Keta's Keep

I live in a place where I allow my imagination to rule me. I have lived most all of my life wondering 'What If?' Things just sort of go from there. I have more fun sitting in front of my computer getting lost in my "characters' lives" than riding a roller coaster. Then again I love playing the Sims too...something in common there?

It's funny but when a writer says they get their ideas from everywhere, they’re telling you the truth. I can sit in a restaurant, a bar, or the airport, and out of nowhere an idea hits me, just by watching the people. I can sit there and come up with a story about his/her life right there. I can imagine what he or she is doing there at that moment and the next second I'm jotting down the plot and ignoring (not on purpose) the people I'm with. Used to be when I took the pad of paper out with a pen they kept talking and asking me questions, now they know that I'm lost in my own world, at least until I look up at them with a grin.

Inspiration is defined as Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity. And let me tell you, that my mind is always in overdrive. I love to create a story and get lost in its hold, in my characters lives. I get going on it and let me tell you, I get so caught up in it that it's what I'm thinking of when I go to bed and it's what I'm thinking of when I open my eyes. Honestly, someone needs to invent a way for me to write while in the shower. I don't know how to not think about the story I'm working with for just a day. I can't just take a day off, because really it feels as if I'll just explode if I can't get it out. Basically once I'm working with an idea, I stay lost until that idea is down and in the form of a manuscript, and ready to be read. I am so blessed to have been given a Muse; she keeps me going even when I don't think I can go anymore.

Most of the time you can catch me sitting at my computer with my Zune going, and believe it or not, nine times out of ten I can't tell you what's playing. If someone puts the TV on and I can see it, I'm a lost cause. However, there is a bright side to that; I bet I will come up with another idea for another story.

I have three kids, I’ve been married to the same wonderful man for so many years and we have three grand babies. Life is worth living for sure!! I live in Colorado with my husband where our children and grand children surround us. Are we lucky or what? The best of both I’d say.

As you’ve probably guessed, my passion is writing. I love to dream of make-believe places and people and make them come to reality so that I can share them. So, if anything that I write touches you in any way, and it leaves you thinking, then I can say I’ve done my job. And if you’d like, you’re welcome to send me an email, I’d love to hear from you.

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Jeff: in his own words: Catch This Handsome Man Here

I’m a literary geek, and have been one all my life. I’m gay. I’m overly emotional and hyper sensitive. I think mean people suck, and I hate snobs. I think the phrase “by invitation only” should be banned from our vocabulary, and it is a policy that is patently offensive to me in almost any imaginable context. I abhor elitism, pretentiousness, and people that are proud of what they own or of whom they know.

I love to read. All kinds of things—especially gay-themed novels. I particularly enjoy romance, historical, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, vampire stories, and young adult.

I write gay-themed stories. They always have happy endings, and this is something for which I offer no apologies. I believe in knights in shining armor, good prevailing over evil, and everyone living happily ever after. I have enough realism in my life; I don’t need it in my fiction.

The romances in my stories are all very similar. I couple a vulnerable, sensitive, and innocent central character with a larger-than-life hero. Sometimes this is presented in a jock/nerd dynamic, sometimes it is Dom/sub, sometimes badboy/angel. In truth, this is classic romance. It is Prince Charming and Cinderella.

I began writing about seven years ago and posted my first stories on the Nifty Archive. My work includes gay fiction, gay romance, gay erotica, young adult, and BDSM. I recently embarked upon the task of attempting to write a science fiction novel.

I’m a reviewer on another gay-interest review site and also have my own Blog. I network using Facebook and MySpace. My published books include Dumb Jock and Puppy Love. Slated for release later this year are: Puppy Love 2: Building a Family and The Landlord.

As if there aren’t enough m/m fiction review sites out there already, we’ve decided to throw our hat into the ring and give it a shot. Being that we both are authors, we didn't originally intend to get into reviewing the work of other authors and creating a Blog to highlight and promote their work. Over the course of the past year or so, however, we began noticing a trend amongst the established review blogs, and it became very disturbing to us.

It has always bothered us to see reviewers disparage a book, raking the author over the coals, and then to have these nasty reviews followed up by a stream of endless praise to the reviewer for their outstanding review. It is even more alarming when we see comments from these same readers stating that they will certainly never bother to touch the book that has just been ripped to shreds.

In our opinion, this is not the purpose of a book review. When we review books, we merely are offering the opinion of one single reader—ourselves. We may or may not agree with the theme of the book. We may or may not particularly fall in love with some of the characters in the book. We may or may not believe all of the elements of the plot are plausible or even logical. We do, however, recognize that if a book has been published, it is likely to possess at least some redeeming qualities. If we can absolutely find none, we will not bother to review that book at all. Instead we will allow our silence to speak on our behalf, and we will leave the book to be reviewed by other reviewers who may have different interpretations.

We do not believe that books should be rated based upon our personal relationships with the authors. We do not believe that self-published books should be regarded as sub-standard or of lower quality than traditionally published books. We do not believe that our job is to influence readers as to what they should or should not like. And we do not believe that our personal tastes in relation to fetish, relational dynamic, or specific form of sexual expression are the basis for which we should rate a book.

We, Michele and Jeff, want to offer readers an alternative to what is out there now. We want to have a much different type of review site. We want it to be one which celebrates the creativity and imagination of the author. We want it to be open to concepts and ideas that others have typically shunned. We want to offer our opinions as to what we like and then allow you to judge for yourself whether or not you agree.

We promise never to brag about how important we are or about how many people we influence. We promise not to ever discourage an author from responding to our reviews. We are not deity, and if we are going to criticize an author for something they have written, we certainly welcome their feedback. Who better is there to explain or defend a work than the author him/herself?

We understand the thousands of hours that go into writing, editing, and publishing a book. As reviewers we realize that the only time and effort that we invest is the amount it takes to read the book and to write a review. We are not placing ourselves above the author in a self-appointed position of importance. We feel privileged that the authors have shared their talent with us, and we feel it is our responsibility to be as fair and unbiased as possible.

We sincerely hope that we can bring readers and authors together in a forum where nobody claims to know it all. We’re all in this together, and we all just wanna read some great books. Bring em on!

Chloe Waits Review:
Okay, I have to admit, after hearing Keta Diablo's name quite a bit for erotic romance, I had to snip over to her blog, Keta's Keep, and check it out a little awhile back.

Very cool blog. I was enticed by the icons that allowed me to browse the pages of her work.

Land of Falling Stars lured me in immediately with its lyrical title, and hot cover art. I was instantly captivated by the haunting love story of Gavin and Sophie. So much so I bought it on the spot.

And, I am very glad I did. Engaging, fully realized characters, with a passionate love story that is at once steamy and tender. Gavin won me over as a intense hero fighting against his demons, and Sophie as a heroine trying to reconcile her heart and the past. Complexly layered plot and conflicts added to this poignant tale of star crossed love. Keta Diablo has created a historical romance that manages to blend all these elements with a subtle maestro's touch. I will definitely look forward to reading her work again very soon!

Rating: Five out of Five Stars

Keta Diablo – GOODREADS

12 ratings, 4.42 average rating, 8 reviews

Tamela Quijas rated it: FIVE STARS

Read in February, 2010

Ms. Diablo has never disappointed me on any of her reads and The Sin Eater's Prince has topped all of her preivously written works. Set among the ancient Welsh background and folklore, I was captured by the tale of Owen Rhys, reviled in his small village, despite the fact that he draws the sins of the living from their bodies before they meet their maker.

Owen' sole friend is the physician's assistant, Carys. Through Carys, Owen has meet the gorgeous healer Andras. Despite the lore...more Ms. Diablo has never disappointed me on any of her reads and The Sin Eater's Prince has topped all of her previously written works. Set among the ancient Welsh background and folklore, I was captured by the tale of Owen Rhys, reviled in his small village, despite the fact that he draws the sins of the living from their bodies before they meet their maker.

Owen' sole friend is the physician's assistant, Carys. Through Carys, Owen has met the gorgeous healer Andras. Despite the lore of a sin eater, Andras holds a secret of his own, the curse of the vampire.

Ms. Diablo's novel has all my favorite pulls, it's beautifully plot driven, involves ancient lore and fables, has a paranormal story line, and drips with sultry and sexual decadence.

For fans of deliciously erotic and paranormal fiction, Ms. Diablo's book is a must read

Gaa-chan from Goodreads rated it: FIVE STARS

Mahalia from Goodreads rated it: FIVE STARS and a Fantastic Read!

Jan 10, 2010

Sidney Octavian rated it: FIVE STARS

Jan 14, 2010

Kimmy D rated it: FIVE STARS

Silver_Raven from Goodreads rated it: FIVE STARS

Jan 18, 2010

Larissa Benoliel rated it: FOUR STARS