Book Tour: Bad Dogs and Drag Queens by Julie Lynn Hayes

Author: Julie Lynn Hayes

Title: Bad Dogs and Drag Queens

Series: Rose and Thorne

Book: One

Release Date: May 25, 2016

Length: 50,000 words

Categories: Crime Fiction, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor, Romance

Goodreads Link: : http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3442231.Julie_Lynn_Hayes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Paul Richmond

Vinnie Delarosa and Ethan Thorne are partners—on and off the clock. Federal undercover detectives, they’re part of a covert task force designed to promote goodwill between the feds and local authorities. They lend an unobtrusive helping hand wherever it’s needed. No credit required.

Vinnie and Ethan work primarily in the Southeast region of the United States and live together in Richmond, Virginia. A mugger problem brings them to Roanoke, where Vinnie is thrown out as bait to catch the man who’s been snatching purses in a city park, but they end up with more than they bargained for. Why is Vinnie always the one who has to wear the dress? Ethan says it’s because Vinnie looks much prettier in a skirt. How can he argue with that?

Expecting to return to Richmond afterward, Vinnie and Ethan find themselves assigned a new case instead. They are to go undercover at The Stroll, one of the biggest gay nightclubs in Roanoke. Someone is terrorizing both the customers and the performers. Could they be dealing with a hate crime? Someone has to protect the drag queens of Roanoke, so it’s Vinnie and Ethan to the rescue!

The author is donating 10% of the royalties from this book to No Kid Hungry. Visit nokidhungry.org for more information about this organization.

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7762

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-baddogsanddragqueens-2035486-145.html

“Remind me again whose stupid idea this lipstick was,” I huffed under my breath. Without thinking, I licked my lips. They felt greasy, and tasted even worse. I forced myself not to grimace, afraid it might crack the foundation I’d slathered on my face.

“Mine, you sexy beast,” came the smart-ass reply in my ear. “I think you got purty lips, mmhmmm.”

“Fuck you,” I growled. “You should be doing this, not me, and you know it. I did it last time.”

And the time before that. And the time before that. Wait, did I detect a pattern here?

“What I know is you look better in a skirt than I do. And you look damn good out of it too.”

My cheeks filled with heat at Ethan’s words. Luckily the darkness hid a multitude of sins, my embarrassment being the least of them. Hopefully, no one else was listening—I knew I’d never hear the end of it. Just what I needed—to be the object of ridicule of the Roanoke PD.

Julie Lynn Hayes first began publishing short stories and poetry in the 1990’s, when it was a different ballgame altogether, and Ebooks hadn’t been dreamed of yet. That changed in 2010 with the acceptance of her first romance novel. She’s come a long way since that first book appeared, and is finding the journey a very educational one.

She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and her cat Ramesses. She often writes of two men finding true love and happiness in one another’s arms, and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She likes to write in different genres, to stretch herself in order to see what is possible. Her great challenge is to be told something can’t be done—she feels compelled to do it.

When she isn’t writing, she enjoys crafts, such as crocheting and cross stitch, needlepoint and knitting, and she loves to cook, spending time watching the Food Network. Her favorite chef is Geoffrey Zakarian. Her family thinks she’s a bit off, but she doesn’t mind. Marching to the beat of one’s own drummer is a good thing, after all. Her published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, eXtasy Books, and Wayward Ink Press.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.l.hayes.7

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorjulielhayes

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ShelleyRunyon

Blog: http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com

Today I’m welcoming Julie Lynn Hayes to chat about writing, life, and their current project. Welcome! Let’s talk a little about Bad Dogs and Drag Queens.

What inspired you to write this story?

Originally, this came about when I wrote a 500 word flash for a Facebook group, inspired by a photo they posted. The photo was from the POV of someone in a car trunk, looking up at someone standing outside. From that I wrote Roadside Assistance, about two undercover cops who are partners on and off the job, and their run-in with the Florida Mangler. It was so short, the cops never got names. Afterward, my friend Chris T. Kat said she’d like to know more about them. My muse went to work, and suddenly I found myself writing this book, starting with Vinnie wearing a dress, on a mugger stakeout.

Is there a character you feel especially connected to? Why?

I’d have to say Vinnie. There’s a lot of him in me, which is why I find it easy to write in his voice. We’re both insecure and uncertain, and don’t necessarily expect the best out of life. Sometimes Vinnie wonders what Ethan even sees in him.

What was the hardest part of writing this?

I wouldn’t say it was hard, but I did have to research some of it, because I didn’t know a lot about being a drag queen, and it was an interesting learning process. I now know what tucking is and how to do it lol A friend at work helped too. She used to own a bar/club, and she had drag queens perform there, so she was knowledgeable about them. Thanks, Nancy!

Choose a favorite line or short passage. What do you like about it?

“Vinnie, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Well, it’s not my first choice either, Ethan, but I don’t know what else to do. We can fix him up some space in one of the drawers. He’s little. He’ll probably like that. In the morning, we’ll get hold of his owner and then we can take him home on our way in to the station.”

“Yeah, okay.” Ethan gave in, as I knew he would. “You can carry him, since I’m driving.”

“Who says you’re driving?”I argued, even as I scooped up the unresisting pup. I tucked him into the crook of one arm, well away from the purse I’d slung over my other shoulder.

“Because I’m the husband and you’re the wife, and that’s how it works.” He winked at me.

Some days I just want to belt him.

I love the give and take between these two, their playful banter, and their teasing.

Tell us a little about any upcoming projects.

I’m currently working on the third book in this series, which is untitled at the moment, and waiting for the second, Civil War and Broken Hearts, to be contracted. For right now, I’m focusing on Rose and Thorne, because I’m having so much fun with Vinnie and Ethan!

What are some of the jobs besides writer that you’ve held?

I am currently an Accounting/Operations Specialist, and editor, and have been: checker, teller, telemarketer, secretary, office manager, data entry operator, bookkeeper, reviewer, Registration Chair (at conventions), and maybe some I’ve forgotten lol

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

Katie, Michael, Sarah, and Christopher – my children

What do you see yourself doing in another 1, 5, and/or 10 years?

Writing and visiting my kids