give me some encouragement. I have a feeling I may need it.

Phoenix got another fantastic review. This one from Teresa at Fallen Angel. She says in part,

“Ms. Gardner has created an incredible story that portrays the coming out of one man and how those people around him effect the decisions he makes I his life. The plot line of the story was very compelling from the start keeping the reader riveted to see what would happen next. I loved how Adam refused to give up in spite of the odds that were against him. Jimmy always believed the good I people and when things turned for the worst, he still tried to do his best. Daren with his many flaws is a fascinating character to read. In all, I found this book an incredible read and would definitely recommend it to others to read. Thanks go to Ms. Gardner for a remarkable story.”

You can read the entire review here:

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2008/September/Teresa-PhoenixRising.htm

I’m thrilled by the wonderful reviews Phoenix Rising has been getting. Here’s another one from Jessewave’s blog. She says in part,

“The sex scenes in the book were some of the hottest and most sensuous that I have read in quite some time and Kimberly Gardner does what a lot of writers can’t seem to be able to do - she does not let the sex overpower the story and seems to know instinctively that the story and the characters are what make a book stand out in this overcrowded genre. Not only can she write a great sex scene but she can write a terrific book!”

WooHoo! Read the review in its entirety.

http://reviewsbyjessewave.blogspot.com/2008/09/phoenix-rising.html

I received a terrific review from Regina at CTR this week. WooHoo!

She says in part,

“Phoenix Rising is a positively heart wrenching love story. There are places that make your gut clench. I admit there were parts that were so emotional I had tears in my eyes, and I had to actually stop reading for a bit and then come back to it. Ms. Gardner is a master storyteller who has the ability to actually make the reader feel the emotions the characters are going through. It is never just sex with these two and she makes that abundantly clear from the beginning. The sex, when it does happen, is blistering hot and deeply emotional which is my favorite kind of romance read. This is one book you do not want to miss, and should grace every romance reader’s library.”

You can read the entire review at the following url:

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Phoenixrising.html

Happy Labor Day!

I got a terrific review from Rainbow Reviews today. It says in part,

“The author has written some of the best sex scenes I have ever read. They are full of heat without being pornographic or cliched.”

Read the review in its entirety.

http://rainbow-reviews.com/?p=514

Available from MLR Press in ebook and print

Print ISBNs:

ISBN-10: 1934531170
ISBN-13: 978-1934531174

© 2008 Kimberly Gardner, all rights reserved

The apartment had that closed-up smell, a little dusty, a little damp, but nothing an open window wouldn’t fix. Jimmy must have smelled it too because he went directly to one of the windows. The glass rattled in the frame. The muscles in Jimmy’s shoulders and back rippled and flexed as he pushed up the sash.

Mmm, nice view. Continue Reading »

Available from MLR Press in both print and ebook

Print ISBNs:

• ISBN-10: 193453109X
• ISBN-13: 978-1934531099

©2008 Kimberly Gardner, all rights reserved

“The classical cannon of Greek and Latin literature does not treat Eros with particular reverence.” Professor Anton MacDonnough stepped out from behind his podium. He paced across the front of the classroom, his eyes alighting first on one student, then another. “In fact, any sensible reader will come away from a careful reading of the ancient texts with the clear impression that rather than a god to be adored, we would do better to treat Eros as….” Here he paused for effect. “Frankly, a psychopath.”

Laughter rippled through the room. MacDonnough smiled. Val sighed.

Of course he’d heard this line before in others of Mac’s lectures over the last four years. Mac had been his faculty advisor since his freshman year and was now advising on the writing of Val’s senior thesis. Mac always delivered the psychopath line in that exact cadence, always paused at that exact place and always smiled when the students laughed. Continue Reading »

I wanted to share this good review Phoenix got from the Literary Nymphs. The story got four nymphs! WooHoo!

“Kimberly Gardner has produced a story with all the elements of an emotional rollercoaster, the joy of being together and the heartache of separation. This is a most impressive tale that I enjoyed.”

Read the entire review at the following url:

http://literarynymphsreviewsonly.blogspot.com/2008/08/phoenix-rising.html