book tour

Author: Kate Lowell

Title: Rise of the Alpha Squirrel

Series: Nutty Romances

Book: Two (Series should be read in order for maximum enjoyment)

Release Date: February 25, 2016

Pages or Words: Approximately 24,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28690157-rise-of-the-alpha-squirrel

Publisher: Kate Lowell

Cover Artist: Ana J. Phoenix

Nathan’s met Vince’s family, but Vince hasn’t met Nathan’s, and Nathan would like to keep it that way. Holy smoked almonds, what else do you do when you know how completely nuts your relatives are?

Why, you ease your man into it, by introducing him to normal shifters. Assuming you can find any.

But with a gossipy werehummingbird spreading the news, and a pair of young red pandas wreaking havoc with their fainting goat friends, Nathan’s about ready to climb into a pine cone and pull it in after him.

Then the local playboy weremoose hears about Vince, and Nathan has to find his inner alpha or the consequences will be worse than moldy hazelnuts.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BRUW1SU

AllRomance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-riseofthealphasquirrel-1985056-145.html

“Breakfast,” Vince said and waved a hand toward the table.

It was a squirrel’s wet dream. Or it would have been, if good-enough-to-lick-all-over-then-eat Vince hadn’t been sitting on the other side of the table. Maybe he could say it was any other squirrel’s wet dream—whatever, it was the breakfast of Roman squirrel emperors.

A pile of thick, deep brown pancakes waited for him in the center of his plate. Raspberries and shaved almonds sprawled seductively over the side of the stack, glistening with sweet, sticky maple syrup. Some of the less audacious ones hid decorously beneath the edges of a heavy daub of whipped cream, but Nathan knew they were there, waiting for him to discover them. He could see them peeking diffidently out, uncertain whether they wanted to attract his attention or not.

And the best part—the most gorgeous massage therapist in the world was sitting across the table from him, watching him with eyes that were dark in more than just the usual way. He looked at Nathan like Nathan was a maple walnut ice cream with a peanut dip. Like he wanted to lick him all over and suck bits of him deep inside his mouth…

From Your New Life as a New Adult

Introduction

As in all families, the day eventually comes when you will feel the undeniable urge to leave the nest, or the burrow, or the family stream, and venture out into the world of humans. While this isn’t a path that we can recommend because of its attendant risks and difficulties, the lure of the human world cannot be denied. After all, we too were once your age.

Many weres venture into the human world and make it back unscathed. However, just as many return to their families shell-shocked and emotionally scarred by the sheer strangeness of humans. The vast range of possible experiences makes it difficult for families to adequately prepare their children for that world; some don’t want to do it at all. Which is understandable—human society is so very odd that it can be difficult to find a way to approach the topic without so much discomfort on both sides of the conversation that no real educational progress is ever made.

Therefore, over the course of this book, we will attempt to provide the guidance necessary for a safe sojourn in the world of humans. To this end, we will cover many and varied topics, including—but not limited to—grocery shopping, finding an apartment, finding a job, nurturing your animal side without being discovered and, of course, the pluses and minuses of romantic relationships with humans.

Kate Lowell lives on the east coast of Canada, in an old farm house that has way more personality than it has any right to. During the winter, she spends her time dreading snow, cursing at snow, shoveling snow, and scheming ways to shove it down the kids’ necks. During the summer, she prays not to have snow. 🙂

Kate likes to play in ALL the sandboxes. While her main genres are paranormal and contemporary suspense, she is also interested in science fiction, fantasy and—weirdly—romantic comedy. She’s willing to pay large amounts of money to anyone who can come up with a Time Turner, or find her an agreeable Time Lord to sort out her scheduling problems.

You can contact her at katelowellbooks (at) gmail.com . If you think you’d like to try writing gay romance, come visit her critique group (Link can be found at http://katelowell.com). New members are always welcome.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008313548018

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kate_Lowell

Website: http://katelowell.com

Other: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7132484.Kate_Lowell

25-Feb: A.M. Leibowitz, Hearts on Fire, Velvet Panic, Nautical Star Books, MM Good Book Reviews

26-Feb: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Inked Rainbow Reads, KathyMac Reviews

27-Feb: Happily Ever Chapter, Molly Lolly, Love Bytes

29-Feb: Nephy Hart, Man2ManTastic, Bonkers About Books, Open Skye Book Reviews, My Fiction Nook

1-Mar: BFD Book Blog, Dawn’s Reading Nook, V’s Reads, Boy Meets Boy Reviews

2-Mar: Bayou Book Junkie, Jessie G. Books, Alpha Book Club

Divine Magazine

Rafflecopter Prize: http://www.stuffedsafari.com/Plush-Ruby-throated-Hummingbird-Audubon-Bird-p/wr-83900.htma Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Author:

Claire Davis and Al Stewart

Victoria Milne

Dawn Sister

J P Walker

Caraway Carter

Ofelia Gränd

Debbie McGowan

Title: Love Unlocked

Release Date: February 14, 2016

Blurb: Love Unlocked is a collection of seven short stories and novellas – unique LGBTQ romances inspired by the Love Lock Bridge.

THE STORIES:

The Trap by Claire Davis and Al Stewart

Writer’s Lock by Victoria Milne

Locked in the Moment by Dawn Sister

The Weekend by J P Walker

The Scarlet Lock by Caraway Carter

He Melted Us by Ofelia Gränd

Chain of Secrets by Debbie McGowan

Pages or Words: 156,000 words, 550 pages

Categories: Bisexual (1 story), Contemporary (7 stories), Fantasy (1 story), Gay Fiction (6 stories), Lesbian Romance (1 story), M/M Romance (6 stories), Romance (7 stories)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28506378-love-unlocked

Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing

Cover Artist: Various

THE TRAP by CLAIRE DAVIS AND AL STEWART

New job – sexy boss – fate – Art…

When Sal attends an open exam for an apprentice artist to work alongside the infamous Matthew Picard, the last thing he expects is to be the winner. But then his role is revealed and nothing is ever the same again. As he toils day and night on the unique sculpture, strange sensations begin to affect both him and the watching master artist.

Matthew Picard thought he was through with men and love. What he wanted was for Sal to help him create one final monstrous masterpiece – The Trap.

But as he observes his young apprentice, his focus shifts, and so do the very walls of the gallery.

Is it the beauty of art, or something more magical at work?

As the sculpture is created, a power is unlocked.

Can love save them, or will they be trapped forever?

 

WRITER’S LOCK by VICTORIA MILNE

Spending a month in Paris to write his romance novel had seemed like the perfect plan, but one week in, Phil Pearson is suffering from a severe case of writer’s block. With barely a word written, he’s fed up and ready to cut his trip short.

When Laurent Marceau sees Phil in his café, it sends him hurtling into the past, opening old wounds and reminding him of the love he lost. But, after watching the aspiring writer struggle for inspiration, he surprises himself by offering to show him Paris through the eyes of a true Parisian.

Finally bursting with ideas, Phil is delighted to put pen to paper, albeit badly at first. As the writer finds himself falling in love for the first time, Laurent knows he needs to decide quickly if he’s strong enough to return his affections, or whether it would be better for them both if he walked away. He knows he may not have a choice, once Phil finds out the truth.

 

LOCKED IN THE MOMENT by DAWN SISTER

Due to a misunderstanding, the troll that lives underneath one of the most romantic bridges in Paris inadvertently unlocks every single padlock lovers have left there over the years. L’Authoritié de Fée Folklorique are up in arms. He has no idea what all the fuss is about. The noise was driving him mad. He just wanted a bit of peace and quiet.

A spell is cast, leaving the troll in a bit of a predicament. He is charged with the seemingly impossible task of fixing the locks before the spell can be reversed and he is allowed to return to his home. There are other complications, the least of which is the insistence and persistence of a fairy who is determined to help him against the wishes of his own people.

Now the troll has a dilemma. What is more important to him? The only home he has known for two thousand years, or a fairy he has just met?

 

THE WEEKEND by J P WALKER

Nat’s been through a rough breakup and trust does not come easily. When she accompanies a group of friends to Paris for a hen weekend, she finds a connection she wasn’t looking for, in the form of beautiful, passionate Morgan. They quickly fall into a wonderful weekend fling and even engrave their initials into a lock and attach it to the most romantic bridge in the world, Love Lock Bridge.

But was that weekend fling all there was, or will news of the bridge being taken down lead to something more?

 

THE SCARLET LOCK by CARAWAY CARTER

Brandon Marshall, in Paris for his twin sister’s wedding, has a fling before the big day. At the end of a whirlwind week of discovering each other, Brandon and his lover place a scarlet lock on the Love Lock Bridge.

Follow Brandon through six years of letters – to the citizens of Paris, on everything from how to make love, to eating passionate fruit – and to the lover, who is now his brother-in-law.

The locks are being removed, the bridge refitted… What will be the fate to The Scarlet Lock?

 

HE MELTED US by OFELIA GRÄND

All Delron wants is to live his life with Phillipe, but when their love lock is stolen from Pont des Art, their relationship is in jeopardy. Without the lock holding them together, Delron is convinced they’ll crash and burn. The only way he can save their relationship is to find the stolen lock, and that is just what he plans to do, no matter what.

Phillipe loves Delron, he really does, but it’s driving him insane that Delron can’t see that a padlock is simply a piece of metal. The lock has nothing to do with them, not really. Up until the night the lock was stolen, their life was great, but Del’s crazy behaviour has Phillipe wondering if he has ever really known his boyfriend.

Delron’s search leads him through art-filled Paris, but will a symbol of love ever be enough to soothe the mistrust his quest has planted in Phillipe? Phillipe always thought he’d spend the rest of his life with Del, but who can live with anyone willing to break the law just to find a padlock when they can buy a new one in just about any shop?

 

CHAIN OF SECRETS by DEBBIE MCGOWAN

Josh and George have always shared the special bond of friendship. From days in primary school, to holidays spent riding their bikes along the canal, theirs is a promise to remain best friends forever.

But can that promise withstand the trials of adolescence, and the changes in their feelings towards each other?

 

 

This anthology has a little something for everyone who is in the mood for love. There’s a good variety of stories. I initially chose to read it for the three authors with whom I was familiar, but I was pleased to discover new-to-me authors I’d like to read more from. I’ll review each story individually (with a rating) and then give an overall rating.

The Trap by Claire Davis and Al Stewart

What a fantastic introduction to the anthology. I’m partial to genre fiction with literary leanings, and this story delivers on all counts. It’s intense, sexy, and thought-provoking. Both Sal and Matthew represent different angles on the classic “tortured artist” trope, yet neither of them feels like a cliche. I love the way the narrative strings readers along as Sal works on his epic sculpture. I was hooked from the first page, and I read it in one sitting because I simply had to know what was going to happen.

The whole story is hot and sensual, drawn out in the manner of a passionate encounter and with a crescendo and resolution to match. I loved the underlying themes around the meanings of love and lust and what happens in the aftermath when the heart-pounding climax is over. It’s the perfect read for people who enjoy a highly intellectual erotic romance.  For an all-around outstanding story, raw passion, and deep thoughts, 10/10.

Writer’s Lock by Victoria Milne

Another favorite story, this one is quite different from the first. It has more sweet than heat, with some emotional moments that hit a few tender points. I loved the slowly unfolding friendship and love between Phil and Laurent. It was particularly easy to connect with Phil’s search for inspiration and the way his real life and fictional world intertwine.

This is a very well-written story with likable characters. Phil and Laurent don’t change a whole lot as people, but they do change in how they see love and each other. It’s a hopeful story, full of promise they’ll find what they need and get their happy-ever-after. While it’s a fairly standard romance, there are enough fresh elements to keep it from feeling bland or recycled. It’s a cozy read perfect for a quiet afternoon and a cup of tea. For tenderness, warmth, and heart, 9/10.

Locked in the Moment by Dawn Sister

This story was a stretch for me. I’m not generally a fan of first person present tense, and it took me a while before I felt less jarred by it. I simply didn’t end up feeling a whole lot of connection with the characters or the story at first. However, I love the concept of a romance between a troll and a fairy; it’s a clever take on a few gay tropes, but both of them smash the stereotypes. The idea of being paired up to fix the troll’s mistake is fun, and the banter between them is witty and often hilarious. It did feel like it dragged a bit at points and rushed at others, and given the story’s resolution, I couldn’t figure out why some of the events were necessary. Despite that, it was still a good read. It’s probably best enjoyed by people who like fantasy and fairy tales. For an original concept, smart dialog, and a sweet surprise at the end, 8/10.

The Weekend by J P Walker

I am always delighted to find a great f/f story, since lgbtq+ romance is so heavily populated by m/m. This story was everything I needed. I loved the playful beginning of Nat and Morgan’s relationship. Even though it starts with a weekend fling, I like the way it’s handled. Although Nat does think of Morgan often, and compares other potential lovers to her, we don’t get a melodramatic ten years of Nat spiraling into attempts to recreate her Paris experience. Instead, she learns something about herself and her previous partner.

The romantic “chase” scene at the end borders on cliche, but in the context of the anthology and given how excellently it’s written, it makes perfect sense and provides a satisfying conclusion. For women I’d want to know personally, a fun take on the one night stand, and a big romantic finish, 9/10.

The Scarlet Lock by Caraway Carter

When I see a story tagged as bisexual, I’m immediately on high alert. I love seeing bi-identified characters, but I’ve also learned to be wary. What I thought was good in this story is that Hubert is unquestionably bi and doesn’t identify himself based on who he’s in a relationship with. On the down side, his bisexuality felt more like a plot device than an integral part of who he is, as evidenced by the “one last fling” trope (i.e., he can’t really be satisfied with a woman/has to prove his bisexuality through sex with men). I ended up thinking he was kind of a jerk. In fact, none of the characters are especially likable, to the point I wondered if that’s how we’re supposed to feel.

What I did love were the letters. Those were full of the emotions and consequences the narrative lacked. I might even have liked if the whole thing had been told through the letters. Believe it or not, I did really enjoy the story, despite my misgivings. It’s well-written, and there are some difficult things touched on in the story. I’d have loved something longer where we could more fully explore the long-term fallout of the events. For taking a chance with a bi character, a box full of love letters to the world, and the courage to talk about hard topics, 8/10.

He Melted Us by Ofelia Gränd

I have mixed feelings about this one as well. I loved the first part. It’s well-written and full of humor which is simultaneously a bit over the top and yet sharp-witted. The incident with the Sharpie is possibly one of the best things I’ve read in a long, long time—I laughed so hard at Delron’s oddities I was afraid I might wake the whole household. I was caught off-guard, however, by the way the cleverness fizzles and simply becomes drama after Delron and Phillipe blow up. I’m all for seeing a relationship over the course of a long period of time, but I’m not convinced this was the format to do it. I didn’t dislike it; I just wish it would have resolved sooner or differently or that it had stuck to the humor. For witty laughs, a fresh look at the lovers’ misunderstanding, and a keen way with words, 8/10.

Chain of Secrets by Debbie McGowan

I’m not ashamed to admit this was probably the biggest factor in choosing to review the anthology. Josh is just about my favorite character ever and the closest thing I have to a literary soul mate, so you’re not going to get an exactly unbiased review here. I’ve been reading about these characters for the better part of a year in order to catch up, and I’m invested in their lives and loves. But no matter how much I adore them all, I really do read these stories for Josh.

I first “met” him in Ruminations and was drawn to his combination of innocence and acute observation of the world. It’s highly entertaining to see little-kid Josh demonstrating that skill set right from the beginning, including his deep, almost intellectual love for his friends while simultaneously and consistently underestimating himself in his relationships. There are a lot of spoilers in this story for the entire series, so I can’t be specific about all the little details I cherished or the individual sentences which reminded me why I fell so hard for Josh in the first place. I suppose the only thing I can say is that it’s beginning-to-end pitch perfect and answers a bit of my lingering curiosity. For many sighs of amusement, exasperation, and finally happiness, 10/10. (And Josh gets 10 all to himself just because.)

Overall

For a great concept, a wide range of styles, and exceptional writing, the anthology gets 9/10 fountain pens.

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Unlocked-Claire-Davis-ebook/dp/B01BHBW1FM

Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Unlocked-Claire-Davis-ebook/dp/B01BHBW1FM

From “The Weekend” by J P Walker

It’s funny how when you break up with someone, especially under awful circumstances, you realise how much was missing. When I’d first moved out of Katie’s, all I could remember were the good times but now, with Morgan, I couldn’t help but make comparisons. Those good times with Katie came nowhere near how incredible it had been to spend a day with the beautiful woman sitting across the table from me. If I’d been in any doubt before about how much I liked Morgan, I wasn’t any longer. I really did.

After dinner, we went for another stroll around Paris, appropriately dressed this time, with warm coats, and Morgan linked her arm with mine and rested her head on my shoulder. Every now and then, we stopped to look in awe at the beauty of the city around us—the buildings, the street names—Paris was quickly becoming my favourite destination, truly the most beautiful place I had ever been. Eventually, we found ourselves on the Pont des Arts bridge, surrounded by beautiful lights. I knew of the bridge, known as ‘Love Lock Bridge’, but didn’t really know of the tradition that went along with it.

We watched the lights shining from all the locks, and I felt my heart swell. Thousands of couples, all of their declarations of love and commitment…I felt overwhelmed in the presence of so much love. Without any warning at all, my eyes filled with tears. Morgan had wandered ahead, only a few steps, to look at the names on some of the locks, but she noticed my tears and within seconds was by my side and holding my hand. She looked at me questioningly.

“So beautiful,” I said and buried my face in her hair. My word, what a bloody soppy git I had become.

Morgan held me, rubbing soothing circles on my back, and I could hear the jangle of her bracelets. When we parted, she gave me an almost secret grin and reached into her pocket. I looked at her quizzically and then saw what she had in her hand: a small red padlock with a key still inside.

“It’s from my suitcase, I’d forgotten I’d shoved it in my pocket until we got here. Whaddaya say?” She winked.

I nodded and checked my pockets, to see if I had a Sharpie—I love doing crosswords on trains, don’t judge. I found one in my inside pocket. Yay!

“OK, what’s your last name?” I asked as I took the lid off with my teeth.

“Freeman.”

The pen fell out of my mouth as I gaped at her. Morgan Freeman? Seriously? Then she started laughing and swatted me on the shoulder.

“Just kidding, can you imagine? Ha! It’s Wilson,” she got out between laughs.

I shook my head at her antics. She was a riot.

“What’s yours?” she asked after I’d written ‘MW’ and ‘NB’ on the small lock and deposited my pen back in my pocket.

“Bliss,” I replied smiling.

“Really? Bliss? You’re…Nat Bliss?”

“Well…Natalie Emilia Bliss. But yeah…Bliss.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.” I was enjoying her reaction. Her eyes were shining bright, and puffs of vapour hung in the air as she breathed.

She brought her face close to mine and laid a soft, warm kiss on my mouth, immediately turning me on. I was quickly becoming addicted to her, and giving me a little fix like that left me silently begging for more. Chasing the dragon—I began to doubt if I would ever again find a high like Morgan Wilson.

Claire Davis and Al Stewart

Al Stewart and Claire Davis write about people who are not perfect. Claire embraces the dark side, and Al the good side of the force. Their work is there for a fusion of both, mixed often with kink and humour.

Contact and Media

Website: http://astewartcdavisbook.wix.com/author

Goodreads:

goodreads.com/author/show/8328423.Claire_Davis

goodreads.com/author/show/8510218.Al_Stewart

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Claire-Davis-and-Al-Stewart/764501920298271

Beaten Track: beatentrackpublishing.com/clairedavisandalstewart

Victoria Milne

Many years ago, Victoria chose the words ‘watch this space’ to accompany her picture in the school yearbook and had no dreams of being a writer. Sixteen years later, after someone joked that she should be an author, she began the first page of her very first novel and realised how perfect those words had been.

As a latecomer to the world of creative writing, Victoria is now making up for lost time and enjoying every second of the experience.

In the rare moments these days when she’s not writing or dreaming up new plots, she can usually be found at either the ice rink or the dojo and all of these activities are done listening to loud music.

Victoria would love to hear from anyone who shares her passion for writing; and in particular from anyone who has tips on how to tame the editing fetish she has unwittingly acquired along the way.

Contact and Media

Goodreads: goodreads.com/VMilne

Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004591036789

Beaten Track: beatentrackpublishing.com/victoriamilne

Dawn Sister

Dawn is from the North East of England. Her life is spent juggling. The juggling balls are: children, husband, work (occasionally), voluntary work, professional knitting (notice she doesn’t class this as work), and writing. When she has time she actually sleeps.

The whole point of writing for Dawn is just to get it all off her chest and out of her head. If she doesn’t write it down then she ends up having long conversations with the characters out loud and her husband thinks she’s crazy.

Contact and Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dawnsister1

Tumblr: http://dawnsister.tumblr.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DawnSister

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/DawnSister

FictionPress: http://www.fictionpress.com/~dawnsister

Fanfiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/~dawnsister

J P Walker

Jem Roche-Walker was born in Norwich and moved to the Northwest in order to attend Edge Hill University, studying Social Work Studies. After studying, she began working in rehabilitation for patients with acquired brain injuries and spent seven years writing her first novel, Knights of the Sun, (2013, Beaten Track).

She lives in Burscough with her wife and baby girl and loves spending family time with them.

Contact and Media

Goodreads: goodreads.com/JPWalker

Facebook: facebook.com/jpwalkerknightsofthesun

Beaten Track: beatentrackpublishing.com/jpwalker

Caraway Carter

Caraway Carter has worn numerous hats. He’s been a furniture salesman, a dresser, a costumer, an actor/waiter, a rabble rouser, a poet and most recently a writer. He married his husband on Halloween and they are the loving parents of two rambunctious cats. He loves words and stringing them together, he loves sex and sexy men. He loves seeing how far his muse will take him and he’s looking forward to entertaining you.

Contact and Media

Website: carawaycarter.com

Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/13539002.Caraway_Carter

Beaten Track: beatentrackpublishing.com/carawaycarter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarawayCarter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarawayCarter

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carawaycarter/

Ofelia Gränd

Ofelia Gränd is Swedish, which often shines through in her stories. She likes to write about everyday people ending up in not-so-everyday situations, and hopefully also getting out of them. She writes contemporary and paranormal, and dreams about one day writing a post-apocalyptic story—if that ever happens we’ll see.

Her books are written for readers who want to take a break from their everyday life for an hour or two.

When Ofelia manages to tear herself from the screen and sneak away from husband and children, she likes to take walks in the woods. She’s recently discovered the miracle of podcasts and spends her strolls listening to wise people talk.

If you want to know more, subscribe to Ofelia’s Mailing List:

http://ofeliagrand.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c080076874c9baaaee71b5ba1&id=75932554a5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874960.Ofelia_Gr_ndGoogle+

Facebook 1: https://www.facebook.com/ofelia.grand

Facebook 2: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ofelia-Grand/1405427199716172

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ofeliagrand/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ofeliagrand

Website: http://ofeliagrand.com/

Debbie McGowan

Debbie McGowan is an author and publisher based in a semi-rural corner of Lancashire, England. She writes character-driven, realist fiction, celebrating life, love and relationships. A working class girl, she ‘ran away’ to London at seventeen, was homeless, unemployed and then homeless again, interspersed with animal rights activism (all legal, honest ;)) and volunteer work as a mental health advocate. At twenty-five, she went back to college to study social science—tough with two toddlers, but they had a ‘stay at home’ dad, so it worked itself out. These days, the toddlers are young women (much to their chagrin), and Debbie teaches undergraduate students, writes novels and runs an independent publishing company, occasionally grabbing an hour of sleep where she can.

Contact and Media

Twitter: @writerdebmcg

Facebook 1: facebook.com/DebbieMcGowanAuthor

Facebook 2: facebook.com/beatentrackpublishing

YouTube: youtube.com/deb248211

Tumblr: writerdebmcg.tumblr.com

LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/writerdebmcg

Google+: plus.google.com/+DebbieMcGowan

Goodreads: goodreads.com/DebbieMcGowan

Pinterest: pinterest.com/b10track

Website: debbiemcgowan.co.uk

Today I’m welcoming Dawn Sister, JP Walker, Caraway Carter, and Debbie McGowan to chat about writing, life, and their current projects.

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Dawn Sister (“Locked in the Moment”) on Difference.

Difference is not a barrier. It’s a basic need

A Troll and a Fairy, not a terribly conventional pairing in any sense of the word. Trolls are big, hairy ugly brutes with bad tempers and filthy habits. Fairies are delicate, fluffy, glittery, ephemeral beings that float about granting wishes and leaving fairy dust all over the place. It’s their differences that make it work, though.

Conventional couples are not really my thing. Ordinary everyday things don’t really interest me when I’m giving birth to plot bunnies. I like to embrace the differences between two people and then make their love story as believable as any other. Age gaps, height differences, cultural conflicts, language barriers. None of these things are actually barriers to love, it is our own concepts that create the barriers. “They couldn’t possibly fall in love because they’re too different.” In my world the differences are never a barrier. A twenty-year age gap: no problem. A great height difference? Stand on a chair. Ugly? It’s only skin deep and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Equal rights are all very well, but to be truly equal, those rights have to be inclusive of everyone, not just gender, but everything that sets one person apart from anyone else.

When I first met my husband (before he was my husband obviously) I didn’t think: “Oh here’s someone who is equal to me, let’s get it on.” I thought: “Here’s someone I really like.” I was surprised when I was asked if our differences bothered me. I wondered what differences they meant. I mean, yes there were the obvious ones: I’m female, he’s male. He could grow a beard; I wasn’t quite at that stage. When I dug deeper into the question, I realised a few of my friends thought he was too old for me. What? The age gap is six years. We are adults. It wasn’t as if he was a twelve-year-old asking out a six-year-old. Age becomes unimportant once you are past the age of needing to care (that’s eighteen in the UK, by the way). So yes, apparently the age gap, to some people, was huge! For some reason they thought we couldn’t possibly be happy unless we were exactly the same age. That’s just codswallop. We’re not in high school anymore. It’s the same for any pairing that doesn’t fit people’s conceptions of the socially acceptable norm. This is why some find it very difficult to accept same sex couples, or racially mixed couples, or in the case of my story: a troll and a fairy.

We have to view these things with more open minds. Difference is just what the other person brings into a relationship to fill in your gaps. I obviously needed a bearded, older bloke to fill in the blanks of my life, and there he was. I didn’t know everything about him before we began our relationship; we are still discovering things about each other that are different even after sixteen years together. We’ll still be discovering those differences years from now.

Difference is what keeps us together. If there were no differences, then life would be boring.

Vive La Difference.

Word Sprints!

1. Plotter or pantser? Panster initially, then plotter when I get about half way through the story.
2. Reusable or disposable grocery bags? Reusable. The environment has taken enough of our crap.
3. What’s your favorite food? Chocolate followed by sushi, in that order.
4. What’s your wake-up routine? Wake up…come on…WAKE UP!
5. Who has inspired you the most? My mum is the bravest person I know. She has MND and now cannot speak or eat. She’s none too steady on her feet either, but she is always smiling and she still manages to nag me via text. She also manages to knit. She’s amazing.

---

J P Walker on “The Weekend“

What inspired you to write this story?

I was already a little sad that the Love Lock Bridge in Paris was being taken down, especially when I heard some testimonies from lovers who had left locks there. One woman in particular stands out. I watched her speak on the news, saying she and her late husband had left a lock with their initials scratched into it. She was deeply saddened it would no longer be there. But she did state she had very beautiful memories of Paris and being there with her husband.

When Beaten Track asked me to write a story surrounding the Bridge being taken down, I was thrilled. I love to write F/F romance, and setting it in Paris was really exciting. I felt inspired when my fingers struck the keys—when names, faces and emotions started appearing—I’m always changing stories as I write them.

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

I understand what Nat is going through. I haven’t experienced infidelity but I am one among many to have had their heart broken to the point you believe the damage is irreparable—then meeting someone who totally bewitches you to the point of passionate longing. It’s a wonderful feeling to know you’re not closed for business.

The person I met, I’m now married to and we’ve been together eleven years.

What was the hardest part of writing this?

Condensing! I love to write short stories, but there are many times I know I could write about the characters, their journey, their adventures…for a lot longer than the final word count. I always just have to hope that the reader can still enjoy it with a lot fewer words.

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

“Guess this is the end of our adventure?” She glanced sideways at me.

I gazed at her beautiful face and traced her cheek with my fingertip. “Or a beginning?”

“That sounds better,” she said with a smile.

I love this passage because ‘The End’ of a love story is never really that. ‘The End’ is always a beginning for the characters. In each of my stories, I try to summarise at the end how their lives turned out and if they ended up staying together—to let the reader know it was just ‘The Beginning’ for them.

Tell us a little about any upcoming projects.

I’m working on another F/F short story, though it will be quite a bit longer than ‘The Weekend’. It’s called ‘Counting my Breaths’ and tells of a young married woman who begins an art class and falls for another female student, whilst battling panic attacks that leave her counting her breaths as a coping mechanism and trying to determine if she should remain in her marriage.

Also I’ll be writing the last book in my ‘Knights of the Sun’ trilogy. The sequel ‘Fighting the Stars’ is going to be published very soon and I need to get a move on with the last book! I’m also going to attempt writing ‘Knights of the Sun’ as a screenplay and see if anyone wants to make a movie from it!

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

When I was a student, I worked in local bars and had cleaning jobs. For the last nine years I have been a carer/personal assistant to a young man who suffered a near fatal head injury. I do a great deal of his rehabilitation work: physiotherapy, speech therapy, motor control etc. My wife and I have been foster parents for a little over a year and so far we love it and although very challenging at times is extremely rewarding.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

Not giving up. My first book ‘Knights of the Sun’ took me seven years to write—around being a student, working, growing up—and it took three years for anyone to notice it. After sending what felt like hundreds of chapters and letters out to publishers, I nearly gave up—many times—then I met Debbie McGowen at Beaten Track Publishing. Not only was she willing to publish my book, she told me it was agreat story and that my enthusiasm was the reason she was a publisher. She seemed so excited to meet me, and that really made me feel special and like I had done something worthwhile.

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

Well in another year my wife and I will (hopefully) be pregnant and still fostering in the home we currently live in. I’ll have written my last ‘Knights’ book, and I’ll be marketing myself as much as possible.

In five years we will hopefully have bought a house and have three children of our own and still be fostering. I would hope ‘Knights of the Sun’ has been made into a movie!

In 10 years… I’ll be forty. I imagine I’ll be living in a large house with a few foster children as well as our own. I have an office I sit and write in, that my wife let me decorate. If we’re fostering consistently, that could be our main income, and I wouldn’t need to work. I could just write all day. That’d be awesome!

Word Sprints!

1. Coffee or tea? Coffee! Always Coffee!
2. Musical theater or rock concert? Rock Concert, standing near the front, screaming and dancing.
3. What’s your favorite ice cream? Salted Carmel… Mmmmmmmmm.
4. Do the people in your life know about your writing? My wife has always been pushing me to write and try to get published because she has an immeasurable amount of faith in me and my words, which, after 10 years since I started my first book, still means the world to me.
5. Morning person or night owl? Morning person. I work full time as a carer, and my partner and I are foster parents, so I’m up at 5 a.m. each morning to get in a bit of writing before I go to work.

---

Caraway Carter on “The Scarlet Lock”

What inspired you to write this story?

I had seen a trending story on Facebook about the removal of the locks from the Love Lock Bridge in Paris. An idea came to me, and I wondered what was going to happen to all those people who locked their love on that bridge.

At the same time, I read about a woman who was leaving love letters around New York, and Brandon just started talking.

Is there a character you feel especially connected to?

Brandon Marshall Why? Because, I’ve been in the same boat, experiencing an amazing time and then realizing that you can’t go further. I love that Brandon looks inward and begins taking care of himself, standing up for himself, and when the love shows up, he’s in just the right place to act.

What was the hardest part of writing this?

That I had to kill off a couple of people, and when I read the section to my husbear, he said, “You are making me cry.” I apologized, but smiled a little on the inside, because it did what it needed to do.

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

The book is written through six years of letters. This was one of my favorites:

Left in a bin of baguettes at the corner market

***

Hello, seeker of love. If you are holding onto your lover’s hand, if they are slipping their arm around your shoulder, or you can see them across the crowded store, continue reading this letter. If they have not found you yet, read as well.

Your lesson from this letter is to buy a baguette.

May I also suggest a round of Banon Cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves, a bottle of Chenin Blanc, and grapes.

Slice the baguette and toast it.

---

Debbie McGowan (“Chain of Secrets”) on Storytelling and Culture

Tell us a bit about your cultural, ethnic, religious, and/or spiritual background and how it informs your writing.

I think probably all of us at some point pick up the geneaology bug. I had it for a couple of months, and much of what I discovered confirmed what I’d been told of my ancestry. I’m English – born in England to white English parents, who had white English parents – but a generation earlier, it gets interesting. On my dad’s side, we’re fifty-fifty Scots-Irish, with my Scottish great grandfather (Ebenezer John Black McGowan – how good is that name?) marrying an Irish woman. On my mum’s side there are also some Irish ancestors, but mostly it’s a mix of Scousers (Liverpool) and Moonrakers (Wiltshire).

So culturally and ethnically, I identify as English – not British, because it has a different political connotation – and it is absolutely the foundation of my writing. I love our little corner of the world – the countries that make up the ‘United Kingdom’ and the mix of cultures within. There is so much diversity here, which is worth sharing and celebrating. I love all the different foods, traditions and histories, and I work hard to represent these honestly in my stories. I also have something of an obsession with spoken English dialects and accents, and I spend a lot of time listening closely, to capture the nuances in language and pronunciation.

Religion/spirituality…it’s a tough one to answer in short form. My dad used to be in the Purple Sons of Derry – a lodge of the Orange Order. I don’t want to get too heavily into this, because it’s a huge, ugly part of Anglo-Irish history, and it shows the dark side of religion, the wars fought in the name of God. I’m old enough to remember the IRA’s ‘attacks’ on England and the North of Ireland, but I only understood ‘The Troubles’ when I came to study them briefly at university. It’s a politically complex tangled mesh of ideology, so I’ll just say that writing realist fiction based in England (and Ireland) means exploring those complexities and breaking apart widely held misconceptions.

As a child, my parents left me to explore religion for myself, and I went to church on my own every Sunday. I was in a church youth organisation for a long time, and later I was part of a worship group (musicians). Then I co-wrote (with Nige) a stage show about a young man who falls in love with a drag queen, and the vicar expelled us from the worship group for condoning homosexuality. It was at that point I walked away from organised religion, but my beliefs were always more philosophical than dogmatic.

If I have to stick a label on me, I’m an atheist, in that I don’t believe in an omniscient creator, but I do think we’re ‘spiritually’ connected to each other and to our physical/metaphysical realm. So I guess I’m a bit of a new age hippie, really.

What cultural value do you see in storytelling?

Storytelling is so powerful and important. In one sense, it’s about passing on our history to future generations, through aural traditions and in creating records of what life was like in the past.

But it’s also about here and now, and that’s where I see the greatest cultural value of storytelling. Each story is a glimpse into the lives of others. It can help us understand, empathise, appreciate difference.

It’s education by stealth, because while we’re reading for pleasure, we’re seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. It’s a communal pot of knowledge we can all dip into any time we like.

How do you hope your writing influences other people?

I hope my writing makes people think. I don’t go all out to be political, or to make a point, but I do write about real social issues – mental health, homelessness, poverty, terminal illness, bereavement, discrimination/social exclusion, and so on.

I also hope that regardless of the journey, when readers reach ‘The End’, they feel inspired, content, satisfied, happy – a positive mind state of some sort. My writing isn’t for everyone. Maybe it’s only something a tiny number of readers appreciate. But if it’s had a positive influence on just one person, then it’s worth it.

14-Feb Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Hearts on Fire, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

15-Feb Jessie G. Books, Divine Magazine, Caraway Carter

16-Feb Multitasking Mommas, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, BFD Book Blog

17-Feb Book Lovers 4Ever, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

18-Feb Molly Lolly, Andrew Q. Gordon

19-Feb Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, MM Good Book Reviews

20-Feb Happily Ever Chapter, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

21-Feb Alpha Book Club, Love Bytes

22-Feb Wake Up Your Wild Side, Bayou Book Junkie

23-Feb Boys on the Brink Reviews, A.M. Leibowitz, Inked Rainbow Reads

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Author: Deanna Wadsworth

Title: Finding His Fantasy

Series: 1Night Stand (Book can be read as a standalone; please note: Many authors have contributed to this series. Finding His Fantasy is Deanna’s fourth addition.)

Release Date: February 9, 2016

Pages or Words: 32,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance, Romance, Interracial, Mature

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4264579.Deanna_Wadsworth

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Cover Artist: Tibbs Designs

Forty-eight year old art gallery owner Paul Strait loves the nightlife—wild parties, stiff cocktails, and even stiffer men! But his decadent lifestyle has grown lonely and now he’s looking for love. Some days it seems that what he wants must be a fantasy. Hoping that the perfect guy is out there he enlists the help of Madame Eve.

After all, a fantasy service like 1Night Stand should be able to deliver his fantasy man, right?

Josef Debrossé runs an exotic gay bar in the Caribbean known only to locals and select tourists. The many patrons coming in and out of his bar ensure Josef never has a shortage of lovers but he’s grown tired of being just a vacation fling.

Josef wants to be another man’s lover and partner, not a mere souvenir from the islands.

Lost in a dance of lust and allure, both men are thrilled with Madame Eve’s choice for them and feel an intense connection the moment they meet. Flirting over drinks quickly leads to the bedroom. But after their fiery lust has been quenched, the night goes from fantasy to reality without warning. Secrets and frightening pasts threaten to shatter the magical illusion of their perfect date.

Will this budding romance survive in the face of reality?

“I am Josef Debrossé.” He had yet to release Paul’s hand—not that he had any complaints— and his blood warmed from touching a total stranger he’d paid to meet.

He let out a breathless chuckle, not surprised he’d been holding his breath.

“Paul Strait,” he replied, caught up in something…giddiness? Excitement? Sexual tension? He wasn’t sure, but he felt like a silly girl swooning on her first date. Almost as an afterthought, he added his signature tagline, “And I’m anything but.”

A rich resonant laughter danced around them, weaving a spell and capturing Paul inside it until he didn’t even know which way was up or down.

“C’est bon, Paul Strait,” he said, those hypnotic eyes sparkling.

When Josef released him, he had to resist the urge to take the man’s hand back and never let go, fearing he might disappear. Instead, he downed the rest of his champagne, scolding himself for being so ridiculous. He nodded toward the bar where plenty of stools sat open. “Can I buy you a drink?”

At the resort, everything was included, but it seemed like the most logical thing to say. Much classier than, “Are you wearing underwear?”

Deanna Wadsworth might be a bestselling erotica author, but she leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her wonderful husband and a couple adorable cocker spaniels. She has been spinning tales and penning stories since childhood, and her first erotic novella was published in 2010. She has served multiple board positions at her local RWA chapter and with Rainbow Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing books or brainstorming with friends, you can find her making people gorgeous in a beauty salon. She loves music and dancing, and can often be seen hanging out on the sandbar in the muddy Maumee River or chilling with her hubby and a cocktail in their basement bar. In between all that fun, Deanna cherishes the quiet times when she can let her wildly active imagination have the full run of her mind. Her fascination with people and the interworkings of their relationships have always inspired her to write romance with spice and love without boundaries.

Website │Facebook │ Twitter │Pinterest │goodreads

You can also find her young adult alter ego, K.D. Worth Facebook│Twitter

Buy Deanna’s books at Dreamspinner Press, Decadent Publishing or at any reputable eBook seller

Today I’m welcoming Deanna Wadsworth to chat about writing, life, and their current project. Welcome! Let’s talk a little about Writing With Friends.

In 2011, a dear friend of mine Wendy Burke and I decided to write a couple stories with connected characters for Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand series. If you’re not familiar with the series—and why aren’t you? LOL—a mysterious woman named Madame Eve runs a fantasy dating service called 1Night Stand. Sort of like Mr. Roarke from Fantasy Island, Madame Eve knows more than she should and has an almost magical ability to pair her couples up to find love.

Wendy and I first began with my twink/bear story BEAR IT ALL and my hero John. He had a sister named Grace, and Wendy “stole” her to write her tear-jerking m/f book THE ONE HE CHOSE. Now when Grace had her 1Night Stand encounter, there was a perfectly polished butler attending to her every need named Martin. Sooo I “stole” Martin for my next gay romance ACCIDENTALLY BEAUTIFUL, a sweet D/s story.

Are you beginning to see where I’m going with this?

Well it’s been four years, and we now have TEN stories that are loosely connected. Readers have even wondered if we were the same person writing under different names, LOL, Well, I can assure you we are two different ladies. M latest book FINDING HIS FANTASY is number eight in our series. Nine and ten will be out this spring. You can find the reading order here on my website: http://deannawadsworth.com/archives/504

Now why do we do this? Well, it’s more than just a marketing tool.

It’s loads of fun!

Taking a character that a friend created and making them yours is an interesting writing exercise too. It forces you to think outside of the box, and you know you always have someone who wants nothing more than to talk about their character with you. It’s cool what both authors learn in the process.

For instance, when Wendy wrote Martin in THE ONE HE CHOSE she didn’t know that Martin’s obsessive attention to detail and service hid his submissive nature. And neither did I, for that matter. I just had this interesting, fussy guy that needed to find love. Would ACCIDENTALLY BEAUTIFUL have been the same book if Wendy hadn’t created Martin first?

Probably not.

Josef—the gorgeous guy with the wild hair on the FINDING HIS FANTASY book cover—made his first appearance in ACCIDENTALLY BEAUTIFUL as the owner of an exotic gay bar where Martin pleases his new Dom, Garret, with a very hot, very PUBLIC blowjob. Josef was my character from the beginning, but my flamboyant 48 year old art gallery owner, Paul—the blond on the cover— was from Wendy’s Christmas book WISE MEN SAY. I had a lot of fun making him my own, and trying to find a serious side to the guy.

And, in a nutshell, that’s why we do it. It’s fun getting to learn these people someone else created. I hope you all enjoy both Paul and Josef in FINDING HIS FANTASY.

9-Feb BFD Book Blog, Havan Fellows, Book Lovers 4Ever

16-Feb Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Wicked Faerie’s Reads and Reviews

23-Feb Happily Ever Chapter, Jessie G. Books, A.M. Leibowitz, MM Good Book Reviews, Love Bytes

1-MarBook Reviews, Rants, and Raves, V’s Reads, Divine Magazine

8-Mar Unquietly Me, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Inked Rainbow Reads

15-Mar Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Molly Lolly

22-Mar Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Bayou Book Junkie

28-Mar Hearts on Fire, Making It Happen

Rafflecopter Prize: 2 winners, choice of 1 of my previous 1Night Stand books each

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Author: Christa Tomlinson

Title: The Detective’s Pleasure

Series: Cuffs, Collars, and Love

Book: Two (can be read as a standalone)

Release Date: February 11, 2016

Pages or Words: 105,000 words

Categories: BDSM, Erotica, M/M Romance, Romance

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4063407.Christa_Tomlinson

Publisher: Christa Tomlinson

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

“You’ll kneel for me without me having to tell you to. And when you do, you’ll feel so much better. Trust me.”
– Detective Sam Roberts

Officer Ryan Bennett: Ambitious and smart, Ryan Bennett is a young officer on Houston’s police force. He’s pursuing his dream of being promoted to the city’s elite SWAT team with a single mindedness that won’t accept any outcome but success. But that isn’t his only dream. Ryan wants more than a coveted position on SWAT. He wants to be owned by a strong Dominant. To give himself up to a Dom who will make him shudder with pleasure beneath a firm yet loving hand. Unfortunately, Ryan has had nothing but failure in that part of his life. Now, he’s hidden that dream away from everyone, including himself. And he refuses to let anyone close enough to see what he truly desires, and who he truly is.

Detective Sam Roberts: Cool and calm, Detective Sam Roberts is good at reading people, during the day as a detective and at night as a Dom. He easily sees past the hard layer of arrogance surrounding Officer Ryan Bennett to the hurt submissive hiding beneath. He wants to help Ryan, even though the stubborn young man resists him. But Sam isn’t one to back down from a challenge. He’s determined to help Ryan embrace the soft, giving nature of his submissive side. Using both a gentle hand and the sting of the whip, he’ll work to coax Ryan’s submission free. But what will Sam do if he’s successful? Let Ryan go as promised? Or give the young officer the very thing he’s wanted for so long?

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https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thedetective039spleasure-1980031-147.html

http://www.amazon.com/Detectives-Pleasure-Cuffs-Collars-Love-ebook/dp/B01BO0N7PY

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-detective-s-pleasure

Ryan stopped picking at the wax and met Sam’s eyes in the mirror. He didn’t say anything. He just stood there, looking at Sam’s reflection.

“Do you need-.” Sam stopped. Ryan was on the brink of … something. Sam knew what he said would either finally get him to open up or cause that hard shell to close even tighter around him. Remembering Ryan’s seeming aversion to needing someone, he asked instead, “Would you like some help?”

Ryan moved his head, the movement so slight it could barely be called a nod. If they hadn’t been staring at each other in the mirror, he would have missed it. Sam touched his fingertips to Ryan’s shoulder, waiting to see if he would be rejected. Ryan didn’t react, so Sam moved in closer. When he laid the warmth of his palm across his back, Ryan closed his eyes and shuddered. He gripped the countertop with both hands, his head hanging low.

“I don’t know how to let go,” he said in a voice hoarse with restrained despair.

Sam stepped forward again, moving close enough behind Ryan that he could wrap an arm around him. Ryan stood there for a second before he turned and leaned into his embrace. Sam looked at their reflection in the mirror. Ryan’s blond head was nestled against him, streaks of wax down his back. For the first time he looked truly vulnerable, just as Sam had wanted to see him all along. He stroked Ryan’s hair, pressing a kiss to the soft strands.

“I’ll show you, Ryan. All you have to do is trust me. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Christa Tomlinson is an exciting up and coming author in erotic romance. Her first self-published novel, The Sergeant, was an Amazon Best Seller for Gay and Lesbian Erotica for seven weeks straight.

Although Christa graduated from The University of Missouri-St. Louis with a degree in History, she prefers to write contemporary romance. She loves to create stories that are emotional and lovely with sex that is integral to the characters’ romantic arc. Her books include straight couples, curvy couples, gay, and multicultural couples. Love is love and everyone should have their story told.

Christa lives in Houston, Texas with her two dogs, and is a semi-retired member of Houston Roller Derby. She enjoys hearing from readers. For more on Christa’s work, including deleted scenes, excerpts, and free reads, visit www.ChristaTomlinson.com

Facebook: Christa Tomlinson https://www.facebook.com/christa.tomlinson.1

Facebook Author Page: Christa Tomlinson, Author https://www.facebook.com/ChristaTomlinsonAuthor/?pnref=story.unseen-section

Twitter: @christa_writes https://twitter.com/christa_writes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christa.tomlinson/

Website: http://www.christatomlinson.com/

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Christa Tomlinson, author of The Detective’s Pleasure.

Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

• What’s the best line you ever wrote?

I don’t know if it’s the best line, but my favorite, the one that stuck in my head is something Detective Sam Roberts says to Clay in The Sergeant: “I don’t know why you and Logan are apart, but you can’t submit to anyone else when your soul has already found its master.”

• Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what kind?

Definitely! I find it tough to write without music. I pick a song based on the mood I’m trying to convey and listen to it on repeat while I write the scene. The Sergeant had a lot of Marilyn Mason and Nine Inch Nails. Bad Boys Need Love Too was Peaches and Joan Jett. The Detective’s Pleasure was Kings of Leon, Puddle of Mudd and the Black Snake Moan soundtrack.

• If your book were made into a movie, what actors would you like to see star?

Matthew McConaughey is a perfect lead for Sam Roberts. As a good looking and clean cut blond, Ryan Bennett would have to be either Chord Overstreet or Randy Harrison.

• What genres do you write in?

Right now I’m only doing m/m contemporary. But I’ve got something planned for a historical fantasy series in the near future.

• Where and when do you prefer to write?

I prefer to write closed up in my warm and cozy study. Mornings are best for me to write because by three my mind starts to wander and by six my brain is tired and the focus is completely gone.

15-Feb Elaine White, The Hat Party, Full Moon Dreaming

16-Feb Man2ManTastic, A.M. Leibowitz, Nephy Hart, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance

17-Feb Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Happily Ever Chapter, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bonkers About Books

18-Feb Velvet Panic, Divine Magazine, Jessie G. Books

19-Feb Making It Happen, Louise Lyons

22-Feb Kirsty Loves Books, Hearts on Fire, MM Good Book Reviews, My Fiction Nook, Gay Media Reviews, Unquietly Me

23-Feb Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Mikky’s World of Books

24-Feb Bayou Book Junkie

25-Feb Wake Up Your Wild Side, KathyMac Reviews

26-Feb BFD Book Blog, Alpha Book Club, 3 Chicks After Dark, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Molly Lolly

Rafflecopter Prize: 3 copies of book one – The Sergeant

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Author: Patricia Logan

Title: The Brat

Series: Marine Bodyguard

Book: Three (Can be read as a standalone)

Pages or Words: 96,000 words

Categories: Contemporary Crime Fiction, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Thriller

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2130526.Patricia_Logan

Publisher: Patricia Logan

Cover Artist: JP Adkins Design (Jeff Adkins)

Charles Fordham III has been expelled from Oxford and sent home with his tail between his legs. The self-professed “brat” has always gotten away with things because of his father’s influence and money. Poor Chas is in for the surprise of his life in the form of a tall, well-muscled, former Marine bodyguard… but even more daunting days may lie ahead. Have his years abroad prepared him for the expectations of his father when he’s forced to live up to his legacy?

Tate Heston returns home from Iraq when his beloved career is cut short by an IED. He’s used to turning boys into men and then leading them into battle where sometimes the good guys lose. This makes him even more hesitant about taking on a job guarding a spoiled brat, but he believes he can probably do what he does best… make young Chas a man.

Not everyone wants to see the brat succeed in his father’s place. Things have been running just fine for years and the return of Charles Fordham III and the shake up his arrival causes, has his family’s enemies in a panic. But as the boy assumes his rightful place, Tate understands sometimes a man must take his fight to the enemy… regardless of battlefield… or boardroom.

Chas whirled on Tate, stalking up to him, probably having decided that he was the whole problem. Hell, Tate was totally fine with that. Better he hate him than his father. Hate was easy to handle but he was really surprised when he stopped right in front of him and shouted at him.

“You have no right to tell me how I should talk to my father, you… you cretin!” he screamed.

Tate was only slightly surprised as spittle flew out of Chas’s mouth when he spoke and he raised his hand. Is he gonna…?

Tate reached up and stopped Chas’s slap inches from his cheek as he viciously swung his hand toward him. Tate managed to grasp Chas’s wrist, stopping the blow and the action brought the young man flush up against his body. For a few seconds their faces were inches from each other and with all of Chas’s rage, the way his chest heaved with anger, Tate inexplicably felt his cock harden in his jeans. His fury is magnificent. Tate didn’t know whether he should stop the kid or just bend him over his father’s desk and fuck him right then and there and get it over with. He let the thought slide through his mind for a few seconds as he stared into Chas’s magnificent angry amber-colored eyes. It’s probably not the right time… more’s the pity.

Tate hesitated only a second and then tore his gaze away from the man’s, bringing Chas’s arm down and then around the man’s side so that he was forced to turn his back on Tate. Chas cried out as Tate deftly brought his hand up between his shoulder blades, causing him to bend forward to take the pressure off or have his arm snapped in the process. A second later, Chas’s knees gave out and he dropped to his knees on the thick carpet to relieve the pressure on his arm. Tate bent over him, still holding Chas’s fingers up behind his back with one hand. He laid his hand on the back of the young man’s neck, pushing his forehead firmly to the floor with the other hand.

“Ah! You’re hurting me!” Chas gasped out, drooling down toward the carpet beneath him. His body was shuddering but all the fight had gone out of him and he suddenly went boneless as his body relaxed.

Tate leaned down to speak softly at his ear. “No hitting. No slapping. No getting physical of any sort. That clear?” Go ahead. Fight me, you little fucker. I’ll have your jeans around your ankles and my dick up your ass so fast, you won’t know what hit you.

A second later Chas gave an almost imperceptible nod. His chest was heaving and Tate thought he heard a sob come out of the man as he grunted in pain again.

“Okay,” Chas finally ground out through gritted teeth, “Let me up.”

International bestselling author Patricia Logan resides in Los Angeles, California. The author of several #1 bestselling erotic romances in English, Italian, French, and Spanish lives in a small house with a large family. When she’s not writing her next thriller romance, she’s watching her grandchildren grow up way too soon, and raising kids who make her proud every day. One of her favorite tasks is coaxing nose kisses from cats who insist on flopping on her keyboard while she types. Married to a wonderful man for 30 years, she counts herself lucky to be surrounded by people who love her and give her stories to tell every day.

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Today I’m welcoming Patricia Logan to chat about writing, life, and their current project. Welcome! Let’s talk a little about The Brat.

What inspired you to write this story?

I saw a photo of this young guy who just looked cocky and though I don’t always begin a book with a photo prompt, when I find one that speaks to me, I will write him into a story. In this case, I just knew he had to have a book and I contacted my cover artist and asked him to find this model. He found him and it turned out that Chas Fordham is one of my sexiest characters ever and it all began with a photo.

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

There is a secondary character in this story by the name of Jarrett Evans and as happens sometimes, when I began writing him, in all his snarky humor and inappropriate badness, I knew he was going to be the main character of the next book in the series. He spoke to me and he needs redemption pretty badly, so he’s the perfect good/bad guy that I love to write. I like writing stories where I can take a really bad guy and then flip him over to expose his soft underbelly and show that he actually does have a heart. Jarrett is one of those guys.

What was the hardest part of writing this?

Ironically, it was ending it. I had a really long period of writer’s block when I began this book back in September and I could only eek out a hundred words a few days when I am accustomed to writing 3,000 words a day. Once I found my momentum, I managed the last 50K words in two weeks which is crazy good for me. It turned out to be the second longest book I’ve ever written at nearly 100K words and I could have kept going but I wanted to save some for the next book which uses some of the same characters and is already in the outline stages.

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

Once in a while, my characters speak to each other as if they are outside of my head. This exchange happened between Tate, my main character, and Jarrett, one of his Marine buddies and it wrote itself. I happened to like it a lot so here you go:

Jarrett finally laughed out loud. “Heston, you asshole, I’m gay too,” he said, “I just wanted to hear you say it.”

“You really are a motherfucker aren’t you?” Tate stated.

Jarrett chuckled. “I can say with some confidence that I truly am and ya ain’t the first one to tell me, Sarge.”

“Well, I never would have guessed, Evans,” Tate said, finally seeing the absolute humor in the whole conversation.

“Well, ya won’t catch me skippin’ in a spring parade wearin’ a sparkly pink thong but yeah, I suck a mean cock, Heston.”

Tate laughed out loud. “Son-of-a-bitch.”

“So I suppose we had this discussion not entirely because you wanted to tell me your history with the kid but because you are in fact, a pillow biter,” Evans continued.

Tate laughed. “Asshole.”

Tell us a little about any upcoming projects.

I am planning the next Marine Bodyguards book. It will be number 4 in the series and will feature my secondary character, Jarrett Evans, and a new character Thayne Wolfe. It is another MM mystery/thriller and I am very excited to start this one. I hope to have it finished in a couple months.

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Author: LE Franks

Title: 6 Days to Valentine

Series: Yes

Book: One

Release Date: January, 2014

Pages or Words: 24,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Romance

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7152228.L_E_Franks

Publisher: Wilde City Press

Cover Artist: Adrian Nicholas

In Nick’s perfect world, Valentine’s Day would be struck from the calendar.

Nick’s dreams of a Happily Ever After were shredded long ago and the last thing he and his customers need is a bunch of happy loving couples rubbing it in their faces.

Bouncer Fat Boy Newman is willing to bet he knows Nick’s heart better than he does. He has just six days to change Nick’s mind about romance and the holiday and the perfect man to do it.

Too bad it’s not him.

Too bad Nick’s not going down without a fight.

Too bad he cheats.

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I looked again at the stunned blond sprawled at my feet. From this angle, he might be considered cute, certainly the butt in his jeans was worth exploring further, but for some reason, it was his cap that caught my eye. I could see part of a logo from one of those Texas schools—the one with the horns. Reaching down, I hooked it with my finger. I held it up so I could see it clearly, though it was hard to mistake the long white horns stretching across the front of the orangey wool.

Hmm, old-style baseball cap. I peered inside and checked out the underside of the brim, looking for his name. Someone had signed it in black ink, but it was worn and smeared in places, making it barely legible. Given the fading and the stains on the sweatband, it hadn’t been new in a very long time. Certainly not when this guy was in school.

“My hat. Please.” A soft drawl and a hand moving into my line of sight distracted me. It’s possible, though unlikely, that I missed him waving up at me; I’d had quite a late night, after all. I think, instead, that my brain froze the second he pushed himself into the cobra pose and looked deep into my eyes.

I hadn’t gotten much sleep after leaving the bar in the early hours of the morning. I’d walked around the neighborhood, halfway hoping I’d get rolled by a drunk or knifed in an alley. It was a thoroughly depressing failure. I was still there, still intact, and still feeling guilty as hell, all of which pissed me off to no end. Even worse, everyone I’d seen since entering the bar had congratulated me on my win, while FatBoy was doing a spectacular job of avoiding me.

I sat still, considering the blue depths, the straight nose, the plump pink lips, the strawberry locks curling over his ears. Then FatBoy finally decided to make an appearance, jerking the man up by his pits and dangling him in front of me like a rag doll.

Surprising as the maneuver was, it did have the added benefit of shaking his limbs out so I could get a nice long look at the whole…package.

“Ever hear of picking up after yourself?” FatBoy growled his exaggerated drawl at me. I guess that answered the question of whether or not FatBoy was still mad.

“Yeah…no…” I muttered, thinking about the wrongness of the whole thing and absently fondling the cow head on the front of the hat, forgetting what I’d been asked just a moment before.

“What the hell?” the blond jerked away from our bouncer, grabbing his hat and inadvertently catching my pinky in the adjustable strap.

“Yow!” Fuck that hurt. I shoved my finger in my mouth, sucking furiously where part of the nail was now missing.

“Shit, sorry, man. You just…” The blond trailed off as he fixed his attention on the hand now shoved between my lips. You’d think he’d never seen a man suck on anything before.

I might have answered him, but I’d hopped off my stool and was now too busy brushing bar floor debris off the front of his well-formed chest. My hand slid down the front of him until fingers gripped my wrist tightly just as I was getting to the fun parts, freezing my hand in place at his waist.

“My name’s Cameron.” It was a perfectly reasonable answer to an obvious question that I hadn’t asked. He removed my hand from his body before stepping out of my personal space to sit. I wanted to follow, but in a rare show of restraint, I chose leaning against the bar two stools down.

God, I need a drink. And a bed. And a man. And a way to go back through time.

Hell—two out of four ain’t bad. Well, more likely one out of four, which sucked, and my night was going to get worse…

When Rachel came in, she was going to skin me and make rainbow boots out of my hide. The story was already making the rounds, and my act of treachery, while still hidden, was lying like a dead skunk, stinking up the air between FatBoy and me.

I was waiting for inspiration to strike, gifting me with the perfect pickup line—the dazzler that would have my tongue in Cameron’s mouth and his beautiful golden body pressed up against the wall in the supply room with enough time before I had to officially clock in for work.

Apparently not. All I was hearing from the celestial chorus was the sound of crickets. I went with the old standby and introduced myself. “I’m Nick.”

I must have been grinning like an idiot. I could feel my cheeks begin to ache, and my palms developed an unexpected dampness. Rubbing them hastily against my soft denims, I reached across to him and held out my hand.

“Call me Cam.” He smiled. Sweet Jesus, it was a beauty of a smile, and I felt my cock begin to fill. Dammit. The lunch bartender chose that moment to lean over and smirk at me.

“Soooo, Niiiiiick…who’s your friennnnd?” Christine made a decent margarita and a top-notch Bloody Mary of her own special recipe, but her gaydar was broken. Anyone could tell that this sweet angel of the south was 100% boy meat.

“Ma’am! Cameron Fielding at your service.”

I was stunned as I watched my morsel of seraphic delectability stand and doff his cap, and felt a shiver run up my spine. It seemed to be in a race with the tightening of my jeans and the galloping of my heart, and I had a sudden irrational urge to pull him closer and sniff his hair. And maybe touch it.

What the hell?

LE Franks lives in the SF Bay area and writes M/M Romance in a unique mix of humor and drama with enough suspense to produce fast paced stories filled with emotion and passion and featuring characters that are quirky and complicated and sometimes a little bit dark. LE Franks is a best selling author and finalist for 2013 & 2014 Rainbow Awards. Her books are available through her publishers at MLR Press, Dreamspinner Press and Wilde City Press and Pride Publishing and online bookstores.

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Rafflecopter Prize: eBook copy of 6 Days to Valentine

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