Secrets & Spires is a National Indie Excellence Award Finalist! 4 Horsemen is so excited to have Dominic N. Ashen receive this acknowledgement for Secrets & Spires – Book 3 in the Steel & Thunder series. This is such an amazing adventure with Khazak and David! If you have not started you need to dive in and catch up with all of these amazing books.
Can they make it to the top before it all comes crashing down?
Khazak has been feeling a little lost lately. By the age of thirty, he’d become the youngest Ranger Captain in his city’s history. He thought he had the rest of his life figured out until he was betrayed by people he trusted and forced to resign. The one bright spot is David, his human lover and former captive (though “former” doesn’t always apply in the bedroom). After coming so close to losing him, Khazak didn’t think twice about leaving everything behind to follow after him. Things are still new, but they have all the time in the world for David to grow comfortable with their relationship.
David’s having a rough time himself. After miraculously surviving a deadly attack, he’s left looking for answers and seeking revenge on those responsible. His search brings him to the city of Pákannon, and he’s not alone: not only is his entire team behind him—he also has Khazak, the orc who loves him and once owned him (and technically, still does). Just as he’s getting used to the idea of people knowing they’re together, someone from his past shows up and threatens all of his progress. Lucky for him, a side-quest to a mysterious city in the mountains should be exactly the distraction he needs. It’s not like anything bad or dangerous could happen, right?
This is a book filled with action, comedy, tent sex, giant snakes, and ghost stories! Read the next chapter of Khazak & David’s story and join them as they explore more of the magical world they inhabit. Readers of gay/male-on-male romances that feature kinky power-exchange relationships, BDSM, and Dom/sub elements: this book is for you!
Male/Male, Kink, Orcs, Anachronistic World, Magic, Otherworld, Award Winning, Elves, BDSM, Action & Adventure, Erotica, Fantasy, LGBTQIA+, Our Own Voices, Romance, Ken B. Erotic, Dominic N. Ashen, Steel & Thunder
You can purchase this book and all the others in the series here:
Coming to Orlando on September 18th – September 22nd, 2024 is the largest educational event for romance authors and readers you have ever seen. This multi day event will be filled with workshops, panels, demonstrations all about writing and reading Kink and BDSM. Our goal is to bring together the lovers of all things smutty, in a safe and loving environment, to learn from each other and share what we know. This is a 21 and up event.
We are excited for the release of Ours by Dominic N. Ashen!
If growing up is hard, becoming an actual adult is even harder, and the transition between the two can, at times, seem like a minefield.
Cory is just an average 18-year-old nerd who plays video games and reads comic books. Well, mostly average. He’s also gay, in the closet, and into some pretty kinky stuff. Sure, his only outlet is the internet and his left hand, but with college right around the corner, he figures his secret is safe… Right?
Except Cory’s two best friends, Derek and Nic, recently found out about that secret. And just like a lot of teenage boys, they decide to think with their groins and take advantage of the situation. With the internet as their guide, they formulate a plan to train Cory into being their personal submissive plaything.
As they learn more about themselves, each other, and the kinky world of BDSM, Cory, Derek, and Nic may also discover that romance can bloom in the most unexpected of places.
You can order this book in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
It’s a tale as old as time, but growing up and being in the closet, life wasn’t always the easiest. Hell, even after coming out things were still pretty tough. You’re constantly worried that people might know your secret, or spending all your energy trying to hide things. You just want to feel like you belong, but opening up about yourself even a little can feel incredibly dangerous.
I looked for representation everywhere, as I’m sure a lot of other queer people did (and probably still do) around that age. If a TV show or movie had a gay character, or even an entire storyline devoted to something gay, I was watching it. I’m especially looking at you, MTV’s Undressed.
The internet was still a young thing then, and having access to it at your own home was a rarity. And forget smartphones, the iPhone was only a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye. So aside from very rare sightings on the big and small screens, the only real place I had to turn to were books.
So I hit the library. It wasn’t necessarily that I knew there were a lot of queer themes to be found, but they were much more accessible. Of course I wasn’t ever gonna find much in a high school library beyond Greek and Roman myths – but that was still something.
I devoured everything I could find, and then reread them all over and over. I learned about Apollo and Hyacinth, Achilles and Patroclus, Zeus and Ganymede. Anything I could find, no matter how questionable it may have been, I loved. But it still wasn’t enough.
Thankfully there was the public library downtown, which was only a bus ride away. And they didn’t just have books there – they also had computers with internet access! For a couple of years, I spent basically every single day after school downtown for at least a few hours before catching another bus home.
The books I found there were much more substantial, though still darker than I had hoped. I became very well acquainted with the “bury your gays” trope. And if it wasn’t death, many times something else horrible would befall the main character or his lover. But still, it was something. I was getting to read real stories about queer people like me, even written by other queer people.
I really wish I could remember the titles of some of those books so I could share them with you now. Of particular note was a story about a long-lived vampire discovering his long-dead lover had been reincarnated in modern times. It was probably my first exposure to queer fiction.
One book series I do remember the name of and cared for a lot was recommended to me by another friend in high school. The Last Herald-Mage by Mercedes Lackey. This trilogy of books is centered around a young man named Vanyel who dreams of being a magically gifted bard. While living at the magic school known as Haven, he meets Tylendel, another protege mage. The two develop a bond that starts as friendship, before turning romantic.
Vanyel’s romance with Tylendel sets him on a long and treacherous path for the rest of his life, one fraught with danger and tragedy at every turn. Though I cannot say this trilogy of books escapes many of the painful tropes I have previously mentioned, it was still one of the most positive portrayals of queer characters and relationships than I had ever seen.
More than that, it wasn’t just a story about queer characters and their relationships, it was a full blown fantasy novel! There was deep worldbuilding, thoughtful storytelling, and multiple other books set in the same world. Its characters were well written with complex motivations and desires. It was everything I had ever wanted.
It was also the book that really made me think about becoming a writer myself. I started making up stories and characters, first in my head before one day finally writing them down. I knew queer people deserved to see themselves in stories the way that I did. Being able to find my voice in those books helped shape me into who I am today, and I only hope I can do the same with my own.
We have the ultimate MM, High Fantasy, BDSM Erotica series for you:
There are 7 books so far in this series.
Check out book one Steel & Thunder here:
An orc will take a human into his arms!
Named a Distinguished Favorite in the LGBTQ Fiction Category of the 2021 NYC Big Book Awards!
When David went exploring with his friends, he figured they might come across some old ruins or maybe even fight a few monsters. He never expected that he’d wind up captured by an orc and turned into his pet; he expected even less that he’d actually like it. It all started when he was sitting in a jail cell, so desperate to escape that he agreed to trial by combat: The Ritual of Steel & Thunder. He opens the fight strong, but when his competitor manages to overpower him, things start to heat up and he realizes he may have signed on for more than he bargained for.
Captain Khazak Ironstorm is the orc ranger responsible for David’s arrest–and after defeating him in combat, his new owner. Initially amused by his slave’s antics, something deeper begins to grow between them–something dark that draws Khazak in as much as it troubles him. More confounding than that are the feats of agility and speed his new pet seems able to perform as if they were nothing. What he does know is that if there is anyone capable of taming this barbaric human’s behavior, it’s him.
A tale of romance mixed with some humor, adventure, and a heaping helping of kink. Read all about the journey of David and Khazak as they learn to understand each other and uncover the mysteries of the magical world around them. Readers who love kink, BDSM, Dom/sub, and other elements of gay/male-on-male romance will love what this story has to offer.
You can order this book in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
If you have not grabbed up one of the books from Dominic N. Ashen you are missing out!
Dominic N. Ashen is an author and avid reader, with a heavy focus on gay, BDSM-themed erotica. After spending his youth in search of books with characters who were more like himself – queer ones, specifically – he decided to start creating some of his own. His stories star queer protagonists, most often gay and bisexual men, and feature heavy themes of dominance, submission, and all sorts of kinks. Dominic loves the fantasy, sci-fi, and horror genres and has a penchant for writing longer stories where he is able to weave in the sex and kink right alongside the plot.
You can order his books in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
We are excited to bring you the NEW RELEASES for the month of (Month)!!!
Make sure you check out all of our amazing new releases here.
You can order these books in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
If you order before the release date you will automatically get 15% OFF cover price!
Release Date: June 3rd 2024
We are excited for the release of Service Duty by Dominic N. Ashen!
Don’t do the crime unless you wanna do the time!
David likes to think he’s a funny guy. He’s good at making people laugh and who doesn’t love a good prank? Turns out a lot of people, especially Chief Grandtooth, the one person Khazak can’t protect him from. As punishment, David is assigned service duty—”taking care” of the entire ranger station.
Of course, it was Nylan who put him up to the prank in the first place. He feels terrible; the only person it was supposed to target was Ragnar. So, in addition to dealing with his own punishment, he’s somehow going to have to make things up to David. And David is not going to make it easy for him.
This is a tale of pranks gone wrong, mending friendships, and lots of different kinds of punishment. Enjoy this short and steamy side-story in the Steel & Thunder universe featuring some of your favorite characters.
We are excited for the release of The “Other” Horsemen by Multiple Authors!
Behold, the four horsemen of the apocalypse and … the other guy.
The cataclysm is said to be heralded by a barrage of hoofbeats, each fearsome rider wielding a mighty weapon. The Horsemen are so ubiquitous that they have been depicted in art, film, television, video games, comic books, literature, and music.
But who didn’t make the cut? Surely, there were other Horsemen that auditioned but missed the mark. Perhaps their horse was just a pony, or they just liked humanity too much to allow the End Times. Maybe their audition ended in tears because the Four Horsemen were too mean, or they simply just couldn’t figure out where on Earth they even were. It could be that they kept encroaching on the Horsemen’s territories, and why would they allow someone who keeps stepping on the others’ toes? The “Other” Horsemen of the Apocalypse is a collection of stories by authors from around the world answering your burning questions.
This anthology includes (in order of appearance): “His Strength Waxes Mighty” by Stephen Clements, “A Slight Misunderstanding” by Michael Rice, “Corrupts Absolutely” by Jay Mendell, “A Fowl Day” by Bevanny Stearman, and “Rebirth” by Kay Hanifen.
We are excited for the release of A Familiar Family Connection by Eskay Kabba!
Ryan D. Ryder and Mr. Deep Strokez are official but not Facebook official!
Rion Matthews—AKA Ryan D. Ryder—flew across the country to be with the man he fell in love in London last summer. And Nicholas Highton—AKA #MrDeepStrokez—is ecstatic to have Rion in his city, his life, and his bed every night. The two lovers try to keep it just between them since Nick’s sex tape went viral. With over twenty million social media followers and paparazzi dogging his every move, Rion wants to be sure that their steamy connection had the foundation to go the distance before they became a hashtag.
After Rion is accidentally introduced to Nick’s siblings, he is pulled into the world of the One Percent, where money, sex, and power is at their fingertips. Meanwhile, traumatic events force Rion back to California, leading Nick into the dark and dangerous world that Rion was raised in.
Will their connection grow stronger as they walk through each other’s worlds, or will the journey create doubts about their relationship’s longevity?
We are excited for the release of Service Duty by Dominic N. Ashen!
Don’t do the crime unless you wanna do the time!
David likes to think he’s a funny guy. He’s good at making people laugh and who doesn’t love a good prank? Turns out a lot of people, especially Chief Grandtooth, the one person Khazak can’t protect him from. As punishment, David is assigned service duty—”taking care” of the entire ranger station.
Of course, it was Nylan who put him up to the prank in the first place. He feels terrible; the only person it was supposed to target was Ragnar. So, in addition to dealing with his own punishment, he’s somehow going to have to make things up to David. And David is not going to make it easy for him.
This is a tale of pranks gone wrong, mending friendships, and lots of different kinds of punishment. Enjoy this short and steamy side-story in the Steel & Thunder universe featuring some of your favorite characters.
You can order this book in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 10% OFF using coupon code 4HP10!
We are excited for the release of Service Duty – A Steel & Thunder novella by Dominic N. Ashen!
Don’t do the crime unless you wanna do the time!
David likes to think he’s a funny guy. He’s good at making people laugh and who doesn’t love a good prank? Turns out a lot of people, especially Chief Grandtooth, the one person Khazak can’t protect him from. As punishment, David is assigned service duty—”taking care” of the entire ranger station.
Of course, it was Nylan who put him up to the prank in the first place. He feels terrible; the only person it was supposed to target was Ragnar. So, in addition to dealing with his own punishment, he’s somehow going to have to make things up to David. And David is not going to make it easy for him.
This is a tale of pranks gone wrong, mending friendships, and lots of different kinds of punishment. Enjoy this short and steamy side-story in the Steel & Thunder universe featuring some of your favorite characters.
You can pre-order this book in all formats directly from our 4HP Website and receive 15% OFF!
Make sure you catch up on all the books in the Steel & Thunder series using coupon code 4HP10 for 10% OFF your entire order.
Dominic N. Ashen is an author and avid reader, with a heavy focus on gay, BDSM-themed erotica. After spending his youth in search of books with characters who were more like himself – queer ones, specifically – he decided to start creating some of his own. His stories star queer protagonists, most often gay and bisexual men, and feature heavy themes of dominance, submission, and all sorts of kinks. Dominic loves the fantasy, sci-fi, and horror genres, with a penchant for writing longer stories where he is able to weave in the sex and kink right alongside the plot.
What is your writing routine or schedule like? Walk us through a typical writing episode.
I try to write a little every day. Since I have to work during the day, and I tend to write longer books, that means blocking out a few hours a night. I try to outline new chapters on Sunday, and then work on the rough draft Monday through Thursday. I spend Friday turning that rough draft into a first draft, and then usually do some editing on the weekends. I try to finish one chapter a week!
Have you considered/do you write under a pen name? Why or why not?
I do write under a pen name. Given the genre I work in, I think the reason why is fairly obvious. Who I am as “Dominic” isn’t all that different from my normal self, but I still have to maintain a day job and the public persona that comes with it. I really love doing this, and maybe one day when I’m able to support myself off my writing alone I’ll be able to be a little more open.
“Who I am as ‘Dominic’ isn’t all that different from my normal self, but I still have to maintain a day job and the public persona that comes with it.”
What are your feelings on happy endings? As a reader? As a writer?
That’s actually one of the reasons I started writing. When I was younger, almost every book I read that featured a gay protagonist seemed to not have a happy ending. A lot of times they would be really dark. I enjoy a good tragedy as much as anyone else, but the world is already bleak enough as it is. I like to leave the stories I read feeling good, and as a writer, I want my own stories to leave people feeling good.
As a reader, do you have a pet peeve? Certain words, too much description, “alabaster skin,” or too many arms and legs in a fight/sex scene?
This isn’t necessarily a pet peeve, but I often notice a lack of accuracy when it comes to male-on-male sex scenes. I think we have porn to thank for most of that. For example, there number of writers who don’t seem to know what a prostate orgasm actually is or how they work. That, to me, is a little telling. Though maybe complaining about that is telling on myself?
“When I was younger, almost every book I read that featured a gay protagonist seemed to not have a happy ending… I want my own stories to leave people feeling good.”
What’s your favorite Podcast? Why is it awesome? Drop a link.
Only one? Alright let’s see… Comedy Bang Bang, hosted by Scott Aukerman and featuring an endless amount of unhinged guests. It’s essentially a fake talk show, where there wiull usually be one real guest on, and then everyone else is doing characters – and it’s all improvised. Just a really great and funny weekly listen.
How much research do you do for your writing? Is it for character, world, or plot? What are you researching now?
Too much, and almost all of it for world-building stuff. I know I spend way too much time worrying about whether or not stuff feels authentic. I have so many spreadsheets filled with made up animals, plants, entire fictional countries. Character and plot stuff is a little more fun – I just get a little stoned, put on some good music, and work through the problems in
What’s your editing process? Describe it for us.
After I finish a piece of writing, I let it sit for three or four weeks before coming back to do any editing. In the time since – especially if it’s a book chapter – I may have made some new choices or come to new conclusions on where I am taking the story. Sometimes I’ll get ideas for things to foreshadow or that would benefit from an early mention. As I read through it again, I can make the appropriate changes, adding new sections or taking out old ones that no longer work.
“I spend way too much time worrying about whether or not stuff feels authentic. I have so many spreadsheets filled with made up animals, plants, entire fictional countries.”
What advice would you give to new writers?
Don’t stress out so much about your first draft. Just focus on getting what you want to say onto the page – you can always come back later and fix it. Sometimes the thing you need to work through some writer’s block will only come to you if you keep moving forward.
Did you always want to be a writer? What has your journey to becoming an author been like?
I had always been making up stories in my head, but putting them to paper didn’t start until my teen years. I’ve been writing online on and off for years, but I didn’t know where to start as far as getting published went. A friend of mine had just published his first book, and sent me 4 Horsemen’s link! Having a place to submit my story and then finding out someone actually liked it was surreal, and after that everything just started moving so fast! I’m still not entirely sure it feels “real” yet.
“Don’t stress out so much about your first draft. Just focus on getting what you want to say onto the page – you can always come back later and fix it.”
How did you choose the genre you write? Was it by choice or encouragement from friends? Was it fate aligning in the stars?
Choice but also accident? I knew I wanted to write fantasy/sci-fi stories, and I knew I also wanted to write erotica, but I never really considered mixing the genres. It wasn’t until I had been kicking around the idea for a story in my head for a few years that I finally had some inkling that I could combine the two. I still have those other stories I want to write, but right now this fantasy adventure/kinky gay erotica series is just so much fun!
