A.O. Chika's Blog, page 11

Author Highlight: Lex Chase

Hello, Internet! I’m Lex Chase and A.O. was kind enough to let me drop by today to talk about Bye-Bye Birdie, my short story featured in the Dreamspinner Press June Daily Dose A Walk on the Wild Side. It’s the story of Chris Robin, a flighty spaz and parakeet shifter and his ex-fiancee Dash Hammond, a cool and capable disaster relief worker and iguana shifter. When stranded on a deserted island, they have to fight to survive until rescue, provided they don’t kill each other first.

Now, I’m no stranger to writing shifters. Paranormal is kind of my schtick along with the rest of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre. I wrote Chasing Sunrise for DSP Publications which features a whole alternate world and society of shifter races. As I tell people in the world of Chasing Sunrise, if the animal exists, there’s a shifter version. Yes. Even jellyfish. The main race we meet in Chasing Sunrise are a lupine race called the windigo and have an ancient Roman-type culture including a legion army. Yes. Ancient Roman Shifter Legion. Righteous, am I right?

When it came to Bye-Bye Birdie, I wanted to do different kinds of shifters beyond the wolves, cats, and bears. I figured Dreamspinner would be inundated with werewolf submissions, so I thought what direction could I go? Birds and reptiles seemed like a suitable jump. (Just go with it.)

If you know where to look in Bye-Bye Birdie and are a previous reader of mine, the story gets positively meta where I poke fun at myself and specifically the way shifting is depicted in the world of Chasing Sunrise. The shifts in Chasing Sunrise are violent and disturbing with bones breaking, reforming, fur blooming from flesh, and all kinds of nightmare fuel. In Bye-Bye Birdie it’s described as a puff of magic and poof they’re shifted.

Because the story is so light, funny, and cheesy, I wanted to keep the shifting just as funny and cute. Shifter stories typically involve the “Beast Within” trope, but what if your “Beast Within” was a parakeet less than six inches high? Or a marine iguana? Neither are known for being particularly aggressive. Parakeets if anything are sassy and a bit easy to spook. Iguanas are laid back and pretty lazy. So here I have a parakeet guy who’s got sass and is very flighty and gets anxious when going across town to the post office when Google tells him where to turn. And my iguana guy is chill, level-headed, and among being a disaster relief worker, is a trained survivalist. Surely his set of skills will get them off the island! Absolutely!

What can possibly go wrong?

If you’re a Lex Chase reader? You know it’s for the best not to ask that question. ;D

Genre: Shifters / Humor

Series: Dreamspinner Press June Daily Dose 2016: A Walk on the Wild Side

Length: Short Story

Published: June 1, 2016

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 978-1-63477-497-0

Buy: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | ARe

Blurb:

Christopher Robin and Dashiell Hammond couldn’t be more different. Dash is an iguana shifter who provides aid for natural disasters far and wide, but Chris is a flighty parakeet shifter who can’t find his way across town without Google Maps. To Chris, Dash is a superhero, but he spent more time saving the world than saving their relationship.

To conquer his heartache, Chris books a cruise, determined to meet Mr. Right Now instead of Mr. Right. But he doesn’t expect the cabin steward responsible for his adorable towel animals to be none other than his ex-boyfriend. When the pair fall overboard and take refuge on a deserted island, old feelings resurface. With Dash’s hardnosed survival skills and Chris’s fickle insecurities, they’ll have to learn to compromise if they want to get back to slamming daiquiris at the tiki bar.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2016 Daily Dose package “A Walk on the Wild Side.”

Excerpt:

“FOR THE love of God, don’t tell me you lost the freaking map,” Chris said as he stumbled after Dash. “Because let me tell you, fumbling around in a dark rainforest in the middle of fucking nowhere in Jamaica has always been the highest of my priorities.”

He let out a sharp gasp as his toe tangled in a thick tree root. His momentum sent him careening into Dash’s backside, and both collided with the ground.

Chris was just happy for something soft to break his fall. But Dash didn’t seem too thrilled as he groaned.

“You’re… heavy…,” Dash wheezed.

“What?” Chris said, affronted. “I’ll have you know parakeets are very light. Hollow bones, you know.”

Dash swatted blindly at Chris’s thigh behind him. “Hollow bones, my ass. You’re crushing my kidneys.”

“Fine,” Chris snapped and shoved to his feet, making sure to push even harder against Dash.

But Dash groaned with the force.

Chris spun on his heel, ready to give him a good tongue-lashing, but hesitated when he caught something white and dirty stuck to his foot. He yanked the thick card free. Dirt and mud splattered his already soiled Bermuda shorts. Working out the creases in the cardstock, Chris brightened.

“I found the map,” he chirped happily, his parakeet excitement coming through his human voice.

“Great,” Dash said as he wobbled to his feet. “Now find me the nearest tiki bar so I can slam daiquiris.” He took one step forward, then collapsed to one knee.

“You’re hurt,” Chris cried and crouched over him.

“I told you that you were heavy,” Dash said, chuckling humorlessly. He winced as he tried to get to his feet.

“I can get help.” The panic rose in Chris’s voice.

Dash took his hand and squeezed tight. “You are the help, Tweety Bird.”

Chris swallowed hard.

This was not how he expected his week to go.

When his mother surprised him with a ticket for a dream cruise to the Caribbean, he didn’t expect (a) his ex working as his cabin steward, (b) getting marooned on an island with said ex, and (c) help nowhere in sight.

About the Author:

Lex Chase once heard Stephen King say in a commercial, “We’re all going to die, I’m just trying to make it a little more interesting.” Now, she’s on a mission to make the world a hell of a lot more interesting.

Weaving tales of cinematic, sweeping adventure—and depending on how she feels that day—Lex sprinkles in high-speed chases, shower scenes, and more explosions than a Hollywood blockbuster. Her pride is in telling stories of men who kiss as much as they kick ass. If you’re going to march into the depths of hell, it better be beside the one you love.

Lex is a pop culture diva, her DVR is constantly backlogged, has intense emotions about Hannibal’s Hannigram, and unapologetically loved the ending of Lost. She wouldn’t last five minutes without technology in the event of the apocalypse and has nightmares about refusing to leave her cats behind.

She is grateful for and humbled by all the readers. She knows very well she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them and welcomes feedback.

You can find her in the Internetz here:

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The post Author Highlight: Lex Chase appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: The First Morning After by Marie Lark

BLURB:

For as long as he can remember, Danny Rojas has wanted all-star first baseman Mitchel Finch. And he could swear that in high school, Mitchel was maybe interested, too. But the baseball team made Danny’s life a living hell back then, and the moment he was able, he got out. Five years later at a friend’s wedding, Danny finally has the chance, and more importantly, the courage, to act on his years-long crush.

Mitchel Finch used to have it so good–a brilliant athlete with lots of friends, a gorgeous girlfriend, and a place of importance in his home town. All he had to do was play it straight. But when an injury ends his baseball career, and his best friend’s wedding reminds him of everything he lost, Mitchel jumps at the opportunity Danny gives him–a night to be honest with himself. A night to finally feel wanted for exactly who he is.

The trouble is, neither of their circumstances has changed by morning. Mitchel is still closeted, and Danny is still the town pariah. Can a connection, building for years and forged in one night, survive the first morning after?

Title:


The First Morning After








Author:



Marie Lark






Genre:


Contemporary, Romance





Publisher:


Loose-Id LLC





Release Date:


June 6th, 2016







Pages:


139





Source:


Gay Book Reviews

REVIEW:

It’s an interesting book, the opening got my attention with its humor. I didn’t expect a lot of baseball moments so I wasn’t disappointed when baseball was mentioned a few times. The attraction between Danny and Finch (Doesn’t like being called that but I will anyway) was there. I’m still pissed at the ending, I mean surely there’s a book 2 coming? Danny and Finch’s story can’t end like this. please gimme closure there’s so much that still needs to be resolved.

Anyway this book was great, there’s an awkward sex scene where Finch finally gets off his fucking high horse and realize he’s not as great as he thinks. Okay, now I’m projecting but really, that scene was one of the most important moments in the book, I’m pretty sure awkward sex is now one of my favorite things to read.

I love his mild character growth even though it came late in the book, I’m hoping there’s a book two coming because Danny still has issues he needs to resolve and Finch needs to be happy, No seriously, it didn’t seem like it at first but he’s so unhappy and the ‘thing’ with Danny is not strong enough to convince me that his issues are resolved. You can probably tell that the ending did not make me happy.

In terms of storyline, the book brings a unique spin on the geek/jock trope, I would explain but that would ruin the book for you. Also, Finch’s ex-girlfriend needs a hug, I don’t mind giving her one.

The post Book Review: The First Morning After by Marie Lark appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Author Highlight: Keelan Ellis

Today’s Guest Author is the lovely Keelan Ellis. Today is the release day for her MM Romance novel –Misinformation.

Misinformation Blurb:

Ethan Daniels, host of a popular conservative cable news program, has never thought of his bisexuality as a problem, though he has never acted on his attraction to men. Since his divorce, that desire has become more acute. When he meets Charlie Woods, his daughter’s first-grade teacher, they have an instant spark, but Ethan hesitates to act. His contract is up for renewal, there are already rumors swirling about him because of a brief encounter from his past, and the last thing his employers want is for one of their stars to come out publicly.

Charlie avoids romantic entanglements because he prefers living on his own terms. He keeps love and sex completely separate, never seeing anyone more than a few times. Hooking up with a closeted celebrity like Ethan seems safe from emotional involvement, even if they have to keep their fledgling relationship secret.

The last thing they expect is to fall in love, but their strong mutual attraction moves them both to make changes neither of them thought they wanted or needed.

BUY LINKS:

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | ARe

 

Bio:

Keelan Ellis is an east coast girl for life, a progressive, a lover of music and musicians, a mother of two very challenging girls, a loyal though sometimes thoughtless friend, a slacker, a dreamer and a bad influence. She likes true crime podcasts, great television and expensive craft cocktails made by hipsters in silly vests.

Also by Keelan Ellis:

Novels:

I’ll Still Be There (Unfinished Business Book #1) Amazon Global Link

Anywhere You Go (Unfinished Business Book#2) Amazon Global Link

Short Stories:

Can’t Stand the Heat Amazon Global Link

Mug Shots  Amazon Global Link

Social Media Links:

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13923273.Keelan_Ellis

Blog: http://keelanellis.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KeelanEllisAuth

INTERVIEW WITH A.O. CHIKA

Q: This is probably not the right way to start an interview but I’m curious. Ever experimented with a woman (^_~)? (You really don’t have to answer that) LOL. Yeah, I’ve done threesomes. I’ve found that it’s not something that does a whole lot for me, but I’m glad to have had the experience anyway.

Q: The sex scenes were explicit, how did you write that without blushing, what’s the secret? And don’t say Yaoi because I hoard that shit and yet I still can’t image writing that many ‘cocks’ in one page. Who says I don’t blush? Honestly, I do get a little self-conscious at times. The main thing I worry about is being too repetitive. I watch porn for inspiration, even though I’m not really a porn consumer normally.

Q: Will Josh and Roland get their own story? Even if it’s a novella please＼(＾▽＾)／ ? Yes! That’s in the planning stages. I have a couple of other projects that I’m focusing on at the moment, but it’s going to happen.

Q: Your first book involved the paranormal, and now you’ve released a contemporary romance. What do you consider to be your primary genre? I don’t think I have one. All genres interest me, and I am open to writing in almost all of them. There is probably one or two that I could rule out–don’t expect any regency novels from me–but everything else is fair game. I’d especially like to write a true horror novel some day.

Q: What has been different in your experiences of these two book releases? With the first book, I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t have an online presence in my pen name, and I was basically clueless about every single thing. Total blind flailing. I was just excited to have my book out there. It didn’t sell very well, but it was generally well-reviewed, and at the time that was enough to make me happy. This time, I have expectations. This book is going to have a wider appeal, and I have a lot better idea what to do and what not to do. It’s important to me to write things that I believe are good, and reviews can still either make my day or bum me out for hours, but I’d also like to sell some copies.

Q: What are some specific examples of the way that your experiences have influenced your writing? Sometimes it’s small things. In my novella Anywhere You Go, there’s a conversation about how people from New Jersey think their pizza is superior to all other pizza. This comes directly from my experience of being a transplant to New Jersey and being married to a Jersey boy.

“I’ll be down in a minute,” Travis said, “And definitely pizza. I don’t trust the sushi around here.”

I don’t know what sushi is, but I’d bet the pizza’s no great shakes either. Back in Newark, you knew what you were getting when you ordered a pie.

“Jesus Christ, even ghosts from New Jersey can’t shut up about their stupid pie.”

Other times, it’s something much larger. One of the characters in Misinformation has a mom who came out as a lesbian after her divorce. That’s an experience from my own life, although I was much older than the character was when he had that experience.

Q: What would you tell your 18-year-old self if you could? Probably some version of “get your head out of your ass.” I wasted a lot of time and made a lot of decisions for reasons I knew were stupid even as I was making them. Also, I would tell me that I was beautiful because I had no idea. Like a lot of young women, all I could ever see were my flaws.

Q: How did you get started writing m/m?

I started with fan fiction, like a lot of other m/m authors. I had read some slash fic here and there, but when I found a fandom and a pairing that really spoke to me, I knew I wanted to do some writing in it. I don’t write fanfic anymore because I don’t have time, but sometimes when I’m stressed and frustrated with my writing, I think about chucking everything and just going back to fan fiction. I had a lot of fun with it, met some great people, and wrote some pretty decent stories. I built confidence, improved my writing, and most of all opened up my creativity.

Q: You mentioned slash fanfiction drawing you into writing MM Romance, what fandoms do you love? One of my earlier favorites for reading was Merlin. It’s pretty adorable. I like Hannibal a lot. My main fandom and the only one I’ve ever written in was Justified. I met some great people in that fandom. It’s perfect for fan fiction because there’s so much to expand on. It’s also a tiny fandom, which I like.

Q: What are your favorite MM Books? I’m a big fan of Avon Gale. I liked her first book a lot, and I was surprised to find that I liked her hockey books as well, even though I know nothing about the sport. I also think Brandon Witt is a wonderful writer. Angel Martinez writes some really entertaining stuff in the sci-fi/paranormal realm.

Q: What did you like to read as a kid? I’m in my forties, so there wasn’t much of a Young Adult market around when I was growing up. I went from Judy Blume to Stephen King in the space of a year or so. I also loved to read my dad’s mystery paperbacks that he had stacks of all around the house. My parents had a big bookshelf full of classics as well, so I read Salinger, Orwell, Vonnegut. They had a beautiful set of Poe stories that I adored. I would read just about anything at that age–genre fiction, literary fiction, Flowers in the Attic. I just wanted to be told a story.

Q: What were you like in school? I was a nerd who thought I was secretly cool. I didn’t find my crowd until about halfway through high school, but when I did they were pretty much all like that. My best friend in high school is my best friend to this day, and I don’t know that we’ve changed all that much. I’m not sure we were ever as cool as we thought we were, though.

Q: What are some of your favorite books? If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Jane Eyre. I’ve read it more times than probably any other book. I also love The Stand, despite some problematic things about it. I love Rule of the Bone, by Russell Banks. It’s a great coming of age story.

Q: You have a thirteen-year-old daughter. What are some of the differences and similarities between her coming of age experience and yours? I was her age in the 1980s. The world is a completely different place, but thirteen-year-old girls haven’t changed all that much. It’s fun to see her developing these obsessive crushes on celebrities. It’s both cringeworthy and hilarious. Of course, her main crushes are YouTube stars, while mine were actors and musicians.

It’s great to see the openness and acceptance that her generation shows towards people’s differences. It’s hard to explain what things were like for the gay community thirty years ago because she can’t really comprehend it. It was a complicated time because increased visibility and the fight for civil rights was happening at the same time as AIDS. The further we get from the 1980s, the more I think it was a bizarre time to be coming of age. Everything was changing.

Q: Your first book was released one year ago. What have you learned about being a writer since then? I’m now a lot more conscious of having an attention-grabbing first chapter. I’ve gotten better at letting a story unfold, rather than trying to tell people everything before they get to the actual story. Aside from the craft, though, the main thing I’ve learned is that the only way to finish a book is to keep writing it. Breaks are never good for me. Sometimes I absolutely need one, but it always throws me off track. It’s like going to the gym.

Q: Do you have any regrets about your first book? There are things I would have done differently/better. That’s just the learning process. On the whole, I’m happy with it. It’s an odd little book, and that suits me. I don’t ever want to be predictable.

Q: What do you wish someone had told you before you got into writing? I actually think I went into it with my eyes open. It would have been nice to have someone to hold my hand through the practical stuff—marketing, in particular. I was never sure if I was doing enough, too much, the wrong stuff. It’s a little overwhelming.

Q: What did you learn from publishing your first book that would forever remain with you? It was a real lesson in humility. I loved my first book. My friends loved my first book. Of the few people who reviewed, it, some of them loved my book. But it didn’t sell. And of course, some people didn’t like it. That’s just the way it goes. I had to do a lot of getting over myself.

Q: So far, you’ve gone the traditional publishing route. Do you have any plans to self-publish? Yes. That’s definitely a goal. I’m working (slowly) on a co-writing project with a friend, and my hope is that it will be my first foray into self-pub. I need a friend along on it because otherwise it’s too scary.

Q: What drew you into writing for Dreamspinner Press? It’s hard to remember at this point. It’s probably just that they’re the biggest, so I’d heard of them. I didn’t do much research before I submitted to them. I’ve been pretty happy with them, but I’m always curious about other publishers.

Q: Is Misinformation based on any real people or situations? There are no characters in Misinformation that are based on actual people. The network is very clearly a stand-in for Fox News. There’s no point in being coy about that. I called it ECHO News, which I like because it calls to mind the echo chamber of partisan cable networks. It stands for “Ethical, Consistent, Honest and Outspoken,” although I don’t think I managed to work that into the book. I use it on some of my merch though. There is an on-air personality on Fox who was sort of the germ of the inspiration for this book, but it’s not him. It was just the result of thinking about the position that guy finds himself in.

Q: Are you interested in politics? Yes, intensely. I grew up in a household that took politics and public policy very seriously. Every Sunday, I sat with my dad in the living room and watched what I used to call the “argument shows.” The most educational part of that was listening to him react to those shows and explain things when I didn’t understand them.

Q: What else do you have coming up? Wayward Ink Press is publishing the first book in my Paul Solomon detective series, some time later this year. I don’t have anything resembling a tentative date yet, but I’m incredibly excited for people to get to know Paul.

Q: What is your writing schedule like? I’m the worst with schedules. Every time I make one for myself, it just stresses me out. It’s something I dislike about myself, and I wish very much I could make a schedule and stick to it.

Q: Tell us about what you’re currently working on. I submitted a story to a Dreamspinner anthology some time ago. I got a decline for the anthology, but they asked if I’d be interested in expanding it because they felt there was a lot more story to be told. I completely agreed with that assessment, and for once I was really glad to get a rejection. That story and those characters hadn’t left my mind since I wrote it in January, and I knew I wanted to do more with them. I don’t want to give a whole lot away, but it’s about another topic that’s very close to my heart. It’s about music and musicians, and about the ways we deceive ourselves into settling for less than we deserve.

Q: Any advice for upcoming Authors? Never try to write something you wouldn’t want to read yourself.

The post Author Highlight: Keelan Ellis appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Trigger by Jessica L. Webb

Title:


Trigger






Series:


Trigger #1





Author:



Jessica Webb






Genre:


Fiction





Publisher:


Bold Strokes Books





Release Date:


April 12, 2016







Pages:


264

BLURB:

Dr. Kate Morrison doesn’t know how or why someone would create human bombs that are triggered by touch. But when Sergeant Andy Wyles blocks Kate from touching the patient who collapses in her Vancouver ER, Kate joins the investigation to demand answers, regardless of the danger.

As the two women work together to find those responsible for creating an army of human weapons, Kate finds it increasingly difficult to ignore her feelings for the fiercely protective and unrelentingly perceptive cop.

The investigation escalates, and Kate gradually begins to trust Andy, not only with her safety but also with the difficult details of her past. With lives at risk and her heart on the line, Kate must search for a way to defuse the bombs and save her patients, even as she questions the intensifying connection between herself and Andy.

REVIEW:

HOLY FREAKING SHIT! This book is so amazing I could marry it!

The tension, the suspense and the exploding bodies! Yep, you read that right. This book is the pinnacle of lesbian fiction, the romance was subtle and did not ruin the suspense. I was high on adrenaline after reading this book, it's that good.

What's scarier than a person wearing a bomb? A person who IS a bomb! Completely organic. Absolutely undetectable. A weaponized human body that can be triggered by a simple touch. (I stole this line from Jem on Goodreads I recommend reading her review here)

This book was intense and I doubt anyone could put this book down once they got started. The first two chapters were a bit slow and then BAM! An injured man and the bomb squad comes in and our lives would never be the same again.

The plot is original and engaging, the theme and premise were well executed. I mean the blurb was a bit boring and completely downplayed the book itself, and I wondered how the author planned to sell a story about people who are bombs.

The characters were real and fascinating when they were afraid so was I and when they were happy I couldn't help but laugh. At the beginning I felt like Kate was looking for an excitement in her life, It doesn't get any more exciting than being the only person who can touch human bombs without them detonating, finding out why she could hurt but hey it served a good cause... God, I sound heartless!

Andy is an interesting character as well, she gave off this standoffish aura even when she was being friendly... well as friendly as she could be. I understood her but whenever she acted 'friendly' I squinted and called bullshit, while wondering what the ulterior motive was. My trust issues aside, I loved her... she reminds me of Morgan from Criminal Minds for some reason.

Trigger has it all Romance, Drama, Angst, Suspense, Action... you name it, This is a must read!

The post Book Review: Trigger by Jessica L. Webb appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Personal Foul by Lucy J. Madison

Title:


Personal Foul








Author:



Lucy J. Madison






Genre:


Sports Romance





Publisher:


Sapphire Books





Release Date:


March 15th, 2016







Pages:


266 Pages

REVIEW:

Personal Foul starts rather slow, and the use of First person present tense through me off, I want sure if I was being shown stuff or if I was being force fed. After a while, it grew on me.

The only things I know about basketball is from an Anime -KnB and before you say anything, Kise will always be the best.

Now back to the book, the hook was rather boring and it wasn't interesting until Julie came in. The Premise had a lot of potentials but the execution sadly did not fully utilize it.

Kat as a character is frustrating and slow, she freaked out over one kiss. I mean she is supposed to be the mature one but her attitude was anything but. Feelings were thrown in a bit too soon for my taste but then again the heart is a weird thing so who knows.

The pacing was a bit awkward and there were places where nothing was really happening. The characters didn't feel real to me for some reason, and I could not connect with them. I did, however, understand them, Julie more so than Kat.

However, the basketball scenes were intense and gripping, the pacing was perfect and I could feel the fast paced tempo of the court as though I was there.

The Plot was somewhat original, The theme was conveyed and the premise was great. Kat and Julie had great chemistry and despite the pacing and the book did focus on Julie and Kat's developing relationship which is important in a romance book.

If you prefer slow burn romance with some fast paced sports scene then this is definitely for you.

BLURB:

Kat Schaefer’s career is on autopilot. She’s an elite basketball official in the WNBA after surviving an extremely rocky childhood but still finds herself adrift in her personal life almost two years after her longtime girlfriend dumped her. Kat’s well-ordered world turns upside down again when she meets a hotshot rookie named Julie Stevens who knocks her world off balance with her stellar play and captivating eyes.

Despite Kat’s best defense, she falls hard for the young player but she’s unable to open herself up to love again. Her solution is to retreat alone to the magnificent beaches of Provincetown, Massachusetts to heal old wounds and to figure out what the future holds.

The post Book Review: Personal Foul by Lucy J. Madison appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Lucky Starflowers by Kate Pavelle

Title:


Lucky Starflowers






Series:


A Steel City Story Book 5





Author:



Kate Pavelle






Genre:


Romance





Publisher:


Mugen Press





Release Date:


February 12th, 2016

REVIEW:

Who doesn't love a pretty man with even prettier pink panties?

I loved Sam's disguises, to be honest, I think that's probably because I want to be him but that's a discussion for another day.

Theo my dear sweet child confused me at first, I wondered if he was still hung up on his ex but in denial, and when he didn't recognize the blatant flirting with the coffee guy I was about to cry... I mean think about the free coffee!

Okay let's get serious, Theo and Sam could not communicate to save their lives, just when I thought they were finally going somewhere, their doubts resurfaced. Theo kept comparing Sam to his ex (I think his name is Attila the hun) and Sam was so used to being alone he wouldn't know what to do with a relationship- he kept saying 'I'm not boyfriend material'.

I could forgive Sam because he was trying, also his Samantha 'persona' is freaking awesome, plus he is a professional gambler, who could be angry at that? Don't answer that I know a couple of people who would.

I loved the vulnerability in their characters as well as their strengths, I love their quirks... they are both scared shitless of mice. And let's be honest the sex scenes were interesting.

The book sucked me in and I couldn't put it down, The characters were gripping and real, and I could connect with them despite the fact that I know nothing about flowers or gambling.

I'm glad I got to interview Kate Pavelle because I was astounded at the detail to Theo's flower business and Sam's Gambling. You can read the interview here.

The chemistry/heat/ spark between Theo and Sam was obvious, I love how the focus remained on their relationship despite the subplots-Theo preparing for the Valentines day rush and Sam plans to gamble in the big leagues.

The plot was executed perfectly, the characters were three-dimensional and resonated well well with the plot making the book a success.

Wow, I feel like I just gave a speech for the Grammy's

Blurb:

Theodore and his cousin Rickey inherited their aunt’s flower shop, Starflowers. They decide to run and improve it with their families’ financial support. Starflowers gives Theodore’s life meaning after a depressing breakup. Focusing on work is easy when he’s absolutely sure there’s no space for a man in his life. If he did allow for a boyfriend, it would be someone boring and everyday. Someone unlike the exotic Attila. He’d have a cubicle job, wear a cheap suit, and drive a Kia.

Sam Grey is a professional gambler who got caught counting cards one too many times, and consequences can be severe. He got beaten up, robbed, injured, and ends up homeless in Pittsburgh, living out of his Porsche. His temporary job helping with the Valentine’s Day craze makes him yearn not only for the perky florist, but for a slower, friendlier way of life. When the shop runs into financial trouble, Sam’s dangerous and exotic skills might be just the thing to help Theodore and show him he’s not just a deadbeat moocher who’s “just passing through.”

“Lucky Starflowers” is a gay romance with a happy ending.

The post Book Review: Lucky Starflowers by Kate Pavelle appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Author Highlight: Sarah Beth James

Today’s Guest Author the wonderful and talented Sarah Beth James. She is a Writer, Film Critic, Actress, Singer, Media Journalist, Editor/Owner The Pulse Entertainment, (Past) Co-Editor of The Cinemarks. Yup, she’s awesome alright. She’s also incredibly beautiful… I just had to add that.

She released her debut book -Save me on the 26th of January 2016 and she is currently working on her second book – Can’t let you go, which would be out July 2016. Save me is currently free on KU so don’t forget to grab a copy.

 

BLURB:

Jack is a young gay man with a miserable past. His mother died when he was little, and his father doesn’t really care about him. He went through high school alone apart from his theatre friends, wanting to kill himself. Until he met his childhood sweetheart Stephen and then everything started to go right in his life.

Until they both went to college in New York, planned their wedding and slowly drifted apart. Until Jack found out he was being cheated on, a chokehold relationship full of abuse later, they part. Jack is so heart broken he turns to drink and drugs to survive. In the end finding himself in a gay-hating church being taught that being gay is the only reason he hurts so much.

Will Jack ever find peace?

Someone who loves him for who he is?

Or will he end up faking straight to survive?

EXCERPT:

The Preacher came back, offered him drink, and allowed him relief in a small bucket before throwing him back inside. In truth he fell inside, his legs couldn’t really support him anymore, too cramped up from days stuck in there. Pins and needles stabbing through his lower body as the blood started flowing as it should again. He felt even dizzier than he had before, near passing out. Perfectly attuned to the higher powers finally.

“Will you let the Lord back in your heart? Will you deny the Devil and his sinful earthly desires? Will you make the move to happiness away from the darkness?”

“Yes,” Jack answered, his voice soft.

“Yes what?” the Preacher asked, his voice harsh.

“I want to be happy, I want to be saved now. To forget all of my sins, to repent. I want to be set free.” he answered dully.

The Preacher smiled, “Finally you are fit to become one of our Elders. Tomorrow you will start a new life with us.” He locked the door, leaving him one final night in that cell.

Jack lay there in the darkness, forgiveness was in his grasp. Soon he could have everything he wanted and needed. A calm and sense of relief flooding his body knowing that this nightmare would soon be over. That his life could soon start again.

There was a rustle at the doorway, the lock started to rattle. Oh how Jack wished that it would stop, he was so tired. Every single time he started to fall asleep the scratching would wake him again. “Go away.” he moaned. It still grew louder. “Just go away I’m fine.” he slurred.

Buy Link : Amazon Global

AUTHOR BIO:

I’m 34, a writer from London, UK. I have spent the last two years writing for online film review sites.

I have a background in non-fiction writing, working with Watch This Space film magazine as well as The Cinemarks. I later launched my own entertainment website- The Pulse Entertainment.

I have always written stories since I was a teenager, this year I finally published my first book. Save Me is my first published novel, although I plan to have its sequel Too Many Tears published in 2017. Along with another book called I Can’t Let You Go, an emotional book about a man who finds out he has cancer and only six months left to live.

I am passionate about reading as much as writing, I love fantasy and sci-fi books; as well as crime, and horror. I also sing and act in my spare time.

My favorite music is Adam Lambert and Queen.

UPCOMING BOOKS

Alex discovers he has just six months to live. Before he dies he wants to make sure all those he loves are taken care of, including the girl he has loved since high school, and who loves him in return. 

The problem is she thinks he is gay, because, for all the years of their friendship that’s exactly what he told her

Can Alex face up to being bisexual before it’s too late?

Is there any hope for his future?

How would Lucy cope with life without her best friend by her side?

Link’s to Sarah’s Online Profiles

Facebook Twitter Amazon Author Page Website

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Author Highlight: Brigham Vaughn

Today’s Author is no other than the lovely Brigham Vaughn. I’ll be posting the review for her latest book Bully & Exit soon. M/M sport romance fans will love this, prepare yourself for some hockey and some good old Jock/Geek tropes.

 

Bio:

Brigham Vaughn is starting the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time writer. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga.  She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.

Books:

Dreamspinner Press Dr. Feelgood Anthology (Short Story)

Pain Management

Standalone Short Stories

Baby, It’s Cold Inside

Geeks, Nerds, and Cuddles

Love in the Produce Aisle

Not So Suddenly

Sunburns and Sunsets

The French Toast Emergencies  

The Wine Tasting Series (Short Stories)

Spit or Swallow

Aftertaste

Finish

(Available individually or as a bundle)

Standalone Novellas

Doc Brodie and the Big, Purple, Cat Toy (June 2016)

The Equals Series (Novellas)

Equals

Partners

Family (a holiday novella)

Husbands

Connection Series (Novels)

Connection

Trust

The Midwest Series (Novels)

Bully & Exit

Push & Pull (Summer 2016)

Interview With Brigham Vaughn:

-Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I grew up in Michigan and have lived here my whole life. I went to Michigan State University and changed majors several times, but I knew none of them were the right fit. I got a job at a hospital and figured I’d work until I discovered something that was.

I stumbled into writing about seven or eight years ago and it just clicked. I eventually realized I wanted to try to make it my career.

After my ex-husband and I split last summer, I moved in with my parents and began writing full time. I am not quite at a point where I can move out yet, but I am hoping to reach that point soon.

-What were you like at school?

Overall, I was a good student and in Advanced Placement classes, along with French, theater, and band.

I can’t say I loved school, but I always loved reading and learning. Math was never my strong suit and I had a tendency to slack off if I got bored.

I did well in science classes and since there was a big push for girls to do math and science careers, I convinced myself I should go into a science-related field, but I never loved it. In college, I started as a biology major (looking to go into genetic counseling), then transitioned to psychology, then art therapy. I found all of those fields fascinating, but when I came right down to it I knew they weren’t the right choice for me.  Writing was.

-Were you good at English?

Yes. English, literature, drama, and French were my strong suits.  Anything language related. I’d love to learn another language.

-What are your ambitions for your writing career?

I’d like to be able to support myself with my writing, have a nice group of loyal fans, be able to travel to a few conventions a year, and to feel like my skills as a writer grow every year.

-Where do you see yourself in five years?

To be honest, it’s pretty up in the air these days. I am trying to relax about it and see where life takes me. So much of what happens depends on whether or not I can make enough as a writer to support myself and where my personal relationships take me.

Ideally, I’d be writing full time, in a great relationship, able to travel, have a few pets, and feel content with where I’m headed.

But I know life may not work out as I hope/plan so I’m trying to let things unfold naturally.

-How do you relax?

Not very well? *laughs*

No, I’m trying to get better at it. After years of working full-time and trying to write full-time I got pretty used to going full-tilt. So now that I quit my day job and am just writing, I am trying to slow myself down. Ideally, I want to be productive when I’m working and turn off work mode when I finish for the day, but it’s challenging.

I was so used to going constantly, that even now when I watch a TV show, I struggle to just sit there and do nothing else. Usually, I’m on Pinterest or coloring as well. That’s as “relaxed” as I can manage.

I go for a walk 5 days a week and I love to do yoga and I take a couple of classes on weeknight evenings, which helps. One yoga class is specifically for relaxation and it’s been really good for me. I also take Thursday afternoon off from writing and visit my best friend and her kids. We play with the kids, sew, drink, have dinner, and go for a nice long walk. It’s been really good for me.

-What is your favorite book and why?

“The Blind Assassin” by Margaret Atwood. She writes such beautifully lyrical, yet sparse prose. I was so disappointed when I realized my writing sounded nothing like hers.

What is your favorite quote?

It’s a quote from “The Blind Assassin” actually.

“Touch comes before sight, before speech. It is the first language and the last, and it always tells the truth.”

Someday I’d like to get it as a tattoo.

-How much research do you do?

A fair amount. It really depends on the book though. My upcoming novella “Doc Brodie and the Big Purple Cat Toy” is about a cat who eats something she’s not supposed to, and brings together her owner and her vet.

In that case, I had to do very little research because I drew from a real life scenario and the book was set in a city I lived in for years. I still did a minor amount of research to be sure I got my facts straight, but it was much easier than when I wrote the “Equals” and “Connections” series.

Those series take place in Georgia and I had to do quite a bit of research on the area. In “Partners” I did research on small towns in rural Georgia and pecan farms. In “Connection” I did research on funeral homes and Traumatic Brain Injury. I always try my hardest to be as accurate as possible.

-Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?

Both.

I check all of my books for errors before I send it to my betas. I have a list of overused words and useless phrases I try to clean up before I send it to them so it’s fairly tight. After I fix the issues the betas point out, I give it another read through to be sure it’s clean. Then I send it to my editor for final edits to be sure all of the grammar is solid. After that, I give it another read through and send it to another person for a final proofread to catch any typos. It’s a pretty exhaustive process, but I think it’s worth it in order to put out a polished final copy.

-Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from one of your books?

Ryan Guzman is who I picture as Russ from the “Equals” series. I’d love to see him play the part, although I think I’m the kind of author who would have a very, very difficult time handing over control of my work.

-What are you working on at the minute?

The second book in the Midwest Series, “Push & Pull”.

-How many books do you anticipate in the Midwest series?

Three. The first was “Bully & Exit”, featuring Nathan and Caleb. “Push & Pull” is the second and it features Brent and Lowell. The third has no title yet, but it will be about Micah (a character in the first two books) and his future physical therapist.

-What is “Push & Pull” about?

“Push & Pull” follows Lowell and Brent, two of the supporting characters from “Bully & Exit” as they take a road trip during the summer after college. Brent is newly out of the closet and Lowell has a chip on his shoulder about relationships. The story is about them discovering themselves and each other through their trip across the country.

-Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

“Bully & Exit” was originally supposed to be a single, standalone book. It was Lowell who hijacked the story and turned it into a series. I’ve had that happen before, but Lowell was particularly persistent about wanting his story told. Of course, now that it’s his turn, he’s misbehaving and I’m finding it a struggle to write his story. I had to set it aside to do “Doc Brodie” but once I have the details of that book release out of the way dealt with, I’ll dive back in. I’m hoping that taking a break will help me get back on track.

-Give us an insight into your main character in your next book. What does he do that is so special?

Lowell in “Push & Pull’ is very unique. When I wrote “Bully & Exit” he was the voice of reason to his roommate Caleb’s heartache over Nathan. He’s very calm, very logical in helping Caleb figure out what to do. He’s also a massive flirt and really enjoys making people uncomfortable. He likes to push people’s buttons. So that tension between who he is with his friends and who he presents as to the outside world makes him really interesting.

 

Brigham Vaughn is always up for a nice chat, you can reach her on:

Email:

brighamvaughn@gmail.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/brigham.vaughn

Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Brigham-Vaughn/448104198635015

Facebook Fan Group (Brigham’s Book Nerds):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/brighamsbooknerds/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/AuthorBVaughn

G+:

plus.google.com/+BrighamVaughn

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/brighamvaughn/

The post Author Highlight: Brigham Vaughn appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Seeing Red: Scorched by T.C. Orton

Title:


Seeing Red: Scorched






Series:


Omega Moon





Author:



T.C. Orton






Genre:


Romance





Publisher:


Self Published





Release Date:


May 6, 2016





Format:


.Mobi





Pages:


360

REVIEW:

I'm not the biggest fan of vampire books, mostly because they seem to be so linear and the story is usually one dimensional and predictable even with subplots, but this one was different.

The gruesome start drew me in, and nothing stays BANG! like a scene with someone's skull being crushed, accidentally or otherwise. I'm morally dubious and the hook was all I needed to drop everything else and focus on the book.

The Romance was well written and while Nick was a bit too nice and sweet for my taste he was a good boyfriend to Isaac. One of the things I loved about this book were the multi-dimensions each character had, Kyle was sweet and upbeat but his past was a mess, Troy seemed like an oblivious pot head, but he had been in love with Kyle for a VERY long time, he's even the goddamn prince! Isaac grew from the kid crashing at his friend's house, to a vampire who had no clue what was going on... there was the ghoul part, the anger issues, and the moral dubiousness that was fine in my books.

Honestly to me he was just a kid who needed a break, his insecurity and nervousness were obvious, his emotions were all over the place and he did some pretty stupid things but let's be honest if I suddenly became a vampire, playing good guy would be the last thing on my mind. On that note WTF is wrong with Issac's parent, someone gimme lamp lemme smack them in the head.

Moss and Nick's growth was subtle mostly because there were hints all along, Moss might be a grumpy cat but he had his soft...ish moments, Nick was just trying to be a sweet and considerate boyfriend all along.

I'll admit there were times in which Nick and Issac's relationship had me going huh?? but I chalked it down to Nick being a gentleman and wanting to wait until Issac was mentally prepared and the nine-month transformation period was over before having full on sex.

I love how the romance took a turn in the direction I hoped for. I love moss, he's my favorite character and he reminds me of Roronoa Zoro- the only man I could ever love. I prefer aggressive and morally dubious characters and Moss was just that, I loved how the author didn't make him some grumpy bad as the guy with no weakness or any sort of redeeming qualities, I was actually happy when he got his ass kicked by Luke,it made him more human... well he's a vampire but you know what I mean, I love how the attraction between him and Issac was always there but we just couldn't see it for what it was until half way into the book and suddenly I was like wait a minute... did that just?

Moss and Isaac's first 'moment' was amazing and had me rooting for them despite Issac and Nicks relationship.

Eric was another complicated character, what hurt was that Eric probably didn't know how fucked up his situation was, Luke might be an ass but he was a well-written ass and I'm pretty sure in different situations I would route for him. Now if I could just convince the Author to write about Luke and Aiden falling in love.

That being said the characters, plot and prose were beautiful, I'm looking forward to reading more books by T.C. Orton.

SEEING RED BLURB:

Down the twists and turns of the London alleyways, where Chinatown meets the highstreets, lies a small venue where unknown rock bands often play to crowds of less than one-hundred.

Isaac is nineteen, living on the sofa of his best friend’s brother – Eric – after his bible-loving parents tossed him aside because of his sexuality. After two years of struggling to make sense of his life, Eric and Charlotte convince Isaac to attend Red’s gig; an up and coming rock band with a small cult following.

All hell breaks loose and Isaac is left injured, with the whereabouts of his friends unknown and his body crippled on the ground. It’s then that the four members – Troy, Nicolai, Kyle and Moss – aid Isaac by infecting him with a ‘magical’ virus that grants immortality in exchange for consuming blood.

The ‘Paranorm’ world is exposed to Isaac. Vampires, werewolves and warlocks lurk in the depths of the city he has lived in his entire life, but he won’t become one with the night until he completes his nine-month transition, leaving him in the hands of the band and at the mercy of vampire politics.

The post Book Review: Seeing Red: Scorched by T.C. Orton appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Blitz: Seeing Red by T.C. Orton

SEEING RED: SCORCHED

T.C. ORTON

PARANORMAL M/M ROMANCE

COVER DESIGN: Fiverr

https://www.fiverr.com/

 

BLURB

Down the twists and turns of the London alleyways, where Chinatown meets the high streets, lies a small venue where unknown rock bands often play to crowds of less than one-hundred.

Isaac is nineteen, living on the sofa of his best friend’s brother – Eric – after his bible-loving parents tossed him aside because of his sexuality. After two years of struggling to make sense of his life, Eric and Charlotte convince Isaac to attend Red’s gig; an up and coming rock band with a small cult following.

All hell breaks loose and Isaac is left injured, with the whereabouts of his friends unknown and his body crippled on the ground. It’s then that the four members – Troy, Nicolai, Kyle, and Moss – aid Isaac by infecting him with a ‘magical’ virus that grants immortality in exchange for consuming blood.

The ‘Paranorm’ world is exposed to Isaac. Vampires, werewolves, and warlocks lurk in the depths of the city he has lived in his entire life, but he won’t become one with the night until he completes his nine-month transition, leaving him in the hands of the band and at the mercy of vampire politics.

Amazon Global Link

TEASERS

EXCERPT #1

“You don’t have to.” Nicolai seemed to notice my hesitation.

“I want to,” I replied as I began to shift my body down the sheets, my face dropping closer to Nicolai’s to plant another kiss on his lips before my mouth moved to his neck.

I used my tongue to leave a trail of saliva from the tip of his earlobe, down between his pecs and over his hard abs until I was knelt at the foot of the bed with my mouth hovering around the waistline of his jeans as my entire body began to shake with nerves. I wanted this; I really wanted this, but what if I was no good? At least if we were doing everything then I could rely on Nicolai to lead the way, but this required some talent on my part.

Nicolai reached down, undoing the button on his jeans and sliding the zipper down as he used his free hand to ruffle my blonde locks that I just realized might get in the way. I ran a hand through my hair, pushing the strands over my shoulders and hoping that they’d stay put. I reached out, grabbed the tip of Nicolai’s jeans and tugged them down, also bringing his black boxers down with them and causing his thick shaft to spring up in all its glory.

 

EXCERPT #2

I took a moment. Breathing deeply. Letting my chest rise and fall slowly. Composing myself before forcing a smile onto my quivering lips, and then I turned around to head back downstairs as if I wasn’t fazed at all. Only, when I shifted my body towards the exit, Moss was standing with his cold stare fixed on me.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly in my defense.

Moss sighed. He began walking towards his room and turned his head from me.

“Didn’t ask,” he replied in a gentler tone than usual as he took his messy, green hair into his bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him.

At least I didn’t have to worry about him smothering me with overbearing affection anytime soon.

Amazon Global Link

INTERVIEW WITH A.O. CHIKA

I’m just gonna say that I loved Moss from the beginning, something about gruff men with green hair makes me happy, although it’s probably because he reminds me of my favorite anime character -Zoro.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

What inspired you to write Seeing Red?

A: If I was going to go all the way back to my obsession with vampires and other supernatural/paranormal creatures, then I’d have to say Buffy was my main inspiration. What I’m doing with my novels is creating a shared universe (I call it my OMU, Omega Moon Universe, because Omega Moon was the first book), each book focusing on a different ‘creature’ but they all inhabit the same world, so not sequels, but co-existing. That in itself was inspired by Marvel’s cinematic universe.
Moss is my favorite character, who/what inspired him?

A: Moss is loosely inspired by a friend of mine… sort of a “will we, won’t we,” friend. I’m actually taken now though, so I guess we won’t! He’s exaggerated, obviously, but it all came from a real guy.
What chapter was the toughest to write?

A: The chapters after the beach house proved to be difficult. I think I got around 14 chapters done in a single month, then spent over a month trying to get the next 6 finished. (Spoilers ahead – I really struggled to bring Nicolai and Isaac to a close, so there were plenty of rewrites once they were back at the factory)
What chapter was your favorite?

A: Chapter seven, easily. That chapter was inspired by a chapter I did in my first OMU novel (Omega Moon) where the main character, Alec and his new friend, Connor, go into the city and a few guys get a little too hands-on with them. (They’re werewolves, so it doesn’t end well for the other men) I love writing fight scenes, I love giving my protagonists – who aren’t always the strongest, tallest, or bravest – their moment to shine. It’s a very when-Gohan-kicked-Cell’s-ass-moment (Yes, I’m an anime fan too!)
Did you plan Nick’s character or was he just a way to add some suspense to the book and heat up Moss and Isaac’s relationship?

A: Funnily enough, in my first draft Nick was going to have that same ability that Luke had, and Isaac was going to be under his influence without knowing, until Moss saved the day… but I did something similar in my first novel (Spoilers, sorry) and then I got thinking “Why does there have to be a flaw with Nick? What if Isaac just falls for the bad guy?” and things changed from there.
I’m just going say that I love Kyle, I love how he has some emotional scars, and to me that gives his character a lot of depth, how did you come up with Kyle’s character?

A: I know I keep referencing Omega Moon, but again, look to my first novel and there’s a character called Connor who is happy-go-lucky. Both him and Kyle are heavily inspired by characters like Willow from Buffy, but clearly Kyle has a darker past. I wanted someone that had been through something worse than Isaac, worse than Moss, and had come out of it a better person than either of them. He’s the manifestation of hope. Kyle is what Isaac hopes to be one day, when he’s lost some of that teenage angst.
Luke is still M.I.A. Is there a sequel in the works?

A: Like I’ve mentioned, I’m creating an expanding universe of books that all happen in the same world, focusing on different creatures. I did just pen my first crossover featuring a character from Seeing Red into my next book, although it’s brief. As for a direct sequel, I would absolutely love to. However, Seeing Red does end in March 2017, whereas my next book is still set in 2015, so we may have to wait until my other works have caught up with these characters.
Does Aiden get his own happily ever after? Does Eric?

A: In the epilogue I do mention that Troy decides to take up the throne alongside Aiden, giving him some help with the political side of things. I have plans for Aiden, since he’s the king of a race you can be certain he’ll show up in many of my OMU books, not just the Seeing Red series. As for Eric, well… the thing we have to remember is that Eric was actually sexually/emotionally abused. What Luke did to him wasn’t consensual, which explains his attitude in the epilogue, he’s dealing with things, and I don’t expect that they’ll be resolved in a chapter or two.
So… Ghouls huh? And a nine-month transition period before becoming a full-fledged vampire, how did you get the idea?

A: I played the video game Vampire: The masquerade, and in that game some vampires take on human ‘slaves’ I suppose… they’re willing humans who drink vampire blood to become somewhat vampire, they call themselves ghouls. I liked the idea so I took it and morphed it into my own thing. As for the transition period, my first book featured Mpreg (male pregnancy) within the werewolf species, so that’s why 9 months, sort of a ‘born again’ thing. Also, I never liked the idea of how easily people become vampires in television and other books, I wanted it to be something that was hard, painful and restricting. I wanted a challenge that Isaac had to overcome.
How much research did you do?

A: I looked up the name of the cemetery in London, and I made sure to use real locations that I was familiar with in England, but exaggerated a lot of them. I’m pretty familiar with vampire lore (I dropped Vlad’s name at some point) so that was easy. Plus, I wanted to do my own take on vampires, so I wasn’t looking for things that had already been done.
What was the weirdest thing you googled while researching/ planning Seeing Red: Scorched?

A: I wish I had some hilarious searches, but I didn’t. I did extensively look into cemeteries in London, so perhaps that would cause some concern for anyone who got hold of my laptop.
Which character is your favorite and why?

A: Kyle, he’s incredibly brave, kind and powerful but he doesn’t wear it on himself like Moss and he isn’t down on himself like Isaac. His only flaw is that he goes a bit soft around Troy, but that just makes him more ‘real’ in my eyes.
Were there any alternate endings you considered?

A: I was going to end it right after Moss and Isaac did the deed, with a simple “what next?” between the pair of them. However, I felt like chapter 20 was owed to the people that made it that far… the epilogue was written at the spur of the moment at about 4am, I just needed to know what they were doing afterwards.


What was left out in the final draft?

A: Plenty, so many ideas went in the trash during this story and I don’t think any of them would work now. I was actually going to have Charlotte’s ghost appear throughout the story, but I decided against it. I like to keep each book focused on one ‘race’ of supernatural beings.
What challenges did you face in the production of Seeing Red?

A: Actually writing. I procrastinate with the best of them.
Did you consider publishing Seeing Red with a traditional publisher?

A: It never crossed my mind. I suppose there’s a small part of me that sees publishers as the big, scary adults and I’m not ready to hand in my homework yet. I feel more comfortable self-publishing.
What is your writing process like?

10am: Okay, lets write… 10pm: Okay, I’ll start writing now.
What drew you to writing?

A: My head is full of stories. All day, every day, I’m creating people, concepts, places, adventures… I can come up with a novel, lore and a 100-year history in a matter of minutes. If I don’t get it down on paper I start to feel stressed. It’s like when you really want to tell someone something, but you’re not allowed and you can feel it bubbling in your throat. I have just always wanted – needed – to write.
Is there anyone you would like to say a special thanks to?

A: Wendy Stone, Bradley, Adam, Michelle, my partner Peter and my dog Drake. Drake just looks at me and I’m destressed.

AUTHOR BIO

Born January 6th 1993, T. C. resides in the United Kingdom, living with his partner Peter Jones and their dog, Drake.

T. C. has had a passion for supernatural stories from a young age, often scribbling down his latest ideas instead of focusing on whatever task was at hand during the long school days. At the age of twelve, he penned his first romance story featuring himself and the boy he had feelings for set in a fantastical land full of werewolves and wizards. Ever since that day, T. C. has made it his mission to entwine his leading gay protagonists with epic paranormal adventures.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

FB: https://www.facebook.com/tcortonauthor

FB Author: https://www.facebook.com/tcortonbooks/?fref=ts

Join my Fan Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcortonbookclub/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/T.C.-Orton/e/B01FG98Y84

PREVIOUS BOOKS

Omega Moon: (M/M, Shifter, Mpreg, New Adult)

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College Climax (Book 1)

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Summer Climax (Book 2)

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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