A.O. Chika's Blog, page 8

Cover Reveal: A Kind Of Honesty by Lane Hayes

Title: A Kind of Honesty

Series: A Kind of Story, #3

Author: Lane Hayes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: October 7, 2016

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 85K

Genre: Romance, Bisexual, Rock star, NYC, humor

Blurb

Music is Tim Chalmers’s great escape and the one thing that’s never let him down. But his band Spiral’s meteoric rise to fame has made it difficult for the drummer to maintain a low profile. Unwanted press pesters him after a public breakup with a volatile ex-girlfriend who loves the limelight as much as he loathes it. Tim’s main goal is to avoid confrontation. However, when he meets a handsome stranger in a dive bar who turns out to be someone he may know, everything changes.

Carter Hamilton-Temple might be a successful financial consultant with more brains, sophistication, and charm than most, but he always falls for the wrong guys: closet cases or men with issues. He can’t fight his attraction to the tattooed rock star, but can he trust his own judgment? When the thrill of danger combined with a fierce physical connection proves too strong for either man to resist, a quiet liaison away from the public eye and curious friends seems like a safe bet. But some secrets are hard to keep. When rumors threaten to rock his world, Tim realizes it’s time to confront his fear with his own kind of honesty.

Excerpt

“What kind of a rock star are you? You’re supposed to love sex, drugs, and alcohol. I haven’t known you long, but you seem to only really like one out of three,” Carter commented idly as he shuffled the cards.

“You’re right. I’m a sucky rock star. I rarely have more than one drink when I go out for dinner or even at a bar. Two at a party. Anything more usually leads to trouble. And I never take drugs. Even cold medicine makes me nervous.” I winked and gave him a lecherous grin that no doubt looked far from provocative in my current condition. “But I love sex.”

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eBook | Paperback
Meet the Author

Lane Hayes is finally doing what she loves best. Writing! An avid reader from an early age, Lane has always been drawn to romance novels. She truly believes there is nothing more inspiring than a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her first novel was a finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Awards. She is the bestselling author of the Better Than Stories series and Right and Wrong Stories and the new A Kind of Stories series. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in an almost empty nest.

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Release Day Blitz: Connection Error by Annabeth Albert

Title: Connection Error

Author: Annabeth Albert

Series Title and Number: #Gaymers, Book 3, but stands alone well too

Publisher: CARINA PRESS

Cover Artist: CARINA PRESS

Release Date: September 5, 2016

Heat Level: 4 (explicit m/m sex, but lots and lots of plot too!)

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: approx. 66,000 words

Genre/Tags: Romance, M/m Romance, contemporary romance, military romance

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Synopsis

It’s typical of video game programmer Josiah Simmons to be the last one on the plane on the way to the biggest meeting of his career. Though he’s (mostly) coping with his ADHD, he can’t handle another distraction. But he also can’t ignore his rugged seatmate—especially once he learns the military man’s a fan of his game.

Ryan Orson refuses to let his severe injuries pause his career as a navy SEAL. He’s got hours of grueling physical therapy ahead of him, and no time for anything that might get in the way of his return to active duty. But that doesn’t mean he’s above a little first-class flirtation with geeky-cute Josiah.

When a delay strands the pair in St. Louis, they agree to share a hotel room and a night of gaming. Neither expects their new connection to move to the next level in the light of day. Opposites may attract, but is this game over before it’s even begun?

Book Three of the #gaymers series

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Somewhere between the third newsstand and the fourth moving sidewalk in LAX, Josiah regretted not joining his friend Ravi in training for a 10k charity race. Nothing like a flat-out sprint from the check-in counter to the slow-moving security lines and another dash from security all the way through gates to make him rethink his aversion to cardio. And the worst part was that for once in his life he’d made every effort to be on time, getting up before the alarm, starting coffee, making sure they were out of the house by o’dark thirty ready for his early morning flight to Germany via a stop in Washington, DC.

Passport? Check.

Carry-on with both laptops, tablet and assorted accessories? Check.

Suitcase with more shirts with buttons than he’d ever owned in his life? Check.

Double-checking that his ticket was booked under “Josiah” not “Joseph”? Total fail, but in his defense, it never occurred to him that the travel agency his employer used would give the wrong name. And the check-in attendant at the airline counter didn’t want to believe that there was a mistake. Thus, every careful endeavor he’d made to ensure that he was on time—early even—went up in a huff of waiting for a supervisor and then another supervisor.

And now finally he was sprinting to make sure he didn’t miss the plane. Forget being there in time to priority board, he was going to be lucky to make the plane period. His first time flying first class—thank you, Space Villager for being such a bestselling game—and it was off to an inelegant start thanks to a stupid mistake.

Finally, finally, he reached the last few gates of the terminal. The TV sets scattered throughout the waiting area were all taking about that huge freak snowstorm heading for the New York area and whether it might veer south enough to cause snow along the whole Eastern Seaboard. Josiah shook his head, trying to not get sucked in to the TV. As long as he got to Germany on time, it wasn’t going to affect him and he needed to stay focused on—

“Last call for Flight 324 nonstop service to Washington Dulles International,” the loudspeaker blared.

“I’m here, I’m here,” he panted as the gate attendant set the red phone back on its hook. He held out his ticket. The woman was around his mother’s age with very red lipstick and very short blond hair and a spectacular frown just for him.

“Ah. Mr. Simmons.” She looked up after scanning his tickets, decidedly less frosty once she saw his first-class seat number. “Come with me, I’m going to have to walk you down.” She spoke into a walkie-talkie as they headed down the walkway. “We’re going to need to gate check your bags. I’m so sorry, but the first-class overhead compartments are all full.”

“Crap.” She gave him a questioning look, and Josiah remembered that he was supposed to be Mr. Smooth and Sophisticated Project Manager, not some whiny kid. “Sorry. That’s fine. Just let me grab my laptop.” He grabbed the laptop with the longer battery life before the attendant put a pink gate-check tag on his two bags. “But…uh…fragile.”

She gave him a tight smile, but added a yellow Fragile tag to his laptop bag. “You’re in Seat 1A,” she said, handing him his ticket back. “You’ll get your bags back when we land, I promise. Enjoy your flight.”

After a brief conversation with the gate attendant, a male flight attendant shut the plane door behind Josiah. “Welcome aboard,” he said to Josiah in a tone that clearly meant, “thank you for pushing back our departure.” In fact, the plane was rolling away from the gate before Josiah almost tumbled into the empty aisle seat of the first row.

“You made it.” A warm chuckle eased past the pounding of Josiah’s heart.

“Wha—what?” he whipped his head over to the window seat—a farther distance than one might expect. The first-class seats were huge padded affairs and there was a thick console dividing the seats. And…hello, most gorgeous guy Josiah had ever seen.

Wide, mischievous smile. Sparkling hazel eyes. Unshaven jaw. Short dark brown hair. And holy hell, arm muscles for days. Bulging biceps with tats poking out of his T-shirt sleeves.

All of a sudden this flight started looking way up.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. I just meant I was beginning to think I’d get the row all to myself.” The guy’s voice was possibly even more attractive than his model-worthy face, deep and soothing, with an undercurrent of the sort of confidence that never failed to make Josiah shiver.

And he was all Josiah’s for the next five hours.

Well, except for the part where he seemed ready to take a nap and tune Josiah out—the guy had a pillow behind his head and a blanket on his lap. He yawned, revealing gleaming teeth worthy of a toothpaste ad.

“You’re not a model, are you?” As usual, Josiah’s tongue leaped into action before his brain could restrain it.

“What? No, not a model.” The guy laughed, more of that smoky chuckle that did things to Josiah’s insides.

“TV star? Athlete? Because it seems like I should know you from somewhere, and I don’t want to get to DC and people be like, hey, you were next to that Laker the whole flight…” He trailed off because his friends were right that he had absolutely no filter, and that was triple true around Muppet-flail-worthy hot guys.

“Nope, not famous.” The guy studied Josiah for a long moment, considering, the sort of are-you-for-real expression on his face that Josiah was well used to. Seeming to come to some sort of decision, the guy stuck his right arm across the console. “Lieutenant Ryan Orson, US Navy.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Josiah accepted the handshake. Navy made sense given the Navy-emblazoned T-shirt stretched tight over the guy’s aircraft-carrier-wide chest. Holy crap, the guy was big. Josiah was a skinny 6’2” with big hands and feet that always got in the way. But this guy’s hand made Josiah’s feel downright dainty. “I’m Josiah, Josiah Simmons.”

“Well, Josiah, want to know a secret?” Ryan asked in a conspiratorial whisper.

“Sure.” Josiah was down with whatever secrets this guy wanted to share.

“Not only am I not famous, I’m not even supposed to be in first class.”

“You’re not?”

“Nope.” Ryan winked at Josiah. He had a very disarming wink, all good humor and twinkly eyes.

“The check-in clerk bumped me into first.”

“You got the nice clerk.” Josiah was still a bit grumbly over the name hassle.

“She lost a brother over in Afghanistan.” There was a subtle hint of “grow up” in Ryan’s tone. Josiah straightened, remembering again who he was supposed to be. And here was this impossibly attractive guy to practice on. Sure, he might be Josiah the clueless geek back home, but here he was Josiah the new project manager. This Josiah knew the right way to act and speak and could impress even tough audiences.

“That’s so sad for her.” Josiah tried for sophisticated empathy, something he knew he kind of sucked at.

“Yeah, it is.” Something indecipherable passed over Ryan’s face, his eyes getting darker and cloudier and that wide smile flagging a bit. “Anyway, guess she saw…the Navy connection and had a spare seat to bump me into.”

“What do you do? In the Navy I mean?”

The guy went silent, considering, and Josiah was afraid he’d been too nosy again, but right when he was about to apologize, Ryan finally spoke. “I’m a SEAL. I do a little bit of everything, but mainly I make things go boom. You?”

“Oh my God, you’re Special Forces. Do I ever have questions for you!” Josiah babbled again, only slowing down as Ryan’s easy smile morphed into grim line. “Sorry. I’m just excited because I’m a video game designer. And special ops is our new expansion pack.” And it happened to be the one Josiah was in charge of.

“You program games?” Ryan blinked, and Josiah wasn’t sure what he’d expected Josiah to do, but this clearly wasn’t it. “Anything I’ve heard of?”

Ah. That was it. He assumed Josiah was some sort of kid programming a dot matrix game in his basement. Josiah knew he looked too young for his job, because he was too young. At twenty-three, he was the youngest lead developer on the design team. Thus, he took no small amount of pride in saying, “Space Villager.”

“Oh wow, really?” There was a new note of respect in Ryan’s voice. “I love that game, especially the pod racer and first-person shooter expansion packs.” There was a hint of Texas or something else Southern in his voice, and Josiah could listen to him all day.

“Yeah? Well you’re going to love our special ops expansion pack even more.” Josiah projected far more confidence than he actually felt. He could make this project a success. He had to. The PR team had already hinted that the next expansion pack would revolve around special ops activities on a small war-torn planet, so Josiah didn’t worry too much about sharing this much with Ryan.

“I bet. My ex got me to back the crowdfunding drive, and I’ve been hooked ever since. My buddies were already teasing me about how much time I spent gaming, but there’s something particularly addictive about your game.”

Your game. Josiah liked the sound of that. He only knew a handful of women who played Space Villager, but the ones who did tended to be rabid fans. It was possible he might even know Ryan’s ex by her user handle, but Josiah had just enough self-control to not ask.

“Prepare for takeoff,” the pilot intoned over the PA. This was the part Josiah hated, the acceleration and stomach-dropping ascent. Today he hated it even more, knowing they might catch the edge of that storm. Focusing on turbulence that was probably hours away wasn’t logical, but then, Josiah’s brain seldom was.

“You always so antsy or are you a nervous flyer?” Ryan asked.

Oh crap. Guess he wasn’t doing such a bang-up job projecting the aura of a with-it project manager. He laughed nervously. “Both?”

“I promise we’re going to be okay.” Ryan gave him a quick friendly pat on the knee.

Oh. Josiah’s eyes went wide. Ryan was missing part of the pinky finger on his left hand and had some wicked scarring further up his forearm. Josiah tried not to stare, but knew he failed miserably.

“Mission gone wrong,” Ryan said gruffly. “Now back to flying, millions of people fly every day. It’s safer than car travel.” His tone made it clear further discussion of his hand was not on the table.

“I know flying’s safe. Knowing that’s not the same as believing it.”

Ryan’s answering laugh seemed to strip some of the tension from his face. “How well do I know that attitude. My ex got nervous before every flight, and his buddies used to razz him about it mercilessly.”

Man, two ex references in five minutes. Ryan must be totally hung up on his ex…wait. “His buddies”…What the hell?

“Your ex is a guy?”

“Yup.” Ryan’s smirk said he’d pegged Josiah ten minutes ago, probably when Josiah couldn’t peel his eyes away from those tasty biceps.

“Cool.” He was grinning, but he couldn’t make his facial muscles behave. Hot damn. Gorgeous, muscled, single, gamer, and gay. He ticked every last one of Josiah’s “perfect man” boxes. And if the gods were kind at all, Josiah could keep it together long enough to make a lasting impression.

Purchase
Carina Press | Amazon Global | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Itunes | Kobo Books

Meet the Author

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

Represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency

Facebook | Facebook Author Page | Twitter | Tumbler | Fan Group | Newsletter
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Author Highlight: Aria Grace

While window shopping on Amazon for books I can’t buy because I may or may not be broke, I decided to check out free books, that had a 4 star and above rating. And then I found a gem – Aria Grace. Three of her books were free, and all three had four-stars and above ratings.

And well, you can see why today’s post happened. Here’s a bit about her.

About Aria Grace

Born and raised in beautiful California, Aria enjoys the year round sunshine and laid back environment of the west coast. Her career started out in tech writing and web development and has evolved into all things marketing with fingers in everything related to book publishing.

She lives with her husband and two children and more pets than she can keep track of. Despite her crazy schedule, she loves the time she carves out to read and write. Whether it’s on the beach or on the couch at 2am, she is a woman obsessed!

She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to drop her a note or visit her Website or… If you’d like to know when Aria’s next book is coming out or where she’ll be signing, join her mailing list. You can also lurk around her Amazon Author Profile.

And now for the part you really care about HER BOOKS. Here are some that caught my eye.

Book Details:

Title: More Than Friends (#1 of 10 books in the More Than Friends series)

Blurb:

Tired of moping around after the breakup of his long-term girlfriend, Ryan knew he needed a hookup to get him out of his funk. When he met Drea, he hoped she might be the one. But when he felt more chemistry with her gay cousin Zach, Ryan was more confused than he had ever been in his life. He wasn’t gay but he wanted to be with Zach. How could it possibly work?

Book One in the More than friends Series.

Download Free on Amazon

Book Details:

Title: When It’s Right (#1 of 6 books in the Mile High Romance series)

Blurb:

When Shane Greenly left his home in Casper Mountain, Wy, he was leaving more than just the closet. He needed a fresh start to pursue his dream of running a dog training ranch without having to deny who he really is.

Meeting Alex was one of the best things that could have happened to Shane. They were at the beginning of a wonderful relationship when the unthinkable happened and Shane had to leave. The consequences of his past mistakes could not be hidden any longer.

Book One in the More than friends Series.

Download Free on Amazon

 

 

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Free Read: First Position by Melissa Brayden |Snippet

Book Details:

Title: First Position

Author: Mellisa Brayden

Genre: Lesbian Romance

Pages: 249 Pages

Release Date: August 16, 2016

Publisher: Bold Strokes Books

Rating: 4.33 Stars (Goodreads)

Blurb:

Anastasia Mikhelson is the rising star of the New York City Ballet. She’s sacrificed creature comforts, a social life, as well as her own physical well-being for perfection in dance. Even her reputation as The Ice Queen doesn’t faze her. Though Ana’s at the peak of her career, competition from a new and noteworthy dancer puts all she’s worked for in jeopardy.

While Natalie Frederico has shown herself to be a prodigy when it comes to ballet, she much prefers modern dance and living on her own terms. Life is too short for anything else. However, when the opportunity to dance with the New York City Ballet is thrust upon her, it’s not like she could say no. Dealing with the company’s uptight lead is another story, however. When the two are forced to work side-by-side, sparks begin to fly onstage and off.

Chapter One

Anastasia Mikhelson had come to hate orange plastic chairs.

Yet here she sat in one. Again.

Alone in the hallway, studying the texture of the beveled wall, her heart thudded faster than was probably good for her, but that made sense given the nature of the afternoon. That fast and repetitive beat served as the only sound in the empty hallway, adding an ominous quality to the already nerve-wracking event.

Ana had been counting the days, and more recently, the hours until this meeting with Bill, and in less than twenty minutes, the whole thing would be over, and the fate of her career no longer a mystery. She took a slow breath in an attempt to settle her nerves, because the outcome of this conversation meant everything. She glanced down the lonely hallway in one direction and then the other before finally returning her gaze to the big brown door that marked the entry point to Bill Bradshaw’s office. She blinked twice, gave her head a firm shake, and smiled brightly as the door opened. Nope, no nervous dancer out here. Just a very grateful employee. That’s me.

“Ana? Come in,” Bill said. He’d been the Ballet Master in Chief of the New York City Ballet for going on twenty-six years now, and Ana’s boss for all of nine. He was tall, lean, and handsome for a man of sixty-one. A shock of white hair topping chiseled features made for a number of notable paintings of him around Manhattan and beyond. Bill Bradshaw was a legend in the dance world and most everyone respected him.

“Thanks, Bill. I hope your afternoon has been an easy one.” He pulled her into a one-arm embrace as she passed, and planted a kiss on her temple—his standard greeting—and followed her into his office.

“Not too bad. Not too bad at all. Busy, though.” His afternoon would have consisted of one-on-one meetings with each dancer in the company, of which there were close to ninety, for their annual evaluations. In meetings like these, dancers were promoted, counseled on progress, or worse, told their contracts would not be renewed for the following season. For Ana, this meeting was her chance for a promotion from soloist to principal dancer, the highest rank in the company. She’d been a soloist for five years now, killing herself and pushing her body past its limits to make the leap to principal, and then sitting in that orange chair at the end of each season hoping against hope.

She’d been passed over each time.

Maybe Bill believed she hadn’t been ready in the past. Or that she hadn’t put in enough time. Whatever it was, she was prepared to leave the heartbreak behind her. This upcoming season was hers, and Ana was prepared to tell Bill so herself if it came to it. She was determined not to let anything get in her way. She’d sacrificed too much.

“How’s your father?” Bill asked. “I haven’t heard from Klaus in a good six months.”

“He’s doing great,” she told him. “Still Papa. He’s the guest choreographer at Miami this season. It’s going so well, they might want him back for next season, too. Though I doubt he’ll accept. He’s had a lot of offers.”

“Oh yes. I remember hearing that. Lucky bastards to have snagged him.”

“Agreed,” Ana said, settling into her seat in anticipation for what the meeting would bring. She was, however, familiar with the obligatory small talk about her father before any major conversation about her own career. Klaus Mikhelson had achieved fame as a world-renowned Russian ballet dancer before immigrating to the United States in the late seventies and doing the same thing here. As one would imagine, he received tons of attention. Thereby, Ana had been compared to her father her entire life. The fact that she’d not seen the same success had been…hard. On both of them.

“Well, tell that old fellow I said hello and that I owe him a drink,” Bill said, sitting.

“Will do.” Ana smiled good-naturedly and wondered about that moment. Would she also be informing her father of her promotion? Or rather, trying to explain to him that she was once again passed over for principal?

Ana glanced around Bill’s neatly organized workspace and waited as he settled in for the meeting. She caught sight of a folder open on his desk, her own headshot visible on top of the stack of papers inside. “So, you’ve been with the company for nine years now,” he said, and glanced up at her.

“That’s right.” She kept her voice even, professional. “And I want to thank you for the opportunities that have been afforded me, Bill. I feel I’ve grown immensely as a dancer since coming here as an apprentice.”

“Six injuries in that time,” he said, looking up from his notes. “How’s your ankle doing? Any pain?”

“Stronger than ever.” And it was. Two surgeries and months of physical therapy had her back at work and pushing past the pain of what had been a crushing injury two years prior—not that injuries were anything new.

He nodded and bowed his head again. “Glad to hear that. I have to tell you, Ana, that Roger and the other choreographers all feel that you really came into your own last fall in Orpheus. That was a good part for you. A step forward in your dancing.”

“I’m thrilled you thought so. I loved the work we did on that ballet but, Bill, I’m ready for more. I put two years in as a member of the corps, and six as a soloist. That’s not even counting my apprenticeship.”

“And you feel this is the year you want to emerge as a principal dancer in the company? Is that it?”

He looked skeptical, but she couldn’t let that deter her.

This was the moment she’d waited for. She sat forward in her seat and met his gaze head-on. “I do. No one can match my technique, and my commitment is unwavering.”

“I don’t know that technique is enough, Ana. You have to want it from here,” he said, a hand to his gut. “Dancing can’t just be precision. It has to come with an element of fire. Do you understand? Passion.”

“I have it. Dancing is my oxygen, Bill, and I will leave every part of me on that stage. You know that. I’m the first soloist in the door each morning and the last one out after a performance. I’ve worked my whole life for this opportunity, and if you give it to me, you won’t be sorry. I’ll work day and night for you.”

He reclined in his chair and regarded her as she organized her second-tier argument. “Okay,” he said simply.

Wait.

What did that mean?

“Okay?” Her hands went instantly numb, and a warm shiver moved up her spine. Was this the moment she’d been waiting for since she was six years old and watching The Nutcracker from the third gallery at Lincoln Center? Was she actually a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet?

“That’s what I said. It’s your year, Ana. I have a feeling.” He leaned across the desk as if he had very important words to impart. “But you can’t let up. Do you hear me?”

“I won’t.”

“The second you do, it’s over. The competition these days is like none other I’ve seen. The ability and technique is unrivaled, thereby your commitment has to be that much more to stay ahead.” She nodded, knowing how true his words were. The competition among company members was, in fact, ferocious. And while most of the dancers were friends just as much as they were rivals, Ana kept to herself, never taking her eye off the goal: to be the best. “You’re one of the most gifted dancers I’ve ever worked with, but you know what your dancing lacks, Ana?”

“Tell me.”

“A heartbeat. I need you to breathe life into your performance. You’re all technique. Gorgeous technique, I’ll give you that, but it’s sterile. Clinical. If dancing is your oxygen, I need to see that on onstage. Put that passion into your movement. It doesn’t matter how beautiful your extensions are if you don’t move your audience. Do you understand?”

“I can do that. Thank you, Bill.” It was the automatic answer, as it was the same note she’d received throughout most of her career. The words stung acutely, but she’d find a way to improve, because it was too important not to.

When she arrived back at her apartment two hours later after a barre workout, she wanted nothing more than to celebrate—maybe indulge in a rare glass of bubbly for the momentous occasion. She’d purchased a bottle just in case. It had been undoubtedly the most important day of her life thus far, and she should take a moment to commemorate it. As she moved to the refrigerator, she stopped cold at the handwritten note she’d placed there as a daily reminder.

Better is always possible. Good is not enough.

Buy Links | Amazon Global | Bold Strokes Books |

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Author Highlight: Lea Bronsen

Today’s Author is the beautiful and talented Lea Bronsen. Author of High Risk Fever and Get Off Hard from anthology Dark Captive – Manlove Edition

“HIGH-RISK FEVER”
Released by Decadent Publishing

Blurb: 
Two young and indecently handsome bicyclists visit a village in the French Alps during the summer holidays. Forced by a raging storm to spend the night at the local bed & breakfast, they invade the quiet lives of hostess Anne and her husband, Brian.

A power outage plunges the foursome into darkness, encouraging new liaisons to form, life-long secrets to be unveiled, and steamy lessons to be learned. But once the storm moves on, can the four find a balance and resume their normal lives?

Buy links: 
Amazon | Bookstrand | Kobo | ARE | Smashwords | iBooks | B&N | CreateSpace |

 

 

 

 

“GET OFF HARD” from anthology “DARK CAPTIVE – MANLOVE EDITION” 
Released by Evernight Publishing

Blurb: 
Former hockey champion Slay was dethroned after the loss of his baby and subsequent divorce that led him into isolation and alcoholism. For years, he has lived a shitty life at the ice rink, employed to do the dirty jobs. The loneliness kills him. The memories haunt him. The only way to subdue the pain inside is to hurt himself.
 
A new player is traded into the team. Ricky is handsome, hot-tempered … and gay. Though Slay is strictly into women, he enjoys fighting with the brawler on the ice, and their rough interaction arouses him. When Ricky gives him the eye, Slay wonders if he might be the playmate he’s waiting for. But is Slay able to have a relationship with a man, and is Ricky up for Slay’s hard sex games?
 
In order to find out, Slay locks him in and shows him how the bad guys do it…

Buy links:
Evernight Publishing  | Amazon | ARE | Bookstrand | B&N |

Lea Bronsen likes her reads hot, fast, and edgy, and strives to give her own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with her debut novel Wild Hearted, she divides her writing time between psychological thriller, romantic suspense, and erotic dark/contemporary romance.

She’s signed with Evernight Publishing, Decadent Publishing, and Insatiable Press. She has also self-published some of her works and participated in the making of several anthologies.

Email: leabronsen@yahoo.com 
Website/blog: http://leabronsen.com/
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/wildhearted.author
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LeaBronsen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeaBronsen
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lea-Bronsen/e/B00BTFT8KS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6966248.Lea_Bronsen
Pinterest: https://no.pinterest.com/leabronsen/

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Author Highlight: Jet Mykles

Today’s guest post is by M/M sexual fantasy author Jet Mykles, and yes people sexual fantasy is an actual genre… His 60+ novels can attest to that. And on to his post.

>Reusable Characters

So here was my problem. I created these characters who I love. Deeply. They are people in my mind and I spent a good long time learning them, talking to them, living them. I wrote stories about them, which I published, and I got some very nice feedback. Those characters I loved became beloved by others, which was purely and undeniably awesome. So loved, that these other people asked me for more from my characters. Thus the problem. I’d already written those stories. I’d given the couples their happily ever afters and, because I am a reader as well as an author, I did not want to mess with their happiness. In order to write more, I had to give them conflict, which is what makes a good story. I did not want to give them conflict.

I tried writing other, similar characters. It was fun, but it wasn’t the same. The originals held a significant place in my heart and I think it showed. To compound matters, the darn characters kept talking to me! I’m one of those authors who complains of people in my head, independent of my thought, living in my brain and chattering away at me until I write something about them. Well, these particular characters would not. Shut. Up!

So what was I to do? I started to think of sequel stories. But — see above — that wasn’t working because any hardship I put them through felt wrong and, since it felt wrong, very little progress was made. They kept chattering, I kept trying, it wasn’t working. Frustrating. Until… They changed clothes. Metaphorically and literally, in my head they changed costumes. From t-shirts and jeans to morning suits and cravats. They switched themselves from the universe I’d had them in into one that was completely different. They were the same, fundamentally, but their surroundings were different. Now, that I could work with. That was intriguing. That was fun! We were on a roll!

(By the way, anyone who’s ever read fanfiction won’t find my revelation surprising. It happens all the time. The tweak here was that they were my characters. This gave me full rein to mess around!)

That is how the characters of Heaven Sent were reborn into the world of the Rose Family Chronicles. Johnnie and Tyler lead the way again, their story re-introducing not only them but the world around them. Johnnie’s an earl, Gretchen is his sister and Brent and Reese are his twin brothers. Chris is their butler, Darien shows up as a footman. Tyler gets hired as a footman the becomes a valet, with Owen around to show him the way. Johnnie meets Luc, a wealthy merchant, at a gentleman’s club. The only ones of the original couples who don’t make an appearance are Hell and Archer, but I have plans for them.

I hope readers of the original series find this fun the same way I do. I hope you’ll come with me and see the boys fall in love again.

Released May 31, 2016

Pairing: m/m

Available in ebook from Loose Id

Available in ebook from All Romance eBooks

Available in ebook from Amazon

Available from Barnes & Noble for NOOK

Johnnie and Tyler. Sound familiar? Yep, same characters as Heaven Sent 1: Heaven but in a different setting.

BLURB

Tyler has never worked for a great house, let alone one with the history and prestige of Rose Hall. He feels unqualified for the post of the footman but hopes his experience as the concierge of a fine hotel might count in his favor.

Following the deaths of his parents, Earl Johnathan “Johnnie” Rose has come into his inheritance. Now he’s returned home to Rose Hall with his siblings to settle in as lord of the manor and earl of Roseton. Then his eye falls on the stunning new footman with the blond curls and a shy smile. From that moment, Lord Johnnie’s intention to settle in takes on a whole new meaning.

Longing for a relationship more intimate than master to servant, and determined to taste those pretty lips, Johnnie offers Tyler a promotion as his personal valet. Thrilled by the promotion and the chance to tend his lord, Tyler’s naivete and sense of propriety don’t let him see the offer for what it is–until he’s lured into the earl’s bed.

Read an excerpt

Cover by PL Nunn

About Jet Mykles

Jet is a writer of sexual fantasy with a firm belief that all men are at least partially gay, that vampires are just people with a liquid diet and shapeshifters live on every block.

As far back as junior high, Jet used to write sex stories for friends involving their favorite pop icons of the time. To this day, she hasn’t stopped writing sex, although her knowledge on the subject has vastly improved.

An ardent fan of fantasy and science fiction sagas, Jet prefers to live in a world of imagination where dragons are real, elves are commonplace, vampires are just people with special diets and shape-shifters live next door. In her own mind, she’s the spunky heroine who gets the best of everyone and always attracts the lean, muscular lads. She aids this fantasy with visuals created through her other obsession: 3D graphic art. In this area, as in writing, Jet’s self-taught and thoroughly entranced, and now regularly uses this art to illustrate her stories or her stories to expand upon her art. Only recently, through the wonders of the digital age, has Jet, a self-proclaimed hermit, been able to really share this work with others.

In real life, Jet lives in southern California with her life partner, his daughter and father and too many cats. She has a bachelor’s degree in acting, but her loathing of auditions has kept her out of the limelight. So she turned to computers and currently works in product management for a software company, because even in real life, she can’t help but want to create something out of nothing.

Reach Jet Mykles at:

http :// www . jetmykles . com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jetmykles

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

 

 

The post Author Highlight: Jet Mykles appeared first on A.O. Chika Book Blog.

Book Blitz for Grand Opening by Morticia Knight

The men of Kiss of Leather celebrate a beginning, but will the price be another ending?

The grand opening of Kiss of Leather draws near and the pressure is on to make sure everything is completed for the big night. Master Josh is a perfectionist, so no detail is too small in order to enhance the quality of the prestigious club they’ve all worked so tirelessly on. Unfortunately, the endless demands on Josh’s time have caused him to forget the more important things in life.

David’s love for Master Josh is strong, but lately, that love has been constantly tested. How can a sub in a full-time D/s relationship serve a Master who’s never there? As things continue to deteriorate between him and Josh, David wonders if maybe his Master has tired of having to care for a sub 24/7.

By the time the grand opening arrives, Josh and David seem to have worked out their differences and David is hopeful for their future. The emotional collaring ceremony between Gavin and Kyle is a beautiful testament to the power of love. But when an unexpected party crasher intrudes on the evening’s festivities, the men are reminded that there are still too many unanswered questions related to Corey’s kidnapping.

More than ever, the men of Kiss of Leather need to stand united. Will Josh and David be able to do the same? 

Buy links: Amazon Global | ARe | Pride Publishing 

Series: Amazon US | Pride Publishing

 

Read the first three books in the series…

click on the image to be re-directed to Amazon to purchase

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt from Grand Opening…

 

 As he pulled on his black gloves, the buttery soft leather slipping on easily, the door knob to the office jiggled. A knock sounded. “Yes?” Josh twisted and stretched some more in his outfit. Yee gads. I’ll be walking around like Frankenstein all night. Thank God I’m not the one doing a demo.

 

“It’s me, Master.”

 

“Hold on, sweetheart.”

 

Josh padded over to let David in. He opened the door and gasped. David had obviously already changed into his club outfit in the members’ locker room. He’d wanted to surprise Josh and he’d certainly achieved his objective in quite a hot way.

 

David’s chest was covered in straps of shiny vinyl, placed asymmetrically across his torso, the glimpses of his creamy flesh a striking contrast to the black material. The light definition in his biceps was highlighted by the armless shirt. But it was the pair of vinyl shorty-shorts, silver studs lining the sides, and the fishnet stockings that’d caused Josh to react so strongly, his cock swelling against the restrictive leather of his own outfit.

 

“Turn around. Show me the back.” Josh’s tone had been soft, almost reverent.

 

David did as he was told, his delectable, round ass showcased to perfection. Josh allowed his gaze to travel down the length of David’s legs to the combat boots that boasted a thick, studded strap wrapped two times around the ankle. David completed the turn.

 

“Do you like it?”

 

Josh grunted. “Damn, sweetheart. You’re going to be the most gorgeous boy here tonight.”

 

A sweet blush rose to David’s cheeks. Josh kissed the pink of his skin on either side of his face, then pressed his lips to the heavy, engraved sterling collar he’d placed on his boy’s neck well over a year before. He was charmed all over again by how beautiful and unaffected David was.

 

“Thank you, Master.”

 

David tipped his chin up, closing his kohl-lined eyes, and silently offered his lips. Josh gladly accepted, taking his mouth gently, but thoroughly. The scarlet lip tint David wore tasted of strawberries, his skin scented with a sugary vanilla.

 

Oh yes. I could eat him up right this minute.

M/M Erotic Romance author Morticia Knight enjoys hot stories of men loving men forever after. They can be men in uniform, Doms and subs, rock stars or bikers – but they’re all searching for the one (or two!) who was meant only for them.

When not indulging in her passion for books, she loves the outdoors, film and music. Once upon a time she was the singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She is currently working on more installments of Sin City Uniforms and The Hampton Road Club, as well as the follow-up to Bryan and Aubrey’s story from Rockin’ the Alternative.
Author links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Book Blitz for Grand Opening by Morticia Knight appeared first on A.O. Chika Book Blog.

Blog Tour +Giveaway & Interview: Jeremy’s Story by Ned Ericsson

Everyone has a story.

Dealing with HIV, high school bullies, and new found feelings.

That is Jeremy’s Story.

Blurb

Jeremy is a teenager with a terrible past.

He has to live with its consequences for the rest of his life.

There is hope.

He’s found a new family, a new life, and a new school.

Will he be able to find friends? Love?

Or will he let those who would judge him prevail?

EXCERPT:

He sat in the middle of a row of chairs and looked around while he waited. Secretaries and teachers were all running around trying to get the last minute details sorted. Students were busy getting their schedules. Then the most beautiful boy that Jeremy had ever seen in his life walked in.

His blond, wavy hair was cut short, and he wore flattering trousers and a fitted blue dress  shirt, with  rolled-up  sleeves  showing  off  his  nicely  developed  arms.  He  went  to  the counter and addressed the head secretary—the woman who had been so nice to Jeremy.

“Hey, Aunt Susan. Do you have my revised class schedule for me?” The boy turned his head towards Jeremy and leaned forward.

 Oh my God! I shouldn’t be attracted to that behind. Why am I? Is he moving it that way on purpose? 

The  boy  whispered  something  into  Susan’s  ear. She  responded  by  squinting  and wagging her finger at him, one corner of her mouth turning upward. The boy leaned closer and whispered something else. Susan’s response was to shake her head and dismiss him with a gesture.

What did he say? 

The  boy  laughed  aloud,  took  his  papers  from  Susan,  and  turned  around. He walked towards Jeremy and plumped down onto the seat next to him. Their legs actually touched.

Oh my God! Jeremy tried very hard not to let his blushing show. Why am I feeling like this? 

Guest Post + Interview with Ned Ericsson
 >>On Bullying

I was bullied when I was a kid. I felt alone and sometimes desperate for people to stop telling me who I was. They obviously saw something that I couldn’t, not at five years old, but that was when the homophobic name calling started.

I had the type of personality making it possible for me to not take things lying down, although for the first seven years I didn’t quite fight back, not physically anyway. I did learn to defend myself against a gang of ten boys trying desperately to prove themselves while simultaneously punishing me for being different.

I know what it’s like to question oneself because of the bullies. I had a hard time accepting myself because I didn’t want them all to be proven right.

In Jeremy’s Story, the main character is strong willed… stronger than I ever was. He also has plenty of back-ups. I had that too, although I didn’t quite recognize it.

Jeremy had two main enemies, a teenage girl and a person in authority over him.

I’ve been criticized by some because I punished the girl severely in the story, but the adult looks like he got away with it. He doesn’t really because his social standing is diminished, his job prospects are fewer, but unlike the girl, he doesn’t go to jail.

I wanted to show that there are different kinds of bullies and different sorts of punishments, and sometimes, adults especially, get away with bullying kids.

It may not be what people want, but it is a reality I chose to portray.

Jeremy gets his happy-for-now and that was something I wanted for him and for me. I can only hope readers are satisfied with that.

 >>A.O. Chika’s Interview with Ned Ericsson

Q: Tell us about yourself and your writing?

I’m a gay male married to a great guy. We have a cat named Oscar Wild.

I enjoy writing, always have, and have found that I need to write what I know and embellish details and situations, but the kernel is still centered on my experiences.

Q: I love cats, any chance I can get a pic of Oscar Wilde ?

Q: I seem to ask this to most of the authors I interview but, what was the weirdest thing you Googled while writing Jeremy’s story?

I heard there was finally a word for someone with a large vocabulary. My brother asked me to incorporate it into my story. It will take five published works for Webster and Oxford dictionaries to accept it as a word, apparently. I believe Jeremy’s Story is the first.

Q: How long have you been writing for, and what inspired you to start writing?

I’ve been writing stories since I was eight, but never had the courage to publish or let anyone read anything until I came across a Facebook site which featured fiction on my favorite gay soap opera couple.

I got inspired to write fanfiction and pressed publish in order for my friends to read it. Several stories later, two of my friends approached me with originals they wrote and asked me to beta. I was inspired again and wrote my own. In fact, I started with three stories, two of which are now published. Love Cubed is under my pseudonym of Eddy LeFey and Ned Ericsson wrote Jeremy’s Story.

Q: You mentioned writing fanfiction, I love fanfic, what fandom did you write for and can I read some of your works?

I wrote in the Wilson fandom (Days of our Lives) on fanfiction.net My most popular story is Canadian Connection.

Q: Why two pen names?

That’s an easy question. Jeremy’s Story is meant for young adults whereas Love Cubed is very adult. I wanted to separate the two because I don’t want younger readers to accidentally stumble on stories that are too mature for them.

I’m not trying to hide, just trying to be careful.

Q: What inspired you to write Jeremy’s Story

Jeremy’s Story is about a teenage boy with HIV who has already surmounted quite a few problems. The story begins with his going back to school and having to deal with meeting new people, some of whom aren’t nice. He also has to finally accept his feelings for other boys.

As a young boy, I had to deal a lot with bullies and people trying to dictate who I was and how I should present myself. I wanted to show a strong willed individual who could facE these issues, but I also wanted to deal with it lightly. Not everyone’s story turns out as nice as Jeremy’s, but I wanted to show that it can be a happy ending.

Also, HIV is still an issue. There is still a stigma and misunderstandings still exist around the disease. I wished to showcase that as well.

Q: How did you deal with being bullied while growing up and what do you wish you should have done?

In order to stem the bullying tide, I had to get violent. In those days, one could answer violence with violence and not get into trouble. These days, it wouldn’t work that way. If I stood up to the bullies by finally knowing a tormentor into a locker, today, I would have been the one sent home and suspended, and my bullies would probably just continued to bully me.

In high school I didn’t have to get violent, just threaten it. The bullies scattered quickly and I got a reputation for being one not to mess with. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Q: It must have been tough to write a book that hits so close to home, where there times when you thought I can’t do this?

Yes, there were. I sometimes spent days mauling over things, second guessing myself. There was a fear that I’d reveal too much about myself, or not enough. I also wanted to get the facts right and inform people without it being too preachy or too boring. I did get through it, though.

Q: When did you stop doubting yourself and started accepting who you really are?

I doubt myself constantly. It’s an ongoing process. There are always aspects of myself that I keep private, and slowly reveal to the world. I’m cautious and I don’t think I’ll ever change that part of me that doesn’t like to be noticed.

Q: How did you get the idea of incorporating the HIV stigma to bullying and homophobia?

I started off with the idea of having a young character with HIV. It seemed a natural progression to have Jeremy be subjected to some form of abuse. HIV phobia and homophobia go hand in hand in many societies, so that was a natural progression too.

Q: What chapter took an emotional toll on you while writing?

There were many, especially the chapters where I talk about or describe the abuses Jeremy endured. I guess the most emotional toll was in Chapter Twenty-Four when Jeremy has to deal with the consequences of the trauma he recently endured and confront his feelings about his disease.

Q: What did you learn from writing your book?

I learned a bit about different scientific studies concerning bullying. I wrote a post on my Tumblr with a link to a great resource. My Tumblr is authornedericsson

I also learned a little about myself and the reasons why I’m generally a very private person. Writing what I know can sometimes be difficult because I have to stare at some of my faults and experiences square in the face and that can be difficult to handle.

Q: Are any of your characters based on you or people you know?

Every single main character has something of me or someone I know in it. I can’t help it.

Q: Do you have a favorite character and/or book you’ve written?

This is a tough one. I’m proud of Jeremy’s Story.  As for a favorite character, other than Jeremy, who has a lot of me in him, my favorite character is Arnold. He’s a nerd, but he’s proud of it and he’s not afraid to show his intellect or his emotional intelligence.

Q: Excluding Jeremy, your favorite character was Arnold, what inspired him and how did he grow from your original idea of him to how he is right now?

I had a friend in high school who was much like Arnold. Nerdy, and kind and very sure of himself when it comes to defending his friends. Originally Arnold was only going to be in the first chapters, being only Jeffrey’s friend, but I thought Jeremy could use a friend with whom he wasn’t falling in love.

Q: What’s your writing schedule like?

I try to write every day. Sometimes ideas get stuck in my head, so I read.

Q: What are your writing and personal goals for the future?

I’m planning to write a few short stories under Eddy LeFey, as well as another novel in the same line as Love Cubed. For Ned, well he’s started a fantasy romance novel which will eventually Have magic and elves and all that good stuff.

 

Q: What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on a fantasy romance which hasn’t a title yet. It’s about a boy who discovers things about himself. He’s gay, a mage and possibly half-elf. Here’s a snippet:

The principal dismisses me, and I half-run out of the office. I figure Greg has probably left by now. I’m not sure if I’m happy or sad about it. I turn the corner leading to the main lobby and I spot Greg. He’s talking to one of the many mean girls of the school.

This one happens to be President of the student council. Melissa is currently fighting with the principal and the teachers for not allowing the student’s choice for valedictorian. Her. She can’t be. She isn’t graduating this year because she was caught smoking weed in the washroom and was suspended to a month, although somehow she remained as president.

As I reach the glass doors, I suddenly get nervous. I’m sure Greg wouldn’t want to be seen with me, and I can’t stand the thought of him making fun of me again. I turn and walk the other way.

“Hey, Zeke. Where are you going now, dude? I’ve been waiting. Let’s go.”

Damn it. Why can’t things go my way, or at least be simple? I continue on my chosen trajectory only to be stopped by a strong force that turned me do a one-eighty. I’m again nose to shoulder with Greg. I drink him in. He smells so nice, all sweat and musk and hormones.

Q: What inspired your upcoming book? I know it’s a different genre from Jeremy’s story, but are there any similarities between both, Character wise or plot wise.

The story is going to tackle different types of discrimination and how they’ll all related to the same thing: fear of the unknown.

Pre-order Links

Wayward Ink Publishing | ARe | Amazon Global |

Book Trailer

Giveaway

Prize: $5 WIP Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

After publishing several adult stories under a different name, NED ERICSSON decided to reach deep down inside himself and write a story for which a younger generation, as well as the older ones, might relate. He hopes he succeeded in making people think.

Ned looks forward to writing many more stories to entertain and he hopes provoke some minds into thinking about today’s issues through their telling.

Ned lives in Canada with his husband Ken and their cat, Oscar Wild.

NED ERICSSON can be found at:

Email: nedericssonauthor@gmail.com

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

The post Blog Tour +Giveaway & Interview: Jeremy’s Story by Ned Ericsson appeared first on A.O. Chika Book Blog.

Blog Tour: Fame and Fortune by TM Smith

 
Fame and Fortune

An All Cocks Story book #2

Victor Dimir moved to America with his traditional Romanian parents when he was just a child. His Romani parents taught him their traditions and how to be a shrewd business man. But it was the attention of a classmate at school that taught a teenage Victor about his sexuality. When he came out to his parents he knew it would be difficult for them to understand, but he never expected them to disown him.

Andrew Jones grew up with a single mom and his grandmother teaching him about life, he had an absentee father at best. The only thing the man ever did for Andy that stuck was buy him a camera for his thirteenth birthday. When Andrew went off to college on a scholarship to study photo journalism, he wound up falling in love with his Romanian roommate.

They became inseparable and wound up starting their own business together; a gay porn website where people could go and watch romantic gay porn instead of the rough and tough, or wham bam thank you man crap that was flooding the internet at that time. After ten years together they were still perfectly happy, they didn’t even realize something was missing, until they met a broken young man that needed a family.

Matthew Carlson was homeless, jobless and broken. He’d been on his own since he was sixteen when he ran away from home after being brutally assaulted by several other young men that he thought were his friends, and then being told he brought it on himself for being gay by his parents. Matthew has done a lot of things these last few years just to get by. When he finds the flyer for All Cocks, he decides to call and see where it leads. What has he got to lose?

Matthew has deep rooted scars that aren’t usually visible on the outside. But when he walks into All Cocks, both Victor and Andrew see them, they also see him. Can three men that didn’t even realize they needed each other get past the stigma of society to find a place of happiness, together? 

*Advisory warning: This story contains a scene of sexual assault.*

 

Buy links: Amazon | Audible


A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia;

TM Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer. A Texas transplant, she now

calls DFW her home. Most days she can be found curled up with a good book, or ticking away on her next novel.

Smith is a single mom of three disturbingly outspoken and

decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic. Besides her writing, she is

passionate about Autism advocacy and LGBT rights. Because, seriously people, Love is Love!
 
Author links: Amazon || ARe || Smashwords || Goodreads || Website || Blog || Twitter

Facebook Author || Facebook All Cocks stories || Pinterest || Youtube || Audible 
 
 
Tour Schedule…
 
August 15th – 
Embracing My Crazy

{Spotlight & Excerpt} 
AO Chika Books
{Spotlight & Guest Post}

August 16th –
Bayou Book Junkie

{Spotlight & Excerpt} 

Two Book Pushers {Spotlight} 

August 17th –
The Purple Rose Teahouse

{Spotlight & Excerpt} 

August 18th –
Gay Book Reviews
{Review & Playlist}

Morticia Knight 
{Spotlight}  

August 19th –
MM Book Escape
{Spotlight & Guest Post}

Open Skye Book Reviews {Review}

Man 2 Mantastic {Spotlight}

August 22nd –
Cathy Brockman Romance

{Review} 

August 23rd –
Love Bytes
{Spotlight & Exclusive Excerpt or GP} 

August 24th –
The O’Raven Chronicles

{Spotlight}

Triple A Author Promotion {Facebook Spotlight}

Happily Ever Chapter {Facebook Spotlight}  

August 25th –
Making It Happen {Review

& Excerpt} 
Sinfully Gay Book Reviews

{This or That with Author and Narrator} 
Prism Book Alliance {Review

&Narrator Interview} 

August 26th –

Gay Media Reviews {Review

& Guest Post}

Jennivie Writes {Review & Spotlight}
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Blog Tour: Fame and Fortune by TM Smith appeared first on A.O. Chika Book Blog.

Author Highlight + Interview: Renee James

I read and reviewed A Kind Of Justice by Renee James recently, and while it had me giving out some intense murder vibes, it was an amazing story. I mean it’s been over two weeks and I still want John Strand dead. I even got permission from the author to write my own murder scene for John, so yea… Murderous tendencies and Author’s fueling them aside, I was excited when Renee accepted my requests for an interview, and even more excited when she actually answered my deranged questions.

For those of you that haven’t read or heard about A kind of Justice, here are a few details about the book

BLURB:

Against all odds, Bobbi Logan, a statuesque transgender woman, has become one of Chicago’s most celebrated hair stylists and the owner of one of the city’s poshest salons. She is finally comfortable with who she is, widely admired in her community, about to enjoy the success she deserves.

Then her impossibly perfect life falls apart.

In the space of a few weeks, the Great Recession drags her business to the brink of failure, her beloved ex-wife needs help in facing a terrible tragedy, and a hateful police detective storms back into her life, determined to convict her of the five-year-old murder of John Strand—pillar of the community—and a sexual predator.

As the detective builds an ever more convincing case against her, both of them will be shaken by revelations—about themselves, about their own deeply held secrets, and about the bizarre ritual murder of John Strand.

Links: | Buy Link | Goodreads | Amazon Global | My Review | Author Link |

A.O. Chika’s Interview with Renee James

Q: I really need to get this off my chest, so I’m going to start this interview with a question that’s been on my mind since I read A Kind of Justice. What inspired John Strand?

A: Men who beat transgender and transsexual women—including men who beat them to death—generally regard transwomen as a lower life form, yet seek them out for sex. I don’t know all the reasons why this happens, but I’m sure for some men, it’s because they’ve reached a point in life where they have difficulty getting aroused by genetic women, but transwomen have a kinky appeal. Most men who date transwomen aren’t like this, but there’s definitely a creepy element out there.

I drew the Strand character as just such a man—a sociopath who didn’t like women, wasn’t sure about his own sexuality, and who sought out pre-op transwomen (ie, transgender women who still have male genitalia) because he got a kinky rush from the sex, because he could find vulnerable transwomen who were easy to dominate, and because in the  early 2000s, it wasn’t hard to get away with murdering a dispossessed transwoman making her living on the streets. The latter point was important to Strand because his violence against women sometimes resulted in murder.

Q: Wilkin’s character growth throughout the book was amazing, was writing him tough?

A: It was a lot of work, but it was fascinating. I started out with the thought that he’d be a one-dimensional opponent—honest, but highly bigoted. The idea was that he’d scare Bobbi on several levels—his investigative acumen, his transphobic disgust for her, and his race. Physically, I saw him as that stereotypical black man who looks powerful and has a scowling countenance that scares the bejeesus out of nice middle-class white people. I wanted him to stimulate Bobbi’s own bigotry with her fear of what he looked like. I loved the idea of have two lead characters who were the victims of bigotry but also filled with their own bigotries.

Wilkins became more nuanced as I wrote him because he was a rational man of principles and what happens to people like that is, when they meet people from the subgroup they profess to dislike, they discover that we all have a lot in common. You find people and qualities in people to admire, whether they’re trans or black or even Republican.

Wilkins was there so we could see how Bobbi reacted to horrible stresses in her life, but in several ways, he stole the scene. He changed more than anyone and his story has more moral equity than even Bobbi’s.

Q: Did you plan the book to end the way it did?

A: No. I didn’t know where it was going to end. One of the reasons it takes me so long to turn a manuscript into a book is that I don’t use a hard outline for the first draft. I write it with a few vague plot points in mind so I can make it up as I go along and entertaining myself. If I already knew how it was going to end, it would be work, not entertainment.

I tried several different endings after the first draft, but I have a hard time giving Bobbi a sad ending and I really liked that Wilkins faced a moral dilemma with no right answer, so I went with the ending you read.

Q: So… Ever thought about murdering people like John Strand (I swear I don’t have a mic on me XD)?

A: Absolutely! I’m a Vietnam veteran. I never killed anyone, but you don’t spend 18 months in a war zone without finding violence in your soul, not unless you’re a very special kind of conscientious objector (which I was not). In fact, in the first Bobbi Logan book, Coming Out Can Be Murder, I had her perform the coup de grace on Strand. I thought it was really well written and well-conceived, but most people who read the book were really bothered by that. So, when I republished it as Transition to Murder, we changed her role.

Q: What character was the most difficult to write and which was the easiest?

A: There were several, starting with Bobbi and Betsy. I needed to give them both a wide range of emotions, but the first time through I made them way too overwrought, especially Betsy. One of my ace beta readers started her notes on the manuscript saying, “I’d only read this for a friend…”

It took two more drafts and lots of edits and cutting upwards of 20,000 words to get them as they now appear.

The hardest character was Jalela, the young African-American transsexual woman trying to get off the streets by hiring on as an assistant in Bobbi’s salon. I had envisioned a much larger role for her, with scenes depicting her initial interview and others showing her progress as an employee and the growth of her relationship with Bobbi. I ended up having to cut a lot of it because I couldn’t  get her voice to sound right—I just didn’t have enough experience with young black transwomen. I tried to connect with some, but inquiries like mine are regarded with great suspicion (for good reasons) and I failed.

The easiest character to write was Cecelia, who’s drawn on several women I’ve known in the Chicago trans community. It’s fun to do her because she’s imperious and uninhibited and funny. She’s the kind of mentor who helps Bobbi diffuse the nightmarish stresses in her life by fixing her up with a male prostitute. Has there ever been a better release for tension than a good orgasm? And could there be a more fun character that Cecelia?

 Q: What chapter did you have a hard time writing, A.KA. What chapter made you look at the manuscript and say ‘Nope, Nope Nope, I’m not dealing with this right now’?

A: The scenes dealing with Betsy’s trauma after her husband dies were really hard to get right. The first draft had her too over-wrought, and getting them more balanced was stressful, I guess because I was so aware of how far off I was the first time. The kind of doubts that plague me during those sessions are somewhere between waterboarding and fingernails on a blackboard.

Q: What was the weirdest thing you googled while writing A Kind Of Justice?

A: The acceptable expression for gender surgery has evolved quite a bit in this century, so I Googled the variations like “sex change”, “gender reassignment surgery” and “gender confirmation surgery” trying to get a timeline. I was going to use whatever expression was vogue in 2008, which is the setting for the book, but then I didn’t want to offend people who had worked so hard to make the wording what it is in 2016. I finally decided not to use a formal reference, opting instead for “gender surgery.”

Q: What was the toughest part of getting A Kind of Justice out there?

A: I think the hardest was the marketing process. It took as long to get from finished manuscript to publishing contract as it did to write, re-write and edit and re-edit the manuscript. And the path to publication is filled with a lot of rejection, which is hard on the ego. Most of the agents I queried didn’t even bother to respond and none of them requested the full manuscript. I met my agent at a writer’s event; she was doing first chapter critiques and got interested in the book from that experience. We faced the editor rejections together; most were professional, but there was one especially snotty one that left us both with a three-day emotional burn.

Fortunately, we connected with Oceanview Publishing shortly after that. They are one of the hottest publishers in mystery/suspense and the perfect fit for me, so everything ended well.

Q: I still want to murder John Strand, any chance you could bring him back to life so I can serve my version of ‘Justice’ on him?

A: From what I’ve seen of your writing, that would be a treat. I have a counter-offer: read the first book (Coming Out Can Be Murder) and rewrite the scene where Strand gets it. I would love to see how another author, especially one who “gets” victimization, would handle that scene.

Q: What has changed in terms of your mindset pre and post publishing your books?

A: I feel like I’ve learned so much, and yet I’m even more aware of how little I know about writing long fiction. I think I’m getting better at plot structure and using conflict to make each scene more interesting, but I don’t think John Grisham has to worry about being overshadowed by me anytime soon.

What hasn’t changed, and surely won’t ever change, is the feeling of humility and vulnerability that comes with putting the work out there. I’m emotionally invested in my characters and my craft, and putting the book up for judgment is a lot like sending your innocent six-year-old off to her first day of school—you have to do it to grow, but you know there will be lots of pain and scars to come.

About Renee James

Renee James is the pen name of a Chicago-area writer who lives in two genders.

In her male identity, James has been a full-time free-lance writer for several years, following a long career as a magazine editor and owner. In her male life, James has won dozens of awards for journalis­tic excellence and authored a biography.

As Renee James, her first novel, Coming Out Can Be Murder, was the 2012 Chicago Writers Association Indie book of the year and a bronze medalist in ForeWord Reviews’ LGBT book of the year competition.

Coming Out Can Be Murder was republished in March, 2014 by Magnus/Riverdale Books as Transition to Murder.

James is a spouse, parent and grandparent. She is a Vietnam veteran, licensed hairdresser, and wilderness adven­turer. She has struggled with gender identity issues since childhood but never let her gender define her. Instead, she has worked to define herself according to her human values and what she does with her life.

She has been active in the Chicago transgender community.  James edited the Chicago Gen­der Society newsletter for many years, and participated in many of the other groups and activities that make the Chicago transgender community one of the most vibrant in the world.

Coming Out Can Be Murder evolved from a fic­tional journal Ms. James wrote on business trips during her magazine editing years. The journal was a reflection on what her life might have been like if she had chosen to become a transsexual woman.

Transition to Murder, a revised version of James’ first novel, was released in early 2014 Riverdale Avenue Books’ Magnus imprint. It is the basis for the sequel, A Kind of Justice. Learn more about Renee James at http://www.reneejames-author.com/.

A Kind of Justice was published by Oceanview Publishing

Oceanview Publishing is an independent book publisher of mystery, suspense & thrillers.  Oceanview is headquartered in Florida, and a proud member of the International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. Twitter: @OceanviewPub  www.Oceanviewpub.com

Other Books By Renee James

Blurb:

Winner of the Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year, Indie Fiction

“If he had killed me tonight, he’d be sleeping like a baby in an hour. I should be scared by that thought, but mostly I’m angry. Not stomp-your-foot angry. Get even angry. Put a knife in his gut and turn it angry.”

A beautiful young transwoman is brutally murdered. The media looks on blindly, the police go through the motions, but the victim’s hairdresser goes ballistic. Bobbi Logan is so outraged by these events that she commits two bold and courageous acts: She comes out as a transwoman herself, sending her career as a hair stylist into a gut-wrenching tailspin, and she begins searching for her friend’s murderer, an investigation that brings her into the vicious web of a powerful, seductive predator who is as charming as he is ruthless.

Originally published under the title Coming Out Can Be Murder, the book tells the chilling story of revenge when a suspected killer lives beyond the reach of the law. Bobbi Logan’s bruising search for truth and justice takes her to the pulsating streets of Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood, the colorful world of high-end hairstyling, and the city’s vibrant transgender community. Fast-paced and unsparing in hard details, Transition to Murder is a fresh, original portrayal of the life of a transwoman who is searching to discover her own “self” even as she searches for a killer.

Links: | Goodreads | Buy Link | Amazon Global |

Blurb:

First he wants her … then he wants her dead.

Bobbi Logan’s life and career begin to spiral downward when she comes out as a transgendered woman. But the gutsy hairdresser is determined to live her “new life” authentically, even as she is drawn into the investigation of her brutally murdered friend.

The Chicago police have all but said they’re not interested in the death of a “tranny” and the media has failed to report it. As she follows a trail of evidence through the shadowy underground of the Windy City, Bobbi is led to John Strand, a seductive powerbroker. Coming face-to-face with the number one suspect can only lead to one thing … murder. But who will it be?

Links: | Goodreads | Amazon Global |

 

 

 

 

The post Author Highlight + Interview: Renee James appeared first on A.O. Chika Book Blog.